August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[MinnieDiva]

Sorry to hear about this
least you still have a job at this stage
Funny we were chatting the other day and with the rate of the dollar raising its making the cruise alot more for us
better for you though
But we still have a long way to go until we have to pay the final balance

Yes I listen to the dis unplugged , all about the Mouse and WDW Today and and a few others
Great for a long journey or when I'm doing the ironong

Which do u listen too
hope you are feeling better soon

I'd never thought about the exchange rate. Do you wait for favorable days before paying toward the balance?

The DIS, WDW today, and rarely WDW Radio (liked it when it was Mouse Tunes) are my favorites. I got all excited last week when they were talking about "Jackie who sent Haggis" but then she said it was a Jackie from Scotland......

Feeling ok. I'm all sorts of congested, but nowhere near as sick as my husband was. I'm at work tonight (now this morning) and was able to spend all day in bed yesterday. I had to sleep anyway, so at least I wasn't wasting an off day in bed. An fortunately, it's been rather calm and I haven't had to run around like a chicken with my head cut off!

3 hours and I can go and climb in bed!

k

 

[MinnieDiva]

I'm an accountant..Life is not as dire as I make it out to be, I'm just mad...working in corporate america is horrible..you work at the whim of people who think they deserve millions of $$ while cutting the salaries and benefites of those actually doing the work. I can actually go out tomorrow and double my salary based on the skills I have. My issue is flexibility. Right now I'm in a job where they need me more than I need them, so I work from home when I need to, leave early when I need to , etc...with 2 7 year olds that's worth more than money since my DH works about 1.5 hours from home...it's just that the money that I put away each week for the trip, now has to go to fund my real estate taxes, that my bonus used to fund and I don't like to travel unless I've saved up the money in advance.

Flexibility is key! I work per-diem (which means I give my availibility and am scheduled based on the shifts that are open), and have no intention of attempting full-time work. My husband works 24-hour shifts, so every other day he's gone ALL day long. Our daughter is 5, and we were lucky to find a babysitter here who is willing to work with our unusual schedule; we only use her in the early morning when our schedules overlap.

You must be very busy this time of year......

k

 

[clarasunnyside]

Is the Animators palate. I love the way the restaurant transforms and the look on the kids faces is priceless.

 

[clarasunnyside]

Flexibility is key! I work per-diem (which means I give my availibility and am scheduled based on the shifts that are open), and have no intention of attempting full-time work. My husband works 24-hour shifts, so every other day he's gone ALL day long. Our daughter is 5, and we were lucky to find a babysitter here who is willing to work with our unusual schedule; we only use her in the early morning when our schedules overlap.

You must be very busy this time of year......

k

I agree with both of you. I was a Social Worker for the City of NY for about 12 years and I was working 18 plus hours. and when the kids were born I realzied that someone else was caring for my kids while I took care of someone else child and when my younger son was born I ended up staying home for a year and loved it luckily I found a job with early intervention and I make up my own scheudle so I am there for drop offs and pick ups. My husband also works alot of hours and we just figured it would be good if at least one of us is around as much as possible.

I am just wondering with things so bad and so many people on the verge of cancelation because of finances, that Disney would not give some incentives especially for this cruise.

 

[jns]

Just looking at some photos and came across this one
it was on our 2007 cruise due to the weather we were not able to stop at Castaway cay so we got to dock at Nassus instead and meet up with the Wonder
it was a really fun day the crew were delighted as they got met up with friends they haven't seen for ages
was the first time the 2 ships were facing each each any other time they met they were always one in front of the other
The 2 ships kept sounding they horns all day

 

[jns]

Is the Animators palate. I love the way the restaurant transforms and the look on the kids faces is priceless.

This is my favourite restaurant too

 

[clarasunnyside]

Happy Valentie's Day everyone

 

[jns]

Happy Valentie's Day everyone

and the same to you
hope everyone has a nice day

We went out last night as DH has to work tonight
we have a really nice meal and then went to the pub
it was a good night

 

[MinnieDiva]

Happy Valentine's Day!

Not much in the way of anything happening here. I worked until 2330 last night, and DH works today. DD and I just got up from a nap (talk about decadent!) I'm thinking of making pancakes for dinner!!

k

 

[jns]

QOTW
Tell us a little bit about yourself

 

[MinnieDiva]

QOTW
Tell us a little bit about yourself

Ok all....don't rush to answer! I don't know about you all but I had to think about how to describe myself.

Well, I'm 34, DH and I have been married for 12 years, and DD (5) is the one and only for us. I hail originally from the SF Bay area, moved to CO for 8 years after I'd enlisted in the military (glad I did it, learned a lot, glad I'm out and never would do it again...). DH's job moved us to WA last May, and I'm very glad to be back on the West Coast. The center of the country has a very different mind set (spent some time in TX as well).

I was the type of student in high school that everyone thought would track quickly through college and figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up. It turned out that it took me 14 years to complete by Bachelor's degree. I am now a nurse, and have found my niche. On the road to becoming an RN, I was an EMT, a Paramedic, a "medical technician" in the military, and then a mommy before finishing up the last 2 loooonnnngggg years of schooling. I keep telling myself I'll go back for my master's, but I have no idea what in, and now I have a residency excuse not to go back yet.

I've already shared that I'm a foodie, and love learning about and consuming wine. And chocolate. Fortunately, I like to work out, so I'm normal-sized. I like to read, I love my computer (not just email or the web, I actually do videos and stuff), and I love a great night's sleep!!

My love of all things Disney was well-hidden from my DH until after DD was born. We'd been to Disneyland a few times together before we left CA, but it was on once DD was old enough for Disney movies! I love travel overall, but don't care for the plane flights. I see Valium in my future for the overseas flight....

Can't think of anything else to add at the moment. I'll edit if I can think of anything else....

k

 

[clarasunnyside]

Well for starters I am a Social Worker. I investigated child abuse for about 10 years then I had my boys and realized that I was working 18 hours daily and someone else was raising my children. I now work for the NYC Early Intervention program So I work with families who have children under three who have developmental delays, and the best part is that I make my own schedule. I have two boys 7 (Nikhil) and 9 (Anil). My Husband and I have been together for 15 years and married 9.
I am Puerto Rican and my husband is from India and yes it was a struggle for his family at first but they eventually came around and things are good now. My In laws actually lived down the street from me until last year when there was a gas explosion and my mother in law was in the house. So My father in law has been living with us. It has been to say the least the worst year in our lives. I loved her very much and she was our pillar. But we have to go on and we are all trying our best.

My Husband is the computer geek. He works for an Insurance Company and he is in charge of the IT work.

My husband is quiet and cool and collective. I am quiet but can the loud one if need be

We live in Queens, NY and we are about a ten minute car ride into Manhattan and we love it. We love the city.

And we had been talking about going to Europe since the kids are older and would appreciate it more(I think). And then they announced this trip and it is expensive but we figured we had some time to pay and we just love Disney.

 

[jns]

forgot to answer this question myself sorry

I'm Jackie Married to Michael for the last 22 years
have 3 boys , all still living at home at the moment
I was born in England to Irish parents but moved back to Ireland when I was young and never left again
We run a pub which has been in my husband family since 1888

feel in love with WDW our very first visit and have been 10 times since
we bought in to DVC 2 years ago and then we found DCL and feel even more in love with that

At this stage we are rethinking the Med cruise

Anyone want to post this weeks question

 

[MinnieDiva]

At this stage we are rethinking the Med cruise

Anyone want to post this weeks question [/QUOTE]

Oh no!!

I'm sure it's got to be a difficult decision for you, but I hope you stay with us! Although how much "us" is there anymore? Not too many people are posting regularly...
QOTW: What has been the best vacation you've ever taken, non-Disney included.

 

[AmyM]

I started the thread and am definitely going Just super busy with work and life and planning other vacations

 

[MinnieDiva]

I was wondering if you were still around!!

 

[AmyM]

Yes I'm still here I've been quite busy with family and my business. My son broke his arm bad last month and needed surgery and then my daughter wrecked her ankle in gymnastics I also need to hire someone at my office and have started interviewing. It has been soooo crazy I decided we all need a break and booked a last minute vacation to WDW over Easter. Gonna try to stay away from the crowds...lol.

P.S. My daughter just recently sprung on us that she's looking at a college in Seattle, is that anywhere near you?

 

[MinnieDiva]

Seattle is about a 2 hour drive as long as traffic isn't insane. We could get to Canada in an hour if we wanted to. Seattle is a great city! I'd love to live there if only DH's job was there! Is she thinking Univ WA or somewhere else?
Sounds like it's been really hectic! I envy the WDW trip! It'll be warm! We're going to Disneyland on March 24th, and I'm hoping for an average of at least 70 degrees!

 

[clarasunnyside]

WE are having a snow day today. Cannot believe that schools closed. first time in five years.


WHO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[MinnieDiva]

Thought you all might be interested in this tidbit!

So this week I was officially 1/2 paid off (just the cruise part, no airfare) and decided to email the travel agency and inquire about transfers and if they book hotel pre and post cruise. What they had pre-cruise was limited to Le Meridian (they have a website..check it out) and were quoting me $2500 for 3 nights. Nope, I didn't mistakenly add a zero. So I tinkered on line with that hotel and a few others that she'd listed as available post-cruise, and found out that at the moment, the only hotel that is listing availability to book this far out was indeed Le Meridian. For a significantly lesser rate of 199.00 Euro/night. Hmmmmm, let me see......ok, no brainer there. The only down side is that I was only able to add transfers from hotel to port and port back to hotel. I figured that I could get a taxi from the airport for, say, less than the $1500 I'm saving by not booking thru disney? Holy cow!!! So fellow cruisers....be warned!!

And.....did y'all hear my email on the podcast this week?

kim