Disneyland!

I'm back, from a whirlwind trip to LA, just gone for two nights and a very fun day. Mikele talked me into going to Disneyland with her, the kids, Bob, and some of his relatives, 13 of us in all. I was soooo hesitant to go, but Kristan talked me into it. We made arrangements for a friend to spend the nights with her, which made the difference for me. I had a really fun time with everyone. I had to laugh, using the Find My Friends app, to watch people getting lost on the LA freeways, while coming to meet me at the airport. We had a fun little group adventure, walking to dinner at Inn N Out on Sepulveda Blvd, and watching the big Jets arrive. Parts of Disneyland were so different! I'd never been to California Adventure, the new park that replaced the huge parking lot that used to be right outside the old park. We had lunch at the Boudin Bakery in the Pacific Wharf there, really enjoyed my Shrimp Louie in a sourdough bread boule. I'd never used the Fast Pass, that lets you reserve a spot in the shorter line at the more popular rides, and I just loved bypassing those long lines! We hit up lots of twisty turny rides, old and new. And I did get to eat dinner at my old favorite Cafe Orleans restaurant, just outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and got a delicious drink from the Mint Julep Bar next door. I loved watching the evening Fantasm show on Tom Sawyer's Island, and the fireworks over the Fantasy Land Castle, complete with Tinkerbell floating by! The LA Sheraton Gateway hotel was a perfect place to stay, right by LAX, which made it so much less stressful, catching an early-morning flight home. Mandy was ecstatic to see me. She's lying on the bed next to me, looking exhausted and content after all the dancing she did for me, when I walked in the door just now. I posted a bunch of pics on Facebook.

We visited so many attractions, I was overwhelmed!