July 18 2009 Tortola

[jlawall]

Good Morning All!

Busy weekend for us! Last night Maggie (dd11) danced during the halftime show of the Houston Rockets. Mike (ds13) is up early, he has region band auditions all day today. If that wasn't enough, we are going to the Rice University home football game this afternoon.

It's good to hear we have 9 months!!! John and I have a warm-up cruise on RCCL Voyager out of Galveston in January. I haven't even started thinking about that one.

Sounds cool! Lucky you having a cruise in January!!!

 

[jlawall]

How excting for you and Maggie!

Good luck to Mke with his auditions.

Have you sailed RCCL form Galveston before? Muy son was thinking of sailing from there.too.

We just returned from a week of touring 6 colleges in the South. We were in a different hotel room every night for 6 nights in 4 statres- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. My mom, my daughter and I went. My DH couldn't get the time off. We had a lot of fun. My daughter has narrowed down her choices so it was definitely worthwhile. Flager College ( where my older son graduated from) in St. Augustine, is her second , and East Carolina University her third. Now she has to apply and get accepted and we'll be all set.

Wow, that was quite a trip, we're going down to NC & GA next weekend for our daughter's college soccer games. Our second is currently pursuing her grad school so we're also mulling schools on the east coast........I love when they pick southern schools (because then we can go visit and get out of the cold!)

 

[jlawall]

This will be our third cruise out of Galveston, no kids. We sailed a 12 night partial transit of the Panama Canal on RCCL Splendour and then a 7 day last year on the Grand Princess. We're 30 minutes from the Port of Galveston - it is so nice to be that close. Especially disembarkation - I tease John that I could run home, wash and repack the clothes and be back for another sailway

The Grand Princess was ok - it was our first return to cruising after 2 DCL cruises, and we couldn't help but compare. It will be interesting to see if we still enjoy RCCL.

The downfall is that it is the ports don't vary - Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize, Honduras, Costa Maya - in various combinations. It doesn't bother us - it's just nice to get away and relax. We keep talking about cruising RCCL with the kids - but, RCCL leaves Galveston in the summer months.

This will be a new experience for us - a balcony, and a coveted aft balcony too. We may never go back to the broomclosets again!!! (Well, after this DCL broomcloset cruise...)

That sounds like a nice cruise!!

 

[starwood]

Yes, of course! It's better to plan ahead.........OMG, we need a packing list! Who has a good one for DCL!!

I got this from someplace (not sure where). It's in the form of a spreadsheet.

Athletic clothing/workout wear
Bathing suit
Dress/Pantsuit
Hat: Baseball or other
Pants - jeans
Pants - khakis
Raincoat/poncho
Shirts - dress shirts
Shirts - golf shirts
Shirts - t-shirts or long-sleeve
Shoes: beach footwear/sandals
Shoes: formal
Shoes: non-skid or athletic
Shoes: slippers
Shoes: water shoes
Shorts
Socks
Suit
Sweaters
Sweatshirts
Ties
Tuxedo or formal wear
Underwear
$1 or $ 2 bills (room service grat)
Address Labels-Luggage Tags
Address Labels-Postcards
Air Freshner/Room Scent/Pillow scent
Aloe
Antacid
Anti-bacterial Wipes or Gel
Aspirin or other medicine
Backpack
Band-aids
Batteries (camera batteries also)
Benadryl
Beverages/mixers/wine
Binoculars
Bonine
Books
Bubblewrap
Business Cards
Button Hole Extenders
Cameras
Candy
Carry-on with wheels
CD player/CDs/iPod
Cooler (soft-sided)
Deodorant
Dishwash Detergent or Cloths
Dramamine
Dryer Sheets
Duffle bag (spare)
Earplugs
Eyewash and/or eyecup
Fan - hand-held
Fanny pack
Feminine needs
Film/Memory Card (spare)
Flashlight
Folder or Large Envelope
Glow necklaces
Hairbrush/Comb
Hairdryer
Hamper - collapsable
Highlighters
ID holder/dry box
Insect Repellent packets
Keep cool or "migraine ice" strips
Laundry Detergent
Laxative, correctal/gentle
List of these tips
Lotion
Luggage Bag
Magnetic door sign or photo holder
Makeup
Moisturizer/Lotion
Night Light
Notebook/Journal, Pens
Notebook/Memo Pad
Over-the-door Shoe Holder
Papaya Enzyme Tablet or Beano
Pen - laundry pen
Pens
Permanent Marker (Sharpie)
Phone Cards (staff grats)
Pillowcases & colored Sharpies
Post-it Pad
Powder
Prescriptions/medicines
Quarters - a roll or two
Reading Glasses
Safety Pins
Scrapbook/Autograph Book
Sense of humor
Sewing Kit
Shampoo
Shaving Kit
Sports bottle/water bottle/mug
Stain Stick or Packet
Straws
Sunglasses
Sunscreen/Sunscreen spray
Thank You Cards
Tissues
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Tote Bag/Beach Bag/Day Bag
Trash bags
Travel clock/alarm clock
Two-way Radios
Umbrella
Watch - recommend waterproof
Woolite
Zip straps
Ziploc Bags

 

[jlawall]

I got this from someplace (not sure where). It's in the form of a spreadsheet.

Athletic clothing/workout wear
Bathing suit
Dress/Pantsuit
Hat: Baseball or other
Pants - jeans
Pants - khakis
Raincoat/poncho
Shirts - dress shirts
Shirts - golf shirts
Shirts - t-shirts or long-sleeve
Shoes: beach footwear/sandals
Shoes: formal
Shoes: non-skid or athletic
Shoes: slippers
Shoes: water shoes
Shorts
Socks
Suit
Sweaters
Sweatshirts
Ties
Tuxedo or formal wear
Underwear
$1 or $ 2 bills (room service grat)
Address Labels-Luggage Tags
Address Labels-Postcards
Air Freshner/Room Scent/Pillow scent
Aloe
Antacid
Anti-bacterial Wipes or Gel
Aspirin or other medicine
Backpack
Band-aids
Batteries (camera batteries also)
Benadryl
Beverages/mixers/wine
Binoculars
Bonine
Books
Bubblewrap
Business Cards
Button Hole Extenders
Cameras
Candy
Carry-on with wheels
CD player/CDs/iPod
Cooler (soft-sided)
Deodorant
Dishwash Detergent or Cloths
Dramamine
Dryer Sheets
Duffle bag (spare)
Earplugs
Eyewash and/or eyecup
Fan - hand-held
Fanny pack
Feminine needs
Film/Memory Card (spare)
Flashlight
Folder or Large Envelope
Glow necklaces
Hairbrush/Comb
Hairdryer
Hamper - collapsable
Highlighters
ID holder/dry box
Insect Repellent packets
Keep cool or "migraine ice" strips
Laundry Detergent
Laxative, correctal/gentle
List of these tips
Lotion
Luggage Bag
Magnetic door sign or photo holder
Makeup
Moisturizer/Lotion
Night Light
Notebook/Journal, Pens
Notebook/Memo Pad
Over-the-door Shoe Holder
Papaya Enzyme Tablet or Beano
Pen - laundry pen
Pens
Permanent Marker (Sharpie)
Phone Cards (staff grats)
Pillowcases & colored Sharpies
Post-it Pad
Powder
Prescriptions/medicines
Quarters - a roll or two
Reading Glasses
Safety Pins
Scrapbook/Autograph Book
Sense of humor
Sewing Kit
Shampoo
Shaving Kit
Sports bottle/water bottle/mug
Stain Stick or Packet
Straws
Sunglasses
Sunscreen/Sunscreen spray
Thank You Cards
Tissues
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Tote Bag/Beach Bag/Day Bag
Trash bags
Travel clock/alarm clock
Two-way Radios
Umbrella
Watch - recommend waterproof
Woolite
Zip straps
Ziploc Bags
Pirate Gear

You know what? I'm going to print this out and start a packing box, highlighting the items as I pack them!!! But first, if anyone has any other ideas, please add them to the list first. Thanks so much for posting this!!

 

[jfis1020]

You know what? I'm going to print this out and start a packing box, highlighting the items as I pack them!!! But first, if anyone has any other ideas, please add them to the list first. Thanks so much for posting this!!

it's not as good as the one that Starwood posted!

http://http://www.geocities.com/jazzyjas63/PackingList.htm

Kris - you are such a great Aunt!

Mark and I leave for Las Vegas Wed. evening and return Sat. night!

 

[jlawall]

Mark and I leave for Las Vegas Wed. evening and return Sat. night!

Isn't this the Osmonds show trip!! Lucky you (I hope!) Write a trip report when you return!!

 

[jlawall]

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=25210500&postcount=92 Here's a tease for all of us...........a dolphin encounter on Tortola as an excursion from St. Thomas on an Eastern cruise........we should be able to do this off the ship in Tortola w/o the ferry ride!

 

[3princessMommy]

Wow! What a week!!!!

Well, first of all, we have received our assignment for next summer!!! Drumroll please............

KAMPALA, UGANDA

So we will be staying in Africa, just moving Southeast by a couple thousand miles. They speak English there, so I will cease being the family translator for my husband, who never gets language training prior to our assignments. Yeah! The international school sounds fantastic and they are already sending us information for the girls. Only problem, their first day of school is the second week of August!!! AGHHHHH! (That will totally cut short our vacation! )

After that great news, I got a phone call from the school to pickup DD#1. After visiting the dr., they ran some blood tests and discovered that she had Malaria! This is a really, really bad Malaria season here. The hospitals are full and several of our friends have gotten sick. But I wasn't expecting it in our family because we take prophylaxis against the disease. Unfortunately, DD#1 had outgrown her dosage and we hadn't adjusted her levels. Luckily, we caught it very early, so she just got a mild fever, and only missed one day of school.

Finally, we ended the week with DD#1's birthday party. My "baby" is now 7 years old!!!

Now, can I take this upcoming week off to recuperate????

 

[MrsG]

Wow! What a week!!!!

Well, first of all, we have received our assignment for next summer!!! Drumroll please............

KAMPALA, UGANDA

So we will be staying in Africa, just moving Southeast by a couple thousand miles. They speak English there, so I will cease being the family translator for my husband, who never gets language training prior to our assignments. Yeah! The international school sounds fantastic and they are already sending us information for the girls. Only problem, their first day of school is the second week of August!!! AGHHHHH! (That will totally cut short our vacation! )

After that great news, I got a phone call from the school to pickup DD#1. After visiting the dr., they ran some blood tests and discovered that she had Malaria! This is a really, really bad Malaria season here. The hospitals are full and several of our friends have gotten sick. But I wasn't expecting it in our family because we take prophylaxis against the disease. Unfortunately, DD#1 had outgrown her dosage and we hadn't adjusted her levels. Luckily, we caught it very early, so she just got a mild fever, and only missed one day of school.

Finally, we ended the week with DD#1's birthday party. My "baby" is now 7 years old!!!

Now, can I take this upcoming week off to recuperate????

Wow - you certainly have had a week!!! Hope your daughter is OK. Of all things. And Uganda - wow. Luckily you won't be moving until after the cruise. A new adventure begins! Best of luck.

 

[jlawall]

Wow! What a week!!!!

Well, first of all, we have received our assignment for next summer!!! Drumroll please............

KAMPALA, UGANDA

So we will be staying in Africa, just moving Southeast by a couple thousand miles. They speak English there, so I will cease being the family translator for my husband, who never gets language training prior to our assignments. Yeah! The international school sounds fantastic and they are already sending us information for the girls. Only problem, their first day of school is the second week of August!!! AGHHHHH! (That will totally cut short our vacation! )

After that great news, I got a phone call from the school to pickup DD#1. After visiting the dr., they ran some blood tests and discovered that she had Malaria! This is a really, really bad Malaria season here. The hospitals are full and several of our friends have gotten sick. But I wasn't expecting it in our family because we take prophylaxis against the disease. Unfortunately, DD#1 had outgrown her dosage and we hadn't adjusted her levels. Luckily, we caught it very early, so she just got a mild fever, and only missed one day of school.

Finally, we ended the week with DD#1's birthday party. My "baby" is now 7 years old!!!

Now, can I take this upcoming week off to recuperate????

Ok, remind me again what job your husband has???

Malaria???????????????? I guess the treatment is in place.

You're the translator of your family? Where did you learn the languages?

Don't feel bad, my baby turned 18 in May..........

 

[jlawall]

We broke into 8 months +

 

[MrsG]

We broke into 8 months +

YIPPEE!!!!

 

[3princessMommy]

Ok, remind me again what job your husband has???

Malaria???????????????? I guess the treatment is in place.

You're the translator of your family? Where did you learn the languages?

Don't feel bad, my baby turned 18 in May..........

I am the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Embassy and my husband is the Information Management Officer. I get language training for my job because I have to speak to foreign audiences in their languages. So far - French, Spanish & Russian! My husband doesn't have to do that, so he doesn't get language training.

Unfortunately, Malaria is a real problem - we have to take medicine to keep from getting sick. But it's not 100% effective. Most cases of Malaria can be treated if caught early and you have the medical resources to do so. We are lucky - Caitie is almost back to 100% after a few short days. Not everyone is so lucky here.

I'm just having a hard time getting my head around the fact that I've been a mom for 7 years.

 

[jlawall]

I am the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Embassy and my husband is the Information Management Officer. I get language training for my job because I have to speak to foreign audiences in their languages. So far - French, Spanish & Russian! My husband doesn't have to do that, so he doesn't get language training.

Unfortunately, Malaria is a real problem - we have to take medicine to keep from getting sick. But it's not 100% effective. Most cases of Malaria can be treated if caught early and you have the medical resources to do so. We are lucky - Caitie is almost back to 100% after a few short days. Not everyone is so lucky here.

I'm just having a hard time getting my head around the fact that I've been a mom for 7 years.

Wow, GL with the malaria ......keep us posted.........your children are having quite an experience growing up!

 

[jfis1020]

Isn't this the Osmonds show trip!! Lucky you (I hope!) Write a trip report when you return!!

I am in Indianapolis Monday & Tuesday for state training. Wednesday I am working all day, but leaving for the airport at 4 p.m. for Las Vegas!

To answer your question, YES we are seeing Donnie & Marie on Thursday (I think!). We also have Barry Manilow tickets (yes, AGAIN!) on Friday night! We haven't said much about the Manilow tickets because we know how disappointed Marshall would be if he knew we were going!

We usually stay at the Monte Carlo, but decided to try Planet Hollywood this time for a change! I am so ready......and I'm going to the spa on THursday morning for a hot stone massage, compliments of DH!

 

[jfis1020]

Last night Maggie (dd11) danced during the halftime show of the Houston Rockets.

Wow! How cool is that??

Mike (ds13) is up early, he has region band auditions all day today. .

GL Mike! Let us know how it goes!

John and I have a warm-up cruise on RCCL Voyager out of Galveston in January. I haven't even started thinking about that one.

I'd like to try a cruise w/o the kids and would be doing to try RCCL. I hear that it's one of the better ones, but still not DCL!

 

[jfis1020]

Wow! What a week!!!!

Well, first of all, we have received our assignment for next summer!!! Drumroll please............

KAMPALA, UGANDA

So we will be staying in Africa, just moving Southeast by a couple thousand miles. They speak English there, so I will cease being the family translator for my husband, who never gets language training prior to our assignments. Yeah! The international school sounds fantastic and they are already sending us information for the girls. Only problem, their first day of school is the second week of August!!! AGHHHHH! (That will totally cut short our vacation! )

After that great news, I got a phone call from the school to pickup DD#1. After visiting the dr., they ran some blood tests and discovered that she had Malaria! This is a really, really bad Malaria season here. The hospitals are full and several of our friends have gotten sick. But I wasn't expecting it in our family because we take prophylaxis against the disease. Unfortunately, DD#1 had outgrown her dosage and we hadn't adjusted her levels. Luckily, we caught it very early, so she just got a mild fever, and only missed one day of school.

Finally, we ended the week with DD#1's birthday party. My "baby" is now 7 years old!!!

Now, can I take this upcoming week off to recuperate????

What an awesome picture! Those little girls are adorable!

Malaria! OMG! Hope she is doing well!

I am amazed at the great experiences your children get! My kids know two languages.............. English and Hilljack! Trust me, it's a language all it's own here in Indiana!

 

[Macavity]

Does that mean I can start packing????

If you are just now "starting" you are way behind...... I started MONTHS ago

 

[jfis1020]

We broke into 8 months +

Oh man! That is awesome!!!