A Once in a Lifetime Trip

At times, I truly wonder how I married someone so different from myself and yet still have a wonderful, functioning family.  Martin’s proposed summer vacation aka his ideal trip and the ultimate test of my love for him was a two week vacation canoeing and camping in middle of nowhere Sweden (previously planned for this summer). For Martin, the true test of his devotion to our family was a four night, three day trip to Disneyland in Southern California. He wasn’t shy about sharing his displeasure at the idea of the trip, definitely went only due to the risk of FOMO, and was always keen to correct the statement from “this is our first trip…” to “this is our only trip.”

I will say though, that I did spot a few rays of hope for a potential second (albeit shorter) trip in our future including; 

1. One of Martin’s biggest complaints was the overall cost of the trip (I might add that this whole trip was paid for by my parents so it was less about our personal budget but rather the principle of the affair).  The counterargument from my dad shut that one down: a ticket for a day in the park was far cheaper than a lift ticket for skiing in Tahoe. 

2. Martin’s preference is to spend vacations outside and with physical activities (see note above about canoeing and camping). In the end, we were outside most of the time and averaged above seven miles of walking a day.  

3. By the end of the trip, Martin had started singing “It’s a Small World” to himself and to my dad as a joke…I think he was starting to find the magic of Disney!

Below are some of the highlights from the four day adventure.  And a HUGE thank you to my parents for this “once in a lifetime” trip. 

On our way!

Day 3: The Hopper Pass

Miles Walked: 8.2 (helped by the Hopper pass which allowed us to jump from Disneyland to California Adventure to Downtown Disney to California Adventure and back to Disneyland)

Rides and Attractions: Peter Pan, It’s a Small World, Railroad, Star Tours (again), Rise of the Resistance, Indiana Jones, Tiki Room, Toy Story Midway Mania, Space Mountain, 

Family Members Lost: 3.  Although not really lost, just separated: I went with Alva to the Bippity Boppity Boutique, my parents went on Big Thunder Mountain since my dad had missed it on Sunday and Oskar and Martin headed back to Galaxy's Edge for another trip on Smugglers Run.  And then Oskar and I headed to Indiana Jones while Martin, Alva and my Mom went to the Tiki Room. 

Highlights: You know how Martin and I are complete opposites, I sometimes feel that way with Alva.  She has developed a strong personality that involves wearing nothing but dresses and pretend makeup.  Instead of trying to squash who she is, I leaned in and signed her up for Bippity Boppity Boutique. This was going to be the only time and place where I would be on board for this “princess glow-up”. And while not cheap, it was an experience I am glad she got to have. After getting her hair pulled back (including extensions), her makeup done, nails painted, and her fancy new Elsa dress on, she truly was a mini version of Elsa, confident and strong.  She strutted through Disneyland, singing her songs and pretending to create ice sculptures. There was no stopping that girl. She even refused to put her jacket on later since, you know, the cold never bothered her anyway.

And even better, later that evening with barely a line to wait, Elsa aka Alva got to meet Elsa at the Anna and Elsa meet and greet near the Animation Academy. The little girl in line with Alva was so convinced Alva was Elsa that she couldn’t stop staring and trying to touch Alva’s dress. 

Lowlight: Indiana Jones. Yup. After waiting three days to finally get on the tide, Oskar declared it was too scary and he never wants to do it again. I don’t blame him. It was much louder than needed and as my mom pointed out, we can get the same driving experience on the road into Pillsbury. 

Lowlight #2: Pink Eye. Yup, after 7+ years of never having pink eye, it finally took us down at the very end of the trip. Even worse, it was after the shops had closed so we couldn’t even buy a fun pirate eye patch to cover the clinical patch. 

Disney Tip: At least one night let the kids stay up as long as they want. After missing the chance to have one last ride together with just Oskar the night before I promised him we could stay out until the parks shut down on our last night. And we did just that.  We shut down California Adventures at 9pm (watching the World of Color show on our walk out), headed over to Disneyland for one more ride before they closed at 10pm (watching a bit of the Mickeys Magic Show on our way to Space Mountain).  Alva even rallied and so the four of us got to have a nice moment to close out the trip.

Day 2: California Adventures

Miles Walked: 7.6

Rides and Attractions: Radiator Springs Racers, Luigis Rollickin’ Roadsters, Little Mermaid - Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Incredicoaster (two times), Jumpy Jellyfish, Goofy’s Sky School, and Soaring Around the World. 

Family Members Lost: 3 (my dad went back to the hotel to take a nap and Alva and Martin shortly followed for an hour of swim time in the hotel pool) 

Highlights: California Adventure really surprised me this trip. The last time I was there, it was newly opened and there weren’t a lot of things to do. This time around, I was blown away by some of the activities that weren’t ride related. 

First up was the Animation Academy which came highly recommended by the same coworker who helped me navigate the app.  It is a 30 minute rough sketch class where you learn to draw a Disney character.  My mom, Oskar and I opted to learn to draw Grogu while the rest of the group was at the hotel.  The 30 minute art session was a perfect chance to sit down, get out of the craziness of crowds and actually do something artistic.  Plus, you get to bring your drawing home with you, so that is a bonus! We liked it so much that Oskar wanted to do it again the next day. 

After Animation Academy, we walked across the street to watch Mickey’s PhilharMagic, another surprise and favorite.  It is a 12 minute movie experience where Donald tries to get Mickey’s magic hat back while listening to some of Disney’s best songs.  It is thoroughly entertaining and had Oskar rocking with giggles and clutching his stomach from laughing too hard.  We actually did return the next day so Martin, Alva and my Dad could enjoy it as well.  

And with a bit more time to kill before regrouping, Oskar spent an hour running up, around and through the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, finally free to cut loose and not worry about too many crowds. It was also in this section of the park that Oskar led me into “dark cave” to have my palm read by the magical rock and determine my spirit animal: a skunk and moose.  

Lowlights: After wrapping up a late dinner Alva was toast and ready for bed, but Oskar and I still had some energy left.  So we said goodbye to the group at the gates of California Adventure and ran back over to Disneyland in hopes of finally getting on Indian Jones! Unfortunately, the park closed 30 minutes before we got there… they had closed earlier that evening for their special Valentines Day event that required a separate ticket.  Oh well, I guess we still had another day. 

My Genie+ curse also continued with both the Incredicoaster and Toy Story Midway Mania shutting down during our reservation slots. 

Disney Tip: Pack a backup battery pack. By dinner that night my phone battery was dead. The use of the app to check wait times, book the lightning lane reservations and checking the map drained my phone.

Day 1: Disneyland

Miles Walked: 6.2

Rides and Attractions: Star Tours, Autopia, Finding Nemo, Jungle Cruise, Matterhorn, Alice in Wonderland, Mr Toad’s Wild Ride, Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, Oga’s Cantine, Big Thunder Railway, and Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Family Members Lost: 1 (my dad left us around 2pm to go see the Niners play (and lose) in the SuperBowl)

Highlights: After a lot of research spent to find a unique activity for Oskar, making his very own droid won out over the lightsaber experience.  And seeing how much he plays with the droid even now, it was the right idea. Side note: I missed the experience since I was still reeling from the sickness-inducing Millennium Falcon ride. Oskar, Martin and Alva went inside to make the droid while my mom and I stayed outside for some fresh air. 

Lowlights: My Genie+ curse.  In the past few years, Disney has switched everything over to their app making the experience both easier and harder at the same time. I was initially so overwhelmed I had to ask a coworker for a tutorial on how to use the app and related Genie+ functionality.  The app is super helpful for ordering food in advance (to avoid lines) and to request access to the Genie+ lightning lanes which allow you to shortcut the otherwise long lines.  The only problem was me.  Every time I booked us for a Genie+ ride, the ride would somehow temporarily shut down at exactly the time of our booking. It happened constantly!  Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain, and Indian Jones all shut down during our window.  The good news is that you don’t lose the shortcut benefits, the bad news, it really messes up your otherwise perfectly coordinated schedule including previously ordered food.  I might have been more than a little kerfuffled the first morning with all of the stress of making sure Martin didn’t divorce me. 

Disney Tip: Pack a large zip lock bag.  It came in handy when I couldn’t finish my extra large bag of popcorn and could save it for later. 

The Award for SuperDad definitely went to Martin at the end of the day

Night 1: Downtown Disney

Miles Walked: 5.2

Rides and Attractions: 0

Highlights: Goofy’s Kitchen: The kids were definitely shy at first when the characters stopped by our table, but by the end of the dinner and trip, that shyness was long gone. And while it was the most expensive dining option we had all vacation, it was also one of the yummier ones and a great way to start the Disney experience.  

Disney Tip: If looking to save some money, don’t stay at a Disney-owned hotel.  You can save $2,500 by staying across the street from the park and have the same walk time to the park entrance. 

Las Vegas, But Classy

I know I have said it before, but this time our trip to Vegas really was a classy affair. 

Anna, Shannon and I were due for what has now become our bi-annual trip to see each other. And with flight options to warm weather locations limited out of Walla Walla, we decided to meet up in Vegas for a three day weekend getaway. We planned on good food, some shopping and a spa day. And with Shannon being pregnant and me living my best 47 year old life (because while I look a bit beat up and tired for 43, I look pretty good for 47), that is exactly what we got. No hangovers, no late night clubbing, just some really good meals, a big day of shopping, a show at the Sphere and a full day at the spa. 

Here are some ruminations on the trip. 

I love planning and enjoying a good meal. But even more, I relish the challenge of ordering the perfect meal for a group.  And Anna and Shannon were willing to humor me the entire weekend, making every meal into a shared affair. We had sushi at Catch (easy enough to share), a traditional steak dinner at Vic and Anthony’s (with a shared steak and all of the sides) and tapas at Julian Serrano (no effort required). We also had a really yummy breakfast at Bardo Brasserie (shared pastries were a must) and had our only miss meal-wise at Giada’s which I blame on too much onion juice the night before. 

We bought into the hype and saw Postcards from Earth at the Sphere. The hype is worth it. The show was incredible, difficult to explain but totally a must when in Vegas (despite the fact that the super steep seats were vertigo inducing). However for those going in the future, you really only need 15-20 minutes for the Atrium pre-show. That was about as long as it took me to get fully creeped out by the life-like robots on interactive display. 

We relaxed Saturday with spa treatments at the Aria (one of the main reasons why we stayed at the Aria was the reviews about their spa). While the treatment was nice and the amenities were luxurious, the time before and after the treatment was a bit too chaotic for my liking. Not sure if it is an Aria issue or an overall Vegas issue, but the sheer number of people at the spa, not to mention the bachelorette party hanging out in the whirlpool definitely wasn’t what I was expecting.  My 47 year old self was slightly annoyed. 

And then there was the shopping which was a bit over the top. After a year of not buying anything “new” (my New Year’s resolution for 2023 was that I wouldn’t buy new clothes but could buy vintage or used clothes) I was officially ready to open the flood gates. In addition, while I hate to admit it, I felt the need to buy myself a nice purse to add some clout to my new fancy job title. Unfortunately my $50 Michael Kors purse from Nordstrom Rack really doesn’t scream “I am good with money!” when dining with bankers. So a new purse was in order… Let’s just say, it was a successful trip shopping. And I haven’t fully given up on buying used or vintage. 

Success after shopping!

I have said it before, but need to say it again.  These women are amazing. And I am so lucky to have met them over 16 years ago in Switzerland. While we have all changed and grown so much over the years, we can still pick up right where we left off like no time has passed at all. 

"47" and Fabulous

New Year’s Resolutions

I can, hand on heart, state that for my first 43 years of life I have never made it through a month let alone a year of a New Year’s resolution. Hell, I couldn't even go 40 days without eating a banana (which I gave up for Lent in college because I didn’t like bananas). The only time I have actually exercised restraint and denied myself something for some arbitrary purpose was that time in high school that I briefly gave up eating four legged animals. I think I made it at least a year (my mom will have to fact check me) and it did help day Dana had given up all animals with legs. 

But on January 1 2024 I officially made it a whole year without buying new clothes thereby actually seeing my 2023 new year’s resolution to completion. Granted there were quite a few caveats. I could buy clothes just not new from a factory (e.g. vintage and used was okay), I could buy new undergarments because otherwise, gross, and after 4 failed attempts to buy used jeans I gave up and bought 2 new pairs. Oh and this only applied to clothes.  I in fact bought a lot of other things over the course of the year. But otherwise I made it! And it felt good! 

I had to get creative with my options, I loved finding unique vintage pieces to mix in and it prevented me from buying fast fashion that I really didn’t need. 

Now with all of that said, I did go on a little bender immediately after January 1 but it really was just for the basics (t-shirts, a jacket, and a new pair of work pants).

To The Mountains, with no Snow

What do you do in Arnold CA when there is no snow? You improvise. And make do with what you got. 

We spent a day at Columbia State Park mining for gold, eating old fashioned candy and reliving core memories from your fourth grade field trip. 

We skied, sort of. Alva and I might not have skied for long but we did enjoy 90 minutes on the sun deck eating snacks and drinking hot tea. 

I attempted ice skating and, after one lap around the pond desperately clinging on to Martin for stability, I decided I had no desire to continue. My children decided to inform me that if I gave up, I would never learn and that I shouldn’t be afraid to fall since falling is part of the process. It really does suck when they use your words against you. 

And I learned a very fun fact about my mother in law: she always travels with both a potato peeler and a paring knife.  Did I mention she is German? 

2023 in Books

Nearly broke 50 this year... the commute 3 days of week must have helped: 

The Rabbit Hutch, Tess Gunty

Fortune Favors the Bold, Stephen Spotswood 

I’ll Show Myself Out, Jessi Klein 

Who Killed Jane Stanford, Richard White 

The School for Good Mothers, Jessamine Chan 

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Shehan Karunatilaka 

The Trees, Percival Everett 

Blaze me a Sun, Christoffer Carlsson 

When Women Lead, Julia Boorstin

White Noise, Don DeLillo 

Welcome Me to the Kingdom, Mai Nardone

The Light Pirate, Lily Brooks-Dalton 

Oh William!, Elizabeth Stout

An Assassin in Utopia, The True Story of a Nineteenth-Century Sex Cult and a President's Murder,  Susan Wels

Florida, Lauren Groff

Hello Molly, Molly Shannon

The Guest List, Lucy Foley

Liberation Day, George Saunders 

Empty Theatre, Jac Jemc 

I Have Some Questions for You, Rebecca Makkai 

The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child, Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

Home Baked, Alia Volz 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky 

Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel 

Murder under Her Skin, Stephen Spotswood

Severance, Ling Ma 

Dava Shastri’s Last Day, Kirthana Ramisetti 

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of Dead, Olga Tokarczuk 

Good Anxiety, Wendy Suzuki 

Then We Came to the End, Joshua Ferris 

The Other Dr Gilmer, Benjamin Gilmer 

Pax, Sara Pennypacker 

The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton

Chasing the Dragon, Domenic Stansberry

Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus 

Pineapple Street, Jenny Jackson

All The Sinners Bleed, S. A. Cosby 

5 Habits of a Highly Successful Team 

National Dish: Around the World in Search of Food, History, and the Meaning of Home, Anya von Bremzen

Holding Pattern, Jenny Xie 

The Best Possible Experience: Stories, Nishanth Injam 

Leaving Time, Jodi Picoult 

The Bee Sting, Paul Murray

The Woman In Me, Britney Spears 

Dare to Lead, Brene Brown 

The Exceptions, Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science, Kate Zernike

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins