EWP group?

[helenabear]

Caroline, enjoy your time with your grandparents and I wish you all the luck with your meet!!!!! I am sure you will do great!!!

Okay Lisa, cancel any ressies you have right now and call DVC to buy If you are just trying to resist, then I am sure that you will be perfect for it. If you already have the info, just do it Now that I've done that... truly the thing that is helping us is that we bought through resale... that allowed us to do a home equity loan at a really low rate with flexible payments. I know what you mean about not wanting a "manditory" payment, but in reality I think you must do something similar. No matter though, I know you will have a wonderful time going to WDW!!!! This was just my good way of securing future trips. So are you going through DU this time?? I used them once and they were great!!

You asked before about DL and booking there. I can tell you that it was so easy! I called today to check on my points and they were there so I booked. They had availability for most things 60 days out and that is very hopeful for me with the future. I also booked my WDW December trip and got what I asked for. So for DL I will be staying at the Grand Californian for 4 nights and OKW for 7 nights in December. All very happily taken care of

I will not be meeting anyone new so far at DL. I might meet a couple of locals but we will see. I will be meeting Nancy's daughter for the first time, but I have met Nancy twice and Beth and Dave are old friend now Beth and I have made four trips to WDW at the same time. I have done my last two May trips with Beth and we were at WDW in December at the same time. So I know them quite well I am very glad though that you were able to meet up with a few on your trip! It's always fun to me to do that!

Well I should probably head to bed soon... Luis has to be up at 7 am tomorrow.

 

[TalkisCheap]

Good morning!!



Well, the meet was OKAY. It started out a beautiful day - sunny, no clouds, 60's. By the time we got to the meet, totally overcast, foggy, 50's(dropped down to low 40's). It was horrible! It was so cold, and so many people didn't bring pants or a jacket, they had our sleevless jersey and shorts on!(the weatherman predicted mid-70's!!) But, I did alright.

High Jump was bad, but I still got 2nd. I got first in the 400(1:15...my personal best is 1:13 but it was cold, so my coaches were proud)then, my coach said to not run the 1500 so I could save myself for the relay, so I ran the 800 for the first time in 2 years and won(3:11, not sure how the compares since I haven't run it before). Then our relay was the high point. I got the baton and there were two girls maybe 25m ahead of me. I passed them both, had a good handoff and we won!! Our first meet where we won! We're quite excited for the championships!!

I was orignally envious, because one of my coaches missed the meet and was at the Red Sox game, but, it was FREEZING out, and we lost 15-2. Now I feel horrible for my coach having to pay all that money and having to sit through that!!! Oh well, I hope the game I get to this summer is better!!

Well, because my grandparents are here, we're going to there favorite place today, L.L. Bean! So, I need to go get ready. Have a great trip, Colleen, if I don't check in before you leave! Emily, when are you leaving? Have a great trip too!!


Bye!

 

[colleen costello]

Hi girls! Boy this suite has a lot of action in the last day.. Nice to hear from everyone. YES, I am still here, packing madly. Tomorrow we will get the minivan ready, pack DVD's for the kids, that kind of stuff. Dear hubby always wants to pack his stuff last minute and typically forgets something important like bathing suit or eyeglasses, so I will be nagging the poor man furiously. We leave Sunday morning. Now "morning" for my 3 immediate family members is about 10 or 11am, but so be it. We are going just south of Atlanta Sunday night and Monday we will meet my Mom at the POLYNESIAN!!! We are all so excited. I have been to WDW just 2 months ago, but no matter -- I am ALWAYS ready to go! Haven't stayed at the P0ly since around 1980.

Of course people are looking at my house in the midst of all this... We have a 2nd showing tomorrow, at 10am which for my group might as well be 3am! I told the kids we could go to McDonald's for breakfast, and Ian said "You mean they have breakfast food in the morning?" I had to laugh. We always get such late starts that he had no CLUE there is breakfast there! So these folks will look again tomorrow. I hope the suitcases scare them into making an offer FAST, because as much as I want my house to sell, I really don't want to be conducting "business" while on vacation. It's precious time and I am very protective of it! I understand 100% "not wanting to leave property" while down there. Two summers ago we left to go to Cocoa Beach and it was nasty -- crowded and yukky -- and we vowed to enjoy WDW's "fake" beaches from that time forward. Who needs the "real" ocean???

I will check in tomorrow before leaving and of course will post as soon as I am home. I will be thinking of you all and taking lots of photos which I can hopefully post once back.

xoxo

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hello dear friends

We got back a couple of hours ago. I drove 500 miles today and am less than at my best. Sorry. I will read the posts, hopefully, tomorrow and respond better.

A few small comments though. The highlight of the trip was meeting our dear Lisa and her Frank. Lisa is exactly as I had expected. A bit smaller though. It was something that I will long treasure and never forget. Hopefully it was the first meeting of many.

Finally made it to the hot seat again after making second over and over again. Made the top ten most every time I played and made it to first one time on the last question of the last game of the day. I am the competitive type and love the game without getting frustrated. I lost out on my shirt as I gave it up to go for the cruise and messed up on the next question but was much less nervous than last time.

My sister came over on Saturday and the next morning she called another sister on her cell phone to discover that her 3 year old grandson had drowned. My heart is breaking over that one and I am planning a short trip to visit her. A family friend was killed in a car accident while we were gone also. I do not know how I could stand it if something happened to one of my granchildren. Dalton is here now and wanting to read to me. Too tired but not going to miss the chance anyway.

I have missed you all and am looking forward to catching up tomorrow.

Love/SG/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

WELCOME BACK, LINDA!!!!!!!!

So glad to hear that you and Tom arrived home safely and that you had a nice rest of your trip! The Hot Seat again??!! That is fantastic! We tried - we really did - to follow your sage advice.......but I guess that our fingers just weren't fast enough!
But I have no doubt that you did a great job, up there! And the fact that you were constantly in the Top 10 or 2nd is wonderful! As Frank said, you are very wise!

I'm just so sorry to hear about your great nephew. That is such sad and horrible news, and it must have been so difficult for you and your sister to find out, while calling another sister from vacation. How is your sister (the grandmother of your great nephew) holding up?

It's so neat that Dalton was over at your house within hours of your return home! He just couldn't wait to read to Grandma! And I'm sure that Austin did a fine job of watching out for your home while you were away, and that they both missed you and Tom! I loved seeing pictures of them and of your DD and SIL, and of course the Fab Four!

You make so much sense, Elaine.......keep talking like that and you will have me on the phone with DVC, immediately! That is amazing that you were able to secure both your DL and winter OKW trips so soon! You must feel really happy and good that they are taken care of and that you know that you have them to look forward to! You and Colleen have to keep sharing your DVC experiences in the Suite........they will "rub off on me" the way that "THE DVC CHANNEL" permeates my brain when I listen to it over and over again.........and maybe I will finally be "pushed over the edge" and join!

We did go through Dreams Unlimited for next year's vacation. They did such a great job with this year's that there was no way that we couldn't! I almost felt badly, because I didn't "let" our Agent do her full job - I made all of the PS's myself and didn't need a formal itinerary. But I didn't want her to waste her time or energy when we enjoy taking care of those aspects of the planning, ourselves. She offered lots of great tips and suggestions, particularly about the cruise, since we'd never taken a DCL vacation before. And I really like how they look out for any discount opportunities that may come along between reservation time and vacation time!

It sounds like your meet went very well, Caroline! You won those 2 events - one of which you hadn't even "done" in 2 years! And second place in the high jump is extremely respectable! Most people wish that they could accomplish that! Just wait until your Championships next week - you will blow them all away! How was LL Bean? Did you all buy anything there? I got Frank a bunch of summer clothes for our trip at LL Bean (by mail, that is!) - it must be so neat to be able to GO there! It's sort of on the "cold side" here, too. Even though it's in the mid-70's during the day, it's been going down to the 50's at night, over the past few days.

BON VOYAGE, Colleen! It sounds like you and your family are all geared up to hit the road! And even though you've been having people come and look at the house so close to your leaving time, that is a good thing! Hopefully you'll have lots of offers awaiting you, upon your return! In the mean time, try not to think about it - just let the pixie dust have its way with you all, relax, and enjoy the wonderful sights, sounds, and smells of the Poly (the tropical flowers are at their peaks, now, and smell just wonderful, there!) and all of the fun of WDW! We'll be thinking of you and can't wait to hear all about your vacation and see all of your photos, upon your return!

All is well, here in the Garden State. Today is a nice sunny day. I'm supposed to go swimming, today, with my best friend from high school and her husband and son, at their swim club. Since I don't think it's supposed to rise much above 75 degrees today, I don't know how much swimming we'll do, but it will be nice to spend some time with them anyway! Frank will be spending the day helping his sister build a rock garden in her backyard. Then we'll "reconvene" and have dinner with the friends I'm seeing today, tonight. Aside from that, we should have a very quiet Memorial Day weekend, which will be nice!

We spent yesterday helping my father buy a new car. He is extremely attached to his current car (and I mean EXTREMELY ATTACHED - it's 18 years old! It's a 1986 Lincoln Towncar.), so it was very difficult to make him see that it's definitely time for him to get something new and more safe and reliable. But we finally convinced him, and he drove off the lot yesterday with a beautiful new 2004 Grand Marquis (which is the same car that I drive and have always driven). We know that he is going to enjoy it, and that it will be good for him "psychologically", too - something new for him.

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you all have a great holiday weekend!

 

[colleen costello]

Linda, I am so glad you are home safely. I know how tired we are when we get home from day #2 of driving and I can only imagine how hard it was to hear about your family news. I will pray for your family. I love to swim and so do my kids, but kids around water SCARES me. Ian has just finished a round of swim lessons and will have more this summer and that makes me feel better, like at least he has a chance if he finds himself suddenly in some deep water... So sorry for your sad news. If you will be outside tomorrow I will wave to you as we drive through Colombus. Losers as we are, it won't be til 11am or so!

I will have pictures to share whe I return as I so enjoyed the pics of our Indiana and NJ pals enjoying WDW. I am excited as ever to be going, never a feeling of "been there done that." I am going to finish packing today and then we'll be off! I will "see" you all once we are back...

Colleen

 

[TalkisCheap]

SG, so glad to see you made it home! I'm so sorry about the boy drowning(not sure how exactly he's related to you). It's horrible losing someone that young. A friend of our family's son(4 years old) was hit by a car and killed a few days ago at her older sister's high school graduation party. Losing anyone is horrible, but just a child who had their whole life ahead of them, is just so much worse. I'm also sorry to hear about your family friend's death, as well. Prayers for you and your family(and friends)!


I hope to do well in my meet on Wednesday! I'm really quite nervous! Everyone is assuring me I'll do fine, and I know I will, but that doesn't make it any less nerve racking!


Well, it's finally sunny here, but only in the 60's. This weekend(including Monday) is supposed to be nice, I hope so! Sunday my dad, my mom, me, and my brother are all running in a 5K road race. Then on Monday we're going in the morning to see one of my best friends in the parade a few miles from me...I hope it's nice for that, too!


L.L. Bean was good. I didn't get anything, well, none of us really did. My grandma went looking for something specifically to buy, but they were sold out so she is ordering it from the catalog. So, we looked around there and then went to a few other stores in Freeport. It actually wasn't very crowded, which we were really surprised of. It was a pleasant surprise, none the less!!


Well, we're walking down to the beach to enjoy the nice weather. Have a wonderful day, and a wonderful rest of your weekend! If I don't get back, have a wonderful trip Colleen!

 

[helenabear]

Caroline, congrats on the meet!!! Sounds like you and your team did great!!!! I am sure you will do wonderfully on Weds for your meet!!!! Sorr that you couldn't find what you wanted at LL Bean though.

Colleen, I do hope you have an absolutely wonderful trip!! Hopefully you will have an offer or two by the time you get back!!!

Lina, I am so glad you made it back safely and had a wonderful trip!!!! I am so sorry for the losses that occured while you were gone My prayers are with you all

LOL, Lisa, I really wouldn't want to talk you into something you aren't sure of, especially with a big purchase like that. Just read over everything and obviously if you have questions about the process both myself and Colleen know a bit about it I know very little about purchasing directly from Disney but my resale process went so smoothly! If I were to buy more points, I would do it through that means again in a heart beat! I too was happy about getting my reservations for DL and WDW so easily and quickly. I was able to choose exactly what I wanted as well. Member Services makes it very easy to make a ressie. I suggest hanging around the DVC board as that helped me even when I wasn't posting.

Dreams Unlimited did and excellent job for us the one time I used them. I haven't gone back mostly because I rarely make any PSs and the rates I always had were from teh Swan online. But they are good with suggestions and all that.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I just lost my posting. Argh!! Will try to remember some of the great prose I posted. LOL

Lisa, you have to seriously consider Elaine's advice. While it does not make sense for our circumstances it surely does for you guys unless you think there is a chance that you will fall out of love with DW and I sincerely doubt that. Room rates will increase and by buying in you will be able to better afford your good taste. I talked to many owners while we were there and they were very gung ho on the whole subject. We attended the DVC/DIS get together at The Land. I loved the black dress you wore at Jiko's. Showed off your great figure and even had a bit of sparkle about it, just like your personality. LOL So Frank thought I was wise? Sure there was not a hypen and another word attached? LOL Got your postcard today. It was wonderful but you should have been having fun instead of taking the time. If I had been more selfish I would have taken more of your time but I am not. Hopefully we will meet again one day. The boys enjoyed some of the Rutgers stuff I shared with them. I had not noticed the tiny photo frame. Might you send me a small picture of yourself to put in it? Will keep it on my desk with my NJ magnet.

Colleen, I am most pleased that you are getting to go on your trip. A second look is always a good sign. Would love to have met you at Mickey D's tomorrow but am booked to the hilt. Please consider eating at O"Hana's. It was awesome. I will dream about the shrimp until we return in October. The other small restaurant was great when we tried it also. So much food, so little time. (sigh) Tom would dress much stranger than an Hawaiian shirt so that was not a big deal. I got it for him when we went to The Villages last year. Have a hard time explaining to him that he should wear it outside his slacks. He wants to wear his regular shirts that way. He does everything the opposite of what you should. Took him to eat at the Rainforest and he was eating everything with his hands but complained that he did not have silverware for his sandwich at the food court. Go figure. LOL

Caroline, I am sure that the meet will be great. You do so well at all you attempt you cannot fail. I thought of you as one of the contestants at the Millionaire was a twelve year old college sophmore. She failed at a fairly easy question though and I understood it as she was so very smart that she could see layers that regular people could not. Luckily, I am not that smart. LOL

Elaine, I put your name down for our tour of Saratoga Springs. Doubt that they will send you anything really good since we did not buy but thought you might get something of worth. We had wanted to tour it anyway and they gave us lunch vouchers, which we did not expect. An ice cream party was included. Might be something for Colleen and her family to check out. Only takes about an hour and a half and you get a lot of good info and background also. I met a bunch of DISers and told many of them of your meets in Columbus. They were impressed I knew you and Rider. I am a shamless name dropper. LOL

FP, hope you are having fun and would love to see a picture of you in that dress. I always wanted a girly daughter. Was very frustrating that I could afford to give my daughter what I did not have and she preferred (prefers) ratty sweats and such. She used to get so darned mad at me when I would throw away any that had holes (I always bought a new set in the same color as reparation). She has preppy sons. LOL

Still have more laundry to do as I packed enough for the whole two weeks. Do not like spending vacation time doing laundry.

See you all later, I sure did miss you all.

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Linda, it sounds like you got "most of your prose" back after all. I am so glad you had a good trip. 'Ohana is a favorite of ours. But as you said "so many restaurants, so little time" so this time we will not visit. My Dad ate so many of those shrimp on our first trip that he was up all night with killer heartburn, or as we in NJ call it "ojeda" (ochida?). I honestly thought those shrimp killed him, then my Mom reassured me, he had just overindulged. 'Ohana is a fun place! And as we are staying at the Poly, Scott actually let me pack his "tropical" shirt!

I also say to Elaine if there is any way you can afford it, go for DVC. It is so wonderful. We stay in much nicer places than we ever could afford. It was the best gift my parents could have given our family. We "got sucked in" at the DVC desk at the Wilderness Lodge. We were interested in the tour anyhow, and they picked us up and gave us the "free lunch" vouchers. We had a great meal at Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club, and my Dad is fond of saying that the "free" lunch cost him a fortune (as he DID buy DVC). He keeps saying he is going back for another tour and another "freebie" because the DVC is in my name (nursing home phobia, remember?) so they have no record of him as a buyer! It really is wonderful that we all go down together every year, and stay in a room big enough that we are still speaking at check-out! I have already booked Spring Break 2005 at Beach Club Villas, and my Mom is so excited as she has not yet stayed there. I am thinking Wilderness Lodge for 2006! You can also, of course, use any "extra" points for cruising...

So tomorrow morning I shove off. We'll wave as we drive though Columbus area, Linda, and I will think of all of you and get lots of good pictures. I called the Poly to nag today, worrying after a good room location because of Mom (who needs to be close to the main building due to limited mobility). We also asked for ground floor because it's hard for her to navigate the scooter on the elevators, and non-smoking, of course. I called to verify that ALL these were listed, and the woman who helped me was so sweet. She looked up our reservation and said "Oh, you'll be just fine" so I am assuming they put me in the building I requested, right by the pool, close to the lobby for Mom. Now I can relax a bit on the trip down! It's a long drive and I have all those hours for my obsessive-compulsive personality to overtake me... Thank goodness I got a great book (DaVinci Code) for Mother's Day. That should keep me going!

I will check in once we are back. Love to all!

 

[colleen costello]

PS, TalkisCheap, you are SOOOO lucky to be close to LLBean. I have heard the main store is gorgeous. Mom and Dad visited on the way back from one of their fall Bar Harbor trips, and LOVED it... I would LOVE to go someday. Maybe they'll open one in Orlando?

You'll like it better when you are a middle-aged lady like me!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Indiana is being hit by a series of storms and tornadoes today. More on the way. Reports of one landing near where Colleen lives. We all need to send pixie dust her way in hopes that all is well with her and her home.

I am supposed to go to a graduation party for a young lady I used to take care of this evening and am waiting to see what is headed our way.

Colleen, I hope you are enjoying the DiVinci Code. It is on my list of books I want to read. I used to read a book a day until Tom retired and put a stop to pretty much everything. (not kidding) Hooray for you winning the tropical shirt war. Where would you wear one other than Florida or the like? The good thing about wearing a distinctive shirt at DW is that it is easier to keep track of each other that way. Tom and I made a pair at EPCOT in our lime green shirts and met many fellow DISers along the way. Each and every one wonderful people. figures. LOL Hope you get the room of your dreams. Makes a big difference in a trip IMHO.

SG/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

Bon Voyage again, Colleen! We'll be thinking of you and can't wait to hear all about your Disney adventures, upon your return!

Thanks for the DVC advice, Colleen, Linda, and Elaine! I mentioned many of your collective ideas to Frank, today. We can discuss it.........even though we've already made our 2005 reservation, I guess it's possible that if we join DVC in the interim, we may be able to use points "towards" it, instead........still just nervous about the obligatory additional monthly payment while I don't have a steady income, though.......we'll see!

You are way too kind, Linda! Thanks again for all of your thoughtful words! And YOU'RE the one who looks great!!!! AND the one who looks tiny! I recognized your smile, a mile away, but you're even slimmer in person than you appear in the recent photos that you'd sent us, prior to our trip! And you looked great in those photos!

Speaking of "photos", some hard copies are on their way to you, right now. I imagine that if you haven't received them yet, they should be "rolling in" on Tuesday. There are some of us, in there, that were taken far enough away such that they would probably fit in the little frame! Sorry about the messy "wrapping" - I remembered to bring the tissue paper, but not the scissors........so I had to sort of "improvise"!

My "figure" is just an optical illusion, accomplished by "strategic dressing and presentation" - glad that I "fooled" you! (hee hee!)

Yes - Frank immediately said that you are very wise, and of course when I told him about your making it into the Hot Seat again, he immediately said "I'm not surprised!"

Yes, those shrimp at 'Ohana are something else! They are my favorites, there, though everything is great! I'm really not much of a beef or pork eater, but they prepare them so wonderfully and tenderly at 'Ohana that I always have them, there! The turkey is great, too, but the shrimp are outstanding! Glad that you enjoyed it there! I just felt badly if the end of dinner seemed a little rushed, but of course we needed to have our historic EWP viewing together.........and that silly EWP decided to show up early, on us! I somehow think that it did its "repeat performance" after Wishes, especially for us and in honor of all of the Women of the EWP Suite! (Seriously, everyone - that DID happen - Linda, Tom, Frank, and I got out to the Poly pool area in what we thought would be plenty of time to see the EWP........but it had already started by the time we got there, and the first "half" of the Pageant was out for rehab, so that made it even shorter! We thought that we had missed our chance to really see the EWP in person together..........then Wishes started..........and when it was over, the "mini-EWP" started all over again, right in front of the Poly! I really think that it somehow "knew" that we were there and gave us a special repeat performance! Of course, Frank very kindly documented the whole thing on video........will get that copy out to you next week, Linda! )

I didn't realize that you came from a whole family of runners, Caroline! It's so neat that you will all be participating in that race, together! Do you all regularly train and run together? Do any of your family members also practice other track sorts of events (like high jump, for example) like you do? How old were you when you first started running? How was the beach? The beach up there is so pretty!

Well, time to start getting ready - my father and uncle are taking us out to dinner at a new French restaurant in New Brunswick (where Rutgers is), in honor of our anniversary, tonight. And we will be "chauferred" in my father's brand new car, which he's really enjoying!

Hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all enjoying the weekend! Talk to you soon!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey "Slim"!

How did you sneak in there without my seeing you??

And how did you run into so many DIS'ers, with your lime green shirts?? I'm so jealous! We got lots of comments and questions about our DIS buttons, but weren't approached by any actual DIS'ers (with the exceptions of yourselves, of course!) until the end of our cruise!

Hope that you're settling back in, at home, and hope that all is well!

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... trying to do a quick check in here... had lots of time with my family so I was a bit busy.

Linda, I hope you enjoyed your tour at Saratoga Springs. I have some friends staying there in October and I will visit in December. I admit I am already planning out next years trips. I really enjoy going in May so I will have to try that again LOL, nothing wrong wiht dropping names here and there... I do it all the time when I am meeting DISers

Colleen, I hope you have a wonderful time down at WDW!!! So neat that you are planning so far out. I admit I won't be planning a WDW trip for next year until January when I book my December trip. If I go in May, it will be a last minute trip and my friends with DVC has never had a problem doing May 1 month out at OKW. I'll have to borrow points for May so I want to make sure I can go... if not I'll have to upgrade to a 2 bedroom at OKW

Oh and I hope our Indiana friends did okay with those storms... they were pretty nasty here as well!!!

Lisa, you are very right, you can use your points later on for the trip if you buy between now and then. That's exactly what I did with DL! Your story about 'Ohana and EWP sure made me smile. I am so glad you were able to do that all

Well I should go and get ready for bed. Have a wonderful day everyone!

 

[IASW Rider]

ELAINE!!!!!!!!!!!

If you go to WDW again in May of next year..........maybe we will finally get to meet YOU in person, since we will be there again in May of next year, too! That would be so neat! Anyone else planning a WDW trip for May of 2005, by chance????????? (Hey - I KNOW that it's 11 months away.........but it's never too early to plan an EWP Suite Meet, as I always say! Hee hee! )

Hope that all is well with all of you! And thinking of you all, in the Mid-West and hoping that you are all hanging in there with the storms and tornado threats, as well.

Have a great night, Everyone!

 

[helenabear]

Lisa, what dates are you looking at for WDW? I must admit I prefer to go earlier in the month to avoid heat/crowds But let me know when you are thinking and I will keep it in mind for next year when I plan

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Elaine!

I know exactly what you mean about the heat - it's so weird how within the course of just a few weeks, it can become unbearably hot, down there! I hope that Colleen and her family are faring all right (although truth be told, even when it's ridiculously hot and humid down there, we always have a great time anyway and just "work through the heat", because we're so happy to be at WDW! So hopefully Colleen and her family are so ensconsed in the beautiful, tropical Polynesian flowers that they don't even notice the temperature!)!

The weather was perfect when we were there, 2 weeks ago (as I'm sure that it was when you were there, the week before!) - mid-80's temperatures, tons of sun, barely a drop of rain. But when we were there during the first week of last year (and the subsequent 2 years), it rained at least once almost every day and the average daytime temperature was in the low 90's!

All this to say, we will be there next year during the same week that we were, this year - May 15 - 18 (then DCL May 19 - 22). It would be wonderful to see you, there, but please don't go out of your way to change your plans or plan "around" us! We hope that it will work out that we happen to be there at the same time, but please don't do anything differently than you normally would or change around what you had hoped to plan!

Today is our wedding anniversary! It's so strange being here in NJ, since usually we are in WDW right now! When Frank asked where I wanted to go out to dinner, tonight, I said (of course!) " 'Ohana", since that's where we would usually be, tonight! And tomorrow is the 3-year anniversary of Frank's proposal to me at the Poly........ *SIGH*........time really flies by!

Anyway, hope that all is well with you, Elaine, and with all of you other Suite Ladies, as well! Have a great day, Everyone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Happy Anniversary Frank and Lisa!

While I am sure that you and Frank will end up somewhere wonderful I am so sorry that I cannot whisk you both back to O'Hana's tonight. You guys always come up with such great ideas. I admire your youth and enthusiasm. In my youth we celebrated our anniversary by me fixing a fancy meal but I have fallen down on the job the last few years, old age, you know. LOL I got your package today. I have not even had my pictures taken in let alone developed yet. Thank you for the pictures and souveniers of the cruise. It is hard to get a lot done with a seven year old. He does not care for shopping etc. The kids at the program loved the Potato Head accessories I got them. I have your Rutgers key chain on mine so I carry a bit of you with me each day. Might keep me in line a bit. LOL As far as you dressing thin, I had my arm around your waist and that was NOT an illusion, you silly girl. (grin) We usually go to Disney every other year or so but if you, Helenabear and who knows who else are coming we may have to change plans. We were thinking of renting a place at The Villages for a month or so and that is not far away from DW at any rate.

Colleen, I hope you got off before the storm hit and your home is safe and sound and missed the storms on the way down. We sure feel lucky in getting home before it all hit. It might have cooled things off a bit for you at least. Sending pixie dust in that your house is sold when you return, that you and yours have many magical moments and have a safe return home.

Just got home from taking Tom to Indpls for a colonscopy. Cancer runs in his family and he has had polyps before so it is a necessary evil. He liked this facility much better and is doing great. I took him to a new BBQ place afterward and he ate a steak and a rack of ribs along with several side dishes. I forgot to kid Lisa with the fact that we had to stop off at Downtown Disney after we ate at O'Hana's so Tom could get a snack to hold him until morning. (smile) It will take a couple of weeks for the results to come back but we are optomistic since he has no symptoms of anything being wrong.

Helenabear, Saratoga Springs is lovely and such beautiful views and a great location, not too far from the Suite I believe. When you wander around with a goofy smile and a lime green shirt you just plain attract lots of attention so I always meet a lot of great people.

Jackie and her family are taking Money lessons at the church tonight and for the next few weeks. Ironic that I used to give similar lessons to the local schools when she was still at home. Never did get my kids to listen to much I ever said but am grateful they are learning now, better late than never. I think Dalton will be banging on the door afterward as he likes to spend the night here (air conditioning) so that he can sleep in the next morning. Smart kid.

Gotta go get some work done so I will slowly bow out of the Suite muttering -nitrogen, over and over again. (is the answer to the question I missed on the Millionaire show) (grrrrr)

SG/Linda

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Linda!

Great to hear from you! Glad to hear that you're settling back in, at home, and that you weren't terribly affected by those recent storms!

Thank God everything went well with Tom's colonoscopy. It's very good that he went - I know that that's a very important test, even though it might not be the most pleasant thing in the world! And it's good that he had it, even though he has no symptoms - better safe than sorry! I went with my father, when he had his first one, 2 years ago. Thank God everything was all right there, too - he wound up having a polyp removed, but everything was all right. It's important to keep up with those sorts of things (as I remind myself, after having my first mammogram, last year!). And it's great that Tom was comfortable enough to enjoy a nice, big meal afterwards! Too bad that we're not all at 'Ohana eating those shrimp, right now.......!

Darn that "nitrogen"! Do you recall what the actual Millionaire question was? Don't worry - that Hot Seat will be ready for your return in the Fall.........and you will definitely make it all the way to the Cruise, this time!

Glad that our little package arrived - we wanted to let you know that we were thinking of you, continuing to enjoy your time at WDW, while we were on the cruise! Chicago Mickey has settled in nicely, here in NJ (he is displayed in our room, next to Tokyo Disney Sea Mickey, whom a friend brought back from a business trip, for us! He's also next to Bride and Groom Mickey and Minnie and across the room from Sorcerer Mickey, who lives on our bed!)! Believe it or not, I am STILL in the process of getting us all reorganized, but when we're finally fully settled in, I can't wait to take the time to explore and really enjoy the WDW Explorer! I don't want to look at it until I have some significant time to enjoy it and not rush through!

Our anniversary was very nice, thanks! Frank was at work, but he sent me a gorgeous batch of 2 dozen red and white roses (I've never received that many roses before!) in a beautiful vase. We had dinner at our favorite little Italian restaurant (the owner knew that it was our anniversary the second that we made our reservation!) and then came home and watched our wedding video! We'll continue celebrating tomorrow, as we're going "down the shore" for the day (too bad that Colleen isn't here - she knows exactly where we're going - to Point Pleasant!), and then again next weekend, when we're going into NYC and seeing "Wicked" (which is my pick for the Best Musical Tony Award!) on Broadway! We haven't been to a Broadway show in almost a year, since we've been trying to be somewhat "frugal" while I'm in school (yeah, right! ), so we're really looking forward to it - that was one of my gifts to Frank.

How are Dalton and Austin doing, Linda? Have they finished with school for the summer, yet? What sorts of things will Jackie be learning in the Money class - does it deal with different ways to manage one's money well? Or different ways to save and / or invest for the future?

Anyway, hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you're all having a great day!