Look...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Express Jet

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

mater, Don't do it! Don't become one of THEM! These pod people that finish Christmas shopping a month before Halloween! Don't do it, just don't! Promise me!
All of the Christmas stress will be gone and it won't be the same!

 

Originally Posted By mater4

LOL! Tinkerbell you are pulling me back on the fence. Which way to go? Part of me wants to be done with it but then some of us just can't resist shopping with all the hustle and bustle. Don't worry I am sure that something will come up to interfere with my above mentioned plan. Cheer is not over yet for DD and girl scouts is year round. I contribute my time to both as a volunteer. Not to mention getting my house ready for the holidays before the end of next month. THEY just want to run me to my death. I am starting to see the light.

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Good morning. I am checking in early because I might not have access to my computer later. We have a severe weather alert here in Reno. Winds 25-30 mph and gusts of 70 mph. They say that there is a good chance that damage to trees and power lines will occur. So if you don't hear from me this afternoon my power is out.

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Whew, thanks Mater. We procrastinators have to stick together! I know I broke down and bought a couple of things yesterday, but it could be another month before I pick up anything else.
I hope your power doesn't go out today. We are having hot weather here again. It's already sticky and humid. Yuck. I knew I shouldn't have closed up that pool!
Hey, did you know anything about MollysMom having GRANDCHILDREN? What's that all about? I'm sitting here scratching my head. (I know I'm going to get accused of not paying attention again!)

 

Originally Posted By mickeynewe

<<All of the Christmas stress will be gone and it won't be the same! >>

Um, Tink-- its called being able to "enjoy" the holidays instead of stressing over them! Try it, you may just like it!

Mater, stay safe and be careful!

Mollysmom a GRANDMOTHER? I missed that too! I guess we never pictured someone as witty (my nice way of saying sarcastic) being a grandmother. Maybe we better get her a cane for her next Disney trip? *cheesey grin* Sorry..truly am...couldn't help myself. *sits and waits for a big fat old "shut up"*

Probably won't be on later myself, although after my own sarcastic comments I am sure MM won't mind. Baby girl has a big show tonight! Wish us luck!! We're expecting a rainy day as well, which means packing up all her equipment will NOT be fun!

Hugs and prayers (especially for Mater, again, stay safe!)

~ Mickey

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Oh boy, mickeynewe, I'm glad I wasn't the one to make the cane comment! neener neener
I won't be back for a few hours and I can't wait to read the retort YOU are going to get! I'll probably be able to feel the vibrations as the post is being made...
Good luck at the show tonite! (Break a leg!)

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

mater...mickey's right...buy the presents, keep a notebook of what you got and for whom, and then wrap them right up the day you get them and stash them somewhere. I even go a step further. Since I have so many people to buy for, and since I need to mail a lot of those presents around the country, I started wrapping each family's presents in a different kind of paper. That way, when I box stuff up, or make present deliveries in town, I save tons of time not having to look at each package to read the tag and see where it goes. I just look at the paper it's wrapped in, and I know where it's headed. I'm so anal. But while most people are out being crazy shopping in the weeks before christmas, I'm sittin' by the fireplace in my kitchen, drinking something warm, decorating cookies with DD and DH and listening to christmas songs on the stereo or watching one of our several christmas movies. DH loves christmas movies and music, and gets VERY competitive on our cookie decorating day. He HAS to make the best looking cookies, and will spend 30 minutes on ONE cookie...what a dork.

Also...don't listen to tink. She is the same gal that last summer waited until the last minute to get airfare and almost had to cancel her trip because it had gotten so expensive. The early bird gets the worm, you know. Tink just wants someone to whine with when she's out scouring empty shelves on december 24th looking for gifts.

Gosh, I hope things will be okay for you today, mater. I heard on the news this morning about several areas getting crazy nasty weather today. Seattle got hit last night with high winds, and there was a lot of damage. It's headed our way this morning. So far, we've gotten quite a bit of rain, and the mountains are getting their first snow. Later today, we're supposed to get winds in the 30-40 mph range. I could lose a few trees out at my place, but it will be okay. We keep the trees away from the house, for fire danger and for high winds. If anything comes down, it may block the road, but it won't cause any damage to our house. Added benefit...we grab the chain saw and cut it up for firewood. We have our own generator, so if power goes out, we're fine. For you though, if your power goes out, you're at the mercy of the utility company. Stay safe today, and hopefully the storm will pass by without incident.

As usual, tink and mickey fail to retain information.....yes, I'm a grama. DH started his family very young, and has 3 grown children...22, 25, and 28. His oldest daughter has 2 daughters ages 8 and 2, and his younger daughter has a daughter age 1. That makes me a grama....kicking and screaming all the way, but a grama none the less. I love the girls, and we hang out together a lot, but when they call me "grama", I still shake my head. There has been more than one time that we have all been hanging out at McDonalds or shopping together and people have assumed that I'm their mom. I look young for my age(49), but not THAT young. Kaylynn (the 8 year old) never hesitates to correct them (quite loudly) and says "she's not my mom, she's my grama." Thanks, Kaylynn.

mickey...I am wishing your DD boundless well wishes today for her big show. I can't wait to hear all about it...she'll be awesome, I'm sure.

Well...villains is gone, mater is probably going to be powerless later, mickey has to go play "stage mom"...it looks like you and I today, tink.

 

Originally Posted By mickeynewe

OMGosh, I thought I was the only dork that bought specific paper for people! It makes sorting presents so much easier when doing your Christmas visiting! Going to DH's family, just look for that paper. Going to my family..just look for that paper! In our own home, my daughter even picks out HER favorite paper that I wrap presents in. Life is sooooo much easier that way! You NEVER forget anyone's gift, nothing gets left behind under the tree. I am so glad to hear I am not the only one that does this!

Hey, just look at it this way MM, I bet Kaylynn has the hottest grama in her school! You can always smile proudly on grandparents day and think, "yeah, I have it going on, that's right!" lol

Thanks for the good luck wishes MM! We need them. Show day is always really stressing for me, although I now try very hard not to get stressed, which is why I am sitting here eating a PB&J sandwich. When I'm done, I have laundry to iron, her equipment to pack up (is it considered driving if I move my car from the street to my driveway???, her performance CD to copy, take a shower and get ready myself, and be done by 3:00) When DD gets home she has to jump in the shower and then I have to style her hair and makeup-- then be out of the house by no later than 4:00 p.m. if we want to beat the Friday night traffic.

She told me a funny story that happened the other day at school. Her and her best friend were looking in this big job encyclopedia in the school library trying to find a "career" for her best friend. Anyways, my daughter saw "magician" listed and let out a little "wahoo". So this Junior they know walks over, and asked why she was "wahooing". She told him what they were doing and he looked at her best friend and said, "you want to be a magician?" and her BF said, "No, but she's one" referring to my daughter. So this kid was like, "yeah, right". And her BF was like "no, really, she is! If you don't believe me, check out her website." At which point the kid walks over to the school's computer, pulled it up, and then turned and gawked at my daughter. He then walked back over and high-fived my daughter and said, "that's cool".

Now that she is in high school she is really open about it, before she wouldn't tell anyone but her closest friends. She would only let her best friend since preschool come to her shows to watch her.

My daughter puts in hours and hours with rehearsals and learning. She has a wonderful mentor and group of magicians that are incredible about working with her. We are really blessed to have these people in our lives. We have made some wonderful friendships and really enjoy the camaraderie. I am sure tonight will be no exception!

Now, just to get through all the work to enjoy the evening!

Again, thanks for boundless well wishes! We truly appreciate them!!

Hugs to all,

~ Mickey

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Mickey best wishes to your DD. As you can see I still have my power. The wind is picking up as the day progresses.
MM I had no idea that you are a grandmother. I made my mom a grandma in her forties. I will keep you posted on my christmas shopping or nonshopping. I will keep everyone on the edge of their seat wondering what I will do. MM and Mickey you two are a little organized with this present wrapping stuff. I can't keep my closet,drawers,and cupboards neat. I hope Villians is having a good time and can't wait to hear a trip report. I wonder if her DH has recieved anything from HER.

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Take a breath, already. No, it is not considered driving if you only go from the street to the driveway...BUT THAT"S ALL!!!

Kaylynn is a cutie. I talked her into calling me "chickie babe" in public instead of grama. The looks we get are priceless. We have had many giggle fits over that. Her dad is appalled, but then he has no sense of humor and usually walks around with a stick in his nether region. For example...Erika, the 2 year old is not allowed to have catsup on her fries because he says she'll eat them without it and catsup is unnecessary. All this while he's sitting there eating HIS fries WITH catsup at the restaurant. Geez, kids will eat broccoli if you put catsup on it! No wonder the kids always ask to come to our place. At grama and poppa's it's a free for all...we just don't tell dad...and we put catsup on just about everything.

I'm thinking that perhaps we are long lost relatives or something...I didn't know another living soul until today that has different christmas wraps for different families. Very "Twilight Zone" we are, mickey. But, no matter what tink says...we are NOT dorks. Speaking of tink, she has been trying to turn mater back to "the dark side" as far as christmas shopping goes. We may need to do an intervention once villains gets home.

That is so cool that your DD is getting attention at school for her magic. What a great way to make new friends. It makes her feel pretty special, I'm sure. High school can be rough at times...to stand out is sometimes uncomfortable for a young girl. How great that she is proud of what she can do, and that the other kids think so, too.

Well...is't 2:45...you ought to be shower fresh and getting ready. Get a move on because DD will be home soon.

Deep breaths, you'll get it all done.

Got my fingers crossed and sending pixie dust to DD. I'm looking foreward to hearing all about it next week.

Kisses.....MM

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Putting my ESP powers to work and saying NO, villains' DH hasn't heard ONE word from HER. Not a tough call there. I hope I'm wrong. Oh, well, I don't think villains has given it a thought the past 2 days, and I'm sure she is having a great time. I can't wait to hear about it.

I was just gonna ask you how you were faring, mater. Glad to see that all is well for now. It's rather windy here as well, but we won't get lucky enough to have our power go out here at work...I'll be stuck here until 4:30.

Hopefully, I have power when I get home. I have a housefull of hunters headed out tonight. They will all hang out by the fire pit so I will have the tv to myself. Court tv here I come. I have the generator, but it's a bit noisy until I get used to it.

I'll cross my fingers that you keep your power through the storm, mater.

Don't let tink be a bad influence on you or make you feel guilty. You shop and shop proudly for your christmas gifts. We'll deal with her later......

 

Originally Posted By rtjl72

what happened to all of you girls? i'm listening in here and i haven't heard anything for a few days. whas up?

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Well, rt has been waiting for one of us to show up, so I'll try to get caught up!
(It's the weekend, hardly anybody ever shows up on the weekend.)

There should be all kinds of news tomorrow. I think Villains returns and hopefully has internet access or we'll all be going crazy waiting to hear if she got her money back and how her trip was.

We also have to hear how Mickeynewe's DD show was!

And, I don't think that mickeynewe and I BOTH would have forgotten a detail such as MM being a Grandma. Therefore, this information must not ever have been given. I am appalled to have been accused of forgetting something of which I never knew in the first place. (waits for apology.)

Seriously, how cool is it to be a young grandma? That's awesome. Someone was telling me tonite about their friend who is becoming a grandfather for the 1st time and he's 83. I would HATE to wait that long. No energy left or anything. I can't wait to take the grandkids to DL and who knows how long it will be until I get some. (I have my little grand nephew, tho. My sis is a grandma~ My DH looked at me last year when we were in DL and he saw me looking at the little kids around us and he knew my wheels were turning~he says, "How long are you going to wait before you start bringing little Eddie with us?" Now, how did he know what I was thinking? I said, when he's fully potty trained.)

I have to admit that I do the same wrapping paper thing that MM and MN do. Everyone has their own paper. So far, I wrapped the couple of things I got the little nephew and he likes Spongebob. So, his gifts are in "Bunbob" paper as he calls him. I do keep notes, too, but I'm not organized enough to have an actual notebook, everything is scribbled on a piece of paper.

I can't wait to catch up on the all news tomorrow! (Well, here it's already tomorrow!)

Oh, one more thing. My DS uploaded or downloaded my photos from this summer's trip. He said there are 1310 of them! lol I thought it was a good time to start going through them b/c I get kind of sad when I look at the photos and know I won't be back for a while. We are down to 37 days, so I don't have a problem getting them developed now. (I know, I should get counseling. What can I say? I admit it, I'm a Disneyholic.)

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Good Morning! Hope all of you had a good weekend. My power stayed on all weekend. I think the weather people are a little off base with weather predictions sometimes. I froze saturday morning ( it was 30 degrees) at my DD7 final game for the season. Now she can focus on her upcoming cheer competition. I guess I will wait to hear how everyone's weekend was. I hope we hear from Villians soon.

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

tink...horsepucky...mentioned I was a grama more than once...no apology forthcoming. "Little Eddie"??? Like from the Munsters??? And what's this bit about wrapping presents??!?!?! Did you say PRESENTS??? You gave mater all that crud last week, and here you are doing PRESENTS? If there is an apology in order, you owe one to mater for makin' her feel like a traitor if she did early shopping.

I didn't do squat this weekend. I had intentions of working in the shop and getting some projects done. I broke my bandsaw blade and was too lazy to put a new one on so I went down to the bonfire and roasted hot dogs, drank beer and made smores. It was actually pretty good...I don't normally blow off a whole weekend.

rtjl72 is a stalker, girls. Hey...you don't need to be a stalker, you can hook up with our happy little group. Look what happened to mater...she used to be a quasi-stalker, but see where she is now?

Ok...where the heck is villains??? I'm thinkin' that she is the one that had the best weekend, so she needs to share. Plus, we need the next installment regarding the $$. We're like "cross country" gossipers, aren't we?

mickey...need the review of DD's performance.............we're waiting...

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Jeez, I thought there would be more news by now! Maybe Villains didn't get her internet back yet. I hope that's not the case. We need to hear about her trip! We want a better report than last time, too! (Do ya hear me Villains?!)

I don't know MM, I don't know, Mickeynewe will come back on and back me up about the grandma thing, I'm sure. You are just trying to make us feel like we are senile.

And, Mater, don't let MM try to turn you around and make you think I am any further in my Christmas shopping than I admitted to. Yes, I bought Eddie those toys last week and wrapped them. Did I do any other shopping? No. Now, I'm worried that because I wrapped them so soon that they are going to need dusting before Christmas. The only reason I wrapped them at all was b/c I found the Spongebob paper at the $ store last week.
And Eddie does not resemble Eddie Munster! He's a dreamboat!

 

Originally Posted By mickeynewe

Okay, I have to say I am with Tinker on this one- even after you were soooo nice to me on Friday MM. I really don't remember you ever saying you were a grama until now-- and I don't think its the meds either-- we all know how foggy them make my brain. I do believe you THINK you told us. How is that for walking both sides of the issue?

I am absolutely exhausted-- beyond exhausted, even though I went to bed at 8pm last night. However, we had a GREAT weekend and it was worth it! My DD did an awesome job, I am always so proud of her! I almost blew her main finale though. I don't know if I ever said that I was her assistant? Anyways, she brought the only 'large' illusion for the evening. And although we have rehearsed this time and time again--- this is the first time I have 'appeared' (without giving away the trick) and been met with a spotlight from the back of the room blaring me in the eyes. Surprised, I took a step back, LUCKILY caught my balance instead of ending in a heap on the floor, all the while kept a smile plastered on my face.

My daughter was also asked to help teach at a magic camp next summer -- a high compliment!

She picked up another gig for next weekend.

AND, then on Saturday night we decided to go enjoy a professional magician's show from our Assembly who was headlining his own show. We arrived early so we got to chat for a few minutes ahead of time. He totally made our DD's night when he pulled her out of the audience to saw her in half!

I was like, hmmmmm, when he pulled out an electric saw to do it. He even cut a piece of wood to show it was real. By now mama is sitting forward in her chair, while my daughter is in the box just grinning ear to ear while she watched him--- excited to be his victim, ahem I mean volunteer! After he cut the box/her in half. He took the bottom portion and tipped it up at an angle so you could see through to the back. Such a cool photo! I posted it on her website because she loved it so much so you can go take a look at it if you want Tinker.

RT feel free to join the group! We can be a rowdy bunch from time to time-- we love to antagonize one another, tease one another, and just give each other a really good go, but it is always done in fun and with good intentions. I hope to see you join in sometime.

Hugs to all~

Hey, Villians, time to check in!!!!

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Check - I am back - but gotta run will be back tomorrow - still having little DSL problems...
I knew MM was a Gramma....

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Mickey, Villains is making us look like a couple of dopes! Wait 'til she gets back tomorrow! (Maybe MM mentioned it on another thread that we weren't participating in.)

I'm so happy DD's show was such a success! Did you have your costume in time? I'm glad you didn't fall when you were "blinded by the light." How awesome for her to be chosen as the sawing victim! I am going to check out the site after dinner. Isn't is great how she keeps getting more and more jobs because everyone is so impressed with her talent? You must be SO proud! (and busy!)

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Aah Haa!!!!!! See...THAT'S why villains is my favorite!!!!! So, that proves once and for all that SOME of you don't pay attention!!!!! mickey can use the excuse of her meds...it's cheating, but she can use it. tink has NO excuse, and mater is acting kinda like Switzerland on this one...laying low so as not to get herself in trouble.

Horray for mickey's daughter!!!! I wanna see the pictures, too...what's her website? How wonderfully exciting for her. She'll remember being sawed in half for the rest of her life. I didn't know you were her able-bodied yet feeble-minded assistant. She's going to do the summer camp deal, isn't she? That's terrific for a girl that young...awesome!

Glad villains popped in for a sec. I was actually starting to worry. With all these fires right now, I was concerned about her. I'm no geography expert so maybe they were nowhere in that area, but just watching this on the news is so terrifying. Whole towns evacuated...can you imagine the nightmare it must be...trying to grab the things that mean the most to you, not to mention any important papers, then getting out along with thousands of other people and not knowing what will happen...I'm sayin' lots of prayers today.

I hope your warning didn't scare RT off, mickey. We could use another victim...I mean friend to hang with.