Monday, April 14, 2014

Weekend and laundry and puppies, oh my!

Friday

Whew Friday was a roller coaster of a day.  Truly.  Work was fine, lunch was ridiculous (sometimes you shouldn't try to be "healthier" and get the kids meal when you are starving it's fat week), and I arrived home to a note from the FedEx person that my package had been attempted to be delivered at 11:01am.. and since it required a signature... I could pick it up after 5:30pm that day.

Me = CRUSHED.  My soul was dying.  I needed Suzy2 in my life.  Suzy1 had become more and more difficult to deal with over the past week, apps that had no issues started to struggle, the phone wouldn't charge, the screen wouldn't turn on, it didn't register when i was touching the screen to do things.. not like, it wouldn't open the FB app in less than 2 seconds, no no, normal phone things weren't working.

It took me 4 calls to the FedEx customer service line because each time that I'd get connected to a person, the phone would end the call.  The 4th time when I did the process on speaker phone, it didn't hang up.  I wish I could make these things up, but they are true.  Now you can maybe start to get a glimpse of why Suzy1 HAD to go?  I put in the request that the driver try to attempt delivery again and they said that within 2 hours, I'd get a call back to confirm if the 2nd attempt would happen or not.

2 hours passed by and I hadn't received my call.  I called FedEx back and said I needed to know if delivery was going to be reattempted because if not, then I needed to plan to make the trek up to the facility which is an hour away.  The driver still hadn't confirmed redelivery, but the customer service rep did explain to me that I couldn't actually pick up the package from the facility because Verizon had to authorize that, which meant I had to call Verizon.  I called Verizon, they explained that if they agreed to let me pick it up, the request for redelivery would be cancelled.  I told them that I'd wait and see if the delivery guy would respond or try again and if not, then I'd call them back and they could authorize the pick up.

Roller coaster, Gentle Readers, a freakin' roller coaster.

To add to all that drama, I had some USAA fees that popped up on my account because I paid my credit card bill twice since I couldn't find the pending payment to confirm I had made the payment in the first place.  On Monday I requested the 2nd payment be stopped because I saw both payments posted as pending on the statement.  Knowing it wasn't going to work, I cancelled it.  Then I saw $75 of insignificant funds fees and I flipped out.  I yelled at a customer service lady and apologized profusely because its not like it was her fault that I got confused and the bank is automated.  After a very stressful 20 minutes, I got my fees back, she explained what had happened, she showed me how to view pending payments, AND she processed a payment (since neither had gotten through).

I had determined that if the FedEx driver hadn't delivered by 4:30-5, I was going to call Verizon back and then head to Waldorf to pick up my phone.  Right around 4:30, Teh Greyhound Neighbors- Daughter said that the FedEx truck had just pulled up.  I thought she was just kidding but then there was a knock at the door!  TGN-D had locked the door and I couldn't figure out which lock to unlock to get out, all the while I'm screaming and yelling, "YAYY!!  OMG why can't I get this stupid door open!?!  Stupid locks!  LET ME OUTTTT!!"  Since it was a nice out, the windows were open, so the FedEx guy could definitely hear the commotion that was taking place.  When I finally got the door open, I tried to open the storm door and he was holding it shut with his hand!  My only response was, "NOOOO!!!  You don't understand, I need you!!"  He laughed and stepped back and I opened the door and bear hugged this stranger.  I backed away and explained, "You have the goods.  It's my new cell phone.  You've saved me a trip to Waldorf tonight!  I love you!"  He was scanning the box while Teh Greyhound Neighbors- Wife and Daughter were laughing at me from the doorway.  When he finally handed me my box, I kissed my hand and placed it on his cheek (cause that's as close to kissing the cheek of a stranger as I will get, thanks Stranger Danger VHS).  I told him he had made my weekend and went back inside skipping and jumping and expressing general euphoria and merriment.  TGNs were laughing at me because my levels of ridiculousness, but they had experienced my frustration with Suzy1, so they understood.

The rest of the evening was spent playing with and setting up my new technology and announcing my battery life percentage as we watched Grey's Anatomy.

This is how much Olive cared about my roller coaster of an afternoon.

This is how much Phil cared about my roller coaster.
Using Suzy1 to take a selfie with Suzy2.
This is my "I sexually assaulted a FedEx guy for this" face.

Eeeekkkk!!  So shiny, so pretty!!!

First selfie with Suzy2.

First not selfie with Suzy2.

Saturday

Saturday morning, I got up and got ready to attend Teh Greyhound Neighbors-Daughter's swim meet.  She had invited me the night before and I had nothing else to do, so I went.  She did awesome and cut 20 seconds off one of her events and almost 30 seconds from another event!

After the meet, I came back home to hang out with the pups, watched an episode of Downton Abbey, ate lunch and took a nap.  I woke up when I was supposed to be arriving at a party I was invited to, but fortunately it wasn't a big deal.  I loaded all 3 dogs (Olive, Phil, and Meri) in the car and we headed to Mechanicsville for socializing activities.  The dogs got to run around for 3 hours and they were given so many treats!  We were all wiped by the time we got home.

That evening, we organized closets and unpacked bathroom stuffs.  It was a flurry nighttime productivity that blew us all away at what we were able to accomplish if we just did it.

Olive and Meri were obviously concerned that I had left them to go to the swim meet.

Pretty girl!

Handsome boy with Teh Humanitarian.

How Meri got to spend her Saturday afternoon.
Yes, that dog is humping her.  It's payback for how obnoxious she can sometimes be.

Love my Philbo!

Phil and Olive.

Meri and PJ

Birthday girl giving Phil lovins

Meri gettin' lovins.

Phil was pooped enough to finally crash in the flower beds.

While Meri chose to crash where people were still eating.

Blue suckers are the best!

The pups were exhausted after all their running around.

Olive's weird sit.
I think Phil was in her way.

My babies.  /swoon.

Olive-Walive snuggling with the pillow.
She really is a princess.

Sunday

Sunday morning was church, which was a good service.  After the service, it was time for a quick lunch and then off to Leonardtown with the pups for the Earth Day Celebration.  Despite the annoying community service lady who kept calling the dogs great danes (grrrr), there was free ice cream (after a long hike) and I got to see some of my peeps!  I also may or may not have gotten a bit sunburned.  

Sunday afternoon was lazy and I fought off taking a nap all evening, despite the peer pressure from the hounds. 

I'm not really ready for Monday, but I am because that means its one day closer to leave and NC and a weekend with Teh Worldwide Jesus Lover and karoke time and sister tattoos and the PostSecret event in Charlotte and Teh BFF's wedding!!!  So many exciting adventures!!!

Meri in the mornings.

Headed to the meet and greet!

Olive and Phil show off their Greyhound-ness, while Meri and I hung out.



Linking up with these ladies:

still being [molly]
Dateless in Dallas

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Disney World - Day 2 - Magic Kingdom

For our second day at Disney, we went to Magic Kingdom.  Hello free birth control.

Wooooo DISNEY WORLD!!!


The iconic castle.

After acquiring our fastpasses, we hit up the Monster, Inc. Laughs show first.

Then we headed over to Stitch's Big Adventure.
It's really obnoxious when parents bring their kids into rides with warnings "THIS WILL BE SCARY" and then they have to interrupt the experience when they remove their screaming child from the dark room with flashlights from the attendants.  Arrrrgh...

Then we did "go karts."



Teh Sister waiting for her car.

The only time I've driven something where I needed more leg room...

Let's just say this was NOT like the go karts in Bahrain... at all.

Driving selfie.
PS.  Worst shirt to wear to a populated place everrrrrr (mostly due to the placement of the bottom text).



Alice in Wonderland


Selfies after going through the castle, which neither of us had ever done before.

'Merika!

Cinderella's Fairy Godmother


Trying to cross the park to get Dole Whips, we got blocked by a parade.
Arrrrgh.  #DisneyWorldProblems
But hey Lumiere!

Party Mickey

Chip and Dale

Mr. Incredible, Frozone, and Genie!

Magic equipped!
I know the ears are frivilous, but they were absolutely necessary to complete my Disney experience.
Originally I wanted one of the hats with the ears, but my head was too small for most of them and I didn't really like any of the kid ears, so I went with the headband ears.
PS.  Teh Sister tried to talk me into purchasing ears on Amazon before we went.  Silly Teh Sister.

We waited in line for the Buzz Lightyear ride (and got sunburned)

Poor Teh Sister had been elbowed in the face by this Amazonian lady in front of us who had to be at least 6'5" tall and someone in line kept farting...
#DisneyWorldProblems

Magggggnnaaaa-DOOOOOODDDDDDLLLLLEEEEEEE!

Tell us what we need to do Buzz, tell us!

Oh Navy, you have ruined me.
#NavyProblems

Teh Sister was upset that I was beating her through the ride.. but then she started shooting the same target over and over (catching her up to me) when we stopped and I stole the idea from her and kicked her ASS!  HA, big sister win!

Minnie and Mickey and the castle.

After acquiring ears and a bathroom break, we were trapped by another parade.
#DisneyWorldProblems
But yay for Belle and Beast

Cinderella and Prince Charming

Tangled float

Ariel kept flapping her fins and Teh Sister and I agreed that had to be exhausting.

Peter Pan and Wendy.  Captain Hook was under the ship (ironic, no?) but I didn't get a good photo of him.

Brave float
(which I've still not seen)

Aurora's Fairies 

Brave again

Steampunk Maleficent

Dwarves

Pinocchio 

Donald and Daisy Duck

Fantasia float!

I was relieved to see Mickey and Minnie which meant the parade was finally ending and we could pass.

Because mustaches!

This is a spitting camel.
It was hilarious.

Johnny Depp Jack Sparrow

Best part of the entire Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

Waiting in line for the train ride in Frontier Land (since it was raining, it was perfect timing)


Top: Dear Friends, Come celebrate my marriage to the prettiest lady in Tumbleweed, my wife Sue, at the Gold Dust Saloon.  Drinks are on you!  -Bill
Middle:  Looking for a new roommate who doesn't snore or eat beans.  -Spike Landrum
Bottom: Missing: One gold tooth and one non-gold tooth.  Last seen in my mouth at the Gold Dust Saloon.  Reward 5¢.

Jaq and Gus outside the room to meet Aurora and Cinderella.

We used fastpasses for Space Mountain and we got this gem out of it.
When you see it, you'll know.
(ps, its the kid in the front)

We stopped for a music show so Teh Sister could do a class project.
See, Disney World IS educational.

While we were waiting I tried to charge my POS, very dead, phone.
(YAY eligible for an upgrade this month!)

We had to get out of the princess line to go use our fastpasses before time ran out, so we went back and the line ended right were we had gotten out of line before.  WIN.
Jasmine.

Mulan (still not sure why she's considered a princess)

Snow White

Cinderella's glass slipper.

Yay Cinderella!

Yay Aurora!

One of the 2 things I brought my DSLR for was fireworks at Magic Kingdom.
Guess who forgot their DSLR in the hotel room that day?  Oh yeah, this girl.

In the end, I was glad I left my DSLR at the hotel.  It's a totally different experience watching something and viewing something through the lens (and we didn't have to carry that heavy crap all day).  No, I might not have gotten photos, but I did get to sit and enjoy the show and got to interact with the men and their kid beside me and I wasn't blocking someone else's view with my tripod or struggling to change my aperture/shutter to make the shots better.


Most important lesson I learned at Magic Kingdom:
Magic Kingdom doesn't serve alcohol.  It's completely dry.  Meaning that Dole Whip that I got didn't have the rum that I wanted.  Which ultimately meant another Dole Whip was waiting for me at Epcot WITH rumsy-rum.


ALL the DISNEY!

Pre-Disney - Driving + Chocolate Museum
Disney World - Day 1 (Part 1) - Animal Kingdom
Disney World - Day 1 (Part 2) - Hollywood Studios
Disney World - Day 2 - Magic Kingdom
Disney World - Day 3 - Epcot
Disney World - Day 4 - Downtown Disney + Driving