I'm here again

[lovemycondo]

We’re here. Got in a little after 1 PM yesterday. First stop the Chambers Visitor Center. The ladies there are helpful as usual. Fortunately for us, a few of the theaters include owners who do not live here year round for their appreciation shows. Dummy me! I left my proof of ownership @ home. We had to find a place to have our ds fax us some utility bills. Then picked up Presley tickets (my aunt’s favorite show from a bus trip) and off to Mel’s Hard Luck Diner. Wow. As usual, humbled immediately with their talent.

This was the 2nd time we took my aunt here. It’s her favorite place to eat. When we asked her to come with us this trip the 1st thing she told me is we can go to the place where the wait staff sings because they have good food too. She was right. Food was great. The wait staff talent is unbelievable. Malts……….woonderrrrrfullllllll. Portions huge. Dh was wearing a red shirt. His face matched his shirt when he was sung too. Not used to having someone young and pretty give him attention besides his daughter. My aunt and I shared a Rueben and strawberry malt. We almost finished it. Dh ordered a Swiss mushroom burger and choc malt. Some how he finished it. Off to Star Theater to pick up our tickets for “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” & met my first buddy @ the ticket office. The malt and burger and were doing their job. Dh eye’s are getting heavy. Too much in the tummy. Good thing only a hop skip and a jump to our condo.

You know me…….. love my condo and I’m here. Though we don’t mind renting it, still whenever we first walk in the door you get this slight feeling of jealousy because others get to share what you feel is your own private treasure. Oh, the joys of not being rich. The weeping willow tree right out our porch at the top of the brook has tiny yellow leaves just starting to open. Spring has almost sprung.

Got everything in the door. Then dh and my aunt napped while I unpacked and did and inventory of what I needed to restock before we leave. My aunt had to get up early for her so she was tired. Dh always naps, especially after a burger and malt. Then I had to return a call and email for an inquiry to rent our condo. Realized I better wake everyone up as already 6:35. Time flew by and I never did get my relaxing in. This was supposed to be a vacation day but guess I missed that portion. Not a true vacation day if I don’t get to relax. Good thing none of us were hungry after our meal at Hard Luck. No time. Presley’s was crowded as expected with appreciation fans. We went upstairs for the preshow sing along, but left early to go to our seat. A little too warm for us there, but very comfortable temps in our seating area.

What a delight. The Presley’s really know how to entertain. I put my review in the show section. If you enjoy a variety show, you should like this one. Thanks Presley’s for including homeowners in your appreciation show. I love passing on to my guests that rent my condo the “must do” in Branson.

We arrived back to the condo and since I’m traveling with two nappers they had plenty of energy and we stayed up visiting until 12:30AM. Another dumb move for me because I cannot sleep in at all unless I’m sick. I’ll be tired all day today.

It was cold and damp yesterday. We are hoping the weather changes today and the rain ends. Dh and my knees hurt. We deserve it because we are both over weight. They predict it to be warmer but we really wanted a dry sunny day too. Rain tomorrow is likely @ 90%. We want to take the Branson Landing Cruise on a sunny day. Leaving Tuesday right after our homeowner’s assn meeting which is the reason we came down. Not sure if we can work in the cruise or not with the weather. Tonight we’ll head to “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”. I’ll post a review afterwards. They were also generous to include us on the appreciation show so like the Presley’s we only had to pay full price for my aunt’s ticket.

I’m discouraged. Some of the grout I repaired in Febr is cracking. I was worried the grout was a little dry when I used it. Don’t know why I used that batch and didn’t toss it and make another. Dummy me again. I have other things on my list I wanted to do on this trip and it sure isn’t grouting ceramic tile. Always something. Your home away from home is just like home. That “to do” jar is never empty.

[Mellie]

Well, even though you're having to do some work, I'm glad you got to be here. Be sure to let us know about "Breaking Up is Hard to Do"...I'd love to know about it. Have fun!

[Suselit]

I love hearing about your Condo Visits.
And I am looking forward to your review of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do".

[ashbris]

Sounds like fun~makes me wish I was in Branson. You are SO lucky to have a condo there~even if you have to share.

[Tyann]

Though we don’t mind renting it, still whenever we first walk in the door you get this slight feeling of jealousy because others get to share what you feel is your own private treasure.

I know exactly how you feel! I always spend the first 15 minutes rearranging pillows and tweaking the decor to how it's supposed to be and checking that everything is in place. I absolutely love my housekeeper, but I don't expect to her to have the same touch as I do.

My grout has done the exact same thing - it's the weather.

Have a good time while you are there, and I look forward to your reviews!

[lindiet]

Sandy and Tyan,
I know exactly what you are saying. I don't mind sharing my condo but always seem to rearrange as soon as I get to our condo! Wish we could be there now too but have to wait until June! Have a great time and don't work so hard!

[lovemycondo]

Since it was rainy we decided to stay in and yesterday was long. My dh is here in dream land. He finally got a chance to replace our water line to the icemaker from plastic to reinforced stainless steel and take the back off the refrig to clean the fan. We had only vacuumed the coils in front before. He has his dream version of a woman around here. My aunt loved the chance to help him. He had his dream--- a woman that waited on him. When he need a bucket, flash light, screw driver, brush, whatever she actually stood by and helped him. Not like his wife who was supposed to be helping. I did my own thing as usual. Too much of this, and he will be spoiled. She doesn’t nag either. Also encourages breaks.

My aunt is on her 3rd phone call telling family at home about the Presley show. She really enjoyed it. So glad we went.

Hate we have to go home on Tuesday. But we came for our HOA meeting so once it is over we must go home. Time is always short here.

Now for the big decision tonight. Cook or go out!

Go out , right?

[preacherman]

Eat out for sure! There's been enough work done in that kitchen for one day

[lovemycondo]

Originally Posted by Tyann

I know exactly how you feel! I always spend the first 15 minutes rearranging pillows and tweaking the decor to how it's supposed to be and checking that everything is in place. I absolutely love my housekeeper, but I don't expect to her to have the same touch as I do.

My grout has done the exact same thing - it's the weather.

Have a good time while you are there, and I look forward to your reviews!

Tyann and Lindiet --- Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's so nice to know I'm not the only one. My dh thinks I'm nuts.... always.

It is amazing how things change. We need to make 2 small repairs since I was here in Feb. Folks are sure hard on things. Also, housekeeper contacted me a king sized fitted sheet disappeared after the last guest. I can't figure out how that happened but know it is so easy to do odd things when you are packing.

I'll let everyone know about tonights show.
Later. Sandy

[Critter]

Thank you for posting about your trip and the reviews!! I enjoyed reading them. We will be expecting more of them for a couple more days......

[Crazy4Branson]

Originally Posted by lovemycondo

Also, housekeeper contacted me a king sized fitted sheet disappeared after the last guest. I can't figure out how that happened but know it is so easy to do odd things when you are packing.

I can't understand how a guest could "accidentally" pack something as large as a king-size sheet.......

Have you considered marking everything with a permanent marker??

I know a widowed lady who re-married & combined 2 households with her new husband. She marked everything of hers with a magic marker, in the hopes if she dies first, her rightful heirs wouldn't lose everything.......

[lovemycondo]

Originally Posted by Crazy4Branson

I can't understand how a guest could "accidentally" pack something as large as a king-size sheet.......

Have you considered marking everything with a permanent marker??

I know a widowed lady who re-married & combined 2 households with her new husband. She marked everything of hers with a magic marker, in the hopes if she dies first, her rightful heirs wouldn't lose everything.......

I can see it packed if you are in a hurry and you have kids helping. I've got a K or Q on the labels with markers for sheet size only. I don't believe anyone would take one home on purpose because my sheets are not special. They are white from Kohl's. Plus, what would you do with one sheet? I'm guessing some how it got in the trash. We would like to figure out what happened though to prevent it happening again.

Last year we had a pillow go home with a guest. Their grandma was using it in the car while they were driving around here. They found out grandma was still using it when they took grandma home. She dropped it in the mail to me. (The pillow, not grandma!) I've got a charger I picked up this trip to mail back to a guest.

We had a brand new full queen set (cases, flat and fitted) go out the door during our 1st or 2nd rental last year. Our housekeeper couldn't figure out why we didn't furnish a set for our sleeper and we told them we did. Then they informed us the only queen set they had was the set in the lock out closet. So we started watching things pretty close after that. It's frustrating trying to figure out what happens so you can prevent it in the future. Always one more expense & trip to a store.

[lovemycondo]

Dine in? Dine out? Dine out won! Ran up to Starvin Marvins. As soon as we pulled in we saw the sign advertising “Sea Food Buffet” and then I remembered it. How could I forget that when I’m allergic to fish? Duh….. Drove over to Golden Corral. Good food as usual. Service was good. Oh my. Those automatic flush toilets are not working in the bathroom. Yuck.

Went to the new show Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. This is a musical which I don’t think you’ll find often in Branson. The locals can tell us. Cute and typical story. We enjoyed it but a completely different pace for Branson. I’ll post a review in the show section when I get a chance.

Dh enjoying having someone on his side vs his wife! Time sure goes fast when you’re here.

Ran errands today and came back to have a late lunch in the condo. Forgot to buy more paper towels. Weather was not nice enough to go to our landing cruise. Raining off and on. Lots of storms around. Aunt and dh both napping. Don’t know if we will go anywhere tonight. Every time we almost went for a walk it would start raining.

[lovemycondo]

Now at home back in Nebraska. We finally had sunshine yesterday when we headed home. But had to pack, made our list of questions for our assn meeting, and then home after the meeting so didn't soak it in much. Spent about 45 min. enjoying our porch view but the breeze was chilly for my aunt. Discouraged it was finally sunny on our day to drive home, especially since we had my aunt along. She doesn’t get out much and having her with us changes our schedule to a much slower pace. The storms the entire day before made her very nervous.

We stopped at the dam on the way home. It’s absolutely amazing the amount of water coming out of the gates. If you are going to be in Branson soon, go down Hatchery Road off Hwy 165, immediately north of the dam. You can hear the power of the rushing water when it meets the lake. Makes you respect the water really quick.

Good news! My fitted sheet was found. Silly place too. The housekeeper had put 2 sheets on the same bed; one on top of the other. :fofl: Sounds like something I would do.

As usual, trip way to short. I'll be back next month.

[CHRISTISAM2001]

Thanks for the reviews...Wish I could be back in Branson next month!!