April 26 - May 3, 2008 Caribbean Crazy Cruisers

[camom3]

ah man, I wish I would have known about the M Fredic sale! I have only been there once and liked their stuff!

Hope your MIL is ok! Hey, you didn't by any chance look around the TO mall and see their Crocs cart, did you? I am wondering if they have Disney crocs there, I can't find them anywhere around here and don't want to order them off their website without DD trying them on first!

Hi,

The M Fredic sale was great. The kids stuff was $10 and under the adult stuff was $20 and under.

My MIL has lung cancer. She was diagnosed a year and a half ago, but she is not treating it. She is doing great considering.

I didn't go around the mall. I ate some mashed potatoes and drove home.

My sister and her 2 girls and my girls and I took my mom to tea today and it was so good. I didn't do the High Tea at Palo last time. This time I probably will.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Good morning, boys and girls! Weekend is over and it's back to work today! At least Wednesday is payday and I can make another cruise payment!! I have never been this excited to pay for something!

I am going to drop my Goldens off at the groomers today before work, and I swear, Cooper (my boy) knows! They are usually both in here with me, but today he went hiding someplace else! He loves the grooming lady but HATES being there! I better leave early, because it takes forever to drag him from the car to inside the groomers! Poor pup!

My DH and DD went to a Father/Daughter dance on Friday! I took pictures, I will post them as soon as I download them off my camera! She looked SO cute! DH looked nice too, of course!

 

[dreamcometrue]

Good morning!! I found on the top of page 3 this morning! Yikes!! It rained last night here, but this morning it's bright and sunny, although they are predicting rain again! I don't mind, we need it, and my flowers in the backyard are loving it!

 

[camom3]

Hi,

Mary - I hope you are having an incredible vacation.

Karen and Mike - I hope your weather is not as severe as it was last week.

Kay - Did it rain last night at your house?

Today I have to organize the 282 boxes of Girl Scout cookies that my little brownie sold. I have been so busy lately, but I do see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Tomorrow my dd celebrates her 7th birthday. We will actually give her half of her cake on the 28th and the other half on March 1st. She was born on leap day and doesn't quite understand that there isn't a Feb. 29 every year.

Have a great day!!

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone! Having a great time! Someone on one of our other threads asked about the tour we took yesterday so here is my write-up:

Good morning everyone! No pictures yet, but I can give you some more insight into the Home of the Brave tour. Pick up was EARLY. We had to be in Waikiki for a 6:20 am pick-up (and we were the last picked up).

As we got in the 12 person van there was a tv at the front running an old black and white 1940's era movie. I wasn't quite awake enough to figure out what it was but it was to get in the mood.

First stop was the Arizona Memorial. The whole reason we got up early because the line starts early and grows quickly. We got there and the line was already far enough back that our guide said he wasn't sure if we would be in group 1 or group 2 (groups are 150 people). He had a plan either way as he says they always try to be in one of those two groups. While waiting he did a great job of talking about the attack and about the ships that were in port that day and which ones weren't and why. He was very good and in fact we had people from the tours in front and back of us listening to him and not their own guides. Time to walk in and we got group 1 - yeah! We'll be the first on the memorial this morning. As we waited in line for the movie our guide pointed out a gentleman sitting across from the gift shop. He was one of the survivors and comes to the Memorial often to tell his story. Our guide informed us there are a 5-10 who come from time to time but this gentleman was his favorite and we shouldn't miss a chance to talk to him after our tour. You start with a 23 minute movie that talks abour the attack and what led up to it and then you take the boat out to the actual memorial. Very moving. After we had about 45 minutes to do the small museum, gift shop, snacks etc. We did do the gift shop but really didn't see the museum as we did stop to talk to Sheldon (I'm thinking that is his name - I'm not 100% sure this morning). As our guide said - the memorial will be there for many years to come, but how much longer can we talk to someone who was there that day. A true piece of history.

Back on the van we headed up to Wheeler Army Airfield. On the way our guide told stories about the day some of which have made it into movies. He also had great photographs he passed around the van showing the airfield and the planes used that day. As we road around Wheeler he pointed out which buildings had been hit and again had photographs showing some of the damage. Amazing!

Next stop was a drive to Schofield Army Barracks. The sad part of this is that right now it is pretty quiet as many of the residents are in Irag. There is a brand new sculpture on the grounds which was very moving. It showed a memorial to a fallen soldier (boots and gun with the helmet on the gun) in the front, then 4 soldiers paying respect to it. One dressed in Dessert Storm Gear, one in gear from Vietnam, one from Korea, and one from WWII. Again very moving and something you wouldn't see on a normal tour.

Next stop was Fort Shafter which was built in 1907. You have the beautiful palm circle (which if you saw the movie Pearl Harbor was used to depict Pearl Harbon and the hospital there). This is also home to what they call the Pineapple Pentagon where we got to see an actual medal of honor that is on display. Lunch was served in the Military Club here facing the golf course. It was a buffet that we paid for but very reasonable. We had our guide at our table so also got to hear and learn a bit about current day Oahu from him.

After lunch we drove through Punchbowl National Cemetary. This was my only disappointment. When I visited here back in 1988 with my mom we were able to get out and really enjoy the beauty. Tour groups are no longer allowed to stop here. Want to know why? Because all the beautiful Banyon trees that line the drives are full of carved grafitti. How sad! They said when they stoped the groups from stopping the incidents of destruction went way down. How very very sad that people would do this in a cemetary.

Our last stop was the Home of the Brave gift shop/museum. Very small but very cool. Yes it is a gift shop (these people must have visited Disney to know to end in a gift shop) but it also really pays tribute to the men and women who served. There are many many polaroid photos of survivors of Pearl Harbor who have visited. Each one shows their name, the dates they were in the military and where they served. Very cool! There is also lots of memoriabilia that they have had donated to them.

Then it was back to our drop off in Waikiki. We did a little walking around the Hilton Hawaiian Village (OM tell Nick we saw the penquins) and then back to our car. We were back at the resort about 3pm.

Last night was the resorts Mai Tai party which they have once a week. It is held out on the great lawn and when you rsvp for it you get 2 drink tickets per person (either Mai Tai or fruit punch), a name tag and some raffle coupons. It is a showcase for what the hotel has to offer as far as tours etc (some of the raffle gifts) and also the two shows they have here (both lauas). A fun way to pass an hour. We stayed about 40 minutes.

Then we took the shuttle over to the JW Marriott for dinner. All in all a great day!

 

[dreamcometrue]

morning all! I have to come later to read your trip write-up, Mary! Don't have time to now since I have to be at work in 45 minutes and need to go upstairs and get ready! I am SO tired today! I recorded American Idol on the TV and stayed up late watching it, even though it was boring! I am not into the guys at ALL this year. There isn't a single one that wows me! Chris Sligh is good I guess, but there is something about him that rubs me the wrong way. I guess he's too cocky and has this sense of entitlement to him that I just don't care for! I like the girls better this year!

I am depressed because I have not lost ANY weight this week. At least it's payday!!

 

[ohiominnie]

I like the beatboxer, Blake. I think he's got a nice voice and is unique in his beatboxing and scatting. Would I want an entire album of that, no, but the bit he did last night was cool!

For some strange reason, Sundance is kicking some butt. Don't know how he's doing it, but I heard a blip of his song today on the morning radio show and it sounded good. And I like the army/navy/marine guy (not sure which he is) The bald guy.... seems likable and has a powerful voice.

But it's the girls' contest to lose. I am really excited to see what Lakisha has for us tonight.


Sorry haven't been around much. Rehearsals are really gearing up. Nick's tech week is next week, KT's follows after that. Plus Mike is having me write his blog and that's taking a chunk of my time. And then there is school. And doctor's appointments. And running. And and and....

I have no idea how you working moms do it. I can barely keep up and I'm not working....well....you know what I mean!

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone! Slept in a bit today and just waiting for Mark to get out of the shower. Today is our trip up to the North Shore and then over to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Really looking forward to it!

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[camom3]

Mary,

I'm so glad you are having a great time. We went in 2004 and stayed in the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

When we went to Pearl Harbor we missed the tour.

 

[camom3]

Hi,

Am I setting myself up for a ...............

 

[camom3]

TOP

Have a great night.

 

[camom3]

Hey,

My 200th post came and went just like that..........

 

[dreamcometrue]

morning all! Today is a day off for me. I have a manicure scheduled for later this morning! It's pajama day here at school. Of course, my DS11 is too cool to wear pajamas to school! My DD7 was all excited. I hope she doesn't get cold. It was pretty chilly when we left and they have an outdoor assembly every Friday morning!

 

[ohiominnie]

OH MY GOODNESS! Nick came home with his rehearsal schedule for tech week.
I knew rehearsals would be 7-10 every night (Sunday-Thursday) but what I didn't factor in was that they serve dinner there every night. So his "call time" is actually 5pm every night!!! 5-10pm!! YIKES!

Although they did say the first few nights the Munchkins will get out a bit early b/c they are only in act I....but STILL!!!

At least since Nick's rehearsal location has changed to the Palace Theater, it's right arond the corner from KT's rehearsals (5:30-7:30 every night) so that's good!!!

And whoever it was that had the open connection at KT's theater has closed it and made it password protected. BOO TO THEM!!!!

 

[WDWLVR]

Greetings all! Just checking in while we have a few moments. We are checked out of the room already and we'll be heading to the airport in a couple of hours. Until then we are just going to relax around the resort.

Picked up some kind of bug and have been coughing pretty bad the last two days but not enough to dampen all the fun. Just hope I can sleep on the plane tonight.

Will give a full update once we are back home.

 

[ohiominnie]

Greetings all! Just checking in while we have a few moments. We are checked out of the room already and we'll be heading to the airport in a couple of hours. Until then we are just going to relax around the resort.

Picked up some kind of bug and have been coughing pretty bad the last two days but not enough to dampen all the fun. Just hope I can sleep on the plane tonight.

Will give a full update once we are back home.

Safe travels, Mark and Mary....

and Bear!

 

[camom3]

Hi,

I have to share something funny.

My daughter is in the process of changing soccer teams within the same club. The team manager of her soon to be old team is a good friend of mine.

I have been sending the manager emails regarding my daughter trying out for the new team and switching teams. She usually responds instantly, but she wasn't responding.

She found out that my dd13 switched teams and she wasn't happy with me because I didn't tell her.

I rec'd emails from what I thought was her email address asking "who are you". I sent back "what do you mean". They sent back "I mean who are you... you are sending emails to the wrong person. I was off by 1 number on her email address.

She thought I was ignoring her and I thought she was ignoring me. Luckily I had emails to prove that I was sending them to the wrong person.

 

[dreamcometrue]

morning all! I am up early! We are going out to the Palmdale area today to go Soaring with the boyscouts! My DH and DS are going to spend the night there, but DD and I are going to come back home! DH will sleep in a motor home that one of the other parents will bring, but the boys have to sleep in tents! I just looked up the weather for the area and it will be down in the 30s tonight! I know that's not cold for some of you hard core East Coasters, but to us...it's freezing!! Oh well, he has a 0 degree sleeping bag so I am sure he'll be fine. Plus, he'll be in the tent with a bunch of other boys!

I am trying to wake up with some strong coffee! I was up too late last night, watching RV! We will all meet at 7am!

Have a great Saturday, everyone!

 

[camom3]

I was up too late last night, watching RV!

We have watched RV every night for the last week.

The teenager's attitude in the movie is the same as my dd13.

 

[WDWLVR]

We're home! I did a few write-ups on the blabbermouth thread.

If you want to read my write-up on the Beach Club click here.

To read my write-up on the activities we did during the week click here.

Finally for the answer to the trivia question click here.


All in all it was an amazing week. We would definately look at doing a trade-in to this resort in the future!