Posted on 11/23/2008 5:19:01 PM PST by narses
Please share the best deals you find as well as your observations about consumer behavior, your own and others. This is an early indicator of how the year will end and I am fascinated by the phenomena.
We have been on four cruises on Royal Carribbean and loved it. Although we never specifically looked for wheelchair accessibility, my recollection is that several banks of elevators serve every deck and the gangway would be easy to traverse. Remember, many passengers are senior citizens so the ship has to be easy to get around.
If he's not I will gladly send him some old blankets and my leftover breadcrusts. ;^)
How is it getting off the ship and experiencing the local environment?
I’m making an educated guess in thinking that most Carribean towns are less than wheelchair friendly.
And to be fair, I’m a real PITA when it comes to wheelchair access and all that. It comes from years of experience. ;^)
Oh (red faced)
That's a cheap gift - you might want to throw in a box of candy...
Wow! Nine siblings is a lot. I only have one, a brother, and he lives in Germany and doesn’t celebrate Christmas, though he is a Christian...long story...
My husband has five sisters and we quit exchanging gifts long ago. It got to be too much. The kids draw names so it’s one gift each from the larger family.
The grandparents on each side give our son $50.00 so he’s more than spoiled. Plus, he just had a birthday. I’m ready to rename his room, ‘Legoland.’
Lucky you, your husband not wanting anything. My husband’s not a shopper by any means, but he does like new clothes or new tools for his shop. I leave the tool thing to my dad. LOL
I’ll probably go out, but I have tried to do the majority of my shopping already. It is a great day for people watching, though!
I always go Black Friday shopping with both of my sisters. I think it helps staying in a group keeps the crazies away. I don’t shop for other people though all of the nieces and nephews are too old for toys so we just give the gift no one ever returns, money. :) I will go to Joann’s because I still have a $25 giftcard from last Christmas that I forgot I had and with the notions wall 50% I can stock up on needles and other things I always need. Then we will hit a local dept store for their linens. I can get very plush bath towels usually $4 each or less. We’ve been married long enough that some each year need retired and replaced. Probably hit Walmart too. They’ve got some really good prices. Since they open first might be the first place?
Well, my two kids are pretty set for all the basics, phone, TV, ipod, laptops, and lots of clothes. Yep, I spoiled them. Growing up in a family with 5 sisters and a brother, I overdid it with my own. They are good kids though, smart, hardworking and they stay out of trouble.
We depend on the tourist industry for income and times are lean this year. So, we will have a small Christmas this year. Little things, family time and good food. That 72 inch plasma will just have to wait.
TNoldman - sounds like you guys do well both ways. Got the family thing going and the couple relaxing thing going too.
netilsmom - My kids don’t even know their paternal grandparents. My MIL died in 2004. She hadn’t seen my kids in over 3 yrs before she died, and maybe once a year at that. And she was only63 when she died. My FIL hasn’t seen all my kids since 2001. He came for a visit when half weren’t here over 2 1/2 years ago. One of those last minute visits where he called the night he got into town and threw my husband through a loop because I wasn’t home that weekend and couldn’t be a buffer. I figure it’s their loss since they don’t know (or didn’t know their granddaughters). Then again, my in laws weren’t really involved parents to their own kids.
My parents were close with all their kids and grandkids, especially my kids since they were involved in their daily lives. My kids benefitted from having them in their lives and have many memories.
On Grandparents Day at their school (the two youngest), my oldest brother and his girlfriend attend. Their paternal grandparents have never attended. Their loss.
I just hope and pray I can be the kind of parent I had and the kind of grandparent my girls had.
Hey, as a Vegan I encourage you to come and have a good time. Christmas is a great time because things are kind of slower and quieter. Fewer crowds and prices are usually lower, as long as you leave before New Year’s Day. Plus, the weather has been great!
I am afraid I don’t really recall whether or not there were 4” curbs on the streets with no ramps cut in for access.
Anywhere near where the ship docks is a tourist destination and is not likely to be very authentic. But I did drink the biggest margarita I’ve ever seen in Cozumel.
I really don’t know what you are looking for in a vacation. I have been to both Vegas and cruising. I found cruising to be a more well rounded vacation than Vegas. I found that Vegas existed for the sole purpose of parting you from your hard earned money with little pretense.
It may be alot easier to find some sort of new temporary companionship in Vegas. Heck, I was just sitting minding my own drinking beer listing to some band try to cover Buffet at the Hooters Casino when....well, I am married and had to say no but I hope she finally met someone...
I was going to get the Giant Eagle gift cards to do Christmas shopping so I could get the fuel perks. For example, pick up a 50 dollar Toysrus, bestbuy, Old Navy, etc card before you go to the store to buy presents.
Get 20 cents off per gallon on your next fill up.
I always liked receiving money as a gift. I remember a few friends, not from this area, appalled that people gave money/cash, as wedding presents. We even had a “money bag”
My kids like gettting money/cash as gifts. Gift Cards are good too, to stores they like, but Cash can be used anywhere.
LOL I guess gift cards seem more elegant or classy. I think cash is classy ;)
I lived with my grandmother growing up, seven of us, father killed in a car accident, mother too freaked out to stay. We never had a lot, but every Christmas, my Nan-na would go into hock to give us a huge day. The sun room off the living room held the tree and on Christmas morning it was filled to the brim with presents.
Of course, I never knew until I was older that she put everything on a credit card and then spent the whole next year paying it off. Every year I think of her and have tried to do the same for mine. But, this year the oldest is taking an MCAT prep course at UCLA for $1,600 and my daughter is a senior so we were out for her ring, senior stuff and homecoming etc...
This year I have to stick to it, my poor husband is stressed enough. So, my Christmas to him will be a smaller bill come January.
In the meantime, I have been surfing the net for bargains.
Thanks. Our children live in Indiana and Michigan and we visit each area 6 weeks each year.
We have attended most of the Grandparents time at schools. My wife will go up sometimes for a week or so in between our vists.
Also soon of the family comes down to visit in Tn during the summer.
Well....may I suggest Red Rock Canyon! Cruise out there. It is beautiful about half hour from Vegas.
I'm buying more brass and bullets for the above. The factory stuff is getting harder to find and much more expensive.
Do you have the link for the Uggs. I was thinking of getting those for my daughter......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.