Summer of Universal #4 (with an extra special surprise)

I 'm not positive this was time #4 but whatever...I'm going with it.

And this one was SUUUUPER great!  

After eating at Fuddruckers, we headed into Islands of Adventure and had just gotten in line for Spiderman when C.J. saw on his phone that they were having a soft opening at Skull Island: Reign of Kong.  Since we were close, we rushed over there and got in line and after only about a 20 minute wait...viola.  We were among some of the first people to ride it!  It was so exciting.  Even the queue was phenomenal and reminded me of HHN complete with hidden crevices where "scareactors" hide and then jump out and scare people.    

*All pics are from the queue*

The ride itself was great...but not for kids.  I'm pretty sure the 5 year old girl behind us will be traumatized for quite a while!  

I can't believe how lucky we got.  Today, when I was walking back to wardrobe after work, there were people standing in crazy long lines (in both directions too) and the ride was not even open nor had they announced any plans for another soft opening tonight.  I guess they were all just hoping for it.  I'm certain when it finally does open to the public, the waits will approach 2 hours.  But Universal has yet to set an opening date.  

*Repeat that we waited about 20 minutes!*

Video over at Orlando Weekly of the entire Queue AND the ENTIRE RIDE


Yes that giant Kong is impressive indeed.  His head alone is larger than 8 ft.  But unfortunately, the sound was not working when we went through that part so we did not get the "full effect"

After that excitement, we took the Hogwarts Express over to Universal and went on Mummy, Men in Black, the Twirl and Hurl, and ET.  And then called it a night.  

Laugh for Today

I saw this on FB yesterday and it gave me a good chuckle.  

It was posted by MarkNKelley. I have no idea who they are but the video now has 16 million views around the world so I am not the only one who got some good laughs over this.  

To maximize the hilarity, I have to relate the conversation that took place before the filming began.

An electrical contractor working in the field called

"Ma'am, you've got a dead horse in your pasture."

"No, I don't. He plays dead all the time. Is his leg sticking straight up in the air?"

 "Yes ma'am. I'm telling you he's dead.  The leg sticking up is because rigor mortis has set in, Ma'am.  I know horses. I own a few."

"Sir, my horse ain't dead. He plays possum. But I'm coming. Give me a minute please. 

And...the video  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVMXwkruidk

And this was earlier the same day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGrRRQmZnFw

This Has Got to be Recorded

Today, for the first time ever, Zack ordered a hamburger at a restaurant!  

As a baby, Zack was the best eater out of the 3 boys.  He loved vegetables more than fruit, and would eat anything I put in front of him.  But there were two things I could absolutely not get him to eat...bananas and bread.  

Yep, not a piece of bread - ever.  Never a sandwich, never a dinner roll, never a bun.  He has had hamburgers, he just would never eat them with a bun.  

So his restaurant choices have been limited to mostly chicken.  He will order fish if they don't have chicken, but chicken is his #1 choice always.  

Today, he asked me if we could go to Steak n Shake because he wanted a garlic burger.  Say what?  I had to clean out my ears and ask him to say it again.  

Well... we went.  And he ordered some garlic shooters. And he ate them. And I picked my jaw up off the floor.  





He still has a legit dislike of bananas though... or anything that has banana in it or anything banana flavored.  

So How is Life Going, Judy?

Geez, thanks for asking.  Let's just say I am on the verge of throwing a huge pity party for myself.  

I am living by Murphy's Law lately...you know, the one that states, "if something can go wrong, it will."  

Which is pretty much why I haven't blogged a whole lot lately... who wants all that negativity?  So I thought I would get everything out of my system in one, long, whinny, post! 

Here goes

1). Sports.  This seems frivolous and, yes, it really is...but it highlights Murphy's Law at it's best so I'm going with it.  The last couple weeks have featured finals for hockey and basketball.   
In Basketball:
- the Thunder vs. the Warriors
my pick: the Thunder
winner: the Warriors

- the Cavaliers vs. the Raptors
my pick: the Raptors
the winner: The Cavaliers

In Hockey:
- the Blues vs the Sharks
my pick: the Blues
the winner: the Sharks

- the Pens vs the Lightning
my pick: the Lightning
the winner: the Pens

And now in the Stanley Cup Finals
- the Pens vs the Sharks
my pick: the Sharks
um, yeah, the Pens are up 2-0!  

2). Medication
I ended up calling into work today for the very first time because when I went to CVS last night at 5:00 to pick up my medication, they wouldn't fill it for me.  Orange county laws governing controlled substances are ridiculous.  One thing that I absolutely CANNOT stand is being treated as a drug addict over this medication.  First of all, if I was a drug addict, I would have claimed the Lortab or Vicodin worked to control my pain, NOT this wimpy little Tramadol.  Secondly, no one has any idea of what I went through before I started taking this medication.  They don't know that I was within days of applying for disability.  They don't know that I cried some nights as I reeked of icy hot and wondered if life was worth living if I had to continue to live with pain day in and day out.  This medication has changed my life and I shouldn't have to BEG to get it.  
* Thankfully, this was rectified very easily today as I had the prescription transferred to Publix and they filled it - no questions asked.  I actually did not even need to take off work today but I thought maybe I would have to see my doctor today.  *

3). My best friend is visiting in a couple weeks so I went online and submitted requests for that time off - or so I thought.  As I was talking to CJ  about it yesterday, he told me that he did not think I submitted the request correctly so I went online last night to fix it only to find out that schedule was already out for that week...and that I am scheduled to work TUESDAY (the day friend is flying in), WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY!!!!!   What the what?  I never randomly work four days in a row!   It shouldn't be too difficult to give these shifts away but it is still a stress on me until I DO get rid of them.  

4). Last week I submitted over 40 resume's online for jobs anywhere between Daytona Beach and Tampa Bay.  My desire is, of course, to stay around Orlando, but I do not want to limit my options.  I accidentally submitted ONE application to a school in West Palm Beach...one guess which school has contacted me and seems the most interested!   I DO NOT want to move 3 hours away.  One school near here had requested an interview but it is for a preschool teacher and I do not know the salary.  The Lord will Lead.  


5). I have had THE most difficult time getting my Florida driver license. I have tried three times and struck out every single time by not having correct evidence.  This last time I went, I bought a "copy" of my birth certificate instead of the original.  After confirming that that was the last missing piece of evidence required, I looked online and filled out an application, printed it out, added the requested self addressed stamped envelope, and the $20.00 check.  Finally, I included a color copy of my Wisconsin driver license for the ID that was necessary, and mailed it out the beginning of the week.  On Wednesday, I got a message from the Waukesha County Courthouse returning my call about requesting the birth certificate.  As I listened to the message, she basically said to do everything I had done and then I heard, "and be sure to include TWO forms of ID with the application!"  I looked again at the website which stated that if you were using a driver license as an ID then you only needed to provide one form of ID.  I guess we will see if I get my birth certificate or get the items returned to me.  If Murphy's Law has anything to say about it.............

And with that, I will end.  

This Kid is a Hoot

So I walked outside this evening to find Zack in the hot tub surrounded by a bunch of girls wearing bikinis.  

Universal and Game 7

Today was the only day that would work for us to go to Universal (we try to go once a week) but we had to go early (3:00ish) because of game 7 tonight.  Game 7 is definitely more important...at least it is to my boys.  

They are not wired like me.  I would do the opposite and go during the game because it would take my mind off what was happening...and I really think what will happen is the Lightning will not win.  But, as David Putty says, "gotta support the team."

And, even if they lose, it's been a fun post-season.  Never did I think I'd be able to get to two play-off games and they really exceeded expectations taking Pittsburgh to 7 games with their starting goalie and their team captain injured and not playing.  

They are young and resilient and I see great things in their future.  

Anyway, we did not do much at Universal, mainly because it was so busy.  We must have seen at least twenty different field trip groups (you can tell because they all wear matching shirts).  So C.J. and Zack went on Jurassic Park while I went to get our Annual Passholder cup they just came out with.  Then we went on Cat in the Hat before leaving.  

My view as I walk to work

It was a nice day too. Probably one of the last with a dew point lower than 70 for a while.  

That Which Will Generate An Overreaction

Oh My Goodness...

Attention Everyone...

THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ARE LOSING

SO

THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!! 

This is extreme, I know, but the reaction my son has to these situations warrants an extreme comment like this.

I don't know what to do about it except to ban him from watching sports.  

Believe me, we are getting close to that point.