Don't touch that! I need a picture first! TR - **NEW 04/17 PTR IS UP

[marvali]

I know, I am a terrible person for not keeping up with your TR. Will get all caught up tonight! Promise!

Not a problem, I just wanted you to know you and Bubba might get some props in future updates!!!

Well I'm a little late in replying but I had a FANTASTIC time!!!!!

So you're saying Rosie didn't make it???

 

[jenbear123]

Not a problem, I just wanted you to know you and Bubba might get some props in future updates!!!

I'll be sure to keep an eye out!

So you're saying Rosie didn't make it???

Look out Rosie! Marv is going to have a blast on my next update...

 

[YukiPhnx]

I HAD A GREAT TIME TODAY TOO!!! I loved meeting you both. I had so much fun!!!

 

[jenbear123]

Today I met up with Rosie (englishrose47) and Yuki (YukiPhnx) for a grand DIS meet of epic proportions. Yes, I was losing my outlet virginity. Some of you may have already read Rosie's version but now I bring you mine.....

Niagara Falls, NY DIS Meet January 16th 2011​

The day began bright and early at 7:00am. I was tired, groggy, and maybe a little hungry. So I ate a banana. I left my house at 7:30am.... which was the time I was supposed to pick up Yuki. As I pulled away from the driveway, my cell rings. It's Yuki. This was how the conversation went:

Me: Hello?

Yuki: Hi Jen? It's me, Yuki.

Me: Hey Yuki! I'm sorry but I'm running a little late.

Yuki: That's okay. I'm stuck inside a building.

Me: You're stuck inside a building?

Yuki: Yes! All the doors are locked and I can't get out!

Me: That's not good!

Yuki: I know! And the subway doesn't start running until much later. I could walk to our meeting spot---

Me: No! Don't walk, it's freezing outside! Just try to find a way out and I'll come to where you are. Then we'll figure things out when I get there.


As you can tell, things didn't start out at all as planned. Eventually, Yuki found a way out (I'm sure she'll describe it in great detail) and we met face to face outside in, what felt like, 50 below zero weather. Maybe the coldest day of the year yet. We felt like old friends within seconds and blabbed all the way to Niagara Falls.

Then we got to the border.

For whatever reason (maybe it's because the guards make everyone feel like a criminal!) I always get nervous crossing the border. Are they going to search me? Will they think we're trying to smuggle in a pig, a pile of cash, and a bucket of produce? Oh no. Not any of that....

Guard: Citizenship?

Me/Yuki: Canadian

Guard: Purpose of visiting?

Me/Yuki: Shopping!

Guard (mocking us): Shopping?!

Me/Yuki: *girlish laughter*

Guard: Where did you two meet?

(Oh no. How do we explain this one?!)

Me: On the Internet

(Great. Now we sound like those creepy, weird people who search the Internet to make friends.... not like we're like that or anything....)

Guard: On the Internet? Where on the Internet?

Me: On a Disney message board site

Guard: Oh really? Which one?

Me: DISboards, www.disboards.com

Guard: How do you spell that?

I spell it out as he writes it down.

Guard: Cool. I might have to take a look at that. I own a timeshare in Kissimmee. I'm always looking for more info on Disney.

(Well at least he seems to be warming up to us. Either that or he's writing down the website to check that validity of our answers)

Guard: Okay ladies. You're good to go. Have fun shopping

Me/Yuki: Thanks!

Already the day was shaping up well. Now the state thought we're crazy Internet nerds. The people they let into their country.

We found the casino where we planned to meet Rosie for a big breakfast buffet.

We had ourselves some delicious food!

This place was so fancy that they served apple juice in wine glasses.

And then some crazy lady who just got out of the shower sat at our table

Oh whoops! That's Rosie!

In the end, the meal got an overall two Canadian thumbs up

You're Canadian now, okay Rosie?

After lunch, it was time to play follow the leader to the Outlet mall.

By the way Rosie, you made me run a red light!!!!!

Here's your designated driver for the duration of this epic adventure

And my copilot

Oh, and Yoshi too

What seemed like forever driving on one way streets and running red lights, we finally made it!

There was a mural on the wall that Yuki was particularly fond of

And then our shopping began!

I don't know how I had never heard about this place but it is forever my go-to shopping mall. I must have been the only person around here who did not know about it. There was tons of great deals to be had. Yuki found her "Bubba" bottle. I found $7 corduroys. Rosie found clothes for her grandkids. Of course Coach was a must visit too. We shopped and walked for a couple hours until we had to call it quits.

Yuki and I had to sort through our purchases to see what we could/shouldn't claim at the border. Here's Yuki making the decision not to claim her new lovely purse.

There was lots of conversation until it came time to bid farewell. I was given excellent directions on how to get back to the border. We found our way back to Canada in no time at all. Getting back into our home country was harder than getting out. Go figure. This guard was in no mood to give us an easy pass. We were drilled with several questions, one of which totally caught me off guard:

What's your license plate number?

Oh great. The one time they ask me this and I just got a new car with a new license plate. I stuttered and stumbled. Umm-ed and aww-ed. All I could think of was armed guards slapping on the hand cuffs and taking me away for not remembering my license plate. After looking like a complete moron, I finally reached for my ownership. Phew. One crisis averted.... until we won the one lottery nobody wants to win: Random search.

Fortunately the search guard was much less of a tight a$$ than the border guard. He took all of our receipts (didn't look at them once) and did a once over of the inside of my car while we had to stand outside in the cold. We were declared non-criminals and were given the all clear to get back inside the car. Second crisis averted. That was way too much stress for me in one day!

It was great to meet Yuki and see Rosie again. Thank you both for a lovely time!

Here's what I got for all that hard work.

While I'm on the topic of trinkets, here's another gift I got myself recently using gift cards from Christmas

Gotta be prepared for my trip I just booked for July

 

[3prettyprincesses]

OMG, I am dying over here! That dialogue is hilarious!!! Seriously, I cannot stop laughing! I think my favorite was when the border guard asked where you met and you said the internet. Then told him about the disboards and he actually wrote it down! OMG, too funny! Crazy internet nerds? You are too funny Jen!

Ok, I'm just going to ask...what is the significance of the Canadian thumbs up?

Your dismeet looks awesome! What a great time you all had! And you definitely scored some cute purchases!

 

[glennbo123]

Yay, Rosie is an honorary Canadian!

Good job getting back and forth across the border, and thanks for not making Yuki walk through the frozen tundra.

Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go write a letter to Homeland Security about letting crazy internet people into the country.

 

[englishrose47]

Jen Great Update !! How awful you got searched !!Love all the pix you took, it was soo much fun and I am looking forward to the next one when the Summer sales are on!!!

 

[marvali]

Today I met up with Rosie (englishrose47) and Yuki (YukiPhnx) for a grand DIS meet of epic proportions. Yes, I was losing my outlet virginity.

TMI! TMI!

For whatever reason (maybe it's because the guards make everyone feel like a criminal!) I always get nervous crossing the border. Are they going to search me? Will they think we're trying to smuggle in a pig, a pile of cash, and a bucket of produce?

Is this a collection of items you are well known at the border for??? Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

Guard: Where did you two meet?

(Oh no. How do we explain this one?!)

Me: On the Internet

(Great. Now we sound like those creepy, weird people who search the Internet to make friends.... not like we're like that or anything....)

Glad I'm not one of those sicko's!!! Now Glenn on the other hand......

Oh whoops! That's Rosie!

In the end, the meal got an overall two Canadian thumbs up

OMG, that WAS Rosie!!! It is almost like when Superman would put on those glasses and become Clark Kent and nobody could tell! Rosie just does it with a shower cap!!!

You're Canadian now, okay Rosie?

There goes the country!!!

By the way Rosie, you made me run a red light!!!!!

There was a mural on the wall that Yuki was particularly fond of

I KNEW Yuki had good taste! (well, except for that internet friend thing she's got going....)

One crisis averted.... until we won the one lottery nobody wants to win: Random search.

Fortunately the search guard was much less of a tight a$$ than the border guard.

And luckily he doesn't work for TSA!!!

Jen Great Update !! How awful you got searched !!Love all the pix you took, it was soo much fun and I am looking forward to the next one when the Summer sales are on!!!

Good thing she didn't mention she had been in the USA to meet Rosie the Shower Cap Wearing Pole Dancer! They would still be detaining her at the border!!!

 

[onescgirl]

I LOVED this update! I was cracking up laughing when the guard asked you were you met & you had to say the internet!
I never knew that you have to go through so much questioning getting in & out of the border.
Who knows, maybe he'll find your TR when he looks up the Disboards.

I loved the pic of Rosie in her showercap!

I'm glad you're not a outlet virgin anymore. I love B&BW Pink Grapefruit.

 

[YukiPhnx]

Great pictures Jen!!! My post will be very lacking....I only took 4 pictures with my phone camera!

The UG!!!! Ooooh, now I want to pick one up for August too.....

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

i may be nieve, but why do you have to go through your stuff to see what you want to claim? can you not take certain stuff with you, or take to much stuff with you?

 

[englishrose47]

i may be nieve, but why do you have to go through your stuff to see what you want to claim? can you not take certain stuff with you, or take to much stuff with you?

There is a limit before you have to pay Duty !!!Hence many Canadians, wear what they bought back over bridge , take off Tags etc !!!You are however allowed 1 Pink Pig and a Showere Cap each trip!!!

 

[jenbear123]

OMG, I am dying over here! That dialogue is hilarious!!! Seriously, I cannot stop laughing! I think my favorite was when the border guard asked where you met and you said the internet. Then told him about the disboards and he actually wrote it down! OMG, too funny! Crazy internet nerds? You are too funny Jen!

It was a really awkward moment let me tell you. I knew it would make a good story after the fact!

Ok, I'm just going to ask...what is the significance of the Canadian thumbs up?

Well, I think it came up after the DC Meet when Glenn (glennbo123) took a picture with me and Bubba. We both had our thumbs up in the picture. Since we were both Canadian and we both had our thumbs up, it became the staple "Canadian thumbs up".

Your dismeet looks awesome! What a great time you all had! And you definitely scored some cute purchases!

Most definitely! It was a very productive shopping day

Yay, Rosie is an honorary Canadian!

yup yup yup!

Good job getting back and forth across the border, and thanks for not making Yuki walk through the frozen tundra.

Well you know, I'm nice like that

Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go write a letter to Homeland Security about letting crazy internet people into the country.

I better look into some sort of identity protection program....

Jen Great Update !! How awful you got searched !!Love all the pix you took, it was soo much fun and I am looking forward to the next one when the Summer sales are on!!!

That was definitely the worst part of the day. I was worried they would make us pay duties on our new Coach purses!!! Can't wait for summer sales. Maybe next time Bubba can come.

TMI! TMI!

I knew you'd have something to say about that.

Is this a collection of items you are well known at the border for??? Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

It's a long story but I'll try to make it brief: Bubba and I went to cross the border once after just visiting my Grandma who always gave us a truckload of "stuff" to take home with us. This would include anything from large plants to a bucket of apples. We planned to hop across the border for some quick shopping without realizing how much restricted stuff we'd be bringing across with us. At the border, the guard actually tried inspecting our car but couldn't get the trunk open. In the end we passed without getting searched. If they had got the trunk open it would've been a very messy situation.... But it's not like we meant to bring all this stuff with us!!! I'm not a criminal I swear! If TSA is reading this please do not arrest me! It was an honest error! *runs away and hides in a corner*

Glad I'm not one of those sicko's!!! Now Glenn on the other hand......

OMG, that WAS Rosie!!! It is almost like when Superman would put on those glasses and become Clark Kent and nobody could tell! Rosie just does it with a shower cap!!!

You were right Rosie!

There goes the country!!!

I KNEW Yuki had good taste! (well, except for that internet friend thing she's got going....)

What? And I don't?

Good thing she didn't mention she had been in the USA to meet Rosie the Shower Cap Wearing Pole Dancer! They would still be detaining her at the border!!!

They really would've thought we were crazy! I could see Rosie having that shower cap picture on America's Most Wanted

I LOVED this update! I was cracking up laughing when the guard asked you were you met & you had to say the internet!

I didn't know what else to say! And I always tell the truth at the border... well except when it comes to packaged goods

I never knew that you have to go through so much questioning getting in & out of the border.

I have never been questioned that much! At least not when I'm with Bubba. Maybe it was Yuki who looked suspicious Actually we thought it might be because we're inter-racial friends. As if they've never seen that before!

Who knows, maybe he'll find your TR when he looks up the Disboards.

I would die if he found it!

I loved the pic of Rosie in her showercap!

I was floored when Rosie pulled it out.... wait that just doesn't sound right

I'm glad you're not a outlet virgin anymore. I love B&BW Pink Grapefruit.

Me too! I can't wait to have my hands smell like grapefruit

 

[englishrose47]

Jen was referring to me pulling out the shower cap Marv!!! Got that The showere cap!!!Phew rumor mill nixed I hope !!

 

[jenbear123]

Great pictures Jen!!! My post will be very lacking....I only took 4 pictures with my phone camera!

You gotta get yourself a digital camera, girl!

The UG!!!! Ooooh, now I want to pick one up for August too.....

You definitely should. Worth every penny.

i may be nieve, but why do you have to go through your stuff to see what you want to claim? can you not take certain stuff with you, or take to much stuff with you?

There is a limit before you have to pay Duty !!!Hence many Canadians, wear what they bought back over bridge , take off Tags etc !!!You are however allowed 1 Pink Pig and a Showere Cap each trip!!!

Rosie is right. We Canadians go nuts to try and avoid paying duty. The daily allowance limit is only $50. $50!!! Can you believe that?!?!?

 

[marvali]

What? And I don't?

I didn't realize you liked that mural too.....

I would die if he found it!

Especially after those confessions above about bringing home contraband from Grandma's???

I was floored when Rosie pulled it out.... wait that just doesn't sound right

 

[YukiPhnx]

If you spend 3 days, I think the allowance goes up to $200 per person? If we claim more than our allowed amount, we're subject to crazy Canadian taxes. The custom is to wear as much of your new clothes as you can, carry the bags you bought, and throw out all the tags of the stuff you don't want to claim!

 

[jenbear123]

I didn't realize you liked that mural too.....

I was just pulling your leg Marv! No worries

Especially after those confessions above about bringing home contraband from Grandma's???

Oh boy I'm never going to live this one down

If you spend 3 days, I think the allowance goes up to $200 per person? If we claim more than our allowed amount, we're subject to crazy Canadian taxes. The custom is to wear as much of your new clothes as you can, carry the bags you bought, and throw out all the tags of the stuff you don't want to claim!

Yes, I think it's something like that. Either way, it's still too little!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

There is a limit before you have to pay Duty !!!Hence many Canadians, wear what they bought back over bridge , take off Tags etc !!!You are however allowed 1 Pink Pig and a Showere Cap each trip!!!

Rosie is right. We Canadians go nuts to try and avoid paying duty. The daily allowance limit is only $50. $50!!! Can you believe that?!?!?

duty tax? you guys sure pick funny words for your taxes.


wow that is kinda low, is stuff that much cheaper in the good ol US of A that there is a problem with people buying stuff and taking it back with them.

If you spend 3 days, I think the allowance goes up to $200 per person? If we claim more than our allowed amount, we're subject to crazy Canadian taxes. The custom is to wear as much of your new clothes as you can, carry the bags you bought, and throw out all the tags of the stuff you don't want to claim!

another question comes to mind.

so you pay the tax in the USA to buy the stuff then they charge you a tax to take it over. that just stinks.

what do you get taxed on your purchases up there?



i bet it makes for some interesting inspections when the men go underwear shopping for there wifes here and try and wear it back across.
i think thats why marv moved to the US

 

[glennbo123]

Duty tax stinks.



he he he