The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[21stamps]

This paragraph speaks volumes. I admire a young guy that values his teammates and holds friendships more dear than abandoning his friends, team and teammates for a new team that could likely be much of the same. Loyalty and solid friendships are of great value.

If it is about what he wants (and it is a sport) He seems to be a young man that wants some control in these decisions that are about him and a sport. Question. Was he happier playing against his friends and against his school or did he wish he could have played with his friends on his own school team? And is it a one time only you will overrule him in a sport or a pattern he is going to have to learn to deal with? Is it with that?

I raised two kids in competitive sports. I tried to make it about them and not me in club level sports. I saved the overruling for things that were of greater concern than sports. Rarely did I play that Mom Card so it was respected when I did.

He hated playing for his school, cried in frustration after almost every game. He would get so annoyed that many of the kids were putting a shirt over their head, or just not trying at all. Hence the decision to go to an academy 6 months earlier than I planned on going. He loved it from the first second. His first words to me after the initial evaluation was “Mom, these kids love soccer as much as I do! This is awesome!”

My reasons for wanting to switch clubs is because of what I have seen the past two years. The heartbreak of families who get blindsided, and unfulfilled promises about moves. Again, current players should never be judged on a tryout alone. Politics will happen anywhere, but there’s too many things that I don’t like.
My kid could be blindsided next. Many of his team friends already have been..some are fed up and leaving the club and they received an offer as expected.

A friend on your team is not the only decision that should be factored in when someone is playing at a competitive level. Kids move clubs, kids move levels, some will quit soccer as they continue to get older, not all will stay together forever. It’s nice if a few do. There should be a core group who grow together with a coach, that core can’t develop if rosters are having 60% of their team changed every year.

The most important thing is having the proper coaching, opportunity, and club culture. We’ve been lucky with amazing parents (eta here bc I thought I wrote it)*and kids* and no one who is too annoying... but from what I’m seeing with the way this is going, we will run into in the next few years. I have to travel with these people, I have to have good relationships with the coaching staff and directors, good to me means communication- direct one on one communication is extremely lacking.

These are all things that a 9 year old can’t see, and it’s my job as the parent to look out for him. I don’t know what decision we will make next year, but if I see more of the same over the next 12 months, then yes, I will force him to move. I will not spend thousands of dollars per year on a club that I don’t think cares about their families.

 

[Gabe1]

AK Kidani. A little out there in terms of getting to everywhere but animals are better than people so... I might have had more pictures of the animals than people MK was 20 - 30 mins away depending on the driver....seemed a lot faster at night though.

I call them the standing lights. I don't really know what the real name is.
View attachment 377854

Those are pretty. I’ve never noticed them before. I’ll go look next trip. Thanks.

I’ve stayed at AK a few times. We opened It. A free upgrade from POR as AP holders. We’ve only stayed in the lodge. I love the pool, Lounge and and quality QS. We walk to Kidani for bread service, yum and drinks. Still it isn’t a pleasant walk. I love wandering the grounds of moderate and deluxe resorts. The Lodge only has a pool to wander. They had plenty of land to create outdoor areas but chose not to compared to other deluxe. Disappointing.

When we rent points we find AKL to be the most economical of the deluxe. Key West to me is more a moderate type venue. The buses to MK have always Been bad but with phase 2 of the roads around MK and bus bypasses I look for that nightmare to End or greatly improve.

 

[donaldtoo]

So...disability...

Denied, as expected.

Treated rudely, humiliated, berated - not expected. These people were obnoxious!

From the lady who called last night to confirm we would be there at 8am sharp, to the security guard who not only would not let us on the elevator before 8am sharp, but when Brian began to protest that he thought we were supposed to be upstairs by 8am, he yelled at him and said, "IF I HAVE TO TELL YOU ONE MORE TIME, SIR..." Seriously? What is this - an episode of COPS?

They asked if we had received a CD in the mail. We had not. We'd remember that. They gave us one, it had medical records supplied by ?? from various doctors going back to 2013. (Important records such as his back surgery were missing.) We had about 4 minutes to look it over when he was called in to see the judge because the person scheduled first didn't show. They asked if we had an attorney; we did not. They did not allow me to go in with him. (Oh, I can be pretty attorney-ish. LOL.)

And they freaking grilled him. "I don't know why you're here." "Look at your income for 2018, clearly you can work." Everything he said was met with, "You can work." "You can get a job as a ticket-taker." (What? That came from some recently out of college woman over the phone - a "vocational expert." She said he could also get a job as a barback. Seriously?) The judge asked if he was driving. He said not for the last two months. She said, "Well, that's your choice."

Yes, it's his choice not to potentially cause harm to others since he can't read signs, has no depth perception, and is legally blind in one eye and the other is recovering from surgery.

What. The. Ever. Loving. F?

I would not get in a car with him right now if he was driving.

"You can read. You can read 12 point font!" (accusingly!) Yes, if he holds the paper right up to his left eye, he can figure out what it says. It works best on his phone because of the bright backlight (and increased font size) but is more difficult on a computer for some reason. "Why can't you use a computer? You can get a job doing xyz on a computer!" (Like getting any old job is just as good as what he's been doing for 30 years. And like you can snap your fingers and get a job.)

She wouldn't let him speak except to directly answer the questions until the very end when she asked if there's anything he'd like to add.

He said, "Ma'am, I don't want to be a burden on anybody; I'd rather work. But I'm getting scared because I can't see!"



Maybe it's a good thing I wasn't in the room.

There is no need to be disrespectful and treat someone like they're trying to get away with something. Hopefully, everything will just be back to our version of normal functionality after he is fully recovered from the surgery, and we won't have to worry about this for several years. Chalk this up as a learning experience, and next time get an attorney, even though they will take a cut. (She was pressing the issue a lot about why he didn't have an attorney, and explaining that she and the attorney could have come to some kind of agreement. It sounded very backroom deal-ish, and like she was annoyed he came in by himself sincerely expecting to just answer questions honestly.) He came out of there rattled. Somebody needs a job change.

Good flippin’ grief, and what the f’n f...!!!!!!!
I get the scrutiny, because so many fakers have scammed the system before, only to make it affect the really needy recipients, but, the general rudeness of the entire experience just sounds like some kinda’ disease in that place.
I do so very much pray that his eye heals all the way up, and he’s able to do what he loves again.
But, if the need, unfortunately comes up again, lawyer the hell up!!!!!!
The vast majority will take the case for a cut of the settlement, and not require upfront payment, from what tons of them advertise ‘round these parts anyway...!!!!!

 

[Gabe1]

He hated playing for his school, cried in frustration after almost every game. He would get so annoyed that many of the kids were putting a shirt over their head, or just not trying at all. Hence the decision to go to an academy 6 months earlier than I planned on going. He loved it from the first second. His first words to me after the initial evaluation was “Mom, these kids love soccer as much as I do! This is awesome!”

My reasons for wanting to switch clubs is because of what I have seen the past two years. The heartbreak of families who get blindsided, and unfulfilled promises about moves. Again, current players should never be judged on a tryout alone. Politics will happen anywhere, but there’s too many things that I don’t like.
My kid could be blindsided next. Many of his team friends already have been..some are fed up and leaving the club and they received an offer as expected.

A friend on your team is not the only decision that should be factored in when someone is playing at a competitive level. Kids move clubs, kids move levels, some will quit soccer as they continue to get older, not all will stay together forever. It’s nice if a few do. There should be a core group who grow together with a coach, that core can’t develop if rosters are having 60% of their team changed every year.

The most important thing is having the proper coaching, opportunity, and club culture. We’ve been lucky with amazing parents and no one who is too annoying... but from what I’m seeing with the way this is going, we will run into in the next few years. I have to travel with these people, I have to have good relationships with the coaching staff and directors, good to me means communication- direct one on one communication is extremely lacking.

These are all things that a 9 year old can’t see, and it’s my job as the parent to look out for him. I don’t know what decision we will make next year, but if I see more of the same over the next 12 months, then yes, I will force him to move. I will spend thousands of dollars per year on a club that I don’t think cares about their families.

We view children’s sports differently. That’s fine. We are all different.

I’m also taking this post differently than your previous. I remember back when you missed the registration cut off and got him on another team. The hating the team he didn’t get registered for I don’t recall being shared. I’m obviously not following your story line well.

Me I wanted my kids involved but me not being overly involved. Not why I wanted them in activities. It wasn’t about me. It was for them not me. My kids were in Club from age five. They did in 13 years change clubs once Their choice not my idea. I trusted their gut and what they wanted. I also didn’t want to be that Sports Mom. Never missed an event, always there but I didn’t want to be second guessing all the time. So not what it was about for us. I also knew they were not likely to go to the olympics or be professionals. I was a realistic when it came to them. Their long term coach stressed school and friendships over the sport was what should be cherished, we all appreciated as parents. My daughter was never on a team that didn’t take first place annually. My son only once. He tolerated zero interference from parents. His view, parents could start their own club if they could do better. A reality check for some parents. But you know what your kid is unable to see at age 9 so much better than me of course. You know if he has good judgement or not. I certainly don’t. What my kids could see vs yours only you know if he can or cannot be trusted to choose or when he is making poor choices and you must step in and override what he has expressed, as the mom. Me I never viewed anything in sports or activities all that detrimental at any point as,they grew up. I followed their lead for interest for all that. It needed to be fun not friction between us.

Me at 5, 9 or 14 I had faith in my kids wishes in sports and other activities. They both also did chorus competitions. Yeah some got upset with solo choices etc but I could see the big picture. It was about raising happy and healthy minded kids and the lifelong friendships they created. I rarely threw the Mom card to overrule my kids for stuff like this. That Mom Card I treated with caution.

 

[Cesar R M]

WENDY'S

 

[donaldtoo]

OK gang, out for now...!
Sweet dreamin’/mornin’ to one and all...!!!
Laterrrrrrrrrrr...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gabe1]

I took this quiz twice. Once for my Grandma, and then once for my mom...checked off 16 things for my mom. She's well on her way to becoming grandma-like. But don't tell her that. My own grandma is only grandma-ish according to this quiz. She is rather sassy.

How funny. My MIL had the vast majority of these including the wall paper. My Mom unfortunately had those plastic custom sofa and and chair plastic wrappers. Nasty.
She actually took them off for my pre-wedding day photos. Hilarious. The material had actually dry rotted beneath it after all those years being entombed. It was my wedding and she was upset about her furniture...she was having people in between the wedding and the reception. Me, I'm looking at her like she was taking the fast train to loony land.

 

[Gabe1]

So...disability...

Denied, as expected.

Treated rudely, humiliated, berated - not expected. These people were obnoxious!

From the lady who called last night to confirm we would be there at 8am sharp, to the security guard who not only would not let us on the elevator before 8am sharp, but when Brian began to protest that he thought we were supposed to be upstairs by 8am, he yelled at him and said, "IF I HAVE TO TELL YOU ONE MORE TIME, SIR..." Seriously? What is this - an episode of COPS?

They asked if we had received a CD in the mail. We had not. We'd remember that. They gave us one, it had medical records supplied by ?? from various doctors going back to 2013. (Important records such as his back surgery were missing.) We had about 4 minutes to look it over when he was called in to see the judge because the person scheduled first didn't show. They asked if we had an attorney; we did not. They did not allow me to go in with him. (Oh, I can be pretty attorney-ish. LOL.)

And they freaking grilled him. "I don't know why you're here." "Look at your income for 2018, clearly you can work." Everything he said was met with, "You can work." "You can get a job as a ticket-taker." (What? That came from some recently out of college woman over the phone - a "vocational expert." She said he could also get a job as a barback. Seriously?) The judge asked if he was driving. He said not for the last two months. She said, "Well, that's your choice."

Yes, it's his choice not to potentially cause harm to others since he can't read signs, has no depth perception, and is legally blind in one eye and the other is recovering from surgery.

What. The. Ever. Loving. F?

I would not get in a car with him right now if he was driving.

"You can read. You can read 12 point font!" (accusingly!) Yes, if he holds the paper right up to his left eye, he can figure out what it says. It works best on his phone because of the bright backlight (and increased font size) but is more difficult on a computer for some reason. "Why can't you use a computer? You can get a job doing xyz on a computer!" (Like getting any old job is just as good as what he's been doing for 30 years. And like you can snap your fingers and get a job.)

She wouldn't let him speak except to directly answer the questions until the very end when she asked if there's anything he'd like to add.

He said, "Ma'am, I don't want to be a burden on anybody; I'd rather work. But I'm getting scared because I can't see!"



Maybe it's a good thing I wasn't in the room.

There is no need to be disrespectful and treat someone like they're trying to get away with something. Hopefully, everything will just be back to our version of normal functionality after he is fully recovered from the surgery, and we won't have to worry about this for several years. Chalk this up as a learning experience, and next time get an attorney, even though they will take a cut. (She was pressing the issue a lot about why he didn't have an attorney, and explaining that she and the attorney could have come to some kind of agreement. It sounded very backroom deal-ish, and like she was annoyed he came in by himself sincerely expecting to just answer questions honestly.) He came out of there rattled. Somebody needs a job change.

I'm sorry. It is the 'tone' of our country now. A long lead on spouting off ones mouth these days when it comes to our governmental bodies. It is the norm daily.

And yes. You need an attorney. You should not but you do. Make sure you get a good one with a focus in disability claims with our government, it will save months or years. Give him a hug for me. I enjoyed meeting him, such a nice, gentle man. He deserves so much better.

 

[Gabe1]

Dinner. We were hungry. Aye the Egg Rolls long before I thought to take a picture. Oops.



Shrimp with Lobster sauce



Beef fried rice



Orange Chicken

 

[Gabe1]

My purchases today. Interestingly all blue.



So soft Quarter Zip



And favorite and coveted

 

[MinnieM123]

Emy’s church outfit for today...!!!!!!!

View attachment 378460

Emy's rockin' that "off the shoulder" style!

 

[Figgy1]

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Our oldest dog passed away early this morning. She at least died peacefully in the place she loved. I am guessing she was not doing well at all when I brought her to the vet Thursday. I am just glad that she went on her own terms instead of us getting faced with the decision of putting her down. We are taking her to get cremated this morning.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Our oldest dog passed away early this morning. She at least died peacefully in the place she loved. I am guessing she was not doing well at all when I brought her to the vet Thursday. I am just glad that she went on her own terms instead of us getting faced with the decision of putting her down. We are taking her to get cremated this morning.

Sorry to hear this

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Our oldest dog passed away early this morning. She at least died peacefully in the place she loved. I am guessing she was not doing well at all when I brought her to the vet Thursday. I am just glad that she went on her own terms instead of us getting faced with the decision of putting her down. We are taking her to get cremated this morning.

Oh I'm so sorry. It's nice that she was able to pass peacefully in a place she loved instead of being frightened somewhere. Hugs to you all.

 

[93boomer]

Our oldest dog passed away early this morning. She at least died peacefully in the place she loved. I am guessing she was not doing well at all when I brought her to the vet Thursday. I am just glad that she went on her own terms instead of us getting faced with the decision of putting her down. We are taking her to get cremated this morning.

I am so sad to hear this! Xoxoxo

 

[Songbird76]

Our oldest dog passed away early this morning. She at least died peacefully in the place she loved. I am guessing she was not doing well at all when I brought her to the vet Thursday. I am just glad that she went on her own terms instead of us getting faced with the decision of putting her down. We are taking her to get cremated this morning.

Oh no! I'm so sorry. You said she wasn't eating, right? She must have just been ready to go, but that doesn't make it easier. I'm sending you hugs!

 

[Songbird76]

Magic band order....check. Magic band skins designed and ordered...check. Autograph books designed and ordered....check. Universal booking paid for.....check. I'm on a roll today!

So I went to do the magic band order...I had to wait until today because DH wasn't home yesterday to tell me what color he wanted. Here's our conversaition:
Me: I need to order the magic bands. What color do you want? Grey?
DH: Black.
Me: That's not one of the options. They have grey though...
DH: What? No, I don't want grey, I want black.
Me: They don't offer black for the ones you get free with your resort booking, and the upgrades aren't working.
DH: (getting on his computer) Ok, where do I go to order?
Me: No....I have to do it on the MDE account. I already have it open here.
DH: (looking online at the magic band skins) But this says I can have this...
Me: No, those are the skins, not the bands. The skins don't come from Disney. The bands are from Disney.
DH: But it shows a magic band option in black!
Me: Yes, but that's not one of the free options offered with the booking.
DH: Let me look. Shop....disney......see? Black!! I can have a black one for $15!
Me: That's the shop disney page, NOT My Disney Experience...the ones on the shop disney page are available to purchase, but those aren't the free ones and the upgrades aren't working.
DH: *grumble grumble* (Google search) why disney no free black band.....I guess I'll take blue then. *grumble grumble*

Does it really matter? You're going to cover it up with a skin anyway!!!
But they are ordered.

If anyone is planning a Universal trip, they currently have a promotion, buy 2 days and get 3 free days. When I called to pay the balance, I asked if I could have it applied, and I checked to make sure they are park to park for all 3 parks. It knocked $200 off our price, and we got an extra day. We only had 4 days, now we have 5. Makes me feel a bit better...we can take our time, go swimming, etc. We're there for 4 nights, so now we can visit the parks on both our arrival day and our check out date, and we are staying one extra night in a different hotel so we don't have to rush in taking the rental car back, so we have that full day on our checkout day from Universal. Bookings must be down at Uni, too for the summer.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Our oldest dog passed away early this morning. She at least died peacefully in the place she loved. I am guessing she was not doing well at all when I brought her to the vet Thursday. I am just glad that she went on her own terms instead of us getting faced with the decision of putting her down. We are taking her to get cremated this morning.

Sorry to hear this and I understand terrible this is. I came from a family of dog owners till I was 6 or 7 years old. My parents had to deal with two things.

I had to deal with selling our dog due to my younger brother and I had developed allergies to pets including dogs. We sold the dog when my younger brother was 3. She was a great dog that was very smart, loved kids, really likes to be petted by guests in house, and likes to protect the family. Everyone in the family loved her. We made sure she was given a good home. She went to a home of a family with young kids and the wife was a veterinarian.

My parents also had to deal the choice of putting a dog down when when my mom was pregnant with my younger brother and it was a very difficult thing. I don't remember the dog since I was 2 going on 3 at the time. What I know my parents had the dog to put to sleep. The dog was 12 years old and my parents found out she had cancer from the vet.

What my parents looked at is they were told the surgery was going to be expensive in 1980s standards and the dog was going to be miserable for rest of her life after the surgery for cancer. My parents did not want to see their dog suffer for rest of its life after surgery. My parents decided to buy a dog after that dog put to sleep with it being my parents last dog ever.

 

[21stamps]

We view children’s sports differently. That’s fine. We are all different.

I’m also taking this post differently than your previous. I remember back when you missed the registration cut off and got him on another team. The hating the team he didn’t get registered for I don’t recall being shared. I’m obviously not following your story line well.

Me I wanted my kids involved but me not being overly involved. Not why I wanted them in activities. It wasn’t about me. It was for them not me. My kids were in Club from age five. They did in 13 years change clubs once Their choice not my idea. I trusted their gut and what they wanted. I also didn’t want to be that Sports Mom. Never missed an event, always there but I didn’t want to be second guessing all the time. So not what it was about for us. I also knew they were not likely to go to the olympics or be professionals. I was a realistic when it came to them. Their long term coach stressed school and friendships over the sport was what should be cherished, we all appreciated as parents. My daughter was never on a team that didn’t take first place annually. My son only once. He tolerated zero interference from parents. His view, parents could start their own club if they could do better. A reality check for some parents. But you know what your kid is unable to see at age 9 so much better than me of course. You know if he has good judgement or not. I certainly don’t. What my kids could see vs yours only you know if he can or cannot be trusted to choose or when he is making poor choices and you must step in and override what he has expressed, as the mom. Me I never viewed anything in sports or activities all that detrimental at any point as,they grew up. I followed their lead for interest for all that. It needed to be fun not friction between us.

Me at 5, 9 or 14 I had faith in my kids wishes in sports and other activities. They both also did chorus competitions. Yeah some got upset with solo choices etc but I could see the big picture. It was about raising happy and healthy minded kids and the lifelong friendships they created. I rarely threw the Mom card to overrule my kids for stuff like this. That Mom Card I treated with caution.

Oh, I think you’re confused between baseball and soccer. I thought I had registered for school volleyball and school baseball at the same time. Turns out, I never completed the baseball registration. Realized the day after signups were over.

So, another catholic school graciously and thankfully took him on one of their teams. We are in the same division and the two teams played each other.. I sat with the opposing team because the parents are my friends. They teased me, the kids teased T calling him a traitor, (he pitched against them) but it’s all in good fun. I have a precious group photo from after the game, of T in his “traitor uniform” surrounded by his school friends in their school baseball uniforms. We’re having an amazing baseball season and the kids and coaches on his team have all been welcoming and supportive. I couldn’t be happier.


My conversations with my kid about sports are -
“signups are open. Do you want to play x sport?”
“There’s a camp available, do you want to do it?”
or “no T, you can’t play lacrosse unless you give up baseball or soccer”
Or “no T, you can’t play hockey because it’s too much time.”
He gets input and can make choices, he does not get to demand what he/we will do.

What I don’t discuss is the behind the scenes stuff that goes along with playing for an academy. I don’t think a 9 year old needs to grasp the politics of it, the cost of it, or whatever drama is going on with team movement between players. It should be simple for them- Playing a sport they love, giving it 100%, enjoying their coach and teammates, and being confident in what they do. Kids play, parents make the big decisions when it comes to what behind the scenes philosophy is best for their child’s total development. Most of these kids will not play professionally, some won’t even play in college. I realize a lot of people think that’s the goal, but it’s silly. You could save your money instead. The reasons should be because your child loves a sport, loves the competition, always wants to get better, loves the bond built with teammates, and has fun along the way. Any stress over what’s being seen with the academy should be on the parents shoulders, not the child’s.

I don’t know what you’re saying in your posts, letting a 9 year old dictate what’s best for them when you have more information than they do?
This is not “parent interference” with a coach or club staff, this is a decision of a parent for their child. These are very different things.
I hope more than anything that the past 2 years have more to do with their age and not the club itself, if so, we will stay. If not, I think there’s more to life than being at the club with the most signings, trophies, and titles. I am raising a total person, not just a soccer player.