But here are more of the journal entries and pictures from last weeks trip...
*****
September 25th, 2006 - Day 3
We hit the road in the afternoon for Orlando to go to Pleasure Island. It was a 2 and a half hour ride filled with interesting conversation. I was in the backseat, sitting in the middle between Angie and Michael. My bestfriend and Heather were in the front.
We checked into a Motel right next to DownTown Disney, All five of us sharing 2 beds. I felt like I was back in college during springbreak.
We drank Smirnoff Ices out of 24 ounce bottles and laughed about how we hadn't done that in a while.
I had never been to Pleasure Island before. I loved the atmosphere. Music blasting on the walkways. People ran by drunk and laughing. We hopped from club to club taking in the different music. From the B.E.T. club blasting rap music, to the top 40 jam packed club with 3 levels, live bands, A gay club with a floor that revolved in circles, dry ice and blinding strobing lights. I loved the eighties club.
At one point Heather and Angie were dancing in one of the 2 level clubs. I went to the second level with Michael and filmed the crowd of people moving to the beat and The movie screen showing Justin Timberlake singing "SexyBack". Here is the short video...
Heather was running around with her birthday tiara and knocking back Long Island Iced Teas like there was no tomorrow. We were all cracking up by the end of the night...
We came back with overpriced wine to continue drinking... . The last I remember is eating McDonalds indian style on the motel bed while my bestfriend was laughing about something.
....I woke up on the next morning on the floor....
Um.
Yeah.
******
September 26th, 2006 - Day 4
After a long search for Heather's Birthday Tiara...which was sadly M.I.A., we checked out of the motel and had breakfast at Ponderosa.
Then hit the road for Disney World. As we approached the signs for The Magic Kingdom... Heather started blasting "Under the Sea" from Little Mermaid.
Yes, We went from responsible Twenty-somethings... to teenagers at Pleasure Island.. we continued our regression even further back to our childhood.
...And I was enjoying every minute of it because I was with my bestfriend and Heather. Frankly there is no one else in the world that I could do this with.
Once we entered Disney, we had another surprise for my bestfriend.
I had secretly invited another one of our friend's from childhood and my buddy from my bartending days, Tara to join us at the Magic Kingdom. She showed up and pinched my Bestfriend from behind.
She spun around and screamed out in surprise.
The three of us had not been together for so many years, it was an incredible reunion.
As we walked through Disney's Mainstreet. Heather was stopped by the Barbershop Quartet. It was her birthday and she was given a special pin at the entrance. They sang Happy Birthday to her in the center of the park... She was blushing and laughing.
Unfortunately we saw dark storm clouds looming over Cinderella's castle...
and it wasn't long before an immense downpour..
When the weather cleared my bestfriend caught sight of her favorite character and broke into a run...
No Pooh isn't leaning over with stomach pains, he's holding his belly and laughing...
I think.
There was a Country Bear Jamboree hoe down in the middle of everything. All I could think was how those bears looked completely drunk and positively terrifying... Am I the only one that thinks this?
The best part was the fireworks at the end of the night. I've been to Disney World twice before in my life. Once at age 14, and another time at age 19. We had never stayed long enough to see the fireworks display.
For the first time I saw it and this time with two of my closest friends in the world. Two people I never imagined I'd ever go to Disney World with... .
Here is a small video clip I took of the fireworks
Unfortunately my battery died just before the grand finale. There is another person on Youtube that DID catch it on film. I'm posting their video too because it really WAS spectacular especially for those who have never seen it.
Afterwards We bid a sad farewell to Tara (who seriously made my day by showing up!) and We drove home, My bestfriend was exhausted and weak but smiling. She had dialysis at 4:30 A.M.
But it was truly an amazing and unforgettable experience. In all honesty, Disney World in itself isn't all that spectacular, it's really who you are with that makes it great.
I sound so sappy, but I'm really happy to be here in Florida....I can't help it.
To be continued. ...
