4/29/06 Eastern Magic...We're Going!!!!!

[Belle&RellasMom]

released in 1961

 

[rubysmom]

Grrr...I just typed a whole bunch and then my cat stepped on the refresh hot key on my keyboard and it erased it all!!!

Let's start over...Good morning everyone!

Talked w/my mom over the wknd...she's stressing about all the phone calls and research for cancer care financial and emotional support...works full time, had to take a day off work...they aren't real happy about it, so she's stressed. Other family members can help but only one can be pwr of atty, which is my mom, so most has to be done by her.

On a lighter note, my friend and her girls left for DL yesterday. I have a document that I maintain with all my favorite info about traveling to DL or WDW, including tips about everything, maps, hours, shows, pictures, (the documents are at least 30 pgs each, sick I know) that I force upon anyone I know who's planning a trip to Disney. We went over it Friday and they were really excited. She promises to call me for directions once she's inside the parks.

CG, I'm SO jealous of you (despite your crappy weather!) being at WDW...I'm DYING to ride EE and actually also Mission Space, even though I know it will make me sick. Enjoyed Test Track even though my son's seatbelt came undone just as our car was released thru the door...I spent most of the ride frantically scanning for a CM (none to be found inside the ride) or a camera or something to get someone's attention, totally freaked on the fast part holding my arm over him like a seatbelt. I did ride it again and got to actually see it, and we did tell a CM about the issue. I'm sure he was safe, since the sudden stop part is from a slow speed, not from the 65 mph part!
Also, we love El Rio Del Tiempo boat ride in Mexico. The fireworks effect is our favorite part, I think. It's an old ride, but we still love it!
Anyway, how cool that you, CG, get to have some fun in the parks while you're "working"!!!

Suzie, I'll be thinking about Ed's proposal this week...sending pixie dust your way for peace of mind and SUCCESS!!!

PJ--you go ahead and rant, we're all here to growl right along with you! We live on a street where we don't know our neighbors all that well (even after 8 years!) and there are very few kids our kids' age...not sure which is better, not having kids nearby or having kids nearby and having a dispute with them or their parents! BTW, LOVE the mental picture of leisurely watching a movie whilst sipping drinks from your paint-commentary throne. If only all Honey-Do lists could be completed that way...

OHSoDis--Soarin is a ride that simulates a hang-glider trip over the best sights...In California, it's of course sites of California, with a trip over Disneyland at the end complete with fireworks. I think it's the same at WDW, except the end scene is over MK (right guys?). It's exhilarating and quite spectacular. You can smell pine trees and oranges where appropriate and you feel as though your toes will just splash through the breakers as you skim the waves. It's definitely a must-see!

Belle&RellasMom...Thanks for the continued countdown...I enjoy discovering what pictures you'll come up with for each number...and the trip is coming right UP!

That's all for now,,,back to work.

Oh, and Pat...love the new car!! Have fun with it!

---Trish

 

[rubysmom]

SORRY---I don't think I know how to do a short post!!!

(oh, wait...I guess I just did, lol)

 

[suziemva]

Okay, y'all are going to force me to start posting pictures if you don't post on here! I can do some really lame conversations about nothing and post pictures of dust bunnies around my house - yes, I hate to clean house and I'm proud of it! Pictures of my sidewalk, my shoes, my carpet, oh, just about anything! Oh, I know! How about my pile of laundry I'm doing tonight?! That's exciting, eh?

So, people, let's get off our butts and start posting! Don't y'all know that this is my #1 joy to look at each day?!?! That it's ONE of the first things I do in the morning?!?! But it's been boring around here - no banana hammock, no Badger movies.....oh, pardon Julie, the countdown is wonderful! You're doing such a great job!!

Okay, question of the day - what one thing are you most looking forward to on the cruise???

me - I think it's finally meeting all of you face to face! I mean, it's like I know you and know what you look like but until I hear the voice it's not the same! Tom and Julie are the exception 'cause I've met them in person but even though I've talked with a few of you on the phone, it's not the same! Hanging out will be a blast, too! We've got to get the MnG set up soon, so that we are all on the same page. (yes, this is the list checker in me showing!)

Calling all you cool cruisers out! Where the heck are you?!?!?!?!

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

I'm here, but this is going to be a quick post...busy day here! Today was the day that I, being the cookie Mom, had to pick up all of the boxes of Girl Scout cookies for Sarah's troop...all 1200 boxes of them! And, of course it snowed! This is the 4th year that I have been cookie Mom (3 years for Lindsey's troop, 1 for Sarah's) and every year it snows on the day I have to pick up the cookies!!! Then I had to bring them all home and sort them by girl...now they are covering my entire kitchen floor!

Then it was off to a soccer game for Lindsey (they lost, but she played great)...soccer has been crazy around here lately...Lindsey had practice Friday night, Abby had soccer Saturday morning, Sarah had a game Saturday night (scored her first goal ever and Tom and I weren't even there...we were out ), then Lindsey had practice Sunday afternoon and a game Sunday evening, then Tom had a game Sunday night! Unbelievable how much time we spend at SoccerZone!!!

After soccer we were off to dinner with Tom's new guy from work...today was his first day and since he lives in Traverse City (northern Michigan), he's staying in Lansing all week doing some training...of course he can't eat alone so he gets to enjoy the company of my whole family!!! We did get to go to our favorite local Mexican joint and it was mighty good...unfortunately eating out all week may keep Tom from winning the Biggest Loser at work.

Big TV night for me...The Bachelor finale is on and The Apprentice starts...I'll be taping The Apprentice (no DVR for me)...

So Suzie, I'm here for you! And I'll be back tomorrow with the countdown!!!

 

[The Roses]

question of the day - what one thing are you most looking forward to on the cruise???

AARRRRRR!!! Wenches! Lots of buxomly wenches! AAAARRRRRRRR!!!!!

The Pirate



Oh, stop.
You'd think he was nothing but testosterone. Truthfully, it's been so long that I've forgotten who ties up who....

The Wench

 

[castlegazer]

Gotta go to bed now. I'm back! It's freakin cold.

Ohso - you will definately figure out Soaring while you are there in April. It's spectacular!!!

Rubysmom - yeah, just wanted to let you know that I am a fan of your long posts. Oh and it's still Disneyland in the Epcot ride too - I think that makes it sooo cool!!! I love the ending. I picked up the CD for the 50th and I played it all weekend long - it has Soaring on it.

Suzie - yeah to you too - I'll get back to you tomorrow.

Sooo tired.........................

 

[partypat]

Rain, rain, rain. Here we go again. The sand bags are out. We got 4 inches last night and it hasn't stopped raining all day. Where's the .

Everyone is worried about flooding again. Its supposed to rain all week with high winds.

I took my new car on a little road trip and visited my sister who is 2 1/2 hours away. It drives like a dream and the sound system is awesome.

Okay, question of the day - what one thing are you most looking forward to on the cruise???

Mine is sunshine and sitting on the deck with the drink of the day. Not as clever as The Roses, LOL, but still brings a smile think about it.

 

[The Roses]

Mine is sunshine and sitting on the deck with the drink of the day. Not as clever as The Roses, LOL, but still brings a smile think about it.

That's the Pirate trying to be oh so clever. As for we wenches, sitting on the deck with the drink of the day is exactly what we will be doing!

We've had more than enough drizzle up here, so we decided to send it down your way. You know how you Californians like to brag about your sunshine How did your new car handle the rain?

Seems like it's just us west coasters on the board. Man, we'll be partying late into the night on the cruise...but we sure won't be seen before noon! Wonder if they serve breakfast all day for the jet lag set?

The Roses

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

 

[BLBCB]

By now I'm wishing for rain. There is another storm watch out for our area. I keep saying we live in the mountains, but if you are on the west coast, you would laugh at me for that comment. These are the highest mountains in the prairies, that should count for something. I've got some shows taped from the Travel Channel about Disney Cruise Lines, and my oldest is home with the flu and watching them this morning. I'm trying not to think about the cruise too much, since it's so far away and we have so much work to do around here between now and then. My husband and I were doing the kitchen floor all day yesterday. We had to level the floor where we filled in from the old staircase and where we ripped out walls. As he is working away, I said that the leveler smelled like something but I couldn't place it. It finally dawned on me that it was the smell of a breast-fed baby spitting up! After we got all the tiling done, it sure brightened up the room. It will sure be easier to keep clean now too. Next thing on the list is to get the bathroom done in the basement. We all get up the same time in the morning and one bathroom just isn't cutting it. Oh, my husband got the heat installed upstairs this weekend too. I'd better get to work, this is getting to be pretty long. I keep looking up and watching the DCL movies. Right now they are showing how they built the ship in two pieces and it took 2 days to get them to the same port. I know, everyone here knows this already, and you probably all have taped the same show. I never get tired of watching it though.

OK, I'm really going to get to work now. But of course I'll be checking in later.

 

[jewelgrrl]

Still here and lurking. Just not had much time to post. Working like crazy. Just happened to have today off but that will be spent working around the house. Not my idea of a day off, but, oh well.

partypat- Good car choice. We have a 94 Accord and it's been wonderful. We didn't buy it new but have had it for around 6 years now and have never had to do anything to it but tires, brakes, and a muffler. Wonderful. It's getting ready to hit 200,000 miles! I'm going to take a pic when it does. Hopefully it'll last us for a few more years. It's the best car we've ever had and I never want to have anything else again.

CG- Glad you had a good time at the World. Mission Space made me so sick. I threw up three times! I got to spend some time in first aid there. Not fun. Glad I tried it that one time but never again for me. BTW, if you ever do have to go to first aid it is nice there....lol.


Tim's down 19 lbs. now! He keeps asking me how much everyone on here has lost who is trying and I told him I don't know because you all just keep saying another couple of pounds, so what is that couple of pounds adding up to?
Alot of his clothes are getting baggy on him, except the ones that were tight on him, now those are fitting. He now weighs what he did when we were first married.

So jealous of all you who get money back in taxes. We always pay in being self employed. This year was actually pretty good though, Only $1,060. I was expecting around $1,300 or so. It's been as high as $3,300 before. We finally found a great tax guy a few years ago who told us all sorts of things that others never did. What do they think, that we just automatically know all the things we can take off?? Isn't it their job to tell us that stuff??

Oh yeah, I finally booked our pretrip to the world. We'll arrive the night of April 26th. Staying at the Pop. We got that special package where hopping and extras are free. So the 27th we'll be hopping to all four parks, we'll see how relaxing that is.....lol. We'll mainly just have a few things at each park we want to do. Then the 28th we're going to DQ for a bit and then browsing through DTD and the Comedy Club and Adventurer's Club that night. Alot to fit in in just two days, but hey, that's all we've got to work with so we have to make it count!

Well, I guess I better go and start cleaning. We are also remodeling our main bathroom. Right now the tub we ordered is sitting in the living room. We though we were going to have time to work on it and then work got so busy that that's where it's been for a week now. Starting to get to me. We're also replacing the ceiling in our garden room where skylights have leaked forever. Finally have the money saved to do that. Now it's just the job of doing it. yuck...

ttfn...

 

[castlegazer]

Hi there jewelgrrl. We just did a lot of home improvement too. We paid for it through savings also and I am now thinking that may not have been the brightest idea - but it's at least all paid for. It was just tough to watch that money go out through the door so fast after saving for it for so long. Plus, as opposed to pre-kids, our savings accounts don't replenish super fast right now either. The problem with home improvement is that there is always more to do. This year is supposed to be the final windows and an expansion, but after the winter of heating costs, that may just get pushed yet another year.

Way to go TIM!!!!


Hey BrotherlyLoveJen - I for one would love to have you dish about it - but if you want to just PM me the goods that's fine too. I am really curious and don't want you wallowing in it alone. I also am confused about the cruise reference so I'd love to be a shoulder if you want one.

Julie, any knocks on your door yet? Just kidding. Your soccer schedule is so insane. Do they have food at the soccer place? Even if I don't say it all the time, I am in awe of the girls' skills. It's awesome and I can't wait to have little stars of my own. I think my son may stray in a different direction, though. He really wants to start snowboarding - AT FOUR!!!!!!

Suzie - how are things for Mimi today?

and post pictures of dust bunnies around my house - yes, I hate to clean house and I'm proud of it!

- This is such a lie!!!!! FYI everyone - Suzie is a Type A cleaner - she probably has the most spotless house on the block. I dare you to post a dustbunny! ****, girl, I would not know how to even sweep my carpets along the wall to get the dirt out. You'd gag at my house right now - but that is a different topic altogether as I came home to a....well, Paul had a really rough weekend with the kids, so cleaning was sooo totally not something he could have pulled off.

QOTD: As I desperately looked for that ray of sun between the clouds this weekend - for me I am looking forward to the warm sun and the beach. My shoulders dropped about four inches the minute I stepped out of the terminal this weekend so I am also looking forward to that feeling of being on vacation that happens about 8 hours into the first day. The "ahhhhhhhh, we're here and we are relaxed" feeling.

 

[ohsodisney]

CG , so glad you had a wonderful trip ! Is the soaring right in The magic Kingdom or another park ? We did not purchase hoppers this time so we are stuck with AK and MK this time .
I have to say I LOVE you QOTD . I truely need to relax and have some family time , it has been hectic around here and yes I know the feeling of eveything just sliding off your shoulders once you get Florida , for me it really is once I get in the car to leave our house ! I told my parents today that for our big Christmas present we would like some hopper passes that we can use anytime . They always go overboard and buy way to much so I thought this would be so much easier for them and great for us since I don't since a trip like this aagain for quite sometime .

PJ , Your not alone in the we spent too much on this trip . DH is really excited we are going but now he has to take up the slack of what i put on the CC's . I even concidered canceling our shore excursion , but after I thought about it , it will be the only time DH and I are alone and we do need that .

Jewelgirl , wow 19 pounds , he has us beat , thats amazing ! Has he beed dieting long and does he work out often ? I am down 4 pounds in 2 weeks , and so happy but would love to drop another 4 before we leave .

Suzie . I am with you on the house cleaning thing . I use to be a nut about it and clean even my light fixtures once a week and all the little nick nacky stuff , but OH how I have slipped . I think now that the girls are 4 and they make messes every 10 minutes , i had to give up at some point .

Question , what am I looking forward to the most on the cruise ? We are so happy that we met so many nice people here on the boards and can't wait to met you all . However the thing i am looking forward to the most is laying on the beach , soaking up the sun and leaving all my worries behind , oh yeah and sipping , maybe slamming down a tropical drink . The thing I am not looking forward to is seeing that banner, See you real soon, hope I don't cry that last day !

BLBCB , We have seen the show on how the Magic was created and I too can watch it again and again . Holly wants to watch that video again that we requested from Disney , I think we watch that just about every other day .

Well thats enough from me , time for a nap. I did the floor move last night and was there till 1:30 am . I have to tell you if you love Gymboree the new Easter line is soooooo cute ! OH , I told my manager I am leaving for the summer yesterday and she was a bit sad but she understands , I really want to spend the summer with my girls before we shove them off to school .

 

[castlegazer]

Maria - Soaring is in Epcot in the Land Pavilion.

You have to get there immediately in the morning. It's so popular that the Fast Passes get all taken by noon time. I have pictures to share of being led en mass by the CM's to the front of the ride. What they do now so that there isn't a death by stampede (and I am not exagerating) is to mass people along a rope in the middle of future world at about 8:50 am - then they drop the rope and lead you by using the CMs as basically cattle prods in an orderly fashion in a huge group to the Land Pavilion. They, the CMs, litterally walk hand in hand in front of this mass of people to keep everyone walking slowly. I had a girl next to me with untied shoelaces and she could not stop or bend down to tie them for fear of being smooshed. I was very scared for her. I am super glad I didn't have a stroller to push through this. My biggest recommendation is if one is going to do rope drop (and this isn't aimed at you since you won't be going to Epcot in April) is to leave the stroller somewhere else and then line up - you can't take a stroller into the Land Pavilion anyways. Best to just get rid of it somewhere in Innovations and then come back and get it.

I was in the front of this line and I still had about a 10 minute wait to get on. I took a picture of the mass of people behind me because litterally, if you entered Epcot at 9 am, you faced a 90 minute wait for the ride at this point. It's a little scary. But I was able to ride it, get a Fast Pass as I got off, and then come back and ride it again by going at the tail end of my Fast Pass time as most people had chosen to Fast Pass at that time rather than stand in line and then they returned right at the beginning of their window of time. I got n again with no one in front of me. But. luck of the draw got a bad seat for that riding. Thank God i had a good seat for my first time.

 

[mketting]

Julie- Last night we were taping 2 shows while watching another. We watch 24 on Fox but then the Apprentice was on and the Bachelor . I was so glad he picked Sara, they both seemed like really normal people. Mouana was a definite head case, it was kind of sad though. Haven't gotten to watch the Apprentice yet, we'll watch the tape tonight.

Barb- Hope your son is feeling better. We all enjoyed the Making of the Magic too. Kirk is looking forward to the trip but isn't as into the planning as I am and so when the kids and I wanted to show him the DVD he placidly said OK. Well, it really got him excited for the trip. I might just watch it this week.

Jewel girl- Tell Tim way to go!!!! I have lost 11 pounds but the bigger deal for me is the inches I have lost, fitting in a size 10 now.

I can only dream of being a Type A cleaner, being neat just doesn't come natural to me, I really have to work at it. On more then one occasion when I was a teen my dear Mother dumped out all of my dresser drawers because they were such a horrible mess. It didn't help me keep them nice and straight though, just mad me sooooo mad . To this day I still struggle to keep my drawers neat!!! When I went to bed this past Sunday I was so happy that for at least the next 8 hours all the laundry in the house was clean. That is my most hated job.

The things I look forward to the most on the cruise are... watching my children enjoy all the wonderful things we have planned to do, especially Jared since this will be his first cruise. I can't wait to have someone cook all week for me and not even once think about calories!!!!

This weekend the kids Swim team is hosting a swim meet so it will be a busy week as we get everthing ready and the entire weekend will be spent at the pool.

 

[castlegazer]

mketting - I did wear those 10s Friday night and they looked good and I didn't have problems later into the night - you know the, "God, I just want to unbutton my top button now" problems. Now, today, after a weekend of lavish drinking and eating, I will be not be putting those on - but I am working on it again. I just turned down chocolate and have not let sugar touch these lips today at all.

I am soooo with you with the neat drawers - in high school (boarding school), after Lacrosse practice I would nine times out of ten lay down on my bed on top of the laundry and just go to sleep. Yup - that is bad. But it laid the ground work for a very bad habit of picking up and putting away clothes that stays with me to this day.

We'll form a messy drawers (for me its closets with shelves) club together.

 

[ohsodisney]

The things I look forward to the most on the cruise are... watching my children enjoy all the wonderful things we have planned to do, especially Jared since this will be his first cruise. I can't wait to have someone cook all week for me and not even once think about calories!!!!
.

I am completely in agreement you on this . My girls have not yet been to Disney so I cannot wait till they see their little faces when they see the castle for the first time ever . I can live vicariously though them since I didn't get there till I was 18 .My Holly is one who gets so excited about everything , and I mean everything and she is such a princess type that she is going to be so fun to watch . Mckenna tells me she is getting bigger now so she can ride the rollercoaster , she tells Grandma & Pop-pop that all the time .

 

[ohsodisney]

I have to tell you guys that I am so ready to move to a warm climate . the past 3 days have been terrible weather . Blizzard like conditions . Yesterday my friend's daughter who lives next door got into an aweful accident just a mile up the road , it took them an hour to get her free from the car . Just today we had 3 cars go off our road. I am scared to death to drive in this snow now , if I don't move we will never leave the house in the winter. We seem to get the brunt of the lake effect as we are right smack in the middle of the snow belt. So many times the news crew comes way out to the country here for their weather stories. I can't even see across the street right now.

Well off to watch a movie with the girls , not quite sure what they have chosen but it's probally Disney Sing-A-Songs of some sort , they love those videos.

 

[suziemva]

Suzie - how are things for Mimi today?
Quote:
and post pictures of dust bunnies around my house - yes, I hate to clean house and I'm proud of it!

- This is such a lie!!!!! FYI everyone - Suzie is a Type A cleaner - she probably has the most spotless house on the block. I dare you to post a dustbunny! ****, girl, I would not know how to even sweep my carpets along the wall to get the dirt out.

Ha! I'll take that challenge! I may be an A type person but I HATE to clean! So happy we have hardwood in most of our upstairs - easier to dust mop (you know how I hate to vaccuum). Downstairs is all carpet and I have to do thorough vaccuuming on that before it gets out of hand! Mostly just the hallway where the dirt collects near the baseboard. This came from having a black dog and black dog hair! Yuck! I swear I could make a sweater out of the hair I could get from the floor!
Here's my carpet sweeper that I use to get the stuff from the walls (you can use a regular broom, too)

Here's my dustbunny! ( I warned you all! The posting's getting better but not good enough!!!)

And here's my big pile of laundry burying my treadmill in the family room!! Just gotta get motivated to put it away now!

I told you I'm pitiful!