Christmas Cruising 2005

[havencruiser]

Hi everybody,
Thanks for all the wonderful swap items! What a wonderful idea! Tar and I loved being part of it! I wish we had more time to spend with all of you on the cruise. It seemed like we were always just passing somebody on the way to or from another activity.
We not only booked another cruise onboard (the 4-day 12/26 Nassau cruise that the Magic is doing next December), I also became a Disney Vacation Club member.
We went to WDW after the cruise just to avoid having to fly directly home after such a wonderful cruise. Pop Century was not one of my favorite resorts. It seemed to be distracting even though it was cleverly decorated. On Monday, we went to visit "our" vacation club spot, Sratgoa Springs. Now, THAT looked relaxing! I can't wait to go there.Tara's High School band is playing in WDW at the end of March so luckily I have a new trip to plan to go watch her play. I would have Disney Withdrawal otherwise.
It was great meeting all of you!!!!
Sharon

 

[domiii]

Hi all

I have a before AND after story. We were in the last stages of packing before we left for my mothers on 12/23, when I realized our passports and birth certificates were not where I have left them! COMPLETE mayhem for 2 hours searching, looking, tearing the house apart. Complete melt down, mass hysteria! Without those docs, we weren't going to be able to get on the ship!I had gone shopping earlier that day and left Dominick to find his vest for pirate night (which he never found - hence the boring costumes we ended up with!). When were frantically searching, he kept telling me he didn't remove anything from this one chair, so we would bypass it. Why did I listen to him and not search it is beyond me. Yup on that chair under some pillows the whole time! I was so relieved we found them I didn't even get mad at him!

On the way home we had a 5 hour wait in the airport. It wasn't so bad because we all relaxed, napped, ate (if you can believe it), did our own thing. Finally got to the gate and they told us the flight might be signifcantly delayed. Yikes, fortunately, it wasn't. Anyway, I am exhausted at this point, wiped! Dominick sat next to me, an 11 year old boy was behind me and my BIL was on the end of the row behind me. Well, Dominick had gas the whole trip - not from the cellar. It was from the attic, but it smelled REALLY awful. The kid behind me must have been practicing gymnastics off the back of my seat the ENTIRE flight. And my BIL NEVER shut up the entire trip. The kind gentleman from the UK was too nice to tell him to SHUT UP. We had a good laugh at my BIL's expense! But I was glad to be out of that plane!

I so enjoy reading everyone's posts knowing what you all look like! My one regret is that all of us didn't get together more often. Perhaps we need to book a cruise without the extended families, so we can be together.

Dede and Grim - loved your pirate costumes. VERY authentic! Saw your formal pictures in Shutters. You guys make one beautiful couple. Dominick is still sorry he spilled a drink on you.

Nan - good luck on your house. You are a hoot! Perhaps if we visit family in CA next summer, we'll have to stop by! Molly is truly going on 40! Very cute.

Kris - we were in the private Palo room for brunch the same time you were with the women in your party! I didn't want to intrude. Hope you are all feeling well.

Jill - you are great - sorry we didn't get to parasail together. That would have been a perfect ending!

Lynn - I am still laughing that you were on an excursion with my family and didn't realize it! Dominick said he had a great time singing with you.

Aisling - Dominick always has unpaid tickets - a long story for another time! We so must have to get together since we live so close! It was fun talking to you anyway.

Tig - thanks for putting all the boxes together for us. I can't wait until your pictures are posted. Hope Brit and Steph had a good time.

 

[nskjerven]

Thanks for the good wishes for Dad and House. Haven't heard today on how dad is yet, but if it was bad mom would have called, so I have to just trust and pray it will be ok.

Seems crazy to pay that and when you see the pictures you will say they are crazy, but since we are here we understand the market and it really does cost that for what we want. (a piece of cr#p with the ocean view/sound) I had my camera with me last night, but didn't want to jinx it by taking the pics. Paul is Freaked out about how we will get our house (full of cr#p) ready to sell (in one week). I'm not worried, he found one of those they drop it off storage lockers, and the unpiling will begin. (but not until they accept) again the agent is being a nutcase and is telling us that she doesn't get our emails, so they are being sent twice, and no word on sellers interest in our offer. It all might be for not, so can't get my hopes up too high. Molly is crushed she doesn't want to move (what 8 year old would)

On that sick note, Wilson did it again this morning, on the way to the bathroom, right before we tried to rush him off to school. Better to barf at home than in class right teachers out there? He is fine now, not a sign of it again, playing nintendo in his jammies. Kris, hope you're better soon.

Jill, did I read you say you dozed in Crique too? I admit I fell alseep, no dozing here. Sounds like a nice day off you're having, you go girl!

Dede, hope you see the movie, it was good to sleep thru that too

Oh boy, just got an email, the sellers are having dinner tonight to talk over the offer (sounds like a divorce or something there) it might happen, not holding my breath)

Better get to work today, as I'll be in debt for the rest of my life soon....

Later,

Nan

p.s. yes, maybe Molly & Wilson will have that stand, good way for them to dream of college!!! You did of course just give me the idea for our we've moved card!!! Expect that one to look like you've described.

 

[Aisling]

and can get Broadway tickets for less than $100 for both of us for everything I want to see.

Have you checked out broadwaybox.com? They have codes which can save you tns of money for Broadway/Off-Broadway tix. We saw Les Miz, 4th row center, $100 seats, for $50 with a code from that site.

HI to all, very quickly. Busy right now!

 

[domiii]

I forgot to mention - Mom booked the 4 of us for 2006. We may push it off until 2007 or 2008 - will have to see what is happening before we decide!

 

[grimgrinnin]

Back at work today... ugh.

Nan - good luck on the offer! How's the guest bedroom?

Karen - forgot to mention how much I enjoyed your 'Night Before Christmas Cruising' post. Nice work!

Jill - It's 76 degrees here - vroom vroom! And sorry I talked your ear off on the cruise....

Verandah Man - thanks for the pictures!

Here's a pic of one of our art auction wins (giclee on canvas):

I went to 3 of the auctions on the ship. I'm addicted.




grim

 

[nskjerven]

Loser here!!!! I in my downloading haze I copied one flash card pictures on to the other flash card pictures. I hope that what I downloaded to paul's pc was all that I lost....please send prayers and pixie dust my way on this bone head move....

N

p.s. no news on dad or house.

 

[Aisling]

Mom booked the 4 of us for 2006.

My kind of Mom! How exciting for you all! Chad was disappointed that I didn't rebook while onboard, but I think I want to do a good 10 days in WDW instead with my sibs and their families, if we can coordinate. Or rent a house in Cali for a week and do DL. I've been checking into it, and the prices aren't bad! Decisions, decisions.

Nan, I have no idea what you mean about flash cards, but in all seriousness, I hope it works out the way you want it to.

Grim, that's a mighty purdy picture you got there.

Hi Sharon and Lynn!

 

[nskjerven]

okay news on dad, seems good. coming home tomorrow. got low on potasium (sp) last hospital stay, ya think they'd notice before they sent him home, huh? other news he and mom will buy our SJ house if we get the beach house (much relief here) waiting to here on HBM, and of COURSE it will have a guest room....or at least always room for guests Remember it's Northern Ca beach. Not warm and not so sunny. I love the sound of the ocean not swimming in it (well...St Maarten was awesome, right Jill?)

Nice picture Grim. I'd have mine with rum.... yes I'm missing my cocktail of the day about now.... wonder if Paul will make me something???

Karen, I'm so glad that your mom like the trip so much to want to do it again. And even better to take you guys with

We are dining tonight with the dear friend neighbors and have to tell them about the house....dread....they will be sad, but happy, then my parents...sad then happy (just kidding) they love my parents.

With that back in the house for the night, haven't found my laptop so that's why I've been so quiet at night....

N

Aisling, I vote Dland...of course then I can see you and the Mouse too!!!!

 

[domiii]

Karen - forgot to mention how much I enjoyed your 'Night Before Christmas Cruising' post. Nice work!

Thanks, Grim. I had to make it a good one!!

Jim are you out there? I forgot to mention I loved hearing about the "WaWa" fish Keith caught. Our guys fishing trip was canceled on CC. I was sad because it is one ot the things that ties my nephews to their father.

Did I tell you that we got a private backstage tour? We had our very own magical moment! Jeff the stage manager was coming out of some show we were watching so I asked him if there was a chance of us seeing the workings! He said he'd see what he could do. Next thing we got a note in our stateroom to meet him.

He spent an hour with us. Showed us backstage, scenery, props. Talked about costumes, performers, rehearsals and their rotation. As we were leaving he told us it was his busiest day on the ship. AND he still had an hour for us.

I tell ya, you give kindness, you get kindness. There were a few other CMs that we joked with the whole time. They just made us feel special! I can't wait to go back. I do need a park fix real bad though!

 

[nskjerven]

Could you guys (Grim, Tigg) read the cd that I gave you on last morning? I'm having problems reading it. If you read it give me the steps to acknowledge the disc please. Thanks - Nan

 

[grimgrinnin]

Hi everybody,
I also became a Disney Vacation Club member.

Welcome Home!




grim

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Hey Y'all!

Nan, disc 1 in and being copied as I write

Fabulous meeting all of you Looking for picture discs from all of you (or at least a web link, that's where I'll put mine...working on that as I write as well.

Going back to read a little~

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Double Post stupid boards

 

[domiii]

Colleen - I was wondering where you were ....

 

[havencruiser]

It tough being back at work in the cold AND the rainy weather. Can't wait to go back in March to see DD Tara's band play in the Magic Kingdom I kinda feel like I need a disney fix. Are any of you familiar with the Shutterfly.com website? YOu can upload pics there. The user name is wdwscrappers@disney.com and the password is Mickey. It's commonly mentioned on the Cooking, Crafting, and Scrapping forum on the DIS.
Sharon

 

[nskjerven]

Tigg: I may need you to mail me back a copy if Paul can't fingure out how to make me a copy. For some reason a switch got flipped and now when he burns the disc it is putting in some weird format stuff....

 

[Aisling]

Nan, your pictures are fabulous! The kids and I so enjoyed looking at them.

Hi Tiggie! You've been so quiet, I thought you snuck back on the Magic for the New Year's cruise!

Sharon, I'm not a scrapper, but I've recently started reading the cooking/crafting/scrapping board, and I'm enjoying it. I've also started reading the camping board, and I found out that some people spend the whole winter at Fort Wilderness campground, paying something like $30 a week! There's a nickname for people who do this, but it escapes me right now.
I can't even imagine being a "tenter" at the campground, especially in the summer. But tons of people do it! But you never know, when I've tried avery possible Disney experience, I may have to tent WDW just to say I did it all!

All's back to normal here. Chad ended up getting a D from that nun professor he was complaining about at dinner one night on the ship. I think she's intimidated by his outspoken ideas, his outspoken conservative ideas that is, and she reacted negatively. From his work, I see no possible way he could have gotten a D. He made an appointment with his dean, since the professor hasn't returned any of his phone calls for an appointment. They're still on intercession until the end of January.

I'm giving my notice on Monday. I have a load of work already scheduled for me for the full month of January, so I'll finish out the month and then start my new career of unemployed but happy mom/wife/freelance writer. (I used to write for a newspaper a couple of years ago, until they unexpectedly shut down. I'll tell you a secret...I used to write for True Confessions/True Stories! I even used my real wedding photo for a fake story. Chad made me stop when he got his senatorial aspirations, and didn't want the media digging up stories about his parents sordid...fake fake fake!!...sex life. )

Ok, my phone just rang, and it was my SIL/supervisor inviting me to the holiday party she's having tonight for our facility's administrators. I wasn't originally invited, since I'm just a plain ole worker, but since I'm right here, she said come on over. Should I have a couple shots of my St. Martin rum and break my news to the whole bunch of bosses this evening???
My stomach just got a flutter of butterflies writing that!

Gotta get ready, pick Jesse up from the movies, iron Mel's shirt, and be on my merrily anxiety-ridden way!

Nan and Paul, I've been looking at HMB sites, and it looks beautiful. Did I tell you that already??

Hi Dede, Grim, Lynn, Sharon, Tara, Jill, Brittany, Stefanie, Molly, Wilson, Keith, Dom, Kayla, Candace, Shelly, Dawn (yes I met Dawn!), Kris, and Tori if you're still with us. And Hi Aunt Lee from Chad who, wants to know if you Dis.

BBL

 

[LynnTarrant]

I don't know about you meeting Dawn but your son met her daughter Kate and I've seen the photographic evidence!!!!!!!
Loved your pics Aisling working on getting mine sorted so hopefully they'll be up before the weekends over.
Work has been hectic this week and I'm still on Florida time which hasn't helped!! Playing VMK until all hours to get my Disney fix is not a good way to get re acilimatised (sp) It was great fun meeting you all, if any of you cross the pond please let us know so we can meet up with you. (Will the Magic be in the Med 2007!?!)

 

[domiii]

Did I miss something - where are Nan's pics? Dom has been at the playhouse all week - he's doing lights and sound, Kayla has been at the school rehearsing for the talent show all week - and I don'tknow how to up load anything. If you are all still interested, Dom and set up a site for us. But is most likely won't be until Sunday night before he can get a chance.