May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 4

[birkner]

Lisa, we are almost reversed!! DH is August 1957 and I am December 1960!

Karen

I am December 20, 1950...DH is December 27, 1943

 

[birkner]

What day in 1957? I think Katypop (my table mate!!) said her birthday is Aug 31st 1957!! And I am Sept 4th 1957!!

At my daughter's dance studio we have the "57" club.....there are so many parents born in 1957.

Noel - Here is a computer task for you...I have heard that the most babies born in USA was 1957 (height of the baby boom) until 1989 (when Daniel was born......)

My siblings were born in 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957 (me) and 1961. The only the middle 3 are left now......we were a true baby boom family!!

If the gross number of births were the indicator, births began to decline from the peak in 1957 (4,300,000) but fluctuated or did not decline by much more than 40,000 (1959-1960) to 60,000 (1962-1963) until a sharp decline from 1964 (4,027,490) to 1965 (3,760,358). This makes 1964 a good year to mark the end of the baby boom in the U.S.

There were five of us also, but all girls. Many of the families we knew had five children. Our family was 1950, 1956, 1961, 1964 and 1967. My mother was a career woman who planned two children. After an "accident" in 1961, she decided to have one more and the last one was another "accident".

 

[birkner]

It was such a nice time at the anniversary party last night. They had a suite and at 5pm we all meet in their suite for drinks and snacks......looked out over the Blue Ridge and Sugar Loaf Mountain was right in front....so very beautiful. I was underdressed....most had on gowns and diamonds , But I have never felt comfortable dressing like that and I think I looked very nice.

Charley (the husband) had on a short sleeve shirt with a tie and no jacket....so at least I was more dressed up than him!!

At 7pm we went for dinner downstairs....lobster bisque, spinach salad, and then you could pick from 4 meals. I had salmon stuffed with scallops (still on my diet, so I am still trying to be careful).....dinner broke up at 11pm and I was exhausted. The entire group went to play pool and play darts (yes in the gowns) except me...I could not stay awake another minute and I had to get up at 3am to do the excursions for the Disney trip!!

My DH came into the room at 1:30am and I got up at 3am...It took me 1 hour to make the reservations and I did not get exactly what I wanted....many things were sold out. I had to reserve 3 staterooms for 6 excursions. I made 3Palo reservations ..... not much at all was left there.

We did not get VIP Pisa, so I may book a private excursion. It is the only one where you get to go up in the Leaning Tower....and my kids really want to do that.

Has anyone climbed the Tower of Pisa.......should this concern me?

Now it is 8:45am and we are usually up at 6am for church....so this is a very nice break for us!! DS17 is taking his sisters to church....and DH and DS17 have a charity golf tournament at 1pm.

Brunch is not till 11 and I am going in search of coffee now..

I really need coffee​

I love getting dressed to the nines. DH once played a trick on me telling me we were going to a formal dinner when it was actually a bar-b-que. So here I am in a formal gown and mink coat....pretty funny as I just had to roll with the flow.

Climbing the tower of Pisa should not be a problem. From 1990 to 2004, the internal steps of Leaning Tower of Pisa were closed to the public, out of concern for both structure and visitors. Tourists can now climb the 294-step spiral staircase to the belfry - as a million people did prior to 1990. Planning is essential as only a limited number of people are allowed in the tower and queues, particularly during high season (July/August), may have a long waiting time.

If you want to book on your own, tours to the top of the tower take place every half hour or so with a maximum of forty people per group; no under 8 years of age are allowed. You can save yourself a long wait by booking tickets in advance on http://www.opapisa.it/?id=15&L=1&T=2(€2 booking fee). The narrow climb up 294 worn steps at a 5 degree angle can be fairly disorienting, and sadly you can no longer step out onto the surrounding balconies, but you do get good views of Pisa's spires and rooftops, with the Monte Pisano hills in the background. Also, there is a multi lingual iPod tour available by switching on your iPod once on the spot. Really, all that is needed is an MP3 player to listen to the "narrations" while visiting the monumental complex. You can also listen to the podcast on the site I previously mentioned.


A couple of website advertise tours of Pisa:
http://www.viator.com/search/leaning tower of pisa
http://www.italianvisits.com/tours/tuscany/index.htm
http://manstouch.co.uk/italy/florence/pisa-tours.html

 

[birkner]

Well, I'll bet it's similar to Crazy Bounce: http://www.crazy-bounce.com/index.html. Crazy Bounce has something like 10 giant inflatables, most are ones that are 2 stories high and you climb up and slide down. Tyler's favorite was the Titanic. Crazy kid! I wish we had something close enough to do his birthday party there next month.

In California, you can call companies like these and have the inflatables set up in either your backyard or driveway. Don't they do anything like that in Lansing?

We have companies here who advertise all types of birthday celebrations choices in the local Parent magazine/newspaper.

 

[birkner]

Beautiful grandkids Noel! Have fun with them!

I am up early here to get some of my Dising done before they get here. Who knows what time they will come as DD tends to just call on the way.

 

[birkner]

How sad for Perla to be so sick on her special day. But very sweet of your daughter to help with her dress.

Somtimes I think kids are so excited/scared that they can make themselves sick. I remember youngest DD throwing up on the way to her first big dance but insisting she HAD to go. She was fine once she got there but we had to stop to get her calmed down. Luckily, all she really needed to do is calm down, brush her teeth again and she was fine.

 

[birkner]

I hope Amy is able to get some rest this weekend to help that cold go away quicker.

Ditto. John, I hope Amy is not coming down with a cold. Maybe just some rest and she will feel better today!! With all the crazy temperature changes we have had it is a wonder more of us are not really sick here either!!

 

[birkner]

What a wonderful evening you had!

Tower of Pisa: Yup, I climbed it. Nothing to be concerned about. I think I remember hearing that there was some restoration work done to add some sort of stabilizing braces or something to stop the tilting. This was after I went (I went in 1987 or 1988). But I do remember feeling slightly disoriented while climbing, but in a fun way.

Latest on the Tower of Pisa:

Tour of the Tower: warnings and precautions
Visits to the tower are organised for groups with a guide who will provide visitors with all the necessary information for the itinerary to follow.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes - no extension is allowed.

We recommend visitors to be punctual because the time scheduled for the group is strict and no delays can be accepted with respect to the times shown on your entry ticket.

Children under the age of 8 are not allowed under any circumstances on these visits.
Children between 8 and 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult and held by the hand all the time.

Teenagers between 12 and 18 years of age are allowed on the tower only if accompanied by responsible adults.

It is strictly forbidden to carry any bags and/or containers of any kind and shape during the visit and these objects must be left at the cloakroom near the meeting point.

Cameras, movie cameras and video cameras are allowed.

Please, help us to keep the tower's stones clean and free from graffiti or any other action that may damage its preservation, including chewing gums. any non-conformance will be reported and pursued by the competent authorities.

Visiting the tower requires a considerable amount of physical effort for visitors: please, consider that the spiral staircase has about as many as 300 steps. It is strongly recommended that people with heart disorders or individuals suffering from impaired health conditions do not visit the tower.
it is strictly forbidden to walk along the external passageways.

Exit at the seventh and eighth levels (the tower bells' cell) is allowed, but visitors must not at any time lean out from the protection railing and it is strictly forbidden to walk under the bells or hit them with any object.

Access to the bells' cell and the tower summit is not easy, as it includes narrow or exposed passageways. individuals who easily feel dizzy are advised not to reach this floor. However, all visitors must walk very carefully and in good order when getting to these areas.

Warning: the surface of the steps is slippery.

From April to September
Leaning Tower:
8.30 - 20.30 (until 13/6 and from 05/09 until 30/09) 8.30 - 23.00 (from 17/6)
Cathedral:
10.00 - 20.00
Baptistery, Monumental Cemetery, Opera del Duomo Museum, Sinopie Museum:
8.00 - 20.00
Multimedia path:
Mon and Tue: 12.00-18.00
Thur-Sun: 10.00-13.00/13.30-16.30
Wed: check with personnel for service availability

Ordinary tickets
Leaning Tower
On the spot euro 15
Purchase online euro 17
Cathedral*
euro 2
1 Entrance
Baptistery or Monumental Cemetery or Opera Museum
Sinopie Museum temporarily closed
euro 5
2 Entrances
Cathedral or Baptistery or Monumental Cemetery or Opera Museum
Sinopie Museum temporarily closed
euro 6
3 Entrances
Cathedral or Baptistery or Monumental Cemetery or Opera Museum
Sinopie Museum temporarily closed
euro 8
City Walls
euro 2

 

[endkaos]

We too have an actress in our family - ibouncetoo!!! She's not that young anymore but I remember seeing her when I was little in plays and thinking - that's NOT my sister... I don't know who that is on stage. She was amazing. Could have gone all the way - she could... but I guess she just never realized what talent she had/has...

Wow, my sister was a great actor in high school too. I know how you feel. Want to hear something even funnier? She interned at Channel 12 when her MIL worked there in the mid 80's.

That's them! I collected them for years and years. I was in my twenties before I gave them to a family of girls (under priviledged) who loved horses - I knew they went to good use! Thanks for the memories!!! That just tickled me pink.

I collected Breyers for years too. I couldn't part with them though. My dear DH stepped on them all but one of them when I would let my DS play with them. I think he secretly hated them. Now I take every chance to point out how much money they are worth. (Thank goodness I saved one).

To top it off, there was a huge thunderstorm that past through while we drove there. It's the desert so imagine high, forceful winds (hard to keep the car on the road) with dust so thick the visibilty was very low. The outside temperature reading in our car was at 103 degrees (yes, we have already reached triple digits!) when we left our house, and went down to 74 degrees around downtown Phoenix.

Hey, I was in that storm in Mesa. Don't you just love how your car gets belted with dust and then it rains. I guess that is why I buy cars in the color of "Arizona Dirt". As as pirate, I like to pretend I bought a gold car.

 

[birkner]

Well, it's a beautiful day! Only 51 degrees right now, but supposed to hit 75!!!! Woohoo! Great because the rest of the week is supposed to be low 60s (which is still nice, in my opinion). Tyler and I are headed to the dairy cow barns at Michigan State University. MSU has so many great free things to do and see! The cow barns are fun because each cow has a cute name on their nametag. And you can watch milking at 2pm every day. He also wants to go see the sheep, horses, and pigs, but I doubt I can handle that much stink in one day. Last time we went to see the cows, I almost vomited a few times from the smell. Yup, pathetic city girl here!

We have a similiar farm here in the SF Bay area called Ardenwood Historic Farms. Ardenwood Historic Farm which is home of the Patterson House and I quote:

Imagine 205 acres in the heart of Silicon Valley where time stopped about one hundred years ago. Imagine a fully functioning 1890's farm preserved in a modern world: a place for people to escape the stress of the modern daily grind.

The East Bay Regional Park District and the City of Fremont invite you to visit Ardenwood Historic Farm - home of the Patterson House. It's a place where people can:

Join in doing old fashioned farm chores.
Visit a cow or a sheep.
Try their hand at turn of the century crafts.
Sample a cookie freshly cooked in a wood burning stove.
Ride a horse drawn railroad.
Tour our fully restored Victorian farm house

The house itself is the site for many weddings.http://www.ardenwoodaffairs.com/

Here are a few websites to educate yourself about the house and grounds which are pretty interesting:
http://www.ebparks.org/parks/arden.htm
http://www.pattersonranch.net/about_patterson_ranch.html#Family

 

[ibouncetoo]

If the gross number of births were the indicator, births began to decline from the peak in 1957 (4,300,000) but fluctuated or did not decline by much more than 40,000 (1959-1960) to 60,000 (1962-1963) until a sharp decline from 1964 (4,027,490) to 1965 (3,760,358). This makes 1964 a good year to mark the end of the baby boom in the U.S.

However, some of us at the 'front' end of the baby boom have a hard time thinking of 'those 60's babies' as part of 'our' group...at least from a culture standpoint. I mean, please, they were just babies when the Beatles showed up! OF COURSE, if they had older siblings, they were still strongly impacted by the "kids in the 50's, teens in the 60's" culture...right TiggersPal? I remember the little boy who lived next door to us (it was '64 or 65) who's first word was 'stereo' and he could name all the Beatles (from the pictures on our bedroom wall) before he could name all his family members !

 

[endkaos]

We have a similiar farm here in the SF Bay area called Ardenwood Historic Farms. Ardenwood Historic Farm which is home of the Patterson House and I quote:

Imagine 205 acres in the heart of Silicon Valley where time stopped about one hundred years ago. Imagine a fully functioning 1890's farm preserved in a modern world: a place for people to escape the stress of the modern daily grind.

Those are called 'Agretainment' Farms. The Roloff's on Little People, Big World run one up in Oregon.

 

[birkner]

The new business model is where they take these abondoned businesses or warehouses and paint them in bright colors and make an indoor playground with those big inflatibles. We have been to several Birthday parties at these places in the past couple of years. We have another one next week at Pump it Up.

http://www.pumpitupparty.com/

Here are some of the party options in our area:

http://www.blushstudio.com/blushmobile.html


Enjoy a shimmering makeover, dancing, singing, playing games with your friends.....in your home or have our Blush Mobile come to you!!

2 hours of fun for just $19.95 per guest!

Theme it up for $24.95 per guest!
Or choose the ULTIMATE for $35 per guest!

Lights, Camera, Action,
Red Carpet Experience Live on TV!

YOU GET TO DO IT ALL!

Get Backstage Pass Invitations too!

Original Party $19.95 per guest
Themed Parties $24.95 per guest
Ultimate Party $34.95 per guest

On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, public & school holidays for each party there is a minimum party charge of 9 guests. Monday to Thursday, except public & school holidays there is a minimum party charge of 6 guests, each party guest is charged at an additional per guest price up to a maximum number of 17 guests. If you have a larger party size click on the Blush Mobile link. Your party deposit of $59.85 is a non-refundable deposit and it reserves your party time & date. If you wish to change your party time and date (subject to availability) this can be done anytime up to but not within the 7 days prior to your party.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Wow, my sister was a great actor in high school too. I know how you feel. Want to hear something even funnier? She interned at Channel 12 when her MIL worked there in the mid 80's.

Triple digits expected today! It's too early for triple digits; it's only April!

Ah, the 80's at Channel 12....now THAT was a good time! PM me with the name of her MIL...I actually KNEW some of my co-workers back then These days they don't unchain me from my desk very often...I have trouble remembering who the current anchors are!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Hey, one more post.........

 

[ibouncetoo]

And we should be at the TOP of page 1000!

 

[endkaos]

However, some of us at the 'front' end of the baby boom have a hard time thinking of 'those 60's babies' as part of 'our' group...at least from a culture standpoint. I mean, please, they were just babies when the Beatles showed up! OF COURSE, if they had older siblings, they were still strongly impacted by the "kids in the 50's, teens in the 60's" culture...right TiggersPal? I remember the little boy who lived next door to us (it was '64 or 65) who's first word was 'stereo' and he could name all the Beatles (from the pictures on our bedroom wall) before he could name all his family members !

We didn't seem to have that much trouble at the AZ Dis meet? DH and I were both born in 1966. Perhaps our mutual admiration for Disney and specifically DCL have bridged the gaps?
Ohhh, Ibounce too beat me!

 

[birkner]

http://www.superfranks.com/parties.php

Royal Princess Party
Join the royal court inside of our beautiful Castle Room where your party will get to dress up like Princesses complete with hair styling! They will be waited on hand and foot by two of our enchanting Princess Party Hostesses who will introduce each guest as a Princess of the Royal Court and then sit down to a Royal Supper featuring Super Franks gourmet pizza!$300.00* Weekday (M-Th)
$345.00* Weekend (Fri-Sun)

Majestic Royal Princess Party
Have high tea in the Royal Court! Enjoy all that the Royal Princess Party has to offer with a tea party twist. After the Princess Coronation, your guests will sit down at our beautifully decorated table complete with elegant tea china, centerpieces, and table linens to enjoy a variety of gourmet tea sandwiches and delicious pastries.$340.00* Weekday (M-Th)
$385.00* Weekend (Fri-Sun)

All Star Sports Party
This is a high-energy, interactive party in which your party-goers will spend 50 minutes in Sherman's Tank playing a variety of fun sport games with our trained gym coaches. After, we will move the party into our Party Room where you will enjoy Super Franks gourmet pizza!

Glow In The Dark Mini Golf Party
Take your party on a mini-golf safari in Frank and Beans Putting Greens glow in the dark jungle. Their faces will light up with glow in the dark face paint as they play a round of mini-golf under our black lights and eat gourmet pizza in our private glow in the dark party room.
$275.00* Weekday (M-Th)
$320.00* Weekend (Fri-Sun)


Sports Team Package
Come celebrate the end of your sports team season at Super Franks! You will have use of our private Sports Room which is equipped with an HD movie projector where you can watch a slide show of the team, show highlights of the season's games, or turn on the big game.

Please note that you will need to contact us at parties@superfranks.com to book your sports team party.$10.95* per person (20 person minimum)

 

[endkaos]

Ah, the 80's at Channel 12....now THAT was a good time! PM me with the name of her MIL...I actually KNEW some of my co-workers back then These days they don't unchain me from my desk very often...I have trouble remembering who the current anchors are!

I don't remember her first name (Dsister is now divorced) but I think the last name would have been Holm. I think she was the receptionist.







.

 

[birkner]

http://www.boomersparks.com/park/livermore/index.html

What could be more fun than boarding one of our bumper boats for a little adventure cruise? Each boat comes with its own water cannon, and if that’s not enough action, go full speed ahead for a broadside collision. Don’t worry, our bumper boats are completely safe. So climb aboard and soak someone you love. But watch out—you could be next.

Bumper Boats
Driver - $5.25
Passenger - $2.00

Driver must be 44" and 18 years old when driving with an under age passenger.
Passenger must be 40"

Everyone needs a little high-speed excitement in their life. Climb aboard one of our hi-performance Go Karts and experience the thrill of banked curves, hairpin turns, and exhilarating straight-aways. So if you’ve got the need for speed, we’ve got the go-fast Go Karts to satisfy the speed freak in all of us.

Go Karts
Driver - $6.50
Passenger - $2.00

Driver must be 58"
Passenger must be 40"

It’s the most hi-tech game of tag you can play and everybody is it! Your team enters a black-light battleground armed to the teeth with their very own laser gun. Keep your heads down and your eyes open because in this game the hunter is also the hunted. A vibrating chest plate lets you know when you’ve been hit, and a computer records your individual score. After the game, each player receives a computer printout with individual and team scores.

Lazer Tag
$6.00