(posted by ange)
I’m sure you have all been checking constantly to find out what happened when Dave and I went to sit through a time share spiel last week. Did our plan to get kicked out early and just take our gifts work? Or are we the proud new owners of a time share? And what about those parting gifts? Did we get everything they said we’d get? What was the catch?
Let me first apologize for keeping you all on pins and needles. I’d have reported sooner, but I’ve been busy. Busy planning my cruise! Ha!
Okay, we sat through the entire presentation and then some. We somehow forgot our “get kicked out” tactic and fell right into the criteria for “perfect match for time share purchase”. We did a lot of nodding and agreeing and generally became very enthusiastic at the thought of buying into something that would enable us to stay in luxurious accommodations practically anywhere in the world. Our faces read “Yes! Sign us up!” In all honesty, and without going into the details (you’ll have to sit through a presentation yourself) it was actually a pretty good deal and made a lot of sense for us, given our desire and plans for travel. In fact, we gave it quite a bit of consideration (or as much consideration as can be given while outside having a cigarette with the salesperson waiting inside for an answer!) However, given my ugly financial status and debt load, it just didn’t seem the right thing to do at this time (oh how responsible I was being!). I mean, I’m trying to get rid of debt and payments, not take on more. Sure, Dave might be in a position for a purchase like this, and I was very tempted to say “what the hell, I’m not getting out of debt anytime soon”, but ultimately, sanity reined us in and we said “No deal”.
The bottom line: I now know how these time shares work and it may well be something we will consider in the future. We got popcorn while we watched the presentation video. Who doesn’t love popcorn while watching a movie? And we walked out with our camera, $75 Visa card, and 2 for 1 Carnival Cruise. Okay, the camera is a piece of crap, not even worth selling and will be given to my 3 year old nephew Markus to play with (I think Dave hopes to inspire a photographer in him). But you can’t balk at the Visa card and the cruise. We’re thinking the 12 day to Hawaii. Aaaahhhh. We don’t have to buy a time share to go on a fabulous vacation; we just have to listen to the presentation.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Working Girl
(posted by ange)
Don’t tell my insurance company, but I have suddenly become a working woman. One day I was typing once a week for a surgeon, and the next thing I know, I’m working part time in a law office. Thanks to my dear friend Michelle, I have been hooked up with the perfect part time, flexible to my needs, my insurance company is none the wiser job. Michelle called me shortly after we returned from Portugal to ask if I would be interested in a temporary job doing filing for a couple of lawyers that she works for on contract. She thought it would be a couple of hours a day for a couple of weeks just getting everything caught up. Although I probably wasn’t in the greatest shape to be doing work, my need for money overruled and I said with as much enthusiasm as I could, YES!
She gave them my number and they called to arrange a meeting. As I would, I assumed this would be an interview and prepared as such. I painstakingly reviewed my wardrobe and tried on numerous outfits, looking for both “interview suitable” and “able to do up/ get on/somewhat fit”. I updated and printed my resume. I mentally practiced all variations of law office interview questions and appropriate answers. I prepared my explanation of why I was off work and required cash payment. I went to bed early and arrived to the interview early. As I walked into the office, I was ready. Too bad it wasn’t an interview. Nope. It was a “here’s where this is, here’s where that is, here’s what needs to be done, can you do it?” I was somewhat startled, actually asking “Don’t you even want to see my resume?” Apparently not. (Although they did call later to say they would take a copy to have on record.) So after about 10 minutes, I was told I could get started. Again, startled, I said I thought I was there for an interview and that I wasn’t actually there to work. No problem. When did I want to start? I would start the next day.
What started out as getting them caught up with the filing quickly turned into answering the phone, taking dictation, typing letters, and other basic tasks that wouldn’t mean anything if you didn’t work in a law office. 6 weeks later, I’m still there, about 3 days a week, a few hours each day and it seems that I’m not going anywhere (the lawyer has been referring to me as his secretary since about the 3rd week, so…).
So here I am a working girl. I go to bed early on work nights. I set an alarm and grudgingly get up after hitting snooze for 45 minutes. I dress in “nice” clothes (i.e. not sweatpants). I get sore feet because the shoes that go with my outfit are not made for walking to work. I stop at Starbuck’s for my tea en route. I work. I come home and call out to Dave, who is usually still in sweatpants “Hi honey! I’m home!” And best of all, I get a pay cheque every couple weeks! On top of all this, I’m realizing that my brain does function, I am remembering things I thought were completely gone from my memory and I’m gaining a sense of confidence that has been lost for some time.
Michelle, if you read this, thank you. You probably don’t realize how much this is helping me. :)
Don’t tell my insurance company, but I have suddenly become a working woman. One day I was typing once a week for a surgeon, and the next thing I know, I’m working part time in a law office. Thanks to my dear friend Michelle, I have been hooked up with the perfect part time, flexible to my needs, my insurance company is none the wiser job. Michelle called me shortly after we returned from Portugal to ask if I would be interested in a temporary job doing filing for a couple of lawyers that she works for on contract. She thought it would be a couple of hours a day for a couple of weeks just getting everything caught up. Although I probably wasn’t in the greatest shape to be doing work, my need for money overruled and I said with as much enthusiasm as I could, YES!
She gave them my number and they called to arrange a meeting. As I would, I assumed this would be an interview and prepared as such. I painstakingly reviewed my wardrobe and tried on numerous outfits, looking for both “interview suitable” and “able to do up/ get on/somewhat fit”. I updated and printed my resume. I mentally practiced all variations of law office interview questions and appropriate answers. I prepared my explanation of why I was off work and required cash payment. I went to bed early and arrived to the interview early. As I walked into the office, I was ready. Too bad it wasn’t an interview. Nope. It was a “here’s where this is, here’s where that is, here’s what needs to be done, can you do it?” I was somewhat startled, actually asking “Don’t you even want to see my resume?” Apparently not. (Although they did call later to say they would take a copy to have on record.) So after about 10 minutes, I was told I could get started. Again, startled, I said I thought I was there for an interview and that I wasn’t actually there to work. No problem. When did I want to start? I would start the next day.
What started out as getting them caught up with the filing quickly turned into answering the phone, taking dictation, typing letters, and other basic tasks that wouldn’t mean anything if you didn’t work in a law office. 6 weeks later, I’m still there, about 3 days a week, a few hours each day and it seems that I’m not going anywhere (the lawyer has been referring to me as his secretary since about the 3rd week, so…).
So here I am a working girl. I go to bed early on work nights. I set an alarm and grudgingly get up after hitting snooze for 45 minutes. I dress in “nice” clothes (i.e. not sweatpants). I get sore feet because the shoes that go with my outfit are not made for walking to work. I stop at Starbuck’s for my tea en route. I work. I come home and call out to Dave, who is usually still in sweatpants “Hi honey! I’m home!” And best of all, I get a pay cheque every couple weeks! On top of all this, I’m realizing that my brain does function, I am remembering things I thought were completely gone from my memory and I’m gaining a sense of confidence that has been lost for some time.
Michelle, if you read this, thank you. You probably don’t realize how much this is helping me. :)
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Cheap Date
(posted by ange)
Well, we’re not sure where they got our name, but we’ve been invited to another time share spiel in lieu of a $75 gift certificate for dinner at a restaurant of our choice, a digital camera and a 2 for 1 Carnival cruise. The first call came Monday, when they offered the camera and a $50 dinner certificate. As Dave spoke to the woman on the phone I was nodding furiously – “sign us up” – I mean, what the hell, I’ll give 90 minutes for a free camera and dinner out. Actually, I’d do it just for a dinner out. Dave told the woman we would love to come but could she call back the following day to set the appointment. Call back she did and now the dinner was $75. All right! So Dave booked the appointment and was transferred to someone else regarding the details, at which time he was told we would also get a 2 for 1 Carnival cruise. Sweet! So we were supposed to go today, but after a late poker night and with the rain and all, just didn’t feel like going anywhere. When Dave called to cancel I figured they’d say “whatever, forget it”, but nope, we’re on for next week.
Okay…so we can't stop laughing our asses off about this because all we can think of is our time share spiel experience in Whistler in December (if you can’t remember, we were asked to leave 20 minutes into the 90 minute presentation and given an extra $150 on top of the 2 night hotel accommodations we already had). Our plan: go with what we know and focus on our love of camping in the great outdoors, taking road trips, and Dave’s frequent free travels to classy resorts, all paid for. We’ll be sure to mention we are saving furiously for a U.S. road trip this fall, during which we plan to camp and stay at Motel 6’s. This tactic seemed to work well in Whistler and with any luck, they’ll decide to save their breath and set us free early. And if not, well, like I said, I’m a cheap date and I’ll give 90 minutes for that dinner alone!
I’ll let you all know what happens next week and where we plan to take our cruise!!! Oh, and if you're interested in buying a brand new digital camera, never used.... :)
Well, we’re not sure where they got our name, but we’ve been invited to another time share spiel in lieu of a $75 gift certificate for dinner at a restaurant of our choice, a digital camera and a 2 for 1 Carnival cruise. The first call came Monday, when they offered the camera and a $50 dinner certificate. As Dave spoke to the woman on the phone I was nodding furiously – “sign us up” – I mean, what the hell, I’ll give 90 minutes for a free camera and dinner out. Actually, I’d do it just for a dinner out. Dave told the woman we would love to come but could she call back the following day to set the appointment. Call back she did and now the dinner was $75. All right! So Dave booked the appointment and was transferred to someone else regarding the details, at which time he was told we would also get a 2 for 1 Carnival cruise. Sweet! So we were supposed to go today, but after a late poker night and with the rain and all, just didn’t feel like going anywhere. When Dave called to cancel I figured they’d say “whatever, forget it”, but nope, we’re on for next week.
Okay…so we can't stop laughing our asses off about this because all we can think of is our time share spiel experience in Whistler in December (if you can’t remember, we were asked to leave 20 minutes into the 90 minute presentation and given an extra $150 on top of the 2 night hotel accommodations we already had). Our plan: go with what we know and focus on our love of camping in the great outdoors, taking road trips, and Dave’s frequent free travels to classy resorts, all paid for. We’ll be sure to mention we are saving furiously for a U.S. road trip this fall, during which we plan to camp and stay at Motel 6’s. This tactic seemed to work well in Whistler and with any luck, they’ll decide to save their breath and set us free early. And if not, well, like I said, I’m a cheap date and I’ll give 90 minutes for that dinner alone!
I’ll let you all know what happens next week and where we plan to take our cruise!!! Oh, and if you're interested in buying a brand new digital camera, never used.... :)
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