Whew.

[pen_grunt]

We went to Versailles (authentic Cuban food) in Little Cuba (in Miami) for lunch today. Funny that the waiter tried to speak Spanish to my dark-skinned, dark-haired boss (who doesn't speak ANY Spanish) but I was like a freak in a circus show. By that I mean, natural blonde hair really, really, really sticks out in Little Cuba. I got strange looks and stares everywhere we went. It was...very strange, for lack of a more appropriate adjective. The waiter didn't even attempt Spanish on me, but I was able to passably order my lime steak dinner platter anyway (in broken Spanish). Viva los frijoles negros con arroz! Humbug, I'm sure he appreciated the mangled attempt anyway.

After spending the night in the vomit-smelling hotel (that, incidentally, earned the dubious honor of being the first hotel EVER where I've been afraid to sleep between the sheets), I'm on Disney property.

It's the happiest place on earth. Doubly so because all the kids have gone back to school, and the place is EMPTY. We're at the Swan; which is less nice than the yacht club--where I stayed last time--but is leaps, bounds and countries above the Miami Best Western...that had blood on the curtains...that I discovered in the morning (yeah, at that point I was pretty accepting of whatever the hotel room was going to throw at me, so I just shrugged and said, "Blood. Okay, I can do blood."

You see, we had/have meetings scheduled on Thursday in Miami, Friday in Miami, Monday in Orlando and Tuesday in Orlando, then Wednesday in Las Vegas. This means that there's a Saturday/Sunday off (which I get to bill the company for anyway) but it's not economical nor desirable to fly back to Minneapolis for a day.

This means a 5-hour drive (rush hour traffic, mind you) alone in a car with my boss--after another employee has managed to turn him into Mr. Jekyl with a single phone call. This also means DISNEY. My normal, rational level of cynicism is irrelevant and inapplicable when it comes to Disney. I can't help but adore Disney World (well, in September, anyway). I love that they focus their attention on every little detail (like fake-shore sounds on the boardwalk). I love (especially after Miami customer service) that they always give you a smile, and they excel in genuinely trying to make their guests happy.

I have the urge to get a Mickey Mouse Mr. Potato Head (you get to build your own!). By gum, I think I must do it.

Comments

[damm-im-good.livejournal.com]

Have fun in Disney World pumpkin. I got all of the invites stamped and stuffed. Now I just have to get the remaining addresses. Does Mickey have any advice for me?

[llythefaerye.livejournal.com]

Gawwwww ... that's too b'adorable!

[llythefaerye.livejournal.com]

Is it bad that the blood-on-the-curtains blurb made me giggle? Maniacally?

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Hmm, about life in general, or about getting peoples' addresses? Cuz you know Mickey would pop a cap to get that schizz.

But otherwise, he says, "Make it magical."

Thanks for doing that sweetie.

We SO have to go here on our own.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Yeah, in't he sweet? :)

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Not bad s'much as consistent?

*ducks*

Yeah, it WAS kind of funny at that point--because naturally I was thinking, "What else could possibly be out of whack in this hotel room?" ...and then the fates answered.

[llythefaerye.livejournal.com]

You'll appreciate this . . . I found out last night that Cecilia - 4-5? yr old child of fitzthetoad, apparently killed off her imaginary husband because she got a *real* boyfriend . . . (I was talking to Jen, who nannies for them at Festival, and apparently all the darling little girl would say about it is that "he went to work and died." *busts out laughing*)