The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

DryerLintFan

DryerLintFan

Well-Known Member
Gabe1 said:
Wow! Amazing story and gutsy move to just head to Germany to find the unknown.

I've got to say though this reads like an introduction in a novel, begs for more...like did you always know you had a brother out there, was the Dad comfortable seeking him out? I take it the family spoke English or you speak German? What a cool family web you uncovered! Kudos. :geek:
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We knew he existed. When I was really really young, my mom used to make my dad send him letters and he'd write back, but that ended when I was around four ish. My dad was pretty apathetic about the whole thing until I actually found him. Here's not really the greatest at keeping in touch it initiating contact, but he always picks up the phone when my half brother calls.

With the exception of India and Iraq, I have found that most people in most countries I've traveled to speak at least a conversational English. My half brothers English is really very good, his mom's is pretty good, and even his grandparents speak enough and use enough hand signals to get through breakfast.

RedNoseMickey said:
Most Germans speak English just like most Northern Europeans.
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Mr Ferret 88 said:
They speak better English than we do German.
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We really didn't run into anyone in Germany that didn't speak at least some English!
 
MySmallWorldof4

MySmallWorldof4

Well-Known Member
Gabe1 said:
I saw the increases *sigh* My pass isn't up until September so I avoided doing the math. It will be renewed so no sense in torturing myself in advance. If it was just the pass but it is not. The room costs are just 'ouch' now. There are so few guest rooms now left at Wilderness Lodge which has made those room rates nuts after they converted rooms to DVC and took away more guest rooms for Club Level. All this made the rooms that are left prime for large increases for even a standard room. Seriously considering looking at Figgy's condo rates. There are substantially less EMH now, we shall see.

Easier it would be for all of us to move to Florida to get those Florida Residents discounts.
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I also noticed there are less EMH for our upcoming trip. That was a nice benefit.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
donaldtoo said:
Yep, ultimately, anything can happen.
But, the firm will be 30 years in existence in January of this year. I will have been with the firm for 26 of those years. Only 26 of those years because I was laid off in '09 during the recession and rehired again full-time (did 10 months of contract from home prior, as well as working 2 retail jobs at the same time) almost exactly 4 years later.
I was actually with the original firm for several years before the founding owner partnered with the existing two principal partners. But, since the official incorporation date was 1/1/89 with that partnership, that was my "official" hire date (the firm has since become an LLP).
The founding owner sold his stake in the firm to the present principal partners and became a developer about 20 years ago.
Since 1/1/89, these guys have NEVER not honored a promise they made. As sure as I am that they will not screw that associate, I'm sure they will not screw me. They have never failed to deliver on their commitments.
I know that's definitely not the way it always works, but, they are standup gentleman, and always have been.
Even when they laid me off (and I was the last one laid off in 5 rounds) they gave me a sweet severance package.
Also, even though we don't have a pension plan, we do have a matching 401K and profit sharing. I'm OK with all this.
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Honestly, the 401 is the answer to the pension plan situation. Any thing you can carry away with you is fairly solid even if subject to market fluctuations. A business closure is more then the honesty or ability of the owners. However, volatile things like banked vacation pay or sick time is wide open to being the last thing anyone would think about paying off or be legally bound to do. Long term existence means nothing. Circumstances are the driving factor. Bad business investments, lawsuits, economy and a multitude of other things negate any amount of time in existence. Remember Kodak. Again the "can't get blood from a stone" scenario, not intentionally "screwing" anyone.
 
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