Kidnap the Sandy Claws, lock him up real tight- Oct PTR pg. 234 8/25 up to date itin

[rentayenta]

Oh I am sure it will.

I buy my spices there. They are reasonable and good quality.

Do they sell bulk? We have been buying the bulk spices at WinCo.

 

[kaoden39]

Do they sell bulk? We have been buying the bulk spices at WinCo.

No, they don't sell in bulk but they sell it in resealable packets. And it tends to be fresher and much stronger than the seasoning at Winco.

 

[rentayenta]

No, they don't sell in bulk but they sell it in resealable packets. And it tends to be fresher and much stronger than the seasoning at Winco.

Really, wow! Good to know. Fresher is always better. We bought bulk cheese puffs from WinCo once and they were painfully stale. I was glad though because after I bought them I got to thinking how many little grimy hands had been in those bins despite the multiple *no trying* signs.

412 days!!! ​

 

[Native NYer]

That's a great deal and cheaper and easier than packing extra bags! There is a chance we might be going twice within a year: Dec 2011 and Oct 2012. Did you have to sign a contract?

Nope, didn't sign a contract

 

[kaoden39]

I went the bulk route a few times and just kind of got grossed out over the thought it was touched by others.

 

[rentayenta]

Nope, didn't sign a contract

That's even more enticing then.

I went the bulk route a few times and just kind of got grossed out over the thought it was touched by others.

411 days!!! ​

 

[kaoden39]

Good Morning!!

 

[glennbo123]

I love that you posted a bathroom picture on one of your countdown updates. A couple of pages back.

 

[rentayenta]

Good Morning!!

How's your day?

I love that you posted a bathroom picture on one of your countdown updates. A couple of pages back.

It was a really nice bathroom.

 

[kaoden39]

How's your day?



It was a really nice bathroom.

It's pretty good. How is yours?

 

[rentayenta]

It's pretty good. How is yours?

It's good. I am semi-training a girl at work on a new authorization program and let's just say, she doesn't catch on super fast. Patience is not my virtue.

 

[kaoden39]

It's good. I am semi-training a girl at work on a new authorization program and let's just say, she doesn't catch on super fast. Patience is not my virtue.

Sometimes I think that as mom's we tend to use our patience at home and it limits it elsewhere. It is never fun to train someone that just isn't getting it.

 

[rentayenta]

Sometimes I think that as mom's we tend to use our patience at home and it limits it elsewhere. It is never fun to train someone that just isn't getting it.

True. This is quite painful. Even the old stuff she is struggling with. I have asked her if she needs a recap and have helped guide but now I am just plain frustrated.


Let's move on to happy Disney thoughts. Disney = the ultimate escape.

 

[kaoden39]

Yes, lets do. I need to start planning for my trip after the first of the year. I am not sure whether I am going alone or what. The only thing I do know is that I am going.

 

[rentayenta]

Yes, lets do. I need to start planning for my trip after the first of the year. I am not sure whether I am going alone or what. The only thing I do know is that I am going.

When are you thinking about going?

 

[rentayenta]

I think it’s time for an update. I can make our DVC reservations in 75 days! I am so ding dang excited I can hardly think straight.

I have wanted to visit WDW during December since the first time I saw the Osborne Lights online. I am a huge fan of holiday lights. There is something about twinkling lights that makes me weak in the knees.

This update is two-fold and can only happen if part one comes to fruition. What is it you ask? Well……..it’s all about the annual pass and if our October 2012 trip will be to Disneyland or WDW.

Side note: the kids can choose a big bash or a trip for their bar and bat mitzvahs.

Gabby is choosing a non-Disney week in So Cal with me, her, and her BFF in May 2011.

Chloe is choosing MNSSHP with the whole family in October 2012. I cannot tell you how much I adore that kid.

Back to APs. I have done the math ad nauseam. Real math, not Disney Fuzzy Math but tried and true, use a calculator math.

Five 8 days park hoppers for WDW = $1,634

Five adult APs for WDW = $2657- $500 for DVC discount = $2,167

Five 5 day park hoppers to Disneyland = $1,060

See where this is leading?

We would *save* $527 on park admission for both trips if we do WDW for both trips instead of doing both once.

Now here comes the DH convincing of DH. I can predict the conversation now.

Me: Hey guess what?

DH: How much will this cost me?

Me: Uh, you are going to love it and save money.

DH: Uh huh….

Me: You know how Chloe wants to do MNSSHP for her bat mitzvah? Well, if we get WDW APs and go there twice instead of Disneyland once and WDW once within the same year, it will save you over $500 on admission.

DH: Hmm…(insert long pause and eye roll)….how will it save us money? We can drive to Disneyland and we go for less days. For WDW we fly and because you think any trip under a week is pointless, we are looking at 5 additional days of food and fun if we go to WDW.

I hate this part, he is correct, and I know it!

My logic with staying so long is based primarily on the fact that it ain’t cheap to fly and that there are 4 parks to see vs. 2 parks. Makes total sense, right? I knew you would agree. Obviously I focus on the 4 parks and not the cost of flying.

As far as flights go, both times we flew for under $1,200. Once was a red-eye with a stop which I would never do again but the other was a normal daytime flight with a stop which was easy. Obviously I will wow him with my tales of cheap flight finding and glaze over the red-eye fiasco. Sidestep here I come!

I am figuring if I can find flights for $300 or less, then so far we are only over $1,000. Now to knock off money from that $1,000. When we drive we have additional costs that we don’t have when flying such as:

• Fuel ($200)
• Hotels to and from Cali ($200)
• Food etc for the 2 nights we stay en route ($150)

When figuring the cost of driving vs. flying I leave out the food we’d eat during our layover and the food we’d eat during the drive as it’s probably about sixes.

With the above math, flying to MCO costs only $450 more than driving. And takes a little less time depending on our layover.

Now for the 2nd part of this update.

If we do end up getting APs, I will save DH even more money (forget the fact that Disneyland is 5 days and WDW will be 8-10 days) because we’ll be able to get the TIW card. Yippee skippee!

Fortunately all of the TS I am currently considering are on the current list for TIW locations. These include:

• Chefs de France - Epcot
• Rose and Crown- Epcot
• Sanaa to Podsnel- AKV
• 50’s Primetime- DHS
• Turf Club- SSR
• Flying Fish- Boardwalk
• Tony’s- MK
• Beaches- dessert only- BC
• Sand Trap Bar and Grill (to DH, beer and golf go hand in hand)

We will also most likely do a character meal for Chloe’s birthday but it appears as though the ones she’d like most (Garden Grill, Cape May, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Faire) are also on the TIW list. The TIW card is only $75 for AP holders and we only need to buy one. And if we change our minds and do some old favorites like Boma and Cal Grill, they are also on the TIW list. Plus who can say no to a discount on booze?

 

[kaoden39]

I am hoping for February or early March, but it all depends on my friend and if her job still exists after the first of the year.

You are such a planner aren't you? Even planning the arguments with DH. If you can find cheap flights then I say go for it!!

 

[rentayenta]

I am hoping for February or early March, but it all depends on my friend and if her job still exists after the first of the year.

I hear both times are great to go. Is there really a bad time to go? I hope your friend's job exists. That's scary.

You are such a planner aren't you? Even planning the arguments with DH. If you can find cheap flights then I say go for it!!

I am not planning the argument per say; we've just had the same one, with varying content, over almost every vacation we've taken. It's a game we play.

 

[kaoden39]

Yeah, she works for a subsidiary of Coca Cola where they make the plastic bottles and the local bottling company that they were making bottles for has decided to make their own bottles. Thankfully though she is corporate and they may let her work out of her home because the majority of her job is spent on the road anyway. That is the hope anyway.

Sounds a lot like my DH and I.

 

[rentayenta]

Yeah, she works for a subsidiary of Coca Cola where they make the plastic bottles and the local bottling company that they were making bottles for has decided to make their own bottles. Thankfully though she is corporate and they may let her work out of her home because the majority of her job is spent on the road anyway. That is the hope anyway.

I hope she gets to work from home, that sounds like a blessing disguise.

Sounds a lot like my DH and I.

Michael really is a great guy and for the most part goes along with my hairbrained plans. Think Desi and Lucy minus the substance abuse.