March of the Penguins

It was a week for the penguin suit!  

Lisa is always able to find a gem of a deal.  She found a formalwear warehouse that sold gently used tuxedos and gowns for a third of the price of renting one! She bought a nice black tuxedo for TJ for his prom and I was so intrigued by the idea that we went back the next week and bought one for me!  Although I have the option to wear my military uniform for a formal event, I am trying to distance myself from that persona. A $100 tuxedo was a great idea.

On Saturday, Lisa and dressed up for the Inaugural MMIA Gala. Lisa crushed it in her black dress (and Texas hair) and I wore my new grey tux. I tried the suit with a red bow tie but I looked like Pee Wee Herman. Once I did the voice, Lisa gave me hard No. <Laughs like Pee Wee, "Ha, ha, ha.">

Six days later I was in another tuxedo for my brother's wedding in Florida! The rental company initially dropped the ball by giving the suit to another customer named Brown but recovered by emergency FEDEXing another one in less than 16 hours. Thankfully, the remeasured me and suit I picked up fit better than the one I would have gotten. 

Twenty fours after Andy's wedding we had driven back up I-95 to home to see TJ and his friends get dressed for their first prom.  Coming straight from a Track Meet, TJ got ready at Zach's house with Jack and Owen. All of the parents were patiently waiting downstairs until TJ called out to me for help with his cufflinks.  It was then I looked at all of the boys and realized none of them had their cufflinks or buttons on...because no one had ever showed them! 

After a little help they got it figured out and came down looking their best for pictures by the pond before heading to dinner and Marbles Museum for their prom.  No dates, this is 2024. Everyone goes with friends and very few couples go together. However, I did ask TJ if he was going with a girl next year and he replied, "that's the plan."

Looking good in the neighborhood!

Disney Adulting in Pictures

Welcome to Race Weekend and the Walt Disney World 2024 Princess Half Marathon.

Captured and taken aboard a First Order Star Destroyer!

Practically walking on Slinky Dog Dash. 

Sitting in the fastest piece of junk in the galaxy.

Beauty and the Beast on Hollywood Blvd.

Staying cool with Olaf.

Goofy will always be my favorite.

...and then there is this guy.

Disney Adulting

Lace up your running shoes and get your Magic Bands out. It's time for a trip to Walt Disney World for another runDisney race.

Let's face it, at this point you are either a Disney lover or Disney hater.  Our family tends to hang out with the former.  We convinced our friend Joe to sign up for the Princess Half Marathon and have his wife, Brittany, join us for a long weekend of Disney Adulting.  

An early morning road trip stopped at Buc-ee's - IFKYK followed by a long drive down I-95.  We picked up our bibs, visited the expo, posed for pictures with Louis, and settled into our resort before dinner at Raglan Road in Disney Springs.  

We spent an entire day in Hollywood Studios, arriving before Rope Drop and getting on Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler's Run before most people even got into the park.  We did all the rides! Star Tours, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad, Tower of Terror, Slinky, Toy Story Mania, and even went in to see the Indiana Jones Stunt Show.  

It really was different going around with other adults and no kids. The distinct absence of having to stop for whining, nagging, fighting, or low blood sugar crankiness. Nope, it didn't feel stupid at all. in fact, it was fun.  We picked some great friends to go away with for our first adulting trip.  We love Joe and Brittany. They are so easy to get along with and they let us relax and be ourselves.  

Sunday morning, Joe and I got up early with the ladies rising shortly behind us.  We had our morning rituals, mine being coffee with a toasted bagel with crunchy peanut butter, and headed out to Epcot.  I love disney races because of the enthusiasm of the runners and the spectators.  Joe and I had our princely shirts on but other people went all out on full costumes, tutus, a Kermit onesie, and even a Captain Jack Sparrow look alike.  We joined the thousands of runners in our corral and waited for the race to start.  I might not visit all the characters along the racecourse, but I will always stop for Goofy, and any rare character along the way.  Lisa and Brittany met us along the way to cheer us on and have their own little adventure bouncing through parks and resorts. 

I left Joe shortly after we completed the run through the Magic Kingdom. I saw him briefly from an overpass as I was heading back to Epcot. I hit Epcot as the sun was rising over Spaceship Earth for another awesome finish. After half a dozen or more races through Disney World, it is still a worthwhile experience that leaves me with goosebumps.  

We all circled back up in the Epcot parking lot for smiles, sweaty hugs, and champagne. Another runDisney race done.