Thursday, September 10, 2009

End of Summer Fun With Everyone. Disneyland




Gerry and Julia
Luana Lindsey Soaking Up Some Rays by the Pool

Susanna and Holly

Susanna and Natalie



Kiely Pill

She was trying to look cross-eyed
...almost, but don't do it! They'll stay that way!




Right-out Our Window North Porch
















Preslee












Marnie and Dallin and Me on the Right



















Kenna







Dallin and Adree
















I'm a bit behind in my posting, not because of my leg, or Facebook... lol, or wasting time, or even too busy, my really big computer that I do all my posts.... have all my pictures, and that's the computer that helps me maintain my websites. It now has developed a monitor problem. I do back-up all my files, but without being able to see what's there....it's impossible to try and update. The monitor will be going to the computer doctors tomorrow.

Our summer has been so fun. It's been a mix of activities of all my children and grandchildren busy all around me. There have been really well-planned activities at church and I feel I have been blessed so much by the Priesthood Blessings that I've received and also our own prayers and by the attendees of the Temple. I started swimming again with my visiting teachers. Wow! They are so good to me.

Funny that the exercise coincides with a new program one of my crazy fitness daughters have just started. Jackpot self-improvement. It consists of $10 join fee and support and meetings. Points are awarded on the integrity clause. We are not only are we going to get fit on the outside but have set spiritual goals as well. It has gotten around church that we're doing this and it now it isn't just our family. I am already behind....the winner may receive a bunch of money, but I'm going to get a new me with good legs. Better reward.

I think stuff like this always starts with September for us. It's like being the month of starting new. Like school and change of season. We all do this fitness deal because we all want to better ourselves at the Disney Marathon. I have basically been the photographer--but I will make it soon and really walk the marathon.

Yeeeeaaahhh, hanging out at the Grand Californian Hotel near Labor Day. What-A-Life! The marathon at Disneyland to me is a tribute to Grandpa Doug, who was a great athlete and couldn't walk for many years of his life. There's a brick in front of the gate with the Lazenby name and a gold coin pressed in the cement and was presented to him not too long before he "walked to heaven."
Starting Gate

I want to say all of us run the 1/2 K or the 5 K but, it's only the family that are in town or near Southern California go and we all participate, even if it's just cheering on everyone else. Larin, is a life-coach and has a degree in (I hope I get this right) Physical Trainer. She wasn't there this year because she just had baby Finlee and the Arkansas Watson's watched via webcam on the Matterhorn ride.

The whole event was all well-planned..Luana sets-up the room where we stay and she's so good to us. She's the one that makes this possible and we appreciate her more than anyone could ever imagine. We stay at the farthest room with tons of suites attached. It's as big as a whole house. All of us have never stayed on the south wing, but almost every suite on the north-east side. The rooms overlooking the Brother Bear area and the Grizzly ride are so pleasant with birds singing all night and the waterfall. Oh, and the pine trees smell so good. Lately....we've been staying above "Downtown Disney" and "California Adventure" It's a long, long area with lots of porches all connected. It smells like caramel popcorn and we can see all the beautiful fireworks easily from the porch or from the windows. I love this area. Best of all I'll see the runner-family from our room.

I think she planned this room because it does have the run path go right by. And.... I had a movie camera. I wrote this whole announcing spiel from like, the Del Mar or Santa Anita Horse Race Tracks.

"This heat for the "gold medallion" this year includes well-known names of up and coming fillys, mares, and stallions and a couple geldings. The participants are: Red Roan (Steve Jenkins), Mookie-Face (Marie Jenkins), Bratsky and Mott (Marnie's two oldest kids), Old Dude (my husband, Steve, Tinsey Fingers (Luana Lindsey) Randy Man Poser (Kiely's friend, Randy West)
Jessica Simpson (Kiely) a Quarter House filly that runs like crazy (sometimes) and has nice hindquarters, but tacky tack." Remember Kiely you hated your outfit! Just want the cousins and aunts and uncles that I had names for you guys, too. Just ask me...Hunka' Jim, Di Di, Holly Molly, Oh Susanna, Ger Bear, etc.
Gold Medallion

...."And here they come around the corner and onto the stretch. The filly is distracted by the water feature and wants to play. Coming into this race her handicap was HHHD (Hidden Horse Hurry, Hold-on Disorder). Yes, Jessica Simpson is being distracted by the water oasis and wants to blow bubbles in the water." Wait, do I have that disorder?

Sooooo... I'm looking at the recording on the camera and dang I didn't hit the "record" button twice. Yep, I have it. HHHD I didn't get the race on the camera, no recording. The group passed and I could hear already the first placers coming back from the finish line. Chipmunks!

I wish I had done some reading or had Steve tell me how to take movies. I thought the movie camera was like our old video camera. It's not at all the same hahahaha except you can flip it around too fast and the movie watching can make you dizzy. Also, lots of ground is covered, literally.

Look In The Left/Center and Under
The Golden Star is My Steve


I saw them tho with my own eyes running their hearts out; and I'm glad they took pictures of themselves running with the Disney characters along the way. I know it's hard to believe we're all doing this and our family (cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles) all work on their times and plan to beat next year the time that they recorded for this years event. Steve works out by running either in the station or around the blocks by the fire station. My Steve runs to a Rolling Stone song that is paced perfect for him (he tries not to think about who sings it) Anyway, its: "Jumping Jack Flash." Just kidding...It's: "Start Me Up" and that song is perfect! I even know all the words and I put it on the last of my "Playlist." and you'll see what I mean about the timing of the song.

I met everyone after the race at the concierge to eat, then shower and then go swimming at 9:00 am. Yes, it was super hot and humid already. I didn't feel it, I wasn't outside and running and had the air-conditioning going full-blast.


All of My Family Looks Great!
Thanks Susanna For The Wonderful
Marathon Pictures!!! I Love You!


I had a motorized vehicle for my damaged knees. This time I had it, the scooter was from a contractor with the hotel and I could use it anywhere. And this time it was the luxury model. It was as big as a Hummer and fast enough to drive on the road. Dang scary! I certainly wasn't prepared for this! I had just gotten used to the other style and could efficiently move about without disaster. I only ran-over my grandson in the California Adventure Winery and I have an excuse. It was dark and the scooter had no lights. This fancy scooter is way, way different.

The Hummer scooter is wider and deeper, faster, slower, with lights and signals and it goes so fast it has a speedometer. It's a good thing I started-out in some training with the smaller models. I would have maybe maimed someone if I didn't have some prior experience....as it is...this is so huge it doesn't fit through a regular door with the arms down. I felt like a race car driver in the Indy 500. Oh, and getting in the elevators were like...."being pulled through a keyhole front-ways" and then "destruction derby" backing out.

If you ever have the inclination to look inside of the Grand Californian Hotel floor plan it will show you "mazes" of hallways and there are more than any other hotel I've ever been to in my life, including a cruise ship. Okay, so far I've had numerous incidents (crashes) with the new scooter. Right-off, I ran head-blast into the door of an unopened elevator and broke the basket off. I tried to run over a waiter. He actually cussed-me-out in Spanish and I knew every word he was saying. Yes sir--re! I live in a Latino town and cuss-words are about what I know best... but I DON'T USE THEM!!! I PROMISE!!! I almost called him Gordo because he took up all the floor space, but I was kind and didn't say anything except I was so sorry. Yes, it was my fault. Steve then took the wheel and guided me into the elevator.



Torilla Joes
Great Service
Mean Busboys

I noticed as I go along in the quiet halls the scooter makes this ARRRKKK, ARRRKKK, ARRRKKK, noise as the wheels cycle. Steve said it probably needs new brakes. Great! That's comforting!

I was doing that usual weird noise and some dude at the end of a very, long hall looked back at me. He gave me a puzzled look, I think, so I decided I was going to catch-up to him. I was going at least 20 miles an hour and then right behind him, right on his rear. He started walking faster and I went slower, but right on him. It bugged him bad. You know those kind of dudes that won't let a women pass you on the freeway. Well, he took off running and guess what? I took off going super rabbit speed and you should have heard the wheels....just one long, "ARRRKKKK."
hahahaha.... He ran even faster and luckily for him the elevator was open on our floor and he jumped it and hit the button closed. I got in pretty fast and when it opened-up we were on the same floor. I loved it! One look at me and he "booked-it!" The dude went into the men's restroom to hide. Or maybe he was running all that time to the bathroom. Nah....

I gave up and went out to meet everyone and go have dinner. It was dark after the Tortilla Joes meal and me getting cussed-out in Spanish. A whole bunch of USC football players were right behind us (me) and it was really crowded. I was in extra slow-mode and being very careful. It wouldn't be a good idea to make Steve completely exasperated with me. I was with my whole family and it was hard to navigate. I could hear those football guys talking behind me. One of them said, "Hey Jack, you're way to close to that lady in the scooter." "She's gonna' stop and you'll just fall right on top and then you're down, man!" "She's just like my momma!" Just a few steps later... my family reminded me about the fact that I had headlights and without my glasses I couldn't see the switch...and drive at the same time. Guess what? I stopped suddenly. Yes, the guy fell on top of me a bit like the domino effect...maybe 5 went down all together. I told them I was sorry, I didn't have my glasses, and it was crowded...blah, blah, blah... and I was trying not to stop like that because I heard their conversation, but I got distracted, more blah, blah, blah. The one that ran into me said, "It's okay." and they kept on walking, but quickly around ME. And...I could hear the really big guy said, "See? I told you...she's just like my momma!" I think he intentionally said that for my ears because it was loud. :)



That problem was... I'm sure, from maybe short-term memory loss. My family came at once to my defense "Yeah, she doesn't know how to drive at all and she should especially not drive at night in large crowds." Thank you, guys! The moral or lesson of this rant on my wonderful, and it was wonderful, scooter is: "Don't drink and drive" j/k Well, I couldn't really even drink anything and drive, I will not make U-turns, and never, ever in elevators, and when I'm on a mission.... drive slow because no one can keep-up. Another important rule is to keep Steve at my side at all times for helping me do defensive driving or blocking.

So after a interesting off-road experience that was incredibly fun, I went swimming and swimming, keep swimming, keep swimming, until one of my grandchildren pooped in the pool and they shut it completely down.
OOPS! Wrong information!!!!...
Marnie's Steve was j/k and I thought it was from my babies. Watch what you say to me, 'cuz it might end up on my blog! We did tell the kids the staff was looking for DNA. I loved the hot tub next and so did the rest of the gang. It was crowded and cozy...

Fun Times

2 comments:

jenkinsfamliypost said...

disneyland was a blast.you ARE doing the 5k next yr mom. k! you can do it!

Breeda said...

That is great! Fun stories....thank you!