EWP group?

[IASW Rider]

Bon Voyage Colleen!!!!!!!! :) :) :) Wishing You And Your Family A Magical Vacation And A Wonderful Trip! We'll Meet You All On The Poly Beach For A Special Suite Celebration And Performance Of The Ewp Just For Us!!! Enjoy!!!! :) :) :)

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi LL! So glad to hear that Brittany's party went well and that everyone had a wonderful time! I'm sure that it was a lot of fun for everyone! If you are able to post some pictures, please do so, 'cause we'd love to see them!

I think I know which orange fish you are talking about - I think that I have pictures of them, too! No matter how many times we go to Jenkinson's Aquarium, I always bring my camera in there and take lots of pictures of all of the critters, there! It's our "answer" to The Living Seas (......or "The Seas with Nemo and Friends"), when we can't be in Orlando! :)

So sorry to hear about Austin's accident, Linda! Thank God he is all right! I'm sorry to hear about his truck - but as you said - that can be fixed. The important thing is that he is OK!

Thanks so much again for thinking of my non-pierced ears and offering me your earrings! I would not want to take the special ones that Dorothea gave you, though - you should ALWAYS have those, even if you are unable to or would prefer not to wear them! They were a very special gift from a very special friend! I do appreciate your thoughtfulness and your special offer!

So sorry to hear about your chair, but glad to hear that you believe that it can be fixed! I'm sure that you wouldn't want to be without it for very long, considering you just acquired it a few months ago!

And sorry to hear about your friends and the rough times that they are experiencing. I'm sure that - as always - your being in their lives is helping them through and that they appreciate all of your support and your being there for them!

And glad to hear that you enjoyed "Menopause"! This is the weekend when we are going to see "Young Frankenstein" - will let you know how it was, afterwards! We are also going to see "Blast!", which is sort of the "offspring" of "Stomp!" at one of our regional professional theaters locally (The State Theatre in New Brunswick, LL) at the beginning of next week. Frank will be 47 on Sunday.........and we are planning to celebrate all weekend long! :)

As for me........time to get back to work, here.........and - as Linda so eloquently phrased it - do some things to "validate my existence"! :)

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

[lunabkat]

You know, Stomp sounds like it would be right up my girls alley, they stomp all over the place, especially when angry. Out to be a tag warning on them...

Hope you have fun in NB Lisa, last time we went there it was to see ALvin and the Chipmunks at the Lowes theater, did you know there is a woman buried back behind the movie theater? She owned the property and when the decendents sold it they did so with tthe stipulation that she remain where she is, how weird NJ is that?;)

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi LL! Sorry that it's taken me so long to get back to the Suite and write back!

YOU'RE KIDDING! I had NO IDEA that there was a woman buried behind the Lowes movie theater in New Brunswick - that is wild! Remember when it used to be the US 1 Flea Market? I guess she was buried back there when it was the Flea Market, too! Who knew??!! We go to that theater sometimes, too, but we more often go to Regal in North Brunswick, Manville, or Bridgewater Mall, since they are closer / easier for us to get to!

Both of the shows that we saw, over the past few days, were wonderful! "Young Frankenstein" was HILARIOUS! They did a great job of translating Mel Brooks's movie to the stage and turning it into a musical! All of the gags and jokes from the original film were included and the new songs were very well done! Frank said that he preferred the stage version of "The Producers", but I kinda liked "Young Frankenstein" better, in a way! And there were some TV actors in the show, too - Megan Mullally from "Will and Grace", Roger Bart from "Desperate Housewives", and Andrea Martin from "SCTV". They all did wonderful jobs!

"Blast!" was really neat, last night, too! Lots of musicians - mostly
horns and drums - who danced and sang and did acrobatics while
playing their instruments! That's the only way I can describe
it - I've never seen anything like it before! And the drummers
used all different sorts of things as percussion instruments -
every type of drum that exists, along with trash cans and lids,
pots and pans, wooden stools - they were banging on everything
in sight! It was very high energy and fun! One of my sister-in-law's friends
who came along brought her high school aged kids and their
friends - the kids are all in marching band and were totally
enthralled by the musicians - I guess that that sort of
performance is the thing to which all high school marching band
members would aspire!

I heard from Colleen, a few days ago, and it sounds like she and her family are having a wonderful time in THE LAND OF MAGIC, so far! They arrived safely at her parents' home, late last week, and checked in to OKW on Sunday. It sounds like they have a great room and location - and great weather, too! She called me from AK, where she and her kids were enjoying a fun day and visiting lots of attractions and animals! I won't say any more because I'm sure that she would like to share the details of her trip with everyone, herself!

Quiet week, here! Frank really enjoyed his birthday weekend - lots of nice dinners out with family and friends, in addition to the 2 shows! Now we'll have a pretty "low key" week and weekend before heading down to my in-laws' in South Jersey for Easter weekend!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a nice week, so far! Talk to you all, soon! :)

[lunabkat]

Hi All!:)

Lisa, how far South do you go? we are headed to the Toms River area to spend some time at my nephews for Easter, with Bruno and my little pug babysitte Coco, my first official pet for my pet sitting, yes I did, pet sitting service. That way the girls can have a dozen or more dogs and cats to pet and visit yet I don't have to pay for the upkeep :rotfl: , and get paid to boot. It seems like a lot of work but we love animals so it will be lots of fun too...:dance3: (That's me and the girls, ha!)

Linda, why so quiet? Hope you are feeling well and have that darned dining room in order. Sending good thoughts :goodvibes !

Colleen, hope your good time continue, wishing you great weather and lots of magical moments!:cloud9:

To everyone else, Happy Easter :cheer2: hope you all have a great vacation week from school, yea, no getting up at 7.

Bruno, Luna and the girls say Hello! as well, take care, will check back soon and I EXPECT to see some more participation here ladies!!!

:grouphug:
LL

[lunabkat]

Okay

I got this from another board but can only figure out how to put it in as a link, click on it to get to photobucket its a picture of the "Ultimate Peep Show", tooooofunny!

[SlightlyGoofy]

When I read about a woman being buried behind the local theater I had all these stereotypical hick thoughts about some gang crime or something. :rotfl2: If you think about it there is someone buried and/or died on every inch of the ground somewhere. If you live in a house of any age someone has probably died there too. I find it comforting to think of folks dying in the homes they loved or being buried near the things they loved the most. I figure that one of these fine days Disney will finally succumb and build a graveyard on site for those of us who would want to spend as much time while we are alive as well as eternity there. :worship:

Lisa, I plain would not give my Dorthea's earrings to just anyone except someone like you who would treasure and possibly wear them to places that she and I would have greatly enjoyed. Still have not gotten around to cleaning out that cupboard yet though. I will send pictures and please do not fear either wanting them ALL or NONE. Will not hurt my feelings either way. I am divesting myself of as many extra possessions as possible. I have too many older friends who waited too long and I do not intend for that to happen to me. I win either way, if I expire it will mean less mess for my bil or daughter to deal with and if I survive it will mean much less mess for me to try to cram into a smaller place. Less is truly more, more time. Dalton will be so jealous when I tell him that you saw "Young Frankenstein". Warped kid. With the price of gas and especially diesel Austin is not likely to wander too far afield. Especially since he turns down opportunities to earn extra cash. A bit of poverty would be good for that kid me thinks. We will be going to Bloomington, home of our dear Colleen, to watch Dalton play basketball Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am considering getting a room down there. I found an extended stay place with indoor pool for a small boy to relax in between games.

LL, I am sorry to have been absent but lots has been going on. When I say I am painting you have to realize that at my advanced age and terminal aches and pains I move very slowly and am now at a stage where I am painting the trim next to the crown molding. I can only do so on 'good' days when I am able to get up enough steps to reach and can only do a couple of feet at a time as I am not able to hold any extra paint. I would think you guys could hear my grunts and groans as I ascend and descend those metal steps. This is the same ladder I used nearly 30 years ago when I did these rooms the very first time but the operator has aged. The painting is the least of it too. Will not bore you all with the details. Bet your kids could put 'Blast' to shame. I love the sound of those type of shows and always wanted to see 'Stomp".

My daughter has called twice in the past month and we have had some good conversations. I did not think I would live that long. It is not I who thinks/insists that she think like I but rather the other way and that just ain't a'going to happen. I am firm believer in folks thinking what they want as long as they do not hurt anyone else and being allowed to think as I wish too. Heck at this rate I expect to hear from my son, maybe this century. You gotta have hope, lotsa lotsa hope. :cool1:

I love my Netflix. I watched two shows last weekend. One was Children Born in Brothels, which was different from the title and I highly reccomend it, as long as there are no children around as there is adult (no nudity or such) content but it is well worth it. I do not want to ruin the effect so I will not tell more. I watched a bio on a lady who wrote thousands of religious songs, "Blessed Assurance" among many of my other favorites. The local librarian once made the remark that she could figure most people out by what they took out but I confused her. I am a woman of many interests and capable of learning more.

I met a lady who has a sister who lives in The Villages. I have a feeling that the place will expand to be big enough to become a state one day. The residents just won a lawsuit against the management too. It will force them to put more of the monthly fees into improvements and upkeep rather than their pockets. Hooray for the residents who took them on and won despite being told they had no chance. Shows you should not mess with retired folks who not only have brains but a lot of time on their hands. :worship:

I have some more woodwork washing to do. I bet I have cleaned out at least a ton of dust and I swear I dust every week!!! :eek:

Hugs, grins and love, Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi LL! It's funny that you happened to post that link to "The Ultimate Peep Show" - someone happened to forward that to my e-mail, today! :)

Very nice of you to pet sit on Easter weekend! We will actually be going much farther South (and West) than Toms River - my husband is originally from Bridgeton (near Vineland) in Cumberland County (.........that would be 20 miles East of Exit 2 on the Turnpike.........that's "Jersey Speak" for all of you Indiana and Ohio ladies! ;)) and my in-laws still live there. So that's where we'll be next weekend (and actually this Saturday, as well, unfortunately - for a friend's father's funeral).

Hi Linda!

Glad to hear that your painting is progressing nicely! I'm sure that you do a fine job - and there is no "time limit"! It's good that you're not pushing yourself to do more than you feel like doing at a given stretch. It will all get done and will look as great as the first time that you painted those rooms and areas, for sure!

Lots of good luck to Dalton in his games, this weekend! Hope that you all enjoy a nice weekend away and come back celebrating his victories! And glad to hear that Austin is doing well, too! AND it's GREAT to hear that you've had some nice conversations with Jackie! That is wonderful! Hopefully it IS the beginning of a closer relationship and some understanding / appreciation. You have been so kind and patient with her for so many years........hopefully she's beginning to realize and appreciate that! And I hope that it is also a sign that you will hear from your son, as well!

I really DO have to check out NetFlix, one of these years! We are still getting through our latest rentals from BlockBuster!

That's really neat about the residents of the Villages who won their lawsuit against the management - I hadn't heard about that! We'll have to ask Colleen if she heard anything about it, when she returns!

Thanks so much again for thinking of me and considering sharing Dorothea's precious gifts to you with me!

Hope that all is well with all of you! In case I don't get to post again until we return from South Jersey THIS weekend, have a great weekend, all! And talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am pleased to report that Colleen and family returned safe and relatively sound, well as sound as they ever were. :rotfl2: I am sure she will report in when she catches her breath and gets that last load of vacation clothes dried and put back in place.

Lisa, I can only do what I can do and that is all there is to it. Tom is still alive in spite of the fact that one day, while I was hanging off the top of the ladder, he asked me if would make him some strawberry shortcake for lunch. Words were thought and not expressed. I felt as if I had won a major moral battle that day. :rotfl: This is Spring Break so I have a not so small boy to get from one camp to another. We have been watching "Akeelah and the Bee" which I highly recommend. He has watched it twice as there were a few words in it he did not know and he wanted to make sure he did this time through. Heck, there were words in there I did not know and still do not!! I am a fairly good speller but not in that league. :scared1: I am sure you know it but you sure had a nice childhood and such lovely memories of so many places. Your wanting to return is a sure sign of how much those days meant to you and yours too.

I do not think much of amenity fees when administered by the contractors/builders rather than the residents. Too much room for misappropriations. I had read of the management of The Villages contracting jobs to their own companies and paying a higher price than they might have paid a competitor too. I say 'power to the people" and have always. I am and remain a rebel.:thumbsup2

I have stuff to get ready for tomorrow so I must depart this sacred suite and go back into the real world, kicking and screaming. :dance3:

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

WELCOME BACK, COLLEEN!!!! :) :) :)

Can't wait to hear all about yours and your family's adventures and fun in THE LAND OF MAGIC! :)

Hi Everyone!

Hi Linda!

You know, I really have to remember to rent "Akeelah and the Bee" - Colleen ALSO recommended that we see it! We've been catching up on movies that we missed in the theaters on DVD, slowly but surely, so I have to remember to include that one in one of our batches! We have to see as many as we can before the TV shows that we regularly watch return from the strike "break". They've been off the air for so long that I've almost forgotten which shows air on which nights! And then........BASEBALL SEASON will officially start and there will be games to watch every night.........which will further "complicate" our "viewing schedule"! :) At least we have "Dancing with the Stars", "The Biggest Loser", and our nightly taped episodes of "All My Children" to carry us through until the rest of the programs return! :)

Just wanted to say "hi" and wish everyone a nice week! Things are pretty quiet, here in the Garden State! Just slugging my way through my research and attempting to do some writing of my paper, as always........ as always, I am so easily distracted and discouraged........!

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

[IASW Rider]

Just wanted to pop in and wish all of you Suite Ladies and your families a very Happy Easter and a wonderful Holiday weekend!

Hope that all is well with all of you! :)

[lunabkat]

Hoppy Easter:lmao:

I just crack myself up! From the girls and boys in my family, Happy Easter all!
:grouphug: :flower3:
LL

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

How were all of your holidays?

Ours was nice. We spent the weekend at Frank's Mom's in South Jersey. His aunt was in, visiting from Tennessee, and I know that he enjoyed seeing her. My Dad came down for the day on Sunday, too. It was a pleasant, quiet holiday weekend.

Not too much happening here, this week. Finally forcing myself to get our taxes done, today! Fortunately, there is an afternoon Mets game to watch / listen to as I am doing so, so that will make it less tedious and "painful"!

Aside from that, just catching up with annual medical check-up's and other chores. My former sister-in-law is visiting her family in NJ from TX, this week, and I am going out to see her and her baby on Friday, which should be nice.

Got a call from some friends who are in WDW, yesterday - they called from the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot............*SIGH* :)

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

[IASW Rider]

Just wanted to say "hi" and to wish you all a great weekend! Nothing exciting happening, here! Just having my Dad over for dinner tonight, as he's going to Florida for a few days, this coming week - sort of a "Bon Voyage" dinner (......and so that we can get our "final instructions" regarding helping out my uncle, while he is gone). Aside from that, it's been a pretty quiet weekend! Visited with my former sister-in-law and her family, as she was up from Texas visiting them, with her baby, for the holiday week. It was great to see her - and her family, who are always so kind to me - and I always love driving out to the pretty part of Western NJ where her parents live!

Anyway.......that's all the "news" from here! Hope that all is well with all of you! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

I think I have Spring Fever. I am all in a dither about when I can safely plant my first tomato plants. Fresh from the vine is the only way I like my 'maters and I grow awfully good ones. I have my neighbors trained to not grow their own but to come down and pick some from my yard. I plan to plant a lot more than usual since prices are so high and that makes it a bit more worth it. It is nice to go out and pick fresh stuff for each meal. I am looking forward to all my new bulbs blooming too as last year's drought was so bad I figured that this year has to be better, I hope, I hope. :worship:

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and got a SOLID chocolate bunny instead of one of those fake hollow kind. I did not eat even one Peep. I was so good that I finally got back on track and had a decent loss last month. I still have a few steroid pounds to get off to break even and then, hopefully, lose at least a couple dozen pounds for the year. It is a struggle.:scared1:

I have three more blinds to put up and then I will have all the windows done. I have a LOT of windows so this has not been an easy feat.

Some DISers are attempting to lure me down to WDW in September for a solo trip. They would swing by and pick me up even. Hard to think of right now but if a deal comes out I might book and then see. I have not gone on a trip by myself in about 40 years. Thrilling and scary. :scared:

Back to work for me. When you move as slowly as I do you have to work a lot more hours.

Love, Linda/SG

[lunabkat]

wow, everyone sure has been busy, I can't believe the first full week of April is gone already, had the creeping crud, still very, very tired and dh is being a real pita the last couple of days. Here's to separate vacations, starting with him, go go go go go away for a week please!!!

What a crab.

Hope you all are doing well,

LL

[SlightlyGoofy]

Please pardon my cut and paste but life is very hectic here right now.

I got through in about ten minutes using the 877-939-3732 phone number and had the most delightful CM.

We are booked into POP Century (although we usually do Sports) so that we can help Pooh celebrate her upcoming wedding. Gonna be a WILD night!!! :cool1:

August 30th=September 13th 14 nites at POP (standard)
2 one day tickets
Free Dining

$1450.78 total

Hopefully the doctors will be able to get me in shape to go and my friend will not bail on me so that I can have my very first solo trip of my life.

Hugs, Linda

[colleen costello]

Now THAT is my kind of trip... Good hotel price, great food, NO HUSBANDS! Start working on those ADRs! I bet you will have a ball and if your pal DOES bail, there are ladies here who would love to take her place :) I look forward to the days when my kids are grown and I can take off for Mickeyland all by myself. You deserve it! Of course I will miss my kids like crazy when that happens...

All is well here. We had a fabulous spring break at WDW. We stayed at OKW for 5 nights before heading to the Villages to hang out with the grands. The "star of the show" this time was the weather. It was more beautiful than I ever remember, and that is saying a lot because spring break is always gorgeous. It was cool enough in the mornings for sweatshirts, and in the afternoons got warm enough to swim. PERFECT! The kids and I got up early one morning and went to Animal Kingdom and had a ball. We wandered around and really enjoyed it, and went on Kilamanjaro Safari and saw ALL the animals... The last time we were at this park it was 114 heat index (yes I said 114!) so we were MISERABLE... This time was great. We had a fun time just ogling Everest (not like we would RIDE that monster!) and the kids enjoyed the boneyard while I just sat on a bench watching the world go by. It was a magical day, made all the nicer by knowing I was missing a week of winter back in Indiana.

The MK was not very crowded and we enjoyed that. We saw Epcot on another glorious sunny day. Did MGM (er, "Hollywood Studios") one evening and had a great meal at Prime Time. Who doesn't love fried chicken? I ate everyone's green beans (I love them) and when the waiter got wind of it, we were ALL in trouble... I recommend this place to everyone for the food and the fun.

The "new" Haunted Mansion looks great, and so does Spaceship Earth. I like when they "tweak" them but don't really change them... Too much change freaks me out at MickeyLand. I still miss "If You HAd Wings" desperately.

Can't wait to go back in June. We will be at Beach Club Villas for 5 nights and I plan on spending most of my time in that wonderful pool.

Love to Everyone!

[lunabkat]

Okay, I say we ditch the hubbies for a weeker together at Disney, have to bring the kiddies tho, I could not look them in the eye if I didn't...:sad2:

anyone else ready to jump in???

LL

[SlightlyGoofy]

LL, that works for me but I have to admit that I would not have wanted to go without my kids and would not expect any of you to do it either. Since I happen to enjoy kids you could bring them all along though. :cool1:

Colleen, weather can make or break a vacation for sure. I can breath better when it is cooler. The heat really gets to me. I cope by planning my TS meal for lunch so I am sitting in the nice a/c while everyone is sweltering and then I take in the attractions in the evening while everyone is dining. I also do not have nearly as much trouble booking ADR's. :thumbsup2

My dear Lisa, thank you so much for the card and the emails. Like you my life has been extremely hectic. My friend died and his funeral was today along with a myriad of other detris of life. I hope you know that the cat thing was not actually meant for you to wear but something to make you smile. I found it and for 'some reason' thought of YOU. :lovestruc

You know I am busy when I have not even had time to think of making ADR's. If I get 'stuck' going by myself I will have so many credits that I will be forced to eat at lots of 2 pt places but I am betting that I would not have a whole lot of trouble finding someone to share meals with. I have had several folks contact me about going with me but I have to be sort of picky as there is no use in going without Tom if I have to deal with someone who might be unhappy or hard to get along with plus they will also have access to the room key with all the perks so it has to be someone I actually know. Sure wish one of you were available. I am a really good parade seat saver. :rotfl2:

Love from your tired friend, Linda

[IASW Rider]

OK - I'm "in"! And since we have no children (other than of the furry variety) that is not an issue for me! We'll have an all-women's WDW getaway! :)

Wish I really COULD join you, Linda! I definitely understand what you mean about not wanting to "chance" sharing a vacation with someone(s) whom you don't know well, in terms of their temperaments, priorities, and what they would want to do / how they would want to plan and pace their trip, ESPECIALLY at a place like WDW, where there is so much to do and so many places to see. That's why Frank and I always avoid the proposals of our various local friends who want to "come along" to WDW with us or have us be their "tour guides". I've learned that traveling - even with some other friends or family members - could cause tensions, if everyone has their own idea about how they want their vacation to be. So we'd rather not risk friendships by planning those trips with our friends and risk being either bossed around the entire time or held "accountable" for everyone else's good time! It's different meeting up with you Suite Ladies and other DIS pals at WDW - because we all KNOW the place and respect one another's preferences and schedules / priorities! I would much rather meet up with any of you Suite Ladies at WDW than plan a WDW trip with any of our local friends! All this to say, Linda, I definitely understand why you wouldn't want to "risk" a vacation by involving even the best-intentioned person or people whom you don't happen to know very well!

Thanks for checking in with your trip report, Colleen! Great to see you here, as always!!! :) And please don't forget to keep the Suite posted about your upcoming summer trip to Florida, WDW, and the Keys! :)

Hi LL! Hope that you (and your DH!) are feeling much better, by now!

Linda - which Pooh's wedding will you be celebrating? You're not talking about Faith from Miami, by chance, are you? If so, I didn't realize that she was getting married! Your trip plans sound very exciting - definitely something great to look forward to! You will have a great time, even if you DO wind up going solo! I certainly had a great time on my own, the one time that I went solo in 1999! I definitely kept busy and enjoyed setting my own pace and "schedule"!

So sorry to hear about your friend's passing. I hope that that will be the only piece of sad news for a long time to come.

Just wanted to say "hello" and to wish everyone a great weekend! Talk to you all, soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Lisa, as usual you are so wise. I am a late bloomer and just now getting to where I am not trying to please everyone all the time. The saddest thing about sharing a vacation is when both folks do things they do not want because they think the other wants to do it and they are both miserable. I have one friend who wants a ride down to Orlando where her family would pick her up and then bring her back when it was time for me to head home. That might be my best option. Many others, including gobs of DISers have offered to either drive me down, pick me up and take me to the airport, share a room etc. etc. I am most flattered and overwhelmed but I would not want to interfere with their vacations either. I am making some plans to get together here and there with different folks occcasionally though.

It is Poohbear67 who is getting married. She is a fellow Hoosier and quite a hoot and a sweetheart of a gal. A couple of DISers are going to be her bridesmaids. I met her at the Mojito Monkey party at Pop last year, along with lots of other folks.

My friend's passing was a blessing. He had lost one leg, then another, and then so many other ills came along. Many articles have been written about him and the words that will long echo is that our town was his hobby. True. People like him are what makes this a special place to live.

Tom's tests came back and his aneurysm is fine but he has developed a hernia. It is usually out patient surgery and I am making arrangements at our favorite big city hospital with a surgeon who has lots of experience so all should be well soon. I do not anticipate any problems making him 'take it easy' afterward. :)

Love, your Suite Friend, Linda (if anyone wants to sneak away for awhile I would not mind sharing a room with any of you, bring your own shades as I watch TV late at night tho):rotfl2:

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi Linda!

I'm sure that you will have a wonderful time at WDW - whether you and Tom go together or whether you wind up going on your own and meeting up with all of your friends! I think it's so nice that you are all getting together to celebrate Poohbear's wedding! That is so nice! I also think it's wonderful that so many DIS'ers have offered to travel with you, drive you, help you make arrangements, etc. That just reaffirms what a great bunch of people are on this site! :)

We will be meeting up with many, as we're planning to attend (and help out with, as we do every year) the big MagicMeet in Hershey, PA in July. We weren't able to attend last year (for the first time in 3 years) because the weekend of the Meet took place when we were cruising the Mediterranean on the Disney Magic! But we are really looking forward to going, this year, and seeing all of our old pals from these Boards, as well as Deb Wills from AllEars and Lou Mongello from WDWTrivia! There is a big Hershey Park Meet after the MagicMeet, but we're not sure that we're going to go, yet. We'll have to check out the current Hershey Park attractions (as neither Frank nor I have been there in years) to see if it would be "worth it" to do so, since I am NOT a big roller coaster rider (and if the park is now mainly coasters, there wouldn't be anything that I could "go on"!)! Anyway, it's sure to be a fun weekend and we always meet so many great DIS'ers there!

So sorry to hear about Tom's hernia! It's great that you have already arranged which hospital and surgeon will take care of it. I'm sure that it will go well and smoothly. My father had a hernia operation a few years ago (it was outpatient, as well) and it was fine and his recovery was fairly quick. So hopefully Tom's will be the same! And glad to hear that his aneurysm is all right - thank God!

Well, I'm at my in-laws' and using their computer, so I'd probably better hop off in case someone else needs to use it! Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a nice weekend! :)

P.S. I watch TV late at night too, Linda! See you in the Suite! ;)

[lunabkat]

Magic Meet...Hershey Pa....July...

Where have I been?

Where do I find the info for this, in case I can convince the girls to go?:rotfl:

Sounds like fun!!!

[JoiseyMom]

Hey ladies!! Linda, enjoy that trip!! What I wouldn't give for a trip sans kids and DH. Wow...talk about a vacation!!! LOL.

It's weird, this is the first time since they have started free dining that we aren't going!! I mean we are hopefully doing DL and DCL, but it's still strange.

Hey, I have some news to share. I graduated from CDK, College of Disney Knowledge!! I am now an official Disney Specialist :cool1: .

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

The Jersey Girls are out in full-force, this week! :)

Hi LL! The MagicMeets started as the Central Jersey DIS Meet in 2004. The first Meet was so successful that the second and third Meets became sort of "tri-state Meets" with attendees from the DIS Boards as well as many other Disney Fan online communities. Now it has grown so large that it's sort of a national Meet! It's held every July, usually somewhere in PA. Unfortunately, this year's has already sold out. But you can check out the web site and get yourself on the e-mail list for future Meets and related events at: www.magicmeets.com! Maybe we'll see you there, next year! :)

Hi Joisey Mom! Great to hear from you! And congratulations on graduating from the College of Disney Knowledge! Where IS this mystical educational institution and how does one apply or enroll? :) When will you be going to DL and / or on DCL?

Hope that you're all having a nice week, so far! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

After I do my more mundane morning chores I settle down with a can of V-8, low sodium of course, and my newspaper as I am a knowledge kind of gal. What should to my wondering eyes appear this morning but a 6 page spread on our Becki! No wonder we do not see nearly enough of her these days. She is saving the world, one girl at a time. :worship: :worship: :worship: Along with raising her own fantastic kids she is running a group home for troubled girls. Wonder if she would take ME in? :rotfl:

If I can get my scanner to working right I might send it to those of you that I have emails addys for.

Joisey Mom. my grandson continues to study at that illustrious institution himself. he once averred that he knew EVERYTHING about Disney while I knew everything else. Poor deluded child. :rolleyes1 Might I also inquire as to the location and requirements for your diploma just in case I might qualify as well?

LL, you have been faltering in your DIS time. I can tell cause you do not know about the big PA meet. Shame on your for letting little things like holding down a job, raising your children and keeping hearth and home from being condemned by the health department. :rotfl2: BTW, you might contact someone and see if you could be put on the stand by list because I am certain that there has to be some last minute cancellations. :hug:

Lisa, next time you decide to make a solo trip let me know and we can share a room even if I am not able to hang out with someone as fast moving as you. We probably watch the same TV shows too. I often have 3-4 VCR's taping away while we are on vacation. I am obsessive. I am having a hard time planning my trip as I know that I need some much needed sleep/rest but so many wonderful folks want to meet up. Now if I can just find another slow moving person with a warped sense of humor that likes to watch late night TV so that we would not drive each other crazy(ier). :dance3:

I have to mow the yard today, first time of the season. Hope the lawn mower starts up, hope I do too. :rotfl:

Love, Linda Lou

[JoiseyMom]

Hi Joisey Mom! Great to hear from you! And congratulations on graduating from the College of Disney Knowledge! Where IS this mystical educational institution and how does one apply or enroll? :) When will you be going to DL and / or on DCL?


The mystical educational institution is made available to those in the Travel industry. I am now a TA!! I answered an ad in a local paper for a host agency who needed more outside sales agents. I qualified and was able to do the training :).

We are booked on the EB Panama Canal cruise for this August, and if we do go (still not sure yet..the economy just stinks), we will do at least one day at DL. We we also get to visit our older DS who lives in CA!! :banana:

We are also booked for a 7 night Western in August of 09!! As much as I love WDW, cruising is just a great way to vacation and relax with kids :).

[SlightlyGoofy]

Joisey Mom,. congratulations!! I know another Disney TA, maybe your paths will cross. I hope not though cause she is a giant pain in the Spanx. My sister is friends with her and she puts up with her in order to get cheap/free trips. I would rather walk myself. :rotfl:

I totally agree with you about cruises being the best family vacations. Everyone's lives are so hectic nowadays and on a cruise you can actually be forced to slow down and take it easy and the kids and yourselves can even have a bit of fun and safe alone time. Win, win for everyone!!

I hope the Panama Canal locks are working when you go through and I am looking forward to seeing where else you get to go!! :woohoo:

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Congratulations to you, Joisey Mom! That is WONDERFUL news about your new position - very exciting! Lots of good luck with your new career and enjoy it!! AND enjoy all of your cruise plans, as well! May I ask - which line(s) will you be cruising with? We enjoy cruises, as well - particularly those that we've taken with DCL..........and of course, particularly the Mediterranean cruise on the Magic, last summer! But I've cruised with Royal Caribbean, as well, in the past, and thought that they did a nice job, too!

Hi Linda!

I don't move all that quickly - believe me! I think that we would be great roommates! :) And I know that everything will wind up working out well with your upcoming August / September trip!

That's great news about the newspaper article / coverage of Becki and all the great work that she's been doing! Please send her our regards, if you speak to her, and ask her to drop by the Suite, if she has a chance! And I'd love to see that article, too, if you happened to have had a chance to scan it!

We're busy getting ready for Passover (which starts tonight) here, so I have to run! I just wanted to stop in and wish you all a great weekend! Talk to you soon! :)

[lunabkat]

Hi All!

Well, happy Passover Lisa, don't know if that's appropriate, i thiink adding happy or merry to everything is just the "christian" in me:lmao:

How about just a plaiin old "happy day"!!!

Just plain silly over here today, had today off for a change and was outside inthe beautiful day with my crazy kids just livin' life. Hope you all had such a great day too!!

:dance3: :cheer2: :grouphug:

LL

[IASW Rider]

Thanks very much, LL! And yes - it's definitely appropriate - thank you for your kind thoughts! :)

Wasn't the weather AMAZING on Friday and Saturday? It really felt like summer, here in Central Jersey (and hopefully it did for all of you out in Indiana, as well)! Definitely a great day to be enjoying time with your family, outside, LL! Yesterday was not quite as warm.......but at least we didn't get the rain that they predicted, and it was still pretty nice!

The holiday here was nice - lots of great food! And my father and uncle seemed to have a nice time, which was good. Passover is a fun holiday - lots of singing and traditions - it brings back nice memories of my childhood!

Speaking of my childhood, I recall that my last childhood trip to WDW (ie: the last one that I "went on" with my mother, as opposed to friends or spouse(s!)) was taking place exactly 30 years ago, this week! (We stayed off property for the first time ever, that year - we stayed at the big "color coded" Hyatt in Kissimee.) I remember that the big MK parade then was "Mickey Mouse's 50th Birthday Parade".........and this year he turns 80! Pretty wild! :)

Hope that you all had a great weekend! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

As the old broad of the bunch I will tell you what I have learned. ;)

Most anything is correct if said with the right intention. My best friend and I talk to each other just like family and folks who do not know us well would think we are fighting. :rotfl: She asks the most private questions and I do not resent it cause I know her heart is pure and she cares. :lovestruc

I just have not had any time to play with my scanner but I still have the article on Becki on my desk so I shall get round to it one of these fine days.

Colleen, is busy getting ready to spend another, nearly entire, summer at The Villages. Not quite DW but close enough to visit quite often and make some other side trips, lucky gal!

I was thinking of Angelina today because there was an article in our paper about that town being one of the best for walking paths and the town that Angelina lives in was listed as well. I hope to get there one fine day. I have checked it out on the internet and I think you all would love that town as well.

I picked up a couple more cards for the camera today as many parties are planned and I want pictures of everyone but do not want to lug my laptop along. I spend too much time on the comuter now and plan to spend time with real live people while I can. :woohoo:

Happy, Merry, or whatever you all want, it is fine by me and what I hope for. Linda

[JoiseyMom]

Hi Everyone!

Congratulations to you, Joisey Mom! That is WONDERFUL news about your new position - very exciting! Lots of good luck with your new career and enjoy it!! AND enjoy all of your cruise plans, as well! May I ask - which line(s) will you be cruising with? We enjoy cruises, as well - particularly those that we've taken with DCL..........and of course, particularly the Mediterranean cruise on the Magic, last summer! But I've cruised with Royal Caribbean, as well, in the past, and thought that they did a nice job, too!

Hi Linda!

I don't move all that quickly - believe me! I think that we would be great roommates! :) And I know that everything will wind up working out well with your upcoming August / September trip!

That's great news about the newspaper article / coverage of Becki and all the great work that she's been doing! Please send her our regards, if you speak to her, and ask her to drop by the Suite, if she has a chance! And I'd love to see that article, too, if you happened to have had a chance to scan it!

We're busy getting ready for Passover (which starts tonight) here, so I have to run! I just wanted to stop in and wish you all a great weekend! Talk to you soon! :)

Thanks!! Currently I have only cruised DCL and that was 2x last year. We have 2 more DCL booked. THe host agency I work for books for all cruise lines.

How did your Sedar go? We went to the in-laws for the first night!

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi Joisey Mom! Happy Passover to you! Our seders went very well, thanks! Yummy food, as always (I always loved this holiday!) and everything was nice. We hosted both seders at our house - we just had my father and uncle over to join us. So it was nice and quiet - we enjoyed the weekend!

Which DCL cruises have you taken, so far, and which ones are you scheduled to take in the future? In addition to the Mediterranean cruise on the Magic last summer, we've done the 3-night Bahamas cruise on the Wonder (as a relaxing end to the beginning of the week at WDW) 3 times! We've never taken the Eastern or Western Caribbean cruises on the Magic, though, nor have we done any of the other special trips, like the Panama Canal or the Western Mexican route. We ARE, however, determined to get on the innaugural cruise of the first of the 2 new DCL ships in 2011, though! We don't care what its itinerary will be or where it will be going - or even where its home port will be - we are just determined to get on that cruise, as soon as they announce it and start booking it! :)

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

There I was, deep in thought, wandering through our local Big Lots in search of an elusive hose holder when I came upon a professional looking lady with her hair all on top of her hair and she was deep in thought also. Without the long flowing mane of hair and usually present smile I almost did not recognize our Becki! :) We had a short visit as she was in between appointments and I had a bit of time until time to go pick up Tom. She said to tell you all "Hello" and she would drop by when she recovers from all the many changes in her life. They are headed back to DW very soon as school will be out soon. :wizard:

Joisey gals, both, I would love to join you on a Panama Canal cruise myself. Cruising is not usually my thing but that one would be interesting to me, history freak that I am. :thumbsup2

They have moved Tom's surgery up to early morning on Thursday. I figure it is better to do it when the doctor is fresh rather than when I am at my best. ;) The strange thing is that he turns out to be a local boy and might have been one of my students way back when. Go figure!!:laughing: He is an IU graduate as well. I knew most of that as I had researched him well before we got there. :cool2:

I had to take Tom for a pre op test today and am just about done in. Does not take much.

Hugs, grins and any old thing you want or need, Linda

[lunabkat]

lookie lookie, i got tagged! yea, i have waited so long and the boom tagged twice in one night, thank you tag fairy, whereever you are...

[SlightlyGoofy]

LL, congratulations!! I think I am a bit jealous as I have nary a tag and I am sure that in all my verbosity I have said 'something' worth tagging. Might be a good thing though as there are a few things that I would just as soon forget. :rotfl2:

Getting ready for the prom couples to arrive. My yard has been picked as the best backdrop for all their finery as it is all abloom. I will try to post pictures of the finery and all.

SG/Linda

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am glad to report that Tom's surgery went extremely well. The man started eating the minute they brought him back to the room and I had to make TWO stops on the way home and then I had to go in the kitchen and whomp him up a big meal. He only took two pain pills and that was at my insistence the first day but when I saw how easily he was able to move around, not that he does a whole lot of that, I stopped. :sick:

I made my ADR's for my September trip today and got most of everything I wanted. Lots of folks have requested to eat a meal or two with me so I will have lots of company. popcorn::

Called the electrician to have the new DR light fixture put up and having a few new plugs added around, the most important ones being for the new HDTV and Wii that are supposed to be our Christmas gifts this year, if medical bills do not eat up all our money! :laughing:

We vote tomorrow. A whole lot of party switching going on here. Lesser of three evils? sigh

Hugs, Linda Lou

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

So sorry that I fell so far behind with my posts, again!

So glad to hear that Tom's surgery went smoothly and successfully, Linda! Thank God for that! Hope that he is continuing to recuperate well and is feeling better!

How did the prom go? Can't wait to see pictures of your handsome grandson!! :)

And glad to hear that you got all of your ADR's in order for September, too! I've already started checking to see when the F&WF schedule will be posted, so that we can start making our preliminary plans for October! I'm sure that we'll make some "regular ADR's", too, at our traditional favorites: Kona Cafe, Brown Derby, our "new favorites": Cape May Cafe, Spoodles, and some places that we've wanted to try (any of the restaurants in Swan and Dolphin).

In the mean time, we're trying to pull together a last-minute trip to Las Vegas in August, to visit our former WDW CM friends who now work for Cirque du Soleil, out there!

Glad to hear that you were tagged, LL! I have NEVER been tagged in any of the 8 years that I've been here, on the Boards! Twice in one night is quite the accomplishment! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you all had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! Take care and talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Free at last, free at last, thank God, I am free at last!! :rotfl: Guess you can tell that my dear bil took Tom for a couple of days. I had a load of chores planned during this time but somehow life has other plans. A dear friend needs to go to the doctor up in Indy tomorrow so I am taking her, Dalton needs picking up after school every day so that he can go to work. The little devil is turning into a miser. As fast as cash goes through his brother's hands it clings to his. He hides it over at my house so that it does not get "accidentally' picked up by someone else and he has quite a stash. He is working the scoreboard at the ballgames @ $5 a game and some nights he can garner $30. Maybe I should not have told him that he would need to put away approximately $100 a month for the next few years in order to have something decent (my car) to drive when he is 16?:teacher:

Lisa, I just love all the 'small' trips that you guys make. You are wise to get out and about and see it all while you may. I feel for those who put such things off until they retire and it is usually too late. You will have a blast, but then you usually do any old where. :wizard:

LL, you must have been on a roll the night you got tagged, twice!! I should start hanging out where you do just to be entertained. :thumbsup2

I have a doctor's appointment myself Friday. I hope they can do something to make my quality of life better. It has come to the point where I can barely do much of anything. Case in point, I throw the comforter down the stairs because I cannot carry it, rest a bit, put it in the washer, then the dryer. Take it out and lay it on the pool table, rest a bit, fold it, rest and then later I have to crawl up the stairs, one step at a time to get it back upstairs. No joke, folks. Oxygen is on the horizon.

For good news - Becki's husband just made sergeant on the local police force. Hooray for Mark!!! Things could not be better for a nicer family.:woohoo:



Austin and his date were plumb beautiful. Here is a picture. They asked if they could take their pictures in my yard as it was all a bloom, not that you can tell in this picture but I thought you all might like to see the kids rather than the flowers. :)

Hugs to all you dear ladies, Linda Lou

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/RebelwithoutPause/CopyofIMG_0453.jpg

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi Linda!

So sorry that it took me so long to get back here and see that absolutely BEAUTIFUL photo of Austin and his date! They both look WONDERFUL! I love their "color scheme"! They both look very happy and elegant (and your yard looks very nice, too!)! I hope that they had a wonderful time!

How did your doctor's appointment go, last week? I hope that the doctor was able to offer you some relief. I think that you're very wise to do things in "small increments", as you described. You always wind up getting everything done beautifully and thoroughly - it's good that you take the time to take it easy and not overwhelm or tax yourself! I hope that you are feeling all right and that you will be feeling much better, soon!

And hope that Tom had a nice stay with his brother and is continuing to recover and feel well, too!

CONGRATULATIONS to Becki's husband, Mark, on his recent promotion! That is great news! :)

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Colleen's children, Erin and Ian, on the completion of another great and successful school year! Onward, now, to their glorious summer in the Sunshine State! :)

Sorry that I fell behind in posting, once again. Now that my 20-year college reunion is just a week away, things have really gotten busy, in terms of final details and arrangements (I think I mentioned that I am my class's VP and Reunion Coordinator). We aren't expecting that many people at our class-specific dinner.......so it seems like a lot of work for a relatively small part of the event.........honestly, I will be happy when it's OVER, at this point!

In the mean time, looking forward to a fun Memorial Day weekend! Hope that all of you enjoy the long, Holiday weekend, and hope that all is well with all of you! :)

[twinscandc]

Hello all EWP members!!!


Just wanted to check in to tell eveyone that:

We are off to WDW in less than 4 hours!! Both Mark and I have been so busy with jobs, that this trip has kind of snuck up on us!! Usually, I spend lots of time here on the disboards, researching, catching up, etc, but it's just not happened this time!! Oh well, we are old pros at it, so hopefully we'll just be able to wing it!! I did make several ADR's, so we are good to go in that area.

I was able to make a connection with someone for a Illuminations cruise. We've never been on one, so we are looking forward to this!! The girls and I are also going to the Mickey's Pirate and Princess party. Mark and the little Pirate are going to some "manly" thing (early bed time) and lets us girls ride the rides late into the night!!

We will be staying at BWV and this is our first trip as DVC members. We've stayed at BWV before, by renting someone else's points here on the Dis. It will mean more when we walk in and they say "Welcome Home"!! We are looking forward to that!!

Anyway....thanks for the congrats on Mark's promotion! He's worked very hard for it and loves police work. The down fall of the promotion is that he was moved to 3rd shift!!!! It's been an adjustment for us, but we're making it!!

So, I've got to get to my last minute packing. Mark did have to work last night, so he is trying to get in a few minutes of rest. I'm not sure how I'm going to pack without waking him in our bedroom...oh well....I'm sure he is like that Disney commercial "I'm too excited to sleep!".

Hope all is well with you. I will try to do a short trip report when I return.

Anybody else have a trip in the works?

Love to all...

Twinscandc

aka: Becki

[SlightlyGoofy]

Becki, I hope that you, Mark and your adorable kids are all settled down for the night or nearly so and get to DW at a good time tomorrow, i.e. enough time and energy to enjoy SOME of the day! If should notice some small traces that someone has been hanging out at your house while you are gone do not worry. It is just me. LOL Yep, breaking and entering a policeman's home is just the way I should start my crime career!:rotfl: I bet you all really enjoy the BWV. Will you have a room with a balcony overlooking the Boardwalk? You could hear the music from Jellyrolls too! :love:

Lisa, yep, my boy are good looking. I prefer him in jeans and a t shirt as he looks more like himself though. He is pure country boy and is all muscles too. If only he would use them to help his dear old granny move some furniture. :rotfl2: No help in the medical direction, as yet. I go back Tuesday and am hoping for a "House" moment. It has gone far beyond Marcus Welby. I have a hard time changing a bed. Imagine how I feel mowing etc. :eek:

You do not look old enough to have graduated from grade school twenty years ago let alone college! Bet you have a wonderful time meeting some of your old friends who come back. I do hope it is not as stressful as you fear trying to do everything though. :hug:

We have a tiny little car race here this weekend. Varoom!!

Hugs and smiles, Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

So sorry that it's been so long since I've posted, again!

Hope that you and your family had a wonderful, MAGICAL vacation, Becki! Can't wait to hear all about it! I'm sure that you all enjoyed staying at BWV as true DVC owners, too!

Yes! Lots of us have trips coming up........Linda's in September........mine in October........and Colleen's......TOMORROW!! BON VOYAGE, COLLEEN AND FAMILY!!!! :)

Hope that you're feeling and doing well, Linda! And hope that that race went well, too!

I survived my college reunion - thankfully, all went well and smoothly, everyone seemed to have a nice time, and the Alumnae Office seemed pleased with my efforts, so I am relieved!

We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary, this week, and had a nice time celebrating! We went to Philly to see Cirque du Soleil's "Kooza", which was wonderful, and had some nice dinners out, too!

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend, now. Going to see our local minor league baseball team play, tomorrow night, with my best friend from high school and her family, and then we're having our poker buddies over on Sunday!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great weekend and looking forward to hearing about all of your WDW trips and trip plans!!! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Happy Anniversary Lisa and Frank! I honestly did not forget as I have it on my computer calendar, not sure that isn't worse than actually forgetting BUT I do have a doctor's excuse if need be. :worried:

I have been doctoring, big time. I have spent nearly every single day in doctor's offices, hospitals and labs. I have aterial fibrillation but we have not figured out the underlying cause, yet. I am relieved cause I would hate to feel this badly and NOT be sick. Knowing what is wrong is the first step toward getting better. It is a family thing and having avoided such for so long, longer than anyone else has lived as a matter of fact, it is a triumph. :cool1:

Unfortunately it has left me weaker and less able to do much of anything. I started Coumadin to forestall a potential stroke/heart attack but it is a cheap but very scary drug that demands absolute perfection and I am far from that. I am trying hard though.

Anywho that is why you all have not heard much from me lately.:sick: :sick: :sick:

Lisa, how in the world could you worry about how you did with the reunion? You would be a great event planner with your attention to detail and loving heart. Did you see any old friends? How did they react when they saw you, in all your beauty? You were pretty before but you have really bloomed these past few years! All this while eating all those dinners OUT!! I am in awe.

Colleen was packing her sunscreen yesterday and looking forward to the coming summer. They are such a lovely family and enjoy life so much I am thrilled that they get this chance and also to spend quality time with their grandparents. Time is the most precious gift of all.:love:

I hope that Becki's house withstood all the recent local storms/tornadoes. It hit pretty badly on all sides of us but other than some twigs and leaves we did not have much clean up.

Please forgive me for not keeping up but I do not even get on the computer some days.

Love, SG

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

I hope that all is well with all of you ladies out in Indiana! We were thinking of you with all of the recent storms and floods, and hoping that you, your families, and your homes are all right!

I hope that you are able to determine the best course of action for your health soon, Linda, and that you will ultimately be feeling much better, very soon! I know that all of the doctor's visits, tests, pieces of advice, etc. must be exhausting and frustrating, but it sounds like you are definitely making some progress in terms of figuring out the best sources of relief and treatment for yourself! In the mean time, please hang in there and know that we are thinking of you (and Tom!)!

I've heard from Colleen and she and her family are already off to an exciting and fun start to their WDW vacation! They've been spending lots of time relaxing and enjoying Stormalong Bay at BCV and have also spent some time at the MK and Boardwalk! Looking forward to hearing about more of their adventures as the week progresses!

It's been a pretty quiet week, around here! Not too much to report!

I did see some people whom I knew from college at my reunion, Linda - but none of my close friends attended. Rutgers consists (or should I say CONSISTED, as the University has recently undergone some restructuring) of several different undergraduate colleges, and many of my close friends attended other colleges within Rutgers. Only one of my close friends graduated from my college, Douglass, in my class year, and she lives down in VA now and didn't come up for the reunion. Still, it was nice to catch up with the folks whom I saw there, whom I knew from various leadership programs in which I'd participated, etc. Thank you for your very sweet and kind words, as always! :)

Quiet weekend, ahead - just having my father (and uncle - if he's feeling well enough) over for Father's Day on Sunday. We're hoping that it will be cool enough to BBQ outside.........but I think it's supposed to be in the low 90's, again........so I will have to plan an indoor meal, instead! In the mean time, I'm completely at a loss as to what to give my father as a gift.......I'd better decide that soon!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Take care and have a great weekend! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Howdy Lisa and other denizens of our group!!

We are drying out in Indiana and the full impact of the devastation is setting in. So much need and it is hard to decide where and who to help out. As in many of these kinds of situations you have those who take advantage and take as much as they can get while deserving and prideful folk do not ask. We have folks who are driving through neighborhoods handing out gift cards for groceries and hardwares. Reports of people who are paying for the groceries of folks in line buying clean up supplies etc. It is a wonderful thing. The company my husband retired from is going to pay its workers who have no jobs because of the flooding to go out and help the other workers who have been flooded out. Whomever thought that up was a genius, on so many levels! That is where our contribution, mainly, is going as the company is going to match the funds. Iowa has it worse but that is hard to comprehend if you are one of the ones who lost everything here.

All our EWP groupies are safe as are all the other DISers I had emails for in the area. :thumbsup2

Is your uncle getting sicker? I hope not. Has your dad been able to get any help in caring for him? People forget about the caretaker.

I just know that the reunion was as big a success as it was because of all your special touches. You would be a great event planner, people person you. :love:

Since our local hospital was flooded out I am having many of my tests done in Indpls but since that is where I would have any surgeries etc. done anyway it is not too hard. My bil has told me that he is at my beck and call and will take me anywhere, including out of state should it be necessary. I am grateful. I could get a friend to drive me to appointments but Terry is a twofer as he can do so AND take care of Tom. :worship:

I am having a new chair delivered today. It is a cranberry red chair and a half with a huge ottoman to match. It is like me, fluffy and comfy. :lmao: I do not buy much furniture. I tend to keep what I have but the old furniture in the bedroom was over 30 years old and much worn from grandkids and such and besides we are now at an age when we need the big chair(s).:banana: We may have a fight over who gets to sit in it today as Dalton is here. Bet he wins. He has 4-H projects to work on so Grandad will probably get the honors while we are working away. I used to be a 4-H leader. :woohoo:

When I am in my one doctor's office seeing the Rutger's diploma on her wall comforts me and reassures me. :goodvibes Too bad it is her husband's and not hers though. :banana:

Big wedding next door this weekend so I need to get the front of my house all pretty for it. It is for the granddaughter of my dear friend/neighbor. Seems like I just went to her parents wedding a week or so ago. :confused3

Enough rambling, everyone is asleep and I am killing time until I have to wake them up. Sleeping dogs ya know. :cloud9:

Love, Linda Lou

[IASW Rider]

Hello!

SO SORRY - as always - that it's taken me so long to check in and visit the Suite!!

And sorry that this isn't a "real post" - I'm anticipating a busy, fun, hectic weekend, and just wanted to stop by to wish you all a very Happy 4th of July and a great Holiday weekend! I promise to come back soon and properly respond to your post, Linda, and to write what ever "news" of my own I can come up with! :)

Happy July 4th!!! Enjoy!! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa, and anyone else who read this

As I am the senior member of this great group I want to share something I have learned along the pathway of life.

Too many things are left undone and unsaid because they are deemed to be too 'small' to matter.

That is a big mistake.

The smile, short note or phone call that you might think of little import can mean the world to someone else.

If we do nothing until we find something noteworthy nothing will be done.

Seeing a few words from a loved one is enough.

Love, your resident sage and (nit) wit, Linda/SG


Oh, btw, HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!!!

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to wish you all a very happy 7TH ANNIVERSARY!!! :) :) :)

Our Suite - and this thread - have been going for EXACTLY 7 years, today! :) So let's break out our best catering, head out to the Poly Beach, and celebrate with a special, private performance of the EWP, tonight! :)

Thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful words, Oh Great Sage of the Suite, Linda! :) They are particularly appropriate for our celebration, today! :)

Here's looking forward to many more fun and happy years with great friends, here on the DIS Boards and here in our Suite!!!

xxxx - Lisa :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hello denizens of the Suite!

I have a good excuse for not posting yesterday on that most glorious of days! I had a small boy that required care and that trumps most everything to me. Not much else could have kept me away.

SEVEN years??? What an accomplishment and what a delightful crew. So much has happened in those years. Babies have been born, jobs changed, weight lost, becoming wiser and many other things.

Lisa, the only thing 'sage' about me is the new color of my bedroom.:thumbsup2

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary. Maybe it is time for a refurbishment of the Suite. Could it please be completed before I arrive in September? :dance3:

Much love, Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Of course the Suite refurbishment can be completed before your arrival in September! You can have anything you want, because...............

IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!! :cheer2:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LINDA!!!! :dance3:

Wishing you a wonderful, Magical, and very Happy Day!princess:

With lots of love from your friends in the Suite! :grouphug:

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

As always, sorry that it's taken me so long to get back here and post! We just celebrated our 7th Anniversary and I've been bad. as always, about coming back to post here!

Not too much to report - just trying to get back to work on my thesis (which of course is challenging, given the time of year and all the exciting events of the season!).

Speaking of the "exciting events of the season", we attended the 5th annual MagicMeet (North Eastern Disney Fans Gathering) in Harrisburg, PA last weekend and had a fantastic time! We saw all of our old pals (many of whom we'd initially met here, on the Boards) and also got to participate in some great and very interesting programs and presentations! The speakers included Dave Anderson, an Imagineering Consultant who worked with Walt, himself, Deb Wills of AllEars, Dave Marx of PassPorter, Len Testa of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, Lou Mongello of WDWTrivia, Mike Scopa of AllEars and the WDW Today Radio podcasts, Steve Barrett of Hidden Mickeys, and many, many more! We also had a wonderful talk with the owner of DVC By Resale............we may become members, yet! :)

This weekend we're heading out to our beloved Shea Stadium in Queens, to see the Mets play there, possibly for the last time before they tear down the stadium at the end of the season. Very sad - I feel like I grew up there, having spent so much time there during the summers since my childhood! The Mets' new stadium, which is currently being erected a few feet away from Shea, will be absolutely beautiful. But I can't help but feel nostalgic for the "old" place. AND Shea has some "Disney connections", as it was built and debuted along with the 1964-65 NY World's Fair..........along with It's a Small World, Carousel of Progress, PeopleMover, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln! :)

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

Howdy there Lisa!

Thank you so much for having the Suite refurbished for my upcoming trip. I will look forward to all the special touches that only you could come up with.

I have had a lovely birthday and it was made even better by a special package that I kept to open today. Actually TWO special packages as I got one from down at the Villages as well. Thank you both so very much. I have had time to look at all of it a bit but plan to take more time to really check it out and read everything at my leisure. The phone has been ringing off the hook today. Even my grandson's girlfriend came by to say hey. I could not have asked for more. :love:

I think I forgot to tell you that my daughter and family decided to forgo the NYC trip for various reasons. They are going all the way to Cincinnati (80 miles) instead. Probably a better choice. Jackie and Chris can always go to NYC when it is just them and they will enjoy it more for all that.

At least you and Frank can go to Shea, bet you find some sort of souvenir, and even the new stadium. Lots of scuttlebutt around here because our governor, who sold a major road to a foreign country also decreed that we would all pay for the new Colts stadium and they are having an open house. $250 a ticket and you have to have an invitation to be allowed to buy a ticket. Also added $10,000 to the price of box seats in addition to season pass prices so most of the people who are paying for the private stadium will not be able to afford to attend a game, or even the open house to see what they bought. :rolleyes1 I would rather go watch Dalton any old way. :cheer2:

I told a friend to say hey to you at the meet. Not sure if she met up with you or not. I told her to look for the beautiful couple with the big smiles sitting at the table selling pins etc..

I think you guys should buy into the DVC. I do not say that lightly as I am a cheapskate and very thrifty. It is like buying a big car or suv, not for everyone BUT it is for some and it is for you. The longer you put it off the more you will regret it too. If I had bought in many years ago when I first considered it I would be a happy woman. Not worth it now though.

My Florida sister, who is retiring in August, called today and she is coming over on the 1st of September and we are going to the GF tea party. I will have to rearrange my agenda but that is well worth it. I always do one new thing and that is something I have always wanted to do but Tom would have thrown a fit at the food they serve. He is still bereft over the loss of the huge skewered shrimp at O'Hana's. So am I though. :)

Only about a month to go until I leave. Hope I get the important things done. Trying to tell myself that washing the exterior of the car is a waste of time as it will be bug splatted by the time I get down there any old way. Dusting the house is a lost cause too as it will need dusting again when I get home. If only I would listen. :rotfl2:

Once again, thank you for being a wonderful friend to me all these years. I appreciate the both of you so very much.

Love, Linda Lou

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi Linda! :)

I'm sorry that this is such a quick post, but I did want to check in before we head to Las Vegas, tomorrow morning!

I hope that all has been well with all of you and I promise to post a respectably-sized post upon our return!

In the mean time, we can start counting down the days 'til Linda's upcoming WDW trip! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you all have a great week! I promise to hang around here more often, when we get back! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hey there Lisa!

By now you have safely arrived in Sin City and are out and about checking everything out!

I told my sister all about the shows you are going to see and even she, world traveler that she is, was jealous. ;)

I hope you did not run into any bad weather on the trip down and none is in the offing when you return. I have a feeling this is just one trip among many you will be making to Las Vegas. It IS the adult version of DW though. :dance3:

Please give Frank a hug for me? Have him give YOU one for me also?

Love, Linda

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hey Frank and Lisa!

I got your card. It sounds as if you are having a lovely time. You guys have a knack for such.

Bet DW is jealous at having to share you with LV though. :lmao:

How are your friends enjoying living out there?

Three days until I leave. Not nearly ready either. :scared1:

Love, Linda Lou

Where is everyone????? I miss you.

[IASW Rider]

BON VOYAGE, LINDA!!!!!!

Wishing you a safe and happy journey and a truly MAGICAL vacation!! :) We'll all be waiting for you in the Suite to celebrate your arrival!! :)

Our trip was just wonderful, thanks! We spent our days just aimlessly wandering the Strip and checking out the hotels that seemed particularly interesting to us. We really enjoyed staying at Luxor and we enjoyed "touring" Caesar's Palace (where I stayed with my parents on my one other visit to Las Vegas in 1978! :) Glad to see that - while it's certainly grown - parts of it haven't changed very much at all!), Bellagio, and the Venetian, in particular!

We also saw 2 OUTSTANDING Cirque du Soleil shows, "Mystere" at Treasure Island and "The Beatles LOVE" (where my former WDE CM friend currently works) at Mirage (which was also a beautiful hotel). Both shows were fantastic! We particularly enjoyed "LOVE", which is now my all-time favorite Cirque show and probably one of the best shows of ANY sort that I have ever seen! After that performance, our friend gave us a very extensive and fascinating backstage tour, which was great!

We also allowed ourselves some time to relax, which we really needed. I spent an afternoon at the pool, while Frank spent that afternoon with the slots! ;) It was a great getaway!

Our friends are really enjoying being back in Vegas after 9 years of living in Orlando and working for Mickey. One of them is originally from Vegas, so he is back near his family, which he likes. And the other's career in entertainment has advanced and been much more successful since leaving WDE and starting with Cirque, so that is a good thing. And they're back with their old Vegas pals (as well as some old Orlando pals who have since moved out there, as well). So I think that they are really happy there!

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you, out there!

And hope that you have a FANTASTIC and WONDERFUL trip, Linda! Can't wait to hear all about it, when you return! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hooray, sounds as if you did not have any pesky airplane or weather problems and also had time to be 'aimless'. That is something that most people miss out on nowadays. We need time to just 'be'. Did Frank win any big bucks?

I was at Caesar's when it was first built. Las Vegas is an interesting place. Great place for people watching for sure!

Did you wear your black dress? I had to have a new 'SG' shirt made up in a smaller size. Fewer and fewer x's before the size nowadays. Maybe next year will bring none.

I bet you had yourself some good meals. Did you take pictures? We just got a new casino up the road and they have a Puck's. Butternut Squash Soup nearby, I am in heaven!:angel:

I pack the car tomorrow and then we head off Friday morning ASAP. Rain expected but maybe I will luck out. I was finally able to get ressies for the Luau for Saturday night. Not sure who was more surprised, me or the CM. Lucy had wanted to try that so I am glad I was able to get it. The food is not so good but then neither one of us is supposed to eat all that much any old way.

I will not have my laptop with me so no internet but I wil have my cell phone. I take phone numbers with me and sometimes call folks even though I know they will be out and about having a great time. I am still in shock over the time you called me from the beach so I could listen to the EWP. You know where I will be Saturday night, weather permitting.

All good thoughts and prayers welcome for Friday early evening as I wend my way through the maze of Atlanta construction.

Thank you and much love, Linda Lou

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

How are you all doing, out there?

Welcome back, Linda!! :) :) :)

Hope that you had a FANTASTIC and MAGICAL vacation!! Can't wait to hear all about it! Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures, when you have a chance to check in to the Suite! :)

We are actually gearing up for OUR upcoming WDW vacation (in October)! I've made all of our ADR's - a little later than I usually do when planning a trip - but we wanted to wait for the F&WF schedule to come out, so that we could determine if that would affect our plans, at all. Unfortunately, most of the "big events" will be taking place on weekends, apparently, and we will be there Monday - Friday. But that's OK - we look forward to partaking in the "general fare" around the World Showcase - we probably wouldn't pay $100+ to go to one of the fancy dinners / wine pairings, anyway! We'd rather "save up" for another trip to Victoria and Albert's in a few years! :) Anyway, we're looking forward to another wonderful stay at BCV!

Thanks so much for your message, Linda! So sorry that we missed your call! So glad to hear you sounding like you're having a great time, though! I hope that you and Lucy enjoyed the Luau (I've loved the Luau since I was a child!) and got to see the EWP, last weekend, too! :)

I actually wore a NEW black dress in Las Vegas! ;) Will bore you with my photos (if I haven't, already?), if you'd like to see!

I'm sure that you ALREADY need no "X's" on your SG shirt, Linda! I know that you look fantastic! Can't wait to see YOUR pictures from your trip, when you have a chance to share them!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope to see you all, back in the Suite, soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Where is everybody??!! :(

Just wanted to stop by and say "hi" before WE blast off for WDW on Monday! :) We are looking forward to our return to BCV (thank you, special fellow Suite Lady! :)) and attending our first Epcot F&WF! :) We are also looking forward to visiting some of our traditional favorite "haunts", like the Kona Cafe, the Brown Derby, and Jiko, returning to the restaurant for which one of our cats is named (Spoodles!), and dining at Citrico's for the first time! We also have a fun character breakfast at Cape May Cafe scheduled for our last morning! We'll be at the Studios for Fantasmic on Monday night, at F&WF all day on Tuesday and at the MK on Thursday. Wednesday will be POOL DAY, and I can't wait to FINALLY experience the wonders of Stormalong Bay! :) Hopefully we'll get to see the EWP from the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon when we're over at the GF on Wednesday night!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a nice Fall, so far! Will be in touch upon our return! Take care. :)

[IASW Rider]

Just a quick post to send out some very special EWP Suite wishes to a very special "resident" of the EWP Suite! Wishing good health, good luck, lots of happiness, and all of our warm and loving thoughts, today!

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to pop in and say "hi"! Sure has been quiet around here, lately!

We had a wonderful time at WDW, 2 weeks ago! We even saw a performance of our very own EWP, from the observation deck just outside of Narcoosee's at the GF! Very nice view - we had never seen it from that location, before! So great to see it, again (we hadn't seen it in a few years) - it looks beautiful and vividly colorful as ever, and the sound system is great, too!

And of course I rode IASW...........! ;)

We really enjoyed F&WF. It was really neat to see all of the various cities (both domestic and international) that were represented for the Festival, in addition to the special exhibits presented by the permanent resident pavilions! The only "problem" is that there were so MANY that there was NO WAY that we would EVER have been able to sample a food and / or wine from every single one! I think that our favorite was Barcelona, as it brought back memories of our Mediterranean cruise, last summer! We sampled some CAVA (Spanish sparkling wine, similar to champagne, from the region near Barcelona) at their "station" and it was very good!

We also loved the adorable new "ending" to the recently revised Spaceship Earth and thought that the additions and alterations in the Haunted Mansion were wonderful, as well!

We had a great time staying at BCV (.......thanks AGAIN, special Pixie! ;)) and spent a lot of time just enjoying the resort and the surrounding area. We took long walks around the Epcot resort area - to Swan, Dolphin, and Boardwalk - and took one great walk to and from the Studios, too! And we designated a day to enjoy the amazing Stormalong Bay and peaceful BCV quiet pool, which was great and much needed!

Since we'd never been at WDW at this time of year, before, it was neat to see Main Street all decorated for the Fall holidays, with lots of scarecrows and Mickey-head jack-o-lanterns! And it was fun to see all of the children and adults dressed up in their costumes for MNSSHP, too! :)

Not too much to report, since we've been back! I can't believe that Thanksgiving is barely 2 weeks away............it's been in the mid-60's all week, here in Central Jersey...........and I am NOT complaining! I would be more than happy if it stayed this warm.......not just throughout the Holiday season.........but throughout the entire WINTER! :)

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi ya gals!

Reports of my demise, and that of my computer, are greatly exaggerated. Nothing wrong with either one that a bit of 'rebooting' will not cure. I hope they slip in a bit of extra memory while they are at it. Power, more power! That is exactly what I need and then I will be good to go until Vista is but a dim witted memory. :lmao:

What a lovely mini trip report. Do you ever write a real one Lisa? It would be the best of the bunch, I bet. Lots of pictures and so many observations. I still have to write mine from our last trip.

I know well the Halloween decorations on Main Street. As I sit and hold seats for the parade I often see them for hours on end. All the special touches are what makes DW so wonderful.

Did you PLAN to watch the EWP from Narcoosee's or was it just fortuitous? I find that when you see familiar things from a different view it makes it all new again. Did it beat the Poly beach? Lucy and I had a CM bring us towels for pillows and blankets and even tuck us in last trip. We both giggled like kids.

Any trips planned for next year?

Colleen, hope to have lunch with you soon, real soon!

Love, Linda

[jstmee]

Just stopped by to say hello.

I saw the decreased posts to this site and almost panicked. It's a bad thing to assume that you all would still be posting away having a merry day!

I'm dreaming of WDW, cannot foresee a visit in awhile. Life is happening all around and through me. LOL. But there is still pixie dust swirling around me so I have hope. I even rented the Tinker Bell DVD. Wish oh wish I will.

We are all doing well. Living each day a day at a time. I will check in again soooon.

Wendy

[SlightlyGoofy]

Wendy, you have been missed, but not forgotten. How lovely to finally see a poLst from you. Details, please??? How are you and your family doing? Any trips to DW completed or contemplated? So many great offers it would be heartbreaking not to be able to make some next year. I am thinking a spring and Christmas trip if all goes well. It would be hard for you to go and there not be at least one of us there or at least someone we know.

I call for my date for the heart ablation today, sometime after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. As well as everything else has gone I have great hopes that this will cure what ails me and I will be back full force and raring to go!

Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

So sorry that it's been so long since I've "stopped by"! I just wanted to wish all of my very special Suite Friends a wonderful Holiday Season! Hope that you all and your families had a very Merry Christmas and are all enjoying a relaxing Holiday weekend, now!

And wishing all of you all the best - and lots of pixie dust and MAGIC - in 2009! Here's to another year of fun and friendship in the EWP Suite! We're coming up on the 8 year Anniversary of this thread! :) (And I promise to post more reliably, in the weeks and months to come!)

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Howdy there Suite friends!

I echo Lisa's sentiments and have a few words of gratitude to add myself.

The year has been rocky but has ended on a high note. My cataract surgery went so well that I no longer have to wear glasses. I managed to drop another ten pounds or so this year. My cardioversion went very well last Friday and as a result I am feeling better than I have felt in a very long time. I am able to do more and now I might be able to get back to walking and such so that next year I might get off these last pounds and get into even better shape so that I can enjoy my next trip to WDW. Friends do not recognize me and I barely do myself. :cloud9:

EIGHT years? The Suite is older than some of my grandkids. How wonderful but then there are some very special and wonderful folks who reside here.:love:

SG/Linda

[SlightlyGoofy]

Today is the birthday of a very special friend to the EWP, without her we would not exist and would definitely not be as nice a place to visit.:grouphug:

Happy Birthday dear Lisa! We all hope that this has been a wonderful day and look forward to hearing how you managed to celebrate this occasion. You do such things with such flair!:cheer2:

I booked into DW for the first week of December. Nothing like a dream of a warm vacation to keep me going in this frigid weather.:beach:

I had a bundle installed today so I have not been able to be on line most of the day so I am a tad bit late. Hope you got your card on time.:flower3:

Love, SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

VERY BELATED thank you, Linda!! It was so kind of you to think of me and to celebrate for me, here in the Suite! :)

And belated Happy New Year to all of our Suite Mates who may be lurking out there on the DIS Boards! So sorry that I haven't stopped in, in so long! I can't believe that this is literally my first time on the Boards since 12-27! I have been very "bad" but I DO intend to be better about stopping in! Our Suite has been in existence for almost 8 years and I refuse to "move out"! :)

And - in reality - this great place wouldn't exist without the constant love and caring of our SLIGHTLY GOOFY! :) So glad to hear that you're feeling so well, Linda! And so glad to hear that you had such a great, healthy, and productive year! Wishing you continued good health and all the best!

Everything is fine, here in snowy New Jersey! I AM sick of winter, though, and will be VERY HAPPY when this month is over and there is some hope of Spring arriving (.........as well as BASEBALL SEASON! :))!

So glad to hear that you've already made your WDW arrangements for next December, Linda! That is definitely something wonderful to look forward to! Maybe your visit will coincide with Colleen's and her family's, and you'll all be able to have a holiday meeting, down there! We have no plans to visit WDW yet, this year. Although we would love to go back down in October for F&WF (also because the weather is so PERFECT there, at that time of year), I am also sort of fantasizing about running the 5K in the AK on Disney Marathon Weekend, next January. I've recently taken up running and plan to try some local races, this Spring and Summer. It would be so neat to participate in one of the races at WDW! They've always intrigued me, but I never thought that I would be able to participate in one of them. I think that aiming for the 5K is realistic........and if I can keep it up, I would ultimately love to run the Half Marathon in another year or two! I have a friend who did it, a few weeks ago, and he said that it was an amazing experience - especially running through the MK! January would not necessarily be my preferred month to visit........too bad that the Marathon Weekend always falls during that month.........we'll see!

Hope that all is well with all of you! And hope to see you all in the Suite, very soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hey there Lisa!

No apologies needed. So you were out and about having a blast and celebrating your birthday. That is how it should be. I think you are still doing so. One day is plenty when you are a child but as you grow up it takes longer to celebrate such a wonderous event and interesting life. :thumbsup2

How I would love to be there to cheer you on when you run, and win the race at DW! It boggles my mind the things you get up to. How far you have come and how much further you will go!:cheer2:

It is a shame that you are not into bike riding as we have one of the best bike rides in the country in our small town. The rolling countryside, homemade cookies baked by all us town ladies, a local winery, bands and such have gathered folks from not only all over the States but other countries as well. All the proceeds go to the local Food Bank and we are able to give far more than any other places around and nowadays the need is great. You used to see the same folks each month but now there are so many of our friends and neighbors who used to contribute who are now in need of help. It is heartbreaking. (I can even guarantee you a place to stay)

Speaking of hearts. My last checkup showed that my heart is still in rhythm. That bodes well as usually it goes out quickly if it is going to do it. Now if I can get my leg in shape I will be more than ready for December.

Hey there you other Suite Ladies! I think of you often and wonder how you are doing. I got the most wonderful card with a picture of a very special little boy for Christmas. It sits on my desk as I type.

I surely would love to have some of you drop by and catch us up on how you are doing because this is a special and select group and we honestly care about each other and do not forget each other.

How wonderful it would be to find out that some, if not ALL, of you might be planning December trips too or possibly being there to see a certain special someone (who is the spark plug behind this thread no matter what SHE says) race.

:grouphug: Slightly Goofy/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!!!!

How can it possibly be that it's been almost SIX MONTHS since we last checked in to the Suite?? Well, maybe they were just doing some "rehab" and "maintenance" on the place, so we all had to take a little break! :)

I can't believe that it's been almost SIX MONTHS since I've even signed on to the Boards! I kept meaning to do so, but things have been very busy!

My BIG NEWS is that A) I finished graduate school in May, having FINALLY presented my Fieldwork (ie: Masters Thesis), so I now OFFICIALLY am a Master of Public Health and B) As of this past Saturday, DH and I are OFFICIAL MEMBERS...........of DVC.........and our home resort is.......BAY LAKE TOWER!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!

Anyway, just wanted to say "hello" to all of you and hope that we can all resume our meetings and viewings of the EWP together!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you've all been enjoying the Summer, so far! :)

[angelina]

Hi, Lisa. It's great to hear from you. Congratulations on completing your master's.

Hi to everyone else in the suite. Hope everyone has been well.

Angie

[SlightlyGoofy]

Ahh, my dear Lisa, how it could be otherwise. Bay Lake Tower is just where a Disney princess should be. Instead of just this virtual place you have now accomplished the real thing! I am delighted and feel that this is a great investment for folks like yourself. You will easily be able to get to so many places, including your Polynesian resort, so easily.

Congratulations again on getting your Masters. It has been such a pleasure to see you thrive and grow so much in these past few years. I could not be prouder had I squeezed you out myself. :love:

Angelina! I have been thinking about you yesterday and today. Did the storm hit you hard? How is your family doing? News, please? We care ya know.

Tom and I are doing alright. We have our moments but that is to be expected. Oldest grandson just turned 18 and is still a delightful person, having avoided most of any teenage angst. He works too hard to have time for that any old way. Youngest grandson is still a super star in everything he attempts and delights me. Two of my other grandchildren have escaped their life and are living elsewhere and getting to go to school and see other people. Heard that my son was laid off but no other news. Daughter works in HR so she would be last out the door but not likely to happen as Cummins is a very well run company. Tom turns 75 next week and I am taking him for a getaway. I am not up to the big parties I used to have for such occasions. As long as he gets to eat out he is a happy camper. I volunteer two days at week with the kids at the CC and drive Tom to bowling two days a week so it keeps me busy and hopping. Housework, yardwork etc. takes up any 'free' time I might have.

Anyone else out there please drop us a note and let us know how you are doing and what is going on and if you are going to be at DW anytime soon or have recently been. We will be there the first two weeks of December and would love to see you there!

SG/Linda

[angelina]

Hi, Linda and Lisa, and everyone else in the suite ! The TS didn't really bother us, just a little breezy, which was a WELCOME relief, but it is raining cats and dogs here now. We are SO ready for Fall. June was unbearably hot this year, and it usually doesn't get that hot until late July/August. We were so glad we didn't go to WDW this summer.

You can imagine how unbearably hard it was for me to be in Orlando in April for spring break, stay at Bonnet Creek (facing EPCOT and HS) and NOT go to the parks! We went to Universal and Sea World instead. The kids loved it, though. DS is 17 now and has had enough of Disney (except for EPCOT)
and this was our last Spring Break when everyone was out of school at the same time. I have to say, as much as I loved staying at BC two summers ago, we really loved staying at Bonnet Creek. We could see the fireworks from EPCOT and HS, but I felt physically ill sitting on our balcony watching them and not being able to BE there. The girls and I went to DD one night and ate at Rainforest Cafe, then walked around. Actually, Lauren didn't go with us, just Meg and her friend.

Everyone is growing up, DS is a senior, DD1 is a sophomore, and DD2 is in 4th grade. They're all back in school now, and I am not working this week, which has been nice.

Lisa, where is Bay Lake Tower? I don't think I've heard of it before, at least I can't place it. How nice to have a "second home" in Disney.

I had to put my car in the shop earlier this summer, and when I got it back, my Wishes CD was laying on the front seat, BROKEN! Does anyone know how I can get another copy? I have looked, but the only place I found one was on e-bay. Is there a Disney site that I can order it from?

I have been talking to DS about what he wants to do after high school, and one of the things he'd like to do is the College Program at Disney. He's really involved in robotics at school, and would like to do something with animatronics, so what better place? He's also a lifeguard and WSI, so maybe he could do that, too. What he's most interested in is the fireworks, but so far, I have no idea how he would be able to get involved with that, evey after college. I just know they have to be in college for at least one semester before they apply.

Well, the rain and lightning have stopped for the moment, so I am going to run some errands.

Take care,

Angie

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hey, Angie! How was your birthday? Yes, I remembered it and even know how old you were. lol

I heard that a tornado hit Beaumont, TX where my aunt used to live. I am glad to hear that you avoided the majority of the weather. I always think of you and yours when I hear about your area. You must have gotten all the hot weather that we have not. It was the coolest July in history here in Indiana.

I am not familiar with Bonnet Creek other than the fire station and the road so I am not sure where you stayed but it sounds painful to me to be so close and yet so far away. Maybe it is time for you to do a trip with some girlfriends as many do?

Our dear Lisa has friends who know about fireworks etc. at DW. I cannot imagine any single profession that is not needed at DW. I keep hoping for the Fairy Godmother job myself. How wonderful it would be for you to have a son working there, for so many reasons!

Has your dd killed anymore large animals lately? lol My grandson was so impressed by the pictures of her with the fish and deer way back when. He is a strapping boy nowadays himself and is taking classes in construction and will be fully accredited by the time he graduates. The younger boy is a sports star and academic. He will be spending the weekend with me and will be sure to test my mettle on various and sundry games of intelligence. He loves it when he knows something I do not and so do I. :love:

As far as the Wishes c/d goes, I sent you an email. Hope it goes through. If not just PM me and I might be able to help you out. I make various dvd's of Disney trips and have complete movies of most attractions etc. I had a train station view of Wishes the first year they did it and am glad to make one for you if you would like. Anyone else too.

Some neighbors of mine went to Gulfport recently and I would have loved to have hidden away in their vehicle and came with them so I could see those streets of Fairhope.

SG/Linda

[angelina]

Linda, I sort of remember that Bonnet Creek was a golf course a long, long time ago. For whatever reason, it is not owned by Disney, but is a time share owned by Wyndham. Anyhow, it is RIGHT THERE in the middle of everything, right next door to Caribbean Beach Resort. We have a friend who owns a time share, and used his points for a 3 bdr condo. It was really, really nice. Meg took a friend, and it was nice to be able to spread out when we came back from the parks. Still, it's not Disney, sigh. The kids loved Universal, though, and the coaster at Sea World. The new one had not opened yet, so they missed out, and even the little one was riding the Hulk by the end of the last day.

Linda, just down from your e-mail was our first one from the College Program, saying they were doing the e-presentations for the spring session. Maybe next year...
I can see my youngest working at AK with the animals, and Meg being some kind of face character. Nick would be coming up with bigger and better fireworks or working with animatronics, and I would have discounted passes for years to come. :cool1: We used to know an older couple who went down there every Fall to work for two weeks or so with the Food and Wine Festival, and got free passes for their families. I don't know how they found out about it, though, or where to get the information.

I saw the video from that tornado on TV. We rarely get them around here, but I did see one trying to form earlier this summer. Last week, Meg and I saw another funnel along the front line of a thunderstorm, but it never touched down. The lightning was terrible, though. I have seen water spouts, though, in the Bay.

Yes, I turned 40-something last week, but it was a day like any other day. We had a lot of back to school shopping to do, so my birthday passed by pretty much unnoticed.

As far as I can remember, no one has killed anything since the big shark last summer, and a big deer the year before. Oh, and a small snake last month, lol.

TTFN,

Angie

[IASW Rider]

Hi!!!!

So great to hear from you, Angie!!!! BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And so glad that you had a wonderful trip to Bonnet Creek! I can certainly understand that it was hard being so close to WDW.......but you were THERE, and it sounds like you all had a nice time!! So glad to hear that you're all all right, after the storms, etc.

Hi (again) Linda!!

I am so sorry that I didn't have a chance to get back here until NOW......and NOW I don't have time to compose a proper post! I finally had a chance to respond to an e-mail that Linda was kind enough to send to me......in which she mentioned that YOU had posted here, as well, Angie.......so I just HAD TO stop in and say hello......before Frank and I blast off for Las Vegas, first thing tomorrow morning! :) And - coincidentally - we will be visiting with our former WDW CM friends, when we are there - as one of them (the one who knows about fireworks and such at WDW, as he worked as a Show Control and Special Effects Crew Chief on Fantasmic and Lights! Motors! Action!) now works for Cirque du Soleil, out there!

Wish that I had time to write more, now, and to properly repsond to and comment on both of your correspondences! I promise to be back, upon our return, and then we'll have a chance to catch up! In the mean time, hope that all is well with you both and your families (can't believe how the years pass and your children are growing up, Angie! :) )! And hope that you all have a great week!

Thinking of you all and talk to you soon! :)

P.S. Angie - Bay Lake Tower is the newest DVC resort........and it's ATTACHED to the Contemporary! It just opened 2 weeks ago! It's the high rise building, pictured in the little photo in my signature!

P.P.S. Sorry that this is such a quick post! :(

[SlightlyGoofy]

Thinking of Frank and Lisa and what a nice life they have made for themselves. It plain tickles me silly to think of them jetting off here and there and enjoying life so very much. Of course, I do believe, that they would enjoy themselves sitting on a stoop somewhere as well. :goodvibes

Angelina, I told you that Lisa knew someone who might be able to give you some good information. It is the dream of every good DISer that their child would end up working at Disney somewhere. :laughing: I daydream about doing it myself even though I know it is an 'impossible dream'.

This is my first day back with the older kids today. Since I have spent the most time with them I know them better. Some will have grown enough not to need me this year and that is bittersweet, more sweet than bitter. We live in a small town and I run into them here an there. Sometimes years later and I can barely recognize them anymore. Have some new books and new games to play with them this year. I am hoping that the powers that be at the center will allow me to do some of my one on one work as that is where my talents lie. I love reading to children but en masse does not work well. Boys do not like what girls like and then there is the age range. I like one on one with children who are having trouble reading or do not know how. I look for the magic moment for when they 'get it'. Warms the cockles of my heart and a life has been changed. I remember each and every one too.

Hoping a good school year for all the EWP members children!:teacher:

SG

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Hi Linda and Angie!

So sorry that it took me so long to get back here.........yet again! :(

Hope that you all had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! I refuse to acknowledge "the end of Summer".......it's STILL Summer, as far as I'm concerned! :)

Angie - I had a chance to speak with my friend who used to work for WD Entertainment, when we were in Las Vegas, last week, and ask him a few questions about working for WDI or learning pyrotechnics for WDE, as you mentioned that Nick might be interested in doing either, in the future. I will certainly pass along the information (as "general" as it might be!), if you'd like! I'm not sure that I have your most recent e-mail address - please feel free to "Private Message" it to me via the DIS Boards, if you'd like! :)

How has everything been going with your new "class" of young readers at the Community Center, so far, Linda? And how has everything else been going? I'm sure that you are already setting up a great new year for your young fans! :)

All is well, here! We had a wonderful (but all too short!) trip to Las Vegas, last week! We enjoyed visiting the big, crazy hotels that we missed seeing, when we were there last year, and checking out some of the (free!) attractions that are presented in many of them! We also saw 2 fantastic Cirque du Soleil shows, "Zumanity" and "Ka", and dined at some great restaurants! We had fun catching up with our ex-CM friendsand hearing some fun "backstage" Cirque news! And of course we saved some time to just relax by the pool, too!

Now we are looking forward to closing on our DVC within a few weeks - yipee! Something else to look forward to! :)

In the mean time, I ran my 6th 5K race yesterday and had a lot of fun! This one was sponsored by our beloved local (unaffiliated) minor league baseball team, the Somerset Patriots, and took place at their stadium. The biggest thrill for me was the fact that part of the race took place on the actual baseball field, so I had a chance to actually run around the warning track! That was really neat! It wasn't my "best race" - from an objective standpoint - lots of hills, which I really need to work on - but I finished the race, survived the hills, and felt great afterwards, and that's the important thing! My next 5K will be on the 26th......hopefully I'll make some improvement with my speed on inclines before then! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you all enjoyed the holiday weekend! I know that I say this all the time, but I really WILL make an effort to "get here" more often! We need to keep our Suite alive, after all of these years! What better meeting place could there be?? :)

Have a great week, Everyone! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Lisa, I am always in awe with each missive. It would kill me just to 'think' about walking 5K let alone running it or even doing it!:scared1: Does Frank run any? Wish you guys biked cause we have a big race here each year and I know where you could get free accommodations. :goodvibes

I would love to see each Cirque production. I saw where they upped the prices at La Nouba and the cheap seats are even $100 per though. In these times you would think they would not be doing that. I hear that some of the baseball teams are having problems because of the prices too.

Lots going on here. Nothing severe but just a lot of 'stuff'. The big thing that you may have seen on the news is that the Men in Black swarmed into our tiny town last Friday and took over our bank. No money is being lost but I fear for the jobs of many of my friends and neighbors because many branches are sure to be shut down.

Angie, you know I think of you every day? Yep, on the middle of the coffee table in my LR is a bowl and in it are the Mardi Gras beads that you sent me many years ago. On the filing cabinet, to my left, are dozens of magnets that a certain other person has sent me. Many have the Somerset Patriots logo on them. :wizard:

Back to work for me. Big weekend in town.

SG/Linda