EWP group?

[IASW Rider]

Just trying to erase a duplicate copy of the below message, but the Boards won't let me do so! So I'm just posting this nonsense message, instead!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

You were absolutely right about the biscuits and muffins - our lab professor gave us the exact same advice that you gave me (and supported it with the chemical reasoning for not mixing or kneading too much, of course! )! I had never baked either from scratch - in fact, I don't bake ANYTHING from scratch - Frank is the baker, not me! And sure enough........my muffins had peaks (and valleys!) and my biscuits came out in all different shapes! That's OK, though - we're graded based on our efforts, and scientific reports, not necessarily the finished products! We did do sensory evaluations of everyone's muffins and biscuits after they were all finished, though. Even though mine looked funny, they tasted all right!

Yes, I do know what gelatin is made of.......and I don't want to think about it! YUCK! We were working with it in lab to demonstrate its different properties (chemical reactions, again) and how it "works". As I said, I try to stay away from anything that's obviously made with gelatin - just because I can't stand the consistency - with the exception of actual jello! And I now know why I can't stand jello that's been sitting for more than a day - apparently, even after the gel has formed, it continues to form protein bonds such that eventually it gets that icky, leathery consistency as the bonds squeeze out all of the water inside!

I couldn't believe that we had actual tornadoes here, either! One of them touched down right near Frank's office! Fortunately, neither of them were close enough to our home to affect the house or our power. Thanks for asking, though! The weather has been beautiful here, for the past few days - sunny and in the mid-70's!

Hope that you were able to catch up on your sleep - I wouldn't want to see you become a "pseudo-insomniac" like me!

Hi Elaine! Great to hear from you! And thanks so much for your kind words, as well. It's been a hard week, but we're hanging in there! The more I think about it, the more I know that we did the right thing in letting Laverne go. She was so much sicker than we realized, and it would have only gotten worse. The other cats do miss her - even Frank's cat who never liked Laverne seems to be looking around for her. We're paying extra attention to Laverne's biological sister, Shirley, and making sure that the other cats keep her company. Boo Boo Kitty still seems to be doing all right on her medication - I hope that like your friend's cat, this medicine does the trick and makes her better! How have you been doing, out there?

Well, time to get studying for my first mid-term exam, which is tomorrow. Economics - FUN!

Hope that you're all having a great day!

 

[IASW Rider]

Just wanted to wish you all a great weekend and "bump" us back up!

P.S. I think that I "aced" my economics mid-term, yesterday!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Suite Ladies!

Busy weekend here and just now got a chance to check in. Helenabear, I have not been getting my messages either and when I try to log on it does not come up all the time either. Not sure what causes it either.

Helenabear, the reasoning behind our living a secluded life had to do with the times (50's), small town and an uneducated father who was paranoid about us talking about family business and since he was abusive that was probably the family business he did not want told. Is part of what I fear about my Fab Four. I hope you guys are not getting the storms that pounded us last night. Seems you get if after us usually.

Rider, is much better that your biscuits looked funny and tasted good rather than the other way around. LOL I am not gourmet cook either. I used to love to cook but my kids were so picky that it took the fun out of it and now it is just Tom and myself. I cooked up a bunch of stuff for the weekend though. I enjoy cooking for people who like to eat it. Have had company almost all the time. Dalton spent last night and my company just left, More on the way. Free food does that everytime! LOL I believe that I read that gelatin is made from an artificial source nowadays. Hope so. LOL I am glad that the tornado did not get either of you. Close call for Frank though. Was there very much damage done? Dalton is very interested in tornadoes and has me read him every book he can find on the subject.

I am glad to hear that your furbabies are playing nicely and helping Boo Boo cope with her loss.

Gee, what a surprise that you should ace a subject that you worked at for many years. LOL Life experience is the best. Bet you are a big help to others in your class. Congratulations!!!!

Another cooking tip. when adding blueberries to muffin mix add them frozen to keep them from blending into the batter and making it blue. You can dredge the fruit in flour also to help keep it from falling to the bottom of the pans.

Am wondering why you need to learn so much cooking in order to be able to help people diet though. I can see learning how to cook healthier though. Of course, they keep changing what healthy is. (sigh) Now they are saying that low cal and low fat do not work. Hard to keep up with it all. Dr. Adkins must be somewhere smiling.

Have to go check on the food I am fixing. Am going to make peanut butter cookies later. Everyone else loves them and I don't. I just spent 14 points on a funnel cake so I am going to have veggie soup for dinner to compensate. Hope it works.

SG/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Hi Linda!

I guess that your Heritage Days festival is going on, this week? I remember your telling us about it, the past 2 years (can you believe that we've all been here, in the Suite for over 2 years? ), and it always sounds so nice! One of these years, I'm going to fly out there so that I can experience it, myself! Have there been a lot of events, each day? You've certainly been doing a lot of cooking - if I'm recalling correctly, doesn't everyone stop by and visit eachother's homes and have a little snack, as part of the festivities? I think that that's such a nice atmosphere! How are the boys enjoying school, so far? How is your tutoring going? And are you working in the library, now, as well?

We definitely do a lot of cooking in Foods Lab! But it's more to observe the scientific / chemical processes than to actually prepare the food (although that's part of our grade, as well). We had one whole Lab on proper liquid and solid meauring techniques. Then there was one dealing with gel formation and gelation (hence the evil "GELATIN LAB"!). Last week was quick breads (the muffins and biscuits), to observe gluten formation and "chemical leavening" (ie: carbon dioxide produced by baking powder). This week will be yeast breads, to observe "biological leavening". We also did the sensory evaluation lab, using 4 different sensory tests to distinguish the traits of different foods. So the cooking "serves a purpose".......along with being a source of mid-day snacks!

Rosh Hashana was nice, but tense. I think that I was overtired, after a long, busy week, as well as an emotionally draining one, and my patience was very thin. My sister-in-law has a talent of testing my patience, and sometimes I have more of it for her than others. This was not one of those times. She didn't "do" anything directly offensive (though I admit, I am still stewing over something offensive that she DID say to me, over Labor Day weekend), but her self-centeredness and sarcastic sense of humor get to me in times when I'm not at my "full potential", and by the end of the 2 day holiday, I was just about ready to explode. So what did I do? I snapped at my father, who totally didn't deserve it. UGH. I felt like shooting myself. True, my father contributed to the stress by making me a nervous wreck (as usual, I was the one doing all of the work in the kitchen, which was a huge job, while my father took care of my mother and Frank entertained his sister and my uncle snoozed). Anyway, I felt really badly about it and apologized to my father, the next day. My parents said that I didn't need to apologize and that they understood that I've been under a lot of pressure. I barely said anything about my sister-in-law, but I think that they assumed that she had something to do with my state of mind, those days, so now they've decided to hate her (they always need someone to hate and focus their attention on - it's very sad how they do that and feed off of eachother's negative energy, that way). Normally, this would concern me, but I just don't have the energy to worry about it too much.

Anyway..............fortunately, the serious damage that resulted from last week's tornadoes was far enough away from where Frank works that he was not directly affected. A car dealership in the next town over lost its roof, many power lines went down, and some houses there suffered damage, but I believe that everything is all right, now. Our weather is still crazy, here - we had a beautiful weekend, in the 80's.......and now it's fall, all of a sudden! The days are in the low 60's and the evenings are already in the 40's and 50's! I feel like we were robbed of our summer, since June was so damp, cold, and rainy, and it rained during so many of the weekends throughout July and August.

So, how are your WDW plans coming along, Linda? And how about yours, Elaine? Both of your trips are coming up, right around the corner! How are you doing out there, Angie? Any way that we might convince you to take a little trip to the Sunshine State in May, perhaps?

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

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

You just plain warm the cockles of my heart. Not up to your usual potential huh? LOL What a way with words and emotions you have. Have you ever considered that you took it out on your dad cause he was 'safe"? Bet he knows that too. When I get to feeling badly cause my kids are sort of mean I comfort myself with the idea that they do so cause they know that I love them and always will. Have killed the fatted calf for one, one time and am willing to kill off the herd before I shuffle off this mortal coil, if necessary.

Not everyone is as giving and thoughtful as you are and maybe your sil just says whatever is on her mind without a thought of the ramifications. Comfort yourself with the fact that she feels at ease around you and ignore her oral flatulence. (grin)

Most people are out and about for Heritage Days but being the agoraphobic that I am I tend to stay at home and cook for anyone who wants to venture by. We live right off the square and a lot of my friends are older and not able to walk as much and are on fixed incomes and do not want to spend big bucks on food so this is a convenience for them. I also have people who come each year and we watch the parade from our front porch. It was cold and rainy this year so it was a bust but on the good side I have enough food in the fridge to feed us for the week and I have a lot of work to do so it will come in mighty handy. How sweet to even think of flying out for HD but it would not be that much of a much for you. Is just fun watching our local kids grow up for us.

I am only volunteering at the after school program across the street this year. The library got too discouraging for me as the lady in charge was more into keeping it neat than seeing that kids got books. I am organizing people to come in and read to and with the kids at the program. One of my former neighbors is Dalton's first grade teacher and she wants me to volunteer at that school. I do not drive much in the winter so I will see.

Only have about 3-4 weeks until we leave for Florida so I will not be available then either. I have my itinerary mostly figured out. Might send you a copy as you send yours to me. Keep in mind that we are older and infirm so we are not doing as many things as you and Frank would fit into your schedule.

It is supposed to freeze tomorrow night so I will be putting our potted plants into the basement. One of the great features of this house is the four large rooms in the basement and they all have a large ledge around the outside walls that I put the plants on. I have them watered once a month and save big bucks on plants each year. I had geraniums blooming in the window last February. LOL

I am thrilled that a big storm tore off a lot of the siding from the house that my dd and sil live in. Because of the insurance settlement and a good year on the farm they are getting new siding, shutters and guttering. It will really make a big difference in how the place looks. They are even talking about getting a new car next year. Amazing. LOL I am a neat freak and I never say anything but it is hard to see how they live sometimes.

I gained a pound this week but came in as the biggest loser for the month with a five pound loss so I am a happy camper. Hope next month goes as well. The SBD is working for me. Not the huge losses that others sometimes report but any loss is good for me. Easy to keep to also. If I get hungry I just go cut off a slice of my meatloaf and doctor it a bit to change the flavor.

Helenabear, do you happen to have any plans to come to DW next May? If you so we will have to hijack Angelina on our way down. I have been wanting to check out Fairhope one of these days anyway. With this trip planned we will have to go at least twice more next year in order to get our money's worth. (grin)

SG/Linda

 

[angelina]

Well, Linda, coming down my way? I haven't been on the boards in a long while but was thinking of all of you and took a moment to stop in. I haven't been getting updates, either, so I wasn't sure what was going on. I haven't checked a map, but couldn't you come down I-65 on your way to FL? Would love to meet you.

I will try to catch up on the last few pages of posts tomorrow.

Take care,

Angelina

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Angie!

Great to see you! Thanks for stopping by! I haven't been getting my e-mail updates from the Boards, either. I just go to "User CP" every day to see if anyone has posted!

Hi Linda!

Congratulations on that great 5 pound loss! That is fantastic! You're doing wonderfully, as always! And it's funny that you mentioned meatloaf, because I just had a piece, myself!

I've been doing all right, in that regard - lost 6 pounds since that year-long plateau kept me in one place. I think that all of the walking around on campus, up and down hills, lots of staircases is helping that along, in addition to my regular workouts. I lost 1/2 inch from every area of my body, since last month......with the exception of my calves, which stayed the same! I think that that's pretty reasonable, since they're the parts of my legs which are probably doing most of the "work", with all of that walking!

That's so neat that you live so centrally that everyone can easily come and visit you and you can even watch the parade from your front porch!

I believe that it's supposed to freeze here, tonight, as well. UGH. It seems to have gone from summer to late fall, within the course of the past few days. I'm just not used to wearing long sleeves and long pants, yet - it seems to be too early in the season to be doing that!

I got perfect scores on my first lab report and lab quiz - yea!! Now I know that I definitely have "A" averages in 2 of my classes......we'll see what the rest of the mid-term period brings.....I have exams every single week of this month!

Please send me your itinerary, if you have a chance, Linda - I'd love to see it! It will infuse me with another jolt of excitement about our trip in May.......which seems so far away, at this point......

And thank you for your thoughtful and supportive words, as always!

Well, time to get a few things done around here before I head off to school for the day. Just one class, today - not too stressful!

Have a great day, Everyone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I just finished watching a show on Undiscovered Disney on the Travel Channel. Not much that I have not already read or heard about but it sure was good to see it in person.

Angelina, we usually take 75 down but we might consider a Route 65 trip next year in order to spend a couple of days in Fairhope. We could get together while we are there and maybe you might even be persuaded to come over to Disney for a couple of days so we can all watch the EWP together. Would be this ooooolllllllddddddd (LOL) lady's fondest wish. (giggle) I have been thinking of you. Have come up with another idea for a business for you. I read where a local lady cooks up meals for certain clients in town who are too busy to cook for themselves but want home cooking. She interviews them as to what their preferences are and then spends the day cooking up several meals that she packages and freezes and then delivers to their homes. Sounds like a great plan for a stay at home mother as you could work around your kid's schedules and not have the hassle of dealing with large crowds and the chaos that can ensue. I will not charge you any fees for my business advice. (Probably about what it is worth) LOL

Rider, congratulations on getting such good grades. I bet you did well the first time you went to college as well. How wonderful that you have broken out of your plateau and are losing again. Don't try to get down so far that you do not look like yourself though. Only one class? How wonderful. I was never that lucky. How long is it going to take you to complete your course of study?

The weather has taken a turn for winter here as well. Frost has bit the pumpkin and is nipping at my toes. I started cleaning the flower beds for the winter and am hoping to get done before we leave for Disney. I have most of the Christmas shopping done and am starting on the cards next week. I like to mail them out on Thanksgiving Day.

I am calling to extend our visit by two more days on Monday. Hope it is not too hard to do. I had no trouble booking the first time.

I will post my agenda when I get it typed up. Have been a bit booked lately. I did not get home until after 10 last night as I had to drive Tom to bowling. He bowled twice yesterday and managed a 161 one game. His average is 103 so that was quite good. One guy on the team made a strike almost every single time. It made for a very long day for me and I am hoping that this will not happen too often. On such days I still have all my regular duties to do as well before and after. Where do I go to retire?

SG/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

Deleting a duplicate of the below post - for some reason, the Boards wouldn't let me delete the dupe, so here is another "decoy message" in its place!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Suite Friends!

Hi Linda!

Sorry that it took me so long to respond! We've been visiting with my family for Yom Kippur, and I've been hard at work studying for the 2 tests and 1 exam that I have, later this week!

Hope that you are able to extend your WDW stay! Please let us know the exact dates of your trip, when you have them confirmed! I am so excited for you - it's coming up so quickly!

I hope that you are able to get down to visit Angie, too! Fairhope sounds so beautiful, as does Mobile! And I loved your new idea for a possible additional career for Angie! She would do wonderfully at anything that she tried (I hope that you are reading this, Angie!)! A friend of a friend of mine actually did have a business doing just what you described, and she did very well with it! So it's definitely something reasonable and hopefully enjoyable to consider! Plus, it would be providing a great service to the community! Angie's talents are too great to be limited - she should definitely consider sharing them with the public!

Thanks, as always, for your kind words! I have absolutely no idea how long it will take me to finish this degree - especially since I am considering "dropping back" to part time, next semester, so that I can get a part time job. I really need to supplement our income, and there's no way that I could work and continue to do well, if I continued with a full time class schedule. So, we'll see! I just hope that I do well on the 3 tests that I have coming up, this week!

I didn't do as well as I have been doing, the first time around. Years ago, I was more concerned with the bevy of extra-curricular activities in which I was involved, than with my grades. My grades were generally B's and C's, back in the 80's......but I always did well with my extra-curricular stuff! I was a House Chairwoman in my dorm, my final 2 years of college, I was an officer of my co-ed Community Service Fraternity all 4 years (and I was the President of the chapter, during my senior year!), I wrote for my college's newspaper, and was involved in all of the special events pertaining to my college, as well. But I realize now (and I suspect that I knew then) that those things would prove almost as important to my "development" as getting objective good grades in my classes would have. I don't regret devoting as much time as I did to the things that I enjoyed, and that happened to provide me with valuable real-world leadership experience, as well.

But now I really want to do well, period. I just want to concentrate on my classes and grades. The fact that in order to eventually sit for the American Dietetic Association's Registration Exam, I will have to apply for and be accepted to an internship program (like in medical school), probably has a lot to do with that, too! So hopefully I can keep up the old GPA, to a respectable level, at least!

Thanks again - don't worry - I will not become unrecognizable - I don't think that I would be able to do that, if I tried! I'm getting very close to where I want to be, now. Just want to "tighten things up" a bit, that's all!

Please congratulate Tom on his great bowling average, for us! That is great! And it was very nice of you to take him to his game ("match"?)! As for where to retire......I say that you "retire" in our Suite! Seems like a great place to relax and lay back and just enjoy!

That's so neat that you already have your Christmas shopping done and will begin on your cards, soon! I may be crazy, but I really look forward to and enjoy writing holiday cards, especially since that's one of the only opportunities that I have to hand write things, during the year (I really miss hand writing letters, since the advent of the internet!)! Also, since I know that that is the only time that I hear from many of my old friends, I look forward to sending and receiving cards and news and pictures! I have a little personal tradition of writing my cards while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV (particularly now, since Frank goes to South Jersey to visit his family that weekend - it's a nice quiet activity to do and enjoy, alone). Then I try to send them out, soon after. It's very efficient of you to have them completely written, addressed, and prepared for sending before Thanksgiving! I would do the same, but I like to save that for Thanksgiving weekend, so that I can savor the process and get into the winter holiday spirit!

It's gotten pretty cold here, as well. UGH. I hate when I have to accept that summer is officially over. Plus, this is one of the times of year when my allergies really kick in, too. It's probably in the mid to upper 30's, right now, and will be in the lower 60's tomorrow. It may almost reach 70 degrees here, later this week. But I think that our days of wearing shorts, this year, are unfortunately over.

Here's some good news: we took Boo Boo Kitty for her follow up testing on Friday, and the vet has already called to let us know that the medication which I've been giving her 2ce a day has been working! Her blood test results reflected completely normal thyroid levels, and she's even gained 1/2 a pound (which is a lot for a cat)! Thank God!

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you! Take care and hope that you're all having a nice week! Looking forward to hearing all of your news! And looking forward to seeing your itinerary, as soon as you've compiled it, Linda! I'm almost as excited about your upcoming WDW vacation as you are! I'm sure that you and Tom will have a wonderful time! Talk to you all, soon!

P.S. The Boards made me delete all of my smileys before I sent this, again - I don't understand! (A sad face would be here, but I'm afraid that the Boards would reject it, if I tried to insert it!)

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi All!

Just bumping us back up! I came to look for your post, Linda.....but it's not here!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Will write more over the weekend, when this weeks' exams are over! Have a good night!

 

[IASW Rider]

Have a great weekend, Suite Mates!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Grrrrrrr!!! I swear I posted a big long post the other night and just as I did the boards went down. I try to copy each message before I post but sometimes I forget and I usually rue it too. Hope I have better luck this time.

It was an easy task to book the extra two days so I will be at WDW from November 6th until check out on the 17th. Now if I can get the ressies for The Villages with a stop at Hendersonville to pay our respects to the Man in Black.

Helenabear, are you off to another Disney meet? How is work treating you?


Angie, when someone with a business background such as Rider thinks my idea is good you should listen. You would be great at such things and you are so organized. It would fit in around your family life and give you extra money so you could join us at DW next May (hint). I have been thinking of you a lot today as I am reading a magazine on retirement living and it has a great article on Fairhope. I love how they got their name! The price of an average house is a bit high for us old retired people though and they are toting it as an affordable place to live. Still want to check it out and am planning that for next May.

Rider, you are so right in that the extras that you did during your first stint in school stood you in good stead. Book learning does no good if you do not have people skills and you certainly do have that!! Have you checked to see if the school has employment and possible reductions in course costs for such? I bussed tables one time to get through some classes. With your past work history I bet there would be a need for you and it would pay much better than bussing tables.

Retiring to the Suite sounds like just the perfect thing. Would even be better than The Villages (close second) as the fellers would take care of all the mundane chores of life leaving me free to use our special (no balance due) credit cards. I cannot see myself ever running out of ideas of how to spend the day at WDW.

Funny how traditions come about. I love your idea of doing cards during the parade. Very fitting. I used to paint rooms during the Indy 500. I could do two rooms during the race but I am much slower nowadays LOL

Taking Tom bowling is the least I can do for mankind. I do not like him out after dark nowadays and since he does not know how to check the oil in the truck (it leaks) and it is getting some age on it I worry. He would drive it on with the check oil light on and think nothing of it.

Hooray for Boo Boo gaining weight!! Sure sounds funny to be applauding weight gain but what a delightful occasion. Must be all that good cooking you do for her.

I fixed an entire turkey dinner for lunch. I found a smoked turkey at the store. Easy to fix and very flavorful. I made some of my Taters for myself with a bit of FF gravy. Tom had wild rice, homegrown and homemade rhubarb sauce and bread and butter. Lots of great leftovers to keep us going while I spend the weekend painting also. I have the carcass and remaining meat simmering in the crockpot for a future pot of soup. I don't waste much. LOL

Happy Yom Kipper to you and yours. I love family occasions such as that. Tradition is what stabalizes our lives and gives us roots.

SG/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi,

Just wanted to check in quickly and say "hello" to everyone! Will respond to your post ASAP, Linda - thank you for all of your kinds thoughts and wishes!

My mother is back in the hospital, I'm still right in the middle of exams (I actually have 3 exams on one day, next week! UGH!), and I think that I am going to lose my mind, soon!

Will check back in as soon as I can! Thinking of you all! Have a nice week!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

In case anyone notices that we have fewer staff than usual I thought I had better tell you that two of the fellers have spent the day preparing special dishes for Riders Mom and have gone to deliver them. A crystal case of pixie dust is included so that she will feel better fast and be back at home and better than ever soon!

There is a neat thread going about being buried or interred on the grounds of DW. I am in favor of it. Please put my ashes on the EWP float and let them gradually spread me around the Lagoon. I always did like to spread myself thin.

Your warped friend, Linda/SG

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... I've had tons of internet connection troubles lately and as soon as I would come here to read, I couldn't Unfortunately I am busy at work and don't have the time to check in there... I have a lot to catch up on, but I wanted to say hi!!!

No DIS meets recently for me though... but I will be at WDW in about 50 days or so, so I am thrilled with that.

Let me read more back and see all I missed...

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine

Sorry we are going to miss you on this trip but I will pave the way for you. When I check out I will make sure your bed is turned down and will personally make sure chocolates are left on your pillows. LOL


I have been having a lot of problems connecting as well. I have to get off and try again until it works. Must be going around.

Just found out that many of the resorts etc. will be decorated for the season when we are there. Tom will be so happy as he loves the decorations. No Osbourne lights this year. Hope they are not going away forever.

Take care and it is always wonderful to hear from you.

SG/Linda

 

[helenabear]

Linda, our connection trouble has to do with the physical lines going to our house. They have replaced a lot and hopefully today will be the day they finally fixed it! I suppose I'll find out in the evening if it rains soon!

Still trying to catch up, but I might just read and not reply... but know all you said will be registered in my head.

Sorry I'll miss you on your trip, Linda! But do get Mickey prepared for me I am upset about Osborne lights as well! I am just glad I saw them last year... with that part of MGM taken down, I am not sure where they would put them now.

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi!

Will post in with a "real" post, as soon as I can. Just wanted to pop in and say "good morning". Will be in touch, soon!