Hi, ho, hi, ho tomorrow we go!
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Suzie · 06-09-2004, 04:18 PM

I am starting my trip report now because I have been too lazy to write about the last three trips and I figure if I start one now, I will feel "obligated" to finish it when we return. Besides, the preparation for tomorrow makes a crazy story.
The Travelers:
Me-Suzie age 55, certified, or ought to be, Disney fanatic
third trip this year. One business trip and one pleasure
trip with youngest son. Too many other trips to count
Nicky- DS, or Nicholai, as he prefers to be known. Looks
Goth, acts like an Angel. Age 17. Every year to Disney, sometimes twice since he was born.
Anna- DF of DS, not exactly a romantic friend, but a good
one. Age 17

Resort: Pop Century. stayed there in Feb. and loved it. Got
$59. rate with Annual pass.
Dates: June 13-17

This trip started out when my middle son announced that, for his graduation present, he would like to go down to Jacksonville to attend DragonCon (a fantasy-type convention for those of you who want to know)to see his idol, Voltaire. His original plan included him driving down alone with some friends. This idea did not go over well with my husband and I because although he is a good driver, his car is old and he is only 17. It apparently did not go over well with his friends or their parents either because when I offered to drive down with him, he jumped at the chance. He asked if Anna could go too. Since I have known Anna since she was about 14, I thought it was a great idea. A girl! Another girl on my trip!

This happens so rarely (I have three boys and my husband, even two of the cats are male) that I am always delighted to have a female around. This means shopping!
Anyway, initially it was only a weekend trip to Jacksonville, Adam's Mark Hotel, with a long drive at both ends. But then Nicky mentioned that they would like to spend a day at the beach. That sounded good to me so we added a day at the Holiday Inn Sunspree at Jacksonville Beach. Then he mentioned, slyly, that Anna had not been to WDW since she was very little and she would like to drive over there for a day. You all can imagine how I took this piece of news

It took me about 15 minutes to get on the phone and add a day at WDW. Then I noticed the annual pass rates and so I asked Nicky if another day would be okay. He asked Anna and she was happy about it too. About a day later, Nicky comes to me again and says that Anna would really like to spend more than just a couple of days at WDW, so would three days be okay? I quickly calculated how much vacation time I had available and said, sure! Well, to make this long story a little shorter, I will just tell you now that we eventually ended up with 5 days at the world. A little short for my favorite spot, but I can't complain since I have already spent 14 days there since Jan.
All seemed well at this point so I started my planning as to what we would do while we were there. I initally figured that we would not spend that much time together since the kids would want to be off on their own. But when I started talking to them about what we could do, I found out that they wanted to go with me since they figured that I knew what was fun to do. I was flattered that they would want to hang out with me! Guess all those years of taking Nicky to WDW are staring to pay off!

So far, so good. Too good in fact. First, youngest son starts to realize that mom is going to WDW without him. This problem is overcome by reminding him that he has baseball playoffs and Boy Scout camping during the week that we are gone. (He is a chubby, tall kid, think Babe Ruth when he runs bases

)
Then a call comes from my middle son's school saying that he will not be graduating unless he completes his public speaking presentations. A quick grilling of son reveals that although he has done all the work, he has declined to actually get up in front of his class to present. Much grumbling and growling and he manages to set up a "private" presentation just to his teacher on the grounds that he has severe performance anxiety.

(remember this for later) The week goes by and and his friends announce that they are throwing a "surprise" graduation party for Nicky on Sunday. They have arranged to have Voltaire come to town all the way from New York to do a private performance. Amazing. Voltaire is a wonderful performer. We all love him, and yes, family was invited including little brother. And he is gorgeous!! Oh my gosh, if I was about 20 years younger.... (Nicky does his web site for him by the way, that is why they are such friends.)It was a wonderful party.
We now enter the week before we are supposed to leave, the final week for graduating seniors. Another call. Nicky has still not done his presentation. This was the same Nicky who was up on stage with Voltaire, smiling and waving at the crowd- you know, the one with the "performance anxiety?" . Much more growling and some snarling now from both mother and father. Nicky stays after class twice and completes his public speaking requirement. The week ends and school is over for all graduating seniors except those who have not completed their required 16 hours of community service. A nice little perk for seniors, they are allowed out of school three days early (our school officially does not end until tomorrow, June 10)if they do this service job. To me it seems like a nice idea, certainly something I would have been grateful for when I was in school. Unfortunately, for my sons it seems to be an unbearable burden that they do with much difficulty and delay. We went through something similar with eldest son. So the phone rings again. This time Nicky will not be graduating because he supposedly did not turn in his community service paperwork and/or did not attend the three extra days in place of it. Mother and father, snarling, whining, growling,and even crying, confront middle son who says, "I did it, mom, you even signed off on it. They say they lost the paper at school."
This is true, I know he did the work, however, his attitude seems to be that he did it and therefore he doesn't have to worry that they don't show that he did and that he will not be graduating because of it. More snarling, much weeping on mother's part as she castigates herself for being a terrible mother who has raised lazy, insolent children. Son now takes the attitude that we do not trust him and that we are implying that he is lying about turning the paper in.
It went downhill from here.
The sun came up this morning, I was prepared to take son over to the school to confront whoever about what we needed to do. We couldn't easily get another signature for the main part of his service as he had done mulching in the spring for the parks and he didn't even remember the name of the person who had supervised and at this point he could not go the three extra days necessary to make up for not turning in the paperwork.
Suddenly youngest son staggers into the kitchen and announces that he is "itchy". A quick check reveals that he is covered with small welts and HUGE red swollen patches all over his body. I call the doctor and father takes him over to the doctor.
Before we could leave, the phone rang and it was the assistant Principal calling and he said not to worry about it, he talked to Nicky and got the details of what he had done and he said that would suffice. He said that he trusted Nicky as he was a good student and had never lied to them before, they believed him when he said he had turned in his paper and it must just be mislaid. So Nicky is graduating...and, oh, by the way, "he is getting a scholarship for his Senior Thesis project which was outstanding"!!!
Now mother and father feel both proud and a bit sheepish. However, if he had just done things the way he was supposed to....oh, yeah, when did we ever do things the way we were supposed to either?
So all is well that ends well and we are still on for our trip tomorrow after I attend elementary school graduation for youngest son. Who, by the way, is merely having a severe case of hives, source unknown, but they responded almost immediately to the medicine that the Dr. gave him. Sigh of relief.
Time to start packing!! I will talk to you all when we return! Promise.
Suzie

Grammy Grumpy · 06-09-2004, 05:07 PM

Wow, you have certainly earned this vacation. Have a great time with the kids. It should be fun to see Disney from the younger point of view

buckysmom · 06-09-2004, 08:47 PM

Suzie, I'm exhausted just READING your pre report, much less living it.
You deserve this break!

Enjoy your trip and we'll be waiting for your report,