August 20, 2005 - L.A. to Port Canaveral - Eastbound Repo Cruise - The SHIP OF FOOLS Part 3

[piglet33]

Dan,

You are in our thoughts. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Reneé

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Dan - Prayers and pixie dust to you as you have your surgery tomorrow.

David just had outpatient cyst surgery 3 weeks ago. Although in a different location than pilonidal, it went fine and he had his stitches out a week ago already! And we just got the $1,000 bill from the hospital! Oh joy!

Also, my TA had cyst surgery several months ago. So there are lots of people out there with this - please don't feel alone. We are all rooting for ya!

Hey you could start a new group called THE CYSTERHOOD!!!!

 

[pampat]

Dan, Our best wishes for upcoming surgery. Thank God this happened now and not in 4 months time! Get well soon, and take time to recover.

A beautiful Sunday here today. Spent some time getting the garden ready for summer, and then Allan and I spent a couple of hours sitting in the sun, reading the newspapers, hanging out. I've got a rosy glow!

Pam

 

[eye R.N.]

You'll be in my thougts tomorrow. PD that everything goes fine. Enjoy the anesthesia and remember to ask for pain meds (I am a big believer in post-op pain control)

While we were hosting the children's choir from our sister church in Jamica, this happened to one of the kids. God was good and her mom was one of the chaperone's, we has the other sister staying with us. The rest of the choir returned to Jamica and we had our new friend a few extra days while her sister was recovered.

 

[rsschneck]

Dan - Prayers for an easy surgery and speedy recovery!

Spent yesterday with my brownie troop at day camp. It rained ALL day and was muddy, cold and miserable. The girls didn't seem to care but I was ready to go home after the first couple of hours.

Happy Sunday to All!

 

[Denine]

Dan: Pixie dust for a speedy recovery!

It is still snowing and blowing here and will continue to through tomorrow morning. I can't take it anymore! I want summer now!

 

[Luv2Dream]

Dan, Best of luck with the upcoming surgery. Please have someone let us know how everything went. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers tonight and tomorrow.

As Robin had previously posted, we had a great time with her and Victoria on Friday night. I laughed so hard that I started coughing and couldn't stop. Mary was thrilled to be swimming with Victoria and didn't stop talking about it all weekend. I cannot wait to enjoy their company again, and again, and again !!!!

 

[big cheeser]

Seeing the latest outpouring of support for Dan (good luck, old chap!) made me decide to be philosophical.

Seems to me like technology has now changed the world forever - boundaries have vanished, and time doesn't matter.

I was up the Space Needle in Seattle last Sunday and was struck by the one major difference since I was last up it about 10 to 12 years ago - mobile phones were all around the outside deck and people were taking photos of themselves and sending straight to family and friends in Europe / Japan / Phillippines etc.

(and no Dan, this isn't leading to lancing the wound with a Space Needle!!!! )

And then I got to thinking about the Dis board and the other place - my trip over was to visit Microsoft and I mentioned the boards a couple of times.

And the philosophical treatise emerged

What we have here is clearly self-evident to us all - but ....


Suddenly its about "storming, forming and norming" - strangers arrive by accident, get involved and begin to realise the "rules" of this virtual society - both the formal rules and the society's own informal rules, and organically the community evolves, with different places to meet and greet.

And in the process, different communication routes emerge - again formal (newsletter) and informal (chat , pm, e-mail, snail mail, skype).

And the community becomes a self-learning organism as our individual cells share their own knowledge with others either as the broad community or as individuals. They say that the sum of recorded knowledge in the world doubles every year (as measured by the number of intellectual patents registered) - just think how much knowledge has been shared across this group. Indeed being part of the community actively encourages members to research relevant (and sometimes irrelevant) knowledge and share that with the group as well. And out of that comes things we would never have realised for ourselves or would have discovered too late (such as Red Sox playing at Annaheim on the days before SOF departs).

And that knowledge builds purchasing power as bargains are shared, discount coupons shared, hotels, transport and trips are volume booked, etc.

And love and compassion - the group cares for its own - even though it may never have met them - and not only its own, but the extended family members etc.

And pride - not only does the group build its own identity formally and informally and be proud to display that, but it also takes pride in individual achievements and is keen to acknowledge that, again even in the extended family members etc.

Being a member of the community brings a sense of personal accountability - what can I do to help? It also brings the ability to mouth off safely about anything you want to (as long as it's done in the right place)

Everyday, SOF boards display this new world - this new virtual community which has come together for a purpose, but somehow or other, you're sure that individual bonds will be formed between families and individuals that will go on far longer than the two weeks SOF is at sea.

That's the power of t'internet - when the Magic started sailing cruisers had absolutely minimal foreknowledge of the cruise - now we've got a point wher around 25% of the cruisers have been in touch in this virtual community (even if they've only lurked - and if that's you, then come on out and make yourself known - this is the safest place on Earth - which it should be when its connected to the happiest place on Earth! )

As parents, we get concerned sometimes about DD's use of boards - but when you get involved yourself that you really understand its power. Sometimes we say that DD doesn't have any real friends, just internet buddies - but where on earth could you find such a powerful group of friends as this. And an influential group of friends - 25% is a large number!

So there you go - that's Philosophy 101 for today.

Llotsaluv to y'all and as I say, it is a Small World after all!

Allan

 

[DudetteTwo]

DAN: Good luck with your surgery .

ALLAN: Loved your Philosophy 101!

DENINE: I can not believe your weather . I will never complain about our rain again.

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. Toodles JEANNE

 

[UMTerp]

Renee, Thanks for the info. I'll check with invaderzim about the shuttle!

Dan - Best of luck with your surgery!



BTW - Anyone use any good codes for Budget car rentals?

Thanks,

UMTerp

 

[winnyis]

Dan - best wishes and pixie dust for a speedy recovery.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Well, I bought a new PC mike, came home and found my old one (gave it to DH for the other laptop) and now I can't find my headphones! Oh well, I need to get off here and start planning our vacation in 2 weeks!

 

[Denise W]

Just a quick note to say that Jazz, DD Heather and I are back from Florida. We spent a few days with my parents and then went to WDW.

Long story on my parents, but after my siblings and I did a ton of work to find a retirement/assisted living place for them in California near one sister and my brother, my parents decided to stay in Florida and will move to a retirement home in Naples. They sold their house and will move in a few months. We don't think this is a good move as none of us live near them, but they took the decision out of our hands.

WDW was wonderful, we had perfect weather (70's most days, nights were a little cool!) and did not think the crowds were bad at all. We met Jason and Travis and wish we could have spent more time with them, but now we will at least recognize them when we gather in August! We had a boardwalk view room at BWV and loved people watching. We saw Wishes twice and sat right under where Tinkerbelle lands after her flight. We did Soarin' and thought it was great. We tried to get into Chat on several different nights, but were unable to connect. The internet connection wasn't that great either.

I am trying to get caught up on the thread. Mel, Lynn and Dan, good thoughts going out to you. I hope everything works out for all of you. My dad is better physically, but I think the strokes after his heartattack have affected his memory, and I am concerned about his prognosis.

I hope everyone else is doing well.

Denise (and Jazz)

 

[mississaugamom]

Welcome Home, Denise and Jazz!

Dan - prayers and best wishes for everything to go well tomorrow.


Arlene

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Dear Dan,

Praying for you that your surgery tomorrow will go well and with no complications. Please have Scott post how you are doing, OK? Waiting for surgery the day and night before is always scary, even when you are a brave soul. Sending pixie dust and prayers your way. BTW, happy belated birthday! I'm just catching up on the posts. Hope it was a special day! This was no way to celebrate your birthday week my friend with this news of yours. I just know all will be OK. The power of prayer is great, and I know all our Ship of Fools friends will be praying for you and/or sending good thoughts with pixie dust.

Barbara

Dear DIS family,

I know that there have been numerous illnesses and family trageties amoung our group, and I hate to add to that number, so I almost did not post this information!

However during my last doctors appointment they found a pilonidal abcess cyst, I was told the treatment is actually not a huge risk, however during the exploritory procedure to drain the infection they received nothing from it but blood and then could not get it to stop bleedding. This was on Friday, the doctor notified the hospital and made arrangements for the surgery to remoce the cyst to happen this coming Monday! This is being done as an outpatient, however he has already told me that with the excess bleeding there is a huge possiblity that I will be spending the night.

Sorry to drop this on you all!

Please keep me and my family in your thoughts tomorrow.

Dan

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm almost caught up on our thread! Thinking of all who need extra pixie dust, and thank you all for the funny stories and jokes! I'm behind on replying, and so this must be a generic post this time. Cause if I reply as I'd like to, the chores will never get done today, and I'll continue to live up to the "perception" from Brian and my kids that I'm always on the computer. Isn't that "perception" true of all of us?! (And, many of you are even worse than I, )

DENINE - I did want to wish you a welcome home though!!! You and your family always take such fun trips! I need to get back reading and posting on the Sisterhood thread too. Hugs to you, keep up the good work!

Our cruise is getting closer everyone!!! Take care!

 

[Luv2Dream]

Denise and Jazz, Welcome Home...thanks for the well wishes. Sounds like you had a great trip and I'm so glad. Look forward to hearing more about your trip, maybe in chat?

 

[NYdiscuisers]

Hey Dan,
Just adding to the well wishes for you. Good luck with the surgery and get well soon!

Paul

 

[gassmandy]

Best of Luck Dan---hope all goes perfect!

Hello to all!!!!

Spent the weekend at Shawn's best friend's home (they have their annual Football Draft party). Addison had a blast with their 3 daughters (4,5, and 7 years old). Catching up on laundry. Lucky me. But it's nice to be home even if we were only 30 miles away!! Plus he's on vacation this week so we're in laid back mode............hopefully will do Seaworld on Tues. for the first time w/ Addison!

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

DENISE, PETER, & HEATHER - Welcome home!!! Well, it sounds like your parent's decision is made Denise. Pixie dust that it will be a good move for them. I did not know about your dad's health, I'm really sorry to hear what he and thus you has gone through. I will add he and you all to my prayers. I hope his rehab. therapies will help with his memory. I know that the newest brain research says that eating high protein foods, very low sugar, very low refined carbs, drinking that lots of water, and moderate exercise all helps with memory and focus. In fact, I just bought a book for my students that has exercises for various brain functions like memory, focus, reading, etc. It is a pretty short book. Would you like me to copy the exercises related to memory and mail them to you? They are very simple exercises that anyone can do. The research on these supports success. PM me if you are interested, I would be happy to send these to you. Again, welcome home and take good care as you get back to routine life.

ALLAN - Your "Philosophy 101" was so interesting and touching to me, that I copied and saved it. Thank you very much for sharing! That was an outstanding written observation!

AMANDA - Best wishes on your Lazik surgery next week. I will be thinking of you and praying for you. I know it will all go well and you will soon be forgetting about your contacts and glasses!!! I'm glad you will follow the rules, and that your dh will be home with you. 's to you!!!

(Hope I did not miss anybody, if I did, my apologies! You are all a wonderful group of friends, and I get so much joy coming to this thread. Now, off to do chores! Have a good work week ahead everyone!)