EWP group?

[jstmee]

Hi everybody, I read through some of the posts and then it got too busy around here to post myself. It has been unbelievable around here as usually. But, all is well.

I spent 4 days in the hospital on 9/5. I had some chest pain and they kept me. The nitroglycerin I got gave me an unbelievable migraine and I was flat out for a few days. I have since had a stress cardiolite test and we are awaiting the results. My doctor said that there are discrepencies on the stress test and she's sending me to a cardiologist. (?heart disease or blockage). I know that all will be okay though. No matter what the outcome.

My husband loses his job on Sept 30. They asked him on Friday if he would relocate to Connecticut. He said no. On Monday we got a "lovely" email that said since he won't relocate they are left with no choice but to terminate him and "possibly" retain him as an independent contractor.

I went and checked out health insurance costs and the ONLY one's that we can possibly think (if they keep him as an independent contractor) about cost $440 a month and has a $5,000 deductible per person per year. The ones with "normal" deductibles cost between $1,100-$1,400 per MONTH.

The abscess in my tooth is finally calming down. Listen to my busy days: I've been poked and prodded. On Monday got a small cyst removed from the back of my scalp, this morning had the stress cardioloite(they have you exercise and then insert dye and then take pictures of your heart) I have the second portion of the test tomorrow. Then the dentist put in the posts for the root canal. Oh, besides the fret of going to a practically ZERO income with 4 children, a mortgage, car payment, owing IRS lots of money, etc...........Oh, well, such is life.

On the positive side. All my children are healthy and doing well in school. My older ones went to CYM = Christain Youth Ministery this weekend and didn't complain too much. The are now Freshman in school and that is nerve wrecking in and of itself.
I start teaching CCD again this year. The spiritual growth always helps me.

NOW, on to the congratulations SG with all of your success in weightloss you should truly be good to yourself and congratulate yourself for such success. My prayers and thoughts are with the family that had such a loss in your community. What a tradegy!!

Lisa, happy, happy independance day from your work that is. I hope you slept in late so far and pampered yourself with a few bubble baths and candles. Be good to yourself. You've done marvelous on the body fitness sector yourself.

Who knows maybe you both will inspire me to take it a little baby step at a time for me. I know that will have to be a must for my new medical challenges. AAArrrrgh...When will it ever end.

helenabear. I haven't looked at any of you meet pictures, I will do so. You've been a busy little beaver going here and there for your wonderful DIS meets. My DD just started playing the clarinet in school. It's just been a week and she must practise 1/2 hour per day. So far the practising is to put the mouth peice and attach it to the second peice of the instrument. She can't wait to get started.

Angelina, I'm sure you are busy, busy as usual. I have decided to give up the girlscouts, I have enough on my plate and then some. I haven't officially told the girls yet, but I must soon. It will be a big burden that I just cannot carry anymore. I love being helper, but not leader. Good luck and prayers to you in your girlscouting season.

Well, I hear kids coming inside from playing, so I best be going.

I promise to keep in touch more often. We have such a short summer here, you can tell it wasn't spent inside. We have had a few frosts so far, it's getting colder.

Take care all. Good to be back. Wendy

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

So sorry that I haven't been able to stop by sooner - between the Jewish holidays and finishing up at work, I haven't been able to spend as much time on line as I'd like. But now that I'm FREE (yea!), I can post to my heart's content, without worrying about someone looking over my shoulder all the time!

Thanks so much to each and every one of you for thinking of me, last Friday, and for all of the wonderful things that you said and thoughts that you shared! I really appreciate your thoughtfulness, as always! You are all such wonderful and special people, and I am so lucky to have met all of you and to be a part of this thread!

Wendy, I am so sorry to hear that you were recently in the hospital and have had to deal with these many health issues, tests, etc. I hope that you are feeling well, despite all of these things that you are going through! I'm sure that you will be relieved when you receive your test results and when your dental work has been completed! I hope that all is well, and I'll be thinking of you! As always, it sounds like you have a wonderful attitude and a positive outlook, and I know that that can only be good for your health! I am so sorry to hear about your DH's job. Believe me, I can relate to the hurt, anger, fear, etc. Especially since he was sort of "given notice" about the layoff, a few weeks ahead of time. I'm here if you need to vent, talk, or otherwise - having experienced 6 months straight of similar feelings and situations, I definitely empathize! But I'm sure that your DH will find something else great, soon! With all of the experience that he has and with all of the contacts that I'm sure he's made during his business travels, I'll bet that he will find something even better than his current job, before you know it! Glad to hear that all is well with your children, and that they have begun the school year and are enjoying it!

Thanks so much for stopping in and for your kind wishes, Dan! That's OK - I can be a bit of a "fiend", myself, I suppose! :) Thank you for thinking of me! :)

Hi Angie! Nice to hear from you! Hope that all is going well, down there, and that your children are enjoying the beginning of the school year!

Linda - thanks for everything, as always! 66 pounds - WOW!! That's so wonderful!! :) I'm sure that you will have lost even more than 75 by the time that you go to WDW! Belated happy Grandparents Day! That was so nice of you to take out all of the children! How is your DD feeling? And how are things going at the library? Has your new helper been fully trained, now? And do you find that it makes your work easier, having her there?

Hi Elaine! Belated happy birthday to Luis! So sorry that I missed the celebration for him, here in the Suite - I'll have to make it up to you both by taking you out to dinner at Victoria and Albert's, in honor of Luis's birthday! :) Thanks for thinking of me on Friday, even though you had much happier things to think about!

Everything has been fine, here. We spent Rosh Hashana at my parents' house, last week. I did all of the cooking and serving and setting up and cleaning up, and it was exhausting, but fun. Frank's sister came along, and she really hit it off with my family. I think that it really cheers my father up to have people over and to have a lot of people around. Then, this past Monday was Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement. It couldn't have come at a better time! The week in between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is supposed to be a time of reflection and a time to forgive and to think about ways that you would like to make your life better, etc. So this layoff was actually timed very well, and fell during that week! Frank and I went to Yom Kippur services at the new synagogue that we joined (the one of the Rabbi who married us), and I'm glad that we did - I found it to be very comforting and "cleansing". Then we went to my parents' that night, and I made and brought dinner for them and my uncle.

My last day of work was actually very anti-climactic. I had already long finished all of my actual work (the entire last week was horrible, since I had so little to do and was constantly trying to look busy), and I just basically sat around all day, waiting for my boss to "release me". The people in my group had had a cake for me the day before. It's very strange - I haven't worked with this particular group of people for very long, and while they are nice and we certainly all get along, I just don't feel close to any of them. So I almost felt like they got me the cake out of "obligation", not because they really WANTED to. Or maybe that was just my perception - as some of you said, maybe they just felt weird and didn't know what to say, or maybe they're afraid of losing their own jobs. Who knows. Anyway, that, along with my communication with them on the actual last day, was very awkward and stilted. When I finally left, they were all standing around me - I wasn't sure what they wanted me to do - I think that they were waiting for me to hug them, but I just didn't feel close enough to any of them to do that! It was very strange. Anyway, I managed to get myself out of there around 4:00 PM, then I went and met my 3 "co-layoff-ees" at a nearby restaurant in Princeton, and we had a few drinks. Frank came and joined us, when he finished with work, then the others left and Frank and I stayed and had dinner, which was nice. So, all in all, it wasn't a "bad" end. And now I feel relieved that it's finally all over, and that I never have to look at that office or those people again! I haven't really been able to do much relaxing per se, yet - too many chores to tie up and holiday stuff going on. But I plan to slow down, soon!

Today, Frank and I are off to the travel agent to make our reservations for our WDW trip in June 2003 - yea!!!!!! I don't care whether I am working by then or not.....nothing is going to keep me away from WDW!!!! :) :) :)

And maybe we'll watch our new Monsters, Inc. DVD later, too! :)

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you, and thanks so much again to all of you, for thinking of me and for being such great and special friends! :)

[IASW Rider]

Just wanted to stop in and wish you all a nice weekend! Hope that all is well with all of you! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Jstmee, I wish that I could wave my magic wand and make all your cares go away. Knowing the strong and capable woman that you are I know that you will cope and prevail over it all. Please keep in touch. We are here for the bad news as well as the good news and you are long overdue for the later.

Dear Lisa, I am so glad to see you long and interesting post. I keep wondering how you are doing and it answers so very much. I am glad that is behind you and you are free to go forward in your life.

Dear Elaine, just have to say again how flattered I was at your concern yesterday. Was wonderful to hear your voice even if it was brief.

For those of you who do not know Indiana was hit pretty hard by tornadoes yesterday. Only damage here was a potted plant that fell from the front porch. We had planned to go to Indy shopping but changed our plans and headed south instead. We were very lucky. The shopping center that we usually go to has pretty well been demolished. No loss of life and few injuries, none serious have been reported but there was an awful lot of property damage and pretty wide spread. Thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts and prayers sent toward my neighbors in distress.

I am headed out the door but wanted to drop by for a few minutes.

SG/Linda

[jstmee]

Linda, how devastating. Between tornadoes, hurricanes, other disastors, it seems that there is no end in sight. I guess it's what makes us all stronger.

My DH's last day is 9/30/02, no negotiating in that respect. They do want him to continue as an "Independent Contractor" though. That's definately better than the $200.00 per week MAX that unemployment would pay. We just don't know the details yet, and we are certainly anxious.

I got the results back from the Stress Cardiolite. I came back +, with suggestive of Ischemia, possibly a blockage. I have an appointment with a cardiologist in two weeks. We live in such a remote area the closest heart specialist is 4 hours away.

It seems when it rains it poors. My DS, 14 injured his muscles in the weight room at school. He cannot even stand on his legs. Just another quirky thing in our household. Other than all of that. Things are just peachy. lol.....

Hope everyone else is doing well. I'm actually thinking of withdrawing from teaching CCD as well. The first class is on Wednesday, and I just don't feel that I am up to it, physically as well, or mostly emotionally. I would rather cancel before the first class so they can rearrange my students before the start.

It's hot and muggy up here, a cool breeze would be welcomed.

Take care and my prayers are for everyone out there.

Wendy

[angelina]

Hi, everyone. Hope you're all enjoying a nice, relaxing weekend.

Wendy, a cool breeze would definitely be welcome for us, too, as long as it isn't named Isidore. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that it continues along it's present path, although some of the computer models have it turning north in a couple of days. Hopefully that won't happen.

I'm sorry to hear about your test results, hope everything turns out alright in that regard. My prayers are with you and your family as you go through this difficult time. Thanks for letting us all know how things are going with you.

Linda, what a frightening experience, thank goodness everything is o.k. at your home. I didn't realize that the bad weather was so close to you.

Lisa, I hope you and Frank are enjoying your weekend. You must be keeping busy. How did your meeting with the travel agent go?

I put together a photo album (Mickey, of course) from our January and June trips to WDW last night as we listened to the Alabama game. I just didn't have the heart to do it sooner. It is cute, though, and I'm glad it's finished. Lately I've been looking at the WDW website, planning another imaginary vacation, and really enjoying going through the resorts area and looking at the pictures of the rooms and resorts.

I'm off to take my dd to my sister's house to play for the afternoon, take care and I'll check back in tonight.

Angie

[SlightlyGoofy]

It seems we always want what we don't have, in regards to rain lately. We sure could use some but I figure it will wait until next weekend to cut loose as that is a big town holiday that weekend. LOL

Jstmee, I am glad to hear that there is a small break in your string of bad luck. Independent contractor is less than than a full time employee WITH benefits but much better than unemployment pay. Is there a chance he could turn this into a business of his own by working for more than one company to lessen his dependence on others? You could do the office work and it would mean more together time, employment for you both and a more secure future? I will have to look up Ischemia and see what all is involved. It so hard when you live far away. You might check out and see if they have a Ronald McDonald house or something similar to cut expenses and wear and tear of driving back and forth so much. Hope your sons young body mends quickly.

Angelina, I have been planning a trip also. Not really sure if it will be a reality or not. Am going with the flow and seeing how I feel as it gets closer to time and if I get some help around here. Wish I could drop by and see your scrapbooks. Bet they are lovely. Mine are not. I have boxes of stuff that I have not put together. Nobody but me is interested in the stuff and it will be probably be tossed a minute and a half after I croak so I cannot work up any real interest in doing it.

As I figured, the movie with my DD did not work out. It was postponed from Saturday and cancelled at the last minute today. Would have been the first time we had ever gone to a movie alone since she was a small child. I may go by myself this next week. I have another friend who would like to go and I might do that instead but I am not going to miss seeing "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Sounds like a blast.

My sister in Columbus came through her surgery fine but is in a lot of pain. Another sister called a bit ago. She just got back from NYC and caught a show of , shucks cannot think of the name -Millie something. I know the movie but this old mind has failed to bring up. You youngsters will find out about this one day. LOL

We are watching "The Rookie" while I answer emails. I do not do one thing at a time when I can do 2 or more. (grin) Have the Dalton Gang swap next week so I will be making the run from the grade school back into town to 2 daycares and dropping off kids and then to the library to work until time for my 3 o clock tutoring session. Dinner and then I collapse Oops, forgot that I have another ceiling fan to put together. At least the scales are moving in the right direction. So far looks like 6 pounds for the week. Hope I can maintain that until Tuesday weigh in. Is getting much harder. I found a hard place on my side and it scared me until I realized it was a hipbone. Had not seen that in a few decades. (smile)

If anyone hears anything about the first showing of the Osbourne Lights I would be interested as we are booked at DW until the 17th and if we make it Tom would want to stay a couple of days more to see the lights.

Have a busy week next week so I believe I will stroll over to the beach to watch the EWP for a bit. The guys have packed a picnic for us to enjoy and the night is balmy (so am I). Wanna come along?

SG/Linda

[helenabear]

Hello there everyone! Life fortunately has been rather boring here so hopefully I won't talk away too much and bore you all ;)

Luis had a good birthday. We had a few family members over for dinner & cake. He got some good "toys" for his birthday (shop vac, leaf blower and a few other little things like that) so hopefully we will have the cleanest yard out there ;)

Wendy, my when it rains it sure does pour :( I do hope that everything looks up in your life soon! Hopefully the doctors will be able to help you with your heart condition and they will find it to be something easily treatable and not too terribly serious. I pray that the job situation with your husband will turn into being something good soon. I also hope that your DS feels better soon! That is good news about your DD starting clarinet though. My sister played that in school and loved it. Soon she'll be on her way to being a great musician! And yes, I have been a busy little bee with all my meets here and there! Believe it or not I didn't go to one this month and have no plans to either :eek: ;) I will be going next month to Chicago and then no meets will be planned for me until December when I go to WDW. I enjoy the quick travels and it is so nice to be able to meet people that I talk with so much :)

Lisa, I am so glad to see that your lay off was timed so perfectly with the holidays. Good time for reflection and relaxation. How could I not think of you on last Friday? Even though it was Luis' birthday I have many moments to think of you all here as well ;) Do enjoy that trip planning! I swear half the fun is planning for it all isn't it? Oh and we got Monsters Inc too! I had never seen it before and I loved it!

Angie, I too had trouble getting updates for a while. I'd skip a week or so thinking no one had come here for a while only to see many posts up here. That actually just happened to me this week and I was shocked to see all the activity going on here! I too plan trips here and there in my mind. I think since I returned from my last trip, I must have planned out about 8 vacations to WDW in a short time. Sometimes that is just so much fun to do!

Linda, I was so glad to call you, I was just sorry that we couldn't have chatted for longer. Hopefully we can chat over the phone at great length sometime soon :) I am just glad that you were okay. I do wish your neighbors the best of luck in fixing and rebuilding anything that was damaged by the strom. As for those Osborne Lights, they officially start on Thanksgiving and sometimes they are previewed here and there before then but if you are only there until the 17th, I am not sure I could count on seeing them then. Maybe this is a good excuse to move your vacation to overlap a little with mine ;)

And Dan, as always good to see you here :wave:

Well I hope you all have a wonderful evening and I think a stroll on the beach while watching the EWP sounds delightful!

[IASW Rider]

Just wanted to say "hi" and that I'm thinking of you all! Miss you! Will write a "real" response to all of your posts tomorrow! Sorry - I've just been preoccupied with errands and chores. Will be "back", soon! Have a good night! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa, you have found out something I figured out awhile ago. Work will expand to fill whatever time you have available. I got far more done back when I had far more to do. Just enjoy these days, they will fly.

Dear Elaine, the Osboune lights have an AP viewing before Thanksgiving and we might be able to add a day or two to see them. Is Tom's favorite holiday,Christmas. Do you have your next trip all planned to a fare the well?

Angelina, you are on my mind today as I am sending special wishes that the storm will bypass you and all of your area and head out to sea and blow itself out without damage to life or property. Hope to hear from you and know that all is well with you and yours.

Spent the day painting and working in the yard. Getting ready for the big weekend. Will not get everything done , never do, but gives me something to shoot for.

I had a 7.25 pound loss last week. Made up for the gain the previous week and then some. Is the kind of loss that you enjoy for a bit but if I kept on having I would have to go to the doctor as I am sure it would be a bad sign. LOL I will enjoy it for now. The scales have not moved today. I am in the top end of a new "decade" so I am anxious to stay within those perameters.

Jstmee, I am hoping that the new in your neck of the woods has gotten a bit better.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

So sorry that I haven't been around to post in awhile! I should be around more often, now that the Jewish holidays are over and now that I'm settling into my "unemployed lady of leisure" schedule, a little better! I have been thinking of all of you, though, and reading your posts!

I hope that everything goes well with your upcoming doctor's appointment, Wendy. I will certainly be thinking of you! How are you feeling? And how is your DS feeling? I'm so sorry to hear about his injury! I am glad to hear that your DH may be able to continue on an independent contractor basis at work, though - that is definitely better than unemployment, and who knows? It could lead to another permanent position, when the market improves a bit, assuming that he would like to stay with his current company. I'm sure that it will all work out well. Most important, you all have eachother to support and care for one another, and I know that you and your family will get through these difficult times and be healthy and well! My prayers are with all of you!

How are you doing, down there, Angie? I hope that Isidore didn't affect you very badly - the footage that they are showing on the news looks very scary and serious! I hope that all is well with you and your family and that the storm did not damage your home or property! That's great that you put those WDW albums together - I love putting albums and scrapbooks together, like that! In fact, when ever we go to WDW (or any other vacation), I bring an album with me, or buy one when I'm there, and start working on filling it up with pictures and scrapbook "collages" and stuff, while we're still there! I hope that you'll be able to get back to WDW soon! Hey - maybe we can try to meet up again, in June! :)

Hi Elaine! How's everything going, up in your neck of the woods? Getting ready for your WDW trip? You must be counting down the days! Can't wait to hear all about it and to hear all about DIS CON!

Wow, Linda - you're my hero - over 7 pounds in one week??!! That is fantastic!! You'll have to tell me your "secret" - I am STILL on this @$%$&( ing plateau! I haven't lost anything in weeks - ARRGGHH! :mad: It's so frustrating! I'm trying all sorts of variations of my exercise and eating "plans", to try to shake up my metabolism, but I haven't had any luck. But I haven't gained anything - just stayed the same - so I guess that that's not awful. I bought myself a few new fall outfits to kind of cheer myself up - they're 3-4 sizes smaller than the ones that I was wearing at this time last year! I loved your comment about your hip bone - as soon as I read it, I started feeling around for mine, to see if I could find it! :) I didn't realize that there were tornadoes out your way. Thank God nothing more serious occurred in your area, and thank God you all and your home are all right! It must be so frightening! We don't really get hurricanes here (there was a small tornado a few miles away, a few years ago, though) - we just get Nor'Easters, which are often accompanied by snow (I'm sure that Wendy can relate!). We have had relatively quiet and "warm" weather the past few winters, though, so hopefully that will be the case this year, as well! How is your DD feeling? I'm sorry that you weren't able to make it to the movie. I want to see "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", too - you'll have to let us know how you liked it, when you see it! And the show that you mentioned - could it have been "Thoroughly Modern Millie"? If so, we're going to see it on November 2nd - I can't wait! Along with my more "practical" new clothes, I bought a new cocktail type dress to wear on that day, since we're going to the city to celebrate our 3 year "dating anniversary", as well as our 5 month wedding anniversary, and are going out to dinner after the show. The dress sort of looks like a 1920's flapper dress, with little fringes on the bottom, so I thought that it would be appropriate to wear to that show, and I couldn't resist buying it! :) Glad to hear that your sister's surgery went well and that she is recovering well - I'm sure that the pain will subside, soon.

Thank you all so much for all of your good thoughts and wishes and for thinking of me!

I'll tell ya, I could definitely get used to this not working but still getting paid thing! It's really wonderful, as I'm getting used to it! I have arranged for someone to come and renovate our deck next week - something that I have been too busy or lazy to arrange, and now we're finally having it done! I was also able to take my father to the hospital for a medical test, a few days ago. He had been a nervous wreck about it for months, and he is very relieved that it's over, now. The doctor removed a small polyp from his colon, but is almost certain that it is benign. Aside from that, everything went smoothly.

I got a notice from our wedding photographer today that our wedding album and portrait are ready - yea! I'll be going to pick those up, tomorrow.

Not too much to report, in general - just chores and errands and stuff!

But I wanted to check in and say "hi" and hope that all is well with all of you! We will have to have a "virtual EWP viewing", in our respective homes, when Linda and Elaine are in WDW, over the next few months! :)

In the mean time......who's up for midnight snacks at Captain Cook's with me? :)

Have a good night and I'll talk to you soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Boy, you must all be out amongst the parks, because I haven't run into anyone, here in the Suite, in days! Oh well - time for a quick snack and then a trip over to Typhoon Lagoon to float around the lazy river, for awhile......

Speaking of which, I am so thrilled with this continued summer-like weather, we're having here, in the beginning of October! I wish that it never had to get colder.....it was in the 80's here, yesterday! But I think that it's supposed to drop into the 60's, by the beginning of next week. :(

How are you doing down there, Angie? I hope that you weren't horribly affected by Isidore and that Lili isn't posing too great a threat to your area, either. And how about out there, Linda - I hope that you haven't had any more tornadoes!

How are you feeling, Wendy? Have you had your appointment with your specialist, yet? And how is your DS doing? We're thinking of you and hope that everything will be all right!

How are your DD and DS(ister) doing, Linda? I hope that they are well!

Hi Elaine! How's everything going, out there? How are Luis and the kitties doing?

Everything is fine, here - not too much to report! Just had the deck power washed in anticipation of having it re-stained and re-sealed, over the weekend. I hope that the guy decides to show up again - it was like pulling teeth to get him to come here and do this much. I don't know how these independent contractors think that they can stay in business when they are so unreliable and so hard to get ahold of.

We're heading down to South Jersey to visit Frank's family, this weekend. We finally got our wedding album back from the photographer, last week, so we're going to bring it down to show them. It will be nice to have a change of scenery and to see Frank's relatives, down there!

I finally got around to starting to reorganize my closets and move some of the larger clothes out of them, and unearth some of my smaller clothes to move into them. I have a long way to go before the closets are fully "converted", but at least I'm making progress! In the mean time, I'm STILL stuck on this stupid plateau! ARRRGGHH! It's so frustrating. I think I'm going to give up getting on the scale, for awhile. Maybe the numbers will start changing if I'm not looking (".....a watched pot never boils...." I don't know if that applies, here!)!

Well, time to try to get a few things done, around here! Hope that all is well with all of you! Hope to hear from you soon! Have a nice day! :)

[angelina]

Hi, everyone, I just wanted to stop in and say "Hello." I've missed hearing from you and reading your posts, but my computer was hit by lightening weekend before last, then Isidore came through and the kids were out of school for 2 days, and I've been unable to get my "computer man" to come by and work on my modem. Today, we're breathing a hugh sigh of relief that Lili did not come this way, although our beaches are all but destroyed from Isidore and now this one, from high tides, pounding waves and storm surge. Even though Lili is going to LA, we still have a 4-6 foot storm surge, and the berm that was built two years ago was completely washed away last weekend. People have been working frantically to push the sand off the roads and back onto the beaches, but in a lot of places, they didn't make it and houses that were damaged last weekend are going to get much more damage today.

I read the last couple of posts, and it sounds like everyone is o.k.--way to go Linda! You are my hero.

Lisa, it sounds like you're hanging in there, too.

Wendy and Elaine, I hope you're all doing well.

TI'll check in as soon as I get my computer fixed. Take care.

Angie

[IASW Rider]

Hi Angie!

So great to hear from you! Thank God you and your family are all right and that Lili doesn't seem to be headed directly for your area! I'm sorry to hear about your computer, though, and about the effects that Isidore had on your beaches, the flooding, etc. I hope that everything calms down, down there, soon, and that your shore area is able to be repaired and replenished. How is everything going, otherwise? How are the children doing, with the new school year? And your DH? How is your Grandmother doing?

Not too much to report, here in the Garden State! Just in the throes of dealing with the uncooperative deck guy. Now we're not going to Frank's mother's after all, this weekend, because deck guy cancelled on us for today and is supposedly coming tomorrow to finish his work. He'd better show up. UGH. But our staying up here means that we can take my uncle up on his offer to take us out to a new Turkish restaurant that we had all wanted to try, for dinner tomorrow night. That should be nice. We'll head down to Frank's family's next weekend, instead.

I'm planning to start trying some of the recipes in the cookbook that you sent to me, Linda. Now that I am finally getting settled in to my non-working schedule, I want to try to be a little more adventurous in the kitchen. So I'm going to buy some ingredients this weekend and start working on some of them next week. Hopefully I won't mess them up too badly!

So, Elaine and Linda - have you started making your PS's for your respective upcoming WDW trips?? Mine is 8 months away (8 months from this week, in fact!) and I have already begun to "map out" a schedule! I know, I'm a little crazy.......but what can I say? Planning a WDW trip is one of the most fun things that I can think to do, so might as well start early! :)

How's everything going up there, Wendy? Has your DH begun his consulting work, yet? And how are your children all doing, with the new school year? As I said, I hope that you and your DS are feeling well!

Have a nice weekend, everyone! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Whew! I think I am going to go sit out on the veranda and wait for you all to come in as I am just too darn old and tired to go out looking for you. I will be the large lump sitting in the jacuzzi with a cold glass of Crystal Light. (grin)

I am worn out from reading what you all are up to. Such a busy group we have.

Rider/Lisa, I was thinking about you a lot last weekend. My total expenditures for Hope Heritage Days was $5. $3 for a book for Dalton and $2 for an LP of Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA album, appears to be unused. He has been making a lot of noise (good sounding too) lately. One thing I learned when I was in the 'business' albeit in a very small way, was that unique is what everyone is looking for and he surely meets that criteria and is a nice person to boot. I bet anything you turn your hand to comes out great and I imagine your cooking will be wonderful as well. Did I send you the recipes for "fluff"? Is a collection of great diet recipes using FF Cool Whip. I made a humongous bowl for HHD and there was not enough left Sunday afternoon for a fingerful. No one noticed that it was diet food. Let me know what kinds of foods you like most and I will see if I have altered recipes that will allow you to enjoy while trimming down, although I think you look perfect now. I understand your frustration in getting the deck work done. Whatever you do, do not pay much, if any in advance or you might never see him again. Next time try to get a deadline in writing and a possible penalty for lateness. Also, very important - - - do not stand behind the workers as the view is sure to 'crack' you up. Probably not as attractive as Bo and the boys. (smile) My system for organizing my closet is to use a different color hanger for each size range. Makes it a bit easier to sort out things. I am lucky enough to have several huge closets upstairs so it makes it a bit easier. I have a dress with fringe on the bottom as well but I bet yours was a hit. Wish I could see a picture. So lovely to think of you being young enough to celebrate monthly anniversaries. Been a long time since we did that. I used to fix fancy dinners and such but got tired of it over the years. Too much work, too little appreciation.

Angelina, I was telling my dh about your recent run ins with the weather and he wanted to know why people would choose to live in such an area. I told him it was cause most of the time you had beautiful views and access to the water. He is used to living in Tornado Alley and does not think it odd that we live here. We were very lucky to have avoided the latest one. Was one of the worst I have seen since I have lived here and many were devestated with property damage. There is a story of someone who used ear plugs to sleep during the day who woke up to the sky above her in her bedroom. Not sure I believe that one as I do believe you would notice the wind. People are pulling together and helping out. I imagine it is the same where you live. Hope the weather gets calmer before we head in your general direction in a few weeks.

I was supposed to be in Elaine's area this next weekend but I think plans have been changed. They are having a school holiday here and rather than leave our little guy with a strange sitter I am keeping him for the week. My sister in Columbus had to go back to the hospital with complications but is back home now and feeling better. I can hear the frustration in her voice already. She says that she told the doctor in the recovery room that the operation did not work cause she was still fat. Sort of funny but I still hate the idea of her risking her health for something I do not think will work for her. She is a food addict like myself and the operation still requires diet and exercise. Hope Elaine and Luis are having a great weekend and enjoying this nice cool weather.

Jstmee, any news from your direction? Have been keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Just seems like you have been having more than your share of worries and I am demanding that the fates should send some sunshine your way soon!!!

Have been making some plans. Kind of wishy washy on whether we are going or not. Have not bought our AP's as yet so I am not fully committed. Do have a few new clothing items bought and have dragged out the suitcases to air them out though. Only thing written in concrete is the first evening I am going to one of the EWP resorts and having dinner and seeing the parade so if it gets messed up I will still have 11 other tries. (grin)

The scales are still slow to move but I am seeing a bit of a downward turn this week, hope it continues until Tuesday. Had a pound gain last week in spite of not doing anything wrong. You don't always get what you deserve and often that is a very good thing. LOL

Anyone know how many bricks it takes to finish a house that is 30 feet wide, 20 feet deep and 4 stories high? I won trivia last night with this question. Figure you are devious enough to figure this one out.

SG/Linda

PS - almost forgot the best news. Our dd was told that she 'might' be able to attain 20/60 corrected vision in her bad eye with the surgery. Yesterday she achieved 20/40 and still has some time to go before she is fully healed. Thank God. I am a happy woman.

[jstmee]

Hi all......

We just got the green light on my DS that has the "duane's syndrome". He had his Doctor appt on Thurs. and the doc said all tests came back normal and that he doesn't like putting a label on a person, such as "duane's". He said that it's a cranial nerve palsy and he said to leave it at that. We don't have to see him for 8 months. Whew hoo. He's fine for now.

My other DS with the muscle leg injury is fine. The doc prescribed him pills and so I took him to a chiropractor. He rubbed essential fatty oils on his legs and did ultrasound and he was up in walking in 2 days. The other doc said it would take two weeks for him to heal.

We also had my visit to Boston for my cancer stuff and breast stuff. Good new there also. I don't have to see my cancer doc for 6 months now and the breast doc I don't have to see again.

The cardiologist is tomorrow. I'm hopeful of that visit also.

After hearing you all speak of Bruce Springsteen, it's just fitting that I say he did an impromptu visit to the Bunker Hill monument that same time I was in Boston. The president also drove by us in his motorcade while we where there. It was nice to show my DS's the city. Since my DS has his doctor appt. the day before mine, I took them and a friend of theirs with me to my appt. in Boston. We also went to the Museum of Science there. Just wish we had more time their.

So, Yes things are looking up.

An update of my DH's job situation. They didn't have him go independent. I guess the government doesn't look to highly on companies firing people then immediately "rehiring" them as independent. The the gracious company they are "ha ha", not really. They are paying him 12 hours a week....to stay onboard part-time.

On the good news, he had an interview with a school system around here and they are looking for a computer tech. person to do all their networking, updating, fixing, inventoring for a tech center, high school, middle school and elementary school. The pay stinks and it's only part-time, but for now, if he gets the position it's really what he's wanted to do, and it will allow him to keep the other part-time position for a llittle bit.

God is truly watching out for us. We still won't be able to pay the bills but there is a glimmer of hope upon the horizon.

SG----so awesome about your continued success. So exciting!!!!

Rider----wish I lived closer, we do our deck every year by ourselves, I consider ourselves pros by now. We could have be your contractor. lol Our deck is pretty big too, it wraps around half the back of the house and the side of the house.

helenabear---what no meets this months......You must be having withdrawals.

angelina---You've been in my thoughts and prayers these past few weeks with Isidore and Lili.. My kids are past their mid-term grades now heading for the end of the quarter. My older ones just had two weeks off for harvest break. Potato picking time up here. My DD joined another girlscout troop. Whoo hoo, she just had a sleepover and she loved it. It was too much for me this year.

Thank you, thank you all of you for your kind words and thoughts while our family has been going through our difficult times. But, as I have always and will always believe, things happen for a reason good or bad, and good will prevail and we'll come out better for it.

Have a good evening all of you. I'd like to take in a nice relaxing show. Any suggestions.?

[IASW Rider]

Good morning!

How are you all doing, today?

Glad to hear that all is well with you, Linda! And that's wonderful news about your DD! I'm sorry to hear that your sister had some complications after her surgery. I hope that it works out for her - that surgery does sound very scary. I hope that she heals well and feels better, then makes the process work for her.

And so glad to hear all of the positive health news from your neck of the woods, Wendy! That's wonderful that you don't have to go back and see your cancer doctor for awhile, or your breast doctor at all! Lots of good luck with the cardiologist - I'm sure that all will go well! And that's great that there are no immediate concerns about your DS and that your other DS was able to walk and get around again so soon after his injury! I hope that your DD is enjoying Girl Scouts and I hope that your DH is able to get the job with the school system that he is interested in! That would work out really well, with his current job!

Yes, Bruce Springsteen has definitely been around, lately! I didn't see his most recent concert tour, but he seems to be all over the place! Saw him on "Saturday Night Live", over the weekend. I really need to get his new album - all the songs from it that I have heard are really nice. I still love "Born in the USA" best, though, Linda! :)

I'm going to try your salsa chicken recipe this week, and also the shrimp creole recipe that was in your cookbook. Will move on to some others, next week, but those are the first 2 that I am going to try. No, you didn't send me the "fluff" recipes - those must be neat! Please send them on over! I can use all the help I can get - in the kitchen, and otherwise! :) Talked to my therapist about my non-moving weight, this morning - I haven't changed a thing about the way that I'm eating or exercising, so there has to be some emotional component to my being "stuck". Am working on it.

That's so neat that you maintain your deck yourselves, Wendy! You are very brave - I would be too afraid of totally messing up if I tried on my own! Linda is also very brave - to do all that work in your house, like your tiling project of last year, etc.! The deck guy finished with everything over the weekend and it looks great. I'm just glad that it's done before winter! He wound up being more reliable towards the end - we might give him another chance and have him give us an estimate for our indoor painting, as well.

I hope that you are able to make it down to WDW in a few weeks, Linda! And I'm glad that you are planning to see the EWP early on in your stay! Although our cable company has been promising for months that our system would include new channels, we never had them until this weekend. One of our new channels is the Travel Channel. I turned it on for the first time last night, and lo and behold, there was a program about WDW on it! I quickly threw a tape into the VCR to tape it - it was great! I am so corny - I get all choked up seeing footage of WDW......even though I have a billion of my own tapes which I watch all the time!

I don't know if any of you are Disney Club members, but I have been reading on other threads that it will be closing next year. I am very disappointed! Well, at least we got the discount on our trip reservations before they take Disney Club away!

Great idea about the differently colored hangers for different clothing size ranges, Linda - I will have to try that! I don't have enough storage tubs in which to store all of the stuff that no longer fits, so I'm trying to separate clothes by closet, for now!

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

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone!

Linda, I do hope you can see the Osbourne lights while you are there, even if you have to add a day or two that would be wonderful as they look so beautiful from all the pictures I have seen! Congrats on your weight loss as well! That is just wonderful!

Lisa, don’t you get on yourself for your lack of weight loss. I think you look wonderful as it is right now so don’t stress too much about it. At least you’ve stayed the same and that is better than gaining ;) I am glad that you are enjoying your time off the way you have been and so glad to hear that the polyp from your dad’s colon was benign. Enjoy planning that trip to WDW as well :) And yes, I had heard about the Disney Club. I will renew it for one more year this December and see what happens next. Since I do have my AP now though I will get decent discounts other ways.

Angie, so sorry to hear that your computer was hit by lightening! That’s got to be awful. I hope your computer is fixed soon. I am so glad to know that Lili didn’t come your way especially after all the damage that Isidore did.

Hey Wendy! So glad to hear that all the tests for your DS came back normal. I do hope your other DS will heal up quickly as well. And wow, good news with your cancer and breast issues! I am so glad to hear that things are finally looking up. You all certainly deserve good things coming your way! No, I did not go to a meet in September, however I went to one on Saturday with meet pictures here! (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=273741) And I will be going on Friday to Chicago and having dinner with a group on Friday and then the official meet on Saturday. So I made up for it this month ;) Nothing next month (so far) but December will be DIS Con :)

Since a few asked about my trip planning. I don’t have much to do. This will be a relaxed trip. There will be a ton of mini-meets around so I will be watching for them. I have PS for Candlelight Processional and at Chef Mickeys before I go to MVMCP. Otherwise I will be taking it easy and going with the flow. I don’t do too much planning for trips but I enjoy dreaming about it all. Really the only thing I have left now will be packing. I have my room, air, tickets, tour & all the PS made that I need. So I am just counting down now :) I hope you all have a great evening!

[IASW Rider]

Hi Elaine!

Great to hear from you! Glad to hear that you've planned as much of your trip as you're planning to plan! How long will you actually be down there? I didn't realize that one needs PS's for the Candlelight Processional. Where do you view it from? I've never seen it before - is it around the WS lagoon? I've never been to MVMCP, either - you will have to tell us about it!

Did you get official notification from the Disney Club, about it closing, yet? I haven't - the only way that I even know that it's closing is from reading the posts on these Boards! I will renew in December, too......assuming that they ever formally inform me that they're closing! They're not stopping publication of the magazine, too, are they? :( I would really miss my Disney Magazine, if they did that!

So, how is everything going, out there? How are Luis and the kitties? And the rest of your family?

Not too much to report, here, today - it should be a nice, quiet day.....*SIGH*.......I love these days where I really have nothing "big" to do!

Have a nice day, everyone! :)

[helenabear]

Hi Lisa :) I figured while I had time I’d get to a bunch of your questions. I am also glad that most of my trip is out of the way… the rest is just kind of “dreaming” what I’d like to do. I like to go with the flow and this seems good for now. I’ve never seen CP before. The PS for it are just to make sure I have a seat. They have a reserved area which basically has no wait to it and then they have the line for those who didn’t get dinner and they get to wait around and see if/where they get to sit. It’s very much like the PS for Fantasmic from what I understand. I do believe it is being shown at the American Gardens Theater in WS. I will tell you all what MVMCP is like when I get back. I will be gone (as my sig suggests) 8 days so I will have a long time to just wander around and relax… something I am very much looking forward to!

Nope, I have not received official notification of the DC being cancelled. I figure I won’t see anything from them for quite some time. I have seen articles from Orlando newspapers online though. I doubt they’ll discontinue the magazine as it is separate from the DC.

Everything is going good here. The kitties are big and beautiful and Luis is now officially working for his company (no longer contracting). So we are very happy about that :) I don’t have much to report here either but I hope all you are doing well :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Wow, I have a lot of catching up to do. I did not receive any notifications that anyone had been in the Suite lately. I am so sorry, I should have checked in but have been running around like a chicken with my head chopped off. LOL

Ha!!!! Got cha!!! I have been to the CP. Am most surprised to be one of the only ones who has as you are all so well travelled. Tom and I went 2 Christmas' ago. Robert Ulrich was the speaker. We bought tickets as I was not able to stand in line and was most dismayed to find a huge line when we went to sit down. They did not let us go in and sit down but we had to wait in line for over an hour until we could sit down for the program. If we had not had tickets we would not have gotten seats as it was sold out. I have the lanyards and pins from the event (were included in the package). Yes, it is at the American Pavillion stage. Have to say that the program was totally awesome and I still have fond memories (lines or not) of it. We have seen the Osbourne LIghts at least 3 times that I can remember. Is one of Tom's favorite things but I have not enjoyed them so much because of the huge crowds and such. If we went a bit later when there were not so many people it might be a bit more fun IMHO. If they have a soft opening or AP showing that would nessitate only a couple of more days I might try it. My sister is coming over on the 16th and we usually go over to Jelly Rolls that night. If it were not for all the smoke I would love it there. We call it "Howling at the Moon". Speaks volumes about our singing voices.

Helenabear, you are fast becoming a Disney meet queen. I can see the enthusiasm in your eyes at meeting old friends from the boards and how much they must enjoy meeting you and Luis. You guys are just about the sweetest young couple I know. Glad to hear that Luis is being appreciated at his new job. Not surprised though.

Rider, just sent you the fluff recipes. Please try the Green Fluff first, it is the best. Tom likes the Pumpkin one. Is nice to have a bit of a dessert from time to time. I finally got my weight problem figured out. Turns out that I was eating too little fat. In my effort to lose this weight (3.5 pounds this week 71.5 total) I went too far on the low fat and developed some serious and painful stomach problems. I started eating a slice of real bread with some butter on it once a day and that seems to have done the trick. Lots of veggies and very little meat and lots of walking and I have been doing pretty steady, slow, but steady. Saw my lung doctor today and he was most pleased with my progress but has told me that I need to continue taking one of my medicines even though I am feeling much better. Lots better than the 7 I was taking though. Now don't be getting too domestic, trust me it gets boring and people start to take it for granted. Have found that the more you do the more you are expected to do. If you don't do much you get a lot of praise for the little that you do. Not fair, but true.

Jstmee, anytime that doctors do not need to see you for several months, a year or not ever again that is good news. I am glad that things are looking up at least a tiny bit for you. I hope that your dh finds a perfect new part time job where they appreciate him and he is happier and can leave the former company behind totally. Serves them right IMHO. Having had recent computer problems I can relate to your frustration. I hope that you did not suffer from too much lost data. It is a good thing that they have diagnosed your son so you will know what to do for him and what to look for. Very frustrating to know something is wrong and not be able to do anything about it or know what you are facing.

Anglelina, what weather you have been having. I hope that you did not get much damage (maybe a limb or two at most). Not sure which is worse, tornadoes with little or no warning or hurricanes where you have plenty of warning but are limited in what you can do about it. Guess the devil you know is always better.

You all might want to get onto the Travel Channel web site and check out the programming as they have been having a lot of Disney shows lately. Tom and I watched one on the Animal Kingdom park the other day and it was better than one of the walking tours. All kinds of inside information and no sore feet (not to mention no $100 fees).

Wish I lived a bit closer to you all as I do the painting around here and would gladly work for any of you. I had to fix the toliet the other day. I have an electrician coming in to install a couple of ceiling fans and at $75 an hour I have put the fans together and have the materials laying next to where they go so they will not waste any time. The electrician was one of the kids who grew up here in this house. He has to hire someone to drive him around as he went crazy when his mom died and did something to lose his driving license. I might make him a plate of cookies to remind him that we are friends so he might go easy on me. I cannot get up and down ladders anymore safely otherwise I could install the fans myself. Old age is NOT fun!

Going to have my Dalton all week next week since the daycare lady is taking a vacation in Florida. We have melons to pick and books to read. Gonna have a blast!

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

So sorry that I haven't been around for a few days! Unfortunately, I can't write a long post now, 'cause I'm at my in laws', but I just wanted to stop in and wish you all a nice weekend! Will write a "real" post when we get back to Central Jersey! Take care and hope tha all is well with all of you! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

The past week or so I have been counting my blessings that I do not have anyone in the Washington area to be affected by the sniper killings but constantly think of those who are under fire and pray daily that the sniper is caught and stopped soon. My imagination cannot conceive of all of the horrors they must be living through at this time. Just want you all to know that we are thinking of you and wish we could bring you all to the Suite to wait out this senseless tragedy.

Hello, Rider, Helenabear, Angelina, Jstmee. Hoping that you are all in the midst of a wonderful weekend. Is very cold here and I am getting afraid of bad weather going to or from DW. Thought I had that covered but Mother Nature is a fickle person. LOL

Headed out for the day in a bit as it is our 30th anniversary. Am taking Tom to see Jerry Lee Lewis (surprise). He is a big fan and I am not so that is my present to him. Bought him some new trousers (in style) last night and I have him color coordinated and properly dressed for the occasion. Not sure if this is our anniversary of our marriage or when I adopted him. (grin)

Our son's birthday is tomorrow and I found a perfect card for him. Hope he is allowed to see it. (sigh)

Weight is not doing so good this week. Have eaten out too much and am up one pound. Hope to walk some of it off today. One of the few pleasures of being large is that you consume more calories than most people. LOL

Have a safe trip home Lisa and it is so nice of you to think of us while you are visiting.

SG/Linda

[jstmee]

My kiddos have put up the Halloween decorations. I usually do it, but have no desire this year. So, I'm glad they found the boxes and they seem to be having fun with it. They are all at the park now playing. The leaves are almost gone now, but we had a beautiful fall, the trees were very colorful this year.

I can't remember if I wrote that I'm going to have a Cardiac Catherization in a week and a half. The doc thinks it should be okay, but wants to check.

I've been applying for more jobs also. I have an interview on Tues. for a Radiology Secy. at the hospital. It's 35 hours a week, so I will do my best to land that job. I also went to a place that does telesales. "You know, the credit card people that call you up and annoy you"-I may do that for awhile also until DH gets something. The part-time job my DH thought he might get, didn't happen. They hired a contract company instead.

The good thing about this is that the kids will appreciate things more. They are being very good about everything and not even batting an eyelid at the "leftovers" and such that we are eating more than ever. Thank goodness we live in a part of the country that a 50 lb. bag of potatoes is $5.00........

I am also grateful that my DH's job is still paying for the internet service so we can still be online. Whew. What what I do without it. I'm sure I'd survive.


I love hearing about all of you planning your vacations. Whoo Hoo, coming right around the corner!!!!!!

Elaine, 9 days without Louis, I'm sure you are going to miss him, your trip this time around is a solo one isn't it? But, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy......

Linda, it's funny you mentioned not getting enough fat. When my DS had his muscle problems in his legs, the chiropractor said he wasn't getting enough fatty acids and that was why he was having the problems.

Lisa, I hope you had a good time visiting the in-laws. You were able to sneak away and send us a message.

Well, it's the supper time. Mealtime seems to come around much to often. Aaargh, I better go fix something for the troops.

Later gators, Wendy

[SlightlyGoofy]

The temps went from the 80's into the 20's last night. Does not look like my flowers were affected too much. Have a very small yard and all the gardens are next to buildings and fences and such and that offers some protection. Would not mind them freezing as I need to get the yard ready for winter before we leave for DW and I hate cutting pretty flowers. LOL

Jstmee, have had a cardiac cath and my best advice to you is to take something good to read. The hardest part was lying still for so many hours. Because of my weight I did not require a sandbag on the incision site. Hey, told you there were as many good things about being fat as not. (grin) Be careful when you first get up. I am not a weak person and I almost passed out. The accumulation of gas while you lay still is weakening. After I made it to the bathroom I felt much better. LOL I know what you mean about eating a lot of potatoes. If you are interested in any cheap recipes please let me know. Have been extremely poor in my life at different times and have had to learn how to stretch a dollar six ways to Sunday. You are so right in that the kids will learn so much from this (hopefully brief) time of turmoil. It is hard to appreciate something that you have always had. Your kids sound like such nice ones, Halloween decorations and I think I remember them doing the Christmas decorations last year. How loving they are and I bet they are quite a comfort to you when you are feeling so badly. I will be rooting for the job for you. Sounds like a winner.

Yesterday was our 30th anniversary. I took Tom to see JerryLee Lewis down in Brown County and then out to eat. He was a happy fellow. I survived. Woke up with a temp of over a hundred. Knew something was wrong when I was shivering as I am a warm blooded woman. Took some Tylenol and laid down for a bit until I was safe to drive.

Have to go to Farm Bureau meeting tonight to vote for sil. Always know he wants something when I hear his voice on the phone. He is nice sounding when he wants something. Sure wish someone would call up to say "Hi, how are you doing" sometime. Have to go pick up Dalton and his gang at 11 and deliver the other kids to their daycares and bring Mr. D back here for the rest of the day. Austin will be here after school, drive them into town with us and then drive them and their Mom back home after we vote. Hope some of this activity gets rid of that pesky pound that is lingering. With what I have eaten this week it could be much more than a pound so I should not care but we are having a contest at TOPS. Everyone put $2 worth of quarters into a film container and if you gain you have to add a quarter and if you lose you take out a quarter. First one to empty their container wins all the money. Now the money is small but I am a competitive person and I wanna win it all!!!! LOL Would pay for a few Dole Whips at least. (grin)

Have to file a report on my restaurant shop I did Saturday night. usually file them the next day but was very busy yesterday. Will not be able to give them high marks as it was n ot their finest hour.

Any input on which days to go to which parks is most appreciated. We want to hit the night parades/fireworks/ shows at each park as we will be there 12 days. Have the restaurants all picked out.

Have a great day all and please drop by and let us know what you are up to. I enjoy thinking of you all as I wind my way through my day.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

You know, I don't know what my problem is. When I was working, it seemed that I had more time to visit the Boards (by sneaking on to them at work) than I do now, that I am not working! Also (if you happen to notice the time at which I am sending this message), I seem to have developed even more "severe" insomnia than I had when I was working - I am wide awake, right now! So so so sorry that I haven't been around very much lately. And so sorry that I haven't been able to catch up on everyone's posts. I am going to do that now, then I will post a "real message" tomorrow!

I am thinking of all of you and hope that all is well! Talk to you all, tomorrow! Have a good night! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

I know exactly where you are coming from. I have found that when I am very busy I am more focused and organized. Since Tom's retirement I have gotten off kilter and in terrible confusion. Any big change in lifestyle will do that to one. I am sure that you will settle down to some kind of a routine after a bit. Just go with the flow and enjoy doing things that you would never have had time to do before for a bit. You will be back at the grind soon enough and I would not want you to regret things that you might not have gotten around to. As long as Frank and you are happy, nothing else matters.

Congratulations on the weight loss! Those pounds were lost with great effort and at an especially stressful time in your life so you should be doubly proud.

Hope that the weather is holding for everyone and that any of our friends in the East are surviving the awful times as best they can and that it all ends quickly and well.

I am swinging back and forth between looking forward to a visit to WDW soon and dread of all the work that I have yet to do in order to be able to do it. Getting the outside work done before we leave is a necessity especially with the unseasonable weather we are having.

Helenabear must be out and about at another meet of some sort or out partying with Luis. Young couples have more energy than us old fogies. (grin)

Justmee and family are hunkering down for a relaxing evening at home, NOT. Those people never sit still!!!!

Angelina, I would like to pack your address and phone number just in case we get a wild hair and decide to check out Fairhope. Please PM me?

Headed over to the House of Blues to check out the music tonight. Got to have a little beat to get me in the mood.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Wow! I am so behind the times! I am soooo sorry that I haven't been around lately, with so much going on with all of you! I promise not to stay away for such a long time, again!

Belated Happy Anniversary, Linda!! I'm glad to hear that you and Tom had a great one and a nice time at the concert! And belated Happy Birthday to your DS, too! And lots of luck to your SIL in the election! And.....congratulations, Ms. Skinny, on losing even more weight! You are amazing! You'll have to start doing seminars for us, here in the Suite, and teaching our Suite gentlemen how to cook tasty, low fat fare, for us Suite residents! Glad to hear that you're all ready to go to WDW! In terms of which parks on which days....I was never very good at making predictions, but one thing that I observed is that the MK is INCREDIBLY CROWDED on weekend days (well, it's probably very crowded EVERY day, but especially on weekends, when local visitors tend to congregate there!). Hopefully the crowds won't be too bad when you are there - from what I've read on the Boards, the crowds have been pretty light. Will pick up, though, next month, if you're going to be there during Food and Wine Festival time, I imagine.

And glad to hear that you're all ready to go, too, Elaine! You are going to have so much fun! I'm sure that you will miss Luis and the kitties, but you will have a bunch of your DIS friends there and are sure to have a blast! I can't wait to hear all about the CP and MVMCP! I wonder if you'll get to see the Very Merry Christmas Parade being taped for the TV telecast, too! And both you and Linda have to visit the new Journey Into Imagination ride - it's very cute - say "hi" to Figment for me! And please ride IASW and think of me! And of course......see the EWP! :) Congratulations to Luis on becoming a permanent member of his team at work - that is great news!!

It sounds like you are busy as ever, up there, Wendy! Lots of good luck with your upcoming procedure - I'm sure that all will go well. And lots of good luck with your job prospects, too! I actually had a phone job, many years ago, that sounds similar to the one which you were describing. I worked for a market research firm, during college, and did phone surveys. I was hung up on a lot, but that was OK! It was interesting to hear the people's responses to the surveys that I did get to complete. They ranged in topics from TV shows (I think our client was Neilsen of the Neilsen Ratings) to luxury cars (our client was Mercedes) to hair care products (our client was Jheri Curl), to many others! Good luck with whatever you choose to do! I'm sorry to hear that the part time job did not work out for your DH. Hang in there - as you said, and as Linda said, these times will pass and it's wonderful that your children appreciate what they have and that you are all taking each day as it comes, together! These things always have a way of working themselves out (says she, the unemployed person who lives in denial, and has a negative physical reaction when the thought of looking for a new job enters her mind! :) ). Hopefully, before you know it, you will all be able to put this difficult time behind you and look back on it and appreciate all the things that you did to make it work and to make your family even stronger!

How are you doing out there, Angie? I hope that the bad weather has completely passed and that you won't be subjected to any more horrible storms!

Everything has been fine, here! I wish I had some interesting news to report, but I don't! I'm just hanging in and consciously appreciating each day that I have to myself, while I'm still getting paid and not having to work. Thanks to Linda and the great cookbook and recipes that she sent to me, I am becoming quite the "accomplished" chef........or at least a decent one! Frank seems to enjoy being my "guinea pig" as I try each new recipe out on him! It's nice to have the time to put a real recipe together, as opposed to the quickie meals that I would throw together after work, when I was going into the office every day! And it's fun to try new things! Tonight, we are going out to dinner though, because we are celebrating our 3 year dating anniversary! (ie: the 3 year anniversary of our first date. And we owe it all to the MK parade Cinderella, who told me to go to that "Royal Ball" to find my prince! :) ) I'm going to take the opportunity to wear one of my new dresses and am looking forward to a nice, relaxing evening!

The visit with the in-laws was nice. I think that we are all becoming more comfortable with one another, as we get to know eachother better, and now that Frank's family knows some of my family, I think that they feel closer to me, too.

My parents are hanging in there. I spent some time with them this week, relieving my father, so that he could go to some doctor's appointments. My mother and I got along very well - we mostly talked about WDW, actually! But it's inconsistent - I now realize that some of her behavior and the way that she acts towards me has to do with various medications that she is on (my father never tells me about her various medications and illnesses until they are either over or not as serious. He recently told me that she had a bad kidney infection - from not moving around enough - right before our wedding, and the doctor had wanted her to go into the hospital. My father didn't want her in the hospital, though, so the doctor prescribed the same antibiotic that people use to treat anthrax, and the infection cleared up. But now she has another one, and the medication that the doctor has her on makes her so lethargic that she slipped out of her bed, the other day, and my father had to call the EMT's to lift her up and get her back into bed. That's the sort of thing that my father doesn't tell me until afterwards.). Anyway, it's a pretty depressing situation over there - again, I'm in denial - I try not to think about the reality of what's going on with my mother's health, much less the strain that my father puts on himself. At least my mother and I have been getting along all right, recently.

Speaking of health issues, I had my annual exam, last week, and because my grandmother had breast cancer, my doctor prescribed a mammogram for me even though I'm 35. I'm a little nervous about it (I'm having it next month), because I've heard all of the horror stories about how painful or uncomfortable it can be, but I know that it's a good thing and I'm glad that I am going to do it.

On a different kind of "health note", I've officially lost 75 pounds, as of this week. Yipee! :) It's so weird - I don't know that I could pick up a 75 pound object - so I wonder how it was that I was carrying an additional 75 pounds around with me, every day! Anyway, I'm glad that they're gone! Even though I haven't been sleeping very well (and I've probably been smoking too many cigarettes, 'cause I'm home all day), I feel very healthy and strong and "lighter" / "springier", lately. Maybe it's because the proverbial "weight" of having to deal with my horrible work situation has been "lifted from my shoulders", in addition to actually being physically stronger than I was a year ago.

I hope that all is well with all of you and your families, and that you're all having a nice weekend! :)

Anyone want to join me at the Kona Cafe, for a late lunch / early dinner? (In reality, as I sit here and write, I am drinking a cup of Kona coffee from the Kona Cafe, as we brought some back with us, when we were there in June - we only drink it on special occasions, though!)

Talk to you all again, soon! :)

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! I haven't been getting the e-mail notifications so I didn't think that anyone had come here as of late!

Linda, no CP for me. This is the first time I have ever been during the holidays. Before we could only go during the summer months so this will be a first for me. I am doing the CP & MVMCP to make sure I am able to see it all as I hear all of it is beautiful! And a very happy belated anniversary to the both of you! I hope you both were able to enjoy it.

Wendy, wishing you all the best in everything right now. Sounds like you have a full plate there! Do let us know how it all goes and I hope that sometime soon you will have a nice, quiet & "easy" time soon :)

Lisa, congrats on your weight loss! I agree that MK is very busy on Friday & Saturday (and then on Sunday due to EE) because those are definitely the nights they always have the fireworks. Although Linda, you will be going during a very very low attendence time so hopefully you won't see many crowds anyway. I will look forward to my 8 days on my own. I will be around a ton of friends and I will have my cell phone so I can at least call Luis and have him call me anytime we want.

Well I was in Chicago last weekend for a very nice meet. I was able to see a lot of old friends there and meet a few new ones. Here is a link to my Chicago Meet Pictures (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=277909) for those who wanted to see them. I hope you all have a great day :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Wow, I step out for a bit of fresh air and you all snuck in on me. How lovely to see you. Lisa, as usual you are beautiful and especially so with your 75 pound loss. Whenever you get to feeling down and less than perfect (BTW, stop that right now!!!) just pick up a couple of 5 pound sacks of flour or sugar and contemplate just how many of those you have lost. On those weeks when you 'only' lose 1/4th pound get a stick of butter out and look at it a bit.

As far as your job denial thing goes IMHO this is about the best possible time you could be 'unemployed" as you have so very much going on in your life right now and need the time. Between being a newlywed and having a sick mother and a father who needs help you have plenty to do. I am glad to hear that there has come an understanding between your mother and yourself. I always felt that there was so mental reason for her ways since a mother who was wonderful enough to share DW with you could not be a bad person and I knew that you were such a loving and wonderful daughter that she could not help knowing that unless there was something terribly wrong. How wonderfully loving and totally mistaken your dad is for trying to spare you the details of their old age.

Magic Kingdom is pretty crowded most of the time but one of the perks of going for longer stretches is that you can go with the flow. I have 3 days set aside for MK and want to make sure to be there for the evening celebration one night but we can go late afternoon, get our favorite rocking chairs and sit and enjoy it all. Might even try the railroad station this time as it would have a better view of the fireworks and be close to the exits.

Elaine, what wonderful pictures and the commentary was excellent. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. I enjoyed seeing Marie and some other familiar names. Is always nice to put a face to a name. Marie looks just as I had imagined her. Beautiful and friendly.

Went to church this morning and then spent almost the rest of the day at the hardware store and am tired out. When I was younger I had the energy and no money and now I have money and no energy.

Just about have my plans finalized. My sister is coming over for a weekend and we are planning on going to the fabulous Italian restaurant we went to last time and I even found a $15 coupon on the Internet for it. Since the prices were very reasonable last time the coupon is quite generous. Better start saving up points so I can enjoy myself. LOL

I am up for Kona's. Will someone please let me have just one Koko Puff as I have never had one?

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Just stoping in for a quick "hello", this morning, since I have a doctor's appointment soon, and a bunch of errands to run.

Great to see you, Elaine and Linda! And Linda - I've never had a KokoPuff, either! I've seen them, though, on the Kona Cafe dessert display near the pastry chef's station, there, and they look great! I think that there may be a picture of them (along with all of the other Kona desserts) in my on-line albums.

Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful words! You all are such wonderful friends! :)

I wish I had some interesting news to report, but I don't - just "the usual", around here! Ooh - all of a sudden, I have a cat sitting in my chair with me! The Big Ragoo (the one who looks like your Cleo, Elaine) just jumped behind me, on my chair - and made me jump, in the process!

Well, just wanted to stop by and say "hello" - will be in touch again, soon, and will try to conjure up some interesting news!

Have a nice day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

As the oldest member of this group I will clue you in on a fact of life. Real friends are much different from fake friends. Real friends are there for the bad times and even worse (the boring times). We root each other on through the routines of life and just sit quietly enjoying the companionship and rest up for the tough times that are sure to come. If we could only talk or post when there was something exciting going on we would only get together a couple of times a year. Frankly, having lived t hrough many exciting times I can tell you that they are not all they are cracked up to be and are, for the most part, not fun. LOL

Just enjoy seeing your sweet smile, Lisa. Hoping some of the other Suite Ladies will check in with updates on their days as well. I would love to touch base befoe we head out for the World. Have our agenda all figured out. Such a luxury to have time to enjoy the small things and plan a lot of looking in nooks and crannies for the small touches that Disney is famous for.

I have to check my clothes this weekend and make sure that I have enough clothes that fit and if not there will be some serious shopping going on next week.

Am headed for a meet with some members of a weigh loss forum I belong to this weekend. Should be a blast. They are great ladies and have been so much help to me.


Hope your doctor's appointment goes well Rider and he tells you that he is proud of your weight loss. You deserve the praise for all your hard work.

Please do not worry about me and the Koko Puffs as I am blessed with a DH who can eat what is left after I have my taste so I do not eat the whole thing and come back pounds heavier. LOL

Off for my day at the library, Linda/SG

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! Just popping in because I am tired of work already (and I've only been here 2- 2/12 hours :eek: )

Linda, I am glad that you enjoyed the pictures I posted. I very much enjoyed taking them and sharing all I saw with everyone. I too love seeing pictures to put a face with a name. Marie is very kind and very friendly. I only wish I had more time to talk with her like I did my previous trip. I can't believe you are so close to leaving for your trip too! Of course I only have 37 days left, but I do wish I could go sooner. Do we have a night planned to watch the EWP yet with you? I just realized I don't have that planned in yet on my trip. I guess I will have to work on that one. I have to admit also I have never had a Koko Puff... mostly because I am not a chocolate lover at all and so they never really appealed to me. But do get Tom to try one for you and sneak a taste along with him ;)

Lisa, I hope all goes well with the doctor's appointment (I hope it was just a standard check up). I also hope you are enjoying your time off. I agree with Linda, your time off couldn't have come at a better time. Had I been laid off a long time ago right about the time of my wedding I would have been happy about it as that would have been a great time to get time off. Shame on your Big Ragoo though... scaring you like that. Mine just are rude and "yell" at me when they want to sit near me :rolleyes: Gotta love the babies though.

Linda, your words on friendship are so true! Friends are there for everything... the ones who aren't, cannot be considered to be true friends.

Well I have to run again... work is calling my name. I am going shopping at an Outlet mall this weekend with a few fellow DISers, but that will be all I have planned this weekend. I hope you all have a great time and don't forget that coming Sunday we will all be back on Standard time :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine

There is a big difference between acquaintances and friends IMHO. It is human nature that you are not going to like or have things in common with every single person you meet in this life but it is a gift when you click with someone special. When I got sick a few years ago a lot of acquaintences left my life. It hurt at first and then I realized that I was able to focus on more important people and things by cutting the chaff out of my life. Not that I do not wish those people well, I do, but it seemed that they were the people who took up so much of my time doing for them and were very wearing on me. So very many people have come into my life for short or longer times and then moved on with life changes. I could bemoan their loss but how much greater it would have been if I had not gotten to know them at all. Each and everyone made me who I am today and I will forever treasure that. You Suite Ladies mean that to me also. Is a place I can go and find smiles and kindness anytime of the day or night and I hope that I am able to give some of that back to you all.

Nuff sweetness and light. LOL I actually have the EWP penciled in a few times on this trip.

11/05 Check in/unpack/rest/ get bearings/MGM for a few hours/1900 Park Fair dinner and EWP/fireworks
11/06 Trail's End Buffet/MK/Boatwright's dinner/Lounge music
11/07 EPCOT/Akerhaus/Little Anthony and the Imperials
11/08 DTD events for Art Festival/Marrakesh/EPCOT/Fifth Dimension with Pooh 123/Spectomagic
11/09 Liberty Tree/MK/stay for parade and fireworks
11/10 MGM/H&V Fantasmic package
11/11 Animal Kingdom
11/12 Perkins Pancake House/MK/Poly for dinner/EWP/Fireworks
11/13 AK/Bombas for dinner
11/14 EPCOT/Biergarten/Chubby Checker/Rainforest Cafe/Cirque
11/15 MGM/Brown Derby/Chevy's for dinner
11/16 Sister and friend come in for weekend, will probably go to this fantasic Italian restaurant for dinner and to Jellyrolls to howl at the moon!
11/17 Breakfast with sister and check out unless they have an early soft opening for Osbourne Lights in which case we will extend a couple of days.

Back home in t ime to celebrate Thanksgiving and get ready for Christmas.

Did not enclose all the gory details, just a taste of where we will be and what we will be doing. I like to leave a bit of space to change plans if weather or other circumstances warrant.

I can only handle about 6-8 hours in the parks a day. Planning on seeing a lot of small things we have not been able to on other trips. Hope the snow stays away until we return. LOL

I have a new outfit on. Not fancy BUT a smaller size than any others. I can now buy clothes at Wal Mart. K Mart was the only regular store that had clothes in my size before. Am stil in XL sizes but there are not so very many X's nowadays. Will take my scales with me so I can watch that the needle does not go in the wrong direction.

Elaine, have you made your usual detailed plans? Do you keep to them or do you vary sometimes? What are you going to do on this trip that you would not if Luis was going with you?

Lisa, hope your doctor's appt went well and you got a clean bill of health. You should with all the hard work you have been putting in.

Angelina and Jstmee, as always you are both in our hearts and on our minds and we are sending pixie dust your way to lighten your day.

SG/Linda

[helenabear]

You are such a dear Linda... I do agree with your statements on friends vs aquaintences. The good ones will always be there... the others won't when the going is tough. I am very blessed for all the true friends I do have!

It sounds like you have a great schedule going! I will have to make a little confession, I don't usually do schedules BUT I do make very detailed lists of things I like to do. I usually don't do many sit-down dinners and I like to go with the flow. This trip though is a bit different so I have a schedule going for myself and a few others I will be around most of the time. I still have very few sit down dinners planned but a lot of meetings with people set up. The end of my trip is getting pretty full but the beginning four or so days are pretty empty right now. I don't know if there is anything I will be doing differently since Luis isn't there... maybe see all the parades since he isn't a parade person and I probably won't go to Disney Quest, but otherwise not much looks different for me. He usually just goes along with it all :)

Well my lunch is almost over so I had best run. I hope everyone here is doing well :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Helenabear, I am so flattered that you would spend your lunchhour chatting with us.

I would have pegged you as an obsessive Disney planner. I like to go the medium route as I want to do as much as possible but leave room for changes if something better comes up. Will only make PM's for the 1900 Park Fare and the H&V Spectromagic meals. Have never had trouble getting into anywhere we really wanted to eat and I do not like having to run back across the park to catch a PM.

I hope to meet a few other DISers while there. Any lurkers wanna meet one of the Suite Mates? We are an older retired couple and do not move fast but have plenty of smiles to share.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Greetings, my friends!

Sorry for the short absence, there, again!

I also loved your thoughts about friendship and true friends always being around, even when there is nothing unusual going on, and especially when one needs them, Linda and Elaine!

Sounds like you have a very busy and organized WDW schedule planned, Linda! It's great that you are going to get to do so many neat things, and that you are going to try some things that you have never experienced there before, too! And I'm glad to see that the EWP appears on your schedule more than once, of course! :) Glad that you will be able to make it over to the Poly - please say "hello" to it, for me! :)

And I can't believe that your trip is also coming up so quickly, Elaine! Time really flies by, doesn't it? If you don't happen to have a lot of plans (yet!) during the beginning of your trip, maybe you should just take that time to relax and "reacclimate" yourself with the parks, resorts, etc. Just take some time to wander around and just do what you feel like, at the moment!

As of this Saturday, we have exactly 7 months till our WDW trip! :) And this is what OUR schedule looks like, so far (hee hee!):

June 2: Arrive, "Hello" to MK, Dinner at 'Ohana
June 3: DMGM Studios, pool time, Dinner at Artist Pooint
June 4: Epcot, Le Cellier (?), pool time, Dinner at Citricos
June 5: Chef Mickey's, pool, AK (?), Dinner at California Grill
June 6: All day pool day, Dinner at Brown Derby, Fantasmic, hook up with Mike
June 7: Kona Cafe, MK, Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern, SpectroMagic
June 8: Throw myself on the floor of the Poly lobby and beg them to let us move in there permanently, depart

Hey, it's never too early to make those preliminary plans, right? :)

Isn't it great to have to assess your wardrobe to see what still fits, before a WDW trip, Linda? I had to buy all new shorts and tank tops before our trip in June, since I had absolutely nothing that fit from last year! Good idea bringing your scale with you! But you won't need to - you'll be fine and do a great job, down there!

Right now, I'm back to my "gain 2 pounds, lose 2 pounds" thing. UGH. But at least it's a "lower" 2 pounds than the last time I went through this, so that's a little progress, I guess! :) We've been going out to dinner a lot, lately, and those later-and-heavier-than-usual dinners out tend to get to me. As long as I keep losing those 2 pounds, I'm happy! Of course I'd be happier if the scale moved below those 2 pounds, but.....! :)

Boy, it sure got cold, here! It definitely feels like fall outside, now! And I hate that it's getting dark so early. But the leaves looks really pretty, now! Didn't it seem like it took longer than usual for them to start changing, this year? They're pretty much at their "peak" around here, now.

We went "down the shore" to visit my friends who live near Atlantic City, this past weekend. My friend's husband and one of her sons were away in Florida, so we kept her and her younger (toddler) son company, and she was also babysitting a friend's infant. Frank was adorable, playing with the boys - I think that he enjoyed their toys as much as they did! He is fantastic with children, which makes me feel even more confident than I already did that he will be a wonderful father some day (not too soon, though! We'll get there, eventually! :) ). It was a nice visit. We have some busy weekends coming up, including 2 excursions to NYC, so hopefully I will have some more "eventful" news to report, soon!

I enjoyed seeing your DIS meet pictures, too, Elaine! You always take such great pictures! I can't wait to see all of the ones that you are going to take at the DIS CON (hint, hint!)! :) Seriously, it's so nice that you post them all for everyone to see!

I'm going to make your salsa chicken for dinner again tonight, Linda! Actually, I should get going on that, now.

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a nice day and talk to you soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Boo!

Happy Halloween, Everyone! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to stop in and say that I hope that you all had a nice weekend! Also, I hope that it's not too late, but I wanted to wish Linda and Tom BON VOYAGE and a wonderful trip to WDW! :) How about a "virtual EWP viewing" tomorrow night at 9:45 PM? (I think that that's what time the EWP appears at the Grand Floridian!) Have a great trip and enjoy!! And please say "hi" to the EWP and IASW for me! :) :) :)

Hope that all is well with all of you!

Everything is fine, here. We had a wonderful day and evening in NYC to celebrate the 3 year anniversary of our first date and our 5 month wedding anniversary, on Saturday! We saw "Thoroughly Modern Millie", which was this year's Best Musical, and it was just fantastic! And we had dinner at a beautiful rotating restaurant on top of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, called The View. There were amazing views of the City, and we even got to see the fireworks that celebrated the kickoff of the NY Marathon celebration! We felt like we were at the California Grill, watching the fireworks over the MK! Here are some photos, if you'd like to see:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/lisaruthb3/lst?.dir=/Our+Anniversary+in+NYC+November+2+2002&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/

(Sorry - for some reason, I wasn't able to insert a hyperlink - please cut and paste the above huge link, if you'd like to see! :( )

We had a chance to meet the star of the show we saw, Sutton Foster, who also won the Tony this year as Best Actress in a Musical. She was very sweet and just adorable! And needless to say, she was outstanding in the show. You can also see the weird silver guy whom we encountered on the street (anything is possible in NYC!) and some photos of us in the restaurant, etc. We really had a nice time - it was a great treat!

Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[IASW Rider]

Oooh - my crazy long link turned into a hyperlink when I submitted the post! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

May I join you all in the virtual watching of the EWP? For the very first time in my life I had to cancel a DW vacation. I was already having a hard time trying to get everything done so we could leave, make plans, get the yardwork done before we left as it would be too cold when we returned, Christmas cards so they could be mailed out Thanksgiving as I usually do, oil change and wash car, and on and on including the regular housework etc. I started having pains in my right shoulder and thought it would go away, did not so I went to the doctor who said it might be gallbladder. Even with that I was still considering going but when I pulled into the carwash to get the car washed before our trip. While trying to wash the car with one hand while my DH gave me hints on spots where I had missed it occurred to me that maybe this trip was just not a good idea. Am still too angry to talk about it all right now so I will slip off to sulk for a bit and will return when I calm down and become human again.

Lisa, you are just a sweetheart. Your card was do thoughtful and kind. I wish I could bring you out here and spoil you rotten!!

Linda/SG

[angelina]

Hi, Lisa, I loved seeing your pictures! What a great weekend! I've been seeing billboards here for RENT, and was wondering if you and Frank had seen that yet?

[IASW Rider]

Oh no! :( I'm so sorry to hear that you decided to cancel your trip, Linda! :( I feel so badly that I made a big "Bon Voyage" deal, now. :( But it's much better that you take care of yourself - especially if your doctor advised that you might have an issue with your gall bladder. Also, it's better that you have peace of mind and know that you have gotten everything done that you need to do, and that you're ready for the upcoming holiday season. We'll just have more virtual fun, here in the Suite, that's all! We'll make you feel like you are at WDW, right now! Speaking of which......it's a little after 9:00 PM.....by my estimate, the EWP should be passing by any moment, now.......! :) Thank you for your kind words, Linda! I'm sure that you and Tom will make it back to WDW before you know it! :)

Hi Angie! Great to hear from you! And thanks for your thoughtful words, too! :) How have you been?! And your family? Yes! Frank and I have seen "Rent"! We saw it once together, and I saw it twice before that, with 2 different sets of girl friends! I love that show!! If you are considering seeing it, a few words of caution: it might not be appropriate for your children to see - there are some mature themes depicted - implications of intimate activities and drug use, and a continuous underlying theme dealing with HIV / AIDS. It is also a very LOUD show - it is entirely sung through, with very little, if any, spoken dialog, and very "rock like" music. Personally, I love the show, but these are just a few things that I thought you might want to know ahead of time, if you're thinking of seeing it!

Hope that you're all having a good night! And we'll always be at WDW with you, in our hearts, SG! :)

[IASW Rider]

Just stopping by to say "hello" to you all and to give our thread a little "bump"!

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

[helenabear]

I feel like such a dufus! I was deleting subscriptions to threads and I deleted this one by accident! I wondered why I wasn't getting any e-mail notifications!!! So thank you Lisa for the little bump ;)

So I will do my best to catch up as much as possible with you all right now while I am at work eating a very good, yet probably bad for me, turkey bacon wrap (with Ranch dressing too :teeth: )

Lisa, it sounds like you have a very nice plan all laid out for you there (even if it is just preliminary)! I'll share mine so far in a minute. I also loved hearing and seeing all about your day at the theater! That's one thing, around here I have to wait for the good shows to come to me instead of me going to them. I too got a nice post card in the mail from you! I truly enjoy getting them as they always make me smile. I haven't yet had a chance to talk to my brother about the Elephant hotel though :teeth:

Linda, I am so so sorry to hear about your trip :( I wish there was something I could do to help you feel better about it all. I do hope you'll be able to reschedule soon though.

Hi Angie, good to see you stop in!

Well I feel terrible for sharing this in light of Linda's recent disappointment, but I hope you don't terribly mind seeing it Linda. (If you do stop reading now).

I have a tentative plan (and more planned then usual for me) for my trip:

12/1: Fly out, Check in the Swan, afternoon at MK, evening meet up with a bunch of DISers for ToD & IllumiNations.
12/2: No clue what to do, Candelight Processional in the evening w/ Dinner at Marrakesh beforehand
12/3: World Showcase backstage tour in the morning, ??? Dinner at Chef Mickey's then MVMCP
12/4: ???, in the afternoon I am meeting with a group of DISers who will get to use the staff entrance to SE, then meeting with others at Rose & Crown later on. My friend and her son are also coming that night to share a room with me for a few days
12/5: ???, afternoon at MGM to meet up with a bunch of DISers for most likely a parade, dinner, Fantasmic & Osborne Lights
12/6: ???, again at MGM to meet up with a group to do a few rides, then meeting with another for dinner & IllumiNations
12/7: AK in the morning/afternoon, not sure about the rest of the day
12/8: not sure what I am doing, but I leave to go home that day too :( So I'll cry on my way to the airport I am sure...

So that's my trip so far. I do need to work in resort hopping & Downtown Disney too. Not quite sure where I will do those yet.

Well I am back to doing other things. I hope you all have a great day!

[angelina]

Good afternoon, everyone, I just wanted to stop by to see what's happening in the suite.

We got a puppy two weeks ago, and had to take her for her first shots this morning. (I know, you're all cat people:teeth: ) Her name is Honey, and she's a golden retriever/lab mix and she's 6 weeks old. We took her to the vet yesterday, but the Dr. had ER surgery, so I just her weighed instead, and brought her back this morning. She gained 4 OUNCES in less than 24 hours!!! That's more than 4 pounds in the two weeks that we've had her! She's very cute, though, and seems to be very calm and laid back, which is a good thing, because after the last dog we had, we weren't going to have any more. Dad wasn't pleased when we brought her home, but I think she's growing on him. Anyway, the kids love her, especially the 3 year old, who carries the dog everywhere.

SG, I hope you're feeling better about cancelling your trip, even though I know how disappointed you are to miss it. My cousins are going at the end of this month, and have room for 1 more (me) but I can't go. I have been thinking about our last trips, and am feeling terribly homesick. I hope I get to go back one day soon. Come by the suite and say "Hi."

Elaine, I've been trying to catch up on all the posts I missed while my computer was down, too. It sounds like you've got a good trip in the works.

Lisa, thanks for the post card, and BTW, I really enjoyed looking at your NYC pictures. I think I'll pass on Rent, although we may take in the Nutcracker this year. It's been several years since I've been, and my son has never seen it.

I hope everyone has a great afternoon. See you later!

Angie

[IASW Rider]

Hello!

Great to see you guys!

Your lunch sounded yummy, Elaine......hope that you saved some for us! :) It sounds like your WDW / DIS Con schedule is really coming together! And that's so nice that your friend and her son will be able to join you for part of your trip! It will be great!

Congratulations on the newest addition to your family, Angie! What's her name (or haven't you decided yet)? I'm sure that your children enjoy having a new puppy in your home, and I'm sure that she will grow on your DH quickly - how can he resist? I'm sure that she's really cute! Hmmm....The Nutcracker.......good idea! I haven't been to see it in several years, either! That's always a nice thing to do, around the holiday time!

(WARNING: OBNOXIOUS "PITCH" TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO VISIT THE NORTH EAST TO FOLLOW........)

And speaking of "holiday shows", NYC has many great holiday shows to offer, which begin just before Thanksgiving and run through the beginning of January.......The Radio City Christmas Spectacular......."A Christmas Carol" at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden.......not to mention the great shopping and beautifully decorated holiday store windows on Fifth Avenue.......

OK, OK I'll shut up! :)

I hope that I'm not driving you all crazy with my occasional correspondence / attempts to drag all of you up / down / over here (Wendy, please send me your mailing address so that I can include you in my "campaigns"! :) )! Every time I see an interesting post card, I think of my DIS friends and have to send it along!

Yes, there sure is a six story elephant right on the beach near Atlantic City! She's actually a National Landmark, now - she hasn't been used as a hotel (or originally a tavern, I believe) in many years - she's over 100 years old! She now houses a museum of memorabilia. Here is her website, if you'd like to see a better picture of her!

www.lucytheelephant.org

Have any of you begun your holiday shopping, yet? I'm so bad, this year - for some reason, I just seem to have a "block" when it comes to what to get for people! Usually, I've already thought about and decided what to buy, if not already finished shopping by now. But I'm just "stuck" on 2 gifts in particular, this year. UGH. Here I have all the time in the world, and no clue what to buy! I'm hoping that something might "come to me" when I'm not thinking about it!

Anyway, hope that you're all having a nice day! Talk to you later! :)

[helenabear]

Hello there everyone! Just stopping in here quickly before I get a few things done today.

Angie, congratulations on your new addition! Sounds like such a cutie!!! And a big one too :teeth: Do you have any names picked out yet?

Lisa, I love your post cards! I only wish we had more of interest here to send out to share with you all but since I don't then just know I live in a boring state ;) Traveling to see a show sounds so nice, but unfortunately I am maxed out for time off this winter. Sometime soon I swear I will have to try to go to NJ to visit though :)

Well I am still working on that planning of mine. I usually do not do this much planning but to try to see people is what is making me do all this. I don't mind having some "down times" per say but at the same time, I don't want to miss meeting people :)

Well I am off to possibly buy a steam cleaner. Have a great day all!

[SlightlyGoofy]

Elaine, how loverly to hear from you. I loved the posting of your agenda. I am the same way, I enjoy having a schedule of sorts but leave a lot of down time for enjoying the little things and most of all the people. You can sit down next to anyone at DW and find a new friend. We all have love of the mouse in common. LOL I hope you find a steam cleaner you like. I bought a Bissel a few years ago and love it. It does not clean as well as a professional model but since you own it you can use it more often and that makes up for it. Since I am a barefoot type of lady I cannot abide crunchies under foot. (grin)

Angelina, I have been wondering how you are doing since we are getting reports of bad storms in your area. Nice to know that you have not floated or blown away. I hope your new family member has you all fully trained by now. (smile) While I have a dread fear of animals I appreciate the love others have for them and would never want to hear of one being hurt.

Lisa, you are just such a super lady to send us all postcards and such. I have been thinking up an appropriate reward for losing the entire 150 pounds and am stuck between a NYC trip or a trip to Germany (and possibly) England to see my niece. I have a sister who goes to NYC on a regular basis and maybe if she plans a trip I could get 'permission' to go alone with her. I have never been on a vacation alone in all these years and I think I am overdue. Maybe I can get my bil to take Tom somewhere at the same time and he would not feel so left out. You younger ladies have it easier but then my generation had it easier than my mothers who were not even allowed to leave the house or make a phone call without supervision, in some cases. Can't wait to see what my granddaughters get up to. Yeah!!!!

I have decided to keep my plans open and possibly take a last minute, spur of the moment DW trip in the spring if the weather cooperates. At least it will be something to keep me sane until Spring springs.

A friend of my daughters and mine has had to take in the youngest child (4 mo) of her sister who will be going away to prison for a bit and as a consequence (very long story) I will be having my little guy one day a week. He has made up a list of things for us to do and he made me kneel down so he could tell me the very best one - - "Have fun with my grandma". Yes, he has me wrapped around his little finger. LOL He had his first basketball game today and he stole the ball and dribbled it all the way down the floor and tossed it in the basket. I have it all on tape for proof. Would be the first athlete in either side of the family.

If the scales are accurate I will make my 75 pound goal this week. Watch for the crustless pumpkin pie recipe Lisa!! It is a winner. Had a rough time last month and did not lose very much of anything at all.

I have started my Christmas cards and have some shopping done. Keeping it simple this year and might allow the boys to do the decorating.

Thanksgiving is so close now and there is so very much we all have to be thankful for. One of my thanks is knowing such a great bunch of young ladies.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

[angelina]

Hi, everyone. Linda, I'm so glad you stopped by--I've been wondering where you've been. Lisa, I loved the Phantom postcard--that's my all-time favorite Broadway production. I'm still hoping it will come this way again soon--my ds would love to see it.

Congratulations on reaching the halfway point, Linda. You must be so proud of yourself! I hope you get to go to WDW in the spring--we went at Easter one year, and it was a priceless vacation. It couldn't have been any more wonderful--the Easter egg hunt at our resort was the best. Would love to go at that time of year again, although I am hoping to go in the early summer again and just hang out at the Poly pool and play on the watercraft. My cousins are leaving the day after Thanksgiving, and I'm feeling sorry for myself. I have been reading posts and sending those I think would interest them.

I'm going to turn in now--I have a big day planned tomorrow. I hope everyone has a pleasant evening.

Angie

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Angelina

It was so nice to see and hear from you again. In fact it was 'doubly' nice. LOL

Since we all seem to be the Broadway kind of girls why don't we arrange for our favorites to be presented in the suite. I do believe the media room has a complete staging area behind the back wall. Not sure which show would be my most favorite but I have longed to see Lion King. I was blown away when I saw a bit of it on Rosie. So inventive and a bit like TOD or TON.

Yes, I am very proud of myself. I have had a lot of challenges during this time. My only regret is that I have waited until so late in life and missed out on so much. Tom has quit trying to sabotague me so that is a big help. Guess he has figured out that I am dead serious and as I told him, if I drop dead from my weight he will lose his one and only employee.

Not sure that I would want to be at DW at Easter. Have been there at Thanksgiving, 4th of July and Easter and I really do not like fighting the crowds. Maybe we will have an early spring and I will be able to sneak down for a couple of weeks before school ends and the crowds start revving up.

It is cool and moist here today and I have yard work to do so I am hoping it will dry up a bit. I picked up some more acrylic to do some more basement windows yesterday. Heat prices are rising and I am trying to contain costs.

Hope the weather is bright and sunny where you are and if it is not come to the suite and bask in the wonder and magic.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hello Everyone!

Oh good - I'm glad that I'm not driving you all insane with my hand written correspondence! I just think of you guys if we happen to be somewhere slightly out of the ordinary, and want to send along a little greeting (and of course, "harrass" you all about coming up / down / over to visit the area! Hee hee! :) )!

That's so funny that you're shopping for a steam cleaner, Elaine - we are planning to buy one soon, as well (with 6 cats in the house, we're finding that it's a necessity!). You'll have to let us know how you did and if you found one that you liked! I'm sure that you will get to spend time with all of the people whom you've been corresponding with, at DIS CON! So far, it seems like you've organized your schedule so that you already have plans with some people, and have some extra time that you can "play with" so that you can make additional plans with others! You'll have so much fun! Some pals of mine from the "All My Children" thread on the Community Board are meeting eachother in person for the first time at Super Soap Weekend, right now. I'm sure that they are having fun, and it would be great to meet them in person (especially at WDW, surrounded by ABC Soap Stars!), but I wouldn't be able to deal with the crowds that I'm sure have taken over the DMGM Studios, this weekend. My Fantasmic friend said that the Studios Techs have been working all week to get ready for the events.

Yes! You should definitely think about planning a WDW trip in the spring, Linda! That would be something great to look forward to, at the end of winter! Better yet.....how about the beginning of summer......like....oh, I don't know.....JUNE, MAYBE??? (Angie, are you paying attention, as well? Hint, hint! :) ) And maybe we could convince Elaine that she HAS TO return to WDW after 6 months.....to uh, ride Mission: Space, which should be open by then - that's it! :) And maybe Wendy is secretly planning a trip to WDW around that time, as well.......! Wouldn't it be great if we all happened to converge upon WDW at the same time, "by accident"? :) Angie - you got me hopeful when you mentioned "hanging out at the Poly pool in early summer"......I'll be there! Don't forget to look for me! :)

I'm sorry to hear about your and your daughter's friend's sister, Linda. But that's great that you will have some more time to spend with your little guy! He always says the cutest and sweetest things! It sounds like you have such special DGC('s)!

CONGRATULATIONS on hitting your "half way mark"!! That is sooooo wonderful and such a great accomplishment! Forget about waiting until you "hit" 150 - you should treat yourself to something of your choosing RIGHT NOW!! This is definitely cause for celebration! Let's bring those Broadway productions into the Suite for some special performances right now!! Really, that is so wonderful! And don't worry about your slow month - as you know from my whining, I've had a slow few months - slowly picking up "momentum" again, but not quickly enough for my liking. But I'm sure that it will pick up again for me, and I KNOW that it will pick up again for you, our resident guru! :) That's great that Tom is being so supportive - I'm sure he's very proud of you!

By the way, you're right about the Broadway production of "The Lion King" being similar to ToN / ToD - the same gentleman who designed the puppets for the show also designed the puppets for the parade, and for Fantasmic, as well! He has a very distinctive style!

I am also a huge "Phantom of the Opera" fan, Angie! It is such a beautiful show with such beautiful music! I cried like a baby, both times I saw it, because it was so beautiful and touching! Michael Crawford, the original London and NY Phantom, is coming back to Broadway, this month, in a new musical called "Dance of the Vampires". We have no plans to see it right now, but we may have to see it while he is appearing in it - it would be great to see him perform in person!

Have you picked out a name for your new puppy, yet? :)

It was actually 70 degrees here, today! What a treat, at this time of year, to be able to open the windows and wear shorts!

We had my uncle and sister-in-law over for dinner, last night. It went very well, and everyone seemed to have a good time, but wouldn't you know our garbage disposal had to break down irreparably - out of the blue - after the company left?! We can't use our kitchen sink or dishwasher, now! Fortunately, it broke after I finished the first huge load of dishes in the dishwasher....we had to wash the remaining ones by hand, in our downstairs bathroom sink! Frank just came back from Home Depot with a new garbage disposal, so I am going to run downstairs and check it out, now. I hope that we can have it installed quickly......doing dishes in the bathroom sink is a little.....weird!

Hope that you all had a great weekend! :)

[helenabear]

Well good evening everyone! I did find my steam cleaner! I wound up with a Hoover for $215 that was originally $300. I pulled that one off because Sears had it for $259 and Kohl's had it for $239. Well Sears does a match plus 10% so that brings it down to $215 (plus tax) Well I was talking to my dad and he said he wouldn't mind splitting it with me since he'd love to be able to use one now and then. So I agrees so I am keeping it at my house and my dad can use it whenever he wants (not like this is something we'll use all the time and he's abotu 1/3 mile away) So I only paid $112.50 total. Can't beat that at all can you?

Linda, congratulations on that amazing goal you are about to hit! That is absolutely wonderful!!!! That is so sad that the boy will lose his mother to prison but I am so happy to hear that he will have the whole bunch of you to watch over him.

Lisa, I would love to be able to go in June, except I doubt I would be able to do that. If I am lucky I will be able to do an extended weekend at the end of May but based off of my work schedule I can't afford to take too much time off for a trip. I am also hoping for a December trip next year as well. So I will have to see about any trips to begin with. But I won't think of that much since I still have plenty to work out for this trip! I doubt I will have any time alone at all. A few of my friends will always be with me I think and that is reasurring to me :)

Well I have brownies in the oven that are almost done for a very unhealthy brownie sundae so I will have to run, but I must say that I love Phantom of the Opera as well! I think that is my all time favorite and the one time I was able to see it, I was in tears! So you can only imagine how much I loved the post card! I can't wait to see ToD so I can compare it to broadway like you all have done. It is on my list at least twice to see :)

I hope you all have a great day and week :)

[IASW Rider]

Congratulations on finding your steam cleaner, Elaine! And you got such a great deal, too! I didn't know that Sears matched prices and gave discounts! I will have to see if they do that, here! Hoover is a great brand, too. You'll have to let us know how you like it! Frank always has to consult Consumer Reports 1000 times before we buy anything, and I believe that he said that the Hoover cleaner ranked very high, if not the highest!

OK, OK.......maybe we can somehow subliminally coax you to come to WDW in June......actually, I am trying to subliminally coax everyone to come to WDW in June.......notice how subtle I am?? :)

I'm curious to hear what you think of ToD, as compared to ToN. I enjoyed seeing ToD, and I'm glad that we did (especially since we got to see the "Dream Catchers' " costumes being modeled for Management for the first time, on our Backstage Magic Tour, in 2001). But I miss ToN! I won't go into more detail than that, 'cause I don't want to influence your opinion of the newer parade - let us know what you think, when you return! And let us know what you think of the other new parades, if you get to see them, too! The only one that we missed seeing was the new AK parade. The snowglobes in the MK were neat, but my favorite of the new parades was the Studios' Stars and Cars parade!

Mmmmm......that brownie sundae sounded good! :)

Hope that you're all having a nice day! Talk to you later! :)

[angelina]

Lisa, you don't know how much I would love to go to the World, say, the first week of June?!? I doubt I will, after last summer's debacle, but if I did, it would be a laid back vacation, just hanging out at the pool and water parks, not buying tickets to the parks for every day. I mean, if I'm going to go to the beach, and spend that kind of money on a hotel room, why not make it the Poly, and just enjoy the resort. My 3 year old niece still talks about their trip summer before last, and wants us to go back to B'aloha with her. I would love to, but we'll have to see.

WE bought a steam cleaner a year ago, after my 3 year old covered herself in some sort of blueberry bath stuff my daughter had got for her birthday. It was all in the carpet, on the girls' bedspreads, everywhere! I had to run out and get the steam cleaner, and have used it many, many times since. You girls are going to love having one.

Linda, are you still there? I thought I heard on one news report that you had some tornadoes up your way, too. We just had a lot of wind and rain, and some warnings over the bay, but most of the really bad stuff was north of here.

We're going to the store this morning--I don't even have juice for the girls. I hope everyone has a great day--I'll "see" you later.

Angie

[IASW Rider]

Hi Angie!

Yeah, "why not make it the Poly?" - that's the spirit! :) I hope that your plans do wind up working out, that way.....just look for me, floating by in the volcano pool! :) You can definitely have an entire, full, fun WDW vacation without ever even entering a park - there is so much to do (or not do and just relax), there! That's one of the reasons that we just love the place so much! Frank and I made a pact to try to take it easier when we're there, next year, and build more "down time" / "pool time" into our schedule, so that we're not always rushing around to get to a particular park at a designated time. I hope that you all might possibly be there next June! :)

I'm glad to hear that the tornadoes didn't reach your home! I was thinking about you - and about you ladies over there in the mid-west, too - every time I heard the national weather! We actually had (and are having) some rain here, too, and a bit of wind - but nothing like what I'm sure the rest of you have experienced this week!

We have to stop being lazy and start shopping for our steam cleaner! Then again, we really have to stop being lazy and start our repainting and recarpeting job, that we've been talking about for months but can't seem to begin! Oh well, first things first - we are going to have our garbage disposal replaced today. If I have to wash one more dish in the bathroom sink, I'm going to scream!

Things are pretty quiet, here - not too much to report! Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a nice day! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hey!

Just wanted to say that I hope that you're all having a nice week! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

My what a clean bunch of people we are! All of us are steam cleaner owners (or soon about to be). I share mine with others as well. Makes sense to share ownership of some items with others IMHO. I read one time about a neighborhood where each family owned one major piece of yard equipment and they shared them. Sure wish that worked in the 'real world'. LOL In my case I buy the equipment and maintain it and then beg the borrowers to return it in good condition.

What a dream, DW, in the spring - everyone single one of us! I don't know as that I am the Polynesian type but I can commute. Us retired folks have to watch our pennies as we have a lot more time to spend it in. LOL I walked around the Poly one time a long time ago and it looked very pretty but very busy also. Have to say my favorite place on property used to be Port Orleans (before the changes). Old Key West is where I would stay if I had money to burn. Looks great and I like the location as well. June is a bit busy for us old folks but I am tempted. Will dream on it a bit, me thinks.

Lost 4 more pounds last week for a current total of 74 pounds. October was very up and down and I ended up the month with a total loss of a quarter pound. (sigh) Am down 5 and a half pounds for this month so far but 2 crept back on during the night. Must have been dreaming about Koko Puffs. LOL

Lisa, you are ever so right about relaxing and enjoying the resorts instead of doing a commando tour of the parks every day. We usually only go to the parks for about 6 hours a day and do other things the rest of the time. If you think about what it costs to stay in most upscale resorts you are well off to go to DW and enjoy what they offer instead and t here is just so much to do there that I cannot imagine being bored.

Friends of ours are retiring and considering buying a place down there for their frequent visits. They are even considering Celebration. I might be able to swing an invite or two. She and her husband are even more Disney nuts than we are in the suite. They are headed down for two weeks at Thanksgiving and will return in February. Must be nice.

I have a little guy in the tub so I had better go see what he is up to. I took the taters out of his ears and he is enjoying his soak. Clean little feller. He came by after school and has refused to leave. You know I don't mind a bit. (grin)

Hope you are all with loved ones this evening and planning your June trips to WDW.

SG/Linda

[helenabear]

Evening everyone! I hope you all are doing well! Things here are good and nothing to terribly exciting which is good (although most of our carpets are very clean now :teeth: ;))

Angie, we had some of those storms here as well. Less than an hour away tornados hit and about 1 1/2 hours away, an F-3 tonado hit. We had hail and winds and some of our schools that were open for Veteren's Day had to be closed due to wind & water damage and loss of power.

Lisa, I wasn't aware of Sears discounting prices. I think it might be newer, but it clearly states now at the stores that they match plus 10%! That gave us a very very good deal on that. I am like you I have been researching for years on these as I dreamt and I would read online reviews of them too to see actual user's thoughts. Oh and I wish I could compare ToN to ToD but I never saw ToN. I have heard the music for both and I must say ToN wins hands down. But I will see how the parade is. The music behind both is just beautiful though :)

Linda, congratulations on your continued weight loss. You are sounding like you are doing just wonderful!!! Doesn't matter if you go up a little, your end result is a loss and that in itself is great!!

Well I do hope you all are doing great and Wendy, we miss you :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Elaine, you know that what Lisa and I are trying to do is exactly what you said - Have a loss in our ends. LOL

The storm was not as bad here as your way but was very vicious for a short period of time, lots of rain and even had a tiny bit come in the house as it was battering so hard. Was so much worse other places. My heart goes out to those who have to suffer so much loss at one time.

I have wondered if the TOD music was not different from the TON as it was so loud. Did not bother me as I am partially deaf but would have been hard on others but yes, I liked that music as well. Was on hold with Disney reservations once and it was playing the time went faster. (grin)

Be careful to extract the water from your carpets well as it can damage the padding and your floors if you do not. I do not like Sears so I would not buy from them no matter what the price. Have never done business with them without some kind of trouble. Just my opinion and experiences though.

Angelina, how are you holding up? Heard you had a batch of new storms recently. Beautiful areas like yours seem to attract more than their share of bad weather.

Wendy, we miss you and hope that all is well in your corner of the world and we will see your smiling face around here soon.

SG/Linda

[SlightlyGoofy]

Just checked a site for attendance levels and found that next spring from April until Early June are moderate times to go. Think I will go check the weather next and then drift off to delightful dreams about us all meeting to watch the EWP together in real life. Wonder if the World could stand the whole lot of us in one place at the same time?

Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

I'm sorry - I don't have time to post a "real message" right now, but in case I don't get a chance to sign on again, later, I just wanted to wish you all a great weekend! Will try to check in again, later today or tonight - I'm off to "mommy sit", now! Have a nice day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

I am so glad to hear that you are off to Mommy Sit. I am sending special wishes that these days will bring some comfort to you both and settle things between you so you can enjoy this time together and that your Mom understands what a special daughter she has and you will know how very much she loves you.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Thank you for your thoughtfulness, as always, Linda! :)

Sorry that this is a quickie (again) - I have been experiencing some pretty bad pain in my back, neck, and arm for the past week, and finally went to a chiropractor this morning. He said that I have a pinched nerve and that (among other things) I should stay away from the computer for a few days. So please forgive me if I can't post for a bit - as hard as it is for me to stay away from the computer, I guess I'll have to until the pain begins to subside!

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm thinking of you, even when I can't post!

Have a great weekend! :)

[helenabear]

LOL Linda! I am sure you and Lisa are both trying to lose it the same place ;)

Lisa, I am sorry to hear you have a pinched nerve. I hope you are feeling better soon!

I hope the rest of you have a wonderful weekend :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

My sil managed to lose 5 of the 7 cows he took to market last night. Hopefully no one will hit one and hurt themselves. Is a worry. Daughter woke up with the flu so I have had a little boy for 2 days. He has made the statement that if mommy is still sick he could spend the night and I could drive him to school in the morning and if she is still sick he could stay again. Think he is trying to move in? LOL Hopefully my poor daughter will feel better by tomorrow as I know that she will go to work no matter how bad she feels.

Lisa, please take care of yourself and we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers, especially in these days when we will be Riderless.

Elaine, I knew you would get my ornery reference to our waning 'assets'. LOL How are you and Luis doing? Been up to anything interesting lately? Have your Christmas shopping done?

Have a little boy demanding my attention so I had better run.

Hello there Jstmee and Angelina.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

LOL Elaine - yes, Linda and I are trying to lose it in the same place.....ALL OVER! :)

I'm back! (That was a short absence, right? :) ) I went to see the other chiropractor in the practice, today, and she said that as long as being on the computer (or anything else, for that matter) doesn't hurt, it's OK for me to do it. So, here I am! :) I'll tell you, just 2 sessions of therapy and 2 adjustments, and my back, neck, shoulder, and arm are already feeling better. I hope that the pain continues to improve. Part of it is probably emotionally fueled - between constantly "subconsciously stressing" about my next career move, my parents' cat having gotten very sick this week (that's why I had to "mommy sit" last week - so that my father could rush their cat to the vet - she actually has to go into the veterinary hospital for 2 weeks, now - my parents are both very upset and worried. And so am I.), and just my usual worrying about everything under the sun, my muscles are probably tighter than ever. Maybe it's even a "delayed response" to all the garbage that I was contending with when I was working. Regardless, as long as I'm on the way to recovery, I'm happy. And I'm also happy that the Dr. said that I can continue to work out, as long as I'm careful of my upper body.

On another medical note, I'm having my first mammogram, this afternoon. My Dr. felt that I should have a baseline at 35, since my Grandmother had had breast cancer. Wish me luck!

So sorry to hear that your DD isn't feeling well, Linda! I hope that she is feeling better soon! Though I'm sure that you enjoy having your DGS stay with you! What happened to the cows that your SIL lost - did they escape and run away?? :( The only redeeming thing about my old 20 mile commute to work was that I would pass a dairy farm on the way, which is located about 3 miles from our house - I always liked to see the cows in the morning - especially when they had grazed their way to the fence just on the side of the road. I would always say "good morning" to them. I became so attached to them that I have pretty much given up eating red meat all together, at this point! :)

The ToD music is essentially ToN's soundtrack, but without references to the Millennium or "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand". That little part of the music was eliminated, and the speaking portion deals with children and their dreams. There are also 3 characters, "Dream Catchers", who replaced the Sage of Time from ToN. You'll see them at the beginning and the end of the parade. There are still drum floats, and you'll still see all of the different types of puppets that appeared in ToN, only in ToN each type of puppet appeared in its own group and in ToD, all the different types of puppets dance together. I didn't realize that you hadn't seen ToN in person, Elaine! I agree with you, Linda - ToD is louder and "busier" than ToN was.

We had a fun weekend, despite my stupid back/neck/arm pain. We went into NYC on Saturday night to celebrate my best friend Gary's (the "man of honor" in my wedding) birthday with him and his boyfriend. We got to see the new apartment that Gary had bought, in the City, which was really nice, and spend some "quality time" with both of them. Then we took them out to a really neat restaurant for dinner, and went back to Gary's place for cake, afterwards. Gary's boyfriend, Stephen, then gave us a wonderful gift. He's a Creative Director for Villeroy and Boch, and he's very artistic - he even renovates stained glass and other antiques in his spare time! Anyway, apparently, he had collected various "souvenirs" at our wedding, and turned them into a beautiful shadow box collage for us! Behind glass, he had mounted our wedding invitation, actual flowers from my bouquet which he had "borrowed" and dried, a piece of the glass that Frank had stepped on and broken to mark the end of our wedding ceremony, one of my garters (which I had given to them as a souvenir), and detailed the collage with pearls and feathers and a little Victorian portrait of a bride. Then he'd attached their place card and a really sweet note to the back of the shadow box. We were really overwhelmed - it was so sweet of him to do that!

I do have a photo, if you'd like to see.....but unfortunately you have to be bored by all of the other photos in that album in order to see it! :( I tried to post a hyperlink to the picture, but The DIS wouldn't let me, for some reason. So I have to post the (huge!) link to the entire album!

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/lisaruthb3/lst?&.dir=/Garys+36th+Birthday+-+Nov+16-17++2002&.src=ph&.begin=9999&.view=t&.order=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/lisaruthb3/lst%3f%26.dir=/Garys%2b36th%2bBirthday%2b-%2bNov%2b16-17%2b%2b2002%26.src=ph%26.view=t


Anyway, if you'd like to see, it's the first picture in the 5th row down, titled "Stephen, Lisa, and Frank". Just click on the thumbnail to see the full sized photo. I guess there are some other amusing pictures in there - you can see the Chanukah menorah, in the shape of the NY Skyline, that we gave Gary for his birthday, and you can also see the nifty Spiderman-themed birthday cake that we presented him with, as well! :) Don't feel obligated to look at the pictures, though - I just posted the link in case you'd like to see!

Anyway, despite the fact that we were having a huge, horrible freezing rain storm at the time, we had a lot of fun with those guys on Saturday night!

Well, time to get moving and get ready for my appointment, now. Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a nice day! Talk to you later! :)

[helenabear]

Hello everyone! I am taking a small break from work to say hi to you all :)

Linda, it sure does sound like you have a little boy trying to move in with you. But knowing what I know of you, I am not surprised in the least that he would be trying to move in like that ;) Things are just fine around here. Nothing too exciting so I really don’t have much to say at all. We are just moving through the days and enjoying not having to do much for once :) Christmas shopping hasn’t even been considered yet. I will be doing a lot of my shopping for my family at WDW since a good majority of them like it. For my SIL and brother though I have to make sure I get easily packable items since they are flying in from New Jersey.

Lisa, I hope you are taking good care ofthat back. My dad’s gets terribly out of whack now and then and his chiro usually straightens him up in no time :) Do your best to not fret about everything. You still have plenty of time to decide what the best move for your career will be. I am sorry to hear about your parents’ kitty though… I hope the kitty gets well soon.

I have heard the music to both ToN and ToD (just haven’t seen the whole of either parade or in person) and I must say I wish they would have left ToN alone! The music to ToD is essentially just ToN but they took out some parts, replayed others a few times and added in terrible sounding (to me) speaking sections and the little sung “Dreams” that just takes away from that beautiful music. The kids talking is cute but they talk ove some of the most BEAUTIFUL music right then :( We missed seeing ToN while we were there last time as well as Illuminations. There were days of very high winds (30 mph plus) so a few things were delayed (possibly canceled because we didn’t stick around) due to the weather.

Lisa, it looks like you all had a good time for Gary’s birthday! I took a quick peek and the pictures were wonderful!

Well even though I type fast, I had best get back to work now… talk to you all later!

[IASW Rider]

Thanks for your kind thoughts, Elaine! The arm / back / neck are feeling a little bit better, today, but not perfect. Maybe they're slowly healing. My right hand (the one attached to my "bad arm") is tingling, though.....that can't be good....I think that the Dr. said that that has something to do with the pressure on the nerve that's causing the pain. Oh well - I have another appointment tomorrow, so I'll see what happens! :)

And thanks for looking at the photos, too - I really hope that you guys don't mind when I keep posting links to my various and sundry photo albums! It's just that since we can't see eachother's faces when we "talk", I like to be able to share my experiences with you in some "visual" way, sometimes! Please let me know if it's annoying, and I'll stop! :)

Yes, Elaine - I agree with you - I wish that they hadn't butchered the ToN soundtrack for ToD. I'm glad that they retained the main theme, because it is so beautiful, and I know that it had to be changed a bit to fit the new theme and "flavor"of the parade.....but I really do miss ToN (there, I said it! Now you know which parade I prefer! Sorry - I didn't want to influence your thoughts about ToD before you saw it! :( )! ToD is a nice parade, in and of itself. It's just hard not to compare it to ToN, that's all. It's too bad that you never got to see ToN in person - it was cancelled for high winds when we tried to see it in 2001, too. But I believe that my 2000 footage of ToN is on the tape that I sent you, if you're ever in the mood to see that parade!

You must be getting so excited about your trip and DIS CON! It's coming up so soon! :) And it's great that you will be able to take care of your Christmas shopping, while you're down there! Good thinking!

Unfortunately, the news about my parents' cat isn't good. I won't go into detail, because I get very sad when I think about it. But all hope is not lost, and they're going to try a particular type of treatment to help her get better. At least she didn't wind up having to stay in the veterinary hospital, as they thought she would.

UGH - now I'm getting depressed - let's talk about something happy.......so, what are everyone's plans for Thanksgiving? Is everyone cooking? Or visiting with other relatives?

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

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to wish you all a nice weekend! Does anyone have any interesting plans? We are just going to go over and visit my parents to have a little early Chanukah celebration, since Frank will be down at his Mom's next weekend and will miss spending the beginning of the holiday with us. I made more potato pancakes last night.....this batch didn't come out so wonderfully......they're a little - shall we say - "well done"! :)Hopefully they're edible, though! My parents will always say that anything I cook is good (even when it isn't, which is probably most of the time! :) ), but I want to be sure that I am prepared to make a "presentable batch" of potato pancakes to send down with Frank and his sister, to their mother's house next weekend.

The rest of this week has been quiet. I had a few more sessions with the chiropractor. I hope that I'm doing the right thing to help myself - I never had any experience with chiropractors until last week, and I know that there are differing schools of thought about their treatments. What they do with me feels good, and I like the idea of the body healing itself without drugs, unless absolutely necessary. I just hope that what they're doing is helping my neck and arm pain and my general health as much as they claim it is. In the mean time, I'm still getting my bouts of vertigo - I'm going to the ENT on Monday - hopefully he'll be able to give me a clue as to why I've been periodically dizzy, all of a sudden. Since the neck and arm pain and the dizziness seemed to come out of nowhere and began within a week of one another, I wonder if they are related? The chiropractor says that it's possible that both stem from my eye injury / fracture of April....kind of a "delayed reaction". Who knows what to believe? I just want to feel better! :) I'm just glad that the doctor said that I can still exercise - I just don't use my arms, and I haven't been lifting free weights. I don't want to lose my "momentum". Pounds are still coming off slowly, but at least they're coming off! I'm down 78 pounds, now.....not sure what my goal is, or if I have one.....I just want to feel good!

Anyway.......sorry that there isn't more exciting news from the Garden State! Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great weekend and talk to you soon! :)

[angelina]

Hi, everyone, I just wanted to check in and wish everyone a good weekend. I just finished a bowl of Le Cellier Cheese soup, wishing that I had some pretzel breadsticks to go with it.

We're expecting a cold weekend here, with some areas under a freeze warning for tonight. My husband and son went "to the woods" for opening day of hunting season, and my middle daughter is at a sleep over, so that leaves me and the tiny terror all alone tonight. I'm hoping to go to bed EARLY tonight!!! This morning she decided to help herself to a slice of cheese, and cut her finger deeply. It probably needed a couple of stitches, but it's in a hard spot to close, and I would prefer not to put her through that torment again. Hopefully it will close on its own with no more problems, but it's not a pretty sight. The things she puts me through, LOL.

Lisa, thanks for the wonderful post cards. I have found a source for some post cards of local interest at the historic home where my mom works, so I will be sending some out to you all soon. I don't know if you have ever heard of the Azalea Trail Maids, which is made up of high school seniors who are elected by their class to participate, but they usually participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, and are from Mobile. It is the dream of just about every young girl here to be part of the group. They wear pastel colored antebellus hoop skirts and carry parasols, and wear wide brimmed hats. Anyway, Madame Alexander has a new series of dolls depicting the Maids, and I am giving one to each of my girls for Christmas.

SG, where have you been this week? Are your boys keeping you busy? Elaine, I think you have been spending all of your time planning your upcoming trip, haven't you? My cousin is leaving the day after Thanksgiving for her first trip to WDW since it
opened, and she is so excited. I have been sending her links to Dis threads, and also Mousesavers and WDWIG, so she has spent part of today scanning the menus from around the World.

Tomorrow is the Iron Bowl, (the Alabama/Auburn game) and life will stop around here for 3 and a half hours. Today, people all over were wearing either crimson and white, or orange and blue. The school is having a fundraiser Monday where the kids can purchase a ticket for their favorite team and wear their colors
Monday for an out-of-uniform day. They all buy a ticket for BOTH teams, thereby assuring an out-of-uniform day no matter who wins.

I'm going to put on my fuzzy pj's and get ready for bed. I hope everyone is having a wonderful evening, take care of yourselves!

Angie

[angelina]

Lisa, please explain what the WDW water drinker's society is.

[IASW Rider]

Hi Angie!

OK - so (please forgive my ignorance) which colors correspond with the team that we're rooting for, tomorrow?? I need to know what colors I should be wearing, to "support them from afar"! :) That's so nice that all the school children get into the spirit and have out of uniform days, too!

I will keep my eyes open for the Azalea Trail Maids in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, this year! As you described them, I know that I've seen them before, but I didn't know that they were all high school seniors who were specially selected to participate! And it's so neat that Madame Alexander has dedicated a series of dolls to the group! Do your girls collect Madame Alexander dolls? I sure used to! I wish that I had room to display them (and both mine and Frank's teddy bear collections and my collection of smiley face memorabilia!) in our house, but I don't. :( So they are safely at my parents' house, individually wrapped up and stored. My parents even bought a few Disney character Madame Alexander dolls for me during my childhood trips to WDW (I think in one of the gift shops at the Contemporary, in fact)!

How is your little one's finger feeling?? I hope that it heals quickly and does not wind up requiring stitches!

Which hunting season just began, down there? I don't know very much about the sport - except that my step-father-in-law and step-brothers-in-law go down to their home state of West Virginia to hunt and fish on a fairly regular basis (much to the annoyance of my mother-in-law, who winds up spending many holiday weekends - such as Thanksgiving - without her husband, as a result!)

It's very cold and windy, here, too - I've been wearing my fuzzy pajamas for the past month! UGH - I guess that winter is officially on its way........

About the WDW Water Drinkers' Society......about 6 months ago, someone had begun a thread on the Community Board, seriously asking if the water in IASW was safe to drink (?!?!) She said that she had a friend who always wanted to drink the water in IASW, for some reason, and actually scooped some up and drank it, on their last ride. After a bunch of people replied "what is she - crazy??!!", some others replied with things like "personally, I prefer the fruitier and more refined taste of the water in the Jungle Cruise" or "I enjoy a good bottle of vintage 1971 water from the Seven Seas Lagoon"......I chimed in with something like "I don't drink IASW - I just ride it".....and so, somehow, the "Walt Disney World Water Drinkers' Society" was born. I was "appointed" 'Vice President of International Relations' by one of the active thread participants, due to my allegiance to IASW and all of the cultures represented there......and several related, long threads ensued (......"I enjoy the smooth flavor of a margarita made with water from El Rio Del Tiempo"........"I use my retractable straw to drink the water of the Fantasmic mist fountains".......and the like). Very silly, I know, but very amusing seeing as how the jokes were based on a thread that began with a serious question! There is still an active thread out there, which I have unfortunately been too lazy to follow or participate in.....so I guess I'm not a very good "VP".....the only threads which I actively participate in are our wonderful Suite and the "All My Children" fans thread on the Community Board.

Anyway.......so how have all of your weekends been, so far?

We spent today with my parents, for an early Chanukah celebration, since Frank will be down at his Mom's for Thanksgiving weekend and will miss celebrating the first night of Chanukah with us. It was very nice - even though my parents are still depressed and nervous wrecks about their cat (whom I totally spoiled, today, by feeding her real shrimp and fish!). But I think that we really cheered them up and gave them something else to think about, which was good. And my mother and I have been getting along well, lately, which is good. I'm hoping that my Uncle and I will be able to continue to cheer them up and distract them on Thanksgiving and the first nights of Chanukah, and give them something to look forward to, in between. But it was a pleasant day, and I'm glad that we could be there to give them a few laughs - they've needed that more than ever, recently.

We, too, were experiencing some WDW cuisine today, Angie - in the form of Kona coffee from the Poly's Kona Cafe, at my parents' house! We brought a ton of it back for them, over the past 2 years. We have some, too.....but I always insist that we use it sparingly - only when we have company or on special occasions! We'll have to be sure to buy lots more, next year!

Tomorrow, we're having lunch with 2 of Frank's best friends from high school and college and their families, which should be fun.

Thanks again for all of the great recipes, Linda!

Hope that you're having fun, counting down to DIS CON, Elaine!

And hope that all is well with you, up there, Wendy! We miss you and we're thinking of you!

And great to hear from you, again, Angie!

Hope that you're all having a great weekend! See you all, back in the Suite, soon! :)

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! I hope you all are having a great weekend!

Lisa, don't worry about it, you didn't do anything to make me think one way or the other about ToD. I have heard both and even though I haven't seen either yet, I already know that ToN is my favorite. THey did butcher a lot for ToD and that made me so sad to hear it all.

Angie, our world stopped around here for a few hours yesterday as well. We had the Ohio State vs U of Michigan game going on. If Ohio State won, we'd be Big 10 Champs and go on to try to "win it all" at the Fiesta Bowl... if we lost... well.... it doesn't matter because we beat Michigan and now are going to try for it all!!! Truly amazing! A completely perfect record of 13-0 going into the bowl game... THE bowl game too :teeth:

Hunting season is also big around here. I know many who will go to the next counties over and take a week off of work just to go hunting. No one in my family does it, but many friends do.

I am busy planning. I will have to post my entire schedule and let you all know exactly what I am doing. One thing I am not sure I have planned in is the EWP... I'll have to see if I can find a good time to throw it in :) Actually I'll post it now so you all can see when you think I could throw it in.

Sunday: Arrive just about noon; head over to MK; meet up with a couple of DISers for a while; go to Epcot to meet with a different group for ToD & Illuminations
Monday: Resort tour with a couple of DISers; water mice; dinner at Marrakesh before Candelight Processional
Tuesday: World Showcase tour; Magic Kingdom; Chef Mickey's; MVMCP
Wednesday: Downtown Disney shopping; Spaceship Earth meet with DISers; Rose and Crown meet with DISers; Jellyrolls to watch the deuling pianos
Thursday: MGM; parade meet with DISers; 50's Prime Time meet w/ DISers; Fantasmic & Osborne Lights; mabye watch some DISers do some Karaoke
Friday: MK for two DIS meets (mabye); MGM to meet a few more DISers; Epcot to meet up with another group of DISers
Saturday: Animal Kingdom (meeting with more DISers); MK for Spectromagic & Fantasy in the Sky
Sunday: Breakfast @ Hollywood & Vine with a small group; Epcot or MK; flight home :(

I was thinking of trying to get EWP in the last night but Fantasy in the Sky is at 8 pm and I dont' want to have to rush out of there to see it. I'll try to think of something ;)

[IASW Rider]

Oh no! You'll HAVE TO find time to see the EWP, at least once, Elaine!!! :( :( :( You know, you CAN see Fantasy in the Sky from the other side of the Seven Seas Lagoon.......! :) I know - I'm only kidding - I know that there would be no way for you to get to the other side of the Lagoon after seeing SpectroMagic, that quickly! Well, the night that we saw SpectroMagic, when we exited the park and were walking to the monorail station, the EWP just happened to be floating by and testing its lights, with no music, so maybe you will be able to see it in a similar situation! :) Your schedule sounds great, though - it sounds like you have tons of things planned to do! I hope that you'll have some "down time" to rest and relax, in there, too, though! :) You are going to have a great time! And it sounds like you will be able to get to meet lots of interesting DIS friends, too! :)

Not too much to report, today. Frank is actually off from work for the rest of the week. I didn't realize that he was going to be off all week and wound up making a ton of appointments. Unfortunately, I have so many appointments (various doctors, getting my highlights touched up, etc.), that I won't be able to spend as much time with him as I would like, before he leaves for his mother's tomorrow. Then again, I think that he is going to finish up his family's Christmas shopping today, anyway. I'm all ready to go, with Chanukah - we already gave my parents their gift, and everything else is wrapped and ready to go - that's such a nice feeling! :) Frank and I will get ourselves something for the house and call it our gift to eachother......but we haven't decided what that will be, yet. I do want to pick up an additional gift for him, to give to him on the actual day, but I'm not sure what I'll get for him, yet!

Well, my ENT specialist said that there is absolutely nothing "wrong" with me that could be causing the vertigo.....he claims that it's probably the weird weather that we've been having, this fall, and the bad allergy season, and that the "dizzy spells" will go away on their own. I sincerely hope that he's right! I'm really beginning to think that the vertigo, along with my back / neck / arm pain are all psychologically / emotionally generated because I'm avoiding thinking about unpleasant things in my life (career, my parents' and their cat's health, etc.). I've been reading a book by a doctor who's on the faculty of the NYU School of Medicine, who has done many studies and years of research proving that back pain (and many other types of illnesses) is most often brought on by people who are repressing feelings that they feel are too "scary" to consciously think about.....sounds like me......

Anyway, I wish that I had something interesting to report! Hope that all is well with all of you, and that you're having a nice week! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

As usual I am behind all of you guys. So much going on with you all. I am doing my usual imperfect perfection routine. Trying to do too much and doing nothing well.

Lisa, if the doctor's are right (who knows) you might be suffering from stress which would cause back problems etc. IMHO. Have lived through the same myself. You have had a very stressful year even with the good things (wedding etc.) but the life change of not going to work everyday, acclimating to living with with someone else (even as wonderful as Frank) and your mother and father's medical problems would be enough to send anyone into a tailspin. Talking to a good friend or even a therapist would not be a bad idea. You need to stop beating yourself up for not being perfect and able to cure everyone's problems. I have noticed, as have others in this group, that you are such a giving person and maybe you need to be as kind to yourself.

Tom and I have always given a gift to the house each year also. We are such homebodies that buying things for the house makes a lot of sense. I am considering buying 2 new vcr's this year so I can dub my home movies. Maybe one of those vcr's specially made for that would be great as I tire of trying to get it all set up just right.

I bet the time you accidentally watched EWP is one of your favorite memories. Just like a special gift when you have those moments.

Elaine, if I had known that Ohio was playing Michigan I would have watched that one. Is the only contest that interests me for some reason. I was so sorry to hear of the violence in the wake of the victory though. So much property and lives are ruined. A moment of insanity that many young people will have to pay for for the rest of their lives in one way or another. Boggles my mind as I cannot understand that kind of behavior and is especially sad for me to see it happen in my home state.

Angelina, I have read and seen tv shows on the Azalia Trail Maids and they are beautiful. There was a big article on them in one of the papers you sent in the Mardi Gras box. I hope your daughters finger is healing well. It is a hard thing to be a parent and have to make all these decisions about what to do and when. I would probably let a finger heal on its own also as chances are the scar will not be noticeable in an area with so many nooks and crannies and there is not really anything that they can do at the doctor's office anyway. Did your fellers get anything on their hunting trip?

I was the biggest loser for the month at TOPS but is not saying much as most of them do not really work hard at losing weight. I lost 7 more pounds last month. I am happy about it though as it is the right direction and I am in this for the long haul. Glad you like the recipes Rider.

I am taking Tom down to his brother's for Thanksgiving Day and then he will be back here for our celebration on Friday. My brother and his son will be joining us along with our daughter and her family. Taking the boys to see Harry Potter this weekend, I hope.

Wishing you all a wonderful and family filled Thanksgiving with just the right amount of leftovers. LOL

{{{{{GBNSFH}}}}}} SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone! :)

Hi Linda! CONGRATULATIONS, yet again!!! Another wonderful accomplishment, being the "Top TOPS Loser", last month!! That is fantastic! You are an inspiration to all of us! :) And that's so nice that you will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with Tom's family and with both of your immediate family and your family! A whole weekend of celebrations!

Thanks for thinking of me - you are so sweet! Yes, all of these silly ailments are probably the results of months of pent up stress manifesting themselves. It's very interesting how the body responds to or tries to compensate for emotional / psychological feelings - weight gain (and loss! :) ) included. A few years ago, I participated in a group program with my therapist, dealing with the emotional causes of weight gain. There was a book associated with the program, which explained all of this and explained how to look within oneself to really feel the feelings there, and how that ultimately can balance a person so that she will be able to lose weight (I am really generalizing, here - there is a lot more, but that is the "main theme"). The principles of that program are actually some of the elements which have caused me to be as successful as I have been, in terms of losing weight recently. I'm beginning to see that those principles also apply to one's health, in general - not just weight loss. For example, ever since I acknowledged that the source of my back pain (and perhaps dizziness) is emotionally fueled.....I haven't been in pain at all.....not even while exercising or sleeping! Very interesting. Anyway, thank you for your kind thoughts! And by the way, we borrowed my sister-in-law's VCR to make extra copies of our wedding video over the summer.....and kinda never gave it back.....so if you would like to have any of your home movies or videos copied, and wouldn't mind sending them to me, I would be happy to copy them for you until you select your additional VCR or "double deck" VCR!

Guess what? Frank and I got tickets to see a taping of "The Caroline Rhea Show" in 2 weeks! We are very excited! I've seen a few television shows taped before (believe it or not, I saw a taping of "The Merv Griffin Show" at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 1978 and believe it or not I actually saw one of the few "The Chevy Chase Show" talk shows taped in Los Angeles, too, before he was almost immediately cancelled! I also saw 2 "Politically Incorrect"s taped, in NYC!), but Frank never has, so he's looking forward to the experience. I am "addicted" to Caroline's show, for some reason. First of all, I am always up late, and unfortunately, her show is broadcast in the NY area at 12:30 AM every night, so I'm always up to see it. But mostly I think it's because she had such "big shoes to fill" when Rosie appointed her "successor" to her show, and it was obvious that she was intimidated and uncomfortable in the beginning, so I've been "rooting for her" ever since! It's nice to see how her interviewing style has improved and how she's become more confident and gained a fan following, over the months. And her show is just very cute, so I enjoy watching! It was actually Frank's idea to try to get tickets - he knows how much I love the show and how I'm rooting for Caroline to do a good job, so he suggested that we try to go and root for her from the studio audience! So please look out for us on TV on December 12 - I will do my best to try to weasel my way in to one of her audience participation games! :)

Anyway......wishing all of you and your families a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving, my sweet Suite friends! Have a great day and enjoy! Love ya! Talk to you all, soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone! :)

Hi Linda! CONGRATULATIONS, yet again!!! Another wonderful accomplishment, being the "Top TOPS Loser", last month!! That is fantastic! You are an inspiration to all of us! :) And that's so nice that you will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with Tom's family and with both of your immediate family and your family! A whole weekend of celebrations!

Thanks for thinking of me - you are so sweet! Yes, all of these silly ailments are probably the results of months of pent up stress manifesting themselves. It's very interesting how the body responds to or tries to compensate for emotional / psychological feelings - weight gain (and loss! :) ) included. A few years ago, I participated in a group program with my therapist, dealing with the emotional causes of weight gain. There was a book associated with the program, which explained all of this and explained how to look within oneself to really feel the feelings there, and how that ultimately can balance a person so that she will be able to lose weight (I am really generalizing, here - there is a lot more, but that is the "main theme"). The principles of that program are actually some of the elements which have caused me to be as successful as I have been, in terms of losing weight recently. I'm beginning to see that those principles also apply to one's health, in general - not just weight loss. For example, ever since I acknowledged that the source of my back pain (and perhaps dizziness) is emotionally fueled.....I haven't been in pain at all.....not even while exercising or sleeping! Very interesting. Anyway, thank you for your kind thoughts! And by the way, we borrowed my sister-in-law's VCR to make extra copies of our wedding video over the summer.....and kinda never gave it back.....so if you would like to have any of your home movies or videos copied, and wouldn't mind sending them to me, I would be happy to copy them for you until you select your additional VCR or "double deck" VCR!

Guess what? Frank and I got tickets to see a taping of "The Caroline Rhea Show" in 2 weeks! We are very excited! I've seen a few television shows taped before (believe it or not, I saw a taping of "The Merv Griffin Show" at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 1978 and believe it or not I actually saw one of the few "The Chevy Chase Show" talk shows taped in Los Angeles, too, before he was almost immediately cancelled! I also saw 2 "Politically Incorrect"s taped, in NYC!), but Frank never has, so he's looking forward to the experience. I am "addicted" to Caroline's show, for some reason. First of all, I am always up late, and unfortunately, her show is broadcast in the NY area at 12:30 AM every night, so I'm always up to see it. But mostly I think it's because she had such "big shoes to fill" when Rosie appointed her "successor" to her show, and it was obvious that she was intimidated and uncomfortable in the beginning, so I've been "rooting for her" ever since! It's nice to see how her interviewing style has improved and how she's become more confident and gained a fan following, over the months. And her show is just very cute, so I enjoy watching! It was actually Frank's idea to try to get tickets - he knows how much I love the show and how I'm rooting for Caroline to do a good job, so he suggested that we try to go and root for her from the studio audience! So please look out for us on TV on December 12 - I will do my best to try to weasel my way in to one of her audience participation games! :)

Anyway......wishing all of you and your families a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving, my sweet Suite friends! Have a great day and enjoy! Love ya! Talk to you all, soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hello!

Hope that you all had a very happy holiday! Ours was nice - I think that my parents enjoyed it. And we exchanged Chanukah gifts with my uncle, too. It was a quiet day, but I think that my family enjoyed it. I miss Frank, though! :( I've spoken to him several times a day, since he's been down at his mother's house, and he's having a nice time. I think that they are going to put up their mother's Christmas tree, today, and visit some relatives. My sister-in-law (who is also down there, with Frank) called my parents to wish them a happy Thanksgiving, which I thought was very nice.

Having a relaxing day, today (though it is FREEZING, here! Brrrrrrr!). Went to the chiropractor, this morning, and will be spending the afternoon with my best friend from high school, her husband, and their baby son. I have absolutely no plans for tomorrow, which is wonderful! I'm looking forward to a day of lazing around the house in my pajamas!

Have a great weekend and talk to you soon! :)

[helenabear]

Hi all! Well this will most likely be the last time I check in with you all before I leave for WDW. I am almost all packed and I am getting more organized with everything. I do have tomorrow to get everything done though so that's a bonus. I will leave before the sun comes up on Sunday and fortunately the weather here so far is just a little windy and cold and my connecting flight is supposedly going to have good weather as well :)
So now that my flights are checked and I'll check once more late at night on Saturday or early on Sunday morning.

I do have some time scheduled in for EWP. I have it either on the 4th or the 5th so hopefully I will be able to see it at least one of the two nights :)

Lisa, sorry you are a tad lonely with Frank gone... he'll be home soon though :) I wouldn't be surprised if your problems are caused by stress. I do hope whatever is causing it though will be fixed/go away soon.

Linda, it was terrible about the fires and all the ruin around here. About 20 cars were burned and 200 fires total were started. Very sad that people do that :( Congrats on your weight loss too! That is wonderful!!

Well I should get back to packing and all that! Have a great week everyone!

[IASW Rider]

BON VOYAGE, ELAINE!!! :) :) :)!!!!

Wishing you an absolutely wonderful and fun time at WDW / DIS CON! :) Please say "hi" to Dan and Marie and everyone else whom you see there, on behalf of the EWP Suite Mates! :) And we will have a "virtual EWP watching" with you on the 4th or the 5th and be thinking of you!!

You are going to have such a great time!! Please take lots of pictures (I know that you will! :) ) and prepare to tell us all about your adventures, upon your return!

Have a wonderful time!!!

And hope that you're having a great weekend, Linda, Angie, and Wendy (we miss you, Wendy!)!

Talk to you all soon! :)

[jstmee]

Hi all,

I can't believe I missed Elaine. She must have sent vibes that said she was leaving for WDW today. How time flys.

I haven't been home to even see my family. I have been working 3 jobs. I now sell credit cards over the phone during the day, work at the hospital at night and I was helping out in the billing area for a few weeks. So, I leave at 7-8 am and get home after 11pm. My dh is holding down the fort. Next week I should be back to one job. But, that's what I thought last week and it didn't happen.

As usually much more excitement in this neck of the woods. my DS got injured on 10/29 and we are afraid he might lose up to three front top permanent teeth. He's doing well in spite of everything. Teeth wired and only soft foods.

That's all for now, all is pretty good up here in the tundra, snow, snow, snow.....

I sure do miss all of you. Hopefully, I'll get time to read up on what you all have been up to.

Take care.
Wendy

[jstmee]

Hi all,

I can't believe I missed Elaine. She must have sent vibes that said she was leaving for WDW today. How time flys.

I haven't been home to even see my family. I have been working 3 jobs. I now sell credit cards over the phone during the day, work at the hospital at night and I was helping out in the billing area for a few weeks. So, I leave at 7-8 am and get home after 11pm. My dh is holding down the fort. Next week I should be back to one job. But, that's what I thought last week and it didn't happen.

As usually much more excitement in this neck of the woods. my DS got injured on 10/29 and we are afraid he might lose up to three front top permanent teeth. He's doing well in spite of everything. Teeth wired and only soft foods.

That's all for now, all is pretty good up here in the tundra, snow, snow, snow.....

I sure do miss all of you. Hopefully, I'll get time to read up on what you all have been up to.

Take care.
Wendy

[angelina]

Good morning, everyone. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Lisa, I hope you are feeling better each day.It's amazing how outside forces can affect the way we feel, isn't it? Linda, congratulations on your amazing accomplishment. I know you are feeling better with each pound that comes off.

Wendy, I hope things are getting better way up there. I've been wondering what you've been up to, keeping busy as usual. How are your son's teeth? We'd love a little of that snow down here! It's been years since we've seen any of the white stuff in these parts!

I hope Elaine is having a great time in WDW! My cousins are there now, staying at the Wilderness lodge. Still can't get excited about planning another trip, maybe in time. Does anyone know why they're not offering the Disney Club after 12/12? I was able to renew my membership yesterday, but was told they're not offering anything in it's place. That's kind of sad, at least you could get a discount at the Disney store and on rooms from time to time.

My son killed his first deer opening day, a 100# buck, but I think his dad was more excited. He took my daughter yesterday, and they saw 2, but didn't shoot at either.

We were all sick over the holiday weekend, so I didn't get much shopping done, but put the steam cleaner to GOOD use, LOL. My stepsister was in town from Tampa, but we only saw them 2 days before we all came down with it. She has a beautiful baby that we were all dying to get our hands on, but it didn't work out quite like we had planned.

Don't have much else to report for now. Have a great day!

Angie

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine

Here is wishing you a safe and magical trip to our favorite place on Earth. I will be sending special thoughts to you while you are gone and especially on the 4th and 5th when you will be watching 'our' parade. I hope that the riots were far away from your home and work. Some creative sentencing would not be amiss I think. I would hate to see some young person's future destroyed because of dumbness but something needs to be done to make others think twice before doing so themselves.

Just realized that Angelina and Rider were hiding in the corner when I came in here. Guys, you gotta eat a cookie or something so I will be able to see you. LOL

Angelina, I take you that your sister did not let you pass her beautiful baby around and inhale some of those 'germs' that you all had? LOL What a shame, a perfectly wonderful baby and you cannot spoil it. Maybe next time?

Jstmee, how you been gal? 3 jobs? OMG!!! Hope you are not trying to do more when you are home in between jobs. How is your hubby doing at holding down the fort? At the very least he will gain much respect for the work you have done for years. I sincerely hope that your DS's beautiful smile stays that way. You guys just don't catch a break (unless it is a broken bone). No wonder we have not heard from you lately. Had been worried that something really awful was going on and am much relieved that it is just overwork although I would wish a more perfect and easy life for you and yours. Sending wishes for few hangups on your phone solicitation job and that you can remember where you are in the script at any given moment. Yes, I have been there myself.

Rider, you are wise beyond your years and have much to share with the rest of us. Realizing is sometimes the hardest thing to do but it does the most for us. Glad you are feeling better.

Very busy here as usual. The boys were here yesterday and after cooking lunch and doing a million other things for and with them I turned to check my emails. Heard a count down behind me 5-4-3-2-1 "We love you grandma". in unison. Gosh, grandkids sure are nice. Wish I had had them first. See what you all have to look forward to. Just remember when your teenager stands looking at you with hatred and scorn - grandchildren are your reward for not killing your children. LOL

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

WENDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

So great to hear from you!! It sounds like you have been ridiculously busy, up there! 3 jobs - wow!! More power to you! That is very admirable! Hope that you are hanging in there and that this "crunch" is only temporary. And I'm sure that your DH is doing a great job of holding down the fort at home! I hope that you have some more time to yourself to relax and spend with your family, very soon! So sorry to hear about your DS's injury! Hope that he is feeling much better, soon! Thank God he didn't wind up actually losing those teeth! I'm sure that the wiring will ensure that his teeth and gums heal properly and hopefully he'll be back to his usual self very soon! We haven't had any snow down here, yet (no accumulation, anyway), but they are predicting another storm for this Thursday. In the mean time, it is FREEZING, here - 19 degrees, today, with a wind chill in the single digits. I am not leaving the house, today! :)

Hi Angie!

So sorry to hear that you were all sick over the holiday weekend! :( How are you all feeling, now? Even though you weren't feeling well, it's nice that your step sister and her baby were able to come and visit and that you were able to spend some time together! And congratulations to your son on getting his first deer! That sounds like a pretty big one, too! Do your DH and DS clean the deer and carve the meat, themselves (I assume that they bring the deer or at least the meat home so that you can all eat it?)? I've never had venison before, but my step father-in-law is a hunter, so it's a future possibility! As your DS got a buck, does that mean that he gets to keep the antlers? Is your DD a huntress, as well? As for the Disney Club, who knows? I am very upset about their discontinuing it next year, as well. I did what you did - renewed now (early) for 2003. I read on another thread that Disney is replacing the Disney Club with a Disney Visa Card, which will offer "points" for discounts and maybe prizes. I only have one credit card, and I want to keep it that way, so I'm even more frustrated about not being able to take advantage of discounts after next year. I say you take advantage of the Disney Club while it still exists.......and plan another trip to WDW! They do offer some nice discounts on the packages - might as well use them while we can! :)

Hi Linda!

You have the sweetest grandchildren (DGS's)! I love to hear stories about the cute things that they say to and do for you! The fact that they are so smart and kind obviously has something to do with the fact that they have an exceptional grandma! :) I'm sure that they are getting excited about the upcoming holidays!

Hi Elaine!

We're all thinking about you, here in the Suite! Come and visit us, if you have a break in your DIS CON schedule! We'll be here! :) Hope that you are having a wonderful trip! And hope that everyone at DIS CON is having fun - I'm sure that everyone is! :)

Things are pretty quiet, around here. Frank returned from his Mom's house on Sunday night, and I tried to make a "traditional" (ie: lots of fried food, or "fake fried food" - made with Pam instead of oil!) Chanukah dinner, which was nice (nicer than the dinner that I made last night, where I overcooked Frank's noodles to the point of "inedibility"! :) ). He was very cute - when he was down at his Mom's, he called on the first 2 nights of Chanukah and told me to look various places in the house, where he had hidden little gifts and cards for me. That was very sweet! My back / neck / arm thing has just about gone away - just a lot of tingling, not too much pain. I'm trying to take it easy and relax and enjoy having time to myself - I think that one of the things contributing to my ailments is probably (in addition to all that other stuff) my feeling guilty about not working but still getting paid (for awhile more, at least!) and not really letting myself relax at all - constantly trying to unneccessarily prove - to Frank, to my parents, to my friends, to myself - that I AM "accomplishing things" even though I don't have "a job". I need to relax and stop putting so much pressure on myself, I think. And my vertigo....has mysteriously gone away! True, it has gotten colder and stayed cold (as my ENT specialist predicted as the time when the vertigo would subside). I don't care why it's gone, I'm just glad that it is! :)

Wish that I had something more interesting to report! Hope that all is well with all of you! Talk to you soon! Have a nice day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Angie

I am so sorry to have forgotten to send congratulations to the young hunter. It is a momentous occasion. Without hunting and trapping our family would not have survived. Our father fed us from what he grew and hunted and the money from the furs bought our school clothes. It is so wonderful that your husband and son have things to share.

Dear Lisa, you sure picked a winner in Frank. What a wonderful and loving thing to do. He is a lucky guy also. I have been showing off my postcards and telling everyone about this great NJ lady I know. I bought a cheap digital camera and if I get it up and running I will send some pictures but we live in the boondocks and there is nothing fancy around here. The town square is beautiful though with it's white bandstand decorated with white lights and there are huge hand painted cards around the town square as well. We have groups of school children who carol around the square on the weekends. I was in our local Target this morning and they had a live band playing. They were offering special things for seniors and disabled but I was not feeling too disabled today so I did not enter any of the contests. Free gift wrapping and all. I love small town living but also love being near big cities to travel easily to as well. We are in a triangle of Louisville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

Have been gone all day and need to go and fix some dinner.

Happy travels dear Elaine and looking forward to hearing about your adventures when you return.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Yes! Yes! Please send me photos of where you live, Linda! In fact, everybody send me photos of where you all live! Since we can be together in our "virtual Suite", we can take "virtual trips" to eachother's home towns, as well! :) It would be great to see where you live - it sounds wonderful!

The neat thing about where we live is that while it's very suburban, we are less than 3 miles away from miles of farm land (and working farms), and of course 30 miles away from NYC and the Jersey Shore (opposite directions, though!), 60 miles away from Philadelphia, 80 miles away from the Pocono Mountains, and about 110 miles away from Atlantic City and Delaware.

It's still unbelievably FREEZING, here, and they're predicting a bit of snow for tomorrow. LOVELY. It's times like these when I am happy that I don't have to leave the house unless I want to!

Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Great idea Lisa. The boys are getting a specially equipped motorhome for us to take a tour of our states and the ones in between. You know how it is, we gotta go in style!

I will check and see if they still have the website for our town up. Not sure that it has beautiful pictures and such as the town of Fairhope had. I have visited that site often and dreamed of making a surprise call to our Angelina.

I have a whole new perspective on where you live. I had envisioned an apartment complex in the midst of the big city. It is fun getting to really know you all and how you live and what you think.

Am a bit tired as I stole my grandson for the day. We had a lot of fun, got the homework done, watched a video (Disney, of course), read books and cuddled. He did not want to leave but his mother has insisted on joint custody. (grin)

Back to the Christmas cards. Only a couple of hundred more to go.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

WOW - we got a bunch of snow, today - probably between 6 and 9 inches! We NEVER get snow like this, so early in the season! And it's not even "officially" winter, yet! Uh oh.....I hope that this is not what we have to look forward to, over the next few months....! Did you all have very much snow? Even though you already have snow, Wendy, I think that this particular storm is ending a tiny bit south of where you live. And I saw on the Weather Channel that Mobile had a lot of rain, Angie. How are you doing, out there in the midwest, Linda (and Luis, if you're checking in, on behalf of Elaine!)?

Thanks for the tuna casserole recipe, Linda! I am a big "tuna freak", so it is definitely appreciated! Actually, I made a very similar recipe from the cookbook that you sent, and it came out great! I think I used a few too many peas, though - Frank requested that I make it with green beans, next time! :) I enjoyed hearing about your family and all of the great cultures that you share!

I love the motorhome idea, so that we can take our virtual trips to eachother's home towns! We WILL have to bring the boys along, of course, to cater to our every whim! And maybe they can design an on board jacuzzi for us, as well, so that we feel right at home.......! :)

Yes, please send over the link to your home town web site, if you can! And if you still happen to have the Fairhope website link, please send or post that along, too! I would love to see that, as well!

Nope - we don't live in an urban environment - we live in a very typically suburban townhouse development (it was designed in the late 80's, so all of the houses are pastel colors! And all of the streets in our development are surrounded by a big, curving street called "Challenger Road", and all of the "sub streets" are named after the astronauts of the Space Shuttle Challenger.) The closest "city" or large town to us is New Brunswick, home of Johnson and Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb headquarters, as well as Frank's and my alma mater, Rutgers University! It's about 3 miles away, and that's the town in which we got married. I picture Columbus being similar to New Brunswick, somehow.

It sounds like you had a nice day with your DGS! What video did you watch? We just got our copy of "Lilo and Stitch", but haven't been able to sit down and watch it, yet. We saw it in the theaters, back in June, but we're looking forward to seeing it again. And we're hoping to see "Treasure Planet" this weekend, too!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all faring well with this crazy weather! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

OK, so I am not really alone as Tom is sitting in the bedroom watching the tv but since I do not have a grandchild, for the first time in days, I am sorta alone. Have gotten quite a bit accomplished though. Cleaned the downstairs from top to bottom, cooked up a bunch of things including another tuna casserole (with green beans this time) and a special batch of the Crustless Pumpkin Pie to take to the Sunday School's brunch tomorrow. My desk even had some clean spots. Amazing and I surely needed to catch up on a lot of things so this day is most welcome.

We got a few inches of the white stuff also. No school yesterday so Dalton hung out with me and we had a lot of fun. My poor daughter forgot to pick up the kids at kindergarten today. I usually do it for her but I am a big chicken to drive on ice and snow and refuse when there are small children involved. I know she felt badly. Her husband was complaining about her to me the other night. I believe mil's have a bad reputation cause we have to keep out mouths closed a lot and it makes us look meaner than we are. LOL

Lisa, you did not even have to ask about the jacuzzi. It was the first thing installed along with the satellite dish, Internet access, fully stocked bar, library of best sellers and an on board chef (has funny name of Puck, I believe). I am sure I am leaving out a few minor details but rest assured the fellows have planned for our every comfort.

I had had a hard time envisioning you in an urban environment as you are such a friendly, comfortable and small town type of person and now I understand why. I wish I had your courage to roam afield as you do. Even getting in the car to go to the grocery is a challenge to me. I do it but it does not come easily. Was supposed to pick up Dorthea and meet a friend in Columbus for our annual Christmas party and had to back out as the lane to the log cabin is more than I (or most other people even) can handle. Rescheduled for next week and I am hoping for better weather. My other friend down the street needs transportation to doctor's meetings and I cannot help as I just plain do not drive in the winter much. The first snowflake falls or looks as it is about to appear and I run for home. I tend to close my eyes and scream when the car slides (have had the experience) and refuse to risk others lives. Mary is in danger of having her water turned off as they want to charge $175 to change the name on the bill to hers from the previous tenant and the trustee cannot pay the bill unless it is in her name. Love the system. (sigh) We are going to buy paper goods and cleaning products for her and find something pretty for her Christmas presents. Am hoping to get my grandkids involved as it is past time for them to learn to give as well as receive. I have quite a few items left over from my refunding days that she can chose from so she can give her grandkids something for Christmas. Hope she gets to see them. She has services that come in and do some small things for her but she is totally housebound now and since she has no friends to speak of she sits there alone each and everyday. Is a very sad situation and beyond my capabilites to solve every problem, very frustrating indeed.

Dalton and I watched the Christmas at Disney World video naturally and a few others. He is heavy into Rudolph this year and can sing the song word for word. He has asked me to help him have a 'garage band'. Scary child. Tattoos and piercings are next I fear.

SG/Linda

[angelina]

I just wanted to stick my head in the door a minute to say "Hi" to all of you, and I hope you're having a nice weekend. It's been cold down here, although not as cold as the rest of you have, especially with all of that snow. Lisa, I was wondering if you had some of the white stuff up there. I hope it wasn't as bad for you as the news makes it seem. Linda, since we are unaccustomed to such conditions down here, we are in no way prepared when we do get a bit. I remember one day when I was in college, my friend and I were cutting class and driving down the main street when the road ( all 6 lanes) literally iced over before our eyes. I nearly took out the covered parking spaces at my apartment complex when I turned the corner, LOL. People were sliding off the road into culverts everywhere, and running into the back of each other. I think it's been 5 or 6 years since we've had any snow here, but we always wish for it. It's about time for another flurry or two.

Linda, you are so kind to look out for your friend as you do. I wish I was as thoughtful. There have been many times when I could have helped someone out, but realized the need too late. The thing that I like about the Catholic church, and our school, is that they stress service to others, and our students, after a certain grade, are required to complete so many hours before they can pass to the next grade. It is touching to see how much they get from it. I try to teach my children the same things.

I really enjoyed the e-mail about your school house project, Linda. It sounds like it was a neat project. I will try to send some things your way, too. We had a Christmas Open House at Oakleigh yesterday, and I took a picture of the front of the home, and if it turns out, I will send it to you. I am pathetically challenged, though, so I may not be able to send it in an e-mail. Will hope for the best.

I have to pick DD up from a birthday party. I will check back with you all later.

Angie

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Angelina

How wonderful to see you smiling face, even for a bit. Listen lady, what I do does not compare to what you are doing in raising your fine family. I just do what little I can here and there. Hope you all don't get the idea that I am a Mother Teresa or anything. It is just that you all have such fascinating and interesting lives and I do not have much to report except these little items so it might seem I do a lot more than I do. I am a Martha and it is not a hardship on me. I am untalented so it is hard for me to find things that I am capable of doing is all. You are doing a great job in teaching your children to do for others. It is such a wonderful feeling and living for yourself is such a lonely life.

I know what you mean about our neighbors to the south coming unglued at a bit of snow. I have been in Atlanta when it got a dusting and the wrecks were scary. I just park it when such happens and get out of the way. We have a lot of accidents up here when the first snow flies. People forget what to do. The rough part is that there always seems to be one person who 'wrecks' it all for everyone by not slowing down and being careful. Usually someone in an old car who does not give a darn. (sigh)

I have been to Oakleigh before. On our 25th anniversary we did a plantation tour and it was so lovely. I have many happy memories of that trip. Looking forward to seeing the pictures. I visit the Fairhope site often. I am not kidding when I say I have hopes of visiting there someday. All sites tend to make their towns sound lovely but that one has the pictures to back it up. I love the flower baskets. Red Wing, MN has such as well and is such a pretty town but I would not want the weather that goes along with it.

We went to see "Harry Potter' after church yesterday. Dalton decided that the best seat in the house was on my lap and even my big boy (11) curled up beside me. Their dad shook his head but we did not care. The principal of our high school died of cancer the other day so while the parents went to the funeral home I took the boys out to eat and back here until after they had finished their 'marriage class' at the church. Wish I could get my DH to do such a class but after they stated the fact that the man is supposed to be the 'head of the family' he would not hear anything else. I am willing for him to be the head but he does not want the job as it would require that he give up his present lifestyle of sleeping 10-12 hours a day and sitting in front of the tv the rest of the day. I swear he took 2 hours to eat his dinner yesterday while watching cartoons. I cannot relate.

Dalton is sleeping in this morning. He crawled in bed with us about 5 and I could not get back to sleep so I am getting some chores done before the guys wake up and I need to fix breakfast.

Hope you all have your cards and presents taken care of so you can enjoy the real reason for the season.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hello!

Hope that you all had a nice weekend! And welcome back, Elaine! I believe that you're back from DIS CON, now, but you're probably very busy and won't have a chance to check in with us until after you're all settled in. Hope that you had a wonderful time, and can't wait to see your pictures!

I apologize that I have not had a chance to sit down and really enjoy the websites from your home towns, Linda and Angie - I'm hoping to do that, today. Every time I pull one of them up, the phone rings, or the laundry finishes, or something, and I never seem to be able to have time to really look at them and enjoy. I have a pretty quiet day today, though, so I will look at them at length as soon as I am done posting here! And please send the photos that you took to me, as well, Angie - I would love to see! I really like this idea of our "virtual trips" to each other's home towns! And the mobile home sounds like it's really shaping up, Linda! All we need, now, is to gather ourselves together and climb aboard! I know that the Suite will be ready, fully stocked, and waiting for us, upon our return!

I have gathered together whatever information I could find on line about where we live and will e-mail it over to you for your perusal (if you'd like), at your leisure!

Please - I am an absolute chicken when it comes to driving in the snow - I only do it if I am absolutely forced to do so! I didn't leave my house for 3 days, when we got this past week's snow, and I only drove for the first time today, as much of it melted over the weekend. I believe that we wound up with about 7-8 inches, all together. Frank (saint that he is!) cleaned off our cars and shoveled our driveway (along with some help from our wonderful next door neighbor, with whom our townhouse shares a driveway) while it was still snowing, so the melting happened relatively quickly. I forced myself to drive in the snow and ice when I had to get back and forth from work.......but I will not go out in it now, unless there is an emergency! So I can definitely relate to your stories, Linda and Angie!

I also think it's wonderful that you help your friends, as you do, Linda, and that you're always thinking of others and ways to make their lives happier and more fulfilling! And you do many wonderful things for yourself, your DH, your children, and your grandchildren, as well as for your friends and your community! There are many people who value and are grateful for everything that you do and all of the ways in which you help and contribute!

And I think it's so nice that your children are taught about service to the community and helping others, in school, Angie! They have started to require a certain number of hours of community service as a pre-requisite to graduating to the next school grade in many schools around here, as well, and I think that that is a great thing! Frank and I both loved being involved in our community service fraternity when we were in college, and we're both involved in their alumni activities, now. The fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, is not a "fraternity" in the traditional sense, as there is no "house" or communal living situation - the members all live in their own dorms or off campus, and it is a co-ed "fraternity". The only requirements for "pledging" involve completing a certain number of hours of community service during the semester, and assisting with the preparation and execution of the fraternity's sponsored community service projects. It was a lot of fun and we got to work with many interesting organizations, as well. APO has chapters in just about every college throughout the country, so maybe it's something that your children and grandchildren might be interested in looking into, when they are older and if they choose to go to college!

All is well, here. Quiet day, today, but busy week ahead!

Just wanted to stop by and say "hi"! Hope that all is well with all of you! :)

[IASW Rider]

Me, again!

Elaine - just checked over on the "All My Children" thread, and I understand that you saw Fantasmic with (amongst other people) my pal Christine ("Mickey's Sunshine") from over on that thread! I'm glad that you ran into one another - I told her to look out for you, in case you ran into eachother! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine

I am glad you made it back safely and have been looking for your report. Did not have time to look today so maybe it is there already. You are so good with words and descriptions that I will be able to imagine the whole thing.

Dear Lisa

Had to grin when I heard about Frank shoveling the drive. I have always been the one to do so around here. We have a front porch, side steps and then that long path to the garage as well as in front of the garage so it used to be good exercise but is very hard with asthma. Started doing it a bit at a time as I have aged. LOL Guess you gotta train 'em up when they are fresh. (grin)

I would love to see some kind of compulsory volunteer service for young people as it would be such a service to the country, good training for life and might postpone some hasty weddings and such. If I were physically able I would love to do something like the Peace Corp but I am not cut out for the rough and tumble life. Pampered darling that I is. :cool:

Life is sad when all you have to think of is yourself.

Had Dalton all day and he was a sweetie but then was extremely rude to his mom when she came to get him. He did not get anything from me when he left and I waited a bit and called him at home and explained where he went wrong. Hope it did some good. I am not a grandma who revels in a youngster dissing his mother in favor of a grandma, even if she is as wonderful (and modest) as I am.:p

Back to the library tomorrow. Have had too many days off lately and it feels like forever since I was there last (a week ago Monday).

My Club meeting was cancelled today because of ice, sleet and snow. My heart goes out to the poor lady who worked so hard getting it ready. Have it happen to me and it is wearing. I have the January meeting and plan to leave the decorations up for everyone to see. Dalton made us a tree today. He decorated one of the doorways and I was able to restrain myself from 'neatening' it up. Quite a feat for me. (grin)

I have enjoyed checking out some of the sites that Rider sent. It is so nice to envision you ladies in your native habitat.

Keep warm all, SG/Linda

[helenabear]

Hi all! I am slowly trying to catch up. There are no reports or pictures yet. I will most likely tell my trip via pictures and that will take time I am sure. With the new digital cameras out there you are able to take so many pictures in such a short amount of time, I wound up with nearly 1700 total. So this will take me some time to get through. I have looked through the 1st days pictures so I think I might be ready this weekend with a couple of posts and maybe one tomorrow of CoP pictures. The others will come with time. I had a great time in general and hope to go back soon though. I admit I missed a lot that I wanted to do while there (including the EWP... rained out :() but I also did some things and saw some things I never did before. So I am home but busy trying to get through these pics :)

[IASW Rider]

Welcome back, Elaine! (Whoa - you actually got CoP pictures without getting thrown off the ride, like I almost did??!! You'll have to tell me your secret for getting them! :) ) :)

Hi Linda! :) Will respond to your post and e-mail as soon as I can! :)

This is a very quick one, since I actually have to get up in like 2.5 hours to go to NYC - just wanted to say "hi"! You'd probably never find us if you tried to look for us in the audience of "Caroline", tomorrow....because we both decided to wear black - we will be the ones fading into the woodwork! :) But we'll be there! :) Frank will be very disappointed that the originally scheduled guest for the show, Patrick Stewart, isn't going to be the guest after all......but the star of the Princess Diaries will be one of the guests, so there will be a "Disney presence" there! :)

Have a great night, Everyone! And I'll check in with a "real" post / response, tomorrow! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Elaine, 1700 pictures? I thought I was obsessive. I considered a digital camera but have decided to wait until next year when the prices come down a bit. I sort of like my old camera. Always get 2-3 sets of each picture so I can share them around and is much cheaper and better quality photo IMHO. I love the idea of having the pictures on disk (if they do not change formats again). Think I am getting old and stodgy or maybe it is being retired and having to watch those pennies a bit tighter. LOL I am so sorry you missed the EWP. Has anyone in the Suite seen it since we joined up? Hope we are not forever cursed. (grin)

Lisa, my vcr is all geared up and ready to capture you and Frank. Just remember to smile and be yourself and you will stand out in the crowd. I am sorry that Frank is missing Patrick Stewart but maybe next time? There is 'always' a Disney presence everywhere IMHO.

Hoping that Angelina and Jstmee are having wonderful days as well and I am off to do some exciting things like laundry and dishes before I head out to my 'real' life.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Oh man, I am soooo exhuasted! I only slept like 2 hours last night - we had to be up at 4:30 this morning, and got into NYC before 7:00 AM!

We had a lot of fun at "The Caroline Rhea Show" taping, today! It was a long morning, but it was a blast! I did my best to get my way into her "Cash Cow" audience participation game, but as you may have seen, she only picked one member of the audience at random.....so if Frank and I were "on TV" at all, it was in an audience shot. Believe it or not, Caroline has not yet come on here, today - she's on at 12:35 AM - so we haven't even seen today's episode on TV, yet! I'm forcing myself to stay awake - Frank is taking a nap, now, and I'm going to wake him up at 12:15 so that we can watch it together! It's possible that the camera could have caught us - we had very good seats - toward the front and right on the aisle! And here's a little "secret"........we didn't just see today's (live) episode taped, today, but also pieces of tomorrow's (Patrick Stewart! Frank did get to see him, after all! And he was very funny!) and Tuesday's (Elijah Wood), as well - Caroline changed her outfit 3 times to make it look like the pieces were taking place on different days! Anyway.....believe it or not, she allowed photographs in the studio, during commercial breaks, so if anyone would like to see us, Caroline, her studio, and Rockefeller Center:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/lisaruthb3/lst?&.dir=/Caroline+Rhea+Show+-+December+12+2002&.src=ph&.begin=9999&.view=t&.order=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/lisaruthb3/lst%3f%26.dir=/Caroline%2bRhea%2bShow%2b-%2bDecember%2b12%2b2002%26.src=ph%26.view=t

Her studio happens to be right next door to the one in which "Saturday Night Live" is taped. We saw it, but I was too chicken to sneak a photo! There is a picture of me, in the above album, outside Chris Kattan's dressing room, though!

We took home tons of gifts! I guess that Caroline is continuing Rosie's tradition of giving lots of gifts to the audience! We each (Frank and I!) got the guest bandleader / trumpeter's CD, a Gund teddy bear, a Gameboy Advance with several games (look for Patrick Stewart to be "giving that to the entire studio audience" on tomorrow's show, if you happen to see it!), a "Lord of the Rings" 4 DVD box set (look for Elijah Wood to be "giving that to the entire studio audience" on Tuesday's show, if you happen to see it!), and Caroline Rhea Show T-shirts and key chains! We had so much stuff that we needed to buy a shopping bag, just to carry it all home!

So, even though we left the studio at noon, by the time we got back to NJ it was around 3:00 PM, and I am totally delirious! But it was worth it, and Frank wants to go back again, or see another show taped, soon!

Thanks for thinking of me, Linda, and looking forward to seeing all of those great photos, when you have a chance to upload them, Elaine!

Will post a more "coherent" note, tomorrow! Have a great night, Everyone! :)

[helenabear]

Just stopping in very quickly. I am taking the time to come in here when I can. I'm doing one of those "type a little, work a little" things right now as everything is getting started for the day for me. So if I miss something, I'm sorry.

Lisa, it looks like you all had so much fun at the Caroline Rhea show. That was so neat you could take pictures. I looked at a few of them and they looked great!

Yep Linda, 1700 pictures. I ought to ask Dan how many he took while he was there to make me look better :teeth: I still can't believe how many I forgot to take. But I have looked through the 1st day several times now and have a bunch uploaded. I just need to get myself in gear and post them :)

The trick though to taking pictures of CoP while in it, is to non-chalantly sit towards the back and make sure you don't use a flash or anything that would emit light. Actually I don't know if anyone noticed or not and I didn't do anything special. I never take flash photography indoors on rides so I am not sure if anyone even noticed. I have a few I need to retouch because they came out a little dark (maybe 3 out of 25) but I was so pleased in general with how they turned out.

Well I should really get back to work now. I hope you all have a great day and a wondeful weekend.

[IASW Rider]

Hi Elaine!

Can't wait to see those pictures! I can relate to taking 1700 pictures, believe me! :) Take your time posting them - we'll be ready to see them, whenever you're ready to post them! :) You must have had so much fun! :)

The only "success" that I ever had in CoP was sitting in the back of the theater and videotaping portions of it (because I was too nervous to tape the whole thing, after I almost got thrown off the ride for trying to tape it in 1999!) by leaning my video camera lens on the (empty) seat in front of me, and keeping the camera in my lap (so that I couldn't really see what I was taping!) I think that you have the "wonderful" footage of that attempt on the tape that I sent to you. Well, I tried, anyway! :) I hope that I will have one more chance to see CoP before it closes (assuming that all of the rumors are true), when we are there in June.

Thanks for looking at some of my billions of pictures, too!

Hi Linda!

I'm sure that it was difficult for you to discipline Dalton the way that you did, the other day, but you obviously did the right thing, and it's wonderful how you called him to follow up and explain why you acted as you did and taught him about accepting responsibility for his actions. You are a great Grandmom! :) I'm sure that he will never be rude to his mom again, after a good lesson like that! And that's so nice that he did some decorating for you, too!

Hope that all is well up there and down there, Wendy and Angie! :)

Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[helenabear]

You know Lisa, it has been so long since I've watched that video that I don't even recall what is on it. I don't know exactly when I would be able to bring myself to watch it again either. I have a planning video that came while I was there and I haven't even opened it yet. Hopefully sometime soon I will find it in me to watch them.

I do have one thread 1/2 done. I need to put captions on it and it will be done. Just picked a few pictures of my first day (I think about 40) and then I will get the CoP up shortly after.

Maybe this weekend I will also be able to catch up on all that went on here with you all. I admit I didn't do much back reading yet. So if I did miss something it certainly was not intentional.

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi Elaine!

No need to go back and watch the video (especially since I am embarrassed by my lack of talent with cinematography! :) )! Looking forward to reading your trip report, though, once you've finished it! I know it's a lot of work to upload and choose which pictures you'll post, etc. - that's a big job! But it will be great to hear about all of your adventures at DIS CON! :)

We actually had some pixie dust arrive on our doorstep, today, when we received a holiday package from my Fantasmic friend! This year, he sent a set of 4 beautiful decorative plates, each with a different incarnation of Mickey Mouse on it (ie: Sorcerer Mickey, Brave Little Tailor Mickey, Mickey Mouse Club Mickey, and Silly Symphonies Mickey). We were very excited and touched, and it was nice to receive some Disney Magic on such a dreary, cold, gray day! :)

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

[helenabear]

Oops... forgot to post this...

Trip pics #1 (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=302294)

[IASW Rider]

That is such a great thread, Elaine! :) I love how you always tell a story with your photos and your descriptions of them! It really makes us feel like we were there, right along with you! I have to admit that I got a little choked up looking at them - particularly the photos of the Contemporary and the Castle! And I was so excited to see the pictures of Space Mountain with the lights on! I always read people's posts about seeing that, when on TTA, but I've never actually seen pictures of what it looks like, before! I'll tell ya, seeing the track makes me realize that it's really not such a "scary" roller coaster, after all! (I only rode it once - in 1985 - and that was because I was "bullied into riding it"!) I love the pictures of you and all of the DISers! And of you and Dan taking pictures of eachother! It looks like you had a fun and action packed first day! Can't wait to see more, when you have a chance! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Elaine, thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. You sure have a way with words and pictures. Your irrepressible personality shows through.

Lisa, what thoughtful friends you make. You must bring out the best in people. (grin)

Angelina, how are you coping without mounds of the white stuff to get you in the "mood"? Got to confess that we don't have any either. I walked to church and back without a coat and did not miss it at all. Sil played Joseph and Dalton wanted to know if his daddy was God. LOL

Jstmee, I hope you are getting some rest in between jobs. I think of you often and send pixie dust you way to lighten your load and hope that you and yours are well.

Have to go wrap some packages to be mailed tomorrow. Every year I swear I will be better organized the next but it gets worse and worse each year. Wish I could just invite all my loved ones to the Suite and have the fellers cook and clean and I could just enjoy the shiny faces.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hello All!

Hope that you all had a nice weekend!

That's so cute that Dalton wanted to know if his father was "God", Linda! He comes up with the most adorable things! And it sounds like you are very organized, with your holiday planning - it's still early - a little more than a week away! I'm sure that you'll get everything finished and ready, well before Christmas!

How are all of your holiday plans coming along, Elaine, Angie, and Wendy? I'm sure that everyone is very busy, right about now! My only remaining holiday duties are to wrap all of our gifts for Frank's family. The only problem is that Frank has them stored all over the house, and I have no idea where they all are!

We had a nice brunch at my parents' house for my father's 70th birthday, on Sunday. Along with Frank and my uncle and me, my sister-in-law came along, as well. My parents have started including her in all of our family celebrations, which I think is nice, and Deb really gets along well with my family. I think that my father had a nice time, which he more than deserves. I worry about him all the time, exhausting himself taking care of my mother and their cat and helping out my uncle (who doesn't drive) all the time. I'm going to go over and "mommy sit" for him, a few days this week, so that he can get out and do some errands.

Well, time to get moving, here! Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

All children are precious and interesting to my way of thought. They are new to the world and not self conscious and see things from a different perspective.

Sounds as if you are already enjoying a great holiday season. We have a small family unit so there is not much celebrating going on. Some of my siblings are planning a get together near Columbus, Ohio after Christmas and before New Years. If the weather holds like this week I may surprise them and drive in for lunch. Worth a 200 mile drive IMHO.

I have a gift closet in my house. All wrapping supplies are kept there and I pick up things from time to time and put them there as well. Makes things a bit easier. Madonna has a whole room in her house for such.

Guess who is in my neck of the woods tonight? The Boss! He had to cancel because one of his band was sick and is not doing a make up concert. I would pay to see him.

I could recognize Frank in the picture and could barely see the top of your head. That's what you get for being so short. LOL 80 pounds gone!! WTG. I am so proud of you. With all you have gone through this year and the marriage and all (most people gain then) you have proven yourself to be a strong and confident woman.

Am wondering, does you mom use the computer? I play trivia on the Internet and think she might enjoy it also. Maybe even some of you Suite ladies would like to join in. Sounds funny but since they have made the questions easier it is harder for me to win so often. There is one lady who wins about half the games. She is from Ohio also. We have people from New Zealand and other places also.

Guess everyone is out and shopping as I do not see anyone else hanging and around and believe me I checked the corners. Found a few hidden Christmas presents though. (grin)

Take care dear ladies and do not try to do it all. It can't be done and you will only frustrate yourself. Take it from and older but not necessarily wiser woman. LOL

Linda/SG

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! I was just coming to join you all for a moment or two. I think I have finally "come down" from my vacation and really am more ready to take on the world again. I guess that is good because I only have 3 1/2 - 4 days of work left this year :eek:

Glad you all liked the pictures. I still haven't even started on any other threads yet. I had a lot of fun taking the pictures and I hope to be able to take even more the next time I go.

My Holiday plans are already made I guess. I have a lot of family stuff I will be doing off and on. My brother will be here with his wife and cat so I will be spending a lot of time with them. Nothing terribly exciting, just mostly sitting around and enjoying each other I think.

I must have missed this somewhere but congratulations Lisa on your weight loss! That is truly amazing and something to be very proud of. I agree with Linda, you are such a strong woman :) Oh and good luck with finding all the packages to wrap :)

I have heard Linda, that he is wonderful to see in concert. I think the day his tickets went on sale for the show here though, I was out of town and couldn't even dream of trying for them... that and the concert I believe took place at a bad time. If you do make it to Columbus Linda, do call me. I would love to see you again.

Wendy & Angie, I hope all is well with both of you. And I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Helenabear

Had a wonderful day with friends and now am home and find a message from you. Can life get any better than this? (nah)

Glad to hear that your feet are finally settled firmly on the ground. It takes awhile to get back on track after a vacation. Did Luis miss you a bunch? Was the house stil intact when you returned? Did you find any spiders in your room? LOL Just full of questions aren't I?

If we get your way we will just be there and back out. We are meeting at the Coffee Cup in Nelsonville. I will take your phone number just in case we spend more time in the area but I would not expect you guys to drive there to meet us. Is a very bad time of the year, timewise. I may be able to call and wish you a Merry and Happy in person though. It is all depending on whether the weather holds.

I have to be back in the Indpls area the week after as I have several shops to do in the Greenwood/Southport area and am combining them into a mini vacation. Rough life, gals. Every mothers dream, being paid to criticize. LOL

When I returned home from my day I found my sil and Dalton in the living room. Was very disappointing as I had left the electric guitar I had bought for him on the couch when I left this morning and it ruined the surprise. I think he was excited about it. I had found a ribbon at the drugstore that announced to the world that he could now tie his own shoes. He loved it.

Found out that one of the children at the libaray I work at has a connection to my past. I worry a lot about this girl as she acts out and dresses very provocatively. The librarian sort of chases her out of the library while I am more apt to try to engage her in conversation and find something good to say to her to build her self esteem. My sil tells me her mother is someone I used to tutor many years ago. They always gave me the kids that no one else wanted. Being a reject myself makes me more sensitive to others in the same boat.

Your plans for sitting around with family sounds like the perfect holiday to me. That is what it is all about anyway.

Merry and Happy to all!!

Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hello!

How are you all doing, today?

Sounds like you're both in full pre-holiday mode, Linda and Elaine! That's nice that you will be able to have some time with your brother and sister-in-law, Elaine! And I'm sorry that Dalton and your SIL "ran into" his gift.....did they actually see it, or were you able to conceal it quickly enough so that they missed it? I hate when things like that happen!

I know how long it takes to "come down" from a WDW vacation, Elaine, and I can imagine that it's even more challenging at this time of year, when there are so many exciting things going on! Tell us more! I understand that it rained a few days, when you were down there, but did you have mostly sunny days? Was it warm enough to wear shorts at all? Did you get to see all of the 100 YOM stuff? Did you get over to the Poly at all, by chance?

No, unfortunately my parents don't have a computer, Linda - even though Frank and I have been trying to convince them to get one, for years. My father doesn't have the patience to learn how to use it and my mother wouldn't be able to see the screen or sit up for very long to look at it, even if they had one. I really think that my father, in particular, would enjoy having one - he would be able to look at and learn about all sorts of things on the internet, and stay in touch with his friends and relatives via e-mail. He's not very "into" technology - when he closed his business about 7 years ago, he still used the large, manual adding machine that my grandparents had bought in the 40's or 50's and he still used a manual (and occasionally electric) typewriter and wrote all of his checks manually! He hasn't even gotten around to learning how to use the coffee maker that we got him last Father's Day - he insists on continuing to use his drip pot or make instant coffee! It was nice of you to think of that, though! How often do you play trivia? Do the questions come to you via e-mail, or do you go to a website to find them?

Things are pretty quiet around here. I "mommy sat" for a few hours yesterday, and this afternoon will be my big gift wrapping extravaganza.

That's so neat that Bruce was out your way, Linda! It's too bad that he had to cancel his concert, though - I'm sure that there were a lot of disappointed people! Well, maybe he'll be back - it just doesn't seem like him to cancel and not reschedule! Or maybe he'll send his NJ neighbor, John Bon Jovi, to perform in his place! :)

Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! This week is going so slowly. I know it is because I want to be on vacation again ;) I think that is what was so hard about coming back... knowing that I only had 10 days of work before I was done again for the year. Thank goodness this isn't a busy time of year.

Lisa it sounds nice and quiet where you are while Linda it sounds liek things will be busy for you for quite some time. I am just sorry that Dalton saw his present early.

Well to answer some questions about my trip. It was nice weather. Half the days I wore shorts and the other half I was in jeans and a T-shirt. We only had one really cold evening where I felt the hot chocolate was a great idea :teeth: And two days with rain. The first was 80 degrees and it was the normal quick storms so I didn't mind it at all. The other was just a drizzly colder day. Nothing too terrible at all... wasn't even worth it to break out the umbrella.

Yes there was a spider in my room (no joke). I was too short to reach it so I had a tall friend of mine kill it for me :eek: It was terrible... my worst fear came true but fortunately I wasn't desperate enough to call the front desk :p

Luis apparently did miss me but he left the house intact for me so at least I had a home to come home to ;)

I did get to see a lot of the 100 Year celebration stuff. I got to see part if not all of the four parades. I saw the One Man's Dream in MGM and I got to see all the fireworks and other night stuff (except EWP). It was a wonderful time there and a beautiful time of year to go.

Well lunch is almost up. I hope you all have a great day :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi!

Hope that you all had a nice weekend and that your holiday plans are coming along nicely! I finally finished wrapping all of the gifts for Frank's family, tonight!

Thanks for the updates about your vacation, Elaine! I can't believe that you wound up finding a spider in your room, after all! But that's great that you had someone there who could get rid of it for you! UGH - I hate finding spiders! And that's nice that the weather was pretty good, for the most part and that it was summer-like for part of the time, as well! I hope that they leave One Man's Dream in place for awhile after 100 YOM ends - we didn't get to see it when we were there, and I'd like to see it before it leaves! Did you go on many rides / attractions, or did you spend most of your time visiting with fellow DISers?

All is well, here! Just getting things together before we blast off to my in-laws' on Tuesday! We finally went to see "Hairspray", yesterday and it was absolutely outstanding - probably one of the best shows that I have ever seen in my life! Everything from the book to the music and lyrics to the choreography to the costumes and of course the performances were unbelievable and very original and impressive! I would definitely recommend it for any of you who happen to be visiting the NY area (hint, hint! :) ) We went with my best friend / man of honor, Gary, and his boyfriend and we had a fantastic time with them, again! We went out to dinner at a cute little French bistro, after the show, and then out for a few drinks at a nice quiet place, where we were essentially able to sit in a private seating area, with really comfortable chairs, as if we were in someone's home's living room! It was a lot of fun!

Well, time to get some rest so that I can get a relatively early start on my last minute preparations for our trip to South Jersey!

Have a great night and talk to you before the holiday! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi again!

Just in case I don't have a chance to stop in again before we leave, I just wanted to wish you all and your families a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful and special holiday!

So glad that we have our EWP Suite "Family", right here on the DIS Boards! Thanks for being such wonderful friends!

Love,
Lisa :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Imagine my surprise and happiness when I found 2 cards from 2 of my Suite mates? Thank you so much Angelina and Rider. They are in a place of honor on my china cabinet. Hope my family reads them so they will find out how wonderful I am. LOL


Rider, I loved the movie "Hairspray". You go to see some of my favorite things. Next time video it all and send it to me. (just kidding, would not want you to end up in the slammer and besides you cannot see the show when you are taping). Sounds as if you have already been celebrating the season and doing it up fine.

Angelina, how lovely your children look. Must take after their Mom.

Helenabear, I was joking about the spider. Never figured it would really happen. We have an infestation of Japanese Beetles here and they are scattered all over the ceiling and curtains at times. I leave them be as it would make more of a mess to get rid of them. Some bugs I would go after full throttle but these do not damage anything so I leave them to their short life span.

Cards and mailed, packages are wrapped. Food is organized and I am working on cleaning. I went through a lot of Christmas boxes and threw away a bunch and packed up a bunch to sell at our next yardsale. I am paring down in preparation for the "Big Move".

Have a wonderful day ladies and take a little time for yourself along the way.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hello Everyone!

Hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday!

We had a very nice holiday, down at Frank's Mom's house. They really don't do anything of a religious nature, in Frank's family - it's just a time for family to get together all at once, which is very nice. And also very festive - never having grown up with a Christmas tree in my house, I really enjoy looking at people's trees and all of the ornaments and hearing the stories behind them, or just looking at the tree and the lights, themselves - very pretty! And we actually had a "white Christmas" for the first time in years, up here! It was a little less "white", down at Frank's Mom's, since she lives so far south of our home, but when I arrived home yesterday, I certainly found a few inches around our house! I returned home yesterday, to take care of the cats, and Frank is on his way home now.

Hope that you're all enjoying the holiday weekend! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

I had a lovely Christmas, made even more special by the beautiful cards, pictures and even a phone call from my Suite friends. Thank you for being such lovely and thoughtful people. My grandson was very interested in a certain blonde haired southern gal. I will keep him at bay for a bit. Watch out though as he likes girls entirely toooo much.

Lisa, I figure anytime a family gets together it is a religious experience. Might be blessed or just plain ungodly but religious never the less. LOL Glad you enjoyed the snow. I would have been glad to have sent you some of our 8 inches if I had known you wanted it.

Helenabear? Are you still worn out from your trip? Hope not. Bet you are out hunting down all those after Christmas sale Disney ornaments.

My little guy loves Jimmy Neutron, boy genius (Disney show naturally) so I bought him some underpants with the logo. He was such a sweetheart all day long Friday and we worked on jigsaw puzzles, read and sang silly songs and had a delightful time. For some reason when his parents show up his demeanor changes. He came running in the room, pants at half mast, Jimmy's face staring us in the face and crying out "Happy Holidays"! I believe his parents are bad influences on him. (grin)

I am taking my dh to visit his brothers for a few days. He is going tomorrow and will be back Thursday. Is always good when he visits. I get a break and he appreciates me for a couple of days when he returns. Will be the first New Year's I have been alone in over 30 years. No sympathy needed though as I am very good at entertaining myself. I think I am very funny. (grin) I will celebrate the New Year by steam cleaning my floors and then running barefoot over them before anyone with dirty shoes comes home. I am a woman of simple needs and wants. Yep, simple, that is me.

How are you guys going to ring in the New Year?

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to stop by and wish you all a very happy and healthy new year!! Here's to another great year in the Suite! :) :) :)

Happy 2003!!!! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Toot! Ring! Cheer! Happy New Year ladies!!! I just love all the tiny white lights decorating the suite for our celebration. I do think that the diaper clad fellows is a bit much but for the sake of you other ladies I will manage to compose myself. I must be a good example for you youngsters.

Helenabear, Rider, Angelina, Jstmee and our occasional visitors - I truly hope that tonight is magical and that tomorrow is the first day of the best year of your lives. Thank you so much for sharing your lives with us all and may the magic of Mickey stay in your hearts forever.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Happy 2003, Everyone!!

And thanks for those sweet and very special thoughts, Linda!

Yes, I think that our Suite New Year celebration was quite the elegant party! Wish that I hadn't eaten so many of those special hors douerves that the gentlemen whipped up for us, but it was a wonderful occasion, so I thought that I would splurge! I enjoyed seeing the EWP at midnight, with the MK fireworks illuminating the sky above, at the same time!

Ah, yes.....it would have been wonderful to spend New Year's Eve in WDW. Well, I got to see little clips of their celebration on TV, anyway! :) We had a nice New Year's Eve - very quiet and low key. We just went to my sister-in-law's, played board games, watched the TV Land "last episode of the series" marathon, and sat outside around the fire in the outdoor fireplace (until it started raining, at about 3:00 AM!). It was a very pleasant evening - I really prefer small gatherings to big, huge parties! It was just the 3 of us (and my sister-in-law's 5 cats........multiple cat households run in the family! :) ), and that was good.

How is Tom enjoying his visit with his brothers, Linda? And how have you been enjoying the quiet time at home? Loved the story about Dalton showing off his new "Boy Genius" underwear! It takes one to wear one, as I always say! :)

Hope that you're all having a nice day! Happy New Year, once again! :)

[lilboo]

...slow day on the CB...strolling around the back pages....lo and behold!!!

Hi EWPers!!:wave::Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc

[IASW Rider]

Oh my God! Welcome, Lilboo! What a nice surprise! :) We're just a bunch of people who have been "living" in a virtual hotel Suite overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon, for the past year and a half, from which we "watch" the Electrical Water Pageant every night! :) Basically, we just come here to say "hello" and share experiences and thoughts, Disney-related or otherwise! Please come by and join us any time! :)

Suite mates - this is Lilboo, one of my pals from over on the "All My Children" thread! We have lots of TV's in the "Suite", Lilboo - I watch "AMC" from here every day! :)

Have a great weekend, everyone! :)

[lilboo]

HiHi!! Looked at the playlist here...looks like a lot of nice folks and some familiar faces.:)

Please just call me Jeannie...have never seen the EWP myself...except in pictures :o...but absolutely must my next time out!

Rats...the last 15 replies don't have dates on them so I'm not sure when they were posted...oh, of course...the "Happy New Year's" would be a good indicator :crazy:.

Well, definitely scooch over and save me a spot when AMC comes on...we can share Kleenex (or vomit receptacles as the case may be) and throw popcorn together.:)

[helenabear]

Oh my goodness it has been far too long since I've been here.

I swear I have been reading up on your lives everyone and I really feel terrible for not replying to anything until now. I was a tad busy over the holidays. My brother was in town and then at the beginning of this week I got a cold and wound up missing work yesterday too because of it. So I feel terrible, but here I am.

I hope to do better this year with keeping up with you all :)

Jeannie, neat that you should come here and chat with another great group of people :) These wonderful people welcomed me to their group nearly 1 1/2 years ago and are such dear friends :)

[IASW Rider]

Sorry, Jeannie - we were never "formally introduced" (even though we "speak to eachother" just about every day!) - I'm Lisa! :) So glad that you're here and that you already know Elaine!

Speaking of which, welcome back, Elaine, and happy new year to you and Luis! What I'm dying to know is.....how did that flan turn out?? I'm sure that it was amazing!

Hope that you're both having a great weekend, and you too, Linda, Angie, and Wendy! :)

Sorry that this is such a quick one - just wanted to stop in and say "hi" - more next time! :)

[helenabear]

Lisa... I am so sorry. First of all thank you so much for calling that night! I hope I wasn't too preoccupied sounding. And thank you for the post card and the Holiday card as well! You are wonderful (I didn't get cards out this year, I admit!)! The flan turned out just fine! I forgot to put the vanilla in it, but it tasted just fine all the same!

Now that I have a tad more time I will remember to say hi to Wendy, Angie, Linda, now Jeannie too and all others who stop in. I hope you all are having a great evening :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Jeannie, please come on over and sit beside me. Everyone has been so nice to me but (sob) I am the only one here who has never seen the EWP. Not for lack of trying though. I am so glad to have someone to share that shame.

Afraid I don't know much about AMC I used to be a Days of Lives fan many years ago. So long ago that Bo and Hope were kids. LOL

I am looking forward to getting to know you. This is such a special place on the DIS and the people here are even more special. Have you met "Bo"dacious and "Don' Juan yet? They are here to attend to our every want and need. I will make sure that you are issued your very own EWP credit card, good anywhere in the Kingdom, no limit and so far no bill has ever been presented to any of us. The sky is the limit, dream big and find the special magic in the hidden corners with us.

Helenabear, I was getting worried about you. I am so sorry to hear that you have been under the weather. The holidays can become very hectic. I breath a sigh of relief the 26th when the cards and presents have been taken care of and I can enjoy the real reason for the season. This year I have started clearing out large amounts of 'stuff'. Is embarrassing how much I got out of just one closet and things I have not seen in 20 years. That is what happens when you live in a huge house, you have room to waste. Was Santa good to you? Bet Luis was. LOL

Rider, I decided to put your magnet on the file cabinet to the left of the computer insted of on the refrigerator. Wanted it close by. Not that I could forget you though.

Life goes back to normal starting tomorrow. Hope I am ready for it. About 3 of my holiday 5 pounds are gone so far this week. Thank you all for the encouragement. I wore an outfit to church today and after I wash it I will have to store it away as I need suspenders for the slacks. LOL

Welcome again Jeannie and please feel free to adjust anything you need. The veranda has a hot tub on each side so you can have any view you wish, the media room is filled with enough equipmment to make sure that you need not miss out on anything in the real world while wandering around the property. Back stage passes and unlimited FP's are part of the deal. The EWP is due in about 5 minutes on our private lagoon so please join me and we will watch in our dreams until the day we see it for real.

SG/Linda

[lilboo]

Originally posted by SlightlyGoofy
Have you met "Bo"dacious and "Don' Juan yet? They are here to attend to our every want and need. I will make sure that you are issued your very own EWP credit card, good anywhere in the Kingdom, no limit and so far no bill has ever been presented to any of us. The sky is the limit, dream big and find the special magic in the hidden corners with us.

:pWow...you guys really know how to live it up...hot tub w/views, back stage passes, FPs...and can't wait to think up some wants and needs for "Bo" and "Don"!:) Thanks for the welcome Linda.:wave:

Just peeping at some of the other posts...I hope I get to "meet" Angie and Wendy soon too :wave:.

I hope you are feeling better Elaine..it is neat to have a quiet suite to say hello to you and catch up;)...and FLAN!! Ehhh...vanilla schmanilla...it's the texture that we love about flan, isn't it?:)

"Rider" is so much a cooler nickname than the one I'd been using for you Lisa...I have NO IDEA why that didn't occur to me over on AMC...folks, I kept addressing her as IASW...doesn't exactly roll of the tongue though, does it?;)

Spent part of the Christmas holidays at my parents'...they have cable and on top of gorging on SoapNet (what a thrill watching AMC at 1 am!!!) I also gorged on TVLand and all my fave oldie sitcoms including Love Boat...oohh:o.

Well, I have loads more embarrassing tidbits about me to disclose but don't want to overload anyone in one fell swoop.:wave:

[SlightlyGoofy]

Now Lilboo, you just never mind that you are a fallible human being. Join the crowd. If we were perfect we would be no fun at all. LOL Glad you appreciate Bo and Don's attributes. I am an old married lady and have elvolved to a plane that appreciates someone who helps with the housework and smiles once in a while rather than nice looking buns. (smile) Am, of course, speaking of the freshly baked pastry that they serve each morning before we head out in the World. Would love to know a bit more about you. Married, children? What kind of work do you do and most of all what are your passions in life? You gotta lot of catching up to do.

As for myself - I am a 54 year old homemaker, 2 grown children, 1 step daughter,close to my age, 6 grandchildren. I volunteer 2 days a week at the local grade school library and have lots of older friends that require help from time to time. Taking care of a retired husband keeps me hopping as well. Love to read, tutor children in reading and more reading. Am presently working on rehabbing our older home in preparation for a move to a smaller, easier to care for, home in town. We went to DW 4 times the year my DH retired.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Sorry that I have not been around for a few days - things got busy! I decided (I think!) what I am going to do with my life! I have started applying to schools for the fall semester to study nutrition / dietetics. Whether I actually go is in part contingent upon whether I receive a grant from the state (unemployment benefit) to assist me in doing so, but it's a step in the right direction, anyway! Heck, it's a step in A direction, which is more than I've been able to say for myself in a few months! :)

Don't apologize, Elaine - you didn't sound preoccupied at all! I just had to know how that flan turned out - yum! :)

Jeannie - feel free to call me "Rider", "IASW", "Lisa" - whatever - I'll answer to just about anything! :) And please do start spilling the juicy details of your life! We'll get another one of our "gentlemen", Kas A. Nova, to whip up a batch of drinks so that we can all sit down and get to know eachother better! I love watching TV Land and Nick at Nite, as well - just love those shows of our youth! :) Wish that we got SoapNet around here, though! :(

Congratulations on being able to store away another outfit, Linda - you're doing such a fantastic job! I'm sure that you look amazing, as always! Will e-mail back soon, with a longer response. I hope that Dalton is feeling much better soon! :(

Hi out there, Angie and Wendy!

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

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! I hope you all are going to have a great weekend!

Jeannie, I am glad you are getting aquainted with some of the people here. Nice group and so happy I have found them!

Linda, so glad to hear about your continued weight loss... I swear the next time we meet, I won't be able to recognize you anymore!

Lisa, I know that busy feeling quite well. I hope things are going well for you and that you get that grant to go to school! That would be wonderful for you to be able to do that!

Well I was busy posting pictures... the last two threads are up and are here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=310782
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=312442

Hope you enjoy :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Elaine!

Thanks so much for sharing those threads with us and thanks so much for taking the time to post all of those fantastic pictures and your wonderful stories, memories, and the information that you learned on your tour! You always do such a great job - very descriptive - we feel like we're right there with you! :) Needless to say, I am partial to your pictures of the Poly! You even got a picture of our "pal" whom we call "Crazy Guy With Fish"! We even have a watercolor painting of him, hanging in our dining room! :) The pictures of the resorts and decorations and all of the Epcot scenes are amazing, as well!

Hey everyone, out there! Hope that you're all having a great weekend! :)

We've been having a nice one - tried out our new steam cleaner, today! :) I think that we got the same one that you did, in fact, Elaine! :) It's great! And we've been getting together with some friends whom we haven't seen in awhile, this weekend, too. One group of my high school friends, and tomorrow a group of my college friends. So that's been very nice.

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine/Helenabear. Thank you so much for the virtual vacation. You take great pictures but the words make them even more special. I will have to file these away for a snowy day to remind me that there is life out there. You will always be able to recognize me, I am only changing from the neck down. Heck, I am so recognizable that a strange lady came up and hugged me at a restaurant last night. She thought I was someone else. LOL Happens to me all the time. Told her I was glad to meet her anyway. (grin)

Dalton is better and is back home. I know it seems strange that I keep my grands when they are sick but they are used to coming here when they are sick and associate me with illness. My sil has many meetings and my dil works so hard and is so tired all the time that I just offer to keep them overnight when they are sick since I don't have to be out driving and trying to keep a business going. He was one sick little boy for a few days. Did not even feel like watching Disney videos!!


Lisa/Rider, congratulations on making the first step in the rest of your life. You should do wonderfully in that field. Your experience in losing weight yourself will stand you and your clients in good stead. Seems a lot of people giving out nutritional advice do not care much for food and do not understand the addiction of food. Still have not had time to make the cabbage lasagna. I am struggling terribly. Up and down. Last month I did not lose anything and actually had a gain. Took most of it off but this is not the way to go. Am real interested in what you consider an OLD tv show. Since I am older than you are I can bet I know when they were all new. Heck, I remember tv screens of about 5 inches, black and white was all there was and only 3 channels. I remember watching Walt on his tv show also so it was not all bad. (grin) Remember when using the carpet cleaner to make sure that you do not oversoak the carpets. Can do some real damage to your homes. I throw sheets over the area so I can walk around after I clean without getting any more dirt on them.

Lilboo, I was a different kind of mom as I would allow my kids to watch sex but not violence. Figured I could explain the one but not the other but I did not care for Love Boat cause they 'fell in love' so darned often. Did not forbid them to watch it but watched it with them. Don't believe in censorship. Now that I can watch the shows alone I quite enjoy them. Gotta say that Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Twilight Zone are my favorites. Told you I am warped. LOL

Angelina and Jstmee, sending magic pixie dust to wherever you guys are and hoping that it finds you in fine fettle.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi!

Sorry that I did not post sooner, but I couldn't find out thread, and the DIS "search" feature isn't always working!

How are you all doing? What's been new?

Linda - so glad to hear that Dalton is feeling better! And don't worry - we all have rough months - I'm sure that by the end of the month you will find that you've had a huge total loss! And thank you for your words of encouragement and faith in me, as always! I promise that I will e-mail at length as soon as I have the chance to write back properly!

Sorry that this is a quick one, but I'm having a rather hectic day (in a good way!) since......it's my birthday! Yipee! Frank and I will be heading out to dinner, soon, so I have to run, but I just wanted to bump our Suite thread back up there, so that it will be easier to locate!

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

Well, Lisa, by now you have found out about your surprise party. The Polynesian was so good to arrange for the special luau just in your honor. Bo and Don sure did look good in their wraps. Frank enjoyed seeing you in the grass skirt. You did yourself proud there lady. I did not believe that they could get that cake back up on the castle as fast as they did. A bit garish but still a good way to call attention to the World's favorite birthday girl!!

Many happy returns to you and may this be the best day of your life so far and just a hint of what is to come.

Your Suite friends

[IASW Rider]

Thanks very much for the surprise party, everyone! :) I'll tell you, Bo and Don sure know how to organize a celebration! That was fun! :)

Thank you for all of your thoughtful words, Linda - and for all of the great cards and notes! :)

I did have a great birthday - heard from many old friends whom I don't hear from often, throughout the year, which was wonderful! Unfortunately, Frank had to work yesterday, but he brought me flowers and champagne and took me out to dinner at the restaurant where we had our first date, which was great! And the big surprise was that he's taking our pals Gary and Stephen and me to see "42nd Street" on Broadway, next weekend! :) That will be fantastic! I KNEW that the 3 of them had something secret up their sleeves going on! We had planned to spend the weekend in NYC with them, anyway, but Frank secretly started planning the show surprise with Gary, when we all saw "Hairspray" together last month. So, now we're going to have 2 theater weekends in a row, because my parents gave us tickets to see "Chicago", for this Sunday! I've already seen the show 3 times, but it's one of my favorites, so I can't wait to see it again! And Frank has never seen it before, so I'm looking forward to hearing his reaction to it! I've been dying for the film version to be released, so this will certainly "tide me over" in the interim! :)

So, I had a great actual birthday and lots of neat things beforehand - my 2 best friends from high school and their husbands took me out to dinner on 2 separate occasions, last week. And I received 2 very special birthday packages from my Fantasmic friend and his partner - direct from WDW! One contained a beautiful Lenox box with figurines of Pooh and Piglet on top, a little saying about friendship in gold on the side, and a gold charm inside, and the other package contained Mickey shaped candles! And I have a bunch of things to look forward to - we're celebrating my birthday with my parents, uncle, and sister-in-law tomorrow, going to NYC on Sunday for one show, then spending next weekend in NYC and seeing the other show! I like celebrations that last all month! :) I'm very lucky to have such special people in my life, who think of and remember me!

And speaking of "special people", how are you all doing, today? What's new, out there?

Thanks again for your thoughts and have a great day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Lisa/Rider, so glad to hear that you had a wonderful birthday. I was hoping you were right and that you were front row center at 42nd Street. Ever seen the original movie? I am an old movie fan. Was that Busby Berkely?

Nice things should happen to nice people. Glad it was so for you. Hope you continue to celebrate a very long drawn out birthday. Frank is a king among men. (smile)

Linda/SG

[jstmee]

Here I am, Miss America, la tee da la tee daaa.......

Long time I've been away I know, please forgive me. I will try to come by more often. As always, things are hectic. We are all doing good though. I am still at my two jobs, but by the end of next week I'll know if I have a full-time job with the hospital, it's the same job I do. The full-time day girl quit and hopefully I'll get her job, the in-house interviews are this week. It's 6:30am-3pm, fantastic hours and it's every other weekend, but that's not bad because it allows weekdays for doctors, etc....

I don't know if I'll have a chance to go back and read what's been happening with you all, but I'll start from now and read on.....anything new and exciting or whatever is going on with you all I'd love to be updated.

My son broke his wrist on 12/21 and he's got a cast until February, he can't play the entire basketball season. I finally had my breast bx, "nice scar" hee hee, it's been a long recovery time, more than I anticipated but the area was benign, but a separate area has some changing cells, nothing to be overly concerned with just need to watch it closely. The good news is I go back to the doctor the end of this month and my DH can't go so I asked a friend and she'll be going with me. Some R&R for us.

My DH got a job with the local high school. He just started two days ago. It's part of the new initiative "No child left behind"....He's and Ed. Tech. III, which doesn't even pay enough to feed us, but it's a foot in the door and this is the path he wants to take, so I'll support him anyway I can. He'll be helping students that are in danger of failing.

Also, a nice warm welcome to Jeannie, it's so nice to see a new face. As the others have told you we have some wonderful people to wait on us hand and foot, and the suite is absolutely marvelous. If you want to had some personal touch's just as Bo and he can make some changes for you.

I hope all of you are good. I've missed you all. Take care. Wendy

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda! Thanks again for your warm thoughts! Yes, Frank is wonderful! :) Well, we won't exactly be "front row, center" at "42nd Street", but as I always say, as long as we're in the theater, it's a good thing - it doesn't matter where we sit! :) And yes, I believe that the film version was a Busby Berkely!

"Chicago" was fantastic, as always - I just love that show! Can't wait to see the film version! Billy Zane from "Titanic" played the male lead on stage, and we were really impressed with his singing and dancing abilities! We also had a very nice brunch out, beforehand. The only bad thing was that it was sooooo cold in NYC (and here!) on Sunday (as it has been for the past 2 weeks and still is, now!)! Walking down the skyscraper-lined streets was like walking through a 15 degree wind tunnel - it was brutal! When we came inside, I literally could not move any of my joints for a few minutes, and I felt like my fingers and toes were going to break off from being frostbitten, even though I was wearing gloves, stockings, socks, and boots! I just cannot believe how cold this winter has been, as compared to the past few winters that we've had!

Hi Wendy!! Welcome back!! Happy new year to you and your family!! Wishing you the best of luck with your job becoming full time! And thank God your test results came back with the results that you were hoping for - that is wonderful! And congratulations to your DH on his new job! I'm sorry to hear that your DS broke his wrist and will have to sit out basketball, this season. Hopefully it will heal quickly and he can get back to all of his regular activities, soon! Always great to hear from you! Hope that all continues to go well, up there, and wishing you a great year to come!

Off to work out, now, and try to get "off" of my perennial weight loss "plateau".......! :)

Have a great day, everyone! :) Talk to you later! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to stop in and say that I hope that you're all having a nice week and staying warm! This weather is just ridiculous, isn't it? It was 4 DEGREES here, this morning, with a wind chill of
- 7! Unbelievable! I hope that it warms up, at least a little bit, over the weekend.....but it doesn't look like it will! I can't even remember the last time that we've had weather this cold! And it sounds like it's that way all over the country, too. I hope that you're all hanging in there! It's even cold at WDW, now - my friends down there told me that they have to cover all of the plants in the parks to protect them, and they were taking their own plants in, to protect them from the below freezing temperatures!

I've actually had a very productive week. I've now finished and submitted all of my college application stuff......and now I'm just waiting for those decision letters.......I feel like I am 17 years old, again! :) It's so funny - I'm the Reunion Chairperson for my 15 year college reunion, which is this May......and I might wind up being a freshman there, again, this fall! :)

Looking forward to spending this weekend in the City with our friends, and seeing "42nd Street", tomorrow! :) I just hope that it won't be as cold in NYC this weekend as it was, last weekend!

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

[helenabear]

I can't believe how much I missed on this!!!! I wasn't getting e-mails and search was down so I couldn't find you all! I don't even think I will attempt to catch up with you all, but I will say it is great to have you guys back on my now working subscribed list and I hope that I won't lose you all like that again!

Wendy it is wonderful to see you here again! You have sounded very busy though!

Linda and Lisa, as I said there is no way I can catch up with you all but it sounds like you are keeping busy and happy all the same! Happy Belated birthday Lisa!!!

I went to Chicago last weekend and for anyone who would like to see the pictures, they are here! (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=317708)

I hope you all have a great weekend!!!

[SlightlyGoofy]

I was getting so lonely around here and now I see that almost all of us are here. How wonderful! Made a good day even better. I have not been getting notices of new postings as well.

Wendy, so much news from your corner of the world. I am sorry to hear about your son's arm. It is a hard thing, at that age, to have to sit out games and such. What a wonderful thing for your husband to do for a career. I know this is a hard choice for you both and you are wonderful to understand and support it. There is no greater calling than educating the youth of this country and if he loves what he is doing there is no way that he will not be a happier and successful person. I will be crossing everything, including my eyes, that you get that job. Great hours for a mother. After having seen what you are capable of I sincerely doubt that they will not pick you for the position. Your test results are just what we have all been praying for. Hope more good news follows soon. You are overdue for a bout of good times.

Helenabear/Elaine - I was beginning to think that we had lost you somewhere. Was about to put on my boots and hat and come looking to see what you were up to. You are becoming a world traveler. Will check out the pictures as soon as I have a chance.

Rider/Lisa, as always wonderful to hear what you are up to. I am grateful that I am not an envious person because you would be so easy to hate. LOL BTW, quit beating yourself up over your 'plateau'. Think of it as maintaince. Have heard that is the hardest part of dieting. When warmer weather comes and you are able to get out and about and find fresh fruit that tastes like something besides plastic things will start moving around again. You had a heat wave there. It was below 0 here and has been the last few days. 2 hour school delays and no morning kindergarten so Dalton has been keeping me company. We watched the Studios video today as he wanted to see the Haunted Mansion.

The renovations are going slowly as I dare not clean the woodwork until I am able to at least crack the windows. I do have the room emptied. The rest of the upstairs is a wreck but the room is all ready. Tom is trying to convince me that the current carpeting is fine. It is 20 some year old indoor outdoor carpet that is so thin I can see the grain of the floor below. I figure I can do the entire room for about $150 so I do not think I am overspending. I had several partial cans of off white paint so I combined them all to make enough to do this room and the upstairs hallway. Have made great inroads in getting rid of things. Piles of Giveaway - Throwaway- and Keep. Bad thing about having so much room is that you do not have much incentive to pare things down. Have started rounding up packing boxes for moving even though it is probably a year away.

My sister who had the bypass surgery seems to be doing well although there are hints that she is falling back into her old habits and I am a bit worried.

My sympathies go out to all the families who planned and saved so hard for a WDW vacation to have it be so very unseasonably cold this year. I hope it warms up soon for everyone.

I am smiling to see all your beautiful smiling faces and am awaiting your wishes for what we might do this evening. Something inside might be in order. LOL

Your friend, SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi!

Great to hear from you all! Hope that you're all staying warm and having a nice weekend!

Hi Elaine! Thanks for sending the link to your Chicago pictures! Great job, as always! I always enjoy seeing your DIS Meet photos and the fun descriptions that you provide with them! And it's always neat to see the faces of fellow DIS'ers! :) You're so lucky that there are so many Meets in your general area - it must be great to have the opportunity to get together with friends from the Boards on a fairly regular basis! I wish that we all lived closer to one another!

Wow, Linda! It sounds like you have your work cut out for you, at home! I wish that I could be so motivated.....or adventurous! We've been talking about doing our "home improvement" projects for months.....and have yet to make any serious strides with any of them! It's so wonderful that you have the talent and know-how to do so many of these things, yourself! I'm sure that everything will turn out great! And it always feels good to get things organized / clean up - I should be doing some of that, myself, as well! Glad to hear that all is well with you and Tom and the boys, and that your sister is doing well, too! Hopefully she will continue to follow her doctor's orders and stay within the appropriate limits. It's great that she's recovered well and is hopefully happy with the results!

Thanks for your encouraging words. It just gets frustrating when I was making regular progress for so many months......then everything just stops, every once in awhile. It's not like I've changed my diet or exercise habits - I still work out every day. Oh well - I know that obsessing over it doesn't help anything, and certainly won't make me lose weight - so I'll just keep plugging away!

We had another great day in the City, yesterday! We were originally supposed to spend the entire weekend with our friends, there, but it turned out that one of them has a big presentation for work that he needs to prepare over the weekend, so we decided to make it a day outing, instead. Frank and I went in early and had brunch at Sardi's, which was a lot of fun! Neither of us had been there in years, and it was fun to go to such a Broadway-oriented restaurant before seeing a show. It's neat to look at all of the caricatures of theater celebrities hanging on the walls, there. And the food and atmosphere were great, too! Then we met up with our friends and saw "42nd Street", which was just fantastic! I can't even describe how powerful it is to see and hear 50 people tap dancing on stage at the same time - these dancers were just outstanding! And the music in that show is so classic - "Lullaby of Broadway", "I Only Have Eyes for You", "We're in the Money", and of course "42nd Street" - really amazing! In fact, we were so excited and moved by the show that we just felt the need to jump up on top of the theater, afterwards! Here we are, literally "on" (or, more accurately "over"!) "42nd Street".....ON the actual 42nd Street! :)

Lisa and Frank on 42nd Street (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/lisaruthb4/vwp?.dir=/My+Birthday+Celebrations+-+January+2003&.src=ph&.dnm=Lisa+and+Frank+on+42nd+Street+January+25+2003 .jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/lisaruthb4/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bBirthday%2bCelebrations%2b-%2bJanuary%2b2003%26.src=ph%26.view=t)

Then we all went out for dinner and drinks, which was nice......until I clumsily spilled red wine all over Frank's beisge pants! Frank laughed it off and says that he doesn't care - that he was due for some new pants, anyway - but I still feel awful about that. Especially since he arranged the entire day for my birthday and for the 4 of us......then I had to go and ruin his pants! I know that he's not mad about it - I'm just beating myself up for no reason. Maybe I will hop onto LLBean.com, after I am done posting, and order him some new ones! Anyway, aside from my being klutz of the year, we had a great day! Today, we're just going to hang out at home and relax and watch the Super Bowl, later. The commercials are always my favorite part!

Hope that you're all having a great weekend! Happy Super Bowl Sunday, and talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Sardi's? Wow, only in my dreams. You all get to do such fun things and I can barely keep up with my housework and such. I know I had more energy in my younger years but doubt I had as much as you all. I am jealous a bit but more happy that you get to experience such things.

I can see you and Frank tapping your way down Broadway after the show. I am so happy to know that the younger generation appreciates these old songs as much as the original generation did. I know all those songs by heart as well since my Mom was a singer.

It will take me months to accomplish just these few chores. I keep getting sidetracked by cooking, cleaning, laundry etc. etc. ad nauseum. LOL

I love to hear about you and Frank. Is a wonderful thing that he did not let such a little thing like a stain on his pants ruin a wonderful evening and what a loving thing for you to be so concerned about the pants and appreciative of the pains he took to make your birthday special. I wish all couples could have such attributes.

I sent the picture of you and Frank to my sister so she could 'meet' you. I talk about you all often.

I am glad I was able to make it to town yesterday as it is snowing again and we are stuck in the house. I did a mallwalk and racked up over 2 miles. I know that is not much for the rest of you guys but last year, when they had the trailer show, I was not able to walk even one pass without sitting and resting. Is an accomplishment for me. I would have enjoyed the walking more at Disney. If it were just me I would move to Florida and get a job at DW just for the exercise. LOL I bought myself a pedometer and went whole hog and got the fancy version with the step/mileage/calorie counter. Trying for the magic 10,000 steps a day. Am walking the stairs today. I have 3 flights in my house so that is a help.

Hope you all have a loverly Super Bowl Sunday and your favorite team wins. I am going to be watching old movies on tape. Sports bore me unless I am related to a player. (grin)

SG/Linda

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine

What great pictures! As always I felt like I was practically there. You have a gift girl.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hello everyone!

Well, Linda, you will just have to come out here so that we can go to Sardi's and see shows together, that's all! :) And we can sing old Broadway musical songs together, too.......as long as my singing wouldn't offend you too much! :) Hey - maybe we can get our Suite men to put on a musical / cabaret revue, for our entertainment! I'll have to work on them about that! :)

I think it's fantastic that you walked the 2 miles, and that you bought one of those sophisticated pedometers! I'm sure that you'll be logging thousands of miles / steps on it in no time! And it really is a huge accomplishment that you were able to walk that distance, when you had not been able to do so, comfortably, in the past - that is wonderful! You are obviously getting fitter and healthier by the day, and I'm sure that you look beautiful as ever, as well! Congratulations!! I would say "keep up the great work"......but you are already doing that! You're very inspirational! :)

Speaking of which - time to get some exercise, myself......if for no other reason, to keep warm......another frigid day, here in the Garden State......BRRRR!

Stay warm and have a great day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa


Thank you for the kind words. I was not able to do it at all before so it is an accomplishment. I tend to think I am not doing so well most of the time so these small reminders help me.

It was way below 0 this morning. It was so cold I put on shoes and a coat before going out to the get the paper. I am a warm blooded person so that is saying a lot. I could not even hold on to the railing as it was so cold it hurt my hands.

Supposed to be over 30 tomorrow and then back down. At least it is too darned cold to snow.

Would love to meet you at Sardi's any old time. My mother used to go there. I used to draw portraits of people for a living (a very long time ago) so maybe I could do one of you and sneak it up on the wall. LOL

BTW, did any of you other ladies see the program on 60 Minutes the other night where they were talking to people in Iraq and in the background you could see Mickey's face drawn on a wall? He sure gets around. Any country that has people that love the Mouse has some kind of chance IMHO.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

I had no idea that in addition to your many other talents, you're also an artist, Linda! That's so neat! Well, it's no surprise, since you do so many creative things around your home! Maybe you can create a portrait of all of us in the Suite, and we can hang it on our Suite living room wall, for posterity! :)

I think that all of your accomplishments are amazing, and it definitely feels good to be able to do physical activities that one was not able to do before, or able to do as comfortably before. It doesn't matter what the number on the scale or on the tape measure says, I believe that those "quality of life / health" things are the most important of all, in the long run! You're doing a great job! :)

It's still freezing here, too - will it ever end??? Will spring ever come??? It's snowing again, today - not a huge accumulation, but enough to cover the streets. I'm surprised now when I look out the window and don't see white!

Pretty quiet week, around here - not too much to report! Heading down to the in-laws' this weekend, to celebrate all of the January and February birthdays in his family. And speaking of birthdays.....it's time to gear up for another Suite birthday blowout, next week, so let's start getting the boys to make up the menu and plan out the decorations.......! :)

Have a great day! :)

[angelina]

Hi, everyone, I hope you're all having a great day. I just wanted to stop in and say "Hi." I have a sick child home today, so we're having a quiet time watching Disney movies and Mrs. Doubtfire.

I keep hearing about the unbelievably cold weather up you way, and thought you'd be interrested to know that the wind chill actually registered 5 degrees last week on Dauphin Island, which is a 30 minute ride from here. Today is the warmest it's been in over a week, and it's going to rain then get cold again. Oh well, spring just has to be around the corner, right?

Lisa, I've been browsing the WDW site and mousesavers looking for a deal this summer, but no luck yet. Would love to meet you and Frank.

Linda, don't work too hard. It sounds like you're getting a lot accomplished, though, in preparation for that move you're talking about!

Elaine, how are things your way?

Wendy, nice to hear from you again. Hope the arm gets better and bad luck forgets where you live, LOL.

Take care,

Angelina

[IASW Rider]

Hi Angie!

Great to "see" you, here in the Suite! I hope that your little one has been feeling better!

Wow - I can't believe that it was that cold, down there, last week! Our weather has finally warmed up to the balmy upper 30's, and I think that it may actually hit 40 degrees, tomorrow - a real heat wave - break out the sunscreen!

I hope that you are able to find some great WDW discounts, soon! Maybe now that the new year has come, they will publicize some new offers.......! :)

Sorry that this is such a quick note, but I'm down at my in-laws' and don't want to take too much time on their computer. Just wanted to stop in and say that I hope that you're all having a nice weekend! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

I just found this and will post it and then come back in and write a real post. SG/Linda

When I was just a kitten,
My mother said to me.
"Someday, you'll have a human pet,
They're cuddly and they're free".
She said "They're awful clumsy,
They stumble, trip, and fall.
They cannot even see a Cat, Sleeping in a hall".
"They act as if they own the place,
They're bossy every day".
"You'll learn you must ignore them
It's just the human way".
So, I took my Mom's advice,
I got a human pet.
I have named her Bev,
And she's cuddly as they get.
Owning Bev's been some fun,
And usually we are friends.
But she can be a handful,
I'm glad she wasn't twins.
Humans really aren't too bright,
Their brains are small, I guess.
While trying hard to train her,
I've not had much success.
She doesn't seem to understand,
How things are 'posed to be.
She insists on being headstrong,
Not mellowed out, like me.
She hasn't learned to lick herself,
To keep her body clean.
And when it comes to purring,
She isn't very keen.
She plays on her computer,
Just wasting time away.
When playing with a ball of string,
Could really make her day.
She's seems content to sit there,
Banging on those keys.
While I inspect her ankles,
Checking them for fleas.
When my neighbors visit me,
We sneak out to the bushes.
We laugh about our human pets,
While sitting on our tushes.
Bev's getting up in years,
And becoming rather slow.
There are a lot of cats out there,
Who'd say she has to go.
But I'm inclined to keep her,
I've considered this a lot.
Why train another human pet,
When I love the one I've GOT. !*!*

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hello ladies!!

Lisa, I must disabuse you of the idea that I am an artist. I did the drawing in my youth in darkened rooms with kind strangers who took pity on a young pregnant girl. I am afraid that I had a bad start in life and am just now figuring out where I went wrong. LOL Would be foder for Jerry Springer but think it is best left alone so the stink does not stir up. It is not good to be young and innocent in this world. Give me a second chance and watch out. LOL
We got up to over 50 degrees today, tomorrow will be in the 40's maybe but then Tuesday will remind us that it is still winter. Ugh!!! Dalton told me he wanted to go to Hawaii. Had never heard him express that desire before so I questioned him on why. "Cause it is warm and I can wear shorts". Smart kid. I called him today and told him I arranged for this weather just for him. Every child should think that their grannies are capable of anything. LOL Makes up for the fact that their parents still think I am dumber than a box of rocks. (grin)


Angelina, Mrs. Doubtfire is the movie of choice for sick kids around here also. I love it also. I would dump Robin Williams for Pierce any day of the week and I don't care that he can't cook (probably). Of course, it is his mind I am interested in. (grinz) Hope that the sickness has left your household and everyone is back to their ornery selves. Please don't give up on looking for discounts. They seem to come out a couple of months ahead of time. I get alerts when they have new codes. Would not want to miss anything.

Not sure I am getting all that accomplished. Too many things have come up. Some very good and some unbearably sad. A young lady, who went to school with my daughter, committed suicide. The poor grandma lost her daughter and grandkids in a car wreck not too long ago and now this. I don't know that I could cope with such.

In my youth I spent money and time I did not have to travel to Florida for some of the rocket launches so the latest disaster hits close to home for myself. My heart goes out to the families of those brave men and women. They rank right up there with Cortez, Columbus, and other brave explorers of the past.

I hope everyone enjoyed the warmer weather while they could and are looking forward to a special Valentine's Day. I have made plans for us to have a private dinner in the Castle while the closing parade and fireworks cap the evening. Hope that is something everyone would like but I am willing the change plans if one of you, more experienced DIS'ers have a better idea?

SG/Linda

[angelina]

Hi, SG, I'm glad you stopped by and posted. I have been missing you, and thought you were busy with all of your packing. I really enjoy hearing from everyone, although I don't post nearly as often as the rest of you, but I do keep up with most of your posts. Sometimes I read and get called away before I can respond.

My daughter and I were listening to the Today Show when the news broke about the Columbia. It's just devastating that this happened. I was hoping so that it was just a little thing, as I'm sure everyone was. When the Challenger went up 17 years ago I was getting ready for a job interview, and was in another room when I heard the countdown. For some reason, I just had a funny feeling, and walked into the living room and watched as it lifted off, and remember seeing Christa Mcauliff's parents at the moment the shuttle exploded. I felt so bad for her family, especially, because this was such an extraordinary thing for her to do. It's so terribly sad. The debris trail showed up on doppler rader in Shreveport and at one point stretched almost to the west end of Dauphin Island. I suppose most of that was just ash and dust.

My son's 5th grade class is going to Montgomery tomorrow to visit the Shakespeare theatre and see Beauty and the Beast. I hate it when they go so far away on the big busses, but that's part of it, I guess. I would love to go, but didn't buy a ticket because of the little ones. As it turns our, the baby is running
fever for the second day, and I am coming down with a cold.:(

Today was a beautiful day, absolutely springlike. I noticed that my daffodill bulbs are coming up. The cold snap last week killed most of the leaves of my agapanthus, but I'm hoping that the plants will survive and bloom again in May. Was hoping to root some hydrangeas, too, but the cold got them as well, although the buds are still bright green. Am keeping my fingers crossed.

Elaine, you and Lisa must be keeping busy. Hope things are well with you, and with you as well, Wendy, wherever you are.
Still dreaming of the Poly and hoping to go there soon. Would love to spend my 40th birthday there this summer.

I hope everyone has a peaceful and pleasant evening. Take care.

Angelina

[IASW Rider]

:) :) :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELAINE!!!!! :) :) :)

A great, big EWP Suite Happy Birthday wish to you, for a very happy day and a wonderful and special year to come!!

Love,
Your EWP Suite Friends!
:)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Great to hear from you, Linda and Angie!

And I love your idea for our Valentine's Day Suite celebration, Linda! Bring it on! I think that it will be wonderful! :)

Yes, we are definitely due for some warmer weather, up here. We didn't quite hit 50 degrees today, but we came close! Great relief after the weather of the past few weeks - my chapped and cracked fingers have finally seemed to heal.....hopefully we won't have to turn the heat up so high that they crack again, this winter! I think that Dalton has the right idea - let's all go to Hawaii until these cold fronts subside! :)

And I loved the poem that you'd posted, as well! :)

So sorry to hear about the lady who passed away in your area, Linda. Is that the same family whom you told us about, awhile ago, who were involved in that auto accident? Our hearts go out to that family - this is such a difficult time for them.

And for the families of those involved in the events of this weekend. I was also up early on Saturday, Angie - watching the Weather Channel, strangely enough, when they broke the news that NASA had lost contact with the Space Shuttle Columbia. I immediately switched to a news channel and began following the story from there. I also remember where I was when the Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off - I was in college, and watching it on a tiny black and white TV in my dorm room. I called my mother as soon as I'd seen what had happened - strangely enough, she didn't happen to have the TV on at home at the time and hadn't known - that's what I remember. Interestingly, the immediate development in which Frank and I live was constructed in 1987-88 and is actually shaped like a space shuttle. The street which surrounds us is called "Challenger Avenue", and all of the interior streets are named after the Challenger crew members. We live on Scobee Lane, named after the Space Shuttle Challenger's Commander, Francis Scobee. Anyway, we were glued to the television and radio (while we were traveling from Central NJ to South NJ to visit Frank's family) all weekend. That was just horrible.

I'm sorry to hear that you and your little one haven't been feeling well, Angie! :( I hope that you're both feeling better very soon! How did your son enjoy his class trip and the play? I know that it must be difficult to think of him - or any of your children - traveling that distance on those buses, but I'm sure that the childrens' safety is of the utmost importance to the school and that they keep the students' best interests in mind when planning such outings. I hope that he enjoyed the trip!

I'm so jealous that your daffodils are starting to come up, already! We usually don't see that here until at least April (with the exception of last year's crazily warm weather, during which they started to come up in December or January!).......and with the way that things have been thus far, this year, we'll be lucky if we see flowers before May! :( I hope that your weather continues to improve and that you are not subjected to the sort of freezes that we've been having up here, again, this winter!

I'll keep my eyes open for any interesting WDW / Poly discounts that I happen to see, as well! I'm (selfishly! :) ) determined for us all to meet at WDW, this June! :) Too selfish? OK - then I'm determined for us all to meet at WDW any time! I would be happy to meet you all in person there any time that's convenient for everyone! :)

Not too much to report from up here. All is well - we had a nice, quiet weeked with Frank's family, celebrating all of the January and February birthdays. This should be a pretty quiet week. Just got my first "call in for your unemployment benefits" notice. After I start "rolling" with that, the next step will be to see one of their counselors to seek approval for a state grant for tuition reimbursement.......then again, I'm still waiting for acceptance letters, so maybe I should see where I'm accepted before beginning my "campaign"! :)

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you! Take care and talk to you all, soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hello!

Just bumping our thread up!

Wading through unemployment and tax preparation paperwork, today.......FUN. :(

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

[IASW Rider]

Wow! You all must be out at the parks, having a ball, because I'm finding myself here, alone, again! :( But that's OK - I have plenty of things to keep me busy, here in the Suite! I think I'll pop into the hot tub with a glass of wine and a magazine until you all get back from your adventures!

Not too much to report here, from the snowy Garden State! Just wanted to stop by and wish you all a great weekend! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Yes, I am out in the parks, if only in my dreams. I find myself putting myself to sleep having virtual tours of the parks.

There has been much sickness here and up to 30 percent of the kids were out of school last week. Austin got it and got it badly. He is all better now, thank goodness.

Rider, is not dangerous to be in the hot tub while drinking alcohol? Think I read something about blood pressure or something. Tom has always wanted a hot tub or whirlpool tub but I have not since I know he would not use it enough and I would have to keep it clean but I do like the looks of the new swim spas. Hope it is ok but I have had a large one installed in the North corner of the fitness spa in the Suite. I need all the exercise I can get. Yes, it is the same family that has suffered the newest tragedy. Seems to work that way, some families get it all while others lead charmed lives. Please drink more water and see if that does not greatly help your poor chapped fingers. I hope that you get all your applications in order and are accepted at your first choice.

I have been walking in the mall most days but it is not the same as walking in the parks. I can manage about 3 miles in an hour at the mall but at DW, with IASW or the Great Movie Ride in the distance I can walk much further. Incentive, that is what I need. LOL

Angelina, it is so nice to see your sweet face in here. Thank you for writing about your experiences with the shuttle disaster. Some moments in time stay with you forever. It is such a sad thing. When we read about Columbus and other explorers we forget all that tried and failed and how some of the most famous finally died in their attempts to push the boundaries of their times. The astronauts are the same and deserve the respect and honor of the country. I had heard about the cold snap down south. It must be strange when you are not used to it. If it makes you feel any better we were well below 0 most days that week and then it warmed up to 50 for a few days and is back in the deep freeze now. Not much snow though, too cold. Hope the kids had a good time. I am sorry you did not get to go. I would want to do that also on those long trips.

I have rented a house on the island of Maui for a belated birthday party for our Helenabear. The flowers are in bloom and it is far from the tourist trappings with a waterfall nearby. The private plane is awaiting us as I speak. I believe that Elaine has a future as a Disney Meet Planner. It would be a full time position and would require many trips to Disney to stay current. Yep, that is what I want her to have as a birthday present. We would then have our own private tourguide for our trips then.

I am headed out to check that everything is in order for our trip.

Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Oh goody! A "field trip"! :) Yes, I definitely think that a Suite outing to Maui in honor of Elaine's birthday is in order! We'll have the boys pack up our bags and away we'll go! :)

I cannot believe that it is snowing here, yet again! 3-4 more inches predicted for today, to dump on top of the 6-8 inches that we got on Friday! This winter is just not giving us a break! Oh well......it will be another excuse to go out and play in the fresh snow, again, later! :) (See? Not working has totally caused my brain to turn to mush and me to regress to childhood! :) )

Wish that I had something interesting to report, but all is pretty quiet, here. I don't expect that I'll hear from either of the schools to which I applied for another month or so, so I'm going to stop expecting something to be in the mailbox so soon. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised, though! :) I have some meetings with Unemployment / the Re-employment Program / The Workforce Development Program (who handle the training grants) next week, so we'll see what they have to say......!

How are all of your home renovation projects coming along, Linda? Once again, I think that your mall walking is fantastic - and a great way to window shop, too! :) You can stop in a bunch of stores and pick up clothes in smaller and smaller sizes, as you're walking along, too! :)

Well, sorry that this is so short, but I'm making my first attempt at stuffed cabbage downstairs, as I write, and I want to make sure that my leaves are not getting scalded! We've decided to actually cook for Passover, ourselves, this year (usually my parents cater the meals to make it easier, and Frank and I heat everything up), so I'm beginning to practice a few dishes, 2 months in advance!

Hope that you all had a great weekend! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa, please do not complain about life being boring. I have had much excitement in my life and will take boring any old day.

I am making a path through the house as I cannot get out to the mall today. I take a tour through the game room, around the pool table and thru the hall and around the dining room table and back, makes a nice figure eight. Sounds silly but I just made a half mile that way and was able to walk much faster than I do in the mall on the hard and sometimes slippery floors. I enjoy walking and if it were not for my fear of dogs I would do much more of it. The tiny town we live in does not have many rules and regulations. A larger town will offer more.

I read where you could freeze the cabbage and the leaves would peel right off without having to cook them. I am lazy so I am always looking for hints like those. LOL Hope it comes out great. Are you making extras for those days when you just plain don't feel like cooking?

Too many other things going on to get much done in the home improvement line. I get a bit done here and there though. I have a student coming at 3 so I have to do what I can before then.

Can you guys smell the Passion flowers blooming behind our Hawaiaan residence? I took a walk along the path down to the water today and sat on the beach until the sun came up. Been a long time since I was able to do that. I am sure to lose a lot of weight with all that walking and the fact that poi tastes like wallpaper paste. Lots of fresh fruit around t hough and tastes a whole lot better than that waxed stuff we buy in the grocery back home.

Have a great day and hope the snow abates soon.

Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

I like your idea of walking, right inside your home - that doesn't sound "silly" at all! I think that that's a great idea! And it's great that you have your pedometer, so you can track your progress and your steps, as well! I think that that's a great alternative to having to go out some place to exercise - I always exercise right in my house - I enjoy that much more than going to a gym or some place where there are tons of people around. That's kind of my "me" time, where I can just sort of be "inside my head" and not have to think about anyone or anything else.

I agree with you - poi DOES taste like wallpaper paste - it looks like it, too! :) Maybe we can all take some walks on the beach - I understand that walking in wet sand is really good for one's calf muscles!

Thanks for the frozen cabbage tip! Well, my stuffed cabbages didn't come out perfectly - they could have been wrapped neater and the leaves could have been a tiny bit softer.....but they were all right! I always make enough of any dish for at least 2 (sometimes more) meals, and I try to alternate "themes" / ingredients each day so that Frank doesn't get bored (or so that he doesn't eat too many peppers or tomatoes too often, since they tend to upset his stomach). I think that I may try a cabbage casserole with (ooh!) RED cabbage, tomorrow, and sneak some of the soy "ground beef" into it!

Anyway, all's quiet here! We did get some more snow, today, but none of it stuck to the streets - it only added to our existing accumulation on the grass, so that's not too bad. Another opportunity to play in the snow, if the mood strikes, I guess! :)

Hope that you're all having a good night! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Lisa!

I have already had an early morning stroll around the pool table this morning, half a mile. LOL The scenery is not too much though. I have found out that I cannot walk with a companion as my breathing is much improved but not enough to walk and talk at the same time. I would just as soon get my walking done as soon as possible and then sit down with a nice cool (non caloric) drink and have a chat with someone.

I am going to do a search right after this and send you an easier cabbage roll recipe. You got better things to do.

It is snowing again right now. Reports are that this same system dumped about 3 inches of snow in a bit over an hour in Indy so I am wary. Afraid I am about to miss my 3rd week of TOPS. Not a good thing. I celebrate the first year anniversary of my diet today so I am trying to get off on a good start.

There are so many things going on in the World and I cannot wait to see how they come out. The Diamond Horseshoe Review has long been one of our favorites. Have heard people say that it is almost as good as Hoop De Do and a whole bunch cheaper. Have always wanted to get one of the balcony seats. Maybe next time. Just don't take any food out with you when you leave the show you will think you are in the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds". Ugh!!

The Great Movie Ride is being freshened up. They could double it and it would not be too much to my way of thinking. Can think of a lot more movies to feature. Anyone have a favorite they can think of?

Have some phone calls to make before I get started on this day. Austin will be here for a bit this evening and I am looking forward to spending some time with my buddy.

Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

Hi Angie, Elaine, Wendy, and anyone else out there who happens to be peeking into the Suite!

Happy Anniversary, Linda! Just think of how far you've come in the past year........and how much more progress you are bound to make in the upcoming weeks and months! I always think that it's better to look back and "revel" in the accomplishments that you've made than to necessarily look ahead, sometimes. This is certainly a time for you to celebrate all of the great strides (excuse the pun! :) ) that you've already made! You should definitely treat yourself to something special, just for yourself, to mark this wonderful occasion! In the mean time, as soon as we all return from Maui, we'll have "Spa Day" in the Suite, in your honor! :)

Thanks again for the great cabbage rolls and cabbage soup recipes! We're going cabbage crazy, in this house, this winter - I don't know why, but we've become "addicted" to cabbage! My father told me that he bought some cabbage soup for Passover, and I told Frank and we collapsed on the floor laughing - watch out - CABBAGE FEVER is catching! :)

Are they really re-habbing the Great Movie Ride, Linda? I didn't know that! If I had to choose some new films to add......I would choose my 2 favorites, of course: "Saturday Night Fever" and "The Way We Were"......and then I'd add "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", some Mel Brooks movies (maybe "Young Frankenstein" or "History of the World, Part I"), some Woody Allen movies (maybe "Annie Hall", "Manhattan", or "Sleeper"), and then some classic Bette Davis, like "All About Eve" (which is already represented in the film finale of the attraction) or "Now, Voyager"!

Absolutely nothing to report from freezing, windy, more-snow-on-the-way-this-weekend New Jersey, today! Just went and had my car serviced and took care of some chores around the home. Frank now has an "alternate work arrangement", where he works 9 hour days 4 days a week, then has every Wednesday off. Even though we had errands to accomplish today, hopefully we'll be able to do some fun things together in the middle of the week on his days off, in the future!

Hope that you're all having a great evening! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa/Rider

It sounds like a good thing to have Frank on a 4 day week, no downside that I can see. Less gas and more time together. You will be able to get chores done midweek and have your weekends for fun. Hooray!!

Thank you for the kind words on my weight loss. I lost 5 whole pounds yesterday. I don't know how it happened but I got very sick yesterday afternoon. We had went to town to see "Chicago", pretty darned good but I have to admit I sort of liked "Moulin Rouge" a bit more (had a lot of songs that were strategically placed IMHO).

We went to Texas Roadhouse for a dinner shop and I started feeling badly. It was not the food because I was feeling badly before. I barely made it home and was sicker than a dog then. Am still a bit wonky today but the good news was that the scales were a full 5 pounds less this morning. I am sure that it was not all 'real' weight as I have had recent unexplained gains. One thing for sure it is not worth it to get sick like that again even with another weight loss. Not sure what it was but I am willing to never find out again. Ugh!!


Since you like cabbage so very much maybe you will enjoy what I tried last week. I took a nonstick skillet and sprayed it with Pam. Coarse shredded some cabbage, onions and peppers (multi colored) and sprayed them with a bit of ICBINB spray and sauteed it until browned and a bit crisp. I then took 3 wedges of Laughing Cow Cheese and put t hem in the skillet and covered it with a lid until it was all melted and then tossed it all. It was wonderful tasting and was only 2 pts for the whole shebang. You can find the LC cheese in round containers over in the dairy department in some stores. The low cal is 2 pts for 3 while the regular is 1 pt per wedge.

I had read on the boards that they are rehabbing the Great Movie Ride but just to clean it up and not add any more to it. (sigh) I loved your suggestions, a lot of them would be on my list as well. I love old movies. One of my Fab Four is Willie and his favorite movie is Willie Wonka. I am going to buy a DVD to put away for him someday. I keep a journal and write notes to them from time to time. One thing for my dil, she has given me an incentive to stay well and live longer. See, told you there was a good side to every bad thing. Unfortunately, seems to be bad in every good thing, as well.

Ice storm due here tomorrow. Am supposed to have Dalton overnight while sil takes dd out for Valentine's Day so I hope it improves by then. Will only have to worry about the morning commute for loved ones. Never could figure out how Madeline Murry O'Hare could possibly have been an atheist since she was a mother, a poor one though so maybe that explains it all. (smile) I have discovered what I am - a Theist. Is a new word I learned recently.

I have got to get dinner done so I can play trivia with a clean conscience. Have come in second the last 3 games so surely this is my week to win? They are planning a get together in North Carolina next year. There will be people coming from NZ, and all over the US so I am hoping to be able to go. Would not be a bad distance for us and we enjoy Asheville so much. We often stop at Grove Park Inn and eat in the dinning room. It overlooks the mountains and is a wonderful place. Ummmm,wondering how far from NYC that will be? A trip toward there where we can catch a tour bus would be a dream come true. Have not heard anything from Donna so I don't know if she is planning on NYC this year or not. She tends to go where she gets a bargain trip.

Can't wait to hear all that exciting things that you and Frank will get up to with all your new found time.

Angelina, so glad you enjoyed the little joke I sent you way. Knew you would like it. LOL

Helenabear, where are you girl? We miss you a bunch. You are our sparkplug.

Jstmee, hope you are not snowed in and trying to thaw a path to your computer.

Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Belated Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone! And hope that you all had a great holiday weekend! :)

So sorry that I have not been around in so long, but as I've told some of you, I've had such problems getting on to the Boards, lately! UGH! Every time I've tried, over the past few days, the pages have not fully loaded, and have always literally crashed my AOL! I figured that I would try accessing the site via Internet Explorer instead of the AOL browser, tonight, and it miraculously worked (although it's running ridiculously slowly). I'm just happy to be back here in the Suite and hope that this is not just a lucky coincidence and that I will be able to get back onto the Boards again, tomorrow! :)

How are you feeling, Linda? Whatever that was, I hope that it doesn't plague you, again! Thanks for the new cabbage recipe and for all of your kind words, too! How did that dish turn out? It sounds great! I love Laughing Cow cheese - brings back great memories of my childhood - we seemed to always have it in different shapes and flavors, back then! And I'm a big fan of "Willy Wonka", too! In fact, years ago, when I was Frank's boss at work (?!?! :) ) - years before we started dating - our unit was trying to think of how to dress for Halloween (our department was having a costume contest), and Frank suggested that we all dress up as Oompa Loompas! But too many people complained about having to paint our faces orange.....so we all dressed up as the characters from "The Wizard of Oz", instead! We even decorated our work area with a Yellow Brick Road on the floor, and a tornado (created by pointing desk fans upwards at miniature people and dollhouse furniture suspended from the ceiling) in my office!

Glad that you enjoyed the movie version of "Chicago"! I loved it, too - in fact, I think that it is now one of my favorite movies of all time! They did a great job of adapting the play for the film, and I thought that everyone in the film did an amazing job!

I hope that you are able to go to NC for your trivia reunion! And....I hope that you are able to make it to NYC, this year, of course, too! :)

Not too much to report from the Garden State - just digging out from our 27+ inches of BLIZZARD OF 2003! :) The snow started melting, today, in our balmy 38 degree temperatures.....but we discovered a leak in our roof, as a result - I guess that they didn't seal it very well when they replaced our roof, a few years ago - we wound up having actual piles of snow in our attic - LOVELY. And wouldn't you know, the leak was right over my side of our master bedroom closet?! And I had no place to put all of my clothes - we had them hanging on every available door and rod in the house! I hope that our homeowners association will send someone over to fix the roof, soon - in the mean time, we have the actual leak under control.

Well, I'd probably better run - I have a charming meeting with Unemployment, tomorrow - just and "orientation" sort of thing. So much red tape - JUST GIVE ME MY BENEFITS, ALREADY! Sorry - just had to get that off my chest! :) Then on Friday, I have a meeting with the division that handles the training grants. Please keep your fingers crossed for me that they won't give me a hard time about starting school in the fall.....I can't help it - that's when the programs begin!

I hope that all is well with all of you! And please forgive me if (for whatever reason) I am not able to check the Boards or post again, soon - please know that that would only be because I am unable to access them - I try several times every day, to do so, but most times lately have been unsuccessful! :(

Hope to see you all again soon, in the Suite! Have a good night! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi All!

Hope that you're all having a great weekend!

I've been a little down in the dumps. Long story short, I had those meetings with the Workforce Development people, yesterday, and learned that basically, there is no chance of my receiving a training grant. That's because they claim that I am in a "demand occupation" (finance) and should be able to find a job in that field (yeah, right. What planet are they on? Don't they hear or read about how every bank and brokerage firm have been laying off thousands of people, for months?! They're not exactly hiring......). So even though I want to study the subject matter of another demand occupation (nutrition), they won't pay for it. And unless I actively pursue a job in finance, they will deny me my benefits. I am so frustrated - I feel "trapped" with no options.

Then this morning, something happened that I should have been thrilled about - I received my official notification that my old alma mater, Rutgers, has accepted me for enrollment in the fall. I should be celebrating, but instead, I'm all sad because I know that there is no way that we can afford the tuition and day to day living, with no assistance and with my not having an income for the duration of my study. UGH. Life isn't fair. I know that there must be some way that we can work it out, but I don't want us to live "uncomfortably", worrying about every bit of money that we spend, or worrying about paying the bills, etc. I just can't see not having an income for the 1-3 years that it would take me to complete a second Bachelor's Degree. Or even for the 1-2 years that it would take me to complete the Associate's Degree version of the program, at the County College to which I also applied. Maybe there's a way that I could work part time and go to school part time. It would be great if I could get some sort of job in the field.....but I doubt that that would be possible with no experience and no education in the area. It's like a Catch 22. I just think that I would shoot myself if I had to go back to a boring job in financial services and sit at a desk and be miserable all day.......like I essentially was for the past 15 years.......when I (sort of) have this opportunity to change careers all together, now. Frank is being extremely supportive, as always - he's convinced that we will figure out a way to work it out and wants me to go for it, no matter what. Oh well, we'll figure it out, somehow. In the mean time, I'll try not to think about the logistics so much and be happy (and amused) that I was accepted back into my old school.......on (almost) the 15 year anniversary of my graduation from it!

Sorry - I don't mean to whine or bore everyone to death..... :(

Moving right along, on to other pleasant accomplishments, I needed to buy a new pair of jeans, since I had absolutely none that fit me..........and was able to buy a pair in a size that I have not fit into since 1993 or 1994! I was so shocked and amazed that when I got them home, I cut off all of the tags and put them into my scrapbook, for posterity! :) I'm going to wear them for the first time tonight, as we're going to a party thrown by one of our old friends from work. I haven't seen any of the people who will be there (most of whom are people who either do or did work at ML......some of whom are some of the "BADMEN" that I dated in my single days, who broke my heart on various occasions, through the years) in a long time, so it will sort of be like a "high school reunion"-type situation. It's nice to be able to walk into an occasion like that, feeling like I look pretty good (even though I'm dreading the inevitable questions like "so, what have you been doing with yourself?" "Are you looking for a job?" "Why don't you start having babies, now?"). Frank and I have already decided not to stay very long and have already planned our "escape excuse"! :)

That's about all the news from rainy, snow-melty NJ! Hope that all has been well with all of you! Have a great weekend and talk to you soon! Thanks for "listening"! :)

[IASW Rider]

Wow - sorry that that last post was such a "downer'! :(

I'm feeling a little better about things, now - I have a few ideas of what I might be able to do, so that I would be able to go to school and still have some sort of income. Maybe get a job at a hospital or even at Rutgers (which might assist with the tuition), and go to school part time. Or alternate part time and full time semesters, or something like that. I'll figure out a way to make it work, somehow. Maybe I don't necessarily have to do the whole degree at once - go to school for awhile, take a break and work, whatever. I'm going to set up an appointment to meet with someone in the Department, who could tell me exactly how many of my credits will transfer, so that I'll be able to assess how long it will take me to finish the degree, then I'll go from there in terms of planning the best way to do it.

Anyway, I'm feeling somewhat more hopeful than I was, the other day! So sorry to "dump" that on you all! :(

Anyway, the rest of the week has been pretty quiet. I can't believe that we are expecting yet more snow, on Thursday! What a winter! Just as our huge piles from the blizzard have melted down to manageable sizes, more snow is coming! Unbelievable!

I hope that all is well with all of you, out there! Have a nice day and talk to you soon! :)

[angelina]

I have been locked out of the DIS since last week, like lisa, who has been kind enough to help me sneak in through a window, LOL. I now know how to use Explorer.:Pinkbounc

I hope everyone is well and warm wherever you are. We are alternating between beautiful spring-like days and cold and rainy ones. I have had a bad sore throat for a few days, and woke up this morning with no voice. None at all, which I'm sure everyone enjoyed, since I was unable to bark orders. Instead of going out, I stayed home and did laundry, and I'm sure one of the piles hit me in about the same place that Lisa's snow did on her!

Lisa, sorry to hear about your difficulties in getting a grant for your classes, but I think you may be on to something by working at school and taking advantage of a possible discount. When I worked at the local university, I think we were reimbursed for half of the tuition, as were children of employees. Good luck pursuing that.

I hope the snow expected Thursday isn't anywhere near as bad as what you had the other day!

SG, I'm sure you're making a lot of headway in your quest to throw out and pack up. I am slowly bagging up outgrown clothes to send to the church this weekend. I have so much clutter around, and it makes me crazy, but I just can't seem to throw things away like I should.

Well, I'm making a pot of chicken soup for myself for dinner, and it's time to check on it.

Take care,

Angelina

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Angie!!! I'm so happy that you were able to get onto the Boards and back into the Suite!! :) We missed you! :(

I hope that you're feeling much better by now, and that your sore throat has gone away! Please tell us about all of the fun Mardi Gras events that you and your family have attended and are planning to attend over the upcoming week, if you have a chance! I love hearing about them!

Well, we are expecting 6 - 10 inches of snow, tonight.......sadly, I'm starting to get used to this - it seems strange when we DON'T have a major snow storm at least once a week, now! :) I'm so grateful that I don't have to drive to work in it, though......poor Frank. :(

Well, call me crazy, but I officially accepted my admission to Rutgers for the fall! Now, the pesky part of figuring out how to pay for it and support ourselves (and, of course, NOT have to give up our WDW vacation!).......! :) Things are looking up, though - I'm hitting some "bumps" along the way, but am trying to keep a positive attitude and truly believe that things will work themselves out. At least I have a good 5-6 months to get everything in order.

Spent all day yesterday in South Jersey, visiting Frank's Great Aunt in the hospital. It was depressing, but I know that it was good for Frank to be with his family, down there, and I'm glad that we went. He is very close with his Great Aunt, and the situation does not look hopeful. Still, we keep praying.......

Both Frank's and his sister's birthdays are next week, and I am going to surprise them both (well.....at least my sister-in-law......Frank has kind of figured it out.....) with tickets for us to see the new Cirque du Soleil show, "Varekai", which will be coming to the NY area in the spring. I hope that that brings some smiles to their faces during this difficult time for them and their family. I am really looking forward to seeing that show - the only other Cirque show which I've seen in person is "La Nouba", down in our favorite place! We have "Allegria" (which Frank saw live) and "Quidam" on DVD, though. We're totally addicted to "Fire Within" - the "making of 'Varekai' " series that's on Bravo. So it will be neat to see the actual show that we've been seeing planned!

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

The lalst time I tried to post here the electricity went out and my post was "Gone with the Wind".

I swear one of the things that I had posted was the suggestion that Lisa take a job at the school and see if that might not cover most of the expenses of the courses you want to take. I was not one bit surprised to hear that Frank was being supportive. He is a smart man and he knows that being married to a women who enjoys what she does cannot help but carry over to the marriage and make it even more wonderful. I hope you do not have to give up your Disney trip but even if you do just think of the long run. If you are doing a job you like you will do well and if you do well you should be rewarded with good pay and will be able to enjoy even more trips in the future to make up for the loss (hopefully not though) of one vacation. I will add Frank's aunt to my prayers. I always pray for whatever is best in these kind of cases. It is very touching that Frank is close to his aunt. Too many people take that kind of devotion lightly but coming from a fractured family myself that is what I covet, not material things.

Angie, sore throat and you have to make your own chicken soup? That is the way it is for us women. Who says we are the weaker sex? Men could never survive what we do but then they have us so they don't have to. LOL I have been telling friends about the Mardi Gras in your neck of the woods and some are interested. I think I am the area travel agent. Another thing I do for no fee. (grin)

I have a few moments before I have to go pick up my little reader and I think I am going to lay down on the couch a bit to relax. Have been rushing around all day and am just about bushed. Old age ain't pretty gals. (grin)

Take care of yourselves and Angie practice saying "No". It is good for them to hear sometimes and will get you noticed. I promise. (smile)

Linda/SG

[Dan Murphy]

I am not going to read all the past numbers of pages but just wanted to say hello to one of the nice groups here on the DIS, the EWP group. Hope you all are doing well, staying warm and healthy. Take caree, have a good Friday and a nice weekend. :wave:

Dan :sunny:

[helenabear]

Hi all!!! This just happened to be bumped up when I saw it (thanks Dan). I don't know if I accidentally hit something but I was no longer subscribed to this thread :confused: I thought you all just went away :eek:

Well there is so much to catch up on that I am not sure I should even try.... my post would be too long!!!! But do know that in my heart, I am congratulating, hugging and supporting you all for everything that you all have been through :)

Nothing too exciting here. I have a new laptop and that's about it. I love it though and it makes working on my computer so much nicer. My baby Cleo can sit on me or next to me so much easier than sitting at my desk :)

I hope you all have a great day and a great weekend :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Now here I was thinking evil thought that Dan had stolen away our Helenabear and there the sweet, dear man goes bringing her back to us. (Hanging my head in shame)

It was so nice to see the looming shape of our favorite male in the Suite. We love our fellows but a visit from Dan is a special occasion.

Helenabear, I have had the same thing happen to me. I am so glad to see you wend your way back to us. What have you and Luis been up to? Congrats on your new laptop. May I ask a very ignorant question? Do you have to hook up a laptop to get on the Internet? I see people working on them without a wire all the time and wonder about it. Possibly you download what you want and work on it that way? If I had a laptop I could take a job traveling as that is the only way I would be able to find my way from one place to another. LOL

Angelina is out and about celebrating at all the parties this weekend. Must be nice. I still have a couple strands of the beads she sent me. Some were 'stolen' by the grandkids. LOL

Rider, you would be tickled at the remarks of one of my students. We were watching a Disney tape with IASW and she wanted to know if I had ever been on it and if I would take her someday. I have firmly promised her that if I ever get a job at DW she will be invited. I figure if I have to work at low wages because I have been out of the job market for so many years I might as well be happy wherever I work. "When you wish upon a star"!!

More snow is coming in but it is only a few more inches and it will never be noticed around here. I believe I will slip over to the Poly later to get over my winter blahs.

Hear there is a new show over there so will you all join me?

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

I will join you, Linda! :) I'm curious to see the new Luau at the Poly! I've read a few reviews of it, here on the Boards and I'm glad to hear that it doesn't sound like it's changed very much from the original show!

Hi Dan! :) Thanks so much for stopping in to visit us! :)

Hi Elaine! Great to hear from you! :) I know what you mean - sometimes, I seem to automatically become unsubscribed from threads, too. But then I go to the profiles of some regular posters on the thread(s) in question, look up their most recent posts, and find the threads again! I don't think that the Boards always permit us to do that (when the "search" feature is disabled, or something like that!), but it helps when I've been able to do that in the past! How are you enjoying that new lap top?

I think that we will have to get a new monitor - our current one seems to be burning out and flickers on and off like a strobe light, if we use it for more than 40 minutes or so at a time. I'm trying to hold on to it as long as I can, because my sister-in-law built us an entire new computer, and if we get a new monitor, I want to be sure that it's one which works well with the new CPU.

Not too much to report, from the Garden State! Amazingly enough, we've actually made it through an entire weekend with NO SNOW! What a novelty! :)

I think that I'm going to have to have some dental work done, tomorrow - I think I've detected receding gums over 2 more of my teeth - UGH. Ah, the joys of "aging"! :) I'm not looking forward to those looooong novocaine needles...... :(

I like your suggestion about finding a job at the university, Linda! I am definitely going to look into that, when the time gets closer. In the mean time, I'll wait and see if we are approved for a financial aid offer of any type. And thanks for your kind words about Frank, his Great Aunt, and for your support and good wishes! :) You too, Elaine, Angie, and Dan! :)

Hope that you and your family are having a great time with the Mardi Gras activities, Angie! And I made a pot of chicken soup, this weekend, too!

Hope that all is well with you and your family, Wendy! We miss you! :(

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

[angelina]

Hi, everyone, and yes, linda, you are right, I have been out celebrating Mardi Gras, and it's days like today that remind me why I gave up the dances years ago. (I had meant to take my camera and take pictures of the floats, but realized that I forgot it. I will try to remember to take it tomorrow, if we go.) Still, it was a lot of fun, and I'm glad we decided to go. We went to my BIL's dance in Fairhope, a smaller but much more fun version of the big dances here. The food was much better (whole roast pigs, among other yummy things) and excellent liquor. We closed the joint down, I picked up a copy of one band's CD, and went to eat at 3 a.m. I think we made it home before the sun came up, LoL.:jester:
Two more days to go before Lent, but we've come up with a way to continue the fun, so everyone now looks forward to our Lenten fish fries every Friday night. We just take turns hotsting get togethers at our homes after dinner each week.

Lisa, I think you will have everything worked out by September. It's an excellent idea you have to go back to school, so I'm sure everything will fall into place when the time comes.

Sorry to hear about all the snow up there, and Frank's aunt, too. It must be very difficult for everyone. I hope she's feeling better soon.

Helenabear, I thought you had left us. You've been busy since your Dec. trip, haven't you? I sometimes don't get notices of replies, and go for days without realizing that someone has popped into the suite! Have you had a lot of snow in Ohio? Poor Lisa and SG have been buried for weeks, but maybe the worst is over?

Well, take care everyone, I will pop in tomorrow morning to say "Hi!"

Angelina

[SlightlyGoofy]

Looks as if Rider and I have been given a brief respite from the snow this past weekend. I took advantage of it and was out and about both days. Did not have quite as much fun as Angelina though. Doubt that these old bones could take it anyway. LOL

One funny about the weather - when we came home yesterday there were a very few snow flakes blowing in the wind. When I got home I checked my messages and there was one from a tiny, sweet voiced Dalton telling me that if there was no school today because of the 'snow' could you pretty please come here. I was tickled beyond belief and called him back to tell him the bad news that this was no where enough snow to keep school from coming. They were headed to church and he made me promise to watch the news and check my Internet and if I saw a report of a lot of snow coming would I please page his dad so they could bring him over to spend the night so his "poor mom" would not have to drop him off in the morning. Such a thoughtful child is he. (roaring with laughter) I did not really have grandparents and neither did my kids so I am delighting in being a grandma for mine.

I am jealous of Angies dancing on the bricked streets of Fairhope under the hanging baskets of flowers. From the looks of the website it would be almost as good as being at Disneyworld as it is so beautiful and well kept.

Rider, I hope your monitor makes it until you get your new computer built. It must be so nice to have family members who can do such things for you. I bet you do plenty for them also. I do not really get jealous over material possessions and such but have always yearned for a family.

Lisa/Rider, I have been wondering exactly what kind of job you are wanting to train for. Have been wondering if you would not make a great teacher of some kind. You have such a gift for people. I fear it does not pay much but if you could teach in some setting other than our school systems it might be a thought. You would make a great counselor of some sort also.

Helenabear, hope the snow kept away from your area as well. 70 can be hard enough in dry weather. Have you had any time to do any more work on your home or have you found more fun things to do now that you are all settled? I am still holding out hope for that rose covered trellis. LOL

Have a great day Suite Ladies

Linda/SG

[helenabear]

Hi all! Taking a tiny break from work to pop in and say hi.

Luis and I haven't been up to too much lately. I went to a DIS Meet in norther Ohio this weekend. It was a lot of fun. I have pictures floating around somewhere I think and if I find them I'll post the link.

Linda, laptops do require some sort of "hookup" to the internet. There are some that have wireless cards so the card transmits the info to hookup to the internet (that has to support the special card though). I have mind hooked up exactly like my desktop though. A lot of people have other things they can work on that isn't online so I am betting you will be seeing that more often than not.

Lisa, good luck with all your computer stuff. A broken monitor is terrilbe and I hope yours just holds. And with that school/job thing, I am sure that whatever happens, will be for the best. I just hope that with whatever you want to do, that you will be able to do it :)

Angie, out partying??? Enjoy that Mardigras partying!! I can't believe Lent will be here in just a few days.

Since a few of you asked, we did get dumped with so much snow over two weeks ago that it is still here. We had three days in a row without snow. We got some yesterday and we might get a little today, but starting tomorrow we are in for more snow I think. Hopefully it won't be too much though. It's funny/sad almost that we used to think 2 inches was an excellent snow fall here... now 2 inches is nothing. We had more snow in one weekend than we usually get all year. Last year we had 10 inches total, this year we are in the 50s and no sign of spring :( I will be so happy when this winter is overwith!!!!

Well I should get back to work. See you all later :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Elaine

The snow is the same here. We only had 10 inches last year and are in the high 40's low 50's now. Since we get the weather before you do just imagine how you would be faring if I had not been so kind as to siphon some of it off for you and Luis? LOL

Thank you for explaining to the old fogey how the laptop works. I read a lot of computer mags and have seen a new computer that is available where the processor is in the keyboard and the whole thing takes up very little space. I am so old (54) that I remember when transistor radios came out and how awed we were to be able to walk around with so much music in a small package. Have seen many wonders in my day and am looking forward to seeing what is coming next.

How many DIS meets have you guys been to so far? Sounds like a wonderful hobby to have.

With all the walking I have been doing I am in great shape to walk the parks. I try to imagine which attraction I am walking to when I am walking, helps to keep me going. If I can walk 20 miles a week that would be the same as walking all the way to DW in a year. (grin)

I smell cabbage cooking and Rider and I know that means dinner is ready. Tomorrow will be my first TOPS meeting in 5 weeks. The older members say that meetings called for weather are a rare occasion and never have 2 in a row been called. Spring? Here, Spring. Here boy!!!!

Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hi Eveyrone!

So great to see all of you, here! When I was posting here by myself, for those few days, I was afraid that I'd scared everyone away with my boring posts! :( So glad that you've all checked in, though!

Yes, Linda - cabbage definitely means that dinner is on its way! :) Frank has made me promise that I'll only make something with cabbage once a week, though, because it upsets his stomach. It doesn't affect me at all.....so while I only serve it to him once a week, I eat it almost every day! :)

Would you believe that it was 51 degrees, here, today? That felt like 80 degrees to us - we were so thrilled! But......they're predicting 3 - 6 inches of snow for tomorrow! :( We knew it couldn't last.......!

Glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed Mardi Gras, Angie! I loved looking at your pictures - everyone looks like they were having so much fun! And I think that it's so nice that you all will continue to have fun by taking turns hosting Friday fish fries and after dinner get-togethers - that is a really nice thing to do!

Hi Elaine! Please post the link to your latest DIS Meet photos, when you have a chance! I always enjoy looking at your pictures and reading your narration and descriptions! Glad to hear that all is well, out there!

Thank you all so much for all of your wise, thoughtful, and encouraging words - they really mean a lot to me, as do your support and friendship! It was so kind of you each to take the time to think of me! And I really appreciate your thoughts and advice!

I don't know that I could ever be a teacher, Linda, but thanks for thinking that I could be! :) I'm sorry - I thought that I told you about the program that I was accepted in to - I will be working towards a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences, with the aim of taking the Registered Dietician certification exam at the end. What I'd eventually like to do is work either with a hospital sponsored eating disorders or obesity clinic, or with people who have Type II Diabetes or other obesity-related illnesses. I'm sure that you can guess where my interest in the field came from! After struggling with my weight for much of my life, and then of course watching how my mother's obesity is destroying her health, I realized that this is what I want to do. Try to help people so that they're not miserable like I was or so that they don't get sick, like my mother. The field has been interesting to me for years, but I had been afraid to study it when I was in college 15-20 years ago, because I was afraid of all of the hard science classes that I would be required to take. I'm still afraid of them.....but not as much. I figure, I always thought that I was bad in math.....but somehow managed to pass the stock broker's exams......so maybe I would be able to do well in those crazy science classes now, too, because it's something that I really want to accomplish! Anyway........wading through financial aid stuff, and hoping for the best! :)

In keeping with my new career aspirations......a viewing of Food Rocks, anyone? :)

Everything else has been pretty quiet, here. Thanks for asking for Frank's Great Aunt, too. We went down to visit her in the hospital, last week. She's not doing well at all, but her spirits are pretty positive. She was moved to a nursing home, yesterday. Although things don't look very good, we're hoping for the best. And Frank is hanging in there. His birthday is this weekend, so I'm hoping that the celebration of it will pleasantly distract him, for a bit!

Anyway, hope that you're all having a good night! Talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Lisa, I love Food Rocks!! All those clever inside jokes make me smile each and every time. Gotta tell you something funny that happened the last time we were there though. We went all the way down the row as instructed and got ready to sit down with Tom on my left. A very large lady on his left asked me if she could sit next to my husband. I thought maybe she was being sensitive to the fact that she was large and some people might not want sit next to her because of overhang. I smiled and said "No problem, he is used to it". She sat down and proceeded to hang her arm around the back of his chair and he was pretty well pinned in for the duration of the show. I have always been so careful to watch that I do not sit on chairs with tiny legs and such so I just assumed she was being nice. Tom commented that a bit of deoderant would have helped the situation.

All my old clothes are in the trunk and ready for new homes tomorrow. You know the Goodwill ad where they say they have that famous black dress? Trust me, large size clothes are more in demand. I hope they find a new home and I never, ever miss them. Took me years to build up a collection of clothes I liked.

Angie, Mardi Gras is over. Are you all rested up now? A lot of work goes into those things. They look like fun though.

Supposed to be in the 50's tomorrow and we are headed for a Bluegrass Festival at a local mall. Might go see "The Room' as well. More snow coming in Monday night. Scared to wish it would make up its mind for fear that it will choose winter. LOL

Helenabear, I saw a posting by Dan about a Chicago meet. Are you going?

Have figured out how to walk more and go faster. My knee was giving me a lot of problem but did not at home. The difference? Took off my shoes and am doing fine now. Once a hick, always a hick.

Hope any snow that comes is just a dusting and that daffidills will be blooming soon for us all and not just the lucky Angie.

Linda

[helenabear]

Hi there all!!! I hope you all are doing well :)

Linda, so far I have been to a ton of DIS Meets. This year alone I have been to 3 big ones and 1 small one. I will be going to the one in Chicago next month and maybe a meet in June. I have two in July and then one in August already set up. Last year I think I went to 9 meets (counting Chicago trips and WDW one each). I get to see so many nice people there.

Lisa, it sounds like what you want to do is a wonderful thing. Working with those groups with a nutrition degree of sorts sounds very admirable! I bet you would be absolutely wonderful at it!!!

I have to make this short because I have laundry to do, but here are the last DIS meet pictures.

NE Ohio Meet Pictures (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=336686)

I'll see you all later :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda and Elaine!

Hey out there, Angie and Wendy!

Great to hear from you!

That's some story about the lady in Food Rocks, with her arm around the back of Tom's chair, Linda! You both were very kind not saying anything to her like........"um......could you move your arm, please??"!!! :) Though I'm sure that it was not the most comfortable situation at the time, at least you can (sort of?) laugh at it, now!

Great pictures, as always, Elaine! :) Thanks for sharing them with us!

Sorry that this is such a quick one - I just wanted to drop in and say "hello", since I don't think that I will be able to stop in again, for a few days. Frank's Great Aunt passed away, tonight, and I believe that we will be spending the rest of the week in South Jersey with his family. So I'm sorry if I can't post for awhile! Will be back with a longer post, as soon as I can!

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

We had a close call here. My sil, Chris, was working on the farm and somehow a bolt came loose and hit him in the face. It knocked him over and as he is a rather large guy that was quite a feat. He thought he just had a bloody nose but when he got inside and saw all the blood and starting cleaning it off he found that a bolt had gone into his face, near his nose. Being a man, he took a pair of pliers and pulled it out and then called for help. He tried a guilt trip on me cause he had called here to get me to drive him to the hospital and I was not here. Told him that if I felt that sitting next to the phone 24/7 would ensure the safety of my loved ones I would have been on duty but since it does not work that way I couldn't. Am grateful as it could have been so very much worse. Am lobbying to get him a cell phone cause he works alone so much. My oldest grandson had to ride the bus with the substitute to show him the way.

Helenabear, does Luis go to all the meets with you? I am going to a trivia meet next year and am very nervous as I am so much different in person. When you cannot hear it is very lonely, even in a full room and even more so then. I have an appointment in May to see if anything new has come up that can be done. The pictures were so good. Looked like a blast. When are you going to plan another one of your very own?

Rider, the lady was not intruding on me and I didn't know until after the show that her arm was laying on Tom's neck. I was proud of how Tom handled it though. I am sorry to hear of Frank's Aunt's passing. I hope that his many memories will help him through these days.

Angelina, thank you so much for all the nice messages. I promise to catch up sometime. I am walking 3 miles a day and taking care of some friends right now and am having trouble getting to everything. They have told my friend down the street that she will have to either find someone to live with, have someone move in with her or go to a nursing home. My house is not set up for a person with a disability even if I were up to doing it. Her dil hates her and will not allow her to move in there. During the Christmas Pageant said dil was cast as the wife of the Innkeeper, type casting? If a guy does not do right by his mom chances are he will not do right by a wife sometime along the line. Is a difficult situation but I doubt it will last very long as she is terminal and fading fast.

Have a club meeting tomorrow and am meeting some friends in town on Friday so the house is a wreck. Gotta choose between me and the house and I have chosen the house for far too long IMHO. Saw some nice house last weekend but none were exactly right. One had the most wonderful view from the back of the house but only had 2 bedrooms.

Have a great night and will await your newest adventures tomorrow. I believe I will walk over for a nice stroll along the Boardwalk in hopes of seeing the fireworks on this warm, clear evening.

SG/Linda

[helenabear]

Hi all!

Lisa, I am so sorry to hear about Frank's Great Aunt :( My thought are with you all {{HUGS}} to you all.

Oh wow!!! That sounds very scary Linda! Glad Chris wasn't hurt more than he was. I do hope that they can help you more with your hearing though. I do go to some meets with Luis and some alone. The upcoming meet in Chicago will be a "lone" meet but the last few Luis has gone to me with. It all depends on when and where I think. Not sure about upcoming meets. I will have to see about that. I think Columbus definitely needs another soon though.

I hope all is well with everyone else :)

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks so much for all of your kind words and thoughts about Frank's Great Aunt. I will definitely pass them along to him.

So sorry that it's been so long since I've posted - this is the first chance that I have had to sit down and catch up on your posts since I got back from South Jersey and Frank's mother's house.

So sorry to hear about your SIL's accident, Linda! How is he doing, now? That must have been so scary for him! That's amazing that he actually removed the bolt, himself! I hope that there was no permanent or serious damage, and that he is recovering well.

I am also sorry to hear about your friend, whom you help and take care of. It's so sad to hear about situations like that, especially since it sounds like her family is not being very supportive. What will she do? I'm sure, as always, that she appreciates all that you've done for and do for her, and understands that you are not in a position to be able to have her stay with you. I hope that everything works out for her, and I hope that her health and spirits remain good and strong, as well.

How's it going, out there, Elaine? How are Luis and the kitties doing? Am I totally remembering incorrectly, or is your sister's wedding coming up, some time soon? Love to hear about all of the DIS Meets that you attend! Please keep us posted with stories and photos!

Hi Angie and Wendy! Please stop in and let us know how you're doing, when you have a chance!

All is well, here. Frank came through the weekend all right, though it was very difficult for him. On a positive note, I met some relatives of Frank's whom I'd never met before, at and after the funeral, so that was nice.

Not too much to report on the school front - just going back and forth with the University financial aid office, via a bunch of inane letters, trying to explain to them that our financial situation right now (and in the foreseeable future) is much different from the way that it's reflected on our 2002 tax return........OY. All of the red tape......oh well, I have to hope for the best! :)

In the mean time, I am consciously appreciating having this time off, now that I know that I will be doing something on a regular basis, in 6 months! I have really become spoiled, being able to have all this time to myself, to get things done around the house at my own pace, etc.

Wish I had some more interesting news to report! :(

Trying to keep the thoughts of impending war out of my mind......

77 days till we're back at WDW! :)

Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Ah, Rider, please do not bemoan the lack of "Interesting" things to say. Far too often "Interesting' times are not necessarily good ones. This is a day for much reflection and thought with the deadline rapidly approaching. Austin spent the night last night and had many questions, the one that worried him him the most was what would happen if Iraq won the war. He knows his granny is a big chicken and it helps him to see that I am not worried. I have to fake it sometimes though.

We came up with a solution to the war though. Our troops should not do anything for about 4-5 days after the deadline. The Iraqui troops will so on edge they will not be able to sleep but after a few days they will be overcome with fatigue and we will be able to just stroll in and capture Sadaam with no blood shed on either side. Hussein should then be turned over to the tender mercies of his wives and children. Seems fitting to me. Women are devious and would not dispatch him too quickly. Austin is one scary individual. Hope he continues to like me. (grin)

Helenabear, thank you for the concern for Chris. He is alright and will not even have much of a scar to show for his adventure. That, along with a serious accident involving a family friend has scared Austin also. Hope he lives his words and is more careful himself. Farm accidents are far too common. Let me know if you have another Columbus meet. If I can get away I would love to see you and Luis again.

Rider, I am not the only help my friend has. This town is quite awesome in taking care of its own. Since I live down the street and have known her for many years she is just a bit more comfortable calling me. A group home might not be so bad for her. It is not likely that she will recover enough to ever go home again anyway. This way her dil will not get any of the proceeds from the sale of her home. Families do not care for their old folks much anymore. People move far from home and have their families to take care of. Is just the way it is.

Do you have your itinerary all planned out? I would love to hear what you are planning this time. Anything new planned? I like to plan old favorites and add a a few new experiences also.

Good luck in convincing the authorities of the reasonableness of your claim. We had a similar situation the first couple of years after retirement.

As far as your 'free' time, I bet you find that you will get just as much done when you are back at school/work. Works seems to expand with the time available.

A bit less than four hours to go. May a miracle happen.

SG/Linda

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! I am about to head out to get dinner so this might be short :)

Lisa, funny you should mention my sister's wedding. I just got the invitation in the mail for it today. I know she is happy but she is also very stressed out about it. We apparently are nothing alike in that respect... I just went with the flow ;) Glad to hear that Frank made it through the weekends. Times like that are always difficult. Also good luck with the money stuff... getting universities to realize how much money you have or don't is always really hard. I am sure you will get it all straightened out soon. In the mean time do enjoy your time off :)

Linda, glad to hear that Chris is doing okay. It sounded absolutely awful though! I will say though that I don't think everyone moves far away from home. Remember I am only a few blocks away from my dad and I have no intention of moving away from him :) So have hope, not all kids do that :) I did want to tell you that there is an Indy meet floating around. I think it will be for June 21st. Not sure where it will be exacty but you might want to keep that date in mind.

Well I think I am going to head to get dinner now. I hope everyone is doing well. Angie & Wendy I particularly hope all is well.

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Helenabear

You got me to thinking with your remark about not everybody moving away from family. Just noticed that another thing that connects everyone on this thread is that we are all family oriented. The world is a faster place nowadays and it does seem as if a lot of people move to other states for job reasons and such. Even in this tiny town there is a lot of that.

An Indy meet? Wow, that would be great. Now, if it were on the Southside I would be in heaven. LOL Got lost at the last one and ended up coming home early. Still have my Chicago Mickey on my purse to remind me of it. Would you come to that one?

Your sister should avail herself of your experience in planning a wedding as I am sure you did yours up right.

I lost another pound last week. It is getting awfully hard to do. I go up and down and all around. I am walking several miles a day and one would think that would help. The BMI is going down and the thighs of my slacks are loose so there has been some improvement but the pounds linger on. Hoping the warm weather and availablitly of fresh fruit will help to peel off a few dozen more pounds before the snow flies again.

SG/Linda

[SlightlyGoofy]

Just noticed that I have passed my 1000th post. Not sure by how much though as I see several posts saying 1001. LOL

Will never be able to beat Rider and Helenabear though. (smile)

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Congratulations on your 1000th post, Linda! :) We'll be having a special Suite-Sweet-Fest in your honor, this evening (all low fat, needless to say! :) )! :)

When is your sister's actual wedding date, Elaine? I remember when you started looking at dresses - it seems like yesterday, but it was probably close to a year ago! Did you finally decide upon the one that you had sent us a picture of, many months ago? I think that it's very exciting! I hope that your sister isn't so nervous that she's not enjoying the planning and the process! I really miss that! :( I keep asking Frank "can't we renew our vows, so that we can do it all over again, this year?" :) I actually saw our wedding florist, earlier this week, when she delivered anniversary flowers to my parents, from us. It brought back the memories of the many meetings that we had with her, around this time last year! *SIGH*.

I also live fairly close to my parents - aboout 3 miles away - and have no intention of moving......unless it's to Orlando, of course! :) I love Central NJ and would only move to work at WDW! :)

I'm also so glad to hear that your SIL is all right, Linda! That was very scary - thank God it wasn't worse!

Congratulations on your latest weight loss accomplishments and that BMI going down, too! I'm hanging steady, in the same place, as always........maybe some day, my body will give me a break and let me progress past that 80 mark! But, as I always say, as long as the numbers aren't going up, I'm happy! :)

Not too much to report from the Garden State, this evening! Just loving this wonderful spring like weather that we've been having, lately - it's been in the upper 60's for the better part of this week! I actually went outside in shorts and a T-shirt, with no jacket, for the first time this year, today! :) I don't think that it will last indefinitely, but it's sure been nice! I even welcomed the thunderstorm that we had, earlier, because it seemed so summer like! :)

Hope that you all have a great weekend! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to pop in and wish you all a nice week! :)

The weather here has been just gorgeous, over the past week or so - low to mid 60's and sunny every day. Spring is finally here - it's about time! :)

Spent Saturday walking around the Rutgers campus and reminiscing with my best friend from college. It was a really nice day for walking, and it was fun going back to some of our old haunts, too! We also walked around the area of The Rutgers Club, which is where Frank and I got married. I can't believe that it's been almost a year - where does the time go? And I can't believe that I'm (almost!) a Rutgers student again, too!

Not too much to report, otherwise. Spent the past 2 days cat sitting for my sister-in-law, while she had some work done in her house. It was fun spending time with my furry "nieces" and "nephews" (you can tell that we're a "multi-cat-family" - Frank's sister has 5 cats!)!

I watched the Travel Channel Disney special, last night, even though I'd already seen in twice in the past. It's always nice to see WDW on TV, even if it's just on a commercial! *SIGH* - just 69 more days! :) I hope that it will be safe to travel, by the time our trip arrives! Speaking of WDW Travel Channel specials, they are in the process of filming a new WDW Travel Channel Secrets special, down there, now! :)

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

You are far too newly wed to be longing for the 'good old days'. LOL Sounds as if you are keeping busy and out of most trouble.

Isn't the weather delightful? I don't wear shorts but have been able to be out and about without a jacket or anything lately. I figure we will get one more snow storm and bet I can tell you when it is going to occur. Will be April 8th. I picked up our Aida tickets today and that is when we are supposed to go. My sister went to see it in Tampa and raved over it. Wish I could be on Broadway to see it but this is better than nothing. It was $80 a ticket and the Broadway site is selling for far less. Surprising, would figure it would be more. See, I do spend money, when it is something I want. LOL

It is so wonderful that you love where you live and are looking forward to a new career. Life is far too short to be miserable.

Lucky Frank, he will soon be able to tell everyone he is married to a college girl.

Have loads of snail mail to catch up on so I had better get on it before it is time to fix dinner.

After dinner I am going to head over to Discovery Island. The boys have arranged for us to have a midnight picnic over there with a special viewing of EWP and prime seats for the fireworks. Have even heard that Tink will be paying us a special visit. See you there!

SG/Linda

[helenabear]

Evening all :)

Linda, congrats on your 1000 posts!!!! I remember how happy I was when I got mine :) And I think you are right. We all seem to be rather family oriented and I think that sets us apart from some others who really don't care. Congrats also on your weight loss. One pound is better than nothing :)

You would think my sister might come to me for wedding advice but she doesn't like much of what I do so I will not even offer my advice unless she asks for something specific. She is far more stressed about this than I was for mine. Her wedding is May 10th so it will be soon. And actually no, I did pick a different dress Lisa. I'll ahve to show you the pics soon :)

Lisa, I can't believe you will be in WDW so soon!!! That is so wonderful! I hope you enjoy your trip :) And soon you will be a Rutgers girl... so wonderful :)

Well all I have a few things I need to take care of tonight! I hope you all are doing well :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine

You are just a laid back type of gal. I admire that even though I will never be able to emulate it. LOL

Thank you for the compliments. It is very nice of you.

Don't work too late. Hope you and Luis find some time to just sit and snuggle for a bit. With all this war stuff going on it is a good time to be with our loved ones and just have a bit of thoughtful, quiet time.

About time for the launch to take us over to DI. I see the lights and Bo is tying up the boat and laying out the red carpet for the gangplank. Nothing less than the best for the Suite Gals.

SG/Linda

PS, Am so disappointed that the Great Movie Ride will still be down when Lisa goes to DW. I would be heartbroken if I missed it.

[IASW Rider]

WHAT??!! The GMR will STILL be down for rehab, in June??!! I didn't know that! :( I love that ride, too! It's funny because every time that I've been on it, for the past 5 years, I keep thinking that it might be the last time, because there have been rumors for years that it was going to close and be replaced with something like the DL Indy ride.......but every year, it's still there! I hope that they never permanently close it! This rehab is pretty hopeful.....then again, Legend of the Lion King was "rehabbed", just before it closed......! Well, maybe by some miracle, it will be open by the beginning of June. Still, there are so many things that we've never done in the Studios that we wanted to do, this year. Frank wants to try the new ToT drop sequences and ride R'N'R (......I'll be on the ground, safely shopping in the stores on Sunset Boulevard, while he accomplishes those particular things! :) ), and we've never seen the "Beauty and the Beast", or "Little Mermaid" shows, or even played "Millionaire", so we are hoping to fit those things in, as well. And we're hoping that "One Man's Dream" will still be there, because we missed seeing it last year, too. Ah, there's never enough time to do everything in one week at WDW!

WOW! Your sister's wedding is really coming up soon, Elaine! Yes! Please send us pictures of the dress that you ultimately decided to wear! Will there be many bridesmaids? Is it a very big wedding? Have they planned a honeymoon for right after the wedding, or will they wait awhile?

That's so neat that you are going to see "Aida", Linda! We really enjoyed that show, and I'm sure that you will, too! It's nice to treat yourself, every once in awhile - I'm sure that you will have a great time! You'll have to give us the full review, on April 9th! Think warm sunny weather - no snow on the 8th or any other time, this season! :)

I love the Discovery Island idea, Linda! I haven't been over there in over 20 years! I recently read a rumor or 2 about the possibility of them using the island for something, soon.......hopefully, that's true......it's a shame to see it just sitting there, with no way to visit it.......unless, of course, you're one of the people of the EWP Suite! We get special treatment! Hold that launch - I'll be right there! :)

Have a nice day! :)

[Dan Murphy]

:wave:

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone!!! I hope you all have a great day!

I swear I am not always a laid back kind of gal, Linda. I do try to be, but sometimes I really can't no matter how hard I want to be. My wedding was so easy to be laid back about because what mattered the most was that we were getting married, that was it. The rest was relatively unimportant to me.

Lisa, here is the rehab list for June http://www.wdwig.com/rehabs.htm#603 It seems that the Movie Ride is pretty much the only thing under rehab. I admit I love the ride but I think it was time for it to get a small change and hopefully just updating :) I love it though so I hope if they changed anything, the feel is there and the basic idea for it will be there too. But it is only closed for 4 months so I cannot imagine they could change too much! You'll have to let us know though :)

I too really hope they do something with Discovery Island. I always thought it would be cute to make it like the Pleasure Island from Pinocchio. A place for kids to go and have fun. Maybe a "babysitting" kind of place built into it but where the kids don't feel like they are being watched. They could do so much with it though and it has been years since I've been. If I take a water mouse out on the lake I do like to ride right by it though :)

Yep the wedding is close at hand. Just a little over a month now and she'll be married. I'll make sure that when I am all made up and all that, I will get pictures taken and show you all.

Hey there Dan :wave: Good to see you here :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Dan!

Thanks for stopping by! It's always so nice to hear from you, and nice of you to visit us, here in the Suite! :)

Hi Elaine!

Thanks for the rehab list! I agree with you - it would be nice to see the GMR updated. I have a feeling that this is just "standard maintenance / rehab", though - I don't recall the GMR being down for rehab in a long time, so maybe they are just "freshening things up", in there!

I like your idea about a new theme / purpose for Discovery Island! That would be fun for the kids! They have all of that nice land, there - they really should do something with it! I'd read a post on the Rumors and News Board that some people had observed some "official looking, management types" taking a private launch over to the Island, recently, and that they looked like they were scoping it out. That sounds hopeful!

Do you know that in all these years, I have never taken a water mouse out on the Lagoon or the lake? I'm too afraid that I would somehow get stuck, out there, and have to be embarrassingly rescued by a passing ferry or resort launch! :) (Probably a flashback to the time when I was a camp counselor, and got stranded on a rock in the middle of the Delaware River, while trying to help 2 young campers dislodge their canoe from it!)

It's great that you were so laid back about your wedding - hopefully some of your influence will rub off on your sister, when she realizes that it's not worth it to get all worked up about things and risk not enjoying these last few weeks, before her big day! When all of the responses have been returned and all of the final arrangements have been made, I'll bet that she will be calmer! Can't wait to see pictures! (What a surprise, right? :) )

Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

I told the guys not to dress up for our EWP viewing but they thought the tucks would be a nice touch, bet that is what people saw when the reported the 'official looking' people over there scouting things out. LOL

Elaine, is just what I said about you being a laid back type person, you just know what is important. Wish other brides and grooms would also as it would make things go so much better. Seems that the small glitches are what make a wedding ceremony special in the years to come. You mentioned something about an Indpls meet but I could not find the info on the site and the search thing did not work. Would you know where the info is?

Lisa, you poor dear. I would have come after you,on that rock. Figures that you would get yourself in trouble trying to help others though. I will send the fellows over to see if they can get the GMR up and running by the time you get to DW. It could be worse in that it could have been IASW instead. I am going to visit Pinocchio's on the next trip so I can watch the riders. Do you know, can you see into the actual ride from there?

Dan, the Man!!! How are you doing? I hope winter has decided to depart from your neck of the woods. It is always special to see you in here.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

So sorry that I haven't been around in awhile, but we're FINALLY having our house repainted and recarpeted (which we've been threatening to do for the past year!), so I have been inundated with taking down pictures and shelves, storing the things that were displayed in our wall unit and curio cabinet, and just generally getting things ready, because they'll be starting on our living room and dining room and upstairs hall on Monday (we hope! With our luck, the painters won't show up, after we did all this prep work!).

How are you all doing?

Unfortunately, I know for a fact that you can't really see into IASW from Pinocchio's, Linda. I know this because my cousin and I always used to insist to my mother that we sit in the "IASW seats" at Pinocchio's, as children, and we would literally get down on the floor to see if we could get a better view of IASW, through the entrance, as the boats pass........but you can't really see anything! :( I love sitting in the "IASW seats" to this day, though, and I still insist that there is no place in the world that a cheeseburger tastes better than in Pinocchio's! :)

T-minus less than 2 months, for us, now! :) 2 months from today, we will be spending the day in Epcot.........and (as I promised Frank)........I will be experiencing Test Track, for the first time! (I hope that I survive! :) )

I met with the Dean of Academic Affairs at Cook College (the specific college within Rutgers that I will be attending, this time around. It's technically the "agricultural school", as it started that way and has a very strong agricultural / plant sciences program, but it caters to all of the sciences. Some plant and animal specialists who work at the AK are graduates of Cook!), yesterday, to go over my transcript. He determined that all of the liberal arts classes that I took 15-20 years ago will transfer to my new degree, as well as a few of my psychology and sociology classes. So I'll basically be required to take all of the sciences (General and Organic Chemistry, General and Microbiology, etc.) and all of the Nutrition-specific classes. That should take me about 2.5 years, if I go "round the clock" and take classes in the summers, as well. At least I have an idea of how much time the new degree will take, now. (Of course, hearing about all of the science and math classes that I will need to take in order to be able to place into some of the major-specific classes scared the you-know-what out of me........but then I calmed myself down and told myself to remember that I'm not the same kid that I was years ago, who was always intimidated and petrified by math and science classes.......it's still pretty scary, though! :) ) Anyway, it was a really nice day, so I took some time to wander around the Cook campus, which is right next to the Douglass College campus (that is the college at Rutgers from which I graduated. It is the largest women's college in the world). Both campuses are very rural and beautiful, and it was really nice walking around and reminiscing, there, watching the students wait for the campus buses (that take them between the Rutgers New Brunswick campuses - there are actually 5 campuses in New Brunswick), etc. So, anyway, I'm "on my way"! :)

Well, time to get back to the mess that we've come to know as our living room! Hope that all is well with all of you, and hope that you all have a great weekend! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hey! Where is everybody????!!!! Hellooooooo..............

Oh, I guess you all must be out at the parks, enjoying this lovely Central Florida weather. It's a lot better than our charming Central NJ weather, that's for sure - we had 5 inches of snow, earlier in the week! Fortunately, most of it has melted, by now, but it is still far too cold and grey outside for this time of year, for my taste! :(

I made our remaining PS's, yesterday, since yesterday officially marked our "60 days out". Yipee! :) I always love calling the Disney number and speaking with someone who is actually down there! I actually spoke with a really funny guy at the Poly, last week, too. Thanks to Elaine's posting the rehab schedule, I learned that all of the Poly longhouses are currently in the process of being rehab'ed. After recently reading an article in a magazine about a man who'd arranged to have the door of the hotel room in which he and his wife had spent their honeymoon installed in their house, when the hotel was being refurbished, Frank and I started thinking how cool it would be to have something in our house from "our room" at the Poly, if it was ever remodeled. Well, wouldn't you know, according to the rehab schedule, "our" longhouse was in the process of being rehab'ed THIS MONTH! So I called down there to find out the extent of the rehab, and if there would be any way that we might have the opportunity to buy something from "our" room, if there was anything that they were just planning to discard, otherwise. The Poly CM was very amused by my request, and told me that only other CM's have the opportunity to purchase "stuff" from around the property, and that only CM's have access to that information. So I asked our pals, who work down there, to look into it for us. If not, we might just have to sneak off with the door to our room or the chair in which I was sitting when Frank proposed to me, when no one is looking! :) (I even asked the Poly CM ".........you all wouldn't mind if we disengaged the room number from our door, or walked out with a tiki sconce, or something, would you?" and he said "hey - what you do with your own time at 2:00 in the morning is your own business!" :) ) Anyway, it would be neat if it worked out that we were able to buy something from "our" room, or at least A room at the Poly!

Anyway......... this week has been pretty productive. After years of threatening to do so, we FINALLY had the majority of our house repainted! (We had to do it in 2 parts, so that we would have placed to seclude the cats while the painting was going on) It looks great! We have the carpeting people coming with samples tomorrow, and hopefully we'll have some new carpets by next week! Then will come the arduous task of putting everything back into our wall unit, curio cabinet, and sideboard, and hanging all of the pictures and shelves back on the walls......UGH. But it's so worth it to finally spruce up the house a bit! Just in time for the spring holidays, too!

So, what are all of your plans for Easter? We will be doing our usual thing - spending Passover with my family during the week, next week, then heading down to Frank's mother's for Easter, the following weekend.

I've been "assessing" my summer wardrobe - something that I seem to do every year at this time, in preparation for our annual pilgrimage to WDW. I had to buy all new shorts last year, since none of the ones from the previous year fit me any more. Well, I had to do that again this year, and I'm proud to say that this year's shorts are the same size that I wore in college! I haven't been able to fit into that size since around 1993! Yea! :) So, now that I'm a college student again, I can say that I'm the same size that I was when I was in college 15 years ago! :) I'm pretty amazed, since my weight has been holding steady for the past several months. I guess that I must be losing inches from somewhere, though, to be able to fit into that smaller size! I also got a few other new outfits to wear in WDW, and for the summer in general. Fortunately, I won't have to buy too much more, since I can dress very casually when I go back to school (ie: I can wear my shorts and T-shirts and leggings and sweatshirts. Nifty! I won't even have to put on makeup, every day! :) ).

Hope that all is well with all of you and that you're having a nice week! Hope to run into you all, in the Suite, some time soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Rider, what wonderful news you had to tell. I love it !! So glad that many of your credits will go toward your new degree. Do you have a testing out program where you could take tests and possibly bypass some of the other courses. Bet you are plenty capable. I have a sister who tested out of the first two years of college. I did not know such a thing was possible but when you think about it the first year or so is basically going over what they should have taught you in high school. Might be worth checking into.

I love the idea of you having something from 'your' Suite. So romantic. I used to be that way until decades of marriage took it out of me. Fixing midnight dinners with candlelight for someone who hits the light and says "What the ***** is this" just is not condusive to my putting out more effort. Men! (sigh) OK, maybe it is just older men. LOL

Our weather is so great and I am so sorry to hear that you have had snow. I hope it is the last for the season.

It would be wonderful to have someone come in and paint and redecorate our place but unfortunately that is my job. I just keep telling myself that I am saving enough money for our next trip to DW.

Since hamburgers are not allowed on my diet and I cannot see IASW from Pinocchio's I think I will cross that off my list. Thank you for letting me know though.

What a feat, to be able to wear the same size as when you went to college many years ago.

I think I am finally back on track with my weight loss. I lost 2.5 pounds the first week of April and another .5 the second week. I have another loss this week but do not weigh in until tomorrow so I don't know what the official number will be yet.

I loved Aida and going by bus was the greatest. The bank gave us a reception before and Tom loaded up on enough food to we worth the cost of the tickets there. I drank water. The bus dropped us off and picked us up out front of the theater. We had about perfect seats. I was able to hear pretty much everything and loved the funny lines and the singing was great. Was amazed at how old Mickey Dolenz looked as I have not aged at all. (grin) Only off thing was the fact that one of the tour guides kept hugging me and was so thrilled at my weight loss. She had not seen me in quite awhile. It was sort of like she pitied me for my 'disfigurement". I know she meant well though. I watched her and the other size 0 people stuffing sandwiches in their mouths and was very jealous. (smile)

I have some shops to do in Indy so we are going up and spending a couple of nights at our favorite getaway with an in room Jacuzzi and across from the Comedy Club. I hope to find a bit of time to just do nothing also.

Helenabear, Angelina, how you doing gals? If you find time, please drop by, put your feet up and spill the beans. (grins and hugs)

Slightly Goofy/Linda

[IASW Rider]

HELP! HELP! I'm trapped on the second floor of my house, again, and I can't get down! Actually, I'm hanging out up here because they are in the process of laying our new carpets, downstairs - yea! :) :) :) And actually, I have it better than the cats do - since the carpet guys needed to open all of the bedroom doors in order to line up the carpet seams properly, 4 of the cats are secluded in the master bathroom (so that they don't run out the outside doors) and the other 2 are hiding in a closet! :( And it's very LOUD, right now, because they are in the process of hammering the padding into the floors.......have I mentioned, once or twice, that I will be very happy when all of these renovations are complete??? :)

I think that's so great that you can do all of your home improvements yourself, Linda! I admire the fact that you've done your own painting and tiling and refinishing and probably a million other things, in your home! I don't have the talent or patience to do so.......and I'm not very handy or artistic.........but at least we're finally freshening up the house, regardless!

Congratulations on your (at least) 3 pound weight loss, this month, so far! That is great! And that's such willpower - watching everyone else eating on your tour - I don't know if I could hold off and eat nothing, in such a situation, as you did - that is a big accomplishment, in and of itself! You're very dedicated and knowledgable - that's why you've been so successful already and that's why you'll continue to be successful!

I'm sure that your tour guide was just trying to pay you compliments, by constantly hugging you and commenting about how great you look! You DO look wonderful and you deserve lots of compliments! But......I know what you mean - sometimes people say things without thinking about how they're coming across or how what they say can be "taken". People say things like that to me, as well: "you look so amazing - you've really turned your life around....", and I'm left thinking "as opposed to the big mess that my life was before? And as opposed to the horrible way that I looked, before?" I guess that the only thing that we can do in such situations is take away the "good stuff" from the comments, and realize that the people mean well (or at least they do in most cases.......sometimes their jealousy comes through, and they seem a bit callous......), and ignore any "weirdness", either real or perceived, from the comments! Again, if there is any "weirdness", it's often the result of people not being able to hide their envy very well (how many people have looked you up and down, recently, and said to you "you'll have to tell me your secret" or "you've lost so much weight" - but with a tone of voice that implies "let's see how long it will take before she gains it back"? I know that I have gotten those sorts of comments from envious people. I think that those people mean well, too, but they look at the success that we have had and feel personally threatened, for some reason. I don't know why - it's a very strange phenomenon. I'm just assuming that you have encountered similar people and situations (?).). Anyway, all this to say, compliments are good and you deserve them! :)

You will be proud of me - as inspired by you, I finally got around to taking my larger clothes out of my closets and packing them away to give away to charity. I don't know what took me so long to do so - maybe I didn't "trust myself" for a long time, and figured that I would hold on to them, "just in case". But at this point, the clothes are literally between 3 and 5 sizes larger than what I wear now, so the likelihood that I would ever fit into them again is (hopefully!) very slim (excuse the pun! :) ). So I packed them away and now have tons more room in my closets! It was actually a very emotional experience - looking at some of those clothes for the first time in a few years. They reminded me of less happy times in my life (being miserable at work or in my personal life - hey - maybe those people were right - maybe my life DID used to be a "mess"...... :) ) and how far I've come (in terms of finding what's right for myself) since then. It was therapeutic in addition to "functional"! :)

Glad to hear that you enjoyed "Aida"! It's funny - I just read in "Playbill" magazine that Mickey Dolenz was portraying the father of the male lead in the touring company, and that he will be playing the part on Broadway, starting in 2004. I thought that there were some great songs in that show (sort of reminiscent of "The Lion King", in a way), and I loved the fashion show scene! Even though we live so close to NYC, we have several great regional professional theaters in our area, and we've gone to see touring companies of many shows, through the years. They do just as great a job as the Broadway companies do, in my opinion! And it's amazing that they can travel from town to town with such elaborate sets, lighting, effects, etc.

When will you be going on your getaway trip to shop and jacuzzi? That sounds like fun! Our weather is finally nice, here, too - it will actually be 77 degrees here tomorrow (if the Weather Channel is correct)! Of course, they're predicting that it will be back down to 48 degrees on Thursday......but at least there are signs that the warmer weather is coming, to stay!

I'll be spending the beginning of this week "putting the house back together" after this first round of work is done (bedrooms are being re-painted soon after), the middle of the week getting ready for and celebrating Passover with my family, and the end of the week in South Jersey, celebrating Easter with Frank's family! Crazy week! I will be happy when things calm down again!

I will have to take a math placement test before I start school (and will probably wind up back in Algebra, since it's been so long since I studied it, and I need Pre-Calculus as a pre-requisite to the Chemistry classes that I have to take), but I doubt that I will be able to place out of very many classes. I didn't take any college level science classes, the first time around, so I'm really starting from scratch with this new major. I'm happy that so many of my existing credits will be eligible for transfer, at all! I wish that there was a way that I could speed things up even more, but I don't think that there will be. Thank you for your thoughts though, Linda!

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

And hope that all is well with you, out there, Elaine, Angie, and Wendy! :)

Take care and talk to you soon! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

Gee, stuck upstairs huh? With the computer and not able to cook or clean? Poor thing!!! LOL

I am afraid that I do the painting etc. cause we have always been a single wage earner household and my hubby was a factory worker who did not believe in overtime so I have had to learn to do for myself or we would be heavy in debt or would have to do without. I once dug up a septic tank to save the $25.

I get good reactions from most people regarding my weight loss. The main problem is that everyone wants to know how I did it and it is putting a strain on the local TOPS clubs as I have brought in many new members. I am in the process of organizing some diet clubs in our town to solve some of the many phone calls etc I get. Some of my siblings are less than pleased but it is because we have all been large and they do not like my being smaller than they are. Just the way of the world, I love 'em anyway.

Congratulations on getting rid of the clothes in your closet. You have rid yourself of a safe haven to run back to as well as making your life simplier. I think you find much more to get rid of with all your renovations. A simple life is the best. Too often our possessions own us rather than the other way around. Is why I have never craved diamonds, furs or such. You have to worry too much when you have what others want in the way of material things.

I am sorry to hear that you won't be able to 'test out' of much to speed your education. I fear that I would not be able to do math classes anymore. They were difficult enough when I was younger and I do not have the energy to go through it all again.

It is supposed to be over 80 tomorrow. I am running into town to get weighed in and then back to here to pick up some friends and then we are going to a surprise party for a friend that is turning 80. I think she will be pleased with her daughter.

We are going on our get away Wednesday and Thursday. One of the pleasures of retirment is that you can go places at off times and save big bucks and avoid crowds.

I have to go trim some bushes now. Have the truck loaded up to take to the dump and want to clean up as much as I can to avoid another trip too soon. They make these rules and then do not give you easy ways to comply. (sigh)

I got my one state tax refund check. Was fun to have the government admit I was right and they were wrong and have to pay for it. Guess my math skills are not totally bad.

Enjoy your afternoon and hope the work gets done today so you and your babies can come out and play.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Hi Linda!

It's about 80 degrees here, today, too! It's so wonderful to be able to go outside in shorts and a T-shirt! I wish that it would stay this way, but I fear that it will be rainy and in the 40's tomorrow. :( Oh well, I'll enjoy it now, while I can! :)

Have a great time on your getaway! In fact, you've probably "gotten away", already, as today is Wednesday! Hope that you're having a nice time! :)

That's so neat that you're organizing diet clubs in your area! Maybe you will pioneer a completely new program that will go national, and all of the current TOPS and Weight Watchers members will join your club, instead! :) People ask me how I lost weight, as well, and I never know what to tell them, since I'm not on any "formal diet plan". I just tell them the truth - that I "listen to my body" and somehow have intuition about what it needs at different times of the day. It makes no sense to many people, but that's all it is, for me! Maybe when I become a world famous nutritionist (and on the Board of Directors of your world famous Diet Organization), I will have something more constructive to tell people who ask for my "advice"! :)

How are your little men doing? Are they looking forward to Easter? Will you be hosting Easter in your home, this year, or will you be visiting others?

The last time that I trimmed our bushes, I wound up with that crazy poison ivy (I can't believe that we're soon to celebrate our 2 year anniversary in the Suite, by the way! That poison ivy incident was 2 years ago, and I remember your all giving me advice about dealing with it!), so I won't be doing it again too soon! I'll leave the outside work to Frank! :)

Speaking of Frank, he should be coming home from work, soon, so that we can get over to my parents' house and start setting up for Passover, so I'd better run!

Hope that you're having a nice day, Linda, and everyone else out there! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi t here Lisa

We just got back home. Short report as I am an old lady and cannot party as hard as you youngsters. LOL

We went to see About Schmidt. Was great and very fitting for our life circumstances. Could not believe that it was FIFTY cents a ticket!!!

The Comedy Show stunk. Very light crowd so I guess the guy who was supposed to be there (one of our favorites) decided to send in the second (or ninth) string. They were so bad that I almost got up to perform. I think anyone in the audience could have done better. Best line of the night, for me, was one guy who said that he and his girlfriend were in a serious relationship and now it was morose. Only an English Major would have liked that one and I believe I was the only one there. We had almost went back to see another movie. Will remember to not go on Wednesday nights again. If I had paid for the tickets I would have demanded a refund.

Ate out at several places and it was all pretty much free as they were shops and or gift certificates.

Did lots of shopping and found the nicest dress at Goodwill for $4. I even found a blouse I had been hunting for (new). I suppose bargain shopping would not be so much fun if I HAD to do it. LOL


I guess my fellows are doing well. Austin was surprised when he called a bit ago and I refused to let him spend the night but I am tired. There were messages from our DD asking me to pick up the boys the other night. Guess she did not know we were gone. Maybe she should try calling once in awhile? (smile)

I don't think I could charge for my expertise. I don't charge for much of anything I do. I could not only tutor the kids whose parents could pay. Most of them do not need the help as much as the others IMHO. If I ever decide to become a capitalist (minor) and turn my dieting expertise into a thriving business I would not consider having anyone else but you as my partner. I don't think anyone who has NOT fought the Battle of the Bulge should be allowed to give diet advice. You learn from your mistakes and we are fonts of great knowledge. LOL

I am glad that you are able to shed your winter duds and get back to your most comfortable self. Keep those bare legs away from all 3 leaved vegetation though.

Is your house all in order now? No spring cleaning chores for you for a bit.

I think I will lay me down to sleep, perchance to dream. Knit up the ravelled sleeve of care etc. etc.

zzzzz/SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi!

Hope that you all had a very Happy Easter! :)

Hi Linda!

Welcome back! Glad to hear that you had a nice a productive trip! :) That's so neat that there are still places out there, where one can see a movie for fifty cents! There is no place like that around here, that's for sure - movie tickets are ridiculously expensive, even for daytime shows. Pretty sad. Anyway, glad to hear that you liked "About Schmidt"! I wanted to see that, when it was in the theaters - I guess that I will have to wait for it on video, now.

Sorry to hear that the comedy show was disappointing, though.
:( Oh well - I'm sure that you got a few good laughs, thinking about how bad it was! We are actually going to see a friend of my friend Gary's make his comedy club debut at Caroline's in NYC, this weekend. He took a stand up comedy class, for the heck of it, and the "graduation" ceremony is having to perform a five minute act on stage! More power to him - I could never do it - stand up comedy seems terrifying to me! But this guy is really funny - I've known him since he and Gary went to college together - he's a lot like the character Jack on "Will and Grace", if you happen to watch that show - so I'm sure that he will do a good job! Interestingly enough, one of the actors from my soap opera ("All My Children") is also in his class and will also be performing on Sunday. It's funny because I recently saw this actor interviewed on a talk show, and he was talking about how he wanted to take up stand up comedy, on the side.......and it turns out that he took the same class as Gary's friend!

Anyway.......today I am trapped on the first floor of my house, because the painters are back, painting our bedrooms and upstairs bathrooms. Have I mentioned how happy I will be when all of this is over, lately??? :) I hate having our lives / schedule upset.......but I have to say, the new paint job looks wonderful, downstairs, and I'm sure that these guys will do a great job upstairs, as well. We have all 6 cats (and the contents of 2 of our bedrooms) ensconced in our 3rd bedroom, today. It's like an obstacle course, in there, with all of our stuff stored there. At least that gives the cats more places to hide, anyway! I told Frank that this is one way to get them to get along - put them all together in a tiny space, where they can "bond" over a shared fear of all the noises that they hear, coming from the other side of their door (ie: hammering, strange mens' voices, etc.). It's like a kitty reality show - "Feline 'The Real World' ", or something! :)

Glad to hear that all is well with your family, Linda! And that's so neat that you found some good bargains on new clothes! I've been buying a lot of things on sale, lately, too - I've been pretty lucky, this year (which is good because I need a ton of new things for the summer!).

Anyway, I'd probably better go and see what the painters are up to - I haven't peeked in at them, in awhile.

Hope that all is well with all of you, and hope that you all had a great holiday! :)

[helenabear]

Hi all!!!! Sorry it has been so long... I've been very busy at work and honestly at home as well. Nothing bad but just busy in general.

Laura's wedding is coming up in a few weeks and I've been preparing the house for that, doing the bridal shower, fittings and well, you all can guess. I did get a trip to Chicago in last month but I didn't post pictures because I caught a lot of "bad facial expressions" so I didn't feel "right" posting the the ones I had (which were very very few). I just don't like embarassing people and truthfully I would have hated having pictures like that of me up. Next time, I'll make sure people pose more and then I won't have to worry about those bad looks.

Sounds like you all have been very busy too :)

Oh before I rush off to work, I had to say one crazy thing I am doing. I am going to WDW for 5 days at the end of May/beginning of June :eek: A friend is going and using some extra DVC so I don't have to pay for anything but air (being that I am an AP holder) so it is a CHEAP trip. With that in mind, I have to ask Lisa, when are you arriving on the 2nd. That is the day I leave and was hoping maybe to meet up with you. I will have to be leaving WDW by 4:30 to get to the airport. So keep that in mind :)

Anyway, have a great day all!

[IASW Rider]

Hey Elaine!

Great to hear from you! I figured that you were probably wrapped up in wedding preparations! How was your sister's shower? And how are all of her plans coming along? Is she any less nervous? Or more nervous? Your whole family must be so excited! :)

That's so neat that you will be in WDW, next month! :) I'm not sure exactly what time we'll be arriving on the 2nd, but I know that it will be in the late morning / early afternoon. If I'm remembering correctly (we haven't gotten our documents yet), our flight leaves Newark at 8:00 AM, or so. So I imagine that we would be getting to the Poly somewhere around noon time. Maybe we can hook up, somehow, before you leave. I will let you know more specific times, when we get our information from the travel agent. If it doesn't work out this time, we'll all just have to meet there, another time, for a mass-EWP-viewing! :) (Speaking of the EWP, I finally found an EWP pin! Yipee! :) ) Anyway, that's great that you will be able to get away for a few days, so inexpensively, too! Will Luis be joining you on this trip, too? If not, you'll just have to plan another trip, so that he can "catch up" with WDW, and so that you can go together! :)

Time to do some grocery shopping! Hope that you're having a great day! You too, Linda, Angie, and Wendy! :)

[helenabear]

Taking another quick work break... there is hope that we can get together then Lisa. Do let me know your schedule and maybe we can try to meet, even if just for a moment :)

I will say that I will be going "alone" on this trip. A friend of mine from here on the DIS has a few extra DVC points she can use and so I get room for free. Luis doesn't get near as much vacation as I do so he won't be able to take off. Luis isn't near as much into Disney so he is happy to just let me go and have fun. It will be a nice trip and a good way to relax after the wedding of Laura's ;)

I think she is really nervous and stressed about the wedding. I don't even ask anymore much because it just makes her think more and that makes it worse for her :( The shower was great! She had a wondreful time and it was a lot of fun so that really made me happy to see that.

Well I need to get some stuff done today so I will have to scoot. See you all later!

[CourtasanSatine]

Hi :wave:

:hides with WL and AI video plus a camera for Clay sightings:

[SlightlyGoofy]

Rider and Helenabear in the same magical place at the same time? It is sending dangerous ideas through my mind. A girl can dream ; ; ; ; ; ;

It sounds as if you are both running around like chickens with your heads chopped off. Better to wear out than rust.

I have been pretty darned busy also. Not getting much I need to get done but getting plenty done for others. It is impossible to say no when people need so much. Not sure I am doing much good but I am trying. I walked 4 miles Tuesday so that did some good for me also. Another 2.5 pounds went down the tubes last week for a grand total of 5.5 so far for the month. Would love to make it to 8 pounds for the month but would be asking too much probably.

Lisa, I hope the house is back in order now. It is hard to live with but oh, how wonderful when it is all done. Where did you find an EWP pin? I have been considering taking a similar comedy course here. They have the same graduation ceremony. Hope your friends did well. It is one of the hardest entertainment acts to pull off since it is bascially a one man show and you often write your own material too.

Elaine, you are so sweet to consider what the pictures would look like. It is so like you. I am truly happy that you might be able to actually meet Lisa. I cannot imagine the energy that would be in a room with you both. Makes me a bit tired to consider it so I think I will go sit down and contemplate. (grin)

Austin will be here soon and we have plans so I had better get a couple of things done on this wet and dreary day.

Love, Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi CourtasanSantine! Thanks for stopping by! :)

Elaine - I will call my travel agent on Monday, to find out why they haven't called me about our final deposit (usually they have called by this time of year - maybe Disney doesn't want their final payment until closer to the travel dates, now, because so many people have been cancelling their reservations?), and I will confirm our flight times then, as well, so that I can give you a more definitive idea about when our time at WDW might overlap, on 6/2! :)

Linda - I am convinced that one of these years, we will all be able to meet at WDW and watch the EWP together! :)

Elaine - was Laura's shower a surprise? Would you happen to have any pictures from it, on line? Have you finished all your fittings for your dress? Has Laura? Have you decided how you're going to wear your hair? Are you going to have it professionally done, or are you going to do it yourself?

Linda - Congratulations on that great monthly weight loss!!!! That is fantastic!!! You are just THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN! And there are still a few more days left in the month......you just might reach that monthly goal, yet! But even if you don't, 5.5 is extremely impressive, in and of itself!

I, on the other hand am STILL STUCK!!!! My body is just not cooperating, scale-wise, at all! I measure myself at the end of every month and those numbers consistently go down (at least a bit), so at least I am seeing some sort of progress and knowing that all of my efforts are not being wasted. I have no idea why the scale won't move, pound wise, though. I've tried all different combinations of things to try to make the pounds go down, but nothing works! Oh well, as long as my clothes keep getting looser, I know that I shouldn't complain! :)

I think that you would do a great job as a comedian, Linda! You are a great and funny storyteller! :) I will let you know how our friend's performance goes, tomorrow.

It's cold and rainy, here, today. :( Fortunately, it's supposed to be 70 and sunny for our trip to NYC, tomorrow, and up to 80 degrees on Monday! :)

I found the EWP pin on ebay. It's so weird - I never look at ebay (for fear that I would become "addicted" to bidding on Disney memorabilia), but something told me to look at it, the other day.....and sure enough, there was an offer for auction or sale of an EWP pin, there! It's so strange - something just told me to look at the site, that day, and there it was! :) So, while I was at it.......I started doing searches on other Disney things that interest me (stuff about the 1964-65 World's Fair and Walt's involvement in it, backstage stuff, Fantasmic stuff)......and wound up becoming "addicted" to bidding on things, just like I knew that I would! :) But it's OK, though - I much prefer to buy things outright on ebay than bid on them, and I bought some really neat things, in addition to the EWP pin. I bought an amateur made DVD of the CoP (so that I won't risk getting thrown out of the park by attempting to tape it, again - I'm not as lucky or skilled as Elaine is at getting that footage! :) ), an amateur made video of DL's Fantasmic, a few books about the World's Fair (and the original IASW!), a poster from the premiere of Fantasmic at WDW, and I'm bidding on a few DL IASW items, as well. The neat thing as that all of the items are very reasonable, so I don't feel like I'm being a spendthrift by buying them all! :) I love collecting Disney park stuff, particularly books and videos. That's why I try not to look at ebay too often - it would be too tempting to be constantly bidding on or buying stuff, there!

In the mean time, speaking of memorabilia, my Fantasmic friend, knowing what a fan of that show I am, sent me some actual "pieces" of the show (that would have otherwise been discarded) and asked me to identify them. The other day I received an envelope marked "This contains 8 genuine pieces of Fantasmic.....but what are they?" and inside the envelope were 8 foil-like octagonal things with little holes at the top of each, that were silver on one side and black on the other, and almost looked like ornaments of some type. I guess I ruined his suspenseful game, because I guessed what they were, right away - they are some of the little "sparkly things" that hang off of Maleficent's dragon's wings and body! I told him that if he ever finds anything else lying around the ground on the stage, to send it over so that I can identify it, as well! :)

We're coming up on the 2 year anniversary of the original EWP thread.........we'll have to get the guys together and start planning our gala celebration, soon! :)

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

[helenabear]

Hi CS! Nice to see you here as well!!! Sit down and have a drink with us if you like :)

Linda, I am not sure how much enegry this lady will have on the 2nd... it will be the end of my trip and I might be way too tired by then to do anything except hug and say hi to Lisa ;) Sounds like you have been busy too and doing great with the weight loss. If you keep at it, we'll never recognize you when we see you again ;)

Lisa, did you get a picture of the pin so you can show us what it looks like? I'd love to have one. Oh and it looks like I might see the EWP on the 31st. Beth and I want to watch the fireworks at MK so we figure we might just watch them from the beach and then catch the EWP that night :)

As for wedding stuff... my dress is off the rack so I have to adjust the straps and that will be it for me. Laura's last fitting is this Wednesday... not sure if I will go or not. I'll check with her. The shower wasn't a surprise as we had to make sure that with her busy schedule that she would be there ;) Oh and no clue about the hair... haven't quite decided yet. I will most likely do it myself and I might lean towards down, but I might have it up if it is going to be warm that day. We'll see on that.

Well I think my system that I need is up and running. Have a great day all :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Rider, I would love to see what the EWP pin looks like too. I spent some time on ebay the other night in hopes that I could find a pin or three too. Is a fascinating place and I can see where you would be afraid to get on there too often.

Yep, I could probably succeed as a comedian just for the fact that they tend to work where alcohol is served. I once did portaits, in my youth, and got away with it because of similar circumstances. LOL

Leave it to you to be able to figure out what those pieces were and where they came from. Is a pity that such a Disney mind should be wasted on the real world. When you get your degree why do you not get a job helping Disney find healthy foods for their restaurants that taste good? They do a pretty good job already but I know that you could improve them even more. People pay small fortunes to go to Duke etc. to learn how to eat and exercise so a program of the "Disney Diet" should go over well and exercise is much easier when you have a goal to work toward and I would much rather walk toward the Great Movie Ride than walk on a treadmill.

Helenabear -You - without energy? Perish the thought. You are like the bubbles in champagne. Sounds as if the wedding is coming along wonderfully. Just hike up those straps and enjoy yourself!!

My clothes may be looser or smaller but the rest of me does not change much so you would be able to recognize me.

I find myself dreaming more and more of walking along the beach at the Poly and running into you guys before the EWP begins. "A man's reach should exceed his grasp". (sigh)

Your friend, Linda/SG

[IASW Rider]

Hi Elaine and Linda!

So sorry that it took me so long to post! How are you both doing, today? How are you doing, out there, Angie and Wendy?

Here is a picture of the EWP pin, from a website (our old pal, Bashful64 sent me this link, 2 years ago, when I first found out that the pin existed!):

EWP Pin (http://www.pinpics.com./cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=2370)

I'll bet that you'll eventually come across one, if you check ebay every once in awhile, Linda! I hadn't tried looking for one, for awhile, and then just got lucky, that day that I decided to take a look at the auctions! Apparently they are pretty rare and not easy to find, but in this world of the "secondary market", I'll bet that there are people out there who would offer theirs to collectors!

I called our travel agent, earlier this week, Elaine, and found that our 6/2 flight time has been pushed back an hour - now we're not arriving at MCO until 11:42 AM! So we probably wouldn't get over to the Poly until 1:00 or 1:30, if we're lucky! UGH. We really wanted to get there earlier. Will keep you posted with the details, as the month goes on.......maybe somehow our time at WDW will overlap, if only for a few seconds! :) Glad to hear that you'll be able to see the EWP, this year! We plan to see it on our first night there! :)

Glad to hear that all is well with the wedding plans! It sounds like you (and Laura) are all ready to go! When do the festivities begin? Will there be a rehearsal dinner or other celebrations before the actual wedding?

That's it, Linda - you've come up with the idea that will make us our millions - "The Disney Diet Program"! Seeing as how you are organizing diet clubs in your area, you would certainly be able to put together a good diet and exercise program for visitors to WDW! And in a million years, when I finish my degree, perhaps I could help out and provide some sort of nutritional advice.....and we could update all of the menus in the WDW restaurants (leaving behind, of course, certain things which should never be changed, like Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe, Pinocchio's cheeseburgers, Fettucine Alfredo at Alfredo's.......etc.!)..........and design different exercise plans for people with different fitness levels, that could easily be done in the parks (my favorite would be the "raise-your-heart-rate-by-becoming-terrified-while-standing-in-line-and-anticipating-the-last-drop-in-Splash-Mountain-plan"! :) ).........yes, that could be how we become rich and famous! What do you say? :)

All is well, here in the Garden State. It's been sunny and in the mid-upper 70's all week - I think that spring has FINALLY arrived!

We're going to see Cirque du Soleil's new show, "Varekai", this weekend, in NY. I can't wait - I've never seen one of their touring shows before, and this one is supposed to be great!

Not too much else to report, from here! Hope that all is well with you both! Have a nice day and talk to you later! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to pop by and see if anyone was in the Suite, today, but you're all obviously out and about!

Not too much to report, from here - just wanted to say "hi"!

We saw Cirque du Soleil's new touring show, "Varekai", on Sunday, and it was just breathtaking! If it happens to come to your area, definitely see it, if you can - it is just a fantastic show!

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

[SlightlyGoofy]

Howdy there Rider!

I saw where Celine Dion's show in Las Vegas was designed by the same people who did Cirque. It is an awesome show and impossible to explain to anyone who has never seen one. I am glad that you guys were able to see the new show.

Not many more days left until you leave for our Suite on the Magic Lagoon. Wish I was going to join you there.

Have been very rushed for time here. Had my doctor's appt on Tuesday and there is nothing that can be done, surgerically, for my hearing. I am not too surprised but a bit disappointed. The doctor was so nice about it and kept apologizing but like I told him I appreciated his honesty as I would not want to spend the money or take the risk for nothing. Will start shopping for new hearing aids as soon as I get a chance. Hope they have made some improvements since the last time.

Yesterday was Dalton's 6th birthday. I made him a card and wrote him a poem, I think he liked that better than his presents as he keeps asking me to read it to him and wants to know if it is true. LOL I found him a huge beanbag chair, dark blue (his favorite color) and has stars and moons all over it. Also found him some paint by number sets as he is an awesome colorer.

I am taking Tom to Brown County tomorrow and will go pick him up Sunday. He has his bag packed. Wish I had somewhere to go where people would take such good care of me. (sigh and smile)

Austin is coming to spend the night tomorrow as his little brother is having some friends in for a sleep over. I have to take my friend back to the doctor tomorrow also. She is not doing very well right now. The people from the church were there the other day and brought her a Bible but did not take out any trash or bring her any food. Have I mentioned that I have finally found the courage to drop out from the church? It just got more and more uncomfortable for me. There are many wonderful people who belong but it just was not for me. I am a rebel without a pause. (grin)

Installed a new water fountain last week. It is very tall and has many spouts and waterfalls and is topped off with a frog! That garden is full of frogs. I have butterflies in another and sunflowers in another. I am theme happy person.

Was wondering if you , Helenabear or Angelina are planning any other WDW trips this year? I figure that you all plan a new trip before the last one is taken. LOL

Your Disney Dreaming friend, Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Belated Happy Mother's Day!

Hi Linda!

So sorry that it took me so long to post / respond! It sounds like Dalton had a very happy birthday! How was your weekend with Austin, and Tom's trip? How is your friend doing? I hope that she will be all right and at the very least is doing as well as possible. As always, I'm sure that she appreciates everything that you do for her, and your caring and support.

That's so neat that you installed that water fountain! Are all of these fountains in your garden or back yard? I'm sure that they look great! Was it very difficult to set them up?

I'm sorry to hear about the news that you received from your doctor, about your hearing. But as you said, it's good that he was honest with you and didn't try to make you take any unneccessary or dangerous risks. Hopefully, a good, new hearing aid will make a positive difference, as you said!

I'm sure that you made the right decision for yourself by dropping out of your church. If there is anything at all there that makes you feel uncomfortable, then it was definitely the right thing to do. It's hard to belong to / in an organization that you no longer believe or have faith in, for whatever reason. I know that it can be a difficult decision - I felt that way when I decided to discontinue my membership in my childhood synagogue. It's a great place with a good Rabbi and a very strong congregation, but in addition to the fact that they would not have recognized Frank as a member, because he's not Jewish, I felt very little support from that congregation when I was single. I felt that they only really paid attention to families, couples without children, and retired couples or singles. I felt that there was no "place" for me there, after my divorce, as a single young adult, and that the congregation was somewhat "exclusive". So even though it was hard to let go, after all these years, I ultimately discontinued my membership there. I'm much happier with the more liberal synagogue to which Frank and I belong, now. Anyway, I'm sure that you thought the matter through very well, and that you did the right thing for yourself, with your church!

I wish that I had some interesting news to report, but things have been pretty quiet, around here! The only thing that I have to report is............3 weeks until we're at WDW!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) Yea!!!!!!! :) :) :) No, we have no trips planned after this one. :( I have a feeling that this may be the last time that we go, for awhile (although this WILL be my 13th WDW vacation......and we can't stop after 13 - "unlucky" to do so, you know....... :) See? I'm already planning my "campaign" for a WDW 2004 vacation! :) ). Seriously, though, between going to school and my not working full time, I don't know if we'll be able to go back again, next year. Also, I know that there are other places where Frank would like to go, so maybe we'll take a break from WDW for awhile (hard though that may be) and then go back in a few years, so that I can wait on the ground while Frank rides Mission: Space and Expedition Everest! :) At least I won't be afraid of PhilharMagic........at least I don't think that I will be! :)

Hope that all is well with all of you! Talk to you soon, and have a great day! :)

[CourtasanSatine]

morning:)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Rider

If it is awfully hard to do I cannot do it. You would be surprised at how easy most things are if you take them piece by piece. Most things are made simple today for the fact that you cannot find handymen anymore. We only have two fountains in our yard. The flowers are so beautiful this year. The peonies are just starting to bloom and I have an antique rose bush that is almost all yellow, can barely see the leaves through all the color. My veggie garden is flourishing as well.

Part of the reason I stopped going to the church was the fact that they preached on who was not going to heaven. I find it arrogant and exclusive and not at all Christian. I would bet that Mother Teresa was not at all sure she would make it to the Pearly Gates and she was about as full of the love of God as you could possibly be. It was sort of creeping me out although I have many good friend who attend and I am sure they are good people. Too fancy for me anyway. I am a simple soul. (grin)

I am so distraught. I had so hoped that you guys would be planning another trip later this year or beginning next year and I would have another chance to meet you in person. I had a secret ambition to ambush you on this trip but it just ain't a going to happen. (sigh) Even Anglelina had the bug to make the drive over to have all four of us there at once. What a loverly dream. At least I hope that you and Elaine can make it, even for a few minutes.

CourtasanSatine, good morning to you also. A courtasean is a great thing to aspire to be IMHO. Many great ladies made differences in the world through their influence with the men who ruled. Brains were their biggest asset.

Have had a long and tiring day so I had better think about getting a bit of rest for the day to come. You youngsters should appreciate the energy that you possess. LOL

Elaine and Angelina, hope you are both doing well and the high winds have not blown you away.

Your friend, Linda/SG

[helenabear]

Sorry all, I was busy with my sisters wedding. Now I have my trip to WDW to plan. I am just so amazed I get to plan 2 trips this year.

I need to go back and read everything you all have said, but I wanted to make sure you all knew I was alive and well :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Helenabear

It is always nice to hear from you brief or otherwise. Planning for a trip to DW is always a good excuse anyway. LOL

Looking forward to hearing details of your trip. Some of us gotta live vicariously.

Your friend, SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Thanks for stopping by, again, Courtesan Santine! :)

Hi Linda and Elaine!

Elaine - was Laura's wedding this past weekend???!!! How did it go? Congratulations! Tell us all about it, when you have a chance! I don't know why I was under the impression that the wedding was this coming weekend - not last weekend - sorry that we didn't ask about it, sooner! I'm sure that it was beautiful and that everything went off just as it should! I'm sure that your sister and brother-in-law and your whole family are very happy! :) How are those WDW plans coming along? That is so neat, that you got to plan 2 trips, this year!

Linda - I am convinced that some day, we WILL all meet at WDW! I just know that it's going to happen, some time! :) I wish that I had the patience to do projects around the home, set things up, or put things together, as you do. I get very easily intimidated by instruction manuals! :) That's all Frank's department - he is very good with those sorts of things. He is going to be replacing our master bathroom floor, soon, and has already done a bunch of other things, too.

Your garden sounds so pretty, with all of the flowers and plants and vegetables and fountains! I'm sure that it's a really peaceful place to be, on a nice, sunny day!

I can certainly understand why sermons about who is and isn't going to heaven would be a little creepy! I think that we all have our own concept of what "heaven" and "the afterlife" are, and that's what we truly believe in, strive towards, or whatever. I don't think that anyone except God needs to preach or pass judgment on others, about that topic. (Then again, we don't believe in a formal "heaven" or "afterlife" at all - per se - just that God has The Book of Life and writes the names of good and faithful people in it, every year at Rosh Hashana. It's sort of unclear as to what sort of "afterlife" we're to believe in........so I just have my own concept!)

Anyway, I'm running behind on all of my errands and chores, so I'd probably better get moving! I still don't have my specific flight information, Elaine, but I will let you know, as soon as it comes in!

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

[helenabear]

Popping in quickly again before I head to bed... I really am trying to catch up after not really being around much, so I apologize.

Wedding was beautiful. Eventually I will have a few pictures for you all to see. There were no clear ones of me so I apologize for that. But you all can see how my hair was done :)

Linda, I will give you full reports either along the way or when I get back. We are looking to relax this trip so I won't be doing much planning before hand. I do have a few meets set up so far, but nothing too big. Oh and I can completely understand why you left the church. That would make me very uncomfortable as well.

I agree with Lisa! Some day we will ALL meet at WDW :) Do let me know, Lisa, when you get in. I hope we will have time to meet even just to say hi.

Hi CS! I love seeing you all around now! Stop in more often and say hi :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Elaine!

Glad to hear that all went well with the wedding! Can't wait to see the pictures, once you have a chance to post them! Are your sister and brother-in-law taking a honeymoon, now? Or waiting awhile? Did you and Luis have a chance to relax and enjoy the wedding, amidst posing for pictures, etc.? I hope so! I'm sure that it was beautiful!

Frank and I are going to try to do some relaxing on our trip, too. I tried to "build" pool time into our schedule.......but somehow, we always wind up spending more time in the parks than we plan to! I just don't want to rush around, all over the place, this time around.......but there's still so much that we want to see and do, it's hard to slow down, there, sometimes! :) I really hope that our time there will overlap, so that we can at least say "hello" to eachother, in person, even for a few minutes! I actually have another "mini meet" planned, the week that we are there, as well, since one of my pals from over on the "AMC" thread will be there during the week that we will be, too! We'll have the laptop with us, again, so I'll try to post pictures of our day's activities every night!

Well, time to get moving. My best friend from high school and I are going to do something very "high school - like" tonight - she's coming over for dinner.......and so that we can watch the final episode of "Dawson's Creek" together! I know, it's silly, but sometimes you just have to act like a teenager, I guess! :) So I need to start getting the house in order, for her visit.

Have a great day, everyone! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Seems the hurrier I go the behinder I get and I do not have the excuse that I have to be packing for DW or anything fun. (sigh)

Have had a houseful of kids lately. I am starting to look forward to summer a bit when I might have a bit of a break. Love those critters but they are just too distracting. LOL

Heck, Lisa, you are so close to still being a teenager that there is nothing wrong with sliding back into the carefree days of your youth from time to time. Soon you will be student again and be even more youthful. Hope the show's ending did not disappoint. It is not one that I watch so I would not know.

I would love to see pictures of your trip but will understand if you are having too much fun to sit down and post until you return. I am crossing my fingers that you and Elaine (Miss Terious) can see each other face to face. What excitement that will be.

Elaine, hope you have a great trip and looking forward to your reports. They are always so full of details and things that most people would never notice. Is a great gift.

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

Glad to hear that you've been having fun with the little ones! How was your weekend?

And thank you for the compliment - I try to "think young" - which is easy to do in WDW, where I don't care how "childish" I act! :) My father was saying, the other day, that I still look as young as a college kid (so I'll fit right in with the young people in September), and I was telling Frank last night that the perennial bags under my eyes say otherwise! It's a family trait - there's nothing I can do about it - people are always telling me that I look tired, and I tell them "no, it's just the 'Bussell Bags' under my eyes, that are giving you that impression"! :)

Elaine - I finally know what time we'll be arriving in Orlando - our documents came in, a few days ago! Our flight is scheduled to land at 11:42 AM on 6/2, so we probably wouldn't be getting over to the Poly to check in, until 1:00 or 1:30 PM, as I had predicted. Is that cutting it very close for you (in terms of when you need to be at the airport)? I'm upset that our flight time was pushed back - we were hoping to be down there earlier, as we have been in previous years. But we're just happy that we're going, period, so we can't complain! :)

We haven't actually started packing, yet, but we'll bring in the suitcases after our cleaning lady comes, at the end of this week. We have started getting things together, though, and I made a list of things to be sure not to forget, etc.

Aside from counting down the days until WDW (14, as of today! :) ), things have been pretty quiet. Soon, I am going to run out and do our food shopping, then see "Down With Love", which looks so cute in its commercials!

Hope that you're all having a nice day! :)

[wdwoldtimer]

I see Nicole Kidman aka Lady Bump has been around here too, bumping the thread and saying very little. Pardon me while I track down this slippery DISer.

Hi Lisa!! Nice to hear you're going to WDW!! Haven't talked to you for a looooong time.

[IASW Rider]

Hi WDWOldtimer! :)

Thanks so much for dropping by our EWP Suite! :) Great to hear from you! Yes, I will soon be back, researching the state of the International Waters of WDW for the good of our cause! :) I know that I need to stop by the 7th incarnation of our trivia thread - things move so quickly over there that it's hard to keep up! Hope that all is well with you! :)

And hope that you're all having a nice day, out there, Suitemates! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Howdy there WDWOldtimer! Grab a chair and a cold one and join in the chatter. We are not an exclusive club by choice and dearly love visitors. Different perspectives make for an interesting life ya know.

Lisa, I just found out that my dd is being sent to Florida to check out some software for her company. Seems like everyone gets to go to Florida but me. If I were not needed to babysit for the critters I would be sorely tempted to go along as I have a sister who lives in Clearwater. Would not be Disney but would be closer. (sigh)

Went to the grade school to see Austin give a Powerpoint presentation. He did pretty well after they figured out how to get uploaded. I think each child had someone there to see them so it was nice. Sometimes there are not and my grands usually have bunches so I lend myself out sometimes.

Do you make detailed lists of what clothes you are packing? Just wondering. (grin)

Slightly Goofy/Linda

[wdwoldtimer]

Don't know if you want to hear this, Goof, but a customer of ours was begging one or two of us to go down to MCO for tech support. You can see Islands of Adventure from their office windows I hear.

The boss turned them down cuz we're too busy. :mad: But I can see visits there in the future.

[SlightlyGoofy]

Are they hiring? Am willing to relocate. (grin)

SG/Linda

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Nice to see you, again, WDWOldtimer! :)

I still say that you should find a way to sneak down to WDW, in 2 weeks, Linda! Bring the little ones with you! :)

I actually do have a rather extensive packing list, but it really focuses on "accessories", rather than clothes - all of the things that I need to be sure not to forget, like my video camera batteries and charger, my cell phone charger, all of my "scrapbooking stuff" (because I always buy an album when we're there, start having the pictures we take developed immediately, and saving little souvenirs inside the album), etc. The suitcases should be coming in from the garage, this weekend! Yea!! :)

Finished the last of my summer clothes shopping, yesterday. Many of the things that I bought are probably too "formal" for most locations at WDW........guess that we'll just have to make some more dinner PS's, so that I will have an excuse to wear some of my new skirts and dresses, that's all! :)

So, what are all of your plans for Memorial Day Weekend? We're going to try to have sort of a "low key" weekend, since the following one will be so hectic. We'll start packing, visit my parents and give them our keys, etc. so that my father can take care of the cats while we're away, and maybe visit with a few friends, too.

Aside from that, it's been a pretty uneventful week. I did go see "Down With Love", though, and it was really cute! I just love the clothing and furnishing styles, from that time period!

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

[wdwoldtimer]

What about a laptop and....of course ITS charger?? Then you can log on and post on the DIS while you're there.

[IASW Rider]

Definitely, WDWOldtimer! It's "understood" that we are bringing the laptop, again! We've even already set up our usual on line photo albums, into which I will be uploading pictures at the end of every day, as I've done the past 2 years! :) I wouldn't leave home without the laptop, and I'll certainly be posting on The Boards, while we're down there! :)

[IASW Rider]

Just wanted to wish you all a great Memorial Day Weekend! :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Memorial Day is a very special day for me as it is when I gave birth to my first child. I am so darned patriotic that I had her on Memorial Day and our son on Columbus Day. (grin)

Dear Rider, right back at cha and hoping you have a safe and wonderful trip. Looking forward to seeing the pictures but if it comes to a choice between 'having' fun and 'posting' fun, please do the first and we will wait for the later.

Helenabear, you lucky girl. I am so hoping that plans will work out for you and Rider to meet. Not sure that even WDW can contain so much happiness in one place. Might be able to see the fireworks from here that day.

Angelina, looking forward to hearing from you again. You are a special lady and much pixie dust is being sent your way. You might be on your vacation now. Hope the kids enjoy their first airplane ride. Expands their horizons.

Your friend, SG/Linda

[helenabear]

Busy day here for me but I wanted to pop in and say hi to you all. Have a happy Memorial Day weekend.

Lisa, we will be leaving most likely at 4:30 from OKW that day. So we could meet up until about 4ish or so when we'd have to head back. Do you want to make a meeting place or would you rather call when you get in?

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

So sorry that it took me so long to post!

Thanks so much for your kind wishes and thoughts, Linda! We sure will be thinking about you, when we're down there at WDW - especially when we see the EWP! :) That's so neat that your children were born on Memorial Day and Columbus Day! I hope that your DD had a wonderful birthday! :)

I hope that I haven't missed you, Elaine! Were you planning to go to any of the parks on 6/2, or were you planning to sort of take it easy, that day, since you're leaving later that afternoon? We were planning to go to the MK on Monday afternoon - I know that that's sort of a trek for you, from OKW, though. Please let me know what you think! I'll PM over to you my cell phone number - even if I don't happen to have it on (I have trouble getting reception in certain areas of WDW), you could leave me messages, that day, to keep me posted about your whereabouts, if you'd like! I wish that I could predict exactly what time we'll be getting over to the Poly, checking in, etc., so that I could give you a more definitive time or meeting place! Maybe we could make a plan, then confirm by phone, once we get there, so that you'll know that we are there and would be able to meet?

Have a wonderful vacation, Angie! Where are you all going? It wouldn't happen to be to WDW, by any chance, would it???? :)

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

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to pop in and say "have a great weekend", since I don't think that I will have time to post again, before we leave for WDW on Monday. We have my 15 year college reunion, tomorrow, and will be frantically finishing up our packing on Sunday (and eating our frozen top wedding cake layer at midnight, Sunday night / Monday morning! :) ).

Elaine - thanks for sending over your cell phone number - will do my best to be in touch, as soon as we get in! In the event that we miss eachother, I hope that you had a fantastic vacation! Can't wait to hear all about it! And hope to meet you some time soon! :)

Linda - will be thinking of you and will be in touch! :)

Angie - maybe by some miracle, you're actually at WDW, right now, and we might somehow happen across eachother, during the course of next week? :)

We WILL all meet in WDW, some day! :)

Have a great weekend and a great week, Everyone! :)

Will post from WDW, next week! And I e-mailed everyone the link to our album page, where we will be uploading pictures every night! Just in case, here it is, again:

WDW Pictures - June 2 - 8, 2003 (http://photos.yahoo.com/lisaandfrankdisney2003)

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Rider and Helenabear!

I am afraid that Angelina is elsewhere on vacation. Her husband had a chance to go somewhere and the kids were looking forward to their first airplane trip so she swallowed her dreams and went with them as the good mother she is.

Since it is not going to happen I will let you both in on my dreams. Angie and I had been plotting on how we could join you both. I had Riders itinerary and knew when she was planning on seeing the EWP and planned to accidentally be in the area and knowing what a friendly person she was I knew I could get her to talking to me and slowly drop in little hints until she realized who we were. If she did not catch on too quickly I would just let her see my Goofy on my keyring. Would have been such a delightful surprise and was so much fun dreaming about it. Only my love for my grandson kept me from actually attempting it.

Lisa and Frank, you will both be in my thoughts Sunday night as you consume that special cake of yours. May it bring you all the magic that you have had this past year for the rest of your lives.

Safe trips and much Pixie Dust for my Suite Friends.

Linda/SG

[angelina]

Happy Anniversary, Lisa and Frank. I hope you have as wonderful a trip this year as you have had before.

Lisa, we're going to Ft. Lauderdale in July, so that kind of takes the place of my August trip. (Year, right.) I can't let it show too much how disappointed I am.:( There will be other times, though, and this will be nice for everyone.
A rather large group of us (21 grownups and kids) went to see Finding Nemo this afternoon to celebrate the last day of school and kick off the summer. It is a delightful movie, and I am hoping to get to see it again. The animation is incredible. Linda, I bet Dalton would love to see it,(hint, hint.;))

Girl scout day camp begins Monday morning, and then resident camp in 3 weeks. DD will be going away for the first time. She decided to do Scoutshire Survivors, the most difficult of the camps. She's looking forward to roughing it for the week. No nice cabins for these girls. Mail comes every day by boat, they cook their own meals over a fire, and wash their laundry in the lake. UGH!!!

Hope Lisa and Elaine have the chance to meet one another next week. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures!

Take care, everyone.

Angelina

[IASW Rider]

Hi EWP Suite Mates!

Greetings from WDW! :)

We're so close to our Suite, here at the Poly, that I can barely resist visiting it.....but I can't do so, without the rest of you, here! :(

We're thinking of you! :)

Elaine - hope that you got my many attempts at correspondence and communication - although we landed on time, it took Mears an inordinate amount of time to get us to the Poly.......then our room wasn't ready when we checked in! So by the time we checked in and got our belongings to our room, it was already 4:30 PM, and I thought that it would be too late to call you. :( So sorry that we missed eachother! Maybe next time, when we can all meet here, together! :)

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and plans, Linda and Angie! :) I just know that we will all make it here at the same time, some day! I wish that we all could have met here, this year, but I really believe that it's going to happen, sooner than we think! We'll have to start making plans - even if it's for a few years in the future! After all, the 2 year anniversary of our Suite / Thread is coming up next month, so we should start making plans to celebrate! :) We can celebrate our 2 year anniversary by planning to meet at WDW on one of our future anniversaries, or sooner! :)

Speaking of "anniversaries", we had a wonderful one! Thanks so much for thinking of and remembering us! :)

After finally arriving and unpacking, we had time to make it over to the MK for a bit - just enough time to ride IASW, then come back! :) Then we had our traditional first night dinner at 'Ohana, which was wonderful as ever! We saw the EWP (and roped Linda into "watching" some of it with us! :) ).........then came back to our room and.......watched "The Golden Girls" marathon on TV! Now, I know that that doesn't sound very "romantic" or "WDW-like", but it actually is - has anyone else noticed that no matter what time you turn on the TV in Orlando, and no matter what channel you choose, either "The Golden Girls" or "Designing Women" is ALWAYS ON?!!!! We've noticed this phenomenon, over the past few years, so it was only appropriate that we spend our anniversary and first night here watching that show! :)

We spent today at Disney-MGM Studios, but didn't get to do very much because of an unexpected downpour in the middle of the day. We did get to (finally!) see One Man's Dream, though, and that was fantastic! I loved seeing all of the theme park models and the animatronic demonstration! And the film was so touching that I got choked up, watching it! Afterwards, we met up with my friend, Mike (Fantasmic), before his 2-show shift (who knew that there were 2 Fantasmics on Tuesday nights, at this time of year??!!). We spent some time catching up, then he and Frank took off for Rock 'N' Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror......while I stayed safely on the ground, watching their umbrellas, and quietly drinking my Diet Coke! :) They had a blast, though! I wish that I was brave enough to ride those rides, but I doubt that that will ever happen!

Frank and I had a wonderful dinner at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge, tonight. We'd never been over there before, and it is just beautiful! The food was wonderful, too! And since a very nice CM offered to drive us back to the Poly, so that we wouldn't have to take a taxi, we awarded him with a WWWD pin, and he was very happy! So that made our night ever more special! (Tonight is a special night, as well, as it is the 2 year anniversary of our engagement, here at the Poly! :) It is, coincidentally, also Frank's 18 year anniversary at Merrill Lynch!)

Time to get some rest - we have a long day ahead of us, tomorrow. We're heading over to Epcot, checking on our Walk Around the World bricks, "Leaving" a new "Legacy" on the 2 year anniversary of our first Epcot "Leave a Legacy" tile, experiencing Future World (riding Spaceship Earth maybe for the last time in its current form, according to rumor, riding Test Track for the first time - one of my "personal challenges" for this trip (!), and seeing Food Rocks (to "honor" my new choice of careers!) ), then heading over to the World Showcase. We have lunch plans with Mike and his partner in the UK, dinner plans of our own in Canada, and drinks / IllumiNations plans with a pal from the "All My Children" thread, here on the Community Board. It's going to be a nutty day! Please forgive me if I can't check in until later in the week!

(I have a few pictures posted in all of our albums except the Epcot, AK, and "Disney Character" albums, if you'd like to see! The others will come later in the week, as will more photos in each of the existing albums!)

Please know that we are thinking of all of you and wishing that you all were here! I know that we will meet here, some day - it will definitely happen! :) We are thinking of you all, every day! :)

Take care and hope that all is well with all of you!

Love,
Lisa :) (and Frank, too!)

[helenabear]

Hi all... it's been a little busy around here but I wanted to pop in and say hi.

The trip was a great one! Bethand I had a blast together and we would love to do it all again someday!

Lisa, I am just sorry I didn't get to see you. When I didn't get any calls or anything from you, I figured something must have kept you late. We left WDW just about 4 PM and hung out at Epcot all day. I'll tell you all about it later. Enjoy the day :sunny:

[IASW Rider]

Greetings once again, from thunderstormy, rainy, but wonderful WDW! :)

Again, I'm so sorry that we didn't get in earlier and weren't able to meet up, Elaine. :( Can't wait to hear about your trip, though!

How are you all doing, out there? We've been having an amazing week, despite periods of rain and constant cloudiness, just about every day since we've been here! And here is my big "accomplishment" of the week:

I WENT ON SPLASH MOUNTAIN!!!!!! :) :) :) And it was so great that I just have to do it again, tomorrow, when we go back to the MK! :) I can't believe that I had been so scared - it was so much fun! :) Frank and Mike had to practically drag me on it, but I'm so glad that they did! Unfortunately, I then totally humiliated myself by freaking out upon entering the main show room of Alien Encounter, and running out the "chicken exit"! The CM in there was so rude to me, too - not a good experience. Frank ran out after me, then the CM closed the door, so Mike was left inside by himself. I just choked and couldn't go through with the Alien Encounter "experience". Oh well - there are worse things, I guess! :)

Anyway, our day in Epcot was a big wash out, because it POURED all day long! So the only attraction that we got to "do" was Spaceship Earth. Test Track fastpasses ran out literally as we stepped up to the kiosk. Then we got "trapped" in World Showcase - it was raining so hard that we could barely walk outside! We would walk past a few "countries", then have to duck inside the nearest stores because of the rain! But we had a great lunch in the UK with our friends, a great dinner in Canada, and then we met our pal Aprille from the AMC thread for IllumiNations, in Mexico! That was a lot of fun - it was great to meet her, and she saved an amazing table for us, with a great view of IllumiNations! Fortunately, it had completely cleared up by that time, so we were able to see the show comfortably, and it was wonderful as ever. Unfortunately, with this big thunderstorm in progress right now, I don't think that we'll have as much luck with Fantasmic, tonight. I hope that it clears up soon!

We spent today at the beautiful Poly pool (it was sunny, earlier!). Tonight, we're having dinner at the Brown Derby and then going over to Fantasmic. Mike is going to take us up to the booth again, before the show (maybe he'll let us stay there, to watch the show, so that we don't have to sit in the rain.......wishful thinking! :) ) And tomorrow we're heading back to the MK!

When we were in the MK yesterday, we were able to meet up with Katie, the daughter of fellow NJ DIS'er Mary Jo, who portrays Snow White and Ariel, amongst other characters, in the parks, shows, and parades. It was wonderful to see her and have a bit of a chance to catch up with her!

We had a fantastic dinner at the California Grill last night, and were able to see IllumiNations from up there, believe it or not! And I got to see the EWP on Bay Lake, from up there, too! :)

Unfortunately, I haven't taken as many pictures this year as I have in the past, but there are a bunch in our albums, if you'd like to see them!

Anyway, sorry for rambling on! Hope that all is well with all of you! Hope that you're all having a great week! We're thinking of you all, every day! Talk to you soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

We have returned! :( UGH. It's always so hard coming back from WDW. I actually got all choked up and cried, before we left - I didn't even do that when I left WDW at the end of childhood vacations! It's always such a let down, coming home, after all of the planning and the fun! But we have great memories and hopes of future trips............

We had a nice last few days. We did wind up sitting through Fantasmic in the rain, for the second year in a row, last Friday night! A bit uncomfortable, but at least we got to do it from the VIP Section, again! :) We were the only people sitting there, much to the envy of the people sitting around us! And Mike did take us up to the booth for awhile, before the show, too. I am just so fascinated by all of that technical show stuff and all of the neat systems and equipment that control the show! We had a really nice dinner at the Brown Derby, that night - we love that restaurant!

We spent all day Saturday at the MK. Of course, we ran right to Splash Mountain, because I had to get back up there, as soon as possible! :) We also did all of my childhood favorites, that day - Country Bears, Tiki Room, Haunted Mansion, and we got to see President Bush in the Hall of Presidents, too! We left the park right after the Share a Dream Come True parade, and went back to the room to relax for a bit. Then we headed over to the Contemporary to say "goodbye" Danny (and to do some shopping in the store in which he works!), came back to the Poly in time for a final pina collada and EWP viewing, then had our last dinner at our all-time favorite WDW restaurant, the Kona Cafe.

Even though we had maybe 6 hours of sun, the entire time that we were there, we still had a fantastic vacation and a very special anniversary! We're already trying to think of "economical" ways to try to swing a trip, next year........I don't know if it will be possible, since I will only be working part time, if at all.........but it would be great to have something to look forward to, again, even if it's a year away!

All of our pictures are up, now, if you'd like to see:

http://photos.yahoo.com/lisaandfrankdisney2003

I have my "new student orientation" at Rutgers, tomorrow. It's funny - I feel like I'm going back 19 years in time, to the first time that I went through that program! :) I should be able to pick my first semester classes, tomorrow, which will be neat. It will be nice to be back on campus - and it will take my mind off of my "post-WDW blues"!

How are you all doing, out there? What's been new? Please fill me in on what's been going on with all of you! (As you've been subjected to my WDW ramblings, for the past several posts!)

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

[IASW Rider]

Oooh! I just noticed that our EWP Thread has reached 100 pages! They might make us start "EWP: Chapter II", soon! :)

[IASW Rider]

Hey!

Where is everyone?

I'm getting lonely, here in the Suite! :( And our gentlemen are getting bored of listening to my stories - they're wishing that you all would come back to tell them about the interesting things that have been going on with all of you! :)

Hope that you'll all have a chance to stop by, soon! If not, I will have to go out to the parks and search for all of you! :)