May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 2

[kimerinc]

Just a quick question that has been on my mind.

Just wonder how many "Parrot Heads" might be in this group?

If you have no idea what a "parrot Head" is do not worry, however you may be one before this cruise is over.

Doug

I am one true blue brown eye'd girl!!!!!

Kim

 

[kimerinc]

Welcome!



Hi Brack! Nice try since it is impossible to get a over there at the insane thread!



Well, Sophia (who is seven now) can practically sing the greatest hits from memory . . . but we have not allowed her to listen to "Let's get drunk and ****"

John, this is starting to scare me. Maybe Savannah and Sophia can do the greatest hits as a duo on the cruise.

 

[LisaG520]

Question for today . . . How many of you have pets, and what kind?

We have a dog (Labradoodle - 1/2 lab and 1/2 poodle, chocolate colored), four tropical fish, and two hermit crabs.

Wwe have 3 cats - Sassy, 14 - adopted from a vet office when she was 2, Sweetie, 6 - moved in while we were living in Barstow (she had been abandoned when her previous owners left apt complex), Jasper, 5 - picked from 30+ barn kittens

They run our lives!!

Not sure how to answer. 2? Maybe none? See we have one pet that lives with another family and another pet that is not living but is in our house.

THE STORY:
When we moved, our neighbor adopted our indoor/outdoor cat because our new home has wicked racoons. We visit often - we miss him a lot. Had him before the kids. He is a Ragdoll, 14 years old. The move would have killed him so we did what was best but it was sad. So that is the pet that doesn't live with us.

Our pet that is not living but is in our house: When we move, we did bring our other Ragdoll cat as she was indoor cat- beautiful white mitted Kimba. She died quite suddenly from a stroke in December. It was really hard - we did all the tests - C-SCAN, MRI, started IV medication. Nothing worked. Very sad.

The kids wanted her ashes but life had been so hectic (we had the cruise in January, work crazy, etc) we couldn't get around to picking them/her up. It was so sad and somewhat humerous - every night the kids would pray that Kimba was safe and that her ashes would be home soon. And I would be like OOPS. So at night I would keep telling myself tomorrow I will for sure go back to the pet hospital and pick her up. The morning would come, dropping the kids off at school, going to work, this thing and that thing. Next thing I know it is night time again and the same gosh darn prayer. OOPS again. Felt like such a terrible mom. So anyway, we FINALLY picked her up on Thursday 2 months later and now she has a spot upstairs right in the hallway in a nook right outside the boys' rooms. The kids just love having her - it is somewhat weird. Jack wants to take her to show and tell and I think the proper answer is no.

Sorry if I offended anyone with my story. I thought I'd share it as it is - which is a bit sad, a bit funny, and maybe just a little bit weird.
Lisa

Not offensive at all - when Sassy was 4 she thought she was lonelt being an only cat so we adopted Charlie - he was only with us 4 years before dying of cancer - his ashes have moved with us 4 times.

OK....to give John1 a break from coming up with a new topic, what was everybody's first job and at what age?

Me: Age 14 (1984) -- worked in the cafeteria of a tiny college serving meals to the students. It was called Nazereth College, was primarily a nursing school, and was only a mile down the road from my mom's house so I walked. It had one main building for classrooms and the cafeteria, and one dorm wing attached. Another part of my job was to serve at banquets they also held there on weekends, then clean up afterwards and do dishes.

Yeah, really exciting....I know. Just another topic starter!

My first real job was making hamburgers and cheeseburges at Burger King. I did eventually work my way up to the late night drive-thru and birthday party girl!

My friend got to go home today - her clots lessen down by 90% after the two procedures. She asked that I come over and give her the Lovenox shot (I'm a nurse). It was nice to see her at home. Thanks for all your prayers - it was a bit scary with her in ICU on basically stroke watch. Glad she got through it.
Lisa

Great news!!

 

[HollyTyler]

OK. Winter HAS TO END. I thought it was bad when my gas bill last month was $150, but the one I just got was $220!! That's insane for my tiny 774 sq. ft. house! My windows are only a year old, no drafts there. I try to keep thermostat set at 61 degrees and we just dress warm, but occasionally turn it up to 65 degrees. And I turn it even lower when I'm gone all day at work. We just had abnormally cold temps since mid-January. I can't afford for winter to continue much longer!

Sorry, just had to vent....feeling better now. Getting up to go turn the heat down even lower.

 

[gouodux]

IPod shuffle:

Days Go By - Lighthouse
How to Save a Life - The Fray
What I Got - Sublime
A New Machine (Part 1) - Pink Floyd
After Midnight - Eric Clapton
Right Now - The Pussycat Dolls
Money Maker - Ludacris
Whatsername - Green Day
Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band
Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode



Pretty random taste huh!?

 

[LiserAnn]

Love HP printers as we have about three of them now, including the one we travel with. Met both David Packard and Bill Hewlett in my early career. Always felt like meeting David Packard was like meeting "God" in our industry.

The company has really changed a lot since Packard and Hewlett have been "gone". (DH has a poster in his office of the two elderly men standing in front of the garage-wher eit all began!) The merger with Compaq was, well, difficult at best. The mantra inside the company is Compaq bought HP with HP's money! Most middle line managers and above are "red" (Compaq) and a good deal of the "blue" (HP) are gone. But DH (he's from the blue side) still loves working there even though the corporate culture has changed a lot in the last 5 years or so....he feels fortunate to still be one of the ones left after the massive layoffs.

 

[nskjerven]

My mom lived in Jackson Hole for about 10 years. She moved to be closer to me and dd's when my oldest was 2 (2001). I loved it there, but right around the time she was moving it was getting very built up and snooty like Vail. Haven't been back since, but i miss the scenery, the hiking, the skiing, and the weather. I loved their thunderstorms, they were so amazing.

My inlaws have a vacation home there. Nice us to have a house to use whenever we want it, but a long trip 1000 miles to get to. We (DH & I) talked for years about moving there. Beautiful place, great schools, but this last trip made me know for sure that I can't be a snow girl year round. We are for sure going towards the ocean...Half Moon Bay, as you've heard me say. It make take a few years as I'm being really picky, have to find the right house, sound of the ocean, west side of highway (I don't want the kids to cross a highway to go to the beach) and big enough to house us and room for our offices (DH & I have our own businesses from home)

What kid wouldn't love working in an ice cream shop! YUM!!! Lucky you!

Okay my first job was at Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors Ice Cream....Love the stuff to this day....why I left I'll never know.... okay next job was in a jewelry store, worked my way thru college there, love the stuff...why I left I'll never know.... Sad part was most retail places give you a discount on purchase, my boss the owner let us buy at cost. Ohhhhh how I wish I had my grown up tastes and checkbook back then....

Would you travel agent be good to do this?

A group name...let's think....the Roy Family Reunion?? Creative Memories conference?? Westbound Cruisers? Anyone??

a we have a name...we are the ship of thieves....a.k.a. the Thief family reunion is only logical isn't it?

 

[LiserAnn]

My mom lived in Jackson Hole for about 10 years. She moved to be closer to me and dd's when my oldest was 2 (2001). I loved it there, but right around the time she was moving it was getting very built up and snooty like Vail. Haven't been back since, but i miss the scenery, the hiking, the skiing, and the weather. I loved their thunderstorms, they were so amazing.

DH just today got back from Jackson Hole. One of his customer's had an event he was "required" to attend...life's rough, taking dog sled rides and tours to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. He did say it was 7 below while it was short sleeve weather here!

 

[kimerinc]

First things first:

Carol and Doug, Thank you!!!

Noel, I promise to e-mail you the info. I apologize for my tardy behavior

Ipods 5 people 3



I am sorry for my absence and lack of prompt response to all of you this week. It was extraordinarily horrid. I will spare you the details, but between the hospital, pain pills, pain, travel to and from florida including a 24 hour trip home through atlanta during the tornadoes I really was in what I call "survival" mode. Most of it could have been made much easier if I did not believe I was invincible and had not made some really stupid choices, so no one to blame but myself. Word to the wise, and you are all already wise so this is wasted, You don't have to do everything all the time. #2, when the pain is so bad you can't breath, ice probably won't solve the problem.


Anyway, all is well now! I am back for 2 weeks. Back to catching up.

 

[kimerinc]

Thanks for the heads up. I did have a bit of a Gregory Maquire binge after reading Wicked. I read Mirror, Mirror and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister shortly after. Lost sounds interesting...I've put it on THE LIST.

Carolyn

Dont you wish they had netflix for books?

 

[HollyTyler]

First things first:

Carol and Doug, Thank you!!!

Noel, I promise to e-mail you the info. I apologize for my tardy behavior

Ipods 5 people 3



I am sorry for my absence and lack of prompt response to all of you this week. It was extraordinarily horrid. I will spare you the details, but between the hospital, pain pills, pain, travel to and from florida including a 24 hour trip home through atlanta during the tornadoes I really was in what I call "survival" mode. Most of it could have been made much easier if I did not believe I was invincible and had not made some really stupid choices, so no one to blame but myself. Word to the wise, and you are all already wise so this is wasted, You don't have to do everything all the time. #2, when the pain is so bad you can't breath, ice probably won't solve the problem.


Anyway, all is well now! I am back for 2 weeks. Back to catching up.

WOW! Even your description was a whirlwind, so hang in there, get some rest, and recover!

 

[nskjerven]

DH just today got back from Jackson Hole. One of his customer's had an event he was "required" to attend...life's rough, taking dog sled rides and tours to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. He did say it was 7 below while it was short sleeve weather here!

We did that all day dog sled and hot springs swim on Xmas day last year. It was great. But again...not shoving the stuff on a daily basis...

 

[pjpoohbear]

Dont you wish they had netflix for books?

Kim, it is called a library, lol. Although it would be great if they delivered to your mailbox.

PS. Kim, take a lesson from Lisa, say no, even if it is to yourself, sometimes.

 

[gouodux]

OK. Winter HAS TO END. I thought it was bad when my gas bill last month was $150, but the one I just got was $220!! That's insane for my tiny 774 sq. ft. house! My windows are only a year old, no drafts there. I try to keep thermostat set at 61 degrees and we just dress warm, but occasionally turn it up to 65 degrees. And I turn it even lower when I'm gone all day at work. We just had abnormally cold temps since mid-January. I can't afford for winter to continue much longer!

Sorry, just had to vent....feeling better now. Getting up to go turn the heat down even lower.

Know exactly how you feel. Our electric bill in June, July, August, and September is usually over $300 for the NEED of air conditioning!

 

[HollyTyler]

DH just today got back from Jackson Hole. One of his customer's had an event he was "required" to attend...life's rough, taking dog sled rides and tours to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. He did say it was 7 below while it was short sleeve weather here!

I'm absolutely in love with this area and it's my goal to retire there someday. I lived and worked for about 5 months in 1990 at Signal Mountain Lodge in Moran, which is just South of Yellowstone. No way to describe it but unbelievable. Here's a link where you can find some pics that will blow your socks off! http://foreverlodging.com/lodging.cfm?PropertyKey=69

 

[been2marceline]

OK. Winter HAS TO END. I thought it was bad when my gas bill last month was $150, but the one I just got was $220!! That's insane for my tiny 774 sq. ft. house! My windows are only a year old, no drafts there. I try to keep thermostat set at 61 degrees and we just dress warm, but occasionally turn it up to 65 degrees. And I turn it even lower when I'm gone all day at work. We just had abnormally cold temps since mid-January. I can't afford for winter to continue much longer!

Sorry, just had to vent....feeling better now. Getting up to go turn the heat down even lower.

Holly,

We were pretty cold last week, for Northern Cal, but it has been around 70 the last 3 days in the wine country, and even warmish here in Bodega Bay. The heater hasn't turned on hardly at all, which is great as we are on Propane here and it is quite pricey!

Sorry to gloat...

Karen

 

[nskjerven]

My turn

the kids are in deep doo doo tonight...

Molly with the help from little brother Wilson worked on her poster for school about no bullying..."expect respect" drew with permanate markers on the poster paper WITHOUT any thing under it....bleed thru on the hardwood (just refinished floors)

DH is on his hands and knees with Magic Easers, OFF, Goo be gone, hairspray and lots of elbow grease trying to get the stain out of the floor.

This will be known as the "permanate marker incident"

send forgiveness prayers for my children....

mom & dad we are soooooo sorry

how come they never believe us as parents? Oh yeah, I remember because we know it all as kids right???

 

[HollyTyler]

Know exactly how you feel. Our electric bill in June, July, August, and September is usually over $300 for the NEED of air conditioning!

Holy moly! Same spit, different season. Hmmmm....I'll take my problem. I'd rather be cold than hot. At least with cold weather, I can always put more layers on....when it's too hot, you're S.O.L. I'd say you have it much worse!

 

[Jhalkias]

My first job was at Smiling Hill Farm Ice Cream Shop. They had homemade ice cream...it was wonderful.

I have a video ipod and I love it. I know a lot of you said you just listen to your cd's. I was that way for a while, but now that I have my ipod I don't know what I did without it. It's so great. I put tv shows on it and I can watch it on the plane.

OK, I told you guys . . . once you try it, you will wonder how you lived without it!

OK. Winter HAS TO END. I thought it was bad when my gas bill last month was $150, but the one I just got was $220!! That's insane for my tiny 774 sq. ft. house! My windows are only a year old, no drafts there. I try to keep thermostat set at 61 degrees and we just dress warm, but occasionally turn it up to 65 degrees. And I turn it even lower when I'm gone all day at work. We just had abnormally cold temps since mid-January. I can't afford for winter to continue much longer!

Sorry, just had to vent....feeling better now. Getting up to go turn the heat down even lower.

We don't keep the heat that low, but our bill for last month was $475! It was an estimated reading, and knowing how good the gas company is, I went out and read the meter in the snow - when I submitted my reading it went down to $350 - still a lot, but it was DARN cold last month!

John, this is starting to scare me. Maybe Savannah and Sophia can do the greatest hits as a duo on the cruise.

More similarities Kim?

We took Sophia to a friend of Amy's party last year, that was a Jimmy Buffet party. Everyone had to dress up, etc. There was a live concert, and the guy had it on a big screen TV and all. When we left he gave us a CD, and Sophia has had that music on her iPod ever since. Her two favorites are Cheeseburger in Paradise, and Fins.

 

[LiserAnn]

Maybe if we started singing 100 bottle of beer song over and over again as they do, it would get our count up....but then again we have some more important things to say! Shall I go over and post that!!

Oh, I am having some fun . . .

Excuse me mate, did someone say "fluff"?

We've got plenty of our own, thank ye . . .

I'll try to remember to leave some on the ship for ye . . .

We are getting quite devious aren't we?!?! I just ADORE it....teehee! By the way, "FLUFF" is the best! Hard to find out here (that brand) but I love it!

a we have a name...we are the ship of thieves....a.k.a. the Thief family reunion is only logical isn't it?

Love that name...Thief family reunion! GREAT!


JOBS....
My first job was working at The Broadway (I was 16) in Fashion Island, Newport Beach. Now the store is Bloomingdales!!! First college job was at Apple Computer...I was the UC Irvine on-campus college rep, shortly after the original Mac came out. First "real" job (and my only) after college was at Parker Hannifin (aerospace). I negotiated and managed the government contracts the company had with the US Navy, which entailed managing about $33 million of tax payers money per annum. I loved it, but when my son came, the game was over. So, after 12 years of being there I left to be an at home mommy. It was a tough adjustment, but now I love my job being a "Domestic Engineer". A lot of my collegues critized me for giving up my career and cautioned me that I would be back....but that was 6 years ago!