The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 30

[Glynis]

Thank you!! (from me)

Coolie!! (from Cassidy )

You should plan a trip to check it out!!!! Let me know if you decide to do it, and I'll plan an impromptu trip to Cedar to visit my parents (and show you and Cassidy around!!!) Now, if that's not incentive, I don't know what is!

 

[Glynis]

I'm praying for all those affected by these devastating fires!!! My brother and new SIL are in "evacuation" mode. They've stocked their car with bottled water, and canned food (can opener, too), they've packed all their photos, CD's, important documents, and they are all in the car. Josh told me, they could be out of their house in 15 minutes if they have to. Jamie has 3 co workers that have lost their homes.

My dad got back from Disneyland last night, and said the smoke was terrible! He said it was really hard to enjoy DL, because the smoke was so bad!

Well, I'm off to return books to the liberry! Oh, before I go, does anyone remember what character is Rees' favorite? I'm going to go to the Disney outlet store, and thought I'd try to pick something up for him to lift his spirits. Any ideas?

 

[Tinkaroo]

Good morning!

Welcome home Steffy, Terry and Janet.

Theresa - I went to Indiana Univ. of PA, a state school about an hour from home. For what Cassidy is interested in, I recommend she stay in state. If she were specializing in a particular field, then the 'best' college might be in order. But she can get a wonderful education in CO at a more reasonable cost. Well, is any college tuition reasonable?? Unless of course she gets a scholarship!

Yes, welcome home to the 3 of you!

And Theresa, I totally agree with Tammi's comments. Unfortunately, teachers nor musicians typically make a ton of $$ (we can all debate on how unfair that is at another time!), so I think it would make the most sense for her to pay in-state tuition somewhere. Unless she does get one of those coveted scholarships!

For what it's worth, I went to The Univ. of Texas at Austin (shocked by that, aren't ya? ). It was a perfect decision for me, as I wanted to be a business major (they consistently rank in the top 5 or 10 for business programs), I wanted a big campus experience, and I've bled orange since birth (both my parents are alums, too).

Conversely, Jonathan went to Hardin-Simmons, a private Baptist university in Abilene in west Texas. He had a wonderful college experience, but I can tell you that his education cost nearly 3 or 4 times more than mine, and we are just next month finally going to be rid of his student loans. He will be the first to say that while he had a great time there, he probably could have gotten just as good of an education elsewhere for much cheaper (particularly since he's not currently using any part of his degree for his day job).

She's got a lot of exciting decisions in front of her - just take them all slowly, and keep an open mind!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Morning DDA!

I received this email last night and thought I should share it with you. This is from my Uncle Will and Aunt Ruth; the others mentioned are my Uncle Mary and Aunt Joanne:

Dear Family and Friends:
We live in Spring Valley which is currently experiencing the “Harris Fire” which is one of the major blazes in San Diego County. Although we have had lots of smoke blowing in from the fires to the east of us, we saw the first flames last night around 10:00 PM as the fire began to come around San Miguel, the lovely mountain which dominates our area. Over 500,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in San Diego County. Ruth’s brother, Marty, and his wife Joanne, who live about 1 ½ miles closer to the mountain than we do, were forced to evacuate their home yesterday afternoon as a precaution, and we have been expecting the call for us to evacuate at any time. But, so far, we have not been directed to leave. We are all packed up and ready to go, but have not had to yet. It has been an interesting experience selecting what to pack and what to leave. Ruth and I discovered that we could live without missing a lot of it. That has already been a blessing.

The fires are still easily seen from our house, and there is smoke everywhere. Marty’s house has not been threatened, and the winds have not been nearly as high this morning as was predicted. As a result, the fires have not been as aggressive in our area today as the morning progressed. In addition, the Navy and air National Guard helicopters have joined the fight and are dropping water on the fires nearest us. That combination seems to be winning for the present, but that could all change if the winds kick back up.

Ruth works for San Diego County Emergency Medical Services, and she is on twelve hour shifts in the Medical Operations Center, so we have the latest data available. The best sources I have found on the Internet for our local news coverage are Fox Channel 6 http://www.fox6.com/, http://www.signonsandiego.com/, and Channel 10 http://www.10news.com/index.html. Both of these might give you information and videos more specific to our situation than the national news outlets

Thanks for praying for us. God is in control, and He wants the best for us, so we trust whatever He sends.

Love,

Will/Dub and Ruth

Marty and Joanne are now not allowed to go back to their home - Marty was able to travel back to his home twice to hose it down, but they have now officially closed his road. Currently they are staying with Joanne's cousin (they have a fifth wheel to stay in) before finding out if they have to move to Qualcomm Stadium if they have to evacuate again. Haven't heard anything more from Will and Ruth - given they are only a mile and a half away, it's a blessing they have not been evacuated yet. Since last night though, the winds have really picked up. Keep these two families in your prayers too.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected, and I will particularly lift your relatives up, Chanon. Please keep us posted!

 

[babytrees]

You should plan a trip to check it out!!!! Let me know if you decide to do it, and I'll plan an impromptu trip to Cedar to visit my parents (and show you and Cassidy around!!!) Now, if that's not incentive, I don't know what is!

that's what I am hoping....of course she is "just" a sophmore so we have a little bit to wait...but not that long.

 

[babytrees]

I'm praying for all those affected by these devastating fires!!! My brother and new SIL are in "evacuation" mode. They've stocked their car with bottled water, and canned food (can opener, too), they've packed all their photos, CD's, important documents, and they are all in the car. Josh told me, they could be out of their house in 15 minutes if they have to. Jamie has 3 co workers that have lost their homes.

My dad got back from Disneyland last night, and said the smoke was terrible! He said it was really hard to enjoy DL, because the smoke was so bad!

Well, I'm off to return books to the liberry! Oh, before I go, does anyone remember what character is Rees' favorite? I'm going to go to the Disney outlet store, and thought I'd try to pick something up for him to lift his spirits. Any ideas?

I believe it's Mickey

 

[my3princes]

Here are our photopass photos. There are a lot, but most of them are just duplicates with borders or enhancements.

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/photoshareviewer.aspx?share=717071b4-3c05-4b27-9be5-f309c882fc73

Let me know if it doesn't work.

 

[Tinkaroo]

Janet - Welcome home! Sorry about the Moms' Panel. That makes SIX of us who didn't make it. And my theory on low post count is still holding true - NOBODY who has over 1000 posts made it to round 2. I am also not the only one who noticed. Other people have brought it up now.

Hey! It's Wednesday! That means SEVEN WEEKS until WDW!

I forgot to say that I didn't make the Moms' Panel, either. Now, I wasn't really expecting to since I probably don't have their most important qualification, but I figured it was worth a shot!

It is interesting that no one that has been selected has much time on the boards (but I don't see any way that Disney would know that). I do wonder, though, if Disney will somewhat script what they can say/look over their shoulders. Could you really be honest about everything, or will Disney run it through a hefty-duty filter of sorts? I guess we'll have to wait to find out!

But see the only college she is interested in state isn't that good...or she wants to go back to Montana for school....for what she wants...also not that good.

If the school has a good or excellent music dept the education dept stinks or vice versa.

That is why we came to the DDA....get some clues. It's time to take the PSAT's and PLAN's...she wants to narrow down her choices from "well there's the East Coast, West Coast, Metro or Montana" to about 10 schools so she knows whether to take the ACT, SAT or both.

I didn't mention - UT has a good education program (at least it was when I was there). They also have an excellent college band experience (The Showband of the Southwest), but I don't know much about the music program.

As for Jonathan's alma mater, one of our wonderful friends' mom is the Dean of the School of Education! So, we have some pull there , and they have a very good program.

Though I do have a line on a new job...just have to dust off the resume....for as old as I am there are very few jobs on it.

That's exciting!!!!!!

I'm praying for all those affected by these devastating fires!!! My brother and new SIL are in "evacuation" mode. They've stocked their car with bottled water, and canned food (can opener, too), they've packed all their photos, CD's, important documents, and they are all in the car. Josh told me, they could be out of their house in 15 minutes if they have to. Jamie has 3 co workers that have lost their homes.

My dad got back from Disneyland last night, and said the smoke was terrible! He said it was really hard to enjoy DL, because the smoke was so bad!

Well, I'm off to return books to the liberry! Oh, before I go, does anyone remember what character is Rees' favorite? I'm going to go to the Disney outlet store, and thought I'd try to pick something up for him to lift his spirits. Any ideas?

Prayers for your brother and SIL, Glynis, as well as for Becky's coworkers' family. Thanks for posting about DL, too - I was wondering how things were looking there.

I do remember that one of the boys loved Donald (I can remember Denise designing that shirt for one of them to wear to Chef Mickey's that had Donald on it specifically). Was that Rees?

I do remember that he just loves his Pal Mickey and the monorail, though!

 

[bear74]

Welcome home Steffy and Terry,
glad you had no flight delays and no luggage problems. Sorry miss blueberry was being ornery.

 

[bear74]

Janet,
glad you made it home. It just means you will have to go out to dinner tonight. Since you have no groceries in the house.

 

[bear74]

Prayers for Chanon's, Glynis's and Becky's co-workers family's. ANd all those in California

 

[babytrees]

So the server is down at work

No work to be done...but the bad thing is my boss is going to have a conniption fit because I can't access anything.

The mother board may be fried....a whole week without the server....poor me.

 

[bear74]

okay time to get a shower and head to the Dr.

 

[UP Disney]

I thought Katie was tough at 7 pounds 14 oz. After that it was all downhill. Jacob weighed in at 6 pounds 8 oz., and the twins were, Leslie 5 pounds 11 oz., and Mary 5 pounds 10 oz. I guess the 2 of them together equalled over 10 pounds, but they came out one at a time (thank heaven!!!)

Oh, that just brought back a memory!!! I was lying on the table during the C-section with the twins (they were both sideways in the womb). They had delivered both girls, and sent them off to the NICU, and my doctor was finishing up with me. Alan was standing there, watching, really into the whole thing. The doctor was replacing my uterus and Alan said, "Is that her uterus? That thing is HUGE!!!" The doctor and all the nurses (all female) looked daggers at him, and said, "Well it should, it's been housing 2 people for 9 months." Alan got really sheepish, and quickly left the OR for the NICU. He was so embarrassed!

My babies were 6 lb. 1 oz. and 6 lb. 5 oz. Katrina was 5 weeks early and Becky was 10 days early. I was lucky because they were also easy deliveries (if that can be said of any delivery).

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I find I am not such a bear the rest of the very busy work season if my tree also goes up then.

Though I do have a line on a new job...just have to dust off the resume....for as old as I am there are very few jobs on it.

Good luck with the job application!!
I don't know what we are going to do about our tree. Arabella is NAUGHTY, and she has claws so I am sure she will climb the tree. This morning she was LEAPING from the bed so she could reach the chain on the ceiling fan. She looked like those dogs that jump and catch the Frisbees in midair. Then there's Aurora who chews the wires on the tree. I think we would be stupid to put it up before we leave because the cats will destroy it, and we won't get back until the evening of Dec. 16 so it will be pretty late in the season before we get it in place. Ugh! Too many decisions!

Debbie love the pictures of your grandson, what a cutie

Elizabeth what a cute picture of ds & princess

Need to get ready for work, yesterday really threw me off. I have no groceries in the house & I have yet to unpack. Oh well I will get to it sometime.

Thanks! DS is very sweet to Princess. She LOVES him.
Don't unpack. You're going back in a couple of months. Just throw in a jacket and you'll be all set!

Lindsay - OK, so EIGHT of us didn't make the panel. Really, what are the chances of that? The speculation is that anybody who owns DVC got booted off, and my suspicion is that most AP holders got ousted, too. While there is a girl on the TPAS thread who says I am wrong, I daresay I am right. (It made me laugh that she claims she has superior knowledge and still made it in. How on earth does she know where they drew the line?) If there are AP holders who made it through it is because they didn't say they are AP holders in their little application. I don't know how they managed to weed out everybody who posts here frequently unless they have some bizarre way to cross reference. It is a very strange coincidence, though. For EIGHT of us with completely different family sizes, different age kids, different regions of the country, different experiences to share, NONE of us made it to the second tier. I firmly believe there is a "threshold" of knowledge that they didn't want applicants to exceed, and if you tipped your hand in the application it automatically pulled you out of the process. The people who made it to Round 2 still haven't really been scrutinized very carefully - that part is yet to come. There are a BUNCH of men who made it in, so "Moms' Panel" is a bit of a misnomer. I absolutely think any answers will be filtered before they go on the Disney site. I am sure those winners who go to WDW in December will get a heaping dose of what will and will not be permissible, and I am sure they will be required to sign all sorts of documents promising to comply or face legal action. From that aspect it is better that I didn't advance because I am rather liberal with my opinions.

I refuse to apologize for being disappointed. I am HUGELY disappointed and I see no problem in saying so. I'm not a gracious loser. Am I happy for the people who made it? Not really. I don't know any of them! In order for me to be happy for someone I would need to feel like they really deserved to be there. None of the DDA made it, and neither did anybody else whose username looks even vaguely familiar, so I can't really endorse any of them. There. Now I feel better.

 

[UP Disney]

Thank goodness! I worried about amiting that I don't like Scrappy.

You aren't alone in that Heidi. I didn't really care for Scrappy either. He was a bad puppy! Just look at him in the last movie (I think it was the last one - the Island one).

 

[UP Disney]

I gotta say I agree with them but I never have learned how to pronounce Isolde...can you help??

I don't think I'd care for that name. I think people would pronounce it as "Is Old". Just think of the poor thing when she hits 30 and everyone keeps telling her she is old.

 

[UP Disney]

Well, this is what will happen:
We can post whatever. We can post hundreds of pages. Everybody that is gone will come back and NONE of them will read through what they missed. They will simply ask us to post a recap for them. So even if we DO post hundreds of pages worth of stuff it won't really matter.

Tom's auctions have over 100 views each, but only one bid so far. Looks like people are going to wait until closer to the end to put bids in. I have done it both ways and I can't really see an advantage to either approach. If I bid early then I still lose in the last 11 seconds half the time. Better to just sit on the auction and bid when it is almost over, unless I'm not going to be at the computer when it ends.

I'll have you know I'm reading every single post that I missed over the week-end.

 

[UP Disney]

Elizabeth, we can all make a pact now that we will NOT give a recap. They will just have to read.

Boy, you sure are coming out of that shell!

 

[UP Disney]

Yikes! You guys are chatty today!

I wonder who will actually go back and read every post?

Thanks Elizabeth for keeping tabs on my auction!

I have over 60 watcher alone! I hope the end of the auction turns into a bidding frenzy!

I have already had one person ask if I could do three dresses for her triplets.
In two different styles! That's six dresses! Yikes! I don't know what I might have gotten myself into!

The bids are currently $48 and $34.03 with only a few hours left. Would that be worth the effort if you hadn't made them for Leighanna?