Day Two – Birds, Fish and String Rays Oh My!

Up early and out the door the door. This was amazingly easy as all we needed was our swimsuits, everything else was to be provided (YES we did grab coffee at the Starbucks in the lobby, no way I was passing up an Americano). Discovery Cove does a nice job of hiding away on a mass of trees and bushes. everything there is designed to relax you, form the large tropical themed reception area, where they take your picture for your park ID tag that you hang around your neck for the day. Then the doors open and you enter into the lush park.

The hosts directed us to the suiting area. Wet suits or vests were the order of the day. we grabbed vests, masks & snorkels, then headed for breakfast. Basic fair,, muffins, fruit, etc. They even provide the suntan lotion as it’s an all nature by Panama Jack so that no oils can do harm to the birds and fish. first stop of the morning (overcast no sun yet) was the aviary. We were greeted by this guy. 

Then a few other feathered friends dropped in. This one “party mask” was like an 80’s punk rocker.

then it was time for a swim around the tropical reef.

there were schools everywhere.

then it was String Ray time!!!

Petting and feeding time

I got a little close.

I loved every minute of the day. An experience that I will not forget for sometime. Now I feel that I have to get Simmy down to the Keys and snorkel a live coral reef. She needs to see that this was but a small sample of the real thing.

 

Evening with an old friend

My wife’s friend Rosemary came up for the evening. I knew Rosemary years ago through a friend who dated and married a friend of Rosemary ( Hey Shelly! ). We headed back to Downtown Disney to one of our old haunts… Wolfgang Puck’s. You MUST HAVE the Butternut Squash soup. We used to drive up some nights just for a bowl of this wonderful soup. 

After dine we walked through Downtown until we got to the bridge to Pleasure Island and back to House of Blues. Then it was over and time to fall into bed. The next day we were heading to my favorite Disney park… Animal Kingdom.

Day One – Stress Free Travel or Life’s Final Attempt to be a Killjoy

Simmy planned our takeoff day well. Sunday in the middle of the afternoon. This way no matter what my work week was like I would have all day Saturday to get ready. Boy did she plan that right. The week was loaded in unexpected events and ended with me pulling a really long Friday at work. But then Saturday came… My packing choices were few, so I was packed and really to go in under an hour, she took most of the afternoon to pack. Guys definitely have it easier in this area. We can get by with a few items and don’t have to worry about matching accessories.

 

Time to Go

We got to the airport as planned, 2.5 hours before the flight. The idea was lunch and “We’re on vacation” festive drink while waiting for our flight. The plane was of course late to arrive. We were quickly boarded, we got better seating as Simmy’s leg was still in a walking cast, and in minutes the doors were sealed and we lifted off. Next stop… Orlando, FL. A few hours later we were on the ground, bags in hand, and ready to get our transportation. Simmy opened her purse and… could not find her driver license. Instant HIGH stress level! Everything was booked in her name and was to require her ID. I ran ever scenario I could think off through my bogged out head. I was fighting hard in my mind to find a way to get her an ID, then I hit me… why?  I could  just use my ID and have them re-issue the paperwork in my name. If I had thought of this earlier I could have saved us 20 minutes of extreme stress. but then it was over and vacation really began.

 

BTW: My girl know how to work a deal. Cost for 2 round trip tickets, travel insurance ( with our family, it’s not an option, many a vacation has been canceled at the last minute due to someone getting injured or sick), and 1 checked bag…. $90.00. AWESOME!!!

 

Bonnet Creek Resort

By 6:45 we were at checked into our suite at the resort. Simmy again came through. The suite was VERY nice.

Drop the bags, grab cameras, vacation fun starts…. NOW! The phone rang and our friends coming up for dinner were minutes away. Pile into car and off to Downtown Disney we went…. all of 2 miles down the road.  Raglan Road was just what I needed. Strongbow on

tap and an outdoor table. Sun went down and the cool of evening set in. Nothing feels quite like being at Downtown Disney in Pleasure Island. The flow of people on vacation and not in a hurry is different from the parks.  This is a place to relax and stroll. A few Strongbows later, dinner arrived. Irish marinated and sauced short ribs. The first of several good meals. we sat around and talked until midnight, and then it was time to say goodbye and crash. The next day we were going to need a lot of energy.

The short but needed Vacation

My lovely wife made all the arrangements and told me nothing besides the days to take off. A week before I was told what type of clothes to pack. Shorts, T-shirts, and sandals. It was to be a warm weather trip. A few days before she let me know to make sure to pack a swim suit as there was to be a day long special event that would require one. My mind raced with the possibilities. I was to not be disappointed with the plans. This was also to be my first trip with my first real DSLR camera. I felt that I was ready for anything. I just needed to get away. While I love my In-laws, it does mean very little alone time with my wife. The last few years have been quite an adjustment. In that time we moved from being a couple living in a small bungalow, my job being 1.5 hours away to having her parents living with us in a large house and me with a new job that is not always a 8-5 day, but is much closer to home. Last year our “vacations” where surgeries. My gallbladder and her thyroid. We did get away for a 3 days weekend, but we pushed so hard to get there and back there was really only 1 day that we relaxed. I am learning that I need to carve out more time to relax and let things go as I get older. My trouble is that I take things to heart and treat them like life and death whither they are critical or not. As I get more stressed, everything is do or die. That’s when I really HAVE to get away or my head will explode and then everyone hates being around me. This time I was feeling it, but not seeing it, so Simmy stepped in and took over and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She knew what i needed. So…  the next few posts are an quick review of what she did for my mental health.

Weather Conditions from The Weather Channel

Severe Weather Alert for Brick, NJ (08723)

Freeze Warning until Wed Nov 04 2009 09:00 AM EST

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EST WEDNESDAY... A FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT UNTIL 9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE WEST TONIGHT. WITH A MOSTLY CLEAR SKY AND A DIMINISHING WIND, TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO DROP NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING IN PARTS OF OUR REGION. WIDESPREAD FROST IS EXPECTED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FREEZE WARNING MEANS THAT SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST. THE SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL KILL SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

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Sent while on the road from my Blackberry