disneygurlz2s

Thanks everybody for the birthday wishes.... It was the big 39 (Yikes!!). I spent my birthday looking for fossils older than I am...... (Actually, it was Samantha's school field trip!!) and then we had dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise, so I could get a bit of my Parrothead fix. No cake, Kristi, but my mom did buy me my favorite ice cream sundae from my favorite ice cream place, Cincinnati's famous Graeters. I got my usual gifts from my hubby... DVDs...but they are cool ones! Cinderella and the Desperate Housewives Season 1! Shari "Almost over the hill :? "Shoufler

Just got back from the aforementioned mini cheeseburgers and presents!! Went to CB in Paradise here in Cincy and it was quite yummy! There were 7 in our group and it was a lot of fun, and nice to know it was going to a good cause. Just surprised this didn't get more media attention. Shari "the birthday girl" Shoufler

Sorry, gang... I know I am in the minority here, but (and maybe it's because I just got into this show the last go-around-Season 7) I don't have the problem with the format that everyone else is having. That said, I did find last night's episode a bit boring, but I usually find the second episode of "Survivor" boring too, mainly because you have been introduced to everyone, but no real drama has built yet. Shari "Thinking the dad w/3 daughters might have a heart attack....would that make it more exciting?" Shoufler

Well, I am sick of the Yanks and Boston, and refuse to root for anyone in the National League because any team in the playoffs (particularly the team in the same division as we are) got there by beating my beloved Reds (who sucked big time this year). So, for that reason, I will go with Gregg and root for the Angels. Shari

Kristi, I love your dress... really pretty!! Why the hell is the groom on his cell phone??? LOL Shari "I love weddings too" Shoufler

Indeed, I felt the same way about Raven when I rode it first thing in the morning back in July. It was fun and all, but I was a bit let down. Everybody on here told me the same thing...it's gotta get warmed up. Next year I am planning a two-day trip, so I can get the full effect. Shari "Legend was my favorite" Shoufler

You know, the onride photo was pretty crappy, and nobody bothered to explain to me that they could "enlarge" our image. The second time they showed it to me that way, but by then it was like "Eh, that's ok". There will be better rides to come to capture her picture on. Some of the true "coaster enthusiasts" probably know the answer better than I, but, if I had to speculate I would have to say that here in the US there are two factors. #1, would be whoever it is that inspects and approves a ride for operation. Here in the State of Ohio it's the Department of Agriculture. They have a special department that handles ride inspections. #2 would probably be the company that insures/underwrites the park, and is probably based on the manufacturing company's recommendations? I found it really interesting that there were several rides in both Holiday World and Splashin' Safari that Samantha was allowed to ride there, but would not be allowed to ride at parks here in Cincinnati. Shari

^ I know, it's hard, because so many of the more exciting attractions (not to mention faster and smoother) have a 52-54" height requirement, so it's kind of a let down, really. Although, Holiday World's S&S tower and coasters are 48", so we know without question that she'll be able to ride those next season. I would love to check out Kennywood, and it's defintely on the list! Shari

So, the other night, I got to thinking.... "Sammi", I said, "Go put your boots on let me measure you". Sure enough...48" on the nose. Yesterday, thanks to last year's black cowgirl boots, Samantha moved up to the world of the 48" height requirement. Of course, this was at PKI, so that didn't get her a whole lot, but she did get to ride The Italian Job and the chairswings (twice each) which was a huge thrill for her. The look on her face when IJ launched out of the station was priceless. I know she could have ridden a few of the other coasters, but, frankly, I hate to have to take my 7 year old to a chiropractor at such a young age, so I told her we'd pass on those for now..... Shari "Now I am wishing park season wasn't over for the year" Shoufler

^^ Wally, do you also post on "Beer Drinkers Review"? LOL Soren, your reports are always fun and, since I have a german background in my mother's family, very interesting to me also. Looks like you have a wonderful family! Shari

Great job girls!!! I loved it!! I think this qualified as Coaster Porn! Next thing you know, Katie, Erin and Elissa are going to start a 1-900# for coaster geeks! Shari

OK.... so, Samantha got "Philiminated" today...... Phil Keoghan was at our new SuperWalMart doing a personal appearance for the AR#1 DVD release. Reality TV Star whores that we are, I picked her up from school at 3:45, and we raced to WM in time to get to meet him and then get back to her dance studio for class at 5:00 (our own little version of Amazing Race in itself.) There were about a dozen people in line, and he was signing the DVDs, or if you didn't want to buy one, they had these glossy photos he would autograph. He was very nice, and took his time talking to people. When our turn came, Sammi stood there and just smiled so I coaxed her... I said "Sam, wasn't there something you wanted him to say?" He grinned and said "Do you want me to eliminate you?" She giggled and told him "Yes". So, he did it in all the dramatic fashion of the show.... (Stern look, eyebrow cocked) "Samantha" (long pause, serious look) "You are the last team to arrive" (pause again) "I am sorry to inform you you've been eliminated from the race". Of course, Sammi just giggled and said "OK" and so he was teasing her that she was awfully happy to have just lost the million dollars, etc. I got their photo together, but since I am in the stone age (and it was a fresh roll of film) I'll have to post that when it gets developed. Shari "He's got gorgeous blue eyes, by the way" Shoufler

Way to go!!! I told you that you would love it! Shari

^^ Yeah, that was pretty hillarious!! And I love the description someone posted-"NASCAR Jesus widow" LOL

Nobody's mentioned the BENGALS??? Ok, so I am something of a fair-weather fan, I admit.... but, baby, the weather's been FAIR the past three weeks! Who-Dey!!! Shari "And Carson Palmer is HOT" Shoufler

OK... wow! Where to start.... First off, unlike some of you, I LOVE the format, and as for the little ones, well, you only have one family with little ones left now, and I adore them because that little girl is just like my Samantha, right down to the "Phil Keogan" impression she was doing on the way to the pit stop . Right now, they are my favorite team, along with the Linz' family from right here in Cincy!! (although, I was disappointed with their performance last night!) Now, for the rest of the teams.... I agree, screamy Pink Ladies need to go, as well as the praying widow and the obnoxious (I think she's Jewish, not Italian) New Jersey woman (although she and the little girl will probably provide the best sound bites of the game.) I do like the father in law and the three guys, and my gut instinct is that it could come down to them, the Linz's and the family with the cute kid. Favorite moment of the night..... Phil saying "Black family.... you are the last to arrive......" Can you imagine if Jesse Jackson was channel surfing right at that moment and didn't know that was their name? I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I have to replay it tonight for Sam (who fell asleep at 9:30) and I am going to watch that over and over..... PS.... Phil's gonna be at our new SuperWalMart tomorrow afternoon.... can you guess where Sammi and I are going? Shari "'Black family'...that's still cracks me up" Shoufler

Thanks for the early wishes guys..... Shari "Looking forward to mini-cheeseburgers and PRESENTS!!" Shoufler

^^ Yes, but not that many, I hope. Or are you like Chandler on "Friends"? Shari "Great TR, as always.... cute kids, as always..... and yes, I think the Meerkat was a female" Shoufler

Actually, I love BOTH!! I would have to say that I like Bob's breakfasts better than CB, but I love dinner more at Cracker Barrel. Their baby carrots are "da bomb"! And I love the gift shop at Cracker Barrel, especially at Christmas. Shari "now I am hungry 'cause I didn't eat lunch today" Shoufler

OMG!!! I love it!! If the lady was to the left of Elissa I would have to go with "BEFORE" and "AFTER"........ Shari "Equally grossed out by the camel toe comment" Shoufler

I am disappointed not to see Cheeseburger in Paradise on the list.... Outback is their parent company, and I am already going their on the 5th for my birthday with a group of 6 others.... sure hope they get on board. Shari

Julie.... you look very glam. That's a great picture of you. Sammi hasn't decided what to be yet this year. I saw a "Bewitched" costume and thought that would be fun since her name's Samantha (groan)! But, she'll probably want to go out looking like Britney Spears again, like she did last year. (One lady in our neighborhood asked her "Are you Britney Spears?" and then followed that up with "So, are you really pregnant?" I was like...."jeez, lady, she's 6... ") Shari "time to start looking for a costume, though" Shoufler

Gavin is too cute..... I think the TPR gang (those of us that have 'em) have some of the cutest kids around.... Looks like a beautiful day and a nice ballpark. Is that a AAA team? Shari

^^ Thanks Eric..... I think for my hubby, a big part of it is the fact that his first wife left him, sued for custody of his two older daughters (now 20 + 17) and really didn't do much to encourage them to be a part of his life. He absolutely ADORES our daughter, we both do, and he would die if anything ever happened to her that he thought we could have prevented. I think part of it yesterday was my own insecurties....like I said in my two posts, we live in a part of town that sometimes I don't feel we fit into real well. So many of these families live in these huge quarter and half-million dollar homes, and we live in this little second floor condo. I guess I just hated the thought that we were giving this other family (who seem very nice) the impression that we were some kind of crackpots, which is stupid, because all we (he) were doing was showing that we really care about the safety of our child. I'm over it..... now we'll see today if the 7 year old is. Shari PS... Your daughter is beautiful..... you should be very proud!!

So, while I am ranting about my husband, let me share this one with you.... OK, we have a 7 year old, and she is our only child together because 1) we can only afford one and 2) I went into congestive heart failure when I was 8 months pregnant and lucky we have her (and me) here. Needless to say, the dear hubby (dh) and I are pretty protective of her, but I try not to be totally anal about it. My mom was really protective of me as a child and I feel that effected me a lot growing up. For that reason, I try not to worry too much about our daughter's safety, but my dh is over the top. Tonight Sam is spending the night at her best friend's house. These people live in a neighborhood of $300-$400K homes, and our part of town is about as safe as you can get in the big city. Hell, our cops are such Barney Fife's that when they had to break up a fight at PKI this summer, one pepper-sprayed himself. Anyway, the mom of this little girl thought it would be fun to pitch their camping tent in the back yard and sleep outside with my daughter, her friend, her little brother and his friend. Since we don't have a yard of our own where we live, I thought that would be awesome for her to do. Last night, dh gets wind of the plans and goes BALLISTIC!!! Tells me that either I need to call the parents back, or he will, and tell them if they don't sleep in the house, she can't spend the night!!! I couldn't believe it... he honestly had fears of someone kidnapping our daughter from this tent with 3 other kids and the mom right there. Now I know things like this do happen... Elizabeth Smart in Utah comes to mind.... but a lot of things can happen, no matter how safe you try to be. Anyway, he called the mother this morning and told her this (they must think we are TOTAL freaks) and insisted to her that this was HIS issue, not MINE, (well, at least he did that), but our 7 year old is now PISSED big time at her dad. She knows I didn't care, but I told her that I had to support her dad because that's what parents do (believe me, some day this is going to come back to haunt him........) and that if that's how he feels, we need to respect it. I said to her "Let me tell you something...." and she says "What, that you shouldn't have married HIM???" (for 7 she has a hell of a quick wit about her). Later on, I told her "You'll get over this" and her reply was "Yeah, I'll forgive him this trespass" (I just started regularly taking her to church!!!) I just can't believe he's this anal. I mean, I am anal too... I worry "do these people have a gun the kids could get ahold of?" and shit like that, but I try not to let it make me crazy because I want her to have a good time and have friends. You can't always worry about what "might" happen because fear will paralyze you. My niece was killed by a drunk driver 3 years ago, but that doesn't keep me from getting behind the wheel of my car every day. Shari "Sometimes parenting sucks" Shoufler