Momof3gurlz

3 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

It is, and it's too short... Today is the last day 😢

 

DH is having a tremendous help with fresh pasta 😎 I think the video is visible in other modes. May be our kind movies in charge, John @Ozark_Kid will help? Thanks

 

 

The best kind of kitchen helpers!

2 hours ago, Luckynana said:

 

Today marks 43 years since my Dad died at the age of 61.  He was a Foreman working on the 2nd Avenue Subway project when he fell down 25 feet, head first.  He was a very healthy, strong man who never smoked in his life.  He remained in a coma for a week before finally passing, which was a Blessing, due to his extensive injuries.  

What a tragic death, Maryann.  The anniversaries are always difficult but I hope the memories of him bring you comfort.  

12 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Good afternoon from Canada Place.  3 ships departing so it took 1.5hrs  to board.  Just thankful I didn’t book radiance (which I was seriously considering)

 

Beautiful day for our sailaway

Have a great cruise!

11 hours ago, Luckynana said:

  Btw, you look just like your Mom.  (((Hugs)))❤️

Oh my gosh Maryann, I said the same thing to Andy! Spitting image in that picture. 

15 hours ago, jmh2006 said:

Hi CC friends!  It has been a rough 10 days.  As some already know from that other site that shall remain nameless, I lost my dear father very unexpectedly on April 18th.  He was in good health up to the very end and would have been 88 this August.  I returned home today after a week down in North Carolina, where he lived, to help my sister take care of all the "things".  My sister moved down there from NJ last summer.  While I am still a little bit in shock that he is gone (my mother died in 2014), I am so thankful he was living life to the fullest up to the very end and we were all together the first weekend of April for a fun filled time.  My father had moved into a lovely independent living community in the fall of 2022 so he had downsized quite a bit which was very helpful this past week as were emptying his apartment.  I also urge everyone to have all their important papers organized in a file for your loved ones, should anything happen unexpectedly as did for us.  Even though we knew where all the "stuff" was he still had little post it notes all over his desk of passwords for his computer.  😃  We will be having a Celebration of Life in the summer down in NC for him.  

(((Hugs))) for you and your family Jennifer. 

@Sea Dog Greg your vacation rental is beautiful. What a great opportunity to get together with old friends and relive “the good old days” (at least that’s what happens when I’m with my high school friends).  Try not to let one person spoil the trip for you; why should your vacation be cut short because of one bad apple?  I like Ozark’s idea to be slow to anger, although that’s easier said than done.  Maybe just say you’ll have to agree to disagree on those topics and leave the room for a while.  I hope you have a great 5 days. 

Thanks everyone for the encouraging comments about hip replacements.  The specialist he was referred to deals only with hip problems and the procedure will be done at the orthopedic surgery center. Barring any complications, he’ll be up and walking before he goes home the day of surgery. The doctor feels that as a healthy, active, 60 year “young”patient, Andy should be fully recovered in 6 weeks, possibly less. 
So to answer your question @Sea Dog Greg, this shouldn’t interfere with Bella 2.0.  I’ll get him there one way or another!

I’ve been avidly reading all the comments about knee and hip replacements. Andy’s had problems with his right knee and hip for a few years, to the point that he walks with a noticeable gimp and has great difficulty putting on a sock and tying a shoe on the right foot. His primary told him it’s likely arthritis and referred him to ortho, which of course he’s ignored.  He finally went Thursday (nagging works!) and was told he has severe arthritis in his hip and mild arthritis in the knee. His knee pain is most likely a result of the hip issues. So hip replacement scheduled for Nov 5th. He was given a shot of cortisone with the disclaimer he might only see 10-30% improvement, he says the 10% is about right.  I think he put it off out of fear of the surgery, but so many people have told him hip replacement isn’t bad these days, much easier than the knee. 
Anyone here had this done? 

10 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

Thank you ALL for the well wishes.

 

I'm thoroughly moved by some many of you who posted.

 

The happy reunion. From 5C to 34C in one day....

 

 

 

DS2 & Co. are based at our in-laws (the parents of our DIL). We'll get the grands for a couple of days and nights.

 

They're here until Saturday, 4th of May.

 

DH didn't cook much, apart from chopped liver, since until the last moment we didn't know what the "situation" will be and if they'll make it here.

 

He'll start tomorrow on the chicken soup and, more important, on the "gefilte fish". There will be also a new "edition" of chopped liver for the second "seder" on Sunday night. 

What a wonderful family photo Dani!

1 hour ago, DaniDanielle said:

Fifty three years ago, this happened!

Happy Anniversary Marietta & Charlie! 💐

@dani negreanu I’m so happy it worked out for your family after all the stress and worrying.  I hope you enjoy every minute with them. 

1 hour ago, A&L_Ont said:

I watched 2 games yesterday and 2 today. One more to go tonight for me.  I can’t stay up until early morning for the late game. I also fit the Jays game in between periods. 
 

It’s been a sports lovers day in this house. 

This sounds like what @jmh2006 Jennifer and Dave refer to as a “sporgy” !

@aussielozzie18 your photos are just beautiful.

@h20skibum what a fun party for your granddaughter! HBD to her.

When it comes to keeping stuff from moves or inheritances, it seems there are two types of people.  Those that toss out most of it and those that can’t bear to part with anything - and they usually end up married to each

other 😂.  I’m not sentimental about big things like furniture, china sets, etc. In my mind, if I’m not going to use it, it’s just clutter.  Andy on the other hand would keep everything. It’s led to some interesting ‘discussions’ 😉😂.  

6 hours ago, jmh2006 said:

@ReneeFLL Happy belated bday from me as well Renee!  I would say you celebrated very well!  

@Luckynana Safe journey home Maryann and Jim!  I am so glad you are in time for some fun events with your grands.  

 

Spring in Michigan is in full swing and my Daffodils and Pear tree are blooming nicely!  It's time for me to test out my hand (trigger finger surgery in Jan) with my golf game.  Hoping it is better than last year!😆

Hope golf went well!

11 hours ago, Luckynana said:

Packing has begun.  We head home this coming Saturday.  We are both more than ready, although we will miss this beautiful and Hot weather.  It will be in the 90's this week.

 

However, it turns out that we will be home in time for our Grandson Jack's Junior Prom!!  😊

Safe travels home Maryann & Jim!  How fun to see the kids all dressed up for prom. 

8 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

 

 

 

 

Thanks everyone for the BD wishes. We had a great cruise. On my birthday they had Key Lime Pie at lunch (I saw it on the Coastal Kitchen menu), but we ate in the WJ. I stopped by to see I they could keep a piece for my birthday for that night. I never ask for stuff like that from the crew, but it was KLP and my birthday that night! I was happy they kept a piece for me. I didn't know Mike had ordered a cake when we first boarded. He has never done this before on a ship since I/we don't need a whole cake and I'd also prefer to drink my desserts. 🍸🍹😊

 

I had my KLP and we took the cake back to the room with a couple of small plates from the WJ. Since we hadn't touched it, we asked the cabin attendant and his wife to cut 2 small pieces off for us and the rest was for them. They seemed happy, but they would never look unhappy so who knows. Hopefully they enjoyed it or shared it with others. It was rich, chocolaty and really good.

 

Before dinner in the lounge I ordered a Chocolate Martini, but immediately changed my mind to a Salted Caramel Martini. Christopher couldn't remember which one I ordered last so he made both. He put both our names in the chocolate one. Silly waiter, did he really think I was going to share it with Mike? He definitely does not know me! 😂

 

 

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture before I took a bite.

 

 

 

Happy Belated Birthday!  That chocolate cake is beautiful, but Key Lime Pie is my favorite dessert. Double desserts and double drinks; why not have it all on your special day?!

10 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Diana is helping George with the taxes…

 

For movies I’d add My Fair Lady.

We were prepared to file ours this past weekend, then I learned that residents of three counties in RI (ours included) don’t have to file until July 15th due to flooding disasters declared last year.  Even though we didn’t have any flooding damage, I’ll take that extension, thank you very much, especially since we’re among those who always have to pay.  

9 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Well, my plans to spend the day walking Stanley Park have changed….instead of arriving Vancouver tomorrow morning, I will be (hopefully) arriving 11hrs later due to “operational issues”At least DH & I don’t have to get up before dawn tomorrow morning and there is now a strong possibility that the “kids” can meet me at the airport when I arrive.  Time to put that koala onesie back into my carryon and embarrass the heck out of my kids - with my 🐨 hugs at the airport.

Have a great trip and visit with your kids!

@dani negreanu adding my prayers for you, your family and friends and your country 🙏. 

7 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Great minds, etc. Waited a day to see the reviews....

 

 

I’ve just started this series and having a little trouble getting into it, but sticking with it in the hope it hooks me at some point.  

I’ve been feeling emotional today.  First we have Bella crossing over the rainbow bridge, then totally unrelated, the Red Sox Home Opening Day ceremony.  They paid a 20 year tribute to the 2004 team that “reversed the curse”.  They also honored Tim Wakefield who passed away last fall from brain cancer at 57 and his wife Stacy who died only 5 months later from pancreatic cancer.  Most of the 2004 players came onto the field, accompanying the Wakefield’s son and daughter, who through out the first pitch.  Such composure from a 17 and 19 year old who recently lost both parents. It was very touching and there weren’t many dry eyes anywhere on the field. 

49 minutes ago, MJSailors said:

@Momof3gurlz Glad to give you some insights.

Friends of ours found this condo complex,Ocean Village,when they retired in 2009. They bought a unit in 2010 and invited us to use it when I retired in 2011. We liked the complex very much, and rented in 2012. We then bought a unit after that stay. We renovated our unit and basically flipped it,selling in 2014. We realized that,for us, it was better to rent then own.

In subsequent years, we rented through the RE agency in the complex or through VRBO. Most units require a month stay during the high season- Jan. through April.Ocean Village (OV) is a gated community which has a 9 hole golf course, ocean beach waterfront,a library,several pools,bocce and tennis courts with shuffleboard and basketball courts,and a community center for various activities with a fitness center on premises.One caveat is that there are plans for reconstructing the large swimming pool and surrounding area with completion slated for 2025.Work has not begun,yet.

You could check out the complex by Googling Ocean Village,Ft Pierce,FL

We also rented two times in Island Beach Resort, Jensen Beach. It is a smaller property offering a swimming pool and ocean beach waterfront. There is a restaurant attached,Shuckers.

You can rent directly on their web site,and it may be possible to rent there for a few weeks rather than a month. Google Island Beach Resort,Jensen Beach FL.

You could also look at other complexes by looking at VRBO. We are familiar with Vero Beach, Ft Pierce,Jensen Beach,Stuart and Singer Island. The properties we have researched are all on the ocean. Obviously, we like to be on a beach as we find it relaxing for a vacation spot.

As for when to rent- if you are thinking of Winter,2025,I would suggest that you start looking now. People were looking for rentals for next Winter at OV by the end of March. We decided this past December that we wanted to stay for March at OV. By this time, condo offerings were sparse. The condo we were able to rent had everything we needed and everything (appliances ,TV,Wfi etc ) worked well, but the decor was very dark - heavy gold velour drapes in the bedroom,for example- that did not reflect the tropical FL atmosphere of the grounds. We thought it was a good thing that we had sunshine for almost all of the days,as being in that condo on a rainy day would be dismal !

As I noted in my previous post, the rent and fees gave us sticker shock. In the past (13 years ago ) I recall the monthly rent and fees to be between $2,000 and $3,000.

This Winter,we paid $7000 with a refundable security deposit of $500. But, most travel costs have skyrocketed in the past few years.

I hope you find this info helpful. If you have any further questions, please post them to me.

MJ👩🏻

 

 

This is very helpful, thank you! I’ll look into both locations. The prices are about what I expected; we figured $7-8K for a month.  Considering that nicer resort hotels we’ve stayed at were around $600-700 per night, it doesn’t seem so bad 🤪!  

2 hours ago, MJSailors said:

 

Speaking of FL, my DH and I have returned from a month spent at a condo complex on the ocean at Hutchinson Island.

 

 

This is something Andy and I would like to do each year from say mid-February to mid-March. Since he retired in 2019, we’ve spent 2-3 weeks in FL around this time (except 2020 of course) with our stays consisting of a combination of hotels, cruises and time at Disney using points.  We tried an AirBnB once and had a poor experience so we’ve been reluctant to do that again.  But I’d really like to have a 3 week to one month rental, staying in one spot and branching out in day trips.  
So my question is, how did you find your rental? Local realtor, VRBO, etc?  And how far in advance did you book?   

41 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Ok, I have to ask.... does this look relaxing?

 

Not one bit. Not my cup of tea but there sure seems to be a market for it.  

@FromSea2ShiningSea Helen your photos are spectacular.  Like aussilozzie’s of Australia, this is a part of the world we’re unlike to ever see in person so I’m really enjoying the virtual visit.

I’m hankering for a trip somewhere.  Unfortunately we have nothing until Hawaii in September.  Once the new baby comes in May, we could potentially do something over the summer but I’m not crazy about traveling then. RI has so much to enjoy during that time, plus all the travel spots are beyond crowded.  

@dani negreanu @Sunshine3601 @BonTexasNY - glad you are all either on the mend, improving or fully healed. 
 

I was at the grocery store this morning when the EQ struck. Didn’t feel a thing, no groceries fell off the shelves and no other shoppers seemed to notice anything. All three of my daughters (RI, Mass and PA) say they felt it.  
 

Andy is headed to Las Vegas Sunday with his best friend, he returns Wednesday. Ali is currently in the air headed to WDW to meet up with Cristina (yes, it’s a sickness with our family LOL).  Cristina has a work conference there; Ali couldn’t pass up the chance for a “free hotel” and both have annual passes so according to their “girl math”, this is a free trip 😏.   Poor pregnant Jess has to miss out.  She was not happy to learn today that baby boy is in a breech position. Still 7 weeks to go so he could still turn. 
 

This handsome guy, Ali’s dog Oscar, is hanging out with me until Wednesday.