May 11th 2008 ~ Any Double Dippers Out There?

[branv]

In 4 short months from today, DD and I will be winging our way across the Atlantic to MCO...

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swear, the day after all the holiday festivities were over, I woke up feeling a renewed thrill about our upcoming vacation. I think finally being in the same year we'll be traveling had something to do with it!!

Can you believe we only have a little over a month until we book our excursions, Palo?? Yippee!!!

 

[CustardTart]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swear, the day after all the holiday festivities were over, I woke up feeling a renewed thrill about our upcoming vacation. I think finally being in the same year we'll be traveling had something to do with it!!

Me too! Especially as DH had to cancel a January Barbados trip due to crazy work crises... Those 2 stops at CC seem uber-welcome now...

...Can you believe we only have a little over a month until we book our excursions, Palo?? Yippee!!!

Maybe then the mystery of the Palo Brunch will be well and truly solved...

 

[alecsmom]

Ladies, ladies - I've been off the boards for a while - so I had to catch up on all this reading - Brandi - LOVED your paper!!! Oh my gosh, it had me laughing, sighing, commiserating... Kudos to you for going back to school and actually accomplishing! Once I got out of college I said never again, and vowed to never look back. But wow I think that is so awesome that you have done that and now Karen you're going back too - wow - you ladies are awesome!

Brandi just yesterday I was going downstairs to get the mail in my building and one of the lawyers who offices here - who I only know to say a friendly hello to - asked how my holiday was, I said fine, but of course things are going too quick, and I feel like I'm just getting older - and he asked "yeah, I know, so how old are you - you're my age right? around 44?" I said "uh no, I'm thirty...(then I forgot how old I was - see I've gotten to that point already) ..seven" and he kinda of backtracked and hem-hawed around and I just smiled and said well see ya later. I just wanted to cry after that. Oh well.

Anyway our vacation is getting that much closer - my boss was doing his calendar for this upcoming year and he asked "now when is your vacation again?" I told him - after he had a fit because I was going to need a week and a half off - we realized how close it really is! I can't believe it - I am getting so excited. I am so glad the holiday craziness is over, although I have to admit we had a wonderful time, much better this year than last.

Although we had a bit of a scary moment on New Year's Eve - my hubby woke up and was terribly dizzy, nauseous, had a bad headache, and had four episodes of this that morning! so doing a little internet md-ing I was convinced he was having a stroke so off we went to the Texas MedClinic - for a two hour wait - but it turns out - thank God that all he had was "benign positional vertigo" which sounds unpleasant but much more favorable to a STROKE. I felt guilty because I'm always telling him he's going to stroke out because he puts himself under so much stress. Soooo he says he feels like he got a new lease on life - and will try not to be so stressed out about the little things. We shall see!

Other than that, my little Alec turned 5 - so hard to believe! And he has been sick also, a visit to the pediatrician yesterday resulted in him being diagnosed with some unknown infection, probably in his throat - so antibiotics will do the trick. We're hoping he will feel good enough to play b-ball tomorrow - our little Spurs are on fire! We are 5 - 0 with one tie. And my little Alec has oh only 30 points for the whole season. And how many points do our little Spurs have total you ask? Oh just THIRTY. Hee hee - he is awesome! But actually all our little Spurs are getting much better. And by the way, the court is at 10 feet, regulation height - they don't lower it for 4 and 5 year olds. Amazing. Okay that's enough bragging. Gotta get back to work.

 

[branv]

Karen - sorry about the lost trip (Though if I'd known I'd be going to Barbados I'd have driven DH crazy by spending months saying ARRRGHHHHH in my best pirate fashion) ) So for you, you get an extra frozen/slushy something in May in remembrance of your lost trip.

Yvonne - welcome back!! So sorry to hear about your DH's medical scare. Not a good way to start the new year. At first when I was reading the symptoms I was scared you were about to say he had meningitis But, tell him he has my biggest sympathies for his vertigo. I actually had that once, and I'd find myself walking down the hallway at a slant until I was sliding down the wall, lol. I hope things are back to normal for him...though hopefully he's going to stay off the cycle until they are

A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your son (and to Karen's daughter!). Five really seems to start out some great years (at least I know I liked my nieces/nephews a LOT more once they moved out of the area close to 3. ) So I guess he'll be starting kindergarten next year? Do they do full or half days? And are you already stocking up on tissues?

Ok, seriously, five year olds making baskets from regulation height?!?! I have two words for you: college scholarship.

 

[CustardTart]

Hey Yvonne! Happy New Year to you and your family... And Happy Birthday to Alec! His older "twin" Sophie, had a great 25th - we all went out for a delicious meal at a local restaurant and had a hilarious time...

Sorry to hear about your DH!! They're such a worry - mine had flu just before Christmas and was so poorly, he had me all kindsa scared...

Hope that cheeky lawyer gets his comeuppance!!! I would've freaked if someone added 7 years to my age!!! I don't know how you didn't crumble there and then - after a swift but savage kick to the shins of course...

Another step forward completed this afternoon - I've booked our hire car from Alamo!!! Treated myself to a smallish SUV which should be fun! Anyway better start the dinner as my honey will be home shortly...

 

[pamouselover]

Thank you Custardtart for the invite!

My name is PAMOUSELOVER and I am a disneyholic
I am 37, married (DH 38) we have two children DD 11 and DS 14.
I use to be a preschool teacher and miss it so much, but it did not pay enough for my addiction to Disney or to put my kids in college one day.
I work now for a market research company. It is enjoyable, but no one likes Mickey and Princesses, like Preschoolers!
We are hopefully going to be going on our first cruise in May. This is a Mothers Day trip to me from me. We have not booked yet, but will be doing so within the next couple of weeks.
Right now, I am so obsessed with founding out every bit of information, and trying to keep this trip a secret from DS and DD.
This will be very hard for me. So I will have to do all my dancing here.

 

[branv]

Yay, new cruiser! Welcome!!!!

I was starting to think we were going to have barely anyone on this barge. Glad to see more people coming on board.

Actually, I was checking out our cruise to see how booked it was, and was surprised that there are not only still lower cats available, but that they're almost the same price as they were last May! When I cruised in Jan. 06, those prices started going up, up, up four months out. Perhaps May is just too pleasant a weather month for people to be desperate for a vacation in the Bahamas

Starting to tick off my "to do" list! I just bought my travel insurance today. Since it's non-refundable, I somehow feel more locked in to the vacation. Plus DH's mom sent us one kick-a DCL/WDW Gift Certificate for christmas, so we can't back out now, it would be rude

Yvonne - how goes it with the airfare? Has SW opened up booking yet? Keeping my fingers crossed that you'll find a great deal.

So as of today it's just 34 days until booking for cc members DH and I have settled on doing excursions only on CC - the stingray and the snorkel ones. Et tu?

 

[alecsmom]

Welcome Melody! It's always exciting to see new names added to our little party here. Hope you get that trip booked quick!!

Brandi - You have put me to shame, you have really got your act together, and my husband thinks I'm the obsessive planner. I usually am, but I guess I've just been so busy with BASKETBALL season. LOL It is so much fun though, my little Alec (thanks for the b-day wishes for him by the way!!) was still not 100% this past Saturday but wanted to play, so we let him play, and our team was awesome - somebody needed to step it up because Alec wasn't at the top of his game, so the littlest kid on the team finally scored, bless his heart - and he scored 3 baskets!! Alec scored two and we won 10 - 6. If you think professional sports are exciting, oh my gosh you should see a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds playing basketball and getting better as the season progresses. Go little Spurs!! And yes as far as school goes - I can't even think about it at the moment, he will start Kindergarten this fall - full days - and just thinking about it makes me want to cry! He's my little baby!! (That was one of the reasons why we choose to go on this trip in May - it was more affordable than the summer and we figured it would be the last chance we could go without having to take him out of school~it's our Pre-Kindergarten blow-out trip.)

As far as airfare, Southwest is opening up their schedule January 9 - I am anxiously nervously awaiting, as I've been watching airfare go up and down and now up and still I'm holding out. I hope I am not making a mistake - as now I have to pay for 4 fares (including my mother) instead of 3. Cross your fingers for me for this Wednesday!!!

Karen - Hope you and your hubby are feeling much better these days. And you need to post some more pictures of your trip - I would love to see them! And Happy Belated Birthday to Sophie!! I am so glad you all are able to enjoy a nice celebration for her birthday. With my son being the age he is, there is nothing nice and enjoyable about his birthday. We have a chaotic b-day party on the 23rd, we have all my family over for Christmas Eve, then Santa comes, then we go visit my DH's family that afternoon. Once again, we were wiped out. Oh well, we are blessed and I can't complain.

As far as shore excursions, haven't completely decided yet, but probably not gonna do much on CC except be lazy (well as lazy as you can be with a 5 year old).

BTW does anyone know if the bingo is any good on the ship? My mom loves casinos and such and as there are none on the ship I thought I'd treat her to a good ol' bingo game.

 

[CustardTart]

Hi Melody!!! Hope you get those dates confirmed soon!

I love ticking off those small steps, Brandi! Makes the trip seem more real... Booked our Magical Express transfers to Wilderness Lodge yesterday! Not sure there's anything left for Sophie and I to do - apart from pack!!! We have flights, accommodation, ADRs, park passes, car hire and now transfers... Oops!!! I almost forgot - pay cruise balance!!! AND make Palo ressies... OMG!!! How could I forget that?????

DH and I are much better, thanks Yvonne! I really should write a mini-trip report for the December jaunt - maybe once my DS returns to school tonight I'll get on with it...

And now I have to go and play Super Paper Mario on the Wii with him...

 

[CustardTart]

Looking forward to this!!!

 

[alecsmom]

Looking forward to this!!!

OMG can't wait!!! We are huge Toy Story fans, especially Alec, too exciting!!!

 

[alecsmom]

oops double post

 

[CustardTart]

OMG can't wait!!! We are huge Toy Story fans, especially Alec, too exciting!!!

We are too! Sounds brilliant, doesn't it! And we're cruising at the right time to enjoy it...

I'd actually pay cold hard cash to see such a show - can't believe we get to see it as part of our Wonderful cruise...

 

[pamouselover]

Thank you everyone for the welcomes. DH put in his dates yesterday.
It will take a bit longer then I thought do to the new procedures.
Due to his position his vacation days have to be approved by three different people. But of course they only gave him a two weeks notice that he has to go to a hiring conference in VA. Does not make sense!

 

[CustardTart]

Thank you everyone for the welcomes. DH put in his dates yesterday.
It will take a bit longer then I thought do to the new procedures.
Due to his position his vacation days have to be approved by three different people. But of course they only gave him a two weeks notice that he has to go to a hiring conference in VA. Does not make sense!

I know how that works! Good luck...

 

[CustardTart]

Morning all!!! Just giving us a leetle *bump*...

Hope you've all had a good week and are planning a nice weekend... It's grey, wet, windy and yuk here 8 miles south of London town and I'm keeping the idea of those two CC stops firmly fixed in my mind...

Speak to you all soon...
Karenxxx

 

[branv]

What?! A corporation that is bogged down by procedures and expects their employees to put everything aside because of the organizations lack of planning? I'm shocked!! Okay, not really Oyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

So good luck there . Hope your DH gets his vacay approved ASAP.

Is anyone going to wear something piratey (or princessey) for P&PP and Pirate Night? I was looking for a cute t-shirt, but lemme tell you...finding something in pooh size that's not trashy, expensive, man-shaped, or goofy (seriously, what woman wants to wear a shirt patterned with kittens and yarn?) is not simple. I did see a funny t-shirt I may try to imitate at home. It shows a fierce-looking skull and crossbones wearing a tiara with the words "Pirate Princess" over the top. So far I haven't found any good graphics on Publisher however. So how about you guys? Any wench-wanna-be's among us?

Yvonne - did you manage to get a southwest booking?

Karen - stay warm and cozy! Can you believe it's actually a sunny 70 degrees here right now? This time last year we were just a few days away from an ice storm. Weather is just weird nowadays.

If it matters, I just realized that since our friends in the suites can book at 105 days out (as lucky, lucky Karen can tell us ), by Sunday after next we'll hopefully get a definitive answer on brunch. Fingers crossed!

 

[CustardTart]

Feeling a little excited as just paid the balance of the cruise!!! Sipping a chilled glass of Frascati to celebrate...

 

[CustardTart]

...Is anyone going to wear something piratey (or princessey) for P&PP and Pirate Night? I was looking for a cute t-shirt, but lemme tell you...finding something in pooh size that's not trashy, expensive, man-shaped, or goofy (seriously, what woman wants to wear a shirt patterned with kittens and yarn?) is not simple. I did see a funny t-shirt I may try to imitate at home. It shows a fierce-looking skull and crossbones wearing a tiara with the words "Pirate Princess" over the top. So far I haven't found any good graphics on Publisher however. So how about you guys? Any wench-wanna-be's among us?

I have a skull & crossbones t-shirt which I may wear with black cut-offs and an appropriately piratical belt. It's not a great outfit but I'll keep my eyes peeled for something more impressive...

 

[CustardTart]

...If it matters, I just realized that since our friends in the suites can book at 105 days out (as lucky, lucky Karen can tell us ), by Sunday after next we'll hopefully get a definitive answer on brunch. Fingers crossed!

So true! I can't wait to find out...