Wonderful Panama Canal Sept 2014

[Cruisin]

My golden retriever... I should really post some pictures of him. Golden retrievers are a very weird breed because they're really clingy and moody. I call Tucker Saran Wrap because he's that clingy! So he's spending the time at my parent's house where his buddy (my parents 60lb lab) lives. And my dad and Tucker are a pair.... when I moved out you could tell my dad was upset that Tucker was leaving more than I was. Dad comes over almost daily and is like "I just needed... oh hey there's Tuck." And then plays with him for 10 minutes. My cat is a different story. I'm the only person in my family, friends, life that likes my cat. She is trouble, she howls, she is a rather big PITA...And right now we're transitioning from being an indoor/outdoor kitty to being an indoor kitty in my cottage. So I'm thinking she may get extra toys, and then my sister and mom will have to come in and check on her every couple days.

Sounds like you have great parents who can help you out and you know your dog is going to be happy.

My mother says that even if we go away and she stays home that one of my cats starts to cling to her a lot. My cats like my mom but they prefer me if I am home

Mine are indoor/outdoor cats but mostly indoor. Since we moved to the country they are a bit leery of all the strange smells out there I'm totally okay with that, I'm much happier when they stay inside. They are never out at night. I impose a 3 hour before dusk "no one goes outside" limit!

But I wanted to add that even though it bothers me to leave them, I won't let that stop me from travelling. They will survive and so will I!

 

[mmbl]

At this point we don't really know what we want to do. We are really looking more at the flight costs/routes and trying to decide which is the most economical and less painful way to get there. It's going to take us longer to get to San Diego and it is more expensive because there are no non stop flights. So we are looking at several hours longer for travel if we fly to San Diego. We were just weighing the option of taking the easier flights into LA and renting a vehicle with the money we will have saved on the flights. Talking about pets, does anybody else feel guilty leaving their pets for so long. I always do feel really bad, right from the time that I book the trip until I leave..... after I am gone for some reason that guilt eases and I'm like what pets?? We will be gone 15 nights and that is a long time to leave cats with very little human contact. There are 3 of them so they have each other but a couple of them really like to be around their "people", so I feel bad for them. Anybody else feel that way?

I hate leaving my two little dogs for 3 weeks! I usually split them up- one to my daughter and one to my son. It's easier for my kids since they each have 2. When our kids were in college and military, we had a regular house sitter-dog sitter who lived at our home when we we're gone but she now out of grad school and working in a different city. Trying to find another but it's hard since I want it to be someone we know and trust!

 

[Va-NanaTink]

At this point we don't really know what we want to do. We are really looking more at the flight costs/routes and trying to decide which is the most economical and less painful way to get there. It's going to take us longer to get to San Diego and it is more expensive because there are no non stop flights. So we are looking at several hours longer for travel if we fly to San Diego. We were just weighing the option of taking the easier flights into LA and renting a vehicle with the money we will have saved on the flights. Talking about pets, does anybody else feel guilty leaving their pets for so long. I always do feel really bad, right from the time that I book the trip until I leave..... after I am gone for some reason that guilt eases and I'm like what pets?? We will be gone 15 nights and that is a long time to leave cats with very little human contact. There are 3 of them so they have each other but a couple of them really like to be around their "people", so I feel bad for them. Anybody else feel that way?

We have two cats ourselves. Usually we board them with their vet, but in longer trips I feel totally guilty they are locked up the whole time. So our grand kids are going to take care of them...feed them, clean their litter box. Dad will bring them over. One cat is pretty solitary, but Mongo will miss his people, I think. This way they are still in their space, still have their stuff....

 

[Cruisin]

I hate leaving my two little dogs for 3 weeks! I usually split them up- one to my daughter and one to my son. It's easier for my kids since they each have 2. When our kids were in college and military, we had a regular house sitter-dog sitter who lived at our home when we we're gone but she now out of grad school and working in a different city. Trying to find another but it's hard since I want it to be someone we know and trust!

I know what you mean about finding someone you know and can trust. That's not so easy to do. Both of my kids are not near by, one is 1 1/2 hr away and the other is 5 1/2 hrs away, so I cannot count on them to pet sit.

We have two cats ourselves. Usually we board them with their vet, but in longer trips I feel totally guilty they are locked up the whole time. So our grand kids are going to take care of them...feed them, clean their litter box. Dad will bring them over. One cat is pretty solitary, but Mongo will miss his people, I think. This way they are still in their space, still have their stuff....

I'd rather leave mine home locked up in their familiar surroundings too. Gives me some comfort, if not them.

No grandchildren here yet... although there is one arriving in late November. Kind of too little yet to be of much help

 

[Irelandsmom]

Just wondering if someone can add us to the Facebook page. I sent a PM last week but I haven't heard anything yet. If you can add us, I'll send you our emails. Thanks! Also, is there a list that is visible to us of all the names on the FE exchange? I signed up my family and daughter and would like to see how many other kids are going, their ages, etc.

 

[Va-NanaTink]

I know what you mean about finding someone you know and can trust. That's not so easy to do. Both of my kids are not near by, one is 1 1/2 hr away and the other is 5 1/2 hrs away, so I cannot count on them to pet sit. I'd rather leave mine home locked up in their familiar surroundings too. Gives me some comfort, if not them. No grandchildren here yet... although there is one arriving in late November. Kind of too little yet to be of much help

LOL. My oldest is 7, her brother is 5. They do a good job, we did a 4 day trial this spring and all went well!

 

[dsnydaddy]

Just wondering if someone can add us to the Facebook page. I sent a PM last week but I haven't heard anything yet. If you can add us, I'll send you our emails. Thanks! Also, is there a list that is visible to us of all the names on the FE exchange? I signed up my family and daughter and would like to see how many other kids are going, their ages, etc.

can any of us do this for her? Or is it just the pages originator?

 

[gilchrest94]

I was out shopping today and found theses darling Disney Princess journals to add to girls FE gifts! Yep I should of had the list with me. I have no young girls on our list. Lol.

 

[kdeans1010]

I will say I have great parents. They're awesome. Between my parents and sister my critters should be good. I think by the end of our cruise my dad and Tucker will be spooning on the couch reading some book about sports and my sister will have cleaned the cat box maybe five times yet she'll say "OMG, Grey is awful." And y'all are talking about living far away from family. My sis lives 0.8 miles from me and my parents... OMG live super far away at 1.5 miles from me.

 

[Cruisin]

LOL. My oldest is 7, her brother is 5. They do a good job, we did a 4 day trial this spring and all went well!

I was out shopping today and found theses darling Disney Princess journals to add to girls FE gifts! Yep I should of had the list with me. I have no young girls on our list. Lol.

That sounds like something that I would do. Oh well, put them away for another time.

And y'all are talking about living far away from family. My sis lives 0.8 miles from me and my parents... OMG live super far away at 1.5 miles from me.

You are very lucky. I wish my kids were closer but you learn to deal with it.

 

[mmbl]

I was out shopping today and found theses darling Disney Princess journals to add to girls FE gifts! Yep I should of had the list with me. I have no young girls on our list. Lol.

The list won't be finalized until August. I think more of the new people are signing up.

 

[kerstfan1]

My mom will watch my bob he realy does not like to go to a kennel so we try to avoid it were we can

 

[padalyn]

whew - due to crazy work schedule, sick MIL and other life issues - I was unable to add anyone for the last week - so I open up the Dis and WOW....so there have been 6 adds tonight to the FB page:
Crusin
ChipperMerlin
Irelandsmom
AlisonM
disneymomOf2 x 2

I got a request from Katzs13, but am unsure which cruise to add them to - since I am doing the FB pages for 2 cruises!

Please folks - I have been having a lot of trouble adding people because they are not finding the link, are unable to access the link or are just not getting the "add" message.

Once you are added by an email address I can't resend the link.

please check your messages area - other and also the notifications area for the date I message you that you were added!

I've read that Columbia is known for their emeralds. Has anyone bought emeralds or any kind of jewelry in Columbia. The emerald is my daughter's birthstone. I would love to buy her one while we're in Columbia. Do you think that's possible?

Donna

you won't pay duty if you bring in unmounted stones - if you bring in jewelry you might have to pay duty - just a thought.

We just booked the Panama Canal cruise today and couldn't be more excited! I will be celebrating my birthday on the 21st (in Columbia!!), but more importantly we will be celebrating the 4th anniversary of my daughters Make-A-Wish trip. Her Wish was to cruise (for the first time) on the Disney Dream in 2010. She was so sad when we got off the boat that we promised her that we would take her on a Disney cruise every year. It's been 4 years and this is our 4th cruise!

Our family:
Brooke (me)
Eric (husband)
Ireland (daughter, 12 years old, diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica- a rare auto-immune disease)

you were added - sorry for the delay.

Are they really strict about behind the scenes pictures? Reason I ask is that I'm building a Wonder replica in Minecraft and only guess at some if the behind the scenes areas. Commiting things to memory is somewhat faulty. When I got the bridge tour I was able to take pics.

I have pictures of the backstage area of the Magic as well as the engine room - PM me - maybe we can figure out a way to get them to you.

I just did the same. I checked in here on December 7th, and today is my first day back. We are really looking forward to this cruise and a chance to meet everyone.

I added you to the FB page

just ordered our photo package!!! Stupid me didn't see the package of all pictures and CD on the website, so I just got all the pictures...but I can scan them myself and put them on a CD if I need to.

You might be able to upgrade once you are onboard - ask at Shutters on deck 4

Just wondering if someone can add us to the Facebook page. I sent a PM last week but I haven't heard anything yet. If you can add us, I'll send you our emails. Thanks! Also, is there a list that is visible to us of all the names on the FE exchange? I signed up my family and daughter and would like to see how many other kids are going, their ages, etc.

done - I added you!

 

[davidls]

We have two cats ourselves. Usually we board them with their vet, but in longer trips I feel totally guilty they are locked up the whole time. So our grand kids are going to take care of them...feed them, clean their litter box. Dad will bring them over. One cat is pretty solitary, but Mongo will miss his people, I think. This way they are still in their space, still have their stuff....

We also have two kitties. We had 3 but the matriarch, Sabrina, passed on a little over a year ago. The other two missed her for several weeks after she passed. Donna and I still miss her. We always leave our kitties at home, in familiar surroundings. They don't do well boarded at the vet's. Our daughter comes in everyday to take care of their food, water and litter boxes and she lets them go out on the covered lanai to play, so they don't get cabin fever. We pay her to come by a take care of our two "kids." The way we look at it, we would have to pay the vet to board them, and this way they are at their home and more comfortable.

 

[davidls]

I have to share something with y'all. You may or may not remember I told y'all that I walk on an elliptical at least 5 times a week. Well, I'm supposed to anyways. I have slacked off for the past several months. Well, slacking off is not the best word here, I have not walked AT ALL for, well I must admit here I've lost count. It's not something I have to do, or must do. It was a suggestion by my family doctor to keep the ol' ticker healthy and help keep the weight down. I am not over weight, it's just as I've gotten older, I've put on a couple of pounds here and there. So anywho, to make a long story short, I started walking again Sunday. So it has been Sunday and yesterday, and my legs are killing me!!! I am SO out of shape!!! DW laughs at me and says, "I toldya so!!" No help there, no sympathy there either, just "toldya so!!" (She would have made a great drill instructor!!) So it looks like its back to the ol' grind of the elliptical for David. I need to be able to keep up with everyone on these excursions. (We're not running on any of these excursions are we???)

 

[Va-NanaTink]

We also have two kitties. We had 3 but the matriarch, Sabrina, passed on a little over a year ago. The other two missed her for several weeks after she passed. Donna and I still miss her. We always leave our kitties at home, in familiar surroundings. They don't do well boarded at the vet's. Our daughter comes in everyday to take care of their food, water and litter boxes and she lets them go out on the covered lanai to play, so they don't get cabin fever. We pay her to come by a take care of our two "kids." The way we look at it, we would have to pay the vet to board them, and this way they are at their home and more comfortable.

We pay the grandkids as well! They keep asking if we are leaving soon! Are they trying to get rid of us?

 

[davidls]

We pay the grandkids as well! They keep asking if we are leaving soon! Are they trying to get rid of us?

I hear ya. Ours does the same. They can be so loving sometimes!!!

 

[Cruisin]

whew - due to crazy work schedule, sick MIL and other life issues - I was unable to add anyone for the last week - so I open up the Dis and WOW....so there have been 6 adds tonight to the FB page:
Crusin

Found it. Thanks.

 

[Va-NanaTink]

I hear ya. Ours does the same. They can be so loving sometimes!!!

I know, they sure are!

 

[kdeans1010]

I have to share something with y'all. You may or may not remember I told y'all that I walk on an elliptical at least 5 times a week. Well, I'm supposed to anyways. I have slacked off for the past several months. Well, slacking off is not the best word here, I have not walked AT ALL for, well I must admit here I've lost count. It's not something I have to do, or must do. It was a suggestion by my family doctor to keep the ol' ticker healthy and help keep the weight down. I am not over weight, it's just as I've gotten older, I've put on a couple of pounds here and there. So anywho, to make a long story short, I started walking again Sunday. So it has been Sunday and yesterday, and my legs are killing me!!! I am SO out of shape!!! DW laughs at me and says, "I toldya so!!" No help there, no sympathy there either, just "toldya so!!" (She would have made a great drill instructor!!) So it looks like its back to the ol' grind of the elliptical for David. I need to be able to keep up with everyone on these excursions. (We're not running on any of these excursions are we???)

Dude! Get off your tushy! Move! I don't have a formal work out but I do a mental check when I go walking. I make sure we (Tucker and I) see a different domesticated critter per walk. There are chickens, cows, horses, sheep, and I think I've seen some ducks. Our walks range from a quarter to a half to sometimes a mile. We do about 2-3 a day. Then I ride my bike to work. I work 0.53 miles from my cottage, but I bike at night.... and there are hills. Oh and I have a beach cruiser without gears. So I bike about 1.06 miles a day with hills and walk about 2 miles a day, then run Tuck about a mile every other day. I'm not fit, but I'm just telling you make it a game. That's what the point of my rant was. Make it a game, play neighborhood bingo or challenge yourself on the fitness equipment.

I was out shopping today and found theses darling Disney Princess journals to add to girls FE gifts! Yep I should of had the list with me. I have no young girls on our list. Lol.

I do that. I have some "Star Wars: Clone Wars" treats for kids... or adult kids. That and my mom got all the stuff for her FE gifts only to have to cancel the cruise. You never know.

whew - due to crazy work schedule, sick MIL and other life issues - I was unable to add anyone for the last week - so I open up the Dis and WOW....so there have been 6 adds tonight to the FB page:

Hope your MIL feels better.