12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 5

[Jhalkias]

Thought I would share some Gator photos from this weekend.....



We do photos in front of Albert and Alberta as well as the real gator every year to gauge the girls growth....we should do it at Disney but truthfully I don't think we are ever the same spot twice??!!

Pregame!!
Haley and Samantha had juicey boxes and I'm sure DH and I had somethign with a little more oomph!

Haley already knows how to hold the ball!

honoring the '96 National Champ Team!

long day but Haley is still doing her chomp!

V- Talk about cute!

You guys are really lucky - they got your looks!

Seriously, that looks like great fun - college football is such a blast!

Sophia liked seeing the pictures - we are getting ready for a story and bed by 9:00.

John1

 

[MrsMork]

V- the game looked fun, your girls are absolutely adorable little Gaters! And yes, she does know how to hold that ball, no fumbles by that girl!!

 

[lbgraves]

Lisa , By chance did my youngest sister get her information to you ??? U I havent talked to her in a few days and I was making sure cause I think we are all paying in full like tomorrow or thursday so we wont have to worry about WLE ...

Yes, it is in my PMs somewhere. I have no idea who is and isn't PIF.

 

[becka]

Great pics John1 and V. Your girls are so cute!

 

[Jhalkias]

Getting close to another milestone!

John1

 

[lbgraves]

Yep --- I'm having a large OT order....my problem is --- how many do I get? Anyone have any ideas? I want to have enough wihtout ordering tons extra if you know what I mean!

I guess I should just go by your total people count Lisa?

I am guessing 180-200. After that...sorry.

 

[becka]

I didn't get a chance to call DCL today. Can anyone post the # I need to call so I can do that tomorrow morning?

 

[tynkerbell]

Don't tell me noone caught this one.

Ya know, I totally didn't catch that at first, I guess I knew what she meant so I glazed over it.

 

[lbgraves]

Don't you guys ever quit?????

 

[lbgraves]

It is in the FAQ thread on that other cruise board.

 

[Jhalkias]

To all my Mac Geeks (and iPod Geeks) . . .

On a podcast I listen to, This Week In Tech (TWIT) - they are guessing new video iPod to be released on Sept. 12 with the MacExpo in Paris.

!

John1

 

[lbgraves]

BTW, where did I misspell your name on the site? Nevermind...found it.

 

[becka]

BTW, where did I misspell your name on the site? Nevermind...found it.

I think you fixed most of them but it is still listed as 'becca' on the pre-cruise plans and linked dining pages.

 

[lillygator]

John - I remember your post but I didn't know they had one close by....I will check out the website ---Tampa is a much quicker drive than WDW!!

 

[lillygator]

Lisa - so you think around 200? Once you add Todd's family ---what will your website count be? Do you think it's best I go by that?

 

[lbgraves]

One good thing about NCLB is that there is a lot of money associated with it that can be used for tutoring. SO any child who is fallng behind may have monies available to them for very expensive tutoring. There is a local company sprouting up here trying to capitalize on these funds being available and offering online and in person tutoring help.

elaine

Too bad the big wigs in DC couldn't pass the basic math portion of the test. Their figuring with the scores is so screwed up there is no way that the findings can be anywhere close to acurate.

 

[Jhalkias]

John - I remember your post but I didn't know they had one close by....I will check out the website ---Tampa is a much quicker drive than WDW!!

V - here is the address . . .

International Plaza
Mall Info Map Rooms

2223 N West Shore Blvd
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 348-0464

John1

 

[lbgraves]

Lisa - so you think around 200? Once you add Todd's family ---what will your website count be? Do you think it's best I go by that?

I only have his sister & DH to add. The other person who joined this week too. There is always a rush before the cruise but I am thinking that we can cut off counts for this kind of stuff a month before the cruise. Everyone could always just order a few extras to be safe.

 

[lbgraves]

Angie - I am sure you'll have a great time this weekend!! Hope the weather is great out there!

My mom just stopped by....we sort of had it out last night. I had basically bottled up my anger toward her over the years and I finally let it all out. She left in tears yesterday and I spent most of the night crying as well. She came over today and apologized and actually told me my points were valid and that she will try and work on the issues going forward. I'm sure a lot also has to do with fear of not hearing from me and not seeing the girls. Even though I was upset last night I felt and do feel much much better. I've been walking on eggshells around her my entire life basically and I no longer feel the need to think if her first before doing anything. It feels good.


So today my house is a disaster....and I don't care. I am going to DIS and enjoy the day!

 

[Jhalkias]

Too bad the big wigs in DC couldn't pass the basic math portion of the test. Their figuring with the scores is so screwed up there is no way that the findings can be anywhere close to acurate.

OK, meant to comment on this, and forgot . . .

The problem is, that the kids who would qualify for tutoring come from failing schools - more often then not, it is not as much the schools that are failing, as it is the PARENTS.

So, you get a company to get all this money for tutoring, with parents who either don't give a rat's you know what about their child's education, or who do not know anything about quality tutoring. There is virtually no oversight to make sure the tutors are doing a good job, so, money down the drain.

While there will be some good tutoring options out there, where there is money, there is greed. We have seen that in Ohio with Charter schools. Lovely idea for a marshmallow world, but the truth is that most charter school score BELOW public schools, and most kids are dismally failing in this experiment that thinks that market forces can provide a good education.

Without the oversight of a community, parents, and a school board, all that happens is some fat cats that run charter schools get fatter. Rather than pay good teachers a good wage and benefits, we pour our tax dollars down this sinkhole, and the money is sucked out of our state, and the kids are truly "left behind".

As to the politicians - including Spellings - you can't understand what is happening on the ground when you only fly at 35,000 feet!

OK - enough of my rant.

John1