Day 72

"It does not matter how expensive your kitchen is if you are a bad cook." ~Loesje (Dutch Fictional Character-"Active and International Girl")

Just a quick shot of the kitchen in the condo that we are staying in. Every time we come down here, it always strikes me as odd that our vacation timeshare is nicer (and bigger) than the first apartment that Rob and I shared. The kitchen is still nicer than the one in my house...perhaps some day, we'll redo it. (It might just seem nicer, because it looks NEW...no dishes in the sink, the stove isn't all scratched up, etc.)

Day 71

"I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me...help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." ~Albus Dumbledore

Abby and I went to Universal Islands of Adventure, for the express purpose of visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (or, Harry Potter World-as we've been calling it) The people who designed it did a fabulous job...for any fan, it was like being transported to another time and another place. Abby and I are both HUGE Harry Potter fans, so this was like a trip to Mecca for us. It was really very cool...to be standing in line, and be able to strike up a conversation about Harry Potter. Abby was in her GLORY...she had such a great time seeing the places that are talked about in the series that she loves so much.

Day 70

"The waiting is the hardest part" ~Tom Petty

As everyone knows, waiting in line is sort of a given when someone is at Disney. The weather looked pretty ominous for a while, so we went into the area in Toon Town where the Princesses hang out. The options for character meet and greet were the Princesses and Tinkerbell and her Fairy Friends. The girls were ALL over Tinkerbell. They've met the Princesses several times, and they've NEVER met more than just Tinkerbell. (of course, unfortunately, they are aware that it's pretend...but it doesn't make them less excited about it) The wait time was 45 minutes. The girls were happy to do the waiting. We weren't out in the rain, or the humidity...so I was happy. One thing that Disney does well, they don't rush you through the meet and greets. They are aware that you've waited for almost an hour, and you really don't want to just get a picture and be shoved out. We had about 10 minutes with the Fairies before they moved us along.

Day 69

"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse." ~Walt Disney

I think this is my favorite view in the whole world. Walking up "Main Street, USA" and seeing the Castle for the first time each trip is just total magic to me. I'm so glad my girls love going to Disney as much as I do.

Day 68

"I can't drive 55" ~Sammy Hagar

Apparently, I also can't even drive 45, which is the speed limit on the road I was driving on. I get extremely annoyed when people don't go the speed limit. I'll admit that I have quite a heavy foot. In NH, where I learned to drive, the speed limit is merely a suggestion...even the State Troopers travel at about 10 miles over the limit. However, I don't get TOO impatient when people go the speed limit...but 15 miles per hour UNDER the speed limit, on a bright, shiny, not a cloud in the sky day? Ridiculous!

Day 66

"I'm not saying my wife's a bad cook, but she uses a smoke alarm as a timer." ~Bob Monkhouse

My friend Missi cooked dinner, and after she checked the pork in the over, she tossed the oven mitt onto the stove. She had completely forgotten that the burner was still hot, though it was off. We smelled the smoke starting, and thought the meat was burning...it's a good think we figured it out, or we risked burning down the house.

Day 64

"An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult" ~Lord Chesterfield

I have crap knees. I've had crap knees for as long as I can remember. I had the left on "fixed" when I was 16. It would have been great, if the surgery had worked. It didn't, so I had a traumatic surgery, a TON of pain, and lovely scar...and the same problem. Today, however, it's my RIGHT knee acting up. It's going to rain (which I just realized, when the local weatherman asked me what I did to my knee, I told him, "well, it's going to rain." Which he answered, "oh, REALLY?") I also must have twisted or stepped funny this morning. All I know is that it started to hurt during "circle" at work this morning, and by "snack" I was fighting tears with every step. I had to buy a new brace, since all the ones I had were purchased when I weighed 70lbs more, and they were all sleeve style...so they didn't stay ON, let alone support anything. Let's just hope this resolves itself before we leave for Disney. Disney with knee pain would be NO FUN!