WBRepo-Ship of Thieves-Remember the Magic Pt 14

[granmaz]

On our cruise last week, our table-mates were from Leicestershire, UK. Their daughter was on the Disney College program, and she only has one more month. They were talking about how few English people were on the cruise,and I reminded them that it was very near to time for the school year to end, so not many parents would take them out until school was out. They were so glad they came the week they did!

Also they said that there doesn't seem to be much info in the UK about Disney Cruise Line. Also one of the CM's on board said his family couldn't find much either, not at the travel agents or anywhere else. And there's no UK based website either. You would think that DCL would really be out there with the advertising, especially with the new European itineraries next summer and the new ships.....

What do you think?

I haven't seen any advertising for DCL over here, but to be honest I haven't looked. I did see someone post a link to some DCL guy saying bookings were strong from Europe for next year(to do with having a DCL ship based there in the future), but I can't really believe that as the prices are astronomical. There are 3 other cruise lines at least who are doing similar itineraries to the Baltic for much much much less, and Mediterranean cruises are two a penny as we say!!! I think perhaps that if you went into a travel agent then you might hear about them.

They would have to do a fantastic marketing drive to encourage the Brits. Perhaps a huge price drop???

Could be the other European countries are booking though.

 

[cquick]

I haven't seen any advertising for DCL over here, but to be honest I haven't looked. I did see someone post a link to some DCL guy saying bookings were strong from Europe for next year(to do with having a DCL ship based there in the future), but I can't really believe that as the prices are astronomical. There are 3 other cruise lines at least who are doing similar itineraries to the Baltic for much much much less, and Mediterranean cruises are two a penny as we say!!! I think perhaps that if you went into a travel agent then you might hear about them.

They would have to do a fantastic marketing drive to encourage the Brits. Perhaps a huge price drop???

Could be the other European countries are booking though.

I know what you mean....I think the Americans go for Disney because of the Disney name....they KNOW the quality they will get before they even cruise. But I think it might be harder to sell the Europeans on the Disney name.

I was talking to a woman who is going on the Northern Capitals with us next June....she said comparing apples to apples, the Disney Cruise came out really good for her family because of the family suite accomodations. I guess she could get a good price on an inside room, but she wanted connecting veranda rooms, and the Disney price came up better.....She really put a lot of work into comparing.

 

[cquick]

I came on to see if Marilyn was ahead yet and I couldn't even find a post from me to see what number I was on

I did look back a couple of pages and I see Marilyn is getting all the attention these days. I guess 40 years is OK Ken and Ian, I think you did a great job. I love them all.

How long in between posts does it take to make the number go up?

I see mine has stayed the same today, even though I have posted several times. Does it count if you "quote" someone? Or only if you have a new post of your own? HMMMMMMMMMM?????????

 

[HollyTyler]

Glad Tyler is feeling better. Enjoy the pizza.

His head still hurts, but not enough to slow him down much. He only ate one piece of pizza, so he's not fully back to normal, but should be soon. We had an early supper, he asked if he could take his bath already, and is in pajamas now at just after 5pm! He's definitely sleepy from being sick, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's asleep by 6:30pm. He needs it.

 

[cquick]

His head still hurts, but not enough to slow him down much. He only ate one piece of pizza, so he's not fully back to normal, but should be soon. We had an early supper, he asked if he could take his bath already, and is in pajamas now at just after 5pm! He's definitely sleepy from being sick, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's asleep by 6:30pm. He needs it.

I am glad he is getting better so quickly....kids are so resiliant

 

[HollyTyler]

We looked at a house today that I fell in love with! The price caught my eye: it's to rent, but is only $100 more per month than what I pay, and it's 1300 square feet compared to my 747 sq feet, has 3 bedrooms upstairs (well, they currently use one as a study, which I'd do too), a concrete basement for laundry and storage, a wonderful all-seasons room, a BACK DECK (which I've always wanted), nice fenced in back yard (a bit bigger yard than mine, but not so much that it would be difficult to mow), 1 1/2 car garage (bigger than mine) with automatic garage door, and in a decent neighborhood comparable to mine. I LOVE IT! An extra $100/month is definitely in my budget if we drop karate (which neither of us have gone to in at least 2 months anyway and Tyler's tired of it). They're offering the option to rent to own if we like the house and make all rent payments on time for the first year. But with the housing market so bad, I doubt I'd be able to sell our current home.

 

[granmaz]

We looked at a house today that I fell in love with! The price caught my eye: it's to rent, but is only $100 more per month than what I pay, and it's 1300 square feet compared to my 747 sq feet, has 3 bedrooms upstairs (well, they currently use one as a study, which I'd do too), a concrete basement for laundry and storage, a wonderful all-seasons room, a BACK DECK (which I've always wanted), nice fenced in back yard (a bit bigger yard than mine, but not so much that it would be difficult to mow), 1 1/2 car garage (bigger than mine) with automatic garage door, and in a decent neighborhood comparable to mine. I LOVE IT! An extra $100/month is definitely in my budget if we drop karate (which neither of us have gone to in at least 2 months anyway and Tyler's tired of it). They're offering the option to rent to own if we like the house and make all rent payments on time for the first year. But with the housing market so bad, I doubt I'd be able to sell our current home.

Yes, it is the same here with nothing much selling. Our daughter's house is on the market but though they have had viewers they haven't sold yet. One problem here are the banks are still not giving mortgages, which is so annoying as they have had all this public money pumped into them!

 

[HollyTyler]

Yes, it is the same here with nothing much selling. Our daughter's house is on the market but though they have had viewers they haven't sold yet. One problem here are the banks are still not giving mortgages, which is so annoying as they have had all this public money pumped into them!

It's such a frustrating situation. Same over here. Tyler's dad wants to get a bigger house too, but same thing.....he's afraid his current one won't sell. It took 2 years for them to sell Tyler's stepmom's house. I think if people don't already own a house, right now it seems better and much easier to rent. I'm sure we'll be just staying right where we are, but it's nice to dream. I'd be too afraid to take on the new payment but still have to pay on this house until it sells.

 

[nskjerven]

How long in between posts does it take to make the number go up?

I see mine has stayed the same today, even though I have posted several times. Does it count if you "quote" someone? Or only if you have a new post of your own? HMMMMMMMMMM?????????

Every time you post it increases, you can't look at an old one and see it increase, as it is dynamic. (I think that's what it would be called in computer language, IAN help me)

Connie, write down your post # on paper, then post, then compare. You'll see it then.

We looked at a house today that I fell in love with! The price caught my eye: it's to rent, but is only $100 more per month than what I pay, and it's 1300 square feet compared to my 747 sq feet, has 3 bedrooms upstairs (well, they currently use one as a study, which I'd do too), a concrete basement for laundry and storage, a wonderful all-seasons room, a BACK DECK (which I've always wanted), nice fenced in back yard (a bit bigger yard than mine, but not so much that it would be difficult to mow), 1 1/2 car garage (bigger than mine) with automatic garage door, and in a decent neighborhood comparable to mine. I LOVE IT! An extra $100/month is definitely in my budget if we drop karate (which neither of us have gone to in at least 2 months anyway and Tyler's tired of it). They're offering the option to rent to own if we like the house and make all rent payments on time for the first year. But with the housing market so bad, I doubt I'd be able to sell our current home.

You are forgetting about the tax savings you get on a house payment. If you are filing your tax teturns and claiming the interest portion of mortgage and your property taxes then you are getting a tax benefit you would not have with a rental, as that cost is just spent money, no tax benefit. Also, every month you make your house payment some should be going towards your principal and therefore reducing the amount you owe on your house. I'm sure since you haven't been in it very long it seems like it's not much, but time will fly and in 30 years (traditional mortgage period) you should own it free and clear. There are lots of reasons to own a home, not just for the benefit of living it it

 

[HollyTyler]

You are forgetting about the tax savings you get on a house payment. If you are filing your tax teturns and claiming the interest portion of mortgage and your property taxes then you are getting a tax benefit you would not have with a rental, as that cost is just spent money, no tax benefit. Also, every month you make your house payment some should be going towards your principal and therefore reducing the amount you owe on your house. I'm sure since you haven't been in it very long it seems like it's not much, but time will fly and in 30 years (traditional mortgage period) you should own it free and clear. There are lots of reasons to own a home, not just for the benefit of living it it

This year might be the first year I'll see a tax benefit from claiming the interest because of the bracket I was in. I don't want to start over with new payments because as it is now, I'll be 66 when this one is paid off, if I live that long! And I really love being able to do whatever I want to the house because it's mine. We desperately need more space, but I think we're sort of stuck. What I'd like to do is have a new garage built, one that I can use for storage, and that would help lots. The one we have now is too dilapidated to store anything important in. Animals get in and chew things up.

 

[iankh]

Every time you post it increases, you can't look at an old one and see it increase, as it is dynamic. (I think that's what it would be called in computer language, IAN help me)

Dynamic is the word. Every posting shows the current count. The counter is not for the posting but for the poster.

 

[HollyTyler]

Tyler is now officially a big brother!!!

His dad called me right after she was born, around 6pm, before he even got to hold her!

She's tiny: just 5lbs 5 oz and is just 3 days early. Mom had a very short labor and only had to push 45 minutes. I told him I'd like to call her a witch with a "b", but didn't want to ruin the celebrating! He wanted us to come up to the hospital to see little Victoria right away, but I told him that although Tyler's fever is gone, he's just getting over a viral infection and his dad surprisingly said, "No thanks, we'll wait a couple more days". Victoria has the same pediatrician as Tyler, so I told dad I actually don't know how long he'll be contagious and to just ask the Dr. when she comes up there to check out the baby tomorrow (at least I'm assuming she'll go up there to check her out).

I WANT TO SEE THE BABY!!!! I know that sounds weird, but I'm excited too! I wasn't fully sure how I'd feel about it but am happy for Tyler.

 

[iankh]

You are forgetting about the tax savings you get on a house payment. If you are filing your tax teturns and claiming the interest portion of mortgage and your property taxes then you are getting a tax benefit you would not have with a rental, as that cost is just spent money, no tax benefit. Also, every month you make your house payment some should be going towards your principal and therefore reducing the amount you owe on your house. I'm sure since you haven't been in it very long it seems like it's not much, but time will fly and in 30 years (traditional mortgage period) you should own it free and clear. There are lots of reasons to own a home, not just for the benefit of living it it

I have to agree with our Nan here. There is a tax benefit, as the mortgage interest is deductible. Additionally, while part of the payment goes to pay interest, part of it also goes towards the principal (over time a greater and greater percentage within the payment is applied to the principal). As you pay towards the principal, you are increasing your equity, or the amount you truly own.

While it is not a liquid asset, it is an asset nevertheless and one that gains value over time.

To have competitive benefit, one would have to find an investment that would provide a higher yield than the tax advantage, and the appreciate of the real asset.

I'm sure that there current cash value also comes into play (the value of a dollar now vs the future value of a dollar) but Nan would know more about that. I don't really have a head for finance.

 

[nskjerven]

Congrats Holly and give that to Tyler from me too.

It's a great day when a baby is born

I'm glad Chuck though wisely to keep Victoria from the germs and cause you no stress over it

Love that name. That was what we were going to call Wilson if he was a she Although we tease him and tell him it was going to be Topanga (from Boy meets World), naw, we used that on the car.

Thanks IAN I knew the software geek would help me on that one

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Here are the kayaking pics from Saturday for Deb ...

Kaleigh trying out the paddle:

Shaelyn all grins with mom in the new Pungo kayak:

Shannon and Shaelyn with Shaelyn doing all the work:

Shannon pretty relaxed letting Shaelyn take it for the home stretch:

Oh and from this morning where the girls made breakfast with Kaleigh cracking some eggs:

Thanks Ken....so nice I had to post them twice.

I especially like the ones of Shannon resting and letting Shaelyn do all the work.

 

[HollyTyler]

Congrats Holly and give that to Tyler from me too.

It's a great day when a baby is born

I'm glad Chuck though wisely to keep Victoria from the germs and cause you no stress over it

Love that name. That was what we were going to call Wilson if he was a she Although we tease him and tell him it was going to be Topanga (from Boy meets World), naw, we used that on the car.

Thanks IAN I knew the software geek would help me on that one

Yup, I've been pleasantly surprised by his dad in the common sense department lately.

Unfortunately, Tyler has a temp again, but it's low. Just 100. I'm pretty sure the doctor would say he's contagious as long as he has a fever, but will find out tomorrow.

 

[Tink rules]

Tyler is now officially a big brother!!!



[/SIZE][/SIZE]

CONGRATS TYLER ON YOUR NEW BABY SISTER!!!!

 

[granmaz]

Tyler is now officially a big brother!!!

His dad called me right after she was born, around 6pm, before he even got to hold her!

She's tiny: just 5lbs 5 oz and is just 3 days early. Mom had a very short labor and only had to push 45 minutes. I told him I'd like to call her a witch with a "b", but didn't want to ruin the celebrating! He wanted us to come up to the hospital to see little Victoria right away, but I told him that although Tyler's fever is gone, he's just getting over a viral infection and his dad surprisingly said, "No thanks, we'll wait a couple more days". Victoria has the same pediatrician as Tyler, so I told dad I actually don't know how long he'll be contagious and to just ask the Dr. when she comes up there to check out the baby tomorrow (at least I'm assuming she'll go up there to check her out).

I WANT TO SEE THE BABY!!!! I know that sounds weird, but I'm excited too! I wasn't fully sure how I'd feel about it but am happy for Tyler.

Congratulations to Tyler. I hope he is well enogh to see her very very soon.

 

[HollyTyler]

Marilyn, what are you doing up so late?!

 

[granmaz]

I wish I knew!!! Went to sleep and woke up straight away, and that was that!! At least it doesn't happen too often these days.

Going to try again soon.