Last minute plans and Colette had to fly to Orlando while Ben, Perry and I drove there. For the first time in the history of forever, we stopped on the way to sleep so our first day wouldn’t be spent feeling rough. After trying several places that were full, we finally found availability at a Marriott.
The following morning, we were back on the road and arrived to take the standard gate photo by early afternoon.
The conference hotel and our arrival there…
The Mopar conference is always held at Coronado Springs. It’s not what I’d pick for us if not for the event being held there, but it’s nice just the same.
Upon checking in, I had a gift waiting from Frank and Jay — the two guys that make everything happen.
We had a tower room that we trashed by day 2. We had clothes everywhere and counters covered with drinks and snacks. I’m sure housekeeping has listed us in the top 10 worst guests ever. We had a water view this year and the room itself was great.
Small things make a big difference.
Once nice perk? Disney characters would randomly appear in the hotel lobby. They didn’t stay a long time and the visits weren’t announced. I think that made it even more special!
Colette was thrilled that Daisy wanted her backpack – again, the interaction adds to the overall experience, right?
The cast members at Coronado Springs were pretty good — respectful and polite for the most part. The overpriced food was decent, and the grounds were clean and well maintained.
But Coronado Springs made one huge faux pas that I’ll talk about tomorrow… see ya’ real soon. 🙂
My Momma’s last living cousin, Lurlene, passed away recently and a celebration of life was planned. We arrived at the cemetery yesterday for the 11:00 AM service and were the only ones there — except for Lurlene’s best friend, Pat Erwin Combs, that we invited. The memorial is scheduled for NEXT Thursday. 🙄 Mom got a lecture… Mr. Pesky writes everything down in his planner.
Lurlene was the only child of my Pap-pa’s brother Chalkie and his wife, Alma. I have no clue how they got the name “Chalkie” from Gerald Walter — same as how they got my pap-pa’s name “Noah” from Morse Alton. I guess back then you could just pick any ole name out of the air. I may change my name to Izaboo or something and see how that flies.
Lurlene was younger than Mom and the only other cousin we were around as kids/young adults was Gordon. He was the son of Opal (sister of Nanny — Mom’s mother) and Homer Baxter. I guess when you just have a few cousins, you tend to like them better than when you have a bunch of them like I do. Not so sure though because Mom looks a little pissed in the photo below. 🙂
Gordon, Mom & Lurlene
Of course, the photo above wasn’t a color print originally. Thanks to Shelley and Photoshop, it is now. Same as the photo below of Mom, Lurlene, and some unnamed smiling doggo.
This concludes today’s history lesson that no one cares about except for me… and probably Mom.
Now you know: In 2005, a sheep jumped off a cliff in Turkey and 1500 sheep followed one by one. 450 sheep died and the rest survived by landing on the soft big pile of sheep.
My cousin, Sherry, decided to drop by with her grandbaby last night. We don’t see each other often and we really don’t have a whole lot in common. I was throwing out excuses that didn’t stick — and I’m glad they didn’t. It was good to see her!
Back in the day…
When I was young, I would sometimes stay all night at her house. As we got older, we went out together a few times… the most memorable was Phoenix Hill Tavern in Louisville. She’s changed so much since then — but haven’t we all? She still reminds me of her Mom, Irene, though. Sort of loud and very assertive.
Mom and Aunt Irene were great friends until she passed, but Sherry and I weren’t close in that way. Still, you know you can always count on family when you need them.
As we grow older, it’s good we touch base more often. Uncle Max is in a nursing home now and under hospice care. He’s confused often and is extremely grumpy. I can’t imagine how she feels when he talks mean to her — but I’m glad I could listen as she let off some steam.
I wanted to keep the baby (although I was ready for Sherry to go home)! 😉
Such a good natured little girl! She looks like her Momma (Kourtney) did when she was that age. Sherry promised they’d be over to swim soon (she better hurry as summer is almost a memory) and said she hopes my Momma will come so they can chat. Merida wants them to come back too because she wants another chance to try and steal that pacifier. 😂
Katie, the old standby was here after that.
No photos of her because she’s here LOTS. And her… I don’t have to entertain.
Now you know: Multimillionaire Maria Assunta, upon her death left her entire fortune of $13 million, all of her properties such as villas, homes, and land to her cat Tommaso, making the cat one of the world’s richest felines. Just a few years prior, Tommaso was a stray cat she found in the streets of Rome.
Dharma’s early morning vet appointment yesterday has stopped the itching and swelling caused by her allergic reaction to who knows what. The bad news is that I awoke to the sound of retching at about 5:15 AM this morning. That has to be in the top 3 worst wake-up sounds in the history of forever.
Happy 8th birthday, Dharma!
I’m sure throwing up is not fun for her either. It’s her 8th birthday and she’s celebrating by throwing up. 🙁
No sleep for the weary.
Less than 2.5 hours sleep the night before, yesterday I was looking forward to a nice, long nap that didn’t happen. Ben showed up and we headed back south to trade in his Mini Cooper for a new Honda.
Now I have new car fever.
What he bought would be great for what I need… a grocery getting, dog transporting, normal car. But I can’t buy the same kind of car as my kid! And, I can’t find anything else I really want that’s not in the expensive range.
I don’t drive to work, so whatever I choose sits in the garage most of the time. Heck, my Mini convertible is a 2016 and has 7000 miles on it. It’s not practical for me to look at higher-end vehicles that will just sit and depreciate.
It’s also not wise to contemplate spending money when sleep deprived.
I’ve logged about 7 hours sleep over the past 2 days. My best bet would be to cool my jets and put my head on a pillow this afternoon. Maybe watch some mindless TV or read/listen to a book. That is… when I’m not cleaning up after a sick dog.
Merida is currently napping on my spot on the couch — with her head on MY pillow. 🙄
Now you know: At least 4 billion people across the globe wear glasses, and 75% of adults worldwide rely on some sight correction product.
Photoshop Beta has introduced generative AI. Basically, the program generates an image based upon text input and places it where you tell it to.
I don’t know how I feel about it because of it’s capabilities, but it sure is fun — and funny!
Rather than a view of my backyard, I instead took a trip to the Swiss Alps!
Mom and Carl loved their trip to a goat farm!
And Dharma took her first ever trip to the city!
Ben took the day off for some quiet time in the sunshine…
Coco hit the tiki bar…
And, did you know that all REAL men ride side saddle? Well… now ya do!
After the goat farm, Carl decided a trip to a deserted island was more his jam. Can you blame him?
Of course, Mom was upset she didn’t get to go see the amazing turquoise water, so she is just waiting to end it all on her terms.
But I caught her just in time so we could celebrate the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted (July 4, 1776) and the United States officially became its own nation.
