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

[nskjerven]

Put the special things up or pack them away like you did when she was a toddler. PLAN to have the furniture moved for board games or lying around watching TV, get a lot of snacks in the house and SMILE a lot. It is an investment in your daughter and her safety.

You may find some great times to share some stories from your youth and when done in the tone of "don't do what I did, I wish I had not....." THEY WILL LISTEN. It is the preachy thing, the "don't do this because I said so..." that they tune out. Tell the truth, or as much of it as you can bare to do and be honest. Then they will listen. You may find that some of her friends take your wisdom well and they may then pass it on to others.

Jan

Thanks Jan. Funny I hadn't thought of the clearing back the house stuff, but you are so right. I want them to be here in our house, so best to make it teenager friendly = Space & food & tv (or whatever techno stuff we have in a few years).

I hope I can find the courage to speak honestly and completely, but it's hard as a parent I think to find that subtle (sp) line between truth and TMI. As we near that time in our lives I'll reach out to my friends who have been there and done that and ask questions all along the way.

I hope for another meet before we sail...I so want to see you guys in person!

 

[disneylover5]

Thanks for posting all the pictures....I have really enjoyed seeing them.

Wish I could have been there!!

Lisa

 

[birkner]

Finally got a chance to get on the DIS after our meet on Sunday. Yesterday was so busy that I never even got a chance to post. I am going to post a few of the pictures that DH took at the meet as soon as I can size them properly. Now back to reading!!

 

[birkner]

Sorry, long....but have to vent. Tyler's party was fun for everybody, after I made it through the pizza fiasco. I had planned on ordering from Little Caesars Pizza and having it and breadsticks delivered to keep things simple. But when I called them this morning to place my order to be delivered at 1:00pm, they told me they don't do deliveries anymore. NONE of their locations deliver anymore (in our city at least)!!! Quick change of plans. I called quite a few other pizza places that I know deliver, but they all had recordings on their phone saying they don't open until 3pm or 4pm. Starting to panic slightly, trying to think of what to do, as I'm filling up helium balloons. I knew I wouldn't have time to go pick up pizzas because we still had lots of balloons to fill plus a couple other things. So I decided I'd call Little Caesars again (because they're the closest and cheapest place), order the pizzas, pay ahead of time over the phone with credit card, call the mom of one of Tyler's buddies (we've been friends a couple years), and ask her to pick up the pizzas on her way over. Little Caesars tells me they're not set up for credit card payments over the phone. Next I considered asking a neighbor if they'd go get our pizzas if I give them gas money. But then I remembered that my dad and stepmom are notoriously a 1/2 hour early for every occasion, so I figured I'd be able to do the pizza run when they got there. For the first time in my life, my dad was running late! Our first guest arrived 10 minutes early and must have seen my frazzled look because she asked if there's anything she could help with. So she was there to greet our guests while I did the pizza run. I was back in 15 minutes and the kids were all happily playing in the back yard. After that, everything was great and the kids all had a blast! Pics coming in a minute.

I am so glad that the party was a great success albeit the supplies were missing. Hope you get a full refund from the party supplier!!

 

[birkner]

For our last visit at the Ritz in SF, I thought it would be extraordinary fun to stay on the concierge level. It was the worse mistake. I just hated the concierge lounge - people were so snobby. It wasn't any of the staff - it was just the guests! They would look at me and my boys and literally their nose would go up in the air! Ok, one time we did deserve the looks b/c I dragged the kids in the lounge in their bathing suits just to grab the free soda. [my mom didn't raise no fool! free soda is free soda]. But even when I had them totally dressed up, we would get extremely dirty looks and unkind words. I spoke to the management about it because it was so uncomfortable (I overhead guests saying how they shouldn't allow children, etc). The manager said they have struggled with the decision as to whether to forbid kids in the concierge lounge. He said other Ritz do not allow children but they have decided to allow them although they do not "encourage" it. I told him I wish someone would have told me their philosophy before paying the premium price. They ended up giving us a whole night free (which saved us quite a bit). I felt justified because we stopped going to the lounge at all so I didn't feel we should have to pay for the difference. That being said, I would go there again with the kids in a heartbeat - just would NEVER ever stay in any Ritz concierge level again. I don't want to be with those type of people!
Lisa

The manager "struggled" with their decision to allow well behaved children in the congierge lounge. Are you serious??? I am such a confrontive person I am afraid I may have had some unkind words for anyone who would say something about my well behaved child. I do however agree with you that if I was shabbily treated I would want some compensation or at the very least an assurance of good manners and appropriate treatment.

The Laguna Nigel Ritz (at least when we went) was much more welcoming.

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LagunaNiguel/Default.htm

 

[birkner]

Sorry, another long one, but that's because it has pictures! I only managed to take 8 pictures of the whole party and completely missed the chance to get any pinata whacking pics. I wish my dad or stepmom would have grabbed my camera and did pics, but I didn't even have time to think of asking them. I was so busy....but it was lots of fun too!

Tyler is such a cutie!! I loved the camo pictures you posted. My GS will want a party just like Tylers's!!

 

[LiserAnn]

The Laguna Nigel Ritz (at least when we went) was much more welcoming.

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LagunaNiguel/Default.htm

We've been the the LN Ritz several times and I agree, they're much more welcoming...plus the beach there, Salt Creek, is just beautiful!!!

 

[birkner]

Lisa (Calmom), I just wanted to share a story about children in first class on an airline. When Samantha was two, she and I were flying first class on United to Florida to catch the Big Red Boat. Her dad was meeting us there as he was already in Florida on business.

After we were seated and Sam was "plugged" in to her headset and her Sony video of Lady and the Tramp, a couple boarded the plane. Since they were seated next to us, the woman loudly exclaimed, "Good grief, I AM NOT flying first class with a toddler to Florida. We just got in from Hong Kong and I AM NOT going to listen to a whining brat for 6 hours!!"

I was appalled!! The flight attendant politely suggested to the couple that if they felt so strongly they might want to change to another flight. The women loudly suggested we should be removed because clearly we must be on a "pass". The flight attendant tactfully informed the women since we were full fare paying passengers and she and DH were on an upgrade only, we would not be asked to leave the plane.

After calling the flight attendant a very rude name and demanded to see the captain, her DH joined the fray asking that DD and I be removed. The captain came out of the cockpit, was told the situation and informed the couple Sam and I would not be asked to leave. After a few more choice words, the couple disembarked to the applause of the other passengers.

Samantha and I had wonderful service and the rest of the passengers were very nice to us on the remainder of the flight.

 

[birkner]

I will tell you the quick story of my weekend.......I am so exhausted.....

Georgetown (DC) graduation was this weekend. (SAturday Morning) My nephew (who I have helped raise) graduated!! We were all so excited!!

Gretchen (DD10) had her dance competion. 3,000 kids competing!! OMG!!
It was so very overwhelming to me. My two older kids are "normal" kids. Gretchen is just different. She thrives on this stuff.....and it just about kills me.

Well, Saturday evening was good. It was pretty short (4pm -9pm) and Gretchen ended up with 2 gold metals!!

Sunday was so much longer. We got up and went to church (Drew's younger brother and sister, my niece DN19 and nephew DN17) showed up at my house at 11pm Sat wanting a place to sleep....they were leaving for SC by 8am.

We all went to Starbucks.....me and 5 children!! Had a grand time ....DN19 and DN17 off to SC and me and 3 kids off to church.

Me and DD10 Gretchen left church early and off to competion.....11am till
9pm last night......

First 2 dances went awesome!! Two more gold medals......then 4 hours of wait time......that did Gretchen in I am afraid.

The last dance was a duo tap. The little girl she dances with may be the best dancer I have ever seen.....everyone on the team was counting on them.

Gretchen went BLANK......she could not Dance....OMG......I felt so sorry for her up on that stage with about 1,000 watching her....(I could no more do that than the "man in the Moon". )

You know what, she put a great big smile on her face and started making something up, just doing the best she could. That was the longest 3 minutes of my life. I was sitting with her partners mom.....and she was just about to have a cow. Gretchen finished.....but boy was she upset.....it was 1 1/2 hours for awards.....she cried (and she NEVER cries.....nothing bothers her) just about the whole time.

I tried all my mom tricks....."you're only 10", "everyone messes up once and a while" and "I love you so much, that is all that matters" you guys all know the routine....did not really work...

Anyway, I was proud of her going for her awards..(she was like "we are going to get a bronze"......"I can't believe it...")

Well, the judges gave them GOLD and 1st place in their age group!! I guess her faking is pretty good......or the judges were just too tired to notice!!

Congratulations on the Georgetown Graduation and to Gretchen for her two Gold medals!!

 

[granmaz]

Lisa (Calmom), I just wanted to share a story about children in first class on an airline. When Samantha was two, she and I were flying first class on United to Florida to catch the Big Red Boat. Her dad was meeting us there as he was already in Florida on business.

After we were seated and Sam was "plugged" in to her headset and her Sony video of Lady and the Tramp, a couple boarded the plane. Since they were seated next to us, the woman loudly exclaimed, "Good grief, I AM NOT flying first class with a toddler to Florida. We just got in from Hong Kong and I AM NOT going to listen to a whining brat for 6 hours!!"

I was appalled!! The flight attendant politely suggested to the couple that if they felt so strongly they might want to change to another flight. The women loudly suggested we should be removed because clearly we must be on a "pass". The flight attendant tactfully informed the women since we were full fare paying passengers and she and DH were on an upgrade only, we would not be asked to leave the plane.

After calling the flight attendant a very rude name and demanded to see the captain, her DH joined the fray asking that DD and I be removed. The captain came out of the cockpit, was told the situation and informed the couple Sam and I would not be asked to leave. After a few more choice words, the couple disembarked to the applause of the other passengers.

Samantha and I had wonderful service and the rest of the passengers were very nice to us on the remainder of the flight.

That was a very satisfying outcome!!!

 

[birkner]

Bay to Breakers, Halloween, and the Gay Pride Parade - all three of those events can make your eyes pop out in SF. Normally, it is quite a conservative town for fashion (in my opinion).

And I agree, haven't seen any naked guys running around Woodside lately Lisa

No naked siting in Woodside for me either. But have seen the naked runners while running Bay to Breakers!! Some are not so pretty!!

http://www.ingbaytobreakers.com/main.html

 

[granmaz]

No naked siting in Woodside for me either. But have seen the naked runners while running Bay to Breakers!! Some are not so pretty!!

http://www.ingbaytobreakers.com/main.html

I don't think there are any pretty naked runners!!!

 

[nskjerven]

I just remember a basket keeper story...

2 summers ago, my friend and her daughter cruised DCL Mexican Riveria. We had a lot of fun during our waiting times to talk about our cruise excitement. I decided to send her a DCL basket as a bon voyage. I did (using my steath mode to get her cabin #). She got to her room and there was an arrangement for someone else. Her daughter saw it and thought how cool! But alas it had someone elses name on it, so she called GS and then came and wisked it away. My friend returns from her cruise, calls me that Saturday night and we talked for 1 1/2 hours and no mention of the basket...I'm starting to think how really odd. Then she says, Rebeca almost gave you the wonder award for the send off gift....what do you mean almost??? She tells me the story....They never brought her the correct gift. I'm so bummed. I called DCL and they pushed me away saying that they had to review the physical papers and they couldn't since the ship was at sea! I was a bit miffed but didn't follow thru until later....my friend did an online reply and cut and pasted what she wrote about the incident. Long long story short, after MANY angry emails and a few more calls, DCL sent my friend a CC bag and some stuff in it. Not really great for an 8 year old girl, but oh well. And finally credited my account for the original charge.

that is a basket keeper sad story! Moral don't suprise your friends with a gift, unless you can make sure they will get it!!!

 

[endkaos]

Time for my post of the day, so I can keep track of what I have already read.

1st comment - well, it sounds like I'll never visit any Ritz anytime soon. Although my boys are well behaved most of the time, it's not worth the stress to go to such an inflexible place. I'd rather go to Disneyland.

2nd comment - I'm busy grabbing all the pics and nics so I can create a cheatsheet for myself. So if you see someone on the cruise walking around with a list of pics and nics looking at everyone, it's me trying to figure out who everyone is. Then I can go up to you say "Hi, ibouncetoo!"

3rd comment - This is my "airplane story". On our way to our first Disney Cruise in August 2001, America West, AMA(now known as US Airways) screwed up our plane check-in. When we arrived at the PHX airport for our NON-STOP Red Eye to MCO, AMA had rescheduled the flight to go through Las Vegas. When they checked us in, they couldn't check us all the way through for some reason and told us we would have to exit the plane and re-check in Las Vegas. I looked at DH said, "Once I'm on this plane, I'm not getting off and neither are the boys."

We got to LV and DH departed the plane to re-check us in. I stayed on board with the boys and said "We have tickets from PHX to MCO and we are not getting off in LV." The crew were very understanding and even let the boys sit in the captain's seat in the cockpit. Of course, this was all pre-911 and things were more reasonable then. DH was able to resecure us on the flight, in the last seats that don't recline. I swore I would never fly a red-eye again. However, I have some great pics of the kids seating in the captain's seat wearing the captain's hat.

4th comment - I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear NoSoLittleMermaid's report from the POTC III:AWE Red Carpet. I've been viewing alot of pics and I keep looking for her in the crowd. I found a pic of one friend, but she was working the red carpet so I knew she'd have her picture taken.

Okay, back to reading.

 

[Tahoe]

I love this blog from the transatlantic right now. Look at this link and you'll see the waves in the adult pool! I must admit that the prices on this cruise were so tempting, but I knew that it would be way too rocky for me and way too many sea days.

http://davidsondrifters.blogspot.com/2007/05/day-10-another-day-at-sea.html

 

[Tahoe]

I'm loving the airplane stories! Luckily, I've had pretty boring flights.

BTW, does anyone on this board also post on the other cruise boards (three circles, cruisecritic, etc.)?? I find it kinda weird that there are other "families" out there. No one's as fun as us, though!

 

[granmaz]

I post on a couple of other boards, but not any dedicated cruise forums. I agree though about all the other 'families'. It will be funny watching all these groups getting together on the cruise.

Well bed time for me. Things are very quiet at the moment. I suppose vacation season has begun and summer(!) with all the extra things to do.

Have a good day all wherever you are.

Goodnight.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

I had that happen on the way home on a flight from Boston. We have 4 in the family so it is usually 2 and 2 so each of us can be with one of the kids. One lady was going to sit next to me and my DD who was 4 was in the window seat she turned around to the flight attendant right in front of me and said I will not sit next to them. After the flight her friends were so embarrassed they came up and apologized right in front of her and said how good my kids were. I just said thank you and gave a you know what kind of a smile at the women that said that. I can understand people not wanting to sit by kids but come on people if they have not done anything wrong give it a chance.

 

[kimerinc]

Lisa (Calmom), I just wanted to share a story about children in first class on an airline. When Samantha was two, she and I were flying first class on United to Florida to catch the Big Red Boat. Her dad was meeting us there as he was already in Florida on business.

After we were seated and Sam was "plugged" in to her headset and her Sony video of Lady and the Tramp, a couple boarded the plane. Since they were seated next to us, the woman loudly exclaimed, "Good grief, I AM NOT flying first class with a toddler to Florida. We just got in from Hong Kong and I AM NOT going to listen to a whining brat for 6 hours!!"

I was appalled!! The flight attendant politely suggested to the couple that if they felt so strongly they might want to change to another flight. The women loudly suggested we should be removed because clearly we must be on a "pass". The flight attendant tactfully informed the women since we were full fare paying passengers and she and DH were on an upgrade only, we would not be asked to leave the plane.

After calling the flight attendant a very rude name and demanded to see the captain, her DH joined the fray asking that DD and I be removed. The captain came out of the cockpit, was told the situation and informed the couple Sam and I would not be asked to leave. After a few more choice words, the couple disembarked to the applause of the other passengers.

Samantha and I had wonderful service and the rest of the passengers were very nice to us on the remainder of the flight.

Noel,

That is delplorable behavior. I hope your daughter was not upset at all!

 

[birkner]

Noel,

That is delplorable behavior. I hope your daughter was not upset at all!

She was way too young to understand and besides, Lady and the Tramp had her full attention.