Reading, seeing and hearing Part 2

[sheridac]

Last edited by sleepydog25 : Today at 07:32 AM. Reason: Had no oral thermometers. . .

That is just WRONG!!!!!!! OMG!!!!

 

[sleepydog25]

Why, sher! Whatever were you thinking?! I simply meant that I had to use one of those inaccurate forehead thermometers. And according to that, I'm perfectly normal. . .

 

[sheridac]

Why, sher! Whatever were you thinking?! I simply meant that I had to use one of those inaccurate forehead thermometers. And according to that, I'm perfectly normal. . .

PERFECTLY NORMAL??????!!

 

[sleepydog25]

Last edited by sheridac : Today at 07:46 AM. Reason: define "normal"??

1) Enjoys quality wines, especially reds (nothing from NY need apply)
2) Enjoys freshly-ground-right-before-brewing coffee. . .with a dash of cream and raw sugar
3) Loves Krispy Kreme doughnuts
4) Practices being a superydupersecretagent
5) Knows a nutwing when he sees one

 

[sheridac]

1) Enjoys quality wines, especially reds (nothing from NY need apply)
2) Enjoys freshly-ground-right-before-brewing coffee. . .with a dash of cream and raw sugar
3) Loves Krispy Kreme doughnuts
4) Practices being a superydupersecretagent
5) Knows a nutwing when he sees one

1) Have you tried any???
2) I have no qualms about your choice of brew. Just your additives!!!
3) No argument there. Unfortunately, the scale is NOT my friend after consumption of said Krispy Kreme. So, I think I hate you now!!!
4) Not very well. Your mad skillz are quite lacking. Just sayin'.
5) I am the Nutwing Commander. There's a difference, you know!!

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Good Morning All! YAK, Sher, HorseyBubbles, La2, Rhonda, Erinella, Grammy, Ash, 2IAB, Kimmiepoo, Donna, Mel, Tink, JavaSteph, Shelby, Dr. Dre, yetanotherJen, Minnie Moo, Haley, Brandt, SNAP, PrincessAurora, Frickles, Jamal, Gerribon, Staci, Tracyconnorsmom, Gerribon, NM, PPG, PP, MP, DMM, ODG, Sid, NAB, Minnie, spectrum-turbo, Disfan3, QT Pooh, Latoberg, Mark, Lou, Chapstick, Ed, Joe, MG, LG, hoop, Mr. Silly, ZZUB, darrylpan, SleepyD, LannyBirch and whoever I missed that will never let me forget it (again)

YAK ~ LOVE the pics. Pluto looks like he had so much fun! I just can't wait to meet him.

I see that all is right with the world and Sher and SleepyD are at it already this morning. You two remind me of growing up. And the fussing (not bickering) that my sisters and I used to do.

Only, what, 52 days or so left? I hope everyone has kicked in to high planning mode.

The kids start "big gym" tonight (no more tumblebus thank goodness). I can't wait to see how darling they look scaring their mama to death by hurling themselves around and doing amazing tricks. Well, okay, maybe only the girl. But she hasn't even mastered the cartwheel yet, so perhaps it will only be cute instead of scary. For a couple of weeks.

 

[kpk89]

Good morning shout out to everyone! EVERYone!

Happy flippin' Monday!

It's raining here. And muggy. ew. Rain is fine, muggy, not so much.

Glad to see the Sheridac and SleepyD show is back from hiatus. popcorn:

Busy day at work today, but maybe I'll check in when the boss isn't looking.

 

[spectrum-turbo]

Mornin' 'strommers.

Seems I missed a couple of birthdays so:


Happy Belated Birthday Rhonda and Donna

Meet Haley on Friday, so I now know that at least one of you is not a figment of my imagination

Spent the rest of the weeekend avoiding the mall as it was Tax Free Weekend. What a life?!?!?!

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Morning all!

Pluto kept me up late last night......pictures anyway.

Can someone help me with picture sizing???
I posted them last night and some seem to have changed sizes overnight. What's with that? I'm using Photobucket, but can't see to "get" how to post the pic's in proper size and have them stay that way.
Help? Lou? Tink? Joe? Anyone?

At least you guy are getting the picture......no pun intended. Hee-hee!

Amy - please wrap bubble wrap around your babies. Don't mean to scare you, but we don't need any more broken bones around these parts!

I also can't believe I just got back and I'm going again so soon. Is it only 52 days! Yikes - ADRs are done and tours booked but no spreadsheet planning!

Any new information on the meet? It's been months since I've heard anything.

I'll finish Pluto sometime today.

Enjoy!

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

Thursday, August 3

Went to work, Wesley in tow. Mark left early for a meeting, halfway between where we live, and where we were going (where I grew up). At noon, Wesley and I headed home to load the car. We then stopped by the bank, Kroger and Wendy's. As we passed through the town where Mark was having his meeting, we waved at his car in the Cracker Barrel parking lot. We arrived in my home town. Visited with my mom for a while at her office. She conveniently forgot to tell us that my dad was at home. Mark arrived. We went to the house. Mom finally got home. Mark and I had plans to go out to eat, then to see PotC 2. We left Wesley in their care, and set off.

We had dinner at this little Italian place where, actually, we had our first date, on my birthday, 11 years ago. It wasn't as good as it used to be. But it was better than it was last year. On the way to the theater, we checked several places for new shoes (sandals) for Wesley. No luck. On to see the show. Which, unfortunately, we didn't think was great. The first was much better, IMHO. Arrived back home, where Wesley was already in bed. Chatted with the parents for a few minutes before we all went to bed.

Friday, August 4, My Birthday

Before I begin, let me say a great big thank you to all of you for your birthday wishes, cakes, cookies, beer, and beer-carton hats. Oh yeah, and the fireworks! My parents have dial-up. Not only is it excruciatingly slow (I'm talking 9 minutes for my email to load), but I didn't want records of where I'd been on their computer, either. My dad knows a LOT about computers. Much more than I do. And I'd really prefer to keep it a "secret" about our crazy friends on the DIS boards, and the fact that Wesley has been to WDW 15 times. That they would not understand is quite the understatement. So, to all my wonderful Viking friends, thank you. It made my birthday bearable. And even sort of fun!

So I was up around 7:30. My parents are early risers. They did not pass that gene on to me. But at 7:30, up I was. Wesley was already up, also. Tailing my dad everywhere. He LOVESLOVESLOVES his Pop. Pop is pretty much up there with Aurora and Phillip. So around 9:30, my dad finally remembers that it's my birthday. Uh huh. TWO HOURS after I got up. Mom had gone to work. Mark finally got up and moving. We decided to go back out today and search (again) for new shoes for Wesley. We started with chili dogs from the pool hall in Mark's hometown. This is usually a pleasant experience. Not today. Wesley was in some sort of foul humor. He whined and moaned and complained. Then he began kicking me under the table. This kind of behavior is not only not tolerated by us... he has never done that before. Did not go over so well, with either of us. By now we were all in a foul humor. But we pressed on. There are lots of little nice (expensive) shops downtown. One of them is a teacher supply/toy store. It's new. And it sells Thomas things. Wesley wanted a new train, badly. He was not getting a new train. ESPECIALLY given the way he'd been acting at lunch. So we departed the store, and Wesley had himself a mini temper tantrum. Again, this was not greeted kindly by us. We had...ummm... *words* with him, and he straightened himself out. We looked at several more places (still on the shoe quest), but I was stressed out and not feeling well, Mark was mad with Wesley, and Wesley was quieter (but still pouting) and exhausted. Finally went back to my hometown, where we bought Wesley a pair of Crocs (which he really wanted... but the 8/9 was too small and the 10/11 is really too big. He got the 10/11 anyway. So far he seems to like them very well.)... Then we returned home.

My sister and BIL were due to arrive any moment. Plus, we had a whole passel of cousins coming in, at some point. When my sister and BIL finally arrived, I began drinking. They have that effect on me. Some of the cousins (the obnoxious ones) arrived. I continued drinking. Then came dinner. My birthday dinner, if you will. I was somewhat aggravated already because my mother didn't bother to make a birthday cake. She farmed it out to my sister, instead. My sister does not cook nearly as well as my mother. Of course, from age 9 to age 29, I had NO birthday cake. She was always too busy taking care of reunion stuff, and making OTHER cakes. Anyone have the name of a good therapist?? Horsey, dear?? For some reason, she decided to make one for my 30th. She's made one in the years since then, however. I have no idea why. We finish dinner, and get ready for cake. And presents. My mother has already left the table. My dad is getting his camera ready. And his video camera. My mother tells him to hurry, because she has a lot to do. I was pissed off, quite frankly, and told her that I was sorry my birthday celebration was causing an inconvenience for her. She sat down after that, and didn't say too much more. The second the last present was opened, she left the table again. Because, after all, she was very busy. The kicker is that my sister also got presents. From my parents. Nicer ones than I got, for my birthday. Her birthday was in May. My parents were at her house in July, and had already celebrated her birthday. But there you go, the story of my life. Late that evening, more cousins arrived. These are cousins I actually like. And then it was time to go to bed. My birthday "celebration" was over.

Saturday, August 5

This day is always a stressful one. Not for everyone, but for me. And really, I guess, for my sister, too. And my dad, of course. Because when my mother is stressed and anxious (which is most of the time), everyone "close" to her gets to experience it to the extreme. Of course, I always want to say to her, Plan ahead! The reunion is the same day EVERY year! Do things in advance! I do not know how in the heck she manages to cater things so successfully. Thank God I live 2 1/2 hours away now, is all I can say. The ACTUAL reunion is the least fun part of the weekend. At the reunion are people that I don't know, and don't really care to know. Last year, a girl I went to high school with showed up. Turns out, we're 2nd cousins or something. But I didn't know that for 32 years. Weird, huh? The fun part is AFTER the reunion. That's when all the "cool cousins" (the ones we've always been closest to) come back to Mom and Dad's for a huge cookout. Well, it's fun if you can stay out of Mom's way and not get roped into doing anything. And let me also say here that I am NOT lazy. (Unlike SOME people in my family, like my sis and bil...) But I do NOT work well with my mother. Or maybe it's that she doesn't work well with others. At any rate, I try to avoid the kitchen when I'm there. So I hung out with one of my favorite cousins, and swore her to secrecy, and told her all of our awesome Disney stories. She was suitably impressed, though she, herself, has NEVER been to WDW. My very favorite cousin is her son. He and I are only a month apart in age. We have always had a great time together. Normally, we have to leave on Saturday night, to get back for church on Sunday. But this year, we were in separate cars. So Wesley and I were staying an extra night. I was looking forward to spending time with my fave cousin.

We had dinner, Mark left, and Wesley took off to play with his favorite cousin. My mother had 6 siblings. Her father had 6 siblings. HIS father had 10 siblings. We have a LOT of cousins, okay? And to explain the familial relationships here would boggle your mind. Like the fact that my parents raised half of my mom's siblings... therefore, I was raised with them more as siblings than as their neice... and even though I'm technically the first born, my personality is very much that of a middle child. You haven't SEEN dysfunctional til you meet my family. But I digress.

I'm in the dining room with a bunch of cousins, my aunt, and my grandmother. Who is technically not a part of this family (my grandfather's side), because she and my grandfather (now deceased) divorced 39 years ago~that being the primary reason my parents took over the care of their children. But now that she gets on better with her children (the mother-child awkward relationship has a long history in my family), she comes. Well, that, and my grandfather is deceased. And now comes the highlight of the weekend for me. My aunt is telling us that my grandmother had been sick for several weeks. Many tests were run, but nothing was conclusive. My aunt determined that my grandmother, who loves to be outside working, had been overdoing it, and getting too hot. My grandmother assured us that this was not the case. She had not been working too hard, she stayed in the shade, she did not get too hot. To which my aunt replied, Well, you shouldn't have been out there ho(e)ing around! I cracked up. No one else did. So I laughed on the inside. For a long, long time. Sad, isn't it, that this was the highlight? My favorite cousin had been up since 4am, and wasn't feeling well on top of that. So he went to bed at 10pm. I knew his wife had, but I didn't know he had. Then I got stuck in a convo with another aunt, who tends to think she is correct (and therefore, YOU are WRONG) about everything. That was an excruciating experience. I finally got out of that one, and eventually everyone decided to go to bed.

Sunday, August 6

Another highlight of the weekend is always my mom's breakfast. High strung she may be, but she CAN cook. Breakfast was enjoyed by all. And then comes the worst part: everyone leaves. All at once. My fave cousin left, and I had gotten to spend a grand total of about 15 minutes talking to him. I was sad about that. But maybe we'll meet them somewhere during the year, so we don't have to deal with the whole family while we're trying to visit. Anyway. The rest of my day was spent listening to my BIL tell everyone how superior he is to my husband, how superior his conference is to our conference, how my husband's salary is "too high", and if we were in HIS conference, no way would my husband make "that much". Did I mention that he and Mark USED to be best friends?

I actually was having a good conversation with my dad, and of course Wesley did not want to leave Pop. And then when we finally did leave, they called to say we'd left our cooler, so I had to go back and get it.

I should end by saying that my family isn't altogether horrible. But my mother does not handle high-stress situations well. At all. And unfortunately for me, my birthday has always, always come at a high stress time. Throw in an Eddie Haskell of a brother in law, who lives to make himself look better, and to put my husband down... just never adds up to a good time. We do get on fairly well when it is JUST us and my parents (without sis and bil around). And things are ALWAYS much better if they come to our house. Because I plan ahead, and have things done, and there is much less stress involved in the whole thing. This does not change the fact, of course, that my sister has always been treated better than me (she is the baby, after all), and that ANY encounter with my family is still somewhat nerve-wracking on my end... I think next time I go to the doctor, I will ask him about an anti-anxiety pill, to be reserved for family visits. I think things might go better for ALL of us!

If you are fortunate enough to have a close-knit, happy family, be thankful. If you have a screwed-up, dysfunctional family, I'd love to commiserate with you. If only we had a free weekend... we'd be off to WDW to make up for the injustice of the past weekend!!

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Oh Rhonda ~
Sorry for your (mostly) awful weekend.

We should talk . . .I've got some doozy stories, too, but I think you got a shorter stick than I ever saw!!!!

(and what was the name of the shop where you bought Wesley's Crocs, and did they carry super-duper small 5/6? If so, I NEED to know, so that I can call and have some shipped to me!)

Hope your week improves.

 

[HaleyB]

"The Great Regurgitator"

Regurgitate on stage, on demand

 

[HaleyB]

There is a sale on Croc's at Fogdog sports Here
It is buy one get one at 50% off and free shipping!!

 

[sheridac]

Rhonda~

No offense, but your weekend sucked!!!

The hoe-ing though??? DED!!!!!

You know what though?

Don't sweat it. 'Cause in 50ish days we'll celebrate your birthday the way it should have been celebrated the first time!!!!

 

[sheridac]

BTW~

This morning on my way in to work I observed a new billboard.

It read:

GOT FALAFEL???

I kid you not.

 

[Disfan3]

RHONDA

I hate my inlaws...there. I said it. OK I don't HATE them...but have not really decided if I would throw a life preserver over if the boat sank....OK OK no...I would I am just NICE that way. My dh and you and Mark are pretty much the same way. We get bashed over and over again by his family while we do nothing but sit and smile. My husband is in the 'if they slap your left cheek give them your right one too' camp. Me not so much. I have a great supportive family, but a mom with a love of the bottle and a huge self loathing, my daughter is more successful AND I am upset about ruining my own good life for drugs...type woman but still we get along ok. unless she is drinking. which is ummmm...all the time.

ANYWAY...my point is here...I understand you fully. I think a lot of problems in families come with severe jelousy. My sil is soooo jealous she can't see straight.

Just like she told my husband the other day

'why would you want your wife to look pretty aren't you afraid she will have men looking at her and she'll leave you?"

hmmm.....I can't help I am not 400 pounds. I try not to be actually. Anyone who is...fine. But don't make it my problem that I am NOT. KWIM? We gop to Disney, we have a decent size home, I get my nails done, my dh adores me and pays attention to me for the most part....and I just think she doesn't like it

her husband is my dh twin. and he is not so "adoring' and fun. He is the boring, not good looking twin if I may! hahahahaha

anyway...they are such great friends with my dh ex wife. Its a crazy situation that I REALLY HAVE TO PRAY ABOUT DAILY or it eats me up to bitterness and unhappiness.

ANYWHOOO...

I cannot IMAGINE Wesley DARLING not being an ANGEL!!! You guys are too hard on that boy! geesh!!!

personally I thought POTC2 was better but I think I am the only one on EARTH at this point

and I can see that you give the figurative "smack down" on the boy when he gets out of hand I can tell you and Mark take no slack for bad behavior BRAVO!!!!!!

Also way to go on the train thing! More parents need to do this MORE OFTEN. Its just crazy these days what kids get for bad behavior

(off my soapbox now)



I JUST WANT TO SAY I HATE ALL WOMEN WHO CAN EAT CHILI DOGS AND REMAIN AS THIN AS YOU. NOT FRIKING FAIR LADY!!!!!!



and I am glad you had an overall good birthday

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

Awww, you guys are all so sweet! This is why we spend time with all of YOU, and why we DON'T spend time (if we can help it) with our families. And they are the reason we escape to WDW so often. Well, family and mean church people. They both push us over the edge! My sister loves to gripe to my mom that I never call her, etc. Probably shouldn't tell her I've been spending time on the phone with you people, most of whom I've never laid eyes on, huh? And my birthday gift from her? Stationery. At least last year she gave me chocolate and beer, you know, something USEFUL! Yes, I was quite disappointed with the stationery!!

 

[sleepydog25]

If you are fortunate enough to have a close-knit, happy family, be thankful. If you have a screwed-up, dysfunctional family, I'd love to commiserate with you. If only we had a free weekend... we'd be off to WDW to make up for the injustice of the past weekend!!

There is such a thing as close-knit, happy families?

Glad to see the Sheridac and SleepyD show is back from hiatus. popcorn:

That'd be the SleepyD and sheridac show. . .thank you very much!

personally I thought POTC2 was better but I think I am the only one on EARTH at this point

Yes, yes, you are the only person on the planet to think that. . .

 

[NAB]

Yak- love the pics.

Rhonda- Thanks for the mini trip report. Family what you going to do. I have a
sister that we swear is adopted because of the way she acts. Total
soap opera. I feel for you.

Everyone else hi and I am turning the page..........


-

 

[em'smom]

Rhonda, Don't worry about the stationary for birthday present. You can use it to write to all of your maelstrom friends! Wouldn't that stick it to Mom, that you use it to write to internet friends as opposed to family.
by the way,

Happy Late Birthday!


YAK, those pictures and stories about TravelingPlutoPants are awesome.