OT: Our PDO sucks. Let's lighten the mood! Free Slurpees & Bagel Brawls

[The Winter Soldier]

QC would be a nice long-weekend trip.

I took Latin for 8 years, so Rome is probably the only place I'd wind up being the stereotypical tourist, but I'm okay with that.

You'll love both. Rome is really a place where you could spends weeks visiting. The Vatican was sensory overload. Cheers mate. Hope you get to see all the places on your bucket list.

 

[Islesfan22]

With the WorldCup over this has been a really slow sports month. Even though my expectations are rather low i can't wait unit the islanders season starts already.

 

[Quickdraw2828]

This is the 6th summer in a rowI have spent in Europe and the towns are all starting to look the same. But you can't beat it for the history and architecture.

I visited Italy each of the last three years. We recently visited Tuscany's hill towns, I have to say they we're all looking the same after a while. Incredible though.

We're going to Porto Portugal in the spring, I hope we end up there and I don't change plans for another italy visit. I think I'm addicted to Italy, and I'm not even Italian.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I visited Italy each of the last three years. We recently visited Tuscany's hill towns, I have to say they we're all looking the same after a while. Incredible though.

We're going to Porto Portugal in the spring, I hope we end up there and I don't change plans for another italy visit. I think I'm addicted to Italy, and I'm not even Italian.

Is Florence in Tuscany? We were there when we toured Italy. There is a town on top of a hill called Fiesole, quite beautiful. Yeah I get you there, after awhile Europe starts looking the same. Not complaining though.

 

[Quickdraw2828]

Is Florence in Tuscany? We were there when we toured Italy. There is a town on top of a hill called Fiesole, quite beautiful. Yeah I get you there, after awhile Europe starts looking the same. Not complaining though.

Yes Florence is in Tuscany, and I know of Fiesole.

The only thing I'd say to Europeans is, "get some damn window screens". I spent so much of my trip planning trying to get into a place that wouldn't have bugs or mosquitoes flying in the windows at night. So I stayed in a place right over the water so it was breezy and bug free , another place with screens (try finding that) ,and one with a powerful air conditioner I controlled in the room and not the guy at the front desk setting it to 8o degrees.

 

[BMOK33]

I visited Italy each of the last three years. We recently visited Tuscany's hill towns, I have to say they we're all looking the same after a while. Incredible though.

We're going to Porto Portugal in the spring, I hope we end up there and I don't change plans for another italy visit. I think I'm addicted to Italy, and I'm not even Italian.

This is why I never understand how anyone can regularly take cruises to the Caribbean or Latin America. Eventually the routine becomes mundane. If you want to tell me you want to go to Alaska or the Mediterranean after you’ve gone a Caribbean one I guess that makes sense. But to me it’s pretty much one and done with cruises after you’ve gone on one anywhere in that first region

 

[Quickdraw2828]

This is why I never understand how anyone can regularly take cruises to the Caribbean or Latin America. Eventually the routine becomes mundane. If you want to tell me you want to go to Alaska or the Mediterranean after you’ve gone a Caribbean one I guess that makes sense. But to me it’s pretty much one and done with cruises after you’ve gone on one anywhere in that first region

I've never taken a cruise, but the size of the ships and the number of new boats is absolutely ruining European destinations. Throw in the influx of relatively new tourism from Asia (not that they don't deserve vacations like everyone else) and many destinations have been ruined, particularly in the summer. It's like Disneyland on a crowded day.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

f*** cruises. Those boats will sink.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Yes Florence is in Tuscany, and I know of Fiesole.

The only thing I'd say to Europeans is, "get some damn window screens". I spent so much of my trip planning trying to get into a place that wouldn't have bugs or mosquitoes flying in the windows at night. So I stayed in a place right over the water so it was breezy and bug free , another place with screens (try finding that) ,and one with a powerful air conditioner I controlled in the room and not the guy at the front desk setting it to 8o degrees.

Are you a hostels person, Air B&B or Hotel person? I can only do hotels. They do not have to be 5 star. But I like a clean bed, shower, and very important AC. I don't know what we would have done without AC in Rome. You probably know this, Rome is oppressively hot and humid in the summer. My favourite country I have visited is Switzerland. It's beauty is unmatched to any country I have been lucky to visit. The Alps are unforgettable, the whole county is amazing.

 

[Quickdraw2828]

Are you a hostels person, Air B&B or Hotel person? I can only do hotels. They do not have to be 5 star. But I like a clean bed, shower, and very important AC. I don't know what we would have done without AC in Rome. You probably know this, Rome is oppressively hot and humid in the summer. My favourite country I have visited is Switzerland. It's beauty is unmatched to any country I have been lucky to visit. The Alps are unforgettable, the whole county is amazing.

I usually rent apartments for longer stays on air bnb or booking.com. Hotels for short stays. Most of Italy is ridiculously hot (and crowded) in the summer so we go in May or Sep. Switzerland alps are so breathtaking you feel like they are fake, like on a movie set. We went to Switzerland in early May to try and get cool weather but instead we got one of the worst heatwaves in the country's history. Lower cities around 103 and 90's in the alps.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I usually rent apartments for longer stays on air bnb or booking.com. Hotels for short stays. Most of Italy is ridiculously hot (and crowded) in the summer so we go in May or Sep. Switzerland alps are so breathtaking you feel like they are fake, like on a movie set. We went to Switzerland in early May to try and get cool weather but instead we got one of the worst heatwaves in the country's history. Lower cities around 103 and 90's in the alps.

That's a good idea, if you can get away from work. Low to mid season is a good time to go. I can only get away in the summer usually for longer trips. Jungfrahjoch/Interlaken region is the most breathtaking scenery that I have seen. Going up to the top of the Eiger face mountain by train was unforgettable.

 

[PK Cronin]

This is why I never understand how anyone can regularly take cruises to the Caribbean or Latin America. Eventually the routine becomes mundane. If you want to tell me you want to go to Alaska or the Mediterranean after you’ve gone a Caribbean one I guess that makes sense. But to me it’s pretty much one and done with cruises after you’ve gone on one anywhere in that first region

I also don't like that the more places you visit, the more you're rushed. You go on a cruise for a week that goes to four places and you get to spend 6 hours at each location before you need to leave. If the casino and pool are all people are after, I can think of a lot better places to go to.

 

[sabremike]

WWE is doing an online presale for the all women's PPV at the Coliseum on 10/28 starting this Tuesday. Code is PPV1.

 

[PK Cronin]

I recently watched "The Babysitter" on Netflix. If any of you guys like horrible horror movies, this one is for you. It had me laughing at how ridiculous the whole thing was but the production quality was top notch.

 

[PWJunior]

Nylander is a good forward, and Toronto clearly needs defence, but not only are they looking for an awful lot, but why would anyone think another team with sub-par defence would be willing to trade what little they have?

I'm not criticizing our defence, which may actually be better than Toronto's, but if you want to trade for a defenceman, or any other position, you look to a team that has too many good ones, not too few.

In the one thread we're not supposed to talk hockey... we're talking hockey. Haha. Let's discuss hockey elsewhere and keep this thread about OT stuff.

Like how Chik-Fil-A sauce is a wondrous concoction of awesomeness. A friend of mine had never had CFA so we went to the one in Hicksville. I was hyping up the sauce and he's not easily impressed type. When he tried that first waffle fry (amazing too) with the sauce, he didn't seem impressed at first. His initial response was that it was ok. When he finished the fries and 2 CFA sauces, he tells me it's 'really good' which translates to 'holy shit' for him.

Chik-Fil-A Waffle Fries with CFA sauce is a killer combo.

 

[PK Cronin]

In the one thread we're not supposed to talk hockey... we're talking hockey. Haha. Let's discuss hockey elsewhere and keep this thread about OT stuff.

Like how Chik-Fil-A sauce is a wondrous concoction of awesomeness. A friend of mine had never had CFA so we went to the one in Hicksville. I was hyping up the sauce and he's not easily impressed type. When he tried that first waffle fry (amazing too) with the sauce, he didn't seem impressed at first. His initial response was that it was ok. When he finished the fries and 2 CFA sauces, he tells me it's 'really good' which translates to 'holy ****' for him.

Chik-Fil-A Waffle Fries with CFA sauce is a killer combo.

Agreed about the hockey talk. I've moved it to the appropriate thread.

I'm not a big fan of Chik-Fil-A myself, I usually opt for just about any other place over it. Maybe I'll have to revisit it.

 

[Brunomics]

So I'm in the process of saving for a house and to be honest it's a bit overwhelming. My wife and I both have great jobs(I'm a program manager and she's a teacher) but with student loans, apartment living and just trying to live frugally it seems like such a mountain to climb with how ridiculous housing prices are. If you think about it for a 300k house you need 60k down payment plus taxes up front plus closing costs. So it's really about 80k before you get into even having money for any type of work that needs to be done.

For all of you that bought homes I don't know how you pulled it off. But this process is painful and demoralizing.

 

[PK Cronin]

So I'm in the process of saving for a house and to be honest it's a bit overwhelming. My wife and I both have great jobs(I'm a program manager and she's a teacher) but with student loans, apartment living and just trying to live frugally it seems like such a mountain to climb with how ridiculous housing prices are. If you think about it for a 300k house you need 60k down payment plus taxes up front plus closing costs. So it's really about 80k before you get into even having money for any type of work that needs to be done.

For all of you that bought homes I don't know how you pulled it off. But this process is painful and demoralizing.

I'll encourage anyone and everyone who will listen, the answer is to move away from New York. Teachers don't make nearly enough early on there, so unless they're living at their parents and banking the majority of their salary, it takes too long to get to the point where you're making significant money and can afford New York prices. I may have said it in this very thread, but every single one of my friends who left New York is in a better position financially than almost everyone who stayed. Leaving really accelerates all other life decisions (buying a house, getting married, having children, etc.). There are a few jobs that are really awesome to have in New York, the rest just put you on the treadmill where it's a struggle to get ahead.

Good luck on saving up and finding the right place. I know that market is really competitive at the moment.

 

[sabremike]

So after last night we all WALK WITH ELIAS right????????

 

[doublechili]

So I'm in the process of saving for a house and to be honest it's a bit overwhelming. My wife and I both have great jobs(I'm a program manager and she's a teacher) but with student loans, apartment living and just trying to live frugally it seems like such a mountain to climb with how ridiculous housing prices are. If you think about it for a 300k house you need 60k down payment plus taxes up front plus closing costs. So it's really about 80k before you get into even having money for any type of work that needs to be done.

For all of you that bought homes I don't know how you pulled it off. But this process is painful and demoralizing.

I read an article recently about some new loan programs for first time homebuyers that require significantly less than 20% down payment. Not sure about qualification requirements, etc., and obviously you have to also be comfortable with the monthly payment, but it might be worth looking into.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

I'll encourage anyone and everyone who will listen, the answer is to move away from New York. Teachers don't make nearly enough early on there, so unless they're living at their parents and banking the majority of their salary, it takes too long to get to the point where you're making significant money and can afford New York prices. I may have said it in this very thread, but every single one of my friends who left New York is in a better position financially than almost everyone who stayed. Leaving really accelerates all other life decisions (buying a house, getting married, having children, etc.). There are a few jobs that are really awesome to have in New York, the rest just put you on the treadmill where it's a struggle to get ahead.

Good luck on saving up and finding the right place. I know that market is really competitive at the moment.

I've taken this advice to heart. Charlotte, NC here I come! (as of 10/1)

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

I read an article recently about some new loan programs for first time homebuyers that require significantly less than 20% down payment. Not sure about qualification requirements, etc., and obviously you have to also be comfortable with the monthly payment, but it might be worth looking into.

You haven't needed 20% for your first home in like... forever.

 

[notDatsyuk]

In the one thread we're not supposed to talk hockey... we're talking hockey. Haha. Let's discuss hockey elsewhere and keep this thread about OT stuff.

Like how Chik-Fil-A sauce is a wondrous concoction of awesomeness. A friend of mine had never had CFA so we went to the one in Hicksville. I was hyping up the sauce and he's not easily impressed type. When he tried that first waffle fry (amazing too) with the sauce, he didn't seem impressed at first. His initial response was that it was ok. When he finished the fries and 2 CFA sauces, he tells me it's 'really good' which translates to 'holy ****' for him.

Chik-Fil-A Waffle Fries with CFA sauce is a killer combo.

Sorry. Just responding to a post, and not thinking about what the thread was.

 

[Quicklime]

Moving from Austin, Texas to Denver has been like going from wearing a parachute onesie that spent 14 years at the bottom of a latrine to snapping my fingers and being clean, rested and finding myself in a $5,000 suit.

Went from unemployed hell to a new job and THEN a promotion. In under 4 months.

If anyone plans on hitting Denver around December 17th? Isles are in town!

 

[Brunomics]

You haven't needed 20% for your first home in like... forever.

My understanding is if you don't put down 20% you get stuck paying PMI(basically throwing your money away). So while you don't have to you are screwing yourself by not putting it down.