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

[Scott H]

Connie, wish we were going to be at WDW in Aug… bummer, you guys have fun and post pictures, OK.

Catching the final stage of the Tour, yesterday was great. Today could be interesting.

We also did lawn work, mowed the pasture and lawn. Put together a secretary desk for Lynn to put in the kitchen/dining area, she will have to finish it. Prepped the garage floor for paint today. Ken, I did get the Mt. bikes running, they need a really good cleaning.

 

[milestogo]

Hey guys, Still organizing and researching here. I've had several people ask about the banner photos, so I'm posting them again. Enjoy!
Connie: been trying to think of a good name for your group.

 

[milestogo]

Sandy, tell me if you need to post them in a smaller version. I do know how to do that, but I forgot to do it before posting.

 

[kpros]

Hi Kelly

That last shot is a great one of the Magic leaving port! Thanks

Ken

 

[Hoagie Pie]

Kelly - thanks so much for the pictures. I am running them off on my printer as I type this. I really miss everyone even though I haven't been on the boards much. Darrell is looking to take a job outside of Orlando and we will find out on Friday. Little nervous and excited at the same time. We were there last week and had dinner with Jerry and Sherry at WDW. What a great time. I would love to live that close! I will keep you all posted and I hope everyone is having a great summer! Once again, those pictures bring tears to my eyes. I remember all the excitement and meeting such wonderful friends.

 

[cquick]

Great Pictures! I saved them to my picture file last time, but I love to see them again.

I think we are going to choose HCWA Caring Friends as our Relay for Life team name, unless some othere team in Hunter's Creek already has it.

Connie

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

I just got VERY excited and teary looking at that last ship picture. I even picked out our portholes for the next crossing! They are on deck 2, the first three windows in the front. We were upgraded from a 12 to a 9, as were many others. Some who were 6's were upgraded for free to 4's. I hope this means the ship is not too full. Maybe we just all bought cheap rooms and they are making room for the other cheap people! We'll see.

Anyone have any experiences in 2500, 2502, 2504? I've never been forward before and I wonder about the rocking. We all know how the rocking goes!

I will honestly miss you all on the ship. Luckily my kids will be there, so it will seem like a completely different cruise and I won't be as sad that you aren't there. EVERTIME I go to Shutters, I will think of Chris and Rob and Jason and Eric. We always seemed to be there at the same time!

ScoobyPOP, the cruise starts on the 18th, but we are leaving on the 13th. Most of them (7)are spending a couple of days in Dublin, while 4 of us are going on FF's to Madrid for a couple of days. I'm heading the Madrid group (and a little nervous about that!). We all meet in Barcelona for a couple of days and then board the ship together!

 

[iluvdisney]

Hi everyone!

Debbie - I'm so glad that you were able to save some of your pictures - they look great but all of your pictures are! I've so enjoyed looking at them and sometimes wish I could work a camera like that. Thanks for sharing them!

Scott - nice pics of the Thunderbirds - I haven't seen any air shows in years.

Connie - you live in one of the places I keep going back to when I'm down there - always looking for my winter home or would just love to relocate but that will take time. I had a nice who used to live in Hunters Creek a few years back and that's when I discovered your area.

I, too, am one of the lucky ones going to bring the ship back to Florida! Really looking forward to getting back onboard - I had such a great time last trip - wish all of you were coming too!

 

[tig82174]

Hey folks! I posted a message to the Double Dip boards this morning and couldn't leave all my friends over here out!!

So hello to everyone....I know that I haven't been posting much recently which is not like me (but I have been lurking and reading so as not to fall too far behind)...but I've been very busy...nothing is wrong and things are actually going remarkably well here...just very very busy! In addition to lots of work stuff going on (we jsut started a new contract year), planning our upcoming NYC trip (NEXT WEEK!!), and trying to squeak as much summer fun out of the weather as possible (since in Rochester it seems to start snowing on July 5th! )....we have also undertaken the process of having the landscaping outside of our house COMPLETELY redone...and while we're not actually doing much of the work (I'm sure those of you who met me can imagine I'm far handier wiht a glue gun, a sewing machine, and some glitter than I coudl ever be with a shovel and a rake!! ), it has been a lot of decision work picking out plants and layouts and rocks and then paying for all of it...YIPES! Luckily we're feeling really good about it as an investment...2 other units in our small townhouse community have gone up for sale this past couple weeks....boht of which are listed at over $99K....we only paid $84K for our unit...and we have, without question, the nicest unit in the entire community....so we feel really confident that we're going to have made a great investment with all the work we're putting into the house!

I'll get my head above water soon and start posting more, I promise!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Wow Erik all the yard work sounds great. I bet it will look really great. I do have to say I am really jealous of anyone who lives where townhomes can be had for that price So I am curious, what show did you decide to see as a replacement for Tarzan next week?

 

[tig82174]

Wow Erik all the yard work sounds great. I bet it will look really great. I do have to say I am really jealous of anyone who lives where townhomes can be had for that price So I am curious, what show did you decide to see as a replacement for Tarzan next week?

We haven't decided yet....we're still down to our main 3 picks....Xanadu, Legally Blonde, and Spring Awakenings....and I just can't decide!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Selina (our German exchange student) is going to Boston tomorrow with a friend of ours (from Germany) and friend's brother (who is visiting here in transition from Nicaragua where he was living back to Germany). So, that makes tomorrow the perfect day to pack up Rio's trunk for camp. He is going to a week long overnight camp starting Saturday. I have been reviewing the packing list (flashlight, batteries, sunscreen, bug spray, hats, grubby clothes for all manner of weather, laundry bag. mail supplies, etc. etc.) and I am totally stressing about this. I haven't packed for a week at camp since I was 13. This is way harder than packign for a cruise . Any suggestions from you more experienced parents out there? And while we are at it, how do I handle leaving my baby with strangers for a week? And, what do I say to Rio who BEGGED for this and only just tonight freaked out about worrying about not seeing his family for an entire week and "what do you mean I can't take my cell phone and call you?!" We looked at photos online and talked about he'll be having so much fun he wil hardly miss us at all and he seems much better now, but I am worried packing tomorrow will set him off again. Okay, so I figure most of you know him and me and at least some of you must have been here done this before so please HELP.
Thanks as always to a great bunch.

 

[milestogo]

Luckily we're feeling really good about it as an investment...2 other units in our small townhouse community have gone up for sale this past couple weeks....boht of which are listed at over $99K....we only paid $84K for our unit...and we have, without question, the nicest unit in the entire community....so we feel really confident that we're going to have made a great investment with all the work we're putting into the house!

WOW, I too had no idea that you could buy anything for that excellent price!!!! It made me wonder just how far off the California market is from the rest of the country... The lowest priced condo I could find in our area was an 800 sq ft 1 bd, 1 bath in an area that nobody would want to live in Price: 299K and there was only 1 available at that price. That is absolutely crazy. We bought the ugliest house on the block and have been rehabing it on our own, so each summer it's a massive job. This year we started the last big project and it is going to take more than a year. Too bad we have to work and live where we rehab!!!UGH.

And while we are at it, how do I handle leaving my baby with strangers for a week?

This an easy one... you go spy on him!


And, what do I say to Rio who BEGGED for this and only just tonight freaked out about worrying about not seeing his family for an entire week and "what do you mean I can't take my cell phone and call you?!"

This I can help you with... I traveled with Jesus Christ Superstar and was away for many months at a time. Leaving my comedy club, my dog and cat and my new boyfriend (who I ended up marrying.) We now travel for business pretty heavily so we've learned a few things:

• Send him with a little book of family photos including a photo of his room. You Stuff some special messages hidden in little places he will find from each of you.
• Send him with a journal to write a nightly message to you guys with his thoughts of the day
• Send a small hand held tape player with him (Sony make a great one at Target) and put some messages with your favorite family music, sounds from your house (dog, cat, kitchen dishwasher, toilet flushing, birds, disposal and other dorky stuff that will give him a laugh)
• Give him some blank tapes that he can make tapes of the sounds of camp for you guys with his new friends voices, singing, music etc. It will comfort him and keep him busy thinking about sharing his experience away from home with you guys.
• Give him a paper with your schedule, so that he know what everyone is doing while he is gone. That way he won't be wrapped up in his thoughts about what is going on at home without him.

 

[milestogo]

Hey guys, for those of you have not been keeping up with Linda's blog here is the link: http://seaulaterinthemed.blogspot.com/
It's been lots of fun to read.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

I just read Linda's blog and really enjoyed it. I wish the Med cruise was within our budget. I just have to remember how much I hated getting off the boat in Teneriffe and how I just wanted to enjoy the boat without having to do the excursions. I think that I wouldn't ever take the kids to Spain, Gibralter and espescally not Teneriffe w/o the cruise, whereas Italy and France are definetely on our doable w/o cruise list. A little self talk here to make me feel okay with not doing the Med! Also, I think it's cool that the kids will be able to say they crossed the Atlantic and experience all that that entails.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Kelly thanks for the plethora of fantastic ideas. We will absolutely do some of those. Another thing I thought of today (thanks to the DCL pillowcase thing) is we bought a plain pillow case and wrote the camp name and summer 2007 on it and packed it with sharpies so he can have his friends sign it. He is back to being ultra excited now (he was REALLY tired last night which I htink contriubuted greatly to his upset).

 

[milestogo]

I just read Linda's blog and really enjoyed it. I wish the Med cruise was within our budget. I just have to remember how much I hated getting off the boat in Teneriffe and how I just wanted to enjoy the boat without having to do the excursions. I think that I wouldn't ever take the kids to Spain, Gibralter and espescally not Teneriffe w/o the cruise, whereas Italy and France are definetely on our doable w/o cruise list. A little self talk here to make me feel okay with not doing the Med! Also, I think it's cool that the kids will be able to say they crossed the Atlantic and experience all that that entails.

You are right! It's fine with one child, but is a lot more work than vacation with multiples to keep up with for the med. It was nonstop and exhausting. Not too mention the fact that the excursions alone were the cost of another cruise!!!! The boat is the experience and it is what we look forward to next year.

 

[milestogo]

Kelly thanks for the plethora of fantastic ideas. We will absolutely do some of those. Another thing I thought of today (thanks to the DCL pillowcase thing) is we bought a plain pillow case and wrote the camp name and summer 2007 on it and packed it with sharpies so he can have his friends sign it. He is back to being ultra excited now (he was REALLY tired last night which I htink contriubuted greatly to his upset).

Good idea!!!!

 

[Scoobypop]

The boat is the experience and it is what we look forward to next year.

That's how we felt as well, which is why we chose the Transatlantic. We love the ship and all that goes with it so much, we wanted as much time on it as possible.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Deanna--I have to concour with Kelly and Chris here. If DCL wanted to give me a choice of a med cruise or the return TA free lmao: ) I wouldn't even think twice--I would go for the TA. Total relaxation and fun at its very best. I really loved the extra time to get to know the crew and fun people like you and it made things so much more Magical. I am totally jealous of you getting to do it all over again. I bet your girls will LOVE it.