Shelley/BIP...I almost forgot that you had asked...that head server's name was Aleksandra. We've had her a couple of times, and have enjoyed her....she seems to spend more time at the tables during the week, rather than just showing up on the last night for her tip envelope. And she's fun! She shares her hat.
Ah yes, now I remember her name now that you say it. LOL!!!!
Well, we did not see her for the first part of our cruise at all -but there was some incidence of us asking for pecan pie one night when they didn't have it- she was called over by our server and she went a little crazy with the pie after that (she was being very sweet). She had them bring us pecan pie after every meal and the next day (after the first time we asked and they didn't have it that night) we found an entire pecan pie was delivered to our room.

We really did like the pecan pie though.. so it wasn't wasted. LOL
Anyway, after the "we don't have any pecan pie" incident... we saw a lot more of her. I kept wondering did she think we were going to be UPSET that they didn't have the pecan pie or something? (we weren't in the least upset- we just asked if they had it! LOL) -she paid a lot of attention to us checking on us, making the kids laugh, etc. after the pecan pie "no gotta" night. LOL
Speaking of dogs, I have to share with you one of the reasons my cockerpoo Rosie is such a pain in the add. While we were on vacation, I had a friend come in & let her out a few times a day, play with her & make sure she had enough food. I left the TV on & pretty much gave her the run of the house. We put her in a kennel once & she was so traumatized that she didn't eat while she was there. When we picked her up she was all skin & bones so I swore I wouldn't put her back in one. Well I thought her being in familiar surroundings would make her happy & she wouldn't miss us too much.
While we were at BWVs I got a call that she had torn a hole in the wall by the front door all the way to the studs, she tore 2 shades apart, tore one of my curtains to shreads & even tore the 6ft wooden rod right out of the wall, and she ripped the whole bottom of one of my screens & escaped. Luckily a neighbor spotted her & kept her till my friend showed back up. Anyway, this is a dog that we've left alone & the house all day long many many times & she's never chewed anything.
I guess that was a bad idea & now we have to figure out something else when we go away. She is not friendly to other dogs so it's almost impossible to find a place to take her. I need the dog whisperer! Anyone watch that show? I love Cesar! It's amazing what he can do with dogs or really what he teaches the owners. I need him to teach me a few things.
This is the same reason we cannot leave Tramp in the house ANYTIME we are all gone.
When we first got him (from shelter- found as stray at local park- we got him just before Christmas almost 3yrs ago) we tried kennel training him at night and while we were gone but that only lasted like a week. We were doing it because we didn't KNOW that he was already housetrained- but he sure was. Once we realized he wasn't ever having accidents and going to the back door to let us know when he had to "go"- we ditched the kennel training stuff. But we soon realized he'd prefer to roam the backyard than be in the house if we were all gone. He would tear up mini blinds all over the house trying to "find" us out the window, flip out and jump on the tables, counters, etc. (he was smaller then. I'm not sure he could lug himself up on that stuff nowadays -he's bigger but still short... just really long with short little legs) But he was perfectly happy being left in the backyard anytime we like all went out to eat dinner or something.
When we went on our cruise vacation- we found a kennel for him to stay at that was ideal for him. Large cages at the woman's home- she frequently took them for walks and allowed well-behaved (which Tramp is) and housetrained dogs in her home at times- and the cages each had their own door to their own large fenced outside area with toys/etc. So he could go in and out (inside was air conditioned- necessary here in Texas!) he did great- didn't fuss, didn't get upset, actually gained weight while there, etc.
You might try finding someone like a "nanny" for him- maybe someone who would keep him in their home or something similar to what we had- because he is obviously like Tramp and having someone come over sometimes is not enough... Tramp would freak right out if we left him for days on end with someone just coming in a few times a day to tend to him and give him some attention! (and we certainly couldn't leave him outside all day every day while we were gone- even if someone was coming over to feed/water/give attention- it's too hot out there!)
I had quoted someone else but it's gone now. ugh
But it was about the dog following everywhere.
Tramp was exactly like that when we first got him. He was housetrained and obviously smart as a whip (seemed like he understood english, I swear!) but he had "issues". He was found at the park- no telling how long he'd been a stray before the shelter picked him up. He obviously either as a stray- or in someone's care- had to fight for food. He would be fearful of getting food to eat and woud grab a bite and take off to hide somewhere to eat that one bite. I had to sit by him at his bowl and comfort him to make him feel safe enough to eat it (even putting it in "hidey" places like behind couch and such didn't work). I had to do that for weeks. He didn't know what toys were- he didn't play with any toy, chew stuff, etc. for atleast 6mo. He just flat out didn't know what toys were. Which was kinda great since he didn't chew any of the kids toys. LOL But once he got into his toys he didn't chew up TOO many of Rita's little plastic dollies/princesses/etc. that she left lying around before he figured out which toys were his and which weren't. But he followed me around EVERYWHERE and he still does to some degree.
The first year or so- he went every where I went. Even if I went to the bathroom. Laid on the couch next to me when I was on the computer, sat next to me in recliner, followed me when I walked around (even if I walked around a lot like to clean house and such), slept at the foot of my bed. EVENTUALLY he relaxed a little. Now he just has to be in a room with 'someone" in the household. But if I'm the only one at home- he still follows me around. But if others are here- he's content to lay on the couch if Jeff's in the family room, he knows when everyone is heading to bed (even though I'm still up) that it's time to head for Robert's room and sleeps at the foot of his bed- or sometimes under his bed (I think here he likes the cold ceramic tiles or something), etc. He just has to be with someone. This is why he freaks right out if we leave him in the house when we're gone. He's fine if we leave and he has run of the backyard- but he cannot stand to be left alone in the house. It's like he even knows (somehow- maybe he's figured out when I put my purse on my shoulder I'm going somewhere? LOL) when we're all leaving because he'll be by the backdoor waiting for someone to let him out. (even though we do not leave by the backdoor ever)
I guess he's still insecure- but thankfully he doesn't have to follow my every move if other people are home- he just has to be right up SOMEONE'S butt at all times. LOL If everyone leaves the family room- he will NOT just stay there- even if he was asleep on the couch... he cannot be in a room alone. Poor dear.
I'm just getting caught up on this thread, emails & the main board & I know this is old news, but I just got to say how excited I am to see that
DCL reversed their decision on the $100 per person. I know in the scheme of things it's not much but it brought our total price up over 10K & that was really bothering DH. He's been complaining a lot lately about how much this cruise is costing us, especially when we are dealing with some major renovations on the house so we can sell it & now with house prices dropping so much, we don't think we're going to recoup our money. He also doesn't read the DIS boards, so his emotional attachment to this cruise is not as great as mine.
I was really starting to think that I should just give in & cancel, especially after just spending around $1500 for 2 OV staterooms (loved having 2 baths & 2 TVs). DH could not believe how nice the cruise was. He had himself convinced he was only doing this for the family reunion, but he was going with the mind set that the Sovereign would be a dump, the food horrible & the private island a joke. None of those things came to fruition & he was pleasantly surprised. I've been on the Sovereign before so I knew that it is a great cruise. Coco Cay is no
Castaway Cay, but it is very nice. Now mind you it was only 3 nights & we didn't have a verandah, but we could do that cruise 5 times over & not pay the amount we were paying for the PC cruise. DH was saying he would gladly go on another 3 day cruise in a heartbeat, but he's not sure about how he's going to feel after 15nts. I know I mentioned this before but he gets post-cruise sickness. He is really balking & it's not looking good.
Anyway, with this reversal & our OBC credits (I love DU!), this cruise is not looking as expensive & I'm just hoping that DH will have such a time of his life, that he will feel that in the long run it was all worth it so I'm not cancelling unless I feel we absolutely have to. I'm just going to wait & see how our financial situation is in the spring & pray that everything looks a little better & DH gets excited about this cruise. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Don't you dare cancel woman!
I'm glad you're not cancelling- but don't even talk about it. LOL
I know how you feel... we hope we do not have to cancel but who knows what could happen before then and the time it's due. It is a LOT of money.. sure hope DH keeps getting overtime (and he hasn't for awhile which is totally starting to freak me out a little)