The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[donaldtoo]

. . . must be some sort of acquired taste . . .

Oh my, I LOVE the sweeter stuff with the caraway seeds...!

 

[Gabe1]

Thank you Minnie!
Yes, so very proud of him, and happy for him! I do indeed love being a dad...!
It has never been easy for him, and never will be, but, we have always done what we can to teach him about life, and are trying to get him to a point where he can take care of himself (or at least be in a group home situation). We won't be around forever. His sisters love him, and watch after him, to a point. But, they have their own lives. They didn't make the decision to bring him into the world...myself and DWifey did.
Again, he has issues with time and space. To this day he still struggles with math and writing, but, is very lucid conversationally and can read like a maniac. It's all just so perplexing sometimes.
As others on this thread can surely attest, living with a special needs child or sibling can be very challenging. But, it's a challenge we all seem to be up for. I know we are. I've learned so much from him and his situation, although, obviously I wish he never had to go through what he has in the first place. Life is life. It happens. We roll with it as best we can...!

There are a few group homes around Northern IL, one cool one in the City run by I believe Catholic Charities and
Lambs Farm. I grew up knowing of Lambs Farm and it was something my folks always had on their charity list.
My DD and I still attend their annual fund raiser, a mega mega craft fair 3 stories of Arlington Race track and we always find something to purchase from the Residents that they have made.

http://www.lambsfarm.org/mission-programs/history/

 

[StarWarsGirl]

It looks like wine in the sky.

Did you say wine?

 

[Cesar R M]

In the back of my mind when on a crowded Disney Bus, strollers, carts, little ones standing, guests packed in like sardines.....

according to the sentinel two Disney buses.

photo a follower of all around orlando

the left one looks chartered..did it hit the disney bus?

 

[Gabe1]

My love of Mustangs never seems to fade.

Legoland Florida

 

[BAChicagoGal]

Ninth inning jitters in a 1-0 ballgame. Cubs are coming up short at the moment. Chapman makes me nervous..

 

[Gabe1]

Ninth inning jitters in a 1-0 ballgame. Cubs are coming up short at the moment. Chapman makes me nervous..

Painfully slow game. More painful than the loss.

 

[Gabe1]

the left one looks chartered..did it hit the disney bus?

The Orlando Sentinel said they are both Disney Buses. I've seen those buses at CP inductions. To me it looks like white one hit the other but that is just from looking at photo. Both buses were fitted with cameras so they will figure it out.

 

[Cesar R M]

TRIP REPORT Day 9

Sea Day

Spoiler: September 9 Part 1

This was one of the final Sea day before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Interestingly, finally the rain caught with us. The entire day was softly raining or downpouring and moody with no sun.
No problemo! As we only had a final CATS show to see and the Dreamworks cavalgade to see.

It was also a pretty lazy day, we just sat in chairs, enjoying the place (we also played a bit of minigolf. We were halfway it before the rain started so we had to bail)





In this photo its not very visible, but you could see a Carnival ship behind us a few miles away (follow the trail then head a bit to the left, its a dot in the horizon.
My mother and my friends from PR said "BS". took my long lens from my cabin, and proved them wrong...yes, I have good eyes.


Anyway... There were a lot of people using the Zipline. Probably because all the other entertainment was a "repeat".
Also interestingly, almost nobody was using the rock climbing walls. I only seen the left one (viewed from the Boardwalk area) open a few days of the week.




After eating in the Windjammer (most delicious offerings of the full week.. loved the Chicken a la King)
We headed towards the CATS musical for the last time.
Again we expected it to be completely packed. It was but there were some spaces left there and here.

We got some really nice spots in the center ( We had a few of Cats cast passing right next to us. It always so funny to see the cats petting or touching the staff. Not to mentioning Mugojerrie and Rumpleteazer (the thief cats) stealing a sizeable amount of bags in the end of the show..)



Best part is that they stayed for photos. This is not normal! so Managed to grab one right before she jumped and ran (sadly, couldn't take Mungojerrie's. He was moving too fast saying a tearful good bye for all the stolen bags he had to return )

After returning to our room for a quick change (and picking up my camera). We went towards the Royal Promenade. As it was time for the Dreamworks Parade!



Did I tell you guys/gals that this person was incredible? He did a lot of these in the Come Fly with Me show.

Bonus point when he was doing this and winking at the girl holding the phone on the left.

Then dreamworks characters started to appear (how the hell they had 5 characters of How to train your dragon but only Po from kung fu panda? wheres Master Tigress? HERESY I SAY!

Puss in boots of course stole the show by going down via the floating bar with his theme song blaring.

Then the Chinese ensemble with a dragon for the Po Introduction.

Shrek time!

Then out of nowhere.. King Julien and the Penguins of Madagascar!

The Penguins were pretty popular... People were trying to invade the show floor just to take photos of them!

The most hilarious character, was obviously the weird bad wolf of shrek, dressed as Grandmah.

Puss in Boots was VERY popular with the asian crowd. I dont know why they literally ran to him to take photos or posing (as opposed to the other dreamworks chars).

The Shrek characters were truly nightmare wise (the "suits" of Shrek and Fiona are nightmare inducing). The others like the Wish granter lady was fine. The "knights" were hilarious!. Ps out of nowhere.. King Julien danced with kids as he appeared from behind the crowd! kids loved it!

TIP FOR THE DAY..
If you want to watch this show well. Either get on the second floor by the FOCUS , as close as possible to Sorrentos's.
Or get a seat (you need to get one seat at least 30 minutes before the show, they fill fast) right at Sorrento's. The part where I was, was constantly blocked by dancers or security. (check the 11th picture in the dreamworks parade area). Thus blocking your entire view from the rest of the show.
Also the "vendor" islands block the way as well. So the perfect area to see the show is definitively by the CAR area.

Note that all people infront of the "dark" lines (separated by the fake "stone" in the floor). Will be removed and told to find another place. So plan accordingly!

After the show.. It was time for dinner!
Food again was ok, I braved and ordered some "Scargots a la Bourguignonne" Which I really like (but very small offerings, 6 tiny scargots). Crispy coconut shrimp and the Slow Roasted Prime Rib. All was ok. The coconut shrimp barely tasted like coconut o_o


And to bed we went as we had to go down very early that day (we got group 5) so that means we had to be ready to leave at 7:30 am..


Tomorrow will be the final day of the trip, as we arrived to Fort Lauderdale. And just in time for more drama and bad luck D:

 

[Cesar R M]

My love of Mustangs never seems to fade.

Legoland Florida

Plot twist.. its a transformer inside

 

[Gabe1]

 

[Cesar R M]

The Orlando Sentinel said they are both Disney Buses. I've seen those buses at CP inductions. To me it looks like white one hit the other but that is just from looking at photo. Both buses were fitted with cameras so they will figure it out.

The one in the back seems pretty damaged (including the top being bent like it hit something else too). Did they say if there were people hurt?

 

[Gabe1]

The one in the back seems pretty damaged (including the top being bent like it hit something else too). Did they say if there were people hurt?

One of the two bus drivers. Reports are the buses did not have passengers.

 

[BAChicagoGal]

The Cubs now have to go to California, and play three games. How is that home field advantage? Oh yes, they should have won both games at home, and they didn't.

 

[Figgy1]

That's only your first game. Happy days are ahead! Enjoy the time with your new friends on the team, too. I think this sounds like a great idea for the weekends.

I couldn't have said it any better

 

[Figgy1]

Thanks. It's going to be a hard year. Not only will step-grandpa not be there, but my parents and my one uncle, who has always been around, was the one who introduced me to Star Wars, vacationed with us, etc., had a falling out with my parents (which they have tried to resolve and he's basically being a jerk about it) and is refusing to come to our home at all, even for family events. So that's now two fewer people at Thanksgiving.

We're starting new traditions. One of my dad's long-time friends who's been like a brother (so much so that my brother and I call him Uncle) is likely coming with his sister and mother, and my mom invited a close friend of mine who really doesn't have family, so we'll have this odd group of both people who are and are not related this year. Should be interesting.

One of my favorite Thanksgivings prekids was one where almost nobody was related to more than one other person. Everybody got along with no family dynamics to worry about any everybody brought wine My least favorite one was when I was in the hospital due to a car accident and my step-sister tried to sneak me out to cook She called and asked why there were apples in the fridge and it went downhill from there. My family wound up in a restaurant and I got hospital food

 

[Figgy1]

Did you say wine?

The early bird catches the wine

 

[Figgy1]

That poor dog, he's cute and seasonal but not happy looking at all. Imagine if somebody did that to you.

 

[Figgy1]

Good morning. I woke up with lots of energy so I now have an apple/blueberry crumb in the oven so the house smells yummy, it nice and warmish(over 60) and going up to 80. Not to shabby for October, I may even get to wear shorts later

 

[MinnieM123]

@Cesar R M , the Dreamworks Parade looked like fun!! It was a much larger production than I'd expect from a cruise line.

I also like the photo you got of the actor from Cats. I've always loved the makeup and costumes from that play.