HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAPTAIN D! 
I guess day before is better than day of though!!
, I say it today, you are my extended family, not just friends or cyber folks, but family. So I say it...I love you all and care about each one of you.
I echo your sentiments, JT. I infrequently watch national news as, no matter the choice, their intent is to sell you something, and I don't mean commercials. News corporations are businesses, bottom line. Yet, I digress. . .I do watch local news as it's largely happenings and events in this small region along with local weather and sports. One could hardly dream that the day you walk out the door to do a story on tourism in a fairly affluent area would result in your death. We've come to de-value life on so many levels and in so many ways. Like you, I have come to view our small band as a solace to every day sadness, which is why I posted what I did. Doing so helped me put some context to the awful tragedy which, though it didn't personally affect anyone I knew, certainly was a clear reminder that life is fleeting. Thanks again, all.Sleepy,
That was sad hearing about the news yesterday. I tend to not watch it much as I find most news depressing. But when you hear of something like this, it makes the mind wonder, what leads someone to this? We all have negative thoughts from time to time where it comes to others. Its human nature. But lashing out like this, taking someone else's life, thats a whole different matter.
Hate has got to stop among our nation. . .
Patrick, you have said be sure to tell your loved ones everyday how you feel about them, and though I dont do that with you folks often, I do so today...though many of you I have never personally met, I feel like I know you still, many of you I have met once, and many of you several times(probably more than you asked for)
Amen.Patrick...it was indeed a senseless tragedy which we witness all too often these days. It seems that there is just so much anger in people, and some of it leaks through to forums like the DISBoards. Obviously, that's a far cry from the tragedy in your area, but the point is that it does make threads like this one even more special as some place we can come and find peace and joy. To be sure, we also share hardships here but mostly we just enjoy sharing about our favorite retreat.
So this thread is to the real world what VWL is to WDW...a haven, a respite and a beautiful place to hang out and count our blessings.
We were there in 2005 too. We flew in on a late flight and stayed at the airport Hyatt. When we came out that morning there were all kinds of branches down etc - I think it was the edge of one of the tropical storms and heard it had produced a few tornadoes in the area during the night. We went to WDW for a few days (first free dining when it included tip and apps!) and DH's first visit to WL. And it was our first introduction to VWL too! All around quite the trip. They were selling it again and we walked into the villas lobby but declined the "timeshare" walk thru in favor of getting to the parks. And nor did we have the funds to buy at that time. Next up was my tele-communications conference at Universal where several people left early from the Mississippi and Louisiana companies because of Rita bearing down on them. That really was quite the year.
Happy Birthday Dodie!!!
Our wait list came thru! DiznyDi, DD, DSL & I were to stay for one night at SSR in October before transferring to The Lodge for the week. Originally there was just no room in the Inn for that first night. I do like SSR, and have Reservations for a long stay there in May 2016, but a split stay, especially a one nighter, just doesn't really appeal to us anymore. EeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 
. . . . . . . . I've just settled into my seat for the first leg of my cross country flight. Be at VWL by dinner.
