10-14-2006 Cruisetoberfest IV

[papa]

Eric tell Jeff we said hello.

Bette have a great weekend with your son.

Temperature got to 94 degrees F yesterday, about 34.5 degrees C. High humidity and an ozone alert.

 

[jeanniec]

Laura -- The Maggiano's in Charlotte is in the South Park Mall with an outside entrance (facing Fairview, I think). It is right next to the Cheesecake Factory which is also in the mall (with an outside entrance). It was very difficult to get a reservation in the past as I recall so I would definitely call first. We haven't been there for a while so I'm not sure what is happening with reservations right now.

Mike -- How are you doing with the pool? We had the same thing happen (a ton of leaves and debris from the top of the cover dumped into the pool). Took me forever to get it cleaned up. Since I have retired, I have become the inside and outside houselady. May be going back to work PRN, but I am so busy now that I don't know if I want to or not.

 

[papa]

Jeannie I am still getting leaves out. Just put in 200 lbs of filter sand in the filter and it is almost ready to swim in.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

We have an easy solution to leaves in the pool -- we hire someone to open the pool and clean it! Honestly though we've done years of cleaning the leaves out of the pool and then we got our latest dog -- well she decided during her first winter that the plastic bags would be good chew toys so she chewed each and every one of them -- wasn't really noticed til spring when the water in them unfroze at which time we noticed that she'd also chewed large holes in the middle of the tarp. We pulled the cover off and realized that everything that was on the top of the tarp was now in the pool. We were days trying to clean it and then the people who do the mechanics of opening the pool said that they would clean it -- we leaped at this. They had a special pump thing that would do it without clogging our pump and allowed us to have a great looking pool before the end of summer.

Heat was the word of the day today -- was going to do weeding but well it was hot, humid, smog alert and humidex alert. A/c called me and I answered the call.

Tomorrow we are up early as my two nephews are being baptised. Jim is absolutely thrilled to have to wear his suit (which he's now looking for) during the warmest day of the year. He's just informed me that he can't find his pants! DS can't find his tie and for some reason doesn't want to use any of Jim's! I mean, really, everyone was so nice last year with their ties for Jim and DS is turning up his nose at them! Course DS has some expensive suit with an expensive name attached to them. My exMIL has lots of money now and needs to spend them on my DS -- this is not a complaint btw but my DS has developed expensive tastes in clothes. I bought him two pairs of running shoes a couple of years ago and had to show ID to use my credit card cause they were more than $250 (and they were on sale!!).

Update - pants have been found -- bottom of pile -- lots of wrinkles -- probably unwearable (he's hoping) but hey we have an iron.

The best part is that after the baptism we get to go to my DB and DSIL for a reception so I get to see what tricks my DSIL has learned from Martha and Pampered Chef lately. She has a small blow torch so that she can torch her creme brulee on the top -- yup she actually makes creme brulee and I hate to admit it but it is good -- me I order mine at a restaurant. Martha I am not but I can make a mean one-pot wonder.

Ok - rambled much too long -- need a vacation and some nice, cute pool boy to clean and weed -- either that or pray that my DS does something so stupid that I can get him and his friends to weed for me. It worked last year but have to admit so far this year he's been good -- none of those really, really stupid teenage things that warrant taking down weeds that are taller than me.

Have a great weekend everyone

Fiona

 

[papa]

Fiona tell Jim that we sneaky American's have been putting mind control drugs secretly in the hamburger helper. It makes you want to cruise on Disney Cruise Lines and spend hard earned money in Florida.

It is hot humid and hazy with an ozone alert here again today. Nashville sits in a basin or bowl shaped depression and with little to no surface winds the exhaust gases from autos and trucks is not dissipated. We have a vehicle emission testing program in place.

Hope that everyone is well and we are looking forward to the cruise. Mike

 

[Viking]

I bought him two pairs of running shoes a couple of years ago and had to show ID to use my credit card cause they were more than $250 (and they were on sale!!).

Wait till he has to pay for them himself
In the seventies we already had a hype going on for some special adidas-shoes and my parents and grandparents willingly paid for them, but as soon as I had to pay for them with my own money I bought more affordable shoes.
Just yesterday I bought a nice pair of Reebok sneakers which were €90 ($18) originally. Last weekend I nearly bought them for €30, but there was a line at the register and I didn't want to wait. Yesterday we were at the same store and they had them reduced further to €20. So I took a pair, went to the register and when the lady scanned them the total said €18 ($22). They had a special sale going on giving another 10% on all reduced items
I love deals like that

 

[Viking]

I just surfed a bit on the pages of the Vienna Tourist Info and found a great offer: A three hour guided tour through Historic Downtown using Segways at €59. Here's a link to the ENGLISH SITE
I'll call them tomorrow amd make a ressie for next week.
Compared to the ridiculous price for checking out a Segway at WDW this really seems to be a bargain. It includes a 30minute training session, a helmet, and rain-proof clothing (If required). Although we're thinking about bringing our own helmets. We got a very nice pair of lightweight/hi-tech helmets we use for inline-skating.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Eric - Sad to say that he does now pay for them himself and will willingly pay $100 for a pair of running shoes. You have to remember though that he is in that one time of life when most of his income is disposable. He has no rent, no mortgage, no car payments so his money goes to clothes and mechanical toy things like his new digital camera.

Back from the baptism -- it is very hot here and although the church was cooler than I thought it might be by the end of the service it was heating up nicely. Smoked salmon was the ingredient of the day. Big yuck from me unfortunately. I like baked salmon but not smoked salmon. She did have peanut butter and banana pinwheel sandwiches so that was ok and the cake was nice too. The boys were cute all dressed in white -- Parker though promptly got a grass stain on his white pants outside the church when they were taking pictures. Rhys (who's almost 1) did not like the water and promptly cried on cue which made Parker nervous about the entire thing but he got through everything fine.

Off to listen to the ball game.

Fiona

 

[Viking]

Fiona,
for shoes we wear at the gym or generally for work-outs Anja & I also pay up to 100 bucks per pair as shoes are the most import tool to keep stress away from our joints. Both of us have five pairs of shoes we use for the gym only and another two pairs for outdoor running. Of those seven pairs we replace at least two pairs per year. As a rule of thumb you can use a shoe for about 160-200 hours when used for sports and as we average about 450-500 hours of sport per year, we need a lot of shoes.

 

[papa]

Fiona, maybe Eric is Imedla Marcos long lost son from the Philippines. She had a lot of shoes too.

 

[jeanniec]

Funny, Mike!!! (Imelda Marcos comment).

 

[Twinave]

Hi Everyone! We're Back!
Happy Birthday Jen!
Wow, lots to catch up with.
Had a great time in DC. Got to see the Spy Museum with Rosemary and Rich on Friday. Also saw WWII, Korean,and Vietnam Memorials, Air and Space Museum, Holocost Museum, Museum of American History, Museum of Natural History, Sculpter Garden, the Marine Mermorial and the Zoo. We were not able to go to the White House as planned. My sister Sue got very sick and went to the doctor on Thursday morning. She had to get 2 liters of IV fluids and IV antibiotics for a wicked kidney infection. And spent the day and the next day in bed. But we were very glad she did not have to be admitted to the hospital. And she was glad to have a nurse around to take care of her. So we will just have to go again next year.
Loved the Metro! The weather was fabulous! And it was wonderful to spend time with my family. DD and I were supposed to go to the Nationals vs. The Blue Jays on Friday night, but Mark made a big stink about it, so we passed. Wouldn't you know George W. showed up at the game, and the National won! Sorry Fiona.
Anyway, glad to be home. Back to work tomorrow.
Later,
Avé

 

[cdnmickeylover]

DD and I were supposed to go to the Nationals vs. The Blue Jays on Friday night, but Mark made a big stink about it, so we passed. Wouldn't you know George W. showed up at the game, and the National won! Sorry Fiona.
Avé

That's ok Ave - we won today.

Sounds like you had a great trip to Washington. Lots to do and see.

Was really hot here this weekend and is supposed to continue being hot.

Eric - Luckily DS does not have that many shoes although he seems to get a new pair once the original pair gets a little dirty.

Mike - very funny comment about the shoes.

Off to bed. Short week this week as we have Canada Day on the 1st although we will be celebrating our national holiday in the USA!

Fiona

 

[Viking]

Fiona, maybe Eric is Imedla Marcos long lost son from the Philippines. She had a lot of shoes too.

Mike,
if I were Imelda Marcos' son I wouldn't cruise with the peasants on Deck 2, but be in the Roy E. Disney Suite

 

[papa]

Deck 2 or the Roy suite, we all get there at the same time.

Happy Canada Day Fiona and Jim.

 

[Viking]

We're even quicker as we're nearer to the exit on Deck 2

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Eric may need the Roy Suite for all those shoes (besides which if you got the Roy or Walt Suite I can guarantee you'd have a lot of guests!).

Fiona

 

[Viking]

Even if I had money to throw away, I wouldn't book one of those suites. What for
We only spend our nights in the stateroom, so why pay more for room we we wouldn't use?
But on second thought room for shoes might come in handy as Anja and I usually buy at least six pairs of shoes each time we're in the USA
We usually travel with two bags West - and with four bags East. At least WE do something against the American trade deficit

 

[cdnmickeylover]

We would have to win the lottery and get knocked in the head before we'd book one of the suites but I'd like to visit one! No point in booking way more space than we need since we don't spend a whole lot of time in the cabin anyway. Deck 2 is great for us!

Fiona

 

[Viking]

Bump