10-14-2006 Cruisetoberfest IV

[Viking]

Thanks for the info, Jeanne.
We've spent two stays onsite so far: One at Dixie Landings ('99), and one at the ASMovies ('01). We didn't have the impression that the moderate resort was worth the extra bucks over the value resort as we mainly use our room for showering, changing and sleeping. The Disney Transport System even ran smoother from ASMovies. I guess we will also mainly use the busses next time, but we also love Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, and as we usually carry more stuff to the waterparks than to the themeparks, we prefer to go there by car - Even thoug BB is just around the corner when staying at the AllStars.
And we love to finish a day shopping at a nice mall and have dinner in the food court as we usually eat very light - especially in the Florida heat. So being able to head from the park straight for 'The Outside World' is also nice. Last time we stayed at the Comfort Inn in the Downtown Disney Area, but if you add the parking fees at WDW to the price we paid there, you'll come up with the off-season rate for a Value Resort - Not to forget the magic
Additionally we will also do park-hopping not only between the Disney-parks, but also to USF/IoA and SeaWorld. So the car may come in especially handy.
But on the way back from Pleasure Island Disney Transportation may be the better choice - after a couple of beers or cocktails

 

[Viking]

One of the airlines - Jetsgo - here in Canada just went belly up yesterday. Left 17,000 people stranded all over the place as they made no arrangements to bring people home and the other airlines aren't honouring the tickets. Senior partner was going to fly Jetsgo to Florida this coming Wednesday but is now flying Southwest out of Buffalo. The really bad part is that yesterday was the start of March Break here so there were tons of people flying out yesterday morning who couldn't. In the paper today there's an article that they knew on Wednesday that they might be declaring bankruptcy but still continued to sell tickets. This would be a big no-no so we'll see what happens.

Was so glad to see Kim go from Survivor and John from Apprentice. I was afraid that Trump was going to fire Chris and was so relieved when John was fired -- what an obnoxious idiot, and that's being generous.

More snow today in the forecast. Still below 0C although I really don't want to know how much below it is!

Spring - where are you????

Fiona

Fiona,
we had a similar thing happening over here in the early 90ies, leaving thousands of Germans stranded all over the Mediterranean. Since then we have a law requiring all travel agencies to include a special insurance in all travel packages to cover bankruptcy of the carrier. Of course in the end the customer pays the premium for that insurance, but it's only a few Euros per ticket.
We WILL have spring here from Wednesday on with temps scratching the 20°C-barrier - It was long due!!!

 

[Viking]

Yesterday I received my new cellphone via UPS, this gadget is GREAT:
There's a 2Megapixel-camera which takes not only pictures, but shoots also video with sound. Then there's an mp3-player, an organizer, and some more stuff. The device can be hooked up to my PDA or Notebook via Bluetooth and has gigantic memory: It has 6 Megabytes integrated and I bought another 512 Megabytes today to store more pictures and music on it.
My first PC had 4 Megabytes and a 340 Megabyte-harddisk twelve years ago - That's what I call progress

 

[Viking]

Passports Arrived in the Mail.. I Can Now go To Canada !!

You could even go to Germany

 

[Viking]

Folks,
Edition #9 of The List is in your mailboxes.
It took a bit longer as I had to install Microsoft Office on my Notebook first. My Desktop-PC has been converted into a 'Burn-Machine', my Vaio now being my primary computer.

 

[Viking]

Not so good news from my Gramps: They obviously found the reason for his fainting. The MRT showed some stuff in the cavities in his forehead. They're not sure wether it's a tumor or some kind of fluid. The doc wanted to get him into the OR ASAP, but Gramps said 'No way, I won't have anywone split my skull after nearly 92 years'. For Monday he has an appointment with 'The Professor', the chief of the neurilogical clinic. Perhaps there is a possibility of simply drilling a hole into his forehead using local anaestesia to probe the material in his forehead. We'll see

 

[winotracy]

Eric, I'm sorry to hear about your Grandpa. I hope they are able to get in there and find out what it is. We'll keep him and you two in our thoughts and prayers.

Tracy and Bill

 

[jeanniec]

Eric -- So sorry about your grandfather. Hope everything looks brighter after he sees the neurologist. He sounds like a great person from all that you have told us about him. Pixie dust is on its way!!!

 

[Viking]

Thanks, Folks
I'll visit him tomorrow after having dropped off Anja for the lateshift and tell him that our American friends are thinking of him-

 

[papa]

Eric tell your Gramps that we said "Langes Leben und das, die wir hoffen, da er gut bald erhlt. Er ist in unseren Gedanken und in Gebeten." Hope that bablefish did not translate it wrong. He will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Hope that everyone has a great weekend and the weather turns nice for you. Mike

 

[Zapp1213]

Eric & Anja--

Prayers & blessings to Gramps. I hope it all works out okay. "No one's going to crack his skull after 92 years!" Way to go, Gramps!

Marianne

 

[Zapp1213]

Sad news...

We're still going to Jersey for Easter, however, family's coming in on Holy Saturday. Maybe we can get together for dinner during the week. Let me know if a weekday works for anyone. I'm in town until Thursday, March 31st, flying home April 1st.

Well, gotta run. I didn't sleep well yesterday & we're up early for Church tomorrow. Think it's going to be an early night for all of us.

Marianne

 

[piglet33]

Eric & Anja - We're hoping everything turns out ok for your Grandpa. Tell him he's in our thoughts.

 

[papa]

Beautiful sunny day here in Nashville. Temp was 24.4? C or 76?F in real temps Kathy and the kids cleaned off the back porch and it is amazing that you can go to the driveway without tripping over stuff.

Eric I am sitting here drinking a beer from Warstein Germany. It says premium verum what ever that is. Mike

 

[fortierv]

Eric- So sorry to hear about your Grandpa. He'll be in our thoughts and prayers. Hope everything goes well with the Neurologist.

 

[Viking]

Thanks again, Folks
I'll relay all your good thoughts to him later when I visit him.

Mike,
Bablefish did a good job, you were 95% correct. Warsteiner is a very popular brew over here. Premium Verum is a reference to the German 'Law of purity' which only allows Malt, Hops, Barley, and water as ingredients for beer. American, Dutch or Danish beer for example is often made with rice, sugar or other 'disgusting' stuff

 

[papa]

Eric and Anja have a safe trip to Thailand and hope that you both have a wonderful time. Take some photos of the trip and some underwater shots if possible. That would be nice to see. I haven't been to Thailand, but I have been in the region a long time ago. I am sure that the people are thankful that you haven't canceled your trip due to the tsunami.

Mary and all the other home sellers, good luck with your buyers and you could always throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder for luck.

Fiona and Jim hope that you warm up soon

Rosemary when you come to Tennessee watch out for the state bird, the mosquito and don't run over our state animal, the orange and white barrels used in the highway construction zones. Speaking of which watch your speed in those zones as the fine for violating the limit is $500.00 Mike

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Eric and Anja - Do hope that everything works out well with Gramps. I'm not sure if I'd want someone drilling into my head either.

More snow yesterday although it's nice and sunny today. Still below 0C though and I think it's going to remain that way all week. Sigh.

Fiona

 

[papa]

Jim I took your suggestion and mailed a letter to apple along with some photos of the powerbook.

 

[BigRed1]

Rosemary when you come to Tennessee watch out for the state bird, the mosquito and don't run over our state animal, the orange and white barrels used in the highway construction zones. Speaking of which watch your speed in those zones as the fine for violating the limit is $500.00 Mike

We were passing through Birmingham on the way home from the coast one day, and saw a billboard "urging" people to stay in Birmingham saying "Nashville is closed for Repairs". That was 3 or 4 years ago!! TDOT hasn't done anything to help their reputation since! Allen