Laura and the terrible, horrible, no good, rather interesting and, hey, kind of fun day!

The fog was thick on the road so we could hardly see 5 metres in front of us. Driving along well under the speed limit on the interstate with a van full of strangers and hoping that the driver we chose to put our safety hopes in delivered us to our destination safely, our suitcases and bags jammed into the back of the van as tightly as possible, and the remainder squished between our legs and seats, and conversations about someone's brilliant 7-year old nephew's views on the meaning of life, ghost and alien stories, favourite Disneyland rides, and homeless shelters passed back and forth in the most bizarre three hours of our little getaway to California.

We had opted for the cheapest possible flights when we booked them, accepting the fact that we'd have a 3-hour layover in Seattle (which was a 2.5 hour drive from home) before our 2nd flight took us to our van parked in Bellingham, a short distance from the border back into Canada and home. When our plane landed in Seattle, we were still reminiscing about our favourite rides, the downpour on our first morning, and how excited we were to bring the girls to Disneyland next time we went.

We were tired, and sat, waiting, reading, talking, for the next few hours until it was time to board our final flight. It was a 30 minute trip and we would be home in no more than an hour, if all went well. At 10:50pm, an announcement came on over the speakers saying that there was fog in Bellingham and if it wasn't possible to land, we'd just return to Seattle.

Here we go, we thought. There's something about us and journeys home... Once, we were locked out of our house and slept the night in our garage. Once we came home to an electrical problem with no power and no idea how to turn it on. It seems that some form of unexpected difficulty was inevitable.

We boarded the flight and the voice came over the speaker again announcing this time that the fog wasn't going to be a problem after all. There was a collective sigh of relief from the cabin, and we headed off into the sky.

Once we were in the air over Bellingham, however, the captain came on and said that the fog was indeed going to pose a problem (something to do with needing to land visually - no one in the tower in Bellingham). He then let us know, to everyone's dismay, that we'd be "waiting" for 1/2 an hour to see if the fog lifted.

Yes, that meant circling the city again and again and again. I was thankful to have a good book to keep my mind (and stomach) off the constant turning of the plane. And circle we did!! After the time was up, we gained some altitude and the announcement was made that we'd be heading back to Seattle.

SO, it was about 2am by the time we were back in the terminal being promised that we were all booked on the first flight out the next morning and that Ramada Inn had graciously offered to put us all up for $50 a night. Ummmm, no. So we got a refund and headed to the car rental booths, which about 12 others thought of also.

When we got there, a plan was quickly hashed to rent a van and split the cost. So there were 7 of us total, who all piled into a van and headed off into the foggy night on the interstate.

As tired as I was, it was a really fun thing to do, and I felt myself getting kind of excited to take a little trip with a handful of strangers. There were Ryan and I in the back, with Brianna, a girl who was in college and needed to get up for classes the next morning. There was Rhonna, who was totally sick with a hoarse voice but was probably the most talkative of the bunch, with two long grey braids tied together with jingly-jangly ribbons. There was Aiden, the friendly guy who kept the driver, Pamela, talking the whole time. It was the two of them that started the ghost/alien conversations. And there was Roz, who mostly slept, and I think she was friends with Pamela, the driver. We chatted and heard where everyone had been coming from and where they were all going. Quite a nice bunch of unexpected new friends, actually. At the end of the trip we dropped each person off, one by one, bidding them farewell like old friends, and getting to see where they all lived. We were dropped off last at our van at the airport and headed home.

We arrived at 4:30am and were up and (reluctantly) at it at 6:45. Painful. (AND BY "AT IT", I MEAN "AT THE DAY", sickos.)

On a completely different note, a much earlier one, Disneyland was great!!! Ryan had a conference to go to for the earlier part of the week, and then I headed out on Friday (handing the girls over to Grandma and Grampa) and joined him where we ran like kids around the park for two and a half days. We got lots of pictures with the girls' favourite characters, rode all the rides possible, rode our favourites a few times more, ate as little food as possible (it's always

our goal to not step up and meet the challenge of the quantity of food served in restaurants in the US, not to mention Disneyland food costs about twice as much as elsewhere!!), watched shows and parades enough to tie us over until the next time we go, and came out with some seriously tired and painful legs!

It was a great trip!! We missed the girls a lot - it was the longest we've been away from them - 4 nights - but it was well worth taking the trip just the two of us. The girls had a great time with the grandparents too, which put our minds to rest!!

Here are some pictures and a video.

Us keeners were up at 6am ready for breakfast and getting to the park when it opened (at 7), but were stopped short by a TORRENTIAL downpour. I mean it. Like in the amazon. We ducked into a doorway, not quite knowing what to do, since we were planning on buying those goofy rain slickers at the park, and it was a good few blocks away. In the end, we just ran for it, got soaked, but dried off over the course of the morning, and then it got sunny! This picture is taken from the doorway where we sought cover.

STAR TOURS!! I was excited about this ride - the one where you sit in a room that moves around and it feels like you're on a spaceship in starwars. Let me tell you that I DON'T RECOMMEND IT. I felt really sick afterwards and felt nothing but scorn every time we passed it in the next few days.

Getting excited about "It's a Small World"!! What is it about watching a bunch of cute multi-cultural dolls sing and dance that makes you feel so warm and fuzzy on the inside??

Trying (rather unsuccessfully) to capture some of the warm and fuzzy dolls.

Toontown!! When I was 10, the last time I was at DL, it wasn't finished being built. I was quite excited!

Requested by Plava, a picture with Minnie. :)

...and a picture for Pito with Pooh Bear.

Myself enjoying one of my all-time favourite treats - caramel apple. Note the hazy look in my eyes. It was a combination of elation and shock at spending an entire $6 on the thing.

Aaaaah, the castle.

...and to show you an example of the glee....