Guess what else is back!

It's that time of year! Earl of Sandwich is now serving the "Holiday Turkey Sandwich!"

A complete Thanksgiving dinner pressed between two (delicious) pieces of  bread!

Here's what it looks like...

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Here's what it tastes like...

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Works for me!

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Here's the "Earl of Sandwich" ad on their website http://www.earlofsandwichusa.com/

Very interesting! Hmmmmmm, how'd they do this, photoshop or Circus mirrors?

From DownTown Disney we headed over to the Magic Kingdom so Pat can get her flu shot.

We traversed nearly the entire "tunnel" to find out where they were giving the shots. The walk in the tunnel was neat. The really fun part was taking an exit and not knowing where you'd come out. For those of you who remember your Traditions class, we entered the tunnel next to Uncle Tony's Restaurant. Walked clockwise just about half way around the tunnel ending up at the tunnel ramp where you are brought for lunch while attending your Traditions class. Walking clockwise from there we came out (Exit #9) in Fantasyland at "Winnie the Pooh.

We got out just before the parade and caught the "Dapper Dan's" for their last show before the parade.

I just love those chime things they play......

Oh, "Deagan Organ chimes!"

And no, I didn't know what they are called, I had to look them up!

Pat and I also got to vote early today.

 At first we intended to wait until the 6th, but given there were lots of people voting early our guess is that election day is going to be very busy.... and that's a good thing!

The PTB's are back... well at least some of them!

Last Monday a handful of the Palm Tree Bikers headed out to Fort Wilderness for the first 2012-13 season bike ride. Thanks to Judy we have a photo report of the days ride.

A total of seven riders left Lake Magic right on time. Pat and I along with Jim and Marti and Buzz and Darlene  caught up with Jim and Judy on 192. I'm not sure they saw us. We passed them and then they past us. They both had their eyes on the road. In spite of two of us hanging out the car pounding on their door they didn't even turn their heads! (You can tell they're used to driving among Floridian drivers!) Anyway, Jim and Judy were first to arrive and they were greeted by a sign that stated,  "Parking for registered and guests with lunch or dinner reservations only!!! Yikes!! What's that going to do to our riding at Fort Wilderness this year. We'll have to do some looking into this. I'm going directly to Mickey Mouse in the morning!

The ride was short. (Kinda like this report!) Truth be told, every one's butt was sore from not being in the saddle over the summer, the legs got weak and lunch was beckoning! However, no one dare give any clues that any of the above issues were bothersome. It just seemed at about the half way mark of the ride, everyone started looking around just waiting for the first person to suggest...... lunch! The decision was easy, they headed for Trails End. "Big D" was their waiter, who was excellent, and he tempted them with the "Big D" favorite, the pulled pork sandwich.

Everyone had a great time and they're looking forward to Celebration this week. Once again Pat and I and Buzz and Darlene have other plans we need to take care of. I know Jim will not be there, he's in training.

Thanks to Judy we have some great photos to show you..... (Oops, I forgot to add one of Judy's photos.
Better late than never.)

(Ahhhhhhh, that's better.)

You can guess what time of year it is!

The "pack rats" are back!

Hey, shut the door!

Rose! Over here!

Hey look, a Halloween "Smart Car!"

That's cool. A ship that sunk in the dirt!

This camper has three extension cords going to his neighbors sites!

This site looks like the corner site in the 100 section.

Smile!

Hey, what's with the "outsiders" in the other color shirts!

All in all they had a great time and want to "rub it in" to all of you still up north.

Kidding aside, we are all praying that "Sandy" will weaken and spare everyone in the Northeast from harm and damage.

By now you know Darlene and Buzz returned to their site and were greeted by Jim and Marti's handy work and Pat and I helped.

We covered nearly all of Buzz and Darlene's site pad but I'm sorry to say that the chalk was too light to see against the concrete. But they got the message!

Buzz, Darlene, Jim, Marti and Pat and I headed for the "New Fantasyland" tour.

This was a Cast Member exclusive tour and it was packed. Under the "Beast's Castle" (above) we took in an interactive show, "Enchanted Tales with Belle" hosted by "Lumiere" and "Belle."

This is fun for the little kids. Almost a dozen guests are picked for "roles" as they "act out" a story.

We only got to do a "walk through" of the "Be Our Guest" Restaurant. (Note: Some (either very lucky or connected) Cast Members were given vouchers for a free lunch. And, no we were not that lucky!

We got to see some really awesome new "animatronics" (sp) in "Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid."

I tell you the new "animatronics" are so life like!

"Gaston's" favorite "grog spot" "Gaston's Tavern.

We spent two hours in the New section and walked through the older section which has also undergone some rehab.

We ate at "Uncle Tony's" surrounded by so many beautiful pictures of "Lady and The Tramp."

We napped in the "Hall of the President's

And, tried to make it until "Wishes" but we all agreed it was just a bit too much and headed home.

In all it was a great day. We just can't wait until the "Seven Dwarfs Mine" water ride opens!

Pat and Darlene have been busy getting Darlene and Buzz' fifth wheel interior ready for the season, while Buzz tends to the outside of the camper.

We had a Halloween Party at DisneyQuest and I dressed up for the event.

I put on dungarees, a dress shirt and stuck a name tag on my shirt that said,

H"i! I'm Jim's Dad!"

If you don't know who "Jim's Dad" is I can't help you. That's Meredith on my left. She and another CP (Wil) gave me the idea for the get-up. Wil (and a few others) couldn't get over how much I looked like Jim's Dad ( Eugene Levy below) in the movie "American Pie."

Oh well, I got a few laughs and didn't have to do a whole lot!

I'll leave you with the winners of the Party's "Best Costume".......

(Did you notice the picture with just Darlene's hair and face in it?)

Theyyyyyyy'rrrrrrrre Baaaaack!

The "migration" is in full swing! Lake Magic is waking to our returning "snowbirds." Garry and Judy made camp and headed out to visit with relatives in another state but their motorhome is looking like they never left. "Faces from the past" Jim and Marti returned from OR and look great. The story is that Jim was longing to return to work at Disney so he set an appointment up for an interview and seasonal jobs are few and far between right now so to open up his opportunities he opted to go part time for this year. Gee, the first PT position that popped up just happened to be the Friendship Boats in EPCOT.... do you think he "jumped" on that! He's "going to sea" on the 27th.

Yesterday we stopped off to talk to Jim and Marti and were checking out any "new" vehicles in the park and low and behold there was a red (bug covered) compact car parked in front of Jim and Judy's fifth-wheel. Pat and I wanted to make sure there were no "varmints" near their camper so we headed over to check their site out. We knocked on their camper and Judy bounded out to welcome us and then Jim! We took the opportunity to go to Mass together and do lunch and a "walk-about" in Downtown Disney. Our spontaneous "reacquainting tour" was great fun and just getting back together with some familiar faces was awesome. Jim and Judy told us that Ray and Rose have also returned! We haven't caught up to them just yet, I think the "New Homeowners" are like "newly weds" on their "honeymoon" doing some "me" time getting reacquainted with their new digs. We'll put an end to that in short order!

Revived knowing that Pat and I are no longer ALONE down here we went to bed knowing that this is it, it's going to get busy from here on in.

We both woke up early, still excited knowing the "the doldrums" are ebbing, I checked my email this a.m. and there was a surprise greeting in my inbox. Steve is back!

In addition to all this news, Darlene and Buzz are on the road and hope to arrive ASAP!

In other news, Angela is having a difficult time keeping Bill "in line" since his shoulder replacement surgery. He keeps sneaking out to the garage to "just check things" in the garage he needs for their trip south after the holidays. Bill got a new bike rack (and bikes) just prior to his surgery and he's got to just "LOOK" at them!Angela had to have their son "Little" Bill install a whole house video security system just to keep an eye on Bill in case he's trying to do something physical he shouldn't be doing. (Trouble is Bill's an electrician, he knows how to bypass the system!) What Bill doesn't know is that "Little" Bill inserted an intelligence camera in their dog "Maggie's" collar! Actually, we hear Bill is recovering very well... he's got the red marks on the back of his head (from getting slapped by Angela) to prove it!

So, WELCOME BACK "OLE" FRIENDS! And to those of you in transit, packing or soon to head out, we're eagerly awaiting your return and wish each and everyone of you a safe and enjoyable journey.......

NOW GET DOWN HERE!!!!!!

***JUST IN- - - Pete and Joan are on their way and should be here this Monday! ***

A Tale of Two Stories

I must be getting lazy! My last post was Sep. 11. It's like I'm back in the workforce! Pat's visit with Darlene got me into a work routine that makes me want to think, "what am I doing!" No more excuses. Pat's back home and I have a couple of stories to pass on.

First, the balloon is back!

New characters, color scheme and what a difference!

You all know that Disney is well into the Halloween mode and you can have your photo with the main two characters of the latest Tim Burton Movie "Frankenweenie" Jack and Sally.

The lines were huge!

(A note to all you Disney Cast Members, Disney is offering a Cast Member exclusive preview of the "New" Fantasyland here in the Magic Kingdom. This will be offered (on the HUB) for a limited time. You will be able to take with you the number of guests on your Main Gate Pass. The tour will last about two hours and you can stay in the Magic Kingdom for the entire day and will NOT be charged one of your passes for that day.)

Pat returned after visiting with Darlene, Buzz and Winston for just over two weeks and her flights went very well. There's something to say for traveling over 900 miles in two hours.

I got to spent some quiet time at the "Cell Parking Lot" just south of the Orlando Airport and was treated to a gorgeous evening sky.

You can just make out the "fingers of God" piercing through the cloud openings.

Pat's flight arrived ahead of schedule and we headed straight to the Earl of Sandwich.... what do you expect?

But, the best is yet to come. Our next story is from our good friends Chuck and Laura. Chuck and Laura are Blog Friends but they are also the owners of Granite Village where Pat and I resided for five years after we retired. Chuck and Laura are sorta semi-retired and are beginning to enjoy monthly excursions in all directions of the compass around these United States.

Chuck and Laura have been around heavy equipment all their lives and recently headed to the mid-west to check out a few genuine American "treasures."

At first, we were told the trip was to see the John Deere factory tour in Moline, IL. But, I think the real

reason they went was to see "Danielle." If you enjoy following along with "American Pickers" Mike and Frank you probably enjoy their interaction with "Danielle." Laura made more than one or two phone calls to get to see their shop and meet "Danielle." They found out that "Danielle" is only at the store for filming, but that wasn't going to stop them from making their way to the store.... Which Laura says is "tiny!"

They were determined to see "Danielle." They also found out a few interesting things about "Danielle." First, "Danielle" (according to our travellers) is much prettier in person. Second, (we all know) she really does have a lot of tattoos. Third, she owns her own shop (just across the street where they caught up with her) called "4 Miles 2 Memphis," and fourth, she is into Burlesque in a really big way!

Left to right, Laura, Danielle and Chuck. It's safe to say, "American Pickers" is their favorite show! 

Next stop, Moline, IL to see the John Deere factory tour... and they were in awe!

The piece of equipment below is a fascinating concept machine to debark trees

Laura says it looked like a spider with six legs with pads for feet to walk in the woods.

According to Laura they got the most comprehensive tour of the plant you can imagine.

They started with the raw sheet metal and followed the process to the finished Combine. Chuck was in his glory! The John Deer Pavilion had all kinds of machines and interactive pieces you can climb in and on.

From there they just had to see the I-80 Truck Stop and Truck Museum. They even got to dine with the truckers that evening!

That's Chuck standing to the right of the vintage truck.

Even though meeting "Danielle" was awesome, Laura writes that the highlight of the trip was their visit to Rock Island Lock and Dam 15. I'll let Laura's photos speak for themselves.

Laura writes that "the locks come under the jurisdiction of the U.S Army Corps. of Engineers.

Chuck and Laura spent but a few days taking in some true American history. They got to see one of their favorite TV show's stars and returned with a great story and many wonderful memories.

I'd like to thank Laura for sending us their story and allowing us to pass it on to all of you.

Laura and Chuck are two very special people. They beam the "New England can do" ethic and are like kids around anything with a motor! They're NASCAR and Super Modified racing fans and just can't get enough of every kind of huge equipment.

Thanks Laura and Chuck! We'll be looking forward to hearing about your next "American Adventure!"