What's the Deal With Timeshares?

We went to Carmel this weekend. We stayed at the Highlands Inn as we were invited by the Hyatt to come at a large discount, listen to a presentation and receive a gift certificate for $100 good for meals at the hotel. We decided to try it. We have friends who tell us we are crazy not to take EVERY offer of a time share boondoggle. They say we should take the "free" trips and have a good time, afterall, you are not forced to purchase. We've never done it because it didn't seem right. However, we are fans of the Hyatt in Kauai and if buying a timeshare here can get us there more often, well SIGN US UP!

We drove to Carmel in an absolute downpour. But of all the places to be during a storm, the pacific coast is a darn good one. We arrive, it is lovely as promised. We check in, they assign us a room and a man to take us there. When he opens the door, we are puzzled... this isn't a timeshare condo. He confirms that and heads out. We call the front desk...
us: there must be a problem,
them: no there is not a timeshare room available,
us: can we change rooms,
them: no we can't move you,
us: but we don't have an ocean view unless we are standing in the closet,
them: well that is a view of the ocean then isn't it?
us: wow.

Now we are pissed off. We can't leave because if we don't sit through the presentation we get charged full price for the room for 2 nights. The hotel says they don't have any control over the timeshare rooms and the timeshare folks don't have anything to do with the hotel. So what are you going to do?

We got drunk and spent a wad on food. Why, what would you have done?

Netflix Friends

I've signed up for Netflix. I actually signed up about a year ago and I have become an addicted. I have over 350 movies on my list and I can't watch them fast enough.

Netflix offers their members to chance to connect to their friends through Netflix. You get to look at what they have watched, what they liked and disliked and what is currently on their list. That's great you might think. Well, not so much. First of all, my mom is one of my Netflix friends. Not really a big deal since my mom and I are good friends, but it does cross my mind as a put movies on my list, and as I rate them.

BUT what has become more of a problem is when I completely disagree with one of my friends about a movie. I was just looking through some of the movies my friend Fred liked, rated 4-5 stars. Right there in the middle of the list was "The English Patient". He loved it. I can never look at Fred the same way again. The movie was a strange slow torture forced on the world. It was a horrible book and an even worse movie. How can Fred and I be friends? How can I look Fred in the eye? I must confront him.

Boot Camp/Powder Puff Holiday Drink

The 3rd annual Holiday Drink took place once again at City Pub in Redwood City. We had a good turn out! We had the chance to meet Cathy, Robin's fiance, and welcome her to the fold. We had Finn Marchi dancing on the tables (he's only 9 months old) and smearing Cheerio and teething toast mush all around. Bob was our newcomer so we made him pay - what a sport! We tried and tried and tried to get Robin to come join us at Powder Puff Camp, but he just laughted. Curses.

Let's Get Started

Alright, due to peer pressure, I've set up my blog now. Enjoy the read.