Who's sailing April 18-22, 2004 - gotta start this sometime!!

[thebets57]

Hey All!! I get a kick out of reading all these posts - the enthusiasm is contagious!!! We spent the entire day at Bentley College (very near here in Waltham MA) - one of the big contenders for DS. VERRRRY interesting day...seems like it moves up to the top of the list. Unfortunately, the final decision won't be made until we attend another accepted students day for Boston College on 4/24 - sooooooo, we will have to spend the vacation still not knowing :-(. I was really hoping we could just put it all behind us for the trip, but hopefully we will not think too much about it and just RELAX (how do you do that again??!!) Also met his new love interest/girlfriend tonight - very sweet and so.....where is the cabana boy???

Bostonlass - I'm so sorry to hear about your cellar!!! We always have water when the rains are bad. The worst year - we were swimming down there !! - a friend suggested we call the fire dept to pump us out - I had never thought of that, and quite frankly, didn't expect they would be bothered with us (kind of felt guilty to bother them...). Sure enough, they came right out and hooked up their big pumps, and the water was gone soooo much faster than if we had plugged along with our smaller pumps - I couldn't believe it. You know, you just pay and pay...your taxes, but you never expect (or should I say "we never expect") actual services day-to-day. Those guys were awesome! Not sure if that would have applied to your current situation, or in the future. My brother lives in Andover - their cellar flooded for the third time since they finished it as a playroom. They confirmed the insurance thing....good luck!! There's always something as a homeowner......

 

[goofy601]

Well, we're covered again in the white stuff. Isn't it wonderful? Not only did I lose an hour of sleep that I really needed - but I wake up to a ground full of snow! Oh yeah - that's exactly how I like my mornings...short of sleep and snowy - can I add a side of bacon to that! BUT! Everyone with me - WE'RE GOING ON A MICKEY SHIP - HIP HIP HOORAY!

I am sending LOTS and LOTS of hugs everyone's way that is having all the problems with their homes! That really stinks! Thankfully we have a wonderful rental home - it breaks - they fix it in a jiffy! We had a gas leak 2 years ago and presto - new gas lines - no bill - and a new furnace to boot!! We had a stove that one thing wasn't working right and they came out and fixed and then the next day - a new stove was delivered! Of course on the down side - no equity and I'm paying for the land lord's mercedes - but after hearing all your joys of home owner ship - I'll rent a little while longer!

Gotta run - off to church - and then off to work! Isn't life grand!

MICKEY SHIP HERE WE COME!

and

 

[disneysailor]

We've lost an hour, but I'm too excited to sleep, I get to meet you all on the Mickey Ship two weeks from TODAY!!!! I've made arrangements for my pets, to stop the mail and newspapers, but all you CPA's out there, I'm horrified to say our taxes are still NOT done. My husband is still waiting for a paper from his business and I'm really getting nervous. We've never done our taxes this late. Of course, our friends that own a tax business still haven't done theirs, but I guess that's kind of like the plumber with the leaky faucet, so I don't know if that really makes me feel better.

goofy601-Snow?,Yuck. Did anyone else get snow? We're expected to get some tonight but I hope they're wrong. Of course, it will make our gorgeous vacation weather seem all the better.

thebets57, didn't we just go to college yesterday? How can our babies be growing up so fast? My son turns 14 in Sept. and my dh and I started dating when we were 14! YIKES!!!

bostonlass- So sorry to hear about the things you lost. Glad you are starting to get it under control though and hopefully no more rain will come your way anytime soon.

Good luck with the packing everyone. I think I way overpacked but I can't figure out what to take out and I'm not even done putting in!

See you in 2 Sundays!:happy1:

 

[travel with kids]

Someone scrape me up off the floor!! DS, 13 went to his first male/female birthday party. I had visions of my ds not hanging with the girls, but feeling arkward and being clicky with the boys. Oh, Heavens, I wish that is how it went. But instead, all the boy except ds palyed ps2 and all the girls and ds (the only boy) played truth or dare ---he is only 13!! Cabana Boy was at our house last night!!!

Have to run to church......stay warm and dry ..Lee

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

and today it's covered with snow. Only in Ohio can you use your lawn mower and snow blower in the same 24 hours. This weather stinks and we can't wait to have it warm enough to wear shorts.

Yestersday I decided to call the hotels/airline/rental car companies just to reconfirm everything. It's a good thing I did because Budget rental car had my reservation for the 17th to the 25th.... but.....they had the month as December 2003. We would have gotten to the airport and found no reservation and possibly no car. So, I had to set up new reservations, and of course, the price went from $200 to $240. Then I priced what it cost to drop off the car at Cape Canaveral on Sunday and then pick up another when we get off the ship and drop it off at MCO. This option was only $170 total, so we'll be doing that. Normally, I would not have even thought of dropping off, but I had read on these boards that they don't charge a drop off fee, and they were right.

disneysailor - don't worry about those taxes. If you don't get them done, just file an extension. My brother is also a CPA and he doesn't even start his until August.

Scott's countdown to the Mickey Ship
8 more ties!

 

[bostonlass]

Holy Mother of Pearl!!! It's supposed to snow tomorrow!!!



I've had quite enough of mother nature I'll tell ya!!!

thebets - Bentley is awesome. I work for Partners HealthCare and just about 90% of our finance department is from Bentley. Very highly recommended if he's interested in finance or IT. My father and brother went to BC and my dad is a season ticket holder for all of the football games. Either choice is great in my book. I'm actually starting to apply for various jobs at different colleges so that I can maybe snag some free tuition. I've sent resumes to Tufts, BC and UMASS Boston. I doubt I'll get a call but I'm just doing it for practice so far. I think it's totally who you know in that case.

Ok...off to do tons of laundry!!!

 

[goofy601]

Hello All!

College planning - EEK! I don't even want to think about that terror that is quickly approaching...our oldest DD is turning 13 in September...and then it's all down hill from there. We've got boys calling the house, wearing make up, this and that - school dances, a little boyfriend (thankfully his mom and I are friends) and he spends his allowance on little gifts for her for Valentine's day and her birthday. It's sweet on one hand and on the other - EEK is all I can say!

I have my taxes done - I just have to actually GO pick up my city ones. I just can not find a minute to go all the way over there and get them. We use the same office year after year - and it's not very conveniently located since we moved over here 4 years ago...oh well, that's something else I have to add into my agenda this week or next for sure!

I should get back to laundry - I swear that I'm doing the neighborhoods laundry some days - and today is one of those days. I also have to find the floor in the little ones room - there are toys everywhere!

Later...

and

 

[goofy601]

Ok - here it is! We're down to the wire...11 days until we leave for Florida and 13 days until we sail into the sunset! Hip Hip HOORAY - we're ALL going on a MICKEY SHIP! Leaving our worries, flooded basements, and leaking roofs behind...we're leaving on a jet plane - in a car, in a bus, in a van! Hip HIP HOORAY!

Ok - gotta run - I have to get to work!

See you all VERY VERY SOON!
and and

 

[disneysailor]

Good morning all! I just called Disney reservations and asked which movies would be playing while we were on board. The lady was soooo nice. There are a lot of movies (who knows if there will be any time to see them). Here they are:

• Brother Bear
• Calendar Girls
• Confessions of Teenage Drama Queen
• Cold Mountain
• Finding Nemo
• Freaky Friday
• Hildalgo
• Home on the Range (just released!)
• Lady Killers
• Lord of the Rings
• Master + Commander
• Miracle
• Pirates of Carribean
• Teacher's Pet

All right, gotta go hit the treadmill! See you soon!
(p.s. We lucked out, no snow and both UCONN teams are in the finals!)

 

[RSMAEA508]

We will be on this sailing. We will have our 4 children, dd17, ds14, dd9, ds2.

This is our first cruise. We thought it would be the last opportunity for all the kids to be together for something like this since the oldest will be off to college next year.

Our past several vacations have always included at least one of the children's friends, but not this time.

We will be on Deck 6 Aft.

 

[disneysailor]

Welcome RSMAEA508

Glad you'll be joining us. I added your family to our cruise list on page 30 if you'd like to see who else is traveling. There are other kids around your children's ages as well as another child who is about to go off to college.

I'm sure you'll all have a wonderful family vacation!

 

[sopandbass]

I can't believe we'll be on the ship in 14 days!!!

Okay, I've got our lime green buttons...Safe Sea...old swimsuits for the chlorinated hot tub...beach toys...a bag for the beach toys...lots of one and two-dollar bills for tips...list of spa treatments that I'd like...DH's bonine....walkie-talkies for stategic mission to acquire reservations....

Is there an advice website or thread I haven't read? I'm sure I'm forgetting something important. But who cares because ~ I'd rather be on the ship having forgotten something than be here at home worrying that I'm forgetting something!!!!! Let's go!!!!

Hi, RSMAEA508! Welcome.

As I've posted before, we missed a sailing in January because DD-3 was ill just before we were scheduled to leave. Well, she woke up this morning with a fever. I'm not letting her get out of bed until she's well.

I'm excited for all of us!

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

sopandbass - get that little princess well! Mickey is waiting for her.

Welcome RSMAEA508!

Scott's countdown to the Mickey Ship:
7 more ties!

 

[RSMAEA508]

More info for the cruise list....

We're from MA (Metro-West area) and have the late dinner (like most everyone else it seems).

Ray, Susan, Megan (17), Andy(14), Emily(9), Alex (2)

Cabins 6650 and 6645.

 

[disneysailor]

RSMAEA508 thanks for the info, I'll add it to the list. MA will be cleared out! I have a son 13 and a daughter 10 who will probably be running into your kids in the clubs. Is your family excited? It's great to have a vacation where there is something for everyone.

Sopandbass- Hope your daughter is feeling better. My daughter just started sniffling and says it's all my fault since I kept telling them they're not allowed to get sick before (or during!) vacation.

Scottohiocpa- You're almost out of ties and we're almost on the Mickey Ship!!!!
I'm way too excited and it's hard to get anything done beside checking these boards and Disneydreaming (with a little Universaldreaming thrown in!).

See you soon!!!!!!!!!

 

[travel with kids]

Welcome RSMAEA508!! Are you driving or flying?

sopandbass- Check out this packing list. I printed it off, way back when, but have yet to really get it together!!All The Best Tips-Summarized-Part II http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=468132&highlight=+best++tips++in++one++place


It is cold and raw here today. We had snow AND school!! I could have used a snow day. Two more days of my continueing ed class (phew!!) and then it is 100% of my spare time will be to get ready.

 

[travel with kids]

Oh! I forgot to mention in my last post. I talked with a rep (Peggy Sue) from the DCL and she confirmed that there WILL be a Palo Brunch on our cruise from 12:00 - 2:00. She suggested we make ressies as soon as we can, it fills up quick.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Some of us can do the SINGLE DIGIT DANCE!!!!! WOW OH WOW! We are leaving Friday April 16th at 2PM, yes I am taking the kids out of school an hour early...sue me! LOL Hopefully we will be pulling up to the Radisson by 3PM Saturday afternoon. I have ordered my TripTik from AAA, and will have that by Friday of this week, paid $700 to have the van fixed and read to go. I cannot believe we are leaving a WEEK from Friday! To Quote goofy601 "We're going on the MICKEY SHIP"

RSMAEA508 welcome!!! I can't wait to meet everyone. I am from MA also. Plymouth, soon to be Hanson. If we ever get an offer on this house. UGH.

I am mostly packed, and believe it or not, the 5 of us are all packed into one suitcase! I DID IT! LOL. I figured we would be mostly in our swim siuts all day, so I went light on the clothing. I just need to pack the toiletries, sunscreen and get the van movie ready for the drive.

I bought a bathing suit a Kohls. They were having a 40% off sale...so I got a nice bathing siut for a good price.

 

[goofy601]

...we're going on a mickey ship - hip hip hooray!

Welcome to our new friends - meet us all at scoops -- too tired to go back and tell you which posts to read -- but read back and join us!

I'm a nut - just ask everyone else - but hey - who cares! WE'RE GOING ON A MICKEY SHIP! HIP HIP HOORAY! and

 

[thebets57]

Wow, Our enthusiasm is building.... so much fun!!! I always do ALL the planning for our vacations, and altho the family enjoys, it is WAY more fun to share the rest of it with you!!!!!!

DisneySailor - Thanks for the list of movies!!!! I had no idea there would be so many! Something for everyone....

Travelwithkids - Thanks for the confirmation about brunch! We are soooo much more knowledgeable because of this board......

Disney1fan2002 - OMG!!! I truly didn't realize that we were doing the single digit dance as well (should I panic?????) We leave NEXT wednesday 4/14!!!!!!!) So, let's see, I just have to pack, get ready for my out-of-towm parents to visit, organize Easter for the kids, organize Easter dinner for the exdended family here, continue working, call top colleges and negociate financial packages (maybe beg...), and will I make it?? YES!!!!! Can't wait to meet you all!!! P.S. Disney1fan2002 - You will be very glad you minimized your packing - good job!! With every cruise, I vow to pack less. The interesting thing is that I think I've accomplished that, and yet, I still come home with clothes not worn. I continue my challenge to minimize.... You are right on when you realize you will basically be in swimsuits all the time!! Our big dilemma this time is whether to pack the snorkel fins... I insist on bringing the masks/snorkels (just don't want to put our mouths on 'public mouthpieces'), but the fins take up so much room.....The decision will be the last night, depending on the space available (not my style, but the DH's...)

Good luck to eveyone with the last minute details - it's so exciting to say that!!!! Can''t wait to meet you all....