09/15/07 Early Check in September 15, 2007 Eastern

[Grandma4ever]

Merry Christmas!!! Things here in sunny Arizona have gone better than expected. My sister has had wonderful support following the death of her husband of 23 years. Our job is to make sure that the kids (DD9) have a good Christmas. However I don't know that we are needed. Just his Co- workers brought by more gifts than my kids ever got in any one Christmas plus a gift of money of over 500.00 dollars. I have been amazed at the support that has joined to support this family.

My sister is joining Janet and I on the 9/8/07. I am looking forward to seeing my nieces enjoy the cruise. I hope everyone is having their Christmas deams and hopes fulfilled. I know I am. Til later, Lois

 

[Grandma4ever]

Lois- so sorry to hear about your family's loss. As you know, my dad passed 11/1 and I am so sad heading into Christmas...at least Liam is here. Please pass on my sympathy and let them know they are not alone. I know the pain they must be feeling. This is such a sad time. Hugs to you all.

Kamy, I have past along your words of comfort. My sister is doing better than I expected but I think part of it is that there is alot to defocus on at this time. I think once Christmas is over and it is time to face the normal day to day routine the sadness will really set in. I must return home. I will have been gone for three weeks. Work is going to be a real mess. But this too shall pass. Lois

 

[nacho1337]

merry christmas

 

[captaincrash]

Mele kalikimaka (Mel-ae Ka-leekee-kaka) !!!

... otherwise, Merry Christmas from Maui....

Thanks in advance to Fiala & Smith for the unauthorized use of this image...​

 

[kamgen]

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Lois- I am glad she is doing alright.

Things here are going alright. Christmas day, the first without my dad, was really hard. I held up all day, except when it was time to go to bed. I think I must have cried for two hours.....
I miss him terribly and miss seeing him with my boys.
My inlaws flew in today so it is nice to have them here and see them make dh happy. He hasn't seen them since August.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year and please remember to count your blessings and take the opportunity to tell those you hold dear how much you love and appreciate them.....

Hugs to you all.

 

[captaincrash]

I cooked a 12 pound prime rib roast tonight...

... bone in... and had about 35% left over - and I even forgot to cook the stuiffed Salmon I bought from Costco tonight. Plus - here on Maui the local Safeway gave me resistance to my using a rain check from their sister chain Vons on the Prime Rib.... but the manager was nice about it. He made me wait about 15 minutes before he showed up - and said he was sorry about the huge delay - then added they could not match the mainland ad prices as their distribution costs were much higher on Maui - even compared to Oahu they do not typically honor rain check prices... the price per pound was $10.89 and my rain check was for $4.97 a pound. SO the potential savings was $5.92 or just shy of $72! So - he quickly responded to my polite patience with an offer to match with his best ad price - which I took. Remarkably it was only $5.97 a pound so I still saved $60!

Well... so much for the latest bit of excitement out here in the far west. We're on the rainy side of the island somewhat central. The dry side is over by Lahina. It rained pretty much all day.

Hope everyone elses' vacation week is going as pleasantly as ours is.

 

[Bareacuda]

Hello All...

It took me a while to read thru this thread

Let's see... congrats to all getting married, having birthday, Happy Anniversary, and to Kamy and her new baby!
Thoughts and prayers to all those who have lost a family member. It's always tough to go thru. I think most of us have gone thru it once or twice, and perhaps more then that.

Well.... Dh and I are booked for this cruise and the 1 before and the 1 after this one.
We had the first 11 day med cruise booked and paid for, then came along a change. We had been contacting a art gallery for our art work, then the call came in.. we have a date ... the same time as our med cruise!

So..... we changed dates! We did a back to back in 2004, Has a Blast!
Now we are looking forward to this cruise... haven't done a cruise since the Repo in August 2005.

Here's a bit about us "the short story"
Me(Ann) DH(Howard) booked #5130 late dining... I think this will be our11,12 &13th cruise. No kids with us... they are all grown and have kids of their own.
Both of us are artists, Dh is a photographer and does ceramics and I do only ceramics.Dh has had several pics in books, mags and movies. Im so proud of him.
Several days a week we are on the lake practicing for races for the summer... we are in an (Hawaiian) Outrigger Canoe Club. Right now the water is cold enough to wear a wet suit, keeps ya warm while doing 6 or 7 miles.
Enough of my Blah..Blah...Blah...

Put is simply... We're In !!!

 

[kamgen]

Welcome to the group!!!
It is great to see our group growing with such wonderful people!!!!
Well I am jealous of the back to back cruisers....but all in all, I am just SOOOOOOOOO excited to be cruising again. It has been TOO long! Well, that is what happens when you have two babies only 15mths apart!

Update from the cold....we just went and got Liam's newborn pictures taken and they are so cute! I will upload some soon. Ryan has had his own little milestones...like yesterday he kissed his little brother on the cheek! So cute

As for us, we are gearing up for the start of our workout/weight loss program. I start on Jan 9 (why the 9th you ask?? well, have to do it after all the bowl games! LOL! ) Steve is gonna whoop my butt into shape! Seriously though, I need a major push to keep going. Actually, the thought of us getting married (again ) on the ship is MAJOR motivation!!!!

 

[JLSE50]

See my last post--page 30 post # 448.

Thanksgiving went well. Mother liked her poetry binder and helped get the rest ready for Christmas giving.

While I was in Upstate NY, my brother and I went through the old photo albums with those brittle black pages, took out the photos where we recognized the people and taped them together into 8 1/2 x 11 collages which we put in plastic page protectors. This way the writing on the back is visible too. The pages that had writing on them not on the photos were torn or cut to fit the page protectors. All the pages were put in binders for the three of us kids.

We met our soon-to-be-daughter-in-law-Sarah's parents on Thanksgiving day at their home for dinner. They are as great as she is. It was great to see our sons. Our trip home to Indy went well.

Mother did go to Alabama with my brother for Christmas with my sister and family. Poetry books were well received by all as were photo binders.

We had a lovely Christmas. Both our sons and Sarah drove to Indianapolis from PA. They arrived Saturday PM and left Wednesday AM. It is a 12 hour trip and the first year we did not do it ourselves.

Jan (why won't my Minnie-girl show up any more?)

 

[captaincrash]

Welcome Bareacuda! It's a pleasure to make your acquaintence here! And welcome back JLSE50! I have not gone back to pick up on your last postings - but it's all just the same to welcome you back!

And Kamgen... how romantic. It looks like you're gonna renew vows on the ship! Is that right? If so --- how cool!

OK... it's late and we're traveling home tomorrow on a red eye - over new years' eve... unless we get a volunteering opportunity. OUt flight and the one right after ours is oversold.

With that ... HAPPY New Years' Cheers to all!

 

[kamgen]

yes captaincrash, we are doing the vow renewal ceremony. It is more like our wedding, since our first wedding was just the two of us. This time we get to have some family, friends and our children. We are very excited

Just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

 

[captaincrash]

Wow!

How fun!!! Some day I think it would be nice to do a vow renewal with an intimate gsathering. We're only at our 12 (or 13th) anniversery this coming September. The Disney cruise has been a regular thing for us to quietly celebrate our anniversery these past few years.

So... you've actually got a vow renewal set up on the Magic... Wow! So - like the captain officiates... right? And am I mistaken or - there is not a chapel aboard... right? So - where do they fo it? I imagine you might have a chice of sites... right? Can you - like do it at sunset on the secret veranda or in ... dare I say ... Palo's? AND ... may I ask if they offer any unusual or special options for the vow renewal? LIKE... having Mickey officiate? OK... maybe THAT would be a little "over the top" (and unlikely). BUT.... the idea really sounds like so much fun.... especially with family and friends!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Hi everyone!

Steve and I will be joining you on this cruise. We were on the 11 day with Tigger&Bubba and CaptainCrash and family. (Hi guys! Looking forward to seeing you again!)

I'll be calling and booking tomorrow as I finally got Steve to commit to the date.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Denise

Diana,

I think of you every time I use my DCL CC members' bag!

Thanks again!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

We're booked and just happened to get the last sph stateroom!

 

[captaincrash]

That's great!

Welcome aboard!!! Glad to have ya joining the fun!!!!

 

[nacho1337]

We're booked and just happened to get the last sph stateroom!

You luck out. When i tried to book all sph room were taken

 

[kamgen]

Welcome aboard Steve & Denise!!

captaincrash- the vow renewal ceremony is taking place in Sessions and the captain officiates. We are really excited. We will have cake and a "first dance"....so fun! Wish Mickey was there! LOL! We will have dinner after at Palo (YUM!). Since we did not have a more formal ceremony prior, this will be our chance to have photos taken and I get to wear a pretty dress and have flowers....now that is all worth it!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Thanks to you all for the welcome! Yes, I couldn't believe when I called last night that a sph was still available! #5022! I've always wanted to try one and just lucked up on it.

 

[Bareacuda]

Whoa... Capt Crash... you better know what anniversary it is! DW just might "help" you remember
Just kidding..
Dh knows when our aniversary is, this year makes 37 and it abit before the cruise.


Welcome all who have just signed on this wacky cruise!

 

[captaincrash]

Wacky?

... now how about considerin' a substitution to "wonderful"... or "fabulous"... or "Magical"... but Wacky? It is Mickeys' ship now ... is it not?

<chuckles>, and Baracuda... you ARE right... I probably should reconfirm the date of my wedding so I can cite the number of years correctly... or at least I might get the date engraved on my wedding ring, eh?

from CC...