Pinch me, did it REALLY happen????? - All wrapped up, and yes, it DID happen!

[Leshaface]

Originally Posted by franandaj

We get our Prime Rib every Christmas when the supermarkets down here have big sales on them. This year Ralph's, Stater Bros and Vons all had them for around $4.99/lb. Normally priced at like $12.99-14.99. We get ones that cost about $20-25. I'll cut a few in half so that they are really a giant steak, but instead of searing them on a grill, I cook them in a roasting rack and it's a perfect big dinner for two. If I make the two bone roast (like we're bringing to WDW), we can get 3-4 meals out of it for the $25.

That's why we stock up when the price is right, otherwise we would be paying $50 for them!! That's why it's worth chucking it in my suitcase, between the three meals I'm sure we'll get and a fourth that will probably work out in the end, that's $6 a meal (plus the sides and stuff) for two people!

Maybe that was my problem. I was looking during Spring/Summer. Probably not the best time to be looking for Prime Rib so i'll keep this in mind for this Christmas.

Originally Posted by franandaj

It's one excursion, we meet at 10:15AM, get on a bus, go to the ruins (about 30 min), we get about 45 minutes there, the tequilera is about 15 min away and it's about half an hour there. Then we take a scenic drive to an overlook, probably stop and get out, then they take us to the middle of town to shop for a little less than an hour. Then it's back to the boat by 2:15. We leave port at 3:30 so it should be fun!

Oh wow that sounds like so much fun. Is Fran doing this excursion also?

[dgbg100106]

Originally Posted by rentayenta

Went out with some friends last night. Who knew that Jameson not only warns the belly but the soul? It's been a while since I've had a little hangover. But considering this is Day 13/16 of solo parenting, I'm entitled to it. Its all about football, pizza, wings, and real Coca Cola today. No cleaning, no nothing.

I am actually starting an update for my report.

You're thinking of gnarly dirty dreadlocks where small mammals may live. Not art but I still think they're kinda cool.

I like to drink Jameson 18 year limited reserve.

[dgbg100106]

Single digit dance.... Whoop!

4.99 a pound is amazing.

[rentayenta]

Originally Posted by dgbg100106

I like to drink Jameson 18 year limited reserve.

I don't know that I had ever had Jameson before but it was nice.

Originally Posted by franandaj

Single Digits to Kidani today!





Now this has nothing to do with my trip to WDW,
but today we booked our activities for our cruise in April!
The first day at sea we have Palo Brunch
On Grand Cayman we are doing a Sea Trek Helmet Dive
Palo for Dinner that night
In Cozumel we are doing a tour of Mayan Ruins, a Tequilera, and scenic tour.
For those who followed our other cruise, there is shopping too.
Pam, you were right, I have to wait until we get on the ship to book our last day at sea Palo Brunch.

Single digit dance! So very exciting.

What cruise is this called? Disney is still doing Cozumel? Your plans look fantastic. What's the Sea Trek Helmet Dive? I need links girl. And I can't believe you ladies are shopping.

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by rentayenta

Love the cute Mickey S&P grinders. And the rare meat. Yum! And the Opus One. Nice.

Kidani is my favorite DVC resort so far with the THV coming in at a very close second. Its so tranquil and beautiful. Here's hoping that real life and the issues it can bring stay totally away on your vacation.

Pretty funny, I didn't notice the opus which I normally would have but seeing the garlic studded roast made me realize I hadn't written down the method I used this year on Christmas for our prime rib and it became a frantic effort to find what I did so I'd have it for next year! While I love all the cooking aps I have on my phone it can definitely cause me to forget what I did if its not printed and in my binder.

[lulubelle]

Alison, I hope you and Fran have a fabulous time on the trip, you really deserve it. The plans sound wonderful so far. Question - are you bringing some horseradish for that fine looking hunk of prime rib?

ETA: Just saw the pics on an earlier page of your beautiful prime rib.

[dolphingirl47]

Originally Posted by franandaj

Single Digits to Kidani today!





Now this has nothing to do with my trip to WDW,
but today we booked our activities for our cruise in April!
The first day at sea we have Palo Brunch
On Grand Cayman we are doing a Sea Trek Helmet Dive
Palo for Dinner that night
In Cozumel we are doing a tour of Mayan Ruins, a Tequilera, and scenic tour.
For those who followed our other cruise, there is shopping too.
Pam, you were right, I have to wait until we get on the ship to book our last day at sea Palo Brunch.

Yay on the Single Digit Dance and on getting your activities booked for the cruise.

Corinna

[Leshaface]

Originally Posted by dgbg100106

I like to drink Jameson 18 year limited reserve.

Oh my goodness, this just brought up an awful memory! I'm pretty sure it wasn't the reserve but the regular stuff...

We were celebrating the San Francisco Giants World Championship win in SF at a bar after the parade, where this guy was clearly too happy (I mean, everyone in the city was 'happy' so it wasn't too unusual) but he and DH got to talking and ended up buying us some shots of Jameson. I had already had a few beers at this point so I was willing to try anything. Oh my it was pretty tasty. Well, 1 led to 3, and to make this story short, we ended up on the metro on the complete other side of the city from where we needed to be. Just had to tell my first story with Jameson.

I bet the reserve tastes delicious!

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by Pinkocto

Lots of jewelry shops, the regular touristy knickknacks, art, clothes, authentic Mexican crafts. There's a long strip of stores right in front of where the ship docks. I agree with Fran, I leave as fast as possible when they start being pushy.

That sounds fun! I'm glad we'll only have an hour or so!

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Only 9 days to go!

Silver jewellery is beautiful in that part of Mexico! As is linen. Happy shopping!

Hopefully I won't be too tempted. But then you never know!

Originally Posted by Leshaface

Maybe that was my problem. I was looking during Spring/Summer. Probably not the best time to be looking for Prime Rib so i'll keep this in mind for this Christmas.

Oh wow that sounds like so much fun. Is Fran doing this excursion also?

Normally it is outrageously priced. That's why we stock up when the prices are good.

Fran and I both booked both excursions. Hopefully it will work out!

Originally Posted by dgbg100106

Single digit dance.... Whoop!

4.99 a pound is amazing.

I know! That's why we tend to stock up!

Originally Posted by rentayenta

Single digit dance! So very exciting.

What cruise is this called? Disney is still doing Cozumel? Your plans look fantastic. What's the Sea Trek Helmet Dive? I need links girl. And I can't believe you ladies are shopping.

I know! Not only Single Digit Dance but a week from tonight we will be in our room at RPH hopefully starting to drift off to sleep, with a nice dinner and ready to spring up and hit Harry Potter Land for our second day in a row!

OK, the Cruise....

It is a 6 night Western Caribbean Cruise. Here is a map, but pretend you don't see the stop in Costa Maya because we don't go there only Grand Cayman and Cozumel. There are three days at sea, and two port days.



This is the Sea Trek website. We wanted to do the Snuba, but when we clicked on the link to book the excursion, it wasn’t offered which leads me to believe that the Snuba part had already sold out.

http://www.seatrekcayman.com/index.p...id=1&Itemid=15

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Pretty funny, I didn't notice the opus which I normally would have but seeing the garlic studded roast made me realize I hadn't written down the method I used this year on Christmas for our prime rib and it became a frantic effort to find what I did so I'd have it for next year! While I love all the cooking aps I have on my phone it can definitely cause me to forget what I did if its not printed and in my binder.

I’ve tried three or four different methods over the years and like this one best. I tried a salt and pepper crusted technique one year that I saw on Tyler Florence’s show, but it was really time consuming and not all that fantastic, so I’m back to this method.

Originally Posted by lulubelle

Alison, I hope you and Fran have a fabulous time on the trip, you really deserve it. The plans sound wonderful so far. Question - are you bringing some horseradish for that fine looking hunk of prime rib?

ETA: Just saw the pics on an earlier page of your beautiful prime rib.

Definitely going to have horseradish, but debating whether to buy it there or just put a glob of it in a baggie and let it sit next to the prime rib to stay refrigerated.

Originally Posted by dolphingirl47

Yay on the Single Digit Dance and on getting your activities booked for the cruise.

Corinna

I was really happy because Fran took a genuine interest in what we were going to do. I hope the ruins tour isn't too much, the website says it is a total of one mile walking. We'll have to start taking walks so she will be up to it. The funny thing is she was looking at all the "Active" excursions. I was thinking of the Tequila and Tacos tasting!

Originally Posted by Leshaface

Oh my goodness, this just brought up an awful memory! I'm pretty sure it wasn't the reserve but the regular stuff...

We were celebrating the San Francisco Giants World Championship win in SF at a bar after the parade, where this guy was clearly too happy (I mean, everyone in the city was 'happy' so it wasn't too unusual) but he and DH got to talking and ended up buying us some shots of Jameson. I had already had a few beers at this point so I was willing to try anything. Oh my it was pretty tasty. Well, 1 led to 3, and to make this story short, we ended up on the metro on the complete other side of the city from where we needed to be. Just had to tell my first story with Jameson.

I bet the reserve tastes delicious!

Oh my God! I can't believe first off you took a bus after that many drinks and that you were on the other side of town!

[Leshaface]

Oops! I meant the BART. I know you used to live up there so you'll be familiar with this. We parked in West Dublin/Pleasanton station and we ended up as far as Walnut Creek! It took us forever to get back!

[franandaj]

Here I was picturing you winding up in the Tenderloin! You didn't end up in the wrong part of town, you were in the wrong town altogether!

You and your DH need to be careful, first you miss your reservation at Yachtsman and then you end up on the wrong BART station!

[Leshaface]

Originally Posted by franandaj

Here I was picturing you winding up in the Tenderloin! You didn't end up in the wrong part of town, you were in the wrong town altogether!

You and your DH need to be careful, first you miss your reservation at Yachtsman and then you end up on the wrong BART station!

Pfftt haha when you put both of those situations in the same sentence, we look like an utter mess!

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by franandaj

I’ve tried three or four different methods over the years and like this one best. I tried a salt and pepper crusted technique one year that I saw on Tyler Florence’s show, but it was really time consuming and not all that fantastic, so I’m back to this method.

!

My precious effort was just ok. This time I did a combination of a Bobby Flay seasoning (slits in the meat and stuff the garlic right in) with salt and pepper but then went for the cook on high for a short amount of time and let rest in the unopened oven for 2 hours versus the lower heat for a longer time that his called for, and then used his Au jus recipe. So good! And easy

Your studded garlic made me paranoid I hadn't saved my notes. So nice when you find something that works!

[dgbg100106]

Originally Posted by Leshaface

Oh my goodness, this just brought up an awful memory! I'm pretty sure it wasn't the reserve but the regular stuff...

We were celebrating the San Francisco Giants World Championship win in SF at a bar after the parade, where this guy was clearly too happy (I mean, everyone in the city was 'happy' so it wasn't too unusual) but he and DH got to talking and ended up buying us some shots of Jameson. I had already had a few beers at this point so I was willing to try anything. Oh my it was pretty tasty. Well, 1 led to 3, and to make this story short, we ended up on the metro on the complete other side of the city from where we needed to be. Just had to tell my first story with Jameson.

I bet the reserve tastes delicious!

The Jameson reserve is amazing, it is so smooth, and slightly smoky. Yummy, I could for some right now, but I am a bit from home...

[dolphingirl47]

Originally Posted by franandaj

I was really happy because Fran took a genuine interest in what we were going to do. I hope the ruins tour isn't too much, the website says it is a total of one mile walking. We'll have to start taking walks so she will be up to it. The funny thing is she was looking at all the "Active" excursions. I was thinking of the Tequila and Tacos tasting!

I can understand this. Graham is pretty much of the school "Let me know when and where I need to be." I picked out excursion that I thought we both would enjoy for our back to back cruise and emailed the descriptions to him. I seem to have hit the jackpot as he wants to do all of them. Still, it would be nice if we could do this together. Having said that, for our Hawaii cruise, it was him who suggested one of the excursions and that one was amazing.

As to your excursion in Cozumel, up to yesterday morning, I was not even aware that there are Mayan ruins in Cozumel. Then you posted that you had booked this excursion and then somebody whose trip report I am following did this excursion on her cruise and was writing about this.

Corinna