I'm on vacation. Truly I am. We're swimming and relaxing and I'm even doing some scrapbooking and lots of reading. Yes. A perfectly relaxing vacation. However, I'm still connected to the world because we inhabit a world of super-techiness (is that a word?). So, I'm sitting today by the pool and I receive a text from my friend, Gene, Pam's husband, with a picture:
"We're at the opening of Toy Story Mania. It's phenomenal. Hoping to see you.
Where are you?"
Hmm…. unexpected. My friends are at Disneyland and California Adventures and I'M NOT.
So I reply:
"Big Bear. On vacation. For the rest of the week. So sorry we missed you."
Moments later I receive another text, this time from my niece, Helen, with a picture:
"Just got off the new Toy Story ride. No wait – was amazing. Where are you??"
Ummm, here I go again… Helen and Daisy are my tried and true Disneyland buddies. And they are there WITHOUT ME?
"Big Bear. On vacation. For the rest of the week. So sorry we missed you."
This was starting to take on the characteristics of a conspiracy! I'm apparently the last Disney pass holder on the planet to ride on the new Toy Story ride. And no, I'm not jealous. I'm not. I swear…… heck, I'm on vacation! (and having a wonderful time, but that's not important right now) But the plot thickens and it's my own fault because I was the one who started the Scavenger Hunt in the first place, but that's not important right now either…
So now I'm texting with Gene and I'm texting with Helen when Gene suddenly wants to know where the thermometer is. In my original Disneyland Photo Scavenger Hunt there is a thermometer which reads 40 degrees. I took the picture in the doorway of the Coca-Cola Corner – Here's proof:
Gene and Pam are getting frustrated. No Thermometer. So I enlist Helen (after all, she was with me when I took the photos and she's already done this scavenger hunt) to help Gene and Pam find the Thermometer.
"On which side of the park are you? The Thermometer is MIA."
It's not at the Coke Corner, she says, in fact, she's sure it's at the Carnation Cafe. I finally give Gene, Helen's number and vice versa (trying to extricate myself from the proverbial loop – I'm on vacation here, people!) but the texts kept coming:
"Not there. The Employees have never seen it before. yada yada. and you're delusional."
What?? This hunt wasn't that long ago…. (I start feeling a bit worried and responsible and a bit crazed when I'm supposed to be relaxing – did I mention that I'm. on. vacation! sigh).
Helen and Daisy let me know that they are now on their way to Main Street and the Carnation Cafe. Surely they'll find the bloody Thermometer – how hard can this be??? Okay. I admit it's a pretty difficult hunt – not for the faint of heart.
So now I get poetic: "Your Sacred Quest – FIND THE THERMOMETER."
They play right along with me: "No quest is too dangerous for the unstoppable duo of Daisy & Helen!"
By this time we're getting ready for dinner. The texting has been going on all day. My family is kind of tired of The Impossible Thermometer Quest. Gene and Pam apparently are tired of it too because they are resting and they think I'm lying and they've given up. (sorry, guys!)
Last text from Helen, way into the evening now:
"There is a nail hole, people!" Mystery solved.
"Our Disneyland Scavenger Hunt has been sullied. The thermometer is gone, baby, gone!"
SIDE NOTE: When I send text messages with my friends we don't use text-slang (ie – CU L8TR which always sounds like bad vanity plates,but that's not important right now), we use punctuation, upper and lower case letters, and capitalize proper nouns. I know!
It cracked me up that they were furiously texting me all day over this Case of the Missing Thermometer and that yes, even though I'm on vacation…. I still got to play along! And that makes me uber-happy! But I'm sad that my scavenger hunt is spoiled now.
I guess that only means one thing: I need to start working on a new one. (sigh. A creative-Disney-loving mother's work is never done.)
From the (allegedly) vacationing Marta – Peace out. =D
"Elementary, My Dear Watson there was a NAIL HOLE."
Imagine what people thought…a bunch of weirdo’s walking and hanging around the shops looking for something. I wish I could have seen Helen come in and do the same thing. People must have wondered what they were missing. Or maybe they called security and we got out just in time. I should have told you we’d be there, but I truly thought you’d be there and I could repeat the surprise visit. I thought we talked about you visiting before you were blocked out. Anyway, great post! Missed you!