CCIntrigue...aka Gwen

After dinner we hopped on the monorail again and went back for a brief visit to MK.






 




Happily Ever After started just as we were leaving the park.


We took the boat back to the Fort.  Jean Ann and Ceil hopped on the golf cart.  Mary and I took a purple bus back.  We were dropped off between 2700 and 2800, and it was unbelievably dark.  The lights on the front of our scooters would only illuminate the sidewalk about 2' in front of us.  Thankfully I had carried a flashlight with me!

Mary, Ceil, and Jean Ann rode Pooh.  The FP+ line was too long for me to stand through it.




We had lunch at Casey's ...

And then rode the People Mover ...

Next up was our FP for Buzz.  None of us played very well, but we had a great time!

We decided to do a little shopping before our early dinner reservation.


I really enjoy taking photos of the window displays, but I can never find the right time of day to avoid the reflections.





 
 
We had early dinner reservations at the Contemporary.  So everyone was hopping onto the monorail.  But I had another idea.  I'd always heard about the walkway from the Contemporary to MK and wanted to see what it was like, so I decided to ride over on it.   And guess what?  I beat them!


I went up to the second floor and checked us into the California Grill.  So excited -- I hadn't been there since it was Top of the World.  The menu doesn't exactly appeal to David.
So after several minutes the rest of our little group arrived.  We were ushered up to the restaurant and were quickly seated.


We ordered drinks ... I can't tell you what they were since I can't find them on online menus.

One comment here -- I was so looking forward to taking pictures, but the windows were ABSOLUTELY FILTHY!  I couldn't believe it.  Here's an untouched picture I took, putting my lens right up to the window.

The rest of the photos I'm showing you aren't great.  They have been heavily processed in Lightroom and PhotoShop to cut through the grime.



Then our food arrived.

My bison steak (it was absolutely delicious -- not quite as tender as a filet, but the taste made up for it):

Ceil's flatbread:

Mary's sushi:

And Jean Ann's filet:

Sorry.  Must stop here.  Have to take mom to two doctor's appointments today.

On Tuesday we left the cabin around 9:30 thinking we'd have plenty of time to make our first FP+ which expired at 10:30.
We were wrong.  
There was a huge line of people waiting for the boat.  But the boat didn't have room for our two scooters.  Lots of people in line behind us got onto the boat, but we were told we'd have to wait for the next trip.  One boat was down for maintenance, and so they were only running one boat, and it would be 20-25 minutes before they could get back for us.
 

So we sat and chatted at one of the tables near the dock.  And of course I started snapping photos.



After a really long wait, we finally made it onto a boat.

And arrived at MK around 11:00 ...


 

So on November 2 we all flew to Orlando -- Jean Ann from Texas, two other friends, Mary and Ceil, from Connecticut, and me from North Carolina.  We all arrived within a few minutes of each other and quickly got onto DME.

The Fort was the first DME stop.

Okay, I know I said I wouldn't do another trip report.  But this trip was only four days long, so I'm gonna give it a try.
Many of you know that David and I had reservations to be at the Fort from November 5 to December 5.  But my mother got suddenly sick (doctors didn't think she would survive).  She made a miraculous recovery that the hospital staff talked about for days.  She was then sent to a skilled nursing facility for three weeks of physical and occupational therapy.  Eventually she went home on November 2.  By that point we had cancelled our first week of our reservations.  Even though her therapists assured us she was fully capable of living alone again, we knew her personality too well and understood what a nightmare we were embarking into.
Fast forward a day or two, and my dear friend Jean Ann (Okieatheart) invited me to fly down and spend three nights in a cabin with her and two other friends.  For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting her, this is Jean Ann:

 

Okay, I know I said I wouldn't do another trip report.  But this trip was only four days long, so I'm gonna give it a try.
Many of you know that we had reservations to be at the Fort from November 5 to December 5.  But my mother got suddenly sick (doctors didn't think she would survive).  She made a miraculous recovery that the hospital staff talked about for days.  She was then sent to a skilled nursing facility for three weeks of physical and occupational therapy.  Eventually she went home on November 2.  By that point we had cancelled our first week of reservations.  Even though her therapists assured us she was fully capable of living alone again, we knew her personality too well and understood what a nightmare we were embarking.
Fast forward a day or two, and my dear friend Jean Ann (Okieatheart) invited me to fly down and spend three nights in a cabin with her and two other friends.  For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting her, this is Jean Ann:

So on Monday, November 6, we all flew to Orlando.  Jean Ann from Texas, Mary and Ceil from Connecticut, and me from North Carolina.  All our flights arrived within 10 minutes of each other.  So we met in baggage claim for me to pick up my checked bag and then got onto the DME.



The Fort was the first DME stop that day, so before 1pm we were checked into our cabin and Jean Ann had picked up the golf cart.  Luggage arrived just a short while later.
Ever wonder what a handicapped-accessible cabin looks like?

LOL ... try feeding these guys:

Left -- Caden, 11 years old, not sure of his height but I'm 5'6" and he's nearly as tall as me.  Serious athlete (currently being recruited by Adidas, wants to be better than Gabe), and he eats nonstop.   
Center -- Gabe, 18, 6'9", serious athlete (recently signed with a D1 school, full ride plus an additional food allowance and stipend), he's finished his meal before I take my first bite and he's hungry again an hour later.
Right -- Ethan, 16, 6'4",  semi athlete (enjoys, but doesn't want to follow in Gabe's footsteps), takes his time to savor every bite but still is always hungry.
I feel sorry for their mother.  She has to cook for an army every day.  Their weekly grocery bill is unreal.
The Plaza Restaurant better close their doors before these guys enter.  
 
 

Was getting really worried about Jean Ann and Kenny.  I messaged her last night, and she usually replies within 10 minutes or so.  This time it was about 18 hours.   But anyway, here's her reply.  She gave me permission to post it here.

"We made it, Gwen! We made it!!! The storm is finally over. The sun is shining this morning, there is a gentle breeze, and all is well with the world. Well, sorta. People are still flooding here due to the release of water on two major reservoirs, and we still have some highways and feeder roads under water. At 2 am this morning a local weatherman said that my neighborhood had received 50 inches of rain since Friday. If that turns out to be true, I think I've been touched by a miracle! God is so good! Thanks so much for your concern throughout this ordeal. And tell Ray the Oklahoma brigade that came down to rescue the victims of home flooding made me so proud of my home state! Again, Gwen and David, your concern for me made this storm much easier to endure!"

Gabe just received his 13th D1 offer.  The latest were from Stetson and IUPUI (Indiana-Purdue).  His coaches are encouraging him to hold off on making a decision.  They expect ACC offers to come in the fall.

I just made reservations for fall 2018 and didn't even look at what I paid.  Guess I should check that!

I'm not gonna pay for premium parking just to shop.  Just sayin'

Gabe's team came in fourth place (lost in the semifinals), which is really good considering the caliber of talent at the tournament.
Tomorrow he heads to Orlando to play in the AAU Memorial Day Classic.

If anyone is interested, Dorman has releasted a 7-minute video on YouTube of the highlights of their state 5A basketball win:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb7cs6md5oQ
Gabe is player #32 in the white jersey.

What a wonderful article about your cousin, Yvonne!

The Charlotte Observer (newspaper) has named Gabe as "the player to watch" on his team this weekend, the Atlanta All Stars.  This is his travel team for the summer.
Charlotte Observer

Hope Jessica and her friends have a great time!

We are exhausted, happy to be home, and even happier to report that Gabe and his team won the South Carolina 5A boy's basketball title!
The Columbia SC newspaper:
http://www.thestate.com/sports/high-school/prep-basketball/article136410363.html  Click on the photo to see the video.
Spartanburg Herald-Journal:

 

We've always avoided Bongo's because of bad reviews.  But that food looks really good!

29?

Super brag-worthy!

David and I are going out in a little while to measure our snow and take pictures.  I'm guessing we have 8-10 inches, and it's still coming down.  
Thankfully we have no power outages in our city.  Part of I-40 is closed because of an overturned 18-wheeler.  Reportedly lots of other accidents around town.  Grocery stores don't even have frozen pizza!  

Thanks for the tip.  That's a great forum, and I've learned a lot there.
Meanwhile I've driven back to the dealer and paid off my gun.  They will hold it until my permit comes through.  The owner of the store (the largest gun store in the US) has put me in touch with an NRA lobbyist about my permit problems.  I'm awaiting a call from him.
Something strange is now happening with permit appointments in my county.  My original appointment was for March 16.  Then suddenly this week appointments started showing up for early February.  So I got mine changed to February 6.  Last week the appointments for CCP were about 10 days out.  Now they are several weeks out.  In any event, I think I'll be able to get my CCP by late summer/early fall.  I'm going to try and schedule my CCP classes for mid March to early April and go ahead and schedule my appointment before I go to the classes.
Today I bought my first box of ammunition and a heavily-padded pistol case.  I've picked out the electronic earmuffs I want ( Howard Leight Impact Pro ).   I already have cleaning supplies and a great CC holster.  I'm having a hard time finding quality shooting glasses that will fit over my prescription glasses.  Any suggestions?  And anything else I need?
Last year this time I had no interest in owning a handgun.  It's hard to believe how my feelings have changed so quickly.  Now it's very important to me to assert my Second Amendment rights, and I'm already thinking about what gun to buy next.  And I'm joining the NRA.  David is a lifetime member.  Now I'll be a member too.

Steve, bhall, and PGHFiend, thank you all for your valuable advice!  My #1 concern is that I do this legally.
We visited the sheriff's office this morning and got to talk to the two officers who issue permits.  Our next step will be to contact our county commissioners.  Apparently we have 5 times the permit requests that we had just a few years ago with the same two officers handling them.  Budget increases to the sheriff's office are the only way this issue could possibly be addressed.
So meanwhile I've paid hundreds down to lay away a gun that must be picked up by March 1.  And I won't even be able to apply for the purchase permit until March 16.  Hopefully I'll receive the permit the first week of April.  I'll need to make another trip to Charlotte soon to pay the remainder and make arrangements for the dealer to keep the gun in his possession until I have the permit.  Just hope he agrees to this.
Then hopefully by the end of May I'll have the concealed carry class completed and then be able to request an appointment for my CCP (another 3.5 month wait for that appointment) and then 60-90 days to find out whether I've been approved.  So hopefully by December 2017 this will all be over.  I had no idea this process would take me over a year!

That's the advantage of living fairly close and having a pass. We went last weekend and just did a few things.  Took the train all the way around the MK, then walked over to Buzz Lightyear. Saw the Muppets, hit the Jingle Cruise, and then we left.
My wife was taking my granddaughter to Busch after school a lot last year.  Just go in do a couple things and leave.  But now that she's a middle schooler and doesn't get out until 4:15,  has a lot of homework, dance, gym, or sports that hasn't been happening

The first time we stayed at the Fort was in a cabin when I was around 7, we never went to the parks, I didn't want to. There was plenty to do at the Fort. That being said we live in Florida and had been to Disney before. Now when we go we are in one park or another almost everyday, but like Gwen it could be a quick trip for something to eat or to do one thing and leave.
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