aruan | On the road again. (Reply)

After some last-minute pantyhose and strapless bra shopping (after being distracted by sweaters - love this time of the season), Miranda and I set out for Orlando. On the way down, during the intermissions of our traditional songfest, we discussed Britney because god knows I haven't done that with enough people all week long. We came to the conclusion that she plays it safe without any real necessity to, which is a shame as she can both sing and command attention. People like that almost have an obligation to be revolutionary, and yet here we are.

Anyhow, we arrived at what we will refer to as the Disney Compound from here on out. Man, it's a good thing Schiz of

giddyupnow sent me scans of her employee ID, otherwise they wouldn't have let us past the front gates. Now, she posted pictures of us at the play Saturday night - tell me, do I (tall, Caucasian, short-haired brunette) look anything like her (shorter, Asian, with black long hair)? I wouldn't have said so, but apparently the gentleman at the front gate thought we passed muster as doppelgangers.

Now, I love theme parks in general, I do, but Disney's style is something special. I love how over-the-top it is, the Be Our Guest philosophy - but I especially love it during the holidays. The foyer of the Port Orleans Resort has been decorated with garlands of holly and velvet ribbons with lights strung everywhere, and a huge Christmas tree in the middle of it all. I just stood and stared as if I were four years old all over again, seeing it for the first time. Seriously, if selling my soul to Disney meant I could stay forever, I'd feel like I got a good deal.

Yet more checking in fun was had at the front desk, but the lady was really accommodating and got us squared away. Continuing our evening of friendly punchiness (we hadn't eaten for over seven hours at this point), we picked up Schiz at Orlando International and took care of that right quick at Planet Hollywood.

Have I mentioned Justin and I would get on great sharing a refrigerator? That Cap'n Crunch chicken stuff is fab, as was my Indecent Proposal - basically, fruity tequila. I'd never had tequila until tonight - deceptive stuff. You don't really taste it on your tongue or in the back of your throat until it's down, then it comes tingling up while warming the pit of your belly.

While there, they showed an extended trailer for Return of the King, which alone was enough to make me tear up. I've been avoiding spoilers, but the preview alone looks amazing. There was also Justin's I'm Lovin' It video, plenty of themed songvids (for the record, we've all seen much better in fandom) and all the boys talking over each other about who knows what - they were adorable just being the puppies we liken them to.

Back at the room, I managed to lose my first contact lens down the drain without any replacements in my case. It's one of those things we all roll our eyes at, so it's just that much more embarrassing to have it happen five years after I started wearing them. *shrug* Oh, and even strung out on little sleep and less food? The day's mindmeld count stands at four. Sorry if we creeped you out, Schiz.

And this, a clip I've been looking for since hearing about it. It's an Access Hollywood segment from Challenge IV, also in Orlando and coincidentally, my very first *NSYNC event. We'd gotten a bit lost in the south of Orlando the day before and found ourselves at Gatorland, where I spotted the boxer shorts Schiz and I are waving (they say Nice Bass.)

Now, that in and of itself is one thing. Me clutching my bosom (and if there was audio, you'd be hearing something appropriately impassioned about Lance) while having been in the fandom less than twenty-four hours at that point? That's saying something.

Not that you all didn't already know I was easy. But yeah, as the record shows, it really was just that fast and hard.