December 10, 2006 - 12/10/06 Wonder

[SILLYANDI]

Keep in mind that while I can't wait to meet you guys, it doesn't mean we are then joined at the hip. If we meet the 1st day (after Sail-a-way party) then I know I'll think it'll be fun to recognize some faces on board.

/QUOTE]


Joined at the hip? I've got 4 kids and DH to drag along-I'm not sure I have room for anyone else (although my hips are much bigger these days!! )

 

[SILLYANDI]

Shari- I've been BUSY. I try to come on when I'm at work but it has been busy there with the holiday weekend and everything.

Mickey's Halloween treat Night was fun, but not worth the money. I basically spent over $100 to get WAY TOO much candy and see some characters in their Halloween clothes. Not even close to as cool as MVMCP so I think I'm a bit spoiled!
THe kids had fun though-I guess thats what really matters. Madison made me ride California Screamin' 4 times in a row-I said absolutely not when she begged for #5.

 

[SILLYANDI]

Shawn- Glad to see you're back. I for one have been looking forward to meeting you- I can't wait to redeem my coupon for the tour of your suite.
I was worried because I thought maybe you cancelled and I have a great plan to crash your Palo Brunch reservation! (All the kids were gonna be tucked in at the kids clubs, DH and baby are napping and I sneek out of the room...To Maitre De"Hello, I'm with Shawn-you know Happylawyer... ") I've been planning for weeks!

Jodie-I was hoping to sneek out and have drinks with you while the kids are sleeping. Glad you didn't fall off the earth either!

 

[HappyLawyer]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am planning on going and having a wonderful time. I cant wait to experience this with our children. I dont want to be joined at the hip either but I think its going to be fun to meet everyone and then see say "John Travolta" on the dance floor. I would like that even if I didnt know them but after having met them I think it would add to the fun. I also think its good for the children to recognize another adult if the need should arise.

I had to pick up our secretaries travel documents yesterday and it made me so jealous. Of course she is beside herself because she has never been. She is going Thanksgiving weekend.

Christie is going to be a devil tonight against my better judgement and Howard is going to be Dale Earnhardt Jr. (I bet yall wouldnt have been able to guess that one!)

Ashleigh was a devil also

 

[AlexandNessa]

Hi guys! Thanks for the "welcome back!" Sillyandi, you can almost rest assured that Mike and I (and sissy and co) will be very easy to spot! We do tend to enjoy ourselves with a drink (or three) on a cruise, as it is not often that we all get to go out together with no one one having to drive! We are totally planning on getting the DCL refillable mugs. And, most definitely, you are welcome to join us for a drink or any of the tastings that we plan to do!

Yes, Mike is a bit anti-social, and I'm sorry to say that since he's seen pics of our stateroom, he doesn't plan on leaving the cabin much. Thankfully, I have sissy and our friend to attend the martini tasting, wine tasting, and Palo Brunch with! I am glad to hear though that others are in the same position with their friends and family members.

Today, I lined up our pet sitter (yes, like Baby Bird, we are pet parents! ) and I filled out all our immigration and credit charge forms and whatever else we can do online before the cruise. We also finally arranged all our transportation with a grocery stop before the ship. Mike and I drink bottled water to the tune of 5 gallons every 2.5 days. You'd think after all that water drinking, we'd be thin....

Speaking of thin... I have to say that Mike and I always have good intentions of dieting before the cruise but never do. We wind up taking a walk the night before we leave and calling it even. Can anyone else relate to that?

Ok, so now that I'm feeling a bit more comfy with you (see, it doesn't take much... I told you I'm ultimately sociable....), what are your pre-cruise rituals? Or, perhaps I am being presumptious. How many of you are going on your first cruise?

Whether it's pre-cruise or pre-vacation, Mike and I both have certain things we do:

1. Mike always buys a new pair of Shox for any trip that includes a theme park visit.
2. I get a pedicure, and my roots done (it is obvious I am not a natural blonde ).
3. Mike gets a haircut and buys what he likes to call "cruise shirts." Cruise shirts to him = tropical short-sleeved button down shorts. Cruise-shirts to me = ugly short-sleeved button down shirts that must always be sent to the dry cleaner.
4. We both tan. I know it's bad, but we do. Mike is Italian and tans easily. I tend to freckle, but like to tan since it tends to help my eczema, and I don't feel like I'm a corpse in the tropics.

So, what do you do pre-vacation?

Oh, P.S. Mike and I are in the middle of some major home repairs right now, one of which included having a new front door installed. So, we got the keys, and I went to make copies for mom and sissy (both of whom do not live far from me). At Lowes, you can get Disney Characters on your duplicate keys, and I picked out Pooh, Eyore, and Mickey. Well, do you think any of the 3 duplicates worked? No! I am so disappointed. I have to take them back since none of them will turn in the lock. How cool would that have been, and they don't work!

 

[HappyLawyer]

Well i cannot remember if i told all of you i am changing jobs, as soon as i find a new one-lol, yes, my suite no problem, come and chill, we can hang on the verandah, it's triple the size another dis had the room and sent me pic and the room # so i could grab it, i am excited, drop by and hang if you like,

I agree and i don't think anyone was planning on attaching themselves to anyone else unless tey are a solo cruiser and if that is the case then i welcome the person to join us, it is fun but i hate the thought of anyone being alone.

Now the love of disney is universal, i took ash out for lunch on Sun and we were talking about the Dis cruise and a lady came over and said she went and we will love it so much, we just talked her husband came over to get her and told her to stop bothering people it was too funny.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

We all get hair cuts. I have to get my roots done too! I was grey at 29.

We generally all have a spare pair of new shoes in the closet. I but them when they are on sale and put them up until we need them.

William and I will tan too. We will start a month prior. I just like to have a base tan. Back in June I did the same thing and thought I would be safe. However, I was burnt to a crisp in less than 45 minutes at Atlantis Beach. I didnt feel hot or anything but before dinner was over I was on fire. Sad thing is I would have put a double coat of sunscreen on the children.

We need to start packing,

William doesnt shop for anything. I buy everything for him. He just isnt a shopper. Sometimes he dont like what I bring home but you dont have a say if you dont go!!! He will shop for his suits but just because you have to be measured.

I am still teetering on my transfer from the hotel. We have disney transfers but dont know if I am going that route. I have already done all of our pre registering. I will fill out everything else when we get our documents. I printed the forms out that they ask you to and have that with our ID. I have our passports, birth certificates, social security cards and the childrens finger print ID cards all together in these handy passport holders.

I feel like I am prepared but I am sure I will freak at the last minute about something.

 

[iankh]

I wish I could find someone to stay with our dogs, but not being able to, I have booked them into boarding. In all honesty, the dogs boarding is going to be the most expensive part of this trip ... well, maybe not the most expensive part, but it will take up a big chunk of change!

The time is really closing in for the cruise.

Regarding my podcast, I'm looking for about 3 people to interview before, during and towards the end of the cruise. It won't be anything very complicated. But I think it would be great to hear real people talk about what they are looking forward to, and then their impressions of the cruise.

I'm looking for at least 3 people, so please PM me if you can. Look at it as a moment of stardom on a rather friendly podcast

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

I forgot that Me and Christie will get our all important pedicures the day before we leave. We only get them on special occasions for me and her. Howard went with us one time and he was in heaven. He told his daddy that he would have to go with us next time. William is just to macho for that!!!!!
Howard was like "whatever you dont know what you are missing!!"

 

[AlexandNessa]

iankh, I am sorry you can't find anyone to stay with your kids; it's so hard to board them (and expensive!). We have a neighborhood lady who is a total animal person, and luckily, she only charges us $15/day for 2 visits/day. The first time she sat for the kids, she wrote us a note saying that in the week we were gone, she never saw them, and if it weren't for the poop in the litter box, she'd never know we had pets at all! They have since gotten used to her a little bit, and Alex will let her pet him now. She has yet to see Vanessa.

Shari, I get pedicures a lot; I love them! It always amazes me though how people who don't get them that often feel they can get them right before a trip that they'll have to walk a lot and then complain about blisters. If you don't get a pedi at least once a month, a theme park vacation is not the time to start them!


Shawn, I can't help wonder if we are neighbors on the ship. We are starboard, are you?

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

Christie and I find a way to celebrate something at least every other month. All they do to christie is a basic massage and foot pampering and paint toenails. She is only 11. I on the other hand, every other month has worked out for me in the past and I have never had troubles with blisters in the past. I always get mine before our disney trip because it relaxes me for the hectic week ahead!!!!

iankh - What is your name? I know you have told us. Is it Ian? Christie would love to participate for your podcast if you want an 11 year old point of view. She takes drama lessons usually one semester each school year. She is a natural. I waste my money on the lessons. I personally am not one to be on camera, however I would love to help you if there is anything else I can do.

Shawn - Christies horns broke and I told her if she had been the angel I wanted her to be that wouldnt have happened!!! We went to walgreens and got her some more. They had a great time. My niece that is going to dental college drove back one hour and fortyfive minutes just to take them trick or treating just because she always has!!! She is an Angel!

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

YALL LOOK AT OUR TICKERS!!!!!!!!!

The Moores are getting more excited!! Christie and Howard have started our thirty day line up of movies to count down. At the moment," Jingle All The Way" is the first one for us to watch. William is not all that excited because he dont like watching movies twice but oh well!! We may leave him out of a few and watch them right after school.

Christie has got the cha cha slide down pretty good. They did it at the Zoo Boo festival we went to last weekend and she did great. Howard on the other hand tried but better keep practicing.

 

[ktpool]

Speaking of thin... I have to say that Mike and I always have good intentions of dieting before the cruise but never do. We wind up taking a walk the night before we leave and calling it even.
I even bought a new treadmill and put it right in front of the TV so I would workout during 1 show each night. Not too hard of a plan, right???? well, apparantly too much for me! Even Emilee harasses me to get on it, haha!

How many of you are going on your first cruise? That is us. At least me, Chris and the kids. My parents when on DCL back in April.

I get a pedicure, and my roots done (it is obvious I am not a natural blonde ). I am going to do a color and mani/pedi the weekend before I leave. I think I will take Emilee too. One of the local salons has natural facials (think bananas, cukes, tomatoes on the face) and it comes with a hand and foot massage for $25!!! It is amazing!
Kristen

 

[HappyLawyer]

iankh, I am sorry you can't find anyone to stay with your kids; it's so hard to board them (and expensive!). We have a neighborhood lady who is a total animal person, and luckily, she only charges us $15/day for 2 visits/day. The first time she sat for the kids, she wrote us a note saying that in the week we were gone, she never saw them, and if it weren't for the poop in the litter box, she'd never know we had pets at all! They have since gotten used to her a little bit, and Alex will let her pet him now. She has yet to see Vanessa.

Shari, I get pedicures a lot; I love them! It always amazes me though how people who don't get them that often feel they can get them right before a trip that they'll have to walk a lot and then complain about blisters. If you don't get a pedi at least once a month, a theme park vacation is not the time to start them!


Shawn, I can't help wonder if we are neighbors on the ship. We are starboard, are you?

uhhhhh star what i am on deck 8 pm me if you want the exacts

 

[iankh]

iankh - What is your name? I know you have told us. Is it Ian? Christie would love to participate for your podcast if you want an 11 year old point of view. She takes drama lessons usually one semester each school year. She is a natural. I waste my money on the lessons. I personally am not one to be on camera, however I would love to help you if there is anything else I can do.

Yes, you nailed it. My name is Ian (one of the oldest American Ian's around). I still can't get used to hearing someone shouting my name, and I turn around only to see that they're calling after some 5 year old. I much preferred it when no one else was name Ian.

There won't be a camera for the podcast, it's only sound. Think of it being just like radio, except you download it from the Internet and can listen to it whenever you want on your schedule and not the broadcast schedule.

It would be great to interview your daughter and get a kid's point of view. I would like to to a short interview via phone before the cruise, then during the cruise and towards the end.

This won't "air" until sometime in late February or early March. We're not going to launch the podcast until then. I decided that I couldn't let an opportunity like the cruise slip by, so hence the recording now.

I'll have my recording gear with me, though it is pretty amazing how small things have become (so different to the reel-to-reel decks I was used to in high school).

My portable recorder is an iRiver and is about the size of a tube of lipstick. It can record up to 32 hours worth of sound. The microphone is way bigger than the recorder.

The name of the podcast is "The Sophisticated Mouse" (www.sophisticatedmouse.com).

It will be a magazine formatted show. My co-host is a university professor who lives in Toledo (the miracle of technology) and I've also found my "Mouse Mom," the author of book of desserts for children with allergies, who loves WDW, has visited there every year with her kids. She will do a regular segment on WDW with kids, tips, etc.

So, regarding the cruise, if any one else on our sailing could participate, please PM me. I'm only looking for a few people. Believe me, podcasting is all new to new to me too. Unchartered waters, so to speak, but isn't an adventure wonderful?

 

[mishoe01]

Ok - I bit the bullet and decided to upgrade to a verandah stateroom, but its on GTY status so don't have my stateroom nbr yet. I'll send the PM to Shawn (I think it was you....for our gifts) once I get it or will track you guys down on the ship.

Can't believe we're at just about 5 weeks!!! WOOHOO!!

Ian--love the name.....my 10 yo nephew (love of my life) is named Ian. I'll respond to your PM today....I'm up for the challenge of the podcast (hope I can give you some good stuff)!

Have a great day!

 

[BabyBird]

Can we go now????

 

[SILLYANDI]

Ian-I'm game if you need another volunteer. I tried to PM but your mailbox is full...

 

[SILLYANDI]

Here we go again...I don't know how to post a picture (the pooh t giving one) in my signature...Help...Please...

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

Andrea - I had a little problem too. What I did is when I went to forward the message, in the original message to me the picture turns into words. I then copied it and pasted it in my signature. Does that make sense? I hope that helps.