12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 6

[DSharpe]

I see I'm the only one online...talking to myself again...actually just replying to posts catching up...you guys are busy at night when I'm not available!

 

[pyramid2000]

DD got to preschool just fine. She had kept telling me she wanted someone to stay with her, but when we got there, she didn't say a word about that and went right to work on a puzzle. Then the little girl she knows came over and gave her a big hug! I have a half an hour until I have to leave to pick her up.

 

[pyramid2000]

I know, I know.....time to get back to this house!!

 

[MrsMork]

So, if you see me on here, KICK ME OFF!!!!!!

Sorry, that won't happen! We are partners in your addiction, not partners inyour recovery!

 

[lillygator]

Since Samantha turns five next year on Halloween she still won't be in K yet so that means probably the last year we cruise in December.

Dh has been bugging me to go during the summer or during May....personally I would rather go during hurricane season but the fall months are just so darn packed for us...heaven forbid we miss a Gator game or something.

Not sure how the schools here are about missing during the year. I guess I will find out in a couple years! It may also mean that we may not be able to take as many long weekend trips either....at least we are getting it in while we can!


Becka - DH and I have been discussing other places to vacation. Our 10 year is 2010....yes we married in '00 so DH would have NO issue remembering how many years we've been married! We'd like to go to Alaska, Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, more of the islands.....I've been hesitant while the girls are so young. Contrary to what most people believe I do know that my girls remember and have great memories - Samantha talks about our trips all the time, but going on a plane with them, well I wanted to wait until they are both a tad bigger so I could keep them occupied a little better. My dream is to take them to England with my family --- my maternal side is all from the UK and all still have green cards, but I would like our 4 generations to go while my Grandma is still young and able.

 

[MrsMork]

Next year - the 12/1 appears the only Dec cruise that has available group space. I just can't take the time off. There is no one to do my work for me and the first week of the month is pretty much the core of my job. So 12/8 or 12/15 it will be. (tentatively booked on 12/15 a while ago)......so bummer......BUT 2008 --- when is everyone planning on going?

12/8 - do 12/8 V!

We are waiting to see what is offered for 2008. That is the 10 year anniversary for the Magic so we are hoping they have some special trips planned.

 

[MrsMork]

What am I going to do for fun after this cruise? We all need to plan for the same date in 2008 so we can start a new thread (or just rename this one like others have done ). With two years to plan surely most of us could save up enough and arrange to get the time off. Imagine how much more trouble we could get in then! LOL!

Becka, we can all just join up with the current renamed thread. That is a really fun and nice group of people. DrHug and I sailed with them before and hope to again in 2008. I'm thinking that if we get this group and that group together - OH MY!

 

[DSharpe]

PJ or Bella . . .

Any live feeds on the big Apple announcement tomorrow?

Are we all ready to order our new iPods?

Really need to get to bed . . .

John1

if you order new ones will you have old ones for sale?

 

[MrsMork]

no one is doing beads right?

V- let me do beads for Pirate night. I don't have anything to bring yet. You are doing leis, right?

 

[MommyMinnie]

I know exactly what you mean Becka! In a way I don't want the trip to come because that will mean it also has to end. This will probably be the last year we will go during school. DD12 will have lots more work to make up and I don't want to stress her. Have the prices for next Dec. gone up alot already? I may just make a ressie for that this Dec for in case we don't go in the summer. I always have New Jersey week! Ahhhhhh....I just applied for a DV for DH so we can have it just for trips!

Caroline and Becka
I know there are already plans in the works for several DIS Geeks to go on other DCL cruises next December. Perhaps you could hook up with them?

 

[MrsMork]

that's how it works here, too.

I did have to go in 1 day - the arguments were heard on both sides, and we were released for lunch. I couldn't have convicted because the prosecuting DA didn't present enough evidence in my mind, so I'm thinking the guy was innocent. Come back from lunch, and we're immediately released because the defendent plead GUILTY right after they dismissed us!! I was so mad! I wanted to find that kid and give him what for for wasting my morning!!

anyway...back to your regularly scheduled programming...

They may have used "scare tactics" with him and convinced him to plead guilty to a lesser charge if his attorney thought the jury seemed likely to convict. Seen it happen.

 

[Jhalkias]

What am I going to do for fun after this cruise? We all need to plan for the same date in 2008 so we can start a new thread (or just rename this one like others have done ). With two years to plan surely most of us could save up enough and arrange to get the time off. Imagine how much more trouble we could get in then! LOL!

I know there are obstacles to certain times of the year. Like for example I know Brandi is a teacher and can’t get off work during the school year so she will need to plan to have another little one so she can be on maternity leave again! We can solve any problem, right?

I am really going to be sad when you guys go next December but I guess I will console myself with a Thanksgiving week WDW trip. I mentioned it to DH last night and he thought it sounded like a good idea so I guess that will be our tentative plan for now. A new trip to plan with new spreadsheets! I know we are going to love the 7 day cruise but we do also love WDW.

I have lots of trips I want to take with my kids and I don’t know how we are ever going to fit it all in. I always figured we could do WDW every other year and then take other non-Disney trips in the off years. Now I have this DCL cruise addiction thing to add into the mix. I think I need to plan in advance the next 15 years of vacations!!!!

We know we want to take a trip out to Disneyland someday but I want to wait until the kids are older and can really do everything. We also figured that same trip we would try to visit San Diego and do the Zoo and Seaworld, etc..

I also want to take my kids to Washington D.C. when they are both school age to see some of the museums, White House, etc.. It is someplace I have always wanted to visit but I want my kids to be old enough to understand some of what we are seeing.

When my kids are teenagers I want to go to Europe at some point. I want to go back to Italy and show them where I lived as a kid and I also want to spend some time in the UK and Ireland. Plus no trip to Europe would be complete without at least a day trip to Disneyland Paris.

We also want to visit Chicago and check out the Shedd Aquarium, Sears Tower, Navy Pier, Children’s’ Museum, etc.. I figure one summer we could easily spend a week’s vacation just touring that city’s attractions.

Nathan is already 4 and I figure I only have maybe 13 summers or so left before he goes to college to try to fit all this in. How in the world am I going to fit all that in plus do WDW and DCL a lot? I just don’t have the time or money to make this work….I need to win the lottery!

Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me?

Becka,

I think we all have those kinds of thoughts about what we want to do, and our future with our kids. I can only speak from my own experience and what has happened with the one grown son we already have – who is in college. Resign yourself that unless you strike it rich somewhere, there will never be enough money or enough time to do all the things you want to do.

The key for us is making whatever you do QUALITY time. Enjoying the time, and making sure that they enjoy it too. We have friends who did and had the ability to do all the things you talked about. Grand Canyon, Washington, big cities, Europe, on and on. Mom and Dad were both real type “A” people and dad was a successful dentist. Their son was DS’s best friend all through school, so for several summers we took him to the OBX with us (something we do every year in the summer).

One night we were talking and this kid told me how much he enjoyed being with us, and how much he appreciated being able to come with us. When I said something along the lines of all the fabulous vacations he had taken with family – he said he enjoyed this more. Why? Because we enjoyed each other more than trying to educate him, or trying to see how many places we could check off our list. He had fun!

It’s not always where you spend the time, but how you spend the time.

I have friends who think I am nuts. That I should be doing all those other things. There are lots of other places I want to see and go. For now, I will do what I enjoy – thank you very much. I am much more interested in just spending the time with the people I love, instead of making them trek to somewhere because I think it is something we should do, or that someone else thinks we should do. When Sophia grows up, I think she will remember more that mom and dad did things with her and spent time with her on things that were important to her, and that she could laugh and smile. That we had good times – no matter what the location.

BTW – that other couple – now divorced. Sad situation. Son dropped out of college because of dealing with that stress. Us – still married after 20 years (not that there have not been struggles), and kids so far happy and doing well.

Do what you can, when you can, but never forget that it is the people who make the difference (like this group) not just the places. Spend time with people you love and care about, and I think you will be happier in the long run.

John1

 

[lillygator]

V- let me do beads for Pirate night. I don't have anything to bring yet. You are doing leis, right?

sounds good to me!

 

[MrsMork]

Heading off to court! Later!

 

[DSharpe]

I know exactly what you mean Becka! In a way I don't want the trip to come because that will mean it also has to end. This will probably be the last year we will go during school. DD12 will have lots more work to make up and I don't want to stress her. Have the prices for next Dec. gone up alot already? I may just make a ressie for that this Dec for in case we don't go in the summer. I always have New Jersey week! Ahhhhhh....I just applied for a DV for DH so we can have it just for trips!

I feel the same way about the trip ending

This may be our last school year trip, too. My oldest is in middle school now, and it will be harder to take him out after this year. That really only leaves Thanksgiving week for us because my oldest goes to his dad's all summer and at Christmas. Spring Break is never consistant (usually mid week to the next Monday, but will vary if it snows much).
I told my DH we should go by ourselves next year for our 10th anniversary!

 

[tynkerbell]

Is it someone local or on the internet? I cannot believe that the agency doesn't notify clients immediately when something like this occurs.
and

It's local. It's actually through AAA, so you'd think they'd be on top of things a little better. I'm going to have to hound them today. I hate having to be aggressive with people but I'm really ticked.

 

[tynkerbell]

Yee Haw...I am now booked on the 1:15 Friday Catamaran Island Tour. That will be fun. My whole family is booked...all 4 of us!

This will be a fun way to wrap up our trip... a nice DIS trip around CC

 

[tynkerbell]

I kind of feel sorry for anyone else who books that tour. They just have no idea. It will probably be someone from the dining rooms who just wants some peace and quiet after dealing with us all week.

They'll be like "OH NO, not those Lime Green Cult people again!!!"

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

OK guys, the pirate flag is handled unless you want to do something special or different . . . in chat last week Todd suggested that a lime green pirate flag would be kind of ummmmmmmmmm, let's just say not MANLY . . .

I have ordered two sizes of "Calico Jack Rackham" flags - one 12"x18", and one 3'x5'. These are replicas of the flags that flew on the Black Pearl in POC.

Here's a link to the flags . . .

http://www.flagline.com/id01RD011

John1

Thanks for doing that John. I also started looking for pirate flags...my boys would love to have one....maybe I'll still get one and we can have several.


On another thought - maybe we still should do the lime green one with Lisa's face on it! Like our "Queen" flag!!!

 

[lillygator]

On another thought - maybe we still should do the lime green one with Lisa's face on it! Like our "Queen" flag!!!

how hilarious would that be?