[Kippage]

OK, since the chance for snow here in FL just shot down to basically nothing, I'll post my report. I like to talk, so it's long.

Main Characters: Myself, Greg (BF)
Guest Appearances: Georgia Tech Football Team, "Ando's" family
*note - I'm referring to my football friend as his nick "Ando," since I don't know if he wants his info splashed on the net more than it is. He's kinda private and quiet so...

Saturday, 18 Dec
Spent 7 1/2 hours driving from Pensacola to Orlando. Had to leave 2 hours late because BF just HAD to have a specific hoodie and of course, it had to be washed. On the way out, we got our classic road trip food - Sackfull from Krystal's (White Castle for some of you?), and 1 liter Coke's mixed with a slim bag of salted peanuts. Checked into Orlando Marriott Downtown at 5:30ish. Seriously NICE hotel. I wasn't expecting this.

Sunday, 19 Dec
Magic Kingdom. Weather was decent - not too different from what was at home. Crowd was . I knew it would be crowded for the Holidays, but jeez. It was almost like going in June/July only it wasn't THAT hard to deal with because of the weather. We managed to do some rides - Jungle Cruise, Aladdin, Big Thunder, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and Stitch. We battled forever on whether or not to Splash Mountain before deciding to skip it. Neither of us wanted to get wet and risk getting sick. And our Jungle Cruise guide was TER-RI-BLE. New maybe? But a lot of the time was walking around just taking everything in. It was a first trip for both of us during Christmas.
Ate lunch at Plaza. Had "dinner" at Tony's, which was actually my first time eating there. Decent. The tiramisu could've been a little bit better, but... (We hooked up with Ando's family after MK and went out to a dinner.)
Saw the Christmas parade - adorable. For Wishes we managed to get on Main St, near the Tommorrowland entrance. BTW, did anyone else notice the gold on the castle?
When leaving, Alyssa (4 yrs old, Ando's neice) threw a total fit. Her first time at MK. She wanted to stay the night at the park and her parents come get her before the game. Insisted that Cinderella wouldn't mind if she spent the night in the castle. After crying and screaming forever, she ended up falling asleep on the Monorail. The whole day we kept running into Tech guys. For the players who got to Orlando early, they were allowed to run around town and visit the parks. Kept hearing about Icky, one of the biggest guys on the team, All-American, etc... was too scared to get on the Mummy.
After dinner, we headed up to the GT team hotel, Marriott World Center, to visit players and ogle the goodies they received from the Bowl people - flip screen video cameras, dvd players, watches, etc. Got serenaded by two players battling each other on the hotel piano.

Monday, 20 Dec
Epcot. I'm not a big Epcot fan. Not sure why. But Greg and I wanted to see Illuminations, so we took off. Managed to get most of the rides we wanted done. Didn't make it to see the tree lighting. Instead we decided to do the Candlelight Processional (w/Dinner Package). Ate at Marrakesh, LOVED it. Watched the 6:45 show. No clue who the guy was that did the show. I was told Kirk Franklin did a few earlier in the month - wish we caught that one. Debated on Illuminations or going to see the Osborne Lights, decided on Illuminations. Good choice too. I liked it. Between St. Anne's (Pensacola) and the lights at Bellingrath (Alabama), that made up for missing the Osborne's.

[Jen]

Welcome back, Victoria! Love the report so far ~ oh what I wouldn't do for a White Castle Crave Case right now.....


Jen

[Kippage]

Tuesday, 21 Dec
We realized that once we got home, we wouldn't have much time to shop, so we hit the big Outlet mall for the first half of the day. Got just about everything done. I hit Old Navy like a mad woman. Got a bunch of stuff 50% off. Plus I had $20 off card.
Spent about 2-3 hours tailgating at Citrus Bowl Stadium (or something like that).
Game started at 7:45pm. GT had total control of that game from 1 minute and half into it, when they scored the first touchdown. Final score was 51-14, GT winning. Half time performance was... of all people... Doug E. Fresh I still don't get that one... The trophy ceremony and all seemed to take forever. We ended up hanging out in the stands a while afterwards. The team kept totally cheesing up the scoreboard camera. It was hilarious. A bunch of the players, especially the Seniors, came back out from the lockerroom with their video cameras and were taping everything - it was their last game with this team. Hit Pat O'brien's for the post-game fan party.
I don't how many of you are familiar with GT football. Granted, they're not Auburn or Miami - not football forces. BUT, they're morally, one of the best IMO. And they push academics like crazy. At GT, you're late for 1 class or make a bad grade, you miss 1 game. At other schools, you get arrested for beating up your pregnant girlfriend, you miss 3 games. I'd rather go 6-6 with student athletes than 12-0 with thugs. Needless to say, I've become attached to this team and these guys. OK, rant over. LOL

Wednesday, 22 Dec
Hit Downtown Disney. My main point was to get to the Christmas and Scrapbook stores. At the Christmas store, we got a few ornaments and stuff. BF and I decided that our new tradition would be to get an ornament from every Disney visit. We got the "hidden mickey" ones (which cost a whole lot more than I expected) and a Mickey one from the Artist Collection (this one begins the tradition). We don't know it it'll be an AC one every year or not...
At the Scrapbook store, I was totally dissappointed. Basic stuff I can get anywhere. Didn't get ANYTHING. I wanted the big 2004 book, but it cost too much. I'll keep checking Ebay. I also wanted the big Mickey glove stickers and the character stickers, but I can get those at Michael's and Hobby Lobby cheaper Total bummer there. Left.
Hit the Fashion Square Mall near the Hotel. FINISHED MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!
At 10:30pm, got a call from my mom that my great uncle (her uncle) was in the hospital and wasn't expected to make it 24 hours. So I went, managed to check out and went back to pack up all our stuff. Got a call an hour later that he died. Greg ran back to the front desk and managed to get our room back for the night. We really didn't want to drive home in the dark with Holiday traffic. I wasn't concerned about getting there to say goodbye - I never really knew the guy - I was more concerned about my Grandma. Now she's the only one of her siblings left. That's gotta be tough to deal with. She took care of him a lot too.
My mom got there about 15 mins after my uncle called her. She said at that point, he was alive, but there was no response to anyone - he was just laying there. His kidneys completely failed and he had "the Scream mask" on to help him breathe. Not sure exactly what it is, but it resembled the white mask from Scream. The thing that really pisses me off - he was in the hospital for 2 days... no one ever told us. I wouldn't have cancelled my trip or anything, but, you know... Like I said, I didn't really know him. Kinda crazy. Every family has one, he was ours. Did so much weird stuff that my mom tried to keep us away from him quite a bit. Not so much violent or dangerous (well, except threatening to shoot the mailman for touching his mailbox )... just... mentally crazy.

Thursday, 23 Dec
Drove home.

Sorry, I know it's long. Like I said. I like to talk and often go off on random topics.

[Jen]

So sorry to hear about your uncle ~ I will say a prayer for him and your family.

Jen

[Dana]

Thanks for the report. Sorry about your Uncle. I know he wasn't close to you, but I am going to say a prayer for your grandma.

[BDavis932]

Thanks for the report Victoria! Sorry for your families loss of your Uncle.

[mickaholic4077]

sorry about your uncle. The guy you saw at Candlelight Processional was Edward James Olmos. He was Lieutenant Castillo on the show Miami Vice.

[Kippage]

Ah... no wonder I didn't know who he was. I was still a kid back when Miami Vice was on.

[Erin]

We must be about the same age Kippage...LOL I don't know how he is either...

:c)

Great TR!!

[Kippage]

lol, 21 here. I dunno, maybe I was around during the MV reruns? The only things I remember are the theme song (who doesn't?), speedboats, and the cheesy aloha-esque shirts. *shrug*

[mickaholic4077]

Boy that sure dates me,then,doesn't it?? I remember the Brady Bunch in its first incarnation too!!! (I loved Greg!!!)

[cinderbella]

i dunno who he was either and im 23--i missed that era......looks like we were at epcot on the same day--glad you had a good time...