mdrai

Happy October, Everyone! It's a new month, a new season, and a re-newed commitment to health and life balance! We can do this!

I know exactly what you mean! It's that long-ago childhood "Christmas Eve" + your birthday excitement feeling all rolled into one! It's so rare to experience that feeling as an adult -- that's one of the reasons I love to go... or think about it... or plan it... or help OTHERS plan it (hint, hint)! Even DH was actually SKIPPING a couple times -- even tho he denies it! Take care of yourself!!

Haydee: I vote #1! (if voting is still open, lol!) Loved your pictures of NO & your parents' pool!! Judy: You've been a busy singer! and caulker! and bargain shopper! Pam: MORE school? You crack me up!! LOVE the new avatar pic -- you look mah-ve-lous! Laura: That's terrible that not only did no one help you, but that someone stepped over you!! What is wrong with people?? I hope it's healing ok! Janie: Hang in there, friend! Today's a new day... tomorrow's a new month! Take it all one moment at a time. We're here to cheer you on. You know you can do it because you HAVE done it in the past! Heather: I admit I just scanned that whole landlord story, but it definitely sounds hinky! Good luck w/all that! Suzy: Have fun w/the job! Ok, now I feel somewhat caught up...

Good Weds Morn, Vi's~~ Disney was great -- HOT -- but great. Lucky us they were having a heat wave. I packed 2 bandanas so we were able to mop up our sweat. At one point DD said to me, "Mom, it's a good thing your hairstyle looks good all sweaty!" lol! Friday was a LONG day (up from 3am - 11pm!) but we were running on adrenaline & excitement, so we didn't even notice! Woke up in MD & were in the Magic Kingdom by 11am! Gotta love it! First glimpse down Main Street: First ride of the day: Aladdin's Magic Carpets: We rode rides all day and then changed into our "hippie" costumes for the Halloween party, which was a blast! Claire dancing w/Donald Duck, her fav character: The castle during the HalloWishes fireworks show: After all that fun, we went back to the hotel (All-Star Movies) & crashed. Will share Saturday's fun in another post. Off to shower, start on the mountain of laundry, and get to work! Am so proud of myself that 100% of this trip was paid in CASH! by ME!

Hi ya, girlies!~~ Weeeeee're back! Had a fabulous time... so much fun... we really re-connect and make lasting memories... will regale you w/tales & pics in the upcoming days... just wanted to hop on & say "Hi"... haven't read at all, but hope everyone is well!! Smooches!

Hey girls... No time for personals... have a few more things to do before hitting the hay and then waking right back up again... + I think ds's girlfriend broke up w/him tonight @ his soccer game (wtf?), so need to be there for him. Laura, I'm proud of you. You're in the right. Hang in there. Everyone have a great weekend & I'll see you on Wednesday!! :mad: 0 days 'til Disney!

Good Thurs. Morn, Vi's~~ Awake after 5 hours sleep... during most of which I spent dreaming that I was formatting & re-formatting 500 legal footnotes... over & over... ugh... that is why I don't like to go straight to bed after working... it haunts me! But I finished, so just a final review this a.m. & then back to my editor w/a big honkin' invoice to be paid! Yay! After that, I'm treating myself to a mani/pedi/eyebrow wax (& most likely a latte)... then cleaning (always have to clean before I go away) & actually packing the clothing piles into the suitcases!! Have I mentioned: "SOOO EXCITED!" Tomorrow we'll wake up @ approx 3AM... leave the house by 4... get to the airport by 5... for our 7am flight! Especially w/the recent increased security concerns (it's so great to live near DC!), we can't chance missing the flight. Make it a great day, everyone! 1 day 'til Disney!

Yes, we're all Glee fans here! Love it... but have to DVR it each week cuz' we're never home, it seems. We're DVRing a lot now that the new season has started... How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang, 2 1/2 Men, Glee, Mentalist, CSI: Miami, Fringe (my head hurts on this one, I don't really care for the whole major sci-fi, alternate reality shows, like Lost, but DH & DS like it), Numb3rs... I know there are more but I can't think, it's so late... Oh, & I've already got the DVR set for Ken Burns' new series on the National Parks that starts next week! Love his work! Ok... 5 more pages to go... it's 12:32am... I can do this!! Think Disney & power through! :thumbdown:

Thank you for the cheers, Pam! I'm almost there... had to take a break to go pick up DS from jazz band... but now I'm back! I swear that place is taunting me today! I really did look up airfare this a.m.... so beware... you never know when I might call you from the pool w/a mango 'rita in my hand, waiting for you to get off work and come pick me up for Las Casuelas!!

Ugh. This chapter is kicking my ass. I have to finish it tonight, so I can invoice & return it tomorrow. Just made myself a pumpkin spice latte to keep me awake. Ok, here I go, back to it...

Good Weds Morn, Vi's~~ I used to have someone come in & clean 2x/mo, but no longer. The older kids get, the more expensive their "hobbies" get. But I loved it while I had it! I say dump the guilt over it! If you can swing it -- do it! In fact, think of it the other way: instead of guilt, feel happy that you're helping someone in this bad economic time! You've got $, she's got time & expertise, it's a win-win! Yes, DH is going w/us! lol! But a good question! It's not to be assumed! Months ago when I showed the kids the 4 tickets... they thought my sister was going with us again! Too funny! Make it a great day, everyone! 2 days 'til Disney!

Ok Pam, you made me do it. You made me go onto Facebook (ugh) to see your Pirate Party Pics. And I'm glad I did! They're great! I barely recognized Susanne! & you are looking fab-u, w/the eye lift & all! So good to see your smiling face!!

Good Tuesday Morn, Vi's~~ Another "regular" day... starting to make packing piles for the trip! Then work, errands, activities... the usual. Haydee, maybe you could have the housekeeper come weekly for the big stuff (bathrooms/kitchen)? I try to do a little bit each day, too... some days it works, others, not so much. + w/3 of "them" & 1 of "me", the odds for a top-to-bottom clean house are waaaay against me! I mostly try to keep the "public" areas spic & span... you never know when someone will pop in (well, yes I do... when it's a wreck!). Janie, yay for you for getting your work done AND figuring out the oversized screen! SuzyT, Rest & liquids! I called yesterday to schedule a regular flu shot for dd & was also told that they're not ready yet. hmmm. Pam, loved the texting w/you last night & the reason why. I was @ DS's soccer game... he earned a shut-out, yay! Judy, YES!! I am going to wear our bouncy shoes @ WDW... that's why I got them when I did, so I could break them in/get used to them. I'm going to do all that walking AND tone & firm my butt & legs -- lol! I love them but sometimes am a bit wobbly going down stairs in them. (So the moving walkways / ride loading areas should be interesting!) We love Morocco... on our first trip when DD was 4 she was mesmorized by the bellydancer! She just sat down right in front of her, right in the middle of the sidewalk, & stared. So it was all the Dads & DD! So funny! (This is why I love WDW so much, the silly fun & lasting memories!) Laura, any word yet on the port revision? Crossing my fingers for you! Make it a great day, everyone! 3 days 'til Disney!

Hey Haydee! What kind of car did you get? How exciting!! When we go, we always try to old favs AND new stuff. They're always adding new things, so that's easy to do. This time we're staying @ the All-Star Movies, which we've never done before, and going to the "Mickey's Not So Very Scary Halloween Party" for the first time, + we got the dining plan free (yay!), so we're eating in some new restaurants, and there are several new rides since the last time we were there. But we all have our favorite "must-dos" as well. Last night while watching the Emmy's I was finalizing our day-by-day agenda (I always go w/a plan... and sometimes we stick to it, & sometimes we don't (love the unexpected surprises there!), but at least starting out w/a plan helps maximize our time/fun & minimize the standing around saying "What should we do next?") and we were all getting so excited! Remember... the last time the kids & I went (Feb. '08) I surprised them, so they didn't get any of the excited anticipation, so they're really enjoying it now! Since countdown Day 10, I've been posting a "Where in the World" picture on the 'frig each day that's a closeup of something/one in one of the Parks and they all have to guess... I just love doing fun/silly stuff like that! I'm also going to surprise them all w/a special Dessert Fireworks eve @ the Magic Kingdom, where we get to eat yummy desserts & then view the fireworks from a VIP viewing area! I love surprises! Whoops, sorry about that... kinda went on & on... I'm not excited or anything, right?

"Gay Days" @ Disneyland? :smile2: That's 2 phrases I didn't know existed together! It's an oxymoron that hit my funny bone! Is there something I should know about Walt? (You remember, I have NO gaydar! :biggrin: Just ask the "brothers" on our flight into PS! LOL!) Have a blast -- next time I visit, we'll try to go, too!!

Good Monday Morn, Vi's~~ A new week... Disney week! Getting so excited (if you can't tell). Let the packing begin! :biggrin: Laura, the game sounds exciting, but I'd have freaked out about that rain! On the news here they showed video of the Atlanta area & the flooding! Wow! Janie, I'm a Word girl, I can barely use Excel, so I'm no help. Sorry! Everyone make it a great Monday! 4 days 'til Disney!

My thoughts EXACTLY... he is *spicy*! Oh. my. gosh! (My MIL grew up in the Bronx & was friends w/"Ralph Lauren" but at the time his name was Ralph Lipshitz or some other funky Jewish name!)

Good Sunday Morn, Vi's~~ Another beautiful day... will spend some time @ the barn w/dd enjoying the day/horses/nature... then just this & that! Judy... SO sorry to read about Bob's hand! Ouch! Hope he heals quickly. Janie... put on some upbeat music while you work... that always helps me! Pam... am on the couch watching "Sunday Morning" as I type this... thinking of you on the other coast doing the same! :blushing: Hope Haydee's having fun! What are you up to this weekend, Laura? Enjoy today! 5 days 'til Disney!

Good Saturday Morn, Vi's~~ It's an absolutely gorgeous morning here in MD... the sun is shining, the air is crisp, the birds are singing... I've got all the windows open and my Spiced Pumpkin candle burning... I love Fall! Not much on the agenda today... I have to work, actually (the life of the self-employed!), then dd has poms @ a football game this afternoon. A slow day by our standards! Make it a good one, everyone! 6 days 'til Disney!!

Good Friday Eve, Vi's~~ Another day comes to a close... sitting here playing on the laptop, enjoying a Fuze & vodka, watching tv, kitty curled up next to me... life is good! Fingers crossed for no reflux tonight, Judy! Hit the jackpot tomorrow! Pam... thinking about you @ the pirate party... enjoy a rum punch for me! Hope everyone is enjoying their eves, too! Smooches!

((Judy))... that reflux @ night is the WORST! Try to prop up your head on a couple pillows, & yeah, don't eat for a few hours before going to bed. Other than that... enjoy your trip!! ((Janie))...didn't find a "kick me" smilie, but here's a :biggrin: and a :biggrin: and also consider yourself:boink:. Hope it helps!

Ok, now THIS deserves a photo to go along w/it!! Let's see Dr. J in all her glory!! :biggrin:

LOL! oh yeah! So funny! That poor (nekkid) woman trying to get her zen on in the sauna and the 4 of us troop in and cause mayhem! Oh man, good times, good times!

Good Friday Morn, Vi's~~ After aqua ai chi yesterday, I did something @ the Y that I'd never done before (& no, it's not "pee in the pool" as dd suggested, lol!)... I soaked in the bubbly hot tub! It felt good and reminded me a *bit* of "taking the waters" in Palm Springs... except for the part where I was sharing the waters w/a wrinkly old dude... :biggrin: Today's a regular day... laundry, house stuff, grocery shopping, work... what a life! 7 days 'til Disney! Make it a great day!

We all want the Bobster! :thumbup: