5/27/06 "Il pochi il fiero i blabbermouths" We *will* sail again Part 13

[justmestace]

Checking in to see if Jim is back from his bike ride...

Thanks, Stacey. It had come to this, random people kept offering Alicia kittens. I really wanted to find another Siamese cross kitten, or at least make sure we got a love bug. So I suggested a stop at the humane society. As you know, you don't go to these places and come out empty handed. Merlin is more of a Maine Coone cross, with the tail longer than his body and the feathered ears. He's very sweet, though a little too talkative. He doesn't bite or claw us (yay!). He gets lost, so we have to help him find his food, water, litter box, and us. He has to be with one of us. And he's sleeping with Alicia, right on her chest. I keep reminding her that real babies are even worse. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to do listings with a kitten on my lap. Alicia is at work, Kevin is at Bosque something taking pictures, so Merlin is all mine for now.

When the photographer returns, I will get him to take a picture.

I got a kick out of this...it must come out of our "Moms Handbook". I just told Jordan that if she has kids, she can't just sit on the couch and yell at them (like she does the dog)...so she finally got off her be-hind and took him for a walk.
He sounds like a sweetheart, and you'll get him lap-listing trained in no time!

 

[Dancind]

Ack! He WILL NOT eat the food they sent home with him. That he's supposedly been eating all along at the shelter. No wonder he's such a skinny little thing. We got him some Science Diet wet food, same brand, and he ate that. But he threw it up, so now he won't eat anything. And his Mommy isn't here, darn it. Guess I'll visit the vet tomorrow. He gets a "free" checkup, at least.

 

[justmestace]

Ack! He WILL NOT eat the food they sent home with him. That he's supposedly been eating all along at the shelter. No wonder he's such a skinny little thing. We got him some Science Diet wet food, same brand, and he ate that. But he threw it up, so now he won't eat anything. And his Mommy isn't here, darn it. Guess I'll visit the vet tomorrow. He gets a "free" checkup, at least.

Try just a little cottage cheese for tonight. Or maybe some canned chicken (in water, no salt). And see the article I just e-mailed you about Maine Coons.

 

[justmestace]

Ring ring.....ring ring......HELLO....is Jim there????

 

[scuba diver]

Ring ring.....ring ring......HELLO....is Jim there????

I'm here.

I was on the road this morning at 6:30 heading out to the ride. Got there and no one else was. Apparently they cancelled the ride and did not update all the websites. The one I was looking at still had it scheduled. Oh well.

Now for cruise talk. HA was great. We have no real complaints. They do some thing better then DCL, but some things not so well.

For example - No soda included, at all, not even at dinner. Thankfully we brought our own. Entertainment was weak, but food was a little better. The portions were smaller so it was easier to not over eat. Their speciality restaurant allowed kids which we enjoyed, except for the two kids running around. HA has two laundry packages. Unlimited drycleaning for $45 or unlimited pressing for $30 for the whole cruise. We got the unlimited pressing and sent everything to be pressed. Next time we will get unlimited dry cleaning and come home with clean clothes.

No one does a kids program like DCL. HA is geared toward older couples. I would not recommend them for families with small children.

The big plus for HA is providing a good quality cruise at half price of DCL. I believe DCL is worth the premium if you love Disney or have kids that want the program.

When asked, Matt and Lisa decided they would rather do two HA cruises over 1 DCL. I think we sold several DCL cruises while on HA to parents looking for a great kids program.

It sure is great having lots of cruise options so there is something for everyone!

 

[ohiominnie]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm way too busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all I have time for. Off to the theater!

 

[justmestace]

Jim, that's pretty much how we feel about NCL and Princess. For about half the price of a Disney cruise, they're an "ok" way to see different ports. But nothing really compares. We are soooo spoiled!

 

[justmestace]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm way too busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all I have time for. Off to the theater!

Megan needs a job, wanna hire her as a theater chauffeur?


T.O.P. with Megan and the crazy-busy Karen!!

 

[ohiominnie]

Megan needs a job, wanna hire her as a theater chauffeur?


T.O.P. with Megan and the crazy-busy Karen!!

Seriously? Hmmm.....She'd have to do nights. And weekends.

I'm *almost* done figuring out when we are going to the shows. I'll let you know so you can tell Megan.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Just a quick - Hello - to let you know we have not fallen off the face of the earth.....the computer has, but not us.



Still trying to catch up.....and Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. To everyone who posted such nice Thanksgiving Cards, thank you.

I did not get to meet up with vickie and Garry at WDW yesterday. I was in Orlando -they were still in G'ville - and the timing did not work....

so close, and yet so far.

Mary - love your advent candle siggie - and the story about the Christmas memories.

R/T - Yes, I saw Mike win - yeah!!! yipppeee...

Scubas - welcome home and Jim, thanks for the trip report - Stacey, I think I know I am spoiled....

Diana - a littel kitty names Mickey Merlin, how cute.

Sorry that I have not yet made it to the rest of the posts....hi Ohio family, bet you all have your fingers crossed.

KikiKaren, have a great day...

I know I missed folks, but I'll be back.

 

[BWVPam]

Hi all, I too seem like I have been away for ever. Hope everyone is doing well. Things have just been so busy here with the kids and all of their activities. Charley is taking vacation the rest of the week because I am flying out to Austin tomorrow for business until Friday. Unfortunately, we celebrate our 20th anniversary tomorrow and I will be leaving for the airport at 4:30 a.m. Oh well, we will probably go out to dinner Friday night.

Stacey -- what days are you planning on being at Disneyland in June. I need to go ahead and make my reservations. Who is staying where????

 

[WVMD]

Hi all, I too seem like I have been away for ever. Hope everyone is doing well. Things have just been so busy here with the kids and all of their activities. Charley is taking vacation the rest of the week because I am flying out to Austin tomorrow for business until Friday. Unfortunately, we celebrate our 20th anniversary tomorrow and I will be leaving for the airport at 4:30 a.m. Oh well, we will probably go out to dinner Friday night.

Stacey -- what days are you planning on being at Disneyland in June. I need to go ahead and make my reservations. Who is staying where????

We disembark on the 15th and are staying at the Grand Californian.... I believe that we are all leaving on Wednesday the 18th.

Virgil <----------------Know's he's not Stacey - and quite thankful for that.....

 

[BWVPam]

Thanks Virgil (and yes, I too know that you are not Stacey)

We have Dale's HS graduation on June 8 and will have all the family here for that. I am figuring we can leave on Wednesday or Thursday and drive into San Diego first to see my brother and then head up to LA on Sunday morning. I will go ahead and look into staying at GC or one of the Disney hotels. I probably will just go ahead and book whichever one costs less on points. Have to take a look at it and see what is best. I love the pool at the main hotel.

 

[mickeymo]

Hey Pam,

We're doing DL the June 15th-18th and we have booked at Paradise Pier.

Mike has his audition date for the district band camp on June 22. He is adamant about attending camp. Audition music will be released on the 15th, so he will need to get back and practice.

 

[scuba diver]

Port talk -

On our cruise we visited three ports and HA private island. Here is a quick summary:

Grand Turk - Great diving. Loved the wall. Not much town to walk through. The port is cruise line developed so not much reason to get off the ship unless you have a shore excursion booked.

Tortola - Great diving. There is a small town, but even the locals said not much to do in town. We got in at 1:30 pm so not much time in town. The setting was very hilly and looked like a nice island. Much different then Grand Turk which was flat and narrow.

St. Thomas - We have all been there. This time we did a private charter. Capt. Max on the Lou. It was a great time. We sailed for a while, snorkled, had lunch, snorkled, and then sailed back. The snorkling was good, nice and shallow. Good variety, rays, and turtles. What made the day was Captain Maxine. She was a lot of fun. Joan even said she would do it again.

HAL's Half Moon Cay - It was bigger then CC, but not as developed. There was only one swimming area. They ran the boats right from the middle of the swimming area. Some of the excursions were from the other side of the island. Next time I would like to walk/bicycle more of the island. It was not as impressive as CC. I think CC wins for the better private island!

 

[BWVPam]

Hey Pam,

We're doing DL the June 15th-18th and we have booked at Paradise Pier.

Mike has his audition date for the district band camp on June 22. He is adamant about attending camp. Audition music will be released on the 15th, so he will need to get back and practice.

Hey Monica,

I know what you mean about being gone. It is really hard for us to take vacation time in the summer because of Ashley's swimming. It is difficult for her to take a week off because of the short time of the summer season. She has to qualify for the State Meet which is the last weekend in July and there are not many oportunities for her to do it. With Dale's graduation being so late, it pushes us out of going to any meets in Arizona like we did last year at the beginning of the season. And by going to DL through the 18th, it pretty much makes it impossible for her to swim that weekend when we get back.

I will look into hotels when I get back from Austin.

 

[justmestace]

We disembark on the 15th and are staying at the Grand Californian.... I believe that we are all leaving on Wednesday the 18th.

Virgil <----------------Know's he's not Stacey - and quite thankful for that.....

It's a little scary that Virgil and Monica know as much about me as I do. But then, you ALL know as much about me as I do, after all these years.
They're right, Pam. Disneyland from the 15th to late in the afternoon of the 18th...at the Grand Californian, Downtown Disney view....it's the shortest walk to the parks from there. First time with the DTD view, but I think my feet will thank me. And am hoping for a balcony with a great view of the fireworks!


Hey wait a minute! What do you mean, you're thankful??? It had better be just because I'm a girl....

 

[WVMD]

Hey wait a minute! What do you mean, you're thankful??? It had better be just because I'm a girl....

Of course!!!

Virgil

 

[kikipug]

Of course!!!

Virgil

Nice save...

 

[Dancind]

Question for Jim. Was the HAL cruise literally half the price of DCL? Was your cabin comparable to what you usually get on DCL? It used to be, if you compared a DCL cabin to the other cruise lines' suites (about the same size), the price was comparable. But maybe DCL has gone up more.