The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Rista1313]

We are currently in line waiting for the Skyliner to open at the pop. And there is a family group behind us about a group of 20 and they have busted out their portable speaker and are playing music and singing along. So am I too much of a fuddy duddy to think this is poor etiquette? It isn’t terrible music but still. I also dislike when people pull out their portable speakers at the pool too.

While it's not really mindful of other people... they are on vacation... I only hate it when people play bad music!

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

I worked the front desk at the Holiday inn in Anchorage AK for a few years. Like any customer service job, people are jerks sometimes. And it can be stressful when rooms aren't ready, and you are short staffed and trying to answer the phone and work the front desk at the same time. That being said, I still enjoyed it.

Hmm. All the things you mentioned were stress related. At the end you said you still liked it. What DID you like? I am thinking retirement from teaching is 4 years away. I am just pondering what job might supplement my pension once I am living off that( and my 401k...etc)

 

[Songbird76]

I've not been able to get a book out of the library since February. What I discovered was that the books that I already have in my bookcase are as interesting now as they were when I first read them. And I don't have to leave home to get it or bring it back. I remember taking our 1963 by Steven King. That book is about 2 inches thick and I don't have a set time to just sit down and read them if I can get 30 minutes a day committed I feel I have had a major accomplishment. I was about 1/2 of it before it was due back and I couldn't renew it because there was a waiting list of people wanting it. It was close to my Birthday so I asked for the book and got it, so I could read it at my leisure. Really good book by the way. I'm ready to read that one again but first I have a new book I got on my Birthday. Yet, another Kennedy family exposure type, I think. Haven't read it yet, but it is next on my list.

I don't usually bother with the library here because it costs about 40-50 euros per year and their English section is slim pickin's. Most of the books I read are originally in English anyway, so I don't want to read a translated book. Most jokes and things don't translate, so they change it to make it work, losing the original essence of it. So I want to read them in English. I only have a membership now because they had an anniversary deal that the first 100 people to get a library card that day got it for free. Otherwise I wouldn't bother. I'd spend that 50 bucks on books to own. But since I have the card, and there was a series that I read the first 5 books of, but the 6th book just came out in March and isn't in paperback yet. So I reserved that one at the library and then when it comes out in paperback, I'll buy it, but then at least I get to read it and not have to wait so long.

 

[Songbird76]

Thank you for the feedback. It really was helpful!
Re. the language situation, my Ocean County region of NJ does not attract international visitors. Our tourism is mostly people from our neighboring states coming in during the warm weather months to enjoy the beaches and the boardwalk.
www.jenkinsons.com
I think my speaking English only will not be an issue.
Do you think my years of dealing with people as a public school teacher will be a positive in their eyes?...or actually they'll feel it is not relevant?

I'm not sure on that one....on one hand, you would definitely have to have problem solving skills, and probably also a lot of patience, both of which would be positives. On the other hand, if you treat guests like children, that wouldn't be good. E had a kindergarten teacher who talked to all of us like 5 year olds, and I had a college professor (form and analysis class...I LOATHED that class) who did the same thing. People don't like to be talked down to. But as long as you weren't acting like the hotel was your personal classroom and the guests are your students, the teaching would probably be an asset. I guess it's all in how you present yourself.

 

[Songbird76]

Hmm. All the things you mentioned were stress related. At the end you said you still liked it. What DID you like? I am thinking retirement from teaching is 4 years away. I am just pondering what job might supplement my pension once I am living off that( and my 401k...etc)

I have a question for you. Do you love teaching? Just because you are at the age that you can retire doesn't mean you HAVE to, right? If you can't afford to retire, is there a reason you want to switch jobs? With the hotel industry, you might not have a very stable schedule. Sometimes you'll be on days, sometimes nights, and it will be expected that you be there during the busiest times, so your own vacation plans might have to take a back seat.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

I'm not sure on that one....on one hand, you would definitely have to have problem solving skills, and probably also a lot of patience, both of which would be positives. On the other hand, if you treat guests like children, that wouldn't be good. E had a kindergarten teacher who talked to all of us like 5 year olds, and I had a college professor (form and analysis class...I LOATHED that class) who did the same thing. People don't like to be talked down to. But as long as you weren't acting like the hotel was your personal classroom and the guests are your students, the teaching would probably be an asset. I guess it's all in how you present yourself.

I teach 5th graders and anyway, I have for decades been interacting with other teachers and principals. I promise not to talk down to the customers. I'll be new....lacking confidence...I'll be on my best behavior

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

I have a question for you. Do you love teaching? Just because you are at the age that you can retire doesn't mean you HAVE to, right? If you can't afford to retire, is there a reason you want to switch jobs? With the hotel industry, you might not have a very stable schedule. Sometimes you'll be on days, sometimes nights, and it will be expected that you be there during the busiest times, so your own vacation plans might have to take a back seat.

I like teaching but I might wish to retire in 4 years anyway. I'm entering my 35th year of teaching now. Being a 5th grade band director is physically tiring at times. When I am in my 60s I might rather do something else.
To answer your question...sure..my pension...plus my savings...plus my 401K IS actually enough to retire on.
BUT.....I don't want to just sit home every day. I would be so bored if every day (except when we traveled on vacations)was like the day before. With no mental challenges I might slide into dementia My dad and my aunt both died from that horrible disease I thought about potentially being a hotel front desk staff member because I want to have a job that would not put any strain on my lower back. I've stayed in hotels maybe 70 to 75 times in my adult life. I "have a feel for it".So...even if I only earned $28,000 a year...hey...that additional / supplemental income could be used as GREAT luxury vacation money. Nice cruises! ....or some flights for my wife and I to places she is wishing to visit in Asia...etc.
I'd like to return to Ireland and also see Wales for the first time.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Isn't there a loop that plays at the skyliner stations like there is everywhere else in Disney? It seems incredibly rude to subject everyone to music they may not like. It's a public space....that's a no-no. You're not a fuddy duddy.

Nope no background music

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

How are the crowds today??

Low for this time of year but busy we actually haven’t been out of the toy story Star Wars area today after riding Mickey’s

 

[MinnieM123]

We are currently in line waiting for the Skyliner to open at the pop. And there is a family group behind us about a group of 20 and they have busted out their portable speaker and are playing music and singing along. So am I too much of a fuddy duddy to think this is poor etiquette? It isn’t terrible music but still. I also dislike when people pull out their portable speakers at the pool too.

Depends upon how loud the speakers are turned up, and how loud they are singing. If they're really loud, it's just a cheap bid for attention and poor etiquette. If it's not too loud overall, then it wouldn't bother me that much.

 

[MinnieM123]

We've had the self scan kiosks for years here, and we also have a "smart shelf" return system. Instead of dumping your books into a slot, you put them into this special bookcase that scans them when they are put on the shelf. There's a screen so you can see if it registers or not. If it's been reserved by someone else, the title turns red on the screen, and then you have to put it into a separate compartment that gets emptied first so it's a faster turnover to the next person. It really does work well, IF you know how to use it, but there was definitely a learning curve to it.

Do you read a lot? What genres do you like?

O.k. Thanks for that. They've always had a converyor belt thing for returning books only. Everything else (taking out books) took place at the front desk with the librarian. I don't have any favorite genres of books and just about never read any fiction. The only books that interest me at all are non-fiction, and I don't take out many books.

My main reason for joining the library was for the (expensive) business newspapers and periodicals they buy for the library, that you can only read inside the library (can't take those out). But now with Covid concerns, they've eliminated ALL newspapers.. So that was a major disappointment. Also, all of the educational seminars, etc., have been cancelled. The community meeting rooms are all locked up now. Depressing scene (for me).

 

[Figgy1]

If you’ve got plenty for backup, sounds like you could show that one in public, and also be firing a warning shot reminder across his bow at the same time...!!!!!

He thinks my current avatar is punishment enough

 

[Figgy1]

Pulled these from the garden this morning.
View attachment 489625

I should have gotten a pic this morning I picked 2 nice sized zucchini oops already zoodled, the tomatoes didn't even make it in the house(had help harvesting), the kale went directly into a lentil dish and the cucumbers except for one are fermenting

 

[MinnieM123]

@Lilofan , hoping the weather isn't too humid and hot in your area. Up here in MA, we got a few days' reprieve, but starting Monday, we're back in the tropical heat again. (Guess I shouldn't complain though -- as some states got hit by that recent storm, and hoping you didn't lose power where you live.)

 

[donaldtoo]

28 days...!!!!!!!

 

[MouseDreaming]

Isn't she wanting to do something with dance as a career? Will that be difficult without the competitions and such? I read today that the vaccine coming out of Oxford could be ready in September. One of the virologists is Dutch and did an interview and said it looks promising. Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK have ordered 300 million doses of it, but I don't know about the US. But if it's ready in a month or so, that would be great news for schools and such.

No, she is interested in environmental science. The US has also ordered from oxford.. I am totally on board with the vaccine. I asked the kids and DH about if over dinner, and we are all ready to line up. I was surprised, because we don't often all agree on something.

 

[FutureCEO]

Hmm. All the things you mentioned were stress related. At the end you said you still liked it. What DID you like? I am thinking retirement from teaching is 4 years away. I am just pondering what job might supplement my pension once I am living off that( and my 401k...etc)

Any customer service job sucks so...but extra money in retirement is good or another way not be bored.

 

[Rista1313]

Hmm. All the things you mentioned were stress related. At the end you said you still liked it. What DID you like? I am thinking retirement from teaching is 4 years away. I am just pondering what job might supplement my pension once I am living off that( and my 401k...etc)

I enjoyed the nice people... my first love is the travel industry, and that was just a part of it... some people were really excited to be in Alaska for the first time, for their trip, places they wanted to see, and I was always excited for them. It seems like it would be really hard to find a low stress type job these days. Can you make anything with your hands? Wood working and such? Things you could sell on Etsy in your own time?

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Any customer service job sucks so...but extra money in retirement is good or another way not be bored.

Thanks for the feedback. Since you are a future CEO....do you ...or does anyone have a suggestion for me that would be a good retirement job for me? Really I am stumped. I don't want to be a car salesman or sell furniture...basically I don't want to try and convince anyone to buy something

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

I enjoyed the nice people... my first love is the travel industry, and that was just a part of it... some people were really excited to be in Alaska for the first time, for their trip, places they wanted to see, and I was always excited for them. It seems like it would be really hard to find a low stress type job these days. Can you make anything with your hands? Wood working and such? Things you could sell on Etsy in your own time?

I am unfortunately not talented in anything but music. I have a way with kids and I am musical. If I lived in Florida I could participate in running a ride at Universal or Disney....or...Wait.....I am a good driver. Maybe I could be an Uber driver? Nah.