#55worktoplay

9 hours ago, Coralc said:

But 20 years from now, they are going to have a good laugh at how they looked. Especially, Disco Boy. ☺️

For sure, I look back at pictures of us from the big hair days, the Billy Cyress hair cut (I forget what it was called) oh my, roll over with laughter. Some of older sisters weddings with the baby blue tuxedos are the best😀

2 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Thanks again Tribe for your positive comments. I hope Star Wars day finds everyone strong and happy. 
 

I would like y’all to know that while yes, I am dealing with some heavy stuff, I am doing really well!

 

I am in contact with my husband (gets his phone 90 minutes a day.) He seems to understand this is the make or break moment.

 

I am relieved to have gotten to this point. Miles better than the prior ten months of nervous enabling through failed attempts at self-management. Not knowing what to do or how to help but realizing everything you tried wasn’t working. 
 

I am taking care of myself, starting to spend a minute here and there anticipating the Alaska cruise (13 days). I have offered the spot to my friend who runs the cat rescue where I have been volunteering for 4 years. She wants to but it’s a longshot. DH knows and likes her and agrees with this plan.

 

If she can’t make it I will get my first solo cabin and should be able to claim a few hundred $$ back with cancel for any reason insurance or a little more depending what kind of paperwork the doctor will provide. I assume I will also get his grats and port charges back, maybe as OBC? Opinions?

 

I have 2 separate reservations through an online TA and the other room is in his name with one of the 18 year olds so I don’t know whether he needs to talk to someone himself to switch out to our friend’s name. Maybe someone here has experienced this and has advice??
 

Alaska Airlines gave me a full credit for his cancelled first class flight ($730). I have to book something by September but the flight can be later.  If my friend can go I will use it to book her. Otherwise I am brewing a possible plan B to use it.

 

Have a great day all. 

 

 

Go with Plan B, you may need it. 
 

Take Care

8 hours ago, mommio said:

I wasn’t in high tech in the eighties, but in the flooring business. The chain I worked for make money like crazy, the owner made sure to spread it around. Shake your hand and there’s at least $200 there. 
 

Was it above board? Mmm, probably not. Did I question it? Not so much. But I did love it. 

The 80’s and 90’s were the best years. 

10 hours ago, TNVolnteerCruiser said:

All these planned and in process cruises got me wanting to book an interim one.  My next one isn’t until November but I’m trying really hard to behave.  We just got our little dog back from our local animal ER after 6 days and 5 blood transfusions in their ICU plus a transfusion and care at our primary vet before that.  Our perfectly healthy 7-ish year old dog developed something called IMTP and was down to zero platelets.  She is on the mend now, thankfully.  (Here she is at her checkup today.)

 

All those cruising, enjoy your trips.  To those who are in the midst of a “battle”, sending hugs to you from Tennessee.  One day at a time or one hour at a time or one minute at a time when that is all you can manage. Enjoy your weekend, tribe.  I hope to enjoy mine resting and recovering from the stress of the last two weeks.

What a sweetie!  Glad to hear she’s on the mend. I’m sure the vet bill was worth a couple of cruises but so worth it. 

4 hours ago, CallistaSkye said:

Almost had a heart attack when I searched on the other website for our cruise roll call. There's a Baptist Church that is sailing on the same exact dates that has a roll call. Turns out it's on Sunrise from Miami.

I have nothing against religion, I just really don't want to end up on a themed cruise by accident. I always check that website that lists all of them for the year before I book because I just am not a theme cruise kind of person. Also it makes more sense that it's out of Miami because I would imagine most people would rather go on warm weather cruise than Alaska.

 

Joined the roll call group so we'll how many millions of notifications a day I get from that. I'm just trying to see if I missed Faster to the Fun or not and there's no roll call on here which is a bummer. I guess I could start one.

I once landed on one of those,  the only thing I really noticed was the Karaoke bar was jammed and every person up were such good singers. Amateurs did not want to go to the Mike. 

15 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

It is, and it's too short... Today is the last day 😢

 

DH is having a tremendous help with fresh pasta 😎 I think the video is visible in other modes. May be our kind movies in charge, John @Ozark_Kid will help? Thanks

 

 

They are as cute as ever. 
 

I’m sorry you are having to see them go but hopefully it won’t be long before your next visit with them. 
 

Always thinking of you. 

22 hours ago, Luckynana said:

What a great looking bunch going off to create memories of a lifetime. 

@KmomChicago I cannot to begin to imagine how you feel. You have been through the wringer and some, I can imagine and for that I’m sorry. Not sorry you and the graduate are going on a cruise to what I know will be like a great breath of fresh air for both of you.

Wishing you all the best.

@Funsince1983  Ranger is beautiful.  How is the patient?

4 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Gov’t work is a whole other world.  Good for you!  Dealt with DOD contracts.  Y’all have your own challenges.

 

I have friends and neighbors who work(ed) locally for P&G and GE….both major employers in my area.  They’re all stressed, all the time!!!!

 

Any companies who didn’t make retirement accounts untouchable should have their exec staff and major investors made responsible for shortfalls.

 

My company (AMD) was close to bankruptcy because Intel could outspend us in bringing the latest and greatest chips to market quicker than we could.  So, we were always on the fringes until the last few years.  

 

Some years they wanted an accounting of every paper clip we used.  Went without raises some years.  They made up for it once the company’s fortunes turned.

 

But, there were other years when we were barely scraping by as a company that I wondered if every HR email that hit my desk was a RIF notice!

In the high tech hat days we got some kind extra pay every month to keep us. I and many others were getting offers with huge sign on bonuses. I held in with the safe route through those times. Did get out at 50 to return as consultant though. 

On 5/2/2024 at 2:15 PM, Hogladyrider said:

Precious.....a family I follow on You Tube that lives in Sulphur got a GSP puppy.  OMG talk about energy.  They are sending her to "doggy camp" for training as word is if they are not trained they can be a problem child due to their energy.  You seem to have everything under control....WONDER WOMAN!

Exactly, my pup is older and she sure doesn’t lay down like that and has been through training.   

On 5/2/2024 at 9:01 AM, graphicguy said:

I had indeed heard of Chips and Technologies.  You guys were a fabless graphics chip company, right?  At the time, I was working for Xerox (job I had coming straight out of college).  I commuted to their Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), obviously in Palo Alto.  

They were working on the graphics chip which would eventually be used for the MacOS (a whole other story). Knew a lot of the tech companies out in the Valley back then.  Brings back some memories.

 

I was recruited pretty heavily by some of them.  Back then it was a "big deal" to work for Xerox.  Today, they are just a sad shell of what they used to be.  Story has been told over and over.  See Kodak, Wang, Data General, Control Data...all either out of business or an anemic form of what they once were.  They stubbornly held on to the past without moving forward.

 

I was recruited pretty heavily back then.  Ended up going the "start up" route in the early '90s (a small Milpitas firm, also in the GPU space when only big room filled computers ruled the day and we were doing the same thing with our chips).  Right place, right time!  We went public during the boom.  Then, the bust hit.  We still had long term contracts with the likes of HP, DEC (long gone), Gateway (gone), Compaq (long gone), etc.  But, as those customers began falling, we had to reinvent ourselves and became a complete GPU (integrated CPU and Graphics chip on a PCB).  

 

My company bounced around from one owner to the next.  At one time, we were actually bought by the tractor company, Kubota (whose U.S. HQ was in San Jose at the time), because they wanted into the computer business.  Talk about mismanaged and a company who had no idea about how to run a tech business....LOL! It was interesting, if not entertaining.

 

Anyway, Kubota realized they didn't know what they were doing and divested our division (High Performance Computing Division).  We ended up being bought by a large computer graphics company based out of Mississauga, Ontario (Advanced Technology Inc).  Then, about 10 years ago, we were bought by the "other" big chip manufacturer, and were based in Fremont.  I retired from them right after COVID.  Seemed like the right time for me.

 

As I look back, I can't tell you how many firings and RIFs I went through, even at some stops, I wondered whether my paycheck would clear.  But, somehow they viewed many of us a bridge between the original company and the new companies we were bought by.  So, we rode the wave and held on...sometimes way past the time others thought were prudent.  I doubted my own career path many of those times.  Silicon Valley and the world of funding by Venture Capitalists is not for the faint of heart.

 

As luck would have it, eventually I was again, at the right place at the right time, as I still had founders stock in the original start up that was bounced around. That stock converted every step I took.

 

I was more lucky than good.

 

LOL!  Just laid out my resume for you guys.  

Do you have any hair left? 😀

I live and work in what was Canada’s San Jose but I took the safe route and stayed with federal government.  I work with many ex Nortel employees who pretty much lost their retirement and had to start over in their 40’s and 50’s. A 75 year old company gone. Who would have thought huh! 🤔 

Yaye!  Didn’t expect this so soon and glad to have found it  page one.

3 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Back on the storm clock for the next 55ish hours. 

That looks awful. Stay safe.

Looking forward to following. 
 

Sorry to read about OWD.  Very tough. Rodri looks quite at home in the Airstream. 

6 hours ago, deedle910 said:

He and I have no connection on social media but I don’t block people. It amuses me that he still looks and tries to text. 
 

so far I have dated: a Scotsman (nothing under the kilt worth mentioning), a flight attendant inspector (nope, couldn’t get past the midwest accent) and a porn addict (did not live up to expectations). 

Oh Deedle you were missed, glad to see you here. 

3 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

So thought I would share with my TRIBE family.

 

My sister in law who was kind enough to accompany my mom to California.

Mom and her sister who is younger than my mom.  It was a surprise to my Aunt she did not know my mom was coming.

My aunt was able to leave the assisted living facility and my mom opened the house door to surprise her!  Look at the smiles on those faces.

Oh thanks for sharing. That must have been such a special moment for them. 
 

Your mom looks so great. 

15 minutes ago, Jetdriver787 said:

PS. The “stress free” day was spent being dragged around 1,245 “outlet stores” by my wife. I was tempted to throw my credit cards on the floor, knowing that whoever found them was unlikely to ever spend as much as she was on them! I’m now thinking of walking there to meet him! 🤦🏻‍♂️

But you still love her😀. Kudos to you, my husband would not join me to an outlet mall and that is fine by me as it saves us both a whole lot of stress. 

14 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

Thank you ALL for the well wishes.

 

I'm thoroughly moved by some many of you who posted.

 

The happy reunion. From 5C to 34C in one day....

 

 

 

DS2 & Co. are based at our in-laws (the parents of our DIL). We'll get the grands for a couple of days and nights.

 

They're here until Saturday, 4th of May.

 

DH didn't cook much, apart from chopped liver, since until the last moment we didn't know what the "situation" will be and if they'll make it here.

 

He'll start tomorrow on the chicken soup and, more important, on the "gefilte fish". There will be also a new "edition" of chopped liver for the second "seder" on Sunday night. 

Dani, I am so happy that your family made it and you all together. I am sure you are all grinning ear to ear being together.  
 

Have a great time! 

@ceilidh1  I was trying to think of tips for Royal but came up blank initially but I thought of a few:

Royal doesn’t have limit of number of drinks per day on the package, I believe  it also includes bottled water, not sure about specialty coffee. At one time you could get milkshakes at Johnny Rockets but that may have changed.

  My time dining they want you to book same time each night so it’s really not “my time” to what I would want.  The Solarium bistro is a good choice for lunch if you are there   Park cafe has great made to order salads. Promenade Cafe has good late time snacks in addition to crappy pizza at Sorrentos but other than those two that’s all you will get for food in the wee hours outside of room service with a cover. Johnny Rockets serves free cooked to order breakfast. Lunch and dinner have a cover at Johnny’s.  I have only been to chops for specialty but never found I loved it. I find it to be slow and leisurely which allot of people enjoy that but I am a dash and dine type and I get stir crazy if I’m sitting too long in one place. Buffet suits me fine most times, once you find a seat that is, but I don’t dislike the MDR.  Royal ships are usually very well kept and very clean in my experience and I’ve been on many. 
 

I think your kiddos will like the ship and all it has to offer. After the sticker shock I think you will enjoy it too. Late night tends to quiet down early but don’t quote me on that because that’s when I’m in the casino until wee hours usually. 

6 hours ago, AmyJA said:

OK, now I'm singing Elton John.

 

Harmony of the Seas we’re pretty good company, looking for an island in our boat upon the sea....

 

I sang this all the time when I was on her. And before. And after. And now.

 

I was on the inaugural year 2016. I am old and don’t remember a lot of specifics as it was a bit ago. My cheat sheets/trip notes are from then so info might be old.

 

Ready for a novel?

I was on the inaugural too. I loved the decor and it has been my favourite ship so far.

1 minute ago, Saint Greg said:

I’m assuming distracted. She told me “I think I had a seizure or something.” But I don’t think that’s true. I heard her telling the police she looked and I wasn’t there. Which is baloney because I was sitting there as she was coming down the street. Either way she was in my lane. I’m just sitting at the stop sign.

Here if she said she had a seizure to the cops her license would be suspended for at least 6 weeks or until medically cleared but no less then 6 weeks. 

35 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

I’m just sitting at a stop sign waiting for this car to pass or turn…and boy was I surprised when she turned right into me.

 

Oh not the Camaro??

Excellent review that I am very much enjoying. 
 

I think you should write a guide book for Disney you sure covered allot of things I didn’t even know about and I’ve been several times.  What a great idea with the progressive dining. 
 

Thanks, wishing you smooth sailing across the Atlantic.

Enjoyed your first day. WOW, allot of steps were put in. Good on ya considering your injury. 
 

Many years ago we took a tour of the Queen Mary and it was near but it’s very old and apparently haunted like you said. I think the Hyatt Regency was a better choice. 
 

Nice to meet Karl. Does Kendra and family not cruise anymore?  It was always fun reading about how late they made you and how different they were compared to you but it always worked out😀. I often think of the time Kendra’s husband getting drugged at the bar (forget which Island) and you guys very likely getting back just in time to goodness knows what he would have encountered. 
 

Looking forward to more. 

Looking forward to reading about it. Thanks