| # | Author | Message |
361
| mater4
Thu 10/25/2007 8:21a | Good Morning to all. I have also noticed that Villians has no luck travelling with other adults. This last trip does not seem too bad compared to the trip before. At least you had fun at DL without clothes missing from your suitcase. I can't believe SIL does not tip the wait staff. The service would have to be terrible for me to do that. I have had bad servers but I still leave a tip. Ok I have a thought, since we have a good size club going here should we have some sort of name for it? Make your suggestions. |
362
| MOLLYSMOM
Thu 10/25/2007 9:11a | Yay to RT...one more for our side, mickey. RT makes another good point about being an early bird...if it weren't for early shopping she wouldn't have had the stash to provide her munchkin with the cowboy boots that were desperately needed.
I think you're right in your observation about TQ not committing on the present issue yet, tink. Perhaps it's because she wants to decide which group of us is the "cooler" group to align herself with, or maybe she's chicken because she knows the team she DOESN'T choose is gonna give her grief. Or...maybe she's Jewish and doesn't do the christmas thing. :)
tink...take note...RT HAS grandkids. Hey, I'd do the bowel counting, but not everyone has disclosed their "thing."
mater...I am again impressed with your judging skills. Girls, we elected the perfect one of us for the job. Well done, mater.
You check airfare every day, too, tink? Isn't it funny how even when we're not planning a trip...we're planning a trip? I'm not even able to book my next trip for 3 months, but I'm looking at prices at least once a day. I believe it was your airfare issue that got us together in the first place.
I'm with MMW, villains. Go with JUST your kids and such...you don't travel well with others. I'm not one to judge, however...I went with the half-wits this summer. Looking foreward to the rest of your vacation tale today.
Since you brought it up yesterday, mickey, I suppose we will now have to open up a debate on the christmas tree. Like you, I put up my tree the day after turkey day. I also have other tree quirks. THIS is where I get more anal than usual, and THIS is the one time of year that DH and DD want to call the tv show "Intervention." For example...
I have an artificial tree that is 7 1/2' tall and 6' around at the base. The branches go all the way to the ground, so that presents go AROUND the tree, not UNDER. It takes me 2 days to put the tree up. One day to set it up, form the branches, and put on the lights. I have 3000 lights on the tree. I buy new lights every year because God forbid one goes out during the holiday season. It takes the second day to put on the ornaments. I do a different theme tree every other year or so. There must be an odd number of ornament types...say candy canes, elves and balls. Sometimes I do 3 ornament types, sometimes 5, but NEVER more than 5. Within each ornament type there must be an even total number of ornaments divisible by 12.
DH and DD are NOT allowed to touch my tree. DD has her own tree that she decorates, and as the years have gone by, she, too is becomming quite anal about it. Since I got MY tree analness from MY dad, I have determined that this is a genetic disorder.
It usually takes 5 hours to put on the ornaments. They must be properly spaced, and two similar ornament types may NOT be next to one another.
Do I think I'm insane...yes. Can I stop the maddness...no...I have tried. If DH wants to "mess" with me, he will move an ornament on my tree. All it takes is moving it 1/4" one way or another, and I can spot it a mile away. I will go to move it back and DH will say..."sit here on the sofa and see just how long you can leave it alone." My record is about 30 seconds...it drives me completely batty.
For all the tree insanity, I love my tree when it's done. When I lived in town, I actually had people knock on my door to tell me that I had the most beautiful tree they had ever seen. My family teases me continually about it, but they are the FIRST ones to hold out their hands for the ornaments when they know it is a year I will be changing tree themes. Pretty much every family member has a theme tree that they have gotten from me. My two step daughters are presently enjoying "Moose On The Loose" and "Salute To Fruit".
You all have a wonderful morning, and I'll check back in a bit...I actually have to do some w**k to do.
|
363
| Tinkerbell819
Thu 10/25/2007 9:18a | http://www.aetv.com/interventi
on/participate/index.jsp
Girls,
Here is the link for us to nominate MM for an intervention. Hey...she brought it up! |
364
| mater4
Thu 10/25/2007 9:46a | Thats a good one Tink. Maybe we can nominate those who are early shoppers. HeHe. MM I am partially with you on the tree thing. I also have the fake tree but it is pre-lit. (not a fan of light stringing)It takes me an hour to set it up and fix branches. The ornaments go on the same day and I have a good variety. I don't do themes. However I like to space the ornaments apart and wil not put two similar ones next to each other. I allow my kids to help but it is difficult since they like to put three on one branch. I secretly move things around when they are not looking. Where is Villians I am interested in the rest of the story. Especially the Marie Callendars part. |
365
| MOLLYSMOM
Thu 10/25/2007 10:39a | You could try an intervention, but I guarantee that it would never work. It would be cool to be on tv, though. Maybe I'd get discovered...or committed.
Ya...I wanna hear about the hissy fit at Marie Callendar's, too. I plan on grabbing a bag of popcorn from the machine in our other building for that installment. |
366
| Tinkerbell819
Thu 10/25/2007 11:10a | MM, I honestly thought you should be on HGTV rather than Intervention. I watch a show on there every Dec. with people that have an "Extreme Christmas" house. Your tree story sounded right up there with the best of them. I went to their site where they have "Be on TV" and there wasn't anything about Christmas trees, unfortunately. So, I figured, what the heck we'll get you on Intervention. The rest of us gals can be interviewed, along with DD and DH, we'll all cry and say how much we want to help, but we've given up and need professionals to assist with your tree problem. ;) Seriously, though, it sounds beautiful. Maybe you can post some pix this year?!
Speaking of pix, I just looked at the site where my DS uploaded our 1300 DL photos from this summer. I can't find any of mickeynew and I. I'll have to check with him when he gets home and find out what happened to the only photo I wanted to post!
Villains still has more days to get through on her report. I think the Marie Callenders' story will be last. She wants to keep us in suspense. (I wonder if SIL stiffed the waitstaff there, too?) |
367
| TXDISNEYNERD
Thu 10/25/2007 11:44a | I have been busy so I just now got a chance to check in since yesterday and boy have y'all been busy.
I can't wait to hear the rest of the story from Villians. I can't believe that her SIL doesn't tip. I was a waitress during the summers during college and I think everyone should do that at some time so they appreciate them. They have to be pretty horrible for me to not tip and it has to be their fault and not the cooks. It has rarely happened. Also, Villians you mentioned Star War pics. What are those? My DS13 is crazy about Star Wars.
Mater - you obviously are the perfect judge. To get myself off of the fence, here are the answers to your questions. Yes, I normally finish all my shopping up on Black Friday. No, I do not have my gifts wrapped the next day. Which brings me to my next point.
I also probably need a Christmas intervention. I am not so anal as MM about the tree, but I definitely have issues. Do you use ribbon on your tree MM? I have always loved that look, but have never gotten brave enough to try it. I have one main tree that is about 6 1/2 foot. I won a fully decorated Christmas tree from Dilliards when I was 18 and though I have replaced the tree, most of the decorations are still from that one. It has 12 red balls and 12 white balls and 12 red and white santa clauses. The rest are Hallmark ornaments and ornaments I have collected over the years. It is our tradition that when we go on vacation, we pick up an ornament for our tree. Finding an ornament in Jamaica during the summer wasn't the easiest, but we did it. That is our main tree.
I then have a tree about 3 1/2 feet for my husband. I have it decorated in fishing ornaments. The lights on it our little bobbers. Then, all the kids have a little tree in there rooms and I buy them one miniature ornament to add to it each year. I bought my new DD a Princess tree after Christmas last year to put in her room this year. I also have 4 additional miniature trees thru out the rest of the house.
Here is where I need the intervention. I completely redecorate my house for Christmas. I take down pictures and even the shower curtain and replace it with Christmas ones. The couple of pictures I don't take down, I wrap with wrapping paper. I replace all of the knick knacks out with Christmas ones. I have Christmas towels for the bath and kitchen and new throw rugs for both. About the only thing I don't replace is the bedding. My DH definitely thinks I need help, but he enjoys it when I am done.
Mickey - Your Furby story had me rolling on the floor. I can't believe how some people behave. Luckily that year, my DD thought Furby's were weird looking and it wasn't until after the craze was over, she decided she wanted one so then it was easy to find.
I do keep my Black Friday shopping in control. I am not crazy enough to go to any electronic store. I tried that once and it was a madhouse. I also don't go to Walmart that early. Luckily, there is usually nothing specific that I desperately need. I just go early because they have such great sales and it isn't that crowded. The one time I went for something specific was when I saw a diamond necklace that my MIL would love at an unbelievably low price. I was the first one in line at Penney's and I knew exactly where to go when they opened the door so I was the first one at the jewlery counter with my add in hand pointing at the picture I wanted. Would you believe the clerk said, we don't have any more of those? I told her, but I am first so how can she be out? She finally did produce one. I don't know if she was trying to keep it for herself or what.
|
368
| gottaluvdavillains
Thu 10/25/2007 11:45a | Okay here we go - wait let's start with the trees - mine is also artificial and themed - but when the older two were little it was Sesame Street and Disney - now we have no little ones so my tree is 95% Disney!!! We have a few we have received as gifts that we put on the tree that for some reason are not Disney!! I even bought the Disney Mickey Head shiney balls!! ;-)
I should say my SIL and BIL live in a somewhat affluent area in the SF bay and they both work and make very good money - so money is not an issue for my SIL cheapness - her kids only wear Roxy, ambercrombi and such - and she is worse BEBE and Lucky or anything at nordstroms and Banana Republic! My BIL complains about her cheapness all the time and will go back to restaurants and find the servers and tip them very well and apoligize for her behavior.
Okay now for my trip...
We get ready for trick or treat Me and my DD9 and DD11 are from Sleeping beauty (Malicafent, Aurora, Phillip) my SIL is The evil Queen and DN10 is Jack Skellengton - the girls however were not allowed to pick out costumes again this year and had to be whatever SIL had in her stash so DN11 is the Card from Alice (she's fine with this - always a good sport) DN12 is Jessie (she is pouting because she wanted to be Sally and SIL wouldn't buy the costume even though she bought Jack for her brother - common occurance)...So we go to the park and do the trick or treat thing - It is nice and fun we go all the way around ending by the Hub and they annouce that the halloween calvacade will be starting in 15 min so it is 10:15 and SIL decides we will wait and then head over to the Hollywood area and TOT. Well what wasn't said was the calvacade started in the Pier area and doesn't get to us until 11:00 so we wasted all that time sitting there waiting and barely get on to TOT before it closes and we don't get our picture with just us this year because of all the people who just did the same mad rush we did...oh well we also missed a couple of the candy stops - but the kids are tired and we head back - I stick my DD in the shower first so she doesn't have to wait forever again that night. The kids are watching Hannah Montana marathon or something...Another night of SIL and her girls battling it out over hair and teeth and such - SIL tells DS18 that his GF can stay the night in the girl part of the room so she doesn't have to drive home at 12:30 and back early the next morning (an hour each way for her)...
Day 2: we are up early again and get food and such and head over to the parks - we get there about 8:40 ride PP and FP space mountain again. We walk around Fantasyland and the kids ride Snow White and the Tea Cups - We then head over to IASW and toontown. We hang out over there for a while and then head over behind BTMRR for the roundup area - I buy the kids the cookies to decorate (yes all 5 of them got cookies) and then they play in the area. We then head over to Pizza Port and I see my cheap SIL pulling her normal scam - she takes all three of her kids over to the pizza and sends them to find a table and then she gets in line and pays for some (never pays for all the pieces...I know it's stealing) My kids share a Pasta dish and drink the soda's we brought with us. Find out later DN11 was asking for pasta but SIL said no and she only had the pizza bread stick thingy to eat and was waiting to see if my two kids would finish their pasta...They did, so SIL told DN11 she had enough to eat. WE head off to DCA
Enter into DCA and go straight to Screamin for fastpasses. WE have 7 passes but my DD says she still doesn't want to ride so off the kids go - my DD rides the Carousel and is happy. We then walk around the pier area and head up to California Screams - get fp for Soarin and GRR. Go over to monsters and such finishing up with GRR (only the kids rode - and were soaked) Left and went back over to hotel to change. SIL was mad at the girls again for taking too much time and for being to modest so she strips DN11 down in the room making her cry - the boys are in the other part of the room and I quickly go over there with my DD and close the connecting door!! Poor things were so embarrassed and I was fuming!! Back over to DL - Ride Jungle Cruise and Indy - ok we get on Indy and bam we're hit from behind!! So we sit there for a while and they finally moved us over to the other car and off we go. The kids run up into Tarzan, but the area is getting crowded and we had a dinner plan of going to Plaza inn and sitting outside so we could watch the fireworks so off we go. Food is awesome (of course I am pretty sure she sent her kids out without buying some of it - as she used my AP - register lady said she could and for 2 kids meals, a chicken dinner, side salad, 2 extra drinks her bill was only $23) Mine with one chicken dinner, 3 drinks, and a side salad was $20. Had my rum for my soda so I was happy. We watch the fireworks and decide to call it a night. Another evening of her and the girls battling it out - but she doesn't have tickets for the park the next day so we don't have to worry about getting up too early so I pack up most of my stuff while they battle it out - my kids area already asleep!
Sunday we get up and they all eat we load the truck and check out - we decide to park over in DTD as we are only going to be there a few hours and the CHOC walk was just ending. We shop in the lego store, then head up to the Libby lu's so I take the boys over to the WOD store. Stop and eat at Wetzels pretzels head over to BAB - they are remodeling so the line is crazy so I tell my DD we will go to the one at home - head back over to Lego Store to acutally buy the boys what they wanted - Time to go - DS18 is all sad saying goodbye to GF and we are off. Traffic is pretty good and we decide to stop at a real restaurant for a late lunch - we choose Marie Calendars in Valencia...All heck breaks loose there!! Will have to finish as DS18 has to go to school now... |
369
| TXDISNEYNERD
Thu 10/25/2007 11:47a | I forgot to say, I am so busy the next week decorating, that I don't have time to wrap the presents until the middle of December. |
370
| TXDISNEYNERD
Thu 10/25/2007 11:59a | I can't wait for the rest of that story Villians. For all heck to break loose after what all you have been thru, it must be quite a story. I feel so sorry for your DNs. Thank goodness they have such a cool Aunt. |
