20041218-cruise-friends-memories Part 3

[tkd lisa]

Karen, my MIL is a retired pediatric nurse. And I am always amazed at the great ideas you have with your children. I know that I am just not creative like that. There's probably a good reason I don't home school my kids! As a scout leader, they give you some really good cheat sheets!

It's good to hear from some of our less regular posters. I knew they'd pop back in when the cruise got closer!

So who else thinks we'll hit 10,000 by Friday? GaRry, are you ready for that post? Maybe I'll just have to keep my computer warm?? A little pirate payback maybe?

 

[WDWLVR]

Melissa - I sent you a pm with the newsletter password.

Lisa - I think you deserve 10,000 since gaRry 9000 away from you!

 

[Dancind]

Denise, I did notice "your" hurricane on the weather websites, it's a Cat 4 also! But then I looked in the History pages, and they don't show that any hurricanes have ever made landfall in CA. Is this true? How come? Maybe FL should get some of your magic. And are you a scuba diver? We've got a group of those.

We pulled off a minor surprise for a New Years Eve trip in 2001. The last present DD opened was a certificate, a printed award proclaiming her "the best kids ever"! (or something like that) and then said "good for one trip to WDW / on 12/29/01". Also in the package were Disney dollars. We gave it to her while the WDW Christmas parade was on TV. You could probably do something like this with the DCL video. Or are you going to wait until you're at the port? You'll probably get some responses on the Cruise board, I know some people have pulled that off. Easier with younger kids!

Melissa, some of the teens have already met, we've got a nice sized group. My DD started a thread, she's trying to keep it going but hasn't had much help. You might tell your DS about it, here's a link:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=637143

 

[justmestace]

Originally posted by videogal1
Any left over?

Plenty! How many do you want??

 

[justmestace]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
Stacey - and how exactly do you know which moles Paul has on his butt? Or is that one of those what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas things?

Pam told me!!!

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by justmestace
Plenty! How many do you want??

One would be nice..Thank you...

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by uromac
Samantha dd 11

Great idea for a quick refresher.....

Me (Karen), my dh (Mike--aka ohiomickey)
My dd, KT, will be 10 1/2
My ds, Nick will be a couple weeks shy of 8.
We will be staying in stateroom 6060 (as long as DCL doesn't upgrade us....PLEASE don't upgrade us, DCL)

Also joining us will be my parents
Dick, otherwise known as Grandpa Shadow--He'll be 70 1/2
Fran, aka Grandma Shadow will be 67 1/2
They will be in stateroom 6058 (close but not connecting)

We love everything Disney too. In a nutshell, dh is a pediatrician, I'm a stay at home mom. We homeschool. Added a puppy to the family last month. Re-finishing my master bath. Bought a SkyBox (delivered yesterday and it is COOL!)

 

[Dancind]

Karen, I just learned some things about you I didn't know! (or maybe forgot!)

We are, in summary:

Dancind: Diana, semi-retired Gov. employee, currently an Ebayer

TinksDad (aka Handsome Handyman) Kevin, remodeling contractor

Tinkdancer: DD Alicia 13.5 8th grade


From Albuquerque. Cabin 5624, late dinner seating. Made final payment today! My hobbies are collecting and DIS boards
DH and DD are avid scuba divers; DD is also an avid dancer. We like to dance too, but only on cruises and at weddings anymore. Took DD to WDW in August, met DISers and survived Charley. Next trip is Food & Wine Festival! We LOOOVE Disney!

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by Dancind
Karen, I just learned some things about you I didn't know! (or maybe forgot!)

Like what? Like my REAL name? The one I hesitate to give out to all of you crazy, deranged, internet people???

 

[Dancind]

Well, we've gotten over that, haven't we? LOL I guess we figure people wouldn't bother to read through this whole thread just to find out semi-personal information about any of us.

For instance, your DH's name and occupation. You may have mentioned it before, but I don't remember it.

 

[justmestace]

Hi! Trying to catch up....everyone has been really chatty today!


Notepads: I have a list so far...
Me...2
Gail...2
Paul...1
Karen...2
Mary...2
Diana...2
Lynda & Cash...1
Tina...1

I'm going to go ahead and get another package, so there will be 12 more.....for anyone who missed it...

I'm ordering sticky-note pads with magnets on the back. They have 60 sheets per pad, and I'm going to put one outside on our stateroom door, in case anyone wants to leave us a message, and one inside for our family to leave eachother messages.
They have different holiday designs, some Santa, some Snowmen, and maybe other designs as well.
Just let me know if you want one or two...or more. NO CHARGE!

Stacey

 

[justmestace]

Our Family:

Me.....Stacey 40 something......
DH.....Jay 50 something.....
DD.....Jordan 14
DS.....Jared 11

We also have an older daughter, Megan, almost 23, who was married on Castaway Cay one year ago today!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MEGAN AND PETER!!!

(She lurks!)

Anyway, Jay & I own an ornamental (wrought) iron business, and make anything and everything out of steel & copper. He's an old fashioned blacksmith, hammer, anvil, forge....and does some really beautiful work.
I keep the books for the business and handle our commercial rental properties. I'm not sure, though, if I put in enough hours to even call it a part time job!

Jordan is a dancer, and talks on the phone alot...doesn't use the computer very often....and is very "blonde"....no offense to anyone else who is blonde......

Jared just started middle school, or as we used to call it, Junior High. He plays baseball in the spring and soccer in the fall. He's blond, too....but not like the Jordan type of Blonde!

And we have Molly the lazy dog. And various other unwelcome visitors out here in the desert. We live in Cave Creek AZ, north of Phoenix....small western tourist town.

 

[WDWLVR]

Checking in at lunch so I'll add to the updates:

Me - 47
DH is Mark - 37 (known on the DIS as MarkRG)

I'm a supervisor in the customer service department of a direct mail firm. Mark is a service engineer for a laundry/dry cleaning plant.

We live in a northern suburb of Chicago.

We love Disney. We honeymooned at WDW back in 1990. We joined DVC in 2000 and love it. We've been on 5 previous cruises. A 3-day on the Magic back in '99, both a 7-day Eastern and 7-day Western and two 4-day cruises on the Wonder (one of which was the DVC cruise).

 

[paulcrsb]

My name is Paul and I'm a Disneyholic!

Paul

 

[tkd lisa]

Great idea to keep us moving toward that every closer 10,000 posts! We're currently in adjoining cabins 2571 and 2753. Waitlisted for Deck 7.

My family:
Lisa - will be 40 next Friday, Program Manager for the Navy, Girl scout leader and former Tae Kwon Do instructor (1/2 way to my 3rd degree). BTW Dee, don't worry about still being a yellow belt. It just means you've been busy! Remind me to tell you about my test from yellow belt to the next level. It's the one I almost didn't pass!

DH, Tim - 47, manages paperwork for the Navy. He stopped TKD at a brown stripe, after taking silver in the National championships in 2001. He tolerates my DCL obsession and my scout work

Both of us are civil servants, not actually in the Navy

DD, Kaylie - 12 3/4 by cruise time. She occasionally posts on the kids thread, but I haven't gotten her a screen name yet. I don't think I really want her to have her own email address. She gets in enough internet trouble!! She's starting her 1st year as a cadet girl scout, really loves animals and singing, and has blossomed into a typical pre-teen in the last few months.

DD, Casey - just turned 11. He started 6th grade this year, and just earned his tenderfoot rank in Boy Scouts. He is a typical 11 year old boy. You know that girls have cooties, and body humor is the best kind, right? He does enjoy his PS2 and riding his bike.

Now the other part of our group.

We're also bringing my in-laws who are:
Kenny - 70 something. He was a steel salesman and retired quite a while ago (before DH and I met). He's a WW2 and Korean War veteran (US Marines), and is a purple heart recipient. He's interested in woodcarving, and does a bit of painting (art, not houses!). He's recently had some heart problems, and we're praying hard that his health will stabilize so that they can go on this trip. Dad says that he knows he won't get seasick because he was the only one of his group who didn't throw up when they went over to Europe in WWII. I told him he'd have nicer accomodations this trip!

Diane - also 70 something. Boy, how do I summarize the most wonderful woman I know. I have to say I was truly blessed in the in-law department! Anyway, my MIL is about 5 feet tall and barely weighs 100 pounds. She walks 5 miles a day, and can still do the splits (I've actually seen her do it). She was a pediatric nurse for 33 years, and is a cancer survivor. She also suffers pretty badly from asthma (long term smoker who quit 20 years ago). She volunteers for a food pantry, and is the hospitality person for their church. This trip will be her first ever airplane flight, and her first trip on anything bigger than a rowboat. She's only been outside the US one time (drove to Mexico to retrieve her mother in the early 70s).

This trip will also celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. It was actually in 2001, but I couldn't get them to vacation before now. In their entire lives, they've only taken 1 trip to Florida (when their DD lived there), 1 trip to Minnesota, and 1 trip across the west (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, etc.) This vacation is all about them enjoying time with their grandkids while they still can.

Well that's us! Take it or leave it, cause you will probably not be able to miss us on the cruise (we're a colorful bunch!)

 

[jhemond]

Hi all! I'm still here. I've been lurking behind the curtain again. I've decided to come out to reintroduce myself (did I ever formally introduce myself in the first place??)

I'm Jenny (26 years old). My DH is Jamie (he's 28). We have DDog named Pogo (he's a sissy boy Chihuahua who's afraid of his own bark - no fooling). Pogo's not coming on the cruise with us. He'd be too afraid of Cash and all the characters (sorry Cash!!). We live in New Hampshire. I'm a Civil Engineering Technician/CAD drafter. Jamie is a computer consultant (he owns his own business). This will be our 3rd cruise (and our first Christmas away from the extended family ). I guess that's about it for now.

 

[ohiominnie]

I received an email from Colorful Images announcing a big sale. WOWIE! Did they ever have a sale. I got a few Snoopy things (yes, a non-Disney character, I know) and I also found this:

http://www.colorfulimages.com/productDisplay/displaySingleSpread/0,1220,216002|2||full|L|abbrvert|L|nonext||nonextsec|,00.html

I thought this might be very helpful on the cruise to free up the limited drawer space. Was thinking either undies and socks could go in there or assign a cubby for each person to leave their things (pager, lanyard, KTTW card, etc) or for the kids and the things they collect (trading cards, hidden mickey confetti, stir sticks from my latte)--ya know, the kinds of things that clutter up your room but just CANNOT be thrown out!

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by tkd lisa
Kenny -(snip) I told him he'd have nicer accomodations this trip!

My dad (coming with us) was in the Navy during the Korean War. He was stationed on the USS Midway CVA41 --It's an aircraft carrier for those of you not familiar with it
My parents SWORE they'd never cruise. My sister has been begging them for years to go with them on a cruise, but my parents are not partiers, drinkers, smokers, gamblers--ya know, the typical cruise perception. After we went in May '03, we talked them into going with us in November '03. My dad was FLOORED. He couldn't BELIEVE the accomodations. During the trip there were lots of comments made about how big his bed was, how much food there was, how he was actually allowed ON the deck, how he didn't have to poop into a trough

But I knew he was a Navy man at heart when I watched him in Nassau hanging over his verandah watching the goings on with some Navy vessels that were there. He must have spent hours watching what they were doing and telling us what was what ("that guy there is going on shore-leave---he'll come back drunk") He even waved to everyone on the ships and signaled that he'd be willing to switch places with them!

It was really great to introduce my dad to the luxurious side of cruising an ocean!

 

[afff]

Welcome MrsMork and goofydadeo...............

Hey goofydadeo, we are surprising our DD(10) and DS(6) as well.

They won't find out until we pull up in front of the Magic that day.
When we leave for the airport departing from Toronto we are telling them we're driving to the cottage.
Everthing is going to be a total and unexpected surprise.
( an Adventure )

You can PM a guy .......his name is "Verandah Man" on another DIS thread.
He will send you a Disney postcards of the ship with Mic signed by Disney Characters inviting the children on board for the cruise.

For us......on the 18th we'll park in front of the ship say something like " Oh look, That's the Disney Ship, isn't it nice .....those people are lucky.......wouldn't it be nice if we could go to". Of course we'll wait for some reaction..........and then at that point we will give them those post cards from "Mickey" and "Goofy" inviting them on board.
I can hear the screams of joy now. Cruel eh!
I am really looking forward to the cruise but to tell you the truth I am more looking forward to the surprise.

Gus

 

[seaulater]

Afternoon all--

Stacey-would love a notepad for our door. Thanks!!!!

Okay, here's all the info for our family (I'll try to keep abbreviated!)

SeaULater-That's ME!!! Linda........40 something (just like Stacey), but I'm really a kid at heart! I am the Director of Finance for Girl Scouts of Utah. Been here 7 1/2 years and love it. I love Disney and cruises!

DH...Robert.....50 something. He is a foreman, or an equipment operator, depends on the job, works for operating engineers local 3. He likes the mountains, fishing, four wheeling, all that guy stuff. He basically just puts up with me.

DD.....Jamie...12. She thinks she is 18. She dances, sings, plays piano, violin, and anything else she has time to do. I think that would be chase boys! She is currently in a musical production that plays tonight, tomorrow and Friday and then that is done!
Then, she only has Girl Scouts (cadette) Monday night, dancing Tues. night, her group singing/dancing Wed night, more dance classes Thur. night, then piano and voice lessons on Fri. afternoons. And I actually work full time during all this!!! Anyway, she also works for Radio Disney as a kid caster for 2004 and does movie premieres and interviews on the radio. Okay, enough about her.

The rest of the crew (in summary)

Robert's daughter Sheri, spouse Brad and kids Breann (5) and Nicholas (2).

Robert's daughter Mary, spouse Rod and kids Olivia (4) and Porter (almost 2-yeah one free airline passage!)

Robert's son Rob and spouse Jessica, no kids and no pregnancy, thank goodness.

So, that's a total of 13 of us.

I am probably the most excited of everyone to go on this cruise, but then I am the one who planned the whole thing and gave it to everyone for Christmas 2003 for their Christmas 2004. Not even Robert knew, just me. I love to give surprises.....just not pay the bill!

Okay, that's all about us.