Cruise 10/11/2003

[papa]

Hello everyone,

Sweet tea is made at our house with teabags. To make one gallon of tea, we use 2 family size bags of Louisanne tea and we boil approx 2 quarts of water. When the water gets to a boil take the pot OFF the burner and plop the tea bags in the hot, not boiling water and wait 15 to 30 min. After that we put about 1 cup of plain ole white sugar in the tea pitcher and add the brewed tea. We then put 2 more quarts of cool water (approx) over that and give it a nice stir to disolve all the sugar. Fill up a glass with ice and pour the tea! It is also nice with a slice of lemon squeezed in it. The reason you do not boil the tea in the water is it releases "tinnin" (sp) and that is bitter and not good for you.

We do not use honey or anything else to sweeten our tea. We are not that sophisticated. (sp?) This is also how Cracker Barrel makes theirs. Another version is to put 2 family size tea bags in a gallon jar and sit it on the porch in the sun and when it gets to the strength you like (color) you add the sugar and enjoy over ice. We don't use the "pink stuff" we use sugar. I can use the "blue stuff" in a pinch but really, sugar to me, tastes better.

Hope this helps. This is how I was raised drinking tea. BTW, in our home we weren't allowed tea until we turned 13, and no coffee until we were 18. There were no Cokes unless we were at death's door. and unable to hold anything in our stomachs.

Hello to all the new ones! I am at work right now and am sneaking onto the 'puter' gotta get off before the supervisor comes. Good to hear from the newbies.

Kathy with a K

 

[RellingTwin]

TEA
I worked in a steak house years ago, and one of my jobs was to make the tea. I brewed very stong tea( 4 LARGE tea bags to 3 pots of water) then added the 5 cups sugar. It looked like cola syrup! Then it was stored in the frig. As it was needed we put it in tea urns and added 5 gal of cold water.

Chris, when DH and I were in Morocco we had the local beverage (tea). I was served hot with mint leaves (roots and all!!!) in the pot.

Mike...still wondering if you liked the room?????

Rosemary....I remember PeaGreenID because I met her when we went back to the Radisson to get our car. I think also KellyR, and TiiiigerGirl. PeaGreenId did not make it to CruisEars, but Kelly and TiiigerGirl did.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Boy -- I was away for a day and had to read like 4 pages. Amazing. My SIL is feeling better but is counting the days til she gets her gallbladder out on Feb 19th. Until then she has to really limit her fat intake to prevent her getting another attack since it also affected her pancreas. At one point they were talking about removing her pancreas which didn't thrill her at all since she'd have to be on insulin. My brother and I are both Type 2 diabetics so the diet is familar to her but insulin would be a totally different situation. Luckily it doesn't appear to be that bad.

Interesting about the sweet tea although we drink hot tea up hear. Earl Grey is a favourite. I'd have to make it with the pink stuff though.

Love Cracker Barrel and insist on visiting at least a couple on the drive down and back. We rent the CD's and listen to the books during the drive which is great. We don't have CB in Canada so it's a real treat -- and the diet gets ignored.

Welcome to the newcomers.

Fiona

 

[papa]

Mary in the wind up we did not get that room due to disney changing us at the port. They had moved us to an aft room with solid metal veranda. Kathy went ballistic and I was not a happy camper. They eventually upgraded us to 7056 a cat 5 cabin and that is the one we had on cruisetoberfest I and the cruisears cruise.

Rosemary I wasn't trying to send any message just throwing another saying at you

Oh Mary it is about time for the bouncer's isn't it? Mike

 

[papa]

Shuttle Columbia has been lost on reentry. Please pray for the families.

 

[dan and scott]

I can't handle this news about the Columbia! I still remember the Challenger like it was yesterday.

Please pray for all the families!

Dan

 

[Viking]

Our thoughts are with you and the American people.
We just came home from the hospital and switched on the TV to watch the handball-semifinals when we heard about the sad news in a special bulletin
Dan, I exactly felt like you.
Being a fan of spaceflight all my life, nothing hit me as hard as the Challenger-explosion and now all those awful pictures are back.

 

[Tulirose]

God rest the souls of those seven astronauts of the Spaceship Columbia......

 

[cdnmickeylover]

My prayers are with the families. It brings back awful memories of the Challenger that I watched happen live.

Fiona

 

[RellingTwin]

I came home for a min. to get some coffee for the chilly moms selling Girl Scout cookies outside of Lowes, when I heard the news! How awful. So upsetting!I also remember the Challanger like it was yesterday. The images of the Challanger exploding, and of the Trade Center being flown into are part of our collective memories. Now This
I think I will skip the bouncey things this week.

 

[Twinave]

SO SAD! Praying for the families of the crew.

Ave'

 

[bettemom]

Sometimes it's hard to remember that" the glass is half full" and not half empty...Prayers to all....

Bette

 

[Viking]

Folks,
I just sent edition 15 of our list. To pay respect to today's tragic loss I dedicated the list to the Columbia-Crew and painted the header black.
For the newbies: The list always comes twice, as a Word.doc and as an Adobe-PDF, for those whose puters can't cope with WordXP.

That should be all for today

 

[Twinave]

Greeting to all! Eric thanks for the update. Rellingtwin and I are thinking of changing our dinner res. to late. But will let you know when it's a done deal.
Just finished reading Hopkins thread about dinning with others. Great thread! Check it out! I have a funny story about our dinner partners, Dennis and Chrystina from Alaska/Alabama. My 5 year old son removed all the insides from all dinner rolls one night. I think he had some help from his older cousin but I can't be sure. Dennis discovered this when he attempted to butter one. I myself was blissfully unaware of his antics until we got home and started reading our thread again. Dennis and Chrystina told the story to several of our CruisEars group. All I can say is dinning with us is Never Boring!
Later, Ave

 

[Tulirose]

Thanks Eric for the latest update. I printed this one out and will keep it near the computer to refer to. See, now I know that DVCchrisvwl is just a baby and probably didn't even know what I was talking about regarding Grumman employees going to Saudi Arabia. I will not make a mistake like that again!

Twinave - I had read both tablemate threads and did not realize that they were both started by one of our own. Tina (Hopkins) - my hats off to you for starting two great threads.

Cathy - I knew I forgot something on my earlier posts. Lake Ariel. As I said, we were there a few weeks ago. If we ever go up that way to visit, we will certainly let you know ahead of time.

Thanks to all who educated my to the difference between Sweet Tea and sweetened tea. I loved that Kathy (papa's missus) as well as Mary (RellingTwin) posted actual recipies (although Kathy's is more manageable than Mary's). However, I said to Rich that they don't sell large tea bags up here. But he tells me they do, he has seen them. So, guess what I will be trying out this summer?

Speaking of recipies (am I spelling that right?) (another double wr night!), Mike - can I have your cornbread recipie??? Please.

Dave and Ellen - Please check in at your earliest convenience.

Still praying for the astronauts and their families. Another sad day is coming to a close. Perhaps something good will happen tomorrow. Nite all!

 

[rae519]

Hi everyone!
I am so happy and appreciative that I have received so many message from the 9/28er's asking us to join you again - unfortunately, Michael has won out - he really wants to go for Halloween.
We did have a wonderful time and it was thanks to all of you for making us feel welcomed and a part of your family!
Hope to meet up again NEXT October with you!

Much love and lots of hugs,
Rae (Lilly and Michael)

 

[Hopkins]

Yeap, I'm the starter of that thread on "Tablemate Problems". Looking back, I wish I bundled it with good stories, too. I started another thread on good stories, but it kind of went away. I guess it's the bad/interesting/weird tablemates we remember.

You guys are such a fun bunch! I can't wait to meet you all! I hear you are planning some meetings like a Palo's brunch or dinner. Any days, yet? See..., I'm a planner, but just a rough plan that can change during the day. More like highlights that I want to hit kind of things.

I needed to get away from the televison coverage because I'd be crying all day so here I am on the DIS early this morning.

Se ya.
Tina

 

[RellingTwin]

Hi Tina!
We are planning several get togethers. Since you asked and we have some other new additions to the gang I'll give you what we have so far.

Radisson. Those of us who are staying at the Radisson the night before we sail plan on getting together either at the pool or in one of the meeting rooms.This is very nice particullay fot the kids so they can make friends with others before boarding. Plans are still in the works.

WDW..I'm not sure of this but I think some of the gang who will be at WDW prior to the cruise plan on a get togerther there.

A DIS meet at the start of the cruise. This will probaby be during the sail away party, and has been on deck 10 overlooking the Goofy Pool. But that may change this year. I saw Tulirose (Rosemary) mentioned maybe meeting in front of Topsiders since it would be a little easier to talk. The Sail away is pretty loud.

Brunch at Palo. TwinAve (Ave) is making these arrangments. We all book brunch at the same time in Palo and pretty much take over the place

Captain Marvins at Grand Caymen. Those who are interested book with CM and let them know we are part of a group. They will try to put us all on the same boat. The plan fell apart last year when we were unable to go to GC due to hurricaine Lilli, but we will try again!

I hope everyone will try to make the DIS meet at the start of the cruise. I have lanyards for everyone and they help identify us later on. Also BetteMom (Bette) will have plastic pouches for the KTTW cards which can be hung on the layards.
In years past a few other DIS'ers have brought small items from their home state (or country) to share with others. Bubbles, postcards, stickers, pins, pencils, ect.
We have also had a logo on both Cruistoberfest and CruisEars, and had T-shirts and hats with the logo on them.

Plans will firm up as we get closer to the sail date.

If you post your plans for shore excurtions here, you will have others who may have the same plans and will join up with you.

We had a large number of CruisEars who linked up dinner seatings with fellow DIS'ers as well.

Finally...while several of us have meet before, either on the 9/22/01 or the 9/28/03, most of the group (17 of the 30 families) have not been on either Cruistobefest or CruiseEars. Aside from the family members who are cruising together, none of us knew each other until we met on the DIS boards.
SO TO EVERYONE: please jump in and tell us all a little about yourselves, 1st time cruisers-ask any questions you may have, past cruisers-share you ideas and tips. There are no stangers here!! It is going to be a fantastic cruise with old friends and new!

 

[Hopkins]

Thanks for the information.

So far our excursions are:

Key West - rent Conch Cruiser to tour island
Grand Cayman - Atlantis Submarine
Cozumel - Tulum Ruins

Tina and Bill
Denna and David

 

[papa]

Good morning all Hope that everyone is doing better today.

Rosemary I sent you the cornbread recipe.

Mary and Ave, girls please leave Hilton Head intact for future visitors. Do you think that the beach is ready for the twins??

Tina welcome along with all the other new cruisers. Looking forward to meeting you all.

I think that we are going to do the trolley tour in Key West, I know the girls are going to do the Captain Marvin's stingray tour. Art and I are still undecided on that one. Cozumel is still kind of up in the air.

We saw Castaway Cay twice on the last cruise. Use a ton of sunscreen and reapply often. Take it from someone who had too much sun the last time. Ouch

Mike