we decided that

Friday morning we would get up early and take advantage of our early entrance passes for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  That didn't happen.  But when we made it over there around 10:00, we waited in line for the HP movie ride.  So we entered the Harry Potter area and it was pretty cool.  I can honestly do without the rides but I really love the sets.  Everything looked so real.  I felt like I was in a little English village... or at least what the movies make me think a little English village would be like.  But it was the same in other parts.  I felt like I was walking through San Francisco in one area and I felt like I was walking through New York with people sitting on stoops in another area.  I would've been happy just walking around seeing all that stuff.

(On a side note, that it was I enjoyed so much about Universal in California, all of the sets and make believe.)

Anyway, so we get to the Harry Potter section of the park and it's cool.

 (I just realized the kid looking back in this picture is wearing an A&M cap.  That's funny since I never saw anyone representing Texas when we were there.)

The ride we were headed to is in the Hogwarts Castle, which is the school for anyone who doesn't know anything about Harry Potter.  But even when walking in line for the ride it was one giant Harry Potter set.  It was cool.

Then we got on the ride.  It was REALLY cool.  I can almost remember the exact moment I'd had enough though, it was right about the time a big flash went off and I figured they'd just taken our picture.  I sat there, being tossed all over in my seat with this movie being played all around me, focusing on not getting sick on the ride.  A few minutes later it was over.  I felt sick but it was FUN.  We exited, which leads you to the HP souvenir shop (like I didn't see that coming) and this is where pictures are picked up.  I picked up our $30 8x10 just because that was going to be our only picture of the three of us on the trip... or actually, probably in the last few years.  I considered it our family portrait.  That picture was funny because not only did it accurately portray all of us but it we were sitting in the order of intensity.  It's a little something like this:

SUPER INTENSE - Eric (looking down with his eyes clamped shut, holding on to his harness/bar like it was taking everything in him not to vomit)

INTENSE - me (looking up at something, half in awe, half terrified, with a death grip on the handle in front of me... almost predicting that 5 seconds later I'll be sick)

MILD TO ZERO INTENSITY  - Cosme (looking off in the same direction as I was, smiling with one hand casually laying across his bar while his other hand is off to the side holding onto his phone)

So we finished the ride and then went for lunch.  So let's see... it's Friday, during Lent and we're in the Harry Potter section of the park.  That means lunch is fish and chips, except for me because I CANNOT STAND FISH.  We got off the nauseating (but fun) ride and go to The Three Broomsticks (or something like that) and the smell of fish and vinegar almost do me in but I manage.  So what does someone like me order in a place like this?  Here's where the kids menu comes into play.

Macaroni and cheese, grapes and applesauce and I'm TOTALLY fine with that.

And since they didn't have any soft drinks in there, I opted for lemonade.  Go big or go home, right?  Eric, on the other hand, went with butter beer (a HP thing, think cream soda with butterscotch).

Whatever.  He likes it.  I tried making it at home last year but I'm pretty sure the park's version doesn't have butterscotch schnapps.

After that we followed Cosme while he rode his favorite roller coaster a couple of times and then we headed back to the room for a break.  (One of the benefits of staying there was we weren't stuck at the park ALL day but came and went as we pleased.)

I'll finish Friday later.  Right now I've got to get ready for a photography thing I have going on this morning in Houston... with 8 strangers.  Yikes.  Yes, I'm totally out of my comfort zone.  Strange place.  Strange people.  But once I go, I'll enjoy it and be glad I did... hopefully.

so about that first

day at Universal, we made it to the park and headed to "Springfield".  Well, it's an area of the park designated to The Simpsons and their town of Springfield.  Let me get something straight right now... I DO NOT RIDE RIDES.  I went to Springfield thinking we were going to get a Krusty Burger and donut.  We did... after they took me on a ride.  Well, it's not like a roller coaster, but a movie where your seat moves and you feel like you're in the movie.  I think it's a virtual 3D movie or something like that.  (Luckily, Eric's tolerance for rides is a little bit less than mine so I didn't need to panic too much... but I did.)  So we rode the virtual ride and then went for our late lunch.

My Krusty Burger

Our donut

and just to give you an idea how big the donut was (and this was after the three of us had attacked it).

After our meal we headed next door to Islands of Adventure so Cosme could ride a roller coaster.  One our way, the Blues Brothers drove by.  (And I understand these aren't the actual Blues Brothers.  I just wanted to get a pic because Eric's always liked the movie.)

A few minutes after we got there, I let them know I had to go back to the room.  I power-walked back to the hotel, praying that I'd make it back to our clean, private bathroom without any situations and the two of them went on as planned.  They made it back to the room and we spent the rest of the evening there.  After resting we ordered room service and passed out and it felt wonderful.

Oh, and in case you ever stay at that resort with your pet and you want room service, they've got you both covered.  (Which I thought was a little ridiculous but I guess a good idea for the people who won't leave their animals home.)

And that was Thursday.

so we went to

Orlando for spring break and it was fun.  We did a lot of walking.  Here are a few pics... for today.

It all started with the flight there.  I wasn't near as nervous as I have been in the past.  (I thank Cosme and all his small plane flying for that.)  Once we got on the plane, we each purchased Direct TV for the ride.  That REALLY helps my nerves.  If I can watch Food Network while sitting there, I almost instantly find my comfort zone.  I started off watching Frasier with Eric... until they brought me a set of my own headphones.

So halfway through The Pioneer Woman, I passed out.  When I woke up I had to hurry and finish my Coke because we were already descending.  (While I can't have anything to eat or drink before flying, I can have a Coke on the last half of the flight.)

See?  Lots of DEEP water.

And there's Florida!

Once we landed, we hopped in a taxi and headed straight to our hotel.  We stayed at the Loew's Royal Pacific Resort.  It's right there at Universal so we didn't really see a need to rent a car.

Here's a view from the drop off to the hotel entrance.

Here's a view out our window, overlooking the pool.

To get to the park we could either take a ferry from the hotel or walk around the little waterway.  Most of the time we walked.  Here's a view after leaving Universal and heading back to the hotel.

It was a really pretty walk with lots of greenery, unless of course you were walking under a bridge.

We got there around 2:00 Thursday afternoon so we headed straight to the park.  We were pretty tired that evening so we ordered room service.

Johnny Walker, anyone?  I'd say that's fair market value...  (in case that font is too small, yes, that's $220)  And the dinner menu wasn't much better.

On the plus side, the hotel did serve Coke products.  On the downside, a can was $4.00 plus 6.something% tax plus 22% service charge.  FYI, a 12-pack at Kroger is usually $4.00. 

Here's a view out the window one evening. 

That was our flight to and first day in Orlando.  More to come tomorrow.

i'm trying to understand

something I just read online.  I was looking up TSA stuff and I clicked on Transgender Travelers because I thought it was listed under the Prohibited Items and I thought that was really rude.  When I read that it was just a notice to transgender travelers, I thought that was pretty rude too.  Here's what United has on their site

So what is this supposed to mean?  Why do they need to comfort the transgender traveler?  What about me?  Do they think I enjoy the process?  While I do feel comforted by the added security, I don't at all feel comfortable going through it.  What happened to my "Special Considerations"?  I am a 41-year-old straight female who happens to be very modest (so modest I won't get a massage because I'm not taking my clothes off and ESPECIALLY not having someone touch me without any clothes on).  What happened to my feelings, United?  What about me?  And honestly, why are you calling out transgender people anyway?  Our society always makes such big deals about people not being treated equally and unfairness well guess what.  This is why.  If they're going to go out of their way to comfort one group, they better go out of their way to comfort me.

Thank you for listening to my morning 8:00 hour vent.

ps - Remember me?  I'll be back shortly.

well yesterday

I got most of the carpet out in time for the garbage truck to haul away.  Now it's just a memory... a bad, dirty memory.

I sent this picture of Lucille to Mom and Lauren yesterday.  Look at that face.  I'm not mentioning any names but someone is bitter.  Now that the bed is gone, she is homeless and is living out of a suitcase... and playing the victim well.

Strat jumped up on the bench, hoping to make her feel better.  He started to lick her head.  All I could catch was her not having it and him jumping back. 

He knew better than to keep on and just left her alone, but wanted to stay near her in case she needed his shoulder to cry on.  He got comfortable right next to her suitcase and she reached over and bopped Strat on the head.  I think she just wanted to make it clear that although she is allowing him to sit near her, she is in no way accepting his comfort and sympathy.  He swallowed his pride and stayed by her side, just in case.

Wow, it's nice to see that I'm not the only one in the house who gets overly dramatic.  Superb performance Lucille!  I gave her a standing ovation then let her carry on with her sulking while portraying the victim that she is.

As for the guest room, I'm still working on it but might take a break today.  It's amazing how much stuff doesn't get done when I'm preoccupied.  Today I guess I'll focus on chores.

my email is

back up and running and that means I'm going to post a picture.  I mentioned my decision to turn the guest room into an art space.  Well, yesterday we got the bed moved to Brazoria and today I'm left with a bedroom with a bunch of junk, minus a bed.  So I took the first step and now there's no turning back

 and it's a little bit scary.  I know the carpet needs to be replaced but now it's for real.  It's not so much getting rid of the carpet that scares me a little but it's the fact I'm using this space for what I want and what if I should have left it the way it was?  It doesn't matter because it's too late now.  But you know what?  Tearing up that carpet is harder than it looks.  I had to take my jacket off halfway through that one little section.  (Then I figured it'd be a good time to take a break and share my progress.)  Heck, I'm even drinking water!  Now I need to find something to pull that little nail strip from around the room.  I think they use a crowbar on tv so I might look in the garage to find one.  If not, I'll have to figure something else out.

Oh, before I get back to the art space renovation, let me share a picture of Maggie from last week.  I brought her into the kitchen with me while I was making dinner.  If she only knew how little it would take for her to get loose.

Let's hope she never finds out.