12/09/06 Geeks.... Lost, but not forgotten

[lbgraves]

Here's one of all four girls at animators . . .

John, I had to look for a couple minutes to figure out that the arm potruding from Savannah's side is not hers. It didn't quite look right.

Thank goodness we are getting ready to leave in another month. I heard from Palo dining tonight and our brunch and dinner resies have been confirmed for the private dining room.

I checked the passport update last night and ours are now being processed. It only took 6 days to get them to show up on the site.

 

[MrsMork]

John1, we can never have too many photos of the kids! How sweet those pictures are!

 

[klineyqueen]

I miss you guys!!!! I really miss all of you!

 

[Jhalkias]

John1, we can never have too many photos of the kids! How sweet those pictures are!

OK Angie, I can't resist . . . here are a few more . . .

I miss you guys!!!! I really miss all of you!

We really miss all of you guys too!

Hey Brack, I am having Breakfast at the local Salvation Army on Friday to represent our company at their "Christmas in July kickoff"

 

[Jhalkias]

OOOHHH MYYYYY the pics of the girls are beautiful! I can't believe how big they're getting!

Have you checked out Artscow? www.artscow.com

Some have said the quality is good -- might be a great deal to get some books printed with all your cruise photos. Lemme know if you want a referral link -- I think we each get freebies....

Going to check it out Joy . . . I will let you know if I decide to order anything.

Quick question for you . . . when you do prints for a client, do you print yourself, or do you use a service?

 

[Jhalkias]

Of course, here is our favorite handsome couple on Mexican night with their adopted son . . .

 

[brack]

Hey John - I got the 28-135 IS lens for my 40D. I should have just gotten it along with the body but I didn't...

Have y'all seen the custom made camera straps available on Etsy? Someone is selling a Mickey Mouse one.

How's everyone else doing? We are living under a thick blanket of smoke here and it stinks (literally). Been a hard summer vacation for the kids, not to be able to run outside and swim and stuff because there are actually particles in the air!

I bought this lens for my film camera and really like it for daily use. I am looking at the 75 - 300mm and Annette says I can get it soon.

Thanks for the info on the strap.

We're doing good .... just too much work!

 

[brack]

Hey Brack, I am having Breakfast at the local Salvation Army on Friday to represent our company at their "Christmas in July kickoff"

Several of our units here in MD and WV have started doing this also. It is getting popular.

 

[bubbasmom99]

Going to check it out Joy . . . I will let you know if I decide to order anything.

Quick question for you . . . when you do prints for a client, do you print yourself, or do you use a service?

I use a pro lab... I have several but mostly I order through White House Custom Color (www.whcc.com). LOVE the metallic paper - if you haven't tried it, you must. Mpix is a good lab as well... they print for both consumers and pros. www.mpix.com

I'd never print at home for a client -- it's too expensive to go through all that ink and paper when the labs can do it with so much better quality for a decent price. WHCC has 2 day UPS shipping included in their price -- I get my prints back in 3 days, usually!

 

[bubbasmom99]

Of course, here is our favorite handsome couple on Mexican night with their adopted son . . .

That is a great picture!

 

[MrsMork]

That is a great picture!

What a great time we had!!! If only all the Geeks could have been there.

 

[lbgraves]

I tell you what fellow geeks...I could really use you guys to keep me grounded and get ready for this cruise. I know you don't believe me but I just did a spreadsheet to figure out what we are doing each day. YIKES!!! We have only 23 days before we fly out to CA and I still have so much left to do. The magnet paper just went out via UPS so hopefully I will have that by the end of the week. I am maybe 75% finished with the FE gifts for the big DIS group and just starting on the ones for the smaller group that we are cruising with. I made our rental car rental for CA yesturday and can't get through the super shuttle site to book that to take us to the hotel in CA. We have decided to go to Sea World the day we get back to FL and I have found a hotel nearby but it isn't booked yet and I need to find a car to get us there from the port then to the airport the next day. Let's see...we have 2 excursions booked and one I am waiting to hear back from in Cabo.

ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Part of me is starting to rebel against the let's take a relaxing cruise mentality and wants to have everything organized!! Thank goodness SW still lets us take two checked bags each. WHEW!!! I need to order Mike's tux today as well. PANIC HAS SET IN!!!!

 

[MrsMork]

I tell you what fellow geeks...I could really use you guys to keep me grounded and get ready for this cruise. I know you don't believe me but I just did a spreadsheet to figure out what we are doing each day. YIKES!!! We have only 23 days before we fly out to CA and I still have so much left to do. The magnet paper just went out via UPS so hopefully I will have that by the end of the week. I am maybe 75% finished with the FE gifts for the big DIS group and just starting on the ones for the smaller group that we are cruising with. I made our rental car rental for CA yesturday and can't get through the super shuttle site to book that to take us to the hotel in CA. We have decided to go to Sea World the day we get back to FL and I have found a hotel nearby but it isn't booked yet and I need to find a car to get us there from the port then to the airport the next day. Let's see...we have 2 excursions booked and one I am waiting to hear back from in Cabo.

ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Part of me is starting to rebel against the let's take a relaxing cruise mentality and wants to have everything organized!! Thank goodness SW still lets us take two checked bags each. WHEW!!! I need to order Mike's tux today as well. PANIC HAS SET IN!!!!

Lisa, you are giving me flashbacks to April!!

 

[Jhalkias]

I tell you what fellow geeks...I could really use you guys to keep me grounded and get ready for this cruise. I know you don't believe me but I just did a spreadsheet to figure out what we are doing each day. YIKES!!! We have only 23 days before we fly out to CA and I still have so much left to do. The magnet paper just went out via UPS so hopefully I will have that by the end of the week. I am maybe 75% finished with the FE gifts for the big DIS group and just starting on the ones for the smaller group that we are cruising with. I made our rental car rental for CA yesturday and can't get through the super shuttle site to book that to take us to the hotel in CA. We have decided to go to Sea World the day we get back to FL and I have found a hotel nearby but it isn't booked yet and I need to find a car to get us there from the port then to the airport the next day. Let's see...we have 2 excursions booked and one I am waiting to hear back from in Cabo.

ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Part of me is starting to rebel against the let's take a relaxing cruise mentality and wants to have everything organized!! Thank goodness SW still lets us take two checked bags each. WHEW!!! I need to order Mike's tux today as well. PANIC HAS SET IN!!!!

Lisa, you are giving me flashbacks to April!!

Because of everything that was going on in our lives, we were probably very ill prepared for this cruise vs the others we have been on. But, you know what, how much planning do you really have to do to sit by the pool and watch kids swim? The FE gifts did drive me a bit crazy, but I let most of the rest of it slide.

I know it is hard for you Lisa, but your family will have a great time no matter how much you plan. Take it easy, just get the essentials in place, and chill. Not sure what airport you are flying into, but I did not need a reservation for Super Shuttle when I went to LA. I just went to the booth, bought a ticket, and got on the next bus. This was at SNA - John Wayne.

 

[lbgraves]

Everyone is flying into John Wayne. I booked SW into LAX. I hope that we didn't pay a ton more that way. There is an online coupon that if I can make the resie online I can save $12. In the grand scheme of things that isn't a lot when looking at the final total for this cruise but every little bit helps. I still can't believe that I booked the VIP Universal experience for us BUT it includes Valet parking, breakfast, lunch [both in the VIP lounge], 3 hours of behind the scene and prop room tour and 3 hours of being personally escorted to the front of the line to all the rides and/or shows that we want to see!!! We can even ride together since the kids can stay with the guide. We booked this with Todd's family so the kids will have fun with his DS if they get "bored".

I will feel more relaxed when we get the passports in our hands. They have been "in process" since last Tuesday. I didn't think that we needed them with the date pushed back but wouldn't you know we booked the ONE cruise that DCL is doing in the next few years that will actually need a passport...due to Columbia's requirements. DUH! I saw the link a couple months ago. They are showing up quickly though and we applied at 5 weeks out. I can call them in another week if they haven't shown up since we leave for CA on 8/11.

How is your brother doing, John? Is Amy still traveling or has she been able to stay home?

 

[Jhalkias]

The only thing I would worry about would be those passports. I hope they come soon for you!

That Universal tour sounds really cool . . .

My brother is improving. He still cannot walk, but has taken a few steps on parallel bars. His big accomplishment this week was getting himself in and out of bed to his wheelchair. He seems totally OK except for his legs (and the surgery issues), and we have not even talked about the cancer lately.

It is absolutely dumbfounding what effect 3 months in a hospital bed and major surgery does to your body.

 

[brack]

My brother is improving. He still cannot walk, but has taken a few steps on parallel bars. His big accomplishment this week was getting himself in and out of bed to his wheelchair. He seems totally OK except for his legs (and the surgery issues), and we have not even talked about the cancer lately.

It is absolutely dumbfounding what effect 3 months in a hospital bed and major surgery does to your body.

Thanks for the update. His progress sounds amazing.

 

[MrsMork]

Lisa, LAX probably saved you some $ over SNA. It really is easy to get from there to where ever you are going if you use Super Shuttle. Driving in LA can be a challenge, but I am sure you and Mike would be up to it.
The Universal thing sounds great! We have never been there. How funny is that since we lived down there for so long. We just do Disney and years ago used to do Knotts.

John1, so glad Manuel continues to improve. It really is amazing how quickly we loose muscle tone if we are bedridden. Prayers continue for all of your family.


Brack,
Howdy! Our nephew just sent us a bunch of Disneyland Paris pins. He was there and thought of us. How cool, both the pins and to be thought of!

John1,
We have a niece that is going to USC for her masters and teaching one class there also. Jeff just called and said she has gotten tickets for Jeff, Jessica and Aaron for the OSU game in Sept! They will be going to a tailgate party with her also. SO MUCH FUN!! Jeff is beside himself with excitement!

 

[lbgraves]

The only thing I would worry about would be those passports. I hope they come soon for you!

That Universal tour sounds really cool . . .

My brother is improving. He still cannot walk, but has taken a few steps on parallel bars. His big accomplishment this week was getting himself in and out of bed to his wheelchair. He seems totally OK except for his legs (and the surgery issues), and we have not even talked about the cancer lately.

It is absolutely dumbfounding what effect 3 months in a hospital bed and major surgery does to your body.

Not to mention the toll it takes on your family.

 

[lbgraves]

Lisa, LAX probably saved you some $ over SNA. It really is easy to get from there to where ever you are going if you use Super Shuttle. Driving in LA can be a challenge, but I am sure you and Mike would be up to it.
The Universal thing sounds great! We have never been there. How funny is that since we lived down there for so long. We just do Disney and years ago used to do Knotts.

That is good to hear. Well, tonight has been busy but successful. I have booked Super Shuttle from LAX to our hotel, got a minivan for $58 at Avis to use in FL after the cruise , booked a hotel in FL near Sea World and emailed about the last excursion I know I want to book.

Yes, the Universal tour is Todd's idea. Most of the people for the cruise are coming in Friday or Saturday and will be hitting DL Saturday. That's what we want to avoid. The tour is great for us because I doubt we will be going back to CA, and probably not Universal, for a very long time. I had to just not think about the cost and consider how much better a visit we will have with a personal guide and VIP access for everything, even after the tour is over with. We are doing one day each of CAA and DL then an open day for DTD, the pool and just relaxing. Who am I kidding? I will be doing laundry. I really want to avoid the dryer derby onboard.