melmar02

A float plane was on our short list of excursions for next year too. Might be rethinking it now.

Some might call it a heat wave; it's really just how August goes around here. To be honest we're in better shape this year than most. We usually have nothing but 100+ degree days most of July and August, but we've only been in the upper 90's.

He's a cousin of Rod. ?

The system is in service mode for the first week. We can't turn the water features on, but they are apparently on a timer because they just kicked on by themselves. The water was a lot more green initially than we expected. The pool chemical guy said that was just our tap water here in North Texas, and as you can see, it has really cleared up. There are a few things still left that need to be addressed in addition to the sprinkler and sod repair which normally take place at this time in the process. The biggest issue is that the deck is still torn up around the firepit, and the edges of it still need to be ground. After all the problems we've had, I hope we use the heck out of it this fall and winter! We can get in the water though, so it feels like the project is complete. Thanks for following along in this journey. Fortunately there are real cruise blogs to read now!

The pool took 25 hours to fill. They came to turn on the pump yesterday afternoon and unfortunately said they were going to have to add more chemicals this morning. So we waited. They were here at 9am, and we were cleared to get in the water at 10am. We have our own Perfect Day (North Texas).

8.5 hours later and we're at the top of the bottom step.

She's had the water slides and Sabor for a few years. Unfortunately I don't think she's going to get anything major.

Is this for the 2021 season, or are you sailing next year?

If Royal already canceled the excursion due to the removed port stop, I'm not sure there would be anything left to cancel in the CP. ?

There was rain in the forecast Monday, and they didn't want to chance a storm messing up the plaster. Tuesday morning we received a text from the PM that the plaster crew would be there at 11am, and they were half an hour early! They wasted no time, and 8 men crowded into our backyard with all their equipment. They started by covering the tile and coping with plastic and also laid down tarps over the deck. Then they installed a some ropes over the pool so they could hang the sprayers and not have the lines drag through the plaster. They had one guy working the spa, one guy in the truck loading the plaster into the hopper, and the supervisor was running around getting everyone else what they needed. The remaining 5 guys were all in the pool (the 5th man is down in the deep end). We went with a plaster that has little pebbles in it, and when they first sprayed and troweled over, the surface was smooth. They rinsed the surface which exposed the pebbles, then troweled again, rinsed, troweled, rinsed... We were all huddled at the window saying, "oh, pretty!" Then sadly, "aww," as the little stones were covered back up. Here's the smooth versus exposed (on the column) next to each other. Someone mentioned that the crew would be wearing special boots. After working from home for the last 8 years they look more comfy than heels to me. They finished up by uncovering everything and power washing the coping. Their job was completed in just under 3 hours. This morning, a two person crew came to acid wash the plaster. They added dawn and muratic acid to a watering can and washed the entire surface. Then it finally happened! At 10:04 this morning they started to fill the pool! The barrel that the water is running through is full of chemicals, so once it's full tomorrow, we'll be able to get in it right away. The spa will be full before noon today, and the pool should be finished in the morning. DH has to go into the office tomorrow, so we're going to wait for him to get him for our inaugural dip. It's a good thing the kids have dentist and speech appointments tomorrow morning!

Right! I'm so excited for the "cold front" that's coming next week...you know, so it will only be 98 degrees.

What's the record for the longest live blog?? ? Tomorrow will be 7 months. The excavator was here on December 28. We were originally quoted 3-4 months by every company we spoke with, including the one we contracted with. We know a few people in the planning phase with various companies, and they are now quoting 7-12 months. Just like every other type of construction there have been covid delays, labor delays, and part shortages. I'm glad we didn't wait any longer to get started.

Today a one man crew came out, and the pool shell was cleaned for plaster. He started by draining the pond that has been in the deep end for a few months now. Then he cut the plumbing flush with the gunite and added the jet pieces. Next he power washed the interior of the pool. There was quite a bit of tile set and coping mortar that had dripped down the walls when they were installed. Here are a couple before photos. Once all the debris was shoveled out of the pool, he added a some sort of concrete / mortar / tile set to the underside of all the jets and lights. I'm assuming to help support them. Finally he uncovered the drains and left. It's nice to be able to see the bottom of the pool again. What's really exciting about today is that we have a date for plaster! This coming Monday, August 2. Of course we may get a little rain Sunday night, but from what the forecast showed this morning, I don't think it will be enough to push us back. The broken step stone was also fixed sometime in the last two weeks - the crew was here for maybe 5 minutes. DH is trying to get dates from the PM on the rest of the items that still need to happen - finish the electric at the kitchen, grind the firepit coping, and move one of the French drains. It would be nice if this could all be finished this week, prior to plaster. Then all that would be left after plaster is sod and sprinkler repair.

Since the land tour has us in the downtown Marriott, we figured we would just add a day there. Hopefully we will be able to keep the same room. Thanks for the tips!

We're sailing on Radiance southbound next summer with a land tour at the beginning of the cruise. We still plan to fly in a day early, so we'll have one full day in Anchorage to explore. Are there any don't miss activities or restaurants? Our kids will be 10 and 14 when we sail, and we have already have quite a bit of wildlife focused sightseeing built into the land tour and the cruise excursions we are considering.

We cancelled the October 31, 2021 Liberty, and added April 23, 2023 on Allure.

We still dress up, and DH brings a suit every time. He's never wrinkly. He says use dry cleaner bags between garments (pants in one, shirt in one, jacket in one). Also he said there are some you tube videos on how to pack a suit and to look for the ones where you turn the jacket inside out.

I've had the CP issues as well. Tried everything, clearing cache / data, incognito, different browser, different computers. Yesterday I was finally able to get into one of my sailings to price check, but couldn't get in any of the others. Today I could close the "check back in 15 minutes" message and try again (without waiting) with success!

Didn't they have a wine package several years ago? I seem to remember we got that instead of a Deluxe type package like 10 years ago.

I made up a live blog for one of our canceled cruises. We had a different drink of the day at home everyday that we were supposed to be on the ship. It was only supposed to be a 5 night cruise, so there aren't a ton, but I listed the recipes I used. Mai Tai, Lava Flow, and Habanero Grapefruit Daiquiri are in there, but I don't remember the others I made.

Check page 2 of your booking confirmation. Our Radience 2022 shows night 2 and 6.

Over the door shoe hanger (for everything except shoes) and pop-up clothes hampers.

I can't speak to littles and SC, but we took our oldest on a plane ride from TX to VA when she was 7 months. We bought her a seat of her own, and put her in her car seat in it. Of course we took her out when she needed to be entertained, but most of the time she was in her seat. Not sure how far you are flying, but every time I'm on a flight where there is a kid on a parent's lap, I overhear that they regret it. It was worth the money for us. We were prepared with extra pacifiers, sippy cups, bottles, snacks, and teething rings for the air pressure change. Toys galore. We went out of our way to bring quiet toys - no body wants to hear nursery rhymes blaring for 4 hours. Extra diapers and wipes just in case in the diaper bag. Change of clothes for her and an extra shirt for me, just in case. Once we were in the air she slept about half of the way, but most of that stuff came in handy when we were in the airport and when she was awake on the flight. Several people that were in the rows right around us on that flight thanked us for being prepared when we got off the plane, so I don't think we overpacked.

648 days until we board her!