Trip Report Two broke guys & a dog (for the last time.) (now with Christmas 2024!)

No, I’m not mad at Disney. We’ll be back (in fact, it can’t be soon enough.) But this turned out to be our last trip together as a family.

Who: Brian (R) Tony (L) and Kylie.

When: May, 2023.

Can’t tease this, so I’ll just come out with it.

We’ve posted TRs over the years under the “Two broke guys & a dog” banner (and other titles.) Our May trip was short, and we had already booked August for my birthday (complete with a planned meet up with @Tuvalu) so I thought I’d make one double TR after August.

I ended up with Covid mid-month and we had to postpone to December for Brian’s birthday.

In the meantime, Kylie, our 14 year old German Shepherd/Chow Chow was diagnosed with heart failure. That “heads up” turned out to be a gift and a blessing that allowed us to spend so much extra quality time with her.

Kylie’s 14th bday on Halloween:

She stayed with us through the holidays, rubbing on the Christmas tree when she walked past it, per usual (like a cat lol) and was really doing well - eating, going for walks, snuggling. I expected more of a slow, gradual decline…but she passed yesterday. Now my heart is failing.

I don’t know how far I’ll get with this today. It might actually be too soon. But I thought it could be therapeutic, and a nice tribute.

For some reason, since my 30s, if I cry even a little, my eyelids swell up and it’s hard to undo. Ice helps only temporarily. I fear typing all this out will continue the waterworks (it already has) and prolong that condition. OTOH, they’re already swollen, so WTH? I’ll play it by ear, if that’s ok.

This is my love letter to my pup.

 

[93boomer]

Took a look at Olivia’s breakfast/brunch menu:

View attachment 830205

Booked that! Day after Christmas breakfast before driving home.

Also, this now appears in our future plans:

View attachment 830206
It’s like I speak things into existence!

When I saw the 13th happened to fall on a Monday, I knew I had to book it. (Again, B is off Monday Tuesday every week.)

That will be a year. Today, Friday the 13th (now that it’s after midnight) is 11 months, which is mind blowing.

Some good news: Brian went for an eye exam this morning. We knew that through his cataract surgery, what they replaced it with functions like a contact lens. It took that eye from -7.5 to -3.5, which is huge, but it was still blurry; and his old eyeglasses just made it worse.

After the exam, I drove him to work, and then picked up the new glasses when they were ready. When I picked him up from work, he put them on in the car, and got that kind of “eureka” moment. The procedure was successfull - his sight in that eye is greatly improved. I’m very relieved!

Another thing: we heard from a friend about getting a procedure called an ablation, where they insert a wire into your back next to offending nerves, and heat up the wire, which stops the nerve from sending pain signals. We have a joint appointment on the 20th to learn more. I’m not sure the results are permanent, but it seems worth exploring.

And now, to look for fun things to book for January! Three trips within the span of one month! Wheeeee!!! Wait, I’m supposed to go to sleep…oops.

Sleep is under-rated

 

[93boomer]

Took a look at Olivia’s breakfast/brunch menu:

View attachment 830205

Booked that! Day after Christmas breakfast before driving home.

Also, this now appears in our future plans:

View attachment 830206
It’s like I speak things into existence!

When I saw the 13th happened to fall on a Monday, I knew I had to book it. (Again, B is off Monday Tuesday every week.)

That will be a year. Today, Friday the 13th (now that it’s after midnight) is 11 months, which is mind blowing.

Some good news: Brian went for an eye exam this morning. We knew that through his cataract surgery, what they replaced it with functions like a contact lens. It took that eye from -7.5 to -3.5, which is huge, but it was still blurry; and his old eyeglasses just made it worse.

After the exam, I drove him to work, and then picked up the new glasses when they were ready. When I picked him up from work, he put them on in the car, and got that kind of “eureka” moment. The procedure was successfull - his sight in that eye is greatly improved. I’m very relieved!

Another thing: we heard from a friend about getting a procedure called an ablation, where they insert a wire into your back next to offending nerves, and heat up the wire, which stops the nerve from sending pain signals. We have a joint appointment on the 20th to learn more. I’m not sure the results are permanent, but it seems worth exploring.

And now, to look for fun things to book for January! Three trips within the span of one month! Wheeeee!!! Wait, I’m supposed to go to sleep…oops.

That banana bread French toast has your name all over it!!
Oh so happy for Brian. My Mom needs cataract surgery in both eyes but keeps putting it off.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I've been a Honda girl my whole life - this is my 6th one. Started with Acord 2 door, then Acord 4 door, CRV, CRV, Civic and CRV. They are too reliable for a single girl to not have one. On the records, we did find a lot of cracked ones, so I guess those just go to the garbage? I'll keep you posted, we have about 200 to go through.

I did have a Civix DX hatchback in the 80’s. I remember being amazed when I moved to a new apartment, I was able to fit my kitchen table in it (after removing the legs.)

I like Honda. This was the 4th time in a row that the CR-V was in my top two, but lost by a hair. I wanted one when I bought the Passport, but there was a 3-4 week wait at every dealership, and it was about to be redesigned, so didn’t have some of the newer features. Maybe one day it will happen - but I’m hoping to drive this Kia for several years at least!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

In real time:

 

[Tony the Tigger]

 

[RememberWhen]

View attachment 830918

Lovely!!

 

[Tiggerish]

View attachment 830918

Great googly moogly…

 

[93boomer]

View attachment 830918

That is an awesome shot!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Lovely!!

Great googly moogly…

That is an awesome shot!

Thank you! I have a few more I’m saving for my full report. Most have that lamp post in it, which I kind of like (!) and also gives you a clue as to where our evening ended up lol.

I have long been frustrated with my pictures of fireworks. Happened to see one of those quick little tip video reels pop up on my Facebook page, where a guy tells you to change this one setting in your iPhone camera settings for better pictures. I think it worked!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

A beautiful December day in the low 80’s.

I don’t want to jinx anything, but everything’s coming up on this trip so far.

 

[93boomer]

A beautiful December day in the low 80’s.

View attachment 830995

I don’t want to jinx anything, but everything’s coming up on this trip so far.

Love when a plan comes together!! Jealous of the weather. I miss it!!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I don’t want to jinx anything, but everything’s coming up

…and whatever these are:

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Did a sappy thing. Tell ya later.

Meantime:

That view, tho.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Maybe it’s time to start from the beginning.

I was actually completely packed by Sunday night! That never happens.

I slept well, and woke up with my alarm at 8:30 on Monday. Brian was already showered; he’d been awake since 3am. That’s like 2 hours sleep.

Our traveling companions took the train from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and were already there by the time we got in the Lyft to the station.

Turns out they bought us premium tickets - so we had more room, a table between us, and drinks/food/snacks were included - starting with these nifty things in the premium lounge at the Brightline station.

Wine at 10am?!

Natch!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

On the train ride, we mostly went over some marketing ideas, had some mimosas, snacks, and chit-chat sessions. We arrived at MCO at 1:15. By the time we Ubered to our hotel, dropped off our stuff, and continued on to Epcot, we had about 30 minutes before our dining reservation at Space 220(!)

Their train home was right after our late lunch. After another drink and our meal, they pushed back their departure time to 8:45 PM. We are such good influences!

Space 220 photo dump!

So much cabbage in space! Where are the bananas?

All the drinks were fancy!

Believe it or not, those balls are tuna tartare! #spaceballs creative, and delicious! Could’ve used one more lol.

That’s Brian’s salmon, and our shared carmelized Brussels sprouts.

My chicken dish, which was curry based.

The view!

I had heard this was one of those places that was worth it for the ambience, but not so much for the food. We all loved our meals and our drinks, and the experience was very cool, but not that big a deal!

Would absolutely go back for a nice meal!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Without a very clear plan, but adjusting to 3 additional bodies we didn’t think would be with us (we all get along very well!) we walked to World Showcase, starting in Mexico. Alas, Three Caballeros was temporarily down (which means we won’t see it for awhile, with the refurb) and I passed on margaritas (big mistake, huge.)

The posted wait time for Frozen was 50 minutes. Knowing two of our relative newbies hadn’t been on and wouldn’t be anytime soon, I suggested we wait.

It turned out to be 40 minutes, and they loved it. That makes me happy. No one, however, bit when I described school bread.

Instead, we trudged on to Germany where I knew we could get full sized beer, at least. Well, everyone else did, but I was not in the mood for beer. I just didn’t want to ruin their stop like I did with the margaritas.

I saw a frozen drink with Jagermeister, and asked if I could just have the Jager. The answer was no, so I ordered the drink.

Fortunately, the Jager was pretty much all at the bottom, so I was able to suck it up with the straw, and ditch the frozen lemonade stuff. Too chilly for that!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Speaking of chilly, it really wasn’t. I just have low tolerance for the 60’s without sunshine. Florida has wild temp swings this time of year, and we were happy to catch a beautiful few days. “Shorts weather.” I wore an undershirt under my t-shirt, and I was fine.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to drink frozen drinks!

What have we here?

Another headliner attraction? And a posted 40 minute wait? Going by what happened with frozen, that could even be 30 minutes! We had plenty of time for our guests to experience Ratatouille and still get back to the airport in time!

Except the actual wait time was over 60 minutes.

They loved the ride (as do we) but then a bit of panic set in when they realized how long it would take to get to the parking lot, get an uber, etc. We worried about them!

In our worry, I checked for dinner options and what do you know - Rose & Crown popped up for 8:45pm (with fireworks at 9:30.) I had not seen any R&C ADR’s available the entire time I’d been planning! I jumped on that.

We were already nearby, so explored the UK area.

There are a few bad pics, but there will be better ones when the people are gone lol.

He might be mad if he knew I posted this one.

Paddington & Pooh diva-off?

Classic Christmas.