EWP group?

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

Hope that you enjoyed our Suite Birthday celebration!

You look wonderful, as always - it's so great that the South Beach Diet is working so well for you! I'm sure that you will be just as successful, if you start adding carbs again. You are permitted to have some carbs on that plan, already, aren't you? I'm sure that you will continue to do beautifully!

I'm still floundering, myself. I treated myself to a big pile of pasta last night, because I hadn't had any in so long! Still holding steady at around 80-81 pounds. I barely eat any refined carbs as it is.........some day I will find my "magic formula"! Maybe I'll try cutting out the carbs all together and see what happens........I just can't give up the fruit and vegetable ones, though!

Hope that Austin has a very happy birthday! And hope that Dalton has pleasant dreams!

We're still debating about whether to "go for it" and book our DCL trip for May. If we do, we have to make our decision by this Wednesday, in order to take advantage of the "Early Booking Savings". Decisions, decisions! If we do go, the dates would be May 16 - 23 (I believe), and we would be on land (ie: at WDW!) May 16 - 20.........for anyone who might happen to be "in the neighborhood" at the same time........! Frank has never been to the Bahamas, but I have been to Nassau 3 times. It's great there, and best of all, it's in the Caribbean but it's so close to Florida that it's a quick trip!

Yes, I am also still debating whether to try to find a part time job on campus that might fit into my schedule, or whether to pursue a job that's more field-specific. I did see one posted at one of our local hospitals, right now, but I think that I need to "ease myself" back into the school schedule before I take on too much at once. Besides, our home schedule will change, too, with Frank taking classes as well, so there will be a lot of changes at once. Maybe I should take things slowly before making even more changes! And since my unemployment will carry me through most of this first semester, hopefully I'll be able to do that! We'll see!

Anyway, time to try to be "productive"! Hope that you had a wonderful Birthday and weekend!

Hope that all is well with you both, Elaine and Angie!

Have a great day!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Rider, you made Dalton's day as he is here and was able to read what you wrote about him. Had to help him with pleasant though. LOL

You are so right about making too many changes all at once. Is best to make them one at a time and that gives you a chance to figure out what is working and what is not. It will be a challenge for you and Frank to make sure that you have enough alone time. Is very important to a good marriage (although too much can be a whole other problem LOL).

I am marking the dates of your proposed dates as they would fit in with out plans very nicely. Have discovered that we might have to go to Diseny 3 times, instead of twice, next year as we will be attending a convention in North Carolina and figure that we might as well go for it. I am more interested in NYC since it is closer. Many thoughts of getting a room outside and taking tours into the city. Just ruminations. Tom will go anywhere I want to go but then he does none of the driving, planning packing etc. etc. and is just content to be out of the house and eating out each meal. Very simple man he.

I got an email today about some new Disney cruises and was sort of interested in the one that included Key West. I would love to wander among the 6 toed cats and trod the streets where Hemingway staggered home many a night. LOL

The South Beach diet allows veggies even on Phase One. I just finished my first week and am down over 3 pounds. The first couple of times I had cheese I felt downright sinful. Had been so long since I had had any real cheese. I often have omelets with cheese for breakfast. and cook up a bunch of hamburger patties with grilled veggies for most of my other meals. Eating out is painless. I ate out 4 times this week and actually came home lighter one particular day. I go to the buffets and chow down on the lean meats and certain veggies. I even cheated a tiny bit here and there. Wonder what my total would have been if I had not. I am supposed to continue this for another week before adding fruits and small amounts of carbs back. Will see what next week brings and might continue for a third week before going on to Phase two. If you would like the info I can send it all. I was not able to do the Adkins for long since I had to have some veggies. You can even have SF fudgesicles and diet cocoa on Phase one. Love it!!! Hope the next 75 comes off as easily as the first 75 plus did now that I am revved up again. I could be down another 40 pounds before our DW trip!

BTW, what are your favorite things to do in the Bahamas? We went to a nightclub there with one cruise and the scenery was less than impressive but they had a large lady who sang who blew my socks off. Did not care for the show over at Paradise Island. Took Tom since it was advertised as topless but if it was illegeal to be topless they could have only been charged with a misdeamenor. (great big belly laugh)

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

OK - we did it! We're officially back on the WDW countdown list - we booked our DCL vacation, yesterday! At least we're being somewhat frugal, anyway - it somehow came out to be less expensive - all things considered - than our usual weekly stay at the Poly. We'll be at Port Orleans Riverside May 16 - 19 and on the Disney Wonder (Nassau, Castaway Cay) May 20 - 23! Yea!!!!! Dreams Unlimited is wonderful - they are extremely helpful and efficient!

So, you let us know if you might happen to be "in the area" around that time, Linda! And certainly, if you happen to be thinking about making a trip to the Big Apple in the interim, please let us know! That's amazing that you may be able to make it to WDW 3 times, this year!

Favorite things to do in the Bahamas? Why, lie on the beach like a blob and stare at the ocean and the palm trees, of course! I've also enjoyed touring around and shopping in Nassau, eating lots of dishes containing conch, and enjoying the sunsets while drinking frosty, tropical beverages! That was a great story about the topless show!

6-toed cats? If you'd like to see one of those, you're welcome to come here, any time - one of our cats, Boo Boo Kitty, has 6 toes on each of her 2 front paws (for a grand total of 22 toes!)!

That's so amazing that you lost so much weight so quickly on the South Beach Diet! It definitely sounds motivating to lose so much so soon into the plan. I'm sure that you will continue to do beautifully, as always! Sure - please send it over - I'm at my wits' end with this dumb plateau - just when I thought I'd finally broken through it, it "levels off" again - and that's happened so many times that I'm ready to scream, at this point! So maybe I'll bite the bullet and give the no carb philosophy a try.......!

Well, time to get myself moving, here. Have a great day and talk to you soon!
(Hey! the Boards made me take out all my smileys before I posted this, again!)

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey!

Just wanted to pop in and wish you all a great weekend!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Rider

I just marked the dates on my calendar for when you guys will be at DW. Sounds like a good time for us as we like to go when the kids are in school and the crowds are lower. The weather is lovely that time of the year also. Going 3 or more times in one year is not so very much as we stay at the value resorts and look for bargain prices at that and only really eat one meal a day out of the room. Once we pay for the AP's it is pretty much a done deal. Is the most expensive part of the vacation for us. Being retired we have a lot more time than cash so it works for us. I am glad that you have decided that it is better to be at DW no matter where you stay than anywhere else. LOL We eat at Boatwright's often and often go down to listen to the piano player. Even being night blind I can drive there after dark without getting lost or being a menace to other drivers. (smile)

You probably already know but it is better to order off the menu than order the breakfast buffet at Boatwrights. Also the buildings are quite aways from the main buildings so you might want to request a special room. The boat to DD and other parts are a huge plus.


The six toed cats at Key West are said to be relatives of Earnest Hemingway's cats. The big thing there is to sit at sunset, with a cold one and toast the sunset. Large crowds do it and then continue on to party.

I am not a sun and fun type person. I love the flora and fauna though. Such a waste to spend all you time at the gaming tables in such a beautiful country. I know that you guys will have a ball, no matter where you go.

Curious as to why you decided not to rent points. I have considered that as one last big hurrah one day. If I had unlimited funds I would love to stay at Old Key West in a suite with a whirlpool. A suite at Boardwalk overlooking the lagoon would be a close second.

I will send the South Beach diet info. Am not doing so very well this week but am not feeling well and have slipped a couple of times. Who knows what the scales will say tomorrow though. Have been doing the carpets and such and laying down between rooms just to catch my breath. Have to admit that it does seem to be a very filling diet and I am not hungry near as much. I need to go to the store and replenish my supplies of allowable food. Should go tonight but am too darned tired. Old age is no fun ladies. LOL

I am taking Dalton for his before school party Monday. I got him 20 one dollar bills and am taking him to the Dollar Tree to spend them. I have taught him how to read price tags and he is raring to go shopping.

Austin is spending this last week before school starts up in Indy at the state fair with his animals. I will miss his phone calls as he will not be back until Thursday.

Thinking about going to see Chicago yet again as it has hit the local second run theater. Is a classic IMHO.

Take care and great big hellos to Helenabear and Angelina as well. I think Angie is back from her recent trip and am awaiting the details of how the kids enjoyed it.

SG/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

Thanks so much again for sending all of that great information! I like to learn about all different diet plans, then take pieces of each and make them work for me. I ordered the South Beach Diet book, because I want to read more about how the Doctor who formulated it researched before he found what was successful. And I want to learn more about the insulin resistance theories (I believe that that has everything to do with why and how my mother got sick). And since the plan has been so successful for you and since you seem to be enjoying it, I want to learn more about it! I'm sure that you did wonderfully, this week, and that you will be more than pleasantly surprised, the next time you hit the scale! I hope that you are feeling better, too - don't work too hard - take it easy - it's the weekend!

That's so nice that you are taking Dalton on a back-to-school shopping spree! I like that idea - of giving him 20 $1 bills and having him select what he wants, while simultaneously teaching him how to shop and save! And I'll bet that Austin will come back from the State Fair with many more ribbons and / or trophies for his presentations and competitions!

Hmmm.........maybe we can honor Ernest Hemingway's memory by toasting the sunset from our deck, with our 6-toed cat, Boo Boo Kitty, looking on from inside the sliding glass door of our house! That's the best that we can do until we make it to Key West, some day!

That's so wonderful that you might be able to be at WDW during the same time that we are! And believe it or not........that week represents the anniversary of the very first EWP thread (if I'm not mistaken - I can no longer access it from the Boards - it might have been permanently archived), so we can celebrate it together.......by watching the EWP together..........in PERSON (as opposed to over the phone), this time! Maybe I'll finally be able to "get it right" and be able to meet Elaine and Angie there, next year, too! I can't believe that we were there during those same times, over the past 2 years, and I didn't get to meet either of you in person! Maybe in 2004????? Maybe in 2004, we can ALL have our inevitable EWP reunion at WDW!

We are definitely planning to have dinner at Boatwright's, when we are there. Believe it or not, we have never eaten there, nor even really seen the POR / DxL property, except in pictures, even after all these years! We are so unfamiliar with "that side of town", since we always stay in the MK area. So we are branching out and trying to become more familiar with the DD, AK, and Epcot resort areas! Sure will miss the MK area, but we will definitely go and visit - we can't be down there and not dine at the Kona Cafe, at least once - it's our all time favorite WDW establishment!

Thanks for the advice about dining at POR, Linda! The reason that we decided against DVC is that it's way too expensive for us, right now, with me not working full time. I am such an idiot - I should have joined 4 or 5 years ago, when I had a steady income. Even though it would have been pretty steep for me / us then, too, it would have already paid itself off, by now, after our past 5 years' stays at the Poly. We just can't make an investment of that size, with me not working full time and with us paying my Rutgers tuition. But when I start working full time, again (when ever that may be - it could be years from now!), that's something that we will definitely consider, because as often as we hope to continue traveling to WDW, it would certainly be a worthwhile investment! In the mean time, I worked with several very knowledgeable, helpful, and efficient Agents at Dreams Unlimited, and we determined that a land / sea DCL package would be the way to go, for next year! Also, took your advice and Elaine's and did lots of research on line and through DU. Now we just have to find some reasonable and convenient flights, and we're all set!

Well, time to get going. Hope that you're all having a great weekend! And hope that you had a wonderful vacation, Angie! Where did you go? Tell us all about it!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey everyone!

Hi Linda!

How are you doing? How did everything go with your latest batch of home improvement projects? As I always say, I think it's so great that you do so many things on your own! I should learn to do things like install doors, etc. I know that lots of people know how to do them - Frank knows how to do many things like that - but I never had the patience to learn. It must be especially satisfying to not only pick out the ammenities that you want and need for your house, but also to install (and / or paint, decorate, or otherwise) them yourself! Coincidentally, we really need to do something about our front screen door - it's old and it's definitely time to replace it. Maybe I can watch Frank do that, when we get around to it, and learn at that time! It's also funny that you mentioned having your truck's tires replaced and its oil changed, because my car's tires are being replaced and its oil is being changed right now, as I write!

I finished reading the South Beach Diet book, and it was really interesting! It's right up my alley, in terms of the sort of information that it presents. I'm really interested in the way that the body processes and metabolises food, and "what it does with it", and how that affects our health, and all of that is explained very clearly in the book. That's the sort of stuff that I'm looking forward to studying in school. I like the scientific explanations that the Doctor provides, as well as (needless to say) the encouraging words about how and why his diet plan works. It's very close to the way that I've been eating for the past 2 years - with the exception of the fact that I have fruit and fruit juice and would occasionally have bread and pasta. I'm doing an "experiment" and cutting out all bread and pasta, and all fruit (with the exception of one glass of orange juice in the morning), for a little while, to see what happens. I tried it for a few days and immediately dropped 3 pounds and was very hopeful......until I got on the scale this morning and seemed to have "gained" 2 back. I don't know how that could be possible, overnight......I'm guessing that it might have to do with the fact that we went out to dinner last night and wound up eating later than we usually do. Anyway, I press on, looking for the right "formula" to get me off of this 10-month plateau!

You are absolutely right about everything being pretty expensive in NYC - even the diners / coffee shops are on the expensive side, there. I guess that that's the case in every large city. But it's nice to splurge and go in and have dinner there, every once in awhile! We promised ourselves no Broadway shows for a long time, since a day of theater and a night of dining in NYC can run on average around $300 (including train tickets, taxis, etc.) or even more! We'll save such excursions for special occasions.....but probably not until I start working, in some capacity, again. We need to save up for that spring WDW trip - as long as I know that we have that to look forward to, I don't care if we give up other things, in the interim!

Would love to come and see your shoe tree - that sounds neat! And I loved looking at the Roadside America site that you sent over - there are some really cool and weird things, out there! I don't know why I find them so fascinating! I also like anything that looks "retro" - like signs from other decades - I like looking at the different "kitschy" styles. I also used to collect magazine ads from the 1940's and 1950's - had some very pretty Coca Cola ones (very "50's-like", with 2 teenagers sharing a soda, with 2 straws, and gazing into one another's eyes, etc.) and some amusing / sad cigarette ads ("4 out of 5 doctors recommend Camel for their patients who smoke - it's less irratating to the throat than other brands!" It's very sad to look at that, now!).

I hope that your DD and DSL are able to take your grandsons to D.C.! That would be wonderful for them! There is so much to see and do there, and I'm sure that they would learn a lot and have a good time! There is a museum there to fit everyone's tastes, and I just love walking around the mall area, amongst the monuments. It's just a really great city, in general!

Anyway, I'd probably better get going and see what I can get done before the dealership calls to tell me that I can pick up my car!

Hope that all is well with all of you, out there!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

You give me far too much credit. I do a lot of different things but it is not cause I am so talented. We are a middle income (now retired) couple and I am picky. If I wanted a certain standard of living I had to learn how to do things myself or do without. If Frank enjoys doing and is capable and you do other things it is working for you and that is great. Is only a problem if only one half of a couple does it all. (sigh)

Thank you so much for the postcard from Rutgers. I am so proud. I always wanted a child of mine to go to college. LOL I have it up on the china cabinet where I put things of the utmost importance.

I get my tires and oil changes at Wal Mart. I save big bucks AND I don't have to have appointment and get to wander the aisles looking for bargains instead of sitting around wasting time at the dealership. We just got a super store here and I love it. You could live in there.


I lost 3.25 pounds on the SBD the first week and only .75 the next week. I lost an average of about a half pound a day for the first week and a half and then it started creeping and then leaping back. I have a suspicion what is wrong and am hoping I am wrong but my mother had congestive heart failure (sounds a lot worse than it is cause people can live for many decades with it if properly treated). I gained about 10 pounds yesterday alone and even if I had eaten all day long I could not have accomplished the weight gain without something else being wrong. Have you checked out any of the forums on SBD? I can send some if you are interested.

I will be paying about $180 for the tickets to Lion King including the transportation and thought that was high. I have never been to one of the Broadway series where I left and felt like I had been overcharged though. I will pay for worthy things.

Have to say that having to wait for things and save up for things make you appreciate more. I have found myself hating things that I bought on credit and was reminded monthly about the pain of paying for them and throughly enjoyed saving up and then paying cash for something instead. Just add up what the average person spends on interest each year and see how many trips to DW you could make on such monies. When you finish making payements on a car just keep putting the amount of the payment in a savings account and then when you have to buy the next car you have more of a down payment and after a couple of cars you will be able to pay cash and save literally thousands on each car afterward. Live under your income and it gives you a freedom that is amazing. Gee, can you tell that I teach lessons on budgeting? LOL

If my dd and dsil put off a trip to DC for too many years I just may book a bus tour and take the young man by myself. He is too young for me to handle on my own right now but if he grows up to be the fine young man I expect he will he will be ready in a few years and maybe his older brother who will be a teenager then will be willing to go also.

Austin came home from the fair last night and announced that he had come in second in his class. I was amazed since he is not good at handling his animals to say the least. He waited a minute and then chuckled, "Second from the bottom!" I love his sense of humor and the fact that he is able to get out there and do it at all awes me. He has some of my mental problems (agoraphobia) and that is why we have such a strong bond. Others do not understand his fears.

Where are you headed on the Disney Cruise? I know that Key West is on the agenda for one of the trips. I think we should attempt to make plans for May 2004 and see if Helenabear, Angie and some of other friends might not meet us there. Tom and I might consider staying at Dixie Landings at least part of the time. Do not worry, I am not the tag along type and would just prefer to get together a couple of times while we are all there. I am older and slower and don't like to slow others down. LOL

Boatwright's used to be one of our favorite restaurants way back when they had the sweet potato biscuits etc. The menu has changed and not for the better. The breakfast buffet is usually a bit tired and the prices for the breakfast menu are almost cheap by Disney standards. Tom likes that and Perkins. I am not much of a breakfast eater. It is nice to have dinner over there after coming back from the parks and then wandering over to the lounge to listen to the music. If you are not the type to enjoy getting up and making a fool of yourself with the other people in the lounge you can sit over in the other area and enjoy the tomfoolery without getting involved yourself. A nice walk around the PO area is wonderful as well. Is very New Orleans like. Beignets anyone?

Kona is on my list for one of my upcoming trips. We have never been there. Have only walked around the Poly once in all these years. KoKo Puffs here I come diet be 'darned'!!!!

Have to go get my bread out of the oven. I made some for our friends next door. Have to get it out of the house before butter finds its way onto it and then it jumps into my mouth. I am soooo weak.

Take care Lisa and Elaine and Angie!

Linda/SG

 

[angelina]

Hi, everyone, I just wanted to stop in and say hello. My computer was hit by lightening (again) just before we went to Ft. Lauderdale and we just got a new one tonight. I have been reading some of the old posts, but it will take me a couple of days to catch up. I hope everyone is doing well.

Linda, I hope you're wrong about having CHF. That's very scary, but you're right about being o.k. with treatment. I'm counting on meeting you one of these days! BTW, I am still laughing about the penguin e-mail you sent! That kind of humor is right up my alley!

Lisa, thanks for the post card of Rutgers! When do you begin classes! I looked into going back to college one of these days, but the timing is all wrong.

We had a family b-day dinner at our house tonight, and I have to go clean up the kitchen, but I will check in with everyone tomorrow.

Take care,

Angie

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Angelina!!! I am so very glad to see you in here again. How did the kids do with the flight? Did you have some fun even if it was not DW? I hope it all went well.

Was the family birthday celebration for your birthday? I think your birthday is this month but you have never told me what day.

I am looking forward to meeting you some day as well. Never know it might be sooner than you might think. We are going to Florida in November and are going to do our best to be there in May of 2004 when Rider is going. Might we hope that you and Helenabear both might join us?

I always shut down my computer when bad weather is in the area. Do you have a surge protector? I hope you were able to salvage the information on your old computer.

Had a long day today but a lot of fun so I am going to head to bed as I have an even longer day tomorrow. Does not take much to wear me out. I get tired just 'reading' about what you all do each day. LOL

Linda/SG

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Just a post script. I have been reading about a certain tag fairy person and am wondering if our Elaine might not be very good friends with him? Just wondering.

Linda/SG

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Angie!

Great to hear from you!!!! And I'm echoing Linda by asking - when is your birthday??? You have to let us know, so that we can make sure that our Suite Guys prepare a special celebration for you! And I'm echoing Linda, once again, by saying COME TO WDW IN MAY, 2004!!!! It would be so wild if we all happened to be there at the same time - maybe our fantasy of watching the EWP together could actually come true!

How was your vacation? Hope that you all had a wonderful time! Are your children back in school, now?

I'm sorry to hear about your computer - is it completely all right, now?

Hi Linda!

Yes, I also wonder if Elaine might have some sort of connection to the mysterious Tag Fairy........!

I also hope that you're wrong about having CHF. My 77 year old Uncle has had it for years, but he is doing fine. I hope that everything is all right with you. And you're right about different things being responsible for random weight gains. I'm trying not to drive myself too crazy (up 2, down2, up 2, down 2......)......AAARRRRGGHH!

That's a great idea to have your car serviced at WalMart - I never thought of that! I just instinctively bring mine to the dealer because so many random places which serviced my last car really messed it up. So I promised myself that I would be consistent, with this car, and only bring it to one place - the dealership, where there are specialists who are familiar with my particular model. Interestingly enough, I did some comparison shopping before I bought my new tires, and found that my dealership happened to have the best deal of all, so that worked out well!

When are you going to see "The Lion King"? I'm sure that you will find that the tickets were well worth it - it's a fantastic show! Now that you've seen "Aida" and will be seeing "The Lion King", will this complete the "triad" - have you already seen "Beauty and the Beast"? If not, you'll definitely have to see it, when it comes out there!

That would be so neat, if you and Tom happened to be at Port Orleans Riverside, at the same time that we are! We will only be there for 4 days (we'll be on land May 16-19 and at sea May 20-23), but there is no way that I'm leaving solid ground without seeing you in person, if we're there at the same time! I think that we should meet on the dock of the Poly - perfect viewing location of the EWP, and the closest approximation to where our Suite is "located", as well! And you'll definitely have to dine at the Kona Cafe - the food there is so wonderful - at every meal - and we love the quiet atmosphere, too! We are very attached to that place.......and its amazing coffee!

Speaking of WDW restaurants, I know that both of you - Linda and Angie - have dined at the AKL. Which restaurant do you prefer, there, or would you recommend - Boma or Jiko? We definitely want to spend one of our evenings over there, since we've never been there before. Both restaurants sound so good, but we don't know very much about either of them! Do both of them offer views of the Savannah, as well?

We are doing a land-sea package which includes the 3-night Bahamian cruise. So we will spend one day in Nassau, one day at Disney's island, Castaway Cay, and one day at sea. We received the DCL trip planning video in the mail, yesterday, and now we are even more excited about this upcoming trip (just 278 more days to go!)! It looks like it will be wonderful! And since I've only ever taken one cruise before, the length of this one will be good for me - in case I find myself prone to motion sickness. There are longer sea-only cruise packages offered by DCL. The one which includes Key West is the new 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise (we learned all about the various cruise offerings on the video, last night!). It also includes Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Castaway Cay, on its itinerary. The 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise includes St. Thomas, St. Martin, St. John, Nassau (I think), and Castaway Cay. All of the land/sea packages are associated with the 3 or 4-night Bahamian cruise. I think that it will be a lot of fun, and something different from our traditional "WDW Vacation Format"!

I'm glad that you both liked my little souvenirs of Rutgers! My classes begin on September 2, just after Labor Day Weekend. I can't believe that it's coming up so soon - just 2.5 more weeks of being a "Lady of Leisure"! Well, it's been a nice and necessary break, and I know that I'm very fortunate to have been able to have all of this time off, to "find myself" and figure out in which direction I'd like my life to go, now.

Frank begins his first class, right around the same time as mine start. I'll be curious to see how his on line lectures are conducted and how the on line lessons are taught. He will have regular textbooks, but I'll be interested to see how the program actually works. Ah, technology!

Anyway, hope that all is well with you both and hope that all is well with you, out there, Elaine!

Have a great day and I'll talk to you soon!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi there Lisa!

Glad to know that I am not the only one who thnks that the mysterious tag fairy is a friend of ours. Having met this person in person and knowing what a generous and thoughtful person they are I have a feeling that we are right. Hoping that the "Fairy" pays us all a visit soon. (hint)

I love your plans for the get together and could not think of a better plan. Not sure if we will be able to pull off the Dixie Landings stay but even I can drive from AS to DL. We often go over for dinner anyway. I pack so much stuff since we stay so long that I dread the packing and unpacking.

I have a friend who is a retired high school teacher who is not teaching classes on the Internet. I love the idea and have thought about it for myself. You don't seem to save many bucks but it sure is convenient.

My mother had CHF and my father had another kind of heart disease and so did both sets of grandparents so it is a matter of when not if I develop heart trouble of some sort. I know many people who have lived a long time with it and I am lucky in that I can afford the medicines and such so I am not going to worry too much about that. I did go to see the eye doctor today and found out that I have the beginnings of a cataract. Not to worry for awhile though and that is easily taken care of when the time comes so I am not going to sweat that either. They are trying to talk me into titanium frames but I do so much messy work and am allergic to all metals so I am going with plastic even though I may not be in style. I am more of a substance over style person anyway. LOL

I have not seen Beauty and the Beast except at DW but it is not high on my list of things to see. I could be wrong though.

I am a Bomba type of person. I have read the menus at both places and loved the dinner we had at Bomba's. It is very noisy though. Jiko's is a more upscale and trendy place and not quite to our tastes but might be for you city slickers. LOL If you go just before Bomba's opens for the evening they have a ceremony to open the doors unless they have changed it. We went early and got some drinks, took them out on the veranda and enjoyed the scenery. It was fun wandering around and looking at the decor and all but was not a place I would like to stay at. Just my opinion. Is high priced without the high price amenities of many Disney properties IMHO.

Getting my oil changed at Wal Mart is good here as WM employees are usually long term here and some of them are retired Cummins employees that have known us for years. I would never go to to a quick lube place as I have heard of horror stories where they put the oil in the wrong place and caused major damage due to the fact that they will hire pretty much anyone and they do not often know what they are doing. I did it once and they messed up my a/c. I would never have anything serious done anywhere but the dealership though. I hate having to make an appointment to get oil changed or tires rotated so it works for me. I get my hair cut at the mall also and it is much better than what I was getting done at the regular shop.

It has been an interesting year for you and Frank and I think the timing was perfect as it gave you a year or more of an extended honeymoon. The future looks bright for you both also and I have no doubt but that it will be all you hope for and more.

Angelina, I hope that you find time to post some of your recent experiences. We have all been wondering how things went with you and your crew. I was thinking about you the other day. We have several people in the area that are doing something unusual. They cater from their homes a couple of days a week, usually weekends for small groups. Most require a group of 10-25. It would be a bit like hosting a small party every week but you would not have to haul the stuff back and forth. Not sure it would work for you unless your family wanted to get involved. One Amish family sang for us and told us that our fee was for the singing, not the food, as they were not zoned for a restaurant. Was a bit iffy on the moral high road but it was said in such a charming way who could judge. LOL

Hoping that no one got the nasty virus that is going around. It would not dare hit our state of the art equipment in the Suite but bad things happen in the 'real' world. LOL

Linda/SG

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Good evening ladies

I found this at All Ears and thought I would post it in case someone missed it. Bet no one here has a hard time figuring it out. LOL

Your friend, SG/Linda








You can view me from your balcony
Or outside of a park
But never when the sun is up
Only in the dark

I was the first one of my kind
And now there's several more
Salute the stars at nine or ten
And listen to Handel's score

What am I and where will you find me?

 

[IASW Rider]

It's gotta be the EWP, Linda! I'm not sure if you posted a picture, because if you did, I couldn't see it for some reason. But the "first of my kind" and "Handel's score" gave it away! I wish that they still played Handel's Water Music and Baroque Hoedown as accompaniment to the EWP, as they did in my childhood!

You have such a wonderful attitude about your health and take such good care of yourself that I'm sure that you would be able to handle and get through any situation that might happen to (but hopefully won't) arise in the future. I hope that you will not have to worry about either of the issues that you mentioned, at all!

Thank you for your thoughts about my Boma vs. Jiko quandary! I love hearing reviews from people who have actually visited and enjoyed or observed the places!

That's so neat that there are people who cater from their homes, in your area, Linda! Do you have many Amish families living near you? I spent a lot of time in Pennsylvania's Amish / Dutch country as a child, when my Aunt and cousin lived out there, in Lancaster, and it was really neat! Wonderful shops, restaurants, and bakeries, and lots of interesting history to learn and local people to meet! And I think that you would make a fantastic caterer, Angie! Can't wait to come down there and sample some of your delicacies!

Sorry that this is such a short one - I'm having a bout of insomnia - have been up for a few hours - and will try to get a few more "winks", now!

Have a great day, Everyone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I knew that the riddle would be far too easy for anyone on here but thought it would be fun none the less. LOL

Lisa, you will find when you get older, that there are far more scary things than dying. I won't go into what they are as it would turn your hair grey. (smile)

We live in a pretty rural area although it is in a triangle of the big three, Louisville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati so we can get to the big city if we want. LOL The land in Pa and other Amish places has gotten so expensive that they are moving to other areas and we are starting to get some families. There are many more up North. The Amish farms in Northern Indiana are not like the ones I saw in Pa, they were so picture perfect but I guess that they have had longer to get established.

Got Tom to Brown County and got my monthly dose of "keeping in my place". I did my shopping as I was not too safe to drive around town yesterday. I ran into one of my 4-Her's who told me that her stepfather had been in the hospital for three weeks from complications from heart surgery so I went to the hospital to see her mom, my old friend. It is heartbreaking as she has had such a hard life and then was so lucky to find this wonderful man and there is a real chance that he might not make it. He is only 60.

I was thinking about you while I wandered the school supply aisles. Wonder what kind of lunch pail you would choose? LOL

Hoping you were able to get some sleep. Just remember that 99% of what you worry about does not happen. Oops!! That makes a good case for worrying about everything in an effort to keep all bad things away. But then if you never sleep you are more apt to have an accident. Heck, I am going around in circles. LOL

I have not gotten anything much done today at all and will be gone most of tomorrow also. I was counting on Friday to catch up but Austin wants to come and spend the night and I do not have the heart to turn him down. I just heard that one of my Fab Four has been sick. It breaks my heart that he cannot come and lay on grandma's lap until he feels better like my boys do. Would not be so bad if I thought they were getting tender loving care from their mom but that is about as likely as me locking my doors against any kids.

Sleep well tonight and dream dreams of our eventual WDW meeting.

Linda/SG

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

How are you doing? And how are you feeling?

So sorry to hear that one of your Fab Four isn't feeling well! I hope that he is feeling better, soon! Do you get to hear very much about them? Or have you seen them at all, lately, even from afar? I just feel so horrible about that situation - it's just so sad. Their mother is depriving those children of having wonderful, loving, caring grandparents in their lives, much less a tie to the rest of your family. Hopefully, when they are older and independent of their parents, you will be able to have the sort of relationship with them that you all deserve, and will be able to be part of one another's lives.

Also, sorry to hear about your 4Her's step-father. I hope that everything will be all right - 60 years old is so young.

Thanks again, Linda and Angie, for checking in on me, yesterday! It was so kind of you both to think of Frank and me and to go out of your way to contact me! As I said, we were having a fantastic time at the shore, blissfully unaware of the blackout! It was a beautiful, very sunny (hot! But that was OK, with those ocean breezes!) day and it was perfect for taking nice, long walks on the boardwalk. Frank had never been to Point Pleasant, the town which we visited, yesterday - he's more familiar with the shore towns farther South, closer to where he grew up (in the Atlantic City area), so it was fun to show it to him. We're supposed to go into NYC to have dinner and visit with my best friend, Gary, and his partner, tomorrow...........as I said, I just hope that the City's power is completely restored by then, and that the trains are running on schedule, again! I've had a giant-sized Mickey Mouse Pez dispenser from WDW sitting on our bedroom floor, waiting to be given to Gary, since June! I hope that we finally have a chance to give it to him in person!

Any interesting weekend plans, anyone? Hope that you all have a great one!

Oh - and as for my lunch pail, Linda, I would probably dig out my "Partridge Family" lunch box that I used in elementary school!

Have a wonderful day!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Lisa

Am delighted to know that you were blissfully unaware of all the problems around you. I knew that even if you and Frank were in the middle of the chaos you will would make the best of the situation and come out fine though. I have total faith in the both of you. You would probably have been leading people in singing Disney songs on some street corner. LOL

I am not sick. Thanks for the kind thoughts though. My Fab Fours great grandma hears a little something now and then and is kind enough to tell me about it. She has not seen the kids for a couple of years either. Linda is basically only in touch with one of her sisters and that only occasionally. The boy's father lives in the same area as the great grandma and since they go for regular visits and it is a small community GG hears a little something from time to time. I once asked my daughter if my son had asked about me when I had some rather serious surgery and she very matter of factly told me "No". I think I would have lied in such a case. I am told that I am too emotional and should get over it but I would take that over being cold hearted any day. I get my heart broken often but it is better than not having one.

I can only imagine the size of that Pez dispenser if it has to sit on the floor. I bet that Gary will be delighted whenever he receives his gift. I loved the postcard from Rutgers. I am learning so much about the world through all the great people I meet on the net. Never thought about Rutgers having silos and such. So much I don't know and far too little time to learn it all! LOL

My daughter had a poster of David Cassidy on her wall when she was living at home. Guess you guys had something in common. (smile)

Just finished cleaning the birdbaths as we have some storms coming in and I like to do such things so I get free water. I also put the car out sometimes so I can wash it with some free water also. I am terribly cheap and very lazy as well. Being lazy is good though as I get an awful lot more done that way.

Went shopping the other day searching for some new patio furniture pads to match my beautiful new doors and found exactly what I was looking for and at a fantastic price but they only had one chair cushion and I need two. (boo hoo)

The lunch yesterday was delightful. It was an easy drive from here and was tucked away in a corner of a gorgeous wooded area. No reservations so we showed up early in order to get a seat. Only seated about 30-40 and is only open a few days a week. Limited but very interesting menu. I had a raspberry chicken salad and it was on my diet. Was great. They had a raspberry chocolate cake that was to die for but I passed. We have a lot of people around here who serve food from their homes/businesses on a limited basis and have wondered if that might not be something for Angelina. I can see tables set up in the yard for special groups on a regular basis. Candles flickering in the wind and soothing music in the background. The food would bring in as much business as you might wish without taking over your whole life. Not sure your family would want to have it that close to home though.

Just found out that I am to have club next month (a couple of weeks from now) and I sure wish I could get Angelina to cater it for me. Maybe I could get some ideas for something special to serve?

Helenabear, you were too far south to suffer any problems I hope? I know the Cleveland area was hit. Is there any chance that you might consider a trip to DW next May? Angelina, how about you? I know the spirit is willing but will the timing be bad for you?

Take care ladies and have a wonderful day building up memories for later days.

Linda/SG

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi!

Sorry that it took me so long to get back to the Suite!

How are you doing, today, Linda? How are you doing, out there, Angie and Elaine?

I'm sorry to hear that the situation is as it is with your DS and DIL, Linda. It must be very painful and frustrating, especially not being able to see or have a relationship with your Fab Four. But like I said, you never know what the years may bring - it may not be so long until you are able to see and be with them, regularly. Maybe somehow, your DS will "see the light". It's just a shame that these children are growing up without the benefit of sharing their lives with their wonderful grandparents (much less the other relatives from whom they are kept, as well).

That's so funny that your DD had a David Cassidy poster, when she was growing up - I can't tell you how much David Cassidy (later, John Travolta) memorabilia I had - and still have, somewhere! I actually met him - and his brother, Shaun - when they were both appearing in "Blood Brothers" on Broadway, back in '94. It was such a thrill to speak to the "first great love of my life"! Both of the brothers were very friendly and polite, and they are both still adorable! (I'm afraid that David has had some plastic surgery, though - his face just looked a bit too smooth - it made me feel sad that he would feel the need to do that to himself.)

Where did you have lunch, the other day, that you were describing, Linda?

All is well, here. Counting down my remaining few days of "freedom" and trying to make the most of them! We had fun in the City with Gary and his partner, Stephen, over the weekend. And I finally got to give Gary his pez dispenser! We just went out to lunch and then visited several flea markets. Stephen is a big antiques collector and restorer and he always finds such neat things to restore or clean up and display. I, of course, was on the lookout for any Disney memorabilia that I could find! And I did pretty well, too - I found an issue of "Orlando Land" magazine from January, 1970, that details the progress being made on the construction of WDW, at that time (it also has lots of information about what was going on in the area, in general, at that time, real estate offerings, entertainment options, etc. Very interesting!) I also found a 1971 Disneyland pictorial souvenir book. And Gary gave me 2 vintage Swedish Mickey Mouse comic books, that they found in a European flea market on their recent vacation, too!

I'm spending lots of time at the pool, this week. And we have plans to visit with various friends, every day this weekend. I'm sure that my remaining time off will just fly by!

Hope that all is well with all of you! Take care and have a great day!

 

[helenabear]

Oh boy... somehow I became unsubscribed to this thread and didn't know this was all going on under my nose

I feel there is far too much to catch up on but I did take the time to go back and read though some of it, and I'll do some more when I get home tonight. I feel awful for being so far behind.

I did notice a bit about the Tag Fairy. I know of them, I know how they work They do an excellent job of finding neat and colorful tags for everyone. And yes a Tag Fairy and I worked on my tag so that it would match my avatar's coloring and then I matched my signature to that. I will say no more about the Tag Fairy because they prefer it that way

With that I need to get back to work. Take Care all!