Nouba

It was chilly today in Orlando, sunny but 64 degrees and windy. We saw that it was 14 degrees and with wind chill of 0 degree in Chicago. BRR!

Today was laundry day that was challenging. Mel went to check that washing machines were available. All 5 were open. As we arrived with our laundry, a man drives up in a golf cart and proceeds to load up 3 washers. So I loaded up the other 2 and took our quarter baggie and started loading up the coin slots. But we needed 16 quarters and had only 12 and the coin machine was broken. Yikes! I asked a lady who was folding laundry if she had any quarters. Mel gave her a dollar in exchange as I was trying to count out a dollar's worth of change from pennies, nickels and dimes.

Mel had the bright idea to find another laundry in the campgrounds. Sure enough, we found one at Cottontail Curl-aren't the names great? We live at Buffalo Bend. The laundry was empty and their coin machine was working so I exchanged $12 for quarters so we are armed for next time. Since we had two more loads, I added sheets to one washer and towels to another. Then we had to hurry back to the Buffalo Bend laundry to place clothes in the dryers. By the time that we got back to Cottontail Curl, the 2 machines were finished so we loaded up the wet clothes and headed back to Buffalo Bend to dry the last two loads. We folded the first two loads while waiting for the towels and sheets to drive. When the ordeal was over, Mel said that next time we will find a laundromat in Orlando with enough washers, dryers & working coin machines to stay put. Ah, the life of a domestic! I guess he thought this laundry thing was a snap.

Once the laundry was done, we headed out for lunch and a movie. At the Pleasure Island AMC 24, we saw Aeon Flux with Charlize Theron. It is a sci-fi movie, based on a comic character. It was okay but no Monster. We had an hour and a half to kill before our next adventure began so we walked around Disney's West Side with House of Blues, Virgin Records, Disney Quest and Wolf Gang Puck.

The reason that we had a low key day was because we had tickets for Cirque du Soleil-Nouba, our treat to ourselves. While we have seen them on TV, it was incredible to see these athletes perform live. A lady in front of us said that the performers are former Olympians. Amazing!

I was so happy to be home as we seem to be running everyday. Sometimes, I just want to sit and veg. But Mel was full of energy so he kissed me goodbye and headed to the Magic Kingdom for fireworks. About an hour later, he was back and I hadn't heard fireworks. Mel was not a happy camper. He rode the boat to the Magic Kingdom but when he got to the gate, he was turned away. The park had closed at 6 p.m. for a private party. Can you imagine what something like that cost? Poor Mel had braved the windy chilly night and was turned away at the inn. He just wishes the captain had announced that the Magic Kingdom was closed before he boarded. Now he is tired.

By the way, the photo is one of the Christmas displays found throughout Disney World. The campgrounds are filled with those plastic air blown figures that Disney had provided. However, you wouldn't believe the displays at individual campsites. People have gone crazy with decorations. Our next door neighbors have lights, animated figures, a star on the roof of their RV, two airblown figures, etc. It is fantastic. I love when people go over the top like that to give pleasure to others. A big BRAVO for them.