April 17, 2004 -- anyone going with us?

[ehtpnt]

Hey no cutting into the shrimp line. Rae and my DH and I will be the ones standing over the shrimp with forks poised.

Isutigger2 lamb is okay if you like very small portions of meat. A lamb chop tends to be the size of a 0.50 piece. You usually get at least two at a serving. Personally I tend to like meat in portions you can actually see. LOL

So what birthday is this? We're in the grandparent range. That's why we sail on the Disney boat. Besides this time the friends with us have a 5 year old. We have other friends who want to know why we sail on Disney and I tell them we never saw any children. I think they think I'm from some other planet, but we never did see any. It made for a great cruise. Ah well time is flitting and before I know it I will be packing. Only 14 Saturdays to go.

Estelle

 

[rae519]

Tom has been whitehaired since 21 - so we have always sort of looked like grandparents!! People always mistake us now for Michael's grandparents (since he is 8) but that's okay - I'm sporting AnnMorinRed hair now and am looking younger!

Rae

 

[lsutigger2]

Estelle: It's going to be #50


We are childless but are at times are very childlike!! Who isn't??

My DH is a Tom also. Younger by a few years but has more grey than I do, so it equals out in looks!

Really looking forward to our trip. I"ve been reading lots these days about cruising.

Take care

 

[rae519]

AWWW SHUCKS! You are beating me to 50! Not like it's a contest but Andy (verandahman) and I have been planning a 2005 Birthday Cruise (both our 50th and also Disneyland's)!!

Yeah, they'd really better load up on the shrimp for this cruise.

Okay, anyone interested in Brunch or High Tea?
We will be arriving at the Port early and can try to get something set up. I've had the Brunch before and it's wonderful. Have never been to High Tea but interested in it!

We've cruised this itinerary several times and know pretty much what is going on when from past Navigators.

Rae

 

[ehtpnt]

Okay this makes us the senior citizens of the group. Had my 59th this past November. DH is a couple of years younger. We are traveling with a younger couple with a small person (5).

We did the brunch with a group of DIsers on the Halloween 2002 cruise. It was fantastic. The only problem we had was that our character breakfast was that morning. Boy was I full. We would be up for either of the options. I think I can say that the other couple with us would also be interested.

Either way there had better be shrimp. LOL

Getting off now as DH is playing with his Christmas digital camera. And I don't need my picture taken at this time.


Estelle

 

[rae519]

I got a digital this Christmas also. KodakEasy Share DX6340. Waiting for the printer to come in now!! AGGGHHH!

Tom took over and learned everything then started taking video of me with it! He is a rascal!! I took one picture with it and WHOOSH - he confiscated it!

I got him the Panasconic DVC Recorder (only because I wanted to put all our home movies on CD). The most important movies are those of our daughter from years ago. When memories are all you have, you treasure them.

Does it sound like we should just trade gifts with eachother?!!!

Are you planning any excursions? We are still IN for the Dolphin swim at Anguilla. I'd like to see some of the tourist sights at St. Thomas but after seeing Trunk Bay during our St. John Island Tour last year, I think Tom would like that more.

One thing you must remember about age, you gain wisdom, patience and a sense of humor.

Rae

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by ehtpnt
Isutigger2 lamb is okay if you like very small portions of meat. A lamb chop tends to be the size of a 0.50 piece. You usually get at least two at a serving. Personally I tend to like meat in portions you can actually see. LOL
Estelle

I plan on asking for several!!!!!! I generally skip the desserts but double up on the appetizers!!

Rae

 

[ehtpnt]

That's another nice thing about Disney dinning. You can order more than one entree. I've thought about it but never actually had the nerve although I did have two desserts one night.

As for age gaining wisdom patience and a sense of humor. I'm not sure about the wisdom, but the patience and the sense of humor are definates. Especially when your daughter owns two day care centers and you work in one of them. Actually I do the laundry and final load of dishes in the afternoon. I made a deal with the original owners that I would do the laundry but wouldn't do kids. And I've stuck to that. Although all the older kids know who I am and have upon occasion learned the hard way that Miss Elzas' Mom can be just as firm about things as the teachers are. Of course there are also the times when I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing at some happening that I shouldn't laugh at. Warped sense of humor there.

We haven't done anything about excursions yet except print out the resumes. I would love to swim with the dolphins but don't know how the DH would feel about it.

I also read about the 12 meter regatta and would do that in a heart beat but know the DH and the couple going with us would take a miss on that. Ah well, age also should bring some intellegence.

Off to empty the dishwasher (my own) and get the kitchen ready for tomorrow morning.

Estelle

 

[rae519]

Tom decided he wants to go on the Pilgrimage with us, so we have opted out for our week vacation before the cruise. Now we are flying in Friday night - arriving MCO at 7PM.

Probably going to book a hotel there and either get a limo or something to get to Port the next day.

Anyone else flying in then and want to talk about sharing a limo to the Port on Saturday?

Estelle - you crack me up!!!

Rae

 

[ehtpnt]

Thanks Rae, I Try.

I wanted to post last night and couldn't get the computer to do anything. Every time I got on line and told it where to go, it threw me off. So I thought I would wait until DH got home from a meeting and he'd look at it. Instead he promptly sat down and started doing paper work. Thanks dear. All he said was "oh something is wrong with the site or the server or something." I had already gathered that much. I was hoping for a fix not an answer that did nothing for me and meant he could use the computer for hours.

I'm not sure about the limo, our friends might be interested. They have signed up to use the Disney transportation from MCO. But I will ask them this afternoon as I see her when she picks up her son at day care. I also will ask about the brunch/tea at the same time. I can pretty much gaurantee (spelling is not one of my better points) there will be interest in the brunch/tea. We will already be at the Rad in Port Canavarel that afternoon or even the day before, depending on how fast the DH drives. LOL

I actually enjoy the two days of driving. Now that we have done it 15 or more times we watch for certain points along the way. Kind of like the trip when we took our youngest back and forth to Cleveland to college. There is a big GM plant about 1/2 way there that we watch for. But the trip south is nice because by lunch time the winter/heavy coats are no longer necessary, usually, and that is a great feeling.

I have to end now as the above mentioned student, needs to email the young man in her life. And then the DH will need the computer again.

Estelle

 

[JLSE50]

My message posted twice and the board would not let me delete one, so I am changing this one. See below.
Jan

 

[JLSE50]

Estelle - you crack me up!!!

Rae, that is because Estelle has one of the best senses of humor going.

I enjoyed reading this thread--sounds like there is a congeniel little group forming.

So--help me out here--is it two degrees of separation if two people know the same person? or is that one degree of separation?

Because:
Estelle went on the Halloween Cruise 2002 and knows:
Ginger
Quackattack--Rochelle
Emma--Rose Greenthumb
Karen--Emma's Mother
and others,
as well as
Jan--since their husbands went to college together and they lived in the same town for 7 1/2 years AND were on the Halloween Cruise in rooms across the hall from each other so that Estelle's real porthole was Jan's hidden porthole.

AND
Rae went on the Halloween Cruise 2003 and knows:
Ginger
Quackattack--Rochelle
Emma--Rose Greenthumb
Karen--Emma's Mother
and others,
as well as
Jan--because of this Board, e-mails they send each other, a visit Jan made to Rae's house and Michael's desire to play golf at the Mini golf with a DRAGON in Valparaiso (and we ARE GOING TO DO THAT THIS SPRING!!)

Have a great day,
Jan

 

[rae519]

Oh my! Now this is going to be one great cruise - Jan! You are amazing! How did you ever get all this together!!! Dearie, are you sure you don't want to stow away with us and enjoy the fun in the sun?

You are so sweet to put this together for us - Estelle, can you believe this coincidence?!

GREAT!!!!

And yes, the dragon at Valpo is still on!!!

Rae

 

[ehtpnt]

Hi Jan

Hi Rae

Jan is unique! I had no idea that we all knew this many people. I will now break into a chorus of ..."IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL." Family is now screaming NOOOO!!!

Hey Jan, how come you never mentioned a mini golf course with a DRAGON??? Rae is right you should stow away. I should have more room in my suitcase this trip. No trick or treat stuff and no costume. Thank goodness. By the way Jan I am cleaning our bedroom. Tom come pick Jan up.

Rae, Jan has seen the bedroom and it isn't pretty. Actually most of the clutter is books. I read almost constantly. I have been known to cook dinner with a book in my hand. And I have been guilty of not throwing them out after I am done. So aside from the romances that I save for our middle daughter, reads as much as I do, the rest get put in old computer paper boxes. They are great for storing books cause they hold lots.

Actually we are a family of pack rats. At the moment our youngest is cleaning her room. She wants to paint it. Says 17 years of Peppermint Pink is enough. Wants a nice cool blue shade. The poor garbage men are going to think we're moving or something.

Have to go, the day care financial officers need to use the computer and the dog is complaining that she needs to be out NOW. I just wish it weren't so cold and windy. Low tonight is due to be 7. Thank goodness for electric blankets.

Estelle

 

[JLSE50]

RAE: I was one of the posters on your Halloween Thread so I remember the names of some of the people who were on the cruise with us the year before. And, since I corresponded with Emma between the 2002 and 2003 cruises, those names are in my head too.

ESTELLE: Micheal has driven by the DRAGON on family trips to visit friends in Illinois, so when he learned we lived in Valparaiso, he was determined to come visit me and play that course. When you were here it did not even dawn on me, but we could have driven you by there to show it off. Forgive me? And--here is a good reason for you to come visit again. (Not originally an ulterior motive, but it works for me....)

ESTELLE: Way to go on the cleaning out! We are all doing that. Rae is selling stuff on e-bay. I am thinking of that. So far, I have been giving stuff away to people who like it. Some jewelry went to a nursing home and others to a little girl for dress up. I sent some of my "collection" of Happy Meal toys to Kathy and Ron's two little ones--Hercules stuff (two sets, one from the release of the movie in the theaters and one set from the video release with a tub we got popcorn in at WDW with Hercules designs on the outside) for Nate and a plain white tub, Mulan Happy Meal toys and Mulan beanies for Felicity. I took some other items as I visited friends the past couple days and asked if they would like any of them. That way they went to people who wanted them. Could the books be put out for sharing at the Nursery Schools?

We had WIND and 3 degrees above for the low last night and 3 BELOW the night before. But it was 60 the day before that. Today the high is now--and it is 22 degrees with wind chill making it feel like 10. Seems like a heat wave compared to the previous days. I wore a sweatshirt with a fleece vest on top and had my coat open on the way into and out of the grocery store and I was OK. This winter is not bothering me as much as the last three. One of my friends thinks that is because I am getting over the "hit" of losing my Dad. She is not saying that I don't miss him, just that it is not wearing me out as it did. In a way that is reassuring. But it also seems odd that life goes on.

I would love to stow away, but Tom says he does not think I will fit in a suitcase even in one of Estelle's vacuum-packer bags.

ENJOY the Caribbean for me!

Jan

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by JLSE50
We had WIND and 3 degrees above for the low last night and 3 BELOW the night before. But it was 60 the day before that. Today the high is now--and it is 22 degrees with wind chill making it feel like 10.
Jan

Gotta love that "lake effect"!

And to think I used to love winter....I guess that was "BH" (before horses).

Estelle, we have a lot in common - I read voraciously also! Doing the James Kellerman books now.


Rae

 

[lsutigger2]

Okay, lots has been going on here in the couple of days. sorry I haven't been around much.

Estelle - a "bond" for us. I work with child care providers all the time. I'm a trainer and I plan training, etc. Gave up "kids" years ago but do enjoy working with those who work with them.

Rae/Estelle - I also enjoy reading although I don't get too as often as I would like. I've read J. Kellerman's stuff. Right now I'm reading Harry Potter. 1/2 through #4.

It's less than 100 days now, that's the good news for today -
that and the fact that LSU is the 2003 National Champions in football. It was an exciting weekend for us!! Geaux Tigers!!

We'll be at the Radisson on Friday 4-16. Can any of you tell me where the Budget car place is? Folks have mentioned it as being good to use. The one that comes up on their site says "cocoa beach" and I'm not familiar with the area, having never been there before!

Thanks

 

[rae519]

Happy 69th Birthday Elvis!

Rock and Roll Forever!

Rae

 

[JLSE50]

LSUTIGGER2: Cocoa Beach is south of Port Canaveral. Driving there, you cannot tell where one ends and the other begins. That car rental place could be quite close to the Raddison, it is a small spit of land.

If you have an address for each, you can go to Mapquest.com and get some distances. The hotel might also provide transportation to the Budget rental or Budget might come to the hotel to pick up someone to take them back to do the paperwork. It might be worth a call to find out.

You can get a shuttle to the Port from the hotel though, so you don't need a car then.

Jan

 

[ehtpnt]

Rae, I just sent you a pm. And our friends are interested in doing the champagne brunch or high tea. So that means the 4 of us are interested. Thanks for offering to handle this.

Isutigger2 we will be at the Rad on the 16th too. Would you like to meet and maybe go to dinner in the area. Last time we were there we found several nice restaurants. We will have our mini van so transport is not a problem. The reason we found several was that DH had to do Cape Canavarel before the cruise. At that time I was still having trouble with my knees and walking around Canavarel in the hot sun for hours was not my idea of fun. But I have to admit the tour was interesting. Amazing how much cooler it is under a shuttle.

What do plan for child care providers? I admit that I have been known to visit in the prek and kindergarten room in the afternoon. They know Miss Elzas' Mom and have learned the hard way not to get rowdy when they are supposed to be quiet. All those years as a girl scout leader are finally paying off. I can bellow with the best of them. And if it gets too bad I retire to my office in the laundry room and play game boy.

Harry Potter #4 is the volume that I read going from Bethlehem to Cleveland. We were driving out to go for medical appointments with our youngest. I had read about 1/2 and put if aside because #5 was supposed to be coming right after #4. Then I learned that it wasn't. So I took #4 and read it in the car. I have no memory of that trip. I know we stopped for the usual rest stops but I don't remember them. My first memory after getting on route 80 is hours later getting off in Johnstown for dinner. There aren't many books that do that to me. But that one caught me and I was a goner. As if you couldn't tell from my comments earlier about dragons I like certain science fiction and what ever you call Harry.

Congrats to LSU!