The Proposal

So, I was told that the weekend would be this: Sunday after the Matinee of Social Security at Scripps Ranch Theater, we would drive to LA, and spend the night at Charles' brother Chris' house. Monday we would knock around in LA and or Hollywood, spend Monday night at Chris' again, perhaps go see Piranha 3-D with Chris if he had the night off, then go to Disneyland on Tuesday for our 5th Anniversary. The only stop we would have to make on the way was to the Grand Californian Hotel, to visit Charles' friend who worked there, who had special tickets for us, to go see Fantasmic with dessert, and that is usually super expensive, but he was hooking us up, but he would not be there Tuesday, so we needed to get them on the way up.

As we pulled up to the hotel, Charles told me that if any one asked we were to say we were checking in, because that was what his friend told us to do. At the gate, the very cheery lady asked "Checking in?" and Charles told her yes, and she promptly asked under what name. I blurted out, "that isn't good" and Charles looked at me and said, "Don't worry, my friend took care of it", "Charles Peters" he told the lady, and she said, "very good" and placed a green permit with his name on it under the windshield wiper and we drove ahead to the self-park line at the front door of the hotel. A man bounded up to Charles' door, opened it and said, "Good evening, Mr. Peters, would you like me to help you with you luggage?" and Charles said, "yes". Now, I was totally confused, and to all of those who know my very well, confusion leads to frustration, and well, frustration leads to me getting feisty. In a harsh whisper I asked "What are you doing? We are supposed to just be getting the thing!" and he said, "don't worry" and got out of the car and came around to my door. He opened my door, and helped me out of the car, and I said again, "honey, I thought you were just going to run in!" and he turned to me and said, "no, we are staying here for three days, Happy Anniversary."

That was the first surprise. Apparently my face was priceless, though I didn't see it. Upon checking in to the hotel, I was given balloons, and a autographed picture of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, buttons that said Happy Anniversary, and was led to a fantastic room, complete with rose petals and a single rose on the bed. There was a fantastic view of Bear Rock and the Hollywood Tower of Terror off in the distance, and as soon as the shock of all of this started to settle in, we were off to the Magic Kingdom to get our photos taken for our annual passports.

Passports taken care of, we went to eat at the Mexican Restaurant next to Big Thunder Rail Road, our favourite place to eat in the park. I told Charles that this was the best anniversary present ever, and he smiled and said there was more. Already overwhelmed at this point, I told him this was making me nervous, as I still had butterflies in my stomach.

Next, we headed over to Pirates of the Caribbean, and walked right on the ride. No wait at all. Next stop, the Haunted Mansion, but alas it was closed, it is that time of year, when they change it over to Nightmare Before Christmas. Then Charles pointed out that while every year on our anniversary we get our picture taken on Splash Mountain, we had never done a night time photo, and why not check it out. So, we did, and again, we walked right on to the ride, AND got our own log. Just the two of us in the log. We held out our hands with all five fingers for five years, and smiled for the camera, and came crashing down, and managed to not get a drop of water on us. It was perfect. When we got back to the ride operator, he smiled and asked if we would like to go again. Not wanting to tempt fate and get soaked this time, we thanked him, but declined, and ran to the booth to buy our anniversary photo. Next we rode Whinney the Pooh. We got our own Honey Pot Car, and this time when we came around and the operator asked us if we wanted to go again we said YES! And around we went, laughing and signing along about the insincere hephalumps and woozels.

At the end of this ride, we could hear Fantasmic coming to an end, and Charles said, lets get across to Main Street and get some coffee before that lets out, and I agreed, we didn't want to get stuck in that crowd. So around the people we went, through Adventure Land and over to cross Main Street, where another crowd was forming to watch the fireworks. We got our coffee just as the fireworks started, and Julie Andrews was singing, and Charles turned and said, "follow me". So we hustled to a bench, at the top of Main Street, a bench where five years ago, he had told me that he loved me for the very first time. I sat to watch the fireworks, totally enjoying this completely perfect anniversary. Charles said "I have something I have to tell you." I looked at him and he leaned in and kissed me, and put his hand on my leg. I realized that he hadn't just put his hand there when he started to push on my leg. I looked down, and there was a small box. I looked at him, and then back at the box, and then just as disembodied voices began to sing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and more fireworks exploded he opened the box and asked "Will you marry me?"

I said yes, and kissed him and hugged him and cried, and kissed him some more, and he put the ring on my finger, and I kissed him again, and then he told me that he had not heard what I said. I told him "Yes, yes, yes, YES!!" and he said, "that was what I thought, but I wanted to make sure", and we laughed and smiled, and I did get fainty and woozy and was unable to walk when we tried to stand up. When I could manage it, we went over to the train, and road the train all the way around the park.

It was the best day of my life.

SWIFT Trip 2

I am not really sure what I wrote last time, and it has been a while since I have been able to pull out the computer again. Being in charge of six kids is not easy. Especially six that are all the same age, and on a trip that is supposed to teach them about independence. Not all of them are quite used to not being cleaned up after, or having to carry their own things.

Acoma is an amazing place. Acoma pueblo, or the Sky city has been continuously inhabited now for roughly 1000 years. People do live on top of the mesa year round still, even without modern conveniences like electricity and running water. There is a paved road that you can drive up now, but that did not get built until the 50's when a John Wayne movie was filmed at the mesa. I am not sure of the name of the film, but apparently it was one that took place in North Africa, and the top of a mesa in New Mexico was the spot they wanted to film. Our guide, who was named Kevin, who is one of the Acoma people said that a few films had been made there, and several of them actually were Safari in Africa type films. Before the road was put in the only way to get to the top of the mesa was on foot, through hidden trails and pathways cut in to the rock, that only the native people knew about, in order to keep their enemies away.
When the Spanish arrived, they did force the people to conform to Catholicism, and a mission was built on the top of the mesa, on top of the holy Kivas. Any Native religion practices were done in secret. More to come.

SWIFT Day One

It is 6:52pm on day one. We met at 7am at the airport. 34 kids and 6 chaperones, all on the same plane. Believe me, the other passengers on our flight did not look happy to see all of us about to get on their flight. We were met at the airport by our motorhomes and other chaperones, and after a quick lunch of apples chips, and some cheese, we took off on the trip to Acoma Mesa. Now it is dinner time, so, I will update again after dinner.

Gearing up more!

The overalls have arrived, and I am gathering more things I need for the trip, and I have met a few of the kids and parents who will be in my caravan, and in my motor-home.
The best thing (other than the overalls) to have are baby wipes. Seriously, when the showers are only every other day, and you are hiking, baby wipes can help you feel, cleaner and refreshed, and totally help you smell better. I have my mini deodorant, my mini toothpaste, and my soap case, and I am busting out the sharpie to write my name on all of it. One thing that is better for the adults on this trip, is we don't have to stick to the strict packing list that the kids do, but, it really is best to not take too much with you, you really don't need it, and 11 year old kids are not judging, or at least part of this trip is to teach them not to.
One of the boys in my motor-home is the little brother of a boy who was in my motor-home last time I went. His mom was very excited, so I must have made a good impression. :)
I finally got a bag for my camera that Charles gave me for Christmas. I had been using a glove, so this is much better, and I am ready to take all kinds of pictures. At the parent meeting the other night, kids were reminded that if they were bringing a digital camera, to be sure to have enough memory. I guess there had been a problem with kids having to delete pictures. My first trip, I had my first 35mm film camera, and it broke after just one day. I was so sad! I was not going to have any pictures! But, because all we had then was film, after the trip there was a get together where everyone brought there photos and shared them and made arrangements to make copies, so, I was able to get some photos from the trip.
So the plan is, on the 26th I fly to Albuquerque, the motor-homes pick us up, and we head off for Acoma, having lunch while we go. We will tour Acoma and then we head some where else, and I don't have my itinerary in front of me, so on my next packing up date, I will tell you where we head next. Stay tuned!

Gearing Up!

Well, I am woefully behind, I think that is how my good friend put it, on this blogging thing! But, fear not gentle viewers, I am gearing up. In more ways than one! That is right, on April 26th, I am leaving to go on the Rhoades School's South West Indian Field Trip, or SWIFT trip as they call it, though saying SWIFT trip is like saying ATM machine, so I can just say leaving for SWIFT, but I hate calling things by their initials like that, except when people are talking to me, because a lot of people I know and love call me JT, and that is fine, because JT is not a word. Like, I am fine with ATM. Just not ATM machine, but I am not OK with SWIFT, because that still uses Indian, and we are supposed to say Native American now, and even though I am anti political correctness, they are not from India, they are from here, and they were here first, Indigenous people, therefore Natives, so, it is a better phrase. But, the food and the rugs are still Oriental folks, and it is still OK to say that, the people are Asian, but there is no such thing as Asian food.
That rant is over, now what I came to say. I am heading out in a motor home with six eleven year olds in my care! Once you all recover from that statement, know that this is my third time going on this trip. Once as one of the 11 year-olds, once at the age of 31, 20 years later exactly as a chaperon, and now once again as a chaperon, and this time with the wonders of modern technology at my disposal, I will be taking my lap -top, camera and a device to I can get internet every where, and blog on the way.
Last time I went, the best item of clothing I had was a pair of overalls. I could wear them almost every day, no matter what we were doing, and no matter what the weather. Alas, my overalls died last summer, so I have just ordered a new pair. These are Dickies, and I hope they prove to be as sturdy and long lasting as they promise. Overalls are a gift from God. Comfy, roomy and just perfect for work, play or what ever, with the exception of the Oscars.
My mom found me what I can only describe as the Uber Snuggy. It is way better than those things you see late at night that are made of fleece. Those are like hospital gowns, open at the back and lame. The one my mom gave me zips up, keeps my arms warm, but I can still use them, and it is toasty toasty. Perfect for a cold night in a motor-home.
Packing will be very light. We are gone for a week, so, one pair of tennis shoes, and one pair of work/hiking boots (my Laura Croft boots) in case of bad weather. 1 pair of overalls, 1 pair of shorts (probably won't wear them) 1 pair of jeans, sleeping bag (has to fit in my suit case) bathroom things (all with my name on them, so I don't lose them!) a towel (for when there are showers, because not all the camp sites have them), enough socks and underwear, a good coat for weather, and a hat, pajamas (and at least I don't have to worry there, because I am always cold at night, so those will be sweats, and I can wear those on days that we don't need to be spiffy) enough shirts and such, and a pillow (but I got these cool camping pillows that deflate when you roll them, so those don't take up a lot of room), of course Cousin Ben, and that is it. All in one bag, because space is limited, and I will have the lap top in my back pack.
So get ready, because I will be writing more, and there are adventures to come! See you all soon.