One sleep!

So, uhm, yeah. My family is coming. In one sleep!

It's all I could think about all day, and even so I still didn't start packing to stay with them until 11pm. Don't worry, everyone! My procrastination skills are still perfectly good even in hot weather! Just in case you were concerned ;)

Today I slept in, to try and counteract the 4:45am bedtime of last night this morning. It seemed to work fine, and I spent several hours hanging out with Sam. We realized when we got up this morning that I was leaving tomorrow and wouldn't see each other for a week. She got herself extremely sunburnt by falling asleep at the pool yesterday, and called in sick today so that she could recover. We had tea and bonded and watched The Great Mouse Detective which I haven't seen in years. (I think you guys had it, Aunt Barb? Which would have limited my viewing to when my family flew halfway across the country.) Of course, 6 year old Stephanie had never heard of Sherlock Holmes, and so watching it this time around was much more eye opening and enjoyable!

I watched some more of my own tv, played video games, and even went to the pool for a few hours. It was a beautiful day out and I didn't get burnt, which is a huge plus ;) Although I need to learn how to say "please don't smoke your cigarettes near me" in french, it seems. Ah, well. C'est la vie.

I came home from the pool and realized that I hadn't technically done anything Disney today. So far, I'm at 100% for leaving the house and catching a bus somewhere Disney every day, and I'm not stopping now! I also realized I've never actually seen Illuminations as a guest. I work at Epcot all day five or six days a week and so it is never my first choice for park hopping. Plus, it's really the most convenient bus route. So, off I went. I hopped on a bus to Epcot, arrived about 20 minutes before the fireworks would start, got myself a frozen strawberry bar (really the most delicious things ever!), and even facetimed my family from Epcot! I was able to tell each one of them that I would see them tomorrow!!!!! YAY. Hopefully they haven't forgotten anything - it seems like both Becca and Dano almost forgot to bring their pin-trading pins! But they were (hopefully) packed at the last minute! They should actually be waking up fairly soon to head to the airport; it's almost 3am at home! Hooray for family Disney trips!!!!

The Illuminations were fantastic - much better than I've been imagining from hearing the bangs and soundtrack while I work. I was watching them from Mexico and I'm really glad that anywhere around the lagoon will be excellent to watch them from! Such a huge area means that even a large crowd seems thin! :)

I got on the bus to go home, and this is where my day took a scary turn. About halfway home, I started to smell gasoline. I was near the back of the bus, so I didn't think much of it because sometimes things just smell funny on big buses. But I had the urge to pray for a safe trip home... so I did. And I'm glad. Because when we reached our first stop, we all had to get off the bus and walk by the leak that had sprung in the gasoline tank; and gasoline was pouring out all over the pavement. We were told we could wait for another bus to arrive, but I wasn't staying anywhere near that so I joined the group that was walking back. The Commons is only a 15 minute walk from Patterson, so it wasn't a big deal to walk, but it was a big deal to have my bus capable of exploding.

I've been pretty impatient with folks complaining about the company that runs these buses. Yes, sometimes they're late. Sometimes they leave early. Sometimes the drivers are rude. Sometimes the bus doesn't show at all. Sometimes it'll drop people off and refuse to pick others up. Sometimes the air conditioning on the bus isn't working. But it's free. And, until tonight, a safe way to get to and from work. If I ever come back, I'm buying a car. But, I got home safely. (Big shout out to my Father for watching out for me!) When I told Sam she suggested I contact Disney to tell them my concerns. So, I think I'll try to find a number or email I can contact, because this company is crap. And getting worse.

After that adventure, I watched more tv, cleaned my room, and packed my stuff :) Now, it's time for sleep before a week packed full of family, Disney, adventure, and laughing so hard our bellies hurt! Goodnight! :)

(Happy 52nd Anniversary to you, Grandma and Grandpa, by the way! That's a long time to put up with each other. And your kids. And your grandkids. And that one grand-daughter that you spoil so much its almost sickening but she's not complaining because she loves every minute ;) Love you guys!)