EWP group?

[colleen costello]

Hi girls. Luna, your last post sure made sense. I thank my lucky stars that I inadvertently moved away for NJ. Now don't get me wrong, I love NJ and I am a "Jersey girl" at heart, but I have adjusted to life here and the pace is better for ME -- just my opinion. I LOVE to visit back East but I would not live there anymore... Midwesterners are more laid back, and I DO live in a little town with the cheesy festivals and "everybody knows everybody else's business." Linda's little town is proabably even more so. When I visit my parents I love all that there is to do, but the pace is a little quicker and I am no longer used to that. I am sure that many -- perhaps the majority -- of people would be bored to death where Linda and I live, but after growing up in Bayonne and attending a SCARY public school there, I am so thankful that my kids are in school here. Less excitement and WAY smaller issues out here. I think where I live is suited to me now, and that is a nice thing. I love Florida but maybe wouldn't really like living there for the "city" feel much of it has... I guess this city mouse is now a country mouse and there is just no going back! Rider Emailed me about a designer in NYC and I have never heard of the woman... I told her here in Indiana, "designer" means you bought it at Target instead of Walmart!

I worked all day at the kids' two schools and I am beat. Talk about "limitless energy" that Linda thinks I have... None right now. It is nice to check in and see what all the ladies in the suite are up to. Luna, your mention of your daughter's death about broke my heart. Having never lost a child, not even a miscarriage, of course it is the thing I imagine I would never recover from. The kids drive me crazy sometimes, but they are my life. I can't even imagine how you move on... It was so nice to hear about how your little daughters have helped you to cope. I think your big trip to Orlando is going to be VERY special!

We are having a "Winter Wonderland" craft sale at Ian's school tomorrow. There are craft vendors and we sell food and Santa comes for pictures. Quite the extravaganza. I have to be back at school by 8am. Problem is I have to miss my Weight Watcher meeting, which I HATE to do... Us addicts need regukar meetings! I am afraid if I don't go to the meeting I might go crazy during the week and eat a bag of chocolates or something... I will have to focus very hard this week on making HEALTHY CHOICES... Never easy when the breakfast I will be doling out tomorrow morning is DONUTS!

xoxo

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Please forgive me for breaking into our current conversation - will post again when I have more time to continue the current topics that you all have been posting about.

But just wanted to let you all know that I was accepted to graduate school, today! Yea!!!! Thank you all so much for your many months of kind words of encouragement and support! Your posts have really meant a lot to me! Guess that I didn't wind up wasting the entire summer torturing myself (and torturing all of you by listening to my complaining! ) by relearning algebra and geometry, after all!

As of January, I will be an MPH candidate in Health Education and Behavioral Science, here: http://sph.umdnj.edu/ !

Hope that you're all having a great weekend! Will post again, soon! And now, back to our previously started conversation, already in progress................ !

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Lisa, hooray and congratulations!! There was never any doubt in my mind but that you would get to your goal. I do not believe I have ever heard you complain about anything. Bet Frank is proud of you as well. Party time in the Suite. Meet us in the new Penthouse. I have arranged for the EWP, Fantasmic, Illuminations, Spectromagic and Magic to be coordinated with the turnings of our Suite so that they will be visible while we enjoy our healthy repast served by the staff of Victoria & Alberts with wine pairings to set the mood. Nothing but the best for our favorite gal. (BTW, I did remember to tell you all that the new hydralics were installed when I had the Suite remodeled lately and we can rise to most any occasion as well as twirl)

Colleen and Luna, I told the gals at the museum about the current thread and your yearnings to live the simple life as we do here in our lovely town. I even took some pictures but who knows when I will get them developed let alone scanned. Our town is only about 2,000 strong and you would be amazed at the community support we had for our Country Christmas weekend. I strolled up the street (we just live around the corner from the square Luna) and took in the lights and sights, running into many friends and neighbors on the way. I got the 'duty' of helping children decorate large sugar cookies. You would not believe how many candies those kids managed to get loaded onto those things. There was nary a bare spot on any level surface as plates and pans of baked goods filled them. Many wise people loaded up bags and baskets with things so that they would not have much cooking to do for the upcoming holidays. We even had one grandma and granddaughter come dressed in antebellum costumes. The carollers were dressed like you might see in Victorian days. To make you all even more envious, you can buy one of the finest homes in town for about $125,000 and they are nice homes too. Since we were doubly blessed with dh working at a leading company that paid higher than normal wages we lived pretty high on the hog for country hicks. LOL I think one of the things I love best is the fact that we live in the middle of three major cities so we can get gussied up and head to the bright lights when we want too.

Have I made anyone want to come visit soon? I have extra bedrooms. LOL

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Linda is right, the price of housing out here in "Hicksville" is great. Unfortunately for me, I grocery shop near the University and food is overpriced. My parents are appalled when they visit as food is higher here than Jersey. My Mom always tells me about the bargains she gets at ShopRite and Wegman's -- biggies back East -- and it just BUGS me!

Lisa, I am thrilled about your acceptance into the master's program. Good for you! You have "real life experience" with your past job and that sure could not have hurt. I had a dear professor from college tell me that a graduate degree is a wonderful accomplishment that no one can ever take away from you. This has proved true. Graduate school was a wonderful continuance of my education. Really taught me some sense and gave me a safe place to "grow up" too. I think any job I ever have in my life will put to use the counseling skills I learned. I also think your choice of major is very relevant in today's world. Good luck!

Linda, I did my first "secret shopper" assignment last night. My pal Tisha came with me and between the two of us, we were able to scope out everything we needed to. I told her dinner was on me if she would help me "evaluate" the place. We had a great dinner and a really nice time. We both had fajitas and shared cholcolate dessert. YUM. We felt like secret agents! The waiter was a sweetie and after dinner we went all over town finishing our Xmas shopping. I want to be DONE when all heck hits the malls next week.

Today is laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping (at those inflated prices!) I think Scott is going to take the kids to "Spongebob." Typical weekend. Ladies, I am getting my holiday cards made and will start sending them over the next two weeks. If any of you would like a great picture of my little darlings with Donald at Chef Mickey's, Email or PM me your addresses!

xoxo

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi Colleen!

The counselling skills that you acquired with your advanced degree will never be better used than in raising your dear ones. LOL

Glad you had good help on your first assignment. Sounds like you had a lot of fun also. Nothing like free food to perk someone up. LOL Shame you were forced to eat that chocolate dessert though. Hard job but someone has got to do it!

I taught how to shop for years so if you need any tips on how to cut down on your food bills I am your gal. Do you have an Aldi's there? It is a great source for fruits and veggies in particular. I figure if you are going to chop it up anyway it does not have to look like something from a magazine. There are a few products I do not like there but most are just great. When trying a new thing there just buy one or two until you are satisfied that you like it. I recently saw a show that had a family with 16 kids and they went grocery shopping. I recognized it an Aldi's they went to. Their bill was over $1200!! Aldi's only takes cash so I wonder if they had to bring a Brink's truck along to pay the bill or possibly had an arrangement since they are such frequent and big buyers.

It is wonderful that your hubby is enjoying some time with the kids while you get the housework done. Would have been nice if they had helped before they left but hey, we take what we can. LOL The reviews of the movie were not so very good as many of the characters in the tv version are not included. Heard that the Christmas Express (?) movie is quite good. I usually wait until movies come to the dollar theater myself. You have a good one over in the Mall from my information.

I have started my cards as well and would like your address. I will pm you with mine. I think I have everyone else's. Going to kick Tom out of the kitchen t his evening and sit to watch 60 Minutes while I work on cards some. Using that nice tiled table that Austin I did a couple of years back. Getting ready to do the half bath next. Took pictures of the upstairs bath that I remodeled recently and will try to post before and after photos. Big improvement from the hot pink and black decor from the 80's. LOL

SG/Linda

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... very very quick hi here... busy day getting ready for Thanksgiving & the wedding as well as for the upcomign trip. And I am off to a charity event later tonight.

I wanted to say a very quick hi and Congratulations to Lisa!!! That is wonderful news!!!!

Oh and I had to change my dress for the wedding. THis was taken when I was tired, so excuse the face

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Elaine, you are very pretty. Just one thing missing, the smile. Almost would not have recognized you without it. LOL We all have moments like that, unfortunately there is usually a camera somewhere around then. (grin)

The dress is very flattering and is my kind of style, simple and classy. How come such is usually more expensive to boot?

Have a fun night. Is good to have fun and do some good at the same time.

Linda/SG

 

[IASW Rider]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Everyone!

So sorry that I haven't been able to send a real post in a few days, but I will, tomorrow! Just wanted to say "hi" and "thanks" to you all!

And that is a fantastic picture, Elaine - you look wonderful in that great dress! I love your hair, too!

Will write back later tonight or early tomorrow, Colleen - thanks for your great e-mail!

Hi Linda!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great weekend!

 

[colleen costello]

Elaine, VaVoom, you are gorgeous! The dress is lovely. Hope the place has lots of heat.. I have told Rider how I never wear sleeveless, even when i am thin because I FREEZE to death! You'll have to share wedding photos afterward.

Linda, I try to save money on groceries but it is not easy in B'ton. I do my shopping at Marsh but only buy what I can't get at Target or Walmart. Both of those places were expanded recently here, and have a few food aisles but not the whole grocery store. I keep double lists and get all I can as cheaply as possible. It is hard because Scott is fussy about brand. I have shopped at Aldi's for school functions but don't like the one here. It is small and crowded. It isn't very clean and is not located in an area of town I am usually in -- it's not by other stores I frequent. Some things are serious bargains and other items I knew I could get cheaper at Walmart. I also never have cash and shopping there would mean a trip to the bank, so overall I am not an Aldi's girl. My friend Tammie teases me about disliking the place so, and calls me "Princess." I like bargains and get some at Sam's and the discount stores. Others have told me that many Aldi's are nicer than ours here in B'ton. I also resent having to use a quarter to get a cart!

Also, the cheapo theaters in B'ton are all gone. The one in town closed and recently the one in the mall too. They are renovating that end of the mall and adding Dick's Sporting Goods, whatever that is. We are a family of uncoordinated couch potatoes so doubt I will buy much there. Supposed to get a new Italian restaurant and a TGIFriday's, though -- food I can use. So we pick and choose the movies also. I have heard mixed reviews on both Polare Express and Spongebob, although the kids came home today all excited and loved this one today. Evidently David Hasselhoff shoots Spongebob and Patrick into the ocean by flexing his pectoral muscles somehow; that alone may have been worth the $6 ticket. Rider was supposed to see the film and perhaps she can elaborate. My kids got giggling so hard they couldn't tell me exactly what had occured. Ian came out with "nipples" and then they lost it... The movie was rated G so I know it couldn't have been too bad... In any case, it sounded very silly. Scott's only comment was "a little long." If the movies don't take place in outer space he gets bored.

Off to look around on WDWIG a bit and make plans for March. Going to look over menus and decide where to make reservations. Thinking about food and Orlando at one time always makes me happy.

xoxo

 

[lunabkat]

Hi All.

Whew! Just got done working all weekend and, let me tell you, I thought Macedonian weddings were the limit, that was until "Our Iranian Affair to Remember" wedding last night. Holy Smokes!

One minute they were sweet as pie, the next, yelling at you in iranian (or whatever) Yikes! Darn near got my tail singed off. Our resident Bridezilla was a real wack job...I feel sorry for the bridegroom. The only time we servers were of notice was if there was something to gripe about, loudly.

Te funniest part of the nite was when the photgrapher told the groom to pick the bride up (about 3/4's of the way thru the reception, can anyone say "loaded"?) and he threw her up in the air and dropped her. (she wasn't hurt)

Then, mama o' t' bride lost her purse. Said it was black, i looked all over for the stupid thing and my boss came over with this black, red and yellow striped monstrosity (i mean, she was in an evening gown for cryin' out loud), some kind of crochet i think, and she says yes it is hers. This is after she is practically calling us theives and cutpurses. Not a single tip all night either after i busted my butt all night, oh well, they aren't all fun .

Lisa, congrats and a highfour paws up on you good news. Elaine, what a lovely dress, it suits you perfectly and fits so nicely. Linda, so glad you had fun at your bake sale, "wish i was there, family in tow". Colleen, shopping is my favorite sport, (was on the olympic team and helped the USA bring home the gold) i once saved a total of 45.00 on a shopping order of $150.00 with coupons, back in the day when i had time to clip and make a list and check the adds - whew, i am exhausted just thinking about it.

Well the week is about to start without me, so i must bid adieu and get my sore, sorry butt to bed for the children call early and say sweetly "Mommie, my belly's hungry, it wants bweakfast."

Ciao! (far, far too much coffee today!)

 

[colleen costello]

Luna, your post reminds me of "The Wedding Singer." I love that film. So you work weekends at a wedding hall? The stuff you must see! My good friend's hubby just started a photography studio and they do weddings. She works with him and says when there is no wedding "coordinator" she often sort of fills that role as they go to so many weddings that she has a clue. Says it is amazing what people do/say when stressed/broke/drunk. She also agrees that some brides are truly she-devils. Hopefully they settle down after the nuptials!

I have a thrilling day of housekeeping and Walmart planned. I keep trying to find time to get on the computer and review menus but it has not happened yet... Do you all rememeber that my friend Tisha and her family are going to be at WDW this spring when we are there? They are going to spend a day with us and she mentioned all of us going out for dinner. Any suggestions? We'll be at the Lodge and they won't go into the parks that day so we will need a resort restaurant. Her boys are 10 and 6 (and my kids' best pals). I am thinking of MK resorts so we can get there easily. That means Whispering Canyon, Chef Mickey's, or 'Ohana. We are doing Park Faire earlier in the week... Plus Tisha's kids are both boys and I doubt they want a Cinderella buffet... Whispering Canyon is "right there" as we'll be at the Lodge, but Chef Mickey's is sort of the quintessential WDW restaurant experience. Two cents, please! Everyone have a great day.

 

[lunabkat]

Hi all.

colleen, i don't know if you've been to whispering canyon but they are supposed to have great fun with the kids there, although it is not a character meal.

As to your friends who are photographers, tell them that this bride had a large book she made filled with cut outs from magazines with the different poses she wanted the photographer to use when taking his pics. I honestly had never seen anything like it. Talk about micro managing. Oh well, it is their dime afterall.

Have fun shopping and cleaning , guess which i prefer.

Later,

LL

 

[helenabear]

Hi everyone! Taking a nice break from work at the moment.

Linda, I do know I wasn't smiling. I do not know why I allowed for me to have pictures taken of me when I was so tired. But I had to show off the dress just a little.
As for the cost, you are exactly right... that wasn't that cheap of a dress, but I justified it by knowing that it was made out of silk. So it is at least a great material.

Thank you Lisa, I must say my hair is one of the things I really hold pride in with myself. I am amused though because it was late and my hair was windblown when that was taken. So glad it still looks good at the end of a long day

Colleen, have fun looking over the menus at WDW! I love doing that myself!! I would have to suggest 'Ohana... I love the feel and the food there!

Lauralee, what a wedding you went to!!! Wow!!!!! I hope mine will be more "relaxed" this weekend

Well I should get back to looking like I am working at least See you all later

 

[colleen costello]

Elaine, your counter has me confused. When are you going back to Orlando? Where are you staying? I think you bought OKW, is that right? Sorry I get so disoriented, I will blame it on being 40.

When is everyone going? I am March. Lisa May (?) Linda probably the fall of 05. Then Luna? All this planning (my trips and others') keeps me going in winter!

xoxo

 

[helenabear]

Colleen, I have two counters there... one is for my WDW at OKW and the other one is for a cruise I am taking at the end of January. I think my dates for WDW are in there (3-10th if not). Actually I need to change my counter on one... I am leaving for the cruise a day earlier than originally planned

I will probably go to WDW next December as well... no plans between now and then.

 

[colleen costello]

Bear with me, I am still not getting it. It says first trip home in December but the counter only lists 130-some days. December is either one month or 13 months away... When do you go to OKW?

xoxo

Someday we are all bound to be at WDW at once, and what a party we will have!

 

[lunabkat]

Hi

Colleen, we actually leave on the 11th of december this year, i have tried to get a counter, but apparently do not know what the heck i am doing and can't get it right. So i plug along crossing off days on my calendar.
LL

 

[colleen costello]

Luna, how wonderful... I thought your trip was ages off! How exciting. When we were discussing your plans and the "to visit the realtives or not" topic, I somehow thought the trip was far off. WOW! SO you will be the next one to go and will be held responsible for tellign us all about it once back.

The Xmas decorations are SOOOO beautiful. Make a trip over to the Grand Floridian. The tree is gorgeous and the kids will love the giant gingerbread house. Last year's had 11 "hidden Mickey's" and what fun we had finding all of them! I also liked the decorations at the Wilderness Lodge (very traditional), Polynesian (tropical, with ornaments woven from sea-grass-type stuff) and Old Key West (fish in the garlands). Beach Club had a whole diorama made of colored chocolate. Boma (the restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge) also had a chocolate creation, a miniature recreation of an African village marketplace. WOW! You are going at a GREAT time!

Off to feed the troops.

xoxo

 

[helenabear]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Bear with me, I am still not getting it. It says first trip home in December but the counter only lists 130-some days. December is either one month or 13 months away... When do you go to OKW?

xoxo

Someday we are all bound to be at WDW at once, and what a party we will have!

ahhh... I see... I think your clock on your computer is set wrong... my countdown only has 10 days left in it. The computer you are on is the one that sets the day/time for the countdowns

Pity that we are leaving before you, Lauralee... but I agree... WDW at this time of year is gorgeous!!

 

[lunabkat]

Hi all!

colleen, we are going to the gf for the cinderella gala feast so these tips are going to come in handy, i will tell them about the hidden mickeys (mickies?) I can't wait and even my hubby, who was VERY iffy about the idea, is starting to get into the trip - woo hoo!

elaine, i am so sorry we will miss you, i willcheck on your doings when we return.

Linda...hellooooo...where are you? Rider? Am i missing a party at the poly or what?

Talk soon,
LL