Cruise 10/11/2003

[Viking]

Colleen,
thanks a lot for the explanation. I guessed it from the context, but it's always better to know than to guess
And I really appreciate the link. I just sent it to my office-mailbox to show it some of my coworkers.
Our lively thread is a great way to improve my English. Additionally I read a lot, right now it's the Lord of the Rings, which is quite a demanding book.
And during the cruise I can work at my accent

 

[@GoofyNut]

Nancy .... Tell Norm we wish him well with his leg thingy! Hope it'll help him make the speed walk on Deck 4 ... you know to work off all of the calories we get in the restaurants!

Cathy with @ C

 

[bettemom]

Cathy w/aC...

Calories !!!!! I thought this was a magical cruise.....calories?
Burst my bubble....LOL

Bette

 

[papa]

Scarlet's home. $260.90 later OUCH!!!! $80 for parts and $180.90 labor. Mike

 

[dvcChrisVWL]

HA! I was *sick*. Actually, now that Colleen mentioned it, it was a combination of a big pot of home made chili - and the Hooters hot wings, and the home made salsa (with jalapenos), and the home made guacamole with greasy chips, and all the rest of the junk I ate too much of during Super Bowl. But is was fun while I watched!

Benefit was that I was able to go out at 10am and get some Super Bowl champion t-shirts hot off the press. When I got in line, they were out of size medium. They were handing them out as fast as they could while we were in line to pay. By the time I got to the counter to pay (only 20 minutes), all they had left was size 2XL! And they were sending someone out to one of the distributors/printers to get more! That credit card machine kept their phone super busy.

Boy, I can't wait to get on the cruise. I picked up the Disney Cruise Line screen saver - several pictures that flip by on the screen. Nice photos! I can't wait to take my own photos!

 

[Tulirose]

I love it! Alikat and dvcChrisVWL bantering back and forth on the internet when they are located just a room apart! LOL

Eric - I saw last night a thread on this board from someone in Belgium concerned about taking a Disney cruise (I think in March) because of the *impending war*. He wanted to get Americans' point of view of traveling at this time. I think he should hear from a fellow European who traveled during a time of uncertainity in 2001 and is chosing to travel again.

Cathy - Lake Ariel is where Richard's niece moved to. She loves it there. We were there a few weeks ago for the day to help her move a washing machine up there from her MIL. Turned out it took us until 2 p.m. to leave the island because the washing machine turned out to also be an entire 15 foot truckload of stuff, which we had to not only load on the truck but also pack some of the stuff for her. We should know better when someone asks for help to move an item or two. This was not the first time we were hoodwinked.

@Goofnut said: Rosemary .... Is Eric trying to say we have some sort of reputation?

I have no idea why he said that Cathy. I'm certainly am no joker. 'smatter of fact, people are always telling me that I'm much too serious!

Can't comment on superbowl commercials. Saw none.

Geez, would you believe I started writing this post about an hour and a half ago?!! Well, Believe It because it's true. I've been distracted and diverted and just involved with other things. So, I regretfully leave this post shortchanged. I just haven't been up to my all standard of posting lately!

 

[dvcChrisVWL]

Originally posted by papa
Scarlet's home. $260.90 later OUCH!!!! $80 for parts and $180.90 labor. Mike

Papa - Sorry to hear about Scarlet. At least it was under $300. My mother-in-law (?DMIL?) just took hers in for a $1600 engine (and other things) replacement. She only had it for a day or two when (as I thought might happen), it went back for a $500 transmission (from the same old car as the replacement engine)! Not much else to replace on it - it should run for a few more years...

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by Tulirose
Eric - I saw last night a thread on this board from someone in Belgium concerned about taking a Disney cruise (I think in March) because of the *impending war*. He wanted to get Americans' point of view of traveling at this time. I think he should hear from a fellow European who traveled during a time of uncertainity in 2001 and is chosing to travel again.

Found the post on page 3, made a reply. The post is titled "War/Security".

Chris,
do you think the Tampa-area will be finished with celebrating when we come in September?
My company is based in Denver and when the Broncos won the Superbowl some years ago, we thought our Denver-staff would never stop to brag about it

 

[@GoofyNut]

Rosemary .... I can't believe you were so close last weekend doing the "few things" move! If you ever go back for a visit, let us know ahead of time so we can meet! I know what you mean about "moving a few things" ... got suckered myself.

Chris ... Where did you get the Disney Cruise Screensaver ... on Ship?

Nancy ... How is Norm feeling today?

Mike ... OMG Scarlett was really sick, wasn't she! I guess you were ill too when you got the bill!

Bette ... Sorry, but I think the Disney "Magic" stops when it comes to actual calories---those are for real!

Eric ... Unfortunately, you can attest to what it is like in America after a national tragedy like 9-11. I think we have all learned a lesson that tomorrow is uncertain.

Have a very Mickey Day everybody!

 

[Viking]

Originally posted by @GoofyNut

Eric ... Unfortunately, you can attest to what it is like in America after a national tragedy like 9-11. I think we have all learned a lesson that tomorrow is uncertain.

Yes Cathy,
but nevertheless out of so much bad come some good things:
We found wonderful friends in The States and we learned that, no matter how strong the wind blows, the American Tree may bend to it, but it will never break and when the wind is gone, it will stand firmer than before. This is your country's true virtue!!

I hope this is also valid for Mike and Kathy's bank account, after being drained by the local Volkswagen Shop Cars -especially the nice ones- are money-sucking vampires!!!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Cars -- ugh -- took mine in for regular maintenance and it's costing $500.

It's costing me $99 to upgrade the computer on the van -- Montana 2001 and $300 to fix the windshield wipers which stop in the 'up' position rather than the 'down' position. It seems that neither is covered by my warranty. Not a happy camper and can understand the feeling of a drained bank account b/c of a car. I actually love the van but upgrading a computer on your van is a bit much for me. There goes a potential quick trip down to WDW in the spring I guess.

Still cold here although it's supposed to warm up as the week goes on.

A big news story here is that a homeless woman (who's been charged) left her newborn baby girl on concrete steps in a stairwell going into the parking garage at Toronto city hall on the weekend. Luckily she was found within 10-15 minutes of her birth or she probably would have frozen to death because she wasn't covered or anything. She still had her umbilical cord attached. They did track down the mother have have charged her -- although I'm not sure that's the right solution. Anyway they named the baby Mira -- short for Miracle. Can't understand how people can leave their baby this way. We hear about it a couple of times a year but I'm assuming that it happens more often that we don't hear about it.

Didn't watch any of the Superbowl or the commercials on the weekend although I've seen the Fedex commercial and did think it was funny.

Well I guess I have to get back to work. Have a meeting with one of the partners to set the budget for the year. Should be a lot of fun.

Fiona

 

[dan and scott]

Well guys the official planning has begun for us. I reserved our hotel for the night before the flight to MCO. I now need to do the Radisson (for the 10th) and a rental car or cars for the 8 of us!

Does anyone know of a code for the Radisson yet? I think that we should all be booking rooms there that need to since Carnival has that huge ship coming in! Demand I'm sure is really picking up. Does anyone know when the Mariner of the Seas comes?

Also Scott and I are planning another cruise, not sure if it will be in November or wait until January. Anyone else planning another at that time?

Since everyone is speaking of cold, Mansfield has the "HONOR" of being the coldest place in the state of Ohio. Monday morning it was -3 with a wind chill of -38!

Dan

 

[Viking]

Fiona,
for cases like this we have "Baby-Doors" in Germany. They were newly introduced about 2 or 3 years ago. If a mother has an unwanted newborn, she can go to an institution with a Baby-Door. The Baby-Door is essentially a kind of incubator with an opening to the street, placed in the wall of a hospital, a church or a similar institution. When the mother opens the door she can put the baby in the incubator. After some time an automatic alert is generated and a nurse goes to the interior door and retrieves the baby. The mother then has 8 weeks to reclaim her baby without any legal problems, she only has to have her situation examined by social workers. After the 8 weeks the baby will be put up for adoption.
This clever idea already saved some babies' lives.

Dan,
that is really cold - I start shivering when I just think of it. Over here it's getting colder, too, but it's still in the 30ies. For tonight we have storm warnings with speed up to a 100mph, mixed with rain, slush and snow. Right now we get lots of slush on our roof windows, which produces some strange noises.

Mike,
tomorrow Anja does the late-shift, so I spend the evening with Gramps. We're gonna have a pizza and watch "The Mummy" on DVD. I'll tell him that you said "Hello".
My Auntie (His daughter) and I already started the preparations for his 90th BD, which is due in May. His present will be a Helicopter-Flight over Frankfurt, his flight attendants will be Anja and my two cousins (His granddaughters).
I'll do a presentation of things, which happened from 1913 til today.

 

[papa]

Eric tell Gramps we said hi and hope that he enjoys the helicopter ride. Yeah Fiona, after the repair bill and rental car bill it was a little over 400 total US.
Looking for a rate for the radisson Dan. We would like to book and stay there again ourselves.

Have to run as the oven is beeping and I need to put the cornbread in there. Mike

 

[Tulirose]

Yummmmie -- corn bread!

 

[Twinave]

Eric: In Florida there is a law that says a woman can leave a baby under certain conditions, ie at a hospital, or other public building without fear of prosacutions. I agree it has saved lives.
Just 17 days till I see twin sister at Disney Hilton Head!!!Also heard from my "new" boss. Got a new second job. I start the end of Feb. Got to pay for the DD braces. LOL
Got to run, DD let the dog out and he is GONE. Got to find him before DH gets home. Later, Ave'

 

[papa]

Hi everyone

Scarlet is back and in great form. Starts immediately and runs like a scalded dog. (Don't ask me who scalded the dog. It's an expression we use here in the South)

I have to work this Thursday and Friday then I'm off until next Wednesday. I will need to do a lot of visits for Nurses for Newborns then.

The cornbread was so good tonight! It was crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. With a small pat of butter, it was scrumptous. We had white beans and turnip greens with it. Oh yes, some ham too. No potatoes tonight. Mike tends to cook one thing at a time and he had the cornbread done already when he asked me about the potatoes and I said to forget them cause the bread would be cold when they got done. Hot cornbread by itself can be a meal in the south. Old folks eat it with just good cold buttermilk. Rosemary, our cornbread does not have flour or sugar in it. Only cornmeal, one egg, buttermilk and some hot oil. Is that the kind you like?

We were at the Cracker Barrel last summer and some people from up north were here and were trying the grits for the first time. They ate them plain! No butter or sugar. (The way I like them) or butter and salt and pepper (the way my mom liked them) I laughed at faces they made and the comments they made. I wanted to tell them how to eat them but Mike told me to mind my own business. Please pass the word on grits. They really are good if cooked and seasoned properly.

How is school going Elaine?
Great news on the new job Ave. Oh yes, before I forget. I got a new patient today. The social worker was worried about DV. When I got to her home she looked at me like I was crazy when I mentioned it. It was just her and her 18 mo. old daughter there. Her husband is a tow truck driver. (I know about tow truck drivers now Ours was the salt of the earth. He brought us home even though he wasn't supposed to.) She denied any violence. I felt like a fool. Maybe I just don't have the experience to recognize it but she looked very good and was relaxed and puzzled about my questions.

DS has "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns". I enjoyed both.

Katie is here and is fussy, am going to rescue Grandpa. Take care, Kathy with a K

 

[padisneyfan]

PA just passed that law that a mother can drop off her baby at a hospital or other safe haven and not be prosecuted. What a cleaver idea about the "Baby-Door" maybe the US hospitals should look into that.

Norm is full recovered. We had a long day at the hospital yesterday from 11am-6:30pm. The procedure only took 45 minutes, but 2 hour wait before the procedure and then 4 hours post procedure. He had a huge pressure dressing at the groin area which he had to wait until 3pm today to take off. Really restricted his walking until that came off. I guess that is the idea behind the dressing to keep you from moving around. Now he should be good to go for a lot of laps around deck 4 to work off those desserts.

I was off today and doing more decluttering. I tackled a closet that DS#2 had packed with junk. 7 trash bags later, there is only one big blue bin remaining plus all his Hess truck on the shelf. Won't he be surprised when he comes home. I even have Norm going through his closets sorting out clothing. This has become an obsession. I have to stop and look at the cleaned out closet just to admire the open spaces. I'm easily amused.

Dan--- Wow,you are way ahead of the game. I still haven't booked the cruise let alone get a room at the Radisson. I am trying to work on my May cruise (at least I have that booked and have the plane tickets). Apparently there is a shuttle launch scheduled for May 23 so may go over and stay at the Radisson to see that instead of doing a couple days at WDW.

DS#2 had car problems on his way back to college and he had his car towed this week to the garage. We finally decided on a AAA approved garage since we didn't know anyone who used a garage in the area. His bill is $283. There goes one of his paychecks from the Christmas break for a car repair. His college is in the middle of nowhere and Pittsburgh is 30 miles away so it wasn't easy finding a garage that was close. Just hope they didn't rip him off, though it doesn't sound like it since it was a computer problem that needed repaired. I hate cars, at least in the old days you sort of had an idea when the horse was going to die on you. Not with a car.

Kathy--- I always wondered how you eat grits, they always looked so plain. I can see how butter and sugar would help them.

Ave--- Good luck on the new job. What will you be doing?

Have a good night everyone.

Nancy

 

[Twinave]

Kathy, DV is sometimes Very hard to spot. The fact that your patient acted puzzled rather then geting defensive is really a good sign.
Nancy, Hope you and Norm are doing well. I'm starting a walking program in March so I can join you on deck 4 in the mornings. My new job is working with disabled adults. These people are severly disabled. I'm talking non-verbal, wheel-chair bound, G-tube feedings. There is a group home, with 24 residents, in 3 houses. I spent several hours there a few weeks ago as an observer. The place is very well run, very clean and very upbeat. I start on Feb. 22.
Welcome to Matt!!!
I liked All the Super Bowl comercials!
Later, Ave'

 

[dvcChrisVWL]

Eric - I doubt our celebrating will be over by Sept. This area has not much else to celebrate, so you will probably see lots of stuff with Bucs on it all around! It probably won't be over by then, but I am sure I will be sick of it by then!

Cathy - Got the Screen Saver from, well, sources. I could not find it on-line (ebay, etc). And Disney merchandising said that they don't have it and that it might just be a ship merchandising thing. The company who does the (about 20) screen savers for Disney says they can't sell it. But I found it. Email me if you want more info.

Is it September yet?