Gnomies Gone Wild

[ILuvCrush]

P -- Penguin Eggs?

Yes, tonight was the meal I requested. It was my last real meal that I really wanted to have before surgery. Didn't go as planned. I'm not really happy about it but trying to let it go.

well.... only cold bird i could think of at the time

 

[kschafer]

Tonight, several of us were in chat and started inquiring about the dates for gnomefest. As it turns out, a few gnomies seem to be facing some conflicts with the original plans. This is probably to be expected since the time was chosen rather randomly 8 or 9 months ago! So now that we are 8 months out and schedules are becoming more clear, it maybe is time to revisit the dates for gnomefest.

SO let's take a look at some options...

mid-late March:

• spring break time so potentially good for those of us in the education business but I'm sure they will not all coordinate!
• touringplans has it at crowd levels 7 and 8 and dropping off the last couple days of the month

early-mid April:

• Easter is the first weekend
• crowd levels are 8 and 9 especially around the holiday weekend
• I would think we want to avoid this

mid-late April:

• crowd levels drop off as it gets closer to the end of the month
• this of course is our original choice and there are a few conflicts in the group but maybe moving a few days one way or the other would solve the problem

early-mid May:

• crowd levels alternate between 5 and 7
• F&G ends May 16

mid-late May:

• Star Wars weekends begin
• crowd levels remain 5 and 7 except for weekends
• memorial day is the last weekend and will likely be busy

SO gnomies...what do you think? If you want to chime in with opinions/input into when you would or would not be able to come, I will keep track of what people think and we can start to formulate more solid plans. Many of us would probably like a firm date range so we can start looking at flights, room ressies, etc.

 

[Roxychica7]

Oh my gosh Transformers was SOOOO good! It's probably one of my favorite movies that came out in the last few years!

Well if my increase in pay wasn't good enough, Blake got the call that NASA is hiring him as a National Manager for their student program (the one he's been doing while we've lived here)!! They're not legally allowed to tell him how much he's making yet, but you figure he has his Master's and 6 years experience already at NASA! We talked about it and even with $24,000 for me and $30,000 for him (I'm assuming it's more, plus 100% toward benefits and 3% toward retirement), we'll be making almost 3x the amount of money we made here!
Oh why oh why did I not listen to my gnomies who all said "it'll work itself out" :

But they'll call him with the additional details soon. He told me tonight, "Now we'll have money to go to the "real" movies every once in a while, have a nice dinner here and there and be able to go to disney more!!"
Now THAT's my bf!

LL-Good luck with your surgery..I really can't believe it's coming so quickly either! Keep thinking good thoughts! It'll be worth it in the end!
C-LL is definitely the one to talk to about iron on's. The biggest mistake I made was the whole light vs. dark iron ons and their appropriate color tshirts!
MM-LOVE the pic of Max and Megs together!
CP-How's school going?
Katie-Totally routing for you for that interview, thankfully you FINALLY heard back from them!
Stace-Yay to hoping quitting that part time job, you certainly do not need those people anymore
Julez-Can't wait to hear more about the house
P-Hope you're doing good!

 

[kschafer]

Oh where are all my gnomies today?

I just have to say this has been the best summer weather we have had in a LONG time! Not too many sticky, humid spells and temps have stayed in a nice range. Today was the most perfect weather you could ever ask for! Upper 70's, mostly sunny with some lovely puffy clouds just for fun. More of the same tomorrow but just a little warmer. Hopefully it will be warm enough for our last visit to the outdoor pool before it closes for the season.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekends!

 

[Roxychica7]

Hi Katie! Early to mid April I remember being horrendous! I just remember being little going during break and the lines being sooo incredibly long, I think we would definitely want to avoid this time period too!

Anyone heard from LL lately? I was wondering if she were in the impact of the hurricane at all...thankfully it is at least down to a 1!

 

[MegansMom]

Hey gang.....just hopping on to say "HI!" I don't have any other new news!!!!

Jess---CONGRATS babe!!!! I knew it would all work out for you!!!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Good Morning Gnomies.

I don't think any of those dates will really work for me for gnomefest. I feel like a bad gnomie that is just the way it goes. I'm planning on going in January so if anyone wants to meet up then, I'll be there!

Jess, we haven't really been impacted by the hurricane. It rained off and on yesterday but never anything really horrible.

I slept horrible last night. I had bad dreams about surgery and I woke up in a panic. My goal for today is to try and calm down.

 

[jenjolt]

Happy Monday Gnomies!!!

Well today is the day....students return and I must put on my Wicked Witch of the West Face and make sure they know I mean business LOL (the first two weeks is always the hardest while the students and I get used to how things will be in my room, they have a harder time of it then I do LOL)!!

Well I have worked out this morning, put together lunches, and now am off to shower!! I wish you all a happy Monday and I will happily report in this evening on how the first day went LOL!!!!

Jess..I'm so glad everything is working out for you and Blake, I knew it would!!!

MM...have a great week can't wait to hear more about the adventures of Max and Meg!!!

LL..Only 2 more days..all will be well and this will all be over sooner than later!! Take it easy the next couple of days!

 

[julezdisney]

Hey guys!!

Since the home shopping is O-V-E-R I'm finding I have slightly more time to DIS. But really only to cruise through a few threads and lurk in here as well. The FHA appraisal is this week, I can't wait for it to be over so I know everything will be OK. I'm finding that packing is kind of frustrating. Our clothes.... kitchen things.... laundry room.... that's all stuff we need daily until the move!!! And except for shelves full of books and picture frames, that's practically all there is. I guess I can work on the kids toys & room things.... those are needed and Lord knows they have enough to play with even without them (maybe some will be lost in the move.... hmmmm????? lol).

OK, getting off to work soon. Have a great day ladies and calm down, LL! It'll be ok! I'm thinking of you daily as you near THE DAY!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Good Morning Gnomies.

Jen, I hope you have a fabulous first day of school!

Julez, good luck with packing. Do you have an actual moving day yet?

I am trying to calm down but it's not working too well.

 

[kschafer]

OK girls, it is only 9 am and this day oficially SUCKS!!

I brought Daniel to his first day of preschool and I had awful visions of carrying him crying into the building which thankfully didn't happen but we were both in tears by the time I left. I KNOW he will be fine once he gets used to this and makes some friends but it was SO hard to walk away with him in tears today

You know how I called on Friday and was told they would be reviewing applicants at ISU for the job this week? Well I checked my online status on Saturday and it said "no longer under consideration". I was utterly confused by this so I e-mailed the director and asked about it. I of course haven't heard back yet so this morning I called HR. I truly thought it was some kind of default in the system because it has been 30 days since the application deadline but the woman I talked to there said the department sent those codes to them and all the other applicants were given a status of "not qualified" or "not asked for interview", except for me. I don't understand this AT ALL!!! If this is the case, why didn't the woman I talked to on Friday tell me I was out of the running? Now I am sitting here terribly upset and completely confused. WTH?

 

[sunny_stace]

Hi Gnomies!

Stacy- I agree with the others. That PT job just doesn't deserve you. And holy coincidence - I used to work at GapKids too!!

That is a crazy coincidence Batman! I actually really enjoyed working there, and when things started going south at the now-ended part time job I thought about going back!

I hope everyone has a great weeked!! Prince P and I celebrated 7 years of marriage yesterday and on top of that I lined up a sub for Disney week YAY that was such a relief for me LOL!!!!

Congratulations Jen! What is the ceremonial item for seven years? Is it something totally obscure like....grass? (you know, gold and silver and all that?)

Stacy.... that old part time job doesn't deserve you!! Tell em to go eat penguin eggs! I'mhappy that the new job seems to appreciate what they got

Penguin eggs huh? The only place I have seen a penguin in Canada is at the Toronto Zoo! Although, a crazy Canadian skunk got into my garbage last night....

OK girls, it is only 9 am and this day oficially SUCKS!!

I brought Daniel to his first day of preschool and I had awful visions of carrying him crying into the building which thankfully didn't happen but we were both in tears by the time I left. I KNOW he will be fine once he gets used to this and makes some friends but it was SO hard to walk away with him in tears today

You know how I called on Friday and was told they would be reviewing applicants at ISU for the job this week? Well I checked my online status on Saturday and it said "no longer under consideration". I was utterly confused by this so I e-mailed the director and asked about it. I of course haven't heard back yet so this morning I called HR. I truly thought it was some kind of default in the system because it has been 30 days since the application deadline but the woman I talked to there said the department sent those codes to them and all the other applicants were given a status of "not qualified" or "not asked for interview", except for me. I don't understand this AT ALL!!! If this is the case, why didn't the woman I talked to on Friday tell me I was out of the running? Now I am sitting here terribly upset and completely confused. WTH?

Oh Katie and as many more hugs as you need! I do think it is better than "not qualified"! It means that you were considered at least. That is a start. This woman sounds like a boo to the b! I'll say to you the same thing I said to Jess, something will work out. As for Daniel, don't worry, he will be just fine. Apparently on my first day of school I clung to my parents and begged them not to leave me there - in my little Miss Drama Queen fashion of course! I'm sure he'll be raving about it by the end of the day! Oh yeah - as an aside - saw an Iowa license plate in Stratford on Saturday and thought of you!

Jess - I'm glad things have worked out so well!!!! And let me take this opportunity to say, I told you so! I'm so glad for you, you guys definately deserve it!

LL - thinking of you

MM - I'm glad Meghan and Max are getting along swimmingly!

Juelz - I'm so excited for you guys to get into your house!


Well well well! This weekend was fabulous! I went and quit my part-time job and it went much better than I thought - I was geared up for a fight but walked out of there with my head held high and being the picture of decorum (sp?). Then went to the Stratford Festival with DBFF and saw A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (we get cheap seats for being under 29!). Then yesterday DBFF's parents invited us over to use the pool and made us lunch and dinner so I didn't have to cook once! Now today it's back to work but at least it's to a job I'm enjoying!

As for Gnomefest - I will say I have put in my vacation request for April 21 - 30, but I'm sure I can still change it! However, this is the time that I find most favourable. Either way I am going at some point next spring! What are you guys thinking?

 

[kschafer]

Well, I finally got someone to come out and tell me I am not one of the final candidates for the job. I just can't believe it. I really thought I was perfect for the job and vice versa (although honestly after all the run-around, I have questioned if these are people I would enjoy working with).

I suppose I have a couple other smaller options at this point. There is the academic advision job at the university where I worked last year and there is a job coach position for the school district in our town. The advisor position would keep me at a university which is ultimately what I would like. But not commuting would be nice too.

I keep reminding myself that it will all work out but we are going to face financial issues soon if I don't have a job...CRAP!

On a happier note, Daniel tells me he had a great time at school and he was just teasing when he said he didn't want to go

 

[Lady Lallie]

Stace, glad the quitting of the part time job went well.

Katie, things will all work out. I'm glad Daniel had a good time at school!

I've calmed down a bit today. I found a lapband thread here on the DIS and they are super nice and supportive so it was nice to hear what they have been through. Plus my parents sent me flowers at work so I have some pretty flowers on my desk now, they are beautiful.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hi gnomies!

K- so sorry about the work stuff. I don't blame you for being upset. As the others have said it will work out in the end. But we also know how hard it can be to see that in the moment. Glad Daniel had fun at school!

LL- hurrah for finding a support system online. It must be great to talk to people who have been through it.

Jen- how was the first day of school?

Julez- I sympathize on the packing. Not the most fun. But a new house!!

Stacy - glad there was no drama with your resignation! Sounds like you had a nice weekend with your BFF!

Jess- congrats on Blake's job. That is fantastic!!!!!!!!

P - eat penguin eggs?? You crack me up.

 

[jenjolt]

Good Evening Gnomies!!

Katie I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and just know that no matter how tough it is we are all hear for you and it will work out in the end!! If you need to vent we're here to listen!!!

Glad Daniel had a good first day of school!!!!

Speaking of which I also had a good first day!! I'm never as stern as I feel I should be, but I made it very clear what my rules are and now its about being consistent with those rules and following through with the consequences so that begins tomorrow!! I know who my chatterbox classes will be and I'm working on seating charts..but the day flew by so that's always a good sign LOL!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, Gnomies!!! I don't feel like I have commented in awhile, but I have been here lurking and reading!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I am a bundle of nerves this morning. I am hoping like yesterday that I will calm down as the day progresses. I call at 9 to see what time my surgery is.

 

[sunny_stace]

I am a bundle of nerves this morning. I am hoping like yesterday that I will calm down as the day progresses. I call at 9 to see what time my surgery is.

Everything will be fine!

 

[kschafer]

I am a bundle of nerves this morning. I am hoping like yesterday that I will calm down as the day progresses. I call at 9 to see what time my surgery is.

Hang in there LL What time did you get? I'm so glad you found a support group online, I hope they are giving you some comfort this morning!

Thanks everyone for your support as I go through this job garbage! It means so much to have all of you in my life