The CLQ Heads West - Even Eileen!! About This Page:

[FanOfMickey]

Welcome back!! Sitting here nice and patient like

[KMB733]

Hope things slow down for you!

[mcc0313]

Welcome home!!! I am so glad you all had a fantastic trip and finally got to be all together again on the opposite coast. Tons of congratulations to Eileen...and add me to the list of those waiting to read her book

Also tons of belated wishes to Mary Devall...I could not think of a better way to celebrate her birthday.

18 days and counting until the family trip...I have total faith that you will have this TR finished before the next trip begins and of course nothing is as good as double fun as we will have Jill's TR to read as well....now quadruple TRs (hint hint)...what that would be quadruple the fun...a quartet of TRs (I still hold out hope )

[Coop]

Yeah - I leave in like 32 days - so if it's done before then - great!

[chezp]

Don't worry - we'll be waiting patiently (ish!).... I'll enjoy the daily updates when they start!

[HiddenMickey]

Just checkin' in for the duration of this report. Great start!

[Two4Disney]

Just checking...

[JoanneS]

Just hoping you were back.......

[mommapants]

I do hope everything is OK and that it is just life getting in the way.

[OhToodles!]

Hope everything is ok!
I'll send you a PM in hopes we can meet up, if at least breifly, while we're both there.

[lauriep]

Getting worried about you! As others have said, I hope it's good-busy that's keeping you away, not bad-busy.

[mpwife153]

Hope everything is ok - just to be safe

[PrincessSharon]

Sorry for the delay! Things got unexpectedly busy at work (well, I expected it to be busy, I just didn't expect to have to pick up the slack for someone who was unexpectedly out of the office). Things are back to normal now, so hopefully the TR will be posted without further delay. Thanks for being patient!

Eileen sadly did not win her category (though she was sort of spoiled for the results, so she knew it almost immediately). But she was able to do a lot of networking and make fantastic contacts, so it was a very successful endeavor. Also, Eileen's sister won in her category! Congratulations to both of them!

Originally Posted by lauriep

Congratulations to Eileen! I want to read her book, but can't find it-- where can I get it?? I hardly ever read fiction, but Georgette Heyer is an old fave of mine and I'd love to read Eileen's regency romance.

As soon as I get home from my current trip I'm going to read your first Crazy Lady TR, Sharon! Right now, I'm having fun with this one. I'll wave to you at the airport Friday night!

We're bummed we missed you, Laurie! And Eileen's book hasn't been published yet, but judging by the response here, it will be an immediate best-seller!

Originally Posted by Linnynad

Well now THIS is just fantastic!!! It's Fantastic because the pics you showed us of your fine crew all involve food or beverage in them. Since you have 2 shots of Karen, I am guessing she is your favorite??? LOL!!!
I love the added family members along for this ride too. Best wishes and BIG congrats to our Eileen on her award. That is Fantastic too!!!
I always love reading your TR's but this one I will be paying very close attention too as I see a DL trip in our very near future. Between Cars land and tons of friends and some family all in So Cal, it's a no brainer!!
Have a Fantastic time and for goodness sakes girl......bring that lap top

I won't say anything about Karen being my favorite even though she totally is. And I guess by now it's obvious I didn't bring the laptop. And after you see my photos, you'll be booking that trip to Cali.

Originally Posted by Two4Disney

Oh my goodness - was going to try not to even peek at this report cuz we had to cancel our DL trip. And before we moved back to Florida, I'd planned on doing RWA Anaheim - so sad to have to miss both. But I'll be peeking into the RWA tweets and peeking into this report while I work on my latest novel and hoping for the best for Eileen!! Woo hoo!

Can't wait to see what you think of Cars Land - so fun watching it in progress! Can't wait to get there myself!!

More please - even if it kills me.

Aww, too bad! We would've enjoyed seeing you again!

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

Yay! Another TR! Can't wait to hear what adventures you encounter.

Eileen, I'm sorry to hear of your injury, but the "aluminum fast pass" comment made the giggle. I'm sure the $130 in wine will help.

Your post reminds me that Eileen didn't spend a penny of that $130 on pink wine. But that's one of the surprises I've yet to reveal.

Originally Posted by LLaffinPlace

I'm caught up and can't wait to hear about all the antics of some of my favorite people on this planet.

Wish I could be there with you, but I'm hoping you have a grand time together. I'm so glad it all worked out, including Sharon's little phone call to Columbia, South Carolina to get Jill put on the jury duty list. Oops! Did I say that out loud?

Shhh! We agreed that would be our secret!

Originally Posted by Dlandmom2

I had the HONOR and PRIVILEGE of meeting the CLQ yesterday! It was everything I was hoping and more! It was great seeing Sharon, Karen, and Zack again, and I was equally thrilled to be meeting the Jillybeans and Eileen! Maddie and Mary Devall were even cuter than I was expecting! What a great time! I've encouraged them all to PLEASE start their TRs as soon as they get home...and that's after Jill and Sharon finish up the TRs for their previous trips (Karen has an unfinished one too, doesn't she?)!

Hope you guys are enjoying the rest of your trip(s)!!!

Mary Devall!!!

Your check is in the mail! And it was great getting to spend some time with you again!

Originally Posted by chia

Hey! I was in Disneyland this past Saturday! Now I'll have to examine my pictures all Where's Waldo style to see if I accidentally caught anyone in the background.

...'cause it's not like there were approximately 1,000,002 other people there or anything.

That would be hilarious if any of us showed up in your pictures!

Originally Posted by Grammy Grumpy

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray, The CLQ (even Eileen, +others) are back together! However, it appears P-Sha did NOT take her laptop and therefore there are no "love" reports here to enjoy. Thanks to Jill for posting pictures on facebook. Now to get the others in the group to post and to get P-Sha to join FB!!! I know your last day is approaching. Safe travels home to all. We'll be here, waiting (some patiently, some (most) NOT) for you all to begin your TR.

Barb, my mom is the biggest Facebook nag out there (don't tell her I said that!) and so far, I've resisted!

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Welcome back! I see from FB that there is still 1 member not home yet - still in Cali with another member.

Yes, the Koenigs took a road trip to spend a little time in San Francisco before heading home. I wish I'd planned better - I could've used my 2 (now 1) extra vacation days to join them!

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Welcome back! Can't wait to hear all about it! I heard Jilly already has her version ready to post, though, so if you want people to hear your version, you'd better hurry!!

I think that even after the delay, I'll finish before Jill. I may even finish before she gets started!

Originally Posted by WishIwasinDisney

I can be patient for daily updates! I leave in like 50 days....so anytime before that would be great.

Originally Posted by Coop

Yeah - I leave in like 32 days - so if it's done before then - great!

No worries, there! I need to have this one done before I leave for my next trip in {{gulp}} 12 days.

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Hope everything is ok!
I'll send you a PM in hopes we can meet up, if at least breifly, while we're both there.

See you soon!

[PrincessSharon]

Day One – Friday, July 27
I won’t do that again!

My usual routine when traveling is to take either the first flight out or the evening flight. When I take the evening flight, I go to work. That saves me from having to use a vacation day. This time, however, my flight was leaving at 4:30. I could go to work, but because I had extra vacation days, I decided to stay home and do last-minute trip preparations that day. Bad idea!

I didn’t really have much to do and I was so bored! I learned that I need the distraction of work if I’m going to take that later flight. It was nice, though, getting a mani-pedi right before I left.

After driving myself crazy for a long time my DM showed up. For once I was glad she was earlier than she needed to be! I was through with waiting, so we just left for the airport. The drive was mostly uneventful, but my DM confessed that she’s getting very excited for the family trip in a couple weeks! Normally, my DSIL (and my DN Isaiah) are the only ones who get excited before the trip.

Once at the airport, I checked my suitcase and went through security. The line was rather long – so long, in fact, that I couldn’t see the front of it, but I had plenty of time, and it moved quickly.

I walked to the gate and then waited for my flight to board. We took off a little late, but I wasn’t nervous, because I had a fairly decent layover in Cincinnati. The plane had only 2 seats on my side, and I got the window seat. It was a very bumpy flight because we were flying at peak thunderstorm time. Another reason I’ll never take that afternoon flight.

I did have some in-flight amusement, though. I had a teen girl sitting next to me (she must’ve been French or French Canadian). To pass the time, she was doing a Sudoku puzzle. She had a pencil, and she’d write every possible number in each box, then as she eliminated one, she’d frantically erase. I mean frantically. When she finally got it figured out which number would go in the box, she’d frantically erase the final number and then write it in with pen. It amused me, anyway. By the end of our flight, there were 3 inches of eraser shavings under her feet! Okay, maybe I made that last part up.

Just as we approached Cincinnati, a thunderstorm rolled in. Yes, I’ve learned my lesson! We were delayed a bit, but the worst part was the landing was very bumpy, probably the bumpiest flight I’ve ever experienced.

Once the plane landed in Cincinnati, I still had some time before my connection was boarding, so I walked down to the food court. There was a place serving Cincinnati chili, but I’m not a fan of regular chili, and compared to that, Cincinnati chili looks… well, no offense to fans of Cincinnati chili, but that stuff looks gross! Of course, there are foods that look like a mess but taste good, so I probably shouldn’t knock it if I haven’t tried it.

I ended up getting something I’ve never, ever had before – Chick-Fil-A. I’d heard so many raves, I was excited to get to finally try it. And you all know how much I love chicken. I got the chicken sandwich, which seemed to be the “classic” item on the menu. I must’ve built it up too much in my mind, because it was good, but not anything I’d go out of my way for. Also, my sandwich had warm, mushy pickle slices on it. Yuck. Pickles should be cold and crisp. Only.

Once I’d finished eating, it was time to board. I didn’t have any entertainment sitting next to me this time, so I ended up watching the flight path instead. At least for a bit, then I took a little nap. That’s not really the recommended method when traveling west, but I rarely have trouble adjusting to a new time zone.

I woke up when we were getting close to L.A. I could tell because L.A. is really developed! It seemed like every square inch had something on it! Whew! I’m happy to say that we landed 15 minutes early. Nice!

I went and collected my suitcase and then stepped outside to wait for Karen and Jill to pick me up. They were having trouble finding a parking spot. I offered to try to find them, but it was better for me to stay where I was. In a few minutes, they spotted me. It was so good to see them again!

The trip to Paradise Pier felt like it took only a few minutes, because we were busy chatting. I went in and checked in, chatting a bit with the CM. Karen and Jill headed back to the Embassy Suites and then I went to find my room. I’d booked a standard room, but I ended up with a theme park view.

I really only booked PP because I wanted to cross it off the list. Now I’ve stayed at all 3 Disneyland resorts. I wasn’t very excited about it, but in the end, I enjoyed my short stay there (how short was it? Well you’ll find out in the next update!). Anyway, before going to bed, I took some photos of the room.


I just loved the beach ball pillows!







And check out my view!







I had an early morning ahead of me (no problem, particularly when you consider the 3-hour time difference), but I wanted to get a good night’s rest, so I pulled my pajamas out of my suitcase and went right to sleep.

Up Next: My first look at Cars Land

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Yay! It has begun! That is a cute room! Nice view too. You sure have been leaving some hints along the way. I can't wait to hear how everything turns out.