9/19/09 Western Magic

[cakesnjammom]

Good luck with the new patch.

Jan

thank you...got it on now! hoping to see any side effects (hoping for none) before we board!

have to vacuum the upstairs, got my bathroom done and still need to finish washing linens. moving slower than I expected. off to get kiddos to bed.

of all things.....we get the H1N1 flu warning from their school today....just great...I made them shower as soon as they got home!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am spraying Lysol on everything...got my steamer back out and steamed their wind breakers and backpacks!!!

boy everyone has made so much progress...kileybeth...you are packed and ready to roll...KUDOS!!!! to you my friend...it cannot be easy to get 6 ready to go!!

my best to you all...Sat is in sight!

 

[LCrain]

yay!!! I am packed and I got it all in one suitcase. Let's hope I don't need a forklift to get it to the airport. Now last minute shopping and finish packing carry on. We packed the FE's in my nephew's suitcase. His clothes are smaller.

See you guys soon.


Lisa

 

[LoriS]

Hi guys, I got a visit from Holly (Disneymoom0909) and Sandy (Goofprincess) and spouses. We all had our picture taken with Donald in Mexico. Toady is actually Mexico's Independence Day, so there was lots of celebrating today.

 

[kileybeth]

Oh you all make me smile! What a group we are. . .of completely normal people who all happen to be bitten by the cruise bug. So fun!

Well, cleaning is not as far along as I would like but I refuse to stress over it. Today passed without me fussing at the kids so I count that as a big plus! I am beyond excited, to the point that I am acting strange. . .very very strange! Alternately very calm and then extremely hyper, like ADHD hyper or like I have turrets syndrom or something, bizarre! My DD14 is laughing at me and my little ones told me "Mommy that is how excited we feel too" Great, the self control of a 6 year old

Well, forgot to mention it was raining when we got up this am Wasn't suppose to do that until 2pm this afternoon and I had "scheduled " "pack the van" for this morning! I quickly checked out weather.com and found my break in the weather. We did load it all in/on and it stayed fairly dry. Well, this afternoon, like clockwork? The heavens emptied out and it is still raining. Is suppose to continue until after we leave town tomorrow. So thankful to have the packing part mostly done!

Nice break in the action tonight after I dropped teens off at youth group, joined another Mom for dinner out and just laughed and rested my weary back. Needed that! And my little ones? Were angels.

DH is soooo distracted with tomorrow being his last day. His event went well today. He did say it would be so much harder to "retire" from this job if he hadn't been gearing up now for months for the other. He took his Oath of Office with the Gov't this week so is looking forward as much as back. BUT all that to say this, when kids and I were driving in tonight, we passed right by him out walking (thinking/pondering) and know he saw us. He said not one word about that car top carrier and he had to see it right????!!! I took the same cue and said nothing either as I snuggled next to him on the couch for a few minutes So nothing to report about his reaction to my packing venture! I'm taking it as a good sign for now

I was reviewing my list as teens ate some fast food on way to church tonight and came across a missed item I completely forgot to pack any swim suit cover ups for me!(and trust me! I need to cover up!) And there has been so much chatter on here about them too?! Maybe b/c I don't actually own one? I just wear my DH oversized oxfords Glad I caught it though as I can still toss them into the hotel bag. Then realized I packed only the two little ones b.suits for hotel and none for rest of us! All are in "checked" luggage rotfl: the stuff porters will carry straight to room on ship). DS17 will not swim anyway, DD14 and I both have older suits we can toss in but DH has nothing. . . Maybe buying something for him in FL? How did I do that?

No other packing glitches so far. . .

So long counting down and now I just want time to practically stand still or move like molassas the next 10 days. . .

 

[disneyfinatics]

We made it to Jacksonville last night safe & sound. It was a much easier drive than I had imagined. We got in at 6:30. I guess I might drive faster than I thought. Going to Down Town Disney tomorrow.

 

[dennismcneely]

We made it to Jacksonville last night safe & sound. It was a much easier drive than I had imagined. We got in at 6:30. I guess I might drive faster than I thought. Going to Down Town Disney tomorrow.

Glad to know you made it safely, we will be at Downtown Disney tomorrow, having dinner at Earl of Sandwich. See you Saturday

 

[cakesnjammom]

We made it to Jacksonville last night safe & sound. It was a much easier drive than I had imagined. We got in at 6:30. I guess I might drive faster than I thought. Going to Down Town Disney tomorrow.

WHEW Shelly so glad you made it and that it went smoothly! have fun at DTD!

 

[cakesnjammom]

Don't you just love my Au Revoir...Bishop (mamajojo's ds) taught us a little french!
Just checking in to say see you all Saturday!
Everyone be safe!
See you at the port OR on The MAGIC!!!

 

[Sinderelly]

I'm at work but way too excited to concentrate. I am leaving work at noon so I can clean the house yet again.

We are all packed except a couple last minute items. We are spending the night at the airport then flying to Orlando tomorrow. I reorganized all the FE gifts last night to make them easier to deliver.

I'm glad those that are already in Orlando made it safely and are already enjoying their vacations. Safe travel to everyone getting ready to leave.

This is such a great group and I really enjoy reading all the posts and appreciate all the helpful tips and advice. I can't wait to meet this wonderful group of people.

Now bring on the honeymoon!

Kathy ( who is having a dancing bananaless day!)

 

[JanDave]

I have 6 more hours of work -- -- then I'm on vacation.

I am packed; got cash; got cc; got passport; will get boarding passes this PM.

I just prepared an "itinerary" for our Key West visit and just scanned our planned visits to our DD and DS-i-l. No plans but to stop at a few bars. Not that we're drinkers (I know you've heard that before!). I am on medication that has this HUGE WARNING about refraining from alcohol. So, I may only have a sip or two on Sunday.

Glad to hear those that are in Florida arrived safely. Safe travels to those not yet there.

My DD, Kim, you will meet her on the cruise, has a cute story about her youngest DD (5 years old) (one of my precious 6 grandchildren). Both of Kim's DDs are staying home, they are not cruising. But, yesterday youngest DD was having issues in the morning -- too early, didn't want to go to school, etc. Kim's response at one point in the morning was that DD was making it easier for Kim to leave on vacation Friday! Of course her DDs are not happy that we are cruising without them, but they'll be cruising on DCL next year.

See everyone in about 48 hours at the port!!!

Jan

 

[disneyfinatics]

Finished some errands at the mall and getting all the clothes out for ironing. BTW I do love to iron; it is such a mindless past-time ( can watch tv) and you actually can see results. After reading this last week's posts, I have to wonder how we women finally enjoy vacation. We all will probably be sitting in deck chairs with a glazed look on our faces, muttering where's that list...where's that list?

That will probably be me. I can't believe how many of you cleaned house before you left. I'm normally fanatical about it, you know, in case you die. I don't want people coming in my house saying, "Holy Cow!!! what a slob!" I guess they will this time. I cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, & thought about dusting. I will have dust puppies by the time we get home. I'm sure it's nothing a drink of the day can't fix.
Safe travels everyone!! See you in 2 days.
Shelly

 

[JanDave]

That will probably be me. I can't believe how many of you cleaned house before you left. I'm normally fanatical about it, you know, in case you die. I don't want people coming in my house saying, "Holy Cow!!! what a slob!" I guess they will this time. I cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, & thought about dusting. I will have dust puppies by the time we get home. I'm sure it's nothing a drink of the day can't fix.
Safe travels everyone!! See you in 2 days.
Shelly

I cheated! I have a friend who is cleaning our house next week. Of course, I'm paying her but at least I didn't have that on my to-do list this week.

Jan

 

[Ashaloo]

Matt and I fly to FL tomorrow and I am TOO EXCITED FOR WORDS!!! AHHHHHHHH!

Now I just have to finish packing up *everything* and nail down some minor details...

And of course get my nails done! Hahaha!

-Ash

 

[Ashaloo]

Ashalooooooooooooo. I suppose you think getting married this week excuses ya!!! Ya gotta be marrying someone....what's his name?

AHHHHHHHHH! I *just* saw this! I'm so sorry!! His name is Matt. Or you can follow my lead and call him Mr. Wonderful...Or sugar-butt... I think he'll answer to both, LOL!

After reading all of everyone's lists and such, I'm feeling terribly unprepared and anxious! ARG! That's what I get for being the world's WORST procrastinator! (or best, depending on how you look at it!)

I've got the overall idea of the members of our FE group, but no list of names, which is totally my fault for not getting on the DIS enough to get my email addy to those who need it!

Anyway, finishing up packing and pirate costumes today... Cross our fingers that nothing goes terribly wrong on our honeymoon because I'm so unprepared! Hahaha!

Can't wait to meet you guys! (But I've got to admit that though I'm usually very outgoing, I'm feeling a slight bit of social anxiety over our meets... I'm attributing it to feeling like the baby of the group! Hahaha!)


-Ash

 

[salbythec]

Luggage is downstairs by the front door, just have to add a few odds and ends and we are good to go!
Have to organize my pocketbook and Pete's little knap sack ( I call it his man bag)
printed off boarding passes this morning, upgraded to bussiness class ( air tran)
Still have a few stickey notes left around, I am taking great pleasure in tearing them up as I go!
Hope to get our butts to bed for 8pm, being picked up at 3:30am.
See everyone soon!!!

 

[dennismcneely]

Safe travels everyone!!! See you all Saturday!

 

[Webmiester]

Wow, am I late to the party or what?
Had no idea these forums existed....wish I had!
My DW? (I'm guessing the DW, DH, DS, DH, etc is Dear ___ )
My dear wife and awesome 2.5 year old daughter and I are taking our first Disney cruise. Not our first cruise, but first time on DCL.
We will definitely overpack, forget stuff and have no clue what we're doing based on what I"ve read here!

We booked really late for a lowest class room, but got double bumped to a ocean view fam room! (on the 2nd deck though but whose complaining! WE get the split bath!)

We will be leaving NC at the crack of dawn tomorrow and spending Friday night at the Cocoa Beach OceanFront Holiday Inn. Looked like they had a killer kids pool for my little peanut monkey! They also said I could leave my car there, yay!

Thank you everyone for the tips. One I wouldnt have thought of was to drive the wife and monkey over to the port and drop them off, go back and park the car and take a shuttle myself. I wish we had booked early enough to get on the FE list, sounds like a blast!!!!!

I welcome any other tips and any suggestions on where to eat tomorrow night in Cocoa Beach.

One thing I haven't figured out is the internet thing. I'll have my laptop and will have to check work emails a couple of times...DW mentioned that there was an internet package for like $100? Can I access that from my room? I'd hate to have to go to some cafe just to check email and look up Geocaches.

Oh yeah (sorry this is wordy, but compared to you guys I have several months to catch up on! )... Any Geocachers on this cruise?? There is actually a cache on the disney island! Plan on getting one or two in each port!

Cheers!
Fred, Shannon & the Peanut Monkey

 

[Gabbie]

Well my lovely sister is sick!! That is what she gets for taking the bus to work! We have her pumping meds and hoping that she is 100% better by tomorrow night! Things here are just about done, we just have to ship 4 boxes to the hotel and do a few prayers that they boxes as well as our bags get to Florida! We leave at 7am meaning we need to leave our house at about 4:30 4:45am!!!! Two kids and a husband who are not morning people should be fun! I have the diaper bag to pack and the last minute toothbrush/makeup/crappies and then I am DONE!
I was at wal-mart getting the last few things that I either misplaced or never bought and I remembered something that I needed to pack… Of course I didn’t have paper or a pen!! Grrr I repeated it over and over to not forget and well it slid out of my mind anyway! Oh well we can always buy what we need wherever we are! So long as the clothes get there we are good to go!
Now to set the DVR for all the fall shows that will be on while we are sipping yummie drinks!

 

[jonesing]

I'm at work but way too excited to concentrate.

90 minutes and then.........I'm on travel!!!!!

I also got a small duffle bag with my clothes and the duffle bag with the kids clothes packed up but I am sure I will unpack and repack it at least two more times today! DH in his ever wonderful communication (aka I am to be a mind reader) thought we would also be in one large duffle, which is doable but he forgot to mention it to me out loud! We learned from our last cruise that the wheeled duffels fold nicely under the bed and save us the closet space! Of course we have started our annual “ I hate you” fighting matches before we go on vacation!

Our flight out of here is at 7am so it should be fun to see how this happens, DH is NOT a morning person!

She did...pack and re-pack. And she should have...read my mind, that is. Can't spend all this time with an engineer and not learn some mental gymnastics!

Yes, the Cage Match is over and all is well. Packing is 92% complete. 4 checked bags (1 to be carry-on for cruise day), 4 boxes to be shipped today for arrival first thing tomorrow morning, 2 strollers, 2 car seats, 2 diaper bags--no comments from the peanut gallery and 1 carry-on computer bag.

BPs printed and seats selected.

One big problem...tried on the tux items, one vest is a little 'snug'. No matter, I wasn't going to wear it anyway...the problem is I can't find the stud set! The cufflinks are still in place but the studs (that replace the buttons) are nowhere to be found! I've got to hit Men's Wearhouse or maybe Burlington in FL before we get to the ship! I know JCPenney has formalwear stuff as well....and seeing as they carry luggage, like rolling garment bags....


They are celebrating some kind of Hispanic heritage deal at the site today...all kinds of vendors selling Sonoran hot dogs, tamales, chile rellenos, barbacoa....all kinds of yummy goodness.

Oh wait--gotta go to a going away celebration.
....
Wow..2 guys are leaving us today. One took another position in the PHX area and the other is retiring for the 3rd time! He's been a rocket scientist for 48 year!!!!


60 minutes until I go on travel!!!!!

 

[Gabbie]

Wow, am I late to the party or what?
Had no idea these forums existed....wish I had!
My DW? (I'm guessing the DW, DH, DS, DH, etc is Dear ___ )
My dear wife and awesome 2.5 year old daughter and I are taking our first Disney cruise. Not our first cruise, but first time on DCL.
We will definitely overpack, forget stuff and have no clue what we're doing based on what I"ve read here!

We booked really late for a lowest class room, but got double bumped to a ocean view fam room! (on the 2nd deck though but whose complaining! WE get the split bath!)

We will be leaving NC at the crack of dawn tomorrow and spending Friday night at the Cocoa Beach OceanFront Holiday Inn. Looked like they had a killer kids pool for my little peanut monkey! They also said I could leave my car there, yay!

Thank you everyone for the tips. One I wouldnt have thought of was to drive the wife and monkey over to the port and drop them off, go back and park the car and take a shuttle myself. I wish we had booked early enough to get on the FE list, sounds like a blast!!!!!

I welcome any other tips and any suggestions on where to eat tomorrow night in Cocoa Beach.

One thing I haven't figured out is the internet thing. I'll have my laptop and will have to check work emails a couple of times...DW mentioned that there was an internet package for like $100? Can I access that from my room? I'd hate to have to go to some cafe just to check email and look up Geocaches.

Oh yeah (sorry this is wordy, but compared to you guys I have several months to catch up on! )... Any Geocachers on this cruise?? There is actually a cache on the disney island! Plan on getting one or two in each port!

Cheers!
Fred, Shannon & the Peanut Monkey

Welcome aboard! We might be the only ones left at this point! Most are either there or on their way!!!!
If you are a computer/cell phone person my one big suggestion is to pop on out to walmart or the dollar store and buy yourself one of those power strips! These are much needed in a room where the only plugs are often hidden! Another one that I find helpful is the over the door shoe holder with the clear plastic fronts to put all the little stuff in... Not a must to have but we have a 19 month old and she is into EVERYTHING so to avoid suntan lotion all over the place we have one to keep it all off the tables! OOOOOOH and a night light! We have two, one for the bathroom and one for the room itself...Ok I think that is it for what I cant live without!
Sorry you are late for the FE but please if you are ok with it post your room # so those of us who have extra can at the very least give the peanut some lovin! Besides others not in the group will often leave gifts behind or give to your CM to put in your room! Also feel free to come join us at the meets! It should be a fun time for all!
Not to up on the internet thing, I have heard that the connection in the room is slow at best but there are decks that offer faster speeds!
Make sure you leave DW you passport/DL whatever ID you are using, you all do not have to be at the desk when checking in so she can get the process started and by the time you get back all will be done and the wait to board begins, that is if you are like the rest of us planning on getting there early!

90 minutes and then.........I'm on travel!!!!!





________________________________________________________
She did...pack and re-pack. And she should have...read my mind, that is. Can't spend all this time with an engineer and not learn some mental gymnastics!

Yes, the Cage Match is over and all is well. Packing is 92% complete. 4 checked bags (1 to be carry-on for cruise day), 4 boxes to be shipped today for arrival first thing tomorrow morning, 2 strollers, 2 car seats, 2 diaper bags--no comments from the peanut gallery and 1 carry-on computer bag.

BPs printed and seats selected.

One big problem...tried on the tux items, one vest is a little 'snug'. No matter, I wasn't going to wear it anyway...the problem is I can't find the stud set! The cufflinks are still in place but the studs (that replace the buttons) are nowhere to be found! I've got to hit Men's Wearhouse or maybe Burlington in FL before we get to the ship! I know JCPenney has formalwear stuff as well....and seeing as they carry luggage, like rolling garment bags....


They are celebrating some kind of Hispanic heritage deal at the site today...all kinds of vendors selling Sonoran hot dogs, tamales, chile rellenos, barbacoa....all kinds of yummy goodness.

Oh wait--gotta go to a going away celebration.
....
Wow..2 guys are leaving us today. One took another position in the PHX area and the other is retiring for the 3rd time! He's been a rocket scientist for 48 year!!!!


60 minutes until I go on travel!!!!!

60 minutes??????????????? Did you take 1/2 a day???? No shopping for you, get home and get this stuff done so we can ALL sleep tonight!

I am off to get the diaper bag packed!