working out for Disney

[Songbird76]

It was pretty cute and I remember that we liked it. I thought I had more pictures from it, but I may be looking in the wrong places. All I could find was a pic of my girls with a car grill and checkered tile flooring in the background. I think I had a burger and some onion rings. I think several of us got shakes.

It's times like this when I wish I could lend you the space in my vehicle, but I know things are different with vehicle needs over there and you probably don't regularly need all of my cargo capacity.

Definitely sounds like a good plan to try and get in ahead of any protest issues. Hopefully you won't get hurt by cancelations. I have quite a few friends that are in or have been in Europe over the last few weeks. So far, only one family has had problems. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that your experiences are more like my friends who have been issue-free. Mind you, none have flown into or out of your area, but so far about 27 people in the mix and only a family of four with issues. I know that family went to a number of countries and their cancelations seem to center around Munich. In any event, wishing you the best of luck with your travel because I know you've been trying to get over here for this trip for a while.

Was the food at Canyon Street Grille good? Onion rings are one of the things I miss from the States....Also corn dogs. They have a lot of food that I miss actually.....tator tots, french dip....and E loves french dip, too. We went to BOG on a Disney trip at some point for lunch before the Pre-Fixe menu, and she ordered a Croque Monsieur, but didn't care for it, and I ordered a French dip and she ended up stealing half of my sandwich because she liked it so much better. She had never had one and was nervous to try it, but now she's glad she did. My best friend sent us some packets to make Au Jus, and I found a recipe for French Dip Croissants, so we've been making those once in a while, and they are good, but I do miss the texture of a regualr French Dip. In any case, we splurge on calories when we're on vacation, especially in the US, because there are so many things I can't get here, so I have to get my fix when we are there. I'm really looking forward to a corndog and totchos. Completely unhealthy, but I think it's ok once in 3 years.

Big vehicles are definitely not handy here. Roads and parking spaces are tiny. We have a small car and even that can be a tight squeaze for parking. Plus, you pay taxes based on the weight of your car. The larger the car, the more expensive it is to own.

Germany is worse with flights than the Netherlands. They are canceling about half their flights while we're only canceling 30%. Then they said on the news yeserday that they have been hiring people to fill up the positions at the airport, but about half the people aren't showing up for interviews, and of those who do, they only hire about 10% or something? And then there are people quitting right away because the travelers are "Not enjoyable" after standing in lines for 3 hours to get through check-in or security. And even the ones they hire, they have to train them before they are ready to work in their positions, so it's not helping the situation quite yet, and if people keep quitting, they may have to cancel more. I think the worst thing is that they don't tell you whether or not your flight has been canceled. I'm not sure how their handling that, but if they wait until the last minute, people will still show up at the airport, and then they have to go to a service desk to find out about getting a different flight...that doesn't help the numbers of people waiting in line, so then even though people get there 4 hours ahead of their flight, they miss the flight because they are waiting to get through check-in. It seems like it would be better to notify people a couple of weeks in advance so they don't come to the airport and make lines even longer when their flight isn't even going. The whole thing is just a mess. But I talked to someone else who said they had no problem at all last week. So I hope because ours is a longer flight that we'll be ok.

 

[Songbird76]

Seconding... basically every flight from Honolulu was going out when I was there. It was the flights elsewhere that were the problem. Plus logistically, they need to get the planes to their destination so that they have a plane for the next route...it screws things up on the long haul flights if they can't get them out.

Yeah, the thing is that we're flying Delta, which is a US-based airline....as far as I know, any flight from Delta will be to the US. And ALL the airlines were asked to scrap some of their flights, so in Delta's case, that means scrapping long haul flights. Yes, the airlines like KLM and Transavia are being hit harder, but none of the airlines can just refuse to cancel some. At least, that's my understanding. And if the airlines don't do it themselves, the airport will. So if Delta says "Sorry....all we've got it long hauls, so we have nothing to scrap." the airport can just say "Too bad. You're canceling this flight." And the airlines aren't the ones paying for it, because it's mandated by the airport itself, so the AIRPORT has to pay for the cancelations....the airlines are going to get their money whether they run the flight or not. They are estimating that the cancelations are going to cost the airport millions, having to pay passengers back for their canceled flights so the airlines don't lose money on them, plus hotel costs, excursion costs....anything that has been payed for by the passenger will have to be payed back by the airport, because they are the responsible party and the airlines and passengers have no choice in it. So normal rules don't apply.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Was the food at Canyon Street Grille good? Onion rings are one of the things I miss from the States....Also corn dogs. They have a lot of food that I miss actually.....tator tots, french dip....and E loves french dip, too. We went to BOG on a Disney trip at some point for lunch before the Pre-Fixe menu, and she ordered a Croque Monsieur, but didn't care for it, and I ordered a French dip and she ended up stealing half of my sandwich because she liked it so much better. She had never had one and was nervous to try it, but now she's glad she did. My best friend sent us some packets to make Au Jus, and I found a recipe for French Dip Croissants, so we've been making those once in a while, and they are good, but I do miss the texture of a regualr French Dip. In any case, we splurge on calories when we're on vacation, especially in the US, because there are so many things I can't get here, so I have to get my fix when we are there. I'm really looking forward to a corndog and totchos. Completely unhealthy, but I think it's ok once in 3 years.

Big vehicles are definitely not handy here. Roads and parking spaces are tiny. We have a small car and even that can be a tight squeaze for parking. Plus, you pay taxes based on the weight of your car. The larger the car, the more expensive it is to own.

Germany is worse with flights than the Netherlands. They are canceling about half their flights while we're only canceling 30%. Then they said on the news yeserday that they have been hiring people to fill up the positions at the airport, but about half the people aren't showing up for interviews, and of those who do, they only hire about 10% or something? And then there are people quitting right away because the travelers are "Not enjoyable" after standing in lines for 3 hours to get through check-in or security. And even the ones they hire, they have to train them before they are ready to work in their positions, so it's not helping the situation quite yet, and if people keep quitting, they may have to cancel more. I think the worst thing is that they don't tell you whether or not your flight has been canceled. I'm not sure how their handling that, but if they wait until the last minute, people will still show up at the airport, and then they have to go to a service desk to find out about getting a different flight...that doesn't help the numbers of people waiting in line, so then even though people get there 4 hours ahead of their flight, they miss the flight because they are waiting to get through check-in. It seems like it would be better to notify people a couple of weeks in advance so they don't come to the airport and make lines even longer when their flight isn't even going. The whole thing is just a mess. But I talked to someone else who said they had no problem at all last week. So I hope because ours is a longer flight that we'll be ok.

Apparently, I really didn't take much in the way of pictures of our meal there, nor are my trip report notes very good...

After we finished up with our laundry and said our good-byes to some of our new laundry friends also rushing to finish, we went in search of dinner. I was surprised by how many places shut down early...especially since this is such a tourist trap kind of town. David found us a 50s style diner and I lucked out with a parking space on the street right up front. So, we were good. And both the food and decor at this diner was better than the one on our way to Glacier.

In fact, the only oddball thing was the shakes. They had all kinds of flavors on the menu, but were out of a lot of things. I guess they were missing a number of their base flavor ice creams, so I think everything was starting with Cookies & Cream as a base. The chocolate version was just cookies and cream blended with extra chocolate syrup. I hate Cookies & Cream, so I didn't even bother.

So clearly I did not get a shake or any kind of ice cream but it sounds like I was generally positive on the place. I'm pretty certain I had a burger for my meal and my memories involve a lot of napkins. That's usually good, because I appreciate a messy burger. I must have done the build your own, because I distinctly recall a fried egg. I'm also picky about onion rings. I don't typically remember when they are amazing, but I do usually remember if a place tries to pass off frozen premade as house prepared/battered. I just seem to recall liking the ones here.

I have several friends that moved from the states to London. While not quite the same, all of them downsized their vehicles with the move. My one friend's previous "small" SUV would be considered gigantic over there. I remember her requiring a loaner or rental in the last year or so and whatever they gave her was considered a monstrosity by European standards.

It's really a nightmare scenario. It's comparable to issues plaguing other industries, but it stands out a lot more with travel and hits you much harder when long term plans get derailed from it. It's not quite the same, but I keep seeing avid cruisers posting how staffing shortages are becoming more apparent on cruise quality as ships push to fill to capacity. It hasn't yielded as many cancelations as the airline industry, but it's still a headache. Hopefully your travel will be problem free. I will say that on both the domestic and foreign fronts, it's been shorter flights I'm seeing canceled. The ones who had issues in Munich had already flown from DC to London and London to Munich before chaos ensued.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Good morning!

With the exception of Wordle posting, I kind of fell off the grid a bit while we were away. While I'm happy we got out of town for a bit and it was good for recharging the soul, I still kind of question the logic in us going. It's just not the same when your child can't play. It was a bit of a fact finding mission, so it wasn't a complete waste. For the recreation portion, we also couldn't be as physical with hiking as we normally would, but we got onto a handful of smaller/less demanding trails to get us moving around without being too much of an issue for the kid in the big boot.

Now that we're home, I'd like to go to the gym BUT I'm trying to put us into sort of bubble mode for the upcoming cruise. I really don't want to get to FL and test positive for Covid. I know masking up is an option, but I see so much potential for us to briefly remove the masks to wipe sweat. I thought about walking, but our highs for the next week are in the triple digits. It's cooler in the mornings and evenings, but 82 degrees in 85-90% humidity is a beast. I've grown so weary and bored of the various home workout options that I don't see it happening. I guess it's only 2 weeks and we can start getting back into a workout pattern on the ship.

Other than that, just trying to get in my final shopping and prep for this trip. I wasn't happy doing it, but I bought our proctored Covid test kits yesterday. I paid extra for expedited shipping, so fingers crossed they arrive in time. We also spent over 4 hours shopping online for clothes for the girls. The older one loves clothes and sent me an Amazon list totaling close to $1k! Mind you, she was aware that we'd whittle it down, but whittling takes time and debate. The younger one hates anything but athletic gear, so it took forever to work things out for her...to the point of having her try on some of my stuff just so she could grasp the concept of some outfits. She's got such an easy body to dress...but she's so unaccustomed to dressing up and self conscious about things that it's a struggle. At least it's done. I think the only things left to buy are reef safe sunscreen, Bonine, and some basic toiletries. Also debating about a girls' day to get pedicures. Fun!

 

[Songbird76]

Apparently, I really didn't take much in the way of pictures of our meal there, nor are my trip report notes very good...



So clearly I did not get a shake or any kind of ice cream but it sounds like I was generally positive on the place. I'm pretty certain I had a burger for my meal and my memories involve a lot of napkins. That's usually good, because I appreciate a messy burger. I must have done the build your own, because I distinctly recall a fried egg. I'm also picky about onion rings. I don't typically remember when they are amazing, but I do usually remember if a place tries to pass off frozen premade as house prepared/battered. I just seem to recall liking the ones here.

I have several friends that moved from the states to London. While not quite the same, all of them downsized their vehicles with the move. My one friend's previous "small" SUV would be considered gigantic over there. I remember her requiring a loaner or rental in the last year or so and whatever they gave her was considered a monstrosity by European standards.

It's really a nightmare scenario. It's comparable to issues plaguing other industries, but it stands out a lot more with travel and hits you much harder when long term plans get derailed from it. It's not quite the same, but I keep seeing avid cruisers posting how staffing shortages are becoming more apparent on cruise quality as ships push to fill to capacity. It hasn't yielded as many cancelations as the airline industry, but it's still a headache. Hopefully your travel will be problem free. I will say that on both the domestic and foreign fronts, it's been shorter flights I'm seeing canceled. The ones who had issues in Munich had already flown from DC to London and London to Munich before chaos ensued.

I'm not picky about onion rings except for here they have these things they call onion rings, but it's not a ring of onion battered and fried. It's onion puree mixed into the batter and formed into rings. Not good. I can only get real onion rings at the Costco-like store here, and you have to be careful to get the right ones. We mostly don't bother and I just get my fix when I get to the US.

Well, I got a message that it was time to start preparing for our trip, so that is a good sign. *knock on wood*

My husband is kind of in jerk mode though. He suddenly decided we needed to come see his parents today, but he hasn't done ANY packing yet and he lay in bed the whole morning while I rushed around doing laundry, getting the suitcases out and packing the carryons. Then I take a break and he's like "when did you want to go?" And I am still doing laundry, packing, etc... So now I have to put that off until we get home tonight. And then he aggressively asks who is driving, which was an obvious "You need to drive this time!" He knows I HATE driving, and especially where I'm unfamiliar with the roads, so I need help with navigation and he was not being helpful. We're on the interstate and suddenly the signage indicates we have to reduce speed. He says" there must be a traffic jam. " and then really condescendingly says "if you'd had clicked on the GPS, you would have known that and we could have taken a different route." Then we get to this massive roundabout that he knows I find really confusing. As I'm going through, I ask if I'm in the right lane(there are 4) and he doesn't answer. I ask "or does it matter?" and he says "Well, you're in this lane now." so I said "yeah, but I can get into the other if" and I hadn't even finished my sentence and he snipes "well you'll HAVE to, because this is the right turn lane! That's what the signs are for!" The thing is the sign isn't visible until it turns into the turn lane. It doesn't start off as a turn lane. But that's why I ASKED him which lane I needed. He didn't answer, then told me just to stay in the lane I was in, even though it was the wrong one. He let me think it was fine. He drives this route regularly, so he knows it, which is why I asked him for help. Then he yells at me when I mess up... Like he set me up for failure. I was so frustrated. This is exactly why I hate driving! I grew up in Wyoming where there are no cities and rush hour is when there is wildlife on the road. We didn't even have a stoplight in my hometown. I've had my license here for less than a year... I'm not comfortable with city driving. And I do EVERYTHING around the house... Laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping... It's all on me. I feel like he can at least do the driving! So anyway, I'm super super stressed now, but thank goodness we aren't driving ourselves to the airport so I won't have to argue with him about who is driving.

 

[Songbird76]

Good morning!

With the exception of Wordle posting, I kind of fell off the grid a bit while we were away. While I'm happy we got out of town for a bit and it was good for recharging the soul, I still kind of question the logic in us going. It's just not the same when your child can't play. It was a bit of a fact finding mission, so it wasn't a complete waste. For the recreation portion, we also couldn't be as physical with hiking as we normally would, but we got onto a handful of smaller/less demanding trails to get us moving around without being too much of an issue for the kid in the big boot.

Now that we're home, I'd like to go to the gym BUT I'm trying to put us into sort of bubble mode for the upcoming cruise. I really don't want to get to FL and test positive for Covid. I know masking up is an option, but I see so much potential for us to briefly remove the masks to wipe sweat. I thought about walking, but our highs for the next week are in the triple digits. It's cooler in the mornings and evenings, but 82 degrees in 85-90% humidity is a beast. I've grown so weary and bored of the various home workout options that I don't see it happening. I guess it's only 2 weeks and we can start getting back into a workout pattern on the ship.

Other than that, just trying to get in my final shopping and prep for this trip. I wasn't happy doing it, but I bought our proctored Covid test kits yesterday. I paid extra for expedited shipping, so fingers crossed they arrive in time. We also spent over 4 hours shopping online for clothes for the girls. The older one loves clothes and sent me an Amazon list totaling close to $1k! Mind you, she was aware that we'd whittle it down, but whittling takes time and debate. The younger one hates anything but athletic gear, so it took forever to work things out for her...to the point of having her try on some of my stuff just so she could grasp the concept of some outfits. She's got such an easy body to dress...but she's so unaccustomed to dressing up and self conscious about things that it's a struggle. At least it's done. I think the only things left to buy are reef safe sunscreen, Bonine, and some basic toiletries. Also debating about a girls' day to get pedicures. Fun!

Do cruises still require Covid testing then? They scrapped that for flying a few weeks ago as long as you are fully vaccinated. We're going to go shopping when we get to the US. It's cheaper and there's more selection. We're only taking basics with us.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I'm not picky about onion rings except for here they have these things they call onion rings, but it's not a ring of onion battered and fried. It's onion puree mixed into the batter and formed into rings. Not good. I can only get real onion rings at the Costco-like store here, and you have to be careful to get the right ones. We mostly don't bother and I just get my fix when I get to the US.

Well, I got a message that it was time to start preparing for our trip, so that is a good sign. *knock on wood*

My husband is kind of in jerk mode though. He suddenly decided we needed to come see his parents today, but he hasn't done ANY packing yet and he lay in bed the whole morning while I rushed around doing laundry, getting the suitcases out and packing the carryons. Then I take a break and he's like "when did you want to go?" And I am still doing laundry, packing, etc... So now I have to put that off until we get home tonight. And then he aggressively asks who is driving, which was an obvious "You need to drive this time!" He knows I HATE driving, and especially where I'm unfamiliar with the roads, so I need help with navigation and he was not being helpful. We're on the interstate and suddenly the signage indicates we have to reduce speed. He says" there must be a traffic jam. " and then really condescendingly says "if you'd had clicked on the GPS, you would have known that and we could have taken a different route." Then we get to this massive roundabout that he knows I find really confusing. As I'm going through, I ask if I'm in the right lane(there are 4) and he doesn't answer. I ask "or does it matter?" and he says "Well, you're in this lane now." so I said "yeah, but I can get into the other if" and I hadn't even finished my sentence and he snipes "well you'll HAVE to, because this is the right turn lane! That's what the signs are for!" The thing is the sign isn't visible until it turns into the turn lane. It doesn't start off as a turn lane. But that's why I ASKED him which lane I needed. He didn't answer, then told me just to stay in the lane I was in, even though it was the wrong one. He let me think it was fine. He drives this route regularly, so he knows it, which is why I asked him for help. Then he yells at me when I mess up... Like he set me up for failure. I was so frustrated. This is exactly why I hate driving! I grew up in Wyoming where there are no cities and rush hour is when there is wildlife on the road. We didn't even have a stoplight in my hometown. I've had my license here for less than a year... I'm not comfortable with city driving. And I do EVERYTHING around the house... Laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping... It's all on me. I feel like he can at least do the driving! So anyway, I'm super super stressed now, but thank goodness we aren't driving ourselves to the airport so I won't have to argue with him about who is driving.

I hope you refuse to drive home from his parents house at least and let him pack his own suitcase. I'm glad you got the message to start getting ready for your trip, it sounds like you need and deserve a good vacation.

 

[Songbird76]

I hope you refuse to drive home from his parents house at least and let him pack his own suitcase. I'm glad you got the message to start getting ready for your trip, it sounds like you need and deserve a good vacation.

Oh, he's packing his own suitcase. I don't do that for him. I help the kids, but he's on his own, except for things we both use, like adaptors, power banks, and toiletries. If I don't take charge of those, they won't get packed.

 

[Sans Souci]

I'm not picky about onion rings except for here they have these things they call onion rings, but it's not a ring of onion battered and fried. It's onion puree mixed into the batter and formed into rings. Not good. I can only get real onion rings at the Costco-like store here, and you have to be careful to get the right ones. We mostly don't bother and I just get my fix when I get to the US.

Well, I got a message that it was time to start preparing for our trip, so that is a good sign. *knock on wood*

My husband is kind of in jerk mode though. He suddenly decided we needed to come see his parents today, but he hasn't done ANY packing yet and he lay in bed the whole morning while I rushed around doing laundry, getting the suitcases out and packing the carryons. Then I take a break and he's like "when did you want to go?" And I am still doing laundry, packing, etc... So now I have to put that off until we get home tonight. And then he aggressively asks who is driving, which was an obvious "You need to drive this time!" He knows I HATE driving, and especially where I'm unfamiliar with the roads, so I need help with navigation and he was not being helpful. We're on the interstate and suddenly the signage indicates we have to reduce speed. He says" there must be a traffic jam. " and then really condescendingly says "if you'd had clicked on the GPS, you would have known that and we could have taken a different route." Then we get to this massive roundabout that he knows I find really confusing. As I'm going through, I ask if I'm in the right lane(there are 4) and he doesn't answer. I ask "or does it matter?" and he says "Well, you're in this lane now." so I said "yeah, but I can get into the other if" and I hadn't even finished my sentence and he snipes "well you'll HAVE to, because this is the right turn lane! That's what the signs are for!" The thing is the sign isn't visible until it turns into the turn lane. It doesn't start off as a turn lane. But that's why I ASKED him which lane I needed. He didn't answer, then told me just to stay in the lane I was in, even though it was the wrong one. He let me think it was fine. He drives this route regularly, so he knows it, which is why I asked him for help. Then he yells at me when I mess up... Like he set me up for failure. I was so frustrated. This is exactly why I hate driving! I grew up in Wyoming where there are no cities and rush hour is when there is wildlife on the road. We didn't even have a stoplight in my hometown. I've had my license here for less than a year... I'm not comfortable with city driving. And I do EVERYTHING around the house... Laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping... It's all on me. I feel like he can at least do the driving! So anyway, I'm super super stressed now, but thank goodness we aren't driving ourselves to the airport so I won't have to argue with him about who is driving.

I really don't like driving, either. I get anxious if I am not familiar where I am driving and I have to worry about something like getting over 3 lanes because my exit is in a quarter mile after I have just entered the expressway. I can only imagine how you felt with your husband not being very helpful. You didn't get your license until fairly recently, so needing a little help in an unfamiliar roundabout isn't outrageous, IMO. He could have given you a bit of slack, especially since you were doing everything else today.

 

[Songbird76]

I really don't like driving, either. I get anxious if I am not familiar where I am driving and I have to worry about something like getting over 3 lanes because my exit is in a quarter mile after I have just entered the expressway. I can only imagine how you felt with your husband not being very helpful. You didn't get your license until fairly recently, so needing a little help in an unfamiliar roundabout isn't outrageous, IMO. He could have given you a bit of slack, especially since you were doing everything else today.

Thank you. That's what I thought too, but it's nice to be validated. He's been like this for a couple of weeks now. I don't know if he's just stressed because of his parents' health issues and he's taking it out on me or what, but he's been distant and unresponsive and he's basically just pushed everything onto me. All the planning for this trip, all the day to day stuff, all the appointments for things like the orthodontist for A, etc. And then if I hadn't done something yet, he'd snap at me that it needs to be done soon. And I'd remind him that he can do things too, and he'd say "this is YOUR thing." How is our whole family's vacation "MY thing?" I just don't know why he's being like this. He gets this way once in a while, but usually he gets whatever it is out of his system and he's fine the next day. He's been like this for the last two weeks at least, and he was like that for a couple of weeks a month or two ago, too. I feel like he's trying to punish me for something, but I don't know what I did that he's so mad about. Hoping the vacation will help.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

I did a full body HIIT workout this morning. It was pretty rainy most of the day, but I got out for a stroll after it passed through.

Callie discovered we have a bedroom balcony and has been hanging out up there. I think it feels ladder for her up there. She was up there this evening, so my husband put a few treats out for her. He closed the screen door and sat on the couch. We were watching TV and she walked up to the screen and was trying to stick her head in. So, my husband thought it would be cute if she came in, and she did briefly. She cautiously entered and was sniffing things. She saw the TV and was transfixed with it. But, she started heading towards the bedroom door and I was worried about her being hard to catch once she was out of the bedroom. My son got up to close it, but she got spooked and went back on the balcony. My son took this photo of her coming in, sorry about the quality.

 

[Sans Souci]

Thank you. That's what I thought too, but it's nice to be validated. He's been like this for a couple of weeks now. I don't know if he's just stressed because of his parents' health issues and he's taking it out on me or what, but he's been distant and unresponsive and he's basically just pushed everything onto me. All the planning for this trip, all the day to day stuff, all the appointments for things like the orthodontist for A, etc. And then if I hadn't done something yet, he'd snap at me that it needs to be done soon. And I'd remind him that he can do things too, and he'd say "this is YOUR thing." How is our whole family's vacation "MY thing?" I just don't know why he's being like this. He gets this way once in a while, but usually he gets whatever it is out of his system and he's fine the next day. He's been like this for the last two weeks at least, and he was like that for a couple of weeks a month or two ago, too. I feel like he's trying to punish me for something, but I don't know what I did that he's so mad about. Hoping the vacation will help.

Well, then, what is HIS thing? It seems like everything is YOUR thing. Maybe you could ask him why he is treating you like this? I wouldn't assume it is anything you did unless he tells you otherwise. This is just a friendly reminder that you're not responsible for managing his emotions. This was such a liberating notion for me personally.

 

[Songbird76]

Well, then, what is HIS thing? It seems like everything is YOUR thing. Maybe you could ask him why he is treating you like this? I wouldn't assume it is anything you did unless he tells you otherwise. This is just a friendly reminder that you're not responsible for managing his emotions. This was such a liberating notion for me personally.

He seemed much better today. He laughed and joked in the van on the way to Amsterdam. And we worked together to get the last packing done.

I do need to remember that though...the people pleasing is so ingrained in me because my mother didn't allow me to do things in my own way. And she could be super harsh with her criticism or punishment. I didn't dare go against her. When someone is being distant and condescending like that, my defense is to try to make them happy again. I really dislike confrontation. I always feel like I did something to make them mad and they won't love me anymore if I don't do things their way. I've come along way in that department, a lot because my husband has taught me to stand up for myself more, but I still find it hard.

 

[Sans Souci]

He seemed much better today. He laughed and joked in the van on the way to Amsterdam. And we worked together to get the last packing done.

I do need to remember that though...the people pleasing is so ingrained in me because my mother didn't allow me to do things in my own way. And she could be super harsh with her criticism or punishment. I didn't dare go against her. When someone is being distant and condescending like that, my defense is to try to make them happy again. I really dislike confrontation. I always feel like I did something to make them mad and they won't love me anymore if I don't do things their way. I've come along way in that department, a lot because my husband has taught me to stand up for myself more, but I still find it hard.

That's a relief. At least you're not going into your vacation on a sour note. I hope you have an easy time getting to the US.

I only mentioned it because I grew up the same way and I took that way of thinking with me into adulthood. I would start the day trying to figure out my mother's mood and them adjust my behavior accordingly. It was exhausting, because I felt like I could never feel my own moods or express myself authentically.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

I quit my 6 week challenge. It wasn't that it was bad, there was just something else I'd rather be doing. So I did a YouTube video from a guy who puts out weekly schedules of his workouts. He uploads 3 new videos a week and then mixes in 3 previously released videos. He does a lot of kettlebell workouts and I've been feeling like I want to move in that direction.

My husband went to Jersey City last night and won't be home until Wed. night. I decided to stay down here. I might go up next week. So, I took advantage of his absence to make food I like, but he doesn't. I have channa masala (chickpea curry) in my crockpot and I will be eating that for the next few days, because I'm lazy. The most labor-intensive thing I did was chop up an onion, everything else was opening cans and measuring spices, garlic, ginger, etc.

I think Callie might have a UTI or something. When she naps, she completely voids her bladder. It's not spraying and it happens when she's sleeping deeply. (She doesn't move for hours and I once thought she was dead because she hadn't moved at all.) Unfortunately, that has happened on a few cushions on my outdoor couch. My son cleans up after her in the yard and says she has worms, so we're thinking about bringing her to the vet. I don't know if we'd be able to administer any de-worming meds, but maybe they can do something about whatever her peeing issue is.

 

[Songbird76]

That's a relief. At least you're not going into your vacation on a sour note. I hope you have an easy time getting to the US.

I only mentioned it because I grew up the same way and I took that way of thinking with me into adulthood. I would start the day trying to figure out my mother's mood and them adjust my behavior accordingly. It was exhausting, because I felt like I could never feel my own moods or express myself authentically.

Spoiler alert: It did not go smoothly!! But we're here. A lot later than we were supposed to be, but we made it to Denver and got our car rental and got to the hotel and had a couple hours of rest.

I'm so sorry you went through that. My mom wasn't really moody at all. She was just very exacting and she was very...I don't even know how to describe it. Like, strict, but she didn't allow me any sort of independence to decide anything for myself. She chose my clothes for me up through elementary school, and had "veto power" after that, so I couldn't have clothes she didn't like. I really wanted a suade jacket with fringe, but fringe was only for prostitutes. I wanted stonewashed jeans because they were "In" but she wouldn't let me have them. I couldn't peg leg my pants, or do mall hair because she thought it looked ridiculous. And everything was like that...it all had to be how SHE wanted it. I've allowed my kids a lot more freedom because of it, though. As long as they are safe, I'm ok. If clothes are weather appropriate, it's fine. I bet you are a much better mom because you know how awful it was for you.

 

[Songbird76]

Hello-

I quit my 6 week challenge. It wasn't that it was bad, there was just something else I'd rather be doing. So I did a YouTube video from a guy who puts out weekly schedules of his workouts. He uploads 3 new videos a week and then mixes in 3 previously released videos. He does a lot of kettlebell workouts and I've been feeling like I want to move in that direction.

My husband went to Jersey City last night and won't be home until Wed. night. I decided to stay down here. I might go up next week. So, I took advantage of his absence to make food I like, but he doesn't. I have channa masala (chickpea curry) in my crockpot and I will be eating that for the next few days, because I'm lazy. The most labor-intensive thing I did was chop up an onion, everything else was opening cans and measuring spices, garlic, ginger, etc.

I think Callie might have a UTI or something. When she naps, she completely voids her bladder. It's not spraying and it happens when she's sleeping deeply. (She doesn't move for hours and I once thought she was dead because she hadn't moved at all.) Unfortunately, that has happened on a few cushions on my outdoor couch. My son cleans up after her in the yard and says she has worms, so we're thinking about bringing her to the vet. I don't know if we'd be able to administer any de-worming meds, but maybe they can do something about whatever her peeing issue is.

It sounds like you like to mix it up a lot and not do the same workouts a lot. I've heard that's actually pretty good, because your body gets used to the things you do regularly, and then they stop working, but I don't know how true that is.

I do that too....when my husband has a work thing, or is going to his parents' for some reason and he'll eat there, I make the things that E and I like. And every Friday, she and I eat something different, because Friday is "Fry Day". E and I are not fans of fries and such, so we'll bake a chicken, or make our veggie rendang. My husband is a carnivore....if he knows something is veggie based, he'll say it needs meat, and he prefers red meat, where E and I LOVE our veggies, and we could be mostly vegetarian. It works for us to let them have the stuff we don't like, and we eat the stuff they don't like.

I'm sorry about Callie. Do you think you can catch her to take her to the vet?

 

[MinnieM123]

Spoiler alert: It did not go smoothly!! But we're here. A lot later than we were supposed to be, but we made it to Denver and got our car rental and got to the hotel and had a couple hours of rest.

Yea! You and the family arrived! Wishing happy vacation experiences from this point on.

 

[Sans Souci]

Spoiler alert: It did not go smoothly!! But we're here. A lot later than we were supposed to be, but we made it to Denver and got our car rental and got to the hotel and had a couple hours of rest.

I'm so sorry you went through that. My mom wasn't really moody at all. She was just very exacting and she was very...I don't even know how to describe it. Like, strict, but she didn't allow me any sort of independence to decide anything for myself. She chose my clothes for me up through elementary school, and had "veto power" after that, so I couldn't have clothes she didn't like. I really wanted a suade jacket with fringe, but fringe was only for prostitutes. I wanted stonewashed jeans because they were "In" but she wouldn't let me have them. I couldn't peg leg my pants, or do mall hair because she thought it looked ridiculous. And everything was like that...it all had to be how SHE wanted it. I've allowed my kids a lot more freedom because of it, though. As long as they are safe, I'm ok. If clothes are weather appropriate, it's fine. I bet you are a much better mom because you know how awful it was for you.

Oh, no. That's so frustrating. But you're there and once you're rested, you can all go out and enjoy yourselves.

My mom was just really manipulative with a simmering rage bubbling just under the surface.. I felt like we were rivals once I entered my teens. She picked on me for the dumbest stuff--things beyond my control. She picked on my body. I was too tall--"Boys don't like tall girls." My eyebrows. She made fun of me for getting my period at 10. I don't know what I was supposed to do about that? She used to tell me about stuff she did on dates, when I was 12. It was TMI and highly inappropriate. She eavesdropped on my phone calls with everyone--my friends, boyfriends, my freaking great-grandparents. She would fly into these rages for reasons only known to her. Throwing plates, screaming. I stopped talking to her a few years ago and I feel better for it. I used to get so anxious when I had to be around her. I know people don't agree with me not talking to my mother anymore. You would not expect someone to tolerate this behavior from a partner/spouse/friend, why should you tolerate it from a parent?

 

[Sans Souci]

It sounds like you like to mix it up a lot and not do the same workouts a lot. I've heard that's actually pretty good, because your body gets used to the things you do regularly, and then they stop working, but I don't know how true that is.

I do that too....when my husband has a work thing, or is going to his parents' for some reason and he'll eat there, I make the things that E and I like. And every Friday, she and I eat something different, because Friday is "Fry Day". E and I are not fans of fries and such, so we'll bake a chicken, or make our veggie rendang. My husband is a carnivore....if he knows something is veggie based, he'll say it needs meat, and he prefers red meat, where E and I LOVE our veggies, and we could be mostly vegetarian. It works for us to let them have the stuff we don't like, and we eat the stuff they don't like.

I'm sorry about Callie. Do you think you can catch her to take her to the vet?

Yeah, I figure if I keep moving that's all that matters. I get bored easily.

I am not a big meat eater, either. That's funny about your husband. My husband will ask me what I am cooking for dinner and if it's too lightweight (e.g.no meat), he'll say he has an errand to run. Then after he comes back, I will see burger wrappers in the garbage can.

I am going to talk to my husband when he comes back tomorrow about getting Callie to the vet. I think my son is worried about her not trusting us if we trap her and get her to the vet, but it's not right to let her feel unwell. She came around for breakfast this morning and she was sitting, waiting for me to get her food out. When I came back with her food, there was a puddle on the deck around her backside. She hadn't moved or anything, so I think she is incontinent.