Cruise 10/11/2003 Part 2

[papa]

Shari enjoy your cruise. Post #3800!!!

Hard to believe that it is only 20 weeks Mary.

Mike

 

[Twinave]

Hi Everyone!
Papa: Congrats on the new car. Great deal!
Viking: Congrats on the new job. I'm sure you will love the challange and the travel. Too bad Anja can't travel with you.

I finally got my Bruce Springsteen video!! It's great! Longer and better then the one I taped myself. And it has an interview with Bruce at the end. It took so long to get here that I e-mailed Barnes & Noble. They corrected the problem, shipped it out that day, and dropped the shipping charge.

Sorry so many people are having rain this weekend. The weather here is beautiful! Daughter Mary is on a camping trip this weekend with Rellingtwin's hubby and kids. They drove to FL yesterday. But Sister Mary had to stay at home in S.C.

Boardwalk4me has joined the Brunch group, (5 people) which brings our total to 37. Welcome Nancy, Jeff, Lisa, Alisa, and Ross!

We were thinking about going to see Bruce Almighty this weekend. Anyone out there hear if it's any good?

Got to run and do laundry. Also DS has a birthday party to go to in about an hour. DH and I are planning a early morning fishing trip in the gulf tomorrow. Maybe we'll catch dinner.
Later, Ave

 

[Viking]

Has anybody of you ever done a vacation on a dude ranch?

After doing some research of the activities available in Colorado the term "Dude Ranch" popped up and as City Slickers is one of my favourite movies and Anja is very fond of horses, we're thinking about spending one or two weeks in 2004 on one of these ranches.

Any input is welcome!!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Have never vacationed on a dude ranch although always thought it looked interesting.

Didn't rain all day today although it's now starting to spit. It was actually quite sunny here although a little cool but we went to friends and were able to sit outside to eat dinner which was nice. Had my sweater on though.

Hard to believe that it's only 20 weeks. I don't want the summer weather to zip by though.

Have fun tomorrow on the helicopter ride Eric -- that would be really neat. Jim's afraid of heights so he would probably never do it -- has has trouble sitting in our seats at the baseball games since they are in the higher level of the Skydome. The view is actually great though.

Take care everyone -- have to go change the laundry. Our dryer is taking forever to dry things so if I want to get all the laundry done over the weekend I have to be prompt in changing it.

Fiona

 

[Tulirose]

Well, you guys are just full of good news! Congrats on the new job Eric. Best of luck to you with it. Hope you enjoy Colorado during your job training stay.

I'm sure Anja and your two cousins will give Opa the royal treatment on the helicopter ride over Frankfurt tomorrow. It will be an experience he is sure to always treasure.

Congrats to Papa and Kathy too on the new car. Gotta love that 0% financing. Our 2003 Monte Carlo was also 0% financing. Definitely a deal clincher!

Also papa - this is going back a few pages now but never had a chance to write it....In regards to those shoes you linked us to. Richard is convinced you were pulling our leg with you saying that you bought and now wear them. I say you were dead serious. Please tell us, which one of us is correct?

Windy - There must have been someone in chat last night, even if there were no Cruisetoberfest people. Hope to make chat next week. Gonna try real hard for the Saturday one especially.

Dan - Missing ya. Are they working you too hard?

Ave - Seems like you are always doing laundry! Hope your fishing trip was successful. Thinking of attending the Palo brunch stag. TuliRich is not interested.

Mary - Don't work too hard this weekend. Hope you get to pamper yourself a little bit during your alone time.

Eric - We went to a dude range a few years back and really had a great time. Richard suggests you ride a Clydesdale. He rode one whose name was "Budwieser". At that Dude ranch, Budwieser was nicknamed "The Couch" cuz he was so comfortable!

Fiona - Glad to hear you enjoyed "Finding Nemo". It looks like a fun movie. We will probably wait for it to come out on DVD, however. Rich and I seem to only go to the movies when there is a new StarTrek movie out. BTW - Also going back a few pages.....Here at the movies we have lots of trailers and some commercials prior to movie and it seems to take forever, but the movie always start at the allotted time. These commercials and such start early but one needs to get to theater early to get a good seat (or any seat for that matter)so it gives us something to watch while waiting.

Sarahsmom - Happy to see you posting. DH especially enjoys your posts. Don't stay away too long.

Cathy @ C - Best wishes with the new camera. Have fun with it - remember the film is cheap!!

Colleen - Glad to see you joining the early crew table. You guys should have a great time together. Hope to see you in chat next weekend.

Best wishes to all our cruisers this week - Nancy, Tina and Shari - for safe and fun and SUNNY cruises!

Eric - You are preparing for a Class of '83 reunion?? Did I tell you this past summer I attended my first H.S. reunion? It was the 30th anniversary of our graduation. I had a blast!!! BTW - I'd be interested in that CD if the offer is still open.

Arlene - Whaddya say? Should we start planning a local gettogether once this rain clears up?

Oh - One more thing - I received the other weekend from DS that float that collapses and fits into its own pack. Only thing is, how does one blow up the pillow and outer float part if I take it on the cruise? Who wrote about this? Cathy @ C? papa? Neither my windpower nor Rich's is strong enough to blow that up. Did you guys try it? Looking forward to using it in our own pool but I think it is a no-take for the cruise unless you guys know some secret of inflating it that we don't. Clue me in if you do please.

Long post.

 

[Viking]

We also hat constant rain during the night and it still rains now (7am), but the forecast predicts, that it will stop around noon - hopefully.
I'm also not especially keen of heights, but have no problem with it when I'm in any flying contraption or a fast moving rollercoaster And today it's Anja's problem anyway as I'm not flying. My two cousins and Anja will accompany Opa, so he has two granddaughters and a grandaughter-in-law as flight attendants.

 

[papa]

Rosemary I am wearing the zcoil shoes and they have made a world of difference in my mobility. I was having so much back and hip pain before that I could not walk in a store on concrete without leaning on the basket. No problem at all with that now after putting on my high heel sneakers.

Hope that Opa has a wonderful flight today.

Good luck to Ave and the crew of the ss minnow on their fishing trip today.

Rain is in the forecast today here and we are just going to have a relaxing day.

Mike

 

[cdnmickeylover]

It rained last night but is not raining now and actually looks like it's going to be sunny.

We are going to see AIDA this afternoon. Everyone who's seen it says it's good but hopefully it will be.

Have to finish the laundry and housework first though. Yuck.

Fiona

 

[Twinave]

Rosemary, Please join us for brunch. My DH is also thinking about backing out. And there are other's dinning without a spouse. Maybe we could get enough for a table of our own! The Palo's DiSingles group.
You are right I do a lot of laundry. But that's because I save it all up. DH helps by running off loads and putting them in the dryer all week long. Then on either Sat or Sun I sit down with the mountain and fold, fold, fold. It is so hard to convince the kids that every piece of clothing that comes out of the dresser or closet does NOT need to be washed. It doesn't matter if it was even worn or not. It's easier to throw it in the hamper, then to put it back in the dresser.

We didn't get to go fishing today. Panama City Beach is just too crowded. The State Park which is just a mile from our house and where we launch our boat, was even closed for a few hour yesterday. I don't remember that ever happening. But tomorrow all the tourist go home. So we will try again.
Later, Ave'

 

[Viking]

The helicopter-flight today was a full success. The weather wasn't great: Overcast skies, from time to time a little drizzle, but fortunately the ceiling was at about 2000 feet. Opa and teh girls really enjoyed it. They flew over all our houses, circled downtown Frankfurt; Opa's birthtown 10 miles North of Frankfurt; the 2000 year old Saalburg, a Roman Castle, which was rebuilt about 100 years ago; and much more.
After the flight we went to a Gelateria, an Italian Icecream-Parlour. This business is completely in Italian hands in Germany - Even Hagen Dasz can't compete against them.

Talking about laundry: We do a machine-load every other day. We have a programmable laundromat, which stands in specially dedicatet room in our basement. We have eight families in our house and averybody has his machine there. Anja fills the machine befoore we head off to work. Two hours before we come home it starts doing the laundry and is finished when we're home from the gym. Whe we arrive at home Anja goes staright to the washing room, empties the machine and hangs the laundry in the one of the two drying rooms just opposite. Meanwhile I fix dinner. The next day when we get home Anja retrieves the dry laundry while I prepare the meal. We have a lot more laundry than the average DINKs due to our strict training regime, whith 5 work-outs per week. We also considered getting a dryer, but decide against: Why consume a lot of energy for a process which just needs some time. But for the laundry necessary with kids we would also surely get a dryer.

Fiona,
enjoy the opera. Aida is great!!

 

[Tulirose]

Oh My! We were on Page Two! Everyone must be enjoying the wonderful weather this holiday weekend has brought us (if only the weather part was true! )

Glad that none of our three cruisers were on the Norwegian cruise ship in Miami. Hope they are having a wonderful time and not hear about that terrible accident until they return home.

Papa - I KNEW I was right. Richard was convinced you would never ever wear such shoes. Hey! Back pain is a ***** so we are both happy that those shoes help ya. (hmm... maybe we should consider getting Richard's 87-year-old mom a pair of those shoes! She certainly can use more bounce to her step! )

Ave ~ You convinced me - sign me up for the brunch. I'll fit in anywhere, don't take up too much room... or as you suggested we can have the DISingles Palo brunch people - solo eaters whose spouse's prefer to spending some relaxing quiet time.

Eric ~ DINKs?? Please explain. I know I heard that before but drawing a blank right now. Glad Opa's flight was such a success.

Fiona ~ Another one always doing laundry, but you do manage to get out a lot too -- ballgames, movies, plays. Hope you had a great time this afternoon.

Went to a bridal shower brunch (after my workout -I'm doing so good) for Richard's niece today. This is the one getting married in Wyoming whose wedding we unfortunately cannot attend. She was suppose to get married last year and we gave up a really good rate on a Disney Cruise because we planned on going out to Wyoming for the event. However, she cancelled because her fiance was in the middle of getting his Masters Degree and felt it was too much and they cancelled their wedding last year two days after the due date to book the cruise at a reduced rate. When MY niece announced her wedding in Nebraska this year and Richard's niece said she would marry THIS year for sure - we said whoever set their wedding date first would be the one we would attend. My niece set the date first - August 8th - a Friday. I then tried to convince Richard's niece to get married that Sunday - August 10th - thereby allowing us to attend both ceremonies. However, she did not listen to me and set her date for two weeks later and alas and alack, we cannot attend hers but will be headed to Omaha for the other wedding - the first of the nieces/nephews on my side of the family to marry. Richard's side has tons of nieces/nephews who have married (some more than once) but still, we are sorry we are missing this one. Tina is a special niece.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!!!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Aida was great! Loved the Elton John songs.

Yup lots of laundry but then I tend to spread it out a lot. I'm not all that prompt to get it out of the dryer although lately our dryer hasn't been working all that well and takes almost 2 hours to dry one load.

Did manage to dust this weekend -- hate it so have to admit don't do it every week (ok, ok like once a month).

Turned out to be an ok day although it does look like rain.

Glad your flight was ok Eric. That would be neat to see a city by air. I think you can do it over Toronto but have never really looked into it.

Talked to DS again over dinner -- not one ounce of interest in going to WDW. He figures 12 trips was enough -- from the time he was 2 til he was 14 we went every year.

Oh well I'll keep asking and maybe one of these times he'll come.

Must go and pay some bills. We will be out every night next week at baseball games so have to get stuff done tonight. Again DS is not interested -- basketball is his sport and he went to a couple of Raptors games this year -- I think they lost each time he saw them but he likes going and the tickets aren't that expensive (he doesn't sit right on the sidelines for like $180 a ticket. )

Take care everyone.

Fiona

 

[needabreak!]

Wow!

I can't believe you guys are still cruising together! How fun!

Kyle, the kids and I are all doing well, and are gearing up for a 7 day on HAL's Zuiderdam after school is out (we teachers can't cruise off season all the time.)

Hope to meet up with you all again on Disney someday soon.

Laura

Magic-2001
Vision-2002
Zuiderdam-2003

PS- Eric--my son still talks about the airplane you gave him.

Papa-Mike--I still make the Creme Brulee recipe you passed along---hugs to Cathy for me, too.

Hello to Tullirose too!

 

[RellingTwin]

Laura, I got so excited when I saw your name. I thought you were going to join us!!Maybe next trip? Nice to hear from you and glad you are all doing well.

Fiona, enjoy the baseball games!

Rosemary, DINKs= Double Income No Kids

Eric, glad Opa's flight went well. Cities look SO different from the air.

I miss my family They are on the 2nd day of the canoe trip today). It is very quite around here without them. I used the time to do some Spring cleaning. I get to toss out MUCH MORE STUFF when there is no one stopping me!!!

BettMom..I finally came upon the badge holders. I have 12 extra.

 

[needabreak!]

Hey Mary!

Good to see you are still with the group as well.
Maybe we can go when DCL gets a "teacher" cruise together during the summer--at reduced rates. (Yeah right!)

Maybe before the kids are too old to enjoy Disney (do you think that could ever happen?) we will go again. Maybe sneak off when you all travel.

It is so neat that you all have stayed in touch.

Hope you all have a wonderful time.

Is this the Western? Has anyone tried it yet? It looks like a great itinerary.

Got a great deal on the Zuiderdam for June--verandah and all!

I know no one can touch Disney, though. Someday.....

Take care,
Laura

 

[Viking]

Hi Laura,

great to hear from you!!!
Yes, it's the Western. Papa and some more of teh "old crew" did it last year, but couldn't do the planned itinerary due to a hurricane. They ended up in Puerto Rico and St. Marteen, I think. So although being on the Western for the second time, it will be kind of a first time for them And for us it's a first time anyway.

As the inflatable aircraft was such a success, I'm thinking about bringing some more this time. A colleague's wife works for the airline, so I can get them at manufacturer's prize. Just recently I bought some 4feet-long planes for my nieces and they loved them, too.

All the best from cold and rainy Germany

Anja & Eric

 

[Viking]

Fiona,
talking about sports: Frankfurt's soccer team was able to regain its place in the Federal Top League. They had to descend to the Second League 2 years ago. It was a nerve-wrecking finale and they won it literally in the last second
And our football-team (Frankfurt Galaxy) gained the lead in the NFL Europe versus the Barcelone Dragons.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Eric -- glad to hear that the Frankfort teams are doing so well. The Jays aren't doing too badly lately but it's still early in the season and they are a young team so we'll see.

Dog had me up at 5:30am so I think it's going to be a long day.

Must go and get some work done.

Happy Memorial Day to all the Americans and hopefully the weather will cooperate. It looks ok now but is kinda cool but it's supposed to rain this afternoon although it didn't rain as much as they said over the weekend so we'll see. Once it dries out we will have to cut the grass though for the first time -- lots of people have already cut their grass I just have to nag DS to do it and he always gets lucky and it rains when he's going to do it.

Fiona

 

[okwmiester]

Matty204 and Boardwalk4me:

What a great Memorial Day weekend!!! I bet Brainard was specacular!

You hit it on the head about MEA, Great rates for cruising and only a couple of days missed at school....

Boardwalk4me....Be sure to come hungry for brunch on Monday...My favorite part is when they tour you around the tables and describe all of the food offerings, what to choose at this brunch is probably the most challenging decision I have to make all year..(how many crab legs to put on my plate without looking like a bu-foon, to have the soup or not to have the soup, entre versus home made pizza...or the desert pizza...my head is spinning just thinking about it...)



the display is to die for!!

 

[Viking]

Folks,
we hope you enjoy your Memorial Day - I just saw that you have a holiday when I checked the Euro/Dollar-Exchange-Rate on Videotext and there was no quote for New York - Just a note stating "No quote today due to holiday". If our currencies continue on their recent development, I may consider buying a new digicam in Denver. I think about getting a Minolta Dimage 7i with a 7x zoomlens and a 5.3 Megapixel CCD. It is 20% cheaper in The States and gets another 20% more affordable due the the low Dollar. This is really a temptation
Over here the weather is also getting better again with temps in the 80ies and further rise is predicted for the end of the week. On thursday we will have a Christian holiday, but unfortunately Anja has to work. And I also "lose" a holiday during my trip to Denver, because there is another Christian holiday while I'm there. Our company policy says "Only take the holidays given at your present location", but I think I can live with that.