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

[castlegazer]

(totally not the right smilie - I am sorry, I couldn't find a better one)

WAY TO GO MEGHAN!!!

We're just back from a rainy St. Patrick's Day parade - our city has more per capita Irish than most everywhere in the US - I can't remember the statistics but its higher than Boston. So I sit here in my Irish sweater watching the parade on TV cause we just couldn't hack it out there any longer in the rain.

Paul and I got a date night last night and saw Lion, the Witch and th Wardrobe - AWESOME MOVIE!!! I loved it so much. We ate at a bar because by the time we got out of the house we had about 20 mintue to scarf down apps and beers prior to the movie which actually worked out to be just what we wanted to do. It was nice to just hang out and not go out to a fancy dinner.

PJ - I get hives when my neighbors get too close to us. I am soo anti social in our neighborhood. I don't like it that way at all - I want to live in a close knit society - but a lot of these people are freaks and I just don't want them near my kids - especially our next door neighbors. I freak out all the time when their kids sled inour yard because I know they would love to sue us if anything ever happened to them on our rock wall or something. We and another family are the people trying to gentrify our neighborhood and renovate it and we do a lot to our houses, but the rest are content to sit and do nothing. Paul and I expected it to turn around long before now.

 

[The Roses]

My favorite neighbour story: I was living in a condo and noticed an electrical cord in my patio. Turns out my neighbor's electricity had been turned off, so she was plugging into mine. What are ya gonna do? I ended up providing electricity for a month or so, but I sure wish she would have been a little more frugal with the air-conditioning...

We've been lucky. We've never had neighbors that caused us real problems. But I know there's a lot of horror stories out there.

Hey! Maybe WE'RE the problem!! Honey, do you think they're talking about US?

The Roses

 

[mketting]

CG- We just bought GOF yesterday, Jared loves the holographic case. Have you read the Chronicles of Narnia? If not I highly reccomend it!

Suzie- Can you do something about the weather forecast before we come down there this coming weekend? I just looked at the 10 day forecast for DC and it is supposed to be 38* on Friday. Any blossoms yet?

 

[castlegazer]

I totally missed out on the hologram case - I figured out that the lower price I get means a much lower quality on the packaging. I opened it up and all it had in it was two disc - that's it. No paperwork, the ubiquitous ads, nothing. Fine with me since all I want is what's on the discs.

Yes, I have read the whole CS Lewiss series. I lived it when I was in 5-7th grade. I loved it. In fact they are the most memorable books I ever read besides Shakespeare. I then reread it when the movie came out and I was sooo disapointed. My mind is not the same mind as I had when I was 10. I have lost my ability for great imagination that is required in the books. It was sooo different than what I remembered. But the movie allowed me to take back that 10 year old mind and live in the world that I had created in my head when I first read the books. I laughed, I cried - I was astonished at the beauty of the moive. It was wonderful to see on the big screen and I am glad we got the opportunity to do that.

Have I mentioned how much I love Cinema Drafthouses? Do you all have any where you live - second run movie houses with food and drink? I have decided that my wine that I will be bringing is Sangria - just kidding. But it is what we order at the drafthouse when we go. Provides an awesome headache in the morning but it nice and refreshing going down.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

President of the SteveMed fan club checking in, not much new to report as far as the fan club goes, but did place an order for the new SteveMed blow up dolls and they should be in before we sail. I have contacted the local access TV channel here in town to see if we can get some air time for the club and they are going to get back to me, they are concerned about the Banana Theme that our club has adopted.

PJ, I have the neighbors to beat all neighbors, we call them the Clampetts, he is a divorced father of 5 (4 still living with him) with a girlfriend who has 2 children. He happens to run a constuction (homebuiler and handy man) company out of his house, with a total of 8 cars in his driveway and the street last weekend, (when as he told me his daughter brought her boyfriend and friends home with her from college so they had 14 people with them for the weekend), because of his jet skis that take up his whole garage. It is a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bathrooms ranch, he has finished 3 more bedrooms in the non walk out basement, along with putting a hot tub on his cement patio outside of his back door that anytime we go out we can see, in fact during the summer they make so much noise in it we can't have our back door open. Has two dogs, one which lives in the house, and the other that is on a dog run on some common property in our subdivision, that we and all the other nieghbors have complained about to no avail. Two of their children are so deprived for attention that we really feel sorry for them, it is really sad they spend no time outside with them, so when we are out we basically have to watch their kids also. I know that we have all had tough times in our life, and we try not to judge others, but to have to live with it on a daily basis has not been good. Now for the good news, his house has been on the market For Sale by Owner for about 18 months, we the neighbors have even talked about taking up a collection just to buy the house. The Queen and I have purchased just over 2 acres in a subdivision that we hope to build on some day (I do have it listed right now hoping to turn a nice little profit during the spring building season, but unless someone is willing to pay we will not sell). So that is my tale of woe, love most of our neighbors, but definately not all.

CG, our friends who are cruising with us actually own the local Movie house here in Williamston, while you are not suppose to have Drink in there with you we have been known to bring some toddies in with us. In fact we were there with them last night watching the Pink Panther with Steve Martin "I would like to buy a hamburger".

I guess I had better check out and get ready for the Sopranos season premiere tonight.

Tom

 

[suziemva]

Suzie- Can you do something about the weather forecast before we come down there this coming weekend? I just looked at the 10 day forecast for DC and it is supposed to be 38* on Friday. Any blossoms yet?

This weather is crazy! Was near 80 today, will be in the 80's tomorrow, then Tuesday will only be in the 50's! UGH!!! Our daffodils are blooming, but haven't seen cherry blossoms yet....sorry!

Been having weird dreams about the cruise....don't know if it was from everyone taking about dreaming about it or if it's just overtaken my mind so much! Don't remember everything but I do remember something about bananas and funny hats....

We're lucky to have really great neighbors! The only issue we have is the neighbor that has a few parties every year. His guests park in the middle of the cul-de-sac and in front of our driveway but are really good about moving quickly when we ask! So, I really can't complain!

Tired tonight, so going to bed early....Gotta watch Beyond the Bull from Thursday night....anyone watch that?! Great show about behind the scene look with three bullriders through last season. Next week is the final show, though, and we'll really miss it. Never been to a rodeo, but read about them and they just fascinate me! Looked into getting tickets for June when the PBR comes to MD. Just waiting to find out ticket prices....

 

[ohsodisney]

CG . thats our neighbors horse Smoky in the background . Tina sold Dakota her other horse so now he finds his way down to us all the time , he doesn't get much attention and the girls just love him.

Suzie , you are not the only one with silly dreams . I usaully have that reoccurring dream of I forget my suitcase every time I go , how the heck could someone forget their suitcase? But last nights dream was all about Jack Sparrow , well at least it looked like him , anyways I woke up to "honey the girls are awake and it time to get ready for work "? That s****ed. It was a really good dream for once!

Greys Anatomy is coming up so i must go , have a great night everyone!

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

 

[ohsodisney]

Suzie , My Mom is a huge rodeo fan. I am going to do a search for her to see if there is any rodeo's in the Vegas area when they go. 8 Seconds was one of my all time favorates. I have not scene Beyond the Bull , never heard of it , which channel is it on?

 

[castlegazer]

Guys, I don't know what I did to myself, but it's really, really bad. I even worked out all weekend long and last week at work.

I am scared right now - my size 12 pants are not fitting. I think I have moderated that 5 pounds gain down a little, but something bad happened. I have a new body that doesn't fit into anything. I totally screwed myself up with my little atkins stint.

I am freaked, so, for the first time I am going to go to a weight watchers meeting tomorrow. Can you guys give me your stories from weight watchers. My cousins use it and they love it and look amazing. They truly have lost a LOT of weight with the plans. I have been so stuborn about it.

I am really depressed about it right now. This is not where I should be right before this cruise.

47 days!!!!!!!!

 

[OHJulie]

Good morning everyone!

Just got my computer back - WOW, I am impressed with HP. I sent it on Thursday afternoon and they replaced the fan and I got it back first thing this morning. The computer is definitely quieter now.

I spent the last hour on the phone with Continental changing our flights. They had moved the departure time coming home from 4:00 to 5:05. It was going to be torture waiting for 4:00 let alone 5:00. They moved us to a 2:20 flight - yeh!


Congrats to Ben and Meghan! I can't wait for all of these great kid's to meet each other!

I can't complain about our neighbors - we got really lucky! There are about 90 houses in our development which is tucked inside a national park. While you will have the occasional conflict, for the most part everyone gets along and looks out for all the kids. We also have some great parties at the clubhouse - Champagne Breakfast and Clam Bakes! The houses were built in the late 70's so every once in awhile I yearn for a nice new house - but for now the neighborhood is perfect for the kids!

OHJulie

 

[castlegazer]

WRIST BANDS:

I currently have orders for 5 large, 9 mediums, and 6 small child sizes.

I have to order in multiples of 20s for each size.

My first question for you all re-ordering, are you sure about the sizes? Could your order for smalls work as mediums? Could your larges work as mediums, could your mediums work as larges?

The smalls really are small. They are perfect for my 4 yo and my 1 yo, but anyone older than 5 or 6 could easily fit in a medium. Trish, rubysmom, has two smalls that she would be willing to send to someone. The order above actually includes her order for two mediums and a reduction in everyone elses order for smalls in contemplation of this happening. Does this make sense? So if someone says to me, yes, I really need those smalls as we have kids who are ordering under 5, then we have two smalls already for this.

My preference would be to make a large order of mediums.

Why doesn't everyone think about this, provide me with the ages of the kids you are ordering for.

For example, ulittletinker, Danie is too old for a small at 9 and Emmie is right on the cusp at age 5. So I would switch your order to 1 large 3 mediums. Now, my husband who is 5'11" and totally average weight could probably fit into the medium band too.

So, everyone, I need your help - please think about your orders - and if you haven't contacted me about a subsequent order, do so NOW and we will see what works out.

 

[OHJulie]

CG- Weight Watchers is great - it is really the only thing that has ever worked for me. I should be going now - but I am not - I keep thinking that I can do it on my own. I am a lifetime member at WW - several years ago I lost 21 pounds and kept it off for quite awhile. I have since gained back around 15 pounds due to some medications that I was on. Now that I am off the med's I keep thinking that I will drop the weight.

I may just go back - if I join now and stick with it I should be able to lose at least 10 pounds before the cruise.

Hang in there Shyla! My one big tip - Only eat fruit before noon. For me, I tend to eat less all day long when I skip carb's in the morning. Try this and see if it doesn't help!!

OHJulie

 

[OHJulie]

CG - I could use three more medium bands. Since my niece has been IM-ing some of the other kid's she would probably like a band and if I am getting one for her, I should get one for the other girls too.

Their ages are 5, 8 and 13.

Thanks!

OHJulie

 

[BLBCB]

Is it possible to wait a few more days before making the next order? I would like a chance to try mine in case I need to reorder sizes. They haven't got here yet, but they should be soon. I'll let you know as soon as they get here.

Barb

 

[castlegazer]

Barb, I actually snorted for that post - "is it possible to wait a few more days to order" You must not have been paying too much attention to the way I went about the first order. There was about a 4 month time lag between when I said I was ordering and when I actually did.

Yeah, don't worry, I am just trying to get our ducks in a row to get this order off promptly this time around but it won't be probably until next week at the earliest.

 

[castlegazer]

Now we have 5 large, 13 mediums, and 6 smalls (again, rubysmom, this is using your smalls in exchange for someone's order of smalls who really needs smalls for children under the age of 6 - the actual order for smalls is 8). So it looks like we will order two sizes in sets of 20 - definately the mediums. Now the question is what other size to order for the second set of 20?

How's this for a math problem today???

 

[BLBCB]

Doesn't matter how long it takes, I'm just glad that you guys did all the work to order them. I'm still confused on who I pay though? And where to send the money.

Great news. I just got a phone call and two of my sisters & brother-in-laws are coming out to help with the basement. We'll get some bedrooms done here yet and the girls can move out of the laundry room before we know it. Again, I say what would I do without family.

Barb

 

[castlegazer]

OK - this will be for you Barb and for ulittletinker's benefit. You can pay in one of two ways:

1) You can send me a check when you get them (my address is on the Yahoo site)

- OR -

2) You can pay for them in cash on the ship.

All you need to do is just let me know which you will doing. (some of you haven't done this yet - let me know, that is)



by the way Jewelgrrl - all set, got it this weekend. Thanks

 

[STEVEMED]

Hi Tom...glad to know the fan club is going well.

Pj....I have one of the neighbors that just yell and yell at the kids.The funny part is the kids don't listen.