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

[milestogo]

What Cat was 6573 Kelly? I did ask the agent about the closet and she told me it was the same as the rest of the Cat 9s but the only difference was there was no niche so there was no room for the steamer trunk. I'll have to email my friend who had 2612 and ask about the closet, just to be sure. I did email DCL yesterday to share my displeasure about it not being disclosed in advance, I'll be curious to hear their response! Of course, it's not a deal breaker for us, just puts a kink in things!

My bad dyslexic self.. It was 7563, not 6573 cat. 11.

 

[LiserAnn]

Sounds good!

I'm also going to be trying to work my business trip around the April DIS Meet. I'll let you know as soon as I'm 'official'

.......time to hit the shower--Chili's is calling (an so is WORK).....

Jackie-hope you can come!!! It was nice meeting you at the last one!!

 

[GatorFamily]

so does this feel close to anyone besides me - or is it just because I am packing?
!

I can't believe how much clothes we have to bring for dinner 15nights and we are hoping to have an additional week and a half or so I don't want to do laundry...I may bring a small suitcase with what the whole family will wear the week prior to the cruise in FL and wash it at my MIL and repack the small suitcase prior to the cruise and use that stuff for after the cruise at DL

My MIL will probably go to Acapulco on the day that we stop there and I am seriously considering switching dirty laundry for clean clothes, but somehow I think people will look funny at us if we disembark with a couple of suitcases in Acapulco , but this might be better than doing

I wish I could do that...people will be thinking ...LUCKY her

Oh, and thanks for the link to the carseat vest...great idea the closest store is far away but I'll call them and look into it..thanks

Yes, and 6 would be way better for us also.

We already put in a request for 6pm since not that many people have put a request yet..we are hoping to get it

is reading and writing a requirement of K? I kind of wish our local schools would list requirements.
:

the stardards have gotten really high...they don't play in kinder anymore they read, write, do science, math and all of that stuff. If kids aren't doing well in all that prior to first grade they have a hard time because 1st grade they read tonz and get lots of comprehension tests and and math tests. Kids are forced to grow up so young now and its sad they just can't be kids In my sons kinder class last year they had these great toys and kitchen in the classroom from when kinder was 1/2 days and they used it 3 times in one year they didn't just get time to play.

The teacher told me K today is about what 1st or 2nd grade was for us. To pass, they have to write a paragraph story, be able to read a simple book, add & subtract, and much more. They have science class and computer class, and lots more. They do a writing workshop a few times a week where they have to write a sentence or two and draw the pictures to go with it. He can't even write all his letters yet. He knows them, but that's all. BUT today he did bring me a paper on which he had written the word "NO" and told me he was going to tape it to his bedroom door so people would stay out! Well, that's a start!
Oh...and of course, he can write his name and Mom, but nobody else's name and no other words.

Bingo that's how it is

WOW!

---- but when I went to K - we played!!!! What happened to that?
!

not anymore they are suppose to be little adults...maybe that's why kids mature way to early nowadays my kids are still pretty naive...but those days are numbered

I feel like a new person - well one who occassionally has a coughing fit but otherwise good.

Darrell is - in his words "DYING!!!!" He ended up with sinus/head/ear congestion in addition to the cough. So he actually got it much worse than I did.

I'm glad your feeling better Lisa I'm sorry Darrell isn't though

Three weeks today V.....and I had a very frustrating and stressful day.....I sooooooooo wanted a cigarette. I almost called Angie to tell her that I was going to the store on the corner. But I didn't go out and buy them so I didn't smoke. I just dealt with it. I'm still dealing with it tonight, but not as bad as earlier. I guess that's a good thing.

]

3 weeks ....wow.... that's great...hang in there

Good Morning

My son forgot give me the letter from his school.

I opened it and and it said that kids are not allowing to leave for May's holiday!!

I phoned the head teacher this morning and she explained that it is from Scottish Executive states taht permission for family holidays in term time can only be granted.

In the letter mention:

1. where the family holiday is important to the wellbeing and cohesion of the family, following Serious or terminal illness, bereavement or other traumatic events.

2. Where evidence is provided by an employer that leave cannot be accommodated during school Holidays without significatn conseqences.

As the holiday falls during term time, and as your request does not comply with these circumastances, it is not possible to approve the leave.

My husband is leaving his job in March and start new job with two self employer as they are his friend, they set up a new business last year and they were so busy and don't have time off for their holiday.

Head teacher advise me to ask new job to write and explain that my husband cannot get off in Summer holiday because he is working through the summer to give two friend to have their holiday.

Oh dear why it never smooth problem. No way we cancel our holiday!! As everything had been paid for.

So I will tell my husband to see his friend and write a letter to head teacher about new job.

I feel a bit upset this morning.

But I hope it is sort out soon.

I wonder about your kids, are they allowing off school in USA?

Scottishwee35

Wow...I hope it all works out...I'm sure it will. I haven't gotten our plane tickets yet since we would like to go to FL a week prior to the cruise to visit friends and family and do some fun stuff too. I still need to talk to the secretary at school I've mentioned this trip to his teachers multiple times even at the beginning of school but we'll see.

I can imagine that you're upset! In America they can't stop us from taking our kids out of school. Every state/school district has different rules that they can enforce against the parents and the severity of the punishment is also different by state/school district. At our school the principal sents a note home before May reminding the parents "NO VACATIONS IN MAY" because the state tests and district tests are administered, but that doesn't mean you HAVE to be there. So, our state testing period ends on the 9th of May (which is what the school cares about because those test results equal how they're graded/ranked in the state). We leave on the 9th so if they haven't given all the tests by then, Ryan will miss it. Oh well! He'll also miss the district testing but the teacher said that's not a big deal and he can make that up. The threat they issue in our district is that if your school is at capacity, which are is (it's really over-capacity) then when you return you might be made to re-enroll and could be sent to another school in the district that isn't at capacity. Well, when we return, they'll only have 2 weeks of school left, so I doubt they'll do that...I'm not too worried. It's really not about the kid, it's about the testing, which really bothers me. The testing doesn't affect their grades, it only affects how the school is ranked in the state.

My sons school year will be cut short because this cruise is the last two weeks of his school year (hopefully he'll miss the last 3) so no going back to school,..he's in 1st so no testing...and there is not much going on at the end of school anyways...lots of parties and evening programs and a complete waste of time in my opinion no real school work goes on then. Its all about $ and getting the required days in and all the kids are on vacation mode anyways...I'm hoping we don't have any problems but at least we have time after the cruise so no rush there. It'll be worth jumping through hoops for this cruise though

Thanks. Just so many problems for him in such a short time.

Hope all goes well. Its great that you are so intune with him...some parents don't care and notice anything until its too late...I think everything will work out.



Oh, WE PAID IN FULL THIS MORNING!!!!! Seems a lot closer now!!!!

 

[HollyTyler]

I have more bad news for everyone.....not going to be able to do any high teas as a group. I faxed the lists to DCL and they called me today. It seems that tea time is only at 3pm and it's a small set up of tables of four. There is no private dining room for tea. So if we want to do it, we have to book it along with other palo ressies and only up to 4 people each.

Do we want to give up on the whole idea of doing it together? and just book for ourselves? or do we want to get say 10 people to book for tables of four all on the same day? This is what DCL said we should do.

Let me know what everyone thinks.

I'm too stressed out to think about it. I've decided all I want to do is sit in a chair on Deck 4 and watch the water go by for 15 days. People can join me on and off as they pass by me. Just look for the nutso talking to herself because she's completely lost her sanity by then!

 

[HollyTyler]

Oh, WE PAID IN FULL THIS MORNING!!!!! Seems a lot closer now!!!!

WOOHOO!!!! Congrats!

 

[milestogo]

I can't believe how much clothes we have to bring for dinner 15nights and we are hoping to have an additional week and a half or so

Number one thing overheard on the med repo, "Why on earth did we bring this much stuff, nobody has even noticed what I'm wearing!!!" My new motto.. ONE BAG PER PERSON OR ELSE!!!

the stardards have gotten really high...they don't play in kinder anymore they read, write, do science, math and all of that stuff. If kids aren't doing well in all that prior to first grade they have a hard time because 1st grade they read tonz and get lots of comprehension tests and and math tests. Kids are forced to grow up so young now and its sad they just can't be kids In my sons kinder class last year they had these great toys and kitchen in the classroom from when kinder was 1/2 days and they used it 3 times in one year they didn't just get time to play.

I agree, K. should be a fun transition. It's crazy!!!! I would have never made it.

not anymore they are suppose to be little adults...maybe that's why kids mature way to early nowadays my kids are still pretty naive...but those days are numbered

Again ridiculous!!!


My sons school year will be cut short because this cruise is the last two weeks of his school year (hopefully he'll miss the last 3) so no going back to school,..he's in 1st so no testing...and there is not much going on at the end of school anyways...lots of parties and evening programs and a complete waste of time in my opinion no real school work goes on then. Its all about $ and getting the required days in and all the kids are on vacation mode anyways...I'm hoping we don't have any problems but at least we have time after the cruise so no rush there. It'll be worth jumping through hoops for this cruise though

Are they teaching Brain surgery that week?

 

[gydell]

I can't believe how much clothes we have to bring for dinner 15nights and we are hoping to have an additional week and a half or so I don't want to do laundry...I may bring a small suitcase with what the whole family will wear the week prior to the cruise in FL and wash it at my MIL and repack the small suitcase prior to the cruise and use that stuff for after the cruise

We are packing a separate suitcase for after the cruise. My DH will be leaving in Acapulco so I will be sending dirty clothes home with him. One less suitcase for us to carry from LAX.

 

[lillygator]

Thanks. I literally feel like I could snap in half and break if one more thing happens. You have no idea how much I need this vacation (well, actually you all do know).

mine is nothing compared to yours - I am dealing with diva behavior, tantrums, etc but some days I feel like I could run away from it all! (I know bad mom!)

I'm too stressed out to think about it. I've decided all I want to do is sit in a chair on Deck 4 and watch the water go by for 15 days. People can join me on and off as they pass by me. Just look for the nutso talking to herself because she's completely lost her sanity by then!

deck 4 soudns great! Mayeb we all can just take it over!

 

[lillygator]

we are going to try an limit the bags, but I am not good at light packing.....

 

[HollyTyler]

Are they teaching Brain surgery that week?

EXACTLY! Too funny! I told Tyler's school a couple months ago (whenever Cindy cancelled) that I'd be taking him out of school for 2 weeks for this cruise. All they said was, "Wow! Sounds so cool! Lucky kid!" He's missed tons of days since then for all his doctor appointments, but OH WELL!

 

[HollyTyler]

mine is nothing compared to yours - I am dealing with diva behavior, tantrums, etc but some days I feel like I could run away from it all! (I know bad mom!)

V, ALL moms want to run away quite often!

deck 4 soudns great! Mayeb we all can just take it over!

Well, as long as I have some company out there and plenty of DODs, I'll be happy!

 

[granmaz]

I have more bad news for everyone.....not going to be able to do any high teas as a group. I faxed the lists to DCL and they called me today. It seems that tea time is only at 3pm and it's a small set up of tables of four. There is no private dining room for tea. So if we want to do it, we have to book it along with other palo ressies and only up to 4 people each.

Do we want to give up on the whole idea of doing it together? and just book for ourselves? or do we want to get say 10 people to book for tables of four all on the same day? This is what DCL said we should do.

Let me know what everyone thinks.

I don't really know what to do there Deb.

Very relaxing. (Well, apart from the flights either end - if only there was an easier way to travel.)
It had been almost 8 months since we'd had a break, not even a long weekend, and a difficult time too. So we really chilled out and enjoyed doing very little.

I do wish we could live in Colorado.

Still, in 5 weeks time we'll be at WL, although only for a week unfortunately.

Did you have a good Christmas and New Year? I'm desperately trying to keep up with the thread each day, no chance of catching up on the 300+ pages I missed while we were away!

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Not long at all to your next one either, so that is great.

We had a great Christmas thanks, though it seems an age ago now!!!

I have decided not to go away for longer than a few days till after this cruise as I would be stressed about catching up on this thread!!!

I'm too stressed out to think about it. I've decided all I want to do is sit in a chair on Deck 4 and watch the water go by for 15 days. People can join me on and off as they pass by me. Just look for the nutso talking to herself because she's completely lost her sanity by then!

I think you will quickly relax Holly once you get there.

 

[tigger137]

I go by Monica, but I do answer to George (thanks to my great uncle)

In elementary school I wanted to go by Anne.

As a child at home, my brothers and sisters called me Sprog. (A Yorkshire thing I think, because I was the youngest.)
My mum always called me Lou (my middle name is Louise), and I quite miss that now she's not around.
At one job I was Marymac, because they already had a Mary when I arrived.
These days I'm just Mary.

 

[fourmcds]

I'm back!!! Hi everyone. I don't even really know how many pages I am behind at this point, but I am sure I will never catch up, so I am just jumping back in

My trip ended up being great. We hit 3 parks on Sunday (Mom doesn't like to do many of the big rides, so we mostly just walked and walked (and walked!)). Soarin' had a 10 minute wait for a FAST PASS!!!! I have never seen that before. Then when we came back to ride it, there was 130 min wait for the regular entrance. The crowds were crazy for Janaury. We had fun at 'Ohana's and got to eat at Boma's and Bongo's too (yup, we ate our way through the weekend)

John1, you would have been very happy there...Ohio State sweatshirts were everywhere! I think that the cheerleaders were part of the competition at WWofS that weekend.

Hope everyone is doing well. I will try and skim the last few pages today to try and catch up a bit.

 

[granmaz]

we are going to try an limit the bags, but I am not good at light packing.....

I find it impossible to pack light. Anyway I will need 'big' clothes too!

 

[lillygator]

those people that got laid off here...the new job descriptions are written and posted...seems pretty awful.

 

[HollyTyler]

I'm back!!! Hi everyone. I don't even really know how many pages I am behind at this point, but I am sure I will never catch up, so I am just jumping back in

My trip ended up being great. We hit 3 parks on Sunday (Mom doesn't like to do many of the big rides, so we mostly just walked and walked (and walked!)). Soarin' had a 10 minute wait for a FAST PASS!!!! I have never seen that before. Then when we came back to ride it, there was 130 min wait for the regular entrance. The crowds were crazy for Janaury. We had fun at 'Ohana's and got to eat at Boma's and Bongo's too (yup, we ate our way through the weekend)

John1, you would have been very happy there...Ohio State sweatshirts were everywhere! I think that the cheerleaders were part of the competition at WWofS that weekend.

Hope everyone is doing well. I will try and skim the last few pages today to try and catch up a bit.

Welcome back! Glad you had a great time!

 

[tigger137]

I find it impossible to pack light. Anyway I will need 'big' clothes too!

Me too. I hate it if I do pack light then find I don't have what I want or need with me. And a cruise needs more clothes than other vacations, particularly one this long. This was the method in my madness of booking Virgin UC - the baggage allowance of 3 x 32kg bags each, plus 2 x carry-ons. Although at least DH won't be able to fill his allowance with model railroad supplies, as he does when we're in Denver! (Then complains when it's always his bags that TSA open.)

Never mind 'big' clothes, after 15 days of DCL food I'll need 'huge' clothes!

 

[HollyTyler]

those people that got laid off here...the new job descriptions are written and posted...seems pretty awful.

Definitely is awful.

 

[scottishwee35]

I missed the post on the lanyards...is this something we are ordering individually or is someone organizing and we are sending the money to them?

That what I am going to saying it I wonder who is organising it and who I pay to? And are they bringing the lanyards on the cruise???

I am confuse now as PJ will organise it? or not? I like PJ progress.

Scottishwee35