College Grads

Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 08:04 Written by lorie Tuesday, 22 April 2008 06:37

Hard Economics for College Grads

Did I ever mention that my son who is graduating from college in just a few weeks hates Disney World? Yea, I don’t know how that happened? He was born in the hospital … almost didn’t make it … but we did … yet I’m convinced he may have been switched there. How can anyone in our family NOT like Disney?????

Anyway, I was thinking about him today because the economy is looking so bleak and here he is trying to decide what to do with his life. Jobs are hard to come by — what a bad time to be starting a career. College grads who have worked their tails off for the past four years are faced with accepting jobs that no one else wants if they want to eat and live.

My son falls into this category. As a parent I’m really struggling with how much ‘help’ is too much. My son isn’t lazy. He’s had some type of job since high school. In college he spent money very wisely — I was impressed when I realized he was going to the thrift stores for things he needed. He now graduates and has no choice by to come home and look for some type of permanent employment while living with us. There is no way he can afford to live on his own — even if he rooms with others. The rents in this area are outrageous — but will moving elsewhere help matters? At least there are some employment opportunities around in our area — even if they are not ‘career oriented’ jobs. It’s difficult choice: stay in an area and live with mom and dad — but find a job; or, move to a more affordable area where there may be no jobs. Actually, that isn’t a choice, is it? Can’t move to a place where there are no jobs.

Looks like his younger siblings can’t take over his room just yet! And, maybe he’ll be coming to Disney with us this summer, too! Hey, maybe, there’s a job for him there … he is minoring in film directing! Oh, wouldn’t that be ironic.

Driving to Disney on I95

Last Updated on Tuesday, 3 June 2008 06:31 Written by lorie Monday, 21 April 2008 05:30

Every year we drive from Virginia to Orlando, Florida for a Disney World vacation — and to visit family that lives in Orlando — that’s our excuse, anyway! The fact we have three kids who love Mickey and Minnie may play a small part in this decision — LOL.

Our friends think we are nuts to drive nearly a 1000 miles to and from Florida every year. However, over the years we have come up with some tips that help make the ride a little less stressful and easy.

For starters, we never ever travel on the weekend. It seems Interstate 95 is jammed packed with summer beach-goers on the weekends. It’s absolutely horrible and frustrating to be stuck behind a minivan in the left lane that will not get back into the right lane and yet is traveling lower than the speed limit — there really should be a law against that (there is, isn’t there?????). I often wonder do people realize the left lane is the PASSING lane and not the “I like having no one in front of me lane.” I’m beginning to believe they no longer teach that in driver’s education classes.

We travel on a weekday (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday are best for traveling south on I95) — making the trip much easier because there isn’t much ‘rush hour’ traffic once one gets out of the DC metro area (which is where we live). So, if you are from further up north — like Philly or New York and beyond — you want to time your trip so you are NOT going through DC during peak rush hour. I say ‘PEAK’ rush hour because there is always traffic in DC. It can’t be avoided entirely. However, 5 am to 9:30 am is peak traffic. Then again in the afternoon, from about 3 pm to 9 pm. It’s impossible to avoid traffic unless you travel sometime between the hours of 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.

We leave at 3 a.m. in order to get out of the DC area BEFORE the rush hour starts. Even at that hour there is a significant amount of traffic going in the other direction which always surprises me. However, going south the traffic at 3 to 4 a.m. is minimal. This places us in North Carolina at about 6 to 7 a.m. which is where we usually stop for breakfast, potty breaks, and gas.

North and South Carolina are usually smooth sailing with very little traffic problems. We always love watching the ‘South of the Border’ signs on the highway — it marks the almost half way point for us.

Depending on how traffic has been we try to time our travel through Jackonsville, Florida to avoid their evening rush hour. We use to live in Jackonsville and the traffic there is no where near as terrible as in DC — but if you can avoid the 5 to 7 pm rush you should be okay. Often, if the trip has been uneventful we find ourselves going through the city of Jacksonville at about mid-afternoon — just before the evening crunch. However, if the ride has had some delays we’ll stop for an early dinner in southern Georgia or near the airport in Jackonsville in order to avoid the rush hour traffic in the heart of Jacksonville.

Once, you are through Jacksonville, it’s smooth sailing once again until you reach I-4 which takes you straight to Disney World. There is often traffic going through the city of Orlando — which really can’t be avoided — but it is nothing compared to the traffic in the northern cities … so no need to sweat that.

Allergies

Last Updated on Monday, 21 April 2008 12:25 Written by lorie Monday, 21 April 2008 12:25

Oh, my aching head!

I spent too much time outdoors this weekend and now I’m paying for it.  I never had allergies until about 5 years ago or so … and they aren’t that bad except during this time of the year.  Every year I’m surprised by an allergy attack it seems — it’s just like having the flu almost.

In fact, the whole family seems to have allergies now — only at different times of the year!  It’s so annoying because I can never open the windows of the house and enjoy the fresh air.  We go from using the heater to using the A/C.

I wish I could find the right medication to control my allergies — I’ve tried several different over the counter meds but none of them work and seem to just give me more of a headache!  LOL

So far any type of pain medication alleviates the sinus headache but the other ichy and yucky stuff remains — and you don’t need those details….. LOL