From the Med to the Panama Canal

[GatorFamily]

Welcome, Gator family!

I think Hoagie Pie is on the return TA right now with DizzyAnn. I hope all the storms are passed by the time they get to the east coast.

Thank you everyone for making me feel welcome.

Milestogo-I just got off the phone with Hoagie Pie and she wanted to say "hi" and that she didn't end up on the return TA but she has B2B in Sept. scheduled. She also found out today that they are moving to FL 30 minutes from WDW and she is so excited...she said you are welcome to visit her there anytime I'll really miss her though since we live about 2 miles away now It's a good career move for her DH... and besides DD and her love the idea of being near WDW.

 

[milestogo]

Thanks for the message. That's very exciting news for them. Bummer on the repo though, I know they wanted to do that.

 

[Mouse_Poor]

Well I finally did it, I created my own DisBoards username so I could stop lurking behind my DW's profile (ElderFam). On top of that, I found this thread without her help! I'm off and flying SOLO, yea!

I'm glad to find some of the gang from the Eastbound Med. We had a TON of fun on that cruise!

I'm in for the "mutual motivation" to get us to the Westbound PC trip. I need to:
1. Lose 10 lbs,
2. Finish several (greater than 10) home improvement projects,
3. Relocate our home office to the basement after #2,
4. Decorate a nursery,
5. ...oh yeah, finalize the adoption of our soon to be DS,
6. Learn how to care for an infant boy,
7. ...I'm sure there's more, but I'm getting overwhelmed thinking about the above...

My worry is that #5 and everything else are incompatible. Also, that my self imposed clock tells me time is running out.

We are VERY excited about the PC trip! So much so, we're taking a trip to WDW in Oct/Nov to get our Disney "fix" in to bridge the gap.

Look forward to seeing all.

 

[gydell]

Well I finally did it, I created my own DisBoards username so I could stop lurking behind my DW's profile (ElderFam). On top of that, I found this thread without her help! I'm off and flying SOLO, yea!

I'm glad to find some of the gang from the Eastbound Med. We had a TON of fun on that cruise!

I'm in for the "mutual motivation" to get us to the Westbound PC trip. I need to:
1. Lose 10 lbs,
2. Finish several (greater than 10) home improvement projects,
3. Relocate our home office to the basement after #2,
4. Decorate a nursery,
5. ...oh yeah, finalize the adoption of our soon to be DS,
6. Learn how to care for an infant boy,
7. ...I'm sure there's more, but I'm getting overwhelmed thinking about the above...

My worry is that #5 and everything else are incompatible. Also, that my self imposed clock tells me time is running out.

We are VERY excited about the PC trip! So much so, we're taking a trip to WDW in Oct/Nov to get our Disney "fix" in to bridge the gap.

Look forward to seeing all.

You better hurry up with your list except the losing weight. Once the baby arrives you won't have time for much else including nice meals!

 

[Mouse_Poor]

You better hurry up with your list except the losing weight. Once the baby arrives you won't have time for much else including nice meals!

That's my biggest fear. I'm as done as I'm gonna get. I'm expecting to need coffee, lots & lots of coffee.

 

[milestogo]

Mouse Poor Welcome!

The key is less coffee and sleep when the baby sleeps. If you have too much coffee you'll not be able to sleep when the baby comes.

Yes, get all house projects done now because it will all come to a hault!

 

[GatorFamily]

Well I finally did it, I created my own DisBoards username so I could stop lurking behind my DW's profile (ElderFam). On top of that, I found this thread without her help! I'm off and flying SOLO, yea!

I'm glad to find some of the gang from the Eastbound Med. We had a TON of fun on that cruise!

I'm in for the "mutual motivation" to get us to the Westbound PC trip. I need to:
1. Lose 10 lbs,
2. Finish several (greater than 10) home improvement projects,
3. Relocate our home office to the basement after #2,
4. Decorate a nursery,
5. ...oh yeah, finalize the adoption of our soon to be DS,
6. Learn how to care for an infant boy,
7. ...I'm sure there's more, but I'm getting overwhelmed thinking about the above...

My worry is that #5 and everything else are incompatible. Also, that my self imposed clock tells me time is running out.

We are VERY excited about the PC trip! So much so, we're taking a trip to WDW in Oct/Nov to get our Disney "fix" in to bridge the gap.

Look forward to seeing all.

Very impressive list. Found this site all by yourself....impressive

 

[milestogo]

Hey guys,
Well, Linda (Seaulater), Anna (CACruisin) and I are headed to the DL 5K/Half marathon weekend. A bunch of us from the repo are getting together for dinner and brunch, so it should be fun. BUT HOT - Like Africa HOT!!! Which, of course, means we are sending you guys some hot weather across the country.

What is everyone else doing this weekend?

 

[gydell]

Hey guys,
Well, Linda (Seaulater), Anna (CACruisin) and I are headed to the DL 5K/Half marathon weekend. A bunch of us from the repo are getting together for dinner and brunch, so it should be fun. BUT HOT - Like Africa HOT!!! Which, of course, means we are sending you guys some hot weather across the country.

What is everyone else doing this weekend?

FOOTBALL!

 

[elderfam]

Hi Guys!

DH (mouse_poor) and I are headed to St. Louis for the weekend to visit family. While we cant be at DL with you we are cheering you on! Sorry for the heat...we have had our share of it this summer.
Dont forget, wearing a white hat in the sun can drop the temp on your head by 10 degrees! (golf course trivia ha ha ha) Hey, when its that hot, every degree counts!

 

[milestogo]

Hey guys, What will we be doing in Aruba? Has anyone been there?

 

[figment52]

I was in Aruba about 7-8 years ago for a week. The island has beautiful beaches and some great underwater activities (snorkle.scuba) and the typical glass bottom boat and semi-submarine tours.

There is a windsurfing school between the cruise terminal and the lighthouse (Windsurf Village). When we were there they operated for their students only but that may have changed and they may rent equipment by the day now.

Becasue of the steady tradewinds the temp is pretty constant at 78-82. We were there in April and tht is one of the strongest months for wind (my DBIL and his buddies arranged a windsurfing trip and the families tagged along for the week).

There is plenty of shopping very close to the cruise terminal. WE will be there in their off season so if you shop a block or two off the main street you can get the same items for a bit less (and those people did negotiate a bit).

There are a couple casinos within walking distance as well.

The climate is very arid (constant tradewinds) so once you get away from the beach it is more like desert. The people were very pleasant and laid back and not pushy (at least we never encountered any). They call it The Happy Island. English is spoken there as well as a native language (it begins with a P). The local currancy is the florin but US $ is readily acceptable. There are territory of the Netherlands.

That is all I remember right now.

 

[gydell]

There is a lighthouse you can climb and eat at. There was a natural bidge that was pretty neat but I think I heard it was blown down in the last couple of years. I know some of the people on the other thread are renting jeeps and exploring. The beaches are very windy and the sand is blowing, not my favorite. The water is beautiful. Food is $$$. My DGS loves lighthouses so we will probably do that.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Hello fellow WB PC Cruisers! Looks like this will be the place to come for expert advise on LOOOOONG cruises!

Linda, I'm so looking forward to the scrapbooking class...hope you get lots a new ideas from you event later this month! I'm actually motivated to work on my 'fish extender' this weekend...I haven't touched my crafting supplies in quite a while

Hey guys,
Well, Linda (Seaulater), Anna (CACruisin) and I are headed to the DL 5K/Half marathon weekend. A bunch of us from the repo are getting together for dinner and brunch, so it should be fun. BUT HOT - Like Africa HOT!!!

Good luck at the 5k/Half marathon. Woody73 and his DW, who are also on the WB PC are participating also. I did a 5K at WDW a few years back (walking) and it was wonderful walking through Epcot when it was nearly empty.

I'm traveling solo (well, a Cat 11 to myself) and my sister (TiggersPal) and DBil are cruising also (Cat 9). It will be Jose's FIRST cruise ever...can't wait to see how he likes it.

GatorFamily...we can't wait to meet you next week!

 

[Hygiene99]

That would be me. We did stick out at that party didn't we didn't we . My cousin Sharon is booked for this one too.

I was reading the original thread (2005) over the weekend and found the name of the PC PILOT that is also a DISer. He has started posting on the BIG WB PC Thread. His name is Alvera Luis. He is asking for the pilot assignment for our cruise as well. Last time he did his pilot stuff and in between he partied with the DISers. It should be a wealth of information at our fingertips with him on board again.

http://198.65.115.221/showthread.php?t=815319

Was it this one or the other one?

Peter

 

[figment52]

this one

 

[gydell]

this one

 

[figment52]

That would be me. We did stick out at that party didn't we didn't we . My cousin Sharon is booked for this one too.

I was reading the original thread (2005) over the weekend and found the name of the PC PILOT that is also a DISer. He has started posting on the BIG WB PC Thread. His name is Alvera Luis. He is asking for the pilot assignment for our cruise as well. Last time he did his pilot stuff and in between he partied with the DISers. It should be a wealth of information at our fingertips with him on board again.

Peter was referring back to my original post on this thread (above) that referenced the thread from the 2005 crossing. I had not posted the link (it was before I fugured out how to do that) so he did (http://198.65.115.221/showthread.php?t=815319) and asked if "this" was the thread I was referencing or the other one (which I have no idea what he is referring to- lol).

WOW - it you understand that explanation we both deserve an adult beverage.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[milestogo]

Hi guys, Well we had a blast this weekend at the half marathon, but it was over 100 degrees every day - about 10-20 degrees hotter than we are used to dealing with here! Anna (CACruisin) and I did the 5K on Sunday which was really fun and we were done before the critical heat. All the characters were out waving to us wearing their running outfits. It was very cute. The half marathon was hotter than you know what! Linda (Seaulater) was among many of the others from our repo cruise who made it through the half - which you should know she wasn't even sweating when she came across! A bunch of us got together for dinner at Naples on Saturday and then Sunday club 33 - It was so very nice and fun. Hard to believe that this cruise will be over by next year's marathon. I liked the 5K so much that I signed up for several more including planning on doing the Minnie the week before our cruise departs.

Sandy and Gydell, thanks for all the info about Aruba. I've been very curious, I knew you guys would be the experts. Shopping sounds interesting, what are they know for in their shops?

ibouncetoo Welcome Yes, we are the distance Disney cruisers, do ask anything you want to know!

This begins the busy time of my year - I have ton going on this month including several fun plays Wicked next week, Ave. Q the following Saturday on my birthday and Playhouse Disney the following week. Besides work, I become the taxi driver for all of my daughter's classes. But my plan is to walk while she is doing ballet, gymnastics, princess class etc.

Peter, are you on this cruise? We never met on the 11 night, but everyone I know knows you!

 

[figment52]

Hi guys, Well we had a blast this weekend at the half marathon, but it was over 100 degrees every day - about 10-20 degrees hotter than we are used to dealing with here! Anna (CACruisin) and I did the 5K on Sunday which was really fun and we were done before the critical heat. All the characters were out waving to us wearing their running outfits. It was very cute. The half marathon was hotter than you know what! Linda (Seaulater) was among many of the others from our repo cruise who made it through the half - which you should know she wasn't even sweating when she came across! A bunch of us got together for dinner at Naples on Saturday and then Sunday club 33 - It was so very nice and fun. Hard to believe that this cruise will be over by next year's marathon. I liked the 5K so much that I signed up for several more including planning on doing the Minnie the week before our cruise departs.

Sandy and Gydell, thanks for all the info about Aruba. I've been very curious, I knew you guys would be the experts. Shopping sounds interesting, what are they know for in their shops?

ibouncetoo Welcome Yes, we are the distance Disney cruisers, do ask anything you want to know!

This begins the busy time of my year - I have ton going on this month including several fun plays Wicked next week, Ave. Q the following Saturday on my birthday and Playhouse Disney the following week. Besides work, I become the taxi driver for all of my daughter's classes. But my plan is to walk while she is doing ballet, gymnastics, princess class etc.

Peter, are you on this cruise? We never met on the 11 night, but everyone I know knows you!

Congrats to all on the marathons this past weekend. I do them all the time but only in my dreams- lol. I don't think I ever broke 6 miles when I was walking nightly.

Shopping in Aruba - it is the Caribbean so alcohol, jewelry and electronics seem to be the most prevalent. Aruba is not quite as duty free as the Virgin Islands but if you know your prices, it is still better than stateside. My friend bought Columbia emeralds one year but we bought Australian Opals (the really bright blue/green ones). Even thought we were there for a week, there really wasn't much shopping done by anyone. We actually avoided the shopping and casinos when the cruise ships were around (that when the windsurfing was happening).

Since we were at the Windsurf Village for the week we mostly did the pool, beaches and dining during our stay. I hope to do a jeep tour this time. I couldn't get anyone to explore much that wasn't connected to the water. We did drive a little beyond the airport and when we had to wait for the goats to cross the street my passengers got a bit anxious and wanted to turn around (they were not the adventurous type).

There are iguanas in Aruba - the bigger they get, the uglier they get. We had to have the staff remove a rather large one from the pool one morning.

Not that we will be having to look for our own food there but we found a great roadside BBQ (think church or school fundraiser dinner) with the best ribs and cooked plantains. YUMM. We had apartments and a group of 32 that varied in age from middle school to grandparents and found this place on our way home from the grocery store.

Sandy