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Post by beaglemom on Aug 26, 2017 19:42:45 GMT
I am torn. DH sucks at gifts. So while it would be nice to be surprised with something. He has only really nailed it maybe 3 times in the 16 years we have been together. Two of those times where diamond earrings, the first were super tiny for our first christmas and then slightly bigger for our 10 year anniversary. The rest of the time not so much. Now I have been hinting at needing a new sewing machine - especially if we move overseas, I'm doing to need a dual voltage - if he were to do the research and get me one or a gift card for one. I would be over the moon. There isn't much else I can think of that I would want to be surprised with. I love my car and I'm not getting a new one anytime soon. We are not in a position to get a pet right now.
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 26, 2017 1:49:22 GMT
I'm surprised that you have to give prizes. We are asked to donate a significant amount for each kid. No prizes. The only thing they do is they have a temperature gauge that shows what percentage of each grade has donated. But the kids aren't involved in the donation process. It is just something that just goes to the parents.
Can you change the focus to showing what the donation amounts do for the school?
Like your $10 pays for crayons for a Kindergartner for a year. $20 provides a class set of white board markers. $100 buys a class set of books for reader's workshop. $500 pays for a school bus for a field trip for a class.
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 25, 2017 4:48:47 GMT
A California roll has crab, cucumber, and avocado.
The top one looks like it has egg and carrot, the other spam and lettuce.
Generally speaking, we call it sushi.
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 25, 2017 3:13:58 GMT
Please don't tell me..GOTs has all been a Bran dream?? LOL Not a dream. He has been going back in time via the visions/warging (sp?). Since we know he can go back in time and manipulate - Hodor - the theory is that something happened at some point and he screwed up and now he is trying to fix it. What if everything is Bran's fault? |
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 25, 2017 0:23:25 GMT
My brother in law I believe enrolled at West Point and after a week knew it wasn't for him. Came back to Boston and went to Tufts instead.
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 24, 2017 3:48:05 GMT
Does anyone else not think the ice king looks exactly like Bran??? does anyone see the resemblance?? hmmm.. I saw a theory on I think buzzfeed that all the stories, legends....are all Bran going back in time over and over trying to stop things from happening and failing. So the Ice King could be him and he is trying to stop it from happening. It also mentioned something about the fact that the "original" Bran was the Builder that built the wall. So maybe it all leads back to Bran. |
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 24, 2017 3:44:41 GMT
Does white walker = wight? How do you know Viserion is the dragon who died? I never understood how Uncle Benjen was kind of half dead. Anybody? Also anyone have any ideas about why Tyrion would bring up the idea of Daenerys' successor at this point? I think they explained Benjen in a previous season. I think it was dragon glass thrust in him before he completely turned - possibly by a child of the forest? |
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 16, 2017 1:23:42 GMT
I didn't think she died on the pyre. I think she just sat through the fire.
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 15, 2017 4:27:47 GMT
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 15, 2017 4:24:40 GMT
San Jose del Cabo (the old town 30 of so minutes from Cabo). Much more artsy and old world. There are some beautiful hotels, the beaches over there are swimable. Great restaurants. And if you want action you can take a cab over to Cabo for not too much. There are great flights from the Bay Area pretty cheap. Todo Santos north of Cabo on the coast is also a fun little town. Now that they built the new highway it only takes an hour or so (rather than the 3 or more it used to take).
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 15, 2017 4:13:26 GMT
So I have a question. A friend brought this up when we were talking about it today. In theory, Jon has the best claim to the throne. BUT he died. Does that change anything? Since he died does succession move to Dany?
I love the idea that Tyrion is related to them as well. He is one of my favorites.
I hate Littlefinger. I am worried that Arya is getting too cocky. But I hope that her and Sansa can come together and kick him out, because i can't believe that he has any decentness in him. Maybe having Bran around with his "powers" will help protect the girls from too much trouble.
I was grossed out at the thought that Cersi is pregnant again...no, just no. I can't believe Jamie hasn't seen through her at this point, I really, really hope he kicks her to the curb soon!
I really hope Bron survives and ends up with Tyrion again instead. I don't like him with Jamie.
I'm really sad the next season won't be till 2019. But hope that means that at least the next book will come out before then...not that we won't already know a lot of what happens in it. But I just want to read them all again and get new content!
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 12, 2017 1:02:57 GMT
Slightly different perspective. I only taught 4.5 years. The first year I was hired to teach 4th grade, the second week of school was switched to 2nd due to district rearranging of students. Was pink slipped in March, the last week of school I was offered my job back, but at that point, we lived 40 miles away from the school and I didn't want to do the commute anymore (we moved in January). The second year I taught 4th grade at a small rural school and loved it. Loved the kids, loved the staff, loved the community. It was a very small school - K/1, 1/2, 2/3, 4, 5. This was during the downturn and in California, teachers were being cut by the thousands. They cut a classroom, I was the last hired, so the one let go. My third year I taught Kindergarten. Never thought I would like it and loved it. Another very small school - K, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4/5. Was pink slipped in March, rehired the end of July. Was pregnant so taught till dd arrived in March and took FMLA the rest of the school year. Was pink slipped again and the school went down to 3 classrooms - K/1, 2/3, 3/4/5 - 6 years later they still only have 3 classrooms. Went back half time in October the following year and was over that quick. The school day was 7:45-1:45, I worked 7:45-12 and got paid half time. Lunch was an hour - so the teachers worked another 45 minutes than I did and got paid double. And they really only worked those 45 minutes. We were supposed to stay till 3:30 for contract hours. Most days I was the only person there after 2:15.
My oldest is now in 1st grade and her school keeps asking me to sub. It is tempting...except I would make maybe $30 (which would probably be taken via taxes) after paying a babysitter to watch my youngest. So not happening anytime soon! Also, dh has come to really enjoy the flexibility we have with me home and I enjoy being home with the kids.
As I talk to friends that are still teaching and read the threads here I am not tempted to go back. The one nice thing (double edged sword) of working at a very small school is that we had very little oversight from the district. I loved that I had the flexibility to teach the way I felt was best for my students, but I hated watching the horrible teaching that was going on in the other classrooms. There was all kinds of nonsense going on - the 1/2 teacher literally couldn't manage her classroom. So they hired an aid that was not credentialed and as not a teacher. The aid ended up teaching one grade while she did the other. It was a mess. But she was "so nice" so no one would do anything about it. She was widowed and had high maintenance kids and we were always told, "well she needs the money." The poor kids in her classroom, over 50% of the parents were paying for outside tutoring because they weren't learning.
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 9, 2017 3:43:26 GMT
I drove my pruis for 8 years and loved it. It was a fantastic car. I gave it to my mom when I had to get a bigger car. She was a little hesitant because she had been driving bmws for the last couple years. She LOVES it! It is a wonderful car!
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 5, 2017 3:53:21 GMT
Mine is similar to Lenny's.
1 jar seedless blackberry jam (smaller size)
1/2 jar cocktail sauce
a couple tablespoons dijon mustard
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 3, 2017 22:57:25 GMT
Hugs I feel you! I have started distancing myself from my in-laws in the last 6 months. My mil always whines that it has been so long since she has seen the kids and that the baby (16 mos) has forgotten her. But they make very little effort to see them. They just complain when they don't. They live 20 minutes from us, over the years we have invited them over numerous times, they average about once a year. Yet my sil's that live in a different state they fly out there and stay with them for a week or more at a time 4-6 times a year.
We are looking at moving out of the country and they are a huge driving factor for me in terms of doing it. I want my sil's to have to step up and deal with them and I am done!
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 3, 2017 22:47:28 GMT
I would love any advice you have on doing this. We are very likely going to be moving out of the country - California to London - in the next month or two and I am so overwhelmed trying to get rid of stuff. We will store some stuff, take some stuff, and then I have to figure out what to do with the rest. My best advice is, "Let it go." Seriously. We had a severe limit on what we could bring because we were bringing everything on the plane with us as checked baggage/boxes or carry ons. Our furniture wasn't worth the cost of shipping it there and we were movng into a furnished rental, so there was no point in keeping it even though we loved it. Your situation may be different than ours, we were forced to get rid of pretty much everything. It was so hard but in the end, for us we knew we would be able to replace or improve upon everything we were giving up so it made it easier to sell our favorite things cheap or give it away. We helped furnish homes for 3 families in need. I can't count how many times people were so thrilled to buy our things that I had realized weren't giving me as much joy as I thought they would. The purging was very liberating when it all was finished. And we only had 3 weeks to do it! I'm so impressed! I'm trying to let it go. I'm a former teacher (and have 3 kids), so we have a ridiculous number of books - I'm having a very hard time letting go of those. Other than that my fabric (I sew lots) and my scrapbook stuff (haven't scrapbooked in forever - very overwhelmed in trying to sell all the stuff I have collected). I wish I could pay someone to go through everything for me and figure out the donate and sell for me! |
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Post by beaglemom on Aug 3, 2017 21:50:30 GMT
We sold mostly all of our possessions and brought only clothes and some essentials (like my cast iron pots, my Penzeys spices lol, etc). I would love any advice you have on doing this. We are very likely going to be moving out of the country - California to London - in the next month or two and I am so overwhelmed trying to get rid of stuff. We will store some stuff, take some stuff, and then I have to figure out what to do with the rest. |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 29, 2017 1:17:12 GMT
Yes! It has made a huge difference for dd and me! There is an amazing facebook Group that has all kinds of amazing info and cheat sheets for products! Total game changer!!! |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 21, 2017 21:56:05 GMT
Growing up we were always home for Christmas. My mom's parents for Christmas Eve - hour to two hours away (depending on when in my childhood we are talking about). Then Christmas morning at home. Christmas dinner at my dad's parents - 10 minutes away. My freshman year of college my mom decided she wanted to try something different. We did London, Paris, and Zurich. It was weird not being home, but was a lot of fun. When I met dh I thought it was so weird that they always went away for Christmas. When we first met, 2001, they always went somewhere to ski. Then christmas 2006 we went to Cabo...and we were hooked. 2006-2010 we went ever year. Dd was born 2011 and I insisted that we switch to what we always said we would do - every other year with our families. So on dh's family's year we go to Cabo on the other year we stay home and do Christmas with my parents. Christmas eve at their house and Christmas morning at our house.
I see the advantages to both. I still decorate, because I like to!
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 19, 2017 21:40:54 GMT
Thank you peas! I have a lot of googling and mapping to see what/where these things are. Thanks so much. Can I do a fast pass and the rider swap thing together? yes |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 19, 2017 21:38:47 GMT
Additional thought. If you are staying till close going to the 10:45 parade makes way more sense and it will be much easier to find a spot at that one!
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 19, 2017 21:31:59 GMT
We are season pass holders and have been about 10 times in the last year or so.
1. Download the disneyland app!! It will give you real time info on wait times and ride closures. Tells you the locations of all the photographers. Tells you the locations of characters. You can make and view dining reservations in app.
2. As soon as you know the day you are going make your dinner reservation. The disneyland app is great for this, but you can also do it through the website. The popular restaurants fill up, do not expect to be able to show up day of and get a table.
3. Photopass is great, the photographers take great pictures. Having the app to tell you where they are lets you maximize the number of pictures you can get.
4. Honestly, we have never staked out a place for the parade. It is at 8:45 there is no way in heck I would get a place on the curb 3 hours before hand. Plus I am 99% sure they don't let you more than an hour in advance. The last time we were there we found a great spot 5 minutes before the parade started right where the parade starts - in the main circle across from Lincoln's theater. We have never had viewing issues. Use those three hours to do stuff, don't waste them sitting!!
5. I'm not a huge fan of any of the sit downs in Disneyland, River Belle Terrace and Carnation Cafe (Carnation is on the parade route) aren't bad. I much prefer the food in California Adventure or in Downtown Disney. For grab and go the Bengal Barbecue is delicious, but there isn't a great place to sit near by. In California Adventure our favorite is Carthay Circle, expensive but oh so amazing and delicious! I like the Jazz Kitchen and Catal in Downtown Disney. All the menus should be available on the website along with prices.
6. You can carry in food and water bottles no problem. We throw everything in the stroller.
7. "Chill out" places - Tiki Room!!! One of our favorites! Also Pirates, Jungle cruise, and Small world all take 5+ minutes so you know you will have sit down time. Pirates and small world are air conditioned.
8. With the baby the Baby Care Centers are awesome. They have quiet, cool, private spaces for nursing and changing tables. They also have baby food, diapers, etc for purchase (cash only).
9. There will be more to do for your 6 year old in Disneyland than CA. The app has the height requirement for rides.
10. Rider Swap is awesome. You all go to the start of the line together. One parent goes with the 6 year old - tells the attendent they want to do rider swap. They ride the ride, then get a pass that works just like a fast pass and lets you bypass most of the line to go on it again. You don't have to do it right away, just in the same day.
11. Off the top of my head in CA you will be able to take the baby on Ariel's, Monster's Inc, most of the stuff in Bug's land, and Midway Mania.
12. Disneyland there are a lot more options for the baby.
Feel free to PM me with any questions. We currently have kids that are 6, 4, 16 months. We have had season passes for the last 2 years and the baby has been 4 or 5 times.
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 17, 2017 5:51:33 GMT
So who was the redhead getting kissed in the preview? Sansa or the Red Woman? And who is she kissing? It's such a brief flash on the screen so I can't tell! Theon's sister is kissing the Martel chick (we slowed it down to check) |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 16, 2017 14:24:46 GMT
So, So, So excited!! Little bummed...I got the most awesome amazing fabric ever to make shirts for dh and me. But we are in the middle of trying to pack up our house to sell it and I just didn't have time to make them. Oh well, at least I will have 6 more chances!
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 20:55:38 GMT
Is this list because you are in a more competitive seller market? It is more that the house is so unusual that we are worried about it taking a while to sell. It was on the market on and off for 4 years before we bought it. We looked past the shape and saw 5,000 sq ft and 2 acres for 1/4 or less of anywhere else in the Bay Area and bought it. We have loved it. But baby #3 pushed me over the edge. We are just far enough out that it makes getting home for naps and getting the older 2 kids to and from school difficult. Plus we are really hoping to move overseas and in that case really need it sold! Generally, things are selling quickly and for a lot of money. I was looking at a house nearby the other day that listed at 2.3 million, but needed a minimum of $500,000 in work (if not more) there was an entire level/apartment that was done without a permit. It was on the market 3 weeks, then they dropped it to 1.9 million and it sold in less than 24 hours. |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 18:59:35 GMT
Crazy!! We have a very similar entry! 6 switches, we can only figure out what 2 of them do. There is also the very random hot and cold water hookups coming out of the wall in the main living space. Not entirely sure what the thought was there!A wet bar! That would totally make sense. Is there room around the hookups for a bar? SaveYes, plenty of room. That's what we think it was for. But it is still super random! |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 18:03:12 GMT
Yes. With minimal work, we should be able to get at least 2 million. We have just over 5,000 sqft and the two lots we own combine to just under 5 acres. Can the properties be subdivided? Are you likely to attract developers that will tear down the house? Honestly, 2 million for five acres in Silicon Valley sounds like the value is all in the property, not the house. I really question whether or not any cosmetic updates are necessary, especially if you are looking to get at least double your investment back. SaveSaveNot reallyNot really. We bought the property next door for $150,000 because they either wanted to build on it or get an easement off our property. It was going to cost them almost a million to build a driveway up to where they could build. We're up in the Santa Cruz mountains area. |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 18:01:15 GMT
We just sold in Silicon Valley last year. Your agent should tell you exactly what needs to be done to get the asking price that you want. We had already done work to our house over the years. We had hardwood floors, crown molding throughout and our light fixtures all matched. Light and receptacle plates matched. That's because of my OCD. Bathrooms had been redone. Our outside yards had always been maintained. Our kitchen was nice and one agent we interviewed said to redo kitchen because we had granite tiles instead of granite slabs as well as removing a load bearing wall. We said no. We didn't go with her. We would not have gotten our money back. We had all inspections done before the house was painted. We had some minor things fixed. Our agent chose the interior and exterior paint colors. We painted in and out with neutral colors. Decluttered and had it staged. And we got our asking price and sold in a week. We are working on the agent front - I have another post going about that - I have a couple options. Our biggest issue I think is the shape - which we can't change - it's a geodesic dome. I just feel like with the area is needs to be brought up to date - it was built in 89 and a lot of the stuff is dated. Our main level - kitchen, living, and dining is hardwood. The other two levels are bedrooms and currently have carpet. The stairs spiral up around the central fireplace column and would cost a fortune to do in hardwood. So the plan is to leave them as carpet, but replace the carpet. |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 17:30:46 GMT
The previous owner was a bit eccentric and there are a number of odd things about the house. We have a ridiculous amount of switches and outlets. But they don't all match and they are 20+ years old and are yellowy/beige and look very dated. Yeah... we bought that house too. And we are slowly fixing all the head scratcher things they built into it very slowly. The overhead light in our entry way, has 5! switches that control it, all within 15 feet of each other. Crazy!! We have a very similar entry! 6 switches, we can only figure out what 2 of them do. There is also the very random hot and cold water hookups coming out of the wall in the main living space. Not entirely sure what the thought was there! |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 17:06:35 GMT
What color is your interior door hardware? Is it dated? In my old house all of my knobs and hinges were that shiny bright gold and didn't go with the style of the house. I bought a can of spray paint in a dark oil-rubbed bronze that matched the light fixtures and painted all of them. It made a huge difference and was extremely inexpensive to do. Currently no hardware on any cabinets. The fixtures in the bathroom are very dated and need to be replaced. |
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