In and Out in a Day

[EJ4Disney]

Morning Girls,

PIO ~ I know you are anxious for your project. I hope all goes well till it is launched.

Robin ~ Truer words have not been spoken. You are SO right!! I consider you all some of my best friends and haven't even met you. You are family - we pray, cry, laugh and are always there for each other. You all are the best part of my day. Thanks for the reminder.
Teenagers aren't so bad. You will do just fine - I just know you will.

This is dinner tonight - thought I might share -

Pesto Chicken

boneless, skinless chicken breasts marinated for as long as you can in a cup of Pesto and 1/4 cup of seasoned rice vinegar. Grill until done. I put everything in a heavy Ziplock and stick it in the fridge before I go to work. Really good.


Ethan is headed to "Man Camp" today. He is so flipping excited. Remember that feeling of excitement? I can't remember the last time I was so excited I couldn't eat or sleep. Oh to be 8 again. Sometimes I hate being a grown up.

It is almost cool out this morning. In the 70's and we are loving it. The next 4 days are suppose to be cloudy and rainy. We shall see.

Make it a great day!!

 

[Nancyg56]

My new Pastor is due to be here in 2 weeks. I am so nervous. You all know me - I don't do change real well. Plus I am really going to miss Pastor Tess. She is a friend that I will hate to say good bye to. Pastor Dyton is from Kansas and a Technology Guru. That in itself is a bit intimidating. I know a lot but I hope he doesn't come in and expect me to know it all. I have met both him and his wife. This will either go 2 ways - we will get along fine or not. I love my job and I really don't want to have to go somewhere else. Oh well it is what it is. Now I am just rambling - sorry!!

Make it a great day.

Ellen- I know it is easy from my seat, but I know that you will be fine. My DS is a tech wizard and he never expects others to know what he knows unless they tell him otherwise. Your Pastor will not expect you to have more training than was reasonable. But I get the nervousness, and I sure do understand that you will miss Pastor Tess. But as others have already pointed out, good friends are never more than a click away

PIO- I don't want this month to ever end and you've got a countdown going. Next month I will have a teenager! Yikes how did that happen so fast.

Have a great day all!

A teen already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!When did this happen! The kiddo was just a kiddo yesterday!

Robin - May June be everlasting in your part of the world. For me, I just want to survive to the end of it.

I am with you on this one PIO! I am so over June that I have no words, and that never happens! It is still raining and we are BEHIND on setting. My DH is like a caged bear.

We will both look to July together!

Ethan is headed to "Man Camp" today. He is so flipping excited. Remember that feeling of excitement? I can't remember the last time I was so excited I couldn't eat or sleep. Oh to be 8 again. Sometimes I hate being a grown up.
!

What is this "Man Camp" you speak of????? I can just picture your little guy and that picture has made my day! Kady is 11 and the difference between 8 and 11 is like lightyears. I miss that unrestrained exuberance that 8 could show. Enjoy your excited little boy!

So yesterday was our 21st anniversary. Both of us are slugs when it is raining, but we dragged our wet selves out to celebrate. Buddy cannot remember his own name so when he called to ask me if I wanted to go to "Casa di Mamma" I was . Oh yes.............Casa Di Lisa!!!!!! This is my new favorite restaurant! So I was thrilled. Add that they had wine by the bottle on sale and our evening was complete!

Please let the rain stop today!

 

[Nancyg56]

Okay- I want to complain. I have a party to go to Saturday night. I do not want to go, I am that annoyed. It is a 60 birthday party for one of the guys DH works with. We go to everything this family has, and they have a lot of celebrations. I always call to see what I can make, and always bring food. And if I want something other than beer or soda I bring that as well, enough to share.
Well, I get the invitation and printed right on the front it says to bring my favorite dish, as well as BYOB if I want something other than beer on tap. I see, this is a pot luck party.

So we go to a benefit picnic and the Birthday Boy wants to know if we are going, so I say we are. 2 weeks later DH calls all in a fluffy because I have not responded to the party. What??? Call the DD, she is running this shindig. Okay, I call and leave a message that we will attend and that I will bring something.

The following day I receive a wedding invitation in the mail. 2 weeks after teh birthday party, another one of the DD's is getting married, bring my favorite dish printed right on the front, and BYOB if beer is not okay. You have got to be kidding me! Two events in two weeks, two gifts, two dishes and booze.

And then I get facebooked. Not a message...oh no, right on my wall....bring potato salad to the birthday party!

Buddy does not get why I am annoyed. He said I always cook so what difference does it make. He said we'll drink soda if I don't want to bring wine coolers. He just does not get it!

I told him we'll go, but I am not staying. I'll eat, have some water and hit the road. Welby is having a martini party for the girls and she did not assign me anything. I have been testing martinis with her for days!

I think I am bringing the WDW Glowtini or that other lighted one. And a pina colada Martini, maybe.

 

[Rogue26]

Nancy- I think potluck a have there place. I'm going to one next week and am looking forward to it. Weddings and birthdays are certainly not the place. I'm not going to lie, I am going to ask my aunt to bring potato salad to my kiddo's birthday dinner. No one makes it as good as her.

Ellen- I'm not naive enough to think the teen years will be all peaches and cream but I'm not really scared if having a teenager, I'm sad that we are already at this point in our life and she will be moving on relatively soon. I think being a parent only gets harder, but it's so much more rewarding and fun the older they get. I honestly could not ask for a sweeter kid.

PIO- one day closer to your goal of July!

 

[PrincessInOz]

This week is OVER!


10 business days (2 weeks) to launch.

 

[Nancyg56]

Nancy- I think potluck a have there place. I'm going to one next week and am looking forward to it. Weddings and birthdays are certainly not the place. I'm not going to lie, I am going to ask my aunt to bring potato salad to my kiddo's birthday dinner. No one makes it as good as her.

Ellen- I'm not naive enough to think the teen years will be all peaches and cream but I'm not really scared if having a teenager, I'm sad that we are already at this point in our life and she will be moving on relatively soon. I think being a parent only gets harder, but it's so much more rewarding and fun the older they get. I honestly could not ask for a sweeter kid.

PIO- one day closer to your goal of July!

Robin- I usually don't mind, I really don't. I think what has my bloomers in a bunch is that for years I have not missed a thing they have and they have a lot! I have gone to funerals, and always cooked or sent food. I go to birthdays, retirements, showers, weddings, more birthdays. And I always bring something. Every time. My Mom passed away and we got a card a month later. Okay, I am not good at cards either, so I get that. But then Buddy's mom died and he got a card, but not even a cookie. I felt so bad for him, he has known these two since they were kids, has responded to everything they had, has been beyond generous with the entire family. I know I should not feel so much resentment, but it seemed to me that they knew the stress he was under and they could have reached out just a little bit. And now their celebrations are starting all over again, and this time we don't even get the option of offering. WE are told to bring something, right on the invitations, two weeks apart.

I think that a family birthday party is way different. You all get to discuss what you all contribute. I know what we all make in my family and they know what to ask me to make Just like your Aunt and her potato salad, that is her dish, she knows it and so do you. That is family. But this is different, and the wedding through me over my brittle edge.

I guess I need to get over this, but I will say that Welby told me folks are talking about the wedding all over town, and not in a good way. Most people were shocked to get a wedding invitation like that, and said that if she had called and asked privately if they would help, that would have been different, but on the invite? The gossip has been pretty bad.

PIO_ for the weekend!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Okay- I want to complain. I have a party to go to Saturday night. I do not want to go, I am that annoyed. It is a 60 birthday party for one of the guys DH works with. We go to everything this family has, and they have a lot of celebrations. I always call to see what I can make, and always bring food. And if I want something other than beer or soda I bring that as well, enough to share.
Well, I get the invitation and printed right on the front it says to bring my favorite dish, as well as BYOB if I want something other than beer on tap. I see, this is a pot luck party.

So we go to a benefit picnic and the Birthday Boy wants to know if we are going, so I say we are. 2 weeks later DH calls all in a fluffy because I have not responded to the party. What??? Call the DD, she is running this shindig. Okay, I call and leave a message that we will attend and that I will bring something.

The following day I receive a wedding invitation in the mail. 2 weeks after teh birthday party, another one of the DD's is getting married, bring my favorite dish printed right on the front, and BYOB if beer is not okay. You have got to be kidding me! Two events in two weeks, two gifts, two dishes and booze.

And then I get facebooked. Not a message...oh no, right on my wall....bring potato salad to the birthday party!

Buddy does not get why I am annoyed. He said I always cook so what difference does it make. He said we'll drink soda if I don't want to bring wine coolers. He just does not get it!

I told him we'll go, but I am not staying. I'll eat, have some water and hit the road. Welby is having a martini party for the girls and she did not assign me anything. I have been testing martinis with her for days!

I think I am bringing the WDW Glowtini or that other lighted one. And a pina colada Martini, maybe.

Nancy - I'm chuckling in amusement here. I should qualify that I'm absolutely gobsmacked that you've been "told" to bring potato salad. Do you normally have potluck parties? It is the "norm" here. I had my best friend and her family over for dinner the other night. I specifically told them bring NOTHING! I ended up with 2 bottles of wine AND a dessert.

 

[Glynis]

Good morning, my friends! I have a couple of minutes, so I thought I'd quickly check in here. I've read back and so I'm all caught up, but now it's time to catch you all up on us!

Our trip went really well, for the most part. We left on Thursday the 30th of June, early in the morning. Not as early as we wanted, but oh, well! We were on vacation, and we weren't going to let anything bother us. It was a beautiful drive, and we stopped a couple of times for lunch and to let the kids get out and run off some energy. We made it to Mesa Verde National Park in the late afternoon, and spent a couple of hours looking around. This is where the Anasazi Indians had a majority of cliff dwellings. It was so awesome to be able to see them up close and in person. I couldn't even imagine the work that went into these dwellings. It would be fascinating to know what happened to these people, but it is a mystery! We packed everyone back into the car, and started off for the Four Corners. We really wanted a picture of the kids here for our Christmas letter, but unfortunately, the road to the spot was closed, gated and locked by the time we got there. Oh well! We continued on toward Flagstaff, Arizona going through Monument Valley as the sun was setting. It was gorgeous! Wish I could have stopped and seen things up close, but we'll save that for another vacation.

On Friday morning, we headed in to the Grand Canyon. We were here before, when Timmy was 18 months, so it was fun to watch him see it for the "first" time. Now, on this day, Alan was supposed to meet up with the Hopi Cultural Representative in the "late afternoon." Alan figured that meant 4 or 5, but not being sure, he kept trying to call to confirm with this man. He could never get a hold of him, so we decided to spend the morning in the Canyon, and then at 1 or 2 head over to Tuba City and the Reservation, so they could do the interview (this is for Alan's thesis documentary). Alan really wanted to take the kids on a mini hike into the canyon. That is totally not my thing, so he did it all on his own. After some scares (Leslie terrified of falling into the canyon, and Timmy being scared by a squirrel and almost falling over the edge), they were done with their hike. By this time it's about 1:00. They were all hot and tired, so we stopped at a lodge in the canyon, and had some ice cream. While the kids were finishing up their cones, Alan got a call from the Hopi. He was extremely angry that Alan wasn't there. Alan explained that we didn't know the exact time, and had tried to confirm, but couldn't get hold of him. He wanted to cancel the interview, but after about 40 minutes on the phone (with Alan begging, and me getting the kids to finish their ice cream, get in the car, and start toward Tuba City), he agreed to wait at the office until 4:00. We looked at our GPS, and figured we'd get to Tuba City around 3:00, so it should work just fine!

All would have been well, too, if we hadn't had a tire "malfunction" on the way! It blew out on a remote highway! We got all the kids out of the car, Alan changed the tire, we repacked the car, got the kids in and got back on the road, but knew that we'd never make it in time to do the interview and find a place to get the tire replaced. Alan made another call to a very angry Hopi, who told us there was no place on the Reservation to get the tire fixed. Again, he wanted to cancel the interview, but Alan talked him into meeting us at 8:00 the next morning. So, we limped into Flagstaff, got two tires replaced (the second one was about to blow, as well), got the kids some dinner at McDonald's and made the decision to find a hotel in Tuba City, so we would be close to the interview. We made it to the hotel by about 7:00 p.m., and were given a great room with 3 queen beds! It was the biggest hotel room we'd ever been in. The hotel also had a pool, so the kids got to do some swimming before bedtime.

Whew! This has gotten really long, and I have to take Jacob to band camp. So, I'll come back and do another installment later!

 

[EJ4Disney]

Ellen- I know it is easy from my seat, but I know that you will be fine. My DS is a tech wizard and he never expects others to know what he knows unless they tell him otherwise. Your Pastor will not expect you to have more training than was reasonable. But I get the nervousness, and I sure do understand that you will miss Pastor Tess. But as others have already pointed out, good friends are never more than a click away

What is this "Man Camp" you speak of????? I can just picture your little guy and that picture has made my day! Kady is 11 and the difference between 8 and 11 is like lightyears. I miss that unrestrained exuberance that 8 could show. Enjoy your excited little boy!

So yesterday was our 21st anniversary.

First off Happy Anniversary!!!

Thanks for the vote of confidence........you always make me feel so good.

I hear you on the "potluck" I just think that is very bold and on the border of being very rude. But being the Lady I know you are you will take it with the grace you exemplify. Just remember this next time - maybe you will be busy or out of town.

"Man Camp" is a church camp that is geared to young boys. They will learn MANners, grill cookin', manly skills like making a fire, camouflage MANimal trackin', they will do the zipline and rock wall. It is for 4 days and 3 nights. He was so excited to go. I took him 3 years ago for his first camp experience and he has gone every year since.

Ellen- I'm not naive enough to think the teen years will be all peaches and cream but I'm not really scared if having a teenager, I'm sad that we are already at this point in our life and she will be moving on relatively soon. I think being a parent only gets harder, but it's so much more rewarding and fun the older they get. I honestly could not ask for a sweeter kid.

I totally understand the feeling. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I don't have a teenager any more. The time just goes to fast. It is true, my kids truly have become my best friends. The older they get the smarter Doug and I get.

This week is OVER!


10 business days (2 weeks) to launch.

Glynis ~ Welcome home my friend and I am loving the mini trip report. Even the cliffhanger. I can't wait to hear about the interview. I am sorry for the tire trouble but it sounds like you all took it well.


We are heading to Lincoln tonight. At 6 pm Matthew is closing on his new apartment. He is really excited and nervous at the same time. It is a really nice 2 bedroom with both ensuite, walk in closets, full washer and dryer in a laundry room, nice large walk out balcony and great natural light. There is a nice club house with a pool, fitness center and even tanning LOL. The really great thing is it is in South Lincoln. So about a 15 minute drive to the bank instead of a 45 minute drive from North Lincoln. So we are going to clean the old apartment and do a few repairs. Fun Fun!! NOT!! But it has to be done. We will have a bit of fun also I am sure.

Make it a great day and a nice weekend.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Good morning, my friends! I have a couple of minutes, so I thought I'd quickly check in here. I've read back and so I'm all caught up, but now it's time to catch you all up on us!

Our trip went really well, for the most part. We left on Thursday the 30th of June, early in the morning. Not as early as we wanted, but oh, well! We were on vacation, and we weren't going to let anything bother us. It was a beautiful drive, and we stopped a couple of times for lunch and to let the kids get out and run off some energy. We made it to Mesa Verde National Park in the late afternoon, and spent a couple of hours looking around. This is where the Anasazi Indians had a majority of cliff dwellings. It was so awesome to be able to see them up close and in person. I couldn't even imagine the work that went into these dwellings. It would be fascinating to know what happened to these people, but it is a mystery! We packed everyone back into the car, and started off for the Four Corners. We really wanted a picture of the kids here for our Christmas letter, but unfortunately, the road to the spot was closed, gated and locked by the time we got there. Oh well! We continued on toward Flagstaff, Arizona going through Monument Valley as the sun was setting. It was gorgeous! Wish I could have stopped and seen things up close, but we'll save that for another vacation.

On Friday morning, we headed in to the Grand Canyon. We were here before, when Timmy was 18 months, so it was fun to watch him see it for the "first" time. Now, on this day, Alan was supposed to meet up with the Hopi Cultural Representative in the "late afternoon." Alan figured that meant 4 or 5, but not being sure, he kept trying to call to confirm with this man. He could never get a hold of him, so we decided to spend the morning in the Canyon, and then at 1 or 2 head over to Tuba City and the Reservation, so they could do the interview (this is for Alan's thesis documentary). Alan really wanted to take the kids on a mini hike into the canyon. That is totally not my thing, so he did it all on his own. After some scares (Leslie terrified of falling into the canyon, and Timmy being scared by a squirrel and almost falling over the edge), they were done with their hike. By this time it's about 1:00. They were all hot and tired, so we stopped at a lodge in the canyon, and had some ice cream. While the kids were finishing up their cones, Alan got a call from the Hopi. He was extremely angry that Alan wasn't there. Alan explained that we didn't know the exact time, and had tried to confirm, but couldn't get hold of him. He wanted to cancel the interview, but after about 40 minutes on the phone (with Alan begging, and me getting the kids to finish their ice cream, get in the car, and start toward Tuba City), he agreed to wait at the office until 4:00. We looked at our GPS, and figured we'd get to Tuba City around 3:00, so it should work just fine!

All would have been well, too, if we hadn't had a tire "malfunction" on the way! It blew out on a remote highway! We got all the kids out of the car, Alan changed the tire, we repacked the car, got the kids in and got back on the road, but knew that we'd never make it in time to do the interview and find a place to get the tire replaced. Alan made another call to a very angry Hopi, who told us there was no place on the Reservation to get the tire fixed. Again, he wanted to cancel the interview, but Alan talked him into meeting us at 8:00 the next morning. So, we limped into Flagstaff, got two tires replaced (the second one was about to blow, as well), got the kids some dinner at McDonald's and made the decision to find a hotel in Tuba City, so we would be close to the interview. We made it to the hotel by about 7:00 p.m., and were given a great room with 3 queen beds! It was the biggest hotel room we'd ever been in. The hotel also had a pool, so the kids got to do some swimming before bedtime.

Whew! This has gotten really long, and I have to take Jacob to band camp. So, I'll come back and do another installment later!

Welcome back. I'm looking forward to the next installment! That blown tire sounds like a most inconvenient experience and I'm so glad you made it safely to Tuba City.

I'm heading to the 4-corners region in September. Going to be doing a road trip with 3 nights in Sedona, 2 nights Grand Canyon, 2 nights Page, 1 night MV and then meeting up with DH cousin in the Durango area for 3 nights. We plan to stop at Mesa Verde and Four Corners as well.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Ellen -Hope you enjoyed Lincoln. Congrats to Matthew! That apartment sounds lovely.

 

[TigerKat]

Hey y'all!

If you don't mind I'd like to jump back in here and post as often as I can. I've really missed chatting with everyone. Things are looking much better on my end after months of worries and prayers. I will have a full time position after the merge and will be taking a slight pay cut. It will be a huge adjustment going to full time after 32 years but I am just so very thankful to be employed and retaining most of my salary, things will be fine. The full time work won't begin until the merge is finalized which will be Sept/Oct. Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers.

I haven't read back so I hope you and your families are all well!!!

WFD - Chipotle bacon wrapped shrimp, charred corn salad and rice pilaf.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Kat - That's great news!!!!! So glad it worked out for you. Pity about the slight pay cut but I'm so glad you've still got a job.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Welcome back my dear friend. I am so glad things have worked out for you!!! We love having you back with us.

 

[Nancyg56]

Hey y'all!

If you don't mind I'd like to jump back in here and post as often as I can. I've really missed chatting with everyone. Things are looking much better on my end after months of worries and prayers. I will have a full time position after the merge and will be taking a slight pay cut. It will be a huge adjustment going to full time after 32 years but I am just so very thankful to be employed and retaining most of my salary, things will be fine. The full time work won't begin until the merge is finalized which will be Sept/Oct. Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers.

I haven't read back so I hope you and your families are all well!!!

Mind????????????????? Not a chance! I missed you!



Happy father's day to all the men in our lives!

Very laid back here today. Buddy was out setting this morning at 6 and has been running on empty all week. I decided to celebrate later on this week, after he has all the plants in the ground. right now I have dinner ready to cook, if that roast thaws out in time and he is "watching TV"

 

[TigerKat]

PIO, Ellen & Nan - thanks for welcoming me back.

Nan - Y'all were killing me with those delicious looking martini pics, how in the world did you get up so early this morning????

Happy Father's Day to all of our guys!

Johnny requested Lauren's Sunday sauce with meat balls and sausage for dinner tonight and the house is smelling so good.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Good morning girls,

Kat ~ it is SO good having you back with us. You have really been missed.

Nan ~ You are a ball of fire. You worked so hard during the school year I love that you are relaxing some. Doug just the other day said - I swear we are busier now that when we had 3 busy kids at home. I have to agree. I would love to just kick back and try some of the martinis.

PIO ~ Another day closer my friend.

We had a good and productive weekend. We stayed till almost 10:30 last night and didn't get home till after 1 am. I am tired this morning. We got Matthew moved and settled as much as we can. He has to still be at his old apartment till the 30th so we moved all we could. We would load the totes up take them over and unpack. I have his kitchen complete. I joked with him that he is going to be calling me for awhile wondering where things are.

WFDT ~ Grilled burgers, sweet potato fries and watermelon.

Make it a great day!!

 

[Nancyg56]

Ellen- I am tired just thinking about your weekend! Gail and I did one of those whirlwind move-in days for Debbie, and I was a mess for days. I agree with Doug. I am not sure that I am busier, but I know that my time management is worse, my stamina s off and I have no focus at all. Makes for a lot of catch-up!

Anyway- glad that you had a good and productive weekend!

Today is mainly a catchup day for me. i have wash, etc, but mostly phone calls, and that sort of busy work that I hate. So I have been on the DIS a lot while I am on hold.

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning ladies!

I have lots to catch up on! Ellen, I take it Matthew moved into a new apartment? Closer to home?

WFD - White beans & rice, grilled pork chops and a creole tomato salad.

 

[Rogue26]

Kathy- good to have you back! I'm glad you finally have answers.

Ellen- I can't remember the last time I was up past 10:30, let alone 1! We have a wedding to go to about an hour away, if hotels weren't so expensive here I'd get a room just so I didn't have to stay up so late!

I didn't get enough done around the house yesterday so I better get to it.