Wednesday

CharmedPam

Hello from (almost) sunny Aruba! Having a really good time on the ship.  I love the balance of sea days vs port days.  9 nights is the perfect duration for me.  Earlier this year I fulfilled my dream to hug a sloth and yesterday I checked off “swim with the dolphins”. It was an amazing day.  The beach portion of our excursion was cancelled but we got to keep the dolphon encounter which is all I needed.  A lot of people had their excursions cancelled due to overcast & windy conditions.  Luckily no rain. 

My nights and mornings are by myself .  I’m with my parents and aunt, and they love to gamble at night and sleep in really late. I’m just not one to gamble and always have been early to rise.  I feel like the machines know it’s my hand slapping the button (should I not be slapping it?) and it’s like “oh, it’s you? Yeah.  We’re just going to take your money and very quickly at that”. And when my parents (both are pretty lucky) hit the machines, they’re like “oh, you’re CharmedPam’s parents? Spin away! It’s your lucky day!”.  I’m talking the spin games, not video poker - so no skilll involved - and we both play the same amount per spin. I truly believe it all has to do with luck, and I ain’t got any. 

Casadena

Glad youre having a great time, Pam! Sounds like a blast! 

Boys have annual checkups this afternoon and are getting COVID boosters, hopefully no major side effects! G has a oncology checkup and labs tomorrow and then we're all playing hooky on Friday to celebrate G's birthday at the trampoline park We decided to take the boys out of school for it so it woudln't be so crowded. I'm sure we'll do lunch and the park or library after Then my parents and sister are coming on Friday evening! Haven't seen my sis in a year. 

My Christmas party for work on Saturday night, then G's big family bday party on Sunday. We're ordering Portillo's and he is so excited - but we are NOT allowed to sing happy birthday because it's too loud and everyone is looking at him. 

I think this is the first year ever that i am taking every one of my vacation days (i never lose them, i just usually roll over the max). Feels odd having a zero balance!

mrsconn23

Good morning!!  I had jury duty yesterday.  I didn't get picked.  It was an auto theft case.  It was interesting until it got real boring, LOL.  I felt like I was in school toward the end.  I did maintain my streak of seeing people I know in the most random places, as a guy that lives not far from us and DH used to work with was there. 

I was released just before lunch, so I met DH and BIL since I wasn't too far from where they work and I was able to get some Christmas shopping done.  

My team Christmas dinner was supposed to be tonight, but it got moved to a lunch on Friday and I am much happier with that schedule.  DH and I are hoping to get shopping for the boys mostly wrapped up Friday afternoon after my lunch. 

I'm trying not to write a super snarky e-mail to another supervisor, but he has really horked me off this morning.  I've had issues with how he approaches things for awhile because he's so condescending, but he overstepped this time and I'm fine with the fight if he wants to bring it.   

SSDD otherwise.  I'm so glad it's been sunny recently.  Even though it's cold, at least I can work in natural light. 

short+sassy

@CharmedPam, I'm glad you are having fun!  Aruba sounds amazing!  I didn't realize you are on a 10-day cruise.  Nice!  I went swimming with dolphins on a cruise many years ago.  I loved it and hope to do it again someday.

@Casadena, sounds like a fun weekend!  I have my work's Christmas party on Saturday.  It's during the day and starts at noon, which is unusual for them.  But it makes sense because it's at the New Orleans Fairgrounds (race track) this year and there will be horse races going on.  I got my wristbands yesterday that will get us into the track for free.  It's also walking distance to my house, which is just extra awesome!  The company I work for sucks in a lot of ways, but they do throw a good party.

I hear you on the vacation time.  I'm usually a "vacation time" hoarder.  But have taken a lot more time off than usual over the last two years.  I think I currently have 25ish vacation hours, which is my lowest balance in years.  Since I just took my Cincinnati trip a few weeks ago, I'm not going to take any more time off for the holidays (sniff, sniff).  Whereas I usually would have taken the two Fridays off also.

I've been in a great mood lately and feeling positive.  I'm very backed up at work, but have at least been making good progress today.

short+sassy

Oh!  I forgot!  One of our rental duplexes desperately needs a new roof, as well as the car port roof that is attached to the house.  It also needs a new underground pipe for half of it.  My H got four quotes yesterday for the roofs.  The company he liked best was also the cheapest, so that was great.  But it's still $13,900 and will probably be higher once they get in there and see how much decking needs to be replaced.

Between those two major repairs and some other ones, we're looking at $25K minimum to get this property up to snuff.  I was planning to put the property up for sale around March.  We will never get our money back for those repairs.  We probably can't even get much of a higher price.  I would rather sell at a $35Kish discount.  But they're big problems that will alienate most buyers, even at a great price.

I'm going to get in touch with my agent and get some comps.  I realize they won't be accurate a few months from now when we try to sell.  But I doubt the value would go down by then.  I'm just trying to brace myself for what to expect, since I'm facing having to pay so much money.

VarunaTT

Oh @CharmedPam I hope you have the best time!

I just discovered there are 3 unofficial Studio Ghibli cookbooks and I'm vibrating in place trying to compare and figure out which one to buy b/c no Varuna does not need all 3.  no, No, NO...it's probably gonna happen.  Also, last night I just realized I could have  David Bowie themed tree and how did I not think of this before?!?!

I'm irritated; I REALLY want to see RHCP this summer.  Decent seats are $180-$240.  The lawn is a lot cheaper, but I don't want to sit on the lawn.  I just...IDK that seems so damn high.  Janet Jackson had great seats for $80.  I know this is how bands make their money, but Garbage/Alanis Morisette weren't that high either.  P!nk is also just too high, but at least she has a stadium sized show that's worth it.

Otherwise, SSDD.  Going to see Batman Returns with friends tonight and I'm excited.

kerbohl

@short+sassy Horse racing, my favourite sport!  I hope you have fun and pick some winners!  

@CharmedPam It sounds like you are having a blast.  I am with you with the early rising, and the not gambling.  With horse racing being my favourite sport, I'm more likely to gamble on the ponies but learned long ago that the second I put money down, my picks do poorly.  If I don't put money down, my picks do well.  The universe knows.

I wish work was having a Christmas party.  I do like them.  They didn't do one this year.  I do have a choir Christmas party next Thursday though!  We will have schnitzel, because most of them are very German.  

short+sassy

kerbohl said:

@short+sassy Horse racing, my favourite sport!  I hope you have fun and pick some winners!  

@CharmedPam It sounds like you are having a blast.  I am with you with the early rising, and the not gambling.  With horse racing being my favourite sport, I'm more likely to gamble on the ponies but learned long ago that the second I put money down, my picks do poorly.  If I don't put money down, my picks do well.  The universe knows.

I wish work was having a Christmas party.  I do like them.  They didn't do one this year.  I do have a choir Christmas party next Thursday though!  We will have schnitzel, because most of them are very German.  

Thanks!  I love gambling (too much!) when it comes to video poker.  I understand the basics of horse race betting, but I don't study race horses or know the betting strategies so I only gamble small amounts for fun.  Like $2-$3 per bet.

I actually remember the first horse I ever bet on, lol.  Her name was Gamblin' Chiquita, which I still think is the best name ever.

But she was being too feisty at the gate.  Rearing up, that kind of thing.  They delayed the race a couple minutes trying to get her to calm down, but finally had to pull her from the race and she was removed from the track.

You do get your money back when that happens, but not the most auspicious start to the world of horse racing, lol.  

kerbohl

short+sassy said:

kerbohl said:

@short+sassy Horse racing, my favourite sport!  I hope you have fun and pick some winners!  

@CharmedPam It sounds like you are having a blast.  I am with you with the early rising, and the not gambling.  With horse racing being my favourite sport, I'm more likely to gamble on the ponies but learned long ago that the second I put money down, my picks do poorly.  If I don't put money down, my picks do well.  The universe knows.

I wish work was having a Christmas party.  I do like them.  They didn't do one this year.  I do have a choir Christmas party next Thursday though!  We will have schnitzel, because most of them are very German.  

Thanks!  I love gambling (too much!) when it comes to video poker.  I understand the basics of horse race betting, but I don't study race horses or know the betting strategies so I only gamble small amounts for fun.  Like $2-$3 per bet.

I actually remember the first horse I ever bet on, lol.  Her name was Gamblin' Chiquita, which I still think is the best name ever.

But she was being too feisty at the gate.  Rearing up, that kind of thing.  They delayed the race a couple minutes trying to get her to calm down, but finally had to pull her from the race and she was removed from the track.

You do get your money back when that happens, but not the most auspicious start to the world of horse racing, lol.  

That is a great name!  I sometimes do the exacta, which is that you pick the top two horses.  The trifecta is the top three.  I'm gotten it twice .... when I didn't actually put the money down but just picked the horses myself.  Usually I just do "bragging right" bets with hubby.  But the annoying thing is that I research before the big races, look at past results, pedigree ... and then hubby will pick a horse based on name (or I'll suggest one for him that wasn't my top pick for some reason) and his horse will win!!!  Well, his horse wins when it is one I picked for him, so maybe that is something.  Usually it is a horse I don't want to cheer for because I know some drama off the track about the owner or trainer or something, and I know it will probably win but I don't want to cheer for it out of principal.  See, I'm a horrible gambler.  

CharmedPam

Yum portillos @Casadena.  Chocolate cake shake! And I’m 44 and no you cant sing to me either, because yeah, everyones looking at you.  Lol.
booo to those repairs @short+sassy. I wish you could just sell at that discounted price and someone would pick it up knowing the work it needs. You’d think at least a reno flipper?
have fun at your parties!