EWP group? [Archive] - Page 11 - The DIS Discussion Forums

IASW Rider

10-15-2004, 12:33 PM

Howdy, neighbor! I am right over here in Somerset, Lauralee! :) I hope that your DD's will go on Splash Mountain, too! It took me years (and lots of encouragement from the people on this thread! :) ) to get up the nerve to go on it for the first time, and now it's one of my all-time favorite attractions! I hope that you're able to get some swimming time in, too! There's nothing like being able to swim outside in nice warm weather, when you've just left cold winter weather! Wow - less than 2 months - I'm sure that you're all counting the days!

Hi Colleen (I hope that you don't mind my "responding" to your e-mail, while I'm here!)! That's so neat that you have one of those maps of the MK - I always wanted one of those - I know exactly what you're talking about! I always look to see if I can find one on ebay (though I try not to look at ebay too often, in general........there are too many tempting collectibles out there!)! And that's so nice that your mezzuzah has arrived and will be making its way to your home, soon! How is your unpacking coming along?

Well, as always, not too much to report from here! I think I mentioned that my sister-in-law's "side business" is running a haunted hotel during the month of October, every year. We were going to go up to it, tonight, but it's supposed to be very rainy and windy here, so maybe later in the weekend. (Here is its website, if you'd all like to see:

http://www.timesscare.com/hotel/index.htm

As I say, it's not the WDW Haunted Mansion, but it will have to do for us until next May! :) It IS a really cool attraction, though!) Aside from that and going to a friend's party tomorrow night, the weekend should be pretty quiet! Hope that you all have a great weekend! Talk to you soon! :)

lunabkat

10-15-2004, 01:41 PM

lol ISAW. your haunted house sounds like fun. I am going to try and get the girls to go in the haunted mansion but i am not going to hold my breath about it.

is anyone going to this "mousefest" get toghther they have been talking abount on Allears? I don't know how i missed this one, but they are going to be there around the time we are, we overlap by three days. I don;t think i will be going to any of the events because they seem to be geared for older families than ours, and basically i have our itinerary sorta mapped out and don't wanna mess with it again. (hope its not too crowded, selfish of me I know).

I started plannin this thing 15 months out, i can not believe its so close! Originally i was trying to do family and friends gathering, but everyone else pooped out. Not us, i told my husband we would have a great time with just us (maybe better?) and let's go...as he already thinks i am crazy he just let me have my way with this one. lol.

Slightly Goofy, i hope you are having a blast. (Has anyone else ever been "licked " by Pluto, his tongue was wet! (ewwww.)

:Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :eek: :Pinkbounc

IASW Rider

10-16-2004, 12:48 PM

Hi Everyone!

I hadn't heard about the Mousefest, Lauralee. It sounds like your vacation schedule is already so full of events that you'll all be better off on your own! And it's not "selfish" to hope that it's not too crowded down there! You just want to make sure that you and your family get to do everything that you want to do, that's all! I hope that your DD's give the Haunted Mansion a try! Once inside, they'll realize that it's funny, not scary! Even though it took me years of coaxing to get on Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Test Track - AS AN ADULT - for some reason, I was never afraid to go into the Haunted Mansion as a child! I think that I rode it for the first time when I was 6 years old (with my parents). I was a little wary of Pirates of the Caribbean, the first time around (when I was 8, I think), but it became one of my favorites soon after! :)

So, anyone doing anything interesting, this weekend? Today is Rutgers Homecoming, but we're not going. As much fun as Homecoming always is, we just don't want to deal with the crowds today. It's a beautiful fall day for a football game, here, though! We never did make it up to my sister-in-law's Haunted Hotel last night, since it was pouring rain. But we're going to try to make it, tomorrow night! We're just going to a party tonight and relaxing for the rest of the weekend.

Wish that I had some interesting news to report! Thinking of Linda and Tom, hopefully having a great time strolling the parks! Yesterday was our 7-months-until-our-next-WDW-trip-mark..........now we can say "just 6 months and 30 days to go!" :) Have a great weekend, Everyone! :)

helenabear

10-16-2004, 10:39 PM

Hi all, just a very quick check in here.

Lauralee, I know of the Mousefest stuff that is going on. I may or may not make it for any of it. The activities are there so much later than usual (by about a week) so I am not going to be around for the main part of it. I have plans on the 9th and I am leaving on the 10th so I am not sure if I will make it or not. It's a good way to get to meet people though :)

Lisa, that looks like a lot of fun to go to! I am not sure we are doing much of anything for Halloween this year. I think we have other plans that will keep us away from most things.

IASW Rider

10-18-2004, 01:45 PM

Hi Elaine!

So what are your plans for your upcoming WDW trip (besides "going home" for the first time! :) )? Will you be meeting up with any DIS pals, while you are down there, for any "official Meets" or just "unofficial" get-togethers? And I just noticed your Birthday cruise countdown, at the bottom of your signature - is that a Disney-oriented cruise (or an actual Disney Cruise)? Where will you be cruising?

How was everyone's weekend? Ours was fine - quiet, as predicted. We did make it to my sister-in-law's Haunted Hotel, last night though, and it was a lot of fun! She took us on a "backstage tour" before it opened for the night, then we went through when they were doing the "Slightly Scary" hour for small children (because like a small child, I'm too scared to go through when the actual "haunts" were "haunting"! :) ). Frank went through, again, when everything was "in action"! We're going to go back next weekend and / or the following one and dress up and help out - that should be fun! :)

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you! Have a nice day! :)

IASW Rider

10-20-2004, 12:59 PM

Hey Everyone!

Hope that you are all having a nice week! Things are pretty quiet, around here.

Linda and Tom should be seeing the EWP tonight - let's all think of them, around 9:00 PM! :)

Talk to you all, soon! :)

helenabear

10-20-2004, 03:03 PM

Hi Lisa! I don't really have a lot of "true meets" or anything like that set up. I know of a DVC meet that is taking place, and I am going to MVMCP with a few friends. Oh I am doing the Segway tour with a couple other friends. I am sure I will meet up with friends down there as I always do, but not a lot has been officially planned as of yet.

As for the cruise, not a Disney one... honestly for someone who isn't sure about cruises, I couldn't justify hte cost to go on one. So we are sailing out of Mobile, AL, and will go to Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. Just a short 5 day cruise. After that, I will meet up with a friend and spend the afternoon in Mobile with him and his wife :)

My weekend was rather uneventful but I am happy with that :) Helping out at the haunted house sounds like a lot of fun! I do hope you enjoy that this weekend!

Linda, I hope you and Tom are enjoying your stay, and will enjoy the EWP tonight :)

IASW Rider

10-20-2004, 05:22 PM

Hi Elaine!

Great to hear from you! And glad to hear that you have lots of plans to see friends while you are "home" in WDW, in a few months! May I ask a very ignorant question, please? What IS the Segway Tour?? I've seen mention of it, around the Boards, but I'm not sure what it actually is! Do you tour around Epcot on a Segway??? Or does everyone race each other on Segways??? :)

That sounds like a very nice cruise that you are planning for your Birthday! Have you ever been to Mexico, before? Or to Alabama? (Speaking of "Alabama", hi out there, Angie! Drop by and see us, some time, when you have a chance - we miss you, here in the Suite! :) ) I was never in Playa del Carmen or Cozumel, but I have been in Cancun, Chichen Itza, and Tulum, and climbed the big pyramid and the Mayan ruins! Really neat! What cruise line are you sailing with?

Well, who knows - maybe some time you might want to try the 3-day Disney cruise, just for the heck of it - just to see what it's like. I'm sure that you and Luis would enjoy it! :) I'm not a big "cruiser", either - I would much rather spend an entire vacation on land. But I'll tell ya, after taking that sail on the Wonder last year, I understand how "addictive" DCL vacations can be! :) I do enjoy the combination land and sea, though, to get the best of both worlds!

Anyway, hope that you're having a nice day! And hope that everyone else is, too! :) Talk to you all, soon! :)

IASW Rider

10-22-2004, 02:23 PM

Just wanted to "bump" us up and wish everyone a great weekend! Anyone have any interesting plans? We're going into NYC tomorrow to see this year's Best Musical on Broadway - "Avenue Q"! We can't wait - it's supposed to be a really funny an original show - sort of like an R-rated "Sesame Street". And speaking of R-rated puppet "shows", we are going to see "Team America: World Police", this afternoon - that looks pretty funny, too!

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you! Talk to you soon! :)

IASW Rider

10-22-2004, 02:23 PM

IASW Rider

10-22-2004, 02:26 PM

(Sorry about the duplicate post, above - for some reason the Boards won't let me delete the duplicate!)

helenabear

10-22-2004, 02:31 PM

Hi Lisa, I hope you have fun at the movie and the show! I cannot say I have heard of the show you are going to see this weekend, but it sounds fun!

No, I have never been to Mexico or Alabama. This will be a first for me with both. We will be flying the day before so we'll have a little time to check out Mobile before we leave. I would like to see some ruins, but it all depends on when we dock and how long we are there for. We are looking at the shore excursions now.

I admit, it probably isn't likely I will go on DCL no matter how much I like cruising. I really cannot justify the cost, just for Disney. That would be the cheap side of me :o

Well I hope y'all have a wonderful day!!!

colleen costello

10-24-2004, 02:02 PM

Hi girls. Just checking in to see if Linda was back. I can't recall when she returns home... Does anyone know? I am DYING to hear the details!

I would love to do the Segway tour. I have read about it on the "AllEars" newsletter. You go to Epcot before they open and get Segway "boot camp" on how to use them. You practice a little and then the leader takes the group through Epcot on individual Segways. It sounds like SO much fun, and I guess the things are pretty hard to kill yourself with... My kids "can't wait til they are old enough" to do the Segway tour. HelenaBear, promise us you'll share all the details once back.

I agree about the COST of the Disney cruises. I have never really wanted to go on a Cruise, but of course for the Disney one I would make an exception. But I have a friend who cruises all the time (mostly Royal Carribean) and she has me interested now. But the Disney Cruise is REALLY expensive... even by Mickey's usual overpriced standards! :) I told the kids we'll go "someday" but not yet. You can use points for the cruise but it would take all my points for the year, instead of having 2 full weeks at WDW in great rooms... I haven't been willing to do that trade, yet. Again, "someday!"

We are spending the weekend as usual, working on the house and organizing more. Scott is replacing the kitchen sink faucet as the one there now is really cheap. I am just WAITING for him to start cursing... He is under the sink and I know it's gonna turn UGLY any minute now...

Have a great Sunday everyone.

IASW Rider

10-25-2004, 05:36 PM

Hi Everyone!

How were your weekends? How did everything go with that faucet, Colleen? I hope that both Scott and your kithcen plumbing system came through the process unscathed! :)

I believe that Linda will be back from WDW next week. I recall her mentioning something about the end of October, or maybe November 1st. We received a post card from her and Tom on Saturday, and it sounds like they are having a wonderful time! At that point in their vacation, they had seen the Beach Boys in concert and were planning to see the Temptations next! I'll bet that they are having a ball! It's so wonderful that they are able to take the time to really enjoy themselves there and to experience so many different things, get together with friends and relatives there, etc. I can't wait to hear all about their trip, too!

I'll bet that you are going to have a great time on your cruise, Elaine! Will you be away on your actual birthday? They will probably do something special for you on the ship! :) It's great that you will have a chance to do a little exploring in Mobile, before you sail away! You'll have to let us know if you decide upon any shore excursions, too!

Now, you DVC experts already know how unsavvy I am when it comes to WDW vacation finances, but I actually thought that we got a really good "deal" on our land / sea vacation this year (and for next year, as well!). Mind you, that is coming from the perspective of someone who had only ever stayed at deluxe resorts in the past.......at "civilian" / "non-DVC" rates........so maybe ANYTHING would seem more "frugal" to me by comparison! :) I know that we ultimately paid less for a 4 night stay at POR and a 3 night cruise on the Wonder than we had for our traditional 6 nights at the Poly, in years past! Oh well - I would definitely recommend DCL, in general, anyway! :)

We had a wonderful time in the City on Saturday! "Avenue Q" was fantastic - it was hillarious, adorable, and very clever! Picture a bunch of puppets (who look sort of "muppet-like") and people living together on a street of rowhouses, that sort of resembles "Sesame Street", singing about how disillusioned they are with their lives because they either haven't found their life's purpose yet, have relationship problems, are unemployed, etc. It was just so funny to hear puppets singing "children's song-like" songs about serious issues that most people can identify with, in a lighthearted and humorous way! We were falling out of our seats, laughing! There was one song in which 3 puppets were singing about how they wish that they could go back to college, because life was so much simpler then and they really thought that when they graduated they would be on top of the world, etc........then the song ends with one of them singing that if they really DID get to go back to college, they would feel like total losers because all the other students would be so much younger than they - I could really relate to THAT song! :) I understand that the show has become so popular that Steve Wynne is building a new theater at his hotel in Las Vegas, with the intention of installing a permanent company of "Avenue Q" there! Anyway, we had a lot of fun at the show and then went out to a nice Italian restaurant in the theatre district for dinner, afterwards.

"Team America" was also very cute - and also not for kids - very adult political humor / satire! And - like "Avenue Q" - it contained other "adult themes", as well. I said to Frank "do you realize that we have seen 2 different types of puppets 'having sex' on 2 separate occasions, during the course of this weekend?!" You don't get to say THAT, very often! :)

Anyway, time to get some things done around here! Hope that all is well with all of you! Talk to you soon! :)

IASW Rider

10-27-2004, 04:04 PM

Just bumping us up! Hope that you're all having a nice week! :)

(Things are pretty "status quo", here - not too much to report - just wanted to say "hi"! :) )

SlightlyGoofy

10-29-2004, 01:16 AM

Hello all!

I am glad to report that we have made it safely home after a wonderful and eventful DW vacation. I plan to post a many paged report soon so I will just direct you all to that as I am too darned tired to write much tonight. You KNOW I am beat when I cannot type much. LOL

Lauralee, how wonderful to see you in here. I am looking forward to getting to know you better.

I will try to catch up between loads of laundry tomorrow. In the meantime I will tell you that I was a hit at Millionaire. Did not win the cruise but sure did some unusual things. All the brain cells you all sent my way sure did come in handy. Anyone know what a gazeteer is? I was the only one who did. LOL (I will not mention the 100 point question I did NOT know) :tongue:

SG/Linda

colleen costello

10-29-2004, 10:33 AM

Linda, I have been dying for you to get back and share all the juicy details. So glad you are home safely. Can't wait to hear all about it.

xoxo

IASW Rider

10-29-2004, 04:02 PM

WELCOME BACK, LINDA AND TOM!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

And CONGRATULATIONS on your great success at Millionaire - we had no doubt that you would do fantastically! So glad that you made it home safely, and can't wait to hear about your wonderful trip! We've all been thinking of you, here in the Suite! :)

Hi Colleen! :)

Hi Everyone! :)

We're off to New Hope, PA tonight for some dining and shopping, are getting together with friends tomorrow night, and will be "performing" at the Haunted Hotel on Halloween!

Hope that you all have a great weekend! :)

IASW Rider

10-31-2004, 01:48 PM

Happy Halloween, Everyone! :)

SlightlyGoofy

10-31-2004, 06:45 PM

Happy Halloween right back at cha and everyone else as well, Rider!! Would you believe that we had over 300 trick or treaters at our house last night? I ran out at 7:30. We live between two churches on the main street of town so they all seem to come here on their way there or back. Many of my old kids bring their kids t or t and I love it. I always give the kids a hug and tell them they have my sympathy for who their parents are. LOL

Lisa, what did you and Frank perform at the Haunted House? I bet you were super stars at whatever. I have a witches costume and have always wanted to give treats on my front porch with a cauldron of dry ice but have never found the right cauldron. One couple came as American Gothic and were stunned when I told them the story of the picture. Too much information, is my wont. (sigh) How did you like Team America? I am wondering how they are getting away with using real people as their characters.

I have started posting my trip report. I have the first 8 days covered so far in two seperate installments. Maybe I can add the rest this evening. I am still trying to catch up from the trip.

Colleen, hope your ears have recovered from the strain of having to hear 'those' kinds of words. Comfort yourself with the fact that he is doing something useful while uttering them. My dh utters them all the time while sitting in front of the tv. I have to admit that I often think them when I am doing certain chores as well though. I will have to check the past posts and see what all you have gotten accomplished at your new home so far. Bet the kids are in hog heaven. Maybe we could plan a get together before the holidays get nearer? (hint) LOL

Helenabear, you always do the most interesting things. I think I would like to do the Segway tour sometime too. After all I did manage Peter Pan this trip so I am ready for anything. LOL I will have to check for your trip report and see what all you did. Might give me some ideas for our next trip (November 2005). If I can finally manage to win the cruise you can give me hints on what to do. Dalton has decided that if I fail he is going with me on our combined trip (yes, I have been formally invited) and we are gonna kick butt! The kid knows his Disney and I know history, literature and some other odd subjects. He has had his AR reading level upped to nearly 3.0 while I was gone. He is reading 4.0 books but the school is holding him back. I say AR be darned and full steam ahead!!!!

SG/Linda

lunabkat

10-31-2004, 09:41 PM

Hi everyone.

Welcome back Linda, it sounds like you had yourself a marvelous time. I might try millionaire while i am there, i will let you know how i do. (much inane, useless knowledge lies within these walls.)

We are staying at the Holiday Inn Family Suites which will be in the middle of a Nickleodeon change over. I will give a report on that when i return too.(12/11 to 12/18, who-hoo!)

Took the dds treatortreating tonite, i am exhausted, they were bouncing off the walls for a while but have since calmed down. Oh, lord, please let the crash come soon. They had a ball and the 3 year old kept saying "next house, please". I can't believe all the candy they got. We have really great neighbors and they gave out tons of candy to the local kids - thanks (lol).

Time to corral the younguns and get them to bed. happy Halloween everybody. How was your turn out Rider? We gave out very little, where were they all?

colleen costello

10-31-2004, 10:33 PM

Hi everyone, especially our returning dignitary, Linda! We had a nice Halloween here. One thing I will say for southern Indiana, it is almost always nice on Halloween. Not too cold and tonite no rain. We walked up our street and made the whole loop on the one behind too. I so appreciate my kids being a bit older now as I used to pull them in the wagon. Just hauling my self over the hills and valleys was enough exercise, thank you! Friends came and we walked together and all was well with the world.

I have been over to the trip reports board enjoying Linda's first installments about her pilgrimage. I can only imagine so many days at WDW. We usually stay 8 or 9 nights and I am not near ready to leave when it comes time. I tell myself that some day, when the kids are bigger and I am retired, I will stay longer and just "hang out." Going at a non-crowded time would be simply glorious. Someday. Meanwhile, hearing about the places Linda and Tom saw and ate is treat enough. I have always heard Biergarten is tons of fun but the food never sounded so good. I may brave it just to hear the music and meet other WDW fans.

We spent the weekend hanging out, working on organizing our basement, cleaning, and doing stuff with the kids. Hubby caved in to pressure and took them to the local Laser Tag place where they happily shot each other for overpriced 20-minute sessions. Not my idea of fun but they loved it... I got the grocery shopping done while they played the war games. Back to school tomorrow and before we know it Thanksgiving will be here. Rider and I have been Emailing about the stresses of the holidays. I have two small children to make Christmas for but she celebrates Christmas AND Chanukah, so I don't know who wins the "most stressed" award. Both of us will be very busy come late December!

Off to get the kiddies to bed. Love to all and keep up with those great trip reports Linda!

IASW Rider

11-01-2004, 12:20 PM

Oh goody! I didn't realize that you had been posting your trip reports, Linda! I will have to pop over to that Board as soon as I am done posting here and start reading them - I can't wait!

That is SO WONDERFUL that you have been "officially invited" to join your DD, DSL, and Austin and Dalton on their upcoming WDW trip! That's going to be the greatest trip for you all, ever! And I wouldn't doubt that you and your grandson(s!) could easily win that cruise and break all of the Millionaire records, together!

Glad to hear that your trick-or-treaters had fun and successful outings, Colleen and Lauralee! :) It was also unseasonably warm here, yesterday (as Lauralee knows!), which made it a great day for being outside on Halloween!

We had a blast at the Haunted Hotel, last night! I performed a variety of functions. Most often, I was outside the Hotel, "working the line" (like a Disney character!), entertaining people while they waited on the (very long!) queue (there must have been close to 1000 people there, last night!). I dragged this guy (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=b0e2&.dnm=c963.jpg&.src=ph ) around by his "noose" and "reigned him in" when he "cut loose" to jump out and scare people on line. I also slowly walked around, glaring at people and staring them down, trying to "intimidate them" (which is hard to do without laughing! :) ). In order to do so, I needed to look people right in the eye and really see them.........which is how I discovered one of the actors from my soap opera right at the head of the line, at one point! What luck that I happened to be out there at that time! I had a chance to speak to and pose for a picture with him, as well! (Speaking of pictures, if you'd like to see some pictures of the Hotel........and us.........looking pretty "scary"..........here they are: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/album?.dir=b0e2&.src=ph
When I got tired of walking around the queue, I periodically stood at the exit and played "Little Leota", saying "goodbye" to the guests as they left the Hotel (or more accurately, burst through the doors, laughing and screaming, because guests are chased out of the Hotel by a "Jason" lookalike!).

I also took some rotations of working various "scares" inside the Hotel. I operated a moving portrait in the "hall of portraits" and popped out and yelled at people. I also operated a chest of drawers in the "bedroom", making them appear to move by themselves (and slam shut VERY LOUDLY), causing most guests to run into the ominous looking "closet", where I then burst out through a rack of dusty old clothes, screaming at them, then just as they left that and proceeded through a hall of mirrors, I jumped out and blocked their path yelling "GET OUT OF HERE!" It was exhausting........but a lot of fun! The BEST was scaring teenaged boys and grown men and hearing them scream! Or watching people be so startled that they literally fell down like dominos, laughing and screaming! I'll tell ya, I have to hand it to the cast and crew who worked 4 nights of every weekend, there - it really is hard work! And there are "occupational hazards", too - within the first 5 minutes of operating the moving portrait, I slammed my fingers in it and now have bruises all over that hand! I also almost had a temporary plywood wall fall on me, since my sister-in-law (who spent the evening in a metal cage in total darkness.....until people passed by her and she triggered a lightning effect and started rattling and shaking the cage and yelling "WAAAAAAAAAAAA LET ME OUT OF HERE!" at them!) scared people so much that several of them literally fell down in fright, thus putting the wall that separated my backstage passage from the Hotel tour route in peril! Frank worked the outside queue for a bit, too, but mostly he startled unsuspecting guests as they passed through a room of mirrors by appearing in one of the mirrors in a mask and screaming at them!

Anyway, it was a very festive way to spend Halloween! :) It seems that the Haunted Hotel had a very successful season - I hope that they do as well next year and I hope that we'll be able to pop by and help out again, too! :)

We thought that "Team America" was very funny, Linda! NOT for children - too many adult themes in it - but we appreciated the irony and subtle (and not-so-subtle) political references in it! It's a very "politically incorrect" film - they take "pot shots" at just about every group. And there's lots of "potty humor", too, which isn't my favorite. But there were some genuinely funny and intelligent aspects of the movie, too. And the animation of the marionettes was amazing - very impressive.

Ok - time to go and start reading Linda's trip reports! Will "talk to you" via e-mail too, Colleen! Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great day! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-01-2004, 03:23 PM

I miss vacation!!! I got to live like Tom while at DW. I woke up when I darned well felt like it and enjoyed having Joyce, our mousekeeper, pick up after me. Not that I gave her much to do, I am very respectful of such and neaten up as I go. Now I am back home and overwhelmed with so very much to do just to catch up and then Christmas is lurking around the corner. I have caused great agony to my family as I have announced that I am NOT going to decorate this year, maybe one small tree and that is enough. We do not have enough company to warrant all the work and it takes me weeks to get everything up from the basement and then back down afterward. Going to spend time with friends instead. (sticking out my tongue in a rude and obnoxious manner) LOL

Lisa, what a wonderful time you had and what a scary time you gave everyone else. I could see you doing all your activities but was very happy to hear that Frank is not quite as quiet as he had appeared to me. You must have rubbed off on him. LOL Hope your pains are small ones and will heal quickly. Did you find that guy "just hanging around"? GROAN!!!! You must love Halloween as it means you get to wear your favorite color, black! LOL You look great it in though so it is a good thing. With my grandkids wholly in my corner and my sil being wise enough to know that a free babysitter is NOT the worst thing to have on a family vacation it was just a matter of time until dd caved in. Is not like I wanna hang out with them anymore than they do with me. :tongue: BTW, I thank you for one of my Millionaire points. I knew was Seder was. OK, so I knew what it was before also but you had recently refreshed my memory. At my age I need reminders often. LOL

Colleen, isn't life grand in the Midwest where you can take your kids trick or treating and all is right with the world? I feel sorry for city folks, except for when a really good play is in town and then I drive there and back. LOL Glad that you hubby had some bonding time with the kids (violent or not) and you got a bit of 'me' time GRIN What did your kids dress as? Dalton was a skateboarder, is his dream and his mom and mine's nightmare. Actually the 16 days was just a tad much. 2 weeks would have been perfect but it was worth it to stay to hear Three Dog Night. They were as good as ever and it was wonderful to see them in person. I am looking forward to meeting you sometime in the next couple of weeks. Awaiting word so I can plan a date.

lunabkat, so you are good at trivia as well? If you pm me with your email addy I will glady invite you to join my trivia group. We play on Thursday nights at 8 (my time) if you are interested. We get a bit ornery once in awhile but it is a pretty nice group without some of the problems that some encounter on the Web. You could watch me embarrass myself. I either come in first, second or last. Not often anywhere else. LOL If you would care for any tips on how to increase your chances of making the hot seat I will gladly share them with you. I had to learn the hard way and was heartbroken the first time I played and even though I was getting the answers wrong could not make the board let alone the hot seat. What did your darlings dress as? I love the costumes and kid all my Halloween visitors about their choices. I am still looking for a cauldron so that I may set a scene on my front porch. One of these days!! The Holiday Inn Suites is just on the edge of property is it not? It is one choice for my dd and family. I have researched renting a house for the week as well as it would be cheaper and more comfortable as there are many couples but they might want their own places. I cannot praise the Disney Rewards program too much. The first week or so I was able to whip out the card and owe no money for some of our Disney meals. Even Tom was impressed and he is used to me doing such things. Hoping to be able to earn at least one AP this next year. Hope that when your little ones crashed you were able to get some well deserved rest.

Have to go do some more work now. Cyber is a more relaxing place. Did I mention that I went over the Suite while at DW and had some improvements put in? You know how those new buses lean down? Well, our Suite now leans up, way up so that we can have a much better view of Wishes or any other thing we wish to see, we also revolve ala Garden Grill. Ain't technology great?

SG/Linda

SlightlyGoofy

11-01-2004, 03:23 PM

helenabear

11-01-2004, 03:42 PM

Hi all! Quick check in from work. Feel like being a total slacker today ;)

Colleen, I am very excited to do that Segway tour!!! I will be with a couple friends as well, so that will be even better. Hopefully the "boot camp" won't be too difficult. I am just such a tech geek, that I am dying to do it.
I agree with you about DCL costs. Even for Mickey, it seems awfully over priced. A 4 night cruise is almost double!!! what we are paying for a 5 night cruise. Way too much for me!

Lisa, do you book your cruise & stay separate? From what I understand they are much more cost effective to do separate. And as one who has stayed 6 nights at concierge ;) I can imagine how much you've put into your vacations. I do hear DCL is wonderful, but I admit I am beyond frugal with money a lot of the time :o
Sounds like a wonderful time with the Haunted House though!!! I wish we had been able to do more for Halloween this year :)

Welcome Back Linda!! Well I am feeling quite flattered that you think I do interesting things :) I admit I try to have fun and like to try new things now and then. I can't say I do a lot that is different though overall. I am quite set in my ways, but just love to take in all WDW has to offer :)
Congratulations on your win at Millionaire!!! Cruise or not, I bet you did wonderfully!!

lunabkat, it looks like I will just miss you at WDW! I am sure you will have a wonderful time and I hear those suites are wonderful for families!

Well I should get back to work.... can't say I *want* to, but I should ;)

colleen costello

11-01-2004, 08:26 PM

Hi everyone. Lisa, I got your Email and read your post here. LOVED the pictures you sent... You and Frank and family were downright horrifying! And what a treat about meeting someone from your soap. I used to be quite the General Hospital fan but it got really dumb and I got mad and quit watching... I would nonetheless be THRILLED to meet any of those actors. When you watch every day they get to seem like family.

Linda, I support your decision NOT to decorate. It is exhausting. You might find that "year on/year off" suits you. I might be tempted to skip a year if not for the kids.

Erin and Ian went as a witch and wizard. Very simple and not too scary. They both looked cute. I WISH I could post pics... no clue how. I will try to at least send one to Lisa.

Been doing homework tonite early so we can watch a special edition of "Extreme Makeover: Home." I LOVE that show! Hope you all had a good Monday.

xoxo

lunabkat

11-02-2004, 03:00 PM

Hi everyone.

Well, the sugar comas struck shortly after i left you the other night. Ah, sweet peace and quiet. Yikes, they did have some fun though.

Linda, i would love to join you trivia group, i will pm you later - must go vote. I will pick your brains about the hot seat so i can get on, what fun!

The HIFS is changing to Nickelodeon Hotel at the moment and i hear their rates are going up. I went to their website and it looks like a kidsuite (1 adult room, i attached kids room and living room area with kitchenette) should go for around 120$ per nite. No more breakfasts included after 12/31, rats.

Be prepared for lots of bright orange and lime green (oh, goody...) along with nick's cartoon characters all over the place. My poor dh will never be the same (not to mention Nana). Again, i say, What Fun!

Linda, my dds went as Sleeping Beauty. We are doing the teapart at DW and they agreed it would be rude to be any other princess by Aurora at the Tea so that is what they chose to be for Halloween - too much, those two. who would have guessed a 3 and 5 yearold would be so succint in their appreciation of princess etiquette.

Helenabear, too bad we are missing each other, it would have been fun to see the ewp together (lol).

See ya soon (less than a month and a half, woo-hoo!)

IASW Rider

11-03-2004, 01:19 PM

Hey Everyone!

That was such a cute story about your DD's and how they thought it would be "rude" to be any princess other than Aurora, Lauralee! :) That Nickelodeon Hotel sounds like it's gonna be wild - you will have to take lots of pictures and give us the full report, when you get back!

Speaking of "reports", I've enjoyed the first installments of your trip reports, Linda! And that's so neat that you were able to meet and spend some time with Janet! Do you know that I had no idea about her vow renewal plans - I just happened across her thread, a few days ago! I sent her a congratulatory PM. Can't wait to hear all about it and I hope that she posts pictures, too. Did she and her DH actually renew their vows INSIDE the GMR??!! Anyway, it sounds like you and Tom had a great time! It's so neat that you got to see all of those concerts! And so glad that you enjoyed Peter Pan, too! Did you go back to 'Ohana at all? Thank you for renovating our Suite - it looks fantastic! I love the rotating feature, too!

OK, now that I understand what the Segway Tour is, I can't wait to hear your impressions and about your experience when you take it, Elaine! Your trip is just around the corner - I'm sure that the next few weeks are going to fly!

I also used to watch "GH", Colleen! At what point did you become mad at the plot and then "quit"? I just found that I didn't have time to keep up with 2 soaps, and I'm so attached to "AMC" that "GH" had to "go" about 15 years ago. Because I still watch "AMC", I do see commercials for "GH" all the time though, so I'm always vaguely aware of what's going on, on that show, anyway! Living so close to NYC, I've actually had a chance to meet many of the people from the "AMC" cast (even Kelly Ripa, when she was on the show!) - either at events or just by "running into them" on the streets of NY!

Not too much to report - just wanted to stop by and say "hi"! I was having problems getting onto the Boards, yesterday - first they were running very slowly, then I couldn't get on at all. So I just wanted to "check in" today and say "hello"! Have a great day, Everyone! :)

colleen costello

11-03-2004, 01:38 PM

Hi girls. Lisa, I just sent you a ranting Email... Everyone, suffice to say Lisa and I are NOT happy with the outcome of the election. It hurts when your guy loses! :)

I am also following Linda's trip reports and drooling for more. My pal Jenny just got back too. She sent me a juicy Email and they had a ball. They were at Old Key West because no other DVC rooms were available. While it was "too sedate" for their tastes --they love Boardwalk -- they had a great trip and enjoyed their location right by a pool. I had recommended the Turtle Pond area to them, and they wound up assigned to #43, one of my favorite buildings. We were there in June and loved it -- it's right across from a pool that has a snack/bar, playground, and arcade. Jenny's 3 kids got to trick-or-treat not just at the MK (they did the Halloween party) but also at Boardwalk on Sunday night. The Boardwalk had a pool party and Jenny and Mark consumed lots of Pina Coladas while the kids floated in the pool and watched "The Haunted Mansion." How fun! Hearing about their trip was just what I needed after a very stressful election day!

Jenny is the queen of countdowns and she informed me that it's just 129 days 'til our Spring Break. We will be at the Wilderness Lodge mid-March for 6 nights, and I need to add 2 nights somewhere once the AP discounts come out. While I would love to do the Polynesian again, that won't work this time. Turns out March is in the "expensive" seasons and the Poly is over $400 per night. I am holding out for our July trip when the rooms will be over $100 less... So it looks like it will be a Moderate. Any opinions? Riverside is my fave, but we have been there many times. I am leaning toward Carribean Beach as the kids liked the pool when we visited last Spring and had lunch. Any opinions? We'll get two rooms and the first day we'll probably just relax after traveling.

As always, Disney dreaming is a lifesaver. When it seems all is not right with the world, thinking of Orlando keeps me going. Hope all is well with all of you.

IASW Rider

11-04-2004, 10:54 AM

Hi Colleen! Hi Everyone! :)

I'm with Colleen - dreaming of Disney is a great antidote for all the stress and upset in the world! :)

I'm sorry that the Poly isn't going to work out on your next trip, Colleen! :( But $400 a night is just ridiculous! (I'm still not used to thinking of the Poly rates in those terms, since every time we stayed there, we did so as part of a package, so I never really knew what the "per night" rate for that time of year was!) I wish that I was more familiar with the moderates, to be able to offer advice. Of course we loved Riverside.........but you're already familiar with that resort! I've heard wonderful reports about Coranado Springs - we have friends who really enjoy staying there, and they love the pool. (I climbed the real pyramid in Mexico, around which that pool is themed!) I wish that I knew what to advise! :(

I also love reading people's trip reports and hearing about the details of their WDW vacations! In fact, as soon as I am done posting here, I am going to pop back to the Trip Reports Board to see if Linda has treated us to another installment! :) It's neat to hear about people's experiences with the different DVC properties, too (albeit tempting.......! :) ) !

Just 129 more days, Colleen (actually, 128, now!) - that's coming up pretty quickly! I'm sure that that time will fly! We have 191 more days to go, ourselves! Reading Linda's trip reports and soon hearing about Elaine's and Lauralee's December trips should keep us going until our dates come up! :)

Not too much to report, from here! I've committed myself to stopping sulking and staying away from the TV (how much MSNBC can one girl take, in a 48 hour period?! :) ). We're looking forward to the weekend - we're going into NYC tomorrow afternoon, having dinner there, then seeing my best friend Gary play in a jazz/ R&B / funk band at a club in the Village, tomorrow night. He joined this program called "4 weeks to the stage", where he was thrown together with several other musicians (none of whom he had known or practiced with before) for 4 weekly 2 hour rehearsal sessions........which culminates with their getting up on stage and performing! I think he is very brave to get up there and do that, with only 8 hours total of rehearsals with the band! I'm sure that it will be fun and that he'll do a great job - he's a natural on the keyboards and has always been able to just hear a song on the radio, then sit down at the keyboard and play it. And it's always nice to have an excuse to get into the City! We're having dinner with some friends of ours who recently got married, on Saturday night, and we're looking forward to seeing their Hawaiian honeymoon photos!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great day! :)

TalkisCheap

11-04-2004, 11:58 PM

Hi everyone!!!!

My, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. I spent the last 45 minutes catching up on the 5-6 pages I missed! I'm glad to hear, for the most part, everyone is well!

Rider, I especially enjoyed hearing all about Jewish holidays. I'm from a relatively devout Catholic family, and it was very interesting learning about a different religion and its holidays, especially since Catholosism is so closely related to it.

SG, I'm jealous you went to WDW again! I'm glad you had a good time, and good job in Millioinare! I can't wait for my trip in March...!!

Lunabkat - always nice to see a new face in the Suite!! My name's Caroline, and I'm 13{a few months from being 14!}. I'm homeschooled, and I live in Maine with my parents and my sister{my brother is attending college at Villanova}. I play a sport{sometimes several!} every season, my favorite being track and field, so I often bore everyone here with my sports goings-on! I also have played the piano for over 6 years :)

Well, cross country is over and done with - the championship meet being a week from yesterday. My team hosted the meet, and we won 3 of the 4 age groups{6th grade girls and boys, as well as 7-8th grade girls} I didn't do near as well as I had hoped, but I still received a ribbon, and was 35th out of around 80.

Basketball tryouts start Monday. I can't tell you how nervous I am. I know I made the team last year, but I haven't been practicing near as much. I also wish I knew who our coach would be. After last season, 3 of the 4 coaches quit, leaving just the 7th grade boys coach. They interviewed prospective coaches last friday, but no one knows who the coaches will be. I was especially dissapointed, because I learned just a few weeks ago, the man who has coached 8th grade girls for the past 4 years had quit. He is my track coach, and is one of my favorite teacher/coaches I've ever met/had. He's very nice, and one of the few teachers who accept the fact I'm homeschooled and do not badger me about coming to school. I'll be happy when Monday comes and I'll know who the coach I'll hopefully have until early February is!

School is going well. It seems we finally found our groove, and have been getting lots of work done, finally! I got my first set of tests back a few days ago, and was surprised to see I got all 1's{A's}! I'm also very excited, because it's only 18 more days until I have my thanksgiving-new years break. With everything going on during the holidays, it's hard to do school, so a few years ago my mom decided it'd be better if we just took a long vacation!

Also school related, is all my preparations for high school. Monday I shadowed a friend of mine, to see how I liked it{I'm planning on attending a private, jesuit co-ed school, my brother also went there} and I loved it! I liked it before, but being in the classrooms, meeting some of the coaches and teachers really made me want to go there, and anxious for next year! Two weeks from Sunday I'm taking the entrance exam again, so I've been busy preparing for that. My math seems to be awesome, but I'm having a problem with the language section. I just can't seem to find the grammatical errors in the sentances they give. Oh well, my mom has been helping me and I've been getting better, I've taken that part twice, and the second time I rose 30% on my scores, but I'm still not happy with only a 75%!

Other than that, I can't think of anything else going on. My sister sent out her college applications, or at least 2 of them, to Villanova and BC. Her first choice is Lehigh, I think, but I don't even think she knows! Although my parents{and I!} would love if she went to BC, as it's much closer than the other two, Lehigh is better than most, as she'd be less than 20 minutes from my brother at Villanova, about an hour from my uncle and aunt's, and a little more than that to my other uncle and aunts. I keep thinking how weird it's going to be, all alone next year with just me at home, and I'll be in High school! I'm not quite sure I'm ready for that much change...especially since I'm not one for change!

Oh, Halloween was a lot of fun. Me and my friends Shawn and Jessie went, and had a great time. I've got plenty of candy, as we 'hit up' every house in my fairly large neighborhood! My friends love coming here because a lot of people give out king size candy bars, and such! LoL!! I have several pictures, and I'll try and post them once my dad fixes my memory card reader! I went as a bottle of mustard, and my friend Shawn was a bottle of ketchup. My friend Jessie was a gypsie, and it was a lot of fun! Especially since this might be my last year t-o-t!

Well, I'm suffering from a bit of a cold right now, and I'm not quite sure why I'm still up right now! I have every intention of trying to stay on top of this thread, so that I can post as things happen...not when they were months ago! Have a great day tomorrow!

Caroline :D

IASW Rider

11-05-2004, 01:23 PM

Welcome back, Caroline!!!! :)

Great to hear from you! And so glad to hear that your school year has been going well and that you had a successful cross country season, too! We knew that you would! It sounds like you did a great job! And I'm sure that you will do just as beautifully in your basketball tryouts, too!

Likewise, your high school entrance exam - with great grades like you've been getting, there's no doubt that you will ace that test, as well! Your preparations for it sound like mine, when I was studying for the GRE over the summer - too bad that we weren't studying at the same time - you could have helped me with my math and I could have helped you with your verbal! :) But you don't need my "help" - it sounds like you're working hard and you are bound to do an amazing job! :)

It sounds like you and your friends had fun on Halloween - definitely post pictures so that we can see, when you have a chance!

You mentioned that your Birthday is coming up in a few months - when is it? Inquiring minds want to know........so that we can plan a celebration in the Suite! :)

And speaking of upcoming Birthdays to celebrate in the Suite, our Suite gentlemen have already begun preparing our newly renovated Suite (thanks, Linda!) for a grand occasion, this weekend - the beginning of Colleen's 4 day long Birthday extravaganza! We will begin celebrating at sundown tomorrow night, with a sunset cruise on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Events will be taking place constantly, over the next few days, until the "grand finale" celebration takes place on Colleen's actual Birthday, this coming Tuesday! Bo and Don will post the list of celebratory events in our common living room area, this afternoon! Get ready for a weekend of celebrating Colleen's special day! :)

Have a great weekend, Everyone! :)

helenabear

11-05-2004, 03:46 PM

Hi all... seems I check in during work more often than anywhere else :p

lunabkat, that was very smart to have the costume for both ocassions there! I bet your DD made for a beautiful Aurora. It is a pity we will be missing each other. I do always enjoy meeting fellow DISers and especially those on the EWP.

Lisa, I cannot believe how close this trip is. I am slowly starting to get my final stuff together for it. I'll be sure to share my impressions of the Segway tour... I am such a tech junkie and I have been dying to get on one for a while!!!!

Colleen, I totally understand what you mean about the cost of the Polynesian... we paid about $500/night for concierge one year (this was when discounts for concierge were near impossible to get). I hope you can find a way to add a couple nights though :)
As for moderate resorts, the only one I have *not* stayed at is Port Orleans -- French Quarter. I equally love Coronado Springs and DxL though. Not sure why, but CBR really didn't do a thing for me. It was so spread out and took forever to get around. I think CSR has mroe rooms, but the layout is far better.

Caroline, always great to see you here!!!! I have to admit, as I got to know more about Judiasm, I was shocked to see how terribly closely Catholicism followed Jewish faith. Actually I always enjoy learning about all religions myself :)
Congrats on the good season for Cross Country! Sorry you didn't do as well as you hoped for, but I always said when I ran, at least it wasn't last :p
Good luck with basketball tryouts! And I am sure you will love high school next year! Good luck with the entrance exam/

Ooh a party for Colleen's birthday? I am all for that!! I do hope your birthday is a wonderful one!

Not too much is going on with me. I still work at my company (always a bonus) and just finally been taking it easy more at home. Tomorrow I get to have lunch with a couple people I am friends with here on the DIS. After that we are going to dinner with some of my other friends and then going to a comedy club after. Oh, I did forget to mention that I have been dieting lately and was thrilled when I dropped to a single digit size yesterday in a dress I bought for a wedding. I think I finall found what works for me :)

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-05-2004, 04:45 PM

Oops! Sorry about the double post.

Helanabear, the talk of paying $500 a night for a room made me nervous. We never even paid that much for a house mortgage in our life. We have had a few $100 a night rooms during the years, mostly special occasions or when we went to Disney when the kids were with us. Makes a big difference being an one income blue collar family though. Where was the best place you ever stayed and why did you like it? Our house is so darned big and sort of fancy looking that I actually enjoy a striped down motel room with not much to take care of. I am a strange person, but then you knew that. LOL The Catholic church is one of the oldest religions but the Jewish one is even older and it seems that each denomination keeps some of the old so there are bound to be many similarities. I used to study religion a lot in my youth and it was astonishing how many things all religions had in common, even Buddism etc. There was one a theory that they were all a variation on the same theme and the center figures were all Jesus, whatever the name. So much of religion seems to be superstitiion to me because our minds are just not capable of understanding the scope of God. I know mine is not at least.

Lisa, you always plan the best parties. I am in awe of your talents. How did Gary do with his gig? They have a college program here for stand up comics that I have been interested in. The final exam is doing an open mike night at a local comedy club. I finally finished my trip reports. I took 5 installments!! I gave up soap operas after an extended vacation years ago. It was DOL and AW. I got tired of them doing away with the story lines of the older people and did not much care which teen was sleeping with which teen or the bizarre storylines they were getting into. I do miss Julie and Doug and once caught them. in passing, and stopped to check them out for a minute. I like them in real life even more. Seem like the kind of people you could just sit and laugh with.

Caroline, how wonderful to hear from you again. I was afraid that you were tired of hanging out with us old folks. LOL A bottle of catsup? How did you manage that one? Very unique, just like yourself. Not low carb though. LOL Watch out for those huge candy bars, is how I got to the shape I am. I cannot believe you have problems with language skills. You write very well and from the sound of things you read a lot and your parents are well educated. I have found that grammar comes easily when you are surrounded by people who speak properly. You can sort of hear when something sounds wrong IMHO. I am rotten at math myself. Sports always seems to be viotile. So much competition and such but it is the nature of the beast and there is so much to be learned though in terms of working as a team or individual. Sounds as if you have had a very successful term. With your training in being reliable and such you should not have a hard time adjusting to going to school. Will be different but you will be a super star!!

Colleen, I was not happy about the election either although I am more of a "ABB" person. Having lived through the Vietnam years I can see the storm coming and fear the drain on resources, monetary and young lives. If I were ever to spend the big bucks on a room I think I would opt for Old Key West. We took a tour this last time and it was just my speed. So family friendly as well. They have an activity room with pool table, computer and game boys etc as well as bicycles and boats. I may look into renting points for the family trip.

lunabkat - It is evident that you are a wonderful mom. I loved this sentiment.

"Well, the sugar comas struck shortly after i left you the other night. Ah, sweet peace and quiet. Yikes, they did have some fun though."

One of the sad parts of my life is that I have no princesses in my life and I cannot get any of my grandsons to oblige me by putting on a dress (much to their dad's relief). LOL On the family trip there is a young lady that I have tutored and her mom and I have been friends forever, she was one of my daughter's friends, so she and I have cooked up a deal where she will spend a day with me and I am taking her to the princess shop. She is a girlie girl and will soothe my wounded feelings by accepting some frilly dress and will even possibly say thank you. What more could a grandma want? LOL

Orange and Lime Green! How in the world do you get the kids calmed down in such an environment? When offered a room at the Movies I always decline, first cause I do not want to take a room for a kids who would better enjoy it but the other reason is that the bright colors keep me awake at night. LOL After being in Disney magic all day long I enjoy some subdued colors and quiet at night. Please let me know how you like it though cause it might be a choice for the family trip in 2006. I think it is the one up to the right of Crossroads? Is important that I can find the place since I would be responsible for driving the grands from place to place when necessary.

In closing, for those of you who have not had time to wade through the myriad pages of my report - We watched the EWP from the beach at the Wilderness Lodge. Was the best view we have ever had, but would you know it, it was an abbreviated version that night. I was so disappointed but we met some lovely people so it was not a total loss.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

11-05-2004, 05:29 PM

Hi girls! I am checking in and saying HI before all the fun of the weekend...Now much of that fun includes cleaning floors and toilets as 30-40 pals are descending on my house tomorrow at 5pm. I am going to Weight Watchers in the morning so I have STRENGTH, which means eating one piece of cake and not 20. Then on the way home I will pick up the giant cake at Sam's Club. Post-meeting I can be trusted to be alone in the car with the cake.

Caroline, I am a graduate of Lafayette College, Lehigh's nemesis. I f your sister winds up at Lehigh perhaps we can hook her up with my parents, who are dear and would be happy to cook for a homesick Maine-er. They LOVE Maine and would thrill her with tales of their excursions to Acadia Park and Kennebunkport. Let me know if Sis winds up in the Lehigh Valley. Warn her too about the annual Lehigh/Lafayette football game, an event of drunken chaos. I went once and that was enough for me. Too many stupid, drunk fraternity boys charging at the goalpost. Yikes!

Lisa, thanks for planning events in the suite. I had so hoped to turn 40 on Main Street, but it was not to be. Instead I am dreaming of my triumphant return to Polynesia (or Walt Disney's version of it). As I have told you all here, after July 4th is "value" season (whatever that means by WDW standards!). I will also watch for passholder discounts, and I am rapidly accruing reward dollars on my Disney Visa because we keep going to Lowe's for house-stuff. I figure by the time we travel, combining all those discounts, a room at the Poly will be downright "affordable!" No concierge -- I work cheap and can plan myself and drag in my own poptarts and peanut butter, that will have to do... So as always, dreaming of that next trip to Mickey is making me smile, even as middle age bears down.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I will try to post some birthday pics, if I can just remember to take some! :)

xoxo

IASW Rider

11-06-2004, 05:38 PM

Hey Everyone!

So, are we all ready for Colleen's big Birthday Bash in the Suite?? After our sunset cruise, since Colleen said that she is dreaming of Polynesia, we will be sailing to the shores of the Polynesian Resort, where Bo and Don have arranged a private Luau dinner for us. Of course, that will be followed by our traditional private showing of the EWP and Wishes. After that, we will sail over to the Wilderness Lodge for a low-fat, low-cal, low-carb dessert party (to suit the needs of all of us skinny, health-conscious Suite Mates!). Isn't it amazing how the chefs that Bo and Don hired can make healthier variations look and taste as delicious as the more "decadent" originals? After the dessert party, we will sail back to the Suite, to rest up for Part 2 of the celebration, which will commence with a tour of the Parks in the morning! :)

Hope that your REAL Birthday celebration is fantastic, tonight, Colleen! :) You will have to tell us all about it! :)

CONGRATULATIONS on hitting that single digit dress size, Elaine! That is great news - I'm sure that you look as wonderful as always! Whose wedding is this dress for? When is the wedding? What does the dress look like? (Nosy questions, I know! :( )

I'll tell ya, we are just such fit and aware people, here in the Suite! It's nice to have a place to "come" to celebrate our successes and share our strategies! :)

Oh goody - more installments of your Trip Report, Linda! Can't wait to read them - I will do so as soon as I am finished posting! :) It's great that you had a chance to see the EWP from the WL - it's nice to experience a new "vantage point"! And it's so nice at the WL - we enjoyed exploring the grounds there, and the main lobby is awesome to behold!

We've been having a nice weekend, so far. We went into the City last night and had a great dinner at a neat restaurant that we happened upon, in Greenwich Village. Then we went to see Gary and his new band play at The Bitter End, and they did a fantastic job! They played 3 (long!) instrumental jazz songs, and finished up with that 70's funk classic, "Brick House" - they brought the house down! And I was so proud of Gary, since he had never played with a band before (and since - as I'd mentioned - he only had 4 weeks of rehearsal with this band)! Anyway, it was a lot of fun. We got to spend some time with Gary's partner, parents, and some friends of his whom we hadn't seen in awhile. And we got back home at a relatively reasonable hour, too!

We spent most of today "fighting" with our kitchen light fixture and have decided that it needs to be replaced immediately. So our "mission" for tomorrow will be to pick out a new one, that we can hopefully have installed early next week. Tonight we're just meeting some friends for dinner, and then coming home and relaxing!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great weekend! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-06-2004, 06:55 PM

Announcing that Colleen and SG are getting together on the 15th. Is it not amazing that though we are the ones who are the nearest geographically speaking we are so tardy in meeting? I am so looking forward to it as I keep finding so many things we have in common.

Rider, the party is so lovely sounding. You are great at planning such things, must come from your years of experience. The Bitter End is still in existence? In my youth, back when I had a life, I went there a time or two. I packed a lot of living in those few years before I came of age and became a responsible person. (memories) I got to hear "Brick House" performed by the Commodores AND Temptations on our trip. Gary is such a brave and talented person. You know the definition of bravery is NOT being scared but being scared and doing it any old way! Please send my congratulations to him. LOL on the new reports. I finally finished at 5 installments. Keep thinking of things I wish I had included though. On one installment I made the point that watching attractions from different seats and such make it a whole new experience and here you are saying the same thing. You are like me in that you check out the details. When I watch a movie I check out the people in the background, Is especially fun with old movies as you catch many 'future' stars in their beginnings. At the China exhibit I noticed the the priest on the far right back was scratching his behind. LOL

You are going to have the light fixture installed? Is it in the ceiling on the wall? It is really a very simple thing to do yourself. I can even send you a site that will walk you through it, in fact I bet the hardware will give you a brochure or tell you how. Many home improvement things are made easy for diy"s nowadays. It is so hard, not to mention expensive, to find someone to do it for you. If you do hire someone check around and see if there is not some other small electrical thing you might enjoy, extra outlet etc as the main charge is just for showing up. Maybe an outdoor outlet to make Christmas decorating easier? If I lived closer I would come over and either do it for you or show you how. If I can, I know you guys can.

Elaine??? Single digit dress size????? Heck, my left leg is still in two digits. My goal is size 18 and that would mean that you are already half the woman I hope to become. Congratulations, just do not carry it too far. Would not want to ruin that lovely face of yours by being too skinny.

I have to go do something special for a group of second graders in Texas. It is another thread on the DIS and sounds like a ball!!

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

11-08-2004, 01:24 PM

Hi Linda!

I loved reading your trip reports..........but I wish that you hadn't gone into such vivid description about many of your meals........my mouth was watering, reading about all of the tasty treats in which you and Tom indulged! :) But it's so neat that you got to try many new restaurants, in addition to some old favorites, and that you were able to take advantage of the Food and Wine Festival offerings, too! It's also so neat that you happened upon so many DIS'ers, during your travels, and that you had a chance to meet and speak with so many of them! It sounds like you had a great trip and were able to spend time doing all of the things that you truly wanted to do! And all of the concerts sound great, too! :)

The lighting fixture that we are replacing is the one directly over our kitchen table, in the ceiling. When Frank was up there, cleaning it on Saturday, he noticed that the entire thing was loose......so he took down the hanging lamp and lo and behold, the "light box" / structure that holds the entire fixture in place looked like it was about to come down! So if he hadn't noticed that, we eventually might have had a "Phantom of the Opera" situation on our hands, with our "chandelier" crashing down without notice! (Speaking of which - quick "aside" - I cannot wait 'til the movie version of "The Phantom of the Opera" Broadway show comes to theaters next month! :) ) Anyway, we bought a new fixture yesterday and will hopefully have it installed, today. Frank is pretty good at installing electrical things - he's installed lights and ceiling fans - but since we need to have the "guts" of the fixture removed and replaced, too, we thought it best to hire someone........so that we don't inadvertently electrocute ourselves, trying to do it on our own! Thank you for your kind offer of advice, though! I have no doubt that you are great at doing electrical work.........along with your many other talents for handling home improvement projects! :) I wish that I had that talent / skill / the patience necessary!

It's so wonderful that you and the Soon-to-be-Birthday-Girl will be getting together, next week! I'm sure that you both are going to have a fantastic time! I'm jealous! :( I think that I will just have to fly out there (and pick up Elaine on the way) and "barge in" on your meeting! :) (Only kidding! :) ) As I always say, I am convinced that one day we will all meet each other in person, at the same time! :)

I loved the photo of you and Janet, that you sent! You both look wonderful (and you look so teeny-tiny! :) ) and it was so neat to see the 2 of you awaiting SpectroMagic, together!

Yes, I also think that Gary is very brave to get up there on stage and perform with a bunch of total strangers, in front of a bunch of total strangers! But it's great that he's getting back into his music - he hadn't played for a long time, and I know that he missed it. I wish that I had a "hobby" that fulfilled me, like that. The closest thing that I have is my "penchant" for (......some would say "obsession with"! :) ) taking pictures and arranging photo albums, scrapbooks, and collages! The Bitter End definitely still exists, as do many of the other famous coffee houses and clubs that have been in the Village since the 1960's! We don't get down there, very often - when we're in the City, we're more likely to be in mid-town (theatre district and shopping!) or uptown (where Gary and my uncle live). In fact, we hadn't been that far downtown since before 9/11 (we weren't as far downtown as the financial district on Friday night, though).

So, did we all enjoy Colleen's weekend of Birthday Suite Festivities??? Well, that's good because there will be a gala dinner in her honor at Artist Point, tomorrow night! We'll all meet in the Suite, then take the monorail to the Contemporary, then a launch to the Wilderness Lodge together, OK?

Have a great day, Everyone! :)

IASW Rider

11-08-2004, 01:33 PM

Oops - Linda - I forgot to ask - what was the special thing that you did for the group of second graders in Texas? I'm curious - it sounds like fun! :)

Here is Gary "in action" on Friday night, if you'd like to see (he's on the left, at the keyboard):

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=865c&.dnm=9ebb.jpg&.src=ph

And here we all are, outside the club, afterwards:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=865c&.dnm=4645.jpg&.src=ph

(OK, Linda - I know what you're thinking.........YES, I AM WEARING BLACK, AGAIN! :) BUT.........what you can't see in that picture.......is that I am also wearing a yellow leather skirt! :) )

SlightlyGoofy

11-08-2004, 06:14 PM

Dear Lisa

I am not any smaller than when I met you, may be a couple of pounds but nothing big. I have been treading water for a very long time and it is getting wearing. Trying to concentrate on the fact that I have been able to keep the pounds off that I have lost and this is the first time in my whole life I have been able to do so but still not where I want to be. I will certainly never be able to wear (or at my age want to) a teeny yellow leather skirt. Bet you looked adorable in it. My son would love a picture as black and yellow are his favorite color combo as he is a Purdue fan. LOL

I am just writing a letter to the second grade class of a lady who is a DISer. She posted on another thread where people are requesting that people send postcards to their kids from DW so they get excited about their upcoming trips. DISers are a great bunch. A stoller and a Pal Mickey swap along with so many other things. I am proud to be a member of the community.

Gary sure looked comfortable up on the stage. I often wish that I had some sort of muscial talent but I am barely able to play the radio. (sigh)

I would hire someone to replace that light fixture. Putting an electrical box in is hard and doubly hard in newer homes where you have dry wall instead of plaster and real wood. Sure glad you found it before it fell. We had someone in our town hit by a ceiling fan that fell. He was hurt pretty badly. You give me too much praise. I am not that talented, just not that rich. When you 'have' to do things you learn fast. (I put our vacation expenses into Money and was delighted to see that we came in way under budget that means I can put some extra with next years and do something more)

I think that your greatest gift is in what a good friend you are to people. You might organize scrapbooks and such but that is just a reminder of all the friends you have and happy times you have spent with them. I used to keep good scrapbooks too until I realized that no one would care about them once I am gone so now I do other things.

The Producers are coming to our area in January. If there is a bus trip I may see what I can do. Not many shows coming next year that I am interested in .

I have never eaten at Artist Point but did look at the menu last time I was there. I will lead the way to the best location to see the EWP. I am sure that you have not only made arrangements for the full version but a special expanded one for Colleen's last bit of youthful exurberence before she turns into an adult. What am I saying? No DISer ever truly grows up, we all remain children at heart.

(BTW, thanks for reassuring her that I am safe to meet) It is a strange world out there and it is a good idea to be careful.

I made a new version of my cauliflower mashed potatoes today and they were awesome although a bit more caloric. I added 3 oz of FF cream cheese and some para cheese. Yumm!!

SG/Linda

colleen costello

11-08-2004, 06:37 PM

Artist Point sounds wonderful as long as I am not forced to eat any Buffalo or venison... Heck, since mad cow I barely eat beef. I'll have the chicken and save room for the cobbler at dessert -- I have heard how wonderful it is. Couldn't help but to think that for $10 it darn well better be...

Spent today at school and tonight is PTO. So much for my crazy 30's. Tomorrow whenI am 40 I really have to settle down...

So looking forward to meeting Linda, and I will try to remember to get a picture to post.

Lisa, got your info on the Northeast DIS meet, and I do enjoy hearing about it, even though I will miss it by a few weeks. I will be between trips to NJ and Orlando when you all get together, abut of course I hope you and I will get to see each other when I am back east.

xoxo

SlightlyGoofy

11-08-2004, 07:30 PM

Colleen, we are so much alike that it is scary. I would be hard pressed to pay $10 for a dessert as well and especialy for something that is NOT chocolate. LOL I even looked at the examples at the Whispering Canyon and deemed them not worth the bucks. I think I had one of my Mickey bars that night.

I sent you a big long email and it came back cause your server said it was too big. I deleted the picture and sent it again. Hope it goes through. Please let me know if it does not and I just might post it out loud on here. LOL

I spent my 30's at the school and PTO meetings as well. I was also a 4-H leader and made fresh cookies (every day) for the kids who followed my kids home from school. Imagine my poor daughter's distress when she learned, thankfully after she was an adult, that one young man came for my cookies. LOL It is an unfortunate fact that many kids do not feel welcome or loved in their homes so I filled that spot for many, does not seem like I did for my own though. I gave it a royal try though. My kids will agree that I AM trying. (grin) Looking forward to meeting you too then you will see the big grin on my face as I am saying the most outrageous things.

SG/Linda

helenabear

11-08-2004, 07:55 PM

Hi all... been a busy few days and just haven't been online near as much. Went out with 2 other couples on Saturday night for dinner & a comedy club. It was absolutely hilarious!

Colleen, I love the way you think! I need to check on my rewards dollars before I go to WDW. They usually account for a lot of my gifts and food. Although I did totally wipe them out in July for DL. I am sure wiht house stuff, the Polynesian will be in the "perfect" price range :teeth:
Oh and I am big on bringing breakfasts (especially) of my own to WDW as well ::yes::

Linda, I admit the $500/night was for our honeymoon... it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to do it. Polynesian concierge lagoon view... I know that will never be repeated. If anything I am far far to "cheap" for that ;) I do wish a $500 mortgage were possible... however with the rapidly rising housing costs in Ohio, sadly my friends are jealous of what we have (and it isn't anywhere near that). To get a low payment would mean living in unsafe areas :( But some day our mortgage payment will be deamed low I am sure... but by then, I'd hate to hear what a night at the Polynesian would go for :p

Lisa, I loved your pictures! As for the wedding... it is just a cousin, but none of my dresses fit right so I had to go out and find something new. THis one is cute... a plum color with a very soft floral patter in complimentary cranberry(ish) and olive green. It's knee length and has sheer sleeves (the pattern is a sheer fabric over a solid plum beneath) that are just little "fluttery cap" type sleeves. Not so good at describing, but hopefully you get the idea :) The wedding itself is the Saturday after Thanksgiving :)

Linda, do not worry... my frame is such that a size 6 is about the limit for me... I am not even 5'1" so a size 8 still is larger looking on me than most of my friends. I am only going for about 10 more pounds off... I hate to say that that will even be above what is recommended for my height, but I don't care. So I am in pretty much 8s now for dresses and skirts... and depending on the cut (due to body shape) I take about an 8-10 in pants. Some of my really old 12s can be worn, but they have also been washed several times over and severely shrunk.

Anyway, I am being good about it, and healthy about it, and I never would want to get *too* thin. I am less than I have been in about 7-8 years though so that is a bit encouraging.

$10 for dessert?? Um... another "no way" here... I hate paying that much for a meal most of the time :p

Speaking of food... I am in need of dinner. I will catch you all later :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-08-2004, 08:48 PM

Hi there Elaine!

I am afraid that I have no sense of sizes. Having been as high as a size 54 (imagine that one, no, don't far too scary to think about) regular sizes are out of my realm of thinking. I have figured out that it takes far less pounds to lose a size at your size than it does mine. I lost 50 pounds before I had to buy new clothes and I have never been the type to wear tight clothing. You are right to stop at where you fele comfortable AND can maintain rather than go by some chart that does not take into account so very much. You looked great before and it is hard for me to think of you looking even better but I am sure you do. The dress sounds lovely and I am looking forward to a picture soon.

We lucked out on our home, we bought it during the energy crisis of the 70's when others were scared of it and it has turned out to be one of the best things we ever did. I think our mortgage was about $160 (which was a week's pay way back when) but we paid it off in less than ten years and have not had a car payment in many years either. It is a freedom that I cannot describe. We were also blessed in that Tom worked for a company that paid very well, for the area, as well. I talked to several DISers lately that told horror stories of it costing nearly a half million to get just something liveable in their areas. A house is an investment well worth making and you get to live in it while it is increasing your bottom line. You and Luis did well.

I have come to the conclusion that one of the reasons this thread has lasted so long is that we all have so much in common in spite of being from different areas, different educations (not sure about that one but bet I am the least educated, formally) and ages - we are all sort of traditional, careful with our money and love people and all things Disney. Does anyone but me hate it when menus do not list the price of an item? They will not intimidate me with that tactic, I will ask before ordering and usually will not even bother since I already know it is something silly. LOL Tom taught me that attitude. Not so much being concerned about how much stuff costs cause he doesn't but not being intimidated by 'fancy' places.

What comic did you go see? We have a comedy club here that we go to often so I know quite a few of them. Our club offers free admission tickets on weekdays, when the comics are practicing. You might check and see if yours has a similar deal on their website. I am a harsh critic on such as I have sisters who could go on stage at any given moment and rock the place!!

Hope your dinner was good. I ate some of my 'Taters", with the cheese in them it felt like a real meal and they were so creamy as well. Low carb can be very good sometimes. Was hard getting back OP after DW though. Weigh in tomorrow.

Good night ladies and see you later, SG/Linda

IASW Rider

11-09-2004, 01:08 AM

:) :) :) :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLEEN!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)

Here's wishing you a wonderful and special day! :)

IASW Rider

11-09-2004, 01:53 AM

Hi Everyone!

I hope that Artist Point is all right with everyone for Colleen's Birthday dinner - I made special arrangements with our Suite "boys" for a special dinner there, since I know that Colleen is looking forward to her upcoming stay at the Villas at the WL! :) Frank and I actually did have dinner there, last year, and it was fantastic! We had the most amazing salmon, and Frank had a dessert that looked like a work of art! (I wish I could remember what it was..........maybe it WAS that cobbler.........or was it creme broulee? I can't remember! I'll have to consult the "archives" - not only do I have an extensive collection of the menus of WDW restaurants which we've visited (I ask for them - I don't "steal" them!), but believe it or not, one of my weird habits is taking pictures of food! So I have many pictures of especially artistically presented dishes that we've enjoyed, at WDW and elsewhere. Maybe it's the "Nutrition major" in me that inspires me to do such strange things!)

I'm sure that there would be many people in your family who would cherish any scrapbooks or albums that you happened to make, Linda! I know that your children and grandchildren would appreciate your keeping, displaying, and maintaining things that are special to you and sharing your memories with the people who are close to you!

"Safe" to meet? Please. Meeting you in person is just like "meeting" you in the Suite - you are just as kind and thoughtful and funny and sweet and interesting and honest and full of great stories and ideas in person as you are "in writing"! So meeting you in person is just like "talking" to you in the Suite.........except with the benefit of getting to see your great smile and hearing your great laugh! :)

We did ultimately have a professional come in and take a look at our lighting fixture. And it turned out that the lighting box (or whatever it's called!) wasn't broken at all - it turns out that the part that holds the wires just appeared to be loose because it wasn't installed right against the sheet rock - the metal "arms" that attach it to the beams in the ceiling were fine. So the electrician was able to install our new light right away, and demonstrated to me how there is no way that it could fall down by pulling on it and swiveling it on the "rod" from which it hangs. I felt better hearing a professional say that everything is all right! (And I feel much better that we didn't attempt to do too much by ourselves!)

You should definitely try to see "The Producers", when it comes to your town, if you're interested! It's a wonderful show and you will certainly have a lot of laughs! :)

I keep meaning to try your cauliflower " 'taters"! You just reminded me that I really need to do that!

And I don't care what you say - you look pretty tiny to me in that picture of you and Janet, "Slim"! :)

Your dress sounds really nice, Elaine! I can definitely picture what you're talking about - with the sheer, patterned overlay and the solid underneath. It sounds really nice - great colors for this time of year - especially for Thanksgiving weekend! That's so nice that your cousin is getting married over the holiday weekend - that's something else to look forward to, even after the holiday is over (.........and of course, you will be going to WDW, very soon afterwards! :) )! Please post a picture of you and Luis from the wedding, if you have a chance! And keep up the great work - I think you've made a fantastic accomplishment and I'm sure that you look great! That is wonderful! :)

I'm with you all........I can't imagine what dessert I would pay $10 for...........especially since most dessert is "wasted" on me.........I would rather eat more "real food"! :) Now a $10 glass of wine, on the other hand............! :)

Have a great day, Everyone! :) And see you back here for our pre-dinner monorail pick-up, to take us to celebrate Colleen's Birthday, tonight! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-10-2004, 04:39 PM

I did not get the chance to wish Colleen a happy birthday. My ISP went down yesterday and I was not able to get on until today. I kept trying off and on all night as their phone service promised it would only be out for an half an hour but they lied.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLEEN!!!!!!!** princess: (notice that I used your favorite color LOL)

Lisa, I have a collection of menus as well. LOL Tom, who is not a bit shy, got several while we were at DW and I have to scan them into Deb's so I can share the wealth.

Maybe we should all just share that $10 dessert. If it is as large as most desserts there will be plenty for us all. I am thrilled that I am able to be satisfied with a bite or two of most sweets. If only I could do that with breads. (sigh)

I have to head to the Community Center so I will sign off and try to check in later.

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

11-10-2004, 04:56 PM

Hi Linda!

You have to go over and check Janet's Vow Renewal Trip Report thread - she just posted about yours and Tom's meeting with her in the MK (amongst other things)! It sounds like it was such a special and fun evening! And she posted that great picture of you both, too! :)

Glad to know that I'm not the only one who likes to collect menus from the WDW restaurants! They are fun to look at afterwards, and to remember the wonderful meals and great atmospheres that we experienced at the various restaurants!

Sorry for the short post - my allergies are horrible today - my right eye is all swollen and teary and it's hard for me to look at the computer for too long (the last time that this happened to me was when we docked at Castaway Cay, almost exactly 6 months ago, strangely enough!). Hope that you're all having a great day! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-10-2004, 08:24 PM

Lisa, I hope that your nose stops running soon. Sometimes it is the little things that can drive you the most crazy. Drink lots of water and see if that helps any. I have medication (spray) that I use sometimes and it helps a lot. Nasacort.

I would have answered you sooner however I got stuck on the link you have about the East Coast Meet. I never clicked on it before cause it did not sound like anything I could possibly do but after consulting 'Mapquest" it appears to be about 600 miles and I could visit relatives halfway between here and ther AND it is near my birthday. Having reached the 'age of reason' which means I do not want anything I have to dust or clean for special occasions this might be the perfect present. Not sure but thinking about it. I would love to watch you play Disney trivia and come away the ultimate winner! I am ashamed to admit that I would not do well at such. Ask me about the Ottoman Empire or some such and I could probably come up with an answer though. LOL

Meeting Janet2K was truly a magical moment. I well remember her answering my ignorant question about the EWP way back when and have always considered her the one who truly started this entire thread. She is so much like you in that her zest for life is contagious. BTW, figured out why you thought I looked so thin in that picture. It is because Janet, bless her heart, cropped it to exclude my big basketball sized belly. LOL

Slightly Goofy who is anxiously awaiting meeting Colleen. Four days to go!!!

colleen costello

11-10-2004, 08:45 PM

Linda, it would be so nice if you could go to the DISmeet. Since I can't go, I'd have you and Lisa both to give me the scoop! The drive to Allentown is an easy one, with lots of clean, safe rest stops along the way in PA and OH, and lots of scenic hills and farms along the road. I always enjoy the rides back east.

Also looking forward to our visit together. I had an appointment right by our meeting place today so I sure do know the way. You won't be able to miss me for the pink Minnie ears on my can antenna. They are so cute... they say "Disney Princess" and Scott thinks they are totally stupid and I ADORE them. My friend Marla sure knows a good birthday gift! :)

Hope all is well with you all. I have to do homework with the kids (UGH)

SlightlyGoofy

11-10-2004, 10:33 PM

Colleen, I grew up among those scenic hills and farms. LOL I hate the Pennsylvania Turnpike though. I drove it when I went to meet my brother after we found him years ago and it was littered with dead deer everywhere. Saw many live ones too and I was a nervous wreck fearing that one would jump out in front of me. (shivering still)

I will driving the dirty silver Toyota Camry. I fear I have far too much to do the next few days to sqeeze in a carwash. Would be moot by the time I drive the hills of Brown anyway. LOL

Please tell Scott that it takes a real man to drive a vehicle that has pink Minnie ears (or do you have them on the vehicle to keep his manly hands off?? LOL)

Have you noticed that you are learning more now, doing homework with your kids, than you did when you did your own way back when? BTW, how are you enjoying your first full day of adulthood? Almost said adultry but thought it might frighten you away from meeting me. (grin) I already did homework with several kids earlier. It was wonderful. Some days are better than others and today was a big hug day and went well except for when one small boy came in to tell me and the other lady (who I talked into coming for the first time) a slightly ribald joke. Why did it have to be MY grandchild? (never mind, I know)

Slightly Goofy/Linda

helenabear

11-10-2004, 10:44 PM

Just wanted to do a quick check in... y'all seem to be here more so when I could go a few days and not check in, now it seems I'll have to make it in here more often :)

Colleen, I feel awful that I missed coming in on your exact birthday. So Happy Belated Birthday!!!

Linda, you are correct... for me to lose 50 pounds would bring me from about a size 14/16 (probably a wee bit closer to a 16) down to maybe a size 6. I think that 50 pounds would be beyond my goal, but not by much (45 is my total I'd like gone). I would be in a very safe range for me and I am happy to know my blood pressure is way down again... not that it was high, but it used to be unbelievably low... it's getting back tehre (which means I am freezing all the time though :o)
SOunds like you did luck out with your house!! A payment that low is amazing!!!! We do have about 1 week combined salary payment for ours (2 weeks of my salary if that makes sense) so we aren't doing awful for us.

Lisa, I am glad your wiring is all fixed. Sometimes they can see what an average person cannot!
And thank you on teh compliments. I guess when you get fed up, it makes things easier on you to do ;) And thank you also for the comments on the dress... I do think it will be perfect for fall and won't go terribly with the cranberry colors they are using. If we get pics, I will post them :)
Take care with your allergies... mine hav been bad lately as well

Well this wasn't quick or short and my book is really calling my name. See you all later!

lunabkat

11-11-2004, 10:32 AM

Hi all

i can't beleive it, just 1 month away for our first disney trip as a family. Or 4 weeks, or 30 days, whatever, its soon!

i am going to start packing summerish clothes (capris, bathing suits) this week since we won't miss them around here. I think i should pack fallish clothes too since the weather is kinda unpredicable.

I am getting so excited, i can't even talk about it too much with the kids because i think i am going to pop.

Hope you all are doing well, sounds like it.

Is anyone going to be there 12/11 thru12/18 or thereabouts?

also, Linda, i am not sure but i think rider and i are pretty close, about 15-20 mins away from each other, is that closer than you guys are?

take care all, i must go twirl around or something.

Lauralee

lunabkat

11-11-2004, 10:41 AM

PS

Happy Happy belated birthday Colleen:wave2:

colleen costello

11-11-2004, 12:33 PM

Thnaks for all the lovely birthday wishes. I am existing in my 40's as I did in my 30's, so far... helping at school, taking care of the kids, "Same old same old." I forced myself to act today on something I hope you will all encourage me about... I sent a letter to a woman I know at our local preschool about a JOB. Now this was a biggie for me. I haven't really "worked" much at all since Ian was born. Our local public preschool serves many children with special needs and one of the directors there is a woman I just love. When I last saw her, and mentioned that Ian was in first grade, she pointed out that they have needed a "backup" person of some sort, part-time. Not even sure exactly what this meant, except it would be a social-services type position. Hey, for all I know, they need someone to clean the bathrooms... But in any case, I typed a letter to her today, pointing out that I have a degree in counseling and a desire to work part-time at a place that has the same schedule as my children. I asked them to keep me in mind... We'll see. Otherwise I will have to substitute at the schools, once the holidays are over. Not real thrilled about this option as the kids seem to save their worst for the subs... But this house has been sucking up every dollar I have, and with gas prices and food prices and EVERYTHING prices going up, we need some extra income! So I took a baby step toward that direction... We'll see how it plays out.

Lauralee, as the next member of the suite to be heading south, you must promise to keep us all informed on your packing, planning, etc. We will all be waiting for your return and looking forward to all the details. Just hearing about "capri pants and bathing suits" made me smile!

Love to all,

Colleen

IASW Rider

11-11-2004, 12:40 PM

Hi Everyone!

Hi Lauralee! Great to hear from you! Your enthusiasm about your upcoming trip is catching - it's getting me psyched for our next trip.........which is almost exactly 6 months away! (It's kinda neat - it's the exact "half way mark" - exactly 6 months since our last trip and exactly 6 months 'til our next trip!) Yes, I am just about 20 minutes away from you, in Somerset! :)

It would be so great if you could come out for the North East DIS Meet, Linda! Fred (the same man who organized the Meet in June) hasn't finalized the date or exact location yet, but if you subscribe to the thread or sign up for his mailing list, you will find out as soon as he does. Also, it's not too late to register for the Meet - no one has made any financial obligation / reservations yet! It would be great if you and Tom were able to come! And perhaps you could "kidnap" Colleen and Elaine on the way, and bring them, too........! As for trivia........I might be too nervous to play in front of the 100's of people who are planning to be there.........but we'll see! :) And you are so silly - you look wonderful in that picture with Janet and that's all there is to it! It has nothing to do with cropping, angles, or otherwise! I don't remember whether I posted on any of them, but I meant to tell you in case I forgot, that I really enjoyed reading the rest of your trip reports!

Hi Colleen! You never told us - how was your Birthday and your celebration??? Hope that you had a great time! And I can't wait to hear about yours and Linda's meeting! One or both of you have to take pictures so that we can see! :)

45 pounds, Elaine?! That is amazing! Congratulations! That is a great accomplishment! You are going to look great in that dress, at your cousin's wedding! I'm sorry to hear that your allergies have been acting up, too. I guess it's just the time of year for them. :(

I wish I knew what it is that I am allergic to, out there. I suspect that maybe it's mold, since the leaves are falling off the trees, now? (That would make sense, in terms of the fact that the last time that my eye blew up like this it was on the ship - clean as the Wonder surely is, I'll bet that they can't avoid having a little mold creep in there, since the ship is at sea all the time!)

Anyway...........not too much to report, here! Just wanted to stop by and say "hello"! Hope that you're all having a nice week! :)

IASW Rider

11-11-2004, 12:44 PM

Hi Colleen!

We must have been posting at exactly the same time!

Lots of good luck!!!!!! Your new job prospect sounds wonderful - right "up your alley"! You would do such a great job with that sort of work! It was a great idea to send that letter expressing your interest! It sounds perfect - you would be able to utilize your training, doing something that you would enjoy, and it would coincide with your children's schedules, as well! You will have to keep us posted with any developments or updates on that front! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-11-2004, 06:47 PM

It is an awfully dreary and dark day here. I drove Tom to drop himn off at bowling and his brother was going to pick him up. I am grateful to him for the break. He says we have shared custody but I seem to get the hard end of the chores. LOL Got all the plants in the basement before he left as there is no way I could have done that by myself. I send Tom to the basement and then I lug them to the basement windown where I hand them in with a series of grunts and odd sounds that are sure to attract some sort of wildlife one day. I have to start planting lighter things. I save a bunch by doing this though and have much larger plants than I could otherwise. Is odd to see geraniums blooming bright red in the middle of February though. We are blessed with a wonderous basement.

Lauralee, what a beautiful name. I wish I lived closer to Rider but I fear I am about 7-800 miles away. I live in Southern Indiana. Colleen and I live about 50 miles apart though and are going to meet, face to face, on Monday. I would twirl if I were you also. Just the idea of the looks on your dear ones faces when they behold DW for the first time is enough to bring tears of joy to my old eyes. I hope that you have gotten plenty of ideas from the boards. Bet you coud get more info , if needed, if you care to ask here.

Colleen, I bet you hear back in the affirmative soon as they could not possibly not take advantage of someone of your skills. Sounds like a perfect job for everyone concerned. I took my camera out so I might not forget to take it. That and my Disney pictures as well although most of them will not be all that interesting as I tend to take pics for my grandkids.

Rider, picking up Colleen would not be m uch out of the way but Helenabear is right on the way toward the Meet. Doubt either would want to ride with us but I would gladly make room, especially if they help with the driving. LOL I suscribed to the thread and will keep an eye out and see. I am thinking I will let the Fates decide. Since I could not possibly commit so far in advance I will wait and see how I am feeling then and if someone has to drop out, always a good chance, I will pay their money and come instead. Would be the perfect birthday present for me as I edge every closer to the 60 year mark. (Colleen, you thought YOU were old. LOL) Have you ever had the allergy tests done? I know that mold is one of them. Is one of the few times that I am grateful to be so large as I have much more space for all those pokes. (ouch)

Going to finish the yardwork tomorow, I hope, I hope. Have water fountaings to drain and cover as well as the air conditioning units. For such a small yard there sure is a lot of work to be done.

SG/Linda

helenabear

11-11-2004, 06:56 PM

Quick hi before I head of to choir practice at church tonight.

Lauralee, you sound so terribly excited!!!! Well I usually am at this point, but I have a lot to do before I leave so if I can get some of it done between now and then, I'll be happier!

Colleen, wishing you all the best with the job!!! I Hope that if it is good for you that you will get it :)

Lisa, I think I might have mislead you... 45 pounds is my goal (give or take a couple pounds) for me to lose... I have about 10 pounds or so before I hit it. I have lost 34 at the moment from my heaviest so I am doing well with it. As for the wedding, I just hope it warms up for that dress :p
Allergies for me is the modl with the leaves... when they fall and don't get cleaned up, it gets nasty for me... especially after rain.

Need to get ouf of here quickly, but Linda, I do feel for you... it is cold and dreary here as well. I already miss summer.

Have a wonderful evening all!

IASW Rider

11-12-2004, 01:29 PM

Hello!

34 pounds is AMAZING, Elaine!!!!! And that's VERY close to 45!!!!! You'll be there in no time! :) That is wonderful! :)

It's cold, rainy, dreary, and dark here, too, Linda and Elaine. YUCK. Wasn't it just nice and sunny and 70 degrees??? It seems like it became winter overnight. :(

We just brought our plants inside, too, Linda! And we're fortunate that some of ours bloom in our garage over the winter, too! :)

I hope that you're able to make it to the DIS Meet - that would be so neat! It's something nice to think about, anyway! And they aren't requiring a final commitment right now, so it doesn't hurt to receive the information for consideration in the future!

Well, we're off to cheer ourselves up about this depressing weather.........by going to see "The Incredibles"! :) Have a great weekend, Everyone! :)

(P.S. We're taking my father and uncle to visit Helene and Bob tomorrow, Linda - will take pictures and send your regards! :) )

IASW Rider

11-12-2004, 01:31 PM

I can't believe that I keep forgetting to ask this - who are those adorable puppies in your signature, Elaine? New companions for your kitties????? :)

helenabear

11-12-2004, 02:14 PM

Thank you Lisa... just seems the last little bit is the hardest to get rid of I think. But I am sure I'll get there in no time :)

Enjoy your afternoon at the Incredibles. Let me know what you think of it.

As for the dogs... well long story short, I was telling a friend of mine about a dog I had as a child and the breed. He went to look up the breed on Google.com (Puli is the breed) and then he sent me this pic saying he thought it was cute. I had to agree and thought if I put it in my sig, it might make someone smile.
No dogs here, much to my dismay... still just the two furbabies :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-12-2004, 03:51 PM

Hi there Lisa! I miss the sun and seventy degrees as well. That is my favorite temperature. The heat sucks the breath right out of me.

Please do tell Helen hi from me. I get an occasional forward from her but I don't think she has actually written me something more than a half a dozen times in all these years and when she does it is to tell me that she is busy taking care of her husband. I have emailed her and asked if she wanted the recipes but have not heard back from her. I am delighted to hear that things seem to be better and she is getting out and about some though.

My dream house would have an extra large garage. Would be so much easier to store things there and getting them and down basement steps. I can barely get myself up and down them nowadays.

I am keeping an eye on the Meet thread and we will see what happens.

Helenabear, 34 pounds is an amazing amount for someone your size especially. Any tips on how you did it? Any good recipes that will not add pounds? The black dog has hair just like mine. LOL

Back to the yardwork. I have a small one coming to spend the night tonight. I had planned for us to watch some movies but he is banned from tv for telling a 'butt" joke. He is 7, if he is still doing so when he is 70 - let me think on that one a minute. --- Of course he will still be telling such jokes then, he is a man (in the making). LOL I am sure we will come up with something interesting to do anyway. His current passion is to transcribe whole chapters of his favorite (at the moment) book. It is an encyclopedia of animals. His handwriting is much superior to mine.

His older brother was explaining math problems to me last night. I did not understand a thing he was telling me. Hope he does not ever ask for math help. 2 plus 2 is 4 and beyond that I am in a quandry, unless it is my checkbook balance and that I know very well. Works for me!!

SG/Linda

lunabkat

11-13-2004, 01:36 PM

Hi all.

Just checking to see if my avitar shows up. I just qualified for tagfairy lottery. Woo-hoo! I didn't even know about them until today, how exciting.

Linda, i have been meaning to pm you about the millionaire, hopefully will be able to get to it today, wow, the time is flying around here. I can't seem to turn around without something to do for school or work.

Helenabear, i have recently lost 20 lbs, so i am with you in spirit on your quest. Hope to lose another 20lbs before i am done, but just breaking 200 lbs for the first time in 15 years is pretty exciting too.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

LL

lunabkat

11-13-2004, 01:38 PM

OOOOO!

he's so cute (my kitty).

"Love to eat the mousies..." LOL

LL

lunabkat

11-13-2004, 02:03 PM

YIKES!

How politically incoorect is that? Of course i mean NON-disney mousies. sorry Mickey.:rolleyes:

SlightlyGoofy

11-13-2004, 05:00 PM

lunabkat, LOL. It is fine with me if your kitty eats every mouse on Earth as long as he/she leaves Mickey and his family alone. LOL I am in favor of any animal, as along as it has a zipper up the back.

What might tagfairy lottery be? I cannot believe that I do not have nary a tag at all. Surely I have said something that should have gotten me noticed. Sheer volume should count as well as being Slightly Goofier than most. (grin)

What would you like to know about Millionaire? How to win? Is easy, just get every answer right AND get them faster than anyone else. LOL There are a couple of things that you do need to know really. I could not understand how I did not even get on the boards the first time I played even though I was getting the answers right, most of the time but someone here on the boards set me straight and I will gladly pass on my knowledge. (the answer is NOT always C no matter what anyone tells you.) LOL

I just about have all the water fountains drained and covered for the winter. Was sidelined cause dear Dalton has a mishap last night. He showed up for his usual Friday night sleepover and had a jacket with some metal snaps in his hand. When he went to knock on the door one of the snaps hit the door exactly right and glass flew everywhere. In between his sobbing, he was scared, and my trying to convince my dd and dsil that walking through the glass and then through the house was not helping me (I failed) things were quite a riot. Manged to get Dalton calmed down and shoo my dd and dsil out of the house but then had to spend a couple of hours cleaning everything up. Is what happens when you are a hick who seldom wears shoes. dsil could not understand why I would not let him just sweep the glass into the front flower beds. We have different life styles, when you live out in the country I guess you do things differently. Did I tell you all of my need for a couple of buckets of dirt when I had the new sidewalk put in? When I put the request to my dd she informed me that they did not have any extra dirt on all of their fifty acres. For some a nursing home might be a scary proposition but it looks a whole lot better, to me, than living with my dear children. Bet they feel the same about me too. LOL

The pickup is loaded to the top of the bed and I still have a couple more flowerbeds to clear out. More than one trip to the dump (15 miles from here) might be necessary. The powers that be do not allow yard waste to go to the dump in interests of not overloading the landfill. Gee, does not grass etc. rot while the plastics and such they do allow hang around for milleniums? Just a thought.

Our government at work. (sigh)

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

11-14-2004, 12:41 PM

Hey Everyone!

Wow, Linda - sounds like you are having quite the productive weekend, while Tom is away! Just don't work too hard - it sounds like you've accomplished so much already - you need to have some time to yourself to relax, too!

Thank God Dalton was OK and that no one was hurt after he had that accident! It could happen to anyone - it's just good that he is all right and that no one was cut by the glass! Did you have a nice visit together, after everything calmed down?

Hope that you and Colleen have a great time together, tomorrow! You will both have to come to the Suite to tell us all about your get-together! Wish that we could all be there to join you!

Congratulations on your recent 20 pound weight loss, Lauralee! That is fantastic! It really is a great accomplishment! Keep up the great work! I think that most of us on this thread are all in the same spirit of that quest to lose a few pounds! I lost 86 pounds (88 on a "good day"! :) ) as of last year and have sort of been hanging steady at a "plateau" for the past year. Wouldn't mind losing just a few more! Anyway, we are just a bunch of "big losers", here on this thread! It's great that we can come here to give one another encouragement and cheer eachother on! :) And I love your kitty avatar! Very cute! :)

Hi Elaine! I know what you mean about those last pounds being the most pesky! But don't worry - I'm sure you will just continue to keep up the great work, and they will be gone before you know it! And thanks for the explanation about the puppy photo - they are very cute! :)

"The Incredibles" was a great movie - we really enjoyed it! And we also saw the trailer for next year's Pixar offering, "Cars".

We had a nice time in Pennsylvania, yesterday, visiting some old family friends with my father and uncle (that's the lady, Helene, to whom Linda was referring in her previous post). And now we're off to watch the Sunday football games on TV with some old ML friends!

Hope that you're all having a great weekend! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-14-2004, 12:58 PM

Lisa, are you lurking somewhere with the environs of my home? How did you know that I am seriously considering taking the day off and doing not much of anything today? Is a hard decision to make as it will mean having to make yet another trip to the dump before Thanksgiving though. I do have about half of my Christmas cards done as of this morning. I took over Tom's seat in the kitchen with the tv set on and whizzed right through them. This is the only time of the year when I wish I knew fewer people. LOL

Yes, I was much relieved that poor Dalton was alright. He was just scared and needed hugging. Even if he had broken the door on purpose I would not be one to be mad. My dad beat me pretty bad once for breaking a storm door glass and he was the one who threw me through it. (that which does not kill us makes us strong or at least weird-(smile)

We have a wonderful evening after I got everything calmed down and back in order. One of my fondest wishes was realized as Dalton and I laid in bed (he stole grandad's place) and were reading our respective books. He read a seven chapter book in one day last week. He is the only member of my immediate family who loves to read as much as I do.

Austin called me last night and said some things that gave me hope that he might have a better future, if he just follows through. He was at the church from 9 until after 7 last night, practicing for the Christmas play. Dalton is appalled cause he will be playing Herod. I told him that it was an important part and they needed someone with his acting skills to pull it off. He only has one more day of being grounded for his latest 'joke'. I have told him that he should only tell such to me as I am strange enough to appreciate them. Hope it helps or the kid will be grounded forever. His mom was grounded for years (it felt like) but she has forgotten such. LOL

Lisa, you and Frank are so special for not only spending time with the older generations of your families but enjoying it as well. Is a rare and wonderful thing and you all gain so much from the time well spent.

I have my clothes laid out for the meet tomorrow. Colleen, I will be wearing an apricot blouse and a huge smile!!

SG/Linda

lunabkat

11-14-2004, 02:35 PM

Hi all,

Tag Fairy lottery is just my made up name for getting tagged on the board. Apparently you have to post at least 30 times before you qualify for the privilege of being considered for tagging and i posted my 30th yesterday - yea!

My dds went to see Polar Express last night and loved it. My neice took them and they had the best time.

Millionaire sounds like fun, i will definately try it when we are there. Too bad no ones going around our time, it would be fun to hook up in disney sometime. (12/11-12/18).

Take care everyone, talk soon.

LL

SlightlyGoofy

11-14-2004, 02:52 PM

Hi there LL (see you are into initials like I am LOL)

If you have to post 30 times to be tagged I must be missing something. I recently did my 2,000th one and am still tagless. Maybe I had better look closer, they may done one of those printed on ones I just have not noticed cause it does not itch. (grin)

I love to see good books made into movies if they are done well. Polor Express is a great book and I am looking forward to it. I hated The Cat in the Hat, what a waste of good material and even good casting. Too much 'adult' humor to suit me. I came close to walking out and have never walked out of a movie in my life. I had my grands with me and we had been looking forward to it. Not a movie I will be buying. I did buy Pirates the other day though. Did I tell you all that they are making PORC 2 & 3 now?

Watching the Comedy Central's 100 best standups of all time. I love intelligent stand up comedy and they are showing clips. I grew up with Mort Sahl and all the old political satarists. There was a lot of satire in my day.

Please pm me with your Millionaire questions cause there are a couple of things you need to know if you have any chance to get on the boards let alone the hot seat. If I cannot win the big prize it would please me if you could.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

11-14-2004, 03:18 PM

Hi girls! Wow, all this talk of weight loss gives me hope. I am bumbling along through Weight Watchers, creeping as I always do. Sure seem to put it on faster than I lose it... Anyhow, after too much birthday cake I dreaded "weigh-in" yesterday. I forced myself to go to the meeting. Tried hard the rest of the week, though, and managed to lose a pound. At this rate I will be thin by 2080... But at least I am trying... As posts here will attest, few and far among us are thin anymore. It's a struggle in the land of plenty, at least plentiful junkfood. Everywhere we look there are fast food joints. I pass SO many on the drive to my WW meeting, it's a cruel joke. I have never been a smoker or even a drinker, but BOY am I an eater!

Linda, I have no idea what I am wearing tomorrow but I promise it will be clean and relatively color-coordinated, and I will also be smiling. We can chow down on all those veggies at Ryan's and share pictures. In your honor I completed my little photo album today, with all my favorite shots from our last 3 trips to Orlando. Most are of the kids enduring yet another picture... I am hoping some nice waitress will take our picture for pals here in the suite.

Hope everyone is enjoying the rest of their weekend and I will report back after the marathon gab-fest tomorrow. I somehow don't expect any awkward silences when Linda and I are loose together! :)

helenabear

11-14-2004, 03:45 PM

Hi all! Taking a break from setting up the Christmas stuff we have. Normally I do it Thanksgiving weekend, but I will be out of town on TG day, should be very busy on Friday and have a wedding to go to on Sat. So wiht all the cleaning and packing I have ahead of me, figured this weekend was much better to try for.

Linda, I admit there wasn't much to my dieting that really is that different. I do have a regular "menu" I have at work that I will eventually expand on, but stick with now just for convenience. I have granola bars for breakfast (the crunchy kind) and then a meal bar at lunch (Slim Fast chewey granola type is my choice) then for dinner I more or less just pick what I want. I just cut back on my calories and w/o even trying I can pretty easily stick with 1200 or so a day. Fortunately I am not a big eater so that helps. So no recipes here... just being a bit more conscious about what I put into my mouth. It's pretty easy now, but the last 8 pounds will probably require me to excersize in order to lose them easier. I'll try that later this week ::yes::

Lauralee, congrats on your weightloss! That is great! As Lisa said, we are a bunch of big losers here ;)

Lisa, talk about amazing! 86 pounds is great!!! You do look wonderful now as well (not that you didn't look good before). I am glad you enjoyed the movie. Luis loved it and I thought it was pretty good. Not my favorite, but not my least favorite either :teeth:

You know I really think I need to get the book Polar Express. I hadn't even heard of it until this year :eek: I hear it is a very cute story :)

Colleen, I know what you mean about fast food. In our lives it is a must... I have found though that if I eat a kids meal only at a fast food place, that I do much better. Not just all the fast food, but the size of the portions... and I was shocked when I found out how many calories a small fry (let alone large) really is. We still do Wendy's often, but a new love of mine is a meatball sub! Fills me up wonderfully and a bit better for me than a combo from fast food places.

WEll my tree is calling my name... I had best get back to it.

SlightlyGoofy

11-14-2004, 04:20 PM

Colleen, silence?? What is that?? LOL I love to talk. I can go days without having anyone to talk to and if it were not for the computer I think I would go stark raving mad. (maybe I have and I am not aware of it) LOL

I am sorry, no fancy photo album here. I did put a stack of my last photos together in a bag. I used to be much better at all this but it struck me that I have no one who will care about the pictures when I am gone so it sort of took the wind out of my sail. My single sister made that remark about why she did not take pictures and I had never thought about it anymore. Not sure why I still take pictures though. I did take a lot of them to show the grands what all we did. Many from Kilamanjaro for my animal boy. LOL

We are so blessed to live in a country where one of our biggest concersn is having too darned much but it is ironic as well. I feel a bit guilty about having weight to lose while there are people starving. I have lost about 90 pounds but that is nothing compared to Lisa as that is all she had to lose and I could stand to lose another 90. If we all ever start to eat healthy I fear that the restaurants will go out of business as they would not be able to make money on serving a sliced apple and a bit of cheese which is what we really should be eating. (sigh)

BTW, our WW meeting is held right next to a pizza place.

Helenabear!! You are putting up your tree? I used to be the same but this year I am seriously considering not putting up anything. I will miss my Disney window. I have many animations that the kids love but they are getting too old for such anymore. The holidays are a hard time for me, always have been. This year I am going to go out to eat with friends and spend time phoning and writing people that I love. I will wave while I am in Columbus on Thanksgiving. My sister lives in Blacklick and we are all meeting there. The older ones of us will be getting together a couple of days earlier before the younger ones join us. One sister is refusing to come but everyone else should be there and that is quite a feat for a family of 8. Hoping that the holdout will change her mind but doubtful. There always seems to be one.

If you enjoy chocolate you might check out the Momentum bars, they are low carb and low cal and so delicious. I have to only buy one box at a time as I am quite capable of eating all of a dozen or so boxes. Lots of good nutrition as well. The WM reduced hot cocoa has been reformulated and now has 30% calcium. It is a bit too sweet (Spenda) for me so I add a half tsp of cocoa to it but it is a good price as well. If I had your intestional fortitude I would not be in the shape I am. I love food. I am pickier than I used to be though so that is something. WM also has a wonderful Asian Chicken Salad for about 350 calories for a huge bowl,(deli section) that makes a wonderful meal.

Back to work, cards are almost done now.

SG/Linda

helenabear

11-14-2004, 05:17 PM

Honestly Linda, Christmas is such a hard holiday for me, that I am doing all I can to get past it and enjoy it. It's been over 10 years since I truly loved the holiday. It was the one my mom loved more than anything else in the world so her dying 10 days before it 11 years ago this Dec. really made it hard for me. So I am happy to say that this year should be different :) Although I am not so sure about the Christmas cards... I might have to start them today :eek:

Kind of funny that as you head my way, I will be heading more West myself for Thanksgiving. My grandma lives just north of Dayton, OH so we'll be there instead.

LOL, I am a truly picky eater and I guess I never really needed to eat much. My biggest problem actually is this low carb craze has brought out sweeteners that I cannot touch. My body doesn't react to artificial sweeteners well at all, so I find myself reading labels and putting items back more than I ever used to. I will look at those bars, but fortunately I don't crave chocolate too much :)

I do have my tree totally up now (did most of it yesterday though) Now I think I am just going to relax and read for a while :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-14-2004, 06:07 PM

LOL, Elaine, you cannot escape me. We will be having Thanksgiving dinner at Clifton Mills not too far from Dayton. LOL Our family dinner will be on Friday as one sister is flying in from Florida.

The holidays are hard for me because I still hope for a Norman Rockwell one and that is destined not to be. No matter how much I clean, decorate or whatever I cannot get the people in my life to cooperate. To tell the truth it is about all I can do to have Christmas Eve 'celebration". If it were not for the grandsons I might as well put the presents on the porch so that the parents would not be put through the trouble of having to come in to pick them up. They usualy come in and fall asleep on the couch until time for church. I know they are worn out and I should be grateful that they feel comfortable enough to do so and if they came over and did otherwise a few times a year, I would be.

Please hold the memories of your mom dear and know that she is as much a part of your holidays as ever, just in a different guise. She would be proud to see how you have grown up and by continuing her traditions you are honoring her memory.

Your friend, Linda/SG

SlightlyGoofy

11-15-2004, 09:11 AM

I am wide awake, not something I usually am at this time of the day. Yes, I am out of bed at this time but is more like sleepwalking rather than being alert. LOL However, today is special. I am going to meet Colleen for lunch in a bit less than three hours.

Hope she has a digital camera otherwise we will have to wait a few days to post pics.

I often have lunches that last 3 or more hours so this should be interesting. LOL

Bet no one can name a subject I do not have an opinion on, sometimes more than one. (grin)

SG/Linda

colleen costello

11-15-2004, 09:54 AM

I am definitely bringing the digital camera. And warning dear hubby that tonite I will be bugging him to help me get the picture posted!

Linda and I are going to a buffet restaurant where you can sit for hours and the waitresses don't care. We have a lot to talk about! I got my favorite WDW photos into a little album and we are going to look at pictures and carry on and just pretend we are in Orlando not Bloomington. Too bad it is only 40 degrees out when the weatherman said it would be 81 in Orlando today. I think he says these things just to torture me :)

lunabkat

11-15-2004, 11:08 AM

Can someone tell me how to get a counter, i want up to the minute info here and i can't find out what to do...

Simba: you're so wierd uncle scar.

Scar: You have no idea...

IASW Rider

11-15-2004, 12:54 PM

Hello!

It's so funny that you're talking about putting up your tree, Elaine, and writing your holiday cards, Linda, because I have been fighting myself from doing the same! Chanukah is less than a month away, now, so I've been trying to justify to myself taking out all of the decorations and putting them up now (usually I do so over Thanksgiving weekend). I always love putting up decorations - it makes the house cheerier and gets us into the spirit of the upcoming holidays! And I have all of our holiday cards addressed, but was saving writing them 'til Thanksgiving weekend (since Frank will be away - it will keep me busy so that I don't concentrate on missing him too much! Plus, I always love to write them while simultaneously watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV! :) ). But I've been getting "antsy" and wanting to do everything now (I've been feeling a little "down" lately and am looking forward to the holidays to cheer me up!), and keep convincing myself that it's way too early. But............since you're all getting your holiday things ready...........maybe it actually ISN'T too early..........! :) :) :) Maybe I will take out the Chanukah decorations later and we'll wait and put up the Christmas decorations just before Frank leaves on Thanksgiving weekend! :)

I'm sorry - I don't know how / where to get a counter, Lauralee! But I'll bet that someone else on this thread does!

Have a great time today, Linda and Colleen! Wish that we could all be there with you! Have fun, enjoy, and please post pictures as soon as you can!

Have a great day, Everyone! :)

colleen costello

11-15-2004, 07:01 PM

Hello ladies! Well I am back from the big rendezvous with Linda and we had a ball. Lots of hugs and giggles and lots of gabbing. As promised, we plopped ourselves at a table and didn't budge until 4 hours later when I had to go get the kids. I think we easily could have stayed 4 more hours as we were surrounded by food and friendly waitresses. I give credit to Linda that I had such a good time that I managed to resist ALL the desserts, which loomed in the background.

Linda brought me a Disney birthday card and a beautiful bunch of pale roses with glitter on the petals, very much like pixiedust. She says that this was a belated birthday gift from the suite... Thank you! The flowers are just beautiful and I will enjoy them all week. We talked lots about all the meets of suite members past and present, and I will be jealous if Linda does venture to Allentown in July for the East Coast meet.

We had lots to talk about. Lots of discussion about favorite WDW foods and restaurants (seems I have to try the Garden Grill), favorite places to stay, good places from which to see the fireworks, best beaches for EWP viewing, good offsite eateries, and of course, LOTS of discussion about our crazy families. Seems like Linda and I have some nutty family members! It's always fun to share and gripe and giggle. We hope to get together again soon, closer to Linda's home where there is a great outlet mall. She says she is not much of a shopper but we can yak while we shop! :)

Linda says I am in person just as I am on the Boards, and I think the same of her, smart and friendly and lots of fun. I will always thank her for inviting me into the suite, as I count you all as friends now. As soon as hubby gets home I will have him Email our picture to Linda and Lisa, and hopefully one of them can post it long before I would figure out how to do so.

Love to all and watch out for the picture!

Colleen

SlightlyGoofy

11-15-2004, 08:08 PM

I cannot add much to Colleen's great report. Is as she said and more. You all might not know this but I am actually shy. I think the reason I am so comfortable around you all is that you are genuine, the same on the Boards as in person and not a phony baloney bone in any of your bodies.

Just got home and am a bit tired out so maybe Colleen did NOT say that the sight of me killed her appetite for dessert. LOL If it did I give her permission to blow up the picture the nice waitress took and carry it with her everywhere. Unfortunately her picture would not kill my appetite. I have noticed that good company does help be to curb my eating habits though. I was so good at lunch even I was shocked. Think I could have eaten even less but was compelled to eat something since I had paid for it.

In my real life I am not blessed with having a lot of people that I can talk and relate to and spending a few hours with someone who could throw away words like "Indian Joe", "Ayn Rand", and Pearl Buck made this old lady very happy. Not that I am a brain snob or anything but it is great to talk to people with some of the same experiences and interests once in awhile as well as meet people who can introduce me to new concepts.

We might meet in Nashville next time, it is about in the middle and when I lived down there I never got to go to town. Was in the early days of my marriage when my dh was still under the misconception that a wife could be kept in a pumpkin shell. This woman did NOT keep very well.

Good night and I hope to be able to check in tomorrow night. Have a very busy day tomorrow. Have to give a ride to a lady in the morning, TOPS later, shopping at Aldi's, meet Tom for dinner and then back to attend a school board meeting as my dd sent me an email and is in desperate need of warm bodies to back her up. Her medical billing company is bidding against the evil empire for the school contract. Having just lost a big company recently they can ill afford to lose more. I fear for her job. Knowing her as I do I know that she will attempt superhuman things in order to keep the place afloat. Have seen her do such before.

SG/Linda

SlightlyGoofy

11-15-2004, 08:10 PM

Colleen, just thought of something after reading your post again. Don't cha just feel sorry for our poor families? What in the world do they talk about since you and I are perfect and nothing like them at all? (giggle)

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

11-15-2004, 11:56 PM

Hey Linda and Colleen! So glad to hear that you both had such a great time together, today! Wish that we could have all been there to join you.....but we were with you in spirit! :)

Look at this fantastic picture of Colleen and Linda that Colleen forwarded to me for posting, tonight:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=53ce&.dnm=7c9f.jpg&.src=ph

You both look wonderful! :)

Hope that all is well with everyone and hope that you're all having a good night! :)

lunabkat

11-16-2004, 11:00 AM

Hi all

:mad: :bounce: :bounce:

My husband's sister moved to FL last year and wants us to come "look at the house" while we are down there. Yuck! What a waste of time, 2 1/2 hours there and 2 1/2 hours back. If we go he wants to spend the nite because of the drive. He doen't really want to go either, but i don't know if we can duck it. It seems rude not to go, but yet i hate to waste the time. Its not as if i want to spend alot of time with these people and i am trying not to begrudge it but it is very hard.

MY family is meeting us in SeaWorld because, as my Aunt Barbara put it "You are here to see the parks, and we want to see you."

I have a ps for pooh bear lunch that day and chip n dale that night at the garden grill. Neither of these would be a trip buster to miss, but i really, really, really don't want to go.:( :( I mean, i wouldn't mind (so much) if they lived close enough that we could do lunch, but blowing a whole day is really bumming me out. She's just one of those people who, after your done talking to her for a while, says something that makes you feel like crap and you wonder "What the hairy, heck am i talking to this *%$#@ for?"

I could stand my ground and just tell dh that we are not going, but i am hoping he will just say forget it, we are not going. He is on the fence, i don't think he wants to spend mucho time with her either, but she is his sister and no one from the family has gone to see her house yet (its been a year) so i know she is dying to show it off (who wouldn't, it looks like a lovely house). Its not that i hate her, i ccould last the day, but i am bemoaning the fact we might lose a whole day...

Oh well, what you do for family, yuck, yuck, yuck.:charac2:

colleen costello

11-16-2004, 05:06 PM

Lunabkat, this is a tough situation. Linda and I spent a good part of our time together yesterday discussing crazy relatives, so I am sure everyone here commiserates. Here is my 2 cents and you may take it or leave it. If Sis isn't a close one and you would just as soon not give up a day, then don't. Tell your husband honestly that the trip is your special time -- time you make for yourselves after working hard all year -- and it is not to be tampered with. I believe WDW time is PRECIOUS. After all, most of us on these boards are nutso over WDW. I know that I consider it a "good"year if I have traveled to Disney more than a couple of times! The days are SO precious. I would tell Sis honestly that you will be tired from travel TO Orlando and refuse to travel more while on your vacation. If she wants to see you, she can meet you for a lunch at WDW. It is not fair of her to expect you to come to her. You are traveling all the way to Florida! If she wants to meet, let her "meet you halfway" and come to WDW.

Again, you can take this advice or leave it. I just think that all too often we allow ourselves to be bullied. I am largely a doormat in too many situations, and so I always encourage friends to stand up for themselves. I am a fan of Miss Manners, who always permits declining unwanted invitations provided we are polite. She always tells folks to say "Oh I am sorry that just won't be possible" -- no excuses needed -- and just keep repeating that. "Oh I am sorry, that just isn't possible, but we would love to meet you for a lunch at WDW if you want to come up" will do nicely. And you can tell your hubby I said so! :)

lunabkat

11-17-2004, 11:46 AM

LOL thanks colleen

i appreciate the support and i will try just that. she had asked what we had planned (and being a big planner) ittold her all of the character meals and special disney things we had planned for the week. she replied that it looked as if we were pretty much booked up and i replied, yes we are. so i am leaving it at that for now and am planning my trip without the extra visit. keep your fingers crossed. I would much rather leave it at this then get into another discussion about it with her and my dh is going along with me, yea!

:p

lunabkat

11-17-2004, 02:39 PM

:wave:

A quick shout out to Elaine. I am so sorry honey, you sure are having a bad day.My daughter Shannon was killed in an accident 8 years ago (she was 12, never met my other 2 dds, who miss her, even tho they never met her) so i know how hard the holidays can be.

Its very hard to not wish things were different. Down the years, new blessings (such as my 2 little dlas) help a bit, because you can't wish things back to the old way without wishing away the new, can you?

So everytime a new blessing comes your way, think of how your loved one would have cheered you on and kiss it up to God.

The sweet and the bittersweet merge with every holiday, sometimes I still almost reach for the phone to call my mom before i remember she's not there. Your mom would hate the fact that the holidays are so hard for you, i commend you for pushing thru like you do, but i wish, i wish that you too have blessings you don't want to change. i have found these to be among the most soul/heart strengthening things in the world for a wounded heart.

Sending a ton of fiath, trust and pixie dust your way today, along with a great big hug.

Lauralee:grouphug:

helenabear

11-17-2004, 03:03 PM

Hi all... was about to post last night when I lost internet access... finally coming in today to say hi :)

Linda, I tried to look up Clifton Mills and couldn't find it. Where I will be will be north of Dayton, so we won't be that far apart. I am there just for the day though. I'll be back in Columbus late that night. We have a busy weekend though, so I won't be able to enjoy the weekend the way I normally do ;)
And thank you kindly for your thoughts... I am sure you are very right about my mom and how she'd feel about me :)

Lauralee, you can get a countdown here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=381216
Just follow the instructions and that will guide you through it. The tech support people can always help you as well :)

I am so glad that the meet went so well! I love the picture! Colleen, you remind me of a friend of mine from HS (good thing trust me) and Linda, you are looking as good as ever ::yes::

Now abou that family, Lauralee... not sure you want to hear my thoughts. I had family that was about 1-2 hours away from Orlando. I don't always get a car and honestly it is my vacation to relax... family doesn't always do it to me ;) I say send your husband and enjoy your pooh and chip& dale meals ::yes::
Now I am big on family, but not always when it comes to vacation.

As for the rest of what you said... words cannot really say how all that made me feel... but know that I do appreciate your thoughts and my heart goes out to you with your DD and mother... big hug back your way as well :hug:

IASW Rider

11-17-2004, 10:56 PM

Lauralee - I was also very touched by your thoughtful and wise words and message to Elaine. My mother passed away a little over a year ago, and your words were very relevant and meaningful to me, as well. And I am so sorry to hear about your DD and your mother, as well.

We will be thinking of you, Elaine and Lauralee, and your families and wishing you all the blessings of a peaceful holiday season and the gift of your families and the people around you who love you.

And I completely agree with everything that Colleen and Elaine so beautifully phrased, with regard to your sister-in-law dilemma. I'm sure that she would understand if you explained that you've been looking forward to your first WDW trip as a family for so long, put a lot of time and heart into planning it, and that it really means a lot to you all. You could also tell her that perhaps you all would come back to Florida to see her home on another occasion, when you would have more time to spend with her (which is a compliment to her and might make her feel good - that you would rather see her at a time where you could enjoy her company and see her home for a longer period of time). But you should not compromise your vacation plans or feel the least bit "guilty" or badly about not doing so. Concentrate on all of the fun things that you have planned for your family at WDW and the other parks, and don't worry about your sister-in-law's invitation - I'm sure that everything will work out well, and that you will enjoy your time at WDW and be able to see your SIL's new home another time! (By the way, I love your smiley playing the violin for sympathy! :) )

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're having a good night! :)

lunabkat

11-18-2004, 10:45 AM

!Hi all

I can't tell you how happy i am when i checkmy mail and see the ewp group? on the list. This is my favorite thread, i love to see what everyone is up to.

Thanks so much rider and helenabear for your kind words. The holidays are always tuff but the dlas really liven things up around here, i can't help but think how Shannon would have loved them and vice versa. They have the best guardian angel ever!

Gonna try to talk the ddh into putting the christmas lights up this week, he just loves to do that:rolleyes: !

Still have no idea what in the world the dh's family is doing for thanksgiving. Every year its the last minute, while my sister does dinner approximately the same time every year, his familly is always in a turmoil. (Not very good cooks either - meow!:cat: )

I just don't understand what the bit deal is, i mean, comon, its the same thing every year, get a grip!

Oh. well, i must try not to let it drive me crazy, but since we fit in both families every year (they live close by, thank goodness) it just seems darn inconsiderate;) )

Hope to see some talkin' soon,

LL

IASW Rider

11-18-2004, 02:07 PM

Hi Lauralee!

I know what you mean about being frustrated with relatives making last minute plans - I much prefer knowing exactly what we're doing well in advance, too! You're fortunate that your family and your in-laws live fairly close by so that you are able to spend time with all of them on the holidays! My in-laws live all the way down in Cumberland County (that's Exit 2 off the Turnpike! :) ) - 2 hours away. But my Dad lives in Edison and my uncle lives in New Brunswick, so they are close by and easy to see and visit with.

The "splitting of the holidays" was always easy for DH and me - we spend all of the Jewish holidays with my family and all of the Christian holidays with DH's family. We just got "stuck" on the secular holidays, though - so until last year, we always spent Thanksgiving and Mother's Day with our respective families (Frank's father passed away when he was 5 years old, so he spends Father's Day with my family). My in-laws would have had my family come down for all of the holidays, too, so that we could all be together, but my mother was bed-ridden the last few years of her life, and my father was her exclusive caretaker and wouldn't leave her. Since she couldn't travel, I would always "make" the holidays at my parents' house. Now that my mother is gone, my father will come down to my in-laws with us for Christmas, after we celebrate Chanukah up here. We would go down for Thanksgiving, too, but that would leave my uncle alone on the holiday.........and now HE is not well enough to handle a long car trip like that, so I'm "making" Thanksgiving for the 3 of us, here.

Anyway, I hope that your DH's family lets you know of their plans soon, so that all of your Thanksgiving plans will be in order! :)

And your DD's are certainly lucky to have such a special Guardian Angel in Shannon, looking over and looking out for them. I'm sure that she will always be in their hearts, as she is in your whole family's.

Hope that all is well with all of you! (Not too much to report, here - just went holiday gift shopping with some friends, yesterday, which was fun!) Have a nice day! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-18-2004, 08:13 PM

Ahhh, lunabkat, what kind words about our dear EWP Suite. I do not believe I have ever heard a harsh word spoken in here, is a lovely bunch here and you are a most welcome additon.

Speaking as a woman who has spent her life doing for her family and trying to be perfect in order to gain their love and respect I have finally come to the sorry conclusion that bending over backward will just make you dizzy. LOL I have a sister in Florida and she does very little in the way of anything family related and is happily single and childfree, by choice, and family members fall over themselves to please her. I have taken in every single of my siblings at one time or another and am known for giving up anything I might want, last minute or whatever, for someone else in the family. Did it earn me respect, love or common decency? Nope. Not even usually a card for a birthday or anything even though I send them out by the dozens, money included. Do what you feel comfortable doing and maybe next trip or some long holiday you could go visit the sil and her new home, for a cheap vacation. After several days with visitors, especially ones with dear children most people will not be eager for a return trip until the pain wears off. (a teaspoon of sugar or a pound or so just before arriving will facilitate matters greatly) ( I am soooo awful LOL)

Lest anyone feel badly for poor old me, I get loads of cards from others, some lady I loaded groceries for once ten years ago, my older friends that I drive around, old classmates and friends from my youth, and even dear cyber friends so I do not go cardless. Just seems that the ones I do the most for take me for granite/granted (or marble). (vent-vent-vent)

I have changed though. We go away for Thanksgiving now. The last meal I slaved over was seasoned with many gripes about 'having' to attend so I now do other things. Volunteering in a soup kitchen is ever more heart warming.

Lauralee, I have lost children as well although not having had them as long as you did your dear daughter. I can imagine that the memories are bittersweet. They are always a part of you forever. It is wonderful that you are able to share her with her siblings instead of closing that part of your heart of as some might be tempted to do. Love is a wonderful thing, hard sometimes but how much sadder to have never known it at all?

Rider, leave it to you to make a religiously blended family an easier way to go. Is so true, but me thinks it is the special people involved that make it truly so. It is a gift to be able to entertain as you do and make it seem so easy. Your dad is so kind to be able to share the holidays with Frank's family and make it easier on you both. Bet both sides get along well too.

Elaine, no way would I expect you to meet me on my way through. (smile) Not even sure what we will end up doing. I know that Tom would love Clifton Mills but it might be either closed or very busy for the day. I will try to write down the exit number so you might find it sometime. I think you guys would like it. They serve a super sized breakfast platter that would feed a family of twelve. That is Tom's favorite. They also have lots of grains and old candies and such. Very pretty place. Might be closer to Springfield. I just know it when I see it. I will do a search and send it to you if I can find it.

Colleen, did I wear you out? LOL I doubt that with your energy you are ever worn out. Bet your hubby was relieved to see that you made it home safely. My bil was worried about me. Never occurred to my dh but then he thinks I am pretty capable of taking care of myself (and him). I told Kurt that you would be watching for him as he sings in Nashville. He is about 40, tall, thin and will be wearing his dad's grey tophat I think. He will be singing on our town square this weekend. The decorations are so lovely, millions of tiny white lights everywhere, homemade huge 'cards', bandstand with tree and lights, carriage rides all for our Country Christmas weekend. I will be baking like crazy tomorrow and then selling my baked goods and others at the museum tomorow night. They have turned the backpart into an old time soda fountain. I just plain love this town and most of its people. Wish you and yours could come, it will be pretty but it is a fur piece to drive. I sat in my bil's livingroom when I went to pick Tom up and watched baby deer play in his field. The country is a nice place to visit, just do not want to live there.

Have to get ready to play trivia. I am under the gun as I have missed so many games that I have not qualified for the quarterly finals as yet so I must win and soon!! Let the tiles fall my way. If I do not get called on I cannot answer.

SG/Linda

lunabkat

11-19-2004, 10:28 AM

Hi all:teeth:

How is everyone today. Rider, i wish my dh would get along with my ds and dbil like your family must. He is so jealous of them sometimes, its like hes a little kid. My ds and her hubby are rather like my parents in a way , since they passed on quite a long time ago, my sister ( who is several years older) kinda became my sister/mom (she practically raised me when i was little). My dh sees any ideas of theirs as "interfering" with our lives. Sometimes, i could just smack 'im! Hope all goes well for your holdiay.:wave:

Linda, what a nice letter. I am so sorry to hear about your little ones, its the toughest i have ever had to go thru and if feel for all the other parents who have had to endure.

Now, your family didn't know a good thing when they had it (TG at your house). I really look forward to TG at my sister's house (unfortunately, no longer so much at my inlaws, but frankly, they caused that themselves) I would love to live in a small town somewhere. I live in a town in Jersey and its nice, but sometimes i think of a place where you can walk to downtown, church is on the green, 4th of July picnic and you know everyone kind of thing. Don't get me wrong, i love my house and my neighbors are actually outstanding, but i guess sometimes i long for a simpler, quieter life, ya know? Where the kids aren't run from one eent to another (which i must admit, id ont do, but watching the other kids exhausts me) When you children could play outside without your being a nervouse wreck (or, like me, they don't venture out the door without me) I can remember being out by myself when i was five. My five year old isn't aloud to go out to get the mail alone.

Oh well, enjoy what you have, that's my motto!:smooth:

gotta go, the dlas want food.
:Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

Talk soon,

LL

colleen costello

11-19-2004, 05:23 PM

Hi girls. Luna, your last post sure made sense. I thank my lucky stars that I inadvertently moved away for NJ. Now don't get me wrong, I love NJ and I am a "Jersey girl" at heart, but I have adjusted to life here and the pace is better for ME -- just my opinion. I LOVE to visit back East but I would not live there anymore... Midwesterners are more laid back, and I DO live in a little town with the cheesy festivals and "everybody knows everybody else's business." Linda's little town is proabably even more so. When I visit my parents I love all that there is to do, but the pace is a little quicker and I am no longer used to that. I am sure that many -- perhaps the majority -- of people would be bored to death where Linda and I live, but after growing up in Bayonne and attending a SCARY public school there, I am so thankful that my kids are in school here. Less excitement and WAY smaller issues out here. I think where I live is suited to me now, and that is a nice thing. I love Florida but maybe wouldn't really like living there for the "city" feel much of it has... I guess this city mouse is now a country mouse and there is just no going back! Rider Emailed me about a designer in NYC and I have never heard of the woman... I told her here in Indiana, "designer" means you bought it at Target instead of Walmart! :)

I worked all day at the kids' two schools and I am beat. Talk about "limitless energy" that Linda thinks I have... None right now. It is nice to check in and see what all the ladies in the suite are up to. Luna, your mention of your daughter's death about broke my heart. Having never lost a child, not even a miscarriage, of course it is the thing I imagine I would never recover from. The kids drive me crazy sometimes, but they are my life. I can't even imagine how you move on... It was so nice to hear about how your little daughters have helped you to cope. I think your big trip to Orlando is going to be VERY special!

We are having a "Winter Wonderland" craft sale at Ian's school tomorrow. There are craft vendors and we sell food and Santa comes for pictures. Quite the extravaganza. I have to be back at school by 8am. Problem is I have to miss my Weight Watcher meeting, which I HATE to do... Us addicts need regukar meetings! I am afraid if I don't go to the meeting I might go crazy during the week and eat a bag of chocolates or something... I will have to focus very hard this week on making HEALTHY CHOICES... Never easy when the breakfast I will be doling out tomorrow morning is DONUTS!

xoxo

IASW Rider

11-20-2004, 08:58 PM

Hey Everyone!

Please forgive me for breaking into our current conversation - will post again when I have more time to continue the current topics that you all have been posting about.

But just wanted to let you all know that I was accepted to graduate school, today! Yea!!!! :) Thank you all so much for your many months of kind words of encouragement and support! Your posts have really meant a lot to me! :) Guess that I didn't wind up wasting the entire summer torturing myself (and torturing all of you by listening to my complaining! :( ) by relearning algebra and geometry, after all! :)

As of January, I will be an MPH candidate in Health Education and Behavioral Science, here: http://sph.umdnj.edu/ !

Hope that you're all having a great weekend! Will post again, soon! And now, back to our previously started conversation, already in progress................ ! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-20-2004, 11:24 PM

Lisa, hooray and congratulations!! There was never any doubt in my mind but that you would get to your goal. I do not believe I have ever heard you complain about anything. Bet Frank is proud of you as well. Party time in the Suite. Meet us in the new Penthouse. I have arranged for the EWP, Fantasmic, Illuminations, Spectromagic and Magic to be coordinated with the turnings of our Suite so that they will be visible while we enjoy our healthy repast served by the staff of Victoria & Alberts with wine pairings to set the mood. Nothing but the best for our favorite gal. (BTW, I did remember to tell you all that the new hydralics were installed when I had the Suite remodeled lately and we can rise to most any occasion as well as twirl)

Colleen and Luna, I told the gals at the museum about the current thread and your yearnings to live the simple life as we do here in our lovely town. I even took some pictures but who knows when I will get them developed let alone scanned. Our town is only about 2,000 strong and you would be amazed at the community support we had for our Country Christmas weekend. I strolled up the street (we just live around the corner from the square Luna) and took in the lights and sights, running into many friends and neighbors on the way. I got the 'duty' of helping children decorate large sugar cookies. You would not believe how many candies those kids managed to get loaded onto those things. There was nary a bare spot on any level surface as plates and pans of baked goods filled them. Many wise people loaded up bags and baskets with things so that they would not have much cooking to do for the upcoming holidays. We even had one grandma and granddaughter come dressed in antebellum costumes. The carollers were dressed like you might see in Victorian days. To make you all even more envious, you can buy one of the finest homes in town for about $125,000 and they are nice homes too. Since we were doubly blessed with dh working at a leading company that paid higher than normal wages we lived pretty high on the hog for country hicks. LOL I think one of the things I love best is the fact that we live in the middle of three major cities so we can get gussied up and head to the bright lights when we want too.

Have I made anyone want to come visit soon? I have extra bedrooms. LOL

SG/Linda

colleen costello

11-21-2004, 01:09 PM

Linda is right, the price of housing out here in "Hicksville" is great. Unfortunately for me, I grocery shop near the University and food is overpriced. My parents are appalled when they visit as food is higher here than Jersey. My Mom always tells me about the bargains she gets at ShopRite and Wegman's -- biggies back East -- and it just BUGS me!

Lisa, I am thrilled about your acceptance into the master's program. Good for you! You have "real life experience" with your past job and that sure could not have hurt. I had a dear professor from college tell me that a graduate degree is a wonderful accomplishment that no one can ever take away from you. This has proved true. Graduate school was a wonderful continuance of my education. Really taught me some sense and gave me a safe place to "grow up" too. I think any job I ever have in my life will put to use the counseling skills I learned. I also think your choice of major is very relevant in today's world. Good luck!

Linda, I did my first "secret shopper" assignment last night. My pal Tisha came with me and between the two of us, we were able to scope out everything we needed to. I told her dinner was on me if she would help me "evaluate" the place. We had a great dinner and a really nice time. We both had fajitas and shared cholcolate dessert. YUM. We felt like secret agents! The waiter was a sweetie and after dinner we went all over town finishing our Xmas shopping. I want to be DONE when all heck hits the malls next week.

Today is laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping (at those inflated prices!) I think Scott is going to take the kids to "Spongebob." Typical weekend. Ladies, I am getting my holiday cards made and will start sending them over the next two weeks. If any of you would like a great picture of my little darlings with Donald at Chef Mickey's, Email or PM me your addresses!

xoxo

SlightlyGoofy

11-21-2004, 02:39 PM

Hi Colleen!

The counselling skills that you acquired with your advanced degree will never be better used than in raising your dear ones. LOL

Glad you had good help on your first assignment. Sounds like you had a lot of fun also. Nothing like free food to perk someone up. LOL Shame you were forced to eat that chocolate dessert though. Hard job but someone has got to do it!

I taught how to shop for years so if you need any tips on how to cut down on your food bills I am your gal. Do you have an Aldi's there? It is a great source for fruits and veggies in particular. I figure if you are going to chop it up anyway it does not have to look like something from a magazine. There are a few products I do not like there but most are just great. When trying a new thing there just buy one or two until you are satisfied that you like it. I recently saw a show that had a family with 16 kids and they went grocery shopping. I recognized it an Aldi's they went to. Their bill was over $1200!! Aldi's only takes cash so I wonder if they had to bring a Brink's truck along to pay the bill or possibly had an arrangement since they are such frequent and big buyers.

It is wonderful that your hubby is enjoying some time with the kids while you get the housework done. Would have been nice if they had helped before they left but hey, we take what we can. LOL The reviews of the movie were not so very good as many of the characters in the tv version are not included. Heard that the Christmas Express (?) movie is quite good. I usually wait until movies come to the dollar theater myself. You have a good one over in the Mall from my information.

I have started my cards as well and would like your address. I will pm you with mine. I think I have everyone else's. Going to kick Tom out of the kitchen t his evening and sit to watch 60 Minutes while I work on cards some. Using that nice tiled table that Austin I did a couple of years back. Getting ready to do the half bath next. Took pictures of the upstairs bath that I remodeled recently and will try to post before and after photos. Big improvement from the hot pink and black decor from the 80's. LOL

SG/Linda

helenabear

11-21-2004, 04:49 PM

Hi all... very very quick hi here... busy day getting ready for Thanksgiving & the wedding as well as for the upcomign trip. And I am off to a charity event later tonight.

I wanted to say a very quick hi and Congratulations to Lisa!!! That is wonderful news!!!!

Oh and I had to change my dress for the wedding. THis was taken when I was tired, so excuse the face

http://home.columbus.rr.com/coqui/dress1.jpg

SlightlyGoofy

11-21-2004, 05:50 PM

Elaine, you are very pretty. Just one thing missing, the smile. Almost would not have recognized you without it. LOL We all have moments like that, unfortunately there is usually a camera somewhere around then. (grin)

The dress is very flattering and is my kind of style, simple and classy. How come such is usually more expensive to boot?

Have a fun night. Is good to have fun and do some good at the same time.

Linda/SG

IASW Rider

11-21-2004, 06:16 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Everyone! :)

So sorry that I haven't been able to send a real post in a few days, but I will, tomorrow! Just wanted to say "hi" and "thanks" to you all!

And that is a fantastic picture, Elaine - you look wonderful in that great dress! I love your hair, too! :)

Will write back later tonight or early tomorrow, Colleen - thanks for your great e-mail! :)

Hi Linda! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great weekend! :)

colleen costello

11-21-2004, 06:17 PM

Elaine, VaVoom, you are gorgeous! The dress is lovely. Hope the place has lots of heat.. I have told Rider how I never wear sleeveless, even when i am thin because I FREEZE to death! :) You'll have to share wedding photos afterward.

Linda, I try to save money on groceries but it is not easy in B'ton. I do my shopping at Marsh but only buy what I can't get at Target or Walmart. Both of those places were expanded recently here, and have a few food aisles but not the whole grocery store. I keep double lists and get all I can as cheaply as possible. It is hard because Scott is fussy about brand. I have shopped at Aldi's for school functions but don't like the one here. It is small and crowded. It isn't very clean and is not located in an area of town I am usually in -- it's not by other stores I frequent. Some things are serious bargains and other items I knew I could get cheaper at Walmart. I also never have cash and shopping there would mean a trip to the bank, so overall I am not an Aldi's girl. My friend Tammie teases me about disliking the place so, and calls me "Princess." I like bargains and get some at Sam's and the discount stores. Others have told me that many Aldi's are nicer than ours here in B'ton. I also resent having to use a quarter to get a cart!

Also, the cheapo theaters in B'ton are all gone. The one in town closed and recently the one in the mall too. They are renovating that end of the mall and adding Dick's Sporting Goods, whatever that is. We are a family of uncoordinated couch potatoes so doubt I will buy much there. Supposed to get a new Italian restaurant and a TGIFriday's, though -- food I can use. So we pick and choose the movies also. I have heard mixed reviews on both Polare Express and Spongebob, although the kids came home today all excited and loved this one today. Evidently David Hasselhoff shoots Spongebob and Patrick into the ocean by flexing his pectoral muscles somehow; that alone may have been worth the $6 ticket. Rider was supposed to see the film and perhaps she can elaborate. My kids got giggling so hard they couldn't tell me exactly what had occured. Ian came out with "nipples" and then they lost it... The movie was rated G so I know it couldn't have been too bad... In any case, it sounded very silly. Scott's only comment was "a little long." If the movies don't take place in outer space he gets bored.

Off to look around on WDWIG a bit and make plans for March. Going to look over menus and decide where to make reservations. Thinking about food and Orlando at one time always makes me happy. :)

xoxo

lunabkat

11-21-2004, 11:39 PM

Hi All.

Whew! Just got done working all weekend and, let me tell you, I thought Macedonian weddings were the limit, that was until "Our Iranian Affair to Remember" wedding last night. Holy Smokes!:crazy:

One minute they were sweet as pie, the next, yelling at you in iranian (or whatever) Yikes! Darn near got my tail singed off. Our resident Bridezilla was a real wack job...I feel sorry for the bridegroom.::yes:: The only time we servers were of notice was if there was something to gripe about, loudly.

Te funniest part of the nite was when the photgrapher told the groom to pick the bride up (about 3/4's of the way thru the reception, can anyone say "loaded"?) and he threw her up in the air and dropped her. (she wasn't hurt):teeth:

Then, mama o' t' bride lost her purse. Said it was black, i looked all over for the stupid thing and my boss came over with this black, red and yellow striped monstrosity (i mean, she was in an evening gown for cryin' out loud), some kind of crochet i think, and she says yes it is hers.:earseek: This is after she is practically calling us theives and cutpurses. Not a single tip all night either:mad: :confused: after i busted my butt all night, oh well, they aren't all fun:rolleyes: .

Lisa, congrats and a highfour paws up on you good news. Elaine, what a lovely dress, it suits you perfectly and fits so nicely. Linda, so glad you had fun at your bake sale, "wish i was there, family in tow". Colleen, shopping is my favorite sport, (was on the olympic team and helped the USA bring home the gold) i once saved a total of 45.00 on a shopping order of $150.00 with coupons, back in the day when i had time to clip and make a list and check the adds - whew, i am exhausted just thinking about it.:Pinkbounc

Well the week is about to start without me, so i must bid adieu and get my sore, sorry butt to bed for the children call early and say sweetly "Mommie, my belly's hungry, it wants bweakfast."

Ciao! (far, far too much coffee today!):hyper:

colleen costello

11-22-2004, 10:13 AM

Luna, your post reminds me of "The Wedding Singer." I love that film. So you work weekends at a wedding hall? The stuff you must see! My good friend's hubby just started a photography studio and they do weddings. She works with him and says when there is no wedding "coordinator" she often sort of fills that role as they go to so many weddings that she has a clue. Says it is amazing what people do/say when stressed/broke/drunk. She also agrees that some brides are truly she-devils. Hopefully they settle down after the nuptials!

I have a thrilling day of housekeeping and Walmart planned. I keep trying to find time to get on the computer and review menus but it has not happened yet... Do you all rememeber that my friend Tisha and her family are going to be at WDW this spring when we are there? They are going to spend a day with us and she mentioned all of us going out for dinner. Any suggestions? We'll be at the Lodge and they won't go into the parks that day so we will need a resort restaurant. Her boys are 10 and 6 (and my kids' best pals). I am thinking of MK resorts so we can get there easily. That means Whispering Canyon, Chef Mickey's, or 'Ohana. We are doing Park Faire earlier in the week... Plus Tisha's kids are both boys and I doubt they want a Cinderella buffet... Whispering Canyon is "right there" as we'll be at the Lodge, but Chef Mickey's is sort of the quintessential WDW restaurant experience. Two cents, please! Everyone have a great day.

lunabkat

11-22-2004, 10:18 AM

Hi all.

colleen, i don't know if you've been to whispering canyon but they are supposed to have great fun with the kids there, although it is not a character meal.

As to your friends who are photographers, tell them that this bride had a large book she made filled with cut outs from magazines with the different poses she wanted the photographer to use when taking his pics. I honestly had never seen anything like it. Talk about micro managing. Oh well, it is their dime afterall.

Have fun shopping :teeth: and cleaning:( , guess which i prefer.

Later,

LL

helenabear

11-22-2004, 10:57 AM

Hi everyone! Taking a nice break from work at the moment.

Linda, I do know I wasn't smiling. I do not know why I allowed for me to have pictures taken of me when I was so tired. But I had to show off the dress just a little.
As for the cost, you are exactly right... that wasn't that cheap of a dress, but I justified it by knowing that it was made out of silk. So it is at least a great material.

Thank you Lisa, I must say my hair is one of the things I really hold pride in with myself. I am amused though because it was late and my hair was windblown when that was taken. So glad it still looks good at the end of a long day :)

Colleen, have fun looking over the menus at WDW! I love doing that myself!! I would have to suggest 'Ohana... I love the feel and the food there!

Lauralee, what a wedding you went to!!! Wow!!!!! I hope mine will be more "relaxed" this weekend ;)

Well I should get back to looking like I am working at least ;) See you all later :)

colleen costello

11-22-2004, 03:44 PM

Elaine, your counter has me confused. When are you going back to Orlando? Where are you staying? I think you bought OKW, is that right? Sorry I get so disoriented, I will blame it on being 40.

When is everyone going? I am March. Lisa May (?) Linda probably the fall of 05. Then Luna? All this planning (my trips and others') keeps me going in winter!

xoxo

helenabear

11-22-2004, 03:52 PM

Colleen, I have two counters there... one is for my WDW at OKW and the other one is for a cruise I am taking at the end of January. I think my dates for WDW are in there (3-10th if not). Actually I need to change my counter on one... I am leaving for the cruise a day earlier than originally planned ::yes::

I will probably go to WDW next December as well... no plans between now and then.

colleen costello

11-22-2004, 04:13 PM

Bear with me, I am still not getting it. It says first trip home in December but the counter only lists 130-some days. December is either one month or 13 months away... When do you go to OKW?

xoxo

Someday we are all bound to be at WDW at once, and what a party we will have! :)

lunabkat

11-22-2004, 04:17 PM

Hi

Colleen, we actually leave on the 11th of december this year, i have tried to get a counter, but apparently do not know what the heck i am doing and can't get it right. So i plug along crossing off days on my calendar.
LL

colleen costello

11-22-2004, 06:27 PM

Luna, how wonderful... I thought your trip was ages off! How exciting. When we were discussing your plans and the "to visit the realtives or not" topic, I somehow thought the trip was far off. WOW! SO you will be the next one to go and will be held responsible for tellign us all about it once back.

The Xmas decorations are SOOOO beautiful. Make a trip over to the Grand Floridian. The tree is gorgeous and the kids will love the giant gingerbread house. Last year's had 11 "hidden Mickey's" and what fun we had finding all of them! I also liked the decorations at the Wilderness Lodge (very traditional), Polynesian (tropical, with ornaments woven from sea-grass-type stuff) and Old Key West (fish in the garlands). Beach Club had a whole diorama made of colored chocolate. Boma (the restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge) also had a chocolate creation, a miniature recreation of an African village marketplace. WOW! You are going at a GREAT time!

Off to feed the troops.

xoxo

helenabear

11-22-2004, 06:34 PM

Originally posted by colleen costello
Bear with me, I am still not getting it. It says first trip home in December but the counter only lists 130-some days. December is either one month or 13 months away... When do you go to OKW?

xoxo

Someday we are all bound to be at WDW at once, and what a party we will have! :)
ahhh... I see... I think your clock on your computer is set wrong... my countdown only has 10 days left in it. The computer you are on is the one that sets the day/time for the countdowns :)

Pity that we are leaving before you, Lauralee... but I agree... WDW at this time of year is gorgeous!!

lunabkat

11-22-2004, 09:30 PM

Hi all!

colleen, we are going to the gf for the cinderella gala feast so these tips are going to come in handy, i will tell them about the hidden mickeys (mickies?) I can't wait and even my hubby, who was VERY iffy about the idea, is starting to get into the trip - woo hoo!

elaine, i am so sorry we will miss you, i willcheck on your doings when we return.

Linda...hellooooo...where are you? Rider? Am i missing a party at the poly or what?

Talk soon,
LL

colleen costello

11-23-2004, 08:46 AM

Luna, if you can find it before you go, the best $11 you will spend is on the Hidden Mickeys guidebook. Some of the WDW gift shops have it. Mom got it for us and the clues are SO much fun. We found Mickeys all over the World!

The GF gingerbread house will have a sign telling you how many Mickeys are hidden. And I want to hear all about the Cindy buffet as we are getting ready to make reservations to try it in March.

Elaine, I can't believe 10 days! You must be so excited. The decorations at OKW are very cool.

xoxo

SlightlyGoofy

11-23-2004, 08:28 PM

Whew, it has been busy around here. Guess you all wanted to test out the modifications. How did you like 'em? Remember I am a gadget goddess. LOL

Luna, glad you missed me. I have been reading when I got a chance but just did not have time to post. Has been hectic around here. We leave tomorrow and what with the holidays every minute is full. I used to be able to juggle it better when I were a young thing, like yourself. (grin) I used to be a waitress myself and I was awful at it and hated it with a passion. Ever notice that the more attention, mess or noise a party makes the lower the tip they leave? Your wedding party sounds like one of my regular family gatherings and I am usually the only waitstaff. Wonder if people have noticed that I have slowly retreated from such duty? You can see the EWP from the Grand Floridian. A tip from me, show up about a half hour earlier than what they tell you cause you never know when it will actually run. I bet you can see Wishes from there also. It was really quite awesome from the Poly when Rider and I saw it together. Different from the park but still good. Just a few days until you are in the magic.

Helenabear, I have noticed your hair also. It is so shiny and healthy looking. Mine is so curly and frizzy. Is it hard to take care of? I could tell the dress was expensive (but bet you got a bargain). I have very good taste. I dress the way I do cause that is all they make for fat ladies. If I ever get to a normal size I am headed to Korets. I love their stuff. I wish I were going back to DW, this is my favorite time to go. There is an AP showing of the Osborne lights on the 19th. Will you or Luna be able to see them? I like to take the monorail resort tour and see the decorations as well.

Rider, my darned thing won't show me any posts past 10 so I am going to go back and read your posts and answer them in a minute. I know better than to hit "back" cause this post will disappear. (grrrrr)

SG/Linda

Colleen, did your little ones like their toys I sent them? I hope so. I got serenaded by a church children's choir today. It was so very cute.

SlightlyGoofy

11-23-2004, 08:32 PM

Hey there Lisa! No wonder I could not remember what you had posted. You have not posted since your great news. Hoping that you are out celebrating and enjoying yourself.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving all! We are headed to Ohio and will see you when we return.

SG/Linda

TalkisCheap

11-23-2004, 10:26 PM

:wave2: Hi!!! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, and also that I haven't had a chance to catch up. I've been reading off and on, but never posted...although I got about half way done a few before having to leave before finishing them :D

Life's been pretty busy here, I made the basketball team{I think I last posted before that ::yes:: } and so I've been having 2 hour practices every week. Our first game is a week from today...only one more practice before that!! I'm not sure how we'll do, but I'l hopeful. We have a lot of talent, so I hope we can pull it all together and do well ::yes:: . I finished school till January{we also take a break, since we found not much school got done in december anyway, with all the shopping and such} so I'll have more time to get stuff done. I want to finish a cross-stitch I've been working on for a over a year, and I need to finish my shopping. :D It's amazing that Thanksgiving is already here, and Christmas and the new year is right around the corner. Even at 13, I can't imagine how fast this year has flown by...I'm sad to see it go. But, I'm always sad when the year, or a school year comes to an end. Always a lot of good memories to look back on, and miss. :D

As far as high school goes, today I wrote my rough draft of my application essay, seeing as it's due the 5th, and I was putting it off as long as possible. Although I'm a pretty good writer, it's one of my least favorite things to do, and I also prolong it. So, when we get home it'll have to be finalized and sent in almost immidetly, seeing as I'm applying early decision to HS. I took the entrance exam a few weeks ago, and I'm awaiting the results...anxiously ::yes:: I'm quite nervous as to my scores.

Well, I have cookies in the oven and I still haven't packed anything. We're leaving around 6 tomorrow morning to go to my grandparents until Saturday. I'll be sure and read everything when I get home :D Have a wonderful thanskgiving everyone!!!

Caroline

lunabkat

11-23-2004, 10:47 PM

Hi all!:teeth:

Hope everyone has a great thanksgiving holiday, it looks like half of our crowd is going to be away, drive safe.

I got a note on my check this week about the bridezilla on Saturday. Apparently she was pissed that her stuff was moved (by the matre'd of the other party, not me" and complained about it to the owner. I had cleared with MY boss (the matre'd of our party) for all the stuff to be left in the bridal room because i knew the bride would blow a gasket if her stuff was touched, but the other M'D decided to move the stuff and royally ticked her off. So I get a note stating what the procedure is for bridal personal items, as if i need waitress 101 or something. I am ready to smack her :mad: :mad: :mad: :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc with an ugly stick.

When i get to work on Saturday i am showing the note to my M'D and letting him know how po'd i am.

::yes:: ::yes::

Caroline, you sound like such a busy young thing, i hope you rest up during your break, get those cookies!

Can we have a party at the Wilderness Lodge soon? I hear their cabana boys are hot.

Take care,

LL

SlightlyGoofy

11-24-2004, 08:44 AM

Luna, sounds as if the bride has already been hit with an ugly stick. Seems as people spend a lot more time on the wedding than the marriage. I especially worry about the costs and often starting out a marriage in deep debt because of all the show. I got married at the courthouse and we were barely able to buy a few White Castles for our reception but we had bought a home and a car so I was fine with all that. Dh forgot to buy a wedding ring and stopped at Stuckey's for a $3 ring. I still have it too. LOL

I will gladly plan a WL party for you so that you can check out the hot stuff over there. For myself I will be content to sit and watch you young ones enjoy the scenery. At my age, a good sense of humor and some intelligence interests me more than good pecs. (grin)

Caroline, it sure is true that you do not get much done in school, home or otherwise in December. My oldest grandson once asked me home school him as he had figured out that he would only have to 'suffer" a couple of hours a day instead of several. LOL If I had more respect and could have been more effective I might have agreed to it. "A prophet without honor" is what I am. Seem to be able to help others but not my own. (sigh) I am surprised to hear that you do not like to write. We usually enjoy that which we do well. Maybe it is just that application which does not interest you? What kind of cookies? If they are FF/SF and non caloric I will be right over.

SG/Linda

helenabear

11-24-2004, 09:21 AM

Hi all... busy day here yesterday so I didn't catch up the way I hoped to last night. I went and helped my dad buy a new cell phone and plan after work, and then I came home and "played travel agent" for a friend of mine looking for a hotel. Now I am at work... slow day and nothing really to do. Brought a book thoguh.

I didn't realize GF had a Cindy gala feast! I wonder why I wasn't aware (she's my favorite princess). I hope you enjoy that one Lauralee!
I agree with Colleen about that Hidden Mickey book. It is very cute with all the clues and everything in it. I have misplaced mine somewhere, but loved it when I had it.

Linda, I hope you have a safe trip this weekend. I did finally just see your e-mails you sent (I rarely check that e-mail address) and it looks like a nice place you'll be at!
Thank you for the hair compliment. I admit I am lucky to be able to grow hair long and healthy looking. It's actually easier for me to take care of it longer than short.
Oh and yes, I got a decent deal on that dress ;) I am a bargain shopper ::yes::

Caroline, sounds like you have a busy life now! Glad to see you stop in though. I hope you also have a great weekend and good luck with the application to HS!

That bride sounds postively awful!!! I probably wouldn't think much of it myself. But I hope she will see what is important in life and won't be so unhappy sounding later. To find fault in so much, always makes me wonder if taht person can ever be happy.

We aren't doing much this weekend, except the wedding, things with friends on Friday and dinner tomorrow at my grandmothers. Should be a busy weekend, but not too bad. I have lots of cleaning and packing to do between now and next Friday as well!

SlightlyGoofy

11-24-2004, 12:06 PM

Elaine, had to smile at your idea of a laid back weekend. I would be faltering at all that.

I knew you got a bargain on the dress that is why I made the comment. You are my kind of gal, down to earth and sensible but open to all that life has to give. Rare combination.

The happiest people are NOT those who have everything but those who are satisfied with what they have, some people can never be satisfied. I feef badly for them.

Have to go pack now. Have been up since 5 and am sure I am going to crash hard and early tonight so I have to get it done while I can. I did get the window replaced this morning. I am happy about that as I did not want to leave without a working storm door. Snow due tonight but not much so you and I should be driving on dry roads tomorrow. We might pass each other.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

11-24-2004, 07:24 PM

Hi girls. Seems like everyone has been busy. It is that time of year. I have been doing a lot of "last minute" Christmas shopping. I have a rule for myself that I try hard to be 99 percent DONE by Thanksgiving. When things turn ugly in the stores, I can sit by and say "I am finished," grinning like the Cheshire (sp?) Cat. Today I hit Target (love that place!) and Bath & Body Works. Whose day can't be made a bit nicer by a squirt of scented soap? I like to get all finished and then start wrapping. It is the wrapping I procrastinate on, because it is overwhelming. As I have said before, being Santa is no easy task. A friend told me the other day that she feared that if she dropped dead tomorrow, her kids would never get another Xmas gift, so clueless is her hubby. I had to agree. My husband is blissfully ignorant of the effort behind making the list, checking it twice, finding the stuff and carting it home, wrapping it all (in secret!), making sure the appropriate batteries are on hand, sticking to the budget (the nastiest part) and finally, trying hard not to give the same gift you mailed LAST year when good ideas are so hard to come by! YIKES! Pity Rider who does all this times two, as she and Frank celebrate Hannukah AND Christmas! I can't even imagine that one! :)

So from now on, all my shopping can be "for fun," just walking the mall and smiling because I know I am finished! I have big plans as I LOVE the malls at Holiday time. I saw Santa today. School was in session and he looked bored!

My friend Tisha has finalized her plans for March and I am very excited to have two days to spend together with her family in March. She got a great rate for 2 nights at Pop Century and will hang out with us at the Lodge. We plan to ride the monorail that night and have dinner, decided most likely on Chef Mickey's. The food is great and there is something to please everyone, and the characters can't be beat. Who can resist Mickey and the gang? The next day we will do the MK together, and my kids are so excited about being there with their best pals. It has made the anticipation of the trip all the nicer. My plan, remember, is to convince my friend about the merits of WDW, so she stops threatening me with a "Diseny intervention!"

Scott just showed up with a pizza, bless his heart. I hate to cook!

Happy Thansgiving to all.

PS, Linda, YES, the kids LOVED the little Legos and stuffed bear. Thank you!

SlightlyGoofy

11-24-2004, 08:39 PM

Exciting time was had by all in our town today. I spent the afternoon, huddled in a highway, with a gang of nervous kids. Would ya believe we had a tornado warning, not a watch, mind you - a warning!! It was scary but I managed to convince the kids that if an old lady like myself had not been blown away by a tornado they were likely safe. They loved my Pecos Bills stories about how he roped a tornado and hauled it another county. LOL I am just plain full of it. Had to call my house and tell hubby to head for the bathroom cause he would still be sitting, in front of the tv and windown if I had not. Ever heard of someone not knowing enough to get in from the rain?? LOL

I am jealous Colleen, I am not even as far ahead of schedule as usual and there you are all set for the holidays. BTW, shop at Cracker Barrel and some other places and they will wrap the presents for free! BTW., are you aware that Hannukah has 8 gift giving days? There are many dietary requirements too such as different dishes for certain foods etc. too. Makes me glad to be a Christian and only have to deal with turkey and dressing but Rider handles both with equal aplomb.

How wonderful that you will have a friend to share DW with. Any chance that you and she might get away alone for a leisurely walk around the World Showcase? Send dh and kiddies over to Universal and stay behing. (hint)

Glad the kids liked their small gifts. I have to go back to packing and such. I got behind because of the storms. It is supposed to snow tonight. Indiana weather. Ugh!! Hope it melts quickly cause I do not drive on snow or ice and I must get to Columbus by hook or crook.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

11-25-2004, 10:56 AM

Linda, I was praying for you yesterday around 4pm. When the Indianapolis Channel 8 weather lady actually said "Look out in Hope IN" I almost called you. Had visions of you so engrossed in some home renovation project that you might blow away and not know what hit you. Then I thought of the last big tornado to hit Ellettsville. I called my friend Debbie and we were gabbing about the storm. When the line went dead, she thought "Maybe it's worse than it seems" and got her toddler and went to the closet (I was safe in my basement). That darn thing near flattened her neighborhood! She said the whole house shook! Her next-door neighbor's home was uninhabitable. Had to be completely rebuilt. So I have learned NOT to keep my friends on the phone in bad weather, unless they have basements! Where were you? Helping at shcool? Why "highway?"

Glad you are safe!

I am going to make cupcakes to take to our Thanksgiving dinner. Also bringing the potatoes but Kroger made those. They come in bags and they are the BEST. Yum.

Happy T-day to all.

IASW Rider

11-25-2004, 01:18 PM

Hi Everyone!

So sorry that I haven't been in touch in so long, but I just wanted to stop by and wish you all and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great day! Thinking of you all! Talk to you soon! :)

SlightlyGoofy

11-27-2004, 08:22 PM

Dear Colleen, thank you so much for the prayers. They were sorely needed. I am sorry I mistyped and meant hallway, not highway. LOL The power of prayers is awesome as honestly the clouds parted around the center of our town and did not do much damage. It was scary looking and the poor kids were besides themselves cause the lady had to holler (it was noisy) to get the kids in the hallway. Is right next to a bathroom. I am going to suggest that we put up some pictures or something to make the hallway more friendly looking. I was so proud of the young people who are aides as they got right down and were cuddling the kids close to them and making them feel a lot better. My dear Dalton (as he told me later) was at his little cousins house explaining all about storms and tornadoes to him and why he should NOT be scared. Since, not so long ago, he was terribly scared himself I was pleased to hear that he had heeded my stories and was passing them on. Got to make sure that he does know to be careful anyway though as you never know. I do not answer the phone in bad weather. I check my answering machine just in case it might be an emergency and I do have basement but there are windows so we go to the bathroom under the stairs. I remember when the storms were in your area and had alerted your EWP group to send pixie dust your way also. Thank you again.

Helenabear, I waved in the general direction of your Columbus home as we went the Cincinnati route since some of the other roads were in danger of being slick or getting snowed on and made it to Columbus before we got any bad weather. The temps made it worrisome though. Hope your holidays were wonderful and you will be safely back home before anything starts up again.

Rider, WTG on the turkey!!! The hardest part of any holiday meal is getting it all done at the same time but I know you accomplished that easily and with grace. I am worn out and about to crawl into bed and get some sleep. Will report on my Thanksgiving when I am more lucid but will say this - I woke up the same house with my four older siblings this morning, first time in about 40 years and it was wonderful. Also, no fights broke out. Only complaint was that there will be no stories to be told about this holiday but I figure that, given time, someone will come up with something to tell, true or not. LOL

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

11-27-2004, 08:26 PM

Hi Everyone!

Yea! The Boards are back! And they look great, too! :) I had tried to post yesterday, but got the message that the Boards would be down for 24 - 48 hours - it looks like they have returned, early!

How were all of your holidays? Ours was very nice! I have to say, I was very impressed with myself, making my first Thanksgiving dinner! I managed to have every dish ready at the same time, and managed to serve them all while they were still hot - amazing! My father and uncle really enjoyed themselves - they stayed all day, into the evening, which was nice! Frank and his family called us from South Jersey and passed the phone around, so everyone got to talk to everyone.

The rest of the weekend has been quiet, but productive. Got lots of gift wrapping done, and finished up all of our holiday cards. Today, my best friend Gary and his partner Stephen took me out to lunch at a beautiful restaurant near Trenton - it's in the middle of a sculpture garden in a park owned by the Johnson family (of Johnson & Johnson fame), and it was just lovely. Then we went to the mall and Stephen (who is North America's Creative Director for Villeroy and Boch) worked his "magic" and got me an amazing discount on the set of flatware that Frank and I are going to give his mother for Christmas - it's nice to have friends in high places! :)

Will be spending the rest of the evening relaxing, watching rented movies, and wrapping more gifts. Frank will be back tomorrow - yea!

Oooh - I just got an e-mail that someone else posted in the Suite, but I haven't opened it up yet to see who posted as I am writing this! So "hello" to whomever posted just before me! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great holiday weekend! :)

lunabkat

11-28-2004, 12:00 PM

Hi all.

Wow, had a time getting in today, couldn't remember my password (LOL).

Hope everyone had a good thanksgiving (or 'hanksgivin as it is called in my house. Like the new smilies.

Linda, sounds like you had quite the time this week with that tornado. We had a warning once and i was in the downstairs closet with the girls and the cat (Luna) till daddy came home. It was very scary, both for the tornado and the possbility of spiders in the dark closet. :rolleyes:

I can't beleive its only two weeks till disney, i feel i should be doing something but it is too early to pack and i have pretty much planned out everything.

by the way, it looks as if we are not going to make that sidetrip to my dh's sister :Pinkbounc :cool1: :cheer2: apparently when he mentioned it to her she rolled her eyes and seemed less than enthusiastic - why? don't know, don't care puckerup:

I am stillnot quite certain if my dmil is coming or not, i guess we will find out the night before, oh well, i know WE are going :cloud9:

do you think if we left out milk and cookies (or cheese?) (or rum?) the tag fairies might come be and visit? I must admit to being quite curious about them though i have never been visited, do you think they are related to Tink?

Hope you all have a great day, it is pouring over here, my poor yard is a virtual mud pit.

Bye,

LL :earboy2:

helenabear

11-29-2004, 10:55 AM

Hi all... busy weekend and didn't get any time to come in and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. So sorry for missing that! Weekend was nice, but busy. And this week is packing for WDW.

Linda, I have to agree with you. The truly happy are ones who love what they have, not wish they could have more. I hope that all people will find happiness someday though. The eternal optimist here I guess.

Colleen, I love your attitude about shopping. I admit with my small list, I do a lot of my shopping online. I don't have to deal with teh stores and everything is bought long in advance. I have one teeny thing I'd like to get for my dad, but haven't decided what it will be yet. Oh and maybe a tiny thing for my friend Dawn as well... but those are fun gifts... and if I don't find anything else, I'll be happy.
I do have to buy wrapping paper though... that's one part I am never too keen on ;)

Glad that the tornados didn't touch your house, Linda. We were just under a watch, but it was pretty bad weather from here down south to Alabama I guess. Nasty thunderstorms... and we wound up with snow the next day!!!!
And we wound up with some of those nasty roads. We had gotten a very very early start on Thanksgiving and hit a couple ice patches. Glad you took the better route to where you were going. Wasn't nice out at all!

Lisa, glad you were able to stop in! It seems that the boards were back up just in time for me to be super busy and not be able to take advantage of them working ;)

Larualee, it is never too early to start packing ;) I have been going through my laundry and trying to get everything all set up for Friday. I wish I didn't work this week so I could be sure to get it all done, but oh well! And glad you won't have to make htat side trip after all! I wouldn't be too happy with that.

Well I should get moving on work and some other stuff. Been going back and forth between working and organizing thoughts for all I need to get done this week and next!

SlightlyGoofy

11-29-2004, 12:26 PM

Rider, I am amazed that you did not see me rushing out of the Suite as you came in. I are not that small after all. LOL Sounds as if your holidays were all you could have hoped for. Part of what I enjoyed was that we sat around talking. When my dd and dsil do come over they either eat and run or curl up on the couch and go to sleep. I am sort of honored with the later as I do know how hectic their life is with family and church but sure do wish we had a closer relationship. I have a better time with just the boys. They are talkers. LOL What kinds of side dishes did you make? I cheated and had a bit of dressing on Friday, had to have something holiday like as we were forced to eat at a steakhouse on Thanksgiving.

Helenabear, would it not be wonderful if everyone could be happy? Not sure that being satisfied is always a good thing though as ambition would be lost and so much else also. Life is a constant struggle with balance. IMHO I am glad to hear that I made a wise choice in taking the southern route but am surely sorry to hear that you guys ran into some bad roads. I bought a Sponge Bob pillowcase to put Dalton's gifts in, saves a lot of work and was only a tiny bit more than wrapping paper would have been. Our house has been standing for over a hundred years so I always figure it will withstand anything that happens in my lifetime. (I hope) Will you be going back for Christmas? Maybe you can stop at Clifton Mills then. Did you get the website I sent? Tom was disappointed but they were not open on Thanksgiving anyway.

Luna, the spiders would not have fazed me one bit but the cat sure would. My ds has a cat but the poor thing is so old and calm that it did not bother me and I even was able to pet her. Guess your dsil is not anymore inclined than you and dh are. Sad, in a way but it works for now. That is difficult not knowing if your mil will be coming or not. They can be so useful at times. Do your dear ones wanna go out to play in the mudpit? Bet they do, the delightful dears. LOL

Have to go fix lunch. I made some homemade veggie soup yesterday and will have to live on it today as the scales took a hit this morning. Will be a close call as to whether I have a loss or not tomorrow. A small loss, every week, is much better than a big one occasionally along with big gains.

SG/Linda

TalkisCheap

11-29-2004, 01:58 PM

Hello!!

I'm glad everyone had good Thanksgivings, besides some bad roads on your travels. Luckily, we arrived in Cape Cod when it was just sprinkling which saved my mom much aggrivation and a fight or two over my dad/brother driving to fast on slick roads ;) My mom is not one on driving in bad weather ::yes:: Mine was wonderful as well. I always enjoy seeing my family, especially my cousin, Emily, and my best friend. She's two years older than me, but we've always been very close our whole lives. It's funny how it turned out in my mom's family, my mom and her sister are less than a year apart and had children very close. My cousin is 5 days younger than my brother, other cousin is a few months younger than my sister, and Emily is two years older than me. Then my mom's two brothers got married late and so makes the 'second generation' of cousins - Two 4 year olds, a 2 year old, and an 8 month year old :D makes for fun holidays, as it's always wonderful to play with my younger cousins. They love playing with 'the girls' {my mom's sister has 3 girls, and then me and my sister} and we spent the whole time entertaining them, watching kid movies, everything. Besides that, the food was fantastic as well. I am always thankful I was born into a family with wonderful cooks. I look at my best friend, Shawn's family, and her mother's idea of cooking is pasta out of a box and jar sauce :rolleyes: Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the year, as we get food we never have all year like french stuffing and such :teeth: Oh..and my cookies were Ginger Snaps and Chocolate Chip...sorry, they were full fat/sugar ;) :teeth: but I found them wonderful...I probably ate 3/4 of the ginger snaps, as they're my favorite!

It's wonderful to be on vacation...sleeping in late. Although I know as much as I do not like waking up early and doing school, I do find myself a little bored by the end of it. The first few days back to school are enjoyable before they begin getting monotonous. Although life won't be to boring, with the shopping, wrapping, decorations, preparations, and basketball! Our first game is tomorrow, and I can say I'm very excited! Although, I'm a little nervous to how we'll do. We have a lot of talent, but some of our players are a little more interested in trying to be the star of our team, than running our plays...hopefully they'll be alright in our game!!

Wow, those warnings must be scary! I'm glad I live in Maine where we don't get those{or at least..many, as I never remember one!} because I'd be having a heart attack! Glad everyone was fine!

My Christmas shopping is almost done. It's easy as I don't buy many presents, just my two sets of grandparents, cousins, and my immediate family. Oh, and small gifts for my closet friends. I only need a few more presents - my dad, brother, and grandparents. Although, my mom has a lot more shopping to do, although I can't go on all her excursions{she say's I already know too many of my presents, as I picked most of the clothing items out!} I want to go with her on some, as I just love to walk through the stores with the Christmas music playing, the decorations out, and I just love to shop!

I'm hoping I'll be receiving my entrance exam results soon...it was 2 weeks yesterday, and so it should be coming any day. I also finished my essay, but I have to revise it, copy it on to the paper, and wait for my mom to finish her part. It is usually true I enjoy things I'm good at...writing just doesn't interest me, I've just become good at it seeing as I have to write A LOT for Calvert{my homeschooling curriculum} My application essat was not that bad though, I had a choice of three, and I like the one I chose, and I think I explained it, and related it to going to high school well. It was titled "Ships are safe in a harbor, but that is not what ships are meant for" so I wrote about how that relates to me, and other students applying there, leaving their town{harbor} and expanding their horizens. Especially for me, as I won't know anyone going in, as it's 45 minutes from my town.

Well, my mom is visiting Fairfield University with my sister today, as she needed to have an interview with the college before being able to apply, and I promised I'd make dinner for her{it has to cook in the crockpot} so I should probably go start that so it is ready in time! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Caroline :D

IASW Rider

11-29-2004, 03:44 PM

Hey Everyone!

Wow - the Suite has been so busy that if I don't stop by for a day or 2, I find that I've fallen way behind on all of your posts! :(

So glad that you were able to avoid that tornado, Linda! That must have been very scary! I love the idea of putting Dalton's gifts in a SpongeBob pillow case - maybe we should do that for my MIL - she is a huge SpongeBob fan! I can't say that my father and uncle helped with the dishes on Thanksgiving........but that was OK - I didn't mind doing them - I just took my time, cleaning up, while they watched "Calendar Girls" on video, in the living room (my father has a huge, long-standing crush on Helen Mirren!). I sort of listened in, a bit, but I tried not to - I want to watch the movie in its entirety with Frank, some time. I'm not surprised that you feel that the book was better than the film - that is so often the case (more often than not, in my opinion!). I wish that I could say that my side dishes were more impressive, but they were the "standards": mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, asparagus, cranberry sauce, and salad - most of it "pre-fabricated".........sort of like my potato pancakes will be, on Chanukah! The turkey was freshly prepared, though, as will be my brisket on Chanukah!

I know exactly what you mean, Colleen, about having that feeling of satisfaction and being able to be happy and just enjoy walking through the malls / stores at this time of year, when you know that all of your shopping is done! I feel that way about receiving holiday cards, too - I can only relax and allow myself to really enjoy opening the mailbox to find lots of neat cards and pictures, when I know that we have already sent out our cards! That's one of my favorite things about this time of year - hearing from some people whom I ONLY hear from at this time of year! And I love receiving people's "annual holiday letters" and seeing recent pictures of themselves and / or their families!

Elaine and Lauralee - you both must be getting so excited about your upcoming trips! I can't believe that it's finally almost December and that your vacations are just around the corner! So glad to hear that everything worked out and that you don't have to worry about the prospect of taking that side trip to your SIL's house, Lauralee - you must feel relieved! Just concentrate on all of the plans, which you so carefully and thoughtfully made for your family, and get psyched about the fact that your trip is only mere weeks away! And I'm sure that you are looking forward to "going home" for the first time, Elaine! (I'm with you on the online shopping, too - I much prefer it to braving the malls and stores at this time of year, and in general! It's nice to have the gifts just delivered right to our door, so I can unpack them.......then wrap them! )

Hey Caroline! Great to hear from you! And so glad to hear that all is well and that you enjoyed your holiday and the time spent with your cousins! (I also have a cousin who is very close to my age - she's exactly a year, a month, and a day younger than I am, and we always used to spend every holiday together. We are both only children, too, so we would pretend that we were sisters! ) How did your first basketball game go? I'm sure that you and your teammates had a great victory! And lots of good luck with the completion of your application - it sounds like you are just about finished! I'm sure that your essay will turn out wonderfully. Even though you say that you're not very interested in writing, it is clear that you are a very good writer, just by reading the informal messages that you post, here! Also, it sounds like you have given a lot of thought to the essay topic and know exactly how to relate your experiences to it, which will make it even more interesting and relevant. I'm sure that your application will be very impressive and that the admissions committee will have some very positive feedback for you! When is the application deadline? And when might you hear back - is it rolling admission? We'll all be rooting for you, here in the Suite!

Not too much to report - just sitting here waiting for Goodyear to call and tell me that my car is ready. For the first time since I've had it, it just wouldn't start this morning! That kinda stinks, since I had a ton of errands that I wanted to take care of, today, as well as a doctor's appointment that I had to cancel. UGH. These things always have to happen at the least opportune times! Anyway, at least my car wouldn't start when it was parked in my driveway, rather than it breaking down when I was elsewhere, so at least I didn't get stuck somewhere! And fortunately, the shop is close enough to my house that I was able to walk back, so I snuck in a little extra exercise, too!

Send some of that veggie soup over here, Linda - it's very cold and windy here, today! I should actually whip up a batch, myself - I made my own soup all last winter.......I guess I haven't "fully accepted" the fact that it's now late fall (even though Thanksgiving just passed!) yet - especially since we had unseasonably warm weather, in the mid-60's, just a few days ago!

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

helenabear

11-30-2004, 10:11 AM

Hi all... taking a break from work and making up a list of things I need to buy for my trip. Hopefully if it isn't raining, I will get most of this during lunch.

Linda, I may have forgotten (but thought to say in a post) to tell you that I did get your e-mail with the Clifton Mills information. I rarely check my yahoo e-mail account though, so it took me a while to see it. We won't be going back to my grandmother's anytime soon. Christmas will be at home at my Dad's since all kids will be in town for it :)

Caroline, sounds like you had a nice holiday as well. We have something similar in my family with the generations. I am the youngest grandkid (at 27) and the oldest grandkid on my mom's side is 45 years old (we are about 18 years apart... pretty much a generation away). So it is interesting to see my family because of it.
As for those weather warnings, I honestly think you just kind of get used to it. Very rarely do they scare me (only a small few storms in my time really have). Just like I would probably "die" if I had to deal with all the snow y'all get up there. We get freezing cold, but fortunately not usually more than 20-30" of snow total a year!
I hope you hear good results from your entrance exam soon!

Lisa, I hope nothing was terribly wrong with your car!! Always a pain when things like that happen. Yep, excited about "going home" on Friday. I am more so that Luis will be with me so that makes it all the better ::yes::

Oh, since y'all saw the other pictures, here is a picture of me at the wedding with one of my cousins (Wendy) and her DD (Barbara)
Enjoy :)
Wedding pictures (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2135038804&code=13202137&mode=invite&DCMP=isc-email-AlbumInvite)

SlightlyGoofy

12-01-2004, 02:48 PM

Imagine words like "Constitution", "Revolutionary" and "Independence" tripping lightly off the tongue of a 7 year old. Imagine this grandma's heart beaming from ear to ear. LOL BTW, he asked if I knew the 7 continents and I allowed that I could probably name them whereupon he rattled them off and informed me that he was the only one in his class that could. My Dalton does not like to talk on the phone but he regaled me for a couple of hours the other night, reading and commenting in an aside that he LOVES history. As he has an overdue book out from the library he is not allowed to take any books out so I am contemplating slipping over and paying his debt in order to make the books flow again but it would probably not be a good thing if I got caught and caught I surely would be. He will be here tonight so there will be a big supply of books for him to read. We also live right behind the library. I added another carton of books to my car trunk, Christmas ones. Luckily I have a hand truck so I can load them in and out of the building. I am too old to carry that much. :jumping4:

Elaine, what a nice wedding picture. Is just what I would have been doing, dancing with a child. LOL Looks as though the dress was not only great fitting but comfortable as well. I keep forgetting to ask you about the picture on your posts. I stood and looked at that scene on this last trip and am thinking it is in EPCOT over near France, England or whatever but am not sure. I thought it was such a neat touch and so Disney.

Lisa, great attitude about your car and you are all so right in that it is a blessing that it happened in the driveway as opposed to going to coming from a distance. I like those disrespected Christmas letters as well. No way would I expect someone to handwrite all that stuff out and if not for the printed mass mailing I would not get to read much besides a signature. I did not do one this year myself but I do appreciate the ones I do get. Your mil loves Sponge Bob? Bet it is for the same reasons I do. It reminds me of the Beanie and Cecil cartoons of my youth, snappy dialouge and adult humor hidden amongst the childish tomfoolery. I read, one time, about a mother who made Christmas bags from cloth to put presents in and they were recycled within the family which saved a bunch cost and workwise. She even bought the cloth after Christmas at a discount. My kind of lady. The side dishes are supposed to be comfort type foods and not this haute cuisine that they put in magazines IMO.

Caroline, I love hearing about your cousins by the dozens. Is a perfect childhood (although you are a bit past that LOL). My father would not allow us any contact with other family members so I am not close with my cousins. I kept in touch via the computer with one for a few years but she passed away last year. I am grateful for that though. You cannot have the connections in later life if you do not have something to build upon from your youth. I am with your mom on slippery roads. At your age and level of fitness you can well afford to eat full fat, full sugar cookies. Enjoy them while you may cause old age will ruin your fun one day, far away.

I made a big pot of chili and have the makings in the machine for a huge loaf of Italian Bread for dinner tonight in case my dd decided to shock me and stay for dinner when they pick up my grandson. They are going around delivering stuff for the church tonight.

I am headed to the nursing home to visit Mary (who has hopes of getting to get out and live with a brother in Florida) and then to the Community Center to read the kids the story of Pecos Bill who once roped a tornado. I had a time finding that particular book but hope it will be worth it. I figure the boys will like it more than the girls though.

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

12-01-2004, 04:15 PM

Hi Everyone!

Sorry that this is a quick one, but I just wanted to wish Elaine BON VOYAGE! Have a fantastic trip and a wonderful time "at home"! :) Can't wait to hear all about it, upon your return! And thanks so much for posting the link to those great pictures from the wedding that you attended! You look wonderful in that dress - it's a great color and style on you! And you have such beautiful eyes - I think that this is the first time that you've posted a really close up photo of yourself! And it was so neat to see your cousins, too! Anyway, be sure to stop by the Suite for your BON VOYAGE party, tonight! We'll get "the boys" working on that, right away! :)

I hope that everything winds up working out for Mary, Linda - that would be wonderful. How did everything go at the Community Center? It's obvious that your love of reading is contagious - just look at your Dalton! It's fantastic that he not only enjoys reading so much, but that he also enjoys discussing the topics he's learned, with you! You've got some smart Grandsons, there! :) And the cloth gift bag idea is a great one - the bag almost becomes like an "heirloom", as it's passed from family member to family member - that is such a neat idea! And I love "SpongeBob", too (still haven't been able to find time to see his movie yet, though!)

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great day! :)

lunabkat

12-01-2004, 05:42 PM

hi all

wow, having a heck of a time signing in i am. for a minute i thought i was going to have to re-register :earseek:

sounds like everyone had a good thanksgiving. Linda, you sure know how to throw a party, too bad we are not all relations, then holidays would REALLY be fun. Dalton is a very lucky dgs, you are the kind of nana every child deserves, are you looking for any adoptees, i have two in mind (you could adopt me too, i was a very good daughter (okay, maybe not good, how about fun?)

elaine, have a great trip, still sorry we are missing each other. I bet you are already packed and raring to go. Sounds like your wedding was fun, good for you, i always wonder about people who can't go out and enjoy themselves at these functions. Cut loose and have a few i always say. You gotta let the hair down once in a while. By the way, i am sure you looked stunning, haven't gotten to the pics yet, but with that dress you couldn't miss.

rider, you are sooooo busy i can't stand it, you exhaust me. Sounds like you enjoy it tho, i know i do. It sounds wacked but the stress of the holiday rush makes it go by so much quicker for me. I also have done almost all of my shopping thru email (tho the Bridgewater commons mall is literally 3 mins. from my house, timed it once, what WAS my dh thinking?) I have all the girls presents, just need to wrap it all. Only have my dear bil, my dh, his mom, his sisters and their dh's and the family pets (two dogs, three cats, including my own, can't shop too early for them for luna b (i say b is for bad, but yesterday my hubby announced to the dd's it stood for Bartholomew, too funny) :bitelip: because he unwraps other kitties presents, that bad cat puckerup:

the dd's have a cold (they share practically everything) and have been waking me up several times a nite all week, i am about to drop. I work tomorrow nite, sat. and sun., and if i don't get some real sleep soon i think i will pop. i have to say i have been quite grouchy these last few nites, can't help it, i try to be patient, but yikes! i am averageing about 4 hr. of sleep a nite for a week and frankly, i am an 8 hour girl.

i am really close to that east coast meet in the summer, are you all going? I think it would be such fun for us all to meet there if it wasn't too far for everyone :moped:

adding a flower because dd#2 has requested it :flower1: and i see no reason not to indulge her.

Elaine, we are having the boys get a crudite tray (first time i saw this word, i thought it was pronounce krud-ites, no lie) and a pitcher of whatever you like best. I am thinking we need some dance music and an awesome view of the ewp.

ciao!

Lauralee :grouphug:

lunabkat

12-01-2004, 05:48 PM

caroline dear, sorry, if posted before i spoke to you (how rude) your cookies sound delicious and i am sure you love the holiday rush too. You sound like such a busy young girl. Hope you get tons of great stuff for the holidays (and rest a little too), take care and talk soon,

LL

helenabear

12-02-2004, 11:04 PM

Just wanted to stop in quickly and say hi... thanks for the send off party and I will see you all when I return!!

IASW Rider

12-04-2004, 06:51 PM

Hey Everyone!

Hope that you're all having a great weekend! And hope that Elaine is already having a great time in her new "home" at WDW! :)

Hi Lauralee! How are your DD's feeling? I hope that they are feeling much better, by now - it's probably this crazy "back and forth" weather that we've been having! For those of you who live elsewhere, it's in the low 30's here right now - but it's supposed to be 65 degrees in the North East on Tuesday! No wonder everyone is getting sick! It sounds like you're way ahead with your holiday shopping, Lauralee! And I think it's so nice that you get your family pets gifts, too - we get our cats and my sister-in-law's cats (our cats' "cousins"!) and my mother-in-law's bird (all the cats' "aunt"!) gifts every year, too! :) Are you and your family totally psyched for your trip, at this point? :)

Not too much to report, here - just got incredibly busy with lots of errands and appointments at the end of this week. We're off to a friend's holiday party, now! Tomorrow, I'll be getting ready for my grad school orientation, which is on Monday!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Talk to you soon! :)

colleen costello

12-05-2004, 10:32 AM

Hi everyone. Well am I silly... Here I thought there was no activity in the suite for ages, because I hadn't received any of the little Email notices. Today I got one and see I have missed DAYS of action! Now I have learned my lesson -- will check even when my computer doesn't tell me to.

So I guess I missed the departure of our dear Helenabear? I am DROOLING just thinking about OKW. It is a wonderful place to stay, and will be all the more wonderful because Ohio is in dead, gray winter now. When we go to Orlando in the Spring, I tell friends here it is like when Dorothy wakes up in Oz, and suddenly everything is in tecnicolor. The change overnight from winter to tropics is quite amazing, and has magical powers. Last year when I was ailing with that darn kidney stone, I am convinced it was the sights and smells of the flowers that healed me.

Mother in law is here for a visit. We have kept busy and all is proceeding as well as could be expected. Hubby is more agitated than me as I have been hiding out. Pal Marla and I went to eat last night, talked Disney like crazy, then hit the mall. It was lots of fun just being together. As you all know, a friend who doesn't get glazed over when you speak of WDW is a valuable thing!

I got my Xmas cards in the mail and tomorrow I will begin wrapping the kids' gifts to store away for Christmas Eve. Then the kids and I will being wrapping and sorting all the little things we have for the legions of kind folks at our schools. Then we will wrap and pack all the gifts that have to be mailed East. Only two weeks of school left so there is lots to be done! We hope to go to the Indianapolis "Christmas at the Zoo" next weekend. They have ziillions of lights all over the zoo, and the big glass atrium of the adjoining gardens is full of miniature trains. They sell cocoa and play Christmas music and it is a lot of fuin IF it's not too cold. I am a complete winter wimp and if it's really freezing we just skip it!

Hope everyone is doing well. Luna, get those girls better and thank your lucky stars they are sick NOW. They are bound to be healthy in Orlando! :)

Love to all.

IASW Rider

12-05-2004, 01:00 PM

Hi Colleen!

It sounds like you have your work cut out for you, with all of your gift wrapping and packing plans! It sounds like you are very organized and I'm sure that you, Erin, and Ian will make quite the successful "production line" in terms of getting everything ready to go! :)

That Christmas at the Zoo event sounds so nice! I hope that the weather holds out so that you have a nice, comfortable weekend during which to go! You'll have to tell us all about it!

I wonder what Elaine is doing, right now........maybe she's on a Segway, zooming all over Epcot? Or at a character meal? Or meeting with some DIS pals? Or relaxing at an OKW pool? I hope that she's having a great time, whatever she may be doing!

Not too much to report from here! We had fun at our friends' holiday party, last night - played an 80's trivia game and caught up with some folks whom we hadn't seen in awhile. Today, we're just relaxing, and I'm going through all of the stuff that I'll need for my orientation tomorrow. It's from 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM - a long day! But it will be a good way to "immerse myself" in the atmosphere, there!

Hope that you're all having a nice weekend! Talk to you soon! :)

SlightlyGoofy

12-05-2004, 02:57 PM

Thank God for those manic periods or nothing would get done around here. I bought my Christmas present yesterday, a Panasonic DVD recorder/VHS. Hooked it up right the first time and have been happily transferring all my hundreds of hours of video tape to DVD ever since. I always buy one thing for the 'house' and this is it for the year. Manged to get the price down from $400 to $300 by watching for sales and finding a big rebate online. After I get all the nuances figured out I am going to do it for hire in order to recoup my expenses and be able to afford a digital camera soon. I love gadgets. LOL

Have also cleaned the house, wrapped presents and cooked an entire turkey meal (almost ready) today along with making a huge batch of peanut butter fudge for my dear grandson as per his request. He has many activities today and says he needs the energy. We are going to the church to watch him perform with his puppet group this evening.

Elaine, how I envy you being at DW especially this time of the year. There is something so magical about being on Main Street with the Christmas decorations, fake snow AND flowers blooming while we walk around in our shorts and short sleeve shirts that cannot me matched for sheer magic. Next year I will be there and you can envy me UNLESS you chose to join me there!! LOL

Lisa, I am going to transfer the tapes that you sent me also. Would you like me to mail you a copy as the DVD is much more stable and will outlast the VHS format? A trival evening with friends? How wonderful! I have no one to play trivia with. Is so sad. (smile) Dalton did beat me two games to one with Hangman yesterday. I do not cut much slack either. He was allowed to use a dictionary but stumped me with his own words, granted they were three small ones rather than one longer one but it worked. LOL

Lauralee, I am sorely tempted to take you on your offer to adopt me, or the other way around. Sounds as if you could use an overprotective grandma like myself. It would not work though cause you might be tempted to say thank you when I take the kids so you can get some rest, call me just to talk sometimes, or even invite me to your house more than once (or usually never) a year and heavens forbid give me a hug and I would drop dead of shock. If it were not for my warped sense of humor I might be a tad bit bitter. :cool1:

Colleen, as usual you put me to shame with all that you manage to accomplish. I would still be unloading boxes from the move let alone getting the holidays all wrapped up as you are doing. I have wanted to do Christmas at the Zoo but because I do not drive after dark, especially in the big city, it is not likely to happen. The Producers is going to be at Clowes in February and I am afraid to sign up for the tour cause I worry about whether I would be able to get 15 miles away to where I am supposed to meet the bus. Is hard being phobic and having good sense. I am blessed with a close friend who loves Disney also but unfortunately since her hubby retired she spends more time there than here and I do not get to visit with her nearly as much. I am sorry that your mil is stressing out. Is there a chance that you think she is judgemental or something and it might not be? I wish the world were a place where people could sit down, talk calmly and truthfully, and settle things. Would save ever oh so much trouble and strife. Pay her a compliment and see if she does not warm up a bit maybe? As nice as you are I am sure that you are a wonderful dil as well. Seeing your son happy and having such great grandchildren should be enough to melt any mil's heart IMHO.

Got to go carve the turkey. Hope Tom can make it all the way from the bedroom to the kitchen to eat. He has such a hard life.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

12-05-2004, 06:43 PM

These new Boards are driving me crazy. When I hit "post reply," the screen that comes up doesn't always look the same. This does not agree with me. I am a creature of habit and worrying about my posts going into the abyss makes me mad! Now here at the bottom of the screen I have two options: "Post quick reply" or "Go advanced." Now what the heck is the difference? Does choosing "advanced" edit my post, and make my life sound more exciting? I guess I may never know... I am going with "quick!"

Linda, if you are wanting to see Xmas at the Zoo you let me know. Hubby gripes every year I drag him, the sourpuss. If you could make it to Bloomington, I would pick you up and take you with myself and the kiddos. You would have to drive home in the dark from Bloomington, but this is a route well traveled. Let me know, and Scott would owe you one for rescuing him from a holiday tradition. I LOVE the Zoo Xmas, although they have so many lights up you can get a bit dizzy. We haven't seen the holiday trains yet and the kids are looking forward to that. They play Christmas music and sell cocoa and it is lots of fun, plus cheap entertainment (we have a membership so it's free!) at a time when I am inevitably broke from Xmas overspending... You let me know as I make the offer sincerely.

Yes, dear guest is judgemental all right. Griped to hubby that it was good I was making meatballs with dinner as we had "eaten too many carbohydrates all weekend." Truth is, we LIVE on carbohydrates most weekends. No adverse affects yet... But evidently my meal planning doesn't measure up.. Oh well...

Lisa, tomorrow is your big day on campus. Let us know how it goes, and good luck with the math test. I will join you all in imagining the fun Elaine is having.

xoxo

depplyinluv

12-05-2004, 08:51 PM

Hello everyone!
just a note: this has just been posted on another thread, so it might show up around the site a few times:

p.s.- I miss you ladies ! :(

A word of caution: very Long!

Hello everyone. I haven't been in for awhile, but I stopped in basically to explain why and wish everyone happy holidays and such. (Is it me, or did this whole site completely change?) :/

anyways, I don't think I've been on since October, shame on me! But it's because the internet in my room won't work and the only working internet is in my brother's room, but he currently isn't using his room so that's why I'm here. I have also started to play Varsisty Ice Hockey, so that is extremely time consuming, and I'm taking guitar lessons now. And homework, can't forget about that :'(

but now I really need to ask for everyone's prayers.

Last Saturday (11/27), My dad, step-mom, and Brother were involved in a serious car accident. I suppose I can just post the article, and then I'll write what it left out.
http://www4.fosters.com/november_20...u_11.28.04e.asp
^^^ that's the first one..
the picture shown, that black car is actually what used to be my dad's pick up truck. As you can probably tell, the grand marquise hit right on the driver's side, where my dad was. In the article, it says that all 3 occupants of the pick-up truck were wearing seatbelts- that's actually not true. My dad and step-mom weren't wearing theres. If my brother wasn't , he may not be here right now.
alright well here's the second article:
http://www4.fosters.com/november_20...o_11.29.04c.asp

about that article, my dad did more than just breaking his leg, but i'll get to that. second, my brother is only 11 ..
and now for the third article (tons of mistakes...stupid newspaper)
http://www4.fosters.com/november_20...o_11.30.04c.asp

and now to break it down:
my dad, bro, and step-mom were driving to pick up some doors at Home Depot. They were probably 10 minutes from the store when they were hit. My dad said he saw the car in front of them pull off to the right, and then they were hit. The truck is totalled(sp?). But luckily my family made it out w/o fatal injuries. My prayers go out to the woman who died and her family.
My dad suffered a shattered knee and ankle on his left leg, and also a bone-deep cut. On his right leg, broken tibia and completely shattered ankle and heel. He face was a little banged up, but no head injuries thankfully. My brother (11 y/0) suffered broken bones in/under his left eye. He had a severe fraction in his left leg, and also a bone-deep cut. He also had internal stomach bleeding. My step-mom suffered a shattered forearm and wrist on her left arm, severe chest bruising, broken tooth, and bruising to her face.
My brother left Frisbee hospital to be transported to Maine probably about 4 hours after he got there. His eye at the time looked like a purple softball with blood oozing from it (sorry for the graphic-ness!) But I'm thankful that they got him out of that hospital when they did. He got pins put into his leg, and the bones in his eye will naturally heal back into place, so no plastic surgery, and the internal bleeding stopped around tuesday. He came home Friday 12/3, so he is occupying the family room downstairs. He is such a trooper, It wasn't more than 3 years ago he had meningitus for the 2cd time...

My dad was in Frisbee until Friday when they moved him to NorthEast rehab in Portland, so my brother go to see him. They did one surgery at Frisbee, that was on his knee/kneecap. I really wished he had gone sooner, the care he received at Frisbee was terrible. in his words: "I wouldn't even send my dog here."
From being in frisbee, he's gotten pneumonia, bowel problems, and a yeast infection in his mouth (sounds fun, huh?)

My step-mom was fortunate to be able to share a room with him while they were at Frisbee. She was released Wednesday to go home.She's doing really well, even with the 2 huge gashes on her legs..eww..i saw them being stitched up...but she's walking great, and she's doing fine

My dad is scheduled for his last surgery (hopefully) this Wednesday at Maine Medical Center. The doctors are going to reconstruct the bones in his heel and ankle.

phew. glad I got most of that out.
anyways, thanks for reading, I miss all of you so much!
peacefully yours,
depplyinluv

***I hope everyone here is doing well, as well as your families! If I can, I will read the previous posts!***

lunabkat

12-06-2004, 10:00 AM

Hi all.

for cryin' out loud what is up with this board? Everytime i check the email, i have to relog in twice in order to post, and then sometimes it won't post anyway :badpc: Also, i haven't gotten any new emails about new posts, i just figured i would check thru an old one - ah...progress!

elaine - hope you are having a blast, we miss you, but will endure so you can have a good time :D

rider, now i am sick, just starting. I think the worst day should be thursday and on the mend by friday. Never say die i always say. the girls sound alot better, if they are still coughing i am going to take them to the dr. on friday before we leave to make sure there are no ear infections, yada, yada, yada.

colleen, you sound like you really enjoy that christmas zoo, it sounds like fun, the girls would love it. I hope it isn't too cold for you. Happy wrapping!

Linda, i certainly would thank you and appreciate you, now don't swoon :earseek: , but i would probably even hang out with you for no reason other than to enjoy your company (how radical, eh?) I hope tom made it to the dinner table alright, the trials and tribulations of others :rolleyes: , imagine your not bringing him dinner in bed! When i go to work on the weekend (nites) i have found that if i spend the day getting the house in order i come home to a disaster and if i leave the house a disaster i don't notice much of a difference, so much for being appreciated. So the "maid" has decided to take work weekends off and if anyone wants the place clean they can either help the "maid" or live in squalor puckerup:

Got the Christmass tree up yesterday, today its the ornaments. Tonight, gift wrapping, tomorrow start to pack! Its so exciting, i don't know if the girls are more excited about christmas or disney - the little darlings are zipping around in a state of excitement off and on all day. Hope they don't pop before we get there.

When we get home we need to go shopping for their "brother" Luna. I believe he is bucking for a new catnip mouse or two. My husband says, no more beds! (he has3, not counting our beds which he takes over as he pleases). What can i say, he's a collecter.

deeplyinluv, you and your family are in my prayers, i hope it all works out well and i am so sorry to hear about your families troubles. Thank god your brother was wearing his seatbelt. God bless you and take care.

I will try to get back to the boards before i leave,

Love to all :grouphug:

LL

SlightlyGoofy

12-06-2004, 04:21 PM

Depply, you poor dear. This is an awful (the wreck and injuries) and wonderous holiday (no one was killed, thank God). I cannot imagine what all you must be going through but I bet you are doing all you can to help your beloved family. Please know that all you DIS friends are holding you in their hearts and hoping that all is back to normal very soon. You have our prayers, pixie dust and love. If you ever need to vent we are here for you and if you have to be absent because of everything that is going on do not worry, we will hold your place, not that anyone could fill it anyway.

Luna, you are far smarter than I am in cutting back on your duties. Seems people only notice that which we do NOT do. (sigh) Unfortunately my threshold for dirt is much lower than anyone else's around here. I once hung a sign on my children's bathroom diavowing any responsibility for such. I hate that old ad about 'ring around the collar". Even as a youngster I thought that man should have washed his darned neck instead of the woman having to scrub the collar. I hope you are wrong about coming down with something and if you do that it is of short duration. You do understand, that as a woman, you are not permitted a sick day do you not? I would have served my husband his meal in bed but it is hard enough cleaning up the floor in the kit chen after he eats. He is messier than any of the grandkids. Is why he watches tv in the kitchen. I got tired of trying to clean up all the coffee and tea stains from the dozens of cups he drinks a day. He carries the cup sideways and is always amazed that it seems to spill on the way from the kitchen to wherever he is headed. I would love to hang out with you also. You seem to be ALMOST as evil as I am. LOL

Colleen, you are so very kind. It is an offer that I am most tempted to take you up on just so I could spend time with your beautiful children. Thank you so much for the card. It is going up in a place of honor and I will keep the picture in my friends photo book. I do not think that I am up to driving about 100 miles to meet you to go to the zoo and I am far too slow and would just hold you and the kids up. Have you considered inviting a nearby friend and children to join you which would alleviate your hubby's pain and give you good company as well? I am sorry that 'dear guest' is being a pain but from what you told me it is wonderful that you all invite her to share the holidays at all. Maybe if you think of it this way it will be a bit easier, she obviously is comfortable saying any old thing that comes to her mind so that is a bit 'flattering' and you care about what she 'thinks' so that is a good thing too. She is not staying until after Christmas is she? If so, buy her a Poor Richard's Almanac and bookmark the part about 'fish and company stinking after three days". LOL

Lisa, hope the day went well for you. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a first step and you are off on such an exciting and wonderful journey. Bet you make it in record time too.

I bet Elaine is enjoying the resort Christmas decorations. I read a thread that told about playing Bus Bingo. I added it to my 'to do' list. Basically you walk out of your resort and hop on the first bus to a park that you come to and then get on the first bus to a resort you see, get off explore and repeat until worn out. Sounds like a blast.

I have my cookie dough all made and all of my fudges. Austin was in a puppet show (starring roll) at church last night and popped in for a fudge fix and asked for some to take to his friends (about a dozen or so). LOL

There is a thread on here where people at DW send postcards to children who are awaiting a future trip. One lady who is a second grade teacher requested someone to write to her class. She contacted me today to thank me for my letter and suggest some future topics and asked if I minded if her kids wrote me letters. Mind, I still have bunches I have received from other kids through the years and treasure them. Will be my favorite present this year I think..

I have a Christmas party tomorrow and another one on Wednesday. I am thankful that they are both AFTER weigh in. Will give me 5 days to make amends. (grin)

SG/Linda

colleen costello

12-06-2004, 05:28 PM

Hi ladies. Depply, you have my sympathies. Glad everyone is well. They were blessed with a "close call" and I am glad that is all it was... So scary that are lives so depend on the other crazies on the road. Take care of your family and yourself; you are in our thoughts!

Linda, we don't move too fast at the zoo but of course I understand. For you to go via Bloomington would certainly be what my Dad always called "the drunks' tour..." I will share details when we are back. I informed Scrooge today that he would be taking us next weekend and no buts about it. I think he will actually enjoy the holiday trains. My kids were really interested in the mini trains we saw at Epcot in March. I think it was in Germany (Linda, I think you told me it WAS in Germany...) Anyhow, I think the mini trains will be very cute, plus the atrium is heated! It is supposed to be warmish all week so I hope we can go Saturday evening.

Our dear houseguest departed today quite early. The weekend went better than it might have, blessedly short. I can now look forward to the arrival of MY crazy family, who, while dysfunctional, are loads of fun. I got all the kids' presents wrapped today and now we can settle in to wrap for all the grandparents and teachers, which is always fun.

Linda, I got reimbursed today for my "secret shopper" meal. It was a great dinner and lots of fun. I hope they were happy with my report. Perhaps I am not critical enough as I am so glad when I don't have to cook that I generally enjoy most places... It was a fun way to et a free meal out.

Where is our dear Rider? Probably recovering from her stressful morning at school. Lisa, let us know how it all went, even the dreaded math test!

Luna, hope you are still feeling healthy so you can enjoy these exciting days before your trip. Keep us posted!

Colleen

colleen costello

12-06-2004, 05:33 PM

PS... Luna, as you are the queen of kitty beds, please advise. The kids have been hounding me to get one for our two princes. Which type is best? There is one that is sort of like a little triangular igloo that they can go into. There is also a type that is just an oval quilted bed with sides a few inches high, and sheepskin-type plush inside. I am leaning toward that one. Please advise...

depplyinluv

12-06-2004, 09:35 PM

hello ladies! I'm going to stop in here real quick between writing a western civ essay and talking to my dad...

lunabkat- I don't think i've ever seen you here before, but here's a long awaited 'welcome' from me. I'm depplyinluv (or amanda) nice to meet you :)

thank you so much for your prayers. I am also so glad he was wearing his seatbelt, I just can't bear to think about what could have happened. :guilty:

Linda- This really is an awful but wonderous time. I'm just so thankful my family is still here today. I've been going through a lot, but I'm ok (except for the emergency trip to my doctor's friday...severe asthma attack). I'm so glad I could get on the DIS to share what happened. It feels so good to know that people are praying for me and my family. Oh and don't worry, I'll probably be back on to vent later ;)
thanks a lot for remembering me in my absense. I really do miss it here, and I'm glad no one will take my place :)

Colleen- it was definately a close call. Ah, the road is such a dangerous place..I'm so scared to start driving ( oh my goodness, that's in 3 months!) ...I will take care of myself and my family, and thank you so much for putting us in your thoughts and prayers. :hug:

IASW Rider

12-07-2004, 12:29 PM

Hi Everyone,

So sorry that I wasn't able to check in sooner - great to hear from you, Amanda, and thanks for taking the time to share your great (ice hockey, guitar lessons, great first semester at school) and frightening news with us. I echo everyone else by saying thank God your father, step-mother, and brother were all right. And wishing them all continued speedy, comfortable, and successful recoveries. I can't imagine how scared you all must have been and how difficult it has been while your Dad was having surgery and the subsequent "issues" after being in the first hospital, while your step-mother and brother have been recuperating - all during the holiday season, no less. But it sounds like everyone is slowly getting better (your brother's eye will be fine - believe it or not, I fractured the same bone, a few years ago, and it healed within a month and no one would ever know, now) and we'll all be thinking of you and praying that you can all put that horrible event behind you all and look forward to wonderful holidays and a very happy 2005!

Thanks so much for offering to transfer that video footage onto DVD for us, Linda! Sure - if you happen to have a chance - and ONLY if you happen to have a chance - that would be wonderful! It sounds like a wonderful new "toy" you have there! I would go crazy with something like that - I would do exactly what you're doing - transferring hours and hours of home video footage onto DVD as "back ups"! We actually had most of our WDW footage (1999 - 2002) transferred onto DVD by a professional - I still have to get around to transferring 2003 and 2004! But it sounds like you are really enjoying the new DVDR / VCR - you deserve to get yourself a nice gift like that! Frank and I also try to get something for each other / "for the house" each year, and this year it will have to be a new computer. We have to face facts that no matter what we do, we DO need to upgrade, and FAST - before both of us go back to school next month! How did your turkey dinner go over? I'm sure that Tom loved it! And that peanut butter fudge sounds "evil"!

How are you feeling, Lauralee? Come on! You have to get yourself and everyone else all healthy and ready to go to WDW!!!

Colleen - how did your day of relaxing, gift wrapping, and getting ready for the holidays go, yesterday! I know that it was much deserved, after what you endured this weekend! I'm sure that you are relieved that it is all over, and know that you did a good thing by having her share some time with you, Scott, and your children. Still, she had no right to comment on / criticize anything that you served - ESPECIALLY since she was a guest in YOUR home! And - I will reiterate - it is the official opinion of the American Dietetic Association that there is NO SUCH THING AS "TOO MANY CARBS"! People who say things like that don't even understand what a "carbohydrate" actually IS! What does she think vegetables "are"? Or fruits? Or oatmeal? Well........they're not proteins.......and they're not fats.......so they must be.......CARBOHYDRATES! And no one can say that vegetables, fruits, or oatmeal aren't "healthy" things to eat! So don't worry about her and her little comments (maybe she was somehow trying to show that she "cares" by giving you "helpful cooking tips"?) - just know that you do a wonderful job of cooking and taking care of your family! We actually have several cat beds, ourselves, but find that our cats mostly like using other things "as" beds - the rocking chair, a basket, the bottom "floor" of our "kitty condo", etc. Each of our cats has his / her own favorite place(s) in our house, where we can almost always find them napping! There is actually another reason that we can't buy any more cat beds........our one male cat already destroyed 2 of the soft, fleecy variety.......because even though he has long since been "snipped"..........he still likes to "simulate the act" with any soft thing he happens to get his paws on (ie: sweaters, towels, blankets, jackets).......and thus ruined 2 soft cat beds by dragging them around the house and "having his way with them"! (I am NOT kidding! That's one confused cat, there! :) ) The weird thing is that he never really expresses "interest" in our other 4 female cats........just inanimate objects! The vet says that he is expressing his "dominance" by doing that - that it's actually an aggressive behavior - not an "intimate" one - and that he's somehow trying to show all the female cats that he's "boss" by doing that..........we just think that he kinda looks silly! :)

Moving right along............! Thank you all for thinking of me, yesterday! I did survive my orientation, as well as the stupid algebra test that I had to take, first thing in the morning (I have no idea how I did - let the chips fall where they may, I guess. I may wind up having to take the elementary algebra class that I successfully avoided all last year, after all! ). The orientation was great - but very overwhelming - tons and tons of information being thrown at us without a break! Each of the 5 departments (Health Education / Behavioral Science, BioStatistics, Epidemiology, Health Systems / Policy, and Environmental Health) did short presentations about their work and classes, and then there was a presentation regarding the fieldwork which we will have to complete before graduation. They also had presentations by representatives of the libraries, safety officers, compliance department, administrative offices, etc. Then the Student Association took us on tours of the UMDNJ campus, which is comprised of our School of Public Health, the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, the Center for Biomedical Research, the School of Medicine research facility, and the UMDNJ / Rutgers Library of Science and Medicine. After that, we met with our advisors and registered for classes and parking permits, and posed for our photo ID pictures. It was a very full day! But I'm all registered for my classes, now. I will start off "easy" by taking 2 instead of 3, this first semester - sort of "ease back into" school mode! I'll be taking Intro to Health Education and Behavioral Science (that's my concentration) and Principles of Epidemiology (which I understand involves a fairly significant quantitative aspect........UGH!!!) Classes start 2 days after my birthday in mid-January, so I'll have to celebrate while I can! At least I have a little over a month to get myself emotionally and mentally ready for this new adventure!

Anyway, wouldn't you know that Frank's holiday dinner at work is scheduled for TONIGHT???? I wouldn't want him to miss it, and I know that he's been looking forward to it. So I am going to celebrate the first night of Chanukah with my father - he is coming over and I'm taking him out to dinner! By the time we get back, hopefully Frank will be back too, and we can all light the menorah together! (Then we're having our real celebration when my father, uncle, and sister-in-law come over for dinner and the gift exchange on Thursday night).

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

lunabkat

12-07-2004, 02:41 PM

Hi all,

Colleen, as the duly recognized Queen of the Kitty Beds for the King of the Kats, we give two paws up for the oval bed with the soft fleece liner. Our kitty is fairly big (as most King of the Kats are, the better with which to kit other kitty butt :rolleyes: ) so we actually got him a small dog bed (shhhh!) instead of the kitty variety (which we believe were round).

We have found these to be both durable and washable/dryable and Luna absolutely adores his, he spends most of his quality napping time in this bed and it is big enough for him to stretch out, should Himself so desire, or curl up, or sleep on his back with his belly out for all to see (please, do NOT touch the belly)> :earseek: Although, if you have a cat that is a hider, they might prefer the enclosed bed, there isn't alot of room in them unless your cat is small and/or likes to sleep curled up most of the time. We also bought ours at Target last year, one side of the pillow is plush sheeplike and the other side is flannel plain, green by the way. Hope this helps :wave:

Linda, do you also make chocolate fudge? MMMMMM! You know, i try and pick up around here, but it is a thankless task. There are things that need to be cleaned in this house that i didn't even know got dirty for goodness sakes. where's Hazel when ya need her?

by the way, thank you all for your good wishes and thoughts about my being sick. I woke up today with nary a sniffle, why? Don't know, don't care. I just know that i am feeling much better and the kids seem better today too, although that cough is hanging on a little, like they always do.

Hi elaine, hope you are seeing and doing it all out there! :teleport:

Amanda, you sound like another very busy young girl who checks in with us every so often, it is a pleasure to meet you. Prayers for the continued good healing of your family :flower1:

Rider, Algebra - two words - Yu Uck!! :rolleyes: I have tried for years (not without a break of course) to understand algebra and all i do is blow a couple of spark plugs, it is worse than a foreign language for me. I have always been a word person, i seem to transpose numbers off and on so i always try to be extra careful with "the math".

Well, i am off to start packing. I wrapped about 3/4's of my gifts last night so at least i am ahead there. I am starting to pack the girls carry ons and find out if we are leaving the car at the airport or taking a limo.

I will check back before i leave if i can.

good thoughts for all,

LL

depplyinluv

12-08-2004, 08:23 AM

Lisa- algebra is horrible. I had algebra one last year...so hard! But I'm sure you did fine :)
thanks for all your well wishes, I got to see my dad last night..he is looking and feeling so much better. He is going into surgery today, from what I collected they are going to be putting a metal plate in the bottom of his foot and screwing bones into it...fun...and he might be receiving a new kneecap.
My brother saw the plastic surgeon for his eye yesterday as well....but the surgeon said there is still a lot of swelling underneath his eyeball..so he has to go back in January.

anyways, have a Happy Chanukah ( we lit candles last night in my dad's hospital room- don't tell!)
and a happy 2005 to you too! :D
(that's hilarious what your cat does to the cat beds! )

LL- I am very busy lol. I used to be on here a lot more when my internet was working in my room. Thank you again for the prayers :hug:
--I just purchased 3 fleece mat beds filled with catnip for my kitties...but the last time i got a cat bed, not one of the cats used it. We have a small kitty condo with one spot to sleep, and that's where my girl cat hangs out a lot...

well I guess I will get ready for school now, I have a two hour delay today! :cool1:

talk to you ladies real soon
-depply

IASW Rider

12-08-2004, 11:56 AM

Hi Everyone!

I hope that your father's surgery goes well, today, Amanda! We will certainly be thinking of him and wishing him a quick and successful procedure and a comfortable and speedy recovery! That's so nice that you lit the candles in his hospital room - I'm sure that that cheered him up and made it feel more like home for him! Happy Chanukah, by the way! :) And I hope that your brother isn't worried about seeing the plastic surgeon - I had to see one, too, when I had the same fracture. He said that the bones would just heal themselves. I went back 6 months later and he said that everything was fine. And my swelling went away pretty quickly, too. In fact, I had injured myself just 2 months before my wedding (you can imagine how freaked out I was at the prospect of walking down the aisle with a big, purple eye!) and everything was fine and completely back to normal well in advance of that date! Anyway, I hope that your father, step-mother, and brother are doing well and are feeling better every day!

So glad that there are others out there who hate algebra as much as I do! At least I know that I'm not alone! :) I really thought that I was through with that horrible subject, but it looks like it will continue to come back and haunt me again and again!

All of this talk about cat beds - we also have something that I refer to as "the space ship". It's a covered basket in the shape of a half circle, with a round top, a flat bottom, and a circular opening in the front with a pillow inside. I think that it's really intended for (a) kitten(s), but one of our adult cats squeezes herself in there and basically takes up the entire surface area of the floor of the basket, with her head sort of sticking out the opening. When she goes in there, I ask her what part of space she's flying off to, today, and whether she's planning to visit with her martian friends! I'll see if I can find a picture to post - it's quite a sight! :)

Your DD's holiday concert sounded very nice, Colleen! I'm sure that Erin did a wonderful job and that the hand bells sounded beautiful, too - definitely great instruments of the season!

We had a nice first night of Chanukah, last night. Frank managed to beat my father and me home from his work holiday dinner, by about 20 minutes, so we were all able to light the menorah together when my father and I got home. And there were some nice gifts waiting for me on the kitchen table when we got home, too! :) After my father left, Frank and I relaxed with a bottle of wine and watched a very "critical" episode of our soap opera, on tape - an 8 month long storyline finally wrapped up yesterday, and we had been waiting for months for the "crucial" episode to air! I know - we're very silly! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great day! :)

IASW Rider

12-08-2004, 12:09 PM

Here is where our cats like to sleep:

Shirley likes to sleep in a bed (this is actually one of the beds which we no longer have......because The Big Ragoo destroyed it with his "passion"! :) ):

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=8fc6&.dnm=0dc9.jpg&.src=ph

Tasha likes to "go into outer space" in her "space ship":

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb3/detail?.dir=5865&.dnm=36db.jpg&.src=ph

Ashley spends all day sleeping on "her" rocking chair, with her "pet" spiders:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=8fc6&.dnm=acd8.jpg&.src=ph

The Big Ragoo likes to nap UNDER the towels that we put on the furniture to protect the couches and chairs from cat hair (but we take them away when we have guests, of course!):

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=8fc6&.dnm=74a4.jpg&.src=ph

Boo Boo Kitty prefers the top "shelf" of the "cat tree":

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=8fc6&.dnm=ed9c.jpg&.src=ph

But Ashley and Tasha's favorite place to sleep is.......on Daddy's lap! :)

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=8fc6&.dnm=4575.jpg&.src=ph

SlightlyGoofy

12-10-2004, 08:17 PM

Gosh, I sure have a lot of catching up to do. I have not been getting notices otherwise I would surely have been here before, this is my favorite place. LOL

Rider, I am sure that you survived and surmounted the algebra test. Glad to see that you spell Chanukah with a C. I got heck for it in trivia last night. LOL I will refer them to you and you can stick up for me. When I die I surely do hope I come back as one of your cats. Sounds like a heavenly life to me. What kind of computer are you guys going to get? I am sort of shopping myself but am confused on how much stuff I really need and how much I do not. Will be a Dell for me. I will gladly dub you a tape as soon as I find some time. Might be after the holidays as I have to get some of our family tapes done so we have something to watch Christmas Eve. After watching hours and hours of tapes, so far I am struck by all the things I have done for my family. Wonder if sending a copy of some of the tapes to my dear son he might be struck by the same thought. Not that I have done anything more than any other mother but search as I could I never found me wielding any wire coat hangers and making people scrub the floors on their hands and knees. I did find some scenes of where my dear son pulled the motor in his old junk heap in our brand, spanking new garage though. (sigh)

Depply, your dad is sure going to have a lot of fun going through airport security from now on. Make him get a note from his doctor. LOL I am happy to hear that everyone seems to be on the mend. Sure makes you appreciate the boring old days. Please do not be afraid to drive. You will be a better than average driver because of this experience. Just look around at the dumb older people you know who drive and have never had an accident. You could just as easily get hurt by a falling tree branch or something beyond your control. By taking some simple precautions, such as leaving enough room between you and the other cars, you can grealy increase your safety. From what I know of you, you are much safer being behind the wheel rather than trusting someone else to drive you around. I did not learn to drive until I was in my thirties and I remember being scared also but I have gotten over most of it. I was in a very bad wreck when I was young and had the top of my head cut off.

Luna, are you older than I am thinking? You know who Hazel is? LOL Yep, I make chocolate fudge but only when I have people waiting for it as I do not like to keep any around the house. Chocolate is my weakness.

Helenabear, you lucky dogs. Hope you are having a wonderful time and were not present at the CP when a couple of 'adults' acted like jerks. Is a sad thing. I got a card from another friend who said that she loved the Osborne Lights. Can't wait to see what your impressions were.

Good night ladies, SG/Linda

lunabkat

12-10-2004, 11:24 PM

Hi all,

Well, i am finished packing and soon headed for bed. Must be at the airport at 8am for a 10 am flight so we need to leave here around 7am. The girls were a bear to put to bed tonight, whew :earseek: ! They are so excited. Dd5 was upset because she was going to miss her stuffed animals and Luna (another kind of stuffed animal entirely), speaking of which, he left us a present yesterday under the kitchen table, thanks buddy puckerup:

I am so beat right now i can't wait to get to sleep, what a day. a lot of running around and packing with two dds who are wound tight between the trip and Christmas. :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

helenabear, will wave to you on the way past. rider good luck with your tests. amanda and caroline, be good but have fun. Colleen, good luck with your hunt for the perfect kitty bed. Linda, i used to watch Hazel reruns when i was home sick from school, along with Jeannie and Petticoat Junction and, who could forget, Green Acres. I think sending your son copies of your tapes would be a great idea. :flower1:

Gotta go, be good. I will tell all when we return. :earboy2:

by the way, i hope these boards get better at letting us know when someone has posted, i just have been checking back every so often to see if anyone has posted, and the darn search ain't workin' yet either.

Later

LL

colleen costello

12-11-2004, 12:11 PM

I am missing all sorts of action, thinking there are no posts. I get no notices... What's the deal? Other times, the message not only comes but tells me what the post says, and I don't even have to get on the Boards at all. WHAT IS GOING ON?

I have caught up on all the info now. Lisa, glad your Chanukah is off ot a good start. I am going to spend this weekend wrapping gifts for the teachers as Monday is the beginning of the last week of school for this semester. Also have to wrap and pack boxes for the East Coast relatives and plan a journed to FedEx. Scott and I are also goignto paint our little powder room today. We picked a color we THINK we like and are paintigna teeny room to see how the color really looks. If we like it, we will buy gallons more and go to town on the whole house. Our goal is to have everything painted by May, when we can focus on powerwashing and landscaping. The list never ends!

I have read all the kitty bed info, as well as enjoyed lots of Lisa's kitty photos. Lisa, I know exactly what you mean about the male cats and that charming "humpy" behavior. I swore my vet had neglected to remove something I paid to have removed from our last cat, Casey. But poor old Doctor Combs swore that the only thing left to do was a lobotomy. I used to have these big, green fuzzy Gumby slippers. I kept them in my closet and sometimes when we had been out a few hours, we'd get home to find a Gumby in the living room. We'd laugh because poor Gumby had obviously been violated while we were out. Go figure. The minute we left, Casey would go to town. He did that right up until he died, at 18 years old. I would say to Scott that the darn cat was about 4,000 in people years yet he was still messing with those Gumbies... Yikes.

Off to wrap and paint. Hope everyone is doing well. Can't wait for Elaine to get back and give us the lowdown. I saw on the tv that Orlando has been in the 80's, lucky her!

IASW Rider

12-12-2004, 12:56 PM

BON VOYAGE, LAURALEE!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

So sorry that I didn't get here sooner to wish you a wonderful trip! Well, with the holiday season upon us all, things have been very busy here, in the Suite. We promise you a gala "Welcome Back" party, upon your return, since we missed giving you a fitting send off! Hope that you and your DH and DD's have a wonderful time! :)

Hi Linda! Great to hear from you! And we are thinking about going with a Dell, too! There seem to be some really great deals at this time of year - you even get a free printer if you order one now (although I am very attached to our HP printer / scanner / copier and would never want to replace it!)! We need to do it soon, so that it is up and running and all of our files transferred well in advance of my starting school in January and Frank's starting school again in February. Please don't rush to copy that tape onto DVD for us - you have many more important things to tend to, now! I think it's so nice that you will be making some DVD's of home video for you all to watch on Christmas Eve! That will be very special! And I say that one can spell "Chanukah" with a "C" or an "H" and either way is correct! It's just a phoenetic translation of a Hebrew word, so there is really no "correct" English spelling. I just spell it with a "C" because it is the closest to the way that the word sounds in Hebrew. Most people (or should I say ALL people who didn't happen to learn Hebrew at a very early age) are physically incapable of making the "sound" that goes with the "ch" sound in Hebrew (it sort of sounds like a cat spitting up a hair ball - kindly excuse the reference / imagery!), and it's easier to make an "h" sound, so that's why some people spell the holiday "Hanukkah"!

Speaking of cats, I am so happy to learn that Ragoo is not the only male cat in history who enjoys getting "intimate" with inanimate objects, Colleen! :) I have never heard of another cat who enjoyed doing so, so I am very happy to hear about your Casey (though very sorry to hear that he is no longer with us). Ragoo would really enjoy those Gumby slippers, I'm sure! He loves all towels and blankets.......and you can't leave a jacket lying around on the couch and have it be "safe" from his affections, either! I remember after one of our first official dates years ago, Frank had come back to my house and had draped his fleece pullover sweater / jacket on my couch........we turned around and the next thing we knew, there was The Big Ragoo having his way with it! Fortunately, Frank had been at my house a million times before and had long since made Ragoo's acquaintance......so it wasn't horrifically embarrassing......but I wish that he had had better manners with my new boyfriend! :)

All is well, here - we've had a very busy few days. We had my father, uncle, and sister-in-law over for a Chanukah dinner on Thursday night, and that went very well! I made my first brisket (in the crock pot!) and it came out wonderfully! And that's coming from ME, who is hardly a big fan of red meat! I made up little "goody bags" for our guests, with dreidels and Chanukah gelt (the foil wrapped chocolate coins) in them, and placed them at everyone's seat at the dinner table. It was cute to see my 78 year old uncle and 73 year old father playing dreidel and eating candy in between courses! We also exchanged our first "round" of gifts (the second "round" to come at my in-laws' on Christmas), which was fun. I told Frank that you would probably be amused by his first 2 gifts to me, Linda. The first one that I opened was.......A BLACK SWEATER! And the second one that I opened was......a WHITE sweater! :)

We spent all day Friday and Friday evening with some old friends from ML. We went to see "National Treasure", went out to dinner, then came back here and let one of them light our menorah - neither of them had ever lit one or even been in a home where one was lit, so they got to see how it was done. We played board games and reminisced and had a nice time.

Then we went to a holiday party at some friends' of Frank's from high school last night, which was fun, too. It was nice to see them, and though there was more great looking food there than one can possibly imagined, I successfully avoided temptation and "did" pretty well resisting consuming everything in sight! I wasn't able to "resist" the hosts' attempts to rope me into singing karaoke, however...........UGH. Well, what can you do? I couldn't break their holiday spirit (........so I broke their ear drums by singing, instead!). I had only subjected myself to that once before - and it was in front of a lot more people. In 1989, one of my best friends from high school and I wanted to do something special for our other best friend's birthday (she was away in law school in Georgia, at the time). So we went to a now-defunct club in NYC called "Singalong", where people can get up on a real stage, in front of a live (mostly drunk!) audience, and have a music video professionally made. So we did that (I don't know where we got the courage!) - we got up on stage and had a video of ourselves singing "That's What Friends are For" made, and we sent it to our other friend for her birthday (she said that she cried when she watched it........hopefully because she was touched......not because we sounded so bad! :) ). Aside from my Bat Mitzvah - and singing in front of only 20 or so people last night - that was my one "foray" into public performance for a large crowd! :)

I got my results back, from that quantitative assessment that I had to take for school at the orientation..........and I passed! I don't know how the heck I managed to pass an algebra test with no preparation at 8:00 AM n a Monday morning, but I somehow managed to do it - yipee!

Hope that you're all having a great weekend! :)

colleen costello

12-12-2004, 08:45 PM

Lisa, what a post. All the fun of your holiday is contagious. I laughed so hard at your description of the "ch" sound... Of course being form Jersey, I know it well... Really Billy Crystal has probably introduced it to more people than we realize... Also, I am so glad you passed out of algebra. I am so proud... You give me... Oh, I can't spell it. You know it. It's like Yiddish for "knockers?" "Knock-uz?" Do you know what I am saying? I know what it means and how to pronounce it but not how to spell it (Having never been to yeshiva but instead a miserable failure at Sunday School...) Girls, I am trying to say to Lisa that I am overcome with pride!

Busy weekend. We re-did the powder room, the first attempt at home improvement. Very tiny room, chunky people. I still have paint in my hair. Looks like hilights done at a beauty school where they are still learning... We painted a new peachy color and added a new light fixture and new towel ring and TP-thingy. It looks nifty. Also prepped the other 2 bathrooms for serious touch-up, tomorrow. Scott took the day off and we are heading to Lowe's, the Indiana version of Home Depot. I wrapped all the presents for the teachers at the kids' schools, plus started on wrapping the gifts that have to be shipped. Fed Ex on Wednesday! Plus a friend asked me to watch her boys this evening, so for 5 hours I had four kids instead of two. I am always exhausted when they leave. They are no trouble, but they are KIDS. With 4 loose you never sit! I can't imagine that some Mom's have four of their own... They must have WAY more energy (and inner calm) than me!

Been watching the Orlando weather for our traveling Suitemates. Looks like Elaine will return with a tan. Luna's visit will begin on the chilly side, but coming from NJ winter I bet it'll suit her just fine. Can't wait for our friends to return with all their tales. I am looking forward to hearing all about Elaine's first stay at OKW.

Gotta call Mickey this week. It is 90 days out from my spring break trip, time to make Priority Seatings. It's so much fun deciding! We are checking in to Carribean Beach on a Friday and will just eat there that night. Saturday we'll have breakfast at Kona Cafe, a favorite. Saturday we'll enjoy the resort as we haven't stayed before. Sunday we check into our room at the Wilderness Lodge and that night we're trying Park Fair for the Cinderella character dinner. Tuesday my friends arrive and we'll do Chef Mickey's that evening. Wednesday is our MK day, and luckily the new "extended hours" for onsite guests will keep the MK open 3 hours extra that night. Whatever day we do Epcot we'll probably go to Garden Grille, per Linda's recommendation. Friday, our last night, we'll probably go to Kona Cafe. We always finish up at the Poly, my favorite place in the world. We eat dinner then hit the beach for the EWP. Heaven!

I am leaving room to add NEW places. If anyone has an idea about a restaurant I can't miss, please say so. I am thinking about the one on the top of the Contemporary -- I will always think of it as "Top of the World" because that's what it was called forever -- OH... "California Grill?" I need to go check the menus at WDWIG. My family need the basics, not sea bass with polenta or things they can't pronounce. Lisa, isn't this where Frank proposed? I need the scoop!

A good night to all.

SlightlyGoofy

12-12-2004, 09:03 PM

Lisa, how did you pull of your Algebra coup? Easy, you are one brainy broad. LOL I already have one Dell and in spite of the first one's hard drive dying shortly after I got it I am going to get another one. They have the best record for service. They did replace my hard drive quickly but it still was a pain in the ahhh rear! Christmas brings out the child in all of us and I loved hearing about your dad and uncle enjoying a second childhood. You get old only when you grow all the way up so I will be eternally young. LOL So will you with all your enthusiasm. Black and white, huh? Guess Frank is going to get you to be more colorful. I know that you city slickers tend to dress in black, keeps the smog from showing. (grin) What song(s) did you torture people with? Hope it was NOT People who love People! Is such a cliche and I cannot see you doing anything so ordinary. Sounds as if your Ragoo was just seperating the wheat from the chaff with his antics. I cannot imagine how you could have lived with someone who did not love your babies as much as you do. A match made in kittie heaven it were.

Colleen, I am getting ready to do my powder room as well! What color have you decided on? Have you checked out the Behr paint site? It is awesome as you can try out paint colors to your hearts content without having to do the actual work. I am going to do mine in shades of off white and sage green. I have enough carpet left from the last room I did (med beige) and am doing a faux wainscotting treatment on two walls (white) and wallpaper with the embossed paper (semi gloss sage green to match the toliet set and throw rug) I have a magazine/tp holder that I got for a quarter somewhere and it will be painted white as well. The light, switch cover and faucets are antique brass and I am going to touch up the mirror, storage cabinet and trash can to match the theme. Will have about $20 in it when I get done. I have all my mailing done and ordered some books from Amazon.com this morning. All the cards are done and mailed and after I do my door to door rounds and have one last party, tomorrow, I am pretty well set. Did you have to buy a lot of new stuff when you moved or are you doing a room at a time?

Luna, getting ready for vacation is a killer around here too and there are just the two of us. What you describe is why we used to leave in the middle of the night so our dear ones would sleep a good part of the way. I was so glad when seat belts were mandatory so I could seperate them until their arms got longer. (sigh) I hope you are settled in and enjoying the fruits of all your labor. I am more happy for you than I am jealous. I hope you waved at me when you passed over also.

Depply, how did things go with your dad and brother? Are you able to be with them much? This will be a Christmas to remember for all time. I have a list that I keep on my desk has a list of people to make sure I think of each day and you have been on it and will remain until you longer need my feeble attempts at prayer. You should know that I address Him by the name of George. Just makes it feel more personal to me. Hope I do not offend others who are more normal than I am.

I have enjoyed seeing lost lost tapes this afternoon. I have found that it is almost easier to do the tapes manually than the quick dub way so that I can make my chapters and such. So much to learn and only so much brain power. Would be easier if the manual was not such a 'piece of work'. I have seen tax forms that are more comprehensable. I have old tape of Food Rocks and the Tiki Room that I plan to add to your tape Lisa. If I ever get time to combine all my Disney footage onto one DVD I may surprise you all with a copy. Please do not hold your breaths though, not because I do not care, but there are only 24 hours a day and I am so old, slow and easily distracted.

I have a Christmas party with two of my oldest and dearest friends tomorrow. We have been getting together for the holidays and our birthdays for years. They pretend I am doing it for them but they are doing it for me. I do not let on but I know.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and has most of their holiday preparations made so that you can enjoy the Reason for the Season (or the thought behind it).

SG/Linda

helenabear

12-12-2004, 09:09 PM

Wow... I stopped in here yesterday and was overwhelmed with all the posts to read... I didn't get any notices that anyone posted here while I was gone, or I would have read as I went along last week (wasn't posting much though)

Big hugs Manda... you all are in my thoughts

Loved the kitty pics!!!

As for last week... well it was wonderful!!! It was great to have Luis there and we had a great balance of alone time and time with friends! He got an anual pass and we are planning on being htere the first week after Thanksgiving!

OKW was wonderful as ever. Luis liked it and I was able to show him a couple other DVC resorts and what their rooms were like. He seems to be hooked :teeth:

THe weather was mostly great! A couple dreary days and only one cooler day there. Most of the time I was in shorts :)

I did the Segway tour and it was excellent!!!! I loved it completely!!! Here is a pic with me and a few friends (I'm the short one)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid150/pbb16d10f98950d6a8aac8816b876fa35/f5ee5827.jpg

The Osborne Lights were great! I happened to like them more than before. It was a different feeling, but it was amazing all the same!!!

So the trip was great, but good to be home :)

SlightlyGoofy

12-12-2004, 09:26 PM

Wow, a crowd!! I love it. It is so much fun when we can all be together in one place even if it is in our imagination.

Helenabear, do you know that you and Luis may be at DW when we are next? It will be awhile before we have the dates figured out but I know it will be sometime around Thanksgiving. I have to plan it carefully so that we will be able to get two other trips out of our AP and one will be the summer of 2006. Tom and I love Christmas time the best, especially when the crowds are gone. Did you fall off the Segway at all? Whenever one appeared kids gathered from far and near to check it out. Will you be posting a report?

Colleen, peach is most favorite color. It is light yet pretty and gives such a warm glow. Small rooms are harder to do than big ones IMO. Favorite restaurants? At MK it has to be the Crystal Palace, great character interaction and the kids get to parade through the restaurant). The Trail's End over at Fort Wilderness is not only cheap and filling but if you go before you go in the park it is an easy and fun boatride over. On a long MK day it is good to take a break and go over to get rested up for the remainder of the day. There are playgrounds and such for the kids to blow off a bit of steam as well. EPCOT is the Garden Grill, revolving, lots of characters. Biergarten is good also if you go after 1;30 when the entertainment begins. Buffet, reasonable, for Disney and the kids can get up and dance and such. MGM, Hollywood & Vine is the only place we like. Not sure the kids would like it as much but the desserts are made at Starring Rolls and the food is pretty good but no characters and not a whole lot of atmosphere. AK, the Rainforest is what most kids like but it is terribly noisy for us old folks, even with hearing aids. LOL BTW, the McD's is open 24 hours now. Is a good idea.

Did anyone catch the Dateline story about the woman who makes a living doing Mystery Shopping? If you live somewhere like NYC it might be possible but not around here. Was too high faluting for me anyway. Required that you wear shoes. LOL

Back to work for me, unless you all start another party. I would not want to miss that.

A Moravian cookie anyone? Is my specialty.

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

12-14-2004, 11:16 AM

Hey Everyone!

Welcome back, Elaine!!!!! So glad to hear that you had a great trip and that Luis enjoyed it, too! And I love that Segway picture - that is fantastic! Also, so glad to hear that you loved your "new home"! :) And it's great that you got to see the Osborne lights in their new location, too!

Hi Linda! Yes, I guess that Frank is trying to get me to try a new color.......that new white sweater sure does stand out in my closet, amidst all the black ones! :) I think that we are going to go with a Dell - Frank is looking into ordering one, this week. We also heard that the service record is very good - that was one of the things that "sold" us on the brand. (Also, Frank's constant scouring of Consumer Reports and the fact that they give Dell a good review!) I tortured the crowd with my karaoke "renditions" of Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville", The Foundations' "Build me up, Buttercup", and I started Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" with another person at the party, but I had to stop because it was straining my voice too much. I purposely picked songs in lower keys because my voice hasn't been the same since I spent all night screaming at people at the Haunted Hotel on Halloween. I mentioned it to my doctor - I told him that my voice cracks when I sing in the car.......so he told me not to sing in the car for awhile! (Lucky car!) I've been trying to not even hum along with music for awhile, in the hopes that my voice will get a rest and will get back to normal.

Hi Colleen! Actually, Frank proposed to me right in our hotel room at the Poly - we just celebrated at the California Grill! :) (And I still think of it as the Top of the World, too!) I would definitely recommend going to the California Grill - it is wonderful, as is Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (although both of those places might be along the lines of the "sea bass with polenta and other things that cannot be pronounced!" :) ). We are also very attached to 'Ohana and the Hollywood Brown Derby. You have already mentioned our all-time favorite WDW restaurant for any meal - the Kona Cafe!!!!! In the World Showcase, we love Norway and Morrocco! And you mentioned Chef Mickey's - and Linda mentioned Hollywood and Vine - our favorite character meals (with special mentions to the Crystal Palace and 'Ohana, of course!) It's so neat that you are 90 days out - I always love when that time rolls around and it's time to start making PS's! It always makes the upcoming trip seem more real! Congratulations on successfully completing your powder room renovation - I'm sure that it looks wonderful! Oh - and I think that the word that you were looking for is "naches", which does mean "pride" in Yiddish! You are very good - you probably know more Yiddish phrases than I do! (I just pick them up from my father as he mutters them, sometimes!) Very knowledgeable and impressive, as always! :)

Not too much to report from here, this week. Very busy with errands and such, but nothing really worth boring you all with! Just wanted to stop in and say "hi"! Hope that all is well with all of you! :)

colleen costello

12-14-2004, 04:02 PM

Elaine! I have been dying for you to get back as OKW is my favorite place in the whole world. Please, more details when you have time. What building were you in? Was this Luis' first OKW trip? My friends who went in October liked it OK, but missed their Boardwalk. OKW was too "slow" for them. I guess I am slow, because I just love the place. So beautiful and peaceful. In March we are at the Lodge and in July at Beach Club, and I know I will miss OKW. I think we'll go over in July, to let the kids try the new slide (unless it is restricted, but I doubt it will be) and let me do laundry (There's never a line!) If you post a trip report, let us know. I am glad that if some of your weather was only so-so, this was not the case on your Segway Tour day. It looks lovely in the photo, and so do you :)

Lisa, I have made a mental note of "naches." I do recall now a friend writing it. I will have to remember is resebles "nachos!"

Linda, I will be at WDW in summer 2006. Of course I haven't told hubby yet, but that is my plan, unless we wind up waiting 'til Xmas. You'll have to keep me posted because it would be such a treat to see you there. In the meanwhile, Indiana meets wil have to do.

I am noting Hollywood and Vine as the concensus here seems to be that it's a good one. Will probably have to wait on California Grill until the kids are a bit bigger. I love the character buffets the best, anyhow. Who can resist all those desserts PLUS giant characters? When we did Chef Mickey's in June, my Mom and the kids particularly liked the tiny desserts they had. They were teeny-sized pieces of things like carrot cake and chocolate cake, so you could try a few. They would disappear as soon as the pastry chef came to put them out. Mom and the kids figured out what the guy looked like (plump from tasting, with a large hat) and watched for him. When he emerged again from the kitchen, the three of them stampeded toward the dessert area, nearly killing a few characters on the way. My husband and I had to laugh that grandma and the kids had enough of the characters, thanks, they just wanted those little desserts! :)

Can someoen tell me where to find the EWP on the Boards if I don't get an Email? Today I did a search but that is not always available... I tried community board but all that was there was birthdays and "united we stand." Where are we?

Thanks!

xoxo

SlightlyGoofy

12-14-2004, 07:16 PM

I gotta get me some middle aged friends, between my elderly friends and the children I am plumb worn out. I think I finished up my last bit of shopping today. I ran across a 6 movie set of Rogers and Hammerstein movies. I have always told myself that I would buy that when I found it. Was only $60 for them all. I cried the first time I ever heard "You Have to be Taught, Carefully Taught" and still do.

Lisa, Frank is my kinda guy ( a real mensch)! Consumer Reports is second only to the Bible in my life. They have never steered me wrong. I even spend considerable time filling out their surveys when they send them out so that I do my share. I loved Kona the time we accidentally ate there. Did not care for the KoKo Puffs though. I am not much of a dessert kind of person although the tiny chocolate shells with mousse I get at H&V keeps me up nights. I can only eat one or two so it is not too harmful. Other than "Buttercup' you picked well for your songs. LOL Would you believe that I actually like Meatloaf? Songs and person. One of my all time favorite movies is Rocky Horror even though I blushed when I first saw it (not an easy thing). I like different kinds of things. Oy Vay!! (spelling) I grew up watching Jewish comics so I know a few words, most of them rude I believe. LOL

Colleen, our next trip is planned for late Nov/early Dec of 2005 but the second trip will be in the summer of 2006. If it works out maybe I can steal you from your family and take you for a tour of EPCOT. Speaking of which, I have a funny story. I always pick up presents for my grandsons at DW as well as a couple of my nearest and dearest friends. Last trip I went to England and got some Lemon Curd for my Bristish loving friend and some fancy German mustard for my German friend. When I gave them their presents yesterday they both exclaimed - just what we buy at Marsh (a local grocery). LOL I tried though. I will send you a link to the EWP. I keep a copy around just in case I get get lost.

Had a bit of news about my Fab Four, not too good but not anything life threatening. Ddil is ticked at daughter and sil so it should be interesting to see if her powers extend to my dear son not seeing his sister either, not that he sees her much already. Her powers may falter there as dd and dsil are not blessed with the tender sensibilities that I have. To put it mildly, they will not give a darn. Human nature is a strange thing. I have come to the conclusion that if God cannot get all of His children to toe the line, what chance do a poor mortal mother have?

BTW, dear Lisa, did you happen to come in and edit your last post? When I first read it the wording was that your voice cracks when you 'sin'. LOL It must seldom crack if that be true. (hug and smile)

SG/Linda

helenabear

12-14-2004, 09:27 PM

Evening all! Taking a break from doing some stuff around the house :)

Linda, I think Luis and I will be there the first week after Thanksgiving. At least for now that is the plan. We will see as time goes on though :)
Nope, I did not fall off of the Segway at all. Actually after about 15 minutes on it, it became 2nd nature. I admit I am not one to do a trip report of any kind anymore, so you won't be seeing one from me :o Of course I am always just very happy to answer all questiona nd share any stories... I guess that is more how I am... a story sharer :) But I do wish you all the best with the Fab Four... as you said, human nature is a strange thing!

Lisa, take care of your voice there! I admit I am like you though... color was never my big thing. For the longest time if it wasn't an earthy blue or green, I didn't wear it. Blue was it for me... now you will find me in almost anything. My favorite thing to do is to take a bright color like hot pink or salmon and pair it with black. Very dramatic and cool looking... oh for work, I am very much of a black person. I have finally branched out and gotten some cream colored pants... loving them more than I thought I would :o

Colleen, this was Luis' first trip to OKW, but he seemed to like it just fine. I like my vacations to be more relaxed and I admit OKW is right up my alley. I like hanging on the boardwalk and all that,b ut I like to go home to the quiet ;) We were in building 35, right across from the Old Turtle Pond bus stop. We had a nice studio facing the pond (covered by trees of course) and up on the 3rd floor. He really seemed quite positive on it, and I cannot wait to get him in a one bedroom :teeth:

colleen costello

12-15-2004, 10:11 AM

Elaine, We LOVE building #35! It's so convenient to roll out of the room and right into the bus stop. Plus my kids love all that water right behind the building. Last Spring there were zillions of baby ducks and we went through our usual ten loaves of ninety-nine cent Winn Dixie bread! We also like being so close to Turtle Pond Pool. It's fun to grab lunch at that snack bar (when it's open) and just hang out at that great pool all afternoon. How could your sweetie NOT like this wonderful place? LIke you, I enjoy stayingat a "relaxing" resort. After all the action at the parks, it is so nice to come home to such an oasis.

Did you like the tropical Xmas decorations? Old Key West's were among my favorites. I loved the garlands with fish and shells, very funky. Really there is nothing I DON'T like about the place, except having to leave! :( SO glad you guys had fun.

I have finished up my PS list and by this weekend it will be time to book all my reservations. I love calling and making these arrangements -- it's a great step toward the actual trip. I keep thinking "only 90 days!" and I get so excited. It will be extra special this time as my friend and her family are meeting us. I have Disney Dollars for her Xmas gift and can't wait to give them to her. I will make a Mickey fan-atic out of her yet!

Linda, thanks for the help. Evil Hotmail blocked the address you sent me as "potentially dangerous (idiots can't recognize a Disney address) but I showed Scott what you sent and he fixed me up. Now I can get to the suite whenever I want! Thanks.

SlightlyGoofy

12-15-2004, 10:39 AM

Colleen and Elaine, I totally agree with your choice of Disney accomadations. Way back when we had the kids with us we used to stay at the Villa's. A lot of people did not care for them as they were not Disneylike but I loved the quiet and serenity (as well as the washers and dryers). OKW is a place that I would consider spending more for IF I were not going to be in the parks all day. I am considering renting some points in 2006 so that my grandkids could enjoy it there. Otherwise I think that Port Orleans is our second choice. We love the New Orleans type scenery and the pool is outrageous for the kids.

Colleen, I could never make PS's this far in advance. I usually wait until we get there and if there is somewhere that is likely to be busy I might call for a ressie that morning but even then I cannot be sure I will be hungry when the time comes. I still remember spending nearly $30 at Bomba's one night when I could literally only eat one or two bites. I do have a sheet with general info on each park, constantly updated, with stars by new places to try. Rose & Crown in my upcoming list. I do not mind the money when it gets me quality and ambience. What PS's did you make? Have you been to the Zoo yet? If so, how did it go and did your poor hubby survive?

Elaine, black goes with anything. Even in decorating a house it is a rule that you add a bit of black, it makes the other colors pop. White is the color in a garden though. My dh is a bit mystified as I bought a lovely tank and shirt set in cranberry red, lots of great detailing, for only $12 at WM and did not feel the need to buy a pair of slacks since I have several pairs of black ones already. LOL He just does not know how lucky he has it. I imagine that Luis would like anywhere that you were so getting him to fall in love with Disney is just a matter of time. He could not have a better tour guide. I do not know what DIS people do whose spouses do not share the love. From what I have heard even I could ride a Segway. I cannot help but think how much harder it will be on fat people if everyone had one. Bet it saves Disney a bunch though as they can get away with fewer employees and I bet the employees vie to get a job that requires one.

Easy day today. Nursing home, Community Center and then Austin has a program at school tonight. I am taking Tom to Brown County to visit his family this weekend so it will give me a headstart on getting the house deep cleaned for the big day.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

12-15-2004, 02:26 PM

Linda, the weather has been uncooperative so we have NOT done the zoo yet. I mentioned today to Scott that at least the little miniature holiday trains are inside so perhaps we cold go even if it's gross out? Friday is his last day of work so he was rather cooperative and said OK. Gotta love the university; you don't rake in the money buy you sure do get a lot of time off. I prefer having the time! So we're still planning on going... Might even convince him to go via Greenwood and let me visit the Disney Store! :)

Linda, it's easy to make PS's for my family as we are ALWAYS hungry. If I make one that really doesn't suit our plans, we just cancel. Better to be prepared. We are a large group and if someone doesn't say "Here's what we are doing as we have dinner at 6," things tend to turn ugly. I have learned that we need a basic plan but Scott teases me and calls me "vacation nazi" after the "soup Nazi" on Seinfeld! My Dad is fond of saying that an army travels on it's stomach and I am embarassed to confess that we tend to work our whole trip around these meals! :) I can usually plan tentatively and MOST of the reservations do, fact, work out. I know, for example, that the new "late night" hours at the MK are scheduled for Wednesday, so that day I will make no dinner reservations. We'll be too busy having fun and will just eat at a counter place, Cosmic Ray's or even Columbia Harbor House. Been going to CCH since the 1970's! I might also just call that afternoon and make a dinner reservation at Plaza Restaurant, the little ice cream shop atthe end of Main Street. That place has great sandwiches and wonderful sundaes, and is reasonable by WDW standards. So much food, so little time.

OK, I am off to gather a recipe and attempt to join in on a recipe exchange Linda Emailed me. We'll see how it goes... Cutting and pasting taxes my meager computer skills!

xoxo

SlightlyGoofy

12-15-2004, 03:53 PM

Do not dispair Colleen, it is reputed to be getting up over freezing, possibly all the way to 36 one day. LOL It does seem like the lower paid jobs do have some perks. My dh had the perfect job, good pay AND lots of time off. Wish he had realized this before retiring and I suspect there are days he wishes so also. The Plaza Ice Cream place is on my to do list for next trip. I saw the most delicious looking sundaes in waffle cone bowls. I am sure that Tom will gladly eat one so that I can have a bite or two. (all the calories will be in those bites)

I always make a loose plan and if given enough time always put in one day for whatever we need to make up or strikes our fancy. Is so much more enjoyable when it rains or you just do not feel well to know that you have some leeway. The 16 days (horrors) was almost too much time but well worth it to see Three Dog Night. I think 12 is just about right, for us. LOL

I am going to send you my diet version of your recipe. I fear I best not try the one you sent. I do not usually do these sorts of things but the person who sent it is just so dear I could not refuse. (smile)

I have gotten several things done and about to leave for my outside 'chores'. I have added a bag of Christmas books to my hand truck and it is getting hard to move that darned thing. Thank heavens they have a ramp and some very kind children. I will wave in your direction when I dump (I mean drop) Tom off in Brown County tomorrow night. I love my bil. LOL I might make it to Bloomington one day when my sil invites me to visit her new digs over by the Mall. Right next to the Y from what I hear. Sounds nice to me but then my hubby were not a government agent so we are jest plain folk. LOL

SG/Linda

depplyinluv

12-16-2004, 08:36 PM

Hello ladies!!
Had sort of a busy week so I haven't been on here..i've missed so much!
anyways...

an update on my dad: He came home Tuesday!!!! :cool1: we set up a hospital bed for him in the living room with curtains and book cases all around it. He is still in a lot of pain, but he's gettiing better. He likes to cruise around the house in his wheel chair :rolleyes:

i had hockey practer this morning and yesterday...i think it was about 12 degrees outside yesterday..!!! The rink was really cold too :( .. I also started mock trial this week ( btw i really have no interest in being a lawyer) so that 's cool too :)

Linda- the first thing i thought of when my dad had his surgery was flying! They're going to have to do a strip search lol...I'm not so afraid of driving anymore. I figured stuff happens, and sometimes there isn't anything you can do about it. It should be fun :) that sounds like a pretty bad accident that you got into when you were younger :guilty:
So...George? good name :)
lol i see my brother everyday, but not my dad because i can't sleep over there when i have school because no one can drive me. But thank you so much for keeping me on your prayer list puckerup:
--also, i hope things get better with your children and son/daughter in law :)
----I loved the villas at OKW. so nice...my mom didn't like it for a few reasons, but i had no complaints.
Colleen- I bet the powder room looks lovely! peach is a great color! good luck with the recipe exchange-

Elaine- Welcome back! glad you had lots of fun!! :earboy2:
thanks for the hugs :Hug:

*~*~*~ just thought everyone should know that Johnny Depp was nominated for a Golden Globe award - best actor in a leading role -drama~*~*~

IASW Rider

12-18-2004, 03:26 PM

Whoa! I've missed so many posts this week that I don't even know where to begin! I actually just wanted to stop by and wish you all a great weekend! Will catch up on everyone's posts and latest news as soon as I can! (I scanned through and it looks like everyone has lots of interesting things to report! I want to take my time "savoring" everyone's posts and not just rush through them, so I will come back later when I hopefully have more time!) I did, however, take note of Amanda's above, and just wanted to say that I am so glad to hear that your Dad is out of the hospital and is well on the road to recovery!

I've just been really busy this week - had to stop by school and take care of some administrative stuff, had a few doctor's appointments for tests / immunizations that I needed for school, and lots of shopping and preparation for the birthday brunch we're having for my father, tomorrow! So I'm sorry that I haven't been around more - next week should be a bit quieter........until Christmas weekend comes!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great weekend! :)

lunabkat

12-19-2004, 03:38 PM

Hi all!

Well, freshly back from wdw and exhausted :wave: What a trip, we had a misadventure everyday, but they all turned out well in the end so someone was really looking out for us. As follows:

Sat. - we arrive, i go to get the car and can't get back to where i left everyone, park car, they have left the area, found them in the parking garage, can't find the car, set the car to beeping and follow the sound, finally - success! :Pinkbounc

Sun.- Go to animal kingdom, daddy knocks candy bag from dd3's hands into anteater enclosure, dd3 cries because candy is gone, dh cries because candy cost $2.50, momy and dd5 worried about anteater, get help, get new candy, get old candy (for dh) and anteater is fine :cool1: Go to hotel pool, dd3 follows dd5 to the deeper end, head goes under, mommy steps onto shelf in pool, grabs dd3 and pulls her out of water, no one goes past the ladder!

Mon.- do Princess Teaparty have a great time, lose dd3 in cosmic ray's, went to put down tray, turn around, she's gone! an enternal 30 seconds later she comes around the corner with the disney employee and is crying into my arms, thank God. meanwhile, i have panicked and yelled at dd5 because i asked her to hold dd3's hand. Appologize to dd5 and hugs all around - feel like crap, go back to hotel pool. :earseek:

Tues.- Magic Kingdom, do Pooh bear lunch at Crystal, have a great time, pay for check, go to adventureland, credit card is missing, never found, cancel, no charges on it thank goodness.

Weds. - Sea World, meet with my Aunts and Uncles, have a great time, dd3 is splashed right in the face by one of thoses *&^%$%^& dolphins, and he was laughing about it, she was soaked but thought it was funny, i was thinking about germs of course, got great picture of dd's and me with dolphin, one of which is where i am telling him off.

Thurs. - go to big pool which has just opened, dds go down little slide, watching dd3 come down slide, see dd5 disappear down big slide going into deep pool, stunned :earseek: , race to other side of pool, see lifeguard jump into water :love: , see dd5 in pool, face up, arms out to side fanning, guard grabs her, she lays with head back and limp (no drama queens here), i race to other side of pool where she is being dried off and is crying, feeling much like the front runner of the rotten parent award now

Friday - With great trepidation, we go to Gatorland, have fine time, go into lorikeet cage (like smallish parrots), where dh is promply bitten on the ear twice by one stinking parrot ::yes:: was not ready for an aerial attack, who knew

Sat - Can't get boarding passes to print, finally, success :cheer2: and its off to Animal Kingdom for several hours followed by an uneventful flight and drive home Thank you God.

All in all, we had a great time and the girls are already talking about next time. I think when we go again, in several years, we will get a suite with a full kitchen because i got really tired of the eat out food. The girls had a ball with the meet and greets and if you ask them their favorite parts dd5 will say meeting the princesses and dd3 will say Pirates of the Carribean (dd3 also liked Haunted Mansion, dd5 would NOT go on it or splash mt.)

Sounds like everyone is gearing up for the holidays, will check back soon, i need a glass of wine and a nap, in that order. :grouphug:

LL

SlightlyGoofy

12-19-2004, 06:13 PM

Luna (you are sooo well named- in the best possibly way I can mean it) I am roaring with laughter and recognition of what it was like to be a mother. Please notice that I cleaned up the title in recognition of the Disney site that this is. LOL Have you ever wondered why us mom's always take all the blame for everything? Could it be because we are in charge of everything?? (grin) Glad to hear that you survived and even thrived and came home with your sense of humor intact and are willing to return someday. Bet your kids will be making plans for their next trip right along with you. My 7 year old told me he could not wait until 2006 when we are going to DW together. It must seem a lifetime to him while it is about a week away for me. If I drank a glass of wine the nap would occur before I finished the last sip. I am an extremely cheap drunk. Hic! If you post a report, and I hope you do, please send us a roadmap so that we can enjoy the long version of what ,I am sure, will be an extremely interesting report.

Lisa, sure glad to see your smiling face in here. Sounds as if your plate is full and overflowing. I would not worry about trying to keep up with this bunch, I know I can't but it sure is fun trying. We might not have a whole lot of quantity but the quality is wonderful! I heard from Helene and am sure she is having a wonderful Holiday Season in a most interesting place. I have enjoyed being there but think the decorations must be amazing this time of year.

Depply, how wonderful to have your dad at home. You should get a big old red bow and tie it on him as that is the best present you will get this year, or any year. Yep, I think George is as good a name as any myself. Having read and studied many religions and finding so many similarities, albeit using different terms, locations and names, I have come to think that striving to understand is a journey and we might be on different roads but as long as we are attempting to reach the same destionation it will be acceptable. That and depending on His sense of humor is my only hope of salvation. LOL Glad to hear that you have a heat wave going on there. It is below 0 here and I know it. I can only shovel a bit at a time as it is so cold and cold and asthma do not go well together. I have the front done and a path to the back so we can make it to the church tonight to see my Dalton perform, as King Herod. For some reason they thought he was well suited to the role as it called for a devious mind. LOL You would be so proud of him as he is teaching himself to write cursive and his handwriting is better than most adults already.

My brother called and asked if he and my nephew could come and spend Christmas with us. Part of me is very happy to have him but I am sure worried about how safe it is for him to drive here in his health. I am going to have to scramble to find some presents for my nephew and some food that my db will consider fit for consumption, he is extremely picky. I am thinking jumbo shrimp as it is expensive, easy to fix and impressive. BTW, what do you buy a 12 year old who loves to stick knives into walls? (he also requests many hugs from his old aunt whenever he sees her, poor child) I was not able to get everything done that I had wanted while Tom was gone as I have been sickly. Good news is that I am down about six pounds from last week. If only those pounds would not find their way back home but I have found that those that leave suddenly reappear even quicker and bring friends with them when they return. (sigh)

I have found several Disney rides/attractions that I have taped through the years and if I ever get the family stuff done I will try to make up a single disk with those things on it and will send one to anyone who would like. Warning, it might be a couple of months before this old broad gets it done.

Merry, Happy etc. SG/Linda

SlightlyGoofy

12-19-2004, 10:11 PM

Just got back from the church program. My oldest grandson was the prop manager and did a wonderful job. It takes a good support staff otherwise there could never be stars. Even when caught playing around with clothes pins on his ears and nose he carried himself with aplomb even when he managed to , somehow, break his finger. He was relieved to find that not only would he live but he would not have to make a midnight trip to the emergency room. Having a grandma who has borken every single finger, except for thumbs, playing volleyball, comes in handy. Broken ribs are the same way, not much they can do for them unless you are severely bent out of shape.

Dalton looked very much at home, although not too regal, upon his throne, in the role of King Herod. I did notice that he was careful to keep his face in the foreground. Grandma was taping the whole production. I was even able to get some close ups of my friend Mary's granddaughter so I can take them to the nursing home for her to see. He had a solo and remembered every single word and note.

I going to go watch "Desperate Housewives" I just love that show. Bet it is perhaps the most real of all the so called reality shows on tv. LOL

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

12-20-2004, 11:48 AM

Hi Everyone!

I watched "Desperate Housewives" last night too, Linda! Ya gotta love that show! We haven't had a good nighttime "soap opera" to watch, like that, in awhile! Congratulations on Austin's great work and Dalton's star performance in your church program! I'm sure that you were beaming with pride, and it's great that you captured the production on video, too! I hope that Austin's finger is feeling all right and that it heals quickly, too.

Welcome back, Lauralee! It sounds like you and your family had quite an eventful trip! But amidst all of the action, it sounds like you also had a great time and your DD's are already ready to go back! And now you're home just in time for the holidays, too! Can't wait to hear more about your vacation! Unfortunately, you came home to this FREEZING weather! UGH - it is frigid out there, today! At least the sun seems to have melted the ice that accumulated last night, though. Let's hope that the "real" snow stays away for awhile!

So, what PS's have you made so far, Colleen? You know that I'm the PS Queen, too - and we also plan our schedule around the PS's, in a way, to ensure that we get to dine in all of the places that we want to! It's so exciting that your trip is coming up so quickly that it's time for PS's, already! Our time will be coming soon, too - we will be on the Wonder in exactly 5 months from today! (Actually the last day of our cruise will be 5 months from tomorrow!) We like Columbia Harbor House, too - but my all-time favorite counter service restaurant in the MK, since my youth, has to be Pinocchio's Village Haus! (and of course you all know why!) :)

Glad to hear that your Dad is all set up at home and is recovering and in good spirits, Amanda! And glad to hear that hockey season is coming into full swing, too (I wonder if the NHL season will ever get off the ground, this year?)! Also, glad to hear about Johnny Depp's Golden Globe nomination! :)

Hi Elaine! OK, if you're not posting a formal "trip report", will you at least be posting some more of your pictures, somewhere, so that we can see? Or have you already? As always, we'd love to see them! That picture of you all on the Segways is so great!

Sorry that I haven't been around in awhile - will try to be better, this week! The birthday brunch that we had for my father yesterday went really well - I think that he had a very nice time visiting with my Aunt and cousin who came down from CT and NY, and with us, too! And the food came out great, thank God. For someone who has only purchased red meat a grand total of 3 times ever, I seem to be becoming quite adept at making large quantities of brisket! :) I also made 60 potato pancakes to add that "post - Chanukah spirit" to the meal! And of course I got my father a personal-sized birthday cake with a smiley face on it, too! We're taking him out to dinner tonight, as today is his actual birthday. But it was nice to have the family over and have a little holiday get-together, yesterday! This week should be pretty quiet (hopefully!) until we blast off for Frank's family's in South Jersey on Friday morning.

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great week and talk to you soon! :)

lunabkat

12-21-2004, 10:56 AM

Hi all!

Rider, i was thinking that for the holidays maybe Ragoo could use a pair of bunny slippers? lol My guy has never done "that" but he does love to cuddle up on a soft blanket and "make muffins" with his claws and bury his nose in the fluff.

Our trip was a little hectic, but all in all we had lots of fun. By the second day i cancelled many restaurant ressies as we were just dragging the kids around from one to the other with out being able to stop and "ooo and ahhh". We kept the Princess Teapart ressies, it was very nice and the girls had a ball, and the Cindy Breakfast which they adored as well. The only other ressies we kept were the Candlelight procession with dinner at the Marakeesh (okay, but seriously not worth $40 per adult and 25$ per child, also the choir singing put them both out cold) and a ressie for Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends, even Piglet was there and they had an absolute ball dancing around the room with Tigger and Pooh, very nice.

The girls loved Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, they loved SeaWorld as well, i am glad we went.

Monday daddy went down to his sister's with my mil and was stuck there until late Tuesday afternoon because they rode down with mil's friend so i could have the car. Worked out fairly well tho after the experience with dd3 getting lost Monday i called my dear, dear cousin Joanne and she came with us on Tuesday to save mommy from a nervous breakdown (as this was not scheduled until at least Thursday). We had a great time, i lost no time at the park, and he owed me because i was so gracious about his not being back in the early AM as planned -- its good to be the queen! :rolleyes:

The girls favorite part of Animal Kingdom was going thru the trails and seeing the animals, along with Killamanjaro Safari. Its Tough to Be a Bug? Yikes! They lost it when the tarantula started shooting quills into the audience via the 3d glasses and never got it back, we left that show so quick we stirred a breeze! It took dd5 being dragged into the birds of flight show by mom before she understood that all shows are NOT like Bug and that mommy would always tell her if the show was like Bug before she went in.

they loved the parades at MK and AK, some of their favorite parts were touching the characters during the parades. I think they enjoyed the meet and greets most of all and i have a zillion pictures to get developed - Wheeee! I love vacation pictures.

Well, will continue at a later date. I must say i was somewhat disappointed in the HIFS overall, and if i were paying the full rack rate instead of the $76 a nite rate i got, i would have been royally po'd. I think they should have left well enough alone, tho the staff were wonderful, especially Snapshot the clown who did absolutely loved face paintings in the lobby for free.

talk soon,

LL :grouphug:

colleen costello

12-22-2004, 11:07 AM

Hi everyone. It sounds like everyone is home safe, from hospitals and amusement parks and dangerous swimming pools. Luna, don't forget that every parent has a "loser parent award" on their shelves too. Two summers ago Erin was climbing on the sculpture-things at Old Key West that surround the pool there. They look like sand castles and are covered by signs that say "no climbing." I was doing laundry and Scott had his eyes on Ian, who was near the water. Erin was behind him, convincing me of what I have always known -- parents need eyes in the back of their head! Anyhow, Erin slipped and whacked her head. A nice Mom saw it happen and convinced us the child did not lose consciousness but just had the wind knocked out of her. In any case, Erin slept a lot that evening and felt sick from the head knock. Neurotic me knows our pediatrician's number by heart, and bless them for answering on July 4th... They assured me that if all she did was sleep and barf, as opposed to being disoriented, we were good. Lesson learned! We still tease her about that climbing.

Well, it's a bona fide blizzard here in southern Indiana. Down Linda's way they are talking 12 or more inches, pretty rare in these parts. Of course my parents are landing in Indy in an hour. I tried to talk them into coming yesterday, but flexibility is not one of their strong suits. They had a long list of excuses about why they could not hurry and get on a plane last night. So now they will probably take longer getting from Indy to Bloomington than they did from PA to Indy... I am ready to strangle them as I was up all night for worrying. Tomorrow the fun will start again as my sister is due in at Indy airport at noon. Ugh!

Yesterday I received the best Xmas gift... A personal phone call from dear Rider. Unfortunately I was out when the call came in, gone to the grocery store to stock up as we'll be stuck in for 2 days while it snows. But Rider left me the most beautiful message, and it made smile. She talked about our "meet" this summer, and of course hearing a "New Jersey accent" made me homesick! Thanks, Lisa - you made my day! :)

The kids have already been out in the snow. They got cold pretty fast because they looked like two sausages in their snowpants, which Mom hoped to get a 2nd winter out of. Not going to happen! Ian said "Mom, these are giving me the WORST wedgie!" I honestly think their circulation was being cut off, so now they are inside, convalescing with some cocoa.

Hope everyone is safe and warm. Linda, hope you and Tom are hunkered down for the next day or so! :umbrella:

IASW Rider

12-22-2004, 12:09 PM

Hi Everyone!

Wow - I guess that's what happens when I don't turn on the news / weather channel for a day or so - I had no idea about your blizzard out there, Colleen and Linda! I hope that your parents are able to get in smoothly and safely today, and your sister, tomorrow! What an adventure - I'm sure that you will be happy when everyone is safely there under your roof, admiring your new home and all of your wonderful Christmas decorations (and your newly renovated powder room, too!)! I'll be that that family of reindeer are having a ball on your lawn, with all of the new snow! And glad that you got a kick out of my SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM THE NORTH EAST! :) We'll catch up again after the holidays, when things calm down - now you should just enjoy the time with your family and have a great holiday week!

And I hope that you and Tom and your family are hanging in there, with all that snow too, Linda! Be careful, and stay nice and cozy inside for as long as possible!

Our weather isn't too bad, here in Central NJ, right Lauralee? We had a few ridiculously cold and windy days, but they're predicting temperatures in the 50's until Christmas, when it's supposed to get colder again.

Slippers might not be a bad idea for Ragoo, Lauralee - he's already "done the deed" with a towel in the living room, this morning! *SIGH* - what can be done? :) Loved hearing all about your trip, and it's good to hear that you are focusing on the fun that you all had in the parks and at the character meals, rather than the "mishaps". As long as everyone was safe and unharmed, that's the important thing (I felt so badly reading your story about Erin's fall, too, Colleen! :( ). Just remember your DD's faces when they were dancing with Pooh and friends and meeting all the characters! :)

And I am so with your DD's, when it comes to It's Tough to be a Bug - I was sitting in an aisle seat the one time that we saw it, and I literally curled into a fetal position for most of the show (which I was able to do because I was sitting on an end) and was totally miserable! Strangely enough, the one effect that made me laugh is the one that freaks most people out the most - when the hard-shelled beetles and other critters exit the theater under everyone's behinds, at the very end! But I will never go back in there, myself! PhilharMagic and Muppetvision are much more my "speed" - to this day, I've never even been in Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!

Not too much to report from here! Just catching up on last minute holiday correspondence, calling old friends, etc., before we leave for my in-laws' on Friday. We took my father and uncle out to dinner for my father's birthday on Monday night and tonight are having dinner and a gift exchange with some of our old pals from Merrill Lynch.

Just wanted to stop by and wish you all a great holiday week! Will stop by again before we leave! Have a great day! :)

SlightlyGoofy

12-23-2004, 12:16 AM

Yesterday I was out doing some last minute things after going to TOPS (5.5 pound loss - not good though as when I lose it that fast it usually comes back fast and brings friends with it) and did not even wear a coat as it was in the low 50;s. Today we have had close to or over a foot of snow and an additional one due overnight and tomorrow. We have food, heat and most importantly the Internet so we are fine. Thank you all for your worry and good wishes. It disturbs me to know that somewhere in this town are people who are not alright and I have so much to share. There should be some sort of a place where you could call if you needed help or had help to offer. I have 4 empty bedrooms upstairs and a bath. I feel quilty.

Had an early morning visitor. I was working upstairs when Tom told me that I had a small child wanting to see me. I expected a grand but was surprised by one of my kids from the Community Center who had brought me a present from the Center. Not necessary at all but what a delightful surprise.

Lisa, I was heartbroken to have missed your phone call. Maybe I can call you if I do not have grands for a minute or two, not likely for a bit though. Dalton is intent on living here for the next couple of weeks and even wants to spend Friday night here even though I have explained that is the one night a year no child should want to be absent from home. LOL He is now working on putting his cursive letters together to form words and what words he has chosen. (shaking my head) You gonna buy bunny slippers for Ragoo? (smiling at the thought) The only part of A Bug's Life I like is the bugs under the butt also. The stinkbug thing is not good for my asthma. I cannot recall a single time of seeing the show that I have not heard kids losing their composure. The loud noises would bother Dalton as he is extremely sensitive to sound (think he has perfect pitch) and Austin would not like one tiny bit.

Colleen, my poor daughter is still suffering from 'bad momma' pangs from losing Austin at DW once. She had been so worried about losing the little guy that the older one got forgotten for a brief moment. Lucikily his phobic grandma had prepared him for what to do in such a case. He freaks easily. I bet you were scared to death. It is bad enough for such to happen close to home but while away it is much worse. I am glad that your dear ones head proved to be tough enough to withstand the fall. Must take after her mom?? (grin) Did your family get in safely? The part for my furnace did not make it from Indy this morning. I hope you are all enjoying your new abode this first Christmas and everyone is huddled together for warmth.

Luna, I do not care to be tied down with PS's either. If there is a place that I think I would like I call before leaving the room for the day and it usually works out but then we are usually there off season. I have found some unexpected surprises when things did not work out perfectly. We tried Kona cause we could not get into O'Hana's and the food was wonderful. I like Pinocchio's for a different reason that our dear Rider. We get the kids meal with hot dog, firies, small drink and fruit for $4 and load it up on the fixings bar and it is a pretty good meal, if you can find a seat. The scenery is not as good since IASW is down. I cannot wait to see what they did to it. I am so sorry to hear that your poor child was terrified on Bug. Seems that several of the shows/rides that you would think would be perfect for children are anything but child friendly. I am thrilled that you all enjoyed the Crystal Palace. It is always scary to reccomend something as everyone is so differenr in their tastes. Luckily I think like a child. LOL What I would not give for a bit of time alone or with a child at DW. It is so hard trying to keep an eye on my big child and it wears me plumb out sometimes.

I finally finished transferring all my 8mm to VHS and now have to start transferring it all to DVD-Ram. Two more transfers and it will be done. Very t ime consuming but I am enjoying seeing some old footage I had forgoten. Lots of my Fab Four. I am going to make a compilation of all that and send a copy to the other grandma. I think she would like it although I am sure it will bring some tears.

Good night and hoping that the snow melts quickly so that Colleen and I can enjoy Christmas and especially the day after Christmas sales!!!

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

12-23-2004, 01:58 PM

Hi Linda!

Glad to hear that you are hanging in there and are faring well in that huge snow storm! Who knew that such a thing could happen so early in the season??? (Though if I recall correctly, we had a big Nor'Easter here last year, several weeks before Christmas!) I hope that you and Colleen and your families are doing well and are safe and warm! I know that Colleen's parents were able to make it to her home safely, yesterday, and I hope that her sister is able to do the same, today, so that they can all be together and start celebrating the holiday as early as possible!

That's so nice that you have Dalton with you for the next few weeks! I think that that's wonderful! And it's so nice that that little one brought you a gift from the Community Center, as well! You are obviously quite the special lady to everyone there, so of course they would show their appreciation at this special time of year!

That's great that you've been making so much progress with your video-to-DVD transfers! I had all of my parents' super 8 movie footage transferred to video and set to music, many years ago. I'm thinking of having it all transferred to DVD now, too. My father doesn't have a DVD player (and wouldn't have the patience to figure out how to use one, either!), but we have one here, and it would be nice to have the footage "backed up" on more reliable media than just video!

Don't worry about calling me back - I just wanted to extend some holiday greetings from the North East! :) Of course you can call me any time, but no matter what, we will "see each other" here in the Suite! :)

All is well, here - just tying up some last minute things / packing before we leave for my in-laws' tomorrow morning. I probably won't be able to post again until after we get home on Sunday night. So.........

Here's wishing all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful and special Holiday Weekend! Will be thinking of you all!

Love,
Lisa :)

lunabkat

12-23-2004, 10:10 PM

Hi all.

Happy Holidays to you. I just had the nicest note all written and dd3 hit a button and erased it all, the little stinker.

Well, the King of the Cats once more got into his loot pre-Christmas. I went downstairs and saw the wrapper on the floor and a soaked, abused Eek mouse (his favorite) on the floor behind the recliner - the brat. So i went and got him new stuff, sucker that i am. Last year he got into another kitty's present and unwrapped it.

My sister and her family are coming tommorrow for dinner and to drop off the girl's chrismas dresses. Apparently they took my nephew out for dinner in the city at some expensive steak place on Madison Ave. and they had a good time so he is coming for Christmas. Thank goodness, he is high maintenance but we love him :love:

Christmas day we will be at my sister's house, i love that. Hope you all have a great holiday, Linda and Co. stay safe and warm. Linda, it sounds like you have wonderful grandchildre and "little friends", that's so very nice..

Rider, it sounds like we may both be at the gathering in the summer, can i bring the girls or is it just for adults? The do love a good party. Hope Ragoo gets his bunnies for Christmas (Channakah?). I would love to get together sometime, perhaps meet Ragoo with the girls, or maybe you would care for an audience with the KOTC?

The weather here hasn't been to bad, but i am waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak.

Well, i am done with most my wrapping but must clean for company tomorrow, will check back.

Helenabear, Colleen , Linda, Lisa and co. have a great holiday, talk soon,

LL :grouphug: :earboy2:

lunabkat

12-23-2004, 10:11 PM

PS: i just want to add that this new board is a great bit PITA for posting, later.
LL

helenabear

12-23-2004, 10:46 PM

Hi all! It's been a while since I have had a chance to come in here. I admit, I don't really have the time to post much either. My brother came to town last Friday, so I have been spending a lot of time with my familiy. Tomorrow we have a busy day with a bunch of church/choir stuff, and hten will spend most of the weekend with my family.

I just had to come in and wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!!

and no, no pictures are posted yet. I hope to go through them next week :)

IASW Rider

12-24-2004, 10:30 AM

Just a quickie!

Sure, we can definitely make a plan to get together, Lauralee - it will be easy since we are both right here in scenic Somerset County! :) And of course I would love an audience with the KOTC! Will have to look into investing in those slippers for THE BIG RAGOO! :) Also, yes - the North East DIS Meet in Allentown (in July) is for families - children are most definitely welcome, and there will be lots more there for your DD's to meet and play with! :)

Hope that you are having a great visit with your brother, Elaine! Is your choir doing a special Christmas concert at your church? I'm sure that you're all performing at / participating in holiday services, too. I'm sure that you'll all sound wonderful! :)

Hope that you're all snug and cozy inside, looking out at a beautiful white Christmas, Linda and Colleen! :)

Hi out there, Angie, Wendy, Amanda, Caroline, and Emily! :)

Once again, wishing you all a very special and great Holiday Weekend! :) Will be in touch on Monday! Enjoy!

Love,
Lisa :)

SlightlyGoofy

12-24-2004, 03:06 PM

This is the first white Christmas in quite awhile but I still think the year that it started sprinkling snow, in beautiful crystals, as we were walking to church and it just dusted the grass and trees while leaving the streets and sidewalks clean was my favorite. LOL Is just as well that we do not want to go anywhere since we could not, if we wanted. There are ten foot piles in front of our garage. My oldest grandson says he is going to ask his dad to dig us out when he does the church lot. Sadly he would not think of doing it on his own. I just heard that the snow plow came down their road and so they will be able to come tonight. I am delighted. My brother will not be able to come, the weather is too bad but something else happened. Maybe he will come sometime next week.

Rider, you and Luna are going to meet? How wonderful. I do believe that each of us(older members) have met at least one other member. I have met you, Heleabear and Colleen!! I am hinting to Angie that I will be there next fall. LOL I know you are having a fun time with your family this weekend. I just love that sort of stuff. I have to behave so much differently than my true self when my dd is around that it sort of ruins the fun.

Colleen, glad to hear that you family made it safe and 'sound'. LOL Hey, no one's family is normal. If they are, chances are, you are the one who is off and I have met you and are a nice sort of off beat normal. LOL

Elaine, don't sweat the small stuff. We are glad that you were able to drop by at all. Have a wonderful visit with your brother and after the holidays, when we get a chance to breath a bit we can all catch up.

Justme, FPGurl, Depply, I am thinking of you all and hoping that you are having a wonderful time and enjoying a brief respite from your studies. Depply, special thoughts to you and hoping that your dad and brother are doing welll.

Luna, you are thinking about attending the Allentown meet? I am more heartbroken that I probably will not attend. There is always a small chance but it does not look like it now. I would love to meet your kiddos, as well as yourself. I can tell you are a wonderful mom, love that sense of humor. Hold onto it, when they reach the teen years it will be all you have to hold onto. LOL

I have some more cooking to do and the floors so I had better run. Austin has called hourly to check on what I am fixing. LOL

SG/Linda

TalkisCheap

12-24-2004, 04:09 PM

Hi everyone!! Sorry I haven't caught up or posted in a while...one day seems to run into another and before I know it whole weeks are over!!! I've been pretty good, my basketball team is 3-4 and I think we're finally starting to get it, after going 1-3 in our first 4 games. I've been getting quite a bit of playing time, especially now that our starting center cannot play because she's failing science, and I'm now the starting center!

Besides basketball, all of the holiday bustle and packing, has made the days fly by. I hope you all of been well, I'll make sure to catch up when I get home from Maryland. We're leaving tomorrow for my grandparents and a party at my mom's extended family. Spending the night in Mass. and then driving the next day to my cousin's house in Maryland till thursday or friday! So, I hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas!!!

Caroline

SlightlyGoofy

12-26-2004, 12:18 PM

Howdy folks! We are still snowbound but it is not a problem. We have plenty of everything and no impelling reason to venture out anyway. LOL

Would you believe I found a posting by Luna in my spam blocker program? How dare they!! I did not find any of my other missing DIS stuff in there though.

I have to correct a couple of things from my last post. I have met FOUR of our members, surely I must count Janet2K as she was so instumental in establishing the Suite.

How could I leave Talk out of my holiday thoughts? Please forgive me it is Old Timers Disease. You are always in my heart even if you do slip my mind occasionally. (smile) Hooray for you and your basketballl team. While I am sorry to hear of the girl who cannot play because of her grades I am glad that you are being rewarded for your all around talents. I also applaud the school system for knowing that academics are more important than sports.

You all might be happy to hear that our Angie had a white Christmas, just a dusting but for them it is somewhat of a miracle. We are going to have 50 degree temps later in the week but it is going to take more than a day or two of such to melt those ten foot drifts in our alley. My sil has been out plowing for friends and neighbors. Guess I am neither. (sigh)

I had a most delightful fever yesterday, not so much that I was miserable but enough that I could allow myself to lay in bed and read and snooze. Was well needed and deserved, if I do say so myself. Thank heavens for CBAD boxed mixes as that is what dh got for dinner.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

12-28-2004, 10:46 AM

Hi girls! Hope everyone had a nice holiday. My family all arrived safely and after seeing the reports on the news about the Christmas airline chaos, I now realize how lucky we were. They usually come a bit early to avoid such disasters, and I heard that many travelers were without their luggage for the whole holiday weekend. I count us blessed that everyone in the group was able to wear clean underwear for the holiday!

We opened presents early Saturday then I helped my sister make the turkey. I felt like an apprentice to a master chef. She is very persnickety and cooks a lot for the people in her neighborhood. Alaska has a lot of people with no relatives anywhere nearby, and Lori's neighborhood is no exception. So she and her neighbors have a nice relationship. Louis, a retired dentist, walks Lori's dog while she is at work each day. He also cleans her gutters. In return he gets a lot of good meals. His daughter lives in "the lower 48" as the Alaskans call the rest of us. Since 9/11 they are terrified to fly and he rarely sees the grandkids. How sad! At least Lori is making him turkeys and such to help on the holidays. There are also some divorced ladies in the neighborhood, so they get together regularly. I am glad they had to do without Lori THIS time, as it was so nice to have her here. She is cooking for the neighbors instead on New Year's Day. The meal was wonderful and I learned a lot. May even try it myself someday! Weight Watchers was not mentioned at all. Let's just say I will return with my head hung low. Luckily I don't have to go until Saturday January 8, as they are closed for New Year's. By then I may have done some damage control.

The snow is very pretty and the kids were thrilled with a "white Christmas." By the end of this week the temps here will be near 60 degrees. Typical Indiana... You can never really put ANY jacket "away" as you might need them all. My sister left yesterday and the weather was fine. She is home safe in Anchorage. Mom and Dad stay 'til Thursday. I think Scott and I will paint another room today as we have babysitters!

I got the BEST Christmas/anniversary gift. December 26 was 17 years, and I guess this is the best present in all 17. Ah, the power of repeated hinting... I got a gold Mickey head bracelet. It is the easily the niftiest thing I own. It's a ton of little Mickey heads in a chain, like a tennis bracelet. The heads and ears are zirconia and it is very shiny. I absolutely LOVE it and plan to wear it daily. Scott is on the good list for while now! I kept leaving the Disney store catalog out to the right page, and the man's brain actually engaged. We usually don't get each other much of a gift because by the 25th we are broke from shopping for the kids. This year Scott said "Oh who cares?" and I am so pleased. :)

Hope everyone had nice times with family and friends. I keep hearing about snow out NJ way now, so perhaps our Jersey girls are snowed in? I won't worry about Rider being trapped in the Pine Barrens with Frank's family... Frank's stepdad is a hunter and will keep them fed, even if it is with meat Lisa would NEVER eat! :)

Love to all.

lunabkat

12-29-2004, 10:50 PM

Hi all

Hope everyone had a great holiday. we had a lot of fun and alot of running around. Roberts family cam eover for dinner tonite and right at the end dd3 started puking, poor baby. She is still throwing up a little bit after a one hour nap on the recliner so i am letting her watch tv till she sleeps again and then maybe even leave her there for the nite and sleep on the couch myself. The last time i tried moving a sleeping child with a bellyache i got earped all over me and the rug - live and learn i say.

Luna got a ton of nip toys and is a very happy, full, sleeping kitty at the moment. The girls got a lot of stuff including vanitities from my nephew Aaron and $50 each from nana, which we spent yesterday at TRU. We got a great deal on a barbie kareoke machine cd player with two mics - whoohoo! Life is good.

A gentleman down the street has a dog he is giving up for adoption in a couple of weeks, i think she is about 8 mos. old. I have put the question to Robert on "trying" her out, he said that there is no "trying" with me, that once we have the dog, it will be forever, sometimes he knows me so well. I feel that our pets are part of the family and treat them as such, getting rid of an animal is not an option to me, you have to work it out. Its a commitment. Her name is Madison and she is house broken and spayed. His son's wife would beat her because she peed in the house and she is afraid of women but came right up to me when she had escaped this guy the other day. He said he was surprised she came to me, she is very cute and sweet and liked the girls, also came from a homw with two kitties that she got along with so that is also a great "selling" point. I would really like to adopt her, Robert and i will talk later.

Lisa, do you want me to pm you with my # for us to get together, that would be fun, you know they make kitty slippers too, would that be too much like the cat equivalent of a blow up doll? With whiskers or without i wonder. Speaking of kitties, I am sorry but i cannot remember if it was Helenabear or Colleen that was looking at beds, how did that turn out, are your babies happy? Linda, forget the chestnuts roasting over an open fire and break out the blackberry brandy, brrrr! I can still remember going out to Mill Creek when i was an, ahem, young adult, (certainly of proper drinking age for you youngsters out there) and drinking bbb in a snow storm, warm and toasty next to the bonfire. Its still nice to sip upon occassion, especially with a nasty cough/cold and you are not mixing meds with alcohol (who knew?)

The girls want more snow so they can build a snowman, go daddy! Luna and i prefer to view the snow from afar when possible, tho i do admit to enjoying the first solid snow of the season emmensly (? i have tried this word seven different ways and still it does not look right). I think it is so sad when it starts to look dirty and slushy.

I can't wait till the meet in allentown, it would be so great if we all could make it, Linda i will not count you out until i get there and you aren't, i have a rather perverse addiction to hoping things turn out the way i want - everyone needs a hobby.

what do you think it would be like to live in Celebration, Fl. I didn't go to the town but it sounds like something out of the Music Man or something. I wonder if the people are true small town type or is it a stepford wives kind of thing, you know, creepy and unreal. Oh well, maybe nextime.

I wonder when dd5 will start puking, i hope not at all. Oh well, gotta work tomorrow nite and new years eve, unless the girls are in misery and then i will of course stay home. I wouldn't feel right not being here when they are sick like that, they always want mom when they don;t feel well and especially when sick to the stomache. Maybe dd5 won't get it at all, i hope, i hope, i hope. :rolleyes:

Talk soon, :grouphug:
LL

IASW Rider

12-30-2004, 03:20 AM

Hi Everyone!

So sorry that I haven't been in touch in so long! Between being away, over the weekend, and coming home to immediately start setting up our beautiful new computer, downloading and transferring files, etc., it's been a pretty busy few days!

So glad to hear that you all had nice Holidays, though! I was certainly thinking of all of you!

How are you feeling, Linda? I hope that you have had a chance to rest and relax and that you are feeling completely better, by now! And I hope that most of that yucky snow has melted, near your home and Colleen's by now, too! How did your young gentlemen enjoy the holiday? And your dashing and mature gentleman? And YOU?? I hope that you all had a wonderful and special weekend!

Speaking of wonderful and special - that was such a thoughtful gift that your DH gave you for your anniversary and for Christmas, Colleen! That is absolutely perfect! As I'd said, I have seen photos of that bracelet before, and it is just beautiful! And I'm so sorry that I didn't remember your exact anniversary date - I DID remember your special wedding story, but I couldn't recall if you and Scott were married just before or just after the Holiday! :( Anyway, I hope that you both had a wonderful day and I hope that your DD and DS and a fantastic Christmas, too! And hope that the rest of your visit with your parents was great and fun and that your sister had a safe trip home! And like I said, I almost fell off my chair laughing after reading the last paragraph of your last post! It's true - Frank's step-father probably WOULD HAVE gotten out there and "foraged" for some wild turkeys in the back yard, or something, had we gotten snowed in in the Pine Barrens! :) Fortunately though, we only got an inch or 2 of snow, earlier in the week, and most of it is gone by now. In fact, they are predicting a pretty warm New Year's Eve / Day - in the 50's both days, and they're predicting that it will be about 48 degrees at midnight on Friday night in Times Square, which is pretty warm for that occasion! :) Anyway, thanks so much for thinking of us (and I will e-mail back as soon as I can. too! :) )!

Great to hear from you, Caroline! And hope that you and your family had a wonderful holiday, a great trip, and lots of fun visiting your relatives! It sounds like quite a whirlwind trip, with lots of people and places to see! Lots of good luck with your basketball season, too! And even though it wasn't under "ideal circumstances", congratulations on your appointment as your team's starting center! I hope that the original team member does well in science, but so glad to hear that you've been chosen to play such an important position! And - great athlete that you are - there is no doubt that you are doing an amazing job, too!

I like the idea of those kittie slippers, Lauralee! I'm sure that Ragoo would find them to be quite a nice change from his current "girlfriend": a towel that we use (when no company is around) to protect our large arm chair from fur! He just pulls it off the chair and has his way with it........then I put it back........then I find it in the middle of the living room a few hours later.......then I put it back.........then I find it on the dining room floor..... :) Yes - certainly PM me and hopefully we can make a plan to get together before I start school in the middle of January! (Even if we can't find a convenient time for both of us before then, we can always try for later - by then, I will know better what my school / homework schedule will wind up being like!)! It would be wonderful to meet you and I hope that you and your family are able to make it to the North East DIS Meet in Allentown, this summer, too! :) I hope that your DD is feeling much better, now, too! It's so sad to be sick around the holidays - I hope that whatever it is passes by quickly and that she is back to herself before you know it!

All is well, here! We had a nice holiday weekend with Frank's family, and my father really enjoyed himself, too! I'm glad that he was able to come down with us (.........and so was Frank's 91 year old grandmother, whom we insist has a little crush on him! :) )! Amongst other things, Frank, my father, my in-laws, and my sister-in-law gave me a wonderful new digital camera! So watch out - I will be taking even MORE pictures to bore you all with, in the near future! :)

Now we are looking forward to New Year's Eve, and spending the evening with some friends of Frank's in the hills of North Jersey, who have a beautiful rustic home with an outdoor fireplace, an entire "bar room" overlooking their forested back yard, and who are amazing cooks and entertainers. They're having a small, intimate dinner party sort of gathering, which we much prefer to loud parties with tons of people, so it should be fun!

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you! Will be in touch again soon! Thinking of you all! Have a great week, and will check in again before 2005! :)

IASW Rider

12-30-2004, 03:25 AM

P.S. Lauralee - I have some friends who work at WDW and live not far from Celebration. They say that the people who live IN Celebration are really neurotic.......because tourists are constantly "touring" their neighborhoods and literally peeking in their windows, amazed that "actual people" really live in those houses! :) My friends also say that they couldn't imagine why anyone would want to live there, since it's surrounded by major highways and the homes tend not to offer much land / space or privacy. But that's just their opinion! So maybe it's actually the OPPOSITE of Stepford........with a bunch of paranoid, neurotic residents scurrying around and hiding from the tourists, in their houses! :)

colleen costello

12-30-2004, 11:40 AM

Luna, sorry about your little one. What's a holiday without one kid barfing, huh? Luckily it passes quickly. It was me who was after the kitty bed but I ran out of steam and my two will have to trust that they have an "I O U" for one of these. I get some great ideas each year that don't come to fruition as the funding always dries up before the 25th. We are headed to Sam's and Walmart today and I will begin the kitty bed quest. Sam's has had nice doggie beds in the past for reasonable prices and I know my cats would not know the difference.

Your neighbor dog sounds like a real find. You know his personality, he likes you all, and he will be humble as he is a rescue. We got our cats from our vet, where one of her techs does kitty rescues. She was able to assure us they were calm, lovable and desperate for a family. Have never regretted getting them. I would have more, but mean old Daddy is the voice of reason around here and says 2 cats and 2 kids is enough!

I hate to miss the Allentown DIS meet as that is "my neighborhood." I grew up shopping in Allentown and many of my high school teachers commuted from there. As I will be in Orlando at that time, however, I won't fret too much. I will count on the members of the Suite who DO attend to keep me posted.

On our Spring Break trip in 2003 we had a great waitress at Whispering Canyon Inn who had relocated from PA and lived in Celebration. She loved it. Nice neighbors, good school (although her kids were nearing college age) and great access to Mickey. Her hubby worked from home so relocating from Philly area was easy. We were so intrigued we went over to visit. Mixed feelings. The houses were GORGEOUS -- the models were beautiful and very sumptuously decorated. The streets were cozy and the little "downtown" area was heaven -- cute little shops, a lake, a park, and the lovely Celebration Hotel. What was weird to us was how close the houses were, even the very expensive ones, and also the prices were almost unbelievable. Where I live you get a 1-acre lot in a nice development for between $30,000 and $40,000, and that is high for Indiana. The Celebration homes were on lots that probably fit 8 homes on an acre. The yards were so tiny they could be brick- paved. There was a section that had bigger lots, but those houses were over $500,000 and still weren't very big. The largest homes were called "The estates" or something like that, and they started at a million!

It occurred to us that if you were moving from an area where property values were high and homes cost a fortune -- Manhattan, Connecticut, parts of NJ -- you could buy a very lovely home in Celebration. We'd have to win the lottery to live there! There were also some nice looking condos, and some apartments. The look of the areas was very "planned" and reminded me of "The Truman Show" film where Jim Carrey doesn't realize his life is on TV. There were no clothes lines, no cars parked in driveways, not even any tacky swing sets or Little Tikes stuff in yards. There are a LOT of rules, which some accept happily and others would hate. It would be cool in some ways to live there yet I suspect it is NOT for everyone. People have told me that Orlando has other lovely gated communities for much less money because Mickey doesn't own them! :) I looked up Celebration on the internet and read some fascinating articles on these types of communities and the attempt to create "Utopia." One person's dream town is another person's nightmae, where they can literally cart your dog off if it barks too much. Scott and I had lots of fun giggling over that: imagine explainign to the kids that Mickey had come in the night and taken Fido!

Well, back to cleaning. My parents left this morning and my house looks like a hurricane hit it. I have people coming over tomorrow night so I'd better get to it!

xoxo

So that's my 2 cents!

SlightlyGoofy

12-30-2004, 09:55 PM

Heck, I feel like a red headed stepchild. Here you all are gabbing away and having the mostest fun and I are left on the sidelines. I wondered what you all had gotten up to and now I know. I should have checked before but I just figured everyone was busy with the holidays.

Luna, you are a hoot. Sounds as if you do not have to adopt that doggie, it has already adopted you. Smart dog, knows a soft touch when she sees it. I wish people would treat each other as well as you guys treat your animals. Hope your little one is all well now. They get sick so quickly and well even faster, most of the time. Too much Christmas cheer? Had to laugh at your idea of enjoying the snow through the window. I go down to the country (near Colleen) and sit in my bil's home, looking out the picture window, as I lounge in his big leather chair and ottoman and watch the wild turkey, deer and other critters wander around. Is my idea of country life. LOL

Colleen, you had your own personal chef for Christmas and it did not even cost you. You lucky lady. Sounds as if your hubby is smarter than average if he was able to pick up on the hint. I have written down the exact item, what store , what shelf and price and still did not get what I wanted. When I was young I used to pout but since it did not work I just took over the job myself and have been very happy every since. When I get lonely I hold my hand too. (grin) If you cannot make it to Allentown, Disney is a great place to be. Even a tad bit better than Allentown but a very close race since both Rider and Luna will be there and you just never know where I might turn up. I was supposed to go to Nashville but that is in turmoil now so I do not know. I have a friend who lives nearby also and a special trivia lady who lives on the Pa/Ohio border that might welcome a visit as well. Ruminations!! I am lucky to have attended a Celebration Open House and I got to see many of the homes. If you are an anal person who loves to surrounded by the same it is a great place and the lots are so darned small tha yardwork would not be a big problem and I do believe there are many rules on how that is to be kept. Planned communities are great for some. I like nice but not sure I am ready for that much perfection. You can rent an apartment there. Bet it would be cheaper or at least more comfortable than an upscale Disney World room. I am checking out renting points for a one or two bedroom at OKW for 2006. Your mom did not clean your house before she left? I am shocked and amazed. LOL Bet she tried though, us moms are that way.

Rider, I feel with my hands mostly. (I are soooo bad) Feeling pretty well, especially after spending the day with my brother who has the same disease as I do. He smokes and I do not and I have dropped a lot of weight and he has not. I do not think he will last too much longer. Is very sad. Are you transferring your data with a cable or using the XP program? I am not looking forward to that. Have not ordered mine yet, still checking prices. They change so often. Your New Year's party sounds awesome. Bet you have a ball. What did Frank get for Christmas. Having you is more than a poor mortal man could expect out of life anyway. (tell him I said that with a great big smile but a whole lot of truth to it and I am sure he will agree, smart man and he totally deserves his good luck)

Caroline, I just love to hear from you. I sure was not as mature as you are when I was your age, not sure I am now either. (smile)

Depply, I am hoping that you and your family are enjoying this most special Holiday season. May the New Year bring you much better health and better times.

I have a bit of good news for those of you who have heard me talk about my friend Mary. She just called me and told me that she is now in Florida. Her brother and sil sent for her and they have a nice room all fixed up for her. She still misses her son and her grandkids but she did not see them hardly at all anyway. She is penniless but will at least start getting her SS and pension again. In the nursing home you are only allowed to keep $50 or so. Everything she worked her whole life for is gone. Her ddil got a **** job. Seems redundant to me. My dd and dsil still think that it was the right things to do. Shall I run for the hills now or hang in for a couple of more years to enjoy my guys? Decisions, decisions.

SG/Linda

SlightlyGoofy

12-30-2004, 10:00 PM

LOL, my post got censored. I do not believe that I have ever been censored in my whole life. Maybe it is time. LOL Bet you all can guess what part of her anatomy she got taken care of. (hope the grammar cops don't get me for that preposition)

SG/Linda

lunabkat

12-31-2004, 12:04 PM

Hi all

Linda, you baaad girl, Mickey is wagging his finger at you (LOL).

Tonight i work a cop wedding New Year's Eve party. It means lots of drinking and a heck of a time clearing the room at the end. Whew! Its not over till 1 and there is a continental breakfast, what a pain in the butt.

Tara (dd3) is feeling like her old self again, running and bouncing like Tigger all over the house. I found a trix yougart cup, dated 12/03/04, on the counter later that night, i think perhaps that may have been the cuprit since the rest of us seem fine (knock on "would"). She was such a little trooper, she got it in the bowl everytime, would say "i done now mommy, get me a wet wipe". I sincerly hate stomache virus most out of any sickness (or food poisoning, gotta check the back of those fridge drawers) I am wondering what to wear for my picture on People Magazine for Worst Mother of the Year issue, maybe my birthday suit! (uh-oh, Mickey's got his eyebrows in a knot.) :earseek:

I can't wiat to start planning our next trip, tho it is years away at this point. The years will go by in a flash, sadly, i can't believe the girls are so big already. I am glad i still have several years of hoots and hollers for Christmas, its so much fun.

Colleen, Still do not have a definative answer about Madison the puppy, i will work on it. :rolleyes:

Rider, we will make those plans, as soon as i can catch my breath, just wished the hubby Mery Christmas this morning :blush:

LL

Take care, and have happy new year everyone.

SlightlyGoofy

12-31-2004, 02:50 PM

I am so very sorry for offending the powers that be on the DIS. I must remember to only use words that I would use with my dear little charges at the CC. I am grateful to a mother who did not teach me certain words that trip so lightly off others tongues. Of course, she had a knack for telling people off so eruditely that most never knew they were being told off. LOL I promise to behave from now on. It is my greatest fear that I will finally earn a tag with a line that would embarrass me for eternity. LOL

Luna, you are a good mom, you just are not omnipitent. Heck, if God cannot control His children what hope do we mere mortals have? Your Tara (GWTW is my favorite, any connection?) sounds like a joy. Makes it that much more painful when such sweetness is ill though. Funny thing about yogurt, it is not yogurt unless it ferments but evidentally it can go too far. LOL It is surprising that you cannot work full time, in other words, bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, wash it all up, put it away AND know what your dear ones are doing every single minute of the day. Next thing I know you will confess to having to sleep or go to the bathroom occasionally. Get over it!!!! (smile)

I take it that when officers of the law cut loose they tend to go a bit further overboard than the civilians who might fear being arrested? They see so darned much I guess they enjoy a happy event a tad too much. Hope you survive although , from my previous experience, you might not get quite the tips that you will heartily earn. Maybe they will remember you and give you a free pass one day when you are in a rush. Ya never know. At least the thought might comfort you as you are cleaning up after the party with a nearly empty tip pocket and wending your way home to face whatever at home. I will send thoughts that your tiny tots will sleep late that particular morning and give you a break~!

Just finished adding up the numbers and the budget was stretched but not broken last year but next year will be a challenge. I can cover the regular stuff just fine but my Disney budget is in jeopardy. Cannot have that, maybe we can wear our coats indoors and cut back on heating?? 38% increase expected. Grrrrrrrr.

My brother and his son made it yesterday. He fell asleep every few minutes, one of the side effects of his illness and his meds. He called when they got home so I am relieved at that. My nephew is considering getting into some trouble as he enjoys Juvenile Hall better than home. I do not blame him but I tried to tell him that there were better ways to accomplish his goal. If I were younger, in better health and not already stretched to the limit I would give him a try. Anyone interested in a smart, but troubled, young man of twelve? It is a problem as no one is, or nearly so. I fear my brother will not be around much longer anyway. The mom is even less interested. (keep sending those posts about your families, I love hearing how the other half lives) Really, truly.

SG/Linda

lunabkat

01-01-2005, 12:58 PM

Hi All, Happy New Year!

The party went very well last nite, got time and a half plus $32 in tips, whee! Got home at 3 AM to find dd3 in my bed so it slept in hers. They found me around 7AM and daddy took them out to breakfast, enjoying a solitary cup of coffee at the moment. The town where i work has fireworks on NYE every year and they really outdid themselves last nite, they go off right behind where i work and they lasted a good ten minutes or so, what a show. Reset was painfully long as usual and we had newbies on the floor which is always time consuming but all in all everyone behaved themselves and had fun. yes those Police Officers like to party, but at least they are nice about it.

The KOTC got his uninterrupted kitty lovins' this morning so he is happily sleeping in a sunbeam at the moment, lucky boy. Dd3 is her old self and dd5 can't wait to get back to school. I can't wait to get the house back in order (albeit for a very brief period of time) and get the dishes done, same old, same old.

Linda, too bad about your little 12 year old guy, its hard when you would like to help but cannot. I am sure just having you around helps him in many ways, you cannot do it all for everyone, unfortunately. I will add him and you to my prayers at night, couldn't hurt, right?

Will check back later,
:grouphug:
LL

Dan Murphy

01-01-2005, 01:02 PM

Stopping by to wish all the EWP group a very Happy New Year, a great '05. :wave:

SlightlyGoofy

01-01-2005, 01:28 PM

There is a man in the Suite and it is our most special guy. Line up and give him a h ug gals. As I remember there is plenty to go around as he is a very tall drink of water. Seldom does a guy make me feel tiny. LOL Happy New Year to you and Marie, Dan.

Luna, I sure hope you get more than paltry waitress pay for these special events. Not sure how many hours you had to work but $32 sure would not cover the cost of gas to get there and back. What a sweetie you are married to, taking the kids out for breakfast so you can sleep in. Glad to hear that your cat is contented. Nothing worse than a grumpy cat or man. LOL

It has taken me a long time to realize that I cannot do it all. I am a responsible person and have always felt responsible for everyone in my family. As I no longer have my own income I am not able to help out as much as I used to. Used to keep me hopping to earn enough when my one sister lived with us for an extended time. Tom always worked second shift so he did not have to deal with our kids and extras were even more of a strain for him and thus on me as well. Weekends were heck (see I can behave nicely). Thank you for the prayers, I fear he is going to need them very soon. He has it in his head that his dad will live for another few years, I doubt it and if so he will be in no shape to care for himself let alone his son. Very sad.

I have a crockpot full of corned beef and cabbage and a loaf of high fiber bread in the breadmaker. I love technology Gives me time to watch the parade as I chat and check into the Suite.

Happy New Year you dear ladies (and Dan, the man). May this be the first day of the best year of your lives!! :grouphug:

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

01-02-2005, 10:00 PM

HAPPY 2005, EVERYONE! :) :) :)

Hope that it will be a happy, healthy, fun, prosperous, peaceful, and safe one for all!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Dan! Great to hear from you! And wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year, too!

I'm so sorry to hear that your brother is still not well, Linda. I hope that he and his family will be all right, and that his son is OK, too. Maybe just being around you will encourage him to lead a healthier lifestyle and take care of himself a little better? We'll be thinking of him.

So glad to hear that your friend Mary is safely ensconced in Florida with her brother and SIL - that is wonderful news! I'm sure that she will be much happier and more comfortable, there.

Hi Colleen! That's so neat that you had a chance to check out Celebration! I've only seen it while driving by, from afar. I also got the impression that the houses were very nice, but very close together and sort of "Truman Show"-ish! And I can't believe how expensive they are, either - if I was going to move to Florida, I would want to pay less for a home than I would up here - especially considering the amount of land that the Celebration homes seem to have (or not have, as the case may be!). I wouldn't be able to deal with all of those rules, either. It's hard enough dealing with the ones set up by our townhouse association, right now! :) Hope that your New Year's Eve gathering was wonderful - I'll bet that it was a lot of fun!

I'm sorry that you had to work on New Year's Eve, Lauralee! :( But it sounds like you had a very profitable evening, so that's good! I'm trying to guess where you work (or at least in what town), because I'm trying to think what town has fireworks every New Year's Eve, and I can't come up with anything! OK - I give up - where do you work? :)

We were up in Rockaway on New Year's Eve, so I wouldn't have seen or heard the fireworks if they were somewhat close by. We always hear (and can sometimes see) any fireworks that they happen to have over the Raritan, in New Brunswick, or at Rutgers.

Anyway, we had a nice evening - our friends made a wonderful meal, as usual, and we somehow managed to go through 7 (count 'em - 7!) bottles of champagne! (There were 7 of us there.) It was a beautiful warm, clear evening, and it was so nice to sit outside by their fire and look up at the stars. Our hosts also sing in a choir, so the 2 of them serenaded us with some Christmas carols and even some spring time / Easter songs that they are beginning to learn, as we sat by the fire - it was very nice! We had a quiet day of finishing setting up our new computer (boy, is it wonderful to have a fast machine, again - waiting for like 3 minutes for each screen change was beginning to get old! :) ) yesterday, then went to my sister-in-law's and sat outside by HER outdoor fireplace, last night! Another unseasonably (relatively) warm evening, here in Central NJ - I think that it was in the 40's, and it was very nice by the fire.

Now it's "back to reality" - 2 weeks 'til school starts and tons of last minute home projects to take care of, before then. I think that I am going to finally get rid of the last of my huge clothes, that I had hung onto in my extra closet. Better that someone else should get some use out of them, then having them just taking up space in my closet! Will save the stuff that I'd bought from the Disney Store for our first WDW trip together in 2000, though - even though I hope that they will never fit me again, I can't bear to part with them!

I also need to do a major food shopping - I haven't done a full food shopping since before Chanukah, believe it or not! I hate food shopping so much that I tend to do huge ones, once every 6 weeks or so, rather than a weekly smaller one - I'd rather get it all over with at once and not have to worry about it for awhile! I also need to get my holiday film developed (I always like to use real film, in addition to taking digital pictures!) and there are some films that I would like to see and rent before I have less time to do so, too! I'm dying to see "The Phantom of the Opera" film, and I'd love to see "Sideways" and "Closer" if I can catch them before they leave the theaters, too.

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great weekend! :)

lunabkat

01-03-2005, 10:52 AM

Hi All :wave:

welcome Dan, i have not met you before. Lisa, i work in Beautiful Downtown Berkeley Heights, NJ and i think its the township that supplies the fireworks but it could be the group that runs the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel festival every year. They are the ones responsible for the big fireworks show on the 16th of July every year (and they days preceeding the "big one" as well", they always do an awesome job, i was really impressed with the fireworks this year, especially since we were right under them as the popped. I promise i will get around to pming you, its just been so busy here since right before the trip and frankly, i am exhausted even now. I know you are looking forward to school, i would like to tentatively plan meeting after your get your feet wet inschool, is that good for you?

As rider said, the weather here in Jersey has been very mild, it makes me a little nervous wondering what the rest of January (andFeb,) have instore for us. We watched the fireworks outside in the middle of the night with no jackets and we quite comfortable, thats something that doesn't happen every day come January. I can remember the storm of Martin Luther King Junior Day years ago, we had the class hamster (ddshannon) for the long (3 day) weekend and ended up with him for 10 days because of a blizzard - i was a nervous wreck that that hamster was gonna go AWOL before we got him back, but all ended well, thank goodness.

Linda, i love corned beef and cabbage, and i love my crockpot, its sso nice to be able to be done with dinner at 10AM. I hope you had a great New Years. I will talk to you all later,
:grouphug:
LL

IASW Rider

01-03-2005, 11:09 AM

Speaking of crockpots, it's a good thing that you reminded me of that (and of that tasty sounding meal that Linda was making the other day! :) ), Lauralee - it will be time to break out mine, soon, and get dinner started (even though it's a little after 10:00 AM! :) )

Please don't worry about PM'ing me - be in touch when ever you'd like and when ever it's convenient for you - no rush! I'm not going anywhere! We will make that plan when we find a good time for both of us (........and as you said, hopefully we won't have any snow or ice to contend with when we do!)!

Aha - Berkeley Heights! OK - now it makes sense why I wouldn't have been able to hear fireworks off in the distance, since that's probably a bit too far away for me to do so! Now if it happened to be Bridgewater or Somerville, that would be another story! We can always hear the fireworks when they have them over our wonderful "home team's" stadium, Commerce Bank Ballpark (which I still insist on calling "Somerset Ballpark"! :) )!

I definitely remember the blizzard on that holiday weekend a few years ago, too! So glad that your visiting hamster enjoyed his stay and made it through the weekend all right, and safely back to school!

Just stopping in to wish everyone a great day! Talk to you later! :)

IASW Rider

01-05-2005, 12:56 PM

Hi Everyone!

Not too much to report here, from the damp and gray Garden State, but I just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a nice week, and "bump us up", as they say! :)

IASW Rider

01-05-2005, 01:00 PM

Whoa! Just found this thread on the Rumors Board:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=703012

I didn't realize that our beloved EWP had been damaged in the fall hurricanes! :( Fortunately, it sounds like all is well with it now, though!

helenabear

01-05-2005, 01:21 PM

Okay, it's been way too long. I spent a lot of time with my family and we had about 15" of snow and 2-3" of ice that kept us from doing some of the stuff we wanted to do. Fortunately, all the snow melted just in time for us to go away for NYE weekend to the Hocking Hills and spent a very restless weekend in a cabin iwth some friends ;)

Back at work and have been busy the last couple of days, so I am finally here to say hi to y'all! I am afraid I am so behind on nearly everything and not sure who is still sick or well at this point :o

But Happy New Year to you all!

I will say one thing, Linda, do not worry about being censored... they have automatic filters here so no one can really know you do it unless they see the stars ;) They aren't very "forgiving" with what is allowed either.

Back to work fo rme. I hope you all are doing well!

SlightlyGoofy

01-05-2005, 02:21 PM

Elaine, believe me, I was more bemused at being censored than anything. I am a fairly profane person but not vocally, unless extremely provoked and then the words do not trip lightly off my tongue. I was taught to save those words when necessary or they lose their power. I came close at WM the other day when I saw a mother with a young child. The child was crying, not a bratty cry but what caught my attention was the "Please Mommey, don't." Having seen and been an abused child I can tell you that extremely good manners can hide a host of sins. Many noticed but went on by but I lingered a bit but did not get an opportunity to do anything even though I did not actually see the mom doing anything. Hope my annentae was wrong. The worst thing you can do in such a situation is to criticize the parent cause they will take it out, later. Hocking Hills? You were down in my neck of the woods. I have read some about a resort in the area with some extremely good food. Is that where you went? I may make it there one day. One of my sisters went to college there. Did you enjoy it? Glad the weather broke. Our snow is gone and the rain is here, much flooding but not too near us.

Rider, I had read that thread and thought about you. I feel badly now cause I was sort of out of sorts when we went through all that trouble to see the parade, best spot to see it and then it was so short. Guess we just plain expect DW to be exempt from problems. Hope it is up before any of us go back again. Speaking of which, could everyone post when their next trip is? Our definite date is somewhere around the end of November 2005 but there is a possiblility of a spring trip if good codes come out. Might try out those new tickets. $22 a day is not too bad. Unfortunately my brother will never be well but he might be able to slow down the progression of his disease. No sense in arguing with him he is ALWAYS right , in his mind, that is. I go grocery shopping far too often. My house looks like a grocery store. I went last night and just got stuff for free as the store was doubling dollars and tripling 50 cent coupons. I got over $200 worth for about $30. Used to do much better but you cannot get as good a coupons anymore. If I get something that we abslutely cannot use it goes to the Food Bank.

Luna, meeting Dan is right up there with meeting Mickey himself. It is something that everyone on the Boards aspires to. He is a true gentleman and very generous with his time and his Chicago Mickey's. I have one, had two but shared one with a special someone in the Suite, and I will never let it go. I am not sure which appliance is more useful, the microwave or the crockpot but I do know that they both have changed my life so very much and I am grateful. Occasionally I can leave now where I could not before. Feeding time was sacrosant. When I first starting putting food on a plate for my dh to heat up himself he refused to do it. After a couple of weeks (I was taking classes and teaching) he figured out that he was getting awfully hungry and I was NOT going to quit. LOL I have to buy a new microwave every few years because he has a tendancy to heat things for inappropriate times but it is well worth it and I stock up when they are on sale so I never pay more than $40 for them. Sort of how the slaves felt when Eli Whitney invented the cotton ginl LOL

I have to finish up some chores as this is my first post holiday trip to the Community Center. I am looking forward to it. My little guy is spending the night Friday and I have my half bath all tore up and am ready to go. A dear friend called last night and she is town so I am going to pick her up and wea re going out to eat and catch up on about ten years of what all we have missed.

Hoping the weather is behaving itself wherever you are.

Love, Your friend, SG.Linda

TalkisCheap

01-05-2005, 05:24 PM

Wow. Lots of catching up to do on my part...and I admit...I ended up skimming the last page :guilty: ;) but,

I'm glad everyone had good holidays!! And Luna, glad you had a good time on your trip, despite your few mishaps..I must say, they had me laughing though! :) ;)

I laughed when I saw how many people dislike Algerbra on this thread...I love it! Might be my favorite subject...I guess because it comes easier than most for me..my mom always says I have a gift, as I can figure out most any math problem...although, I may not always go about it in the right way! I guess I take after my brother, who was always good in math...the only subject he really did well in, in HS and now in college, as it was the only one he enjoyed/had teachers he liked. Was on the math team and set some high standards...even some school records!! Alas, I'm hoping not to betray my name in HS all to much! ;)

Our Christmas trip was certainly a whirl wind, complete with MANY hours of driving. I can take most things, and usually without complaining. Being in the car for a long time...would no be one of them! I'll fly, go on a boat, train...Heck, I'd walk 10 miles before I'd drive 10 hours!! But, both ways we ran into our share{I cannot say fair, as it was not ;) } of traffic, and it ended up being over 11 hours both ways. We were spoiled in having a larger car in previous years, and did not have to listen to the complaining of me, my sister, and my brother having to sit three across in the back{which is not easy, seeing as we're ages 19, almost 18, and almost 14, and we're not small - any of us, Me and my sister are 5'7 and thin, my brother is 5'9 and a little overweight} Needless to say, they were two of the longest days of our life!! By the end, we were all ready to get away from each other, LoL!!!

But, besides the crazy hours driving, the time spent was wonderful. As always, I love seeing my family. We had lots of fun, as always. And with 5 girls{19-14} we had lots of fun shopping every day, watching 'chick flicks', and staying up till 2-3 in the morning!

The gifts I received were wonderful, as every year. So many gifts, it's hard to pick my favorites, but they would have to be - a pink Coach wallet, and another necklace from Tiffany. Oh, and the big gift...a pool table!!!

By the end of the week I should have some pictures{my memory card reader broke, and my daddy said he won't be able to buy me one till Friday, as he's in one of his busy times} so I'll hopefully get those up and share some with you!

Well, I hope I haven't bored you all TOO much! I'm really going to try and stay caught up more here, so I can post more, and not have to read so many posts at a time! Oh, we have our first game back from vacation tomorrow. I'm not sure if our center can play, as I don't know if vacation counted towards her two weeks...I also do not know if she has gotten her grade up! Oh, and I forget...did I tell you all I got into HS?? I really didn't have a doubt, but I got in, and I'm happy to have 2005-2009 set!

I hope all are well! And I'll hopefully talk to you soon...right now I have a few things to do before late basketball practice! Have a wonderful night, and till whenever I talk to you all again!

Caroline

lunabkat

01-05-2005, 06:11 PM

Hi All :wave:

Hope everyone is doing well, as rider said the weather in Jersey is lousy and supposed to get worse - yea. My dh called at 10Am to say they were keeping the crews out till 11pm so won't see him till later. They always stay out in the worst of the weather to keep up with the trees that come down on the power lines, for all the dangerous work they do you would think they would have a kickin' union, but no, just the old IBEW stumpin' along. Ihave several choice words for them, but "i don't want to shock the children".

Linda, please, i have not clue one what a Chicago Mickey is, a little help? Sounds like Mr. Dan is a busy guy, very nice to stop by for well wishing. I always like to meet someone new.

Helenabear, sorry about your weather, glad it has thawed some for you tho. Caroline, you were the busy thing this holiday. I laughed at your squashfest on the drive, we are going to Pittsburgh for a dear friends daughter in may and it is a 6 hour drive. With the girls in the back, ia m sure it will be a hoot. Tho i have to say they love a road trip and since we are leaving after Robert get home from work, they should sleep part of the way. DH does not really wish to go (and frankly, who looks forward to a 6 hour drive with a 6 and 4 year old, tho i do admit to being a roadtrip lover) but i explained to him that second to her wedding this is the most important celebration Rachel will have and i really feel it would be hurtful not to make the time to go. We don't see much of the family since they moved to Pittsburgh but i feel it is matter of respect to our friendship that we were invited to attend and we need to reciprocate with attending. Not that my df would hold it against me, she certainly wouldn't, and not that the party would be less without us, it wouldn't, but who can't use all the good feelings and blessings of loving friends - good times and bad - right?

I would just feel lousy, its in my heart we should be there to enjoy her big day and my lovely dh understands that i feel a rightness to being there, so has consented to go, even tho it means 12 hours in the car in 4 days. He can be such a sweetie. :love:

Unfortunately, Madison the dog is not to be ours. Another family is taking her. Robert really wanted the girls to have a little puppy anyway so they could be with it from babyness (whoopee, doggy pee training - put that down, don't chew on the KOTC's tail, no catnip for you bud, oh joy -but i will love it anyway). Still, i liked Madison...

Our next Disney trip will be years in the making, 5 or 6 i am thinking. Mark my words, next time its a DVC rental (pulling out the big bucks) or full kitchen suite, i am not being subjected to the lousy food at the HIFS again - yuck! "Excuse me m'am, would you like a little meat in your grease and gristle?"

When we go back i will definately try the new ride "Everest", it looked very interesting when we were in AK, tho all you could see were the bones of it. I hope the develope the Beastly Kingdom with the dragons and unicorns and the like, that seems like such a disneyfied thing to do. They already have Pegasus and the Fantasia fairies and the like, it could be a real Hercules hang out.

Good day to you all, talk soon

LL :grouphug:

lunabkat

01-05-2005, 06:12 PM

OOOPs!

PS : Rachel is having her Bat Mitzvah, that is the special occassion, which i left out, duh!

SlightlyGoofy

01-05-2005, 10:19 PM

Luna, you can pm me with your real thoughts about your hubbies union, or lack thereof. I have often found that the harder and more dangerous a job the less you get paid. (think motherhood) LOL I am no child and if you can shock me you have accomplished something. I are a broad. My definition - a woman who has seen it all, twice, and is still standing. LOL A Chicao Mickey is a keychain Mickey with Chicago emblzoned upon its side. Dear Dan informs me that they are no longer made so they are now an official collector's item. I met Dan at an Indy meet and he gave them out to everyone. I got two cause he gave Tom one and poor dear that he is (?) gave his up to me and when our dear Rider admired mine I gave her mine and now have my lone survivor on my desk along with my Jersey Shore and Disney Cruise magnets and pictures of the DIS members that I have met. Our Helenabear is a very close friend with Dan the Man which is why he comes by once in awhile. I hope that Robert is planning on helping get your future puppy through those rough first days.weeks. months. My question is this, how was he on getting up with your children when they were little? LOL The secret to getting through that six hour trip with your small ones is to leave in the middle of the night while they are asleep. LOL I was all for the seatbelt law (you youngsters do not ever remember NOT having them=, heck I might be the only old geezer here who does) cause it meant that I could buckle one little dear on one side of our huge stationwagon (think very long car with three seats, one facing backward) and another on the other side. They were small enough that their arms did not reach to the other and if I let them have enough snacks I could enjoy as much as ten minutes of peace and quiet in between screams. Tom, not the kids. I saw the bones of Everest as well. Is something that I shall admire from afar though. Not my thing. I am a feet on the ground kind of gal although I did venture onto Peter Pan's Flight and really enjoyed it. Just read where someone fell from it. Would never happen to me though as my fingers are firmly embedded in any safety bar offered. Are not old friends the best? My older friends have it so rough as they hanker for people to share memories with and they keep losing people who were there. As much as I love their stories it is not quite the same to them. Congrats to your friend's daughter. Is a big moment.

Caroline, did I ever tell you that I was a pool shark? Not really but I did know some pretty good tricks. Made a dollar or two doing them also. LOL Sounds as if your Christmas went well and you got everything your heart could desire. A necklace from Tiffany's? I am impressed. Bet it looks better on you than it did in the store. Ever see Breakfast at Tiffany's? I do not hate algebra, actually I could get the answers just fine, it was just that I could not show them how I got the answer. My mom used to do Dell puzzles and would tear out pages for us to do and I did not know that some of them were algebra equations when I was young, just brain strains to make me figure out the answers so I learned how to do it all wrong. I can do any math that applies to me but if it is just a question, I do not have the interest.. Glad you have the aptitude though as we need you to keep the rest of us on track. I loved your account of your trip. Sounds as if it was all your brother's fault. Us gal gotta stick together. LOL I once found my daughter asleep on her brothers lap and when I told him to make her move he told me to leave her alone as she was quiet and that was all that mattered. LOL What Chick Flicks did you watch? You making HS was a foregone conclusion but congratulations anyway. You did it and did it well, as usual. We will look forward to the pictures. Bet they are great.

I have to get plastered now. Well, I am patching some walls. Gotta cure before I start the wallpapering tomorrow. I love how it all looks when I get done but the process is killing me.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

IASW Rider

01-07-2005, 02:12 PM

Hey everyone!

Wow - it sure has been busy around here! Sorry that I haven't been in touch in a few days!

Happy New Year, Elaine and Caroline! Great to hear from you and glad to hear your holidays went well!

Chicago Mickey is enjoying life comfortably, sitting next to Tokyo Disney Sea Mickey and bride and groom Mickey and Minnie in our bedroom, Linda! He is very special to me, as is the person who gave him to me! :) How did your wallpapering / plastering go?

Glad to see that the weather is finally clearing up here, Lauralee! But I think it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow..........figures - we're going into NYC tomorrow and is has to be rainy and cold - yuck!

Wish that I had something interesting to report, but I've just been doing un-noteworthy errands all week. At least I'm accomplishing something, though! I'm crossing things off of my pre-school-starting-to-do-list every day! And I did finish my closet cleaning project yesterday - now all of the clothes in my closet are actually ones that fit me now - it felt good to pack up the older ones, some of which brought back unpleasant memories (ie: the clothes that I used to wear to work.)!

A cousin of mine had a baby on Tuesday and we're going to the Bris next Tuesday (so glad that Frank was able to get the day off from work!) - it will be Frank's first experience with a Bris! And I'm looking forward to his meeting a bunch of my cousins whom he hasn't had the opportunity to meet yet (this is going to be a huge, gala affair with over 100 people invited!).

Well, time to get going - we're going to see "Spanglish" this afternoon - it comes highly recommended by Colleen! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great weekend! :)

P.S. I forgot to answer Linda's question from several posts ago: our next WDW trip is May 15 - 22 (May 15 - 18 at POR; May 19 - 22 on DCL!)! :)

SlightlyGoofy

01-08-2005, 09:21 PM

Dear Rider, I hope you held poor Frank's hand during the Bris. From what little I know of such it is a tramatic event for males. Even I would suffer sympathy pangs.

My little basketball superstar made 22 of the 38 points made in today's ballgame AND came home with a perfect spelling test which included the word Hanukah. I tried to explain to him that it could be spelled otherwise but he was not buying into it. LOL He spent last night and most of the day here and we watched "Twister". He greatly enjoyed the tornadoes and the damage inflicted but was grossed out at the end when the two main characters kissed. Have a feeling he will get over that some day. LOL

I thought I had it tough when I had to meet three of Tom's brothers at one time and there Frank is wading into a sea of unfamiliar faces. Bet he handles it just fine though and you both have an absolutely fantastic time. Too many times families just come together at sad occasions.

I have the plastering and endless sanding done and have hung the first few sheets of embossed wallpaper. I love that stuff. It is perfect in older homes, covers imperfections and just fits the period.

What a wonderful way to start out the New Year by getting rid of your 'too big' clothes and getting rid of old memories as well. Now you have room for more new clothes. There are a lot of good sales this time of the year too.

We are hoping that the floods will abate soon. This beats the record set in 1913. We are not affected at all unless we have to go up the road a bit and we do not so we are not. The major town nearby has only one way in and out right now. It is taking people hours to go what used to take minutes. There are so many heartbreaking stories of people who have been flooded out of their homes and lots of power outages also.

This winter has already been so awful and I am hoping that the worst is behind us and everyone gets a break. Hope none of you are experiencing any weather related problems.

Back to work for me. Too old, too slow too inept. LOL

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

01-10-2005, 12:58 PM

Hi Linda!

I'm sorry to hear about all of the flooding near your home and in your area - thank God it's no closer to your actual house. I hope that the rest of the winter proves to be much dryer and less "eventful" - as you said, maybe the worst is behind you all, and you can now enjoy a relatively "quiet" rest-of-the-season! I believe I saw on the calendar, the other day, that it's just a little more than 2 months until Spring officially begins.........! :)

We keep "waiting for the other shoe to drop", here. Although we have had a few bitterly cold days, for the most part we've been enjoying a mild winter, so far. No real snow to speak of - just a lot of rain. Today, it's supposed to reach 50 degrees and they're predicting temperatures of up to 60 degrees on Thursday!

Will let you know how Frank "does" at the Bris, tomorrow, but I think that he will be all right. Since this particular Bris is going to be held in the sanctuary of a synagogue, it should be far enough away that none of the "spectators" will have a very good view of the "action"! I have been to a Bris in a private home, however, where everyone stood pretty close by.......it's best just to turn your head during the "moment of truth"! :) I'm looking forward to Frank's meeting some more of my extended family and seeing a bunch of relatives whom I haven't seen in years. As you said, so many times people just come together at sad occasions. In fact, my father got to see a bunch of other relatives for the first time in years, yesterday.........at a funeral (a distant cousin - Frank and I did not go). So it will be nice to celebrate a happy occasion, this week!

Congratulations to your Basketball-playing Spelling Star! :) That is fantastic news! Such a multi-talented young man! :)

And glad to hear that your plastering and wall papering are successfully finished - I had no doubt that the job would be finished quickly and smoothly and that it would come out beautifully!

We had a nice weekend - spent Saturday night in NYC with some friends who had planned a really nice evening for us. Hors d'ourvres, drinks, dinner, dessert and board games, too - it was a late but fun evening!

Hope that you all had a great weekend! Talk to you soon! :)

SlightlyGoofy

01-10-2005, 11:18 PM

Hi there Lisa

It is delightfully warm here today and will be as well tomorrow but after that all bets are off again. Indiana has very changeable weather but this is unusual even for us. More rain coming also. People were just getting able to get out and about again too.

Might I ask a delicate question? At a Bris do they give the baby some comfort before the procedure? I figure that the reason they do not usually do so in a hospital is that the pain killer (I am not attempting to spell the correct word) is more dangerous than the pain but it hurts me to think of the poor little child hurting so. Just cause they cannot talk does not mean they do not hurt. (wiping tears from my eyes)

Sounds as if your weekend was a wonderful one, even tho not exactly perfect. I am sure it made your friend feel a bit better to have you there. Do you guys drive your dad everywhere or is he able to get out on his own? It is so important for older people to have others of their generation to remember with. I have many older friends and I can only do so much. Even my oldest friends only go back a couple of decades and they crave those childhood memories.

After the bedroom I am going to deep clean and touch up another bedroom and then make an exercise room out of one of the upstairs bedrooms. I have enough equipment and it might make it easier for me to work out more.

I hope that all the bad weather fades before it gets to you. No matter what we get it is nothing compared to what those poor people in the Tsunami went through.

I played Christmas trivia last week and managed to not only win but got the highest score anyone had ever gotten in a game so when it came time for the quarterly championships tonight I had scant hope of replicating such a miracle but somehow I did. Dalton is proud of his old grandma. Hope I never disappoint him. LOL

Did I tell you that Austin got a 4 wheeler? No helmet though. If I did not have religion, grandkids would give it to me. He is insisting on taking me for a ride too. (shaking my head in fear)

Hope the weather stays good for this weekend so that you can enjoy without worry.

SG/Linda

colleen costello

01-11-2005, 10:54 AM

Linda, I wondered about you in the great flood. Have been hearing that Columbus IN is in some trouble and figured you were hiding out at home. Good time to hang out and do home improvement! We have had flooding near here but nothing much in our little town. Poor Indiana is always having SOME kind of crazy weather, huh?

Lisa, the thought of a Bris is too much for me. I understand it is a religious tradition but I still think it's gross! Pal David told me the funniest bris story some years back. When his little boy had the ceremony, Jonah's umbilical cord stump was still attached. David said Jonah didn't utter a peep at the actual SNIP, and afterward David's wife was carrying he baby around, showing him off. She had been holding Jonah near the buffet table, greeting people and chatting. Suddenly she realized the umbilicus, which I guess had been hanging by a thread, was GONE -- finally fallen off and who knows where? They couldn't find it on the carpet or anywhere, and David and Lisa always SWORE that nasty, dried-up thing went into one of the buffet dishes! That is my favorite, gross-out bris story! And for what it's worth, I am so squeamish that we never proceeded with a circumcision when Ian was born. For better or worse, he is what he is. Hope he is OK with that later. It's hard to make choices for the little ones, knowing that no matter what you decide, they may hate you for it later.

I have been fighting with Mickey about room assignments. Called yesterday and after about 30 minutes on hold, they informed me "ground floor room" is only a REQUEST. Why Mickey can't get his act together in this department is beyond me. So we are staying at a 2-story resort in March (with my parents) with NO elevators, but for a man who just had knee surgery and a woman with a scooter, "ground floor" is just a "request." Grrrrr... Of course we will GET a ground-floor room, but I am someone who sweats the "what ifs" in life and don't appreciate this lack of commitment. No more Carribean Beach for us, after this. The other Moderates have elevators!

Linda, don't you and Tom buy Annual Passes? Disney jusy changed the requirements for "Disney Dining Experience" membership. AP holders can join for $50 for the year and it gets you 20% off sit-down meals at resorts and parks, plus the food courts at resorts where there is no sit-down place. For our group of 6 it was a no-brainer; I joined yesterday. For just the two of you, it might not be worth it, except when you go with your family next year as it is good for groups of up to 10. We are excited. With two trips this coming year, we'll save a bundle as we like to EAT! :)

Hope all is well with everyone.

xoxo

lunabkat

01-11-2005, 12:09 PM

Hi all,

Like rider said, waiting for the other shoe to drop over here in Jersey, its quiet...too quiet.

Linda, i willnever believe youto be too inept for anything, so there. Hope you stay nice and dry in your area. Please discuss a helmet with your four wheeler, my daughter Shannon was killed while riding a bicycle without a helmet, perhaps if you ask him to where one for you???

Hello to everyone, i am already secretly planning another disney trip, just got an offer of $1500 for 6/7 at Pop Century, including tickets to the park for four for each day, sounds good to me, but will daddy take the bait? Stay tuned...

Gotta go, school bus is coming..

LL

colleen costello

01-11-2005, 02:08 PM

Luna, the 7 for 6 sounds sooo good. It is sure hard to resist those great offers... I like it when they tell you a "bottom line" and the $1500 sounds very reasonable to me, expecially if you can be careful of the food budget. When we go in the summers, we swim a lot and eat cheap and I am a big fan of the "laid-back, low-budget plan." We always have fun on those trips! Your girls are little and will enjoy pool time as much as anything. Good luck with hubby.

colleen costello

01-13-2005, 04:40 PM

HI ladies. Wanted to share that I had some very wonderful news yesterday. I have re-connected with a dear friend from college. He is someone wonderful and I asked him to Email me when I mailed him a holiday card. John is a silly, fun person and I sure miss living far away from him (he is still in Jersey). He married a woman I also knew from college and they have two daughters the same ages as my children.

So we have begun Emailing, and it turns out he and Jeanine are BIG Mickey fans. John's parents retired some years ago in The Villages, a community north of Orlando where dear Linda has a pal. So every summer John and Jeanine take the kids to WDW, then spend a week with his parents. They own an Interval International timeshare somewhere or other, and the other night John Emailed that they were excited because they had an opportunity to TRADE their timeshare for Beach Club at WDW. They will be there for a week in late summer. They don't usually stay so "deluxe" because they are at the parks constantly but this was a good deal. When I looked at his dates, I was thrilled as my family will be at Beach Club Villas the very same week. So now the vacation will be all the more special because we will have some dear old friends to connect with.

I have been bugging them via Email now, giving them all sorts of unsolicited tips about Beach Club and its wonderful amenities. I hope we can do a character breakfast or dinner there together, at Cape May Cafe. They rest every afternoon at the pool, like we do, so the kids should have fun together. As my Mom is joining us, I tod John it is his job to convince her to retire to Florida SOON. Suddenly the trip seems al the more special. It's a real stroke of luck that I picked that week, and decided on Beach Club, too. Almost went with the Wilderness Lodge!

So that's my big news. Lauralee and Lisa, I just watched "Garden State" on dvd and it made me kinda homesick for Jersey. It's a good movie, full of oddball characters. My only issue was the actor who played the dad -- I think of him now as Bilbo Baggins! He sure didn't have the Jersey accent right!

Hope everyone is well.

IASW Rider

01-13-2005, 07:26 PM

Hi Everyone!

That is wonderful news, Colleen! Just to be back in touch with an old friend is great enough, but the fact that he and his family happen to be Disney fans AND will just happen to be at Beach Club at the same time as you and your family is even more special! That is going to be a truly magical trip for all of you! I love hearing stories like that!

And speaking of stories, I loved that Bris story, too! I can imagine something like that happening! That is pretty wild! (The "man of honor" at Tuesday's Bris also had his umbilicus still attached.)

Congratulations to our perennial Trivia Queen, Linda! That is just fantastic! Not like we had any doubts that YOU would be the champion! But that is great news! And congratulations to Austin on his new 4-wheeler! I tooled around with Frank on his step-father's, once.........and that was enough for me! :) Seeing as how Austin is quite the driver, already, I'm sure that he will do a great job with his and will be a safe and responsible driver, too!

Speaking of driving, my father definitely still drives, Linda - in fact, he just bought a new car (for the first time in 18 years!) at the beginning of last summer! He drives all over the place - even longer trips to PA or Long Island or the other NY boroughs - he always enjoyed driving. Besides, my Uncle never learned to drive (he always lived in cities - mostly NYC, but also Washington, DC, Tel Aviv, and Rome!), so my father drives him around to do his shopping, get his medication, go to the doctor, etc.

The Bris was very nice, on Tuesday! It was great to see the relatives from that side of the family, whom we don't get to see very often, and to introduce them to Frank, too! Frank made it through like a trooper.......as did the little one! I don't believe that a baby gets any form of fomal anesthetic before a Bris, Linda, but they usually put a bit of wine on his lips so that he will lick it off and get sleepy. They say that the baby usually starts crying when he is uncovered / exposed because the colder air makes him uncomfortable, rather than the pain. The actual "procedure" takes mere seconds (and I actually WATCHED most of it, this time! My "little" (23 year old) cousin, who just became licensed as a phamacist, insisted that I join him up front, since "I'll be in the health care profession soon", so I needed to get up there! And then the baby is given more wine on his lips afterwards, is bandaged and dressed........and then usually falls right to sleep! Afterwards, they had a very nice reception at their synagogue, which gave us some time to talk and catch up with everyone.

How do you like our weather, now, Lauralee? It was literally in the low 60's here, today - unbelievable! I went out wearing a T-shirt and a light jacket and I was fine! It hardly seemed like the middle of January!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great week! :)

SlightlyGoofy

01-14-2005, 06:41 PM

Hi ya Lisa! I always did think that alcohol was a better pain killer than some of those expensive and more dangerous drugs that are around. Glad that the man of the hour and Frank were able to enjoy themselves afterward. Your dad sounds like you, remarkable. It is so nice of him to be willing and able to take his brother around. It is good for them both to have the companionship of someone who shares their same history and memories. Older people need that more than anything IMHO. I can offer some things to my older friends but not that. Austin tells me tales that make my hair turn grey faster than necessary as far as his driving goes. His dad seems to think that driving into ditches is ever so much fun. I am hoping that saner minds will prevail and he will at least have to wear a helmet to protect what brains he has left in his teenage head. LOL

Colleen, what a wonderful thing to find an old friend and be able to meet up, so easily, at your favorite place! Are you going to make plans for certain events or let it go with the flow? The kids will have even more fun sharing everything with their new friends (am guessing that they have not met yet?) Maybe you might even be able to arrange for you and the other mom to have a few hours at EPCOT sans kids and hubbies and free to endulge in adult delights (i.e. shopping). BTW, all the years I have been requesting rooms I have always been told that it was not a certainty but it has always turned out well. My requests are medical and they are taken more seriously. I am ashamed cause last time I argued (just a tiny bit) with the person who checked me to get a room closer. Turned out the room was as perfect as it could be, I just cannot read a map worth a darn. Yes, you do have a friend near Columbus that is willing to come and pick you up if you need to visit the dentist there. If it is good weather I am even willing to come to Bloomington and provide door to door service if need be.

Luna, I am rooting for you to talk your hubby into that vacation. In my budget mind $1500 a week for a vacation for just us two is a deal and with two kids as well how can you miss? I wish you could get the new dining card so that you could save bucks on meals as well. You might do the math and see if it would be worth it to get one so you could get the discounts. An AP is not all that much more than the old 5 day passes, not sure about the new ones though. Check the codes for rooms and see if you can put together your own package for even less. There are tears in my eyes for the loss of your Shannon and how hard it must be for you all. My dd thinks I am overly protective (I am) but there is such a thin line between keeping our loved ones safe and allowing them to live life to the fullest.

I am just putting in the vertical slats in the wainscotting now and it is just about complete. Just some touch up painting to do. I have decided to buy the cabinet I saw at WM, just too perfect. I have had the other cabinet for over 30 years and although it is still in good condition I need a towel rack and the new cabinet has one on it. It echoes the slat style of the bathroom and painted the same color as the upper wall it will not be too obvious. I like simple and classy, just like I are not!!

Good evening to you all and Disney Dreams!!

SG/Linda

lunabkat

01-18-2005, 12:41 PM

Hi all

Well, it sure had chilled up in Jersey, yikes, i feel for my poor dh working outside in this, they say the wind chill factor makes about 3 degrees fahrenheight(?), i say its darned (so child friendly, i am :cool1: ) cold. I think if you sneezed outside it would turn to snow before it hit the ground. So far the girls have been disappointed in the snow ratio (practically 0) but we still have February and, dare i speak it, March/April to get thru.

I have not yet mentioned another trip to dh, i am trying to decide if it will give him heart failure or not. I would like to go with my best friend, ellyn, but they won't be ready for at least a couple of years yet, i could wait, but i do love to plan trips. I am already planning a trip to Rhode Island to visit Ellyn in Feb. and the trip to Pittsburgh, sans sweet papa, with a nice room with a jacuzzi which i think the girls will get an enormous kick out of (after i run it with hot water and bleach first tho, you never know...germs are everywhere). Does anyone in the group have a jacuzzi? I am thinking of getting one for the big bathroom when we get to fix it up, but are they worth the trouble and how do you keep the insides mold free?

I don't know if i mentioned it, but the niece who was staying with us for a while (until October) is now pregnant (19 weeks). She came over the other day, i found out (like i do about all my husband's family's secrets) by accident, she hasn't told anyone but her mom and dad and sisters, so here i sit with my mouth shut, waiting until they all know, then they will all find out i knew early and be po'd about it (mostly because i kept my mouth shut, which is apparently impossible for them to do), oh well, maybe i should become a private eye "Luna B. Kat, P.I." with the logo of a green cate's eye, could be big. :rolleyes:

Well, it is time to catch the bus for school, so take care all, i will check back soon,
:grouphug:

LL

colleen costello

01-18-2005, 01:05 PM

Luna, sounds like you have your hands full with the family issues. Hang in there. You have no choice but to keep a trusted secret, regardless of the fallout! You know most of us here in the suite have fessed up to the possession of insane relatives, so take comfort in the fact that you are in good company.

We have a small jacuzzi tub in the new house. I think if you use it regularly the mold is not such an issue. Mom has one she never uses 'til my kids come to her house, and she told me that a friend told her you clean it with dishwasher soap. I guess that stuff has a bleaching agent in it. You fill the tub, add the powder, and run the bubbles for a bit. This cleans it without gunking it up. I haven't done this yet and I didn't get a booklet for the tub with the house, so I am not sure about the ratio, but Mom has done this and said it works GREAT.

Girls, the cold weather has hit Indiana, too and the colder it gets, the more Disney plans I make. This morning we were all talking about our upcoming trip at breakfast, and Erin wanted to know where we we staying. I was trying to help her remember Carribean Beach, as we have visited but never stayed. When she finally remembered our lunch there, she was VERY excited. That made ME excited... She and brother really liked the main pool there, and I promised we'd stay there "next time" and now it's almost here. I have made my little chart with our PS's and basic plans for the days. I have noted which parks are open late for resort guests, and when Fantasmic! shows... Mom is still dying to see that one as last time we got hit with a downpour just as the show started! It's VERY exciting making all these plans and charts -- really they are all little dreams that keep me going in the cold. I am happy about Carribean Beach, but REALLY happy about the Wilderness Lodge. My parents have never stayed there and I think they will just LOVE it!

Everyone wish Lisa a good week because if I have it right, her grad school started TODAY! Good luck Lisa and I know you'll do just beautifully. Tell us all about it when you have time.

OK, off to clean. Love to all. :flower1:

IASW Rider

01-18-2005, 01:53 PM

Hi Everyone!

Sorry that it's been awhile - as Lauralee said, it is just unbelievably freezing here, now. After the unusually warm weather that we had last week, I inevitably wound up coming down with my annual bout of bronchitis / sinusitis over the weekend........on my Birthday, no less! Figures, right? :( Although we weren't able to have as festive a weekend as we'd originally planned, we were at least able to go out to dinner with my father and uncle on Saturday night and out on our own on Sunday night (before we came home and I zonked out on Benadryl, in front of the Golden Globe Awards on TV!). Went to the doctor this morning and got my usual antibiotic.........I'm hoping that that will get this out of me before next weekend, when we have some more celebratory plans with various friends!

Thanks so much for thinking of me and for your kind words, Colleen! My first class is tomorrow night, and I'm really hoping that I'll be feeling much better by then! It figures that I'm perfectly healthy for all of these months when I had no serious commitments.......then 3 days before school starts, I get hit with this bug! (They're also predicting a bit of snow for tomorrow afternoon......I hope that they're wrong about that!) Anyway, I'm excited, regardless! This will be a "short week", since my other class is on Monday nights, this semester, and it wasn't held last night due to the holiday.

Love hearing about your plans and all the progress that you're making with them, Colleen! Very exciting! I'm sure that your parents will love the Wilderness Lodge, too - there's no way that they won't! And of course I'm sure that they will enjoy Fantasmic - my favorite WDW show!

I hope that you are able to talk your husband into that trip, Lauralee! Just pick an appropriate time and spring it on him! :) In the mean time, it sounds like you have some other nice travel plans to look forward to! And I echo Colleen about keeping that trusted family secret! Even though it's difficult to be inadvertently put in that position, it's all you can do! (I do like your idea about becoming a private eye, though! :) )

Hi Linda! How are you and Tom doing, out there? How are your bathroom and bedroom (I think!) projects coming along? It's been so long since I've posted that you have probably long since completed them and moved on to some other rooms! How is Austin enjoying that 4-wheeler? Has he had very much of a chance to try it out, yet? Is Dalton allowed to ride it on his own or as a passenger - or at all? How is everything else going, out there?

Hi Elaine, Angie, Caroline, Emily, Amanda, and Wendy! Hope that all is well with all of you!

Have a great day, Everyone, and I'll be in touch again, soon! :)

helenabear

01-18-2005, 02:38 PM

:mad: :sad:

Why on EARTH didn't I get notifications here??? I'm resubscribed and all set to go (I hope).

I'll try to do a little catching up here, but realize I am probably way behind.

Lisa, I am sorry you are dealing with brochitis. Feel better soon! I too, got rid of a bunch of my clothes in the last few weeks. I gave three bags full of some really nice stuff for others to use. I hope to never have to see that size again! I have had to replace most of mine, but fortunately finding the sales that seem to be helping me refill my whole closet. There was very little I could actually keep out of everything. I am about 50 pounds gone and weigh what I did towards the end of high school. A few more, and I'll be the average weight for all four years.

I agree, $1500 is a deal for a family vacation for a week! I think that's about what I paid when Luis and I would go together (not trying to spend a lot).
Colleen, sorry you were fighting so much. Can't you get a medical request (which makes it "guaranteed")? I know that even smoking or non is just a requeset, but if you put for medical, that usually takes more priority. Good luck though!

We had a lot of the flooding that I read many of you talking about. Fortunately my house is high enough up, but many lost a lot and a couple I know lost their homes. Now it is all frozen up and we are sitting at temps hovering right around zero. Not much fun honestly.

It looks like I will sneak in another WDW trip this year. I had planned mine for Nov/Dec and then a friend of mine dropped on me that she was going to WDW in May. I couldn't pass that one up so off I am in May! Of course as soon as my cruise and meeting my DIS friend, Alan, are over with, I will be adding my next two to my sig :)

I know I have left out a lot, but hopefully touched on some good things :) See you all soon!

IASW Rider

01-18-2005, 04:07 PM

Hi Elaine!

CONGRATULATIONS on that great weight loss success!!! That is FANTASTIC!!!! I'm sure that you look amazing, as always! And it's a great feeling to be able to pack up those larger clothes, isn't it? That is wonderful!

And so glad to hear that your home was not affected by the recent flooding, too. And great to hear about your plans for your upcoming WDW trips! Gotta get ready for that Birthday cruise, first, though! :)

Have a great day! :)

lunabkat

01-18-2005, 06:42 PM

Hi all puckerup:

What a plethora (you like?) of postings, i was beginning to feel lost with no postings announcing on my email, it seems to be kind of "all or nothing" with this new system, first i get nothing, now i get half a dozen messages to check up.

Thanks for the advice colleen, iwould really like a jacuzzi (or no name brand, whatever) in the house, i love to relax with a magazine and just chill a while. I am very excited about going to the Bat Mizvah(?) in May erven if dear papa does not go, i love to travel with the girls (but not, NOT in Magic Kingdom alone please!) and they are excited to be going to RI in February, which is going to be very slow for work at the Plaza but i can always pick up some time at Flanders, a "sister" hall, Anthony ( the manager) is friends with my nephew who runs another place (much, much bigger) in Lakewood called the Chateau Grande, so i can get extra hours.

Linda, i hope your renovations are going smoothly and your grandson is having a ball with his new toy. Get this, my dh wants me to ask my boss if there will be access to a tv at our holiday party this Sunday because there are two "final" games that decide on the Super Bowl Players that night. I will ask, since Robert has downed some trees for him, but i think its such a hoot, as i could care less about football. Oh well, gotta love 'em.

Helenabear, love to hear from you. Thanks to all of you for your support, i can't help it, these things just keep getting found out by me in the most surprising ways. I had received a letter in the mail asking me about what doctor i wanted my baby to visit (excuse me? who knows something i don't?) and then realized it was addressed to my niece, who had moved out several months ago, so i called her and now she is visiting a couple times a week - that way i can make sure she's got food, clothes, etc.) after i picked myself up off the floor, it didn't take long to figure it out.

Lisa, best of luck in your classes, i hope you feel better soon. I get bronchitis about once a year and it stinks. Sorry about your b-day celebration. I will be (gasp) 42 this year on Feb. 4th, time flies quicker the older you get...

To everyone, have a great week and talk soon
:grouphug:

LL

SlightlyGoofy

01-18-2005, 08:12 PM

Happy Birthday dear Lisa!!! Tonight we are meeting at Fantasyland in MK where you are going to be treated to something special. You have been chosen to be the very first guest to try out the newly renovated, and mostly completed IASW ride. Since you are the number one fan you are being accorded the privilege to go through and suggest any final tweakings that you deem appropriate. Afterward dinner will be served at the Castle entrance where you are going to be treated to a meal of all your favorites served while you enjoy a private performance of the parade and Wishes, with Tinkerbelle joining you mid meal as a special guest. The double decker bus has been trotted out for this occasion and after you are ready we are all going to join you for a ride around the park, stopping at your favorite attractions where you can ride to your hearts content until the wee hours of the morning. When it comes time to go back to the Suite you will be driven in the Glass coach as befits a princess, such as yourself. I hope that you are feeling much better so that you can properly enjoy it all. If now, we will delay it until you are up to the excitement of it all. Are you back in the swing of the school stuff yet?

Luna," plethora" ? Yep, I like. I would not want to wear the same clothes everyday and I like new words as well. I like people who use them even more though and we gots lots of them around here. LOL Your niece is lucky to have such a great supporter in yourself and while I know it is hard keeping such a secret it is also a great honor that she trusts you with the information and will likely be interested in your advice and help in this situation. I hope that you get the hours you want so that you can make your planned trips. I would never want a Jucuzzi. My neighbor had one and the amount of water and time it takes to fill one up is daunting. I like the big walk in showers with mutilple showerheads and a built in bench for when I get too old to stand and need to be hosed off once in awhile. LOL If you cough do you get snowballs? Just curious. (grin)

Elaine, I am relieved to hear that you guys have avoided the worst of the flooding but am so very sorry for your friends and neighbors. It is devastating especially if you still have a mortgage and are having to pay payments on a home you longer can live in. We have had a lot (plethora) of flooding around here as well and it has been the most in almost a hundred years so people who have not had problems before are now. Lots of roads are covered with water too. We have actually had it better than before because of some recent changes around our home and we never have had a basment flood even before. More snow due tonight though.

Colleen. Do you happen to know anything about the Endwright Center and some condos nearby? We were in Bloomington yesterday checking out my bil's new condo (fancy) and getting a whole lot of loving pressure to move down there as well. We are not in that income or spending bracket and while we could afford to pay cash for that level of living we would not be able to continue our Disney vacations and other things that we enjoy. Bil gave me a home magazine and they had some condos there in a more reasonable price range and I was intrigued by the fact that they said that the Endwright Center was nearby and it was some sort of Senior Center. Having something like that nearby for Tom to visit would be a Godsend but then he refuses to go to the one across the street from here but then it is not much of one.

The bathroom has turned out beautifully. It looks as if the house was built with all those details. I am only sorry that I did not do this a long time ago. I am presently building a cabinet for storage and have a couple of small things to do to complete it. The carpeting job came out perfectly thanks to the newspaper template. Looks as if it is wall to wall instead of fitted. The color please me also. I bought a couple of dark red things to serve as an accent to the tan and olive greens. I used a magazine rack/toliet paper holder that I bought for fifty cents years ago also. Has been rough going though as I have managed to incur another gallbladder attack and have not been able to do very much at a time with lots of time outs for vomiting and such. Is dangerous for me to have an operation so we are toughing things out and hoping that I will NOT end up in the emergency room. Pain killers are not helping either so it is a bit difficult right now, Sleep is not forthcoming either. Please forgive me for not posting lately and even more for not sending a card in a timely manner to a very special lady. The BD card for my step daughter is also languishing on my desk. Maybe tomorrow?

Good news is that with Luna's help, I am being 'allowed' to buy Austin a helmet for his fourwheeler. Dalton got 18 points in his last game. I was involved in an armed robbery (not the instigator though LOL) at the local WM. Worst thing was that my dd and Dalton walked in right in the middle of it. I was coming in the other door and a few minutes later. Jackie had been standing outside the Men's room door while her big boy went and noticed two men in funny looking beards. another one came out of the bathroom and joined them. They overpowered the Brinks guard and stole the proceeds of the store. They maced the guard. My dd and dgs were in the book department by then but that is a scant five feet away and when she heard the scream she took off for the back of the store. I would have probably went toward it thinking someone was having a heart attack or something but I got there just as the police swarmed in. I heard one clerk say that she had gotten the license number so I am hoping they solve it quickly and am overwhelmed with gratitude that no one was seriously hurt, especially members of my family.

Enough excitement, I want some boredom please??

SG/Linda

IASW Rider

01-19-2005, 12:09 PM

Hey Everyone!

And thanks for that lovely birthday celebration in my favorite WDW park! So nice of you all and of our Suite Boys to arrange that for me! :) And thanks for your kind wishes, Linda!

Lauralee - did you say that your birthday is February 4th?!! That means that we have a DOUBLE SUITE BIRTHDAY, since that's also Elaine's birthday! We will have to have a MAJOR celebration, here in the Suite, on that day! :) And 42 is hardly "old" - that's a great age - very youthful! My DH will be 44 in March and he is quite young and full of energy!

Whoa - that is a pretty wild story about the armed robbery, Linda! Did that happen recently? As you said, thank God no one in your family was hurt or got too close to the action - that sounds like something out of a movie!

As does the way that you found out about your niece's "condition", Lauralee! Maybe we will have to start writing a soap opera based on the real life experiences of the people in our Suite............ :)

Sorry that this is such a quick one - I don't have a lot of time to spend online, today - I have a lot of things to do before my class, tonight. Just wanted to say "hi" and "have a nice day" to you all! :)

lunabkat

01-19-2005, 02:17 PM

Hi All,

Well its nice toshare a birthday with you Elaine! Happy Birthday Lisa, It's a small world never looked so good! Do you know, i remember that ride from the 1964(?) World's Fair in NYC, its one of my first memories, along with worrying about the brontosaurus getting eaten by the tyrranosaurous, i remember the gate around them and thinking that the bronto was nice and the t-rex was mean. I can remember being in the boat and the dancing dolls, tho i remember it being a darker ride (thru my 1 1/2 year old eyes). Hope you are feeling better, this ice cold weather is not helping i'm sure. Well, we are supposed to get snow tonite, i am working out in Flanders so i hope it starts later rather than sooner.

Linda lol about the snow balls, at this point i think they would be ice balls. I am so glad you are not being too adversely affected by the flooding, tho i am very sorry for your neighbors. We flooded here pretty badly when Floyd came thru several years ago. I can remember having to travel 15 mins further up the road to get across the Passaic River because the closer bridges had been flooded out, and we lived on top of the Mountain at that time. Poor Manville and Boundbrook practically got washed away.

With the hardware out of the way,the KOTC is VERY interested at what might be behind the wall in the masterbath. He was standing on his hind legs, trying to reach the hole in the wall, he was so desperate for a look i went and got him a chair so he could reach, apparently there was nothing edible, thank goodness.

Hope everyone has a great day, keep warm!

:grouphug: LL

lunabkat

01-19-2005, 02:25 PM

OMG, Linda, you live a very exciting life. I can identify with your dd because i probably would have grabbed my kids and run like the wind for a back exit. Had i been alone i might have first reacted like you , to go see what was wrong, but with the girls i am sure i would have dropped and ran. When they were little (by little i mean 1 and 3), i had just put them in a double stroller to go into Kohl's when i heard and engine scream and turned to see and older car flying thru the parking lot, i took off running for the store entrance (right after 9/11) and got them into the building asap - i was absolutely panicked. It ended up in a ditch, upside down, apparently the elderly man driving had a heart attack and died behind the wheel but who knew what wasgoing on and there i was trapped between pulling them out and throwing them in the car or beeliining it for the store. Scary stuff, i am so glad you and your family are alright.

SlightlyGoofy

01-19-2005, 02:56 PM

Luna, what a difference a decision can make. I am glad that you got out of the way of the runaway car. What a scare. It is my belief that close calls are a reminder for us to be grateful for our lives. I have found that I am capable of many things when doing them for others and not much when it comes to myself. I freak out. On 9/11 I was sorely torn between what to do with my grands. They were in school but their parents were far away. I decided to leave them there as I did not think they needed to see the tv coverage. My oldest gs kept me on the phone almost all that night answering his many questions. I believe I used every single bit of world history that I have ever read that night to reassure him that this country was safe, mostly. Seems we are a bit more nervous since then though, especially those dear friends in big cities. My life is usually quite boring and I am grateful for that fact. I like boring. I am impressed that you can remember something you saw at age 18 months. I have enough trouble remembering something that happened yesterday. LOL

Rider, I am glad you were happy at the preparations made for your birthday. Not nearly enough for someone as special as yourself but was the best I could do given my limited skills and energies. Are you going to celebrate with Frank in any special way? You and Frank will always be youthful, it is your heart that counts not the years. The robbery was Saturday morning. The papers are saying it was well thought out and planned and they do not have the culprits yet. Hope it does not give some crazy with a gun any ideas. Dalton thought it was great fun but then what can you expect with someone with his name (Dalton Gang)?

Would you guys believe I just found out that I can have high speed connectin for less than I have been paying for dial up? I am so mad. I thought I was getting a good deal at $14 a month which is several dollars less than they had wanted and now I see on their site that high speed is $12 a month. I feel cheated. I had thought that high speed was $30-40 a month. I had the experience of playing with my nephews computer the other day and Disney videos that take me fifteen minutes to download on my computer just popped up on his. I am almost tempted to change providers but doubt I can get such a good deal elsewhere.

SG/Linda

helenabear

01-19-2005, 02:59 PM

Hi all... quick work break here :)

Lisa, it was great to pack up all those large clothes. I kept one pair of jeans just as a reminder of a place I don't wnat to go back to. The thing is now it is easy for me. I never dealt with the weight issue until later in life, so I admit that long term I will be lucky to not have to battle it too much. What I can't belive are the sizes I am wearing now... not quite as painful to go shopping as it used to be.
And now I feel silly, I realize I totally forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday!!!

I am excited about May! Mostly because I do get to see a good friend of mine whom I haven't seen in years! But I am excited to try out the new rides too!

Wow, Luna, that would be quite a thing to get in the mail!!!! How is your neice doing? She is blessed to have you around, that's for sure :)

Linda, I am glad that they are "letting" you buy Austin a helmet! I couldnt' imagine getting one of those w/o a helmet though. But do take care of yourself. I pray that you will be feeling much better soon!
Oh and I've seen some of hte damage in your neck of the woods on the news... seems the Ohio Valley through to your area took a hit.

How cool that I share a birthday with your Lauralee!! That is such a great day to have one, don't you think? I hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating and I will do it with you all in spirit as I will be out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico then :)

Well it is back to work for me. I will see you all later :)

SlightlyGoofy

01-19-2005, 03:23 PM

Hi there Elaine, glad to see you are getting a break from work now and then. Makes the brain work better IMHO. LOL

I am feeling better. Hope it goes away and does not come back. Might have been because of all the leaning over and such I have been doing. Disney and any other good thing is only enhanced when sharing it with a friend. With the great deals out there maybe you can squeeze in two trips this year?

I am racking up the dollars with my Citibank Platinum card. I have accumlated about $40 between October and the end of November or early December and that included a trip to DW but have gotten more from my Citibank Platinum in just the six weeks I have been using it and I did not charge all that much and it is cash!! They have been giving me 5% on food, drugs and gas and since I shop at WM a lot and going through the grocery check out lanes with food and non food purchases they have been giving me the amount on my total purchases, from dollar one. I will easily be able to pay for at least one AP with my reward dollars. We usually buy AP's every other year but we might do them this year and next year.

SG/Linda

lunabkat

01-20-2005, 11:23 AM

Hi all

Well, its finally snowed in NJ but not a whole lot, they expect that this weekend, which is supposed to be our holiday party at work - oh well, they will reschedule.

Worked in the storm last night, a food sampling, and a tricky ride home, but all was okay.

Elaine, the 4th of February IS a wonderful time for a birthday. I just gave some of my "fat" clothes to my niece, figuring that the shirts will give her some "room to grow". she looks wonderful and the girls love to see her, when they found out about the baby dd5 shouted "Yea!" and dd3 patted her belly saying "he's so cute!" and my dn almost cried, saying that we were the only ones who were happy and excited first, not asking "well, what are you going to do about it?" I have to admit, knowing ahead of time that she was happy about it made it very easy to be happy for her, i am glad the girls reactions were so joyous for her, its nice for someone to be thrilled about a new baby as a first reaction rather than cautious.

I got in around 11:30 last nite and dd3 was doing the whose sleeping in my bed walk off and on all nite so i am exhausted.

The KOTC's had a little too much extra snackin's lately because he got a royal case of kitty acne last week. No more chicken liver snacks for a bit. The first time it happend i swear i thought he had a tumor, when the vet said "kitty acne" you could have knocked me over with a feather, i had never heard of such a thing. But apparently, it does exist, go figure. He spent the night hiding around the corner of the couch waiting for a mouse to come by, has not caught one yet, but i know that, eventually, there will be a gift left on someones threshold :earseek: , the question is - who? I don't know what determines his gift giving, but it does vary. He's so sweet,eh?

Lisa, hope your classes got off to a roaring start, what do you think our chances are of this big todo snow storm headed our way Saturday? This President's day will be the second anniversary of My Friend Ellyn's trip to our house where we got snowed in for two days and they couldn't leave so they ended up staying for 5 days instead of 3, what fun. The kids had a ball in the snow while the adults shoveled, and shoveld and shoveld... I tossed Luna into the snow (he was bugging to be let out, tried to remind him he does not like snow but..) and he just ...disappeared :teleport: . i immediately went to rescue him and promised i would never check snow depth with him again. he has since forgiven me :rolleyes: . I son't know why he loves me so sometimes.

I got tons of pictures back from out vacation, the girls are too much, and we even have some pictures of sweet papa and a couple of me to boot. I am going to get the girls their own photo albums so they can keep them in their rooms to look at whenever they want to. When i get my new printer scanner hooked up i will try sending some pictures.

gotta go, take care :grouphug:
LL

SlightlyGoofy

01-20-2005, 01:12 PM

Luna, I knew I was right to worry about you being out and about on those slick streets and especially at night. Do you have a cell phone to call for help if need be? I have a sneaking suspicion that you are a strong capable woman and can even change your own tires but one never knows when ones super powers might be negated by a chunk of Krypnonite.

I have come to the conclusion that the reason so many people are animals lovers is that they are just plain pure love and do not know how to harbor grudges and such. I might get me a dog someday in the future and find out for myself. I know a lot of you have cats but I have always read about how aloof and such they are and if I wanted to spend the rest of my life caring for someting that did not care back I would just have another kid. Have a few years to go before I can rival the current record (67?) though. If I am going to do it want publicity out of it. LOL

A 5 day houseguest? Ben Franklin said that fish and visitors smell after three days and I have always used that as my houserule. If someone stays beyond three days at my house they cease to be a guest and are required to pitch in with the housework. No one has ever tested that though. (sigh)

The paint is nearly dry so it is time for me to attach the cabinet to the wall. Since there are no studs in the wall it will be interesting. Hope it does not tear down all my fancy work. Have to go track down some anchors and say a prayer to the home improvement gods.

SG/Linda

lunabkat

01-21-2005, 02:07 PM

Hi all,

Thank you Linda for your concern, i try to take back roads home when i can so that i can depend on my driving rather than everyone else's. Many who drive trucks/suvs seem to thing that means you can still drive the speed limit in snow and ice. I actually bought an Explorer just to even out the playing field, so to speak. But you still need to be cautious in bad weather, i don't know what people are thinking sometimes.

Well, they are still predicting a major snow storm this weekend, our staff party is on hold until next week and the Saturday nite party has postponed for another date. It wasn't a wedding so its not a problem for them to rebook. I have to admit i am glad because my husband has and will put his "foot down" and tell me i AM staying home and if the boss has something to say he can say it to him. (LOL) He actually told me once that it wasn't so much the truck he worried about but me, i don't call him sweet papa for nothing. He has much better weather sense than i do so i take his "advice" and stay home, its not worth it. There are several mountain tops to travel to and from work so its best to be on the safe side.

yes Linda, by the way, i do have a cell phone i take to work in case of emergencies. On the way home from work on New Year's i called in a downed deer that couldn't get up out of a ditch, poor thing...

Well, the master bath is an official disaster for the moment, going out Monday to pick out a surround for the stall area - powder blue? I got some great buys for the girls at Disney direct the other day (their birthdays are coming up 2/36 and 3/2, four days short of 2 years apart, does that qualify for "irish twins"?

Lisa, i hope your schooling is going well - take extra care this weekend, Colleen, how are your royal kitties doing, Elaine, i am jealous and want to go back to disney and stay at the Wilderness Lodge too.

:grouphug: LL

colleen costello

01-21-2005, 05:58 PM

Linda, I beg to differ about felines. If you keep them in the house (where I feel they belong, safe and sound) their whole world is you and the home and they are just full of love. Cats differ like people do, but in general I think most are quite affectionate. Now they are not drooly, fall-over-you-in-a-heap affectionate like dogs are, but they can be awfully sweet. My two come running when we get home, and the one guy gets up on a table or counter so he can give you a little thing we call the "head-butt." He wants to touch his head to your face... It's the sweetest thing. The other guy gets in front of you and rolls over, belly-up, and meows until you love him. The kids adore these two, and the one kitty particularly loves Erin. When he gets up in the morning he seeks her out, then gets in bed with her. The two of them have quite the love affair, and I have told the vet that I pray for that cat's health and long life because I swear the child would give ME up before that cat. I think you wold LOVE a cat... They are quiet and clean and easy to handle when you are busy... No walks in the cold or dark. Cat-box is an issue but I hate emptying the dishwasher more than I hate emptying the cat-box, go figure. Come see me one of these days and meet Oliver and Oscar and you'll see how sweet kitties can be!

Oh, I guess I WILL need a root-canal on Monday. I was up for hours last night with my face hurting...Have to road-trip to Linda's neck of the woods and submit to medieval torture... Actually it won't be bad, just a long drive (because my dentist swears this guy is THE BEST) and a huge bill. Ugh. Unfortunately I can not annoy Linda afterwards because they scheduled me late in the day... Have to farm the kiddies out to a sainted pal until I return home, drooling and broke.

Dreaming of Mickey is getting me through both dismal winter weather and repeated dental procedures. I swear there is nothing an upcoming Disney trip can't fix... I keep thinking of the first pina colada on the Poly beach, and can't help but smile... The office lady told me the endodontist has just returned from Florida, and boy am I going to bug him for details while he chops away. If he talks enough about the sunshine state I may not need the novocaine!

Hope everyone is good and staying warm. :earboy2:

SlightlyGoofy

01-21-2005, 09:22 PM

LOL Colleen, I had a bet with myself over which of you feline loving people would get on my case. I had my tongue firmly in my cheek when I posted about cats. I figure most animals, people too, respond to whatever they are given and as pampered and adored as the cats are around here how could they be other than simply wonderful?? I am afraid that it would have to be a dog for me (since I am scared to death of them it WOULD have to be a dog) since I will need something to alert me to doorbells and such in my dotage. On second thought a cat might do since I would not be able to hear the barking either. Decisions, decisions. Maybe the Suite Fellers will move in the tend to me in my old age. (dreaming)

Surely you are NOT coming to Columbus on your own are you? If the roads are clear, and I mean totally clear, I could come in and at least be with you when you have your surgery if needed. If you are too wonky afterward I could even offer you a bed for the night or drive you home. Which dentist are you going to?

Luna, hooray for your guy and for him knowing what is important in life - you!! My dd works awfully late, sometimes into the wee morning hours, and I worry about her being out in a secluded place by her lonesome. I t hink she calls home before she leaves which is some small comfort. When my kids were teens I used to beg them to do so then I would know when to worry and when to come a hunting them.

I was able to find an extra tall tub surround back when we redid two bathrooms. I hate those spaces above where you have to either paint or (horrors) wallpaper. I caulked extra good between the backerboards and the surround to make it a bit more water proof. Everyone worries about fire damaging their homes but water does far more damage in the long run. Another thought is that I put down the flooring before putting in the tubs and such and that has been a big help also. I am just full of it, (information, what were you thinking) are I not??

I finally got that blasted bathroom cabinet up today. I would have been better off building one from scratch as opposed to putting together the mess I bought at WM. Finally got it to looking pretty good but not according to the directions. My solution to the faucet problem turned out to be pretty simple. I took steel wool and rubbed it all down, making it look antique and then put a sealer on it that I also use on my brass mailbox. If it needs to be done at some later point it is not hard and much simplier and cheaper than replacing the faucet set for sure.

Dalton is here and just did a knee replacement surgery. A friend sent me this site Edheads which is from Helenabear's neck of the woods, Columbus, Ohio COSI. It has a virtual knee surgery thing. He loved it. Might as well raise doctors. I will need the surgery one day and maybe he will give me a discount??

Big storm headed our way but might only be a couple of inches, I hope.

Lisa, I hope you are feeling better and are out celebrating your birthday this weekend in a style befitting your status as Queen of the Suite.

SG/Linda