Disneyland - the unhappiest place on Earth

So my mom and I decided to take a one-day (Monday April 28, 2008) trip to Los Angeles. We made it count - here's what we did. We started off the morning on a flight at 6:30 am to LAX. Got there, had an online (much cheaper, through orbitz) car reservation for Fox Rental - only $33 total for the mid-size convertible (that's really cheap). Went to Pierce Brother's cemetery for a quick look at Rodney Dangerfield's grave - always has a rose wreath on it.


Next we drove to Farmer's Market for a savory crepe. We got the best parking spot we've ever had there. The place was empty.








Next, we drove (very close to Farmers) to Pinks. Now, usually when you drive by, the line snakes around into the parking lot. But today, there were only about 7 people in it. Again, we got an awesome parking spot and got in line. For the first 10 minutes we waited, not one hot dog left the grill. I think they were just opening or something.
So, after about 20 minutes in line, we walked off with our chili cheeze and grilled onion hot dogs. Delish!

Next, up to Forest Lawn Cemetery where we saw several of Michaelangelo's masterpieces. We saw the David, which is outside, and noted his over-sized hand - representing the hand of God.
We stopped at McD's for a mid-size Diet Coke (this was about the 4th DC for the day). Stopped at Walmart for hats (it was near 100*!), and we were off to Disneyland. We got there at about 2:30pm. We got our passes, rode Soaring Over California, then headed on the train to the Blue Bayou. Had lunch - prime rib and filet - also delish, and ended the day on Pirates.


Disneyland was literally, the saddest we had ever seen it. We looked at 50 people who walked by us before we could find anyone that looked even slightly less than miserable. We think it was mostly heat-related. It's usually only about 75* this time of year so just about everyone was sunburned. Disney was even advertising that you could get free ice water at food stops.

We also saw several people throughout the day that we would liked to have helped.
1. We saw lots of people that should have rented the double wide wheel chair - it's about $10 to rent ($20 refundable deposit). Disney doesn't have double strollers (Legoland does) so you can put two kids in the wide wheelchairs and it lets them have a nice time, and you have a better time because you're not fighting your crying kids.
2. We saw lots of people that should have rented a regular wheelchair. Most of these are people who almost kill you on their rented Jazzy scooters - they insist on taking them in line so they are trying to maneuver through ropes, and people, and it's just a mess. We also saw a women with an above-the-knee amputation high-tailing it down Main Street on crutches. We thought she would be much more comfortable in a wheelchair.
3. Parents on the airplane on the ride home. Do people actually think it's fun to take an infant, 3 year old, and 5 year old to Disneyland? Not to mention the amount of crap they had to pack? Our advice is that you can't go to Disneyland unless you can feed yourself, change yourself, and get to the parking lot on your own. This rule applies to young and old.
4. If you have a bunch of bags at the airport, and a stroller, have your husband go get the car if you aren't getting picked up by a loved on (thanks Tim!)
5. Avoid Disneyland above 80*.
Thanks mom - the trip was great. We can't wait to go back once Kara gets here!

Murder in the Kitchen

Well, as you can see (probably not) from the picture below, the gas jets on the stove are open. Both doors are locked from the inside - how could a murdered have escaped? Miss Robin Barnes, the victim, was involved in number of domestic tasks in various stages of completion. This can be interpreted several ways. Several unfinished tasks with only the cake being complete. She seemed to be upset and unable to concentrate so she committed suicide. Or, the tasks were in the normal scope of being a housewife. it is suspicious that Robin decided to commit suicide int he middles of making dinner - suicide is not an impulsive decisions. Furthermore, why would she cook dinner if she was on the brink of suicide?
The table and tablecloth are askew in an otherwise harmonious kitchen. Knife: (on the chair), was presumably used to stuff newspaper around the door to prevent any carbon monoxide from escaping.
There is a drink at the table - had she had company? the can would be swabbed for DNA. The ice tray on the floor adjacent to her body may indicate she had been getting ice for the visitor.
The rosy hue of the body indicates carbon monoxide - murder.

Why it's important to edit your grammar

Did I spell that right? There are a few times in life when spelling something correctly counts (fortunately, on this blog isn't one of them). I recently received an email from our friend David Sauter, with an indication that there was no conclusive evidence as to a cause for his wife's, our dear friend Rebekah, death. Something like long QT was most likely the culprit.
But, the grammatical error came here - "Nutshell, death was natural causes." My mom had quickly browsed the email and immediately googled 'nutshell death'. What he had really meant, was "In a nutshell, her death was..." Well, as the Internet would provide, there is a book called the Nutshell Studies, which my mom ordered from Amazon without reading the caption. Turns out, it's a set of case studies with dolls and mini houses some woman made in the 1950's. She designed miniature crime scenes, complete with blood splatter, then deciphered how the doll was killed. Check it out online or come see our copy soon. As per David's request, we're sending it up there so he can further investigate...crime scenes.

Check back at a future date and I will reveal how this woman, 'scene' above, was murdered.

School, travel, and what I should be doing.

Well, I should be doing some payroll stuff for my mom. But it's really boring and I don't want to. So instead, I'm going to outline my travel itinerary for you. This weekend I hope to be in Disneyland. Then in about one month, me, Doug, Net, Harry, Dallas, and Bret are going to Buenas Aires and Iguacu Falls. After that, we're going to run up to Oregon for a weekend. I also have homework I could be doing, but I think I have ADD so I won't be doing that.
k8

Where my best friend is buried - Skyline Memorial, Portland OR

I visited the grave of truly, my best friend Rebekah Vance Sauter. She died on St. Patricks Day of some kind of unknown heart condition. She leaves a great husband David (24), Josh 27 months and Nicole 9 months behind.
Our hearts are heavy with grief and we miss her so much. Her service was beautiful and I was honored to be a part of it. We'll miss you until we meet again.
Her grave is in a beautiful place in Portland OR. Someone said they'll be getting a headstone that can't be missed- a large above ground stone one of some type.