May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 3

[MrsMork]

Thinking way ahead here...but since the girls haven't flown I am going to get each a backpack and fill with goodies and ship that to the port and just keep it hidden until we board the return flight home....that way all the stuff will be new to them.

There is a dollar store in the same shopping center as John's store...they have tons of Disney stuff....hair bows, nail polish, bags, crowns, you name it! I could have a hey day in there! I would like to get a portable DVD but fear the need for two so no fighting. I have also thought about getting a refurbished ipod for Samantha...she loves listening to the portable CD player, I just wish there was some kind of max volume you could set, she thinks the highest level is the best! I just fear their behavior on the plane...it will be totally new for them and I am sure they will be excited --- I can only hope!

In a way I wish the cruise was here, but love knowing I have a year to get all our junk together and save for that HUGE onboard bill I am sure we'll have!

V - kids on planes..DGS flew from Phoenix to Portland by himself to hook up with us for cruise in Dec. His mom had gotten lots of books, markers, etc to keep him busy. Well, he used the markers, but not on the books. His hands and arms were completely covered with marker when he got off the plane. The steward who was assigned to watch him said he hoped HE (the steward) would not get into trouble for that. I assured him that no one gets in trouble from Grandmas. Now I had bought colored pencils for the trip to Florida, but alas, he still had those markers Mom sent. We did manage to keep them on the paper for the rest of our trip and I made him promise not to write on himself when I put him on the plane home.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Thanks, but definitely not feeling better. Just barely staying awake for another 20 minutes until I can pick up Tyler. Counting down the hours until I can go to bed. I usually have him in bed at 7:30, so I'll be in bed right after that. When he wakes up in the morning, I'll probably be bad and let him watch a DVD while he eats breakfast so I can sleep a little more before going out of town to my dad's. I literally only plan on staying there an hour, or however long it takes to eat and do our egg hunt, and then we'll rush back home. Once they see how miserable I feel, I'm sure they'll understand. I'd completely skip the holiday if I hadn't missed Christmas (because other family was coming to my house) and Thanksgiving (because Tyler was at his dad's and I had to study for final exams).

I hope everybody is having fun with the Easter preparations! I'm so glad I go to the meal so I don't have to cook. I don't ever cook anyway, so that would be a disaster! I just hope my appetite is back by tomorrow.

I've got the chills today, but my mom's uncle and friend sent me an awesome llama wool blanket from Peru a couple days ago -- perfect timing! I've never felt something so warm, heavy, and soft! It's absolutely wonderful, especially when sick!

Could you and Tyler's dad work it out so that he could keep him for a couple of days while you recover? Then you can skip the drive to the family for dinner and just sleep it off until it's gone. Just a suggestion. I'd love for you to get better. I feel so bad that you're so sick for so long and not improving. You have to stop pushing yourself and stay down until it goes away. I'm sending you big hugs and lots of positive healthy thoughts.

 

[Jhalkias]

Soon it will be time to get ready for church - services start at 11:00, conclude at about 2:00 - tonight we go to receive the Light!

At midnight, the church is darkened, and the priest comes out with ONE lit candle, the light coming back into the world. When the entire congregation then lights candles, and the priest goes outside the front doors of the church, and reads the Gospel of the Resurrection to the world.

After Church, a fellowship meal to break the fast in the social hall. Alex has been fasting all of Lent - no meat for 40 days. It will be strange for me this year, because my mom is not with us - she would cook while we were at church every year, and we would go to mom and dad's for an Easter dinner until 3 am . . . no avgolemono soup for me this year.

Have a Blessed Easter and Pascha everyone.

Kali Anastasi! (Happy Resurrection)

For 40 days after tonight, all Orthodox greet each other with:

Christos Anesti! (Christ is Risen!)

and respond with:

Alithos Anesti! (truly he is risen)

 

[MrsMork]

I ended up with a standing rib roast for tomorrow's dinner, with a salad, mashed potatoes, asparagus and peas and strawberry shortcake for dessert. I wish I could make Yorkshire Pudding...I always feel you need that with beef!

I am feeding the girls now, Samantha wanted a kid's frozen dinner so I obliged....we played outside a bit in the COOL weather - so after dinner tubs again and then bed. Tonight I am moving their playroom tv into their bedroom for a treat. So one movie before bed but I bet they will be out before it's over.

What's everyone else cooking?

I made potato salad today and broiled a couple of rib eyes and some asparagas for dinner.

Tomorrow I am doing very untraditional. I'm making chicken/grape/almond salad (DrHug's favorite) with mashed yams and a green salad with mandarin oranges and an apple pie for dessert.

 

[pjpoohbear]

You can set max on the shuffle too . . . (from Apple's site)


With iTunes 6.0.5 or later and iPod shuffle Software 1.1.4 or later, you can now set a maximum volume limit for your iPod shuffle.

That's a great feature John. They also have the refurb shuffles on apple too.

 

[MrsMork]

oh and OSU fans (john and Amy) - there was a customer over by the frozen section who had on an OSU pullover. Samantha says ---- Ohio State is Gator Bait and then turns to me and says is that Sophia's brother?

From the mouths of babes!

 

[MrsMork]

WOW 40 years in 09...that is quite an accomplishment. Congratulations! John and I will never make it that long because we started too late. We'll hit 20 years in 2010 and really do a big celebration for that one. I would like to renew my vows, maybe on DCL. That would be awesome.

How about you and John Marilyn? Will you renew your vows for your 40th?

We hit 40 this Oct 2007. We started very young and plan to make it to at least 75. Very doable as I would only be 92 and he 97.

 

[MrsMork]

Soon it will be time to get ready for church - services start at 11:00, conclude at about 2:00 - tonight we go to receive the Light!

At midnight, the church is darkened, and the priest comes out with ONE lit candle, the light coming back into the world. When the entire congregation then lights candles, and the priest goes outside the front doors of the church, and reads the Gospel of the Resurrection to the world.

After Church, a fellowship meal to break the fast in the social hall. Alex has been fasting all of Lent - no meat for 40 days. It will be strange for me this year, because my mom is not with us - she would cook while we were at church every year, and we would go to mom and dad's for an Easter dinner until 3 am . . . no avgolemono soup for me this year.

Have a Blessed Easter and Pascha everyone.

Kali Anastasi! (Happy Resurrection)

For 40 days after tonight, all Orthodox greet each other with:

Christos Anesti! (Christ is Risen!)

and respond with:

Alithos Anesti! (truly he is risen)

John1, I have very much enjoyed learning about the Greek Orthodox traditions from your posts.

 

[birkner]

Lisa:

Good luck with your mom today. My good thoughts will be coming your way this weekend and herein forward on this issue.

I have the other issue on my hands. My mom is turning 80 this summer. Her body is in pretty good shape, but her mind is going more and more each day. We moved her into a retirement staged care (independent, assited and skilled nursing as needed) community last year (after dad died) it was hard to tell her she couldn't go back to her home (@ Lake Almanor 6 hours by car from us) again, even harder moving her without her input. She is still upset about that. She thinks she should have been there to move everything, but if she was it would have been impossible to pack her stuff up. My family and I did the last weekend with her at her house and packed up the precious stuff, then my sister went up the following weekend with movers and hauled all the rest of it out. I handle her finances and medical care (funny I have 3 other sisters, one who helps all the time the other 2 are pretty removed and just don't see what has to happen to keep up her care.) If only it could be a shared job then each of us could feel ok, rather than one (me) or 2 feelings exhausted with it all the time. Oh well, I'm the one who knew it would be me to do it, so I guess that's just life I can't just ignore it, that's not the daughter my mother raised.

Moving on...we did the Bunnies & Bonnets parade In Campbell this morning with the troop. The girls had fun, it was chaos at it best, small town parading.

We have a bbque later today and that's it until hopefully the beach tomorrow...we are doing a drive by a new listing, fingers crossed. It's a fixer not on a very big lot, but it's been months since anything has been worth looking at so this is better than nothing I guess.

Happy Easter to all, see ya later,

N

Nan:

So sorry to hear about your mom. My mother went very quickly with no warning so we did not have to watch a downhill slide like we did with my father over the last two years of his life. Both my mother and dad lived many less years than their parents. My mother lived about 20 years less than her mother and 23 years less than her dad. My dad lived 15 years less than his mother and 18 years less than his dad.

Where did you Mom live at Lake Almanor? We have had a house there for many years on Lassen View Drive.

Too chilly today here for us..wish warm weather would return. Happy Easter to you and your family.
Noel

 

[MrsMork]

John1, DrHug got the "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" photo printed. We just need to go get a frame for it. He also ordered horns today that he thinks he can put the DCL horn on. The MH is almost set to come to Ohio! Listen for those horns in your driveway.

 

[HollyTyler]

Could you and Tyler's dad work it out so that he could keep him for a couple of days while you recover? Then you can skip the drive to the family for dinner and just sleep it off until it's gone. Just a suggestion. I'd love for you to get better. I feel so bad that you're so sick for so long and not improving. You have to stop pushing yourself and stay down until it goes away. I'm sending you big hugs and lots of positive healthy thoughts.

Nice thought, but his dad and stepmom are starting to get sick with the same thing too, so we're all in the same boat. At least mine is further along than theirs, and closer to the end, so I'm better off. And I slept so much the last few days when he was gone, I should be fine soon. I'm still awake, so I must be improving because this is the longest stretch I've stayed awake lately (except for when I had to go to work). But I'm headed to bed now to keep getting better! I'm just whiney because I only get sick maybe once every other year, so when I do get sick, it just seems so extreme because of how long it's been since I was sick before.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We hit 40 this Oct 2007. We started very young and plan to make it to at least 75. Very doable as I would only be 92 and he 97.

And I can tell you're more in love today than ever before...Congratulations and you will make it to your 75th!!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

For anyone wondering about the champagne girls...AuntyBrat posted all the info on page one. Check there to get the scoop and to stay informed.

 

[birkner]

Thanks, but definitely not feeling better. Just barely staying awake for another 20 minutes until I can pick up Tyler. Counting down the hours until I can go to bed. I usually have him in bed at 7:30, so I'll be in bed right after that. When he wakes up in the morning, I'll probably be bad and let him watch a DVD while he eats breakfast so I can sleep a little more before going out of town to my dad's. I literally only plan on staying there an hour, or however long it takes to eat and do our egg hunt, and then we'll rush back home. Once they see how miserable I feel, I'm sure they'll understand. I'd completely skip the holiday if I hadn't missed Christmas (because other family was coming to my house) and Thanksgiving (because Tyler was at his dad's and I had to study for final exams).

I hope everybody is having fun with the Easter preparations! I'm so glad I go to the meal so I don't have to cook. I don't ever cook anyway, so that would be a disaster! I just hope my appetite is back by tomorrow.

I've got the chills today, but my mom's uncle and friend sent me an awesome llama wool blanket from Peru a couple days ago -- perfect timing! I've never felt something so warm, heavy, and soft! It's absolutely wonderful, especially when sick!

Sorry you are feeling so poorly, Holly. I hope you feel better really soon. Happy Easter to you and Tyler.

Noel

 

[birkner]

DH picked up fresh clams and oysters down the coast yesterday. He and DD are going to make fresh clam chowder and oysters on the half shell for friends of ours that are coming up to the coast to see us.

Can't wait, so yummy!!

Karen

How about just some fresh lemon juice and tabasco sauce? I could sure go for that kind of meal about now with some fresh champagne!!

Noel

 

[disneylover5]

We are feeling the same pain with our pool. We have been trying to get it ready for swimming all week and it just won't clean correctly. Shawn has taken apart every possible part on the equipment that he knows how to. The cleaner and filter have been running for two straight days. At least the waterfall works! It has been in the low 90's the last few days and the girl's just want to get in the pool. They have grown tired of going down to Lifetime Fitness to go swimming! Might just have to break down and call someone in.

If we had a pool here, we would be ice skating on it!!

Love Lifetime Fitness!!

Lisa, I can so relate about your mom because mine is the same way. She's only 73 but she's just as stubborn and independent. She has been in the hospital 4 times in 3 months and really needs better care than what she is doing on her own, but she won't let you help at all. It's very frustrating because you can't force her and yet you see that she really needs the help.

She has let me take her to some follow up doctor appointments and for some tests since she has been out of the hospital from this last stay. But that's all. She insists on driving herself and going to the supermarket and running errands. She still cooks and cares for her house. But she procrastinates when it comes to doing something for her health and she doesn't do all of her follow up care properly.

It's so hard to sit by and let it be because you know you can help and make it better for her, but she doesn't want that. You can only do what she lets you do. I don't push the matter because the last thing I want is to be fighting with her. So I let her have her way and then I wait for that dreaded telephone to ring and tell me something terrible has happened.

I know exactly what you're going through Lisa. If you find anything that helps, please let me know and I'll try it too. In the meantime, it's great to know that I'm not alone in my dilemma and thanks for sharing.

I wish I had answers. My mom has always been this way. When my dad started to go downhill, I was the one who had to take the car keys away, really made my dad sad. He dies shortly thereafter. That was 1999. My mom has been okay by herself until the last 12 months. I wish she would just come live with us. We have the room and my kids LOVE having her here. IN the last 12 months, she has been here about 4 months.

I have two older brothers. One does little or nothing for mom (he lives in DE) and my other brother lives in SC. He handles all mom's money. Boy, does that make her MAD!! She wants to take care of her own money and she calls me up and cusses about my brother and the bank all the time!! I am glad he helps in that way. I do everything else......and I love it. My mom does not believe that....she thinks she is a burden and I tell her all the time "The best present you can ever give me is the honor of helping you and taking care of you" and she says B**LSH*T....she has always had a mouth on her

Maybe we can get our mom's to be roommates? My mom is still in the huge house she raised us in. It was built in 1960 and no one else has ever lived there except our family. She can not bear to sell it......

 

[disneylover5]

How about just some fresh lemon juice and tabasco sauce? I could sure go for that kind of meal about now with some fresh champagne!!

Noel

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMY​

 

[fourmcds]

V - kids on planes..DGS flew from Phoenix to Portland by himself to hook up with us for cruise in Dec. His mom had gotten lots of books, markers, etc to keep him busy. Well, he used the markers, but not on the books. His hands and arms were completely covered with marker when he got off the plane. The steward who was assigned to watch him said he hoped HE (the steward) would not get into trouble for that. I assured him that no one gets in trouble from Grandmas. Now I had bought colored pencils for the trip to Florida, but alas, he still had those markers Mom sent. We did manage to keep them on the paper for the rest of our trip and I made him prooumise not to write on himself when I put him on the plane home.

A good trick to help with this problem is the color wonder markers! They only color on the color wonder paper. You can buy coloring books for them or blank paper. They stink a bit, but work great. My DD first got some when she was 2 and flying to Hawaii and it worked great!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

So we took the puppy, Angel, to the vet today for a wellness visit and some shots. She weighs 25.4 lbs. and she'll be 12 weeks old in three days. She was 15 lbs. when we took her home, so she gained 10lbs. in just one month. The vet said that's a good amount for her size and she's very healthy.

Sandi and Joe (DD and DSIL) took the boys home today. YEAH!!! Tom is going to be 16 at the end of this month and Kris is going to be 15 this summer. They were good, just very hectic and crazy and noisy and busy and chaotic. Kris talked to his girlfriend on his cell phone the whole entire visit. I think he only put the phone down to sleep and I'm not even sure about that. Tom works for my neighbor behind my house. He has all kinds of animals, lions, tigers, bears, yes all of the above, and Tom helps feed, water, and clean the animals for him. So it was easy for Tom to get to work these past two days...yes, we live in a very rural community. Everybody has acreage and no one can see their neighbors house from their own. I like having my privacy with lots of land and space around me.

Karen, as soon as the kids left, John and I opened and finished the bottle of Stump Jump. I liked it. Very citrius smelling, tasting, very light and refreshing and dry. We chilled another bottle to bring with us tomorrow since we killed this one. John said, it has a twist off cap. He was very surprised by this.

 

[been2marceline]

I made potato salad today and broiled a couple of rib eyes and some asparagas for dinner.

Tomorrow I am doing very untraditional. I'm making chicken/grape/almond salad (DrHug's favorite) with mashed yams and a green salad with mandarin oranges and an apple pie for dessert.

We had almost the exact dinner last night! Rib eyes, Asparagas and Yukon gold potatoes!

Your untraditional dinner tomorrow sounds good too!

Enjoy!

Karen