Travel Journal-Thursday

1-17-08
12AM?
Thursday

Jamaican me Crazy Mon! No Problem!

Today we awoke in Jamaican waters. Ochos Rios to be exact. We were instructed by our Cruise Director, Steve, to be very careful in dealing with the Jamaican people. Do not talk to, make eye-contact or engage in conversation unless you want to be followed.

We went ashore with mom and dad and somehow mis-guided ourselves into an area off the 'beaten' path. Which was not on the list of recommendations.

We were followed and badgered immediately. My mom and Chad felt no need to heed the wisdom of our cruise director. The first man mom saw selling things she hollered out, "Heidi! Don't you want a shark tooth for Nicholas? Maybe this guys has a shark tooth!" Not a guy in a shop. Not a guy with a booth. But a man behind a fence with necklaces draped over his wrist and now approaching us at break-neck speed. Dad and I kept walking. Mom and Chad were sucked in. Then upon realizing that the necklace he was claiming had a shark tooth was indeed not, they called in our support and wanted an escape. To which I quickly replied..."No way! You called him in, you get out of it!"

Chad had a horrible time of avoiding the natives. Being raised such a gentleman in the Midwest he just couldn't ignore them. (He seems to have mastered it with me though.) He commented, "I can't just ignore them when they are talking to me!" I replied, "They are talking to anyone who will answer. Not you. Once you answer or make eye contact, then yes they are talking to you."

One Jamaican man followed Chad for about 1/2 mile carrying on conversation the entire way. Our only escape was to duck into a shop where they are not allowed to be, and wait for him to go after someone else. I was separated from the group for a moment and was extended the following offer, "Hey pretty baby, I can hook you up with some nice bamboo smokes, Americans love them!" Chad was offered a taxi ride or a joint. His choice. No and no. Dad got invited to a party with lots of girls. Very accommodating people there. Interesting.

We found a Crafters Square filled with little huts and persistent sellers. Although it was a bit over-whelming and intimidating we are glad that we had been side-tracked. The people were very friendly. And very persistent. Eventually we left with many trinkets and little cash.

We made our way to the more recommended shopping areas. Free from any outside influence and protected by security. While that was nice, the local flair was not as strong as it was in the Crafter Market that we had found earlier. So we mainly just browsed.

We had a major communication breakdown between the women of the group and the men...but I'm not naming names. It lead to an unfortunate WASTE of an hour and a half and just a minor butt chewing from the women. My instinct is to write it all down here in my journal so that at some later point mom and I can validate our rightness--but after laying into the guys, we decided to leave it in Jamaica. So the details will be forgotten. I hope.

We decided to spend the afternoon on the beach. And took advantage of the hot Jamaican sun. We laid out, swam and had the best dang margarita I have ever had. Seriously, I should have had more...but at $11 a pop--we might have to second mortgage the house.

We re-boarded around 3PM and had another enjoyable evening of dinner, a show and for us a pretty late night.

Early this morning when we were getting up and leaving the boat an announcement was made for a lady. It was repeated about 15 times over the course of about 2 hours and then finally it was announced that this passenger was missing and a full ship search would be underway. Quickly after that it was announced that she was found. We found out later, that she was in a crew members room and that crew member was now unemployed.

A little boy fell off of the pier today as well. And an off duty crew member jumped in to rescue him.

Bad things are starting to happen, must be time to go home:0)

Tomorrow is our last day as we'll be back and disembarking on Saturday. We have not been able to call the kids since Monday. And it's killing us. But we pray that all is well.

Travel Journal- Wednesday (Snorkel Hell)

1-16-08

11PM

Wednesday

Today we arose with great expectations for a fun day at Grand Cayman. We had to tender from our ship to the pier. (It means we disembarked onto a small ferry and rode into a pier). We headed out with mom and dad at about 8AM, an early morning for Chad and I. We were able to get right onto a ferry and quickly get ashore.

We anticipated great shopping similar to Key West. But it was a bit disappointing. Much more spread out and difficult to maneuver. Besides the Harley shop not much else of interest to us. And not really specialty island shops, but instead high end diamonds, perfume, watches and things like that.

We met up with our group for our Snorkeling Excursion at 11:30AM.

Snorkeling? No, thank you...that will be my definite answer in the future.

We were taken on a 30 minute boat ride with three crew members and about 25 other suckers people out to a reef. From the distance we could see crashing waves on the horizon and for the life of us we couldn't imagine why there were waves crashing in the middle of the ocean. At this point I was still insanely naive. I thought we were snorkeling on a sandbar...meaning that my feet would possibly touch. You know, the smiles and sunshine you see in the commercials. Kids, four and five able to snorkel. That's what I would be doing...right?

Our boat stopped, we were told to put on our masks, life-vests and flippers. I was still awaiting the step-by-step instructions that I felt were forthcoming. Instead we were instructed to line up and jump in. JUMP IN? Where is the shallow end? Where is the calm reef waters? Why is the boat rocking and heaving? Aren't we supposed to snorkel in calm water? JUMP!? What the?

Flailing madly around in the water I felt a sense of dread overcome me as I realized that my nightmares of drowning were now to be reality. I watched heads bob up and down in the water as I kicked frantically with my fins to try and stay a head above the waves that were crashing down like mad. I would occasionally spot my dad and mom and then I'd see Chad's head pop up. None were anywhere near me and hollering out was certainly not an option. And no security was felt in knowing they could rescue me.

It took every ounce of my will power and determination to think my way through trying to breathe through my mouth and not my nose. The mask that was supposed to adhere tightly to my face and not allow any water to penetrate...was failing miserably. Water came into my nose piece, through my snorkel and the taste of HORRID salt threatened to gag me.

By this time my dad had already gotten back into the boat, later to find out he was so over-come he felt as though he was having a heart attack, or at best a panic attack. My mom had found a life line tossed out as a guide to come back to the boat. She waved me over to it and I clung on for dear life. As I removed my mouthpiece to holler out, "WE PAID FOR THIS?" another wave crashed in around me.

This excursion was not Snorkeling. This was a Reenactment of the Titanic Evacuation. And I would most certainly die. I do not know if I have ever hated anything more.

In my first attempt to re-board the boat, a friendly crew member decided to 'attract' some fish by throwing chopped up fish chunks directly over my head within inches of me into the water. As I screamed for him to stop--being completely uninterested in attracting anything living...and hungry, near to me, I was horrified to see that while other fish were not interested in dining the birds of the air were. Have I mentioned my fear of flying animals? Yeah, got one of those phobias too.

So, I am now screaming for him to stop throwing fish, and trying to re-board, and throwing my head frantically about in hopes of not attracting any flying nesters to my wild curls. You do the hokey-pokey and you turn yourself around...that's what it's all about! Good times.

I finally mustered enough strength to pull myself back up to the boat and call it quits before a search and rescue team was sent out for me. In all my efforts to explore the bottom of the ocean I realized only one thing. There weren't many fish interested in swimming in this particular area (probably because of the mindless flailing about), and the bottom of the ocean looked like a concrete parking lot.

Good news? We survived. All four of us. We laughed in sheer denial of the horrors we'd just experienced. And we tried desperately not to blame Chad for this nightmare. Although silently we all were.

We returned to ship, had a nap in hopes of erasing the images of death, ate dinner, walked around, took pictures, sat in a Jazz Club, and now we are in bed. Tomorrow we will be ported at Ochos Rios, Jamaica. And believe me there will be no excursions on the schedule.

Travel Journal-Tuesday

1-15-08

10:00PM

Tuesday

I have lost all sense of time and scheduling. A bit out of my comfort level...but I am dealing with it. My body is in some sort of sleep deprivation mode. I am afraid that while my body tries to catch up on the sleep it has lost in the past 7 years I'll miss the fun of this whole trip!

I do not know if we're being drugged or if it is the lack of caffeine that I have ingested, but Chad and I fluctuate from kind of tired to EXHAUSTED.

It is 10PM and we're in bed. And believe me it is not for any extra-curricular activity. Today was a 'Fun Day' at Sea. Meaning that we didn't port anywhere. We are on our way to Grand Cayman.

So we lazily stayed in bed again until 9AM. Then we mosied out for coffee and breakfast. I think that my parents are beginning to wonder if they should have brought along a livelier couple.

After our late breakfast we checked out the main party deck, outdoor deck, Lido. It was over-cast and a bit windy. But still around 75 degrees. The cloud cover came and went and the deck was packed full. We found a couple of chaise lounges by the pool and planted our unmotivated rumps there. A slight sprinkle (lasting maybe 25 seconds) sent many scurrying but the sunshine returned soon.

Chad commented how odd it felt, yet good, to be lying there with nothing to do thinking about how after this he still had nothing to do. We stayed there all afternoon. I ended up resembling a fried chicken. Oh well.

We dressed up for our first formal night in the dining room along with a cocktail party prior to dinner for the Captains Gala. We met mom and dad and headed out. We were served drinks, hors d'oeuvres and danced to a live band.

After our formal dinner we stopped to have some pictures taken before heading in to the Venetian Palace for the big show. It was spectacular! Now we are crashing at the very late hour of 10PM.

I guess we're gearing up for a day in Grand Cayman. We are going on a snorkeling excursion with mom and dad. Later.

Travel Journal-Monday

1-14-08

8:30pm

Monday

Today we ported in Key West. We didn't purchase an excursion because the bike riding one was full. So we decided to wing it and meet up with mom and dad later.

We lazily slept until 9AM (WOW) and had a light breakfast on the Lido deck. Then we trollyed out to Key West. We ported on a Naval Base, so we couldn't just walk in. We had to pass through guards.

We stayed out looking around at shops until about 11:30AM, and since it was so easy to go back and forth we headed back to the ship to try and hook up with mom and dad after their biking excursion and grab some lunch.

The temperature was 'cooler' at about 72 degrees. And by the ocean that isn't exactly HOT. But it was beautiful. We walked a lot! We found a church off the beaten path and stopped in to say a prayer for our trip and for our kids back home. We looked into lots of shops and had a great day together.

Our last stop was for a cool beverage at Irish Kevin's. A small pub filled to the brim with other cruisers and a guy playing guitar and singing. It was a fabulous environment. It made us miss our friends back home knowing how much fun it would have been with them there too! Unfortunately the only downside to Irish Kevin's was finding the scanky woman dancing erotically there...all alone too. Yuck!

We came back and sat in a hot tub, full of kids. It was one of the first times I felt what others must feel when they see me coming with my tribe.

Then we readied for dinner. The ship is experiencing 'turbulence' for the first time and at dinner both Chad and I felt a bit uneasy. I ran to our room for motion sickness medicine, and we both took some but we are now both back in the room and ready for bed. Maybe sleep with ease the quease.

Key West was unique. Lots of people because 3 ships docked here. We so enjoyed strolling up and down casually on the streets. We miss the kids.

Travel Journal-Sunday

1-13-08

9:45PM

Sunday

Chad and I found a church within walking distance from our motel and were able to start our trip in the best manner possible, attending Mass together. Not only were we able to offer up prayers for peace, relaxation, safety and joy for ourselves but for our children...now hundreds of miles away. There is nothing in the world like attending Mass- to put the clarity on the blessings we have been given.

We quickly boarded today. We lined up at about 12:30pm expecting a long wait. We were so surprised when we set foot inside the ship by 1:30pm! That is amazing if you could see the amount of people needed to board. Thirty-three hundred, not including any staff.

They directed us to lunch being served on the 9th deck, Lido. It was a great taste of things to come. It baffles me how there can be this many people on board and there aren't lines waiting for things. We walked around the ship after stopping into our room. We had to wait for our luggage to be delivered. I was glad I brought a carry on with some clothes for dinner tonight. As my suitcase didn't arrive until 6pm.

We joined in the sending off party on the outdoor deck. Dancing, music & drinking. If drinking is so expensive, someone forgot to tell these people because they let the good times roll! We were given quite a show by one very intoxicated, scanky old woman. I think I need to pluck my eyes out now! Funny thing was, she rode in the elevator with Chad and me prior to the party along with her 'man'. They did not waste anytime finding the bar.

We ate in the nice dining room tonight. Mom and dad and Chad and I had a table for four. It made me a bit sad at that moment to think that my siblings would probably all have been around our table each evening. But it was marvelous anyway. We toured around a bit more to try and familiarize ourselves with the layout of the ship.

We checked out a piano bar and hit some entertainment in the Venetian Palace too. Both were great spots to hang out and relax. It still feels really weird to just relax.

We were able to talk to the kids today as we could use our cell phone still since we're still in the US. That was nice to hear their voices and know that they are having fun.

We port in Key West, Florida tomorrow and we are planning on taking a bicycle riding excursion with mom and dad. Tootles.

Travel Journal-Saturday

1-12-08

7:20AM

Saturday

Maybe it was over-planning. Maybe a little bit of over-thinking. Maybe a tad bit over-eager. Maybe taking precautions too far. Or maybe it is just Polish style vacationing...but we just snuck into the Omaha airport with a mere 8 1/2 hours to spare before boarding our 8:25AM flight.

What do you do in a 'small' town airport at 12:30AM? Sleeping is hardly an option with the unbelievably uncomfortable chairs, fluorescent lighting, and constant announcements reminding us of the orange terror alert status.

So we laughed at ourselves, at the sheer idiocy of the situation and attempted to rest.

Now we sit here, still an hour away from boarding our 50 passenger Fred Flinstone puddle-jumper and I can not tell if I am deliriously tired or just plain delirious. Either way, the jack-hammering of airport remodeling is really starting to annoy me.

Just to ensure that Grandma's 'vacation' is no more sleep laden then our own, Chad called the farm at 7AM, to check in. He claims that they were all up. Lucky Grandma.

I have noticed that airports hold a different mystic to the four of us~as opposed to the other traveler's we've encountered. We seem to be much more entertained with the smallest of things...again, could just be the Polish factor. But being in an airport is a lot like a trip to an amusement park. We arrive early to be the first in line to WAIT...and we get over jovial at the smallest life form and oddities. So many of our fellow passengers seem much more in control of their emotions and outbursts. They must have slept last night.

1-12-08

7:43PM

Saturday

I seet that it was almost exactly 12 hours ago since I last wrote in here. Still no sleep. While our flights went off without a hitch~they also did not bring along with them any slumber. At our first flight change in Cinncinati, Chad realized upon exiting the plane that his backpack zipper was open and consequently he didn't see his passport or cruise boarding passes. So glad it was him and not me, because seriously...I never would have heard the end of how careless I was! After waiting for all 53 people to exit he returned to check the overhead compartment and found it all. Praise God!

We rolled into Ft. Lauderdale at a few minutes before 3pm. It is a balmy 75 here, what our shuttle driver told us was cool for them. Just last week they hit 35 during the night!

Exhaustion has become our closest compainion. As we have now been up for nearly 40 hours and bed time is yet to arrive. The cat naps on the airplane and airport floor were just teasers.

We cleaned up and headed out for a nice dinner at a Yaht Club called Rendezvous. It was marvelous. We sat out on a deck with million dollar yahts behind us. We were able to watch the football game too. What could be better? Besides blissful sleep.

We had a couple of drinks and somehow brought our bar total to more than our food! Oh yeah baby!

Now we are feeling the softness of beds beneath our weary bones and sleep is certainly forthcoming. Tomorrow we head to the ship port by 12:30pm and will board in the afternoon sometime.

Final Photos

These are the final photographs of the trip. I apologize for the large amount of pictures, but Chad and I wanted to get as many up as possible for our family and friends.

Starting tomorrow I will be posting my travel journal. This will be a different form of writing than I usually do here on my blog. I had thought about just recounting interesting tidbits and stories in a colorful and detailed manner, after the fact. The way that I typically retell daily happenings from our everyday life. But in order to capture a more daily account of what our trip was I have decided to just share the daily travel journal that I kept while on vacation.

So I am starting tomorrow. Each day will recount exactly one week ago happenings. While I do cover many things in the daily journal entries, they are certainly more random and fact oriented. Handwriting my thoughts out is very difficult for me, because my brain is working in hyper-speed and my hands can not keep up as they can on the computer. So I tend to be less animated and less throrough. Some of you might find it refreshing:0)

Thanks for sharing the joys of this trip with me. If you are completely sick of hearing about it, you may want to tune out for the next week. After that we will resume with our regularly scheduled heidijowhatdoyouknow fodder.

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Vacation Pictures

I will be posting my travel journal starting Saturday. For now, here are some more pictures.

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Observations of a traveler

1. Although it is customary to arrive 1 1/2 to 2 hours prior to your flights departure it can not hurt to be cautious and arrive a mere 8 1/2 hours early. Well, it can hurt your joints after you sleep on the floor of an airport.

2. If anyone looks at your bags, touches your bags, or asks you if you would like them to look at or touch your bags you will be obligated to tip them.

3. It is no longer a mystery to me how someone can fall (or be thrown) overboard while on a cruise.

4. If drinks are expensive on a ship and therefore less alcohol would be expected to be consumed, than we must have sailed with millionaires.

5. There is nothing like paying $11 for a margarita at Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville", to make the drinks on your ship seem reasonable.

6. If you look at, make eye contact with, or respond to a Jamaican, there is a good chance you will be bringing him home in your carry-on.

7. You can stare into the face of the sun and survive. But you will probably resemble a piece of bacon.

8. One man, thinking alone, is dangerous. Two men 'thinking' together is stupidity.

9. Motion sickness pills work wonders. Not because they stop the swaying, but it's hard to feel anything when you are comotose.

10. Tourists are much more likely to attempt an excursion called, "Snorkeling". Calling it what it really is, "A Reenactment of the Titanic Evacuation/Survival Skills" is probably less appealing.

11. If cruises are typcially for the Newlywed, Nearly-Dead, or Over-fed...than I guess I worked the hardest on the last one.

12. When lining up anywhere on a cruise ship, be sure to check first that there is a buffet at the end of the line.

13. Although not totally waterproof, passports can get wet.

14. Leaving your children behind for 8 days is excruciating to the heart. But returning to them is joy unspeakable.

(the first of many)

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Thank you hardly seems adequate...

I would guess that there are two women who could use their own tropic vacation about now...Grandma Joyce and Auntie Barb.

I was pretty clear about my anxiety and apprehension surrounding the issue of leaving the kids. It was not simply because I knew that I would miss them, and they may miss us. No. I understood completely that after spending any length of time with these four children one could find themselves teetering on the fine line of insanity. Been there.

My escape, I knew had to come at someone else's expense. I just pray that the good outweighed the bad, the headaches were fewer than the laughter, the sleepless nights and aching backs less significant than the lap time and hugs. It is what gets me through each day. The joy that comes with the struggles.

I can not say enough thanks to these two women. Thank you is not even adequate. And what payment is deserved, I can not afford. But you have my sincerest and deepest admiration and respect. Coming from the one who knows only now as well as the two of you, how difficult what you two did this past week indeed was, I say thank you.

Thank you for your sacrifice for my family. Thank you for still talking to me from this point on. Thank you for knowing how important this was for Chad and me and doing what most would not, for us.

Thank you for hugging, disciplining, cooking, picking up, reading, crafting, coloring, beading, and praying.

Thank you for giving a gift to us, that in no way is less than the gift of this trip.

I love you both very much and can not thank you enough.

Remember, I am still pumping the kids for all of the juicy details...and in time, I will get them:0) And feel pride. You did with the passion and energy what I do- with 20-30 less years on me! You rock!

Sounds-bytes of a homecoming

Did you get my shark's tooth?

Did you get me some seashells?

From the ocean?

Did your boat sink?

What took you guys so long?

Were there kids on that boat?

Did you get seasick?

Did your face turn green?

I want the dress you got for Olivia.

Why did the girls get more than me?

Was your boat bigger than the Titanic?

Nic got in trouble.

Did you see a shark?

I missed you and daddy.

Did you miss us?

Did you cry at night?

I am so glad you are home. Me too babies. Me too.

Much ado about nothing?

My dear kids,

I realize that our vacation plans are hardly comprehensible to the four of you. Yes, Nicholas and Olivia, you seem to grasp the notion that your dad and I will be on a big boat in the ocean along with your grandparents. And you seem to realize that you will be staying at the farm and with your Auntie Barb for a 'few' days...but beyond that it is lost to you as to what exactly will be happening in the next 10 days.

I guess that is the way of childhood innocence. Maybe that is why everything seems less frightening and more doable as a child. The childish mind just can not think of all of the unknowns, and therefore the mind and heart are free of worry, doubt, and fear. It is too bad that we lose that aspect of childhood.

I KNOW that you will be fine. I KNOW that you will flourish. I KNOW that you will be loved, cuddled, cared for and disciplined. I KNOW all of that. I really am not worried about the four of you at all. Yes, I wonder what thoughts will cloud your heads as you lay quietly at night. I wonder where Andrew will reach when he feels the need for a tummy rub. I wonder if Kate will call out for help to wipe or just forge on independently, I wonder if Olivia will miss the familiarity of our bedtime prayers together, I wonder if Nicholas will feel the heavy weight of responsibility on his shoulders because of our constant reminders to "help Grandma and Barb out with the little ones." I wonder a lot of things. But mostly I wonder how I will feel.

Of course I am excited at the thought of spending time with your dad. Time that does not revolve solely around parenting. And of course I know the necessity of such time together. Just having the long weekend together this summer reminded us both of how important it is not only for the two of us to take time apart but how vital it is to the life of our entire family for us to do so. My fears or anxiety have nothing to do with going away with your dad. They have to do with me.

I do not remember life without you guys.

I do not remember what my favorite pass time was before it was reading stories and dancing crazy in the living room after bath time.

I do not remember if I always liked chicken nuggets and fries or if I acquired that taste along with you.

I do not remember if sleeping soundly all night long really changes the quality of my life or not.

I do not remember what fashion trends thrilled me before I became so fond of the comfort of layered t-shirts, yoga pants and slippers.

I do not remember if long, hot showers relieve weary shoulders or if a hug and kiss from a toddler work just as well.

I do not remember if I ever had more than a five minute face and if it really looked any better if I did.

I do not remember if I enjoyed exercising as much on a treadmill as I do chasing after four active children.

I do not remember if my smooth skin and firm body made me sexier to my husband than my laugh lines and stretch marks that have come with motherhood.

I do not remember what it was like to walk anywhere without looking behind me and expecting to see little faces in a row following closely behind.

Some would say that I have lost myself. I have given up things that I once loved and enjoyed so that I could care for you four. I should know what I enjoy, what I love, what my dreams are. I do not think I have lost anything. I think that I have evolved. Evolved from a person who thought that lipstick and hairspray made me beautiful into a person that is beautiful because of each.one.of.you.

Being away from you for these next days, will indeed be unique. It may take me a few days to adjust to caring for the needs of just one. And I am sure that part of me will enjoy it very much. I am sure that your dad will enjoy my undivided attention for a time. I am sure that we will laugh and reminisce about a time when that was all that we knew. I am sure that we will plan to do it again. But I also know that we will come running home to hold you. To lose ourselves all over again in the beauty of being your parents.

I love you.

Mom

Not so Wordy Wednesday

Soon and very soon....

According to Kate

As totally annoying as the truth may be at times, there really is nothing you can do to argue with it.

Example:

Katharine: "Mom, where is my little black kitty?" (a toy)

Me: "I don't know, did you check downstairs?"


Katharine: "No, will you do it?"

Me: "No Kate, I'm making lunch right now, you can do it. Take Andrew with you and go find it."


Calling her ever willing brother, the two head down to the basement to find the little black kitty. Returning just moments later, I ask, "Did you find it?"

Kate replied, "No."

"Did you look around? In your room, in the toy tote?" I ask.

"Nope. We just stood in the middle of the room. Now will you go find it?"

What is there to say to that?

Reasons I'm excited about this cruise...

Well, I do not want to give the impression that there is no level of excitement running through my veins when talk of the cruise comes up either. I am excited. Just cautiously excited.

So here are some reasons that I am very excited about going on this cruise:

1. I will finally be able to have a conversation with my husband that is not interrupted with, "Mommy come wipe my butt, I pooped!"

2. Every morning I can wake up and only concentrate on dressing myself.

3. I will be able to eat when I am hungry. Not just because it is noon.


4. Spending time with my parents, when we are not parenting or grand-parenting, just relaxing.

5. My kids will have the much needed undivided attention of two very special women who manage to make them feel like the most special little people in the world.

6. Putting on something other than pajama pants, tank top & slippers will actually make sense.

7. I can shower without little people popping in to join me.

8. No laundry.

9. Finding out if I like traveling.

10. One word. Sunshine.

Ringin' in the New Year!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Dang that Incompetent Tooth Fairy.

Okay, so I told you that the Tooth Fairy has been racking up Frequent Flyer Miles just on the trips to my home lately...right?

Well she must have been sipping on the Nog a bit too much over the holidays and missed the memo that we had a tooth in a baggie waiting under the pillow for her.

I would like to be angry with her but frankly with all the tooth losing going on around here I really am not surprised that she missed one. It is just unfortunate because, well...it really makes her look bad. I guess she does not quite possess the magical, mystical powers that say, Santa has, and if she continues down this road of forgetfulness, I am afraid she never will.


Nicholas lost a tooth while we were at the swimming pool. We were ever so careful about putting it into our gym bag and transporting it with the utmost of care back to our home where he quickly placed it in a baggie and under his pillow. When he woke up and came upstairs with anger in his eyes and a sob in his throat, I knew immediately that we had trouble. How was I going to talk her out of this one?

"Well hon, even Tooth Fairies make mistakes. But I'm sure she'll make it up to you."

"Like with more money?"

I knew we'd have to pay for this non-sense.

Reasons I'm nervous about this cruise....

Okay, so what at one time was a full year away is now just days. I chose not to think about the upcoming cruise very actively until after Christmas, simply in an effort to maintain some sanity. But Christmas is over. And we leave for our cruise in like 10 days or so and I am threeking out!

I know, I know, some of you are probably thinking, "Yeah, shut it HeidiJoWhatDoYouKnow...you are going on a cruise for goodness sake." I understand your sentiments. I would be thinking the same thing if I were reading someone else's 'fears' or 'complaints' about an upcoming WARM vacation. But here's the deal folks, I am really nervous.

So here are some of the reasons I am feeling nervous. Feel free to point out anything I missed, just in case I have not thought of it and I should be threeking out about it too.


1. What if Grandma Joyce and Auntie Barb never want to speak to us again after leaving our hooligans with them?


2. What if Grandma Joyce and/or Auntie Barb try to potty train my two-year old while we are gone and we both end up emotionally scarred for life?


3. What if the kids act like angels and my suspicions of them being deviants solely for the purpose of tormenting me are verified?


4. Why, for heavens sake, does a person who prefers to keep both feet grounded solidly on soil agree to fly through the air only to board a ship?


5. How will I manage to spend seven days on a cruise ship that boasts something like 429 pools and visit some very exotic beaches without getting water on my face?

6. What if our luggage does not follow us and I am forced to wear jeans and tennis shoes for the entire time, when I will have a suit case of simply adorable outfits all neatly laid out?


7. What if none of the 7 or 8 pairs of shoes that I pack meet my needs and I need the one pair of shoes that I did not take along?


8. What if I get carried away with my ship-to-shore card and they do not allow us to disembark without assisting the staff in cleaning rooms?


9. What if I feel sea-sick and claustrophobic upon setting foot on board and my only option for sanity is to drink heavily...costing us a small fortune?

10. What if someone writes a fabulously funny post while I am gone- and I miss it because the cyber cafes cost a ridiculous amount of money to use and my husband would KILL me if I said I was skipping a land excursion to blog?