Whew, what a week. Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I big hug to all of you. I woke up on my birthday with an early season flu bug. No fun. The next 4 days were a bit of a fog. We headed to Disneyland on Thursday for a quick, 3-day in and out. We made the trip a surprise for the girls. We woke them up at 4:00 am, got dressed and headed for the ferry (late as usual) in the early morning darkness. They started guessing where we were headed when they saw Los Angeles on the Southwest boarding gate. They fell asleep in the rental car and woke up with views of the park from Disneyland Drive. Lots of excited giggling and fun.
We are a Disney family. Both Greg and I have very fond memories of our childhood family vacations. Disneyland was Greg’s destination as a California boy. Disneyworld was mine. One by a station wagon with wood paneling on the side and the other by my first trip on an airplane. Nostolgia abounds as soon as we get through that gate.
Leil’s expression is priceless as we sail through It’s a Small World. Just me and her, Greg and Caitlin always sit out. Laughing till we cry on the Teacups, we’re the spin it till you can’t stand it type. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, our time in line was spent discussing why anyone in their right mind would wait for Peter Pan. I’m sure they were thinking the same thing about us. There’s something very comforting about going on a ride that hasn’t changed one bit in 40 years. We enjoyed the fancy thrill rides too, Space Mountain and Indiana Jones have landed a spot in the new favorites category.
Now that I’m back in reality I’m trying to re-group and re-focus. Lots of knitting and reading got accomplished on the plane. I had so many right on recommendations on the how to front. Robyn sent me this link to a web site that has online videos. Nothing like sitting over the instructor’s shoulder and asking her to purl again and again and again and just one more time. This site really gave me something I’ve been missing with my books, a look at the actual technique of knitting.
Several of you recommended the Stitch ‘N Bitch book. I actually found a brand new ‘used’ copy at my local bookstore for $8. I feel like going back and giving them more money for the book. Debbie’s little drawing of the Purl stitch with a noose around its neck is all time. Her book has answered a lot of the little side questions I’ve had.
Thanks to all of you for responding to that post. I really feel like I’m on my way with my knitting.
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Now for a new question. Someone went through my flickr photos and left a lot of comments (maybe 30 or so). They are real comments but all contain a link to a flickr group at the end of them. I’m feeling odd about the link thing. The flickr group referenced in her comments has something about commenting and leaving a link on your comments. I’m just wondering what this trend is and if any of you have thoughts on it. I was going to send her a flickr mail and ask that she not leave links on comments for my pictures. Is that rude? I’m also thinking more rude thoughts like deleting the comments and blocking the commenter. Your thoughts are appreciated.
That does sound odd, especially if they’re linked on all of the comments. That should be reserved for an email directly to you, wouldn’t you think? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sending this commenter an email requesting no more links. Maybe wait one or two days before you then block them? That would give them fair notice to respond and apologize.
Now Disneyland is always a fun place. We used to go there quite a bit as kids. I think that the last time I went was when I turned 30. Disneyworld was for later when my brother was an animator at the Orlando studio. But alas, Disney decided that they didn’t want to have any traditional animation anymore and closed it down.
I had someone do that in my account, although it wasn’t 30 pics! I think she searched for a particular public tag, then added the same comment (including a link) to each one, regardless of who owned the pic (lazy). Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded one comment letting me know there was X group that I should check out, but even three was too many. I know I’ve commented (just once) if I see something I wish someone would share in my Halloween Crafts group, but that’s it (and really only one time).
It wouldn’t be rude to block the person, or delete the comments, or ask him/her to not do the bulk commenting.
I went to Disneyworld on my first plane trip too. Well, the first one I remember. I was a toddler when I took one trip, but don’t remember it. I didn’t get on a plane again until I was 18. My favorite is the Haunted Mansion.
I’d probably go back through and edit the comment, if you can. I just don’t think that is proper etiquette on her part.
I’ve been to both Disneyland and Disney World. I must say that I liked Disney World better, but had great experiences both places. I love traveling; it’s perfect for a knitting binge.
the flickr thing sounds shady. i would edit, as robyn suggests, and block, if it continues.
what did you knit? i need a photo!
Surprise trip to Disneyland, what fun!!
And I would both block and delete the commenter. That’s just silly games.
Oooh what a fun trip you had! How nice! I don’t do Flicker as it just irritates me in most everyway, and the one that you mentioned above would really bother me.
Happy birthday! (late!)
susan
hm, I swear I commented on that last post!!! looks like it disappeared so, Happy belated Birthday!
Re: Flickr: Putting a link/making a suggestion to join a pool once is okay in my book. 30 pictures–not so much. I’d delete and block and never look back!
Thats Flickr spam to me. I’d delete the commets. If the person leaves more comments, I’d block them and send a irritated Flickr mail.
What a fun thing — to have a surprise trip like that! They’ll remember that forever.
I’m glad you’re all better and out playing with the girls! I love that it was a surprise for them. They will remember that forever.
Someone told me about knittinghelp early on as well – I can’t believe someone just posted their videos up there for us for free! How kind. It has been helpful. I’ve wondered if I should go over there and learn the continental method because I am soooo slow.
Looks like the girls…and mom and dad enjoyed the trip a lot!! I haven’t ever been yet and it’s on my list of things to do. We never went as a child because we lived 20 minutes from Busch Gardens, which isn’t quite the same, but still a huge theme park and we always had season’s passes to that!
I’m gonna have to DITTO the answers for the flickr comments. I went and looked so I could comment appropriately and… Nope, I thought maybe it was a link her her stuff, but I certainly don’t want 30 ads to link me up with a random public groups thingy. Lords knows where that might lead. I’d email if you’d like then delete. I agree that it’s a lazy “ctrl+ paste” move on her part, or so it seems.
WOnderful picture of you three. I love Disneyland and was just thinking a trip sounded fun. Pick up our girl at college on the way for a fun family weekend. I love the knitting help site and use it quite a bit. The videos are really good.
Flickr thing sounds weird. There’s always shady business going on, just delete them and don’t look back.
p.s. how’s that mystery quilt coming along?
Look how cute you all are with your curly hair! I”ve seen those links sometimes on flickr and I agree they are annoying. I would ask the commenter to not link. Let us know what happens with it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Glad you and your family had a great trip in Disneyland. I grew up going to Disney World myself since my grandparents lived in Florida.
My husband’s firm goes on a retreat every year, and for several years we went to Disneyworld. One of the lawyers in his firm was not sure that he would be able to take his family until the very last moment, so he didn’t tell them where they were going until they were on the plane. They got so excited that both of them threw up. I’m glad to hear that you had such a great time.
Glad you had such a wonderful bd and family outing. What fun!
Love your blog; photos and words. Hope you’re able to continue with both. I’m also learning to knit and was stuck till I saw your link to the on-line teaching video. It was very helpful. thanks so much.
Happy Belated Birthday, Kathy! And what great fun you must have had! We have a Disneyland here in Hong Kong albeit a much smaller one and we’ve been to it 3 times this year already. My girls don’t seem to be tired of it.
Cute girls you have! And that’s such a good age to take to Disney – old enough to enjoy the rides and shows, but young enough to still feel the ‘magic’.
happy belated birthday! sounds like the disney trip was a lot of fun, what a great surprise! and you all look adorable. i cannot imagine what my daughter would do in it’s a small world!
p.s. -i agree with the email, delete, then block contingent.
Yey – Disney!!! We went to EuroDisney in Paris this May and I wish I could go back for Halloween…. maybe next year.. sniff..
We went to the Disney Store on Oxford Street, London, this past weekend though and had fun with the manager there… and bought a birthday present for daughter no. 2… a small piece of Disney is better than none! Glad you had such a great time – oh and happy belated birthday!!!
Yes, we are the people waiting forever in the Peter Pan line and wondering what the heck Mr. Toad really has to offer. My daughter (4) just discovered the Peter Pan story & movie this year, and we all love to get into those flying pirate ship seats and sail over London, surrounded by the stars.
We’ll be going this Friday (we live here in So.Cal and have annual passes), so maybe we’ll just give Mr. Toad a whirl! And what a wonderful, memorable treat for your daughters, by the way.
I grew up going to Disneyland annually, in the wood paneled station wagon. And during the summer we lived close enough to hear the Disneyland fireworks at 9:00 every night… I’ve been thinking about how I miss some of the old Tomorrowland stuff… sigh.
As for Flickr… annoyance aside, I’d edit the comments to remove the link and send the person a note saying that you’ve left in one or two links to the group, and ask nicely that if they’d like to comment it’s just a comment not a link. Some people can be oblivious, and you might save other people the headache. I have seen sort of a chain letter type thing where a pic is tagged (by a commenter) as found by way of my contacts favorites or some silly thing. It depends on how curmudgeonly you want to be.
I’m all for cranky if it’s necessary.