Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[jordanyosh]

No worries. you put up with all my stuff...I can put up with the bag talk....

 

[joy13]

I've gotten behind, but I see I didn't miss the bag talk - phew! I love that Mickey seatbelt bag - but I can see a rough strap not working real well. I hope it softens up or isn't as rough as you think on the shoulder. I really like that Tink bag as well - I didn't even notice it was Tink at first! If you don't like the two you have - it wouldn't hurt to try and win the auction and test drive it.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I hope you have a great time this weekend!!! Enjoy!!!

 

[All7OfUs]

No worries. you put up with all my stuff...I can put up with the bag talk....

Yeah, like, what was it today?? Hockey (?) talk??

HA!

 

[Happydog]

OKAY. I can only say one thing...


HOW DID I NOT KNOW YOU HAD STARTED ANOTHER PTR??!!!!!??? I KEPT CHECKING OUT THAT BANNER THINKING, WOW. THAT IS REALLY NICE LOOKING... AND THEN WHAM. I CASUALLY PASSED MY CURSOR OVER IT AND IT WAS "clickable"... SO I FOUND YOU TODAY!! YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME!!!!!!!!

OKAY, SO NOW I AM GOING BACK BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN, for the SHIRT! It was very very cute... I took a few photos, but I loved wearing it.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love the Tink bag! I am itchy to get on ebay now to look at bags.

 

[eandesmom]

No worries. you put up with all my stuff...I can put up with the bag talk....

deal

I've gotten behind, but I see I didn't miss the bag talk - phew! I love that Mickey seatbelt bag - but I can see a rough strap not working real well. I hope it softens up or isn't as rough as you think on the shoulder. I really like that Tink bag as well - I didn't even notice it was Tink at first! If you don't like the two you have - it wouldn't hurt to try and win the auction and test drive it.

yeah, I'm really going back and forth on the mickey bag. I love the tink and for the price I got it at, I think it will be fabulous! I did test drive the faux lv plane carry on this weekend and didn't love it for that, wrong kind of straps if full. So, glad I got it, I'll get plenty of use out of it, but it won't be coming on the trip. We will see what I think about Tink when it arrives, it has been shipped.

I hope you have a great time this weekend!!! Enjoy!!!

Thanks! It was a FAST 24 hours but really really fun. I am tired though, did not sleep well so am hoping the boys will let me sleep in tomorrow. I felt bad leaving but am super excited to see English Beat tonight. We had a spa morning so it was a lovely way to start the day.

Yeah, like, what was it today?? Hockey (?) talk??

HA!

Oh dear, I will be very lost! I don't speak hockey. I listen well though.

OKAY. I can only say one thing...


HOW DID I NOT KNOW YOU HAD STARTED ANOTHER PTR??!!!!!??? I KEPT CHECKING OUT THAT BANNER THINKING, WOW. THAT IS REALLY NICE LOOKING... AND THEN WHAM. I CASUALLY PASSED MY CURSOR OVER IT AND IT WAS "clickable"... SO I FOUND YOU TODAY!! YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME!!!!!!!!

OKAY, SO NOW I AM GOING BACK BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN, for the SHIRT! It was very very cute... I took a few photos, but I loved wearing it.

Oops! Am I in trouble? You had a LOT going on I'm glad you found me, with a 10 month PRT I figured people will find it lol.

Jack looked super cute on the black t, I'm so glad you liked it!

I love the Tink bag! I am itchy to get on ebay now to look at bags.

There are some cute things and good prices if you troll around enough lol! Even if it is too huge for the trip for $9.99 it made me very happy. I can't wait till it arrives!

 

[MEK]

I love the Tink bag! I am itchy to get on ebay now to look at bags.

No LL...No! You have enough bags. Take a deep breath, now exhale..... slowly.....! Again! Aren't you starting to feel better already!

 

[MEK]

Cynthia...

Your first page left me close to tears. What a beautiful start to your TR. I, too, did not think anything was clickable on your banner. Plus I didn't Dis much before I went away. I remember seeing the title of this
PTR, thinking how cute it was, but I never clicked.

Well, I'm here now. You have been very busy. What is this????/the 20th page?????

 

[KathyRN137]

I think the scariest one was when someone actually created a duplicate of my card as that's a little harder to prove fraud on, then when they hack in online or you know you lost it.

Ugh, same thing happened to a co-worker of mine just last week. She narrowed it down to a gas station attendant, but of course there's no way to prove it.

Horrible...


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

So...nothing really goes with anything else!
But does it matter?

Nope!


Kathy

 

[Happydog]

So yesterday I read all 14 pages of your PTR!!! It took me a while, but I really enjoyed it!!! SO now let me recap all that I took in...

First, your family... I think you have been very fortunate to find eachother and your family however many dynamics there are seems like such a great group. Indeed family stories take all shapes and sizes, and it is nice to see when they work. Not without work to keep it that way, of course, but I sense a great balance between everyone. I am uber jealous that you have a "bonus daughter"!! I really want a girl! I love my two boys OF course, but I am sure you know what I am talking about.... I finally gave up trying to keep the bath water in the bathtub ... I would love to have some of those girly moments.. well, who knows -- there is still time!

NOW, I know you and I have chatted about the NW, but I just have to tell you, I LOVE Mt. Rainier, I have climbed it!! (in my 20s!) and my DH used to be a park ranger seasonally at Rainier, and also on SAN JUAN ISLAND!!! Where ONE summer he rented a little cabin (try UBER small practically a room and a bathroom) right next to that air field!!! In fact we sat on a hammock and watched the planes land!!! We have ties there still, and the book store called Griffin Bay books, the owner had two golden retreivers that she mated and she was the girlfriend of another ranger at the park when my DH was there, and so we bought one of the puppies - went back the following year to get her -- and so we do indeed think fondly of San Juan.. Roche Harbor!!! YUM!! I hope the book store is still there. The owner passed away, I think someone bought it, but the store was an inspiration for our first son's name! Anyway, our golden died a few years ago, she was a precious dog -- her name was Happy. HENCE, my DIS name

So back to the Northwest, I know Mt. Baker, Mt. Jefferson, the three Sisters, VERY well... MY DH is an avid climber, my parents live in Bend OR, so of course we have the Sisters in our back yard there! We love the NW too...

Sorry for the hijack there, but I just got giddy when you were describing all these places we've been!

Now, regarding your trip, WOW what a saga - treehouses, 8 people, 9 people, 10 people! Beach club, Yacht club, Universal, Disney, 70/30, 60/40... End of August, MID August, etc. etc. etc.!!!

BUT it now sounds like things are back on track there... I do agree with others that the Free Dining offer for 2010 (the BB offer) is already causing these waves in terms of availability... the deposit was $200.00 so I can see why people are taking advantage of it... We won't be going back in the fall next year, I am sure of that, so we just passed on the offer. I will be interested in seeing what is available as a BB when we return in December.

Anyhow, I think all your plans make good sense. I want to put a good word out there for Sanaa, btw. It was really really good!!! If you like Indian flavored food.... we loved it, and having been twice we will be going back again! I thought you were tossing that one around? I like the girls lunch/dinner idea too!! Chef's would be a good place for that!

Okay, this is a very very long post, I will stop now! I just had so much to say since I missed out on all the other posting!! OH and I love your bags! TOO too cute!! I have been happy with my Vera mailbags, really like them, they work well for park bags, though I don't like that they get wet when we are on water rides!! The Tink tote is cute!

Looking forward to more all along the way!!

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia...

Your first page left me close to tears. What a beautiful start to your TR. I, too, did not think anything was clickable on your banner. Plus I didn't Dis much before I went away. I remember seeing the title of this
PTR, thinking how cute it was, but I never clicked.

Well, I'm here now. You have been very busy. What is this????/the 20th page?????

Yay! Mary Ellen!



I've missed you I know you more than anyone gets the date craziness with soccer. I can't believe I didn't think about HS soccer tryouts.



Thank you so much for the kind words...and we are only up to 15 pages! I can't wait to read your TR and figured you were crazy between your trip and September madness (or at least it is always mad at my house!). But my images seem to be adding to the confusion.

It's actually 5 separate images, not one banner. I'm going to go back and put a small border around them all individually since both you and HappyDog didn't realize they were clickable! All 4 are clickable actually . Hopefully the borders will make it look less like one long image....

Ugh, same thing happened to a co-worker of mine just last week. She narrowed it down to a gas station attendant, but of course there's no way to prove it.

Horrible...


Kathy

Oh I'm so sorry, hopefully her bank took care of her quickly.

Nope!

Kathy

You enabler!

I am leaning towards sending Mickey back though....see below. Of course that just means more shopping.

So yesterday I read all 14 pages of your PTR!!! It took me a while, but I really enjoyed it!!! SO now let me recap all that I took in...

First, your family... I think you have been very fortunate to find eachother and your family however many dynamics there are seems like such a great group. Indeed family stories take all shapes and sizes, and it is nice to see when they work. Not without work to keep it that way, of course, but I sense a great balance between everyone. I am uber jealous that you have a "bonus daughter"!! I really want a girl! I love my two boys OF course, but I am sure you know what I am talking about.... I finally gave up trying to keep the bath water in the bathtub ... I would love to have some of those girly moments.. well, who knows -- there is still time!

you definitely have time! Although your two are so darn cute I can hardly stand it! It's funny...she was SUCH a tomboy as a younger child, I despaired of having girly moments but while she is definitely an uber-jock, she is ALL girl these days, complete with having to flat iron her hair before bed AND in the morning

NOW, I know you and I have chatted about the NW, but I just have to tell you, I LOVE Mt. Rainier, I have climbed it!! (in my 20s!) and my DH used to be a park ranger seasonally at Rainier, and also on SAN JUAN ISLAND!!! Where ONE summer he rented a little cabin (try UBER small practically a room and a bathroom) right next to that air field!!! In fact we sat on a hammock and watched the planes land!!! We have ties there still, and the book store called Griffin Bay books, the owner had two golden retreivers that she mated and she was the girlfriend of another ranger at the park when my DH was there, and so we bought one of the puppies - went back the following year to get her -- and so we do indeed think fondly of San Juan.. Roche Harbor!!! YUM!! I hope the book store is still there. The owner passed away, I think someone bought it, but the store was an inspiration for our first son's name! Anyway, our golden died a few years ago, she was a precious dog -- her name was Happy. HENCE, my DIS name

So back to the Northwest, I know Mt. Baker, Mt. Jefferson, the three Sisters, VERY well... MY DH is an avid climber, my parents live in Bend OR, so of course we have the Sisters in our back yard there! We love the NW too...

Sorry for the hijack there, but I just got giddy when you were describing all these places we've been!

Oh what a great puppy story and I love knowing where your DIS name came from! You can hijack away, I can speak NW all day long! I think you need to drive up from Bend next summer, come out here and we take over a group campsite at Cougar Rock.



I Griffin Bay Books! It is still there, right by the ferry terminal, or at least it was 5 years ago. How cool that it inspired your son's name. When Jeff and I got married, we didn't have a honeymoon right then, just one night at Salish, where the wedding was. So for New Years that year we went to San Juan for a 2 night getaway (didn't get the real honeymoon till 06 lol) and flew in from Arlington, landing at the main Friday Harbor airfield (was your cabin there or at the Roche Harbor Field?). We took the ferry back and I went to Griffin Bay books for a book for the ride and bought a book that turned out to be an all time favorite, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I don't know what it is about buying a book on vacation but some of my best spontaneous purchases happen that way, books that you just love for some reason (most recently Sarah's Key...purchased on the San Diego trip).

I'm pretty darn sure I still have my Griffin Bay books, bookmark, in that book. I might have to go look!

Ok, now I'm hijacking your hijack and going completely off topic! lol. I remember getting giddy over your Italy pics! How very very cool you've climbed Rainer. My sister seems to think she and I, and one of our other sisters are doing it. It would have been a bit easier in my twenties I think....we will see! It would be a 3 decade hike if it is next summer, my baby sister would be 29, middle sis 38 and me...44. Bleh that sounds old! Should have done it about middle sisters age, that's probably the best shape I've ever been in, in my life.

It's hard to get out and hike as much as we'd like, we are lucky to get one day hike in a summer these days it seems though we did get Mt. Si on the old trail in so that was nice and Eric made it up and down without whining...encouraging.

Now, regarding your trip, WOW what a saga - treehouses, 8 people, 9 people, 10 people! Beach club, Yacht club, Universal, Disney, 70/30, 60/40... End of August, MID August, etc. etc. etc.!!!

BUT it now sounds like things are back on track there... I do agree with others that the Free Dining offer for 2010 (the BB offer) is already causing these waves in terms of availability... the deposit was $200.00 so I can see why people are taking advantage of it... We won't be going back in the fall next year, I am sure of that, so we just passed on the offer. I will be interested in seeing what is available as a BB when we return in December.

Anyhow, I think all your plans make good sense. I want to put a good word out there for Sanaa, btw. It was really really good!!! If you like Indian flavored food.... we loved it, and having been twice we will be going back again! I thought you were tossing that one around? I like the girls lunch/dinner idea too!! Chef's would be a good place for that!

Okay, this is a very very long post, I will stop now! I just had so much to say since I missed out on all the other posting!! OH and I love your bags! TOO too cute!! I have been happy with my Vera mailbags, really like them, they work well for park bags, though I don't like that they get wet when we are on water rides!! The Tink tote is cute!

Looking forward to more all along the way!!

Sanaa is a FOR SURE as far as I'm concerned and I adore LL's idea on the girls lunch/dinner at Chef's so that's a done deal too!

We are "mostly" settled but still have some moving pieces....Jeff and I were talking last night about it and he'd really prefer to just be at the YC the whole time but....with FD it's not as simple as that since we want to arrive before we think the promo will actually start and Sandie and Paul don't want as many nights as we do so we can't stay there until they get there anyway!

And for me, it comes down to the pool question. That nick pool is amazing and would save us on the whole water park question, not to mention saving a lot of $$ for the pre-FD days. On the flip side, I totally get why Jeff and Sandie have no desire to sleep in those rooms. I mean really, is there a "good" choice when your room theme options are Rugrats, Danny Phantom, Farily Oddparents or Jimmy Neutron? How about no theme?



I do think Mickey is going back. For 3 reasons. Much as it is so darn cute!

1. No exterior pockets. I really really like an exterior pocket or two for a small bag like that so I don't actually have to open it to get out my KTTW card, cash or a lip gloss.

2. No interior zipper pocket. that really seems like a design flaw to me1

3. Stiff strap. I do think it will loosen up but with the other 2 issues, not sure I want to bother with it.

But I'm marking down the dimensions. It is exactly the perfect size and shape so I am glad I tried it. I do love it but for the price it would be too occasional use and lord knows I have enough of those bags already!

I'm thinking microfiber/nylon...something that won't get wet. Which granted, Mickey would be good for. But lighter.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I'm sorry that you had to cancel all your credit cards...sigh...I had my wallet lifted one...and then returned to me without my Visa/debit card...you sort of feel violated...

I can't believe that you were going through everything without any coffee......that is like a nightmare for me...coffee makes everything better...

Where have you seen Disney Couture-Alice stuff...(recently)...I'm starting to stock up for next year...

Mickey is going back......oh well if he isn't going to work out I guess its for the best...

Have you popped on the Zappos site to get some ideas?

 

[topdog]

Hello Cynthia. What a great PTR? I find your PTR very insightful. Although I am only up to page 4. I can certainly feel what you had gone through. You see, I too have a some what complicated family issues. While I have 5 other siblings and yet I can hardly talk to any of them. One of my brothers who lives at England, I haven't talked to him for almost 20 years. My sister who lives at Raleigh, NC, haven't seen or spoken for more than 10 years. I do have a sister who live at Vancouver that I do exchange email once or twice a year. Only one of my niece and nephew were able to communicate with me through Facebook. I even thought about a family union every now and then but I always chicken out. Afraid how explosive it might become.

Anyway, back to your PTR. I am going to try read through it as quick as I can. Better take some quick reading class.

 

[creativeamanda]

Caught up again! I love reading your PTR--it makes me think about my family and how much I need to appreciate them! Your writing is helping with that! Thanks so much!

 

[eandesmom]

I'm sorry that you had to cancel all your credit cards...sigh...I had my wallet lifted one...and then returned to me without my Visa/debit card...you sort of feel violated...

I can't believe that you were going through everything without any coffee......that is like a nightmare for me...coffee makes everything better...

Where have you seen Disney Couture-Alice stuff...(recently)...I'm starting to stock up for next year...

Mickey is going back......oh well if he isn't going to work out I guess its for the best...

Have you popped on the Zappos site to get some ideas?

Cynthia without coffee is NOT good. I did have some highly caffeinated tea so was not entirely "without" but it's not the same.

I found Mickey on Zappos! And now I'm second guessing the return. So am going to sit on it for a while. I'm not seeing a darn thing I like out there in that shape/size with my specifications on fabric and pockets. If I could just merge my Marc Jacobs leather with the Harvey, I'd be golden. Sigh. I can sew something I can't find, I can create an illustration I can't find but I sure as shootin' am not going to attempt to make a purse! Not that I need it for another 10 months.




So I think I need to hold onto it and think more. I am really drawn the the Harvey bags period. They are pocket challenged though!

I kind of like this but would probably have stiff strap issues

I don't like it enough to buy it.

ohhh...Alice....check these out. Yes. I am an enabler.

super cute, a bit more summery than the others

Kind of fun but a bit dark


a very cute tote..love the "watch"


the loungefly version


not couture but I really like it!


hmmn...I have a mickey lunch bag tote, maybe I will just bring that! I don't really want black in the sumemr though.

Both loungefly and loop have some cute wallets and make up bags, all seem to be black based though.

Hello Cynthia. What a great PTR? I find your PTR very insightful. Although I am only up to page 4. I can certainly feel what you had gone through. You see, I too have a some what complicated family issues. While I have 5 other siblings and yet I can hardly talk to any of them. One of my brothers who lives at England, I haven't talked to him for almost 20 years. My sister who lives at Raleigh, NC, haven't seen or spoken for more than 10 years. I do have a sister who live at Vancouver that I do exchange email once or twice a year. Only one of my niece and nephew were able to communicate with me through Facebook. I even thought about a family union every now and then but I always chicken out. Afraid how explosive it might become.

Anyway, back to your PTR. I am going to try read through it as quick as I can. Better take some quick reading class.

Topdog! so happy to have you here. I actually have found FB to be really wonderful for my cousins...well all except for one of Jeff's cousins whom I am hiding from! Sshh!

I figure since I get all of her horrible spam email, he can be her FB friend and I'll just conveniently "not notice" that she is on FB. I am course am too much of a wimp to tell her to stop sending it but she has been flagged as junk mail!



Sometimes though with my immediate family I see more than I want to on FB! I have to shake my head at my one brother, a LOT! The one that lives nearby. But at least you feel sort of in the loop. Which is nice with my brother in Germany in particular (although I'd really prefer NOT to know how much time he spends on mafia wars!).

That makes me sad for you though, you seem so incredibly outgoing and generally happy, you should have a close family. Glad you have your DW You seem to have a wonderful marriage and a lot of fun.

I am INCREDIBLY blessed with my immediate family. However we are a lot less spread out than you are, 3 of my 5 siblings live in the area, one only 15 minutes away, the others 30 and 60 respectively and I'm only 10 minutes from my parents. It is a lot harder with distance. I do speak to my brother in Germany some, a LOT more since he remarried last year, I really lucked out with an amazing new SIL.

If it weren't for FB I wouldn't have a clue what my other sister is up to. But at least with both of them, it's not because they don't want to be close, it's just truly a function of distance and how they communicate. Which is not well long distance! I know when I see them, no matter how long it has been in between visits, usually at least a year, often more...I haven't seen my sister in 5 years now, it will be like I saw them yesterday.

 

[All7OfUs]

Hey Cynthia!

I've missed you over the weekend!! It was a long one with a 2 day wedding that, although was incredibly fun, was a huge time sucker for me! Ahhhh, back to my wondefully comfortable "routine" of catching up with my peeps.

So, Mickey has to get the heave-ho. Too bad, but I guess with the unyielding strap, and pocket issues, he didn't really have a chance. Better to have one you can really like and not have to fight with, for sure. Any news on the scan yet??

 

[eandesmom]

Caught up again! I love reading your PTR--it makes me think about my family and how much I need to appreciate them! Your writing is helping with that! Thanks so much!

Awww, thanks Amanda! I think we all need reminding, all the time!

Hey Cynthia!

I've missed you over the weekend!! It was a long one with a 2 day wedding that, although was incredibly fun, was a huge time sucker for me! Ahhhh, back to my wondefully comfortable "routine" of catching up with my peeps.

So, Mickey has to get the heave-ho. Too bad, but I guess with the unyielding strap, and pocket issues, he didn't really have a chance. Better to have one you can really like and not have to fight with, for sure. Any news on the scan yet??

I missed you too Liesa! I've not been around much myself with my own crazy weekend. I will hopefully have an update tomorrow. Did you survive the toast in 'skani?

Poor Mickey but yeah, I think his days are numbered. Now to find a suitable replacement. It's like he's hanging around until I find something better!

Thank you SO much for asking about FIL!

FIL had the biopsy on Thursday. Apparently it can take up to TEN days to get the results.

They mentioned all kind of other things when they were looking at it that it could be (including TB ) so we are more confused and ever but the scan itself didn't tell them anything to narrow it down I guess. I hope we know soon. They did give him something that will help with his cough, apparently it was so bad they had to stop the scan to let him cough before they could continue and get a clear picture.

 

[All7OfUs]

Gosh, it really could be ANYTHING, from TB to pneumonia! Don't worry until you need to. More than likely it's nothing- at least that's what I"m praying for!

Toast was ok. I laid awake all night the day before going over and over and over it in my head. But like always, as soon as the mike was passed to me, I biffed it. Too typical!

Ah well, I had a second chance at the next day party, and did a little better- fewer people= less stress. Hopefully later today, I'll post some pictures and video clips from the shindig later on my blog. It was very traditional and interesting!