ausdon

Curiously enough, I got into this five years ago because of "the women" as much as an interest in Clay. I was new to the internet and I thought it was so neat that these women of all different ages and backgrounds were sharing their experiences with each other Welcome Dummie, I also love the people here. Where else would I have "met" all these disparate people, heard about their lives, likes or dislikes, and picked up a few things along the way! KAndre said IwannabeaeHpheifertooooo

Hello FCA! I'm afraid I've been one of the lurkers here lately! ChaCha happy anniversary! Thats quite the achievement these days. What a shame you and the lovely Mr Cha Cha couldn't find your old haunts. DH and I have no worries about that -they demolished the club where we first met and its now an office block- sooo romantic. I can do that- not always intentionaly! (sp?) My life keeps chasing me around, no matter how fast I run! Couchie, in my insomniac state last night, I read this as " I'm actually downloading mine"

Hi All I'm baaaaack! Havent had time to catch up at all yet but I look forward to doing so. LOVED Spamalot! The whole cast was fantastic especially you-know-who.Unfortunately no stage door appearance the nights I was there but did get to meet Tom Deckman, one of my new faves. Our whole trip was great. Got to meet the lovely ChaCha and Mr ChaCha in Washington who chauferred us around like royalty. :F_05BL17blowkiss: We met up with Annabear and her mum in NY. Waving! (cant find emoticon- am brain dead/jet lagged) Got lots of lovely goodies from KAndre for my own clack-fest! Yay! Claytonic I will be in touch soon! PS. Wish I was in NY now

Goood Mooorning FCA!! Why Yes, I am still a bit overexcited! I haven't time to catch up fully but I just wanted to check all is well in spamland and say hello from Washington DC. Today I get to meet the lovely Cha Cha and Mr Cha Cha! Tomorrow we are heading to NYC!!!!! Cheerio for now :F_05BL17blowkiss:

My Itinerary says 3rd April arrive 13.40 .... depart 15.17 this does not seem like enough time to clear customs etc and check in for the ongoing flight but my travel agent assures me that Northwest assures her that it will be ok. Nail biting time for me......

Well its GOODBYE FCA :bye2: .....only for 5 weeks guys!!!! YES I leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn and train for 90mins fly for two hours change planes fly 11hrs stay onight in Japan fly 11.5 hrs change planes in Detroit fly 2.5 hrs to Orlando! Whew! About a week of WDW and Kennedy space centre fun then to Washington then train to NYC!!! Wonder what there is to do there? I suppose we could play cards or watch TV at night? Not like theres much going on there or cute entertainers to harass.. err ... see in shows is there? Anyway after about a week there we head to Boston Toronto Montreal Quebec City and on to Japan then Home. I don't have a laptop but if the ( crappy) hotels we are staying in have internet acces I will pop in and say hello. I am meeting Annabear on the 17th after the show for a coffee so if anyone finds themselves in the area please join us! :F_05BL17blowkiss: Why am I spending this time on the board when I should be finishing the packing!!! :It doesn't seem real to me yet, all this planning (for years) and it's finally here! I spose it will hit me on the plane tomorrow. Bye. Love Donna. Some appropriately excited nanas :nana: :Boss:

{{{ keepingfaith & Family}}}}}} {{{{{ Couchie & Family}}}}}

{{{{ Heinz }}}} I have a son born at the end of October. The schooling system is different here of course. He was supposed to start pre-school (non-compulsory) in the Jan. after he turned four but I had my doubts as to whether he could sit still long enough for anything and the day care teachers were saying his speech wasn't up where it should be. He was immature compared to the other kids. We kept him out until the next year and I am so glad we did. It hasn't been all plain sailing especially socially. We had a pre school teacher suggest Aspergers.It makes me so mad today that I lost sleep for months over that stupid woman who shouldn't bandy around words like that unless she is qualified to do so. Her classroom was chaotic and over stimulating, something which I have since found out doesn't suit a lot of kids, esp. boys. Any way he is 13 now and doing just fine. Over the years I have learned how to "read" the teachers. Like any other job, some you will like ,some not so much. In grades 4 & 5 he had a lovely, sensible teacher who seemed to actually like him and could see his good points. She told me that she had been teaching for more than 20 years and had taught a few kids just like my son. She said he was very bright and a "lateral thinker". He did not follow the same thought processes as the other kids but would get to the answer another way, or come up with ideas completely out of the scope of most kids. She also said that primary school would not necessarily be the place for him to shine and that he would find his niche later, maybe in high school or university or even later, when people come together without that "group mentality". I sort of feel that my own best days started after school ended so I can understand that. Well he started high school this year and so far so good. Actually the last year or so of primary school he was happy, had a couple of friends, and did OK academically. Hope this post wasn't too long winded but I understand the worry you must be going through. Best of Luck.

Hey where is everyone? ? or more likely

Any FCAers going to be in the Schubert area after the show on the 17th April? Theres a coffee brewing! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Well I probably shouldn't speak...since I've never been, but my kid goes a couple of times a year to visit a friend and for work and they never take the subway after dark. Never thought to ask why. I just assumed they felt safer. They do take the subway during the day....she loves the subway system. Thanks Rohdy

Ya doin anything this weekend Muski? ETA: well I just saw the time! That would be a lot funnier if it wasnt several hours later!-Damn this working for a living(or a spamatrip)

Thanks YSRN. I can see what KAndre was getting at.........

Thanks for the weather report Luckiest. BRRRRR!!! Good thing I dragged the family into our local ski shop to get jackets. Whose rolling their eyes at me now Huh? Actually the packing is causing me some angst. I am a determinedly light packer but since we will be in both Florida and Canada (and Japan) I am thinking my original two hot outfits and two cold outfits ( with extra tshirts bought along the way) might be a bit light on the cold weather stuff. Oh well, I might just have to shop! Wouldnt that be a shame?!!!! Hey KAndre what pictures are you talking about? Watermelons? Dogs? Bike?

On a completely different subject........ I posted this in the travel thread a while back....... Can any Canadians out there tell me what the weather is likely to be like toward the end of April? I am going to be spending about a week in Quebec City, Toronto, and Montreal. ETA; Add me to the list of people who don't feel undercurrents. When I worked full time in an office the thing that I hated the most was Office politics. Didn't know what was going on most of the time. Mostly just don't "get" vibes or subtext when face to face with people let alone through the written word.

Just hang on a minute Bottle!!!!!! Kindly elaborate the wheres and hows as to this black leather performance!!!!

Couchie I remember something you posted a while back and it cracked me up then. It still brings me a smile when I think of it (at times like today). It was simply: " Thunderdome Anyone?" BTW it's Easter Sunday here so Happy Easter to all. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

While we're at it , has anyone heard anything about Hotel Beacon? It's on Broadway & W75th st? Would it be safe to take the subway there at night?

I've been lurking a bit. Not feeling v. talkative ( unusually!) Too much stuff to do, not enough hours , working as many hours as I can. Of course that banner is enough to cheer anyone up Cindilu! And I'm loving the Tap video. Even the hair is looking decent....ducks for cover and runs away.....

Happy Birthday Gibby! :F_05BL17blowkiss: Ditto that Gibby and Liney! I had a bit of an epiphany/crisis a couple of years ago and that, along with the natural wisdom that comes with age (BWAH!!), has made me more open to fun wherever I may find it and more willing to demand sweetly insist upon my needs/wants sometimes being met. It's hard to remember to do it after mumblty-something years of "putting my happy face on." Gibby here's wishing that your "happy face" is coming from within!

BWAH! I dare you guys!!! (And yes it would be worth it!) I was imagining you doing that very thing CG! Bottle I am into historical re-enactments. Just for clarification purposes you understand. Honestly,with the powers of persuasion, technical know-how and sheer persistance that has been shown over this (admittedly v.v. important) incident I would not be surprised if the worlds major organisations recruited our board to clear up some jobs they can't manage. You know, things like world peace, Interpols 10 most wanted, global warming,long term sustainable energy........ Actually, peace and energy solutions could be helped by that bum pinch- but it only worsens global warming.... ETA; Back on pg 5 a couple people mentioned WAMLAW from JBT. What city was this in?

Love the funnies Bookwhore Here is one I got sent today: I OWE MY MOTHER 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. 'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.' 2. My mother taught me RELIGION. 'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.' 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. 'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!' 4. My mother taught me LOGIC. ' Because I said so, that's why.' 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. 'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.' 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. 'Make sure you wear clean underwear,! In case you're in an accident.' 7. My mother taught me IRONY. 'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'> 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. 'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.' 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. 'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!' 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. 'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.' 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. 'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.' 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. 'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!' 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. 'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.' 14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. 'Stop acting like your father!' 15. My mother taught me about ENVY. 'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.' 16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. 'Just wait until we get home.' 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. 'You are going to get it when you get home!' 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. 'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.' 19. My mother taught me ESP. 'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?' 20. My mother taught me HUMOR. 'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.' 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. 'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.' 22. My mother taught me GENETICS. 'You're just like your father.' 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. 'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?' 24. My mother taught me WISDOM. 'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.' 25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE. 'One day! You'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you

Well, I'm a bit down tonight. I've just come home from a farewell party for one of my closest friends who is going overseas for a couple of years. One of us has taken off before and I know life goes on , but it just hits me harder the older I get. At least my DH will be home from his secondment in a couple of weeks and we can get some "normal" back. How to shake these blues? You all know. Clack of course!

Hey Ausdon, they don't have wheelie bins ? :o :o :o :o Hey Claytonic, I would gladly swap mine for the regular kind if they would collect it a lot more often especially in this heat. Cindilu wow thats a lot of snow! I called my kids in to see that. {{Ivy}} It sounds a bit scary at your place. CalClay Welcome!

Can any Canadians out there tell me what the weather is likely to be like toward the end of April? I am going to be spending about a week in Quebec City, Toronto, and Montreal.