Christmas Cruising 2005

[grimgrinnin]

Hehe - thanks for the birthday wishes!

Happy Birthday Aisling!
Happy late birthday Tori!

grim

 

[KKB]

(Except Tori!)
Ya'll know that I'm gonna be 40 in March! (Dan turns 43 tomorrow)
'Course I know Aisling is around my age....
Grim, yur not sayin', huh?
Tori, it's 14, right? So you will be able to go to both Teen club and the new Quest?
Well, gotta run...my 1/2 hour lunch is about over!
Kris

 

[LynnTarrant]

Birthday wishes from here in the UK to all of you folk with birthdays, wow so many Nov birthdays. My mums is the 4th (Sunday) and on Saturday I'll be in London Xmas shopping, the lights in Regents street are based on Ice age that will be fun...
Then the following weekend night out with everyone I work with Sunday packing and then the following weekend I'll be in the Magical world oh my I'm so excited, it will be great to meet you all,
Jim and family are excited too but they've had a a family bereavement, Jim's dad.
I'll bring my exchane items to the AK Lodge front desk if that's ok on Wednesday probably.
Any more tee shirt news let me know when you want money?
my magical express tickets arrived this week.. it's nearly here!

 

[aladdin's clone]

Thanks you guys for the happy birthday choruses! I had a good day, and pampered myself with a few spa treatments.

Nan, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! It was tons of fun talking to you today! I can't wait to meet you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tig, I'm going to send you 25 small gift bags in case all the gifts don't fit in the DCL cases. Some of the items can be put in the gift bags, and the bags attached with string the handle of the box. Sound good to you?

How's the job going? I suspect you're VERY busy! Don't worry, we'll make sure you put your feet up on this cruise!

Lynn, sad news about Jim's father. My condolences go out to your whole family, Jim.

Karen, I'm channel-surfing this very minute, looking for the WDW show. I've never seen it on before, so it'll be a treat to see. And thanks for striking up the band for my birthday!

I can't wait for our docs and ME tags to come. Should be ANY DAY NOW! Please report as soon as you get it/them!!!!!!

Kris, let's see if I predict correctly and your age question gets ignored!!

 

[minniegrl]

Hi all!

I won't say how old grim is because that wouldn't be polite, but I am 35. Maybe that will help you figure out his age.

Lynn~ so sorry for the loss. Its never easy, but it always seems worse around the holidays....for me anyway

Aisling, I wish that I could take your attitude about scaling down your cruise wardrobe. I always have and will continue to overpack. Its just part of who I am.

Well, tons of work to do on the yearbook, so musten linger.

Hope everyone is well!

Bye for now
Dede

 

[FletcherMem0rial]

I'm popping thru, reading all the news --- alotta good some bad

I'll have more time to chat while I am off on Friday and Saturday

Yes, my computer is stuck on Brittany's sign on again

Britt put another thread out looking for more 16 to 20 yo cruisers...she knows about Kayla and Chad...she's just looking to see if there are a few more her age~

Aisling or Karen, If you sent/send me a PM about the swap- I should have time to read it tomorrow, Lynn I caught your message-Nan, looks like you can field that package...I'm not at AKL til Friday the 23rd.

TTYSoon,

LYMI~

Colleen.

 

[nskjerven]

Yes Lynn I owe you a thanks too!!! You reminded me about Magical Express, I forgot to ask for it, duh....I called today and was told the tags are in the mail, whew! Glad I could still get it. I ordered our tickets, cancelled our extra ressies and now all I have to do it figure out what we "really" want to do on the ship. I'm thinking of bagging the pedicure on Xmas, just don't think I want to spend the time on that that day. I think I'd rather be with the kids. Paul and I are also going to review our bike and parasailing excursion. I still want to do it, but seems like we are so over booked with "stuff to do" all the time. I'm going to need a vaca from our vaca.

We'll be checking in AKL on 12/18, so please ask the desk to let us know when and if you drop off stuff for us...SKJERVEN, Paul & Nanette.

Had a nice anniversary today. Went to Costco got a new flash card and the last Xmas present (yeah!) Went to a (suprise) store and placed an order...can't tell ya have to show you this one. It's my Xmas gift from Santa (okay Paul) all I can say is it's really cool and I think you'll all like it.

Must get Molly to bed, talk with you tomorrow.

Nan

 

[domiii]

Sorry to hear about Jim's Dad. Bad time of year. I lost my father and brother this time of the year. Our thoughts are with you!

PMs and emails sent about the tee shirts - FINALLY! Let me know if PayPal doesn't work for you. We'll figure something out. And just as a reminder I have 9 additional tees in various sizes, if any one wants one or wants more. I'll have them on the ship with me.

Dede - I'm with you about packing. I know I will overpack! I never know what I feel like wearing on any given day.

I watched the special on Food Network, I recommend it to ALL of you. The edible village at AKL is like none you'll see any where! Please, some one take pictures for me. AND look for the hidden Mickeys. I can't wait to decorate Gingerbread houses on the ship if they are like anything we saw last night!!!Anyway, towards the end of the program they showed some crowd reaction at GF and asked for their comments. Lo and behold there was someone I used to work with!!! It is a small world after all. That was kind of neat.

My excitement grows with each passing moment. I look at all of the stuff I have bought to decorate and think I am out of my mind. The upside is, alot of it I will not be bringing home!! I need this trip to be the most special trip for my mom and family. It means SO much to my mom and I doubt we will ever have this opportunity as a family ever again!

And as an added bonus, I get to meet 50 new peoples!!! YEAH

 

[nskjerven]

checks in the mail, or the chicken is in the cupboard, or the bird flew the coop....okay I paypal(ed) you the money for us. YEAH!!!! Tshirts now we are really really really going on a cruise. Doesn't it seem a little unreal sometimes?

Paul has sworn to me that we are packing this weekend. HA! Hard to do with kids around. We need to unpack all there presents and figure out what to ship in what suitcase. Remember no use wrapping presents in suitcases...they may open them to see what is inside in security.

Rotten day at work today. Too many bills for one client and not enough money. That is sometimes the hard part of this job. I'm too old to play juggle the accounts payable. When I was younger it was kinda like a game, now I'm just like get the work done and get outta here.

Well with that back to my data entry and sqeezing the pennies from thin air.

Nan

 

[LynnTarrant]

Tell Brittany Jim's two girls are 15 and 17 I think and Dawn and Bonnie who are also in our group both have daughters I think Dawn's girls are 17 and 20 and Bonnies are 16 and 19, something like that all I know is it's 18 months since I last saw them and the pictures I've seen are scary. How do girls grow up so quicky one second they're cute and giggly next thing you know they're drop dead gorgeous and very grown up!!
Enjoy Molly while she's still in the cute stage !!!

 

[jgalecpa]

Tell Brittany Jim's two girls are 15 and 17 I think and Dawn and Bonnie who are also in our group both have daughters I think Dawn's girls are 17 and 20 and Bonnies are 16 and 19, something like that all I know is it's 18 months since I last saw them and the pictures I've seen are scary. How do girls grow up so quicky one second they're cute and giggly next thing you know they're drop dead gorgeous and very grown up!!
Enjoy Molly while she's still in the cute stage !!!

Thanks, Lynn!

Shannon is actually 14 still and I believe Bonnies youngest is 15.

Jim

 

[Aisling]

Karen, paypal and addy sent. I can hardly wait for the shirts!
Today I had a disappointment. It started yesterday, when I got home from work I saw a notice on my door that I had missed receiving a large envelope/small package. So I run to the post office to find that the item was still on the truck somewhere, and I'd have to wait until tomorrow for it to be redelivered, or to leave a notice on my door for the item to be left at the post office for me to pick up. So I forgot to leave a note, and come home to find a second delivery-attempt notice on my door. Of course the whole time I was convinced, sure, totatally positive that it was the package of cruise docs! Back to the post office, item not there but in the warehouse, call the warehouse, beg the lady to let me have my doggone package, she comes outside on the sly and gives it to me, I slip her a ten, open the thing, and it was a birthday BestBuy gift card from a cousin. I was so deflated, I wanted to cry. Three more weeks, will I make it until then? And Nan, you leave in a little over 2 weeks! Not to add fuel to your anxiety, but HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tig, bags sent in case they're needed.

About Brit trying to get some older kids together, at our meet at AKL and on the ship, they'll find each other. I know Chad doesn't like to post on the Dis anymore (since they got rid of the Debate Board ), but when they're together, it'll click. Chad's a smart, cool, sociable kid. I have a feeling that when Stef, Kayla, and Brit meet Jesse face to face, they won't see him as a 13 year old. He's pretty savvy, but also doesn't like to post. Get him in a group, and he's fine. I was thinking poor Brittany must be thinking OMG we're going to have teeny boppers as our teen cruise mates. But it'll all fall into place.

Chad's at the Nutcracker Ballet at Lincoln Centerm should be home soon. Jesse's probably yapping on his cell phone, Mel just got back from the gym, and I'm in lala land half asleep but fighting it.

So far:
TA cruise papers, car ressie paper, AKL ressie, plane e-tickets, and passports are in my personal carryon. Waiting for docs and ME tags.

Toiletries all packed...bought everything new, from toothbrushes to sunblock.

I've been throwing clothes in the one suitcase for almnost a year, but this weekend, probably tomorrow evening, I'm going to go through it.

Put the kid's suits in the cleaners, and will put them straight into the garment bag tomorrow when I get the suits out.

Haven't decorated for Christmas yet, but will have to do it this weekend or not at all. We get a real tree, and it's early to get a realone, but I'm going to do it anhyway. I hope Mel keeps it watered and talks to it so it wont die!

I have tio make a real list of what needs to be done and when. Those last few days, I want to relax, not do a doggone thing but be excited. I'l going to call it a nitey nite now. Chad called, the ballet is over, they're by the Roc tree doing starbucks and he'll be home soon. Imagine a 20 year old boy out on a date calling his mom withoug being asked to, to tell mom that all is well so that mom can go to sleep without worrying? Ima ramblin'!

 

[nskjerven]

me typing away again...

my family "are you DISing AGAIN?!!!"

Just stopped in to say Good night. Aisling you made me laugh, then cry, then freak out...how am I going to be ready...good tip...new toothbrushes, I'm all over that one. Went to target and got our under waa waa cameras.

Again, thanks for the heads up on the idea that we'd have to sign for docs from the mail. We'll be listening for the dog bark. (she barks at someone at the door, we can't hear the doorbell or knock in the office in the backyard)

TMI...babble babbbllleeee

Nite nite,

Nan

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Cruise docs should be mailed soon, DME says they mail at 14 days out so those'll be another week. For us anyway (Stef will be flying in and out-DME will bring her to AKL and we (Mom) will have to take her or we have to pay for a shuttle. SOG is not serviced by DME

I have to call Dad to see if he can take Mom's car at his sister's house or if we'll be car parking it for $12 a day. That will depend if they go to Georgia to visit her daughter or not.

I have my list of all the last minute stuff I gotta do...

Aisling's box was on my doorstep this am, Karen's is on its way soon. Havencruiser and DannyB wanted to be involved but I have yet to hear from them. Jgalecpa, are you doing the swap?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Ok people!!! Swaps are getting down to the wire!!!

Jgalecpa, DannyB, Havencruiser, Tori & Susan-
Last call to get in on the swap!!!

I have most of the boxes ready - I'll give you guys one more week to get your stuff in to me or tell me that you'll bring your swaps to Florida with you.

If anyone wants to bring their swap and add them in on cruise day I need to know this now please~

Karen, I know there's room for yours and Kayla's swap items, Lynn I will grab your swap items from Nan when we get to FL.

 

[nskjerven]

Are the boxes holding everything ok so far???? With more room to go

I'm offically freaking out, just in case you needed to know. 2 more weeks!!!!



Nan

 

[KKB]

IT IS THREEweeks for several of us!
Tig--I suspect I will be bringing swap items...on my agenda for the weekend, along w/ finishing the holiday decor & the grandma calenders. Stuff is strewn ALL over my scrapbook table! If luck is with me and we finish this weekend, I'll ship Monday, otherwise figure on embarkation day.
Tonight girls are getting together for drinks. Looking forward to a bit of respite from the holiday/cruise/school crazies!
Tomorrow night Dan & I are doing a charity "pizza & poker" night. UNFORTUNATELY it is OUTSIDE in a tent...they say they will have heaters, but it has been COLD here! Only 64 participants, and the winner gets a trip for 2 to Vegas! (hey, we are both playing, so we actually have a 1/32 chance, and w/ the cold factor it may be better than that! )The other downer is that it is from 1-5AM! NUTS! I almost said lets scrap it...entry fee was nominal, call it a donation to charity! BUT I gotta try!
SO I gotta get all my stuff done tomorrow cuz Sunday I may be fairly worthless!
Mom & Dad are headed to Omaha today to fly out tomorrow to LA for a MX Riviera cruise on RCI. They picked a nice COLD week to leave!
Definite frenzies around here, huh? Grim & Dede are awfully quiet...seems we are all a bit busy!
Well, gotta get the kids supper.
BYE!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I gotcha Kris, if it's easier for you I will wait til embarkation day. Over the next two - three weeks we'll work on who'll be coming onboard when.

We are actually taking Mom's car to the port, AKL won't let us leave the car there and the shuttle is more expensive than the port's garage will be.

I presume all of you now know that there is no longer a line to get in to board, now we get boarding numbers according to what level we are staying on and when we arrive at the terminal. I will try to make sure all of you have my cell number, it'll work while we are in port.

Nan, I got the swaps under control - it's nice that all of the lunchboxes fit snugly into one box

 

[nskjerven]

No rubbing it in...

Just Freaking out!!!!

Kris sounds like a fun weekend and fun with the hubby. I wish Paul and I could spend time out like that, but no luck with baby sitters for us. Just my sister and she's in a dating groove right now, so no Friday or Saturday nights for us.

We're going to try to pack tomorrow, please send us pixie dust.

We went to look at a house in HMB tonight, but it was too close too the highway. Everytime we go over there I just want to be there for ever. I hope someday it will happen. Not many house come on the market this time of year, I suspect if we really have luck it will be later in the spring or so.

Well, just got home from a long evening, so I'm going to say good night.

Talk to you tomorrow,

N

 

[KKB]

Nice evening of adult beverages and girl chat
Dan asked what we did....I said those wives don't venture much farther than their hubbies...we just showed up at the bar where the guys had just left from! And that is where our butts stayed all night!

Our flight is scheduled to arrive from Memphis (NW) at 12:10, so I am guessing we will be at the ship around 2:00. Hmmm...may post a ? on that one.

We are VERY lucky w/ the sitter thing. Either my mom or Dan's stepmom will sit for us just about when ever we want, but we try not to ask more than once every 2 weeks unless it is a special event or emergency. (still a VERY good deal...that easily gets us a date a week). But occasionally they are both not available, or we have been hitting them up too frequently, and we will enlist the neighbor girl. She is 12, in seventh grade. But her mom is a nurse, and stepdad is a firefighter/EMT, so I always feel VERY safe. Plus I can pay her $6/hour & she is thrilled (our nutty friends pay $10/hour for 2 kids...but they do usually use college girls). Dan & I are very social creatures...we both get very grumpy if we don't get out regularly, especially together. It's definitely good for us!

Well, snow is heading our way quickly...another couple inches. SO need to head to the store for just a few items, then head home to decorate, then work on grandma calenders & swaps. Oh, gotta find time for a workout and a nap, too!

Nan--stop freaking out!
I PROMISE-everything WILL get done. As Nike says--JUST DO IT!
(or in the words of Larry the Cable Guy--GETTER DONE!)

Have fun w/ holiday & cruise preps this weekend, kids. No mental breakdowns, please...I wanna meet ALL of you
three weeks from today!!!!!


I'll check in later...
Bye!