EWP group?

[helenabear]

:blushing:

Aw you guys are too much!!!! I feel the same about you guys! It is great to have you all here to talk to and enjoy listening to.

Just wanted to pop in to say I'm here, I'm still alive and surviving I will let you all know how it went tomorrow. I am also having my cousins visiting Friday so I have a few days before they come. So I have to rush. I hope you all are enjoying this holiday time

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

[FONT]MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!![/f]

Please pardon the imperfect greetings above but I am not as talented as some of you on the computer. I spent almost 20 minutes getting it this far. LOL

As I am sitting at the computer while watching the VMC Parade I was thinking of you all and wondering how many are joining me this morning. It is so special to see the places that we recently visited. As much as I enjoy seeing these things in person there is something wonderful about sitting in your own living room watching the big screen and not fighting the crowds.

We had a lovely evening yesterday. My brother and his family arrived in the afternoon and a couple of hours later my DD and her family joined us. I believe everyone was thrilled and happy with the gift choices. It was the first time in 35 years that my brother and I had been together for the holidays. As I had spent a fair amount of those years believing he was dead it was especially poignant. Just as the tape on the video camera was running out Dalton decided to honor us with a rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". After my brother and his family departed in order to get home in time for Santa we rested and watched a video until it was time to leave for church. The church is just behind our house so we got into our finery and stepped outside to be greeted with a light dusting of snow (our first of the season). What a delightful gift. Mr. D. was all wide eyed and excited. He told me it looked liek we were inside one of my snowballs. Our DD and family were the ones chosen to light the unity candles at the beginning of the ceremony. They made it through it and then the little one curled up on his Mom's lap and fell asleep (how much more could you expect from a 4 year old?) and the 10 year old leaned against my well padded form.

I wish you all the glories and wonder of the season. May the day be all you would want it to be, filled with love, friends and most of all time to enjoy them all.

Your friend, SG/Linda

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just dropping in on another one of the great little groups we have here on the CB, the EWP group, to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the best of the season.

Dan

 

[CathyCanada]

Just had to pop in to wish some of the sweetest DISers a very Merry Christmas!!!!
Cathy

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear WM Cathy C and Dan the Man

We are so honored. Having you guys drop by, especially today, is an honor and a treet. Even better than

.

Was watching the parade this morning and do not know how they did not pick you guys and y our families to lead the parade. Maybe next year?

Perhaps they were afraid you would fight over who would get to ride in the front?

No, you guys would not want to get 'drummed' out of Disney World so I am sure you would settle the argument in a Mickey friendly way!!!


Your friend and fellow Dis Nut, SG/Linda

 

[jstmee]

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

It is Christmas evening and the kids are downstairs playing ping pong on the table they got from Santa. My youngest, 9, wrote a delightful letter to Santa asking him to leave a bell from his sleigh. Santa wrote back and said he couldn't leave a bell but jingled as he left the house. My youngest also left his music headphones for Santa to listen to-along with another note.

My DD's guitar is already broken. she put it on a couch and DH put a blanket on top of it and DS jumped onto the blanket to sit down and you guessed it. Crack. I will try to return it tomorrow. Wish me luck. We tuned it and she evening learned to strum to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

All of my children were talking about WDW........they want to go back to MGM, Epcot and the water parks and spend more time at each. Not for awhile though DH is taking away my financial responsibilities for a while. lol, he thinks he can do a better job. He's been saying that for 11 years now, so we'll see......

IASW Rider, thank you for the kind words. I actually had tears in my eyes reading everyone's posts today. You are special friends that I enjoy spending time with.

We had freezing rain last night, Christmas Eve, and my DD was in the Christmas Choir at church. As I was leaving the house to get to the car I took a tumble, it looked terribly funny and I'm okay, but I believe I sprained my thumb....It makes it hard for me to play the ping pong tournament the kids have going an. It will be my turn again soon. I only lost by 2 points last game I played.

My DD did a great job in the Choir at church we had our meals with the inlaws at my house both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I'm tired, but the days went without a hitch. As I told my DH, I did my "duties", cooking cleaning etc. with neary a complaint and because of that and not paying attention to negative things. I had a beautiful day and I think everyone else did too.

My parents called. They live on a sailboat in the winter, they are crossing through the middle of Florida now, it was nice to hear from them.

SG, I lived at Camelback Townhouses as a kid and was a ski instructor at Camelback. My parents moved to Blakeslee after I went to college. Was your brother station at Tobyhanna Army Depot. I knew a few kids that there parents were stationed there. They went to the same school as I did.

Helenabear, I hope all is going well with your visitors.

Thanks for dropping by Cathy Canada and Dan the Man, enjoyed seeing you.

Have a good evening. Wendy

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Jstmee/Wendy

So wonderful of you to take the time out to say hi to us. It sounds as if you are having a wonderful day, broken guitar aside. It sounds as if your home resounds with music. I am picturing your tumble and how in the world you sprained your thumb. Did you land on it and do a wheelie? I should not kid about your fall but since you seemed to have escaped with only a minor injury I just had to do it. LOL

My brother is 45 and was a grown man when he ended up in Tobyhanna. He left Ohio when he was a teenager and we did not know where he was for over 18 1/2 years. I had given him up for dead when a younger sister decided to look for him. We older siblings told her that it was impossible as we had already tried. With the internet all things are possible. Through a string of coincidences we found not only him but the fact that he was married and had a son. Our family name is very strange and unusual so we had figured it would die out so there were so many things to be grateful for.

A ski bunny huh? That might be some sort of insult and I don't mean it that way. I cannot walk in snow let alone slide gracefully over it. You sure are a bunch of interesting young people. Your parents live on a boat in the winter? Where do they live the rest of the year?

My DH would never take away any of responsibilities let alone the finanacial ones. He does not like to worry about anything so he leaves it all to me. I am better at the money than he is anyway. Maybe he is just trying to spare you some of your chores while you recuperate. It would be good for him to see what you have to deal with anyway and then he will appreciate the job you do.

SG/Linda

 

[preshi]

just changing this from 666 to 667

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Preshi

You are so thoughtful. We appreciate it. Please sit down and enjoy the view. We love to meet new guests. There is plenty of room in our suite for more Disney fans. Please introduce yourself and I will get Bo or Don to get you a beverage of your choice and we will learn a bit more about the world through your eyes.

Slightly Goofy

 

[jstmee]

The day after Christmas and all through the house all the creatures were stirring even the grouch. I lie in my bed and try not to hear the clatter of ping pongs, rattling off the wall. There is no sound of guitar strums, oh my oh how sad, but Regis and Kelly are chatting away. The hubby is cleaning and yelling and screaming, but as he does this he is whistling away. My throat is all scratchy oh well what a shame.....

heee heeee, I don't know how this all came about.

Hope all is well for everyone, I'm still in my jammies, I'd really like to go back to bed, but I should do a little cleaning at least.

SG, I laughed about your joke on my tumble, it was quite hilarious.....My daughter and I laughed all the way to church....

Preshi, come on in and sit awhile, we have a nice jacuzzi here to soak tired muscles. Ah, that's what I shall do for my thumb it is definately still sore.

IASW Rider and Helenabear, I'm sure you are all busy.

Bye for now, the grinch, my DH, is a bit miffed I think, cause he is cleaning and I'm not. Oh well, life will continue.

....and SG, NO DH is taking over finances because he thinks I spend too much and he thinks we should have more money in the bank. I don't believe he has a clue about the cost of living.

Adios for now.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Jstmee

Yep, I know all about hubbies with no clue. Mine has hardly ever been to the grocery store in all the years we have been married and he is in shock over the prices. Seems the only prices he remembers is the cost of things back when he bagged groceries over 50 some years ago!!! Also he is very sheltered due to the fact that I was a coupon queen and got our groceries for free for many years as well as paying for our meals out, movies, furniture and many other things including a trip to the Bahamas. Mine is grouchy but he does not clean or whistle so it could be worse. I am attempting to teach him to put the microwave plate cover back in when he makes his cup of tea. Considering that it has taken me 6 months to teach him how to zap a cup of water for a minute (we have a minute button) instead of running the water at the faucet I am not sure that I will live long enough to get him trained in this one chore let alone domesticated enough to live with. LOL

On a serious note for a minute - not sure if this will work or not but since my DH is a spendaholic and I am not I came up with an idea for our retirement budget that is working out very well. I put a sum of money in the budget for each of us called 'personal spending'. Anything that we want to buy that is not a normal expense comes out of this money. That way he cannot complain about what I spend on the grandkids and I don't worry about what he spends on lottery tickets etc. It has worked out very well. He quit smoking after doing so for over 50 years and I believe the fact that he did not want to spend so much out of his spending money was the direct cause. I do not believe that the 'non working ha ha" spouse should have to beg for every penny. This provides a set amount that each person can count of having and has greatly reduced the arguing over how money is spent in our home. I have saved enough out of mine the last 2 years to treat myself to a brand new computer as soon as I figure out what I want.

Laughter is good for what ails you and I am glad that you were able to laugh off the pain on your way to church.

Got to go cook dinner, had Mr. D here today. He is so proud of his Leap Pad. He can spell up a storm. Once he hears a spelling he does not forget it. Sweet boy, I love him to pieces.

Slightly Goofy

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

How are you all doing? Sounds like you all had very nice holidays! Hope that you're hanging in there, too, Helenabear! We're thinking of you!

How are you and your family feeling now, SG? And how is your thumb feeling, Jstmee? And how are you and your family feeling, Angelina?

I really enjoyed hearing about what you all did on Christmas! It's neat - it's like we can sort of "virtually celebrate" with one another, across the country!

Sorry that this can't be too long - as usual, I'm writing from work (UGH.). First day back after 2 days off, preceded by a half day and a weekend. It's tough to be back. I sort of have to "ease into it".

We went down to Frank's mother's house in South Jersey on Monday afternoon and returned last night. Would you believe that while we were gone, there was a power outage, so the tape that I had set up to tape the VMCP didn't tape! I was so disappointed - I was really looking forward to watching it with DF when we got home last night! In addition, my "All My Children" tape didn't tape, either, so we missed an episode (believe it or not, DF watches my soap with me every night) . Oh well. Maybe I'll get to see the VMCP on TV next year!

We had a nice visit with Frank's family, and it was nice to be with a bunch of people and share their holiday (my family is so small that we rarely have big family gatherings). It was fun participating in all of the Christmas traditions that I have seen so many times on TV and at friends' houses, but did not grow up with - like opening gifts by the tree on Christmas morning, having family and friends over on Christmas Eve, etc. Frank's family is very kind and welcoming to me. The only unpleasant incident was when Frank's narrow-minded, trashy step brother (with whom he is not close - Frank's mother married his step father when he was already and adult, so he didn't grow up with his step father's children) commented that if he needed additional batteries for his kids' toys, he could go to (referring to K-Mart) "Jew Mart - the only place that's open on Christmas, except those places owned by the dot-heads".......charming. Of course, as when I've been faced with similar ignorant comments in the past, I stood there stunned and speechless (of course now I'm kicking myself for not having said something). Fortunately, Frank's sister took matters into her own hands and told him off when I wasn't around. UGH. It's so weird that that step brother is such a bigoted jerk, 'cause Frank's other step brother is a very nice, polite, kind person. Anyway, aside from that lovely comment, it was a nice few days at Frank's mother's house, and I enjoyed seeing him and his family enjoying the holiday!

Here is a picture of us with Frank's Great Aunt:

Anyway, sorry that I can't write more, now - will write more later (and not all about me!), when I can sneak in another break!

And belated thanks for stopping by, Dan and Cathy!

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

 

[helenabear]

Hi there everyone! All is well here and I finally got a "day off" on my vacation. Luis' family left on Tuesday and then yesterday I went and visited my Grandmother & Aunt, so I have been busy lately.

The visit with Luis' family was okay. It honestly would have been better had Luis' brother stayed home. I am not trying to be as harsh as that just sounded, but both Luis and I were about to strangle his brother by the end of the stay. His mom was actually very sweet to me and very unlike how she has acted in the past. I am not sure what brought about the change that Luis and I saw, but we won't question it and we are just happy Luis' brother on the other hand, started giving home improvement advice (he has never owned a home or been able to fix things at his apartments) the moment he walked in the house. It hurt our feelings because we love our home and it felt like he didn't like it. He even went as far as buying Luis "Home Improvements for Dummies" right in front of me the day before Christmas. Luis was rather insulted by it but didn't say a thing. I am sure he was trying to be helpful but it drove us nuts. Also on the 24th I went to the mall with Luis' family while Luis was at work and his brother felt the need to tell me exactly what type of tools Luis needs to have. He showed me a tool set where Luis had about 80% of the tools in the set but supposedly Luis still needed the full set according to his brother. He had a good way of telling us we were wrong about everything and he knew it all because he had done the "research". I could only take so much of it and I was thrilled when we came home. Other than that we had a good time. Luis' mother wouldn't stay out of the kitchen while I made Christmas dinner and I was mad when four others were in the kitchen telling me to check on the different parts of dinner (the bread, veggies, ham... etc) while I was trying to fix the last part of the dinner so I said rather loudly and not to nicely "There are too many people in this kitchen, get out!!!" Fortunately they got the hint and only showed up when I asked for their help. So that was the worst part of making dinner and I would rather have people wanting to help me than not at all. His family had a good time over all and I would look forward to having them come again. Luis said he was going to have a talk with his mom about his brother though. He has nicely suggested to his brother to stop doing some of what he does, but his brother doesn't seem to take a hint. So Luis hopes his mom can get through to his brother so that we aren't annoyed and ready to kill him the next time he visits.

It was so nice to hear about everyone's vacations with their families and I am sorry I didn't get to check in until now. My computer didn't like some software that was loaded so the last day or so I have been trying to clean it up so it is in working order So I was very happy to come back and hear the good (and the bad) of all the Christmas'. Well I will check back later, I have a tiny tiny cold or allergy reaction (I can't always tell which and I think it might just be an allergic reaction since I have been in so many different homes in such a short time and I probably have come across something my nose doesn't like) so I need to take some meds to help with the sinus pressure. Take Care everyone!!!

 

[CathyCanada]

just checking in again and letting you know that I am keeping up with all of you, just don't take the time to post as much and I am sorry for that. This is such a nice peaceful spot on the board and I love visiting with you all!

We had a lovely Christmas. I cooked dinner for my parents and Jim's mother and brother and everything was terrific! I haven't done Christmas dinner for 6 years because I can't cook a turkey!! I have always thawed them in the fridge for 2 days (12-14 lbs) and they are still not cooked even with the 1/2 per lb thing. Anyway, got a fresh turkey this year and all went well, even with the MIL here......whew!!!!!!

Glad yours went well too Elaine and sorry about your knucklehead BIL, some people are clueless!

Linda, I love your Personal Spending money idea, good for you!

Angelina, enjoy your trip, watch your spending and try not to worry, just feel the Magic!

Wendy, hope your throat is feeling better, gargle with salt water and take zinc!

Rider, sorry the step brother is such an intolerant boob. One thing I cannot stand are rascists. Nice to know that Frank's sister set him straight! I usually check abc.com to catch up on AMC.

Did I tell you ladies that they were taping MVMCP when I was at the DIS Convention? We saw one of the MK parade segments and Mandy Moore's ending, my DD Meg had to buy a disposable camera to take a picture of her. I also had the pleasure of meeting our own bashful64 aka Shannon at the Convention and then on the training cruise I was on! What a sweet lady, with adorable kids!

Well I have rambled on enough. Just wanted to pop in and wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!
Hugs to my "bestest friends"!!
Cathy

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey!

So glad to hear that everything went well, Helenabear! I knew that it would! So glad to hear that your MIL was "on good behavior" and that you seemed to get along very well - I knew that that would happen! I'm sorry to hear about your BIL though - maybe he's a little jealous of your new home? Or maybe he just wanted attention by (pretending to?) know about home improvement stuff? Or maybe because he was jealous of your new home and your and Luis's successes, he wanted to try to feel "superior" to make himself feel better, by making unasked for suggestions? Regardless, hopefully his mother will be able to get through to him. Maybe he honestly thought that he was trying to be helpful. Maybe it was his way of saying that he wanted to be involved more in yours and Luis's lives. But it sounds like all in all, everything went well, which is wonderful! I'm sure that you're both happy to have your house back to yourselves, now! How did the kitties hold up with all of the guests and all of the activity?

Great to hear from you again, Webmaster CC! And glad to hear that you had a nice holiday, too! I'm sure that your turkey came out wonderfully! I've never cooked a whole turkey before in my life - maybe some day I will get brave and do so! That's so neat that you saw some of the VMCP being taped! I've read other threads where people have mentioned seeing parts of it taped, earlier this month, too. That must have been really nice to see! I just wish that my tape had taped, so that I could have seen it this year! I like when they used to show it at night (sometimes) - they would show the MSEP version of VMCP, which was really cool! And that's so great that you met Bashful in person - we miss her, around here!

Hope that you're all having a nice day, and hope that all is well with you, SG, Angelina, and Jstmee!

Talk to you all, soon!

 

[angelina]

CathyC is fast. I posted last night, then thought about what I had written and thought it was too whiney and depressing, so I came back and deleted it. I guess she caught it. I was up late cleaning, and when I'm tired, I get depressed and worry a lot, and get panicky. Which is where I was last night, trying not to think too much while I cleaned up.

We've decided to go to WDW next week after we get together on New Year's day for my Grandmother's birthday. My dh said if he's going to lose his job or get transferred, it's going to happen whether or not we go. This is a real low budget trip, but I still feel guilty about it. The kids ended up with more spending money between them than I have in my checking account right now, LOL. They have a longer holiday this year, and don't have to go back to school until the 7th, so we're taking advantage of it. Not to mention $49 rooms at Movies. So we'll go, and I'll hope for the best.

I create a lot of problems for myself by procrastinating, and not paying bills when I get them because I'm always afraid I'll run short later on. My resolution is to keep a running balance in my checkbook, and staying on top of bills instead of waiting to the last minute. I can't tell you how afraid I've become of my mailbox, and it's not because of anthrax. I have to psych myself up just to get the mail, and I dread seeing the mailman come around the corner. Hopefully this year I will correct the problem, and save myself some stress. It's all about management.

I have to take my dd to a party. Have a great day

Angelina

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Angelina!

I'm sure that your post was neither "whiny" or "depressing"! And even if you were venting a little bit, you never have to worry about that around here - that's what we're here for! We're here to listen when you're happy or sad or in any other mood!

Just as Cathy said - enjoy your vacation!!!! Don't worry about anything!!! You will all have such a wonderful time that you won't have time to worry about "stuff"! Just go and enjoy and have a wonderful time! I'm sure that you and your DH are very responsible people and do a great job with your finances. (and don't worry - we all dread the mail and the bills - UGH). You need to treat yourself for all of the hard work that you do, every day, and as a nice break after the craziness of the holiday season. Don't feel "guilty"! So have a fantastic vacation and be sure to take lots of pictures to show us and come back and tell us everything! And don't forget to ride IASW!

 

[helenabear]

Hi everyone! I am just popping in before my cousins come and visit today for a few days!

We honestly have no idea what is wrong with Luis' brother sometimes. Luis warned me that he was a bit off and that he would probably treat me the way he does. He also warned me that he was a pathological lier and I have noticed that too. One thing I didn't say before is that he complained that my cats were waking him up in the morning and my cats were with me and didn't make a noise until I got up. I wake up to all my babies' noises (a mom think, like my mom would wake up to a small cough I would make) and they were particularly good with the company there. He claimed one night Cleo woke him up at 4:00 am and I was awake at that time and Cleo was on my lap so who knows. He just has a constant drive to be the best and make excuses for when he isn't number one. Why he is that way we don't know. It could be jealousy or it could be that he is just a knucklehead but either way we don't know. So hopefully his mom can talk to him so that he won't drive away his own brother (which he has before).

Angelina, don't you worry about what you post. We all have our ups and downs and here is a great place to get all the good and the bad out! I felt a little whiny and pessimistic before Luis' family but everyone here has great advice to give & good sympathy too! I am sure you will have a great time on your vacation and if you ever need to vent, please do so!

Well I do need to finish taking out the trash before my cousins come so I will probably check in (but not say much) here and there until Sunday! Have a great weekend everyone!!!

 

[jstmee]

Just saying hi. Rider the picture of you is so nice. I'll have to figure out how to post a picture one of these days.

Hi to everyone else as well, helenabear so glad you had a good time with your in-laws, sorry about you BIL.......

My thumb is doing much better, I've gotten a little cold which I will take the advice of zinc, the cold is no longer in my throat, it's in my lungs......It always does that head cold one day and straight to the lungs the next.

Angelina have a lot of fun at WDW. I could relate sooooo well about the mailbox.

SG, my FIL doesn't do the microwave thing for his tea either.

Take care, my DS wants a game of ping pong, the older boys are at a basketball game with DH and my DD is spending the night at a friends.

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi All!

Sorry that I haven't had a chance to check in for a few days, but between our busiest season of the year at work and holiday stuff, I haven't really had a chance to sit down at the computer for very long! Will write more, soon, but in the mean time.....

Just wanted to wish you all and your families a wonderful, happy, and healthy new year, and all the best! Here's looking forward to another great year in the EWP Suite!

Take care and Enjoy! Happy 2002!