September 12, 2009 ~ Last Call for Tortola! Thread 3

[KathyInCitrus]

So, what are you folks doing with your pets during the cruise?

Well, fortunately, cats don't have to be walked twice a day, so boarding them is cut in half.
For a week-long trip, I'm leaning towards leaving them at home with plenty of water, food, litter boxes. Never longer than a week.
If things look iffy weatherwise (Florida east coast), I'll board them. Not cheap, but they get loves from the staff. Fortunately, the staff is accustomed to their Houdini tricks.

 

[rotary2808]

Does anyone else have DirecTV? Since we'll be gone for two and a half weeks at the beginning of the Fall season with all the new shows starting.....I'm thinking about using a feature that DirecTV offers.....you can go online and schedule your DVR to record shows. I have never used this before. I'm thinking about trying it out. Has anyone ever done this?

We don't have Direct, but we do have Dish and we have DVR's (best things ever) and we have them programed to record new episodes of the shows we have selected so if anything starts up while we're gone we'll get it without even having to think about it.

 

[KathyInCitrus]

My mom always did crafts, cooked and sewed. I don't know how I was ever related to her because I don't do any of the above.

My theory is that these things skip generations. My mother loved to sew, while I can't figure out where my sewing machine is. My sister never bothered to get one!

 

[MickeyOCD]

Linda, aren't you the crafty and creative one! Bravo! I envy your talent.

My mom always did crafts, cooked and sewed. I don't know how I was ever related to her because I don't do any of the above. I'm horrible at crafts and sewing. I'm an OK cook, but John surpasses me tenfold and he enjoys it while I do not. So fortunately there's no competition in the kitchen.

Thanks! I don't really think of it as crafty (as I don't sew; I hand stitch- LOL!), but creative. Most of what I do is no-sew or just a bit of tacking. My sewing machine is still in the box it was bought in! My mom is a seamstress so anything of that nature that needs to be done I give to her. She does a MUCH better job than I. The FE is just 3 small little canvas purses (with a nautical theme on them) that I bought at the $ store. When I saw them I thought that I could make my FE out of it. I think it turned out pretty good considering I only had to tack it together and then I personalized it with fabric markers (total cost of the FE, $7.50; $1 for each purse + $4.50 for the fabric markers). The flipflops are just strips if Disney material or ribbon that you tie around the straps of the flipflops to make them look "fluffy". We did this for DD birthday party and all the girls just loved them. And the sarong/swimsuit coverup is just a large/wide scarf that I'm using a bleach pen to "stencil" the outline of a Mickey head. The ones that you used to buy at the park were $30, I bought the scarf for $12 & the bleach pen I already had. I'll try to post pics when I'm done with my projects.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Sitting in a room in the Comfort Inn, in Bolivar, MO, here for business and not to take the waters.

I just looked at my desktop DVC countdown and it says there are 14 days until I and the intrepid little band I'm travelling with arrive in WDW, for a full frontal beach head attack Dole Whips.

For some reason, today's countdown increased my sense of urgency.

This coming weekend is going to be the festival of electronics at Eastwood Manor. I need to start collecting and staging all the gadgets.

I keep thinking of this weekend as my last full weekend, because next weekend, the one before we actually depart, I have to get my friend who is dog sitting, ready and prepped. He's moving in on Wednesday the 2nd, so he can go through one full morning with the dogs before we leave.

He's a bit nervous about the whole thing, and wants to be throughly prepared, so I need to take quite a bit of time doing that.

Anyone else have pets, and what are you doing with them?

In the past we have boarded them, but at $95 a night when we're away for 15 nights, is a bit costly. And that's WITH a multiple dog discount! Somehow $1,425 is just a bit much to part with for boarding.

I just saw that WDW is having an annual pass holder special. I can book the Pop Century for $69 a night. Maybe I should have gotten the dogs a room at the Pop Century since that would only cost $1,035 for the length of stay.

I'm very grateful that this friend is going to stay with them. Partly because he's a very gentle soul and was very attached to his little dog who he had for 17 years. We had not had a good experience with dog sitters. One friend (no longer a friend) who we paid to stay with them while we were on the Panama Canal cruise was not very good to them.

We heard from our upstairs neighbors/tenant who have two dogs of their own, that he had mistreated them.

Our best ever dog sister can't do this time. She's proving to just be greedy and selfish by going on this cruise with us, rather than allowing my to fly her to Chicago to take care of Tallulah and Truman. When we came back from vacation they enjoyed being with her so much, they really couldn't have cared less that we were home.

I sometimes wonder where people's priorities are.

So, what are you folks doing with your pets during the cruise?

we have a pet nanny service that comes to our house twice a day...cost is $20/day for 2 dogs. she stays 30 mins each time. not bad!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Thanks! I don't really think of it as crafty (as I don't sew; I hand stitch- LOL!), but creative. Most of what I do is no-sew or just a bit of tacking. My sewing machine is still in the box it was bought in! My mom is a seamstress so anything of that nature that needs to be done I give to her. She does a MUCH better job than I. The FE is just 3 small little canvas purses (with a nautical theme on them) that I bought at the $ store. When I saw them I thought that I could make my FE out of it. I think it turned out pretty good considering I only had to tack it together and then I personalized it with fabric markers (total cost of the FE, $7.50; $1 for each purse + $4.50 for the fabric markers). The flipflops are just strips if Disney material or ribbon that you tie around the straps of the flipflops to make them look "fluffy". We did this for DD birthday party and all the girls just loved them. And the sarong/swimsuit coverup is just a large/wide scarf that I'm using a bleach pen to "stencil" the outline of a Mickey head. The ones that you used to buy at the park were $30, I bought the scarf for $12 & the bleach pen I already had. I'll try to post pics when I'm done with my projects.

great ideas!

 

[ragdoll]

Donna, isn't it funny how they react. Angel, the dog, will come right to us and be happy to see us when we get home. Ella, the cat, will be fickle and let me know that she's pissed that I left her. It will take her a few hours before she'll come to me when we get back. John, she probably won't go to for a day or so. She thinks that I belong to her exclusively and she's not sure who that tall guy is in the house.....hahaha.....they are very funny indeed!

I love cats! They are so funny and all have their own strange personalities. Ours hate to see the suitcases come out. I think I told the story before about one of our cats who threw up all over our clothes in several open suitcases. I will always believe that he did it on purpose to keep us from leaving in the morning. I was up all night doing laundry. Lesson learned...never leave open suitcases unattended with pets in the house. (It's funny now)

Donna

 

[ragdoll]

Doing the Cruise Docs Dance

As for Pets: my mom will come over every 2 days and check on my cat and feed him, change water and clean the litter box..

We also still have our son's fish.. I'll get a 10 day feeding tablet for them.. I just can't seem to give the fish to a pet store yet It's weird, I never thought I'd want to hold on to his fish of all things

Stacy, I was away from the boards for a while and did not know about your son. I am so very sorry.

Donna

 

[MickeyOCD]

My theory is that these things skip generations. My mother loved to sew, while I can't figure out where my sewing machine is. My sister never bothered to get one!

I think you are right. My mom cooked everthing from scratch (canning was big at our house), catered weddings, sewed (made a liitle for a stay at home mom) and now she makes stuff for craft shows. She's the crafty one in my family. I could only wish I had 1/4 of her ability.

 

[CustardTart]

...So, what are you folks doing with your pets during the cruise?

We'll be boarding our ladies at their usual 'home away from home' deep in the Kent countryside. We've been using this kennels for almost 15 years now and all of our dogs both past and present (and including our beloved but extremely temperamental Boxer boy) have thrived in their care. Our Dalmatian, Dinah is sooo excited when the guy turns up to collect her and her 'sister' Suzy in his van that she starts her special super-sonic, ear-splitting (not hers tho' - she's deaf!) barking the minute she sees him!!! Poor man has to endure that all the way back to the kennels - I'll never know how he copes...

Actually, this time will be bitter-sweet as the ladies are going to stay for an extended, open-ended break whilst the worst of the building work takes place and I am going to miss them horribly...

It's definitely not the cheapest option but I know they're safe, happy, well cared for by people that know and love them in beautiful surroundings. And that's priceless...
Suzy...

Dinah...

 

[DisneyRN1]

Jackie,
Don't know if you are here or not, but MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!!!!!!! We got it. Thank you so very much, I really do appreciate it. See you all soon, Vicki

 

[kimlovesdisney]

Walking on Water - Keeping Healthy at Sea

Early morning walkers only!

I sent out an email this week to the folks who indicated they would like to walk in the early morning to nail down some times.

13 emails went out. I have heard back from 10 people. 3 have not responded.

Please check your email or spam mail, otherwise. I will be sending out the general information and teams for all time slots, the weekend of August 29th.

Ian, I heard (don't remember where) that they have a 5k (walk or run) on Castaway Cay. You get a certificate for completing it. It also said if you particiapte you are the first to be allowed on the island. Do any of y'all know if this is true?
thanks,
Kim

 

[KayR]

Just a reminder of something to add to your 'todo' list before departing for FL. If using credit cards, phone your CC company and let them know you are traveling so they won't put a fraud alert on your card and stop payment when it is used out of state or even out of country.

(Been there, done that, not amused in the Walgreen's check out line in Kissimmee!)

-Kay

 

[Evette]

Just checked the DCL website and there was availability for Palo Brunch for parties of 3 or 4 and I booked Brunch for Monday the 14th at 11:00 am.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We don't have Direct, but we do have Dish and we have DVR's (best things ever) and we have them programed to record new episodes of the shows we have selected so if anything starts up while we're gone we'll get it without even having to think about it.

I definitely agree that DVRs are the best things ever invented....like the microwave and the cell phone....you can't live without it. But I can only program mine for 2 weeks. I'm going to be gone for 2 weeks and 4 days. Even if I do it the night I leave, I won't get the entire time that I'll be gone. How far in advance can you program yours?

 

[EllaEnchanted]

My theory is that these things skip generations. My mother loved to sew, while I can't figure out where my sewing machine is. My sister never bothered to get one!

It does seem to happen that way, doesn't it.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Thanks! I don't really think of it as crafty (as I don't sew; I hand stitch- LOL!), but creative. Most of what I do is no-sew or just a bit of tacking. My sewing machine is still in the box it was bought in! My mom is a seamstress so anything of that nature that needs to be done I give to her. She does a MUCH better job than I. The FE is just 3 small little canvas purses (with a nautical theme on them) that I bought at the $ store. When I saw them I thought that I could make my FE out of it. I think it turned out pretty good considering I only had to tack it together and then I personalized it with fabric markers (total cost of the FE, $7.50; $1 for each purse + $4.50 for the fabric markers). The flipflops are just strips if Disney material or ribbon that you tie around the straps of the flipflops to make them look "fluffy". We did this for DD birthday party and all the girls just loved them. And the sarong/swimsuit coverup is just a large/wide scarf that I'm using a bleach pen to "stencil" the outline of a Mickey head. The ones that you used to buy at the park were $30, I bought the scarf for $12 & the bleach pen I already had. I'll try to post pics when I'm done with my projects.

I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures when you're done.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I love cats! They are so funny and all have their own strange personalities. Ours hate to see the suitcases come out. I think I told the story before about one of our cats who threw up all over our clothes in several open suitcases. I will always believe that he did it on purpose to keep us from leaving in the morning. I was up all night doing laundry. Lesson learned...never leave open suitcases unattended with pets in the house. (It's funny now)

Donna

Awww, that's a great story. Poor little guy.

I'm not sure what the cat thinks, but I know the dog knows that something's up. The suitcases are out, we're trying on clothes, doing laundry and packing....Angel keeps looking at me.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We'll be boarding our ladies at their usual 'home away from home' deep in the Kent countryside. We've been using this kennels for almost 15 years now and all of our dogs both past and present (and including our beloved but extremely temperamental Boxer boy) have thrived in their care. Our Dalmatian, Dinah is sooo excited when the guy turns up to collect her and her 'sister' Suzy in his van that she starts her special super-sonic, ear-splitting (not hers tho' - she's deaf!) barking the minute she sees him!!! Poor man has to endure that all the way back to the kennels - I'll never know how he copes...

Actually, this time will be bitter-sweet as the ladies are going to stay for an extended, open-ended break whilst the worst of the building work takes place and I am going to miss them horribly...

It's definitely not the cheapest option but I know they're safe, happy, well cared for by people that know and love them in beautiful surroundings. And that's priceless...
Suzy...

Dinah...

Oh Kaz, how sad. How long will the building work go on for? Can you visit them in between? You're going to miss them so much.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Just a reminder of something to add to your 'todo' list before departing for FL. If using credit cards, phone your CC company and let them know you are traveling so they won't put a fraud alert on your card and stop payment when it is used out of state or even out of country.

(Been there, done that, not amused in the Walgreen's check out line in Kissimmee!)

-Kay

Thanks for the reminder Kay, it's a good one!