fortpartyof4

Great post, Cyndee!
 
I'm glad the story has finally been told.
 
I knew about it first hand from MD, but I didn't want to steal anyone's thunder by mentioning it on the board.
 
It's kind of an amazing to think about how this chain of events came about, and, it's really cool that we are now getting a live play by play on the current chapter of the story.
 
Once Maria makes it to Jason, there will be more chapters to add!
 
None of this would have happened if there was no FortFiends.net.
 
TCD

Wow, I am loving this tale!!  (love the title Doodle….tale/tail..very clever!)  I knew Jason was buying MD's pop up but had no idea all of this was happening.  
 
What a wonderful, thoughtful, generous and kind bunch of people we have around here!  Bravo to each of you who have a hand in making someone's camping life better.
 
MD had texted me when he and Jason made the deal to tell me it was "FF Serendipity" once again.  MD's family bought our TT back in May before we left FL for PA.  I was so sad to sell it but loved that it went to a family who would enjoy it as much as we did.  It was a similar situation too, we were just exchanging messages about other stuff and he mentioned wanting to upgrade and I mentioned that we weren't planning to take the camper with us when we moved.  Everything aligned and it worked out very well.  So happy to see it paid forward.
 
Here is a photo of the exchange that led to this road trip:
 

 
Please disregard the wicked bad hair day I was clearly having.
 
Of course, it occurred at the Fort, where we had our last stay in our beloved camper.  A sad day for us but a very happy one for MD & his beautiful family.  And now, another happy fiend will have his day!  
 
That camper looks a whole lot different today, too.  MD has made it his own and it is all spiffed up!
 
Safe travels to all and hooray for the fiends!!

My mom used to do those.  The beaded ones are so pretty.  It always makes me sad when I see completed projects in a thrift store because I know someone worked for hours and hours on them.
 
I have 3 bigger kits going and used to drag them everywhere but hardly ever worked on them, then would get frustrated at the lack of progress!
 
Busting out these little kits was great, I blew through the first 2 in a matter of days.  The sense of accomplishment motivated me to keep going, and the fact they fit in a sandwich bag that can be thrown in my purse or beach bag really helps, too.  No hoop to worry about, no long rows to keep count of in case we have to pick up and go or I get interrupted.  Do it!  And then put up your picture!

I am among my people :)

So here we go- the end for real.
 
As you know from reading this far, Twin #2 headed off to school in Tallahassee in June.
 
The oldest TCD DD has been up at Auburn since right after she graduated from FSU in May.
 
Surprisingly, Mrs. TCD and I have handled all of this amazingly well.
 
Our oldest loves Auburn.  She is so happy that she chose that program.  And so are we.
 
Twin #2 has loved FSU so far.  This is so different from our oldest daughter's initial experience,  That was one crisis after another, and I remember there were several times that we considered jumping in the car and going to get her.  This has not been the case at all with Twin #2.  I think not having roommate drama has been a big part of this.
 
To my surprise, the one in our family who has been affected the most by this is Twin #1.  She really misses her sisters, and doesn't have the fun and excitement of a new college experience going on right now.  And being the sole focus of two parents' attention has not been fun.
 
When we saw what was coming this summer, we realized that there would be some time around the 4th of July that the family could get together.  Twin #2 was only going to get the 4th off though, and in theory, classes were still supposed to be meeting on July 5th.
 
So, we decided that we should all gather some place in north Florida for the 4th of July weekend.  That way Twin #2 could come to us and she could go back to class on the 5th if she really had to.
 
So, we have access to a cabin on a beautiful river in north Florida.  It belongs to a family member, and we used to go there a lot when the girls were smaller, and they were more easily entertained.  We arranged to use it for the 4th.
 
Two of the TCD girls came from the north, and we came from the south, and we all met up for the fourth.  The girls invited a couple of friends along, and even the TCD dog Rocky, got to come.
 
We had a great time, and will definitely be doing it again.
 
I didn't plan to include this in the TR, but I gathered a few photos from the girls social media accounts, and will share them so we can bring this report up to date and complete it.
 
Here is the oldest daughter.  Note the War Eagle head band.  She loves the Noles, but she loves the Auburn Tigers now too:
 

 
And here's Twin #2- I love her shirt- it says:  Running the World Since 1776, in case you can't make it out:
 

 
Here are the twins with Twin #1's BFF.  She is going to be starting at FSU in the fall, while Twin #1 is at UF:
 

 
Here is Rocky- he loves the river!:
 

 
One more Rocky shot.  He has his flip flop in his mouth.  Since there's no tetherball at the river, he has to chase that flip flop.  No matter where you throw it, even if it's in the river, he will get it:
 

 
Here are the girls paddleboarding.  It's a thing we do:
 

 
One more paddleboard shot-this is our oldest DD's BFF- make sure you don't miss Rocky swimming there to the bottom right of the photo:
 

 
This was all great. 
 
It turns out that Twin #2's classes for the 5th got cancelled, so she could stay for the whole weekend.
 
But, on Saturday morning, she comes to me and says she wants to go to Disney World to see the 4th of July fireworks.  She was bummed that she had missed them.  I said that it was a bad idea- that she would then have a long drive back to school.  She said she would go back to our house and spend the night Saturday night, and then head back to school on Sunday.  Mrs. TCD and I discussed it, and decided to let the girl have some fun.   So the twins left on Saturday and headed to WDW.  Our oldest daughter decided to head back to Auburn, and so Mrs. TCD and I headed for home.
 
I got this instagram from Twin #1 that night:
 

 
It is good to be a TCD twin.
 
So, Twin #1 and Twin #2 got some unexpected twin time in.
 
That was good for both of them.
 
They came home that night, and Twin #2 headed back to school on Sunday.
 
On Tuesday, Twin #1 and I headed to Gainesville for her orientation at UF.
 
We were clearly in God's country- this was the beautiful carpet outside the Union ballroom where most of the sessions were held:
 

 
Twin #1 is the only one of my children who will attend my Alma Mater, so this was my first time going through orientation at UF.
 
In the first session, they asked the parents to stand, and any who were alumni to remain standing.  They recognized us and gave each of us a sweet coffee table book.  It's great to be a Florida Gator:
 

 
Guess what they have in the campus food court?  A Starbucks- just like on Main Street, USA:
 

 
For a lot of the orientation, the parents are separated from the students.  At one point, I saw Twin #1 getting her college ID card, so I took a stalker photo.  She's there at the window opposite the Tim Tebow poster:
 

 
Orientation went all day Tuesday and Wednesday.
 
While this was my first at UF, it was my third college orientation as a parent.
 
With perspective, I realized how ridiculous a lot of the other parents were.
 
They were freaking out about their kids leaving.
 
A little like I was when I began this long winded report almost two months ago.
 
Twin #2 is sailing right along in her summer session at FSU.  She called us the other night to let us know she had gotten an A on her Economics mid-term.  Mid-term, as in the summer session is already halfway over.
 
Twin #1 moves in to her UF dorm exactly one month from yesterday.  That's August 10.  These next 30 days will go fast.
 
But you know what?
 
It's the end of the world as we know it.
 
But I really am all right.
 
My kids are growing up.  It was Mrs. TCD's and my job to raise them to be ready to go off and make it on their own.  So far, they are doing great.  Things have changed for sure, but we are still a family, and when we get together, it is as good as it ever was.  So, everything is going to be fine.
 
Thanks for reading.
 
This really is the end.
 
I am hoping that there will be a quick trip with the TCD gang in that really short window between when summer session ends and Twin #1 heads off.  If that happens, then you'll have a new TCD TR to read in August.  Not too long from now. Be sure to look for it.
 
TCD

My absence around here is purely due to life stuff…..nothing more.  If I see something on here I don't like or agree with I just stop reading that particular thread.  There is plenty of content to read for just about anyone's preference, and this continues to be my go-to source for tips and info when planning my WDW trips.  Even for finding out info on my new state!  In the evenings I sometimes pop on to check in but don't post a lot.  I'm so behind!  I will try to drop by when I can in between all of the moving and transitioning to PA.
 
Speaking of behind, instead of finishing this, I "report-hopped" and browsed some of the others that I've missed.  So, I'll be back to finish later.
 
I did read the last page, and FWIW, I too only think of REM when I read the title of this thread and the ear worm is there for hours afterward!
 
I know I should ask this on the Technical thread…..but since I am here, anyone know how I can get notification that someone has quoted me, messaged or asked a question of me?  Ever since the switch I haven't been getting those emails, even though my settings are set up to notify me of each of those actions.

Yes, TCD and I met in person right in line for TSM!! It was a highlight of my trip!!! I am not kidding, it truly was!!!
Four weeks prior to that trip, I had been a healthy "normal" 44 year old lady. I had gone in for surgery for a harmless pre-cancerous condition.......I came out with a double cancer diagnosis.....I had four weeks, before I was scheduled to go in for a major surgery to look for more cancer......we went to Disney for almost two weeks while waiting for the surgery......I was sad and scared.....I was at Disney trying to have fun with my kids, but it was hard.....fast forward to that fateful morning of going through the line at TSM.....I glanced behind me and saw a familiar face.....it was TCD......I had followed his trip reports on the "other" site and then on this one......we had a super quick introduction.......for me, that meeting brought me out of my funk....yea, I was still sad and scared, but that simple meeting gave me something else to think about beside my uncertain future......heck, I had met the FAMOUS TCD!!!!
 
The story continues.....we came home....I had my surgery...I had a tough recovery, while I waited almost two weeks to find out how the pathology came back.....I was only awake for short periods, but I was able to read TCD's trip report from his recent trip, where we had met....even my husband was reading it....TCD mentioned our meeting and went on to invite me by name a few times to join fortfiends.....every night my husband would ask me if I had joined yet and we would talk about TCD's update of the day......Once, I got good test results back that no more cancer was found, I joined fortfieds........to say TCD is  my FAVORITE trip report writer is an understatement......meeting him, even briefly and reading his report while I recovered were bright spots in my life during a bleak time.
 
So yes, I have a "thing" for the TCD!!!!!

I understand Kmart will ship your pants.

Whatever works... I'll take this thread as a sign to stop shaving my legs and drink a lot more just to be sure :fly-swat: .

totally could have done without the visual of Creepy Claus scratching his Christmas ornaments!

I am definately "anti taping of stupid shows at WDW". Now I have not been there when a stupid show is being taped but it seems to me that I, or any other working slob, have paid good money to go to the MK and walk where ever my Disney loving heart desires. I don't need to be walking down Main Street and have my progress impeded so that some no talent hack can walk without having me in their precious way. There are enough foreigners doing that already. And if I want to go on the train station platform and get a picture, I should be able to do that. That is what I paid my hard earned cash to do. Has Disney decreased the price of my ticket that day to compensate me for my lost access to the park? Not likely. .

I just realized I hadn't posted on this thread.
About half of it is going right over my head- with all the inside jokes it's hard for an outsider to follow.
MPR I know.
So what's UFA?
Good job on your posts, Nicki!
TCD

This entire post could be taken the wrong way very, very easily!
Sorry, but I have no desire to see Dave in his knickers. I am sure he looks great in them, as he appears to be quite fit, but I will respect Mrs. Dave on that one.
However, I would love to run into him at one of the character meet and greets some time. (thanks for the great tip, btw!)
Too bad on the uniconing patent being taken already. At least twin #1 was smart enough to do hers after the ice cream was eaten. That would be one sticky mess with all of that hair of hers!

Can anybody use these relief areas, or are they just for service dogs?

tmi dude

I thought of one:
"Cool. With this etch a sketch I can draw a picture of myself with a full head of hair!"

Very cool! Thanks for taking us to the track with you. I love it!
Though, I must admit, I had trouble following along after this:

Holy WOW. Molto Delizioso!
I had more comments, but now I have forgotten what they were…….

Woo hoo to that.
I'm not going to comment on Dave's drunk update that followed.
That's the only explanation for that.

Hey what is this?
A trip report or Magic Mike?
TCD

I concur with Munch the Punch.
Modified to reflect the presense of EPCOT's World showcase entails any guest to use the timezone of their choice to advance world peace. Also known as "It's 12:00 somewhere" rule. Or "Beer Me".
That is all.

Are they really building a bouncy house castle over there?

We were there until the 4th. TCD & MD left on the 3rd, then another fiend took MD's site in 2000, he may still be there.
Don't forget Donnie either. If he's not there, one of his trailers is!

I think you gotta look under their Dee Dums……….
bahahaha
Sorry TCD I seem to cause your TR's to go south a little too often! That wee little Jimmy Johnson fan is rubbing off on me!

I think you gotta look under their Dee Dums……….
bahahaha
Sorry TCD I seem to cause your TR's to go south a little too often! That wee little Jimmy Johnson fan is rubbing off on me!

I totally see nothing wrong with that outfit.
I'm not a fan of the flip flops with socks look that's happening these days.
Who would have thought that the trend would be plumber's crack saggy pants and "old ethnic grandfather gettin' the mail" chic footwear?
What's next? Those sunglass goggles that go over your regular glasses?