September 17, 2006 - 11 Night Southern Caribbean Part 2

[LetsGoSteelers]

here is the best map I could find, their website doesn;t have any direction or mention the Visitors center...strange...

you'll see it just above Bridgetown in the Parish of St michael

I heard it's fairly close to the port. May even be closer than our excursion. I'm sure Leslie can find it (they have rum after all)!

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

ouch! sorry about that

IVAN- you know how I checked my blood sugar at work, I now have a bruise the size of a pea on the side on my index finger. I think the stupid lancet went into the muscle of my finger. I've never had a bruised finger before....

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

well, be glad they didn;t start the work and leave you hanging, ours started and left midway through

I know what you mean about prices. I don't even want to think about how much has been spent doing all of this. At least we should be finally done (or close to it) by the end of the week. Hopefully all the tile should be down today and they can grout it tomorrow.

Our first tile company did the same thing. Came out and looked at it and we never heard from them again. We called several times and nothing. You'd think people would actually want to make money wouldn't you?

 

[sandym]

We can officially do the document dance

 

[rotary2808]

well, be glad they didn;t start the work and leave you hanging, ours started and left midway through

I think I would be calling them names after that too. I might have some choice words if I go home this afternoon and all the tile isn't down yet. We still have to put in an island, put the countertop on it, and have the appliances brought in before our party on Saturday.

 

[glindamood]

Hello all - finally caught up, or I think I am anyway. Not going looking though, if it isn't on page one post five I can live without the information (...or at least I think I can).

Laura - hope you are feeling better walking buddy and get your self back to normal (or better than normal because there are no worries about attacks, right?) very soon.

Most everyone should have their Secret Mickey information by now - and if not then you will recieve it tonight. Have fun being a "sneaky Mickey".

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

here is some additional info:

Learn more about rum production via a video presentation and a tour through the distillery. This facility is located on a magnificent beach and features a beach-side bar and restaurant.

The entrance is $10 US which includes a 30 min tour, beach chair, towel and use fo the facilities, and a *free* drink. Its right on the beach ... you can stay there all day...hmmm not sure that is such a good idea with this bunch

here is the best map I could find, their website doesn;t have any direction or mention the Visitors center...strange...

you'll see it just above Bridgetown in the Parish of St michael

 

[Cindi0511]

We are on standby waiting for Hurricane Ernesto to hit us tomorrow - on Wednesday, if the mountains slow it down.

Just what we need at this time

The cone keeps moving east -- if it keeps that up, all of us will be out of it by Wednesday when it's supposed to come around. That would be sooooo nice. I am glad it's not going to bother the folks hit by Katrina and Rita last year. Two years past Charley, there are STILL people who haven't even begun to demolish half standing buildings. That's the biggest concern now with any wind event. Go east, Ernesto! Go east!!

Kay, any news?

 

[krdisneybound]

Kay, any news?

check you PM -

 

[captaincrash]

Hey CC - looks like its you and me. MY laptops slow - hows yours? How was your min-vacay? Your sunday party? Hope all went well.

Sorry...

I actually FELL ASLEEP! And I so expected to simply stay up and walk the postings up to 14,000! D-A-*-*! And at a glance i can see the page count shows its' gone.... snif... I missed the sniping op by about 30 postings and I don't know how long yet as this time I'll catch up by reading from where I left off (moving FORWARD) through the postings.

But in reply to your queries...

Hawaii was nice - very nice. Funny, but in the past it seemed more of a chore than Mini-vacation to visit. Although everyone we encounter was generally great fun and buttery nice - I seriously needed a vacation after most visits in the past to Hawaii... and this was true even on the last Hawaiian visit (December of 2005) when we detoured to Maui for 4 days. Had family there but we took significant time away from them to explore Maui - which is a pleasing undertaking for me.

So - this visit was actually really nice for some unknown reason - especially from a weather POV - as the humidity was very light to non-existant and it sort of felt like a balmy Malibu or california with hot but not too hot California sunshine. Well... it was more INTENSE then Califonria usually gets. And the water (as usual) knocks the pants off our cool water Califronia beaches. So - as I am occasionally vulnerable to doing - I found myself musing with my spouse whether we should reconsider moving to Oahu to be closer to family in the closing days of our stay. And this differs from MOST of our visits when I'm rechecking our return flight times in substitution of this sort of musing! Shoot - this time I never checked our reutrn flight times.

So in brief - it was a really nice family oriented (no pun intended - but it plays nicely as such) visit. I did nothing touristy aside from wander Waikiki to get between hotels where family was staying and to get to my FILs' home (in Waikiki)... and use the crowded but excellent Waikiki beaches and Hanuma Bay. AND I got to several near or totally secluded beaches a relatively short drive away. DOing so - I was buffeted mildly by higher marine layer and swapped thoughts with my BIL as to whether I should have brought my heavy (slightly pricey) DSLR camera rig out. IE, my glasses were getting foggged every hour an a half from the constant marine layer being blown in. But it was otherwise a totally memorable beach visit.

And aside from that - the food was either slightly off or refreshingly good - more so on the new places we tried - and the home cooking was a little more to my taste on this stay. Less sushi - more sashimi - more live music and more talk about real estate and a little less on talk about "business". And to top it off - my compact rental car for a week was upgraded to a convertible (at no cost)! Yaaa Hoooo!!! Then 3 days later I traded down for a full size because we needed room for 3 car seats in back! Oh well... it was good while it lasted and the kids enjoied it with mixed results. So it's just as well that I returned it - IE - novel to try but impractical in the long run.

And the Sunday Pool/Ice Cream party was great fun. We welcomed a new family to our church at the party - it was their 2nd occasion to visit ... and me - being the default entertainment coordinator for our little bible study group - sat down to share our past and future entertainment routine - concerts, family outings and parties (costumes, crab bakes, dinners) as well as the various side shows we run. I hope I didn't overwelm them - but it is all cafeteria style - IE, partake in what appeals to you and pass when the schedule or subject "misses the mark". Not everyone enjoies Jazz or the Sound of Music - which comprised our concert selections for this past season. Wednesday we've got George Benson and Al Jarreau at the Hollywood Bowl! And I was shocked at how many were NOT familiar with them! Now, don't tell me... (unless you wanna surprise me again) but are U familiar with either or both of these "Jazz Legends"?

 

[first timers]

The cone keeps moving east -- if it keeps that up, all of us will be out of it by Wednesday when it's supposed to come around. That would be sooooo nice. I am glad it's not going to bother the folks hit by Katrina and Rita last year. Two years past Charley, there are STILL people who haven't even begun to demolish half standing buildings. That's the biggest concern now with any wind event. Go east, Ernesto! Go east!!

Not only has it moved east, the 11AM update has wind speed at only 40MPH as it is going over Cuba. They still expect intensifing after Cuba, but hopefully Ernesto will be weaker than expected before it gets back over water. Alex

 

[glindamood]

To all of you in Ernesto's path, please be careful and be safe.

Not only has it moved east, the 11AM update has wind speed at only 40MPH as it is going over Cuba. They still expect intensifing after Cuba, but hopefully Ernesto will be weaker than expected before it gets back over water. Alex

 

[bluewaves]

OK all - my turn to ask for good wishes on a speedy recovery. I have been rather quiet these last 2 weeks as I have been battling gallbladder attacks. Well as it turned out I had to have it removed on Friday. Didn't plan on it but turned out that way. After 3 attacks within 3 weeks my doctor threatened to blackball me from going on this cruise.

Advances in medicine are amazing, I was rushed into surgery and was out within 1/2 hr. However, it was the reaction to the anesthesia that kept me in the hospital - well that along with low blood pressure - until late that evening. See I told you all that I have bad reactions to anesthesia. Except... I have to say that the advances in medicine will never cease to amaze me. When I told the dr that I ALWAYS reacted violently and was nauseated by the anesthsia, he gave me something to stop the nausea. While I'm happy I may no longer be in pain from having some of my favorite foods, I am in pain from the incisions. Whoever said that the pain wasn't that bad - LIED! LOL. I am in more pain from the dr imposed house arrest than the actual pain...... well ok I lied! The pain is actually tolerable but the no lifting for 10 days along with the no driving is going to kill me!!!! As my husband and kids can tell you - I am not the kind to sit still for long. The only time I allow myself to sit still and not feel any guilt is when I am on vacation - and on sea days only! Ergo - I will probably be a regular fixture on these boards and ebay for the next 7 days! And with my dr's permission - so long as I don't go driving to any shops! Told my DH that I had to listen and obey my dr's orders -

Well if any of you have any suggestions on how to make this H-E- double hockey sticks prison time go any faster - I"m all . So far I've burned the batteries on my Tetris (record of 555 lines with over 51,000+ points. Soduko became boring after my highest solving rate of 3:20 seconds (only to have my DH beat me on his 2nd time playing - so I gave up) and I can't even do laundry or walk my babies as they tend to walk me. I have to work on that! the smallest one (38 #) is the worst one to walk - she has the body of a runt but the brute strength of a bulldog. Heck how am I going to walk them when I need help getting into and out of beds, chairs and can't even go up the stairs without stopping for 10 minutes after 2 steps? Although I 'have been encouraged to walk' as it helps prevent bloods clots. Hey does this mean that I may have my own guardian nurse on this ship? If so - have to tell my dr as he may ok cruise (yeah right as if I'd listen to him ) Oh well, enuf for now.

I'm so sorry to hear about the attacks and the need for surgery. But, I guess on the positive side, after recovery you should start feeling a whole lot better!! And, at least you got it over with in time to heal well (hopefully) before the cruise and enjoy it!!

 

[bluewaves]

Linda, you're not helping me I need something to keep Bob in line for the next few weeks. The mango wine was my bribe

Oops!

 

[bluewaves]

Haven't done the cove cafe yet. Wife and I do love coffee though. Our 4 year old granddaughter drinks the mocha frappachino's at starbucks with her mom $4 cup of coffee is too rich for my old wallet. Mike

Mocha Frappachino's - Yum!!!!! When I used to travel for business, sometimes 2 or those would be my dinner while I scouted the local mall! Two of those and I could get through the whole mall in about 1 hour! Speed shopping!

 

[bluewaves]

Don't forget the "empty suitcase", you will need one for all the 'stuff' from the gift shops.... Our first cruise, we had to buy 2 suitcases on the ship for all of our 'STUFF'

How true!!

Okay, we travel to KY quite often with my whole side of the family there. And, I am always buying things while in KY that I can't fit into my luggage when I fly home. It was beginning to crowd my Mom's house.. So, on my last trip up there I took my big suitcase and then placed the next size down inside of it and packed it. Then, I had the bigger one there to fill up with "all the stuff" I had accummulated.

 

[bluewaves]

I bet Celeste get it. I gotta wait 40 seconds

ETA: It pays to check the boards once in a while

Congrats Tracy! Sorry Ashley's Mommy!

 

[aphoenix]

hey Scott...I'm still waiting on my one from the May cruise...

You got the one I did, right?

 

[bluewaves]

We'll be having a champagne breakfast on our balcony that morning as we dock, so around 7:30am sounds good to me

Thanks for the invite....

 

[bluewaves]

Well, I just got caught up while the little one was down for a nap! Yes, I did say nap - that is amazing! But, now I must go for the afternoon! Have a great day everyone!