9/7/06 10 night Wonder Southern Caribbean "Cruising in WONDERland!"

[Stepht5]

As I wasn't going to put up with his mother. He was a mama's boy!

So, is this man.... But, Katherine can't seem to see that! UGH!!! Now she seems too busy trying to please them -- did I tell y'all that they seem to think that we're *poor* and can't afford to give them the kind of weddng that the IL's want???
The funny (to us) part is that we found out that my MIL told Katherine that anything that we weren't wanting to pay for she would!

The money issue started because I told Katherine we weren't spending $50,000 - $100,000 on a wedding.

But, what is happening now doesn't have anything to do with money. Although, we still think it is a waste to spend that kind of money on a wedding.

 

[Stepht5]

When is he expected to get out of the hospital? Hope things are looking brighter every day for him.

He has to have his chest tube out for 24hrs before he can be released. They are hoping to be able to remove it this afternoon......

The guilt trip is one of the cards children always play. Hopefully they are bluffing. Just remember the good part of all this will be grandchildren some day.

That's what we're counting on! LOL!

I put up with John's parents for years. It finally took John having his first heart attack at 41 that I let them have it both barrels. It was the best thing I EVER DID. John finally figured out his parents were not very nice people. I was told by John's parents(they were living in Arizonia by then) they needed to go out dinner. If anything happened to John while they were out,leave message on the answering machine.
We finally stopped talking to them about 12 years now.

I *tolerate* Jon's family. He told me years ago that I didn't have to have anything to do with them and neither did our children..... I have always been much nicer to them then they have ever been to me -- oh, wait, they've NEVER been nice to me.

Are you all proud of me!!! I finally learned how to multi-quote!

I know how so, I guess I should...........

 

[Stepht5]

That's so wonderful, Stephanie! As a young father, he has to be worried about being able to support them. Try to get him to use his energy to get better...as you said, that will all work out. We'll keep him in our prayers.

Thank you! He is very worried about supporting his family.

Yeah, I've said some pretty stupid things to my mother too. But yesterday, I took her out to dinner. We had such a good time she spent the night at my house and we continued talking. Remember, Stephanie...this to shall pass. She knows you and Jon love her. I suspect she's feeling more pressure from the "out-laws" than she's will to let on. Don't ask me how I know that.:

We do believe that it has to do with her future IL's -- they think we are poor because we don't live in a Million dollar house (we bought this house when we were in our 20's and it suits us just fine - 4br 2 1/2 b 2L 2D.....) and we think that spending over $50,000 on a wedding is ridiculous. They want to invite everyone they've ever met through business & her woman's clubs and they want to be able to impress them. Over 200 people. Very few of that family -- they have a very small family, I think the family total comes to under 20.

OK...we've past opening night now. I know you've busy and everything, checking on your nephew and all...but WHERE ARE THOSE PICTURES ?:

I am uploading a few pics of Elvis & Samantha now.... Elvis's picture was in the paper for a publicity shot.

I also have some very good news, after a quite exhaustive interview process, including personality, management, and leadership testing for more than 3.5 hours....I am happy to announce Build-A-Bear has offered me the position of corporate Public Relations Manager...well, Public Relations Bear, to be exact ! They made the offer yesterday and I agreed to review the compensation package and give them an answer on Monday. The corp. office is here in St. Louis County (only about 10 miles from my house, so no long commute). Cheryl you would be proud of me, I negotiated extra vacation days, a yearend bonus + stock option package. The base salary is quite somewhat lower than Anheuser-Busch, but not everyone can be the "King of Beers". Hopefully, it comes with a lot fewer headaches than A-B too . It doesn't seem to be a high-stress organization. More relaxed than most, casual dress, bring your dog to work...if you want. They were voted Best STL Employer a few years back. :

That's wonderful!!!!! I hopeit is less stress and fewer headaches!!!

Cheryl, I'll call you tomorrow to give you the skinny. Figured you were at the movies today. I did a trailer check for Black Snake Moan on Friday. What a strange movie .
QUOTE]

I saw a comercial for that Saturday night and until I saw your post I thought it was a joke ...... I had been laying in bed watching a comedy show -- I think it was a new show -- and I thought it was an *act*!

 

[Stepht5]

I did Zodiac last night. Talk about strange but I did like it. We saw Wild Hogs today and we just laughed. Had bad reviews but guess it is the middle age thing going on that is so fuuny. DH said to me if that is what they call middle age, what are we???? I said " OLD"!!!

Jon and I are going out to see that tonight -- the first week of no rehearsals since a month, ago!

 

[Stepht5]

I feel so bad for her. They need to realize this is their (really her)day not theirs. The parents already had their wedding, now its her turn. Our photographer even told matt that the wedding is always the girls day (after putting him in a luggage room so he wouldn't see me). They need to realize this too. I know what she is going through and I hope it get alot better. Matt's dad disagreed with WDW so much he made Matt pay for the rehersal dinner. Matt lied and told me and my parents his dad paid b/c he didn't want me to worry. Oh and his middle brother didn't want to be his best man because he didn't want to go to FL. His parents didn't make him come, he stayed home. I was very upset for awhile, how could someone miss their brother's wedding?

That's what I told her future IL's & her fiance.

When we suggested WDW or DCL we got the same reaction from them that you got from you IL's. Katherine was all for it.
Now for a wedding there Jon & I might have rethought our $$ amount....

I am so sorry that Matt's own brother wouldn't come!

What is wrong with people thinking the wedding is for them???? The first thing I said was *the wedding is all about the bride & what she wants*. And that is all Jon & I wanted to do.....

Right now the people I feel the saddest for our my 2 youngest -- Elvis was supposed to be the ring bearer & Claire the flower girl. It will CRUSH Claire -- she tells at least one person everyday that she is going to be the flower girl for her sisiters wedding......

 

[Stepht5]

Yesterday we played host to 40 aged 6 and 7 year olds in Bethan's 7th Birthday Party. The children's entertainer was fab and a good time was had by all. Bethan loved the day and has still got some presents to open.

That's great! I can't imagine have 40 young kids at a party! LOL! It is very rare for us to do more then a family party (just us & sometimes my mom & dad). I have thrown a 16th b-day with almost 100 teenagers....

I've got another day off tomorrow as I've bowed to presure from Helen and we're going to Ikea - a 268 mile round-trip - and guess who will be doing the driving.

I hope y'all found lots of stuff to make the trip worthwhile! I went for the first time about a month or so ago. The line was so long to check out that I changed my mind about buying anything! LOL!

Last Tuesday I spent three hours in hospital waiting for an appointment with the Orthopeadic Consultant (our National Health Service may be free but you have to be very tolerant). After having some x-rays on my knee I got to see the man himself. He mentioned that in my last blood-test my rheumotoid level were high so had I been advised of this. It now appears that since surgery on my knee, the problems may be rheumotoid realted rather than mechanical so on Friday (I always have a day-off work on the birthdays), I went to my local hospital for a x-ray on my chest (yes Steph, I've finally had it done!!), blood-tests, and then saw the Physioterrorist - sorry, Physiotherapist.
As I'm a pasty-faced Celt I have very fair-skin (on holiday it takes two week of sun for me to go from blue to white) and my veins cannot be seen. When I lived in Wales, the nurse at the Doctor's surgery would not attempt to take blood from me as it was a waste of time - since then I've always had to go to a hospital - before my knee operation in 2005 four nurses tried and gave-up finding a vein. HOWEVER, the phlebotomist (legalised blood-taker !!!) was great this time and only took about ten mnutes to find a vein.

When do you find out what is wrong??? I hope it's soon. The waitng is always so hard!!! I am very sorry that it is so difficult to take your blood! OUCH!

Steph - if it's any consolation (probably won't be) Helen's mother didn't come to our wedding due to arguements - we even went to see a solicitor to discuss an injunction preventing her from coming in the end (in the UK, you cannot stop anyone from attending a wedding as they have a legal right to object - unless the person is insane (which is where I was comong from at my solicitor)). I didn't speak to Helen's mother for six years after the wedding and only then because I was ill in hospital and she turned up at my bedside (talk about the angel of death !!) did I feel obliged. As I've said many times, she never did anything to me - apart from complimenting my singing - but the hurt she caused Helen was immence.
Whilst I'm not saying that this is similar to you and your daughter's wedding the point I'm making is that wedding's cause masive family problems and the tension is greater for the bride and groom without outside influences. The groom in your case sounds as though he needs to maka stand now because if he doesn't then he never will and in the words of Diana, Princess of Wales, "There are thre people in this marriage"
I hope for your daughters sake, that things will settle down the closer it gets to he wedding and I'm sure she'll have a fantastic day to remember..

I'm afraid there is definately going to be three in their marriage!!! Unfortunately her fiance thinks that is just how mothers act.... Oh, my.

I hope everyone had a good weekend!

 

[Amlee]

So, is this man.... But, Katherine can't seem to see that! UGH!!! Now she seems too busy trying to please them -- did I tell y'all that they seem to think that we're *poor* and can't afford to give them the kind of weddng that the IL's want???
The funny (to us) part is that we found out that my MIL told Katherine that anything that we weren't wanting to pay for she would!

The money issue started because I told Katherine we weren't spending $50,000 - $100,000 on a wedding.

But, what is happening now doesn't have anything to do with money. Although, we still think it is a waste to spend that kind of money on a wedding.

$50,000 to $100,000 for a wedding? I mean I know people do it, but WOW!!! You know what, if the IL's can afford that and that is what Katherine wants. Let them pour it too it!

I feel so sorry for Katherine. I hate to say she is in for such heartache!

 

[micmse2003]

Afternoon everyone - I'm back !!

I was getting worried until Stephanie and I talked. I guess we all need a nice long vacation like about August 2008 .

Yesterday we played host to 40 aged 6 and 7 year olds in Bethan's 7th Birthday Party. The children's entertainer was fab and a good time was had by all. Bethan loved the day and has still got some presents to open.

You and helen deserve a medal for hosting 40 aged 6 and 7 year olds!!!

I've got another day off tomorrow as I've bowed to presure from Helen and we're going to Ikea - a 268 mile round-trip - and guess who will be doing the driving.

Tell Helen to post and tell us what she found. Hi Helen.

As I'm a pasty-faced Celt I have very fair-skin (on holiday it takes two week of sun for me to go from blue to white) and my veins cannot be seen. When I lived in Wales, the nurse at the Doctor's surgery would not attempt to take blood from me as it was a waste of time - since then I've always had to go to a hospital - before my knee operation in 2005 four nurses tried and gave-up finding a vein. HOWEVER, the phlebotomist (legalised blood-taker !!!) was great this time and only took about ten mnutes to find a vein.

The "I'm a pasty-faced Celt" got to me. We don't think that of you, you are just a little pale. I was stuck 43 times when I was first pregnant. I was young and stupid. Now I just say give me the butterfly (used for small tiny veins) and get the best you have. Three strikes and your out. This scares them to death. They make sure they find a vein the first time now!!!!

 

[micmse2003]

Cheryl, I'll call you tomorrow to give you the skinny. Figured you were at the movies today. I did a trailer check for Black Snake Moan on Friday. What a strange movie .

I am still waiting!!!!!!

 

[Amlee]

I have a 3 try your out rule where shots and or iv's. You have that many times to try or I'm out of there!

I had to get blood drawn one time and had already been told they needed somewhere around 16 of those tiny viles. So I didn't go in happy, but when the nurse that had a full case of Parkinson's disease came out with me with a needle. I knew it wasn't happening. I looked at my mother who's eyes were hugh!

 

[micmse2003]

So, is this man.... But, Katherine can't seem to see that! UGH!!! Now she seems too busy trying to please them -- did I tell y'all that they seem to think that we're *poor* and can't afford to give them the kind of weddng that the IL's want???
The funny (to us) part is that we found out that my MIL told Katherine that anything that we weren't wanting to pay for she would!

The money issue started because I told Katherine we weren't spending $50,000 - $100,000 on a wedding.

But, what is happening now doesn't have anything to do with money. Although, we still think it is a waste to spend that kind of money on a wedding.

I feel so sorry for Katherine. The trouble really starts once granchildren are in the picture!!!!!!!!

I know my DD wedding cost about $15k and hers was far from extreme!!!!!!!!!We only had 6 relatives that we liked and invited. The figure of $50,000 was more than the cost of my first house.


I am uploading a few pics of Elvis & Samantha now.... Elvis's picture was in the paper for a publicity shot.

I love the picture!!!

Jon and I are going out to see that tonight -- the first week of no rehearsals since a month, ago!

I hope you liked it. It was just funny. Did you love who rode up at the end ????

 

[Tigger1221]

Steph- I hope things get better!


My mom is coming over this week to help me pack up the house. I need all the help I can get. We are not closing till the 23. Between working on the house stuff, school, planning our wdw vacation, and the cruise planing. I can't wait till our May vacation.

Yes, I caved to the cruise planning!!! So much was happening already, and it looked so fun so, I joined in. I think a bunch of us are taking a H2 Hummerzine to the port. They are also making groups for fish extender goups since their are over 90 disers, we have one group a day who is in charge of fish gifts. People can still buy individual. They have lists for: lanyards, bracelets and leis. Wow, 14 months out and so much has already happened. I know all you Eastbounders will have a blast also. In fact we pirated some of our ideas from your thread.

 

[Amlee]

I thought I would share this funny with yall.

My great great great uncle died over the weekend (I think I met him once when I was very little). But the funny was in his OBIT that I just read. It says he was proceeded in death by his 12 half brothers and sisters and 12 brothers and sisters. Survivors: Wife, kids, grandkids, 1 sister, 1 brother and a Few Nieces and Nephews.

A few! Yeah think? 26 brothers and sisters, an he only has a FEW nieces and nephews.

 

[Stepht5]

$50,000 to $100,000 for a wedding? I mean I know people do it, but WOW!!! You know what, if the IL's can afford that and that is what Katherine wants. Let them pour it too it!

I feel so sorry for Katherine. I hate to say she is in for such heartache!

That's not what she told me she wanted -- it's what her fiance wants. She told me she wanted a small wedding here with the reception at the K of C hall using her iPod for the music. Her future IL's would be embarassed to invite their *important friends* to that kind of wedding.

Belive me if she wanted that kind of wedding (or mentioned it to my MIL) she would have it! It really would be nothing for my IL's to drop that kind of money. I told Katherine & her fiance that we still have other children! LOL!

 

[Stepht5]

I feel so sorry for Katherine. The trouble really starts once granchildren are in the picture!!!!!!!!

I know it will with them since the entire reason they want him to marry is because they want grandchildren NOW.

know my DD wedding cost about $15k and hers was far from extreme!!!!!!!!!We only had 6 relatives that we liked and invited. The figure of $50,000 was more than the cost of my first house.:

The future IL's are isisting on iviting everyone that they think *owes* them.... Business aquaintances, other club members, etc.... And here Jon & I think that only close friends & relatives should be invited... and I told them so.

I hope you liked it. It was just funny. Did you love who rode up at the end ????

Jon said *I wondered when he was going to show up* You just knew he had to! LOL!!!!!
We cracked up nearly the entire time!!! It was such a great movie for us folks with a few miles under us!!!!!

I'm glad y'all liked the picture!!!

 

[Stepht5]

Steph- I hope things get better!


My mom is coming over this week to help me pack up the house. I need all the help I can get. We are not closing till the 23. Between working on the house stuff, school, planning our wdw vacation, and the cruise planing. I can't wait till our May vacation.

Yes, I caved to the cruise planning!!! So much was happening already, and it looked so fun so, I joined in. I think a bunch of us are taking a H2 Hummerzine to the port. They are also making groups for fish extender goups since their are over 90 disers, we have one group a day who is in charge of fish gifts. People can still buy individual. They have lists for: lanyards, bracelets and leis. Wow, 14 months out and so much has already happened. I know all you Eastbounders will have a blast also. In fact we pirated some of our ideas from your thread.

I'm so glad that your mom can help you out!!! Moving is so... YUCKY! LOL! But, you will be so happy in your new house! Are we going to get to see pics of it?????

Crystal & her boys shared a Hummer to the port with another family on our Sept cruise.
Jon didn't want to have to wait and handle our luggage which is why we did the Disney transportation.

 

[Stepht5]

A few! Yeah think? 26 brothers and sisters, an he only has a FEW nieces and nephews.

That was VERY funny!!! I think they should have said 100's by the time all the *greats* were counted in! LOL!

 

[Amlee]

That's not what she told me she wanted -- it's what her fiance wants. She told me she wanted a small wedding here with the reception at the K of C hall using her iPod for the music. Her future IL's would be embarassed to invite their *important friends* to that kind of wedding.

Belive me if she wanted that kind of wedding (or mentioned it to my MIL) she would have it! It really would be nothing for my IL's to drop that kind of money. I told Katherine & her fiance that we still have other children! LOL!

OH POOR KATHERINE!! She is going to have to stand up to them at some point. Hmmm I might need to take a trip to texas and help her! I have enough hm hm's for us both!

 

[Amlee]

That was VERY funny!!! I think they should have said 100's by the time all the *greats* were counted in! LOL!

LOL They wouldn't have had to get into the greats. As just his nieces and nephews were into to the hundreds. I know at least 4 of his siblings had 12 or more kids.

 

[Tigger1221]

I'm so glad that your mom can help you out!!! Moving is so... YUCKY! LOL! But, you will be so happy in your new house! Are we going to get to see pics of it?????

Crystal & her boys shared a Hummer to the port with another family on our Sept cruise.
Jon didn't want to have to wait and handle our luggage which is why we did the Disney transportation.

I will post pics after we get it all fixed up (well at least painted). I didn't think about having to handle our own luggage. We always drive. But it is only $21 per person so, I guess we will be picking up our luggage ourselves. My family and I traveld on planes all the time when I was younger and it was always my job to get the luggage. I always thought it was fun, but looking back I don't know why .

Hope things are getting better with the wedding!