VWL Lovers & Groupies Thread: Meese-ka, Mice-ka MOOSE-kateers

[MiaSRN62]

blossomz : because I've been nudged out of my teaching position! Apparently my salary is a bit high in these economic times! 30 years of experience didn't seem to matter...

Inkmahm :Welcome to the group you never wanted to join, the experienced unemployed. The outplacement group I still attend hasn't changed much in two years. It is still made up of most people over the age of 50 who have decades of experience but also salary requirements to match. We're not valued for the experience, only looked at as being too expensive.

It is very disheartening to hear this....but Inkmahm is right. I am going to be 50 in the near future---and while my career choice is fairly secure---I do notice instances in which the over 50 nurses and not given the credit they deserve for the experience and wisdom they possess. Society just seems to be so quick to completely disgard valuable resources based on age. I'm not looking forward to turning 50 based mainly on how society views it. Experience and wisdome should be embraced.....but employers and society toss it aside ?

 

[stopher1]

First of all....prayers to all of my groupies in need.

Theresa...beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing!

Forgot to have my upcoming trips posted! Maria..would you mind?

June 18-22: Kidani Village
June 22-27: VWL!!!

Aug 4: Disney Wonder to ALASKA!

Good thing these trips are planned...because I've been nudged out of my teaching position! Apparently my salary is a bit high in these economic times! 30 years of experience didn't seem to matter...

So I'm thinking of embarking on my own educational services and tutoring business geared to special education! Hopefully that will serve me well..along with my pension! And..I'm seriously considering seasonal employment at WDW! Maybe this will all work out! lol...

So sorry for you blossomz. I didn't want to join the ranks of the unemployed last year either. But we press on and do what we can to change our futures.

Christopher/stopher1 is keeper of the trip lists. I'm sure he'll post it on page 1 soon Sounds like some great trips you have planned !!!! ALASKA on the Wonder---so cool !

Absolutely - I've written them down, I'll get them posted.

It is very disheartening to hear this....but Inkmahm is right. I am going to be 50 in the near future---and while my career choice is fairly secure---I do notice instances in which the over 50 nurses and not given the credit they deserve for the experience and wisdom they possess. Society just seems to be so quick to completely disgard valuable resources based on age. I'm not looking forward to turning 50 based mainly on how society views it. Experience and wisdome should be embraced.....but employers and society toss it aside ?

You know I haven't reached the 50 marker yet, but even over 40 is difficult. After many months, and too many applications submitted to count, I finally was invited to an interview two weeks ago. Last week they emailed to say thanks but no thanks. Not that I really wanted that job, but still, it was nice to finally be asked to come in and interview.

My business is starting to produce fruit, and is growing. The pipeline is filling, which is what needs to happen. Late 2012 and into 2013 are starting to look really nice now, it's getting from here to there that I'm most concerned about, but it's coming. I've met with several folks regarding doing all of their corporate travel, and a couple of traveling sports teams. I don't get a commission on airfare, but I do get a service fee for every ticket booked, so ongoing fees will be a good thing. Plus I've got a book in the works that I'm trying to get finished plus another in the preliminary stages. My traffic counts on my website and blog continue to grow, and more and more people are putting their vacation plans together through me, so I'm not complaining. Like any new venture it takes time to get going. I was invited to 2 different networking groups as well, so hopefully the word will continue to get out about my little company. We're trying hard to get this one to the point that we can start the next phase of our master plan. Our goal is to be able to stay focused on working for ourselves vs. having to go back to an employment situation - not that anyone around here is hiring right now anyway. Hoping & praying we can keep it that way.

 

[Muushka]

Oh Bloss, I don't know how I missed that part of your post. I just remember thinking Cool! Bloss is branching out!

I hope that your idea is fruitful. I can imagine that there is opportunity for good teachers who have left the school system to be able to capitalize on its shortcomings! Home schoolers need help now and then too. Best wishes.

 

[blossomz]

Thanks for the support everyone! I know I can always count on my pals here!

 

[DiznyDi]

Wow, Blossom - just read about your current situation. As I was reading, I was thinking this is so cool - all these wonderful planned trips. Then I saw the part about your 'early retirement.' I'm so sorry this is happening to you! Is there any possibility of substitute teaching for you? I actually like what you're hoping to do. You're having the best of both worlds. Wishing you all the very best as you move forward to a new future.

 

[blossomz]

Well...just spent the afternoon working on a website. Right now I'm publishing on .mac for free. Eventually as they phase out me.com to iCloud I'll have to move it somewhere! Now I just need to make my business cards and start advertising! Thanks for your support!

 

[claire_ont]

Just dropping in after almost a years absence from the boards and Disney, and decided to check in on my fellow groupies. It felt so good to see the familiar names again.

My prayers go out to those who have lost their jobs, still looking for jobs, are having health issues or their family is ill.

This year I have two trips planned:

May 3 - May 8th - Pop Century - just me and my eldest daughter
Dec 29th - Jan 5th - AKV 1 Bdrm - whole family.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all...

Claire

 

[blossomz]

Welcome home Claire!

 

[jimmytammy]

Welcome back Claire! Please hang out more often

 

[claire_ont]

Thanks guys for the warm welcome back. I do plan to hang out here more often...

Claire

 

[twokats]

Just dropping in after almost a years absence from the boards and Disney, and decided to check in on my fellow groupies. It felt so good to see the familiar names again.

My prayers go out to those who have lost their jobs, still looking for jobs, are having health issues or their family is ill.

This year I have two trips planned:

May 3 - May 8th - Pop Century - just me and my eldest daughter
Dec 29th - Jan 5th - AKV 1 Bdrm - whole family.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all...

Claire

Glad to see you back and I hope you had as good a birthday as I did!!

 

[jimmytammy]

I was just on a forum about food, one of my favorite subjects, so I thought I would ask you folks...

What meals have you tried to replicate at home, WDW inspired?

We enjoy making the Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier w/pretzel bread. Another fav is Nine Dragons Honey Sesame Chicken. Dole Whips, Key Lime Pie from OKW, Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake are among the few desserts we have had success with.

Peanut Rice from Boma and Chicken Sausage Polenta from Canada(F&W Festival) are faves with our family.

 

[sleepydog25]

As luvvwl and I are huge foodies, we've actually bought a couple or three Disney cookbooks that contained a few of our favorite meals, plus we've asked chefs for their recipes a few times, as well. To wit:
- Smoky portobello soup from AP
- Lamb sliders from New Zealand (during F&W Festival)
- Duck confit (used to be at a couple of WDW restaurants)
- Lentil & kale soup (Jiko)
- Goat cheese ravioli (Ca. Grill)
- Potato-wrapped red snapper (Flying Fish)
- Chocolate souffle' (Palo)
- Scalloped potatoes (either Kona or O'hana)

There may be others, but this is a fairly good representation. All turned out quite delicious with the exception of the red snapper. It was mehh. We love fish, but the recipe was a bit complicated and the potatoes were bland while the fish wasn't attractive--tasted fine just blah looking.

 

[claire_ont]

We have made the Cheddar Cheese soup and the mushroom risotto from Le Cellier, and the strawberry salad dressing from liberty tree tavern. We tried a couple of recipes from Boma - the results were not good

Twocats - Thanks, I had a great birthday, I am glad you did as well.

Claire

 

[saintstickets]

I was just on a forum about food, one of my favorite subjects, so I thought I would ask you folks...

What meals have you tried to replicate at home, WDW inspired?

We enjoy making the Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier w/pretzel bread. Another fav is Nine Dragons Honey Sesame Chicken. Dole Whips, Key Lime Pie from OKW, Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake are among the few desserts we have had success with.

Peanut Rice from Boma and Chicken Sausage Polenta from Canada(F&W Festival) are faves with our family.

DW made butternut squash soup that we had at V&A and then again at Jiko's. A LOT of effort but WOWZER! Mmm..mmm..mmm

 

[Dizny Dad]

DiznyDi has made the Butternut Squash Soup every week for the past four weeks (or more). She loves it! I find it, hmmmm, interesting. Now if I could just get her to make the Smoky Portobello Soup from AP. . . . all things would be right in our part of the world (at least at dinner time!)

Crispy Rice Treats (which I miss in the full 4" x 4" x 3" block when resting at The Writer's Stop), certainly brings home the Mouse for me. Wish I could get the recipe to make them the way they do. They seem less sweet and lighter than the original recipe. Anybody know the secret?

 

[MiaSRN62]

Add me to the Boma butternut squash soup ! LOOOVVEE it ! Also, bannana stuffed french toast (Tonga Toast). I so need to try more recipes........

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Here's a link to a DIS thread that I have found very helpful when looking for Disney Recipes.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1575103&goto=newpost

Great index is in the first few posts.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Here's a link to a DIS thread that I have found very helpful when looking for Disney Recipes.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1575103&goto=newpost

Great index is in the first few posts.

Thanks Grumpy Grandma !

Jimmytammy : Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake

After 40+ trips to WDW I have yet to try this ?! It's on my "to-do" list though

 

[jimmytammy]

Hey Maria
A great place to get that GC if you dont want a big Brown Derby meal is at Starring Rolls Cafe. Even if you dont see it in the case, they will go next door to get it for you.