New Year's Eve 2008 12/27/08 SEE POST#1 FOR LIST

[CADZNYCHC]

Are you kidding, he said if I dare step foot in Italy while he's there, he'll disown me! He wants to do this all on his own, and doesn't want mama and bro and cruisematefriend to make sure he has enough food in the fridge and make his bed and baby him which I'd surely do! But thanks for the dream!

However...Brenda, I believe is going to be there at the same time, and I'd love it they can meet, without mama I mean, so that he feels like he's all grown up!

Yes we will be there & still want to take him for dinner one night...as soon as i know which night(s) in Rome we have free - i'll let you know...& hopefully we'll be able to get something planned....i'll have ryan with me for sure, and possibly another SF kid or two....

 

[CADZNYCHC]

"The New York Times is reporting that Gov. Eliot Spitzer has told senior advisers that he had been involved in a prostitution ring.

On its Web site, the newspaper cites an anonymous administration official as the source and says Spitzer was meeting with his top aides.

Spitzer officials wouldn't immediately comment on the story to The Associated Press. An announcement was scheduled for 2:15 p.m. at his Manhattan office"

 

[Aisling]

"The New York Times is reporting that Gov. Eliot Spitzer has told senior advisers that he had been involved in a prostitution ring.

On its Web site, the newspaper cites an anonymous administration official as the source and says Spitzer was meeting with his top aides.

Spitzer officials wouldn't immediately comment on the story to The Associated Press. An announcement was scheduled for 2:15 p.m. at his Manhattan office"

It's all my fault! When the governor of New Jersey resigned under scandal, I made some Jersey jokes, and said OUR governor would never do that. Well, holy smoke, PROSTITUTION RING!!!!!!!!! I jinxed New York!

I'm watching it on FOX right now, can't wait to see if he's going to resign. I don't even know who our Lt. Gov. is.

 

[trinibjill]

It's all my fault! When the governor of New Jersey resigned under scandal, I made some Jersey jokes, and said OUR governor would never do that. Well, holy smoke, PROSTITUTION RING!!!!!!!!! I jinxed New York!

I'm watching it on FOX right now, can't wait to see if he's going to resign. I don't even know who our Lt. Gov. is.

You jinxed it? Not hardly! I'm sure they did a fine job all by theirselves!

When our Governor made his announcement I learned on our 2004 cruise everyone was either joking about it or talking about it. When we were sitting around the pool many times it was a topic of conversation when someone found out we were from Jersey

 

[Aisling]

High-rise will ultimately contain 281 units, but there's no rush to sell.
Jason Garcia | Sentinel Staff Writer
February 26, 2008

The Walt Disney Co. has won approval to begin selling time shares in a 15-story tower the company is erecting next to its famed Contemporary Resort, a $110 million addition that Disney has named "The Kingdom Tower."

Disney has for months refused to divulge its plans for the hard-to-miss, half-built tower that is rising just outside the gates of the Magic Kingdom -- despite rampant speculation among Disney fans that it is destined for time shares.

A spokeswoman for the company's time-share division, Disney Vacation Club, would not discuss the project in detail again Monday.

"We don't have anything to announce today," spokeswoman Diane Hancock said.

But in new filings with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Disney formally states that the Disney Vacation Club will "add a ninth component site to be known as Kingdom Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort."

Disney says in the documents that it will sell the time shares in phases, beginning with an initial 75 units. The Kingdom Tower, which will connect to the existing Contemporary via a fifth-floor pedestrian bridge, will ultimately contain 281 units, according to the filings.

A spokesman for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which awarded a time-share license to the Kingdom Tower project earlier this month, said Disney has now been cleared to start selling units at any time.

"They can begin," department spokesman Sam Farkas said.

Disney appears in no rush. The company says in the documents it doesn't expect to finish the Kingdom Tower until the fall of 2009.

Analysts say the company can afford to be patient. The Kingdom Tower, they say, is likely to prove a huge seller, given that it will be the closest time shares Disney has built to the Magic Kingdom -- the busiest theme park in the world -- and the first built directly alongside Disney's monorail.

"I'd have to imagine that's going to be an extremely popular product," said Jeremy Glaser, a lodging-industry analyst with Morningstar.

Some analysts think Disney is withholding a formal Contemporary announcement because it does not want to undermine time-share sales at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas or Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, both of which are still selling units. The company's four other time-share resorts at Walt Disney World -- as well as one each in Vero Beach and Hilton Head, S.C. -- are sold out.

Glaser, however, said Disney's silence "could just be some trademark Disney secrecy."

Disney's filings with the state also offer more detail about the Kingdom Tower's amenities.

A new swimming pool, for instance, will be large enough for 180 people; go as deep as 4 feet, 11 inches; and feature two hot tubs and a 104-foot-long water slide. There will be two tennis courts, two shuffleboard courts and two boccie ball courts. A barbecue pavilion will have about 490 square feet of covered area and a pair of picnic tables.

Glaser predicted that Disney will choose to market the Contemporary time shares "as more of an upscale product." An early point-chart submitted by Disney to the state -- Disney Vacation Club owners buy points from the company, which they then redeem for rooms, though they must buy through a "home resort" -- shows guests will have to spend more points to rent one- and two-bedroom units at the Kingdom Tower than any of Disney's other existing time shares.

In a further step toward cementing the new tower's status as a time-share resort, Disney has created a new condominium association that would manage the resort once units are sold off to individual owners. State records show that the "Kingdom Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort Condominium Association" was formally incorporated Jan. 9.

The Kingdom Tower continues a wave of construction for Disney's fast-growing Vacation Club. The company is in the midst of building its first time shares at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., and has announced plans to build an 800-room resort in Hawaii in which at least half of the units will be time shares.

Disney also recently obtained approval to rebuild its little-known Treehouse Villas, a 60-unit community in a heavily forested area of Disney World.

The move has prompted speculation that those units, too, could be converted to time shares.

The widespread building boom comes even as the U.S. economy teeters on the brink of a possible recession.

But Tammie Kaufman, a professor at the University of Central Florida who teaches courses on time shares, said time shares could remain popular even during an economic slump because consumers will want to stretch their vacation money further.

"People are looking for a bargain," Kaufman said.

Scott Powers of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-54

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Aisling, tell Chad congratulations on the aprtment please...

Brenda, I'll be so jealous when you go...

Aisling, even *I* want in on this one!!!

It sounds,

dare I say,

Magical

***I got two tests back today....

got a 92 on both! ***

best part is, these were in my difficult classes...

The stinky part about not working....

I'm already sinking into Disney withdrawal...

 

[Aisling]

***I got two tests back today....

got a 92 on both! ***

best part is, these were in my difficult classes...

CONGRATULATIONS!

I'm already sinking into Disney withdrawal...

Join the club!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

It's all my fault! When the governor of New Jersey resigned under scandal, I made some Jersey jokes, and said OUR governor would never do that. Well, holy smoke, PROSTITUTION RING!!!!!!!!! I jinxed New York!

OMG...You're a bad girl...jinxing your own gov!!!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

OMG that Kingdom Tower looks awesome....i might be able to do that (without boring disney downer DH of mine) - i don't need him to buy Disney or have fun at Disney!!!!

hey - we have about 10 seats on our Italy tour that we could go out & sell - we didn't meet our numbers that the tour company has set so we're paying a huge per person surcharge fee or we can sell another 10 seats...ugghhh - anyone up to a 10 day trip to Rome, Assisi, Sienna, Florence, pisa & Venice? only $4000 or do your own airfare & pay only $3000!!

Congrats Colleen - those are some great scores!!!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Aisling...Colleen,
only 9 months - 2 wks....only 9 months - 2 wks....only 9 months - 2 wks!!!! less time than when this thread was started...even less time than when i finally found it. I know in reality that 9 mos is still a very long time away....i'm keeping my sanity thinking 9 mos 2 wks is 38 wks...if i can lose 1/2 lb a wk that is 19 lbs before sailing...of course that also means NO gelato in Italy....
But i am totally considering joining up with the Susan G Komen 3-day 60 mile walk - thinking that addl training before the walk will be very beneficial and helpful with losing 19 lbs.....

 

[CustardTart]

Guys, I've got some sad news. I've cancelled the cruise this morning after talking with DH last night and agreeing it was the best thing to do. There are a variety of reasons behind this decision, some financial and some personal, but the deciding factor has been my MiL's declining health. About 4 years ago, she had a triple heart by-pass and, despite an encouraging recovery at the time, over the past year she has deteriorated again. She's had test after test but the medical profession can't work out what's wrong with her as the op was a success - all we know is she seems to be slowly fading. Due to hectic work and school commitments, we don't see the in-laws as often as we might and I feel we should make an effort to get together for Christmas/New Year as we don't know how much longer she's going to be around...

This, on top of the difficulty obtaining/affording flights, just tells me it's not the right time for such a cruise which is a shame but I'm a grown-up and someone has to get the priorities right...

Having said that, I'm incredibly sad that I won't get to meet with you all at this time but hope we can arrange something for the future as you are such a wonderful group of laydeez and I just know we'd get along fabulously...

My best love and good wishes,
Karenxxx

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I completely understand your reasoning and kinda saw this coming BUT please stay and talk to us so we do not lose site of you.

I REALLY am glad to have gotten to "know" you over the last year and a half~

 

[CustardTart]

I completely understand your reasoning and kinda saw this coming BUT please stay and talk to us so we do not lose site of you.

I REALLY am glad to have gotten to "know" you over the last year and a half~

Thanx, Tig!!! I've been struggling privately with this issue ever since MiL came to stay in December and I was shocked at how much she'd aged over the previous six months. She's only 78 but seems so much older. I actually thought about bringing her with us on the cruise but her breathing's so bad, she's just not up to the long haul flight...

She's not an easy woman to deal with and I don't particularly like her but I never, ever want my beloved DH to feel guilty or that he wasn't there for her. There'll be other cruises and NYEs for us but maybe not for her - it's that simple...

I will definitely stick around tho', if that's OK!? Just because I'm not going to be there for the final performance, doesn't mean I can't be part of the dress rehearsals, if ya know what I mean...

 

[CADZNYCHC]

oh Karen....i am just so very sad...but totally & completely understand. I am sad for my own selfish reasons...but i know we'll have an opportunity to meet sometime....somewhere for sure!!! YES - please keep up with the thread as we do need you for advice - etc. dresses...shoes...you know the drill!!

 

[Aisling]

I'm so sad, too, Kaz! But I so understand the financial and family priorities. I feel like I have a good friend in England, and one day we shall meet. Like Brenda and Tig said, please stay with us on this thread. We'll miss you too much if you leave us! You're a wonderful daughter-in-law, and wife, considering your MIL like that. Anjelica and I will just have to "talk British" to each other, as we were looking forward to your refined way of speaking! Just so I get it right, how do you pronounce "cottage", it it cot-tage, or cott-age? I had a fun time at Epcot polling the UK CMs about this.

Brenda, keep going baby! You are so determined to shed some weight, and I know you're an "I mean business" sort of girl! I understand you have your specific body/weight goals, but I have to honestly say that even if you don't lose another pound, you look beautiful. You're mad sexy, as my boys would say, no kidding. I would love to look like you. But I support you on achieving your goal!

Jesse's home today with a low-grade fever and headache, nothing serious, but he would have been too uncomfortable to go to school. He's resting comfortably, and I'm hoping this is just a 24 bug he picked up. We've been so lucky this winter, with no flus or sickness of any kind, knock wood.

Grim, if you're out there, what do you think about the new Kingdom Tower DVC?

 

[CustardTart]

oh Karen....i am just so very sad...but totally & completely understand. I am sad for my own selfish reasons...but i know we'll have an opportunity to meet sometime....somewhere for sure!!! YES - please keep up with the thread as we do need you for advice - etc. dresses...shoes...you know the drill!!

I'm sure too, Brenda!!!

I'm so sad, too, Kaz! But I so understand the financial and family priorities. I feel like I have a good friend in England, and one day we shall meet. Like Brenda and Tig said, please stay with us on this thread. We'll miss you too much if you leave us! You're a wonderful daughter-in-law, and wife, considering your MIL like that. Anjelica and I will just have to "talk British" to each other, as we were looking forward to your refined way of speaking! Just so I get it right, how do you pronounce "cottage", it it cot-tage, or cott-age? I had a fun time at Epcot polling the UK CMs about this...

Definitely, Aisling... I'd be in a proper state about 'doing the right thing' if I didn't believe firmly in my heart that we are all destined to meet come what may...

And I pronounce cottage more like 'cot-tidge' if ya can imagine such a thing!!!

 

[CustardTart]

...I can chat properly!!!

...i'm keeping my sanity thinking 9 mos 2 wks is 38 wks...if i can lose 1/2 lb a wk that is 19 lbs before sailing...of course that also means NO gelato in Italy....
But i am totally considering joining up with the Susan G Komen 3-day 60 mile walk - thinking that addl training before the walk will be very beneficial and helpful with losing 19 lbs.....

OMG Brenda! Sending you tons of good luck!!! I'm doing calculations like that EVERYDAY at the moment!!! After dropping 14lbs last year, I've put it all back on (curse that DDP!!!) and it's killing me to lose even an ounce!!! WTH is that all about!!?????? I'm doing all the same good stuff with no joy whatsoever - it absoflaminlutely SUCKS!!!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Just let me know how you get on - goodness knows I need some motivation...

OMG that Kingdom Tower looks awesome....i might be able to do that (without boring disney downer DH of mine) - i don't need him to buy Disney or have fun at Disney!!!

DH is v-e-r-y keen on the prospect of DVC at the Contemporary. I think it's a done deal in this house...

...hey - we have about 10 seats on our Italy tour that we could go out & sell - we didn't meet our numbers that the tour company has set so we're paying a huge per person surcharge fee or we can sell another 10 seats...ugghhh - anyone up to a 10 day trip to Rome, Assisi, Sienna, Florence, pisa & Venice? only $4000 or do your own airfare & pay only $3000!!

When is the trip, Brenda?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

 

[Aisling]

Hello Magic Mateys,

Brenda, I have to tell you that the no-see-sweetie method I've pulled on Jesse is working so well! Not only is he getting great grades, more importantly, he's doing his homework on time AND keeping his notes/papers/etc organized! I saw him in his room last night going through his notes and getting rid of old stuff, neatening everything up, and he's even writing more neatly. He asked if he could use a 5-subject spiral with folders for loose papers instead of a loose-leaf binder, and I went out and got him one right away. I wrote a note to all his teachers that this style of organization works better for him, and so I don't think they'll have a problem with it. And if they do, I'll fight it. I complimented him when I saw him re-organizing and studying, telling him how proud of him I am that he's being so responsible, but I didn't go overboard,not making too big a deal, even though in my heart I was very happy. He's feeling better today after a mild fever yesterday, so he went to school.

Today is Confession day for my religion class, so I have to talk to them about examining their consciences to get ready for Easter. The kids love going to confession, as they always feel better afterwards. We have a wonderful group of priests, whom the kids love, and they make confession a joyful experience for the kids.

It's a beautiful, sunny, cool day here in NYC.

I hope it's nice and sunny where you are!

 

[CustardTart]

oh i'll have an update for all of ya tuesday night.....appt is at 3:30!

How did it go, Brenda???