Today was our first at sea day, and we had very few plans. Ken and I got up around 7:00, and I went up on deck to get him some coffee and to bring some breakfast down from Goofys Galley. They happened to have, among the pastry offerings, more of that yummy stollen bread we had at Palo. Mmm. By the time I returned to the room, Daphne was awake and watching the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on TV.
She ate and got ready to swim, with my assurances wed find out when the movie was starting again and she could watch it then. We were on deck by 8 oclock, and Daphne had the entire Goofy pool to herself for a bit! Finally, a tween girl whod been in the hot tub citing frigid pool temps agreed to swim around with D. By 8:30, the Brownies were up and at em, and they all decided to go to the Mickey pool.
Ken enjoyed the action on deck for a while, then came back to the room to read. The kids were content to swim for hours. At ten, Ken came back on deck to relieve me so Mom, Dad, and I could attend the Dazzling Desserts seminar. The chef de cuisine at Animators Palette made the white chocolate dome Id eaten last night. Lots of cream, lots of egg yolks. So yummy, though. And we got a recipe to take home. He was an interesting man; hes worked in the cruise industry since 1982 and with
Disney Cruise Line since its inception.
After the demonstration, I went back on deck to look for Ken and Daphne. Not seeing them, I returned to the room to drop off some stuff and headed back up. Daphne was still in the Goofy pool, having swum for 3 hours!
We sat in the shade to watch High School Musical on the big screen, while Daphne ate chicken tenders from Plutos Dog House and Ken and I enjoyed sandwiches from Goofys Galley: roast beef, ham and red onion chutney, and turkey with cranberry sauce, all on ciabatta bread. Hannah and Sarah showed up and sat with us for a while to nosh, then Hannah wanted to go to her club.
Daphne and Ken tried to play ping pong, but something about the way the ship was listing slightly threw the balance off, and the ball wouldnt go uphill to D. She was getting weepy, too, and since the deck was filling up, we decided itd be a good time for a nap. One ice cream twist later (Daphne is impressed with my fancy soft-serve tops; I used to work for TCBY!), we were in the room and headed for bed.
I ran down to Treasure Ketch for a Readers Digest, then sat out on the verandah to read it (actually, I read the first part in the restroom so I could keep the stateroom completely dark and quiet until Daphne fell asleep). I got my Bible study done, and was enjoying the view a great deal. Ken went up on deck to relax and get a snack, and while he was gone, Daphnes nearly-two-hour nap ended.
It was just in time for the Mickey 200, too! D and I went to the Promenade Lounge and joined 11 other family teams in a stiff vegetable competition. We were all given a potato, a huge carrot, 4 plastic wheels, 4 nails, 4 toothpicks, and a knife. We had fifteen minutes to make a vehicle using both vegetables, and the cars had to be a specific width and length. Our design was heavy, which I thought might help us gravity-wise, but when our heat came, the thing wiped out and fell apart! Daphne cried and stated that it wasnt a fun activity since we didnt win. Theres some sportsmanship for you!
We were finished by 3 oclock, when Daphne had an appointment with Nana and Pappy to watch Harry Potter in their stateroom. Ken and I were off to Vista Spa, where we had the Exotic Rasul scheduled for 3:30.
At the spa, we were given locker keys where we switched our clothes for bathrobes and slippers. We were shown to a private area separated into two rooms. On one side was a shower alcove and a stone bench. On the other side of the door was a steam room with three seating alcoves and a set of sinks in the middle (a lot like the set-up in Chamber of Secrets, now that I think about it
but no serpents). The hostess instructed us to shower first, then explained that we were to first use the bowl with exfoliating salt. There was milk bath to mix in with it to our desired consistency. After wed put that on, we were to steam for 10-15 minutes. Next, we were to use the mud. She said we were to put it on problem areas then steam for 10-15 minutes. She said that after we showered that off, if we still had time, we could use any of the more than dozen products they had in a basket in the main room.
The first step into the steam room was a shock. It almost burnt my skin, it was so hot! Eventually, after sitting down (heat rises, I guess, and I wouldnt breathe up there!) and turning on the water hose to keep my feet cool, I did okay. Ken didnt seem as bothered by it. It was stifling hot; it felt like I was inhaling through thick wool, and my glasses kept clouding up
except that I wasnt wearing glasses! That said, it felt GREAT. SO different and relaxing and rejuvenating. And highly entertaining.
When we went into the steam room the second time, wed just applied the mud. I guess that really reduces the friction between a body and stone, because I found myself sliding sideways on the seat, unable to stop myself. The mud seemed to have some mint in it, because my skin was tingling while it was on.
Next, I tried the polishing face cleanser, the face mask and the anti-aging eye mask. I also used the Devils Mint body scrub. After showering THAT off, I washed and conditioned my hair, then used the toning splash and hydrating lotion. When we stepped out of the room, I felt a little weak, but completely stress-free. It was great! They even have some water with cucumber or lemon available in case you feel yourself getting dehydrated in the steam room. I didnt need it during the procedure, but we headed to the beverage station on Deck 9 right afterwards and I broke my habit: I had diet Sprite this time. It felt cleaner.
Daphne finished watching Harry Potter in the room while we got ready for formal night. Ken looked handsome as all get out in his tuxedo with red shirt (to coordinate with us), and Daphne and I both had on complementary red Asian dresses. We did Daphnes hair fancy, and we both wore hair sticks.
I know they pay the Cast Members to be attentive, but its still nice! They were very complimentary of everyone in our party. TJ looked adorable in his little man suit. Something about four-year-old boys and ties. Its just adorable.
Our Parrot Cay dinner was excellent, as usual. I had quinoa and grilled vegetables, creamy onion soup, a vegetable strudel, and French toast banana bread pudding with coconut ice cream. It seemed like more food than the previous nights. Ken had spicy chicken wings with pomegranate barbecue sauce and fruit chutney, onion soup, the beef rib eye with twice-baked potatoes, and chocolate walnut espresso cake. Daphne had creamy corn chowder, macaroni and cheese with mashed potatoes, and an ice cream sundae.
When the kids started getting restless after dinner, Mom and I took them into the Promenade Lounge where there was a family dance party. It was fun, and I probably had as good a time as the kids! They reluctantly left there to go see The Golden Mickeys, the stage show featuring a bunch of classic Disney tunes and scenes as well as a couple of new ones. They ended up loving it, and they spent a good five minutes after the show picking up gold confetti.
Now Ds asleep and Kens working on it. Im tired! As soon as I get the pictures captioned, Im off to bed. Four more days, and Im looking forward to every one of them. Were having such an excellent time.
Daphne and I have used the elevators twice maybe; otherwise, were always taking the stairs. I think this along with the portion control of the meals and the fact that were pretty much eating only during meals has meant that I dont feel stuffed when I wake up in the morning, and my clothes arent feeling any tighter. We could be putting it away like theres no tomorrow, but this way were actually able to enjoy the food and still be comfortable!
)
What'd she say? 
This is me right this minute. Drinking coffee at 11pm.
, we gave her the clue anyway. It was tucked into a book about Norway wherein Donald and his nephews go on, what else, a cruise.
