Chatty Hyena Thread (Everyone's welcome)

[Mkgaapril]

Okay I just have to tell you all what I'm making for dinner because it smells amazing. I'm making honey mustard chicken, with potatoes baking in the oven with carrots, onions and spices. I'm baking some broccoli and califlower with chili powder, olive oil, garlic, pepper, a curry powder (just cuz it's good for you) and then I'm going to sprinkle some parmeasan cheese over my broccoli and VIOLA! It smells so good. If only I had chocolate cake.

I have a cake mix, you have a food that sounds soooooooooo good!!!so I say we share

I have heard wonderful things about Italy and I am so excited that I FINALLY GOT HIM TO AGREE!!!!It will only be for a week but I can live with that...

When we go to Hawaii we will spend 2 days a Oahu and then the rest of the time we will go to Maui...(I don't want to land or take a chance of a plane being late and pop back on a plane as soon as my feet are on the ground so we will spend a day and half each way in Oahu...A pilot friend of ours said he will pick up some local information on the place next month on his vacation...

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Ooooo NOT! CM albums cost way more than the albums in the park.

BUT the CM albums will last a long time, whereas the park ones may not be photo-safe (lignen-free, acid-free, etc.) I wanted to put the autographs and photos together in the boys' albums, so I used the CM stuff. Also why I used the smaller size, since I didn't think DS(2yo at the time) would be able to hold a 12x12 or even 8.5x11 album in his lap to look through it. The small ones are perfect for him to "read" by himself.

Alex, I'm NOT getting into scrapbooking However, I have been thinking of the idea of making our own autograph books. I realize that is borderline scrapbooking. What do you suggest I start with? By the way. I bought a scrapbook paper rotary cutter to cut Morgans invitations on the other day and my scrapbook friend came over and said I bought a very nice one. It was $60 at Joann's and I got it 40% off but I didnt want the cheaper version because I figured it might come in handy around the house someday.

So, she teased me saying this was my baby step getting into scrapbooking and soon I'll buy one more thing and then it will snowball.


SO if I just wanted to make cute autograph books, not saying I'm 100% sold on this idea, what would you suggest I do. Cheaply?

 

[Mkgaapril]

that sounds like a cute idea

 

[Alex2kMommy]

ALEX, someone is asking on my pre-TR to hear the mayday story! I'll let you post it because its hysterical and I dont want to leave out any of the funny details. So go over there and post away. They would really think its funny.

I saw that, and made a reply. I'm not sure it sounds as funny as it was at the time, hopefully I conveyed the appropriate surprise and horror of the situation.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Alex, I'm NOT getting into scrapbooking However, I have been thinking of the idea of making our own autograph books. I realize that is borderline scrapbooking. What do you suggest I start with? By the way. I bought a scrapbook paper rotary cutter to cut Morgans invitations on the other day and my scrapbook friend came over and said I bought a very nice one. It was $60 at Joann's and I got it 40% off but I didnt want the cheaper version because I figured it might come in handy around the house someday.

So, she teased me saying this was my baby step getting into scrapbooking and soon I'll buy one more thing and then it will snowball.


SO if I just wanted to make cute autograph books, not saying I'm 100% sold on this idea, what would you suggest I do. Cheaply?

It depends on how much effort/expense/cute factor you want to put into it.

I cut 4x6 pieces of colored, acid-free cardstock for the autographs, and bought Clicker Sharpie pens in different colors. I actually DIDN'T like the way that looked on the scrapbook page (it was distracting with other page elements, and hard to match shades of the same color), so subsequent trips I used white cardstock and black or blue pen. I think the dark ink with stark white background is more striking and noticeable on the page.

HOWEVER, since you are not scrapbooking, you might like to do just as I did, with the colored paper and/or colored pens.

I would recommend cutting the paper larger than 4x6, since some of the characters had a hard time with that size. (Hard for big costumed hands to grasp and not much room for them to write.)

Some folks who make their own books actually decorate the pages (with borders or stickers) before the trip, apparently fairly confident in which characters they'll see. I haven't done that, I always decorate afterward for the autographs we actually obtained.

If you have a color printer, in my early DISing days, I stumbled across a section of the DIS where people had created half-sheet sized designs for autograph pages; you could just print the ones you wanted, and they are so adorable!

As for assembling them, check out options at the local Kinko's. The cheapeast way would probably be to get a small 3-ring binder and punch holes in the pages. Otherwise Kinko's can do a spiral binding (like a school notebook), and I think they also can do a glue binding. Either way, you can add heavier cardstock for a cover (even decorate the cover and laminate it for durability.) I don't know what those options run, but I don't think it would be much.

 

[sameyeyam]

This is actually getting pretty funny with TS Fay. The eye of the storm has been right over my sister's since last night and it just is sitting there! She lives in Satellite Beach, FL (between Cocoa Beach and Melbourne). This is almost too funny! Yes, I can laugh because although it is windy and rainy, it's not a strong hurricane and she's relatively safe.

http://radar.weather.gov/radar_lite.php?rid=mlb&product=NCR&loop=yes

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Hmmm, maybe the PM is actually an evil sorceress!

 

[sameyeyam]

She's brewed up a pot of lizard guts and newt warts and created a magical storm over my sister's house!!

Actually do have a small bit of news on that front. PM filed guardianship papers in the Oregon courts on Monday. Her attorneys are sending it to the court telling them the same guardianship request was already filed in Florida the Wednesday before by my sister. Most courts will dismiss and say....fine let the first court hear it. Apparently if 2 people file for the same thing, the rule is whoever made it to the courthouse to file first will have the hearing in that courthouse. So not something the attorney's are too worried about. Still, just one more legal issue to deal with.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I'm surprised she's still pushing it. Do you think she's that rabid, or that her attorney is just that clueless? Seems like she's getting a lot of poor advice; either that, or she's just ignoring the advice she's getting.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Dang it! Now that Christina and Gina were talking about cake, I want to bake one! Well, really I want to EAT one!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

You know what, Sam? When I saw Shawna's pre-TR was called "Shake and Bake" I thought she had taken up running again and was planning to run in the WDW Race for the Cure like you did, shakin' and bakin'.

But I guess it's a reference to Talladega Nights.

 

[sameyeyam]

I'm surprised she's still pushing it. Do you think she's that rabid, or that her attorney is just that clueless? Seems like she's getting a lot of poor advice; either that, or she's just ignoring the advice she's getting.

Right now I'm sure that is her cheapest option. She files it here, hopes a judge will hear it and she can drag it out longer. I figure she was probably pretty mad at her attorney for not filing an extension on the 30 day order. So this might have been a way for the attorney to save face ie. oh, we'll file this for you now, that didn't matter.

She can still protest the Guardianship request in Florida, however although it has been filed, a court date has not yet been set. It should be heard within 90 days of filing. If she fights it in Florida it will cost her a lot more than if she can fight it here.

I truly think she thinks it is her son and I really do feel sorry for her. My sister feels the same way. Everyone went into this with the very clear expectation that he would return home by his 18th birthday. Obviously she was extremely attached to him and that is why my sister offered visitation when she first decided to bring him home. All we can say is she must be very messed up in her head to pursue trying to take someone else's child. There are so many children with disabilities out there that need someone to love them and need a good home, she could almost have her pick of them. My nephew has a good home with family that loves him.

I'm just so surprised that she has even went this far. Especially with a court visitor giving my sister a favorable report. I have no idea what she will try to argue now...her argument before was that his life was in danger. Well that's obviously not the case. It's so hard to know what someone is thinking.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I agree. I'm sure she's grown to love him as her own, especially considering she does not have any of her own (correct? I think you said that.) But the lengths she has gone to I just cannot have any sympathy for. Especially considering that she knew he was in a good home beforehand, his only reason for placement was for obtaining services, and she knew he'd be returning to his home. Then lying (or at least stretching the truth) to make it seem returning him to your sister's care was a danger to his life, and manipulating him so that he's actually afraid to go with her. That's just rotten to the core.

I know there are lots of kids in the state's care who could benefit from a loving home, either through foster care or adoption. Though honestly, after all this I'm not sure the state would be willing to place a child in her care. She might have burned some of her options now.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Oh gee, it's getting dark! Think I might need to make my Starbucks run now before the storm hits.

 

[staley7580]

mmm pumkin pie.


CONGRATULATIONS!!!
OMG, Staley, I didn't even know you were pregnant but you're expecting twins?? How freakin awesome is that??

My close friend who lives around the corner is pregnant too, she just found out and she's been sick every day ever since. I don't know how you ladies handle it.

Actually, my Dr. gave me some meds for my nausea, and I am feeling much better. Thank goodness! Twice the babies, twice the barfing.

Megan, I forgot to ask you...do they know if the babies are sharing the same sac, which could make them identical? Or do they appear to be fraternal?? Inquiring minds want to know.

Two sacs, from what it looks like. Oh.. you will LOVE this. My mil DID say something t me about releasing 2 eggs. THEN... omg. She asked me if I had gotten pregnant AFTER my miscarriage I had a few months ago. Are you THAT stupid??? YES. Yes I got PG after my miscarriage. THATS HOW IT WORKS.

Last night I stayed up til midnight cleaning my house. Dh was afraid I was pregnant. And with all of the throwing up I have been doing he was really concerned. I took a test this morning to ease his mind and I'm not. I am just going through a cleaning phase! He should be thankful!!!!

GREAT Ultrasound Pics Meg! I'm about to tear up. They are so beautiful.

That makes me giggle.

Thanks. I think they are too.

 

[Mkgaapril]

hey guys

 

[sameyeyam]

Actually, my Dr. gave me some meds for my nausea, and I am feeling much better. Thank goodness! Twice the babies, twice the barfing.

Two sacs, from what it looks like. Oh.. you will LOVE this. My mil DID say something t me about releasing 2 eggs. THEN... omg. She asked me if I had gotten pregnant AFTER my miscarriage I had a few months ago. Are you THAT stupid??? YES. Yes I got PG after my miscarriage. THATS HOW IT WORKS.


That makes me giggle.

Thanks. I think they are too.

So what do you suppose MIL would had said if you informed her you got pregnant with the twins BEFORE the miscarriage? Sometimes people ask the stupidest questions! Here's Your Sign!!

Sorry I disappeared on you Alex! My computer froze up, had to turn it off and back on, then it was taking forever to get on the internet. So I gave up and went and had lunch.

 

[sameyeyam]

Arrrgggghhhh!!! Sometimes doctor & insurance stuff is a pain in the rear. As you know my DH was given 5 months of FREE Cobra when they closed down Panasonic. That should have ended August 31st. At that time we could either go on my employer's plan or continue the Cobra with the federal government paying 65% of the premiums. We were going to continue with our Kaiser HMO and have the government pay the 65%.

But then....Panasonic sends a letter stating that since they no longer have employees in our service area, they are switching from Kaiser to Aetna insurance. However, to compensate us for the hassle they are now giving us 2 more months of Cobra for FREE. So now they are paying for our insurance until October 31st. Kewl!!

Now we really do want to stay with Kaiser, we know how good they were during my cancer and how little money it cost us. But the Aetna plan is pretty good too and we get 2 free months, so how can I complain. But we have had Kaiser insurance for nearly 20 years and all of our medical records, prescriptions, etc. are all with them.

So now we have to get new doctors, transfer prescriptions, etc...I'm glad I started this task early, because it's not necessarily easy. I have to have an internal medicine doctor for my primary care, an oncologist, an ob/gyn, a physical therapist and at this rate a psychiatrist! DH needs a new primary doctor, DD needs a female pediatrician and DS wants a male pediatrician. Not to mention new dentists!

Just went to Fred Meyer to pick up my prescription that Kaiser phoned over there for me. My Fluoxetine (generic Prozac) is on their 3 month for $10 list. But wouldn't you know Kaiser gave them the old prescription for 20mg...you know the ones that make me TOO HAPPY!!! So I just called them back to get the correct prescription called in....GRRR!!!! I knew there was a reason I liked HMO's...they handle all this crap for you!

 

[sameyeyam]

My sis just called, they have decided to evacuate. Sewage water is backing up in the streets, all of the retention ponds are overflowing onto the streets, the streets are filled with alligators, she has no electricity. So she's headed over to my nephew's apartment in Tampa where they were untouched by Fay. They are now saying that this storm is virtually stalled and expect rain thru Saturday.

 

[Mkgaapril]

how is your nephew taking it?