12/16/06 10-day holiday cruise Part 3

[DCLgodess]

Jen,
You have only been posting one line at a time,have you been busy? and have you entered int any more Events?

yeah..entered this weekend....and yeah been busy...midterms coming up

 

[KSDTink]

DD is home today because she seems to have the stomach bug that has been going around, poor kid. DH is home with her. Me, I'm stuck at work. Ugh.

I ordered some things from Amazon for DH, DD, DM and DF and this morning I got the email saying the box had been shipped. Shortly after that I got an email from our mailroom saying I had a package. It was my order from Amazon! Wow, that was quick! Instant mail! Except for anything I might find on the cruise I am pretty much done for DM I think. DD keeps saying she wants a gameboy but that is just more money than we can spend this year, I think. Though I brought some CDs and stuff in to work today to sell and I have already made close to $50! More for the vacation fund! I am really hoping that I won't have to use the credit card at all on this cruise. Right now I know I have enough in the shipboard account, my vacation account and from Disney Visa card rewards that all DCL excursions for all three of us will be covered as well as tips on board. As long as we don't go too crazy other things on board should be ok too (shopping, pictures, drinks, etc). Now to get DH's Key West dive covered and any purchases on shore! I think I am going to tell my family we want $$$ this year instead of stuff!!!! That should do it!

 

[tink&cinderella]

You know what really sucks is that us CDN cannot apply for a Disney Visa - I 've asked, Iv'e begged, I've asked if I can do it with a P.O Box - no need some kind of Security #

 

[KSDTink]

Security number? Chase won't issue a credit card just because you are Canadian? That blows! They do online billing so it isn't like they'd need to send you bills or anything! Go figure. Well, after the cruise I am going to cancel mine anyway.

 

[3pirates]

My experience is that by the time they are old enough to be over everything they want is $$$$$$ ! We're trying to manage expectations this year, but DS10 doesn't know the deal, so we've got to come through with something for everyone. Older brothers love that!

I envy your little putaway fund. I'm sure everything we do will be on plastic. The trip is paid for as is the Disney stay after (thanks in part to DVC) but all of the tips, spending, excursions and will be "carded." Oh well, I just won't buy groceries when we get back--we'll all need to cut back on food anyhow!

 

[KSDTink]

I've been putting my pocket change, rebate checks, etc into a vacation account for about a year now. I took some out for my trip to Vancouver last month and some when I took DD to Chicago for her birthday. If I hadn't I know I'd be set for the cruise. Every day I put my pocket change in a bank on my dresser and when it is full I roll the coins and take them to the bank. I have gotten little bits here and there for rebates, money back when doctors are overpaid, money from the rummage sale this summer, etc. It adds up after a while. I do the laundry, so when DH leaves money in his pockets that goes in too! He often leaves change and a dollar bill or two so that gets thrown in too. By doing it this way it is pretty easy and builds up faster than you'd think. The power company was requiring that trees near power lines be cut down or trimmed recently. For allowing them to trim our maple tree way back from the lines they sent us a check for $200! That went into the vacation account. That's two of DH's scuba excursions!

 

["Got Disney"]

I have thought about getting the DVC but interest seems so high..is it worth to get? do you save that much to pay for things. We save about 15 -$20,000 year for our vacations depending on the vacation...if we have to put anything on charge cards we don't go. We have been working hard to get rid of charge cards. Interest rates have gone up so high that they are just ripping us off.
Great vacations sure cost alot don't they!!!! but we look at it this way. We never know what tomorrow may bring so we need to get all out of life that we can. Because tomorrow we may not be able to and we would say"Why did we not do it when we had the chance to travel with the kids".
We have lost 2 best friends one through CAncer and one through Heart attack and the one who had Cancer went on DCL 2 times year...they have many memories(also were milionairs so had the big bucks) the other never went anywhere and all she said was 'Well we can't go need to use it for bills" although they could have because the $$ was there.
So remember even if it is not on Disney be sure to go somewhere...we also go camping every summer and look forward to that...although done with tenting ..I like haveing a microwave,bathroon,shower,oven,stovetop and bed to sleep in..so we use the motorhome and as my sister would say"Thats not Camping"

 

[DCLgodess]

okay i am going to say this for people reading this thread and not posting...

DO NOT EMAIL ME THROUGH THE BOARDS!
the email address i used for the boards gets 500 emails i day...i don't read them all so there is only a 50% chance of me actually seeing your mail...email me directly at the address in my signature...I WILL READ IT! thanks

you all of done a great job...but "lurkers" seem to not read my signature...lol..oh well...i found an email from the dis from a group going on this cruise amongst 400 other emails...lol

 

[KSDTink]

I saw a post on the main cruise board from a single mom going on the cruise looking to see if there were other single moms. Looks like she's pretty new to the boards so I invited her over, have to see if she drops in.

 

["Got Disney"]

okay i am going to say this for people reading this thread and not posting...

DO NOT EMAIL ME THROUGH THE BOARDS!
the email address i used for the boards gets 500 emails i day...i don't read them all so there is only a 50% chance of me actually seeing your mail...email me directly at the address in my signature...I WILL READ IT! thanks

you all of done a great job...but "lurkers" seem to not read my signature...lol..oh well...i found an email from the dis from a group going on this cruise amongst 400 other emails...lol

You lost me Jen.. What boards are you refering to that others are using for you? 500 e-mails girl you are pretty popular!!!LOL

 

["Got Disney"]

Could someone please explain how you are doing the Ornament Exchange?

Robin

 

[DCLgodess]

You lost me Jen.. What boards are you refering to that others are using for you? 500 e-mails girl you are pretty popular!!!LOL

between work, internships, school, and personal i get...lol... and i am a member of a vince flynn board, NCIS forum, Dis boards, reining forum, barrel racing forum, etc....I am just saying...i set up the account in my sig just for the purpose of organizing the DIS mail.....i know its easy to just click my board name and send me mail...i get some and not others..not trying to be difficult. i just want to make sure i get the mail

 

[KSDTink]

Could someone please explain how you are doing the Ornament Exchange?

Robin

I don't know if that has ever been decided! I know we have talked about having the ornament be something local for the person giving the ornament (representing where you are from, etc). Beyond that I haven't seen much on this. At some popint we should decide on when and where we are doing this. I think the biggest problem with that was trying to find a space that would hold everyone! I suppose we need to find out who wants to participate and go from there. Then probably look at a time on a sea day or something and try to find a spot....

 

[fabulusk]

Wow you guys have been busy posting.

Dee - If I didn't answer you, yes yahoo.com.

Oh PTA I won't go there because I know many of you have been there. I do love PTA though. But can't we all just get along.

Ornament Exchange - We are in! I have the perfect one.

I know about the $$. We are just getting ready to pay the second half of property taxes. $$ I think I have some stress.

Thank you guys for putting up with my rants. I need to go exercise to stress relieve. Chat with you later.

 

[Disney Rocks]

I don't know if that has ever been decided! I know we have talked about having the ornament be something local for the person giving the ornament (representing where you are from, etc). Beyond that I haven't seen much on this. At some popint we should decide on when and where we are doing this. I think the biggest problem with that was trying to find a space that would hold everyone! I suppose we need to find out who wants to participate and go from there. Then probably look at a time on a sea day or something and try to find a spot....

We would certainly enjoy participating in the ornament exchange. That would be a lot of fun and a great way to spend some time together.

Take care.

 

[DCLgodess]

what is the ornament exchange (besides the obvious part of exchanging ornaments...what kind? etc)

 

["Got Disney"]

what is the ornament exchange (besides the obvious part of exchanging ornaments...what kind? etc)

Well anytime I have been involved in a Ornament exchange,everyone who wants to preticipate buys one Ornament and then you get a number and the one with the lowest # starts first. You all hold your Ornaments and the first person to go picks the Ornament they want. The next person #2 can take that ornament that #1 picked or pick another. Each ornament can only change hands 2 times. Have you ever done "White Elephant" gifts before at Christmas..you do the same with the Ornaments except the group can decide whether to buy nice Ornaments of the Uglyest one you can find...the uglyest has always been the most fun but nice Ornaments are fun also. You also put a price on it like no one can buy any Ornament for more than $15.00.
Nice way to share,everyone gets one and not alot of $ spent so everyone walks away with a gift.

Robin

 

[dee47]

Robin, that's exactly how we did it in 04. We got together in the lounge after St.Maarten (I think it was 4:30PM or so...) Some of the kids participated as well. That was fun. We should contact DCL and see about reserving a place once we agree on day and time...

In other news, Keith might need braces...once I talk to the orthodontist, it may come down to a choice between cruise and braces...

 

[3pirates]

We'll go in on an ornament exchange! I've done White Elephants just the way you talked about with my Bunco group--it's very fun!

Dee, no way! Talk to your orthodontist about payments. Braces for kids this age usually are on for awhile, so they will take payment over time. It's actually a better idea so that if you end up relocating or finding fault with the orthodontist before the treatment ends you haven't already paid for everything. Also make sure he really needs them now. Our orthodontist wanted to put my (then fifth grader) in braces, even though he hadn't lost all of his permanent teeth. I asked him about waiting, and reluctantly he agreed. Turns out that my then fifth grader is now a sophomore, and is still getting his last permanent tooth. He's had these braces for about a year. He would have been in braces the whole time -- we've known other kids that were -- waiting for that same tooth we're waiting on now--but the guy would have guaranteed our business, and already had the money!

Jen, I was at Target today (Halloween costume mission) and saw a whole display of your Vince Flynn book. I would have offered to get you one, but I'm guessing your Amazon copy has arrived?

 

["Got Disney"]

Robin, that's exactly how we did it in 04. We got together in the lounge after St.Maarten (I think it was 4:30PM or so...) Some of the kids participated as well. That was fun. We should contact DCL and see about reserving a place once we agree on day and time...

In other news, Keith might need braces...once I talk to the orthodontist, it may come down to a choice between cruise and braces...

O'no miss the cruise...that would stink after all your planning. Can't put off for while getting those braces...Does he have all of his adult teeth yet? I lucked out with Branden not needing them but Michel will need to get them once all his baby teeth are gone...I hope Orthodontist says he's okay to wait awhile!