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

[woody73]

. . . you pretty much want to take these cast members home with you

All these years, I thought your empty suitcase was for souvenirs.

Woody

 

[woody73]

Hey, everybody just booked today. Can't wait!!

Welcome.

Woody

 

[iankh]

Hey, everybody just booked today. Can't wait!!

 

[MickeyOCD]

I used a Swingline stapler and a Dymo label maker to make our fish extender. WOW!

Woody

And I thought I was creative!

Is Milton's red swingline?

 

[JLSE50]

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

Makes sense to me

You have to do what is meaningful to you whether or not you or anyone else understands.

 

[sssteele]

Hi All!

Quick question since this is the first time we are cruising with a child and I want to make sure we are doing things appropriately: What is ettiquite with gratuities for a child under the age of 1? Do you tip as if they are a full person, reduced tipping since they are not using full services (for example - in the dining rooms) or is gratuity not expected for children under a certain age?

Obviously, if our server is highly attentive we would tip appropraitely, but we are just wondering for budgeting purposes what is the usual and customary procedures.

23 DAYS TO GO!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

Welcome! Oh how nice to have a baby in the group to fuss over. Will look forward to meeting you.

We aren't too far from you and you've probably been to our town-Hershey.

Joanie

 

[sssteele]

GOT CRUISE DOC'S TODAY - THANK YOU UPS MAN!!!!

Still trying for Palo brunch - no luck again...... I'll keep trying. Where is that pixie dust when you need it? It's all good though.

I'm still trying for brunch too. Got very excited yesterday when I saw the posts, but noticed for 3 or 4 guests only. Looked anyway, but they were gone.

Will keep looking and will try once we board. Didn't get in last cruise, so maybe I'll have better luck this time since we have more days.

Good Luck!

Joanie

 

[sssteele]

My mom over-cooked everything from cans. But she was an incredible seamstress and made a lot of our school costumes from scratch using sheets of crepe paper. Never used a pattern. Designed them and then did the drape, cut and stitch method, ala a couture house.

My sister once had to be Brazil in a school pageant and she made a complete Carmen Miranda outfit, skirt, blouse with ruffled sleeves and the headdress all out of crepe paper. No pattern.

Wow! I sure could use a Carmen Miranda outfit for the Jimmy Buffett concert this Sunday.

Joanie

 

[sssteele]

Hey, everybody just booked today. Can't wait!!

How wonderful! You must work well when under the gun. I've been getting it together for months, and you are just starting. What's your secret?

Joanie

 

[MickeyOCD]

Got a project done today...the FE tags are done! Now I just got to attach them to the gifts. 1 more down. I really shouldn't have put this stuff off. Now you see how I am, I put all my cruise craft projects off to the last weeks and I don't pack 'til the day before or morning of. Can't put off packing 'til the morning of as my kids'll be home. I usually take time off of work to pack during the day while the kids are at school. Makes it easier if it's just me putting things in the suitcases.

 

[KellyMB]

I started on my FE gifts last night. I like them.. but wonder if it is enough. It seems kinda silly.. and I am adding treats for the kids.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We have 2 miniature long-haired dachshunds, Katie and Allie--they were littermates. They are going to be 11 years old in a couple of days, but don't act like it at all. I wish SO MUCH that we had someone to come stay at home with them, but we lost our sitter when she selfishly decided to have children of the 2 legged variety. We have taken our girls to a B & B Kennel for many years, and are happy with the people- fortunately our girls love everyone, so they get lots of attention. We get an excellant rate of 36.00/day because they stay together. They seem happy when they go, and are well cared for.
Our problem is that Katie has developed some kind of lung problems and get pneumonia or some kind of consolidation in her lungs 3 or 4 times a year and gets VERY sick VERY quickly. She is on antibiotics year round, so when she gets sick, it is harder to treat her, and when you have an infection, it is a little risky to give her prednisone, because it can make an infection worse. She is so pitiful when she gets sick. We know her so well, we can jump on it and get treatment immed. She also has problems with her calcium, but that is controlled. When she is well, she is playful and does great-just the few times a year she is sick. She is a sweet girl. Allie is just the perfect pet, so far.
I am very concerned about leaving them for 3 weeks, but we have talked to the owner who assures us she will e-mail and send pictures, and that any animal who stays with them for an extended time, gets a daily check from head to tail. They are very familiar with her meds. The kennel always gets very high ratings and is recommended by our vet. Both girls will get a visit to the vet before we go just to address any problems starting up.
Sorry this is so long, but it hit a very worried spot. I know we have to live our life, but I will be worried about how my girls are doing. I'll try not to go on like this anymore. I will try to be happy on the cruise. Vicki

Oh Vicki, I so know what you are feeling. I have no problem leaving Angel, but I was destroyed leaving Gandalf. He had Epilepsy. Until we found the right combo of medications, he had so many seizures. I held him and logged them and timed every single one of them. When he had very long ones, past ten minutes, I would grab the rubbing alcohol and douse his paws in it to bring down his temperature and put bags of ice on his belly. It was so hard for me to leave him in the care of the kid and go on vacation. I was his mommy and he was sick and I felt that I had to be with him and take care of him. After each seizure I would sit up with him, most times all night, because he was so disoriented and kept bumping into things.

I went on vacations, but I couldn't think about Gandalf at all because if I did I would burst out in tears. It was so hard to leave him. So I fully empathize with you. I know exactly what you are going through with Katie. Hugs.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I only work a few hours tomorrow morning, then it's back over to the hospital for a little more cut and paste. Thankfully my doctor rearranged his surgery schedule so we could get this done quickly and I'll have two weeks for the stiches to get a'healing before I head on out to Florida. A suspicious spot turned up pretty quickly and we didn't want to wait over four weeks to deal with it.

Looks like there's a little group of us that will be doing some healing on this cruise.

.

Hi Jackie, I hope it's quick and easy and that you heal real soon.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Thanks!!! I figured all I had to do was bring the "signed contract" and that was it.. better then 10 whole books of papers we don't need..

Also, make sure you sign and print out your payment authorization form and then bring that with you too.

 

[DVC Kathy]

We have 2 miniature long-haired dachshunds, Katie and Allie--they were littermates. They are going to be 11 years old in a couple of days, but don't act like it at all. I wish SO MUCH that we had someone to come stay at home with them, but we lost our sitter when she selfishly decided to have children of the 2 legged variety. We have taken our girls to a B & B Kennel for many years, and are happy with the people- fortunately our girls love everyone, so they get lots of attention. We get an excellant rate of 36.00/day because they stay together. They seem happy when they go, and are well cared for.
Our problem is that Katie has developed some kind of lung problems and get pneumonia or some kind of consolidation in her lungs 3 or 4 times a year and gets VERY sick VERY quickly. She is on antibiotics year round, so when she gets sick, it is harder to treat her, and when you have an infection, it is a little risky to give her prednisone, because it can make an infection worse. She is so pitiful when she gets sick. We know her so well, we can jump on it and get treatment immed. She also has problems with her calcium, but that is controlled. When she is well, she is playful and does great-just the few times a year she is sick. She is a sweet girl. Allie is just the perfect pet, so far.
I am very concerned about leaving them for 3 weeks, but we have talked to the owner who assures us she will e-mail and send pictures, and that any animal who stays with them for an extended time, gets a daily check from head to tail. They are very familiar with her meds. The kennel always gets very high ratings and is recommended by our vet. Both girls will get a visit to the vet before we go just to address any problems starting up.
Sorry this is so long, but it hit a very worried spot. I know we have to live our life, but I will be worried about how my girls are doing. I'll try not to go on like this anymore. I will try to be happy on the cruise. Vicki

I know how you feel as well. We had a special needs cat. He had acromegaly (too much growth hormone) which caused enlarged organs and skeleton, and uncontrolled diabetes. We had to check his blood sugar twice a day to decide how much insulin he would get. We couldn't go away even overnight without a stay at the vet for him (and he didn't like to travel), so we didn't go away much. Being on the cruise is harder, because you're not very reachable in case of problems.

He had a much longer (and still enjoyable) life than predicted. The staff at the vet's office loved him. We'd walk in and they would ask us about Pepper, and when we were going away again. They spoiled him rotten. He passed away last December, while we were at Boardwalk. His enlarged heart finally gave out. The staff at the vet was as upset as we were.

Anyway, we had to keep telling ourselves that we deserved a life, too. We made the best (and probably most expensive) choices to keep our furbabies safe when we went away (the vet for Pepper, a professional petsitter for Smokey), and enjoyed our time away from home and work.

It sounds like you've made an excellent choice of caregivers for your dogs. Now just get ready for a great cruise.

Kathy

 

[CustardTart]

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.

We can and will definitely visit!!! The major demolishing and construction will take at least a couple of months, Deb. Once that's done, the site's cleared of any dangerous materials and the access to the rear garden is once more secured, I'll get them home. It's their safety that concerns me most as Dinah is deaf...

how sweet. What type of dog is Suzy? She's beautiful...

Thank you. She's an Old English Sheepdog so should look like this...

...but IMO she prefers her coat to be kept short so we get her clipped regularly...

Hey, everybody just booked today. Can't wait!!

aboard!!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Well, it's back to packing out today. Yesterday I did all the laundry and made a list of all my activities for each day. Now I'm going to pull out enough clothes for what I need and NO MORE. I'm sure I'll still overpack!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We do and I have. It works great. I also have a DirectTV app on my iPhone. I schedule shows while I'm on the bus and train.

I should have known that you would be the one to know!!! Now I know I can trust it to work. I'll have to go there and play when I get some time. Thanks!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

3 wks from today is MNSSHP!

 

[KayR]

We can and will definitely visit!!! The major demolishing and construction will take at least a couple of months, Deb. Once that's done, the site's cleared of any dangerous materials and the access to the rear garden is once more secured, I'll get them home. It's their safety that concerns me most as Dinah is deaf...


Thank you. She's an Old English Sheepdog so should look like this...

...but IMO she prefers her coat to be kept short so we get her clipped regularly...



aboard!!!

Your fur babies are sooo cute. I love Old English Sheepdogs. Don't see many in our area (perhaps because of the heat). There is one who was trimmed short, but not as short as yours. I just love that short look on her.

-Kay

p.s. loved all the pictures of everyones fur (and hoof) babies. Makes me sad we can't have dogs/cats (DH and kids are allergic!). Up side is that I don't need to worry about boarding them when we go away!