Sept. 2009 @ WDW! Be a Pop Tart 2009~come share your(Bounce Back or NOT)Dates !!!

[jmskinner]

Hi Everyone,

Hope everyone is having a good night.....

I was laid off from my job of 11 years today, so I've been bummed out big time today. I knew it was going to happen, I was just hoping it wasn't going to happen to ME!

I have a feeling, we won't be going to Disney in Sept/Oct because of this which is upsetting Kellie, she want's me to bring her to my old job and she wants to yell at my old boss for letting me go!

Well, I guess I have plenty of time to Dis now....

and sending some

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Good morning gals! I would have been here yesterday but I had to wait for my big head to deflate (Ang's kind words) before I could enter. Honestly, I deserve no credit for working with kids cause I just plain love it and it is all love and no labor. I will take credit for not being bitter and hateful cause many things in my life could have caused that and I cling to my sense of humor and intend to keep on doing so, no matter what or who!!

WIC, failure? No way!! It is the times and we have little control over it all. As conservative person as I am we are suffering effects from all the turmoil as are most folks. Some of us are just lucky, so far, to be keeping afloat. Here is advice for you all young ones that I would never have thought I would give. Do NOT pay off your bills, hoard your cash for basics. Credit cards are being cancelled and if you should find yourself out of work you MUST have several months, I would recommend a year, of money for your BASIC needs. I have always been a proponent of being debt free, and am myself but this is not a time to try to accomplish that if it means skimping on your emergency money.

Timmie, I love it! Your comment about missing your mom and looking forward to her next visit when you can be relieved she is gone again. I had just about decided you were not normal in any way at all. Glad to see that you have a tiny bit of normal in you. My daughter has shown signs of being a bit nicer to me of late. Just wish I would not have to nearly die for such treatment, it is hard on my body and I am running out of body parts. Just kidding, I hate people who rule by fear. I am so glad your mom came and hopefully you will get her used to it. I know it would be better for the both of you. You are a good daughter, maybe a tad bit too good.

JM, deciding if you can afford to retire is the thing. Far too many folk figure their income higher than it will be and their expenses lower. While you no longer have the job expenses or necessity to fund retirement accounts you have more time to spend and it takes money to do some things. Also there is inflation and that is what bites you in the posterior. I figured for all of that but not for the current situation. Okay, I did, a bit but who would have thunk it would get this bad and I think it will be far worse. Luckily I only have a bit over a year before I start getting SS, if it is still around then. The company gives a defined amount toward our insurance and if our group goes over we have to pay the difference. Since I was one of the ones who used a bunch last year it is partially my fault. The scary thing is that our company, as well as many others, are self funded which means they can cancel the whole thing at any time. We pay $6K a year for insurance now.

Diva K, how are things in your neck of the woods? Many layoffs and such or more stable? House prices? I am always amazed when I watch Househunters and they are in your neck of the woods and the houses seem very reasonable and nice to boot.

If anyone needs ideas on how to be cheap and get by on less I have given lessons on that for decades. I was once on a very fancy board locally and noted that I was the only regular person on it and when I asked why I was told it was because I was the only person they knew who had ever been poor.

Taking Tom bowling, doing some shopping today, yardwork tomorrow, dump and Slumdog Millionaire Saturday and "Grease" on Sunday. Why does everything have to happen at the same time? Hope I survive all this fun.

SG

BTW, lest you all think I am an icon of culture and class because of the erudite things I watch on Netflix - last night I watched "Last Waltz" a documentary on The Band. I danced around the bedroom and enjoyed it! Shades were drawn so the neighbors would not (laugh).

 

[Kristineamb]

You know how that goes...I am counting on ya'll to keep me motivated when I check in on my breaks

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Diva K, I am a slow learner and it took me a long time to figure this out. You know how they make fun of housewives who watch soap operas and eat bonbons etc? If you work outside the home you seldom work more than 8 hours a day and only 5 days a week. If you are a homemaker and folks see you sitting down they do not take into account the fact that you are probably working at least 12 hours a day or more and for 7 days and week. We just do not work them all at one fell swoop. If we did we would drop dead and then men would have to do it. So we are doing them a favor by taking 'breaks'.

SG

If I see one more commercial with the husband and kids running riot and making big honking messes while the wife, with a smile no less, hunts for the perfect cleaning product to clean it all up I am going to strangle someone.

 

[ANTSS2001]

Timmie, I love it! Your comment about missing your mom and looking forward to her next visit when you can be relieved she is gone again. I had just about decided you were not normal in any way at all. Glad to see that you have a tiny bit of normal in you. My daughter has shown signs of being a bit nicer to me of late. Just wish I would not have to nearly die for such treatment, it is hard on my body and I am running out of body parts. Just kidding, I hate people who rule by fear. I am so glad your mom came and hopefully you will get her used to it. I know it would be better for the both of you. You are a good daughter, maybe a tad bit too good.

Taking Tom bowling, doing some shopping today, yardwork tomorrow, dump and Slumdog Millionaire Saturday and "Grease" on Sunday. Why does everything have to happen at the same time? Hope I survive all this fun.

I truly believe now that me and mom have a very crazy mother -daughter relationship.... when she was here.. she wakes up and always ask me (since I took a break for my part time job so I can spend mornigs with her and go to work in the afternoon) "what are you doing ???" and then she would realize... "oh you got lazy again and decide not to work Stop using me as an excuse to be home" Well!!! this morning she wouke me up crying... I ask what was wrong.. she explained that when she was taking a nap (jet lag... they are 12 hours ahead of us) she woke up and was calling me asking for her coffee and when I did not answer she thought that I got mad and left and decided to work instead And then she realized she was not in my room anymore but hers back home! So yup we do have that love-hate relationship!!!

she also get paranoid but less now than before she came to visit. She always thinks of death and stuff (I guess because of my dad passing)... I always tell her dont worry mom.. you are going to live a long life and I promise to make sure to bury you well thats when she stops.. looks at me.. think... and then laugh ... she says "you want me dead ??!!" I said "no mom.. but I dont pray that you get to bury me so I know I have to bury you"... She would say.. "just make sure you dont hurry to put me 6 feet below the ground.. you promised that you'll take me to hawaii in 2010" mothers!!!!

Wish I have your Schedule for Saturday rather than being at work

You know how that goes...I am counting on ya'll to keep me motivated when I check in on my breaks

cleaning ?? I have to learn how to do that again.. I was on sabatical on cleaning for the past 3 months

 

[Kristineamb]

Diva K, how are things in your neck of the woods? Many layoffs and such or more stable? House prices? I am always amazed when I watch Househunters and they are in your neck of the woods and the houses seem very reasonable and nice to boot.

When we moved here, 5 years ago, from Pennsylvannia we were pleasantly surprised by the relatively low cost of living...things have slowed here but its far better than in other parts of the country...we also have a lot of military here, so that helps the real estate market...there is still growth happening just not as fast as it was...I think the weather also has something to do with it...building, road repair/construction can go on virtually year round because its so pleasant and dry. Diva Mary's DH has to take a two week furlough at his work...but he can file for unemployment those two weeks????

Back to work

 

[jmskinner]

WIC, failure? No way!! It is the times and we have little control over it all. As conservative person as I am we are suffering effects from all the turmoil as are most folks. Some of us are just lucky, so far, to be keeping afloat. Here is advice for you all young ones that I would never have thought I would give. Do NOT pay off your bills, hoard your cash for basics. Credit cards are being cancelled and if you should find yourself out of work you MUST have several months, I would recommend a year, of money for your BASIC needs. I have always been a proponent of being debt free, and am myself but this is not a time to try to accomplish that if it means skimping on your emergency money.

Words to live by, of course you say this the day after I pay of my CC. And something I learned, if by chance someone isn't on this planet tomorrow, guess who pays their credit card.... NO ONE! If it is only in the name of the person who passed away, the credit card company writes it off.

WIC I am in total agreement with SG. This was not your fault and I hope it all works out better for you in the end.

JM, deciding if you can afford to retire is the thing. Far too many folk figure their income higher than it will be and their expenses lower. While you no longer have the job expenses or necessity to fund retirement accounts you have more time to spend and it takes money to do some things. Also there is inflation and that is what bites you in the posterior. I figured for all of that but not for the current situation. Okay, I did, a bit but who would have thunk it would get this bad and I think it will be far worse. Luckily I only have a bit over a year before I start getting SS, if it is still around then. The company gives a defined amount toward our insurance and if our group goes over we have to pay the difference. Since I was one of the ones who used a bunch last year it is partially my fault. The scary thing is that our company, as well as many others, are self funded which means they can cancel the whole thing at any time. We pay $6K a year for insurance now.

My DH hits the 20 year mark in the Air Force in four years. He doesn't think he will make Colonel, but I do. If he does, he will probably have to stay in a couple of more years. Plus, more money, which means more retirement money. We are very fortunate that he will receive his retirement the rest of his life. I keep hoping he will work for the government when he retires because I know he will probably always have a job, but he wants to get away from government work. The bad thing is, he doesn't have a clue what stuff like insurance costs in the real world. All of his medical care is taken care of, so he doesn't understand co-pays, deductibles, etc.

Diva K, how are things in your neck of the woods? Many layoffs and such or more stable? House prices? I am always amazed when I watch Househunters and they are in your neck of the woods and the houses seem very reasonable and nice to boot.

Isn't it amazing the difference in home prices all over the country. I watch House Hunters also and wonder how people can even afford a home. But then you have places like TX where homes are much more reasonable.

If anyone needs ideas on how to be cheap and get by on less I have given lessons on that for decades. I was once on a very fancy board locally and noted that I was the only regular person on it and when I asked why I was told it was because I was the only person they knew who had ever been poor.

First off, I can't believe they told you that. Honestly though, more boards should do that so they have a clue. More people in Congress need to be like, or remember what it was like to not have money.

Taking Tom bowling, doing some shopping today, yardwork tomorrow, dump and Slumdog Millionaire Saturday and "Grease" on Sunday. Why does everything have to happen at the same time? Hope I survive all this fun.
SG

BTW, lest you all think I am an icon of culture and class because of the erudite things I watch on Netflix - last night I watched "Last Waltz" a documentary on The Band. I danced around the bedroom and enjoyed it! Shades were drawn so the neighbors would not (laugh).

Sounds like a fun weekend. I know what you mean about having a lot of fun stuff to do. We just had the state fair here, there is a Strawberry Festival going on, all kinds of concerts and Broadway shows coming to town. Wish we had money, a babysitter, and time to do all this stuff. Plus, got to go to WDW.

Love the dancing with the shades drawn. I do that in our office, actually I have been doing right now. Got the Itunes on and have been "going to town".

SG, there should be more people in this world like you!

Hey, since this is the Disboards, thought I would throw in some Dis news. Since we will be there Sept 4th, the DH said we could go to MNSSHP! Need to start working on some costumes.

Oops, I was going to get back to my house cleaning, but ER is on. Yes, I watch the reruns everyday.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

 

[ANTSS2001]

Back to work

awwwwwwwwwwwww cute....

 

[jmskinner]

If you guys get together for dinner give me a holler.

Also Ang: A tip for facebook is that you can organize your friends. Make a group and then you can add people by name. Then when you click in, click into that group and see your friends updates.

I used your tip also, thank you!

That sounds like fun to meet up for dinner. Actually, anytime I am there. The hour drive doesn't bother me.

Melissa,
So glad to have you back on the puter.

We would love to meet you at TL in June. Now I wonder if Timmy would want to go with us too? She talks about loving it there so I bet she would be up for a visit. Let's see if she answers this message.

Anyway, Will and I usually swim out to the deep water and ride the waves in but we are up for anything. I did a few of the slides there last year but since we live near a big water park and Wisconsin Dells is 2 hours away the slides at TL are whimpy IMO. I do the wave pool, Sharks Reef (my favorite), and the lazy river. We could stay all day and be content.

I will PM you my cell phone number before we leave.

Ang

Sounds like a plan. Jacob would love having someone else to hang with at WDW. I've been thinking of posting on the Dismeets thread to see if I could find someone with kids that likes to go a lot. What are your dates again and I will put them in my calendar? Need to get organized.

I stupidly thought you had to pay for Sharks Reef, so I never did it. We may have to this year.

I watched a show on water parks on the Travel Channel a couple of months ago that showed Noah's Ark there in Wisconsin Dells. Would love to go. I know what you mean, after going to Schlitterbahn, other water parks just don't compare. That wave pool at TL is fantastic though.

 

[Kristineamb]

Isn't it amazing the difference in home prices all over the country. I watch House Hunters also and wonder how people can even afford a home. But then you have places like TX where homes are much more reasonable.

California?!?!?

Hey, since this is the Disboards, thought I would throw in some Dis news. Since we will be there Sept 4th, the DH said we could go to MNSSHP! Need to start working on some costumes.

I was really looking forward to going to MNSSHP but now that we've moved up our trip that won't be happening
We weren't going to do full fledged costumes though...maybe just matching/coordinating glow in the dark t-shirts!

I watched a show on water parks on the Travel Channel a couple of months ago that showed Noah's Ark there in Wisconsin Dells. Would love to go. I know what you mean, after going to Schlitterbahn, other water parks just don't compare. That wave pool at TL is fantastic though.

Schlitterbahn is just up the road from us...we've never been but got season passes for this summer...knew it was voted the best water park in the country but still wondered how it compared to Disney's...can't wait to go!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Yikes, I must be making myself sound like a saint or some such thing. No true, not true at all. I fear my neighbors know when I am dancing as the house surely shakes. Probably can hear me singing too. Poor dears!

Timmie, I believe that you and your mom have enough material for a sitcom. I know I would watch. I want to be the eccentric mother and have my daughter have a sense of humor about my antics. Unfortunately I have to be both eccentric and have the sense of humor about her lack thereof. Your mom is blessed to have such a loving daughter, but then you are that way to EVERYONE!

Diva K, just love Househunters when they have NYC cono/apartments for a million or more and the total size is less than one room in my house. I watch because I am interested to see how they can get one bedroom, one bath, LR and kitchen in less than 250 sq ft. I hear you on areas that did not get into all that price gouging not being as badly hurt. Me too.

JM, my bil is a retired AF Colonel and he lives well, very well. He is very frugal and has always been so that helps a lot. Government money will be there long after the rest of us go broke. As a retired military person he would get a leg up on most any job he wants, especially civil service. I hope you can convince him of that. Maybe researching how much it would cost for him to buy insurance for you all will convince him of the wisdom. Congrats on having your cc bills paid off.

The committee was not being rude, just honest and I concurred. Unfortunately they did not listen to my advice, not that it would have helped. If folks do not want to listen they will not and it was a failure. I have learned to only work with those who want the help. More success less frustration.

Have to take Tom bowling now, bye!

SG

 

[jmskinner]

Schlitterbahn is just up the road from us...we've never been but got season passes for this summer...knew it was voted the best water park in the country but still wondered how it compared to Disney's...can't wait to go! [/FONT]

As big as a WDW freak I am, Schlitterbahn is 100% better as far as the water parks go. Remember that you can take ice chests and have a picnic. Be sure to get there before they open, you can grab a picnic table to put your stuff once they open the gates. I also recommend their money system. It is a plastic band they put around your wrist and when you purchase something they rip off the dollars for you. Any you haven't spent can be cashed back in. It is really nice to not have to worry about carrying any money.

Start with the newest park (I can't ever keep the names straight), the one with the Dragonblaster and wave pool. It gets crowded fast. You will want to do all of the coaster slides first because they become long waits really fast. Since you have AP's I recommend spending a day at each park the first time.

I started going to Schlitterbahn back in the 80's when there was just one park. The old park is fantastic. You can save it for hotter days since it is almost all shaded. They have one slide that is 45 minutes long. You float, you slide, go over some bumps and just keep going, it is like floating down a river. The bad part is the walk back, but if you play at one end of the old park and then get on that one slide, you can enjoy the other end of the park. One word of warning on the long slide, it has two endings and I was never able to stay with all members of my party, so tell all members of the party which ending you want. They normally have a lifeguard at the split to help people out. Poor Jacob always got away from us and it always scared me, but the lifeguards always held on to him until we got there.

I heard about their new slide with the Dragon and so want to go. My parents went while we were at WDW this past summer. You can only imagine, grandparents being second in line for a water park (They are in their late 50's). My Mom said she ran up the stairs to ride the main coaster slide.

Oh, and who knows, you might end up on TV. I heard MTV was making a reality show about the kids that work at Schlitterbahn. I want to watch just to see the park.

Can you tell I love Schlitterbahn!!!

 

[Kristineamb]

 

[Minnie&Nana]

 

[angwill]

Wow, today I choose to sleep in after getting Will off to school hoping to get rid of this cold once and for all and all the ladies are chit chatting away. lol I feel like it took forever to catch up.

Cheryl,
Dinner we can do, any suggestions? I will have a car too so if you wanted to meet off property I can do that too. I don't know if you have my cell number from last year or not so I will pm it to you. I will be there 6/1 to 6/15 so let me know what days work best for everyone.

Melissa,
I was telling Will about Jacob last night and he was asking how old he is and does he like to swim. I said I think he's 10, right? He is looking forward to meeting him.

Will only does Shark reef once with me and then he will stand on the bridge and watch me. The sharks give him anxiety issues. He was fine till he made friends with a boy in line and went through the reef with him behind me. The boy was all upset that a shark touched him (it didn't) and now Will swears the sharks come up to the top by the people despite his watching from the boat underneath a million times and seeing they are only on the bottom of the pool. I am tempted to have him do a private dive session in the reef so he has enough time in the pool to really understand the sharks behavior.

Anyway, we are looking forward to seeing you then.

Linda,
Like it or not I see you as a very special person. You give the kids so much of you it can only be admired. If everyone gave some spare time and patience imagine what the children and our future would be like.

You must be watching the same financial experts I do, Suze Ormond, etc. They have been saying for a while now that their advice has changed on the credit card front from pay them off to pay minimums and save the rest incase of emergency. I just had my one emergency credit card go from a low fixed rate to a higher variable rate. Thank goodness it never has a balance but I can only imagine how it will effect those that need that credit to get them through layoffs and such.

I am saddened for those who see the economy problems as only media hype and can't seem to open their eyes to the whole world and not just those immediately around them. It is those people who will be rocked to their core should this effect them in the future. Reality without panic is what I feel is best.

Wic,
I have a feeling something better is on the horizon for you it will just take time to find it.

Rie,
Hopefully the communication between you and DH is better.

Kristin,
Schlitterban looks like an awsome park when they showed it on the travel channel. That will be a great summer hang out.

Ang

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Ohmeohmy...ohmeohmy.....

I love House Hunters too...esp because the folks looking at homes do not judge the decor of the present owners as on Sell This House...

...but I digress....First...I was not sure about the whole face book thing, right? For good reason...everyone is on there now!! I love all the nuns I've met over the years, but how could I know they'd find me on face book??

The thing is...lots religious communities know my name b/c I own/moderate a group for women discerning religious life....have for yrs...BUT..face book was to be F U N!!

...ohmyohmy.....my dsil's big boss strongly suggested he apply for a manager position in PHOENIX!!! His big boss is not threatening, but giving him a heads up on changes coming this Monday (He is a top employee). The office is either going to close or eliminate his position.

...ohmeohmy....Phoenix is full of rattlesnakes and scorpions.

It's 110 in the summer....it's soooo far from WDW...of course, much closer to DL.

...ohmeohmy....

 

[cherylp3]

Dinner: I love the Turf club!! Sat. or Sunday night is best for me.

 

[angwill]

Cheryl,
I figured out how to seperate my friends thanks to you. I kept thinking I lost people because I could not see them but now I can.

Ang

 

[ANTSS2001]

Cheryl,
I figured out how to seperate my friends thanks to you. I kept thinking I lost people because I could not see them but now I can.

Ang

uh huh Ok if yah say so

 

[angwill]

M&N,
Hunted down by nuns who would have thought of that issue on FB. lol

Pheonix is a wonderful place and #1 on my places I want to live list. I had family who lived there at one time and loved to go visit there. I want heat almost all year long and no grass to mow. I want little gecko's climbing the walls of my adobe and little misters on my back porch. lol It's definatly a different way of life in the desert.

Cheryl,
Where is turf club? I need to find it in my GPS.

Ang