It's cool and cloudy here in Toronto today. I'm really tired too. That week's visit with Nick, as wonderful as it was to have him home, really knocked me flat. It didn't help that I had to throw a couple of parties and cook for what seemed like an army either. I hope that today I can veg out and try to recoup our own little pattern of life in this house.
Shelly, I loved the pictures of the kids that you posted in Facebook, especially those of Jolene swimming! The twins are getting so big too. You can see both you and Vinnie in both of their faces, but with different aspects of both of you. You'd never guess them as twins or even sisters for that matter, unless you were to see them with the both parents. Amazing, non?
Moore, have you recovered yet? Sorry that things got crazy on the AMC board for you. I was wondering, are the most troublesome posts made by old members or are they from newbies? Whenever I pop in there to take a little peek, I seldom recognise a single poster. It seems to me that there is an enormous turnover, but then again, I'm not there often enough to be a reliable observer.
I think I've recovered, KaeEll. LOL... I had a nice break at the wig workshop yesterday, and got a good night's sleep last night. That always helps!
Unfortunately (and sadly), there's no delineation in poster demographics when it comes to misbehaving. Old-timers and newbies alike can jump into the chaos, if the wrong buttons were pushed.
It's a gorgeous day here, and I think we'll managed to avoid any rain for a couple of days. That means that I can probably go back outside with some "Agent Orange", and get rid of the same pesky weeds I tried to kill off a couple of weeks ago. The last time I tried it, it rained two hours later, even though none of our forecasters had mentioned the possibility, and neither did weather.com! The skies looked clear, so I went for it, but the rain gods just laughed at me, and then collectively spit on my efforts.
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
I have noticed on the GH forum that the newbies tend to be old posters in disguise. I agree with you that posters of all kinds have their moments of bad. With all the news upsets last week I imagine all the mods were in overload.
And thanks about the girls pics. I think they look like sisters. But I look at them constantly. I am most amazed that they both look like Jolene, only different stages of Jolene. I have pictures of Jolene where in one shot you would swear it was Angela but in the other one you would think it was Gracie. Its amusing.
Moore, I am happy that you have managed to have a restful kind of weekend. I am exhausted and am now thinking of taking Jolene to the movies. We are going to see that ridiculous movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Should be weird but Jolene will like it.
Moore, speaking of your wig workshop, when it comes to making doll hats, you'll HAVE to show us pictures of any that were inspired by Liliput, okay? They are such fun creations.
Update on that damn egg poacher...
I made Ted and me some lunch of poached eggs on toast at noon today and used a frying pan, let the water get REALLY hot, popped in a bit of white vinegar, then dropped in the eggs. No mess, no big clean up. The egg poacher I bought is going into the give-away pile, never to e used again by me, lol. It took a WEEK of soaking and 4 dishwasher cycles to get those damn eggcups clean. Forget it!! *harumph*
I'm sorry about your egg poacher experience, KaeEll. I think it was just the wrong brand, but doing it the old way works too! In the past few years, I've been using my grandmother's old, black cast iron skillets more than I ever did when the kids were little. They're the BEST!
Beautiful day here. We have the Redskins game on; Jim's actually watching it, and I'm just soaking it up as cozy fall background noise.
PS to Shelly: We have our share of twins and triplets too. Also octuplets and entire villages, all claiming to be each other's sisters/mothers/cousins...
-- Edited by Moore ideas on Sunday 4th of October 2009 02:02:32 PM
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Hi! I knew you were from Canada, Kae. I just learned in Toronto. I have a friend here in Houston who is from Meadford --- a couple hours drive north of Toronto. She does what I do-----goes north for the summer. Then she spends the remainder of her time here in Houston. My husband is out mowing the lawn and doing some edging along the drieway and sidewalk. Meanwhile, I put a beef roast along with some potatos and carrots in a crock pot for this evening's dinner. I put the crock pot outside on the patio table so as not to heat up the inside here and make the AC keep running more.
-- Edited by Sundancer on Wednesday 7th of October 2009 10:25:32 AM
Hey all. It's been an absolutely crummy weekend here. I got a flu shot yesterday, and naturally felt really ill after. I could barely move for the body aches and sore arm. And then I had to babysit for 6 hours. Fantastic. This morning, I still felt bad. And my arm still hurts. A flu shot has never made me feel this terrible before. And, it decided to snow today. So it's disgusting out. But, it was a good day to stay in and watch football in movies. I'm really disappointed in the Haunting in Connecticut. It wasn't as scary as people said it was, and kind of a let down. I'd rather see the documentary. I hear it's much better. And I'm bummed that I kept the stupid movie 4 days overdue (it was due back at the library Thursday) because I was afraid to watch it at night, LOL.
Moore, cast iron skillets are all that I use. It's habit, I guess. I was raised on them. My mother and grandmother only use them too.
Kae, I hope you are vegging out!!
And roast sound so yummy! Would be a nice dinner for a cold day like today here.
Hi! I knew you were from Canada, Kae. I just learned in Toronto. I have a friend here in Houston who is from Meadford --- a couple hours drive north of Toronto.
Sundancer, I think you mean Meaford, no "d". We had cottages in that neck of the woods for over 20 years and I shopped in Meaford dozens of times, know it very well. My kids all took swimming lessons at the Blue Dolphin swimming pool and I'd run around on errands in the town.
Meaford is exactly 2 hours and 40 minutes from me. You "could" make it a faster drive but the speeding tickets aren't worth it, lol. We always took Airport Road all the way up to Stayner, then the main route through Collingwood to our various places, almost always half way between Collingwood and Thornbury. Our longest stay was on our place directly across from our ski club, Georgian Peaks. We were there for at least 10 years. We sold that property a couple of summers ago and don't miss it at all. But my favourite spot was our farm house in Clarksburg, right beside the old school house. We were there for about 4 years and I loved it. It took us a bit longer to arrive from home, but once there, it was heaven. We were right on the Beaver River.
Sundancer, you must tell your friend that I know her home town, okay?
Jojo, flu shots are dicey things. I really hope that you feel better quickly and that the darn thing takes for you so that you don't contract the bugs this winter. What a pointless horror to get a shot that not only makes you sick, but doesn't work either.
Yesterday was really, really lazy for me until my husband decided he wanted to watch (again) Michael Moore's Sicko. That was my cue to start getting ready for Thanksgiving (this coming weekend) so I polished silver for about 3 hours. Argh. I set the table too. It's always a relief to get that part done. Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October but we always have the big dinner on the Sunday...turkey etc, finishing off with pumpkin and apple pies.
-- Edited by KaeEll on Monday 5th of October 2009 09:42:40 AM
Well I am currently looking at various websites for houses. We are looking to buy when we move to VA. The base we will be at is on the border of VA and NC and Vinnie wants to get a house in Elizabeth City, VA because taxes are better. But I want to buy in VA because I don't care to be 2 hours away from my sister. I need help, anyone have ideas on how I can sway my husband.
-- Edited by shellyinphx on Monday 5th of October 2009 09:55:37 AM
Chesapeake...I found a few homes on Long and Foster. I really kind of want a new home. With new plumbing and all that other stuff. Especially since it sounds like Vinnie will be traveling a lot.
Shelly, the best way to convince Vinnie about the location of your new house is through numbers. Unfortunately, you'll have to do some homework.
Find out exactly how much the taxes would be in both your preferred areas and those of Vinnie's. Then find out the current fees for babysitters for 2 babies plus Jolene there. Speculate that you'd need, say, 2 days a month of mental health days, that is, time off from the kids, then calculate the amount spent on babysitters. My bet is that you'd SAVE money notwithstanding the higher taxes because if you're closer to your sister, the mental health days wouldn't be an issue.
*Remind Vinnie that a happy wife makes for a happy life (for him).*
Statistically, it IS the woman that makes the ultimate choice for housing. However, it makes lots of sense to allow the guy to believe it was in fact his decision, or at least a joint one. We need Brandon's input on this too.
Ted and I bought our very first house in Lafayette, California, courtesy of the GI Bill. He wanted to live a lot closer to Oakland because that's where his office was. But I did the very same thing to convince him that Lafayette would be a much better choice, as I was a few months pregnant with my eldest when we bought. It was the best decision ever, considering the awful stuff that went on in Oakland shortly after we moved.
Shelly, Vinnie also needs to consider the cost of gas because if you're in North Carolina, it's gonna cost a whole lot more for you to see your sister on a regular basis, and that was part of the point of wanting do be down there in the first place!
I'm wracking my brain to remember if I know anyone who lives in Chesapeake, or who USED to live in Chesapeake.
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Sundancer, I think you mean Meaford, no "d". We had cottages in that neck of the woods for over 20 years and I shopped in Meaford dozens of times, know it very well. My kids all took swimming lessons at the Blue Dolphin swimming pool and I'd run around on errands in the town.
Meaford is exactly 2 hours and 40 minutes from me. You "could" make it a faster drive but the speeding tickets aren't worth it, lol. We always took Airport Road all the way up to Stayner, then the main route through Collingwood to our various places, almost always half way between Collingwood and Thornbury. Our longest stay was on our place directly across from our ski club, Georgian Peaks. We were there for at least 10 years. We sold that property a couple of summers ago and don't miss it at all. But my favourite spot was our farm house in Clarksburg, right beside the old school house. We were there for about 4 years and I loved it. It took us a bit longer to arrive from home, but once there, it was heaven. We were right on the Beaver River.
Sundancer, you must tell your friend that I know her home town, okay?
-- Edited by KaeEll on Monday 5th of October 2009 09:42:40 AM
Yes, I will tell my friend what you said. You may know her, too. See your pm.
-- Edited by Sundancer on Monday 5th of October 2009 04:38:50 PM
Well here we are on Tuesday. It's gotten so darn cold here I finally broke down and turned on the furnace last night. I often resolve not to do that until November 1, but when it's only 6 degrees outside overnight, it's kind of silly to do battle with Mother Nature if you don't have to.
Shelly, I haven't been watching Y&R much lately because of the new time slot and when I do have the time to watch my recording, Ted's home, and he doesn't appreciate me turning it on. I can watch the US episode at noon, but not the day ahead one at 4:30. Kind of stinks, but c'est la vie.
Nick and Evelyne are now in Mexico on some little island off the coast of Cancun. Evelyne's mother is joining them in 4 days and they plan on going to Mexico City to look at some architecture and art museums. He was so sweet to call me last night from their beach bungalow to let us know all was well. I have to snort at the kids wanting a "holiday". From what, I'd like to know, lol.
I watched yesterdays show and it had me crying through the whole thing. The show is just one big ball of sadness. The headlines at SOC still say that Eric Braden is out but I still wonder if it is just a stunt. YnR seems to be big with these stunts.
I just got off the phone with the guy that was referred to us by USAA. He seemed nice and I think he will help us get the ball rolling.
Shelly, what's USAA? But fantastic that he can help you guys find the perfect house.
I have been watching AMC this past few weeks and I must say, not so bad. But OLTL, ugh. I watch it for a little while but as soon as the stories revolve around that punk jerk Todd, I turn it off. For the life of me, I absolutely can not understand his appeal, which he apparently has. And while I once liked Rex, now he just looks like the biggest idiot on earth, to me anyway. It's just as well that I'm past liking OL since it's going to be cancelled next year.
Hah! OLTL just started and before I could change channel, Todd started screaming at Tea. *click* See what I mean, lol??
Nope, I have actually decided that NC is ok. The realator said that it is actually only an hour from my sister. And if it means I get to have such a large house then I am in. After living in cramped government housing for the last 5 years this is what I want. Plus it is on a ton of land so the girls will be able to play.
WOW! So much house and property for so little!! What an awesome deal. And all you'd really have to do is get rid of that yicky tweenie border across the top of one of the rooms. With any luck, it'll peel right off for you, no sweat.
I'd be tempted to repaint the kitchen colour too, but it's not offensive really, just off a bit.
Shelly, the size of the back garden says DOG to me. :)
BTW, I stole your school office message that you had on Facebook. Love it! Can you post it here for Moore to see. I know she'd get a big chuckle out of it.
Shelly, the house has lots of possibilities, and I like the front of it. All the rooms seem like they're a decent size too. Save up a little money to fence the back, and then the kids will be able to play safely. With their dog (nods to KaeEll)...LOL!
And do take down that border. It looks like they ran out of it anyway because it stops on one wall, without going all the way to the corner.
Also, the back cries out for a nice, big deck, a grill, and a nice place for the family to sit. Maybe a simple picnic table where spills can happen, and maintenance is done with a hose!
I'm getting excited for you!
-- Edited by Moore ideas on Thursday 8th of October 2009 11:00:00 AM
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
I really like the house. And I kind of thought that maybe it was fate. Me and Vinnie had actually found this house on long and foster before we even spoke to the realtor, and then I spoke to this woman in NC and she sent me this house. I was like hey, its our house.
And I love how huge it is. I agree about the fence. I also think we might save up to get a porch put up in the back. Something good for bbq's. I love the yard, it looks big enough that the kids will be able to camp in it later on.
I agree about the border, I also am thinking I might paint the kitchen. I want a red kitchen. And depending on the half bath it might be blue. I am just thrilled to be able to paint my house.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Shelly, you just catapulted me back to my childhood!
My very best friend (the one I've known since I was 3-1/2) lived on a steep hill, so her second floor bedroom window looked directly into the neighbor's first floor kitchen. The kitchen, which was very small, was RED, and back in those days, no one had a red kitchen, unless it was red and white checked wallpaper. LOL... My friend and I used to make fun of that kitchen all the time (as did some of the other neighbors) because it was such an intense color for such a small space, and for the times. (Your kitchen is MUCH bigger!) Anyway, years later, the couple divorced, and everyone in the neighborhood decided that it was probably because the wife just couldn't take that red kitchen anymore! HAHAHAHA.....
These days, people like to experiment with more intense colors, and if you get the right shade of red, it could be really pretty! I didn't mean to make fun of your color suggestion because, as I said, it could look really nice in your house, but I hadn't thought about the Hall's red kitchen in so long that it just struck me as being a funny suggestion, right out of a time machine!
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Benjamin Moore has some fabulous reds! Our son and d-i-l used the same BM red we have in our front hall for their kitchen and it looks wonderful. It's called raspberry something. There are 2 raspberry shades, the one being too pinkish and the other just perfect! A red kitchen! I LOVE it.
And YES to the back porch. Make it large enough so the 5 of you plus a couple of others can sit there and eat, visit and just hang out. And to pass along some mistakes I have made in the back porch department, be careful not to make the darn thing so little (if you go lower for the deck itself) that it's a trip trap for little ones and moms with trays of things to carry to the lower level. Think what a fine mess a tray of lemonade (or god forbid wine) would make splattered all over the kiddies and hub, lol. Or that chicken you've been marinating for two days upside down on the lower patio just in the right spot for the doggies to devour before you can find some civil words to express your dismay. Just saying...
It's so tempting to save a couple of hundred bucks and make that exit level small. Big mistake.
Sometimes the house that is just right comes to you like that! I hope you get it before someone else scoops it out from under you. Do you plan to view it in person this weekend? Has it already had a home inspection to make sure there aren't hidden horrors like mould or poor electrical whatsits?
