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

[clynne]

crawl under the house (only have a crawlspace, no basement) with a hairdryer (hope I can find a long enough extension cord) and blow warm air on it until it thaws. I was told to turn on the water, have my son inside watching and have him bang on the floor to let me know when it starts flowing.

Just one of those times I wish I had a husband or any man living with me. I'm very claustrophobic and not looking forward to doing this after work! And it's still below zero, so I can't imagine what it will feel like lying on the ground under the house! Wish me luck everybody!

If I hadn't just paid my deposit on this cruise, I'd pay somebody to do it for me!

No way! A hairdryer! Good luck with that. So it doesn't harm the pipes? And, it's ok to wait until you get home for this little adventure? (Pictures would be fun.....) Can you wrap the pipes with something to prevent this in the future??

Carolyn

 

[clynne]

There is a little animated segment on that link. It is kinda neat and the kids will understand it. I don't know about a kit but if I see something I will let you know.

Thanks for keeping an eye out! I think the kids would really enjoy building a mini lock. May be an outdoor project (well, ok, not at Holly's house...all the water in the locks would freeze!) for us...Messy can be good!

Carolyn

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Thanks for keeping an eye out! I think the kids would really enjoy building a mini lock. May be an outdoor project (well, ok, not at Holly's house...all the water in the locks would freeze!) for us...Messy can be good!

Carolyn

Hey Holly don't feel too bad. We had frozen pipes and snow this year. I remembered to leave my water dripping a little though so I was one of the lucky ones. I won't tell you it is going to be 85 today. OOPS! I just did.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Hey Carolyn,

Maybe start a thread for the Panama Canal kit. There are some very resourceful people on the DIS and a lot of teachers. Now you have me on a hunt. What a great idea that was.

 

[HollyTyler]

No way! A hairdryer! Good luck with that. So it doesn't harm the pipes? And, it's ok to wait until you get home for this little adventure? (Pictures would be fun.....) Can you wrap the pipes with something to prevent this in the future??

Carolyn

Well, from what I hear, everybody uses a hairdryer and it doesn't hurt the pipes, supposedly. And it can wait until I get home because it's not getting any colder and it won't thaw either today. Yes, pipes are supposed to be insulated, not sure if mine are, but will find out when I get under there. For the future, I'm supposed to run the water every so often when it gets that cold to keep the pipes cleared, or so my boss told me.

Fortunately, there's nobody to take pictures of that! I'm a little overweight, so I hope I can fit through the opening to the crawlspace!

 

[disneycruising]

Ok - thought I'd introduce ourselves as we have PAID OUR DEPOSIT! So excited.

We live in the San Francisco Bay area, have four boys under 9 (DS 9, DS 7 DS 4 DS 1). We just got off the Jan. 20 Magic staying in the Roy Suite - boy was that a treat! We are in connecting 9's now, hoping one of the four Cat. 1 or 2 opens up for our family of 6. But if not, who cares! We will be having fun on deck 2 and enjoying every minute!

My husband and I have been on many cruise lines (RCCL, Celebrity, NCL, Princess) but find the DCL is just perfect for our family with the boys at their ages.

Our big issue is figuring out the school - our school is a public one, but they don't lose any funding if kids don't go to school (it has a financially strong foundation). But 10 days...argg. Only two (4th grader and 2nd grader) will be affected. I guess I feel like this is a special opportunity - we could go on another cruise line for the Panama Canal during summer time but it just wouldn't be the same. Our kids start school the last week in August so the EB wasn't an option as missing the first week of school would be too tough.
When would you all advice me to notify the school? I was thinking about waiting until right before Christmas.

The only hiccup would be if STAR testing is done while we are gone (both the testing and makeup). We can't miss that. I'm hoping it will be that second week in May, right before we leave.

Anyway, looking forward to trying to keep up with the board. Our Jan. 20 meet was so quiet! Thank you to everyone for putting in all the effort and time into this. It is great!
Lisa

Lisa and family,

Welcome aboard!!

I am so glad to see another Bay Area family. There is quite a few of us. My family is from San Ramon. I also have four children DD14, DS 12, DS 10, DD 7 (atoc).

I really do not look forward to tell our school that we will be traveling for 2 weeks. I think I will make my DH do it. Wish the staff understood how important a real-life education is!! You can not get a better eduaction of "history"or "Social Studies", then by truely being there!! A whole book can not teach you as much as you can get from one day in one Port. To truely see and meet the people, learning about their lives, culture, money system. Somedays I do miss the freedom of home schooling.

I have started a children group...Ship of Little Thieves. So, our children can get to know each other, before our big cruise. If you would like to have your children join us, send me a PM.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Well, from what I hear, everybody uses a hairdryer and it doesn't hurt the pipes, supposedly. And it can wait until I get home because it's not getting any colder and it won't thaw either today. Yes, pipes are supposed to be insulated, not sure if mine are, but will find out when I get under there. For the future, I'm supposed to run the water every so often when it gets that cold to keep the pipes cleared, or so my boss told me.

Fortunately, there's nobody to take pictures of that! I'm a little overweight, so I hope I can fit through the opening to the crawlspace!

I just have to say I want your job. Where can I get payed to DIS?

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Lisa and family,

Welcome aboard!!

I am so glad to see another Bay Area family. There is quite a few of us. My family is from San Ramon. I also have four children DD14, DS 12, DS 10, DD 7 (atoc).

I really do not look forward to tell our school that we will be traveling for 2 weeks. I think I will make my DH do it. Wish the staff understood how important a real-life education is!! You can not get a better eduaction of "history"or "Social Studies", then by truely being there!! A whole book can not teach you as much as you can get from one day in one Port. To truely see and meet the people, learning about their lives, culture, money system. Somedays I do miss the freedom of home schooling.

I have started a children group...Ship of Little Thieves. So, our children can get to know each other, before our big cruise. If you would like to have your children join us, send me a PM.

Hey Cindy,

Thanks for starting that. My DD posted last night and when I dropped her off at school she kept saying I can't wait to get home to talk to the group. We created another DIS addict.

 

[clynne]

Hey Cindy,

Thanks for starting that. My DD posted last night and when I dropped her off at school she kept saying I can't wait to get home to talk to the group. We created another DIS addict.

My DD5 sat down to practice the piano this morning, early at 7:30am, and the first thing out of her mouth was, "I can't wait to post today!" (Ok, I helped her by typing...if she's as bad as her mother, I won't be able to move my fingers soon!)

Even DS8, who was a little shy about posting, mentioned checking replies this afternoon. We've created little monsters!

Carolyn

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

My DD5 sat down to practice the piano this morning, early at 7:30am, and the first thing out of her mouth was, "I can't wait to post today!" (Ok, I helped her by typing...if she's as bad as her mother, I won't be able to move my fingers soon!)

Even DS8, who was a little shy about posting, mentioned checking replies this afternoon. We've created little monsters!

Carolyn

That is so cute.

 

[HollyTyler]

I just have to say I want your job. Where can I get payed to DIS?

Well, as long as I get my work done, I'm OK. Most days I barely have time to pee, but today I'm lucky enough to not have much work coming in.

 

[HollyTyler]

My DD5 sat down to practice the piano this morning, early at 7:30am, and the first thing out of her mouth was, "I can't wait to post today!" (Ok, I helped her by typing...if she's as bad as her mother, I won't be able to move my fingers soon!)

Even DS8, who was a little shy about posting, mentioned checking replies this afternoon. We've created little monsters!

Carolyn

Aaaaaww...cute! I wish I could bring my son now too! He's almost 5. But our schools won't allow that many days off. I'm thinking the limit is 5 days, but am not 100% sure....anyhow, I know it's definitely way below the number we'd need to take off for this cruise! He'll be so sad when he finds out.

 

[seaulater]

PIN TRADERS!

how much did you spend on the limited edition pins last time? and are we going to have a pajama party again? will room service deliver to the hallway?

I personally spent about $500 on LE pins including the Jumbo PC Pin in the case.

I would love to have a Pajama Breakfast one morning again, but I don't think there will be another pajama party. I think DCL learned their lesson with that one and they will have the pin situation corrected before we get on board (I heard it was changed for the EB, but not sure what they did.)

And yes, we got food in the hallways and housekeeping made a sweep through at 6 am and picked up all the blankets, pillows, trash, etc. They didn't want any of the linens going back to the staterooms. We had doughnuts, juice, coffee, etc.

 

[HollyTyler]

Thanks for keeping an eye out! I think the kids would really enjoy building a mini lock. May be an outdoor project (well, ok, not at Holly's house...all the water in the locks would freeze!) for us...Messy can be good!

Carolyn

Yeah! How would they explain ice cubes in the lock! Well, maybe a new activity...ice skating in the locks! The Panama Canal ice skating team!

 

[HollyTyler]

Hey Holly don't feel too bad. We had frozen pipes and snow this year. I remembered to leave my water dripping a little though so I was one of the lucky ones. I won't tell you it is going to be 85 today. OOPS! I just did.

WOW! I can't imagine your area ever having frozen pipes!

85 degrees? That would be so nice! Lucky you!

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Yeah! How would they explain ice cubes in the lock! Well, maybe a new activity...ice skating in the locks! The Panama Canal ice skating team!

That would be some serious green house effect.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

WOW! I can't imagine your area ever having frozen pipes!

85 degrees? That would be so nice! Lucky you!

We actually get kind of cold here. We are technically desert before they built all the houses. Snow is a very rare thing though. Last time was about 15 years ago. The kids were excited and it did not stick long. My kind of snow. Today is just a beautiful day. We are having nice weather but we need rain. My poor palms are in shock from the drastic weather changes lately.

 

[lilofan]

Lisa and family,

Welcome aboard!!

I am so glad to see another Bay Area family. There is quite a few of us. My family is from San Ramon. I also have four children DD14, DS 12, DS 10, DD 7 (atoc).

I really do not look forward to tell our school that we will be traveling for 2 weeks. I think I will make my DH do it. Wish the staff understood how important a real-life education is!! You can not get a better eduaction of "history"or "Social Studies", then by truely being there!! A whole book can not teach you as much as you can get from one day in one Port. To truely see and meet the people, learning about their lives, culture, money system. Somedays I do miss the freedom of home schooling.

I have started a children group...Ship of Little Thieves. So, our children can get to know each other, before our big cruise. If you would like to have your children join us, send me a PM.

I am a history teacher, although I will retire before the PC cruise. I think your kids will have an awesome learning opportunity and I support you 100%.
Yes, your kids will experience history as opposed to reading about it in a textbook. I had a student go to Isreal last year for two weeks during school and her report to the class was one of the highlights of the year.

 

[disneycruising]

Hey Cindy,

Thanks for starting that. My DD posted last night and when I dropped her off at school she kept saying I can't wait to get home to talk to the group. We created another DIS addict.

I am so glad we could all pass the DIS (and Disney) addition on to the next generation.

I am pleased that they like it!!! My own children are not on it yet...we have not told them about the cruise!! But I know my DD 13, will be on it ten times a day. I did go in and start a photo album in her name, so I could make sure the site was working.

Now, I have to come up with a way to include the younger ones.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

I am a history teacher, although I will retire before the PC cruise. I think your kids will have an awesome learning opportunity and I support you 100%.
Yes, your kids will experience history as opposed to reading about it in a textbook. I had a student go to Isreal last year for two weeks during school and her report to the class was one of the highlights of the year.

Do you happen to know if they make a kit for the Panama Canal?