Westbound Repo Ship of Thieves-Remember the Magic!

[woody73]

. . . Any my low points on the Cruise was some dis people avoided us as we thought that not our fault for being disability but as their problems not our as we were happy on the Cruise and glad to had two interpreters made us laugh too. No need for some people walked past us without saying hello etc.

Deborah,

I'm soooooo sorry that some people (any people - DIS people or not) would avoid you b/c of your disability......but then again you're a better/bigger person than they are so you're better off w/o them in your life.

I, for one, enjoyed meeting you & your family. I really enjoyed sharing the parasailing experience w/ Ian, and I LOVED every hug and smile that Olivia gave me. I wish I had been able to get to know Keith better, but there is always next time

Deborah,

I enjoyed meeting you and your family in person, and had a better cruise experience doing so.

Every time I saw you, I felt that the friendliness and warmth were genuine. These are the fond memories I will remember.

Woody

 

[woody73]

So - did anyone else picture the lamp from "A Christmas Story"?

It's the first thing I thought of. The second was Ian wanting a BB gun.

Woody

 

[gaylean93]

Between now and August is the warmest. When we got home it was actually warmer here than it was in LA.

Now if you want to visit in the cold and snow (for a nice change) January and February can be pretty reliable.

Or if you want to give Brooke and Ethan the chance to trick or treat but needing to pick out costumes that will fit over their snow suits (do they own snow suits?), then come up for Halloween for something different!

They actually do own them because my in-laws live in the mountains. I would love to come when it's warm. What is there to do there?

 

[gaylean93]

That's a favorite mid-priced buffet of ours too.

Woody

Where are you eating? We did stay at the Wynn and ate at the "cafe" and it was $250.00. That was interesting.

 

[gaylean93]

Hello Gaylean

I won't forget you as you seem a lovely bubble girl/lady

You seem had a lots of fun.


Any my low points on the Cruise was some dis people avoided us as we thought that not our fault for being disability but as their problems not our as we were happy on the Cruise and glad to had two interpreters made us laugh too. No need for some people walked past us without saying hello etc.
Scottishwee35

Are you sure that is why people avoided you? A LOT of people avoided me If it is, I'm sorry. I would go on a cruise with you anytime!

 

[woody73]

I really enjoyed talking to you. It was funny though everytime we saw you I talked really loud to you. Maybe I thought you could hear me if I yelled at you! . . .

Too funny!

Woody

 

[woody73]

. . . Got a hot dog, Fritos and 32 oz of Diet Coke for $3. Not the best dinner....but CHEAP!

Dinners like this make cruising possible.

Woody

 

[woody73]

Where are you eating? We did stay at the Wynn and ate at the "cafe" and it was $250.00. That was interesting.

The Wynn buffet is a favorite of ours. We were comped, as we dropped a few dollars in the casino.

Woody

 

[MouseFaninQueue]

They actually do own them because my in-laws live in the mountains. I would love to come when it's warm. What is there to do there?

Nothing. Which is why we like to travel to other places!

Truthfully there isn't much for indoor activities. This is a place to go to the lake (although it will be cold by your standards), go hunting, fishing, canoeing (we have the world famous Bowron Lakes here), camping, or other outdoorsy things.

I'm not much of an outdoorsman except I like to go out in my flat water kayak and my idea of "roughing it" is "no room service".

We have Barkerville nearby. Barkerville is an old ghost town that in the 1860's was the biggest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco. Then the gold rush ended up here and it died. Now it is Provincial historical park.

Every July we have our big family fair called "Billy Barker Days". It's just a small town country type fair.

Realistically though, Quesnel city proper has a population of about 8,000 which zooms right up to 20,000 when you include the outlying area. So it's not like this is a major metropolis.

Whether or not to come up here really depends on what you like to do. Generally people come up here to go camping or on their way to the Alaskan Highway.

 

[LisaG520]

Nothing. Which is why we like to travel to other places!

Truthfully there isn't much for indoor activities. This is a place to go to the lake (although it will be cold by your standards), go hunting, fishing, canoeing (we have the world famous Bowron Lakes here), camping, or other outdoorsy things.

I'm not much of an outdoorsman except I like to go out in my flat water kayak and my idea of "roughing it" is "no room service".

I consider hotels that the rooms open into the parking lot to be roughing it! (As opposed to interior corridors)

 

[woody73]

I consider hotels that the rooms open into the parking lot to be roughing it! (As opposed to interior corridors)

Oh, you must have talked to Mrs. Woody.

Woody

 

[Tink rules]

Ken... Back at ya!!!

It was the people who made this, our very first cruise a trip of a lifetime. I've made friends who I know will be with me for a very long time and I am also grateful for everything that everyone did not only for the cruise, but for us, from the events to the FE to just being there and spending time with us. I too looked forwards to the at sea days and only wished I could have met many of the people I have gotten to know here on the boards. I was very lucky to have met those I did, but I fear another 15 nighter is in order so I can meet the rest.

Oh.. and I forgive you for trying to steal my plate on Pirate night...

 

[Tink rules]

I consider hotels that the rooms open into the parking lot to be roughing it! (As opposed to interior corridors)

After spending summer vacations in a cabin with no bathroom (we had to hoof it over to the Lodge for the facilities...) my sister considders Concierge to be camping...

 

[eeyorelvr10]

subscribing for future use.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

I think I've read all the pages in our thread, but I've read them out of order--you might notice that my quotes are jumbled up! I think my information is jumbled up, too!

Well, worked till 8PM tonight, then grabbed dinner from Cheri's favorite spot....the QT gas station by my house!
.

For a small town girl like me, that is the ULTIMATE gas station mini-mart! Kathe, you know how I love to look around grocery stores! I LOVED that place!

Thanks everyone for the kind words on the pics. I still don't have all of them up on my website yet, I'm currently only on Acapulco.




I need to extend my thanks to everyone on this cruise who helped to make it so special and memorable. Everyone was so great, I only wish I had more time to sit and talk to everyone, but it just seemed like I was busy running from one thing to another with hardly much time to stop and chat. Panama Canal day seemed to be the best for me just wandering Deck 10 and stopping to chat with everyone all day. It was great!

There is no way I can personally thank everyone for all their efforts on this trip and if I start to mention people by name, I will forget someone and feel bad. So let me just say thank you to everyone, those I met and those I just ran out of time and didn't get to meet. Each of you helped in your own little way to make this journey certainly a magical one for me and my family. And for that I am eternally grateful.

When I first looked at this cruise I was concerned over the number of days at sea as I am not generally one to sit around and do nothing. I like to be moving and doing something. 15 nights with only 5 ports scared the living daylights out of me, thinking I was going to go stir crazy. But I really wanted to try the Canal, and it wasn't everyday you get to do this type of thing so we booked it. And I found this group. This group saved my sanity. Yes, I know it's hard to believe this group actually SAVING the sanity of a person, but it's true. I truly believe that without the ability to meet and interact with the members of this board in the manner that we did, I would have gone stir crazy with the days at sea and the trip would not have been nearly as much fun as it was - not one iota! In fact, this group actually had me looking forward to sea days and dreading the ports when we all went our separate ways. So again, thanks to everyone for really making this one special voyage that can never duplicated again.

Ok group hug and then time to talk football ...

Well Ken, I just finished downloading a bunch of your photos--I hope that's OK! Your pictures in the WD Theater were WAY better than mine. Don't worry, I won't try to take credit for them...at least, anywhere that you'll see! I'M KIDDING!

Your sentiment above is way better than anything I could have written, so I think I'll just copy it, too! DITTO everything Ken said! (Except I wasn't worried about being bored on sea days)

I don't consider you a bad mom. Your girls are probably a lot different than Ethan. He is very smart but hard to get motivated. He is still having trouble doing his homework now. It is like we had to start all over again to get him to do his homework and even get out of bed. He is in the stage right now where he will cry when he gets upset and he'll cry and tell me how hard it is, even though he can get it done in a few minutes if he just does it. I don't know how to get him out of this He went back last week and they learned something that he had done already and he was mad that he had to sit through it. Brooke would be fine because she begged to do her homework on the cruise. I hope to take them out again because it seems to be a lot cheaper. I hope for some different ports as well. Something special like this one was.

Gaylean, what grade is Ethan in? Is he in 2nd? He sounds very much like my nephew at that age. Getting him to do his homework was a real battle, but somewhere toward the end of 3rd grade he really changed. He just finished 4th and he's almost always very good about getting his homework done. I think it was a maturity thing.

Hope you are well.

Will upload photos and send you email later okay.

Cheri

It was pleasant to meet you and you seem carry the camera everywhere

Saw your photos and these photos are great
Scottishwee35

Thank you, Deborah! I DID carry my camera everywhere! I love taking photos and sharing them. I hope when you get yours posted you'll share the link. I love seeing other people's photos, too.

It was such a pleasure to meet you and your family, especially after "talking" with you on the boards for over a year. I felt somewhat inadequate, like I wished I had known some ASL so I could have communicated with you better, but you made it easy because of your sweet and outgoing nature. I'm looking forward to continuing our friendship on the boards!

Hawaii, we are there in a heart beat....my other favorite place to be besides WDW. Alaska, would probably do, just because it is DCL, but brrrrr...when I think cruising, I think sunny and tropical.

I agree. Friends and family have done Alaska, but I just can't get into it. Must be where we live and have lived. We have walked on glaciers in Montana, seen lots of game animals and caught salmon in Oregon. I want sunny, tropical too!! Of course, if DCL goes there and our DIS friends are on the ship we would definately give it a go.

That's the difference between living in WA and living in AZ. Alaska sounds like the perfect summer vacation to me! In fact, my sister (nephew's mother) and her friend had a Disney Cruise planned for this summer but they decided to do an Alaska cruise instead. It sounded much better than Mexico!

Realistically though, Quesnel city proper has a population of about 8,000 which zooms right up to 20,000 when you include the outlying area. So it's not like this is a major metropolis.

Sounds like the size of town where I grew up--5000, to be exact. But it was a great place to be a kid!

 

[granmaz]

Hawaii, we are there in a heart beat....my other favorite place to be besides WDW. Alaska, would probably do, just because it is DCL, but brrrrr...when I think cruising, I think sunny and tropical.

I would struggle with an alaskan cruise. Cruises should be hot!!! However, we would seriously look at it if it happens. I think I have got to the age where my bones need warmth.

I really enjoyed talking to you. It was funny though everytime we saw you I talked really loud to you. Maybe I thought you could hear me if I yelled at you! It was great also seeing you and your family at DL.

I think I yelled at Deborah all the time!!! It is a bit like talking to someone on the phone who is a long way away - I always shout in case they can hear me better.

One night I was talking to Deborah and Alison by the Midship elevators on deck 6 and we were having a really good laugh as usual when I realised it was very late and we were acting like the teens hanging in a group and making a lot of noise!!!! Sorry Kelly if we kept you awake!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Well, I'm dog-sitting for my sister for the next several days. I picked the dog up today and brought her to my house. She's a Bichon-Maltese mix, very cute and very willful not totally house-broken so I have to keep my eye on her all the time. Nevertheless, I enjoy taking care of her and she's pretty good most of the time. But this time there was a new wrinkle...she's in heat and has to wear a diaper.

Even though I don't have kids of my own, I have diapered a fair share in my day, but this is the first time I've ever diapered a dog. She wears little preemie-size diapers and I have to cut a hole for her tail. Of course she doesn't LIKE to wear the diaper, so she periodically tries to chew it off. I'm really earning my money on this job!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Hi Marilyn! How are you today?

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

ugh, I have a vent....a long one but maybe you guys can offer some advice.

My mom came to Samantha's graduation on Saturday and immediately said oh I can take the girls for the night and then said it again in front of the girls, which of course, I would prefer her asking us privately first. I don't know why she got the impression that she was going to take them anywhere she had never mentioned it before. Dh and I both said no. She lives an 1 1/2 away and neither of us are comfortable with her driving them on I4 and I75. Of course she left in a huff and I was already a bit angry as the girls would not get up and we were the last ones to arrive.

So she stops by last night and I already knew what was up because of course she goes home and tells my sister everything who then said something to me. She said she was taking time off next week and could she take the girls somewhere. I said I would have to talk to DH, etc, she immediately gets an attitude and says, so what, it is me, I just can't take them.

I am over it. If she lived in town it would be fine, I really don't want the girls at her house, as she and her husband want to get divorced but won't until they sell their house. So it doesn't make for nice environment if things get heated or he tells her what to do, etc.

There are also other factors. She and my sister are so darn secretive about tings and they discuss absolutely everything. Growing up when I was around my mom I was on eggshells all the time as to how her mood would be. I still am constantly worried about her feelings and she gets pissed off at the tiniest of things. I don't think she would be that way too much but I really don't want to chance it.

I was talking to my sister, but now she hung up on me, whatever. She is now saying mom only took the job here because of the girls. Well, I don't think that is fair to lay on me. If she wanted to be here, she would have moved or rented a place already.

She is more than welcome to come over and visit the girls whenever. I just don't know what to do. I am so sick of all the secrets and who told whom what. It's to the point where my Grandma will ask "should I tell your mom I phoned you?" as mom gets mad if we talk sometimes. It's ridiculous.

I just don't know what to do or say anymore. Nothing is right with her.

V, to you. "Nothing is right with her" just about sums it up, doesn't it? I've had people like that in my life, too. I finally realized that it didn't matter what I said or didn't say, did or didn't do, they were going to be upset. Up until then I kept thinking that if I just tried hard enough, I'd be able to figure out the puzzle. As everyone else has said, you have to do what you feel is right for your girls, even if your mother (or whoever) doesn't approve. I think that nearly every woman wants her mother to approve of her and it's so hard when it doesn't happen. We think about how it COULD be, if only the other person would be reasonable and that just makes it harder. My experience has been that there was very little I could do to stop these people from trying to lay the guilt trip on me. All I could do was not take the bait, if you will. I'd just respond with "oh" or "hmmm" or change the subject. If worse came to worse, I'd make some excuse and end the conversation. You're not obliged to stay in a conversation where you feel you're not being treated well. Good luck and hang in there. Trust your instincts.

 

[granmaz]

Morning cherie. Hope I haven't missed you as I went away browsing!!!

I'm well thanks, but still having problems with my sleep pattern. I also wake in the night and in my half sleep state wonder where I am - onboard, GCH or home!!! Last night I was sure the room was swaying with the waves.