May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 3

[granmaz]

EVERYONE...if you have an anniversary or birthday that you're celebrating on board feel free to include it to your PM to me!

Can you give an update of what you would like us to send in a PM? I know I sent info, but now need to add more and I have forgotten what!!! Nothing new there.

The whole cruise is my birthday by the way!!! Do I need to choose just one day to celebrate?

Thank you and Noel for doing this, it is frying my brain just thinking about it!

 

[tigger137]

Memorial Day which was originally called Decoration in the US is a celebration of those who have fallen in service of our country. It was established in 1868 to honor those soldiers who had fallen during the American Civil War. It was recognized by all the Northern States by 1890. However it was not recognized by the Southern States (who had a seperate holiday) until after WW1 when the holiday changed to a holdiay honoring all Americans fighting in any war.

It never ceases to amaze me the difference there is between our two countries on how they treat their Servicemen and women, and military veterans.

In the US there seems to be a general respect for them, as well as financial and other benefits. You even have Memorial Day, a public holiday, in recognition of their contribution to your society. I've read about businessmen giving up their 1st class seats on planes to Servicemen, or signing them into airport lounges. During my most recent visit, as I boarded a plane, there was a soldier taking his seat and the man next to him thanked him for what he was doing for their country.

I'm sad to say that it is completely different in the UK.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

If we do a private High Tea, we will need someone who can fax in the request. I have already faxed in for a private brunch. If you collect the names (I already have about 5 or so) we need someone to be the lead person to request the High Tea and for everyone to agree upon a date. There only can be 14 persons in the private room including the requestors.

If you want it to be more informal such as people getting together and each person will book their own ressies for a certain date, then you can just collect the data.

Since I already have a Palo list, I am happy for you to collect or I can collect and just add. Either way works fine for me.
Noel

We'll definitely get 14 and probably more...I'll keep the list and I can easily fax it if you'll PM me the fax number. OK EVERYONE, if you want to do a Ladies Only High Tea, PM me and I'll put you on "the list".

 

[granmaz]

We'll definitely get 14 and probably more...I'll keep the list and I can easily fax it if you'll PM me the fax number. OK EVERYONE, if you want to do a Ladies Only High Tea, PM me and I'll put you on "the list".

Do you think we are only allowed the one High Tea booking at Palo's? I would so love to go with you ladies, but I would love to go with John too!! So many decisions!!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Do you think we are only allowed the one High Tea booking at Palo's? I would so love to go with you ladies, but I would love to go with John too!! So many decisions!!!

OK, We'll do 2 High Tea Lists....Ladies Only and Men Included. I know my DH wants to go and Lucy and Bob want to go and you and John want to go. That's a LIST!!! Hopefully, they'll let us have more than one date.

 

[granmaz]

Food, food, food, food! This cruise is all about food!!!

 

[tigger137]

So what exactly do you folks get for vacation?

Legal minimum (I think) is now 20 days plus the 8 statutory Bank (Public) Holidays.

My organisation gives 25 days standard plus an extra 5 days after 5 years, so I get 30 days. Plus 8 Bank Holidays and 2.5 'privilege' days (extra days added to certain Bank Holiday periods). So 40.5 days total.

Plus we work flexi-time. Do you guys have that? I'm contracted to work 37 hours per week but have times during the day when I have to be in work ('core time') and times between which I can start and finish ('flexi-time'), eg I can start work any time 0700-1000, must attend 1000-1200, can take lunch (30 mins minimum, 2 hours max) between 1200-1400, must attend 1400-1530, can finish any time 1530-1800.

It works on a 4-week flexi-sheet, during which time you can take up to 2 full days (or 4 half-days) off using the hours you have already accumulated. Or you can be up to 1.5 days in debit. There are limits on how many hours credit or debit can be carried out to the next flexi period. And it all has to fit in with colleagues/bosses and the needs of the business in your area.

I generally try to have at least a day in credit in case I need an odd day off for something. And if I'm planning a vacation then I'll save my flexi so that I don't have to use as many leave days, eg 2 weeks usually only costs me 8 days leave.

It gives employees some flexibility, and saves employers paying overtime.
And I love it! Really missed it when I've worked places that don't do it.

 

[birkner]

We'll definitely get 14 and probably more...I'll keep the list and I can easily fax it if you'll PM me the fax number. OK EVERYONE, if you want to do a Ladies Only High Tea, PM me and I'll put you on "the list".

For each 14, you will need one person (included in the 14) to request a date for the high tea for the private room.

Do you think we are only allowed the one High Tea booking at Palo's? I would so love to go with you ladies, but I would love to go with John too!! So many decisions!!!

List can be for one or both, I would suspect.

OK, We'll do 2 High Tea Lists....Ladies Only and Men Included. I know my DH wants to go and Lucy and Bob want to go and you and John want to go. That's a LIST!!! Hopefully, they'll let us have more than one date.

Sounds good to me. I will forward those persons on my list who wanted to do High to you.

Noel

 

[tigger137]

Food, food, food, food! This cruise is all about food!!!

Any cruise is all about food! Sometimes at work when I'm hungry I go online and look at the menus. I think, it's Monday so we'd probably be in Parrot Cay tonight. And I choose what I would like from that menu.

Last year I broke a tooth the day before the cruise - didn't hurt but I was wary of it when eating. And I had a very sore throat, which I ended up having to get antibiotics for from the doctor on board. So I wasn't able to enjoy the food as much as I'd hoped, and couldn't eat some of the things I'd planned on having. I'm hoping to make up for it next month .

 

[EllaEnchanted]

For each 14, you will need one person (included in the 14) to request a date for the high tea for the private room.



List can be for one or both, I would suspect.



Sounds good to me. I will forward those persons on my list who wanted to do High to you.

Noel

Noel, Got your PM, thank you and I'm glad you and John are joining us for the Men Included. One person per 14 requests a date...got it. We can do that for both lists. Do you know who I should fax request to? I booked through DU and I have a contact named John (another one) who has helped put my dinner mates together. Should I fax him with my request and each person of 14 should fax whomever they booked thru? And it has to be done 30 days before? Is that correct?

 

[HollyTyler]

Oh my gosh! I take a couple days off to play while Tyler's at his dad's and now I have 26 pages to catch up on! Hmmmm....not sure if I have time to catch up on all of it right now before time to go play some more, but will try.

your computer has a lid?

Holly I totally understood this but seeing this question made me laugh! We are on laptops and they close...like a lid closing down, get it?

Didn't know what else to call that part that closes!

It is a pretty funny picture...I've been to Mardi Gras and thought I saw it all...this one takes the cake! And as I told Karen, I think the second woman was a tad too "mature" to be wearing a "sweater" like that.....

The picture was hilarious!

OK....now to try to get caught up some more. I sure did miss everybody!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

So what exactly do you folks get for vacation?

I think here in Ontario we have 9 Statutory Holidays although with Sunday/holiday shopping it's probably a little different in retail.

Here the staff gets 2 weeks for the first five years and then 3 weeks once they are here 5 years. At 10 years it's another week and then at 15 it's another week. These weeks are in addition to the stat holidays. They can work overtime though and take it either in time off or extra pay.

For the lawyers there's no set vacation time which sounds great in theory but if you take time off you have to be sure that someone can cover for you. The work still needs to be done and emergencies come up all the time. Luckily there are 2 lawyers in each department so that you just don't take time off at the same time.

Jim loves to tell the story of us canoeing in the middle of Algonquin park and my cell phone going off with my secretary calling about a problem. I'm amazed I got cell phone coverage and he just shook his head and asked why I hadn't just left it in the car.

Fiona

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Holly, welcome back....were your ears ringing last night??? Everyone really missed you and mentioned it.

Speaking of missing...where is AuntyBrat and her round ups and roll calls and fantastic sense of humor??? Counting too many beans I presume....

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Here in the Pocono Mnts. we already have 6 inches and it's still going strong. It's not supposed to let up until tomorrow afternoon. YIKES! Of course, I have a miniDISmeet planned for tomorrow night with Lucy and Bob -lwilliam. I really hope we don't have to cancel.

 

[birkner]

Noel, Got your PM, thank you and I'm glad you and John are joining us for the Men Included. One person per 14 requests a date...got it. We can do that for both lists. Do you know who I should fax request to? I booked through DU and I have a contact named John (another one) who has helped put my dinner mates together. Should I fax him with my request and each person of 14 should fax whomever they booked thru? And it has to be done 30 days before? Is that correct?

I have my TA fax the list so I don't know number. I would just suspect that John or whomever at DU can help you. I have already faxed my list in so I would fax the list in as soon as you have 14 and all the info. You should have the lead person on each date either fax themselves or have their TA fax in the ressies. We will not find out if we can have the private rooms until 30 days or less so I figured the sooner we book, the higher we are on the list. Did I answer everything?

Jim loves to tell the story of us canoeing in the middle of Algonquin park and my cell phone going off with my secretary calling about a problem. I'm amazed I got cell phone coverage and he just shook his head and asked why I hadn't just left it in the car.

Fiona

DH is not a lawyer but this is a lawyer story. DH was in the middle of working on a patent with his patent attorney while we were at family camp with our youngest DD. Patent attorney calls on cell and ask if he can send fax to camp. DH checks with camp and they say ok. We had to buy them a new printer cartridge and a ream of paper after the several hundreds of pages of material came through on the camp fax.

Needless to say, they were not pleased and DH had to work most of the so called vacation.

 

[granmaz]

Oh Deb, I hope the weather doesn't get any worse for you, particularly with your mini meet.

We are due some snow on Sunday/Monday too with much lower temperatures. We have had some lovely spring like weather so it comes as a big shock. I hope it will be the last for this winter though.

 

[HollyTyler]

Morning Karen! I had all 4 of mine out in 1977, when I was 29!!! We had general anaesthetics at the Dental surgery in those days. Now you have to go to hospital or have a local anaesthetic!!!

I had all 4 of mine out at once in 1989. They were growing in sideways and had to be cut out, so I was sent to a dental surgeon (I think that's what he was called), given a couple pills to swallow, and woke up when it was all done. Last thing I remember is sitting in the chair after swalling the pills, looking at the trees out the window and being amazed at how the whole trees were waving.

Don't make me put my Mom hat on.

It's OK....despite all my crazy talk, I'm really only misbehaving with one guy....a very sweet boy (Alejandro).

I want pictures of you hula hooping on one leg!! Way better than I would look I'm sure, but I gotta' see it!!

Karen

I'm so uncoordinated, I get confused trying to picture how this would be done!

Speaking of post counts, where is Holly?

I'm here! Gonna get caught up here, take a quick nap until Alejandro gets out of work, then go spend time with him. Gotta get my fix of that cute smile of his!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

To make it simple,

PM info to birkner/Noel to do Palo brunch and/or dinner.

PM info to LiserAnn/Lisa to request Mickey head for door.

PM info to EllaEnchanted/Deb to request High Tea at Palos...either Ladies Only and/or Men Included.

I will PM each of you to ask specific info of you that will be updated and sent to List Keeper Lisa to be updated again and then sent to Master of the Lists Noel. Noel will have final up-to-the-minute info on all of us so that we'll all be on the same page as far as gifting, celebrating and locating each of our fellow DISers. For this, you don't have to do anything until I contact you.

I hope this helps and I apologize for confusing anyone while we got this process all worked out. Thanks for your patience and tolerance. I think we've got it now.

 

[HollyTyler]

Out with the puppy?

You got it! I was irritated earlier in the week about him calling me three times in one day, but now I'm hooked! The way he smiles at me just makes me melt.

Sorry John.....didn't mean to make you cover your ears & hum again!

 

[HollyTyler]

They do have to be walked frequently.

And they need lots of TLC!