Two Delightfully Unfrugal Idiots sail our White Whale (Oasis OP, 9/24 -10/1/23)

[JVPIII]

4 hours ago, Neesa said:

 

[JVPIII]

4 hours ago, Neesa said:

Kiddo is in the IB program plus is working towards some scholarships.

Let’s try this again.  I know full well the struggle of that juggling. I graduated IB back in 2004 so I know what she is going through. Tell all that hard work is going to pay off and I wish her the best for her future

[Neesa]

@JVPIII thanks do much! There are days when I think " why did we choose this path?" The struggle is real and started way to soon. I was not prepared for it! 

It's a super impressive accomplishment, congrats!

[asquared17]

On 9/26/2023 at 6:40 PM, SweetPea said:

Do you need us to swing by and pick you up to join us? I can ask the Genie to work her magic. 

i will tell you that i would have helped you make good use of that over the water cabana today at the beach club… but i am unsure if i would have been able to remain pleasant with the aggressive vintages

maybe if i was a mimosa or two in by that point. 

or maybe if i’d been skipping the mimosas entirely and just drinking straight moet…

[SweetPea]

1 hour ago, asquared17 said:

maybe if i was a mimosa or two in by that point. 

or maybe if i’d been skipping the mimosas entirely and just drinking straight moet…

Listen, Moet is too good to mimosa. That's what Korbel is for. Even Batman loves Moet and his palate is Coors Lite friendly. I made a point to sit in every seat in that cabana, and it did cross my mind how much fun it would be to share our cabana with my RC Blog family here. 

Seriously, your post really had me worried. DM me if you're not ok. 

[SweetPea]

Ok, who just requested Brown Eyed Girl at Globe & Atlas?

I nearly paid 20$ to stop it. 

Just know:

 

You

 

BROKE

 

My 

 

Heart 

[ScottD]

One last thing on the ducks- the thing that gets me about the duck hiding is seeing all of the FB posts claiming that CP is the best place to hide them, and then  watching the kids (and adults) dig through the plants and climb around the trees to find them. In February, the Trellis bar staff told us they were really pushing to ban the ducks in CP because the arborists (or whatever they're called on a ship) are struggling to keep the plants alive from all of the people climbing in them and reaching in and just way too much touching in general. Then when I mention this to people on FB, that maybe they should try to avoid hiding them in CP, or at least not to burry them in the bushes, I get attacked for not understanding how fun it is, and how its for the kids. These will be the first people to complain about dead trees in the park. 

[Neesa]

Really?? Well @ScottD if it was you on here, I took notice. We heard this ( here Im sure) and saw this when I paid attention...and as an avid Ducker...I agree! It's  madness and disgusting what goes in CP. It seems to be where lots of ducks are located, When I find one there I usually relocate it away from there, and we hide ours else where. I also have had conversations with the arborist, they hate it and for good reason.  Sometimes the destruction is real and that part is sad. There are so many other fantastic places to hide them I agree CP should be off limits. Just my 2 cents,..... as a true fan of ducking! 

 

[asquared17]

i was concerned about hiding in CP for similar reasons, @ScottD and @Neesa — i like to nook them throughout the boardwalk and promenade since those are more open spaces. the pool deck is fun too although it can be hit or miss at times. 

[asquared17]

9 hours ago, SweetPea said:

Listen, Moet is too good to mimosa

damn right. 

i was thinking a “drop” of OJ for “mimosas” in that aspect

or made with my poor man’s moet — chandon. 

[SweetPea]

Haha, i "hid" 3 in CP, but in plain sight, on concrete where you'd have to be bigger Idiots than us two to ruin the vegetation to snag them. One i think was under a table near the Trellis bar. I'm clever that way.

I hid 3 in the Suite Lounge, 3 on the Suite Sundeck, IDK how many at the Boardwalk, and left one in a cup holder at the Aqua Theater. I have visions of cleaning staff throwing them away. 

I fear after previous failed efforts, Batman considers Playmakers a bust, and now it's too muggy. I specifically got a basketball duck, football duck, and soccer duck to hide there. If we don't make it, they may be on their way to @Neesa. Time will tell ....

[Neesa]

@SweetPea & @asquared17 I agree with those locations, very cool. I also like to go near the kids clubs & hide them in the hallway & stairways nearest there. Also the climbing thing on the Boardwalk & I to hide mine in the cup holders in the Aqua theater (great minds!) The staff sometimes keep them & also re hide them I am told. I don't believe they throw them away, usually (except in CP I'm sure) they find joy in it as well. 

[asquared17]

YES THE CLIMBING THING 

THATS MY FAVORITE SPOT 

wow caps… guess i was excited about that 

[SweetPea]

Sports ducks

My favorite. Are you singing that song from my favorite TV series too?

https://youtube.com/shorts/-GBwrf8mNXU?feature=share

 

[asquared17]

and you even tie yours on!! i use the rubber band trick because i am lazy as hell

[SweetPea]

Current sitch

 

[SweetPea]

1 minute ago, asquared17 said:

and you even tie yours on!! i use the rubber band trick because i am lazy as hell

I was cursing myself the entire time. And much like this blog, i did it when Batman was sleeping, or otherwise disentangled from me.....

[Ampurp85]

Those sports ducks are too cute. I am not a ducker and when I find one, I always give them to a random child, which is somewhat creepy .

But on mimosas, I loves me some prosecco and I make all sorts of mimosa inspired drinks with mine. My favorite is frozen peach/mango/oj and the prosecco. I like champs if I can't get prosecco. 

[SweetPea]

To catch up on last night, the question you don't want to hear at 11pm?

Do you guys like tequila?

[SweetPea]

Also, my mistake about the tram. Retraction: I got further deets. They were Pinnacles. They are on Oasis. They sound like they have a reputation and are known.... 

[OCSC Mike]

6 minutes ago, SweetPea said:

hey have a reputation and are known...

A reputation and known for being... entitled #$&@*!'s?

[SweetPea]

Honestly, i think this the only drawback to this room. This ping pong table is right below us.  It's constantly in use. I can handle the pool noise bleed. But this is like a water drip situation.

[Ampurp85]

1 hour ago, SweetPea said:

Also, my mistake about the tram. Retraction: I got further deets. They were Pinnacles. They are on Oasis. They sound like they have a reputation and are known.... 

I knew they knew better. It is a lot of crazy, entitled people in the world. 

[Neesa]

@SweetPea  Ugh, never mind that wasn't very nice of Neesa!

 

RE: PING PONG TABLE

[SweetPea]

I honestly don't mind the pool noise for the most part. But I'm sick of the same group dances. 

And maybe this is just me, but I'm thinking i shouldn't be able to Shazam the pool songs from the bathroom. 

P.S. Yes, the balcony door was closed when i Shazamed that. 

[asquared17]

44 minutes ago, SweetPea said:

I'm thinking i shouldn't be able to Shazam the pool songs from the bathroom. 

i mean it’s like an added layer of entertainment to keep you occupied. 

but i’m pretty sure this is what @WAAAYTOOO mentioned before and they had to turn the volume down with one of the speakers. 

[SweetPea]

22 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

i mean it’s like an added layer of entertainment to keep you occupied. 

but i’m pretty sure this is what @WAAAYTOOO mentioned before and they had to turn the volume down with one of the speakers. 

YES! When @WAAAYTOOO was in the GP!

[SweetPea]

To use OBC towards added gratuities, it must be refundable, correct?

I have some of each. 

I'm going to need to buy someone a bottle of wine on this cruise, or I'm going to leave some nonrefundable OBC on the table... Shareholder benefit as well as ....... PREMIER PASS FIASCO (I'm guessing i could tag half the folks here for the premier OBC!).

[asquared17]

premiere pass fiasco!!!

i’m not even drinking right now and i feel drunk all over again

[FireFishII]

Just buy the bottle of wine and send it to a random room with a note, "Why not!"  It will drive them crazy. 

[Ampurp85]

Cash out that OBC at the casino. Just play a little bit of something and cash out the rest and use it for gratuity. Or use for the gratuity at bars and specialty restaurants. 

[SweetPea]

Ok, so what you're all saying is that i shouldn't buy (another) sweatshirt. All these ideas are very good. Because i just keep ordering glasses of Conundrum (which is just ok) but comes at $2.50 a pop, which I'm somehow convinced will add up to another $100.

I actually hid a duck behind Park West brochures on our way to Blaze because who the heck would find one there? It was gone after the Comedy show, which was just ok.

Listen, one year, i attempted to give up swearing for Lent.

By noon on Ash Wednesday, i was going to hell. 

I'm no prude. At all. 

But just because you use some adult language doesn't make you funny. Or adult comedy. I wasn't offended at all. It just wasn't funny. 

We had Izumi sushi for dinner. More on that later. Even with food porn pics. 

We're anxious to get out though since this ship shut down at like 12:15 last night. This is our hugest complaint.

[SweetPea]

I don't want to brag, but how many of you duckers hid ducks in an empty elevator as you threw them over your shoulder like a bride to an unmarried bridesmaid as you exited?

I also hid one on a staircase handrail. No one was there at the time. 

Another in front of 542 people at a plant stand in front of Sorrento's. I'm pretty sure people were watching as i hid it.  I don't care. 

 

[JVPIII]

24 minutes ago, SweetPea said:

I don't want to brag, but how many of you duckers hid ducks in an empty elevator as you threw them over your shoulder like a bride to an unmarried bridesmaid as you exited?

I also hid one on a staircase handrail. No one was there at the time. 

Another in front of 542 people at a plant stand in front of Sorrento's. I'm pretty sure people were watching as i hid it.  I don't care. 

 

So what you are saying is that you are over the duck situation?  

[ScottD]

4 hours ago, SweetPea said:

I don't want to brag, but how many of you duckers hid ducks in an empty elevator as you threw them over your shoulder like a bride to an unmarried bridesmaid as you exited?

I also hid one on a staircase handrail. No one was there at the time. 

Another in front of 542 people at a plant stand in front of Sorrento's. I'm pretty sure people were watching as i hid it.  I don't care. 

 

Sounds exactly like my duck hiding! Jam em in the rails inside the elevator, lay em quickly on tables while walking by- like a bad drug deal, drop them randomly on the floor as you walk, like a dog doing his business,  randomly hand them to kids. Just get rid of these damn ducks.  

[SweetPea]

2 hours ago, ScottD said:

Sounds exactly like my duck hiding! Jam em in the rails inside the elevator, lay em quickly on tables while walking by- like a bad drug deal, drop them randomly on the floor as you walk, like a dog doing his business,  randomly hand them to kids. Just get rid of these damn ducks.  

Maybe don't tell me your room number. Because the rest could be "hidden" there at this point.

 

And I'd still have the ones left at home ready to send to @Neesa

[asquared17]

2 hours ago, ScottD said:

Jam em in the rails inside the elevator, lay em quickly on tables while walking by- like a bad drug deal, drop them randomly on the floor as you walk

THIS!

sometimes you just drop them as you swiftly move on

6 hours ago, SweetPea said:

I also hid one on a staircase handrail. No one was there at the time. 

one of my favorite spots!!

10 hours ago, SweetPea said:

But just because you use some adult language doesn't make you funny. Or adult comedy. I wasn't offended at all. It just wasn't funny. 

agreed. 

we usually go strong with the ducks initially and then peter out midway, only to realize on the second to last night — WE HAVE TO GO DUCKING. 

and we usually limit ourselves to about 10-14 per trip, so it’s not this huge amount of ducks

[Neesa]

My Ducking Journey started on Royal, I had no idea it was a thing as we don't do Facebook & had no idea. I would see them and think "cute" Fast forward I was educated by another passenger & it was off to the races. We all look, if we find a duplicate (same family) we leave it or hide it somewhere else (depends if someone saw the find or not.)

I gingerly hide my ducks, even in the elevator in a corner, I bring about 20 a sailing. I started with my Anniversary sailing  & kiddo helps me hide them. I usually avoid the suite lounge unless the concierge approves. I gravitate to the area of the kids clubs, in addition to everywhere else mentioned. 

I found some mini ducks & thought they were great as I could purchase more for the same price of the big ones & they are easily packed away in my carry on. I brought them with me on DCL as well as I wasn't sure they ducked...wow was I wrong, they duck hard. My family was horrified at my mini ducks, kiddo said they looked cheap & wanted no part of them, really?? LOL!

I am back to the 2 inch ducks because my family did not like the mini's at all!

I'm going to submit this & then upload some photos from my phone. My first duck had stickers on their bottoms, I didn't really like that so I changed that moving forward. I love visiting them (crazy I know) & reading their tags over and over again. They allow me a flood of fun and joyful memories from each sailing. 

But I never toss them or just drop them, no way! I treat them with care until they are tucked away to be found, I'm smiling when typing this. Such a tiny thing makes me so happy! Standby for pics!

Edited September 29, 2023 by Neesa
Added pics

[SweetPea]

Last night's dinner at Izumi Sushi.

This is what happens when the waiter catches you watching a YouTube video of how to use chopsticks at the table.

 

In my defense, i ordered a set of sterling silver chopsticks at home to practice while watching the training videos. 

The problem is that i did this in June. I was gung-ho on my training efforts for 3 days, made Batman order Chinese food one night, was able to use them with dumplings, gave up on the rice, and called ToD.

Half eaten appetizers for your viewing pleasure. 

This was the dumplings and crispy chicken thighs.

I wasn't big on the dumpling sauce. I make my own at home and we usually just forego whatever the restaurant serves and use mine. 

There is nothing to the recipe if you ever want to try it. 

Equal parts low sodium soy sauce and rice vinegar, a bit of chili oil, and sugar to taste (i use monkfruit). That's it. The chili oil i get from Amazon 

Momoya Chili Oil with Fried Garlic Taberu Layu 3.88 Oz

Sorry about the font there. 

That's the seared tuna first, then the futomaki, then the crispy shrimp. All were good. 

This is the chicken Teriyaki, which was also excellent. 

 

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, SweetPea said:

This is what happens when the waiter catches you watching a YouTube video of how to use chopsticks at the table.

They always do that for kids if you eat in China or Japan at EPCOT... and for my wife, so no shame, lol.

I tried to teach her a dozen times before giving up.