back

Day two back from Florida, and it's really hard to get into work mode when it's 80 degrees outside.  It's also hard to stick to my rule of No Visible Feet on Weekdays until May (there is a clause that allows for Weekend Sandals after Easter).  Luckily that rule doesn't apply on vacation, so the dogs got plenty of air last week.

The family vacation went really well.

We did the Sea World water park Saturday, where they have a not-lazy river.  I could have stayed in that all day.  Warm water and rapids that just push you along really fast.  I like really fast.  I do not like lazy rivers.

Epcot on Sunday, I was really excited for the space simulator because I heard it makes people throw up.  If it makes people throw up, I usually like it.

Loops, corkscrews, spins, heights, I like them all.
They  help me to feel.  Something.  Anything.

It was cool, but I didn't feel much of anything.  Proving, once again, that I am hollow and/or numb and/or dead inside.  I did feel a jarring of my teeth when the ride started.  That's something.  Or maybe I need a dentist. 
My brother said that maybe I was built for space travel.  Maybe he's right.  Maybe I'll join a boyband and plan a space mission and find out the hard way.
I think I am just built for spinning.  The trick is to stay still and don't wiggle your eyes around in your head.
It works in tunnels and on bridges too, if you aren't a bridge and tunneler.  That may be why.  You can't look around you, only in front.  Concentrate on the toll both or the license plate on the car in front of you or the squirty thing for the windshield wipers.

The Tour of Countries was different than I imagined, I thought it was more about diverse/authentic food (and of course beer) than building replicas but the food (nor the beer) was very diverse/authentic.  It's just a place to get drunk within the confines of Disney.  But I liked it.  Especially after a couple beers.  It was a good place to hang out.
First stop was Canada, where we watched a Martin Short short film about the country to get out of the hot and had Molsons and Ice Wine afterwards while we all talked like Canadians.  Growing up so close to Canada affords the family a fantastic Eastern Canadian accent.
My favorite word to say in Canadian is "Manitoba".
My favorite Canadian beverage right now is Sortilege Maple Syrup Canadian Whiskey.  They didn't have that at Epcot, but I have it at home.  It's great over an ice cube.  It's sweet, but not sickeningly so.  My friend Mikey brought it back for me from Montreal.  He knows me well.  I think I might try it over ice cream.  Also, I used some to make the birthday cut out cookies for Jake's class (only a teaspoon or so, so it's not like I really boozed them up.  It's no worse than extract) and two of the kids asked him for the recipe.  It was good.

There is a mom who is buying Happy Meals for the whole class for her daughter's birthday today.  Yeah. Jake asked for his regular lunch to be packed because he doesn't feel comfortable eating McD's unless it's Monday and his (adult) cousin takes him and there is a Play Place there so he can exercise too.  Don't ask.  I don't.  I can't.  It's all too much with that kid. 

Happy Meals, Alkidholics, cookies, Mikey, Whiskey, Canada, oh right.  Epcot. 

We all ate dinner at the nice restaurant in Mexico.  It was good.  And I was the only one who got carded, despite being the oldest of us seven "kids" that were there.  Well, second oldest- but only short by five months.
Dos Equis Amber is good.  Good tasting and good for the self-image.
If you go, get the ice cream.  They say it's vanilla but really it's some sort of dulce de leche and maybe the best ice cream I've ever had in my whole life.  They bring it out with a candle and a song if you say it's your birthday.

Animal Kingdom on Monday.  I liked the DinoLand because it was kitschy and adorable.  The park was gorgeous, but it smelled like animals.  Not entirely terrible and zoo-like, but you could tell there were animals there.  My favorite part of that was the Asia part.  It was so well done that the crowds of people only made it better.  Disney sure knows how to do it up.

We did Magic Kingdom last year, and decided not to go again this year.  Jacob was excited for his cousins Payton and Fia to go, "because it's really just for babies and girls".  I sort of agree.  If Jake was a girl, he would have loved it way more, and I probably would have enjoyed taking him way more.

Also, Jake hates anything exciting.  Born of two parents who thrive on things that make other people cringe, he can't handle much more than the Dumbo ride.
"I'm the opposite of you guys", he says.  "You're outdoorsy, I'm indoorsy.  I'm a homebody, you're awaybodies.  You're into wild things, I'm into calm things.  I don't like to be risky.  You're risky.  It makes me nervous".  Seriously, this kid lives for weekends where we get home after school on Friday and lock ourselves in until the first bell on Monday morning. 

Sometimes temperaments don't match between parents and children and that can cause stress, anxiety, and frustration. 
-FACT.

But he did have fun.  And so did everyone else.
And we all got a gross rash from Banana Boat spray sunscreen.
Or maybe it was from going to Wal*mart to buy it.  It's hard to avoid hitting up Wal*mart if you are ever in Central Florida.
This is the second year that Banana Boat sunscreen caused rashes.  Last year it was the lotion sunblock in the orange squirty tube.  This year the spray in the canister with the blue top.  No more Banana Boat ever.
I'm going to pick up some Badger next time I go to Whole Foods.

I'm Disneyed out for at least three years.  Or until Jake grows another few inches.

He shared that he's "really starting to get in to Harry Potter lately".  Which is a switch from Christmastime when he "really hated Harry Potter and doesn't get why other kids like it".  I told him that I still want to get him a birthday present so we'll buy the first HP book on his Kindle and read it together.

I still can't believe that kid has a Kindle.

I am happy he's really starting to get in to Harry Potter lately.  And the non-animated Star Warses.  I thought we were out of Cars but he re-watched Cars 2 a couple times and now he likes that.  For all the reasons he didn't like it the first time (the explosions and masterminding and killing) is why he likes it now.

Welcome to 6.

Oh, and family portraits.  We did those.  The photographer was adorable and super talented with a great eye (oh man, does that matter) and her little girl was seriously the cutest thing you've ever seen.  I'll get her information asap and post it here for anyone in Central Florida who may be looking for a photographer.  She did my sister-in-law's maternity pictures and they turned out gorgeous. 
We were outside in the sun so I'm guessing that my eyes are closed for most of them.  I don't do well in the sun.  Warm, yes.  Sun, no.  I have sensitive eyes.  I like hot cloudy days with high humidity.  I like to swim in the weather.
I forgot to take my ponytail holder off my wrist, so there will be that in the picture too.  And probably my bra strap, but whatever.  Also, my hair gets really big and wavy in Florida so that was getting in the way.  I almost forgot about the thinning issues for five days due to the bigosity of it down there.  And due to the fact that there was no grate thingy in the shower to catch all the hair so I could scoop up the clump and examine it to death.
It was a good break from reality.

Tomorrow night you can catch me and most of the boys of Asteroid! live on stage in beautiful downtown New York City!
The other girls are on vacation, I think I did a show once where I was the only girl, I'm not sure.  I have confidence I can swing it.  Shows where some of the people aren't there are very different than shows where everyone is there.  Usually there are eight of us, tomorrow there will be five of us and I think we get a half hour set.

That's a lot of stagetime.
Pressure: On.