[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16266

Hi Adele,
The recipe for turkey and dumplings looks good-I’m a sucker for anything with the name dumpling in it. How did everyone like it-if they didn’t I’ll be right over for leftovers. Also I can’t believe that everyone is so fussy about the baked goods. I would eat it all except if it had coconut. I love home baked goods-I didn’t get to be a 1X by eating kale and quinoa. lol
That is so cool that Aizen picked up the song melody so easily. I hope he has a life long love of music. I hope that the schools will encourage JJ’s drawing abilities too. So many arts programs have been lost due to budget cuts. Those are the areas that I like to donate my money. I remember when Kendall started kindergarten they already had practices for what to do if a “bad man” came into the room. I can’t remember what code name they had for it right now so they wouldn’t say “shooter or gunman” in front of the kids. Speaking of that-I couldn’t believe what a strange coincidence it was that the guy on DWTS that helped stop the terrorist attack on the train in France also went to the same school where the most recent shooting occurred. I found that to be rather eerie.
Do you fly at all ever? So many people have steel rods and pins now a days. I always get pulled out for something. This last time going down I was pulled out and had my hands checked for something-maybe gun powder? I know not to wear Quacker clothes as the embellishments always ring the bells. They should make a travel outfit with just a little embroidery. lol
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16161

Hi Adele,
I’m glad that Gary got to go out and meet your friends the other night. I’m sorry that you had to miss it but it was better that you stayed home and took care of yourself. How far apart are the back shots.
We had the traveling Vietnam Wall here a few years ago. I wanted to see it and see my high school friend’s name and the name of the man on the wrist band that I wore who was MIA but whose remains were found years later,but we were out of town when it came through here. I have never traveled out east and that is on my to do list so maybe someday we will get to Washington and the Smithsonian. All those years that my BIL and his family lived in Virginia when he was in the CIA and we never got out there as a family. Greg got out there on his own for family things but we never could take the time to drive out and couldn’t always afford to fly the whole family out. I always remember when 911 happened and my BIL from the CIA was here and our friend from the FBI in New York was also in the area and how they had to scramble to get back with all flights being stopped. Bad time for both of them to be out of town-my BIL actually worked in the Pentagon at the time so maybe it was better that he was here.
Speaking of flying-the FAA changed the rules again so that now you cannot have your purse and your carry on so it was interesting trying to find the right size carry on that would fit my other stuff and my purse. Personally, I think everyone should have to check their suitcases and forget stuffing all those things into the overhead compartments. We always just check our bags and have a small carry on. We’re never in that big of a hurry that waiting for a bag to be unloaded is that big of a deal. I am envious of the smaller people though who can fit more stuff into their suitcases. Size 8’s take up a lot less space than size 1x’s. lol
I wanted to say that the name of that Vietnam museum that we went to was the Corporal Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum-named after a young man KIA who posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor. It’s an unusual last name so i wondered if he was a relative of Angel’s somehow. I will have to tell her about the museum.
I have not put out any fall decor yet. I have to get at least a little out even if I do not decorate full fledged this year as i don’t have Brent around to help me lug things out.
You would have loved this Adele. One evening we were all going in the pool on vacation and Lachlan just jumped in without his suit so that evening he went skinny dipping. Everyone thought it was funny except when he tried it again the next night and Greg noticed that we now had neighbors so he told him that he now had to wear a suit since we had people next door to us now. Then we had Piper on the pool deck dancing Gangnum style. lol Kids and water are just sort of a magic solution for fun.
Greg has rehearsal tonight so I have a no cooking night tonight. Speaking of Washington someday I’ll figure out how to copy the picture of Greg in the Oval office with LBJ and see if i can get it posted here.
Can’t wait to look through my Halloween shirts and start wearing them! Hooray!!!
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16159

Hi Colleen,
I have not talked to Jenny since she went to the dentist so I don’t know what they did for her yet. Fortunately it didn’t hurt her and it was hardly noticeable to anyone but her. It was one of those things where it was hard for her not to keep feeling it with her tongue because it was a little sharp feeling.
We did enjoy the food at the Crab Shack. We don’t have any around here so the only times that we have been is on vacation-but we’ve always enjoyed them then.
Your doorbell sounds like it was a riot. I have seen it on the Q but never realized it made spooky Halloween sounds too. That was a good purchase.
I must say the Cardinals need to give someone else a chance to get into the series this year. The poor Cubs have only that one game to decide the whole playoff thing. Everyone else has a series of games. I just hope that they predicted it right in the movie Back To the Future. Oh my goodness-Chicago would go wild!!!
Patrick Taylor has a new book coming out October 13th called An Irish Doctor in Love and at Sea. I didn’t know if you knew that or not. You said that you have not been reading much lately but I figured you still might be interested in a new Patrick Taylor book. I didn’t read at all on vacation and I am having reading withdrawal right now so I have to pick myself out a new book. I pledged to read 52 books this year on Goodreads and I am way behind again. Oh well, there’s no punishment involved(I hope)-in not reaching my goal. It was in the 50’s when we got home Sunday and now we are back to 70 degrees again. I have to get out my Halloween shirts because i can wear them now. Hooray!!!
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16111

Hello All,
I am back from sunny and hot Florida returning from our family vacation to see Mickey and Minnie. We all had a great time. Adele, I know you are one for pictures but I carried around my camera and just forgot to take it out. Jenny took tons of pictures so maybe i will have her send me some. We rented a beautiful house with it’s own game room, movie room and swimming pool so the kids had a blast when we weren’t at Disney. There was also a large swimming pool and playgrounds within the community that we stayed in. We didn’t stay on site so we had to pay for parking everyday but it was well worth it to have the amenities of the house. We just barbecued at home a few nights rather than going out every night so it was quite relaxing. I could have left my makeup and hair stuff at home as i sweated off my makeup each day and wore my hair up in a barrette to keep it off my neck most of the time. No one is glamorous vacationing in 90 degree heat. The first day I had to drink ten gallons of water to keep from dehydrating walking around in the heat and as soon as i drank something i sweated it all out. After that Greg insisted that I drive a cart and that made things so much better as even though I was wearing my brace it still was challenging to walk that many miles each day in the heat. At first like everyone i felt that i didn’t need it but after i used it i had so much more fun as I wasn’t exhausted just from all the walking in the heat. Even Greg who loves being outside in the heat had it bothering him by the time we went home each day. The International Wine and Food Festival was at Epcot and i was disappointed that we weren’t there the same time as The Chew will be. One night Jenny, Adam and the kids went to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party where the kids dress up in their costumes and go trick or treating right there at Disney and boy do they get the candy!!! The kids went to The magic Kingdom two days. We just went once and that particular day it was quite rainy so we went into Orlando and went to a science museum. After seeing how much the kids enjoyed the pool I think i am going to have to go back to twisting Greg’s arm to put a pool in here. Every time I say i want one he says we have one and points to the koi pond. Not quite the same. If anyone or their kids go to Disney use the fast pass for whatever rides that you can-it was so helpful not standing in long lines. Jenny knew all about this stuff from her friends who go frequently so she set our wristbands up and our fast passes so we didn’t have to do a thing. I think I enjoyed the shows this time around more than most of the rides but there is definitely something for everyone and Piper got to meet Minnie who is her absolute favorite. One night we went to Joe’s Crab Shack for dinner and they have the cutest dessert for kids. It’s a rice crispie treat shaped like a crab. They bring it out on a plate shaped like an artists palette with a paint brush and raspberry, chocolate and caramel sauce and while the adults are finishing up their dinners the kids can “paint” their desserts. I thought that was the most clever idea ever! The kids drove down so they got there Sunday evening and we didn’t get there until late Sunday night as our flight didn’t leave Rockford until after six and we lost an hour’s time. We had to check out of the house on Saturday which is when the kids left to drive back but our flight back wasn’t until Sunday morning so we stayed at a place closer to the airport Saturday night. On the ride to the hotel we stopped at a Vietnam War Museum and toured that. Our flight was at 9 so we were up at five to get ready, get to airport, drop off rental car etc. We were back in Rockford by 10:30 because of the time difference. Picked up Rocky and were home by noon in time to watch The Bears. lol After that I took a four hour nap. Woke up and we ordered in dinner and went back to sleep again until this morning. I guess I was tired. I need a vacation from my vacation. lol I can laze around today but poor Greg had to go to work. Even Jenny and Adam took off today but Greg had to go in and close the month out. Jenny got a little chip in her front tooth that just happened for no reason so she was going to the dentist today and Adam took two weeks off-so I have no babysitting today. I have lots of laundry but i am not worrying about any of that until tomorrow. We had to come home and turn on the heat yesterday as it was in the 50’s.
I was shocked to come home and turn on the Q and it looks like they are now permanently decorated for Christmas. I thought they at least waited until after Halloween. I like to enjoy the fall months and what they have to offer too.
As to the latest tragic shooting-I just don’t know what the answer is. Better screening-less guns? I know many European nations have much more stringent gun controls and they are appalled by what happens with guns over here. Maybe we need to look at places where things like this don’t happen and see what they do that is different.
Colleen, I’m glad to hear that after a rough start your hayride turned out well. The spooky doorbell sounds like fun!
Adele, Good to know that Gary’s stint came out and that you have one back shot down already. Your pound cake looks “Delicious” as Piper would say.
I think I still have vacation brain today. Usually I am glad to get home but this time I really could have stayed longer. Except that i missed Rocky every day. If he could come along it would be perfect.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #15481

Hi Barbara,
I have not heard from Debbie in awhile. I will have to e-mail her and see what she is up to sometime soon.
I imagine that things are different for our kids just as our young married lives were different from our parents. Every generation has different things and seems to do things differently. Sometimes it’s hard to accept but it just seems to be how things happen. I guess progress happens with or without us and we need to latch on if we don’t want to be left behind. Without change and progress we wouldn’t have our computers and e-readers and google! lol Now if we could just put an electronic device with an alarm on Jerry to notify you every time that he is doing some activity that he shouldn’t. lol
You are really into pie baking now. I’ll bet your home smells delicious!
As to fixing that stubborn ankle there is no fix except for surgery to fuse the ankle so I will muddle along the way it is unless I find that I really can’t stand it and opt for the surgery-which would be an extreme situation.
Hey Barbara, can you do us a favor? Check your my page on here. I know Adele and myself have requested your friendship and on my part you have never accepted. If you look on your my page you will see your friendship requests and you can accept or reject them as you would like but I don’t even know if you realize that they are even there. Thanks.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #15479

Hi Adele,
If I remember I will take a picture of the headband. Don’t know how much decorating that I will get done this year. Your yard stakes sound cute. You are one of the few out of the group who actually get trick or treaters. Colleen, Barbara and I live too far off the beaten path. I imagine that Cynthia gets them too. Tell Gary to get busy and fix that metal guy. lol You have decorating to do.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #15477

Hi Colleen,
You are right. Just order the shirt and then don’t second guess yourself. I hope that you keep it.
Yes, they had a concert at the retirement complex where Bill’s mother lives. Greg says the ladies at the complex all call them “young” men. I guess all things are relative when people are calling three guys in their mid sixties “young. “Next concert will be the ONP fundraiser in mid October. That’s always a big one as they get so many people to sign up that night to buy gifts for the kids who come to the party in December.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #15421

Hi Barbara,
Boy, you are baking fool. I must confess that I have never baked an apple pie as i am not a big fan. I know that is unAmerican!
Greg’s tooth is better-thank goodness.
I hope that you and Jerry enjoy your privacy with the kids on vacation. It’s a good idea to start taking some walks. I need to start doing that myself as i have gotten really sedentary over the last year what with this stupid ankle. I need to walk more. Maybe I will get a fitbit-it seems I get so tired even after being out for a little bit anymore. i need to build up some stamina.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #15419

Hi Colleen,
I hope that you decide to keep the QF shirt and vest. I wear my Halloween stuff all month long and you can wear the vest all winter.
I’m sorry that I don’t have a number for the specific Liz Claiborne pants as the ones I have are Modern Soul and they don’t carry those anymore. If you go to the website and type in Liz Claiborne ponte knit pull up pants the styles will come up there and you can choose. I just think the ponte knit are a little nicer than the WWC. Joan Rivers and Bob Mackie might have some ponte knit pants too.
I never heard who won the witches hat either. I wonder if it’s posted somewhere on here.
You got some good decorating deals at Michaels. I hope that you find something good at the dollar store too.
Gail

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