EWP group?

[helenabear]

This is a quick pop in... I didn't get much of a lunch today (had a conference call with people out on the west call at 12:00 noon our time... earlier for them). Unfortunately no news yet. The place he had an interview was a consulting firm that would contract him out. He hasn't heard anything yet about the others but he should hopefully by the end of the week. If not, we have found a few temp agencies to get him a job that he may call this week or next (more of last resort). He may do that so when he gets a good call back he can pick up and go there. He did call one company's HR department and the guy who would do the hiring in hope that they will see how serious he is about a job there. So we wait. In the mean time we go to Sears to shop for fridge's tonight.

Slightly Goofy, my heart cried for you when I read about the relationship with your son & DIL. I pray for the best for the sake of your grandchildren as well. I can't say much more except here's a great big {{{{{HUG}}}}}.

Cathy, with everything that I 'know' about you from here, I am sure you did the right thing. Sometimes it hurts to tell a friend the truth but hopefully something good will come out of it. Here's a {{{{HUG}}}} for you as well.

Well I have to run back to work... I have another meeting to go to. I hope everyone is havinga great day!!!

 

[CathyCanada]

Thanks for the hugs my friends, they really helped!

Elaine, keep us in the loop, we're all rooting for Luis!
CC

 

[angelina]

Hi, everyone. I've been catching up on all the posts from the past few days--I've been busy with birthdays and getting everyone ready to go back to school on Monday.

SG, it must be terribly difficult for you to be separated from your grandchildren. Your DIL depriving the children of such a wonderful person. I so enjoy reading your posts. I had an aunt who never had children, but doted on all of her nieces and nephews, most importantly by taking a sincere interest in everything we did--artistic abilities, school, dance, sports--whatever. She has been gone 7 years now and every day, I think of her and wish she was here for my children--I'm so sorry they don't have her in their lives. I think of her as my guardian angel--I find myself "thinking" to her often. A week or so after Christmas two years ago I was thinking how sorry I was that I didn't have "letter to Santa " from my son that year, as that was probably the last year that he would believe. I felt such an overwhelming sadness at that moment. As God is my witness, I started picking up around the house and found his backpack lying around, and saw something sticking our of a zippered compartment, and guess what it was? A LETTER TO SANTA ! It's just the sort of thing she would have appreciated. I miss her terribly. We are still fortunate to have my grandmother with us. She was 92 this year, and my 7 yo dd adores her. She loves to spend the day ( and sometimes the night) with her. I hope one day your DIL will learn to appreciate you.

So, those of you who were suffering from the heat wave--are things any cooler (relatively speaking) these days? Down here in southern AL, it's unbearably hot and sticky! I can't wait for what we call winter! Hi's in the 50s and 60's, and lows in the 40's! It's been a little risky to go swimming in the Gulf this year. Last year, the jellyfish were too numerous, this year, it's the sharks. It makes the beautiful pool here at our suite especially wonderful.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Wow, raspberry souffle? Could I please have a bite of someone's? I cannot eat much as I had most of my stomach and stuff operated on quite a few years ago and cannot handle much sugar. I have a theory that all of the calories are in the first bite as that is all I have eaten of a dessert in many years. My DH is thin and he eats the rest of the dessert after I take the first bite so I must be right. LOL

Angelina, what a smart and loving person your aunt was. I see so many people who are so sad cause they don't have any children in their lives and there are so many around tht could use the attention. I always wanted a bunch of kids and could only have 2 so I just collected others where I could. I am sure you miss your aunt but what wonderful memories she gave you. What a wonderful Christmas story. I just love stuff like that. You can still tell your aunt. I talk to my mom all the time and I know that she hears me.

Helenabear, you are so kind to remember us and keep us up with what is going on. I hope you get a good deal on your refrigerator. Please do not pity me. The grandkids are what I am worried about. I am not your typical mil (stereotype). It is my job (as I see it) to help out where I can and to butt out and not cause trouble. A wife trumps a mom everytime and it should. I just hope my son keeps on doing the best he can before more kids are left to their mom's 'care'. The best case scenerio would be if they went to the parenting classes that the court ordered. I fear I will get a midnight call from the police and have to make some terrible choices.

Rider, I did not know that Indy had the Fast Pass option. How does that work since it is a show? I have seen it a few times and have never gotten a front row seat. I am usually in the back and behind a post. LOL Maybe out EWP badges will get me special treatment? I come from a very disfunctional family so it was my dream to have a loving family. Hard to make a dream come true when you are the only one dreaming it sometimes. I think you appreciate family more when you did not have it growing up. Maybe that is why you enjoy IASW so much cause all those dolls of every possible race and sex all get along so well? If I may butt in a bit with some advice - you should keep in touch with your mother, just don't let her set the tone. If she does not want to talk, fine that is HER problem but you never know when she may pass away and I don't want you to feel badly. I lived thru this with my father. He was a mean SOB (sad but true) but I still slepped myself over to Ohio to see him regularly before he died. Part was in hopes that he might have some regrets and we might have some kind of relationship and the other way that I wanted to do what I felt was right and have no regrets when he was gone. I will tell you what 'horrible' thing I did with my 'inheritance' sometime. I have a truly evil mind. LOL Since I am a 'witch' I will cast a spell to cure your headaches. Might as well get some use out of these 'powers'. (raised eyebrows and great big old grin)

Bashful, what kind of business do you and your DH have? How do you manage to work and live together? You must be very special people as that is very hard to do. I am glad that I could save you from River Country ickiness but I know you would do the same for me or any of us.

The table did not get much work done on it today as my grandson had too much homework and it had to come first. Maybe we will finish it this weekend. In the middle of all this and while I was cleaning the bathroom my DH brought a guest who had never been here before. Great first impression. (chuckles)

I think I am up for a late dinner at the Contempory. Think they might do a few fireworks just for our amusement? I think we all deserve a treat after this day.

Sweet dreams and happy thoughts to you all.

Slightly Goofy

 

[IASW Rider]

Thanks for the update, Helenabear! I'm sure that you and Luis will be hearing some good news, soon! In the mean time, it sounds like you have a great plan and a great attitude! And good luck with your refridgerator purchase!

Welcome back, Angelina! And lots of good luck to your children for the upcoming school year! It's wonderful that you had a person as special as your Aunt in your life. I'm sure that she lives on in you and your family, and I'm sure that she is watching out for all of you, as a guardian angel! And I loved the story about your son and his Letter to Santa! And it's so great that your Grandmother is still with you and your family and can share in the lives of her great grandchildren!

Thanks, as always, SlightlyGoofy, for your kindness and words of wisdom. Believe me - I am not being "stubborn" on the subject of talking to my mother - frankly, I'm a little afraid. Every time she "gets like this", a torrent of insults can come pouring out of her mouth at a moment's notice. Throughout my childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, I just kept my mouth shut, internalized everything, and actually believed all the bad things she would say to or about me. I've spent most of my life thinking that there is something "wrong" with me.....when I can't think of anything that I did to deserve feeling that way, or anything "bad" that I have done! But I can't do that any more. It's not that I'm being selfish - I just don't feel like hearing how "irresponsible" (for example) I am, or how I "don't know how to run my life", when I have been doing just fine in terms of supporting myself and taking care of myself since I moved out of my parents' house 10 years ago, much less since my divorce. It's like she'll think of anything just to put me down and make me doubt myself. Perhaps that's her way of trying to "hold on to me" or make sure that I'm never 100% independent. But at the same time, I know that I do the best that I can and think that I have done pretty well for myself, and don't want to be "knocked down" by my own mother. Anyway, I've tried to reach out to her by phone (at my father's request) and all I get is silence (very humiliating) or intentionally stilted responses from her, designed to make me feel uncomfortable (which they do). I have so much pressure coming from other places, that I just don't have it in me to "play her game". This is nothing new - there were at least 4 different periods of 3-6 months, during my childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood when my mother just stopped talking to me for no apparent reason (imagine being 12 years old - a time when a daughter really needs her mother - and having your mother just stop talking to you for 6 months, with the exception of the occasional screamed insult). Every time, I would apologize to her (without knowing what I actually DID to deserve the silent treatment in the first place - I was a "good kid" - I did well in school, never smoked, drank, touched drugs, or did any other "bad thing") so that things would be "normal" again, and I would wind up feeling badly about myself all over again. I can't go through that again, now - it just takes too much out of me. I have also thought about the fact that I would feel horribly if she became more ill or God forbid passed away without our having resolved this. But after all these years, I don't know if "it" (whatever that is) will ever be resolved. Sorry to dump all of this on you - and everyone else - and sorry to bore everyone! I hope that no one thinks I'm some terrible, unfeeling person - I'm just trying to develop a slightly "thicker skin" after 34 years of wondering whether I really am the "stupid", "insignificant", "irresponsible", "cowardly", "superficial", "wimpy" person that I have been made to feel as though I am. Enough of that! Sorry about that!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about your father - I'm sure that you did the right thing by reaching out to him. Maybe I'll be brave enough to do that with my mother, some day. And I do appreciate your advice! And I hope that everything works out with your son and DIL. They are so lucky to have you in their lives and looking out for them and for your grandchildren.

On a lighter note......yes, Indy has fastpass - when we were there a few months ago, it seemed as though the whole audience had fastpasses because we couldn't get anywhere near the entrance of the arena, and we tried several times! We'll have to try those fastpasses next year! And the California Grill makes a wonderful made-to-order raspberry souffle - YUM! I think it takes 20 minutes to make it.........and about 3 seconds to eat it, it's so good!

Hope that I haven't bored or depressed everyone so much that I get kicked out of the Suite! I promise - no more depressing stories!

Have a nice day, Everyone!

 

[helenabear]

I just feel the need to give everyone a real big {{{{{{HUG}}}}}} right now. It's truly sad to hear the way family is. It is sad for the whole family when someone cannot understand how their actions can affect someone. I do hope that for IASW & SG that things look up within the family structure. SG, I will continue to keep your grandchildren in my prayers and IASW Rider, I do hope someday maybe your mother and you can have a relationship. I always try to remember that people aren't around forever and you have to make the most of the time you have with them because once they are gone, they're gone and there is nothing you can do to change the past.... Angelina, I had an aunt who was similar to the one you described. Unfortunately after my mother died (her sister) she lost touch with us, but it was nice to know she had us to look to when she did. Your aunt sounds like she was a wonderful lady.

Well we did buy a fridge. We wound up with a Maytag that has an icemaker. It was a slightly older model but it still had excellent ratings for power usage (the same as the "Energy Star" rated ones). So that is a bonus. It has all we need and it is a good size at around 21 cubic feet. We almost got a 25 cubic foot fridge but it was $900!!!! So we saved $250 and got the one we both liked best... and it only took us 1 hour and 15 mins I feel good about the purchase and we couldn't walk away from the one year same as cash deal. Life otherwise is good. Luis is considering going into programming (maybe through a temp agency so if he hates it, he can leave quicker). He did it in college but didn't like it so much there only because they had unreal time limits, got stuck with crappy partners who could screw it all up for them, and were graded unfairly on their work. He did enjoy it at some points so that is why he thinks he might look for that type of a job. I told him now would be a great time to do it. If he has to work more hours that is fine, but no sleeping over at work like the crazy programmers do

It is a gorgeous day here... absolutely beautiful. High is around 85 and I am loving it, so I worked a deal with the Mouse and he agreed to turn on the outdoor AC for us here in the World so we could enjoy the wonderful weather Ohio is finally having. So I hope you all enjoy it. I am peeling very slightly on my shoulders from last week when I was at the fair so I am still sitting on the balcony watching the world go by. I might head out to the Seven Seas Lagoon to rent a watermouse (with tons of sunscreen on though or a t-shirt on) so I can go hop on the old Discovery Island (that is the name correct) on Bay Lake. It might be fun to see what is still left there I don't have a clue what I am going to have for lunch, but I think I am in the mood for those wonderful all beef hotdogs and maybe some homemade mac n cheese. I know not very exciting but I'm in a boring kind of food mood... hey maybe I'll have to go to Crystal Palace. They serve wonderful food there and it might just be what I need. Any takers? If I go now, maybe I'll relax and then go rent a boat a little later in the afternoon. Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Rider

I am so sorry if I gave the impression that I thought you were wrong in anyway. Never, I can tell from your posts that you are a thoughtful and kind person and I was just worried about you if something would happen to your mom. I understand exactly where you are coming from as my parents did the same things to me and my siblings. The older group of kids (I was in this group) all got good grades and never got into any trouble but we were berated and put down at every turn. I never had the relationship with my parents I would have liked but I tried to keep the lines open in case things would improve. I just wanted you to be able to be comfortable with the situation in case the worst would happen as I think you would be hurt and I don't want you to be. I would keep in touch with her but maybe in a distant way. Send a card once in awhile and maybe a chatty note. She cannot give you the silent treatment that way. She sounds like a very sick woman and may be mentally ill in some way. It would take the fun out of 'ignoring' you if you send notes and cards once in awhile. She might get curious about what you wrote and read it even if she might never admit it and even if she had hurful things to say in return unless she writes them she could not hurt you. If she writes mean things just don't read them. Maybe your DF could screen them for you. I am just trying to think of ways that you could find some peace with this terrible situation. It is so sad that she cannot be proud of you and all you have accomplished. Others are, so you must realize that it is not something you have done or not done but her problem as you already know. Please forgive me if I sounded judgemental. I really did not mean to. I am so sorry. Maybe you will allow me to treat you to a raspberry souffle and you can have my turn with our resident masseur?

I am the oldest of 8 kids and have always had a houseful of young people around and seem to attract people with problems and am always trying to 'set things right'. I am a fussy, worrywort type of person who hates to see anyone hurt.

I have a feeling that this will be a good day for everyone. In order to balance out yesterday it has to get better. It should improve for me AFTER I get the oven cleaned. LOL I have a 4 year old coming to spend the night so I have to get my chores done early and run over to the suite for a bit of rest before my hectic but wonderful evening.

Slightly Goofy

 

[jstmee]

I also need to give everyone here {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}, all of these stories remarkably sound like mine.

Rider, I cannot use the words that where told to me when I was growing up, that I was made to feel. I lived with my dad, he remarried, and I looked like biological mom, so he treated me with the hate he felt for her. But, alas, I have dealt with that. I am a very sensitive person though.

Helenabear, congrats. on the fridge. I know you'll enjoy it.

SG, my DH is one of 8 children. That's why we moved back to his hometown to help with his parents. Everyone left this area, he is the oldest "male" and he felt the responsibility. It has been a good decision for all.

I am now going to spend some time organizing and reorganizing my trip to WDW, I only have 37 more days to go. Woohoo......

I will meet everyone at the jacuzzi later.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Jstmee, I am so jealous. Just 37 more days to go? Lucky girl. You will have to scout things out for us all in the group. Please? (sideways smile) How long are you going to be there and where are you staying?

Since you all have similar stories about your childhoods I am curious. Did that make you try to make your kids/family relationships 'perfect'? Perfection is awfully tiring and impossible to achieve. Wonder if my kids have 'horror' stories to tell about me?

My oven is still dirty and I am goofing off. Just caught my DH trying to help out by marking the yardsale items. Anyone want to pay $10 for a very old and dilapidated umbrella stroller? I had better add that job to MY list or we will still have everything left at the end of the sale. LOL

Slightly Goofy

 

[bashful64]

Hi everyone!

Big cyber {{{{{HUGS}}}}} to all.

Rider I hope that you can find a way to live in peace with your mom. Just rememebr though that the only person that you EVER have to live with or have interaction with everyday is yourself! Be true to yourself and remember when she puts you down that as long as you can look yourself in the eye then things are just fine!

SG I will keep your family in my prayers. I like you would worry about the kids. The comment your DIL made about dinner in the example you gave really worries me. I will keep those precious granbabies of yours in my prayers!

As for DH and I we run a consulting company that specialises in writing custom software for our clients.


Helenabear....sounds like you got a great deal on the fridge! I will keep my fingers crossed for Luis. If he decides to go into programming I am afraid that long hours (including sleeping at the office) tend to come along with the job (in crunch times). I am still a "release date" widow at times even though DH has been in the biusiness for almost 20 years.

Jstmee it is great to see you back agian. Soundslike your days have been very busy. Come and join me out on the balcony for a nice cool drink and rest awhile. Only 37 days to go until WDW you lucky duck! We leave on November 28 and I can hardly wait.

 

[helenabear]

Hmmm... I am now at teh wonderful part of the evening... what to have for dinner Lunch at Crystal Palace was fabulous and my shoulders are just fine after boating. So I am enjoying my day right now. As I think about it, programming might still be great for Luis. Hopefully he'd get the jobs like some of our friends have where they do go home at reasonable hours (like 6-7 pm if they go in at around 7-8ish in the morning) So far none of my friends have had to pull "all nighters" so maybe he'd be lucky. In the mean time he has one PeopleSoft job he is waiting to hear on and a few tech support possitions. He'd take a paycut on those, but at least we'd be ahead of the game with them. So we should hear on Monday/Tuesday about these. If not he will keep going and work on it all... he just is so bored at home now, even looking is boring after a while.

I think everyone needs to have a wonderful weekend. It sounds like we all need it Maybe we could convince jstmee to take us all with her while on vacation Well I need to figure out food... maybe I could get a yummy pizza made up for me... hmmm that sounds good

 

[IASW Rider]

Thanks so much, everyone! You are all so kind to offer such wonderful and supportive words! And lots of {{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}} to all of you! I was kicking myself and feeling guilty all day for writing that depressing paragraph (that will teach me to "enter the Suite" when I am not fully awake, yet!). I promise not to do it again!

And SlightlyGoofy, I am sooooo sorry if I gave you the impression that I thought that your comments were anything even remotely resembling "judgmental" or anything else! I appreciate your taking the time to provide me with your thoughts! That's the one "bad" thing about posting or e-mailing - sometimes one might "come across" a certain way in writing, that they don't intend at all! It's hard when we can't see eachother's faces or hear eachother's tones of voice, sometimes! Anyway, I am so sorry if I came across "bitterly" or something similar!

You know, it's funny - even though my mother went through those phases of not talking to me and putting me down, we were actually very close at times, too. It's actually because of her that I am so sentimentally attached to IASW! I remember all the good times we had when she and I would vacation at WDW alone or with my cousin, when I was younger (my father stayed back and "held down the fort" at the family business), and how much we all loved IASW! It really brings back fond memories of my childhood and of fun times that I shared with my mother on vacation. I think that she has always been prone to "depression", but never went to a doctor or acknowledged it. Now, on top of being emotionally ill, she is confined to a hospital bed in her room because of diabetes. I know that a lot of the things that she says to me now are probably reflections of her physical pain and frustration about not being able to see very well and not being able to even sit up by herself, much less walk. It's not that I am a horrible or unfeeling person - I have tried and tried to help her or get close to her, but she always manages to push me away (ie: the story about our WDW trips that she most often recounts nowadays, to people like my DF, is "remember that day when we were having breakfast at the Contemporary and you were acting so bratty that I slapped you across the face?" - as if that's supposed to be a "funny" story, or something! Another thing that she recently said, thinking that it was supposed to be "funny": I was telling my parents, uncle, and DF that I had recently had a physical and the Dr. said that I was in perfect health. My mother's response was "well, obviously he didn't check your brain".........and there was total silence. UGH. In the past, I would laugh and go along with it and feel like #$%, but I just can't do it any more - I think I reached my breaking point. I love what Bashful64 said - thank you - about being true to oneself. I think that that is what I am finally doing, for the first time in my life!) Anyway, all this to say, if she would give a little, I would give a little. I DO try to be friendly when I visit my parents, but it's hard when she ignores me or pushes me away. I hope that things somehow get better before our wedding. I doubt that she would be able to physically be there, but I would like to have some peace of mind. Well, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are coming up - new year, a time to "start fresh" - maybe I will find a way to talk to her without allowing myself to get hurt, then. Uh oh - I promised not to launch into another long, depressing paragraph.....and I just did it again! Sorry - that's the end, I promise!

I'm sure that your children don't have "horror stories" to tell about you, SlightlyGoofy! They are very lucky to have you as a Mom!!

And yes, I do think that I've tried for "perfection" with my relationships, probably as a result of my situation with my parents, and probably because I'm an only child (who had to carry the hopes and dreams of my parents on my shoulders alone, and was and still am expected to be "perfect"). I know that I was like that with my ex-husband, as well. I think that I've learned a lot, particularly over the past few years, and I have a much healthier relationship with Frank than I have with my parents or than I had with my "ex", so I hope that I won't "fall into" that "striving for unrealistic perfection" thing, again!

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, Jstmee! I'm sure that it was very painful and difficult to live with your father and be treated as you were. I am so sorry to hear that. But obviously you have thought about the reasons behind the way he behaved, and I'm sure that you've grown stronger, as a result, and have realized that your father had various issues and none of them had to do with you, as a person. You are a wonderful person and obviously very sensitive and thoughtful!

Congratulations on your new refridgerator, Helenabear! Enjoy it! We also bought Maytag appliances from Sears, and they are very good and reliable. And congratulations to Luis and yourself on all of his great prospects! We will have to have a celebration for him in the Suite when he officially accepts one of his inevitable several offers! I love your Crystal Palace idea - I just love that place! Sorry that I couldn't join you today (still laid up with the headaches. The Dr. determined that they are not sinus-related at all - they are a series of cluster headaches. I should have known - I used to get them every year. I'll be having a CAT scan next week and I have to make an appointment with a neurologist, next - FUN!). But maybe I can coerce you into going back, tomorrow? We can visit with Pooh and friends at the character lunch! By the way, can one really get over to Discovery Island in one of those little boats? Can people really boat over there, get out, and walk around on the island? I once asked my Imagineer / techie friend what would happen to me if I took one of those little boats into the inlet that runs behind Adventureland and Frontierland and tried to visit the EWP in its "home"..........he didn't think that that would be a very good idea (hee hee!)!

Wow - all these trips to WDW coming up, soon! Maybe Jstmee or Bashful64 will let us stow away in their luggage! And isn't your trip coming up soon, too, SlightlyGoofy? 289 more days to go, for me! I really hope that we can all meet in person at WDW some day! I'm really getting excited about the 100 Years of Magic celebration - now that they're starting to advertise it, and have lots of articles about it in Disney Magazine, I am even more impatient about getting down there! I can't wait to see all the new parades! You'll have to give us full reports, Bashful64, Jstmee, and SlightlyGoofy!

Anyone have any interesting weekend plans? I know that you will be enjoying the company of your little one, SlightlyGoofy! I will be spending the weekend cleaning out my closets in anticipation of Frank's moving in, and waiting for my new hot water heater to be delivered. And......I am going wedding gown shopping on Sunday!

Have a great weekend, Everyone, and I promise not to be such a "downer" in the future!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Rider, I am sure glad I am not in the doghouse. I felt so badly that I might have made you feel badly. Nuff stuff. I will tell you a 'funny' story on how I got 'even' with my father. My mother was well educated and my father was not. We were very poor and the highlight of our lives was when the bookmobile would come. It came to our house, just for us, after they stopped downtown for everyone else. We read so much and probably took out as many books as the rest of the town combined. My father would get furious when he saw us reading sometimes. One time he burned all our schoolbooks. He was a 'charming' man. After he died there was a small amount in his bank acccount after all the bills were paid so it was divided between all of us kids. I would have felt funny taking money from someone I did not like (love is another matter. Love is given not earned so - - -)so I comtemplated what to do with the money. I divided it up between the two local grade schools and the public library to buy - - - books!! I felt a bit guilty being thanked for those gifts as I knew I was being kind of evil. LOL

Cluster headaches? I don't know about that one. Is it something that is treatable? My DS has terrible migranes and I know how that goes and it ain't pretty. Are you feeling any better?

Your father must be a saint to have to take care of your mother so much. Is she that way with him too? I am assuming that you are Jewish and wondering if maybe your rabbi could not help with some of this situation. I know that my family hurts me often cause I care so much about them and probably the other way around at times. I envy so much those mothers and daughters who do things together and had asked about going shopping with my DD today but she wanted to take seperate cars and meet for lunch. I had looked forward to spending some time in the car together so we could talk. Small matter. My 4 year old is still here. For some reason these tiny beasties do not like to leave here. Can't imagine why? LOL DD took her oldest shopping with her. That is nice, they can spend some quality time together. Hard to do when you have more than one.

Helenabear, I just bought a Maytag dryer so you can tell I like Maytag products. I am sort of a careful shopper. It is so wonderful that Luis has all those different options of things to do. It makes life so much easier and interesting to boot. I just hope he does not have to take a job that will limit your time together. No sense in having such a lovely new home if you don't have time to spend in it. Have you arranged a moving party? Most important tip, serve the alcohol AFTER the furniture has been safely moved in. (grin) I am making some homemade spaghetti sauce this weekend and will bring some to the suite for your pizza. Loads of tomatoes, onions and peppers in the garden. Can't let them go to waste.

Bashful, we will just miss each other as we will be at Disney from November 2-12th. My DH loves going when the Christmas decorations are up but it was so scary coming home last year that I decided early might be better and except for the soap opera weekend it should be very quiet. Hope we get a bit of a cold snap as cool air is better for my breathing. Anything you want me to check for you when we are there?

Have a great day everyone and hope you can all meet on the balcony tonight. I have arranged for a special treat. I offered to 'help' out Disney by letting them practice the 100 year parades in front of our suite late this evening. I warn you they may have to go by a couple of times until they get it right. (grin)

Slightly Goofy

 

[helenabear]

Hi all... I was rather busy yesterday (nothing terribly important but was not home much) so I just came in to say hi today. We had a pretty good weekend. Our rental agency is FINALLY putting ads our for our apartment so it can be rented when we leave. We are SOOOOOOO mad at them (long story) but if someone takes the lease over we will be done with them and that is that. We had three inquiries about it so far this weekend and that is a good sign. We still have more and more contacts coming in for Luis so that is a good sign as well.

Lisa, I will always be coerced into going to Crystal Palace as I love Pooh and the food.

I am just glad this place is here for us to share our lives with... it can really help to let things go when we need to get outside opinions and just plain vent.

Linda, I am so looking forward to your sauce for my pizza... that sounds wonderful. And when we move, we will make sure the beer is in the downstairs fridge so that people don't touch it before hand. We are also still considering getting a professional mover for our big things, but haven't made our mind up about that yet.

Well I hate to type and run but I have cleaning to do.... and I just had to get away even just for a moment I will be back to relax and watch the EWP from the balcony... I will need it after cleaning so much I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. So now I will soak in my last bit I can before we need to clean some more.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Helenabear, have you gotten to check out the balcony lately? They just finished installing the retractable glass ceiling so we can have a/c out there. They were so apologetic that they had not gotten to it earlier. I was sitting in the jacuzzi watching the Little League World Series last night. An area team is playing. I am not much for watching athletic events but this is kind of special. We have stayed at the motel that overlooks the playing field. Williamsport is awesome in the spring with all the azeleas in bloom. They are huge. Where we live they are small plants but there they are almost trees!!

I am glad that things seem to be coming together for you and Luis. Owning your own home is quite an adventure. Mostly good but just wait until something breaks and you can't call the landlord. LOL Our house was such a good house, it waited until it was paid for before it required any heavy repairs. It will make me very sad when we have to move from here.

How did everyone like the parades last night? The Disney people sure appreciated us helping them out while they practiced. Who better than you Disney vetrans to let them know how it should be. It sort of looked like giant snow globes on some of those floats. Bet the characters enjoyed them though as I read where they are air conditioned. Wish they could a/c the crowds too. Bet we would pay an extra $10 per day for that luxury! LOL

Slightly Goofy

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone!

Sorry that I disappeared, there, for a few days! I was busy cleaning out my closets and reorganizing my house, in anticipation of DF's and his belongings' (and cats'!) arrival, in a month and a half. I also bought a wedding gown, this weekend! I couldn't believe it - I thought that I was just going to go to the store and try on dresses, to get an idea of what I wanted to ultimately buy......but I fell in love with the first one which I tried on, and bought it on the spot! They made me take it (and the headpiece.......and the weird bra, which looks like something that Madonna would have worn 10 years ago!) home with me, though - they wouldn't store it until it's time for alterations. I'm just very nervous because they say to keep the dress away from pets and smoke.....and I have 4 cats (and will soon have 6!) and both DF and I smoke (I know, I know - it's horrible!). So I have it hanging in my bedroom (which the cats are not allowed in - I always keep the door closed - and which DF and I don't smoke in). Eventually, I will move it to my childhood closet in my parents' house, which is essentially otherwise empty. Anyway, I'm really happy that I have it and that it fit almost perfectly! (Hoping to lose a pound or fifty before the wedding, though - hee hee!)

Wow - that retractable glass ceiling over our balcony was a great idea, SlightlyGoofy! Now we can sit out there all the time, regardless of the weather! And I really enjoyed seeing the new parades rehearsing, right outside the Suite! How did you swing that?! I hope that they come by again, today - I want to take in all of their details and listen to the new music, again! And of course I was not upset! Now I'm upset that you thought that I was upset!

Unfortunately, there is no real treatment for cluster headaches - they just come and go (for periods of 1-3 months, every year or every few years) at random. I have had them many times before and mine usually last a month (every night, same time of night for a month). But this is the first round of them which I've had since 1995. However.....last night was the first night in over 3 weeks that I did not get "hit" with a headache! Please keep your fingers and toes crossed for me.....maybe this is the end of this "cluster"! I made an appointment for a CAT scan on Thursday, and I will keep that appointment, even if the headaches are gone by then - better safe than sorry. I will also make an appointment with a neurologist. Even if the headaches are gone, maybe I can ask the doctor's advice about how to possibly prevent them (if there is a way to do so) in the future.

Yes, my father IS a saint for taking care of my mother 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with very little assistance (he refuses to have a nurse more than one day a week). But I think that it makes him happy, in a strange way, to do everything for her - he's the sort of person who really needs to be needed. On the other hand, I think that my mother is trying to "get him back" for all the time he spent caring for his own mother, when she was dying of cancer 15 years ago. My mother resented the fact that he spent so much time taking care of my grandmother and spent very little time at home, when she was very sick. I almost think sometimes that my mother ALLOWED HERSELF to get as sick as she is now, just so that my father would have to take care of her night and day - like she thinks that that's DUE HER after he spent all that time taking care of my grandmother. Very sad. And that's a great idea about asking our Rabbi for advice.....but my parents are the kinds of people who don't "air their dirty laundry" and are very concerned with "public image", so I doubt that they would ever seek outside "assistance". Besides, the Rabbi who always officiated at our synagogue recently retired, and my parents don't really have a relationship with the Rabbi who took his place. And I recently stopped paying dues at the synagogue where my family has always belonged because it's a Conservative Temple, and the congregation would not accept DF and me as an interfaith couple. We are being married by a Rabbi of a Reformed synagogue - perhaps we'll eventually join his congregation.

I think that that's a wonderful thing that you did with the money from your father, SlightlyGoofy - I actually think that that's a very nice and heartwarming story! I cannot believe that your father burned your books and did not approve of your (and your siblings') reading and learning. I'm sure that that was because he felt threatened by what he did not know and perhaps felt that he would be shut out of your lives if you all continued to read and learn - maybe he worried that eventually you would see that he didn't "know as much as you do" (whether or not that would actually have been true - maybe he just worried because of the way he felt about himself) and then wouldn't respect him any longer. Regardless, I'm sorry that you had to experience that. But I think it's so kind of you to have donated funds to schools and a library so that others could benefit from your generosity!

How's is everything going, Helenabear? Has your landlord / landlady found someone to assume the lease on your apartment, yet? Have you begun packing and preparing to move? I'm sure that it's very exciting! Any news on Luis's job front?

Well, now that I'm feeling a little better (the remains of the poison ivy are even almost gone from my arm!), I think it's time to get back out there and hit the parks! I think that I will go for the Disney-MGM Studios, today - I could go for some meatloaf at the Prime Time Cafe, and a visit with the Muppets!

Have a great day, Everyone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hey, Rider, do you think you could arrange for us to sit in the balcony with those 2 grumpy men at the Muppets show? I think that would be way cool. Next time we go to the Golden Horshoe Review I am going to glom onto one of the balconies on either side of the stage. It just makes everything better when you get a great seat!

I hope your 'clusters' are gone and never find their way back. I have had a few headaches in my life and they ain't pleasant. Funny thing is they mostly went away when I left home. You summed up my dad pretty well. If he had ever shown any of us any love we would never have noticed he wasn't very educated. We grew up in a house without hugs or expressions of love. Must be why all of us married so quickly and some of us so often. LOL

Your father is awesome. I have a neighbor who is mad because her husband is spending so much time taking care of his mother. I think it is wonderful. I have a husband who refused to bring me a drink one time when I had just gotten out of the hospital on the grounds that he 'doesn't do housework'. (sad smile) If a man is bad to his mother he won't be any better to a wife IMHO. There are rare instances where a man is a bit too much of a 'mother's boy' but in the main I like guys who like their moms and other women (in the right way, of course). LOL

Everybody is sure busy in here lately. Helenabear is packing to move and you are packing to be moved in on. It is happy busy though so I am happy for you all. I have my fingers crossed that Helena's apartment gets rented so there will be a bit less stress on them. Can't wait for the pictures of when they get all moved in and comfortable. I love looking at houses, not in a snoopy way, but I get ideas from them on what to do in my own.

I will have to pass up the meatloaf at the Prime Time. I love to eat 'differently' when on vacation and could not bear to pay those prices for food I fix on a daily basis at home. I have started making a list of where we are going to eat on our Nov trip. DH doesn't care where as long as they have large pieces of meat and potatoes for him to chow down on. (grin)

Slightly Goofy

 

[helenabear]

Hi everyone... sorry I have been away for a while. I got busy at work and last night I was playing Disney's Magical Racing Tour My DH is close to beating the game but I am not too far behind (okay yes I am but I won't admit it openly). No new word on Luis' job hunt, but keep the PD coming as he keeps finding more jobs to apply for. Luis is going to call the rental agency tomorrow to see the status. There were so many applications in that someone has got to take that apartment. Someone else saw it on Monday and another couple is coming tomorrow... so there is hope there.

It is amazing to hear about everyone's lives... it helps to put things into perspective doesn't it? You guys are also great to talk to... I was about to pop on here and say Luis was beginning to become sad when I realized he had been bored this afternoon and he was just hungry... I hope he finds any job soon... he needs it, not for the money but to give him something to do.

I love this new AC... it is great. I don't always like the hot heat so this is a great option... and it would be great if the parks could be airconditioned. Maybe we can get bubbles put over the entire park area and an artificial sun so it will alway be low to mid 80's and sunny whenever we are there What do you all think?

You know I need some cookies... where are those men of ours to get us food when we need it... ah here comes Bo... (hon can you go get me some peanutbutter & chocolate chip cookies... thanks). Now I am happy. While I have Bo fetching cookies, anyone care for anything else? I hope everyone has a wonderful evening and I will keep you posted on the job front for Luis and our move... and I will take tons of pictures once we are settled in

 

[jstmee]

This will be quick, quick, quick.............2 children in school and 2 more will start next week. Homework abounds and children fighting. aaargh. But, I just got done reading the posts. Thank goodness for a little serenity. Talk to you all soon.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Just wondering? How much would you be willing to pay for a bubble the would encircle each Disney park and provide perfect 75 degree weather? How much extra per day on top the the regular ticket price? I bet it would be much higher if you had to pay after you had been in the parks for awhile on a long, hot summer day.

Hello Jstmee, so glad you could drop in. That is what we are here for, a place to relax as little or as much as you are able. I know how you feel. Today was an afterschool day for me with my grandson. He needs extra help cause he has an eye condition called Nystagmus. I like to help him get his homework etc. done before his parents get off work so they can spend time together instead of fighting over homework. Only had one small temper tantrum tonight. Pretty good as far as I am concerned. LOL Grandchildren are ever so much easier than children IMHO. Someone told me that grandchildren are our reward for not killing our children. (great big old silly grin) You will look back on these days and miss them someday. I promise. Come by whenever you want, we always enjoy hearing from you.

Helena, just don't you and Luis worry too much about the 'opportunities' that are passing you by. Wouldn't you guys feel really badly if you took one of them and then a few days later a 'dream' job opened up? Be glad that Luis is already bored etc. My DH has been retired for 2 years and he is perfectly happy to lay on the couch and watch tv. He never was a bundle of energy before and now it is awful. I am irritating him cause it makes him nervous to see me work. Not nervous enough to get up and help me though. Ahhhhhh

I have some bad news. We live in a tiny rural community and a mom picked up her son from school to take him to the doctor's office. Her son is in my oldest grands class. She had two other kids in the car with her and they had an accident. All three of the children are dead. My heart just aches for this family. We all know each other. Don't know if the mother and the other driver are still alive as yet. It is so important to tell people we love them and part with a hug because we never know what will happen.

[[[[[Great big old fluffy hugs]]]]] to you all.

Your friend, Slightly Goofy