DDC XXIV - What Bacon Shortage? We're Full Of It!

[ClearScreen]

I have been mostly absent from the boards for a while now.

My office building was severely damaged by Sandy and we were forced to re-locate 75 of us to a temporary office designed to hold 25 people. We actually consider ourselves lucky under the circumstances as some offices will never re-open and so many people lost everything.

Anyway, we are one of the buildings on Water Street in downtown Manhattan that was on the news. There is a parking garage in our building off Water Street and a basement and sub-basement where most of the electrical and mechanical for the building are.

The building is completely dark right now and we won't be back until January, probably. They have temporary generators running one freight elevator for a 40+ story office building that normally holds several thousand workers.

We've been up to our office with flashlights moving the computers and files to the temporary office. We got an e-mail last week from building management saying they finally pumped the water out of the basement and sub-basement - 5 million gallons of the East River. The stench is horrible.

5 maintenance guys from the building were trapped in the basement when the water came in. They were telling us all about it. In 2 minutes, the water went to the ceiling and pushed them through layers of drywall and a steel door. Guys in the lobby lowered an emergency firehose to them and pulled them to safety. They just have some cuts and bruises and were lucky to escape with their lives.

[ClearScreen]

Originally Posted by twokids0204

Still haven't made the decision to take the leap...

Although Super Mario Bros U looks awesome...

Yeah Brian. I kind of had no choice on this one. The kids really were great when the Wii broke and they played it all the time. They didn't complain too much and said they would wait until Christmas.

When they are that good about something, they really deserve to be rewarded.

[DisDadDoc]

Originally Posted by ClearScreen

Got up early and waited on line outside Target to make sure I got one. Our Wii stopped reading discs and couple of months ago so the kids (and Dad) were forced to get by only on digital downloads. Thank goodness the kids were patient and knew that Santa would get them the new Wii U. The least I could do to reward their patience was to wait on line to make sure I got one.

Well, what a zoo that turned out to be. Really brought out the worst in the people yelling at the store personnel and each other. I was on line with a few moms I know from the kids' school. We were absolutely disgusted with the behavior of some people. While most everyone marched relatively orderly when the store opened, one guy in the back ran ahead of everyone to get online first. He then ordered six units. Everyone thought other people in front of them were going to order multiples and they would be shut out. There was no store manager to keep order and chaos ensued.

I nicely took a worker aside and asked him if there were more in the back - I had a feeling there were. I was right. They had dozens of units. So while everyone was complaining, a few workers went in the back and brought out cases of them. Everyone who waited outside got everything they wanted and there was much rejoicing.

So I will have some happy children come Christmas morning. Oh, and Dad got Assassin's Creed 3 and Madden. Hey - it's Christmas for me too!!

We're going to wait on the Wii U, but are considering an X-box instead (although aren't they releasing a new X-box next year?) You'll have to let me know what you think of Assassin's Creed 3, Chris. My DS (12) really wants to play it...

Originally Posted by GoHerd1028

That is a very good estimate of the cost... With Ethan we were somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-40k. Part of that was because of having to stay for nearly a month in NY and having to fly with him to Salt Lake to finalize. Luckily our work had a program for adoption assistance and then the government offers a 12k (approx.) adoption tax credit that also helped. I wish that I had used the Lawyer with Lauren that I used with Ethan it would have saved us thousands, but I did not know sthat time. With Lauren our expenses were only about 15K. Good LUck!!!

Wow, Steve and David. I had no idea adoption cost that much up front!

[ClearScreen]

Originally Posted by DisDadDoc

We're going to wait on the Wii U, but are considering an X-box instead (although aren't they releasing a new X-box next year?) You'll have to let me know what you think of Assassin's Creed 3, Chris. My DS (12) really wants to play it...

Will do!

[RodBelding]

Originally Posted by theduck619

Lets go Colts!

Happy to see the Pats win, but since I started Luck in Fantasy this week, it would have been nice if it was a bit closer!

[RodBelding]

Originally Posted by cj9200

I am not a lawn obsessive person. If it is green and grows in the yard, I leave it alone. What you and Norm do to the yard would not be one of the things I would worry about. Just make sure you recycle the beer cans.

I can already see that you're going to be a great landlord. Norm, we're all set!!!

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by ClearScreen

I have been mostly absent from the boards for a while now.

My office building was severely damaged by Sandy and we were forced to re-locate 75 of us to a temporary office designed to hold 25 people. We actually consider ourselves lucky under the circumstances as some offices will never re-open and so many people lost everything.

Anyway, we are one of the buildings on Water Street in downtown Manhattan that was on the news. There is a parking garage in our building off Water Street and a basement and sub-basement where most of the electrical and mechanical for the building are.

The building is completely dark right now and we won't be back until January, probably. They have temporary generators running one freight elevator for a 40+ story office building that normally holds several thousand workers.

We've been up to our office with flashlights moving the computers and files to the temporary office. We got an e-mail last week from building management saying they finally pumped the water out of the basement and sub-basement - 5 million gallons of the East River. The stench is horrible.

5 maintenance guys from the building were trapped in the basement when the water came in. They were telling us all about it. In 2 minutes, the water went to the ceiling and pushed them through layers of drywall and a steel door. Guys in the lobby lowered an emergency firehose to them and pulled them to safety. They just have some cuts and bruises and were lucky to escape with their lives.

That sounds pretty severe. The only thing we had locally was a tornado 13 years that took out several sections of town. But, we are not in an urban area like you are. Glad you are ok.

[GoHerd1028]

Originally Posted by DisDadDoc

We're going to wait on the Wii U, but are considering an X-box instead (although aren't they releasing a new X-box next year?) You'll have to let me know what you think of Assassin's Creed 3, Chris. My DS (12) really wants to play it...


We decided to get an Xbox and Kinect for the kids this year instead of getting the WiiU. I amy regret that next year if and when the new xbox comes!!



Wow, Steve and David. I had no idea adoption cost that much up front!

It is actually a crying shame that adoptions are so expensive. There are so many children in this world that need a good home, and all the red tape and expenses cause a lot of families that could give so much love to not be able to do it. I am just thankful that the money was there for us to be able to do it when we did. God provided is all I can say!

[GoHerd1028]

For those of you Dads who signed up for the Christmas Card exchange the addresses have been sent out on facebook. Check your accounts and make sure that you have them and that no corrections are needed.

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by RodBelding

I can already see that you're going to be a great landlord. Norm, we're all set!!!

Sounds great. Let's go.

Originally Posted by declansdad

Just wanted to say that I love the opening of Sunday Night Football!

[ClearScreen]

Originally Posted by AirGoofy

That sounds pretty severe. The only thing we had locally was a tornado 13 years that took out several sections of town. But, we are not in an urban area like you are. Glad you are ok.

Thanks.

The family is safe. We lost power for about a week and lived out of local hotels. A few trees down on the property, but they were mostly in a wooded area behind my house. No big deal. We had a small tree fall in front of our house. It missed our brand new deck by 6 inches. I never liked the tree anyway.

Now I'm looking into a connected generator, but they are so much $$.

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by ClearScreen

Thanks.

The family is safe. We lost power for about a week and lived out of local hotels. A few trees down on the property, but they were mostly in a wooded area behind my house. No big deal. We had a small tree fall in front of our house. It missed our brand new deck by 6 inches. I never liked the tree anyway.

Now I'm looking into a connected generator, but they are so much $$.

One of those natural gas generators that kicks automatically when your house loses power? We've thought about it because of tornados, but I still haven't done in. Last time there was the ice storm, we lost power for a couple a days and there was a run on gas generators, but I still don't have one. I think I'm going to wait until December 23, and if we're still here, then I may need to get one.

[ClearScreen]

Originally Posted by AirGoofy

One of those natural gas generators that kicks automatically when your house loses power? We've thought about it because of tornados, but I still haven't done in. Last time there was the ice storm, we lost power for a couple a days and there was a run on gas generators, but I still don't have one. I think I'm going to wait until December 23, and if we're still here, then I may need to get one.

Exactly. Ours would have to run off a large propane tank, because we have no natural gas connection. I've lost power for a week three times in the last year.

I may wait also. These guys have been jacking up the prices because they are in such demand around me. Friends have been getting quotes over $20,000.

I just bought a small portable that runs on gasoline. That should get me by until the spring when the prices will come down to a more reasonable level.

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by ClearScreen

Exactly. Ours would have to run off a large propane tank, because we have no natural gas connection. I've lost power for a week three times in the last year.

I may wait also. These guys have been jacking up the prices because they are in such demand around me. Friends have been getting quotes over $20,000.

I just bought a small portable that runs on gasoline. That should get me by until the spring when the prices will come down to a more reasonable level.

I'm not sure about the markup in your area, but that sounds high. A few years ago, they were selling for $2000 for generator plus installation. We have a natural gas line and range/ water heater, and central heat run from it. Our gas bills cost $20 in the summer and $80 a month in last year's mild winter. One of the nice things about living here. I've also thought about a gas fireplace, which wouldn't blow out the heat with electricity off and we wouldn't have lights, but it would be cheaper than the back-up generator and I could get some use of it.

[ClearScreen]

Originally Posted by AirGoofy

I'm not sure about the markup in your area, but that sounds high.

Yeah, it normally should be in the $10-12k range for a whole house generator. $5-6k for a partial house which is all we would really need.

I'm willing to make an investment, but I am not willing to get hosed.