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

[kimerinc]

well, we've had snow,hailstones and rain, as well as sunshine today!










That sounds really wonderful to me Holly. When Becky's dad and I split up we vowed we'd keep it amicable, didn't go through a solicitor etc....sadly it hasn't stayed that way. So much so that I had a really nasty call from him last week (he's decided he's no longer 'obligated' to pay towards Becky anymore as she'll be 19 this week...no matter that she's still in full time education......that's another story though).....anyway, his wife came on the phone, swearing and shouting at me so I just hung up. Sorry but can't abide the woman, or the way they've treated Becky. I'm glad to hear not all step mums are nasty!


I'll get off my soap box now!

How sad for Becky!!! (and you)

 

[fourmcds]

The Outlawz are coming...:

we just got a phone call that the are on their way over....I hate that. I would like at least a day's notice so I can mentally prepare to deal with MIL. Not to mention that Sunday is the only day off the four of us have together and pretty much like to lay around in our pj's and oterwise be lazy. Sounds horrible but if you met them you would understand....and also, it's lunchtime....and the Gators are on at 2pm.

I feel your pain! Just got home from a weekend with mine, UGH! They have a tiny 2 bdroom cabin on Whidbey Island with no tv, no fenced yard, no room. It rained all weekend.....wonder why my 2 kids hate it there??? They get so bored and then DH gets frustrated with them when they ask to go home. When the weather is nice, it is fine since they have the beach a bit down the road to play on. Good luck!!!!

 

[Jhalkias]

You're sure lucky! I'm feeling even sorrier for whatever guy gets stuck with me: can't cook, can't sew, don't like sports. What else can we add to the list?! Yikes! Well, I'll try to take an interest in sports if whatever guy I end up with will go play bingo with me once a week! Sounds like a fair trade!

Amy has a friend who is a female sports nut . . . we decided guys get tired of being around her because being on a date with her must be like going out with the guys - all sports talk.

While Amy likes sports, she is not like that. I can't even be around my buddies who are walking sports encyclopedias.

I don't like the NBA, but High school and College basketball I love.

Love Football - all levels.

Love Baseball.

We have Season tickets for two High schools in both football and basketball, Cleveland Indians partial season tickets, Cleveland Browns season tickets . . .

We are going to see the Indians play the Dodgers in Dodgertown next Sunday when we are at Vero Beach in a Spring training game.

Yea, we like sports here.

 

[HollyTyler]

John, I knew you'd love that!

 

[clynne]

room for the last time, we found that when the room steward cleaned our room, he took all those underwear out of the garbage can and put them on my bed

That is so sweet! He was probably worried that you'd make it home and have no unmentionables!

Carolyn

 

[Jhalkias]

Ok, laptop needs charged, and getting late to make dinner . . . time to order the pizza!

I'll check in later!

 

[kimerinc]

I placed my vote!

Thank you!!! I know this is all pretty boring if you don't have a relative in the pageant. I know I would not even know it was going to be on if she was not in it, but if you are interested, I can give you the insider play by play. My aunt and uncle will be there tommorow a.m. and my aunt is going to call me every day. (mostly because I love my aunt dearly and I want her to be able to share her joy with me)

and no, they have not met Donald yet. Just Danny Bonaduce and Jay Leno.

 

[HollyTyler]

That is so sweet! He was probably worried that you'd make it home and have no unmentionables!

Carolyn

Well, I never thought of it that way! We were just too busy laughing at what he must have been thinking! And if he was embarrassed having to handle my big old granny panties!

 

[kimerinc]

Sophia still has hers on. I think someone could make a lot of money with a service to teach kids how to ride. I would pay.

Sunny here too, but when I took the dog for a walk it was COLD! Very windy!

The only reason she has hers on still is because it has been what 2 or 3 years since you could see the sidewalk? That's about right for the snow right?:

 

[amesmom]

After DS8 learned his counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's (don't they call it skip counting, now?), I just had him start learning to count to 20 by 3's, then 4's, etc. That way, when he started multiplication, it would be easier. If he ever gets stuck, I just tell him to count by 7's. Yes, it takes longer than knowing the multiplication fact off the top of his head (I'd say that would be preferable), BUT he knows why 7 times 8 equals 56. It's 7 groups of 8 or 8 groups of 7. In the long run, I'd have to think knowing why is better than just knowing. (Oh, and there are some fun songs with the facts in them for pure memorization. We have a schoolhouse rock one...you could play it at night while he's sleeping...)


Carolyn

I love the idea of playing the schoolhouse rock while he's sleeping. Actually, I forgot about schoolhouse rock. I'll have to get that. He actually loves the grammar ones. Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

 

[tink1963]

The Outlawz are coming...

I really can't relate though, but I love the outlawz term. I get along great with my IL.

We do not like Chuck E Cheese. It is a loud pizza place with game machines that give tickets for prizes and a rat that performs! We have a Bullwinkles here that we like much better for the kids. Same idea, pizza and game machines with prizes, but the difference is that the tables where you eat are in a separate room so you can get away from the noise for a minute. Bullwinkles also has go-karts and mini-golf.

We have a CEC here where we live, but I refuse to set foot inside. Lucky I don't have kids. My assistant at work keeps telling me that I would go if my GodBaby asked me to, but I don't think even *for the child I would do anything for* would I endure that.

Yesterday night the very good friends of our friends were killed by someone who attacked them from another car with firearms. Apparently 45 caskets were found inside their car. As of now it looks like it was a revenge (the both come from very rich families, Peralta and Lopez Portillo) because of the way they were killed.

They leave a 4 year old boy and an almost 2 year old baby girl. My heart is breaking for them.

So sad to hear this. Prayer to all.
I work in Santa Barbara and last friday we had two rival crosstown gangs have a fight in downtown and a 14 year old was beaten,stabbed and killed. The scary part was I had a managers lunch meeting and on the way back to work I was walking with by bosses wife and found our selves in the middle of this large group of about 25 young kids who were part of the fight. Just as I realized that we were not in a good situation all the kids ran down the street. I did phone the local police communications about them and was told that they already know about the problem. Unfortunatly the police tried to break up the situation but were not able to keep up the the movement of the large group.The main fight took place a few minutes later up the street in front of the Saks Fifth ave store.
Just so sad that this type of violance is around us.

My DD, pictured below, wants me to post some smileys:

Please tell her Thank You for the smileys Here's some back at her

When I got married my DH suggested I swapped my birthday to a date in the summer. But my mother was horrified so I didn't do it, and after she died I decided it was too late to bother.

It's reassuring to see that some of you have had similar experiences. My DH can't understand why I get depressed about it, when it's been the same for so long now, why I can't just accept it. And I don't know either - any psychiatrists out there that could explain it to me?!

I can relate to the swapping of birthdays. I'm a jan. baby and always wished I had a birthday in Aug or Sept. It is a long time inbetween when your birthday and chirstmas are close together.

Up until last September, I only worked 3 days a week, so we used to go there on weekday mornings too. It was great to have the place almost to ourselves, with the exception of another family or 2. But now that I work every day, we're stuck with all the crowds whenever we go. It's still fun though!

Just can't help myself! He's a cutie and I'm hooked.

Yup, he's his normal self. Whatever was going on is done with. I'm sort of leaning towards constipation, especially after a few questions I asked Tyler.

His dad, his dad's wife, and I all get along really well. She's been a part of Tyler's life since he was a baby, so he just thinks of her as another parent. It's clear how much he loves her, just as he does his dad and I, and she has made it clear to me many times that she wants me to let her know if I ever think she's overstepping any boundaries. In fact, I even went to their wedding last September. People think it's strange, but we all think there's no reason for us not to get along because we want Tyler to grow up as stable as possible in a split home. After all, he didn't ask to be put in this situation, so we feel we owe it to him to make it as easy as possible for him. I get along well with his dad's family, and even Sheilah's family. And both of their families have even met some of my family. Everybody knows everybody and gets along, so far. He's one lucky little boy to have so many people who love him!

Glad to hear Tyler is doing fine now. I have to say that he is one lucky boy for having such great people who love him so much. Especially taking him to CEC as often as you do. Now thats Love.

Most people are already giving me their email addresses....but not everyone, but there are a good number of email addresses on the list!

I don't know if I included my email so I will be PMing you with it.

I love how Noah gets elbowed in the you know what and HE gets the foul....come on!

We have the same type of sports passion in our house but it's for racing. any and all kinds. We have a trip to Vegas planned for the first part of april for the CHAMP car opener.

 

[HollyTyler]

We have the same type of sports passion in our house but it's for racing. any and all kinds. We have a trip to Vegas planned for the first part of april for the CHAMP car opener.

Now that's dedication! But then again, I'd jump at any excuse to go to Vegas....so much fun! The best part for me is riding all the rides at the top of the Stratosphere! WOOHOO!

 

[fourmcds]

OK, I think I am caught up. Have you ever noticed while you are catching up, more pages of posts keep appearing?! I am sure there are tons of posts I didn't comment on that I meant to, but I'm still in "relief" mode of being done with another IL trip.

CEC, I went as a child...and I took Samantha to a birthday party....what a madhouse...I had the worst headache when leaving there...but ours is in Bradenton and there isn't one in Sarasota, so that was the one and probably only time we'll make it there.

Both DD's had one party there. We have a small one close by....made the party for 10:30 am, and no one else was in there until at least 11:30. It was great...no stress and no NOISE! Now, if the kids do happen to bribe me to go, I take tylenol and ear plugs!
My grandmother lived on Anna Maria Island (Bradenton Beach) so I have spent lots of time there. Miss the area, haven't been back since she passed away. Loved the beaches, spent many shopping days in the circle area of Longboat key (can't remember it's name now).

WE MADE IT!


Yeah.....congrats boys --- Sweet 16!!!


Go Gators!

Congrats! and Congrats to John1 too! Could your 2 teams actually face off?

Mandy,

I'm the 22nd, when is your Birthday?

Yes, I have almost always gotten the Christmas and Birthday present thing, or xmas stuff for my Birthday, or they just don't remember at all.
It was also really hard to have a Birthday party as people were very busy with Christmas stuff or were out of town when I was little.

When my mom was allive she always did a "Very Merry Unbirthday" for me on June 22nd. Yet another thing I miss since she has been gone.

My sister is January 8th, and didn't quite experience the same lack of presents, etc. but it is still no fun to have to wait almost a year from prezzies!

Karen

I think it was already said, but we should have unbirthday parties while on the cruise!

DW's birthday is on December 11th, so I get the December birthday thing. I have to tell you it is hard to get a gift knowing that two weeks later I have a repeat performance.

I lost my birthday 19 years ago . . . when our son was born on my birthday in June. You don't have to be born in December to lose your birthday.

Probably TMI...but DD#1 was due around my bday, I jokingly say that I kept my legs crossed all day so she could have a different bday! Apparently I kept them crossed too tight since she wasn't born until 11 days later!

Sophia still has hers on. I think someone could make a lot of money with a service to teach kids how to ride. I would pay.

Sunny here too, but when I took the dog for a walk it was COLD! Very windy!

Trick for learning....try it in a big grassy field or on hard sand. Jaide borrowed a friends bike and just took off on the grass and never looked back. This after years of struggling with it. It helped 2 other friends kids learn as well.

This totally reminds me of something I did on my last cruise, but didn't put it in the trip report. I purposely took all my old underwear that I would have been throwing away soon anyway, same with some clothes too, so that I could throw out a bunch of stuff before coming home, leaving more room in the suitcase for souvineers and other new stuff. Well, I did do laundry at one point, and threw away a bunch of old stuff in the laundry room. Then on the last night, as I was packing, I threw all that old underwear away in the garbage can in our room. We went to dinner, out to have other fun, etc. At the end of the night, when we all returned to our room for the last time, we found that when the room steward cleaned our room, he took all those underwear out of the garbage can and put them on my bed! We were just dying laughing at what that poor guy must have been thinking as he was fishing ratty old underwear out of the garbage can! I'm cracking up laughing as I'm typing this!

Amy has a friend who is a female sports nut . . . we decided guys get tired of being around her because being on a date with her must be like going out with the guys - all sports talk.

While Amy likes sports, she is not like that. I can't even be around my buddies who are walking sports encyclopedias.

I don't like the NBA, but High school and College basketball I love.

Love Football - all levels.

Love Baseball.

We have Season tickets for two High schools in both football and basketball, Cleveland Indians partial season tickets, Cleveland Browns season tickets . . .

We are going to see the Indians play the Dodgers in Dodgertown next Sunday when we are at Vero Beach in a Spring training game.

Yea, we like sports here.

My house is just a football house....and it is mostly me that is the fan. DH could really care less. We are season ticket holders to Seattle Seahawks and I usually have to drag him along.Dated a guy in college who was a huge bball fan. Was ignored for the month of March every year...maybe that is why I have an aversion to bball.

Off to unload from the $300+ store. Catch everyone after Desparate Housewives and Amazing Race!

 

[amesmom]

Now my DS wants to post smilies:

 

[amesmom]

Off to watch Amazing Race. Catch you all later.

 

[amesmom]

V: Please finish your trip report. I stumbled upon it yesterday, and now I am awaiting the rest of the trip. I'm dying to read about all the DisGeeks, so dish.

 

[tink1963]

Those of you who said you would vote for my sweet cousin. You can vote now at www.Missusa.com. She is Miss Utah.

Kim

I voted

This totally reminds me of something I did on my last cruise, but didn't put it in the trip report. I purposely took all my old underwear that I would have been throwing away soon anyway, same with some clothes too, so that I could throw out a bunch of stuff before coming home, leaving more room in the suitcase for souvineers and other new stuff. Well, I did do laundry at one point, and threw away a bunch of old stuff in the laundry room. Then on the last night, as I was packing, I threw all that old underwear away in the garbage can in our room. We went to dinner, out to have other fun, etc. At the end of the night, when we all returned to our room for the last time, we found that when the room steward cleaned our room, he took all those underwear out of the garbage can and put them on my bed! We were just dying laughing at what that poor guy must have been thinking as he was fishing ratty old underwear out of the garbage can! I'm cracking up laughing as I'm typing this!

To funny

Now my DS wants to post smilies:

Would that be DS9 or DS6.
Here are some back to them

 

[LisaG520]

A woman after my own heart!!! I read on a DCL trip report recently that somebody went out and bought everyone in the family 10 new pairs of undies so she didn't have to do laundry on the cruise!!!! Totally something I would think about doing.

I already told DH I'm not doing laundry on the cruise so we will stock up on socks and underwear before we go!!!

This totally reminds me of something I did on my last cruise, but didn't put it in the trip report. I purposely took all my old underwear that I would have been throwing away soon anyway, same with some clothes too, so that I could throw out a bunch of stuff before coming home, leaving more room in the suitcase for souvineers and other new stuff. Well, I did do laundry at one point, and threw away a bunch of old stuff in the laundry room. Then on the last night, as I was packing, I threw all that old underwear away in the garbage can in our room. We went to dinner, out to have other fun, etc. At the end of the night, when we all returned to our room for the last time, we found that when the room steward cleaned our room, he took all those underwear out of the garbage can and put them on my bed! We were just dying laughing at what that poor guy must have been thinking as he was fishing ratty old underwear out of the garbage can! I'm cracking up laughing as I'm typing this!

I've worried about this happening on past trips - we always throw a bunch of grocery store bags in our suitcase pockets for shoes, etc. on the way back so I put the underwear in one of those and tied it shut before putting it in the trash.

Off to unload from the $300+ store. Catch everyone after Desparate Housewives and Amazing Race! [/COLOR]

I think DH is a rerun tonight

 

[nskjerven]

But he's only 4....and aren't most kids closer to 6 before you take training wheels off?

Molly tells me she is taking her bike (with their training wheels) to college. She is 9. Not the most coordinated girl.

Wilson's came off when he was 6, omly because we ride maybe 2 or 3 times a year. More into skateboards. He has been on the board since he was under 2year old.

It is an evil invention of a giant rat, formulated to make parents lose their minds . . .

Actually, it is a pizza place, with someone in a giant mouse suit (not Mickey by any stretch) that has a play area as an integral part that you buy tokens for. All the attractions in the play area take tokens, and make a huge racket. You can win tickets from games in the play area, and then trade them in for things at the counter, where you could have paid half as much for the stuff from Oriental Trading.

When it is crowded, the noise is deafening!

Hate the place. See John we do agree on that! Maybe not sports (okay you said you do like baseball, so I'll give ya that)

We have the same type of sports passion in our house but it's for racing. any and all kinds. We have a trip to Vegas planned for the first part of april for the CHAMP car opener.

You have just lit up my day We are also racing nuts here. Formula One mostly. But other kinds too (not really into NASCAR)

We have enjoyed the SJ Grand Prix for the last 2 years by renting a suite at the Fairmont.

More racing update!!! Wilson came in 4th today out of his pack of 11. The best of Calif and the best time at this track where also racing (I'm sure they were 1 & 2) I expect a good story tonight. This is his 2nd year go-karting. First year everyone wins. 2nd year it's for the win.

We'll have to look into the Champ race in Las Vegas, what weekend is it?

We also have a small collection of cars...a 1955 356 speedster and a '61 BMW 700, anyone know what that one is?

 

[birkner]

I have no idea who or what Chuck E Cheese is by the way.....but I'm guessing it's like McDonalds or something?????

The history of Chuck E Cheese: (I actually worked for Atari and Nolan)
The following information has been put together from various sources. If you have anything to add, please send me a note. A good chunk of this information was found on the CEC links.

1972 - Nolan Bushnell founds Atari with about $500.

1977 - Seeing no other way to stay competitive in the growing games market, Bushnell sells Atari to Warner Communications for $28 million. At this point, the company is producing arcade and home video games. Bushnell opens First Chuck E. Cheese "Pizza Time Theatre" in San Jose, CA. The unique feature of this chain is the use of animatronic animals (robots). First CEC tokens issued.

1978 - Because of tension with Warner executives, Bushnell leaves Atari and signs a lucrative five-year agreement not to compete with the company he started. Bushnell purchases the Pizza Time Theatres franchise.

1979 - Bob Brock acquires franchise rights to develop Pizza Time Theatres in 14 states. Before exercising these rights, Brock meets Aaron Fechter, head of Creative Engineering, and decides to start a new restaurant chain with more sophisticated animatronic animals. (See note from Steve Brock).

1980 - Brock separates from Pizza Time Theatre and begins ShowBiz Pizza Place. First ShowBiz tokens made (probably "25c Play Value" designs). Lawsuit develops between the two concepts. Bushnell's Pizza Time Theatre becomes a major success as new arcade games boom and families with children are increasingly drawn to the robots and electronic games.

1981 - Both companies expand - often within sight of each other. US arcades reach their highest revenues - $5 billion. Americans spend more than 75,000 man-years playing video games.

1982 - Lawsuit settled in favor of Pizza Time Theatre, Brock is required to give a portion of ShowBiz profits to Pizza Time Theatre for the next ten years. The arcade business begins to fade (it continues to fade for the next 15 years.)

1983 - Expansion declines. As the video game industry collapses in the United States amidst a huge glut of similar looking and priced software, Nintendo releases the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan in July. "Adult Mouse I" design replaces "old rat" on tokens. Final year of tokens which include the names of cities (Maplewood, MN). Nolan Bushnell begins to off-spin companies from the profits of Pizza Time Theatre, these spin off drain money from Pizza Time Theatre, leaving it unable to pay its bills. Bushnell leaves the company.

1983-84 - Chuck E Cheese "Super Token" issued in Portland, OR.

1984 - Pizza Time Theatre is forced to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and is bought by Bob Brock. Pizza Time Theatre and Showbiz merge as Showbiz Pizza Time Inc, although it continues to operate both ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese restaurants. The year becomes known as the "Great Crash" for the games business. Some predict that the video game "fad" has come to an end.

1985 - Dick Frank joins Showbiz Pizza Time as president. Focus is placed on food quality, execution, parent & children satisfaction, marketing and finances (back to basics). Unprofitable restaurants are closed. Major financial restructuring is undertaken with support of Hallwood Group.

1986 - Sales increase. Remodeling of all restaurants begins. Aggressive marketing begins. Financial restructuring is completed. ShowBiz balance sheet improves by nearly $90 million. Hoffman Mint start making CEC tokens.

1987 - Sales increase by 5%. Opens first new restaurant in 3 years. Terry Spaight joins company as Vice President and Director of Operations.

1988 - ShowBiz is spun-off from parent company (Brock Hotels?) and becomes publicly traded (NASDAQ:"SHBZ"). Sales increase 8.3% over 1988. More new restaurants are opened and plans are made to open 10-15 centers per year over the next 3-5 years.

1990 - 4.5 years of real sales growth. Joint Chuck E Cheese/Showbiz token issued. First year of new token design "Where a Kid Can be a Kid" ("Adult Mouse II").

1992 - To elimate the costs of maintaining two sets of characters/artwork/merchandising, ShowBiz locations are phased out in favor of Chuck E. Cheese. (ShowBiz charcters were licensed from Creative Engineering, while Chuck E Cheese characters were owned by ShowBiz Pizza Time.)

1994 - Last ShowBiz locations closed. Last year of ShowBiz token production?

1995 - Tokens are issued with "Juvenile Head" (AKA "Thumb Chuck") design. Hoffman Mint loses main CEC token contract, but continues to make tokens for franchises. Tokens with "Adult Mouse II" design continue to be issued. (Probable but unconfirmed: "Juvenile Head" designs are for company operated locations, "Adult Head" designs are for franchises.)

1996 - A number of simulation games begin to enjoy popularity in arcades, including skiing, snowboarding and jet ski games from Namco and Sega, as arcades face another period of unsurprising decline. Nolan Bushnell reemerges in the industry as the president of Aristo Games, a company that makes Internet stations for arcades and bars.

1997 - ShowBiz Pizza Time has been renovating locations and updating entertainment offerings to boost repeat business. Total sales of $350 million (up 19% from previous year). Headquarters in Irving, TX. Dick Frank is still CEO. There are 4 locations in Canada, 2 in Chile, and 1 in Guatamala.

1997 (winter) - Chuck E. Cheese is officially announced to be a mouse, and not a rat.

1998 (June) - ShowBiz Pizza Time changes name to CEC Entertainment (NYSE:"CEC").

1999 - CEC Entertainment is no longer franchising in the United States, and is gradually buying existing franchises. CEC Entertainment does have an interest in franchising in selected other countries. (Note: CEC seems to have had a policy of buying franchises since at least 1992, see table below.)

1999 (July) - Discovery Zone arcade files Chapter 11 and is purchased by CEC. CEC intends to convert ten of the locations to Chuck E. Cheese restaurants and sell the remaining land and property.

1999 (August) - CEC purchases three Circus Pizza locations in Minnesota, they will be converted to CEC restaurants.

2000 - Hoffman Mint is making ~100,000 "2000" dated CEC tokens per week (These are all the "Adult Mouse II" type for the independant franchises.)