November 1st...D_Day..Want to join me?

[Belle]

Where are you?

 

Are you busy packing?

 

Are you ready? I'm not!

 

Packing Friday and getting all the

odds and ends together that I've

forgot.

 

Better make a list!

 

Melody Bon Voyage! Enjoy!

[cmjaffe]

I'm here....

not eating right though.

[PINEVIEW01]

Hi! Got a call from Princess last night and they over booked. They where offering $500 and a Mini suite to go Feb 27th. They would give me a $100 to change air. I turned it down. I don't know if I could have gottan the air for $100 and would have lost my hotel. Too stressful, maybe next time.

 

Flying to FFL from Michigan Saturday. Cruiseing ount on the Star Sunday.

 

Everyone have a great time where ever you are.

[donnaw]

HI Carolyn,

 

Well, now it appears to be just you and me! Sorry things didn't work out right and you ended up cancelling. I got the royal lecture when we got back from Mom. DD1 was my back up with her and when she tried to reach her, she couldn't. DD1 had to come back for a funeral and Mom will not use cell phone numbers so she felt like she was deserted! Now I have to figure out what to do if we decide to take the Transatlantic since she was in such a snit! How is Libby feeling? Were you able to get the insurance to cover it?

 

Melody, I'm glad you went! I don't think I could swing a last minute change like that either. The stress alone would make it so not worth it!

 

Belle, I know your out there having a great time!

 

Up 6 (5 from the cruise) and need to buckle down and get over the sulks. I found the perfect way and found an MSC cruise for next month which is really cheap but Joe gained so much on the Grand that he is refusing to go. I send him little nudges every few hours to see if I can get him to change his mind but no luck so far! Ok, back to work and daydreaming about the two who are enjoying themselves!

[cmjaffe]

Donna,

Guess it "IS" just you and me.

I've got a really low price for Visions for Feb. 20th.

Haven't "officially" cancelled it yet.

Now Mike is needing to go to LA on 17th/18th. If only I could get flights out for the kids and me that were "workable" it would be great.

Are you looking to go away on a cruise, I've got a "plane ticket" Mike earned that needs to be used by middle of April. Need a roommate?

Carolyn

[donnaw]

Wow, if he is going to be there anyway, that would work out great! Low prices are really hard to give up. Don't tempt me on that cruise, Joe is being a royal pain in the you know what. Latest is that we can't cruise again until he loses 40 lbs. Of course, this is after he brought chinese home last night and ate all of his! Mine will last for lunch today and tomorrow! I am emailing him every hour with more on the MSC Opera. He was the one that wanted to try MSC in the first place! He may not buckle but he will owe me big time! If that ticket is good through the middle of April, I just may need a roommate. Serves them right if they have to stay behind and deal with things!

[cmjaffe]

Donna,

I really can't complain about Mike considering what we (as a family) has been through since May. He was "Mr. Mom" w/the kids while I was on L.I. taking care of Mom and Dad and then afterwards when Dad passed away to "take care of everything else". Mom just called me, she's sick (again) and is telling me that she wants the a new live-in. Seems like this one (a vegan) only wants to talk about religion (though she's not of any religion herself since she's Russian), told Mom she likes money and likes to travel, and doesn't know how to cook. Mom's staying in her room (she's housebound, can't walk etc) and is trying to give instructions about how to cook fish (frozen piece of salmon) and telling her to use toaster oven as broiler. Well, I don't think that will work out well. I'm getting ticked off at Mom 'cause she's more concerned about her stomach than getting better... "I'm weak" (well a piece of fish isn't going to make her have more energy).. OK I'm venting, I'm fighting a cold. I should have grabbed the plane tickets to coast for Visions cruise (Feb. 20th) a week ago but Mike talked me out of it (logical isn't he) saying you were feeling that we spent too much on Xmas cruise and threw $$ away, how can you decide to go now (well that's sort of true), but I really DO need to escape Mom (though there's no real escape anyway).

HELP.. Calgon take me away.

Carolyn

[donnaw]

You can vent all you want. Only difference with mine is that she is still walking so still on her own. I really don't know which is worse worrying about them alone or worrying about them getting along with someone else. All I am positive of is that they will make us feel guilty because we haven't dropped everything to move in and take care of them (mine is 680 miles away and she moved, I didn't)! She decided this morning that the reason her wrist was weak yesterday was that she had had a mini stroke. Told her to call the doctor and she refused!

 

I'm sure Mike did great but now your back and she is still there to drive you crazy long distance! Take care of that cold before it gets more serious and start checking on those tickets - you do need to get away and just enjoy yourself!

[cmjaffe]

Donna,

I realize now that I really can't go away in Feb., esp. if we don't have anyone I can really rely on for Mom (and more importantly "the house"). I need to have things in order to "hopefully" be able to put it on market some time in March. Will get final days from the elder lawyer soon so that I know what the "timeframe" is. It seems like it's all a "number crunching" game.

HELP>

Carolyn

[donnaw]

Carolyn, Your right, you need to get that whole mess done with! Unfortunately, a numbers crunching game with lots of emotional baggage attached. However, then you do need to plan something since you didn't get much relaxation on the Christmas cruise!

 

Melody and Belle, Ok, are you back yet?

[cmjaffe]

Donna,

Seems like we've got the lights on for Belle and Melanie to come back to.

I'm realizing now I've gotta just "ride things out".. can't "dream" about going away until Mom's away and probably not until after the house is sold (or close to closing). We're going to HAVE TO (family event, unf. can't get out of it) go to Fla. end of August so planning to do a combo trip ... end of summer, maybe go to keys for a few days then up to Orlando to "event" (weekend) or perhaps do Orlando w/Libby and Alex alone and then have Mike meet us for a couple of days (don't want him to kill alot of his vacation time for this since I know I can handle kidlets on own).

Contemplating booking Splendour for Xmas/New Years out of Galveston. Pricing is pretty good for 9 night double holiday though not sure if we want to do RCCL again... would probably go "on budget" and get 2 inside cabins and then do alot of "playing" with $$ saved from not splurging on larger/fancier cabin. Like the itinerary, but since we "may" be sending Alex to private school next year we're really going to have to tighten belts. (Almost like doing the college spending for middle school, plus also making a commitment on my part for the commuting for him).

Carolyn

[cmjaffe]

Welcome back BELLE!!!

Don't know if this is early or late.. but I've gotta run back down to Mom's (again) so I thought I'd post.

Carolyn

[PINEVIEW01]

I'm back!

Sounds like things didn't go to well while I was gone. Got back late Sunday/early Monday. The airport in FFL was full of people trying to get back to NY and MA. I feel so bad as the MA people were told they couldn't get out untill Tuesday and now MA is getting hit again. We felt blessed just to get home, until we set foot in single didget temps:(

Looking forward to our Transatlantic in October:)

[donnaw]

Welcome back Melody, Belle can't be too far behind you! Isn't it a shock to get off that air plane. How was it? Need reports! Ours was great but way to short. 99% sure that we will be doing the October 14th transatlantic with Seagulls. I need longer vacations but first I need to shed some lbs.!

[Belle]

Melody and Donna!

Hope you both had great cruises! Good Weather!

I had a pretty good cruise with some problems (mine)

not the cruise line. Read the I'm Back thread.

 

Terrible to come back to cold and snow.

We came back to cold and rain only. That was enough!

 

Your right..one week is not enough...BUT..........

NOT FAIR..your both going on a TWO week in October?

You leaving me behind..crying! LOL

 

Carolyn, hope everything is working out at your Mothers. Not to much

stress your way.

[cmjaffe]

BELLE,

(Sorry, had the cap lock stuck)

Can't decide if we want to "try" the Visions...

got the cancellation ins. AND this kids' pediatrician said he "WILL" do an insurance form for us... so trying to decide.. I really need to get away but with all the "stuff" wonder if I should just "cut my losses" and try to get a refund.

Carolyn

[Belle]

Thought you did. If you didn't do it by now..really think you want to go.

Need a cruise, know you really didn't enjoy all of your one at Christmas.

I would go in a minute. If you have the money..do it! You'll have

warmer weather for awhile. That's nice!

 

As I told you before I liked the Vision. Public Rooms floor to ceiling windows.

Very light and airy. Crew was very friendly. We went in March 2004 to

Mexican Riv. Also on Vision in 2000 for 2 week Panama Canal cruise.

 

Only thing, the rooms are smaller, good for 2 people, don't know about 4.

But that's me... people do it, no problems.

The food was good. Had an window on the canal and a inside for mexican.,

not really that small. You would be fine.

 

My problem I just got off the Carnival Pride, carnival has bigger rooms and

I had the balcony. The food was very good. So thinking of my last room.

Hard not to compare when you've only been off the ship only 5 days.

 

Even thro the rooms are a little smaller on the Vision I would go on her any time.

Had a good time both times.

If I could.. I would go with you!

So GO and have a GOOD TIME!

[cmjaffe]

Belle,

We did Visions to Alaska, it was an impulse cruise since we were able to get FF tickets AND the price was just "too good" to pass up (after coupon and ta commish <mine>) think it came out to something like $550 each and we had 2 cabins, albeit inside.. We're OK w/insides. Also this time if we "do" go we'll have 2 insides. Think rate is $2240 plus we'll have a $200 shipboard credit that we can cash in at casino ... But if we do air it'll bring it up to $3K that we'll "save" if we don't go and have for summer... (thinking practically like Mike)

Carolyn

[donnaw]

Belle,

 

I am so sorry you got sick but sounds like you handled it ok. Would seem it was the best time to have the balcony. As to the TA's your welcome to come along! Seagulls will be with us and we are hoping for NILinda too. HollyB has a Hawaii scheduled in January but she is seriously looking at the Galaxy TA (we are the Century TA) so we would actually see her in Rome. The more the merrier!

 

Carolyn, Try sidestep and mobisimo for air. They come up with airlines that the normal ones don't cover. If Mom is not having any major problems, you could really use the time to relax. Mike is out there anyway, right?

 

Melody, are you behaving? All unpacked and hiding from the cold?

 

Ok, back to work!

[Belle]

So Carolyn you know the Vision.

I think 2 insides is great for four..two bathrooms..

more room to walk around.

 

First time on Vision we got a great deal to

Panama Canal with air and everything..inside

then was upgraded to and outside.

That could happen to you too!

 

Well you'll just have to decide soon...

 

Thank You Donna, if have to be sick a balcony is nice!

Love looking at the sea.

Your cruise sounds great but think were going to France this summer,

that's my cruise..room with a balcony looking over the sea,

entertainment each night and a tour a week plus meals.

 

For some reason with this trip my husband might think a cruise in October might be too much? You think? Know you and I don't! LOL

[Belle]

How's everyone doing?

We're not going to stop losing are we?

Everyone must have a summer trip coming up..

know you got cruises in October.

LETS CONTINUE are group here.

[donnaw]

Hi Belle,

 

I'm still working on start losing but I'm getting close. DH has to lose for any more vacations to happen so that is making me behave (and giving me the opportunity to deservedly torture him). Now, if they would only keep the goodies out of work, I'd be golden! I'll still be here. Are you back to normal yet?

[cmjaffe]

Belle,

Are you back to "normal" yet?

I know that my 'lil Libby isn't... think whatever she contracted on ship really knocked the crap out of her... don't know if she had what Alex and I had or if it was also from the meds she was on. She went home from school yesterday and didn't quite feel "up to it" today.. so I didn't get to go to gym. I'm being "good" (atkins) the last couple of days and popping the Cortislim so I'll (hopefully) see where I'm at tomorrow. Don't worry about me not "being here", I'll keep posting as long as your "head cheerleader".

I'd love to "run away" and go on Visions but I really have my hands full if I want to get Mom's house ready to go on market by March 1st (to show the realtors). It's seems SO overwhelming. At times I just don't know where to turn (sister's absolutely NO help). Mom's aide seems to be working out (new one that started on week ago today so we'll see how long the "honeymoon" lasts). She's more expensive than the others and I don't know if she's worth the extra $$. Unf. I can't run back home next week before 2 week trial, since Mike's going out to SF on Tuesday. He may stop by the house though on way to JFK.

I don't know if I'll be able to wait till August for Vacation. If someone needs a travel buddy I'd love to go someplace. Luckily Mike's got 4 weeks vacation now but I don't want him to use too much before August since I don't know what I'll need him for when I go to Mom's (since the kids get out of school early and they don't/shouldn't walk home and it's too cold etc. now even if they did).

Gotta grab something to eat so I don't eat too late.

Carolyn

[Belle]

No not back to Normal yet..getting tired of this..

I can tell you!

 

Donna glad your trying to get back on track.

Glad your still here..Tell work..Stop it! LOL

 

Carolyn Glad your still here too. I'll always be "Head Cheerleader"..

that's my job! LOL

Sorry Libby is still sick..tell you..this stuff just HANGS ON!

 

Sorry your cruise didn't work out, you know what's best.

Hope the caretaker for mother works out and the house

sells really quick.

 

Now where's Melody?

[cmjaffe]

Belle,

I'm just trying to deal w/cancellation insurance now...

praying that what the dr. puts in won't be flagged down as pre-existing...

since she had pneumonia and her immunity was weakened. But she DID get something on RCCL and I couldn't get her seen by an MD (nurse didn't want to page him at 7PM). That's what really POs me. If her stomach is acting up now AND we're going to Mexico how do they really think I'd get on a ship and have her get ill again and possibly NOT get seen by an MD. Not sure how we're going to do the insurance. I called up RCCL. They said.. "did you get our insurance "(no) well if you did you'd only be out 25% of the cancellation and the rest would have been on a cruise credit (isn't that generous of them). Well I'm not taking this lying down. I'm going to find out what I can get through w/insurance want to cancell now.. we're going to MD now and I think they're going to do a stool sample.. wonder if a parasite might still be "hanging" around (don't mean to gross anybody out).

Carolyn