Monday, February 16, 2009

Why on earth should I be sorry????

So since I usually like to vent via my blog...here's something that really really pisses me off.



You know what everyone, Art and I have worked hard to be able to afford the things we have. We're very frugal and smart with spending. So why in the hell should I be sorry for taking vacations, and buying the things we want. I am soooooooo sick of listening to everyone and their dog complain about how its just not fair that we get to go on so many vacas. Well I've got news, you chose your life, and I chose mine. So deal with it and stop being a hater.



Its coming to the point where I don't even like to talk about what we are doing or any vacations in depth because I'm so frickin sick and tired of people being all jealous and telling us that it just isn't fair. Well think about the money you spend on your kids, its alot right? I'm being serious, its very expensive to raise kids. We don't have them, so naturally we'll have what seems to most as extra.



I can't stand it, its like oh poor me, I never get to do anything...its your life you made your decisions. Don't be mad at me, just because I chose to work a steady job since the day I moved out, and not have kids. Its bull s#@* and I am sick and tired of dealing with it.

Everyone makes their own choices, and I made mine. So shut up if you can't deal with it. Cause I'm tired of feeling like its not okay to talk about my life just because I get to go on vacations. Everyone acts like I must have done something really special or am going into some massive debt to do it. Nope its called, we both work full time jobs and don't go out to eat, don't go out to movies, and save pretty much every penny of our money. So I'm really sorry that you're jealous. And no this frustration isn't recent. This is something that has been going on long LONG before the economy sucked. Everyone always tells us it isn't fair. Life isn't fair, get over it, you bunch of sissy cry babies.


Okay I feel much MUCH better! I love blogging.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

How I love priceline

So Art and I used to use Priceline.com all the time ages ago, probably like 6 years ago. Then I kinda forgot about it. Man I love that website. You get to go in, name your own price for a certain "star" rating of a hotel and then someone can accept it. And you can just go CHEAP! We got a room at the Hyatt Regency in Orange County for $52 a night for two nights. And in November we got a room at the Hilton Suites also in OC for $45 a night. Needless to say, both these hotels are normally in the $130-$200 range. And by booking through hotels.com or some other travel site, you wouldn't even be able to get motel 6 for that price. So I'll take dirt cheap for a 4-5 star hotel anytime. Just love it, so if you ever want a deal and don't have a specific hotel in mind, try priceline. It'll save you a TON! WOOHOO! I love staying at really nice hotels for cheap...helps me save for more vaca's. :)

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Disney Cruise Finale...the airport


So on our way to the airport from the beach. I'm hungry but starting to feel a little sick too. We turn in our rental car and tell the guy we're flying delta. Away we go in the shuttle, then I look at the documents and tell him ohhh it looks like Alaska is operating this flight so we'll need to go there. He insists that since it says Delta that's where we need to check in. I'm sorry since when did he know everything, I knew he was wrong...but to delta we went. Once we get there, half the computers are broken. And I'm feeling even more sick. We find one that works and put in our conf number. Then it says this flight is operated by Northwest, please input that conf #. So I try going through that way and it doesn't work. I tell the lady I need help and she's like in a minute. So finally she comes over and I tell her whats happening, she says well then I guess you better go to northwest. I tell her we're NOT flying northwest, its operated by Alaska, but ticketed through Delta, she looks at my itinerary and was like no you need to go to nw, I said...we're NOT even flying them...we're flying Alaska. Then shes like well then go to Alaska. I only wish I could get her rude I hate my job tone in here. She was not helpful, and I started to cry a little. I'm not much of a cryer anymore, but somehow the airport always stresses me out, plus I felt sick.

So away we go to find Alaska airlines, which was of course on the other side of the airport. So we get there, and there is no one in line and three people working the counter. We stand there and wait probably a good minute before they're done with their conversation and can help us. I'm on the verge of tears, so I tell art he's going to have to talk to them, he tells them the story and this lady was pretty nice, she's like oh okay no problem. Within 15 seconds we had our boarding passes. We walk down the hall, probably 2 minutes and stop so Art can go to the bathroom, while hes in there, I'm looking at our docs, and realize they only gave us the tickets from MCO to Seattle, but not our Seattle to Redmond tickets. Then I'm annoyed, and then I look at our luggage tags...yep sure enough, they checked them to Seattle. Ughhh, art's out in a few seconds and I tell him to run back and figure it out. I stay there as I don't want to start balling and freaking out.

When he comes back, I ask him how it went. He told me I don't want to know. He went over there and told the lady hey we just checked our luggage and you sent it to Seattle and not Redmond, and shes like WHAT!! Well why didn't you tell us that when you checked it. I can't do anything to help you NOW! He's like we just checked it two minutes ago...her: well sorry can't help you...TOMORROW, that's when you can get your luggage. I can't do anything to help you, you should have told us. I'm sorry, since when was it MY job to re-check what the people at the airlines have done to make sure they did it right? Seriously you are blaming us, for you checking our luggage to the wrong place. So art is like, I just want to know what I can do, and what we can do to make sure our luggage goes to Redmond, her: I can't help you, you'll have to do it in Seattle. OMG! Are you kidding me!!! What is going on!

So I'm pissed....royally pissed now, I'm like oh well at least the gate agent is usually more helpful. So we get to our gate and go up to the guy there. Art explains the luggage thing and how we need our connecting flight tickets and the guy is like I don't get it, why didn't they book it to the right place, we have no idea we tell him. He looks annoyed to be helping us, he's like oh well you can just deal with it in Seattle. I tell him we have a short layover and are afraid we won't make it, he's like well it'll show up eventually. I tell him , Also I'd like the names of the girls working at the ticketing counter, and he looks at me like I just asked him to name the president of the companies home address and phone number. He goes, uhhh right, how do you expect me to know who they are out of all those people working over there, I say well there are only 3 ladies working at the Alaska counter, so I'd like their names, He says, I don't even know how you expect me to find that out, I say well I want you to call the ticketing counter, cause I want to talk to their supervisor. He tells me there is no way he can do that. He then starts looking up our reservations, and tells us, he can't give us our connecting tickets and that we'll have to figure it all out in Seattle. That was enough, I had to walk away. I went into the bathroom and cried a little till I felt better.

I came out and Art is on the phone with Alaska Airlines trying to get everything taken care of. The lady on the phone is nice, and tells Art that she has no clue why no one will help us get our tickets to Seattle. She does a bunch of stuff, and like ten minutes of them talking we get paged up to the stand. The same guy slams down two tickets and goes, Phoenix called, here's your tickets, and NO I can't do ANYTHING about your luggage. I was like ohhhh my goshhh...you did not just do that to us! So eventually we board, and get to Seattle. Seattle people are much nicer, help us figure out our luggage, and we are good to go. We board our tiny little plane to Redmond, did I mention its now 11:00, by the time we board in Seattle. And we are on east coast time, so make that 2 am. Oh and did I also mention we have to work at 11 am. So we get to Redmond finally and I tell art that I will wait for the luggage and for him to go get the car. I wait forever, why on earth it takes so long for luggage at this airport I will never know. There is one terminal and one baggage claim. And the entire airport is like the size of my store. So why it takes so long is beyond me. Baggage finally comes and I take it outside to where I think the car will be waiting. Where is art with the car, I look all around and see art walking up. Wait where's the car. Art walks up and says, yep the cars dead. Seriously, no wait, are you serious. This is just great, its 12:15 am, (3:15 am to my body) and we still have to drive 20 minutes home. Ohhhh great. The police officer inside gives us a jump box after art tells him he can hold me as collateral, the guy found that quite funny. I didn't care, I just wanted to go home. He got it started finally, and home we went, for my like 3 hours of sleep and then off to work. Fun fun day. :(

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Disney Cruise Part 2







Where did I leave off?? Oh yes...thats right...we had been screwed out of going to Castaway Cay for the day, I remember now.



So they say they have all these really "FUN" things to do. Which mostly consisted of adding on movie times and some character greetings. I was very depressed by this all. We decided to go see Bolt in 3D since we couldn't do anything else. Cute movie. After that, we decided it was time for the adults only pool. Or maybe the hot tub. It was pretty chilly out. So we hung out in the hot tub for a while, and some Disney Cast Members came by asking how our day was, I told them it would be ALOT better if I was at Castaway Cay, that got everyone in the hot tub free drinks. Thank you . We chatted with them a while, and I asked them all sorts of Disney stuff. That night we went to Disney Dreams, the musical show. Very good.



We also got to go to this party for repeat guests with our new friends Oliver and Rosie. We met the captain there and told him that to make up for this sadness of no CC, we'd want some Chocolate Souffle from Palo. Palo is an adults only restaurant on board that you have to pay to eat at. So the Souffle you can only get from there. He asked where we were eating, our table number and time. We gave it to him. I should also mention, that I had already asked our head server in the dining room the night before for some of this, and she said she'd work on it for tonights dinner. Long story short, we totally got the entire table Souffle!!! WOOHOO!!! I'm pretty sure everyone in the dining room was jealous...but thats okay, and it helped me feel much better about not getting to go to CC for the day.



Dinner over, and then we go take some pics of the characters. After that, its pack up and bed time. Is it really time to leave, I swear we just got on. So goes the 3 night cruise, on and then your off. Time flies. Next day, we have breakfast and get email addresses from new friends. Then its time to leave.... :( Sad sad sad.



But I was semi-okay with leaving because it meant we were headed to WDW and the Magic KINDGDOM!!! Hip Hip Hooray! We drove to the Contemporary resort where we'd be staying for our one last night. A really cool hotel, the closest one to magic kingdom and we've always wanted to stay there. So we decided to splurge and do it. Really cool and really nice. And you can walk to the park. And if you know how HUGE WDW is, you know that is very very rare. We went to the park, and stayed for a few hours. And of course my very favorite ride... Mickeys Philharmagic, was closed...what else is new, keep it up Disney...thanks alot! But then we got to meet up with my friend Kim and her hubby for lunch, and I haven't seen her in a while, so that was really cool. After lunch in Downtown Disney, we headed back to the hotel, we were in desperate need of a nap. So we slept for a couple hours and headed back to the magic kingdom. Something really cool that they do in WDW, is if you are staying on Disney property, you can go into the parks after hours, on certain days. So that was one good thing. Until we got there, and the place was packed...go stay at another hotel...leave my disney hotels for me! Why oh why were there so many people there...Its superbowl Sunday, they should be at home, spending quality time in front of the TV. I do NOT appreciate them here, standing in my lines. So we went on a few rides, and decided we didn't feel like dealing with all the people, so we left. Goodbye Magic Kingdom...I promise it won't be long.

Off to our hotel, to watch the last two minutes of the Superbowl. I know I'm an awesome wife for letting him watch the last two minutes! Thank you! :) Off to bed. We wake up for our last day in FL, which was my sister Sarahs birthday as well. We're going to the beach!!! Woohooo!!! Until that is we start driving there, and its TOTALLY raining! UGHGHHHH...we get there and its actually okay weather. Thank goodness. So we go have lots of fun on the beach and watch the annoying seagulls as they nearly attack us for our food. Stupid birds. Then we decide to take a nature walk ( this obviously must have been Sarah's idea, since I don't walk for fun....lol) Where it starts to rain, a little, then a lot, then downpour. So we got fairly wet and then sat in the car and talked. Are you kidding me....rain....RAIN~!! On my supposed to be sunny getaway and on my sisters birthday! The nerve!!!! It didn't let up and we eventually had to leave to go to the airport. Well the airport is another story for another day...so you're just going to have to keep waiting.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

So you wanna hear about the Disney Cruise huh??







Warning...this is very long. I may even split it into 2 different posts. So I hope you have some extra time on your hands to read it. :)



Alright...I'll just start this out by saying that you all know how much I love Disney. So the mixture of unfortunate events, has by no means lessened my love for them... away we go.



So we get to the airport around 6:30, our flight leaves at 7:50, we're informed its delayed 35 mins. Then about 10 mins later, its delayed again...and again. We realize we're never going to make our connecting flight, so luckily we were at a nice airport (Redmond) and the lady re-booked no problem. Whewww...that was close.



On we go on our yucky overnight flight, after 13 hours of traveling we arrive at the airport and go to get our rental car. Where the woman is just as pleasant as can be, are you sensing my sarcasm. Well then another client comes in and just walks right up to our counter and starts yelling at the woman about how she gave him the WRONG keys. No, no no...he put his stuff into a nicer car, and now expects her to give him the upgrade. Ummmm hellooooo we are here and we have places to be. He doesn't care, he keeps screaming that he's already packed the entire car, and it is her duty and job to give him that upgrade. Long story short, she doesn't. HAha!



So after an hour of driving we are at the port! WAHOO!!! No lines to check in, awesome! I of course ask if anyone has cancelled and if there are any upgrades. Nope, nothing. Absolutely full...to capacity. Full capacity is 2760 (thats with every room completely full) and our ship was at 2739. Oh great I think. Oh well...onto take our picture with Cpt Mickey~ After about 45 min-1 hour we are able to board. When you get on, they ask for your Family name and state and then they announce you coming onboard. All the way from Oregon, its the Walker Family! We totally recorded it on the camera. It was cool. So up to lunch we go, ate a ton and then finally the room is ready. I decorate the door, and its totally awesome and then we got to sleep! (well a nap at least) Bla bla bla for the rest of the day. Oh we did have a good dinner and saw The Golden Mickeys show, it was awesome.



So day two...bla bla bla...We walk around outside before we decide to go change and get off the ship. We are walking inside and my flip flop gets stuck on the doorway, its slow motion and I think I can catch myself. Well I didn't I fell flat on my face (and no this was NOT funny) and really hurt my knee. It hurt like a mother you know what and I started crying and could barely get up. I laid there holding my knee crying, super. Just super. ( oh and my knee still hurts a week and a half later thank you) Great way to start my day and cruise. So after getting myself together we get ready to get off the ship. We're docked in Nassau, Bahamas we decide that we are not going to take our swimsuits with us, since we've been to Nassau before, so whats the point. We walk about a mile to get to the Beach, since we don't want to pay the insane amount it costs to use the Atlantis Beach (which is right next to the public one) we go take some pictures. We go take more pics at Atlantis, which everyone in the world is convinced is the coolest place ever. Ummmm hello, its a Vegas Casino...in the Bahamas...thats it! Not worth the money, trust me! Go to SANDALS...save yourself from the screaming kids!!! Back to the ship we go. Swimming, hot tub...lots of food, The Toy Story Show, and that wraps up the day.



We wake up on to the ship really rocking on Saturday, then our phone rings and its some friends we met onboard. They got upgraded prior to the cruise to one of the balcony rooms on the very back of the ship! Their balcony was HUGGGEEEE!! So of course we go, everyone I know says watching them dock at Castaway Cay (Disneys island) is totally awesome! So we get dressed really quick and run over there. We see the island, oh its so beautiful. And we see The Flying Dutchman (thats the ship from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean) I can't wait!!! Then all of a sudden, we start turning...and pulling away. And the island is getting smaller and smaller until its gone. We call guest services, they tell us its too windy and we're going to circle around and try again in 30 mins. So an hour and a half later, we're really close... we run out and start taking pictures, and clapping and jumping in the air. Hip Hip Hooray...we're going to Castaway Cay. We get closer and closer, I'm like hurry it up already, I'm ready to jump off this ship and swim there! Then all of a sudden... we just keep turning, and turning and turning. And then we realize it, we're pulling away yet AGAIN! And then the worst happens, the captain gets on and says, attention ladies and gentlemen, due to winds beyond our control, we will be unable to dock at Castaway Cay at all today! I stop listening there, I'm sorry, did he just say AT ALL!!! As in, I will be stuck on this boat at sea all day, and Castaway Cay will remain a dream in my mind and I won't get to see it! This must be a joke...come on Rebekah wake up, I must be dreaming! Because I've given Disney enough time and money that it surely could not do this to me. Well...it did. I was in shock, I wasn't getting to go to Disney's private island...instead we got to have a bull crap Fun Day at Sea! Oh give me a break!!!!

Okay....I'll need a break now, so you'll have to wait for the rest of the story in the 2nd post ...