The Nothing Thread

[withdisneyspirit]

I am so sorry about your older kitty, Laura :sosad: We have a cat (indoor) and we would all croak if she ran outside!!! Thinking of you and yours...

[DisFlan]

Hi, Nothing Threaders! Just checking in. Getting son ready to move to Orlando on Sunday (sniff), so I haven't had a lot of time for online stuff. Give me a chance to catch up with everyone next week. A shoulder or two might be needed by then.

DisFlan

[PoohsPal]

Hey DIsFlan! Tahnks fo rchecking in! Good luck with helping DS move. Remeber, we have lots of shoulders to lean on here!!!!

[lllovell]

awww Disflan. We are here for you!!! :grouphug: I can't imagine how it must feel, that mixture of sorrow and pride, but the pride definately shows through here.

Lisa - thanks. Sadly, we aren't supposed to have cats with Richard's allergies, but what are you supposed to do??? We won't be getting more pets unless he grows and his allergies lessen. It is a hard choice to be forced to make, so I am lucky that just keeping them out of his room really helped a lot and we didn't have to do something more drastic before.

[Ginger]

Laura, I'm sorry about your kitty. HUGS to you.

[Colorado Belle]

Oh, our pets: They bring such joy and warmth to our lives, but then, when they die...the sadness is so harsh that at times I wonder if it is worth it to my heart.
Sorry, laura, about your sweet delilah. I have a kitty and a dog, and because of past losses, I tend to keep these two close to home. I still cry when I think of pets that I have lost. They trust us so completely.

I hope your kitty is just off galavanting. You know how kitties like to do that every once in awhile...the kitty version of a walkabout. Don't know how close you are to nieghtbors Laura, but I've sometimes found that open cans of tuna on my porch, deck, and 'kittynooks' sometimes brings the walkabouters home.
I'm so sorry that you are hurting, but you know that you gave kitty a warm home with lots of love.
____________

Roz: I laughed at loud 'in honor of CB'. I do manage to have some of the weirdest experiences. I still haven't had an extra key made for that damn truck....it kills me that had I had an extra key I could have just driven the damn thing off the lot. Word is that the parts that are broken are what engages the 4 x4, so that as long as I drive it in 2 wheel, all is well. But it will be yet another vehicle sitting in my driveway until I figure out what to do with it!

------------------got my Disney Darling Daughter a silver/turquoise bracelet (Zuni) for her birthday on Saturday. She is going out to dinner with bf the night before , and taking a limosine tour of wine country in the Santa Ynez valley with 9 of her closest girlfriends on the big day! She is getting sOOOOOOOOOold. LOL, but she sure knows how to treat herself well on her big day.

I'm busy avoiding. What will become of me?

[Rozzie]

Hi, Nothing Threaders! Just checking in. Getting son ready to move to Orlando on Sunday (sniff), so I haven't had a lot of time for online stuff. Give me a chance to catch up with everyone next week. A shoulder or two might be needed by then.

DisFlan

We'll be here when you need us! :grouphug:

[gopherit]

So sorry to hear about your cat, Laura - we have 2 elderly cats and not knowing would in many ways be worse than watching their eventual demise. I guess you just have to figure that it's where she wanted to be. Our cats are entering that age where I'm going to worry about leaving them for any length of time, even with a reliable pet sitter. Our days of lengthy trips may be substituted with more frequent short trips in the near future, I predict, just to keep good tabs on the critters. AFter all, Mr. Buns was on death's door not that long ago - animals do such a good job of hiding their ailments, by the time you know something is "up", it can be too late. I worry that even a diligent pet sitter might miss critical cues. Hugs to you.....

Hey Rozzie, so you have an Escape, eh? When I was car shopping with DH, I took him to see the Ford dealership (they were having that Employee price plus discounts, whatever - event). I kept calling it the "esss-CAH-pay!" and finally DH says, "WHY do you keep calling it that?" :headscrat The kids understood and started call it the "ess-CAH-pay" too :p , but my DH isn't too good with trivia unless it's sports related, so a line from a Pixar flick surely wasn't going to ring a bell with him, no matter how much Disney info I shove at him! :hammer: Finally just had to show him the movie, LOL, and THEN he got it. :nemo:

He bought a silver 2005 Lim Ed. 2005, and honestly, we have had issues with it, much to my great dismay, considering I TOLD the dealer that we had BETTER like this car - it took a lot of persuasion to get me to step away from a Toyota or Honda.... I didn't want the es-CAH-pay to turn out to be an es-CRAP-ay, IYKWIM! It's weird - we really do try to give Amer. autos a chance, but every time, we get burned! :sosad: We had a chevy that died twice on I-85 (rush hour, too - LOVELY). So our next car was a Honda - little sucker went 15 yrs without ANY problems, and even when we THOUGHT it died and gave it to a family in need who thought (correctly) they could fix it - well, it's on year 16 and it's still beboppin' round town! We bought a Plymouth van that made DH swear off American, so 3 yrs later we bought our Toyota van - which takes a lickin' from my Mom's oldsmobile and keeps tickin', God luv it! It's 7 yrs old now and all I have ever had to do is replace a door computer (apparently a problem in that series van with power doors). And then we bought this Escape. We hadn't had it more than a month or two when the A/C died and the whole car went kaput - thermostat issue. Four months later, did it AGAIN, leaving me stranded on a dark lonely road at 10 pm. Niiiiiiice. I told the dealer on the second go-round that if he didn't fix it, and fix it right, I was going to stand in the center of his dealership and say the word, "Toyota!" over and over again until they either made it right or hauled my Ford-loathing carcass away. It hasn't acted up since then - but it always makes me nervous now to take it anywhere long-distance.

Well, gotta go see some ballgames tonight. (Can you BELIEVE it - no ballgames, no NUTHIN tomorrow night?!? It's a miracle!! I'd better be quiet - some coach somewhere is just itching to slap a make-up game on us then, I just know it....:shhh: )

[Rozzie]

LOL, Gopher, love the es-CAH-pay story! We actually have not had the first problem with our Escape. *knocking on wood as fast as she can* It is also a 2005.

But I so understand the whole American car thing. We almost didn't buy the es-CAH-pay for we have been so burned on our Saturn we have grill marks on our butts. That car has left us stranded more times than once. It is a 1997 and to be honest, we haven't babied it. But we maintain it. The joke is that it will run forever now as everything on there has been replaced. If there ever was a lemon, the Saturn was. Which I did so much research, and all I read was positive reports. Now the hub caps are coming off, the felt roof was ripped out by Mr. Rozzie one night in frustration at a red light as it was hanging in his eye. The car is the joke of the restaurant. The main boss man drives the crapper, while the dishwasher drives the Beamer. (no joke!) Our decision has been when it is costing us more than a new car payment, we will chunk it. DH only needs it for a 10 mile round trip commute. And the air still works. Seems almost silly to trade it in for a big car payment car. However my snooty hooty SIL has made comments that she would rather not see the car in her driveway. :confused: okay whatever chick.

[DisFlan]

Thanks ,guys. That means a lot to me. This is hard on my DH and me right now. On top of DS leaving, my DH has decided to retire a year early (10/1) because of health reasons (not super serious, but it's beginning to tell on him), which means a larger than expected hit to income. At the moment, we don't know for sure when we'll make back to Orlando. But wow, those discounts will sure help. And thank heavens for DVC!

Laura, I'm SO sorry about your Kitty. Big hug.


DisFlan

[ErinC]

lllovell- so sorry about your kitty! I hope you can find her tonight.

Rozzie- If your talking about Bayview Ford, you aren't the only one that hates them. DH can give you a long list of reasons that we don't do business with them. I think he buys all our Ford parts from Treadwell. So much for "Home of the man that can't say no"!

Disflan- good luck with the move. I can imagine what an emotional time this is for you!:grouphug: We'll all be here for you.

Well, we made our first installment on the braces this morning. She is doing pretty well. Had a few issues trying to eat her lunch. I'm having a hard time getting used to the way she looks. DD10 is really small for her age. She still only weighs about 55 lbs. and is really petite. I get asked all the time if my two oldest are twins. This really insults her since her sister is only 6! Anyway the braces really make her look older. Her Daddy was so happy to hear that she chose lime green and purple bands for her braces. Her mouth is quite colorful now. Of course all I could think of was that I still haven't had Easter pictures(procrastinating) made of the kids yet. Oh, well her teeth will match her outfit!

[Stimpy]

Laura, I'm so sorry about your kitty! :hug: As a kitty mom myself I would be heartbroken if that happened here.

[soozaay]

ok...I just posted this on another thread....but I HAD to spread the word...
Disney has a DOLE WHIP COLLECTOR'S PIN! I found it on Ebay!
http://i10.ebayimg.com/03/i/07/16/32/19_1.JPG

I just bid on one...it will get me through until the next time I have my favorite WDW treat! :scary:

[PoohsPal]

OK





Here it goes





Are you ready?




It's pretty exciting





This







is






my




3000th Post!!!!!!!!!

:clappingh :clappingh

And there's no one I'd rather share it with than my Nothing friends!

Party in the closet tomorrow!!!!!!:rockband: :rockband: :rockband:

[soozaay]

OK





Here it goes





Are you ready?




It's pretty exciting





This







is






my




3000th Post!!!!!!!!!

:clappingh :clappingh

And there's no one I'd rather share it with than my Nothing friends!

Party in the closet tomorrow!!!!!!:rockband: :rockband: :rockband:

NIIIICCCCEEE!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: Way to go....I knew you could do it! :hahahaha:

:rockband: Party in the closet!!!!! :rockband:

[withdisneyspirit]

OK





Here it goes





Are you ready?




It's pretty exciting





This







is






my




3000th Post!!!!!!!!!

:clappingh :clappingh

And there's no one I'd rather share it with than my Nothing friends!

Party in the closet tomorrow!!!!!!:rockband: :rockband: :rockband:

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to Carrie's music!!!

Congrats on your 3000th post!!!!!

[PoohsPal]

Starbucks and pastries for everyone this morning!!!!!!!!

:kickingco :kickingco :kickingco

TGIF!!!!

[withdisneyspirit]

Starbucks and pastries for everyone this morning!!!!!!!!

:kickingco :kickingco :kickingco

TGIF!!!!

Mmmm! Can I have a pastry with chocolate and a coffee with chocolate? Nothing like chocolate in my book as a comfort food!

I have an 8:00am evaluation on my knee PT. Then an 11:00am closing and a 2:00pm loan application appt!! I will be peeking in the closet in between to check in on the party:clappingh :rockband: :goodvibes

[PoohsPal]

Just hide here with us Lisa!!!

You bet there's chocolate. The hard stuff and chocolate eclaires and croissants!

[gopherit]

SLide some of that chocolate down this way! :yummy: It will go well with my chocolate raspberry truffle coffee that a friend perked for me this morning. (And the best part of cybergoodies - no cals or carbs!)

DS11 ended up spedning the night with a friend - kinda weird, the kid approached us after the ballgame, "Can I take your son home with me tonight?" kinda like DS was a stray dog, LOL. DS had just spent the night with him last week for a b'day party - I guess the two hit it off. It's good to see DS have friends that don't go to his school ,especailly since we are strongly considering moving him over to the public jr. high school once he graduates from 6th grade at his Catholic school next year. Of course, I didn't even have a change of clothes or anything for DS and offered to go to the house and get some, but the boy's mom said nonsense (they live in the opposite direction from us, not a short hjike, either, on a beautiful tract of land by the river.) She has 2 boys and some of their clothes were bound to fit - DS wanted to go, so he did. That, of course, upset DS9 (my social butterfly). For some reason, his class of boys never has sleepovers. Partly because there are so many of 'em (can't ask just a few without hurting the others, but who wants thirteen 9-10 yr olds loose in their house? Yikes!) Anyway, I caved in sympathy to poor DS9 and he invited a friend to spend the night tonight, so I'll be picking that kid up at 5 along with some pizza. THen of course dd began to fret that SHE hadn't seen HER friends in a "long long time" (yeah, right - school just let out last week.... I guess 6 days is a long long time when you're 6 yrs old.) Anyway - she is trying to decide who to invite over for the day on Saturday. So much for my eventless weekend, right? Hope it goes well. Not sure how it happens, but everytime my boys bring home a friend, the guest gravitates to the brother. If DS9 brings home a buddy, that kid gravitates to DS11. ANd if DS11 brings home a friend, that guest gravitates to DS9. I think they must pick out friends that are a lot like their sibling, LOL! Maybe I need to make a rule that they each have to bring home a friend at the SAME TIME - that way, each will still have a playmate! Oh well - I am betting DS11 will be too exhausted to play much tonight anyway - perhaps he will turn in early and leave DS9 alone with his buddy. DS9 is already cracking me up, though. He is SUCH the planner / do-er / organizer. THis morning, he got up and was sitting by the phone... anticipating his friend's mom to call to work out the details... at 7 am! Yesterday, when I told them they could go to the pool, he got up, got everyone's towels, packed them each a snack, laid out swimsuits and sunscreen and filled the pool toy bag, ready to go... all before 10 am! (the pool didn't open until noon...) I am just betting - he's gonna be my Disney Planner boy! A boy after his mom's anal-retentive obsessive-compulsive control freakin' heart. :lovestruc Just wait 'til I teach him how to work an EXCEL spreadsheet..... there will be no stoppin' that kid! :slyasafox

[PoohsPal]

lol gopherit! That boy is bound to have OCPD!!!

Mmmmmm...Chocolate raspberry truffle!

[TW1]

Gopher, wait till that kids has his own DVC points. WATCH OUT!

[bavaria]

Chocolate? did someone say CHOCOLATE??? and I smelled the coffee so I came running!!!

Whew, miss a few days of 'nothingness' and I am lost!!!! The kitty story made me sad - my family became serious cat lovers when I insisted on a cat as a child. We've seen many kitties go to pet heaven over the years, but it is never easy. (I am actually worried about what will happen when my uncle's current kitty passes on, as he is still grieving his wife who passed away last year, and kitty is his only comfort....)

But big congrats to Kristy, and to Carrie too!

Gotta leave the closet for awhile, working on a happy project, updates later! :howudoin:

[PoohsPal]

Gotta leave the closet for awhile, working on a happy project, updates later! :howudoin:

You people have it all wrong. That's when you duck in to hide in the closet!!
:yes:

[lllovell]

ooooo - can't wait for an update from Bavaria! I love happy projects!

No sign of Delilah. I think she has moved on to kitty heaven. The boys asked me if I was going to go outside and call her again this morning. Sadly, I do believe it is a lost cause. :( At least I know she had a good life!

Carrie - CONGRATS!!!! You are the super poster for sure :) I am so glad you are here! :cheerlead I have a long ways to go to catch you! You are simply going to have to take more vacations :P

Erin - I am glad things went well at the ortho. It is so hard when they do things that make them seem older isn't it? Charlie has lost ALL his baby traits now - he is 100% boy. I love watching it, but it saddens me at times as well.

Gohperit - whew...this is what i am facing isn't it? lol Almost exactly I believe as our children are the same genders and close to the same spacing! I better get my act together BEFORE they hit these points!

Happy Friday everyone!

Isn't it a glorious day?

[PoohsPal]

Ooops, missed that it was a happy project bavaria. No closet for you! ;)

It is a glorious day Laura!!! ANd it's about over for me soon! :cheerlead

[lllovell]

*waving* Have a fantastic weekend Carrie!

Anyone have any weekend plans? The only thing we have to do is cut the grass and hubby's stitches fell out last night so I told him no excuses :P (ok - I was just teasing him as I cut the grass some and he cuts it some....but he almost had a heart attack when those stitches fell out LOL!!!)

So, I am thinking at this point that I am simply going to try to rest. I am going to check the backyard as well as I can for Delilah as well. She might not have been able to get out of the fence if she went back there. Hopefully, I will not find her, but better me than the boys at some point (ok - too much right?)

Laura

[PoohsPal]

Good luck with the kitty search Laura! :hug:

[jnrrt]

Well, I hate to hijack this super happy thread (excluding your kitty, Laura. I'm so sorry!) but I wanted to give the update since my last post 15 million pages ago.

My dd had vertigo starting Sunday night as I posted (and man, Kim, if I had seen your post about dramamine instead of meclizine, what that could have saved me!), and Monday we were at the docs for 3 hours running test. By Tuesday, she was downright scary, totally dehydrated, vomiting, couldn't lift her head without panicking and crying and yelling, "I have to lay down, I have to lay down!" So, so scary. Went to the ER, admitted, spent the rest of the week there running a million test, heard some very scary options, met a lot of neurologists, and it turns out that they found a very rare and pretty serious, but also completely fixable, not life-threatening, and not chronic infection that was pressing around the area at the bottom of her brain, causing the vertigo. I guess I should be glad it got so bad, or she wouldn't have had the MRI to find it, and we wouldn't have known to treat it, but I don't want to do that again. She was not reacting at all the the meds, but guess what was most helpful after they figured it out? Plain old dramamine (and massive IV antibiotics, but that's another story). She's still a little dizzy, but she's walking and playing, and I am so, so grateful!

So I just wanted to let you know. And I'm taking a nap.

[PoohsPal]

:hug: j!!!! What a horrible week! You get a good long nap in!!!

[lllovell]

J - I am sooooo glad your daughter is ok!!! I cannot imagine how scary this must have been for you. I know even minor things can really upset me with the children!

Sounds like you all could use some rest this weekend as well!

Here is hoping for a better weekend for you this weekend!

Laura

[Stimpy]

Laura, I really hope you find your kitty. :hug: Even if she did pass on atleast you'll know where she is and you can stop worrying and your family can start grieving. ( I REALLY mean that in a supportive way! I hope it doesn't make you feel worse or make me sound insensitive :( )

Busy weekend here. Tonight we have a mini family reunion/pizza party of sorts. Since my grandparents died, our family doesn't really see each other much, not even holidays anymore. (The siblings all keep in touch but not their kids, ie. me,my sister & my cousins) So after 2 years of the house being empty, they have finally decided to sell the house. My aunt came in from Chicago and she's been getting a lot of stuff ready for a garage sale this weekend. (Me and Dad went over yesterday to help and it's so sad :( All your life you save important mementos only to have them throw away or sold when you're gone) Of course the sentimentalist in me came home with several boxes of stuff WE don't need but I wanted b/c it was my grandparents.

So all the cousins and aunts/uncles are going to the house tonight to give the "kids" (ok, the youngest is graduating High School this year and I'm the oldest, so not really kids LOL) a chance to go through everything and take some keepsakes. It's funny, most of us live within a 20 mile radius and we never see each other.

Then tomorrow DS has his trophy ceremony for Little League and it's off to help with the garage sale on Saturday and Sunday. Just me w/ the 2 kids since DH is working all weekend...plus overtime :help:

So it'll be an emotional weekend but I'm kind of looking forward to seeing the relatives...even if they are all nuts :innocent:

[Stimpy]

Well, I hate to hijack this super happy thread (excluding your kitty, Laura. I'm so sorry!) but I wanted to give the update since my last post 15 million pages ago.

My dd had vertigo starting Sunday night as I posted (and man, Kim, if I had seen your post about dramamine instead of meclizine, what that could have saved me!), and Monday we were at the docs for 3 hours running test. By Tuesday, she was downright scary, totally dehydrated, vomiting, couldn't lift her head without panicking and crying and yelling, "I have to lay down, I have to lay down!" So, so scary. Went to the ER, admitted, spent the rest of the week there running a million test, heard some very scary options, met a lot of neurologists, and it turns out that they found a very rare and pretty serious, but also completely fixable, not life-threatening, and not chronic infection that was pressing around the area at the bottom of her brain, causing the vertigo. I guess I should be glad it got so bad, or she wouldn't have had the MRI to find it, and we wouldn't have known to treat it, but I don't want to do that again. She was not reacting at all the the meds, but guess what was most helpful after they figured it out? Plain old dramamine (and massive IV antibiotics, but that's another story). She's still a little dizzy, but she's walking and playing, and I am so, so grateful!

So I just wanted to let you know. And I'm taking a nap.

I'm so glad to hear that she will be ok! It sounds like you had a really big scare there! Hope she recovers quickly!!!

[lllovell]

Laura, I really hope you find your kitty. :hug: Even if she did pass on atleast you'll know where she is and you can stop worrying and your family can start grieving. ( I REALLY mean that in a supportive way! I hope it doesn't make you feel worse or make me sound insensitive :( )



Not at all!!!The support here has really made me feel much better when I was feeling terribly guilty. I would like to put her to rest with her brother if possible, so I am hoping for the same thing. :flowerfor Thank you stimpy!

and the whole cleaning out the house....that can be so hard. *hug* I would have big boxes as well.

[Ginger]

jnrrt, I'm sorry to hear about your DD. HUGS and prayers for her.

[soozaay]

jnrrt~ Thanks for the update! I am so happy to hear that everything came out ok (in the end)! One big :grouphug: for you!

we're not doing much this weekend...a friend of ours has a vacation home up in the Poconos, so we're going up there to hang out and relax.

[ErinC]

jnrrt- glad that they got to the bottom of the issue. I hope she recovers quickly! I know you must be exhausted!:grouphug:

lllovell- so sorry about the kitty. I hope you can find her either way. Even if she has died, at least you can have some closure.

Been doing nothing today, except laundry. I did cook lunch for my Mom today. She and my Dad have their 40th anniversary tomorrow. I feel like I should being doing something for them, but I'm not sure what! Of course my Dad called me this morning, "What should I get your Mom?" I told him that I didn't have anything for her Birthday yet either (which is this coming Tuesday). He said "I can't even begin to think about her Birthday until tomorrow is over!" Poor guy, he too is present challenged.

[lllovell]

I HATE shopping, but I would be willing to do the bookkeeping, if someone else would do the shopping......but I think we have stumbled onto something here!

A shopping service. We can develop a list of questions, keep a database for the present challanged that wish to use our service more than once (to keep from duplicating gifts and to keep from having to give preferences over and over again). We can even offer a "suggestion" service where the "customer" still goes out and buys the gifts, we just offer the suggestions!

What do you say???

[bavaria]

Isn't it Saturday morning? time for pancakes?? ok, I'm not actually a pancakes-for-breakfast kind of person, more like pancakes-for-dinner, but those would be either potato or crepe-like pancakes)

So, if anyone ever finds themselves near Princeton, NJ, I HIGHLY recommend PJ's Pancakes :clappingh at www.pancakes.com. The sampler with 2x banana and 1x chocolate chip is heavenly. I'll admit that somehow we became preferred customers over a couple of business trips - apparently very few ppl can manage to get the check over $20, let alone $100 like we managed!!!

Honourable mention also goes to the Calico Cupboard (several locations in rural Washington state) for banana pancakes with toasted coconut.

PJ's also makes heavenly potato pancakes, which are more like mashed potato cakes. And they reheat well!!! mmmmm :yummy:

[lllovell]

mmmmmmmmmmmm Bavaria!!!

I love potatoe pancakes! We rarely have any mashed potatoes left over to make them! Might have to do that this weekend.

I know it is not typically a restaurant I would call outstanding, but we went to IHOP a couple of weekends ago and I had the banana nut stuffed French toast. I don't care for regular French toast - but this stuff was heavenly!!! I am suddenly craving breakfast for dinner!

:yummy:

[withdisneyspirit]

I am so happy your daughter is okay, j :grouphug: :birhdaypa :highfive:

[Colorado Belle]

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to do things like
CLEAN UP YOUR CLOSET.
I decided I HADHADHAD to dust the uppermost sheving. So I stood on my step ladder...probably my first mistake...and started pulling things down, things that I hadn't seen in 10 years or more, and then vigorously dusting.

Next thing I know I felt that old familiar pain...I first experienced this pain when I decided to finish all the oak wood and trim in my house back when I built it. Seems that if you TOO vigorously sand or rub in danish oil, that sometimes the wood splinters and it goes into that soft area under the nail.

So yep, a large sliver jammed all the way down my little finger under the nail, down to below the nail bed. OWWWWWWIEEEEEE. It really hurt. I tried to ignore it, but I actually got kinda faint later in the day...it was just so LIVIDly hurtful.
I usually tolerate pain pretty good...but I finally broke down and took a vicodin. Then it went from OWWWWWWIEEEEEE to throbbing , but the vicodin put me to sleep. I woke up around 2am and it was down to a throbbing. And today it is just really sore, the blood has already started to reabsorb and I'm hoping tomorrow that the swelling will go down enough so that I can dig around and try to find the wood stake er splinter.

I KIDD YOU NOT....I haven't hurt like this in a long time.

Other news: Pam called to make a ressie for the free dining. She gave my name and the guy asked her.....are you ready.....and will Pam be staying with you this trip? It's like Bigg Mouse or something!!! Hey, maybe they are getting ready to give us one of a million dreams come true!

[jnrrt]

Thanks for all your kind words - I am so relieved today, I cannot tell you. And two of her friends stopped by because they saw the sign my younger dd made her to welcome her home on the garage, and they were all playing and asked to have a sleepover. I said, hmmm, in the hospital YESTERDAY, I don't think so. But maybe next week! She's doing great.

On the topic of gifts, I need help! Okay, I had this whole plan to look into before my dd went to hospital, but let's face it, everything got dropped, and now you all have great ideas, so here goes. My parents anniversary is Wednesday. It's #38, but my dad is terminally ill, and I'd like to make a huge deal out of it for obvious reasons. He's wheelchair bound, and can't really leave the house. He also has no energy, and is partially paralyzed. I'm looking for something fun and romantic that is not taxing, and doesn't involve leaving the house, but lets them know that we love them to pieces and helps them have a wonderful day. I am looking into a private chef for dinner, but I'd love any other ideas anyone has. It's tough with so many parameters, but we've got smart folks here!

Thanks in advance!

[gopherit]

Wow, you'reright, that IS a lot of parameters to work around. A chef would be cool... I would think anything that lifts the daily burden of life off of them to allow them to relax together would be a great help. Could you make a cassette or CD of their favorite music to play during the meal? Maybe songs from their past as well as present, if you are aware of any in particular. And let your kids perhaps sing a song and put that on there too, along with a message from you all? Then the CD would be a permanent keepsake. (But look who I'm talkin' to - the lady with her OWN CD, fer cryin' out loud... that I was just listening to the other day!) We once made a DVD for DH's parents' anniversary. I know you're terribly busy, though, so not sure how much time you would have to do something like this, though if you already have pictures of your folks in a computer file, there is some easy software that allows you to turn those babies into a musical slide show no sweat. My BIL did something sweet for his wife's 40th b'day. He called all her friends - and by that, I mean some of these folks were people she hadn't seen since high school, or from when they lived in California - people that she spoke of fondly, but never got around to speaking to personally just cause life got in the way, and also of course her near-and-dear friends. Anyway, he gave them all pre-set phone cards as reminders along with a scheduled a "time" for them to call - and made it so my sister could spend some leisure time chatting to these friends from past and present. Kinda like a "THis is your life" episode, LOL, but she thought it was awesome. Maybe you could do something like this or if that would be too tiring for your folks, solicit messages and record them from various people who know your parents and compile those onto the CD that they could listen to at their leisure. 38 years is a long time and I am betting that together they have touched so many people, in ways they might not even realize.

Good luck with your planning!

[gopherit]

Gohperit - whew...this is what i am facing isn't it? lol Almost exactly I believe as our children are the same genders and close to the same spacing! I better get my act together BEFORE they hit these points!



yeah, I was thinking the other night that by the time dd is the age of our eldest child now (DS11) nad really hitting the whole slumber party scene, her brothers will be 16 and 15. I can just HEAR all that pre-teen girl giggling now. :listen: I could be wrong, but I'm not so old that I can't recall having a lot of my friends over when I was a young girl and grossing out as at least one of them would be preening and twittering over my brother. I remember thinking, "Oh PAH-LEEEEZE! He's my brother - trust me, he is SO not-cool!"

[AFMom]

OK - so I guiltily have to adfmit that there is no way I can catch up on this thread right now!!!! Although - I saw bits about a kitty (how sad!), and J's daughter - glad she's ok! And chocolate........:yummy:
Anyway - all is good here. DH loves the tattoo, and tonight he's getting something similar on his shoulder!:dancingba Got to take one day off from day camp to spend with him on Wed - but he ended up having to go into work for 4 hours that day - big bummer. We still had a nice day. So this is our first real day off together since. Day camp is over (halleluja!) and I am still worn out from the whole week. Now we have to get the house and all of our stuff ready for a week of camping in TN. I can't wait to get up there - but I don't want to do all the work needed to do it right now. I really just want a day OFF!!!!!
Pretty cool - Scott took a flag with him on one of his missions and printed out a certificate signed by the whole crew. On Thurs he came to day camp and presented the flag to our cub scout pack and we flew it all day - and he stayed and helped out at the bb gun range. It was great to have him there!
All in all - everything is wonderful! Kids are so glad to have their dad back - they've already played many games on Monopoly, gone fishing twice, and played computer games. Getting right back into the swing of things.
Erin and Rozzie - I'm bummed I missed lunch! We definately have to do that sometime!
Ok - so I'll be here for a day or tow and then we're off to TN. I'll be even more behind then!

[ErinC]

Kristy- soo happy for your crew! Rozzie and I promise we'll do lunch with you as soon as you can swing it (don't we Rozzie!)!

Rozzie, saw you DH last night at the light by the shell station in Malbis. He was in his saturn (the one you spoke so highly of). I was in DH's truck so I didn't even attempt to wave or get his attention.

Off to go furniture shop today. Maybe I'll finally get my Birthday present!:lmbo:

[soozaay]

Kristy~ I'm sooo happy for you & your family. It puts a big smile on my face just reading your note. Have fun in TN! :jumpingbe

[Ginger]

J, what a lovely thought to do something for your parent’s anniversary. I like the chef idea. Would they like an in home massage? I think anything that is out of their normal routine might be a treat. Let us know what you decided.


cb, hope your finger is feeling better.

[bavaria]

My friends of the Nothing Thread - I have some potentially disturbing news to share. Last week I was rooting around here in the closet for some chocolate, and noticed that some of us seem to have been indulging a little more than usual lately. :innocent:

Concerned that supplies may be running low, I did an inventory and unfortunately need to confirm that we are indeed running dangerously low on chocolate here in the closet!! :holymoly:

:idea: In an effort to rectify the situation, I decided that I would take it upon myself to restock the chocolate stash, and as a result booked myself on a last minute flight to Munich.

I leave Monday, and will return in a few weeks with a fresh supply of chocolate for all. (The extra baggage allowance for business class passengers will come in handy)

In the meantime, you may want to go easy on the chocolate. While strict rationing need not yet be imposed, I fear that supplies will not last long. In case of extreme emergency, I did notice a box labelled 'carob' in the very back of the closet, but I do not recommend it. :blech:

See you all in a few weeks!!!! :jumpingbe

[gopherit]

My friends of the Nothing Thread - I have some potentially disturbing news to share. Last week I was rooting around here in the closet for some chocolate, and noticed that some of us seem to have been indulging a little more than usual lately. :innocent:

Concerned that supplies may be running low, I did an inventory and unfortunately need to confirm that we are indeed running dangerously low on chocolate here in the closet!! :holymoly:

:idea: In an effort to rectify the situation, I decided that I would take it upon myself to restock the chocolate stash, and as a result booked myself on a last minute flight to Munich.

I leave Monday, and will return in a few weeks with a fresh supply of chocolate for all. (The extra baggage allowance for business class passengers will come in handy)

In the meantime, you may want to go easy on the chocolate. While strict rationing need not yet be imposed, I fear that supplies will not last long. In case of extreme emergency, I did notice a box labelled 'carob' in the very back of the closet, but I do not recommend it. :blech:

See you all in a few weeks!!!! :jumpingbe

How noble of you.... make mine extra dark. And NO carob. Blech. My DSis used to work for a German corp. and was flying over there for 2 weeks each month for a few years. We became quite accustomed to the chocolate yummies she would bring back for us...spoiled in fact. We have a local chocolatier in town who is EXCELLENT - Holl's chocolates, they probably have a website. They ahve become more commerical over the past 5-10 yrs, but when we first moved to town, they had this little shop with the glass cases, seemingly low-frills, wouldn't even be open in the summer months because it was too hot to keep the chocolates "set". But OMG the CHOCOLATE! Mocha truffle is to die for, I kid ya not. Now they are open yr round, selling chocolates but also wine and coffee. I often wonder if they changed the formula or the air conditioner in order to sell in the summer months... probably added higher-melt wax, unfortunately. Their stuff is still the best around and that I've ever had, though. When I get some, I hide the box! Stingy stingy gopher, when it comes to my good chocolates, that's me!

My SIL has a neighbor who sells choclate and coffee online. Company has a stragne name though - Up Chocolates. SOunds a bit too much like Up Chuck, if you ask me. :yuck: And saying it as an abbreviation doesn't help matters... "U - P Chocolate" makes it sound like you are excreting cocoa. Ewwww. :sosad: I think they need to work on that, especially for an internet company.

[gopherit]

Off to go furniture shop today. Maybe I'll finally get my Birthday present!:lmbo:

Hey, if you see a double rocker, gimme a call. ;)


(actually, I upgraded that plan... told DH I planned to get a whole back porch furniture dining set and call it a truce for Mother's Day / Father's Day as it was something the whole family could then enjoy together. We love to dine on our back porch in the summer, but our old set of chairs and table have really had it. It's not something we really planned to buy this year... but what the hey, it's been a month since Mother's Day, call it interest due.)

[lllovell]

Great idea on the back porch furniture Gopherit! Hubby and I have done the "together" gifts a few time and I tend to like those best (but I still have to insist that it is enough and not to buy extra things he THINKS I should get on birthday's, etc....we have discussed this before - they are sweet, but just not me).

Erin - good luck shopping. It is one of my least favorite things, especially right now. Although it will only get worse as PJ refuses to stay in her stroller. We went to the science museum and the zoo for a bit yesterday....and we had to go shopping for some "strong man" shirts {sleveless} for summer wear that I had promised Richard when Charlie found one in the drawer on Friday to wear and we only had one :jawdroppi For now, she loves being out and seeing things so she is perfectly content to be in her stroller. We have gotten rid of the baby carrier (she weights over 17 pounds - whew - just too big for that thing) and bought backwards facing seats for the cars that will convert, so as long as she can sit up and see, she is a MUCH happier camper.

AFMom - I am so glad hubby is back safe and sound and that you are giddy with excitement at seeing him! :)

Off to cook breakfast for the crew (Sunday IS Pop Tart day so it wont be hard :p ) but I better get something in their bellies before I hear a revolt!!!

Have a great day!

Laura

[Stimpy]

My friends of the Nothing Thread - I have some potentially disturbing news to share. Last week I was rooting around here in the closet for some chocolate, and noticed that some of us seem to have been indulging a little more than usual lately. :innocent:

Concerned that supplies may be running low, I did an inventory and unfortunately need to confirm that we are indeed running dangerously low on chocolate here in the closet!! :holymoly:

:idea: In an effort to rectify the situation, I decided that I would take it upon myself to restock the chocolate stash, and as a result booked myself on a last minute flight to Munich.

I leave Monday, and will return in a few weeks with a fresh supply of chocolate for all. (The extra baggage allowance for business class passengers will come in handy)

In the meantime, you may want to go easy on the chocolate. While strict rationing need not yet be imposed, I fear that supplies will not last long. In case of extreme emergency, I did notice a box labelled 'carob' in the very back of the closet, but I do not recommend it. :blech:

See you all in a few weeks!!!! :jumpingbe

German Chocolate!!??? :bouncingp Yummy!!!! Have a great time but hurry home Bavaria :birhdaypa

[Colorado Belle]

Yea Kristy!...Homecoming is sweet. Enjoy. And matching tatoos! Will his have your initials???

jnrrt...re little girl's infection. Is this something we all need to watch out for? Is there a name for it? What kind of antibiotics treated it? How did she 'catch' it and better, how can it be prevented? Worrying moms need to know!
But, after that horrible scare, I am so glad that you got to the bottom of it and that she is well. Kudos to the docs who figured it out! WHew.

bavaria...I confess to not eating chocolate as much as I should. I just never think to buy it. :holymoly: I love truffles, but I've noticed that even when at Disney on the DDP, that I don't order chocolate desserts. (But wait...I often get chocolate covered bananas as a snack!) WELL, that explains it then...no WONDER I am in such a bad mood all the time!:jumpingbe . Hey, do you think if I start eating chocolate I might lose weight?????? Anyway, that carob stuff is gross. Makes my tongue do what a dog does when you give her a breath mint. (That back action sort of thing...is there a word for that?) Have a great time on your trip...business class is the way to go!!!!

lllovell....hope the kids soaked up some old fashioned knowledge! Kids and dinosaurs,ya can't go wrong! I still remember going to the natural history museum when I was about 6 and looking up at a T-rex and getting Verrrrry Nervous just standing there. I loved the age of 'stroller contentment'. So easy, and a place to carry those big old fashioned video cameras that came with a TVcameraman size camera, a tuner and another big heavy thing..I guess a receiver? PTL for Disney strollers back in the day. Speaking of day...it was my DD's birthday yesterday....she is gulp...a quarter of a century old. She loved her gifts (a silver turquoise Zuni bracelet from me, romantic dinner and digital camera from her obviously-not-gift-impaired bf, and a limo trip to wine tastings country with nine of her bestest girlfriends! (I'm jealous!)

gopherit...the purchase of patio furniture sounds like a great and useful combo present! How fun to throw something on the barbie and sit outside watching the world drift by. I bought a barbie late last year and haven't even broken it out this summer yet....I have GOT to get a life.:goldfish:

[Rozzie]

jnrrt---How scary for you? How is DD doing today? Please give her a get well hug from all of us, and a <<hug>> to you too.

ohhhh Bavaria---yum! Good way to stock up the closet!! Have a safe trip! :bouncingg

So glad to hear DH made it home safe and sound Kristy! I know you are just in high heaven with him being there!! :woohoo:



I'm having family issues right now. I am fighting with my brother. I think so much of how easy it would be to live far away from family. That way, there is no expectation placed on you to how you are going to be. The big argument is that he feels I don't come over to his house enough to see the kids. Factor in me being tired and actually wanting some Rozzie time on days off, me not getting along with my SIL at all, being treated rudely when I do go over, and then sprinkle some really don't LOVE spending my relaxing afternoons chasing after a ill
behaved 2 year old. Stir it all up, and you have a old fashioned family feud. I guess I might be in the wrong, but I don't have the energy for things like this.

Maybe we should move away. Mmnn. :scratchch

[gopherit]

Aww, ROzzie, I feel your pain... it's always the people who know us best (like family) that knows how to push our buttons best too. Unfortunately, as the old saying goes, " You can pick your friends, you can pick your clothes, you can even pick your nose... but you can't pick your family." :sosad:

If anyone is into horoscopes (which I'm not, but maybe someone else is), they could rationalize how I end up, Libran that I am, trying to balance the battles that occur in our family. It gets bad in DH's family - not for him, mind you - he's oblivious, LOL - but for me, because his family is very small and I have to listen from SIL about the ILs, then from the ILS about them ... and the irony of it all, they live within a few scant miles of each other, even when one moved to the coast, the other followed after, they need each other - they are SO VERY co-dependent. And it gets wearisome for me, the visitor from 8 hrs away, to hear them gripe today about each other, then a week later, when we call them, we find they are doing some thing or another together like they are joined at the hip. I tried using the interaction skills I learned in my son's play therapy groups - reflecting back at them exactly what they said. So if SIL complained about MIL, I would just say, "So you were bothered by MIL's reaction to yadayada...." But it backfired - I found that even though all I was doing was mirroring exactly what THEY said back at them, they were just interpreting that as my agreement with them on "their" side, and even saying as much to the other later on ! ("Well, I told Cindy, and SHE agreed with me...") Grrrr. :mad: So now, I do like the penguins in Madagascar -- just smile and wave, boys, just smile and wave.

We are headed to see DH's family in just 6 days... oye vey. ANd yes, they ALWAYS expect us to come visit, usually 2X per year. The last time any of them came to see us? Hmmm... I think DBIL and one of our nephews came about 3 years ago. MIL hasn't visited in 6 years. In her case, she says she can't travel due to health issues (fibromyalgia) yet whenever I call about DH or one of the kids being sick, she wants to know if I "need her to come". Yeah, right - wouldn't that give me one more patient? If you can make it out here - come when we are WELL!

For years, I tried to get DH and I transferred back to where "his people" live. Now, the more I visit these people, the happier I am that we have made our own way in life and while we love them all dearly, we are thankfully independent. I truly do want that for my kids too - I want them to discover the world and not feel guilted into staying at mom's doorstep. I do admit - it would be nice if we were about half the distance we are from our families - an 8 hr drive and no easy airport makes visiting a REAL BEAR. Which means, when we visit, it's always for a looong time - which just gives more chance to rub each other the wrong way or feel like you're walking on eggshells. A 3-4 hr drive could make a wkend trip very doable and probably preserve sanity a bit more, yet also be juuuust long enough to prevent the "expectation" that we would spend our every free moment there, or the equal issue of guests showing up all the time. I'm 3 hrs exact from my brother - it's perfect. We can meet halfway in Columbus for a zoo day for the kids, or go all they way for a wkend visit. WIsh I could hold all relatives to the exact same distance, LOL! :tongue:

[Rozzie]

A 3-4 hr drive could make a wkend trip very doable and probably preserve sanity a bit more, yet also be juuuust long enough to prevent the "expectation" that we would spend our every free moment there, :

OMG! This is what I mean, and was just never articulate it into words. (and I have a 50/50 chance of spelling articulate right...) They spend every spare moment with each other, why shouldn't I?

SIL's family is joined at the hip. I am super close to my mom, but that is it, and I have learned to slowly not become so dependant on her. We talk everyday, and I tell her everything, but SIL's family freaks me out. They cannot breathe without calling the other and asking should they breath out of the left nostril or right nostril. They all eat together almost every night. Meanwhile in Rozzie world, I couldn't figure out why Tom Hanks was working so hard to get off the island in castaway. Maybe not that bad, but I love my time and quiet time at that. (and some people still wonder why I am still a DINK?? LOL...)

Thanks for the Pep talk Gopher. Oh, my, I will save the sanity for everybody of talking about Mr. Rozzie's family. Mine is dysfunctional, His is Non-functional.

One thing about MO I have learned, it is quiet here on the weekends. Brings a smile to my face, knowing all my friends are spending some good times with one's they love. :goodvibes

[Stimpy]

Sorry to hear about the family issues Rozzie and Gopher! As crazy as my own family is, I still like them and get along with them. DH's family on the other hand :blech: His brother and I have a hate-hate relationship and it makes every get together stressful and horrible....for me! DH never notices :idontgeti I've been know to fake a headache or two in order to stay home while he takes the kids to the in-laws. BIL has also helped cause quite a few real migraines for me :mad: But it is probably easier for me since he's not blood-related to me. I can't imagine how stressful it must be for you Rozzie when it's your own brother and SIL.

Kristy, hope you and the family are having a great weekend!! I'm so glad your DH is home safe!

The garage sale went well at my grandparents house. I now have tons of things I don't need but are very sentimental to me. DH is yelling at me everytime he trips over a new box. Some of the things I took, some the kids bought home and then there are the things I got "guilted" into take by my sentimental aunt and father LOL. ("If you don't take it....who will?? We can't throw it away or sell it!Besides Grandma made it by hand!") Their own houses are full with the things they took and they didn't want strangers having personal stuff, sooo it's now in my house. DH is not a "saver" or a sentimental person and he hates my pack rat tendencies (Although I wouldn't call it pack rat...I just can't bear to get rid of things that mean alot to me!:crymeariv ) Both my grandmother and great-grandmother were excellent "crafters", you name it, they made it! Ceramics, knitting, needlepoint, lace work, paintings, etc.

I did find a scrapbook my grandmother made for me of my wedding, some toys she intended to give my kids...including an old baby doll crib for my DD. That made me cry! She died 2 months before DD was born and she was so excited that Tara was due. She told my aunt she wanted to refinish the crib, make bedding for it and everything for her when she got out of the hospital. Unfortunately, she never did get the chance. So now my father has it and is supposed to refinish it for DD.

Hope everyone else had a great weekend. I'm off to bathe 2 really dirty, tree-climbing, dirt attracting children :goodvibes

[withdisneyspirit]

Maybe not that bad, but I love my time and quiet time at that. (and some people still wonder why I am still a DINK?? LOL...)

Thanks for the Pep talk Gopher. Oh, my, I will save the sanity for everybody of talking about Mr. Rozzie's family. Mine is dysfunctional, His is Non-functional.

One thing about MO I have learned, it is quiet here on the weekends. Brings a smile to my face, knowing all my friends are spending some good times with one's they love. :goodvibes

You are right, Rozzie. It is quiet here on the weekends. Ya know, I love my time and quiet time. The more I get, the more I want. I am not a DINK but my boys are teens which means they are moving toward leaving me in the empty nest with DH. It makes me sad but also happy.

Hey Cindy, uh I mean Gopher...I know what you mean about the Libran qualities...I have them in spades, at 45, I am beginning to cope and learn not to try to fix everything and everyone around me:bugeyed: :highfive: :sunny:

[Rozzie]

Ahhh Kimberly, :hug: I was wondering how the garage sale went. You and I are so much alike! I also have a entire house full of "stuff" that meant something to somebody, so now it means something to me. I remember my mom was trying to sell some china glasses in a yard sale that belonged to my grandfather. I actually grabbed them from somebody's hands, explaining these are not for sale. Anything that belonged to my grandparents gets a automatic pass. How wonderful you found the crib. I would have balled like a baby. Acutally, I teared up thinking of her doing the crib for Tara. What a treasure for you to have!

[gopherit]

WHile gathering up stuff for our neighborhood yard sale, DH opened up a box and said, "How about this stuff?" The box was labeled "nostalgia". He lifted out an item and said, "You're keeping THIS?!?" like it was a 3 day old dirty diaper. I told him, "It's MY nostalgia - it doesn't have to mean anything to you in order to be of value to me."

The item: a tiny green well-worn tee shirt, size 3T, with Ernie and Bert making sand castles embroidered on the front, right above the pocket. When DH sees the shirt - that's what he sees, a little green shirt. But there's so much he's missing.

If you hold the shirt to your face, it is so soft from sheer cotton fatigue, you might think it would have a hole in it somewhere, it's that well-worn. The shirt still smells of suntan lotion and a hint of sea spray and chlorine, and there are probably still grains of sand lurking in the pocket. If I hold the shirt and close my eyes, it's amazing - I can somehow feel the body of a 2 yr old toddler inside it, chubby cheeks pinkened by the summer sun, clutching a little matchbox car in one hand and a sippy cup of juice in the other, smelling of coconut sunscreen, Baby Fresh shampoo, and little sweaty dirty-dog boy all at the same time. Huggin me around the neck. It was his favorite shirt that summer, and his Daddy happened to have a shirt the exact same off shade of almost sea green (his was a Disney one, with ironically Gopher embroidered above his pocket). I have a photo of the two of them in their matching shirts, sitting at a big wooden picnic table, while DH is peeling shrimp and DS is watching, mesmerized. When I hold the shirt, though, I don't even need to see the picture - I have it in my head and it's so clear. I get a lot of miles out of just a few minutes with that shirt, and it's nothing DH understands, because he doesn't see/feel what I am seeing/feeling.

Now, pull out some of his baseball cards, and THAT'S another story, LOL..... ;)

[Ginger]

My Mom and I have been cleaning out my Grandma's house on and off for the past year. Everytime, I come home with a box of "stuff". DH doesn't understand either. I need to decide what I'm going to do with the "stuff". It's been sitting in the extra bedroom for a while. A lot of it is pictures. I need to take them out of the old 1950's books and put them into some kind of acid free book or box. I'm not sure what I want to do wtih them. I'm not a scrap booking person.

DH and I live very close to all our family. Sometimes we love them, sometimes not. But they are family. Rozzie, I understand you not wanting to spend every waking moment with them. My family is the same way and doesn't understand. :)

[gopherit]

Rozzie, had to laugh about the Castaway reference. I actually have a small white ball by my computer with a face I drew on it and "Wilson" inked on the back of it, because so many people tease me about always talking to myself and even answering back. :yes:

Mind you, I am a very social person - but I am also equally happy with my own personal time and space. In fact, I think that was one of THE hardest things for me when my 2 boys were little - by day's end, I would feel so utterly "touched out" and all I wanted to do was find a corner and hide in it, to get some time and space to myself. DH is like me in that regard, and so is DS11. DS11 is SOOO looking forward to having the house and his parents to himself when his siblings go to camp. He will be happy when they come home, but on the other hand, he relishes a bit of private time. Jury is still out on DD6 - she is able to amuse herself for great lengths of time, but she also can be very needy - hard to say how much of that is age / maturity versus personality at such a young age, though. BUt DS9 - oye vey. From the time he was a toddler, we knew something was different. He truly NEEDS people to be happy. I don't know how to really articulate this (hey ROzzie, how did I do on the sp? ;) ) but he has a driven need to be with people, to know where all "his people" are, to cluster them together, and be amongst them. It's like he's part collie, constantly trying to gather the herd. ANd it's something DH and I just cannot relate to, which is a shame for poor DS. For quite a while, we simply did not understand this need and tried to make him fit our mold. When we finally came to understand and cherish this part of him, my how he bloomed. We now recognize his need for higher degrees of social contact, and rather than yank that quality like a weed, we are trying to water it, tend it, prune it so that it becomes an asset.

[gopherit]

One thing about MO I have learned, it is quiet here on the weekends.

I am so ashamed to admit this: I read this and thought... since when did Rozzie move to Missouri? :confused: Took me about 15 minutes and a few more references in posts to figure it out.

I am not worthy of membership. :crazy:

[Rozzie]

I am so ashamed to admit this: I read this and thought... since when did Rozzie move to Missouri? :confused: Took me about 15 minutes and a few more references in posts to figure it out.

I am not worthy of membership. :crazy:

:ROTFL: of course you are worthy!!

[ErinC]

NO BIRTHDAY present yet. I did purchase DH's Father's Day gift though!:(

I went Birthday shopping for my Mom today, bought her an outfit, bought myself a pair of pants. My sister is coming to town this week for their family vacation. We will get to see them, 1 night this week, other than that, they'll be having their "family" time. She is leaving her girls with me, so next week I'll have six girls at the house. My 3 nieces are older than my girls, so they aren't any trouble, and my girls can't wait for them to come. But getting 6 girls ready to go anywhere or do anything is a "production"!

DH's family is huge and they all pretty much live here in our county. My Mom and Dad live in the same town with us, my Sis is 4 hours away. I get to the point where I really dread holidays, especially Christmas. Everybody wants a piece of "our" family on Christmas Day. My kids have never had the joy of waking up Christmas Day and opening presents and actually getting to play with them for any length of time. We are always up early, open gifts, get dressed, and then we are off to someone else's house. Truthfully, some of the best Thanksgivings we've had were when we left town and didn't have to see any family. DH used to have a conference that always fell around Thanksgiving. We would head out early for his conference and do a short family vacation. It was so great to eat a meal somewhere and not have to worry about whose family got us for how many hours on what day????? I love my Mom, we are very close, I see her probably 5 out of 7 days a week. She always tells me not to worry on the holidays, go ahead and go to DH's family thing, "don't worry about us." She really means it too, but since that usually leaves them alone, I just can't stand it! Sometimes I wish we had no family nearby, but that will never happen, and I'm sure I would compain about that too!:laughing:

It is quiet on the weekends. I guess I spend less time on the computer because DH is home.

[PoohsPal]

MOrning all! Whirlwind weekend!

FYI - I live 3 hours away from the ILs and we're still there wayyy too much. This year is an exception with FIL being sick, but it's still crazy. Here's what gets me. FIL asks, "Did you finish that hallway yet?" DH says no and makes himself sound laszy. I ask him where he's had 1 to 2 hours to spare. Mind you, hewas in Utah Frinday am, came home, helped me set up a tent fo a charity function (where were those boy scout moms, den mom, cubmasters...when I needed them? ;) )

Next day, MIL asks how the boat's running. You mean the one that's been used once in about 5 years becaus eit was broken and dh did nothave time to fix it? Well, it's de-winterized. SHe says, "Oh, you haven't taken it out yet?" I think I've identified the problem. I don't think that they realize that when we're with them, that we're not home. Arghhhh!

Good News! FIL has been given teh clear to shower and to go up stairs at night to sleep adn come down in the morning. So glad we did not build a shower downstairs as clearance for showering came at the same time fas cliearance for limited stairs. So good to see him gettign around, even though it's slow and with a cane, it's wayyy better than what we were told to expect!

Coffee's on! When's our beloved Bavaria coming back with that chocolate? :goodvibes:

[Ginger]

I get to the point where I really dread holidays, especially Christmas. Everybody wants a piece of "our" family on Christmas Day. My kids have never had the joy of waking up Christmas Day and opening presents and actually getting to play with them for any length of time. We are always up early, open gifts, get dressed, and then we are off to someone else's house.

Erin, I could have written the above. This was my childhood. When we have children, I don't want to do this. But I don't know how to put my foot down and get my point across. I can put my foot down, but they everyone wants to know "why, how come, etc." My family doesn't understand just plain no or no thank you. They always want to know why.... Family, got to love them. :)

[AFMom]

Howdy all. Coffee here! No chocolate, though! Sorry I wasn't there to help with that tent, Carrie! I can whip those puppies up in a heartbeat now!:drillserg
We're leaving for camping tomorrow morning - going to the South Cumberland State Rec Area in TN - it's an 8 hour drive (yuck!:scary: ) - but we'll be getting some elevation which will really help with the heat. We're taking both dogs as well - so I'm not sure how all this stuff is going to fit in our truck. I'm bracing myself for the "what all did you pack!" lecture:headbange - even though when we get there he needs every bit of it!!! Get this - he didn't want me to bring the camp stove......:scratchch I know we can use the campfire - but for some things the stove is just so much easier! DH's ideal packing list would include 1 change of clothes, swim shorts, a bar of soap and some MRE's from work. Everything else to him is unnecessary. Gotta love him.:lovestruc It's primitive camping - and we're going for 5 nights - so I bought myself one of those camp shower bag things. I have to get clean!!!!
When we were in CA with family (both sides of both families all live in the same place) we would have to go 3 or 4 different places on each holiday. As much as it drove me nuts then - we really miss it now. Especially the Christmas coming up - DH will be deployed again, and we won't be able to go to CA - so it'll just be me and the boys! I don't mind missing the holiday craziness - but my kids really miss it. They would love to see everyone.
I guess there is no ideal situation - it's hard anyway you slice it!

We have boxes of the "memorabilia" as I like to lable it. It has moved all over the country with us, and everytime we move it I get "the look" from DH! Too bad! It's staying!
I love the green shirt story. You could get that one published.

[PoohsPal]

Krity - NO primitive camping fo rme. Yuck! I was thinking he didn't want you to take the camp stove, as you'd be eating out! ;) That's how bad I am!

As fo rteh tent, this one was sticks (smal tree trunks) lashed together and covered with muslin, so it's a bit more complex. That's why Scouts were needed. DH making this tent has pretty much committed him to a lifetime of setup. :faint:

Have fun camping!!

[TW1]

Mornin' all.

Spent most of Sunday helping DW clean up after her brother and his kids visited for a few days. Sheesh, those kids act like they've been raised by wolves. While we love them and enjoy seeing them, they really do lack most social graces. Stuff lays where ever its dropped, none of them flushes, kids are serious mumblers and never look you in the eye when they speak (if you can call it speaking). After a few days there were simply piles of their stuff everywhere, wet suits, towels, socks, shoes left outside in the rain, etc.

Yup, family is alot like fish, both stick after a few days.

[PoohsPal]

Yikes TW! That's really sad that they let their kids do that stuff. Must really confuse dw as she was raised in teh same house as your bil. :huh: I love seeing my nephews on dh's side too, but I always feeli like SIL and BIL have walked all over us by teh time they leave.

[Rozzie]

When I was working out in Yellowstone, I got pretty good at primitive camping and knowing what I could leave back, and what I couldn't live without. 2 things I need: toothbrush and a tent. A lot of my backpacking buddies started leaving their tents behind for weight concerns, and the whole argument of pure nature, stare at the stars like cowboys. :cowboy: For some reason, I just could never do it. I liked the protection. Like a huge grizzly wouldn't be able to shred my tent in a nanosecond, but the delusion helped me feel safe. Plus I remember one trip where it started snowing, and everyone so pleasantly was trying to cram in my 1 man tent. :rolleyes:

DH and camping? He refuses. We used to have a little pull behind RV camper, and he was blast the AC and drag the TV outside and watch football with his feet propped up under the awning. Yep, that was roughing it in his eyes.

Have a fun trip Kristy!! :blueflowe

[ErinC]

Erin, I could have written the above. This was my childhood. When we have children, I don't want to do this. But I don't know how to put my foot down and get my point across. I can put my foot down, but they everyone wants to know "why, how come, etc." My family doesn't understand just plain no or no thank you. They always want to know why.... Family, got to love them. :)

Ginger, it's so hard. I don't want to exclude anyone. The last few Thanksgivings when we have been in town, I told them I was cooking, dinner would be served at noon, and if they want to be with us, come to our house. Both DH and my parents know each other well. We all go to church together, so they are very comfortable with each other. Christmas is where things get so much more complicated because of gifts. DH has 2 sets of grandparents that are still living. One set has her Christmas party the 3rd Sat. of Dec. (which often times falls on DH's and I anniversary). We have spent several of our anniversaries at the family Christmas party.:grrrrr: Then the other Grandmother has her family Christmas party on Christmas Eve. So that's 2 Christmas parties with DH's family. His parents always want to see the girls Christmas morning. DH's parents are very wealthy, so they usually buy way too much stuff for the kids.(Almost as much as DH and I buy them). MIL is very good though about asking me what they want. If there is something I would like them to have, she will buy it. But since the balance between the 2 sets of parents is very lopsided, we couldn't ever consider having one big Christmas with both families. It would be uncomfortable for all involved. I don't mean this too sound ungrateful about any of it, we love them all. I love my inlaws, they are very good to me, and are always willing to help with the kids. Obviously, I love my parents too, so it's just one big sticky circle!!:hahahaha:

[TW1]

Yikes TW! That's really sad that they let their kids do that stuff. Must really confuse dw as she was raised in teh same house as your bil. :huh: I love seeing my nephews on dh's side too, but I always feeli like SIL and BIL have walked all over us by teh time they leave.
UNfortunately we're used to it. MiL used to just roll her eyes at her son. The guys a walking frat house. Yup, fine schooling, great home life, the guy is just oblivious to manners, but he is fun, entertaining and a walking encyclopedia, half a dzoen patents to his name, etc. Kids are sweet, and very book smart, just dopey. Our kids get a kick out of them and we all had a great laff at the dinner table recounting some if the things they said and do (or don't do). 10 year old can swear like a pirate and BiL doesn't see much wrong with it.

Anyway...its Monday, long week ahead, and I'm wondering if Rash would make my car as shiny as his in exchange for a few Yuenglings.

[AFMom]

Oh - you're on your own with that tent! Love to see a picture of it though. I think my boys act like they've been raised by wolves sometimes. Doesn't seem to matter what I do either. Some days I feel like a screaming banshee. They are getting better, but still - I'm not exactly a neat freak - but at least clean up after yourselves a bit......

[PoohsPal]

Here you go Kristy! It's definitely one of a kind!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/PoohsPal/IMG_0361.jpg

[Stimpy]

Glad to know I'm not the only sentimental person here! :) I told DH he should be happy. After 11 years of marriage, we finally got a framed picture of our wedding photo! I had an 8x10 framed for my grandparents when we got married but we never got around to framing our own :shhh:

Ahhh camping! Bad word in my house ;) I grew up in girl scouts, 12 years of camping with the troop through out the years, being a camp counselor for 4 summers and I HATE it! :laughing: I told DH when the time comes for the cubs to go camping, he's on his own! I might consider going in an RV...but there would have to be a big incentive for me :whatababy

I took DD to the beach today but it was a bit too chilly plus there were a lot of kids there...seems 1 of the schools was having an end of the year beach day. So we stayed about 20 minutes and we went to this burger stand across the street. (Which is really good! Home made burgers, home made ice cream, and the people that work there are really nice....free ice cream anyone? :Pssst: ) DD apparently wanted to go back to the beach and started yelling "BEACH". Wellllll, she's 2 and doesn't speak to well yet and it sounded more like she was screaming at me and calling me a B****! Fortunately, it wasn't in a tantrum tone, more an excited tone. So I'm calmly trying to tell her back "No more BEACH today!" Of course the teenagers working there are snickering as I'm rolling my eyes again. I'm telling you, this kid was put here to torture me ;)

[PoohsPal]

lol Stimpy. Hey, if you continue to entertain the teens like that, you may get more free ice cream. :D SOrry about the drama though!

[lllovell]

Well, the good thing is that I am laughing as much as I have eyes full of tears at the stories here lately!!!

The only problem with keeping other people's crap (which I admit I WANT to keep...but really - you know you have to be honest and admit that most things are junk that we hang on to) is that I don't have enough space for MINE. I am having a real hard time giving away or trashing ANYTHING that my mother bought. It can be insignificant or worn beyond repair and yet I know that it will never be replaced by HER and that is what crushes my soul at times. If you can hang on to that stuff, do! Tightly! It is what makes us human - - - the best kind of humans.

Laura


oh - and sleeping beneath the stars - ummm no thanks. We camp but I have to have a tent. At least I know MOST of the creepy critters are OUTSIDE that way and not sleeping with me.

[TW1]

Not sure if anyone else saw it, but on Jay Leno last week he had one of his "Jay Walking" skits and was asking people what different slang words & phrases meant. Anyway, one of the phrases was "going commando" and while most knew it meant sans underwear I was really hoping someone would have made a reference to visiting WDW.

[jnrrt]

Stimpy, that's hilarious. Kind of like when my little brother mis-heard the name "bucky o' hare" when he was 4 and started singing an entirely different song - loudly - in the grocery store - with a giant grin.

Well, I'm happy to report that my dd is totally fine. We even had a follow-up today and no problems. Unfortunately, CB, there's not much to do to avoid it, but it isn't catching, and is apprently hard to get. They did tell me that all her ear problems probably contributed to it. It really has been an amazing turnaround.

We're headed out camping a few weekends this summer, but I confess, we're borrowing my uncle's RV because I'm too chicken to try it with the baby in a tent yet. Maybe when no one needs a nap.

In the meantime, we're in the homestretch for the play right now, and I'll be doing that every night this week. The latest debacle is that the set is built too high, so it's really not safe for the actors (they climb all over it, it looks like a giant rock outcropping), and the worst part is it's all my fault since they followed the heights I gave them. I've never messed up like that before, but fortunately, I work with really nice people who have been way more understanding than they needed to be. Going tonight to chop it all down. Hopefully it'll go smoothly since we really need the time on the set.

BTW, I found out the my dad is so way ahead of me, and has already planned a big thing for he and my mom for their anniversary, so now I'll have to think of something else to commemorate the occassion. I should have known - he's really good at that stuff.

Hope everyone's having a decent start to your week!

[PoohsPal]

lol TW! I'd go for teh WDW one!

j - That is so cool that your dad is still planning this stuff! He is awesome! :dust for the play!

[soozaay]

OMG! I miss 2 days on MO and it's like a lifetime! I had to read the cliff notes version of the thread, so I'm sorry if I miss something/one....

Gopher~
" You can pick your friends, you can pick your clothes, you can even pick your nose... but you can't pick your family."

How true is that?!?! I moved from IL to NJ to get of the chaos of my family and sometimes I STILL don't think it's far enough! :headbange Don't get me wrong...I love my mom, but I'm sure that I'd be in an insane asylum if I still lived there! My sister lives in Colorado and she says the same thing! And don't even get me started on my in-laws....who all live in NC now...yippee! Rozzie~ I completely know how you feel! Both sides of my family think that since we're DINKS, we have no excuse as why we don't go see them every weekend (YES, I said that they live in IL & NC!!!!).....we should just be able to fly anywhere we want, when we want (WANT being the key word here! :hahahaha: ). We haven't told most of them about DVC yet, because that would open up a whole new can of worms! :grrrrr:

I think I read something about camping....I too have become a hotel person. I would go to Oregon every summer to go camping with my grandparents while in grade school & I was a YMCA camp counselor for 5 summers while in high school & college....and I'm done with the 'C' word! The closest I will come to camping now will be at the Wilderness Lodge! :slyasafox

[PoohsPal]

The closest I will come to camping now will be at the Wilderness Lodge! :slyasafox
lol. If only I could make that true!

[TW1]

Can't do it. :(



Just can't do it... :(



Oh, the pain.... :(


I DREAD, absolutely dread making this phone call....:(


to CANCEL a ressie! :crymeariv


I've been putting this off for months now. I knew back in January I would not be going to HHI this summer since we're off to Colorado instead. But I just couldn't bring myself to cancel our week in our happy place. But the more I stare at the calendar the more I realize I just can't do both. Woe is me.

[PoohsPal]

Be strong TW!! SOmetimes, we have to do the grown up thing and visit family. :( :grouphug:

Saw this last night at Curves:

We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing.

I think everybody here should be just fine! :D

[Rozzie]

oh TW1. I know the pain. I have had to cancel 2 ressie's in my life. One was expected, one was completly unexpected. I cried like a baby! :( Are you going to bank your points, or go later in the year? Sorry for your unhappy phone call.

[TW1]

Yup, plan is to bank this summer's trip, about 90 points worth, and save for summer 07 when we'll do 5 nights in WDW and 5-7 in HHI.

So, it'll be a a long time between trips, but we'll make up for it next summer.

[lllovell]

awwww TW1 - I am sorry hun. I have not had to cancel a ressie...yet - but I am sure it will happen at some point.


Right now I am trying to NOT let my sister talk me into a July (pant - gasp hot) trip to WDW for my niece's birthday. She is saying her hubby will be glad to help with the boys and I am sure he will, but I told her to talk to him about it and make sure. We are also trying to figure out what to do about our week at Christmas. We are going (the lovells) and she wants to go and either stay with us or get a different place and drag our dad along kicking and screaming. My sister really likes the monorail resorts and I said that is fine, but we wont see you much because meeting up becomes a hassle and we are staying at SSR. So I am working on her about Christmas and she is working on me about the Sun - Wed in July :p Maybe we will both win!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Laura

[Rozzie]

Hey Laura----I'll be happy to go in July with you and be your official fan waver and mister filler uper!! :thumbsup: I can understand your concerns, before our trip last August, I was really getting nervous about the heat. To be honest, that day we were in MGM this May felt way hotter than August. I know, makes no sense whatso ever! :crackedup



Nothing to report here. No family fights. No arguments with DH. No work complaints. I know, weird for me, huh? :innocent:

[lllovell]

Rozzie - don't tease me! I would love for you to come and stay with the little lovells and myself for a few days!!! (but I know you are working a LOT and saving up)

I will figure out what to do. If my sister says they will help, I knwo they will. They are staying at the Contemporary for one night and then at OKW for the rest of the trip. She has a baby as well (3 months younger than PJ) so we know we would have to do a lot away from the heat of the parks in the middle of the day. It is just one heck of a ride and the boys just can't walk the parks for several days in a row yet. Poor little Richard is a 50 pound 4 year old (not fat - just a big boy) and I really think it takes a toll on him. Nothing like a whining 4 year old who is just tired to make a trip miserable.

What to do....what to do...

[jnrrt]

Oh, TW, I feel for you. My dd just asked me this morning when we were going back to HH, and I had to say the dreaded, "Next year, sweetie." Gotta hate that!

So, I just got an email for a really last minute booking in Grand Rapids for a concert at the end of the month. How close is that for you, Carrie? Just wondering...

[PoohsPal]

Oh! Oh! j! Depending on where, 35 min to 45 min. That's where the dungeon is!

[PoohsPal]

Oh, and the end of the month is about 10 to 17 days for me. :slyasafox:

[lllovell]

Oh, and the end of the month is about 10 to 17 days for me. :slyasafox:

lol - good one Carrie!!!

Had to stop and think for a moment or two there....*smile*

[jnrrt]

Oh, and the end of the month is about 10 to 17 days for me. :slyasafox:


Okay, okay, you got me! But, seriously, I can't keep track of the day of the week, or month, and even if I can, I don't want to do the math to the end of the month (and don't get me started on having to do the whole "30 days" rhyme!) so thanks for the help! Guess I'd better decide if I'm taking it? I'm waiting to hear back from another person who asked me to come to VA for a concert in the same time frame, but didn't tell me which actual day. Which is important info. Especially if you want to be at the concert you're giving. Just a guideline. But I should know today. Maybe I'd get to meet Pooh's number one pal?

[lllovell]

lol - I sing the song every time I need to remember Jnrrt! It is one of those things that will NOT stick in my head otherwise!

Meeting Carrie would be fun!!! She is so sweet! :lovestruc



and she didn't make fun of my accent lol

Laura

[nono]

Oh, and the end of the month is about 10 to 17 days for me. :slyasafox:

*insert rim shot sound effect here*

[Ginger]

TW1, I'm so sorry that you have to cancel. But think of the fun you will have next summer. :)

[PoohsPal]

j! I would so love to meet you! Not to mention hear you in concert. ;)

BTW, I don''t know the song. :( I think I was out of college before I learned th knuckle thing too! (An old dog can be taught new tricks)

[PoohsPal]

Meeting Carrie would be fun!!! She is so sweet! :lovestruc

Unfortunately, j has recently learned that I am not the nicest person on the internet though. :(

I promise not to make fun of her accent either, though! :D

[lllovell]

Unfortunately, j has recently learned that I am not the nicest person on the internet though. :(

I promise not to make fun of her accent either, though! :D


That is one of those titles I dont think I would want anyway!!!

Sorta like when Dory tells Marlin that it is really a funny thing that he told Nemo that he would never let anything happen to him!

If everyone loves you, you aren't being true to yourself! :beatinghe

*smile* I am trying to remember J's accent. We talked on the phone a couple of times even though we never met up at the world in April.

Laura

[lllovell]

and did anyone else notice how fast Rozzie blasted out of here when I told her to come on down in July with me? :duck: :p

[PoohsPal]

*smile* I am trying to remember J's accent. We talked on the phone a couple of times even though we never met up at the world in April.

Laura
It should be pretty close to mine. ;)

[lllovell]

It should be pretty close to mine. ;)


lol Yes - I believe so.

The most interesting one I ever heard was from a friend that came to visit me who lived in North Dakota - right outside Fargo. Oh yeah you bettcha she really talked like that! :)

Laura

[PoohsPal]

SHould have talked to me when I got out of college. You pick a lot of that up 'eh.

[Colorado Belle]

Wha? Huh?
I kidd you naught, I am confused. Except for the knuckles...the hint re the song.
I didn't know the knuckles BUT I know the song...and dang if I didn't try the knuckles and it works out exactly like the song!!!!

Well, eknuff of that.

TW...looking forward to your trip out to Colorado this summer. Are ya coming up to the mountains to visit??????

Lllovely lllovell...July in Florida. Probably as bad as August and September when I am going twice. How did that happen? Something about free dining and watching a space shuttle launch and my inability to say no to a good deal.
But with a baby? Nah, don't do it!!!!

[lllovell]

It would definately be a mostly non-park visit. My sister's little girl is even younger than PJ (not the one whose birthday it is! she will be 5 this year - hard to believe!!!)

I know it is a bad idea.... :help: but you know how the pull is to WDW - - especially with annual passes.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

(:lmbo: I am such a goofball - I had just said in May how the boys didnt seem to appreciate going as much so we needed to wait a while to go back and here i am on the fence about another trip! - someone save me!!!!)

Laura

[Rozzie]

and did anyone else notice how fast Rozzie blasted out of here when I told her to come on down in July with me? :duck: :p


:brrrrrr: it's just so cold in July!!


Really, Laura, I think you should do it!! Do it! Do it! (Now I am beginning to realize why everyone's mother in high school didn't want me being friends with their daughters.)


I actually got things accomplished today. Washed the car and pulled weeds. It really is Bizarro World sometimes here! :laughing:

[gopherit]

I think there's a bit of bizarro in the air! Yesterday, as I sat watching DS11's baseball game, I was fighting with my DS9 forthe blanket! There we were, midway through June, I'm wearing long pants and a 3/4 sleeve shirt and I'm fighting with DS for space under a heavy fleece stadium blanket! Ridiculous. We will probably roast in November.

GOtta start packing tonight for a myriad of things - getting the kids camp stuff together, plus our trip to DH's folks is coming up. DH is taking all the kids to the ballpark so I can work in peace, LOL. Ordered DS11 a scout cot today, still have to get a heap of other stuff for the other 2 kids - if the camp fees don't kill you, the incidentals WILL! I think I've paid higher bills for the stuff to TAKE to camp than the actual CAMP itself!

Speaking of high costs - took my van to the ins. adjuster dude today. Appears my mom did damage to our van to the tune of $850. Wowser.

Well, gotta go get a few things done before I scram outta here. LATER!

[lllovell]

awwww Gopherit! That is a pricey pop from Mom. When I first got my Vue, I clipped a landscape boulder and scratched it. After I washed it the other day, I noticed the paint is peeling off in that spot. It was less than 3 years ago, but I am getting myself worked up for a battle.

The body work was done by the local Caddy shop (the owner owns both the Saturn dealership and the Caddy dealership by my work) so I am hoping for some decent customer service, but not holding my breath. When I feel better this week, I am going to treck up there (it is about 3 miles away and will take 30 minutes to get there *grrr*) and see what they say. Frustrating!

Hope you get all your packing done!

Rozzie - you are eeeevvvvvvvvvvviiiiiiillllllllllllllllllll

(no wonder I think you are so great!!! :) )

Laura

[jnrrt]

Hey Laura, didn't you know? No one actually has an accent. It's all the people from other places who have the accents.

Well, still can't find the VA people (I mean, I'm sure if I tried hard enough, I could find SOMEONE in VA, but I was actually looking for someone specific) so no answers for the MI people either. Although they'll win pretty soon just for being available.

Okay, I give. What's the knuckles thing?

[lllovell]

I simply had to sign in and tell you all that Delilah was sitting in the flower bed (meowing like crazy - which drives us all crazy lol) when I got home! :bouncingp She is alive and seems quite well (actually maybe even better than before she left as she isn't scratching herself anymore.

Time will tell if she is going to choose to stay with us or try to get back outside, but I wanted all of you that had been so sweet to me to know that she is alive and well. Thank you for all of your kind and thoughtful words and prayers. They worked! :) :cheerlead

Laura

[lllovell]

Hey Laura, didn't you know? No one actually has an accent. It's all the people from other places who have the accents.

Well, still can't find the VA people (I mean, I'm sure if I tried hard enough, I could find SOMEONE in VA, but I was actually looking for someone specific) so no answers for the MI people either. Although they'll win pretty soon just for being available.

Okay, I give. What's the knuckles thing?

lol so true Jnrrt! I spent a summer in California when I was younger and those people in TV land really DONT have accents. Very bland.

The knuckle thing...make two fists and look at your nuckles. Starting with the left hand pinkie knuckle, say the months of the year. For each month with 31 days, you will be on an "up" knuckle. July and August are both 31 day months which works out because you jump from your left hand to your right hand starting with your pointer finger knuckle (which is an "up" on both hands). You skip the thumbs.

Make sense?

Laura

[jnrrt]

Laura, I'm so glad about your cat! That's wonderful news!

Now, of course, you have me sitting here at the computer staring at my knuckles, and I confess, um, no, I don't get it. Sorry. Are we looking at the front or back of our hands? Does it matter? What's an "up" knuckle, assuming that's family friendly information? And how am I supposed to test if it worked even if I figured out how to do it without singing the "30 days" song anyway, since I don't know the months without it?!?!

[soozaay]

I simply had to sign in and tell you all that Delilah was sitting in the flower bed (meowing like crazy - which drives us all crazy lol) when I got home! :bouncingp She is alive and seems quite well (actually maybe even better than before she left as she isn't scratching herself anymore.

Time will tell if she is going to choose to stay with us or try to get back outside, but I wanted all of you that had been so sweet to me to know that she is alive and well. Thank you for all of your kind and thoughtful words and prayers. They worked! :) :cheerlead

Laura

Yeah Laura!!!! :highfive:
I'm so happy to hear that Delilah is back! :dancingba

[Colorado Belle]

Alright Delilah!!!!!
She was just on walkabout aka on the prowl. I mean a kitten has to do what a kitten has to do when her Sampson has left her high and dry.
Glad she is home Lllovell!!!!


If you know the 30day song, then you don't need the knuckles BUT : make a fist.The bone joints that stick up are the longer months. Start with January on either end (pinky or pointer) and it is a 31 dayer. February is in the hollow and a shortie month. March is another 31 day long month and so on. Traverse to the next hand. Make a fist. Start at either end. Two long ones in a row...July and August both have 31 days.

I find the song easier to remember, but it sure sounds silly when I sing it to myself in order to remember the months that have 31 days...which just happened recently with a CM when I called about extending a Nov 27 ressie!!!!

[Stimpy]

I simply had to sign in and tell you all that Delilah was sitting in the flower bed (meowing like crazy - which drives us all crazy lol) when I got home! :bouncingp She is alive and seems quite well (actually maybe even better than before she left as she isn't scratching herself anymore.

Time will tell if she is going to choose to stay with us or try to get back outside, but I wanted all of you that had been so sweet to me to know that she is alive and well. Thank you for all of your kind and thoughtful words and prayers. They worked! :) :cheerlead

Laura

OMG! That is such great news!! Glad she is back with her family and hopefully for good now. Guess she just had a little exploring to do!

[Stimpy]

Well, I'm ready for Florida in July! It's still cold here. :( We went to the beach tonight and I was freezing my butt off! (By "tonight" I mean 5:30pm LOL) Of course the kids were running into the water like it was 100 degrees out and loving it. The car is already filled with sand and it's not even officially summer, kids have sand in places you don't want to think about having sand and of course the bathtub is now filled too. But we all had a fun time. :sunny:

[Rozzie]

Oh Laura, she's back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bouncingg You know us girls, sometimes we just have to get out of the house and let our fur down!! I am so happy, I have been so worried about her, you, the kids taking the news, etc. Great news!! :clappingh



I'll send 10 degrees up your way Stimpy. It is in mid 90s now during the day. The AC is on full blast. Well, full blast at 80. Our new summer setting. I am experimenting with the budget, keeping blinds closed and leaving all the paddle fans on, and see how much it goes down. My neighbor did this and saved a ton. We turn down to 76 at bedtime. Mr. Rozzie's non-negotiable. :drillserg

[withdisneyspirit]

I am so happy that Delilah came home, Laura and that she is feeling better:sunny: :tunes: :highfive:

[ErinC]

Laura- glad your kitty made it back home. Maybe you can implant a GPS on her or something! I'd take your sister up on the trip offer. Really, you should sacrifice your own comfort to meet your sisters wishes. I wouldn't think twice about it!;)

Rozzie- let me know how the whole thermostat thing turns out. Our house is a mess when it comes to AC units. We have 2 of them. The one downstairs stays on 71 degrees, yes I know that it is ridiculous, but this fat girl hates to sweat. The upstairs unit stays on 73 degrees. Frankly, I don't really think that the house is kept that cool, it's just where the actual thermostats are. Both boxes are in the living room which doesn't get any evening sun. You walk into our bedroom and the evening sun is blaring in. I can't stand to be hot when I sleep. So the unit has to be kept low or our bedroom never cools off.

TW1- sorry about the cancelled ressie. I've only really moved a few trips around, never truly had to cancel!:( I'm sure someone on the waitlist will be very happy.(not that, that makes you feel any better).

Okay, here is my vent. I ordered DH something off ebay Sat. night for father's Day. I had looked at several of these particular items, and chose a particular seller, because he said the product was in California. I figured it would make it here in time for Sunday. Well he sends me a confirmation today and it says it left China yesterday! No way will it be here for Sunday!:burningma I'm really aggravated. Since I'm such the gifter, I'll have to go and buy something else so DH will have something to open or else I'll feel bad. Maybe I can do like Gopher and do a family gift, maybe I can give him a new coffee table!:laughing:

[Colorado Belle]

Heck, just buy him a case of Yeungling and he'll probably even forget it's Father's Day!

Although no one offered any symapathy for my 'splinter in pinky finger' episode last weekend, I still have to mention that tonight it finally was removed. Ewwwww....3/4" long and about a pencil lead in width....GRoss but gone.

I could use one of those Yeunglings Erin...so maybe could ya buy and extra case to stick in the closet?

[withdisneyspirit]

Heck, just buy him a case of Yeungling and he'll probably even forget it's Father's Day!

Although no one offered any symapathy for my 'splinter in pinky finger' episode last weekend, I still have to mention that tonight it finally was removed. Ewwwww....3/4" long and about a pencil lead in width....GRoss but gone.

I could use one of those Yeunglings Erin...so maybe could ya buy and extra case to stick in the closet?

Well, actually, I do remember Ginger posting sympathy, CB! I sent healing thoughts your way! Didn't you get them:hyper: :D Now, please learn your lesson from this and don't go waaayy out of your way to dust:crazy: :laughing:

Seriously, it sound horrible and I hope you continue to heal fast!

[PoohsPal]

WOo hoo!!! Tuna in the closet for the prodigal kitty!!!!:birhdaypa

BTW, I've always heard that mice ar ethe perfect diet fro cats. Seeing as my indoor/outdoor cat lived to be 20, I'm thikning those mice really were good for her! SO, maybe Delilah was itching and needed soem of those essential oils in mice fo rthe cure. Now she's back and better than ever!

OK, coffe and yummies on the other side of th closet wher you can't smell the tuna!

Glad the surgery went well CB! I can't believe it's taken this long to get out! I would have gone bonkers!

Erin, aren't you a card-carrying member of the "My dh does nto buy me gifts club?" If so, what ar eyou thiking? Let your dh think he's gettign squat until that slow boat from CHina comes in. ;) (Bad me, I know.)

j! Give up on VA! I hear they have accents down there! ;) :jumpingbe :dancingba :thumbsup: :worship: :thumbsup: :dancingba :jumpingbe

That's my please come to GR dance, just for you!!!

[Ginger]

Laura, glad your kitty came home.

Erin, did the auction state that the item was shipping from China? That's strange.

Rozzie, it's hot in NC too. We've been pushing the air up a degree or 2, but DH is so hot natured we can't go as high as you. We keep our ceiling fans running all the time and the blinds closed. I think it does help. In winter we keep the heat low and some people say our house is cold. But I'm used to it. You can always put on clothes but you can only take off so much. :)

CB, glad the splinter is gone.

[DisFlan]

Laura, I'm so glad your kitty came home!


DisFlan

[jnrrt]

CB, as someone who is totally paranoid about my hands (they are my living, after all), your post gave me some serious willies - maybe I was avoiding! I'm glad it's out, though, and agree that I can't believe you had it in there that long without going nuts. Hope it heals quickly!

Carrie, you're going to get yourself in trouble quick on this thread if you start twitting people about southern accents! Last I checked, we're seriously outnumbered here.

How about I can do both? So GR, here I come!! Sunday night, June 25th. I'll pm you with details as I get them - I only accepted this morning, but I'm thinking they said 7 or 7:30? I'm only doing about an hour. And now the VA people want 2 dates, maybe 4, and I had another call two days ago for a local church. Never rains but it pours. I don't think I've ever booked 4, possibly 6 dates in two days before. Now we just have to decide if the GR trip is kids or no kids. It'll be such a quick trip that I hate to make them be in the car so much, but the baby really doesn't like to be left. Hmmm.

[PoohsPal]

I turely hope those with southern accents know I was joking and trying to give j any excuse possible to pick me over VA. As Laura said, I di not make fun of hers. I didn't even tell her it sounded cute! Whew, as I had not idea that would be taken in a bad light. :scary:

Woo hoo for me!! I get to see j :sing:

You are now on my calendar. You'll have to let me know details!

[Rozzie]

Oh CB! I didn't even realize your finger was in a splint?! When did that happen? Ohhh, boy, I really need to read the thread better! If I send you an extra dose of flowers, will you forgive me? :flowerfor

[jnrrt]

Oh Carrie! I was so teasing. No one would have taken it that way!

Yippee! I knew we'd have to run into each other somehow, but this seems more civilized than just yelling at you from the Zilwaukee bridge.

[PoohsPal]

this seems more civilized than just yelling at you from the Zilwaukee bridge. When in Rome.... ;)

Are you saying I can't yell at your concert? :p

I'm so excited now!

[ErinC]

CB- in your honor, I have completely called off all dusting a