"Things are working out to my ultimate design..."

[gopherit]

Wow, what a week!

I just landed a sweet new job in my company -- fun job (by science geek standards, anyway!) and it will result in a very NICE boost in pay!

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb04242US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_102.gif' alt='Dollar Smiley' border=0></a> <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb04242US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_102.gif' alt='Dollar Smiley' border=0></a>


Just in time before our trip this August to HHI...

Note that I borrowed pts to get this HHI trip (hey, 15th wedding anniversaries deserve recognition, I told DH! Am I not right?) I think DH has, until now, figured the DVC points are purely good for WDW> Even though my sister has used her DVC to go to California, Hawaii, inns up in New England area, you name it -- my DH has always been content spending our points on WDW only. ANd really, with the trips we take (2 weeks, 2 BR, usually during mid-to-prime time due to school schedules) well, that's about all we can afford, pts wise! THe last time we got down in points, I was able to convince him (using various data and spreadsheets) that we needed an add-on in order to continue at the vacation pace we were in. DH does LOVE his WDW vacations, so he agreed.

That was 2 yrs ago. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb04242US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_109v.gif' alt='Waiting' border=0></a>

So here's the data now -- more income, but with no points, our first trip to HHI this summer and taste of non-WDW DVC, and our semi-annual Big Ol' WDW trip with family coming up fast in 2006... can anyone else see where I am headed with this? (Beauty of it is -- I don't think DH does! )

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb04242US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_3.gif' alt='Huh?' border=0></a>

I am still trying to figure out (once again, via my copious spreadsheets and such) exactly how much to "go for" and where... all our points are at BWV, but I am seriously thinking it would be nice to have 11 mos privys at either (a) HHI for summer and easter trips and GVs for family or (b) OKW to nab a nice GV there (for a LOT less than a BW GV) now and then. Plus, both of those are cheaper (pts wise and dues-wise) than our BWV pts.

By the time we're at HHI, I hope to have that data sorted out so that when DH is suitably impressed and in "vacation mode" I can approach the subject at prime time...

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb04242US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_17_1.gif' alt='Yes Dear' border=0></a> <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb04242US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_31_4.gif' alt='Please' border=0></a>

(Why, it's crafty thinking like this that probably netted me the new job, sez I... <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb04242US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_7v.gif' alt='Cool' border=0></a> )

 

[wtpclc]

Pretty sneaky! Remind me never to get on your bad side.

Congrats on teh new job and hopefully correspnoding add-on!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

HHI has some nice 3-bedroom (GV) too!!!

 

[Granny]

LOL...great use of those smileys! For a moment there, I thought a certain poster might be back with us!

Congratulations on your new job. Sounds like things are falling into place nicely.

If you think HH will figure prominently into your future vacation plans, or that you might use those points to "trade out" for other locations in the future, then maybe that's your best bet to buy.

My guess is it's easier to get OKW (even a GV) at 7 months than it is to get HH reservations during the times you vacation.

But hey, you can't go wrong either way, eh?

 

[ErinC]

Gopherit, You are quite the planner aren't you!!! Having just recently gotten an add on approved by my DH, I can appreciate your way of thinking! I would have taken points anywhere just to get more. We ended up with more VWL points. If you really end up liking your HH trip than maybe that would be the best place to add-on. Of course the OKW thought is not bad either! At any rate, Congrats on the new job! Sounds like a great deal!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Congratulations on the new job!!!

 

[conciergekelly]

Congrats on the new job! Let us know how your HH trip went. Looking forward to another great trip report! As far as the points, I say "Gopherit"! Enjoy!

 

[mamaprincess]

Most impressive

I think they're playing my song on a certain thread

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Be sure to update us with the certain outcome

Oh, and congrats on the new job! Can you share what your vision of a fun science job would be? I have 2DS that excel in Science

 

[Laurabearz]

Congrats on the new job!

I hope your family loves HHI as much as ours does. We are already talking about what we want to do here next year. So much to do.... and yet, nothing to do.... Ahhhhh

 

[gopherit]

LOL...great use of those smileys! For a moment there, I thought a certain poster might be back with us!

Good ol Nick, King of Clip Art, long may he "smiley"!

Often imitated, never duplicated, but here's a few I'll post, in his honor...

Here he is at VB, subsidizing his 401K for retirement...<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_16_2.gif' alt='Metal Detector' border=0></a>

And here he is at WDW, riding the boat back to OKW... <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_6_4.gif' alt='Cruising' border=0></a>


(I miss him! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_13.gif' alt='Blue' border=0></a>)

 

[gopherit]

Be sure to update us with the certain outcome

Oh, and congrats on the new job! Can you share what your vision of a fun science job would be? I have 2DS that excel in Science

I'm a PhD analytical chemist who has been working the past 13 yrs or so in manufacturing chemistry. I work mainly with the process folks, fixing their issues, and the testing folks, interpreting the data, setting up systems for testing, and such. This new job, however, is less about how we make it (and whether we have made it correctly, and what to fix if we didn't) and much more about what to make NEXT... (New Product development). This job will take me from customer need to design to process implementation to end user -- and in my own science geeky perspective, that's cool!

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_2_111.gif' alt='Scientist' border=0></a>

Now I do confess, though -- the MOST fun I have in science is when I teach at my kids' elementary school! Last year they let me do a creative thinking day with grades 1-6; I also hosted a session on environmental science for the same grades during Earth Day. I am already planning for next school year -- a full "Science Saturday" in January (and they want me to come back and do the other 2 things again...) The fun just keeps growing!

I still remember when I was in the 6th grade, I watched a movie about the Purina pet food line, and it showed the "science" of pet food formulations, etc. It really fascinated me -- as did virtually any kind of machinery or process. I think I knew then I'd have to do something in the science field. I try to show my 3 kids daily just how "fun" science can be, and that really, it's everywhere, in anything they do (and NOW you have some inkling as to why I'm tagged as a GEEKUS OPTIMA, huh! )

Science is a wide-open field; encourage your sons interests! Most areas of science pay fairly decent too -- all the better for buying their own DVC points later in life, eh?!?

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Wow, you must be good if the kids want to come to Science Saturday Yes, I better understand your latest tag

 

[lisareniff]

Good luck with your master plan!!


BTW.. do you think Nik is hiding in the attic with greenban?

 

[mamaprincess]

Just checking in to monitor your progress.

 

[bobbiwoz]

What a great story, lots of smileys and Congratulations!!

Bobbi