TKers Take the Fifth!

[DL55]

Everybody was talkative yesterday.

D&DDisney Sorry about your family. Mine is the same way. I've just decided that the TKers are more my family. At least you guys act interested when I say something.

More travel pictures...

Crossing Alaska on a gravel road

Caribou

Denali Lodge

Sights on the Tundra Wilderness tour..

Bear!

I'll continue with more pictures of Denali tomorrow.

 

[whgrn]

M&N, I catch the Nascar race when I am visiting my dad or brother. I don't get it too much....just seems like a bunch of cars going in circles to me.

I couldn't agree more!

M&N, we are just leasing our house for now. It's one of those lease to own deals. But honestly sometimes, I feel like we are so behind everyone in the home ownership deal. I read on here about people who have their houses paid off by the time they are our age. It's nice to hear that some people don't think home ownership is the be all end all of American life.

I was just reading something about this the other day. The truth is, renting can be much more cost effective, especially in this economy. I've owned my homes since 1988, but twice I've had to sell at a loss. Sure, when you own you can do what you want with your house, but I can tell you that maintaining a property is no small undertaking! Not just the utilities, but the landscaping, general maintenance, renovating, snow removal, etc, etc. etc, gets damned expensive after awhile! I'm thinking very seriously about just renting a place in Florida when I finally move down there (only 6 more NJ winters to endure...)

 

[M&N]

Boy, No one was talkative today!

I took my 88 yr old friend down to see the TMI generators go down the road. It's a big deal actually. The 2 generators are huge. They were made in France and shipped to Port Deposite MD and had to be moved by special transport to TMI. I'll have to look up specifics but it has been one major deal.

 

[M&N]

Here Kitty, Kitty...no one is coming here anymore! I guess I'll go surfing....

 

[Pikester]

It's just one vicious circle M&N. Nobody posts because nobody has posted!

I'll get the day started and say hello to all my TKer friends. The kids are getting ready for school and I'm getting ready to go for a walk after I drop them off. DS8 has a dentist appt this afternoon so I'll be picking him up early from school. I have a 30 minute drive with part of it being on the Interstate. I don't like Interstate driving.

DL55: Still loving the pictures.

Have a good day!

 

[M&N]

I guess it is a circle. I know that sometimes I read but have nothing brilliant to say---like I usually hace brilliant things to say!

I guess you need to concentrate on the fact that it isn't you sitting in the dentist chair and having to make that awful drive Pikester.

Nothing brilliant about the gloomy weather here...I am dreading winter already.

Hope Kitty is having wonderful sunshine...

 

[M&N]

I meant to ask if that bear has a snack or is that just a shadow? The pics are beautiful in the small size...I'm sure even better in the regular size.

 

[D&DDisney]

I think this thread is wonderful. It is just so strange how everyone has bonded and we really do feel like family. LITC, I think your reply was right on. I cannot imagine leaving D&D out when the family gets together. Maybe everyone can't go but you at least ask!

Awwww, thanks! I needed some reassurance. I was beginning to get a complex.

M&N, I completely agree. I look forward to being able to read and post on this thread as though I was catching up with my oldest dearest friends! And we would never ever leave anyone out here!

I feel the same way.

M&N, being able to decipher their little noises is so neat. And when they get a little older, you get to translate their gibberish. It, for me, created this kind of secret bond with my kids.

I was only able to go through the baby stage w/ one of my boys (we adopted our oldest at 2.5years) Those moments are so precious. I
really wish I could do it again. My DH and I originally wanted to have 4 kids.
Unfortunately, God seems to have other plans for us.

Everybody was talkative yesterday.

D&DDisney Sorry about your family. Mine is the same way. I've just decided that the TKers are more my family. At least you guys act interested when I say something.

I think of this group as the family I've always wanted. Such a great group of ladies.
Who is acting???? We are interested.

 

[D&DDisney]

Weather has gone downhill fast. Had frost last night. Had to cover my tomatoes which are not done yet. (Tomatoes anyone????) With temps this chilly and heading downward, I am sure looking forward to a few nice days in FL this Dec.

 

[DL55]

Hi!
The weather here is the usual, in the 80s and sunny. That's why I don't mention it.
M&N Those are 2 bears, a brown and a blond.
Here they are again..

A moose

Denali without clouds! You can see it all, doesn't happen a lot.

Here;s the inside of the main lodge

More tomorrow. I know the pictures aren't really big but I didn't want to slow down the DIS than it already is.
It was cool in the mornings and evenings but quite comfortable during the day. We didn't have any rain during our land portion.

 

[mariezp]

It has kinda been quiet around here. Well, you know me and my loooong posts... I may not have lots of excitement going on here but I can at least bulk it up and make it look like we have been busy! So here goes....

Okay...be honest with me. Do I give off some kind of anti-social vibe or something???? Or, does my invite just get lost in the mail??

D&DDisney, I thought it was pretty crappy of your family to do that to you. Unfortunately, family members do not always see things the same way. I would give anything to have my mother and MIL alive again but when I hear tales like this it makes me feel almost relieved that we have such a small family. I would say just concentrate on your immediate family members and find your joy in them and try to not let the others drag you down. I have had to do this myself because worrying about finding ways to be closer to my sister has turned me inside out if I concentrate on it too long. Better to live life for the ones who love and care about you than the ones who do not deserve it. (Of course, we are introverts too so this comes really easy for us cause we just hate family gatherings!) As it stands, I only have one sister. I think she may have moved and not even bothered to tell me. How's that for family togetherness? Anyway, how about we all just stick together around here and we will be even better than some of the family we are stuck with!

LITC, so glad to hear that baby Walter is eating well! He will get the hang of eating more at a sitting so he does not nurse quite so often. Mine both nursed about 11 months. It is a very special bonding time for the two of you and sure makes for really healthy babies. I could have sat and rocked for hours just staring at how awesome and beautiful my kids were when they were babies. They are still great but now you know what I mean... nothing like a sweet little baby! Walter is sounding so cute with all his little funny baby sounds!
I hope you are able to work out staying at home with him. Nothing like being there while he grows. It is so worth it! I have been home since my son was born. 19 years now and never missed going back to work. I may not win any awards for best mom but at least I will always be able to say I was here if they ever needed me.
Happy belated anniversary! Tomorrow will be our 20th! It goes by so fast!

Shmu, got your message with the address for the ornament. Now I just need to go rummaging through my storage. Hopefully this week! Maybe it will inspire me to do some organize while I am out there.

Kitty, if you are reading, I hope you are having a wonderful time!!! You too, Shmu.

M&N, I liked the light bulb thread! It is fun to run across the ones that are pretty amusing.
I am always interested in what you have to say too!

Pikester, my PTR has been sorely lacking lately too. Not much to do for the trip but sit and twiddle my thumbs!

JOCAmom, I do not envy you packing and having to move but it will be so exciting for you get to your new place! We own our home and I do have to tell you sometimes I wonder it if is worth it. Taxes are evil!(can you tell I just got my bill?) Still, I have never rented so I don't think I would like that any better.... maybe if I didn't have someone around to help me with the maintenance and lawn care.

DL55, thanks for sharing more pictures. They actually remind me a lot of the scenery in Colorado.

Not much happening around here. Supposed to have some storms move in this evening. My friend came by today and cleaned my house. It looks so good!... for a day or too anyway. Now I have piles of laundry to get done with a cranky washing machine that refuses to drain properly every other load. It will probably take me the rest of the week just to finish 5 loads!

 

[BKMETV]

Hi all:

Pike hope the dentist went OK.

D&D ~ Come drop off some of those tomatoes and we'll have a party...who needs family!!

I spent the day on a school trip with DS's Grade 4 class...we went to a Water Festival where they teach them all about conservation, pollution, erosion etc. Was really great, except for the hour bus ride there and back...with 40 kids...it was very loud!!

Better get my butt in gear.

TTYL

 

[M&N]

HI---

Just thought we could use a little movement around here today!

 

[Pikester]

I guess it's funny smilie time!

I did this today.

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

I remember reading about Dale Earnhardt Sr. passing away. I didn't know much about him but from reading all the coverage, he was a racer's racer. Very old school. My dad likes his son. I know that much. LOL.

LITC, we never got a computer until 4 (?) years ago. It was one of the things we gave up as a necessity. We also had basic cable and phone service. We would just have to save up longer for things that we really wanted. It made us see what our priorities as a family really were. And it honestly was worth it in the long run. It can be done if you are both on the same page.

JOCA - I really thought SR was a true class act. Glad to hear about your experience staying home, gives me hope.

Give Walter a hug....Night...

M&N, got it! How about a hug and kiss!!

Dale Sr didn't take anything from anyone on that track and I think they all admired him. Now you cannot bump anyone without whinning! Really, there are ways to bump and not wreck but that isn't done anymore. They complain if the cars don't move over and let them pass. I forget who said that they had the faster car but couldn't get past the car in front of them. I said I guess their car wasn't fast enough then! The fastest car doesn't always win!

SO TRUE! Do you ever watch "old" races when they are on, with the old class of drivers and they say, Oh so and so got into me a little, but thats just good clean racing. Now, OMG what a bunch of whiners!

Here Kitty, Kitty...no one is coming here anymore! I guess I'll go surfing....

Sorry you were lonely, I couldn;t get my internet to work for two days. I was so frustrated!

It has kinda been quiet around here. Well, you know me and my loooong posts... I may not have lots of excitement going on here but I can at least bulk it up and make it look like we have been busy! So here goes....



D&DDisney, I thought it was pretty crappy of your family to do that to you. Unfortunately, family members do not always see things the same way. I would give anything to have my mother and MIL alive again but when I hear tales like this it makes me feel almost relieved that we have such a small family. I would say just concentrate on your immediate family members and find your joy in them and try to not let the others drag you down. I have had to do this myself because worrying about finding ways to be closer to my sister has turned me inside out if I concentrate on it too long. Better to live life for the ones who love and care about you than the ones who do not deserve it. (Of course, we are introverts too so this comes really easy for us cause we just hate family gatherings!) As it stands, I only have one sister. I think she may have moved and not even bothered to tell me. How's that for family togetherness? Anyway, how about we all just stick together around here and we will be even better than some of the family we are stuck with!

LITC, so glad to hear that baby Walter is eating well! He will get the hang of eating more at a sitting so he does not nurse quite so often. Mine both nursed about 11 months. It is a very special bonding time for the two of you and sure makes for really healthy babies. I could have sat and rocked for hours just staring at how awesome and beautiful my kids were when they were babies. They are still great but now you know what I mean... nothing like a sweet little baby! Walter is sounding so cute with all his little funny baby sounds!
I hope you are able to work out staying at home with him. Nothing like being there while he grows. It is so worth it! I have been home since my son was born. 19 years now and never missed going back to work. I may not win any awards for best mom but at least I will always be able to say I was here if they ever needed me.
Happy belated anniversary! Tomorrow will be our 20th! It goes by so fast!

Shmu, got your message with the address for the ornament. Now I just need to go rummaging through my storage. Hopefully this week! Maybe it will inspire me to do some organize while I am out there.

Kitty, if you are reading, I hope you are having a wonderful time!!! You too, Shmu.

M&N, I liked the light bulb thread! It is fun to run across the ones that are pretty amusing.
I am always interested in what you have to say too!

Pikester, my PTR has been sorely lacking lately too. Not much to do for the trip but sit and twiddle my thumbs!

JOCAmom, I do not envy you packing and having to move but it will be so exciting for you get to your new place! We own our home and I do have to tell you sometimes I wonder it if is worth it. Taxes are evil!(can you tell I just got my bill?) Still, I have never rented so I don't think I would like that any better.... maybe if I didn't have someone around to help me with the maintenance and lawn care.

DL55, thanks for sharing more pictures. They actually remind me a lot of the scenery in Colorado.

Not much happening around here. Supposed to have some storms move in this evening. My friend came by today and cleaned my house. It looks so good!... for a day or too anyway. Now I have piles of laundry to get done with a cranky washing machine that refuses to drain properly every other load. It will probably take me the rest of the week just to finish 5 loads!

Marie- thanks for the support with nursing and everything. It's so nice to have people who understand and can give supportive advice like that! I am enjoying nursing baby Walter, but it can be allot of work at times. I SOOOOO hope we can work out me being able to stay home. Like I said the other day, I will still do the catering, just because I can be so flexible with it, but I dont want to go back to the full time job. Thanks for the anniversary wishes, we are probably going to celebrate this weekend since we went to visit his family last weekend. Our plans are to go to dinner and to the toy story 1 & 2 in 3D movies. My sister in law offered to babysit. So at least I can go out knowing Walter is in good hands.

 

[JOCAmom]

Hello friends. Crazy cold and windy here for this time of year. I already dug out my big fleece robe. Have on fleece pants too. Think I was born to live somewhere really warm.

DL55, your pictures are so beautiful. What kind of camera do you use? I love taking pictures and am always on the lookout for a new camera.

D&DDisney, I'm so sorry your family is so horrible to you. My family is completely wacked. We have one family member who only invites us to her kid's birthday parties for the gifts. And she expects that since she invited all 4 of my kids, all my kids have to give an individual gift. Let's just say, we haven't been to his last 2 parties. And then, the majority of my family doesn't talk to each other. Over really dumb things too. It bothers me sometimes but others, I think I don't want my kids to deal with the crap that I've had to.

whgrn, thanks for the input on owning a home. It's always shoved down your throat that home ownership is one of the "Amercican Dreams". I'm praying that when/if we do buy, it will be an easy transition. Plus, lots of my family member (that I talk to) are in the skilled labor industry.

LITC, I never thought we could do it if I stayed home. But we have and pretty well too. My kids have all the necessities and that's all that really matters.

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

Walter waking up after his first long car trip at the hotel in Buffalo!

Walter chilling in the hotel bed.

Deep in thought!!

 

[D&DDisney]

Hi all:
D&D ~ Come drop off some of those tomatoes and we'll have a party...who needs family!!

Amen!!!! I'll bring my 101 Things to Make With Tomatoes book along.

D&DDisney, I thought it was pretty crappy of your family to do that to you. Unfortunately, family members do not always see things the same way. I would give anything to have my mother and MIL alive again but when I hear tales like this it makes me feel almost relieved that we have such a small family. I would say just concentrate on your immediate family members and find your joy in them and try to not let the others drag you down. I have had to do this myself because worrying about finding ways to be closer to my sister has turned me inside out if I concentrate on it too long. Better to live life for the ones who love and care about you than the ones who do not deserve it. (Of course, we are introverts too so this comes really easy for us cause we just hate family gatherings!) As it stands, I only have one sister. I think she may have moved and not even bothered to tell me. How's that for family togetherness? Anyway, how about we all just stick together around here and we will be even better than some of the family we are stuck with!

We do try to concentrate on immediate family but still get together w/ the extended family so that the kids can spend time w/ cousins.
I'll be your pseudo-sister!!! I only have one sis too and we're not close.

LITC - Those pics are soooo adorable!!!!!

JOCA - I am glad to know I'm not alone in the crazy family dept. Stay warm!

PiKester - Great smilies - as always. I am proud of you getting your toilets to sparkle like that. Can you come do mine????

M&N - Here some more movement for ya!

 

[JOCAmom]

LITC, those pics are so great. He is so adorable. And he just looks so content with everything. As you said, "he's chillin".

 

[D&DDisney]

JOCA - I've been meaning to ask you Where are you going on your cruise??? Forgive me if you've mentioned this and I missed it. Or, if Disney only cruises to one place and I just am not aware of it. I know zero about cruises.

However, after all of DL55's pics I'm beginning to really want to go to Alaska. Looks like heaven.