"Double Dip Delight" Alternate Western 09/27/08

[LadyShiva]

Good Morning everyone! How has everyone been survivign the heat wave? It has finally made its way across the country and is creeping the temps up here as I type. And it will be (is already) HUMID. We have no A/C and I am dreading having three crabby and hot kids to contend with (well and I do not do ehat well--I lasted one year to the day in Pheonix). Today we will be at the lake (swim tests) and tomorrow we are heading to a museum in Vermont that has a huge outdoor water area.

D (who will be going into second grade in the fall) brought an easy reader book with him so last night I asked him to read to me. He can literally read only the words "I" and "a". YIKES. He does not know how to track, or look at the begining sound and pictures for clues (we worked on that last night and he was catching on quickly--he is a brigth kid). We have to drop off a friend of Marika's who has been over the past two nigths at her house halfway to Concord today anyway and we WILL go into town and go to Borders and get the phonics readers that my kids loved. D seems to want to read and be willing to try (hmm I have one week left to catch him up more than a grade level; I know it is not possible but I can try can't I?). His mom sounds really involved and caring on the phone so I hope if I get him started on the set and he likes them and takes them home maybe she will read with him. Either way it can't hurt.

Okay all you geeks. We are geeks too (though not in the realm of Xbox and the like--just plain old computers here). And guess what? When nerds collide we create mini nerds! We have two kids who love Star Trek TNG. Rio's favourite toy is his Snap Circuits electrical set and Marika (the self proclaimed future aerospace engineer) wanted most of all a telescope for Christmas. A couple of weeks ago I came down from the shower to find the kids making atom models with gobstoppers (one color was the nucleus, etc.) This was just for fun and of their own invention mind you My poor warped children--they are so not the norm (just like their geeky parents--I actually ASKED to be placed in the engineering dorms even though i was an ENglish major just because I knew it was a better "fit" for me--and CSU put me there!).

Well, here's some good news, weather-wise. It's 83 for the high here in Denver. Hopefully, that will translate into lower temps for you guys east of us. The weather forecast says the rest of the week will be the pretty much the same, so I have hope!

Good luck with D! Since Fiona was born, we have left the tv's on closed captioning and mute. First it was because of all the inappropriate language we noticed more when we had a kid in the house, but then it just became a habit. I'm also the type to do things while "watching" tv. Drives hubby crazy, until he is doing it himself!!!

That's really neat about your kiddos making atoms and being science geeks! Have you seen the Science Guy on tv yet (or online)? All sorts of fun activities to teach science. Lots of messy stuff that looks fantastic. I can't wait until kiddo gets a little older so we can try the Mentos in the 2 liter sodas.

Subject change due to watching music videos in a vain search for something interesting this rainy morning... Anyone else think there is definite lack of good music nowadays? I keep winding back on VH-1 Classic (80's hour). I can't stand the whining or cursing or booty shaking on the other VH-1channels.

Brandie

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well, here's some good news, weather-wise. It's 83 for the high here in Denver. Hopefully, that will translate into lower temps for you guys east of us. The weather forecast says the rest of the week will be the pretty much the same, so I have hope!

Good luck with D! Since Fiona was born, we have left the tv's on closed captioning and mute. First it was because of all the inappropriate language we noticed more when we had a kid in the house, but then it just became a habit. I'm also the type to do things while "watching" tv. Drives hubby crazy, until he is doing it himself!!!

That's really neat about your kiddos making atoms and being science geeks! Have you seen the Science Guy on tv yet (or online)? All sorts of fun activities to teach science. Lots of messy stuff that looks fantastic. I can't wait until kiddo gets a little older so we can try the Mentos in the 2 liter sodas.

Subject change due to watching music videos in a vain search for something interesting this rainy morning... Anyone else think there is definite lack of good music nowadays? I keep winding back on VH-1 Classic (80's hour). I can't stand the whining or cursing or booty shaking on the other VH-1channels.

Brandie

You mean Bill Nye the Science Guy????? We LOVE him. We actually got to see him live at the grand opening for the Detroit Science Center a few years ago. Dave has an 8x10 of him and Bill Nye hanging in his office (not many people have a clue who it is, but those who do are duly impressed ). My ONE complaint about Netflix is they do not have any Bill Nye shows (they are availale on DVD--I email about this every 3-4 months but have had no luck yet ).

Yep, we are totally science Geeks Oh, and mentos and diet coke is a another fun (slow, no crowds day) beach activity.

 

[LadyShiva]

Actually, I got my taglines mixed up. Steve Spangler was the guy I meant (and yes, Bill Nye is COOOOOL!). Here's Steve's website: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/

Lots of cool stuff there to play with.

We have hubby's old microscope and circuit kit from childhood. Those are kept FAR out of reach right now.

Brandie

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Well, here's some good news, weather-wise. It's 83 for the high here in Denver. Hopefully, that will translate into lower temps for you guys east of us. The weather forecast says the rest of the week will be the pretty much the same, so I have hope!

More positive news for ya Hadley....In Columbus, we had already reached the 90's today and the humidiity as I walked out of the house this morning was just soooo heavy. Then around 1:00 this afternoon, a cold front came through with a small thunderstorm. As I walked to my car from the building to get my cracked windows closed, I could feel the temperature drop about 10 degrees...that was in about a 5 minute timespan. According to my car, it's 84 degrees now....yet that is on top of a paved garage, too. The "official" temp is 72! Tomorrow we expect 81 degree high. So hang in there...you're only a few hours away from our weather!

BTW, I have very much been enjoying all of your autobiographies!

 

[jcemom]

Ahhh... that's good news, it means the cooler weather should be hitting us anytime now! It's 92 and humid here right now. Blech.

 

[NHdisneylover]

More positive news for ya Hadley....In Columbus, we had already reached the 90's today and the humidiity as I walked out of the house this morning was just soooo heavy. Then around 1:00 this afternoon, a cold front came through with a small thunderstorm. As I walked to my car from the building to get my cracked windows closed, I could feel the temperature drop about 10 degrees...that was in about a 5 minute timespan. According to my car, it's 84 degrees now....yet that is on top of a paved garage, too. The "official" temp is 72! Tomorrow we expect 81 degree high. So hang in there...you're only a few hours away from our weather!

BTW, I have very much been enjoying all of your autobiographies!

Thanks for the updates BOTH of you. If the cooler air has made it from Denver to Columbus it will probably make it here sometime tomorrow evening or night. I can make it one more day. We are actually going to Vermont with my neighbor and her daughter tomorrow to visit the Montshire museum (luckily the nieghbor's van has a/c--the a/c on the Explorer is out and I had to take it today because I had too many kids to fit in the Focus ). The museum has a/c and outdoors it has a huge wate rplay area so I think we can make it through if only we can sleep in the heat tonight.

I second Kimberly's note that I am loving reading all the bios. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to write about yourselves.

 

[Stargater]

Cool. Where were you in Spain? I was in Sagunto (a bit north of Valencia along the coast). It was a great year for me (and freshman year of college was EASY comapared to sophomore year of high school in Spain so I had none of that Freshamn panic thing going ).

I was in Alacante and then we traveled all over Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Altea.

I WANT TO GO BACK>.....Disney Cruise to Spain....I wish

 

[LuvtheEars]

Oaky all you geeks. We are geeks too (though not in the realm of Xbox and the like--just plain old computers here). And guess what? When nerds collide we create mini nerds! We have two kids who love Star Trek TNG. Rio's favourtie toy is his Snap Circuits electrical set and Marika (the self proclaimed future aerospace engineer) wanted most of all a telescope for Christmas. A couple of weeks ago I came down from the shower to find the kids making atom models with gobstoppers (one color was the nucleus, etc.) This was just for fun and of their own invention mind you My poor warped children--they are so not the norm (just like their geeky parents--I actually ASKED to be placed in the engineering dorms even though i was an ENglish major just because I knew it was a better "fit" for me--and CSU put me there!).

Looks like we are on the Geek Boat!! We should fit right in! My DS loves Star Wars and couldn't decide on a Star Wars theme party or a science theme, so we combined the two (then had to postpone the party for other reasons). We went to Benson Lake to see the fireworks last week and the NC Symphony was set up to play. DS said to me, "Is the symphony going to be here?" I said, "yes", and he said, "COOL!". He also wears a lab coat all the time that I made him for Halloween last year and wants to design Jet Planes when he grows up. He is going to camp invention this week where he gets to design and create all kinds of things. No sports camp for my little inventor! We tried soccer, but he would rather read a book.

Our weather here was 90 - something today, but with the heat index the temp felt like 101! We finally got some rain this evening and that has brought the temp down, but it is muggy! They are calling for 89 by Thursday!

 

[Stargater]

it took me forever to talk DD into even touching an earth worm. Geeesh....... She is such a girly girl sometimes!

ROTFL This reminds me of my 26th birthday. My dad takes me out for Lobster every birthday and DH was working so we took along DD3 at the time. The waiter brought out my Lobster, and darling daughter SCREAMMED GET THE BUGGY OFF OF THE TABLE!! She had the whole restaurant looking at us. LOL it was priceless. The manager had to take the lobster back in the kitchen and deshell it for me.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Looks like we are on the Geek Boat!! We should fit right in! My DS loves Star Wars and couldn't decide on a Star Wars theme party or a science theme, so we combined the two (then had to postpone the party for other reasons). We went to Benson Lake to see the fireworks last week and the NC Symphony was set up to play. DS said to me, "Is the symphony going to be here?" I said, "yes", and he said, "COOL!". He also wears a lab coat all the time that I made him for Halloween last year and wants to design Jet Planes when he grows up. He is going to camp invention this week where he gets to design and create all kinds of things. No sports camp for my little inventor! We tried soccer, but he would rather read a book.

Our weather here was 90 - something today, but with the heat index the temp felt like 101! We finally got some rain this evening and that has brought the temp down, but it is muggy! They are calling for 89 by Thursday!

Sports? What are those? Actually Marika does like karate, arhery, tennis, rock climbing and kayaking--but none of the traditioanl team sport type things. Rio likes archery, gymanstics and wants to take fencing (he also dances which is most certainly exercise--but insisted on dropping tap the year the recital song was Take Me Out to the Ball Game becuase he "couldn't stand to listen to tajt baseball song all year long") but no ball sports AT ALL. Hurray for other science and reading enthused kids I can't remember, how old will your DS be on the cruise? Rio will be 9 and Marika 11.

 

[NHdisneylover]

ROTFL This reminds me of my 26th birthday. My dad takes me out for Lobster every birthday and DH was working so we took along DD3 at the time. The waiter brought out my Lobster, and darling daughter SCREAMMED GET THE BUGGY OFF OF THE TABLE!! She had the whole restaurant looking at us. LOL it was priceless. The manager had to take the lobster back in the kitchen and deshell it for me.

Hey--that is how I feel about lobster! I think I will get along with your DD just fine I HATE having the live ones in the car when we bring them home for lobster boils--it is creepy.

 

[tig82174]

Hey all!!

OK, OK....I've been "gone" from the boards for a very long time. As some you know, I recently had a personal tragedy...and it's taken me a little while to get back to normal...but here I am! I ahven't been totally absent, though....I've been kinda lurking, but just not posting anything.

So there's no way I can catch up on everything I might have missed in the past couple weeks....but I'll jump back in by introducing myself and Jason, my DP (or if NY's governor, Elliot Spitzer, gets his way and our state senate gets its act together in the next legislative session....my DH soon hopefully!!)!

So here goes:

I'm Erik . I'm 32 years old (but I'll be 34 on the cruise...EEK!!). I am PK (preacher's kid) and AFB (Air Force Brat). My father was in the Air Force my entire childhood and officially retired my senior year of high school and went into civilian ministry after retirement as a Southern Baptist minister. I grew up basically all over the country and planet (as many AFB's do)....I've literally lived in or visited 47 of the 50 states (I'm only missing Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota !!). I went to college at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY and have been here ever since. Interestingly enough my mother recently observed that I've lived in Rochester now for almost 15 years----and that's by far the longest I've ever lived in one place my entire life! I got a degree in Public Health and Education, and minored in Deaf Studies (I'm fluent in ASL). I currently work in the Public Health as the Gay Health Coordinator at a non-profit that serves people infected and affected by HIV---which means I do a lot of community and provider education, advocacy, policy research, etc. I was a gymnast, dancer and cheerleader growing up...and still coach gymnastics/cheerleading tumbling part time now, as well. I'm an avid Disney fan and a diagnosed Tigger addict . My tigger collection is very large...and ever growing! I'm also a pop culture addict...food addict...TV-aholic...Harry Potter freak...and have more than a mild obsession with High School Musical (right, Hadley??)....actually I love all musical theater (don't get me started on Wicked or we'll never stop!!....and my favorite color is orange.

My partner's name is Jason. He is 26 (he'll be 27 on the cruise). He will fit right in with the self-proclaimed geeks aboard the boat! He grew up most of his life in the Central New York area...but now also has family in the Atlanta, GA area. He moved to Rochester after high school, too...to go to Rochester Institute of Technology. He is now a software engineer for a small company based here in the Rochester area that writes "software used by companies that operate in foreign trade zones." I haven't the SLIGHTEST idea what any of that means...if you want to know you'll have to ask him aboard the ship. He's tried to explain it to me a bazillion times and every time he does my eyes glaze over and I start to drool and go catatonic!! He's very quiet...but very bright...loves computers, history, TV shows about anything geeky Jason's favorite characters are Roo and Peter Pan...and his favorite color is blue.

We have been together for nearly 5 years. We bought our first house just over a year ago...and are the proud parents of a 1 year old kitten (Demeter) and 9 year old Noble Macaw (small breed of parrot---her name is Sarabi). We are DVC owners at both Saratoga Springs AND Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas (we just bought that on the recent TransAtlantic). We're WDW Annual Pass Holders....and we've been on 3 Disney cruises together (I went on one before I met Jason, too). We love WDW....we love DCL.


Hmmm.....that's probably one of the longest descriptions of either of us that I've ever posted online... ....but it's probably still totally inadequate. Several of the folks on this thread already know us, too....did I miss anything, guys?

 

[tig82174]

One thing I do want to post about that I know came up recently was Castaway Cay.

I think Chris (Scoobypop) pointed out that Jason and I have done a number of excursions at Castaway....and he's right. We've done the cabana massages (not an excursion---but certainly an experience!! ). We've done parasailing (which we LOOOOOOOVED!!! ) We've done the stingrays (which was fun, but we probably won't do it again). We've done the hiking and kayaking (which we really enjoyed). We've done the glass bottom boat (fun, but again...won't need to repeat that). We've rented one of those big water tricycle things (fun....and you can get some fun pictures of the boat but boy is it a workout!). We also always do one of the Castaway packages where you get float, bikes, and snorkel rentals. So we keep ourselves very busy at Castaway Cay because we think there's so many fun things to do.

That said, however....we have never had the opportunity to relax and enjoy Castaway the way that Chris and Hadley do....and we always wish we could but the day goes by so fast with all we want to do!! That is one of the reasons we're so excited about this trip because we intend to do one day at Castaway the way we always do...jam-packed with fun excursions and excitement...and the second with a Cabana massage and then just hanging out and relaxing all day!

 

[LuvtheEars]

I can't remember, how old will your DS be on the cruise? Rio will be 9 and Marika 11.

DS will be 8 and does love Tae Kwon Do. My DD will be 5 - she takes dance and is our little

He's tried to explain it to me a bazillion times and every time he does my eyes glaze over and I start to drool and go catatonic!! :

I resemble this look when my DH tries to tell me about his software job!

 

[NHdisneylover]

ERIK You're back I am so happy to see the bouncing Tigger posts again. You are reviving me from my exuastion of keeping up with five kids for a good part of the day. And Erik, when New York gets its act together I have three words for you: Fairy Tale Wedding nudge, nudge.

LuvtheEars: that means our DSs can geek out together in the lab!

 

[cyndifan]

ROTFL This reminds me of my 26th birthday. My dad takes me out for Lobster every birthday and DH was working so we took along DD3 at the time. The waiter brought out my Lobster, and darling daughter SCREAMMED GET THE BUGGY OFF OF THE TABLE!! She had the whole restaurant looking at us. LOL it was priceless. The manager had to take the lobster back in the kitchen and deshell it for me

This reminds me - DD has been talking about EATING BUGS! With all the issues she has about insects - squealing if she sees a fly, not wanting to touch fire flys, etc. - I can't believe she talking about actually EATING a bug. I know where this is coming from though - I think she's seen Pumba & Timone (& Simba) eating bugs one too many times. So now, DH is talking about taking her to bugfest that's held at our local museum of Natural Sciences. One of the major activites is described as: 'Taste delectable dishes featuring creepy crawlers as a major ingredient at Café Insecta.' If DH & DD want to eat bugs, they are welcome to it, just don't ask me to go along!!! I'll go shopping instead.

Lobster that just looks like a big bug is yummy, real bugs - yuck! (even if they are chocolate covered)

 

[tig82174]

ERIK You're back I am so happy to see the bouncing Tigger posts again. You are reviving me from my exuastion of keeping up with five kids for a good part of the day. And Erik, when New York gets its act together I have three words for you: Fairy Tale Wedding nudge, nudge.

LuvtheEars: that means our DSs can geek out together in the lab!

Oh, girl, are you kidding?!? I already have it all planned out! Forget the gifts....instead I want everyone I know to book a 4-night on the Wonder (b/c not everyone in my friends and family...will be able to afford 7-night Magic necessarily) and I wanna do it on the beach at Castaway!!! (it's a pipe dream, I know...but alas....that's what Disney is all about!)

 

[NHdisneylover]

Oh, girl, are you kidding?!? I already have it all planned out! Forget the gifts....instead I want everyone I know to book a 4-night on the Wonder (b/c not everyone in my friends and family...will be able to afford 7-night Magic necessarily) and I wanna do it on the beach at Castaway!!! (it's a pipe dream, I know...but alas....that's what Disney is all about!)

EVERYONE you know?? Does that mean we are invited? You know we woudl so TOTALLY be there (way more fun than KAren's wedding in Hawaii).

For those of you who do not know this yet, Rio is like some odd little mini version of Erik (so much alike it is SCARY). So, totally true story here: just the other day, completely out of the blue Rio says when he grows up he is going to take the Wonder (odd as he hasn't been on the Wonder since he was 10 months old, but he was very clear about which ship) to Castaway Cay and get married there Dave asked him what he would do if the person he wants to marry doesn't liek Disney? "Like I could fall in love with someone that didn't!"

 

[NHdisneylover]

Speaking of my small people, they want to know why THEY did not get a bio on the thread (or did htey and I don't remember typing it)? Either way both have given me lists of things I need to say about them so here goes.

DD is Marika. She is 10 and will be 11 on the cruise but looks a little more liek 14. She is tall like her father (he is 6' 5" she is already 5' 2"). Her favourtie activity is reading and she averages checking out 11 books per week from the local library (if she checks it out she reads it). She reads everything from Magic Tree House and Nanacy Drew ("20 minute books") to Shakespeare (I kid you not). The other day I found she had picked up The BeanTrees form the shelves. Hey, I got that for a class my freshman year in college She also loves science (especially as it relates in anyway to outerspace) and history. She enjoys art, especially sketching, weaving and water color painting and likes to write poetry. She has been a girl scout for 5 years and has no plan to stop any time soon. She loves earning those badges and planning trips (it is a type A kind of troop which skiis, hikes, visits science museums, etc.). She is also an advanced blue belt in karate which is her other passion. She is more shy and introverted than her younger borther, but once she does open up to someone she can go on (and on and on) forever. She wants to eb an aerospace engineer when she grows up.

 

[tig82174]

EVERYONE you know?? Does that mean we are invited? You know we woudl so TOTALLY be there (way more fun than KAren's wedding in Hawaii).

For those of you who do not know this yet, Rio is like some odd little mini version of Erik (so much alike it is SCARY). So, totally true story here: just the other day, completely out of the blue Rio says when he grows up he is going to take the Wonder (odd as he hasn't been on the Wonder since he was 10 months old, but he was very clear about which ship) to Castaway Cay and get married there Dave asked him what he would do if the person he wants to marry doesn't liek Disney? "Like I could fall in love with someone that didn't!"

First of all....what kind of a nonsense question is "are we invited"? Get real....you get seats right up front (well of course if it's on Castaway you get a spot in the sand up front...but it's all the same!). I figure by then I'll have so many DIS friends from all our trips and threads PLUS all our friends and family....that it'll be like having a DCL private charter. Disney's gonna add it to the list of "special cruises"!

And second of all.....oh how your son does delight me!! Give him a big high five from me! Also, tell him that it's not that he can't fall in love with someone who doesn't like Disney....it's that he can't fall in love with someone who WON'T like Disney. Before I met Jason he had NEVER been to WDW....he knew next to NOTHING about Disney really....but I quickly converted him