20041218-cruise-friends-memories Part 5

[tinksdad]

...snip....I am betting most of tonight will be spent with the family crammed in the bathroom. What fun! Have a great day everyone. I will try to post from school in computers.

Matt

12 days to go!

Sound like LOADS (dripping with sarcasm) of fun. Stay safe and be careful.

 

[WDWLVR]

So who will be in port with us?


I always like finding out what other ships will be in port the same time we are. Gives us a chance to see what other ships look like and also tells us how busy that port is going to be. Also you can usually tell if/where we are docking. Here's what I've found for our cruise:

Key West on 12/19

Disney Magic - docked at Hilton dock as usual
Carnival Glory - outer mole
SS Mariner - anchored off shore
Diamond - Mallory Square

St. Martin on 12/22

Disney Magic
HAL Zaadam
RCCL Empress of the Seas
Carnival Triumph

St. Lucia on 12/23

Disney Magic only ship being listed in port that day!!!!!!

Antiqua on 12/24

Disney Magic at the Heritage dock
Seaborn Legend
Costa Romantica

St. Thomas on 12/25

Disney Magic
Horizon
Sun Princess
all docked at Havensight Mall

 

[djs113]

interesting facts

- D


Disney Cruise Line Redies for the Holidays - The Disney Magic and Wonder are all decked out for the holidays, to include 25 Christmas trees, 25,000 lights, 1,260 feet of garland and 3,600 yards of ribbon...wow! To top it off there is a three-deck tall Christmas tree in the atrium lobby, complete with falling snow.

Lots of things going on a Castaway too! They have a holiday-themed overlay including greetings from Mr. and Mrs. Snowman (complete with shell noses and tropical shirts), a 40-foot-tall tropical Christmas tree, carolers and a sleigh full of presents, as well as re-theming the island tram to resemble a reindeer

 

[tkd lisa]

My DD Lisa (10) will want to ask you about South Korea. That's where she was born. She is currently learning to speak Korean from our Minister's wife who is teaching the language to her son. He can speak Korean, but can't read or write it. So, while she is teaching her son, she is teaching Lisa. She just started that a few months ago, so she doesn't know a lot yet.

Korean is actually a pretty straight forward language to learn. There are some good websites out there with instructions. Shortly after the family started TKD, DH figured out how to write his name in Korean. I think I still can do it.

 

[tkd lisa]

I know this has been answered, but I'll chime in....YES! In fact, I have 459 points/dollars in my account now and I'm waiting for my next statement to post so I can get more and transfer it all over to my card.

Helps when you put nearly EVERYTHING on your card and then pay that off instead of writing checks for everything. I always laughed that you could pay most of your bills with a credit card, but now I'm doing it so I get more points!!

I do that too! Groceries, day care, EVERYTHING. Mine was going on my American Airlines frequent flier mastercard until we got our cruise flights covered, now it's back to Discover. Love those $ back!

 

[tkd lisa]

tks baskets (Theresa): In our over the door shoe holder I put:
medicine
gum
chapstick
lab pager
walkie talkies
sunscreen
swimming goggles
hair brushes
sun glasses

Pretty much anything that would typically bring the question "Mom (or Lisa), where's the xxx?"

 

[tkd lisa]

Vent Alert - In-laws

Ok when we booked this cruise a year and a half ago we knew we'd be away from family at Christmas. Family basically means my MIL, FIL, BIL and his wife. FIL is all about the gifts and within 5 minutes they are opened and he's done. MIL is bah humbug from working retail for so many years and BIL's wife does not believe in God and the reason behind Christmas and has been insulting about it in the past.

Now please don't get me wrong - they are all really nice people and I love them all, but Christmas is not their big thing. So a few months ago when they were over we were talking about what to do and I suggested that we just drop the presents off and they could open them Christmas eve as always and we would call them Christmas Day. That didn't seem to sit well so (and I don't remember this part but Mark tells me it is true) I say "well then lets just skip it". Which they took to heart. This wasn't the intent and Mark informed me I was being a witch about it and they want to do a family Christmas before we leave. So all the presents are bought and I ask Mark today when are we getting together. He hasn't heard from FIL. FIL calls later in the day and says they were waiting for us to invite them over. What? The place is a mess. He says he'll talk to MIL but she's working next weekend. Fast forwad to 4 pm and he calls and says "let's get together tonight - 5 pm as usual". Ok so the presents are bought, but not wrapped. So I go in fast wrap mode (they were all big presents not many presents). We get in the car thinking we are going over to celebrate Christmas. Not quite.

They haven't decorated except for a little on the outside. BIL and wife come down (they live upstairs of my in-laws) with no presents in hand. We have pizza and in a while FIL asks about the gifts. We give them ours and they hand us two envelopes.

The good news - wrapping is done, presents are out.

The better news - our presents were stateroom credits for the cruise.

The bad news - it was only our gifts - they are still doing theirs on Christmas eve which is what I suggested in the first place!

Ho Ho Ho - our family Christmas is done. I'm so looking forward to celebrating it with all of you on the ship!

Lots and lots of hugs to you Mary. I know how family just seems to hit all the right (or is that wrong?) buttons. But you'll be spending the real Christmas with your DIS family and it will be better!!!

 

[tksbaskets]

So I just have to ask - are you all sitting at home shaking your heads saying "those crazy people from Chicago take pictures of that bear everyone - they must be nuts"?

Not at all! DS Nathan asked yesterday (was looking over my shoulder as I was reading last night) "Do you have any other pictures of Bear in different places??" Little did I know if I'd let him stay up all night I would have! I couldn't remember how far back the Bear Collage was.

We love it! Lucky Bear, I've never stayed at the Poly....

 

[tkd lisa]

Now all of a sudden, she says "I'm not LISA, my name is Julie".......

Everyone confused by that, raise your hand. Anyone who "got it" say AYE!

A little late again, but I'm saying aye! And yes, I was at the age where I would sing "I am Lisa.... My name's not Julie... I didn't leave you..... yeaaaars aaaaaagoooo."

 

[tksbaskets]

Try telling that to your daughter.

That's what we told our sons That's our story and we're sticking too it!

 

[Annie12345]

Good Morning!! Thanks for all of the well wishes, thoughts and prayers for DD and for our friends. I am working from home today so that I can stay home with DD. DH will stay home tomorrow if need be. She drank quite a bit of fluids last night and throughout the night so I'm hoping that she can eat a bit today to get her strength up.

Gus - we'll be thinking of you today. Hope all goes well with the doctor ...

Mary - Wisconsin Falls sounds beautiful. Bear really gets around, doesn't he?Our plan when we retire is to buy a motorhome and go through all 50 states. We've been across Canada several times but only to about eight states so far ... we keep going back to the same places.

Virgil - my birthday is on 12/22. It's nice to hear that you are going to do birthday decorations for your DW. I used to hate having my birthday so close to Christmas. My parents were always great about separating it for me but when I was growing up, my friends always did the combo gift. Or birthday gifts would be wrapped in christmas paper... they still are sometimes, but I've gotten over it... Okay I haven't really gotten over it but since I'm supposed to be a mature adult, I pretend..

AN UNEXPECTED TOP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. YIPPEE!
Good day, all!

 

[ohiominnie]

A real conversation overheard today:

"Lisa, why were you late for school today".

"I missed my bus because my mom was reading the DIS Boards".

HA HA HA!!!

 

[Dancind]

I ordered the Spode Christmas tree the other day from Shirley. I also ordered some flowers for the 3 ladies (DW, DD and DD)...

OK - some advice needed - DW birthday is on 12/24. I was planning on ordering the birthday room stuff from DCL (Shirley suggested this was best). Do you think I should have it put in the room on the 23rd so that it's there when we return from St. Lucia.... or have them put it in the room on the 24th. I'm leaning to the 24th....We're on Antigua that day - and don't have anything planned......

Virgil
TFD

I'd vote for her actual birthday, Antigua. If you do it early, she will be secretly wondering what your have planned for the Day. You'd have to come up with something better! Or maybe you're wife isn't the spoiled type, and I'm just speaking from my own perspective.

 

[Annie12345]

I forgot to mention for anyone who has been complaining about it going down to 50... it is -29C (that's -20 Fahrenheit) this morning and we had yet another snowstorm yesterday and last night. We are just an hour and a half north of where we used to live, and I can't believe how much colder and how much more snow we get up here. We're ready for sunny skies, tropical drinks, and palm trees... I'm really looking forward to a white (sand) Christmas this year!

 

[WVMD]

Virgil - my birthday is on 12/22. It's nice to hear that you are going to do birthday decorations for your DW. I used to hate having my birthday so close to Christmas. My parents were always great about separating it for me but when I was growing up, my friends always did the combo gift. Or birthday gifts would be wrapped in christmas paper... they still are sometimes, but I've gotten over it... Okay I haven't really gotten over it but since I'm supposed to be a mature adult, I pretend..

Good day, all!

Annie - I learned early on - Birthday is Birthday (cards, paper, etc). Christmas is Christmas - never the two shall mix.... Can't even get a "December Birthday" card...... and well - as far as gifts - definitely have to be seperate.... even if I get something big - I still have to get something little..... This year the Christmas gift is the cruise... so I think the Mickey pearl necklace will suffice for the birthday.

Virgil
TFD

 

[Annie12345]

so I think the Mickey pearl necklace will suffice for the birthday.

Virgil
TFD

That would definitely suffice for me... I'm really going to have to get DH back on these boards. He's missing out on so many great ideas.

 

[WDWLVR]

Annie - I learned early on - Birthday is Birthday (cards, paper, etc). Christmas is Christmas - never the two shall mix.... Can't even get a "December Birthday" card...... and well - as far as gifts - definitely have to be seperate.... even if I get something big - I still have to get something little..... This year the Christmas gift is the cruise... so I think the Mickey pearl necklace will suffice for the birthday.

Virgil
TFD

I think that would make a beautiful birthday present!

 

[tinkfan]

Good Morning Cruisers!

Just back from the gym. I tried on clothes last night and they still don't fit. Going shopping today, gotta give up the idea that I will fit in those. Oh well, there could be a lot of worse things. Hopefully, this will be the last of the shopping and I will get busy packing.

Annie- so sorry to hear about your friend. HOpe you DD recovers quickly.

Check back later. Have a great day!

 

[Annie12345]

I'd like to send something to our friends but I looked up the obit last night and they said they don't want flowers, and they didn't list a charity ... Normally, I'd take over some food or something but that's kind of tough when you're 3,000 miles away. You are such a creative group, I thought you might have some suggestions...

 

[justmestace]

Good Morning!

Here I am, hard at work, and you all are adding tons of e-mail in my box with all the talk! Guess I need to have that thing turned off!
Okay....you KNOW I'm not at work. I've been e-mailing DCL. Fine tuning the last of our requests.

I'd say we are good to go!!

Virgil, sent you an e-mail, too...............

Now to go read what I've missed!

Stacey