Christmas Cruising 2005

[nskjerven]

Jill & Tigg: BTW, the tickets still haven't come yet....I think it's been 7 days hasn't it???? I'll check online tomorrow to see when I bought them, they'll show on my credit card online thing..just wish I had them in my hands....so I could get them in your hands.....

I don't think we could go to PI, the Smash Mouth thing is an "event" in itself...oh well, we'll leave that TR for Aisling to tell us about

N

 

[trinibjill]

You are probably quite right about PI. I have season passes for there & it's the only time I can't use them.

 

[minniegrl]

Hi all!

Grim and I just got back from the Melting Pot. It was fabulous! We had the cheddar cheese fondue to start, with beer and garlic in it. For our entree we had the Lobster Indugence, that came with lobster, shrimp, filet mignon, chicken, and more steak. We got the Coq an vin cooking broth, with mushrooms and burgandy wine. It was really good, but rich. For dessert, we had Dark Chocolate S'mores fondue. It was so good! I'll definitely go there again sometime.

I like the idea of getting a pedicure on the ship. I've never had one, but I sure could use one so that my feet are nice and pretty for the rest of the cruise. I'll have to see if Grim will let me

We're on a 2 week countdown for Disneyland. We leave two weeks from today!
MIL broke her ankle last week and might not get to go But she's staying off of it completely for the next two weeks in the hopes that she can still go.

Oh, and we sold our house......again. The first deal fell through, but we have the contract for the second one wrapped up already. This time its an investor from CA, so we still get to rent the house back until our new one is ready!

Well, all that good food is putting me to sleep. Talk to you all later!

Bye for now
Dede

 

[nskjerven]

Hi all:

I have really been up since 5am....I was ebaying....got 2 American Girl dresses for Molly. & some school volunteer stuff done. (when else does it make it to the top of the list???)

Back in the house for an half hour of shut eye...


Good Morning Monday,

Nan

 

[domiii]

Have you ever had the impending doom feeling?? My mom is visiting a friend in Florida. We get a call Saturday that my mom is having chest pains and was in the ER. Of course I freaked! I work in the Cath Lab and have some understanding of cardiac events. They admitted her and observed for for 24 hours. She was discharged yesterday and is having a Thallium stress test today. She is hopeful to come home on Wednesday. She would prefer to have her cath here, should she need one, because I can be there with her. She wasn't going to call and tell my sister and me! The friend she was visiting told her otherwise.

As if that wasn't enough, we had a patron pass out in the hallway backstage DURING Act 1 Saturday night. Well the old addage 'the show must go' on is true! I ran to get the director, who happens to be an RN, and had to go back and change scenery, pull the curtain and do other stage manager stuff! Meanwhile, the cast is freaking because the man looks like he is suffering a massvie heart attack and the director is telling us not to call 911! We weren't privy to her conversations with the man so every one is getting mad thinking this man is going to die and no one is doing anything. Turns out the gentleman was the piano player's father. He experiences excruciating pain from time to time due to a quadruple bypass 2 years ago and has to sit very still and work through the pain. He sat in his car for 1/2 an hour and came back an enjoyed Act 2 so much, he started the standing ovation we received!

That was just too much fun for me! AND Kayla is now dating the drummer! Her first relationship - ah puppy love - she has a new found confidence. He's a really nice kid and she is happy. Good for her!

I haven't slept in two days!!! Any one want share their Xanax?? I could certainly use it. I may have to take a Lunesta tonight!

 

[trinibjill]

The last two days are soooo exciting (sic)

I'm painting. Oh well, good morning.

we are supposed to finally get a taste of Rita

Now that we are close to the cruise let's talk

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Nan! Help!!!!!!!!! I hope you're on!

I can only get 7p or 9p for Palo's Thursday-
and 10:30 or 11 for Christmas Brunch-
what do I do!?!?!?!?!

 

[trinibjill]

dom

Your life is too exciting for me. Saying a prayer for your Mom.

The thought has gone thru my head about something happening to me before I finished paying for the cruise. I know that Tigg is really looking forward to this & really want them to go. When we get older you accept the fact that your time is limited & just hope for the best.

By working in a prison with a variety of convicts of different age & health; several times I have been called on to make a decision if some one needs emergency help. From heart attacks, the hernia that flares up, a brain annurism & even an overdose. Oh yes & even fights & self-mutilation. I've even watch a person die slowly from Aids.

Anyway, Happy thoughts

Life is actually very good & we have so much to be thankful for. We have met a great group of people thru this discussion group & we will have a great cruise. Love Luck & Lolipops

Jill aw:

 

[havencruiser]

Thanks for starting a new thread! I was so upset not to be able to get into the old one. Half the fun of getting ready to cruise is logging on the the DIS to chat with fellow cruisers! I booked late for the Xmas cruise and as soon as I got booked, they closed the thread...whew...now I have a reason to stay online way too much and read the boards...it's part of my thorough cruise preparation..right??

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Thanks for starting a new thread! I was so upset not to be able to get into the old one. Half the fun of getting ready to cruise is logging on the the DIS to chat with fellow cruisers! I booked late for the Xmas cruise and as soon as I got booked, they closed the thread...whew...now I have a reason to stay online way too much and read the boards...it's part of my thorough cruise preparation..right??

Welcome Sharon! Glad to have you

I am the keeper of the lists, my name is Colleen.

~My first request of you, tell us a little bit about yourself and who's coming with you?

~Second, would you like to join a DIS swap with us?
Nan and I are organizing a swap, you have to tell me you want in-
we each submit 25 (very small-they have to fit into a lunchbox) items,
they can be mailed to Nan or myself before the cruise.
the first night, I will set up a DISmeet and we will be doing our swap there.
We are limited to 25 participants, right now we have about 11.
(unconfirmed count as of this moment.)

 

[domiii]

I am playing catch up here!

In August of 1997, we went to WDW with both sides of Dominick and my families. There were 29 of us. We stayed at PO (now POFQ) Dominick and I did all of the planning, reservations, timing, you name it. Man, if I knew then what I know now, I would have SO planned this different. But I digress!

Disney had JUST started the IllumiNations cruises. We booked both boats for the same night. We sent each family an invitation and told them where to meet us, time, date and place. Dom's family was on one boat and mine was on the other. I was sad not to be with Dominick, but it was the best way to work it out.

We had planned to take the boat from PO(FQ) to DTD, transfer to busses to the appropriate hotels and be on our way! Little did we know that when there is a storm they do NOT run the boats to DTD. Being Florida, it stormed, thunder and lightening the whole nine yards. We called and they told us they were still planning to run the cruises. It was getting LATE.

Dominick and I did NOT have a plan B (never again!). We hemmed and hawed and NEVER thought of calling taxis. We jammed 29 people on an already crowded bus to DTD. Transfered to the bus for the appropriate hotels. At that time it was the same bus. So again 29 of us squeezed into an already crowded bus. On both busses, there were parents with 2 and 3 kids on there laps to accomodate us all. It was amazing! Fabulous Disney behavior!!! We finally got to Y&B and BW and went flying to the boats. Literally. Dominick's uncle was ailing and was in wheelchair most of the time, he even ran to get the boat.

At the BW, my family and I flew down the huge staircase. My BIL and I picked my mom up under her arms and carried her down the stairs!!! We got to the dock JUST as the boat was pulling away, thinking we weren't going to make it. He came back and off we went. (I am feeling like Delswife right now! Though not as good, nor as witty!)

It was wonderful. Great view. People gawking at us wondering why we were so special!! Afterwards Dom's boat just took them back to the dock. Our guy (can't remember his name) drove us all around, over to MGM, around by the Swan and Dolphin. It was just wonderful. I went to give him a tip and he told us he wasn't allowed to. I told him if I shake your hand who is going to know!! He was a college kid and I am sure could have used the extra cash.

When we all got back to PO(FQ), Dominick tells us his nephew had to pee really bad during the fireworks. So Dominick held him off the side of the boat so his nephew could relieve himself. Hey, he was only 6 years old, poor kid. I, on the other hand, would have been mortified.

 

[havencruiser]

Hi Colleen,
Yipeeee....."talking" with Christmas cruisers again. It's bringing back great flashbacks of doing this before my last Disney cruise.
I would love to join your swap. I've never done it before but it sounds like fun! I am an avid scrapbooker and am always looking for things I can add to my layouts.
Joining my on this cruise are my 15-year-old daughter who said that on a scale of 1 -to-10 of anything she would like to do, a Disney cruise was a "9+" ...pretty good rating from a teen! Also going is my somewhat skeptical dear boyfriend who is happy to come along (and pay for the cruise but can't imagine what "all the excitement" is about.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I sent Rose on one

... but have yet to do an Illuminations Cruise myself

29 people!! How many actually went on each boat?

as awkward as it probably felt, it was a memorable evening wasn't it Kar?

Aisling-PM coming - do you want me to book a time on the banana boat for us?

I had to pick a different excursion for the girls on CC-wild side wasn't available on the excursion list so I picked the catamaran snorkel adventure for them from 9:15a to noon.

I got my laptop working but am still having pc issues-seems I have to reinstall my modem. just anf FYI~

Karen-what a scare! I'm glad the gentlemen is ok after all that. Anything could happen at any given time-adapt and overcome-right? (and enjoy every moment god gives us.)

Dede, dinner sounded awesome, I'm glad your house issues are solved (again )

Nan, email coming too

Happy Monday Morning Everybody!

~colleen~

 

[domiii]

Jim and Sharon:
WELCOME!!!!! The more the MERRIER!!

 

[nskjerven]

Karen: Prayers and Pixie Dust, although I know at this time that doesn't even begin to help your concern. My dad has his heart attack in 05/99, followed by quad bypass and carotid artery surgery, it was bad...2.5 weeks in hospital, me & sis, Lee with them(M&D) the whole time. (went home and made a baby 6/99, and named him after my dad..Wilson, is after Donald Wilson Dodson, my dad) Making me crying right now thinking of all this again. My love is with you, please keep us up on how mom is, she's part of our family too!!!

Love to you all,

Nan

p.s. I loved the hearing of that little one hanging over the side to whiz....when ya gotta go ya gotta go.

 

[nskjerven]

Hi Sharon (& group):

Glad to have you with us on this Merry Xmas sail....Also glad to have you in the swap. FYI, it's not a scrapbook swap, although Kris and I would gladly use a scrapbook piece or two, it's more like a family thing swap. From our family to yours and vice versa....We talked about making the items kid friendly (or not, still waiting for chimers on this) and having them come from our home states or not...Ours will be a Norwegian thing...that got ya thinking huh? Might be some lutefisk (yuck), not really, just something that will hopefully have you think of that Norwegian family (ok, DH & the kids I'm just along with a new last name) when you see it.

ok, high hoe, hi ho, it's off to work I go....

N

p.s. Dede, the food sounded sooooo good, makes me want to go to La Fondue.

 

[havencruiser]

Hi,
I'm happy to do any kind of swap! As long as I have the details, it sounds like fun. My daughter did something like this for European families they stayed with on a recent People-to-People tour. It's amazing how many things are out there with the word "Pennsylvania" on them that you don't know are there if you aren't a tourist out shopping for them.

 

[nskjerven]

Here we are, at the Brownie meeting...One of the girls asked me if I own anything other than Disney t-shirts, I think I said "NO"

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Soooo, didja get your penny tshirts Nan?

I REALLY need to do this full time-just not enough hours in the day to plan trips AND work

I booked my Palo for Thursday night. Only 9pm was availabe, hopefully when we get onboard I can possibly have them move us up a notch...we'll see.

Hopefully we can get in for Christmas brunch too. That'll be the extent of our visits to Palo. I really want to do as many different things onboard as I can.

Riddle me this Batman - is Palo's charge per person or per reservation? just curious.

I'm gonna buy onboard credits before we sail-that much less that I have to pay for in December.

Dede, didja pack your tiara yet? I have my bag started but alls it has in it is disney hats, my kttw card holders and a outlet/breaker bar. After my October trip - in two more weeks - I'll do my real packing.

How is everyone today?

Karen, how's Mom?

 

[nskjerven]

Jill & Tigg:

The cirque tickets posted on 9/21(order on 9/19), so I guess to be fair I shouldn't be concerned until this Wednesday, but ya know it would just be nice to have them today....FYI. I'll let ya know the minute they arrive and then they will be in route to you (I know you are wanting to feel them too....)

What a bunch of weirdos we are....

Aisling: Are you going to Smash Mouth for me(& Molly, poor thing, she thought I said we are going to see them on NYE, she told Paul that later that night when I found them...so sad, a concert hound at 8 years old????

Working for a living, working.....

Nan