Misc. Idle Chit Chat - Part II (The Sequel)

[kian]

Nezza those look fun, OH would love the Hatfield and McCoys. You and OH will have a great time! I do remember you loving all things Titanic. For me it's all things Civil War, interesting how certain things appeal to us. Do you remember what sparked your interest there? For me it was when I substitute taught Middle School. For nearly 2 weeks we studied all things Civil War, it was interesting, I learned so much.

I have been on 3 cruises and OH on 2, it is a great way to travel. Our last one was last year from Miami to the Bahamas, it was perfect. I love sleeping with the balcony door open, the sounds of the sea are very relaxing. I could never have a inside cabin, it would not work for me. Even at night I enjoy sitting out on the balcony, it's sweet.

Any idea who might be at the Opry? The resturant menu looks very good, I saw a few things I would love.

Are you going to look for houses and get a job application

[nezza]

Super long day for me today. I picked up an extra shift just because i'm going to be on vacation for about 12 days...i figured i could squeeze in some extra pocket cash. So, i will be there from 9am til 9pm It'll be fun, though!

Kian, we are super excited for this trip. I'm going to take more pictures than ever. We just got a new camera...since our old one was starting to not want to cooperate with us. Anywho...The Christmas show at the opry isn't like the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. This is a Christmas show...but not with any famous performers. You can click on the link i posted and then click under shows and you can choose from the drop down box "Christmas" show and they have a bunch of pics. I can't wait. The OH got us really good seats

I completely agree with you about NOT being able to have an inside cabin on a cruise. Being able to see the ocean while you're in your room is a wonderful experience. With cruises being so inexpensive now...i can't see not paying the little bit extra to upgrade to a balcony and sometimes you can get that upgrade for free! Your Bahamas cruise must have been so fun! I do miss Miami...it's one of my favorite cities. I used to spend quite a few weekends in South Beach and i will always love it there. I was only an hour away from Miami...so, i used to go A LOT!

We are going to look around some neighborhoods while we are out there. And maybe inquire about any positions at Titanic

I remember the first time i saw anything Titanic. I was very young and it was when Robert Ballard first discovered the Titanic...where her wreckage was. I remember watching it on t.v. and ever since then, i have been captivated. It's like a romance. I am completely enchanted and oh...i could go on and on.

Well, i'm off to get ready for my long work day. Hope you have a great one

[nezza]

Quite here the last couple days. Hope everyone is doing well

Today was my last day of work...as i'm now on vacation for 2 weeks!!! It was slow, so i even got to leave early. Great start. I'm actually going to miss some people while i'm gone...but not too much

So, it's December 1st and our crazy Tennessee weather was a beautiful 70 degrees!!

Anyway....not much else going on...just a quick "hello".

[kian]

Just a quick drive by....Nezza enjoy your vacation, well earned! The weather has been crazy, we are in Mesa, Az where it's shorts, t-shirt and flip flops, it's perfect weather. I miss my dogs, we are heading home in a few hours taking our time and doing a little site seeing along the way.

We have had a great time with the our adult kids and the grandkids. Hate to leave, it's so nice here, like a late Spring or early Summer. Will be back on soon, if I don't talk to you before you leave Nezza, have a wonderful time!!

[nezza]

Kian, glad to hear you had a good time with the kids and grand kids!

We are getting ready to leave early tomorrow morning I already have the car packed so that all we have to do is walk out of the house in the morning. I'm so excited. Mike is going to watch after the animals for us, as usual. I'm really going to miss them. Yesterday, the OH and I were in a store and all of a sudden i just missed Waffie. I would love to bring him with us...but, i wouldn't want to be a nuisance to other hotel guests. He's never been left alone in a strange room before and i would not want him barking his head off. Weather is supposed to be in the 60's which is wonderful. It was 70 yesterday and 68 today! I can't believe it's December. Seems after next week, though, things are going to cool off.

Well, i won't be on again until i get back, so, i hope you're having a good week and you can be sure that i will have PLENTY of pics to post!!!

[nezza]

Some sad news to post this evening. Went to lock up the coop tonight and only Little Red was in it. We think a fox got Big Momma. I'm so sad. And poor Little Red is all alone.

[nezza]

Just a quick "Hello."

Got back from a FANTASTIC vacation and some WONDERFUL, HAPPY news!!!! As we pulled up the driveway and behind the house, when i got out of the car...Big Momma came RUNNING to me!! Big Momma is alive!!!! I started shouting and OH thought i was shouting because i found her body. Then when he saw her, he realized, what was happening. It was like a miracle. A true miracle!!!

For 4 nights and 5 days she was alone, outside and locked out of her coop. We can't figure out why she never went to her coop Tuesday night. She has never, not once, NOT gone into her coop at sundown. And then Wednesday morning, she still was no where to be found. Our only guess is that she went off on her own on Tuesday evening and wandered too far and it got dark. Chickens see VERY poorly at night. She may have gotten scared and just hunkered down where she was for the night and wait till the morning to come back home. We wouldn't have seen her Wednesday morning because it was still dark when we left that morning. She wouldn't have wandered back home until it was light enough.

I can't even begin to express my joy at seeing that silly little chicken. And Little Red is so very happy.

Miracles REALLY do happen. It took a miracle for her to survive on her own out here on all this land where so many critters roam. I am so grateful, so thankful!

[kian]

Nezza at first my heart just sunk, I know the pain and then your miracle!!! Wow that is fantastic that Big Momma survived the predators all alone.

I hadn't been on Chit Chat since I knew you were gone, I'm glad your back and all is well. I do know you fretted about Big Momma the whole time you were gone. I still fret over the loss of the Rooster.

Excited to hear about your trip!

[nezza]

Kian, i'm sure you can imagine how elated i was to see Big Momma. And, you're right, although i had a great vacation, i was constantly thinking about her...i thought she was dead...i even dreamed about her. I was so overjoyed to see her little face when we got home. If that hadn't happened...we were talking about giving Little Red to my friend who has chickens and a beautiful coop...because, since we're moving, we don't want to get a new chicken and we didn't want Little Red to be lonely and locked up in her coop...which is what would have happened...to keep her safe from whatever had gotten Big Momma.

I can't believe how wonderfully it all worked out! I know i keep saying it...but, it truly was a miracle

Ok....now onto my trip. The weather was beautiful which is a huge plus. The shows were FANTASTIC!!! We were blown away! "The Hatfield and McCoy" dinner show had a Christmas theme. The talent is just unbelievable. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time and the OH did, too. The food really was delicious, i was impressed. And, because it's country, they bring everything out in these little silver buckets. You get fried chicken, mashed potatoes, pinto beans, corn bread, cole slaw, a soup to start with and pulled pork. Plus any fountain drink, tea or water. Tickets are reasonable, considering everything you get. A wonderful dinner show PLUS dinner!!

The Opry show was indescribable. They have a special Christmas show for this time of year. "Christmas At The Smoky Mountain Opry". We loved it so much, that we are now making it our Christmas tradition...to see it every year. It starts off with a laser light show and Christmas music. Then, you get a little comedy. Then you get, traditional with music, acts and a Santa and sleigh...they really go all out. The second half of the show is a living nativity and really gets to the heart of what Christmas is REALLY all about. It gave me GOOSEBUMPS!!! Even as i'm typing this, i'm getting them. They have live camels on stage, sheep and the donkey. When they tell the story of the donkey bringing Mary to the stable, it brought tears to my eyes. The singing is TOP NOTCH. They have "angels" hovering in the sky of the theater (actors on cables) performing in mid-air!! Standing ovation. It was spectacular.

Sad to say, we did skip the Titanic exhibit. I'm not thrilled with how they do the tour here. I've been to the one in Orlando a bunch of times. I thought it was going to be the same. In Orlando, you're on a guided tour with a "steward". In Pigeon Forge, you pay more, but you don't get a tour guide....it's SELF guided. If you want to pay 10 dollars more...then you get to walk up to certain exhibits, pick up a phone receiver, push a button and listen to whatever they tell you about that exhibit. NO GUIDED TOUR! Needless to say, i was VERY disappointed. How is this supposed to be the "best" one in the country? Clearly, the better one is in Orlando with a guided tour and their price is less on top of that! It would have been 60 dollars just to walk through a self guided tour and i couldn't justify doing that. Come to find out...the exhibit in Orlando was created by the same people...yet, it's run by a different company. They have the same exhibits and everything. The Pigeon Forge and Branson exhibits are called "museums", the Orlando exhibit is called "The Titanic Experience". Yet, they all look identical. Crazy, huh?

Well, that was our trip, in a nutshell...i will post some pics soon. Hope you've been having a good week.

How is BIL doing?

[kian]

Your trip sounds fanstastic! We would enjoy those as well, sorry the Titantic wasn't worth it.

I have been busy with our impending company flying in tomorrow morning, I am exited to say the least. I made a Apple Pie and wouldn't you know it....my Oven went out! I couldn't believe it, I hardly use the thing. Remember the Mastiff I watch when her owner is out of town, I used thier oven and invited them over to dinner tomorrow with our guest soon to arrive! I won't be on for a few days, lots of visiting and siteseeing to do.

[nezza]

Kian, hope you have a great time with your guests! It was back to work for me yesterday...it was difficult to get going after being on vacation...but once i got there, i had a great day, got to see my friends and made good money, too

Hope your pie was delicious! I'm sure it was.

Hope to talk to you soon, but i do know you'll be busy with the holidays coming up.

[JaymeK]

Hey all,

I've been totally awol for a bit here with exams and all. Doesn't seem like I missed too many pages! Everyone is very busy this time of year! Exams went okay for the most part. There was one that was not very fair, the professor mentioned NUMEROUS times that the only calculations on the exam would be very simple, so I didn't bother studying the labs that involve long, complicated calculations. Well wouldn't you know it the questions on the exam were all long and difficult, most worth 5 points! I was not happy to say the least.

The others went a bit better! My last exam which is the one I was most nervous about because I did horrible on the midterm ended up being the easiest! I think it's because I didn't know how to study for the midterm, but I changed up my studying for the final and just sped through the final!

Hope everyone has their shopping done for the holidays, the mall was crazy today. So was the LCBO! I went in to get some wine as a gift for the people I work for. I was looking to spend around $80 on two bottles so I headed to the vintage wine section. I know NOTHING about wine and was waiting patiently for the "wine expert" to finish talking to other people so I could grab him and get his recommendation, but people kept jumping in front of me asking for entire cases. I just needed two minutes of his time to recommend a good Shiraz or Cabernet! After about TWENTY MINUTES I finally got his attention. I was not happy but could see he was very busy!

Think I'm done my shopping now thank goodness, traffic was horrible!

[kian]

Hi Jayme, sounds like you have been a busy girl. I couldn't have helped you with the wine, I know nothing either. Don't the stuff at all and never will. Glad someone helped you out finally.

Nezza glad your enjoying being back at work. We are having a blast, tried to get up to one of the National Parks today but a snowstorm turned us around.

During our day, our friend checked something on his phone and saw the shooting info. So sad, I just can't imagine the parents and families who lost thier children and loved ones. No one really knows what goes through someones mind until it is too late. When we came for home for a short break, we turned the news on, it was sad to see the faces and the horror.

We have another funfilled day planned tomorrow, hope all is well.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Hey Jayme!!! I love your new avatar! I'm sorry you were treated so badly at the LCBO. You have to be assertive in there, so next time speak up. It's a very crazy, hectic time of year. I go in there on a mission, and since I'm "familiar" with the staff at the LCBO that is 5 minutes from my house, I usually have excellent service.

Ben has just finished his exams for the Semester, and he was so worried about a particular course and the teacher. Oh my, he was stressed because if he didn't pass this, he would lose his co-op position and another year! Fortunately, he is through, and everything is fine, we just discovered this evening. Listening to you talk about making study adjustments sounds like the conversation that has been happening around here of late. Fortunately, with the way Christmas is this year, I don't have too much shopping to do. I can do this in one shop (two if one includes all the food required).

Hi Kim. I hope you and your friends are having fun. Today was a most tragic day indeed. I was blissfully unaware until around 1:00ish today. I limited my viewing of the coverage. It's not good to watch too much of that.

I'm sure you're all having a lovely time.

[nezza]

Hi, Jayme. Glad you're back! I, too, just finished up my Christmas shopping yesterday. Wasn't too crazy out here...not as much as i thought it would be.

I got all my holiday cookie baking ingredients. So, i will be busy baking tomorrow

My sister is going in to have her baby on the 17th! This is the last one.....she says Actually, i believe that this one is really the last one. She's ready to settle down and not be pregnant.

Kian, i was at work yesterday when our manager told us the sad news. I'm completely horrified and i feel so sad for those poor families. I can't even begin to go into the anger i'm feeling...i keep trying to tell myself that people are generally good...but, i just don't think most of them are anymore

Well, reviewing the pics we took of our recent trip...we were very disappointed. Which is why i haven't posted any. We had brought our new camera with us and the OH wasn't fully aware of all the functions. A lot of them did not turn out good