The New Lizard Lounge

[Angel16]

Good Morning Lizards! Feel like I am Boz on Charlie's angels with that line LOL How many of you have any idea what I am talking about?

Steffy - Sounds like you have a great weekend planned. I hope you have a Wonderful Family time. I am not quite there yet. I lost my dad not too long ago and for some reason this year seems to be difficult for me.

I second what GoofyJoffy said about all the 9-day counters. I envy you all!

Hey, Good news for any one that was worried about a strike, news this AM said Disney settled and signed a contract. So no one needs to worry about his or her holiday trip now.

How many of you are done with your Christmas shopping? I still have a ways to go. Maybe this weekend?

Hey GoofyJoffy - when is your next WDW trip? Are you going to be able to take a deep breath this weekend or are you in for the family marathon again?

I have put out hot fresh pull apart cinnamon rolls. The cappuccino machine is all clean and shiny. It is up and running with a big Friday Disney smile on its face. Going to fix myself my second cup and head to work.

Have a good day.

Angel

 

[ead79]

Steffy, your plans sound wonderful to me. for you during the holiday time.

Angel, that's great news about the strike. I'm glad to hear it got worked out. And your cinnamon rolls are delicious.

 

[VAgal76]

Kris AKA Storybookmum - That dress is awesome! I can't see any other reaction, but way cool from your DD. Tell your friend that she has some talent there (I can barely sew a button on ).

Steffy & Angel16 - I know where you guys are coming from. Lost a very dear friend this week, the funeral was yesterday and was extremely hard for her DD as well. I guess that's what made me so upset is seeing her go through this. Next week is going to be extremely difficult for them. I've invited them to my house for Thanksgiving dinner. I know her father has accepted, but seeing her yesterday I don't know where she will be. I know holidays are never the same. Heck, day to day life isn't the same. I think it's a great idea that you are thinking of different activities - not replacements, but new traditions. Cookie baking - hmmm - another warm fuzzy feeling. I think I need to do a little of that so I can get my bearings and get back into my x-mas spirit.

I'm getting off my soap box. I really hate being depressed much less depressing others.

Christmas Shopping - Check other than a few stocking stuffers and one or two more items for co-workers. I started way early this year. In fact, this is my first year doing this and I'm thinking maybe I should throw some sort of party now that I have this extra holiday time on my hands.

I see we have a few more going off to the world very soon! I, too, have counter envy beyond belief.

 

[steveanddonna]

Steffy and Angel to both of you. I lost my Mom just before Christmas last year and the holidays were quite bittersweet. DH and I were determined to go ahead and make them happy and normal for the rest of the family, but the night we were putting up our tree, we opened the box of ornaments and realized my Mom had given us most of them over the years. The tree remained up, bare but for the lights, and we celebrated very simply in the end. It does get easier, though. You never "get over it" but you do learn to embrace the memories and keep going.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

VAgal So sorry to hear about your friend. I hope that her family is able to heal with time. How great of you that you are able to stay strong during your own grief in order to help make their load a little lighter. I think that is the best thing a friend can do.


Well, now, what I have going on seems so petty. I just called CRO to book our trip for AKL in May and they said that there are no CL rooms avail??? I went ahead and booked a deluxe savannah (Qn, bunks and daybed). I guess I will keep trying on the CL. Will I still be on the 5th floor if I don't get CL privledges? Bummer. I was really hoping on taking advantage of everything the AKL has to offer. You all have made it sound so great.

Have a great Friday.

Amie

 

[Angel16]

Thank you all for the kind words. (sigh)

I think part of the whole Christmas thing for me is I am an only child My birthday is December 21st and I'm still working on cleaning out my dad's house and sorting through things. We did not clean out the house after my mom died. We just removed her clothing and such. Now I am finding pictures on the wall that say " From: Angle and DH for Mothers day 1998 in my moms handwriting, gifts in with table cloths that were for the Christmas after she passed. She had them marked whom they were to go to and such. The sad part is several of the people are no longer here either. The whole experience is kinda like cleaning out a house after both parents die at the same time. Ok enough of that. Sorry Everyone!



Hey, I'VE GOT BIG NEWS!

Guess what? I HEARD FROM POLYNESIAN CONCIERGE WOO HOO

I got a nice note from Tara and she enclosed a couple attachments for ideas for my DH birthday. I have e-mailed her back with a couple of requests. I am so happy this is working out.

Do any of you lizards know about activities that are going on for the Anniversary Party? I would like to know as early as possible to be able to schedule. I am sure they will be doing special things and they will sell out fast.

Mickey Fliers - What are your dates in May? We have friends that have a CL room at AKL scheduled, but they aren’t sure they will be going. If the dates mesh I let you know before she cancels.

Angel

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Angel First off, so sorry for your loss. Never easy and my heart goes out to you and your family.

Well, we will be at AKL from 5/11-5/14. Thanks for the heads up. Great news on Poly. I am sure they had some great ideas for your DH's bday.

I was also wondering what they will be doing for the anniversary. We will be arriving in WDW on 5/8 (SOG for 3 days prior to AKL) and although I would love to take part in some of the festivites, I am hoping that my dates will have thinner crowds.

Amie

 

[Tess]

Just popping in for a little treat. . .is it 5:00 yet? No. . .shucks--guess I'll just have a cookie. I figured I'd better post again because for some reason I've stopped receiving e-mail notifications on this thread! Can't have that now can I?

Everyone has such cool holiday plans at WDW. We won't be back until June! After all of our recent research and our son's recent change of plans in re: college--we may not see it after next 2006! LOL He couldn't be satisfied with a simple little B.A. or B.S., naw--he's got to enter a pharmacyD program! I suppose it will be okay--he can then support us in our old age! I thought when the kids flew the nest, mom and dad were supposed to spend more time at WDW--not less! The sacrifices we don't make for our children!

 

[Tess]

GO BUCKS!!!!!!!

While they haven't had a very good year--I sure as heck hope they dash that BLUE team and spoil its season for a change!

 

[VAgal76]

Big room wave to all you guys! Sorry to have put you guys in a funk...looks like Tess is gearing up to change the mood (BTW, thanks, Tess)!

The overplanner in me is already beginning to thinking about where we should dine this trip. It's only 200 and some odd days away - LOL! Now I know how Steffy feels and has felt. Lucky ducks that get to go more often. Anyway, off to the question I had. I'm trying to dine in Epcot or a resort near-by. I'm already thinking ESPN one night as well as Coral Reef. Can you guys suggest another place around the Epcot area. I was even considering Rose & Crown or LeCellier. I have meat and potato kind of folks going with me. MIL and SIL have not had fine dining experiences so I'm trying to take it easy on them. Any suggestions or comments?

 

[ead79]

VAgal, I heartily recommend Le Cellier. It is delicious! Plus, it would be well-suited to meat and potatoes types of people. We discovered their cheese soup a couple of trips ago, and now we have to go back every trip, LOL!

Angel, I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

VAgal - So very sorry for the loss of your friend. I know your love and support mean the world to her DD and family.

Angel - I feel for your holiday doldrums. We lost our beautiful Mindy this summer, and I really don't know how we'll get through the holidays.

Tess - I'm with ya on the college front! Although I don't think my son is gonna go beyond a Bachelor's, he has been struggling and we may have to kick in quite a bit of his tuition for Spring semester. If his grades don't come up, he will probably lose scholarship money. But, he is trying his best, that's all we can ask of him. He's a great kid, has worked and paid for all his expenses himself since heading to school, whenever we ask if he needs money he says he's doing fine. We're very proud of him!


p.s. I vote for Le Cellier!!! Very good food, meat and potatoes eaters will love it!

 

[Tess]

Tess - I'm with ya on the college front! Although I don't think my son is gonna go beyond a Bachelor's, he has been struggling and we may have to kick in quite a bit of his tuition for Spring semester. If his grades don't come up, he will probably lose scholarship money. But, he is trying his best, that's all we can ask of him. He's a great kid, has worked and paid for all his expenses himself since heading to school, whenever we ask if he needs money he says he's doing fine. We're very proud of him!

Ours is a saver, not a spender, too. He's fairly frugal. His account took a major hit because he had a little car accident that put a big dent in his finances and his vehicle. We're hoping for some scholarship money as well because the schools in which he is interested are out-of-state and very $$$$$$. I worry too about the scholarships being offered and pulled in the event his curriculum is more than he can handle. He's very, very bright--it's just Mommy fear I guess--that, and I know him personally. He is just a 16 y/o guy and all that entails! LOL Thanks for commiserating!

 

[Tess]

Okay, now it is after 5:00 and it's FRIDAY!!!!! Pass the burgundy or maybe I should make that a Heineken. . .oh heck, I wish we were in EPCOT and it was 80 and I had one of those luscious FIESTA MARGARITAS Anyone care to join me in a Friday night TGIF cocktail! We need to prepare for that short work week next week!

 

[johnsonet]

Tess! I got an early start I'm enjoying a glass of Cabernet and loving it...
Can't believe Thanksgiving is coming up in 6 days!! DD has school on Wednesday as a make-up day for Hurricane Gaston
Happy Friday Lizards!!

 

[nrsldy]

Angel,Sorry to hear about your loss. Our DD was 19 when she died from cancer 8 yrs ago. It was right before Thanksgiving. The only thing that kept me going for a long time was the gift of her son. He was 1 yr when she died. For a long time I went through the motions for Zac's sake. I love the christmas season and for the first time I am looking forward to our visit to WDW to get in the christmas spirit. Time does heal but I still miss my DD,DM and DGM.
Here it is 9 days before we leave and I am still changing our plans. Is this normal???? AKL IPO"s are going" Can't this woman make up her mind" !!!!

 

[storybookmum]

So much traffic on the thread in the last day! I'm impressed, lizards!

Angel, nrslady, steffy, steveanddonna, and others who are re-experiencing losses at this time; I'm very sorry. It must be painful to have so many memories at such a profoundly emotional time of the year. I will just hold all of you in my prayers, that the beautiful memories crowd out the sense of loss, and that you find comfort in the many blessings of your lives. nrslady, thank God for Zac! I don't know what vast courage it must take to go on after the death of your child, but I'm terribly moved by the grace that provided you a grandson to help move you through or despite your grief.

To those who are dealing with college-bound kids, let me just peer over your shoulder to see how you're coping, because DSS is halfway through his senior year, and the next few months ought to be very interesting! Scary to think of them off and out on their own in the world, isn't it? It seems so recently that they were small!

Vagal, dear, they talked me into Le Cellier! Don't forget the Chocolate Moose dessert - it took me a while to figure out where it came from. It's on the kids' menu! I'll certainly be reviewing it on my return!

FANTASTIC news about the strike, Angel, thank you for sharing that! I hadn't had the chance to check the news yet.

Two more midnight shifts left for me, and then I'm done. I have only the smallest of errands left to run tomorrow, other than a birthday gift for my best friend's three-year-old son. I haven't a clue what to get him. He asked for "Two guns." Over his mama's dead body, I know...but my word is that child every inch a boy!! He's an alien creature to me, I think I'll just look for something in the boy aisle that makes me think, "Why would any child want to play with that?" and then I'll know I've found the right toy. Unless someone has a suggestion.

Anyone hungry? I'm too late for tonight, but may I heartily recommend a new and incredibly simple recipe? Baste chicken breasts or pork chops in Dijon mustard and roll them in bread crumbs (with Epicure Dijon Tarragon dip mix, if you have it, but it's not essential). Bake it as you would if it were Shake 'n Bake. You won't believe how tender and juicy it is!

(I'm so glad I can blather off-topic forever here....forgive me if I'm punchy, not enough sleep).

I picked up the Tinkerbell dress today from my friend. It's everything you've said, my friends. It's exquisite and darling and divine and beautiful, and Meredith is going to love it. My friend was even sweet enough to tuck in matching hair pretties....oh, just WAIT for those pictures!!!

Happily,

Kris

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Originally posted by Angel16
Hey GoofyJoofy - when is your next WDW trip? Are you going to be able to take a deep breath this weekend or are you in for the family marathon again?

I'm sure Goofy won't mind my saying... we're hoping it'll be a little less crazy than last weekend! We traded 10 hrs on the cheerleading bleachers for chaperoning the middle school dance tonight! Oh my... it seems that kids these days look a whole lot older than we did at that age...

Heartfelt for all those experiencing/reliving losses this season. I can SO relate...

Tess... I keep hoping that one of my girls will opt for a PharmD. I may regret my wish $$$-wise if it ever comes to pass!

VAgal76... LeCellier!

To the next wave of travelers... Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! Remember we're all living vicariously through you. A tremendous burden I know, but I'm sure you're all up to the task!

to all...

 

[#1hockeymom]

Steffy, VAgal, and storybookmum,nrsldy,donna... you all need a hug! I am so sorry for your losses. We also ran into Christmas presents in my MIL's house with tags on them. She never did any early shopping, and this was near Easter. I think she knew, and we looked at it as a great gift to find them.

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separating that thoughtful moment with...

Liquidate Ohio State and humble Woody Hayes (hey, you can tell my age... and I learned this in elementary school!)
He brings the cattle to Columbus, send them out to graze

Knock them off their ivory towers
Send them crawling back to the showers!
Liquidate Ohio State
its a no-nothing party school!

(go on, hum that silly fight song of yours!) OK, you know I love you.. right? but I had to!

GO BLUE!

*running really fast right out of here!*

 

[#1hockeymom]

nrslady>> I changed my itinerary daily! Don't worry about it! You'll have a wonderful time!