[Schwinncoll]

well we would pick one of the coldest weekends to do the cruise. Jan 22-25... We had to do it, it was our daughters 10th birthday and you only do double digit birthdays once.

I ordered the birthday celibration package for our stateroom which comes with banner, streamers, cake, and a birthday magnet. Once we got to the room we put the magnet on the outside of the door. We had some cake and went up to deck 10. Came back an hour later (werent even out of port) and the magent was gone! I goto guest services and he said he will do his best to get another one. I said I paid $30 for that and my daughter saw it for all of 5 minutes. I called guest services on the phone and they brought one down to the room immediately. The next day another one showed up in our room and the original one appeared 2 doors down. So now we have 3 of them. I didnt put out my Fish Extender thinking that it would be stolen. We went back to our friends house on Sunday and hung out. Monday we woke up and went to the park (30 minute drive from friends house) Daughter wanted to goto the MK and got in for free for her birthday. All was good! We got home that night at 10pm. I go into the office the next day and my boss calls me into his office and lays me off. I was with him for over 8 years. So now I am out of work. Plumber comes to fix the sink in the kitchen and doesnt tighten the hoses tight enough. 4 days later kitchen is flooded under the sink and under our wood floor. Call the insurance company and they start a claim. Another adjuster comes out tomorrow to take a look. First one said new wook floors through the entire house since they cant match whats on the floor now. YES! I am happy. I go on an interview but havent heard anything yet. I hope I do! Well sorta, my dad got laid off the same day I did (he is construction superintendent and I am AutoCAD draftsman for structural engineer) We can do the new wood floor and use any money left over to live on. This week seems like everyone in the neighborhood is sick. At least girlscout cookie sales are over. No one wanted the Peanut Butter cookies and we couldnt return them so now they are making us buy them from the small profits we made selling all the other cookies. GS Council really needs to think about that one.

Sorry about my rant but I am sitting here with a 100.7 fever. I should be in bed but I am tired of being in bed all day long.

Mike

[Winkster]

Sorry to hear of all your woes Schwinncoll. Hope you find your cloud's silver lining soon.

So, other than the weather and the assorted bad news, how was the rest of your trip?

[Schwinncoll]

Wasnt that bad. I did get a little sea sick and have no idea why. We were on deck 2 this time and I was fine in the room but at dinner I started to feel the motion of the ocean and the ship rocking. Rocking? I dont know how as the seas were 0-1.4 and 1.4-4 feet the entire cruise. We did get to see our favorite server even through they had us with him for late dinner and we moved over to early seating. I just cant eat at 8pm at night. The water at Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounters was cold and required a wetsuit to go in with the animals. My wife and I did the sealion encounter and our daughter and her godmother did the dolphin encounter and then upgraded to the dolphin swim. Its not offered on the cruise ship website but they allow you to upgrade once your there. (bring your credit card with you) We called our friend in Nassau the night before and he left us a voice mail. Here is the funny part. He and his wife were flying out that day to goto Fort Lauderdale for a Doctors appointment. So we didnt get to see them. However they did see our other friend while there and bought girl scout cookies that he was holding for us. So it all worked out good. On Castaway Cay we knew not to get in the water as it would be cold. (the morning we left Lake Wales, FL it was 38 degress, at port it was about 68) Instead we got a massage on ship with the hot tub and pampered. Then it was off the ship and on to the island to ride bikes and eat lunch. (search castaway cay on wikipedia and you will find out its an old drug runners island)

Mike

[Winkster]

Sounds great!

I want to do a cruise now.