Thursday, November 22, 2018

It's been a long dry spell...


My absence from blogging over the past month has been regrettable, but unavoidable…due to extensive travel down south, including a one-way trip on Auto Train, a stay at Disney World and an extended visit with our son.  It was a fabulous vacation...for which I can fully credit retirement.   There was absolutely no free and “unsupervised” time for posting…thus my absence.

For this trip, Mandy “officially” was left behind.  No dresses or skirts (well, except my house dress for bed), and no overtly feminine jewelry, such as necklaces or bracelets.   My purse turned out to “not” be big enough, thus I asked for, and received, official blessing to start a search for a bigger one “for traveling only,” with handles as well as a shoulder strap.  I pointed out that it will most likely appear more feminine, but she was OK with that, for traveling only.  On such short notice (2 days before our trip), my search was unsuccessful, but it continues upon our return, until I find just the right one, the girlier the better!

As for outfits, I had to be prepared for any weather, thus I started out (and took along) shorts, polos and Keds (for Florida) and capris/stirrup pants for our son’s place, with various pairs of flats.   As it turned out, shorts and polos were perfect in FL due to the 90+ degree heat (said to be unusually hot).  Capris turned out to be excess baggage, as the weather in TN dictated long pants with turtlenecks much of the time.  Neither wifey nor I wore any capris the entire trip.

At our motel the night before departure from the DC area, my wife and I were both “ladies” at various stores/restaurants, and the motel.  On departure day, I noticed that Auto Train staff in the station did not use gendered greetings for me, but on board, in the dining car, I heard “Sir” at the dinner table - we were seated with two men.   Maybe shorts and a polo were “masculine” enough?

Loading cars on the Auto Train  in Lorton, VA


The next morning, after hearing “Sir” in the diner at breakfast, we arrived in FL and our Disney adventure began in earnest. 

As we were driving from the Auto Train station to Disney World, I mentioned to wifey that maybe shorts outfits were the key to “not being seen as female.”  Her response, with raised eyebrows:  “Ummm…you need to listen a little closer, sweetie…to nearby folks who don’t know us, we’re generally two women.”  My response…with a surprised look:  “Oh?  What about the staff in the diner?  I heard them use Sir there.”  “They were talking to the guys seated across from us.  They didn’t use any greeting at all for you.” And then she changed the subject.   

With that exchange, I realized that perhaps Mandy wasn’t going to be left behind on this trip after all…


Here comes a monorail!


The Christmas Tree in the Square

Cinderella's Castle, symbol of  the Magic Kingdom, in daylight


Afternoon Parade in Magic Kingdom

Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom at night 

More to follow!

Mandy

10 comments:

  1. Glad you're back. Only so much you can do when you're with people who don't know the other part of you.

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    1. Thanks!

      The trip was fun, and turned out OK on the gender issue as well.

      Not sure when the next adventure will happen...

      Mandy

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  2. I was wondering where you'd got to, but I guessed you were probably away having fun, and you were.

    It's impossible to ditch the feminine in us completely, it just comes naturally.

    Sue x

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    Replies
    1. I guess that's right, especially after today's experience at the nail salon. New post to follow...

      Hugs,

      Mandy

      Delete
  3. My questions with AMTRAK seem to have been resolved...if I can trust what I was told. In response to my question about the roof top carrier they wrote back:
    "Bicycles and luggage may not be attached to the roof (unless with passenger signed damage waiver). Any bicycles or luggage must be securely attached and may not exceed the vehicle height limit of 85"."

    They gave me the number of the Lorton station and I called and was told by someone at Lorton that a luggage carrier would be OK if it made the height limit so I responded to the email above as follows:
    "Thank you I called the number you provided and spoke with Cindy at the Lorton station and she confirmed that it is permissible to have a "Thule" style roof top luggage carrier mounted to the top of our Volvo wagon as long as the total height was less than 85".

    I think that means that we are OK to go if we meet the height limit. Your opinion would be helpful

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    1. Before the recent trip with my new RAV-4, I checked the overall height B/4 the trip (roof rails but no luggage carrier or rack) and it was much less than 85" so I just went with it. No issues. No damage waiver or damage. But since they gave you the parameters and you can meet the height restriction, you should be fine. Have a lovely trip!

      Did you pay the extra price for being one of the first cars off? We did. It was SOOOO helpful!

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  4. We tend to not be in too big a rush when we take the train, especially on the way down when it is nice just to sit in the sun at Sanford. My wife is too cheap to pay for first car off but I think it is a good idea.
    I called the dealer today to try to order the luggage carrier. Lets hope it is OK

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    1. The reason we paid for it was in case the train was very late, we still had to drive to Disney and then meet the kids. Doing it in the dark didn't sound like fun.

      I hope the carrier works fine for you!

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  5. Just when I thought I had everything set the Volvo dealer could not get the carrier I needed. I am back to square 1 in looking for a place to buy one.

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    1. Oh my, not good! Hope you can find one before it's time to leave!

      Delete

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