DDC XXXIV: The Original Home Of The DISDads!!!

[CapeCodTenor]

FELLAS! What is going on? Today would be Wednesday, the day we start the downhill slide to the weekend...but not until noon, until then we're still climbing. Off to a primary office today, but I have a feelin' I'll be making confirmation calls instead of checking-in/out patients. Well, gents, that's all I've got. Have a good day, fellas, and we'll chat later.

TTFN

For those of you playin along at home, it appears that I get to stay married for a little while longer. It took about an hour on the phone with Disney but I was able to get a dinner reservation for 'Ohana.

I called Tech Support first to try to be able to make reservations on my own, but it seems there is something going on and I still cannot make reservations online. I can see times for my arrival day, but not the rest of my vacation. The nice CM in guest relations was able to find a reservation and after about 20 minutes on hold, managed to book it for me. Now I just need to rearrange the Park Passes to accommodate the 'Ohana ADR.

Congrats on the reservation!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Yeah that’s as much as I’ve done so far.
I realized it took some time to smoke meat, but I didn’t realize putting it on before bed was a thing. A lot of the videos I watched had overnight cooks.
I will probably try it sometime but not sure if it will become a regular thing.
But I can’t really turn down the chance to use a free smoker.

I’ll start with a lot shorter cooks. Like salmon or chicken. Still have to get it and that will be a little bit still.

You can actually make a good brisket without having to cook it overnight. There isn't really one right way to do it, just personal preferences. The longer the meat is in the smoker cooking slowly, the more time the fat has to break down and become tender. So for that reason, a lot of people like to start it overnight and just let it go slowly.

I've had success starting it early in the morning (7:00 a.m. or so) and just adjusting the temperature of the oven as I go to have it hit the target (mine is an internal temp of 203 degrees) around 5:30 p.m. Then I let it rest in a cooler, cooking in its own juices for another 30 minutes so it's ready to serve at 6:00. It turns out really well. Most people just play around with cook times and temperatures until they find their own preference.

Pork shoulders are good for beginners to try their hand at BBQ because they're much more forgiving than beef. You don't have to get everything exactly right for it to turn out well.

For those of you playin along at home, it appears that I get to stay married for a little while longer. It took about an hour on the phone with Disney but I was able to get a dinner reservation for 'Ohana.

Congratulations! Glad you were able to avoid the couch last night.

 

[declansdad]

Morning all.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

How much time off ya got? Doing anything?

We're down on the coast for the rest of the week. I'll post pics if I take anything interesting. Weather is a bit iffy (it's actually raining right now), but it beats being at work. Sorta...

I still have to be available to work if called, and I have a bunch that has to be done Sunday morning before we can pack up to head home (either that or I have to got back home Saturday to work Sunday).

I used to have four weeks vacation per year, but it's different since the company got sold. These folks give everyone "unlimited" vacation time. All you have to do is ask for it. What that actually translates to in practice is: "ask for time off any time that you truly believe your job isn't necessary, and then only if your director feels like you should be allowed to put that much burden on the company's time and profit margins." Needless to say, four weeks is now a distant memory and getting two across a year (never in secession either) can be questionable.

Morning All. It's Tuesday, who's having tacos?

That was back on Sunday.
Tuesdays are for Tequila

It took about an hour on the phone with Disney but I was able to get a dinner reservation for 'Ohana.

Congrats on the score.
I was trying to get a reservation for our first planed day down there as well, but there is already no availability for the spot of choice. I will have to discuss back-up plans with the Missus when she gets up. I'd look into spots for the rest of the week, but those windows don't open up until 60 days before the individual day, so now it's just time to wait and see until tomorrow, and the next day and so on...

Pork shoulders are good for beginners to try their hand at BBQ because they're much more forgiving than beef. You don't have to get everything exactly right for it to turn out well.

More points in favorer of the humble swine.

While I'm at it...
You've mentioned an excellent website catering to BBQ and Smokers in the past, but I can't find it in my notes anywhere. Care to share again?

 

[pkondz]

You can actually make a good brisket without having to cook it overnight. There isn't really one right way to do it, just personal preferences. The longer the meat is in the smoker cooking slowly, the more time the fat has to break down and become tender. So for that reason, a lot of people like to start it overnight and just let it go slowly.

I've had success starting it early in the morning (7:00 a.m. or so) and just adjusting the temperature of the oven as I go to have it hit the target (mine is an internal temp of 203 degrees) around 5:30 p.m. Then I let it rest in a cooler, cooking in its own juices for another 30 minutes so it's ready to serve at 6:00. It turns out really well. Most people just play around with cook times and temperatures until they find their own preference.

Pork shoulders are good for beginners to try their hand at BBQ because they're much more forgiving than beef. You don't have to get everything exactly right for it to turn out well.

Thanks for the tips, Mark.

We're down on the coast for the rest of the week.

Nice!

Weather is a bit iffy (it's actually raining right now), but it beats being at work. Sorta...

Nope. Not "Sorta"... Definitely! A rainy vacay day beats work any time.

These folks give everyone "unlimited" vacation time. All you have to do is ask for it. What that actually translates to in practice is: "ask for time off any time that you truly believe your job isn't necessary, and then only if your director feels like you should be allowed to put that much burden on the company's time and profit margins."

 

[AirGoofy]

It's another Wednesday here. Kids have been back in school here now for a week with mask mandates, and cases of COVID just keep increasing. There's already been talk of returning to NTI. Youngest's dd's college classes were all online except 1, so not much difference there. Oldest dd started work full time at the hospital. She got health insurance and a AM shift, so she's happy enough.

Mornin' all...
May everyone's world at least be spinning in the right direction.

If I can get through just one more workday, I'll actually get a little bit of time off to not have to deal with it for a spell. Have been looking forward to that for some time now.

Of course come next week it'll be back on my head as the punch-line goes, but I'll deal with that then.

Enjoy the coast and the time off. How much longer to retirement now?

Morning, Fellas! A bit late for me, but I'm working 4, 10's and today is my random day off this week. Spending the day preparing for our upcoming trip to New Mexico by cleaning the house and pulling out the luggage. Outside that all is well. On the work front, I worked at a primary care office yesterday in the medical building at the hospital. Fairly easy day as there were only two nurse practitioners and no doctors in the office, so pretty quiet. I helped the other doctor's office, who works the other side of the floor, check-in/out patients. That's all I've got. Bacon, burgers, bourbon and pixie dust, guys.




Enjoy your day off.



Sweet! Congrats!

Yes, that's what I meant. Epic is the same and the job is the same, but just enough inconsistent stuff moving around to the different stations that makes it hard to keep it all straight. So, working the same floor, or in your case office, would help to make it easier. But, picking the wrong floor/ office means your stuck in the same place.

Ok, I thought that's what you meant. That's what's great about Epic, wherever you go the job's the same. The problem is that training in Epic, for us, has been lacking, and as a result not everyone does things the same way...causing problems.



My thought's and prayers go out to the family of the one that was lost.
[/QUOTE]

We had training videos with the computer voiceover showing how to use EPIC. To make it even worse, the RN EPIC version looks different than my EPIC version. I've used many computer assessment programs over the years, so I feel confident enough using it.

Morning Everyone,
The owner of the company is on vacation for the next two weeks (completely off the grid) so I am in charge. The blender's out and the margarita mix is flowing... . Actually, I have an excellent crew who all make my job easier; it's the customers that give me the most grief.

Today marks 60 days until my October trip. My better half has made it clear in no uncertain terms that If I want to stay married, I have to secure an ADR for dinner at 'Ohana. So, I get up at 3 am, log onto MDE and...

... Stitch has eaten the page.

Technical difficulties ensue so I gave up and went back to bed. Come October, I may be looking for spare room in a someone's house if I can't get the coveted ADR.

Time to get back to work before any of my minions figure out I am goofing off.

Congrats on the ADR and good luck in juggling. Over the years, we just now take what's available. I still like Disney, but it has become a lot of work to book the vacation.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Hey, Gents! Interesting day at work yesterday. Almost had to call the police yesterday. The adult DD of an elderly patient went ballistic for reason, I wasn't there to see what set her off, but the other front desk handled it real well and got her calmed down. She later told me that she was just about to hit the panic button, but the lady calmed down and left. The moral of the story is, don't freak out on the people behind the counter....they can make your life complicated.

We're down on the coast for the rest of the week. I'll post pics if I take anything interesting. Weather is a bit iffy (it's actually raining right now), but it beats being at work. Sorta...

Can't wait to see some pics. And yes, raining on a day off is much better than a good day at the office.

I used to have four weeks vacation per year, but it's different since the company got sold. These folks give everyone "unlimited" vacation time. All you have to do is ask for it. What that actually translates to in practice is: "ask for time off any time that you truly believe your job isn't necessary, and then only if your director feels like you should be allowed to put that much burden on the company's time and profit margins." Needless to say, four weeks is now a distant memory and getting two across a year (never in secession either) can be questionable.

I hate when companies do that. "Oh yeah, you have unlimited vacation, so use all that you want." Subtext: "Good luck in trying to use it."

It's another Wednesday here. Kids have been back in school here now for a week with mask mandates, and cases of COVID just keep increasing. There's already been talk of returning to NTI. Youngest's dd's college classes were all online except 1, so not much difference there. Oldest dd started work full time at the hospital. She got health insurance and a AM shift, so she's happy enough.

My nieces and nephew have been back to school in New Mexico for a couple of weeks now, I think, definitely a week. We don't go back to school until around the 6th of Sept.

We had training videos with the computer voiceover showing how to use EPIC. To make it even worse, the RN EPIC version looks different than my EPIC version. I've used many computer assessment programs over the years, so I feel confident enough using it.

Yeah we had the same training videos, but it didn't cover everything, and that's annoying. Just the basics.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

How much longer to retirement now?

Three years minimum; eight if I'm forced to wait until my currently assigned age of full retirement.

Lord that sounds so utterly soul crushing when you say it out loud...

Almost had to call the police yesterday.

Bad mojo when folks go off the rails like that. Bad enough dealing with someone motivated by the classic mix of frustration and fear. Imagine where it'd gone had chemical enhancement also been involved.

Can't wait to see some pics.

We'll see. It'll depends on what extracurricular activities we get into. Otherwise we just basically sitting on a beach and watching the water in a typical commercial costal tourist town. Good for decompression, but not necessarily all that photogenic.

 

[londontime]

Greetings chaps, from the home of golf. Some downtime this afternoon, driving back to London tomorrow. Catch up with you all over the weekend. Have a collective good one.....

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I still like Disney, but it has become a lot of work to book the vacation.

And right on cue, now they have introduced paid Fast Passes.

Almost had to call the police yesterday. The adult DD of an elderly patient went ballistic for reason, I wasn't there to see what set her off, but the other front desk handled it real well and got her calmed down. She later told me that she was just about to hit the panic button, but the lady calmed down and left. The moral of the story is, don't freak out on the people behind the counter....they can make your life complicated.

Yikes. I'm glad it didn't escalate!

I hate when companies do that. "Oh yeah, you have unlimited vacation, so use all that you want." Subtext: "Good luck in trying to use it."

Brutal. My wife is a teacher and we've had a similar conversation. "Why do they give you 'personal days' if you're never allowed to use them?"

Lord that sounds so utterly soul crushing when you say it out loud...

This probably doesn't help, but my office in the process of destroying my soul as well.

Office: your old authorization forms have expired. Please submit new forms for all staff.

Me: (staff of 30 people submits forms) Ok, here you go. It took several man-hours, but we did it.

Office: those are the old forms. Re-submit the correct forms.

Me: (can't find difference in forms) Fine, whatever. (staff spends more hours on forms). Attached are the updated forms.

Office: many of these are not filled out correctly.

Me: They looked fine to me. I did not read all 30 of them.

Office: This person did not check this box.

Me: I don't give a sh-- Here is the corrected form.

(one week later)

Office: your authorization forms have been reviewed and the requests denied. We won't tell you why, but here is the 64-page policy document to review.

Greetings chaps, from the home of golf. Some downtime this afternoon, driving back to London tomorrow. Catch up with you all over the weekend. Have a collective good one.....

Safe travels. Hope it's been a great week. Surely you took advantage of all that golf!

 

[jaqsdad]

Happy Friday Eve to one and all,

I picked The Kid up from work last night and she looked absolutely defeated; apparently, adulthood is not for her. The Kid is 16 and started her first job at Dairy Queen about a month ago. At first it was all something new and she at least knows most of the people working there if she isn't friends with them from school. Training was easy and she liked the job.

Now, a month in, training is over and the actual work has begun. She walked out after closing, covered in ice cream and dirty dishwater. Head down, feet shuffling, she just gets in the car. I looked back, smiled, and said, "Adulting isn't easy, is it?" She was so tired she said Disney isn't worth it if she has to work so hard (definitely NOT my child. I guess being tired can make you delirious).

I'd look into spots for the rest of the week, but those windows don't open up until 60 days before the individual day, so now it's just time to wait and see until tomorrow, and the next day and so on...

I think that is the last perk of staying on site, the 60 days plus 10 for ADR. Good luck checking day by day. Hoping you get your preferred reservations.

Congrats on the ADR and good luck in juggling. Over the years, we just now take what's available. I still like Disney, but it has become a lot of work to book the vacation.

I acually like the planning and juggling, it's half the fun for me. It drives my better half crazy, but I will obsess over hours, times, rooms, absolutely everything. Then I let it all go and flow with the whims of The Wife and The Kid when we are there.

 

[pkondz]

Almost had to call the police yesterday.

Always a joy when it comes to that.

She later told me that she was just about to hit the panic button, but the lady calmed down and left.

Yikes. Luckily it didn't reach the breaking point.

And right on cue, now they have introduced paid Fast Passes.

I just saw the new Disney Genie.
And... I'm not mad.
I guess... I pay extra at Universal for the Express pass and I love it. Just about zero wait times.
Yes, I get that if you have a large family it will add up.

So... pay a bit to skip the 90 minute line? You bet.

"Why do they give you 'personal days' if you're never allowed to use them?"

Because... "Personally, if I was you, I wouldn't use them. Because personally, and this is just me, I wouldn't want to get fired."

This probably doesn't help, but my office in the process of destroying my soul as well.

Office: your old authorization forms have expired. Please submit new forms for all staff.

Me: (staff of 30 people submits forms) Ok, here you go. It took several man-hours, but we did it.

Office: those are the old forms. Re-submit the correct forms.

Me: (can't find difference in forms) Fine, whatever. (staff spends more hours on forms). Attached are the updated forms.

Office: many of these are not filled out correctly.

Me: They looked fine to me. I did not read all 30 of them.

Office: This person did not check this box.

Me: I don't give a sh-- Here is the corrected form.

(one week later)

Office: your authorization forms have been reviewed and the requests denied. We won't tell you why, but here is the 64-page policy document to review.

Oh Lord.

I picked The Kid up from work last night and she looked absolutely defeated; apparently, adulthood is not for her.

Okay... asking here. Exactly who is adulthood for?????

Not me!

Now, a month in, training is over and the actual work has begun. She walked out after closing, covered in ice cream and dirty dishwater. Head down, feet shuffling, she just gets in the car. I looked back, smiled, and said, "Adulting isn't easy, is it?" She was so tired she said Disney isn't worth it if she has to work so hard (definitely NOT my child. I guess being tired can make you delirious).

You know...

When I was 14-15 or thereabouts, I went to work for my neighbour who was renovating a house he bought. I, and another fellow, had to dig in clay (dig, yank out shovel, scrape off clay, rinse in bucket of water, repeat) for some concrete piles. We each dug pits that were 6' long, 5' deep and 3' wide. It took the other (older) guy a full day and me a day and a half to do it. We both grumbled at the waste of manpower when he could've just hired a backhoe to do it in a couple minutes. I don't know if my neighbour heard us or not, but he came over while we were digging and said "Do you know why I'm getting you to dig this? It's so you'll remember what this was like and go to school so you won't have to dig ditches all your life."

I never forgot that. And I went to school. And I don't dig ditches for a living.

 

[budamacdvcr]

Happy Friday Eve Dads! Well the Genie is out of the bottle, we all new FastPass or whatever was going to go to a pay to play system. Not happy about it but not sure it is as bad as most reactions have been, Guess time will tell. Heck $15 is gets you 1.5 bears. Stay safe out there and remember, bacon, bourbon, cigars and Mickey bars!

We're down on the coast for the rest of the week. I'll post pics if I take anything interesting. Weather is a bit iffy (it's actually raining right now), but it beats being at work. Sorta...

I still have to be available to work if called, and I have a bunch that has to be done Sunday morning before we can pack up to head home (either that or I have to got back home Saturday to work Sunday).

I used to have four weeks vacation per year, but it's different since the company got sold. These folks give everyone "unlimited" vacation time. All you have to do is ask for it. What that actually translates to in practice is: "ask for time off any time that you truly believe your job isn't necessary, and then only if your director feels like you should be allowed to put that much burden on the company's time and profit margins." Needless to say, four weeks is now a distant memory and getting two across a year (never in secession either) can be questionable.



That was back on Sunday.
Tuesdays are for Tequila



Congrats on the score.
I was trying to get a reservation for our first planed day down there as well, but there is already no availability for the spot of choice. I will have to discuss back-up plans with the Missus when she gets up. I'd look into spots for the rest of the week, but those windows don't open up until 60 days before the individual day, so now it's just time to wait and see until tomorrow, and the next day and so on...



More points in favorer of the humble swine.

While I'm at it...
You've mentioned an excellent website catering to BBQ and Smokers in the past, but I can't find it in my notes anywhere. Care to share again?

Good to hear you have some time off to enjoy and sorry to hear about the BS handling of time off. Companies that do not support work / life balance are gonna loos good folks over the long term.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I just saw the new Disney Genie.
And... I'm not mad.
I guess... I pay extra at Universal for the Express pass and I love it. Just about zero wait times.
Yes, I get that if you have a large family it will add up.

So... pay a bit to skip the 90 minute line? You bet

At Universal, we had a 3-day ticket and I think I calculated that the express pass would cost us an extra $450. We decided that was too rich and took our chances with the peasant lines. it worked ok, but that was also during the off-season.

If my family of 6 got a 6-day Genie+ at WDW, it would be $540 total. On top of regular admission for 6. Yeesh. Let’s face it, it’s another cash grab.

Of course, we could just get it for one day or something like that. But it’s a whole new strategic element at the least.

Oh well. They haven’t found the price point at which people will stop going to Disney yet.

 

[londontime]

Heck $15 is gets you 1.5 bears

I always go to take home a couple of bears, but the TSA frowns on such things, even if I say they are a service animal. On the half one, do you go for the top or the bottom half?

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

And right on cue, now they have introduced paid Fast Passes.

Being on cue is one of their strong points, they are in the entertainment business.

This probably doesn't help, but my office in the process of destroying my soul as well.

Office: your old authorization forms have expired. Please submit new forms for all staff.

Me: (staff of 30 people submits forms) Ok, here you go. It took several man-hours, but we did it.

Office: those are the old forms. Re-submit the correct forms.

Me: (can't find difference in forms) Fine, whatever. (staff spends more hours on forms). Attached are the updated forms.

Office: many of these are not filled out correctly.

Me: They looked fine to me. I did not read all 30 of them.

Office: This person did not check this box.

Me: I don't give a sh-- Here is the corrected form.

(one week later)

Office: your authorization forms have been reviewed and the requests denied. We won't tell you why, but here is the 64-page policy document to review.

Exhausting...
Not sure which is worse; willful malicious intent, or blind bureaucratic indifference.

Well... yeah, I do know which is worse, but that don't make the other one any less abusive.

apparently, adulthood is not for her.

Me neither...
I with the young'en o this one.

I think that is the last perk of staying on site, the 60 days plus 10 for ADR. Good luck checking day by day. Hoping you get your preferred reservations.

Oddly, we are staying on site.
I accidently figured out a bit later in the day that if I went through the app on my phone rather then the web site I was able to chose dates later in the week. Quirky to say the least.

 

[declansdad]

So... pay a bit to skip the 90 minute line? You bet.

Just another cheap move by Chapek. another benefit lost unless you pay more for it and that is on top of increasing ticket prices. He is really trying to price most people out of the market. At least price them out of making regular trips.

 

[declansdad]

Stole this from one of the guys over in that other place.

 

[docsoliday1]

Stole this from one of the guys over in that other place.

View attachment 598320

It would be funny if it weren't so dang accurate.

Granted all jokes have a hint(sometimes more) of truth to them, but Disney used to be better than the others and frankly, when they're copying the others to make more money, more of the magic goes bye bye.

 

[pkondz]

At Universal, we had a 3-day ticket and I think I calculated that the express pass would cost us an extra $450. We decided that was too rich and took our chances with the peasant lines. it worked ok, but that was also during the off-season.

If my family of 6 got a 6-day Genie+ at WDW, it would be $540 total. On top of regular admission for 6. Yeesh. Let’s face it, it’s another cash grab.

Of course, we could just get it for one day or something like that. But it’s a whole new strategic element at the least.

Oh well. They haven’t found the price point at which people will stop going to Disney yet.

Yeah, you were the guy I was thinking about when I mentioned families. For a solo runner like myself (or maybe with an adult kid who will pay her own way for a lot of things), it's not a big deal. But $540? Not insignificant.

Just another cheap move by Chapek. another benefit lost unless you pay more for it and that is on top of increasing ticket prices. He is really trying to price most people out of the market. At least price them out of making regular trips.

It's not working. People are still going in droves.

Stole this from one of the guys over in that other place.

View attachment 598320

Not sure whether to or

It would be funny if it weren't so dang accurate.

Exactly what I was thinking.