8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC #9

[captaincrash]

I STILL THINK THAT IS GREAT!!!! THAT IS WHAT MAKES FOR GREAT STORIES AND FUN MEMORIES! Dont' downplay how poor we all were when we married; it's a great hope for our progress into the future! HANG TOUGH.
Gosh, we've come a long way!

This made me pause to reflect on something I was chatting about with old friends tonite. It seems we were sort talking about fancy weddings - how in one case there were 1600+ people attending one unusually extravegant wedding - < wow > .... and in another case the wedding was paid for by the kids and really quite modest. And then essentially - it boiled down to how there was a grand progression of there always being someone else who had greater wealth then so and so - and how behind everyone there always was someone else who had a little less.

Can you BELIEVE the money people spend on weddings today????? Joel110 and I paid for our wedding (that's what happens when you are almost 30 before you marry )......I think he and I both knew we'd spend more on "honeymoon" (memories and all that jazz) before paying 1000 on a wedding dress you wear once! What's worse is that SOOOOOO many of these expensive weddings do not result in a marriage that lasts more than 5 years......WOW......when you spend 10,000 on a wedding and only stay married 5 years you are obviously looking at 2,000 a year.....hum....that is about the cost of a DIS cruise....ahhhhhh.....I'll take the cruise

I totally agree! We spent about $3k on our wedding and paid for it ourselves. MIL offered to pay for the limo and flowers (LIMO??) There's no Limo place for like 2 hours from where we live As for flowers, we were married in the county's memorial rose garden and my sister made our bouquets out of silk flowers that were on clearance. I still have my bouquet! Then we spent a small fortune on the honeymoon - a month to Australia and New Zealand with 14 different hotels, 10 flights, 5 car rentals (including a 4WD), a train ride and a couple of ferries. Our registry was also very non-traditional. We basicly set up a website that listed every expense for our honeymoon and people would pay for "Breakfast and Lunch on the train" or different activities.

Well...

let me begin by saying.... I do NOT mean to say having a GRAND weding and reception is any more or less desirable - or sound of judgement. As I see these "events" as wonderful and tremendously personal events. And thus subject to huge personal preferences.

As such - the first consideration I see as worth acknowledging is that weddings are almost always one of TWO things -----> they're primarily a thing for one or both PARENTS of the bride and groom ..... or they are something put on for just the bride and groom. As such, if parents putting it on then this can be a party thrown by a one or both sets of parents who have a certain amount of time to accumulate thier wealth - and thus may see nothing wrong with inviting a bunch of friends, family and folks from all over (including business relations and such). SO huge numbers combined with the desire to make it "fancy" ... well that just busts the bank in the eyes of many - as it's intended somewhat.... or as it's unavoidable in reality.

On the other hand - if it is an event put on by and for the kids getting married - most newly weds are not yet in thier PRIME earning years yet (and sometimes they ARE in their prime too)... and as such they may think in opposite terms too - and want smaller and more intimate gatherings. Plus there are other reasons for having smaller weddings - as in IF this were the 2nd or 3rd wedding for one or both getting remarried - so they may see no need to redo a large gathering. I've seen that before.

At any rate - my point is it's JUST FINE to have EITHER a small and intimate wedding ... large or collossal type event ... or a medium sized dog and pony show. We'll defer to private asides as to whom is which. < wink >

NOW what was I thinking about when I read your reply was ... your comments made me think of OUR wedding. We sort of insisted on NOT taking money from money from either of our parents for the thing - and we sort of settled on a mid way point in total numbers of folks. Thus compromising in allowing each set of parents only so many seats to invite THIER guests. We retained control - and we sort of held a disdain for guests who skipped the cerimony for just attending the reception - so we sort of declined to disclose WHERE the reception was by declaring that info would be given AT the wedding. I can't stand it when too many skip witnessing the wedding and just show to eat.

SO - we had a mid size number and some degree of control. We also had 2 receptions - one locally in Thousand Oaks (HEY Roger... we had it at yer Country Club!)... and another in Honolulu ... and we did all kinds of things "our way" to economize. I drove a company delivery van down to the wholesale flower mart 1 or 2 nites (can't remember which it was) before the wedding to puick up a little over $1000 in flowers which we then assembled into everything floral for the wedding. We thus had fresh flowers all over but pulled it off for a tolerable sum. We had a freinds and a couple of "key volunteers" in a garage doing everything ... including myself some of the time. Plus we KNEW the folks from Hawaii would APRECIATE a recepton with a realy good meal ... so we just had a Chinese Banquet in Honolulu. That was perfect and I thought it was reasonably priced. Whereas the Country Club in Thousand Oaks cost a bit more and provided more decorum and "set piece" appearnce elements.... and LESS grub.

In the end .... there were many other areas in which we quietly saved or shaved a dollar to make it fly ( champaigne from Costco, guest gifts custom made and imported from Thailand which were donated by Alicias' Dad .... a nice touch .... one of the thingies we conceeded to accept as suport in kind and so on .... > - and we were proud to have essentially pulled it off ourselves - and "our way". I think that conclusively "no one was surprised". However, I don't think I've ever seen another wedding reception like ours again since. < wink >

Overall .... I was very satisfied with the economy of the thing - while also keeping a modicium of intimacy in the numbers attending.

.

Dear Christopher,

Thank you for contacting Disney Cruise Line. We are sensitive to your concerns, however, we realize you are with Tom, Mike and Roger, therefore, please stop contacting us.

We hope this information has been helpful to you. Have a Magical Day!

Guest Services Representative
Rebekah

OK....

... as simple as this gag was ... it left me mumbling .... "now I've seen it all"....

Last night we had another wonderful meet with our fellow DISers. This really is getting exciting having two in two weeks. Last night Stacey's family (Justmestace), Chris's family (Grandma X3), Desiree's family (A litle Pixie Dust) and our family. We had dinner at the Acapulco restaurant at the port since Stacey will be leaving on the Magic today. Everyone had a great time but alas we just did not have enough time to talk as much as we wished.

from left from right; Desiree, Chris, Stacey, Megan, and Dave.

...[ed]...

Here we have Desiree's family, DD Tori, DM, DSis, DH Richard, Lori and Matthew (Chris' DD and DGS)

This looks pretty cool! What a nice way to send off good neighbors with a warm bon voyage, eh?

..where..do they all gone to, by ringo?


.... [ed]....


..crash..., while its..so much fun..to focus in & out...on the humor,
its no secret... ...[ed]....

sooo crash...see? [or not].......the values..of wearing extra long..T's

..over the fluffy parts....no need ..for shorts, eh?

...[ed]...:

Lil' G....

as for secrets... I don't think size matters in this issue. I would prefer to think of us and many others as being comfortably efficient in their penny pinching. While clearly there are MANY who are indeed living "HUGE".... Ferraris and Bently totin', and private JETTIN' and all! Plus the House that is easily twice if not trice what I choose to reside (happily) in. So NO.... I seriously prefer to belive I am waltzing my days away in a snugly fit set of speedos... if ya kno what I mean! And that it is TRUE that there's little that is "large" around here..... < wink >

...

SO.. Lil G' .... on the other point .... I tend to agree onthe long T thingy....

​

 

[tom31b]

Happy Birthday to everyone I missed!!

We're off to play ball in the near 100 degrees

My DS10 has the 3:45 100 degree game!!

 

[DiaLady]

Hello everyone . . .just thinking about cruising (instead of working!). Got back from our state homeschool convention yesterday. Only have one more trip home to see my parents and then we can truly focus on our big TOAL .. . well and there is the expectation that our house will sell and we'll move between now and then, too.

Have a wonderful day!

 

[captaincrash]

Maybe she will change her mind on the ship >>>LOL

Arrrgh!

Clearly, the Captain is NOT one to MESS with!

And now... I must take my leave to hit the sand with local friends. We're headed back to the beach where we had the min-DIS meet last week. One of the families' scheduled last weekend had thier child abruptly fall ill and withdrew - and the Mom is the one with the tough battle against renal cancer - possibly with a little less time then some of us if ya know what I mean... so we're gonna go and make a nice afternoon of it... then retire to a local hike with another gang of sorts in the late afternoon/sunset.

I gotta run now - we got 10 minutes before we're to meet our friends.​

 

[DiaLady]

My DS10 has the 3:45 100 degree game!!

I feel for you!! We have our first playoff game tomorrow night . . .heat index is expected to be 110 degrees here! And DH wanted to go to Water Country water park tomorrow (before the public school kids get out). Think we're going to push off going to the water park and stay cool for the game.

Let us know how your son does . . .and remember this is suppose to be fun! The kids are only 9 & 10 yo!!!

 

[tom31b]

I feel for you!! We have our first playoff game tomorrow night . . .heat index is expected to be 110 degrees here! And DH wanted to go to Water Country water park tomorrow (before the public school kids get out). Think we're going to push off going to the water park and stay cool for the game.

Let us know how your son does . . .and remember this is suppose to be fun! The kids are only 9 & 10 yo!!!

Best thing with Chris' game, worst they can finish is second place.... its championship, so fingers crossed.

 

[tom31b]

Well, looks like we will be moving to the shunned section of the ship. Can't justify the expediture for 3 tuxes or extra packing room for three in the limited luggage.....

So we will not be doing tuxes for the formal nights....

 

[poohmomof5]

Best thing with Chris' game, worst they can finish is second place.... its championship, so fingers crossed.

Good luck Chris!!!

 

[winotracy]

Midwest Mini Meet​

Hi Everyone! Here is the plan...

On July 12th, about 30 miles due West of Chicago we are going to have a Mini Meet. My little town has a festival called Railroad Days (because we were the first railway junction in Illinois) On Saturday the 12th there will be a pretty good fireworks display (not Disney of course, but better than many town's 4th of July fireworks!). There is also the usual festival type stuff like a carnival, entertainment (mostly bands, some dance groups and local stuff), a small art show, a beer garden and food. The headliner concert after the fireworks is Micky Dolenz from the Monkeys.

Last year, Cheryl & John and their family came for the fireworks and we all had a great time. We thought it would be fun to invite any who would like to come this year! DH (Dan) and I are going to host a small cookout at our house before we head over to the park for the festival and fireworks. The cookout will start at 4:00 - but it will be very casual so that those who are driving in don't feel like they need to be there right on time. Come when you can and we'll throw something on the grill when you arrive! Sometime around 7pm or 8pm, we'll head over to the park (about 1 mile from my house) and stake out a spot for the fireworks. Then anyone who wants to check out the festival can do that and those who just want to sit and chat can save our spot. The fireworks are usually around 9:30pm, but I haven't seen an official time yet. The area at the park where you can see the fireworks is really large, so it never feels all that crowded.

If you are interested, send a PM to either me (pdarrah) or to Cheryl (micmse2003) and we will send all the details on exactly where/when/how this is planned!

Pamela

Does my chat with Cheryl last night count as my RSVP? There will be two of us. Sounds like a great time!

 

[geffric]

Well, looks like we will be moving to the shunned section of the ship. Can't justify the expediture for 3 tuxes or extra packing room for three in the limited luggage.....

So we will not be doing tuxes for the formal nights....

Welcome to the "shunned section"

I will have a difficult enough time to get DH in a sports jacket,.. so hopefully we won't offend anyone..

 

[mjy]

Well, looks like we will be moving to the shunned section of the ship. Can't justify the expediture for 3 tuxes or extra packing room for three in the limited luggage.....

So we will not be doing tuxes for the formal nights....

That's the best section of the ship to be.

Welcome!

 

[mjy]

And so I bid you all a fond adieu!

In case you wonder what might have become of me, I'm turning off my computer in a couple of minutes and heading out of town for my annual retreat.

I seriously doubt that I'll have any internet access while at the retreat house, so I'll come back on board when I get back this weekend.

See ya . . .

 

[disneyjunkie]

Please say a prayer for my cousin and her family. Her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident early this morning. Today would have been his 43rd birthday. They have three daughters (16,13 and 10).

He just got home from Iraq about two months ago.

 

[geffric]

Please say a prayer for my cousin and her family. Her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident early this morning. Today would have been his 43rd birthday. They have three daughters (16,13 and 10).

He just got home from Iraq about two months ago.

I will keep your family in my prayers..

 

[geffric]

That's the best section of the ship to be.

Welcome!

Yes that is true...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

As requested a few pictures from DLP.

We had a week at DLP travelling by Eurostar and Staying at the Hotel New York on site.

A very good holiday overall, the weather was changeable with a little sun, lots of showers and some heavy rain.

The train from London to Disneyland was great, so fast you are down to Ashford in less than 30 mins,. We had a Disney band playing at the station in London, all directions the train was prompt to the minute. Park tickets and meal vouchers were given out on the train, half board premium saved us a lot of money and everyone seemed to be using them

Disney express was efficient taking our bags to and from the hotel New York. This hotel is on site and the second closest to the parks, the Disneyland hotel is the only one closer, the service is very good and fast, the breakfast is very good, the pools very nice and we had the outdoor pool open most nights, we have stayed here before and it was very nice to come back, so easy to find outside Disney village.

Highlights must be the E-rides, Big thunder mountain-better than WDW and California I like the start and end in the tunnels,

Space mountain mission two, - I would describe more as the track system of Rock and roll rollercoaster, with bits of space mountain WDW and even themeing from Dinosaur at Animal kingdom, as there is meteor strike in the middle, It has an inversion in the dark and corkscrews

Pirates of the Caribbean are always a great ride, the same theme as WDW, but have an incline first, then two drops, WDW is one drop, CL is two drops. Lines were always fast.

Indiana Jones we grabbed on our first day as it was closing for a refurbishment, nice ride, looks far worse than it actually is. One inversion 360 degrees. Basically its just track, in the air, clinging to rocks, it is over all to fast, just as you realise you are on the inversion is over.

Phantom Manor, a little spookier than the others as it’s in French, but basically the same ride. A few changes here and there.It broke down when we were on it, a picture here of it lit up.

Small world, whilst not an E-ride is worth a mention far better than the other parks, more new and modern looking, more countries, a lot more on Europe, very colourful.

Tea cups, I have done these at WDW and CL, but these were a killer, the worst ride for feeling giddy, they go so fast so easy, I couldn’t focus outside the cup, and we all didn’t feel well after that.

Buzz lightyear, basically the same as WDW and CL, looks newer, a few extra scenes very enjoyable and lines were never bad.

Autopia Cars, like WDW Speedway but longer and more interesting track, kids loved driving these cars, often the longest wait as weekday’s two lanes open, weekend’s four lanes open. We took a train around the park as well:-

Shows Tarzan was very good, like the old Animal kingdom show, Lion Ling was great, not like the Animal kingdom show, more like the west end musical in London, very good, queue early full 30 mins in advance.

Peter Pan, looks ‘new’ against WDW, but in French, Pinocchio ride, and snow white rides are nice diversions. Star Wars and honey I shrunk the kids same as WDW.

Crushes coaster, the new ride at Walt Disney studios is fantastic ( see warning below) Based on Finding nemo, you travel in little turtle shells, that can spin, Two start in the front two in the the back, I say start is its random, on the fist ride our weight was equal and whilst we span a bit, basically if you were forward you stayed forward, if back you stayed back, but on our next trip we were uneven weight and we spun a lot, all directions a lot more fun.

This coaster is in the dark 95% of the time, you start in the harbour, loaded, and there are the seagulls for example saying mine mine mine. You quickly fall and out outside, then it’s a nice little ride, in and out looking at nemo, jelly fish etc, slow speed, that all changes you have a long incline and you see the sharks, and then you are off the top of the incline, like space mountain going all directions up/down sideways, this is the Australian current, going to Sydney, and enjoyable fast and lots of thrills.

The back set movie tour is generally the same as Disney Hollywood Studios WDW, and the movie set of the canyon.

Rock and roll rollercoaster is basically the same as DHS/WDW, but look after those elbows, on this and Space mountain-mission two they were bruised a lot by confined space and a lot of bouncing around.

The Shows at WDS, are very good it’s hard to schedule them all in we did it with Lights motors action and despite heavy rain they took place but High school musical was off.

Stitch live good for young kids but very funny, and inter active computer show and cartoon with Stitch, just do not say delete.

Some character pictures.

 

[Stepht5]

My DS10 has the 3:45 100 degree game!!

Our new neighbors have 2 sons that play bball and they've been playing all weekend. I am so glad that I don't have to sit outside to watch any games in the summer!

Hello everyone . . .just thinking about cruising (instead of working!). Got back from our state homeschool convention yesterday. Only have one more trip home to see my parents and then we can truly focus on our big TOAL .. . well and there is the expectation that our house will sell and we'll move between now and then, too.

Have a wonderful day!

Find anything good? Hear any good speakers??? One of my favorite speakers is Dr Jeff Meyers. I was so happy that he was at our HS bookfair this year!

I feel for you!! We have our first playoff game tomorrow night . . .heat index is expected to be 110 degrees here! And DH wanted to go to Water Country water park tomorrow (before the public school kids get out). Think we're going to push off going to the water park and stay cool for the game.
Let us know how your son does . . .and remember this is suppose to be fun! The kids are only 9 & 10 yo!!!

I don't know if that will be possible for y'all! I am really feeling for all of you Baseball parents right now!

We went to our newsest waterpark last Monday (before the public schools got out this week!)

Well, looks like we will be moving to the shunned section of the ship. Can't justify the expediture for 3 tuxes or extra packing room for three in the limited luggage.....
So we will not be doing tuxes for the formal nights....

I can totally understand! ANd we'll still like ya!

Does my chat with Cheryl last night count as my RSVP? There will be two of us. Sounds like a great time!

You KNOW it does! She remembers everything!!!

Welcome to the "shunned section"

I will have a difficult enough time to get DH in a sports jacket,.. so hopefully we won't offend anyone..

Dh is so funny. In our everyday life he wears either jeans or khakis everyday with a button down shirt. He only wears his suit for funerals, board meetings & meetings with bankers.

BUT, get him on the ship and he wants to wear a tux! It was his idea to buy a tux for our 10nt. It is beautiful and he has several nice vest/tie sets.

10DS dressing up!!! He would wear his tux everyday if we let him! LOL! Hw really wanted to wear it for his sister's wedding this past Oct..... She told him *no, I'm getting married on the beach. It is casual* So, he wore a blazer instead! He also wore dress shoes and all the other guys wore flip flops!

And so I bid you all a fond adieu!

In case you wonder what might have become of me, I'm turning off my computer in a couple of minutes and heading out of town for my annual retreat.

I seriously doubt that I'll have any internet access while at the retreat house, so I'll come back on board when I get back this weekend.

See ya . . .

Have a good retreat!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Please say a prayer for my cousin and her family. Her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident early this morning. Today would have been his 43rd birthday. They have three daughters (16,13 and 10).

He just got home from Iraq about two months ago.

You are all in my prayers.

 

[Stepht5]

Please say a prayer for my cousin and her family. Her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident early this morning. Today would have been his 43rd birthday. They have three daughters (16,13 and 10).

He just got home from Iraq about two months ago.

We will add this family to our prayers. I can't even begin to imagine the pain they are and will be going through. The ages (and the b-day, dh's b-day is tomorrow) are all just too close to home.

 

[Stepht5]

As requested a few pictures from DLP.

..............

............. We had a Disney band playing at the station in London, all directions the train was prompt to the minute. Park tickets and meal vouchers were given out on the train, half board premium saved us a lot of money and everyone seemed to be using them

Phantom Manor, a little spookier than the others as it’s in French, but basically the same ride. A few changes here and there.It broke down when we were on it, a picture here of it lit up.
...........
................Some character pictures.

Thanks for the pics! There were great!! A Disney Band at the station! How cool!!!
For some reason teh part about it being spookier because it's in French had me laughing out loud!

We 10ds gets home (DH, 17dd & 10ds went to the movies to celebrate DH's b-day) I will show him the pics. He enjoyed your son's posts the other day on the kids board!