An Island Frame of Mind (A Cam and Luke PTR) Updated 5/22 About This Page:

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by Amy L

I have gotten so far behind in your PTR. I am catching up slowly and really enjoying it! First, Luke's train room looks so great! My Dad was such a huge train buff and he would have been so proud to have a room like this to go in and "work" on his trains. He may never have left it.

I really hope you guys get to experience Trader Sam's. On our last trip to DL, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and went to the Trader Sam's a couple of times. It is a blast there! The first time we got lucky and walked right in and found a seat, but the next time we had to wait and wait for a seat. I remember that we could sit outside sooner, but all of the fun happens inside. That is something I am most looking forward to on our next race trip out there in the Fall.

I'm really hoping since we are staying there that we can manage Trader Sam's at some point. And I do want to be inside as the article mentioned that there is where all the fun happens.

Originally Posted by clio

Luke's train room looks really nice. I'm glad you kept Stefanie's bookcase.
We have a train wall in our family room. It's nothing like that.
I can't ever imagine waiting 6 hours for anything at Disney or anywhere else for that matter.
I've been to Star Wars weekend once back in 2006. My daughter and husband usually go but this year she got a new job and they're buying a house so no Star Wars weekend this year. They didn't renew they annual passes either.
Liz

It feels a little weird to me, but since we are headed to Disneyland in October, we won't be renewing our annual passes when they expire this year.

Originally Posted by KMB733

Star Wars Weekends sound like a lot of fun. I can't wait to hear what you think about Trader Sam's. I've been hearing really good things about it.

Luke's train room is really coming along great! I think you picked the perfect location for Stefanie's bookcase. I love that picture of Stefanie and Chip (at least I think its Chip)

That would be Dale because he has the reddish brown nose. He was Stefanie's favorite chipmunk and mine is Chip. That is one of my absolute favorite ever photos from a Disney trip, and it was her last trip.

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by roaminggnome

The shelf full of those memories & treasures is awesome!!

The train room is looking great. I wish I had 1/2 the talent to pull something like that off.

It is interesting to watch him work as sometimes he just stands and surveys the room, but out of that eventually an idea comes to him and then he starts to work.

[mommapants]

6 hours wait! I hope they were pouring liquid gold into those cups.

Train room looks great - There is no way I can show that to Evan as he will then go bugging me to get a train room too.

[pamcarey]

Trader Sam's looks awesome! I really hope you get to go there, especially since you're staying at the Poly!

The train room really looks amazing, and I love the Stefanie bookshelf!

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by mommapants

6 hours wait! I hope they were pouring liquid gold into those cups.

Train room looks great - There is no way I can show that to Evan as he will then go bugging me to get a train room too.

I can't imagine that wait either as it is nothing that Luke or I would or could do.

Originally Posted by pamcarey

Trader Sam's looks awesome! I really hope you get to go there, especially since you're staying at the Poly!

The train room really looks amazing, and I love the Stefanie bookshelf!

I'm getting so excited about staying there (except that it means the WDW trip is over).

[jandsdennis]

Well I cant believe I missed signing in on this. Ive read 10 pages straight and I dont want to miss anything else as I am now only 25 pages behind! Plans sound great especially the food. My favorite part.

[Colexis Mom]

Great list for DHS and the grotto! Love what Luke has done with the room reno!

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by jandsdennis

Well I cant believe I missed signing in on this. Ive read 10 pages straight and I dont want to miss anything else as I am now only 25 pages behind! Plans sound great especially the food. My favorite part.

Thanks for joining in!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great list for DHS and the grotto! Love what Luke has done with the room reno!

Luke is very proud of the room.

[Cam22]

This Weekend

It has been a long couple of days. Friday we managed to work in our 5K walk, a couple loads of laundry, and pack to head to Glasgow. Luke was hoping that some LGB track would arrive before we needed to leave, so that he could put it up on the shelves and even try it out. Our mail arrived first and our magic bands were included. (Picture to come later as I’ve forgotten to download it to the computer.) The track did arrive and he got I all connected. While I sorted and put away a load of laundry, Luke even set up and engine and called me so I could see it running. It is so cool! He thought he had taken a video of it, but it didn’t save. But at least here is a picture.



It is a Mickey train, too.

We got to Glasgow around 3:00 ,and June and John were marshaling a crew to move their baby grand piano to Dad's as part of the auction. Around 5:00 John arrived back with a very large U-Haul that he backed up to their front porch after quite of bit of maneuvering (this will be important later). A little afterwards, my Dad hollered to me that we had had a visitor. I thought my aunt and uncle had arrived, but instead it was a white feather. He said he was standing in the front hall, watching as some of the guys arrived and it just floated down by his feet. The feather came home with me and is now in our feather jar.



By 5:30 a crew of six guys was assembled and the piano legs were safely removed and the piano body wrapped for transport.





After a couple of failed attempts to get it out the door, the guys turned it around and it went out the door smoothly.





Lifting was minimal (it was 800 pounds) as they put it on the dolly and then as they lifted it onto the ramp from the U-Haul.





Once it was secured inside the back, the guys attempted to retract the ramp, but unfortunately, it was stuck on the step. When John tried to move the truck forward just a bit to unstick the ramp, he discovered that he was mired in ruts created earlier when he was back up time and again. We've had so much rain over the past few weeks that our yards are almost swamp lands.







We first tried using wood to give the wheels traction but had no luck.



Luke and John finally got the ramp back in its storage place.

Then began an arduous job of shoveling gravel under the wheels to move about 5 feet. Their yards slants up hill.



June making arrangements to meet my aunt and uncle.

At 6:45, we left with Daddy and JP to meet my aunt and uncle at Cracker Barrel since we were supposed to have been there at 6:30. We arrived at 7:00, and asked for a table for 8, hoping June and John would make it. We had been done with our meals for about 15 or 20 minutes, just enjoying talking to catch up on each others' lives when June called. The truck was out, but since we were already done eating, she just wanted all of us to come back to the house. We enjoyed more talking and my scrapbooks. Around 10:30, Dad headed to bed, and we were upstairs in bed, too, by 11:00.

Dad did not sleep well, waking at 2:00 AM unable to go back to sleep. Actually, none of us slept well. He was out around 6:40 to pick up my aunt and uncle from their hotel and meet the auctioneer at his house. June and John were gone by 7:30. Luke and I followed by 8:00, stopping at McDs for some breakfast. Dad's house was a beehive of activity as the auction crew was busily getting boxes out of the house and placing them -- well -- everywhere. I was able to catch up with a few people I hadn't seen in years.

Shortly after 10:00 AM, the sale of his house began, and so did the tears. June and I mainly as we knew how hard this was on our dad. Dad because this had been his home for 40+ mainly very happy years. This part seemed to last forever and dragged as the bidders needed to make calls between each bid to check with other folks. In the end Dad got what I believe is a fair deal though it was lower than he had hoped based on the home's appraisal. Truthfully, Dad hasn't been physically up to basic upkeep of the house for a while and then before that as Mom became home bound due to her disease he just couldn't juggle her care and the house. The new owners are going to have to due a lot -- new carpets, upgraded kitchen and baths, and painting for example.

The next 3 1/2 hours were spent auctioning off the contents he was willing to part with and there were lots and lots and lots of items. Many were sold individually and many were sold in boxed groups. The sales from these were in the projected ballpark, so good again. Dad was disappointed that some things he thought would sell high did not and then some of the oddest things sold high. He had a Army mess pot (very large) that sold for $150 while a very nice power tool sold for only $35. I'm sure a lot depends on the folks that actually turn up to buy.

Overall, I truly think it went well, but I could tell when we left to come home that Daddy was tired and sad in spite of being relieved. Now Luke and I will be heading down several times this summer to help him organize what he is keeping. Thanks for all your good thoughts as we had the best weather today. High of 79 degrees and marvelous, even hot, sunshine. That did bring out a huge crowd.

It did take some photos, but I've not been able to edit them all yet, so those will come later.

When I awoke in the night to pouring rain, which has lasted most of the day with only about 45 minutes of dry weather, I was again thankful for our beautiful day for the sale.

[chezp]

I can imagine that the whole weekend must have been both physically and emotionally draining for all of you, especially your dad. Thank goodness the weather was at least with you for the move.

[B.M.]

Sounds like the whole day went very well.... Although I know it was an emotional day for your family....

[kingfamily1129]

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to see so many things going to other people. It's a good thing memories can't be sold Your dad is very lucky that so many people love him so much that they came to be with him on such a difficult day

[bluejn]

I can't imagine how difficult that was for your dad, my mom and dad are still in their house we kids have all grownup in. I don't look forward to a day when we would have to sell. Maybe things will be peaceful now for him and he can relax

[lauriep]

So glad you had good weather and did reasonably well with the sale. What a difficult time with moving the piano! I hope the lawn isn't too badly torn up from the truck. A very difficult thing for all of you, especially your dad. It brought a few tears when you mentioned that the Stefanie feather arrived to comfort you all. Perfect.

[Roxie2006]

Glad to hear the weather cooperated. We are all wearing flippers here in the south too. Happy to hear it all worked out for the family. Change can be a very emotional roller coaster.