Cactus527

52 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

The pork chop and plantains look sick (in a  good way) I would have pounded that. Love Carib food. 

I'm listening to 30 Seconds from Mars at the moment. Read your comment and burst out laughing. This is the cover arts for the album:

I kept thinking "I love Caribbean night too, but what is it I love?" and couldn't think of it until I saw the menu. It's the chicken korma! My absolute favorite dish to order on any menu. It's SO good. Your selections look amazing too!

The crochet comment made me laugh hysterically. Just...no. I've been looking on Amazon as well for potential clothing additions and some? Are not meant for human consumption AT ALL. 

5 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

@Cactus527 In case you didn't see this, someone posted that the Bamboo Room on Navigator is getting a bit of a Pesky Parrot makeover. I've never been in a Bamboo Room but I can't wait to try some of the new Pesky Parrot drinks on Utopia.

 

Woot woot! I've been looking for an excuse to check out Bamboo Room - this might be it!!!!

Yay, excited for your cruise! Especially since you get to do it with your BFF's family. How awesome is that?!?

I have a colleague in Eau Claire and he's been complaining about the snow and cold too. I think of it because he has said repeatedly that MSP is the closest airport to him too. How do people live in such cold places?!??? #desertrat

Excited to follow along!

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Side rant, some vintages keep complaining about my brother and I in the lounge. They told the concierge we were sneaking in. The concierge introduced me to one of the complaining offenders yesterday after I used my card to access the lounge . She then tried to say I was either using someone else card or lowly diamond.  Her friend, the first complainer, was like I'm d+ with over 232 nights with this cruise. I was like cool. She waited and then said you must be a new plus and I was like nope. Then off course we must have inherited our status. I didn't want to be rude but I let her talk. I like having status but it's not the end-all be-all.

I hate to say it, but some people are racist and ageist. It makes me upset that you're having to deal with this. They should just go back to their cabin and ROT. 

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

People watching continues to be the best entertainment.  I watched a man come into the empty non-smoking casino, not realizing I was there, fart into his hands and smell them. More than once and it was loud. I should note I play without sound if I can. So the lady who came to fix her clothes and dig in her butt, also didn't realize I was there.

LMAO omg FARTING INTO HIS HANDS. I startled my dogs with how loud and hard I laughed. Just...is this the same person that pantomimed washing their hands?!?!?  

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

The guy doing the pantomime refused to wash his hands. He was telling his wife he is tired of the dog and pony show.......which had my brother and I confused.

Maybe this is part of the upside pineapple routine?

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

and just like Santa Claus and M&Ms ......it exists!!!!

Wait, wait, wait, wait...M&Ms...exist? I feel like there needs to be a discussion on exitentialism here, or how chocolate is a figment of my psyche or something...just...LOL.

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

They have coleslaw and potato salad

THE POTATO SALAD IS TEH BOMB. I remember having it on Allure, and then going back specifically to get more and add it to my fridge as an anytime snack. My kids thought I was insane. 

3 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I've been using the term Xennial b/c we're a little stuck in between... though I think we're closer to GenX

I'm a Xennial too! My girls rolled their eyes when I told them that - "you can't just make up an era." Um...I didn't.

@SweetPea safe travels home!

Safe travels!

8 days and 11 days until the cruise, 1 WEEK UNTIL TRAVEL!!!! This arrived this morning and made me feel SO EXCITED! 

Thankfully, it's warmed up a bit here and it's starting to get back to California-esque temperatures. LOVE winter in the desert. 

THAT ICE CREAM LOOKS AMAZING curse you lactose intolerance...

I'm going to put my vote in for Playmakers as well!

I forgot to say: I love that salad from Chops so much. So excited to have it again!

I really hope your pet is okay! Fingers crossed that he just misses you.

35 minutes ago, Pamp said:

Thank you!!!! Are they located along the curb or where do you go to find them?

You won't be able to miss them - as soon as you step out of the terminal in Miami, they are there shouting, waving their signs, asking you if you want a shuttle, etc. If you miss them, boy, I would be 100000% shocked. VERY easy to locate! I believe the people trying to get you to ride are standing on the curb, but their vehicles can be along the curb or somewhere nearby. Not 100% on that one.

46 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Walk off the ship and hop in a $10/person shuttle. There will be folks holding signs when you get off the ship. You have plenty of time to make that flight.

I've seen these people several times and have always wondered about them. Have you used them before? Easy peasy?

7 minutes ago, SweetPea said:

It's thank you note time.

I appreciate the reminder about this. I'm throwing a pack in my bag for next week right now. 

9 days until Cruise #1, 12 days until Cruise #2, and 8 days until I blow this popsicle stand and head to burning sunny California. I feel like there are so many things that are like "I just need to get through this and then...cruise!" and the list keeps growing. ARGH. 

Someone mentioned Daft Punk on @Ampurp85's liveblog and it got me thinking - I'm a musician, and I feel like my trips are all connected to certain bands. Does that make sense? I listen to certain music when I'm on trips (either intentionally or not) and then I associate that music with that place. Last summer, my cruise on Allure became associated with Taylor Swift's Midnights album (thanks, daughters). Our road trip this past summer through the Great Lakes region will always make me think of Oliva Rodrigo (thanks again, daughters). Whenever I think of long-haul flights (like the one we took to London in October), I think of Starset, or Wage War, or 30 Seconds to Mars. Anyone else, or am I the crazy musician?

On a related note, I'm currently ensuring I have new music to listen to on this trip. I got amazing headphones for my birthday this past year and they make it feel like I'm in a concert with whatever I'm listening to, even Matt's Monday livestreams (LOL). Any recommendations?

DQ had a choir concert last night that ended up with Spouse and MIL having an argument. SHE contends that since she and FIL are helping with the girls while I'm gone, Spouse needs to know NOW what they are needed for and let them know. I agree. Spouse couldn't put two words together in a response, which looked really bad. So, I ended up putting together a mock schedule just now so we can all go over it this weekend.  I feel like if I don't do the planning, NOTHING HAPPENS. I don't think Spouse has any clue what I have or haven't booked for our Alaska trip this summer yet either. Excuse me while I go scream in a paper bag...

Is it cruise day yet? No? How about now? Now? ....how about now? 

Just now, OCSC Mike said:

No Zero Sugar Twist Up fans? Anyone?

I doubt anyone even knows that it is, lol. HINT: It's cheap (although it does taste close enough to Diet Sprite or whatever Pepsi calls their lemon lime soda now).

LMAO I had to look that up and then I laughed. It's definitely more affordable! Typically though, instead of Coke Zero, I will go with whatever generic brand there is from the grocery store. It's currently called Cola Oh! and and it's not nearly as good as Coke Zero.

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I think it was the family from SoCa (high desert) but I can’t think of their “handle” at the moment.  

Was that Almond Farmer?

You are a Coke Zero drinker too???? We shall now be besties. Spouse drinks Diet Coke and I find it revolting, but Coke Zero? *swoons*

1 hour ago, asquared17 said:

i feel like i have “stress up” nights a lot

WORD welcome to my life too. 

Definitely jealous that you'll be on Utopia, even without the B2B. 

WOW Coco Beach Club for $103/person?!??!? I never saw it go under $150 for my September 2024 cruise, which was my price break point. Lucky!

Excited for you to get out of cold Chicago too. It's going to be fun!

10 days and 13 days to go! It's getting super exciting. 

Bookworm got picked to be a part of her team's regional competition team, which happens 1/31-2/1 3 hours from here. I knew it was always a possibility, but...now it's set. I told her we might not make the drive to watch her competition, but we'd definitely go to the state competition at the end of February (much closer, and she's guaranteed a spot on it). Parent guilt is the worst. So, she'll probably be videocalling me throughout the cruise to double check on her outfits, packing list, and panic/stress. Yay? 

I'm starting to be a bit concerned about going into LA next week. With all the fires still burning (and I feel horrible for everyone there dealing with it, truly), I'm wondering what the air quality is going to be like. I may end up digging around in the garage for the N95s we put there after the pandemic for my overnight in Long Beach. Then again, it may be a moot issue. There's still a week for everything to change.

It was 28°F/-2°C this morning when I took DQ to the bus stop. CACTI AREN'T BUILT FOR THESE TEMPERATURES. I'm glad it's finally winter around here, but can we please stop dipping below freezing?!?!?

In related news, DQ said she wants to go to the (unheated) pool in our neighborhood this weekend. Who wants to tell her she's going to turn into a popsicle? I'd much rather a cruise ship pool that stands a chance of being semi warm!

Photos from December's 3-night cruise for fun...

Port of Los Angeles with Navigator OTS. I've always thought the LA port building looked like a giant blown-up marshmallow (far right). The little tent in the center with the purple banner/sign in front of it? Is a waiting area for if you show up too early (don't worry, there's more inside the actual building, but this is pre-building-waiting-area tent). Definitely not as lovely as Miami or Galveston's waiting areas!

Ensenada by night as we were leaving port. Dinner at Chops! Loved it.

Gosh I love holiday decorations on the ships. Spouse and I honeymooned on Jewel right before Christmas the year we got married. This brought back so many great memories. I took a selfie in front of the tree every night because I thought it was so beautiful.

I took the earliest one offered in September. I had to be outside at 8:00, and the bus left at about 8:20 a.m. We got to MIA just before 9:00 a.m. Hope this helps!

@WAYNO aren't you on Navigator this month?

18 minutes ago, SweetPea said:

I'm thinking of going over and licking their doorknob.

OMG THE MENTAL IMAGE I HAVE I'm seriously cackling/choking over here