Happy Halloween

This is Marty dressed up and ready to trick or treat.

Forty Five Years

Happy Birthday, Philip

The Boy Can Do Anything.....

My son is in first grade. Recently he came home with work he had completed in class. It was a flip booklet where the student finished the following phrases:

I can.....

I can....

I can....

I can't....(yet)

Here is how my son completed the phrases: (his spelling is followed by my translation)

I can...brpwneveriwont (burp whenever I want)
I can...karttwele (cartwheel)
I can...fite (fight)
I can't...(yet) fart wnever i wot (fart whenever I want)

Little boys....gotta love 'em

Suite vs. Two Rooms

Customers often times will suggest that the large party with which they are traveling could stay all in one suite to save money. Now, staying in a suite is a great idea. There are many advantages.

Recently the Banks side of our family traveled to Puerto Vallarta and stayed at the Marival Resort and Suites. My Inlaws had a 2 bedroom suite with a nice living area. It was great to be able to be in our living room to visit, play cards and what not. We had a full dining room table and frequently ordered room service when going down to a restaurant just wasn't happening.

It was great to have a suite. It wasn't, however, less expensive.

It rarely is.

For instance, I just priced a DIsney package for a family of 6. I priced a 2 bedroom villa vs two rooms at a moderate resort. The villa was about 60% higher total than the two rooms at the moderate resort.

There are many reasons for getting a suite or villa. Cost savings isn't usually one of them.

More Soon

Going Overboard At Starbucks

Since the kids are out of school today, they came to work with me. On the way to work we stopped at Starbucks.

Today in Dallas it is about 50 degrees and rainy. Basically, this is the day that Winnie the Pooh talked about. I ordered the Carmel Apple Spice. It's a wonderful drink. Hot Apple Cider, Caramel Sauce and whipped cream. Just the thing to warm you up inside.

Sadly, the Starbucks we stopped at didn't have enough Apple Cider to fill my Grande order. The gave me a tall Caramel Apple Spice, a Venti Tazo Refresh, and a certificate for a free drink next time I come in.

Am I upset they were out of cider? Not at all. Not just because I totally scored on free and extra drinks, but also because the Barister cared enough to offer the extra things to make up for my disappointment. It wasn't the free stuff, it was the caring behind the free stuff.

More Soon.

Being Neighborly

I just got back from taking a Banana Pudding to our neighbors across the street. Along with the Banana Pudding I returned the plate on which my neighbor brought over a wonderful gift of Couscous. They are Turkish and she cooks the most wonderful things. Before the Couscous I received some wonderful meatballs, before that a wonderful Lentil Stew. She's a great cook.

My other neighbor has brought over muffins and cupcakes. I took fresh Basil to a few neighbors from my abundant plants recently.

If you don't know your neighbors, bake some cookies and deliver them by hand. You'll make friends really quickly!

My Staff is Scattered Across the Globe

Today Marty is in Aruba at the Occidental Grand Aruba. Lindsey is in Mazatlan. Terrah, Philip and I are holding down the fort.

I can't wait to hear updates when everyone is home.

More Soon.

"Based on Double Occupancy"

In advertisments about various vacation packages, I'm sure you've seen the term "Based on Double Occupancy". This means that the price advertised is based on the cost of the room being shared by two occupants. Therefore, if only one person bears the cost of the room you can expect it to be higher.

Bulk vs. Published Air

Airlines offer pricing referred to as "Bulk" airfare through certain tour operators when purchased with a hotel stay. The advantages of a bulk are fare are several.

1) They are often (but not always) less expensive.
2) They don't require full payment at time of booking (unless booked close in).
3) They aren't always completely non refundable.

Published airfares are the kind you usually buy. They are instant purchase, non refundable, hard to change, etc.

What a great idea!

You probably already know that Starbucks is giving one free download of a specfic song each day between now and November 8. All you do is go to Starbucks and buy a drink and they give you the card with the code. (You KNOW you already go and buy a drink at Starbucks every day, right?)

What a cool marketing idea. I'm not above letting it sway me to stop in when I might not otherwise do so. One thing I like about it is that I tend to get stuck in a music rut. With the Starbucks downloads it encourages me to download and listen to music that I might not choose myself.

Direct vs Nonstop

A Nonstop flight makes no stops between point A and point B.


A Direct flight is one that makes a stop between point A and point B, but does not require a change of planes.

For instance, a flight that goes from Dallas, makes a stop in Chicago, then continues to Buffalo would be nonstop to Chicago, but direct to Buffalo.

If you got on a plane in Dallas, changed planes in Chicago then took a second flight to Buffalo that wouldbe called a connection.

Video Games

I just bought my son this video game. I have never willingly purchased a video game because I feel they are a phenominal waste of time.

His head is going to explode.

A New Resident

It appears that we have a new friend in our back yard.

All Work and no Play......

If you tried to call our office on Friday you already know that our whole staff has been at a training conference Thursday afternoon, all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. We went to alot of classes and learned a great deal.

They also divided us arbitrarily into teams and challenged us to create a promotion for assigned products. Out of 25 teams, mine and Philip's team won 2nd place. We were so proud.

The Saturday night activitity was a Disney Dreams dinner. Ivana Dream was our fairy godmother of the evening. She was hysterial. Above please see Terrah and Marty dancing with Captain Jack Sparrow.