May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 7

[disneylover5]

Lisa, this is so scary! But I like your way of thinking that since an evacuation center is right across the street from you that they think your area won't be affected. Very good point! But still so scary to have it that close to you. Please keep us updated.

I just heard on our news here in DC this morning that they are evacuting the evacuation centers now. They said the ones that they are evacuting are hotels and not schools.

Everyone in CA take care.....this is very very very scary to me (and i am sure to you!!)

Does he have a Medical Flexible Spending Account available where he works? It is too late for 2007 but if he has an FSA and it is calendar year he can get a pre-tax withheld from his paycheck beginning with the first pay in 2008. The beauty of the FSA is that you can file claims against it up to the contracted amount BEFORE all of the money has been with held form your pay.

In addition, since the money is pre-tax the buying power is greater - in a 30% tax bracket the $1000 deferred has the buying power of $700 after taxes. It is more bang for your buck.

Holly, this is a great idea. I have used mine to pay for all of my kids braces each year. Even though you work part time, maybe your employer could make it available to you. (if they offer it). It sounds like they really care for you and the work you do for them. The amount you can put in just went up to $3,600 I think.
Lisa

 

[disneylover5]

Good morning!

Raining cats and dogs here too!



All kidding aside, this is a fun and great place to live . . . If we could only win something!

Since you guys have known me here . . .

Ohio State loses in National Championship Football game
Ohio State loses in National Championship Basketball game (both times to Florida)
Our High School loses in the State Final Four
The Cavaliers lose in the NBA Finals
The Indians lose in the ALCS to Boston

I mean, can I get a break SOMEWHERE????

At least you have the fun to follow them that far!!

Look at me....
Redskins
Nationals
Wizards
Caps

Now this year, at least Westfield (our high school) is still #1 in the State of VA. They have 2 tough weeks coming up and then playoffs. They did win the state championship in 2003

 

[Jhalkias]

At least you have the fun to follow them that far!!

Look at me....
Redskins
Nationals
Wizards
Caps

Now this year, at least Westfield (our high school) is still #1 in the State of VA. They have 2 tough weeks coming up and then playoffs. They did win the state championship in 2003

I think losers are easier to follow. They don't get your hopes up and then dash them. You don't invest your heart in a season only to see it broken.

The Indians were losers for the first 35 years of my life, and they never put me in as much stress as the last 12 years. I would rather win it all once, and be losers for 10 years than go through this year after year . . .

Always the bridesmaid . . . = no FUN!

 

[lillygator]

morning all. I think we will definitely be getting a late start tonight. I went to bed and didn't get up until 6 this morning, so I still need to do a bit of packing. But I am not going to sweat it. I want to take the next 4-5 days easy and relax. I have been so darn stressed with all that is going on at work and John has been under the gun lately too. I won't mind if we sleep in every day and hit the parks late. I really won't.

 

[gydell]

Pictures look great Lisa!

So I'm still debating...it is twice the price to fly direct. We would leave at 1pm, get in at 9pm. Or it is half the price to stop via Denver. Leave at 9am, get in at 9pm. I know it is a lot of DOD, but I'm so concerned we will be really, really tired after traveling all day. But then again, the direct flight won't be a walk in the park either. No matter what, traveling with a 2 year old (not to mention the other 3!) is work, work, work! I wish I could just decide and book it as I'm anxious to get our flights arranged... Lisa

What about Airtran? I am waiting for them to release our dates because they are always pretty cheap.

 

[disneylover5]

I think losers are easier to follow. They don't get your hopes up and then dash them. You don't invest your heart in a season only to see it broken.

The Indians were losers for the first 35 years of my life, and they never put me in as much stress as the last 12 years. I would rather win it all once, and be losers for 10 years than go through this year after year . . .

Always the bridesmaid . . . = no FUN!

That is funny...I think just the opposite....I love it when my teams are winning (and the Redskins have been a good/bad team over the years). Even if they do not go all the way to the championship. This year the Redskins are pretty good....not Super Bowl material, but much more fun to watch this year.

 

[mishoe01]

Pretty sure Boma is 10:15.

Make sure you turn that cell on V!

We have not even thought about packing yet, but what else is new?

John and V - Boma's was changed to 1030a to accommodate all of us. I'll pm both of you my cell nbr just in case. Can't believe it's only a few days away!

I'll be meeting PJ tomorrow night at Boma's - I'll be there with other friends, but I know she'll be there too.

Safe travels to all of you heading my way!

 

[granmaz]

Save journeys for all you travelling to WDW. Enjoy your trip and meeting the others. I'm very jealous!

Hope all is well with the LA folk and things are soon under control there.

 

[1Grumpy John]

Good morning!

Raining cats and dogs here too!



All kidding aside, this is a fun and great place to live . . . If we could only win something!

Since you guys have known me here . . .

Ohio State loses in National Championship Football game
Ohio State loses in National Championship Basketball game (both times to Florida)
Our High School loses in the State Final Four
The Cavaliers lose in the NBA Finals
The Indians lose in the ALCS to Boston

I mean, can I get a break SOMEWHERE????

As you pointed out earlier this season THEY DO HAVE THE BEST FANS!!!

 

[Jhalkias]

That is funny...I think just the opposite....I love it when my teams are winning (and the Redskins have been a good/bad team over the years). Even if they do not go all the way to the championship. This year the Redskins are pretty good....not Super Bowl material, but much more fun to watch this year.

I still remember back in 1995, when the Indians were going to their first World Series in almost 50 years, someone on a radio show asked the question “Would you rather win it all now, and then be a bad team for 10 years, or would you rather be in contention every year, but never win a championship?”. At that time, I thought I would rather be in contention every year, but my tune has changed.

Having a “good” team is different than having a contender. A good team may win or lose, and if they get to the playoffs you are very happy. A perennial contender though is expected to win it all at some point, and when they don’t, it makes you crazy. Just ask George Steinbrenner.

This Indians team was not supposed to win it all, but with all the disappointments in that regard that we have had in Cleveland, it was tough to swallow the loss – especially when we led the series 3-1. It is so very hard in baseball to get this far into the playoffs, more so than any other sport I think, that when you do it, you had better take advantage of the opportunity.

I know how you feel Lisa, but the Redskins have been to a Superbowl. The Nats are an expansion team. We are very hungry for some kind of championship here in NE Ohio.

 

[LisaG520]

I just heard on our news here in DC this morning that they are evacuting the evacuation centers now. They said the ones that they are evacuting are hotels and not schools.

Everyone in CA take care.....this is very very very scary to me (and i am sure to you!!)

Lisa

All of the shelters in Poway were evacuated. Ours is still good - thankfully.

One of my co-workers can see flames on the ridge a few miles behind her house. And some of Darrell's co-workers have been evacuated.

 

[granmaz]

That must be very frightening to see flames from your window!!!

 

[LisaG520]

That must be very frightening to see flames from your window!!!

We can see smoke and that is bad enough - I hope we don't see flames!

Our tv stations are giving continous coverage of the fires but there are so many it's hard to figure out where they are. They are unable to use helicopters to clearly define the fire boundaries as the winds are too high so the smoke is blowing everywhere.

 

[granmaz]

It must be difficult to carry on life as 'normal'.

 

[birkner]

We can see smoke and that is bad enough - I hope we don't see flames!

Our tv stations are giving continous coverage of the fires but there are so many it's hard to figure out where they are. They are unable to use helicopters to clearly define the fire boundaries as the winds are too high so the smoke is blowing everywhere.

Lisa, please be careful and be safe!!

 

[gydell]

Wonder how Holly is doing!

 

[gydell]

Just received the "Panama Canal" book for kids. I think I like it better than "Locks, Crocs, and Skeeters".

 

[lillygator]

I hope all in the lines of the fires is ok, we are thinking of you. I can imagine how stressful it must be. I know how crazy I get when a hurricane is on the horizon. Be safe!

 

[lillygator]

This will probably be my last check in until Saturday when we get home. I am looking forward to seeing John, Amy and Sophie and meeting my new friends!

I am leaving here in about 1/2 and hour and plan to just start throwing clothes in a bag. The snack box is packed though!


Samantha was pretty preturbed with me. This week's show and tell is the letter H....I told her she was missing show and tell and she said "but mom, I was going to have the best show and tell, I was going to bring in Haley!"

 

[lillygator]

John is only on his first order. Why he can't let someone else do it, I will never understand. I have finished all my rec's but one --- am going to try and forget that over the weekend. The auditors get here on Monday!