May 11th 2008 ~ Any Double Dippers Out There?

[CustardTart]

Would you believe I thought I'd posted on here during Sunday evening and when I came to hunt us down today - nothing! Oh well - must just be a little pre-trip stress due to my upcoming cruise!!! Yeah, well, anyway... Hope you guys are all healthy and happy!!!

...Did everyone read the updated Palo menu someone posted on the main DCL board. Ooooh my goodness, does it look good. Karen - you'll have to report in on how it tastes. Mmmmmm. Oh, this reminds me, will you also give us a review of the new Haunted Mansion when you get back from your trip in Oct? I can't wait to hear how the refurb turned out! I'll be oh-so grateful!

Brandi, I haven't seen the Palo menu of which you speak - how exciting!!! It'll be lovely to share this updated experience with my DH... I shall most definitely report back but I warn you the details might be vaque as we're dining there post-VR and I may be a little squiffy by then...

I promise faithfully to do the right thing regarding the Haunted Mansion in October! DD will be with me and she's a stickler for detail so I shall leave nothing out - fingers crossed...

 

[CustardTart]

...my husband and I just went on a 7 night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas (world's largest cruise ship at this point - 160,000 tons) to celebrate our ten year anniversary - OH MY GOD did we have an awesome time!!!

Oh wow!!! I know it's a little late but...

...Anyway we were docked in St. Martin right next to the Disney Magic - I had never seen a Disney ship before - and the Liberty looked like a mammoth ship next to the Magic - it was incredible - we met some people on the way back from our excursion that were on the Magic and they were so amazed at the size of our ship. It was SO COOL because we were pulling out of port before the Magic and we sounded our horn - regular sounding ship horn - and the Magic responded in kind with their horn to the tune of "When you Wish Upon a Star" IT WAS SO COOL!!! everyone was cheering and clapping and waving on both sides ...

I love how the Magic/Wonder look - they're just so classic!
And that horn - well, it bought tears to DD and I when we experienced it...

 

[CustardTart]

Hope you have some pics to share soon (hint, hint )

Yes please!!!

 

[alecsmom]

Hi again ladies -

Thank you so much for the lovely anniverary wishes! I feel kind of silly though because our actual anniversary is April 12 - but we celebrated it in September - well because the cruise was cheaper then!!

Anyway I would love to post some pictures - we took a ton of them - so I will get working on that in the next couple of days! I came back with a cold from the cruise- but I'd say it was worth it!

Brandi - if you ever want to try the Liberty - oh my gosh just do it! It is AMAZING - BUT I can tell you that it will definitely NOT be a relaxing sort of vacation - too much to see and do - but we knew it when we booked it and we loved every minute of it!

Have a great weekend everybody!!

 

[branv]

Hi again ladies -

Thank you so much for the lovely anniverary wishes! I feel kind of silly though because our actual anniversary is April 12 - but we celebrated it in September - well because the cruise was cheaper then!!

That's okay When we went on our January 2006 cruise we called it our Five and Dime Anniversary Trip (Five years married, Ten years together), though technically the wedding anniversay wasn't until April 7. Heck, DH's bday was sooner than that. Did RCCL do anything special for you for your anniversary at least? On DCL we received some pins and a really, really bad "strawberry" cake. Though I appreciated the thought (and the white chocolate candy label on the top). Hmmmmm....I think since we're both cruising close to another anniversary, we should definitely tell DCL. You can never have too many pins

BTW: next Sunday the Travel Channel is airing their Great Hotels episode of the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge. Just so ya' know

Animal Kingdom Lodge: 9/23, 2:30pm – 3:00pm (EST)

Wilderness Lodge: 9/23, 3:30pm – 4:00pm (EST)



Ms. Karen, in case I don't see (rrr..read?) you before you leave, I just wanted to say:

!!!!!!!!!!!BON VOYAGE!!!!!!!!!!!
and

HAVE A MAGICAL VOW RENEWAL & ANNIVERSARY! ​

 

[CustardTart]

Ms. Karen, in case I don't see (rrr..read?) you before you leave, I just wanted to say:

!!!!!!!!!!!BON VOYAGE!!!!!!!!!!!
and

HAVE A MAGICAL VOW RENEWAL & ANNIVERSARY! ​

Thanks, Brandi! I'm sure we will...

Just popping in to say "Bye 4 Now"!

I'm gonna be pretty busy tomorrow and we leave early on Friday morning so this could well be my last chance to stop by. Take care everyone and I'll see you v-e-r-y soon...

 

[CustardTart]

Hi everyone!

We arrived home yesterday morning and I'm feeling a little spacey but not too bad! We had an amazing, wonderful time and I really can't wait to return next year!!! The CMs treated us so well and made our vacation even more special than we'd ever expected. We met some fab DiSfolk and shared our dining table with 2 wonderful couples that we'd linked our reservations with. The Vow Renewal was perfect for Richard and I - very romantic and yet full of fun. I'll be doing a trip report with photos when I get back from WDW...

Hope my Double Dip cruisemates are all well and I look forward to chatting with you all soon...

Just wanted to remind myself of my next cruise with a ticker...

 

[branv]

So funny, I was just on my way here to bump this up and say, "Okay fellow cruisers, people who have ALREADY CRUISED are posting more on their threads than we are! What's everyone up to?" But of course, Karen is already on the scene keeping us going Glad to see you back, wonderful to hear your cruise went great. They kept reporting about a tropical storm in the Gulf and every time I saw the weather I had my fingers crossed for you guys! Can't wait to read your trip report.

And (I feel like I'm repeating myself, LOL!)...have a great trip Gotta love having some girly time!

 

[CustardTart]

Hi all!

Just thought I'd let you know I've returned from 11 days in WDW with my DD - we had an amazingly fab time that was enhanced with a liberal and unprecedented sprinkling of ...

Upon check-in, we were upgraded at the Yacht Club to concierge level which was rather special and somehow Magic Your Way tickets plus the DDP were thrown in too! As you can imagine, we were blown away...

Naturally, we over-indulged at EPCOT's Food & Wine event but, for us, the highlight of our trip was definitely Around the World on a Segway - if anyone's ever been tempted to try this tour, I say go for it!

For the first time, I hired a car and we got out and about - shopping at Florida Mall and visiting the town of Celebration. We dined in some new restaurants for us - Jiko was our favourite and we are looking forward to staying at AKV in the future...

We were shocked at the crowd level - EPCOT was packed every time we ventured into the park but MNSSHP was less heaving than we'd been led to believe. Oh and I loved the HalloWishes fireworks...

Anyway, I hope all my Douple Dippers are doing well and I look forward to chatting with you later...

 

[branv]

Welcome back! Glad to see someone post, I was starting to feel like the only one left on this cruise So glad to hear you had a magical stay and looking forward to reading your trip reports.

 

[CustardTart]

Hey Brandi! Nice to hear from you, hon! I think Jacko said it all about Disboard Cruise Meet threads when he sang...

"...But you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
But you are not alone..."

Mmm, anyway... I'm attempting to get stuck into the trip reports as we speak - er, type - er, you know what I mean! TBH the cruise is already such a dim and distant memory, there's a chance I may resort to making up plotlines and/or borrowing heavily from "Overboard", "The Poseidon Adventure", "Flipper" and other nautical films! Also gotta scan some of the cruise photos and that's a grief-ridden techno-trial, believe me!

OK enough chit-chat, better get back to my muse...

 

[branv]

Thank you for the serenade and the kind thoughts. Regardless of any B-movie plot ransacking, I know your TR will turn out as good as it started. Though if Gene Hackman shows up in your story in a mock turtleneck and spouting scripture, I'm going to start to worry.

Do you people realize that in just 1.75 short weeks when May park hours are released we may be able to flesh out if we'll be blessed with a P&PP party? I honestly think if any of my park days pop up as closing at 7:00 pm I may have to do the wee-wee dance. C'moooon lucky 7!

 

[CustardTart]

Oooh a P&PP!!! Hadn't thought of that being an option so that would be luverly... Have posted Day 1 and Day 2 of the cruising trip report. Follow the unashamedly self-promoting link in my sig to read all abaht it...

 

[CustardTart]

Giving us a *bump* as we were lurking on page 3!!!

Hope everyone's OK and ready for Christmas!

Nah, only joking with you...

Happy Tuesday...

 

[alecsmom]

Hello everyone!! I'm still here -sorry I've been out of touch lately - gosh just been so busy after our cruise, with work, things here at home, etc etc. Hope everyone is well.

Karen - oh my gosh - I read your TR - how wonderful it was!!! I enjoyed every minute (page) of it!!!! What a wonderful writer you are - it felt like I was there! What a wonderfully romantic trip you had! I loved your dress, your shoes, flowers, the whole bit!! You looked gorgeous!! Thank you so much for sharing, it brought tears to my eyes at times, and made me laugh so much as well!!

Brandi - what's been up lately girl? I take it you all are getting cool weather finally as well. Now, I'm not one for cool weather, I like being HOT, so it is good I live in South Texas (well I don't like the humidity but I guess you can't have everything), BUT I have to admit I have enjoyed this change, we opened up our windows today and let the fresh air in - it was simply wonderful!!

Well I had promised I would post some pix from our cruise - I still want to do that - and I was going to work on that tonight BUT my DH just told me he left the photo CDs at work. I have no idea why he has them there, but hopefully he will bring them home and I will be able to post a few.

Oh and guess what, since I talked to you guys last I asked my Mom if she'd like to join us on our trip - and she said yes! I am really glad she'll be with us, she's never been to Disney or done a Disney cruise, and I just feel like she's done so much for me in my life, I told her I would be so honored if she came with us, and she thought about it for about a second and said she'd love to! I figure that's a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day. And my DH, he really is a good guy, of course I ran it by him first to make sure he'd even want her to come with us, but of course he said yes, he'd be happy to have her with us - not every man would be happy to have their mother-in-law come with them on vacation! So he's earning a special place in Heaven for that.... and something else that will be good - my mother adores our son, she is his babysitter during the day and they adore each other - sooooooooo if my DH and I want to ride some "grown up" rides at WDW or maybe have a romantic dinner on the ship, maybe, just MAYBE someone will be willing to babysit.... no ulterior motives here....

Oh also my DH did the MS 150 Bike to the Beach last weekend - rode his bike 150 miles from here to Corpus Christi over two days - he finished and he did great! I was soo proud of him I am so glad it's behind him - and he is too. Now we can focus on the holidays and of course our upcoming Disney trip!!

Okay everyone, have a great rest of the weekend, I'll probably be on these boards a lot now that things have calmed down around here. Although, Karen you're really not that far off - here come the holidays -can you believe it!?

 

[CustardTart]

...Karen - oh my gosh - I read your TR - how wonderful it was!!! I enjoyed every minute (page) of it!!!! What a wonderful writer you are - it felt like I was there! What a wonderfully romantic trip you had! I loved your dress, your shoes, flowers, the whole bit!! You looked gorgeous!! Thank you so much for sharing, it brought tears to my eyes at times, and made me laugh so much as well!!

Thank you so much for your kind words, Yvonne! I'm just glad you enjoyed it. It's been great fun writing it and I hope to finish up very soon now... Unfortunately the photos for the VR didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped - I had to scan them, import them into Photoshop and then upload them onto Photobucket! Blah, blah, blah... Anyway, it took forever and the quality suffered somewhat. Oh well, at least you got the general idea -I hope... Happy to see you posting BTW!

...I asked my Mom if she'd like to join us on our trip - and she said yes! I am really glad she'll be with us, she's never been to Disney or done a Disney cruise, and I just feel like she's done so much for me in my life, I told her I would be so honored if she came with us, and she thought about it for about a second and said she'd love to! I figure that's a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day...

That's great news! Your Mom will have a fab time - how lovely of you guys to invite her and appropriate too - two generations of Moms together on Mother's Day...

 

[branv]

Hi everyone! Glad to see you back Alecsmom, I was starting to worry we'd lost you! Yes, I am so very happy with the cold weather. As a native Texan, you'd think I'd be used to the heat, but I loathe every minute of it. I swear, I should have been born a canuck Can't believe that the other day I went to buy some Halloween decorations and found them hiding behind CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS! SHEESH! Little early much?

That's very sweet that you are inviting your mom and even more wonderful that you get along. I think I'd go off my rocker if I had to vacation with parents - on either side. But that's a whole other story.

Karen - I have just loved reading your trip report. I'm already taking notes for our 25th (ooops, only another 19 years to plan and save, should get started tout suit in regular obsessive planning fashion ). However, I must admit something -- as many things as I enjoyed about your report, one thing kept echoing in my head.

"Man, that lady knows how to accessorize!"

I admit I am accessorizing-challenged. Very intimidated, can't help it. I am therefore in awe of your matching prowess. And in your ability to wear some seriously kick @!! heels without waddling like a 1 year old. So I hope we can expect some charitable fashion lessons for the challenged..ok..for me.

BTW: in reading about your challenges with psoriasis, I reminded myself to ask you if you've read about those spas in Turkey and Asia where they have little fish that actually eat off dead skin and psoriasis plaques. Now I get the occasional flare up of psoriasis, which thankfully limits itself to my feet. But personally the thought makes me cringe, except when in the midst of sandal season when I long for pretty pink tootsies. But really terrible sufferers swear by it. Must make a person feel something like a human shishkabob. And re: your hair. Hate to be trite, but did they check your thyroid? I have hypo and every once in a while it thins my hair terribly. Charming, eh?

Speaking of medical stuff, what a week I've had! I went to the doc about a nasty kidney infection and ended up finding out I also have that stupid (trendy?) H. Pylori and thus the start of an ulcer. Now I'm on so many pills I feel like I should really have rabies or Ebola (ok, ok I know that's viral, just going for the drama) to justify it. I figured out after this is over I will have taken 55,000 mg of antibiotics, and to hedge the damage am sucking up acidophilus everything. But I swear, if I eat one more cup of yogurt I am going to sprout udders. Moooooo.

Hmmm, just realizing through this post I've revealed my body as a clunker. Truly, I promise I'm not growing mold on my cheeks or sprouting extra limbs or anything.

On the plus side I scored one of those much-DISboard lauded Overland Donner bags for our trip at 50% off.

 

[CustardTart]

..Can't believe that the other day I went to buy some Halloween decorations and found them hiding behind CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS! SHEESH! Little early much?

Hey, you're not Grinch McScrooge by any chance are ya? I'm just cr-cr-crazy for Christmas! A complete Noel nut! A Holiday Ho Ho Ho ho - can I write that??? Anyway I'm a festive fool and I'll be decking my halls as soon as DH can be bribed to get the tree and my 40,000 baubles down from the attic...

That's very sweet that you are inviting your mom and even more wonderful that you get along. I think I'd go off my rocker if I had to vacation with parents - on either side. But that's a whole other story...

And in the words of Dr Frasier Crane, "I'm listening..." Seriously, I couldn't have vacationed with my dear departed ma tho' if she'd mellowed with age, who knows..? And I wouldn't tarnish the whole DCL experience with DH's mother - she'd spoil it for sure and I couldn't bear that...

...Karen - I have just loved reading your trip report. I'm already taking notes for our 25th (ooops, only another 19 years to plan and save, should get started tout suit in regular obsessive planning fashion ). However, I must admit something -- as many things as I enjoyed about your report, one thing kept echoing in my head.

"Man, that lady knows how to accessorize!"

I admit I am accessorizing-challenged. Very intimidated, can't help it. I am therefore in awe of your matching prowess. And in your ability to wear some seriously kick @!! heels without waddling like a 1 year old. So I hope we can expect some charitable fashion lessons for the challenged..ok..for me...

Why thank you, kind Brandi! It's funny you should mention the accessorizing as that was the easiest part of the whole shebang! Would you believe I had everything already - shoes, shawl, jewellery - I even had an amazingly well-matched purse that I didn't use. I came to the conclusion that I'm just very boring and repeatedly buy the same coloured items! I can't lie, the heels were a challenge! I usually wear UGGs or Crocs so I was just lucky I guess...

...BTW: in reading about your challenges with psoriasis, I reminded myself to ask you if you've read about those spas in Turkey and Asia where they have little fish that actually eat off dead skin and psoriasis plaques. Now I get the occasional flare up of psoriasis, which thankfully limits itself to my feet. But personally the thought makes me cringe, except when in the midst of sandal season when I long for pretty pink tootsies. But really terrible sufferers swear by it. Must make a person feel something like a human shishkabob. And re: your hair. Hate to be trite, but did they check your thyroid? I have hypo and every once in a while it thins my hair terribly. Charming, eh...

I've read about that before but never really taken it seriously. There's always been the Dead Sea option too but TBH I don't fancy going away on my own and I wouldn't expect (or want) DH to spend his precious vacation days on such an expedition...

My thyroid was tested and found to be fine. I had a whole range of blood tests and they all came up negative! The immuno-suppressant drugs I took for psoriasis are used in large doses to treat cancer so logically they could cause hairloss. Unfortunately my consultant had never encountered this and remained unconvinced. Anyway I stopped taking the meds just before the cruise and already I'm noticing whispy regrowth. This seems too soon to spot a difference but who knows?!! My skin meanwhile has already gone nuts so I'm thinking of going back on the drugs and crossing my fingers about the hair... I could always wear a wig, right? I'm thinking a Liza Minnelli in aubergine, or eggplant as the Americans say...

So sorry to hear about your health issues. I've had times when an 'ailment' kinda expands into a 'condition' and it totally sucks! My personal fave was when toothache turned out to be impacted sinuses that required extensive treatment - insert yawn smilie here...

You just take care of yourself, milady. I'll be checking up on you...

 

[branv]

Hey, you're not Grinch McScrooge by any chance are ya?

*gasp* bite your tongue, perish the thought! Just this Saturday night I was doing a Bing Crosby-ish rendition of "O Holy Night." Though I live with Scrooge McDuck, who curled up his lip and snarled, "okay, all right, it will get here soon enough." But in his defense his dad had custody, which meant Christmas involved pulling a raggedy 2 ft. pre-assembled and pre-(horribly) decorated tree out of the closet every year. MEN! But every year I crack his cool exterior a little more...now he won't let us open presents until he's found his santa hat.

Personally I am no decorator (sort of goes in line with the whole accessory deficiency), but I do admit to a strict adherence to a Winter Wonderland theme, right down to the wrapping paper. Making up for all the 70-degree Christmas' I guess. So the day after Thanksgiving will find me quivering on a step stool, conquering my fear of heights to place the tree topper. So How about you guys - any particular theme, colors, sentimental doo-dads? Any traditions? I love hearing how everyone does up the holidays!

Speaking of, I happily saw that they've put out the Holiday seasonal chocolate mint coffee creamer I loved last year. Sitting here sipping away feeling like maybe I should cue up A Muppet Christmas Carol. It's officially the holidays when I hear "Marley was dead, to begin with. As dead as a door nail." Well, that and "Oh my god! I shot my eye out!"

Can't wait!

BTW: Ms. Karen, you have got to help me! For some reason, DH keeps harping..."What the heck is boxing day? What kind of name is that? What do they do, play with the boxes all their gifts came in?" The only thing I know about Boxing Day is that it's a big shopping day (I've always assumed it was on par with Black Friday here, when everyone wakes up from their tryptophan-enduced Thanksgiving coma and heads to the stores at 4 a.m. for the early bird specials).

I can't lie, the heels were a challenge! I usually wear UGGs or Crocs so I was just lucky I guess...

I hear ya' -- I have actually fallen off of a pair of strappy heeled sandals..and errrrr...not just once. So whenever my 20-something friends are wincing in their heeled sexy shoes and laughing at my Crocs, I say, "just you wait...just..you..wait. Your crippled, gnarled old-feet time will come." UGGs look so comfy, though sadly I can't wear them because of my stumpy legs and cankles. I'd look like a munchkin trying to sneak into the Wicked Witches castle.

I've read about that before but never really taken it seriously. There's always been the Dead Sea option too but TBH I don't fancy going away on my own and I wouldn't expect (or want) DH to spend his precious vacation days on such an expedition...

I don't mean to harp on this, but coincidentally just this morning I read in the paper a medical advice column where the doc discussed the benefits of using Turmeric to help the inflammation of psoriasis, by both rubbing it on and ingesting it. I guess I'd be willing to rub it on my feet, but somehow I imagine the scent may clash with my Chanel perfume.

 

[CustardTart]

*gasp* bite your tongue, perish the thought! Just this Saturday night I was doing a Bing Crosby-ish rendition of "O Holy Night." Though I live with Scrooge McDuck, who curled up his lip and snarled, "okay, all right, it will get here soon enough." But in his defense his dad had custody, which meant Christmas involved pulling a raggedy 2 ft. pre-assembled and pre-(horribly) decorated tree out of the closet every year. MEN! But every year I crack his cool exterior a little more...now he won't let us open presents until he's found his santa hat.

Are you sure it wasn't your singing? No, no, no! Of course not! Anyway, my DH was brought up in a household with less warmth than an ice box and their idea of Christmas was/is painful to behold! So I had a lot of training to do. Fortunately he was a willing student and we had kids pretty much from the start - Sophie was born on December 23 - so we have a lot to celebrate during our festive season...

...Personally I am no decorator (sort of goes in line with the whole accessory deficiency), but I do admit to a strict adherence to a Winter Wonderland theme, right down to the wrapping paper. Making up for all the 70-degree Christmas' I guess. So the day after Thanksgiving will find me quivering on a step stool, conquering my fear of heights to place the tree topper. So How about you guys - any particular theme, colors, sentimental doo-dads? Any traditions? I love hearing how everyone does up the holidays!

I don't really theme anymore - apart from the Disney tree in the hall. We have another huge tree in the conservatory and that's just a kitsch mish-mash (ooh I like that!) of coloured baubles and ribbons! I love it! Oh and I have a mini advent tree in the living room and add a bauble every day form the 1st of December...

Actually I'm a decor diva at the moment! I really want to spruce up the house for Christmas so my boys have been moving furniture, holding up pictures so I can see what they look like and I've been s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g! Snapped up a couple of bargain-priced sofas at the weekend and have a new TV cabinet on order! Can't wait...

...It's officially the holidays when I hear "Marley was dead, to begin with. As dead as a door nail."

LOVE that film!!! Michael Caine's finest hour... We usually watch a bunch of Crimbo films - Home Alone 1 & 2; Scrooged; Muppet's CC; Elf - the usual suspects tho' I keep Kevin Spacey well out of it...

...BTW: Ms. Karen, you have got to help me! For some reason, DH keeps harping..."What the heck is boxing day? What kind of name is that? What do they do, play with the boxes all their gifts came in?" The only thing I know about Boxing Day is that it's a big shopping day (I've always assumed it was on par with Black Friday here, when everyone wakes up from their tryptophan-enduced Thanksgiving coma and heads to the stores at 4 a.m. for the early bird specials).

As a kid, that's what I thought too. I don't know, Brandi! It's some sort of feudal overlord thing I believe, peculiar to Britain and her former colonies. Probably involves the toffs giving boxes of scraps to the pitiful poor - something like that. All I know is that it's a public holiday and you'd have to be a fool to leave the comfort of your armchair and head for the sales! Tell your DH Wikipedia's the way to go with this...

...I don't mean to harp on this, but coincidentally just this morning I read in the paper a medical advice column where the doc discussed the benefits of using Turmeric to help the inflammation of psoriasis, by both rubbing it on and ingesting it. I guess I'd be willing to rub it on my feet, but somehow I imagine the scent may clash with my Chanel perfume.

A Chanel girl, eh? And I had you down as a SJP "Lovely" lady...