Jenn

Congrats Glenda! I'm so glad that despite everything, you managed to keep it positive and have fun Just think of the stories you'll have to tell your grandkids! Congrats again! You looked beautiful!

Congrats!!! I hope your wedding day is perfect! Enjoy every second of it!

I bought mine on Ebay from gabbymacdesigns. Check out this post for tons of pics and where girls bought their flowers... http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t9521

Thanks for all of the support ladies We have a few appointments with local schools this week, so we'll see where that goes. DH met with FIL on Thursday. Package is good, as long as he actually gets paid. I'm very concerned about promises that will soon be forgotten, and because there is a weird dynamic when you add the family equation in, nothing is in writing. Not that I think FIL would care if there was a piece of paper saying he was supposed to pay my husband... we've had multiple times where DH just wouldn't get paid for a few weeks because FIL screwed around with the money. So... my concern is of course that now that he is out of sight, paying him will be out of mind. I guess there is no point in worrying about it though. Won't know what will happen until it does. So here's the most F@#$'d up part of their conversation... FIL starts going on about how the new guy is going to make them all rich, and that's really what's important, blah blah blah... oh and you and Jenn should really invite me and my new girlfriend out to your new house. That would really be nice. I don't know why you haven't yet... Are you kidding me! We haven't invited anyone out because our house is in construction mode - and in the middle of discussing severence after firing your son you think it is appropriate to invite yourself to our house! I hate him!!!

Edna - I'm so sorry to hear what's been going on with you! If you ever need to talk, just know that we're here for you. *Big Hugs*

My husband eats PB, Mayo and Lettuce sandwiches. I think its the most disgusting combo... but he's right there with you on this one. He loves them!

Quote: Originally Posted by LC_Rachel Ok what is wrong with his DAD!!! Good grief. Anyways, Jenn- tell Sam to not be discouraged. My hubby has no college degree and essentially went to work after hs. He was able to land a good job with his work experience. Ironically enough, I have a college degree and I've been rejected a time or two for lack of experience. Not all employers want the degree. Nine years of experience isn't something to throw away- people will see the worthiness in it. As for what's wrong with his dad... that's just a really long story. He's done some really low things in the past, but I NEVER thought he would fire my husband - ever. He was planning on leaving in the next year or so, but it should've been on his terms. Who the F%&* fires their own son? Rachel - thanks for the positive insight on your hubby. Its so hard in our world of higher education to remember that real world experience really does mean something. I'm hoping that creative resume writing will help... The other thing is that DH just doesn't know whether he wants to get another job or find a different field. He's all over the map on 'what he wants to be when he grows up', and feels like he fell into this past job without choosing it. We're lucky in the fact that I make a lot of money, but I have a ton of student loans, and we just bought a house 3 months ago, and it needs A LOT of work. This news of course came while we have contractors in our house doing about $5000 worth of work - which has already started. We could push it off, but our house is in the low stage right now, where the work has started and everything looks like crap. So, we decided to finish the work and I'm going to pick up some overtime. We think his severence should leave us okay for a few months, so I'm just going to cross my fingers for tomorrow.

Sorry ladies, but you guys are my touchstone sometimes... My DH was fired yesterday... he's worked for his dad for the past 9 years in the family business, doing everything from office manager, to IT, to marketing. That being said, he didn't go to college so that he could help his dad, so he essentially has a high school education and a lot of office experience, but no degree. Which makes the prospects of a new job very hard. Now, as I said, he got fired. He has worked there for 9 years, always being promised the brass ring when they finally made a bazillion dollars. He was supposed to be a partner. About 5 months ago, they brought a new guy in who had invested and was going to 'take them where they wanted to go'. Well this guy came in thinking he was the boss. He threw a hissy fit last week because my husband couldn't get some marketing materials printed by Friday, because they didn't get an ink shipment until 6pm ON Friday. Yesterday he went in and was told, by his dad, not to come back. WTF!!!! I will never forgive my FIL. My husband was a consultant, so he doesn't even qualify for unemployment. He's going in tomorrow to discuss a severence package, but I have no idea what's going to happen. I make enough money to support us both, but DH is worried that his skills make him qualified to work at Taco Bell... we've been talking about schools, new fields (he hates the computer industry, although its what he's good at), etc.

Yeah!!! So exciting that your time is almost here!!! Have a great time and take lots of pics! You know we all can't wait to hear about it!

Thanks for all the advice ladies We're still figuring it all out. Would love to do the liveaboard, but it may just be too expensive on top of airfare to Thailand and an additional week of hotels. We've also just had a financial set back, so it just may not be next year. DH and I absolutely love diving, so I know we will eventually do a liveaboard and hearing your experiences is really helpful!

Glad to hear you had a good time... certainly sounds like a fun day!

I've done Carnival and NCL. Carnival is fun for a young crowd, but the food was only ok - lots of hambugers and hotdogs for lunch, and I remember 16 year olds in the club trying to get drinks... NCL was a better crowd, great casino (if you like to gamble), and we liked the different restaurants. While it was nice to not have assigned seating and dinner time, the wait staff didn't really care because a lot of guests don't tip nightly. The tips on NCL are standard, and so the staff doesn't really go above and beyond to make sure they get a better tip. The cruises are inexpensive, but make sure you choose a newer ship if you go NCL. Some of the older ones were in New Orleans during Katrina and supposedly have a musty/moldy smell in the cabins. Don't get me wrong, I would probably go NCL again for the right price on the right itinerary, but I don't love them. My mom does at least 1 cruise a year, and she says that Celebrity is hands down the best. A little more formal, but she says the staff and food is always top notch. I haven't done a Celebrity cruise, so I can't speak from experience. She also like Royal Caribbean.

That sucks Lauren! I think its definitely compounded by the fact that you are home right now and will probably ease up a bit when school starts and he adjusts to the new schedule. Commuting in and out of NYC is tough from anywhere in NJ. I used to commute from Fort Lee (right over the GWB) and it took 90 minutes to get to work - an hour to just get into the city! He'll adjust a bit better as he gets used to the commute, which will give you 2 a little more time together. I'm on the other side of this. I work shifts and they fluctuate between days, evenings and nights. I only work 15-16 shifts a month, but my DH works a 9-5 job, so it sucks when I work 3-11p or 5p-3a. He eats alone a lot, and does a lot around the house when I'm not around. We've definitely had fights because he feels like I'm never here and when I am, I sometimes really want to just relax... but he's had a million projects planned for when I am finally home. Its hard, but you do adjust. Try to be patient with him and realize that he's working a really long day. I know that is easier said than done, but hang in there and know that you can ALWAYS vent to us!

Thanks! (This message is not long enough to post without ridiculousness)

I'm on backup for work, which means no drinks for me that night Also means that I couldn't be a definite, because I could always get called in. So I guess put me down as a yes, but I may not be there?

Continental is good, just going to need a reservation for a group on a Friday night... yummy martinis and mojitos!

Krys - Thanks so much for your input! The boats I'm looking at have guides for the dives, so we definitely wouldn't be diving just on the buddy system. I also thought it would be a great way of doing a few specialty courses. My DH just decided we should take an Advanced Open Water course locally this summer, so that will also help a bit. I'm contacting a few different places, but if you know anyone who has done a live aboard in Thailand (or any diving), if you wouldn't mind asking for a recommendation, I'd appreciate it. If I can't find something that works for our experience level, then there are tons of daytrips and packages, so I'm not worried. I just thought that a live aboard would be a really cool experience. My DH used to live on a little boat and loves them, so I think he'd really love it.

Don't let her get you down... that's awesome that you got a new, better position! I'm sure she's upset that you are leaving (especially if numerous others have left recently), but you need to do what's right for you. Its always hard leaving a job, but if something better comes along, go for it!

I saw you posted and I was sure we had an answer... argh! I hope you get out soon

Definitely check out the photogs on here, but if you do a search, you'll also find a lot of discussion about photographers in Jamaica. Here's a link to one prior discussion... http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t5305

That's insane! Jeez... sell the damn thing... don't torch it!

It was very windy on my wedding day, and we had floating candles in fish bowls. Mostly, they were fine. Our reception was on an outdoor patio, so I'm not sure if it would've worked if we were directly on the beach.

Quote: Originally Posted by amandalovesryan YAY! I would totally do this! Count me in! We could go to the melting pot for drinks and dessert? But that is in King of Prussia, will you be in the city or what? Maybe carly and jacky will want to join us! YAY! I'm probably in for CC, but won't be definite until its a little closer. There is a melting pot in the city too, if that's what people are up for. Very cool that you'll be in town!

That totally sucks! I'm sure your sister feels really bad about it and didn't know how to tell you... Family can truly suck sometimes! My FIL and husband's uncle (who we're very close to) kept saying they were coming to our wedding. Well, they hadn't booked when we left for Jamaica, but they made it - lol. They booked the day after we arrived, and showed up an hour before the wedding started. They made it, but they were lucky that our small, remote resort had food for them.

I can't believe they called the cops... though from the sounds of it, its a good thing they called them. I would totally go park a car outside their store with a sign slamming them! How did you make out with your CC? Were you able to dispute the charges?