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There are other changes as well.
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Moving on with the current of the years.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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The CLQ Heads West – Even Eileen!! July 27 – August 1, 2012
I don’t know why I do this, but I keep giving my Trip Reports names I have to explain right off the bat! If you’ve read any of my trip reports before, chances are you’re familiar with the CLQ, but in case you’re new, I’ll explain.
CLQ stands for the Crazy Lady Quartet (no further explanation necessary ). The four of us are great friends who all happened to meet right here on the PassPorter boards. In fact, the first time I ever traveled with any of these ladies (back when we were the CLT), it was a trip to Disneyland. And by the way, that trip (or rather, trip report) is the reason it’s taken me so long to get this PTR started. I went back to reread it (it’s some of my best work, if I do say so myself ) and realized that none of my pictures were showing! I’d uploaded them to a photo sharing site that no longer exists, so all the fun pictures were replaced with awful little red x’s. I’ve fixed them now (it took a couple of days), so if you want to go read it, here’s a linky http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ed-7-11-a.html.
Wow, I’m already sidetracked and I’m only two paragraphs in. The CLQ consists of (in alphabetical order, so Karen doesn’t think I’m playing favorites) Eileen, also known as Caldercup.
Eileen, I want you to know that it took all my restraint to not use that photo of you and the crazy cow from the girls trip. To this day, I can’t look at that photo and not laugh. For a very long time. If you don’t know what picture I’m talking about, read the old TR. To be honest, it was difficult to find a normal-looking picture of Eileen. Eileen's always willing to take a silly photo for the laughs.
Eileen and I are geographically closest of the CLQ, but for some reason, we don’t see each other in person often enough. I don’t even see her as much as I see the other CLQ’ers. It’s just that she doesn’t travel to Disney as often as we do. She’s busy with her writing, which has something to do with this trip, but I’ll get to that in a moment.
The next member of the CLQ is Jill, a/k/a Jillybean.
Jill joined the CLQ after our DL trip, so this is going to be a first for the Koenigs. Jill is going to write her own trip report, so I don’t need to say much more about her.
And then there’s Karen, or zacksmom_1993 as she’s known around here.
Karen is… great. If she’s not happy with that, she can write her own dang trip report! Hey, here’s an idea – if you enjoy Karen’s hilarious trip reports, post here and tell her about it. Maybe we can convince her to post one!
And finally, the fourth member is me!
As I’ve said before, we are great friends, but we live in all different parts of the country. So we spend our vacations together when we can. Eileen can’t travel as often as the rest of us, so we sometimes go to her place to be together.
Because we can’t always travel together, Eileen is sometimes left home to read about it on Facebook (except from me, because I’m not even on Facebook ). So last year, when the four of us were able to take a Disney trip together, one of you fabulous PassPorters posted something which I got the meaning of right away, but having my crazy, wicked sense of humor, it made me laugh, and laugh, and laugh. Love ya, LeeNee.
Anyway, I’m talking about this post from Laura, talking about the trip we took together last December:
Quote:
Originally Posted by njlaura
The CLQ is back? With Eileen too? Can't wait to hear all about it!
Now, I know perfectly well that Laura meant it was good to have all four of us together for maximum snarkiness, but I couldn’t help looking at it like we’d kicked Eileen out of the CLQ and were only letting her back on a trial basis. We had plenty of laughs about that on the trip! And now whenever I refer to the CLQ, I must add “even Eileen” because it makes me laugh. I realize I’m the only one. And it makes me laugh just as hard every time it happens!
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcmary
Have a wonderful time. Just thinking about your dining reservations makes me drool! Wait - did you not invite Eileen??
Poor Eileen, the red-headed stepchild of the CLQ. Thanks for the laughs, Laura and Mary!
The four of us will have some company for this trip. Karen’s son Zack will be along for the ride and to torment me. I thought it was tough getting a non-silly photo of Eileen! Forget about it with Zack! It was tough just finding one of him looking at the camera! I did manage to find one (and bonus photo of Karen).
The rest of the Koenigs family rounds out our traveling party. I have a few silly photos of Thom, too! More than a few. It was hard finding normal photos. I hereby declare that I will take normal photos of people this trip! Oh yeah, and Mary Devall and Maddie are growing much too quickly! I think I’ll just steal… err, borrow one of Jill’s pics.
The entire reason we’re taking this trip together is because of Eileen, so it’s fitting that I should name this TR in her honor (sort of ). Eileen is a brilliant writer (you’ve read her trip reports, so you know this). What you may not know is that Eileen has written a book! And it’s a good one! I haven’t actually read it yet, but I can tell it’s good. Not just because she’s my bestie and I know what a great writer she is, but because she’s actually gotten some acclaim from her book. In fact, she’s a 2012Golden Heart Finalists for Regency Historical Romance! How awesome is that! I’m so proud of Eileen, no matter what happens! And the conference and award ceremony is being held in Anaheim, California (starting today, so send pixies, please!).
When Eileen learned the conference was being held in Anaheim, she figured it wouldn’t take much convincing to get some traveling companions. I mean, Karen was a no-brainer, being just a drive away. And I was in, too (surprised? ). Unfortunately, Jill and her family had other plans. Mary Devall wanted to spend her 11th birthday at WDW, and that conflicted with these dates.
The Koenigs had planned to spend their spring break in northern California with Karen and Zack (while Eileen and I sat home being jealous ), but Jill getting jury duty threw a monkey wrench into her plans, and she had to cancel the spring break trip. Wait, I mean yay! The change in plans made Jill decide that it was time to get her girls into Walt’s park for the very first time.
Continued…
Last edited by PrincessSharon; 07-25-2012 at 12:15 PM..
So now that everybody was in, it was time to decide where to stay. I was happy staying anywhere, but I put in a vote for my favorite DLH, the DLH. Everyone else thought it sounded good, so Karen took care of booking it. Actually, Karen had Dawn (DawnDenise) book it for us! And we were even able to snag an AP rate.
Eileen would be busy at her conference for the first few days, so we all decided to arrive on either Friday or Saturday. I actually was due to arrive on Saturday at first, but Southwest had horrible flight times, high prices and awful schedules (basically, for about $350 each way, I had to change planes twice, and arrive at the end of the day - no thanks!). That wouldn’t do at all, so for the first time in a long time (as long as I can remember, really), I’m flying an airline other than Southwest for a domestic flight.
I checked my options and settled on a flight with Delta. I still had to change planes, but I actually don’t mind that with a longer flight. It gives me a chance to stretch my legs. I’m just hoping there won’t be any issues with flight delays or anything.
The good news is that my flight gets in on Friday evening (I’d planned to show my face at work so I wouldn’t have to take the day off, but I’m somehow lousy with vacation days this year, two extra!! so I’m taking the entire day off on Friday. Of course, now I’m kicking myself for not booking an earlier flight, but I’m happy that I’ll have time on Friday to get some stuff done (like pack, which I haven’t even started – and that’s so not like me!). I’m also getting a mani-pedi on Friday, so I’ll have a relaxing morning before my travels.
The bad news is that I have to take an early flight home, because I’m flying into an airport that’s about an hour’s drive from home, and I don’t want to ask my DM to pick me up so far away late at night. I’ll have to get up reeeally early on my last day to make my flight, so I’ve spared Karen having to drive me and booked with Super Shuttle.
Also, I needed somewhere to stay for Friday night. I considered something close to the airport, but then decided to stay at Paradise Pier so I could cross it off my list (and have stayed at all three Disneyland hotels ). When I later learned that Karen, Zack, and the Koenigs were all staying together at an Embassy Suites, I gently suggested that perhaps someone should stay with me. Don’t believe it if Karen says otherwise.
With our resort stuff sorted out, Karen took care of planning out our days. My only contribution was an extra EMH – for AP holders only, Saturday morning at EMH at California Adventure. I know I’ll be up super early that morning, and I figured an AP-only EMH would probably be the least crowded DCA will be for my entire stay, so I couldn’t pass it up! Karen is going to join me for that.
We’ve got some surprises in the works for people who may be reading this TR, so I’m going to be pretty vague about our specifics. I can say we’ve got meals planned at Goofy’s Kitchen (), Blue Bayou, breakfast with Minnie and friends, and the World of Color package at the brand new Carthay Circle restaurant, which I’m very excited to try!
Speaking of brand new things I’m excited about: Cars Land! Woot! I’ve heard and seen lots of wonderful things about Cars Land. In fact, it was looking so good that I decided to stop looking at photos and reading or listening to reviews so I could see it for myself. I can’t wait!
We’ve also arranged a meet with PassPorter’s unofficial official Disneyland representative, Jeannie (Dlandmom2) after our lunch at Blue Bayou on Sunday. I don’t know if I’ll be posting live updates. It may depend on whether or not I bring my laptop. I still haven’t decided about that. I know I’ve got a long flight, which will give me plenty of time to get a jump start on the TR on the way home, but my laptop is big and heavy, and I don’t want to bring it. We’ll see what wins out – my need to fill 6 hours of flight time or my laziness.
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Woohoo!!! I can't wait to read all about the adventures of the CLQ in DLR!! I'm especially excited to hear about Cars Land and the Carthay Circle restaurant. Have a safe trip!
Congrats Eileen, ! (for the book and not being kicked out of the CLQ ).
Looking forward to hearing all about the fun & mayhem from 4 great TR writers. (finishing trs is optional right ?)
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First off....Kudos to Eileen and many for the ceremony.
Glad to see another epic TR in the making....and I know it will be fantabulous...not just because you are a gifted TR'er and photog....but because you ladies sure know how to have a good ole time!
Nice to see Thom and Zack will add a little testosterone to the adventure...
Safe travels!
danielle
__________________
~Shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will land among the stars~
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I'm so happy! I finally to get to be in on the beginning of a Princess Sharon PTR.! Your PTRs/TRs have filled many hours of my life over the past year - time well spent I think! I'm looking forward to reading all about the adventures of the CLQ in the Golden State!
Woohoo!! You started your PTR Sharon! Makes me smile, smile, smile. I love your title and your explanation. Tee hee! Poor Eileen, she will now and forever be known as "and Eileen too!" I think she needs a name tag with that on it, don't you? LOL So looking forward to reading EVERYTHING!
Woohoo!! You started your PTR Sharon! Makes me smile, smile, smile. I love your title and your explanation. Tee hee! Poor Eileen, she will now and forever be known as "even Eileen!" I think she needs a name tag with that on it, don't you? LOL So looking forward to reading EVERYTHING!
About This Page: 
). The four of us are great friends who all happened to meet right here on the PassPorter boards. In fact, the first time I ever traveled with any of these ladies (back when we were the CLT), it was a trip to Disneyland. And by the way, that trip (or rather, trip report) is the reason it’s taken me so long to get this PTR started. I went back to reread it (it’s some of my best work, if I do say so myself 
) and realized that none of my pictures were showing! 
I’d uploaded them to a photo sharing site that no longer exists, so all the fun pictures were replaced with awful little red x’s. I’ve fixed them now (it took a couple of days), so if you want to go read it, here’s a linky 
The CLQ consists of (in alphabetical order, so Karen doesn’t think I’m playing favorites) Eileen, also known as Caldercup.
If you don’t know what picture I’m talking about, read the old TR. To be honest, it was difficult to find a normal-looking picture of Eileen. Eileen's always willing to take a silly photo for the laughs.
Hey, here’s an idea – if you enjoy Karen’s hilarious trip reports, post here and tell her about it. Maybe we can convince her to post one! 
So we spend our vacations together when we can. Eileen can’t travel as often as the rest of us, so we sometimes go to her place to be together. 
). So last year, when the four of us were able to take a Disney trip together, one of you fabulous PassPorters posted something which I got the meaning of right away, but having my crazy, wicked sense of humor, it made me laugh, and laugh, and laugh. 
And it makes me laugh just as hard every time it happens!
I thought it was tough getting a non-silly photo of Eileen! Forget about it with Zack! It was tough just finding one of him looking at the camera! 
I did manage to find one (and bonus photo of Karen).
Oh yeah, and Mary Devall and Maddie are growing much too quickly! I think I’ll just steal… err, borrow one of Jill’s pics.
). Eileen is a brilliant writer (you’ve read her trip reports, so you know this). What you may not know is that Eileen has written a book! And it’s a good one! I haven’t actually read it yet, but I can tell it’s good. Not just because she’s my bestie and I know what a great writer she is, but because she’s actually gotten some acclaim from her book. In fact, she’s a 
And the conference and award ceremony is being held in Anaheim, California (starting today, so send pixies, please!).
at WDW, and that conflicted with these dates. 
), but Jill getting jury duty threw a monkey wrench into her plans, and she had to cancel the spring break trip. 
The change in plans made Jill decide that it was time to get her girls into Walt’s park for the very first time. 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
- no thanks!). That wouldn’t do at all, so for the first time in a long time (as long as I can remember, really), I’m flying an airline other than Southwest for a domestic flight.
on Friday, so I’ll have a relaxing morning before my travels.
so I’m going to be pretty vague about our specifics. I can say we’ve got meals planned at Goofy’s Kitchen (
We’ll see what wins out – my need to fill 6 hours of flight time or my laziness. 
).
,
Linear Mode
