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

[HollyTyler]

Love, breakfast at Akershus!!

Last December we were able to get a cancellation so that we could go as it was one of the only character things that DD still wanted to do. Unfortunately she came down with tummy flu the night before we were to go and I had to cancel.

We hope to get it lined up for our November trip, but it will probably be pretty crowded the week that we will be there.

Have fun!!

Karen

HEY! What are you doing here so early? It's still daytime!

 

[been2marceline]

I love to see the little princesses on their way to Norway for their meals. So cute!

I have only had breakfast at Boma, worried the food may be a little too different for a plain meat and veg guy. I think I would like it though. Same with Jiko which gets great reviews.

Good afternoon/evening, Marilyn!

Jiko is in our top 5 favorite restaurants ANYWHERE!! We love the food, the ambience and the South African wines! They are really fabulous! I hope to bring them into the shop when we move into our larger space!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

John -
Glad to hear you're having a great time. I'm so jealous, but I found out I get to stay at the BC in May for a conference. I'll definitely avoid the water slide now.

I also wanted to ask about Art, the Beach Club greeter. I heard a rumor that he retired. That would definitely be a loss for Disney.

Oh I hope that he is still there!

We saw him in December when we stayed at the BC.

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

2003 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa

Noel,

You have SUCH GOOD TASTE!!!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

Tink wears green. This is the closest I can find that is kind of sassy and sexy. Let me know.

Noel

Love it!

Now if we could just add her standing in a wine or champagne flute?

Asking too much?

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

Thought I would share some pictures of Lily Ann.

Carol,

She is just precious!! Treasure her, as you know, they grow up too fast!

Karen, mom of a soon to be teenager!!

 

[HollyTyler]

If anybody remembers my tuition problem resulting from taking a semester off, I had a bit of good news this morning. Yesterday I had sent one last pleading e-mail to school explaining my situation and asking for suggestions on what I can do to be able to continue my schooling. I asked that if whoever read it was unable to help, if they could please forward it to somebody who might have an answer for me. I received an e-mail from the Senior Accountant of the Billing Department this morning telling me she'll offer 5 monthly payments of $1,042.00 each, starting April 1. I wrote back and told her I really appreciated her offer, but there's no way I can come up with $1,042 in 4 days. So she offered me the 15th of each month, starting April 15th. I accepted, knowing it will be much easier to get a loan for the first couple payments rather than the full amount. No way can I come up with that amount each month, but at least it buys some time to worry about the remainder of the balance.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I now know I can continue my education! WOOHOO!!!!! Sure, the problem isn't completely solved, but it's a huge start!

 

[fourmcds]

If anybody remembers my tuition problem resulting from taking a semester off, I had a bit of good news this morning. Yesterday I had sent one last pleading e-mail to school explaining my situation and asking for suggestions on what I can do to be able to continue my schooling. I asked that if whoever read it was unable to help, if they could please forward it to somebody who might have an answer for me. I received an e-mail from the Senior Accountant of the Billing Department this morning telling me she'll offer 5 monthly payments of $1,042.00 each, starting April 1. I wrote back and told her I really appreciated her offer, but there's no way I can come up with $1,042 in 4 days. So she offered me the 15th of each month, starting April 15th. I accepted, knowing it will be much easier to get a loan for the first couple payments rather than the full amount. No way can I come up with that amount each month, but at least it buys some time to worry about the remainder of the balance.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I now know I can continue my education! WOOHOO!!!!! Sure, the problem isn't completely solved, but it's a huge start!

Great news Holly. One step closer to having it resolved.

 

[HollyTyler]

Great news Holly. One step closer to having it resolved.

I'm just glad I finally found somebody there who listened to me. I use student loans because I don't have thousands lying around, so obviously I can't pay the whole semester up front like they wanted. Somebody there is finally making sense. Either that or they're tired of me being a pest and want to get me out of their hair! But hey! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

 

[been2marceline]

Okay I'm giving up on catching up.

I was at Edith Macy Center, at a conference, with several other GS leaders from North Carolina.

Many of these woman had never been out of their county, let alone the state.

We signed up for a bus tour of NYC. The bus driver pointed out Chippendale's and the ladies wanted to stop and go in.

Well these quiet, shy southern ladies went wild!!!! Dollar bills were tucked in every nook and cranny.

We were kicked out when one of them wouldn't keep her hands off of one of the dancers. She was so worried that word would get back to council and they wouldn't let her be a leader.

We were back at the center and told her that it made the evening news. "Girl Scout leaders bounced from Chippendales." She almost died.

 

[been2marceline]

Champagne cork - I love it!!!

We could have Cork, Pop, Foil, Cutter, Bouchon, Brut, Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Noir, Brut Rose...

I'll think of more in a moment....

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

How adorable...and all that hair?! I bet you can't wait to get out there and hold her in person!
I have to ask....did Mom have bad heartburn during her pregnancy? It is an old wives tale that the more heartburn you have the more hair the baby has, so I always ask just for my own "study". (for me it proved true as DD1 was a bald toe head and I had no heartburn and DD2 had a thick head of hair and my heartburn was horrible near the end (went through 20 tums or so a day!)).

TONS of BAD Heartburn!! DD had very little, light blond hair!!

Karen

 

[disneylover5]

If anybody remembers my tuition problem resulting from taking a semester off, I had a bit of good news this morning. Yesterday I had sent one last pleading e-mail to school explaining my situation and asking for suggestions on what I can do to be able to continue my schooling. I asked that if whoever read it was unable to help, if they could please forward it to somebody who might have an answer for me. I received an e-mail from the Senior Accountant of the Billing Department this morning telling me she'll offer 5 monthly payments of $1,042.00 each, starting April 1. I wrote back and told her I really appreciated her offer, but there's no way I can come up with $1,042 in 4 days. So she offered me the 15th of each month, starting April 15th. I accepted, knowing it will be much easier to get a loan for the first couple payments rather than the full amount. No way can I come up with that amount each month, but at least it buys some time to worry about the remainder of the balance.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I now know I can continue my education! WOOHOO!!!!! Sure, the problem isn't completely solved, but it's a huge start!

It is so wonderful to be so calm. I would be FREAKED out in your situation. It is much more healthy the way you are.
I wish I could come up with an idea for $$$$. At church, when we need $$$ for youth, we have car washes, salad bars....if we were all there, we could pitch in!!

Someone suggested a home equity loan. If your house has gone up on value since you bought it, you may have more equity than you thought.....check at your bank.

Tell them what is going on and maybe they will help you...with the house as your backing.

Good luck and thank God you are so calm!!

 

[gouodux]

To continue with our hack job of a trip report - on to the ports. Will actually start with our second stop, which was Roatan, Honduras. Roatan is a small island just off of mainland Honduras. It is absolutely gorgeous. The fauna is so lush and picturesque (but don't have many pictures of it)! The water is beautiful, but the island itself is very impoverished. We chose to do a ship sponsored excursion to Tabyana Beach. The beach was on the west coast of the island and was perfect. There was a small reef off the beach that was easy to swim out to for great snorkeling. Even Jenna (7 years old) was able to make the swim and enjoy the beautiful marine life. Not much else to say. Below are a few pictures:

 

[HollyTyler]

It is so wonderful to be so calm. I would be FREAKED out in your situation. It is much more healthy the way you are.
I wish I could come up with an idea for $$$$. At church, when we need $$$ for youth, we have car washes, salad bars....if we were all there, we could pitch in!!

Someone suggested a home equity loan. If your house has gone up on value since you bought it, you may have more equity than you thought.....check at your bank.

Tell them what is going on and maybe they will help you...with the house as your backing.

Good luck and thank God you are so calm!!

Oh, I'm sure you know why I'm able to stay calm. I know things are really out of my hands. I do everything in my power to make things work, but ultimately, it's not up to me. I've had friends comment on how I'm so lucky about how things always seem to work out for me. I just tell them, "Nope, it's definitely not luck!"

 

[been2marceline]

Okay, here is my Annie story for today. I was able to get her into the doctor at 10:30am. (Everyone was like what are you back for...was there yesterday with Gretchen's broken thumb).

Annie has strep, bronchitis and pneumonia!! They did not put her in the hospital. She is on 4 drugs, including steroids for her lungs. I just keep hearing over and over the teachers telling me "Annie is bouncing back" " Annie is better today" "Annie will be fine" The doctor said she is very sick. She is also contagious.

I called the head teacher and left her a message with Annie diagnosis, in case the other 6 still have fevers or if there are more fevers. I asked her to ring me back....but no surprise...no call.

Annie heard me leave the message and she said "Are you trying to make my teacher feel bad" .. I hate admit it, but I think I was trying to do that...(mouths of babes!!) I just feel like they were not good stewards of my very special child. If I had left her there, the pneumonia would have only gotten worse. No wonder, she could hardly walk in by herself.

I know I need to get over this...but I am still so angry.

You have every right to be angry! I'm angry just reading this!!

My Gosh, she could have ended up in the hospital for quite a long time!!

Thank goodness you listened to your instincts and brought her home!!

I hope that she is feeling better soon. (Better living through chemistry!)

Karen

 

[HollyTyler]

To continue with our hack job of a trip report - on to the ports. Will actually start with our second stop, which was Roatan, Honduras. Roatan is a small island just off of mainland Honduras. It is absolutley gorgeous. The fauna is so lush and picturesque (but don't have many pictures of it)! The water is beautiful, but the island itself is very impoverished. We chose to do a ship sponsored excursion to Tabyana Beach. The beach was on the west coast of the island and was perfect. There was a small reef off the beach that was easy to swim out to for great snorkeling. Even Jenna (7 years old) was able to make the swim and enjoy the beautiful marine life. Not much else to say. Below are a few pictures:

Such great pics!


OK everybody.....I'm outta here for the night. My friend Cindy called me and has beckoned me to join her for a drink. Actually, she frantically called and said, "You have to get your _ _ _ here NOW! We just met a good looking law student we're gonna hook you up with." *Sigh* Here I go......I might as well humor her. MIght end up being a good study buddy.

 

[been2marceline]

HEY! What are you doing here so early? It's still daytime!

Holly,

Had a lull at work so I am posting!! Should be working...

I have done this a couple of times lately, only way to catch up!!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

If anybody remembers my tuition problem resulting from taking a semester off, I had a bit of good news this morning. Yesterday I had sent one last pleading e-mail to school explaining my situation and asking for suggestions on what I can do to be able to continue my schooling. I asked that if whoever read it was unable to help, if they could please forward it to somebody who might have an answer for me. I received an e-mail from the Senior Accountant of the Billing Department this morning telling me she'll offer 5 monthly payments of $1,042.00 each, starting April 1. I wrote back and told her I really appreciated her offer, but there's no way I can come up with $1,042 in 4 days. So she offered me the 15th of each month, starting April 15th. I accepted, knowing it will be much easier to get a loan for the first couple payments rather than the full amount. No way can I come up with that amount each month, but at least it buys some time to worry about the remainder of the balance.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I now know I can continue my education! WOOHOO!!!!! Sure, the problem isn't completely solved, but it's a huge start!

Holly,

Good news! Glad to hear that someone is listening to you!!

Karen

 

[birkner]

Okay, here is my Annie story for today. I was able to get her into the doctor at 10:30am. (Everyone was like what are you back for...was there yesterday with Gretchen's broken thumb).

Annie has strep, bronchitis and pneumonia!! They did not put her in the hospital. She is on 4 drugs, including steroids for her lungs. I just keep hearing over and over the teachers telling me "Annie is bouncing back" " Annie is better today" "Annie will be fine" The doctor said she is very sick. She is also contagious.

I called the head teacher and left her a message with Annie diagnosis, in case the other 6 still have fevers or if there are more fevers. I asked her to ring me back....but no surprise...no call.

Annie heard me leave the message and she said "Are you trying to make my teacher feel bad" .. I hate admit it, but I think I was trying to do that...(mouths of babes!!) I just feel like they were not good stewards of my very special child. If I had left her there, the pneumonia would have only gotten worse. No wonder, she could hardly walk in by herself.

I know I need to get over this...but I am still so angry.

I would be beyond mad, I would be furious!! Clearly, she was not bouncing back etc. What on earth were those teachers thinking?

More fuel for the school board fire to be sure parents are along as chaperones.