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RE: Wisconsin Fall Rally October 9th - 11th 2009
Another nice weekend to camp!
I should have never winterized our TT. :M
That's the ONLY reason it's nice out! :S
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Mrs. Mik
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11/20/09 11:34am |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Video, model falls and news anchor laughs.
That was HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel bad for the model, but still, that was gut-busting funny!!!!!
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Mrs. Mik
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11/20/09 11:33am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Debt Collection Calls
Just say you are tired and want to pay the bill ,ask were to send the checks. Get their information and turn it over to the feds. Then you will be done with it.
That was my first thought, and it may work. However, if they start asking for personal information on the deadbeat, you won't have it, and they may not tell you anything.
When we moved up here to the middle of nowhere, we were given a number of a deadbeat and were receiving phone calls from collection agencies. When I told them that they had the wrong number and that this was a new number for us, they started asking personal questions of ME! The guy wanted to know MY full name, address, social security number AND my mother's maiden name! I was flabbergasted! I told the guy that seeing as I was NOT the deadbeat they were looking for, that information was NONE OF HIS BUSINESS! WTH? I couldn't believe they even asked for that information!
After about six months of my telling them I'm NOT the deadbeat they're looking for, they finally gave up and we didn't get any more calls.
Julie
PS, the calls that I REALLY enjoyed were the robots that called and then had the NERVE to say that I should HOLD for one of their representatives and then put me on hold for ten minutes or more! I DON'T THINK SO!
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Mrs. Mik
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11/19/09 08:36pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Head first luge...
HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Mrs. Mik
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11/16/09 09:31pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Leonid meteor show tonight, early Tuesday a.m.
We have a skylight in our master bathroom here at home. It's pretty cool to be sitting "there" and watching the showers up above! LOLOLOLOL (Yea, I know, TMI!) :B :B :B
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Mrs. Mik
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11/16/09 08:07pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Grocery Store Savings -- your personal best?
Our local store doesn't do "double" coupons -- in fact, I've never found a store near me that does. For a while, our store didn't accept "internet" coupons, because of some issues with fraud, but they accept them now! I don't get the newspaper, so can't clip coupons there.
I didn't mention that I also got 54 cents per gallon off, based on some of my purchases, and that's good for up to 15 gallons. Last time I filled up, I had something like $1.25 off a gallon, up to 15 gallons! I didn't buy anything just because of the gas savings, so that was a bonus!
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/16/09 05:54pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: what is it?
I'd say walking stick, too!
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Mrs. Mik
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11/15/09 09:04pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Leave the fridge on or turn it off?
I don't see any reason to waste the electricity or propane to keep the fridge running from mid-October to mid-April when we're winterized and not using the 5er. Empty it, clean it, and leave it open for those months. That's what we do.
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/15/09 08:35pm |
General RVing Issues
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Grocery Store Savings -- your personal best?
I went food shopping today. Decided that I needed to re-stock the pantry, because I'm tired of hitting the grocery store every other day to get the "staples" I need to make dinner.
I went on-line to a couple places to print out some coupons, and ended up with $8.20 in "regular" coupons. By scanning the sale items, and planning my shopping around those, I ended up with another $84.66 in savings with my "frequent shopper" card!
That's a total of $92.86 in savings today! Course, I still spent $339.10, but it would have been a heck of a lot more if I hadn't used coupons and my store card!
I'm not sure that's my "personal best", but I'm curious to know how you do with coupons and store cards?
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/15/09 08:22pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Christmas Gift Question -- help!
Thanks everyone! I talked to mom last night and we're going to look at some paint samples today! It wasn't easy to convince her, but I think I made her understand that I want to make the room more "homey" for her, rather than just have it be my spare bedroom. We're also going to take a bed and dresser from her house (spares) and put them in there, and make some other changes. Probably nothing will happen until after the first of the year, but it's a good start!
We're a little limited in paint choices, because the carpeting in there is pink, and we don't have the money right now to replace it. I told mom, she's more than welcome to pay for new carpeting if she wants it (LOL!)
At least if I have an idea of paint colors that she likes, I can coordinate bedding to go with it.
We already have a oil-filled space heater in there for her, so that's covered. I really like the bag idea! I'll have to get some fabric and make one of those for her!
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/14/09 07:19am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: School bus vs. HUMUNGOUS deer! OMG!
LOL, Mark!
Deb -- right now we're in the heat of the rut (no pun intended!) LOL So yes, they're running without thinking, making this the most dangerous time of year for them AND us. Bow season has been open for a while, but gun season doesn't start until around Thanksgiving.
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Mrs. Mik
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11/12/09 01:02pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Interesting phone call this morning
Sounds like the kind of crook you read about in Reader's Digest's column "America's Dumbest Criminals!" LOL Most folks would have just thrown the stuff away and the guy would have continued to try to scam other folks. Glad you followed through on it!
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/12/09 09:49am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Christmas Gift Question -- help!
Sandi & Candice, thanks! I'm glad you think I'm on the right track here.
Candice, we'll be sure to keep you in our prayers this holiday season. I can only imagine how difficult it's going to be for you.
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/12/09 08:34am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: School bus vs. HUMUNGOUS deer! OMG!
Thanks for the explaination. It amkes a lot of sence.
You're welcome!
Believe it or not, but I asked my new employer the very same question during my training.
It's too bad that that information is not circulated in some way to the general public.
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Mrs. Mik
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11/11/09 09:45pm |
Around the Campfire
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Christmas Gift Question -- help!
Most of you know that my father passed away at the end of May. Since then, my mother has spent a LOT of time with us at our house. She lives about 40 miles away, but will spend three or four days with us about every five days. We have a spare bedroom that she's using, but right now, it's not quite "homey" for her, as it's a "spare" bedroom.
We have two trundles in there, from our old daybeds, and that's what she and my dad used to sleep on when they'd visit and whatever sheets and blankets we had available, but nothing special, and I want mom to be comfortable here. Currently, mom is on one trundle, and her dog is on the other. She's using sheets and blankets that we have available.
This Christmas is going to be difficult, to say the least. I know she doesn't want anything, except for the holidays to be over. However, we're going to be spending Christmas with my brother and his wife, and want to share some "small" gifts with each other, and we're not sure what to get for our mother.
Mom has finally started leaving some stuff here at our house so that she doesn't have to think about bringing it every time, so she's getting used to spending time here. I want her to be as comfortable as possible, and feel "at home" as much as she can.
I was thinking that it might be nice to get a set of bedding for her for her bed here at our house. A nice, thick comforter (we keep the heat a little lower than what she's used to) and some cozy sheets.
She doesn't want anything for Christmas, and doesn't really need anything, so I was trying to think of something she could use and enjoy, but wouldn't buy for herself.
Mom is very practical, so the "practicality" of the gift is not a big deal.
What do you think? Any other thoughts on what we could get for mom?
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/11/09 09:42pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: School bus vs. HUMUNGOUS deer! OMG!
Is it true Mrs. Mik, that they don't have seat belts on school busses because they don't want kids hitting each other with the buckles?
GOOD QUESTION! I had actually heard that the reason they didn't want seat belts was because of the cost to retro-fit school buses.
The answer to both is NO. That is NOT the reason.
The reason school bus companies have fought seat belts for years is, believe it or not, the safety of the children.
Please remember that a 40 foot school bus can hold up to 83 kids. For this scenario, let's assume the bus is FULL, like the one my kids ride on every morning and afternoon. Let's also remember that in areas like mine, that are quite rural, you have kids from 4 years old all the way up to juniors and seniors in high school on one bus -- that's not generally the norm in metropolitan areas.
Let's say the bus got in an accident, and is flipped over. The kids are hanging upside down from their seats, locked into their seatbelts. The kids, especially the younger ones, are too scared and confused to be able to figure out how to unbuckle their seatbelt while upside down, and then suddenly, there's flames shooting out from the engine.
The fire department arrives as quickly as possible, and many kids are still locked into their seatbelts, upside down, because the older kids and passers-by couldn't get to them because they're upside down and the smoke is hampering their vision. There are still 60 or more kids trapped upside down in seatbelts while a fire has begun and is raging towards them. Which ones do you run to and save first? How many kids are burned to death because the firefighters weren't able to get to all of them to get them out of their belts before the fire became too intense, even for firefighters?
If there are NO seatbelts, the kids bounce on their heads when the bus flips over, but the older kids and bus driver (if conscious and able to help after the accident) are still able to open the emergency exits and help all the kids out before the bus erupts in flames. There may be bumps and bruises and broken bones (and possibly worse injuries), but the chances that 99% of the kids make it out alive are much greater if they are NOT belted in.
THAT is the reason the bus companies don't want seat belts on school buses. It has nothing to do with cost or injuries from kids beating each other up with the buckles. It has EVERYTHING to do with the REAL WORLD safety of the kids.
Hope that helps explain the seat belt issue. :)
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Mrs. Mik
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11/11/09 09:07pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Addiction
Maybe you have watched "Home Improvement" a few too many times?
LOL! Either that, or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! :B :B :B
We stopped putting lights on outside two years ago. We had some light up trees in the front yard, and the moving deer, and some lighted wreaths, and it looked really great. Our neighbors loved what we did. Unfortunately, the electric company did, too! These last couple of years, we haven't put anything lighted out, because the electric bill is just too much, considering all the other expenses of Christmas. :(
I'd love to see pictures of your place with that many lights! Please post them when you have them up!
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/11/09 07:40pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: School bus vs. HUMUNGOUS deer! OMG!
Folks, part of the reason the kids walk forward is to help me learn where their houses are, especially when I was brand new to the route. Most times, I don't need them to do that anymore, but in this case, I had not remembered that "Peter" was on the bus because he doesn't ride very often, so was glad when I saw him get up to come forward (prior to seeing the deer).
If you think about it, when I rode the city bus in Milwaukee, I would walk forward when my stop was next, and when all the seats were full, people stood in the aisles. Just like on a subway (or the elevated train in Chicago). It's not something that's special or unique to our bus or our bus company. The only kids that come forward are the older kids. The younger ones stay in their seats until I stop at their house to let them off.
Not offering excuses, just trying to explain, as I've learned a LOT about school buses and the reasons for various rules that seem silly to us, since I started driving a school bus.
Julie
PS, no deer tonight! LOL
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Mrs. Mik
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11/11/09 07:37pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: School bus vs. HUMUNGOUS deer! OMG!
Matthew, the deer was "bounding" because he was running, so I don't know what the end result would have been. I drive a "flat front" bus, so I don't have the engine in front of me to "protect" me, so to speak. There's little space between the front of the bus and me, so I was a tad bit concerned. I'm going to have to talk more to our safety director about the effect of deer on flat front school buses.
Susan, I don't think anyone was more shocked than ME that I didn't swear! LOL!
I never heard of Rescue Remedy. I looked it up and it sounds pretty cool! I do take B-Complex daily, and depending on my stress levels, take more as needed. I took a bunch when I got home tonight! LOL
My hands were definitely shaking, and my heart was pounding, but I didn't want the kids to freak out (I have kids from 4-year old kindergarten all the way up to seniors in high school on my bus), so I just took a couple deep breaths and kept on going.
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/10/09 09:19pm |
Around the Campfire
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School bus vs. HUMUNGOUS deer! OMG!
So, I'm driving my afternoon route today, and had only dropped off four kids. I still had quite a busload, as I hadn't gotten to my "biggest" drop-off point. I was driving along a County Road (thank goodness it was a blacktop road and not one of the many dirt roads I drive!), when I was about 1/4 mile from my next rural stop. The student had started walking to the front of the bus (as the older ones are supposed to do -- and then sit in a seat near the front until I actually stop at their house), and I spotted a HUGE buck on my left running hell-bent for leather through a recently chopped cornfield right toward the bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:E :E :E :E :E
My first thought was about the student walking forward. I was worried about him doing a header all the way to the front of the bus because I had to hit the brakes. I hollered "HOLD ON!", not once, but TWICE! As the buck is still running toward us, I'm on the brakes (keep in mind, I was only doing about 45 mph at the time), but I'm worried about the kids getting hurt from stopping too quickly, and the boy walking to the front, AND hitting the deer! Yikes! All this is going through my head in the three seconds this was all happening!
None of the kids really realized what was going on yet. They knew I was stopping quickly, but didn't know why. As I had the bus slowed and the buck ran in front of the bus, barely a FOOT from the front, knowing I wasn't going to hit it, I said "Jesus Christ Almighty.". Apparently, I said it louder than I thought, because THAT was what made the rest of the kids look up to see what was going on, all the way to the back of the bus!
The buck ran in front of the bus and continued running through the field to my right, while all the kids were watching and commenting on how HUGE it was. I'm telling you, this buck was HUGE! The antlers on it were INCREDIBLE! This was absolutely the BIGGEST deer I've ever seen that was not in a zoo!
After making sure everyone was OK, I continued on my route and dropped off the young man who had been walking to the front of the bus. The kids told me that he was about bent in half from my hitting the brakes, so he WAS close to landing on the floor of the bus!
Later in the route, of course, the discussion continued around the deer. I had a bunch of kids chuckling at me for my choice of words! Apparently, they were quite surprised at what I said. I looked at them in the mirror and said "I didn't swear!" They all agreed, but I guess were quite surprised that I didn't! One 17 year old said, "I would have at least expected a 'holy $h*t!'" !! LOL! I told them that I was simply having a religious moment! They thought that was awesome! Frankly, I'm surprised that I didn't use a four-letter word!
More conversation ensued, and we all talked about the HUGE rack on the buck, and who would get it. Of course, it would have been MINE! LOL
I still can't believe how close that deer came to being splattered all over the front of the bus. I have no idea how bad a school bus vs. deer accident could be, and I've no doubt that had I hit that big of a deer, I'd not be writing this tonight as I'd be in the hospital. I'm glad I saw it in time and that magnificent creature is safe in the woods, at least for now and that all "my" kids got home safe and sound.
Hope everyone had a less exciting day!
Julie
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Mrs. Mik
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11/10/09 08:04pm |
Around the Campfire
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