The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[DryerLintFan]

It looks like Ireland too because I need to learn German first for Austria or Germany which I'm not quite that good at the language yet.

England would be expensive after you factor in the exchange rate and cost of living. For example....Bryant University (here) cost $40K for one year (12 classes) of masters and one of the schools I would go to in England cost 17,000 pounds but after everything, it will cost $38K or more depending how much you spend (they give you an estimate on cost of living).

And one of the things about Ireland, Guinness tours on the weekend

You definitely do not need to learn German to get around in Germany (aside from PROST!!! which means cheers, because the beers there come as big as your head). Germany is such an amazing country to visit. It's incredibly beautiful the way nature spirals its way around industrial architecture. The people are friendly, the beer is good, and the food is pretty amazing. Although, some food you do have to be adventurous to try, but it's well worth the risk *most* of the time. We had this meat in Munich that was like a pizza hot pocket and bologna had a baby, and it was phenomenal even though it sounds (and looks) gross.

I have found that in most countries I've traveled to in Europe, people are eager to talk to you in English because it gives them practice.

 

[Goofyernmost]

We had two Vets on my immediate road that were Vietnam Vets that passed in the last few months.One I knew better than the other, he was soooo messed up. I lived a couple properties over fro him he didn't trust or talk to any of us for over 20 years. He took shrap to the face and lost most of his vision. In the last couple of years if he needed help with TV, phone or anything in his home he'd walk the sidewalk screaming for someone to help him. One day he leaped in front of my kids car, luckily going slow and stopped to get help. He broke my little heart.

The other one came back from Vietnam so rattled. He was out a long time before we moved there but he couldn't hold a job. So sad. They both saw a lot and both were also exposed to Agent Orange. Took way too long for AO side effects to be shared with the Vets.

I have a friend from a former board I played on that was a prisoner for a short while (one day is too long) and served in the Gulf War. Sounds, nightmares. He too has had a hard time adjusting. He in the last 2 years has made great strides, married and seems to be pulling a life together. He now does it was his companion, his therapy dog.

All of our service people are awesome for what they did and why I believe
America is Great. Be hard to convince me otherwise. You all gave a great deal.

Well, sadly, and much to my upset, we Vietnam Vets are getting to the age of "natural death" now. Since I get my health care from the VA, I have contact with a lot of Vietnam alumni. Most are quite sound mentally, but, our bodies are starting to slow us all down. As much as I appreciate that people are starting to show us some respect, it is also important to understand that the majority of us did not come back "all messed up".

We saw things that todays people, other then active military, have had very little exposure too, but, it didn't make us all walk over the edge, so to speak. Those that did have some problems are what is focused on. I had this argument way back in the early 80 when people were actually afraid to be near us because we could snap at anytime. That was the way we were thought to be... crazy and unpredictable. Most of us held jobs, raised families, loved our wives, children and now our grandchildren to even, dare I say it, great-grandchildren. Although, I appreciate the thank you's "for your service" way things are now, I'm afraid it is hard to feel that it is anymore then a social exercise and that most really couldn't care less and are just uttering empty words. I hope that this isn't offending anyone, but, that is how I feel at this point.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Well, sadly, and much to my upset, we Vietnam Vets are getting to the age of "natural death" now. Since I get my health care from the VA, I have contact with a lot of Vietnam alumni. Most are quite sound mentally, but, our bodies are starting to slow us all down. As much as I appreciate that people are starting to show us some respect, it is also important to understand that the majority of us did not come back "all messed up".

We saw things that todays people, other then active military, have had very little exposure too, but, it didn't make us all walk over the edge, so to speak. Those that did have some problems are what is focused on. I had this argument way back in the early 80 when people were actually afraid to be near us because we could snap at anytime. That was the way we were thought to be... crazy and unpredictable. Most of us held jobs, raised families, loved our wives, children and now our grandchildren to even, dare I say it, great-grandchildren. Although, I appreciate the thank you's "for your service" way things are now, I'm afraid it is hard to feel that it is anymore then a social exercise and that most really couldn't care less and are just uttering empty words. I hope that this isn't offending anyone, but, that is how I feel at this point.

This is a fight we're still fighting in our generation of veterans. The "broken veteran" image is making it harder for us to find good jobs. My husband was asked if he killed anyone and if that messed him up mentally in a job interview. In one of my job interviews I was told that they were nervous about hiring a veteran because we all have PTSD and she didn't need me hitting people or screaming all the time at the office. And if you watch the news, every story about someone killing someone else seems to be drawn back and tied to PTSD or military service, even when the person in question didn't even complete basic training.

Yes, we've mostly all experienced things well outside the realm of civilian experience. But this image of the "broken" or "dysfunctional" veteran harms us.

Also @Goofyernmost Thank you for your service

 

[MOXOMUMD]

6 days until July 4th.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[Goofyernmost]

This is a fight we're still fighting in our generation of veterans. The "broken veteran" image is making it harder for us to find good jobs. My husband was asked if he killed anyone and if that messed him up mentally in a job interview. In one of my job interviews I was told that they were nervous about hiring a veteran because we all have PTSD and she didn't need me hitting people or screaming all the time at the office. And if you watch the news, every story about someone killing someone else seems to be drawn back and tied to PTSD or military service, even when the person in question didn't even complete basic training.

Yes, we've mostly all experienced things well outside the realm of civilian experience. But this image of the "broken" or "dysfunctional" veteran harms us.

Also @Goofyernmost Thank you for your service

It didn't help that many were taking advantage of what was then known as, Delayed Stress Syndrome. My first exposure came to it from a rape trial that was happening in my area. The defendant, although not denying the rape charges, was blaming it on his Vietnam experience sighting as his defense, that he was having "a flashback of his time in Vietnam" which lead him to act out in that manner. It was looking like he was going to be successful in that defense. I was very angry and knew that using that successfully was going to be a problem for all of us. I wrote into the newspaper and explained as clearly as I could, that if his experience in Vietnam was that of raping people, then I had to ask what branch of the service he was in. Rape was not part of military training so he was not being influenced by his war experience but that he was pretty much messed up before he went in, if that was actually what he was doing there.

It's hard to know what exactly happens in that situation, but, not everything can fall under that umbrella and since Vietnam was hardly a very popular war, nationally, it was easy to look at it as evil in every respect. It did affect many of us over the years. The fact of the matter is, if you were to ask whether or not someone cares about their fellow human beings and it is determined that they don't, you will find that they never were exposed to a less then wonderful side of life. That, just like the other way around, does not mean that everyone that doesn't have that experience is uncaring, it simply means that those that don't very likely have not seen anything worse than just outside the country club.

 

[Songbird76]

My Mom always got a fever blister when she was coming down with a cold. I hope it's not too bad, if it's a cold. I'm hoping stress and it all goes away. You and the family are in my prayers.

Thanks. I crashed on the couch today and feel a bit better for it. It's a rainy day today..good day to stay in and rest up a bit. How's your cough? Are you feeling any better?

 

[Songbird76]

I got an app from my MIL today that they found the infection...he has a bladder infection that's not responding to the tablet form antibiotics, so he MAY have to go back on an IV for antibiotics. They're not sure yet. I bet he is going stir crazy in the hospital though....he's such a "do" person...he's always doing something...working in his garden, or in the aviary with his birds, etc. He's not someone who wants to go lie on a beach somewhere for vacation so my MIL will go with her sisters-in-law. He just always needs to be busy. It must be torture.

DD came home today with a disturbing story. I know there are some prejudiced families in our area, which is difficult since we live in a relatively low-income area and there are a LOT of foreigners here. But I guess one of the Turkish kids in the class made a mistake in an assignment or test and a kid said "That's so typical of Turks." The teacher promptly moved his desk against the wall so he couldn't have contact with the rest of the class, but it's sad that it even happened. Next year, the kids go to a new building and the school is merging with another that is largely Turkish. That kid is going to have some problems.

 

[Songbird76]

I do tan, but I also burn horribly. Not fun.

Technically, I do tan...I end up darker than I was before. But my "tan" is still whiter than most people's non-tans. And my DS is practically albino. He doesn't tan and you can pick him out of a crowd at the swimming pool by looking for the blinding white skin tone.

 

[Songbird76]

Oh my! Sympathy like.

But, at the same time...!!!
That sounds like a sketch SNL should have done back in the day with John Belushi as "Samurai Hibachi Chef". I remember they did do "Samurai Delicatessen"...!!!

https://www.hulu.com/watch/4262

I thought I might be on Candid Camera, for sure! But no one ever came out and said it was a joke, so I guess it must have just been a really bad Hibachi Chef. It WOULD make a great SNL skit! I can't watch HULU videos over here. They are blocked.

 

[Songbird76]

Yes. I will send you a link. You have a daughter. You'll likely care.

Me too please? I can't find anything with google.

 

[Songbird76]

It is rough balancing all that. 95% fell on me to get them to where they needed to be. But in high school it is so hard to balance all those activities and do well in school. Our District gave every coach, director etc a list each week with participants that slipped in any given course. Or if they didn't maintain minimum C average they were benched until the grades perked up.

I don't know how I managed in high school! I was spread so thin I was transparent. Cheerleading, Speech and debate, International Club, Student Council, National Honors society, Choir, Play practice, and I worked. I dropped Cheerleading after Freshman year, but still, it was a LOT. I used to bring some crackers and juice with me so I had something to eat because cheerleading/Speech and debate practice was right after school, Play practice started when that ended, so there was no time to go home and eat anything in between and we wouldn't get out of play practice until 8 or 9 some nights. Keeping up with homework was hard because I always had the lead role in the plays/musicals (small school...not much competition. I probably wouldn't have had that opportunity in a bigger school) so I was in most every scene...while some kids could do homework when they weren't on stage, I didn't have much time off-stage. I look back now and wonder how I did it all! I only remember getting behind in Math one time and my mom went in and talked to the teacher and managed to get him to give me a make-up schedule where I could turn in 3 assignments each day until I had the 11 assignments caught up. That was the only time I ever fell behind and it just got so overwhelming I didn't know how to get back on track. I made it, and never fell behind again. But I had a few breakdowns from stress, not knowing how to get everything done. We had spirit week for homecoming and were supposed to build a float, decorate our hallway, plus I had to count votes and crown the homecoming royalty because I was an officer in Student Council, and I had a paper to write for English AND I had to be at the bonfire that night as a student council rep. I remember bursting into tears and my mom telling me to take 5 minutes to breathe and make a plan. And I got it all done, though it seemed like a MOUNTAIN in that moment. I couldn't imagine giving up any of those activities and my mom was VERY strict about grades. At least here, if the kids have activities in high school, they can get there by bike themselves and I won't have to make the rounds. I don't think I could keep that kind of schedule anymore at this age!!

 

[Songbird76]

Oy. Know I am thinking of you and your family and your FIL. How is your DH and MIL holding up? And the kids?

My MIL is really stressed. My husband is doing ok...he goes and visits on his lunch break or he goes in early and leaves early so he can stop by before he comes home from work. He said what worried him the most was the memory thing...that his dad couldn't remember what he did for work and kept asking my MIL what DH and his brother do. I don't even know if he remembered he had grandkids. But he seems to have gotten over that. We've kind of kept the kids out of it since we visited him a week ago. DS had such a hard time and that was when things were still going really well. He knows Opa is still in the hospital, but that's it. It's a 45 minute drive there and we're only allowed in 2 at a time because it wears him out so much, so DH is just going by himself so his mom doesn't have to leave and so the kids don't get scared with all the tubes and such. Well, now those are gone, but he might have to have the IV back for antibiotics if they can't get the bladder infection under control. So I guess the short answer is they are hanging in there, but it's definitely taking its toll on everyone. My MIL is spending all her time at the hospital and is worried about the lawn needing to be mowed. We told her...who cares about the lawn?? If WE need to come mow it, we will....YOU worry about being here with your husband. And my FIL also has a bunch of birds...they have to be fed and taken care of daily, so my BIL is doing that I think. He only lives half a block from them, where we live 40 minutes away. But she's one of those people who really cares about appearances and what if someone notices the grass is too long? So she's stressing herself out a lot.

 

[MouseDreaming]

I don't want to clean my own resort room for a $40 gift card.

That is all.

But how sparkly clean would my house be if I got a $40 gift card for Disney per room? Heck, how about just the bathrooms and kitchen?

 

[Songbird76]

This is a fight we're still fighting in our generation of veterans. The "broken veteran" image is making it harder for us to find good jobs. My husband was asked if he killed anyone and if that messed him up mentally in a job interview. In one of my job interviews I was told that they were nervous about hiring a veteran because we all have PTSD and she didn't need me hitting people or screaming all the time at the office. And if you watch the news, every story about someone killing someone else seems to be drawn back and tied to PTSD or military service, even when the person in question didn't even complete basic training.

Yes, we've mostly all experienced things well outside the realm of civilian experience. But this image of the "broken" or "dysfunctional" veteran harms us.

Also @Goofyernmost Thank you for your service

Well, I'm afraid that's just ignorance on the part of the interviewer. PTSD doesn't just manifest in violent behavior or aggression. My uncle served in WWII and was wounded, we think in the battle of the bulge, but he wouldn't ever talk about his experience. He had PTSD, but he was the most gentle, sweet man. He got flashbacks, but was never aggressive. His doctor told him to get a dog because sometimes that helped. I never knew him to not have a dog.
A kid I grew up with came home..he had been in Germany clearing away old mines. He got night terrors and would sleepwalk. One night he pulled a gun out...thought there was an intruder in their house. The next day, he called his brother and made him take all the firearms out of the house so he couldn't accidentally hurt anyone when he was having a night terror. But during the waking hours, you'd never know he had an issue with PTSD.
PTSD isn't just sudden outbursts of anger and violence. I think maybe part of the problem is misinformation...lack of common knowledge about what it really means. There's a stigma attached to it because people don't understand it.

 

[MouseDreaming]

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-ferrets-halloween-holiday.924391/#post-7575097

Thanks! Sounds like a great time. I have always wanted to go when the fall decor is up. Oh well. Some day.

 

[MouseDreaming]

I got an app from my MIL today that they found the infection...he has a bladder infection that's not responding to the tablet form antibiotics, so he MAY have to go back on an IV for antibiotics. They're not sure yet. I bet he is going stir crazy in the hospital though....he's such a "do" person...he's always doing something...working in his garden, or in the aviary with his birds, etc. He's not someone who wants to go lie on a beach somewhere for vacation so my MIL will go with her sisters-in-law. He just always needs to be busy. It must be torture.

DD came home today with a disturbing story. I know there are some prejudiced families in our area, which is difficult since we live in a relatively low-income area and there are a LOT of foreigners here. But I guess one of the Turkish kids in the class made a mistake in an assignment or test and a kid said "That's so typical of Turks." The teacher promptly moved his desk against the wall so he couldn't have contact with the rest of the class, but it's sad that it even happened. Next year, the kids go to a new building and the school is merging with another that is largely Turkish. That kid is going to have some problems.

It is disturbing when little ones spout such things. But, I was recently reminded, that they are usually just repeating what they have learned at home.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Thanks! Sounds like a great time. I have always wanted to go when the fall decor is up. Oh well. Some day.

Will be updating the first post soon with a better idea of our itinerrary

 

[Christophero30]

Good morning. The ball is rolling downhill and headed for the weekend! 6 months til WDW!!

 

[DryerLintFan]

Well, I'm afraid that's just ignorance on the part of the interviewer. PTSD doesn't just manifest in violent behavior or aggression. My uncle served in WWII and was wounded, we think in the battle of the bulge, but he wouldn't ever talk about his experience. He had PTSD, but he was the most gentle, sweet man. He got flashbacks, but was never aggressive. His doctor told him to get a dog because sometimes that helped. I never knew him to not have a dog.
A kid I grew up with came home..he had been in Germany clearing away old mines. He got night terrors and would sleepwalk. One night he pulled a gun out...thought there was an intruder in their house. The next day, he called his brother and made him take all the firearms out of the house so he couldn't accidentally hurt anyone when he was having a night terror. But during the waking hours, you'd never know he had an issue with PTSD.
PTSD isn't just sudden outbursts of anger and violence. I think maybe part of the problem is misinformation...lack of common knowledge about what it really means. There's a stigma attached to it because people don't understand it.

I also got a dog (as a companion) because when I came home from Iraq I was really depressed and lonely and felt like nobody needed me. She helped my outlook on life exponentially. She's annoying most of the time, but I love her so much Dogs have such an amazing impact on our lives!

She's been with me for 7 years now . Here she is on her birthday with her two sisters (she's the furry one without a hat):