October 11-18, 2008 Eastern Magic-Parrothead Pirates in Paradise!

[pinkygirl]

Congrats to you and your family!!

 

[elgerber]

But, since I can't contain myself, I wanted to post some news before DH had the chance to Our cruising gang will be getting larger by one more early next summer! We just found out we are EXPECTING!!!! I still find I am waking up in the morning and saying "Oh Yeah...I AM pregnant" to myself...

Congratulations that is so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kritter]

CONGRATS MOMMYROM!!!!!



What GREAT News!!!

We are home and unpacking sooo sad to be back.......

Kristin

 

[captaincrash]

Kristen & family...
+ DIS Neighbors...

Time for trip reports and pictures!

<steady grinnin'>​

 

[kritter]

Kristen & family...
+ DIS Neighbors...

Time for trip reports and pictures!

<steady grinnin'>​

Crash,

Thanks I will be posting pics soon and a detailed trip report if you and anyone else wants to take the time to read it...LOL!!!How are things with you all>?????

 

[captaincrash]

We're just fine...

... as U kno... the FIL is fighting his cancer an' the last report is he is still in strong remission. We are sooo pleased with that. Our last visit to Hawaii in August was with mixed feelings enroute because the reports at that moment were mixed. while we were there they shifted to the best we could hope for - full remission with no symptoms.

Aside from that - U may recall we booked a bargain Costa cruise for December - and that's all set. My Costa Cruise Meet thread over at cruise critic is nearly the most acitive one among all thier Costa cruise threads. We have something like 115 total postings and barely 1100 hits. LOL! AND... the Disney cruise thread over there has been similarly slow - no postings since September 7th I think. So I guess you might have seen - the PC REPO is up to 76,000 postings and 800,000+ hits. That's insane. I figure - yeah - its' all there but who on Earth is gonna read it? Some people have (myself included).

So... yesterday we booked a Carnival cruise with my Dad and several relatives on my side. My Dad was gracious enough to host the thing. He's not getting any younger - and they're not interested inthe 15 day PCREPO - but he is paying fer us plus the other relatives - so I can't really refuse. He did the same thing for my brother and his family about 6 months ago - no other relatives. SO it's a spend time with the kids and family thing for him. It's relatively inexpensive too. A non-issue on funds which he probably finds very enjoyable.

Aside from that - we are about to install solar power on the house. We just attended the world solar power conference locally in Long Beach - I waited to attend the convention to gleen last minute news on technology, legislation pending, and to find installers to obtain competitive bids. At the conclusion I determined our payback break even is about 5-6 years - not 12-15 years, and that our already choosen installer candidate is probably the one we'll go with, and the technology and design approach for the array is good enough. In fact, some design aspects I've choosen are unusual and wise, as well as cost saving. IE, the dual inverter I had thrown in (yeah - another term for having recovered after over paying - and the double inverter will be half used until it fails or the utility engages in PAYBACK of overproduction or our power needs double - thus saving about $3-5000 in 2007 dollars) plus the asthetically improved but technologically reversed panels - the panels draw electorns off the bottom as opposed to using wires off the surface - and they are jet black from frame edge to edge.

On the negative side fer solar - I just found out the CITY of LA county just passed 2 fire ordinances which have stopped all installs in the county. They require solar power panels be install in strings with 4' seperation all around... thus negating mounting surface conservation... and that all panels have a quick release system (which does not exist). SO ... we're 100 yards outside of LA county in Ventura county - thus avoiding this requirement - but left wondering whether our solar power arrays will someday lead to our home burning to the ground on account of fire men unable to quickly break the tempered glass panels to get at an otherwise managable fire.

My solution would be to revise my proposed cabana to take the solar array - and let a fire there burn IT to the ground should a fire arise... and preserve the fire fighting managability of our home. Money money money is all it takes. I'd have to shift the cabana placement and excavate a lot of ground to gain a flat placement - just as I was hoping to avoid that by NOT having the cabana be built complying to code. Remember, I was going to build it small enough to avoid code compliance requirements - but with solar panals on top it would force me to comply. I am visiting the zoning/code people on monday to chat about this more.... maybe I can find a way around this. We want to install solar ASAP... so will work through this quick I hope. The California solar rebate is at $2.5 per kiowatt from a fixed pool... as it draws down the rebate declines - estimated at 7% per year. BUT with LA county stopping all installs - I sense we have a few moments to reflect further on this - as needed.

The kids are fine and a blast. I'm the AYSO referee and Alicia is the team Coach. We are 1-3 but faced tough kids with more older ones than ours in the U7 league. AND, we salvaged a player (a wall flower) who was considering quitting friday at practice. Her parents are grateful and complimentary on our successful efforts at retaining her committment to the team. The concessions I granted friday were avoidance of goalie duty, granting her a step forward to be next weeks rotating team captain (rotating), and I was to bring her a candy sprinkleed donut. She made out like a thief - but her parents tolerated my concessions. Iwas busy at the last minute so had no time for getting donuts - so I substituted a strawberry short cake - cost me triple but I enjoied it more. I think the kids liked it too - even though we lost the game on score.

Aside from that - we're about to set of for a brunch at friends then of to a water park at Magic Mountian - Hurricane Harbor today - and oh yeah - on friday I bought some Disneyland park hoppers on ebay for $126 - they're upgradable to annual passes thus saving us $358.... so they save us $227 on on $458 worth of passes. PLUS they're not to be handed over to us until November when I need em'. Thus leaving me time to shop ebay fer another 2 to save the rest of our family some scratch.

How are things with ya! Wonderful I bet since ya just stepped off a Disney cruise! Pictures and a trip report! PM me with the posting links!

Below is a photo of Alicia and I 24 years ago in Hawaii...

 

[dytx]

Crash,

Thanks I will be posting pics soon and a detailed trip report if you and anyone else wants to take the time to read it...LOL!!!How are things with you all>?????

welcome back Kristin and family. we have missed you and are waiting for your report and your pics

dee,don and allen

 

[RanCan]

Welcome back Kristin and family!!! Glad to have you back! I hope you had a great time. Can't wait to here all about it and see pictures.

 

[mmouse37]

Have a great time Kristin!!!

Welcome Thundermountainmomma!!!
Wow, you just got off the Magic! You are soo lucky! Do you have any pictures to share. We would love to see them if you do. This is our first DCL cruise and I am really excited about going! I can't get enough of seeing or hearing about the Magic.

Candy...

Here is a link to some of our online DCL photos....we have been 16 times and have pics of just about everything!!!!

http://community.webshots.com/user/daisy651

 

[kritter]

Thanks everyone for the Welcome Back.

Hope came down with strep so I will try and post some pictures soon..

Crash,

Loved the pictures of your family. The soccer poster behind your team is awesome did you make it??

Sounds like things have been going well for you...???

You should think about joining us on this cruise!!!!!

 

[RanCan]

MJ, I love your pictures!!!

I haven't been able to go through all of them but I got to see a lot. I'll definitly be clicking back on to see more pictures!

We are leaving Friday for our little 3 night adult only cruise. My stepdaughter and her husband are coming into town to go with us. They are bringing our three grandaughters. So I'm going to be busy getting ready for the cruise along with their visit. They will be staying with us before and after the cruise. I can't wait to see them!!

I'll try to post before I leave!

 

[realfam]

Hello to everyone booked onto the Oct 11, 2008 eastern cruise.

We just returned from sailing the Magic on the western carribean Sept21-29. It was so amazing we rebooked on the ship to take advantage of there onboard offers. This was an amazing holiday and we cannot wait until Oct 08.
It was pleasant surprise for us to find this post already going for this cruise.
This was our first DCL cruise and definately not our last. So now that were somewhat experience. We'd love to answer other families questions.

Counting the days

 

[Grandma4ever]

Hello to everyone booked onto the Oct 11, 2008 eastern cruise.

We just returned from sailing the Magic on the western carribean Sept21-29. It was so amazing we rebooked on the ship to take advantage of there onboard offers. This was an amazing holiday and we cannot wait until Oct 08.
It was pleasant surprise for us to find this post already going for this cruise.
This was our first DCL cruise and definately not our last. So now that were somewhat experience. We'd love to answer other families questions.

Counting the days

Welcome. Welcome. Lois

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Welcome to the families that are joining us!! YEAH!!

Welcome Home Kristin and family!! I hope Hope recovers quickly! Colton missed school Mon and Tues, as he too, has strep!

CONGRATS Mommyrom!!!!! How VERY exciting! I noticed you used PINK!! Is that mommy's intuition?? I was right with both my boys! I just "knew"!

As usual, things are crazzy around here! LOL I hope this finds everyone else, Happy and Healthy!!

 

[mommyrom]

Welcome to the families that are joining us!! YEAH!!

Welcome Home Kristin and family!! I hope Hope recovers quickly! Colton missed school Mon and Tues, as he too, has strep!

CONGRATS Mommyrom!!!!! How VERY exciting! I noticed you used PINK!! Is that mommy's intuition?? I was right with both my boys! I just "knew"!

As usual, things are crazzy around here! LOL I hope this finds everyone else, Happy and Healthy!!

Thanks for the Congrats! Actually, the pink color just jumped out at me as I was quickly typing our news...Who Knows? Maybe since I did not use pink intentionally, it could very well mean "something" special for us! I already have three sons and one daughter (YES...This will be #5!!! )and we will be happy no matter what we are blessed with this time around, but another girl would make the bedroom arrangements a bit easier in our new house! Our youngest keeps referring to the baby as a "she", so we will just have to wait and see...I think we will be finding out this time again, but I have some time yet before that opportunity is available...Thanks again!

 

[realfam]

Hi all,

Just catchng up on some of your earlier postings and just was wondering if someone could explain what the Parrothead Pirates in Paradise is.
It sounds like great group of people going.

 

[RanCan]

Hi all,

Just catchng up on some of your earlier postings and just was wondering if someone could explain what the Parrothead Pirates in Paradise is.
It sounds like great group of people going.

Welcome Welcome!!!!

I wish I could answer your question but I'm not really sure about how that name for our group came up. I remember reading about it, but I don't remember how it came about. I'm hoping someone else can answer that question.


I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

We leave tomorrow for our cruise!! It's not a Disney cruise but I am still very excited.

We'll be back Monday!

 

[kritter]

WELCOME WELCOME!!!


I hope Colton is feeling better. Hope is better.

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

If we go allllll the way back to post 205 you will find...

Quote:
Originally Posted by 3sons
I like Parrotheads in Paradise, but I like the idea of being Pirates too!
What about Parrothead Pirates?Is Parrothead Pirates in Paradise to long? It may not be easy to say after a drink of the day!
Carmen

How's this?
...insert photo of limegreen mickey ears with Parrothead Pirates in Paradise here......

After many suggestions, the name sort of evolved into what it is today! Maybe we can get DCL to through us a Buffet party!!!

 

[gouodux]

Boarding the Magic on Saturday and looking to book this cruise while onboard. Perhaps we will be joining all of you in a year!