The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 2

[PNO4TE]

I posted a similar post on the DDA Weight loss thread, but thought I ought to let you all know why I am more or less "in absentia" these days.

The months of January and February are brutal at work for me. I work 14-16 hour days including the time I am working at home these two months. I have 84 students participating in Junior Music Festival at the end of February and 18 of them are performing piano concerti. I am the "orchestra" for those performers so I have to practice too! In addition to that, I have 93 students submitting compositions for ajudication on the state level this week so I am editing and double checking that everything is right with those. So, if you don't see me much, or I don't post, please know that I am here and reading every word you write. Thanks to Steffy and Amy for letting me know of big things that had happened in case I missed them.

And, by the way... I am hoping that everyone gets their mouths and internals parts in better working order soon.

 

[rosiejo]

Ok, who all here watches American Idol? Or should I say who will admit to watching it? These auditions are the best part. It just cracks me up the way some of these people really think they can sing. Can't they hear themselves ?? And Simon is just too much. I love it.

Yes! Me! I it

We don't get to see it until Friday night though - and I assume you're watching on a Tuesday... just remember when we get to the knock out stage... no spoilers!

 

[Tammi67]

I posted a similar post on the DDA Weight loss thread, but thought I ought to let you all know why I am more or less "in absentia" these days.

The months of January and February are brutal at work for me. I work 14-16 hour days including the time I am working at home these two months. I have 84 students participating in Junior Music Festival at the end of February and 18 of them are performing piano concerti. I am the "orchestra" for those performers so I have to practice too! In addition to that, I have 93 students submitting compositions for ajudication on the state level this week so I am editing and double checking that everything is right with those. So, if you don't see me much, or I don't post, please know that I am here and reading every word you write. Thanks to Steffy and Amy for letting me know of big things that had happened in case I missed them.

And, by the way... I am hoping that everyone gets their mouths and internals parts in better working order soon.

Thanks for checking in, Elin. I thought you were just spending quality time with DD before she went back to school, and here you have been working all this time. YUCK! But I know that you love your work, so maybe just a little yuck.

 

[Tammi67]

Yes! Me! I it

We don't get to see it until Friday night though - and I assume you're watching on a Tuesday... just remember when we get to the knock out stage... no spoilers!

Oh man, that is going to be hard!!!

 

[Princess Nancy]

Brendita, I cannot see or hear the music video.
I will try again when DH gets home. He has so many pop up blockers and spywear on here I can't do anything! GRRRR!

 

[Princess Nancy]

Brendita and all,
Thank you for the support and kind words, thoughts and prayers!
Nancy

 

[Princess Nancy]

Probably Brian (10) can get it for me on Napster or something! I am so behind in the music thing!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Oh man, that is going to be hard!!!

I was thinking the same thing tammi - we might have to start a DDA American Idol discussion thread!!!

 

[tmfranlk]

I hope no one minds or is offended, but I feel the need to brag on my DH a little bit today. I don't know how large the news story of the space capsule "Stardust" landing last weekend was where you all live, but here is was huge! My DH is a field photographer for a local news station, and was sent to the landing site to cover the story. Unfortunately, the weather report wasn't so good and the forecast was for cloudy and snowy. DH had to be there at 3:00 a.m., and he left me at 10:30 the night before, to give himself time for the 3 hour drive plus any snow and ice he might encounter.

He was the first photographer to arrive, and the NASA people gave him a prime site. Other news stations started to arrive, but none of them set up their equipment because they all thought the cloud cover and snow would hamper their visibility. DH, however, was all set up and ready to go. Finally, about 3 minutes before the re-entry, the snow stopped, the clouds shifted and there was clear sky. The capsule appeared in a large fireball with a tail streaming out behind it and DH was the ONLY photographer that captured it! The NASA people couldn't get their camera out until much later, and none of the other news stations got it on film at all. After it was all over, everyone was scrambling to get DH's film from him. The Discovery Channel wants it for a special they are airing later this month, CNN wants it, NASA wants it, etc. DH was a little bummed, because he can't sell the film. It legally belongs to the station he works for. If he had just been filming on his own time, he could have sold it for quite a bit of money.

However, I'm so proud of him! He takes such pride in his work! Thanks for letting me brag a little. I'm sorry if this is inappropriate!

How cool!! I can't wait to see the picture.

 

[Glynis]

Glynis, we always do one party and the kids each have their own theme and cake. They each get their own cake, a Mylar balloon with that theme, and paper goods with the theme. The party favors are usually a book (I hate giving little stuff the kids throw away). we generally give the Weekly Reader book collection for the gift. they are hard cover classic books.

Anyway, we do general games (pinata, rent a bouncy thing, rented a train once). Last summer we had it at one of those bouncy places where the kids get to jump. Get pizza and drinks.

The kids love it. I'm sure we'll have separate parties one day, but for now they're happy with sharing one big party. Oh, and I generally do a poem for the invite (for the 4th it was a party at our local kids book store. they did games, a parade, music). The invite said books are fun, books are great, we're turning 4 let's celebrate! this past year (5th) I got separate invites for each one with the appropriate theme. I wrote a poem for each invite and then mailed it to the kids they specifically asked to come. for family/general friends I made a plain one with a group poem. Yes, I get a little nuts about their b'day, but then I only do a party once a year!

1st b'day: huge party to thank everyone for helping
2nd: had an Elmo (sesame street) theme with a train cake and each of their names on a car behind the cake
3rd: Dora, construction, Snow White
4th: Caillou, trucks/cars, Strawberry Shortcake
5th: Harry Potter, rescue heroes, Barbie bride

Have no clue for this year. I'm thinking of doing a Disney theme party so the kids can have their fave character on a cake and all their friends can come dressed in their Disney costumes. I'm sure y'all will help me plan it out for June!

sorry to ramble. hope this helps.

It helps immensely! I love the idea. I think it will make the birthday so much easier if they can both have the theme they like. Thanks, everyone, for helping me figure this out!

 

[rosiejo]

I wanted to send this to Kate & Nancy.
http://music.yahoo.com/track/22518436
When I Get to Where I'm Going.
Click on watch video.
Takes a little while to load.
I think it's beautiful.

I just downloaded his album on the strength of that track - hope the rest of it is as good

 

[Tammi67]

I was thinking the same thing tammi - we might have to start a DDA American Idol discussion thread!!!

How hard do you think it will be for Clare not to peek?

 

[Glynis]

Good morning everyone! Sorry -- this will be long.
I need some advice from my friends, please. I have had sinus/allergy problems since I was very young. Have taken shots two different times with two different doctors, to no avail. I've been to 3 different ENT's, who all say I should have surgery. But, they don't really give me a good case for the surgery -- say they will fix my deviated septum, take out a bone spur in one sinus, and clean them out. They don't know if this will stop me from having all of these sinus infection/upper respiratory infections. My internist and allergist tell me they don't think the surgery will help. Meanwhile, I have year-round terrible allergies, that always flare up the most when I'm run-down. Slowing down much isn't an option (I've been at the same job for 19 years -- since my senior year in college and now run the business), although I am trying to take better care of myself.

Normally I start getting more stuffy than usual and start sneezing. At this point, I start taking Afrin for 3 days, make sure I am taking my decongestant and Allegra. The headaches start, then I have this gross drainage in my throat that makes it sore, ache from the shoulders up, ears feel funny, run slight fever, have a hard time climbing stairs (but no cough) and am exhausted. Yesterday I woke up with the same symptoms for the third time since the second weekend in December.

I make myself go to work, because I can't afford to get behind, plus have to get the kids from school (we live 35 miles from downtown Dallas but the kids have to go to a special school an additional 15 minutes further away). I hate to take antibiotics for every "episode" because I get yeast infections, plus I don't want to get resistant to them from overuse.

The one flaw (did I saw flaw???) in my near perfect husband is that he doesn't have the sympathetic/compassionate gene for all these sinus/allergy problems. I'm sure he gets sick of hearing about my problems, but I'm even more sick of living them. I got in the shower last night trying to steam all this crap out of my head and throat and just broke down crying.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for things that have helped them with these symptoms/problems? I'd be so grateful for any advice at this point.... and thanks for listening.

Marci, I don't have any suggestions for you, just lots of
. I hope that someone will be able to offer you some relief!

 

[rosiejo]

Marci - I'm sending you as I'm not sure I can actually help - but I feel for you.

You didn't mention what your allergies were but I used to get stuffed sinuses quite a lot (not on the same scale as you I must confess) and since I had to cut out dairy from my diet I've had no problems at all.

Probably won't help but thought I'd mention it

Good morning everyone! Sorry -- this will be long.
I need some advice from my friends, please. I have had sinus/allergy problems since I was very young. Have taken shots two different times with two different doctors, to no avail. I've been to 3 different ENT's, who all say I should have surgery. But, they don't really give me a good case for the surgery -- say they will fix my deviated septum, take out a bone spur in one sinus, and clean them out. They don't know if this will stop me from having all of these sinus infection/upper respiratory infections. My internist and allergist tell me they don't think the surgery will help. Meanwhile, I have year-round terrible allergies, that always flare up the most when I'm run-down. Slowing down much isn't an option (I've been at the same job for 19 years -- since my senior year in college and now run the business), although I am trying to take better care of myself.

Normally I start getting more stuffy than usual and start sneezing. At this point, I start taking Afrin for 3 days, make sure I am taking my decongestant and Allegra. The headaches start, then I have this gross drainage in my throat that makes it sore, ache from the shoulders up, ears feel funny, run slight fever, have a hard time climbing stairs (but no cough) and am exhausted. Yesterday I woke up with the same symptoms for the third time since the second weekend in December.

I make myself go to work, because I can't afford to get behind, plus have to get the kids from school (we live 35 miles from downtown Dallas but the kids have to go to a special school an additional 15 minutes further away). I hate to take antibiotics for every "episode" because I get yeast infections, plus I don't want to get resistant to them from overuse.

The one flaw (did I saw flaw???) in my near perfect husband is that he doesn't have the sympathetic/compassionate gene for all these sinus/allergy problems. I'm sure he gets sick of hearing about my problems, but I'm even more sick of living them. I got in the shower last night trying to steam all this crap out of my head and throat and just broke down crying.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for things that have helped them with these symptoms/problems? I'd be so grateful for any advice at this point.... and thanks for listening.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hi guys!

Does anybody have a St Patricks Day Mickey Mouse clip art??

TIA- Kristin

 

[lmartin2711]

Good morning everyone! Sorry -- this will be long.
I need some advice from my friends, please. I have had sinus/allergy problems since I was very young.

I did the surgery and I can say on a scale of 1 - 10.....10 being the best.....I gave it a 7.......still have some problems but not to the extreme that I had before.

I can defenitely understand where you are coming from.

Lynn........hope you feel better soon.

 

[rosiejo]

Oh man, that is going to be hard!!!

Maybe I should just ask everyone to talk in code - like you all did for Amy during the globes... or write SPOILER at the top of your post so I know not to read it... although I'd proabably sneak a peak anyway

Don't worry I'll be fine you talk all you like

ETA - I wrote this message before I caught up and then red this one:

Quote:
Originally Posted by julia & nicks mom
I was thinking the same thing tammi - we might have to start a DDA American Idol discussion thread!!!

How hard do you think it will be for Clare not to peek?

You guys know me too well

Although in all seriousness - I think I wouldn't peek - especially in the knock outs - I never peek at Christmas after all

 

[Glynis]

Hi Glynis, that would be fun to meet up! I don't know if our dates will be the same, our whole trip is April 13 - 23 and our dates at Bryce and Zion will be April 19 -21 at Bryce, April 21-22 at Zion. Let me know!

Have you been to Bryce or Zion before? If not, let me know and I can tell you about some of the sights and hikes. They are pretty darn spectacular. I'm not sure right now on the dates of our Spring Break, but I'll let you know when I find out!

 

[rosiejo]

I was thinking the same thing tammi - we might have to start a DDA American Idol discussion thread!!!

The server is too busy at the moment. Please try again later.:bad pc

Is this annoying anyone else as much as me tonight??? I have to refresh about 10 times to see the page!!!

Anyway - breathe - I was going to say... that sounds like a great idea, then us foreigners could check the thread on Friday after the show and join in the fun a couple of days late

 

[Tammi67]

Hi guys!

Does anybody have a St Patricks Day Mickey Mouse clip art??

TIA- Kristin

Here are some

http://www.geocities.com/billellen836/holidays.html