[Boben5]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

Great justification for marrying someone.

Whats your situation Media Artist?

[Feanor]

Originally Posted by Sara504

It can if something goes way wrong. A normal vaginal delivery is about 5 grand not including any pre or post dr visits during the pregnancy.

Ahh OK that seems more reasonable; I have read that US health costs per procedure have become inflated but I couldn't believe they were that inflated! lol

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

My wife and I just went to get prenatal care last week and we have to pay $3500. just for the Doc. including labor but labs and blood work are extra. We also have to pay for using the Hospital room and toilet paper, gauze and whatever they use during the labor. I'm gonna call the Hospital today to find out approximately how much it's going to cost to use their facility.

Wow. I don't want to start a discussion on British NHS vs US insurance systems but that does make me glad I'll never have to worry about this sort of thing!

Originally Posted by ddk632

I deleted the comment because it was aimed at the $50k comments, not the $3500 one just above, and I thought it might be confusing.

Anyway my point was that the cost is the same for the birth -- the hospital, doctors, etc., charge the same. The difference is if you pay it all or your insurance pays most of it. The cost to the insured is obviously different, but that was not what I was referring to.

The guy who made the $50k comment is in the UK, where they have the NHS and the costs of medical procedures in the US are a lot higher than many European countries, in general, because of socialized medicine.

Exactly - in fact, we in the UK are even more insulated from the costs of medical care as we never even see the bill. Many continental European systems work on a complex contribution-based system whereby the state sets the price of something (ie seeing a generalist doctor, which in France was something like €18 a few years ago); you pay that and claim it back, if the doctor you choose to see costs more you end up paying that difference out of your own pocket (many docs cost €30-40, not €18) unless you have separate private insurance which will pay that difference.

Anyway - as I said, I really, really don't want to start a debate on the pros and cons of all this; I know where that tends to lead! I just find the differences for people on a day-to-day basis interesting.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by Timujin

The question is why do people have kids and smoke cigarettes. WTF???

THATS MY SISTER!!! Oh I cant stand it.

She doesnt have kids ...yet but she wants to baby sit my baby. Um No!! She smokes a pack a day. Its disgusting.

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by Feanor

Anyway - as I said, I really, really don't want to start a debate on the pros and cons of all this; I know where that tends to lead! I just find the differences for people on a day-to-day basis interesting.

Agreed on not debating. This thread doesn't need to get political.

It is just interesting to when things are one way where you live and you see how different they can be elsewhere (on any subject matter or issue).

[Sara]

I dont want to get married. I really dont. At least not now. In the shower he'll write my name with his last name on the glass and I just shake my head.

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by benbo5

Whats your situation Media Artist?

I'm locked up for life!

[Sara]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

I'm locked up for life!

I love the Rooftop Lounge

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by Sara504

I love the Rooftop Lounge

Solid place.

Try Raya in Dana Point if you're looking for a more upscale dinner area with an equally beautiful view.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

Solid place.

Try Raya in Dana Point if you're looking for a more upscale dinner area with an equally beautiful view.

Im sure you've been to Javiers right?

[MediaArtist]

Irvine and Newport Coast locations.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

Irvine and Newport Coast locations.

We go almost every Friday to the Newport Coast location. LOVE IT.

[Litos]

Originally Posted by Sara504

I dont want to get married. I really dont.

so you moved in with a guy and got pregnant by him "just because" it was the cool thing to do ??

obviously you knew that you weren't gonna get married.....and right now you still don't wanna get married.....

at this point, having your sister smoking in front of your child seems a lot better than telling your child that mommy and daddy ain't married and that daddy lives somewhere else with his other kids.....

[Sara]

Originally Posted by Litos

so you moved in with a guy and got pregnant by him "just because" it was the cool thing to do ??

obviously you knew that you weren't gonna get married.....and right now you still don't wanna get married.....

at this point, having your sister smoking in front of your child seems a lot better than telling your child that mommy and daddy ain't married and that daddy lives somewhere else with his other kids.....

No thats incorrect

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

Why do people smoke around their kids?
Why do people put their 2 year olds in the front seat of a high performance sports car?
Why do people feed their kids junk food all day?

What about people who smoke in their high performance sports car while their 2 year old is in the front seat, eating junk food?

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by ddk632

What about people who smoke in their high performance sports car while their 2 year old is in the front seat, eating junk food?

That's the bad parent hat trick. It becomes legendary status if they are texting on their cell phone as well.

[Litos]

Originally Posted by Sara504

No thats incorrect

which part ??

you and him were not planning on marriage....

and you DO NOT want to get married right now - you "really don't".....

your pregnant by a guy you met across the country within a year and a half of meeting him.....

[carve]

Originally Posted by Litos

dude, then your life has been filled with cloudy shit for a long time....

I would hate to have your life and/or experience the dark sadness surrounding me at every turn....

Yeah...I totally should've picked a better family to be born into. Thanks for the advice


As for friends...it's mostly engineers, military officers, and highly educated professionals

Oh wait- I have a ski buddy I forgot to include because his kids are in their 20's. They all seem good and he loves his wife, although they don't spend much time together and he seldom mentions her

I'd be willing to wager your an exception, Litos. As a successful, happy parent with a beautiful wife, you will know more families than me, and they'll all put their best foot forward, and there is shame about failing. I know many others who I thought had it all figured out only for it to all go south a few years later- they were just really good at hiding it

Yes- I have had plenty of sad times in my life. Thanks for being a dick about it. I'm actually quite happy now though! Kinda the whole basis of this thread...how people got there and how reality matches expectations

[Sara]

Originally Posted by Litos

which part ??

you and him were not planning on marriage....

and you DO NOT want to get married right now - you "really don't".....

your pregnant by a guy you met across the country within a year and a half of meeting him.....

The parts where you said because it was the cool thing to do, daddy lives elsewhere with his other kids, having my sister smoking is a better idea.

You know all of that is not true.

[carve]

Originally Posted by Sara504

lol why does everyone call him that! We love each other! ................most days.

Because of how you described him. He's a successful older guy providing you with whatever you want, and you provide him with a sexy young companion

Couple decades older
Resources for a House in Malibu
You live there not working
Prior family
Unplanned pregnancy
Hot 26 year old GF
He's very concerned with your looks (which you clearly know how to maintain on your own), including some absurdly low weight gain target through the pregnancy
Controlling... "He let me get a job"

People wouldn't say that if you were self sufficient. I've had a couple short term relationships with women 15 years younger shortly before I met my current girlfriend...even including an impromptu trip to Europe with one...but they pay their own way and we were doubled up on the birth control.

It's actually natural though: you both have the qualities that tend to attract the opposite sex. I hope everything works out awesome for you and your family and hope you make a great mom. I agree pregnancy is insufficient reason to get married, but being in love at the same time is a decent reason

Both having and not having kids are selfish decisions though, if it's an intentional decision, because you're doing what you feel will make you happiest

[MediaArtist]

I have buddies in South County who are on their second and third marriages. Sometimes when we're out during our "guy nights" I tell them, "Wear a damn condom, and stop proposing to anyone that gives you an erection."

One of them is a graduate from Notre Dame Law School, and is a partner with a firm in Newport. He's told me in no uncertain terms that he's making $400,000 a year. Guess what? Because of all the kids (support) and marriages he's been through, guy is driving a 2006 E46 M3, and living in a 1,200 sqft 2 bedroom condo. Not shabby, but certainly not reflective of the amount of money he's making. Just reflective of what it cost to support 5 kids, and having his net worth sliced in half 2-3 times.

[ddk632]

At that stage screw condoms. Get a vasectomy! *


* Condoms are still recommended to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. This comment was in reference to condoms as protection against unwanted pregnancies. Please drink responsibly.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

I have buddies in South County who are on their second and third marriages. Sometimes when we're out during our "guy nights" I tell them, "Wear a damn condom, and stop proposing to anyone that gives you an erection."

One of them is a graduate from Notre Dame Law School, and is a partner with a firm in Newport. He's told me in no uncertain terms that he's making $400,000 a year. Guess what? Because of all the kids (support) and marriages he's been through, guy is driving a 2006 E46 M3, and living in a 1,200 sqft 2 bedroom condo. Not shabby, but certainly not reflective of the amount of money he's making. Just reflective of what it cost to support 5 kids, and having his net worth sliced in half 2-3 times.

San Diego?