Would you post the recipe for German Potato Salad?
I had some in San Francisco. Have gotten multiple recipes and wife has made them, and nothing like what I had. If you post, I'll nicely ask the wife to make it.
I remember Bob Gallup saying that intelligent people make the best respondents to polls. They believe what they say, and they enjoy the opportunity to share their thoughts
All I have to say to that is: Two vultures board an airplane, each carrying two dead raccoons. The flight attendant looks at them and says, "I'm sorry, gentlemen, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
I haven't given up on finding Dick and Jane - Run Spot Run (I am not sure that was part of the original deal), but if you go to this website you can read about how incredible these books are; Dick and Jane memoabilia
I didn't see Run Spot Run but I am still trying. Many of these rare copies are worth from $70 to $999.
I did find this one for a reasonable price: Stock Photo 3 Read with Dick and Jane books; "We Look" & "Go Away, Spot" & "Jump and Run (ISBN: 0448434024 / 0-448-43402-4)
Bookseller: Alf Books (Menomonie, WI, U.S.A.)
Bookseller Rating:
Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Grosset & Dunlap division of Penguin Young Readers Group/New York, 1984, 1984. soft cover, 2 book have a red stain on the lower left hand corner, 32 pages in each book, 6 x 9 inches, good book condition, no dust jacket, juvenile easy reader, Bookseller Inventory # A2636 (about $20)
I am going to try to track this down, and so I have called my lovely wife over to help me select our choices from your fantastic gourmet menu. After much consternation and lip smacking (not with each other) we have decided on; 1. Baby back BBQ ribs 9. Sweet potato casserole 3. Richard's chocolate chip fudge nut brownies
Don't worry, we won't drive up to your home with a big RV.
I have a friend, actually she is my wife's friend, who is constantly asking us for advice on everything from investing to what clothes she should buy. She kept wanting me to tell her what to invest in. After I gave her my recommendations she said "but so and so said to do this". She took so and so's advice with disastrous results and was soon back asking for my advice, which I politely declined.
I think women have a higher tolerance for people like this because she does this to my wife all the time. She will ask her advice and then will argue about it !! Sorry, but for me, on a deal like this, one strike and you're out !!
. He'll get a price from one dealer, then call around to 4 or 5 different dealers to check the price & always gives the 1st dealer the first right of refusal - if not, he moves on to the one who he got the best price from.
I like that method for a few reasons. The 1st dealer can't get the price exactly right. Going to other dealers gives your friend a chance to see if he can do better, and if the other dealers want the deal badly enough they can really go low. He comes back and gives the first dealer a chance again. I would only add, if the 1st dealer was a lot higher....I would make the 2nd dealer the one to go back to.
The poor guy though.....I don't think I could go out a 3rd time.
My response? I told her that I loved her but that the painting was just perfect where it is.
What a great response...there is an art to doing it right and this was perfect. You told her you weren't giving the picture back, but you didn't turn it into an argument or a big scene. She couldn't argue back, what you said was fair and reasonable.
Now, if you said, No way, you didn't want it so you're not going to get it back, a whole big argument would ensue...and we could watch it all on Judge Judy. Even JMonroe would watch that one!
j....nyc....I really hate it when someone asks for my assistance to buy a car. First and foremost, I lack any decision making in the process. The buyer can back door me at any time. At which time I quiz them, "why even ask me for help if you were going to do this on your own to begin with?".
Lord knows I've had plenty of competing dealers call me after I've already bought something and say they would have beat my deal by $50, sometimes a $100. At that point, I always say..."why didn't you knock $100 off my offer when you had the chance? You come in lower than my offer, I would have made that deal post haste."
I've never had a dealer counter with a lower number than I offer, though. If you're going to really get aggressive, the time to do it is when I'm in the dealership, while I'm right in front of you....not after the fact.
Makes me kind of wonder, how many more cars a sales person would sell if a buyer came in and offered one amount, and the dealership came back with a counter $50 less?
I can hear the "close" right now...."Mr GG, we're delighted to do business with you. We're going to take your offer and subtract $50 from it. We'll use that $50 as a good faith deposit while we do the paper work and get your car PDI."
Better yet, take the buyer to the nearest restaurant and give him/her a $50 lunch/dinner voucher. Tell them to have a meal on the dealership. Also, tell them you'll come back and pick them up after the car is prepped. The buyer can't shop the price since the dealership gave them a ride. Plus, they get a meal out of the deal which they can feel good about.
I mentioned about the frugality of my family when I was growing up. We lived in a safe neighborhood. It was by no means a wealthy one. And, looking back, was probably one of the poorer neighborhoods around my 'burg. Still, I never remember being scared, worried, or unsafe.
As neighbors would prosper, they usually moved out of the neighborhood. Some liked it, and just stayed there, even though they could afford to go to a decent middle class neighborhood.
Those who stayed, you could tell they were doing well since a new car would invariably show up in front of their homes (we didn't have garages, just gravel driveways).
One particular neighbor liked new cars, but always bought the very basest of Chevrolets. No power anything. Cloth bench seats. 3 on the tree. 6 cyl motors (in a sea of 8 cyl motors). Little chrome on the car (at a time when chrome was very popular). And, those little "button" hubcaps (like you see on current day police cars. While I was too young to really remember models, base Biscayne sedans seem to have been the base models....probably the very least expensive cars you could possibly buy in this country at the time.
But,, it was a NEW car, which was considered a luxury.
I advise friends about home theater systems on a frequent basis; I'll even install it 90% of the time. I just hate to see my friends get royally screwed by some HTS "professional" who will charge them a fortune and install a system that doesn't sound nearly as good as the one I can install for no more than 1/3 the price.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
. I certainly don't mind helping someone if they appreciate it and don't second guess me.
I keep trying to get Richard a book and he keeps changing what he wants. He expects me to find "Go Spot Go" when it doesn't exist any more. First he wanted a yellow Fun With Dick and Jane, now Spot has to be in it. This is harder than helping someone buy a car.
This is the most popular one around and it is $22. It has an amazing 58 reviews, 4 1/2 stars out of 5, and is 114,000 in ranking of all the books bought on Amazon.com. I will order a copy and have it sent right to his home. I am already making plans to get to his home for our delicious dinner. My wife wants to know if there are direct flights from Buffalo or Toronto. She doesn't like stopover flights.
This is more difficult than buying a car for someone. I think he says he only takes 20 minutes to buy a car...it's taking 6 months to buy a book!
Sorry to use your reply houdini to get to Richard but it was a good seguay.
I look at it this way, advice is just that advice. It is not a command just advice. Nothing says that the person asking for advice has to follow that advice. When I ask someone for advice I weigh that advice along with everything else I know about the subject. The person asking for the advice is the one making the decision and should not blindly follow any advice.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I grew up in Greensburg -- had myself a Steeler football suit when I was a kid. Mazeroski used to shop at my Dad's grocery store.
You’re one of the ones that got away early if I can put two and two together from your posts (somewhere in IL, I think). I don’t know what it is about this area, it surely isn’t the weather, but most people seem to stay or leave then come back like I did after living in SC for 5 years back in the mid 90’s.
Just last night we went to Mrs. jmonroe’s 25th high school reunion. I’m probably not allowed to say the real number of years so let’s just say it was the 25th anniversary of the 25th reunion . It was a very pleasurable night for both of us. Really both of us because even though she went to grade school then high school with these kids, I went to grade school with some of the kids from another one of the feeder schools to the high school that she graduated from that was in the city of Pittsburgh. My family moved to the burbs after I completed 8 th grade. So, while I didn’t graduate from high school with those kids, I sure did know a lot of them from either grade school, religious school or dances that we went to back in my grade school days.
I read the booklet that all students received about ‘where they are now’ and plenty of them are still living in the Burgh area. A lot have moved to Florida and warmer climates but only after they retired within the last few years. Like I said I don’t know what it is about this area because it can’t be the weather.
Those of us that are still here must be brain dead or worse but we’re happy being around the family so that’s the important thing for us.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
When it comes to buying USED cars, I think the color should be the LAST thing to consider unless it's something really bad.
Do you know how many times I have had to call the used car factory because a customer wanted a certain year, model, trim level, options, miles and color on a pre-owned car?
Well the least you could do is invite me to the dinner !!
If the dinner happens I will invite you out for dinner. I can't invite someone to a dinner someone else is making. But, thanks again for letting me reply to Richard via your post.
Here is the main secret: Use ONLY new red potatoes half peeled. ( People make the mistake of using Russet or Yellow potatoes) Make sure that the potatoes are about the same size so that they cook evenly. Cook until tender but DON'T over cook.
1/2 pound bacon (fry crisp and crumble. SAVE the drippings.) 1/3 cup vinegar PLUS water to make 1/2 cup 1 slightly beaten egg 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 5 cups diced cooked potatoes (I use small wedges.) 1/2 cup chopped onion (I prefer spring onions with the green tops.) 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Combine 1/3 cup of the bacon drippings with the next 5 ingredients. Heat and stir until thickened. Add potatoes, onion, and bacon---then toss all of it. Heat until warm. Add the parsley. It will serve 6. (I double the ingredients to serve 12 because it is a favorite. Don't double it until you see if you like it.)
Be completely honest and let me know what the two of you think. The San Francisco crowd may add sweet red peppers. I just can't remember.
This to me is almost as bad as the faulty nozzles. Something I think is shoddy and unethical.
We booked a cruise (probably our last, not our favorite way to travel, but makes sense when you want to see lots of different places in one trip) for September. It's on Royal Carribean which is supposed to be one of the best cruise lines, starts in Rome and 2 other stops in Italy, 3 in Greece, stop in Turkey (plans were made when they were friendly) and one stop in Egypt (same deal).
So, we signed up about 8 months ago. Here's the thing: They just sent an email asking us if we wanted to buy bottled water for the trip. You pre-buy and they come in 6, 12 or 24 packs at $3.75 a bottle. The water on the ship is drinking quality, but they are offering bottled water.
I'd rather pay $50 more a person for the trip than be nickeled and dimed to death. I know it isn't the end of the earth, it isn't a major catastrophe, it isn't worth getting an ulcer over, but, it's just plain poor business...nothing like aggravating people before they even go on their trip.
We have probably been on 8 or 9 crusies and have never been asked to pay for bottled water. We haven't gone to such exotic destinations but I've never heard of this. We have used Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Norwegian and we liked RC the best.
How can that not be your favorite way to travel??
Ever changing views, fantastic food and non stop entertainment for less than the price of staying in a Holiday Inn!
As much of a bargain as cruises are, they do have their ways of making money...oh I know making money isn't a good thing! On our last cruise a Budweiser was 7.60 which included the automatic 15% gratituty. They want you to buy the photos they take constantly and the shore excursions they push are spendy.
They are hurting right now and they are cheap selling theri cabins just to fill them. They are hoping you will spend lots of time in the bars and the casino so be careful.
One tip, if you are too tight with the buck you may not have a lot of fun.
Remember? Don't sweat the small stuff and that really is small stuff in the realm of things.
I do appreciate your searching for the book. I remember that the cover was yellow (1951-1953). I went to your link. There was one for $90--- "Hard at Work and Play". The cover looks right but, without seeing inside, I don't know if it has the "Run Spot run" sentences. I'm inclined to doubt it. You are correct. This was not part of your original search. In fact, we were helping our poster friend from India. I lead him to the correct series for his young son. You and I had a long discussion here about the value of learning to read from these books. Think HARD. Remember?
I'll cook your menu choices. Actually, I'll also fix some Southern fried chicken and that chocolate cake. You really would like mine. Even my Yankee brother-in-law loves them both.
You may have grown up in a poorer neighborhood, but your parents were rich in giving you character and manners. Both show in your posts.
Jmonroe said something about living close to home because of family. Having had such a small family---only one sibling and two cousins, I can so appreciate how important that is to some people.
I'll cook your menu choices. Actually, I'll also fix some Southern fried chicken and that chocolate cake. You really would like mine. Even my Yankee brother-in-law loves them both.
Being a Yankee and seeing you passing out recipes like you do, he probably refers to you as Betty Crocker; maybe even Julia.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I'm glad that the record is finally straight. There IS a big difference between "caring" and "being obsessed" about colors. Even in a used car, the color would be important to me. Then again, that's just me.
I swear. You get worse and worse. I'm one of the few posters here who takes 3-5 hours to buy a car. Where IS your memory? You are in the book business and love to read. Might I suggest that you read the previous 5,000 posts in order to get to know your Edmund's friends better?
As for the "Dick and Jane" book, I don't keep changing my mind. The book IS yellow and it does have Spot in it. I said that ages ago. I know that it's not in existence now. That's why it is so difficult to find.
I am definitely inviting Houdini to the dinner party. I need an interpreter to communicate with you. HELP!
How can that not be your favorite way to travel?? Ever changing views, fantastic food and non stop entertainment for less than the price of staying in a Holiday Inn!
I know, most people love cruises. I guess we find the at sea days to be long. If there are interesting stops then that would help. Usually, we are better off going on our own than taking a high priced tour. On our one and only previous cruise they would have a seminar about your next stop. Was it to teach you about the things you will see - No, it's about the shops they recommend you go to to get discounts.
It was funny to see people going to the deck to get their special drinks of the day. It was even more fun when they had to sign the bill for $12 a drink.
It is too much like mop n glo. I think most successful business's give you more than you expect. Getting exactly what you expect is nice in this day and age, but getting more is really special.
The best thing about a cruise to me is that you can go to a lot of stops and do it all from one hotel room. Not be flying from one place to another. I think people like that there isn't too much having to plan, things are done. You are treated like royalty.
I understand people loving cruising....but not for everyone.
A nice big chipped ham sandwich -- grilled or not-- on a big soft bun is calling me home. There is still an Islay's in the area. Stop back to see my brother from time to time.
Richard, thank you. You're kind and I should be more humble. I've learned more from the regulars here than I have from some I consider life long friends.
driver....about cruising. I agree it isn't for everyone. I've taken half of the amount of cruises as Craig has. But, I agree with him. It's a very cost effective way to vacation and travel.
That said, between the booze, the softdrinks/water, are for sale, pictures for sale, jewelry for sale and now, malls on board (RCL), they're trying to make up for the money they've been losing since travel and the economy as scaled back.
I also agree with Craig, NCL is probably the best, with RCL being the fastest growing (seems as if they're building the biggest cruise ship in the world at least every year).
My sisters and I are planning a Mediterranean cruise sometime next year, unless we can score a deal on one later on this year.
But, like any other vacation where you drink at the hotel bar, eat at the resort restaurants, etc, the prices are going to be more than drinking at your corner watering hole, or eating at you local diner.
Sorry 3 to 5 hours to buy a car...6 months to buy a book :P .
You are correct, you did ask for a yellow Dick and Jane but no mention of Spot. Post 41457 I've been meaning to ask you something since you are in the book business. Please find me a yellow, hardback "Dick and Jane" book. I've been looking in book stores, library sales, antique shops, etc. for years. They are so hard to find. I found a blue one, but the yellow ones were published first. I learned to read from them. It would be a thrill to own one of those. Let me know if you see one. I won't grind on it. I WILL pay MSRP!
Richard
I was taught don't worry if you don't remember facts....as long as you know how to look up the information.
I know you live in Pinehurst NC....also had to look that up to verify. I know you are close to Raleigh. How far by car? If we come it will be when it is cold here, between Dec and March.
I just don't see how ANYONE could not love going on a cruise.
Dollar for dollar they are beyond a doubt the best travel value anywhere.
I love the "at sea" days too! I can read, go to art auctions, wander the ship, do laps on deck, go to the casino or sit in a bar and listen to music.
The shops aren't "bad" things. If people want to buy watches or artwork, they can and sometimes the things they have for sale are pretty good deals.
OK, they don't have Happy Hour and a beer or a drink is probably a third more than at your local watering hole.
They have become VERY adapt at conficating booze that get's snuck on board. They take it and give it back the last day. Still, I have some friends that are so creative they get away with it.
But, like anything else, a cruise isn't for everyone.
Husband and I went on a cruise for our honeymoon, 24 years ago. This was in the Mediterranean, including several of the Greek islands, plus Turkey. It was delightful and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
The boat we were on was the one that sunk off the coast of South Africa several years later. Fortunately nothing anywhere near that dramatic happened on our trip.
Although we enjoyed it, we've never taken another cruise. Why, I don't know. Mostly because we tend to travel with our dogs, so that makes car travel most practical for us, though of course very limiting.
In our new Volvo, we hope to do a lot more traveling. It is proving to be a very good "cruising" car, getting 33 mpg on the highway. Much better than I expected.
to appeal to those who like to travel in packs -- very large packs. Many like to drive that way as well. Please include me out.
On a ship you're clearly in a mob (let's check in 2000-3000 people on the same day--oh boy), then you get to "go ashore" for a coreographed opportunity to see what that particular place has shown to be most popular. Knock yourselves out.
I had the occasion a few years ago to drive to Alaska & found myself in Skagway. The town was overrun by "cruisers" part of the day, during which standing in line was the rule. I much preferred the rest of the time, & even when the lemmings were doing their thing, I was driving to the head of the Chilkoot Trail & walking part of it. To stay (modrately) on topic, I think it's absolutely necessary to be driving one's own vehicle (even if it's rented) or on foot to experience anything worthwhile.
I travel alone, or with my family, and we do most of our stuff when the crownds aren't there. I find it very refreshing. I have any number of photos of my vehicle in empty parking lots at various tourist attractions. I treasure them almost as much as I do the memories of looking at or otherwise experiencing the site in the quiet -- no screaming kids, no Asian photo opportunities, no nothing. Just me (or us) and the place.
Haven't figured out how to do any of this with a ship involved, regardless of price.
I understand people loving cruising....but not for everyone.
I’m another that isn’t all that impressed with cruises either.
After years of hearing from ‘you know who’ about, “when are we going to take a cruise, when are we going to take a cruise, when are we ” We finally, in November of 2001, went on a cruise. Even got a cabin with a balcony just so I could give it a fair chance. It was nice, don’t get me wrong, but I can do without them.
I heard so much about the FOOD at the midnight buffet I had to go to it, the very first night just to see for myself what all the hoop la was about with this thing. I didn’t go to eat, I just wanted to observe. I was still stuffed from dinner and the people up there had the same type of meal I had but since it’s FREE and you get to stuff yourself, “why not” had to be their attitude. Again, don’t get me wrong because I like food as much as the next guy but there is a limit, even for me, as to how much I can eat.
The part that Mrs. j and I enjoyed the most was when we went to one of the beaches on Saint Croix and just relaxed and not hurried all around town to get in on all the jewelry sales that they pitched to everyone. In a way I was kind of surprised that she didn’t want to shop.
I never said a word about the cruise until I was asked while we were driving home after picking up the car at the parking lot. She asked, “well, how did you like it”? I said, “I guess you want an honest answer, right?” She said, “yeah, have you ever held back your opinion on anything”? I said, “it was nice but I’m in no hurry to go on another one anytime soon”. She said, “that’s exactly how I feel too”. :surprise:
Having said all that I think we will be going on a cruise with my brother and his wife (who live in southern FL) when they find a good deal with one of the travel agents that they deal with. I can wait until he finds a VERY GOOD deal. No sense in rushing a GOOD thing.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Well, I don't have anything to say on that, but one interesting (and cheap) cruise option is "dead heading". My Niece does this quite often. Some boats change locals, and they have to bring the boat over without the usual stops. say, does Mediterranean in summer, Caribbean in winter.
So, they sell cheap tickets for the cross-ocean run. Guess you still get the on-board experience, just not all the side trips. or most of the people. And I believe the tickets are real cheap, since they have to run the trip anyway.
so, do an overseas delivery on your new car, and take a dead head cruise back home (since they by default are 1 way trips!)
I look at it this way, advice is just that advice. It is not a command just advice. Nothing says that the person asking for advice has to follow that advice.
I agree, but what really annoys me is when someone doesn't follow my advice and then bends my ear complaining about the unpleasant consequences of their decision. Case in point: A tightwad co-worker asked me whether he should take his Jetta GLI to a local Goodyear franchise because they were offering a free tire rotation with every oil change. I told him I wouldn't do that on a bet. He took his VW there of course. He sat there for an 90 minutes only to find that the idiots had broken two of his OEM wheel locks. Oh yeah, they also told him "We don't carry none 'o them special Vee-Dub filters, so we didn't change the oil." Guess who heard about that fiasco for at least three days straight???
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
What I remember about the dish I am trying to re-create. The potatoes were sliced, somewhat thinly. In a drizzly white sauce which had a tangy, vinegary taste. This was in a German restaurant in San Francisco with dark, paneled walls, huge bar, and private dining rooms in the rear. The rest of the meal, a boiled pork offering, seemed like cooking from my youth in Arkansas.
But the salad was outstanding.
Dick and Jane. I hit first grade in 1950, in a very poor area of Arkansas. We had Dick and Jane reading books. I don't remember the color, but there definitely was Dick, Jane, Spot, seeing, and running. Wasn't there another friend, or parents, introduced later in the book?
Comments
I had some in San Francisco. Have gotten multiple recipes and wife has made them, and nothing like what I had. If you post, I'll nicely ask the wife to make it.
That's what I remember learning to read from. "See Dick. See Jane. See Spot. See Spot run. Run Spot run." Don't remember the color.
Fits me to a "T"..
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
hehe That was funny.
Dick and Jane memoabilia
I didn't see Run Spot Run but I am still trying. Many of these rare copies are worth from $70 to $999.
I did find this one for a reasonable price:
Stock Photo 3 Read with Dick and Jane books; "We Look" & "Go Away, Spot" & "Jump and Run (ISBN: 0448434024 / 0-448-43402-4)
Bookseller: Alf Books
(Menomonie, WI, U.S.A.)
Bookseller Rating:
Quantity Available: 1
Book Description: Grosset & Dunlap division of Penguin Young Readers Group/New York, 1984, 1984. soft cover, 2 book have a red stain on the lower left hand corner, 32 pages in each book, 6 x 9 inches, good book condition, no dust jacket, juvenile easy reader, Bookseller Inventory # A2636 (about $20)
I am going to try to track this down, and so I have called my lovely wife over to help me select our choices from your fantastic gourmet menu. After much consternation and lip smacking (not with each other) we have decided on;
1. Baby back BBQ ribs
9. Sweet potato casserole
3. Richard's chocolate chip fudge nut brownies
Don't worry, we won't drive up to your home with a big RV.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I think women have a higher tolerance for people like this because she does this to my wife all the time. She will ask her advice and then will argue about it !! Sorry, but for me, on a deal like this, one strike and you're out !!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I like that method for a few reasons. The 1st dealer can't get the price exactly right. Going to other dealers gives your friend a chance to see if he can do better, and if the other dealers want the deal badly enough they can really go low. He comes back and gives the first dealer a chance again. I would only add, if the 1st dealer was a lot higher....I would make the 2nd dealer the one to go back to.
The poor guy though.....I don't think I could go out a 3rd time.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
What a great response...there is an art to doing it right and this was perfect. You told her you weren't giving the picture back, but you didn't turn it into an argument or a big scene. She couldn't argue back, what you said was fair and reasonable.
Now, if you said, No way, you didn't want it so you're not going to get it back, a whole big argument would ensue...and we could watch it all on Judge Judy. Even JMonroe would watch that one!
Very smooth!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Lord knows I've had plenty of competing dealers call me after I've already bought something and say they would have beat my deal by $50, sometimes a $100. At that point, I always say..."why didn't you knock $100 off my offer when you had the chance? You come in lower than my offer, I would have made that deal post haste."
I've never had a dealer counter with a lower number than I offer, though. If you're going to really get aggressive, the time to do it is when I'm in the dealership, while I'm right in front of you....not after the fact.
Makes me kind of wonder, how many more cars a sales person would sell if a buyer came in and offered one amount, and the dealership came back with a counter $50 less?
I can hear the "close" right now...."Mr GG, we're delighted to do business with you. We're going to take your offer and subtract $50 from it. We'll use that $50 as a good faith deposit while we do the paper work and get your car PDI."
Better yet, take the buyer to the nearest restaurant and give him/her a $50 lunch/dinner voucher. Tell them to have a meal on the dealership. Also, tell them you'll come back and pick them up after the car is prepped. The buyer can't shop the price since the dealership gave them a ride. Plus, they get a meal out of the deal which they can feel good about.
I mentioned about the frugality of my family when I was growing up. We lived in a safe neighborhood. It was by no means a wealthy one. And, looking back, was probably one of the poorer neighborhoods around my 'burg. Still, I never remember being scared, worried, or unsafe.
As neighbors would prosper, they usually moved out of the neighborhood. Some liked it, and just stayed there, even though they could afford to go to a decent middle class neighborhood.
Those who stayed, you could tell they were doing well since a new car would invariably show up in front of their homes (we didn't have garages, just gravel driveways).
One particular neighbor liked new cars, but always bought the very basest of Chevrolets. No power anything. Cloth bench seats. 3 on the tree. 6 cyl motors (in a sea of 8 cyl motors). Little chrome on the car (at a time when chrome was very popular). And, those little "button" hubcaps (like you see on current day police cars. While I was too young to really remember models, base Biscayne sedans seem to have been the base models....probably the very least expensive cars you could possibly buy in this country at the time.
But,, it was a NEW car, which was considered a luxury.
I DO care about colors but I'm not obsessed with HAVING to have ONE certain color combination. Neither is my wife.
If a car comes in eight differecnt colors, we would probably be happy with three out of the eight.
When it comes to buying USED cars, I think the color should be the LAST thing to consider unless it's something really bad.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I keep trying to get Richard a book and he keeps changing what he wants. He expects me to find "Go Spot Go" when it doesn't exist any more. First he wanted a yellow Fun With Dick and Jane, now Spot has to be in it. This is harder than helping someone buy a car.
This is the most popular one around and it is $22. It has an amazing 58 reviews, 4 1/2 stars out of 5, and is 114,000 in ranking of all the books bought on Amazon.com. I will order a copy and have it sent right to his home. I am already making plans to get to his home for our delicious dinner. My wife wants to know if there are direct flights from Buffalo or Toronto. She doesn't like stopover flights.
This is more difficult than buying a car for someone. I think he says he only takes 20 minutes to buy a car...it's taking 6 months to buy a book!
Sorry to use your reply houdini to get to Richard but it was a good seguay.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
You’re one of the ones that got away early if I can put two and two together from your posts (somewhere in IL, I think). I don’t know what it is about this area, it surely isn’t the weather, but most people seem to stay or leave then come back like I did after living in SC for 5 years back in the mid 90’s.
Just last night we went to Mrs. jmonroe’s 25th high school reunion. I’m probably not allowed to say the real number of years so let’s just say it was the 25th anniversary of the 25th reunion
I read the booklet that all students received about ‘where they are now’ and plenty of them are still living in the Burgh area. A lot have moved to Florida and warmer climates but only after they retired within the last few years. Like I said I don’t know what it is about this area because it can’t be the weather.
Those of us that are still here must be brain dead or worse but we’re happy being around the family so that’s the important thing for us.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Do you know how many times I have had to call the used car factory because a customer wanted a certain year, model, trim level, options, miles and color on a pre-owned car?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
If the dinner happens I will invite you out for dinner. I can't invite someone to a dinner someone else is making. But, thanks again for letting me reply to Richard via your post.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Here is the main secret: Use ONLY new red potatoes half peeled. ( People make the mistake of using Russet or Yellow potatoes) Make sure that the potatoes are about the same size so that they cook evenly. Cook until tender but DON'T over cook.
1/2 pound bacon (fry crisp and crumble. SAVE the drippings.)
1/3 cup vinegar PLUS water to make 1/2 cup
1 slightly beaten egg
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
5 cups diced cooked potatoes (I use small wedges.)
1/2 cup chopped onion (I prefer spring onions with the green tops.)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Combine 1/3 cup of the bacon drippings with the next 5 ingredients. Heat and stir until thickened. Add potatoes, onion, and bacon---then toss all of it. Heat until warm. Add the parsley. It will serve 6. (I double the ingredients to serve 12 because it is a favorite. Don't double it until you see if you like it.)
Be completely honest and let me know what the two of you think. The San Francisco crowd may add sweet red peppers. I just can't remember.
Richard
Richard
We booked a cruise (probably our last, not our favorite way to travel, but makes sense when you want to see lots of different places in one trip) for September. It's on Royal Carribean which is supposed to be one of the best cruise lines, starts in Rome and 2 other stops in Italy, 3 in Greece, stop in Turkey (plans were made when they were friendly) and one stop in Egypt (same deal).
So, we signed up about 8 months ago. Here's the thing:
They just sent an email asking us if we wanted to buy bottled water for the trip. You pre-buy and they come in 6, 12 or 24 packs at $3.75 a bottle. The water on the ship is drinking quality, but they are offering bottled water.
I'd rather pay $50 more a person for the trip than be nickeled and dimed to death.
I know it isn't the end of the earth, it isn't a major catastrophe, it isn't worth getting an ulcer over, but, it's just plain poor business...nothing like aggravating people before they even go on their trip.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Well 50% ain't too bad.....better than some of my other marks. :P
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
How can that not be your favorite way to travel??
Ever changing views, fantastic food and non stop entertainment for less than the price of staying in a Holiday Inn!
As much of a bargain as cruises are, they do have their ways of making money...oh I know making money isn't a good thing! On our last cruise a Budweiser was 7.60 which included the automatic 15% gratituty. They want you to buy the photos they take constantly and the shore excursions they push are spendy.
They are hurting right now and they are cheap selling theri cabins just to fill them.
They are hoping you will spend lots of time in the bars and the casino so be careful.
One tip, if you are too tight with the buck you may not have a lot of fun.
Remember? Don't sweat the small stuff and that really is small stuff in the realm of things.
I'll cook your menu choices. Actually, I'll also fix some Southern fried chicken and that chocolate cake. You really would like mine. Even my Yankee brother-in-law loves them both.
Richard
I totally agree! My wife is much more tolerant. She keeps on "tick'in" and taking a "lick'in".
Richard
Jmonroe said something about living close to home because of family. Having had such a small family---only one sibling and two cousins, I can so appreciate how important that is to some people.
Richard
I know what you were going to say. Be patient. It won't last forever. :P
Richard
Being a Yankee and seeing you passing out recipes like you do, he probably refers to you as Betty Crocker; maybe even Julia.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Richard
Richard
As for the "Dick and Jane" book, I don't keep changing my mind. The book IS yellow and it does have Spot in it. I said that ages ago. I know that it's not in existence now. That's why it is so difficult to find.
I am definitely inviting Houdini to the dinner party. I need an interpreter to communicate with you. HELP!
Richard
Ever changing views, fantastic food and non stop entertainment for less than the price of staying in a Holiday Inn!
I know, most people love cruises. I guess we find the at sea days to be long. If there are interesting stops then that would help. Usually, we are better off going on our own than taking a high priced tour. On our one and only previous cruise they would have a seminar about your next stop. Was it to teach you about the things you will see - No, it's about the shops they recommend you go to to get discounts.
It was funny to see people going to the deck to get their special drinks of the day. It was even more fun when they had to sign the bill for $12 a drink.
It is too much like mop n glo. I think most successful business's give you more than you expect. Getting exactly what you expect is nice in this day and age, but getting more is really special.
The best thing about a cruise to me is that you can go to a lot of stops and do it all from one hotel room. Not be flying from one place to another. I think people like that there isn't too much having to plan, things are done. You are treated like royalty.
I understand people loving cruising....but not for everyone.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
driver....about cruising. I agree it isn't for everyone. I've taken half of the amount of cruises as Craig has. But, I agree with him. It's a very cost effective way to vacation and travel.
That said, between the booze, the softdrinks/water, are for sale, pictures for sale, jewelry for sale and now, malls on board (RCL), they're trying to make up for the money they've been losing since travel and the economy as scaled back.
I also agree with Craig, NCL is probably the best, with RCL being the fastest growing (seems as if they're building the biggest cruise ship in the world at least every year).
My sisters and I are planning a Mediterranean cruise sometime next year, unless we can score a deal on one later on this year.
But, like any other vacation where you drink at the hotel bar, eat at the resort restaurants, etc, the prices are going to be more than drinking at your corner watering hole, or eating at you local diner.
You are correct, you did ask for a yellow Dick and Jane but no mention of Spot.
Post 41457
I've been meaning to ask you something since you are in the book business. Please find me a yellow, hardback "Dick and Jane" book. I've been looking in book stores, library sales, antique shops, etc. for years. They are so hard to find. I found a blue one, but the yellow ones were published first. I learned to read from them. It would be a thrill to own one of those. Let me know if you see one. I won't grind on it. I WILL pay MSRP!
Richard
I was taught don't worry if you don't remember facts....as long as you know how to look up the information.
I know you live in Pinehurst NC....also had to look that up to verify. I know you are close to Raleigh. How far by car? If we come it will be when it is cold here, between Dec and March.
Hope the extra dishes still apply.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Dollar for dollar they are beyond a doubt the best travel value anywhere.
I love the "at sea" days too! I can read, go to art auctions, wander the ship, do laps on deck, go to the casino or sit in a bar and listen to music.
The shops aren't "bad" things. If people want to buy watches or artwork, they can and sometimes the things they have for sale are pretty good deals.
OK, they don't have Happy Hour and a beer or a drink is probably a third more than at your local watering hole.
They have become VERY adapt at conficating booze that get's snuck on board. They take it and give it back the last day. Still, I have some friends that are so creative they get away with it.
But, like anything else, a cruise isn't for everyone.
Husband and I went on a cruise for our honeymoon, 24 years ago. This was in the Mediterranean, including several of the Greek islands, plus Turkey. It was delightful and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
The boat we were on was the one that sunk off the coast of South Africa several years later. Fortunately nothing anywhere near that dramatic happened on our trip.
Although we enjoyed it, we've never taken another cruise. Why, I don't know. Mostly because we tend to travel with our dogs, so that makes car travel most practical for us, though of course very limiting.
In our new Volvo, we hope to do a lot more traveling. It is proving to be a very good "cruising" car, getting 33 mpg on the highway. Much better than I expected.
I think it would be a good idea to have cruises, with dogs. It would be a great time for dog owners and their dogs.
They have singles cruises, nude cruises, why not cruises for dog lovers?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
On a ship you're clearly in a mob (let's check in 2000-3000 people on the same day--oh boy), then you get to "go ashore" for a coreographed opportunity to see what that particular place has shown to be most popular. Knock yourselves out.
I had the occasion a few years ago to drive to Alaska & found myself in Skagway. The town was overrun by "cruisers" part of the day, during which standing in line was the rule. I much preferred the rest of the time, & even when the lemmings were doing their thing, I was driving to the head of the Chilkoot Trail & walking part of it. To stay (modrately) on topic, I think it's absolutely necessary to be driving one's own vehicle (even if it's rented) or on foot to experience anything worthwhile.
I travel alone, or with my family, and we do most of our stuff when the crownds aren't there. I find it very refreshing. I have any number of photos of my vehicle in empty parking lots at various tourist attractions. I treasure them almost as much as I do the memories of looking at or otherwise experiencing the site in the quiet -- no screaming kids, no Asian photo opportunities, no nothing. Just me (or us) and the place.
Haven't figured out how to do any of this with a ship involved, regardless of price.
I’m another that isn’t all that impressed with cruises either.
After years of hearing from ‘you know who’ about, “when are we going to take a cruise, when are we going to take a cruise, when are we ” We finally, in November of 2001, went on a cruise. Even got a cabin with a balcony just so I could give it a fair chance. It was nice, don’t get me wrong, but I can do without them.
I heard so much about the FOOD at the midnight buffet I had to go to it, the very first night just to see for myself what all the hoop la was about with this thing. I didn’t go to eat, I just wanted to observe. I was still stuffed from dinner and the people up there had the same type of meal I had but since it’s FREE and you get to stuff yourself, “why not” had to be their attitude. Again, don’t get me wrong because I like food as much as the next guy but there is a limit, even for me, as to how much I can eat.
The part that Mrs. j and I enjoyed the most was when we went to one of the beaches on Saint Croix and just relaxed and not hurried all around town to get in on all the jewelry sales that they pitched to everyone. In a way I was kind of surprised that she didn’t want to shop.
I never said a word about the cruise until I was asked while we were driving home after picking up the car at the parking lot. She asked, “well, how did you like it”? I said, “I guess you want an honest answer, right?” She said, “yeah, have you ever held back your opinion on anything”? I said, “it was nice but I’m in no hurry to go on another one anytime soon”. She said, “that’s exactly how I feel too”. :surprise:
Having said all that I think we will be going on a cruise with my brother and his wife (who live in southern FL) when they find a good deal with one of the travel agents that they deal with. I can wait until he finds a VERY GOOD deal. No sense in rushing a GOOD thing.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Well, I don't have anything to say on that, but one interesting (and cheap) cruise option is "dead heading". My Niece does this quite often. Some boats change locals, and they have to bring the boat over without the usual stops. say, does Mediterranean in summer, Caribbean in winter.
So, they sell cheap tickets for the cross-ocean run. Guess you still get the on-board experience, just not all the side trips. or most of the people. And I believe the tickets are real cheap, since they have to run the trip anyway.
so, do an overseas delivery on your new car, and take a dead head cruise back home (since they by default are 1 way trips!)
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I can tell you have never been in either the Navy or Coast Guard and stationed on board a ship.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I agree, but what really annoys me is when someone doesn't follow my advice and then bends my ear complaining about the unpleasant consequences of their decision. Case in point: A tightwad co-worker asked me whether he should take his Jetta GLI to a local Goodyear franchise because they were offering a free tire rotation with every oil change. I told him I wouldn't do that on a bet. He took his VW there of course. He sat there for an 90 minutes only to find that the idiots had broken two of his OEM wheel locks. Oh yeah, they also told him "We don't carry none 'o them special Vee-Dub filters, so we didn't change the oil."
Guess who heard about that fiasco for at least three days straight???
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
We took one cruise and that was much more than enough. The only thing we really enjoyed was a bike tour we took while ashore in Jamaica.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Now, to ask the wife, nicely, to make this.
What I remember about the dish I am trying to re-create. The potatoes were sliced, somewhat thinly. In a drizzly white sauce which had a tangy, vinegary taste. This was in a German restaurant in San Francisco with dark, paneled walls, huge bar, and private dining rooms in the rear. The rest of the meal, a boiled pork offering, seemed like cooking from my youth in Arkansas.
But the salad was outstanding.
Dick and Jane.
I hit first grade in 1950, in a very poor area of Arkansas. We had Dick and Jane reading books. I don't remember the color, but there definitely was Dick, Jane, Spot, seeing, and running. Wasn't there another friend, or parents, introduced later in the book?