The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[MySmallWorldof4]

After our divorce, we sold our house to a really nice Bosnian couple. They had fled Bosnia either during or just before the war there. I don't remember. There was a "special" mortgage handler that dealt primarily with those relocated Bosnian's. I didn't know if they paid anything down or not as it was not my business to find out, however, when we got down to the nitty-gritty during the closure. Their broker had not mentioned the charge for what heating oil was in the tank. Measurement showed over $300.00 dollars worth remaining. They didn't have enough money left to pay that, so they asked if I would consider "loaning" them that amount that they would pay back over time.

I honestly do not know how they were able to even pay for their regular mortgage payments, taxes, etc. much less the money they owed me. I wasn't going to lose the sale over $300.00 but I was hurting for money back then as well, so I agreed. They where wonderful people. She was so happy to have a house with her own land. He was a painter (of houses) and she worked as a maid at Quality Inn.

I don't think it had a happy ending. I heard that he was killed in a car accident about four years later. They bought it 17 years ago. As far as I can tell the place hasn't been occupied for at least the last 10 years. I make it a habit to just drive by and check the place out when I am visiting Vermont. The grounds are kept up (mowed and trimmed), there is no sign saying it's for sale, but, no one is living there. I have no idea what has happened or why. BTW, they paid me for the fuel within 4 months. That place has a lot of memories for me, especially watching my children grow up there, but, it had it's share of sadness as well. Still sad to drive by and remember the amount of life that was lived there at one point. The house was built in 1976 so it's not really that old either.

Sorry, for the swerve into nostalgia... What were we taking about again???

What a sad story. Hope you are healing up ok from the surgery.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Came back last night from Atlantic City. It was the largest competition we’d ever been to. Teams as far away from Canada. Dd’s team came in 2nd in their division. Missed first by .29. Super close. Lost to a team from Joisey @figmentfan423 . A few pics.
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Thanks for sharing the pics. And second place is still really good and something to be proud of! Frustrating that it was that close though though.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

-22 this morning when I took hubs to work.

Snow later today.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

-22 this morning when I took hubs to work.

Snow later today.

Major sympathy like. Was that the windchill or the actual temperature?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Thanks for sharing the pics. And second place is still really good and something to be proud of! Frustrating that it was that close though though.

Probably more frustrating for the parents than the kids. They are just 5-8 years old. They had lots of fun. They knew where their mistake was, but the coach also got the score sheet that gave some great criticism so they will use that to tweak the routine. DD is excited about changing things up, so that is great!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Major sympathy like. Was that the windchill or the actual temperature?

That was the actual temp on my car & phone. I think with windchill my phone said -26 or -27.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Skype is sometimes used at work (althoughI don't use it for anything, myself). Sometimes it's really good for specific meetings with off-site clinicians, because it means that no one has to travel--but all can participate in the meeting online. It definitely serves a purpose in specific situations.

Haven't a clue what grandparents do, though. I have seen people talking on their phones (and tablets? not sure), to family members with the "live" images on their screens, while they're waiting for the train to come to the station. Don't know what program they use, though.

We use Skype all the time at work. Every meeting we have has a Skype call in number now. We're able to do Monday Morning Standup meetings with our coworkers all over the country!

For family, we use a lot of Facebook video chat. It's like Skype, but easier. You don't have to have a separate app, the kids get to play around with fun filters, and you can see when your family is online. My daughter talks to her cousins and aunts and uncles a lot this way, and a good but to one of her Grandma's, too. It's really great because her cousin is thousands of miles away, but she can see him face to face and play games with him whenever she's thinking about him.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

That was the actual temp on my car & phone. I think with windchill my phone said -26 or -27.

Wow! Cannot imagine that. It was 12 when I woke up. It is so crazy. It got to 67 on Friday. The fluctuation is just insane. Mother Nature has a very bad sense of humor. How is dh doing by the way?

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Wow! Cannot imagine that. It was 12 when I woke up. It is so crazy. It got to 67 on Friday. The fluctuation is just insane. Mother Nature has a very bad sense of humor. How is dh doing by the way?

The weather is so crazy!

Thanks for asking about hubs. He is walking 100% now in the boot, it is his second week walking in the boot. He has an appointment with the Dr. next Tuesday (23rd) so hopefully the x-ray will look fine and the boot can come off. We are planning on going to the British pub after the appointment to celebrate after the appointment.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Todays project ...

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

View attachment 256230

A dismantling of your cage. Before I saw the take down picture I thought maybe your were going to make it into a little mancave.

 

[donaldtoo]

By the way, you indeed are taking very nice photos Donald!

Thanks Cesar!
Coming from you, that's a real compliment...!!!
All from my iPhone 6s.
I've noticed that when I post them (IIRC, it has always been the case) they lose a bit of quality from the way they look in my photo album on my phone, so that's kinda' a bummer...

Anyhoo, thanks again...!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Pfff, you're not even sorry, at all.. accept it

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

A dismantling of your cage. Before I saw the take down picture I thought maybe your were going to make it into a little mancave.

Taking down wooden shed and a carp ton of pampas grass to make room for a bigger metal shed

 

[Gabe1]

Skype is sometimes used at work (althoughI don't use it for anything, myself). Sometimes it's really good for specific meetings with off-site clinicians, because it means that no one has to travel--but all can participate in the meeting online. It definitely serves a purpose in specific situations.

Haven't a clue what grandparents do, though. I have seen people talking on their phones (and tablets? not sure), to family members with the "live" images on their screens, while they're waiting for the train to come to the station. Don't know what program they use, though.

The University my DD works for uses video conferencing over skype for some of their meeting as often most of them work from home. They do some silly things like hold up your laptop and show us your home office. One was a kitchen table another young man sets up shop on his bed with a rolling table tray, another has a pop up coffee table. My DD has a desk with a very nice large painting behind her so when big wigs are signed into the conference it looks professional, she also will throw on a sweater vs the hoodie she normally wears at home. She has in the past also skyped for interviews that were far away.

On phones at train stations...I am assuming it is iPhone's FaceTime or the equivalent. In reality much the same as skype but more simple. It is really one touch.

 

[Gabe1]

After our divorce, we sold our house to a really nice Bosnian couple. They had fled Bosnia either during or just before the war there. I don't remember. There was a "special" mortgage handler that dealt primarily with those relocated Bosnian's. I didn't know if they paid anything down or not as it was not my business to find out, however, when we got down to the nitty-gritty during the closure. Their broker had not mentioned the charge for what heating oil was in the tank. Measurement showed over $300.00 dollars worth remaining. They didn't have enough money left to pay that, so they asked if I would consider "loaning" them that amount that they would pay back over time.

I honestly do not know how they were able to even pay for their regular mortgage payments, taxes, etc. much less the money they owed me. I wasn't going to lose the sale over $300.00 but I was hurting for money back then as well, so I agreed. They where wonderful people. She was so happy to have a house with her own land. He was a painter (of houses) and she worked as a maid at Quality Inn.

I don't think it had a happy ending. I heard that he was killed in a car accident about four years later. They bought it 17 years ago. As far as I can tell the place hasn't been occupied for at least the last 10 years. I make it a habit to just drive by and check the place out when I am visiting Vermont. The grounds are kept up (mowed and trimmed), there is no sign saying it's for sale, but, no one is living there. I have no idea what has happened or why. BTW, they paid me for the fuel within 4 months. That place has a lot of memories for me, especially watching my children grow up there, but, it had it's share of sadness as well. Still sad to drive by and remember the amount of life that was lived there at one point. The house was built in 1976 so it's not really that old either.

Sorry, for the swerve into nostalgia... What were we taking about again???

Ha! Pretty much the same exact thing you outlined. And yes selling a home is bittersweet. Like you said happy to have it done and sold but difficult to raise a family in and walk away. I actually did better than my kids did. My son came to help me move things into storage and he certainly took it the hardest. He would come 'home' and that house is 'home' no longer. Yet he said something sweet to me 'home' is wherever 'Mom' lives.

 

[Gabe1]

Thnx. Revenge is a dish best served over a 3 day weekend where he can't leave the house

Spoiler

I'm making a nice long chore list, including but not limited to all my cooking prep work and cleaning the boy's bathroom

But yet you did not change your avatar back so he has that going for him.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Ha! Pretty much the same exact thing you outlined. And yes selling a home is bittersweet. Like you said happy to have it done and sold but difficult to raise a family in and walk away. I actually did better than my kids did. My son came to help me move things into storage and he certainly took it the hardest. He would come 'home' and that house is 'home' no longer. Yet he said something sweet to me 'home' is wherever 'Mom' lives.

Yea, when I moved out (her Mother had already left) my youngest sat there in her car with her husband and just cried. I really didn't know what to say. We had to get together to clean the place up. Before we finished the new owner showed up with buckets and cleaning supplies. And I could tell that the lady was so excited to be a home owner that I remember thinking that they will take good care of the place. Sad about what happened to them... so many times life seems to be totally oblivious to what is fair and what is right. There are so many people on this earth that are nasty piles of garbage that are doing nothing but using up oxygen and they continue on forever. Others that have spent their life searching for happiness, just repeatedly get kicked in the head. Nothing I can do about that, but, it surely does make me angry.

 

[Gabe1]

My point precisely--it was a level playing field back then. To me, it was worth it, criss-crossing parks for Legacy Fastpasses. The newer system really benefits the "planners" who know what they're going 6 months out. I'll never be one of them, so I lose out. Spontaneity is dead at WDW. RIP.

And I'd also like to add here, that if they didn't offer the "single rider lines" at a number of the more popular attractions, I'd probably just stop going to WDW completely.

We almost always ride Test Track single rider. None of us are impressed with build a car portion and in single rider you have the option of a quicker version. Aside from the photopass there really isn't a need to be in the same car as who you are traveling with, not like floating in pirates or small world etc. TT always has a huge standby and not worth it. TT also doesn't have as many FPs either as it frequently breaks down or shuts down for rain storms so that is somewhat built into their FP+ release. Me, I've been going to WDW for so long I predate all FPs. I actually liked that best. Everyone was in the same boat, get in line, wait your turn. Overall I believe we spent less time in lines per day.

It is rare for us to book 6 months out too but close when it fall free dining or fall room discounts. It is 6 months for ADRs and that is rougher when trying to grab an ADR at a more popular place. FPs are 2 months out or 60 days. Our problem was trying to book Flight of Passage for our impromptu December trip. Standby is easily 3-5 hours frequently. It is a very very slow loading attraction and a low capacity too. DD kept checking multiple times a day and landed on that slapped into our Christmas Party night start time. She kept checking and found it again 2 days before we left a few hours earlier than the first FP+ one we had. But that is the thing, yes you can get most with little lead time but you have to put the time into the app and keep checking. She did the same thing with ADRs for our September. It was a little easier this year because the Moderates were booted to Quick Service over regular dining plan. In return the QS lunch for BoG was insane, they were running an hour behind and we had an early lunch. We've just found so many things go wrong trying to get to ADRs and FP+ because of transportation glitches or dining making you wait too long and stress of thinking you are going to miss your FP+ Disney isn't relaxing.