EWP group?

[TalkisCheap]

Yep, Jane Austen's Emma. I finished Pride & Prejudice at the beginning of the summer, and now I'm in the middle of Emma. After, I want to read Sense and Sensability. Those are my three favorites. I've seen all the new movies of them, and own them all as well, so I decided to read the books as well. I love to read, and what better than books I enjoy!


Welcome BaileyBelle. Another Mainer, how nice! Well, a little about me. My name is Caroline, and I'm 13. I'm going into 8th grade. I play a lot of sports, and enjoy watching them as well. I'm a big red sox, and patriot fan. I am the youngest child of three, my brother is going to be a sophmore in college, and my sister a senior in high school. I love everything Disney, even though I've only been to WDW once, and that was last March, but now I'll be going every year, so I'll catch on soon enough My favorite sport is track and field, and I'm on a track team right now, so if I start talking about track, it's for that


Well...it's pretty late. I suppose I'll finish watching the movie I started, and then make my way to bed.

Caroline *

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am thinking of all our EWP youngsters this morning. We had a young lady go missing here a week ago. Investigation showed that she had met someone on the Internet. The man even removed the hard drive from her computer when he came to pick her up. The good news is that she was found alive yesterday. Please be careful. It can be a scary world out there.

Caroline, I have such a hard time convincing my young students that older books are fun to read. They are often unattractive to look at (covers) and have few pictures and lots of words and they are frightened. When a book has stood the test of time it must surely have something to reccomend it IMHO. I have run out of things to read at the local library and am going back and reading some old favorites. I love biographies and autobiographies right now and they are not stocking them. Lots of romances and self books, is what the local librarian likes. I miss my old friend who was librarian here for years. Her reading tastes and mine were similar. LOL I am glad to hear that you enjoy the books. Is a different genre but you might check out Pearl Buck. Remarkable woman and great writer. I visit famous authors homes. Is a quirk of mine.

SG/Linda

 

[FPgurl04]

hey everyone!!

i'm really touched you all are so interested in my softball. we are actually a pretty good team. we placed 2nd in one tournament and have come in the top 4 or top 6 of several other tournaments. sure we've had our bad games, but overall we're doing really well. we play hard against good teams, and on some of those teams' websites we're mentioned as being 'tough' or 'a hard team to beat'. our coach is always telling us we're better than we think we are. sadly we only have 2 tournaments left--this coming weekend in richmond, ky and then 2 weekends after that in fort knox. our coach may try and get us into one final tournament in october just as a wrap up and to say good bye to the players who can't come back next year. as an individual i have been having a pretty good year. i think i have like 2 or 3 fielding errors and i have the highest on base percentage on the team (mainly because i'm walked so much!) and last tournament i hit a triple, which was pretty amazing for me considering i'm not really the biggest girl around! otherwise it's been a great year and i'm having a lot of fun. sadly we don't have playoffs or a world series. there are some world series and things, but we're not in any of them. thanks again for the concern and support!!!!!

so what's new with everyone else? how are you all?

SG--it's so depressing hearing about people going missing. i feel really bad, and it does make me more cautious--it's pretty scary out there.

well i'd better go!! big day of shopping tomorrow!! me and mom are hitting the mall--fall clothes are out!! woo!!!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Welcome BaileyBelle! Glad to have you join us! Looking forward to getting to know you! I'm 37 years old and live here in Central NJ with my husband and 5 cats! I worked in the field of Finance for 15 years and am in the process of (hopefully!) making a career change, now - I've gone back to school to study Nutrition and Public Health. I'm a lifelong WDW fan and will be making my 15th trip there, next May!

Congratulations, Colleen! That's wonderful news about the offer on your home! I'm sure that you're very busy packing, now, but just think about how much fun it will be to UNpack everything in your new home!

Loved your pi and square analogies, Linda..........but they made me hungry!

Of course we're interested in your softball "career", Emily! Keep us posted about your standings! It sounds like you're having a great season!

Sending lots of PD your way for Thursday, Caroline! You had better keep us posted and let us know how everything goes, too!

So sorry that this (and all of my recent posts) is so short, but I'm really trying to discipline myself and control my computer time, since I only have 3 weeks until my exam, now. But all is well, here. Had a nice weekend - saw our local minor league team, the Somerset Patriots, play (and win!) on Saturday night. We went with my best friend from high school, her husband, and their 2 year old son, and it was their son's first experience at a baseball game, which was neat! Visited with some friends yesterday, then spent last night watching the news and freaking out over the latest terror threats. UGH. I doubt that anything will happen......right now, anyway........but I'm petrified that something will eventually happen. The recent news was especially upsetting, since I have 2 friends who work in the Prudential building in Newark and several other friends who work in the Wall Street area. Oh well - there's nothing that we can do about it, so I try not to think about it too much. Even my friends who work in those areas all went to work today and are trying not to think about the possibility of an "event".

Anyway...........I don't want to end on THAT note, so I'll just say "hope that all is well with all of you" and "have a great day"!

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... never got a chance to stop in like I had hoped to this weekend. Went to a friend's house for a cookout on Saturday and Sunday we were shopping and cleaning most of the day.

I'm at work so I feel awful for not being able to take the time to reply to everything, but at least I am all caught up with the reading of what y'all are up to!

Colleen! I am so very happy for you!!!

Welcome Charlene! Always good to see another stop in. My name is Elaine. Married and my husband will be found on the DIS now and then as coqui. I live in Ohio and try to travel when I can.

Making it brief... I cannot say I was disappointed in DL, but it is smaller there. I do feel a bit more cramped (actually a lot more) and I am not much for that. DCA is better in that even when there are crowds it doesn't feel near as crowded. A couple of the rides at DL are far superior to WDW and a few at DL don't even exist at WDW. It isn't a trip I would rush to do again, but I am so glad I was able to go back.

We did get on Splash Mt 6 times thanks to the single rider line and went on Grizzly River Run (the rapid/raft ride) 4 times for that reason too. The standby wait for Splash was 120 minutes a couple of the times we looked Pirates is FAR better at DL and I wish they had done half as much at WDW as they did there. IASW is also far far better there. I loved that one so much! I wish they would make WDW's more like that one as well.

The rest of the rides were comparable or nothing that I would terribly miss at WDW. The landscaping at DL is okay, but I find far more natural beauty at WDW and that speaks to me.

Well I have rambled on, and feel free to ask questions. I am trying my best to catch up here at work so the rest of the week wont' be too bad for me.

 

[baileybelle]

Hi everyone...I guess I'll let you know a little about myself. I'm 50 years old, married 26 years, and have 2 children . DS is 22 and DD is 20. I'm from southern Maine and work at Walmart. I used to be a school teacher when I was younger, but decided to be a stay at home mom when my kids were born. Now I'm working at wally world and buying up Walmart stock for my retirement to the Orlando area someday soon.

Emily and Caroline I love hearing about your sports stories because my son ran track and my daughter ran track, played basketball and softball. As a matter of fact, my daughter and her high school softball team got to play at Disney's Wide World of Sports in the spring of 2002. What a blast that was!!! Sixteen teenage girls and their raging hormones...Yikes!!! It must of been a good luck charm going there because they got all the way to the state championship game that year.

Linda can't wait to hear when your disney dates are. Mine are 10/17 - 10/27. Did you check out that Lake Buena Vista map from your "Crossroads post?" You can also check out maps for Kissimmee and International Drive using that site.

helenabear... glad your trip to DL was fun. Did you go on the Indiana Jones ride? I hear that's a good one.

Good luck Colleen with the house. Now the fun begins!!!

Rider ... I'm also freaked out about the new terrorist threats. It's so scary not knowing from day to day what these lunatics are up to. I'm just waiting for the day they hit somewhere around or near Disney. What a perfect place to murder hundreds of people from around the world... It gives me the chills just thinking about it. My husband works a navy shipyard that works on nuclear submarines. Another perfect target.

On that note, I'll say goodnight and sweet dreams to everyone. Talk to you all soon.

BB/Charlene

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Charlene! Again, we are so happy that you've come over to the Suite to join us! Nice to "meet" you!

I'm also frightened that those terrorists will eventually choose WDW as a target......if they haven't already. I'm sure that they have plans to strike places other than just the ones that have recently been uncovered. I guess that all we can do is just live our lives and go about our business and have faith that nothing bad will happen. At least it doesn't seem like the buildings in NY, DC, and NJ are in any immediate danger (or at least no more immediate than at any other time)..........

Anyway, on to more pleasant topics! Where will you be staying when you visit WDW in October? It's so nice that you will be there during the Food and Wine Festival! We're hoping to get there at that time of year, some time, because we've heard so many good things about it! Also, I guess that MNSSHP will be going on then, too!

Hi Elaine! Thanks for the update about your trip! So happy that you got to ride the real, original World's-Fair-Version of IASW! I'm hoping to do that myself, some day! And I've also heard such amazing things about the original PoC, too! Is DL's Splash Mountain pretty much the same as WDW's? How about their HM - did you ride that, too? Aside from the queue and the entrance scenes and stretch rooms, is it pretty similar to WDW's? What's now in the building that used to house CoP and America Sings? I think that it used to be some version of Innoventions - is it still? Did you go into any of the "classic dark rides" that are unique to DL like Pinocchio or Alice in Wonderland? And see the Dioramas and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln? Did you get to see any of the shows or parades there? That's neat that you were able to spend some time in DCA, too. Did you ride their new ToT? Or see the Aladdin or Snow White shows that I've read about?

Not too much to report from here. I have my last GRE review class tomorrow. Yesterday's session was absolute torture for me: one word: GEOMETRY. I was so lost that I thought I was going to cry! I've decided to give myself a break and figure that I'll just do as well as I can on the math section and not kill myself over it. I'll practice as much as I can between now and the 25th, absorb whatever I can.........and guess on whatever questions / problems I can't comprehend! I'll just concentrate on my strength - the verbal stuff. Anyway, back to the books!

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

 

[helenabear]

Charlene it is a true pleasure to get to know you better. I am so glad you stopped in

I have to admit, I am not very fearful of terrorists... mostly because I believe things can happen at any and all times (not just that, but life in general) so I won't let myself worry about an attack or anything else... I just go out and enjoy life. But think about it, if WDW was a target, at least I would be happy if something awful did happen I know I sound so light hearted about this, but I try not to let anything phase me and keep me from living and having fun

Lisa, I do hope you get to ride the original IASW... you would be so impressed with it!!! Pirates is totally amazing... 20x better than WDW version!!! HM is mostly the same... minor minor differences that didn't affect me one way or the other. The stretch room is a huge change only because you *can* feel it unlike WDW you are clueless (unless you know). CoP is now Innoventions (we didn't bother going in there) And we made it on every single Fantasyland ride except for Dumbo and the Teacups. That means I got on my beloved Mr. Toad again for the first time in many years!!! Pinnochio and Alice are both very cute I am not a show person at all and the only parades I like are hte night ones now so we skipped all that.
I did go on the ToT... pretty cool. I haven't been on the one in MGM in many years (mostly due to back issues, which I think are okay enough to try this out... but I will again when I go back in Dec I think). It was an okay ride... the neatest part of it was you couldn't always feel if you were going up or down. But, along with M:S I think it is a bit over rated and not really worth spending a lot of time waiting for. The queue is wonderfully done and it would be worth to go through and check out for that (and chicken exit if you like).

Good luck with the GRE review and when you take the test Lisa... I am sure you will do great!

 

[baileybelle]

Hey Rider... We will be staying off site this time. We have five adults DH, DD, DS, DSGF, and me. We rented a 3bd/2ba condo in the Windsor Palms development off of 192. We really need the space.

We're also driving down for the first time on this trip. We're driving straight thru from southern Maine. We estimate it will take us about 22-23 hours with only gas, bathroom, and short eat/rest stops. We have a cooler that plugs into our cigarette lighter in the van so we're bringing sandwich fixings and other perishables to eat along the way. We also have a car dvd player to keep the "kids" occupied. We will have three drivers so we should be all set. Driving down will be the easy part because we'll all be so anxious to get to WDW we won't be able to sleep anyway!!!

This will be our first time at F/W Festival. Really anxious to check out all that glorious food.

Won't be going to MNSSHP though. Have so many other things we want to do we just can't fit it in.

We'll be doing 5 days at WDW, Seaworld, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center and of course one day to shop till we drop!!! My DH and DS can't wait for that day...LOL

Good luck with the Math!!! That was always my worst subject in school.

Elaine...I went to the 1964 New York World's Fair when I was 10 years old. I'll never forget going on "Small World" for the first time. It was magical. It wasn't until 1990 that I finally got to ride "Small World" at WDW and I cried like a baby thru the whole ride. My kids who were 9 and 6 at the time thought I was a total nutcase. The Carousel of Progress was also at that fair and I love riding it at WDW when it's open. I hope it will be open this trip, it all depends when "stitch" opens.

Well I guess that's all for now. It's my day off from Wally World so I need to get some housework done. talk to you all soon.

BB/Charlene

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Whew, ladies, I sure wish I could actually move into the Suite. Life is rough here in the real world. Not big stuff, thankfully, but lots of little stuff that is about to do me in. The grandkids are on vacation until Saturday and I took my dh to his brother's. He will return Sunday. I managed to get the bathroom primed and the ceiling done today. Not an easy task for someone with COPD but I dug into my stockpile of prednisone and am making the most of it. LOL I am going to work on the garage Friday and hope to get some yardwork done done on Saturday. Oh, did I mention that I have not had any water for the past five days? (sigh) A plumber has finally agreed to come tomorrow. I have decided to let him do what I need done and if he has the time I going to let him do the other smaller jobs that I would usually do. I deserve a break!!! As soon as he leaves, I am going to lock all the doors, wash my hair a half dozen times and shower for at least an hour. I can get a few buckets of water for the absolute necessities but it just is not the same. I miss the modern world. Of course you can guess what the dish and laundry situations might be. Just a few other chores to add to my little mini (vacation). I bought one of those Asian Chicken Salads from the WM deli area. Only 7 WW points and is huge. Yummm!!! Got a gallon of blackberries from my supplier and am set for food. Too busy to cook. Hopefully I will have a big loss at weigh in this week. If not I am going to cry me a river.

Baileybelle, so glad to see you in the Suite. I have not made our ressies yet as I am waiting for the codes to come out but right now I am looking at Oct 11th thru the 16th with a break to go to Clearwater to see my sister for a couple of days and then back from the 19th thru the 27th. Will tie for our longest stay I think. We only have one driver and even though we will only be driving 1,000 miles it will take me about one and a half days to go. I do not drive after dark. I can't see. Not a good idea. LOL Math was my worst subject as well. Some people are word people and some are numbers people. Not many are both as Rider but then she is special. It is so funny cause Rider had just posted a quiz on IASW and Carousel and there you were there. You were fated to join us!!

Elaine, thank you for the report on DL. I had heard some but not all of the info. I am such a worrywart about so very many things but do not worry about terrorists. Might be because we live in the Midwest and do not have the constant barrage of threats that our dear city friends do. If I have to go I would not mind going at DW. I feel safer there anyway. When we were there they were installing some sort of safety gates at the service areas that are used at the Pentagon and such. After 9/11 I believe that Americans are on the alert and will be more apt to step forward to do something instead of standing for any nonsense. We might be thought of as spoiled but if you get our dander up we are not to be messed with.

Rider, please do not obsess too much over your grades. I think you have a straight A thing going and if you should slip to an A minus or even a B in math you should still be very proud of yourself. My dd has refused to finish her degree because she has A's going and is fearful that she cannot hold to that standard for Algebra. I am sad about the fact. She is an amazing worker and so talented and could earn so much more if she had the paper IMHO. Maybe I am wrong. I do not voice my opinions to her though. How far away are you guys from Prudential and such? Geography is not my strong suit but my ears perk up whenever I hear anything about NJ.


I am sorry I do not have much more news and have not been here too much lately but I am an old lady and slower than molasses in winter. (grin)

SG/Linda

 

[TalkisCheap]

Hey everyone!!!


A quick check in, for now. Hope everyone is well. I'm fine, just very busy. I've been high jumping every day since last monday, and I think I'm improving. Tomorrow is the qualifying meet, and I'm not afraid to admit, I'm nervous and scared to death. But, I'm also anxious for it. I'm doing the 400, 800, and HJ. I'm not really confident in my 800 because I haven't been running it alot, I'm focusing more on my 400 and HJ.


Well, I should be going. Sorry this is so quick, all read through the posts and comment on anything tomorrow, and also tell you about how the meet goes. Have a great day.


Caroline

 

[helenabear]

Charlene, what days are you going down to WDW? I think I heard that somewhere around end of October, Stitch should be finnished. I love CoP though... so I hope they have at least limited running hours for it!! I do hope that your drive will be a good one. I admit you are brave (in my eyes) to drive that far. I'm not the keenest on flying, but a 2 hour flight will be a 16 hour drive in my book. Usually it is just me and maybe Luis though

Linda, you have a point about the mid-west thing. However after the poweroutage that started in Ohio and caused that massive black out, they realized very quickly that Central & Northern Ohio is a "good target" because they can wipe out a lot more than they thought. Apparently not just big cities are being looked at anymore. At least that is what the news people say. I suppose though, that even my brother in NJ and I think alike... nothing in life is ever fool proof or safe... so why worry. Not to be ignorant, but don't be overly scared... no point in living if all you do is fear death.
Silly rambles of mine, I know

Caroline, I wish you all the best with your qualifying meet!! I am sure you will do wonderfully, but remember the stresses of track when I did it myself! Do let us know how it all went for you!!!

Back to work for me

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Tom will not recognize the house when he gets back. I not only finished the bathroom (looks wonderful) and the garage but things worked out that the front sidewalk and crumbling step are being replaced as well. Very long story, won't bore you will all the details, but instead of the expected $1500 it is only going to cost $300. That will more than make up for the plumbing bill that is yet to come. That first shower was fantastic! I was going nuts as I grew up dirt poor, literally, and did not have a tub or shower and cannot live without such things now.

I think my daughter and family get back from vacation today. The boys called the other night and everyone was amazed cause Dalton decided to conduct a tour when they visited some caves and impressed everyone by knowing what stalagtites and stalagmites were and which were which. That's my boy!! Sounded like they were glad that they went on vacation instead of staying with grandma. I am happy for them. Corvette factory, Holiday World and lots of motels with swimming pools. They might have even gotten some sleep!

Helenabear, I am hesitant to say this, out loud, but my devious mind says that they could cause more terror by striking less well known targets as a lot of people feel safe cause they are not near anything famous and if they struck out of the way no one would feel safe. Saw a show where they were saying that people in some areas are much more on the alert and are good at notifying the authorities of things than before. I totally agree with you and to quote Roosevelt - "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

Talk, IMHO there are two kinds of nervous energy, the kind that keeps you from doing what you want and the good kind, that spurs you on to better things. I am hoping for the later for you at your meet. If you think you can, you can!!

I have some gardening to do now so I will close and check in later.

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Hi girls, just a quick hello. All is moving well and fast now. I move on September 10th and 11th. We are cleaning out the attic and basement, going thru stuff my dopey hubby has kept since Jersey (1987!). Yikes. Very exciting and overwhelming all at once. You have all listened to me gripe long enough... I am very happy but really too busy to realize yet how wonderful it will be in that great big house!

Linda, sounds like your remodel is going great. Good for you. Hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather. It's been gorgeous here in Indiana, very cool. Today I took a break from packing and took the kids to the park. When it's 75 degrees out you have to be outside!

Love to all.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Colleen, what wonderful news. Sounds as if your family is helping out. Great!!

If you have not unpacked something from your last move there is a good chance that you will not need to unpack now either. LOL In a larger house you will have a lot more room to put those unopened boxes. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I would tell you to mark or number the boxes by room but I am sure that a professional mover such as yourself already knows that. Do you have any overlap between when you move into the new house and have to be out of your old home so you do not have to rush so much?

I will be heading to North Carolina while you move.

When you live in a huge house like this it is not so much remodeling as constant care. By the time I finish with the last room it is time to do the first one over again. Counting bathrooms I have 18 rooms and then I have four rooms in the basement and a couple of hallways, one is a doozy.

Get some rest and don't let those dreams of your new home cause you to stay up all night decorating. You have plenty of years ahead of you for all that. Bet the kids are excited.

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Linda, 18 rooms? I thought of my new house as big -- but 18? How did you find yourself in a 18-room house with a man who doesn't do repairs? No wonder you are busy...

The kids are excited, yes. We all are. Even cranky hubby is starting to realize "Wow, we are going to move." I am also sad. This house we are in now is where my children were conceived... Where my babies came home from the hospital. There was lots of happiness here, and sometimes when I think I won't sleep here anymore, my throat gets a lump... I told the kids right before we move we'll walk through with the video camera and make a tape for later. That will help. They are NOT misty at all -- last night Erin said "Oh Mom, it'll be fine... the new house is better!" The kids have little time for my nostalgia.

We have about 6 days to move. The moving men will take all the furniture and we'll take all the stuff. I want to clean good before the new guy comes and I may actually hire a cleaning lady who was recommended to me. I will be busy at the new house and for $100 she says she will "make the place shine." Sounds good. I am labling boxes with what is in them, plus where they will go ... does that sound good?

Any tips are appreciated!

Colleen

 

[IASW Rider]

Hey Everyone!

So glad to hear that you have your water back (wow - that must have been such a pain to be without it! ) and that you made so much progress with your home projects, Linda! Was Tom surprised when he returned home? Also, glad to hear that your DD and her family had such a nice vacation! And that Dalton gave such a knowledgable tour of the caves! Also, glad to hear that your fall vacation plans are coming together! Definitely something fun to look forward to, especially after all of the work that you've been doing in your home!

And glad to hear that your moving plans are coming together, Colleen! That is so exciting! It's nice that it's coming up soon, but that you have enough time to pack and organize everything. And I can imagine how bittersweet it is to be leaving the home in which so many special things have happened, for your family. But as your DD said, you're moving on to bigger and better things and a wonderful new home in which to make new memories!

How did your qualifying meet go, Caroline? I'll bet that you did an outstanding job! You'll have to let us know all about it! Also, love the new photo in your signature!

Thanks for your kind words, Elaine! And for all of the information about DL! It must be so neat to see the original versions of so many WDW attractions, and the ones that were adapted to DL / DCA from the WDW parks, too. That's so neat that you got to ride Mr. Toad again! It's nice that it still exists somewhere at a Disney park! Are there still submarines at DL, too, or were they taken away there, as well? Did you ride the Matterhorn? How does that compare to BTM / Space Mountain?

That's so neat that you went to the 1964 World's Fair, Charlene! Just before you joined our Suite, I was boring everyone here with tales of my DH's and my recent visit to Flushing Meadows, where I finally got to see the site of the World's Fair(s). I'm a lifelong NY Mets fan and had always seen the park from afar, when we would go to the games. I was always dying to go over and see the remnants of the Fair, but my parents always said "there's nothing there to see". When DH and I went to a Mets game last month, we purposely went over a bit early and walked around the park and took pictures of everything from the 1964 Fair that still remains there. I was singing "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow", shamelessly, out loud! It was so neat to see the Unisphere and to know that I was standing on the ground where IASW and CoP first premiered! Your upcoming trip to WDW and the other parks sounds wonderful - it sounds like you and your family will be "accomplishing" a lot, while you're down there! And that's such a nice time of year to be down there, too - not too hot or cold! I'm sure that you all will have a wonderful time!

All is well, here! We spent yesterday visiting my Aunt, cousin, "niece", and "nephew" in Connecticut. It was unseasonably cool, here - in the mid- upper 60's - and even cooler by the water in Stamford, where my Aunt lives. We went for a long walk on one of the beautiful beaches off of the Long Island Sound.......which was great, but I froze because I was dressed for "traditional August weather"! But it was a nice visit and it was so great to see the kids (ages 3 and 4), who are getting bigger and brighter every time we see them! It was also nice 'cause we took my father, and he loved being with the kids and seeing everyone and having a nice change of scenery. And that's about all that's new.............back to the books for me!

Hope that you're all having a great weekend!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Tom came home early instead of this afternoon as was planned. My bil missed out on a homemade rhubarb pie as I was getting ready to make him one. Dalton is scheduled to spend the night so things are back to normal around here. I got kudos for the bathroom. Jackie said it did not look like me, I guess that was a compliment? LOL Actually I like understated and simple and elegant things but always considered Tom before. Now I have to consider potential buyers.

Colleen, maybe the new owners will become good friends and you can visit the scene of conception often? That can be a good thing or a bad thing. When they start changing things it can be disturbing. I did not miss my other house at all but this one will be a different story. Before you think I live in a castle you must know that we bought this place in the midst of the energy crisis of the 70's when no one wanted big old houses and this was an apartment house at the time. The price was so ridiculously cheap and it was across the street from the school that we decided to go for it and live on one floor in the winter if need be, never was. I did not know how to fix things when we got married but not having any money at first and wanting running water and other luxuries I had to learn and fast. I wish I were more handy but it is hard for me to move around nowadays and I can do less than I used to. Only hint I could give is to have one or two boxes with the basics needed for your first couple of days, coffee, toilet paper, bedding, etc.) $100 and she will clean it from top to bottom? Sounds like a great deal to me. Wish I lived closer and maybe I could hire her to do some of the high stuff around here. Will she go into the new house and perform the same (paid for by the sellers or even yourself)? Delegate!!

Rider, Tom is seldom surprised by anything I do anymore. When we first got married he was blown away when he found out that I knew how to cook, clean, read, write and all sorts of things. I am taken aback by the reasons he must have married me. Neither one of us knew what we were getting but then I doubt that many do. I love hearing you youngsters stories of two year engagements and such, it is such a great idea and so smart. I think all potential couples should spend a month together before getting married. Whoa, you teens should let me finish that thought! LOL Spend a month together renovating a house while babysitting for at least three children. If you can survive that, with sense of humor intact, you are then fit to enter the maddening maze of matrimony. (smile)

Caroline, did those light thoughts I sent you arrive in time to help you soar over your goals? I hope so. I know you did well no matter what. We are your biggest cheerleaders, ya know??

Helenabear, are you getting some of this great weather as well? I love it when it is too cool for the ac and too warm for the furnace. New codes came out and the old $49 rate is back for Spetember. Hopefully they will stick around for my October dates.

Just a reminder that our dear Angelina has a birthday coming up on Saturday. Dixie Landings seems like a perfect site for something for our Southern Belle but she might want something a bit more exotic. Will let you guys decide on the venue and I will just show up in time to celebrate. LOL

SG/Linda

 

[colleen costello]

Things are moving along here. Linda, I like your idea about transferring "basics" first... Luckily the two houses are just a few hundred yards apart. In a true toilet paper emergency, I suppose I could tell someone to sit tight while I ran back to house #1 for the tissue!

I am packing every morning, then taking a break to keep up with housework/laundry/Mommy stuff, then doing more in the evening . It doesn't seem like I am moving fast enough but I have done so much in just a week or less and I have another month. As an anxious person I just have to keep insisting to myself that all is well and one way or another, this will work. I have thought a lot about David since his death and I have unearthed quite a few photos of him in my packing. I am shocked at how skinny I am in the photos -- actually looked like I could have used a good meal, not the case now! -- and I look at goofy Dave with his big smile and I can't even imagine that somehow he is dead. So all this reminds me that time is short, and advice about "not sweating the small stuff" is so important. I am MOVING -- it's exciting! No one is sick, we're not bankrupt, there hasn't been a flood. No crisis here! Such are the things I keep telling myself! It's going to take a lot of self-talk to get through this giant project, though... As I am fond of telling my hubby, being this nutty is NOT easy!

Hope all is well with all of you. Caroline, any news on your aunt's house yet? Now I am convinced that all homes do, sooner or later, sell!

Love to all.

 

[colleen costello]

Well, I guess my last post made little sense as it seems I never told you all about the loss of my dear friend David. I got a call a while back that a dear friend had died. It was a shock and of course quite upsetting. David was my best friend in college and the best man at my wedding. He was a crazy, fun, wonderful person and leaves behind a wife and two little ones. His son is almost 8 and his daughter almost 5. I can't even imagine his poor wife a widow at 39.

David had some immuno-deficiency problems. Nothing life-threatening but he could take sick easily and had lots of allergies. In the 1980's he started taking plasma therapy every month. He would set up an IV and the "medicine" would boost his immune system. He was very excited about this "breakthrough" that would improve his health overall. Unfortunately as is the case so often in America, precautions were not taken until "too late." David was ill some years later while in medical school and discovered that the product he trusted to help him was "tainted." He contracted Hepatitis C because no one bothered to screen the blood from which his IV's came.

David's liver progressed into liver failure and in mid-July he had a liver transplant. His family had high hopes as he had evidently become quite ill and had to stop working as a physician back in the spring. He had gone downhill so fast, though, the transplant was a failure. He never really "recovered" from the surgery and died a few days following. Lisa was understandably distraught when I spoke to her and said they had expected him to recover from the transplant.

Of course this tragedy has been mind-boggling for me. This guy was a smart, funny person who worked SO hard for so long. Medical school was extremely stressful but he made it through successfully. He was quite popular with his patients and focused on rehab, seeing patients after strokes and car accidents. To think that he died two days before his 40th birthday because of what I see as negligence in the medical community, is hard to handle. So I have been thinking a lot about him lately, and of his family, and about mortality... In all the pictures he has his crazy grin. It's hard to believe he is not alive anymore. It seems unfair to me, and hard to make sense of. I am comforted by the fact that he left a son and daughter. They look like him!

I guess I didn't know how to explain all this. It occurs to me that this forum can be very therapeutic. We are a small cast of characters, and we haven't even all had the chance to meet face-to-face. But telling you all things can really help. There is a nice "circle of friends" here.