8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 7

[PBader]

Just wanted to pop in to say---I won't be around much this weekend either
our best friends are in town and staying down atr Royal Pacific so we are going there for the afternoon and dinner at Tcoup Tcoup(Emerils) YUM!!!!
Won't be home until late from there esp if we go to City Walk

Tomoroow my DH dad is coming into town so we will be out on the boat skiing and fishing......

See you guys later......

Enjoy yourself, Judy.

 

[captaincrash]

I have been thinking about doing some remodeling or building an additio n to our home. And this solar power system is what my spouse came up with as the MOST COST EFFECTIVE home addition project. It also is one of the simplist and smaller ones to consider.

We got a lot going on this year so we already suspended the idea of building a full blown addition... and this seemed "bite size" enough to evaluate seriously. An addition would have cost a huge bit of change - plus huge inconvenience physically.

I was still thinking of building (at least) an enormous "utility shed" in back. Believe it or not... I really wanted a mini-cabana sized building... I was just looking at these tiny LOG CABINS last nite... there is this 342 sq foot log cabin ... and a varient with a 100' loft. We saw one completed near by (100 miles away) and it looked beautiful. This particular manufacturer had all kinds of artistic carved detailing on some of the posts and it had a fairy tale quality to it. I figure it would serve as a play house and true utility space for the family. However... if our association had any say so they would probably say "nyet"! This log cabin has yet to be priced or approved by the queen of our household. She has seen the model home already - but has not been consulted about building the tiny example in our back yard!

I can't "rip" any photos...
except the "Log Home" above.

The builder is "smart" and has all his pix in flash players
Here is a link though: http://www.pioneerloghomesofbc.com/ .​

My Aunt lives in a log cabin community in the Cinninnatti area. They love it.

The little cabin would sort of be BIG and not match the community where we are... but my neighbor build a little 90-100' play house for his kids and it has a serious fairy tale quality to it. MY approach will be 3-4x larger and have real utility potential... and I think add value to the property. It will not match but I hope to landscape around it to semi conceal some of it and retain reasonable utility on a regular basis.

I must be pretty crazy to be considering this.

But not far from here (100 miles north) my spouse and I have been watching this ranch build 1st the little fairy tale cabin ... then over several months they built this huge manor and a log BARN! We eventually stopped to ask the owners about thier homes because they were simply so striking from the road. And he took us on a tour of his property... well just the main house and cabin. The main house had some 8,000 sq feet and ... get this... 2 bedrooms. And the guest cabin was completely finished and was ... dreamy. I would LOVE to have a cabin like that squeezed onto our property. The cabin was much larger then the cabin I want to build... I think the cabin we saw was about 800-900' including the loft... and I think my community allows me to build without a permit if under a certain size. I have to refresh my knowledge on this... and figure out how to tap into the water, waste and power lines to the area of our property which I want to use.

At any rate... this is one of my idle daydreams that might have a toehold in reality some day sooner or later...

 

[sk8ingmom]

I see you survived the banquet! Did you crack open the jug o' wine yet?

Survived the banquet. Our pack is way too big. 80 kids. It got that way because we are the best pack in the area - most organized, best trips, etc., but we are on the verge of needing to split into 2 packs. The sheer #s are insane. We have 20 Tigers! I've been Tiger leader for 2 years (DSs are only a year apart school-wise) & DH is Committee Chair.

This month's theme is Aloha Cub Scouts, so B&G was Hawaiian. We have a centerpiece competition every year - here was our entry.

We made 2, totally edible - just like Food Network Challenge! It doesn't show up well in the photos, but our jello ocean actually had waves. DS8's Wolf den made a great volcano & another den had 10ft. palm trees at each end of their table (cadboard tubes etc). This is why our pack is so big! I swear the parents have more fun than the kids sometimes.

And yes, I am having a lovely Syrah.

 

[allshookup]

I just received word a few minutes ago that our DCL CM friend Tanya passed away this afternoon.

Andy I'm so sorry! My heart goes out to all her loved ones. How very sad!

 

[allshookup]

An interesting Dad story.
My parents divorced when I was 3. I have only a couple of memories of my parents being married.
When my parents divorced (my mom's idea) my dad not being the single kind, immediately got remarried. But my step-mother would give Cinderella's SM a run for her money. She was very mean to us. Later we found the majority was jealously. She made seeing my dad miserable for all, so we just did not do it. Since they lived in another state it was not that hard.
Over the next 15 years I rarely saw my dad. He was the VP of the university I graduated from and he did not come to my graduation. The funny part is I, nor any of my siblings, harbored any ill will toward him period. He was not mean- just was not anything.
After he retired he kinda started to get back in touch. I took it in stride but told DH that there was NO WAY I was going to take any flack from SM. Turns out she was sick and although never friendly, I could handle her.
SM died at 12:05am 01/01/02. Within 2 days of her funeral my dad asked for my mothers phone number. I was beyond shocked. They had hardly spoken in 30 years. I gave it to him and warned my mother. She could not imagine why he wanted to talk to her. Long story- somewhat shorter - they got married again 5 months later, on their original wedding date!
We even had a "Fake 50th" Anniversary party for them 2 years ago on what would have been their 50th.
They are absolutely hysterical. It is like the last 35 years never existed.
So for the 1st time in my life, I got a dad ....at 35.

Wow what a story! I'm so happy your parents found each other again!

 

[atakaratemom]

Survived the banquet. Our pack is way too big. 80 kids. It got that way because we are the best pack in the area - most organized, best trips, etc., but we are on the verge of needing to split into 2 packs. The sheer #s are insane. We have 20 Tigers! I've been Tiger leader for 2 years (DSs are only a year apart school-wise) & DH is Committee Chair.

This month's theme is Aloha Cub Scouts, so B&G was Hawaiian. We have a centerpiece competition every year - here was our entry.

We made 2, totally edible - just like Food Network Challenge! It doesn't show up well in the photos, but our jello ocean actually had waves. DS8's Wolf den made a great volcano & another den had 10ft. palm trees at each end of their table (cadboard tubes etc). This is why our pack is so big! I swear the parents have more fun than the kids sometimes.

And yes, I am having a lovely Syrah.

My gosh, 80 kids? That is a huge pack! And 20 Tigers, what a handful that must be. The banquet sounds like it was a great success though. I love your centerpiece. Very creative!!

 

[PBader]

Hey MR....we are members at BWV also...........was the first DVC property we bought into. FGM wanted to join DVC since '93..........I am not a fan of Timeshare's...... LOL !! Sooooooooo I finally relent, go on the tour.........see the rooms.......start buying........and we owned at 3 resorts at one point.

FGM..........Do you ALWAYS have to be Right ???? LOL !!!

Mark

Hey Mark we love the DVC! You guys too I see. We bought in 1999 and believe it or not, have never stayed at BWV. We will someday Next month we'll be at BCV (really love those). This time we'll be bringing a Aerobed with us because our stinky teens won't share the sofabed (heaven forbid)

We bought at DVC now OKW in 95, added on at VB 97 and added on again at SSR in 04. I would really like to buy more VB points so that we could make sure that we could stay in one of the beach cottages a week every other year. But honestly we have enough points.

Do you all use your points for cruising? We did for our 1st 2 cruises then IMO the points started getting expensive to use like that.

 

[PBader]

Okay, I just Ebayed our Audiobooks for our WDW Roadtrip next month. Whatd'ya think?

A Paper Life - Tatum O'Neal' Bio (DH is thrilled with that one )
The DaVinci Code - Resisted reading or go to movie waiting for this trip.
Bob Newhart's Anthology - 2 CD set of his best routines
Rocky Allen Showgram CD - skits from his Radio Show
What Remains - A memoir by Carole Radziwill. She was married to the cousin of JFK Jr., and he had cancer. The book is about losing all three of them in a short time and then being alone. (DH not thrilled here either)

Personally I can't wait to listen to all of them. Gotta love Ebay. Total Cost: approx $50 for all 5, less than I'd pay for 2 in the store!

MR, I love to read. I have never bought or listened to an audio book. Sounds like you got a great deal!

 

[PBader]

The 'four person' one-BR villas are the only reason we didn't buy DVC. As a family of five, we couldn't afford the 2BR villas and wouldn't be comfortable cramming five people into a 1BR.

John, I think that the villas they are doing at AKL sleep more than the other DVC's.

 

[PBader]

I just received word a few minutes ago that our DCL CM friend Tanya passed away this afternoon.

I am so sorry Andy.

 

[captaincrash]

In 2012 as well as opening the Olympics the Doctor took a vacation on the Disney Dreams cruise ship in a CAT A room ( new types) and cruised from the new Disney terminal at San Pedro via Mexican Cay to Disneyland Tokyo.

<roaring chuckles>

I understand to good Doctor has observed new staff on the Disney Dreams in 2012....

Below - Doctor Who and Rose appear mildly apprehensive over the new Dreams CMs above...

I'm just getting settled here so I'll post more when you're on live again...​

 

[miztigg]

todd and andy sorry for your losses

 

[sk8ingmom]

At any rate... this is one of my idle daydreams that might have a toehold in reality some day sooner or later...

There is a house in Talkeetna, AK that everyone refers to as the Log Mahal. It is amazing, but unfortunately, I don't have a photo (go figure!)

Certainly not what you have in mind - but here is where we spent NYEve in Talkeetna.

Here's the outhouse!

Something to ponder...outhouses don't smell when it is 5 degrees!

Last Denali sunset of 2006. (You know it as Mt. McKinley, everyone here uses the native name - Denali)

 

[sk8ingmom]

So the problem with me and Crash both being on the left coast is...lots of photos per page!

 

[PBader]

Well - is there such a thing as pseudo-ketchup??? I am still missing all the pages between 27000ish and 31000ish - but I just caught up with everything from when I collapsed last night until now!

We're making our usual spring trip to WDW in June. It's possible we would have skipped this due to the "trip of a lifetime" next year and its cost - but we bought new APs in January before our last cruise and before we knew about what we would be doing in Aug 08. Since we have the passes, we're going to do the trip

Actually, I'm really excited. We were planning for 8 nights, but DH has just found out that there is a good chance his company is going to send him to Microsoft's TechEd conference (5 days in Orlando). By a weird stroke of luck - TechEd ends the day we were planning on flying down to Florida (after work). As long as we don't have more snow days, DS and I could fly down on the Tuesday and get 3 EXTRA DAYS of vacation! We could stay with DH, so no extra hotel cost. We were already planning to fly down on the Friday, so there isn't any extra cost there. We already have AP's, so no ticket costs. DS & I would get 3 extra days of vacation for pretty much the cost of our meals. How cool is that!?!? Of course, DH would have to be at the conference all day, but he could probably join us for dinner and evenings at a park. Plus, as soon as the conference ended on Friday he'd be on vacation and already there and ready to play. I'm going around with my fingers crossed hoping this really works out!

pdarrah (Pamela)

I hope that it works out for you.....extra days...no cost...sounds like fate.

 

[atakaratemom]

Something to ponder...outhouses don't smell when it is 5 degrees!

I guess there would have to be some advantage for the poor soul who has to use an outhouse when it is 5 degrees.

 

[PBader]

Someone stole DH sneakers

Dh just called and told me someone stole his sneakers. I find this hysterical. He was skiing today and couldnt fit them in the locker so he put them on top. who whould steal someone elses dirty sneakers???? Its not like they are fancy expensive latest greatest sneakers. DH is slightly stuck in the 80's and still wears only black Fila sneakers.



I cant stop laughing.

 

[captaincrash]

Every year for the past 12-15 years I've put together groups of friends, family and neighbors together for outings at the Hollywood Bowl. We gather (12 - 60 folks) for dinner with either catered food or pot luck before hand then enjoied a concert in the Bowl. Obviously with a DIS group we'd do a catered meal. We often sit together but that is not a requirement as our group seats can easily be split... and as a group subscriber for over a decade I get the 1st distribution on schedule for the next year... well before it is published and ofetn an incomplete schedule as they offer us what they have as soon as it formulates.

So... I was thinking I could take an interest list on folks interested in hanging out in the hollywood area for the afternoon... followed by most likely a catered picnic ($8-12 per adult, $4-6 per child age 3-12 is sufficient) at the Hollywood Bowl. Generally I suggest a couple different types of cuisine and the group VOTES on what they want in advance. Then we go in for a concert. The committments would come in January and the pricing on seats would range from as low as $6 in the back up to $110 if anyone wanted box seats. I've had everything from the back to the garden boxes and I'm happy anywhere. However, I must confess that with kids we tend to sit futhest to the front or back... as the folks in the middle are slightly more stuffy with potential disturbances from the youngsters.

August is generally near the end of the season - and fireworks at the bowl are common on 1/3rd of the weekend evenings.​

So... then it is parking and a show that runs til typically 10:30 and out by 11pm. Not sure if we'd do a friday or saturday... seein' as we sail on sunday (am I right?). I think a friday would be better even though some folks may have to contend with traffic. I would have to dream up a "recommended list of proper diversions for concert-goers so they do not get entangled in LA traffic snafus. IE... I would draw up hang out points and times to be here or there - so as to enable making the dinner and show on time. OR... we might do something else for supper.

I guess this is something we'll have to add into the list of DIS diversions precruise... Anyone who has any interest should PM me so I can plan on it... like I'm gonna be rushed if I don't hear from folks soon, eh?

CC, That sounds very interesting and looks like a lot of fun. I would like to know some add. info later about it. We had serioulsy wanted to add a week in CA. this July on our return from Hawaii, there is so much there that I want to see. But it is so hard in the middle of summer to take a really extended vacation. Our 2 weeks in Hawaii is already really pushing it.

Our interest group is up to about 33-34 people as far as I can tell. Of course... the majority of this number represent folks from my sailing group. So... I would only be too happy to provide info later... seein' as we have about 300 days to go before I need firm head counts. And even so... the tix will be inexpensive enough for he most part that cancellations can be reallocated pretty easily among DIS folks or folks I know locally.

 

[sk8ingmom]

So, Mary - where are you headed on your AK cruise in 4 months?? If you see orange CG boats escorting you ship, be sure to wave. That will be DH's guys.

We may pass you on the 'poor man's cruise'. We'll be taking the ferry to Bellingham, WA to start our drive East. I would love to take a one-way cruise south, the only problem is: the ferry takes our car...the cruise ship, not so much!

 

[PBader]

Here is a picture of our train:

That is so cute. But I know I definetly wouldn't have made that for a cake walk. I see why your DS was soo disappointed with the cake he won. Did they use it for a special prize on the cw or just as a normal choice?