Sept. 11th, 2004!!! Roll Call!

[amgpmg]

NancyDVC, I am with you, I too cannot believe there are people out there that do not read these boards. I sometimes have to force myself to sign off and oh, when I am trying to read the new posts and the boards are down, it drives me crazy. Like I might miss something. What will we do when this trip is over?

Regarding the DISmeet, I think we decided on around 3:00. Hopefully some of us will be able to meet at the port and that way we won't all look too silly trying to find each other. I will have my name tag on, but am not sure if DH will. He looks at me as if I am crazy when I talk about making them and him having to wear it. What a party pooper!

I hope everyone in Charley's path are fine. We have not heard from some of the Florida folks since it hit.

Kathy

 

[natale1980]

I feel bad being all worried about the cruise when there are people who's lives were affected by Charley.
For those from Florida - I hope everyones friends and family are doing good & I hope Florida stays clear of all the other storms that are a-brewing!!!

Now that I got that off my mind... I still can't wait to go!!!
I've been talking about shopping for the past month... I really need to get in action... we are running out of time!!!!

-nat & baby

 

[4Sedgs]

Yeah! I can do the documents dance!



With Hurricanes Bonnie and Charlie breathing down our necks I'm not even sure when they came. I know we didn't get mail on Saturday when Charlie was on top of us. We, 4Sedgs, were very lucky. We just lost power and cable (which includes internet) for less than a day. We didn't lose any trees or shingles. My yard is absolutely trashed and everything is flooded, but all 4 of us Sedgwicks are fine.

I was in the next county yesterday doing preliminary damage assessments for the beaches and saw many, many houses with no roofs, no siding, extensive flooding. I thank God that Charlie downgraded before it hit us. My love and prayers go out to all of us in Florida. I know one of the regulars lives in Celebration, FL, but can not think of her dismeet name. I volunteered to go to FL if needed to assist with FEMA's mission. My supervisor felt I was needed here and sent another engineer. I'm glad and disappointed all at the same time.

I'm still tracking Danielle and Earl, but it looks as if we'll be spared.

Love and Kisses to Sydney! What a trooper! One week down and hopefully less than a week to go.

Lunchtime's over. Back to work.....

 

[ldb1030]

Glad all is well with 4Sedgs!



I have so much work to do today
but all I want to do is dream about the cruise!!!
Maybe I'll go home and start packing tonight!

 

[HookedonMagic]

Greetings from Celebration! We weathered Charley just fine...our community lost MANY trees, but our homes, families, power, cable and water are fine. We feel very blessed.

Greater-Orlando, however, did not fair as well. Thousands of people are still without power and water and many buildings are badly damaged. Our kids are out of school until at least Wednesday. Purchasing gas is a nightmare...stations either have no power to pump or have no gas to sell. Yikes.

On a MUCH happier note, can you believe we have less than 4 weeks until we sail? Time sure flies. Happy planning and packing!

Take care all.

Lisa

Hey 4Sedgs, We were in Raleigh-Durham the last week in July (our daughter went to camp at Duke...what a great place.) We spent July 31 at Nags Head Beach. I believe Hurricane Alex hit the next day. I hope these hurricanes aren't following us!

 

[NancyDVC]

HookedonMagic,
Glad to hear that you weathered Charley so well. I have friends in Celebration who sent me some video of the storm and pictures of the trees down. yikes. I have seem similar damage here on Long Island both from hurricane damage and Nor'easters. It can be devastating with no power for more than a few hours. I remember driving home from work after the power was restored at the hospital where I work last August during the blackout. No traffic signals so everyone had to make right turns only (no straight ahead, no left turns) then try to find a way to make a U-Turn and another right. Over and over again. I passed one gas station that had power thanks to their being part of a local village's own power system. The line stretched for 4 blocks!
Have we heard from any other 'locals' and how they fared?
My prayers are with all those who lost so much.

amgpmg,
Yes here I am again trying not to be so compulsive about these boards. Sometimes I say that I will just go online for a quick check of the boards-just reading, no posting and before I know it the time has flown and I have been on for over an hour!

Still no docs here Maybe DVC is slower printing them? Maybe I am paranoid? Or just jealous! Please, document fairy send my documents soon!

 

[NancyDVC]

I spend way too much time on these boards. (And forget what I wanted to ask originally.)
Now another question. Is anyone staying in Cape Canaveral the night before we cruise? We have ressies at the Radisson for Friday night and plan to eat dinner at Grills. (We tried it for lunch in March and liked it.)
Is anyone else staying at the Radisson on Friday night? Or any other local hotel? What about a pre cruise mini meet? Any takers?

 

[ThreeSmiths]

Glad to hear from our friends in Wilmington & Celebration! Prayers going out to all of those who were not as fortunate.

We're in Charlotte, about 3 hours from Charleston, SC, so we generally get only pesky wind and rain from the hurricanes...no different this time.

NancyDVC, we are staying at the Quality Inn Suites Cocoa Beach Friday night. It is the sister property of the Radisson, so we will be parking our car at the Radisson Saturday and taking the Radisson shuttle to the terminal. We're driving from Charlotte Friday a.m. and are expecting an 8 to 9 hour drive (with stops and whatnot). I can't wait to get in that car and go (I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune about 4 hours into the drive!)

No documents here yet either

Anyone with doc's get an unexpected upgrade?

Stacy

 

[amgpmg]

NancyDVC, I know exactly what you mean! I can spend hours here unintentionally.

I am glad to hear everyone that we have heard from is fine after Charley. I think there are a couple more we have not heard from yet. I hope all is well.

We will be staying by the airport the evening before and then taking FL Tours to port.

Kathy

 

[4Sedgs]

HookedonMagic: Glad to hear you're OK. Bonnie just spurned tornadoes in the adjacent county, but with Charley bearing down on us, Brad and I filled up our vehicles just in case we were evacuated or without power.

Poor Brad. Saturday was his birthday and we had to cancel his birthday celebration with 5 other couples. The store never opened to get his cake. No restaurants were open. So he spent Saturday evening picking up limbs and helping my neighbor clean up a downed tree. I did manage to have a great present for him - Bose CD/Radio for his home office. He loved it! I guess this was a birthday he'll never forget!

DS12 was supposed to start 7th grade yesterday and received an unexpected Hurricane Day since many of our local schools were still without power and the school system wanted an extra day for the county to clear debris from the bus routes. Both are back in school today. DS7 goes to year round school so it was just a long weekend for him. I unfortunately had to go into work and they spent the day trashing my house (on the inside to match my yard)!

Have a great day!!!

Marti

 

[ldb1030]

We are also staying at an airport hotel Friday night. We were going to be taking FL tours like amgpmg to the port, but I got a better rate with Happy Limo just last week so we'll try them!

Getting worried that I won't have everything done in the next 24days!!
Need to call a babysitter for my cat!

 

[TraSee]

Hi all!

Well, Hurricane Charley landed right on top of us. Having lived in Florida a very long time, we in the Orlando area are always been spared the worst of these storms. This time was very different. I live in Seminole County, just north of Orlando and we received a direct hit Friday (the 13th) night! I live in a two story house and my husband , son, schnauzer, and myself were huddled underneath the stairs in what I call our "Harry Potter" room. I thank the good Lord that we, our family, and neighbors all are fine. The neighborhood I live is only one year old, so we had very few large trees. Little trees cam down, but no damage to the house. I was worried about our pool screen, but after Hurricane Andrew all screens are now reinforced to handle the winds...and it did!

Unfortunately, we still do not have power! My parents live about 20 miuntes away and their power was restored yesterday, thank goodness. We will be able to sleep here until our power is back on. They said we should be up by Saturday. Hot, August Florida nights are not enough to cool the house down, so it is miserable. At least we have water, many don't. So if you're sending prayers and pixie dust, send it to those who have lost loved ones, are injured, or have lost property first. (Then add a little prayer that we get power soon!)

My son just graduated from the Police Academy...a week ago Monda...and his first duty yesterday was directing traffic in Orlando where not only are traffic lights not working...they aren't there anymore!! Quick on the job training!!!

Scrapperjill...Hope you and Sydney are doing well.

We really need this vacation...can't wait!!

 

[ldb1030]

Tracy-
Glad is all well with you and your family!

My step-daughter is a police officer so I can sympathize with you about the 'on-the-job-training' your son is going through!!

See everyone soon! We'll keep our fingers crossed that we won't have any problems in a few shorts weeks!

 

[4Sedgs]

Tracy - I'm glad all your love ones are safe. I'm hopeful you will have power soon!

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I had completed our door sign. It is very simple since I'm not one of you artsy, scrapbook types. I made it on the computer. It has "The Sedgwicks" on it with our cabin number. I also put our green mickey ears on it with 4Sedgs in the middle. I laminated it and put those magnetic strips on the back so it will stick on the door.

So we have:
passports
documents
booked excursions (well Grand Cayman anyway - no one would commit to Cozumel)
made spa & Palos reservations
name tags made from HD alien green chips
door sign

Need:
shopping for dress clothes
make hotel reservation for night before

I'm definately ready to go!!!!!

 

[NancyDVC]

Sounds like we are all doing well.
Tracy, I will add you and yours to my prayer list. I like the idea of your 'Harry Potter room'. My nephew graduated from the NYC Police Academy last Dec. 30. His first assignment was New Years Eve in Times Square-12 hour shift that became 14! Ah that on the job training.

4Sedgs, Glad you weathered the storm so well.

 

[amgpmg]

Trasee, I am glad to hear that you and your family are safe and sound. My boss was in Orlando when the Hurricane hit and we have not heard from her yet. I am sending pixie dust your way and to all in the area who have been affected. Mother nature sure can do some damage when she wants!

ldb1030, we are staying at the Best Western near the airport the night before. We do not get in until almost 11:00 pm. We picked the place partly because it soinded like a clean place to sleep and it has a 24 hour waffle house adjacent to it. That way if the kids are hungry or we are up early we could go for a nice breakfast before heading to Port.

I have not even started on my door sign or Mickey heads, but I did finally go pick them up. I felt like I was doing something wrong by grabbing a bunch of Green Mickey Head paint samples. I had to walk around the store for 15 more minutes pretending I was looking for something I needed to buy .

See everyone in a few weeks!!

Kathy

 

[aaronamy]

TraSee- Glad your doing OK, hopfully you will have power soon. I've started working on our door sign and I also have my paint chips. I know how you feel amgpmg, I felt like I was doing something wrong too.

 

[ThreeSmiths]

LOL!!! You guys crack me up!
I feel guilty now for NOT feeling guilty about grabbing my paint chips and heading out the door!

Wow....I am so not prepared compared to some of you! I really need to get going...I guess I feel like 23 days is just so long from now.

 

[amgpmg]

I posted my last cruise pics to the below thread:

cruise pics (just scroll down to the second to last post on page 3 - you will find them there).

NancyDVC & all, this should make it easier to recognize my family at the dismeet. I also will be wearing our Mickey name tags. I look pretty much the same less about 45lbs. My DH, DD & DS haven't changed much since then either. Just a little bit bigger.

Kathy

 

[ldb1030]

amgpmg - we are at the Fairfield Inn Airport. They offer a free breakfast the next morning so that will be nice! We are not due to get in until 10pm so I, like you, will just be happy with a place to sleep!
But with connecting through Atlanta, I'm not too hopefull that we'll arrive on time! All the more reason to just stay near the airport!