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The excuse to visit Disneyland began as a request from a dear friend to be his best man at his upcoming wedding. And who can turn down a trip to Disneyland? So naturally I said "yes" to to the best man request and began to plot our post wedding escape to the DLR.
The day before the blessed event (the wedding and return to Disneyland) my lovely wife and I went wine tasting in the Temecula wine country. After visiting several wineries we began to feel the effects of the holy nectar and stopped in at one final winery, Palomar Mountain I think was the name. Things were getting a bit fuzzy by this point.
In defense of my wife, some of the tasting rooms at wineries we had previously visited had complementary crackers, cheese, olives, salami, etc out to mix with the various wines. So Morticia (as she is known here on MC) felt no shame walking up to a large plate of cheeses and olives in the middle of the tasting counter, grabbing a number of cheeses and olives and returning to our spot. Sadly, it turned out the plate of goodies had been purchased by the couple in the middle of the bar and looks of astonishment over her brazen theft left them speechless. My wife apologized repeatedly and I offered to pay for their goodie plate. Then came all the "stealing" jokes. ("You better eat that cracker before it gets stolen..." etc.) Though my poor wife was terribly embarassed, the people at the bar were all quite amused. It broke the ice and conversations blossomed around the bar.
Oh yes, the wine was quite good. Though I hadn't before considered pairing it with crow.
All too soon it was time for the wedding rehearsal. So we went back to our friend's house, drank lots of water and relaxed a bit. I even got in an hour long nap.
Feeling refreshed we did the rehearsal with the "to be married" couple getting teary eyed and choked up at all the right moments. Which was sweet to see. Afterward, we were off to the rehearsal dinner, which was delicious.
Here is a pic of the communion table with our "marks" where we'll stand the next day during the wedding:
The big day came and the wedding went off without a hitch. The reception was at the Mission Inn out in downtown Riverside. Definitly worth the trip out to the IE for lunch and the tour. There is a tunnel that runs from the lowest basement of the Inn to half way up Mt. Roubidoux. That end is welded shut with an iron plate and the Mission Inn side may have been sealed during the renovation. The tunnel itself is below the water table and flooded. I used to dive for the Riverside-San Bernardino Search and Recovery Team (recovering dead bodies from the water). We tried to get permission to dive the tunnel but no luck. <sigh>
Here is a pic of DisneyDarian with the Groom's two sons on the wedding day:
A photo of the bride and groom at the Mission Inn reception:
The second the reception was over we jammed over to the Disneyland Hotel, checked in and got set up in the room. (11th floor of the former Bonita tower.) I think it's the Wonder now.
We were a bit early for our meet with Lynn, Renaissance Woman down in the Wine Cellar under Hook's Pointe (which was closed for some reason.) So we rambled past the waterfalls to the Lost Bar. Everywhere you go in a Disney owned bar the drink menu is pretty much the same. I'd like to find the nitwit who did that and make them drive the 91 for a week solid (as a bound and gagged passenger) in an econobox car with no A/C and bad shocks.
I had a couple of beers and my wife had a martini. All too soon it was 5:30pm and time to meet Lynn at the Wine Cellar. Over a glass of Bogle Cabernet, Lynn gave us some wonderful pins. It was very gracious of Lynn to share from her pin collection. Thanks Lynn!!! You're the best!
I was worried about meeting my brother's new wife (no relation to the wedding mentioned above) and I tried not to act pre-occupied though they were getting later and later. We had a few snacks and were soon joined by some other friends as well. The wines were delicious, the service was great and the atmosphere there is a great place to decompress. After a few rounds it was time to move on in the DLR bar tour.
Off to the Uva Bar! Instead of meeting us at 5:30 as they had promised, my dear brother and new wife called to say they would meet us at 7:00pm. Meanwhile I've been doing tequila shooters and beer chasers at the Uva bar with Morticia, Lynn, Amy and Eric. A & E had water, Lynn and Morticia had wine. We ordered our food and had begun eating it when my brother arrived. Some will think it rude for us to begin without them, but since they were two HOURS late, it seemed the right thing to do at the time. Again, the food quality was good as was the service, though the bar was quite busy.
My bro and sis-in-law had a pizza which they mentioned was quite good. I can't recall what they had to drink. Either wine or a martini or both. Once they finished their meals we headed over to the Lounge at the Napa Rose for yet more wine and possibly desert. On the way over, my brother and his wife decided to head back to their room to rest. We said our good nights and set course for the Napa Rose.
We sat infront of the fire. A & E had desert and some wine. Lynn enjoyed a fresh libation of wine as well. Morticia and I got the plate of diligently selected cheeses and a couple glasses of wine.
All too soon it was time for us all to get a visit from the sand man or sand woman, depending upon your preference.
The next day... the excitement of a MC meet! I'll leave that for part two and hopefully I'll have the picture links working.
So glad you made it to a meet! They are great fun aren't they!!! Thanks for recommending that any one who can, should go to one!! 
Originally Posted by AGhostFromThePast 
Member of MiceChat Gold!
Lover of the Haunted Mansion and 
Dreaming of Pirates!
Still waiting to go to my first meet
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