The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[MySmallWorldof4]

As always, whatever we feel works best for our families is the most important thing. There is no predetermined formula. We love, we raise, and we guide our children the best we see fit. I love my children with all my heart, and they turned out better than good...!!!!!!!!!!
Better than me, for sure...!!!!!
I don't worry about their futures!!!!!!!

I have always lived in the suburbs for the vast majority of my life, and have loved it. The exception was the two years (82-84) when I lived with a buddy of mine from the northeast that was down here going to UT at the time.
We lived in a place in the heart of the UT campus. IT. WAS. A. HOOT...!!!!!!!!!!!!
We walked everywhere, even when we were drunker than Cooter Brown!!!!!
Never got into any major trouble, and it was awesome to be within walking/stumbling distance of almost everything...!!!!!!!
With that said, when DWifey and myself started looking for homes to start a family in, it was unanimous burbs. And, as I've posted before, a dead end street is what we settled on. We loved the house, and knew it would make us feel safer for them. Again (why I always feel the need to clarify this here lately is just ridiculous) no judgment on others, just our choices.
And, I love my family, sooooo very much more than they could ever know...!!!!!!!!!!

We live on a cul de sac for safety reasons too. We know everyone on the street and will scrutinize strangers.

 

[donaldtoo]

OK gang, I'm out for now...!
I know it's a bit early, but, ya' never know...I may be back a bit later...!!!
Y'all all be cool like y'all always are...!!!!!
Laterrrrrrrrrrr...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Goofyernmost]

Amen, brother.
Correct me if I'm wrong, please, but, didn't you post not all that long ago that your month-long European vacation wasn't much more expensive than a week at WDW...?!
Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but, that would just be ridiculous...!!!!!

Yes, I did post that. My full month long European trip including a 15 day trans-Atlantic cruise cost me $4500.00. I don't know if I included that I split a lot of the cost with my traveling companion. Apartments, rooms, etc. but, everything else was paid by myself for myself including meals and tickets and tours. Half of the charge for the cruise was included in there because that was shared with my roommate, but, still. October 18 to November 16, airfare, etc. was independent. $4500 was the actual amount it cost me personally. It was probably close to double that if you include the other person. Doesn't really matter because it is still inexpensive when you consider what we did, where we went, how many trips by plane, train, subway, bus we were on. We went to Paris, Disneyland Paris, Venice, Rome, Pompeii, Pisa, Florence, Wine tasting in Tuscany, Toulan, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, (known to us common folk as Majorca), Gibraltar, Tenerife before a 5 day straight across the Atlantic cruise. It even included a trip insurance policy with a healthcare rider. That alone was $250.00.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Thanks but about 14 days early

It's the tattoo's... they make you look older.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Well apparently I am early for everything. As an example my too early jump this morning for fast passes.

I was once a day early for a job interview. I got the job, but, they never let me forget it.

 

[FutureCEO]

So I just went to a hockey game (keep in mind that Providence is a dump no top tier city and we have the next step down from NHL.

Anyway: $40 a ticket if you bought through the team (ice level but still for a farm team?). We got tickets through AAA.
--A bottle soda or water - $5
--Can of domestic beer - $8
--Guinness - $10
--Pulled pork sandwich -$9
--Small cup of Nachos - $7

That's all I could spy by walking but the amount of people you see chowing down of food is crazy. It kinda makes some of Disney food prices a steal.

 

[21stamps]

Yes, I did post that. My full month long European trip including a 15 day trans-Atlantic cruise cost me $4500.00. I don't know if I included that I split a lot of the cost with my traveling companion. Apartments, rooms, etc. but, everything else was paid by myself for myself including meals and tickets and tours. Half of the charge for the cruise was included in there because that was shared with my roommate, but, still. October 18 to November 16, airfare, etc. was independent. $4500 was the actual amount it cost me personally. It was probably close to double that if you include the other person. Doesn't really matter because it is still inexpensive when you consider what we did, where we went, how many trips by train, subway, bus we were on. We went to Paris, Disneyland Paris, Venice, Rome, Pompeii, Pisa, Florence, Wine tasting in Tuscany, Toulan, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, (known to us common folk as Majorca), Gibraltar, Tenerife before a 5 day straight across the Atlantic cruise. It even included a trip insurance policy with a healthcare rider. That alone was $250.00.

This blows my mind. I keep reading it from a few posters, and I’m just as confused every time. I’ve been mock planning Europe (2 travelers) for the past 2 years.. not even in the same ballpark as the prices that I keep seeing quoted.
I’ve traveled internationally with friends, spouse, and 28 days in Turkey by myself..I’ve done many countries in the Caribbean and Central America relatively reasonably several times, but Europe and beyond- no where close to the prices I keep reading, including Med or Northern Europe cruises, when combine with land.
Where do you all find these type of deals? I usually think I’m fairly savvy when it comes to that.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

So I just went to a hockey game (keep in mind that Providence is a dump no top tier city and we have the next step down from NHL.

Anyway: $40 a ticket if you bought through the team (ice level but still for a farm team?). We got tickets through AAA.
--A bottle soda or water - $5
--Can of domestic beer - $8
--Guinness - $10
--Pulled pork sandwich -$9
--Small cup of Nachos - $7

That's all I could spy by walking but the amount of people you see chowing down of food is crazy. It kinda makes some of Disney food prices a steal.

Yeah. I get that. I was almost charged $5 for a bottle of soda at a cheer competition in Atlantic City. The cashier told me how much it was and I told dd to put it back. Her water bottle that she brought was good enough to drink.

 

[12in12]

It's good to have Kapono home and snuggling, but now how am I supposed to unpack when she doesn't want to move?!

 

[21stamps]

Yeah. I get that. I was almost charged $5 for a bottle of soda at a cheer competition in Atlantic City. The cashier told me how much it was and I told dd to put it back. Her water bottle that she brought was good enough to drink.

I still have to go back and catch up on several pages, but your post reminded me of something I wanted to share,
I just saw this meme last week and thought you would relate..

 

[12in12]

The joys of nap time turning into "quiet time in your room"
View attachment 270888

I hope quiet time was followed by clean up time.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Hahaaa...!!!!!
Actually watching Triple D as I post this...!!!!!!!
Counting down the days here too...our next cruise is July 21st-27th...!!!!!

We're watching Guy's Grocery Games. My mom took my daughter to our local library sale today.....she came home with eleven hardback cookbooks. A big ol' $3 for the lot.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

My kids don’t like Little Caesar’s. Hope that deal doesn’t overwhelm the workers.

I'm sure they never thought a #16 seed would beat a #1 seed ever.

 

[12in12]

New shoesView attachment 270900

Pretty and they look comfy.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

I still have to go back and catch up on several pages, but your post reminded me of something I wanted to share,
I just saw this meme last week and thought you would relate..
View attachment 270929

Reminds me that all of our school's sports are pay to play and they raised admission prices to all sporting events this year. Makes me glad my daughter is going academic instead of sports. At $5 an adult and $3 a student a lot of larger families here can't afford to go to all their own kid's games.

 

[Goofyernmost]

This blows my mind. I keep reading it from a few posters, and I’m just as confused every time. I’ve been mock planning Europe (2 travelers) for the past 2 years.. not even in the same ballpark as the prices that I keep seeing quoted.
I’ve traveled internationally with friends, spouse, and 28 days in Turkey by myself..I’ve done many countries in the Caribbean and Central America relatively reasonably several times, but Europe and beyond- no where close to the prices I keep reading, including Med or Northern Europe cruises, when combine with land.
Where do you all find these type of deals? I usually think I’m fairly savvy when it comes to that.

To be honest I didn't plan it... my sister made all the reservations and I just said tell me where I'm supposed to be and when. My flight from Raleigh was via Iceland Air. Air Canada to Toronto, Iceland Air from Toronto to Reykjavik, Iceland then on to Paris. took a bus from the airport to close to the area of the apartment. We rented an apartment for five nights took the regular train from Paris to Disneyland Paris and back. We toured Paris the next day just using the subways, bought the museum pass and went to places like the Louvre, advance tickets to get up on the Eiffel Tower. Then Easy-jet to Venice, water taxi to St. Marks Square and hoofed it from there to the hotel for three nights. Walking tours (independent) and a four piece string concert in a church that was older then this country by a few hundred years. Train to Rome. The train, subway station was really close to the Apartment we rented for 6 days. We used the subway, did one tour involving the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Train to Pompeii, more independent touring via subways and tourist maps. The apartments had full kitchens and there was a small grocery store at our end of the train station so we mixed it up with eating in restaurants and just throwing something together in the apartment. Anyway that should give you an idea how we did that. My Sister was absolutely awesome with the details, never missed a beat. She should have been a travel agent. It was always pleasant and the apartments were clean, and comfortable. A lot of walking, but, again we had advance tickets for the Vatican and the papal audience. On the way home, we took a Celebrity relocation cruise back to the states but, the places I listed from Pisa on were part of the cruise and were Ports of Call for the first half of the cruise around the Mediterranean and finally across to Fort Lauderdale. We had an inside room so we didn't have to be on the lookout for icebergs and we were only in the room to sleep the rest of the cruise was either PoC or activities on board. It was no frills except the cruise which surely did feel full of frills. No 4 star hotels or guided tours except for that one morning in Rome. Otherwise we just wander about and saw just about everything there was to see and didn't have to get back to a bus. I found the trains and the subways the highlight of the trip. Loved it!

I wish I could tell you the details of the planning the trip, but, I don't know them. I was just along for the ride. This should give you an idea about how it all went though.

 

[DryerLintFan]

So I just went to a hockey game (keep in mind that Providence is a dump no top tier city and we have the next step down from NHL.

Anyway: $40 a ticket if you bought through the team (ice level but still for a farm team?). We got tickets through AAA.
--A bottle soda or water - $5
--Can of domestic beer - $8
--Guinness - $10
--Pulled pork sandwich -$9
--Small cup of Nachos - $7

That's all I could spy by walking but the amount of people you see chowing down of food is crazy. It kinda makes some of Disney food prices a steal.

I'm sure this perk will end soon, but it's much cheaper to bring my daughter to things like that. The extra cost for her seat is offset by the snacks and drinks we're allowed to bring in her diaper bag

 

[12in12]

This blows my mind. I keep reading it from a few posters, and I’m just as confused every time. I’ve been mock planning Europe (2 travelers) for the past 2 years.. not even in the same ballpark as the prices that I keep seeing quoted.
I’ve traveled internationally with friends, spouse, and 28 days in Turkey by myself..I’ve done many countries in the Caribbean and Central America relatively reasonably several times, but Europe and beyond- no where close to the prices I keep reading, including Med or Northern Europe cruises, when combine with land.
Where do you all find these type of deals? I usually think I’m fairly savvy when it comes to that.

It does depend a lot of time of travel, October/ November are the low season, so much cheaper. Cross Atlantic cruises are also not that expensive since there are few stops. When I book travel I always book everything separately as in my experience this saves money and gives you more options. Renting apartments is another way to save money, giving you more room and allowing you to eat some meals at home. Booking early and willing to compromise on location, dates or luxury of accommodation will again make a huge difference in the overall cost. You probably already knew all this but just wanted to mention it. I do hope you and T get to go on your European adventure!

 

[12in12]

@MySmallWorldof4 Happy Fast Pass day! May FoP be plentiful available

 

[DryerLintFan]

To be honest I didn't plan it... my sister made all the reservations and I just said tell me where I'm supposed to be and when. My flight from Raleigh was via Iceland Air. Air Canada to Toronto, Iceland Air from Toronto to Reykjavik, Iceland then on to Paris. took a bus from the airport to close to the area of the apartment. We rented an apartment for four nights took the regular train from Paris to Disneyland Paris and back. We toured Paris the next day just using the subways, bought the museum pass and went to places like the Louvre, advance tickets to get up on the Eiffel Tower. Then Easy-jet to Venice, water taxi to St. Marks Square and hoofed it from there to the hotel for two nights. Walking tours (independent) and a four piece string concert in a church that was older then this country by a few hundred years. Train to Rome. The train, subway station was really close to the Apartment we rented for 6 days. We used the subway, did one tour involving the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Train to Pompeii, more independent touring via subways and tourist maps. The apartments had full kitchens and there was a small grocery store at our end of the train station so we mixed it up with eating in restaurants and just throwing something together in the apartment. Anyway that should give you an idea how we did that. My Sister was absolutely awesome with the details, never missed a beat. She should have been a travel agent. It was always pleasant and the apartments were clean, and comfortable. A lot of walking, but, again we had advance tickets for the Vatican and the papal audience. On the way home, we took a Celebrity relocation cruise back to the states but, the places I listed from Pisa on were part of the cruise and were Ports of Call for the first half of the cruise around the Mediterranean and finally across to Fort Lauderdale. We had an inside room so we didn't have to be on the lookout for icebergs and we were only in the room to sleep the rest of the cruise was either PoC or activities on board. It was no frills except the cruise which surely did feel full of frills. No 4 star hotels or guided tours except for that one morning in Rome. Otherwise we just wander about and saw just about everything there was to see and didn't have to get back to a bus. I found the trains and the subways the highlight of the trip. Loved it!

I wish I could tell you the details of the planning the trip, but, I don't know them. I was just along for the ride. This should give you an idea about how it all went though.

I took my mom to Paris for just under two weeks and we ate like Kings and went sight seeing everywhere and even with souvenirs the trip was only $2500. But we stayed in a hostel the whole time and too public transportation everywhere.

So you can do it cheaper, but you have to sacrifice somewhere. Just like Disney