Good luck with your latest bid, Julez!

I've not really spoken to any VJers who live in the Bay Area, although I know a couple do.

I might be closer -- New Haven's only about 120 miles away from Boston... I am pretty sure I'm the only active UK VJer at the moment in Connecticut.

OMG - that is a totally AWESOME idea!! We'll all have to take a sabbatical and kinda snowball into a big VJ party at the end!!


I *love* Palm Springs... but the English pub there is about *the* must un-English "pub" I have ever seen, even if it does have football (soccer) shirts on the wall and sell Boddingtons

Hoping to move near PS though... I am sure there are better places than that so-called pub


YAY!! That is great news!!! Now you can start planning and everything!!

or WeHo!

Yay, WeHo!!!

But aren't you moving soon? I thought you were jetting off to the sun?

Just found out they FINALLY accepted our second bid on the house!!!! Gambled and rejected their counter-offer to our counteroffer and it paid off!! Woooohoooo!!!!

7 weeks from today! We are road tripping from CT to CA, stopping off to see my uncle in Galveston and my grandma in El Paso. All our worldly goods will be following -- FINALLY got a realistic moving quote this afternoon -- because we need to find a place to stay when we get there. The first 2 weeks we will be living at the Hollywood Econo Lodge...



WOO HOO indeed! Congrats, Julez!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thanks, guys!! We're so excited!!

w00t!! You are so brave maven!!!!

And gratzies again Julez!!

Thunderstorm here at the moment - hailstones the size of marbles!!! But really warm!!! It's awesome!

Freak out! It's my 20th reunion for my elementary/middle school (yes, that's weird to have one for that, I know) tomorrow. My best friend (we've been BFs since we were 3) and I are going but we realise that 1) we can't stand most of the people going and 2) we both need to lose at least 25 lbs in the next 18 hours. I am going to ignore the weight loss and go get a mani/pedi instead; I have some wicked shoes to wear tomorrow. Red patent leather wedges that make me look almost as tall as a normal human!

Congrats Julez.

LOL You thinks that's bad? I have my 20 year highschool reunion next Saturday night!! OMG, how is it possible??? Three of us are going together, strength in numbers to face all the snooty b!tches, whom I am am certain have not changed for the better in the last 20 years. I'm the one who needs to lose the weight, UGH! Even with a week, its not gonna happen!! No wicked shoes...yet...BUT I am shopping this weekend!!

We decided we'd skip the reunion mass (I went to a private Catholic all girls school) and head out for drinks first! Could be dangerous, but do we care???? NO!!!



Thanks Dev!

Julez - sounds hilarious!! I want to hear all about it - and you Maven!!!

Congratulations Julez!

Congratulations Julez!!! way to keep a cool head, and bargain for the house!!!


Internet still broken at my house, it's been doing my head in. in a park now stealing wireless.

So my OH gave his notice at his work. That's at least 2 months notice. They really appreciated that he told them as soon as he knew. Since he works for Disney, and their head office is in LA (Glendale) an they've offered to help find him a position over there. (does that make Los Feliz a done deal - angelos?)


HOWEVER - his dad called yesterday. His Grandfather died. His dad's from Nigeria, and split up from his mum when he was 2. His Grandfather was in Nigeria, and my OH never met him. Now his dad want's a chunk of money to help get over there and for the burial. I am trying to be understanding, but if i am very honest, I really resent our savings for the move being depleted for this man (who has not been a fantastic father). I am pretty stumped as to what to do. I know it would be a very sore point if I brought it up, but most of our savings are from me, I know it shouldn't matter. I'm feeling pretty selfish right now.


My battery is pretty low, sorry to rant. I seem to be doing a lot of ranting these days.

xxxxx

Call me cold but I wouldn't provide any money if it was me... it would be different if this was a beloved family member that your other half had actually met and was close to and HE needed money to go there and pay his respects, but his less than fantastic father rings up expecting money? I'm sorry but it would be a firm NO. I could understand if your other half wanted to make a contribution to the burial costs as a sign of respect, but why should he have to help pay for his father to go over there - surely that's for his father to deal with.

I'm quite certain that the money you've worked hard to save will be needed by you both to fund the move and you shouldn't feel like it's selfish to point that out.

I have to say I agree with Mark and Hannah on this one, I wouldn't be coughing up the money either. It will be a difficult time, and you could probably do without any stress right now, but I'd be worried that if I gave in this time he'd come back asking for more in the future.

Whatever you decide to do Poiteen, I wish you the very best.

Gillian

You're more than welcome to rant - we all *cought* do our fair share of ranting here

Jeremy had to pay for his entire family (brother, sister, mother and aunt) to come to our wedding - I was less than impressed but it was his family and his money so it was his decision. I really wasn't very happy about it though. Personally I would try and find the most tactful way of saying "hell no". You both have your money for the move and why is it your responsibility to bail his dad out? Why does he assume you can afford something he can't? What's he going to do if you don't give him money? What if you literally didn't have any money to give?

I'd be seriously vexed if it were me but maybe only because it is something close to my heart (Jeremy had to put off finding an apartment because he had to bail his aunt out of $200 but then he lives with her so... Still p*ssed me off )

Taking an afternoon breather from reunion "festivities"... my best friend and I showed up 2 hours late. All the bee-yatches were there, just as yeucccch as 20 years ago. One of them looked me up and down like I was covered in scales and then turned away. Some of the snots were fine, we all chatted very nicely like good girls and boys (although only 2 of the boys turned up). Now Jes (the best friend) is coming back to pick me up in a couple hours and we are going to drink the pain away.

oh man; those things can be gruelling

I hope you just burst out laughing when she looked you up and down; that's one of the rudest things ever, and SO immature! has she not grown up at all??

Nope, ugly as ever! It's funny -- I saw her in Paris nearly 3 years ago, when she and I happened to both be in town and we met up with a mutual friend who was then living there. We went out for a drink; I asked Snotty Pants what she had been up to since college, when I had last seen her. She told me about how, after grad school, she had been living in Paris for 4 years, and how wonderful living abroad was, and I had a feeling she was trying to impress me with how fancy and glamorous she was. Then Amy, the mutual friend, said, "Oh Snotty Pants, that's nothing! Meags has been in London for nearly a decade! And she's got a great big job and she's getting divorced and is dating all these guys (I was at that point) and it makes our lives in Paris seem dull!" (Amy has never picked up on the subtle social clues very well...)

Snotty Pants gave me the up and down look, and said, "Well, I suppose London's nice. But I never would have thought you were the type to have a lot of guys at once. How...interesting."

B!TCH

Edited to add: ooooh, my pal's coming over to pick me up to take me out for some industrial-sized drinkin'. Yay!

LMAO - oh but not picking up on subtle social clues can be perfect in situations like that!!

I don't know what is worse though - people who continue to be b!tchy or people wo pretend to be really nice so they can gossip behind your back later...

I grew up in a really small town in Ireland. Everytime I go home is like that, Christmas is a bumper reunion, everyone you remember from school - national school and secondary school (they're the same people) from my year, but also the ones above and below. And the worst part about it, is that they pretty much already know what you're doing before they ask!

g'morning everyone.

Where is everyone???

Great story maven! I am both looking forward to and dreading my reunion this Saturday!

Poiteen, sorry to hear about your situation. I support the effort to not give money. The nerve of some people. Sheesh!

Seriously. Where is everyone? Tumbleweeds do not make good company!

I was in the park, I'm back now though

Yay!! Welcome back Poiteen! Hope you had a lovely time in the park.

yup, I did

The Dad-Money situation is looking better. We had a long talk, my OH had misjudged how much money we really had to spare, I had to lay out what we have and he saw how significant it was, and why I would be upset at the amount.

Also as an explanation as to why his dad was looking for was so much money; well in the sad tradition of many immigrants, his Dad has spent his whole life sending money back to his home village in Nigeria. He doesn't feel that he can go to his village without having money for everyone, and take care of everything burial etc. Also I didn't mention that his father has recently been through a divorce and prostate cancer, leaving his financial situation less than rosy. In short, my OH has offered to pay for his plane fare (which I am happy to do for him) but not the bribes (as he put it). My OH has come to see it as a moment to ensure that he doesn't take up his fathers mantle, he doesn't want them looking for money from him in the future. He doesn't even know his family there.

I really want to thank you guys on VJ for giving your help and advice on this. I don't know who I could have turned to in my 'real life' with this. It's a pretty delicate matter, and it really helps to know what others think.

It is pretty much right over the hill, so yes!



Glad you were able to compromise!!

now this might be a stupid question, but would Santa Monica be a killer commute to Glendale? The boy announced yesterday that he misses living by the sea. He grew up on Miami beach, and when they moved further inland, his high school was literally on the water - a small island with only his school and a lighthouse.




Me too. Talks like that can be really make or break, there's so much emotion involved. But I think it's made us stronger.

Honestly, yes. People do it but it would be a long commute (both ways) with lots of traffic. I live 2.5 miles from SM, and it would take me about 45 mins (or more) to get to Disney.

Poiteen, I am happy to hear that you guys were able to come to a happy medium.

I can't really help you an the cali info, but it appears that you are in good hands with Dev!

Hey Dev, did you hear that they are coming out with a new 90210??? Jenny Garth will have a recurring roll as a guidance counselor. I wonder if they'll call you back for another walk on scene?

oh, I saw!!! It's funny that I now work in the 90210...

You're welcome - also we tend to be a pretty blunt and outspoken bunch so you know you're getting everything on face value

*Update on my paper!*

Well, I have suffered through massive amounts of writer's block, but I am one, that's ONE section away from completion. (Well, two if you count the recommendations...) By this Wednesday I will be done with the first draft; then it goes out for revisions and comments, then we'll tweak away for a few weeks. Then...

(ack)

The Forum. Gulp.

Rah Rah Ree, Kick 'em in the knee!

Rah, Rah Rass, Kicke 'em in the other knee!

gooooooooooooooooo maven!!!!!

Good luck maven! Go go go!

I am stuffed to the gills...was such a lovely evening that we got out the BBQ and I have eaten enough burgers and sweetcorn and chocolate cornflake cakes to last a week. My girl friends are most unsympathetic to my having a wedding and needing to lose a few pounds in the next few months.

You guys are awesome!

Julez -- I love the cheer, especially all the gratuitous knee-kicking.

Okay...must return to the section. If you see me lurking around here until after 9pm Eastern time, tell me to naff off. Seriously.

hahahha,

Is it just me or are cheerleaders one of the weirdest things ever? I sort of don't believe in them, I've never seen a real life one.

I gotta change my money in the next month or so, does anyone care to predict wether the dollar will go up or down against the pound? It's at about 1.95 right now.

Hmm...I'd probably say down, judging by the forecasts of doom and gloom I read for the British economy. However, I'm certainly no economist!

I must say it seems to be going that way...

Can I just... no... I can't be bothered... I'll just say that I am sick of where Jeremy is working taking him for granted and using him as a scapegoat all the time... I am SO p*ssed off I just want to go in there and smack everyone in the face

And I'm not normally a violent person...

Do I mean the dollar will go up against the pound? Basically I meant to say I think the pound is going to grow weaker, and the exchange rate will fall...

Aly, I am sorry to hear that about Jeremy's workplace. I don't blame you for feeling violent in the slightest! I hope the situation improves for him, and that maybe his employees realise what a good worker they actually have.

Poiteen - SM to Glendale is a killer commute - don't do it!


What LOB does your OH work for at the Mouse House?


I am going back to LA tomorrow. But this business trip has actually made me INSANE with the jetlag. INSANE I tell you.

90210 spin-off - I am very much looking forward to this. How sad is that?

Oi, I keep watching the exchange rate and thinking NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I just want it to go up to $2.00 again and I will be happy. You will then see us exchanging our money quickly. Since it has gone down, we have lost about 4,000.00 USD in the exchange rate. We need all that money for our house.

g'morning all.

Freaking out again about my cat - apparently she has to weigh less than 4kg including her carrier and she is 3.5kg, just over 5kg in it... The vet said she isn't overweight and that she has a lightweight carrier so I just don't know what to do...

On the phone to Air France again... oh when will this all stop