mdrai

Taylor Swift & Stevie Nicks -- now there's an unexpected combo! ...Not sure it's working... I know I saw the original Fame... but don't remember it... hmmmmm...

So excited for you guys!!! :confused:

I felt exactly the same way about the movie & him, Laura, so I was quite surprised by my reaction... so sad about the waste... In Entertainment Weekly (1/29/10), they had this list, which I thought was interesting: At $504.9 million (in domestic gross) and counting, Avatar may well be on track to pass Titanic as the top grosser of all time. But the picture looks very different when you adjust box office numbers for ticket-price inflation -- suddenly, the Na'vi plummet to No. 34 (just a few notches above Pinocchio). So who makes this Top 10? 1. Gone with the Wind, $1.49 billion 2. Star Wars, $1.31 billion 3. The Sound of Music, $1.05 billion 4. E.T., $1.04 billion 5. The Ten Commandments, $963 million 6. Titanic, $943 million 7. Jaws, $941 million 8. Doctor Zhivago, $912 million 9. The Exorcist, $813 million 10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, $801 million Am watching the Grammys... enjoy the fashions & crazy match-ups they do w/performances (Lady Gaga & Elton John)...

So yesterday we were at the northern edge of the winter storm that was supposed to go through to the South of us... the official prediction was that we'd get "a dusting" of snow... & we ended up getting loads of snow! DD was at the barn & they ended up having to walk out to the main road to get picked up, because the road & driveway were too slick for cars... crazy! So far today I'm still in pj's snuggled on the couch... have to go to the grocery store (if I can get down the driveway) but otherwise, nothing definite to do... yay!

Ok, I realize that I am 7 months late on this, but... We just watched "This Is It" and I was truly struck by what an artistic genius MJ was and overwhelmed by how tragic his death was (yes, he's dead)... I didn't know then what I know now about how hard he was working, or even that he WAS working, & how amazing that show would've been... I feel so sorry for everyone who worked on that show that they were so close but never got to perform it... I hope tomorrow night @ the Grammy's the singers/dancers get to perform in the tribute... wow, what a waste of a life... how is it that no one could say "No" to him or be real w/him or help him... so so sad...

Good Morn... I'm back to busy, busy... sorry I wasn't on yesterday. I went from having NO work to 2 projects, which is fantastic, but keeps me very busy... + kid stuff that starts between 2-3pm & doesn't end 'til bedtime! 2 full-time jobs! PAMELA! It's BEE-U-TIFUL!!! Thanks for the e-mail pics... you two look so happy! I'm so excited for you! Off to take dd to the barn, ds is already @ soccer... then more soccer tonight and 2 soccer activities + barn again tomorrow... & so it goes!! Everyone make it a great day... I'm gonna go search flight prices to Palm Springs! :biggrin:

Good morning! A slow start, but I'm picking up steam! Here's a funny sign advertising the night's "specials" at a restaurant on the Island... it's not chicken foot, but maybe it's lost in translation, lol: Enjoy the day!

I'm a Windows girl, too... but dh & the kids are all mac users... they mock me that I'm the nerdly Windows guy & they're the cool Apple dude on the commercials... just one of the unspoken joys of motherhood... having your fam mock you... I don't think the iPad is a phone... just all the other stuff... music, pictures, videos, e-mail, documents, etc. So I'm confused, too... I thought the idea was to have just 1 tool for everything, and also, to make it smaller/more portable... this seems like it's going the wrong direction size-wise. Hm. Altho it is smaller/lighter weight than a laptop... but not as portable as an iTouch or iPhone. & of course, there'll have to be the "iPouch" to carry it in, w/out making it look like a purse for the dudes... One of the Twitter "jokes" was "if only it was small enough to fit in my pocket... oh wait..." So I dunno... I'm not geeky enough to be all tizzed out about it... but dh was enthralled. & of course they didn't announce what everyone really wanted to know: price & availability date.

Anybody else following the Apple announcement going on right now? DH is working from home today, so he's streaming it live... it's called the "iPad" -- yes, let the femine-hygiene jokes begin ("Does it come in iMini and iMaxi? With iWings?"). To me, the un-geeky, it looks like a bigger iPhone. Eh.

Your new house will BE my next vacay! :thumbup:

Yes, the kids enjoyed it... it took all of us a couple days to embrace the relaxing lifestyle, tho... we're all so wired to go-go-go all the time! It was sweet to watch them together... they were all each of them had for entertainment! They played cards, a dice game, swam, read, played in the pool...

Views from our room...

Family shots: This one is from the night they "ran out of" water... so I "had" to get the 2 for 1 'ritas! lol!!

Good morning, girlies... Here are a few pics from the trip... will post more as I get time... Beach shots:

You hit the nail on the head, Haydee... 3 days ago I was lounging in the sun, playing in the surf, with not a care in the world... & today I'm freezing, working, getting scratched by the cat as I try to take her to the vet, having to run errands & pick up kids & organize & plan & DO... bleh. I *will* post pics... but @ the moment they're all on ds's camera & the cord I have to download pics doesn't fit his camera. We didn't stay @ a "resort" per se... it was really just a hotel, I guess... Maria de la Mer or something like that... it was right on the beach & all the rooms faced into this gorgeous lush garden & the pool area... so beautiful! The rooms were very basic but clean... & we had a porch area w/tables & chairs that we sat outside all the time... + hammocks... ahhhhh. The "included" "breakfast" was coffee, oj, & toast! I ate more toast last week than I did all last year combined! The water was crystal clear and all these amazing shades of bright blue... yes, Janie, there were a lot of "day trippers" who came over from Cancun, + snorkeling & diving boats... we would laugh because the boats would anchor by our beach area where we could WALK out to! Funny. Haydee, if you wanted there are day trips to Isla Mujeres... you & Juan should do the "Swim w/the Dolphins"! It was so neat! Heather... she is so darn cute!! Ok... back to work -- must. stop. thinking. about. Mexico.

Good Morning! So much going on today... Mexico is but a dream in my rearview mirror... sigh. Hope everyone who's not feeling well feels well soon! Make it a great day!!

Good Morning! Back to real life... work/school/chores/activities... Positive thought for the day, courtesy of "O" magazine, Jan. 2010: How to Fix the Broken Record in Your Head (the one that's always saying you're not good enough): Ah, the promise of a fresh new calendar -- a fresh new You! This is the year it will finally happen: You'll envision your ideal life, purge your bad habits, and sail on to perfection! For almost half an hour! At least, that's how long it takes for the burbling Maria von Trapp voice in my head to be drowned out by one that sounds more like Don Rickles. Don never lets Maria finish a thought: "In 2010 I'm going to exercise during lunchtime..." "No, Walrus Girl, you're going to lunch during exercise time." "I vow to stay calm no matter..." "You and how much Valium, Cruella?" "I'll say affirmations to boost my self-esteem..." "Loser! Loser! Loser!" How do I counteract this negativity? I have psychotic breaks. But that is not what you should do. You should follow these tips: 1. Recognize your negative voice as a 2-year-old's tantrum. Trying to reason with it only increases the hysteria. Instead, take your inner 2-year-old to a quiet place and let it throw its fit. Write down all the cruel judgments until they fade to a grumble. 2. Accept that some of your self-criticism may be true, but never let failure end the story. Instead of saying no to the negative voice, say, "Yes, and..." For example, "Yes, last year I jogged only as far as that new kielbasa stand... and I also managed to stop a few binges by reading trashy novels instead." Speaking of which... 3. Never just quit; always substitute. Bad habits fill needs, so find good alternatives to them. But remember, push-ups can't substitute for pancakes unless you love push-ups (in which case we will never be really close). Companionship, laughter, play -- these things can substitute for pancakes... most of the time. And that's enough. 4. Instead of planning to be perfect, plan to do a little better. Win 51% of the battles, and you'll win the war.

Home is where the heart is! You'll find the right one when you're supposed to... until then, enjoy the hunt! My inlaws just left for their drive back to NJ... they have a week to do their laundry, then they leave next Sun. for Puerta Vallarta for the month of Feb! Rough life! Today is their 50th wedding anniversary! Amazing!! Still in pj's... trying to squeek out as much slothfulness as possible today before returning to reality... altho the laundry & empty 'frig are calling... & ds wants to go to the barn... sigh... adios r&r! lol...

Hi Judy! We were posting @ the same time!! Yes, we liked Mexico, so relaxing... but I think being on the island might have been a bit different than a cruise... we got to see the daily living conditions & poverty up close... all the feral cats & dogs (dd had a cat "adopt" her & it'd be waiting for her on the porch every morning & eve, meowing...). Some parts of the island would be nice & lovely & beautiful, then you'd walk 1/2 block & there'd be an abandoned building w/bricks & trash & a toilet in the front yard, broken bottles, wires on the ground... one night we were walking back to the hotel and the kids saw some children playing -- with a brick! So the close proximity of plenty & need was unsettling... But the people were all so friendly and happy and helpful and beautiful... it was a learning experience for all of us...

Ummm, ok, because you asked... my opinion is... if you can swing it financially, then DO IT! Wowza! I do like your cute little house... but I also know your frustrations with it... really, should the closet be the best room in the house? :scared2: And wouldn't it be nice to be able to open the 'frig AND the dishwasher at the same time, while someone is walking in from the garage? & the master bath in the new one... calgon take me away!! Also, I remember that you had plans to re-do the backyard (undig that hot tub?)... this way you'd have a gorgeous backyard w/pool to chunky dunk in w/little to no work on your part! As Haydee always says, everything is so close in PS, so location probably isn't a problem (as far as a longer commute to work/play)... You could rent or sell your current houses... The only "negative" that popped into my mind was that maybe it's too big / MORE space than you need? 4 bedrooms? You know what THAT means -- no more Violets @ the Spa -- your house would BE the Spa! & Susanne would have more to clean... :cursing: What are you two thinking? pros/cons...? How exciting!!! (I'm so glad I got back in time to weigh in on this!)

I'mmmmmmmmmm back! Didja miss me?? All our travels were safe & on-time today... left the hotel @ 9am: taxi to the ferry... ferry to the van... van to the airport... plane to the US... car to home (via pizza place to pick up dinner)... & home by 8pm! Now I'm typing to you w/a cat on my lap! A wonderful, relaxing time was had by all... will post some pics tomorrow!

Hola friends from Isla Mujeres! I am sitting in the check-in area @ the hotel for a quick "HI' to you all before we head out to dinner. We are having a wonderfully relaxing time here... I have read 2 books (Half-Broke Horses, by the gal who wrote The Glass Castle, recommend it but not as good as GC, and Her Fearful Symmetry, by the gal who wrote the Time Traveller's Wife... a mystery/ghost story, good, too!) We rented a golf cart yesterday & drove all over the island -- ds even drove for a bit, he loved it! -- and the kids swam w/the dolphins, so cool! We spent one day lazing by the pool in the gorgeous, lush, tropical courtyard, and today we were @ the beach all day... clear, turqouis water that you can walk out for ages into... I've had at least 1 margarita &/or strawberry dacquiri for each of you so far! lol! One night we were @ dinner & I ordered a bottle of water & they were out! So... I got the 2 for 1 'ritas, instead! What else was I to do? he he he. Gotta dash... time to walk into town in search of dinner... dd says she's tired of Mexican food -- ha ha -- so we'll try something else... Miss you all! I feel refreshed, renewed, recharged... ready to tackle 2010!

Goodbye from the airport! Have my Starbucks & life is good! See u next week!

Adios, my amigos! (That's about it for my Spanish!) We're getting up @ 5am... out the door by 6am... to the airport by 7ish... I will drink a margi for & toast to EACH of you... it's only fair, right? Love love love you... be back on the 24th (UNLESS we have Internet, in which case I'll try to pop on!!). Smooches, darlings!

Hang in there, Haydee!! ((hugs)) We leave TOMORROW!! :thumbup: Loads to do still, but first... I'm off to my mani/pedi app't! BBL!