Cranberry or Pineapple?? Part 2

[jiminyC_fan]

Too bad you found light rail in Houston, Marcie. I thought that might have been a good excuse for you to come to Denver for a visit! BTW, you aren't the only one that gets tipsy with a bushwacker!!

Wow Jrsy. Thanks for the compliment.

 

[Jsme]

Hi everyone. I am sorry I have been so busy. I think you need a vacation after the vacation. I know I could have used one. Like I said earlier we had an amazing cruise.

Friday
We arrived in Miami after a nice afternoon to evening flight. The kids had never flown so the nice weather for the flight was wonderful. They both loved the flight.
We arrived ontime in Miami. Did not wait to long in the search for luggage and then we were off to the hotel. We were very lucky in our room. You know we stayed at the Doubletree in or near Bayside. We stayed with Jeff's Hilton points. Since he is in one of the highest steps with that card we were upgrade to a s bedroom condo. It was so nice. We had a nice room. People actually live full time in these condos too. The balcony was to die for. I thought I had pictures of the balcony but I had the problems with the memory card and I must have lost those. The balcony ran the length of the condo. The master bedroom, the second bedroom and the livingroom all opened out onto the balcony. The view was amazing. I was running around when we checked in on the phone with a friend telling her about the large room. We also had free sit down cook to order breakfast. The normal room in the hotel with two queen size double beds is $220!! I would not be able to imagine the price of the room we had.

After my phone call and dropping the luggage in the room we went down for food!! My kids kept on saying this hotel is for rich people. lol by poor kids. They had the stores and place to eat and the kids said wow a mall in the hotel. lol I wanted sushi really bad. But my family would not go for it. They went up to this deli and ate and I went back and got sushi. While waiting on my sushi a spoke to this really nice couple. They live in Miami and said this was the best sushi place to eat in Miami. They drop by a couple of times a week to eat there. I was really impressed. When I walked in I was told they were really behind and was not sure if the sushi chef could do a takeout order. But the chef was awesome and whipped up my roll in seconds. I left a nice tip for that too!!

MacKenzie at the airport with Cosmo in Raleigh, NC. One of the few pictures that I recovered of Cosmo.

We then went back up to the room and of course more phone calls had to be made. lol

Jeff and I went to bed at 11 and the kids stayed up and watched a movie.

 

[Jsme]

Saturday

We woke up early as usual. Jeff and I laid there for a while just talking. We discussed the fact that we bet that Mac slept on the sofa. I got up and went to the other bedroom...no child. I went on to the livingroom. It was so cute. Erik was on the chair and Mac was on the sofa.

I ran back in to the bedroom and told Jeff to come look. I also grabbed the camera. I think I have one picture of E in the chair.

When I took these pictures MacKenzie was so mad. My noise woke them up and she said that it is rude to wake your child up by taking a picture of them.

She has never been a child to wake up. If you do you are going to experience her wrath. Boy we did too. She was so hateful. We had several words and almost left her in the room while we ate breakfast but I made her go with us. She complained about not being hungry but while our breakfast was free she had to have the not free $9 fruit plate. I am so glad she was not hungry. lol

 

[Jsme]

When we had checked in the night before it was dark. Right, night equals dark at this time of the year. Anyway, when I woke up on Saturday I was even more amazed at our room. I mean we had a view that was to die for!! We could see the Bay right from our room. It was so beautiful. We were on floor 29 and the pool deck is on floor 10. Literally we could look right down on the whirlpools which one was in the design of a four leaf clover. They had 4 different hottubs contacted but they had one or two more that were seperated. I just kept on saying look at the view. I know my whole family laughed and laughed at me. I have to tell on myself here, you see I did not realize the night before that all of the lights was on the water. I did not realize that we had that much of a view of the bay so when I woke up I was literally amazed at all the water.

I scared poor Erik half to death. He was coming out of the bathroom and I was in the hall way waiting on him so I could get him to go out on the balcony with me to see the view. He jumped at least a foot in the air. I took him outside and said look at all that water. He rolled his eyes and said yeah momma I saw it all last night. lol I did not realize what I was looking at was water.

 

[Jsme]

Like I said we did go down for breakfast and when we came out we got a call from Barbara that her and Danielle were there. We met them and took them to our room to drop their luggage. They could not check in until later in the day. While they ate we went to take with the check-in desk to see if we could get Bonnie closer to our room. Bonnie was to check in later in the day.

My use to be friend had already called the hotel and told a few lies about me. It was all a mess. I just do not understand people and why they lie. I asked the lady at the desk if they could see about getting my friends closer to us when they checked in later in the day. I told her the last name/Smith and they then asked me my name and I told them my last name. She then went to the desk to pull up my room and she looked at me and said she could not get Gioia closer. I said who? I then said not Gioia. I repeated Smith to her. She had called the hotel and put a note on my reservation to not have my friends close to me. From what I was told she had said alot of untrue things to make sure not only that she was not close to me but that my friends were not close to me. I did not find the last sentence out until this week. Otherwise I would have probably lost it right there. But since I ddi not know all of this I just said no my friends wants to be close to me. I was told that they could not be. Like I said I found out the other this week. If I had known of the lies my friend could have requested at checkin to be closer to me. But as it was she had Bonnie moved near her.

 

[Jsme]

We went back to look outside on the bayside and went by Barb and Dani having breakfast. We all went outside and looked around and walked the block.
Here is a picture of Dani, me, Barb and Mac on the walk way outside of the hotel on the Bay.

We hung out in the room for a while. Barb and me and the girls did run to Walgreens. Came back and it was pm so we had a drink on the balcony. We sat out there a while. The kids went to the clover hottub. Barb said do you smell paper burning? Jeff had stepped inside so we both walked in to see if anything was too hot. Nothing. lol Barb said she needed a nap so she went into the livingroom to nap. I was watching the kids and Jeff decides on a nap. I look down on the kids and they are not there. I figure they are coming up. I go in to lay down and talk to Jeff and they still were not in the room. I go back on the balcony to check on them and to make some phone calls so I would not bother Jeff and Barb. I look down and the kids were back in the hottub. I then look left and oh my goodness....Black smoke was coming from the balcony beside of ours!! I run in and tell Jeff quitely so not to bother Barb that black smoke is coming from the balcony next to ours. He jumps up and tells me black smoke is not good! He checks it out and sure enough lots of smoke. He picks up the phone next to the bed but since it is a condo and someone owns it that phone is a normal land line. I just shove my cell phone which is still in my hand to Jeff. He calls down to the front desk. Security comes up. They can not get into the condo next to mine because the people had the lock changed and did not leave a key. They refuse to break down the door due to the responibility of it. By now a few small flames can be seen from our balcony.

Needless to say the fire department was called in. They broke down the door. The fire was on the balcony and it was started from some throwing their cigerette out of their balcony. Thank goodness we saw the smoke.

I have a video of all of this. When Jeff posts these I will post the link for you all to see my excitement!

 

[cristit14]

Wow, Selena! It sounds exciting so far. I'll bet the fire was pretty scary!


Heidi, I missed you at Arrow today! I was almost out of Bailey's and then I figured I should go ahead and get a bunch of beer for Thursday. We are having dinner here. I got Brad some Winterfest, I wanted to try the Blue Moon Winter ale and then I got a Raspberry wheat from Twisted Pine which is in Boulder. Brad just went out to get it all out of the car and when he picked up the Winterfest the bottom came out of the box and three of the bottles dropped and broke.

 

[ImMarcik]

Like I said we did go down for breakfast and when we came out we got a call from Barbara that her and Danielle were there. We met them and took them to our room to drop their luggage. They could not check in until later in the day. While they ate we went to take with the check-in desk to see if we could get Bonnie closer to our room. Bonnie was to check in later in the day.

My use to be friend had already called the hotel and told a few lies about me. It was all a mess. I just do not understand people and why they lie. I asked the lady at the desk if they could see about getting my friends closer to us when they checked in later in the day. I told her the last name/Smith and they then asked me my name and I told them my last name. She then went to the desk to pull up my room and she looked at me and said she could not get Gioia closer. I said who? I then said not Gioia. I repeated Smith to her. She had called the hotel and put a note on my reservation to not have my friends close to me. From what I was told she had said alot of untrue things to make sure not only that she was not close to me but that my friends were not close to me. I did not find the last sentence out until this week. Otherwise I would have probably lost it right there. But since I ddi not know all of this I just said no my friends wants to be close to me. I was told that they could not be. Like I said I found out the other this week. If I had known of the lies my friend could have requested at checkin to be closer to me. But as it was she had Bonnie moved near her.

Wow Selena, I just don't get some people either. Is this the same person you told me about that lied about the cruise? It sounds like you were having a blast anyway!!!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Selena - I can't believe what your friend did and the fire. That is just crazy!!!!! I am enjoying your trip report.

Cristi - I will be coming to your pampered chef party on Dec. 2nd. I was Arrow earlier this week. Chris got Fat Tire, 1554, something else called ________ Below and another one, all from New Belgium.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE IPODS, PLEASE HELP!!!!!
I just bought an Ipod Shuffle for Chris and we are having the hardest time getting the songs purchased from Itunes onto the Ipod Shuffle. Please help me with step by step instructions. Take it easy on me, I am a newbie!!!!

 

[cristit14]

Great Heidi, I will see you on the 2nd. Let me know how the 2 below is. I almost bought that one.

Sorry can't help with the Ipod. Don't have one.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

I got Brad some Winterfest, I wanted to try the Blue Moon Winter ale and then I got a Raspberry wheat from Twisted Pine which is in Boulder. Brad just went out to get it all out of the car and when he picked up the Winterfest the bottom came out of the box and three of the bottles dropped and broke.

NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Broken bottles of beer break Jrsy Boy's heart.

I had never heard of Twisted Pine until my dad sent me a newspaper article from NJ about it. I like the Hoppy Boy.

 

[Jsme]

Wow Selena, I just don't get some people either. Is this the same person you told me about that lied about the cruise? It sounds like you were having a blast anyway!!!

YES it is

 

[Jsme]

Jeff and the kids have the Ipod Nanos but I know nothing about them. Jeff and the kids do it all. Sorry Heidi.

 

[Jsme]

Actually the fire was not as scary as it sounds. I am one of those people who act in the time of danger. Where as Jeff kind of just stands there.

I would have been really upset if they were making us evaculate. I would have then been scared. But with everyone so calm I think I just felt like they are use to it. While we were out taking the video we went to the other side of the floor. The Doubletree hotel/condos are made like a square with an open center. You can look down from any of the sides where the rooms are and see in the middle to the bottom and the top.

Like I said from floor 29 up the condos are residents except from our room. I learned this during the fire when Jeff was videoing it all. A resident came out and was real calm. He told me this happenes all the time.

After the fire we decided to go on to Bayside where we were to meet everyone later. We took a taxi and on the way called Bonnie to let her know we were going there and her and Rich decided just to meet us there.

We orginially when I was speaking to that "friend" suppose to go to Joe Stone Crab to eat dinner but she emailed Barb or Bonnie back and told them that the person they knew had died. But I found out the next day by that persons BIL that they had indeed gone there to eat. I can hardly believe lying about a death!!

While at Bayside we found the gang was already there and awaiting us at a little bar on the water. The 6 off us went on to meet them. On the way we ducked into a shop so the girls could look. Jeff was outside and he came in and told us that my "friend" and her family were coming down the lane. The shop we were at was more of an open air shop. I was like what should I do. I could not wait forever inside of a shop for her to past. Barb did not know what to do either. Jeff told us to come. We stepped out and there was her sisters and BIL and nephew (he is one). Anyway Sandy hugged me and the others talked to me. Then here comes her and would you know she talked to Barb and Dani but would not talk to me. So I went up to her and hugged her and told her I love her regardless fo the fact that you are pissed off as Hello at me. She did not say anything to me. Left her arms to her side and all.

We were orginially suppose to meet some at this Cuban place there and all of them led me to believe that was off. Well they had still meet there. It was Janet, Snady, Amy, Chris, Anthony, Liz and Donna and probably a few more.

Anyway we went on to our friends. Remember I had never meet these people. I had only talked to them on the phone and online. It was just amazing. Everyone was so wonderful. We have had so much drama on this roll call, mainly due to the person that is no longer my friend. Some of these people really do not like that person and had treated me ugly but right before the cruise the ones who had been mean (as I posted earlier) had made it right by apologizing. So it was just amazing to meet these people and see the forgiviness and the love. Each and everyone hugged. I am telling you as I type still it gives me goose bumps.

Many many of them had told me that person had waked by them repeatly while they had been at the bar and she never once talked to them. Remember since I was her friend I knew how much she truly hated them. I never once told them though. I just figure I do not want to lower myself to her standards and be ugly.

Anyway we all stayed there for a while. Let me warn you to watch out for those Long Island Ice Teas there. I drank two and di dnot drink another thing all night. I would have been sick if had another adult drink.

We went on to Bubba Gumps to eat. I really was not hungry and should not have order food but I did. I should have only shared with Jeff. Our group was so large that they had to seperate us. Now we had ressies but they had to put us at tables that was beside of one another in an L shape.

We had the worse waiter. The other big table had ordered and ate by the time we were just getting our food. It stuck.

They had to wait on us to eat. After eating we were to all go to Hard Rock to meet more of the group. We finally made it there and sat a while. All of us a the Doubletree left earlier then the others. We were just so tired.

Over all my Saturday was an amazing day. I saw a fire, my friends and then meet all of the other of the group. We are all now like a family.

I have to say that I am so glad that forgiviness was found and I made the decision I did by posting on that other board. I know I lost a friend but I have to say she could never have been my true friend if she is so shallow to not be able to get over me talking to this group.

I have to say she does not see it this way. She sees it as I betrayed her. Due to the forgiviness I found for these people she feels I betrayed her. While if the shoe had been on my foot I might have been upset but I would never have stopped being her friend. I was brought up in church and taught to be forgiving as God is to us. But in the end I am truly happy with my choices. I am not the one in the wrong. I am not the one who looked stupid on the cruise.

OK gang I will try to do more later. I can not believe I have not even gotten to the actual cruise.

 

[Jsme]

If you notice I cancelled two fo the three cruises I had booked. Not sure if I mentioned this or not. I am now booked on the Enchantment of the Sea in March and on the Carnival Freedom for Thanksgiving next year. We were able to get an awesome price and we just should not turn it down.

The kids wanted to go back on the FOS not Carnival but we were able to save over $1300 by going on CCL verses RCCL. This will pay for my air fare.

I also found out the kids do have to have braces. Well I knew this already but I found out the cost. OUCH!! Erik is $5500 and Mac's is $2700. I have insurance that will pay $1000 per child. Then I have to make payments of $150 for a year. After that I will have the money taken from my paycheck in my flex account. This coming year is going to be tough with the payments. I need a second job. lol

 

[ImMarcik]

Selena, I am really enjoying your trip report. It sounds to me like you are being the better person. I'm sorry you are having to go through this with one friend but it sounds like you have lots more.

This has been the best weekend I've had in a long time. Aerial is at her Dad's until Tuesday so yesterday Dane & I did some Christmas shopping for her. I know it's early but I wanted to get some things bought while she was gone. Dane and I hung out the entire day yesterday starting by washing both of our cars, then going to a car show and then shopping and out to eat. Today he got the Christmas decorations out of the attic because next Sunday he will be going out of town for work and this week I am sure we will be busy with Thanksgiving. That way, next week while he is gone I can do all the decorating. Wednesday when Aerial is back home, Aerial and Dane are going to work on the yard decorations. Things have been going better around here and it seems Christmas is just what we need. Oh and then this morning my neighbor gave us a whole bunch of fresh shrimp because they had no more room in their refrigerator so I am making a big pot of gumbo. We invited Dane's parents for dinner.

My Mom and my cousin went on another cruise this last week because they were having a special on the last few rooms available. Well, my Mom got really sick. She says their ship was docked next to that ship in Cozumel where everyone was sick this week. Now she says she's had enough of cruising for a while.

Heidi, did you figure out your Ipod yet? I wonder if it has anything to do with it not setting up when you first plugged it in. Maybe because it's refurbished? Wish I could help more.

I bought my ornament and will be shipping soon. When is our day to open them?

 

[Jsme]

I have been shopping several times for my ornament and I can not find the right one. I know I am running out of time but I honestly can not find one I like. What am I going to do??

I really need help. Sandy help me!!!

Marcie I am so glad to hear things are better. And thank you for your kind words. I was very strong until Friday when we were in Miami. After all of my phone calls I got a little upset. I know I am in the right but one of my friends just kept on saying how she would be so upset if this was her. I told her what I just said I know I am right and have not done any wrong. But after our call and once I was in bed Jeff and I was talking and I had a good cry. After that things were better.

 

[Jsme]

MacKenzie and Danielle with Cosmo

 

[Jsme]

We all woke kind of early and headed down for our free breakfast that still cost me about $20 because the kids had to have fruit. lol

When we arrived Bonnie and Rich was finishing up breakfast. We confirmed our shuttle ride time and they left. We order and shortly after my ex friends family comes in. They come over to say hi. Sandy is just the sweetest person. She will not allow stuff like this to color her opinion. We joke some then they are ushered to their table. My ex friend comes and pretty much ignores us the whole time. When we are done I went over and said bye to them.

After leaving we go back to the room to pack everything up. You would not believe how much stuff I had unpacked. I over packed way too much. I will not do this again. I had bought a lot of give away stuff. I swear I will not do that again. However it was so neat to give all the kids their goodies.

After packing Jeff and I head out to take a few last minute pictures.

At 10:10 Jeff calls for a bellhop to come and take our bags down for us. It was so nice that Jeff did this. Normally he will not splurge and makes us carry our own bags. I was smart though this time I had my own stash of money for things like this. He arrives so quickly that we were shocked. We stayed in the room another 10 minutes after he left.

We go down at 10:20 and do a quick stop at one of the little stores for gum. I left my gum and mints at home. Then we head out to meet the crew. Bonnie and Richard arrive in the lobby and then Barb and Danielle about the time our shuttle arrives.

My ex friend and family comes down and heads out. This is when I found out about her lying about Joes Stone Crab her BIL accidently told on her. As soon as he did he looked over at her and you could tell they were hoping we did not catch it. Oh well, it is up to them about that lie not me.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Posted by Selena,"I have to say she does not see it this way. She sees it as I betrayed her. Due to the forgiviness I found for these people she feels I betrayed her. While if the shoe had been on my foot I might have been upset but I would never have stopped being her friend. I was brought up in church and taught to be forgiving as God is to us. But in the end I am truly happy with my choices. I am not the one in the wrong. I am not the one who looked stupid on the cruise." I love the way you worded this and I agree whole heartedly with you. You ARE the better person and can feel good about it. Sorry about the fire! I would have freaked and not been able to sleep that night. I can't remembe who you got for the ornament. I will have to look it up. PM me if you think I can help! I am not real happy with my decision now. I bought it all excited and then now have second guesses. Oh and braces, with twins, we had them in braces at the same time as well. Not fun.

Marcie, sounds like you are having a good weekend and have next weekend all planned out. Way to go!

That was so sad to hear that poor Jrsy has a broken heart.

Heidi, how is the IPod going?

Cristi, count me in on the party as well!