Christmas Cruising 2005

[nskjerven]

Tigg:

In case I don't post you by tomorrow and you leave(The next day I think)

HAVE A BLAST!!!!! no work yeah!!!! Kiss Mickey for me

we'll be all waiting for the trip report.

Go Tig GO!!!



LY, MI

N

 

[Aisling]

We spent the night in Half Moon Bay, we looked at 5 houses. Interesting, how Paul saw one house as "too clean" for us. I actually really liked it. We both liked another one, but the bottom line to the night was that we can't afford to move into a house that we would want to stay in forever. We are looking at the possibilty of a exchanging a rental house we have for a duplex, might share it with sis. So for now...still looking.

Nan,
I didn't know you were looking to move! My sis-in-law has family outside San Jose, and they say Half Moon Bay is their dream locale for a new house. I'm going to google it...it sounds dreamy.
No surprise in the mail yet!

Speaking of mail, have any of you with young-uns checked out the pay-it-forward thread? Go see, because my kids got a postcard yesterday and one today, both "From Your Pal Mickey Mouse", both postmarked Orlando (for authenticity ), with cute messages, hand-written. The first one was a WDW card saying how happy Mickey is that they're stopping by WDW before the cruise, and the second one is a really nice Christmas DCL postcard saying how Mickey is looking forward to spending the holidays with them on their first cruise on the Magic. My kids are almost not even kids anymore, but they thought it was a cool surprise. Your little ones would love it.

Tig, I hope you check in before you leave! You must be SO excited! I can't wait to see your photos, so please don't forget your camera.
How's it going so far with Elisabeth? She must think that American culture is da bomb when mom goes off to Disney World for a week without the kids!

I'm going over to ebay now to see what's new.

BBL

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Posting here before I leave - if it's not a it's always something else.

It seems something in my house shorted out my phone line. I get to go home and figure that out tonight

I'll miss you guys, behave while I am away...

P&PD for you Aisling - NY is a wonderful place, I pray for all of your safety and sanity in this crazy mixed up world.

I'm leaving the laptop home for the kids, I figure I get to go to Florida I should at least leave them their internet right?

I'll see if I can get Brittany to post a note to you all on our thread during the week.

We fly out tomorrow night, if I can get on the net at home I'll be back to say my proper goodbye's

LY, MI!

~colleen~

 

[nskjerven]

I guess we aren't really looking to move, just looking for that perfect house in size & price to sweep us off our feet. We have lots of reasons not to move, love the school the kids are in, we live in my parents old house, so we have really low property taxes (they got fixed in CA in @ 1973 rates due to a voter prop we call Prop 13), hence the neighbors that have stayed (there are lots) are old time friends but....we long to be at the beach. Half Moon Bay is this little town (10K people) nestled against the mountains and it's just 30-45 minutes from big city, SF, & San Jose. What's not to love. I love the weather, it's fairly gloomy, perfect for gardening, not to hot...I don't know if the answer is give up bird in the hand for kite flying bird on the beach. We may just have to wait it out for a few more years until the kids hit high school. Time will go so fast between now and then, so if something wonderful appears and we can afford it without too much of a stress then we may do it. I wonder if we will be able to do it at all if we wait. We had a 2nd home over there from july 2001 - july 2003, we bought it for 410K sold it for 535K and now it would sell for 750K, so prices really went up crazy in the last two years. And the house was not be big enough for us to life in full time, that was part of the dession to sell it and stay here. Hindsight, we wish we had improved it, added a 2nd story maybe, but we just didn't know how much we liked being there until we sold it. So that's Half Moon Bay. Love it, stay out!!!(just kidding, it's funny it seems once you move into a community you want it to stay the same and want no one else to come in and change it)

Molly's at horse lessons, I'm nervous. Paul said he'd call once she was done. Only 25 more minutes...

Low key weekend planned, tomorrow is a funeral service for old neighbor, she was 88, known her my whole life, Lee and I are going together. Sunday is Brownies, oh yeah and I'm sneaking in a Vintage Mickey Scrap Sunday morning, that should be fun...gotta client coming soon better post and run.

N

 

[Aisling]

We had a 2nd home over there from july 2001 - july 2003, we bought it for 410K sold it for 535K and now it would sell for 750K, so prices really went up crazy in the last two years.

Wow, it's too bad you didn't hold onto it for a while longer and sell it for the 750! If we had the money, we'd buy another piece of real estate to rent out and then sell after a while, because like Cali, property values rise daily. We had a vacation house built in the mountains in Pennsylvania, used it for a few years, decided to rent it out, then decided to sell. If we made $1000, we were lucky. Not like here in the city, where we bought for $175 and is now appraised at $400! And that's with no beautiful scenery, no land, everyone living on top of eachother. I'm just grateful that we bought when we did, or as we say in these parts fuhgeddaboutit!


So Tig gets to go to WDW again, and Grim and Dede get to go to DL again. Makes me really want to plan my next trip. We've been doing Universal and/or Disney every year since 2000, and we just made it before the close of 2005 with the cruise. I don't want any gaps in my siggy list! So a 2006 trip is a must. I would book the Poly right now for the summer, but Mel would freak out! "Haven't you had enough Disney yet, you haven't even gone on the cruise yet!" If anyone can find a smilie holding a tennis racquet, please let me know, it'll sure come in handy!

Now on a serious excursion note, does anyone have any detailed info about the "swim with the stingrays" excursion on CC? There's basically no info on the DCL site.

 

[nskjerven]

Stingrays...doesn't that sound like it should scare you??? I'm with Britt, the fish freak me out. Actually I'm only doing the dolphins so Molly can. I figure it my 8 year old is brave enough I better buck up.

Can you believe it's getting so close???

I'm starting to worry that it will be over before we know it. How can we slo mo the week???

I thought your comment about the sign offs was cute....we're bringing a laptop with us (conputer freaks that we are) actually to download pictures more than anything, but hopefully I'll check in with ya'll after we arrive on 12/18.

Oh crap, I just realized I never finished buying airfare, I gotta do that tonight. I got my WDW ressie yesterday, now I have to pay a deposit to them and ask for the refund on the DCL part. Definately the way to go. I'm nervous about them not giving us Magical Express, I've been told we'd still get it, but I'm not sure how that works.

Hey I also realized I never heard back from concerige...oh, I wish I had a travel agent to do this....Tiggg...take me away calgon....

I better figure out what I'm doing...

N

 

[grimgrinnin]

Now on a serious excursion note, does anyone have any detailed info about the "swim with the stingrays" excursion on CC? There's basically no info on the DCL site.

I don't have many details on this either, but I booked it for 2:00 PM
Dede isn't too sure about this, but I'm doing it. I told her she didn't have to get into the water if she didn't want to. This 'lil guy freaked her out last time at Castaway Cay:

grim

 

[Aisling]

Grim, that "lil guy" is beautiful! The stingrays remind me of birds, they're so graceful. We'll be doing that excursion, too. Thanks for the photo, my kids are sold on it.

Oh crap, I just realized I never finished buying airfare, I gotta do that tonight.

Nan, you're so funny! Hurry up, girl! Get those plane tickets before the outrageous fares go any higher!

we're bringing a laptop with us (conputer freaks that we are) actually to download pictures more than anything, but hopefully I'll check in with ya'll after we arrive on 12/18.

Please do!! I'm leaving the 23rd, and Karen, aren't you leaving the day of? So yours might be the last post. Make it good, like The Christmas Cruisers 2005 Have Left The Building! It really is coming so fast. And Nan, I know what you mean about thinking about the week being over too fast. The hump day is always hardest for me, because then it's countdown to home. But planning the next trip is the best medicine, really. And I always take my medicine with a spoonful of sugar!

 

[KKB]

I've been lurking, but too tired & busy to post. Life is still crazy but I am trying to get some perspective about all the pressure we are all feeling at school...talking w/ other teachers around the district, seems I'm not the only one, that's for sure! (that is NOT necessarily a good thing, though!) I do seem to have a more level head about it, but the work load is still there.
Dan went to KC for NASCAR race. I really wanted to go, but no sitter, cash a bit short, and decided I would use this weekend as "catch up" on school stuff. Bday party tomorrow; another Sunday, plus volleyball & baseball practice...promised the kids we'd get fall decor up (the weather has turned very crisp the last couple days, so I am totally in the mood now). Gonna get in my workouts...rented 3 movies...opened a bottle of red wine...I hate when Dan is gone, but I am actually looking forward to the weekend!
Tig--have a good time!
Aisling--sorry DH isn't coming! Tell him I'm not a Disney freak either, but I am a cruise addict! (and Dan was skeptical about the whole cruise thing, too!)
The NYC scare freaked me, too, thinking of you guys all out there. We had booked a cruise in Oct. 2001, but the FL anthrax scare made me cancel. Lost a nice chunk, but w/ 3 little kids...and things were still so fresh. My folks actually left on a Hawaiian cruise from Vancouver on Sept. 15, 2001!!!!!! My mom was fretting that whole week since airplanes weren't flying...but they got a cool deal. Once they got to Hawaii, of course no one was there to get on the ship since most were still too scared to fly yet...so they & 2 ladies my dad works w/ got to stay in the 2nd nicest suite on the ship for $50pp/night!!!! (for 10 more nights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and they could have had the same deal for 2 more weeks through Panama! (they regret not having done that now!) Trip of a lifetime for SUCH a good deal! They are headed to the Mexican Riviera on Royal Caribbean in Dec. (they have also cruised the Caribbean, New England/Canada & Alaska). I am now looking at a cruise next Oct. that embarks from NYC!
Well, should be rounding up the kids for bed...then movie & wine!
Night...I'll be chatting w/ you this weekend!
Kris
PS Nan, glad Molly got back on that horse!
Dede--conferences this week & next for us!

 

[nskjerven]

Kris & Sharon: Help me out. I just looked at the CJ, but I just don't get it. At the end of the year would you have a book that is filled by (pardon this) a bunch of strangers thoughts on WDW, or Cruise or whatever?

Am I being dumb here and not seeing something? This doesn't sound like something I would want, unless I knew the group of people. I feel that I must be missing something here. Help me understand!

Nan

 

[havencruiser]

The fact the DIS folks on the same cruise that I was on were doing the CJ makes it more appealing to me than the one that's going on now. But you have the essence of it, there would be twelve different layouts of whatever topic you choose. For example, "Sunset views from the Deck" or "Hidden MIckeys on the Ship" wouldn't have to necessarily have anybody else's face in the picture.
DD and I have started our CJs for the one that's starting in November. It really is a lot of fun to think about and I think one done by people on our cruise would be a blast.
Sharon

 

[nskjerven]

Sharon: Thanks, I like the idea of swapping, I guess I need to get my head more around this, because I like you, would love to have a book of "us" too. We have had such fun on this board so I think we'd also have fun sharing the magic once we're done. We'd do it when we're done right?

Thanks for being patient with me, I can be pretty slow sometimes when I just can grab a concept. (see Aisling, me too )

Nan

 

[domiii]

I'm leaving the 23rd, and Karen, aren't you leaving the day of? So yours might be the last post. Make it good, like The Christmas Cruisers 2005 Have Left The Building!

I love it!!! Will do.

 

[minniegrl]

Hi Everyone!

Less than 24 hours until Grim and I hop a flight to CA to see Mickey! I can't wait! It will be the first time that we've gone with Grim's sister and her family. It is niece Samantha's 14th birthday, which is the reason we're all going.

Its been a rough week of planning and grading at school to get ready for a sub in my room 3 days next week, but it will be worth it.

Kris~ we have conferences the week of the 17th. I don't usually get many takers since my class isn't a "real class". So...I'll probably spend the day pre-selling yearbooks with my yearbook staff.

Karen~ do you mean to trim the end that goes on the part of your eye closest to your nose? I've worn them a couple of times and have never done that, and they've always been uncomfortable. Maybe this tip will help. I also have a problem with the glue. I have a hard time wearing contacs after putting on false eyelashes, or vice versa.

Aisling~ I'll probably do the stingray swim with Grim. I'm kind of freaked out by the idea of it, but I'm sure I'd be sorry afterwards if I didn't do it.

I'm up for swapping photos after the cruise. Grim usually posts his online, and then you can save the ones you want from his site. Or are we swapping hard copies? We do all of ours digital (I"m sure we're not the only ones) so we'd have to swap ours after the cruise.

Well, its time to start packing for Disneyland! Talk to you all when we get back!

Bye Everyone!

Dede

 

[nskjerven]

I guess we're comitted, ha like we weren't comitted before.

We did the airline...We fly out at 12:40pm (san jose-atlanta-orlando) 12/17 arrive at 12:01am(12/18) go to AKL, sleep ha, more like bounce off the walls right?

We travel home on 1/2/06 8:37pm (orlando-las vegas-san jose) home at 1:22am, who in their right mind will pick us up (good thing I have a sister that loves me) or we might hire a ride home. And the kids have school that day!!!!! What a joke that will be huh?

Now, over to WDW to make my deposits and pray that someone will give me Magical Express Service.

Nan

 

[Aisling]

double post

 

[Aisling]

We did the airline...

Nan, so does that mean you're done with everything and all you have to do now is wait? Oh, I can not wait to finally get to book my excursions tomorrow night/Monday morning. Then it just the excitement of waiting for cuise day.
Karen, don't forget to set your alarm clock for 2:45 AM!!!

Grim and Dede, Happy Birthday to your neice. I think it's great that at her age, she's still into Disney. Thank goodness my kids are, too, or else I'd be a very unhappy camper in this house!
Do your students know you're going to DL? I wonder what they think about that. "Children, I'm going to be absent for three days next week, and you'll have a sub, because I'm going to DISNEYLAND!" I'm so mean to want to torture those poor kids!

Jill, since you've cruised in the winter, I'm wondering how the temperature was during the sail-away time. Would we need long sleeves?

Imagine, Tig's in WDW right now!

 

[nskjerven]

yes, I think we are just about done now. I have to look into getting Paul a racer guy thing at WDW and the conceirge safari savannah thing. I didn't call today and find out what kind of thing we can do Friday night at AKL. Oh yeah, I have to buy that darn formal dress and then pack!!!!!

So I forgot to tell you all Molly had a great lesson. She loved it. So the fear has passed for this fall, I figure the next one will come with it's own set of fear. Paul took her out today and they got some new riding pants and her own helmet (she had been borrowing one) She looked so cute modeling it for me. I'm glad she is happy. I'm nervous, but not the kind of mom that would hold her back due to my fear.

So funny telling students that you are in Dland...I think I'd do it.

Do you mean that I might get a teenager that won't still like Disney????Oh my gosh that would be terrible. I figure soak it up now, ya never know when they figure out the magic is a state of mind and decide to be aa teenager in their own state. I'm so glad I have a young 8 year old. Others I know don't even have the carefreeness and happy go lucky attitute that Molly has, so I'm very thankful of my daughter.

We're having an in nite tonight. Might watch a video.

I'll lurk around...

Nan

 

[Aisling]

I have to look into getting Paul a racer guy thing at WDW

Is that the Petty Driving Experience? I was dying to do it when we were there last year, but just couldn't fit it into a tight schedule. Wow, a dull guy Paul is not! Mountain biking, race car driving. Chad's looking into a company where yiu can jump out of planes tandem with the professionals. It's something like $300, so I told Chad he has to at least chip in for it being so expensive. Paul, want to try skydiving with Chad? If it wasn't so costly, I'd do it. Still might!

 

[nskjerven]

yes the Petty thing car. Paul is totally into race cars. He used to race go karts in college, then ralley cars when we met, he was a navigator, his childhood friend the driver, now owner of the Willie Skjerven go-kart race team. He also loves Formula One. He's not into jumping out of planes. In my younger day I might have done this, I flyed (is that a word?) when I was in high school and college. Little 2 seater Cessnas. There was a time when I thought I'd jump, but not now, just don't have that same desire. My sister had done it. Her ex is/was a big jumper. Did shows and everything. For me I think the parasailing is about as far out there that I'm willing to do.

okay just started hide & seek, time to scare myself to not sleep tonight....what a nut job.

N