20040131 ~ Cruising Jan 31 2004 Western Who's with us?

[Juli]

Wow Dorie, a book club, all of Oprah's picks, Oprahs show! I really enjoy the Oprah magazine, but am not into the show. It's always on at the barber shop I take the kids to. I admit that I sometimes call the show Doprah, but have the utmost respect for her and her show.

I love books and am an official book fanatic. They are like water to me, or good wine. Can't get enough of them. There are books piled up on and in just about every available surface at our house. I have next to no time for fiction right now. I'm hoping that I can get a book or two in on the cruise and it will jump start my reading. DH is bringing the Da Vinci Code to read.

Something about me and it's book related. I used to really be into Science Fiction. Haven't read any in oh so long. I think way back when I had read everything in the genre I could possibly find and the newer SF coming out was just a little too weird for me. Now I read lots of historical fiction and fantasy books with my kids, but none of the adult variety on my own. We just finished "The Chronicles of Narnia" series. That was a big hit with my kids. We listen to lots of audio books in our car and on airplanes. Just finished another of the Boxcar Children stories, also a book by E. Nesbit, and will be off the the library for something for the plane ride to Florida. For some silly kids entertainment, try Hank the Cowdog on tape. The author reads it himself and it is hilarious. Lots of tongue-in-cheek humor.

Oh my, I can ramble about books!

Juli

 

[Juli]

Just in time for the 10-day and single digit dance!

Juli

 

[Juli]

Hope your party was great! Congratulations! A beer on the house for you as well!

Juli

 

[Juli]

Well, I have a Bachelors Degree in Business Systems and a Juris Doctorate. I no longer program nor did I ever sit for the bar exam. However, I now have the training to give advice like, "Oh, it sounds like you need a really good lawyer for that problem." or Oh, you need a good computer tech to look at that." My friends and family find that to be extremely helpful. LOL!

Juli

 

[auntrenae]

Hooray for the single digits!!! Now we can really start to dance, at least in a chair for Randy and I... that can be fun too (sits and spins around one more time) This is going to be the best party ever!

Hey, did I see a post quite a few pages ago saying somebody got upgraded to the Disney suite? If so, that should be where at lest one party should be, right? Who got that?

Cap, thanks for the weather report on Cozumel. That sounds a little like summer here in Orlando, so I will just have to stay in the water all day. I'm still not used to heat and humidity here.

Renae

 

[Juli]

Originally posted by OKWMEMBER

WELCOME TO THE SINGLE DIGIT DANCE!!! [/B]

I'm a dancin machine!

Lay down the boogie and play that funky music til' you die!

Juli

 

[Juli]

Time for this one to go to bed. I've filled my daily quota toward the big 2500. I've done my dancing. I've slung every beer with honesty and pride.

G'night everybody.

ZZZZZZZZZ!

Juli

 

[auntrenae]

Now that we've had the official proclamation, I'm headed to bed, perchance to dream...of the Magic and hot chocolate souffle'...

I have an off topic question for anyone who might know the answer. Has anyone been to Tobago? I just found out that they have a place there where you can dive with manta rays! Now I have to find a cruise that goes there, or, beg Disney to make that part of a new itinerary. Now that would be a great vacation. The website says they approach you and offer rides, so often that they are called Tobago taxis! Wow!!!

night, Renae

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by auntrenae
Sorry, I got sidetracked chair dancing with my feet up...

So, if you can't tell a weather forecast more than a few days out, how do you know what it will be in the caribbean in 2 weeks? I know you said it's pretty static, that's why we are going now anyway, but I mean how exactly does the science work to do the figuring? I'm very interested in meteorology, so I'd love to pick your brain sometime on board...
Thanks, Renae

Sure, I love to talk, and weather is everyone's favorite subject! *grin*

It's really fascinating, and when you consider that meteorologists are paid even if they're wrong, I wonder why I got out of the business...

See, we can track the major weather patterns, but then there's areas where "microclimates" can take over - for example, I live 20 mins from my mom - and in the ride from my house to hers, you can go through 3 different types of weather. So that can be hard to factor in, unless one lives in an area long enough - so pick your favorite tv meteorologists by length in an AREA, not necessarily age.

There's also the issue that we have several different computer models that run twice a day, some more - and because they are all built off a different formula - a different assumption that weather does this because of that (the butterfly effect!) - it's a matter of taking them all into account, and getting to know each season which ones are more accurate than others - and yes, they can change from season to season.

Then add in the magic of Mother Nature -

Climatology is the science of studying what HAS happened - and alot of people get that confused with "forecasting the weather". "What's it usually like in Key West in Feb?" is Climatology.

...

gee, it's too darn early in this morning to sound this boring. Shower time!

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by auntrenae
I LOVE to read! My favorite author is Mary Stewart. She's the one who wrote the trilogy about Merlin and King Arthur. She is amazing, so I may bring a book of hers to bring, but when will I ever get a chance to read it? I've never even sat down in a deck chair!!!

Dancin in my chair... Renae

Crystal Cave, etc! I DEVOURED those.

I'm reading "Alias Grace" by Margaret Atwood now, with "Three Swans" next up - a true story about 3 generations of Chinese women. Can't wait for it to get here from Amazon...

 

[dheller97]

How's a guy to get any sleep around here with all that party stuff going on all nite?

I'm here, Gary. Sure, all the nuts are all tucked in now so you should be able to get some quiet time. I'm gonna have to clean up the Board room, stack up all the bedpans, pick up the various kinds of glassware, and get the place in shape for the next meeting. That's OK, 'cause I'll be doing it as I.....

DANCE THE SINGLE-DIGIT DANCE!!

Oh, yeah, it's Rolley - Polley and the King's Court.

"I'm Henry the Eighth I am, Henry the Eighth I am, I am......"

 

[Kabuli1]

Good Morning Everybody!

I'm up early to watch the sun rise on the single digits! This time next week, I'll be on a plane to Orlando! Wow!

Sorry I missed all the fun last night.

Books? We're talking books? I read constantly - well, until this fall! I guess I would average 8-10 books every week. I am selling 30 boxes of books on half.com right now and am taking many many more than that with me. I was talking to my Randy last night about where we can put bookshelves in our new home - a very important discussion. Forget the antiques, I want my book shelves!

Doing pretty well on the packing - getting close to the ABE (All But Essentials) stage. Jill and I have a lot of essentials! In fact, I'm taking the day off packing today to get a manicure, go out for lunch with a friend and work on my class for Sunday. I'm starting to wonder why I teach adults at church - I could probably fake it with kids.

Miss Jill dragged me out shopping yesterday - I know, like I need anything else to pack! I was just going to get this cute beaded velvet duster for one of the fancy nights, and matching neclace and earrings. Suddenly my daughter is hustling me into a dressing room w/ a skirt and crazy sandals and all the accessories for a wonderful cruise outfit . . . what can I say I now have a fabulous new ensemble (not formal) for the cruise thanks to Jill picking it out and my mom making it my belated birthday present . . . oh yes, I did buy the duster! (For you guys - that's not a feather duster to go with my French Maid outfit, it's a long jacket kind of thing!) I can't believe I'm taking an extra pair of shoes now that only goes w/ one outfit! ARGH!

Need to get to Target today to get 2 gallon ziplock bags for all my clothes. I wonder if we packed away the sun block?

So it's bitter cold here with scary wind chills out there! Better that than s***! Nikki can you put on your Karnack the Magnificent hat and tell me if my plane will be able to get out next week?

Doing my own little dance here!




Karyn

 

[Cap]

Good morning all - perhaps a Good mid-morning to Dean.

It sounds like we have lots of readers in the group. I'm a reader too - some Sci Fi, some mysteries (I prefer technology type), and 20th century military fiction - up to the Korean War. I'm off to the library today to pickup some new books that have been held. Waited to the last day so they will be on the 21st day out when we return. Maybe all the readers can go to the aft deck and sit quietly in the sun, drinking and reading.

I hope Randy is a reader also. There's not much else to do when in a hospital bed. Ann, can you print the latest posts for him so he can keep up with our "soap opera"?

Dean - are you playing cruise critic and writing a travel article to appear in all the local newspapers you print? Couldn't you write off the cruise as a business research expense that way?

Where's Karyn - did she pack the computer already?

 

[Cap]

Oops- sorry Karyn. You must have been posting while I had the posts just prior to yours up, so didn't see that you were up and active. I understand that shopping for clothes can keep women from these boards. Now for men (or me at least) it only takes 15 minutes in a store to buy what we went in to get.

 

[Kabuli1]

Cap, I only intended to stay for 15 minutes! I HATE shopping! We're going to be there at the Boardwalk on Thursday and Friday - would be nice to see you, will you have a cell phone or anything? PM or email me ways to meet up, for a drink or breakfast or a walk into Epcot!

I forgot to welcome Dizmomof2! Welcome, good to see you join us! Which company are you using to book the charter in Grand Cayman? It sounds like fun, let me know if you need three more. I'm supposed to be w/ Renae and co. on Cpat. Marvin's.

Hey, is anybody else lurking out there???? Come out of the woodwork and join us! We only eat the occasional newbie!

Cap, are you and Judi on late dining? Is it just the two of you going? (I forget so many things now that I'm OLD!) If so, maybe you could join the Hellers and us. Oops, I should have asked Dean first. How bout it, Dean? And Dean, I've been meaning to ask, how come you deliver Cap's paper but not mine, I am on the way to his house from yours!

Anybody else up yet? Waiting for the official announcement wore you all out?

I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up my post count, oops!

Randy, you keep on getting better, you hear? You gotta be there to see Annie parasail on CC!!!

Karyn

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by Kabuli1
Need to get to Target today to get 2 gallon ziplock bags for all my clothes. I wonder if we packed away the sun block?

So it's bitter cold here with scary wind chills out there! Better that than s***! Nikki can you put on your Karnack the Magnificent hat and tell me if my plane will be able to get out next week?

I went to Target to find those and they didn't have any! *pout*

As for the weather..

*goes to read long term discussion on National Weather Service (NWS) site*

This is valid through 12Z (= 12 GMT = 7am Eastern) Weds the 28th (Tyler's birthday!) - the cold air is looking like it's going to moderate here in the East, and move back toward the central states...looks like a fairly unsettled weekend in alot of places, but in general after we get through that, they are saying that many of the models are going for a slight warming, and a general rise in heights (pressure) - a good sign. I'll try to keep an eye on this for everyone!

 

[Kabuli1]

Thanks, Nikki, so you're saying that at this moment next Thursday looks good for flying? Please keep us all posted. It's getting colder here, the temp is down to 2!!!! Nasssssty!

Karyn

 

[The4OfUs]

As of right now, the "extended forecast discussion", which is the technical discussion that they put out from "Washington" where the meteorologists there give their take on the various computer models, only goes out to Weds morning. But yes, from what i read, they are seeing a trend towards higher pressures and more moderate temperatures. This weekend looks interesting with some snow moving out of the Dakotas and such, but towards the end of the forecast period they are not talking about anything interesting....and believe me, weather folks are sickos...if there's even a hint of a storm, they are all over it. *grin* They even say that they're seeing a ridge set up over the eastern seaboard - a ridge is a large area of high pressure, and high pressure = sunshine and no storms - towards the "end of this forecast period". =) Looks good to me!

I'm also going to start reading the discussion out of the Key West office, and see what they have to say.

LOL - times like this, I miss being a meteorologist.

 

[dheller97]

G'morning, Mamma Princess!

It would be great to have Cap & Judi join us, or anyone else in this fine group. The invitation is out there, now. Karyn, Cap gets his paper delivered because, I do respect my elders

Just a suggestion, Karyn. No French maid stuff at the dinner table and I won't do the speedo thing. Deal? Talking chance of heavy snow here on Sunday / Monday. Maybe it will be done by the time we leave next Thursday.

Cap, since the official announcement was made at 12:01 AM, eastern, and I have the messy Board room to clean up to prove it, I'll put the latest list up around 8 AM this morning. Then, if we get any more new comers, or revisions, I have time to put it up once more next week.

Have a great day and keep dancin'
Dean

 

[The4OfUs]

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/eyw/productview.php?pil=EYWAFDEYW

that's the link to the discussion from the local Key West NWS office. It's a technical discussion from the meteorologists that work there, explaining to the other meteorologists around (including the tv guys, they read these to help them forecast - much of the forecasting is done 'in committee' this way). It will have some technical terms that you might not "get", but in general is written in English enough that you can get a gist of what they think is going to happen. They're going out to Weds for now...but they update this 3-4 times a day, usually.