March 3, 2007

[mommykeg]

No Cupid striking here, though Andrew did give me a card this morning!
I'm stuck at work, while Andrew and Alana are watching Kathryn play the caterpillar in "Alice In Wonderland" at school. I'm taking a couple hours off tomorrow night to see it though.
We'll have a nice dinner at Palo in about 2 1/2 weeks and just pretend it's Valentines day!

Nothing crazy romantic here either! We're giving each other the Couples Spa Villa on the cruise for Valentine's Day. Really looking forward to that!

 

[jlbridg2]

We decided to try the exotic rasul for our Valentine's/Anniversary present.

Only 16 days left! !

 

[ejkjmom]

Just checking in w/ a weather report.....

We woke up to -17 with a wind chill of -32... Brrrrr!!!!!!

Still no docs at our house

 

[michaels_mom]

We had a "family date" for Valentine's Day - DS's school did a pasta night at one of the local clubs, so MIL, FIL, SIL and DN(ephew) also went - it was fun - we had a DJ for the kids, doorprizes and raffled on a Wii. We had initially had a couples villa spa package booked, but DS backed out Oh well - I still have my massages booked

Our TA called and our docs have arrived - yeah! Can't wait til they're in my hands

As for the weather here...we didn't get as much snow as was anticipated (we rarely do!) - I'd say only a few inches, but the winds and drifts were awful! (you were right, Hart!).

Nine days til we leave!!!

 

[Johnna_Story]

I sure wish I was all packed! I do have 4 big tubs (one for each family member) that I am filling with stuff not to be touched again until the cruise. As I remember things, I throw them in the tubs. Hopefully, this will make packing quicker than it was for our first cruise!

This is an awesome idea!!!! Put on list... go buy four big tubs...

Right now we just have a small bag with pirate stuff, bonine, and kids sunglasses; we'll need to have tubs soon!

 

[kshabare]

Woo Hooo, Stopped by AAA and picked up our Doc's. Finally, they are in our hands, Can't wait.

Talk at you all later...
Norm

 

[Johnna_Story]

Okay - I know for others in this group, there's been recent broken bones, surgeries, illnesses that caused you to reschedule your trip, but I gotta say, this is pretty scary...

There was a fire incident in our house this morning.

I'm at work and the phone rings at around 11:45, and I see on caller ID that it is FROM MY HOUSE and NO ONE IS HOME. So I answer and it's a fireman , who says, "I'm in your house, there's been a minor fire. Let me put the Captain on the phone." So here's something of how our dialogue went:

Me: THERE WAS A FIRE IN MY HOUSE!?!?

Captain Bird: Yes - a very minor fire. There was a pan on the stove and somehow the burner was turned on and it burned, setting off the smoke alarm. There's no damage to anything in the kitchen other than the pan.

Me: So who called you?

CB: The alarm company.

Me: No, it's not hooked up yet. (meaning the brand new alarm equipment we just had installed but not wired or hooked up yet)

CB: No, wait, no, it was the mail carrier.

Me: What??

CB: The mail carrier heard the smoke alarm and smelled the smoke and called us.

Me: How is my Dog?

CB/Me: He's fine. What's his name? Me: Sirus. CB: Hey Sirus, how are ya, buddy?

Me: How did you get in the house?

CB: we had to break a pane window in your back door; we'll tape it up.

Me: Uh - okay. Uh - how did you get my phone number?

CB: from the emergency info on your refrigerator.

Me: wow. It's really weird to get a call from your own phone number when no one is home, and to be told it's the fire department.

CB: well, everything is okay here. We'll lock your back storm door and tape up the window before we leave. Oh, we also had to break the gate by your driveway because it was frozen shut by the snow.

Me: Wow. Thanks so much.

CB: Well, you're welcome - we're doing our job. It's our pleasure. And it could have been much worse.

Me: Yeah, how's that for timing? The mail carrier happened to be going by at just the right time.

CB: Yeah - you're lucky, that's for sure. It could have been worse. You have a good day, and if you need to call us, our number is ..."​

SERIOUSLY!!! Mark went home and everything is fine, except for the smell. We think that the dog tried to get to a pan of brownies that was on the stove, and when he jumped up, he turned on the burner, and that's how it all started. We are seriously lucky, and can't wait to have the alarm system programmed and hooked up asap!!

So - Mark sent an email to the post office to commend the postal carrier. And we are just downplaying the WHOLE thing to the kids - to tell them the smell is that Mark was cooking and burned something. How to explain the gate and the window... we'll have to deal with that as we get to it. I don't want to have to deal with nightmares about fires and our house burning down!!

So, how's everyone else's day???

 

[michaels_mom]

Okay - I know for others in this group, there's been recent broken bones, surgeries, illnesses that caused you to reschedule your trip, but I gotta say, this is pretty scary...There was a fire incident in our house this morning. ...So, how's everyone else's day???

OMG! WOW!! I'm sure glad to hear that everyone is ok - Sirus too ! And "Way To Go" to your mail carrier too! It's great that you guys have taken steps to acknowledge the postal carrier too - this is the type of behaviour that needs to be reinforced!

My day was not nearly as exciting - Work. Meeting later tonight. Study. Sleep. I'll take it, though!

 

[kshabare]

Johnna,

Sorry to giggle but that's funny right there. I'm a smart alec so I have to ask...did Sirus get a brownie?

No big news here in CT. We've both had surgeries to start the year (one scheduled, one not!) and all three have had our bout of stomach but we're free now and are hoping no germies or broken bones follow!

Is anyone trying on clothes? Norman's cursing. Oh...it's the surgery...sorry. I'm just not picking things that are tight! I made sure the last time I bought something in summer it was 'comfortable'.

Kim ºOº

 

[Caropooh]

Johnna and Mark- I don't know whether to laugh cry or hug you! How scary to get a call like that! I'm glad to hear that everything is all right though. What a great letter carrier you have! I'm guessing your mail box must be up by your door. Ours is out at the street, so they never would of heard a smoke alarm.

 

[hart]

Glad to hear that everyone including the puppy are okay. I was ticked about a flat tire but this shows how little my problems are. No surgery, no fire, no broken bones, no documents. (3 out of 4 isn't bad).

Hart

 

[Johnna_Story]

Johnna,

Sorry to giggle but that's funny right there. I'm a smart alec so I have to ask...did Sirus get a brownie?

Yes - Sirus got a brownie!!! Mark put the brownie pan outside and then when Sirus next went out, he started digging in to the burnt brownies!!! You'd think we don't feed him!

Thanks all for your good thoughts. We've kinda run the gamut of emotions today - shock, relief, anger (at Sirus) and finally we're just grateful to think of how lucky we really are.

Good news: we did get our documents this evening. Maybe if I tell Disney about all our trials and tribulations, we'll get an upgrade!!

Good night - talk to you all tomorrow. J

 

[Caropooh]

Yes - Sirus got a brownie!!! Mark put the brownie pan outside and then when Sirus next went out, he started digging in to the burnt brownies!!! You'd think we don't feed him!

Thanks all for your good thoughts. We've kinda run the gamut of emotions today - shock, relief, anger (at Sirus) and finally we're just grateful to think of how lucky we really are.

Good news: we did get our documents this evening. Maybe if I tell Disney about all our trials and tribulations, we'll get an upgrade!!

Good night - talk to you all tomorrow. J

but if you get an upgrade, then we won't be next door neighbors!

 

[Tinkified]

Oh MY GOD is all I can say to the Story Family...I am sooo glad everything ended up in the end being ok. How scary is that! I have such a fear of fire myself....when I was young my dad was working under the hood of our car (while we were waiting inside it) and his hair caught fire...I have never been the same since..kind of afraid to light the bar-b-que for the same reason....took me years into my adult life to light a match. I hope you find a way to tell your kids more about the broken window etc...maybe you can say you were locked out?

And here's to hoping we all stay in one piece, healthy, and in non-disaster mode for the next 2 weeks....

Mommykeg..How do you like teaching in a year round school...I totally believe in the benefits...it has to make a difference with the kids, they lose so much during the summer...my daughter is 6 going on 66. It seems like there are a lot of girls 10 and under on our cruise...I am hoping that she makes friends quickly..she is a little reluctant about the club, but I know if she has "friends" going she probably would go...we have the Palo Brunch on Monday with the group, so I am definately keeping my fingers crossed.

We have no documents here in NY yet...are we the only ones? My mother is my travel agent and she was off yesterday (wednesday) and I figured they would be waiting for her there this morning...but nothing!

Hope everyone has a good night....I am headed back to work tomorrow after a 2 day snowday mini vacation! As great as it is to have off...it is going to be crazy tomorrow with belated Valentine's day parties and having Monday off too...my little Kindergartners are going be so out of routine, they are going to be bonkers!! Thank God the cruise is around the corner.

 

[Tinkified]

quick poll question...I see most of the group has early seating...my daughter is definately a night person and can handle eating late AND staying up late... so that said, we chose late seating. I was thinking we wouldn't have to rush to shower and change for dinner that way also.,,more time in the pool when other families are leaving to get ready for dinner etc. In the past my DH and I have always had late seating whenever we have cruised and we actually prefer it..but this is our first DC and first as a family.

So according to the spreadsheet that Kim did, most of you have early. What is your reason why? I am afraid that since I am a first time disney cruiser that I might have made the wrong choice. Are we going to be the minority as far as families go with the late seating?

Thanks for your input! Michelle

 

[hart]

quick poll question...I see most of the group has early seating...So according to the spreadsheet that Kim did, most of you have early. What is your reason why? I am afraid that since I am a first time disney cruiser that I might have made the wrong choice. Are we going to be the minority as far as families go with the late seating?



We have early seating because our DS is five and he eats early. He may be up some nights late enough but not all.

Good luck

 

[mommykeg]

Michelle,

I love teaching at a year-round school, but I've never taught traditional. I've taught all of my 17 years in Fontana, and we have always been year-round at the elementary level. It seems that there isn't a lot of time wasted on review of lost concepts...we come back from a 3 or 4 week vacation and basically pick up where we left off. I like being able to take vacations at less hectic times of the year also, and I like having time off when my own kids are in school to volunteer in their classrooms, go on field trips, and get stuff done at home. I can't imagine it any other way!

As for early seating for dinner...my kids are used to eating between 4:30 and 5:30 at home. I think that they'll adjust pretty quickly to the time change, and I can't imagine them waiting until 8:00 to eat! Also, on our first cruise, there were many activities in the kids club/lab that seemed to start around 7:30 or 8:30...they wouldn't have wanted to miss them to be eating dinner! I understand that the club/lab activities have changed alot since our first cruise, though, so that might not be the case this time.

 

[MrSanderz]

OMG Mark and Johnna! That is an amzaing story. The fact that your mail carrier was there at the right time and noticed the smoke-someone is definately looking out for you guys! I'm glad Sirus got a brownie after all

quick poll question...I see most of the group has early seating...my daughter is definately a night person and can handle eating late AND staying up late... so that said, we chose late seating. I was thinking we wouldn't have to rush to shower and change for dinner that way also.,,more time in the pool when other families are leaving to get ready for dinner etc. In the past my DH and I have always had late seating whenever we have cruised and we actually prefer it..but this is our first DC and first as a family.

So according to the spreadsheet that Kim did, most of you have early. What is your reason why? I am afraid that since I am a first time disney cruiser that I might have made the wrong choice. Are we going to be the minority as far as families go with the late seating?

Thanks for your input! Michelle

Michelle,
We have late seating also and our girls are 4 and 9. We chose it for the same reasons you did, mostly just being able to relax a little longer after port days. We'll just get them an afternoon snack and they'll be good to go. I was also thinking that if my DD4 is tired, I'd rather have her enjoy the show and fall asleep at dinner than fall asleep during the show. If there is someting they want to do in the club/lab we'll just feed them earlier, send them off and DH and I can enjoy dinner together. I wouldn't worry, I think there will be plenty of kids at late seating (just guessing, since we've never actually cruised before).

 

[Johnna_Story]

So according to the spreadsheet that Kim did, most of you have early. What is your reason why? I am afraid that since I am a first time disney cruiser that I might have made the wrong choice. Are we going to be the minority as far as families go with the late seating?

Thanks for your input! Michelle

We had late seating on our first cruise, and early on our second, and early again now. Late seating wasn't bad, but it was just too late for our kids - they just like to eat earlier, and now that they both can enjoy the clubs, we'll put them in there after dinner and have some grown up time. I'd consider late seating again in the future now that they are older.

 

[Magicbound2007]

Hi Everyone
We just came back from our Magic Cruise Eastern 2-3 thru 2-10. So if there is anything I may be able to help you with I'd be happy to.
Tammy