and we're back. [Walt, Wizards, and....Woolungasaurus?]

[Brady's Mom]

Thanks for the ideas, both of you!

I don't know what the solution is going to be for me, but to help with the redness Bliss Body Butter is awesome! it's some sort of lemon balm and something else in it, and I discovered the benefits for me during our last trip here...thankfully the sis in law still has a tube of it (she keeps drawers full of travel size stuff she gets on flights and at hotels for guests) and I slather it on, and the redness goes away. Lovely lovely stuff.


Yesterday and today we swam at their clubhouse (the filter on brother's pool wasn't working, which meant that the pool wasn't being heated by the water on the roof (solar heating, water runs up to the top of the roof in little tubes, then comes down into the pool all toasty) and it was getting gross), and that place is swank. Both days we got to play "it's our house", and I kept hearing the song It's Good To Be A Gangsta in my head, because really, Hollywood moguls and gangsters could own a home with a pool THAT big and a clubhouse THAT nice. However, the daquiri service was nonexistent, and if I owned that house, I would definitely have someone on call to bring out the beverages.



I finally outed our DVC to brother and sis in law. I think they think we're fools but oh well.

Alas - not every one understands the appeal of DVC or the joy of owning a part of Disney magic!

And with everything busy that's going on in my life right now a day or two by a swanky pool and clubhouse sounds divine! Hope you're having a great time! I will enjoy some relaxation vicariously.

 

[bumbershoot]

Had to skip the clubhouse today, as yesterday's experience wasn't SO great...too stressful. Maybe tomorrow.

The problem on this visit is that I agreed to let brother buy a Lego Indy videogame that E can play while here. And E has lost his mind about it. Doesn't want to do *anything*. Only wants to play the videogame.

And still doesn't really get that if he does his schoolwork quickly (doing some interim stuff right now, but have actually ordered Oak Meadow curriculum, woo!), if we do some physical exercise and he doesn't dawdle, then that actually gets him to the videogame *earlier*. And if he does NOT do those things without a battle, then the videogame is put away. I flat out told him today that I could *easily* make the game off limits entirely, and I can handle his anger about it. What I cannot handle is trying to help him get what HE wants while also getting what he NEEDS, while having such pushback and whining...it is extremely difficult for me to maintain a level head, constantly evaluating if I'm being unreasonable, if I'm being a pushover, if I'm this that and the other thing, while dealing with his stuff.

I think he heard that I was serious (and he knows that I am indeed OK dealing with his flat-out anger when something is put into temp or permanent time-out), because he buckled down and ate his dinner so he could have a little bit more time with his uncle playing the videogame with him. There's only one controller (they bought the playstation system as a DVR so only needed the one controller) so they swap back and forth. It's absolutely entirely utterly adorable.

Blah blah blah.


******************

What on earth did I manage to do???? I have scheduled us AWAY from the Magic Kingdom for the nights that Wishes is playing! Not only that, but they've changed out Spectromagic and have the Electrical Parade (boooooo in theory, but yay for us, but seriously boooooo, send it back to DLR!), and that's on the SAME nights as Wishes! And we do not have plans to be there on those nights.

So putting Hopping onto our tickets is definitely in the future...

 

[bumbershoot]

Alas - not every one understands the appeal of DVC or the joy of owning a part of Disney magic!

Oh, they just think it's bananas to buy a timeshare.

But they certainly do STAY at them when her parents invite them!
(like next month when they stay at an RCI-traded place with her parents in Orlando and go to Universal) But the ones her parents belong to are traditional, weeks-based, ones...

 

[bumbershoot]

2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days.

That is waaaaaaaay too close. Yikes! Not prepared! What? How could I not be prepared?

No new clothes, no new shoes...no hat, no cooling bandana thing (the reactions to heat seem to be getting stronger with me, and while I don't know how warm it will be during our stay, I'm not taking a chance! do you guys remember how many days it took for me to get over that stupid heat exhaustion in August?), no this, no that, etc etc etc. No decisions on shirts/pins for the guys/me...eek!

Plus, I gotta lose more chunk! It's going too slowly for trip purposes (and feeling happy with myself purposes and health purposes and all the other purposes), though I do realize that any weight lost is GOOD and GREAT and better than I was before!

2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days. Too long to wait to delay pleasure...but too long for all those other things!

 

[kaoden39]

I have always thought 2 was a good number. Therefor that makes this a good day!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yep, a good day. Robert worked from home, though really from various coffee shops in town, today, which meant that for my dental appt I didn't have to have Eamon come and sit in the corner. And my dentist was looking particularly lovely today (he has one of the nicest pairs of blue blue blue eyes I've ever seen, and considering most of my family has blue eyes, I've seen a lot!) plus my teeth are healthy, so it was a good day!


Though I started the morning with a nightmare involving E falling from an airplane. That was horrible. I woke up as he was falling, woke up Robert to talk me down from the fear...then went back to sleep and gave E a parachute and was better. (yes I can change dreams in the middle of them, thank goodness, because I have some nasty ones)


But before and after that nightmare, it's been good!

 

[bumbershoot]

This is sort of trip-related.

While visiting my brother, I brought one of the cheapie Walgreens pop-up hampers I bought for the trip. It has handles, and that's better than carrying an armload of laundry down the stairs and through the kitchen to their laundry room.

It was brilliant!

Even my brother, who usually scoffs at the things I like (he really is nice, I promise!), thought it was a great idea for traveling.

 

[QueenDoOver]

Hello! Geesh, in my efforts to change my email on my account, I froze up my posting ability. Finally got it fixed! Anyhow, have read back but can't remember much.
Sunscreen: Spray it, rub it, apply it often(every 2 hours minimum), still wear hats and cover up with clothes with spf.
Cooling bandanas: While they do sell some with beads etc, I actually used just plain bandanas, put them damp in a ziploc of ice and stuck in backpack. I had 4 and I rotated them out for myself when I was the only one using them, but family was grateful when they finally agreed to use them. My only suggestion woiuld be to avoid black, since it bleeds and your ice water will be blucky black.
Pop Up Hampers: We use these for camping. Love them! I have them in the kids rooms too, and they work great.
Video Games: Very addictive. I know that battle. When my oldest got his first system, I pretended like it was a rental and just "rented" it once a month or so for the weekend, and then it went back to the store (my closet). Worked great for about 2 years. Now it is a free for all and a constant battle.

unemployed status is lovely and cant' wait to get all the logistics of the change caught up so I can do some fun organizing, cleaning, selling, redecorating, menu planning, excercising (have started back to Y though already) etc etc

 

[bumbershoot]

Tracey you sound like you really are happy! I'm, well, happy for you!

I like that videogame rental idea, LOL. There are also problems with the adults in the household, of course...I can picture us buying a system and hiding it from E, being caught playing Lego Harry Potter some late night as E wanders out...

 

[QueenDoOver]

Tracey you sound like you really are happy! I'm, well, happy for you!

I like that videogame rental idea, LOL. There are also problems with the adults in the household, of course...I can picture us buying a system and hiding it from E, being caught playing Lego Harry Potter some late night as E wanders out...

I am terribly happy. I don't even think I knew how stressed out I was until it lifted.

I can totally see that getting caught playing scenario happening


How fun that you are at your brothers. It is wonderful that they adore E so much and of course you too.

Have you gotten your schedule adjusted so that you will be able to see the fireworks and shows that you wanted? For me, if I make those things happen, the whole trip is worthwhile. Our last trip we managed to see Fantasmic, Fireworks, WOC and Aladdin. I don't know why it is so hard, but when we get going it is hard to stop and be somewhere specific at specific times. I always have to put my foot down and then the family is mad, until after they enjoy the show and then they thank me. Everytime! Go figure!

 

[bumbershoot]

That's wonderful.


We're home now, but we did have a great 8 days down there! They have a playstation (whatever one is the blu ray player along with a game player) and have asked for 2 trips if they can buy the Lego videogames...I finally gave in.

Even though I didn't actually play, I watched them play, it the problem-solving stuff is really interesting. So I came home thinking about saving up for a system and getting the Lego Star Wars/Harry Potter games (Indy is at the brother's, might as well keep it special), but then just keeping them for myself, bwa ha ha....

Ooh I could keep it totally secret and only bring it out when Robert's traveling and E's asleep! (picture me rubbing my hands evily and cackling) Yeah, how on earth would I do THAT?


We were keeping some funds separate for adding hopping if it came up (along with upgrading the tix to at least the 10 days we'd need for this trip, if not for an AP to get more days for this trip and for the rest of the year if we love it enough to go back in the year), so I'm sure we'll just add hopping earlier rather than later. That way we'll be able to see the shows, but keep our other plans. I think it's only ONE night that I've planned a sit-down dinner, so I don't have to juggle dinners and all that...we just have to leave one park and go to the other.

But thanks for reminding me, b/c I really should make up a plan for that.

Now if only I could find my calculator so I could do my "sums" so I could move on to printing out Explanations of Benefits and put all the bills etc away, so that I could be free and clear to do that!



Aw man, I guess I had a dream that several new people had joined my PTR! And I was all excited. But unless they posted then deleted their posts, I guess it was just a dream. What a weird dream to have!

 

[QueenDoOver]

The problem usually isn't with the sunscreen, but with how it's applied. Most people don't apply enough, or they don't reapply it frequently enough to be effective.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends reapplying sunscreen immediately after swimming, or every two hours if you stay out of the water. In fact, the academy said that people who wait more than 2 1/2 hours to reapply have five times the chance of getting sunburned as those who reapply every two hours.
The AAD also advises people to use about a shot glass full of sunscreen for adequate coverage of exposed areas of the body, and to apply sunscreen about 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors to allow it time to soak into the skin.
WHAT'S NEW
There are two new sunscreens, the American Academy of Dermatology reports, that provide longer-lasting protection against UVA and UVB rays: Anthelios SX and Helioplex.
Research shows that Anthelios SX, which was approved by the FDA in 2006, retains 80 percent of its UVA protection and 90 percent of its UVB protection five hours after application. The product combines a new UVA absorber called ecamsule with UVB absorber avobenzone and UVA absorber octocrylene.
Helioplex is a stabilized formulation of avobenzone and oxybenzone, UVB and UVA absorbers.
Helioplex and Anthelios SX appear to be comparable in sun protection and stability, the newsletter reports.
The academy recommends using sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15. People with fair skin or at high risk for skin cancer may want to go higher.
The higher a sunscreen's SPF rating, the longer it protects against sun exposure. But that's just part of the equation.
The SPF rating only measures how well a sunscreen blocks or absorbs UVB rays. That's why the American Academy of Dermatology and federal public health agencies advise using a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Products labeled "broad spectrum" often contain several different sun protection ingredients in order to cover the broadest possible range of UV radiation. But to what extent they do so is difficult to determine, because there is no good method of measuring how well a sunscreen protects against UVA, the report said. It's an issue the FDA is grappling with in developing new sunscreen labeling regulations.
In the meantime, clean out your medicine cabinet to get rid of sunscreens that may be out of date and therefore less protective; slather on your most potent full-spectrum sunscreen half an hour before heading out the door; and stick that sunscreen in your beach bag

 

[QueenDoOver]

That's wonderful.


We're home now, but we did have a great 8 days down there! They have a playstation (whatever one is the blu ray player along with a game player) and have asked for 2 trips if they can buy the Lego videogames...I finally gave in.
That is great that they ask you. Sometimes my sister actually lets my son watch rated R (scary) movies. I have told her no way! (my 14 year old not my 7 year old, but he is not asking so why would I just introduce him to them???) Any how, it is the PS3 (my 14 year old bought himself one) and it does have amazing graphics, but all of our kid games are on the PS2, so that is all I see. (Andrew has some teen games that Nathan is not allowed to view or play)Even though I didn't actually play, I watched them play, it the problem-solving stuff is really interesting. So I came home thinking about saving up for a system and getting the Lego Star Wars/Harry Potter games (Indy is at the brother's, might as well keep it special), but then just keeping them for myself, bwa ha ha....
I really can't find any desire to play these games at all. They jsut make no sense to me at all! Ooh I could keep it totally secret and only bring it out when Robert's traveling and E's asleep! (picture me rubbing my hands evily and cackling) Yeah, how on earth would I do THAT?


We were keeping some funds separate for adding hopping if it came up (along with upgrading the tix to at least the 10 days we'd need for this trip, if not for an AP to get more days for this trip and for the rest of the year if we love it enough to go back in the year), so I'm sure we'll just add hopping earlier rather than later. That way we'll be able to see the shows, but keep our other plans. I think it's only ONE night that I've planned a sit-down dinner, so I don't have to juggle dinners and all that...we just have to leave one park and go to the other.
I forget, have you been to DW before??
But thanks for reminding me, b/c I really should make up a plan for that.

Now if only I could find my calculator so I could do my "sums" so I could move on to printing out Explanations of Benefits and put all the bills etc away, so that I could be free and clear to do that!

It is amazing to me how much time all the paperwork actually takes! I'm not that good at it.

Aw man, I guess I had a dream that several new people had joined my PTR! And I was all excited. But unless they posted then deleted their posts, I guess it was just a dream. What a weird dream to have!

Maybe I am like several new people with all my extra time???

 

[bumbershoot]

You're quite the lady of leisure now!

I know that hopping isn't *simple* at WDW (no I haven't been there), but that's why I'll make up the plan.

Ooh, got my calculator, did my bankbook things, did all the EOBs but need to call to pay R's bill. Things are looking quite neater in the land of my desk! Not neat, but neatER.

Currently on hold with the billing people....I don't want to be on hold. I spent over an hour dealing with paypal and ebay yesterday, they have a MAJOR glitch in their system. Probably doesn't affect many people, but it affected ME, and it's 100% their fault. While going through the order process, you're prompted to change your address if needed. So I change it with ebay and I change it with paypal and I go through the process to make my address "confirmed" (put in your CC/bank info again), and then I order.

I get an email saying that the order went through to this address which is "confirmed" etc etc. Seller tells me it's sent, should be there by the 13th. It's not.

Well it turns out that there's a span of time in there where paypal sent the OLD address to the seller, even though *everything* shows my new address. I haven't bought from her before, so she can't know my old address; it was SENT to her.

Paypal was so useless I nearly had my head explode while talking to her. Then I spent over half an hour on hold for ebay (while trying to actually find their phone number on their site, which is impossible, because, well, it's just impossible) and finally got them, and their solution is...file a dispute with the seller, because everything NOW has the right address, so I would win the dispute.

Um, that's vile! She sent the package to the address YOU gave her! And then you changed your information.

I begged them to pass this along to their tech people. That this is an error and a problem, and they are not taking responsibility for it, and are throwing the seller under the bus. I got all choked up, thinking of this seller, who is just a mom sewing little autograph book bags, and one of us is supposed to take money out of the other one's pockets (I can only imagine what they would have said if SHE had made the first contact). I asked them to "honor me" by taking it further and getting it fixed. (I'm such a goober)

The old address is across the street. But the old address has people who don't like to give things back that aren't rightfully theirs.



The Lego videogames appeal to me for the building and puzzle-solving parts. The fighting stuff is annoying and gets in the way of solving the puzzles!

 

[QueenDoOver]

JUst a quick note re hopping.

People talk about it being difficult and time consuming and whatnot, but I think it is part of the fun myself, trains, buses, monorails, yeah!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for that, Tracey!



I got to hold "baby voodoo" today. Two of them, actually, twins! The mom's oldest takes gymnastics with E, and the mom was talking to someone else for awhile. Then she specifically came over to me, which was so nice, and her littler twin (they are very different in size) was just STARING at me. She said something about how each time she was about to start a new baby, babies just found her *fascinating*, so you KNOW I liked her saying that. And once she said that, I nearly grabbed her baby, LOL, saying "can I hold her for baby voodoo?" See, on our wedding day I danced for almost an hour with a scrunchy little 1 year old, diaper-on-gown and all, and we've always considered her good luck, LOL.

And later her sister woke up (the little one almost never naps; the bigger one sleeps until noon and naps a lot!) while the little one was fussy, so I got to hold her, too.

 

[bumbershoot]

Went to the fair today. Spent some money we didn't anticipate spending. Found a fabulous wallet-type thing that I think should be marketed to Disney fans. Really really looking forward to Disneyworld (but wish very strongly we could go to Disneyland as well!).

 

[bumbershoot]

Yay!!! The package of autograph books/bags that I ordered, that were shipped to the wrong address b/c ebay/paypal provided that address to the seller, were returned to her! Woo! She got them back today, and she'll be reshipping them. Yay!


Found out that our local Great Harvest Bread Co uses HFCS in their products. They are calling it "corn sweetener". Isn't that adorable. They say it's b/c honey is too expensive. Ah, I see. Because honey, a NATURAL substance (could not be more natural!), is exactly the same as HFCS to them.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Yay!!! The package of autograph books/bags that I ordered, that were shipped to the wrong address b/c ebay/paypal provided that address to the seller, were returned to her! Woo! She got them back today, and she'll be reshipping them. Yay!


Found out that our local Great Harvest Bread Co uses HFCS in their products. They are calling it "corn sweetener". Isn't that adorable. They say it's b/c honey is too expensive. Ah, I see. Because honey, a NATURAL substance (could not be more natural!), is exactly the same as HFCS to them.

Yay for the right shipping address - and yay for the ebay seller who is shipping them again!

And isn't Great Harvest supposed to be NATURAL??? They always seemed to be that sort of company to me! BOOOO! for the HFCS. We've discovered that DS 14 has a problem with HFCS. He is super dedicated about reading labels and just won't eat anything that has it. We have found some things that he can eat - so he doesn't feel deprived. But, even if he "knows" that he could have it before - he still reads the label to make sure they haven't changed the formula. It is trickling down to our 8 yr old and our 6 yr old. They ask frequently if something has HFCS in it. They just don't realize that they are NOT having it. So it's a win-win for us.

I am sooo hoping that baby ju ju works for you. I always wanted twins.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yeah, the Great Harvest thing is really throwing me for a loop. They look like some hippie bakery, just like one I used to visit near Asheville NC.

Looks like half the loaf of the cinnamon bread is gone. Thank goodness Robert got *that* bread...his blood sugars have been normal and good, but I bet if it were normal, non-cinnamon, bread, we would have seen the problem immediately. Since cinnamon is such a wonder-drug for him, it kept them low...but wowie he was CRANKY this weekend! So just like I now understand why I had a demon in place of my son, I realized last night the probable cause for Robert being a crankypants (and let me tell you, having both of them acting like that makes me want to run for the hills!).

Let your 14 year old know to watch out for "corn sweetener", since that's the cutesie new name. So obnoxious.


Twins would push my boundaries (eating, concerns about VBAC and finding the absolute right healthcare person, how to do ANYTHING else while nursing them if they were like E and his appetite, etc), but I'm sure it would all be OK. Can you imagine, though? What if I had twins and they were fraternal, and one took more after me like E does, while one took more after Robert? How adorable and confusing would that be?