20041218-cruise-friends-memories Part 3

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by videogal1
This is an unpaid political revelation that I freely announce in place of posting a Kerry sign in my sig..... Vote for Bush, vote against the ADA....

I think this type of thing could go much farther in tearing down this thread than a grammar correction to a sign.

I will keep my mouth shut and my fingers still on this.

 

[videogal1]

Holland America is VERY accommodating...They have boxes set up in out-of-the-way public deck areas so I don't have to fight the hoards for a verandah....with DCL, no verandah, no cruise...for us, anyway.....Long story.

Norwegian absolutely REFUSES to have dogs on board (and because, I think, they don't port within the jurisdiction of the 11th Circuit Court they don't have to). As for others, I suppose I'll find out eventually. The whole thing is very political...There's going to be a review of the Circuit court decision that compels cruise lines that port within the 11th Circuit court jurisdiction to comply with the ADA and if SCOTUS decides to overturn it you can bet that people with disabilities of any kind can kiss their legal cruising protections goodbye. Thank you Mr. Bush.....
This is an unpaid political revelation that I freely announce in place of posting a Kerry sign in my sig.....

 

[Dancind]

Karen, no worries. Sent you a PM.

I'm not allowed to discuss politics since I live in a house divided. Just glad the election will be over by the time we cruise.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by Dancind
Karen, no worries. Sent you a PM.

Tried to send one back, but your box is full. Let me know when you delete some so I can send this one. Thx.

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
I think this type of thing could go much farther in tearing down this thread than a grammar correction to a sign.

I will keep my mouth shut and my fingers still on this.

Well, obviously you didn't and if you don't think your own political statement is free from pain you need to ....well, ......

 

[ohiominnie]

 

[MrsMork]

Originally posted by tkd lisa
Charlotte, Lots of cool history down here!

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread!

DH and I had our first opportunity to visit some of that history in April 2003. We absolutely loved every minute of it. Did not get into Maryland too much, but spent several days in Va and, of course, up to Gettysburg. One of our most fun trips, outside of Disney of course.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by videogal1
Well, obviously you didn't and if you don't think your own political statement is free from pain you need to ....well, ......

Lynda,
sent you a PM.

 

[Dancind]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
Tried to send one back, but your box is full. Let me know when you delete some so I can send this one. Thx.

Obviously, I'm a pack rat. OK, cleaned it out. If only my house were that easy!

(Tinksdad: you are NOT allowed to comment!)

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by Dancind
Obviously, I'm a pack rat. OK, cleaned it out. If only my house were that easy!

(Tinksdad: you are NOT allowed to comment!)

Too funny! I actually told dh the other day that I'd be willing to sign up for "Wife Swap" as long as the wife who came here was a professional organizer!!! Wouldn't *that* be great!

sent your PM

 

[WDWLVR]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
I think this type of thing could go much farther in tearing down this thread than a grammar correction to a sign.
.

I agree 100%. Let's keep the focus on the cruise and fun.

If anyone wants political debates the Community Board is full of them.

As for my political beliefs. I've voted in many elections, but only worked on one campaign. Pooh for President in '76! Alas the silly old bear didn't stand a chance.

 

[WDWLVR]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
Too funny! I actually told dh the other day that I'd be willing to sign up for "Wife Swap" as long as the wife who came here was a professional organizer!!! Wouldn't *that* be great!

sent your PM

Mark isn't into reality series, but if he could get a wife to clean the house better I think he'd swap in a minute.

 

[MarkRG]

Uh, no.

Soooooo.. Let's get back on a more relevant subject, would either of the dive experts care to outline what kind of transition it is to go from snorkeling to outright diving?

 

[dee47]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
Too funny! I actually told dh the other day that I'd be willing to sign up for "Wife Swap" as long as the wife who came here was a professional organizer!!! Wouldn't *that* be great!

My first (and best) pet sitter was like that -- she decided she needed to do something while she was here at night, so we came home from WDW (on 9/10/01, but that's a different story) to an IMMACULATE house. Alas, it only took us 5 weeks to turn it back into a pigsty... And she kept finding change everywhere while she cleaned up, so she put it in a jar for us. I took it to the bank and it was ~$137. I added that to her already considerable tip...

I REALLY miss her!

 

[tinksdad]

Originally posted by MarkRG
Uh, no.

Soooooo.. Let's get back on a more relevant subject, would either of the dive experts care to outline what kind of transition it is to go from snorkeling to outright diving?

Weeellll,

The main difference is equipment and the necessary training. Scuba, is as your instructor will tell you, is a "equipment intensive" sport. The best approach would be to find a local dive store (LDS, there that term again LOL) and chat with them about the parameters of their classes. There are several organizations that teach. PADI, SSI, NAUI, YMCA, IDI, etc. The organization is not as important as your instructor. Find someone that will take the necessary time to teach you all the basic skills and will engage in some buoyancy training as well. The training usually lasts approximately 6-7 four hour classes with two days of open water training to certify. With you being in the Chicago area, the weather will play a factor in the OW part, especially if you want to get certified prior to the cruise. (I say GO for it!)

There is quite a bit of information about the complications of pressure and breathing compressed air underwater. You need to go through the training to understand how to handle these issues.

Several shops offer a try scuba class that will let you try the equipment underwater at a pool to see if it would be an interest to you, or (this wouldn't not work for the cruise) you could try a Resort course which teaches you the basics, but restricts you to dive ONLY with a instructor or Dive Master.

There are some that can't or won't do what is required, but once you see the miracle of the underwater world, you will be hooked!!

hope that helped.

 

[afff]

Originally posted by tinksdad
Weeellll,

The main difference is equipment and the necessary training. Scuba, is as your instructor will tell you, is a "equipment intensive" sport. The best approach would be to find a local dive store (LDS, there that term again LOL) and chat with them about the parameters of their classes. There are several organizations that teach. PADI, SSI, NAUI, YMCA, IDI, etc. The organization is not as important as your instructor. Find someone that will take the necessary time to teach you all the basic skills and will engage in some buoyancy training as well. The training usually lasts approximately 6-7 four hour classes with two days of open water training to certify. With you being in the Chicago area, the weather will play a factor in the OW part, especially if you want to get certified prior to the cruise. (I say GO for it!)

There is quite a bit of information about the complications of pressure and breathing compressed air underwater. You need to go through the training to understand how to handle these issues.

Several shops offer a try scuba class that will let you try the equipment underwater at a pool to see if it would be an interest to you, or (this wouldn't not work for the cruise) you could try a Resort course which teaches you the basics, but restricts you to dive ONLY with a instructor or Dive Master.

There are some that can't or won't do what is required, but once you see the miracle of the underwater world, you will be hooked!!

hope that helped.

If you're worried about the weather you could always go down to Florida a few days early before the cruise and do the OPENWATER there, where it is warmer.
I think it may be a little bit more expensive doing it that way but..............you won't freeze either.
An old girlfirend of mine did that many years ago.
She did the "openwater" in Crystal Springs, Florida. It was at a fresh water spring with lots of tropical fish around. Beautiful.

Gus

 

[dee47]

Originally posted by tkd lisa
BTW Dee, your goal sounds reasonable to me. 2 months between belts is very do-able as long as you work at it.

Thanks, Lisa...the problem is that I got my belt in June...so it will be a little longer than 2 months...

 

[scuba diver]

Originally posted by tinksdad
Weeellll,

The main difference is equipment and the necessary training. Scuba, is as your instructor will tell you, is a "equipment intensive" sport.

Yea... and that is what makes it fun. More equipment....more toys!

Of course the new equipment is only for safety reasons, lol.

 

[DVC4US]

OM - thanks for the correction, I will make sure the signs are correct. I usually catch that but to tell you the truth I wasn't paying attention.

Goofydadeo - When our DD, who is now 15, was 11 we allowed her to have sign out privileges. We had post-it notes in the cabin and she had to leave us a note everytime she changed locations. She could only go to the club, cabin, pool, or the arcade. With the pager system, house phones, & post-it notes it really is not a problem usless you think your DS or DD might get into mischief. Our DD now has the run of the ship. She meets us for dinner every night and has a curfew but other wise I let her go. She knows that should she be caught doing something she is not supposed to be doing she is in big trouble and all the freedom will go away.

 

[MarkRG]

Originally posted by tinksdad
Weeellll,
The main difference is equipment and the necessary training. Scuba, is as your instructor will tell you, is a "equipment intensive" sport. The best approach would be to find a local dive store (LDS, there that term again LOL) and chat with them about the parameters of their classes. There are several organizations that teach. PADI, SSI, NAUI, YMCA, IDI, etc. The organization is not as important as your instructor. Find someone that will take the necessary time to teach you all the basic skills and will engage in some buoyancy training as well. The training usually lasts approximately 6-7 four hour classes with two days of open water training to certify. With you being in the Chicago area, the weather will play a factor in the OW part, especially if you want to get certified prior to the cruise. (I say GO for it!)

Well, I see there's as much a difference as I thought. Equipment is my job, I'm a maintainance mechanic for an industrial plant. At this point, I was more looking just for info. This is the first trip we're doing snorkel excursions, we'll see after that.

There is quite a bit of information about the complications of pressure and breathing compressed air underwater. You need to go through the training to understand how to handle these issues.
Several shops offer a try scuba class that will let you try the equipment underwater at a pool to see if it would be an interest to you, or (this wouldn't not work for the cruise) you could try a Resort course which teaches you the basics, but restricts you to dive ONLY with a instructor or Dive Master.

We're kind of doing that already with the Sea Trekkin we're doing at Coral World at St Thomas. It's one of those guided tours of a reef wearing full head helmets.

There are some that can't or won't do what is required, but once you see the miracle of the underwater world, you will be hooked!!
hope that helped.

That helped a lot. And was already hooked, kind of why we have a number of excursions planned for snorkeling.