The Unofficial Chatterbox Thread! Everyone is Welcome!

[funnygarcia]

Hi!

I went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D yesterday. We got there 1 1/2 hours early and there were already probably 50 people in line. It was good. Very Tim Burtonish.

Looking forward to watching this next week, hoping the crowds die down.

 

[funnygarcia]

DH and I have been discussing next year plans, giving up ss disability and working full time has totally screwed us financially. (Plus he's getting burned out and feeling overly tired everyday)

The district still has not voted in a new contract-- overdue now by several months -- no pay raises, no steps/lanes and rumblings that they will no longer pay for health insurance.

What's the point of working if he will get the same income thru ss and his health care costs (entire family actually) would be covered and gives us a bigger tax break?

To be fair to the students and the school, he plans to finish out the school year.

He was sad that he would miss out on the friendships he has developed in the last two years. Until I asked.. what about part time?

He may be able to have a .2 position next year (about one hour per day), he can earn some money without jeopardizing his ss.

Decision made, plans discussed with principal....who was sad to see him go but would keep him in mind for next year... he came home smiling for the first time in weeks.

 

[sameyeyam]

Yah.. no kidding! I spend all day taking care of my family thank you very much. A few minutes here and there on the computer is def. not hurting them!

We spent the weekend at the ocean... it was lovely! We havnet been in ages. Vinny kept eating the sand. Over and over again. Gross little guy! We also drove through Forks, and I was expecting it to be more Twilighted out. They had some signs, and a tour.. a couple of stores.. But not like we were expecting. On the news they make it sound like the whole town has gone twilight crazy!!

There has never been anything in Forks...seriously NOTHING!
Did you know that the high school in Twilight is actually right up the road from me in Kalama? Yet I've never seen a single vampire around here!

Looking forward to watching this next week, hoping the crowds die down.

Looking forward to 5 years from now when it's on DVD (or whatever has replaced DVD's by then!).

DH and I have been discussing next year plans, giving up ss disability and working full time has totally screwed us financially. (Plus he's getting burned out and feeling overly tired everyday)

The district still has not voted in a new contract-- overdue now by several months -- no pay raises, no steps/lanes and rumblings that they will no longer pay for health insurance.

What's the point of working if he will get the same income thru ss and his health care costs (entire family actually) would be covered and gives us a bigger tax break?

To be fair to the students and the school, he plans to finish out the school year.

He was sad that he would miss out on the friendships he has developed in the last two years. Until I asked.. what about part time?

He may be able to have a .2 position next year (about one hour per day), he can earn some money without jeopardizing his ss.

Decision made, plans discussed with principal....who was sad to see him go but would keep him in mind for next year... he came home smiling for the first time in weeks.

Sounds like a good decision. I know it's a pride thing that you want to be normal, do everything and be able to work. He tried it and it just didn't work for him right now. I'm sure overall it will be the best decision for him medically wise and I'm sure you will enjoy having him around more. There's no use working yourself to the bone and just spinning your wheels.

 

[sameyeyam]

SO....just when we thought DD had decided on a college we get a letter from Portland State University. She was awarded a $6,500 WUE (Western Univeristy Exchange) scholarship. It is for students that live in western states and want to attend college at a different border state. So it basically bring the tuition down to about the price of in state tuition.

Originally she thought she wanted to go to Portland State University over Concordia, but Concordia was offering a $6,000 scholarship. PSU is a bit cheaper to start with, so it will bring our costs down to about $12,000 per year. I'm breathing a sigh of relief, because I have budgeted about $1,000 a month for tuition and that fits in nicely with my budget. Now if she can get a few more scholarships, then I will be an extremely happy person. I'm sure she will get some local scholarships, she just filled out 21 more applications this weekend...surely she'll get some.

 

[funnygarcia]

SO....just when we thought DD had decided on a college we get a letter from Portland State University. She was awarded a $6,500 WUE (Western Univeristy Exchange) scholarship.

Now if she can get a few more scholarships, then I will be an extremely happy person. I'm sure she will get some local scholarships, she just filled out 21 more applications this weekend...surely she'll get some.

That's exciting news! I hope she gets more scholarships!

The other bonus with E not working full time, Justin will likely get a bigger Pell and MN grant.

He will be a senior next year, I plan to find all the apps for scholarships and have him fill every single one! His fingers will be raw and bloody but darn if finances are going to hold him back to go to college.

And no way is he going to have tons of student loans if we can help it. My BIL owes over $30,000
He dropped out of radiology program and now is going to college while living with his mom. Changed to Computer Science, uhh so what was the point of taking all the biology, anatomy, microbiology, physics etc etc..

 

[Roandlilsmum]

Hi Roandlilsmum. My DH has been to the US 7 times for holidays now and DD and I just went for our first trip last May. We all absolutely loved it and are keen to move over there at some stage. The challenge firstly is knowing how to get the appropriate visas etc and then deciding on exactly where we would like to live. We definitely like warm weather (no snow) and for that reason our first thoughts go to California, Las Vegas or Florida. We are in the very early stages of exploring it as an option. What made you move to the US and how did you go about it? Thanks so much for your help!

Hi again sorry it took me forever to reply!!
as long as you dont move into the mountains you wont get snow( looks nice from a distance LOL), it does get really cold here though, well compared to where i come from (perth)
depending on your or your husbands jobs or if you have family out here, you might be able to get a visa, actually i think you can do a lottery thing too where they let a certain amount of people in, if you look here it should help you out
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

i only really know about family based Immigration as my Husband is American, so i came here on a spousal Visa.
i dont know what it is like in Las Vegas or Florida, as i have never been, although i would love to visit one of these days, from what i have heard florida is really humid, so if you dont mind that type of weather.
i would say Vegas weather is real simular to here. i did find when we came over my skin was really dry for a long while, might also be due to having 2 winters!

i think what really made me want to move was that Perth was really boring us for a start(limited things to do) and also my husband has alot of family here, and all we had in Aus was my dad, so i wanted the kids to get to know his family too, Plus i wanted them to experience a different lifestyle, it has opened my sons eyes to the poverty here compaired to where we come from, i dont think he had ever seen a homeless person in Perth.

we are just loving it here, we are always going somewhere different, im loving how cheap everything is too!!

feel free to ask me any other questions

 

[funnygarcia]

Forgot to share ...
Went to the mall on the weekend, for a few years now E has been thinking of getting his eyebrows shaped... he plucks, no unibrow.. but they get straggly with some wiry ones popping out at odd angles.

A new store front opened at Mall of America, it's one of those ladies who does threading. We saw them at just about every mall in California, but not any here in MN. People would stop and stare in the store and watch the video playing out front.. but Minnesotans are a timid people when it comes to anything "new", no takers. WE swung by again and E checked the prices $12 for brows.. sold!

She did an awesome job countering, combed and trimmed the wiry ones and astringent after wards. I'm jealous, I call him my pretty eye man.

While he was getting "threaded" several people stopped to watch. By the time we left she had several people lined up waiting. Hopefully she will stay there for a long time, or at least a kiosk (cheaper rent than a storefront).

There are a few closed stores, hard to fill those places up in the current economy. Hopefully with our summer tourism they can fill the places again. It was busy for a Sunday with no events running.

 

[XTinabell]

Forgot to share ...
Went to the mall on the weekend, for a few years now E has been thinking of getting his eyebrows shaped... he plucks, no unibrow.. but they get straggly with some wiry ones popping out at odd angles.

A new store front opened at Mall of America, it's one of those ladies who does threading. We saw them at just about every mall in California, but not any here in MN. People would stop and stare in the store and watch the video playing out front.. but Minnesotans are a timid people when it comes to anything "new", no takers. WE swung by again and E checked the prices $12 for brows.. sold!

She did an awesome job countering, combed and trimmed the wiry ones and astringent after wards. I'm jealous, I call him my pretty eye man.

While he was getting "threaded" several people stopped to watch. By the time we left she had several people lined up waiting. Hopefully she will stay there for a long time, or at least a kiosk (cheaper rent than a storefront).

There are a few closed stores, hard to fill those places up in the current economy. Hopefully with our summer tourism they can fill the places again. It was busy for a Sunday with no events running.

I've been wanting to try the threading thing but am not really sure how it's done. Did it hurt or anything? What do they do?

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Forgot to share ...
Went to the mall on the weekend, for a few years now E has been thinking of getting his eyebrows shaped... he plucks, no unibrow.. but they get straggly with some wiry ones popping out at odd angles.

A new store front opened at Mall of America, it's one of those ladies who does threading. We saw them at just about every mall in California, but not any here in MN. People would stop and stare in the store and watch the video playing out front.. but Minnesotans are a timid people when it comes to anything "new", no takers. WE swung by again and E checked the prices $12 for brows.. sold!

She did an awesome job countering, combed and trimmed the wiry ones and astringent after wards. I'm jealous, I call him my pretty eye man.

While he was getting "threaded" several people stopped to watch. By the time we left she had several people lined up waiting. Hopefully she will stay there for a long time, or at least a kiosk (cheaper rent than a storefront).

There are a few closed stores, hard to fill those places up in the current economy. Hopefully with our summer tourism they can fill the places again. It was busy for a Sunday with no events running.

I've been wanting to try this too. I am also wondering if it hurts. I usually get my eye brows waxed and it only hurts when she goes to clean up with the tweezers.

 

[XTinabell]

I've been wanting to try this too. I am also wondering if it hurts. I usually get my eye brows waxed and it only hurts when she goes to clean up with the tweezers.

Ditto. One time she dug out an ingrown hair with pointed tweezers that hurt like a jerk. The waxing part doesn't hurt at all but I do want to try the threading because I like the look of threaded brows.

 

[staley7580]

Im going to Disneyworld!!! I know you all know... But it is in less then 2 months, and I am getting excited!! I have been sorting out summer clothes, seeing what still fits.. Buying the twins some stuff.. Thank goodness for Costco and their CHEAP cute baby clothes. I have to start sewing!! I bought a few patterns online, and some fabric. Im making the girls princess gowns, and other matchy stuff for the kids. I just need to get on it!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

There was a small cart in the mall that had the eyebrow threading. Then they rented out a small store space in the mall. I'm not sure if they get a lot of business or not since I don't really pay attention. That's something that I don't really want to try though.

One of my co-workers does a really great job on eyebrows and cosmetics. I entrust my eyebrows with her. lol! I told her she should create her own business cards: "Saving the World One Eyebrow At A Time!"

 

[eatmypixiedust]

I made a yummy sandwich for lunch...it's pastrami with chipotle cheddar cheese and Boar's Head brand pepper mayo on toasted wheat bread. Yummy!

 

[funnygarcia]

Threading...

Eloy says "It's like plucking your eyebrows but instead of ow-ow-ow-ow... it's "owwwwwwwwwwwww" . It "plucks" all at once instead of one at a time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzip and a whole line is done"

His eyelids were red, irritated for one day just like regular plucking . But it was very quick and no stray hairs popping up.

It's cool to watch, she had a spool of cotton thread held in one hand, crossed the thread somehow and held one end with her mouth. She pushed the crossed part down onto the area she was working on, did a little pull and ZIP a whole line of scraggly hairs came loose.

 

[funnygarcia]

Im going to Disneyworld!!! I know you all know... But it is in less then 2 months, and I am getting excited!!

I'm so excited for you!

 

[XTinabell]

Threading...

Eloy says "It's like plucking your eyebrows but instead of ow-ow-ow-ow... it's "owwwwwwwwwwwww" . It "plucks" all at once instead of one at a time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzip and a whole line is done"

His eyelids were red, irritated for one day just like regular plucking . But it was very quick and no stray hairs popping up.

It's cool to watch, she had a spool of cotton thread held in one hand, crossed the thread somehow and held one end with her mouth. She pushed the crossed part down onto the area she was working on, did a little pull and ZIP a whole line of scraggly hairs came loose.

Oh my. I think I will stick with my waxing and just admire those that get the threading.

 

[XTinabell]

I did some shopping yesterday and came across this adorable bear one piece outfit for a baby 2-3 months old. My dh's sister is pregnant so I thought I could get it for her but I now realise she's due in the summer so by the time it's cold the bear outfit will be too small. It's so cute, I sorta want to save it for myself in case I decide I want kids some day but that's weird too because it's like a jinx buying baby clothes for babies that aren't here yet.

 

[stitch1986]

so just finished one trip and going to go again in aug but EVEN BETTER news I am going to the WORLD!!! in oct yaya

 

[funnygarcia]

It's so cute, I sorta want to save it for myself in case I decide I want kids some day but that's weird too because it's like a jinx buying baby clothes for babies that aren't here yet.

Do you have a cat to dress up (errrr... ahhh.. torture)?

You could put it on a stuffed animal maybe? I've heard of people buying baby shoes as good luck charms when trying to conceive, a cute outfit is not that far of a stretch.

I know what you mean about finding cute clothes that you just itch to buy for "someone".. anyone.. because darn it someone should have this! My sis and I drooled over the pretty little girl Easter dresses this week, we are plagued with boys in our family. Not a single girl to buy pretty things and dollies.. it's very sad.


My boys better have girls for me to spoil darn it!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

My boys better have girls for me to spoil darn it!