Something about Nothing, come join in........

[bubba's mom]

no...never noticed the mouse ears

rose....hope things work out w/ dr., maybe switching is a pain cuz of the distance, but maybe a convenience to get an appt. that is good for you


on another subject....i'd like to get DS' teacher a little gift of appreciation....what do i get a man teacher He was really a great teacher to my son and really challenged him and so on and such forth.... Women are easy....men, eh...... If nothing else, i was thinking of gift card to local Applebee's so he and his new wife (DS's kindergarten teacher) can have dinner.....any suggestions???

 

[Fan2CSkr]

roseprincess if your dd's annual appt falls out much later than the one year mark I would call the office and request a call back from the doc. Ask the doc if she is comfortable with your daughter having to wait past the one year mark to be checked and tell her that you arent. Tell her that you werent sure if she was aware that you were unable to get an appointment to see her within a three month time frame. I bet she finds an opening for you sooner.

Where are you staying when you go to hershey? I was trying to decide if we could squeeze hershey in this summer. Have fun packing! School is out for you guys they must be sooooo happy! We have another 2 weeks. Hope your DD's ankle feels better.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

no...never noticed the mouse ears

rose....hope things work out w/ dr., maybe switching is a pain cuz of the distance, but maybe a convenience to get an appt. that is good for you


on another subject....i'd like to get DS' teacher a little gift of appreciation....what do i get a man teacher He was really a great teacher to my son and really challenged him and so on and such forth.... Women are easy....men, eh...... If nothing else, i was thinking of gift card to local Applebee's so he and his new wife (DS's kindergarten teacher) can have dinner.....any suggestions???

My son had a male teacher one year and I made him up a movie gift basket. It had a gift card to our local theatre along with some theatre sized candy and snacks. It was cute. Along the same lines you could get a popcorn bucket from blockbuster and fill it with movie theatre treats and a GC from blockbuster.

 

[bubba's mom]

That's a good idea....will run that by the boys .... see what they think.....THANKS!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

That's a good idea....will run that by the boys .... see what they think.....THANKS!

One other idea, there is a book called, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List Its been on NY Times best seller list for a few years. I gave it to a few different people and each one has loved it. Its very interesting. It makes a great conversation book for a coffee table.

Book Description:
Packed with recommendations of the world's best places to visit, on and off the beaten path, 1,000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE is a joyous, passionate gift for travelers, an around-the-world, continent-by-continent listing of beaches, museums, monuments, islands, inns, restaurants, mountains, and more. There's Botswana's Okavango Delta, the covered souks of Aleppo, the Tuscan hills surrounding San Gimignano, Canyon de Chelly, the Hassler hotel in Rome, Ipanema Beach, the backwaters of Kerala, Oaxaca's Saturday market, the Buddhas of Borobudur, Ballybunion golf club-all the places guaranteed to give you the shivers.

The prose is gorgeous, seizing on exactly what makes each entry worthy of inclusion. And, following the romance, the nuts and bolts: addresses, phone and fax numbers, web sites, costs, and best times to visit.


Ok my turn for help, please.
I'm class parent this year and aside from coordinating the end of the year party I have to come up with the gift from the class. The teacher is female and normally it would be a piece of cake to think up something but this teacher is extremely plain. Not saying that in a mean way at all cause i love her! No make-up, no jewelry and no hobbies that I have picked up on all year. The only thing I have to go on is that she gave birth to her first child last August. I wanted something that would be pampering and a gift that she alone would enjoy. I have $150 to spend. I dont want to give her a GC, I really wanted to make it more personal but it looks like i am heading in that direction. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[damo]

ARRRRRG. I hate being a tutor at exam time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

ARRRRRG. I hate being a tutor at exam time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You tutoring young pirates? The ARRRRG gave you away. What subject?

 

[bubba's mom]

How about a small flowering bush/tree she can plant. The card can read: Thanks for helping us grow! That way, the bush/tree will grow along w/ her baby too. Also, i don't know any new Mom that wouldn't like some "me" time....maybe gift certificate to spa?? (I know you said you didn't want gift card, but it was an idea! )

 

[Fan2CSkr]

How about a small flowering bush/tree she can plant. The card can read: Thanks for helping us grow! That way, the bush/tree will grow along w/ her baby too. Also, i don't know any new Mom that wouldn't like some "me" time....maybe gift certificate to spa?? (I know you said you didn't want gift card, but it was an idea! )

That is a wonderful idea and I think she would really love that! Now I have to think what type would be best. Oh talking about the bush/tree. I also like the spa idea but some people just arent spa people and I dont want to second guess it. But wow the tree idea is really personal and really perfect! Thank you! I will add your name to the card.

 

[marciemi]

on another subject....i'd like to get DS' teacher a little gift of appreciation....what do i get a man teacher He was really a great teacher to my son and really challenged him and so on and such forth.... Women are easy....men, eh...... If nothing else, i was thinking of gift card to local Applebee's so he and his new wife (DS's kindergarten teacher) can have dinner.....any suggestions???

I was just dealing with this today. More challenging as the kids get older and have SO many teachers to even afford anything. My high schooler has 8 classes, middle schooler has 6 core classes, plus 4 others that he has every other day; my 6th grader (intermediate school here) has 8 classes as well. No way I can afford to buy 25+ gifts.

So what I did is buy some for my 6th grader's two main teachers (that he goes to for most of his core subjects) - I got them GC's to Office Depot (because he says they always complain about not having enough looseleaf and index cards), plus gift cards for Jo-to-Go (kind of like Starbucks) since they're also coffee fans.

Two of my sons share a math teacher, who they really like, so I got him a gift card to Red Robin (since they says he love hamburgers). I also got this for my son's Spanish teacher, who he really likes. My high schooler was REALLY reluctant to take anything for any of his teachers, but his math teacher has helped us alot, both for him in math this year and in our transition into the district last summer. He's a big fisherman so I got him a GC for Gander Mountain (a sporting goods store).

That's it. I know it leaves a lot out, but basically I chose the teachers that the kids liked best. Does this seem unfair? I'm thinking by middle/high school, they'll be glad to get anything from any kids and the other teachers shouldn't feel "left out" because they won't be expecting anything and probably would never know. What do you think?

(okay, now I'm realizing that I bought the Office Depot and Jo-to-Go cards a couple days ago and have NO idea where they are, so I'm off to look for them!)

 

[bubba's mom]

I will add your name to the card.

uh.... don't you think the teacher would wonder who the heck Bubba's Mom is? Good luck finding something nice....and i'm sure the local nursery/Home Depot/Lowe's will gladly take your money!

marci...you had a lot of great ideas......i wish i knew his teacher's hobbies and "likes" so i could get more specific.... i always like the idea of Office Depot and such of the sorts, but then, it's not for the teacher....and i really want him to have something! (i also don't know if he lives in an apt. or home, being a newlywed and all so, don't want to chance home improvement gc) i will run these ideas by DH when he gets home from hockey.....at least a little something is better than "no" something

 

[bubba's mom]

btw you guys....emptied the card on the camera.....this was our dinner Memorial Day Monday:

and yes.... them ribs was good!

 

[bubba's mom]

Here is a picture of the baby doves that were born in our tree next to our front door. Every year some birdbrain thinks it's a great idea to build a nest in this exact same spot..... (actually, I think they use the same nest and just "home improve" it each year ) ....anyhows, we had twins and a day or two after I took this, they left home (glad I thought to take the pic when I did!) So, we are now "empty nested" ...so to speak

Mom & babies (one on left is a butt-shot ):

Just babies:

 

[goNDmay9]

i am in dc for work. missed my plane on the way here and barely made it in time for my meeting. 7am wednesday cannot come quick enough!! and for the record, the airports are busier than usual. I fly a lot for work and true, it does pick up in the summer - but it was crazy today!

I am in still in the rental but have sort of started putting the wheels in motion for another civic (thanks for the civic story bubba's mom! that helped with my decision). Based on the advice here, i may just wait until i get back from vaca to make the final decision. something about a five year payment (hoping to pay off early again though) committment on a depreciating asset just makes me nervous!

i got into a huge fight with dso on the matter. after work yesterday (getting of late again as usual) i left and went to the honda dealer by work. my trainer recommended him and he matched the price of another dealer for the same car. Since it was the closest, it was the one i went to. They had to order the car from another dealer so he asked for a 100 dollar good faith, i promise not to deposit it check. it made sense to me at the time and honestly, i was just tired of paying for the rental. of course dso wants to know why i would do that when i knew they had the car at another dealer for the same price with no wait. (dso is chicago for work right now). i really did not have a response except for that it was closer and the salesperson was recommended.

the civic came in this morning but won't be ready until friday. for some reason i just have an uneasy feeling. I am not sure if it is because i have been really stressed at work, but i just can't seem to shake it. any big decision i have ever made, the right path just kind of falls into place and i have never felt so unsure. i feel like it is too late to tell the car guy i want to wait because they already got the car from another place. not to menion -what reason would i give? HELP!!!

 

[macraven]

if the car is the same price, don't worry.

call the other dealer and don't give your name. ask them if they have the car identical to the one you have the hundred on and then ask the price.

if it is cheaper, cancel the deal with the salesman you worked with the other day.


it will all work out.

and when you try to cancel, tell them the cost of the other dealer's car is cheaper. then the dealer you were planning to buy with will probably knock off some $$.


i did that before and it worked for me.

 

[macraven]

if you are looking for what to give a teacher in appreciation, give them a gift card.

resturant, book store, spa,theater production w/ dinner, etc.

those things are really appreciated.

too many times teachers can't afford the splurge on a nice dinner out, a theater production, or something just for themselves.

 

[goNDmay9]

thanks macraven! i will try that - it definitely won't hurt. do you think it will be ok to cancel even though they have shipped the car in from another dealer? I guess worst case they can try and keep my 100 huh?

 

[goNDmay9]

my mom is a teacher and she LOVES gift cards. And i have to agree, that teachers do not seem to often buy things for themselves so dinner, spas and the like go over very well. it forces them to treat themselves. I will ask my mom tomorrow what her favorite gift was. (unlike me, my mom is asleep by 9!)

 

[macraven]

thanks macraven! i will try that - it definitely won't hurt. do you think it will be ok to cancel even though they have shipped the car in from another dealer? I guess worst case they can try and keep my 100 huh?

call the other dealer and get the basic info on the cost of the car there if they have the one you want.

then you can say you tenatively made an arrangement with his competitor.
he'll sweeten the deal for you to buy from him.

you have 3 days to back out of any agreement you have signed. that's a law.
so call in the morning as the clock is ticking.

if you break the agreement within the 3 days, you get your money back.
and really, if the dealership that you gave the 100 to gives you a hard time, they shouldn't. they don't want to tarnish their name. you can say you felt very pressured and was afraid to back out of the deal until you thought it over with friends.

and you can say you are involved in many websites and will tell your sad saga to the world.
a happy person tells their 5 best friends.
an unhappy person goes on the internet and tells the world.

also contact better business bureau inthe town you did the original deal with if you do not get your 100 back.


call the other dealer in the morning. if they don't have the car but can, make sure it is the price you want it for.

also, if the other place says it will take 2 weeks before they can get it in, you ask yourself how long do you want to wait for it and if the difference is less than $300 between dealers, you might think you would be spending that in a rental.

 

[macraven]

my mom is a teacher and she LOVES gift cards. And i have to agree, that teachers do not seem to often buy things for themselves so dinner, spas and the like go over very well. it forces them to treat themselves. I will ask my mom tomorrow what her favorite gift was. (unlike me, my mom is asleep by 9!)

i'm a teacher and i know other teachers like gift cards.
you feel you can do something for yourself with it and splurge then.

or take the spouse out to dinner and show for alone time.