12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 7

[tynkerbell]

We always hear that people would rather write a check so we did this last year. We needed money to pay off the playground equipment and didn't have it. We didn't want to run another regular rundraiser. We asked for $10 per child. We only received $300 in donations...including one 100 check. We wont waste our time on that again.

I'm surprised. I would think they'd have appreciated not having to deal with a fundraiser thing.

 

[brack]

so DH likes to do his wash as soon as it is dirty or he likes hanging in the laundry room - I mean who really likes laundry? maybe it's just the quarters he likes.

I do call the laundry room my office. Because everyone else has a desk or an office - why shouldn't I?

My first job was in a laundromat while I was high school. Across from our house in Raleigh was a laundromat. For $25 per week (cash under the table) I took care of it for the owner. I also got to wash clothes for free. Guess what my Mom did? Right, I got to do the wash for the family. It has just stuck and I do most of the wash for our family now.

Also, when my DW and I were dating she had to do her family wash on Saturday. If I wanted to spend time with her then I had to go with her to the laundromat. There's nothing like a romantic Saturday morning in the laundromat. The stories I could tell .......

I still like hanging in a laundromat with my honey.

 

[goofyforlife]

I printed the directions to Knoebels and MapQuest says about 150 miles and just under 3 hours. It looks like discussion time tonight. I would love to verify that they do not mind small dogs. That would really make things easier.

From their website:

Guest Services at Knoebels

Q: Does Knoebels allow pets?

A: Although not encouraged, we allow pets as long as they are on a leash, remain under control at all times, and owners assume all sanitary responsibility. Pets are not allowed on rides, near food stands, in gift shops, museums, arcades or within the boundaries of the Crystal Pool and other posted areas.

Brandi will back me up too. I've seen dogs there every time we've gone.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

I've not been on the boards much for the last couple of weeks. We've had some family health problems.

My DFIL was in the hospital to have gall bladder surgery...the morning he was to have the surgery they tried to wake him, he was unresponsive. He had had a stroke. They say he would not have survived if he had not been in the hospital when it happened. The doctors are still only giving him a 50% chance of survival.

They've kept him sedated since the stroke, and we will not no how much damage was done until he wakes. Right now they are weening him off of the sedation so we should no more in the next few days.

My DMIL is not totally able to take care of herself and he has been her primary caregiver for a while. So we have her at our home, and are going back and forth between here and the Hospital in Mississippi a lot.

Needless to say...it has been a tough couple of weeks, but we are getting by. We could definitely use your prayers and good vibes.

I am so sorry about your FIL. We will keep your whole family in our prayers. Take care.

 

[lbgraves]

I'm surprised. I would think they'd have appreciated not having to deal with a fundraiser thing.

I would rather do that as well but now we have tried it & don't have to listen to anyone complain about it. Actually, our frozen food fundraiser is a really successful one for us. I don't mind buying the products because they are a good price & we are already familiar with the quality. I HATE the junky trinket mess!!!

 

[brack]

My long lost secretary visited today with her new born baby boy. He is so cute and my DW is going to be so jealous that I got to hold him.

I have missed my secretary a lot! We have tried to keep up without a temp but it is way behind. She says that she will be back after next week ...... maybe. I am praying for this.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

I agree about pics 2x per year - why?

the other parents look at me funny when I don't order the soccer pics. we seem to be the only ones who don't. the teams are formed from all 4 elementary schools and most of the kids we don't even know and will not see again.

we have to apparently pay for the pics sight unseen - is that possible?

ok, I guess I just have to suck it up about all this stuff and get with the program. I'll have to be a renegade about something else.

elaine

elaine - our school does it for a couple reasons. First - some kids miss the day b/c of illness. Second, some parents do a more dresssy/formal pix in the fall and a casual one in the spring (I am not one of these parents) Third, if the fall doesn't turn out nice, you get a second chance and Fourth - most important - it is actuallly a fund raiser believe it or not. The school gets a percentage of the sales with very little effort.

 

[brack]

OK I really am going to do some work now. Later .....

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Hello why would I want to buy a pic of my kid from school 1, after breakfast 2, after first rec. 3, without his hair combed 4, a cleaned face. Sorry my list could go on and on and on, not to mention the face smile or just plain stupid looking face they make. I was a photog. for a while and I was very picky about how the kids look. I wouldn't want something like that on my wall. Just picky about it. I always hated DD school pic and stopped buying them in about the 3rd grade.

Wow - that's how I felt but never did anyone else agree with me. YIPPEE!!!! SOmeone feels teh same way. But you fogot to mention how expensive they are compared with taking them to so many other place.

 

[kimerinc]

Kim - does Wooden Soldier carry boutique labels or is it their own label clothes?

I thought WS was a little cheaper than Storybook Heirlooms actually.

I called WS and asked if any of their summer stuff was on sale and the woman who answered haughtily told me that they don't have sales. LOL.

well ok but guess who is not paying full price then.

I bet the stores get the sale stuff though.

they carry boutique labels. But my friend who owns a childrens store, often has the same clothes in her store and I can get a better deal... I have never seen thier coats anywhere else, but in thier catalog.

 

[kimerinc]

oh, and I just got to the farklemt post, Kim.

my D-MIL can help with your yiddish - and it can be used to fill some foreign language requirements at university. LOL.

elaine

Oh good, cause my Yiddish is not good! Of course niether is my spanish or chinese, and sometimes my english is sad too!

 

[MrsMork]

My first job was in a laundromat while I was high school. Across from our house in Raleigh was a laundromat. For $25 per week (cash under the table) I took care of it for the owner. I also got to wash clothes for free. Guess what my Mom did? Right, I got to do the wash for the family. It has just stuck and I do most of the wash for our family now.

Also, when my DW and I were dating she had to do her family wash on Saturday. If I wanted to spend time with her then I had to go with her to the laundromat. There's nothing like a romantic Saturday morning in the laundromat. The stories I could tell .......

I still like hanging in a laundromat with my honey.

I like these stories, Brack. See you can find romance anywhere!

 

[MrsMork]

My long lost secretary visited today with her new born baby boy. He is so cute and my DW is going to be so jealous that I got to hold him.

I have missed my secretary a lot! We have tried to keep up without a temp but it is way behind. She says that she will be back after next week ...... maybe. I am praying for this.

AAAWWWW. New babies are the best! And experienced secretaries are second best!

 

[kimerinc]

DH and I COMPLETELY agree. We would much rather crack the school a check than have to buy stuff that we don't really need and ask friends and family to buy stuff they don't need and deal with them getting cranky since they've already been hit up by tons of fund raisers that week as well.

I have to tell you I raised this same issue last week at PTA and we are changing the rules. A lot of the kids want to participate and win prizes, but in all honesty most parents I know would rather give $5 to the school that buy a $5 item that gives $2.50 to the school when they really don't need it. So we are giving prizes on money earned not amount sold. That way parents, and my parents who really hated buying stuff last year but did for DD, can just give a donation. And, all the kids can still get thier candy for participating and maybe win a prize.

 

[MrsMork]

Break's over. Back to work.

 

[kimerinc]

I got up early this morning and got back on the treadmill. Why do I always assume I can just jump back on and run the same way I did when I was doing it every day? I want to so bad, but then my knee starts to hurt and I can't breath and I have to walk again.

This is so frustrating! It is my own *(&*^% fault, but it is still frustrating...

 

[MommyMinnie]

Speaking of stupid fundraisers,
Here's something that happened at DH's work.
The new boss wants to hold an open house to show off her new office and department. She researched the cost of the party and is asking everyone in the department to donate $51 for the event.

Sorry, the Howard family will not participate.

 

[elaineteresa]

I agree with Lisa as much as people say they will write the check I think in the end they never do it.

It was also helpful to hear that everyone goes through the same thing - the rules you have in business just don't seem to apply to this school stuff. Kim, I get the point that they are trying to collect the money early in the school year so they have it all year. NOw that I understand does that mean I have to buy more t-shirts? LOL.

elaine

 

[lbgraves]

I have to tell you I raised this same issue last week at PTA and we are changing the rules. A lot of the kids want to participate and win prizes, but in all honesty most parents I know would rather give $5 to the school that buy a $5 item that gives $2.50 to the school when they really don't need it. So we are giving prizes on money earned not amount sold. That way parents, and my parents who really hated buying stuff last year but did for DD, can just give a donation. And, all the kids can still get thier candy for participating and maybe win a prize.

Usually the issue with the prizes in the catalogs is that the company selling the product provides the prizes. If they don't get the money (like with a donation) they don't give a prize. The PTO has to be able to provide prizes for donations on their own. We aren't allowed to give out candy as a reward.

 

[MommyMinnie]

I got up early this morning and got back on the treadmill. Why do I always assume I can just jump back on and run the same way I did when I was doing it every day? I want to so bad, but then my knee starts to hurt and I can't breath and I have to walk again.

This is so frustrating! It is my own *(&*^% fault, but it is still frustrating...

Just be proud that your treadmill is available. Most I've seen have become closet space.