My overnight with Walt Disney...

Last night I made the jaunt over to Hilton Head Island to spend an evening (then night and part of today) with my friend Kim and her family. We had the pleasure of staying in a villa at the Disney Resort, thanks to a dear friend with vacation points and a last minute change of plans. 

Now, as you may or may not know, I'm not a "Disney person". Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some of the movies and I'm always game for a park with roller coasters. But I find the fact that employees are called "cast members" and that the little bastards are everywhere a bit unsettling. I get that they're creating an experience and it's part of the brand, I'm just not a into the stage 5 clinger types. 

They greet you everywhere you go by saying "Welcome Home". I suppose since it's a time share, membership resort...it's kinda the member's home. They do pay for the privelage of the club and it's benefits. 

Everyone takes their job very seriously and appear to have a seamless system. Nothing is ever dirty and there is always a person within ten feet to ask questions. We made jokes all day that we'd stumbled into the Truman Show!

The Disney Beach House is less than 2 miles from the Resort proper...and they serve booze there! It's past mid-November and I'm poolside (it's a heated pool) with a daquarri, travel magazine and the ocean steps away. Winning!

Living back on the coast has made me remember why I hold onto the summer for so long! Rum of the gods (as Dan says), salty breezes and the laughter of your close friends. 

Magical. Thanks, Walt. 

Kim, Dan & I with our 1st visit pins!

Kim and I with sippy cups, it's a family establishment!

He's one of those stage 5 clingers mentioned earlier!

I love when it's difficult to tell when the sky ends and the ocean begins!

All those little personal touches...

Amazon Preacher Lady. The Purple Edition.

Friday afternoon, on my way to the coast, I stopped south of Atlanta to get gas and some Jesus Chicken Lemonade. That's what Hippo and I call Chick-fil-a, Jesus Chicken, because we're convinced there's granulated idol in there or people wouldn't be so damn uptight about it. I mean other than their blatant disregard for equality. But I'm sorry, that place is good and I'm weak. So weak.

When I walked into Chick-fil-a I headed straight to the little sinner's room. When I walked in, there at the sink was an Amazonian sized black woman. She was styled neck to ankle in purple clothes with hot pink zebra wedges and an Afro. She looked me up and down and exclaimed "even a heathen know where to find good food, thank you lord!"

I couldn't help but laugh and agree. I finished my business and walked to the line...where I stood behind her.

This is what follows: (also please read anything she says in your best southern, black, preacher voice)

Lady (in purple): Can I get a LARGE ice water and some ice. cream. dream?
Cashier: Yes ma'am. My pleasure. Would you like that in a cup or cone? Small or large?
Lady: In a cone of course. And a small, please.  I've gotta watch this figure. (pause for dramatic effect) For my Sugar. Daddy. (drop a hip and nod of the head and a slight duck face)
Cashier: *smiles and looks confused*
Lady: (turning around to me) Last night I was in bed with my Lover... The. Bible. (another hip drop)
Me: Oh. My. Well I've never heard of that book in such a term. A lover, you say?
Lady: Oh yes, child... nothing has ever been so satisfying
Me: *mumbling* I suppose I must have read it wrong...
Lady: (upon seeing the ice cream cone) Oh no, no, no. That will not do! I need a professional ice cream maker over here. No, no that will not do. I need it taller.  Don't be afraid to put a little swirl in that! Amen.
Lady: (again, to me) I had dream about our President. Ba-rack. He was standing on a hill, with another man. And our President of these United States had his right hand stretched out. Reaching toward that other man.  But that other man he did not reach back to our Commander and Chief, no he did not. And Mr. Obama, he fell. I woke up, confused. And I said Oh LORD, what does this mean? And the lord said, sister it means you can't trust a man, not even one right in front of you. MmHm. That's right
Lady: (upon seeing her second ice cream cone) Oh no.  That's won't due either! I need it tall.  I want all one hundred and twenty three cents worth of ice cream that I paid for.
Cashier: Ma'am you paid for a small, that is a small.
Lady: Well, I think it's an extra small. And you are serving ROYALTY. Amen. Thank you Jesus.

In the end, the purple lady gets an extra large ice cream cone. MmHm. That's right.

Rocket Girl (my weekend abroad - yes Alabama is 'abroad')

This past weekend, I went to visit Turtle in Huntsville, AL.
He's on the short list of people I'll go into Alabama for.

(Silliness ensued)

And he took me to play at NASA... because he's amazing, and I love nerdy things.

(Inside an RS-25 engine. That little circle above my head is where the fire would be. I'm pretty dangerous.)

We also watched a generally unnatural amount of television for me.  But it was British, and hilarious.  (An Idiot Abroad, if you're looking for something WONDERFUL to watch) We stayed in our pajamas most of the time I was there.  Talk about GLORIOUS.  There was even a moon bounce...

(shut up, it's not an air mattress...it's a moon bounce)

So basically, the perfect weekend.  Great friend and laziness.  OH I almost forgot...

(freeze-dried astronaut foods!)

It's alright if you're envious.