July 9th 2005 - West Coast Cruise.

[soccerdad-Chris]

Val,
Great news for you guys. Our bean counter hasn't given us the final tally yet, but it's pretty much a given that we'll not be receiving anything from ole Uncle Sam (again). A check we'll be a writin', as always. Pay all year, pay on April 15th, then listen to politicians say they're not getting their "fair share" from people...I'm thinkin' Mike's little saying on his signature is pretty doggone wise....too bad I don't own a gun.

Oh, well. I refuse to let such things affect my enthusiasm for the cruise. I AM READY TO GO NOW!!!! NOW, I SAY!!! NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW!!!! Not later, NOW!!!

Sorry, got a little carried away!!!

Chris

 

[renknt]

Psssssssssssssssssssssst hey buddy can I intrest yous in a little chrome number...





























A cross ballpoint or maybe a Mount Blanc fountain

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Hey guys,
Well, my laptop crashed, which has cramped my style considerably as far as the DIS goes (not to mention rendering me basically useless at work). This post is an experiment to see how well posting from my Blackberry works.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Chris

 

[jel0511]

Hey guys,
Well, my laptop crashed, which has cramped my style considerably as far as the DIS goes (not to mention rendering me basically useless at work). This post is an experiment to see how well posting from my Blackberry works.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Chris

Seems to be working!!! You sound like Darren, except he uses his Palm. He's constantly e-mailing me from the train or surfing while commuting, he says it keeps him sane while on Amtrak!!!!

Edited to add: Sorry about your laptop Chris. I guess you're going to talk to those pocket protector guys down on the 2nd floor.........

 

[GrumpyMom1]

We're at the 4 month mark!!! I can't believe how fast the time is going. When I booked this cruise in May of last year it seemed so far away. Now it's just around the corner.

 

[jel0511]

I know!!! I can't wait, but I first want to get out of all this snow!! Again, another delayed opening here due to weather!!! URGH!!!! Luckily we leave in 17 days for FL and WDW!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

We're at the 4 month mark!!! I can't believe how fast the time is going. When I booked this cruise in May of last year it seemed so far away. Now it's just around the corner.

Part of me is thinking "Wow, only 4 months left". The other part of me is thinking "Geeez, 4 whole months to go". Can't win.

 

[Dylcal]

I have to agree! I want July here and now. I am sick of the cold and they are calling for another "snow" event in Maryland this weekend -- just in time to mess us plans!! It was in teh 60's on Monday then in the 30's the rest of the week -- how cruel.

I did run to the store to buy self-tanner today. I figured 4 months is enough time to work on the "safe" tan. They had just put them out so I shoud be ready. Is is July yet?????

 

[hayesktrm]

I have to agree! I want July here and now. I am sick of the cold and they are calling for another "snow" event in Maryland this weekend -- just in time to mess us plans!! It was in teh 60's on Monday then in the 30's the rest of the week -- how cruel.

I did run to the store to buy self-tanner today. I figured 4 months is enough time to work on the "safe" tan. They had just put them out so I shoud be ready. Is is July yet?????

It was 84 degrees here today--shorts weather. And I am so pale. I was thinking about getting my self-tanner out, too.

 

[hayesktrm]

A question--Has anyone thought about their vacation plans for NEXT year yet? I try to figure it out before we take our vacation to avoid post-vacation depression.

So, what are you all thinking about for next year? We are thinking about going to Hawaii. I am the only one of us who has been and that was in 6th grade. The kids really want to go. We saw the NCL commercial and that cruise looks fun. I like that you get to visit many islands. For those of you who have visited Hawaii, what do you think? If we don't go the cruise route, we will go to Maui and Oahu. Does anyone know of good places to stay?

I have lots of time to go vacation shopping today--DD has bronchitis.

-Karen

 

[jel0511]

A question--Has anyone thought about their vacation plans for NEXT year yet? I try to figure it out before we take our vacation to avoid post-vacation depression.

So, what are you all thinking about for next year? We are thinking about going to Hawaii. I am the only one of us who has been and that was in 6th grade. The kids really want to go. We saw the NCL commercial and that cruise looks fun. I like that you get to visit many islands. For those of you who have visited Hawaii, what do you think? If we don't go the cruise route, we will go to Maui and Oahu. Does anyone know of good places to stay?

I have lots of time to go vacation shopping today--DD has bronchitis.

-Karen

I'm always planning a year in advance... For next year, we're going skiing in New Hampshire in Feb, a week at WDW and an Eastern Cruise in July, and then another week at WDW in November. Though we are considering going back to St. John for a week, and then we'd do two weeks at WDW in July and go to St. John for the week in November. We'll see though, but right now we're leaning towards the cruise/WDW two week combo.

As for Hawaii, I haven't been there in 10 years, since our honeymoon. We stayed at the Princeville on Kauai and Four Seasons in Wailea on Maui. I'd recommend either hotel highly!! Though when we finally make the trek out to Hawaii with the kids, we're leaning towards Hilton Hawaian Village in Ohau and going somewhere on the Big Island since we've been to the other islands. I like the Hilton Wikoloa (sp) Village or the Four Seasons property on the Big Island. We're probably not going to make that long trek from the East Coast for a few more years though, probably when Julianna is around 10 and Brandon is 7. I think they could handle the 11 hour flight by then.

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Next year's vacations? Hmmmm, that's a good question. We introduced our kids to skiing this year (of course, that means snowboarding for DS, who thinks regular skiing is for wussies), so I imagine there'll be several trips along those lines--Utah and Colorado, perhaps.

Hawaii?? Fabulous place. Exotic enough so you know you're on vacation, but you're still in the good ole' USA. The Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island is probably one of the most specacular and fun places there. We've been there 6 or 7 times, and always have a blast. The NW shore of Maui is also great (i.e. Kaanapali, Kapalua, etc.). Bottom line: any vacation in Hawaii is gonna be a winner, in my opinion. One caution: Kuaii (sp?) is very nice, but VERY quiet---nice relaxation, but not very active, if that's your thing.

One place I'd like to try is the Atlantis Resort (in the Bahamas, I think). Has anyone stayed there?? I hear it's a bit pricey, but an unbelievable experience. I'm also thinking about Europe. Both of my parents were born and raised in Europe, and I spent many summers there as a kid, and it was a great experience for me...I'd like my kids to grow up with a larger world-view than what they get from vacationing in the U.S.

Chris

p.s. We need to wake this thread up a little. Sail-away drinks may be in jeopardy if we don't. Someone please come up with a question, game, joke, or anything to liven things up a little!!!

 

[Sarangel]

As previously stated, I've been in San Diego (partially sunny) for the past 3 days & without internet connections. Of course I've been sick as a dog, too (actually the dog's doing better than I am). On to keeping up the conversation....

A question--Has anyone thought about their vacation plans for NEXT year yet? I try to figure it out before we take our vacation to avoid post-vacation depression.

So, what are you all thinking about for next year? We are thinking about going to Hawaii. I am the only one of us who has been and that was in 6th grade. The kids really want to go. We saw the NCL commercial and that cruise looks fun. I like that you get to visit many islands. For those of you who have visited Hawaii, what do you think? If we don't go the cruise route, we will go to Maui and Oahu. Does anyone know of good places to stay?

We always plan our vacation a year to 18 months in advance. Next year, we're going for a week in Kauai (my favorite of the Hawaiian Islands) for a week in March and out to WDW (and maybe a cruise) in the fall sometime.

As for Hawaii, I don't think I'd do the cruise thing, but that's flavored with how I've visited the Islands... My 1st husband's parents had a house on Kauai and we'd go for a week or so at a time and live a laid back, natural rhythm for that time. We'd get up at sunrise, snorkle (they lived off the coast of one of the *best* snorkle beaches in the islands), have breakfast, go for a walk, sightsee, have lunch, read, go for a bike ride, shop, maybe boogie board, hang out and talk, have dinner & sleep when the sun went down (or watch the stars - no where near as much light pollution as on the mainland). That's how I think the islands should be done, and a cruise ship seems more like punching a time clock than that.

That said, I'd recommend Kauai for that sort of vacation (especially the north side of the island).

Have fun deciding.

Sara

 

[FOJMO]

Well, we try to go away each year on or around our wedding anniversary, and since next year is our 25th, we are hoping to renew our vows, have a wedding reception, and then head to London. I've been there (though a long time ago - 1976), but Stu has never been out of the US except to the Caribbean and Canada.

And speaking of cold, it was AWFUL here in Florida today -- high of around 50 with rain, rain, rain and damp, damp, damp! But after talking to Stu, who is in Connecticut and said it was around 8 degrees (!) and snowing, I guess I shouldn't complain...

Val

 

[jel0511]

One place I'd like to try is the Atlantis Resort (in the Bahamas, I think). Has anyone stayed there??

DO NOT DO IT!!! Stay as far away as you can!!! We stayed at teh Atlantis for one wasteful week. We spend over $10k that week, and it was a COMPLETE waste of money. We stayed in the Royal Tower on the concierge floor, and what a HUGE waste of money. It made WDW hotels seems like a bargain!!! The room wasn't any better than your average Holiday Inn, and when I'm paying more than $600 per night, I expect slightly more. The food was horrendous and also terribly overpriced. Lunch for 4, WITH two kids meals was close to $70 and we're talking burgers and hotdogs here folks. The pools were nice, but not anything that would make we want to return. The beach was absolutely horrible, since it is on the windward side of Paradise Island, it was frequently closed due to rip tides. Also, if you've been to any nice beach in the Caribbean (we do travel frequently to St. John), all the beaches in the Nassau/Paradise Island area are HORRIBLE! They are no better than a FL beach, and I can stay at my MIL's for free to go to those beaches. Chris, don't waste your money, go and rent a villa on St. John, you won't be disappointed there!!!!!

 

[GrumpyMom1]

Our next big trip is going to an Alaska cruise but I'm not sure when we are going to do it. I've already started investigating cruise lines and itineraries and I'm leaning towards Princess. I really like their 2 new ships, the Diamond and the Sapphire.

I think we're going to try and squeeze in a Washington DC and/or NYC trip before then. We have never been to either and the girls are old enough to really get alot out of it.

I'm really enjoying everyone's countdown timers that say 3 months and 3 weeks. Time to start shopping!!!

 

[Amous]

Hi everyone! It's been a long couple of weeks, but I've been lurking in the background trying to keep up with the conversation. If anyone is going to Hawaii, I would love to volunteer to go with you. It's one of those 'no-shoes' kinda place.

We have a request for our next game. Tell us who your favorite Disney character is and why.

For me, it's Eeyore. Although I've never been too big on the Winnie-The-Pooh story, Eeyore is my absoulute favorite. He's so pessimistically optomistic (or is it optomistically pessimistic?)!

Have fun!

Amy

 

[jel0511]

O.K. I'll play... My favorite character is a toughie... I'd probably have to say Mickey Mouse. Everytime I see him, I get all teary eyed and I don't know why. I guess since he stands for everything Disney it does it for me. Darren's is definately Pooh. He loves that guy, and I don't know why... Julianna's is Minnie Mouse. She never really got into the Princesses, so after getting up early 4 times for CRT ressies, I've given up. Brandon likes them all, but probably leans more towards the Pooh characters the best. This week Rabbit is his favorite, probably because we just saw the Pooh Heffalump movie and Rabbit was pretty funny in it!!!

 

[Amous]

Matt, my DS, loves Goofy. They have a lot in common!

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Do Pixar characters count? (it was still owned by Disney then) if so, then my most fav character is .... Dory, because she's funny and .... wait, what was the question? ( )

Cassie's fav continues to be Jasmine. You know, the princess who has a mind of her own and is not going to let her life be decided by her
parent(s).