Inconvenient Annoyances

At least that's one down, Wren.

At least that's one down, Wren.

Yep, the two on the other side have never bothered me even a little, and the other one on that side was removed long ago.  Hopefully they'll hold out.  Waiting til second trimester to get some cavities filled...

Just scrolled through the wedding gift list for my cousin's oldest.  Holy cow!  I could have sent them a towel from Macy's maybe (but that was ticked off).  I've got a 40th anniversary coming up -- think I'll start a new tradition of gift list for anniversaries  

[In the end we decided to give them one of DS's photos of the beach/ocean at their summer place.  DS will print it and we'll pay for a suitable frame]

While I like the idea of gift registry for the sake of not wasting money on something they don't want or already got six of, it amazes me what some people ask for and how much some of them cost. Over the years I have become a big fan of the gift card, with a note telling them to use it for something they wanted but didn't get.

While I like the idea of gift registry for the sake of not wasting money on something they don't want or already got six of, it amazes me what some people ask for and how much some of them cost. Over the years I have become a big fan of the gift card, with a note telling them to use it for something they wanted but didn't get.

^^^I always prefer to get the giftcards, myself.  Have added some expensive things to my Amazon wish list for the new baby, and gift cards will help me get them

IA 1. People at work asking me to bring them back something 'anything' from the UK. IF I bring back a souvenir for every one of them, I won't have room for souvenirs for my family, or even my clothes.

IA 2. The next person who asks if they can hop in my suitcase is going to get smacked. Those who ask for the 100th time 'You're still planning to put me in your suitcase, right?" are going to be flattened by a mean right hook I don't even know I have, but will discover as I am whapping them one.

There seems to be a bit of 'happy for you jealousy' going on with a lot of co-workers because we can afford this trip and they can't. Of course, they all seem to want to work as little as possible, all spend $10 - 20 a week in the vending machine, stop for coffee on the way to work instead of making it at home or getting it free at work, insist on more expensive trainers than their paycheck really allows, and talk about this and that which all takes money they don't have. Of course, they'd have more money if they weren't trying to run out the door as early as possible every day. Some of them barely clear 20 hours a week, because they want out so quickly.

I'm not saying we don't waste money either, but we put in enough hours that we can save AND have fun along the way.

insist on more expensive trainers than their paycheck really allows

Maybe they need decent sneakers because of foot problems?

None of them have ever mentioned foot problems, although they do seem to enjoy talking about any other physical issue they might have. They mostly sit around and brag about how much the shoes cost, then complain about things they can't afford. One of them has 5 kids, and all 5 get name brand shoes, including the 1 year old that just got a pair of $60 (on sale) shoes. Seems a bit silly for as fast as kids outgrow shoes at that age, and how much the mother gives up and worries about money to buy them.

Maybe I am viewing this all wrong, but they choose to work as few hours as they can, but spend the money so fast they are broke the day after payday, and some still have bills to pay although they have spent it all on other things.

Maybe I am viewing this all wrong,

No, I don't think you are!

Back when I lived in the US I had a friend in her 20s who saved up to travel for a while.  She felt badly that a friend of hers seemed jealous and said that travel was only for rich people.  But he was choosing to spend his money in bars drinking.  It's all about what your priorities are, you can't have everything, so you have to choose what's important and put money towards that.  And working as little as possible isn't going to do it either.

I used to get it both ways: from both Brits and Americans.  When we planned a trip back to the US to visit my parents, people here would be all "Oh how wonderful, you must be going to Disney, New York, Vegas blah blah".  Um, no.  We're going to stay with my parents in a fairly boring New England town.  Then when we got over there, we'd get "Oh how wonderful, you must get to travel all over Europe and visit all the countries ... etc."  Well no.  We only went on holiday with the kids 3 times to the Continent (and very rarely had UK holidays) -- because we had to save up money for the trips to the States!!

I do agree it is all about priorities. We don't make enough to be considered rich by any means, but we prioritize.

Everyone assumes we are going to spend the whole trip in London. Nope. Only five nights. Silly of us, since London is the only place in England. We used to get it about the States too, when we lived in the UK. People just couldn't believe we'd waste a trip to the States on boring old Indiana when we could go to NYC, LA, Vegas or Disney. A lot of them wanted to know why I didn't have my family meet up with us in one of those better places. It isn't like everyone can drop everything for two weeks elsewhere, and by visiting family it saves a bundle in hotel costs.

A lot of them wanted to know why I didn't have my family meet up with us in one of those better places. It isn't like everyone can drop everything for two weeks elsewhere, and by visiting family it saves a bundle in hotel costs.

What a good idea, if only on paper--have everyone meet you in Disney World, Hawaii, or Las Vegas!

Don't think I've seen anything about bath tubs in this forum.  Am I the only person who heartily dislikes the typical high-sided bath?  Everyone else in my family loves to sit and soak up to their chins, but I was brought up in a frugal household where you didn't run more than a couple inches of water and you certainly didn't do more than have a scrub and get out again.  Showers are great for me but sometimes (in a hotel for example) the shower is in the bath.  Being only just over 5 foot I have difficulty climbing in and out 

Don't think I've seen anything about bath tubs in this forum.  Am I the only person who heartily dislikes the typical high-sided bath?  Everyone else in my family loves to sit and soak up to their chins, but I was brought up in a frugal household where you didn't run more than a couple inches of water and you certainly didn't do more than have a scrub and get out again.  Showers are great for me but sometimes (in a hotel for example) the shower is in the bath.  Being only just over 5 foot I have difficulty climbing in and out 

Oh BD, when I was pregnant, I swear it would have been easier to get a hippo in and out of our tub!  I'm just grateful that I didn't slip and fall.

Don't think I've seen anything about bath tubs in this forum.  Am I the only person who heartily dislikes the typical high-sided bath? 

I can't say I have noticed anything different about the baths here to the baths back in the US.  But I do love a long soak, and usually have to set an alarm in case I fall asleep in the bath, which is more often than not!