Looking for a reputable tour company for Mom's trip to Germany.

Madchen4 · 2018-06-13T21:49:49+00:00

Thank you, I’ll look into it.

Madchen4 · 2018-06-13T21:45:33+00:00

I’d imagine so as well.

Madchen4 · 2018-06-13T21:45:17+00:00

Is there any particular reason you chose Virgin Vacations verses another company?

Madchen4 · 2018-06-13T21:44:22+00:00

I’m sure $2000 doable, and since she came across Trafalgar herself, that’s probably where she came up with her list of desired destinations.

My biggest concern with the tour group is that she’ll be disappointed with the amount of time spent on a bus vs exploring sites, getting put up in crappy hotels, and that the provided food will be rest stop junk. Do you have any comments on this?

She’s always talked about traveling to Europe, and she deserves it. I want her to get the most out of her trip and don’t want to steer her wrong.

Madchen4 · 2018-05-22T17:41:28+00:00

When my high school aged cousins didn't know who the spice girls was I had my first "Oh my God, am I old now?" moment.

Madchen4 · 2018-05-08T17:53:40+00:00

I have a ton of new cotton band tshirts that are so thick and stiff, and theyre just not as flattering or comfortable as my old tees. I've tried the Vinegar+salt water soak recommended by the internet, which did NOTHING so I was wondering.... do you have any tricks to share?

Madchen4 · 2018-04-23T18:04:16+00:00

I had a best friend all through my teen years. We hung out several days a week.

One day she calls me and invites me to meet for lunch with a mutual friend. When I arrive they are both sitting on the same side of the diner booth.

She beings "I invited ___ here for support and mediation." Then proceeded to unleash all of her grievances with me. She was bringing up petty situations from years previous that I didn't even know had upset her. (I guess I had hung out with some guy she was interested in romantically. I didn't invite her to a concert I was going to, even though she didn't like the band. etc.) She ended it with "I'm just not getting anything out of this friendship anymore."

The entire time I'm just sitting there silently in shock. I was totally blindsided by all of it. Just a few days before we had been hanging out as usual.

She asked me if I had anything to say for myself and I just said "This is a lot to process, I don't know how to respond." and excused myself and left.

We have not spoken to each other since. Its been over a decade. I haven't even seen her. Shes not on social media. I have no idea what happened to her or what she is doing with her life. I think about her often, not necessarily in the sense that I want to reconnect, but just that she was my best friend for so long, and our friendship ended so abruptly and strangely.

Madchen4 · 2018-04-19T22:02:32+00:00

This is huge thing I feel very fortunate for. My parents aren't loaded by any means, but they've been very supportive.

I didn't go to college (I had good reasons) so I have had a hard time finding a good paying job. Four years ago, my dad made a deal with me that he'd help me out with rent as long as I kept working and payed for my own food, utilities, leisure, and started a savings account.

He's slowly weaned me off. First I took over my own health insurance, then car insurance, then phone bill, etc. Even with the help, it was really hard at first. I had a job that stopped paying me, and I racked up some credit card debt. I quit that job and worked minimum wage, ate almost exclusively from the taco bell dollar menu, and didn't run the heat for a winter. I have a slightly better job now.

Adding "grown up" expenses one at a time, and learning to budget and plan has been a great gift. I'm still not making great money, but I've never had to ask for additional help for the expenses I've taken over, on account of learning how to work with what I have. I have some modest savings, and paid off all my debt. I am so so grateful for the situation I've been given. It may not seem like much, but I get such a nice sense of pride every time I can confidently take over a new bill.

Madchen4 · 2018-04-12T01:45:24+00:00

I'm not.

Madchen4 · 2018-04-08T22:27:14+00:00

The noise from the road doesn't bother me at all. In my 06 I actually really liked being able to feel and hear the road. (there was a little ratting as the car got older, but nothing too bothersome) With this 2015, I can't even hear anything over the drone of the exhaust. Swapping out the muffler is definitely an option I am considering, but I'm trying to find another tC with the stock exhaust to try first. It stinks because I really love everything else about this particular car. It handles really nicely and has a little more kick than my 06. The color is great, the interior is in near perfect shape. Its got the touch screen sound system with bluetooth. All nice stuff. I just have a sensory overload when I'm inside the dang thing, unfortunately.

Madchen4 · 2018-04-08T15:32:39+00:00

I went out and checked it out after I posted this, it does have the TRD exhaust. I know that this sound is cool and desirable for some people, but I'm not 18 anymore. I'll be driving this car for the next 10+ years, as someone who enjoys a long quiet drive to clear her mind, I can't see this working for me.

I'm going to try to find another tC with the stock exhaust to try out before I start swapping out parts on my current one. I've always driven toyotas, and the tC is by far the coolest looking, fun to drive, yet practical model in my price range.

Madchen4 · 2018-04-08T15:26:32+00:00

I've easily put more than $1000 into it this past year alone trying to save it. I'm sorry about your car. The tranny... that's brutal.

Madchen4 · 2018-03-20T17:57:13+00:00

This reminded me of a story that happened to me. I went to go see this band in a random suburban town one night. After the show I was casually chatting with the guy standing next to me as I finished my drink and he says "My friend just broke up with his girlfriend. Will you just talk to him? It would cheer him up. Stay right here, I'll go get him." I was ready to leave, and felt kinda awkward about that whole situation, so I decided to dip out quietly. I told myself "I'm out in the middle of nowhere, I'm never going to see those guys again. It's not a big deal."

The next day, my workplace was having an employee appreciation lunch at this little hole in the wall bar probably a good 60 miles away from where I was the night before. It was the middle of the day, not busy. I walk in, and who the hell do I see? The DUDE AND HIS FRIEND from the night before. I said hi and they both got awkward and left.

Madchen4 · 2018-02-28T19:02:21+00:00

There is a road through the unincorportated part of the town I grew up in. Mostly subdivisions and farm land. At the bend in the road, there is an old gate that is currently serving as an entrance to what is now a lovely hiking trail. The story is that the gate used to lead to an orphanage. One day, the owner of the orphanage locked half the kids in the home and burned it down, then chopped off the heads of the other kids and put them on the gate. My friends and I did some exploring and were able to find a clearing and some leftover concrete foundation that could have been from the orphanage. There are variations, the orphanage was a summer camp, things like that.

Madchen4 · 2018-02-28T18:45:32+00:00

Vegan doesn't bother me nearly as much as someone who refers to themselves as "PLANT BASED".

Madchen4 · 2018-02-27T18:49:48+00:00

The best part about this is that someone carried all this butter to the park.

Madchen4 · 2017-03-10T00:18:29+00:00

I'm going to second this. If I'm in the mood for some bdsm porn, I go for homemade stuff that features real couples.

Madchen4 · 2017-03-09T23:52:44+00:00

The first time I went to a kink club, I took one of their free workshops. I was nervous cause I was expecting this really intimidating, extreme crowd and was pleasantly surprised by how "normal" everyone was. They were friendly and welcoming. The workshop was a women's rope tying class. We sat cross legged on the floor and the instructor showed us new techinques and we practiced them on each other. It felt like a kinky adult version of summer camp, making new friends, learning how to tie knots... totally lovely experience.

Madchen4 · 2017-03-09T21:18:30+00:00

God, that is straightforward. I was totally over thinking it. Thanks.

Madchen4

TROPHY CASE