I am confused...
Why do television networks (I am looking at you Fox) insist on airing new television shows for only 1 or 2 episodes and then cancelling them?
Why don't networks give shows the chance to find an audience? I don't know about you, but I find a new series normally takes a few episodes to truly get into a groove. Not only that, but in the first few weeks of a new TV season, viewers are playing a balancing act - trying to maintain their loyalty to their favourite returning shows while attempting to "taste test" the new programming.
I caught the first two episodes of Lonestar and was really looking forward to a smart drama that would be able to sustain my interest and keep me invested in the characters. I do admit I PVRed Lonestar while watching my returning favourites live, but I loved the two episodes that aired. Lonestar was quickly becoming one of my favourite shows. THEN Fox pulled the rug out from underneath me and cancelled it...
I have a theory about why new shows usually have lower ratings:
THE NETWORKS KEEP CANCELLING THEM
I am sure there are people out there who don't watch new series at the beginning of the season for fear of getting attached and then it being cancelled. Perhaps if networks were not so trigger happy, the ratings on these shows would be higher...
Just saying...
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Budget Travel 101
Those who know me know that there is one thing I love to do more than any other – Travel! Coming a close second is helping others plan their vacations – I like to think if it as living vicariously through others. It is always fun to shop and spend other people’s money.
Unfortunately, no matter where you go, travel costs money. Sometimes lots of it!
Because I do tend to go away at least twice a year, people always assume I have money to burn, but nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that I am a hard-core bargain hunter. I am like a dog with a bone – I will not book anything unless I KNOW I am getting the best possible deal.
The secret to finding a great deal is to be flexible and to be willing to spend lots of time researching:
• Make sure your travel agent knows you are on the prowl for a deal. They are constantly receiving notices of sell offs etc. They can also tag you onto a group deal they may be working (wedding etc) and get you the same discounted rates.
• Don’t be afraid to check out sites like Expedia, iTravel2000, Travelocity, Priceline, Cheaptickets, Orbitz, or Hotwire. I booked a trip to Mexico at a 5* All Inclusive resort last year using Expedia. The price was cheaper than both my Travel Agent AND Air Canada Vacations who was the actual provider of the service. There were 6 people in our party and we saved approximately $200 PER PERSON. Same airline, same services.
• If you find a good deal, check out the same flights/vacations on other sites including the official site of the airline/travel company. Quite often, they will actually be cheaper.
• Use the ITA to search multiple airlines at once (matrix.itasoftware.com)
• Sign up for saver emails from the various Air travel providers (Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing in Canada, and the variety of carriers in the US), as well as the internet travel sites (like Expedia). If you do not mind the junk mail, you get notified of some great deals.
• If you don’t mind the drive, both Bangor and Portland airports have discount travel airlines (JetBlue, AirTran, Allegiant) and even the regular airlines are often quite a bit less than the Canadian carriers. Depending on how many are in your party and the amount of savings per person, it may be worth the commute.
Here are some of the sites I use to find deals for hotels, flights, and pre-packaged vacations:
• www.tripadvisor.com
• www.expedia.ca
• www.hotwire.com
• www.farecompare.com
• www.priceline.com
• www.itravel2000.com
• www.orbitz.com
• www.fatwallet.com
• http://matrix.itasoftware.com (flights only)
• www.jetblue.com
• www.retailmenot.com
If in your search you find a deal on a hotel or resort, but are concerned about the quality, I recommend asking your travel agent, if you have one. They have likely had clients at most of the resorts, and may have even visited themselves. If you aren’t working with an agent, what I like to do it use Tripadvisor.com. Here, you can enter the name of the hotel you are interested in, and it will bring up guest reviews, photos, etc. The photos are great because they are not “official” hotel marketing photos. They are actual vacation photos taken by guests so you will get a sense of what the hotel is really like. Tripadvisor also takes the users’ ratings and ranks the hotels/resorts in each city. If I know what area I want to be in, I often go to Tripadvisor, look up the town, and then find out the ranking of the hotels. THEN I begin my search at the sites above looking for the nicest hotel I can find at the best price.
Make sure if you do visit Tripadvisor that you read as many reviews as possible regarding the hotels. One person’s heaven may be another person’s hell. There can be quite a range of reviews for the same hotel, often during the very same week. You shouldn’t allow one bad review stop you from going somewhere. Likewise, if there is only one good review in a list of 100, chances are you are not going to be pleased if you stay there!
Enjoy your vacation!!!
Jess
Unfortunately, no matter where you go, travel costs money. Sometimes lots of it!
Because I do tend to go away at least twice a year, people always assume I have money to burn, but nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that I am a hard-core bargain hunter. I am like a dog with a bone – I will not book anything unless I KNOW I am getting the best possible deal.
The secret to finding a great deal is to be flexible and to be willing to spend lots of time researching:
• Make sure your travel agent knows you are on the prowl for a deal. They are constantly receiving notices of sell offs etc. They can also tag you onto a group deal they may be working (wedding etc) and get you the same discounted rates.
• Don’t be afraid to check out sites like Expedia, iTravel2000, Travelocity, Priceline, Cheaptickets, Orbitz, or Hotwire. I booked a trip to Mexico at a 5* All Inclusive resort last year using Expedia. The price was cheaper than both my Travel Agent AND Air Canada Vacations who was the actual provider of the service. There were 6 people in our party and we saved approximately $200 PER PERSON. Same airline, same services.
• If you find a good deal, check out the same flights/vacations on other sites including the official site of the airline/travel company. Quite often, they will actually be cheaper.
• Use the ITA to search multiple airlines at once (matrix.itasoftware.com)
• Sign up for saver emails from the various Air travel providers (Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing in Canada, and the variety of carriers in the US), as well as the internet travel sites (like Expedia). If you do not mind the junk mail, you get notified of some great deals.
• If you don’t mind the drive, both Bangor and Portland airports have discount travel airlines (JetBlue, AirTran, Allegiant) and even the regular airlines are often quite a bit less than the Canadian carriers. Depending on how many are in your party and the amount of savings per person, it may be worth the commute.
Here are some of the sites I use to find deals for hotels, flights, and pre-packaged vacations:
• www.tripadvisor.com
• www.expedia.ca
• www.hotwire.com
• www.farecompare.com
• www.priceline.com
• www.itravel2000.com
• www.orbitz.com
• www.fatwallet.com
• http://matrix.itasoftware.com (flights only)
• www.jetblue.com
• www.retailmenot.com
If in your search you find a deal on a hotel or resort, but are concerned about the quality, I recommend asking your travel agent, if you have one. They have likely had clients at most of the resorts, and may have even visited themselves. If you aren’t working with an agent, what I like to do it use Tripadvisor.com. Here, you can enter the name of the hotel you are interested in, and it will bring up guest reviews, photos, etc. The photos are great because they are not “official” hotel marketing photos. They are actual vacation photos taken by guests so you will get a sense of what the hotel is really like. Tripadvisor also takes the users’ ratings and ranks the hotels/resorts in each city. If I know what area I want to be in, I often go to Tripadvisor, look up the town, and then find out the ranking of the hotels. THEN I begin my search at the sites above looking for the nicest hotel I can find at the best price.
Make sure if you do visit Tripadvisor that you read as many reviews as possible regarding the hotels. One person’s heaven may be another person’s hell. There can be quite a range of reviews for the same hotel, often during the very same week. You shouldn’t allow one bad review stop you from going somewhere. Likewise, if there is only one good review in a list of 100, chances are you are not going to be pleased if you stay there!
Enjoy your vacation!!!
Jess
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Blog Merge!!
I'm baaaacckkkk!! You may have noticed the large dump of posts today! No, I did not have an exceptionally exciting weekend... I just decided to take some of my posts from my other blogs, stick them here, and start over with just one!!
Here we go! (originally posted 08/05/2009)
Okay, so I am finally getting this thing started! If there is one thing I love to do - its plan vacations. When that vacation happens to be to my favourite place on earth, that is just icing on the cake! This time, said vacation happens to be for my family, but I also love living vicariously through others.
This is where I will be blogging about my experiences planning our trip. Along the way, I will offer advice and tips on not only how to plan your Disney vacation, but vacation planning in general.
This Christmas, my husband Paul, my son Ethan, and I are finally getting to spend Christmas in Disney World!! I am incredibly excited - I cannot wait to walk up Main Street USA and see all those Xmas decorations!!
This is the largest trip I have ever planned for myself. Previously, we have taken my sister and mother separately to the house of mouse. This time, they are both coming, along with my father (who, incidentally, has never been on a plane before. He is terrified... EEK!!).
More details to come!!!
This is where I will be blogging about my experiences planning our trip. Along the way, I will offer advice and tips on not only how to plan your Disney vacation, but vacation planning in general.
This Christmas, my husband Paul, my son Ethan, and I are finally getting to spend Christmas in Disney World!! I am incredibly excited - I cannot wait to walk up Main Street USA and see all those Xmas decorations!!
This is the largest trip I have ever planned for myself. Previously, we have taken my sister and mother separately to the house of mouse. This time, they are both coming, along with my father (who, incidentally, has never been on a plane before. He is terrified... EEK!!).
More details to come!!!
Viva La Mexique!! (originally posted 1/16/09)
Well, we are back from Mexico, and I must say: I done good!
We stayed at the Grand Princess Riviera from Jan 6-13 in a Junior All Inclusive Deluxe room (room 8230). We were traveling with my bestest of best buds Meaghan, her wonderful husband Rob and my brother & sister in law, Jungle Rob & Bryanne.
This resort was completely stunning - I will definately be back and will recommend it to anyone I know looking for a sunshine getaway. I have no idea where the people who gave the hotel negative reviews at TripAdvisor were staying but it must have been in another dimension. Either that or they are incredibly rude and are getting bad service because they are doling out ignorance. Either way, every single staff member I spoke with was nothing but uber-friendly and always willing to lend a hand and offer service with a smile. We are not big tippers but still received exceptional service wherever we went.
The things I enjoyed most: Spending an ENTIRE week with Ms Campbell,the food, and the unlimited supply of wobbly pops. Nothing says Amazon Women like bathing suits, booze, and guacamole!!
I have officially decided that ignorant and whiny people drive me nuts, I do not have the patience for it. Negativity just sucks the air out of a room and leaves a lead weight in my stomach. I wish people would take a lesson from that great Monty Python song and "Look on the Bright Side of Life." Why freak out and bitch when you can soak in the sun and atmosphere. Have a drink and move on people!!
All in all it was a great vacation!!! I highly look forward to my next one! Maybe, just maybe, we can convince the 'Frew Crew to join us again :)
Goodbye Snicks!!! (originally posted 12/29/2009)
Well, the time we have dreaded has finally arrived.
We have known for about a year now that Ethan is allergic to cats. The allergist told us that it was no problem keeping my beloved Snickers as long as we kept E's bedroom door closed and made sure we were uber-diligent with cleaning.
Well, when Paul took Ethan for his yearly Dr visit, I guess the good Dr was pretty adamant that we get rid of Snicks.
I absolutely refused to send her to the Animal Rescue League (akin the the SPCA), which Paul completely understood as we all know what happens to most adult cats who end up in a shelter. I also did not want to put out a classified Ad to find her a new home. I did not want to give her away to just anyone!!
We have been putting the word out there for several months to everyone we know that we were looking for a nice home for Trix. Well, my entire family was over for Boxing day dinner (and when I say entire I mean like 40 people or so...). My lovely cousin Ally convinced her Mom & Dad to let her have T-Bag!
Ally stopped by last night with her Mom to pick up my kitty. While I am VERY happy she will be with Ally and we can visit whenever we want, it was a bittersweet goodbye as I will miss the fat little furball.
Ethan, the poor dear, sat on the stairs with a sad little face and big wet tears when it was bedtime... he said he couldn't sleep without Snicks meowing once in awhile. (I did not remind him that she never meowed at night... :)
On a lighter note, I am quite pleased I no longer have to clean stinky cat litter!!
Ally also sent me a message this morning that all is well with Fatty at her new home - she cuddled with Ally most of the night!!
So Proud!! (originally posted 10/23/2009)
Two years ago next week, my cousin
Laura and her husband Greg were killed by a drunk driver in a head on collision. They left behind two beautiful children Kali and Jeremy. Their strength and resilience truly amazes me.
Kali has always been very creative and has begun pouring herself into music and making videos to not only memorialize her parents, but also to raise awareness about the hazards of drunk driving. She never wants to have anyone else experience the pain that she and her brother have had to suffer.
Please take a moment to view Kali's video below. And please, for your sake and everyone else's, never EVER let you or anyone you know, drive drunk.
Laura and her husband Greg were killed by a drunk driver in a head on collision. They left behind two beautiful children Kali and Jeremy. Their strength and resilience truly amazes me.
Kali has always been very creative and has begun pouring herself into music and making videos to not only memorialize her parents, but also to raise awareness about the hazards of drunk driving. She never wants to have anyone else experience the pain that she and her brother have had to suffer.
Please take a moment to view Kali's video below. And please, for your sake and everyone else's, never EVER let you or anyone you know, drive drunk.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
