20060902--Eastern Sept 2nd, 2006

[allears]

I'm mostly encouraged that the current track has it staying over cuba and then crossing the Straights of Florida, rather than meandering over the gulf. If it follows the projections it could be nicely out of the way before messing up our departure next Saturday and many of the plans others have for mid-week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it just plain old falls apart over Cuba and can't get it's act together and come over as a tropical depresssion.

 

[HollyTyler]

OK....don't think I'm crazy, but NOW I really have something to worry about. Tyler (4) has a bear he has carried with him everywhere since he was a baby. Bo has traveled all over the country with us and is never out of his sight for more than an hour. My mom asked me last night, "What if airport security has to gut Bo to make sure there's nothing inside?" Could that really happen?! He has a half dollar sized plastic piece inside with something inside it that makes him rattle, but wouldn't the x-ray machine show them all the need to see? Tyler would probably be traumatized if something like that happened because he almost had a nervous breakdown when we left Bo at day care overnight once and literally cried ALL night without sleeping AT ALL until 6am and was frantic until we got him next morning.

I'm thinking that would never happen, but I just don't know how strict they are now. Without making fun of me for sounding crazy, does anybody know the answer?

 

[crainbow]

OK....don't think I'm crazy, but NOW I really have something to worry about. Tyler (4) has a bear he has carried with him everywhere since he was a baby. Bo has traveled all over the country with us and is never out of his sight for more than an hour. My mom asked me last night, "What if airport security has to gut Bo to make sure there's nothing inside?" Could that really happen?! He has a half dollar sized plastic piece inside with something inside it that makes him rattle, but wouldn't the x-ray machine show them all the need to see? Tyler would probably be traumatized if something like that happened because he almost had a nervous breakdown when we left Bo at day care overnight once and literally cried ALL night without sleeping AT ALL until 6am and was frantic until we got him next morning.

I'm thinking that would never happen, but I just don't know how strict they are now. Without making fun of me for sounding crazy, does anybody know the answer?

There in not much chance of that happening. I have seen too many children in the past couple of weeks with their stuffed animals in thier hands. But Bo throught the xray machine and pick him up on the other side.

Me thinks your mother is pulling your leg.

Chuck

 

[CaptainJack]

Here is what I would do with respect to Bo. Just before you are to go through security, put him in a backpack or carry-on and put him through the x-ray machine. If there is no appreciable metal on or in him, the bear and the back pack with be passed through security without incident.l

 

[Monstro]

I just released our Palo dinner reservation for Sunday Night. It should be available on line if someone wants it. It is for a party of 3-4 adults.

Jeff

 

[HollyTyler]

Thanks Chuck & Lionel. I think my mom was probably just teasing me. We fly frequently and have never had a problem, but with the heightened security measures her comment had me second guessing myself! I will take Lionel's advice and stuff him in Tyler's backpack before going through security and have him go through the machine that way. Crazy thing to worry about, but you'll understand when you see this ragged old scrap of material that is supposed to be a bear. He'll be all over the ship with us.....was in most of our pictures last 2 times too. Silly.

 

[CaptainJack]

So, Holly, what are you doing for your birthday--other than the cruise?

 

[HollyTyler]

So, Holly, what are you doing for your birthday--other than the cruise?

Well, on the actual day itself (Wednesday), I'm going to a casino with a couple of friends. But it's not planned as a birthday outing. We were just planning a get-together before one friend leaves town for a month for work on Sept. 6 and my birthday happened to be the only day I could do anything because Thursday evening will be for packing and Friday evening is a wedding. Wed, Thurs, & Fri nights are my only nights of freedom (well, they're only free nights in between semesters) because Tyler goes to his dad's those nights each week.

Gee...long-winded, garbled answer to a simple question. Sorry, must be getting sleepy! Long and busy day with my little tornado!

 

[CourtneyMc]

OK, I guess now I understand why someone I was talking to today said something about Tampa and Ernesto. Obviously I missed the tropical updats yesterday (I fell asleep at 9pm on the couch!) and I had no idea Ernesto was changed to a path that impacts Central FL. Ugh.

The good news is, we sprung a leak in our roof yesterday- no really, the good news part is coming- while DH was home and he was able to patch it. So, if we do get the back end of Ernesto it's already fixed. I was washing dishes at the sink and felt a dripping coming from overhead and looked up to see H2o dripping down from the light above my head!

So, here I sit with the Central FL news channel on waiting for info... I wonder if they'll cancel school for Wed. Tomorrow we should know more.

Anyway, other than those of you coming in to town on Wed, if we do get it hitting Tampa and coming across, it shouldn't be too big a deal. We were here for Charlie, it hit south of Tampa in Punta Gorda and swung across us- same as one of the current tracks of Ernesto. No big deal. Rain and a little wind, one day of school closing. We also were in Tampa where we'd evacuated when Frances came thru and by the time it gets to the other side of the state it's not too bad.

Unless the storm slows way down and might impact central FL on Friday or Sat. I don't think (cross fingers here!!!!!) we'll have any problems with the Magic getting back or getting out on Sat. But, for everyone travelling down earlier, pixie dust to you! It kind of sucks to be stuck in a hotel room with a storm raging, so bring those portable dvds and games and things for entertainment (and plenty of batteries in case power's out) just in case!

And, those of you who might have to drive thru it, be really careful, and, seriously watch your gas tank! Remember, when the power goes out, so does the pump at the gas station, so you might not be able to count on filling up when you need to. And, FL is crazy for gas shortages when there's a storm, so the places with power run out of gas, and the ones with gas don't have power- we saw a lot of that after Charlie, Frances and Jeanne.

I guess this gives us something else to focus on until we have to leave...

That's all from me for now.

-Courtney

 

[HollyTyler]

Here's a happier topic to divert us all from worrying about the weather: Is anybody else planning on re-booking onboard and still trying to figure out which week to book? I'm considering Nov. 24 '07 because that's a week off school. But I was also thinking about the last 7 night one in May before the Med cruises start. I also thought about doing a couple 4 nighters, maybe one in May and one in August to cut down the wait between cruises, but am not sure I'd be satisfied with only 4 nights. However, knowing another would be coming 3 months later would help. Decisions, decisions!

 

[tomspixie]

Hey Holly,
Another idea about Bo would be to call the airport and ask them. It might allay some fears.

Courtney, sorry to hear about your house...but good that you are there! Where in central Florida are you? Our home down there is in Windermere. We have great next door neighbors that keep the house under control for us.

 

[BelievesinMagic]

I'm ignoring all the weather reports right now. Ernesto who? I'm flying in from WA state, so only positive thoughts here! I can't wait to meet everyone! the excitement is on overload in our home! We got our docs last week, yay! We also got DH's Capt. jack costume and our Mickey collapsible laundry basket, all I have to do is pack. We are going to hit the Walmart by the cape so I'm not packing too many toiletries. I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!

 

[CourtneyMc]

Hey Holly,

Courtney, sorry to hear about your house...but good that you are there! Where in central Florida are you? Our home down there is in Windermere. We have great next door neighbors that keep the house under control for us.

I'm in Melbourne- we're about 15-20 miles south of Cocoa Beach- so I can leave for the port and be there in 30 min or less!! Can't wait!

Now that it's crunch time i'm starting to get nervous about how much little stuff I still have to do before Sat. morning. Things like making a list for the person who will be taking care of our cats, stopping the mail/paper, actually packing the gi-normous pile of crap in my guest room, etc!

Happy Monday everyone- at least next Monday we'll be on the ship!!!

-Courtney

 

[CourtneyMc]

Oh, and I forgot to mention yesteday, are there many 7 year olds in our group? I just found out my friend and her daughter who were supposed to be travelling with us have to cancel So my son doesn't have his best friend going along anymore. He took it a LOT better than I thought he would- maybe because he still gets to go- but now he has to actually meet kids in the club to hang out with. I reminded him most kids won't know anyone on board either, like his sister, but if I could tell him about someone specific he'll feel better.

thanks,
Courtney

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I've been glued to the Weather Channel trying to figure out if our flight for Thursday morning will be impacted at all. I guess it's too early but it's driving me crazy!

Courtney, my DS is 7 and even though my DD is 8, I'm going to try really hard to get her in the 7yr old group with her brother. I haven't read anything recent so I don't know if they still allow it or not. I do believe I read many, many pages back that there are a good number in the 5-7 group.
Sorry to hear about the friends canceling.

 

[Joyce]

I haven't posted in a while but I have been keeping up with the thread.We are scheduled to drive down to WDW from TN on Wednesday and spend two days at the park then stay at the Radisson on Friday night.Now with the change in Ernesto I'm not sure what to do.We are thinking of driving down as planned on Wednesday and riding out the storm at our resort.I'm really getting nervous I need some good advise.

we are driving down from TN too, we will leave after school on the 29. we already had res. at Hampton and i changed it to one more day this morning

 

[Monstro]

The latest prediction has Ernesto moving further East. Let's hope he just keeps going right on out to sea.

 

[CaptainJack]

The good news about Ernesto is that every projected track puts it either north of South Carolina or north and east of South Carolina by Friday AM.

 

[allears]

The good news about Ernesto is that every projected track puts it either north of South Carolina or north and east of South Carolina by Friday AM.

I'm still hoping it falls apart over Cuba and can't get it's act together again. It will worry be a bit if it gets out sea and starts to intensify, cause these things can stall. We need it well out of the way for Saturday.

 

[crainbow]

Reading the Weather Service website and others, it looks like it is starting to fall apart. I just like the eastward track it appears to be on.

Chuck