Hey TSD--if you're out there, give us a shout! Some of us miss your contributions!

Hey Shillmac! A friend of mine emailed me from SoCal the other day and asked for tips on CR, as he is soon flying out.

Have to say that when I read the non-descript thread titles and the repetitive questions that indicate the author did zero research on even the simplest of issues...Well, you know.

We've since been to New Orleans for Jazz Fest and to Vegas. Meanwhile, I bought another house. Been busy. This site can be addictive, and I can be strong.

How are things with you, Shillmac?

Going good. Are you buying houses for rental properties or did you buy another house to live in?

We were in Vegas a couple of weeks ago as well. Stayed downtown, went to "O" (Cirque de Soleil)--have you seen it?

Jazz Fest sounds wonderful. New Orleans is a great city in the spring--and in the fall. Miserably hot in August when I was last there! New Orleans would win the "most personality" contest among U.S. cities!

Leaving in a week for 9 days in Alaska--it will be my 3rd time to lead a group of 20+ youth to do mission work down on the Kenai. Looking forward to a great time, gorgeous vistas and wonderfully refreshing weather!

Off to Costa Rica in July with our 6 month old granddaughter (and her mother, of course). THAT will be an experience. I hope I don't rile the poster who came down so hard on the people traveling with young children a few months back!

Our Tico family is chomping at the bit (may be a midwestern term) to get their hands on baby Isabelle, and they will babysit her during the day while Jamie is finishing up a minor in espanol at CPI (2 weeks) and my husband and I do a little traveling around. Hopefully her first words will be in espanol!

Glad you didn't fall into a hole somewhere--good to hear from you! Have a great summer!

Hey Shillmac !!! Guess what , my 9 yr. old daughter is named Isabella ( we call her Bella a lot ) C.de Soliel is from Montreal as well ! And hey ! No worries , I started travelling with mine at 3 weeks .... Each to their own . Faith ( T.S.D. , I can be pretty opinionated as well ! )

A little side note , they DO pick up second languages VERY easily ..... My children are bilingual ( french and english , hubbie is Quebecois ) and actually understand a lot of Spanish .

Wow! Someday we've got to meet! I've got you pictured already! It's great that kids can speak more than one language. Hate to sound stupid, but do they speak Friench on PEI? I'd guess not. Do you live there or in Montreal?

Isabella is a pretty name. We have friends who also named their little daughter Isabella and also call her Bella--natural, I guess. And pretty!

Most people say Isabella instead of Isabelle when addressing our little one. Seems to flow off the tongue a little easier! We don't have a short form for her. Izzy is out of the question! (No offense if anyone named Izzy is reading this!), and she doesn't seem like a Belle. So she's just Isabelle. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement always!

Shillmac - And then there's the thread hijackers . . .

Aw, that's part of the Fodor fun!

Born and raised in P.E.I , but live in Montreal . There are small Acadian communities in the Maritimes , but definitely not as francophone as Quebec . ( Isabelle is the common form of the name here and they say " Isa " pronounced with a long 'I ' for the short form . And yes ! Perhaps one-day a meeting is called for in Costa Rica !!! Faith ,the "very happy highjacker" Grrrr... !!!

Isa--I like that and we hadn't thought of it. We had considered Isa with a long e sound.

Oh, TSD is just teasing--he loves us!

Ahhhh..... , for pitys sake , silly me !! It is tooooo early , " Isa " WITH the long E sound , like the leaning tower of " Pisa " ( lol , sp. ?? ) Funny ! ( P.S. I know , just playing along !!! wink , wink , T.S.D. !!!! )

I do french homework with my children who are in French school , and my grammar is a little mixed up !

Now this thread is going all over! But, Shillmac, just curious, with whom or what oraganization are you going to Alaska? My son does a project in Kentucky each summer, but Alaska sounds very exciting! I'm jealous of your travels...Joyce

Hi Joyce,
I am youth minister for our youth at the United Methodist Church. We do a summer mission project every year, and every third year we go to the Kenai Peninsula to the same little church to do their Vacation Bible School and some outside church repairs.

We travel as an independent group and I make our arrangements. We've been to Mexico, south Texas, Virginia, Kansas, and Tennessee as well--usually repairing or building homes. Great experience for the kids and blesses lots of other folks as well.

There are some very good projects for kids in the Appalachians--no doubt Trevor has participated in one of those. How is he. . .ready for a summer break? Good to hear from you!

Faithie--I'm jealous of your French expertise. It is such a beautiful language. I always thought it would be the language I'd like to learn, so I took a few hours in college. The reality, however, is that those of us who live in the southern parts of the country desperately need some Spanish skills. So that is where I concentrate my efforts these days.

Shillmac ....., brought up Nazarene ! ( thus the name !!! )

LOL! I hope no one else is reading the "Donde Esta" thread--they would think us all loca by now! I think we even irritated TripleSec!

Your mention of Nazarene, however, does bring to mind something Costa Rican. . .here in Oklahoma, not too far from where we live, is Southern Nazarene University. We were pleasantly surprised while visiting Savegre Lodge last year to learn that they have a cooperative program with SNU-- and that students from SNU regularly stay on their property and study the surroundings. It was nice to be able to converse with the Savegre folks regarding something about which we both knew a little bit.

Ahhhh .... We're harmless !

Loca, but harmless. . .could be worse!

Not irritated, Shillmac. I've learned long ago there are no rules online.

Regarding your trip to Alaska - I've been told I could pass for a man in his 20's .. .. .. can I be a stowaway on your trip? We actually discussed a cruise with another married couple and we're exploring the possibility of scheduling this during '05.

I'll post a trip report of NOLA and Jazz Fest soon. Being pulled in so many directions right now.

Yes, the house was for us. My client passed it up. We couldn't. Moving is the devil, isn't it?

I'll check in after you've returned from AK - and I'd very much be interested in the finer details of your trip.

Be well,

Sure thing, TripleSec. I am peddling fast right now with last minute details. Should NOT be doing Fodor's!!!! We are looking forward to a great time. The Kenai Peninsula is beautiful. Well, it's all gorgeous up there! Very large!

Yes, moving can make you nuts. Be careful not to irritate one another too much--we get really snappy when we have to move!

We'll be back the 11th. Talk to you then.