DDA chapter 21

[Tammi67]

On the chance that it WON'T be fixed, and in the interest of an extra bathroom, I might book Kidani.

But then you have that whole towel thing.

 

[Tammi67]

It is so hard to tell about apartment complexes from the websites. I would look around the complex during the day, then I would go back in the evening and see if it gets scary. I would look online for crime stats. Will your apt. have a washer & dryer included? Burglar alarm? I would be all about safety and security since you will be there by yourself. Is there an officer on property? Do the leasing office employees live there? Can you park near your unit, or is it crowded all the time? Are there people above, below, etc? I know the woman under us does not appreciate all the drumming, even though we impose restrictions on how much drumming takes place. My mom had HORRIBLE upstairs neighbors who made noise all night, their teens ran up and down the stairs at all hours, it was a mess. Obviously if you are locking in for a year you want some reassurance that your apt. will be peaceful.

The apartments we lived in 6 or 7 years ago are pretty bad now - lots of crime. A guy was murdered 2 nights ago at the Dairy Queen a block away. I would be terrified to live there now. But I bet if I drove through during the day it would look nice. Obviously Lansing isn't Dallas, but those are things to think about.

You might also want to check with the local police department. They should have a Crime Analyst, and be able to tell you crime stats for that area.

 

[bear74]

So I told DH I wasn't up for a long road trip. In the past when we've gone to Atlantic Canada-we've been at least 5 times-we've always driven at least 3,000 miles. I just don't see that as fun with the kids yet.

He said we should still get passports to have them. I'm OK with that and he was interested at looking into Niagra Falls but the kids would probably have a good time just going to the White Mountains.

He didn't say no to a week at Disney. I did find "reasonable" airfare for lots of dates. I also found a few rooms at summer rates. I did find a few discounted rooms-all star music family suite, BC/YC or GF club level, AKV-1 BR Jambo. I wonder if DH would like AKL-something new for him. He doesn't like the idea of DVC because he says he doesn't want to cook but just having the extra room would be nice. We did use the kitchenette in the suite last year so we would use the kitchen in a villa. I want the washer/dryer.

Bernadette we are their July 12- July 20

 

[Disney Yooper]

I think it looks like a great place to call home, Vicki! Will you have to buy some furniture or do you have some you can bring down from the UP? Your rent is so reasonable!

I will be piecing together furnishings. We have our old queen size bed that we put in Katrina's old room that I'll be bringing down. We have an extra couch. Mom has a table & chairs that she can give me. My mom and sister are big garage salers so can help me get some stuff. Mom has already had my sister looking for dishes & such.

 

[Disney Yooper]

It is so hard to tell about apartment complexes from the websites. I would look around the complex during the day, then I would go back in the evening and see if it gets scary. I would look online for crime stats. Will your apt. have a washer & dryer included? Burglar alarm? I would be all about safety and security since you will be there by yourself. Is there an officer on property? Do the leasing office employees live there? Can you park near your unit, or is it crowded all the time? Are there people above, below, etc? I know the woman under us does not appreciate all the drumming, even though we impose restrictions on how much drumming takes place. My mom had HORRIBLE upstairs neighbors who made noise all night, their teens ran up and down the stairs at all hours, it was a mess. Obviously if you are locking in for a year you want some reassurance that your apt. will be peaceful.

The apartments we lived in 6 or 7 years ago are pretty bad now - lots of crime. A guy was murdered 2 nights ago at the Dairy Queen a block away. I would be terrified to live there now. But I bet if I drove through during the day it would look nice. Obviously Lansing isn't Dallas, but those are things to think about.

I've been working with my friends who live down here to avoid the bad neighborhoods. I have been very careful about that. Those are also my concerns.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

But then you have that whole towel thing.

I meant if I was Bernadette. She would book through CRO, so they would still get daily towels.

I can't do concierge next year because we don't have enough points. I don't even have enough points for our whole stay, let alone concierge! We are discussing Jambo vs. Kidani in 2010. We will go look at Kidani this year and see what we think.

Tonight my dilemma is rethinking the whole Universal thing. Not sure we want to stay onsite at US/IOA, but then we lose the front of the line pass. And then not sure if we want to rent a car to go there. And maybe we want to switch those front 4 nights to Kidani to try it out, then move to concierge in Jambo. I just can not decide. I think on the whole we won't spend THAT much time at US/IOA because I don't think DS will do the big rides. He avoided most of them at Six Flags. So who knows.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I need advice again, and you are always so good with these things.

The hotel that the team has picked to stay in at Nationals in Gainesville, FL is a Quality Inn that used to be a Rodeway Inn. Apparently it was a Quality Inn before it was the Rodeway. It is a two star hotel. I can't find any recent reviews, but the older reviews were mostly bad. The Travelodge next door doesn't get great reviews either. So, I booked my family at a different hotel. I told the team that we were staying elsewhere, because the Quality Inn does not allow 5 to a room. Maybe I should have come right out and mentioned the bad reviews, but I was trying not to hurt the team mom's feelings, since she made all the travel arrangements. Also, I don't want them to think that I am a snob. The coach wrote back (copying everyone) that she wants all the girls in the same hotel and that Laura could easily room with other team members so that we won't have five in the room. Laura likes her privacy as much as I do and won't be comfortable staying with the others, and none of us want to chance this hotel (which could be lovely, but...)

The coach's reasons for keeping the team all in one place do make sense and are reasonable. Normally I wouldn't care, but I can't sleep in a yucky room for two nights. I don't think it's my place to tell the rest of the team that we need to switch hotels.

So, where do I go next with this?

Sorry I don't have any advice-hope you can find a reasonable solution.

Bernadette I have sensitive hearing and use ear plugs at all Disney shows that we go to and on a few of the rides. I can still hear what is going on but I don't get ear aches now. Maybe get Joe a pair of ear plugs.

I have this style http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/howard-leight-clarity-earplugs.html and I got them at Walmart.

Thanks!

Kristi's interview went well. She's shadowing today and will start next Wed. It's only small part time for now, but has a chance to double the hours very soon. She'll also have her supervision (required for 2 years before she's fully licensed) provided so that's really good. The hours are late afternoon/evening so she'll be able to take a part-time job in the morning or something to help income-wise as well.

Phil's appointment went okay. There are a couple of new pieces of research information that have come up so he's going to try a few "new" things regarding his calcium, sun exposure, etc and then they'll do bloodwork in a month. Unfortunately, there already seems to be an increase in depression and anxiety so he restarted those meds. The meds cause a lot of drowsiness, but we'll all just stick it out if it means improvements on some of the symptoms. Ai yi yi it's confusing sometimes!

Things sound promising for Kristi.

Hope Phil finds some improvements!

I have read that the buses coming from Kidani to Jambo are already full. They BETTER fix that before I get there, or Member Services and WDW in general are going to get a daily ear-full. On the chance that it WON'T be fixed, and in the interest of an extra bathroom, I might book Kidani.

I don't recall Cirque being loud. DS LOVED Cirque.

Let me know if you want me to add you to the Cape May dinner ADR. I can call IPO.

SO...I was only there for Kidani's 1st week but I never had a problem with the busses. We were always at the bus stop at least 30 minutes prior to park opening. The only long lines I saw at Jambo were for AK at about 8:10 on a day the park opened at 8:00.

When is the Cape May dinner?

The Dr. visit went well today. He said he would NOT give an ADD diagnosis - he thinks it is cognitive impairment due to the ADEM. Now, having said that, he also said the ADD meds help with focus and that is obviously important, so DS should continue to take them as long as they help. He said DS lacks visual/spatial processing speed, which will impact his math ability. He came up with a list of things for his report that I can use to lobby for DS's 504 to be reinstated. And we aren't asking based on ADD, we are asking based on a neurologic "thing", something visible on an MRI that the school can not argue whether it exists. He will send us a full report in a couple of weeks.

It was REALLY good for DH to be there and hear about the findings, because so often he thinks DS is just being stubborn.

After the Dr. we went to the mall for some lunch. Stopped in the Disney Store and bought a few T's. Stopped at Marshall's and found the New Balance mules I wanted in chocolate brown! The problem is, they look stupid with footie socks and they are kind of rough to wear without socks. I must ponder this dilemma.

Glad things went well. Do they have any suggestions for him?

We have our meeting on Joe next Monday.

I think I've made up my mind on the apartment. It is $479 a month with a month free this year. I lived in these apartments for 3 months when I first got the job with the state 11 years ago. I had to be in Lansing for 3 months for training purposes. Here's a link to the website with some info. What do you think?

Those look really nice.

But then you have that whole towel thing.

I don't have any towel issues.

Bernadette we are their July 12- July 20

We'll be on Cape Cod with DH's family around then.


SO....I got those AP discount cards. I let my AP expire in May. Do you think I could use the cards on myself? I would buy an AP for my & Emma at least.

The 10% would be about $95 and then I should get a $50 gift card too. I would have to go to WDW by 7/31 to buy the ap's-you have to do it at the ticket window. So if we went for a week we'd be going home before Anne Marie & Tammi got there. AND...discounts appear to be out to 8/8 so if we go say 8/3 to 8/10 we would have pay more for the hotel. BUT...the airfare is a bit cheaper 8/3 to 8/10 but that adds up for 5 tickets.


Lizzy had an awesome time at the American Girl Doll store today. There were 5 girls in the class and 3 instructors. They showed them how to do 3 different hair styles and then they redid their favorite style for their doll to wear home. They got a little goodie bag with hair accessories. Then we went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. YUMMY!!! I got an appetizer for dinner so I enjoy the Godiva cheesecake we split for dessert.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Thanks Elizabeth.


I had a friend tell me not to worry about math that is what they have calculators for.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Bernadette - The Cape May dinner is 8/14.
I don't think Kidani was very full the week it opened, but I could be wrong. I know some folks on the DVC forum have been griping that the buses are full when they leave Kidani, so Jambo people have to stand OR wait for another bus! On the other hand, I don't know what time these people are leaving for the parks. Maybe they are slackers.

The only real suggestions the Dr. had were in relation to school, and what things should be in place to make sure DS maximizes his success. Good luck at Joe's meeting!

I don't know if you can use the AP discount for yourself or not. I didn't get the offer so I haven't read any of the fine print. My AP expired in August, and we are going to buy new ones with the DVC discount. Kind of a bummer not to get the Mickey Monitor or be able to see what's on the website, but I'll survive.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Bernadette it only took me 2 trips to Disney before I realized that I would need ear plugs if I ever hoped to enjoy the shows and rides properly.

On the page in the link they show a green pair also, they are for kids, the blue are for adults.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Thanks Elizabeth.


I had a friend tell me not to worry about math that is what they have calculators for.

That's true. But it also plays into a specific type of reasoning that some math operations use. DS probably won't be able to use that kind of complex reasoning because he doesn't process information that way. The Dr. said DS will probably be able to pass his math classes, but it will be a struggle. He might also need extra time for tests. Even now he can't look at a number and quickly tell you what you can multiply to make that number. The Dr. said DS probably won't ever have that, but he can still arrive at the correct answer. It just takes longer. So we'll see. For now he seems to be handling the advanced track math OK. If next year is too challenging for him we can see about a tutor or possibly bump him down to "plain" math.

 

[my3princes]

I think I've made up my mind on the apartment. It is $479 a month with a month free this year. I lived in these apartments for 3 months when I first got the job with the state 11 years ago. I had to be in Lansing for 3 months for training purposes. Here's a link to the website with some info. What do you think?

Those apartments look really nice. The rent seems very low. Heck Chris and I paid more than that 18 years ago for a small one bedroom with nothing included.

Elizabeth it sounds like you have a productive day. I'm glad you have some answers for DS

Bernadette, good luck with Joe's meeting. Just be sure that your concerns are heard. You are his biggest advocate.

 

[my3princes]

I'm finally home and actually sitting down I am exhausted, but need to unwind before I go to bed.

Chris said that Hunter went to bed at 8 PM. We usually have to fight him at 9. He has been so tired this week, he took a nap on Sunday, wanted one on Monday, fell asleep at my parents on Tuesday and went to bed early tonight. I hope that doctor knows what she's talking about. Another couple of days like this and I'll be calling again.

 

[tinker1bell]

I think I've made up my mind on the apartment. It is $479 a month with a month free this year. I lived in these apartments for 3 months when I first got the job with the state 11 years ago. I had to be in Lansing for 3 months for training purposes. Here's a link to the website with some info. What do you think?

Nice

 

[my3princes]

I'm heading to bed soon. Hopefully you'll all post before I wake up tomorrow

 

[PNO4TE]

I'm heading to bed soon. Hopefully you'll all post before I wake up tomorrow

Just to be sure that there is at least one post before you post again, Deb. I have been there many days myself!

 

[Tammi67]

Make that two.

Good morning.

 

[MrsHeg]

Good Morning

 

[mommykds]

Good morning!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

morning!