10-14-2006 Cruisetoberfest IV

[Viking]

Nearly forgot to mention it:
Our Supreme Court ruled that the 09/18 elections are constitutional. Anja & I already have our voter's notifications. In Germany everybody 18 and older automatically is a voter. The voter's notification tells you when and where to vote. For us it's the school in our street, which is very convenient. Now we have to decide on which party to vote for
Here's a little help from a very popular German cartoon (We have 5 major parties:
Just imagine five heaps of sh*t.
Which one would you like to eat?

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Ave - stay out of the bad weather's way. Sending pixie dust that it won't hit you at all. Wish I could get paycheques like that as well. Nice bonus.

Jim and I were both leaders in the scouting movement here although we aren't as involved now. My DS had a great time with it -- it's actually how he learned to cook for himself on a propane stove and on a campfire. It should be a great experience.

More computer woes today -- the accounting program is still toast. Eric they were doing nightly backups but can't retrieve the information from the tapes as it appears they were timing out due to some conflict with the virus protection software. They have found great backups of everyone's email but not the accounting program. They've called a couple of data recovery places who have been no help so right now no one is sure what to do. Could be interesting as at the moment all cheques etc. are being done manually and stuff is backing up. Today our internet provider is doing repairs in the area and the internet has been spotty which is making other work difficult to do. Our word program was down for a bit today too so that an update of another software program was being installed. One of the other lawyers just left at lunchtime figuring she'd get more work done at home. I'd have left too but have clients so I'm still here.

At least it's Friday!!!

Fiona

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Today was the first day of school here! The boys had a great day and really like the teachers! that's a relief! Don't know what I would have done if they hadn't! It rained ALL day and my backyard is a swamp. I went and ran errands and did some shopping...ALL BY MYSELF! I can get so much more done when they are not with me! For the past 4 years, I have made a school bus cake. It's nothing fancy, done in 10 mins, but the boys look forward to it every year. So, here it is....presenting the 5th annual school bus cake!

 

[wendym]

Wow that cake is amazing - what a great mom you are. I'm glad they like their teachers.
Wendy

 

[Hygiene99]

This is my Friend Mike and I Taking a Dip in the adult pool..
on the Magic Repo Cruise..
A memory Im sure he will always remember..

Son Of Shellofclearh20....Is she still on this Trip ??

photo Taken By.. Cheeseplease / Dave and Ellen

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Thanks Wendy! I got the recipe from Family Fun and have adapted it over the years. It's really SO easy, and like I said, the boys look forward to it, I just have to keep doing it. Steve asked this morning..."your not making that cake again, are you?" Well, YEAH! They LOVE that part of the day! Since you use premade pound cakes, there is no baking! And thank goodness, since today we were without electricity for a few hours!

 

[JJsmama]

Michele, Love the cake. How sweet. Mine just finished his first week as a first grader. Boo Hoo. I got through all my parent teacher conferences this week (as the teacher) and Monday my students arrive.

What did Lavar Burton do? I can't find the beginning of the story. I always liked him on Reading Rainbow.

 

[JJsmama]

P.S. Any word on the Wonder? Did she get out on time on Thursday? I wonder if she will have an altered itinerary? When is the Magic due home?

 

[Viking]

Fiona,
as I always say: 'Sometimes we use computers to solve problems we wouldn't have without computers!'
And this also reminds me that I haven't done backups of my two 'puters for some time Will do it tomorrow
And BTW: I'm at the office the second Saturday in a row, but the extra money will come in handy for the vacation as it will be paid with teh September salary

Peter,
I always thought there was a chemical agent in the adult pool dissolving everyone under 18 in a matter of seconds

 

[Viking]

I just checked out the newest predictions for Katrina's course:
Looks like our friends in the Panhandle will not be in harm's way as right now it looks like she's heading for New Orleans.

 

[Hygiene99]

Peter,
I always thought there was a chemical agent in the adult pool dissolving everyone under 18 in a matter of seconds

We saw a chance and we took it Was very early in the am. and most people where watching us pull into Port... they did not Add the daily AGENT yet this day.. No harm no Foul.. and one lucky child..

 

[wendym]

Magic is due back next Sat am - going through the Panama Canal tomorrow. Wonder is leaving as scheduled on Sunday.
Had been thinking of going to WDW during the Oct break - only back at school a week and already thinking about the next vacation! - but the flights jumped by £150 per person so that is out. Some good value Costa cruises round the Med at that time - certainly not up to Disney standards but may be a possibility?
Wendy

 

[Viking]

150 Pounds up?? That's a stiff rise!!
Wendy,
we got the same attitude: We're not through with the next vacation, but already are thinking about the one after that. As soon as we're back from New England we'll book our Thailand-trip for April We want to do three nights in Bangkok and eleven or twelve in Phuket.

 

[wendym]

Probably a good thing the prices went up as we would have spent a fortune. Says she who is now researching a laptop! Vacations are so important that I fully support your idea of booking another trip soon!
Wendy

 

[Viking]

I have a Sony Vaio Notebook, Centrino 1.6Gigahertz, 512MB RAM, 60 GIG Harddisk, 8x Doublelayer DVD-Burner, 15.4'' Widescreen (16:10), W-LAN, HiFi Speakers. It was a bit more expensive than those notebooks which are often offered by discounters, but I like its sleek design and the screen is absolutely great to watch DVDs. It was about €1600 nearly a year ago, but it's now available for €1200. I bought it as a replacement for my desktop PC, which is since then only used for lowly work DVD-ripping, feeding my iPod, doing the taxes. For everything else I prefer the notebook. And even though it has a large screen it only weighs 3.3kg (7lbs), which make is 'bearable' as additional carry-on luggage on flights.

 

[wendym]

At the moment I am looking at a Dell Inspiron 6000 (N09606)
Intel® Pentium® M 725A Processor (1.6GHz 2MB L2 cache 400MHz FSB) & 64MB RADEON X300, 15.4" screen. Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with Software - presume that means I can burn CDs!
It's about £750 (1050 euros/$1275) but only has 40GB hard drive. I am still going to keep my desk top for school work but want the lap top for travelling and to try and convince my mum to use the internet - she is terrified she would lose all my school work so won't use the desk top!
Off to do more price comparison - thanks for sharing your knowledge, a lot of the stuff is beyond me!
Wendy

 

[Viking]

Sounds OK for me, Wendy.
If you need more disk space later you can get one of those small 2.5'' USB harddisks. Make sure it has W-LAN to use internet on-the-go, i.e. at Starbucks. Even DCL now has hotspots on the ships, but it costs you an arm and a leg.
But check Dell's page for an upgrade of the harddisk, 60 or 80GB are better.
And that drive not only burns CD, but DVDs as well.

 

[wendym]

Thanks so much Eric - I really appreciate your advice. It says it has a Intel Prowireless 2200 802.11b/g Mini PCI Wireless LAN card - I think that is W-LAN. I think I will upgrade to 60 or 80GB if I decide to go for this model.
Wendy

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

We have a Dell, Inspiron 9300. Steve just bought it about a month ago. That is what I am on now. We have the laptop in the kitchen/family room area and then 2 other desktops in the office. All wireless high speed internet. Gotta love that! I love having the one in the kitchen! I can look up recipies, watch TV, cook dinner....all while surfing the net! Also, Daisy only has access to this area, so it's easier to watch her and play on the net at the same time.

 

[Viking]

Yes Wendy,
that's WLAN
and as Michele said: WLAN rules!!! I have my notebook and my PC hooked up to the web thru WLAN. Sometimes I surf in the bedroom, sometimes in the living room, etc. And when the new Playstation 3 will be available next year I'm gonna hook it up to the WLAN as well.