10/02/04 Antigua Cruise

[RellingTwin]

Only 46 days until we go to Disney's Hilton Head Resort!
But for now....back to reality today.

Santa brought Regina a viola for Christmas! She was thrilled!
George W got a remote controlled helicopter. He is one happy boy!

Our clinic is closed Thursday, so 3 days of work then 1 day off, then one day of work, then a weekend. Because 2004 is a leap year, next year New Years is on a Sat. so I think we get Friday (new Years Eve) off.

Don, sorry to hear your family is not feeling well. I hope they are back on their feet soon.

Eric, glad you are back safe and sound! When we were heading back to SC the interstate (I-95) was jammed with "Snowbirds". We must have seen 1000 motor homes, campers ect. heading south. It looked like a traffic jam from NY to Fla!

We have no plans for New Years Eve, just a quite night at home.

Pixie Dust to all who are under the weather!

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by ohioscootersdad
Happy Holidays to everyone.

Sounds like the cookie exchange was a big hit.
I'm glad the twins got to be together for the holidays.
Eric, what is the weather like at the Baltic this time of year?
Colleen, DD, SIL, and Becca were all sick for Christmas, not as festive as we would've liked. Colleen is slowly getting better, I hope she can enjoy the Disney Champaigne with pixie dust that I got on our last night on the Magic.
Two and half days of work, then four days off to end the year, can't wait.

We are hoping to get together with some of our cruise friends before October, see everyone soon(on the boards).

Don

Don,
the weather was a mixture of wind, rain & snow at temps in the low 30ies. The sky was overcast the whole week we spent up there The wind reached speeds up to 70 mph with gusts of 90

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
Only 46 days until we go to Disney's Hilton Head Resort!
But for now....back to reality today.

Santa brought Regina a viola for Christmas! She was thrilled!
George W got a remote controlled helicopter. He is one happy boy!

Our clinic is closed Thursday, so 3 days of work then 1 day off, then one day of work, then a weekend. Because 2004 is a leap year, next year New Years is on a Sat. so I think we get Friday (new Years Eve) off.

Don, sorry to hear your family is not feeling well. I hope they are back on their feet soon.

Eric, glad you are back safe and sound! When we were heading back to SC the interstate (I-95) was jammed with "Snowbirds". We must have seen 1000 motor homes, campers ect. heading south. It looked like a traffic jam from NY to Fla!

We have no plans for New Years Eve, just a quite night at home.

Pixie Dust to all who are under the weather!

Mary,
please tell George that he must not destroy the copter before I had an opportunity to see it in action in September
We are thinking about flying to the States on 9/11, Anja has to check with the hospital if she can get full four weeks in a row again. The reason is: Hertz doesn't offer rental cars with a GPS in Charleston, but in Orlando. We would then fly into Orlando, pick up the car and drive to Crystal River for some diving, then to Savannah for 2 or 3 days, to Charleston for a week, then to PCB for another week, then to Orlando for an afternoon of shopping, drop off the car and have a limo take us to the Radisson for the Pre-Cruise-Party

New Year's Eve will be quiet for us too: We'll go to our favourite restaurant, a Malaysian/SriLankean place with exotic food and extremely yummy cocktails. They have a nice non-smoking area, which is -unfortunately- still an exception in German eateries.

Good news waited on my office-puter when I returned from my vacation: A mail announcing a €150 (Approx $190) raise for me starting 1/1/04. Combine that with my company's regular raise of 3.2% scheduled for 3/1/04 and this adds up to some serious shopping in the USA

 

[jeanniec]

Mary -- I'll be anxious to hear about your trip to Hilton Head. Are you going to the DVC resort there or somewhere else? We love HH, but have always gone in the summer or fall. I'm wondering how the weather will be when you go in (February?). I have often thought about going there off season just to relax, walk the beach and eat in all the wonderful restaurants. Sam seems to think he can only go on vacation when it is warm and he can swim even tho we have our own pool in the backyard.

Also interesting about the viola. I used to play viola in the high school orchestra (and clarinet in the band). I think there are a lot of people who have never heard of a viola. Brings back fond memories of long ago.

I am feeling better. My daughter and grandson both had strep throat which turned into the flu. They were really sick over the weekend but thankfully, they are starting to feel a little better so I can stop worrying quite so much.

Happy New Year to all if I don't post before then!

 

[RellingTwin]

Eric, congrats on the raise. Well deserved, I'm sure Your travel plans are very impressive. We are under the 40 week mark now!

jeanniec...we have been going to Disney's Resort in HH for the past 3 years for "President's Weekend". The kids have Fri and Mon. off so we make it a long weekend. The weather has always been wonderful. The pools are heated so the kids swim like crazy! The beaches are very empty (great for kite flying) and the activites at the resort are great fun. This is also the weekend of the Daytona 500 so DH goes to Murgey's Den and watches it on the big screen TV.It's always nice to have a trip planned after the holidays. Although we look forward to the cruise, it's still too far away to help us with the post holiday blues.
Glad to hear you are feeling better.
Regina LOVES the viola!She resently took her "chair" test and is now 1st chair (please forgive mommy bragging!)
Work was crazy yesterday Between the patients with the flu, and the fact we were closed for 5 days, we had a very busy day.I'm sure today will be the same.
Speaking of work, time to get going.

Eric, you will be happy to hear that ALL Fl. resturants are now smoke free.

 

[padisneyfan]

Work has been crazy, I think someone forgot to tell the patients it is the Holidays. Our hospital has been full except for Christmas Day. Of course, in the rush to get patients home for the holidays we cleaned house on Christmas Eve Day. Well guess what most of my patients who were discharged returned on Dec 26th. Having major bowel surgery and then going home and gorging yourself with Christmas dinner, just doesn't go over real well. Plus, this is prime season for perforated bowels. So I am busy, busy, busy.

Eric--- Congratulations on the raise. Norm also told me he got one that starts next paycheck.

Since the weather has been so nice, have been taking 4 mile power walks to work off all the excess food. I got some new CD's for Christmas so have some new music to listen to while walking. It was a nice change to walk outside instead of doing my Walk Away the Pounds videos.

Well, must start to work on my patient load for the day.

Have a great day everyone.

Nancy

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
Eric, congrats on the raise. Well deserved, I'm sure Your travel plans are very impressive. We are under the 40 week mark now!

jeanniec...we have been going to Disney's Resort in HH for the past 3 years for "President's Weekend". The kids have Fri and Mon. off so we make it a long weekend. The weather has always been wonderful. The pools are heated so the kids swim like crazy! The beaches are very empty (great for kite flying) and the activites at the resort are great fun. This is also the weekend of the Daytona 500 so DH goes to Murgey's Den and watches it on the big screen TV.It's always nice to have a trip planned after the holidays. Although we look forward to the cruise, it's still too far away to help us with the post holiday blues.
Glad to hear you are feeling better.
Regina LOVES the viola!She resently took her "chair" test and is now 1st chair (please forgive mommy bragging!)
Work was crazy yesterday Between the patients with the flu, and the fact we were closed for 5 days, we had a very busy day.I'm sure today will be the same.
Speaking of work, time to get going.

Eric, you will be happy to hear that ALL Fl. resturants are now smoke free.

Mary,
I thought they've been smokefree since last summer When we met with Jen & Jeff near Ellenton in an Irish Pub we thought it amusing that so many guests left the pub every 15 minutes for their necessary dose of carcinogens BTW, next monday Anja & I have been clean for six years
Anja checked her ward's vacation roster and we've got green light for weeks!!!!
Would there be any chance to see a NASCAR race during our stay in Dixie? I wouldn't insist on a top-league race, a smaller one would also be fine. I would be willing to adjust our travel plans accordingly. A race near Charleston or PCB (Hi Ave )would be great.
Another piece of good news (For us) is the very favourable Dollar/Euro exchange rate: The Euro hit the $1.25-mark yesterday, some experts even deem $1.35 for one 1 EUR possible. This would make for very, very serious shopping

 

[RellingTwin]

Eric, you are probably right about the smoking ban. I think it went into effect last July.
I looked at the NASCAR schedule and there are 2 races on the east coast during the time you will be here. One is 9/11 in Richmond Virginia, the other is in Talladaga Alabama on 10/3!The rest of the races are either in the northeast (New Hapshire) or out West. Sorry I will look into the smaller races, like the NASCAR truck series, and let you know.

A little web surfing has found a track nearby which has Sat. night racing. The 2004 season has not started yet, but we will check it out one Sat night before you get here and see what it's like.

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
Eric, you are probably right about the smoking ban. I think it went into effect last July.
I looked at the NASCAR schedule and there are 2 races on the east coast during the time you will be here. One is 9/11 in Richmond Virginia, the other is in Talladaga Alabama on 10/3!The rest of the races are either in the northeast (New Hapshire) or out West. Sorry I will look into the smaller races, like the NASCAR truck series, and let you know.

A little web surfing has found a track nearby which has Sat. night racing. The 2004 season has not started yet, but we will check it out one Sat night before you get here and see what it's like.

Thanks a lot, Mary

 

[ohioscootersdad]

Good morning to all,

A quick note from N.E. Ohio at 3:30 am, last day of work then 4 days off. Colleen is starting to feel a little better, we can't decide when to take our 3rd vacation for the year, any suggestions?

We are looking at New Hampshire in December, or maybe Canada in the spring. We have to work around Josh's school.

So long for now,

Don

 

[bettemom]

WELL !!!! Of course New Hampshire in December !!!!COOKIES !!!!!!

 

[Viking]

Hi Folks,

this is Germany greeting you from 2004 How's it like still being in 2003?

 

[bettemom]

Hi Eric !!

Just means we're younger....

 

[bettemom]

Hi Eric !!

Just means we're younger....

 

[papa]

What Bettemom said.

 

[Twinave]

Happy New Year Everyone!

We've got black-eyed peas and ham hocks for everyone!
One of my favorit Southern traditions, and that's saying a lot for this transplanted Yankee!

Oh, and ditto what Bette said.

 

[Viking]

But now you're older again

 

[bettemom]

And Wiser !!!

 

[jeanniec]

Ave -- We've been in NC for 17-1/2 years now, but I don't think I will ever get into ham hocks and black-eyed peas. I think in the Carolina's, the big thing for New Year's Day is some kind of pork and greens??? That's probably wrong because the first time I heard about it, I tried to forget. I must say that the first time I went to the grocery store here, I couldn't believe how many different kinds of peas and beans they had on the shelves. At home (Chicago) we had peas -- one kind -- green. We had never heard of black-eyed peas, field peas, crowder peas and I don't know what other kinds of peas there are. Also, never heard of Great Northern Beans and some of the other kinds of beans that are available here. I pretty much stick with green beans and baked beans. Can you tell I'm a picky eater? I sometimes get into trouble on cruises when choosing dinner -- usually look for something plain and simple which is not always easy. Happy New Year to all!

 

[jeanneg]

OK, while you guys argue who's older and who's wiser, it's the first day of the New Year and all I am is friggin' WASTED! Damn that champagne last night......if anyone so much as mentions a conch cooler, I'm gonna hurl......Happy New Year everyone, I'll start whatver it is I'm starting -- tomorrow!