May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 2

[seaulater]

The Saturday morning flying from Baltimore for a 24 hour therapy session at WDW, then fly home Sunday night.

 

[been2marceline]

Good Morning:

All is bright in Northern Ca, sun is shining and I'm at my desk working (not)

If I could I'd like to ask for some prayers today too.

Leeanna (My sister) is in surgery right now. (for her neck/spine) I think it's being fused, I wasn't really able to hear the whole story because it was freaking me out, so I went into lalalala land after she started telling me. It's a 3 hour surgery and I'm mostly freaking out waiting to hear how she is. I called her boyfriend a minute ago and he said another hour or so......please, prayers & pixie dust.

She is my big sister and she is the best Auntie to my kids. She shares my Disney passion and often will come with us as the 5th wheel on our trips to help with the kids and enjoy the fun. (her boys are all grown-up). I've been thinking about her all day...this surgery is to relieve constant pain in her neck and down her arms. She is the crazy active one in our family, she scuba dives and runs and hikes and travels to wild places. She was told no more roller coaster after this, which is terrible since she would take all the kids on the "scary" rides so I didn't have to get banged around. Live life to the brink of fullness. You never know when things will change.

Back to the regularly scheduled topics....shoes, costco, and oscars (no dieting talk here yet...2 more days until the 1st)

Thoughts, prayers and hope coming to both your sister and you!

Having suffered with back and neck pain for 22 years I am very hopeful for her!! There is nothing harder to try to adjust to!!

Karen

 

[seaulater]

Thoughts, prayers and hope coming to both your sister and you!

Having suffered with back and neck pain for 22 years I am very hopeful for her!! There is nothing harder to try to adjust to!!

Karen

Congrats on 6500!

Headed to parent teacher conferences now.

 

[fourmcds]

I was told that could not be done. I don't know why? They didn't tell me.

Tammy:
I cannot believe what you are having to go through. I pull my dd (who is currently in 3rd grade) 2x per year for 2 weeks at a time. I fill out a planned absence form and as long as she gets the work done that her teacher's send her with it is marked as an excused absence. We have never had a problem. Now, next year with the cruise I already know there is a slight issue, only because May 9 will be the last day of her WASL testing (the state test that all students need to take). We are planning on leaving on May 8 and spending the 9th in florida just to avoid any unforseen travel difficulties. I have already informed the principal and she told me they would make sure dd completes her testing a day early. I cannot imagine what I would do if WA state had school laws like Tennessee. Makes me thankful for our schools. Good luck with everything....at least you have a year to make your case and get things squared away.

Maybe you could find a doctor in the area who would write you a note and you can just call dd in sick and avoid all the problems Let me know if I can give you any help since I pull dd from school frequently and she is the same age, but I think it sounds like it is your state laws not your school giving you the headache.

Good Luck

 

[fourmcds]

Oh my heck-we took our daughter out of 6th grade in 2003 for a cruise through the Panama Canal for two weeks and the teacher said she would learn a lot more than she ever would in a classroom. As if the schools are doing anything productive at the end of May anyway. All they do is plan parties and hang out since ours have already turned all their books in.

By then they are just putting in their "time"

Sorry for repeating everyone's posts about the doctor's note. Hadn't finished reading all the posts....great minds think alike

Whenever we have pulled dd, she always gets back to school and is bored for the first few days because they haven't gotten through what they thought they would (and that is with us doing minimal work between park visits or something). Personally, I think school is very important, but I also think they learn so much in the world as well. Going through the panama canal should be a huge learning experience that most kids only read about in books. Even going through Epcot can teach them so much about different countries. Haven't figured out what MK teaches her, but she does do lots of math when figuring out how many Disney dollars it would take to buy x item and how much change she should get back . Now, once dd hits middle school I know it will be harder to pull her during the school year and we are prepared for that, but for now, we enjoy less crowded vacations (wherever we choose to go)

 

[endkaos]

Eastbound gets an extra port?

Yes, but it is Cartenga (sp?), COLUMBIA! That, and because the ship will be fighting the Trade Winds on the way back for a much bumpier ride.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I always like the way you think, Mr Woody! It's possible *** will be ad DLR around that time too.

Who, Voldemort?

Cindy (going on this cruise with me) showed him her adjustable shirt. Don't ask....I don't want to get kicked off here. And she also has lots of jokes that definitely not appropriate for the DIS, but we can share onboard!

Can´t wait to meet her, lol.

I actually don't know how you can type on those things with the itty, bitty keyboard. I guess I just have giant, klutzy fingers cuz it drives me nuts.

I am with you, the only worse thing than this is sending messages through my cell phone, can´t stand it either.

I am bringing the Partridge, but will have to leave the Peartree at home!

The VIC 64 was made by Commodore from Jan-Sep 1982. http://oldcomputers.net/c64.html

Blazing Fast it was ... not...

Surly

Hey, we had one of these when I was about 10 yo in 1985, I guess they sent the leftovers to Mexico, lol.

DH had an internet bill of $800 last cruise. All necessary for work. I felt really bad for him, but he was a good sport. Should be about double for this one.

Kim

I just hope dh bills the internet on his company credit card, I think that if they need him to work during vacation, they should at least pay for the internet connection.

I added the team leader names above. Each team has between 4-5 members. Some need more members so we will wait to make a new team until that happens. There was a question about fish mail and teams so let's see if I can explain it so it somewhat makes sense:

Some people have bought from Pahrumpgirl, or will bring their own, "fish extenders." A description of fish extender is on page 1 as well as on PJ's website. Throughout the cruise, people will deliver special treats (pirate stuff, stickers, whatever) in everyone's fish extender (special treats = fish mail). It was mentioned that it can get expensive to buy the fish mail for so many people so that is where the "team" concept came from. If groups of people got together to buy stuff, it would lower the cost. It also might enable some to buy nicer items. Everything is voluntary - you do not need to join a team to get fish mail nor do you need to buy anything on your own. However, if you would like to do something on your own and deliver it during the cruise, that would be great! If you would like to join a "team" to contribute money towards an idea the group comes up with, that would be great! If you want to join a team, or be a "team leader" (basically a contact for me to communicate with to make sure that no teams duplicate the same idea) PM me (if you can)!

So far, we have the above teams developed. May 14 team needs 4 more people to make their gift choice happen. As soon as that team is full, we will open up a new day! Hope that all is as clear as mud.
Lisa

I PM´ed you.

My DH has heard enough too....thank goodness for all of you, else what would I do?

I agree, dh asked as a gift for our Anniversary to hear no cruise talk for a month

Now, my husband always thinks I'm nuts, but can I tell you how much fun I am having painting my craft room?

First, went to the mother ship and I just HAD TO HAVE the Disney Color on my walls. So I picked Disney's One Enchanted Evening (purple) and I came home and started painting away til we had to go to my daughter's dance thing at 4 p.m. Got half the room painted.

Then, this morning, got up and got the rest of the stuff organized into my new cabinets and now I can paint the other half of the room. Since it is almost noon, figured I better eat something.

I decided this morning that I am going to go back and buy Disney's Tinkerbell (green) and paint my baseboards and door trims. Then, the brochure has such a cute stencil called Disney Pixie Dust Stencil. So I am going to stencil in pixie dust with the color Disney Once Upon a Time.

My husband liked the color Tink Pink, so I might do something with that. But I am happy to say that I should have this little project done in the next couple of days and then I can have my craft room up and going! (If only work didn't come in the way I could have it done sooner.) Trying to decide if I still want to paint the ceiling.

So, now I have to stop because my dog thinks it is important for him to eat, so now I am headed to the $100 store (Costco) so he doesn't starve to death!

I want to see pix too!

Sorry to bring up a sad subject, but my good friend just got diagnosised with non-hodgkins lymphoma on Friday. I found out yesterday, and just got off the phone with her sister. She is undergoing some more tests today - bone marrow, scans, etc. She went to the doctor on Friday because she had some swelling in her face - she thought it was allergies. She is 37, a high school teacher, and has a 3 year old DD. I was in her wedding - I set up her and her husband. There were friends forever, but I saw this spark and became a match maker one St. Patrick evening in SF. Anyway, the doctor on Friday sent her straight to the hospital after her blood results came back. She has already had a treatment of chemo. The tumor is blocking (80%) the artery to her heart and has caused tremendous swelling. She doesn't want visitors today - asked that I come tomorrow. I imagine she is somewhat in shock - it has all happened so fast.

Agg. Life just turns sometimes. I have been saying prayers for all those that have mentioned things on the board, can't believe I'm sending the request now.
Thanks for listening.
Lisa

I hope her tumor shrinks fast and that she recovers well and soon.

I'm right there with you! Gee, I don't care about shoes, makeup, Oscars, dresses, etc. What kind of woman am I?! I met a guy a couple of weeks ago and when he found out I don't know the exact date of my divorce, he said, "You're not a real woman!" I was offended at first, but he told me he actually meant it as a compliment because I'm so low maintenance. Not a nice way to make a compliment! He's lucky I didn't throw my drink in his face!

Oh my gosh, I have been told that too!

My thoughts are the same as your husbands! I'm just ticked off that Desperate Housewives wasn't on. Didn't know why until I saw a bunch of celebs and figured out it was the Oscars. So I switched over to Miami Ink!

I couldn´t believe it, another Sunday without DH. I don´t know why tv series in the US have so many weeks when they won´t show a new episode.

It's a great show! Very funny. It's the first series in years that I've gotten hooked on. I try not to watch too much tv, but I love Desperate Housewives. The 1st 2 seasons are out on dvd. It's on Sundays on abc at 9pm eastern time.

I am not one to watch tv at all, but I am sooo hooked on DH! Thank God my best friend lives in NY and sent me a season pass through itunes with her address as my address, otherwise I would have to wait until who knows when to start watching the 3rd season.

Karen:

No offense taken. My husband was not convinced either until we bought the Nikon D2X. He is now a convert. Here is a picture we took with on the last cruise with the Nikon D2X underwater with an Ewa housing. What do you think?

This picture is amazing!

Good Morning:

All is bright in Northern Ca, sun is shining and I'm at my desk working (not)

If I could I'd like to ask for some prayers today too.

Leeanna (My sister) is in surgery right now. (for her neck/spine) I think it's being fused, I wasn't really able to hear the whole story because it was freaking me out, so I went into lalalala land after she started telling me. It's a 3 hour surgery and I'm mostly freaking out waiting to hear how she is. I called her boyfriend a minute ago and he said another hour or so......please, prayers & pixie dust.

She is my big sister and she is the best Auntie to my kids. She shares my Disney passion and often will come with us as the 5th wheel on our trips to help with the kids and enjoy the fun. (her boys are all grown-up). I've been thinking about her all day...this surgery is to relieve constant pain in her neck and down her arms. She is the crazy active one in our family, she scuba dives and runs and hikes and travels to wild places. She was told no more roller coaster after this, which is terrible since she would take all the kids on the "scary" rides so I didn't have to get banged around. Live life to the brink of fullness. You never know when things will change.

Back to the regularly scheduled topics....shoes, costco, and oscars (no dieting talk here yet...2 more days until the 1st)

I hope your sister´s surgery finished well and that she will have a speedy recovery.

 

[endkaos]

In this case, she could get a doctor's note and the absences would be excused. Now, I just need to find a shady doctor.....(joking)

Tammy,

If you are open enrolled into your school, you could lose your place in the school. Otherwise, there is little downsize to withdrawing your child and re-enrolling if you have "homeschooling" allowances in your state. There usually is paperwork involved.

As far as excused absences, you could have a Ed doctor write an excuse. You can find them in the phone book and it might cost you about $150 or you could have your general doctor write the note. No where did anyone say the note had to be for a medical reason.

Go read the statue for yourself. You'll find alot of loopholes in it. You're not the first person in Tenessee to take their kid on a once in a lifetime trip. Ask around, you'll find that loophole.

 

[tink1963]

Tammy,

Just a thought but what if you contacted the juvenile court in advance. Maybe if you state your case to them before hand, when the school notifies them they will already know your situation and not proceed with any type of case against you.

to you. funny how "they" always have to make thing difficult for us.

Venetia

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Does anyone else get the Casual Living catalogue? I thought this shirt was so cute! Could be a DOD team uniform!

 

[birkner]

Does anyone else get the Casual Living catalogue? I thought this shirt was so cute! Could be a DOD team uniform!

VERY KEWL!!

 

[HollyTyler]

Does anyone else get the Casual Living catalogue? I thought this shirt was so cute! Could be a DOD team uniform!

I LOVE IT! It's perfect! I think I'll order one this week!

 

[calmom]

Good Morning:

All is bright in Northern Ca, sun is shining and I'm at my desk working (not)

If I could I'd like to ask for some prayers today too.

Leeanna (My sister) is in surgery right now. (for her neck/spine) I think it's being fused, I wasn't really able to hear the whole story because it was freaking me out, so I went into lalalala land after she started telling me. It's a 3 hour surgery and I'm mostly freaking out waiting to hear how she is. I called her boyfriend a minute ago and he said another hour or so......please, prayers & pixie dust.

She is my big sister and she is the best Auntie to my kids. She shares my Disney passion and often will come with us as the 5th wheel on our trips to help with the kids and enjoy the fun. (her boys are all grown-up). I've been thinking about her all day...this surgery is to relieve constant pain in her neck and down her arms. She is the crazy active one in our family, she scuba dives and runs and hikes and travels to wild places. She was told no more roller coaster after this, which is terrible since she would take all the kids on the "scary" rides so I didn't have to get banged around. Live life to the brink of fullness. You never know when things will change.

Back to the regularly scheduled topics....shoes, costco, and oscars (no dieting talk here yet...2 more days until the 1st)

My thoughts and prayers are with her for a very speedy recovery. Lisa

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Does anyone else get the Casual Living catalogue? I thought this shirt was so cute! Could be a DOD team uniform!

item # 711578S, $16.95

 

[Jhalkias]

For everyone who has loved ones not feeling well or ill, we send all our hopes and prayers for a speedy recovery to those you care about.

I am totally flabbergasted and disgusted with my school district. I have inquired of the school district as to what the consequences would be to take my daughter out of school for the two weeks for this cruise. The response is that no matter what, if I take my daughter out of school for two weeks, I will be referred to juvenile court for prosecution for keeping my daughter out of school.

The fact that I have let them know ahead of time, tried to make arrangements, and been totally upfront about it, makes absolutely no difference!! They will simply stick it to me good.

There is no independent study available either. I have been told that if I want to avoid prosecution, I must withdraw her from school. And then re-enroll her when I come back in town. I am waiting to hear from the school as to whether or not she will be held back from being promoted to the next grade if I take her out for that many days.

She will be in the fourth grade!!!!

Can you believe this nonsense!!

I understand the need for rules. But I don't understand how you can lump me in the same category as parents who just don't send their kids to school because they don't care, are abusive and so forth. I don't belong in that category and I am quite upset to be put in that situation.

Okay, vent over.

Tammy,I agree, I would be mad too. This is what can give public schools a bad name, and it is appears to be no fault of the schools, sounds like it is a state law issue - which believe me, I know about in a dfferent way in Ohio.

The Public school system STINKS!! Its no wonder so many parents have gone to home schooling or are sending their children to private schools.
Doug

Well . . . as a school board member, I always tell people, the public schools are YOUR schools. If you don't like something about them, get involved, and try to change it!

That being said, I contacted our Superintendent about this trip, because I did not want to be afoul of the system as a school board member, and I asked him to let me know the response to ANY parent. It would absolutely NOT be good for me to do something that any parent could not do.

Here is our Superintendent's response to me:

thanks for your note. I believe we can work through a situation like this in 2008. We will work with the teacher, I would suggest letting them know this right after the 1st of the year and working together to design some activities that would relate...journaling, etc.....

Since Sophia will be in second grade next year, it should not be a big deal as state testing does not begin until 3rd grade (and will be in May.)

This sounds like an incredible opportunity and the right time to do it.....

Let me know how I can assist when the time comes.

Tammy,

Good luck, and perservere. If it is a state law issue, call your local representative - Don't GIVE UP! When you get frustrated, vent here, and let us know. If we can help, let us know. I can't imagine school boards function that much differently in Tenn - I would be happy to write a letter to your board if it would help.

 

[Jhalkias]

BTW . . .

What I am planning is for Sophia to do journaling on the computer, in a multi-media format that when she returns, she can share words, photos, and probably video of her trip through the Panama Canal with her class!

 

[Jhalkias]

Well,

Guess I scared everyone off at the DIS Geek thread and here.

I sure know how to clear a room!

I really should be going to bed anyway . . . the morning comes too soon.

Good night everybody!

 

[HollyTyler]

PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND STEP AWAY FROM THE JELLY BELLYS!!!!

Help! I've fallen into a bag of Jelly Bellys and I can't get out!

OK...I know that should have gone on the other thread, but I can't seem to pull myself away from this one and the rest of the DIS.

 

[fourmcds]

BTW . . .

What I am planning is for Sophia to do journaling on the computer, in a multi-media format that when she returns, she can share words, photos, and probably video of her trip through the Panama Canal with her class!

Last year when we were in Hawaii, Jaide did a photoshop book/journal that she brought back as her homework (in addition to the math, spelling, etc). It made for a great keepsake for her and her teacher was very impressed. It is an online company where you add your pictures and journaling and then they make a book out of it (bound, softcover). I guess you are only on line to download the program and then again to upload the book for printing. If you are on top of downloading pictures , you could probably do the book while on the cruise (a few days at a time) and then upload the book from LA or something and have it back around the same time you got home! I don't have that link now, but if anyone is interested, let me know and I will find it.

 

[Jhalkias]

Last year when we were in Hawaii, Jaide did a photoshop book/journal that she brought back as her homework (in addition to the math, spelling, etc). It made for a great keepsake for her and her teacher was very impressed. It is an online company where you add your pictures and journaling and then they make a book out of it (bound, softcover). I guess you are only on line to download the program and then again to upload the book for printing. If you are on top of downloading pictures , you could probably do the book while on the cruise (a few days at a time) and then upload the book from LA or something and have it back around the same time you got home! I don't have that link now, but if anyone is interested, let me know and I will find it.

Kaylee,

While I can do something like this on a Mac with iPhoto and Apple's web site, I would be curious to see what you used. So if it is not too much trouble, and you can find it, I would like to check out the site!