May 12, 2007 -- Taking the Magic to the Mediterranean -- 14 day Repo Cruise!

[tig82174]

Oh Eric, that came out beautiful! How will the plants hang on through the snow? Will they rebound right after?

Yes, all the plants are either evergreen or are perennials. Our landscaper is a friend of mine and had a very clear understanding of the fact that I wanted a low maintenance garden that didn't require any replanting and almost no work....so that's what he gave us.

 

[milestogo]

I forgot to mention how much you will love having the fountain. We have a small fountain placed on each side of our house, so that every window has the sound of moving water year round (yes, we keep our windows open year round.) It reduces noise from around the neighborhood (although, not the gardening blowers!) and reduces our noise out to the neighbors - keeping us just a little more private where the houses are close together.

Here's a picture of the one Jonathan built at our last house. He built the entire thing from dirt and rock. It was an empty backyard and it is really what sold the house... the new owners filled it in and killed all the plants, fish, frogs etc.

 

[Scott H]

Now I will have to post our water feature pic, LOL. yours are way Kewler.

Also Erik, don't forget to drain the water before a winter or fall freez, or you will have stuff to replace in the spring.

 

[tig82174]

Now I will have to post our water feature pic, LOL. yours are way Kewler.

Also Erik, don't forget to drain the water before a winter or fall freez, or you will have stuff to replace in the spring.

The guy who made our fountain told us it can run all winter even in Rochester winters. He said because it is constantly circulating water it will not freeze completely and that it wil just form icycles around the edges and at the lip of the waterfall part. I hope he's right since I don't want to have to dig up the whole underneath to replace the pump!

 

[tig82174]

Disney Dreams Do Come True!!!

One of our fantastic DIS peers has been able to secure a dinner package for the Epcot Candlelight Show during Jason and I's stay...with a group of totally amazing and wonderful people and a few fellow cruisers from the repo----I don't know which I'm more excited about: the show or having dinner with all our TransAtlantic friends again!

Anyhow...I promised that if we got arrangements made i would post the news here so that anyone else who was trying to pull strings and help us out would know we were all set....AND WE ARE!!

Thank you to everyone who was trying to get us into the show and an even bigger thank you to our DIS Fairygodmother who was able to secure us a reservation (and at a restaurant where we've never eaten before, to boot!).

THANKS!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Debbie

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

It's Kahrma, Eric. Good things happen to good people.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Did I tell you all I saw Oscar at MGM with DJ Mike and a couple of cute girls they met on a Med cruise? They had just started their vacation and were so excited because Mike was going to Mexico City with Oscar. It was strange seeing them in normal clothes, not working. They looked like kids.

That was one wonderful thing about being on the ship again so soon after our last cruise. The cruise staff remembered us and most of them were still working. They all gave little shreiks and hugged us, and we did get some extra attention. It was fun!

We also got to really talk to some of them and find out what it was really like to be on the ship. You'd be surprised how some said they were lonely, even with all the people around them. I think some were more emotional, just because they were so tired and about ready for their vacations. After spending a month with these kids, I'm kinda attached to them.

 

[tig82174]

Did I tell you all I saw Oscar at MGM with DJ Mike and a couple of cute girls they met on a Med cruise? They had just started their vacation and were so excited because Mike was going to Mexico City with Oscar. It was strange seeing them in normal clothes, not working. They looked like kids.

That was one wonderful thing about being on the ship again so soon after our last cruise. The cruise staff remembered us and most of them were still working. They all gave little shreiks and hugged us, and we did get some extra attention. It was fun!

We also got to really talk to some of them and find out what it was really like to be on the ship. You'd be surprised how some said they were lonely, even with all the people around them. I think some were more emotional, just because they were so tired and about ready for their vacations. After spending a month with these kids, I'm kinda attached to them.

When was that?!?! Because I SWEAR that while we were there in early December we were walking in one of the parks and i stopped dead in my tracks because I thought I saw Oscar with a group of people....but it looked a LOT like him but couldn't tell if it was ACTUALLY him. (He looked like might have lost weight actually.) Maybe it really WAS him!! He was with a group that included a bunch of 20-something girls and they were all speaking another language (possibly Spanish, I wasn't close enough to eavesdrop and distinguish! ...I could just read their lips and tell it was not english they were speaking)

How ironic!

 

[nanaguide]

Kelly, Jonathan is really talented. Have you done a lot at your new home? It sounds like you have a great time when you go to Disneyland. I am jealous. We are excited about going in April. I'm not sure we'll stay at the Grand though as $358 a night is pretty steep - we'll see. I do have our reservations for Yosemite as those are so hard to get.

Erik, you are living right. You have a special Fairy Godmother. You will enjoy it. What night and which show are you going to see? I will get you and Jason (Debbie too) VIP viewing for Illuminations. It is extra special at Christmas with Walter Cronkite speaking and then they finish it off with the song, Let There Be Peace. I get choked up every time. Kelly, I'll do the same for you on the day we go to tea if that works for your family. I'm off to choir practice. We get to sign up October 1stfor the dates we want to sing. Epcot is celebrating its 25th Anniversary on October 1st. Lots of things to do that day.

 

[gismo1554]

Did I tell you all I saw Oscar at MGM with DJ Mike and a couple of cute girls they met on a Med cruise? They had just started their vacation and were so excited because Mike was going to Mexico City with Oscar. It was strange seeing them in normal clothes, not working. They looked like kids.

That was one wonderful thing about being on the ship again so soon after our last cruise. The cruise staff remembered us and most of them were still working. They all gave little shreiks and hugged us, and we did get some extra attention. It was fun!

We also got to really talk to some of them and find out what it was really like to be on the ship. You'd be surprised how some said they were lonely, even with all the people around them. I think some were more emotional, just because they were so tired and about ready for their vacations. After spending a month with these kids, I'm kinda attached to them.

I agree the being recognised thing was really fun! When we got on the boat David was up doing the introductions on deck and he was chatting away and then all of a sudden noticed me and my sister behind our parents and gave us the biggest hugs ever. Never did find out the end of the joke he was on about! lol No it was good being recognised especially when you didn't remember them, for example a waiter recognised us from one day when me and my sister had had lunch in Lumieres on our own the first day in Barcelona and I honestly couldnt place him for like an hour! Its mad!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Hey everyone! On the Inagural Panama Cruise Dougie was on our cruise staff. He was great! Well he is trying to win a place in the musical RENT. Here is the thread about voting: Help our DCL cruise staff He posted here talking about it: Dougie says thanks

Get out the vote He is moving up in the standings, but has a ways to go. Tell your friends!!!

Debbie

 

[Michelle2]

Hi everyone,
I am sorry I have not posted in a bit. I planned a last minute free dining trip to WDW (booked on the last day end of June) and who do I run into while I am there at MGM but Erik and Jason and Hadley and her family! I swear Erik, don't think I am a loon...my eyesight is kinda bad far away and alot of times I don't recognize a person until they are closer, or they wave at me first! LOL

Talk about a small world! To be in the same park at the same place, is really crazy. It was soo good to see you guys though!! And your yard looks beautiful.
Hi Hadley!

And to my DVC friends, Scott, Lyn, Debbie. Don't give up on me yet. I was actually thrilled to see the GC become a part of DVC. I did hear though that if you were not already a DVC member, they will be sold out before even becoming available to the public. I was so sad to hear this.
One of the reasons we did not buy into DVC on the ship was because I am a Disneyland girl, and did not think I would make trips enough out to Florida. Do you think there is any hope for me in the future? The GC is my favorite resort.

 

[seaulater]

Test for Karen and Alex:

 

[Scott H]

Michelle, we will never give up on ya, you will know when it is right for you guys.

Good Morning all, Hope you all have a great weekend. Later this morn, we are off to the farmers Mkt, to get some stuff, bread and fruit, then a 5K run for the local schools, then a Geo Cache meet. We have never done a geo cache event so that should be interesting.

Weather looks like it will be great today.

 

[Scott H]

Had a great day, Farmers Mkt for some nice pastries veggies and fruit, saved for later, 5K race, I got a PB (personal best) at 32 min flat, felt good about that, Lynn did great also, she is starting run a little more with her walking. Funny how one’s perspective changes, after the ½ at DL, we looked at the distance and said it’s only 5 K. Not a problem.

The Geo Cache event was rather fun. Drove to most of the locations in the event, I would have rather have walked or ran to them, met some nice folks. Weather could not have been better, sunny and warm, supposed to chill off tomorrow and into the week.

We will be grilling some Italian Sausages for dinner tonight, with peppers and onions. Tomorrow I will make homemade breakfast burritos for breakfast. I might just have a glass wine tonight.

Replay of Jimmy Buffett’s Sept 5th concert on Radio Margarittaville.

 

[tig82174]

Had a great day, Farmers Mkt for some nice pastries veggies and fruit, saved for later, 5K race, I got a PB (personal best) at 32 min flat, felt good about that, Lynn did great also, she is starting run a little more with her walking. Funny how one’s perspective changes, after the ½ at DL, we looked at the distance and said it’s only 5 K. Not a problem.

The Geo Cache event was rather fun. Drove to most of the locations in the event, I would have rather have walked or ran to them, met some nice folks. Weather could not have been better, sunny and warm, supposed to chill off tomorrow and into the week.

We will be grilling some Italian Sausages for diner tonight, with peppers and onions. Tomorrow I will make homemade breakfast burritos for breakfast. I might just have a glass wine tonight.

Replay of Jimmy Buffett’s Sept 5th concert on Radio Margarittaville.

How funny, we're having Italian Sausages with peppers and onions and roasted garlic for dinner!

 

[Scott H]

It's a small world after all LOL!!!!! or Great Minds...

 

[eller]

Gee, we have wine with dinner most nights. Okay, everynight.

Lori

 

[milestogo]

Hi guys, well, it was a very busy weekend here. On Sunday, I started the morning at the Race for the Cure 5K with 35,000 of my friends! It was so many people that I had to bob and weave through the crowd... and it was mostly uphill! I really appreciated the DL 5K. Although it was an amazing group of people with thousands of breast cancer survivors all wearing pink necklaces - one for each year of survival. It was located at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and was a crisp clear morning overlooking the ocean and all the islands were visable. Each palm tree had large posters with women's faces in memory of them. As I walked I had to stop looking at the "in loving memory of our mom" cuz I kept tearing up as I walked. There were about 10 live local bands playing surf music, Japanese drum group, Mariachi and in between them were all the local cheerleading teams. It was really a nice touch and all sounded great. Then we took off for Horse lessons for DD and then straight to the Kodak theater in Hollywood (home of the Oscars) to see Playhouse Disney Live - which was really cute!

Lynn, I ended up getting the Polar heart rate monitor. I looked at the 305, but couldn't justify the extra $150 - and didn't know if I could ever figure out how to work it, hopefully I don't regret it.

"Kelly, Jonathan is really talented. Have you done a lot at your new home? It sounds like you have a great time when you go to Disneyland. I am jealous. We are excited about going in April. I'm not sure we'll stay at the Grand though as $358 a night is pretty steep - we'll see. I do have our reservations for Yosemite as those are so hard to get." Yes, he has fallen in love with making fountains and ponds, but we don't have one at this house, just small fountains. We bought the ugliest, old fixer upper on the block and have done bit by bit over the past couple of years, still have a bit to go though. Try the DL hotel - it's a little cheaper and many people believe it is more fun. Also, I think Linda (Seaulater) stays at the Fairfield across the street and walking distance. MUCH cheaper.

Scott, what is the Geo Cache?