Two Graduations, the world and a DISmeet

[John's Mom]

Brandi,

I'm here! Great pics.

You have some great restaurant choices.

How is Aunt Pat doing?

Kathy

 

[dgbg100106]

Wow I have been remorse in updating this so I shall get better at it.

Lets start with my Aunt Pat...

The end of February I posted this.... I know I have not posted lately about my Aunt Pat, but they found another node of Cancer and this is a different type attached to her va***al wall; I have heard her say the name, and she told me that she is butchering the pronunciation, so I really have no idea what the name of it is. I asked her to write it down and spell it to me so maybe when she goes back to the doctor.

She is seeing a Gynecologic Cancer Specialist and continuing her Chemo and radiation. It was originally scheduled for 9 weeks but they are adding an additional 6 weeks for this new type of cancer.

She is down to 90 pounds and having to get kids pants wear. She has lost 40 pounds and it breaks my heart to see her. Her hair is all but gone now and her spirit is very low.

As I find out more I will let you know.

she and I talk every week and I have heard her laugh, which is a good sign but she is just not herself.

***Update****
I talked to her this weekend and she is sounding much better, she told me that my Uncle shaved her head for her and that she is dealing with it. I think it was harder for her to deal with it falling out everyday. I sent her a Harley Davidson do rag, that I wear under my helmet, it is black with iridescent dragonflies all over it, she was very pleased with it and told me should would NOT send it back but was keeping it forever..... So I think I just lost my do rag....

She told me she gained 3 pounds and is feeling better; which is a very good thing.

I will update more as I hear it.

 

[dgbg100106]

Date night with the Hubby, Jan 29, 2011

Italian in little Italy, in Baltimore

Beer

Mushroom Ravioli

Fried Calamari

Chicken Cordon Blu

Tiramusi

Happy Couple

 

[3Leafs]

OMG the Mushroom Ravioli looks to die for

 

[dgbg100106]

OMG the Mushroom Ravioli looks to die for

There were amazing, but then again all of the food was wonderful, that is why we go there on Date Night!

 

[dgbg100106]

Newseum in Washington, DC

I have to tell you that the "King" of Rock n Roll is Elvis and he is my favorite. I got to different exhibits across town and across the country if it has Elvis in it.

So there was an exhibit about Elvis, at the Newseum, David being the most wonderful DH for me, he picked up tickets for us and took off from work to go.

These are a few pictures from that...

There was also a tribute to 9-11 and the spire off on of the trade center buildings.

Then there was a section on the Berlin Wall..

West German side

East German Side

Check Point Charlie

 

[3Leafs]

That place looks so cool!! So how long did you spend around the bike??

 

[dgbg100106]

That place looks so cool!! So how long did you spend around the bike??

Well enough time to check every piece of chrome!!!!

The place is really cool, 6 floors, but not enough time in one day to see everything.

 

[dgbg100106]

So..... Where do I start?

My MIL called and said "Can you find me place to stay while we are in Orlando?"

I respond,
Do you want to stay on property? How many are coming? How long you staying?

Her reply
I don't care, what's the difference, Me, DH, and Dogs...., I don't know, who long are you staying?

My head already hurts.... I have been after her for months now to make some plans, other than "Yes, I am coming"

For the longest, I had no idea if she was coming alone or with her husband, flying or driving.

At least now I know, flying on Thursday the 26th of May, with her husband. Whew....

So I tell her that no place on property can she have the dogs in the room with her, and then she gets mad..... She can't believe that a place like Disney would not let her bring her pets with her to the resort. I give her a list of about 10 places in and around Orlando that will let you keep your pets in your room.

UGHHHHHH

So a day or two passes... she calls me back, my SIL will keep the dogs, and she wants to have a room at the same resort we are at. I look up the rates for the time we are there and call her and tell her the amount it will cost.... She is stunned to say the least. Can't believe that it would cost that much.

I tell her that I can borrow some of next year’s DVC points and book her a room, she is all for it.... So my DH calls and tries to get a room.... Nope, nothing nil, zero rooms at BC! So we find a room at BW that is larger than ours but will do and it uses about 1/2 of next year’s points.

He calls his mom to explain everything to her. Now she wants to come in a day before and leave a day before us. Huhhhhhh?

So back to changing rooms.

So he is trying to find rooms and I remember that “shades of green” is an option for her. He calls, they have an opening…
She says no, ok back to looking for rooms. Then she calls back and decides yes, they will stay at Shades of Green.

Now we have two rooms book on our DVC points. We can’t decide if we should get the Boardwalk room b/c it is bigger and the kids will have more room, brother and sister have not vacationed together in over 5 years. I have a feeling we need the bigger room.

I have updated all of the ADRs to include everyone and have both graduations listed on the reservations, then my DH tells me “You know this is the first time that Dave has ever been to Disney” What? Really? He is 26; you mean you never took him as a kid? You took your DD? His reply….”He pissed me off so I did not take him”
OK>>>>>

David, Myself, and Dave will be arriving the afternoon of the 27th and leaving the afternoon of the 30th.
MIL and Step-FIL will be arriving the morning of the 26th and leaving the afternoon of the 29th.
MIL and Step-FIL will be staying at “Shades of Green”
David, Myself, Dave, and Annelise will be staying at either BC or BW, no decision yet!

 

[3Leafs]

wow brandi I feel for you. So when we finally do meet up for drinks it will be well deserved

 

[dgbg100106]

wow brandi I feel for you. So when we finally do meet up for drinks it will be well deserved

T, I am sure that I will really NEED one then and I can tell you for a fact, that I need one NOW..... It has been one of those days today!

 

[3Leafs]

I hear you on that one!!!

 

[dgbg100106]

Cruise to the Bahama's in February... Leaving the cold of Baltimore behind and heading to warmer places....

First thing first, you must go to muster....

First night on the ship we a nice casual dinner and unpacked and tried to start the vacation attitude...

Chilled Crab Louis for appetizer, Blue Crab Claw meat served over Fresh Avocado

The main course was herb Crusted Merluza (Delicate Spanish White Fish served with a Tomato Rice Timbale, Grilled Zucchini and Ratatouille Vinaigrette)

Dessert was Raspberry Cheesecake with Mango Coulis and 2 scoops of Mango Sorbet... (Celebrity Cruises makes their Sorbet fresh everyday from fresh fruit, and it is amazing stuff)

After dinner we found a guy playing the piano and some woman drunk enough to make a fool of herself with everyone video taping and taking pictures...

 

[dgbg100106]

Day two - we were up early and working out, one thing for sure, the days you are not in port you have to get up and moving or all of this great food will stick with you longer after the cruise is over!!!!

As we were leaving the cabin this morning there was an invitation on the door from the Captain’s Club and we have been invited to dine at the Captain’s table with the Staff Engineer.

So we headed to our private breakfast lounge and had some waffles and Bloody Marys, to me this was great start to the day.

We had a cruise critics part at 10:30 this morning, and enjoyed some nice Belini's at the party.

After all of this drinking, I needed some food, so we stopped by the pool lounge and got some Turkey Burgers... I know, a cruise and eating healthy... well I was drinking enough to offset any healthy eating I promise.

we walked alot today around the ship, it will be sad h\to see her leave the line, it has been fun cruising on this ship.

We went back to our pt\private lounge for before dinner drinks, and some sushi...

For appetizer I had the mixed Crostini's, and David had the veal.

For the second course I had passed on anything and David had the Cesar Salad with extra anchovies and the Vichyssoise.

For the third course I had Seafood Risotto and David had the pork loin.

For dessert we both had the Kiwi Sorbet and the tiramisu

Tonight most of the ship is watching the Super Bowl so we went back to the gym and walked on the treadmills for 30 minutes.

 

[dgbg100106]

Feb 7, 2011 day three....

Back to the private lounge for Bloody Mary's and breakfast.
After breakfast we headed down to the Rendez-Vous Square, deck 6, for the Taste of Mercury at 10:15. They had the head chef Wolfgang Butti, and then the lead chefs from the Palm Springs Café and the International Marketplace both on deck 11. They were cooking a beef cheek and gnocchi and then Teriyaki Salmon and Fried Rice.

We came back to the room and changed clothes to go walk around deck 12, we got 15 laps in and then David soaked his calf in the hot tub for a little while to get it to feel better. While we waited for the burgers to be cooked we watched the Pool Olympics it was funny and entertaining to watch.

Tonight is the dinner at the Captain's Table with the Chief Engineer.

David and I ordered the Anniversary Martini’s and had them delivered to the table. For dinner we had the Beef Carpacciocio, the green apple Soup, and the beef cheek for the main dish. Dessert was peti fores. David had the beef carpacciocio and the Fish bisque, sea bass for main dish, and dessert we had crepe suzette.

 

[dgbg100106]

February 8, 2011 - Day four

today is our first port day and we are in Miami, I have been to south beach before but this is our first trip to Miami. We decided to take a tour out to the Everglades and do a Air Boat excursion...

The tour company picked us up at the port and took us out to a place called Gator Park. It was about a 30 minute ride from the port.

We boarded an airboat that sat 24 people and made our way down an alley out into the river of grass. Our guide was funny and seems like he could call the alligators up to the boat. He had names for all of them and they would listen for him, all of them were females and were friendly. We saw about a dozen each way out to the open spot. He took us out to an open section of the river and ran the boat much like we do when we jet ski, lots of slinging side to side and gunning the throttle. Then he stopped out in the open and gave people the opportunities to step out into the muck. I took my shoes and socks off and stepped out into the river, it was about a foot of water but I sank about a foot deep into the clay so the water ended up around my thigh. After, I got back into the boat he gunned it again back to the alley way where the alligators are and we saw some pretty birds and more alligators.
We got to see some baby alligators and mommas that we protecting them, it seemed like he could call the right up to the boat where the other guides could not.

 

[dgbg100106]

After we got back on we dropped stuff off at the cabin, and headed for lunch. We headed back out and over the Biscayne Bay Bridge. We wanted to walk it to get some exercise; it was a beautiful view or two from the top.

For dinner David had for appetizer, Oysters Rockefeller, and Shrimp Cocktail with Champagne sauce. Second Course was the baked potato soup and entrée was the Cajun rib eye, dessert was Lemon Raspberry sorbet. The food was ok, the oysters were really good and the soup was tasty. The Rib Eye was cooked well but the meat did not have much taste. The sorbet was excellent. I had the Chicken Liver Pate and the Oyster Rockefeller for appetizer, and the strawberry soup which was excellent. For the main course I have the Lemon Sole and I sent it back, the fish was over cooked. For dessert I had the Lemon Raspberry Sorbet and the cheese selection.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I didn't notice that you had been posting a mini cruise report!
Looks like you are having a great time so far!

 

[3Leafs]

What is the zoom on your camera? Your pictures of those gators are amazing..

Oh and I love food porn

 

[dgbg100106]

What is the zoom on your camera? Your pictures of those gators are amazing..

Oh and I love food porn

I have a DSLR, with a vibration reduction NIKOR lens, and it is 18mm to 200mm...on a Nikon D80... The most fabulous gift my husband gave me after we were married, before our trip to Spain.

The problem was we were only about 3 feet from a lot of those gators, I could have touched them if I wanted too...