EWP group?

[colleen costello]

Talk, you are dear to help out your neighbor. When I was a new Mom, the neighbor kids saved my life once in a while by babysitting when I desperately needed a break with hubby. It was sweet of you to help them in a pinch. As far as your friend and the "evil" team, I am glad it makes some more sense to you now. I guess it is a lesson to all of us to "wait and see" what motivates friends who we think have "done us wrong." I understand that you are still upset but am glad you have some clue now as to why your friend defected!

Hope all is well with the other suitemates. Ed, I love your idea of having a "Carribean Soul." I like to think I have an "Old Key West" soul!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Just caught up on all of your recent posts! I wish that I had time to respond to them all, now (and to your e-mail, Linda!), but unfortunately I have a bunch of things to do since we'll be gone all day and evening, tomorrow (on our "mystery field trip" that includes the "Disney-historically-significant" place that I mentioned, a few posts ago!), and I wanted to be able to take the time to write some "real responses"! So for now, just wanted to say "hi" and to wish you all a great weekend! And Happy Father's Day to all of your DH's and / or Dads!

Will be in touch again soon, Everyone!

P.S. As for the "Traveling DIS'ers Tour", I am currently over in France in the World Showcase, wine tasting, if anyone would like to join me!

 

[TalkisCheap]

Hello everyone!!



Well, no one has posted in a very long time so I thought I would rescue us from whatever horrid page we had sunken too!! I hope everyone is well, just too busy to get on!! I've been pretty busy too, but I somehow always find time to get on here Sorry I haven't posted in a while.


Well, me and my friend have patched everything up. I basically decided that we're still friends and just to put that behind us. She came over yesterday to do the annual scavanger hunt that is part of the 'Summer Solstice Festival' a few minutes from me. We had a great time and it was like we never fought!! I'm glad everything is back to normal!! It's such a relief as well!! I'm glad to get along with everyone!


The scavanger hunt was a lot of fun! We spent three hours biking all over collecting the clues...and it paid off as we each won $50 gift certificate to quite a lot of local stores, as well as restaurants! We both bought a few small items, but still have money left over. We figured sometime this summer we'd go down to the nearby bakery or some other place and have lunch together!! It turned out we were the only two that did it, because it drizzled a few times and was cloudy, but in a few hours it cleared up and was beautiful out!! The drawing was at 3 and then we shopped around in the stores till about 5:30. Needless to say, I was exhausted after a full day of biking, walking, and shopping!! It was a lot of fun though, and it was something good to get our friendship back on the mend!!


Tennis starts tomorrow morning and I'm really excited. I have it twice a week in the mornings, and 2 of my best friends are doing it with me, so it'll be a lot of fun!! We have our first track meet on Thursday so I'll be busy getting ready for that, as well.


And it's finally beginning to feel like summer here. It's nice out, not hot, but warm. The windows are open and there is a breeze but it's quite comfortable and I'm wearing shorts for the 3rd day in a row!!


My family is also busy planning the trips we're going to take. We're trying to co-ordinate our summer schedules with my cousins, because my cousin and sister are the same age(going to be seniors) and are interested in a lot of the same colleges so we're trying to look together. Also, we're trying to plan a trip to see my new cousin in Pennsylvania.


I'm so excited for the first week in July, because my cousins are coming down. I only see them 3 times a year, and I'm really excited. My aunt and uncle and my three cousins are coming. All three are girls and we always have so much fun together. My oldest cousin is 19, my middle cousin the same age as my sister, 17, and my youngest cousin is 15 so we all get along really well. My youngest cousin and I are very close, and always have been, so we're most excited to see each other! Also, they live in a city, so they love coming here and going to the beach and walking around downtown just beacuse they don't really get a chance, living in a big city and not a small town.


Well, I hope everyone is well, like I said above, and just doesn't have time to get on. Have a great rest of your weekend, and I'll check in whenever I can!!


Caroline

 

[colleen costello]

Caroline, glad all is well with you and your pal. Sounds like the scavenger hunt was just the ticket! The visit with your cousins sounds great! I am sure they LOVE to visit Maine -- my parents never quit talking about how much they love it there. They like to go up in the fall, and visit Kennebunkport and Freeport and Bar Harbor, their favorite. They'd move there but it is just too cold. Now they are talking about retiring in FLorida, and that has me SOOOOO excited. If I can't move to Florida, having them there is the next best thing... I can visit for Thanksgiving or Christmas (or both!) and thaw out! Glad you are getting some time with family.

My friend Marla gets back from her big Mickey trip tonite. I literally can't WAIT to hear all about it! She and I plan to get together and talk nonstop about the wonders of the World. I am not sure HOW i am supposed to survive with no trip south 'til March -- I seriously am suffering withdrawal

Hope all is well with everyone in the suite.

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... been a bit busy lately but I have a total break in action here at work so I decided to stop on in My family is on their cruise to Alaska and I have been watching over the pets and houses for them

Linda, I agree... I would rather have a little more fun in life than to have a totally perfect house. It just isn't worth it to me to live in perfection if all I can do is sit and look at it after it is all done I admit though, I am too cheap to have someone come in and do it for me. I also enjoy doing a lot of it myself, but I have to have the time and desire to get it done. I guess I trust my work more than others. I plan to try to do some sponge painting in the bathroom and maybe some other texture painting in the kitchen. Not sure what I plan to do in the living room yet and the other rooms I can leave be for a while

Ed, that is a great user name there!!! Very cool!

Caroline, that was so sweet of you to do the last minute baby sitting for your neighbors. I do hope they truly appreciated what you did
I am also glad to hear that your friend had a good reason to switch track groups. I know it can't be easy but at least there was a driving force for her to switch. Hard to go against parents when money is involved. It's great that you have patched up your friendship now too! Would be hard to lose a friend like that.
Sounds like you will be super busy this summer with everything!! I hope you enjoy it all!

Colleen, you made me smile with your OKW soul... I have to admit I was totally shocked when I found out how much I loved that resort. Somehow I thought I wouldn't care for it as much as I did
I hope your friend had a good trip with the Mouse!!

Lisa, I hope you had a wonderful weekend there!!!

I just realized I have just about a month to go before I head to LA... it will be neat to see Mickey there

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Heck I just lost the post. Will attempt to replicate it. (sigh)

Elaine, if you decide to do the sponge painting in the bathroom you might do a practice board first. I like to use plastic grocery bags wadded up. Very effective and just as good as the expensive things they sell to use.

Lisa, I hope you do not mind that I had a chocolate crepe instead of wine but I am allergic to sulfites. Works for me as I love chocolate more anyway. LOL Please let us in on what you did that was Disney significant as my mind is a whirl trying to contemplate what it might be?

Caroline, I am happy to hear that you and your friend were able to sit down and talk things out. That is a mature and wise thing to do. Friends are precious and it is best not to lose any along the way if you can help it. Just different points of view and circumstances. I had faith in you. I love hearing about your cousins by the dozens. It is a lucky person who is surrounded with such loving support. They are pretty darned lucky to have you as well.

Colleen, I can just see you and your friend chattering away the afternoon about all things Disney. I have a friend like that also. It is better for your parents to move to Florida than you since you will be able to visit in the depths of the Indiana winter and hide up here during the sweltering heat of Florida. I am sure they will move close to DW so you will be able to visit there more often as well, you lucky lady. If I find myself with a free day I will pm you and maybe we can get together for one of those fabulous Gnawbone tenderloins.

Ed, what a great name. Do you ever go to Jellyrolls at Boardwalk? They do a lot of Jimmy Buffet songs and my sister and I go over and howl at the moon when we meet at DW.

I need a bit of relaxation today so I am headed over to Animal Kingdom to do a stroll of the paths and watch the animals. Will cap the afternoon off with a showing of the Lion King, my favorite DW show.

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

The whole idea of my parents retiring to Florida just THRILLS me. I can't/won't move there as I feel our current community is good for little kids. But Mom and Dad going would be heavenly. I have told the kids we could stay at Grammy's for Xmas and Erin was thrilled at the idea of a winter break in the 70-degree weather. Mom has a pal in Ocala who retired there about 3 years ago and LOVES it. This woman gardens and putters and has never looked back. I have a friend here whose Mom and Dad are in Leesburg, halfway between Ocala and Orlando. They also love it. I just saw her Mom last week -- they are up for a visit with the grandkids -- and she said all the "city" problems of Orlando can be ignored by living just 30 minutes out. So I am officially NAGGING my parents to GET TO FLORIDA like all the other east coast grandparents have done! I tell my Mom all the time that 90% of the population of the state of Florida has moved from NY/NJ so what are they waiting for?

Heleneabear, we will all live vicariously through you as you make your way to "the original" Disneyland. Can't wait to hear all about it!

Linda, you call me any weekend and we will do the tenderloin thing. I will save up my WW points... Oh, first week success... Lost 7 pounds, 6.5 of it fluid from too many salty goodies at WDW! I always return with puffy ankles! All that food and 2 days in the car... YIKES.

Hope all is well with everyone!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

Congratulations on that first week's loss, Colleen - that is fantastic! I'm sure that your success will just keep continuing! How was your friend's trip? I hope that she and her family had a great time!

So glad to hear that you and your friend worked everything out, Caroline. As everyone else has already said, it's not worth it to risk losing such a long and special friendship over something that could be talked out and reasoned with. So glad to hear that you had a great time at the scavenger hunt - that sounds like fun! How is tennis going? I took tennis lessons for years, during the summers and the winters and I loved it! I'm a bit rusty, now, though - we have courts in our townhouse complex - we really should use them!

How was your friend's wedding, Elaine? That was this weekend, wasn't it? I can't believe that it's just about a month until your DL trip - time flies!

Hi Linda! OK - here is some trivia for you (and for everyone else!), since you are the reigning QUEEN OF TRIVIA! Here are some pictures of where we were on Friday (ignore the stadium pictures at the bottom of the page, for purposes of this trivia question):

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/li...done=http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/lisaruthb6

1. What is significant about this location in terms of Disney theme park history?

2. Why would it be of particular interest to ME?

(These questions are very easy and the answers very obvious when you see the pictures - I'm sure that you'll all get it, right away! )

Have a great day, Everyone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Rider, it has to involve Spaceship Earth or else my brain is on the blink. Did Walt get the idea from this edifice? I enjoyed looking at the pictures of you , Frank and your friends. I live vicariously through you and others. LOL I even did a bit of research to find out more about the globe. Thank you for lessening the strain on this old brain. LOL I am still shopping for a digital camera. Maybe a Nikkon Cool Cam. If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. Us retired people cannot afford to waste money. I bought a new mouse today, optical with an extra button that promises to do amazing things, provided I can program it. Is not a matter of if but when. LOL

Colleen, expect a call one of these days but I will gladly meet you somewhere more WW friendly. Seven pounds is exactly what I lost my first week at WW. How I miss those good old days when I could lose easier. I sometimes dream of a Florida lifestyle also but mostly in the winter. I wish we had retirement friendly places around here where it would be cheaper living, less upkeep and planned activities to do. You are so right in that Bloomington is a great place to live. I hear so much about what my niece enjoys there. She is going to some kind of camp where she will learn to play golf, ride horses and all sorts of things for free. She has many tutors and they are all free as well. I would have enjoyed all that for my kids but was too far to expect Tom to trek to and from work. The traffic would be almost too much for me to handle some days and Tom could not drive it all. This would be one of the bad days for me as I am a bit wonky today. We all ate at Ryan's for Father's Day. It was a nice time and two of Tom's brothers joined us. I love seeing my niece as she is so sweet as well as talented and very loving. She is already a millionaire but she does not know it. They are keeping her unspoiled and training her up to be able to handle her money when she gets it.

Tom just got home from bowling so I had best get dinner on the table. I fix something simple on Tuesdays as that is my day off and I do TOPS and shopping then so I am a bit weary. Amazing how tired you can get just spending money. Got loads of good bargains as Kroger had a dollar special. The best thing was the packages of steaks for Philly Cheesesteaks. I bought 20. Lean and no carbs. With some onions and peppers they will make a good entree. They even had Dalton's favorite cereal on sale, huge boxes. The kid is set for life as I had 50 cent coupons so they were free.

SG/Linda

 

[TalkisCheap]

Glad to see everyone post! I'm young, but I worry....I know I didn't have anything to worry about, but I still do!! Call me weird, but I like knowing you'll all just busy


Me and my friend just hung out again today. She's in my tennis class, and it's a lot of fun. We act like we never fought. It's a little weird if we mention something about track, but we usually just stay away from that topic. But basically everything is cool again, and I'm glad we worked it out.


Tennis is good. I have practice again tomorrow. I haven't played in a while, and I was a little nervous especially since I was in the advanced class, but I played pretty well so I was happy. I like most of the people in my class, so it's a lot of fun. Next week is basketball camp so I'm really excited for that.


I'm so exhausted!! In addition to all these sports, I've been on the go every day. Friends have been over, and I've never had a moment to just sit down and talk, until basically now!! I love summer, and I love my friends and sports, but I think I'm going to collapse!! Getting up early every morning, and then going all day...I'm not used to it. But I wouldn't have it any other way...I hate sitting around the house with nothing to do!!


Oh, could I possibly ask for some prayers/PD/good wishes for my uncle and aunt. They've been trying to sell there house, because he's in the Coast Gaurd, and he's getting moved to Detriot, but they can't seem to sell it. If they don't sell it soon, my uncle will have to move to Detriot, and my Aunt will have to stay with my two cousins and try to sell it. It's getting pretty close to when they should move, and we're all hoping it works out soon!!


Hope everyone is well, I'll drop by later!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Caroline, I am of the opinion that people are born more or less the way they will be forever. Oh, you might tweak a bit here or there but we are who we are and you are a worrier. LOL I am one too. I figure that since 99.9% of what we worry about never happens if I worry enough nothing bad will happen. (grin) I am touched that you worry about us though. It gets quiet from time to time as life tends to overwhelm us from time to time but we usually find our way back to the Suite. It is our refuge from life and the storms that inhabit it.

I will be sending special pixie dust for your aunt and uncle to sell their home. It would terrible for the family to have to be apart. I cannot imagine how hard it is for them to even contemplate such a thing.

You are a woman of action. Keeping busy is one sure way to avoid trouble which seems to find its way to anyone with some idle time. LOL I do hope that you do find a bit of time to sit and just dream from time to time. Life is nothing without dreams.

Your friend, SG/Linda

 

[TalkisCheap]

I guess I'll always worry, because I don't think I'm going to change now!! My grandma, and my mom are horrible worries, perhaps its inherited Never the less, life is busy, and we won't always be able to get back here, but I care about all of you, you're like another family to me



Thanks for the PD for my family, I know it's horrible to think of them being separated. Especially since my cousins are so young --3 and 1. It would also be costly, my uncle traveling back to be with them on weekends. He loves being in the Coast Gaurd, but this is definatly a draw back, the moves. He's getting out after this shift though, so I hope they can sell this one quickly, and enjoy there last move. They plan on settling in one place after, and I know that will make my grandmother a lot happier. She worries, you know



I do enjoy being busy, but I enjoy just lounging also. Nights are my definate down time. I can come on here, talk to all of you, and find time to dream. I'm a kid, so I want to enjoy this time while I have it before I get too much older and life gets too terribly hectic. I love being active, but I love being a kid more.


Well, I have to get up early for tennis tomorrow, so it's nearing my bed time. Have a wonderful night, and a wonderful day tomorrow.


Caroline

 

[IASW Rider]

Lots of PD coming your family's way, Caroline!

And we are always here for you, in the Suite! And don't worry about worrying............I'm a "worrier", too! Come on by and talk to us, any time - hopefully we can ease your worrying tendencies, at least a little bit! Everything will work out for your Aunt and Uncle, I'm sure! Glad to hear that you're enjoying tennis, too!

Nope, Linda - it's not Spaceship Earth.............think Disney theme park history.............here are some "clues":

"..........There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, Shining at the End of Every Day..........."

"..........Meet me at the Tower of the Four Winds.........."

"Four Score and Seven Years Ago............."

Those clues probably gave it away!

Have a great day, Everyone! Sorry that this is so short, but I have to meet my father in 1/2 hour and haven't even taken a shower yet! Will post more later!

 

[colleen costello]

Linda, you are so funny. I also LOVE getting the bargains... I figure Kroger and Marsh rip me off so much that once and a while I deserve a break! Rider, Kroger and Marsh our our Midwest version of Shoprite... "The biggies" out here...

Caroline, your family's realty tales put mine into perspective. I couldn't STAND to be separated. It surprised me to hear they are moving to ... Detroit? Is that on an ocean? I have friends in the Coast Guard and they are in Texas... Evidently the Guard does Great Lakes, too. I will pray for your family that they are separated as little as possible!

We are going to Holiday World on Friday, not WDW by any stretch but a fun amusement park for the kids nonetheless. It represents to me all that is good about Indiana -- it's kinda corny but is clean, calm and staffed with kind people. My kids love it and we will have a fun day. My pal Tisha is turning 35 that day and we are going with her family. This will have to do until I can get back to Mickey!

My friend Marla had a wonderful trip and she and I have not stopped calling about all we did. Today she called all excited that her family has comitted to a big gathering next summer. Her Dad is a Korean War vet and therefore can stay at Shades of Green. They are going next June for a week and the rooms will cost then under $100 apiece. Pretty good deal for a deluxe property right across the street from the Poly! Marla is thrilled. She said she is learning that "planning the next trip" is the only way to get over having to come home! I told her all about HelenaBear's Disneyland plans and she is waiting for the full scoop on that! She and her husband and little daughter Anna stayed at Port Orleans. She enjoyed the new rooms but says she still prefers the grounds at Riverside (I agree!). They had lots of park time and also did swimming and relaxing. Marla's cousing loves in Florida and insisted on taking her to an Orlando theme park which recreates Jerusalem in Jesus' time... Can't remember the name of it but I have seen the billboards. Marla thought a "Jesus theme park" was a dopey idea, but she said the place was actually nicely done, evidently historically accurate. She did worry about terrorists, said she felt this place would be a target for them, but luckily all was well. Thank goodness there was air-conditioning (even though not historically right) but the funny thing was Marla's interaction with "Jesus..." Marla is very active in her church but couldn't resist teasing... Evidently he went by and said to her "Follow me..." and she pointed out her injured foot and crutches and said "Sorry!" Hahaha... Picturing her interacting this way with the actor gave me a good laugh. She said the park sure was different than the Magic Kingdom!

Enough for now... Gotta corral the kiddos and hit Walmart.

xoxo

 

[colleen costello]

I'm back... Took a minute to look at Riders' pics! Is that Flushing Meadow Park? Yikes... half my relatives are buried near there, in that giant cemetary. Lisa, it's not easy for the girls here who have never been to the Bronx! I think your pics are of the park with the remains of the site where the 1964 World's Fair happened. My parents have grainy, terrible super-8 home movies from that Fair... Mom was pregnant with me at the time! I guess from your clues that it must have been the world premier of the Carousel or Progress, although I never connected that fair to THAT ride... Yikes, you have brought back memories! You and Frank sure do get around!

Personally, I love the LATER song, "Now is the time, now is the best time, of your life..." That was MY original, the one I grew up with from all the trips to the MK. "Great big beautiful tomorrow" just doesn't do it for me! Whenever we visit the Carousel, I sing the other song ot the kids as we leave and they roll their eyes... Thanks for sharing.

 

[IASW Rider]

COLLEEN IS CORRECT! !!!!

The pictures were in fact taken at Flushing Meadows - Corona Park..........which probably means very little to anyone in those terms........except for the fact that it WAS the site of both the 1964-65 and 1939-40 NY World's Fairs! And in terms of Disney theme park historical significance, the 1964-65 World's Fair was the birthplace (and premiere location) of the Carousel of Progress, The PeopleMover, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (which later "begat" The Hall of Presidents) and................It's a Small World!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! What a cool place!!! I had seen it from afar many times in the past, as it's visible from Shea Stadium, where the NY Mets play. I had always been curious to see the place and the few remnants of the '64 World's Fair that still exist there, but never really had the time. But I finally got to see it, a few days ago! I had my trusty World's Fair map with me (copied from my 1964 World's Fair Guidebook, of course!), so that we could figure out what used to be where and the approximate sites of the Pepsi Cola (IASW) and GE Progressland (CoP) Pavilions, in particular. I had no shame in singing "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" out loud there, either! I'm really fascinated by that Fair and have a small collection of its memorabilia, too. It's so wild to think that 150 huge pavilions once stood on land that is now mostly landscaped park, athletic fields, playgrounds, etc. But there is still some evidence of that Fair, there - the Unisphere of course (that was built by US Steel in 1963 to serve as the symbol of the '64 World's Fair), the ruins of the NY State Pavilion, several statues that were commissioned for the Fair, and some exhibits in the Queens Museum of Art, which stands on the land once occupied by part of the Transportation section of the '64 Fair. In case you're wondering what the Stadiums are doing in the photo album, I put them there because they are actually both part of Flushing Meadows, as well. The Park consists of the "regular park" area (where the icons and statues are), the Art Museum, the NY Hall of Science (which I believe is also left over, in part, from the Fair), the Queens Botanical Gardens, the World's Fair Marina, and the 2 sports arenas - they're all (sort of) in walking distance of eachother. The National Tennis Center (where the US Open is played) was built on part of the site of the State and Federal Section of the '64 Fair, and Shea Stadium was specifically built for the Fair and opened at the same time - it's featured in all of the Guidebooks, along with all of the other pavilions and attractions!

(Just a personal "aside" that you may find as ludicrous as I do - the main reason that we had trekked all the way out to Flushing, which is about 2 hours North East of where we live, was to meet a bunch of friends at the Mets game that night. Anyway, by "coincidence of invitation" (as we did not organize this little field trip - our friend Fred did - we were just "along for the ride") the evening turned out to be like a strange "This is Your Life" kind of experience for me: amongst other people, every man whom I dated in my adult life was also there! (Lest you should think badly of me, we're talking 3 people, here - 4 if you count Frank - not 300! I guess my ex-husband was the exception, but frankly it wouldn't have been so odd if he had been there, as well, as he was friendly with all of the people in this group at one point or another, too.) Quite surreal. I'm very thankful that Frank has a good sense of humor! ) )

I always liked the "Now is the Time" CoP song, too, Colleen, and remember it from my childhood trips to WDW!

So glad that your friend had a wonderful vacation and is planning her next trip, already - THAT'S THE SPIRIT, as I always say! Gotta plan that next trip ASAP!

You'll have to tell us about your trip to Holiday World, after you go - it sounds like a fun place!

Well, time to get some exercise, then think about what to make for dinner! Hope that you're all having a great day!

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... been busy here... I did look at those pics earlier and I rmemeber that being the site of the world Fair!! Carosel of Progress had its home there... and didn't IASW as well?

Okay now to catch up fully

Linda, I am so sorry you lost your post. Very frustrating when that happens!! If I get around to sponging, I will probably just use some sponges we picked up from Florida a few years back. I will probably do the bathroom first and if I hate it, I won't care so much

Colleen, it would be great if your parents retired there... make trips so much nicer to FL I am sure. I will be sure to post all about my DL trip. I can't believe it has been over half my life time since I've been there so it will be exciting for me. COngrats on the weightloss too!

LOL, Lisa, no the wedding is *this* weekend. So I won't be around at all this coming weekend. I will try to post pics as soon as I get back. I did love your pictures though and as I said, caught at least some of the significance to WDW

Caroline, I am sure you will get to the point where talking about track won't be so odd. We all go through things with our friends and if it is meant to be it usually works out. Glad you are enjoying tennis though!! Oh and my prayers are with your aunt and uncle I hope they sell their house soon and have a safe move.

Colleen, I hope you have fun at Holiday World on Friday!!!! Your friend Marla sounds wonderful!!!! I'll be sure to do the best I can so she can enjoy hearing all about DL!

Oh wow, Lisa, I just read through your last reply... truly great history there and I do see that IASW did have it's history from there.

If I don't check in with y'all before I go, I hope you all have a great weekend. I will be off from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon

 

[IASW Rider]

Have a great time, Elaine! Can't wait to hear all about the wedding, when you return!

 

[IASW Rider]

Just wanted to say "hi"! You know, I could swear that I got an e-mail notification that someone else had posted..........then I looked and saw that mine was still the most recent post on the thread........very weird........maybe a ghost escaped from the Haunted Mansion and is posting here invisibly, or something!

We're finally going to see "Shrek 2" today, and I'm really looking forward to it, since everyone has been telling us how funny it is! Going swimming with our friends tomorrow and taking another friend and his new finacee out to dinner to celebrate their engagement, tomorrow night. And that's the "news" from the Garden State!

Hope that you all have a wonderful weekend! Talk to you soon!

 

[colleen costello]

Hi girls! I am not a ghost, but I'll post!

We had a great family day at Holiday World, in beautiful southern Indiana... Not WDW by any stretch of the imagination, but a fun place nonetheless. It was my Pal Tisha's birthday and we went along with her family. We met and spent a fun day. The weather was gorgeous -- about 78 degrees which Linda will understand is nothing shy of a miracle for this part of the world in late June. It's usually way hotter and very humid. We walked around and rode rides (or at least the kids and our friends did; Scott and I are chickens) and had a good time. There is a great water park - -again, no Typhoon lagoon-theme but fun anyhow) and my little son Ian was a real daredevil. He rode some family slides that I would NEVER try! We stayed til the place closed and they threw us out, and I am always impressed that one of the "higher ups" is always there to thank you for coming. I took the time to thank HIM -- this year smoking is restricted completely, to areas they have built that are sort of like patios. The smokers are corralled here and it was very nice. I told him they are ahead of Disney in this way... I think if Disney's designated areas were a bit more evident and "off the beaten path," then less people would "cheat" and smoke "wherever." The smokers certainly seemed comfortable... But I couldn't help but feel bad for the kids in there who were in clouds of smoke... My family ALL smoked when I was growing up and I hated it... Also blame a lot of my allergies on this! As my Mom says, though -- "We were stupid and didn't know any better!" I guess it's only a matter of time til MY kids are grown up and blame me for their various ailments!

Today we are cleaning house and getting started on a painting project. Of course people want to see the house in all the middle of this so we will do what we can tonight. The realtors want us to paint and spruce up but also don't want to miss showing the house. Oy. It's a big pain and it is hard for me to be positive. I still feel in my heart that the new house is meant for me -- got a real vibe from it -- but things are not working out so far. I hope one of the showings tomorrow goes well. I have said it before, but REALTY sucks! It's very stressful!

Hope all is well with everyone else. Hope the weather where you all are is as pretty as it is here!