Ok - not so slight would be more appropriate. Even more appropriate would be to call it an overwhelming desire to know all the ins and outs of a great DisneyWorld trip.
We've been to DisneyWorld several times over the past 10 years. Chris and I have been 4 times ourselves, not to mention 2 trips to DisneyLand in between. Cole has only been twice but still has as much of a Disney addiction as I do - must be hereditary.
I've also mentioned in previous posts that I love to plan. LOVE IT! I especially love planning Disney trips. My little daily pick-me-up in between studying about brain anatomy is surfing the Disney planning boards. I'm usually hanging around disboards.com or my newest uber-obsessive planning board, tourguidemike.com. On these boards, we discuss every aspect of the trip, from making hotel reservations, and the best ticket package to getting all the hard-to-get Advance Dining Reservations such as Cinderella Castle.
One additional aspect of my obsessive planning is The Spreadsheet (cue the voices of angels). The Spreadsheet has every aspect of our vacation planned, and is color coded by day and activity. But wait... there's more! In addition to listing the parks and restaurants for the day (complete with time and reservation number), I also have every attraction in each park laid out in a daily touring plan. For example, on our Magic Kingdom day, I have each moment scheduled from park opening at 8am until the time we go to bed - I've even scheduled rest time :)
Chris's eyes start to glaze over when I want to show him my latest additions to The Spreadsheet, but he indulges my obsession and listens to me obsess over scheduling dinner at 5:45 or 5:50 pm. I get giddy even thinking about it. It's a sickness, but I hope there's no cure!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday Soundbites
1. Started back to school last night. Although last quarter about killed me, both with personal stuff and school stuff, this quarter is also going to be exceptionally hard. I'm taking Physiological Psychology which is basically an anatomy class which means learning everything there is to know about the brain and nervous system. Lots of memorizing. Luckily that's how my brain works so I'm pretty good at the memorization.
2. I don't do well with lots of unstructured free time. I guess it's the need to feel productive that gets to me. I can spend part of an afternoon reading or hanging out but if I have too much of that, I get really antsy. Like I should be doing something worthwhile... like laundry :) I'm a planner by nature, and I'm pretty structured which is a good and bad thing
3. I came home to a wonderful dinner last night. One thing that sucks about night classes is that I miss dinners with the fam. Since my class ends at 7, and the days are getting longer, I'm going to make dinner up ahead of time so Cole can just pop it in the oven and we can all eat together when I get home. So yesterday, I made up a lasagna and left cooking instructions for Cole. When I came home, he had everything set out on the dining room table. Plates were dished up. Candles were lit. Drinks were poured. It was wonderful :)
4. Lots of talk in my blogging circle lately about how much of what we share online is representative of our real lives. I think that I'm pretty open on here since most everyone that reads my blog knows me in real life - at least to some extent. My feeling is that it's your blog and each person has to set their own comfort limits.
I'm off to memorize parts of the brain. Let's hope my brain can keep up!
2. I don't do well with lots of unstructured free time. I guess it's the need to feel productive that gets to me. I can spend part of an afternoon reading or hanging out but if I have too much of that, I get really antsy. Like I should be doing something worthwhile... like laundry :) I'm a planner by nature, and I'm pretty structured which is a good and bad thing
3. I came home to a wonderful dinner last night. One thing that sucks about night classes is that I miss dinners with the fam. Since my class ends at 7, and the days are getting longer, I'm going to make dinner up ahead of time so Cole can just pop it in the oven and we can all eat together when I get home. So yesterday, I made up a lasagna and left cooking instructions for Cole. When I came home, he had everything set out on the dining room table. Plates were dished up. Candles were lit. Drinks were poured. It was wonderful :)
4. Lots of talk in my blogging circle lately about how much of what we share online is representative of our real lives. I think that I'm pretty open on here since most everyone that reads my blog knows me in real life - at least to some extent. My feeling is that it's your blog and each person has to set their own comfort limits.
I'm off to memorize parts of the brain. Let's hope my brain can keep up!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Yaay Spring! *Sneeze*
You can always tell when it's spring in the northwest by looking at all of the lovely flowers in bloom - in the rain.
I was so stoked for spring this year. It's one of my favorite seasons, and we had a little glimpse of spring in late February. Of course, it was finals week and I was up to my eyeballs in work, but I would glance out my office window and look longingly at the flowers blooming in my back yard. Of course, the minute I turned in my last final, we got a dose of our true Seattle spring - lots of rain. I had hoped to be able to get a bit of yard work done while I was on spring break, but the weather just hasn't cooperated. I did buy some potted hyacinths for my garden window, however, they have managed to set my allergies in full bloom so I'm probably going to relocate them outside.
In honor of the changing seasons, I decided to update my look a bit. I chopped about an inch and a half off of my hair, went back to bangs and went a bit darker on the color. I feel fresh and renewed, even though it still feels like winter outside.
I was so stoked for spring this year. It's one of my favorite seasons, and we had a little glimpse of spring in late February. Of course, it was finals week and I was up to my eyeballs in work, but I would glance out my office window and look longingly at the flowers blooming in my back yard. Of course, the minute I turned in my last final, we got a dose of our true Seattle spring - lots of rain. I had hoped to be able to get a bit of yard work done while I was on spring break, but the weather just hasn't cooperated. I did buy some potted hyacinths for my garden window, however, they have managed to set my allergies in full bloom so I'm probably going to relocate them outside.
In honor of the changing seasons, I decided to update my look a bit. I chopped about an inch and a half off of my hair, went back to bangs and went a bit darker on the color. I feel fresh and renewed, even though it still feels like winter outside.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The excitement that is my weekend
Are you ready for some excitement? Well, look elsewhere, heh.
Here are my uber-exciting weekend plans
1. Wash the dogs. All three of them. Separately of course. They smell like dirt and urine. Not a pleasing combination. The two big ones will get their wash on at The Soggy Doggy self serve dog wash. It's just easier to take them in one at a time, get washed and smelling good. The owners even do toenails. Tango will get a spritz of "Unleashed." Kala fits in the kitchen sink so that's her spa adventure.
2. Get the house ready for company. Our friends, Steve and Helena, are visiting from London next week so we're super excited to see them. I had hoped to get the yard in better shape, but the nonstop rain has ruined that plan.
3. Go to the Japanese steakhouse with my parents and eat way too much. I love their fried rice!
4. Wait not-so-patiently for Chris to get home. I've had one of the worst weeks ever while he's been living it up in Argentina :) He needs to get home and stop having so much fun!
That's about it for me. I'll probably finish a book and start another. Maybe play some Super Mario Galaxy and watch a movie or two.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Here are my uber-exciting weekend plans
1. Wash the dogs. All three of them. Separately of course. They smell like dirt and urine. Not a pleasing combination. The two big ones will get their wash on at The Soggy Doggy self serve dog wash. It's just easier to take them in one at a time, get washed and smelling good. The owners even do toenails. Tango will get a spritz of "Unleashed." Kala fits in the kitchen sink so that's her spa adventure.
2. Get the house ready for company. Our friends, Steve and Helena, are visiting from London next week so we're super excited to see them. I had hoped to get the yard in better shape, but the nonstop rain has ruined that plan.
3. Go to the Japanese steakhouse with my parents and eat way too much. I love their fried rice!
4. Wait not-so-patiently for Chris to get home. I've had one of the worst weeks ever while he's been living it up in Argentina :) He needs to get home and stop having so much fun!
That's about it for me. I'll probably finish a book and start another. Maybe play some Super Mario Galaxy and watch a movie or two.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ever had a day...
... when you should have never gotten out of bed?
Pretty much sums up my whole day.
*sigh*
Pretty much sums up my whole day.
*sigh*
In a few more weeks, I may be ready for the circus
So I took my first yoga class last night.
My friend, Becky, has been going to a yoga studio in Burien and invited me to take a class with her. As I tend to carry lots of stress in my body, I've been wanting to look into yoga for awhile, but I was too scared to go alone. She warned me ahead of time that it was a bit "woo woo" but she liked the way it made her taller after a class (she's 5'9 already compared to my 5'3 and change).
We got our mats and headed into the main yoga room. Very dim lights and soft music. I almost felt like I was at a spa. The instructor had us lie down on our mats while she talked softly. Then she had to break the trance by ringing a damned bell! Over and over. Very disconcerting.
She talked us through various poses - some of which I had no trouble with; however, at one point I thought she was going to say, "now, bend down and put your head through your legs until you can kiss your ass." Maybe that's the advanced class, but I'm sure it's coming.
I'm glad the class was all women, because yoga positions are pretty much similar to another type of nocturnal-type position (you're all smart - figure it out) :) There's something strange about lying next to your best friend while thrusting your hips out.
After we did the various poses, we did another lie down on the mats. This is where the "woo woo" started. The leader read some esoteric Native American poem about finding your inner eagle or some crap like that. Then the bell. I hate that bell. Finally, we had to sit up and sing "Ooom Shanti Shanti Shanti" 3 times. Exsqueeze me? I came here to stretch, not sing. If I had looked over at Becky, I would have lost it so I looked straight ahead and tried to contain my inner 3 year old.
So this morning, I'm a bit sore, but not too bad. I'll probably look into going again, but I'm not singing. I need relief from sore muscles, not spiritual enlightenment.
My friend, Becky, has been going to a yoga studio in Burien and invited me to take a class with her. As I tend to carry lots of stress in my body, I've been wanting to look into yoga for awhile, but I was too scared to go alone. She warned me ahead of time that it was a bit "woo woo" but she liked the way it made her taller after a class (she's 5'9 already compared to my 5'3 and change).
We got our mats and headed into the main yoga room. Very dim lights and soft music. I almost felt like I was at a spa. The instructor had us lie down on our mats while she talked softly. Then she had to break the trance by ringing a damned bell! Over and over. Very disconcerting.
She talked us through various poses - some of which I had no trouble with; however, at one point I thought she was going to say, "now, bend down and put your head through your legs until you can kiss your ass." Maybe that's the advanced class, but I'm sure it's coming.
I'm glad the class was all women, because yoga positions are pretty much similar to another type of nocturnal-type position (you're all smart - figure it out) :) There's something strange about lying next to your best friend while thrusting your hips out.
After we did the various poses, we did another lie down on the mats. This is where the "woo woo" started. The leader read some esoteric Native American poem about finding your inner eagle or some crap like that. Then the bell. I hate that bell. Finally, we had to sit up and sing "Ooom Shanti Shanti Shanti" 3 times. Exsqueeze me? I came here to stretch, not sing. If I had looked over at Becky, I would have lost it so I looked straight ahead and tried to contain my inner 3 year old.
So this morning, I'm a bit sore, but not too bad. I'll probably look into going again, but I'm not singing. I need relief from sore muscles, not spiritual enlightenment.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Mousebound
It started with a phone call.
A few weeks ago, Cole called me from his dad's and wanted to know how much allowance he could save up by October. I asked him why, and he said he just wondered, so I told him to figure out $10.50 per week for however many weeks and that was his answer. He sighed and said, "never mind." I asked him what he was saving for and he said that he wanted to save up some money so we could go to DisneyWorld for my birthday.
What a little conniver! :) He knows that the way to my heart is through Mickey Mouse.
I am a hopeless Disney addict. I went to Disneyland once as a child and I was hooked. Unfortunately, I didn't make it back to a Disney park until Chris and I went to DisneyWorld for our honeymoon. Ever since then, I've bought into the "magic" hook, line and sinker. We've been back 3 more times in the past 9 years, and now Cole is as hooked as I am. Chris spent part of his childhood in the Orlando area so he had LOTS of Disney growing up. He tends to get a bit more "Disney'd out" than Cole or I. In fact, after our last trip, he proclaimed,
"No More Disney!"
We were planning on going to Costa Rica for vacation this year, but Cole wasn't really that into it. Chris and I just did a jungle lodge trip to Belize a year ago so I was enthused, but not 100% into it. So I had a great idea last weekend - what about DISNEYWORLD! :) I had to sell it to Chris a bit, and told him that he could pick where he wanted to go for our 10th anniversary later this year (he chose Italy). Luckily for Cole and I, Chris understands our Disney love and he saw that it was important to us so he relented.
Chris's brother and sister in law are part of the Disney Vacation Club so they can get discounted rooms. In fact, our wedding present from them was our stay at the uber-luxurious Grand Floridian Hotel at DisneyWorld. This time, we're staying in a one-bedroom villa at Old Key West resort. None of us have stayed there before so it will be new for all of us.
So, as usual, I'm planning already. I love planning vacations - probably almost as much as I enjoy the actual vacation. I made all of our dining reservations this morning (Disney starts taking restaurant reservations 6 months in advance!)
Now I only have to wait three months till my date with Mickey. *swoon*
A few weeks ago, Cole called me from his dad's and wanted to know how much allowance he could save up by October. I asked him why, and he said he just wondered, so I told him to figure out $10.50 per week for however many weeks and that was his answer. He sighed and said, "never mind." I asked him what he was saving for and he said that he wanted to save up some money so we could go to DisneyWorld for my birthday.
What a little conniver! :) He knows that the way to my heart is through Mickey Mouse.
I am a hopeless Disney addict. I went to Disneyland once as a child and I was hooked. Unfortunately, I didn't make it back to a Disney park until Chris and I went to DisneyWorld for our honeymoon. Ever since then, I've bought into the "magic" hook, line and sinker. We've been back 3 more times in the past 9 years, and now Cole is as hooked as I am. Chris spent part of his childhood in the Orlando area so he had LOTS of Disney growing up. He tends to get a bit more "Disney'd out" than Cole or I. In fact, after our last trip, he proclaimed,
"No More Disney!"
We were planning on going to Costa Rica for vacation this year, but Cole wasn't really that into it. Chris and I just did a jungle lodge trip to Belize a year ago so I was enthused, but not 100% into it. So I had a great idea last weekend - what about DISNEYWORLD! :) I had to sell it to Chris a bit, and told him that he could pick where he wanted to go for our 10th anniversary later this year (he chose Italy). Luckily for Cole and I, Chris understands our Disney love and he saw that it was important to us so he relented.
Chris's brother and sister in law are part of the Disney Vacation Club so they can get discounted rooms. In fact, our wedding present from them was our stay at the uber-luxurious Grand Floridian Hotel at DisneyWorld. This time, we're staying in a one-bedroom villa at Old Key West resort. None of us have stayed there before so it will be new for all of us.
So, as usual, I'm planning already. I love planning vacations - probably almost as much as I enjoy the actual vacation. I made all of our dining reservations this morning (Disney starts taking restaurant reservations 6 months in advance!)
Now I only have to wait three months till my date with Mickey. *swoon*
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