August 28, 2010 Pirates of the Barbary Coast - 11 nights in the Mediterranean

[eva]

It's all official - Samuel's off the cruise!!! He's actually had a better offer as Sophie and her DF have asked him to go on a Spanish road trip with them in July so he's extremely happy to he committed to jumping ship...

I bet he will have a great time!

 

[CustardTart]

I bet he will have a great time!

I'm sure he will - they're very close and love spending time altogether plus I think Matty's joining them for part of the time too - so a real family gathering...

 

[eva]

I'm sure he will - they're very close and love spending time altogether plus I think Matty's joining them for part of the time too - so a real family gathering...

Sounds like Mom is maybe hoping to go too? Maybe you could just stay down there a couple months before the cruise.

I am missing Steve terrible. He left for the Dominican Republic last Friday. He has only been able to call once. Luckily my two girls and DGD have been keeping me busy. Lexy (DGD) even spent the night earlier this week. And I am sure she will at least another night or two before Steve gets back. Tonight Rachel (our oldest - 27) and I are going out for dinner. Funny, Steve goes on business trips a lot. But they are normally 3 to 5 days, not 10. And he can normally call me most nights. I think tomorrow night I might hang out with Steve's Mom and drink a couple beers with her. She is so awesome! She is 75 and acts like she is 25.

 

[CustardTart]

Sounds like Mom is maybe hoping to go too? Maybe you could just stay down there a couple months before the cruise.

Ah if only!!! Got this pup taking up my time now - I'd completely forgotten how demanding being Pack Leader is when you've got to initiate a newcomer!!!

I am missing Steve terrible. He left for the Dominican Republic last Friday. He has only been able to call once. Luckily my two girls and DGD have been keeping me busy. Lexy (DGD) even spent the night earlier this week. And I am sure she will at least another night or two before Steve gets back. Tonight Rachel (our oldest - 27) and I are going out for dinner. Funny, Steve goes on business trips a lot. But they are normally 3 to 5 days, not 10. And he can normally call me most nights. I think tomorrow night I might hang out with Steve's Mom and drink a couple beers with her. She is so awesome! She is 75 and acts like she is 25.

I bet you are! 10 days is a LONG time to be Home Alone and virtually incommunicado - thank goodness for your DDs and DGD!!! I don't mind the not calling - TBH I tend to miss Richard more when I hear his voice. But I would miss him not messaging me a few times a day...

Steve's Mom sounds fab!!! I wish my MiL was 75 in years but 25 in spirit - instead she's 80 in years and just 100% mean in spirit ... Dreadful woman...

 

[eva]

Ah if only!!! Got this pup taking up my time now - I'd completely forgotten how demanding being Pack Leader is when you've got to initiate a newcomer!!!

We have a cat that is 18 years old. Steve says that he is going to out live him. But once he leaves this earth there will be no animals in our house. I'm tired of hair all over the furniture and having to find people to take care of him when we travel. But I do get tempted when I see cute puppies and kittens. So I have to stay away from the little cuties!

Steve's Mom sounds fab!!! I wish my MiL was 75 in years but 25 in spirit - instead she's 80 in years and just 100% mean in spirit ... Dreadful woman...

That has to be tough. I guess you should be glad that you don't have to live in the same house.

 

[CustardTart]

We have a cat that is 18 years old. Steve says that he is going to out live him. But once he leaves this earth there will be no animals in our house. I'm tired of hair all over the furniture and having to find people to take care of him when we travel. But I do get tempted when I see cute puppies and kittens. So I have to stay away from the little cuties!

IKWYM. We reckon the Dinah the Dalmatian will hold on forever..
I don't know what it is but I can't feel 'right' without at least a couple of big dogs in my life!!! Maybe it's because I grew up with them and seems like part of me is missing when/if they're not around. We actually got Fred as I was scared of how fast time had gone by without me noticing and that my precious lady sheepdog Suzy was going to be 10 this year!!! I wanted her to have a better companion than the grouchy Dinah before her time was up...

I can't bear the fur issue either - our Dalmatian's white hairs get everywhere!!! Fortunately the Old English Sheepdog is a non-moulting breed so they're forever welcome...

That has to be tough. I guess you should be glad that you don't have to live in the same house.

TBH I kinda wish she did live near us (not with us - I'm not insane!!! ) as she makes my SiL's life a nightmare. I almost relish the prospect of her having to deal with me for a change as I won't play her stupid psych games. Richard, however, most definitely doesn't want the stress...

BTW, Eva, I've been meaning to ask what time your flight gets into Barcelona on August 28th??? I can't decide what flight to book to bring us up from Malaga...

 

[eva]

BTW, Eva, I've been meaning to ask what time your flight gets into Barcelona on August 28th??? I can't decide what flight to book to bring us up from Malaga...

Our flight gets in at 8:55 am. That latest they will let you board is at 8:00 pm or so. They set sail at 9:00 pm. Seems weird sailing that late. Even weirder is that they would prefer that you are on board at 4:00 pm for the 5:00 pm drill. But then you can get off till 8:00 pm.

 

[CustardTart]

Our flight gets in at 8:55 am. That latest they will let you board is at 8:00 pm or so. They set sail at 9:00 pm. Seems weird sailing that late. Even weirder is that they would prefer that you are on board at 4:00 pm for the 5:00 pm drill. But then you can get off till 8:00 pm.

I didn't know that!!! How strange!!!

 

[eva]

I didn't know that!!! How strange!!!

I know. But that is what they emailed me when I asked DCL about what was the latest we could get on the ship.

 

[eva]

I am so excited! Steve will be home in about an hour! 9 days with only two calls less than 5 minutes was brutal. I have been interviewing for a new job and couldn't even tell him about it. I think that I will be talking his ear off tonight!

 

[CustardTart]

I am so excited! Steve will be home in about an hour! 9 days with only two calls less than 5 minutes was brutal. I have been interviewing for a new job and couldn't even tell him about it. I think that I will be talking his ear off tonight!

That's great news, Eva!!! Hope you had a lovely evening...

 

[eva]

That's great news, Eva!!! Hope you had a lovely evening...

It was a great night. But I stayed up way too late and had a bit too much wine. Work is brutal today.

 

[CustardTart]

It was a great night. But I stayed up way too late and had a bit too much wine. Work is brutal today.

OMG we've all been there, Eva!!! Worth it tho'... And glad he's home safe and sound...

 

[eva]

OMG we've all been there, Eva!!! Worth it tho'... And glad he's home safe and sound...

It was worth it! I'm so glad that we have a free weekend coming up. We both need a little RnR. And not the one in the Studios!

The following weekend we are taking our DGS(8) for a weekend to Chicago. He is so excited. We are taking him to Legoland. He is a huge fan. Then on to a place called Gameworks. It is a bit like Disney Quest. And for dinner we are going to Medieval Times. We have reserved the King's Royalty package, with front row seats. Funny, he wasn't too thrilled with WDW last year. He hated most of the rides and wasn't so keen on the characters. He really tried to like it. But you could tell that it wasn't really his thing. So we decided to take the grandkids on separate trips this year.

 

[eva]

Well, we are past the half year mark for the cruise. We leave in 170 days! I can't believe how fast time is going by. I keep trying to concentrate on our WDW trip coming up in 52 days. But my mind keeps wandering to the cruise.

Since we leave 24 weeks from this Friday, I have decided to work again on my diet and exercise. I want to lose 32 pounds. That would be 1.33 pounds per week. Quite doable, if I could just stick with it! I'm hoping to lose a bit more than that for the first few weeks. I sure can tell that I haven't worked out in awhile. After doing some weight training yesterday, I am really sore.

 

[CustardTart]

Well, we are past the half year mark for the cruise. We leave in 170 days! I can't believe how fast time is going by. I keep trying to concentrate on our WDW trip coming up in 52 days. But my mind keeps wandering to the cruise.

Wow!!! Before we know it we'll be down to double digits!!! Looks like a busy August for me as I've now discovered that the ladies on the UK DISboard are having the annual Girly Weekend on August 13 - 15 so that's a must do... Then we leave the following Saturday for Spain and the Saturday after we're a-cruisin'!!!

Since we leave 24 weeks from this Friday, I have decided to work again on my diet and exercise. I want to lose 32 pounds. That would be 1.33 pounds per week. Quite doable, if I could just stick with it! I'm hoping to lose a bit more than that for the first few weeks. I sure can tell that I haven't worked out in awhile. After doing some weight training yesterday, I am really sore.

I'm sure you will. I went back to the gym for the first time in ages last Friday and oh my!!! I felt the effects all weekend!!!

 

[eva]

I'm sure you will. I went back to the gym for the first time in ages last Friday and oh my!!! I felt the effects all weekend!!!

I have a feeling I will feel it more tomorrow. For some reason the second day hits me the worse. I did 45 minutes on the treadmill this morning, but no weights. For diet, I don't do a strict one. I just follow the South Beach Diet guidelines of low carb, lean protein, good fats, and lots of veggies. I love it because you really don't need to count calories. Just eat what is on the list within reason. I lost 25 pounds on it a few years ago.

 

[CustardTart]

I have a feeling I will feel it more tomorrow. For some reason the second day hits me the worse. I did 45 minutes on the treadmill this morning, but no weights. For diet, I don't do a strict one. I just follow the South Beach Diet guidelines of low carb, lean protein, good fats, and lots of veggies. I love it because you really don't need to count calories. Just eat what is on the list within reason. I lost 25 pounds on it a few years ago.

Me too!!! I also went on Monday and I'm back again on Friday so expect another weekend of aching muscles!!! I've been very BAD at getting to the gym since last summer so I'm intending to go twice a week from now on and Monday plus Friday is suiting me quite well.. I'm not into strict diets either - I don't know the South Beach one but it sounds pretty similar to what I eat - low carb (only the occasional potato), high protein and lotsa veggies. It's easy as I can't eat wheat so all pasta and bread is out anyway. Now I'm used to it, I don't miss it too much..

Good luck with the weight loss - I know you'll get there, Eva... I'd like to lose a few pounds - I'm sort of between sizes at the moment so would just love to feel more comfy in my smaller clothes!!

We are going to look so fah-bu-lous on the Magic, my dear!!!!!

 

[eva]

Me too!!! I also went on Monday and I'm back again on Friday so expect another weekend of aching muscles!!! I've been very BAD at getting to the gym since last summer so I'm intending to go twice a week from now on and Monday plus Friday is suiting me quite well.. I'm not into strict diets either - I don't know the South Beach one but it sounds pretty similar to what I eat - low carb (only the occasional potato), high protein and lotsa veggies. It's easy as I can't eat wheat so all pasta and bread is out anyway. Now I'm used to it, I don't miss it too much..

You sound like you are pretty much already on the South Beach Diet. Instead of processed foods for your grains and carbs (think pasta and bread) you eat things like brown rice, beans, lentils, quinoa, barley, etc. And you still eat those in moderation. You are even advised to limit your fruits to one or two a day until you have lost the weight you intend to lose. Then you can eat most any fruit on maintenance. The best thing about the South Beach diet is that you don't need to count anything. You just have three sensible meals and two snacks of the foods on the list. The major point of the diet is to eliminate as much sugar and refined products as you can. It is pretty easy to stick with. The diet was developed by a cardiologist here in the states. He has out a number of books. He even has a number of great recipes that go along with the diet. You can even have a glass or two of dry wine each day after the first two weeks.

Good luck with the weight loss - I know you'll get there, Eva... I'd like to lose a few pounds - I'm sort of between sizes at the moment so would just love to feel more comfy in my smaller clothes!!

We are going to look so fah-bu-lous on the Magic, my dear!!!!!

We'll just have to keep encouraging each other. I feel horrible that I have so much to lose to get back to my normal size. When we moved into our new house 5 years ago I was 35 pounds lighter than I am now. But I am really dedicated to taking this weight off. If I don't do it now, I'll be needing to lose 100 five years from now.

 

[CustardTart]

You sound like you are pretty much already on the South Beach Diet. Instead of processed foods for your grains and carbs (think pasta and bread) you eat things like brown rice, beans, lentils, quinoa, barley, etc. And you still eat those in moderation. You are even advised to limit your fruits to one or two a day until you have lost the weight you intend to lose. Then you can eat most any fruit on maintenance. The best thing about the South Beach diet is that you don't need to count anything. You just have three sensible meals and two snacks of the foods on the list. The major point of the diet is to eliminate as much sugar and refined products as you can. It is pretty easy to stick with. The diet was developed by a cardiologist here in the states. He has out a number of books. He even has a number of great recipes that go along with the diet. You can even have a glass or two of dry wine each day after the first two weeks.

It sounds an excellent diet. And one that can be continued without too much hardship/problem into the future. That's the issue I've found with so many diet programs - you stick with something for a while, lose the weight and then go back to the habits that got you into trouble in the first place. And so the cycle continues!!! I think the biggest change for me was realising that processed foods were crammed with hidden sugars and really not good for you!!! Once I'd understood that, it got easier. The most processed item I eat is the occasional sausage!! We have lots of grilled fish and veggies (salmon and stir fry tonight!) plus I bought an Actifry which is just fantastic for making fries and sauteed vegetables with a tiny amount of oil!!! It was an expensive kitchen gadget (and I hate stuff cluttering up my counter tops so debated for ages whether to get one!) but I must use it 3 or 4 times a week - OMG sweet potatoes done in it are amazing!!!

We'll just have to keep encouraging each other. I feel horrible that I have so much to lose to get back to my normal size. When we moved into our new house 5 years ago I was 35 pounds lighter than I am now. But I am really dedicated to taking this weight off. If I don't do it now, I'll be needing to lose 100 five years from now.

I honestly know how you feel and you will get there...