The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[donaldtoo]

Time to head out to the fireworks in about an hour. Clouds are finally starting to lift. *bouncing up and down*

No more fireworks in our neighborhood since our limited anexation by the City of Austin several years ago. Our HOA used to put on one of the best around that we had front row seats for from mom and pops driveway. Other areas close by still have them, but, too much of a pain these days because of the crowds.
We'll just chill at the casa and maybe find some to watch on TV.

Glad your weather cleared!
Have a blast (see what I did there? ), and hope your fireworks are awesome, Gabe...!

 

[donaldtoo]

And I'l I BBQ'd was a ham, corn and BBQ beans. Slacker I am.

Hahaaa...!
Only thing that hit the grill today was burgers. Pop didn't even fire up the smoker. Just really thick burgers and a bunch of awesome sides...!

 

[donaldtoo]

I don't know....my husband slept through an earthquake here though...I guess it must not of been bad enough to wake him up. I don't get it either, but it's so typical of my dad...he's pretty oblivious to things around him. The man will drive down the road digging through a stack of stuff on the seat beside him in the pickup, not looking out the windshield, no hands on the wheel. And he thinks that he's such a great driver. He'll go 40 mph on the interstate where the limit is 75mph and he says it's because he's such a cautious driver. He's just kind of delusional and clueless, Lord help him. If he DID wake up from the vibration, he probably wouldn't bother to turn on a radio or look outside. He'd just say "wow, it's windy" and go back to sleep. He showed up at our house once when I was about 15 I think...we were just leaving to take cover in a tornado warning. He asked if he could take a nap on the couch. Mom told him there was a tornado, he needed to take cover and he wasn't bothered...mom told him to have at it. He went in and slept on the couch. We came home and his truck was gone and so was he. He wouldn't have done anything even if he WOULD have woken up.

I slept through many earthquakes as a kiddo when we lived in No Cal from '68-'76. Most of them were between about 2.5-3.5 magnitude.
Our mother always woke up though.

 

[donaldtoo]

Ahhhh, it's great to have a extra long weekend with today off from work as well as Monday.

Hahaaa...!
I hear that! But, the 4 days is coming to a close...
Then again, I'm employed...!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

I'm doing pretty good. Mr Donkey has a new attorney. This is his 3rd one! If that doesn't scream unreasonable, then I don't know what does.

Last weekend me, my daughter, and the guy I'm dating plus his 2 kids all went camping. We rented an RV, though, as I don't think my daughter is ready to sleep in a tent just yet! It was a good time - hiking, splashed around in a stream, toasted marshmallows.

How are you and Mrs. Ferret doing?

I'm ignoring the first part, 'cause he's not worth paying attention to.
Well OK, so I payed a little attention to it...

As to the rest...
That is awesome!!!!!
So friggin' happy for you, DD, and the super-lucky guy, and his kiddos...!!!!!!!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

We watched the fireworks from the top of the contemporary tonight. It was amazing!! Hope you all had a fun and safe fourth!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Yeah I understand. My Mom had social hour/weeks happening, lots of people to talk with for a couple of weeks. Now that most of the banking and insurance stuff has been handled or at least initiated she has moved onto throwing my Dads stuff away. Out of the generation of don't throw anything away era, you might need it. So 3/4 is hitting the dumpster and the new or newer stuff to the Salvation Army. When she is done with shovelling out his stuff who knows what she will do.

My Mom always sad for decades the day he died she would pound a for sale sign in the ground. Personally I'd like to see her move into a condo. My folks have not been able to keep up with the outside of the house for a decade already. There are so many bushes and trees and 150 driveway. Down the road about mile one way and the other way about 5 blocks are condos with first floor indoor parking and an elevator. She'd likely love it. I'm curious to see what she'll do.

I haven't even thought about what she'll do with the stuff. I brought their bikes down back in April. The car they gave to my cousin. My guess is a lot of it will go to his kids.

I think my grandma can handle the house for now. The yard isn't huge, neither is the house, and she's still in very good shape. Her neighbors helped them with the blizzard this year, but she can do the usual amounts (3-5 inches) that we can sometimes get. So far, the only thing she's thinking ahead to is that she asked to go to Hilton Head with us in December. Of course we told her yes to that one.

We haven't gone up to see my grandmother yet. My aunt and my oldest cousin went up today; they're staying with her for a few days. My wonderful best friend spent today with me. I called her as soon as I heard and she was over today. We hung out and watched Zootopia. We're going up once we know what the arrangements are. I also will probably go spend at least a day with my grandma once my cousins and aunt all go back home. She wanted me to come spend the night during the summer anyway; now I definitely need to.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

2 properties over I can hear the 5 boys 8-16 having a belching contest. Over their BBQ feast.

 

[Cesar R M]

speaking of the 4th.. found this video in my friend's dash..

 

[Cesar R M]

Saw this posted by Tikiman - obviously been a problem

wow.. so guests from other resorts and even from outside took the furniture of the individual room patios?

 

[Cesar R M]

2 properties over I can hear the 5 boys 8-16 having a belching contest. Over their BBQ feast.

ewwww x_x

 

[Cesar R M]

I slept through many earthquakes as a kiddo when we lived in No Cal from '68-'76. Most of them were between about 2.5-3.5 magnitude.
Our mother always woke up though.

Well.. 2.5 to 3.5 were nothing to worry about.. anything above 6 was the issue.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

33 days until Friendship Day.

 

[Gabe1]

No more fireworks in our neighborhood since our limited anexation by the City of Austin several years ago. Our HOA used to put on one of the best around that we had front row seats for from mom and pops driveway. Other areas close by still have them, but, too much of a pain these days because of the crowds.
We'll just chill at the casa and maybe find some to watch on TV.

Glad your weather cleared!
Have a blast (see what I did there? ), and hope your fireworks are awesome, Gabe...!

I remember you saying that the fireworks was the fall out of the annex, that is too bad. For about thirty years we have travelled to the midway point to my Mom's to watch a local fireworks that is ranked one of the very best in Illinois and it has never disappointed. They like Disney always include something cutting edge. We had some Disney music and a bit of Elvis and some WWII music this evening. It was a new spin bringing in the older music. We are pretty familiar with the area so we know where to park to not pay and yet make a quick escape.
I'm guessing but I am betting we were likely about 5-10 miles due south of @MouseDreaming, someday I'm going to need to meet her for lunch. Swear I must cross her path many times heading to Mom's.

 

[Gabe1]

Well.. 2.5 to 3.5 were nothing to worry about.. anything above 6 was the issue.

That really depends on where you live and the building codes in the states. My town has many 100+ structures including homes. So can't take the shaking. Our oldest church and our old city hall and former sheriff station certainly can't take any rock'n.

 

[Gabe1]

ewwww x_x

Yeah, they are the stereotypical Catholic family that really doesn't exist anymore. The Mom is pure Irish, 1st generation and the Dad was born in Italy. First the two boys, the third was an Irish twin, two children born in the same year. The Mom was told that is it! by her Doc. But after three she still wanted a girl. So God rewarded her with twin boys. Doc fixed future children on the delivery. No girls. They were so much more than these very young parents could handle. I like the parents so much but they are still so young for having the 16 year old. No match. They try but are failing miserably. I hire the oldest boy to do odd jobs here and there to give him pocket money for the summer. He really should at least have a summer job but they do rely on him to do some sibling care between overlaps of their jobs. I fear when it comes to higher education for all these kids. It isn't going to be pretty.

 

[Gabe1]

frozen pizza off the barbie tasting so good right now. Generally I don't care for but the BBQ smokey flavor and real crisp crust from the pizza stone. Yum.

 

[Gabe1]

wow.. so guests from other resorts and even from outside took the furniture of the individual room patios?

Seems rather reactive to previous years doesn't it. Can you imagine coming back to your room and finding your patio furniture stacked in your room? Oy. I guess better than having no furniture when you plan on watching fireworks from your patio though. I've stayed in the garden 1st floor patio rooms at the Contempory a few times. While nice during the day, it is rather creepity at night knowing anyone can walk up to the sliding glass door patio area. I wished it had a fencing around the unit patios but I can also see where that would take away from the walk about the area. Still I'd never leave with the sliding glass door unlocked.

 

[Gabe1]

I haven't even thought about what she'll do with the stuff. I brought their bikes down back in April. The car they gave to my cousin. My guess is a lot of it will go to his kids.

I think my grandma can handle the house for now. The yard isn't huge, neither is the house, and she's still in very good shape. Her neighbors helped them with the blizzard this year, but she can do the usual amounts (3-5 inches) that we can sometimes get. So far, the only thing she's thinking ahead to is that she asked to go to Hilton Head with us in December. Of course we told her yes to that one.

We haven't gone up to see my grandmother yet. My aunt and my oldest cousin went up today; they're staying with her for a few days. My wonderful best friend spent today with me. I called her as soon as I heard and she was over today. We hung out and watched Zootopia. We're going up once we know what the arrangements are. I also will probably go spend at least a day with my grandma once my cousins and aunt all go back home. She wanted me to come spend the night during the summer anyway; now I definitely need to.

Yeah it is so difficult in limbo. We did a week and a half stall before services, we needed my niece to be back from South America and my Sis out of WDC. Weird timing. I on the other hand wound up being the arranger of all the arrangements. My Mom came but she was useless even back to the day of my Dads passing, she became very hands off everything. Now I think she is just busying herself. She has three neighbors she is close to and All were out of town for the services and should both be coming home soon. While my Sis came into town for 3 days for the services and an extra day she is far away. I can only deal with so much not being all that close to her. This is going to be interesting for a while until she figures stuff out.

I'm sure your Gran will be somewhat in the same boat trying to figure life out without him even knowing the days were numbered. She sounds like she is a strong lady though. I'll be thinking of you through the week. Feel free to scream my way if need be. Fresh in my memory.

 

[Gabe1]

eeeh, photos dont give much honestly. Unless you're super renowned or something.

It is kinda sad but true. I've followed an amazing photographer for many years that was part of this site via his wife though it seems content has been deleted. While still amazing work I wonder what the Disney portion of the business actually pans out. So many cross country and worldwide great photographers snapping the same fireworks, attractions and parades. There seems to be a glut of talent.