9/19/09 Western Magic

[MelissaE1]

...hopefully once dh get's his vacation time later in the week we will be booking this cruise!

Hi there! Hope everything works out for you!

 

[hannahguad]

Hi Melissa!
Yep, everyone sure is quiet on here! I figure it will pick up after the first of the year! I of course obsessively check the disboards. I think it is the one way I can get my disney fix. I try and live in other people's vacations with pre-trip reports and post-pictures. Which it hasn't helped much, I went and booked a Disneyland trip for the beginning of December. I didn't think I could wait until next year for the cruise and it is my last bang before going back to school.
I had about 27 credits already. I am a certified medical assistant and was able to carry my credits over. Even though I hadn't been to school in about 20 years!! My advisor made a lot of my credits 'blend into' requirements so I either don't have to take some courses or we modified it to where I just take 'refresher'. The state of Arizona requires 120 credits in order to become certified as a teacher. Then special ed. is more. I am doing my major in Early Childhood Education and then a minor in Child Psychology. At least that is my plan. Although, having a child with special needs makes me not really live life by the book, but take things as they come and roll with them. So hopefully by the time she graduates high school (she is in 6th grade), I will be done. Take care!!

 

[LoriS]

Hey Folks,

Just wondering if you all have already chosen your excursions/activities for our 2009 cruise. Any advice on what to do in Cozumel and Grand Cayman?
(we are 2 adults and DD will be 7 at the time of cruising)

I thank you guys in advance for your help.

Dennis

When we were on Cozumel last month, we did the dolphin encounter at Chankanaab, and it was fantastic. Both of my girls did it, that are 5 and 8.

 

[michelle9343]

Hi Melissa!
Yep, everyone sure is quiet on here! I figure it will pick up after the first of the year! I of course obsessively check the disboards. I think it is the one way I can get my disney fix. I try and live in other people's vacations with pre-trip reports and post-pictures. Which it hasn't helped much, I went and booked a Disneyland trip for the beginning of December. I didn't think I could wait until next year for the cruise and it is my last bang before going back to school.
I had about 27 credits already. I am a certified medical assistant and was able to carry my credits over. Even though I hadn't been to school in about 20 years!! My advisor made a lot of my credits 'blend into' requirements so I either don't have to take some courses or we modified it to where I just take 'refresher'. The state of Arizona requires 120 credits in order to become certified as a teacher. Then special ed. is more. I am doing my major in Early Childhood Education and then a minor in Child Psychology. At least that is my plan. Although, having a child with special needs makes me not really live life by the book, but take things as they come and roll with them. So hopefully by the time she graduates high school (she is in 6th grade), I will be done. Take care!!

Hi Guys
I had to chime in about the christmas shopping and decorating. I LOVE Christmas and last year I but up 11 Christmas trees in my house, not little ones either ,the full 5-7 ft type. They are all different themes....
I love black Friday shopping. Last year I went to Kohls at 2:30 AM!!!!!

I also have a special love for anyone going into special education. My DD has a rare genetic disorder and is mentally and phyically disabled.It takes a very special person to work with our special kids!!!!!!

 

[hannahguad]

Hi Michelle,
I think my husband would really turn me into the looney bin if I did all those Christmas trees!! HAHA I did put one up in my daughters room though, as well as our usual living room one. And then I put lights and ornaments on a fake tree I have in my other room. Wait until he sees that I plan on putting lights on all of the trees in the front as well as in the back yard and the walls this year! I did ask him if he wanted to go and help me with my moms Christmas lights this weekend so I can focus on our own. I think he said something about psy----?? Couldn't catch the mumbling. Ah well, guess I can focus on my own.
How old is your daughter? My is 11 yrs. old and has CP. Which is basically because they could never figure out what is wrong with her. She has had a bundle of problems since the time she was born(almost 6 wks premature). My whole life I knew that I always wanted to make a difference in peoples lives. I didn't realize that life would be my own child! I noticed I have extreme patience of kids with special needs. They are awesome people and society has a tendency not to let them be heard in their own way.
Well, off my podium about special needs kids and onto making my shopping list for black Friday

 

[michelle9343]

Hi Michelle,
I think my husband would really turn me into the looney bin if I did all those Christmas trees!! HAHA I did put one up in my daughters room though, as well as our usual living room one. And then I put lights and ornaments on a fake tree I have in my other room. Wait until he sees that I plan on putting lights on all of the trees in the front as well as in the back yard and the walls this year! I did ask him if he wanted to go and help me with my moms Christmas lights this weekend so I can focus on our own. I think he said something about psy----?? Couldn't catch the mumbling. Ah well, guess I can focus on my own.
How old is your daughter? My is 11 yrs. old and has CP. Which is basically because they could never figure out what is wrong with her. She has had a bundle of problems since the time she was born(almost 6 wks premature). My whole life I knew that I always wanted to make a difference in peoples lives. I didn't realize that life would be my own child! I noticed I have extreme patience of kids with special needs. They are awesome people and society has a tendency not to let them be heard in their own way.
Well, off my podium about special needs kids and onto making my shopping list for black Friday

Funny my DH knows I am crazy !!!!!We will be starting to decorate next weekend. We are actually staying at Fort Wilderness this week and going to MVMCP on Monday to help jump start the holiday.
My daughter is 10 1/2 , she will be 11 in Feb. She has a rare genetic disorder, ringed 22nd chromosome. I have always had a special place in my heart for the disabled . Growing up I babysat for a little boy with down syndrome and helped out at a group home ., I figure I was being trained for a long time.

 

[LoriS]

We usually do our decorating the weekend after Thaksgiving. I love doing the decorating, but dread having to take it all down after Christmas.

 

[MelissaE1]

I think you guys are lighting a fire under me. I've been REALLY thinking about going back to school pronto. At least starting with a class or two. I've done stuff with Down Syndrome kids, Autistic kids, drug babies, Aspergers, etc. and I really enjoy special needs. Maybe it's time to do something about it. I think I'll make an appt. with the local college and see what they say.

Michelle (if you don't mind me asking), what are your DD's special attributes with the ringed 22? I am very interested in chromosomal issues. I used to post on a miscarriage board before my oldest was born and one of my friend's husbands had a balanced translocation, resulting in 3 out of 4 of their conceptions having Trisomy 18 (not good). There are so many things that have to go right genetically it's truly a miracle that we exist at all.

Karen, do you follow any of the Black Friday websites, i.e. Slickdeals, etc.? It seems like the ads are leaking out so S L O W L Y this year, and the companies are more apt to ask them to be pulled. It's making me crazy! How can spend days figuring out where to idiotically wait in line if I don't know what's out there?

 

[hannahguad]

Hi Melissa,
The one site that I follow for BF is bfads.net. I signed up for that site several years ago and really like that it doesn't 'push' different ads on you. I agree that the ads are slowww this year. I actually was reading some of the people that post on that site today and they were talking about camping out at Best Buy starting on Monday before Thanksgiving. I'm sorry, I just can't justify doing that! Now, there has been times that we just don't go to bed after we clean up dinner and head out at 2:00a.m. . We are lucky enough here to not have snow, and when it is in the low 60's, we complain that we are freezing...
Now stop reading/planning and go find out about college!! Then, when this cruise comes up, I will meet you in the bar to do homework !
Michelle, I am completely jeolous that you are in DW this week!! Hope you are having a great time! I can't wait to meet your DD! Mine will be 11 in April!
LoriS, totally agree with you about taking the stuff down!! I am one to start getting the stuff down Christmas evening! I think after all the planning, cooking, decorating and excitement, I am ready for it to be over. This year, I will probably start doing it that night as well, because I know it will be one major holiday done with before the cruise!!

 

[LoriS]

LoriS, totally agree with you about taking the stuff down!! I am one to start getting the stuff down Christmas evening! I think after all the planning, cooking, decorating and excitement, I am ready for it to be over. This year, I will probably start doing it that night as well, because I know it will be one major holiday done with before the cruise!!

I procrastinate taking the decorations as long as I can. I usually wait for 1-2 weeks into January. LOL

My dd's don't know we are going on this cruise yet. We haven't decided when we are going to tell them. THey know we want to, but I haven't told them it official.

The Fl weather is beautiful this week. I am hoping to get to Animal Kingdom on Friday, but we will see how much we get accomplished tomorrow.

 

[MelissaE1]

I actually was reading some of the people that post on that site today and they were talking about camping out at Best Buy starting on Monday before Thanksgiving.

Oh my! I don't want anything that badly! I don't even go early every year, but this year I am looking for a new TV, and I know the deals are going to require lining up. It can be fun every once in a while... but not 4 or 5 days early!! Some people are nuts!

Now stop reading/planning and go find out about college!! Then, when this cruise comes up, I will meet you in the bar to do homework !

OK, you can take personal credit for the fact that I went from thinking to taking a step... I emailed the admissions office of our local college this morning and asked them what I needed to do to set up an appointment. Um, yeah... homework at the bar... I want to know what we're going to be studying in there! Maybe we could switch from inside to outside bars and see if sunlight has any effect on the taste of Konk Koolers? Surely that's educational!

 

[MelissaE1]

I procrastinate taking the decorations as long as I can. I usually wait for 1-2 weeks into January. LOL

I'm a slow decoration taker-downer too... it always feels like such a bummer. My DH's mom taught him that it's bad luck to leave them up past New Years though, so as soon as the first of January rolls around, down they come... whether I help or not.

We've been having beautiful weather also, but up here on the Panhandle we are actually going to get a cold snap starting this weekend. Down in the 30's at night, brrrr!!

 

[hannahguad]

I had thought about getting my bartenders license, but, I am afraid I would want to sample all the drinks, then that could become a problem . I am excited for you for making that call. I started my first class over the summer and then decided to take a break for the holidays. I am starting back up in January, going through summer to end in August and then take the next couple months off again. That gives me time to do cruise stuff and get through the withdrawals of it being over That is my intentions at least, provided no family emergencies come about.

I usually take my stuff down fast so I can see how much room I have in order to buy more stuff the day after Christmas. I am a shopping/clearance freak!! I have already purchased my daughters teachers gifts and her therapists gifts. (I LOVE Costco!)

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Oh my! I don't want anything that badly! I don't even go early every year, but this year I am looking for a new TV, and I know the deals are going to require lining up. It can be fun every once in a while... but not 4 or 5 days early!! Some people are nuts!

Hi Melissa, just an FYI.....two years ago I bought 2 new TVs on Black Friday and didn't even go to the store!!! At midnight I went online to Walmart's site and they honored the price online and I just clicked and they were delivered to the house. No early morning wake ups and no lines.

 

[MelissaE1]

Hi Melissa, just an FYI.....two years ago I bought 2 new TVs on Black Friday and didn't even go to the store!!! At midnight I went online to Walmart's site and they honored the price online and I just clicked and they were delivered to the house. No early morning wake ups and no lines.

Hi Deb, thanks for the heads up! How did you do that? Did you match from Walmart's own flyer, and the prices online were the same at midnight EST? Boy, that would sure be handy.


Karen, I'm like you... a clearance/deal freak. It's so much fun! If you don't already, check out slickdeals dot net. Specifically the hot deals forum. Talk about deal freaks! If there's one out there, someone will post it within minutes, I swear. The other day I got about $90 worth of stuff from Victoria's Secret for around $24 shipped because someone posted triple stacking coupons. Pretty cool site!

Now too bad I'm not organized like you... I'll no doubt be out buying the teacher gifts the day before I need them, lol.

 

[LoriS]

Funny my DH knows I am crazy !!!!!We will be starting to decorate next weekend. We are actually staying at Fort Wilderness this week and going to MVMCP on Monday to help jump start the holiday.
My daughter is 10 1/2 , she will be 11 in Feb. She has a rare genetic disorder, ringed 22nd chromosome. I have always had a special place in my heart for the disabled . Growing up I babysat for a little boy with down syndrome and helped out at a group home ., I figure I was being trained for a long time.

Michelle, I just noticed you live in Clermont too. I have been living in the Four Corners area for over 10 years now. It's amazing how much the area has grown in that time.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Hi Deb, thanks for the heads up! How did you do that? Did you match from Walmart's own flyer, and the prices online were the same at midnight EST? Boy, that would sure be handy.

Exactly....we got the flyer and I picked out the TVs that I wanted. I went online and put the item number in the search. The price matched the flyer and I bought them. Click, click, done.....it was so easy. Check out the flyer and then look online even the evening before Black Friday. I think I did it before midnight....EST. Check late Turkey Day evening. If not the reduced price yet, then wait until midnight. Happy shopping!

 

[nvcruiser]

I've paid my deposit and am coming along! I am SO excited! It'll be my birthday on the 19th (great way to start the cruise) and I get to take this one solo... which makes me even more excited! The countdown is on!

 

[MelissaE1]

I've paid my deposit and am coming along! I am SO excited! It'll be my birthday on the 19th (great way to start the cruise) and I get to take this one solo... which makes me even more excited! The countdown is on!

Hi and welcome to the thread! Can't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday. We have quite a few bday people on board if I remember correctly... my dd will turn 11 on the 28th, so we'll be celebrating onboard also. I'm starting to think we just need to have a big DIS bday party!

 

[MelissaE1]

I just noticed that Stacy modified the first page of our thread with the FE list and any celebrations (bdays, anniversaries, etc) It says you can email with celebrations and she will add them. Maybe she's coming with us again? Hope so. If not, it's pretty nice of her to post stuff for us.

Just a heads up.