Help Chicky & Bean Get to CGE!

[Cebus Capucinis]

I wasn't sure where to post this so if it needs moved to somewhere more appropriate, a mod knows best!

 

So we all know that we want Chicky to show up and hang out with us at CGE. She's a very vital part of the AtariAge family and it just isn't the same without her! But as we all know, circumstances can get in the way -- health issues, monetary issues, what have you. What I am wondering is if we can pool together as a community and provide resources to help one of our most respected, wonderful, amazing moderators and members be there at CGE 2010!

 

We have until July 31 to figure this out. Who wants to help Chickybaby get to CGE? I'm sure if we all pitched in $10-$20 it wouldn't take that many of us to be able to buy plane tickets and whatnot.

 

What do you guys say? Can we do it? It really shouldn't be that hard and it seriously won't be the same without her there.

 

I'm in for a $20, for starters. We'll need someone to collect the funds (pref. Al, or a mod) who we can PayPal our $ to and then they will arrange the details.

[Albert]

I'm in for at least $50 and I'd be glad to pool all the funds together and then present it as a lump sum to Chicky. I can take credit card payments as well as PayPal.

 

..Al

[Cebus Capucinis]

Okay! Albert is our Master of Ceremonies then! Well then I'm just going to have to match that donation! $50 from me now!

[Tom-Lynx]

I bought one of the $10 raffle entries for CGE before Al had to shut it down, but the PayPal entry went through. With Al's agreement, I would like to donate that $10.

[CPUWIZ]

I am in.

[Chickybaby]

Oh, Ceebies you are far too kind.

Didn't get a chance to post in this thread earlier and I don't have the energy to argue so I will say you guys are too generous. I really want to see my family that I haven't met and I have been saving up for that as most of you know but there is no way I could afford everything especially with current medical expenses.

The one thing besides finances that could stop me (as long as I am alive and able to travel) is that I am awaiting a call back from the Dr. about stuff that will have to be done around that time in regards to health issues or also if those conditions worsen. I also would very much need pain medicine etc for all the walking/traveling.

 

Because it's a long plane flight(5hrs) Bean and I would have to get there at least 1-2 day early and have to stay 1-2 day after because of the stress of travel on both of us physically, the very bad state of my immune system, and a 5hr plane flight. She gets vicious jet lag after 3hr+ flight and it takes a day or two for both of us to recover going by past experience, as long as I don't get sick which is a very big risk for me. Ideally a minimum trip staying somewhere is 4-5 days honestly and staying less is not possible especially with how much activity an event like this would include.

 

I would need the flights which would have to be nonstop and I usually fly with Southwest because they have been amazingly good about a very gimpy mommy flying alone with a little one, would need hotel, transport to and from hotel that could accomodate stroller, carseat, playpen and most likely 2 suitcases. It is a scary sight trying to balance everything and carrying it myself while leaning on a cane, trust me lol, because I have found that there's very little to no assistance at airports for as much gear as I would require. I can pack natural meals, snacks, and shelf stable milk in single servings for her to help cut down food expenses.

 

All being said it would be a lot of money and totally ignoring food costs and anything else etc I am looking at $1000+(ater taxes) for the airfare and hotel alone minimally (with staying 5 days). Traveling with a child isn't cheap or easy in the best of health as many of you know and I am far from the best of health at the moment. I really appreciate everything but it's just too much in my opinion.

Thank you though as it means more then words.

[Cebus Capucinis]

$1000+? PSHAW! Between Al and I we're already 10% there, and I'm sure CPU will match at least our donations, making it close to or at 20%. We can do this and it's no bother at all!

[Chickybaby]

Stubborn Monkey, but you know I luv ya. *huggz*

 

I would be a total ass if I didn't contribute and wasn't willing to give up anything.

I have to see what rarer stuff I have because a lot of it is packed away.

 

First offering, Smurfs Save the Day, R8, loose.

As you can see, End Label has a lil gunk of some kind, is in otherwise intact condition, but I didn't want to mess with it to remove it.

 

Please make offer (shipping via flat rate priority box w/ delivery conirmation included in offer amount please). Send a PM if interested or will go off to an auction site and the proceeds put towards travels.

[wccw mark]

i can paypal $10.whats paypal address do i send it to?

[+batari]

I'm going to say this because I know nobody else will - I have two kids, one older and one younger than Bean, but I never considered taking them to Vegas with me. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but they are too young to really enjoy something like this and there isn't much in Vegas for kids that young.

 

Also, at the risk of sounding selfish, some time away from kids once in a while is really nice sometimes, and you are not less of a parent for considering that.

 

That, and a babysitter for a few days is much cheaper than a plane ticket (or free if you have willing relatives!)

Edited April 15, 2010 by batari

[4ever2600]

I'm good for 20 bucks... Chicky is a great person and an invaluable member to AA.

[+thanatos]

I'm going to say this because I know nobody else will - I have two kids, one older and one younger than Bean, but I never considered taking them to Vegas with me. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but they are too young to really enjoy something like this and there isn't much in Vegas for kids that young.

 

Also, at the risk of sounding selfish, some time away from kids once in a while is really nice sometimes, and you are not less of a parent for considering that.

 

That, and a babysitter for a few days is much cheaper than a plane ticket (or free if you have willing relatives!)

 

I'd have to agree with this... The whole point of Vegas is to get AWAY!

They tried the 'kid friendly' thing in the late 90's and early '00s, and it's turning out to not work, they're sort of giving up on it. Sure, there's Circus Circus, but every other hotel is almost like "Gamble or get the hell out."

 

We got bitched at when my sister was pushing her daughter's stroller through an area we just happened to be sitting in, near the restaurant we were meeting at. The restaurant was fine, but she couldn't stand near the entrance to it because there were slot machines around. It's not casino policy, it's their mess of state laws. A baby in a stroller counts as a minor on the gaming floor. Crazy!

[Chickybaby]

A babysitter is all well and good if you have someone to babysit - I don't.

 

I miss my father dearly and he can't be here - that is my family.

I have has 2 "days off" once at a wine tasting when she was in her first year and once last yr to my first ever concert alone. Its what you get when you are a parent and I adore her and wouldn't take a moment of having her back even if it meant my 'freedom' again. I would love a vacation sure who wouldn't but anyone who knows her knows she's my gamer baby and quite a little charmer too.

 

She went to Vegas last year and we had a wonderful time btw seeing the reef aquarium etc. She was also adored by quite a few employees who not only gave me a free beer the one night she was having a bad one at the hotel we were staying at but showed me where in their kitchen they kept the milk and said not to worry if I can't find an employee, to get it to get it myself. It's about respecting others and being a nice person. Even the room on either side of me on her throwing tantrums and jet lagged 2 days had no problems, as one had children with them as well. I am sorry about the bad time thanatos, we didn't experience that at all one bit. Actually, LOL we had an amazing time and I would love to go back again.

 

She's flown to TX, Vegas, Ohio, been to Maryland, New York and several other states and will be traveling with me to England to meet the family there. She also has been going to vid game conventions since literally before she was born as Tempest would attest to my little Symbiote, lmao, and she was at another last year in a playpen and the year before as well. Every year of her life including the one where I was pregnant she's been an "exhibitor" at a show.

I could post many pictures of all we've been to and gaming nights at her Godfather Pacmanplus's house but I'll spare you guys except for just this one from her first show when one of the vendors gave her an adorable onsie to model. She's been an AA member since a few hrs old, lol, as well. She loves videogames, has grown up playing them with me, loves flying oddly(as I don't) and loves Vegas as much as I do.

 

I didn't ask Ceebie Jeebies to start this thread and didn't even know at first that he did. It means so much to know a friend takes you for who you are. Everyone has always been so good to us and it's very humbling. With everything I wanted to have something to look forward to and started tucking away a few dollars here and there and still don't have enough for even one trip yet. I did really want to go to CGE but it came down to my family I would be meeting for the first time or friends I love dearly. Not an easy choice.

 

I know it was not meant with any ill intentions but I can't help being defensive becaus enot everyone knows my daughter or knows the situation I am in. I also know this doesn't make me a welcome addition to every party and I wouldn't want to force myself or my daughter on any situation where we are not welcome.

I guess to put it bluntly - I had her, she's my responsibility, take it or leave it, if someone wants me there then they get her too end of story.

I hope everyon etakes care and has a good one.

[+batari]

True, I don't know your home and family situation and if you want to take your daughter, by all means do.

 

I will offer for auction here my Pac-Man lab loaner and send the proceeds to this fund. I will post a pic later when I get home and link to a post in the marketplace.

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

I bought one of the $10 raffle entries for CGE before Al had to shut it down, but the PayPal entry went through. With Al's agreement, I would like to donate that $10.

 

Same here!

[+batari]

OK, I have posted my Pac-Man lab loaner to the Marketplace:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/161528-pac-man-lab-loaner-to-highest-bidder/

[Albert]

I have started a new thread for this effort:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/161571-send-chickybaby-to-cge/

 

Please continue any discussion in the above thread, thanks.

 

..Al

[Rev]

cool!

Edited April 16, 2010 by revolutionika

[puertorico1980]

Just curious, so your flight to England to meet your family is at the same time of this event??

[otaku]

Just curious, so your flight to England to meet your family is at the same time of this event??

 

As we get closer to the event I may be able to chip in some as well

[Chickybaby]

Living in up in Las Vegas "The Sort of Journal/Thank You/Blog Whatever"...

 

Well, we did make it with 1 hr to pack, lol, and 1 hr away from airport 2 hours before the flight, and my doctor telling me if I had friends that were willing to do this for me then I would be crazy not to go.

I know many of you probs are very curious to find out what all we did, what wild parties we had, wild and crazy nights, and you know I always will be up front with everything because not only did you get me there but that's thats way I always have tried to be even if it has pissed people off in the past lmao (no P&R in Off Topic or Stop fighting in this thread already *lock*, anyone? )

 

Money is never first for me and to be honest it always makes me very stressed and uncomfortable but the friendship and care people here shared with me here is far more priceless and went beyond anything yet again. All I want is a chance to live to be honest and have a chance...

unfortunately my body is not cooperating very well with that annoyingly enough.

 

and while the Tropicana may not be the fanciest hotel they were beyond pure Gold to us right down to making sure any time I had to walk across the hotel with bean having a security escort after dark, getting a fridge for the room which they said they try to do for any parent with a small child who asks btw, and the bellman and cleaning lady who refused to take any tip from me and said that being nice to them was more then enough.There was a kick butt huge bed and a 42in TV that all Bean wanted to do was watch the Weather Channel on Like she does with Grand-D. She also lived in

 

the Window watching the Airplanes giving a play by play to my Dad on the phone as well as to me.

wow looking through all the receipts make me wince, lmao but all she has been asking all day and night since we got back is when we are going back to the Tropicana, and when can we fly in the airplanes again to Las Vegas - oh boy I am in trouble. But, knowing I gave her that happiness after the hell in the hospital made every dime worth it a million times over - no 3 yr old imo should

 

have to see what she did and I still feel guilty for it but while I did spoil her this trip she very much deserved it)

 

- Plane tickets - Directly paid from Albert, boarding pass obtained using Email Confirmation letter. He did say he got insurance and because I didn't travel home due to medical reasons know my Dr.

 

would provide info so he can be hopefully possibly reimbursed and money go to help offset cart/shipping costs for what everyone did because IMO the people who gave so much deserve something back too

 

- 300$ upon arrival by Al for spending money - Thank you sooo much, wow saved my butt!

 

$258 room bill for Room 480 after about an hr at the desk trying to figure out what happened - upon arrival I had been told to give a Credit Card (used my Bank Account card since it would be easies

 

to shift money for Food/Room charges especially with Bean needing as stable/healthy a diet as possible which I knew would obviously be my responsibility to cover since she is my daughter )

 

***They also removed all the "resort fees and taxes" which cut approx $100 off the bill as well as removing the pancake disaster which arrived burnt and ruined one am with soggy fries and didn't

 

charge for the Omlette in the same order I attempted to get from room service $42, and comped a $75 room credit for a restaurant that ended up being remodeled (so that paid for the wiggles movies

 

as well as the first $50 of the food costs from the café) and took another $75 off the bill.*** Thankfully they managed the staff rate as well or I would still be negotiating payment and in really really deep shit.Thank you so much Tropicana for that because they seriously saved my ass as the bank had already closed and there was no way to transfer more money to me that day from my Dad.

 

The distinctly gourmet meals ordered from the Cafe...

1 Chicken Tenders

3 Yoghurts

1 milk for each day

1 Macaroni and Cheese

2 orders of french fries

1 mashed potatoes and gravy

2 orders green beans

1 meatloaf

1 order of toast & side of cheese slices

1 bagel with cream cheese

2 melon cups

2 apples

1 Orange Juice

1 order bacon

2 eggs

As you can see it was Toddler fare and the prices can be found on the menu and the leftovers were stored each day in the mini fridge so I could have them for her next meal. Other then the $50 from

 

the meal comp the money came from my/Beans Savings Account.They also had 4 bananas that were bruised but not all 100% ripe to heck that the Café gave me for free since Bean was happily pointing at them which was very nice.

 

3 Wiggles "At The Circus" Movie (same one God help me and NO if anyone dares make a DVD I will smash it many times over in as many ways possible) 11$ ea. for the 2 days I was stuck in bed and the

 

stupid TV signal went out and Bean was climbing the Walls

 

- I packed Natural Toddler Meals, Nutrition bars, Supplements, First Aid Kit, Cheerios (meal of champions anytime for me too), and Dry Goods to have a "pantry" of sorts and cut down costs, the Southwest flight attendants also gave Bean a ton of Chips and crackers too which came in handy for us both.

 

 

the other $42 I got purchased the following overpriced souvenirs for Bean on the way back from food court/lunch with everyone after looking at the lions at MGM Grand-

1 stuffed Giraffe

1 Large softball

1 Packet of Animal Information Cards

4 Postcards

 

Other Money Spent outside of AA's rounded to dollars:

 

$100 (including Tax & $20 Tip) - 1 Seafood/Steak Dinner from my Tato/Father because he said i deserved at least 1 Fancy Meal

I had a Porterhouse Steak, Corn w/roasted garlic, and Salad, Beans order consisted of Crab cakes, Lobster bisque Soup, Cauliflower casserole

I had an ice water she had a milk - she pronounced the meal Deeelicious and Yummy throughout Various stages much to the amusement of the staff

 

$420 - My Dad's credit card - the new return tickets home so I could have the appointments for the then needed drs (which cost $115 in copays if you want to include those as part of trip expense) I know I can bleed any time so even sitting at home is a risk *shrug*

 

$150 & $75 - and to see Cirque Ka too - it was an amazing opportunity for Bean - who btw is 5 yrs old according to cirque which is the minimum age to attend, a dream i always wanted for years, and

 

she wanted to see it again immediately after. She was so into it right down to clapping and cheering and following the music and movement with her hands, Because I have the cane I usually wait till last to leave after the lights are on so I don't get run over in the exodus and the Performers even came up in costume after and were talking and all - How fricking cool is that?! and it reminded

 

me how much I missed dancing and how amazingly stunning and breathtaking seeing them live was

$20? - Savings Account - Popcorn for Bean (one of her very fav snacks), Coke and Twix Bar for me at Ka

 

$78 - Also again Money from My Dad - Cirque Souvenirs because he said if I went i should have something to remember it by after all that money was spent and he was not going to let me cash the

 

savings bond I had planned to use for it since that should be saved

- 4 Postcards for bean since she loves looking at "Cards", 4 assorted pins for her monkey backpack she really liked at $2.50 each, 1 Programmer Book for the show, 1 Big 'Ka'fee Mug for my tea since

 

I only had small cups. 2 Keychains: 1 for Bean she liked and 1 for me, and 1 t-shirt I debated back and forth for an extended period of time but got anyway and ended up needing clean clothes on day going home

 

$6 - 3 Bottles of Coke purchased from the hall vending Machine - Thank you $10 roll of quarters I brought and for anyone that knows me I really rationed the heck out of them, lol

$4 - 2 bottles of water so wouldn't have tap water

$4 - 2 Vitamin Water - Rest of Change in purse so I didn't dehydrate

 

$8 - My/Beans Savings Account - 3 bags of my Ultimate Favourite All Natural Root Beer Candy I can no longer buy locally that I gave in and bought after dealing with everything at the desk as we were leaving. These will last me at least the rest of the year till next spring hopefully.

 

7$ - Cash I brought - 2 Nutrigrain Bars for Bean, 1 bag of snack mix, and 1 bag of cookies

$2 - Tweezers & nail clipper - Bean stubbed her toe on the door and I had to trim her nail and check for splinter - She's ok but has a bit of a scrape and a "boo boo on her toesey but doesn't need a band-aid cause it will get better"

 

$20 - Cash I brought - Food Court at MGM Grand - One failed salad that got it's last rights, 1 Hot Dog and Fries for Bean, 1 retake of a salad and a bottle of water

 

$20 - Prescriptions at Wallgreens to control bleeding that someone from hotel was kind enough to pick up

 

 

$80 - Last room on my credit card which my father said he would pay - Transportation - The amount it cost me to make sure bean was strapped in a car seat to and from airport & hotel and that i would have someone to carry and load things in and out of safe & comfortable sedan.

I was going to take a taxi but my father was concerned with not only safety since i was a woman and child alone but also with dirt/germs etc esp after just getting out of the hospital. He made me promise that I wouldn't worry him about the cab and he wanted all the driver info including phone and id number before I even got in the car. He's My Dad and was getting upset which is very bad for his more fragilehealth esp after the stents in the arteries.

 

$30 - I still have to Paypal Al (sry Bank open on Monday to sort out account and couldn't give me total so I was afraid to bounce) - for 1 Halo cart (couldn't resist this one and had to get it)and 1 Atari City Poster to frame for what will be Bean's School Room

 

$40 - My/Beans Savings Account - Those Kick Butt Magnets that Ceebies Made and Bean Loved Which will go on the blackboard to decorate her school room and the tiny fridge I am trying to find at a yard sale so she can have her own for milk & snacks in the schoolroom I'll be converting from the comp room

 

I also asked to have/snitch 3 cans of soda from the fridge - 1 coke, 1 code red mt dew, and 1 Dr pepper

 

There ya go, lol a play by play of our trip, what we ate and what we did. The money my dad transferred into the checking account for me from home Since you all did so much to get us there and it really meant that much too see everyone I wanted to make sure you all knew. It seemed only right to eventually write as much as I could down and share it. Now though, I am off to lay down because am hurting, lol, and Bean's still asleep.

 

Big Thanks also to Jose/Wonder007 for going out and getting Bean Pull Up diapers so I didn't have to walk!

An amazing delicious thank You to ShyOne for providing a care package of food which Got us through the last extra Days!

 

And of course most importantly I owe a massive thank you to Al, CPU/PacManPlus/Homebrewers, AA for doing this, and of course My Dad who once again saved my butt and has done so much to support bean and myself as most of you know already.