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

[amesmom]

Nice that he is your "excuse" for the need to visit firemen...

Karen

Here is how I got the firemen to pay a call to our house: my child got stuck in the laundry chute. This was two years ago, and DS4 (at the time) decided for some unknown reason to go down the laundry chute. DS7 comes racing downstairs to tell me Nicky is stuck in the laundry chute, and I took the stairs about 3 at a time to reach him. Luckily, he was still halfway out of the chute, and not all the way down inside it. But he was definitely stuck. He had bent his leg, and it was all that was keeping him from sliding down into the chute or going all the way down two floors to the basement. I couldn't pull him out for fear of breaking that leg that was most definitely wedged in there at the time. We are only 5 blocks from the firestation and those guys were there in less than 3 minutes. Bless them. Still took them 20 minutes to get my little guy out. They ended up cutting thru the metal laundry chute with a power saw mere inches from my little guy. DS was screaming and crying the whole time, and I was just holding him so tight by his little arms I was sure I would leave big bruises. Fifteen minutes later, DS is running around playing like nothing at all had happened. Kids.

The firefighters invited us to visit the station. We went a couple of days later with homemade pie and a big thank-you poster. The kids got to ride around the block in the fire engine with the siren and everything. They were so excited.

So we love the firefighters from Station #1. I don't recommend this technique for getting cute firefighters to come to your house, however, Holly.

 

[birkner]

When DH17 Daniel was his age he was obsessed with the US Presidents. At 4 he could tell you the names of each president, when they served and their wives names. For his 4th birthday, we gave him the choice of the visiting the White House or Kings Dominion (an amesement park). The White House won hands down. The secret service guys were so impressed this litttle guy knew every painting on the tour that they checked to see if he could meet Bill Clinton.....didn't happen.....

It lasted till he was about 6. He hates hates hates me telling this story. If I did not have it on video tape (I should put that on YOUTUBE>>>then he could really hate me!!) he would completely deny it!! (He can still name every president, wifes and dates of service.....but will not admit it very often)

Another one of his friends was obsessed with the space shuttle. He could name every part of the space shuttle and how it worked. That was totally amazing.....

That also lasted till he was about 6....1st grade. I guess they get other interests then with school and stuff.

It is so amazing what kids get obsessed with isn't it? My DH decided at age seven he was going to be an engineer. He checked out the Boys Book of Electronics so many times that the librarian helped him find a way to buy a copy of his own!!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Alright Mac geniuses . . . . need advice.

Looking to add a laptop for pretty basic stuff.

Is a Macbook pretty decent or should we go PRO??

Thanks in advance.

Well, I have an iBook G4--about 2 years old. I think this is what was replaced by the MacBook. I've made music CDs, created DVDs (though not burned them as it doesn't have a combo drive, but I have an external DVD burner), taken it on a couple of cruises, a couple of diving trips and several other trips. I download my photos into it and created several slide shows. It's great at picking up WIFI signals in hotels, etc. so no problems surfing the internet. I purposely got the model with the smallest screen because I wanted it to be as portable as possible and I've been very satisfied with it.

I got extra RAM--512 MB--to make 768 total. Today I'd probably get at least one GB total.

The only regret I have with mine is that I wish I had a bigger hard drive. It came with 30 GB--I wish I had at least twice that. I didn't realize how quickly music, photos and movies would fill it up.

So I'd say the Macbook should be plenty for you, but I'm sure PJ and/or John have probably already advised you.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Cheri, you did great!

I would also say a Macbook with at least 1 gb of Ram and maybe an upgrade of the HD. I have 80gb HD and wish i had more.

Pj

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

34 for me!! DH's friends say I am the only one that could "handle" him!! (Read into that what you may...)
Karen

Here's one for you...do you remember the "Poor Pitiful Pearl" doll????

DH is 1957! Big B-day this year! Any suggestions on something cool to do?
Karen

I didn't want a big party. I'm not 16 anymore. I just want quality time with those I love the most by choice.

I'm not either, but that didn't stop me from throwing myself a big party--BBQ, dance w/DJ playing all the favorite oldies. I had a BLAST!! Guess I'd better start saving up for my 60th--only 2 years away!

But it's going to be hard to top my birthday next year--I'll celebrate on our cruise!!!

I am 1957 - Sept 4th
DH is 1960 - Feb 16th

We are going to a 25 wedding anniversary party at a 5 star here in VA.

This is a great way to celebrate. They are sending a limo to pick us up.
5pm cocktails
7pm dinner

Stay the night

10am Brunch tomorrow morning

How fun is that?
Lisa

WOW! THAT'S how to celebrate!!

Any ideas? Once working I can ditch my winblows machine

Thanks, Surly

"Winblows"--I love it! I just spent a few days with my sister who is a Mac lover from way back. A few years ago her husband wanted them to beecome an all-PC household so she had to get rid of her iMac. But last Xmas he relented and she got a beautiful new iMac, top of the line. Unfortunately, she's still saddled with her PC laptop. I love it when we get together and she has to struggle with her PC and I'm smooth sailing with my little MacBook!

Same here and I had an original Barbie. Worst of all, my Uncle Roy used to give us all comic books that probably would sell for a fortune on EBAY!!

I've still got my Barbies (not in such good shape) and all the outfits (in very good shape). I'm hoping to finance part of this cruise by selling them in the next year. And I had tons of comic books, which I didn't realize that my mom had systematically thrown away over the years. They probably could've funded my retirement! boo hoo

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

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.

I was at my sister's in Scottsdale when that storm hit! After it was all over I realized that I'd left all the windows down in my car! So it's ALMOST as dirty as when I drove through the dust storm on the way to San Diego--on the outside. Much dirtier on the inside!

I was sooooo happy when I got home this afternoon--20 degrees cooler, plus we had some rain. It's about 55 outside right now--I'm going to sleep good tonight!!

 

[disneylover5]

DD was absativly posolutely going to be a veterinarian up till about 6 or 7!

Now she wants to be a chef and go to the CIA in Hyde Park, NY!! We'll see how long this lasts!

Karen

This made me laugh....one of my neighbors at the beach house is a chef at the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)....and I was thinking....the CIA is not in Hyde Park....then I got it.....little slow!!

Miss Molly said she wanted to be a dog groomer. Lately it's been a marine biologist. Wilson race car driver or baseball player.

Gretchen, singer dancer actor daughter, wants to be the secretary for an architects office.......isn't that funny. All of her friends want to be a rockette or on broadway.....not sure at all where she came up with her career choice..just strikes me as funny!!

Here is how I got the firemen to pay a call to our house: my child got stuck in the laundry chute. This was two years ago, and DS4 (at the time) decided for some unknown reason to go down the laundry chute. DS7 comes racing downstairs to tell me Nicky is stuck in the laundry chute, and I took the stairs about 3 at a time to reach him. Luckily, he was still halfway out of the chute, and not all the way down inside it. But he was definitely stuck. He had bent his leg, and it was all that was keeping him from sliding down into the chute or going all the way down two floors to the basement. I couldn't pull him out for fear of breaking that leg that was most definitely wedged in there at the time. We are only 5 blocks from the firestation and those guys were there in less than 3 minutes. Bless them. Still took them 20 minutes to get my little guy out. They ended up cutting thru the metal laundry chute with a power saw mere inches from my little guy. DS was screaming and crying the whole time, and I was just holding him so tight by his little arms I was sure I would leave big bruises. Fifteen minutes later, DS is running around playing like nothing at all had happened. Kids.

The firefighters invited us to visit the station. We went a couple of days later with homemade pie and a big thank-you poster. The kids got to ride around the block in the fire engine with the siren and everything. They were so excited.

So we love the firefighters from Station #1. I don't recommend this technique for getting cute firefighters to come to your house, however, Holly.

This would have scared me to death....I do not think I would have survived this one.....

It was so nice of you to bake the pie and visit...I know the fire department loves this kind of PR!!

 

[lillygator]

thanks for sharing the VA Tech story - very moving.

 

[birkner]

Can you make it blue?

Karen

Your wish is my command!!

 

[birkner]

I have to post this VA Tech story that just came to me via e-mail from my church.....it is so uplifting!![/B.

Jarrett is home now. He's home. Thank God almighty He's home.

Please pray for our community.

Thank you for this touching story. I have shared it with family and friends.

 

[birkner]

Hey Noel, I'd been wondering where you were! Good to hear from you. I've gotten a little behind, but hope to catch up while watching Extreme Home Makeover.

Will get a little more behind today as taking Sam around to interviews and then to the airport!!

 

[birkner]

Miss Molly said she wanted to be a dog groomer. Lately it's been a marine biologist. Wilson race car driver or baseball player.

Aspen who will be 13 still wants to be a marine biologist, Bailey who will be 10 wants to be a famous actress and Spencer who will be 8 wants to be a professional baseball player.

 

[birkner]

We are off in a few minutes to SF for the first interview of the day...everyone have a wonderful day!! Chat with you all later!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Lisa/DisneyLover5....what do I do? Please help! It's mom again...she has now been out of the hospital for about a month and she's feeling well again...so she cut me off...she won't take my help anymore with the followup doctors appoinments. From going to all the specialists we figured out that the low blood count is caused by the kidneys, the renal failure is caused by dehydration, the dehydration is caused by dysentery. She is seeing all the doctors except the gastroenterologist. This is the key to all the other problems. She must see this doctor or else she will end up back in the hospital again. She won't let me help anymore and she's procrastinating taking care of it herself. In the meantime, she's loosing too much weight. She went from 115 to 103 in one week and that was a week ago. She's probably under 100 lbs. now. Also, every time she goes into renal failure it's taxing on her heart. Last time she had a heart attack too.

I have two choices, make the appointment myself and drag her there and let her be mad at me or leave her alone and let her end up back in the hospital again.

I know you're in a similar situation with your mom. What would you do?

If anyone has any suggestions to help, I'm eager to listen.

 

[birkner]

Lisa/DisneyLover5....what do I do? Please help! It's mom again...she has now been out of the hospital for about a month and she's feeling well again...so she cut me off...she won't take my help anymore with the followup doctors appoinments. From going to all the specialists we figured out that the low blood count is caused by the kidneys, the renal failure is caused by dehydration, the dehydration is caused by dysentery. She is seeing all the doctors except the gastroenterologist. This is the key to all the other problems. She must see this doctor or else she will end up back in the hospital again. She won't let me help anymore and she's procrastinating taking care of it herself. In the meantime, she's loosing too much weight. She went from 115 to 103 in one week and that was a week ago. She's probably under 100 lbs. now. Also, every time she goes into renal failure it's taxing on her heart. Last time she had a heart attack too.

I have two choices, make the appointment myself and drag her there and let her be mad at me or leave her alone and let her end up back in the hospital again.

I know you're in a similar situation with your mom. What would you do?

If anyone has any suggestions to help, I'm eager to listen.

Before I leave with Samantha, let me chime in. My mother was a Public Guardian for many years and faced this question with families many times. You may want to talk to her Doctor and determine if she is competent to make her own health decisions. I know this is a drastic step but it may be a necessary one to save her life. My heart goes out to you!!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

I still have my original Barbie from 1959, and her original bathing suit - the black and white stripped one, and my original Ken with bathing suit and stand.

THE STAND! That's good! (seriously!) I thought I had the stands for mine, but I don't. Plus, many moons ago I combed out the ponytail on my Barbie, so she's not in mint condition, although I still have the black & white bathing suit.

 

[HollyTyler]

So we love the firefighters from Station #1. I don't recommend this technique for getting cute firefighters to come to your house, however, Holly.

Well, I'm glad your son was OK! But was it mean that it made me laugh?! I can imagine how worried you must have been at the time this was happening, but what a great story it makes!

I learned that getting the firemen to come to our house is easy! Just invite them to the birthday party! But he wants a camoflage party this year, so no hunky firemen for mom to drool over.

 

[fourmcds]

THE STAND! That's good! (seriously!) I thought I had the stands for mine, but I don't. Plus, many moons ago I combed out the ponytail on my Barbie, so she's not in mint condition, although I still have the black & white bathing suit.

Oh, so many things I wished that I had kept to sell now! My DH still has a Million Dollar Man doll somewhere in our attic (the one that does all these tricks). He is sure it will be worth a fortune

V: Congrats to DH! That is great!

Lisa(Disneylover5): Thanks for sharing that story.

Noel: Have a great time in SF today.

Deb: Hope it gets better with your mom. What a rough time this must be for you.

It is another sunny day here in WA (a miracle...3 in a row!!!). Of course I have to work all day and then hang out at the dance studio on the craziest of all nights....picture night! Taylor's costume isn't in yet, so luckily I only have to get Jaide ready.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Here are all the kids at his party on the firetruck that came. The kids all got to spray the fire hose....it was very cool!

What a great party idea for little boys! It looks like they had a blast! (pun intended!)

 

[HollyTyler]

It is so amazing what kids get obsessed with isn't it? My DH decided at age seven he was going to be an engineer. He checked out the Boys Book of Electronics so many times that the librarian helped him find a way to buy a copy of his own!!

Yup, it really is amazing! I just can't wait to see what Tyler ends up doing. In the meantime, it sure is fun watching him dream!