May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 7

[fourmcds]

And this just came from my cousin about my uncle and his bride.

I went to the Post Office a bit ago and when I returned Dad was on the porch. Through many sobs and tears I learned that he has been told by the doctor that Irene is soon to pass. Probably in the next 3 to 4 days. She has a disease that kills the feet and hands.

Oh my. This uncle is my very favorite person other than Dennis and my children. I am closer to him than my parents. He was always my hero from the time I was a little girl. They were going to cruise with us year before last, but he had some heart troubles that kept them home.

Sorry for the downers tonight.

Angie, so sorry for the difficult time you and your family are going through right now.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We've completed our de-clutter project. Must have filled 7-8 lawn bags full of shredded paper alone. And you can see the entire floor in our office again - got rid of the boxes that were stacked everywhere.

Good Job! Want to come to my house?

We have one room that we called the box room....now it's called Ella's room coz her food and litter box is in there and she loves to sleep at the tippy top of all the boxes and she loves hiding behind them too. When we finally do clean it up....she will be lost.

 

[birkner]

I don't want you to think I am hateful to them, I am not...my stomach is just on instant upset when they are around. My MIL thinks nothing of coming into our home and starting to clean things....you know, implying we are less than the best housekeeps..but hey, it's evidence of life right?
And she is from the negative batch about everything....why on earth would we get a pool, why on earth do we take time off. I love them with all their quirks I just wish they would be more interested in us and the girls.

My mother and I had the same issues except I was the one that wanted to clean her house!!! She rebelled against her mother being a neat freak so we always lived in chaos. Grandmother was prompt, she was always late and so forth.

She seemed jealous of my success in life. Every time we got something new or had a career success she would complain we were spending too much money or warned that success was transient. However the flip side was she always was bragging about our success to other family members. I was the one to have all of the family holidays as in her words, I had the largest house.

She was proud but yet angry that I had more career and financial success than my other sisters I never understood her nor she me. It is one of the biggest regrets of my life we were never able to reconcile our differences before she passed away. She gave up a soaring career of her own choice to follow my father from Southern California to Northern California. Her career never recovered and she never forgave herself for not standing up to both sets of in laws who counseled her to give up the career. My father was more than willing to stay in his job and not take another opportunity but family pressure from both sides convinced them to make the move. She grew more and more bitter over the years.

She and I were always oil and water as I was very close to her mother and she was not. Her most memorable line to me as a young adult when I asked her why she thought she and I did not get along was, "Grandma loved you more than she did me and it always made me mad. Isn't being the "favorite enought for you?".

 

[birkner]

Howdy! Just a quick post to say we're back! Got back about 7pm tonight (about 2 hours ago), then had to unload the car, get Tyler's bath, a late dinner, get Tyler into bed, laundry, put stuff away, catch up on e-mail, and here I am. Off to catch up on the 21 pages since I've been gone. I was expecting about double that, so you all must have been pretty quiet!

OK...here I go catching up!

Glad to hear you and Tyler are back safe and sound. Can't wait to hear about the trip and the wedding!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Deb,
Great news about your legs too. Now you'll be able to enjoy you DOD's in the pool!

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I'm going to be able to....I have 23 days until I leave....I need to keep soaking and cleaning them up gently....it's the right leg that still has a very large, sensitive wound on it....I hope three weeks will be enough time to clean it up.....more soaking.....more soaking!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

The 49ers lost!

Karen

Sorry Karen....your win will be next weekend!

 

[MrsMork]

I know exactly how you feel . . . all I do is keep telling myself, when I am in this same position, I will not act this way. I could go on and on about family, and how difficult it sometimes is, but I would fill too many pages.

Sometimes you just wish they would concentrate on all the postive things instead of dwelling on their perception of the negative. Sometimes you wonder (even though you love them unconditionally) how you can be related and yet be so different. Sometimes I feel like I have found more family in my friends here.

We all struggle I am afraid with the same issues. I guess there is a bit of comfort in that truth.

And now that Dennis and I are the in-laws we try very hard to remember all of this and just be supportive and love the kids that love our kids. I think we are doing a good job of it. At our anniversary soiree our SIL's dad came up when our kids and close friends were saying nice things about us and all we have done for them over the 40 years and he said, "you haven't done a whole lot for me, but you have made my son very, very happy and loved and that I appreciate." DIL comes to see us even when DS can't so I think she is good with us too!

 

[figment52]

And this just came from my cousin about my uncle and his bride.

I went to the Post Office a bit ago and when I returned Dad was on the porch. Through many sobs and tears I learned that he has been told by the doctor that Irene is soon to pass. Probably in the next 3 to 4 days. She has a disease that kills the feet and hands.

Oh my. This uncle is my very favorite person other than Dennis and my children. I am closer to him than my parents. He was always my hero from the time I was a little girl. They were going to cruise with us year before last, but he had some heart troubles that kept them home.

Sorry for the downers tonight.

continued prayers for you and your family during this difficult time

 

[MrsMork]

The wedding was pretty. It was just a bit sad because Tyler was the only kid not in the wedding. He sort of stood on the side when the wedding party had pics taken. I felt horrible because he asked me why he couldn't be in the pictures too. I just didn't know what to tell him. I honestly had no idea all the kids but him would be in the wedding or I surely would have let him know in advance.

Too tired to say more right now. The drive was great! Tyler didn't sleep and told me he LOVED the long drive. Crazy kid!

I knew I liked that kid!! ROADTRIP!!!!

 

[calmom]

And this just came from my cousin about my uncle and his bride.

I went to the Post Office a bit ago and when I returned Dad was on the porch. Through many sobs and tears I learned that he has been told by the doctor that Irene is soon to pass. Probably in the next 3 to 4 days. She has a disease that kills the feet and hands.

Oh my. This uncle is my very favorite person other than Dennis and my children. I am closer to him than my parents. He was always my hero from the time I was a little girl. They were going to cruise with us year before last, but he had some heart troubles that kept them home.

Sorry for the downers tonight.

Angie. My DH send our prayers your way. So difficult to deal with these huge issues at the same time.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Thanks to everyone offering encouragement and support on my weight loss! I'm just sticking to diettogo and it's working. We'll see next month if it continues.

Marilyn, John cooks the best meals in the crock pot. He'll put the meat and veggies in the night before we eat it and he cooks it on high I think for a few hours....then when he goes to bed he puts it on low and lets it cook overnight....by the next morning when he gets up it's ready and delicious. Hope this helps for the next time you cook in it. Give it another try....John can tell you exactly how to do it.....and it always comes out great!

 

[katypop]

I had a fun, WET time at Epcot last night....I met my friends near Germany a little bit before 8pm - we walked around....after I bought myself some Mickey Crocs (I've been procrastinating on buying these). My shoes were soaked just walking from Germany to the African Outpost so I bought my Crocs and wore them out of the store.

We walked around a little bit---stopped by the Ireland booth (had to have the frozen Baileys Irish Cream VERY YUMMY!!), and the Argentina booth (wanted some Norton's Malbec). I didn't end up eating anything, but enjoyed those 2 drinks.

We then camped out to watch the show---it was delayed due to the weather, but atleast it wasn't cancelled. I love Illuminations! I love the music. The add on was good too....will try to see if I got any decent pictures tonight when I get home. Got home about 1030pm. A great way to celebrate Epcot's 25th!

Too bad it was so wet, but sounds like you didn't let it dampen your spirits Your pics are great. I can hardly wait to try one of those frozen Bailey's

Ok I had to take a break from work to post about my conversation with our school's vice-principal regarding STAR testing!!

The first thing he said after I explained about the cruise: "well, how can we expect any good results from a little boy taking the test when it meant he couldn't be with Mickey and on the Disney cruise?" I love our school!

He didn't give me a Good Housekeeping stamp of approval, but basically he said you have three options: take it early, ask for an exemption (which we will get), or just don't show up. He said "kids come to school during testing and they are sick and we send them home. There is no STAR police that will come visit."

He did say other things like the test gives us an idea how things are going, but he said for our 4th grader he didn't think it would mean anything different than his 3rd grade results. With the 2nd grader, he said that we just wouldn't have that base line for him. But we know how he is doing academically, which seems to be going well. He told me that I shouldn't tell anyone because if everyone asked for an exemption, then he'd have problems. Then he said "Have a good time!" The VERY best thing about this: this means my kids will have NO homework to make up since the testing will be happening while they are on the cruise. We will chose the exemption - I don't think my kids would fair well taking the test all by themselves. Too stressful, life is short, and WE ARE GOING ON TO TAKE THE MAGIC TO CALIFORNIA!

I love our school, I love our school....

Lisa, great news

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Just catching up....about ten pages behind on posting.

 

[birkner]

Noel, love to hear about the Google event.


Lisa

The evening for UC Berkely alumni was held in one of the conference rooms at Google. If you have never been on the Google campus, it reminds me of a college campus with offices. Great food, volleyball courts etc. A lot like Atari was in the old days but a much grander scale.

The new Dean of Engineering Shanker Shastry and Google's Peter Norvig hosted the event. John is a life member of the UCB Alumni and Engineering Society thus the invitation. What the topic "The Future of Technology" concerned was the new social concern of using technology and combining it with an engineering education. It is a hot topic for the University who is trying to change some of its curriculum to include more social, health and environmental concerns. Many of the CEO's, CTO's and retired engineers are quite concerned about the focus being taken away from engineering going toward business curriculum. Lots of questions and heated comments. All in all a quite enjoyable evening with wine, hors d'oeuvres and conversation.

 

[katypop]

The news is not good this evening. The kids and my bro and his wife talked with the doc today and they are less than hopeful. They say she is not a candidate for dialysis again as she has systemic infections that are not responding to any antibiotic they have hit it with. Her PH is dropping, acidity rising, Blood sugars up, blood pressure down, breathing shallow and kidneys failing. The doc asked her if she wants them to recussitate if/when her heart stops and she just replied "I don't want to die." Which is all she has said most of the day, except to say "I hurt." My heart is just breaking for my big brother. It will likely be a slow process, but inevidible.

This must be just heart breaking for all of you. I am so sorry.

 

[calmom]

The evening for UC Berkely alumni was held in one of the conference rooms at Google. If you have never been on the Google campus, it reminds me of a college campus with offices. Great food, volleyball courts etc. A lot like Atari was in the old days but a much grander scale.

The new Dean of Engineering Shanker Shastry and Google's Peter Norvig hosted the event. John is a life member of the UCB Alumni and Engineering Society thus the invitation. What the topic "The Future of Technology" concerned was the new social concern of using technology and combining it with an engineering education. It is a hot topic for the University who is trying to change some of its curriculum to include more social, health and environmental concerns. Many of the CEO's, CTO's and retired engineers are quite concerned about the focus being taken away from engineering going toward business curriculum. Lots of questions and heated comments. All in all a quite enjoyable evening with wine, hors d'oeuvres and conversation.

Sounds very interesting. My sister had bid on a tour of Google...I think I was going to go. I can't recall when it is. I have to look into it! Lisa

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Hey Deb! I'll let you decide--I can meet you at PI but won't be able to stay too long (I do have to work on Friday..ugh!)....or I can meet you Saturday somewhere, anywhere! Let me know what you'd prefer and we'll do it!

OK then let's do it pleasure island on Thurs Nov 1 at 7:30pm at the front entrance. Me and John will no doubt be wearing something Mickey....and I'll know you from your pics. We can enjoy a few drinks at the outside tables and have you home by 9:30pm. It sounds good to me if it's ok with you.

You're going to need a spreadsheet for all your DIS meets!!!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

 

[birkner]

And this just came from my cousin about my uncle and his bride.

I went to the Post Office a bit ago and when I returned Dad was on the porch. Through many sobs and tears I learned that he has been told by the doctor that Irene is soon to pass. Probably in the next 3 to 4 days. She has a disease that kills the feet and hands.

Oh my. This uncle is my very favorite person other than Dennis and my children. I am closer to him than my parents. He was always my hero from the time I was a little girl. They were going to cruise with us year before last, but he had some heart troubles that kept them home.

Sorry for the downers tonight.

Angie, we are just heartbroken for you and your family. All our prayers and best wishes for you during this difficult time ahead.

 

[katypop]

OK....Can't stay awake any longer. And one of my friends thinks NOW would be a good time to come visit? Um......NO WAY!

Tomorrow after work will share our fun times. Tyler's high point: possibly getting a ride in my brother's Dodge ACR Viper. Although at his age, he doesn't understand the excitement of riding in a $90K car, but he was thrilled at the sound of the engine. My high point: feeding the lorikeets at the Newport Aquarium and feeling their little feet walk up and down my arm. I had one on my shoulder and 2 on my arms. One would turn and chirp at me after everything I said and another would bob its head up and down every time I spoke. VERY fun!

More details tomorrow! Goodnight!

Welcome back Holly Looking forward to all the details, in the meantime hope you get all rested up.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I loved Diettogo....as I have said before. I lost 30 pounds. Don't do it unless you really are committed to it. It is expensive, but it works it you do not cheat.

My husband and I both did it......but he cheated and never lost very much.

Lisa, did you follow their meals on their calendar everyday or did you just pick a B, L and D that you felt like eating that day? I have not been following their calendar. I just grab a meal that I feel like having for each B, L & D meal....usually, if I eat B I skip L and vice versa. I find it hard to eat all three in one day....and I bought some of their snacks and eat those too. How did you do it? Did you follow it strictly the way they said what to eat when on their calendar?