Mexican Riviera Cruise with WONDERful Souvenir in the Works! 6/7 PTR Link!

[Pinkocto]

I'm so sorry for Dan. It really is pitzy when things like that happen. All you can do is be supportive and loving. He's going to feel down about it until he's ready to stop thinking about it.

You've got less than two months to cruising!!! I'm still on the fence about this trip insurance. The one through DCL is quite pricey, were you able to get one for less?

 

[Leshaface]

So sorry to hear that. I know how that feels. My father has been a high school football and softball coach for over 30 years (and pop warner before that - one year he coached both). Anyway, there are politics and parents and highs and lows. I hope he just thinks of all the ways he is influencing the players he coaches then the times he's been looked over. My father still gets messages on FB from players he has coached --- way over 5,000 players. Some went on to play college and pro. They all remember him and what he taught them -- what made them laugh and the lessons they learned. It's a great position to have whether a head coach or an assistant coach. Although he may be disappointed, remember if he can make a difference with just one player, or two, etc. then he is more successful then not trying. Everyone can coach from the sidelines.

I know what advice my dad would give him. One time my father was so pissed he didn't get the head coach job once after he was there for so long - he went and took the head coaching job at the rival high school who never could beat this school. When the BIG game came (drama big time...like the team warmed up at a park before showing up for the game) my dad beat them so bad they did everything they could to get him back. And he went back and beat the other school the following year. He actually got a coaching job at a private high school by being the first coach to beat that team in 18 years. That school ended up being the school my sons attended because they had watched their grandpa coach there. My father was blessed to coach his grandson there and then ended his career there.

My father even wrote a book. Funny stories and all the tales of the highs and lows of high school coaching.

Here's a summary of his book: "This is the story of a successful southern California youth and high school football coach. ** success was not measured by Xs and Os or records, even though there were plenty of wins and championships on the field. His successes, spanning a thirty-year coaching career, are in the multitude of day-to-day treasured moments shared by a coach and his team, and in the laughter and tears shed and shared by this coach and the hundreds of young men whose lives were touched, shaped and changed forever through the strength of their wills, the devotion of their teams, and the love of their coach. 27 shares Coach ** story of the daily hardships of two-a-days, the thrills of championships on every level, and the tragedy of losing a young athlete, and a son, far too soon."

I'm not saying he's thinking of quiting, but I'm sure your husband wouldn't tell his players to quit or stop trying. My father never quit. He may have gotten fired, he may have fought the politics, even fought younger coaches who wanted his job, but he never quit coaching. He kept winning. Be his biggest cheerleader because he's got 30 more years and hundreds of players to influence!!!!!

Wow This is super inspirational. I need to pass this along to DH definitely. And you're exactly right. It's all politics and parents. Actually, the parents are what got the last head coach fired last season, even though the head coach took them to playoffs

Thank you so much for your post, I really do appreciate it

I am so sorry to hear that your husband is going through that. I know how he feels. You put your time and energy into something and you are told certain things and the opposite happens. I always say I can be so close to getting the position but then the superintendent's daughter or niece comes along and needs the teaching position. Who do you think it is going to get it? Def. not me even though I put my time in and am more qualified. I don't know how it works by you but that is how it is here. You need to know someone to get a job teaching. He def. needs this cruise in a couple of months. Just get away from everything for a week. Do some tastings on the cruise. We did the martini and beer tasting and had so much fun. I think you said you did that on the other cruise though. I can't remember. You don't need to do the tastings to have a drink. But they are a lot of fun.

At the bolded - yep! You need to know the 'right' person to get in, not about how many people you know. Which is super frustrating. He received 4 recommendations: one retired athletic director, one college baseball coach, one teacher (and retired head baseball coach) that works at that school, and one athletic director from a rival high school.

Oh yeah, we are definitely doing some tastings on the ship. And actually we're taking my mom wine tasting this weekend, so i'm hoping getting away from our town for a couple days, will get his mind off things.

I'm so sorry for Dan. It really is pitzy when things like that happen. All you can do is be supportive and loving. He's going to feel down about it until he's ready to stop thinking about it.

You've got less than two months to cruising!!! I'm still on the fence about this trip insurance. The one through DCL is quite pricey, were you able to get one for less?

He finally opened up a little last night while in bed and he brought it up. He just turned over and looked at me while I was watching tv said, "I really wanted that coaching job, alicia. All i've ever wanted to do is coach baseball." I hate seeing him like this. Like I was telling Dream426, we're taking my mom wine tasting this weekend, so i'm hoping getting him away will do him some good.

I can't remember how much DCL was going for, but I declined it when I first bought the cruise. Then after a while I started reading about people needing to go to the hospital and needing to stay in the Cabo than on the ship, so they needed a hotel, and this just got me freaked out. So I found out that I could not purchase insurance through Disney, since I had already made final payment. HOWEVER, there are two companies - insuremytrip and tripinsuranestore - where you can purchase trip insurance, even if you've already made final payment.

I asked about it here on the cruise boards about purchasing trip insurance and these two sites came highly recommended. I ended up going through tripinsurancestore and called (because i've never purchased trip insurance before and didn't know what I needed, didn't need, etc) and I ended up talking to a super nice guy that took some information about our trip and made a recommendation. For Dan and me the total is $107.00 and it covers quite a bit of stuff. It's pretty cheap considering that it's covering 9 days for us (thinking about staying the night before in LA).

 

[Pinkocto]

He finally opened up a little last night while in bed and he brought it up. He just turned over and looked at me while I was watching tv said, "I really wanted that coaching job, alicia. All i've ever wanted to do is coach baseball." I hate seeing him like this. Like I was telling Dream426, we're taking my mom wine tasting this weekend, so i'm hoping getting him away will do him some good.

That just breaks your heart I hope getting him away does the good you're hoping With all those recommendations that makes it that much more horrible that someone else got it. Stupid people who know the right people It just shouldn't work that way.

For Dan and me the total is $107.00 and it covers quite a bit of stuff. It's pretty cheap considering that it's covering 9 days for us (thinking about staying the night before in LA).

That's an excellent deal. I think DCL has it for triple that. It depends on how many days the cruise is of course. I've been pricing the Hawaii cruise and they have the trip insurance for close to six hundred dollars. Of course I hope nothing happens and you don't have to use it, but just in case.

 

[Jackson's grammie]

I'm glad you got the insurance. better safe than sorry.
When things are quiet sit down with your husband and tell him its time to really take a good look at the situation. Perhaps he could talk to a coach friend who could give him advice on how to approach the school next time he wants to apply. Perhaps another school would be a better suit. Take a good realistic look unfortunately politics are an important part of any local town situations.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm sorry that Dan didn't get the coaching position...I feel for him.

I have a story for you, one that may make you both feel better...

My DH had been an English teacher for a couple of years, in a middle school, but he couldn't stand it. Not the right age group or subject for him. He decided to go back to school to become a licensed massage therapist, after giving it a lot of thought and speaking to a cousin of mine who has been a massage therapist since the '90s. He completed his courses in that, and he got himself a great job at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa on 5th Avenue in NYC, full-time. He worked Wednesday through Saturday, 9 hours a day (including an hour for lunch). He was doing great at that job, and he really enjoyed it. At the time, it didn't seem like such a big deal that his days off were Mondays and Tuesdays...but that was B.C. (Before Children ). Shortly after he started, I was pregnant with DS6, and we went to contract on our house. It was nice when DS6 was a baby because he had me home with him on weekends and DH home with him 2 weekdays...it was also easier on my mom. But, then he had said that he was thinking about the future and not being there for things like sports games, shows, etc. because he had to work weekends. He tried to have his hours changed and they wouldn't budge. That's when he thought about going into teaching again...

At the time, I was working at our old HS. DH was interested in becoming either a phys ed teacher or a health ed teacher, and coaching again (he previously coached lacrosse there). She said he had almost all the coursework for the health ed license, so he took his 2 or 3 other courses to complete it, and the state exam, and he got his license. However, she didn't hire him (It had sounded like she would when she gave him the advice). He was so disappointed...another year at the Red Door, minimum.

He went on interview after interview during the school year, and then the following summer, the assistant principal of a different high school called him. He got a job teaching health ed full-time, taking over for someone on a 1-year leave. This was great! Then I became pregnant with DS4. When I was about 5 months pregnant, I had such a horrendous asthma attack at work that they had to bring me to the hospital by ambulance, and I had to have 3 nebulizer treatments. This was due to tons of dust from a massive construction project going on in the building. I had spoken to the principal (who was new that year) numerous times over the course of 2 months, about how this dust was affecting my asthma...but he did nothing to help me. No one cleaned the dust from any of the classrooms, it was all over the hall, etc. My union is wonderful, and helped me out. They arranged for an accommodation...for me to teach at a different school, in place of someone going on maternity leave. And that school is the school I am currently teaching in...and I truly LOVE it there! Anyway, it was good that DH never go the job where I was working, because it would have created a lot of tension.

Everything went smoothly that first year for DH at his new job, but he wasn't sure if they would keep him. Well, they did...and he is still there! And...they never had sports teams at this school since it opened over 40 years ago...now DH is the very first Athletic Director of that school, and he is running the whole sports program!

So...keep in mind...when one thing doesn't work out, it just means that there's something out there better for you...and there is something out there better for Dan! From mine and DH's experience, I believe that everything truly happens for a reason and trust me, everything will work out great for you guys!

 

[Leshaface]

That just breaks your heart I hope getting him away does the good you're hoping With all those recommendations that makes it that much more horrible that someone else got it. Stupid people who know the right people It just shouldn't work that way.


That's an excellent deal. I think DCL has it for triple that. It depends on how many days the cruise is of course. I've been pricing the Hawaii cruise and they have the trip insurance for close to six hundred dollars. Of course I hope nothing happens and you don't have to use it, but just in case.

Seriously?! $600!? That sounds incredibly high. I was so glad when the quotes came up, they were all in the $100-130 range. From the thread I had read, the bill from the hospital and hotel (had they not bought the insurance) was over $10,000 I'll gladly pay my meager $107 now!

I'm glad you got the insurance. better safe than sorry.
When things are quiet sit down with your husband and tell him its time to really take a good look at the situation. Perhaps he could talk to a coach friend who could give him advice on how to approach the school next time he wants to apply. Perhaps another school would be a better suit. Take a good realistic look unfortunately politics are an important part of any local town situations.

Exactly. I'm hoping this weekend will give him a new perspective on things and we can sit down and discuss what he'd like to do. I want him to make decisions when he's not so angry and upset, especially since he'll need to decide soon what he's going to do about coaching baseball since the season is coming up.

I'm sorry that Dan didn't get the coaching position...I feel for him.

I have a story for you, one that may make you both feel better...

My DH had been an English teacher for a couple of years, in a middle school, but he couldn't stand it. Not the right age group or subject for him. He decided to go back to school to become a licensed massage therapist, after giving it a lot of thought and speaking to a cousin of mine who has been a massage therapist since the '90s. He completed his courses in that, and he got himself a great job at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa on 5th Avenue in NYC, full-time. He worked Wednesday through Saturday, 9 hours a day (including an hour for lunch). He was doing great at that job, and he really enjoyed it. At the time, it didn't seem like such a big deal that his days off were Mondays and Tuesdays...but that was B.C. (Before Children ). Shortly after he started, I was pregnant with DS6, and we went to contract on our house. It was nice when DS6 was a baby because he had me home with him on weekends and DH home with him 2 weekdays...it was also easier on my mom. But, then he had said that he was thinking about the future and not being there for things like sports games, shows, etc. because he had to work weekends. He tried to have his hours changed and they wouldn't budge. That's when he thought about going into teaching again...

At the time, I was working at our old HS. DH was interested in becoming either a phys ed teacher or a health ed teacher, and coaching again (he previously coached lacrosse there). She said he had almost all the coursework for the health ed license, so he took his 2 or 3 other courses to complete it, and the state exam, and he got his license. However, she didn't hire him (It had sounded like she would when she gave him the advice). He was so disappointed...another year at the Red Door, minimum.

He went on interview after interview during the school year, and then the following summer, the assistant principal of a different high school called him. He got a job teaching health ed full-time, taking over for someone on a 1-year leave. This was great! Then I became pregnant with DS4. When I was about 5 months pregnant, I had such a horrendous asthma attack at work that they had to bring me to the hospital by ambulance, and I had to have 3 nebulizer treatments. This was due to tons of dust from a massive construction project going on in the building. I had spoken to the principal (who was new that year) numerous times over the course of 2 months, about how this dust was affecting my asthma...but he did nothing to help me. No one cleaned the dust from any of the classrooms, it was all over the hall, etc. My union is wonderful, and helped me out. They arranged for an accommodation...for me to teach at a different school, in place of someone going on maternity leave. And that school is the school I am currently teaching in...and I truly LOVE it there! Anyway, it was good that DH never go the job where I was working, because it would have created a lot of tension.

Everything went smoothly that first year for DH at his new job, but he wasn't sure if they would keep him. Well, they did...and he is still there! And...they never had sports teams at this school since it opened over 40 years ago...now DH is the very first Athletic Director of that school, and he is running the whole sports program!

So...keep in mind...when one thing doesn't work out, it just means that there's something out there better for you...and there is something out there better for Dan! From mine and DH's experience, I believe that everything truly happens for a reason and trust me, everything will work out great for you guys!

Another great story that turned out awesome! I believe everything happens for a reason too. It's just trying to get past the initial disappointment that is so hard. And I think over the next few months or so, we're going to look back and say, "See! Good thing you didn't get that position!"

Bonnie, your trip is coming up so quickly!

 

[BrisMommy]

how fun!!!

 

[franandaj]

I'm sorry Dan didn't get the job, but I agree with Bonnie that everything happens for a reason. I'm sure you'll end up with something better and better for the both of you.

We were going to drive up to Tulare tonight, but we wouldn't have left until after 6PM so we postponed it to Saturday, but that means we have to take Arline to a funeral. Not what I wanted to be doing a few days before our trip, but better than me driving the whole way up and back. More details on my own PTR.....

 

[bangzoom6877]

Another great story that turned out awesome! I believe everything happens for a reason too. It's just trying to get past the initial disappointment that is so hard. And I think over the next few months or so, we're going to look back and say, "See! Good thing you didn't get that position!"

Bonnie, your trip is coming up so quickly!

You're right...you definitely will be saying that!

Which trip are you referring to? I know Foxwoods is only 19 days away! But still 9 months to go for WDW! Then again, we're starting to put together more concrete ADR plans, which makes it feel close!

 

[Leshaface]

I'm sorry Dan didn't get the job, but I agree with Bonnie that everything happens for a reason. I'm sure you'll end up with something better and better for the both of you.

We were going to drive up to Tulare tonight, but we wouldn't have left until after 6PM so we postponed it to Saturday, but that means we have to take Arline to a funeral. Not what I wanted to be doing a few days before our trip, but better than me driving the whole way up and back. More details on my own PTR.....

I HATED reading your PTR. It made me sad.

You're right...you definitely will be saying that!

Which trip are you referring to? I know Foxwoods is only 19 days away! But still 9 months to go for WDW! Then again, we're starting to put together more concrete ADR plans, which makes it feel close!

Whoops, sorry, I meant your Foxwoods trip. It's coming up quickly!

 

[Leshaface]

I was hoping to get back somewhat early today from the coast this weekend to update the rest of my New England trip, but that didn't happen. Hopefully i'll finish it tomorrow.

It turned out to be a good weekend for everyone. Mom seemed very happy, and Dan was glad to just not be in Tulare. I think he came away with a fresh perspective on the whole coaching situation. Especially since the place where we vacation at, you don't get phone service, so he wasn't receiving calls or texts inquiring about things.

In other news, I ate a MASSIVE New York steak on Saturday...with lots of wine tasting....and lots of desserts and pastries this weekend. And it's that time of the month. Needless to say, I feel like a gross and uncomfortable and I only have a month and 18 days before our trip. My butt needs to work out!

 

[Leshaface]

After the beer tasting, we hobbled our way back to the subway. We had a Duck Tour that afternoon and we weren't exactly sure how to get there...and already feeling a little tipsy, didn't help. Long story short, it took us a while to get to the other side of the city where we needed to be Did you know drinking impairs your sense of direction!?

But we made it to the Museum of Science with about 20 minutes to spare before departing.

Since we didn't have much time, we decided to grab some food from inside the Museum. Don't even remember what I ate. We were in such a rush.

We got in line and soon we were on the duck! And since I have a horrible memory, I forget where a lot of these places are, so I won't be explaining any of them. Just enjoy them!

LOL you can see where i'm sitting on the Duck because of the big flash in the reflection!

The USS Constitution. Yes I know one!

 

[Pinkocto]

You guys packed in a lot in this vacation! So glad you found the place in time.

It's hard to get back into the groove of working out on a regular basis. I'll do a day here and there and promise myself that I'll do the same tomorrow, but somehow the days just keep slipping by...

 

[Leshaface]

So the thing that's really neat about the Duck Tour, is that it is a Land and Sea tour. Eventually we headed into the water!

The Duck Tour was really a lot of fun and was very informational. And a great price too. I believe it was $35 per person. Is it something I would want to do again. Probably not, but it's something everyone should do.

 

[Leshaface]

You guys packed in a lot in this vacation! So glad you found the place in time.

It's hard to get back into the groove of working out on a regular basis. I'll do a day here and there and promise myself that I'll do the same tomorrow, but somehow the days just keep slipping by...

Yesterday I did pretty good. Did a mile on the treadmill, then did a Jillian Michael's workout, followed by an ab workout by Cindy Whitmarsh (almost died it was so hard). Then after I ate dinner and let it settle, I finished my night off with another 30 minute run/walk.

I think by saying the number of days out loud (1 month, 14 days) is what is motivating me.

 

[disneybarbie]

Great photos!

We have the duck tours in London, I didn't realise they had them else where too.. I went on one as part of my friend's hen party (bacholerette) last summer!


Emma x

 

[Leshaface]

Great photos!

We have the duck tours in London, I didn't realise they had them else where too.. I went on one as part of my friend's hen party (bacholerette) last summer!


Emma x

Whenever we get to London, we'll definitely be taking a Duck Tour then! Would love to go there someday.

Was reading your past TR's (since i've been waiting for your current one to be updated ) and I LOVED your wedding pictures! Your wedding looked so magical. One of the outside pictures looks like the site they used on Alice in Wonderland.

 

[disneybarbie]

Whenever we get to London, we'll definitely be taking a Duck Tour then! Would love to go there someday.

Was reading your past TR's (since i've been waiting for your current one to be updated ) and I LOVED your wedding pictures! Your wedding looked so magical. One of the outside pictures looks like the site they used on Alice in Wonderland.

I hope you do get to London one day!

Thank you for looking though the wedding pics, we got our albums & high-res photo CDs a couple of weeks ago so I've been busy uploading to photobucket so I can share some of the 'real' photos I love looking through them all, seems like a dream now!

And next update to TR is coming soon, hehe... I've tried to drag the last day out because I don't want it to end!

 

[Leshaface]

After our duck tour, it was time to head to Little Italy. So we actually walked from the Museum to the Little Italy area.

Just love the way it looks down here:

I ended up going to Mike's Pastry (RAVING reviews about their cannoli's) and bought one. Scrumptralascent! It was so dang good! I have a picture but for some reason when I updated my iPhone, all my mobile pictures got lost If I find the pic i'll post it later.

Afterwards we went and checked out Faneuil Hall.

Very neat place with lots of food and shops.

Some more shots of the city:

For dinner we wanted to go to this place called Giacomo's Restaurante because they had gotten awesome reviews on Yelp. Well, it's stinkin HOT and gross outside, and we could not wait to sit down in air conditioner and relax. Uh, no. As soon as we walked into the place it was OVERWHELMINGLY hot. They sat us by the pizza oven! And all the windows were open so no ac?! Seriously, I got the feeling that I was going to faint and told him we had to leave, there was no way I was going to order a hot pasta plate and sit by the hot oven. We ended up leaving and found La Famiglia Giorgio Restaurante on Yelp and headed there. THANK goodness it was air conditioned. I still felt really icky and light headed and wasn't in the mood to eat but ended up getting huge plates of pasta. I felt guilty, I could only eat about a quarter of the plate. It was just too huge. Sorry no food pics.

It was now around 6:30 and there was one more place we had to see. Fenway Park! So after dinner, we found a subway station and headed that way.

The subway station was very close to the park

 

[Leshaface]

it was starting to cool down outside and I was feeling MUCH better. And we still hadn't been to a pub in Boston!

As we're walking around the entire stadium, we found this little restaurant/bar underneath the stadium called the Bleacher Bar.

You can actually see out through a huge window to the center field! We grabbed some Sam Adams Boston Lager (duh) and took a seat and relaxed. It was very dead inside but there's a pic on the wall of how it looked during the World Series in 2007 I believe. Sorry it's so blurry.

Dan said, when he went to the bathroom, the urinals are lined up facing the window so you can still watch the game! Men!

At this point, we were exhausted. We had done so much today: Sam Adams Brewery Tour, Duck Tour, Toured Little Italy and Faneuil Hall, and saw Fenway Park. I was actually surprised at how much we got done in such a short time.

We headed back to the hotel because the next day our flight was leaving out of Providence so we would have about an hour drive ahead of us.