Showing posts with label family vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family vacation. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Kids Say the Most God Awful Things

And they actually repeat them multiple times when prompted by their repulsive family members.

The LB-OCD family is on vacation this week.  We took our sweet darlings to Six Flags.  Although there was plenty o' fodder in the joint, one incident, in particular, deserves the prize. 

The award for Most Despicable belongs to Grandma Red and Pa Pa Pimp Daddy.  Grandma Red is a portly woman with red hair.  Not orange/red/auburn hair that is often found in its natural state.  Rather, her hair is red as in the crayon.  Actually, that's not correct.  More like the red you'd find in a jug of Hawaiian Punch.  Aside from her unusual shade of hair color, she looked like any other grandmother.  Conservatively dressed.  No visible tattoos.  A purse full of Goldfish and fruit snacks.

She had taken her young grandson on a ride called Tidal Wave, your basic water ride that leaves all occupants soaking wet.  Drenched, in fact.  Anywater...  Her grandson, Little Man, was about three years old.  He, too, looked like a typical Six Flag goer.  He was riding around in a little wagon eating fruit snacks and Goldfish.  Pa Pa Pimp Daddy sat next to me in the shade as Grandma Red took Little Man on Tidal Wave.

After the ride, Grandma Red waddled over to Pa Pa Pimp Daddy.  Pa Pa Pimp Daddy looked almost presentable, too.  He had slightly gray hair hidden under a typical fishing/retirement-themed baseball cap.  He was dressed in blue jeans and nondescript sneakers.  However, he was adorned in lots of gold.  Rings on every finger and multiple chains around his neck.  Even in his teeth were 14 karat.  And he wore a big diamond earring in his left ear.   He stood guard over the Goldfish and fruit snacks. 

"Tell Pa Pa what you told Grandma.  Go ahead, Little Man.  Tell Him!"  She was laughing uncontrollably, slapping her thighs and snorting.  She was bent over with her legs crossed, and I thought she might pee on herself, bless her heart.

"Pa Pa, that ride got me so fucking wet!" Little Man exclaimed proudly.  Pa Pa giggle.  Little Man beamed with pride. 

Shortly afterward, Little Man's mom shows up.  Grandma Red turns to Little Man and asks him to tell his mom what that ride did to him. 

"That ride got me so fucking wet, Mommy!"

Mom also began to laugh uncontrollably.  All the while, I'm sitting on a bench nearby totally freaking out!  Are you people kidding me???  Am I on Candid Camera here?  These people cannot be serious!  Where's Ashton Kutcher??  Obviously, I'm being Punked.


Finally, Little Man's dad returns to the group after purchasing ice cream.  Little Man is asked to again repeat what happened on the ride.  And again, he exclaimed that the effn' ride got him wet.  Daddy, while less jovial than the others, just smiled and shook his head.

That, my friends, was the chicken dinner winner today at Six Flags, St. Louis!  Runners up include the 300 pound woman in the American flag bikini, the annoying group of preteens who insisted on dribbling basketballs while walking through the park and standing in line, the rather large man with the horrific tattoos and rotten teeth (think Deliverance), and numerous fashion don'ts that include the girls wearing tube tops with knee-length basketball shorts and sparkly flats.

Alas, there can only be one winner.  Congratulations, Grandma Red and Pa Pa Pimp Daddy!  You are more than deserving of this prestigious award. 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Disney Cult

It's usually when I'm totally sick of snow and longing for warmer weather that I start to consider our yearly vacation options.  We've been to Disney World for three straight years.  I'm ready for a change of scenery.  I <3 Walt Disney and his little dream, really I do.  I'm just wanting to try something different.

I've been surfing the internet all day, while my kids destroyed the house, looking for the perfect non-Disney vacation.  Guess what?  It does not exist!  I googled "best family vacations" and "top vacation destinations for kids" and "vacations for kids" only to get basically the same results each time.  Number 1 on most lists is freakin' Walt Disney World!

Crap!  So I dug deeper.  Looked harder.

What about a cruise?  Nope.  I'm too paranoid about my son throwing his sister overboard.  I'd never forgive myself. 

Ah-ha!  Mexico would be perfect!  Oh, wait a minute.  Mr. OCD hates the beach.  He has issues with sand.

Then I came across Atlantis in the Bahamas.  It's beautiful and has lots of activities for the kids.  Yes, there's a beach but we don't really have to go there.  I'll admit; I'm a poolside kind of girl any way.  From the website, it looks like Atlantis has a bazillion pools to choose from AND a ji-normous water park!

"Let's do it!" my son said, though I suspect he had absolutely no idea about what he was so excited.  He just likes to spend money.

The reason for the title of my post.  I priced a glorious 7-day vacation in the beautiful Atlantis Resort, and nearly had a full-blown kaniption!  It cost about the same as a Disney vacation PLUS my husband and I will be responsible for entertaining those little people who suck up so much of our resources.

*sigh, open a new browser tab, and type in www.disney.com*

Walt and his little animal friends have me just where they want me.  No matter where I look to vacation, the cost is roughly the same.  WITHOUT all the amenities and convenience of Disney. 

It's like a cult that we can't escape!  Only the leader is a bigger-than-life mouse that we cannot help but worship.  He and his goons are just too adorable to resist.  The luxurious compound lures us back year after year.   

I certainly hope they don't start offering Kool-Aid with the meal plan.   

Friday, October 15, 2010

Disney Vacation Tips

My blogs have been sparse lately as I've been busy preparing for yet another torturous vacation at Walt Disney World in Florida.  My kids are 4 and 5, and have been to Disney World three times already.  Mama's finally taking a stand!  We will JUST SAY NO! to Disney...at least until my short-term memory has erased the horror.

If you are looking for tips along the caliber of Frommer's, stop reading now.  But if you are looking for ways to merely survive one hellacious week of over-priced entertainment in the warmest location on the North American continent, look no further.  LB is here to help.  And you are very welcome.

Tip #1 - Tell your kids the place was destroyed by a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, meteorite...anything!  If they buy it, you don't even need to read the other tips.

Tip #2 - Screw comfortable shoes; rent a fat-lady scooter or a wheelchair.  Hell, everyone else does it and they get premium seating at all the shows!

Tip #3 - Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!!  People, if you are white as a cotton ball, please use lots of sunscreen.  I saw a family at the water park that probably needed hospitalization.  They were burnt UP!

Tip #4 - Be sure to pack the happy pills.  It may even be necessary to up your dosage.

Tip #5 - Fight the urge to plan!  Don't do it!  You'll spend your entire trip stressed out and 5 minutes late to everything.

Tip #6 - If you own a gun, leave it at home.  More than likely the urge to shoot someone will be too hard to resist.

Tip #7 - If you do the dining plan, be sure it includes alcoholic beverages.  At least if you are shit-faced drunk, you won't feel bad when you yell for the fat-ass, slow-walking family in front of you to "MOVE OUT OF THE FREAKIN' WAY!"


Tip #8 - If possible, leave the kids at home.  Just go with your spouse or your boyfriend or both.  Maybe then you can actually enjoy the place.

Tip #9 - Forget about your dietary restrictions.  Healthy options are available, but why bother???  They've got the best desserts, ice cream, candy, and rot gut, saturated fat-filled, artery clogging meals in America!  If you are going to spend $50 a person on a meal, better get your money's worth.

Tip #10 - If you think you can do everything in 5 days, book your vacation for 7-8 days.  Disney is so much more enjoyable when done in small doses.  Your kids will thank you, your spouse will thank you, and the corporate shareholders at Disney will thank you!