September 22, 2007 -- WESTERN

[Lucky Penny]

Hi everyone - and thanks for the welcome messages!! I'm just learning how to use this board so please excuse any blunders! And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! Been thinking for WEEKS that it would be nice to have a quiet romantic dinner at home, but how am I supposed to manage that when I have to WORK all day ... and now here we are snowed/iced in for the day DH said I shouldn't tell people I can do that

I am Penny and DH is Bob (scottrob in DIS) - and we are so looking forward to our first cruise! Can't wait to meet a lot of you in September! Meantime, I'm reading everything and following the links to activities and such! Last night I found TWO fabulous "cocktail" dresses at Macy's sale - unbelievably good prices - and bought both of them -- now need to decide which one will be more appropriate for stepmother-of-the-groom on March 31st. I think I'll bring both for the cruise!

We're planning a week at WDW after our cruise - since our only two grandchildren live in Orlando, we have LOTS of excuses to get there every chance we can.

 

[brady961]

Welcome Penny. also looking forward to Sept and hoping to meet as many Dissers at least to say hi.

Just love when you find clothes on sale. I bought a semi formal last year that was 70 percent off. how could I pass that up right?

I too live in Orlando and little spoiled being so close to WDW. Do your grandchildren here get to visit WDW much?

 

[brady961]

I called DCL today to request the 8p late seating for dinner. Last time we had 8:30p. We didn't get out of dinner until 10:30p which by then I was so tired, I went to room. therefore missing the parties and other night activities.

So am thinking if can eat at 8p even though only 30 mins difference I will have more time to do some things at night, plus be a little more "awake" <G>

Also requested to start rotation at Animators or Parrot Cay. I started at Lumiere's last time, and although I enjoyed there, I found three nights in there little too much. I believe I will enjoy one of the other two for three nights better. Hope so anyway. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in Parrot Cay, but Animators would be my second choice.

Hope all is well for those dealing with the ice/snow storms.

 

[papa]

Marsha the LAP rotation are ok with us. I prefer the other restaurants over animator's palate. The only problem I had was with the hand wipes being used so much that at the end of our 11 day cruise, the skin was peeling between my fingers.

We always do a few days at the parks after the cruise to ease the transition back to the real world.

As I said before Penny, you and Bob will enjoy your cruise. Kathy and I find that cruising is the way to spend your vacation. Mike

 

[brady961]

we had the LAP last time (Jan 27, 07). 8:30p It was fine but am hoping this time I can finish dinner before 10:30p or later. plus I would like to have the three nights in Animator or preferrably Parrot Cay. I will take whatever they assign me though. No Matter what I will eat, drink and be merry <G>

those hand wipes: I knew I was home when i went to eat and no one was standing there to hand me a wipe. LOL

I also carried lotion in my arm bag on my travel power chair. if not I can imagine what my hands would have been like after all those wipes.

I can't seem to stay away from this thread, the cruise boards, and i keep checking DCL to make sure my reservation is still there LOL. You would think since I just came off a 7 night cruise I wouldn't be so nutty about reading about cruises, looking up things etc..... <G> And to think have to wait another 7 months. my poor computer will automatically open the DCL or this thread when I turn it on each day LOL

 

[scrapperjill]

Welcome Penny I see you got your own account And made your very first post right here with us.

Sound's like most of everyones been having some BAD weather. Ours hasn't been to bad. Cold...but no snow or anything along that line. It was foggy here this morning...if that counts Oh...and the weather man said it's suppose to rain a little tonight.

I'm not a "big" reader. But I have found I like John Grisham books. I started with the Painted Fence...and got hooked. I then had to back track and read his first books....then get the new one's as they come out. But the one he came out with last year I still have sitting on my desk (I've hardly gotten through two chapters)...and I havent' even purchased the newest one. I remember there was a time when I would anxiously be waiting for the newest one to come out.

Like AmericanScrapper mentioned...this'll be our third cruise together . I simply love getting together and catching up in person...and I know my youngest dd loves getting together with their dd. Watching kids meet up with friends that they haven't seen for a long time...can almost seem like they've spent every day together the whole time....like they skipped over all the time apart and it was just yeasterday that they were sitting at the pool playing together. We both also met another family during our first cruise (04)...(actually we met here on the DIS) that cruised again with us on the last cruise(05)...and may be comming again this time. However they just added another member to their family....so their not sure if they'll cruise this soon or wait. AND on our last cruise (05) our friends (Kim and Tiffani aka T&KHayes) came along for their first cruise...and as of right now have plans to come on this one as well. We also have my parents that "may" be comming with us again...but they're not dissers.

 

[eva]

Brady, I can't believe that I forgot about Iris Johansen. I just finished her newest book, Stalemate. If you read Catherine Coulter be sure to do the FBI series in order. They really do build on one another. If you go to this link it has them listed in order: http://www.catherinecoulter.com/text/suspense_series.htm She also has a newer one in paperback called Point Blank. I really liked all of them. But they really are best read in order. Tami Hoag's earlier books are not really that great. They are bit too romancy for me. If you look in the cover of one of her books they list them in order. I would start at Night Sins. I really enjoyed that book and the next one which is Guilty as Sin. It is a sequel to Night Sins. Thanks for the list of other authors. I love to find other authors to try.

Marshmelo, I love the Cross series too. But if you enjoy those, you have got to try his Women's Murder Club series. They are my favorite. To see the books in that series you can go to this link: http://www.jamespatterson.com/books_womens_murder_club.html Besure to read them in order. These books have enough surprises that I couldn't put one down once I started reading it. His 6th one in the series is due to come out in May. I'm thinking about pre-ordering it for the cruise.

OK, back to the cruise. We have requested the 8:30 seating. I like to maximize my pool and reading time. I know some may flame me, but there are a few shows that we probably won't go to. Once you've seen some of them twice, it really is enough. We'll want to see Twice Charmed, since it will be new to us. But I'm not sure which of the other shows we will go to.

 

[brady961]

Eva thanks for the link. I will definitely check her stuff out. I am sure I would enjoy her FBI series.

Can totally understand not repeating seeing shows over and over again. Esp when they don't change. But there is so many other things to do not seeing a show isn't going to really be missed imo. Do whatever, whenever but most importantly have fun!!!!!

since I was in my room last cruise after dinner I never even went to like Sessions, or Studio Seas to see/watch/listen etc... So i do want to at least check these places out this time, so thinking with 8p dinner I will feel more up to doing so. Then again who knows. I am not a "night club" type person and can enjoy sitting on the deck watching the water just as much. But at least try some new things this time.

later

 

[brady961]

don't mind me just bumping up the thread

 

[brady961]

Brady, I can't believe that I forgot about Iris Johansen. I just finished her newest book, Stalemate. If you read Catherine Coulter be sure to do the FBI series in order. They really do build on one another. If you go to this link it has them listed in order: http://www.catherinecoulter.com/text/suspense_series.htm She also has a newer one in paperback called Point Blank.

Ok I know you said to read coulter's stuff in order. however, today at Walmart they had Point Blank for five bucks. now how could I pass that up

Eva
Have you read anything by Lillian Braun about the Cats that .......

I may not have her name correct. But the books are so cute, very light reading, usually can finish it within one night or few hours. this rich dude has two cats and one of the cats seem to solve mysteries or at least gives him clues to solve them.

 

[eva]

Brady, be careful, if you read Point Blank first you will feel a bit lost. Two of the main characters are introduced in the first couple of books and you will feel like there is a lot going on that you don't understand. Don't forget to check out Kay Hooper's Bishop series. They are some of my favorites. Here is the link to the books: http://www.kayhooper.com/books/bishoptimeline.html Look on the right and you will see the books listed in red in order. This is another one that it is best to read in order. You won't even know who Bishop really is if you read the later ones first. I have been tempted to try out Sue Grafton. I think that she will be the next author to look into. I tried a book by Lillian Braun and just never could get into it. Maybe I should give her another try.

Back to the cruise again. Has anyone decided on the excursions they will be taking? I think that we will just take a walking tour of Key West and do Stingray City on Grand Caymen. Since it sounds like the water is not over chest deep, I am sure that DH will go for that. I think that we will stay on the ship at Cozumel. That's not definite yet.

 

[brady961]

Here is one of my Door magnetic signs I planned to use:

so remember papa, if my signs get rearranged someone will be watching

 

[brady961]

Brady, be careful, if you read Point Blank first you will feel a bit lost. Two of the main characters are introduced in the first couple of books and you will feel like there is a lot going on that you don't understand. Don't forget to check out Kay Hooper's Bishop series. They are some of my favorites. Here is the link to the books: http://www.kayhooper.com/books/bishoptimeline.html Look on the right and you will see the books listed in red in order. This is another one that it is best to read in order. You won't even know who Bishop really is if you read the later ones first. I have been tempted to try out Sue Grafton. I think that she will be the next author to look into. I tried a book by Lillian Braun and just never could get into it. Maybe I should give her another try.

Back to the cruise again. Has anyone decided on the excursions they will be taking? I think that we will just take a walking tour of Key West and do Stingray City on Grand Caymen. Since it sounds like the water is not over chest deep, I am sure that DH will go for that. I think that we will stay on the ship at Cozumel. That's not definite yet.

Thanks Eva, for now i just put the book in drawer as I have many others to read ahead of this one. Just couldn't pass it up for 5 bucks. I plan to use the link you gave me for Coulter and either order the first ones from online or bookstore.

I'll check out kay hooper bishops series too as I am running out of authors myself.

I have read all of Sue Grafton's until her next one comes out in paperback. Janet Evanowich sp? is another one I enjoy.

I doubt I will get to do any excursions due to using a power chair, makes excursions very limited. Key West I am going to check more to see what the walking tour entails. If it is something I can do using power chair, then I may try that. I have already done the trolley tour. sorry but I wasn't impressed. Or I can just ride around checking out things on my own without part of group excursion.

Grand Cayman I can't even go to due to them having to use a tender. I can't take the power chair on the tender. So that day I will chill, relax onboard around the pool, deck 4 or anywhere peaceful. Cozumel not sure if will even visit again. Shopping in the mall at the port is about all I can do. Some of the stores were WC accessible. So I may spend another day onboard chilling out somewhere with a book, participate in onboard activities etc...

I am looking forward to spending time onboard, relaxing so it's ok with me that excursions are very limited due to my mobility problems. Even on CC I will for sure go eat at Cookies, yummmm. Other than that is just riding around sightseeing areas that have concrete surfaces. Again I am fine with this too.

I find making the best of what I can do onboard or off-board means for sure I will have a great time. although there is much I can't do. But Hey, just means more deck 4 or 10 time, or more deck 9 eating etc....

Whether I can go into a port, I will find something to do and love every minute.

 

[CaptainJack]

We will be joining you on this cruise--me, my DW, and DDs (twins--age 13). Also with us will be a friend of the girls (age 12) and her family.

We were originally supposed to be on the ship in early January. Then, postponed to the September 15 Eastern. (We postponed less than a month before sailing--how sad is that).

Then, the friend of the girls and her family decided they wanted to go on a cruise. We talked them out of Royal Caribbean and into a Disney cruise, but they have their hearts set on seeing Grand Cayman. So, since they came on the ship based on us raving about Disney, we could no less than agree to re-book to this date.

 

[brady961]

CaptainJack, DW, DD's, and friends.

I have added you to our passenger list. If you have other info to add just let me know. You can find the list by clicking on link in my signature.

Glad to have you aboard!!!!

 

[American Scrapper]

Welcome CaptainJack! Brady, your sign is too funny!!

Eva - I just started reading Point Break and while I have read some of her books, I don't recall reading any introducing the characters in this one. I guess that is why I was somewhat lost in the beginning!! LOL!! I think I am OK now though. I do alot of reading on the train to and from work. I enjoy alot of different authors, but do prefer mystery, although I do like the Nora Roberts books, but not the true romance novels. There are always some romance in hers but also mystery. She has several trilogies that I like.

Kathy

 

[brady961]

Brady, your sign is too funny!!Kathy

thanks. just thought i better start warning eyes will be watching

 

[scrapperjill]

WELCOME CaptainJack We'll have our dd who'll be 14 at the time...maybe they could chat some pre-cruise. Are they planning on doing activites in the Stack? I've heard soooo many time about their activites being cancled due to lack of intrest. I'm hopeing there will be enough kids wanting to do the activites in there....cuz my dd can't wait for some of them. Anywho...Welcome

Brady...your sign is TOOOO funny. Papa...you better watch out.

 

[brady961]

Brady...your sign is TOOOO funny. Papa...you better watch out.

he is the one that said it's one thing he is looking forward to doing so thought I better have something <G>

 

[papa]

Here is one of my Door magnetic signs I planned to use:

so remember papa, if my signs get rearranged someone will be watching

All I have to do is turn the sign around Marsha to cover it's eye
Welcome aboard Captain Jack and family. Mike