May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 4

[Jhalkias]

We're CC members.....like you said, I bet there's a lot. I wonder what the CC gift on our cruise will be. I recall they got "specialized" ones on the last PC cruise, but I could be wrong.




I didn't think about that....that's a good question, does anyone know if the jeep tours are good or bad for those who are prone to motion sickness. One of my DS gets motion sick easily.

If the jeeps are like the ones at Cozumel, I would not want to be prone to motion sickness and ride in one. They were open air, and their suspension had seen better days. It was like riding an old sofa with no springs (and smelled like one too). Later, maybe when I get home I can post some pictures from that convoy. Did I tell you it also started raining during the drive? Amy and Sophia got pretty wet!

 

[Jhalkias]

Lisa,

How does your son do with the ship? If he is on motion meds anyway, maybe it would not be a problem?

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Already my research has proved to be useful!!!



Or 40 years older!!





Great ones!



Sending off a prayer for you right now!




Would the jeep convoy include a snorkeling stop?? Can I ride with someone? (I'll pay my share) Sounds like fun!!

Sassy Bubbles you can ride with another champagne girl....me and my DH grumpy john....the more the merrier!!! I think V. did mention a beach/snorkle stop in the afternoon...If you would like to join us, just PM v/lillygator and let her know.

 

[PrincessTToo]

I'm so happy about the news of the Spaceship Earth rehab.

*******
Sorry, just had to share this. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
*******

 

[fourmcds]

They were fine and fell asleep on the ride back.

I have pouring over "touring plans" for the island and the only rough and ragged spot is the off road adventure to the natural pool....which they recommed a 4x4 or horseback to. And then the climb getting down to the pool is rough and slippery on the rocks (so I have read).

I was thinking maybe we could all meet and get the jeeps first thing and then do what we kind of did before tour some spots until 1,2 or so and then everyone can kind of branch off on their own...I know we'd probably like to spend the afternoon at a beach and snorkeling or something. I don't know...we have lots of time to decide!! I'm sure we'll change our minds a zillion times before then!

I know my girls would really like to hit a beach at some point, esp since this will be after 2 days at sea. I think one of my girlfriends' had her honeymoon in Aruba, I should ask her if she has any opinions. Do we know how long we will be in any of these ports yet? I don't remember seeing times of stops published yet. Us, change our minds?! The rest of the ship will be so sad when they realize they missed out on all this OCD planning and dreaming for over a year When March and April hit next year, I can't even imagine how many lists will have and how many names will magically appear in those last few months!

If the jeeps are like the ones at Cozumel, I would not want to be prone to motion sickness and ride in one. They were open air, and their suspension had seen better days. It was like riding an old sofa with no springs (and smelled like one too). Later, maybe when I get home I can post some pictures from that convoy. Did I tell you it also started raining during the drive? Amy and Sophia got pretty wet!

Wouldn't it be better for motion sickness since it is open air? I know if I ever get queasy, I roll down the window for fresh air.

 

[fourmcds]

I'm so happy about the news of the Spaceship Earth rehab.

*******
Sorry, just had to share this. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
*******

I read about this yesterday...maybe in the DVC newsletter? I haven't been on it since we went in 2003 (DH isn't a big fan of it). Must make a note to self....ride SE this time as it will be changing

 

[Jhalkias]

I'm so happy about the news of the Spaceship Earth rehab.

*******
Sorry, just had to share this. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
*******

I have to agree with the person that said that they hope it does not take long. We love this ride - it is so relaxing, and the line is never long. A perfect way to take an air-conditioned break. Of course when we were there a few weeks ago, when you got off, it looked like an abandoned and unwanted area of Epcot. I think Amy would ride this and the Carousel of Progress all day if I let her.

 

[lillygator]

7:30am-4:30pm is what is currently listed on DCL for Aruba.

Motion sickness - I can't really comment...no issues in our family.

I've got emails in to several companies and have heard back from several...15%-20% discount taken off the rental price, which really is not all that high to me (compared to paying for a family of 4 on a DCL tour).

This is some info I have found out so far....
The island is only something like 26 miles long if that. Unfortunately there is no one main road which makes a loop around the island. Beaches for swimming and snorkleling are all along the west coast of the island as well as the main road. Beaches along the eastern coast are wild, rough and DANGEROUS to swimmers!

For a one day visitor, although it involves partial back tracking (sorry there is no way of getting past the Natural Bridge to Arikok National Park, UNLESS you are on a horse...) the spots you would want to visit include: (starting just north of the Palm Beach high rise hotel area-
California sand dunes
California Lighthouse
Alto Vista Chapel
Natural Bridge

On the way back (you will be back tracking toward the high rise hotel area) visit
Arashi Beach and Malmok.

Continue south through the high rise area to Eagle Beach. Then through downtown Oranjestad. Then onto the eastern coastline
Spanish Lagoon
Rodgers Beach
Baby Beach
Grapefields Bay
Boca Grande
Boca Prins
Fontein
Dos Playa
these last few of which are all located within Arikok National Park as well as the White Sand dunes

For the adventurous, the Natural Pool is worth a visit. HOWEVER it is a very long, very rough 4 X 4 ride. I HIGHLY reccommend a horse back riding tour to get there. Either way to get there you will have a sore back end, HOWEVER you won't have the worry of losing a transmission and THEN having to pay for it! Doesn't really matter what kind of insurance you have, the rental operators do not take kindly to those who they feel are "abusing" their vehicles.


Going to try and check out the web for info on the individual sites and we can see what the DIS'ers all want to visit.

 

[lillygator]

re: SSE - needs a rehab BAD! We went on it recently and it's one of my favorites but it was hard to hear Jeremy Irons over the clunk-ca-clunk-ca-clunk! Was there a starting date on the rehab? Hopefully it's up in May.

 

[lillygator]

off to get the girls and head to Publix! Running behind already.

 

[UKANGEL]

just wanted to thank everyone for their kind messages, they must have worked as I've crawled out of my black cloud now. Thank you all very much

OK, anybody up for another (those of us from 12/9 and anyone who wants to join) jeep convoy tour? Mind if we horn in V? We had such a GREAT time in Cozumel I would love to do something like this again.

That sounds like a great idea, we'd be up for that

Sending you lots of hugs and love and positive happy thoughts because I care and we all care about you. You have become our good friend, even if we didn't meet yet, and we will....I'll see you Nov 1st in Pleasure Island and we'll cheers and laugh away the gray feelings that you have today.

Stay strong and just know that everything happens for a reason...even if it's just for a lesson. And the one constant thing about life is that it always changes. Nothing ever remains the same for long. Whatever has you down today will go away and be replaced with joy, peace and love. Keeping you in my thoughts, my good friend!

Deb...what can I say....

I can be the keeper of the list of the Aruba tour...who ever wants to go just pm me how many, etc. I will see if I can get us a discount on the rentals.

V, will pm you!

If the jeeps are like the ones at Cozumel, I would not want to be prone to motion sickness and ride in one. They were open air, and their suspension had seen better days. It was like riding an old sofa with no springs (and smelled like one too). Later, maybe when I get home I can post some pictures from that convoy. Did I tell you it also started raining during the drive? Amy and Sophia got pretty wet!

lol John, you're making it sound so attractive!

 

[gouodux]

I read with a lot of interest everyone's postings on psychics . . .

Very interesting - but I am always a skeptic.

There is a part of me (and I believe all of us) that desperately wants to believe that such communication is possible. In fact I truly hope it can happen.

On the one hand, I have to see the scientific proof of such things, and know that there has never been absolute proof. On the other hand, I also beleive there are many things that science has not explained, and that defy current explanation. I used to dabble in magic (the magician kind, not the dark arts) when I was a kid. There was a magician called the Amazing Randi that made a career out of debunking psychics, and even offered a $100,000 reward for absolute proof. It was never collected.

But like most people, I would like to be able to communicate with those I love that I have lost - especially my mom.

Some seem to have amazing talents and are so convincing that you are left wanting to believe. While in the Ph.D progam at the University of Oregon, both of us had many chances to sit in on Dr. Ray Hyman's talks and demonstrations on Parapsychology. He even spoke of the Amazing Randi in some of his talks. Dr. Hyman in a word (sorry to be redundant) is amazing. If anyone has ever had the opportunity to listen to him or read any of his writings, it is hard to believe in parapsychology. But . . . . . . . who really knows. Many of us have stories and experiences. Will share three experiences:

Shawn's oldest brother was hit by a drunk driver as he walked across a street (Shawn's other brother was killed in a car accident three years earlier) and had been in a coma for three days. It was a tragic time and we were sleeping in a room at his parents home in Irvine. Early in the morning Shawn yells out in his sleep "Let go of me, I don't want to go" and literally jumps out of the bed and is physically shaking. He explains that he had a dream where both of his brother's are pulling him by the arm and saying to him that they are in a place that he HAS to see. He HAS to go with them, physically forcing him to go along with them. Five minutes after he tells about the dream, the phone rings. The hospital is calling to let the family know that his brother had just passed 15 minutes earlier.

Shawn's father battled thyroid cancer for 10 years. While at the UofO, his mother calls to say that it would be a good time to come home and spend a few days with his dad. Shawn is on the next plane out and while at his parent's home, his father passes away. Two nights later, he is wakened by something moving in the room he is sleeping in (right next to the room where his father had passed). Shawn swears he hears someone say "take care of your mother, she doesn't know, but in a short time she will need everything in your heart you can give". Shawn figures he has dreamt the whole thing, but it seemed so real he never forgot it. Fast forward two years later. Shawn receives a phone call from a family friend and is told his mom is gravely ill (we had spent a few days with her only 6 weeks earlier) and is in ICU at their local hospital. We drive to L.A. from Arizona and find his mother has lost 50 pounds in the last six weeks and has inoperable terminal stomach cancer. We ask her what we can do for her. Her answer was "Take me home with you, I don't want to die in a hospital. I also want to see my first granddaughter born". Leslie is not pregnant!! Shawn's only other sibling left, his sister, is in the middle of a divorce and is definitely not pregnant. Well, okay, we all get in our car and drive to our home in Arizona. Hospice comes out and helps with the care process that she will need. The Hospice doctors evaluate her condition and let us know she probably has nine months before she will probably succumb to the cancer. Unfortunately, she only lasts two weeks and passes in our home. As hard as it was to witness first hand, the process of death, it was also the most rewarding two weeks we could have asked for. Totally changed our lives.

Shawn's mother's last words were, "I love both of you more than I can express and thank you for my angel". Six months later, our oldest daughter Jenna was born.

Again, long story, but until our time comes, who really knows. Our experiences have just left us with more questions than answers.

 

[gouodux]

actually Johnny asked me last night, "do you think John and Amy would come with us?"



past repo'ers....and castaway club members was the cc gift the same as what "regular" cruisers receive?

Don't know about the Repo cruise but we received a nice, special blanket during the Mexican Riveria cruise.

 

[fourmcds]

7:30am-4:30pm is what is currently listed on DCL for Aruba.

Motion sickness - I can't really comment...no issues in our family.

I've got emails in to several companies and have heard back from several...15%-20% discount taken off the rental price, which really is not all that high to me (compared to paying for a family of 4 on a DCL tour).

This is some info I have found out so far....
The island is only something like 26 miles long if that. Unfortunately there is no one main road which makes a loop around the island. Beaches for swimming and snorkleling are all along the west coast of the island as well as the main road. Beaches along the eastern coast are wild, rough and DANGEROUS to swimmers!

For a one day visitor, although it involves partial back tracking (sorry there is no way of getting past the Natural Bridge to Arikok National Park, UNLESS you are on a horse...) the spots you would want to visit include: (starting just north of the Palm Beach high rise hotel area-
California sand dunes
California Lighthouse
Alto Vista Chapel
Natural Bridge

On the way back (you will be back tracking toward the high rise hotel area) visit
Arashi Beach and Malmok.

Continue south through the high rise area to Eagle Beach. Then through downtown Oranjestad. Then onto the eastern coastline
Spanish Lagoon
Rodgers Beach
Baby Beach
Grapefields Bay
Boca Grande
Boca Prins
Fontein
Dos Playa
these last few of which are all located within Arikok National Park as well as the White Sand dunes

For the adventurous, the Natural Pool is worth a visit. HOWEVER it is a very long, very rough 4 X 4 ride. I HIGHLY reccommend a horse back riding tour to get there. Either way to get there you will have a sore back end, HOWEVER you won't have the worry of losing a transmission and THEN having to pay for it! Doesn't really matter what kind of insurance you have, the rental operators do not take kindly to those who they feel are "abusing" their vehicles.


Going to try and check out the web for info on the individual sites and we can see what the DIS'ers all want to visit.

Looks like I picked the right person to tag along with! Great information. I have emailed my friend and will let you know if she has any great tips as well. Love it that we are all so OCD on planning this trip and getting stuff set up so early

 

[fourmcds]

Again, long story, but until our time comes, who really knows. Our experiences have just left us with more questions than answers.

Wow...what an amazing story (or stories). Thank you for sharing. Am I the only one that got teary eyed reading that one?!

 

[fourmcds]

Hey, did anyone else notice we dropped down to 12 months today! Not sure what the difference is between 13 months and 12 months 4 weeks, but it means the numbers are getting smaller either way!!!

 

[Jhalkias]

Some seem to have amazing talents and are so convincing that you are left wanting to believe. While in the Ph.D progam at the University of Oregon, both of us had many chances to sit in on Dr. Ray Hyman's talks and demonstrations on Parapsychology. He even spoke of the Amazing Randi in some of his talks. Dr. Hyman in a word (sorry to be redundant) is amazing. If anyone has ever had the opportunity to listen to him or read any of his writings, it is hard to believe in parapsychology. But . . . . . . . who really knows. Many of us have stories and experiences. Will share three experiences:

Shawn's oldest brother was hit by a drunk driver as he walked across a street (Shawn's other brother was killed in a car accident three years earlier) and had been in a coma for three days. It was a tragic time and we were sleeping in a room at his parents home in Irvine. Early in the morning Shawn yells out in his sleep "Let go of me, I don't want to go" and literally jumps out of the bed and is physically shaking. He explains that he had a dream where both of his brother's are pulling him by the arm and saying to him that they are in a place that he HAS to see. He HAS to go with them, physically forcing him to go along with them. Five minutes after he tells about the dream, the phone rings. The hospital is calling to let the family know that his brother had just passed 15 minutes earlier.

Shawn's father battled thyroid cancer for 10 years. While at the UofO, his mother calls to say that it would be a good time to come home and spend a few days with his dad. Shawn is on the next plane out and while at his parent's home, his father passes away. Two nights later, he is wakened by something moving in the room he is sleeping in (right next to the room where his father had passed). Shawn swears he hears someone say "take care of your mother, she doesn't know, but in a short time she will need everything in your heart you can give". Shawn figures he has dreamt the whole thing, but it seemed so real he never forgot it. Fast forward two years later. Shawn receives a phone call from a family friend and is told his mom is gravely ill (we had spent a few days with her only 6 weeks earlier) and is in ICU at their local hospital. We drive to L.A. from Arizona and find his mother has lost 50 pounds in the last six weeks and has inoperable terminal stomach cancer. We ask her what we can do for her. Her answer was "Take me home with you, I don't want to die in a hospital. I also want to see my first granddaughter born". Leslie is not pregnant!! Shawn's only other sibling left, his sister, is in the middle of a divorce and is definitely not pregnant. Well, okay, we all get in our car and drive to our home in Arizona. Hospice comes out and helps with the care process that she will need. The Hospice doctors evaluate her condition and let us know she probably has nine months before she will probably succumb to the cancer. Unfortunately, she only lasts two weeks and passes in our home. As hard as it was to witness first hand, the process of death, it was also the most rewarding two weeks we could have asked for. Totally changed our lives.

Shawn's mother's last words were, "I love both of you more than I can express and thank you for my angel". Six months later, our oldest daughter Jenna was born.

Again, long story, but until our time comes, who really knows. Our experiences have just left us with more questions than answers.

Very interesting, and great stories. For some reason, I put more stock in these stories than a total stranger "chanelling" but who knows? Thanks for sharing. I would love sometime to hear what you guys have to say in more detail about your experiences at the University of Oregon.

By the way, whoever originally suggested it, I am now listening to "The Time Traveler's Wife" and I am Hooked! Great listen, and I really like the story. I can see how some would not like it though. I can tell for sure that Amy would not like it.

 

[lillygator]

American Idol is on.......wonder who will go home.

 

[Jhalkias]

American Idol is on.......wonder who will go home.

Sorry, no idol fans here. Watching Mythbusters.

 

[HollyTyler]

OK John, you started something here....do we need a list??? You have four jeeps already....V and John, You and Amy, Holly and Cindy and Me and John....except for Holly and Cindy, there's a John in every jeep...won't be hard to forget names.

Maybe I can find a John for my jeep by then.

(TRULY kidding, of course!!!!)