EWP group?

[SlightlyGoofy]

We are family, we may fight among ourselves from time to time but woe be to those who hurt one of us for we will band together and vanquish them. To our Disney family and their loved ones we send much Pixie Dust and prayers for your safety and those of those you love.

The EWP Group

 

[helenabear]

I just wanted to wish everyone a good night and I hope you enjoy th evening... with all of our nice servers away today (out of respect for the bombing) it was kind of quiet here in the lounge this evening... but I needed it after today. I feared for my MIL and this even makes me wonder why I should bring children into a world like this. I hope we can all mourn when we need in our own way and try not to let this effect the important things in our lives in a negative manner. Sleep well everyone!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Elaine

We bring children into this world to make it a better place, to teach us anew about innocence and joy in simple things. To lead the way, to teach us pure love, and because we need them.

Linda/SG

 

[helenabear]

Linda,

When I was so upset about the whole situation yesterday, my thoughts were why have children if they are supposed to make a difference and then we have people in this nation and across the world who breed hate. How can my children go up against them? I was sickened by the footage the BBC had of the Palastinian children cheering with their families. A few other groups are cheering as well! How can a country be so cruel! I may not agree with how the Palestinians live their lives or treat some people or whatever but if they had this happen to them, I would not cheer and I would hate to see any young child out there cheering. Your points of finding simple joys and love is very true. I even saw that in my babies last night. They were sooo cute and cuddly it made the world better. There is something about a cute fuzzy face coming right up to yours and licking your nose that is totally irreplacable with anything else.

I am getting over this, but it really was sick to watch how some reacted. I am also afraid as to what will happen next. Even going and bombing a country at night so there are few casualties will destroy a nation. Or at least it could destroy lives of the people who do not agree with what the majority felt. I am such a passifist I will admit, so any war to me in excessive. This is obviously my opinion and I don't want anyone to think that their different thoughts are wrong... that is why we are here so the ones who can agree to a war will balance out the people like me

I want to thank you all for letting me vent. Life will get back to 'normal' soon and Luis will turn 24 tomorrow so I have to make sure he gets a good birthday I hope you all have a splendid day!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Dear Helenabear

I understand. It is so difficult to think of bringing children into a world where they might find pain and horror. Each baby has the potential to change things though. This is the perfect place to state your feelings. No one will berate you for them and we will do our best to make you feel better. I know I enjoy having this place when my life seems out of control and painful.
Please do not dwell on the children in the other countries that appeared to be celebrating. They don't have access to papers and news like we do and only know what their 'leaders' tell them. If a child thinks he/she may receive something to eat by doing a happy dance over events that they do not understand and they are starving it is hard to judge them. Forgive them for they know not what they do.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUIS!!!!

I hope that this day will bring everyone a better understanding of yesterday's events and more rescue miracles and good friends to share the sorrow with. Please fly your flags if you have them.

 

[jstmee]

A sad time indeed. My prayers are stronger and my hugs to my children stronger, I don't want to be away from them. God graced my DH with a work week that didn't include flying out this week, he drove to his destination. He usually flies out of Boston. I thank my God for this miracle--I still want him home though. My brother who is a Master Sargeant in the US Army for 21 years is in Louisiana right now. He was meeting with officials for a peacekeeping effort in Kosavo. I think these plans will change now. His family, my 2 neices, and wife are under complete lock down on their military base with the highest Delta code ever. Yesterday school let out early and they searched the busses, under them, the kids and under the seats, my neices where petrified. My SIL's car was completely searched also. I live on the Canadian border and they closed borders for a short time also, my sons dentist is in Canada, but I can't go there for fear of not being able to return for now anyway, they are searching all cars. Which is a good thing.

Remember the Swiss guy I was talking about? My children are very shaken up about all of this and in their little minds, they are wondering if he had any part in these hijackings, etc. What a world we live in. I watched the 13th Day, a video about the Cuban Missile Crisis on Sunday and commented to my DH how lucky we are that we don't have to live in that fear. And what happended Tuesday not only confirmed a fear, but put it into reality.

We are supposed to go to WDW in 10 days, and we fly out of boston, one stop in Maryland, the kids are soooooo mad at the hijackers for potentially ruining their trip. God Bless America and God love all of you. Whoever your God is...............Also, Elaine, about having children, I said the same thing at the age of 18, I'm 40 now. I figured the world wouldn't be fit for children around this time, and wow, I'm right, however, children will keep the world going and we will keep going because of our children. Have a good day everyone.

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone,

We, here in the NY area, are still shell shocked from the horrible events of yesterday, as are people in every area of the country and the world. Thank God I have now (finally) confirmed that none of my friends who live and / or work in NYC were hurt, yesterday. (It was virtually impossible to get through to any NY telephone number yesterday, and my own phone was "down" for parts of the day, as well.) Some of them didn't go to work at all. Some tried and (fortunately) never made it close enough to the financial district to be near the tragedy. Some were evacuated from their buildings early enough to be safe. And from what I understand, our Merrill Lynch colleagues are all safe, as well (I don't know if you noticed on the maps which they've been showing on the news how close the ML buildings are to the World Trade Center site). The past 24 hours have been unbelievable. So glad to have found all of your words of comfort and inspiration on this thread, today.

Hope that you're all hanging in there, today! I decided not to go in to work - even though the Exchanges are closed today, ML is open. But I had an appointment with the neurologist this morning, and by the time I was finished, I thought it best not to make my 20 mile commute, if the office was going to close early as I suspected that it might.

Thoughts and prayers to you and your loved ones and everyone else in this country, today.

And wishing Luis a very Happy Birthday, as well!

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone - just wanted to check in.

Jstmee - I don't know how I missed your last post when I posted. I can't imagine how difficult it's been for you and your DH to explain what's been happening in the world to your children. Or you and your DH to your grandchildren, SG. Thank God your husband didn't fly to his business destination. I hope that it will still be safe for you and your family to fly to WDW - I'm sure that the authorities are doing everything they can to ensure that when the airports reopen, air travel will be much safer.

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from an old friend of mine who is a radio and TV news reporter in NYC. She sent a message to all of her friends, letting us know what she had seen and experienced first hand and sharing her feelings. Thought that you might like to see some exerpts from that message (the rest included personal messages to other NY news reporters and police people whom she had encountered at the site and who had been injured, and her wishes for them to recover quickly):

"for starters...i want to thank everyone who called me in the past 24 hrs...a few of you heard me on the radio in california, chicago, florida and boston...as i described the towers coming down..

i was a safe distance away...but many people i know were not...

for those of you who dont live here...
new york city is stunned...there is an errie quiet...like someone dropped a nuclear bomb on us...and in a sense they did....all i heard all night were ambulances, fire trucks and
emergency vehicles moving about...and all i could think about was the massive loss of life.

as i watched the towers burn...and then the first one explode and tumble...i couldnt believe my eyes,,,it was hard to process- simply mind- numbing ..my first thought was - this is what they wanted to happen back in 1993...during the world trade center bombing...they wanted to take down both towers..and they didnt succeed...

but in the same split second of thought...i thought of the THOUSANDS of people who work in those buildings everyday...coming to work that morning...sitting at their desks...in the bathroom, on phone calls...and dying on impact when a plane hit them...and then i cant help but think of the people on the planes...total horror...

all of the firefighters that are gone..and the chief...and the police officers ...it is a sin what happened..
the people who worked at morgan stanley..the people who ran the port authority...the people who worked at windows on the world..all the folks who worked in the eateries and mall stores underground...i just cant imagine...so many law firms and accounting firms in there...

my thoughts are of the handicapped in wheel chairs who just didnt have a chance.

if you had never been in the buildings..you just cant imagine how huge they were..and how many people worked,visited and admired them everyday.

and i think about all the security desk people...since 93...security was really beefed up in the building...they really tried after the free for all atmosphere that used to exist there...after the bombing you had to call upstairs, have a contact, get a photo taken, get a paper/sticker id, check in again by the elevator be escorted up...a great effort that ultimately failed big time.

but back to the towers tumbling...
one man said to me...as we stood frozen on the street " a part of america is gone"

and i feel the exact same way..

like all new yorkers...no matter how many times since i was a little girl that i have seen these 110-story buildings...i would always look up and admire them...
they were a symbol of our beautiful city...a symbol of freedom and free enterprise in our country and obviously buildings known around the world...on monday i worked all day at the new york stock exchange...spent my lunch hour outdoors- just blocks away from the trade center.....and as i drove to work that morning via the fdr drive...i admired the buildings - like i always do,,...always reflecting on the bombing back in 93...the thought of soot on people;s faces...remembering all the school kids that had been stuck up there for hours...the tour they gave reporters a few days after the bombing...the thick black dirt on the carpets/ on the walls- everywhere...the smell in the air...the open newspapers on peoples desks and the half full coffee cups...linger in my mind...the speed in which people evacuated...they ran and theft everything...i thought that was one of the worst days...until yesterday.

as the towers tumbled...people screamed OH MY GOD OH MY GOD and people men and women young and old were sobbing. some mumbled...this is just not right.

the other chilling moment happened about an hour later on lafayette street...thousands of people - like ants...making a huge exodus north...imagine a baseball game or a rock concert letting out..multiply that thought by 1-hundred....imagine all of lower manhattan being evacuated...on foot...some had masks on...others barefoot...some on bikes or rollerblades...business men and women in suits...wall street floor traders still wearing their jackets...all silent - all in a state of shock...

but there was this one woman in tears...i asked her what was wrong and she told me her husband...she heard was alive...seconds later...this guy- covered head to toe in white dust and plaster...emerged...she wailed and hugged him and this sea of people making the journey north ,,stopped and clapped...he works for the port authority...his name is chuck and he was on the 68th floor of tower 1...15 flights below where the first plane hit...he climbed down 68 flights of steps...he told me.."it was easier this time"- he escaped in 93 as well. he looked like he had survived a war...
his hair looked like it was shampoo'd in plaster...sticking up and thick - he was covered in ash...his eyelashes were even covered with grey dust...but he was one of the lucky ones...he was alive. it;s the only good bit of news i reported all day.

this is a wake up call...a wake up call to not be so petty...be nice to people.. when you ask someone "how are you?" mean it and wait for the answer. hug the ones you love...life is soooooo fragile...you just never know. yesterday proves it.

robyn"

I hope that all is well with all of you and hope that you are hanging in there and have a nice day.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I don't know how it is possible to be both numb and angry but that is how I feel. I did not realize that Rider was so very close to it all. I am so glad that it seems that the denizens of this suite seem to have escaped the worst of the terror. My heart is full with concern for the victims family who are just now able to grasp the enormity of what has happened. America has to gather together and support New York and Washington. We are family and what happens to one happens to all. If we all pitch in the burden will be lightened enough that we can all go on.

I am a student of history and can guess some of what will now have to occur and have no fear that we cannot do what must be done. I am so proud that we will not do it without concern and even some doubt. It seems as if the information is coming forward quickly so we will be able to place the blame where it belongs.

Rider, thank you so much for posting the views of your friend. The professional coverage does not often cut through to the human pain. So much information can become overwheilming and deaden you to the real pain.

My 4 year old is far too young to know what is going on and I just listen to my 10 year old grandson and am so awed at his thoughts. He has obviously spent many hours thinking about these things. He has requested a Friday sleepover with some homemade pumpkin pie baking. I imagine a great deal more talking will occur. It helps to talk. Thank you all for listening.

May this day bring some miracles and bring us one day closer to being able to understand some of this.

Slightly Goofy

 

[helenabear]

This will be short because we are moving more things today... Luis' birthday present is the house so he doesn't mind.

Rider, I am so glad you are okay. I didn't realize you were so close to it all! I am still mellow but this will probably take time I am sure. Everything feels so out of control and even with our new house, things just aren't as exciting as they could be... it will pass and hopefully by our anniversary we will be up to celebrating 100%. Sorry to sound so down but everything around me feels sad. I am so glad I have my baby kittens... they help me remember how sweet and innocent some are. They are happy and loving always... I could learn something from them

I hope everyone is doing good! And I think in honor of the president's request, maybe we should take the time to pray, meditate or whatever we do when a sad situation passes and give the EWP lounge some time to be closed tomorrow... what do you all think?

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I agree that closing the suite for the day in honor of our dead and wounded is a good thing but I also think that changing our way of life for what those low life #@&%%$ have done is not something I would care to do. If it is ok with everyone else how about posting the best thing that you can find on the Internet to commerate the sad events of this week? I am not the type to get out of sorts if people do not agree with me so whatever everyone else thinks is fine with me.

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi Everyone,

How are you all doing, this weekend? Things are starting to become "regular" around here, again. Needless to say, we still have 24-hour-a-day news coverage of the tragedy, the destruction, the rescue effort, and updates on volunteer programs, people still searching for loved ones, and what's going on in the hospitals. I've been so wrapped up in watching the coverage in all my free time that I haven't signed on to my computer - sorry that I haven't visited the Suite or been able to find something appropriate from the internet / e-mail to post here, as SG suggested (I think that that's a good idea!). They moved a bunch of people from Merrill Lynch's World Financial Center offices into our building, yesterday. Everyone on my street has American flags flying from their homes, and people put candles in front of their houses last night, too. I am pretty close to NYC - about 30 miles away - Central NJ is really considered a suburb of Manhattan. There are areas of Central NJ which are high enough so that the NY skyline is visible on clear days. (It looks very strange, depressing, and surreal without the "twin towers", as well call them.) Many people who live in my area commute to work in Manhattan, and many of my friends moved there after college. I spend a fair amount of time in NYC, visiting friends, going to the theater (I was there just last Sunday!), etc. I've also spent time in the Wall Street / Financial District area for work, so I'm very familiar with all of the buildings and images which they show on TV. I'd been inside the World Trade Center towers many times as a child, or while showing out of town friends the "sights". I'm also about 20 miles away from Newark Airport. It's strange - I'm so used to hearing planes flying over my house, since they have to do that to get to Newark......but now all I hear is the occasional military fighter plane flying overhead en route to NY. We had a very violent thunderstorm here, a few nights ago. I hate thunderstorms in the middle of the night in general - I'm a real baby when it comes to those things - I refuse to go back to sleep until it's over! But when the thunder started a few nights ago, I was totally petrified - I really worried that it was another explosion or a bomb, or something. And since the thunder and lightning continued through the night, I barely got any sleep at all - it was very unsettling.

Anyway.........

How was Luis's birthday, Helenabear? And when is your anniversary? My cats provide a great comfort to me, as well! As I've been sitting for hours watching the coverage on TV, lately, one of my cats in particular has been very sensitive to my moods and has been spending a lot of time in my lap and licking my face (I drew the line when he decided to munch on my forehead, last night!). They really cheer me up and always put me in a good mood.

How are you and your family doing, SG? I agree with your thoughts about what must be done now and that it's positive that so much forethought is going into the planning process.

Jstmee - how are you and your family doing? Will you still be able to take your WDW vacation? I hope that you will be able to do so and are looking forward to a safe and enjoyable vacation.

Hope that all is well with all of you! Take care and speak to you soon!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hello Rider. I thank you so much for your remarks about your personal experiences. It helps us to understand more of what is going on. I want you to know that all of the US is willing to pitch in and do whatever it takes to help NYC and DC at this time and whenever needed.

I have been having terrible headaches and I don't usually have them. I am trying to turn off the tv some of the time as it is just too overwhelming. I am finding other things to do that might be of some use so please pardon me if I am not able to come in as often as I might like. It helps to do something.

I hope that Helena and Luis are sitting on their back deck and enjoying a sunset these days. Makes me smile to think of it.

Bashful, Cathy and all - you are all in my thoughts and prayers and hoping that we will once again get to meet in the suite and share silly stories and fond memories.

Slightly Goofy

 

[helenabear]

Hi everyone!!!! It's been since Thursday night since I have had my cable hook up and boy did I miss it! I hope everyone had a good weekend. We moved almost all of our stuff here and I was so happy to finally have a dishwasher that I must have done about 6 loads in two days. With just the two of us, we probably won't use it every day even, but it is so nice to have it! I was very happy to have our cable hook up here as well on Saturday. TV land has had Brady Bunch reruns and it really helped to get my mind off of everything.

Luis' birthday was nice. It was quiet on Thursday (we didn't do anything too special) but yesterday we had the family get together. We weren't sure we would be able to as we were waiting for my dad to return from PA. But we were lucky, my dad got a flight out and was on time as well

Rider, our anniversary is Oct. 7 (just three days after our baby Gwen's first birthday). She has grown so much and now weighs 13 pounds!!! The cats are happy here and both have adjusted very nicely!

Well I should get going... I've been away a long time and have a lot of things to catch up on!

 

[jstmee]

Hello, everyone. It's Monday and we have 5 more days until WDW. We are still in a numb state up here. On the Canadian border the US guards stop you, search you, etc. I exercise in Canada and on Friday at 8:45 they stopped everything for a 3 minute moment of silence. Gosh, how touching. The flags in Canada are all half-mast, the fire department has an American flag hanging on top of one of their huge ladder trucks sticking in the air. At the end of mass on Sunday we sand America the Beautiful and I was sobbing. Couldn't help it. The reality is setting in.

On a good note, we are all set for WDW my DD is all packed. She packed on Saturday. I am still waiting for some meal coupons I bought through connections. I sure hope they come in before the trip.

I think we should all meet at the jacuzzi tonight for some much needed relaxation. Helenabear from your move. Rider from your tests that they did (do you have results yet) and SG most likely from you sleepover. Also, CathyCanada and Bashful, come on in the water is warm.

Until tonight, everyone have a wonderful day

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

This is the start of a new day in America. Things may never be the same but that does not mean all bad news. We have awaken to what is truly important in life and will be stronger and better for it. If we lose some things we will gain others. This country has proven over and over again that it can conquer any adversity and thrive in times of stress.

Jstmee, please save me a spot (large one please? grin) in the jacuzzi tonight. I am so looking forward to being with my EWP friends this evening. I will arrange for Don, Bo and the guys to deliver our favorite foods and have some lovely blooming flowers to the balcony. When you return from your trip would you please post on your experiences with Connections? I have read so many different posts on the subject. Can you get your certificates on your trial membership and then cancel? I don't believe it would be worth it if we had to pay the whole fee. Also, not sure I could eat so many courses. We often order one big meal and I just eat part of my DH's. Might be worth it to try some of the more expensive places though. I hope that your trip is wonderful and you have so many memories to help you get over some of the bad ones that we will carry the rest of our lives. We are so blessed to have the Canadians as our neighbors. It meant so much to me to get messages from so many of my international friends after the tragedy. At times like this you learn what is important in life and it sure ain't tthings.

Helena, you are so right about finding something on cable to watch. My head has been aching so much for the past few days and I don't usually have headaches. Had to go to the store to get more aspirin. I felt badly when I first turned to H&G but soon realized that I could not be effective and get the other things I needed to do done if I was so stressed out. My heart is 24/7 with the victims and families no matter what I am watching on tv. Frankly, I spend an awful lot of time cleaning the house. It seems to help me to put some order where I can. I cannot give blood as I have had so many operations but we have sent as much cash as we could to the effort and plan to do more as it goes along. It seems to be the only things that we can really do. It is difficult to figure out where to send it so it will be used to good effect.

Had a strange thing happen here yesterday. A well dressed man came to our house wanting to get us to invest with his company. Never seen a broker going door to door. Did not seem kosher to me at any rate. We will have to watch for people who will take advantage of times like this. Sad situation.

Cathy, Bashful, Rider, Janet, please join us this evening. We would so enjoy seeing your beautiful faces and hearing your experiences.

Slightly Goofy

 

[helenabear]

Hi ladies! I am popping in very quickly since my back is hurting from bending over so much. All is well but we are tired from moving... so now I am going to hop into the hot tub and enjoy the rest of the evening! I will not watch TV as my heart can only hurt so much and I need to relax before I unpack some more

 

[IASW Rider]

Hi All!

Once again, sorry that I have not been around very much, lately. I enjoyed catching up on everyone's posts today, though!

SG - have you seen a doctor about these headaches that you've been having? Do they always seem to come at the same time of day or evening? And are they always in the same place or on one side only? I really, really hope that you don't have the same sorts of headaches that I was having last month. I hope that they go away soon and that you are feeling much beter - I know how painful those can be and how they can interrupt your life. How has everything else been going?

(On another headache-related note, I actually got the results of my CAT-scan - they know that my headaches were not caused by anything sinus related. I went to take the MRI and MRA, today....but the second that the technician put me in the machine and put the mask-like thing over my face to hold my head still, I panicked and freaked out from claustrophobia, and wasn't able to go through with it! I was so embarrassed for acting like such a "baby", but the technician admitted to me that many people have trouble dealing with MRI's (plus, she told me that I would have to be in there for an HOUR!).....and that many people toake DRUGS (ie: valium, xanax) to get through them! I couldn't believe that! I couldn't imagine taking medications before having pictures of my BRAIN taken! Anyway, who knows if I will ever get the courage to go through with it.)

So glad to hear that you are almost fully moved in to your new home, Helenabear! And glad to hear that Luis's birthday was nice and that the kitties are enjoying their new environment! And glad to hear that you're enjoying the dishwasher - I can relate! The things that I appreciate most about my house are the dishwasher and washing machine / dryer!

Thanks so much for your account of how things have been up there and in Canada, Jstmee. I agree with SG taht we are very lucky to have Canada as a neighbor. And that it's wonderful that so many other countries are showing their support of the United States at this time. Also, so glad to hear that you and your family are still planning to go to WDW. I'm sure that it will be a much deserved break and distraction, and a great opportunity to relax and concentrate on having fun! Please tell us all about your trip when you get back!

Well, people in the NY area seem to be heeding President Bush's and Mayor Giuliani's advice and are trying to get back to work and "normal life" and schedules. I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things at work, as I was out for the past 2 days for Rosh Hashana. But aside from that, things seem to be settling down a bit (I don't know if that's a good thing or not!). I have one friend (who happens to be 8 months pregnant) who is literally petrified to return to her job near Wall Street and is begging to work from home. I have another friend who doesn't have an office to go to any more, even if she WANTED to return to the Financial District. It's very weird and scary. I make the mistake of watching the news coverage just before I go to sleep....and then I can't fall asleep because I keep hearing (probably imagining) noises and I get scared that terrorists are trying to break into my house! As of 2 days ago, some regular programming returned to our TV stations and we no longer have 24-hour-a-day coverage of the progress being made at "Ground Zero" in NY.

I agree with you ladies - I think some nice quiet time in the Suite and jacuzzi, with good conversation and company, and some nice music and snacks provided by our loyal staff, is just the thing that we need right now!

Hope that all is well with all of you! And hope that you're all having a nice day.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Rider and Helena, I understand the fact that we have a hard time getting into the suite these days. There is just so much going on and then the constant worry about our fellow Americans and what might happen next is enough to make anyone a 'Nervous Nellie". I was about my oldest grandson's age (10) during the Cuban Missile Crisis and lived through school safely drills where we had to get under our desks and put our hands over our heads. What that would accomplish I still don't know and I sure as heck could not get under a desk anymore and if I did manage that feat I would not be able to get back out without the help of a crane. LOL Bomb shelters were on everybody's minds in those days and instead of planning for a hope chest my daydreams were all about what I would furnish my bomb shelter with (IF I were rich enough to have one). My number one love is books so I had it planned out that I would have all the Reader's Digest condensed books in order to put the maximum amount of good reading material in the smallest place. I have a huge bookcase in the game room and I have almost every single volume dating from the 50's. The night that Kennedy gave Castro the ultimatium we all went to sleep (or tried to), not knowing if there would be a country when and if we woke up. It breaks my heart to see the children of this generation having to fear the unknown like this again.

I consider this suite a isle of sanity and plan to avail myself of it's pleasures as often as I can. Life is not worth living unless you can find a smile here and there among the trials and tribulations of everyday life. IMHO I admit to a nagging feeling of guilt when I find myself, for however a tiny amount of time, 'forgetting' about the horror. I have tried to do some of what I could to help the people so grieveously injured and killed by these attacks but I think my head will explode if I do not try to live a bit more normally and I pray to God that the victims of this atrosoity will soon be able to regain as much of thier lives as possible and I stand ready to help in any way I can to make that come true.

Rider, you are so wonderful to worry about my little headaches while you are coping with so much more. I have decided that I have a plain old sinus infection and it seems to be improving. Thank you for your concern. If you must take the medication in order to have the test I am sure that your doctor can reccomend one that will not interfere with the results. I will keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and hoping that they find what is wrong with you and it is something easy to resolve.

Helena, do you perchance happen to have a hot tub in your new abode also? I hope so. Trouble with hot tubs are that by the time you get old enough to NEED one you are too feeble to crawl in and out of one!! LOL We are planning some small vacations next year and my DH has requested a Smokey Mountain cabin with hot tub on the deck and whirlpool inside. If I can bring a lot of good books to read and their is a restaurant nearby we will be set. Has Luis been able to unpack or are you so picky (like myself) that you HAVE to do it yourself? You younger ladies need to take it from me and allow your DH's to do some of the chores, no matter how imperfectly or different that they might be accomplished. Otherwise you end up at the end of the day being a handmaiden and servant. Ugh!!!!

I called to see about a room for my sister today and there were still no cancellations for that date. It is getting down to the last 5 weeks so I am a bit n ervous. I suppose I can find a place for her just outside the gates if need be but we do like to have rooms at the same place for when we return from 'howling at the moon". (Jellyrolls)

My grandson is asleep on the couch as we speak. He has a headache. I think he stayed up too late last night IMHO. He is not getting any school work done and that is such a worry. I went to preschool this morning to help his brother with his feet painting. The kids are so special at that age when they are just natural and full of love and energy.

Have a lot of company coming this weekend and have been in the nether regions of the upper stories trying to clean enough bedrooms for everyone. The bathroom was full of cobwebs. I just don't go up there too much anymore since we moved our bedroom to the first floor. I hope no one opens a closet as that is where I pushed everything. (grin)

I am planning on going over the American Theater to see the show this evening and then maybe a walk around the world to see what is going on there. I think I will stay for Illuminations and then find a quiet place to sit and watch the crowds as they wend their way out to the buses then saunter slowly out in time to catch one of the last rides of the evening. Maybe you guys will join me and you can pick where we have dinner.

Slightly Goofy


[img[C:\My Documents\FlagHalfStaffani.gif[/img]

 

[helenabear]

Hi everyone! I have been kind of busy with the move but it could be worse as my DH is doing most of the unpacking and cleaning of the apartment I have the things where I want them in the house and the rest he can put away as some of it is plain just his junk. I told him where things go and that seems to suffice. I have "won" all the battles about locations so far so I can't complain. Of course I make it seem like we are discussing the best location for everything but in reality, I know I won't give in We are still a little cluttered but that is okay and we'll manage to get it all put away soon. I now remember why I like hardwood flooring... it is easier to clean up with cats... but at least we'll use the vacuum more than once a month.

Rider, I hope you aren't too hard on yourself about the MRI. I have heard the exact same thing you described. People who really aren't closterphobic suddendly become that and require valium or something in order to last through the whole 60-90 minutes of time. They've had to do that with my grandmother as well. I do hope the MRIs can help you find what is wrong as not knowing is the worst thing I can think of. I also hope that those around you can find a way to get their life back to "normal". I cannot imagine what that would be like. I know my company has some people out in NYC and fortunately all were fine. However one of our "rival" telecom groups lost their building. I guess our company has been nice enough to loan some space to them but even that would be hard for the others as this is just a loaned space. All the things they held dear in their previous office space are gone... and that is sad. I am not talking about the material things, but the little pcitures and stuffed animals and drawings we all have in our cubicles at work. Personally I would lose photos of my babies and some precious things from Luis if that happened to us. So here is to hoping for the best for those you know out there...

SG, I do hope your sinus trouble goes away soon as well. This is awful that you and Rider have been dealing with headaches. I hope yours won't require medication as when my dad gets a sinus infection, he always has stomach trouble from the meds he has to take. I wish we had a hot tub but there is not one and I am not sure where I would put it on the deck. I wouldn't want to take away part of the deck for that, so mabye some day I will get a whirlpool tub. If we decide to stay in the house for a long time, we will re-do the upstairs and push out the back wall so we have more flatness to the ceiling than we do. That way we can also put windows in the back of the upstairs bedroom. If we can manage that, we will make the half bath upstairs a full bath and at that time we will install a whirlpool tub. In the mean time I dream about using one and come here to use the wonderful jacuzzi we have here.

I hope everyone else is doing well. I too am trying to get on with a sense of normalcy in our life. Luis finally decided to take a job that doesn't pay that well but at least it has decent hours. So we can stay away from our savings account for the most part. He will continue to look elsewhere but at least he knows that next week he can start the training for a new job. The only negative is that the training is in the evening. He will leave before I come home and will return after I am asleep. It is only for five days though and we will survive that easily. I will try to nap when I come home so that I can talk to him while he is getting ready to sleep. After that, he gets the day shift and will work between 30-40 hours a week. So that helps with our normalcy as well. Well back to work... I've done enough day dreaming for now I hope you all have a wonderful day!