The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Final thoughts(1/21) About This Page:

[KimandMark]

So we were on our way to Epcot....

I'd planned well, we were going to take the friendship boat over to international gateway and go to Canada for dinner and Illuminations. We left MGM around 5 although our PS wasn't until 6:40, I was hoping we could get in earlier. As we went down to the dock a boat was pulling up and we boarded immediately. I checked with the driver to make sure we could get back to our car easily, since MGM had evening EMH that night it wouldn't be a problem. The boat ride over was pleasant, Mom and Dad got to see some resorts they weren't familiar with. Until the boat ride, everytime I would say "oh, we went over to Boardwalk to get some dinner" or "we stayed at Boardwalk for the night" my Dad would ask where the boardwalk was. I don't know what answer he wanted but nothing I said every seemed to make him stop asking that questions. "Where is it?", "Its at the Boardwalk hotel", "yeah, but where is it?" Now he knows I guess, because when we rode by he went "ohhhh, that's the boardwalk." I think his fishing hat is too tight.

The trip was nice and we all needed the time to sit. It took about 20 minutes and we entered Epcot through international gateway around 5:30. We decided to head to Le Cellier, even though we were early, on the off chance that they could take us now. On the way to the restaurant Mom was distracted by Off Kilter. She just was so amazed that bag pipes could play rock music. She asked me why they were kilts, I don't really know why they wear them, just that they do and explained the name, off KILTer to her. She didn't get it right away, she doesn't wear a tight fishing hat so I don't know what her problem is.

Once at Le Cellier (now its about 6) Mark showed Mom and Dad the gardens and prettiness while I went down to the podium. I heard the CM tell the man in front of me that they were all booked up for the night, so my hopes of an early table were dashed. I checked in and got my beeper. I also asked the CM to note that we are celebrating my parents retirement this weekend (they retired right before Christmas and moved to Florida 3 days before the half marathon). I told her that I planned on ordering dessert and would love it if I could get a dessert plate that said congratulations on it (I've had one here before, its spelled in Chocolate and is really cool). She noted it and I took the beeper.

We strolled into the Canadian area, Mark bought us some beers we sat by the stairs that go to the movie entrance. Its a really quiet spot to sit and one of the areas where you can appreciate the "forced perspective" that Disney uses on us. If you look at the stone building with the glass hoo-haa's (I don't know what to call that stuff, clutter I guess) for sale you can see that the bricks get smaller as teh building rises and the windows get smaller too. It makes it look like this short little building is a really tall three stories. Kinda cool. I headed to the potty and when I came back Mom had decided she was cold. She had gone into the Roots store and bought a sweatshirt for a bazillion dollars. So here she stands in her black capri pants with her white socks pulled up (because she's cold), and red blouse with a navy blue and yellow Roots sweatshirt on. The socks are what gets me. If you are going to pull your socks up like that, put on some pants, or at least put on a pair of tevas. I think sock disfunction runs in the family.

Our beeper finally rang at 6:30, so we;ve been in Epcot an hour and seen the bench by the stairs in Canada. We head down to our table and are greeted by a very funny and pleasant waiter. Sadly, he wasn't the most attentive fellow. Really nice, but didn't pay us enough attention. We order beers that he forgets, but brings us water, that's good too. He cruises through the menu like its been memorized using a speed reading technique. Mark and I know the menu well and convince Mom and Dad to have soup and salad to share and then to share an entree with an a la carte side. They are convinced they won't have enough food, but we assure them its okay. Mark orders a seafood salad, I get the Cheddar Cheese soup and we share the surf and turf special. All the food was fabulous, I would say that Le Cellier cooks the best steaks around, always perfectly done. We ordered dessert at my prodding but didn't get our special plate! I was a little peeved, but they seemed really busy.

As for the waiter. Wow. He never refilled waters unless asked to and we were chewing the ice cubes, he forgot the beer order, and when my dad spilled his glass of water he didn't wipe it up or replace the glass. He just dropped some napkins on the table and tried to refill the glass that had been on the floor.

Actually, that story is pretty funny. Before our bread and soups arrive, Mom gets up to go the bathroom. Dad is investigating the table, touching everything, seeing how its put together. Its what he does. He reaches for the vase in the center of the table, wondering what its for and tips his water glass over. If Mom had been there she would be soaked, but the water missed the rest of us. Mark was sitting accross from Dad and Dad looks at him and says "Did I get any water on you, Wayne?" Wayne? Wayne was my boyfriend in high school, 17 years ago. We haven't seen Wayne since then. Where did that come from? Meanwhile, Mark doesn't even know who Wayne is. I'm laughing so hard my beer came out of my nose and at that moment Mom get back to from the restroom. I can't tell her what happened because I can't talk. Mark doesn't even know whose name he has been called. And Dad is so flustered that he is just busy picking up ice cubes and wiping his water up. I haven't laughed that hard in forever.

We think we know why he called Mark Wayne. See, Wayne was a really nice guy, but he was a giant clutz who was forever knocking things over or going through the wrong doors. He once accidently went to the ladies room in a Burger King. He also tripped and fell and went right through the storm door on my parents house. When my Dad built a deck and installed a sliding glass door with a screen, Wayne walked right through the screen the first day it was there. The door and the screen were straightened out but not replaced and we lived with Wayne reminders until my parents moved about 5 years ago.

So that is the story of Wayne.

We finished dinner, I think Mom and Dad liked it, but its not really their kind of place, so I don't know. We shared a Chocolate Moose! and the apple cobbler. Get the apple cobbler, its the best I've ever had. We paid our bill, tipped exactly 15%, because in my warped waitressing book that means you could have done better. 20% means you did a good job. But I can't go lower than 15% unless you did something maliciously.

We left Le Cellier at 8:30 and found a great spot for Illuminations right between Canada and GB. There was a tree there, but it blocked very little of our second Illumnations show of the trip. Our initial plan was to go to PI for the after race party, but right before Illuminations started we all agreed that there was no way. I was absolutely punch drunk, laughing at practically everything that was said and Mom and Dad were both tired. We went out the way we came in, got on the first friendship boat that was packed, made it on the waiting tram at MGM, and were in our cars in no time. I crashed out hard at the hotel, barely able to keep my eyes open long enough to get in the bed. I'm sure I was asleep by 10:30.

Whew, what a day!

[DopeyGirl]

Good lord, woman!!! Sounds like a LONG (but GREAT) day you had!!! I am exhausted just reading about it!!!

Looking forward to more!!!

[Jillybean]

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Mark was sitting accross from Dad and Dad looks at him and says "Did I get any water on you, Wayne?" Wayne? Wayne was my boyfriend in high school, 17 years ago. We haven't seen Wayne since then. Where did that come from? Meanwhile, Mark doesn't even know who Wayne is. I'm laughing so hard my beer came out of my nose and at that moment Mom get back to from the restroom. I can't tell her what happened because I can't talk. Mark doesn't even know whose name he has been called. And Dad is so flustered that he is just busy picking up ice cubes and wiping his water up. I haven't laughed that hard in forever.



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Kim, I am going to have to stop reading your tr at work because I'm drawing too much attention to myself with the laughing. This had me rolling - - along with the description of your mom's outfit.

I am going to have to meet you one day!

Jill

[BostonTeaParty]

I have to admit, I burst out laughing at the same spot Jillybean. I guess I got a visual of the beer coming out Kim's nose and when I pictured her unable to stop laughing, I started laughing too. I don't do that very often. Pretty funny stuff.

[DrDolphin]

I am SO glad I was not drinking anything when I read about "Wayne" or I too would have had drink coming out of my nose!!!

Too funny!!! We saw the same Illuminations show you did - but we were on the boat!

[Tara O'Hara]

Oh my gosh, Kim!!! You are entirely too much!!!

[Caldercup]

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She didn't get it right away, she doesn't wear a tight fishing hat so I don't know what her problem is.


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[ QUOTE ]
The socks are what gets me. If you are going to pull your socks up like that, put on some pants, or at least put on a pair of tevas. I think sock disfunction runs in the family.

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I totally laughed out loud at that. Great trip report and congrats on doing well on the race!
Eileen

[travismom]

Your TR is so much fun to read and it is so funny..
DS was reading over my shoulder and he busted out laughing several times.
He also agrees with the "ritual" you do before the race. He says before he runs a cross-country race or a track meet, he always makes a special trip to the bathroom to "let the kids swim" as he puts it. A little-too-much-information for me.

[KimandMark]

I hope that I've done this right, my dad posted some photos to ofoto, including one of him in his fishing hat! You have to sign up-sign in, but its free.

Dad's photos

[Caldercup]

The pictures are great - is the Donald medal actually shaped liked Donald's head?
Eileen

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Kim! As usual, you have me laughing out loud in my office, and people asking me what I'm reading Love the Wayne story

Hurry back with more

[katspjs]

Hilarious report Kim! We loved LeCellier and DH thought it was one the best steaks he's had. Mmmm. Cheese Soup.

When I was a kid we used to go to the beach alot. My dad wore black dress socks with sandals and his bathing suit! Quite a fashion statement!

Loved the Wayne story!

[Joy J]

Kim, I just caught up with your trip report and it's fabulous. You have such a tremendous sense of humor that I found myself either chuckling, giggling or downright laughing out loud all the way through it.

Joy

[2princessmom]

Your report is too funny! Can't wait for more!!!

[LoveWL]

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"no, I didn't hear or feel the phone, I don't think it rang". Check the phone, 5 missed calls. "Oh".

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Sounds just like my DH! I've so been enjoying your report -- congratulations on completing the race with such a good time. Look forward to reading the rest of your TR.