May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 9

[HollyTyler]

Here you go, Kaylee! Sorry so long.

Something really cool happened to me today! Many years ago, I managed a Subway (the sandwich shop) for about 6 years and the owner and I got along really well. His name is Blake and eventually I started dogsitting for him whenever he travelled. I loved doing that because he had a really big, expensive, luxurious apartment! Didn't like the dog much because it was a whippet and always wanted to sleep under the covers becaues he was cold, and crammed his bony body next to me. Yucky.

Anyway, Blake and I went out on a couple dates and hit it off really well. But he's much older than I am, and that was a problem for him, I think mainly because we were at such different stages in life. He wanted to have a family and I wasn't ready to settle down. I was still trying to finish college, working towards my Bachelors degree. He had graduated from U of M, went through his wild days, etc. and owned 4 Subway stores. SO, we agreed that things wouldn't work for us and both moved on.

As the years passed, I lost contact with him. I knew he had married and had a daughter. I think about him now and then, but haven't talked to him in about 13 years. Just yesterday, I was really thinking about him LOTS and how I wonder what things would have been like with him, how his family is doing, what sort of dad he is, if he's still married, etc. Today, my best friend from back home (Shelly) called me to tell me she just ran into Blake Christmas shopping and the whole conversation involved him asking about me, where I am, if I'm single, how I've been, if I have kids, etc. She filled him in on everything and when she told him I'm single, she says his eyes got wide and he told her he's divorced and wishes he could reconnect with me, so she gave him my phone number.

What a coincidence, with how much I'd been thinking about him just yesterday! Because of how interested he seemed, Shelly told me if I don't hear from him this weekend, I should look him up and give him a call because she thinks he might be nervous to call me after all these years, but she could see his clear interest, so I think I will!

 

[HollyTyler]

Further filling in for Kaylee: He called me today, only a day after getting my number from my friend. We had tons to say, talked for 1/2 hour, and he wants to take me out this week! I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it!

 

[DisneyRN1]

Ella,
You were asking about the gem and jewelry show at Chantilly. I have been offline for a couple of days, so I don't know if anyone has answered you or not, but I will try. I have been to this show 4 times in the past year, and I just love it. They have an enormous amount of ready to wear jewelry of ALL price ranges-especially expensive. They will sell you loose diamonds, and other gemstones and will set them for you. They have so many things so above my price range. There are also other gifts ranging from sunglasses, perfume, jewelry display items, to various "dust-collectors". The reason I like the show is that when I had to stop working, i started making jewelry, and they have so many vendors with great prices on the beads. They have really good prices on sterling silver, crystals, and other things used to make jewelry. I went to Beadfest in Philadelphia this August, and think the prices at the Gemshow are much better. They have these shows all over the country several times a year. The show at Chantilly happens during the months of Dec, Feb, May, and August, and we have been told that the show in Chantilly is the 3rd largest in the country-don't really know if that is true-but it is big. As far as selling things at this show, I guess contact them on their website. I have talked to some vendors and have heard everything from "it takes years to get a site here because of the popularity," to "we called one day and got a spot". We also went to the show in Charlotte last winter and were very disappointed in it-but to be fair, it was their first show there and alot or people may not have know about it. If you have specific questions, I will be happy to answer them...Vicki

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Ella,
You were asking about the gem and jewelry show at Chantilly. I have been offline for a couple of days, so I don't know if anyone has answered you or not, but I will try. I have been to this show 4 times in the past year, and I just love it. They have an enormous amount of ready to wear jewelry of ALL price ranges-especially expensive. They will sell you loose diamonds, and other gemstones and will set them for you. They have so many things so above my price range. There are also other gifts ranging from sunglasses, perfume, jewelry display items, to various "dust-collectors". The reason I like the show is that when I had to stop working, i started making jewelry, and they have so many vendors with great prices on the beads. They have really good prices on sterling silver, crystals, and other things used to make jewelry. I went to Beadfest in Philadelphia this August, and think the prices at the Gemshow are much better. They have these shows all over the country several times a year. The show at Chantilly happens during the months of Dec, Feb, May, and August, and we have been told that the show in Chantilly is the 3rd largest in the country-don't really know if that is true-but it is big. As far as selling things at this show, I guess contact them on their website. I have talked to some vendors and have heard everything from "it takes years to get a site here because of the popularity," to "we called one day and got a spot". We also went to the show in Charlotte last winter and were very disappointed in it-but to be fair, it was their first show there and alot or people may not have know about it. If you have specific questions, I will be happy to answer them...Vicki

Hi Vicki, thanks for the info it was very helpful. Have you ever been to the one in King of Prussia, PA? I checked out their website and they have another show there, which is closer to me. I can't get a booth as a vendor, I only have a small collection of stones and finished pieces. I just wanted to sell off a little of what I have. I thought if I went on a Sunday I might just be able to sell to the vendors there. Do you think they would be interested? When you make your jewelry, where do you sell it? Thanks for any additional info you can give me. It really helps.

 

[fourmcds]

Further filling in for Kaylee: He called me today, only a day after getting my number from my friend. We had tons to say, talked for 1/2 hour, and he wants to take me out this week! I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it!

Sounds very exciting! I love stories like that!

 

[HollyTyler]

Christmas cards are done with photos stuffed inside and ready to mail! I kept forgetting, so had to do them tonight to mail tomorrow. I'm afraid they'll no longer be Christmas cards, but New Year greetings!

I still didn't watch Survivor because I was on the phone too much! I called my mom a couple hours ago....I just had to tell her about Blake because I knew she'd remember him.

Goodnight all! Alarm goes off in a little over 5 hours. Yuck.

 

[HollyTyler]

Sounds very exciting! I love stories like that!

Me too, but I never thought I'd be a part of one of those stories! It will be interesting to see what happens!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Christmas cards are done with photos stuffed inside and ready to mail! I kept forgetting, so had to do them tonight to mail tomorrow. I'm afraid they'll no longer be Christmas cards, but New Year greetings!

I still didn't watch Survivor because I was on the phone too much! I called my mom a couple hours ago....I just had to tell her about Blake because I knew she'd remember him.

Goodnight all! Alarm goes off in a little over 5 hours. Yuck.

GoodNight Holly....sweet Blake dreams!

 

[HollyTyler]

GoodNight Holly....sweet Blake dreams!

NO, he needs to get out of my head so that I CAN sleep! I'll be so tired tomorrow, but I suspect the excitement of telling the girls at work my story will keep me going all day, as well as the excitement of knowing I'll call him tomorrow night to get his e-mail address to send him a picture.

 

[LiserAnn]

Further filling in for Kaylee: He called me today, only a day after getting my number from my friend. We had tons to say, talked for 1/2 hour, and he wants to take me out this week! I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it!

Holly-that's so exciting. Keep us posted!

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly-that's so exciting. Keep us posted!

Oh, you know I will! I hope you all don't think I'm nuts, but it just seems romantic to me. The mystery of not knowing what may come of this.

 

[granmaz]

BLAKE CALLED ME ALREADY! We just talked for 1/2 hour giving each other a brief summary of the past 13 years, but every time I'd partially tell him about something, he'd cut me off to ask even more! It's like we couldn't tell each other everything fast enough. SO......he wants to go out really soon, maybe this week! I told him I already have plans on Thursday but that Wed & Fri are open. He says he'll call me in a few days when he has a better handle on his workload and whether he'll have to work late either of those days. But he told me to definitely feel free to call him before he calls me back.

Going well Holly!!!

He actually never said when he'd call, he just told my friend he wished he could get in touch with me and she gave him my number...he said he'd call soon, but I never expected him to call the next day! Sure, I was hoping, but didn't think he would. And he's not as much older as I'd thought. He's 48, so that's 11 years older and that's not bad.

Not bad at all - more mature and caring.

Every cruise we have been on with a "pirate night" it has been held on a day that we have been in port.

My John would be quite happy to be IN the port when Pirate Night is on as he wasn't too thrilled!!!!

I just can't believe he called me so quick and wants to go out right away! I told him after the holidays when things have calmed down for everybody, but he said, "even before Christmas works for me", which is this week!

Definitely! And he still loves to travel....we talked about that. I told him he needs to take his daughter on a Disney cruise! He's taken her to WDW, DL, Manhattan, and tons of other places, so a cruise should be next. Hmmm.....maybe I can talk him into nabbing one of the open rooms on this cruise. I suspect he can afford it.

Even better.



Very sweet about you and John! From what I remember, I doubt Blake would be inti Disney too much, but a lot could have changed in all these years, so I'll sure find out soon. His daughter is 11. [/QUOTE]

She will love to mother Tyler.

it's finally getting cold....cold enough that my air is off, windows open and electric blankets are on.....(which could very well mean temp are 70)

Sounds like outr summer.

okay, GREAT news. I was sitting at Frank's bedside holding his hand telling him about the kids and family news (like I have been doing every day)...

AND HE WOKE UP!

His eyes opened and then they rolled back into his head but he got them straight and he looked at me and I started to cry. I was there alone....Don was busy. I said squeeze my hand once if you know who I am and he did. And then I said squeeze my hand the number of kids I have and he squeezed my hand 3 times. The nurse came in and she was also very happy.

He stayed awake for about 15 minutes and he watched me everything I did. He still has 4 tubes in his mouth and throat to breathe for him and feed him...so he can't talk.

I kept telling him he had to be still and not fight the nurse (she said he had tried to wake up twice earlier and pull tubes and kick his legs out of the hospital bed) they had tied his hands down. He kept shaking his head YES when I asked him if he understood what I was saying to him.

He faded off to sleep and I had to leave to get Vanessa from Downtown as she was returning from NYC. I really wanted to stay....but there is always tomorrow

That is just wonderful news Lisa and just what you all needed. Things should move quicker now.

My manger is out and all the pieces placed around it and my first christmas tree is right next to it. It looks nice and I feel peaceful with it out. After all, we are spending Christmas eve in Bethlehem, Christmas City they call it....for the first Christmas. I love being in Bethlehem at christmas. I feel like it really started here! There's even a Bethlehem star lit up above the mountain top in town. It stays lit everyday of the year, but especially at christmas it's nice to see. It gives it real meaning instead of commercial sales.

I don't have a clue as to how John is going to get out of our driveway to go to work tomorrow. There's nothing but ice coating leftover snow. It's trecherous out there. I'm supposed to go to the Post Office to pick up a package. I'm not going tomorrow. I'll stay in the house and decorate my tree.

How lovely to be staying in a place called Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.

With Frank being sick and spending so much time at the hospital, I have not started to decorate for Christmas and it makes me sad. A little while ago, I was thinking how much more important it is to be with Frank than to decorate....but it still makes me sad.

You have been doing the very best thing these last few days Lisa. You can soon get some decorations up and you will have many years of being able to get them up early. You have given your time with love, and you are special.

You're right Deb. I'm sure he won't be scared away because he's very eager himself. I mean, look how quickly he called me and wants to go out right away!

He was already starting to turn grey when I last saw him all those years ago, and my friend Shelly told me he's much greyer now, but that doesn't bother me. I suspect I'll still see him as the way he used to look, so I don't mind. I just remember that connection we had and that's all that matters for me.

Ok, I go away for a day and come home to pages again! I just can't keep up.....if I missed anything major please fill me in!

Holly, sounds like there is a new man in your life? (I skimmed the last page or so)
Lisa, great news on your DFIL!
John1, congrats on the win today...you had a scoring game like ours but unfortunately for me, the numbers weren't in the hawks favor I don't know what team was out there today playing, I know they had the team names on the jersey's but it wasn't my team!

We got home tonight to a nice surprise...some lovely kids (total assumption on my part) decided our home needed a new paint job, yellow and pink to be exact! I guess they thought it would be fun to drive around last night and paint ball a bunch of houses. Luckily a neighbor left us a message about it so we checked it out and got most of it washed off tonight. The rest needs our power washer and tall ladder to get off. It was so frustrating and annoying. Really, why do people think that is fun? That after my Hawks loss, not a good day.

Hope everyone had great weekends! Off to tuck the girls' into bed.

How funny...it's for Margarita!

 

[been2marceline]

Thank you for al the birthday wishes! I have finally go up!

V- We would really have no problems watching the girls. Sophia would love it!

Amy,

Still very far behind...

When is your Birthday?

I know that Noel's is the 20th. Mine is the 22nd. Are you a December Birthday girl too?

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

okay, GREAT news. I was sitting at Frank's bedside holding his hand telling him about the kids and family news (like I have been doing every day)...

AND HE WOKE UP!

His eyes opened and then they rolled back into his head but he got them straight and he looked at me and I started to cry. I was there alone....Don was busy. I said squeeze my hand once if you know who I am and he did. And then I said squeeze my hand the number of kids I have and he squeezed my hand 3 times. The nurse came in and she was also very happy.

He stayed awake for about 15 minutes and he watched me everything I did. He still has 4 tubes in his mouth and throat to breathe for him and feed him...so he can't talk.

I kept telling him he had to be still and not fight the nurse (she said he had tried to wake up twice earlier and pull tubes and kick his legs out of the hospital bed) they had tied his hands down. He kept shaking his head YES when I asked him if he understood what I was saying to him.

He faded off to sleep and I had to leave to get Vanessa from Downtown as she was returning from NYC. I really wanted to stay....but there is always tomorrow

Lisa,

I'm really far behind, but have seen a couple of posts about your DFIL. I am so glad that things are looking up.

I hope that he continues to improve!

Lots of

Karen

 

[granmaz]

Hi Karen. You really are awake late.

 

[granmaz]

Did you manage to ship wine to the ship?

 

[been2marceline]

Kaylee, what an awful thing to have happen to your house! I'd be furious!

Yes, there might be a new man in my life, but how it came aobut is a romantic story! I'll try to find the post explaining it and repost for you.

Yes, please do, Holly as I am in the dark too!!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

Hi Karen. You really are awake late.

Good morning, Marilyn!

Seems like ages since I've said that!

I worked all day again today and got home late. Ted made a huge dinner and I am still quite uncomfortable and am afraid that I won't sleep well. But I must head to bed as I have over 50 packages to ship tomorrow

Great for the business, but lots of work!

I'm off to bed now. Have a lovely day!!

Karen

PS - still sad that we missed each other at WDW

 

[granmaz]

I'm sorry we missed each other too. We must make a coffee together a priority next May.

You take care.

 

[gydell]

I think a woman should dye her grey out, but a man looks better with it.

Hey - Those are fighting words! My hair is grey!