What I did for Halloween – part two

On to photos from the costume ball.  You see, Gandalf Murphy came out as 4 different acts – their pirate personas, their hillbilly personas, their extraterrestrial personas, and as the band.  Aerialists performed between the acts.  A whole lot of pictures follow:

Part 1 – Pirates

 

Part 2 – Hillbillies

Part 3 – Extraterrestrials

Part 4 – The Circus

Pictures of others:

See those lovely stickers on S’s shirt and Mr T’s hat?  That was the only way they were allowed to film the show.  We’ve learned all about the intricacies of the videographer’s union in New York from this experience!

It was over 4 hours of nonstop fun.  Unfortunately, I had arranged for a driver at midnight – silly me for assuming it would be over by then.  We missed the last few songs and encores.  Neither of us were thrilled with the thought of walking home after the show with video equipment.  We had an early flight the next day anyway.

In the meantime, back at home, the Girlie Girl informed us that we had at least 500 kids come by for halloween, and Grandma was overwhelmed.  Next time, we may just have to take the whole family and take a pass on halloween at home….

Other shots from Anaheim

I told you earlier that Saturday was my birthday.  My goal was to get straight from the airport to Disneyland to use the free entry on your birthday offer.

I was flying United, and after my first leg to Denver, I found they had oversold the flight by 30 (!!!!) seats.  I stood patiently in line, planning my plan of attack on this, as I could see that the counter people weren’t having a good time arguing with the people who couldn’t understand what they were trying to do.  I get to the front of the line, where a counter person (also named Jill!) helps me.  She immediately states that I have to take the flight 4 hours from now.  I put on my sad face, and tell her that it’s my birthday, Disney is where I’m headed, and I simply cannot go that late or lose my free entry.  She looks at me, and says that it simply won’t do, another person named Jill missing her birthday at Disneyland, and puts me in first class!  🙂

My Karma balanced its self out when I was trying to cross the street to get to the car rentals and tripped – went flying and landed on my palms and knees – something adults really should avoid doing.  I discovered that the 6 people in the cars waiting for me to cross the street were much more self absorbed than I expected, when noone helped me up, and started honking for me to hurry out of their way.  😦

Regardless, I made my way to Disney, rode three roller coasters, as well as some familiar rides, all without incident.  I should tell you that when you wear the birthday pin at Disneyland, EVERY EMPLOYEE tells you happy birthday and calls you by name.  At first, it was great, but after 4 hours of it, it got a little weird.

All Glitter Glue Princess wanted from the trip was pressed pennies, especially since she had no interest in the roller coaster part of it.  I picked these up for her:

The first day of the food show, I figured out the scam going by parking at the convention center – $10, with no re-entry.  Not acceptable, when I can park on Disney property for $12 with unlimited re-entry and simply take a shuttle.  Admittedly, it took longer, but I enjoyed the benefit of being able to go off-site when necessary….  Regardless, I would have to pass in front of the parks when I did this, and one day, I encountered this:

So cute – it showed up on Tuesday when I made my travels to the Grand Californian for the shuttle.

Remember my hubbie’s obsession with Cones?  I took this shot just for him:

Photos of the sunset, taken at Huntington Beach:

What happened to the parents?

I took the Glitter Glue Princess and her bff to Splash Universe in Shipshewana, IN this weekend.  It is a giant indoor water park with 2 water slides, a lazy river, a 500 gallon bucket that drops water on kid’s heads, and my personal favorite, an adults only hot tub.  This was her birthday trip – her choice instead of going to American Girl Place this year.

After doing our usual tour in Shipshewana – the cheese factory and quilting fabric store – we checked in and went straight to the water park.  The girls loved it.  My knees started aching almost immediately, so I was pretty much spent by dinner time.  We went to an Amish restaurant, and skipped the christmas tree lighting parade going on to go back to the hotel.  Girls continued to play.  I continued to soak in the hot tub.  Then the girls found the arcade and promptly spent $20 between the two of them.

I tried getting the girls to bed at 10, just to keep some semblance of a schedule so I wouldn’t regret it the next night…  The powers that be were simply not going to allow it.  There were children RACING and screaming down our hall till 11 pm, despite my best efforts to stop it.  Even the manager was out there telling them to get back to their rooms.  Yelling didn’t work.  Begging was out of the question.  I understand that it was a party type of place, but this was ridiculous.

My question was where were these kid’s parents when they were trouping through the halls? There were children as young as 5 out there.  Is it common to set your kids loose at the beginning of night?  Did they lock their kids out of the room for some “private time” – what the heck was going on with this?  I’ve never experienced anything like this.  It still sounded like a thunderous herd in our room at 11 pm when I simply gave up from exhaustion.

The next day, we had a breakfast buffet, more arcade time, and then a couple of hours more in the water park before driving home.

The girls enjoyed it, but I think we may have to try some other place if we do a water park again.

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On a separate note –

I’m feeling a severe sewing deficiency going on. Must…get….SEWING!!!!!!!

I need to get Glitter Glue Princess some fleece pants made for her snow pants (she didn’t want some to match her coat this year – too old – but she still wants some to wear when we snow blow the drive).  Also on the list are some pajama pants, a fleece jacket for me, and some tube tops to wear under our shirts to keep our backs and tummies covered from the cold breezes.  For Christmas I need to get a “Slanket” knockoff made for the Glitter Glue Princess as well (*sigh* THIS is why children shouldn’t be allowed to watch infomercials!).  I found this link if anyone else is working on the same thing…

Following the Circus to Sault Ste Marie

This was our belated holiday weekend.

We dropped the Glitter Glue Princess off at Grandma and Grandpa’s and drove up to Sault Ste Marie for a concert, then dropped back to the lower peninsula for Blissfest.

In the upteen years we’ve lived in Michigan, we’ve never gone to the UP. This was a bit of an adventure for us…

For some reason, they’ve been sandblasting the asphalt off the bridge, so it was “more slippery than usual” – the understatement of the century. S was a trooper, considering the whole thing, and the fact he had white knuckles of death by the time we were over.

Note the absence of asphalt on our side of the road?

We didn’t stop at Mackinac Island, the Mystery Spot, or any of the other touristy destinations. Save those for a trip with a kiddo.

We saw more border patrol up here than I anticipated. What? Do they have problems with Canadians swimming to freedom up here? It just seemed the manpower was a bit… misplaced.

The concert was lovely… It was much quieter than any other concert I’ve gone to, mainly since it was summer at a University. It was about 50 people in total. Many older people in suits came, and expected a lovely jazz affair. 🙂 They got something a wee bit different.

So…. What did YOU do this weekend? A wordless post on Philadelphia

Ahhh – peace and quiet

S and the Glitter Glue Princess flew away yesterday to Washington DC with Grandma.  Tonight they are having a private tour of the White House and had to cleared by the Secret Service. (One of S’s Pink Floyd friends is in Homeland Security and set them up.)  Sunday they are going to see the pandas at the zoo – the highlight of the trip.

And, I’m staying home… alone!  Someone has to stay home to take care of the kitties and all that.  No one to distract me while I sew.  I can actually go watch a movie with a higher than PG rating.

The swim shirt had been modded and cut out.  It’ll be sewn up this weekend and I can make me some lovely skirts and tops.

Flying Away…

S. has left for England.

He is off to do a Pink Floyd type pilgrimage. There is a Syd Barrett tribute concert and Roger Waters concerts to attend. I’m sure he will have a blast. The kiddo and I have such exciting things planned in his absence! (Not really – just a trip to Ikea in Detroit, but hey, it is still fun! She was asking about a new dresser since hers seems shoddily built and is getting run down after 8 years of active little kid use.)

Not much sewing has occurred for a bit. We backed a disney fairy wall panel for the Glitter Glue Princess’ room (we took down the baby quilt finally). I purchased it when Hancock’s still had inventory in their going out of business sale. We used the new innovis, and the kiddo did half of the sewing. Taught her how to slip stitch and turn something after “bagging” it. I really like the ability to turn down the speed on this machine – it would be great for kids if it weren’t such a pricey machine- keeps the kid from jackrabbiting like she does with her sewing machine. It is almost like sewing training wheels for her!

I’m still trying to figure out the whole embroidery software bit. I’m on the verge of just going out and buying brother PE design 7 and be done with it. I’m not keen on a new learning curve. It’s just that I’ve got people wanting me to make things custom for them, and I’m too impatient to learn a new setup.

They finally realized why I’ve been so happy…

I’ve been an unusually good mood at work lately – no wonder – I’ll be out from the 1st to the 9th. Duh. I won’t be picking up calls either. They just noticed that I’ve been much happier than usual.

Is it – 1-because I now have the help I need to lead productive days where I can multitask appropriately and still get lab samples done? or is it – 2-because after Friday, I won’t have to be there till the 10th? A little of both I think… If there were only a way to clone myself and get the sewing done too.

Started working on finding a decent hotel for the princess and S’s trip to DC for this summer. I’ve been trying to find an alternate to blowing all of my holiday inn points, but you know, hotels are just soooo expensive in DC if you want to be downtown and near a metro stop. I may just have to blow all my points on them for this trip, though I’d be terribly jealous, especially since I can’t go. I just wonder if the hotels are going to have any better deals for the end of june/july, since there won’t be any congress. Anyone know? Right now the dates are leaving around June 28 or 29, returning July 3-ish…