December 13, 2008 Western Caribbean!! Let's get acquainted!

[SILLYANDI]

Michele, how scary! You are very brave! ( I couldn't find superman!)
I hope you are ok. We had some pitbulls on our street about 3 years ago that would get loose weekly and once they chased my kids right up to the front door. I had to swing a broom at them to keep them from coming into our house. Humane society did NOTHING until they attacked a lady up the street and tore her up. One bit her hand so hard it crushed it and she had hundreds of stitches. They finally took the dogs and put them into quarantine. It was pretty sad to be locked up in your own house because your afraid of the dogs, I can only imagine what it is like when they actually attack you.

 

[PenskeSth1]

Well the sheriff's Dept. did show up. All she could do was check the dogs for up to date rabies and county tags. She said she had to see the dogs running loose herself to pursue that matter. Sheriff lady also said she would try and swing by tomorrow around the same time tonights incident happened to try and catch the dogs loose. It just makes me mad that people are so careless with there animals.

I could of filed a civil citation against them but they would have my name and address on the paper. I am home alone 10 months a year with just my kids so I didn't do that in fear they would retaliate (sp?). Pretty much my hands are tied unless I was missing a hand or part of my face etc.

I can no longer walk my normal route now in fear of being attacked again. We live on a cul de sac and it is one mile up and back. (we live on the front end they live on the back end).

DS has no school tomorrow as it is a teacher workday so I guess we will attempt to go to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Hope you all have a good week.

 

[Stinasmom]

Wow!
Scary dogs! DD and I were threatened by a dog the other day who's owner came up a few seconds later... in a park where it should have been leashed.
It made me imagine what could have happened and you had to live through it!
I can't believe the sheriff isn't taking this seriously. I get frustrated being in a small town, but I am positive the police, sheriff, and state patrol would have been there for us. I am glad you are relatively OK.

Marcy

 

[Aunt KatKat]

Michele,

I'm so sorry that happened to you. Thank God you had your hand weights! I hope you find a new route for your walk, and I'll pray the owners of those dogs keeps them contained.

Katherine

 

[PenskeSth1]

Thanks guys for the support! I sure didn't feel very brave yesterday. I did drive by the house today where the dogs reside, but No one was around. Unfortunately it is a house where a bunch of young men (party type) hang out so I am not expecting a whole lot from them. I do have a pretty nice size bruise on my thigh where the dog slammed into me, but when ya look at the big picture "IT COULD OF BEEN WORSE." So now I will just walk down a different street, but will be watching for loose dogs. I have to add on a funny note....We kinda live in what I like to call the REDNECK PROJECTS. It is mostly 4x4's, 4 wheelers, dirt bikes and Large truck type folks back here. WE ARE THE CLAMPETTS!!

Well it looks like Saturday night is us repeat cruisers day to book Palo's and excursions...YEAH!! I think we are going to try the sting ray excursion at CC this year, DS loves feeding the sting rays at Sea World. I know DH will want to do the parsailing, perhaps I'll try that to this time.

After looking at the pictures of the Magic in dry dock, I got all excited about our cruise again. She looks so funny out of the water.

 

[Stinasmom]

Mich-
I hadn't thought of it but if midnight this Saturday night is technically the 14th, then we here on the west coast should be able to book at 9pm on the 13th?

I could stay awake for that! Whooo Hoo! That's this weekend!

You know, I was thinking about the big milestones to cross before our big trip in December like kids back to school, end of summer, DH back to work (he's a College Prof), probably some snow, but one I will really be glad is behind us is the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION! No matter where you stand, won't it be nice to have that over!!!

Marcy

 

[cripps626]

Michelle,
So sorry to hear of your dog encounter. A friend of mine was bitten a while back while she walked her own small dog. I know how traumatized she's been since and doesn't walk much in the neighborhood now. You're so right, it could've been much worse, so glad it wasn't.

I agree, can't wait for this election to be over , although I must say, it seems to be going a lot faster now that the conventions have wrapped up.

 

[SILLYANDI]

I third the motion for the elections to be over (can you third something?) My kids were arguing the finer points of politics in the car yesterday!!! This is between DD10 & DD8 "Well I wanted Hillary Clinton because I think girls should be in charge" "But she's dumb, you want a DUMB girl in charge of us? It's better to have a cool girl be vice president instead-she goes hunting you know!" (that must be the Clampett in DD10 coming out!)
I'm not kidding...where did they get this info?

 

[SILLYANDI]

I feel like Sat night will be a national holiday...I can't sleep counting down the days. I have my spread sheet all laid out (the PIP in me)and ready to book everything.

The stingrays at CC was AWESOME, but I think we are going to skip it and relax this time. I do want to parasail but DD10 is chickening out!
Maybe I can talk her into the banana boat.

Mandy and I bought FE material today. We'll see what comes of it! I told Mandy that we need to attempt to make one then go next door to the seamstress who LOVES to sew and see if she will take pity on our poor, untalented souls and fix them up for us. She usually looks at what I've done then pulls it apart and remakes it. Although I have gotten pretty handy with the sewing machine lately-I made matching dresses for the girls all by myself!

 

[PenskeSth1]

I fourth the motion for the election to be over! I don't like either one of the canidates at this point. To me their all pretty much liars...JMO

Looks like we all are ready for Saturday night. I was talking to DH about possibly doing the Dolphin encounter at Cozumel. The kids would enjoy swimming with them but DH isn't a swimmer so it doesn't interest him. Do you think we could still do it even if he doesn't want to get into the water? I mean the kids and I and DH still be there? (Does all that jiberish make sense)?

I did walk tonight a different route though. WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THE PITBULLS? There sure is alot of them in our neighborhood. They scare the stuffing out of me now!

P.S. Andrea that is soooo cheating if you get your neighbor to make you a FE! I did manage to throw one together and surprised myself. I know there is no way I could ever make a dress or anything, I'm just not that talented. LOL

 

[Stinasmom]

OK, let's see if I have this right...
I should make a FE... it would look like a hanging vertical banner with pockets. That would attach or hang from the metal fish by my door.

Then before we all leave for vacation, we will have some sort of list of to whom and when we should distribute small gifts to put in their FE's.

Man, I need to get the creative juices flowing. Decorating the door with a piece of 8" x 10" magnet paper with Mickey on a ship printed out from a computer art program is as much as I have ever done.

Also, I am remembering back when I made an ADR for Cindy's royal table that they took ressies starting at 7am East coast time, so I got up and called at 4am. Is everyone sure we can make ressies for DCL stuff online at midnight Saturday? Which is 9pm on the West coast?
If we are not sure, I guess we'll find out! Besides I doubt anything will fill up or else none of the first time cruisers would get their excursions....(?)

Hey Mich-
The restaurant you asked about... Taverna Opa has 4-5 locations around Florida, but the one we'll be at is at:
9101 International Drive
Orlando, FL (407)351-8660
We'll be there around 7pm on Friday, December 12th if anyone else wants to meet up! It sounds like such a blast!

Marcy

 

[SILLYANDI]

OK, let's see if I have this right...
I should make a FE... it would look like a hanging vertical banner with pockets. That would attach or hang from the metal fish by my door.

Here is an awesome link to get some ideas of what people have made...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

Is everyone sure we can make ressies for DCL stuff online at midnight Saturday? Which is 9pm on the West coast?
If we are not sure, I guess we'll find out! Besides I doubt anything will fill up or else none of the first time cruisers would get their excursions....(?)

Yes I'm sure, but you're right about the ressies. I made my ressies as a 1st timer last time and got everything I wanted at the times I wanted so I'm not too concerned about being exactly on time!

 

[PenskeSth1]

I believe we can start booking excursions at 2 am Eastern time Sunday morning. I am not 100% sure, I just seem to remember that is when I made our ressies last time...

I was just over on the DCL website and it looks like they still have a few catagories still open. 4,5,6,8,9,and 11. Maybe we'll get lucky and the ship won't be full!!

 

[Stinasmom]

I was just over on the DCL website and it looks like they still have a few catagories still open. 4,5,6,8,9,and 11. Maybe we'll get lucky and the ship won't be full!!

Ooooh... upgrade time?? I'd take a 4 or 5!! We are splurging on the 6 as it is, however. We stayed in cat 9's on our two other cruises. I just hope to stay aft.

Hey, did you all see the pix of the Magic in DryDock? She's gonna be all spiffed up for us!
Some of the changes she's getting they already made on the Wonder so we've seen them... like the new color/decor scheme at the Quiet Cove Pool and the spray ground for tots by the Mickey pool.
I am really looking forward to the "tween" area on deck 2. They didn't put that on the Wonder, and now I have a 'tween!

Andrea- thanks for the link to the FE! Cute examples. Do you think we really need 5 pockets?! How many people are participating and just how generous is everyone!?!

Marcy

 

[PenskeSth1]

Marcy, I made a FE with 4 pockets and probably don't even need that many. ( I just did a pocket for each person in the family).

The Magic looks funny out of water, but she is beautiful. I can't wait to see the new changes. I didn't read about the new Tween area on 2, what's that all about.

We were upgraded to a cat 4 on our last cruise (we usually have a cat 5). The only difference I noticed was our room did have a chair in it and might of been a smidge bigger. Hey if they were to upgrade us again I sure wouldn't say no! We did choice our own room at booking though so I doubt we would get upgraded this time.

Well DS and I are off to MNSSHP tonight, I hope ya all have a safe and great weekend.

 

[Stinasmom]

Mich-
The DIS podcast team had nothing but GREAT things to say about MNSSHP!
I hope you had fun too!

We are going to MVMCP on Dec 7th... sure hope that one lives up to the hipe too!

On the Magic, they turned the conference rooms on deck 2 into "Ocean Quest" primarily for 10-14 yr olds.
Here is what Disney says about it:
OCEAN QUEST
Show 'em you're a nautical natural and "steer" the cruise ship in and out of ports around the world! In this scaled replica of the ship's bridge, sit in a captain's chair surrounded by LCD screen "windows" that let you look out over the actual bridge via live video feed. This is also the perfect place for kids aged 10-14 to "chill" as they play video games, create arts and crafts, or watch a movie on one of many plasma screen televisions.

There are pics at http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/d...vities/venueDetail?name=OceanQuestLandingPage

or on the DIS at: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=948596

This is perfect for our kids who don't want to be in organized activities... making flubber and such!

Marcy

 

[SILLYANDI]

I'm not holding my breath for an upgrade (although I wouldn't pass it up!) I really like our adjoining 9's it feels like a 2 bed suite and I KNOW one of my kids would fall overboard if we had a verandah! (HMMM...the way things have been around here lately one less kid might not be so bad!)

 

[Brad98]

Hi everyone,

I'm Debz from the UK. Myself (45) my Mother (75) and DS (10) will be sailing with you all on 13th Dec. Really looking forward to booking excursions this weekend.

This will be our 4th cruise. 3rd with DCL, we have also sailed HAL.

We bought a cat 9 and got upgraded to a cat 5 because the TA cocked up! We are really pleased with our allocated Stateroom.

Can't wait to get out there now. Really fed up with the continual rain here. Are you having a meet and greet?

If so, could we attend please? Speak soon Love Debz

 

[SILLYANDI]

Hi everyone,

Can't wait to get out there now. Really fed up with the continual rain here. Are you having a meet and greet?

If so, could we attend please? Speak soon Love Debz

Welcome Debz, we haven't made any solid plans for a meet yet, but keep an eye out I'm sure we'll get around to it soon enough! I wish we could get some rain here-the 90 degree temps finally broke yesterday and it was overcast today. LOVELY , in my opinion!

 

[SILLYANDI]

She can't post pics yet (although if she would write more and lurk less she would solve that problem...) so here is her fish extender.

Very nice if you ask me . Now I'm feeling the pressure....