Day 5- Another somber day.  We got up and went to the cemetary yard of my dad's side of the family.  Grandparents and aunts are buried there along with may of my relatives one i seen dated to be born in 1856! that was HUGE for me that puts my roots traced back 9yrs before slavery was abolished! wow!  But it was heartbreaking cause it marked my first ever visit to the cemetary.  when my Grandma died in 90 i was present for the funeral but too upset to go to the graveyard.  i was only 9 when she died.  and when my grandfather died in 98 i couldnt go cause i was in college and couldnt miss class.  Later that year my aunt died from complications of Lupus and i still couldnt leave.  So to go by 1 by 1 and touch their graves and say im sorry and goodbye was heart wrenching.   We got through it though and said good bye to family headin back to texas.  Some were cousins i never even met before that i didnt know existed as no one told me that cousin had kids.  Comin back into town we stopped at Sonic to grab a bite to eat then to my Aunts to get wifey and my nieces hair did.  The way that house is set up is crazy ridiculous! its like a mansion! west wing east wing it seems lol  The pool unfortunately was drained damaged from Katrina but the roof had been repaired from the tree fallin on it.  Lots of laughin talkin and catchin up.  My lil cousin A and i got our plane tickets printed out and confirmed for the next day.  After all were done we all went out for that last "family dinner" at a joint called Justin's on the lake.  was good stuff!  That night i packed up all our stuff as best as possible and retreated to take 1 final bath there. 

 

Day 6- Last day.  I had spent most of the night tryin to suck all my mom's video and picture footage onto my laptop that she had put on a portable hard drive she bought.  It still hadnt finished by the time they were ready to go so i had to terminate the link and pack it up for her.  They left round 10am after some goodbyes to relatives. i retreated back to our room to try to assure we got our stuff together.  we left round noon probably after a sad goodbye to my grandma who went from a house full of family visitin to bein home alone again.  We went to my Aunts house for more goodbyes and retrieve my daughter's barbie she had forgot.  We then set out ourselves at it was a 1.5hr drive to the airport and the 2hr prior check-in time etc plus we wanted to drive New Orleans.  The check engine light had been on in the van since we had headed back from Biloxi so that was concerning me as well.  We got back though no problem to N.O. gettin there just as a thunderstorm was hittin the city.  Yeah that comforting.  We then started drivin round lookin at their devastation gettin even more of it on video.  Did a full 360 around the superdome via the overpass and just gettin that image in mind of seein the people flockin there like an exodus.. dead bodies bein left on the very overpass were drivin on.  We went into the suburbs of the wards and house by house seein the FEMA x's wit the numbers of bodies found etc house by house, trailers everywhere.  houses with writing of "DO NOT DEMOLISH" and "WILL NOT BE RETURNING" how heartbreaking.  By the time we were done it was bout 2ish so it was time to be at the airport.  We go back to the enterprise lot and return the van after refillin the gas and returnin the GPS which was an absolute God send gettin all around Ms and La. Upon arrival to the airport we go to check in the luggage and the drama began again.  I go to check in the bags and the lady is slow and non chalant.  I TELL her i have a bag wit unloaded weapon to check she acknowledges and proceeds on doin what she was doin. i get all the bag tags finally and go to the TSA security bag scan (theirs was like Orlando they dont take bags behind counter like SeaTac.)  I tell this cat too bout the 9's he says i shouldve had a waiver from the lady.  Now im irritated cause that chick knew i had'em.  i go BACK to the chick NOW she wants me to open my bag and show her my straps in front of everyone!  yeah black guy in the airport, 2 9's 4 clips,  2 clips have bullets in'em this chick must be tryin to start somethin.  She tells me the clips cant be in the same carrying case as the straps they had to be separate now im gettin pissed and a gun 6 inches away from my hand. NOT good. this chick is not capable of doin her duties and i gotta go NOW.  i argue wit her and she gets a TSA supervisor. (S**t they have home court advantage you have no where to run but if you do grab the case you have 2 9's and 2 clips wit 10shots they get past 20 they win hahahaha) Supervisor arrives and i explain to him the situation and that 2 airports ive cleared without incident.  He clears that it was fine bein it was locked up, unloaded, and had a lock on it in a bag goin down below. (TAKE THAT YOU BUCKET HEADED....) anyways. we go through security screening and more drama.  Our flight that was to leave at 415 gets delayed to 545 then 625! i wasnt too much sweatin it cause we had a layover in Dallas that was 3hrs takin off at 850 so we were basically servin out our layover through the delay.  The downside was we had wanted to leave on time cause Dallas had a 645 to seattle we were gonna try to get on as standby but wit that out the window we just went wit the delay.  (the delay was because Dallas/Ft Worth airport was shut down for 2hrs cause of bad weather. i heard rumeor of a tornado warning)  We finally landed in Dallas and oh it was no surprise... we were stuck on the tarmack for 30min cause another plane was at our gate! After we got off we went to our new gate and checked the time... it was delayed till 9:10! later get a call from Orbitz flight delayed till 10:50!! IM IN HELL!!! delayed leavin seattle in the 1st place on the 19th now delayed gettin home!  We grab a bite to eat at a Manchu Wok in the airport then go back to the gate. Its marked as Nashville. Im concerned i go check the flight schedules... c26. ok. go back people everywhere.  Just when im bout to walk up to her to ask i hear her talkin to another that the flight has been moved to c16! i sprint to my wife and kids and say we gotta move NOW. we miss ths we stuck in Dallas! we brisk walk all the way down to that gate wit time to spare and they do confirm thats the right gate.  We eventually get on and for the 1st time EVER i fall asleep outta sheer exhaustion.  Back while we were in N.O kelitha's mom is text'n that my dogs are missin out the back yard yet no sign of them comin under the fence at all.  Im semi concerned but not whole heartedly.  We land FINALLY right at midnight in seattle.  we go down the baggage claim and wait... and wait... and wait. im posted up not amused cause at this point im EXPECTING things to go wrong. i just spent 3.00 on the smart carte and no luggage. the carosuel is about to stop no new luggage comin so im once again bout to go file a claim of 6 outta 6 luggage missing and just go home.  but as i round the other side of the carosel all 6 luggage bags are roped off as if they caught an earlier flight or somethin and had been unclaimed.  i get all our stuff call Masterpark to get our truck ready and come get us.  Get there get loaded tip the dude bounce out and get home round 130am. open the garage door. the smell of decay. what??? what now??!!! Lawd Jesus WHAT??! turn on the light and look around.  1 outta 2 of our freezers in the garage stopped workin.  good meat and fish all spoiled. blood on the floor.  whatever too tired for this ish. checked the plug still plugged in and never tripped so compressor may  have just gone out and its only 3yrs old.  Bring the bags upstairs start uploadin the footage from laptop to PC to prepare process of makin a double DVD movie. 1 Disneyland, 1 Mississippi.  Now im here in front of ya'll writin checkin up on tivo'd shows still not unpacked but had to get all this off my chest.  Now wit that done... PEACE!

Day 2-  We always started the day around 10ish central time which wouldve been waaay too early pacific time to do anything.  We got up and went round the corner to my cousin Erika's grave site.  Hadnt been since I saw her to rest in 2001.  Was a sad sad site apparently now she has a headstone to go wit the vault her casket is in.  Got a lot of footage of it all and we took off from there and went to my grandfathers house.  It took forever and a year to get in cause the key my dad had didnt fit the lock! the tumblers inside the locking mechanism were so worn out it wouldnt immediately turn but after 10min of fiddlin wit it we gained access and looked around. After fiddlin wit the lock another 10min to lock it we went around back and got down to some bitness!

 

We went and got them thangs out the back of our vans and set up in the brush a bunch of cans and a few glass bottles we found in the yard from my uncles when they be drinkin over there.  Now that right there? that erased the stress i had accured  from the 19th to that preset day! bullets flyin er where no one tellin you "1 bullet per second" , "no rapid fire" etc. naw Johnny Blaze and aint a d**n thang changed!  Had both stainless steel guns in hand and CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK!!!! like i was full automatic didnt care if the glass was breakin or not i was DUMPIN! Me and my dad set up a lil competition of shootin but wit my vision bein not there (i need glasses and have had the prescription but too lazy to go get'em) i didnt give it all i could but i did hit my targets though!

 

it was a pretty mellow day saw more family and went to my cousin's house and hung out and swam in their pool that was VERY refreshin in the summer heat and humid weather.

 

Day 3- Was a memorable day.  We got up early as usual and me and wifey had it planned out that we were also gonna play tourist down south and not just sit around all day sleepin and whinin bout the heat.  So wit our old 2004 Mississippi mag all of us minus my mom set out for Jackson.  Before we left i set up an appt wit a tourism company and we went and toured Medgar Evers house.  That was SUCH an honor to see where he lived and learn up close and personal the struggle he and others went through so people like me can even talk to you like im talkin to you now.  To see where he was shot and fell and to walk through the door and see what could even be the stains of his slain blood....WOW.  took alot of pics and alot of video.  Since we got there early than our 230pm appt we went on the tour wit the previous group.  After it was over we stopped and got some food at a Mcdonalds truck stop.  From there we went to an address lookin for a Civil Rights drivin tour but bein it was 2004 info they had since moved from there so called the address and got the good info for the visitors info branch.  Armed wit better info we got the brochure for the tour and got it underway driving from stop to stop lookin at places which peaked key points in the civil rights movement.  VERY touching to include the last church Medgar spoke at before he was assassinated in the driveway we were just at an hour earlier wit a 30.06 rifle decades ago.  What an honor to see this stuff that has always been there and for the 1st time im able to explore on my own as this was the 1st time that ive been the driver not bein driven while down there.  As we headed back i chatted wit my dad who was full of memories himself as he was born and raised in Ms.  That night we stayed wit my cousin M at her new house out in the country (the same we went swimmin wit the day prior).  Had some BOMB peach cobble make from scratch except the dough made by pillsbury and their rollout dough line hahahahaha After some boiled peanuts and a game of sorry we all retired to bed.

 

Day 4- Another memorable day.  We got up early and with plus 2 more kids (my 2 lil cousins) in tow we set off southward to Biloxi.  Again have never been all my times of goin to Ms and it our own wheels we were gonna make the most outta the trip and not depend on others to make it for us.  My cousin M had to work so she wasnt around so we took the kids wit us we didnt want'em to stay bored at home.  We decided we needed an up to date Tourist guide thats kinda a long drive to be tryin to see stuff that may not even exist post Katrina.  Headin south to Louisiana we had to get of at exit 1, turn around and come northbound and stop at Mississippi welcome center.  then get off at next exit and head BACK southbound toward Louisiana again as the GPS said to go southbound then eastbound through LA to get to Biloxi quicker.  Passin through we scoped out some other hot spots to see headin back. One of course bein my store of choice.. BEST BUY! i saw on their website they lowered the price of my new camera i just brought by $50 so you know i gots ta get my money back!  Also saw an outlet mall (prime outlets) so a bunch of options!  Upon gettin there though.... ugh. depression.  Expected to see a revitalized Biloxi  but instead we witness and film a town still workin off a broken axle.  Casinos still closed and abandoned, houses damaged, FEMA trailer parks...now I'm PISSED.  are you kiddin me??? BUSH are you serious right now??? Those who voted for that clown are you seein the red clown nose on his face and big shoes now?? Houses wit trailers still in front, Foundations wit nothin on it but a trailer, and for us some hungry tourist?  We had entered into the GPS Mcdonalds to get somethin to eat and use the bathroom.  We passed by it 2x cause all that was there was a foundation.  GONE.  we abandoned the cause and drove further inland finally findin a Wendy's and got out to eat and catch a 2nd wind soakin in the sites we had just seen of still very live wounds of a city damaged and abandoned by their government.  We decide to go back again and try to find SOME tourist things but it only got worse.  We cruise down the beach drive lookin out at the beautiful Gulf of Mexico when i look to the right and there was the most heart wrenching site ive ever seen.  A memorial park wit a moseilium that was so desecrated from Katrina damage.  Plaques missing but obviously occupied wit bodies and caskets.  The whole parking lot riddled wit rubble that im now concerned of popping the tires as ive driven into the driveway to film the undamaged side that was not exposed to the storm totally intact.  At this time we had enough.  so heart breaking seein that we had to go and ill probably never go to Biloxi again in my LIFE.  We headed back we needed some retail therapy after seein that. 1st stop was the outlet mall and we did the dang thang there! Wifey made out the most she got some ish from Tmmy Hilfiger and brand new Coach bag w/matching wallet that i brought her for a birthday gift, some shoes from the timberland store.  Me? i got some comfy timberland sandals and a coach lanyard to wear at work to display my badge. VERY metrosexual i know hahaha  Was in a very giving mood i text some of my friends and asked if they wanted anything but got no bites! oh well!  As we rounded the final turn to take the kids to KB Toys i offered one of my 1st races but was totally a trick they werent payin attention!  I told them "1st kid to the door gets to buy their OWN toy!" one of my cousins literally ran OUT his shoes sprinting toward the door! hahahaha after they were all at the door and im in tears laughin they realized what i had said hahaha!  turned'em loose in the store some brought toys others held out for the next top, best buy.  While drivin there we had a 2nd race this one who could be the quietest the longest!  Same cousin won again but i gave 2nd place $10 as well which was my niece. Upon gettin there via target, i get some new headphones for my ipod (shure $99 ones) a couple dvd's a cd and price adjustment on the camera (yep, just like i was at home on a new movie tuesday).  I get advised that my family from texas is at my Uncles house so now its a race to get back! but then again since day 1 of drivin its always been a race cause theres like NO state patrol in MS and LA the whole time i was down there so gettin ANYWHERE was easily 85-90 in 70's.  We dropped off my cousins and then headed to my Uncles to find drunk people everywhere!  My mom was on one too!  We went inside and got some good soulfood eats and talked to my cousins i aint seen in 6yrs.  Some i flat out ignored when i got there cause i didnt even realize it was them!  We didnt hang long cause we were emotionally and physically drained from the days events.  We were to hangout at my aunts house for the night but we were so sleepy we crashed at my grandmas.

Hello Hello Hello!! Back in the house after 4days in Disneyworld and 5 Days in Mississippi and ohhhhhhhhhh what a trip this has been.  All the way around ya'll already caught up on the nightmare of Disneyworld behind the scenes but i never got the chance to update ya'll from then on out. My family stayed the core of the trip with my grandmother who doesnt have a computer so there you have it wit havin internet!  I brought along my laptop in hopes that id highjack someones wi-fi signal thats not password protected and sho nuff! found a signal from our bedroom that had ONE BAR! thats all it took!  It was very weak and had my usb wi-fi adapter in the window but one move and that one bar is GONE!  But lets back the story up a sec.

 

Day 1- We leave out our room at the Dolphin at 0530am and take a extended van w/my parents and niece to the airport.  US Airways I had printed out my tickets in the lobby at a check-in kiosk they had set up (which was a piece of garbage it was a touch screen that didnt work and when you finally got it to the point of printing it out... the URL link was blocked!! what the heck?? so i had the receptionist do it)  I check my bags and again like wit Delta declare i have an unloaded weapon in the bag.  The dude was TSA and was non-chalant caring about the situation and ran the bag through the separate scanner (in Orlando they dont take your bags behind the counter they go across the way to a separate scanner thing) i sit there and wait..... waiting.... another guy walks up and i tell him too he's like "did you tell the guy" i tell'em yezzur!  The other guy walks over eventually and tells me im all done im like ok.... do i even get my smarrtcarte back so i can turn it back in and get my .25 cents back? he says oh we'll take care of it. fine that quarters your tip then i gotta go.  We bounce get on the plan that goes from Orlando to Charlotte, then Charlotte to New Orleans.  We finally get there and my parents to to their rental car desk and I go to mine (Enterprise)  I get it all confirmed and hop the shuttle to the joint thats down the skreet to pickup the full size sedan i booked. Im the 1st one in line sign the paperwork (that was already printed from when i checked in at the airport) and wait..... and wait... and wait...  other people that hadnt checked in at the airport yet caught the shuttle over wit me were done and gone before me! people 2 shuttles later gone before me! yet my wife kids and our bags are still at the airport waitin. WTF?? now im gettin irritated EXTREMELY this nightmare is pickin back up right where it left off.  They FINALLY bring me my car (literally im the last one in the bldg) its an 07 sebring sedan. check in over they waive the gas cause they had no time to clean or gas it (and it showed) gettin ready to leave... no portable GPS. i turn the engine back off and storm inside. be glad my bags are still at the airport cause im ready to reach for somethin now.  They giive me the song & dance run around that they are sold out and have been for weeks so they dunno why i was able to book it. I tell'em that i just saw the lady bring one in so.... they look at each other and the finally decide to go seek it out.  they bring me back a GPS i leave. dont wanna pull race card cause i dunno but on the record ALL of them were indeed caucasian.  I go set the thing up... screw it not tightened it wont stay up to be displayed. the screen just looks down at the dashboard. CLACK CLACK CLACK!! CLACK CLACK!! hahaha no im playin no gunfire. i drive off cause i get a call from wifey that shes concerned some guy has been walkin by tryin to talk to her and kids and wants me to hurry.  Ill deal wit you bastards later i gotta go get my wife and kids.  Gettin back i illegally park in the courtesy transport lane cause its set up that the outside lane closest to the door is set up for them and the inside lane from regular people like me and you. what the heck?? i got a wife, 2 kids, and 6 checked luggage items forget that yo. 3 big bags in the trunk, 2 in the backseat and a carseat. problem.  trunk wont close and no where for my daughter to sit. i drive off anyways im NOT amused. a security guy or someone it whistlin for me to stop. peaceout dude aint got time for you too i know my trunks open. i drive BACK to enterprise and get sick wit it.  The car is too small i want somethin bigger, the GPS is garbage screw it tighter NOW.  before its all said and done im in a pimped out dodge minivan and a NEW GPS. now where this 2nd one come from suddenly thought you didnt have anymore you been sold out for weeks?? i aint gonna pull race card though. whaaatever. we leave and hit the road my parents way ahead of us as they had their luggage minivan and had already bounced while im goin through my nightmare.  We finally get to my grandmas house and i dump luggage and crash in the room wit a migraine.  family came and tried to say hey but i just couldnt even handle it.  I did eventually get up and we went to dinner at a joint called Picadilly's good food but misleading you think its a buffet but more like a cafeteria you better get it right the 1st time what you gonna eat on your tray or if you go back for 2nd's they charge you another meal fee!  gonna solve this problem asap.  We go to walmart and stock up on needs for the week and my need? i went to the ammo section but brought a 100rd box of 9mm ammo gonna work this out through some bustin caps therapy. 

 

As we were leavin i ran into my friend who i met back in 97 through my late cousin Erika.  We kept in contact and last saw her in 2001 when i came down to see my cousin to rest.  It was literally a brief second just happened to be at an intersection (sup Ya!)  That concluded night 1 more to follow in increment chapters

July 23^rd

 

The Series Finale of our trip to Disneyworld. Oh what a day!  We got to the park round 10:30ish and it started out as day 2 to be a good hot day.  The sun was out and beamin but since we didn’t eat at the resort and had wanted to hurry and get to the Magic Kingdom asap we stopped there to chow.  The restaurant we went to had character dining there for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner and today it was Winnie the Pooh and friends (eeyore, piglet, and tigger)  That was a load of fun they came by table to table (in our case 2x) and took pics wit my kids and niece the food was bangin too.

 

From there we walked out and westward since the show in front of Cinderella’s Castle was over to Adventureland.  We went up the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse that was interesting. From there my parents had had enough and needed hats so they bought a couple straw hats to keep the sun off they heads and my niece one of those fan spray bottles that cost $17!!! (Heads up! PACK YOUR OWN!)  But that soon proved to be a waste of money.  We headed further on in and got fastpasses for the jungle cruise.  That had a long time delay on that so we found lil ways to kill time till then. We shot across they way and did the Enchanted tiki room under new management lil show which was cute. 

 

Wit nothing much left to do there we headed on over to Frontierland and that’s when it started.  The drops became LOUD claps of thunder while we were on Liberty Square Riverboat.  Even though you could tell by the time delay btwn lightening and thunder one of the bolts seemed to have hit the top of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!  Bein prepared from day 2’s sudden surprise we unpacked our Mickey Mouse ponchos and got suited up! For others it sounded a full retreat to the nearest building out the rain. And ohhh did it rain!  We thought heh! Well if they clearing out that puts us towards the front of the line for anything we wanna do! So we head over to splash mountain and get tickets but they weren’t good till 6:40pm, the Jungle Cruise was at 3:40.  So we dink around there a lil more do some shootin at some lil laser shootin gallery (which is where the competitiveness started) and caught a woody’s round up lil cowboy show where I got good footage of wifey doin the hokey pokey wit the kids (wasn’t too happy bout that) hahaha!

 

Still much time to go so we head toward what we wanted to be adventureland to stage there since if we were gonna wait out the storm a lil mine as well wait near where the 1^st fastpass was…. Well we missed our turn and ended up travelin eastbound toward Liberty Square and ended up right at the footsteps of Cinderella’s castle! Now lemme tell you that palace is a TOTAL mind f.. trip ill say trip haha no lie you end up at the steps and all its majestic features and 200ft or less later you out the other end! WOW all these years you’d think man it must be huge like Buckingham palace or some ish.. NOPE! People were underneath there tryin to wait out the storm but we pressed on and ended up in SW fantasyland and the golden carrousel.  We staged at the overhand of It’s a small world but didn’t do not one thing in that area. After they used the bathroom the storm let up so we went back through the mindf… trip castle (which had severely thinned out by then of people) and came down the front steps people were all in the main intersection of the park as it was 3:20pm. 20min past start time of the parade.  The main parade ended up bein cancelled but they put on a small rainy day parade wit characters. That lasted all of 5-10min and that was that!

 

Doubled back to the crystal palace restaurant and got more food and bein it was wifey’s birthday I surprised her wit a gift via the restaurant of a card signed by all the Winnie the pooh and friends and a lil cupcake wit a candle! Hahaha! They even did a parade indoor wit all the kids inside it was cute and fun.  After that we went and did the jungle cruise and that was fun and then it was splash mountain time!  We hiked it back up there and my dad sat it out wit our son and all the rest of us went up to the front of the line and boarded. That was sooooooooooooooooooo fun!!! Got a pic of it wit us all comin down and you can just make out my daughter completely hidden under plastic she was so terrified and didn’t wanna get wet! I got a face FULL of water dead on shot! My niece completely hidden from the pic cause she ducked down when the camera flashed hhaha

 

Wit all that accomplished that just left us the far eastside of the park…tomorrowland.  We fastpassed our way through that whole side of the park back to back worst was just a 20min layover.  We went to Monsters inc laugh floor (which I got scolded for havin my camcorder on, that is the ONLY exhibit they don’t want a camcorder rollin its stupid) then we went to do buzz lightyear’s space ranger station.  Now that was FUN! I had no idea what to expect so initially my score was low since I was more interested in filmin then shootin at targets. It wasn’t even till over ½ way through the game/exhibit I realized I could even twist the cart to shoot!  After it was over my dad was all braggin on how high a score he got (again the competition) so im like yeah whatever had I know it would’ve been on! From there we go across the way and do Stitch’s Great Escape that was kinda funny and cute. From there? Yezzur! Right back over to buzz lightyear cause I had a point to prove.  We get in there and I tell my dad we sittin together cause we got a score to settle. He agrees and we load up.  Right starts movin and im wild’n out ya’ll! Aimin and shootin and just wreckin ish! Score was high and movin!  Then it happened. The ride STOPPED. Right in the middle it STOPPED. The announcer comes on advising and that it could move again at anytime.  I pull out my camcorder to record the event cause of course in true Book of Lon fashion it has to happen to ME!  The ride eventually resumes and I go back to wreckin ish again!! THEN IT STOPPED AGAIN!!!  Im laughin hecka hard cause my score is off the chains and I KNOW I had my dad at that point but you wont believe this ish!!!! When they started the ride back THEY RESET EVERYONES SCORES!!!!! i couldn’t believe it!!!!! All that work and proof LOST!  So by the time the ride was over I was ahead by 400 points but of course my dad was boastin his score was higher prior and that he was in the lead I was like whaaaaaaat?!! Heck naw! I whip out the camcorder and started prayin by a fluke that I had shown our scores on the screen and I caught his full force at the 1^st stopping and juuuuuuuuuuust a blip of mine (that showed my score higher than his) but he still would now acknowledge it! The pic we got taken was hecka funny too (yes they take pics of you on the buzz ride) cause when the ride stopped we both were full on hysterics crazyman laughin! Delirious crazyman hollerin! Hahahaha ya’ll believe me though right? 

 

After we finally emerged it was totally dark. Bout 9:40ish.  We start makin our way toward the main intersection to head south to the exit.  The castle is BEAUTIFUL. They change the color from purple to orange to pink to blue it was nice! All main street has holiday white lights all over it was very cool.  We duck in a store to get some last trinkets and the fireworks show began shortly after.  Caught most on camcorder from various points at the exit but not the bestest shot.  We make it through the gates and onto our bus and make the ride back to the Dolphin and the adrenaline was GONE. Had to pack up and assure kids had a bath and I checked us in downstairs already (which was cool even though 1^st it was via kiosk and that thing was NOT user friendly.  It let me get all the way to the point of confirmation then….. the URL link is blocked!!) I had the front desk lady do it.  Came upstairs and assured all the footage and pics are downloaded here on the laptop makin fresh for in a few hours when we’ll be on our flight to Mississippi via New Orleans!  When I get there that’s when this’ll be posted more than likely and a new one will begin for the Book of Lon: M. I. crooked letter crooked letter edition!  Holla back! 

July 22^nd

 

Oh what a day what a day!  Today we hit Disney MGM studios.  Took the boat on over and 1^st off we went to eat at a 1950’s throwback diner at the beginning of the park.  The waiter was funny abrasive but it was coo watchin my parents have a flashback to certain programs they had on steady rotation on the tv’s there.  After that we started a big loop like we do every park clockwise. Indiana Jones was booked so moved on to Star Wars. Star Wars was crammed so we got fast passes for that show and went on to the Muppet Adventure 3d.  Got in line and went on in and that was fun! The 3d effects weren’t as good as the bug’s life adventure @ the tree of life (hint hint) but it was still enjoyable.  After that was over it was 5min till Star Wars start time but someone had to stay wit the boy so I took one for the team and sat it out and kept my fast pass as a soveneir.  They had a lot of fun on it… guess ill never know!

 

After they emerged and I emerged from the shade of the bushes we did a quick huddle to see where to go next.  Everywhere we go I grab a park map so we know EXACTLY what’s goin down in each park.  We opted to push north in the park to Lights Motion Action Stunt Show that was craaaaaaaaaaazy cool! Got majority on film they show you how they do certain stunts on a closed set in these lil cars bout the size of mini coopers.  After that it was blazzzzzzin crazy hot and the fire scenes in the action scenes didn’t help at all so some attitudes began to go sour.

 

We headed east back out but the 3:00 parade through the streets was already over basically as we emerged round 3:20 so I missed the chance to have my daughters pic taken wit the power rangers which had been in the plaza prior. Settled for a pic of Herbie the beetle instead.  Walked eastward throught the ABC commissary area and ended up in another plaza where we got fast passes for the lil mermaid show.  My daughter got pics taken wit some playhouse Disney characters im not familiar wit at all (lol we do nickelodeon channel!)  High School Musical was rockin the plaza right nearby I was so irritable from the heat I wanted to go round the corner throw my shoe at’em and tell’em to shut the h*ll up but I remained cool.  Went on in the the lil mermaid and that was cute!

 

Emerged from there… where to next?  Rallied over toward the tower of terror got fast passes for that as time was really startin to wind down.  Caught the 5:00 show of Beauty and the Beast (yes people lots of shows to catch if you aint at the magical kingdom! Make the most out of your experience catch these shows you can catch rides at any carnival but not these shows!)  left there and went back toward the front of Disney MGM to the stores to do some shoppin.  Bought a whole bunch of stuff to include a truce gift to my sister from the previous book of lon chapter. Let her know I still aint happy wit what she did to me but ill let it slide.  (not posted right now cause im still here in Disneyworld and she hasn’t received yet so don’t want it read what she got before she gets it and its accompanying letter of discontent.

 

Caught the boat back to the resort as we opted to pass on the tower of terror we were hot, burnt, and hungry.  My dad and I went to the rooms to drop our bags and the ladies and kids went to find us grub.  After goin to 3 different restaurants between the swan and dolphin we ended back up at “the fountain” to eat were I did the ultimate of food sins.  They had a build your own burger for $10.95 and you best believe I BUILT! 3 different cheeses, lettuce, tomatos, onions, bacon… oh yes I did that da*n thang! Hahahahaha!  I was so freakin stuffed and riddled wit guilt that I walked the long way over to the pools to investigate how many and how warm/cool they were.  They have a grotto pool here! Say what??!!! Yezzur!!! So.. doubled back to my room changed into my sexy thong speedo (hahahahah just playin) got my tommy swim trunks on and my speedo GOGGLES and wit daughter in tow went down and met my dad and niece and we all swam in the pool and played wit a beach ball for awhile. Wifey and son came poolside to film and watch before they retreated back my mom never emerged.  After we came on back showered, downloaded todays content to this laptop and I sit here typin to ya’ll bucket naked fresh out the shower!  Tomorrow Magic Kingdom’s Grand Finale then on to Mississippi! Nyte! 

July 21^st-

 

UP for a new day in the park! Shower was awwwwwwwesome they have these awesome oversized showerheads that apply perfect amount of pressure. Laid in an empty tub and just let the water hit and felt sooooo good that I was fallin asleep in there.

 

Called Delta to see whaddup wit our 3 missing baggage. Called’em yesterday too to see the deal was on hold 21minutes and didn’t get nobody.  They found 2 outta 3 bags so as of right now while im typin im on hold tryin to see what 2 they are and where’s the 3^rd one.  They have a service to bring them to the resort upon bein located. (off phone now it was the car seat and bag found still need my stroller)

 

(Now 10:37pm)  We back now from dinner inside the Dolphin.  We did the Animal Kingdom today and it was crazy fun!!  Had to take a Disney Bus to the theme park. My parents and niece came after us cause they were still on west coast time (3 hr time difference) so me wifey and the kids went on ahead of’em.  Got off the bus and into the entrance to the left we ate at rainforest café (was brunch since we hadn’t ate). The rest caught up there so we sat together and after there got the adventure started.  We went to Discovery Island 1^st and visited the Tree of Life after hittin the store. I bought my 1^st mickey watch since I was a KID. Very nice lookin one the one I was lookin at was $65 but I bought the $29 that looked just as nice and I bought it FROM Disneyworld 9 adds to the magical experience of the happiest place on earth! But anywho That thang ( tree of life ) is unreal! Its HUGE! We went underneath to see the bug’s life exhibit and that was in 3d was crazy fun! My 5yo daughter holler’d a bit through it so I had to hold her. My son started cryin a lil too but he was just hungry.  We ALL got a kick outta it (ill explain to ya’ll one on one those who wanna know why it was so fun I don’t wanna ruin the experience of those goin later this year… sup L. Black!)  Anyways that’s when it started…. The rain.  1^st was a sprinkle we was like eh whatever not a big deal but then it started comin DOWN.  We went back to the store that I got my watch and we bought ponchos! They were 7.95 for adults and 6.95 for kids and had mickey on the back while the rest was transparent. So we was ret-ta-go after that! Went on down to Camp Mickey/Minnie where there were character pictures to be taken.  We started hittin’em one by one even though it was rainin.  Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie…. Then it hit. CRA-CRACK!!!! BOOM!!!! Lightening and thunder.  We were in line probably 3 away from getting pics wit Mickey the only one I cared about cause I was gonna humble myself the one time and take a pic wit’em LOL As a result of the severe thunder comin down they shut down the picture taking (outdoors under a gazebo type wood structure)  and they told us to abandon the gazebo cause it wasn’t safe wit the lightening.  So pouring down rain like a bad seattle day (yet warm like the feel of the south) we had no where to go but the closest safe structure…..the bathrooms a hundred feet away or so hahahaha. There we were for a better part of 30min (literally) standing outside the bathroom doors wit about 20 other people trying to wait out the storm till we felt it was safe to move again.  Laughin wit each other and just when we discuss and gather the nerves to move (there was a flagpole about 200 feet away, safe? Eh YOU try it during a lightening storm and if it works we’ll talk about it hahaha)  I tried to catch a good strike on film but it never again his as hard and close as it did when in line for mickey. That one 100% hit nearby in Disneyworld somewhere cause after seein the lightening it was maybe 1-2 seconds before the thunder.  I was mid sentence talkin to a nice Indian guy who was sayin his friend owns 2 subways in the Greater Seattle area when BOOM! I ducked down and to the right!  We all used the bathroom and decided to rally and move on (we were held up at stop 2 of 5 spots to see in the park) that gave us bout 3hrs to see the rest so we thought best if we moved on to spot 3 and see if it let up there. But while enroute we saw that there was a show that had just started in Camp Mickey/Minnie (festival of the Lion King) so we ducked in there to watch and wait out the storm there. That was AWESOME! Left there and sho nuff the storm had subsided and the characters were back out so I raced over there to hold the line for the kids (yes and myself) lol and we got our pics wit Mickey! From there it was like crunch time. 2.5hrs to see the rest so we went over to Africa (No there weren’t people there to meet us is white robes to close the big gates behind us and say GOOD NOW STAY!) We went on the Safari Drive and that was crazy good too! Each extended jeep has its own driver who makes the trip more interactive. And for you that’s goin soon (pay attention L.Black!) stay on the LEFT SIDE of the jeep. You are exposed to 95% of the wildlife while others on the rightside (like my mom) get warned to remain seated. The right side couldn’t see like the crocs in the water and like the hippos that were submerged but I saw it all and got to zoom in for even a tighter view! Some of the animals were so close you LITERALLY could’ve touched’em. And im not talking deer like we see that are domesticated these were African Wildlife that was right up and personal grazing. (tour guide said one set of animals we saw that recently had babies he said the mom NEVER brings them so close!) After that we ducked back into another store cause wifey needed another poncho as we had to give hers over to our son in the loaner stroller as the padding had got drenched. Bathroom stop and on to Asia! 

 

That was pretty in & out nothing really to do there.  We tried to do the wild rapids ride in there but right before us they closed it down due to thunder startin up again so we had to leave;  but when we were walkin toward Africa we could see across the way Mt Everest and everyone was almost in agreement they wanted to go on that so we hightailed it that way as we had bout an hour left.   Got there and it said was 30min wait till next ride. There was no one there in line and no one actively riding so im sure that 30min was an attempt to wait out the storm.  We agreed to move on the next exhibit and by that time the ride should be open.  Got to Dinoland USA and that was pretty lame.  All but me and wifey (and Marcus of course) played some circus type game that cost $2.00 to win a stuffed animal. I was cool on that I can get that experience at home.  Wifey and I stood under the big dinosaur out the rain and watched from beyond…. Watched.. my mom win animal after animal.  When I was all done they all walked over and my daughter was in tears.  I asked what was wrong she said GRANDMA WAS CHEATIN!!  And fell out in tears! I got a laugh outta it cause I knew it was a game my mom was good at and played all the time so I told her id go win her a stuffed animal real quick but my mom gave her one I think so she stopped cryin and I started jokinly beratin my mom about not lettin a 5yo win just ONCE! Couldn’t come in 2^nd place just ONE TIME! Hahaha After that we looked around a lil more and Dinoland was like another carnival no biggie so we looked at the watches and BOOM lightenin struck.  Yep Expedition Everest was closed most definitely.  So we called it a day and headed back to the bus back to the Dolphin.

 

Got up to our room and changed out our ponchos and wet clothes and went downstairs and had dinner at the fountain.  Was great food there! We all (minus the kids) had some sort of liquor to wind down and desserts afterward and said our goodbyes for the night.  Tomorrow…. Disney MGM Studios!! Its 11:56 here so im out! Gotta be up sometime after 9am when they open!  

July 20^th

 

Yep! Just as I thought, had to come on back and amend and write more! EVERYTHING I mean EVVVVERYTHING that can go wrong is.  Ive fought this whole trip not to just take up the many solictations for alcohol and get WASTED but don’t wanna ruin my daughters trip.  Not only was the flight delayed from what you read last segment but when we got there it was a MAD house. Overbooked people everywhere.  I was so thankful I had confirmed (again) our seats and checked in from the house and printed tickets.  When we did leave the house (had to double back forgot my ring)  we go up to Masterpark and drop off the pickup (left the Subaru & Trailblazer in the garage for break in theft security purposes)  We finally got on the plane and lifted off round 1130 so wit the time conversion that guaranteed we missed our 415am pacific time connection flight.

 

We land at 409am pacific and sure to the game by the time we’d reach the other concourse that was a wrap. By the time we got off the plane the flight status said closed so it wouldn’t even say what gate it was at so I could try to last mine finage myself aboard.  Well, Ive never had to check anything at the gate but we took our son’s stroller got a claim number for it in seattle. Well it wasn’t there out when we got off the plane so I figured it’d be on the next flight already.  We get to the game of the NEXT Orlando flight (which leaves 529 pacific time) and ask him what about the stroller. He says I was to pick it up at the old gate! Ugh! No time to hike back over so he calls and they say they gonna bring it over and put on our new flight. Coo. We get on board of a 767 that they saw was a full flight but I was surrounded by empty seats so after take off I sat my son in the seat next to me (he didn’t have a ticket he was booked as infant in lap).  We land, get off and expect to have our stroller there?? Noooo…. We wait while they check down below? Nothing. UGH! Go down to baggage claim as lady tells us its down there. But of course not only is it not there, but the CARSEAT for it is missin and the extra suitcase that contains my daughter’s booster seat! Are you serious??? I get it reported wit Delta, and we go on out to hop a shuttle to take us to our resort.  Get out there and board.. we the only ones coo. Then she says we gots to make 2 more stops. UGH we go pick up 1 other family then double BACK to our stop to pick up another!

 

We go from bein the lst ones on to the LAST ones bein dropped off. And THEN when we get here? Room not ready. (loading and cocking) im bout to go MAD!!!  We stage in the lobby waiting and I go to reach for my phone? GONE. Yep, this must be hell.  I just gave up I totally was frustrated.  Come to find out wifey scooped it up in the van on the seat but didn’t tell me.  Was a lil frustrated wit her bout that but it blew over and I apologized about it. After lunch we finally got our rooms so we dropped all our stuff and headed straight to the park.  We checked in at epcot center since it was closest to our resort and did a full lap around 100%  seeing all there was to see at that park which was pretty fun.  You had to take a boat over from our resort stopping at a few stops along the way.  When we got out we got straight to it and the kids took a pic wit chip & dale then we walked from country to country makin a big circle round the park.  When we got to Mexico we went inside an Aztec temple and took the water raft floatin lil ride that was fun! So fun we went around a 2^nd time! Hahaha after that we got back out and moved on but before we did we passed through Morocco and they had music and a belly dancer doin her THANG im telling you! You know I had to stop and get that on video! Right after we left we heard this EIYE YIYE YIYE YIYE yellin! Me and my dad didn’t even look back just kept right on goin apparently Morocco don’t know its kinda taboo to be yellin like that people be thinking Muslim Extremists were in Disneyworld startin some Jihad mess! Hahahaha We kept on pushin and finally made it to the Big Epcot Ball but the exhibit under it was closed.  It was still awesome to just stand underneath that huge ball to see it wit you own eyes its jut incredible… then me and wifey start laughin that it was suck if it came off that mount and started rollin!

 

After that we just hit the Lil Nemo ride they have that was so cool! My niece and my wife took our son into Bruce’s mouth for some pics then we headed to what we thought was the exit.  NOOOOO that was for people hoppin the monorail but that didn’t go near our resort so he told us we had to backtrack all the way back to the start! We all freaked cause our feet were hurtin bad and that’s a long way to walk back! But we pulled our brainpower together and realized we had completed 90% of a full circle so leave the epcot ball and continue right and sure enough we were back at the start! YES!! Hopped the boat on back to the resort just in time for the 9pm fireworks show.   Im 1/ 2 asleep typin this now its been a long day. ttyl 

Ok this is not even day 1 time yet and already thangs is goin sideways. every since i booked the flights they airlines have consistantly fumbled the ball and messed up the seats and we aint even to the airport yet!  so now they seats have 1 adult and kid sittin together and the 2nd adult in several rows back. and our son is sittin in one of our laps so either the 2nd adult in back has the boy or the 1st adult sittin next to our daughter. this would probably be no biggie but this is the red eye flight from seattle to atlanta!!

 

ill show ya'll some funny pics when we get there i had to ghetto create a feeding contraption for the dogs. i call it the KeLo Dog feeder 9000 hahaha i bought 2 dog feeders cut open 2 sides of a trashcan and inserted'em on both sides. fill it wit dogfood and ta-dow! instant dog feeder for those gone for several days! hahahahaha and its jamproof!

 

 (One hour later...) Stillllll here at the house! freakin flight is now delayed an hour! This day is just not happenin is it??? It dont mess up the connecting flight in Atlanta (that i know of yet). Ugh!

 

Tattoo is healin great though.  I'll attach a pic in a bit but its the trinity symbol.  3 rings interconnected wit a symbol of the 3 eternal entities in each ring.  Here's a pic of the original i had custom drawn from an artist friend of mine as a joint project. my idea and brainchild and her artistry skills.

 

I surely hope there'll be nothin more i have to attach to this but ill be back of there is to amend it!