4/29/06 Eastern Magic...We're Going!!!!!

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!!

Just wanted to be your first.

Tom

 

[PhillyJen2006]

Good Morning! We watched the Travel Channel Cruise show last night and I can't keep doing this....even Hannah is getting antsy!!!

Rubysmom-Hannah just sent Emma an email and we forwarded Emma's email on to Skyler too! They are coming to visit next weekend, so the girls will probably start emailing each other too. They live in Syracuse, we are in Philadelphia. Just so you know...and because that neighbor of mine that I ranted about last week is such a pain(they once asked me in a very sarcastic way, how it was possible that Hannah in second grade had perfect punctuation and sentence structure!!) I made her write the email on a piece of paper and I was her typist! Otherwise, we'd still be sitting here watching her type Hi Emma!!

The girls bathing suits came yesterday and I am now so excited I can't stand it anymore!! My parents just called from their cruise ship.. They were in St. Thomas(the only place in the Caribbean their cell phones work). They were getting ready for Customs. They have a suite and get this, they dont' have to go down until after 8!!! I didn't mind going down at 6something, it was getting the girls up so early..... namely Katie!

Alright- off to my Weigh In for today....it is unofficial, cause I am doing it myself.

CG- I hope Catrina feels better. We are finally better here and on Saturday we had all the windows open hopefully getting the "sick" germs out. I did buy Airborne for the trip since some of you remember last time....I completely lost my voice the day before the cruise and never quite got it back until about Thursday! Kind of sucked. I swear it was the airconditioning in the car all night long aimed right at my face to keep me awake-I was the over
night driver!!!

Gotta run. I am going to Delaware(home of tax free shopping) for lunch with my best friend today-Joe's Crab Shack....She is in Marketing for Chase Bank....The Disney Card was her project!! My fave, and not exactly low carb....(our favorite thing when we go there is to share Coconut Shrimp and Crab and Artichoke dip)....I did email her and warn her that I would be having a grilled shrimp salad, but she ignored me.

I will be in for the walks on Deck 4 as long as it doesn't interfere with "happy hour"....oh wait...Patty and I have been known to have Margharitas at 10am.... soon as they are available. It isn't smart, because you either have to have 1 or keep going(which doesn't bode well when you have kids)....I think I will have a self imposed time of at least 2pm(I am not holding my breath)....specially with late dining!

Hannah has her first "sleepover party" tonight. She has been on sleepovers before, but this is the first one with more than 1 other girl. She is packing like she is leaving for a month..... I better go intervene.

Katie wants to know if she can have a pen pal too! Anyone with a 5 year old and patience of a saint want to coordinate email notes between girls?

Have a great day!
PJ

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

 

[OHJulie]

Good Morning Everyone!

I concur - Deck 10 at 2:00 sounds good. I am also in on the promenade stroll.

Barb - I hope that the wrist bands were not a secret. I think that my DS - Kyle mentioned them to Brittany. My kids want to wear them now also!

I was on the treadmill last night when the DCL show came on the Travel Channel. What great motivation to push myself!

I told my DD that it was on and she said, "Mom, I don't want to watch it - I just want to go!" It continues to amaze me that not everyone wants to spend every hour thinking about this trip! I am so thankful that I have all of you to share in this sickness.

The show after DCL on the Travel Channel was "Beach Style." Did anyone see it? They had some great tips on bathing suits, exercises, sunglasses and of course back hair removal for the guys!

OHJulie

 

[suziemva]

What is your mission for the day? I realized that with the count being so low, I've really got to get my butt in gear! Yesterday, Ed went to the bank for me and got out most of our money for the trip. The rest will be prepaid on the credit card. This made me feel really in "cruise mode". Like I said, one more thing to check off the list.

Okay, here is my goal for the day: Go through the suitcases I've had set out and make sure that Tori didn't take things out! She was walking around the other day with my spray bottle fan that is an absolute MUST for this trip! Then I will be repacking the clothes we've already packed and go through other clothes to see what I can add.

Okay, so I have more than one goal for the day. The other is to get my passports and passport holders together and in my carry on. Keep track of them so I don;t lose them - or forget them!!! Boy, wouldn't that be something!

Busy weekend here! TnT Awana girls sleepover tonight at the church. I'm a leader so we all have to be there, but I'm only staying til 10:30. No way am I sleeping on the floor! Sorry, I love my camping but this isn't camping! Tomorrow is pretty lazy catching up on the bit of housework left for the week (straighteneing, that kind of thing) but tomorrow night - WING FACTORY!!! Yes, the wings are on! Ed's favorite place but we haven't been in forever, it seems! 25 different style of wings including Flat Liners - the hottest (habanero sauce straight!) Ed tried ONE last time - and he loves hot things - and said no more. My friend Scott said that they are hot going down and even hotter coming out, so freeze the toilet paper before using it!! Then Sunday there's a baby shower at church for a young guy that just married his girlfriend. He's maybe 19. Just became a fireman about a year ago. They have NOTHING for the baby - not even a crib! And she's due in 4 weeks! So, hopefully they get everything they NEED for this baby. What a rough way to start out.

Alright, gotta hit the showers......43 days! I can't believe it!

 

[castlegazer]

Mornin'

back at work and under fire. Aparently I can sit at my desk all day and do nothing, but when I take a day off for sickies it's like the they all freak out and can't find their aaaa.....well, we'll leave it at that. I am royally pissed right now for the reception I got this morning from my boss. He was pissing downward the stress he was feeling for me not being here for a day. I hate that!!!!

I'm in for walking some of the time - but we need to find a way to have a communication system for when the walks are while on board.

TT & Julie - Hope the party goes well. Have fun today!!!! I've got my Irish on just by wearing my sweater - no big plans tonight as we can probably not put a sentence together by tonight from shere exhaustion.


rubysmom, Love ya too!!! It's been very nice having you here since you joined us. Don't take time off.

 

[ohsodisney]

CG and all the walkers . I for one love to be up early and walk right before the ship is heading into port , this way I can get back and take a shower before we dock . Is there any other early morning girls ? I typically love the 6-7 o'clock range.

I have a question , does anyone know if there is a speciality coffee shop on board ? I don't drink it often but I seem to indulge myself when cruising .

O.k ,well off to the gym , I am really procreating again today , I already pushed the tanning back an hour . I don't have the girls this morning so it is so nice and peaceful ,I'm savoring the moments.

 

[castlegazer]

The Quiet Cove Cafe is your source for all things java - but watch out, it's pricey.

I can't do the early morning walks - kids rise at that time and need to be dressed and fed. But don't plan around me. I really don't think I will be an often participant as any moment I can steal by myself will be in the rainforest room or reading a book in the sun. This is going to be intesive just trying to keep up with my little new walker. Deck 7 may be my normal haunt to let her roam freely without being in anyone's way when Quinn doesn't want to be in the pool.

By the way, the guy you met in the bar was a little outdated on the ship - the ESPN skybar no longer exists. It's been changed into the Stack for the teens. There is Diversions, which looks like a great place to hang out and watch sports, though - but no more ESPN.

Diversions

(left) - Located on both of the ships, Diversions is the perfect place for adult cruisers to enjoy a cocktail, play games and enjoy a televised sporting event on one of the many large screen TV's located throughout. This friendly 'pub like' atmosphere comes complete with comfortable seating and tabletop board games that invite cruisers to kick-back and have some fun. Beer Tasting is hosted here on the 7 and 4 day cruises during days at sea. You don't want to miss "British Pub Night" if its scheduled during your voyage.

 

[ohsodisney]

Thanks CG , I don't buy coffee often but since the darn machine that I bought at William Sonoma S***s I will really be looking forward to a tasty cup of Jo. Trust me I won't be walking everyday . i know the day we are in st Marteen we have an early shore excursion so that one is already out. i have to say that when we went to St Thomas the few times I absolutely loved walking before we docked , it was just so breath taking to see the island that I walked for a good hour just watching the the gorgeous views.

The guy at the gym was outdated too ,so I'm sure he hasn't been in quite awhile.

Syracuse blew it again last night , i guess it's not so suprising!

O.k I'm really leaving now

 

[suziemva]

Okay, here's a picture of our "Cruise luggage" complete with Alien Green Mickey paint chips.

Also gotta show this to you! Tori's school had Mother Goose come and do story time with them. I was there to help with crowd control. I think my daughter is the ring leader of the unrulies! Anyway, it's a little dark but the kids were so stinkin' cute dressed up!

 

[suziemva]

OOOPS!! One more picture - just for you Ohsodisney! The pear trees are blooming (you can see that some are more bloomed than the others) and I'm told the cherry blossoms are "right on schedule" whatever that means!

 

[ohsodisney]

Darn it , yup I'm still here .
Suzie ,I would love to see the Blossoms , I am still considering coming down but since they have my work schedule done right up till I leave I'm not sure where I can squeeze the trip in. Like I said before I am an avid landscaper , it is just something I really enjoy doing. Some of the daffodils are now 6" tall , but the weather is still very very chilly so I think it will be still a weeks before they pop.

O.K , I'm really going now , really!

oH , LOVE the luggage but where's the duct tape?

 

[BLBCB]

Blossoms on trees, is that just to taunt me?!

If I could figure out how to post a picture, I'd show you the one I took in town with the snow blocking most of the street. I can't wait for this cruise!!

By the way, the bracelets weren't really a surprise, I just forgot that they are talking to eachother and nothing is secret. I can just imagine what my kids are saying about me to the other ones!

Have a great day.

Barb

 

[castlegazer]

OMG!!! I can see our pics today Suzie - someone must be hacking our blockers here at work Man, they are cute!!!!!! Why don't we get all these awesome programs. They are having green eggs and ham day at Quinn's school and wouldn't you know it, my little brat decides that he doesn't want to wear his green eggs and ham short his aunt got him at Universal. Three sucks!!! I hate the power struggles that happen every day. I think he may be coming down with this thing too because he is whinier than ever right now and has been having fits in the extreme the last two days.

Totally cute. Yeah, wonderin where the duct tape is myself

The highway picture just stinks to see as we are soooo far behind them up here too, Barb. No snow still, except the random pile here and there, but still the brown, sandy, yuk that is there when the snow melts - no greening whatsoever.

 

[ohsodisney]

I'm home , that was awful today , I think i knew I didn't really want to go . I did 30 minutes and it was pure H***, I think 5 days in a row is way too much .
I did stop at the grocery store and treat myself to Black Angus roast beef for lunch . I'm sick of devil eggs and needed a change , it is so good with the horse radish sauce and it is still something i can eat.Darn stuff is $11.00 a pound here , what the heck are they feeding these cows , caviar ?

 

[castlegazer]

Beats my lunch of Taco Hell. I had counted out what my points would be and figured out that two tacos were OK and would be 6 points - wouldn't you know it, when I get in there don't I order those enormous crunch wrap things they have now. Well, I have all my flex points for the week left over - I was saving them for beer, but apparently a good majority of them just went to Taco Hell. Wonder what would have been better, beer or fast food I think I just used about 12 points on that meal alone. Guessing there though, but figure I should guess BIG.

But as an update to all you WW people, I am loving this. My crappy scale at home shows me losing a significant amount of weight in just 4 days. But the good news is that I really like this - it's easy, fun, and teaches me to eat in portion control and get my fruits and veggies in. It is a plan I can live with for a long, long time. I do like it better than CORE simply because I can eat normally, just less than I had been eating and throw in some of those fruits that I had avoided like the plague doing carb control diets. I love that since we always have tons of fruit around the house for the kids, who eat it three times a day.

 

[ohsodisney]

CG , you know my favorite thing at Taco Hell as you call it is the taco salad in the chip bowl .
O.K well since I am so into the workout thing right now I am thinking of buying some things from Title nine , love their stuff , pricey but awesome products plus I really really want their workout Maryjane's, but my shopping cart is now $343.00 Yikes , not to sure about that one!

 

[castlegazer]

I wear MaryJane's as shoes almost everyday - I have bjorn brown ones, cheap black ones, another pair of black ones with chunky soles, and blue ones, and my heels are MaryJanes too - one in each color. I think I am addicted to that style. BUt why the heck would you need MaryJanes to work out in???? My Asics are fine with me. Show me.

2 Tacos are worth 6 points a Taco Salad with shell and no dressing was worth 16 points - I went the Taco route, or at least intended to. I don't think what I did was as bad as 16 points. I added together the points of each individual thing in it and then added some more for good measure and the fat and came out to 12. And you know what? I feel like crap - absolute crap. I have been eating so healthy all week with no meal amounting to more than 8 points at a time and now to do this, it is making me feel too full and yicky. That is a good diet!!!!

 

[OHJulie]

CG - glad to hear that you like the WW diet. I like the points rather than core also. It is just easier for me to count the points than to try and just eat certain foods - especially when I am traveling. Don't beat yourself up over one meal - 12 points is not that much! Do you have the WW Dining Out Guide? You may want to think about getting it. It lists more accurate points for most of the fast food and casual restaurants. You will notice some differences - for instance one Taco Bell Taco is 4 points.

I do like Taco Bell for WW because I can do 1 Taco and a pinto's and cheese for 7 points - and it is very filling!


OHJulie

 

[partypat]

Katie wants to know if she can have a pen pal too! Anyone with a 5 year old and patience of a saint want to coordinate email notes between girls?

My 7 year old granddaughter Adryen (yesterday was her 7th birthday) would like a pen pal. PM me email addresses and I will have her email when shes at my house. She has already composed an opening email and wants to send it to someone.