EBPC December 9, 2012!!! Who's in????

[Started With a Mouse]

Just read the thread in the other forum about the snow in the lobby on Christmas morning. Since we won't be onboard for the actual big day, do you think they will do this on our cruise?

 

[decked out]

Just read the thread in the other forum about the snow in the lobby on Christmas morning. Since we won't be onboard for the actual big day, do you think they will do this on our cruise?

We sailed on Christmas aboard the Magic. I don't recall snow. I understand that the ship gets decked out for the holidays right after Thanksgiving. The holiday decorations will not disappoint, snow or not!

 

[ArGa]

Well, I am safely back from my 10 day road trip through 5 provinces and 2 states. It was a fun trip but lots of driving. I am so looking forward to the beauty of a cruise where you only unpack once and the ship brings the scenery to you! So much nicer than sleeping in a different bed every night. Anyways, Quebec City is beautiful. I highly recommend anyone making the trek there. It is the most "European" city in Canada and you will feel like you have stepped back into the 1600's. In New Brunswick, we experienced the wonder of the highest tides in the world in the Bay of Fundy. We walked along the ocean floor next to the giant flower pot rocks at Hopewell Rocks then watched that same ground get covered in over 40 ft of ocean within 6 hours. While we were walking around Hopewell Rocks, I started to notice people with Mickey Mouse stickers on their shirts. It turns out that they were all on the Disney Magic docked in St. John that day and this was their shore excursion. I spoke with a lovely lady from Boston who told me that I would love my Panama Canal cruise. It was so neat for me to have a touch of Disney in the middle of my vacation. Next we crossed the Confederation Bridge onto PEI which is absolutely picturesque with rolling hills and a patchwork quilt of fields. We walked along the red sand beach of Cavendish and went to the Anne of Green Gables house. From there we ferried over to Nova Scotia and toured around there for a few days. Then we took another ferry back to New Brunswick. I was hoping to see some whale action while on the 3 hour ferry but unfortunately we were fogged in the entire time. I can't even tell you what St. John looks like because it was completely hidden by fog. From there, we crossed the border into Maine and went down to Bar Harbor. That is a beautiful town with plenty of neat shops to explore. I will definitely go back there one day with DH. Next, it was on to North Conway, NH for some shopping at the outlet stores. Finally, the road weary travellers headed back home. Now it is time to focus on the real highlight for my year, the Panama Canal Cruise!!!! I see I have plenty of discussion to catch up on and lots of posts to reply to.

 

[ArGa]

I'm not on vacation yet, but getting ready to go! I'm heading back to Canada on Sept. 12the on the last cruise out of New York on Magic, this time a "girls only" trip. I can't wait! It's been a long, hot, busy summer!

Beth

Hey Beth, try to get to the Hopewell Rocks while you are docked in St. John. The tides are amazing to see and it is really neat to walk along the ocean floor. I hope you have a great cruise and that Canada treats you well!

 

[LindaBabe]

Well, I am safely back from my 10 day road trip through 5 provinces and 2 states. It was a fun trip but lots of driving. I am so looking forward to the beauty of a cruise where you only unpack once and the ship brings the scenery to you! So much nicer than sleeping in a different bed every night. Anyways, Quebec City is beautiful. I highly recommend anyone making the trek there. It is the most "European" city in Canada and you will feel like you have stepped back into the 1600's. In New Brunswick, we experienced the wonder of the highest tides in the world in the Bay of Fundy. We walked along the ocean floor next to the giant flower pot rocks at Hopewell Rocks then watched that same ground get covered in over 40 ft of ocean within 6 hours. While we were walking around Hopewell Rocks, I started to notice people with Mickey Mouse stickers on their shirts. It turns out that they were all on the Disney Magic docked in St. John that day and this was their shore excursion. I spoke with a lovely lady from Boston who told me that I would love my Panama Canal cruise. It was so neat for me to have a touch of Disney in the middle of my vacation. Next we crossed the Confederation Bridge onto PEI which is absolutely picturesque with rolling hills and a patchwork quilt of fields. We walked along the red sand beach of Cavendish and went to the Anne of Green Gables house. From there we ferried over to Nova Scotia and toured around there for a few days. Then we took another ferry back to New Brunswick. I was hoping to see some whale action while on the 3 hour ferry but unfortunately we were fogged in the entire time. I can't even tell you what St. John looks like because it was completely hidden by fog. From there, we crossed the border into Maine and went down to Bar Harbor. That is a beautiful town with plenty of neat shops to explore. I will definitely go back there one day with DH. Next, it was on to North Conway, NH for some shopping at the outlet stores. Finally, the road weary travellers headed back home. Now it is time to focus on the real highlight for my year, the Panama Canal Cruise!!!! I see I have plenty of discussion to catch up on and lots of posts to reply to.

Sounds like an interesting trip! I've done it in pieces over the last 40 odd years, but never in one go, as you did. Piecemeal didn't have the same impact! How fun you got to see tourists from the Magic.

 

[ArGa]

It's been awhile since I posted, so I thought I should update our status. We did receive our children's passports with no problems, so we booked the cruise and our flights and our hotel for the night before the cruise. Although I've done a lot of shopping and planning, it still seems a bit unreal to me. A two week cruise! Through Panama! With Disney!! And we're really going! I couldn't be more excited. We are keeping it a secret from the children until about a week before we sail, so I have to keep my exuberance under wraps.

I guess I should introduce my whole crew, so that our information can be updated on the list of who's going. We have booked two inside cabins with an adjoining door.

Me -- Anne
DH -- Eric
DD -- Corinne (age 10)
DS -- Ryan (age 8)
DS -- Matthew (age 7)
DD -- Kelly (age 7)
plus my dad -- Gene

My mom has Alzheimer's and is in a nursing home. I'm glad Dad has agreed to go with us, but I also know that he has mixed emotions about vacationing without her.

Anne, I look forward to meeting you because I fully understand what you are going through. My mother has dementia and has been in a nursing home for 10 months. This was not the slow decent of Alzheimers but a very rapid progression of some form of dementia that robbed her completely of her personality, emotions and powers of reasoning. She went down hill very quickly. It started with some strange behaviours last summer but within a few months it became obvious that my father could no longer take care of her at home. It broke all of our hearts to place her in a home. She no longer responds to any of us and sits all day in complete silence and refuses to be touched. The loving, selfless woman that was my mother, disappeared some time last fall and has been replaced by an angry, sullen, and silent stranger who is no longer living, just existing. It is heartbreaking for us all especially my father who goes to the home every day and sits with her for 5-6 hours. He is getting weary. So when I mentioned that I was taking the cruise through the Panama Canal, he decided that he wanted to come to. It has been a lifelong dream of his to go through the Panama Canal. So my father is now joining DH and I on the cruise. I think we should arrange for your dad and mine to get together on the ship. My dad also has mixed emotions about taking a trip without mom but he needs a break and something to look forward to in the future.

 

[ArGa]

Linda, I am a fellow scrapbooker. I have mainly used the Creative Memories products for years. I have dozens of albums completed. My kids never have to worry about forgetting their childhood because I have it all documented for them. They don't fully appreciate it right now, but they will when they grow older and have families of their own. I have tried digital scrapbooking but I much prefer the traditional hands on way with photos, paper and stickers ( I love stickers!!). Will there be some type of scrapbooking class on the cruise? Are there Disney cruise line scrapbook supplies sold on the ship? By the way, I took a look at your journal book you posted on the other thread and it looks great. I look forward to seeing what you will create for this cruise. I will be carrying around my camera and a journal to record all the details on this cruise so that I can scrapbook it fully when it is over.

 

[adnil530]

Linda, I am a fellow scrapbooker. I have mainly used the Creative Memories products for years. I have dozens of albums completed. My kids never have to worry about forgetting their childhood because I have it all documented for them. They don't fully appreciate it right now, but they will when they grow older and have families of their own. I have tried digital scrapbooking but I much prefer the traditional hands on way with photos, paper and stickers ( I love stickers!!). Will there be some type of scrapbooking class on the cruise? Are there Disney cruise line scrapbook supplies sold on the ship? By the way, I took a look at your journal book you posted on the other thread and it looks great. I look forward to seeing what you will create for this cruise. I will be carrying around my camera and a journal to record all the details on this cruise so that I can scrapbook it fully when it is over.

I like to scrapbook also. How many scrappers are there on this cruise? Enough to think about maybe doing a 2 page layout swap?

LindaD

 

[ArGa]

Thank you to all of you who shared the names of your favourite authors. I too am an avid book reader (when I am not scrapbooking, or working on a cross-stitch, or doing a jigsaw puzzle or... too many hobbies, not enough time). Anyways, I went to the library and picked up some of the books that were suggested by all of you. I read mostly fiction. I enjoy mysteries and suspense but I don't like to be spooked. I also enjoy historical fiction and deep, touching stories. Some of my favourite authors are Lynn Austin, Francine Rivers, Angela Elwel Hunt, Charles Martin and Susan May Warren. Lynn Austin's book "Eve's Daughters" is a multi generational story showing the relationship between a grandmother, mother and daughter. I also enjoyed "Wonderland Creek" by her. I loved Francine Rivers' 2 part series called "Her Mother's Hope" and "Her Daughter's Dream". Angela Elwel Hunt's books are always great to read and each story is so different from the other ones and I learn something new each time. Charles Martin writes very deep and touching stories about the relationship between husbands and wives. I especially enjoyed "The Mountain Between Us" and "Thunder and Rain". Susan May Warren's book "Baby Its Cold Outside" is also very touching. And if you want to read a series that will make you laugh out loud, try the Harmony series by Philip Gulley. It is about a minister of a quirky flock of parishoners in a "Mayberry-like" town. I kept chuckling on the bus each morning as I road to work and read them. Well, that's my two cents worth.

As far as the question goes of e-reader or traditional book, it is traditional book for me. I like the idea of multiple books in one slim gadget, but I am technologically challenged. I am one of the few people left on the planet who doesn't have a cell phone and I wouldn't know how to text or tweet to save my life (sad, I know). Plus, I also judge a book by it's cover so I like to look at the jacket picture.

 

[ArGa]

DVCinderella, can you please add my (ArGa) father's name to the roll call. He is Sydney McFarland from Brampton, Ontario.

Thank you

 

[dthogue]

Well, I am safely back from my 10 day road trip through 5 provinces and 2 states. It was a fun trip but lots of driving. I am so looking forward to the beauty of a cruise where you only unpack once and the ship brings the scenery to you! So much nicer than sleeping in a different bed every night. Anyways, Quebec City is beautiful. I highly recommend anyone making the trek there. It is the most "European" city in Canada and you will feel like you have stepped back into the 1600's. In New Brunswick, we experienced the wonder of the highest tides in the world in the Bay of Fundy. We walked along the ocean floor next to the giant flower pot rocks at Hopewell Rocks then watched that same ground get covered in over 40 ft of ocean within 6 hours. While we were walking around Hopewell Rocks, I started to notice people with Mickey Mouse stickers on their shirts. It turns out that they were all on the Disney Magic docked in St. John that day and this was their shore excursion. I spoke with a lovely lady from Boston who told me that I would love my Panama Canal cruise. It was so neat for me to have a touch of Disney in the middle of my vacation. Next we crossed the Confederation Bridge onto PEI which is absolutely picturesque with rolling hills and a patchwork quilt of fields. We walked along the red sand beach of Cavendish and went to the Anne of Green Gables house. From there we ferried over to Nova Scotia and toured around there for a few days. Then we took another ferry back to New Brunswick. I was hoping to see some whale action while on the 3 hour ferry but unfortunately we were fogged in the entire time. I can't even tell you what St. John looks like because it was completely hidden by fog. From there, we crossed the border into Maine and went down to Bar Harbor. That is a beautiful town with plenty of neat shops to explore. I will definitely go back there one day with DH. Next, it was on to North Conway, NH for some shopping at the outlet stores. Finally, the road weary travellers headed back home. Now it is time to focus on the real highlight for my year, the Panama Canal Cruise!!!! I see I have plenty of discussion to catch up on and lots of posts to reply to.

Welcome back, sounds like you had a wonderful trip!

 

[dthogue]

Anne, I look forward to meeting you because I fully understand what you are going through. My mother has dementia and has been in a nursing home for 10 months. This was not the slow decent of Alzheimers but a very rapid progression of some form of dementia that robbed her completely of her personality, emotions and powers of reasoning. She went down hill very quickly. It started with some strange behaviours last summer but within a few months it became obvious that my father could no longer take care of her at home. It broke all of our hearts to place her in a home. She no longer responds to any of us and sits all day in complete silence and refuses to be touched. The loving, selfless woman that was my mother, disappeared some time last fall and has been replaced by an angry, sullen, and silent stranger who is no longer living, just existing. It is heartbreaking for us all especially my father who goes to the home every day and sits with her for 5-6 hours. He is getting weary. So when I mentioned that I was taking the cruise through the Panama Canal, he decided that he wanted to come to. It has been a lifelong dream of his to go through the Panama Canal. So my father is now joining DH and I on the cruise. I think we should arrange for your dad and mine to get together on the ship. My dad also has mixed emotions about taking a trip without mom but he needs a break and something to look forward to in the future.

to you and your family - so glad that your dad is joining you on the cruise.

Linda, I am a fellow scrapbooker. I have mainly used the Creative Memories products for years. I have dozens of albums completed. My kids never have to worry about forgetting their childhood because I have it all documented for them. They don't fully appreciate it right now, but they will when they grow older and have families of their own. I have tried digital scrapbooking but I much prefer the traditional hands on way with photos, paper and stickers ( I love stickers!!). Will there be some type of scrapbooking class on the cruise? Are there Disney cruise line scrapbook supplies sold on the ship? By the way, I took a look at your journal book you posted on the other thread and it looks great. I look forward to seeing what you will create for this cruise. I will be carrying around my camera and a journal to record all the details on this cruise so that I can scrapbook it fully when it is over.

Yes, they have DCL cruiseline scrapbooks and supplies you can buy - that is always my first purchase of the trip.

I like to scrapbook also. How many scrappers are there on this cruise? Enough to think about maybe doing a 2 page layout swap?

LindaD

I love to scrapbook and would interesting in participating in a swap!

tammy

 

[LindaBabe]

GOOD Morning, happy cruisers!

. . . So when I mentioned that I was taking the cruise through the Panama Canal, he decided that he wanted to come to. It has been a lifelong dream of his to go through the Panama Canal. So my father is now joining DH and I on the cruise. I think we should arrange for your dad and mine to get together on the ship. My dad also has mixed emotions about taking a trip without mom but he needs a break and something to look forward to in the future.

you described my husband's Aunt's descent into Alzheimers to a T - from mobility impairment due to Parkinsons in September to asking the question "do you ever feel angry all the time?" at Thankgiving to violent in a Nursing home in January. It's terribly scarey!

I look forward to meeting you all, and hope he has the time of his life.

Linda, I am a fellow scrapbooker. . . . I have tried digital scrapbooking but I much prefer the traditional hands on way with photos, paper and stickers ( I love stickers!!). Will there be some type of scrapbooking class on the cruise? Are there Disney cruise line scrapbook supplies sold on the ship? By the way, I took a look at your journal book you posted on the other thread and it looks great. I look forward to seeing what you will create for this cruise. I will be carrying around my camera and a journal to record all the details on this cruise so that I can scrapbook it fully when it is over.

That would be me, too - digital just doesn't have the same appeal, although there are times I wish i could make ten copies of something to share with others!

There ARE Disney Cruise Line things available on ship - at least one album, probably several, and a few scrapbooking kits. They usually have what THEY consider a scrapbooking class - but you will find it mostly perfect for 10 year olds. The only reason I go is to get the 2 pieces of printed paper they give out that are themed.

Once they had glue sticks and those tubs of fun foam punchies that you get in the kids crafts aisle at Michaels. Once they had old navigators to cut up - my cousin, who had never scrapped before, actually made a creative and credible page from what she had available. I was impressed!

On the Hawaii cruise, there was a fellow dis-er Seaulater, who hails from the mecca of Scrapbooking, Utah. She always has a private pay scrapbooking class and brought CRATES of materials and supplies. Those are tremendous fun and real scrapbooking, but she's unfortunately not on this cruise.

I like to scrapbook also. How many scrappers are there on this cruise? Enough to think about maybe doing a 2 page layout swap?

LindaD

That's an interesting idea. I see you two, and the lady from Australia who owns a scrapbook store, and me, so that would be at least 4.

We did a "layout" swap on another cruise a few years ago. Instead of bringing the actual layouts though, since some people scrap different sizes, we each planned a two page spread on a particular topic (ie. Sailaway, Pirates, FE exchange, food, whatever port ). Then, we made or aquired the "stuff" for each person to make a version of the same page in whatever size or format they use.

On Board, one sea day, we got together in the cove Cafe, showed off either the pages we made or a photo of them - what I did was photograph my pages and get a print for each participant. Then I put the "Stuff" and the photo in a zip lock for each participant.

"Stuff" is things like the embellishments, Title letters (maybe cricutted or stickers) maybe a border, journaling block or whatever. A small Ziplock of "stuff" is easier to keep nice in the suitcase than 12 x 12 pages, kwim?

If we get a group who want to do something like that, count me in! Even if we don't, I will try to remember your room numbers for a goody bag - I have the DCL punch and embosser (found at the outlet in Orlando - no WAY was I paying retail for those things!)

Working on my Holiday cards today - sending them for Thanksgiving, this year, instead of at Christmas time.

Beth - have you seen the trip report on the Canada cruise? I forget where I read it, but do remember she said take the tour where you walk on the sea floor when the tide is out and then later, see 40 feet of water over that spot. - (DUH. It was our own ArGa on the previous page of this thread. - Old Lady's memory is obviously TOAST)

Happy Day, all!

 

[bbangel]

I'm a scrapper as well although I am far behind! I'm not sure I'm up to creating for others but it sounds like fun to get together and share layout ideas.

 

[BethC1952]

Beth - have you seen the trip report on the Canada cruise? I forget where I read it, but do remember she said take the tour where you walk on the sea floor when the tide is out and then later, see 40 feet of water over that spot. - (DUH. It was our own ArGa on the previous page of this thread. - Old Lady's memory is obviously TOAST)

Happy Day, all!

I saw that report. I thought about the excursion, but I think I'll save it for the next time we got to Saint John. We liked it enough that we're considering a land vacation there. one of my traveling companions is a photographer, and she wants to take pictures of some of the beautiful buildings within walking distance of the port, and I think I'll do the same. I want to get some really good photos to frame and hang in our "art gallery" in our front hallway!

Beth

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[magicmaker1]

I'm a scrapper as well although I am far behind! I'm not sure I'm up to creating for others but it sounds like fun to get together and share layout ideas.

I'm in the same boat--so behind but always wanting to share ideas and embellishments!

 

[buckeyesix]

Anne, I look forward to meeting you because I fully understand what you are going through. My mother has dementia and has been in a nursing home for 10 months. This was not the slow decent of Alzheimers but a very rapid progression of some form of dementia that robbed her completely of her personality, emotions and powers of reasoning. She went down hill very quickly. It started with some strange behaviours last summer but within a few months it became obvious that my father could no longer take care of her at home. It broke all of our hearts to place her in a home. She no longer responds to any of us and sits all day in complete silence and refuses to be touched. The loving, selfless woman that was my mother, disappeared some time last fall and has been replaced by an angry, sullen, and silent stranger who is no longer living, just existing. It is heartbreaking for us all especially my father who goes to the home every day and sits with her for 5-6 hours. He is getting weary. So when I mentioned that I was taking the cruise through the Panama Canal, he decided that he wanted to come to. It has been a lifelong dream of his to go through the Panama Canal. So my father is now joining DH and I on the cruise. I think we should arrange for your dad and mine to get together on the ship. My dad also has mixed emotions about taking a trip without mom but he needs a break and something to look forward to in the future.

ArGa, I'm so sorry. We've had a long time to adjust to my mom's illness, but it was still very hard to put her in a nursing home. Dad lives very close to the facility that Mom is in, but he works every day, so he doesn't spend all of his time with her. I think it would be good to get together on the cruise, but I should warn you that Dad is very quiet and private, so I wouldn't expect much chattiness from him!

 

[buckeyesix]

Buckeyesix, you read some of my favorite authors, too. I've known Elizabeth George for almost 37 years, as her folks lived around the corner from us. I like Sue Grafton and Laurie King and, like you, try to start with a first book and read them in order. Have you read any of Deborah Crombie's books - set in London, they are excellent and not as gory as Ms George's books. I love all of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache books. Carola Dunn has a great series about Daisy Dalrymple, and London in the 1920s. Also, try Hank Phillipi Ryan's new book - The Other Woman - coming out September 4th. I have an Advanced Reading Copy and stayed up really late finishing it. I've got a bunch of other authors that I like including authors who write humorous books: Joan Hess - both series; Rhys Bowen - both series; and Donna Andrews - her newest book is Some Like It Hawk. Sue Ann Jaffarian writes three series - all good, and she "murdered" me in Twice As Dead. Her latest book is Hide & Snoop and it just came out. She's a friend and we're having brunch with her on September 1st at Disneyland.

We should get together and discuss our faves. BTW, have you ever been to Bouchercon? If not, and you have a chance, go to one. I went to the 2010 one held in San Francisco and had a wonderful time. Met lots of authors, went to interesting panels, and generally had a great time.

I can't believe you know Elizabeth George!! I'm so jealous. Thanks for the great list of authors. I'm going to put them on my list. So what do you mean that Sue Ann Jaffarian "murdered" you? Are you a character in the book? You seem to have a lot of author friends!

I haven't been to Bouchercon, and it is here in Cleveland this year, so I'd love to go. But with four young children tagging along with me all the time (I homeschool), my chances of getting to go to things like that are limited. When I was working, I went to several conferences where I got to meet/hear my favorite children's authors speak, and it was always thrilling. Hopefully someday I'll be able to go to a mystery conference.

 

[buckeyesix]

I think my aunt and uncle may be coming on the cruise as well. They are looking at a cabin with a verandah. Is one side of the ship preferable to another? I think I read somewhere in a trip report that you get a better view of some ports from a certain side of the ship. I don't know if that is true for any of the ports in our itinerary.

 

[rach7]

I love your idea Lindababe of a scrapbook "goodie" bag swap with our group of scrappers. I think it's a great solution to bring a photo of the layout you create (for the ladies worried about what to create - I always say there's no right or wrong way to scrapbook, that's the best thing about it!). At my shop we have 7 different teachers, all with vastly different styles, as (thankfully) everyone has different tastes!