August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[Pixiedustdawn]

Got my IBM Rational Certification while in NYC for AppScan Security Scanning.


I am also not sure what this means, but it does sound really important and something you worked hard for.

Congrats to you!!!! You must be proud!!

Dawn

 

[trimix]

For those of you who have been concerned about swine flu, here's some information that may alleviate your worrry.

Here's the tally for the last three days, Monday to Wednesday, in the US.
Swine Flu - 1 dead
Regular Flu - 295 dead.

Swine flu 2009 deaths in the US are now equal to swine flu 1976 deaths in the US - one.

Mexico's Health secretary has said the number of new cases is leveling off in his country.

People sick with swine flu are being interviewed by the media, and these people tend to say three things in common - symptoms are mild, nobody needs hospitalization, and people are recovering on their own in just a few days.

Look at the cover of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - "Don't Panic!" is great advice. If you don't have a copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I would highly recommend it - it's published by Megadodo Publications of Ursa Minor Beta, and tells you exactly how to see the Marvels of the Universe for less than thirty Altairan dollars a day.

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Nationwide, I believe the death by regular flu for the season so far is around 36,000, and that is about average for any given year. I think the hype with "2009 H1N1" at this point is the 24 hour cable news phenomena: How do you fill 24 hours with news, and have people want to tune in?

(BTW, in an effort to save the lives of innocent pigs everywhere, it is supposed to be now referred to as "2009 H1N1 flu." Here at work, the big boss actually sent out a message and referred to it as "2009 H1N1 (formerly swine flu)" )

You are absolutely right, at this point Don't Panic. Take all the regular precautions you would to not get sick in the first place.

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Whoops, me again. Forgot to mention that for all you Phillie's fans out there, they are playing everyday we are cruising (8/22-8/24 vs. Mets, 8/25-8/27 vs. Pirates, 8/28 vs. Atlanta). You (and I) can probably find my DH in Diversions throughout the week, hoping they are showing the game on ESPN.

Oh, and we had a bit of good news. When I booked, all of Cat. 9 was gone, so we had to book Cat. 10 (I want natural light, but not enough to pay more than Cat. 9). Heard from TA, we've been able to book Cat. 9 !

Only thing I have left to do now is book transfer to Port on Saturday morning. Well, and lose 20 pounds, and buy some new clothes, and figure out what the kids are doing for the rest of the summer....

 

[julielouhoo]

Whoops, me again. Forgot to mention that for all you Phillie's fans out there, they are playing everyday we are cruising (8/22-8/24 vs. Mets, 8/25-8/27 vs. Pirates, 8/28 vs. Atlanta). You (and I) can probably find my DH in Diversions throughout the week, hoping they are showing the game on ESPN.

Oh, and we had a bit of good news. When I booked, all of Cat. 9 was gone, so we had to book Cat. 10 (I want natural light, but not enough to pay more than Cat. 9). Heard from TA, we've been able to book Cat. 9 !

Only thing I have left to do now is book transfer to Port on Saturday morning. Well, and lose 20 pounds, and buy some new clothes, and figure out what the kids are doing for the rest of the summer....

Well, I know where I'll find my DH then.......he'll be in Diversions with you guys in his Phillies jersey!! I'm not sure you want him though, he was at two games this week and they lost both of them!!

 

[wayneg]

Wish I understood American sports. I have tried to watch Football and Baseball, just don't understand the rules, Soccer, rugby and cricket are much easier.

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Wish I understood American sports. I have tried to watch Football and Baseball, just don't understand the rules, Soccer, rugby and cricket are much easier.

OK, I'll concede that soccer is easier to understand, and I can even figure out rugby, but what the heck is going on with cricket?

I'm a bit laid up right now, I hurt my foot yesterday at DD's softball game. Wish I could say it was because I was helping out, going for a ball, but I was just walking to the field and hit some uneven ground and fell. Hurt's like the dickens, and I've promised DH I will go to the ER tomorrow if not better, but I'm thinking I just twisted something and it will be better tomorrow.

DH is working tomorrow, and has to be in at 4 AM, so he is going to bed soon, and I'm killing time until he goes up. I'm working on a little surprise for him, I'm transcribing DH's Father's love letters to his Mother that he wrote when he was in Australia and she was in Newark, NJ in the early 1950s . I'm hoping to have it done in time to give DH and his sister a printed copy for Christmas. Luckily he is in bed early every night and gives me a chance to work on it, and since I can't do anything else tonight except sit around with my foot elevated, I'm hoping to get a couple more done.

Later!

 

[wayneg]

OK, I'll concede that soccer is easier to understand, and I can even figure out rugby, but what the heck is going on with cricket?

Been brought up with cricket, my Uncle has played as long as I can remember, now doing his 1st season as an Umpire. So for me very easy to understand but I know many struggle with it.

Hope your foot feels better soon.

I am trying to stay awake long enough to watch the boxing from Vegas tonight. Almost 1am now it probably won't start until 2-3am.

 

[stsomewhere]

Hey everyone. I have been busy preparing for our new puppy. I have been puppy-proofing everywhere. We get her on Wed. The kids will be excited when they get home from school becasue they think we are picking her up on Sat.

Erik and Matt are on a Boy scout campout this weekend.

Marina convinced me to let a few friends from brownies spend the night. I have a whole house full of giggling girls. I am in for a long night. One girl does not like to sleep over, her mom told me to call her anytime to come and pick her up.

I have been working on the scrapbooks I am making for the FE. I have a long way to go. I hope you enjoy them. Had I known how long thses would take I would have done something else. I have a few months to get them done.

Does anyone have any special plans for Mother's day? I usually have the kids scrub out the pool as my present. Erik has been working very long hours and we wil probably just hang out around home that weekend. We have nothing on the calander I am sure the kids are going to want to take the dogs around to visit family.

 

[trimix]

What breed of puppy are you getting, Christi?

I have been looking for a labrador retriever puppy for some time now; it's amazing how hard it can be finding the right puppy!

 

[Maza]

Heeelllooooo Campers (whoops...wrong website!)

well....who is this stranger inour midst i hear you ask...ok...so maybe not...but it has been a long time since i darkened these doorsteps...and its taking me a few hours to catch up on all the going ons since last time i posted!

Well...Wayne hit it on the head..I have been very busy over the last few months. between organising a Scout camp..(which you wouldnt think would be too taxing but i am really making heavy weather of it!)...which is essentially a International Jamboree in the 'south'...of England..reading risk assessments ( ahhhhhh...the bane of Scout Leaders everywhere...'dont mention the bollards'....)...and , probably the best reason for not being here...I have changed my job! Or rather..i have a new job...and am busy getting up to speed ( pun intended...youll get it later!!) with my soon to be new role!
I have secured a sisters post on the regional neonatal transport team! ( 'I feel the need...the need for speed'...thats our motto!) - (Sandy-I am doing your career in reverse!) having, almost literally, beaten off lots of stiff competition...happy days! I havent started yet ( or let them know i need virtually the whole of August off...whoops...) but the NHS always honours holidays when you move jobs...and ...well..I just wont be there now will I!!

So...lots of studying to do before i begin...lots of enhanced skills to brush up on scared1...and lots of stuff to 'finish off' at my current workplace before i go...my post-grad students...staff appraisals.......loads of paperwork stuff i have been ignoring for too long. and last week we moved into a shiny new NICU..and we cant find anything so its chaos AND..credit crunch be damned...we are so busy. Suppose it costs nothing to reproduce
(atleast at the time ..certainly not afterwards!).and..well...what else are you supposed to do if your cable has been dissconected!....hey ho. No recession in my line of business!

so...meanwhile back on the Cruise site..
IN no particular order......

A big 'Hello'to all the lovely ppl who have joined since...well...almost Christmas! Special 'Hi' to Terri...I do remember you.. (dave got your pm btw)..our DDs have similar names...although mine is just Juli now...atleast to everyone but immediate family!! It will be great to see you again...hopefully for longer than it took for the lifts to arrive!

FEs:...well...wayne has done a stirling job keeping his website updated...so i will be able to update my database for the gift exchange. I noticed a potential technical hitch though....those of you without room numbers by the date of pm-ing the list. We are leaving for the US on the 19th Aug...I will be on duty or on call the 4 days before..so i was planning to pm the list by the 12th August at the latest, ( we are on scout camp from July 30th to Aug 6th!) so room numbers by the 12th would be fine. Dont panic if i am not online...like i said...I will be pretty much working or away for the 2 weeks immediatly before the cruise. Obviously..the earlier you can let me have your room numbers the better! What is important is the numbers of ppl involved...and gender/age of children for those dissers who are doing something specifically for kids. We can always sort any itinerate cabin numbers at the DIS meet!
Personally, we are doing a bit of both...we are doing a CD of 'disney...ish' music for each family...and then a few wee bits for kids...quite probably disney related or food. I cant beleive I have left this all to the last minute...i have had nearly 2 years to sort all this out...and here i am 14 weeks out...still wavering! My mother is getting 'Scottish' stuff...be afraid....we will probably be stopped at customs with a bag of haggis or something...I will have to have a word!

'Rules' of 'gifting'...well...I am no expert...having only done this once before myself...but what we did (*waves at Terri*) last time was have a list of everyone and their cabin numbers...and ppl gave what they liked. Some folk did 'family/cabin' gifts...others gave just kids...some gave loads..some didnt...IT DOESNT MATTER! There are some brilliant ideas on other pages of this excellent site if folk are looking for ideas...Christi is making paperbag scrapbooks (kudos to 'Crafty Christi'...lol.....definatly better than 'Crusty Christi'...lol)...i'm doing a CD...and possibly a magnet to go with it...mmm)..my mum and DB are snapping up any small items they can find with a saltire on it! just be aware though peeps...there are LOADS of us!

DIS tag: or whatever you want to call it. We have printed off a large (A3 size) Mickey head..which we will laminate and magnatise...and i would love it if everyone could play 'tag' with it...writing their stateroom number...or a personal message on it...then 'tag' it back to us. I am a sucker for 'memoriabilia! Thank you

DIS meet.....3pm Promonade Lounge?

T-shirts...we are in... If someone picks up on this we would love it! I can paypal any ££ needed...or rather $$$$...

Martini flight...'any time, any place ,anywhere'...we are also in.

Group Pelo ??? We didnt go last time..too much to do...to little time...but would be happy to meet up with a few bodies to make a bit of an event of it. Any thoughts?

Lanyards: cancelled from my end I am afraid. worked out at about £3 each...which is a little much when i had to minimum order 100. I am a public servant for heavens sake...and frankly...when i did an original 'call' for orders...we were nowhere near the 100 required...however we probably are now! Hate to say it...but these things are generally much cheaper on your side of the pond! I did honestly look at getting them off a US website..but they wouldnt ship to the UK..an it did seem a little stupid shipping them just so i could ship them back in my luggage! maybe i will take another little look...maybe one of you guys stateside ( and no luggage weight restrictions to bother about!) may be able to help...the ££ where the least of it at the time!...I'll get back to you on this...soon!

Wristbands: Terri mentioned we had them last year. again , if anyone steps up i will happily paypal the funds needed to buy 8. they were good last time...a nice little souviener...

Any of you ladies fancy the ladies only spa morning? strawberries and champagne (equivilant)

DIScouts: see what i did there!! those of you interested...and frankly we have been amazed just how many of you good ppl are actual scouters..not just passive participants..in our great movement ( maybe i should re-phrase that...sounds like something i might run into at work!). How about a meeting...we can swap badges/neckers ( not underwear Erik!!)...stories...horror or otherwise....and practice our special handshake or is that a completly different organisation all together

right...is that the actual 'cruise specific' stuff dealt with?

ok...personal bits..

We are staying in the HYatt at the airport the night before the cruise.
Planning a limo..or rather we where before the £ crashed...might be walking now:
Loved Twilight books...not so sure about the film. Rob Pattinson very easy on the eye though... shame hes about 12!

Heather...loved your dress...not too sure about the big red clips on the back...maybe a veil will cover them.. Have a great day/life! Remember...dont marry someone you can live with...marry someone you cant live without!!

Eric...dunno about this IBM nonsence....WHAT ABOUT YOUR WOOD BADGE well done anyway...whatever the heck it is...lol btw..Dave is 'assuming the position' ( oh missus) of Scout Leader of our group.after the half term holiday! It was a fairly bloodless coup..but the 'old' one has been 'ousted' for his own good...and the kids ofcouse. I promised Dave i would help him with the admin stuff....aaahhhhh...will i never learn!
Today the 11th Stafford...tomorrow the world...mmwwhhhaaa( thats a manical laugh btw!)
If you fancy a laugh...www.11thstaffordscouts.org.uk ..Dave is the webmaster..oh how we laughed..
.btw..have you got your kilt yet???

wayne...congrats on 'moderator'....do you get a special badge...I like badges...lol

ski and sky: link to 'Backwoods cooking'...http://www.shurdington.org/downloads.htm
hope its not too late...but might come in handy for future reference.

right...that might be it...for now

Note to self...dont leave it 3 months to post in future....

night folks!

 

[wayneg]

:
wayne...congrats on 'moderator'....do you get a special badge...I like badges...lol

Note to self...dont leave it 3 months to post in future....

night folks!

Welcome back, thought you were going to miss the boat

Definitely don't leave it 3 months again, we will have gone without you.

Congrats on your new job, hope it goes well.

No special badge, I just get powers to delete posts, merge threads, give out infractions etc. and a nice Mod icon there on the left. I can buy shirts, mugs etc with Dis Moderator on, no badges/pins though

Never tried haggis but not much chance of it getting past the sniffer dog at MCO

 

[Maza]

Welcome back, thought you were going to miss the boat



Never tried haggis but not much chance of it getting past the sniffer dog at MCO

what!!! never tried minced sheep innards??? good greif
actually really like it...but after 2 mouthfuls i remember what it is...and cant eat any more ( i have an aversion to offal!) ditto with black pudding!
we favour the veggie ones...not quite as good..but no horrible lungs in the mix. ubless the makers are messing with our heads!

 

[wayneg]

what!!! never tried minced sheep innards??? good greif
actually really like it...but after 2 mouthfuls i remember what it is...and cant eat any more ( i have an aversion to offal!) ditto with black pudding!
we favour the veggie ones...not quite as good..but no horrible lungs in the mix. ubless the makers are messing with our heads!

I love black pudding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pudding
Also tripe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripe
And Mucky fat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dripping

Put links in as I am sure its all Double Dutch to American readers after reading they will now all feel ill

 

[julielouhoo]

A nice moment (in the midst of a lot of craziness) to catch up with friends!!!

Brian~ Love your swine flu voice of reason!!! 1 of the 5 cases in NJ is a boy
in a number of my daughter's classes and 3 lockers down from her.
He and his family were in Mexico for Spring Break, he was back to
school for a few days before getting sick. No one else in the school
is sick and he said it was one of the most mild illnesses he's ever had.

Denise~ So sorry to hear about your foot. I hope it's better today!! The
project you are working on for your husband is priceless!! Really
nice of you to do that for his family.

Wayne~ You don't have to understand our sports to hang with us!! Just
figure out who the crowd is for and yell when they do!! You are
always welcome!!

Christi~ A new puppy this week!!! I am seriously jealous!! I love puppies!!
Mine is 6 and still looks like a puppy. Wouldn't trade her for anything
but if you need a puppy sitter.......

Maria~ I am so excited it's you!!! I was seriously just thinking of you (and
remembering that I hadn't PMed Dave back), while I was on my way
home from the store. My daughter remembers singing with your
daughter and is excited that they'll be cruising together again.
Congratulations on your new job!!! It sounds really exciting and
really busy.

My daughter is in a play this week and I'm on costumes, programming and everything else that needs to get done. So, we are in crunch time trying to get it all together!! Plus, my husband and I just decided on Thursday to go on a cruise to Bermuda (to practice for our 20th wedding anniversary ~ it's not till next year). We leave in 20 days!!! I've been ironing out child care and bus stops, etc..... Hey, any of you UKers want to meet in the middle? I guess Bermuda isn't really in the middle, but we can't be picky when it's Bermuda!! I have to go and sew some more costumes. Our first dress rehearsal is tomorrow!!

Everyone have a great Monday!!

Terri

 

[Maza]

hi guys...only me
just trying to get my head round the FE gifting list! This will teach me to go awol for 3 months!
i will post later with the names of you good folks i have 'on the list'...apologies in advance if i miss anyone! Honestly i am usually quite organised!
rough head count for gifting is about 14 'staterooms...I will be more specific asap. give you a heads up on how many/much/little to prep for.
I swear i was more organised last time!!
I have a 'mystery' group on my personal list ( not the one on waynes website)...I have heard nothing from them since the asked me to add them ..secret holiday apparently! They are a large party...and i will pm the 'mom' to make sure they are still on board ( as it where!) wouldnt want them to miss out...but equally if they have cancelled or something it will be less 'stuff' for me to humph across the atlantic ( lol...did I say 'me' to humph...I meant DH)

going to see a (wo)man about Lanyards later....so watch this space!

 

[Maza]

Good Luck!! In 19 days you'll be !!! I had my hardest exam the day before graduation too! It stunk! All of my friends were partying and I was in the library (the only quiet place on campus)!! You'll be into cruise mode in no time!!!

sorry...just idle curiosity..but how can you graduate the day after a final exam? dont you guys have exam boards? How do you know you have passed?
my graduation was months after i had finished my course

ok...i'll get back to what i was doing

 

[Maza]

ok..so far the FE list consists of....
Fluffy Bunny (bless..he really is far from 'bunny-ish')
My DM and DB ( not Dissers but keen to take part)
Sea and Ski
The Fatmans Wife
Blue Marlin (and stsomewhere )
Wayneg
Jhryb
Makiemouse
Sandyh67
Bellebud
Kylelover1
shelley25
julilouhoo

obv.and families...numbers/gender /ages of children and stateroom numbers (where known)....all of which will be reveiled at a later date!

but...conservativly...we have 13 'families' and approx.22 children...ranging from 4 to 17

Can everyone above let me know if you have changed your mind.....OR...if you want to take part but arent above...either post..or pm me.

ty xx

 

[Donald Applecore]

sorry...just idle curiosity..but how can you graduate the day after a final exam? dont you guys have exam boards? How do you know you have passed?
my graduation was months after i had finished my course

ok...i'll get back to what i was doing

Frankly you don't know if you passed, but I guess you get some credit for making it this far. We wont actually receive a diploma at graduation. That comes months later after the exams have been graded. We will receive our hoods & a scroll that basically contains a congratulatory letter from the Dean.

I'm not sure why they do it this way, but I think it is a fairly common practice over here. I guess its just easier to get everyone together right after exams instead of making everyone come back months after graduation. I know in our case, we will all be smack in the middle of bar-exam preparation by the time grades come out - not the best time to stop & have a graduation.

 

[stsomewhere]

What breed of puppy are you getting, Christi?

I have been looking for a labrador retriever puppy for some time now; it's amazing how hard it can be finding the right puppy!

She is an Australian shepard. She is what they consider a miniature because of her size. Her parents are 14 inches and 15 inches at the withers. There is so conterversary over this because some breeders are against breeding the smaller dogs. We think she is going to be the right size for us.

She is registered with the Austrailain shepard assosciation and the national Stock Dog association.

I will be training her to be a therapy dog for senior homes and hospitals, and reading thereapy for children. She has to be 1 yr before she can start.

It was amazing that both kids agreed on the same puppy and her name, Boomerang.

I wanted to add that we have a 10yr. 65 lb. Dalmation/Lab mix, too.