The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 4

[UP Disney]

I swear I think we may have been seperated at birth!!(Whatever poor soul that had to go through that pregnancy~~)Books, books, books that is what we all love here!! and Harry Potter...that is what Abi is getting in her basket because I forgot to get it the first week it was out!! We very rarely go to the regular movie theater (almost $40 for all of us to just get in ) but we do go for the Harry movies.

That would have been one loooonnnngggg pregnancy for our mother since I know that I'm several years older than you!!!

You & I do seem to have a lot in common. Right down to the disorganized house but wanting to be happy! My mom never could understand that. She'd come and ask how I could live that way. At the time, it worked for DH, the kids & I. As I'm getting older, it is driving me crazy.

And who can go to the theater and not get popcorn!!!! We are lucky that it is only $7 per person where we live to get in but that is still a LOT of money in my mind.

 

[KristineN]

ANy of you bakers out there have a good recipe for shortbread cookies??

 

[UP Disney]

Hey, I can see 1/2 of my desk! I'm making progress and I'm still able to keep up with the DDA thread. Now, I just have to finish the desk, then the chair, then the table, then the floor, ... Yes, this is all in my office.

I have to leave shortly to take Becky to her physical for track. She has been driving every night after track. Another month and she should have enough hours to get her drivers' license! Can you tell I have mixed emotions about this??!! However, it is time. She'll be 18 in July. She wasn't interested so I didn't push her but she now has an activity every night after school and she really needs to drive herself to & from school so that I'm not constantly running after her. She also may be able to get a job this summer (but maybe not as she has 1 week at a leadership seminar in Lansing and 2 weeks as a Counselor in Training at Girl Scout camp).

Talk to you all later.

 

[rosiejo]

ANy of you bakers out there have a good recipe for shortbread cookies??

I've never actually tried these recipes... although they look pretty tasty so may have a go real soon... but Delia is usually great at everything so try these: http://www.deliaonline.com/articles/food/all-about-shortbread,1358,AR.html



Ps how are the blue you know what's? Has the dye washed off yet?

 

[rosiejo]

Hey, I can see 1/2 of my desk! I'm making progress and I'm still able to keep up with the DDA thread. Now, I just have to finish the desk, then the chair, then the table, then the floor, ... Yes, this is all in my office.
Talk to you all later.

Keep up the good work Vicki - I've just been reading the flylady site - may have to join that club

Of course I was supposed to be studying... but it's almost time for Apprentice and bed... My excuse was I was on the phone to my mum and I've not spoken to her for a week... hey I can study tomorrow right??

See you all tomorrow

 

[KristineN]

I've never actually tried these recipes... although they look pretty tasty so may have a go real soon... but Delia is usually great at everything so try these: http://www.deliaonline.com/articles/food/all-about-shortbread,1358,AR.html



Ps how are the blue you know what's? Has the dye washed off yet?

Thanks...

Nope...still have blue...well you know what I mean. But it has gotten pretty light now...a lovely robin egg blue!!

 

[Tammi67]

I missed a trick there - I meant to tell you all on Saturday that they had announced a new show to replace Tarzan... based on the High School Musical
but April fools only work on April 1st so I missed the boat

That would have been vicious, Clare.

But what a great idea! I think you need to get ahold of the imagineers.

 

[Tammi67]

Are you back yet, Kate? Let us know what the doc said.

 

[marcij]

OT -- Denise -- I love your fun in the sun shirt. I had originally asked you to use it for our picture that is made when we board the Magic, but I think I might use the design during our pre-stay at WDW. What color of shirt would you put it on? Bright yellow if I can find it? (Although I don't usually look good in yellow -- pale skin with freckles, but I hope to have my "tan" by then. My sister had me wear pale yellow for my matron of honor dress at her wedding -- I looked like a Twinkie!)

Thanks.

 

[tinknme]

Denise here are a couple of pictures I took of Devine in Jan. I would not have noticed her had it not been for a crowd by the tree. She is amazing to see, she walks on stilts & does it so elegantly. I was so excited to finally see her!

Ok, I switched the Donald to 8am. Tammi, what are those other 2 things you suggested at AK? I'm not familiar with either of them. And will there be a new show where Tarzan was by Sept? anybody heard anything?

 

[Glynis]

ANy of you bakers out there have a good recipe for shortbread cookies??

I don't know if anyone has already passed along a recipe, but here is mine.

Shortbread

1 pound butter (NOT margarine)
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar
3 1/2 - 4 C. flour

Cream butter in a mixer. Slowly add sugar. Alowly add flour (may not use all flour). Turn onto board with the rest of the flour. Lightly knead with fingers only until all the flour is used. Form into rolls (I usually get 3 or 4 rolls per batch). Refrigerate. Cut and shape into squares. Bake at 350 - 375 degrees F. until lightly browned around the edges.

These are melt in your mouth wonderful! I make them at Christmas, and my neighbors have begun to request them all year long.

 

[KristineN]

I don't know if anyone has already passed along a recipe, but here is mine.

Shortbread

1 pound butter (NOT margarine)
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar
3 1/2 - 4 C. flour

Cream butter in a mixer. Slowly add sugar. Alowly add flour (may not use all flour). Turn onto board with the rest of the flour. Lightly knead with fingers only until all the flour is used. Form into rolls (I usually get 3 or 4 rolls per batch). Refrigerate. Cut and shape into squares. Bake at 350 - 375 degrees F. until lightly browned around the edges.

These are melt in your mouth wonderful! I make them at Christmas, and my neighbors have begun to request them all year long.

Glynis...

Just so I am getting this...roll into like a jellyroll? then slice...and make each circle into a square? any guess on baking time? are these hard like the ones you get in a store?

Thanks!!
Kristine

 

[Tinkaroo]

The Maharajah Jungle Trek. It is a walk-through attraction. Here is some info on it:

A breathtaking walking journey through the lush home of myriad animal and bird species.

Gibbons emit deep-throated hoots as they swing from a Nepalese-styled monument tower to the ruins of a temple with Thai design in the mythical village of Anandapur. Revered tigers roam and play, intrigued by a herd of grazing deer just beyond the crumbling walls of a maharajah's palace. Giant fruit bats fly above the bat cliffs of Anandapur, where guests can walk right up to large open windows overlooking the bat habitat and watch them fly or hang from trees and the cliffs' rocky walls. The largest monitor lizard in the world, the Komodo dragon, which can grow up to 12 feet long, suns nearby. A spectacular aviary, complete with lotus pool, is home to beautiful ground-, mud- and tree-dwelling birds.



In this rainforest environment, Nepal, India, Thailand and Indonesia all are represented through architecture, animal carvings and ruins scattered throughout the village. Clusters of trees grow from the ruins of a beautiful tiger shrine. The exotic animals are visible from the top of a parapet, through a stand of bamboo and from a bridge that stands amid the ruins near an old herb garden.

The other is seeing Devine. She is the Vine Lady, that walks around on stilts with leaves covering her body, and blends into the vegetation. She is something quite spectacular to see, and is sometimes tricky to find.

​

Divine is SO COOL! I've lucked into seeing her a couple of times - of course, all times that I have not had my camera!

I just randomly happened upon her, but you can check Steve Soares' website prior to your visit to see when she might be "performing." http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/ak/ak.htm

 

[tmfranlk]

How exciting to get the ADRs started. I may call today for my newly reserved September trip, but I do usually end up changing things a few times before I'm done.

I already have changes in mind! So far, I am trying to convince myself to at least wait until the TGM best days come out before I make the first call to change.

I've also got a whole mental argument about how I should pay OOP on a few meals because I have to "test" them out for our Grand Gathering in February. I mean I can't possibly take everyone to someplace that I have tried first, right?!?!

 

[Glynis]

Glynis...

Just so I am getting this...roll into like a jellyroll? then slice...and make each circle into a square? any guess on baking time? are these hard like the ones you get in a store?

Thanks!!
Kristine

I shape them into logs, like the cookie dough you get in the stores. The square shape is just because that's the way my grandmother taught me. I'm sure you could leave them in circles. My best guess on baking time is 6-8 minutes. I usually just watch them closely.

These are hard, but definitely taste better than the ones you get in the store!

ETA: I just got off the phone with my sister who is the shortbread expert in our family and she said bake them at 365 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Hope this helps!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Just wanted to post a quick thanks for the and . I'll still need it over the next few weeks/months, but did just set a bunch of interviews with hopefully some promising replacement candidates, so I'm feeling a little better. I'm also going to see if I can't beg/cajole one of my former assistants (who is now a 4th grade teacher) to come back and work with me however many/few hours she wants this summer, just to have someone around that knows what she's doing, and to commiserate with. She's at least still a good friend to me.

Paula - here's some further and for you and your family - this definitely doesn't make my troubles look like much! I hope there is good news on your SIL soon.

Tia - are you SURE you don't want to move to Texas? Marci and Lizneybrooke and I will take you for REAL margaritas!

Glad to hear those of you feeling poorly might be on the upward swing.

Kristine - you were cracking me up with your mammary update! I needed that. I think you did a great job on the shirt, BTW.

 

[tmfranlk]

Afternoon, y'all! Rees finally slept well last pm. Didn't get up until 11am, so I think his body is trying to catch up. BK is really coughing, but seems to be ok with cough meds. Taking the kids to the park this afternoon to play. It's a beautiful day.

Any thoughts on changing my Donalds B'fast from 8:30 to 8am so that we can start AK right at opening?

Also, CP b'fast vs dinner. B'fast is at 8:05 so we get to go into the park early, good picture ops, done at opening vs dinner at 6:35pm which would be a good way to wind down the day and be done right when Wishes starts and just go to the porch of CP to watch Wishes?

Thought and opinion appreciated.

ETA: Kate,hope your doctor's appt goes well. Marti, your friend is in my prayers and hope Hunka is feeling better today.

That is great news about Rees! I hope that you and BK are better soon as well!!

I LOVE 8am character breakfasts! We always finish just a little before 9am and are already halfway into the park when the ropes drop. It give you just that little bit of an edge. If you can get there that early, I'd say go for it!! I think that I have decided to keep my Crystal Palace breakfast and pick a different dinner, maybe Whispering Canyon, for this very reason.

 

[itdjbw]

Steffy - RUN - Don't walk to Walmart to buy Blue Bunny sherbet and some Dole Pineapple juice. It is so great, very close to the original. Both Paul and I agree that this is a great hold over... but we both like the real thing!

I have been digging into mine too, still need to try a float though.

 

[tmfranlk]

OMG!!! I am having a bad day. Well it actually started last night.

SIL lives in Michigan; she was admitted to the hospital two days ago for major leg pain. (History… She was diagnosed with cervical cancer about six months ago, they did surgery and she did chemotherapy. The docs told her all was well.)

So she goes into the hospital and they do a few tests and find a tumor in her stomach. They think it may have gone into her lymph system. She is scheduled for surgery tonight at 5:00. Last night DH was on the phone with every member of the family (he has 5 brothers and sisters along w/ 2 step sisters all who live in California except the 1 in Michigan) the oldest BIL was packing for a redeye flight so he can be there in time for the surgery.

DH called MI sister this morning who was drugged up a bit for pain and he is now worried more than ever. He could take leave and go be with her, but if he does that and comes home and needs to ask for leave again, the military might not be so happy about that. In fact honestly they only grant emergency leave for deaths. Now most squadrons are very nice and would do what they could to help the member, but DH has a formal military class he MUST attend at the end of the month and it’s 4 weeks long. He could reschedule the class if he had to, but it is not an easy ting to do. (keep in mind that we are preparing for a retirement ceremony and reception this Saturday).

Retiring BIL calls this morning and said the guy working the ceremony for his retirement is an idiot and doesn’t have much done. BIL told this guy WEEKS ago that DH would be more than happy to work the ceremony. Now BIL is very angry and almost wants to skip the entire thing. (That is so sad, because after 20 plus years he should have the ceremony he wants) Along with all this DH might have to leave for MI and not be able to participate in the ceremony what so ever.

I am up to my eyeballs with a lot of stupid junk also. The silent auction baskets I am working at DD school is not going well because the parents are being asked to bring things for the Easter party also. If I’m lucky I might have enough for 1 basket. If I could have started this a month ago like I had asked, I bet I would have just about everything I need.
I didn't do laundry this weekend for some stupid reason and now I have that also.
Blah blah blah

AAARRRRRRGGGGG!!!!!

I am back on pg 1072 and will have to catch up later.

Thank you for listening. I am off to clean more and check for possible flights for DH.

Lots of and !!! Prayers for your SIL that everything can be taken care of quickly and easily.

 

[tmfranlk]

Ok, I switched the Donald to 8am. Tammi, what are those other 2 things you suggested at AK? I'm not familiar with either of them. And will there be a new show where Tarzan was by Sept? anybody heard anything?

No dates yet, but Screamscape has the rumor listed as "late 2006" and they are still highly speculating on a Nemo show.