Thursday, September 4, 2008
OK so I slept in today. Got out of bed at 11:30 am and did the normal morning routine. Got Steve out of bed at noon and then out of the cabin around 1:00. We hit Lumiere’s and Pam and Mike joined us. We, of course, were the last ones out at 2 pm. Got back to the room and it still wasn’t made up. Steve blew a gasket. He doesn’t like Felipe. He is not bad but after experiencing JoJo – man, he does not compare. The good thing is that he is servicing our friends, Ken & Chrisitie, Liz & Neil and their family. For anyone that reads this, if you ever get JoJo – he is awesome. Turns out he is rather new to stateroom host duties. He was a trolley cart pusher in May and then just before we came on in July (family cruise) he was promoted.
For those of you following, remember my meltdown at Guest Services and me realizing I was griping about little things which reflected bad on Jojo? Yeah, well, now I understand why he was so prompt at getting his manager to come to my room. He did not want any bad marks. Please consider yourself lucky – Jojo is the best. Felipe is not bad – speaks but JoJo is more personable and not to mention cutier! Hey, I’m married – not dead LOL.
So after, we picked up our laptops to go to Diversions for some down time while Felipe cleaned the room. Ran into Ken who told us to go and visit Tracy, who was lucky enough to snare the Roy Suite for this cruise. She was having a wine and cheese meet. We went and meet some lovely people. No baby grand piano in this one but they do have lots of room. The amazing thing was that in the spare bedroom – they were able bring the twin beds into on queen bed which is NOT normally done. I ended staying there until my hair appt at 4 pm. Steve left after talking with Bill (Tracy’s DH) and checking out the suite.
Doesn’t look like I’ll ever a suite as while it is VERY nice, it is also according to the last 3 people I’ve chatted with that have stayed in a Cat 1 – it is very noisy. You can hear kids running around and the roof creaks. According to Tracy – the one Cat 6 or 7 with the verandah that runs around ½ the deck of deck 7 is an awesome one to have.
I have placed my deposit down for M’s Dummy cruise on 12/5/09 so I am at the mercy of the Pirates choosing as to what our final cruise date is. So after my hair appt, I went back to the room where Steve was in full packing mode. I kinda like this – we made a deal, since he DID NOT HELP me at all with any fish extenders and or making, I was joking around and said if you pack on the way home (off the ship) I promise not to get cranky. Well, he took me up on that so I have to keep my end of the bargain. I found myself a tiny bit cranky but left him alone and got dressed. Pam had requested a group picture since most of us sailed together in ’06. We met at 5:30 and got in line for our picture. We got done sorta late and we ended up ordering room service at midnight – skipping the dessert buffet as I am not a lover of chocolate. So, here it is almost 1 and Steve is watching the US Open and I am sitting here typing.
It looks like we will be hitting Castaway on Friday morning and getting out sort of early as rain is forecasted for the afternoon. Since we did the bikes on Tuesday, may decide to stay on the ship as my face looks like its dirty from all the sun. Steve keeps reminding me of how dark I am. Says he may have to trade me in for a lighter person. And that folks, is how I get my candy. He’s a chronic sufferer of insert foot in mouth disease. That’s ok – I tell him he’s just jealous because I get naturally tan without even trying. I am constantly covered up in a brim hat and towel around my shoulders – you’ll see when I get to post pictures.
So folks, that is it for now, the ship is rolling a bit – nothing major – but it definitely is moving. The closest I can compare for some of you that can remember is that it is not as bad as the after waves of the 2005 hurricane. The one that caused us to miss Cabo and hit Manzanillo instead. Nothing nearly that bad but the ship is sailing along at 15.5 knots and we are about 81 nautical miles from Castaway. So folks, until tomorrow.
TTYL – Laura
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008
Itinerary Change - Nassau - as originally scheduled.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Nassau Day – well, upon embarkation, we were told our itinerary had changed. We were supposed to do PC, Castaway, Nassau, Sea day, Castaway then PC again. Instead, we flipped flopped Nassau and the sea day. However, upon our return from Castaway on Tuesday, Cpt Tom informs us that due to the path of Hannah which has stalled in the southwest section of the Bahamas, our best chance of hitting Nassau was our original planned Wednesday. So we flip flopped again and went to our original schedule.
Seeing as we went to bed late, we woke up about 9:30 and got up. We ate at Topsiders as Parrot Cay was totally a 10-15 minute wait and then got off the ship. We managed to hop a taxi to Atlantis on Paradise Island for $4/pp. We took a combined taxi and it worked out for the taxi driver. We got out about 10 minutes late. Our taxi getting there had the steering wheel on the right hand side and I am not sure if they drive on the opposite side as we took one way streets there. On the way back, the driver’s seat was on the left hand side and again took one way streets back. So folks, sorry, can’t remember if they drive on the opposite side of us or not.
Anyway, back to the Hotel. The Atlantis is nice and I told Steve that I would like to come back and spend some time here. We walked into the hotel and right away found the casino. Steve promptly sat down (at my urging) at a table and I wandered off to explore. I found some t-shirts and a bag for my kids and myself (first t-shirt of the cruise) and then wandered back to find Steve a bit ahead on the 21 table. So, after he sensed me there, he got up – a bit ahead - $285 and then we wandered around the hotel. We saw a Wheel of Fortune machine and I told Steve to play one – he didn’t really win and I was looking the one next to it and I told him to play it – it was only quarters but he didn’t want too so I played his $10 and ended up hitting a Wheel of Fortune for about $70. I was happy, went to the other side of the casino to explore and then hit the open portion of the aquarium.
We eventually sat at Plato’s Bar and had a turkey and swiss cheese Panini with tomatoes, some kettle lightly salted chips and FINALLY, some decent coke. The bartender inquired as to whether we were staying at the hotel or with the cruise ship so we mentioned we were with the Magic. We walked around and played a bit more in the casino and then around 2:30 hit a taxi to get us back in time to hit the straw market.
We hit the straw market which was heavy with knock-offs of Kate Spade, Coach, Louis Vitton and others. I found my tourist plate that I wanted and also some MORE purses managed to find their way into my bag that I got from Atlantis. By this time, we are under the tent and all the vendors are packing up to go when all of a sudden we hear the rain go. It was funny as it is bright and sunny but raining heavy. LOL – so now its 3:35 and Steve is starting to panic so we hightail back to the ship in time to get on about 3:50. No panic this time, I knew I had plenty of time. The ship sailed at 4:20 and Cpt Tom came on to keep us updated on Hannah and how he is keeping our utmost safety in mind. So I am sitting here updating and now it is almost time for dinner which Steve say he is ravenous. So folks, that is all for now. TTYL –
Laura
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Nassau Day – well, upon embarkation, we were told our itinerary had changed. We were supposed to do PC, Castaway, Nassau, Sea day, Castaway then PC again. Instead, we flipped flopped Nassau and the sea day. However, upon our return from Castaway on Tuesday, Cpt Tom informs us that due to the path of Hannah which has stalled in the southwest section of the Bahamas, our best chance of hitting Nassau was our original planned Wednesday. So we flip flopped again and went to our original schedule.
Seeing as we went to bed late, we woke up about 9:30 and got up. We ate at Topsiders as Parrot Cay was totally a 10-15 minute wait and then got off the ship. We managed to hop a taxi to Atlantis on Paradise Island for $4/pp. We took a combined taxi and it worked out for the taxi driver. We got out about 10 minutes late. Our taxi getting there had the steering wheel on the right hand side and I am not sure if they drive on the opposite side as we took one way streets there. On the way back, the driver’s seat was on the left hand side and again took one way streets back. So folks, sorry, can’t remember if they drive on the opposite side of us or not.
Anyway, back to the Hotel. The Atlantis is nice and I told Steve that I would like to come back and spend some time here. We walked into the hotel and right away found the casino. Steve promptly sat down (at my urging) at a table and I wandered off to explore. I found some t-shirts and a bag for my kids and myself (first t-shirt of the cruise) and then wandered back to find Steve a bit ahead on the 21 table. So, after he sensed me there, he got up – a bit ahead - $285 and then we wandered around the hotel. We saw a Wheel of Fortune machine and I told Steve to play one – he didn’t really win and I was looking the one next to it and I told him to play it – it was only quarters but he didn’t want too so I played his $10 and ended up hitting a Wheel of Fortune for about $70. I was happy, went to the other side of the casino to explore and then hit the open portion of the aquarium.
We eventually sat at Plato’s Bar and had a turkey and swiss cheese Panini with tomatoes, some kettle lightly salted chips and FINALLY, some decent coke. The bartender inquired as to whether we were staying at the hotel or with the cruise ship so we mentioned we were with the Magic. We walked around and played a bit more in the casino and then around 2:30 hit a taxi to get us back in time to hit the straw market.
We hit the straw market which was heavy with knock-offs of Kate Spade, Coach, Louis Vitton and others. I found my tourist plate that I wanted and also some MORE purses managed to find their way into my bag that I got from Atlantis. By this time, we are under the tent and all the vendors are packing up to go when all of a sudden we hear the rain go. It was funny as it is bright and sunny but raining heavy. LOL – so now its 3:35 and Steve is starting to panic so we hightail back to the ship in time to get on about 3:50. No panic this time, I knew I had plenty of time. The ship sailed at 4:20 and Cpt Tom came on to keep us updated on Hannah and how he is keeping our utmost safety in mind. So I am sitting here updating and now it is almost time for dinner which Steve say he is ravenous. So folks, that is all for now. TTYL –
Laura
Tuesday, Sep 2, 2008
Castaway Cay Day
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Well, today was Tuesday, and we ended up at Castaway Cay. I got to bed – even after delivering fish gifts – my magnet with Rumbly Tumbly’s words, and got to be before midnight. I fell asleep almost immediately and did not awake until 10:30. Go over 10 hrs of sleep. Steve and I hung around an almost empty ship. I did however, see Father Mike up at Pluto’s Dog House and I respected his body language and did not interrupt. He is after all on vacation. LOL
So, we ate and then got off the ship about 12:30. The ship was 95% empty. It was actually really nice. Topsider’s was closed and we didn’t make it to Parrot Cay. So after getting off, we walk by the Post office and realized it was closed. Par for the course – it was open on Sunday on the EB and closed on this one. Oh well, it wasn’t like I was going to send anything anyway. LOL
We rented bikes for $6/hr and being the rebel I am, kept it out past the 1 hr. We rode from the end of Family beach to the observation tower over on Serenity Bay area. The tower was open but it sure swayed with the wind. We got a nice view of the Magic and the place where we went some time ago to do the kayaking. Me, trying to avoid a repeat of heat exhaustion, stopped at every water station and gulped those small round cone shaped cups of water. Steve then wanted to stop at Serenity Bay so we did and snagged some chairs and went into the water. The water was much deeper than on Sunday on the EB and Steve ended up balancing on the tip of the chair. I sat in the water with my hat – the black and white one, my ipod in its waterproof case and sunglasses and up to my shoulders and sat there for about 45 minutes before I snagged a lounge chair with an umbrella.
We left there about 3:15 and return the bikes which we really had a nice time using. We got back to the ship and took a shower and were definitely ready for dinner at 6. I kinda like this time for this cruise. Not 100% sure I’d like it for an extended cruise but both Steve and I agreed that we like it since we are both pretty hungry the last two days.
Did I mention that our waiters are: Collin from Trinidad, Mariano from Argentina – who really is quite a nice looking man for being on the vertically challenged end but who cares – he’s taller than me which works for me! ROTFL. For a second night in a row, Abbey, Christie’s granddaughter, who really is cute as a button, fell asleep at the table. It is hilarious. I am going to wait until tomorrow night to see how she falls asleep. Different position every night I hope. Anyway, we also saw our old waitress – Chyntana from the Wonder who served us all on the 11 Night and the expression on her face when she seen us all was priceless. Sorta of a mini-11-Night reunion; priceless I tell you- Priceless.
So on the way out I ran into Vlado shom I hunted down and gave him his magnet. After 2 cruises, I finally am getting the hang of what that man likes. I searched for him last night but boy he is all business – serve, get them done and move on to the next seating.
OH, I forgot. I love my servers, mentioned Collin and Mariano but did I mention our head server? He is Arnold. I think from Jamaica I think. He sorta resembles Samuel Jackson in a sexy Shaft sort of way. Never did think he was cute before but this man stand over 6’2 inches – taller than Andrew I know and is a very courteous man. He came around the first night and introduced himself to everyone and hung around for about 4 minutes. Then our servers started doing their thing. I totally forgot that they make recommendations of the dinner menu which is something that we missed the entire time 15-night voyage. How I missed that I don’t know. Anyway, they even got some time to talk. Collin, of course talks every night but Mariano does too. We are finishing dinner around 7:15-7:30 which their next seating is 8:30 so this is nice.
On the way out, I ran into Ken and Christie, while we are on the same rotation, the tables on the Magic are stationary and if we want a huge table to serve us all, we will have to move from the windows and side of the restaurants which Collin said we might want to stay at. So Ken and Christie walked out with us and we spent a very relaxing night in Diversions talking and catching up.
Went to bed around 1 and got up at 10 am to the bright sights of Nassau.
So on to the next blog. TTYL
Laura
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Well, today was Tuesday, and we ended up at Castaway Cay. I got to bed – even after delivering fish gifts – my magnet with Rumbly Tumbly’s words, and got to be before midnight. I fell asleep almost immediately and did not awake until 10:30. Go over 10 hrs of sleep. Steve and I hung around an almost empty ship. I did however, see Father Mike up at Pluto’s Dog House and I respected his body language and did not interrupt. He is after all on vacation. LOL
So, we ate and then got off the ship about 12:30. The ship was 95% empty. It was actually really nice. Topsider’s was closed and we didn’t make it to Parrot Cay. So after getting off, we walk by the Post office and realized it was closed. Par for the course – it was open on Sunday on the EB and closed on this one. Oh well, it wasn’t like I was going to send anything anyway. LOL
We rented bikes for $6/hr and being the rebel I am, kept it out past the 1 hr. We rode from the end of Family beach to the observation tower over on Serenity Bay area. The tower was open but it sure swayed with the wind. We got a nice view of the Magic and the place where we went some time ago to do the kayaking. Me, trying to avoid a repeat of heat exhaustion, stopped at every water station and gulped those small round cone shaped cups of water. Steve then wanted to stop at Serenity Bay so we did and snagged some chairs and went into the water. The water was much deeper than on Sunday on the EB and Steve ended up balancing on the tip of the chair. I sat in the water with my hat – the black and white one, my ipod in its waterproof case and sunglasses and up to my shoulders and sat there for about 45 minutes before I snagged a lounge chair with an umbrella.
We left there about 3:15 and return the bikes which we really had a nice time using. We got back to the ship and took a shower and were definitely ready for dinner at 6. I kinda like this time for this cruise. Not 100% sure I’d like it for an extended cruise but both Steve and I agreed that we like it since we are both pretty hungry the last two days.
Did I mention that our waiters are: Collin from Trinidad, Mariano from Argentina – who really is quite a nice looking man for being on the vertically challenged end but who cares – he’s taller than me which works for me! ROTFL. For a second night in a row, Abbey, Christie’s granddaughter, who really is cute as a button, fell asleep at the table. It is hilarious. I am going to wait until tomorrow night to see how she falls asleep. Different position every night I hope. Anyway, we also saw our old waitress – Chyntana from the Wonder who served us all on the 11 Night and the expression on her face when she seen us all was priceless. Sorta of a mini-11-Night reunion; priceless I tell you- Priceless.
So on the way out I ran into Vlado shom I hunted down and gave him his magnet. After 2 cruises, I finally am getting the hang of what that man likes. I searched for him last night but boy he is all business – serve, get them done and move on to the next seating.
OH, I forgot. I love my servers, mentioned Collin and Mariano but did I mention our head server? He is Arnold. I think from Jamaica I think. He sorta resembles Samuel Jackson in a sexy Shaft sort of way. Never did think he was cute before but this man stand over 6’2 inches – taller than Andrew I know and is a very courteous man. He came around the first night and introduced himself to everyone and hung around for about 4 minutes. Then our servers started doing their thing. I totally forgot that they make recommendations of the dinner menu which is something that we missed the entire time 15-night voyage. How I missed that I don’t know. Anyway, they even got some time to talk. Collin, of course talks every night but Mariano does too. We are finishing dinner around 7:15-7:30 which their next seating is 8:30 so this is nice.
On the way out, I ran into Ken and Christie, while we are on the same rotation, the tables on the Magic are stationary and if we want a huge table to serve us all, we will have to move from the windows and side of the restaurants which Collin said we might want to stay at. So Ken and Christie walked out with us and we spent a very relaxing night in Diversions talking and catching up.
Went to bed around 1 and got up at 10 am to the bright sights of Nassau.
So on to the next blog. TTYL
Laura
Tuesday, Sep 2, 2008
Castaway Cay Day
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Well, today was Tuesday, and we ended up at Castaway Cay. I got to bed – even after delivering fish gifts – my magnet with Rumbly Tumbly’s words, and got to be before midnight. I fell asleep almost immediately and did not awake until 10:30. Go over 10 hrs of sleep. Steve and I hung around an almost empty ship. I did however, see Father Mike up at Pluto’s Dog House and I respected his body language and did not interrupt. He is after all on vacation. LOL
So, we ate and then got off the ship about 12:30. The ship was 95% empty. It was actually really nice. Topsider’s was closed and we didn’t make it to Parrot Cay. So after getting off, we walk by the Post office and realized it was closed. Par for the course – it was open on Sunday on the EB and closed on this one. Oh well, it wasn’t like I was going to send anything anyway. LOL
We rented bikes for $6/hr and being the rebel I am, kept it out past the 1 hr. We rode from the end of Family beach to the observation tower over on Serenity Bay area. The tower was open but it sure swayed with the wind. We got a nice view of the Magic and the place where we went some time ago to do the kayaking. Me, trying to avoid a repeat of heat exhaustion, stopped at every water station and gulped those small round cone shaped cups of water. Steve then wanted to stop at Serenity Bay so we did and snagged some chairs and went into the water. The water was much deeper than on Sunday on the EB and Steve ended up balancing on the tip of the chair. I sat in the water with my hat – the black and white one, my ipod in its waterproof case and sunglasses and up to my shoulders and sat there for about 45 minutes before I snagged a lounge chair with an umbrella.
We left there about 3:15 and return the bikes which we really had a nice time using. We got back to the ship and took a shower and were definitely ready for dinner at 6. I kinda like this time for this cruise. Not 100% sure I’d like it for an extended cruise but both Steve and I agreed that we like it since we are both pretty hungry the last two days.
Did I mention that our waiters are: Collin from Trinidad, Mariano from Argentina – who really is quite a nice looking man for being on the vertically challenged end but who cares – he’s taller than me which works for me! ROTFL. For a second night in a row, Abbey, Christie’s granddaughter, who really is cute as a button, fell asleep at the table. It is hilarious. I am going to wait until tomorrow night to see how she falls asleep. Different position every night I hope. Anyway, we also saw our old waitress – Chyntana from the Wonder who served us all on the 11 Night and the expression on her face when she seen us all was priceless. Sorta of a mini-11-Night reunion; priceless I tell you- Priceless.
So on the way out I ran into Vlado shom I hunted down and gave him his magnet. After 2 cruises, I finally am getting the hang of what that man likes. I searched for him last night but boy he is all business – serve, get them done and move on to the next seating.
OH, I forgot. I love my servers, mentioned Collin and Mariano but did I mention our head server? He is Arnold. I think from Jamaica I think. He sorta resembles Samuel Jackson in a sexy Shaft sort of way. Never did think he was cute before but this man stand over 6’2 inches – taller than Andrew I know and is a very courteous man. He came around the first night and introduced himself to everyone and hung around for about 4 minutes. Then our servers started doing their thing. I totally forgot that they make recommendations of the dinner menu which is something that we missed the entire time 15-night voyage. How I missed that I don’t know. Anyway, they even got some time to talk. Collin, of course talks every night but Mariano does too. We are finishing dinner around 7:15-7:30 which their next seating is 8:30 so this is nice.
On the way out, I ran into Ken and Christie, while we are on the same rotation, the tables on the Magic are stationary and if we want a huge table to serve us all, we will have to move from the windows and side of the restaurants which Collin said we might want to stay at. So Ken and Christie walked out with us and we spent a very relaxing night in Diversions talking and catching up.
Went to bed around 1 and got up at 10 am to the bright sights of Nassau.
So on to the next blog. TTYL
Laura
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Well, today was Tuesday, and we ended up at Castaway Cay. I got to bed – even after delivering fish gifts – my magnet with Rumbly Tumbly’s words, and got to be before midnight. I fell asleep almost immediately and did not awake until 10:30. Go over 10 hrs of sleep. Steve and I hung around an almost empty ship. I did however, see Father Mike up at Pluto’s Dog House and I respected his body language and did not interrupt. He is after all on vacation. LOL
So, we ate and then got off the ship about 12:30. The ship was 95% empty. It was actually really nice. Topsider’s was closed and we didn’t make it to Parrot Cay. So after getting off, we walk by the Post office and realized it was closed. Par for the course – it was open on Sunday on the EB and closed on this one. Oh well, it wasn’t like I was going to send anything anyway. LOL
We rented bikes for $6/hr and being the rebel I am, kept it out past the 1 hr. We rode from the end of Family beach to the observation tower over on Serenity Bay area. The tower was open but it sure swayed with the wind. We got a nice view of the Magic and the place where we went some time ago to do the kayaking. Me, trying to avoid a repeat of heat exhaustion, stopped at every water station and gulped those small round cone shaped cups of water. Steve then wanted to stop at Serenity Bay so we did and snagged some chairs and went into the water. The water was much deeper than on Sunday on the EB and Steve ended up balancing on the tip of the chair. I sat in the water with my hat – the black and white one, my ipod in its waterproof case and sunglasses and up to my shoulders and sat there for about 45 minutes before I snagged a lounge chair with an umbrella.
We left there about 3:15 and return the bikes which we really had a nice time using. We got back to the ship and took a shower and were definitely ready for dinner at 6. I kinda like this time for this cruise. Not 100% sure I’d like it for an extended cruise but both Steve and I agreed that we like it since we are both pretty hungry the last two days.
Did I mention that our waiters are: Collin from Trinidad, Mariano from Argentina – who really is quite a nice looking man for being on the vertically challenged end but who cares – he’s taller than me which works for me! ROTFL. For a second night in a row, Abbey, Christie’s granddaughter, who really is cute as a button, fell asleep at the table. It is hilarious. I am going to wait until tomorrow night to see how she falls asleep. Different position every night I hope. Anyway, we also saw our old waitress – Chyntana from the Wonder who served us all on the 11 Night and the expression on her face when she seen us all was priceless. Sorta of a mini-11-Night reunion; priceless I tell you- Priceless.
So on the way out I ran into Vlado shom I hunted down and gave him his magnet. After 2 cruises, I finally am getting the hang of what that man likes. I searched for him last night but boy he is all business – serve, get them done and move on to the next seating.
OH, I forgot. I love my servers, mentioned Collin and Mariano but did I mention our head server? He is Arnold. I think from Jamaica I think. He sorta resembles Samuel Jackson in a sexy Shaft sort of way. Never did think he was cute before but this man stand over 6’2 inches – taller than Andrew I know and is a very courteous man. He came around the first night and introduced himself to everyone and hung around for about 4 minutes. Then our servers started doing their thing. I totally forgot that they make recommendations of the dinner menu which is something that we missed the entire time 15-night voyage. How I missed that I don’t know. Anyway, they even got some time to talk. Collin, of course talks every night but Mariano does too. We are finishing dinner around 7:15-7:30 which their next seating is 8:30 so this is nice.
On the way out, I ran into Ken and Christie, while we are on the same rotation, the tables on the Magic are stationary and if we want a huge table to serve us all, we will have to move from the windows and side of the restaurants which Collin said we might want to stay at. So Ken and Christie walked out with us and we spent a very relaxing night in Diversions talking and catching up.
Went to bed around 1 and got up at 10 am to the bright sights of Nassau.
So on to the next blog. TTYL
Laura
Monday, September 1, 2008
9-01, Embarkation Day
OK so it is now 9:45 and the ship is a rocking. Had a successful dinner, like these servers much better. We have Collin for drinks, Mariano fro Brazil or Chile and Arnold from Trinidad is our head server. OMG I LOVE THIS TEAM. They are so much better and friendlier than the team on the EB PC. I had a grin from ear to ear. Course, it was great fun to have an almost complete table from the 2006 Special Carribbean cruise. Heck we even had our old server from the Wonder and we floored her when she seen us all.
Alen came by and said hi to us and I could have kissed him. Dinner was a success and I couldn't stop grinning. We are eating at 6 pm and it turned out to be pretty nice. We got done by 7:30 and was in the Walt Disney Theatre in plenty of time. Did you all know that there are house lights and they are extremely bright? LOL - Steve and I have never made it while the lights were still up. Brent was our emcee - guess he is back on as cruise director. We had a magician from England and he was pretty good, also the physical comedy of Jeff Silvilco or something like that.
The only bad part of the evening is that at dinner we started to hit some rollers. It got bad enough that Steve had to leave the show. I sat next to Pam and Mike and he had a rolling good time. Show ended and on the way to my cabin, the ship rolled hard enough to bump me into a wall. Not extremely bad but still a lot harder than anything on the EB passing. I hope this is the worse of it. I am not entirely green - just enough to make me go to bed but not sure if that is because of being tired or just a bit nauseous. I am sick of being full.
DIS had their meet on deck 10 and I became an honorary member of the grass skirt and coconut bra sorority and fraternity for Steve. He made his escape before I could post a picture. Seeing as I am out on the sea, I don't believe I can post again as I have to use DCL's bandwidth so you all have to wait and see.
Dinner was with Liz and Neil and their son Tony and his wonderful, beautiful girlfriend. They are a hoot. I wish I had thought to capture the look on Chintana's face when she saw our old table back together again.
I hope that some day I can again sail with my EB PC table. That would be a blast. Got a quote for M's Dummy cruise and that will run about $3,400 for a cat 4-7. We shall see. I don't really have a choice so I am going to book tomorrow.
OK folks, I am still using the last 1/2 hr of our
Alen came by and said hi to us and I could have kissed him. Dinner was a success and I couldn't stop grinning. We are eating at 6 pm and it turned out to be pretty nice. We got done by 7:30 and was in the Walt Disney Theatre in plenty of time. Did you all know that there are house lights and they are extremely bright? LOL - Steve and I have never made it while the lights were still up. Brent was our emcee - guess he is back on as cruise director. We had a magician from England and he was pretty good, also the physical comedy of Jeff Silvilco or something like that.
The only bad part of the evening is that at dinner we started to hit some rollers. It got bad enough that Steve had to leave the show. I sat next to Pam and Mike and he had a rolling good time. Show ended and on the way to my cabin, the ship rolled hard enough to bump me into a wall. Not extremely bad but still a lot harder than anything on the EB passing. I hope this is the worse of it. I am not entirely green - just enough to make me go to bed but not sure if that is because of being tired or just a bit nauseous. I am sick of being full.
DIS had their meet on deck 10 and I became an honorary member of the grass skirt and coconut bra sorority and fraternity for Steve. He made his escape before I could post a picture. Seeing as I am out on the sea, I don't believe I can post again as I have to use DCL's bandwidth so you all have to wait and see.
Dinner was with Liz and Neil and their son Tony and his wonderful, beautiful girlfriend. They are a hoot. I wish I had thought to capture the look on Chintana's face when she saw our old table back together again.
I hope that some day I can again sail with my EB PC table. That would be a blast. Got a quote for M's Dummy cruise and that will run about $3,400 for a cat 4-7. We shall see. I don't really have a choice so I am going to book tomorrow.
OK folks, I am still using the last 1/2 hr of our
Sep 1, Disembarkation Day
Well today is disembarkation for the EB PC. We were told by our stateroom host that we had to get out of the room by 8 am. So we skipped breakfast, I know that I will be seeing Cheryl and John soon (Hi Cheryl) and Arlene next time we are in FL so no worries there.
We vacated room and waited around Shore Excursions desk until Mo, asked us why we were there. When she found out we were told to get out of the room, she quickly hurried us off to Sessions and got a ship's officer to come to us and tell us that it would be ok to go back to our room. We did and took a quick catnap which was a good thing since Steve by now was rather grumpy.
We got up again at 9:20 and met up with several DIS sers and after a much chaotic and varied instructions, made our way off the ship, through a huge customs line and then right back up to embarkation day. We didn't even have to leave the terminal thank God because it is freaking hot here. And I chose to wear a short sleeve shirt. As soon as I could, I made Steve run down to our room and get me a tank top.
I am now sitting in Quiet Cove Cafe where it is nice and AC and a computer with a dying battery so I have to cut this short for now.
Met up with Disney Sweetie and Grumpy Lover and all the new DIS people. Thank God we got rid of the rowdy crowd. I'm hoping that this cruise will be a nice and relaxing cruise.
It is now about 3 and I believe our boat drill is around 4 pm. So I have "technically" caught up but I will be adding pictures on past posts and new post as long as I can.
Bye for now -
Oh yeah, I was totally surprised to realize that Father Mike will be sailing on this cruise with us, I hope that this is a good omen and not a reason to be scared off. All I can think about that Father Mike from NY (I believe it was a Father Mike) who was the first victim of 9/11. I love to think that God really did take him and label him first victim in order to lead all the others. So if worse comes to worse, we have our own Father Mike.
Later folks,
Laura
We vacated room and waited around Shore Excursions desk until Mo, asked us why we were there. When she found out we were told to get out of the room, she quickly hurried us off to Sessions and got a ship's officer to come to us and tell us that it would be ok to go back to our room. We did and took a quick catnap which was a good thing since Steve by now was rather grumpy.
We got up again at 9:20 and met up with several DIS sers and after a much chaotic and varied instructions, made our way off the ship, through a huge customs line and then right back up to embarkation day. We didn't even have to leave the terminal thank God because it is freaking hot here. And I chose to wear a short sleeve shirt. As soon as I could, I made Steve run down to our room and get me a tank top.
I am now sitting in Quiet Cove Cafe where it is nice and AC and a computer with a dying battery so I have to cut this short for now.
Met up with Disney Sweetie and Grumpy Lover and all the new DIS people. Thank God we got rid of the rowdy crowd. I'm hoping that this cruise will be a nice and relaxing cruise.
It is now about 3 and I believe our boat drill is around 4 pm. So I have "technically" caught up but I will be adding pictures on past posts and new post as long as I can.
Bye for now -
Oh yeah, I was totally surprised to realize that Father Mike will be sailing on this cruise with us, I hope that this is a good omen and not a reason to be scared off. All I can think about that Father Mike from NY (I believe it was a Father Mike) who was the first victim of 9/11. I love to think that God really did take him and label him first victim in order to lead all the others. So if worse comes to worse, we have our own Father Mike.
Later folks,
Laura
Aug 31, Castaway Cay
Tried to get up for Mass today and did not make it - didn't make it to Castaway for picture either.
Did however finally get up around 11 and headed out to Cookies BBQ and ended up at Serenity Bay at about 1. We got off the tram and who should be headed to the beach alongside us but Aly of Aly and A.J. Fan. Just what I wanted to have next to me - a young, skinny, hot looking chick. I just wish I could have shot her. LOL - Just kidding. Did manage to snag a back shot of her and she just looks disgusting.
Spent about 2 hrs at Serenity Bay and snagged a lawn chair behind Aly & AJ's party but alas! They'd had left.
Left Serenity Bay at 3:40 and got back to the ship by 4:15.
Since we didn't have to pack, I got to enjoy myself and not stress out. I did manage to con Steve into a deal, since he did not help me deliver any gifts at all this cruise and I delivered twice - he gets to pack as long as I don't get cranky. In honor of that - I packed the souvenir bag and the formal bag. He can do the rest. I actually get cranky with the everyday stuff. I'm hoping that if we get some bad weather, I can pack another suitcase.
Well, I forgot to mention that when we were getting off, I ran quite literally into CruzingMike and his beautiful bride Linda, they (DCL) had decorated a golf cart in beautiful natural flora and fauna and it was very tropical. Linda was a gorgeious bride and I will download the only picture I took of them later this evening and if the system allows, download one here.
That's all for now - more to be added later.
Did however finally get up around 11 and headed out to Cookies BBQ and ended up at Serenity Bay at about 1. We got off the tram and who should be headed to the beach alongside us but Aly of Aly and A.J. Fan. Just what I wanted to have next to me - a young, skinny, hot looking chick. I just wish I could have shot her. LOL - Just kidding. Did manage to snag a back shot of her and she just looks disgusting.
Spent about 2 hrs at Serenity Bay and snagged a lawn chair behind Aly & AJ's party but alas! They'd had left.
Left Serenity Bay at 3:40 and got back to the ship by 4:15.
Since we didn't have to pack, I got to enjoy myself and not stress out. I did manage to con Steve into a deal, since he did not help me deliver any gifts at all this cruise and I delivered twice - he gets to pack as long as I don't get cranky. In honor of that - I packed the souvenir bag and the formal bag. He can do the rest. I actually get cranky with the everyday stuff. I'm hoping that if we get some bad weather, I can pack another suitcase.
Well, I forgot to mention that when we were getting off, I ran quite literally into CruzingMike and his beautiful bride Linda, they (DCL) had decorated a golf cart in beautiful natural flora and fauna and it was very tropical. Linda was a gorgeious bride and I will download the only picture I took of them later this evening and if the system allows, download one here.
That's all for now - more to be added later.
Aug 29, Sea Day
Aly and AJ Autograph session - what a mess - lets see if I can post something.
Like I said, like I really want a picture of me sitting next to these young bond chicks. Oh well, the things we do for our children.
By the way, Steve elected to stay in the room and so I snagged AndyR to take these photos for me. Got to hand it to Andy - he snagged several pictures - like 4 which accidentally went off so instead of just one picture - I got several. Gotta run just realized I got to send something off and the battery is almost dead. By for now.
Aug 28, Aruba
Laura GOT CANDY!
Yes folks, I have to give it up to Desiree and her hubby. I got me some candy. Steve waited until 5 pm to finally decide to get me some. Then cause I'm so special, I got me several pieces. LOL - sure is nice to be loved. ROTFLMAO
Got me a VERY GORGOUS tanzanite ring. It is actually the best piece in my collectio now. I love it - deep rich color - well worth it. Didn't want to spend the amount but I came to realize that if I wanted a piece of decent jewelry, I cannot expect to get what I got 8 yrs ago at the same price. For those that saw it - it is a nice piece so totally out of character of what I get but I love it.
I also got a very nice Kabuna style bracelet with another tanzanite on it. Loved it. Fell in love iwth it and I realized I could not live without it and Steve managed to be more than a bit ruthless and we snagged a deal we could not pass up.
Before I go any further, forgot to mention that I didn't win a Ducky litho which is why I got the candy but I did manage to snag a Paddy Gorden One of a Kind Suede purse of guess what? The Evil Queen and the blue fairy from Sleeping Beauty, I think her name is Merryweather. Not sure.
I was feeling a bit blue (pun intended) at the price I paid but this morning (yes I am writing this in catch up) I ran into wrabitdad and another DIS (who were doing the back to back) who mentioned that Paddy Gordon did some pieces for Disneyana Conventions and that they were really nice. I so totally forgot to bid on the May one which included an Ursula bag - that lot had 5 purses on it so maybe its a blessing in disguise that I didn't bid on it - I would hate to see what that lot went for. My lot was only 2 purses but ended up paying the price of a couple of Coach purses or about 1/3 the price of a Louis Vitton purse. Not that I bought one mind you - priced them on Aruba - they are out of their freaking minds, sorry Megan - you get a copy. ROTFL
Anyway, back to candy, got me a 3 karat deep blue/purple tanzanite on the ring with about .65 diamonds on it. Their is delicate scroll work on it and I usually tend to stick to plain bands. The bracelet is nice gold but with mother of pearl inlay of black onyx, a ust stone an some other colors - I'll have to post a picture o it soon
I am going to end now and update when we get off the ship later.
Bye for now
Laura
Yes folks, I have to give it up to Desiree and her hubby. I got me some candy. Steve waited until 5 pm to finally decide to get me some. Then cause I'm so special, I got me several pieces. LOL - sure is nice to be loved. ROTFLMAO
Got me a VERY GORGOUS tanzanite ring. It is actually the best piece in my collectio now. I love it - deep rich color - well worth it. Didn't want to spend the amount but I came to realize that if I wanted a piece of decent jewelry, I cannot expect to get what I got 8 yrs ago at the same price. For those that saw it - it is a nice piece so totally out of character of what I get but I love it.
I also got a very nice Kabuna style bracelet with another tanzanite on it. Loved it. Fell in love iwth it and I realized I could not live without it and Steve managed to be more than a bit ruthless and we snagged a deal we could not pass up.
Before I go any further, forgot to mention that I didn't win a Ducky litho which is why I got the candy but I did manage to snag a Paddy Gorden One of a Kind Suede purse of guess what? The Evil Queen and the blue fairy from Sleeping Beauty, I think her name is Merryweather. Not sure.
I was feeling a bit blue (pun intended) at the price I paid but this morning (yes I am writing this in catch up) I ran into wrabitdad and another DIS (who were doing the back to back) who mentioned that Paddy Gordon did some pieces for Disneyana Conventions and that they were really nice. I so totally forgot to bid on the May one which included an Ursula bag - that lot had 5 purses on it so maybe its a blessing in disguise that I didn't bid on it - I would hate to see what that lot went for. My lot was only 2 purses but ended up paying the price of a couple of Coach purses or about 1/3 the price of a Louis Vitton purse. Not that I bought one mind you - priced them on Aruba - they are out of their freaking minds, sorry Megan - you get a copy. ROTFL
Anyway, back to candy, got me a 3 karat deep blue/purple tanzanite on the ring with about .65 diamonds on it. Their is delicate scroll work on it and I usually tend to stick to plain bands. The bracelet is nice gold but with mother of pearl inlay of black onyx, a ust stone an some other colors - I'll have to post a picture o it soon
I am going to end now and update when we get off the ship later.
Bye for now
Laura
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Aug 26, Cartegena
That's Laura and Mrs. Columbia - which she managed to show up at almost every stop. This is the Fortress in Columbia and is our first stop.Finally! started out raining but cleared up almost immediately and Cartegena was easy, nice and smooth.
Lots to see, took DCL's Best of Cartegena and we managed - with my urging to Cheryl, to PIRATE our own Pirate bus. It held 25 and we managed to hit that number. We had our own bus! WOO HOO! Our guide was Adelmo, our driver Goivani (I think) and after our trip, Steve, myself and Susy and Mike managed to snare our guide into taking us on our own private tour - basically back to the Artisan market we hit as we only had 20 minutes there. We DID hit one center that had Laura's version of candy but it was not that awesome and WAY, WAY too expensive - think I can wait until Aruba or perhaps even Vegas as its been a while since I've been there. The quality of the stuff is not all that and I didn't care for anything. Did however, manage to go to town on the typical tourist stuff.
More info later on the monastry, Pope John Paul visited here, saw some bones of the local priest founder of the city and even the skull of St. Pedro Miguel in the Cartegena Catholic CHurch. Only the skull as the rest of the body is resting in the Vatican where apparently all saints remains may go. Got a picture of the skull I can post later. LOL - yes - I am a bit macabre. But really, I was only following the example of our own resident priest.
More info later and pictures too. Including the astonishment on the faces of two nuns - one full habit nun and one novice when our priest - in casual clothes ended up giving them a blessing. Down right hilarious - had I not been so astonished at the expression on the older nun's face, I would have taken a picture - one of those momemts when I should have had a V-8. DUH!
Anyway, gotta fly, more later.
Aug 25, Panama Canal Day
FINALLY! After almost 2 years, we are here. Lots to dish about including a very POC type of storm - someone even claims they saw the Black Pearl coming in on the mist over Gatun Lake. LOL
Stay tuned for more info and pictures to be added later.
HOW APPROPRIATE - the Discovery Channel is showing a show on the PC. LOL - thanks for the 2nd hand news.
Tried uploading a picture not going so have to try again later.
Bye!
Stay tuned for more info and pictures to be added later.
HOW APPROPRIATE - the Discovery Channel is showing a show on the PC. LOL - thanks for the 2nd hand news.
Tried uploading a picture not going so have to try again later.
Bye!
Aug 24 Sea Day
Early Mass given by our personal priest - Father Mike, veer itneresting. He is a riot but I refuse to call him Father Mike since he's on vacation. However, when in his working capacity - he is Father Mike - think Friar John from Robin Hood - big old cuddly bear but a hoot and a riot! Finally, a priest with a wicked sense of humor.
More info and pictures to be added later.
More info and pictures to be added later.
Aug 23, Sea Day
PJ Party at Lumiere's huge turnout - also Cheryl's Palo's Brunch. More to be added later including some pictures.
Oh yeah - Crash's Ice Cream Challenge was a huge success and a huge mess. LOL
Pictures and more to be added later.
Oh yeah - Crash's Ice Cream Challenge was a huge success and a huge mess. LOL
Pictures and more to be added later.
Aug 22, Acapulco Day
Miserable, Miserable Day but it was saved. More to be added later. Hit rain - and hard rain but we still walked across the fort. More to be added later, including pictures.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Aug 19th, Cabo Day & Zip Lining
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
CABO & ZIP LINING! YEAH! So as you can tell, today was our very first port and it was Cabo San Lucas. I had originally planned on nothing then I was reminded when I got a note on my door that many moons ago I had signed up with Paula to do Zip Lining in Cabo.
It’s late and I’m beat but here it is in a nutshell. Paula (Pbader) set up a party of 7 total (which we were joined by another party in the vans. Anyway, it was Laura (FairyGodmother, her DD – Elizabeth, Paula, Monica (Got2Travel) and her DS – Trevoy, Steve and myself. We got up at 8 – had breakfast, ran to Buena Vista Theatre got our tender ticket and at 9 am – they started allowing people off. We got into the first 2 tenders and were ashore before 9:30. We were supposed to meet the personnel picking us up at 10 so we waited a bit. While waiting, we noticed a stretcher being brought out on the pier and sure enough, a lady with her right leg encased in a soft cast was brought out. Then her DD and DH followed by their luggage. That’s right folks, our first port and already we have a casualty. I guess they ended up leaving. Found out later that another lady had a problem and I believe I’m told they left too unless it’s the same lady.
So we get to the place - Wild Canyon and I immediately think – this looks familiar. Come to find out it was featured in a Fear Factor episode. If anyone recalls that one – yeah – it’s that scary looking. There are supposed to be 10 zip lines but only 8 were operational and a good thing they were too. I about nearly had a heat stroke. So they start us off with a bang! First, instructions on how to break, how to get ourselves moving if we stop (which actually gave me flashbacks to the “Wall” in Basic Training – YIKES!), how to properly align our bodies – not that it did much good. First a baby one – 167 ft with a speed of about 3.2 speed – this was easy. We were allowed to take pictures and since their photographers weren’t there – we all went to town. I had brought my small waterproof and shockproof camera just in case but the other party had their Canon 40D and 2 other SLRs. I’m glad I didn’t as I got “bump”ed a lot – especially in the bump. LOL
The 2nd one was a waker upper. We got to go tandem and Steve went first, I went and put my feet under his armpits and we were off. This was fine – I started laughing and got the evil Dr. Evil maniacal laugh. We made it safe to the other ravine – I forgot how long this was but it sure as heck wasn’t any 164 ft. When we got off this line, we had to climb up and when I mean UP – I mean UP – my heart was pounding so bad I about nearly passed myself out. If any of you have been following my blogs, remember my description of the Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta Sierra Madre hike? Yeah – that bad. It cut a path back and forth and almost straight up. It really wasn’t that long but I had to stop 5 times. By this time, the heat is just about to kick in. So I finally make it to the top, dead exhausted just from the climb up when I get all excited because I see a line – only to be told by the people waiting, this is the last one – you got to go that a way – pointing to the left trail which I see Steve going down. My heart dropped. Here my heart was pounding, I was lightheaded and nearly passing out but like a good trooper, I paced myself. Finally got to Zip Line #3 and waited for the party ahead of us to go.
Things proceed this way up to line #5, by this time, the sun is dead hot and the other party loses about 1/3 of their party and our 7 ends down to 3. Its wasn’t the zip lining folks, it was the unbearable heat. It would have ended down to 2 but for one thing. I am as stubborn as a ……… well, you can fill in the blanks. I get off zip line 5 only to tell Steve, who – I’m dizzy – my blood pressure dropped – I had zipped lying down and my head arched back so it was below my heart zipping along. Stood up too fast and so it dropped. But the line guide took one look at me and said, I really suggest that you take the “shortcut” from line 5 to 8 (which we passed up a LONG TIME AGO!) Of course, you all know that when you tell me not to do something, I’m going to do exactly the opposite. So I look at Steve, dump the water bottle over my head after taking off my helmet and proceed to tell Steve, let’s go – I’m finishing if it kills me. LOL
Monica graciously allowed her son Trevoy to come with us and while we climbed to line #6, they took off to 8. We were all looking forward to sitting down but poor Trevoy – as soon as we climbed (yes – its all climbs) up to line 6, the other party had to have some people leave by car/bus so he took poor Trevoy and they zipped down to 7. Well, things progressed this way until line 8. Line 8 was a single zip and the longest. During this zip about ½ down you must “break” to break your speed and you are precariously close to a cliff. I didn’t realize how close until I zip on by and a twig brushed by helmet and nearly seared off my butt. LOL – ok – it was only about 2 ft from my head. I got twisted but I made it!
It was extremely hot and tiring but I can honestly say, now that I’m not dead of heat stroke, I am so proud of myself. I knew I could do it. I just wasn’t sure this old body of mine would cooperate. Let me just say that I totally understand the saying – the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak.
So after finishing the last zip – I had to do guess what? Yup! One last climb to get to the starting point. We get done, get a drink and then the driver takes us back – by this time it is 2:45. He drops us off at Cabo Wabo – and Megan – there are two parts to Cabo Wabo. We found the back entrance! ROTFMAO. The other side, where the Giggling Marlin is – you remember that spot I pointed out where I had my fiasco with the phone – the timing part? Yeah – well that is actually the entrance to the restaurant. Our party made its way into the bar and I immediately flashed another era. Private booths, groovy lights, drunk people. OK – not drunk as it was too early and all aboard was 5 pm but you get the drift. For those that have been there when its happening – it was gearing up to be a good night to be in Cabo Wabo! LOL
So Steve and I say our good-byes and we leave to pick up some things I forgot, like a hairbrush, contact lens drops, mascara (which I really didn’t forget – LOL) lotion, aspirin, etc. So then once they were picked up we got to have a small lunch, we ate at the taco bar in front of Cabo Wabo where we both got the 4 taco special and since we were extremely hungry – went for broke and ordered a quesadilla plate too. We devoured it and left back to catch the tender. No more late runs for me! ROTFL.
We get back to the ship and as soon as we enter the room, I peel off my nasty, dirty, filthy, dirt stained, used to be white t-shirt and access the sun damage. Not as bad as I expected. So I guess I didn’t sweat it all off. Took a shower and attempted a nap but got up to go see the variety show featuring – Ron Pearson. He was really hilarious folks and if you ever get a chance to see him – I highly suggest it. He’s the one I wrote about last night – the one that got his start at the La Mirada Swap Meet.
Got out, went back to the room and then made dinner. It was Parrot Cay tonight – got there late as I had a minor fiasco with the Secret Mickey – got that worked out and we went. I ordered off the kids menu as it featured turkey with gravy. Cheryl had gotten a humongous plateload of shrimp and forced us all to eat some. Dessert, for me was French Toast Bread Pudding with coconut ice cream and a sauce. I ate about 1/3 of it until I realized my pants were tight. We got up and left as the adult cabaret show tonight featured the variety show of John Charles. I wrote about him a little on the May blog. He was in top form today.
For those of you that know Todd and Melissa, John Charles dubbed them the cruise line version of Ken and Barbie. Then Cheryl upstaged him by ……well…….. ok – I won’t tell for what happens in Rocking Bar D – is supposed to stay in Rocking Bar D. I will leave it at that other than to say that Cheryl reacted to a comment and had the whole audience rocking with laughter. Even John broke up with laughter. Score one for the Leo gals! ROTFL.
After that, Steve and I pretty much left as we were beat from all the sun. So that folks, is a long, hot, exhausting day. And Wednesday is set for another one. Puerto Vallarta has been extended from 11:30 to 1 am so we get to party!!!! At 12:30, our Historic Town and Tequila Making gets rolling and we are doing that with Cheryl and John. For those of you that know me – you think I’m busy – I have no idea how John keeps up with Cheryl – she’s the belle of the ball on here. Its amazing. Although, she’s was too busy socializing to spend much time dancing……… hmmm…… that’s cutting into my dance time. LOL
Oh – one small tidbit. You all know that this is my 13th (15th if you count the Wonder) cruise on the Magic alone. Well, as we returned from putting our pin requests in, I got a certificate on my fish – it was a certificate of “Magic-al Moments” which is a guest recognition certificate that crew members hand out. I’ve seen them before but I’ve never gotten one. April I believe has but I got one for “being me.” I guess I made the girl laugh when she was doing my hair. Its either that or she just totally felt sorry for the inept woman that sat down in front of her – either way, I thought that was extremely nice of them to do.
So with that, my eyes are drooping and I need to get some sleep. I am off early on Wednesday to pick up Megan a Louis Vitton rip-off bag. Why? I don’t know.
But that’s all for now folks, stay tuned.
TTYL - Laura
P.S. - we are now 2 hrs ahead of PST. So while I may think its 12:30 - its really 1:30 meanwhile my brain keeps thinking its 10:30. I am falling asleep so off I go.
Till Later.
CABO & ZIP LINING! YEAH! So as you can tell, today was our very first port and it was Cabo San Lucas. I had originally planned on nothing then I was reminded when I got a note on my door that many moons ago I had signed up with Paula to do Zip Lining in Cabo.
It’s late and I’m beat but here it is in a nutshell. Paula (Pbader) set up a party of 7 total (which we were joined by another party in the vans. Anyway, it was Laura (FairyGodmother, her DD – Elizabeth, Paula, Monica (Got2Travel) and her DS – Trevoy, Steve and myself. We got up at 8 – had breakfast, ran to Buena Vista Theatre got our tender ticket and at 9 am – they started allowing people off. We got into the first 2 tenders and were ashore before 9:30. We were supposed to meet the personnel picking us up at 10 so we waited a bit. While waiting, we noticed a stretcher being brought out on the pier and sure enough, a lady with her right leg encased in a soft cast was brought out. Then her DD and DH followed by their luggage. That’s right folks, our first port and already we have a casualty. I guess they ended up leaving. Found out later that another lady had a problem and I believe I’m told they left too unless it’s the same lady.
So we get to the place - Wild Canyon and I immediately think – this looks familiar. Come to find out it was featured in a Fear Factor episode. If anyone recalls that one – yeah – it’s that scary looking. There are supposed to be 10 zip lines but only 8 were operational and a good thing they were too. I about nearly had a heat stroke. So they start us off with a bang! First, instructions on how to break, how to get ourselves moving if we stop (which actually gave me flashbacks to the “Wall” in Basic Training – YIKES!), how to properly align our bodies – not that it did much good. First a baby one – 167 ft with a speed of about 3.2 speed – this was easy. We were allowed to take pictures and since their photographers weren’t there – we all went to town. I had brought my small waterproof and shockproof camera just in case but the other party had their Canon 40D and 2 other SLRs. I’m glad I didn’t as I got “bump”ed a lot – especially in the bump. LOL
The 2nd one was a waker upper. We got to go tandem and Steve went first, I went and put my feet under his armpits and we were off. This was fine – I started laughing and got the evil Dr. Evil maniacal laugh. We made it safe to the other ravine – I forgot how long this was but it sure as heck wasn’t any 164 ft. When we got off this line, we had to climb up and when I mean UP – I mean UP – my heart was pounding so bad I about nearly passed myself out. If any of you have been following my blogs, remember my description of the Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta Sierra Madre hike? Yeah – that bad. It cut a path back and forth and almost straight up. It really wasn’t that long but I had to stop 5 times. By this time, the heat is just about to kick in. So I finally make it to the top, dead exhausted just from the climb up when I get all excited because I see a line – only to be told by the people waiting, this is the last one – you got to go that a way – pointing to the left trail which I see Steve going down. My heart dropped. Here my heart was pounding, I was lightheaded and nearly passing out but like a good trooper, I paced myself. Finally got to Zip Line #3 and waited for the party ahead of us to go.
Things proceed this way up to line #5, by this time, the sun is dead hot and the other party loses about 1/3 of their party and our 7 ends down to 3. Its wasn’t the zip lining folks, it was the unbearable heat. It would have ended down to 2 but for one thing. I am as stubborn as a ……… well, you can fill in the blanks. I get off zip line 5 only to tell Steve, who – I’m dizzy – my blood pressure dropped – I had zipped lying down and my head arched back so it was below my heart zipping along. Stood up too fast and so it dropped. But the line guide took one look at me and said, I really suggest that you take the “shortcut” from line 5 to 8 (which we passed up a LONG TIME AGO!) Of course, you all know that when you tell me not to do something, I’m going to do exactly the opposite. So I look at Steve, dump the water bottle over my head after taking off my helmet and proceed to tell Steve, let’s go – I’m finishing if it kills me. LOL
Monica graciously allowed her son Trevoy to come with us and while we climbed to line #6, they took off to 8. We were all looking forward to sitting down but poor Trevoy – as soon as we climbed (yes – its all climbs) up to line 6, the other party had to have some people leave by car/bus so he took poor Trevoy and they zipped down to 7. Well, things progressed this way until line 8. Line 8 was a single zip and the longest. During this zip about ½ down you must “break” to break your speed and you are precariously close to a cliff. I didn’t realize how close until I zip on by and a twig brushed by helmet and nearly seared off my butt. LOL – ok – it was only about 2 ft from my head. I got twisted but I made it!
It was extremely hot and tiring but I can honestly say, now that I’m not dead of heat stroke, I am so proud of myself. I knew I could do it. I just wasn’t sure this old body of mine would cooperate. Let me just say that I totally understand the saying – the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak.
So after finishing the last zip – I had to do guess what? Yup! One last climb to get to the starting point. We get done, get a drink and then the driver takes us back – by this time it is 2:45. He drops us off at Cabo Wabo – and Megan – there are two parts to Cabo Wabo. We found the back entrance! ROTFMAO. The other side, where the Giggling Marlin is – you remember that spot I pointed out where I had my fiasco with the phone – the timing part? Yeah – well that is actually the entrance to the restaurant. Our party made its way into the bar and I immediately flashed another era. Private booths, groovy lights, drunk people. OK – not drunk as it was too early and all aboard was 5 pm but you get the drift. For those that have been there when its happening – it was gearing up to be a good night to be in Cabo Wabo! LOL
So Steve and I say our good-byes and we leave to pick up some things I forgot, like a hairbrush, contact lens drops, mascara (which I really didn’t forget – LOL) lotion, aspirin, etc. So then once they were picked up we got to have a small lunch, we ate at the taco bar in front of Cabo Wabo where we both got the 4 taco special and since we were extremely hungry – went for broke and ordered a quesadilla plate too. We devoured it and left back to catch the tender. No more late runs for me! ROTFL.
We get back to the ship and as soon as we enter the room, I peel off my nasty, dirty, filthy, dirt stained, used to be white t-shirt and access the sun damage. Not as bad as I expected. So I guess I didn’t sweat it all off. Took a shower and attempted a nap but got up to go see the variety show featuring – Ron Pearson. He was really hilarious folks and if you ever get a chance to see him – I highly suggest it. He’s the one I wrote about last night – the one that got his start at the La Mirada Swap Meet.
Got out, went back to the room and then made dinner. It was Parrot Cay tonight – got there late as I had a minor fiasco with the Secret Mickey – got that worked out and we went. I ordered off the kids menu as it featured turkey with gravy. Cheryl had gotten a humongous plateload of shrimp and forced us all to eat some. Dessert, for me was French Toast Bread Pudding with coconut ice cream and a sauce. I ate about 1/3 of it until I realized my pants were tight. We got up and left as the adult cabaret show tonight featured the variety show of John Charles. I wrote about him a little on the May blog. He was in top form today.
For those of you that know Todd and Melissa, John Charles dubbed them the cruise line version of Ken and Barbie. Then Cheryl upstaged him by ……well…….. ok – I won’t tell for what happens in Rocking Bar D – is supposed to stay in Rocking Bar D. I will leave it at that other than to say that Cheryl reacted to a comment and had the whole audience rocking with laughter. Even John broke up with laughter. Score one for the Leo gals! ROTFL.
After that, Steve and I pretty much left as we were beat from all the sun. So that folks, is a long, hot, exhausting day. And Wednesday is set for another one. Puerto Vallarta has been extended from 11:30 to 1 am so we get to party!!!! At 12:30, our Historic Town and Tequila Making gets rolling and we are doing that with Cheryl and John. For those of you that know me – you think I’m busy – I have no idea how John keeps up with Cheryl – she’s the belle of the ball on here. Its amazing. Although, she’s was too busy socializing to spend much time dancing……… hmmm…… that’s cutting into my dance time. LOL
Oh – one small tidbit. You all know that this is my 13th (15th if you count the Wonder) cruise on the Magic alone. Well, as we returned from putting our pin requests in, I got a certificate on my fish – it was a certificate of “Magic-al Moments” which is a guest recognition certificate that crew members hand out. I’ve seen them before but I’ve never gotten one. April I believe has but I got one for “being me.” I guess I made the girl laugh when she was doing my hair. Its either that or she just totally felt sorry for the inept woman that sat down in front of her – either way, I thought that was extremely nice of them to do.
So with that, my eyes are drooping and I need to get some sleep. I am off early on Wednesday to pick up Megan a Louis Vitton rip-off bag. Why? I don’t know.
But that’s all for now folks, stay tuned.
TTYL - Laura
P.S. - we are now 2 hrs ahead of PST. So while I may think its 12:30 - its really 1:30 meanwhile my brain keeps thinking its 10:30. I am falling asleep so off I go.
Till Later.
P.S. - picture above is taken at zip line #5 - right after he told me that I should probably not take 6 and 7. HAH! He doesn't know me very well does he? I'm stubborn as hell.
Sea Day August 18th, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
So today, I slept in – woke up at 11:30. Took a shower and realized that in my frenzy of losing my drivers license and credit cards, I left my brush at home. Bought a small cheapy-ass brush and while brushing my hair realized that my scalp has been fried when I got my hair done on Wednesday! Finally got Steve up and went to Parrot Cay for breakfast/brunch. Lots of goodies in the fish extenders, tattoos, a book from PaulaSillars – thanks Paula! Lots of goodies. Parrot Cay was American Brunch and the chicken soft taco was decent, had the usual – salad, fried chicken, hard shell chicken taco and soft. Left and walked up to the Vista Spa in the hope they had a better brush to brush my hair with. Tonight was formal night and turns out that the spa had 1 opening at 6 pm so I took it. LOL – hey I’m on vacation – I don’t do hair. LOL
So I took in the matinee show of The Golden Mickey’s and it went well. At 4:30, went to Rocking Bar D to do Ballroom Dancing where they were teaching the waltz. Steve chickened out on me and so I play paparazzi. Came back to the room and met up with Esteri to give her some SM gifts. Went to the my appt and had my hair done and where she talked me into buying some kind of oil treatment for my hands and scalp. I’m so gullible sometimes.
After my appt, came to the room and dressed and went out to get some pictures. Got some pictures including the prerequisite one with Capt Tom. Went to dinner where they had the Golden Mickey dinner. Oana (from Romania) had a salad for Steve and I ready. Cheryl managed to have a plate of shrimp waiting for all of us. If I keep eating this way, I’ll have gained back all the weight I lost (ROTLFMAO) this past year.
Got out of dinner around 9:45 and made our way down to Rocking Bar D. Ron Pearson did an adult cabaret show and he was really, really hilarious. The show started at 10:45 and I ducked out to change from my long formal to shorts and tank top. The show was fantastic – clean but totally hilarious – he did comedy based on women vs men – but clean. Had a hilarious pre show where Cheryl graciously volunteered John and he, being man #2 was asked to dance to ……….what else? The Chicken Dance. However, the best one was man #3, he was asked to dance a song I forgot because when it came his turn, he took off his shirt (and he was not a small man) and started stripping. AH yes, it was the stripper song. David, our entertainment emcee about pee’d his pants. I’m sure he was not aware of how this group would be so quick. LOL
Anyway, Ron Pearson hung around after the show to sell some of his DVDs. Turns out he and I have a connection, he asked where I was from and upon further investigation it turns out that he used to work at the La Mirada Swap Meet about ’87. He and his partner used to take turns juggling, working a tightrope and one time even worked with Stacey Q – the singer of Two of Hearts. In fact, that is how we ended up talking. He was asking me if I knew who sang Two of Hearts and before he even finished asking the question, out popped Stacey Q. How embarrassing – insert red smiley face here. LOL
We talked and I mentioned that I was actually buying the DVD (which he personalized for me – w/o me knowing) actually to send overseas to my soldiers in Iraq. He mentioned that he had been asked to do a USO tour but that it was really hard to clear his schedule for 2 ½ weeks. We talked a bit and at the end he was super nice to give me an extra for myself. YIPPEE! Go Ron Pearson. Somehow I knew that name was familiar. Now we know why – he was at the La Mirada Swap Meet in ’87 which was when I returned from the Army and I would go there and probably seen him working there. OMG! I feel so old! LOL
Anyway, when I returned the band, The Leonard Brothers were playing and they are a good band. Even Steve admitted he like hearing them. But one word of caution – they are loud! But good. So I’m sitting there about ready to go when what song comes on but my favorite guaranteed to make me dance song – but Footloose played by the band – I guess it was 80’s night. So yes, Id did, again I’m making a fool of myself on the dance floor. I ended up dancing with Kimberly, (OCD4WDW) and for some crazy reason – I was so totally off on my rhythm and I noticed it – and no folks, I was stone cold sober, so my kids would definitely have been embarrassed – walk out of the room embarrassed.
We waited till the band ended and left as it turns out that I have plans – made months ago with Paula (Pbader) to go zip lining. For those of you that remember, we did not get to go zip lining in July – we went dolphin swimming instead. So I’m hoping that I can continue my excitement tomorrow – assuming I don’t kill myself that is. So as its not 1:02 am I have got to finish.
First tender tomorrow at Cabo is at 9 and we are supposed to meet the driver of the van at 10 am so I will sign off and talk to you all tomorrow.
TTYL
Laura
Laura and Steve are going Zip Lining - pray for me that I don't break anything! Later folks!
So today, I slept in – woke up at 11:30. Took a shower and realized that in my frenzy of losing my drivers license and credit cards, I left my brush at home. Bought a small cheapy-ass brush and while brushing my hair realized that my scalp has been fried when I got my hair done on Wednesday! Finally got Steve up and went to Parrot Cay for breakfast/brunch. Lots of goodies in the fish extenders, tattoos, a book from PaulaSillars – thanks Paula! Lots of goodies. Parrot Cay was American Brunch and the chicken soft taco was decent, had the usual – salad, fried chicken, hard shell chicken taco and soft. Left and walked up to the Vista Spa in the hope they had a better brush to brush my hair with. Tonight was formal night and turns out that the spa had 1 opening at 6 pm so I took it. LOL – hey I’m on vacation – I don’t do hair. LOL
So I took in the matinee show of The Golden Mickey’s and it went well. At 4:30, went to Rocking Bar D to do Ballroom Dancing where they were teaching the waltz. Steve chickened out on me and so I play paparazzi. Came back to the room and met up with Esteri to give her some SM gifts. Went to the my appt and had my hair done and where she talked me into buying some kind of oil treatment for my hands and scalp. I’m so gullible sometimes.
After my appt, came to the room and dressed and went out to get some pictures. Got some pictures including the prerequisite one with Capt Tom. Went to dinner where they had the Golden Mickey dinner. Oana (from Romania) had a salad for Steve and I ready. Cheryl managed to have a plate of shrimp waiting for all of us. If I keep eating this way, I’ll have gained back all the weight I lost (ROTLFMAO) this past year.
Got out of dinner around 9:45 and made our way down to Rocking Bar D. Ron Pearson did an adult cabaret show and he was really, really hilarious. The show started at 10:45 and I ducked out to change from my long formal to shorts and tank top. The show was fantastic – clean but totally hilarious – he did comedy based on women vs men – but clean. Had a hilarious pre show where Cheryl graciously volunteered John and he, being man #2 was asked to dance to ……….what else? The Chicken Dance. However, the best one was man #3, he was asked to dance a song I forgot because when it came his turn, he took off his shirt (and he was not a small man) and started stripping. AH yes, it was the stripper song. David, our entertainment emcee about pee’d his pants. I’m sure he was not aware of how this group would be so quick. LOL
Anyway, Ron Pearson hung around after the show to sell some of his DVDs. Turns out he and I have a connection, he asked where I was from and upon further investigation it turns out that he used to work at the La Mirada Swap Meet about ’87. He and his partner used to take turns juggling, working a tightrope and one time even worked with Stacey Q – the singer of Two of Hearts. In fact, that is how we ended up talking. He was asking me if I knew who sang Two of Hearts and before he even finished asking the question, out popped Stacey Q. How embarrassing – insert red smiley face here. LOL
We talked and I mentioned that I was actually buying the DVD (which he personalized for me – w/o me knowing) actually to send overseas to my soldiers in Iraq. He mentioned that he had been asked to do a USO tour but that it was really hard to clear his schedule for 2 ½ weeks. We talked a bit and at the end he was super nice to give me an extra for myself. YIPPEE! Go Ron Pearson. Somehow I knew that name was familiar. Now we know why – he was at the La Mirada Swap Meet in ’87 which was when I returned from the Army and I would go there and probably seen him working there. OMG! I feel so old! LOL
Anyway, when I returned the band, The Leonard Brothers were playing and they are a good band. Even Steve admitted he like hearing them. But one word of caution – they are loud! But good. So I’m sitting there about ready to go when what song comes on but my favorite guaranteed to make me dance song – but Footloose played by the band – I guess it was 80’s night. So yes, Id did, again I’m making a fool of myself on the dance floor. I ended up dancing with Kimberly, (OCD4WDW) and for some crazy reason – I was so totally off on my rhythm and I noticed it – and no folks, I was stone cold sober, so my kids would definitely have been embarrassed – walk out of the room embarrassed.
We waited till the band ended and left as it turns out that I have plans – made months ago with Paula (Pbader) to go zip lining. For those of you that remember, we did not get to go zip lining in July – we went dolphin swimming instead. So I’m hoping that I can continue my excitement tomorrow – assuming I don’t kill myself that is. So as its not 1:02 am I have got to finish.
First tender tomorrow at Cabo is at 9 and we are supposed to meet the driver of the van at 10 am so I will sign off and talk to you all tomorrow.
TTYL
Laura
Laura and Steve are going Zip Lining - pray for me that I don't break anything! Later folks!
EBPC Cruise has arrived!
OK I know this is late but I've started just didn't have time to post so here it is - bam! All at once.
Enjoy and let me know if you like!
Sunday, August 17th, 2008
OK so today started with a horrifying bang. It was actually 2:15 am when I realized that I could not find our tickets. So to make a very long and horrifying story shorter since some of you do really read my blog, here I am for the next 2 ½ hours trying to locate out tickets. I finally tell Steve and we methodically go searching – turning out house completely upside down – at least the bottom half even worse that it already is. So finally at 4 am – Steve finds it. Ok, I can rest easy now so I attempt a couple of hours sleep. I last look at the clock at 4:15 am.
Fast forward to 9:30, however, God or some mischievous being decides to wake me up at 9 am. So I shower, decide to check to see if my ipod speakers works with my ipod. Guess what? Not for my generation – it doesn’t sit on the dock well, so Steve volunteers to take me to Besy Buy to exchange. Long story short? We run, we return and I buy. While at the check out – I’m getting ready to whip out my credit card holder and VOILA! No CC holder. That’s right – I paid for April’s books and then attempted to call the credit card companies to notify them of our itinerary. Their systems were down and I was asked to call back after 5:30 am. OK – say I – no problem.
Now, here we fly home as we managed to get our shuttle pick up time from 12:30 to 11:30. We get home its 11:10. So here we go zipping and tearing the bedroom up as that’s the last place I thought I had it. Go figure – Murphy’s law – I’m having trouble and who shows up early? The shuttle service. Steve runs out to tell the we have a problem. He waits 15 minutes. Rings the doorbell and tells us he can wait another 15 minutes and then has to leave – cannot return. I’m nearly in tears by this time and seriously upset. Got our tickets, passports but no drivers license and I’m seriously not wanting to carry my passport every time we get off – not to mention our credit card was in the bundle. At my wits end, I beg, plead and promise my last born – OK – so I didn’t do that last one but only because I hadn’t thought of it yet. I did however, get this idea to pray to St. Anthony. What do I have to lose. I practically beg for his help promising to drop a donation into a cathedral in Mexico – home of the churches on this side of the world – totally forgetting that Father Mike will be saying mass on the ship. So – no sooner did I pray and beg and promise but I look at the bed – which by this time has been searched by all of us – Megan, April, Steve and myself. I look at the footrail and the mattress – jam my hand down between the mattress – on top of the bedspread and voila! I feel the tip of my drivers license. Folks, I have a hot pink picture holder which I keep the cards in as well as the drivers license. In case you haven’t figured it out – I tend to lose things. LOL
So I pull it out – about 2 minutes before I sent the driver away. I shout for joy realizing what I have just promised and fully intending to complete it – when I realize – the bedspread was never on the bed at the time I tried to call. In fact, it wasn’t even on the bed – it was at the bench at the foot of the bed. If I had had it on the bed, it should have fallen UNDERNEATH the bedspread when it was put on the bed. Nope folks, it was the mattress, the bedspread, the wallet and then the footrail. So make what you want out of it – but St. Anthony really works. Cheryl – my tablemate told me later that I should have called up St. Jude as he’s the patron saint of lost causes. ROTFL
So, we get to the Long Beach terminal, check in, get boarding group 25 – they are on 17. Then right at group 24, along comes 5-8 busses of people from Disneyland. They have already checked in at the hotel so they got in before us.
Note – small disaster with dinner when someone else took our table and messed everything up. Cheryl and Arlene managed to nab one person who takes them onboard before anyone else and they get the mess straightened up within 20 minutes.
So we drop our bag off as we finally get through the line at about 2 pm. We hightail it to Parrot Cay where Arlene and Cheryl have saved a table for us. We eat – run to the room for our boat drill then return to unpack as our bags had arrived – you know – last one on – first to arrive. LOL
Then, about 4 pm – we head up to Sailaway party. Managed to run into several DIS people, Cheryl, John, M and family, 4Boons, to many to remember. We stay until about 4:45 and just past the breakwater. We head to the room, unpack and then catch the 6:15 showing of the Welcome Aboard Variety Show. Regular show – Jeremy, family board, then the entertainment – John Charles entertains. More Jeremy show then the other entertainment , the Physical Comedy of Ron Pearson. At one point he asks for volunteers and guess who is picked but our own Julie. And the first and last time I will be left without a camera. Didn’t think I would need it - she got a DVD out of it – he’s funny but with a bit of a small edge. But this was the family who – and I am sure his adult show will be even better.
So we return to the room after hitting the gift shops after realizing I forgot a brush and toothbrush in my haste to locate my credit cards. We go back to the room, unpack and then head out to dinner. Were last ones in the dinner room – we start at Lumiere’s got our table 6 back and meet our tablemates. Cheryl and John (micsmouse2003), Arelene and Richard (Arlenesp) and Terry and Brett (Nutty4Disney). Everyone was soon talking and laughing. Service was a bit slow and it was 9:30 and we still had only our appetizers. I hope service improves as I think it was because of it being first night. We get out about 10:30 from 8 pm seating and head over to Rocking Bar D just in time to hit the Ice Breakers show. Not going into details but Laura, Steve and others were involved in adult activites. ROTFL. You’ll just have to sail with us in the future if you want to know what we did – for as David – the entertainment group said – what happens in Rocking Bar D – stays in Rocking Bar D – unless of course you have a camera with a big old honking flasth like someone has. WHO ME? Never!
They have a new band – The Leonard Brothers who just ended a contract at Pleasure Island in WDW. They snatched them up and they are really, really good. Much better at least for me than Soul Drive. They play a little – ok a lot harder and louder but they are good – not to mention blonde and better yet? I believe the front men are twins – DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE WITH DOUBLEMENT TWINS ……… um …. sorry – meant twins. And the keyboardist and other guitar are not ½ bad either. ROTFLMAO
So at midnight – which is really 1 am – as time went forward one hour, we head back to the room amid ringing ears. Notice the over 450 Pirates and their doors. Closer to 500 is what I am told. I am sitting in the middle of stateroom 2100 at 2 am tired but decidely typing up so I can remember this.
So with this – I will sign off – talk to you later (TTYL)
Laura
Enjoy and let me know if you like!
Sunday, August 17th, 2008
OK so today started with a horrifying bang. It was actually 2:15 am when I realized that I could not find our tickets. So to make a very long and horrifying story shorter since some of you do really read my blog, here I am for the next 2 ½ hours trying to locate out tickets. I finally tell Steve and we methodically go searching – turning out house completely upside down – at least the bottom half even worse that it already is. So finally at 4 am – Steve finds it. Ok, I can rest easy now so I attempt a couple of hours sleep. I last look at the clock at 4:15 am.
Fast forward to 9:30, however, God or some mischievous being decides to wake me up at 9 am. So I shower, decide to check to see if my ipod speakers works with my ipod. Guess what? Not for my generation – it doesn’t sit on the dock well, so Steve volunteers to take me to Besy Buy to exchange. Long story short? We run, we return and I buy. While at the check out – I’m getting ready to whip out my credit card holder and VOILA! No CC holder. That’s right – I paid for April’s books and then attempted to call the credit card companies to notify them of our itinerary. Their systems were down and I was asked to call back after 5:30 am. OK – say I – no problem.
Now, here we fly home as we managed to get our shuttle pick up time from 12:30 to 11:30. We get home its 11:10. So here we go zipping and tearing the bedroom up as that’s the last place I thought I had it. Go figure – Murphy’s law – I’m having trouble and who shows up early? The shuttle service. Steve runs out to tell the we have a problem. He waits 15 minutes. Rings the doorbell and tells us he can wait another 15 minutes and then has to leave – cannot return. I’m nearly in tears by this time and seriously upset. Got our tickets, passports but no drivers license and I’m seriously not wanting to carry my passport every time we get off – not to mention our credit card was in the bundle. At my wits end, I beg, plead and promise my last born – OK – so I didn’t do that last one but only because I hadn’t thought of it yet. I did however, get this idea to pray to St. Anthony. What do I have to lose. I practically beg for his help promising to drop a donation into a cathedral in Mexico – home of the churches on this side of the world – totally forgetting that Father Mike will be saying mass on the ship. So – no sooner did I pray and beg and promise but I look at the bed – which by this time has been searched by all of us – Megan, April, Steve and myself. I look at the footrail and the mattress – jam my hand down between the mattress – on top of the bedspread and voila! I feel the tip of my drivers license. Folks, I have a hot pink picture holder which I keep the cards in as well as the drivers license. In case you haven’t figured it out – I tend to lose things. LOL
So I pull it out – about 2 minutes before I sent the driver away. I shout for joy realizing what I have just promised and fully intending to complete it – when I realize – the bedspread was never on the bed at the time I tried to call. In fact, it wasn’t even on the bed – it was at the bench at the foot of the bed. If I had had it on the bed, it should have fallen UNDERNEATH the bedspread when it was put on the bed. Nope folks, it was the mattress, the bedspread, the wallet and then the footrail. So make what you want out of it – but St. Anthony really works. Cheryl – my tablemate told me later that I should have called up St. Jude as he’s the patron saint of lost causes. ROTFL
So, we get to the Long Beach terminal, check in, get boarding group 25 – they are on 17. Then right at group 24, along comes 5-8 busses of people from Disneyland. They have already checked in at the hotel so they got in before us.
Note – small disaster with dinner when someone else took our table and messed everything up. Cheryl and Arlene managed to nab one person who takes them onboard before anyone else and they get the mess straightened up within 20 minutes.
So we drop our bag off as we finally get through the line at about 2 pm. We hightail it to Parrot Cay where Arlene and Cheryl have saved a table for us. We eat – run to the room for our boat drill then return to unpack as our bags had arrived – you know – last one on – first to arrive. LOL
Then, about 4 pm – we head up to Sailaway party. Managed to run into several DIS people, Cheryl, John, M and family, 4Boons, to many to remember. We stay until about 4:45 and just past the breakwater. We head to the room, unpack and then catch the 6:15 showing of the Welcome Aboard Variety Show. Regular show – Jeremy, family board, then the entertainment – John Charles entertains. More Jeremy show then the other entertainment , the Physical Comedy of Ron Pearson. At one point he asks for volunteers and guess who is picked but our own Julie. And the first and last time I will be left without a camera. Didn’t think I would need it - she got a DVD out of it – he’s funny but with a bit of a small edge. But this was the family who – and I am sure his adult show will be even better.
So we return to the room after hitting the gift shops after realizing I forgot a brush and toothbrush in my haste to locate my credit cards. We go back to the room, unpack and then head out to dinner. Were last ones in the dinner room – we start at Lumiere’s got our table 6 back and meet our tablemates. Cheryl and John (micsmouse2003), Arelene and Richard (Arlenesp) and Terry and Brett (Nutty4Disney). Everyone was soon talking and laughing. Service was a bit slow and it was 9:30 and we still had only our appetizers. I hope service improves as I think it was because of it being first night. We get out about 10:30 from 8 pm seating and head over to Rocking Bar D just in time to hit the Ice Breakers show. Not going into details but Laura, Steve and others were involved in adult activites. ROTFL. You’ll just have to sail with us in the future if you want to know what we did – for as David – the entertainment group said – what happens in Rocking Bar D – stays in Rocking Bar D – unless of course you have a camera with a big old honking flasth like someone has. WHO ME? Never!
They have a new band – The Leonard Brothers who just ended a contract at Pleasure Island in WDW. They snatched them up and they are really, really good. Much better at least for me than Soul Drive. They play a little – ok a lot harder and louder but they are good – not to mention blonde and better yet? I believe the front men are twins – DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE WITH DOUBLEMENT TWINS ……… um …. sorry – meant twins. And the keyboardist and other guitar are not ½ bad either. ROTFLMAO
So at midnight – which is really 1 am – as time went forward one hour, we head back to the room amid ringing ears. Notice the over 450 Pirates and their doors. Closer to 500 is what I am told. I am sitting in the middle of stateroom 2100 at 2 am tired but decidely typing up so I can remember this.
So with this – I will sign off – talk to you later (TTYL)
Laura
Friday, July 25, 2008
Friday, July 25th, Sea Day
OK folks, that it for now, my hand is shot and my days have run together, the BBQ and Character Breakfast was Friday morning. Today is Semi-formal night and its now about 4:15 and I've got a DIS meet at 5 in Studio Sea. I also need to hunt down Christian, need to "ask" for something - he did say whatever I needed just let him know.
Bet he didn't think I'm going to ask him what I'm going to ask. I'll let you all in on it later. For now, got to check this out - bye!
Bet he didn't think I'm going to ask him what I'm going to ask. I'll let you all in on it later. For now, got to check this out - bye!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Thursday, July 25, 2008
OK so this is our last port. Today was Thursday. Our excursion which was to replace the Canopy Adventure was the Dolphin Signature Swim – they only had 3 spots so Steve and I signed on as observers for $35 each. The actual signature swim (which we signed up for on Tuesday) was $199. They supposedly don’t allow cameras but our experience was in the observation desk they do – you just cannot take them to the actual swim area.
So, Steve and I get off and do some terminal shopping and return back by 1:30. We picked up the girls and got to Rocking Bar D with all the rest. Our original departure time was for 2 pm. At 2:30 we were told that we were waiting on 2 people for the signature swim. So Steve, being Steve, decided to ask the DCL employee if the couple didn’t show up if we could take their place. Her response? No. The rep from the Dolphin Adventure – sure.
So we get on the bus, and to the place. It takes about 20 minutes to get out as its on the outskirts or in the area known as Nuevo Vallerta. So we sit down and they take the “swimmers” right away. Steve gets up and asks one of the reps if we can take the place of the people that did not show up (turns out we were later told that they were already there from an earlier excursion. Pay attn folks, if DCL doesn’t accommodate your whole party, this is what we did. Disney seems to capping out the party at 5 for the signature swim. The Dolphin Encounter however, had no problem accommodating two extra swimmers. We had luckily brought our swimsuits under our clothes so they hurried us off the observation deck and we caught up to the girls. They did ask me what I had paid on the observer ticket which was $35. So then they just charged us the difference. An additional $114. That’s right folks, we ended up paying less than what DCL charges us although they used my DCL room key to forward the charges to the ship – this because they did not want to delay the swimmers. So I gave them the card and we went the swimmers area and joined the girls.
We got assigned to a group of 8 – us 5 and 3 young girls. We had Nacho and Aqua which was a rescued dolphin who beached herself. She was rather shy and took a liking to me. The trainers noticed it and when it came time for the kiss, yours truly got not one dolphin – but the only double kiss with both Aqua and Nacho. The little girls were too squealy for her and I put it off to just having a squimmish dog (Chloe) and not moving fast. I also got to ride Aqua which was a thrill. I ended up getting about $200 worth of pictures from there. Folks, if you thought the excursion price was expensive, the pictures were even more and that is where they sock it to you. However, since I don’t like a lot of pictures of me, I did not like and therefore got them. We ran out of time for the buffet which was supposed to be provided for and for those of you planning on doing this, don’t miss it – the food was actually very good for being a buffet. My downfall to this excursion? The girls handling the pictures were very misinformed and due to one other lady buying pictures and monopolizing the one informed person, there was a big mix-up at the counter – which they only had one register. But the experience and the trainers and the dolphins were worth it for me. They do have a big tip jar for the trainers which they do ask for but not in a pushy way. If you send your kids without you, don’t forget to give them something to drop in the jar. The time they spend on us is small but I got more touching time than I would have in the Bahamas. Course its been about 10 years since I did it there. Here we did not get pushed from behind from the dolphins, we got to “ride” the dolphins, a la boogie board. I’ll post pictures when I get home.
So we get back by 5:30 and we head to the shopping terminal by the Royal Caribbean ship. We managed to spend the rest of the time –all aboard time was at 8 and we needed to souvenir shop. Along the way I managed to snag a couple of “Coach” bags that I liked. They ended up going down to $50 for all the bags (each) but 4 of the 5 were good replicas. Strong zippers, cloth interiors, accompanying paperwork and bag, imprinting bag numbers etc. One was an ok one but I just realized that any decent bag in the states runs about $50 anyway and I really liked them. Megan says that they are either stolen or damn good replicas. Who knows, I’m ok with it for now. Bad Laura – Bad Laura
I did however, leave away feeling good since I made one lady’s day. She was almost in tears and blessed me for spending my money there. She said (and it was almost 7:30 when we left her space) she’d only made about $50 the whole day –for those that have not been there yet – the shops by the ships are all little stalls with nearly identical items in each stall so you really have a great opportunity to haggle – if you don’t like the price – you move on till you find one who will bargain. This lady, I had been in her stall in the morning but didn’t want to carry anything that early in the morning. Well, remember the line that you are meant to be exactly where you are supposed to be? Yeah, well, I was. Turns out that I was standing in front of another man’s stall thinking it was her shop, for some reason, I hesitated to buy it and wandered away looking for Megan and Yesenia. Found them and was returning to buy what I wanted from the man when the lady from the morning came out of her shop and I recognized her. Needless to say she was very happy to see me back. We did our business and she was more than happy to hear that I was returning in August. Her name by the way is Inez and her stall is number 69. She was a very nice lady and gave me a bit of good news.
She was listening to my excuse of not buying any silver (I was buying some pottery) because it turns me green when she told me that was good news. I asked her why. She said that in this region, most ladies and men will adorn themselves with silver. It brings good luck is their belief. So, she told me that the local belief is that if your skin turns green or black it’s because your are envied or jealous. Someone else is envious of you – so that explains all those green necklaces. OK - all you haters out there – stop hating! ROTFL
So we head back to the ship after getting 4 bathing suits – cute – about $25 each – very cute by the way, 5 “Coach” bags and several large fruit bowls and we get back on at about 7:45. We all rush to get dressed as its Pirate night. Not many people dressed. A lot of kids but not a lot of adults. We dressed and when Andrew saw us all dressing – he split. LOL – that’s ok – we were well-prepared for him.
We were not prepared however, for the Gosh-for-saken, demon heathens that ended up on the table next to us. I mentioned a bit on the DIS about the demons. Folks, they really were all that bad.
It started when we showed up and our tablemates looked at me like – thank God. Turns out we were about 8 minutes later. I had to take a shower, the salt water was gross. Anyway, at a table of 8 were 10 kids. Seems there is this big party of 3 tables. I was told they are a large Lebanese Family that is traveling together. Well, the adults all decided to go to Palos and guess who were the lucky recipeients of their demons? Yup – all those around us.
It started with several smaller demons banging the table and getting up and lifting and swaying the draperies covering the windows in Parrot Cay. We were sitting on table 9 they were on table 8, 6, 5 and another one. Well, the kids were all noisy, jumping up and down, climbing the partition wall and circle and jumping from the circle to the floor. Meanwhile, our table is staring at the older girls sitting with the younger ones and they just stare back at us. They never once said anything to the kids. Then the food starting appearing on the table – not theirs – the ones around them. They were getting louder and louder. Our food service team were trying their best but who in tarnation goes to dinner and leaves little ones on their own? I understand one or two but 10 of them? Then the final straw for me was when some of their friends (from the ship) came and started sitting on the table with them, the little ones are getting up and jumping and bumping everyone around. Then, they start leaning up against the other table’s chairs – while people were sitting there. Then I look over at the partition wall and its crawling with 5 kids attempting to sit there. YES FOLKS, there were about 15 kids at this one table. That was it for me, I asked to speak to Javeem and he went over to try and talk with them. Remember, this whole time they are still chattering, throwing stuff and just plain not listening. When I got back, my tablemate tried to ask the older girls to please look after the kids and try to quiet them down. They did not – just got the blank stare. So we started to talk about going up to Palo’s if they didn’t settle down. Remember , we’ve said something, the head server has said something and nothing has happened. Then all of a sudden, the family at table 7 – the father turns around and yells at the little boy who has continued to throw things to knock it off. They don’t. The dinner pirate show comes on and they leave to dance. So I calm down thinking – yeah – they’ll leave now! No such luck, the come back to the table and start back to the same old bedlam. Then all of a sudden, Vern tells me that they have broken the Salt shaker. I thought he was joking. No such thing. They had been slamming their silverware against anything, glasses, table, plates, walls, anything to make noise and this one little heathen just would not stop. He was jumping from the chair to the floor and roughhousing with all the other. His sister, not to be outdone was doing the same thing. When I looked over and saw the mound of salt and broken chards of salt shaker – you all know the one – the yellow thick pottery ones in Parrot Cay. Yeah well, the kids had tried to hid it.
Well, that was it for me. I look at Vern and excused myself and headed off to Palos. When I got there, I had to explain the situation since I didn’t have a room number but once the girl saw how upset I was, she knew exactly who the parents were. So I sat down and waited for one parent to come out. When she did – she looked me up and down and you all read what I wrote on the DIS - she tried the how do you know they were my kids? (1 - I said because they were sitting at the table you were sitting a – I had asked for the parents of those sitting at table 8) , then I tried to find out if she was the adult sitting there and I got the – Why is this important to you? Question and look. I could see where this was going so I tried to explain but I was getting the – not my kids. Along this time, an older gentleman came along and said something in their language. They spoke for a few minutes, and then he tried the same thing. There are several of us – I said, ok – then you’re the parent of the group of kids sitting downstairs on table 8 that range in age from about 15 to 6-7? He nodded and I said. I hope that if anyone came to me and told me that my kids were acting up, I would be mortified to hear that. I was simply acting as a concerned parent because they were extremely rowdy. He then asked which ones and I told him, unfortunately, all of them. By this time, I was getting the cools stares and I can’t rightly blame them, - they are enjoying themselves, they did pay lots of money for them to enjoy themselves and darn it if their kids can’t enjoy themselves too. The problem is that others around them also want to enjoy themselves too. LOL – Vern even took a picture of the floor for proof. I am today really just glossing over their behavior so can you all imagine what it felt like to be going through it?
Friday morning was our character breakfast and Vern and Karen (we couldn’t get up in time) talked to the family that left early. We were all in agreement that we should have spoken up early but were all trying to be Disney about it. However, once yours truly got up to speak with the head server, the dam was broken and we all took panes to try and fix it – I do like the suggestion to kill them with kindness but these heathens would not have understood that and probably would have turned it into some kind of rock concert. LOL
I felt so bad for Jana and Mario when after I returned and explained what happened ( they were not aware of the broken salt peper and glasses) and they looked under the table. It was heartbreaking to see Jana’s face break. She looked like she wanted to cry. Both Mario and Jana apologized for that and we tried to assure them that it wasn’t their fault. But I don’t think they believe us. This morning – for character breakfast – which the characters now come back around to the tables if anyone didn’t know by now, they were again very apologetic according to Vern and Karen.
So that folks was my excitement for the night. Javeem too apologized saying this has been the first cruise that has been sooooo crazy. He has a long time married couple that in the middle of the cruise decided they would not eat together – they fought and now Javeem has to serve the man on deck 9. He said its really weird. The man ordered him to bring the food to him so he’s been playing server to him for the last 2 nights. Some people – demanding! Well I never! ROTFL!!!!!!!!! Ok – I’m not quite there. I did however, feel so much better when he confirmed that this is the strangest cruise of the summer. Very strange were his words. I wholeheartedly agreed with him. LOL I did ask him to please get it straightened out for our August cruise. He said he’ll try.
So today, was our first sea day – semi-formal and also a nice surprise – which some of you might have heard about – they did a BBQ – like they have done on PC day. Turns out they have been doing it for about 3-4 cruises and its always a highlight. I loved the steak that was great. The pineapple upside down cake was good and I got to sit outside for a while. However, the bad things continue to add up – Quiet Cove was open and hot – AC was down and I was regulated to deck 5 to type all this up. I am however done for the moment so off I go to post.
Will update later this evening – I think that Andrew has grown accustomed to his mom and sister dancing and even introduced me to his friends (that are girls) parents last night and so he actually invited me over to introduce me – probably because they wanted to meet me LOL – but then quickly uninvited me to go back to my seat. Becky’s (his friend that’s a girl) dad and I exchanged ideas on how to get Andrew’s lip ring off him but I told “Bob” I preferred that to the tongue ring and would welcome any ideas on how to persuade him to not have one. I just said I settled for the lesser of two evils at the time. It was between an eyebrow piercing or a tattoo and the lip won. Come to find out that his younger daughter – Liz – has one tattoo. So talk about opening mouth and inserting foot. Boy was my face red! ROTFL. Oh well, that’s me for you – little schlep rock.
So folks, that it for now – I will talk to you later.
Laura
OK so this is our last port. Today was Thursday. Our excursion which was to replace the Canopy Adventure was the Dolphin Signature Swim – they only had 3 spots so Steve and I signed on as observers for $35 each. The actual signature swim (which we signed up for on Tuesday) was $199. They supposedly don’t allow cameras but our experience was in the observation desk they do – you just cannot take them to the actual swim area.
So, Steve and I get off and do some terminal shopping and return back by 1:30. We picked up the girls and got to Rocking Bar D with all the rest. Our original departure time was for 2 pm. At 2:30 we were told that we were waiting on 2 people for the signature swim. So Steve, being Steve, decided to ask the DCL employee if the couple didn’t show up if we could take their place. Her response? No. The rep from the Dolphin Adventure – sure.
So we get on the bus, and to the place. It takes about 20 minutes to get out as its on the outskirts or in the area known as Nuevo Vallerta. So we sit down and they take the “swimmers” right away. Steve gets up and asks one of the reps if we can take the place of the people that did not show up (turns out we were later told that they were already there from an earlier excursion. Pay attn folks, if DCL doesn’t accommodate your whole party, this is what we did. Disney seems to capping out the party at 5 for the signature swim. The Dolphin Encounter however, had no problem accommodating two extra swimmers. We had luckily brought our swimsuits under our clothes so they hurried us off the observation deck and we caught up to the girls. They did ask me what I had paid on the observer ticket which was $35. So then they just charged us the difference. An additional $114. That’s right folks, we ended up paying less than what DCL charges us although they used my DCL room key to forward the charges to the ship – this because they did not want to delay the swimmers. So I gave them the card and we went the swimmers area and joined the girls.
We got assigned to a group of 8 – us 5 and 3 young girls. We had Nacho and Aqua which was a rescued dolphin who beached herself. She was rather shy and took a liking to me. The trainers noticed it and when it came time for the kiss, yours truly got not one dolphin – but the only double kiss with both Aqua and Nacho. The little girls were too squealy for her and I put it off to just having a squimmish dog (Chloe) and not moving fast. I also got to ride Aqua which was a thrill. I ended up getting about $200 worth of pictures from there. Folks, if you thought the excursion price was expensive, the pictures were even more and that is where they sock it to you. However, since I don’t like a lot of pictures of me, I did not like and therefore got them. We ran out of time for the buffet which was supposed to be provided for and for those of you planning on doing this, don’t miss it – the food was actually very good for being a buffet. My downfall to this excursion? The girls handling the pictures were very misinformed and due to one other lady buying pictures and monopolizing the one informed person, there was a big mix-up at the counter – which they only had one register. But the experience and the trainers and the dolphins were worth it for me. They do have a big tip jar for the trainers which they do ask for but not in a pushy way. If you send your kids without you, don’t forget to give them something to drop in the jar. The time they spend on us is small but I got more touching time than I would have in the Bahamas. Course its been about 10 years since I did it there. Here we did not get pushed from behind from the dolphins, we got to “ride” the dolphins, a la boogie board. I’ll post pictures when I get home.
So we get back by 5:30 and we head to the shopping terminal by the Royal Caribbean ship. We managed to spend the rest of the time –all aboard time was at 8 and we needed to souvenir shop. Along the way I managed to snag a couple of “Coach” bags that I liked. They ended up going down to $50 for all the bags (each) but 4 of the 5 were good replicas. Strong zippers, cloth interiors, accompanying paperwork and bag, imprinting bag numbers etc. One was an ok one but I just realized that any decent bag in the states runs about $50 anyway and I really liked them. Megan says that they are either stolen or damn good replicas. Who knows, I’m ok with it for now. Bad Laura – Bad Laura
I did however, leave away feeling good since I made one lady’s day. She was almost in tears and blessed me for spending my money there. She said (and it was almost 7:30 when we left her space) she’d only made about $50 the whole day –for those that have not been there yet – the shops by the ships are all little stalls with nearly identical items in each stall so you really have a great opportunity to haggle – if you don’t like the price – you move on till you find one who will bargain. This lady, I had been in her stall in the morning but didn’t want to carry anything that early in the morning. Well, remember the line that you are meant to be exactly where you are supposed to be? Yeah, well, I was. Turns out that I was standing in front of another man’s stall thinking it was her shop, for some reason, I hesitated to buy it and wandered away looking for Megan and Yesenia. Found them and was returning to buy what I wanted from the man when the lady from the morning came out of her shop and I recognized her. Needless to say she was very happy to see me back. We did our business and she was more than happy to hear that I was returning in August. Her name by the way is Inez and her stall is number 69. She was a very nice lady and gave me a bit of good news.
She was listening to my excuse of not buying any silver (I was buying some pottery) because it turns me green when she told me that was good news. I asked her why. She said that in this region, most ladies and men will adorn themselves with silver. It brings good luck is their belief. So, she told me that the local belief is that if your skin turns green or black it’s because your are envied or jealous. Someone else is envious of you – so that explains all those green necklaces. OK - all you haters out there – stop hating! ROTFL
So we head back to the ship after getting 4 bathing suits – cute – about $25 each – very cute by the way, 5 “Coach” bags and several large fruit bowls and we get back on at about 7:45. We all rush to get dressed as its Pirate night. Not many people dressed. A lot of kids but not a lot of adults. We dressed and when Andrew saw us all dressing – he split. LOL – that’s ok – we were well-prepared for him.
We were not prepared however, for the Gosh-for-saken, demon heathens that ended up on the table next to us. I mentioned a bit on the DIS about the demons. Folks, they really were all that bad.
It started when we showed up and our tablemates looked at me like – thank God. Turns out we were about 8 minutes later. I had to take a shower, the salt water was gross. Anyway, at a table of 8 were 10 kids. Seems there is this big party of 3 tables. I was told they are a large Lebanese Family that is traveling together. Well, the adults all decided to go to Palos and guess who were the lucky recipeients of their demons? Yup – all those around us.
It started with several smaller demons banging the table and getting up and lifting and swaying the draperies covering the windows in Parrot Cay. We were sitting on table 9 they were on table 8, 6, 5 and another one. Well, the kids were all noisy, jumping up and down, climbing the partition wall and circle and jumping from the circle to the floor. Meanwhile, our table is staring at the older girls sitting with the younger ones and they just stare back at us. They never once said anything to the kids. Then the food starting appearing on the table – not theirs – the ones around them. They were getting louder and louder. Our food service team were trying their best but who in tarnation goes to dinner and leaves little ones on their own? I understand one or two but 10 of them? Then the final straw for me was when some of their friends (from the ship) came and started sitting on the table with them, the little ones are getting up and jumping and bumping everyone around. Then, they start leaning up against the other table’s chairs – while people were sitting there. Then I look over at the partition wall and its crawling with 5 kids attempting to sit there. YES FOLKS, there were about 15 kids at this one table. That was it for me, I asked to speak to Javeem and he went over to try and talk with them. Remember, this whole time they are still chattering, throwing stuff and just plain not listening. When I got back, my tablemate tried to ask the older girls to please look after the kids and try to quiet them down. They did not – just got the blank stare. So we started to talk about going up to Palo’s if they didn’t settle down. Remember , we’ve said something, the head server has said something and nothing has happened. Then all of a sudden, the family at table 7 – the father turns around and yells at the little boy who has continued to throw things to knock it off. They don’t. The dinner pirate show comes on and they leave to dance. So I calm down thinking – yeah – they’ll leave now! No such luck, the come back to the table and start back to the same old bedlam. Then all of a sudden, Vern tells me that they have broken the Salt shaker. I thought he was joking. No such thing. They had been slamming their silverware against anything, glasses, table, plates, walls, anything to make noise and this one little heathen just would not stop. He was jumping from the chair to the floor and roughhousing with all the other. His sister, not to be outdone was doing the same thing. When I looked over and saw the mound of salt and broken chards of salt shaker – you all know the one – the yellow thick pottery ones in Parrot Cay. Yeah well, the kids had tried to hid it.
Well, that was it for me. I look at Vern and excused myself and headed off to Palos. When I got there, I had to explain the situation since I didn’t have a room number but once the girl saw how upset I was, she knew exactly who the parents were. So I sat down and waited for one parent to come out. When she did – she looked me up and down and you all read what I wrote on the DIS - she tried the how do you know they were my kids? (1 - I said because they were sitting at the table you were sitting a – I had asked for the parents of those sitting at table 8) , then I tried to find out if she was the adult sitting there and I got the – Why is this important to you? Question and look. I could see where this was going so I tried to explain but I was getting the – not my kids. Along this time, an older gentleman came along and said something in their language. They spoke for a few minutes, and then he tried the same thing. There are several of us – I said, ok – then you’re the parent of the group of kids sitting downstairs on table 8 that range in age from about 15 to 6-7? He nodded and I said. I hope that if anyone came to me and told me that my kids were acting up, I would be mortified to hear that. I was simply acting as a concerned parent because they were extremely rowdy. He then asked which ones and I told him, unfortunately, all of them. By this time, I was getting the cools stares and I can’t rightly blame them, - they are enjoying themselves, they did pay lots of money for them to enjoy themselves and darn it if their kids can’t enjoy themselves too. The problem is that others around them also want to enjoy themselves too. LOL – Vern even took a picture of the floor for proof. I am today really just glossing over their behavior so can you all imagine what it felt like to be going through it?
Friday morning was our character breakfast and Vern and Karen (we couldn’t get up in time) talked to the family that left early. We were all in agreement that we should have spoken up early but were all trying to be Disney about it. However, once yours truly got up to speak with the head server, the dam was broken and we all took panes to try and fix it – I do like the suggestion to kill them with kindness but these heathens would not have understood that and probably would have turned it into some kind of rock concert. LOL
I felt so bad for Jana and Mario when after I returned and explained what happened ( they were not aware of the broken salt peper and glasses) and they looked under the table. It was heartbreaking to see Jana’s face break. She looked like she wanted to cry. Both Mario and Jana apologized for that and we tried to assure them that it wasn’t their fault. But I don’t think they believe us. This morning – for character breakfast – which the characters now come back around to the tables if anyone didn’t know by now, they were again very apologetic according to Vern and Karen.
So that folks was my excitement for the night. Javeem too apologized saying this has been the first cruise that has been sooooo crazy. He has a long time married couple that in the middle of the cruise decided they would not eat together – they fought and now Javeem has to serve the man on deck 9. He said its really weird. The man ordered him to bring the food to him so he’s been playing server to him for the last 2 nights. Some people – demanding! Well I never! ROTFL!!!!!!!!! Ok – I’m not quite there. I did however, feel so much better when he confirmed that this is the strangest cruise of the summer. Very strange were his words. I wholeheartedly agreed with him. LOL I did ask him to please get it straightened out for our August cruise. He said he’ll try.
So today, was our first sea day – semi-formal and also a nice surprise – which some of you might have heard about – they did a BBQ – like they have done on PC day. Turns out they have been doing it for about 3-4 cruises and its always a highlight. I loved the steak that was great. The pineapple upside down cake was good and I got to sit outside for a while. However, the bad things continue to add up – Quiet Cove was open and hot – AC was down and I was regulated to deck 5 to type all this up. I am however done for the moment so off I go to post.
Will update later this evening – I think that Andrew has grown accustomed to his mom and sister dancing and even introduced me to his friends (that are girls) parents last night and so he actually invited me over to introduce me – probably because they wanted to meet me LOL – but then quickly uninvited me to go back to my seat. Becky’s (his friend that’s a girl) dad and I exchanged ideas on how to get Andrew’s lip ring off him but I told “Bob” I preferred that to the tongue ring and would welcome any ideas on how to persuade him to not have one. I just said I settled for the lesser of two evils at the time. It was between an eyebrow piercing or a tattoo and the lip won. Come to find out that his younger daughter – Liz – has one tattoo. So talk about opening mouth and inserting foot. Boy was my face red! ROTFL. Oh well, that’s me for you – little schlep rock.
So folks, that it for now – I will talk to you later.
Laura
July 23, 2008, Mazatlan
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
So today was my birthday. It has certainly turned out to be a very interesting and strange cruise. In retrospect, I am going to hit on the highlights as I’m sitting here on Deck 5 since the Quiet Cove Café seems to have lost their AC and all the plugs are taken with fans. I warned you all this has been a strange cruise.
So today was Mazatlan. We ended up getting the Salsa and Salsa Excursion. Our tablemates decided to join us (after he got Christian involved – long story for a later time) Anyway, after much last minute scrambling, it was decided to leave us as we were for by this time, I had made alternate plans. So we end up making salsa and dancing salsa. This was an am excursion and good thing it was – it was too dang hot. We did the salsa, which was a bit rushed but the margaritas were damn good! Yours truly was picked along with our tablemates who were celebrating their 25th anniversary to make margaritas and flavored ones. Which we all shared of course.
Afterwards, you were given an option of enjoying the pool which would have been a nice diversion or the beach which was steps away. It’s a nice excursion but a bit expensive for what it really is – time wasted. The whole thing could have been done in 2 hours but they stretched it out by 1 -2 hrs. Besides, it was so hot, you couldn’t enjoy anything.
So then after, Steve and the girls returned to the ship while Vern, Karen and I went candy shopping and souvenir shopping. But again, it was so hot, we got what we needed and then left. By 2 pm, we were back at the hotel, got a taxi which was our form of transportation from the excursion and then did a bit of terminal shopping. While there, I caught Megan and Yesenia coming from the ship and we wandered the terminal a bit. I got a bit woozy and decided to go to the ship where I promptly fell asleep – which was exactly what Steve did when he returned, instead of coming back to help me candy shop. Needless to say, I was a bit upset. But that was fixed later.
I had an appt at 6:30 and had my hair done. Alex from Turkey got me and managed to make me look like a queen. I was very happy. He was too since I gave him free reign to do what he wanted. I, of course, wore my queen crown which was bigger than my formal crown and got rave reviews.
Dinner was at Animator’s Palette and our tablemates celebrating their 25th anniversary went to Palo’s. Dinner was weird. I did not get sung too – boo hoo! But that’s ok because I got the Palo’s soufflé.
Oh, did I mention that I received a very nice bottle of Korbel Wine package in my room? It was from Nickeisha from Guest Services and she even followed up with a call in the hopes that my cruise was turning from an unhappy experience to a happy one. I even got a call from Christian himself apologizing for all the mishaps we had been experiencing. Told you all this cruise was weird.
Afterwards, Steve and I ended up in Rocking Bar D. The girls and Andrew were there. I mentioned onboard that Andrew was sick coming from the Tequila, Huareches and Saddlemaking or something like that, well, turns out it was becaue of what he ate. He has a condition that he needs to watch what he eats – no starches, corn, etc. Yeah well, he knew better. He did and he ended up on the toilet. He ended up asking for Immodium since his problem was not allowing him to get off the toilet. Steve went down to the shops but they told him he’d have to go to the medical center. He did, they wanted to see him (turns out there was a breakout on the ship last week) due to some earlier problems. This one HOWEVER, was not related to the ship – this was related to his condition. So, folks, things are good from the El Pacifico restaurant. Eat free and be merry. Things are good here.
Anyway, someone, I’m not sure who……….(LOL) requested Footloose and after dancing to it I was able to go to sleep. So on to my next adventure – Puerto Vallerta.
See you on the flip side
Laura
So today was my birthday. It has certainly turned out to be a very interesting and strange cruise. In retrospect, I am going to hit on the highlights as I’m sitting here on Deck 5 since the Quiet Cove Café seems to have lost their AC and all the plugs are taken with fans. I warned you all this has been a strange cruise.
So today was Mazatlan. We ended up getting the Salsa and Salsa Excursion. Our tablemates decided to join us (after he got Christian involved – long story for a later time) Anyway, after much last minute scrambling, it was decided to leave us as we were for by this time, I had made alternate plans. So we end up making salsa and dancing salsa. This was an am excursion and good thing it was – it was too dang hot. We did the salsa, which was a bit rushed but the margaritas were damn good! Yours truly was picked along with our tablemates who were celebrating their 25th anniversary to make margaritas and flavored ones. Which we all shared of course.
Afterwards, you were given an option of enjoying the pool which would have been a nice diversion or the beach which was steps away. It’s a nice excursion but a bit expensive for what it really is – time wasted. The whole thing could have been done in 2 hours but they stretched it out by 1 -2 hrs. Besides, it was so hot, you couldn’t enjoy anything.
So then after, Steve and the girls returned to the ship while Vern, Karen and I went candy shopping and souvenir shopping. But again, it was so hot, we got what we needed and then left. By 2 pm, we were back at the hotel, got a taxi which was our form of transportation from the excursion and then did a bit of terminal shopping. While there, I caught Megan and Yesenia coming from the ship and we wandered the terminal a bit. I got a bit woozy and decided to go to the ship where I promptly fell asleep – which was exactly what Steve did when he returned, instead of coming back to help me candy shop. Needless to say, I was a bit upset. But that was fixed later.
I had an appt at 6:30 and had my hair done. Alex from Turkey got me and managed to make me look like a queen. I was very happy. He was too since I gave him free reign to do what he wanted. I, of course, wore my queen crown which was bigger than my formal crown and got rave reviews.
Dinner was at Animator’s Palette and our tablemates celebrating their 25th anniversary went to Palo’s. Dinner was weird. I did not get sung too – boo hoo! But that’s ok because I got the Palo’s soufflé.
Oh, did I mention that I received a very nice bottle of Korbel Wine package in my room? It was from Nickeisha from Guest Services and she even followed up with a call in the hopes that my cruise was turning from an unhappy experience to a happy one. I even got a call from Christian himself apologizing for all the mishaps we had been experiencing. Told you all this cruise was weird.
Afterwards, Steve and I ended up in Rocking Bar D. The girls and Andrew were there. I mentioned onboard that Andrew was sick coming from the Tequila, Huareches and Saddlemaking or something like that, well, turns out it was becaue of what he ate. He has a condition that he needs to watch what he eats – no starches, corn, etc. Yeah well, he knew better. He did and he ended up on the toilet. He ended up asking for Immodium since his problem was not allowing him to get off the toilet. Steve went down to the shops but they told him he’d have to go to the medical center. He did, they wanted to see him (turns out there was a breakout on the ship last week) due to some earlier problems. This one HOWEVER, was not related to the ship – this was related to his condition. So, folks, things are good from the El Pacifico restaurant. Eat free and be merry. Things are good here.
Anyway, someone, I’m not sure who……….(LOL) requested Footloose and after dancing to it I was able to go to sleep. So on to my next adventure – Puerto Vallerta.
See you on the flip side
Laura
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Cabo
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
OK , so its really Friday, July 25, 2008 but here it goes:
Cabo San Lucas Day – Totally slept through the landing greeting, managed to get up around 10 am and managed to get up and April , Steve and I off the ship. Turns out that Andrew followed us a few minutes later. April lasted all of about ½ hr and she and Andrew managed to go back to the ship. It was too darn hot.
I think I mentioned on the thread that before we left, Steve and I ate at Pluto’s Playhouse. As we were eating, I looked to my left and managed to see a couple parasailing together, well, the boat must have been having problems because they hit the water and went completely under for a split second. They bobbed to the surface because of their life vests but that was so surreal because I told Steve – “Oh Look, there getting their feet wet.” Then WHAM! They got all wet. Turns out it took about 10 minutes for another boat to come rescue them and then they switched everyone on the original boat over to the rescue boat and then hauled the original boat via a rope. It was weird. Just another thing to add to this cruise. They sure are piling up.
Steve and I went shopping and managed to pick up my fish extender gifts. I liked them. Not sure how the people I gave them too will since they have to carry it off! ROTFL
So we finally head back to ship about 5 and made in back in plenty of time so I didn’t have to panic however, I did have on my manuel watch. Turns out that Andrew’s friends had a similar problem with their phone that I had on the May repo. Megan, already aware of what had happened had switched her phone to manual alert before changing time zone. So she just kept it on ship’s time. But the key word here was that she was alert.
Megan and Yesenia decided to do sea and snorkeling and the two Bobbsey Twins said they were rushed. They took 25 minutes to hayak over, they were rushed through the snorkeling area, rushed onto Lover’s Beach for photo ops and then rushed back. They were the last ones everywhere but she said she didn’t get time to enjoy anything but that they had a good time. Yeah – they came back beet red. For both of them being ½ to full Mexican – they sure did burn! LOL
Anyway, the girls decided they wanted to do a miniature bar crawl so Steve took the bowls which we were carrying back to the ship) I took the girls to Giggling Marlin, which was totally dead and I found a critter crawling over my beans, so I returned them but when the guy came back with another same bowl decided to let it go because I wasn’t sure that he didn’t just pour more on top the original bowl. Hey – what’s a little protein right?
So we decided to wander and finally found Cabo Wabo. Steve rejoined us at this time and I sent them into Cabo Wabo for a requisite tequila shot. My plan isn’t working – to ply Megan with drinks till she gets sick. Came close one time but it hasn’t yet. Hm…….makes me wonder if she hasn’t already practiced. ROTFL – yeah right!
Anyway, as I said, uneventful night.
Rest was a bit boring except for some minor griping from all of us about how the service is lacking. This it the 3rd night we’ve gone with out salt and pepper on the table. So if it happens again, we are planning something. More later.
Bye – Laura
OK , so its really Friday, July 25, 2008 but here it goes:
Cabo San Lucas Day – Totally slept through the landing greeting, managed to get up around 10 am and managed to get up and April , Steve and I off the ship. Turns out that Andrew followed us a few minutes later. April lasted all of about ½ hr and she and Andrew managed to go back to the ship. It was too darn hot.
I think I mentioned on the thread that before we left, Steve and I ate at Pluto’s Playhouse. As we were eating, I looked to my left and managed to see a couple parasailing together, well, the boat must have been having problems because they hit the water and went completely under for a split second. They bobbed to the surface because of their life vests but that was so surreal because I told Steve – “Oh Look, there getting their feet wet.” Then WHAM! They got all wet. Turns out it took about 10 minutes for another boat to come rescue them and then they switched everyone on the original boat over to the rescue boat and then hauled the original boat via a rope. It was weird. Just another thing to add to this cruise. They sure are piling up.
Steve and I went shopping and managed to pick up my fish extender gifts. I liked them. Not sure how the people I gave them too will since they have to carry it off! ROTFL
So we finally head back to ship about 5 and made in back in plenty of time so I didn’t have to panic however, I did have on my manuel watch. Turns out that Andrew’s friends had a similar problem with their phone that I had on the May repo. Megan, already aware of what had happened had switched her phone to manual alert before changing time zone. So she just kept it on ship’s time. But the key word here was that she was alert.
Megan and Yesenia decided to do sea and snorkeling and the two Bobbsey Twins said they were rushed. They took 25 minutes to hayak over, they were rushed through the snorkeling area, rushed onto Lover’s Beach for photo ops and then rushed back. They were the last ones everywhere but she said she didn’t get time to enjoy anything but that they had a good time. Yeah – they came back beet red. For both of them being ½ to full Mexican – they sure did burn! LOL
Anyway, the girls decided they wanted to do a miniature bar crawl so Steve took the bowls which we were carrying back to the ship) I took the girls to Giggling Marlin, which was totally dead and I found a critter crawling over my beans, so I returned them but when the guy came back with another same bowl decided to let it go because I wasn’t sure that he didn’t just pour more on top the original bowl. Hey – what’s a little protein right?
So we decided to wander and finally found Cabo Wabo. Steve rejoined us at this time and I sent them into Cabo Wabo for a requisite tequila shot. My plan isn’t working – to ply Megan with drinks till she gets sick. Came close one time but it hasn’t yet. Hm…….makes me wonder if she hasn’t already practiced. ROTFL – yeah right!
Anyway, as I said, uneventful night.
Rest was a bit boring except for some minor griping from all of us about how the service is lacking. This it the 3rd night we’ve gone with out salt and pepper on the table. So if it happens again, we are planning something. More later.
Bye – Laura
Monday, July 21, 2008 Sea Day
Monday, July 21st, 2008
OK so at about 4:30, Megan comes into our dark cave and she’s trembling – her voice is scared. She tells me that the power is off. I wake up to say – huh? Then realize we are utterly still. Seriously, it was the freakiest thing. No engine sound, lights off and Megan is scared. I go what are you doing up? They came in at 3:30. She says that she had gone to bed and woke up to go to the bathroom only to discover that – ok – sorry folks, I’m cracking up here. – Andrew is sitting on the toilet in total darkness. Has been for the last 45 minutes. (Andrew has a condition which requires a bathroom whenever excess eating and drinking has occurred – medical issue – I’m not making this up) anyway, I’m sure he probably had fallen asleep – he tells her to wake me up – yeah me – not dad so she does. I’m dead asleep but instantly I recall a scene from the TV mini-series – The Langoliers, based on a short story by Stephen King, where some people fall asleep on the plane and when they wake up – they are alone in mid-air? Ok if your not familiar with this, flash back to the opening Left Behind series. Yeah it was like that.
So Steve decides to be funny and say – oh wow – I wonder if the crew has disappeared to which, of course, starts Megan whining – that is not funny ( I thought it was but then again – sometimes I have a cruel sense of humor) so I get up, get my ipod and turn on the backlight for a light. There are no lights on at all in the room and having an inside cabin – it is pitch black. So I creak open the hallway door and some tall man comes flopping down the hallway which is only ½ lit – every other light is off. It’s so weird. The quietness is too eerie. Right behind him about 5 feet is a ship’s officer following him. I manage to croak out – what’s going on – he tries to answer me but the officer hurries him off. So I tell Steve and Megan that I was going to send a text message to Pam. I’m thinking ok – its 4:30 am – so its 6:30 Pam’s Time. Forgot we had moved forward one hour. Poor Pam – SORRY Pam! Not sure if I woke her up but I asked her to check to see if anything was going on or was on the news or anything.
So Megan and I get dressed, she’s almost worked herself into a worry state, we go to deck 4, its pitch black and the engines and ½ the deck lights are off too. We stay about 10 minutes – another guys is there too and he mentions that the ship has been still for about ½ hour. We notice one ship on the port side with lights on. We hightail it to the starboard side, have to manually open the door – you all know which one – swing door from the inside then an automatic door which you push a button. Well, I slid them open. Notice another cruise ship on this side. Remember that the Royal Caribbean will be doing the same ports as we are so we will be on the same route. So, I look at my phone – no signal. About 10 more minutes and I catch a land signal. I managed to send it to Pam. Then a couple seconds later – Cingular at Sea comes back on. You can hear the engines trying to turn over. I liken it to a flooded engine in a car. You smelled fuel – gagging and then nothing. So all in all, about another ½ hr and then the engines proceed. What was weird is those crew members working – continue on as though nothing has happened. I didn’t expect an announcement then but I was hoping to get one during early morning update. Nothing, Nada, Zip, Zilch.
Then about 1 I go down to Guest services – which was not answering their phones during the engine trouble but go figure – room service did – they told us we were having engine trouble and should be back online soon – if all else fails, find a peon who will more than likely spill the beans. As the saying goes – there’s more than one way to skin a cat – LOL
So I finally go to sleep after catching the sunrise and managed to block out Steve’s snores. I wake up about 12:15. Take a shower, decide that I am going to torture Megan with the Tequila & Margarita tasting seminar. I go and get the tickets and then head to Parrot Cay for the American Buffet. BTW, did I mention that when we were in Topsiders yesterday, we were not allowed to serve ourselves? I told Steve that they probably had a problem on the last cruise and he said it could be CA regulations. Turns out I was right – I dragged it out of our stateroom host – JoJo by the way, that last week, several guests got the stomach flu and it was a precaution – and they weren’t kidding – they chastised Steve and my tablemate for trying to serve themselves. No problem here except when no one is at the station – I’d gone all morning with food there and so I was a bit cranky. LOL
Anyway, we eat at the buffet which had some surprisingly good tacos and then headed off to the Tequlia seminar. Managed to go through that and hopefully introduced Megan to the good types. BTW, I also plied her with my mystery tequila (which I don’t drink – I’m a bit of a tequila snob) and other ones – I did however, drink my Don Julio Reposado, turns out they have a Super Patron which runs $55 DOLLARS a shot. Dang – was it Patron or Don Julio’s? Not sure – ended up having some extra drinks. Then, after Yesenia wanted to try a Naughty School girl but they no longer carry the Parrot Cay Mango Rum so we had to settle for a Mesam’s Original drink. It was actually pretty good – I’ll post the ingredients later if anyone is interested – I’m on deck 9 in Quiet Cove getting some sun for a bit. I’ll get sick if I stay indoors all day. I need some sun or fresh air. So we have around for a bit, shoot the breeze with Mesam and Noella, who will be waiting for the EB PC crew in August – she said – she’ll be ready and waiting for us! I take that as a challenge folks! ;-)
Anyway, the girls totter back to the room along with Steve and I and Steve and I decided to wander the hall from side to side to trick the girls into thinking they are drunk. As Steve said, I thought they were fine until they started to talk. I really think Megan is testing her limits with me – she’s an adult now – told her I would introduce her to Ralph later. She wanted to know who Ralph was. Didn’t give her his last name – Porcelion King. She’ll figure it out later. Anyway, that girls has always been a daredevil from age of 3. She’ll soon figure it out – her headache not mine. Only stipulation is that if you sick – don’t call me. Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out ways to ply her with more alchohol.
Andrew meanwhile has totally disappeared after being stranded on the toilet for an hour this morning he gets up early and meets his female friends. Ok with me – less hassle this way.
By the way, did I mention that the engines stopped again about 1 pm? The Cpt – not sure if its Thor, Tom or John – I can’t hear the intercom system too well came on this time to say we were experiencing engine problems. Well, this time they were only off for about 5 minutes before we were on our way again. But that is just too weird. Twice in one day. Wonder what’s going on? I told Pam, OH No! People are going to think I’m a jinx – I board and the ship breaks. Not my fault folks – she’s aging! LOL
OK – so my battery life is almost gone so I need to wrap this up – tonight is Lumiere’s and formal night so we have to go and get the free drinks they are offering (according to Megan – my little lush – and BFF, Yesenia) so we will be at Lumiere’s tonight and tomorrow. Weird huh? Ok – going to go and juice this up and I will hopefully update later on. I need to figure out another way to further embarrass the boy tonight. I may decide to stay in Rocking Bar D since I have no plans for Cabo tomorrow. Too afraid to get off – in fact, wonder if we will be able to tender? Heard their may be a hurricane going thorugh soon. Thunder storms are forecasted for all three of the ports so I hope not. Although my right hand has been killing me for the last 3 days. That’s usually my barometer. No folks, I’m not crazy, its usually about 2-3 days ahead of bad weather.
So tonight I will be wearing my 40’s style long dress in the hopes I pass as elegant. Won’t know until I get there but I’m hoping if I pray to God, my hair will cooperate. Go figure – both Steve andI did not bring our anniversary gifts – mine because its too big and him because he forgot. Oh well, there’s always Cabo tomorrow. Besides, we renowed our vows in the church on the 22nd so that technically too is my anniversary! ;-) He brought that one up – not me. Stay tuned for my present – I’ll say later.
Gotta go – its getting chilly!
Laura
OK so at about 4:30, Megan comes into our dark cave and she’s trembling – her voice is scared. She tells me that the power is off. I wake up to say – huh? Then realize we are utterly still. Seriously, it was the freakiest thing. No engine sound, lights off and Megan is scared. I go what are you doing up? They came in at 3:30. She says that she had gone to bed and woke up to go to the bathroom only to discover that – ok – sorry folks, I’m cracking up here. – Andrew is sitting on the toilet in total darkness. Has been for the last 45 minutes. (Andrew has a condition which requires a bathroom whenever excess eating and drinking has occurred – medical issue – I’m not making this up) anyway, I’m sure he probably had fallen asleep – he tells her to wake me up – yeah me – not dad so she does. I’m dead asleep but instantly I recall a scene from the TV mini-series – The Langoliers, based on a short story by Stephen King, where some people fall asleep on the plane and when they wake up – they are alone in mid-air? Ok if your not familiar with this, flash back to the opening Left Behind series. Yeah it was like that.
So Steve decides to be funny and say – oh wow – I wonder if the crew has disappeared to which, of course, starts Megan whining – that is not funny ( I thought it was but then again – sometimes I have a cruel sense of humor) so I get up, get my ipod and turn on the backlight for a light. There are no lights on at all in the room and having an inside cabin – it is pitch black. So I creak open the hallway door and some tall man comes flopping down the hallway which is only ½ lit – every other light is off. It’s so weird. The quietness is too eerie. Right behind him about 5 feet is a ship’s officer following him. I manage to croak out – what’s going on – he tries to answer me but the officer hurries him off. So I tell Steve and Megan that I was going to send a text message to Pam. I’m thinking ok – its 4:30 am – so its 6:30 Pam’s Time. Forgot we had moved forward one hour. Poor Pam – SORRY Pam! Not sure if I woke her up but I asked her to check to see if anything was going on or was on the news or anything.
So Megan and I get dressed, she’s almost worked herself into a worry state, we go to deck 4, its pitch black and the engines and ½ the deck lights are off too. We stay about 10 minutes – another guys is there too and he mentions that the ship has been still for about ½ hour. We notice one ship on the port side with lights on. We hightail it to the starboard side, have to manually open the door – you all know which one – swing door from the inside then an automatic door which you push a button. Well, I slid them open. Notice another cruise ship on this side. Remember that the Royal Caribbean will be doing the same ports as we are so we will be on the same route. So, I look at my phone – no signal. About 10 more minutes and I catch a land signal. I managed to send it to Pam. Then a couple seconds later – Cingular at Sea comes back on. You can hear the engines trying to turn over. I liken it to a flooded engine in a car. You smelled fuel – gagging and then nothing. So all in all, about another ½ hr and then the engines proceed. What was weird is those crew members working – continue on as though nothing has happened. I didn’t expect an announcement then but I was hoping to get one during early morning update. Nothing, Nada, Zip, Zilch.
Then about 1 I go down to Guest services – which was not answering their phones during the engine trouble but go figure – room service did – they told us we were having engine trouble and should be back online soon – if all else fails, find a peon who will more than likely spill the beans. As the saying goes – there’s more than one way to skin a cat – LOL
So I finally go to sleep after catching the sunrise and managed to block out Steve’s snores. I wake up about 12:15. Take a shower, decide that I am going to torture Megan with the Tequila & Margarita tasting seminar. I go and get the tickets and then head to Parrot Cay for the American Buffet. BTW, did I mention that when we were in Topsiders yesterday, we were not allowed to serve ourselves? I told Steve that they probably had a problem on the last cruise and he said it could be CA regulations. Turns out I was right – I dragged it out of our stateroom host – JoJo by the way, that last week, several guests got the stomach flu and it was a precaution – and they weren’t kidding – they chastised Steve and my tablemate for trying to serve themselves. No problem here except when no one is at the station – I’d gone all morning with food there and so I was a bit cranky. LOL
Anyway, we eat at the buffet which had some surprisingly good tacos and then headed off to the Tequlia seminar. Managed to go through that and hopefully introduced Megan to the good types. BTW, I also plied her with my mystery tequila (which I don’t drink – I’m a bit of a tequila snob) and other ones – I did however, drink my Don Julio Reposado, turns out they have a Super Patron which runs $55 DOLLARS a shot. Dang – was it Patron or Don Julio’s? Not sure – ended up having some extra drinks. Then, after Yesenia wanted to try a Naughty School girl but they no longer carry the Parrot Cay Mango Rum so we had to settle for a Mesam’s Original drink. It was actually pretty good – I’ll post the ingredients later if anyone is interested – I’m on deck 9 in Quiet Cove getting some sun for a bit. I’ll get sick if I stay indoors all day. I need some sun or fresh air. So we have around for a bit, shoot the breeze with Mesam and Noella, who will be waiting for the EB PC crew in August – she said – she’ll be ready and waiting for us! I take that as a challenge folks! ;-)
Anyway, the girls totter back to the room along with Steve and I and Steve and I decided to wander the hall from side to side to trick the girls into thinking they are drunk. As Steve said, I thought they were fine until they started to talk. I really think Megan is testing her limits with me – she’s an adult now – told her I would introduce her to Ralph later. She wanted to know who Ralph was. Didn’t give her his last name – Porcelion King. She’ll figure it out later. Anyway, that girls has always been a daredevil from age of 3. She’ll soon figure it out – her headache not mine. Only stipulation is that if you sick – don’t call me. Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out ways to ply her with more alchohol.
Andrew meanwhile has totally disappeared after being stranded on the toilet for an hour this morning he gets up early and meets his female friends. Ok with me – less hassle this way.
By the way, did I mention that the engines stopped again about 1 pm? The Cpt – not sure if its Thor, Tom or John – I can’t hear the intercom system too well came on this time to say we were experiencing engine problems. Well, this time they were only off for about 5 minutes before we were on our way again. But that is just too weird. Twice in one day. Wonder what’s going on? I told Pam, OH No! People are going to think I’m a jinx – I board and the ship breaks. Not my fault folks – she’s aging! LOL
OK – so my battery life is almost gone so I need to wrap this up – tonight is Lumiere’s and formal night so we have to go and get the free drinks they are offering (according to Megan – my little lush – and BFF, Yesenia) so we will be at Lumiere’s tonight and tomorrow. Weird huh? Ok – going to go and juice this up and I will hopefully update later on. I need to figure out another way to further embarrass the boy tonight. I may decide to stay in Rocking Bar D since I have no plans for Cabo tomorrow. Too afraid to get off – in fact, wonder if we will be able to tender? Heard their may be a hurricane going thorugh soon. Thunder storms are forecasted for all three of the ports so I hope not. Although my right hand has been killing me for the last 3 days. That’s usually my barometer. No folks, I’m not crazy, its usually about 2-3 days ahead of bad weather.
So tonight I will be wearing my 40’s style long dress in the hopes I pass as elegant. Won’t know until I get there but I’m hoping if I pray to God, my hair will cooperate. Go figure – both Steve andI did not bring our anniversary gifts – mine because its too big and him because he forgot. Oh well, there’s always Cabo tomorrow. Besides, we renowed our vows in the church on the 22nd so that technically too is my anniversary! ;-) He brought that one up – not me. Stay tuned for my present – I’ll say later.
Gotta go – its getting chilly!
Laura
Embarkation Day July 20th, 2008
Sunday, July 20th, 2008
OK – here is the recap in a nutshell. Woke up – finished packing, got the groceries to grandma’s, total stressing out job but finally got on the road about 1ish. Got to the port about 1:33. We decided to self-park. A friend said it would cost about $12.50 per day. Figured with the amount of luggage – its better to go this route. So, Steve dropped us off, while we waited for him to arrive.
First let me requaint you all with my son. Remember about this time last year – we were estranged? Well, Andrew and I are exactly alike – but together – we are like fire and ice. Our way of communication is swapping barbs but we know where exactly to stop and don't beyond that. This sometimes causes A LOT OF STRESS on Steve as he thinks we are arguing.
Let me say that while we are not extremely close and loving in nature, like many Italian and Hispanic cultures, we band together in emergencies. Well, that is Andrew and I. So, before we left, he starts explaining on how he had to get “supplies” from Target which, I of course picked up on immediately. So, I proceed to tell him that the cherry oil is disgusting and the strawberry and to definitely stay away from the edible underwear which of course grosses everyone out. I, OF COURSE, have absolutely no idea what I am talking about – but it’s a contest between us two on how best we can embarrass the other. (Keep that in mind for later) So anyway, we continue, totally stressing Steve out. We make it to the port and go up the escalators and go into this section where we go into the non-existent line which I say to myself, goody – we should be on in less than ½ hr. No such luck. “Alice” decided to take ½ hr JUST to check us in. Meanwhile, I’m watching the lady next to us pump out 4-5 parties to our one party. I’m all for equal opportunity employment but come on – get competent people. By this time, even Andrew’s getting on my nerves so I call a time out.
We FINALLY get our go ahead – which Alice managed to screw up by not activating the kids cards – ok they scanned in but wouldn’t let the kids into their cabin. We had the plain blue keys but when we got the kids cards replaced so they can enter their cabin – they got Donald Duck cards. Almost made me want to say – can I have one?
So we our ticket number – I’m thinking when I see 31 that since its almost 2:30 we will get in with plenty of time to eat – no such luck – they were only on 23. Seems, I found out later, that there was trouble in the morning and the whole system went down. They did not allow people to board for about 45 minutes. They were through the line, waiting on the “balcony” to board. They also did not get announced only the “greeters” heard them. By the time we boarded at about 2:45, they were up and running but we almost didn’t make Topsiders. Dropped our bags off and hightailed it to the buffet line where we had about 20 minutes to inhale our food before the lifeboat drill at 3:30.
I debated on telling Andrew, who was really driving me nuts up until the point he disappeared at the cabins –which was nice, but for the lifeboat drill, which is “mandatory” he showed up. So we get in line – we were “those” people holding up the drill, while in line, we saw our old server – Vlado AKA Blado who ran over to the girls and I and hugged us. So after the drill, which really wasn’t bad because it wasn’t that hot, we ran back to the room in all the hassle. Let me remind you all that Megan’s BFF, Yesenia is traveling with us again. She is only about 4’11 (but she tells us she grew an inch so she’s 5’ even) Yeah OK! Well, imagine this image: Andrew hightailing it back among the throng of people, Megan is right behind him, I’m running to keep up with her and I’m assuming everyone else is behind us – Steve, April, Yesenia. So Andrew makes it to the room, strips off his vest , Megan does the same and I enter our cabin expecting April and the rest to be right behind me. 2 minutes later, in comes April, then another 2 minutes comes Steve. 2 minutes later – no Yesenia. So I ask Megan – where’s Yesenia? Her answer? I don’t know – she’s lost. About a minute later I realize she’s not kidding. She’s not back yet so we all head out of the cabin on the hunt for Yesenia. Megan’s in the bathroom so she didn’t come out yet. Well, ½ way down the hall, here’s Yesenia looking for our home away from home. LOL – she got parted from us by the throng of fish – um, people. So that almost made us have accidents. We peeled ourselves off the floor and made it back to the cabin.
Went to see if anyone else was left at the DIS meet and ran into some friends. Took it easy until dinner where we were seated at the 8:30 seating, table 9. Our servers turned out to be Mario from the Phillipines and Jana from somewhere – Czech Republic????? I believe. Not sure. Just what I wanted to be saddled with – a hot, young, tall, blonde cutie with an overly friendly (at least to my son) persona. That’s ok, at least we got our drinks (in the beginning at least). So anyway, dinner proceeds, it was the Let the Magic Begin. BTW, I did not make it to the entertainment show. Got myself situated and unpacked. Figured it was time to “go on vacation.”
Dinner started off a bit strange. Got an iffy feeling from our server until our Head waiter came by, then I had to name drop a bit to get some friendly service and requests granted. Remember, it was Megan’s birthday, our anniversary and my birthday cruise. Mario didn’t want to know about it until the night before so when I got a cool reception, I spoke with our head server which immediately warmed up our servers, especially when the photographers came around and recognized me – OK should I say they recognized my camera from the WB PC? LOL – it was actually very funny. They all came by our table and said hi to me which I then mentioned we would see them again in 3 weeks. They were all superfriendly – better than the wait staff. Let me add a disclaimer here, right after this, the waiter & server started warming up but Jana dropped the ice tea ball but certainly picked up on the alchohol ball from Andrew. He was ordering Flamingos and Banana drinks left and right – about 4 I think along with a shot – which Megan and Yesenia of course had to try too. Oh well, she’s legal now, I think they are just doing it to see if it gets to me. That’s ok, I get even. LOL
So Andrew splits after dinner, which I ordered the spiced rib-eye, double baked potatoes and green beans. I had ordered the crab Martinique but couldn’t stomach the appetizer. Went on to the West Indies Cesar Salad which was delicious by the way, and for desert had the French Toast Banana Pudding – get the theme for this night? Bananas. Yummy!
So we finally get done after I give some special requests – seems the guys at our table LOVE their ice tea. We requested 2 glasses of ice tea to be waiting for us when they get there. Seems they get cranky if they don’t have something to drink. Our tablemates are a couple that we meet on 2005 Mexican Riveria cruise. Andrew also ended up working with Vern so we had that in common too.
After dinner, I decided to deliver my fish gifts which only 16 cabins are participating in – so my gift was those magnetic dry erase boards which you can find now due to school starting soon – they make wonderful gifts. So as I’m finishing up my deliveries, I realize that I’m by Rocking Bar D. I decide to go and see if the girls (Megan and Yesenia) are in there. I go – they are and so is my son – Andrew. Well, those of you that know me – the lightbulb goes on. I tell Megan – lets go dance before Andrfew sees me – he’ll ignore me (he’s with his friends – that are girls - ) well along this time, Flo Rida’s Low comes on. Yeah, well, I like this song so I drag the girls onto the dance stage, Megan balks but Yesenia is right there with me. I knew I liked that girl. I then make a bet with Megan who decided she’s had enough liquid courage to join us – that within 5 minutes of me getting on the stage to dance, Andrew will leave. Well, it didn’t take 5 minutes – just 1. I come on the dance floor – Andrew sees me – eyes go wide and in the middle of the dark bar – he goes red. I introduce myself to his friend who encourages me to dance with her as I tell her I love this song. Andrew sees this, runs his hands through his almost bald head and groans – Oh No! Stays that way for 30 seconds and then JUMPS up to the bar and stays there. I about wanted to pea my pants. I promised Megan I would not freak so I didn’t but I did get low and dirty one time only! LOL - ;-)
So after the song ends, I go to bed. I moved the clocks forward one hour per instructed and then proceeded to finally go to bed about 1:30 to what I thought was going to be a peaceful night’s sleep.
Again, those that know me – nothing ever goes as planned when I’m on the ship. See Monday’s blog for more info.
Gonna end this one right now. Later – Laura
OK – here is the recap in a nutshell. Woke up – finished packing, got the groceries to grandma’s, total stressing out job but finally got on the road about 1ish. Got to the port about 1:33. We decided to self-park. A friend said it would cost about $12.50 per day. Figured with the amount of luggage – its better to go this route. So, Steve dropped us off, while we waited for him to arrive.
First let me requaint you all with my son. Remember about this time last year – we were estranged? Well, Andrew and I are exactly alike – but together – we are like fire and ice. Our way of communication is swapping barbs but we know where exactly to stop and don't beyond that. This sometimes causes A LOT OF STRESS on Steve as he thinks we are arguing.
Let me say that while we are not extremely close and loving in nature, like many Italian and Hispanic cultures, we band together in emergencies. Well, that is Andrew and I. So, before we left, he starts explaining on how he had to get “supplies” from Target which, I of course picked up on immediately. So, I proceed to tell him that the cherry oil is disgusting and the strawberry and to definitely stay away from the edible underwear which of course grosses everyone out. I, OF COURSE, have absolutely no idea what I am talking about – but it’s a contest between us two on how best we can embarrass the other. (Keep that in mind for later) So anyway, we continue, totally stressing Steve out. We make it to the port and go up the escalators and go into this section where we go into the non-existent line which I say to myself, goody – we should be on in less than ½ hr. No such luck. “Alice” decided to take ½ hr JUST to check us in. Meanwhile, I’m watching the lady next to us pump out 4-5 parties to our one party. I’m all for equal opportunity employment but come on – get competent people. By this time, even Andrew’s getting on my nerves so I call a time out.
We FINALLY get our go ahead – which Alice managed to screw up by not activating the kids cards – ok they scanned in but wouldn’t let the kids into their cabin. We had the plain blue keys but when we got the kids cards replaced so they can enter their cabin – they got Donald Duck cards. Almost made me want to say – can I have one?
So we our ticket number – I’m thinking when I see 31 that since its almost 2:30 we will get in with plenty of time to eat – no such luck – they were only on 23. Seems, I found out later, that there was trouble in the morning and the whole system went down. They did not allow people to board for about 45 minutes. They were through the line, waiting on the “balcony” to board. They also did not get announced only the “greeters” heard them. By the time we boarded at about 2:45, they were up and running but we almost didn’t make Topsiders. Dropped our bags off and hightailed it to the buffet line where we had about 20 minutes to inhale our food before the lifeboat drill at 3:30.
I debated on telling Andrew, who was really driving me nuts up until the point he disappeared at the cabins –which was nice, but for the lifeboat drill, which is “mandatory” he showed up. So we get in line – we were “those” people holding up the drill, while in line, we saw our old server – Vlado AKA Blado who ran over to the girls and I and hugged us. So after the drill, which really wasn’t bad because it wasn’t that hot, we ran back to the room in all the hassle. Let me remind you all that Megan’s BFF, Yesenia is traveling with us again. She is only about 4’11 (but she tells us she grew an inch so she’s 5’ even) Yeah OK! Well, imagine this image: Andrew hightailing it back among the throng of people, Megan is right behind him, I’m running to keep up with her and I’m assuming everyone else is behind us – Steve, April, Yesenia. So Andrew makes it to the room, strips off his vest , Megan does the same and I enter our cabin expecting April and the rest to be right behind me. 2 minutes later, in comes April, then another 2 minutes comes Steve. 2 minutes later – no Yesenia. So I ask Megan – where’s Yesenia? Her answer? I don’t know – she’s lost. About a minute later I realize she’s not kidding. She’s not back yet so we all head out of the cabin on the hunt for Yesenia. Megan’s in the bathroom so she didn’t come out yet. Well, ½ way down the hall, here’s Yesenia looking for our home away from home. LOL – she got parted from us by the throng of fish – um, people. So that almost made us have accidents. We peeled ourselves off the floor and made it back to the cabin.
Went to see if anyone else was left at the DIS meet and ran into some friends. Took it easy until dinner where we were seated at the 8:30 seating, table 9. Our servers turned out to be Mario from the Phillipines and Jana from somewhere – Czech Republic????? I believe. Not sure. Just what I wanted to be saddled with – a hot, young, tall, blonde cutie with an overly friendly (at least to my son) persona. That’s ok, at least we got our drinks (in the beginning at least). So anyway, dinner proceeds, it was the Let the Magic Begin. BTW, I did not make it to the entertainment show. Got myself situated and unpacked. Figured it was time to “go on vacation.”
Dinner started off a bit strange. Got an iffy feeling from our server until our Head waiter came by, then I had to name drop a bit to get some friendly service and requests granted. Remember, it was Megan’s birthday, our anniversary and my birthday cruise. Mario didn’t want to know about it until the night before so when I got a cool reception, I spoke with our head server which immediately warmed up our servers, especially when the photographers came around and recognized me – OK should I say they recognized my camera from the WB PC? LOL – it was actually very funny. They all came by our table and said hi to me which I then mentioned we would see them again in 3 weeks. They were all superfriendly – better than the wait staff. Let me add a disclaimer here, right after this, the waiter & server started warming up but Jana dropped the ice tea ball but certainly picked up on the alchohol ball from Andrew. He was ordering Flamingos and Banana drinks left and right – about 4 I think along with a shot – which Megan and Yesenia of course had to try too. Oh well, she’s legal now, I think they are just doing it to see if it gets to me. That’s ok, I get even. LOL
So Andrew splits after dinner, which I ordered the spiced rib-eye, double baked potatoes and green beans. I had ordered the crab Martinique but couldn’t stomach the appetizer. Went on to the West Indies Cesar Salad which was delicious by the way, and for desert had the French Toast Banana Pudding – get the theme for this night? Bananas. Yummy!
So we finally get done after I give some special requests – seems the guys at our table LOVE their ice tea. We requested 2 glasses of ice tea to be waiting for us when they get there. Seems they get cranky if they don’t have something to drink. Our tablemates are a couple that we meet on 2005 Mexican Riveria cruise. Andrew also ended up working with Vern so we had that in common too.
After dinner, I decided to deliver my fish gifts which only 16 cabins are participating in – so my gift was those magnetic dry erase boards which you can find now due to school starting soon – they make wonderful gifts. So as I’m finishing up my deliveries, I realize that I’m by Rocking Bar D. I decide to go and see if the girls (Megan and Yesenia) are in there. I go – they are and so is my son – Andrew. Well, those of you that know me – the lightbulb goes on. I tell Megan – lets go dance before Andrfew sees me – he’ll ignore me (he’s with his friends – that are girls - ) well along this time, Flo Rida’s Low comes on. Yeah, well, I like this song so I drag the girls onto the dance stage, Megan balks but Yesenia is right there with me. I knew I liked that girl. I then make a bet with Megan who decided she’s had enough liquid courage to join us – that within 5 minutes of me getting on the stage to dance, Andrew will leave. Well, it didn’t take 5 minutes – just 1. I come on the dance floor – Andrew sees me – eyes go wide and in the middle of the dark bar – he goes red. I introduce myself to his friend who encourages me to dance with her as I tell her I love this song. Andrew sees this, runs his hands through his almost bald head and groans – Oh No! Stays that way for 30 seconds and then JUMPS up to the bar and stays there. I about wanted to pea my pants. I promised Megan I would not freak so I didn’t but I did get low and dirty one time only! LOL - ;-)
So after the song ends, I go to bed. I moved the clocks forward one hour per instructed and then proceeded to finally go to bed about 1:30 to what I thought was going to be a peaceful night’s sleep.
Again, those that know me – nothing ever goes as planned when I’m on the ship. See Monday’s blog for more info.
Gonna end this one right now. Later – Laura
Saturday, June 21, 2008
WWII Memorial at night
This is of course the Lincoln Memorial by night
This is the Atlantic side of the WWII memorial looking towards the left at the Washington Monument.
This is the Atlantic side of the WWII memorial looking towards the left at the Washington Monument.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Past Sights Tues, 6/17/08
Me waiting in line at Arlington National Cementary for the Tourmobile's Arlington Section
I know I kinda washed out the sky but this is Arlington House looking up from President Kennedy's grave and the eternal flame.
This is Capital Hill from the DC by Twilight Tour by Tourmobile. It was beautiful with the sun setting.
Other Art
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