RAIN, SCHMAIN, AND HURRICANES: Our 9/2011 Cruise: NEW ANNOUNCEMENT!

[sleepydog25]

All I know is that you guys are the people I want to travel with. Fabulous.

We are taking reservations for a sail-away party on our next cruise. . .

Oh, did you want in on that free (plus $15.99 shipping & handling) calculator offer?

And, thank you for joining in.

 

[tony64]

We are taking reservations for a sail-away party on our next cruise. . .

Oh, did you want in on that free (plus $15.99 shipping & handling) calculator offer?

And, thank you for joining in.

Well worth it, I hope that's International shipping.

 

[luvvwl]

Awwww!!

You are all sooooo sweet!!

We DO have a lot of fun, every day. I am the luckiest woman to have met someone so perfect for me. The BEST part of my days are coming home to him.

And.

***************NEWSFLASH*******************

We pick up the CC underwater pics today!!!!!!

Hopefully:

a) some of them actually came out
2) I can get them scanned and uploaded tonight.

All I will say about these is that they come with a blanket apology...

If any of you were ANYWHERE NEAR the snorkeling lagoon on Sept 13th and were subjected to a grown woman trailing after a man WOEFULLY crying "Babe, my thingie keeps deflating!", "Babe, this water tastes disgusting!!", "Babe, my mask keeps getting foggy!" and LOTS of "PHFLM", "POOEY", "YUCK", "NASTY", etc, then please accept my most sincere apologies!!!

And. If it happened to provide you with gut-busting laughs and an enjoyable interlude to you day, well then, a big YOU'RE WELCOME!

 

[Wonder2008]

Thanks a lot for answering my question.

I'm looking forward to your underwater pictures. I'm not sure you know this or not, but some camera companies make plastic waterproof cases for their digital cameras. They are very expensive, but custom for each camera model. There are also less expensive waterproof pouches you can get for your camera, based on its dimensions. I've never done either of these, but I'm looking into the pouch option for whenever I cruise again.

I hope that helps!

Robert

 

[luvvwl]

I’ll start off right now by saying please excuse the quality of these pics. They were taken with one of those inexpensive (aka CHEAP) disposable “waterproof” Kodak cameras. That SOMEONE said would be good enough.

“We don’t need an underwater digital camera, babe. This will take pretty decent pictures.”

You all are my witnesses… Now I ask you, does this even REMOTELY look comfortable? Or cute and fashionable?? I rest my case. But, I had never snorkeled and I’m always game for anything. Once.

It doesn’t look so big this far away, does it?

Pretty fishy!

It’s Mickey!!!!! No, really. It is. Squint real hard!

SD and Mickey. Are they making out??? In that nasty salt water?? Eeewwww!!! I have to kiss that mouth! (SD’s, not Mickey’s that is)

Oh, here are a couple we took when we were parasailing!

Look how high!!

All in all, it took ok shots, I think. But. REST ASSURED, next time we'll have the camera I wanted.

 

[luvvwl]

Thanks a lot for answering my question.

I'm looking forward to your underwater pictures. I'm not sure you know this or not, but some camera companies make plastic waterproof cases for their digital cameras. They are very expensive, but custom for each camera model. There are also less expensive waterproof pouches you can get for your camera, based on its dimensions. I've never done either of these, but I'm looking into the pouch option for whenever I cruise again.

I hope that helps!

Robert

No, I didn't know that. But, there's a Kodak x3 something or other that's gotten pretty good reviews so I think I'm going to try that.

Thanks!

 

[sleepydog25]

I have a few comments on the pics, but they will have to wait until tomorrow. I will say, somehow, I think I'm being suckered into buying a $115B underwater camera (that's the going gov't rate, anyway).

 

[luvvwl]

I have a few comments on the pics, but they will have to wait until tomorrow. I will say, somehow, I think I'm being suckered into buying a $115B underwater camera (that's the going gov't rate, anyway).

That is not that bad and you know it! Besides. You can't put a pricetag on memories!

 

[sleepydog25]

Sunscreen: $8

DCL T-shirt: $29

Palo: $40

Lasting memories from an underwater digital camera?




$115 + tax

 

[sleepydog25]

I’ll start off right now by saying please excuse the quality of these pics. They were taken with one of those inexpensive (aka CHEAP) disposable “waterproof” Kodak cameras. That SOMEONE said would be good enough.

“We don’t need an underwater digital camera, babe. This will take pretty decent pictures.” And that it did!

Pretty fishy! I rest my case. . .and where is the pic of that school of fish in the boat? That is one cool shot!!

SD and Mickey. Are they making out??? In that nasty salt water?? Eeewwww!!! I have to kiss that mouth! (SD’s, not Mickey’s that is)
You know what they say about big ears. . .

All in all, it took ok shots, I think. But. REST ASSURED, next time we'll have the camera I wanted.

Of that, I have no doubt, you always get everything you want. . .

 

[sleepydog25]

PALO (finally!)

Soon, we were decked out in our finery and sailing toward our date with Palo. We were slightly early, and given this was the first seating (6 p.m.), we didn’t get in immediately. We were asked to have a seat in Meridian while they finished preparing our table, and no sooner had we placed our tushes in the chairs when a server appeared asking if we wanted to celebrate with champagne. What? Us? A drink? Duh. Soon, we were sipping on a pink Tattinger that was quite refreshing and “ohh, that’s pretty!” (Guess who said that?) Two sips after receiving our glasses of champagne, we were escorted to our booth in Palo—let the feasting commence!

We knew what to expect from the menu having spent hours poring over the one available on AllEars and then reviewing items from the menu posted outside the restaurant on an earlier exploration of the ship. Our server magically appeared, offered the usual gracious salutations, and inquired if we needed something else to drink. At that point, we proffered a bottle of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon that we had brought with us. The Cab Sauv wasn’t going to pair particularly well with about half the meal, but the bottle had special significance as LOMF had given it to me for my birthday with the lone instruction that I open it for special occasion. I could think of no better time than our first cruise together, a celebration of a long-time-in-coming relationship, the perfect fit. Luscious, complex, soulful—both the woman and the wine.

Dinner followed suit, a superb meal and even better company. We first were served 3-4 types of bread shortly followed by a plate of delicious meats, cheeses, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes, as well as a variety of dipping sauces and oils. We could have made an entire meal out of these items alone (much less the antipasti cart which we declined in order to have more room). On the heels of that tasty beginning, luv simply had to try the fried calamari that also came with scallops, mussels, an more olives. She has an affinity for calamari, so we often try this dish when eating out. Palo’s version, while good, wasn’t exceptional—under seasoned is the best way to describe it, although the scallops and mussels were quite good. Our final lighter course came in the form of the cioppino, a piquant mix of fish, shellfish, and basil-infused tomato broth. Though I’m not usually a proponent of placing fish and seafood in a soupy mixture, Palo’s attempt at this Italian classic was—how did luv say it?—“Yummy!!”

We moved on to the pasta portion of the evening by dining on saffron risotto and the lobster mascarpone ravioli. Now, we love ourselves some saffron (we make an awesome paella), but the chefs at Palo went a bit too light with it as the accompanying mussels, clams, and shrimp overpowered the delicate seasoning. In fact, we could barely taste the saffron; however, the risotto was wonderfully creamy. It just lacked. . .character. On the other hand, the lobster mascarpone ravioli filling was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The outer edges of the pasta bites themselves were, unfortunately, slightly chewy, but the filling made up for it. She-with-the-self-proclaimed-better-palate wasn’t as impressed, though she still nodded her approval through mouthfuls of the ravioli.

Up to this point, the meal had been delightful in every aspect: the service was exemplary, the food well-prepared, the surroundings relaxing, and there was even a very young, very cute couple seated at the table to our immediate left (yes, luv and I sit together whenever possible) who were celebrating something special as observed by the bottle of Rose’ Regale they ordered with dinner. They both had that sheepish, new couple in a new experience blush about them that was endearing. Young love is special to watch. . .as is a true “old” love. Ah, but the main act was about to begin.

Osso Buco. Can I get a witness?! “Amen, brother!” Slow-roasted, center cut veal shank. “Hallelujah!” Country vegetables in jus. “Bring it, Brother Sleepy!” And risotto Milanese. “Yes! Yes!! YES!!!” Good? Better than good. Near spiritual. There is something about fall-off-the-bone tenderness in meat that’s been roasting for hours, low and slow, which speaks to my very essence. Every bite exploded with a deep succulence that was sublime. If I had one complaint, it was that the meat was a mild veal rather than a richer meat such as lamb. Speaking of, LOMF alternately ordered the oregano and Parmesan encrusted rack of lamb with roasted shallot, roma tomatoes, potatoes, and an herb jus. Her lamb was as moist and flavorful as one could wish. For those keeping track, the Caymus wasn’t a superb match to most of the lighter fare, but once we feasted on these last two dishes, it was a magical fit, the smoky-oaky tannins meshing well with the rustic notes of both the osso buco and most especially the earthiness of the lamb. Near nirvana.

Yet. There was remaining the final coup, the last act, the large lady warming up in the green room, the crème de la crème, the cat’s meow, the cherry on top, the pinnacle of the palate, the. . .well, you get the idea. Some of you already know what riches awaited. Yes. THE soufflé. Fluffy as a cloud and melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. . .and that’s before our server lovingly drizzled the vanilla bean cream sauce into the souffle’s gooey clutches, a reverse volcano of dark chocolate and vanilla lava imploding into the dish. While the Grand Marnier soufflé at RP could be considered a BMW, Palo’s chocolate version would have to be a Jaguar (“Jag-u-yar,” intones the bass voice), less the incredulous maintenance fees, of course. No other dessert was necessary, none needed, either.

By the time our meal drew to a close, it was nearing 8:30, and we definitely wanted to see the fireworks. We slowly worked our way mid-ship, grabbed a spot on some stairs, and awaited the show. The fireworks aren’t WISHES or ILLUMINATIONS, but they were absolutely fun to watch and were a fitting end to a fantastic day and evening. There is something transformative about sharing new places and adventures with someone you hold dear, who not only can anticipate your mood but capture moments in her face far better than any camera. To see fireworks dance in her eyes, matched only by her radiant smile is a memory for the ages, another small moment by the universe’s standard but monumental to us—two lovers in the perfect place at the perfect moment. (Please, please don’t tell luv I said any of this gushy stuff, okay?)

Next up: Adventures on the Verandah

Oh, wait, I can’t post that on here. . .

Next up: What to Do on At-Sea Day (as if we didn’t have a plan). . .

 

[Shell54]

Following along with your TR and loving it. I can't wait to read about experience at Remy. We dined there and absolutely loved it... your writing style will really do it justice, I bet. You guys are so funny and fun to read.

 

[luvvwl]

PALO (finally!)

And, this is the gorgeous chandelier as you enter the restaurant

Soon, we were decked out in our finery and sailing toward our date with Palo. We were slightly early, and given this was the first seating (6 p.m.), we didn’t get in immediately. We were asked to have a seat in Meridian while they finished preparing our table, and no sooner had we placed our tushes in the chairs when a server appeared asking if we wanted to celebrate with champagne. What? Us? A drink? Duh. Soon, we were sipping on a pink Tattinger that was quite refreshing and “ohh, that’s pretty!” (Guess who said that?) Two sips after receiving our glasses of champagne, we were escorted to our booth in Palo—let the feasting commence!

Oh dear, someone’s memory is fading a bit. Like the sands in an hourglass…
We ACTUALLY were asked if we wanted a drink, any drink. Since I was feeling a teeny, tiny bit celebratory I poured over the sparkly section of the wine list. We had just done the champagne tasting and I mentioned to the server how much I had enjoyed the pink champagne we had at Pink and it was too bad they didn’t have it. “Oh, but we do!” “You do?? Sold! Two glasses!”

We knew what to expect from the menu having spent hours poring over the one available on AllEars and then reviewing items from the menu posted outside the restaurant on an earlier exploration of the ship. Our server magically appeared, offered the usual gracious salutations, and inquired if we needed something else to drink. At that point, we proffered a bottle of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon that we had brought with us. The Cab Sauv wasn’t going to pair particularly well with about half the meal, but the bottle had special significance as LOMF had given it to me for my birthday with the lone instruction that I open it for special occasion. I could think of no better time than our first cruise together, a celebration of a long-time-in-coming relationship, the perfect fit. Luscious, complex, soulful—both the woman and the wine.

Isn’t he the sweetest man?

Dinner followed suit, a superb meal and even better company. We first were served 3-4 types of bread shortly followed by a plate of delicious meats, cheeses, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes, as well as a variety of dipping sauces and oils. We could have made an entire meal out of these items alone (much less the antipasti cart which we declined in order to have more room). On the heels of that tasty beginning, luv simply had to try the fried calamari that also came with scallops, mussels, an more olives. She has an affinity for calamari, so we often try this dish when eating out. Palo’s version, while good, wasn’t exceptional—under seasoned is the best way to describe it, although the scallops and mussels were quite good. Our final lighter course came in the form of the cioppino, a piquant mix of fish, shellfish, and basil-infused tomato broth. Though I’m not usually a proponent of placing fish and seafood in a soupy mixture, Palo’s attempt at this Italian classic was—how did luv say it?—“Yummy!!”

Another memory lapse, lolol! We DID have the antipasti, babe. Where do you think we got all those lovely meats, cheeses, olives and oils?? I’m pretty certain we also had the pesto marinated shrimp here, which was super yummy. Although I’m the only one that appears to remember it!

We moved on to the pasta portion of the evening by dining on saffron risotto and the lobster mascarpone ravioli. Now, we love ourselves some saffron (we make an awesome paella), but the chefs at Palo went a bit too light with it as the accompanying mussels, clams, and shrimp overpowered the delicate seasoning. In fact, we could barely taste the saffron; however, the risotto was wonderfully creamy. It just lacked. . .character. On the other hand, the lobster mascarpone ravioli filling was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The outer edges of the pasta bites themselves were, unfortunately, slightly chewy, but the filling made up for it. She-with-the-self-proclaimed-better-palate wasn’t as impressed, though she still nodded her approval through mouthfuls of the ravioli.

This was a difficult course for me, so many tasty options!! We did also have the chianti braised beef ravioli which I think was better than the lobster ravioli. I had wanted also to try the penne arribiata with shrimp, but I make a pretty mean one myself, so I opted not to. Plus, I was already getting full!!!! I did think the pasta itself was a little tough, and as SD said, would have preferred more saffron in the rissotto. But, we can be a bit critical since we like to cook so much ourselves.

Up to this point, the meal had been delightful in every aspect: the service was exemplary, the food well-prepared, the surroundings relaxing, and there was even a very young, very cute couple seated at the table to our immediate left (yes, luv and I sit together whenever possible) who were celebrating something special as observed by the bottle of Rose’ Regale they ordered with dinner. They both had that sheepish, new couple in a new experience blush about them that was endearing. Young love is special to watch. . .as is a true “old” love. Ah, but the main act was about to begin.

Osso Buco. Can I get a witness?! “Amen, brother!” Slow-roasted, center cut veal shank. “Hallelujah!” Country vegetables in jus. “Bring it, Brother Sleepy!” And risotto Milanese. “Yes! Yes!! YES!!!” Good? Better than good. Near spiritual. There is something about fall-off-the-bone tenderness in meat that’s been roasting for hours, low and slow, which speaks to my very essence. Every bite exploded with a deep succulence that was sublime. If I had one complaint, it was that the meat was a mild veal rather than a richer meat such as lamb. Speaking of, LOMF alternately ordered the oregano and Parmesan encrusted rack of lamb with roasted shallot, roma tomatoes, potatoes, and an herb jus. Her lamb was as moist and flavorful as one could wish. For those keeping track, the Caymus wasn’t a superb match to most of the lighter fare, but once we feasted on these last two dishes, it was a magical fit, the smoky-oaky tannins meshing well with the rustic notes of both the osso buco and most especially the earthiness of the lamb. Near nirvana.

We actually sit NEXT to each other whenever possible. Mostly because I like the nearness of you, fyi, and partly because I like to sample your food!

I also think you skipped a course, babe, because I remember having the scallops, which were perfectly prepared and you had the sea bass, which I actually liked better. Of course, that COULD have been my other date….

The osso bucco WAS good. But again, I have to say, I make a pretty good osso bucco myself. And, I agree. I typically will use either beef or lamb shanks which gives it a richer, deep flavor. My lamb was to die for, though! I’m glad I chose it!

Yet. There was remaining the final coup, the last act, the large lady warming up in the green room, the crème de la crème, the cat’s meow, the cherry on top, the pinnacle of the palate, the. . .well, you get the idea. Some of you already know what riches awaited. Yes. THE soufflé. Fluffy as a cloud and melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. . .and that’s before our server lovingly drizzled the vanilla bean cream sauce into the souffle’s gooey clutches, a reverse volcano of dark chocolate and vanilla lava imploding into the dish. While the Grand Marnier soufflé at RP could be considered a BMW, Palo’s chocolate version would have to be a Jaguar (“Jag-u-yar,” intones the bass voice), less the incredulous maintenance fees, of course. No other dessert was necessary, none needed, either.

Are you sure I didn’t have the apple thingie???

By the time our meal drew to a close, it was nearing 8:30, and we definitely wanted to see the fireworks. We slowly worked our way mid-ship, grabbed a spot on some stairs, and awaited the show. The fireworks aren’t WISHES or ILLUMINATIONS, but they were absolutely fun to watch and were a fitting end to a fantastic day and evening. There is something transformative about sharing new places and adventures with someone you hold dear, who not only can anticipate your mood but capture moments in her face far better than any camera. To see fireworks dance in her eyes, matched only by her radiant smile is a memory for the ages, another small moment by the universe’s standard but monumental to us—two lovers in the perfect place at the perfect moment. (Please, please don’t tell luv I said any of this gushy stuff, okay?)

Next up: Adventures on the Verandah

Oh, wait, I can’t post that on here. . .

Doncha just love him??!

Next up: What to Do on At-Sea Day (as if we didn’t have a plan). . .

 

[luvvwl]

Following along with your TR and loving it. I can't wait to read about experience at Remy. We dined there and absolutely loved it... your writing style will really do it justice, I bet. You guys are so funny and fun to read.

Thank you very much!!! I'm his Lucy and he's my Ricky. Although, often he's the one with the 'splaining to do!!!

 

[dlf246]

PALO (finally!)

There was remaining the final coup, the last act, the large lady warming up in the green room, the crème de la crème, the cat’s meow, the cherry on top, the pinnacle of the palate, the. . .well, you get the idea. . .[/B]

Sleepydog25, I must say that while both of you get an A+ for your TR, you get an extra credit for prose, one of the best TR I have ever read

 

[sleepydog25]

Sleepydog25, I must say that while both of you get an A+ for your TR, you get an extra credit for prose, one of the best TR I have ever read

That is a very kind comment to make, and I thank you sincerely. I try to make the scene something that will help you visualize it in your mind's eye, and if I succeed just occasionally, it's worth the effort. . .especially when it's recognized by others. Thank you.

Of course, she-who-will-say-don't-get-a-big-head merely would suggest that I have the gift of blarney. Perhaps she is right!




P.S. She loves my talents, just sayin'. . .

 

[sleepydog25]

And, this is the gorgeous chandelier as you enter the restaurant
Very pretty, as is the entire restaurant, but I do prefer the more rustic feel of Palo on the classic ships.

Oh dear, someone’s memory is fading a bit. Like the sands in an hourglass…
We ACTUALLY were asked if we wanted a drink, any drink. Since I was feeling a teeny, tiny bit celebratory I poured over the sparkly section of the wine list. We had just done the champagne tasting and I mentioned to the server how much I had enjoyed the pink champagne we had at Pink and it was too bad they didn’t have it. “Oh, but we do!” “You do?? Sold! Two glasses!” I do not recall this version, Sam I Am; I do not recall this in a train; I do not recall this in a plane; I do not recall this in a crane; I'm so sorry, Sam I Am, but you ain't right. . .



Isn’t he the sweetest man? Why, yes, I am.



Another memory lapse, lolol! We DID have the antipasti, babe. Where do you think we got all those lovely meats, cheeses, olives and oils?? I’m pretty certain we also had the pesto marinated shrimp here, which was super yummy. Although I’m the only one that appears to remember it! If those foods came off a cart, it was a stealth cart, the new C-25 Shadow Cart, capable of cloaked operations. Only it's ion exhaust trail will allow photon torpedoes to lock in on it. Fire!



This was a difficult course for me, so many tasty options!! We did also have the chianti braised beef ravioli which I think was better than the lobster ravioli. I will agree we had this beef ravioli but disagree in that it wasn't as tasty as the lobster one. Just sayin'. I had wanted also to try the penne arribiata with shrimp, but I make a pretty mean one myself, so I opted not to. Plus, I was already getting full!!!! I did think the pasta itself was a little tough, and as SD said, would have preferred more saffron in the rissotto. But, we can be a bit critical since we like to cook so much ourselves.



We actually sit NEXT to each other whenever possible. Mostly because I like the nearness of you, fyi, and partly because I like to sample your food! Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, well that changes everything!

I also think you skipped a course, babe, because I remember having the scallops, which were perfectly prepared and you had the sea bass, which I actually liked better. Of course, that COULD have been my other date….Tarzan or Jack?

The osso bucco WAS good. But again, I have to say, I make a pretty good osso bucco myself. And, I agree. I typically will use either beef or lamb shanks which gives it a richer, deep flavor. My lamb was to die for, though! I’m glad I chose it! Agree. Agree. And agree. (I hate doing that!)



Are you sure I didn’t have the apple thingie??? Even if you did, it obviously wasn't memorable enough to register. Long live the souffle'!

Doncha just love him??!

Who is that old man with you?

 

[sleepydog25]

Postlude to Palo—A Digression into Absurdity

Following the fireworks, we wandered through Cabanas which was open late and where like the Lady of the Lake rising out of Loch Arthur with Excalibur in her hand, a tangy, pungent, spicy smell arose from the midst of the buffet and stopped luv in her tracks. Here I must note that there are a few foods that she can resist no more than Popeye can spinach or Bugs a carrot (though the proper analogy would be kryptonite to Superman). Among them are chips (tortillas, taters, and cheese puffs), Helluva Good French Onion dip, Heath bars, and pretty much anything Tex-Mex, especially if it screams, “Taco bar!” and "Baked potato bar!" Oh, yes, they di-i-d.

“Babe, you can’t possibly need anything to eat after Palo,” I said incredulously with an capital “I.”

“It’s tacos. . .with cheese. . .sour cream. . .jalapenos. . .and baked potatoes. . .how can I not?” Amazingly, she was as incredulous as I. (Editor’s note: Yes, I just used incredulous twice—nay, three times now—in back-to-back sentences, though personally I like the word “incredulity” even better, but it’s harder to work into a sentence, though lookie-lookie I just did.) She was doomed. I knew that look, the same on she gets when we have to do late night cheese doodle runs, AKA the Cheese Puff Express. When we walk in the store, the woman behind the counter will say, “The regular, luv, and put it on your tab?” Soon, LOMF had plates in hand, steaming with taco meat, a baked potato, and stacked with shells, cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and a mound of sour cream—“Wonder if it’s light sour cream?” I muttered. Wilting doesn’t begin to describe her glare.

Funny the small memories that remain with you—stolen glances while in line at Haunted Mansion, a smile over a sandwich, a tune you both begin humming simultaneously, a moonlit sky on a verandah. . .and taco shell crumbs in bed on a cruise. Love is a many-splendored thing. . .

Next up: You See? A Day at Sea. . .

 

[luvvwl]

Postlude to Palo—A Digression into Absurdity

Following the fireworks, we wandered through Cabanas which was open late and where like the Lady of the Lake rising out of Loch Arthur with Excalibur in her hand, a tangy, pungent, spicy smell arose from the midst of the buffet and stopped luv in her tracks. Here I must note that there are a few foods that she can resist no more than Popeye can spinach or Bugs a carrot (though the proper analogy would be kryptonite to Superman). Among them are chips (tortillas, taters, and cheese puffs), Helluva Good French Onion dip, Heath bars, and pretty much anything Tex-Mex, especially if it screams, “Taco bar!” and "Baked potato bar!" Oh, yes, they di-i-d.

“Babe, you can’t possibly need anything to eat after Palo,” I said incredulously with an capital “I.”

“It’s tacos. . .with cheese. . .sour cream. . .jalapenos. . .and baked potatoes. . .how can I not?” Amazingly, she was as incredulous as I. (Editor’s note: Yes, I just used incredulous twice—nay, three times now—in back-to-back sentences, though personally I like the word “incredulity” even better, but it’s harder to work into a sentence, though lookie-lookie I just did.) She was doomed. I knew that look, the same on she gets when we have to do late night cheese doodle runs, AKA the Cheese Puff Express. When we walk in the store, the woman behind the counter will say, “The regular, luv, and put it on your tab?” Soon, LOMF had plates in hand, steaming with taco meat, a baked potato, and stacked with shells, cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and a mound of sour cream—“Wonder if it’s light sour cream?” I muttered. Wilting doesn’t begin to describe her glare.

Funny the small memories that remain with you—stolen glances while in line at Haunted Mansion, a smile over a sandwich, a tune you both begin humming simultaneously, a moonlit sky on a verandah. . .and taco shell crumbs in bed on a cruise. Love is a many-splendored thing. . .

Next up: You See? A Day at Sea. . .

All I have to say about this is:

If you had let me bring the baked chips....

 

[sleepydog25]

Sailing, Take Me Away

The sharp-eyed among you will notice I changed the title to this section. Confession: titles are not my forte. Many would say neither is my trip reporting. lol Anyway, I changed my title because I can and wanted to and, besides, the title should reflect my commitment to providing the full slate of events implied and promised at the start of this report: “Our NewsTeam 25 provides only the best on-scene coverage with outstanding details. For the latest—if not always the timeliest—in-depth reporting, tune to channel 25, The Dog. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.”

Our day dawned as the others had, sunny, warm, and with a nice cooling breeze for running. . .which is exactly what we did. Only this time, luv joined me on Deck 4 to give the out-of-doors a try. For the life of me, I don’t understand someone’s preference for a rolling tube of plastic, rubber, and metal that forces you to keep up with its pace. Such a tyrannical beast is a treadmill, demanding your attention, daring you to stray off its artificial tarmac. It is your master—you are the peon. (Ed. note: Don’t even get me started on elliptical trainers as they are even worse than treadmills—think the Go’a’uld compared to Klingons—because it not only forces you to remain unbelievably upright and coordinated, it makes you look uproaringly silly, sort of a perpetual Electric Slide or an odd Dance with the Stars couple doing the rocking samba.)

Running outdoors (and running on a treadmill that sits outside does not count) provides a person some say in how he proceeds—democracy in motion instead of treadmill totalitarianism. If you wish to slow your pace, you can do so instantaneously without resorting to fumbling with some panel button that takes repeated stabbing to decrease your speed. With a treadmill, your brains is engaged with trying to slow the machine while your legs are crying out to your feet, “Keep up!” as you experience some dangerous version of an out-of-body sensation. I now understand how a bug’s legs keep moving after its head is chopped off. Running on an unaided-by-mechanics surface enables me to alter my stride (mid-stride if I want), to actually turn my head without fear, to sip water, or juggle (okay, I can’t actually do that last one, but I could if I knew how to juggle).

What is another thing you can’t do on a treadmill you can while running outside? Pace yourself, or in my case, try to run slightly faster than anyone else who happens to be running near me. I’m not competitive, merely, umm, self-motivated to run as fast as the nextperson when possible. Seriously, I do enjoy other runners out and about as they push me to keep a steadier pace and to suck in my gut. With treadmills, all you get is an annoying noise as the gears whine increasingly louder so you have to crank up the volume on your iPod until your ears ring (see related link in Wikipedia, “Treadmill Link to Deafness in Outer Mongolian Yak Herders”). If you attempt to keep pace with someone on a treadmill, you don’t actually keep up so much as you look goofy as you sneak peeks at her panel, trying to find the mph she is going until you desperately realize that the 87-year old grandmother is kicking your butt. Nope, gotta run outside.

So. Luv and I set out to run around the deck. As much as I enjoyed it, she was less than thrilled, “But, I’m going to sweat!” L What I find unique about running around on deck is the starboard side is cool with a nice breeze in your face while the port side can be blazingly hot since the wind is at your back. Some people might complain that the port side is too hot, the starboard side to windy, and both the aft and forward sections too “hilly”. . .though I know of no one like that personally. . . After the run, (which LOMF admitted was kinda cool—when it was over), we headed to our local caffeine hangout, the Cove Café, purchased our lattes (one was free!), then sauntered to Cabanas for breakfast.

As usual, the food was hot, varied, and tasty (save for that blasted Disney bacon sliced as thin as tissue paper and with about as much taste), and we quickly snagged a window table. . .for about three minutes. That’s how long it took for us to become irritated by a couple seated at the table next to us who were regaling their tablemates with stories of how awful was the pastor of their church. No, he hadn’t attempted murder or stolen money from church funds. His downfall apparently had something to do with some committee personnel with whom they, obviously, were in vehement disagreement. In hindsight, should we have mentioned to them they weren’t setting a very nice picture of their church, their pastor, or their personal faith? It’s a tough call, and I’ve many faults of my own, so in the end, we said nothing and moved three tables over.

After freshening up in our cabin following breakfast, we went into super-dupery secret agent mode and played the Mid-ship Detective Agency game. It’s an interactive game that requires little skill other than being able to find the picture frames on each designated level, no small feat, actually. lol You take a card along with you that the selected artwork reads when you stand in front of it. With said card, you can do things such as brush away dust, clean a mirror, or unfasten screws to a panel. It’s quite enjoyable and mindless, but it does burn some calories as you hop from one level to the next (you don’t actually have to hop—walking and taking elevators is allowed). However, given this was the at-sea day, there were quite a few others who had the same idea. We got about halfway through the game (the funniest moment came when we were skulking down a hallway in full agent mode, me humming the theme from “Mission: Impossible,” when a room hostess popped and saw us—“Don’t worry. I won’t blow your cover,” said she), when we realized that we needed to get to the Meridian Lounge for our wine tasting class. Alcohol MUST take preference over battling crime!

The wine tasting was full, over 20 people were filling the seats and booths in the lounge. We chose to sit at the bar as that gave us a better vantage point to look out of the windows. We had the same person leading the class as the champagne tasting, and we tasted our way through six different wines—three white and three red—before ending with a taste of champagne. Though still enjoyable, this event was my least favorite of the three tastings we had. The wines we tasted largely consisted of my least favorite varietals (not that I truly dislike any grape, lol) including a Rhone, a Sangiovese (Old World style), and a Riesling among others. The information presented was good, but nothing we didn’t already know (which may say something about how much wine we drink!), so overall it was a slightly lackluster experience for us; however, I do believe that had more to do with our level of knowledge and tastes than the actual event itself. It didn’t help that as we got started, a group of people consisting of six adults and about that many kids came through the lounge in order to get to the outside seating area so that the adults could smoke. The smoke was no issue, but the loud talking and the kids boisterous playing did get quite distracting halfway through the tasting. Finally, at that point, one of the assistants stepped outside and politely asked them to either speak a little more quietly or suggested there might be a better area for them to congregate. Whichever the case, the group moved on and the rest of the class was uneventful.

We had some time before the matinee showing of “Villains Tonight,” so we finished the detective game (we guessed who it was before the reveal), and headed to Shutters to peruse our pics. It was here that gave birth to perhaps our biggest criticism of our cruise—the inability to select the pictures you want and put them in the photo book how you wish. That cruisers can view their pictures online at a stand-alone kiosk then place them in a photo album template is a superb idea. However, that novel notion is undercut by some irregularities. First, there seemed to be fewer CM photographers this cruise than I remember from my last one, so that means finding the “official” picture-taking opportunities is a bit more difficult and slightly more crowded. Second, though Disney boasts of having of having the CMs going around and taking ad hoc photos which they wind up displaying on the open racks in Shutters, we rarely saw them. I think we had one shot of luv that was taken on CC day. Third, having fewer opportunities translates to having fewer choices to put in a purchased photo album for which we had budgeted. Fourth, and most annoying, certain CM-taken pictures could only be used in specific sections in the album. For example, there was a picture of us standing in the atrium in front of the staircase that we wanted to use in the middle of the album to show us in fine attire for dinner. Yet, the album would only allow that particular picture to be placed in the beginning of the album. If you wanted an embarkation picture any place other than the introductory pages, forget it. In other words, the album is set up chronologically so that only certain shots can go on select pages. Moreover, some of the pictures they take—such as Captain Jack on CC, aren’t 8 x 11 and can’t be resized for the album. All of that might work for a majority of people, but it doesn’t allow for any creativity at all. Further, as in our case, if you are lacking shots as we were (see the fewer official moments and CM photographer comments above), then you don’t actually have enough photos to fill an album since the sections are limited to a certain number of photos. We didn’t have many initial shots taken of us the day we embarked, so we attempted to use later dining photos and couldn’t. In the end, we opted not to purchase the photo book since we would have to use stock shots of the ship, CC, and characters for nearly half the allowable spaces. Instead, we wound up buying four photos, a photo album, and extra pages in one of the gift shops to make our own album, and in the process, saved ourselves about $50. At one point, we spoke to a Shutters CM who said that not only did he receive many complaints just like ours, but that he had made suggestions to DCL about how to improve the photo album option; in fact, he asked us to sign some official form in order to record our comments. Perhaps future cruisers will have an updated photo book option that allows more flexibility than we had.

Next up: The Curtain Begins to Close