09/28/2002 Cruise

[@GoofyNut]

Well today is a new day ... the sun is shining ... we woke up as even more proud AMERICANS ... we can get thru this and I now will never forget all the sacrifices made on 9-11-02!

Elaine ... Hope your Dad came thru OK.

Rae ... Wish Michael luck for us on his new school endeaver.

George & Barb ... Take a ride up to the Delaware Water Gap and go along route 6. We did this last year and saw more then a dozen and some were realllllly close (on top of telephone poles). It's just a short drive for us and was a lot of fun.

Dennis ... 200+ Eagles at one time, WOW were you blessed. Sounds like you are a wild animal friend also too. The ones in my back yard forest (or as we call it, woods) know my voice and come a running for any treats I have. Art goes crazy "they're eating our bushes" ... my reply " relax, I'll put up more green screen around the bushes". They really are beautiful when you get to see them up close.

Animal lovers ... I'll bring a picture of "my deer" and you can see one that is severely handicapped but can still run like the rest of his family.

Do you believe that the NY State Lottery Daily Number was 911 yesterday! Suppose GOD is telling us something?

Well I interrupt this MICKEY daydream for work ......

 

[papa]

Good to see you on the boards this morning Cathy. The only bald eagle that I have seen up close in Nashville was in my pocket on a coin

Elaine hope that you dad is doing well. Mary are you ready for this cruise?? If you get too overwhelmed you can send Ave to take your place for functions or such. Guess that is the wonderful part about having a twin Ave will have to change her hair color to match yours.

Going to get a new pool cover today as the old one had a hole in it when we took it off. Going to close that sucker down before the leaves start dropping in earnest.

Looking forward to meeting some at the radisson, and the rest at our sailaway party on deck ten. Mike

 

[papa]

OMG Cathy you posted #2200 to the thread. You win a chance to meet all of our smiling dis friends

 

[donnaMD]

Some of you are probably wondering where I have been. I have been busy with my real estate and getting Chloe acclimated to Kindergarten.!
My girlfriend, Lynn, is going on the cruise too! She was upgraded fr a category 11 to a category10 and will be on the 7th floor just up 2 floors from us, but near us! She is very excited + will be with us at the Radison the night before and at the Swan the night after!
Our extra bedroom is full of stuff we will pack and it is getting real close! I really need this vacation; I am so sick of working 7 days a week, even if it isn't always all day-I just can not seem to get away from it.
John bought snokeling gear for us both; we have never done it, so hopefully we will get the hang of it.
For tours, my thoughts are--none at Key West - just the counch train or trolley on our own.
Caymans--Lynn has been there and loved it--take the taxi to Holiday Inn--she says the Hyatt is best, but I do not know if they let us cruisers in there.
Cozumel--Mr Sanchos Beach or the national park. I wanted to do the jeep tour, but maybe it will be bumpy etc; maybe I will change my mind--we all drive standard shifts!
We have booked Paolos for brunch (10:30 Monday--so we can be with you all), high tea Thursday and dinner Monday . Lynn will link to us on the cruise ship. SHe will be able to get another dinner, high tea and brunch as well. So I guess we will have 2 brunches, 2 dinners and 2 high teas. Isn't that great? I know high teas are only days at sea, so I guess we will be high teaing both Monday and Thursday; I thought it would be nice to brunch Sunday AM as well since we will be sailing into Key West then. I thought dinner would be nice on Friday night (we have already reserved for Monday since it is formal night) or Tuesday night as we depart from Caymans. We have walky-talkys so John can register Chloe while Lynn and I run upstairs for Paolo reservations.
Our flight from D.C. keeps getting scheduled for later; now we arrive around 5PM; so hopefully we will make it to the Radison for the 8 PM fun meeting with you all!
Can't wait to meet everyone!

 

[rae519]

Michael LOVED school! But I am had trouble figuring out what I was going to do today since I've been homeschooling now for the past 15 months every day -

It must be a good sign though because I actually had some time to hear my own thoughts today!

Glad to hear so many people are getting together on this cruise - it has been so wonderful to "meet" everyone on line first.

I looked over the old menus and started to think about the food already - now Dennis, I know what you are thinking.......maybe I'll take some of my thin pants with me so I don't "overdo"!!

Of all places to see eagles, in February 02, on the DCL bus the driver pointed out two nests on the platforms just before the bridge. It was incredible to see them out in the open, with their nests on platforms. Somehow the movie "Continental Divide" came into my mind and the eagles just look out of place in Florida! Guess they needed their Mickey fix just like we did!

Hugs!
Rae

 

[Twinave]

Elaine: Prayers to your dad and your family.
Vonda: Logos on the front of our t-shirts.
MikeJ: dh and DS are wearing tuxes.
Papa: The Lovebugs have arrived in NW Fl. Started seeing them yesterday.
Dennis: Raja was the "cat" in Aladdin. Do you have room in the condo for us? We will bring red, white, or blush.
MOM: Glad Michael is enjoying school.
Mary: Dyeing my hair this weekend, do you want to do the "twin thing" and go with the same color? I leaning towards blonde.
The last few days have been pretty hard. I don't normaly watch TV, but I've spent the last few night watching the shows about 9/11, and crying. Last night DH and I watched for 4 hours and polished off a 12 pack of beer. The loss was just so staggering.
I'm so glad I have this cruise to look forward to. That helps alot.
Got to get dinner on the table. Later, Ave'

 

[RellingTwin]

Hi Gang! I have spent the last hour bagging up the lanyards to give out at the sail-a-way party!!!I have put enough lanyards for your group in a bag labled with your DIS screen name.

For those of you who have not contacted me, or posted how many are in your group, I do have some left. I THINK enough for you all, but please contact me in the next few days so I can be sure.(Tcjp4me and TimonTracy are the only 2 I am unsure of).
you can e-mail me at RellingTwin@aol.com or you can PM me.

Is there anyone who may NOT be at the Sail-a-Way Party?If so let me know and I will either drop them off at your room, or give you my room # so you can get them

I am also bringing a hole punch to the party, so I can punch a hole in the KTTW cards, so they can hang on the lanyard.(Cathy's)@GoofyNut's name tags also have holes in them so they can be put on the lanyards as well.

"The DIS LIST"
I am planning on sending a final DIS list the weekend before we sail. This way those of us leaving for WDW prior to the cruise will have the most recent list.Any cruiser who would like a copy of the list(and is not already on the "mailing list") please e-mail me.

The Radisson
I looks like 11 groups will be at the Radisson on Friday night. If anyone else is in the area, and would like to come by, we plan on meeting poolside about 8pm.

Cathy (@GoofyNut) I have last years "Hidden Mickey" books you made.So no need to make us any more for this year. (The kids are already "studying" them! LOL)

It is hard to belive the day is almost here! It's been so much fun meeting everyone here on the DIS boards. I can't wait to meet you all in person!

 

[power_alaska]

Goofnut - Let's see, I live in Alaska & constantly talk about being outdoors, fishing, wildlife, and such... what would make you think I am a wildlife supporter? Love spotting creatures of God's making in the environment that HE built for them ~ ~

Rae ~ Skinny pants? What are you talking about? I am not exactly a "little" guy. Six ft, 225#'s and a HEARTY appetite! Besides I still have to put on my winter weight ~ let's start early!

Ave ~ The more the merrier!!! I left home LONG time ago. 30yrs?
In ALL that time, the only time anyone in my family came to visit was when Chrystina & I got married. Came in on a Thursday night, we married Saturday morning and went for a "one night" honeymoon. By the time we got back on Sunday, my family was long gone.......... So, I'll take visitors from anywhere!!! Heck, I even settled for my IN-Laws last Xmas ~ Sorry Babe
By the way, the honeymoon continues

Well, this weekend I will finally start to pack tommorrow since I am scheduled leave ONE WEEK FROM TOMMORROW!!! Am I ready?

 

[rae519]

I'm a plus sized gal, Dennis and most of us have "skinny pants" - the ones we can fit into BARELY when we feel the inclination of torturing ourselves. I forgot that men don't have this luxury!

Cracked up about the "winter weight"!

I haven't spotted our three legged doe in a long time. Last time I saw her, the twins were close to her size. And that randy 8 point buck was jumping over the back fence to the field a few weeks ago.

More dead birds found with West Nile Virus in the county, they are going to test ALL deer this year that are "harvested".

I was shocked to see that the New York State Lottery winning number on 9/11 WAS 9-1-1 and paid $500 per ticket. Eerie.

Beth, I did the "just a mom" thing yesterday for Michael - stood at the door waiting for the bus to drop him off, had a snack waiting for him, and let him pick out his own supper (we went for pizza - smart kid!). I think I can get used to this, folks!!!

Rae

 

[Rikersmom]

Hello to all!

It's been a bit hectic around here, so I haven't been posting much. It's easier just to lurk around without logging in!

I can't wait to meet you at the Sail-away party. If I wasn't such a WDW fan, you have almost convinced me that the Radisson is the place to be on Friday night.

I have especially enjoyed learning that I'm not going to be the only one who loves food. My goal on a cruise is usually to limit weight gain to a pound or two, but I may even abandon that this time. Having main seating for dinner, I don't think we'll be making the Key West gathering. If I understand the rotation, we'll be at Animator's on Sunday--their salmon is one of my favorite things on the whole cruise (excuse me, but I'm getting REALLY hungry) so I don't want to miss it. I know there's lots more yummy stuff around, but I also like the light show.

You guys will have to tell me about the key lime pie at Monday brunch! I'm just sorry not to have a chance to meet Shirley. She sounds like a truly nice lady. (Thanks, Shirley, if you are reading this!)

Wow--I can't begin to go through all the happenings you've been talking about. Just hope everyone is well (especially Elaine's family), hope everyone stops worrying about what to pack (especially the guys), hope the wildlife around the country are healthy (except maybe the deer who almost ran me off the road yesterday), and hope we all have time to do all the work that needs to get done before we leave.

Have a magical day,

Karen

 

[@GoofyNut]

Just thought I'd warn you ... Art's been studying the list. Guess he's getting anxious!

Mary ... glad you are doing a "final" list (OMG) next weekend. I hope that anyone that wants name tags makes sure they get you the info. I'd hate to leave anyone out BUT THE BALL IS IN THEIR HANDS!

Anyone watching the weather ... what's up with the storms starting the minute it turned Sept?

Back to work ....

 

[rae519]

I have to admit this, I am BAD with names and just so no one is offended -

"Hello!
How are you?
Have a great day!
and
See ya' next cruise!"

I don't want to think about storms with Shirley in Key West, horseback riding at Grand Cayman and shopping in Cozumel on the list! Okay, let's all start blowing hard toward the southeast and get those storms far away from our course!

Rae

 

[papa]

Good morning all. Another day closer to the cruise . Rae I am terrible with names. I guess I will have to keep a copy of the list in my pocket to help with this feeble old mind. Mike

 

[GoofyDisney]

14 days for ya'll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is anyone excited!!!!!!!! And at this point, I think the question has become, "Who is NOT packed?"

I'll keep checkin in with ya'll as the days get closer!

karen

 

[MikeJ]

Not packed? We're not done shopping, yet! Tonight we get the new suit & dress and other goodies. We'll worry about packing when DDs hockey tryouts finish by the middle of next week. As it is, we're at the rink tomorrow, Sunday, and Tuesday!

- Mike

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

LOL I am so not packed. I still have to try on the clothes -- take stuff to the cleaners -- buy new sneakers -- shop -- shop more -- then pack.

I am also bad with names. I hate that I'm like that, but I can't help it. I will have to ask everyone twice before I get them down.

I just ordered a basket from Shirley and company. (Shhh, don't tell DH!) The girls are going to love it!

 

[VondaP]

Should I be worried? Our docs have not arrived yet. We are using the worlds worst online TA. I have tried calling and e-mailing, but no answer.

Vonda

 

[Twinave]

Not packed yet either. But working on the To Do List. Apointments tomorrow for haircuts for the whole family. Then it's off to Black Tie to get Mark fitted for his tux. I plan on having my van serviced next weekend, and doing some more shopping. I'm not working the Thursday before we leave, so after everyone is gone to work and school, I will drag out the suitcases.

It's almost here!!!!!!

Later, Ave'

 

[papa]

Hello everyone,

Mike got the big suitcase out of the storage building Thursday and we were going to start packing it but our little Katie girl came and then this and that happened and we aren't packed either! I want to really go through the house today and clean. (Yeah, right) but I do want to get the refrigator cleaned out so that I won't have any biology experiments in there when I get back. Mike has Guard duty today and will be out of my hair so that I can get to the cleaning I want to do without too much trouble. (Get rid of some things)

I am so excited!

Mike and I think we saw eagels on Look Out Mountain in Chattnooga one year when we went to the look out on the side of the mountain. He was below us and had a huge wing span. He was soaring, using the wind to stay up and not doing much flapping of his wings. He was beautiful!

Our wild life here in Donelson Tenn. is the squirrels, and we used to have some cute little chipmunks but we had a cat and well, the rest is history...

I work this next Monday night then off till Thursday and work Thursday thru Monday night. Then it is off to Florida early on Wed. Morning! We have been leaving around 4 a.m. the last few times. That makes us in Florida around 12 hours later. The worst of the drive is in Chattanooga and *shiver* Atlanta Ga. I don't have to be back at work until the 8th or 9th of October! The schedule hasn't come out yet.

Gotta get off before Mike gets up and leaves for Cookville to the Guard today. Take care and I just can't wait to see everyone! Kathy

ps, where is the music? William are you there? Hope your grandad is ok.

 

[papa]

VondaP, hope your docs arrive very soon. All the waiting will make the getting so much sweeter. (Physcology 101 )Kathy