fact #3

My family has been spending the February school vacation in Puerto Rico since I was a wee young thing.  We have had many a run-in with celebrities down there including Billy Baldwin and Chynna Phillips, George Hamilton, Paul Schaffer and Regis.  While we did do a great deal of the bonding with Billy and Chynna, my best encounter was with Kurt Vonnegut.

Judging by my horrific haircut in pictures from this trip, I was in 5th grade on this particular trip.  And I was at an age where I was good at making vacation friends, which is how I met Kurt's daughter, Lily.  We hung out at the pool and the game room, the usual.  And then one afternoon she asked if I wanted to play a game with her and her dad.  What game?  Oh, you know, just some Battleship.  No big whoop.  But I bet not many people can say that not only did they play Battleship against Kurt Vonnegut, but beat him at Battleship. 

I can't believe he didn't write a story about this event, it must have been a big day for him.

Sorry I sunk your Battleship, Mr. Vonnegut

fact #2

This is a true story.

One weekend when I was working at Disney after college, some family friends came to visit the parks and I met up with them for the day at MGM - er, Disney's Hollywood Studios.  It happened to be Soap Opera Weekend at the park, so there was an abundance of all of our favorite soap stars.  They were actually a bit aggressive in trying to hand out pictures of these actors that I could later get autographed or something.  I'm actually not quite sure what goes on for Soap Opera Weekend.

Anyhoodle, my two friends and I go on the Rock 'N' Roller Coaster where Steven Tyler begs his manager to get us a super-stretch limo and backstage tickets to see their show.  Joe Perry came so close to forgetting his black Les Paul which would have been awful.  We blaze through the ride and arrive at the unloading area as well as the point of this story - as we are disembarking from our vehicles we notice a horse standing there.

We all take a glance at it and continue on our way.  As we're exiting the building I go, 'so, wait, was that a horse at the end there?'  The three of us agree that it sure looked like a horse.  We think about it some more and then begin asking our questions as to why there would be a horse in that building.  This discussion has continued on and off for the last 5 and 1/2 years.  Our various theories cover a wide range, from it being a seeing-eye pony, or perhaps some Soap Opera star had it in her contract to appear at the park that she would only travel around via horse.  Perhaps we had a group hallucination.  Or maybe it was just a crazy big dog.  Afterward, we were kicking ourselves that we didn't just ask someone why there was a horse at the unloading part of the ride.  And I know it is a question that has haunted me for years.

I looked for a long time - there are no pictures of horses on rollercoasters

blues

Yesterday, I was here. Today, I'm at work with the nutters. It's not going to be an easy afternoon.  On the plus (?) side, I believe my library husband will be coming in for a meeting this afternoon, so that's sure to be an interesting encounter!

super creepy

This dude will haunt my dreams.

success

You know it's been a good day of vacation when this is how it's ending. Can't wait for more magic tomorrow!

beet's beat

We haven't even been here a whole day and my boy's already tuckered. We've got to build up his Disney stamina.

scenic

relaxed beet.

fancy pants

My dad becomes quite the dandy on vacation after winning big in the casino.

meal with a view

Getting ready for some delicious fresh guacamole. Not a bad way to spend an evening.

Escape

Sorry for the radio silence, kids.  Ray and I were dealing with quite the illness last week that just knocked us on our asses.  And now I'm dealing with a neck situation that is beyond uncomfortable and I'm starting to think that since turning 27.5 this past Sunday I am old and falling apart.  I'd say we deserve a break, and hey!, it looks like we're going to get one.  Ray and I are heading out tomorrow to Puerto Rico to meet up with my family and I could not be more excited.  You may not have heard, but this winter has been a beast.  I'm pretty tired of being cold and looking at snow all the time, so I am jazzed that tomorrow my view will be something like this:

San Juan Intercontinental Hotel

Should be glorious.