Our time share ( 00PS!! I mean FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP) presentation dynner wasn't Cheerios (Hi, Liz and Mari) or 'POUSIN" as a cookbook that I got for Liz calls chicken. (Don't worry Liz. I exchanged it) but was a YUMMY Soggy Subway Sandwich and a bag of Lays potatoe chips. The Lays were good. and I was hungry, Dennis was the one complaining about the gourmet dinner fare.
It's good that Dennis and I didn't go in with high expectations. BUT ! WHAT WERE THEY THINKING ??? Serving soggy subway sandwiches and marketing them as dinner does NOT lend to their creditability!!!
We were met in the sparsley furnished (serving subways as dinner we shouldn't have been surprised) waiting area by a sales rep who must have been a Valley Girl/ cheerleader in a former life.
Don't you, like ,just LOOOVE!!!! Vacationing? Come with me."
That's when we were offered Dinner
After multiple questions read from a crib sheet:
Sales Rep said "Like where did you go for your last awesome vacation?"
To which we replied "McKeespirt Pa. and Fayetteville N.C."
Our answer was met with a quizical but very blank stare. followed by a slight pause and then a hand clap. and a
"How Wonderful" Shortly after sorting out for our Mensa Sales Rep that we don't take normal vacations and that we were just there for the Disney Passes offered at the Lobsterfest for 90 min.s of our time, we were asked when our last REAL vacation was. Dennis and I looked at each other, scratched our heads and when we figured out that she could out last us (She was fussing with her nails) We came up with an answer! YES !! We went to Koma with Mari and Gabe about 5 years ago !!
We must have interrupted some profound thought because she seemed startled that we had finally come up with an answer to her question, or maybe she had just forgotten her question. Her next utterance was "KONA ?? Where's Kona?"
OH ! That Kona. Hawaii!"
"How like REALLY GREAT"
After reinforcing the fact tha we, at least until Dennis retires, do NOT take traditional vacations, will have NO opportunity to take traditional vacations, really ENJOY visiting our kids and grandkids and have NO desire to golf, gilf, golf or scuba div, our Sales Rep clapped her hand jubulently and said in a very entheusiastic voice "I can see from what you two guys (? - Spa treatment???) have said that you really love travel and adventure !!" "HUH ???"
YES Darling Husband there is a worse listener than you ! Dennis felt validated.
The bottom line (and Gabe will enjoy this) was that for a mear $17659 and $629 / yearly fractional homeowner association fee we will have the opportunity to purchase from one to three weeks at any AWESOME resort in their system for a paultry $169 domestic or $199 European rate. The number of weeks and the size of the unit varies with location and time of year.
On the chart that we were shown, the $17649 would buy 1 week in a studio in the middle of the Mojave in July. I'm exaggerating slightly but not that much. After the "DINNER" I doubted everything that was said or seen at that presentation.
After 60 minutes we (I was having fun) had burned out our sales rep by answering all of her questionas absolutely honestly and not (as clients are supposed to) saying what she wanted to hear. She excused herself and her manager appeared .We told her just what we had initially said to Valley firl "We are here for the Disney Tickets" Rep #2 lasted about 20 minutes but didn't have the passion and entheusiasm of out 1sr rep. We knew that we were obligated to 90 min's to get the tickets so we anxiously waited to see what they would do with us for the final 10 minutes. A very nice managers manager came by and offered us cookies and a virtual tour of their MANY MANY properties around the world.. (The cookies were pretty good)
Their virtual tour computer was slower than Ethel. and the picture was grainy. I don't know who was happier , Dennis to be leaving or the 3 sales reps to be getting rid of us., But when the timer went off we were ushered over to the prize desk.
We got the 2 one Day passes to Disneyland, 2 AMC movie tickets and 2 passes to the L.A. County fair. Not bad for 90 min of our time if you don't count the dinner. I thought about suggesting that they serve Cheerios but Dennis was tugging me toward the parking garage.
Today (Friday) we are meeting Bob and Isaac at Halloween Disney land. I plan on going on the Nemo ride to see if Perhaps scub diving might be in our retirement future.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
YOU KNOW YOU ARE DESPERATE
You know that you are desperate for adult conversation when you sign up for a time share presentation. No offense Mari and Christy but most of our conversations revolve around "KIDS". Okay REALLY GREAT KIDS but my mind craves more than the number of times the little darlings got you up last night and discussing the best ways to avoid the projectile in projectile vomiting.
Dad and I signed up for this presentation at the Lobsterfest. After 4 lbs. of Lobster Dad doesn't converse any more than usual but he WILL agree to almost anything.
I think that this time share is either in Northern California. South of Tiajauna, or perhaps Cambpdoa or Australia. The "hook" (What gets you to sign up") was either grapes, Ostriches, Shell fish or Rubber Duckies.
I DO recall the salesman looking me (Clad in my lobsterhat - picture to follow) in the eye and saying that there was a WONDERFUL SPA on the premises. Do you think he was trying to tell me something. You all know how much I LOVE the idea of spa treatments (NOT)
We get a free dinner out of this and the promise of 2 Disneyland passes. We'll see how hard they are to use. Down- down- down season only???
I'll write more tomorrow after we actually attend this FUN event.
Dad and I signed up for this presentation at the Lobsterfest. After 4 lbs. of Lobster Dad doesn't converse any more than usual but he WILL agree to almost anything.
I think that this time share is either in Northern California. South of Tiajauna, or perhaps Cambpdoa or Australia. The "hook" (What gets you to sign up") was either grapes, Ostriches, Shell fish or Rubber Duckies.
I DO recall the salesman looking me (Clad in my lobsterhat - picture to follow) in the eye and saying that there was a WONDERFUL SPA on the premises. Do you think he was trying to tell me something. You all know how much I LOVE the idea of spa treatments (NOT)
We get a free dinner out of this and the promise of 2 Disneyland passes. We'll see how hard they are to use. Down- down- down season only???
I'll write more tomorrow after we actually attend this FUN event.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
an A B C weekend (ants, blogs, cars)
The crib notes for yesterday's (first ever) Blog were written on my "to do/grocery" list for Monday. The notes were written right between the word "ANTS" (We have a problem!! Walk into our kitchen and you have creepy crawley black sox on your formerly nare feet! CORRECTION! I have creepy crawley black ant sox on MY bare feet. Dennis' idea of bare feet is combat boots withOUT sox.) Berries and Rubber Duckies.
My lists can be very interesting even to me. Especially if I don't complete them quickly and forget why I noted the things that I do. What recipe has rubber duckies as an ingredient? Oh well.
This past weekend Dennis and I went to the L.A. Harbor Lobster Festival in San Pedro. It is advertized as being the world's largest with13 Tons of lobster being cooked. We sure ate our share. I can't wait for all of the grandkids to be old enough to enjoy it. Isaac would have loved the pirates amd so would Micaela but Caroline is a bit on the small side.
From there we went on to the Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernadino. Cars Cars and more Cars. Dennis would have liked to have been in the 66 Galaxie but we were on the comfy easy to park Goldwing motorcycle , so "tough luck Charlie" Dennis. After walking around (and taking pix) for 3 1/2 houra my feet were crying MERCY! They aren't use to being confined in closed toe shoes. Dennis MUST have heard them because at about 6:30 pm we hopped on the Cycle and headed to the Bass Pro Shop Restaurant for dinner.
No vennison or Alligator this time. Just a great fish (grouper) sandwich
Thanks Genius Kid Mari (one of 4 if you don't count the grandkids) for your help in setting this blogspot up for Dad and me. Dad is hoping that it will relieve him of having to talk with me at odd hours of the day and night. Especially when he is brushing his teeth. Good luck!
My only problem with it is "What will we all talk about on the phone? once every one knows what exciting things we are doing."
If Mari can talk computer illiterate me thru the process, I'll post some pix of our weekend.
My lists can be very interesting even to me. Especially if I don't complete them quickly and forget why I noted the things that I do. What recipe has rubber duckies as an ingredient? Oh well.
This past weekend Dennis and I went to the L.A. Harbor Lobster Festival in San Pedro. It is advertized as being the world's largest with13 Tons of lobster being cooked. We sure ate our share. I can't wait for all of the grandkids to be old enough to enjoy it. Isaac would have loved the pirates amd so would Micaela but Caroline is a bit on the small side.
From there we went on to the Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernadino. Cars Cars and more Cars. Dennis would have liked to have been in the 66 Galaxie but we were on the comfy easy to park Goldwing motorcycle , so "tough luck Charlie" Dennis. After walking around (and taking pix) for 3 1/2 houra my feet were crying MERCY! They aren't use to being confined in closed toe shoes. Dennis MUST have heard them because at about 6:30 pm we hopped on the Cycle and headed to the Bass Pro Shop Restaurant for dinner.
No vennison or Alligator this time. Just a great fish (grouper) sandwich
Thanks Genius Kid Mari (one of 4 if you don't count the grandkids) for your help in setting this blogspot up for Dad and me. Dad is hoping that it will relieve him of having to talk with me at odd hours of the day and night. Especially when he is brushing his teeth. Good luck!
My only problem with it is "What will we all talk about on the phone? once every one knows what exciting things we are doing."
If Mari can talk computer illiterate me thru the process, I'll post some pix of our weekend.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Hi There
We, Mom and Dad Erdman have been feeling left behind not having a blog and all. Well Mari's fixed that now and we can take our first steps out into the world of blogging. That is if I can overcome the technical challenges of Ethel, my trusty Mac. We're contng down the days until our next trip to the east coast. At least Dennis is counting down, I have trouble keeping track of what day it is. Let's see if this mode of communication works and if so we'll try to be regular posters to the cyber world.
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