EWP group?

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hello all!

I am glad to report that we have made it safely home after a wonderful and eventful DW vacation. I plan to post a many paged report soon so I will just direct you all to that as I am too darned tired to write much tonight. You KNOW I am beat when I cannot type much. LOL

Lauralee, how wonderful to see you in here. I am looking forward to getting to know you better.

I will try to catch up between loads of laundry tomorrow. In the meantime I will tell you that I was a hit at Millionaire. Did not win the cruise but sure did some unusual things. All the brain cells you all sent my way sure did come in handy. Anyone know what a gazeteer is? I was the only one who did. LOL (I will not mention the 100 point question I did NOT know)

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Linda, I have been dying for you to get back and share all the juicy details. So glad you are home safely. Can't wait to hear all about it.

xoxo

 

[IASW Rider]

WELCOME BACK, LINDA AND TOM!!!!!!!!!!!!

And CONGRATULATIONS on your great success at Millionaire - we had no doubt that you would do fantastically! So glad that you made it home safely, and can't wait to hear about your wonderful trip! We've all been thinking of you, here in the Suite!

Hi Colleen!

Hi Everyone!

We're off to New Hope, PA tonight for some dining and shopping, are getting together with friends tomorrow night, and will be "performing" at the Haunted Hotel on Halloween!

Hope that you all have a great weekend!

 

[IASW Rider]

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Happy Halloween right back at cha and everyone else as well, Rider!! Would you believe that we had over 300 trick or treaters at our house last night? I ran out at 7:30. We live between two churches on the main street of town so they all seem to come here on their way there or back. Many of my old kids bring their kids t or t and I love it. I always give the kids a hug and tell them they have my sympathy for who their parents are. LOL

Lisa, what did you and Frank perform at the Haunted House? I bet you were super stars at whatever. I have a witches costume and have always wanted to give treats on my front porch with a cauldron of dry ice but have never found the right cauldron. One couple came as American Gothic and were stunned when I told them the story of the picture. Too much information, is my wont. (sigh) How did you like Team America? I am wondering how they are getting away with using real people as their characters.

I have started posting my trip report. I have the first 8 days covered so far in two seperate installments. Maybe I can add the rest this evening. I am still trying to catch up from the trip.

Colleen, hope your ears have recovered from the strain of having to hear 'those' kinds of words. Comfort yourself with the fact that he is doing something useful while uttering them. My dh utters them all the time while sitting in front of the tv. I have to admit that I often think them when I am doing certain chores as well though. I will have to check the past posts and see what all you have gotten accomplished at your new home so far. Bet the kids are in hog heaven. Maybe we could plan a get together before the holidays get nearer? (hint) LOL

Helenabear, you always do the most interesting things. I think I would like to do the Segway tour sometime too. After all I did manage Peter Pan this trip so I am ready for anything. LOL I will have to check for your trip report and see what all you did. Might give me some ideas for our next trip (November 2005). If I can finally manage to win the cruise you can give me hints on what to do. Dalton has decided that if I fail he is going with me on our combined trip (yes, I have been formally invited) and we are gonna kick butt! The kid knows his Disney and I know history, literature and some other odd subjects. He has had his AR reading level upped to nearly 3.0 while I was gone. He is reading 4.0 books but the school is holding him back. I say AR be darned and full steam ahead!!!!

SG/Linda

 

[lunabkat]

Hi everyone.

Welcome back Linda, it sounds like you had yourself a marvelous time. I might try millionaire while i am there, i will let you know how i do. (much inane, useless knowledge lies within these walls.)

We are staying at the Holiday Inn Family Suites which will be in the middle of a Nickleodeon change over. I will give a report on that when i return too.(12/11 to 12/18, who-hoo!)

Took the dds treatortreating tonite, i am exhausted, they were bouncing off the walls for a while but have since calmed down. Oh, lord, please let the crash come soon. They had a ball and the 3 year old kept saying "next house, please". I can't believe all the candy they got. We have really great neighbors and they gave out tons of candy to the local kids - thanks (lol).

Time to corral the younguns and get them to bed. happy Halloween everybody. How was your turn out Rider? We gave out very little, where were they all?

 

[colleen costello]

Hi everyone, especially our returning dignitary, Linda! We had a nice Halloween here. One thing I will say for southern Indiana, it is almost always nice on Halloween. Not too cold and tonite no rain. We walked up our street and made the whole loop on the one behind too. I so appreciate my kids being a bit older now as I used to pull them in the wagon. Just hauling my self over the hills and valleys was enough exercise, thank you! Friends came and we walked together and all was well with the world.

I have been over to the trip reports board enjoying Linda's first installments about her pilgrimage. I can only imagine so many days at WDW. We usually stay 8 or 9 nights and I am not near ready to leave when it comes time. I tell myself that some day, when the kids are bigger and I am retired, I will stay longer and just "hang out." Going at a non-crowded time would be simply glorious. Someday. Meanwhile, hearing about the places Linda and Tom saw and ate is treat enough. I have always heard Biergarten is tons of fun but the food never sounded so good. I may brave it just to hear the music and meet other WDW fans.

We spent the weekend hanging out, working on organizing our basement, cleaning, and doing stuff with the kids. Hubby caved in to pressure and took them to the local Laser Tag place where they happily shot each other for overpriced 20-minute sessions. Not my idea of fun but they loved it... I got the grocery shopping done while they played the war games. Back to school tomorrow and before we know it Thanksgiving will be here. Rider and I have been Emailing about the stresses of the holidays. I have two small children to make Christmas for but she celebrates Christmas AND Chanukah, so I don't know who wins the "most stressed" award. Both of us will be very busy come late December!

Off to get the kiddies to bed. Love to all and keep up with those great trip reports Linda!

 

[IASW Rider]

Oh goody! I didn't realize that you had been posting your trip reports, Linda! I will have to pop over to that Board as soon as I am done posting here and start reading them - I can't wait!

That is SO WONDERFUL that you have been "officially invited" to join your DD, DSL, and Austin and Dalton on their upcoming WDW trip! That's going to be the greatest trip for you all, ever! And I wouldn't doubt that you and your grandson(s!) could easily win that cruise and break all of the Millionaire records, together!

Glad to hear that your trick-or-treaters had fun and successful outings, Colleen and Lauralee! It was also unseasonably warm here, yesterday (as Lauralee knows!), which made it a great day for being outside on Halloween!

We had a blast at the Haunted Hotel, last night! I performed a variety of functions. Most often, I was outside the Hotel, "working the line" (like a Disney character!), entertaining people while they waited on the (very long!) queue (there must have been close to 1000 people there, last night!). I dragged this guy (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/detail?.dir=b0e2&.dnm=c963.jpg&.src=ph ) around by his "noose" and "reigned him in" when he "cut loose" to jump out and scare people on line. I also slowly walked around, glaring at people and staring them down, trying to "intimidate them" (which is hard to do without laughing! ). In order to do so, I needed to look people right in the eye and really see them.........which is how I discovered one of the actors from my soap opera right at the head of the line, at one point! What luck that I happened to be out there at that time! I had a chance to speak to and pose for a picture with him, as well! (Speaking of pictures, if you'd like to see some pictures of the Hotel........and us.........looking pretty "scary"..........here they are: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/album?.dir=b0e2&.src=ph
When I got tired of walking around the queue, I periodically stood at the exit and played "Little Leota", saying "goodbye" to the guests as they left the Hotel (or more accurately, burst through the doors, laughing and screaming, because guests are chased out of the Hotel by a "Jason" lookalike!).

I also took some rotations of working various "scares" inside the Hotel. I operated a moving portrait in the "hall of portraits" and popped out and yelled at people. I also operated a chest of drawers in the "bedroom", making them appear to move by themselves (and slam shut VERY LOUDLY), causing most guests to run into the ominous looking "closet", where I then burst out through a rack of dusty old clothes, screaming at them, then just as they left that and proceeded through a hall of mirrors, I jumped out and blocked their path yelling "GET OUT OF HERE!" It was exhausting........but a lot of fun! The BEST was scaring teenaged boys and grown men and hearing them scream! Or watching people be so startled that they literally fell down like dominos, laughing and screaming! I'll tell ya, I have to hand it to the cast and crew who worked 4 nights of every weekend, there - it really is hard work! And there are "occupational hazards", too - within the first 5 minutes of operating the moving portrait, I slammed my fingers in it and now have bruises all over that hand! I also almost had a temporary plywood wall fall on me, since my sister-in-law (who spent the evening in a metal cage in total darkness.....until people passed by her and she triggered a lightning effect and started rattling and shaking the cage and yelling "WAAAAAAAAAAAA LET ME OUT OF HERE!" at them!) scared people so much that several of them literally fell down in fright, thus putting the wall that separated my backstage passage from the Hotel tour route in peril! Frank worked the outside queue for a bit, too, but mostly he startled unsuspecting guests as they passed through a room of mirrors by appearing in one of the mirrors in a mask and screaming at them!

Anyway, it was a very festive way to spend Halloween! It seems that the Haunted Hotel had a very successful season - I hope that they do as well next year and I hope that we'll be able to pop by and help out again, too!

We thought that "Team America" was very funny, Linda! NOT for children - too many adult themes in it - but we appreciated the irony and subtle (and not-so-subtle) political references in it! It's a very "politically incorrect" film - they take "pot shots" at just about every group. And there's lots of "potty humor", too, which isn't my favorite. But there were some genuinely funny and intelligent aspects of the movie, too. And the animation of the marionettes was amazing - very impressive.

Ok - time to go and start reading Linda's trip reports! Will "talk to you" via e-mail too, Colleen! Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great day!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I miss vacation!!! I got to live like Tom while at DW. I woke up when I darned well felt like it and enjoyed having Joyce, our mousekeeper, pick up after me. Not that I gave her much to do, I am very respectful of such and neaten up as I go. Now I am back home and overwhelmed with so very much to do just to catch up and then Christmas is lurking around the corner. I have caused great agony to my family as I have announced that I am NOT going to decorate this year, maybe one small tree and that is enough. We do not have enough company to warrant all the work and it takes me weeks to get everything up from the basement and then back down afterward. Going to spend time with friends instead. (sticking out my tongue in a rude and obnoxious manner) LOL

Lisa, what a wonderful time you had and what a scary time you gave everyone else. I could see you doing all your activities but was very happy to hear that Frank is not quite as quiet as he had appeared to me. You must have rubbed off on him. LOL Hope your pains are small ones and will heal quickly. Did you find that guy "just hanging around"? GROAN!!!! You must love Halloween as it means you get to wear your favorite color, black! LOL You look great it in though so it is a good thing. With my grandkids wholly in my corner and my sil being wise enough to know that a free babysitter is NOT the worst thing to have on a family vacation it was just a matter of time until dd caved in. Is not like I wanna hang out with them anymore than they do with me. BTW, I thank you for one of my Millionaire points. I knew was Seder was. OK, so I knew what it was before also but you had recently refreshed my memory. At my age I need reminders often. LOL

Colleen, isn't life grand in the Midwest where you can take your kids trick or treating and all is right with the world? I feel sorry for city folks, except for when a really good play is in town and then I drive there and back. LOL Glad that you hubby had some bonding time with the kids (violent or not) and you got a bit of 'me' time GRIN What did your kids dress as? Dalton was a skateboarder, is his dream and his mom and mine's nightmare. Actually the 16 days was just a tad much. 2 weeks would have been perfect but it was worth it to stay to hear Three Dog Night. They were as good as ever and it was wonderful to see them in person. I am looking forward to meeting you sometime in the next couple of weeks. Awaiting word so I can plan a date.

lunabkat, so you are good at trivia as well? If you pm me with your email addy I will glady invite you to join my trivia group. We play on Thursday nights at 8 (my time) if you are interested. We get a bit ornery once in awhile but it is a pretty nice group without some of the problems that some encounter on the Web. You could watch me embarrass myself. I either come in first, second or last. Not often anywhere else. LOL If you would care for any tips on how to increase your chances of making the hot seat I will gladly share them with you. I had to learn the hard way and was heartbroken the first time I played and even though I was getting the answers wrong could not make the board let alone the hot seat. What did your darlings dress as? I love the costumes and kid all my Halloween visitors about their choices. I am still looking for a cauldron so that I may set a scene on my front porch. One of these days!! The Holiday Inn Suites is just on the edge of property is it not? It is one choice for my dd and family. I have researched renting a house for the week as well as it would be cheaper and more comfortable as there are many couples but they might want their own places. I cannot praise the Disney Rewards program too much. The first week or so I was able to whip out the card and owe no money for some of our Disney meals. Even Tom was impressed and he is used to me doing such things. Hoping to be able to earn at least one AP this next year. Hope that when your little ones crashed you were able to get some well deserved rest.

Have to go do some more work now. Cyber is a more relaxing place. Did I mention that I went over the Suite while at DW and had some improvements put in? You know how those new buses lean down? Well, our Suite now leans up, way up so that we can have a much better view of Wishes or any other thing we wish to see, we also revolve ala Garden Grill. Ain't technology great?

SG/Linda

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I miss vacation!!! I got to live like Tom while at DW. I woke up when I darned well felt like it and enjoyed having Joyce, our mousekeeper, pick up after me. Not that I gave her much to do, I am very respectful of such and neaten up as I go. Now I am back home and overwhelmed with so very much to do just to catch up and then Christmas is lurking around the corner. I have caused great agony to my family as I have announced that I am NOT going to decorate this year, maybe one small tree and that is enough. We do not have enough company to warrant all the work and it takes me weeks to get everything up from the basement and then back down afterward. Going to spend time with friends instead. (sticking out my tongue in a rude and obnoxious manner) LOL

Lisa, what a wonderful time you had and what a scary time you gave everyone else. I could see you doing all your activities but was very happy to hear that Frank is not quite as quiet as he had appeared to me. You must have rubbed off on him. LOL Hope your pains are small ones and will heal quickly. Did you find that guy "just hanging around"? GROAN!!!! You must love Halloween as it means you get to wear your favorite color, black! LOL You look great it in though so it is a good thing. With my grandkids wholly in my corner and my sil being wise enough to know that a free babysitter is NOT the worst thing to have on a family vacation it was just a matter of time until dd caved in. Is not like I wanna hang out with them anymore than they do with me. BTW, I thank you for one of my Millionaire points. I knew was Seder was. OK, so I knew what it was before also but you had recently refreshed my memory. At my age I need reminders often. LOL

Colleen, isn't life grand in the Midwest where you can take your kids trick or treating and all is right with the world? I feel sorry for city folks, except for when a really good play is in town and then I drive there and back. LOL Glad that you hubby had some bonding time with the kids (violent or not) and you got a bit of 'me' time GRIN What did your kids dress as? Dalton was a skateboarder, is his dream and his mom and mine's nightmare. Actually the 16 days was just a tad much. 2 weeks would have been perfect but it was worth it to stay to hear Three Dog Night. They were as good as ever and it was wonderful to see them in person. I am looking forward to meeting you sometime in the next couple of weeks. Awaiting word so I can plan a date.

lunabkat, so you are good at trivia as well? If you pm me with your email addy I will glady invite you to join my trivia group. We play on Thursday nights at 8 (my time) if you are interested. We get a bit ornery once in awhile but it is a pretty nice group without some of the problems that some encounter on the Web. You could watch me embarrass myself. I either come in first, second or last. Not often anywhere else. LOL If you would care for any tips on how to increase your chances of making the hot seat I will gladly share them with you. I had to learn the hard way and was heartbroken the first time I played and even though I was getting the answers wrong could not make the board let alone the hot seat. What did your darlings dress as? I love the costumes and kid all my Halloween visitors about their choices. I am still looking for a cauldron so that I may set a scene on my front porch. One of these days!! The Holiday Inn Suites is just on the edge of property is it not? It is one choice for my dd and family. I have researched renting a house for the week as well as it would be cheaper and more comfortable as there are many couples but they might want their own places. I cannot praise the Disney Rewards program too much. The first week or so I was able to whip out the card and owe no money for some of our Disney meals. Even Tom was impressed and he is used to me doing such things. Hoping to be able to earn at least one AP this next year. Hope that when your little ones crashed you were able to get some well deserved rest.

Have to go do some more work now. Cyber is a more relaxing place. Did I mention that I went over the Suite while at DW and had some improvements put in? You know how those new buses lean down? Well, our Suite now leans up, way up so that we can have a much better view of Wishes or any other thing we wish to see, we also revolve ala Garden Grill. Ain't technology great?

SG/Linda

 

[helenabear]

Hi all! Quick check in from work. Feel like being a total slacker today

Colleen, I am very excited to do that Segway tour!!! I will be with a couple friends as well, so that will be even better. Hopefully the "boot camp" won't be too difficult. I am just such a tech geek, that I am dying to do it.
I agree with you about DCL costs. Even for Mickey, it seems awfully over priced. A 4 night cruise is almost double!!! what we are paying for a 5 night cruise. Way too much for me!

Lisa, do you book your cruise & stay separate? From what I understand they are much more cost effective to do separate. And as one who has stayed 6 nights at concierge I can imagine how much you've put into your vacations. I do hear DCL is wonderful, but I admit I am beyond frugal with money a lot of the time
Sounds like a wonderful time with the Haunted House though!!! I wish we had been able to do more for Halloween this year

Welcome Back Linda!! Well I am feeling quite flattered that you think I do interesting things I admit I try to have fun and like to try new things now and then. I can't say I do a lot that is different though overall. I am quite set in my ways, but just love to take in all WDW has to offer
Congratulations on your win at Millionaire!!! Cruise or not, I bet you did wonderfully!!

lunabkat, it looks like I will just miss you at WDW! I am sure you will have a wonderful time and I hear those suites are wonderful for families!

Well I should get back to work.... can't say I *want* to, but I should

 

[colleen costello]

Hi everyone. Lisa, I got your Email and read your post here. LOVED the pictures you sent... You and Frank and family were downright horrifying! And what a treat about meeting someone from your soap. I used to be quite the General Hospital fan but it got really dumb and I got mad and quit watching... I would nonetheless be THRILLED to meet any of those actors. When you watch every day they get to seem like family.

Linda, I support your decision NOT to decorate. It is exhausting. You might find that "year on/year off" suits you. I might be tempted to skip a year if not for the kids.

Erin and Ian went as a witch and wizard. Very simple and not too scary. They both looked cute. I WISH I could post pics... no clue how. I will try to at least send one to Lisa.

Been doing homework tonite early so we can watch a special edition of "Extreme Makeover: Home." I LOVE that show! Hope you all had a good Monday.

xoxo

 

[lunabkat]

Hi everyone.

Well, the sugar comas struck shortly after i left you the other night. Ah, sweet peace and quiet. Yikes, they did have some fun though.

Linda, i would love to join you trivia group, i will pm you later - must go vote. I will pick your brains about the hot seat so i can get on, what fun!

The HIFS is changing to Nickelodeon Hotel at the moment and i hear their rates are going up. I went to their website and it looks like a kidsuite (1 adult room, i attached kids room and living room area with kitchenette) should go for around 120$ per nite. No more breakfasts included after 12/31, rats.

Be prepared for lots of bright orange and lime green (oh, goody...) along with nick's cartoon characters all over the place. My poor dh will never be the same (not to mention Nana). Again, i say, What Fun!

Linda, my dds went as Sleeping Beauty. We are doing the teapart at DW and they agreed it would be rude to be any other princess by Aurora at the Tea so that is what they chose to be for Halloween - too much, those two. who would have guessed a 3 and 5 yearold would be so succint in their appreciation of princess etiquette.

Helenabear, too bad we are missing each other, it would have been fun to see the ewp together (lol).

See ya soon (less than a month and a half, woo-hoo!)

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

That was such a cute story about your DD's and how they thought it would be "rude" to be any princess other than Aurora, Lauralee! That Nickelodeon Hotel sounds like it's gonna be wild - you will have to take lots of pictures and give us the full report, when you get back!

Speaking of "reports", I've enjoyed the first installments of your trip reports, Linda! And that's so neat that you were able to meet and spend some time with Janet! Do you know that I had no idea about her vow renewal plans - I just happened across her thread, a few days ago! I sent her a congratulatory PM. Can't wait to hear all about it and I hope that she posts pictures, too. Did she and her DH actually renew their vows INSIDE the GMR??!! Anyway, it sounds like you and Tom had a great time! It's so neat that you got to see all of those concerts! And so glad that you enjoyed Peter Pan, too! Did you go back to 'Ohana at all? Thank you for renovating our Suite - it looks fantastic! I love the rotating feature, too!

OK, now that I understand what the Segway Tour is, I can't wait to hear your impressions and about your experience when you take it, Elaine! Your trip is just around the corner - I'm sure that the next few weeks are going to fly!

I also used to watch "GH", Colleen! At what point did you become mad at the plot and then "quit"? I just found that I didn't have time to keep up with 2 soaps, and I'm so attached to "AMC" that "GH" had to "go" about 15 years ago. Because I still watch "AMC", I do see commercials for "GH" all the time though, so I'm always vaguely aware of what's going on, on that show, anyway! Living so close to NYC, I've actually had a chance to meet many of the people from the "AMC" cast (even Kelly Ripa, when she was on the show!) - either at events or just by "running into them" on the streets of NY!

Not too much to report - just wanted to stop by and say "hi"! I was having problems getting onto the Boards, yesterday - first they were running very slowly, then I couldn't get on at all. So I just wanted to "check in" today and say "hello"! Have a great day, Everyone!

 

[colleen costello]

Hi girls. Lisa, I just sent you a ranting Email... Everyone, suffice to say Lisa and I are NOT happy with the outcome of the election. It hurts when your guy loses!

I am also following Linda's trip reports and drooling for more. My pal Jenny just got back too. She sent me a juicy Email and they had a ball. They were at Old Key West because no other DVC rooms were available. While it was "too sedate" for their tastes --they love Boardwalk -- they had a great trip and enjoyed their location right by a pool. I had recommended the Turtle Pond area to them, and they wound up assigned to #43, one of my favorite buildings. We were there in June and loved it -- it's right across from a pool that has a snack/bar, playground, and arcade. Jenny's 3 kids got to trick-or-treat not just at the MK (they did the Halloween party) but also at Boardwalk on Sunday night. The Boardwalk had a pool party and Jenny and Mark consumed lots of Pina Coladas while the kids floated in the pool and watched "The Haunted Mansion." How fun! Hearing about their trip was just what I needed after a very stressful election day!

Jenny is the queen of countdowns and she informed me that it's just 129 days 'til our Spring Break. We will be at the Wilderness Lodge mid-March for 6 nights, and I need to add 2 nights somewhere once the AP discounts come out. While I would love to do the Polynesian again, that won't work this time. Turns out March is in the "expensive" seasons and the Poly is over $400 per night. I am holding out for our July trip when the rooms will be over $100 less... So it looks like it will be a Moderate. Any opinions? Riverside is my fave, but we have been there many times. I am leaning toward Carribean Beach as the kids liked the pool when we visited last Spring and had lunch. Any opinions? We'll get two rooms and the first day we'll probably just relax after traveling.

As always, Disney dreaming is a lifesaver. When it seems all is not right with the world, thinking of Orlando keeps me going. Hope all is well with all of you.

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Colleen! Hi Everyone!

I'm with Colleen - dreaming of Disney is a great antidote for all the stress and upset in the world!

I'm sorry that the Poly isn't going to work out on your next trip, Colleen! But $400 a night is just ridiculous! (I'm still not used to thinking of the Poly rates in those terms, since every time we stayed there, we did so as part of a package, so I never really knew what the "per night" rate for that time of year was!) I wish that I was more familiar with the moderates, to be able to offer advice. Of course we loved Riverside.........but you're already familiar with that resort! I've heard wonderful reports about Coranado Springs - we have friends who really enjoy staying there, and they love the pool. (I climbed the real pyramid in Mexico, around which that pool is themed!) I wish that I knew what to advise!

I also love reading people's trip reports and hearing about the details of their WDW vacations! In fact, as soon as I am done posting here, I am going to pop back to the Trip Reports Board to see if Linda has treated us to another installment! It's neat to hear about people's experiences with the different DVC properties, too (albeit tempting.......! ) !

Just 129 more days, Colleen (actually, 128, now!) - that's coming up pretty quickly! I'm sure that that time will fly! We have 191 more days to go, ourselves! Reading Linda's trip reports and soon hearing about Elaine's and Lauralee's December trips should keep us going until our dates come up!

Not too much to report, from here! I've committed myself to stopping sulking and staying away from the TV (how much MSNBC can one girl take, in a 48 hour period?! ). We're looking forward to the weekend - we're going into NYC tomorrow afternoon, having dinner there, then seeing my best friend Gary play in a jazz/ R&B / funk band at a club in the Village, tomorrow night. He joined this program called "4 weeks to the stage", where he was thrown together with several other musicians (none of whom he had known or practiced with before) for 4 weekly 2 hour rehearsal sessions........which culminates with their getting up on stage and performing! I think he is very brave to get up there and do that, with only 8 hours total of rehearsals with the band! I'm sure that it will be fun and that he'll do a great job - he's a natural on the keyboards and has always been able to just hear a song on the radio, then sit down at the keyboard and play it. And it's always nice to have an excuse to get into the City! We're having dinner with some friends of ours who recently got married, on Saturday night, and we're looking forward to seeing their Hawaiian honeymoon photos!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Have a great day!

 

[TalkisCheap]

Hi everyone!!!!


My, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. I spent the last 45 minutes catching up on the 5-6 pages I missed! I'm glad to hear, for the most part, everyone is well!

Rider, I especially enjoyed hearing all about Jewish holidays. I'm from a relatively devout Catholic family, and it was very interesting learning about a different religion and its holidays, especially since Catholosism is so closely related to it.

SG, I'm jealous you went to WDW again! I'm glad you had a good time, and good job in Millioinare! I can't wait for my trip in March...!!

Lunabkat - always nice to see a new face in the Suite!! My name's Caroline, and I'm 13{a few months from being 14!}. I'm homeschooled, and I live in Maine with my parents and my sister{my brother is attending college at Villanova}. I play a sport{sometimes several!} every season, my favorite being track and field, so I often bore everyone here with my sports goings-on! I also have played the piano for over 6 years

Well, cross country is over and done with - the championship meet being a week from yesterday. My team hosted the meet, and we won 3 of the 4 age groups{6th grade girls and boys, as well as 7-8th grade girls} I didn't do near as well as I had hoped, but I still received a ribbon, and was 35th out of around 80.

Basketball tryouts start Monday. I can't tell you how nervous I am. I know I made the team last year, but I haven't been practicing near as much. I also wish I knew who our coach would be. After last season, 3 of the 4 coaches quit, leaving just the 7th grade boys coach. They interviewed prospective coaches last friday, but no one knows who the coaches will be. I was especially dissapointed, because I learned just a few weeks ago, the man who has coached 8th grade girls for the past 4 years had quit. He is my track coach, and is one of my favorite teacher/coaches I've ever met/had. He's very nice, and one of the few teachers who accept the fact I'm homeschooled and do not badger me about coming to school. I'll be happy when Monday comes and I'll know who the coach I'll hopefully have until early February is!

School is going well. It seems we finally found our groove, and have been getting lots of work done, finally! I got my first set of tests back a few days ago, and was surprised to see I got all 1's{A's}! I'm also very excited, because it's only 18 more days until I have my thanksgiving-new years break. With everything going on during the holidays, it's hard to do school, so a few years ago my mom decided it'd be better if we just took a long vacation!

Also school related, is all my preparations for high school. Monday I shadowed a friend of mine, to see how I liked it{I'm planning on attending a private, jesuit co-ed school, my brother also went there} and I loved it! I liked it before, but being in the classrooms, meeting some of the coaches and teachers really made me want to go there, and anxious for next year! Two weeks from Sunday I'm taking the entrance exam again, so I've been busy preparing for that. My math seems to be awesome, but I'm having a problem with the language section. I just can't seem to find the grammatical errors in the sentances they give. Oh well, my mom has been helping me and I've been getting better, I've taken that part twice, and the second time I rose 30% on my scores, but I'm still not happy with only a 75%!

Other than that, I can't think of anything else going on. My sister sent out her college applications, or at least 2 of them, to Villanova and BC. Her first choice is Lehigh, I think, but I don't even think she knows! Although my parents{and I!} would love if she went to BC, as it's much closer than the other two, Lehigh is better than most, as she'd be less than 20 minutes from my brother at Villanova, about an hour from my uncle and aunt's, and a little more than that to my other uncle and aunts. I keep thinking how weird it's going to be, all alone next year with just me at home, and I'll be in High school! I'm not quite sure I'm ready for that much change...especially since I'm not one for change!

Oh, Halloween was a lot of fun. Me and my friends Shawn and Jessie went, and had a great time. I've got plenty of candy, as we 'hit up' every house in my fairly large neighborhood! My friends love coming here because a lot of people give out king size candy bars, and such! LoL!! I have several pictures, and I'll try and post them once my dad fixes my memory card reader! I went as a bottle of mustard, and my friend Shawn was a bottle of ketchup. My friend Jessie was a gypsie, and it was a lot of fun! Especially since this might be my last year t-o-t!

Well, I'm suffering from a bit of a cold right now, and I'm not quite sure why I'm still up right now! I have every intention of trying to stay on top of this thread, so that I can post as things happen...not when they were months ago! Have a great day tomorrow!

Caroline

 

[IASW Rider]

Welcome back, Caroline!!!!

Great to hear from you! And so glad to hear that your school year has been going well and that you had a successful cross country season, too! We knew that you would! It sounds like you did a great job! And I'm sure that you will do just as beautifully in your basketball tryouts, too!

Likewise, your high school entrance exam - with great grades like you've been getting, there's no doubt that you will ace that test, as well! Your preparations for it sound like mine, when I was studying for the GRE over the summer - too bad that we weren't studying at the same time - you could have helped me with my math and I could have helped you with your verbal! But you don't need my "help" - it sounds like you're working hard and you are bound to do an amazing job!

It sounds like you and your friends had fun on Halloween - definitely post pictures so that we can see, when you have a chance!

You mentioned that your Birthday is coming up in a few months - when is it? Inquiring minds want to know........so that we can plan a celebration in the Suite!

And speaking of upcoming Birthdays to celebrate in the Suite, our Suite gentlemen have already begun preparing our newly renovated Suite (thanks, Linda!) for a grand occasion, this weekend - the beginning of Colleen's 4 day long Birthday extravaganza! We will begin celebrating at sundown tomorrow night, with a sunset cruise on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Events will be taking place constantly, over the next few days, until the "grand finale" celebration takes place on Colleen's actual Birthday, this coming Tuesday! Bo and Don will post the list of celebratory events in our common living room area, this afternoon! Get ready for a weekend of celebrating Colleen's special day!

Have a great weekend, Everyone!

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... seems I check in during work more often than anywhere else

lunabkat, that was very smart to have the costume for both ocassions there! I bet your DD made for a beautiful Aurora. It is a pity we will be missing each other. I do always enjoy meeting fellow DISers and especially those on the EWP.

Lisa, I cannot believe how close this trip is. I am slowly starting to get my final stuff together for it. I'll be sure to share my impressions of the Segway tour... I am such a tech junkie and I have been dying to get on one for a while!!!!

Colleen, I totally understand what you mean about the cost of the Polynesian... we paid about $500/night for concierge one year (this was when discounts for concierge were near impossible to get). I hope you can find a way to add a couple nights though
As for moderate resorts, the only one I have *not* stayed at is Port Orleans -- French Quarter. I equally love Coronado Springs and DxL though. Not sure why, but CBR really didn't do a thing for me. It was so spread out and took forever to get around. I think CSR has mroe rooms, but the layout is far better.

Caroline, always great to see you here!!!! I have to admit, as I got to know more about Judiasm, I was shocked to see how terribly closely Catholicism followed Jewish faith. Actually I always enjoy learning about all religions myself
Congrats on the good season for Cross Country! Sorry you didn't do as well as you hoped for, but I always said when I ran, at least it wasn't last
Good luck with basketball tryouts! And I am sure you will love high school next year! Good luck with the entrance exam/

Ooh a party for Colleen's birthday? I am all for that!! I do hope your birthday is a wonderful one!

Not too much is going on with me. I still work at my company (always a bonus) and just finally been taking it easy more at home. Tomorrow I get to have lunch with a couple people I am friends with here on the DIS. After that we are going to dinner with some of my other friends and then going to a comedy club after. Oh, I did forget to mention that I have been dieting lately and was thrilled when I dropped to a single digit size yesterday in a dress I bought for a wedding. I think I finall found what works for me

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Oops! Sorry about the double post.

Helanabear, the talk of paying $500 a night for a room made me nervous. We never even paid that much for a house mortgage in our life. We have had a few $100 a night rooms during the years, mostly special occasions or when we went to Disney when the kids were with us. Makes a big difference being an one income blue collar family though. Where was the best place you ever stayed and why did you like it? Our house is so darned big and sort of fancy looking that I actually enjoy a striped down motel room with not much to take care of. I am a strange person, but then you knew that. LOL The Catholic church is one of the oldest religions but the Jewish one is even older and it seems that each denomination keeps some of the old so there are bound to be many similarities. I used to study religion a lot in my youth and it was astonishing how many things all religions had in common, even Buddism etc. There was one a theory that they were all a variation on the same theme and the center figures were all Jesus, whatever the name. So much of religion seems to be superstitiion to me because our minds are just not capable of understanding the scope of God. I know mine is not at least.

Lisa, you always plan the best parties. I am in awe of your talents. How did Gary do with his gig? They have a college program here for stand up comics that I have been interested in. The final exam is doing an open mike night at a local comedy club. I finally finished my trip reports. I took 5 installments!! I gave up soap operas after an extended vacation years ago. It was DOL and AW. I got tired of them doing away with the story lines of the older people and did not much care which teen was sleeping with which teen or the bizarre storylines they were getting into. I do miss Julie and Doug and once caught them. in passing, and stopped to check them out for a minute. I like them in real life even more. Seem like the kind of people you could just sit and laugh with.

Caroline, how wonderful to hear from you again. I was afraid that you were tired of hanging out with us old folks. LOL A bottle of catsup? How did you manage that one? Very unique, just like yourself. Not low carb though. LOL Watch out for those huge candy bars, is how I got to the shape I am. I cannot believe you have problems with language skills. You write very well and from the sound of things you read a lot and your parents are well educated. I have found that grammar comes easily when you are surrounded by people who speak properly. You can sort of hear when something sounds wrong IMHO. I am rotten at math myself. Sports always seems to be viotile. So much competition and such but it is the nature of the beast and there is so much to be learned though in terms of working as a team or individual. Sounds as if you have had a very successful term. With your training in being reliable and such you should not have a hard time adjusting to going to school. Will be different but you will be a super star!!

Colleen, I was not happy about the election either although I am more of a "ABB" person. Having lived through the Vietnam years I can see the storm coming and fear the drain on resources, monetary and young lives. If I were ever to spend the big bucks on a room I think I would opt for Old Key West. We took a tour this last time and it was just my speed. So family friendly as well. They have an activity room with pool table, computer and game boys etc as well as bicycles and boats. I may look into renting points for the family trip.

lunabkat - It is evident that you are a wonderful mom. I loved this sentiment.

"Well, the sugar comas struck shortly after i left you the other night. Ah, sweet peace and quiet. Yikes, they did have some fun though."

One of the sad parts of my life is that I have no princesses in my life and I cannot get any of my grandsons to oblige me by putting on a dress (much to their dad's relief). LOL On the family trip there is a young lady that I have tutored and her mom and I have been friends forever, she was one of my daughter's friends, so she and I have cooked up a deal where she will spend a day with me and I am taking her to the princess shop. She is a girlie girl and will soothe my wounded feelings by accepting some frilly dress and will even possibly say thank you. What more could a grandma want? LOL

Orange and Lime Green! How in the world do you get the kids calmed down in such an environment? When offered a room at the Movies I always decline, first cause I do not want to take a room for a kids who would better enjoy it but the other reason is that the bright colors keep me awake at night. LOL After being in Disney magic all day long I enjoy some subdued colors and quiet at night. Please let me know how you like it though cause it might be a choice for the family trip in 2006. I think it is the one up to the right of Crossroads? Is important that I can find the place since I would be responsible for driving the grands from place to place when necessary.

In closing, for those of you who have not had time to wade through the myriad pages of my report - We watched the EWP from the beach at the Wilderness Lodge. Was the best view we have ever had, but would you know it, it was an abbreviated version that night. I was so disappointed but we met some lovely people so it was not a total loss.

SG/Linda