It is technically Thursday as I write this, and my eyes keep on closing for significant periods of time - really bad when you are paying for internet by the minute! So I will just say today rocked. Swimming with the dolphins was A MAZE ING!!!!! And my cruise is complete - I had my picture taken with Ed!
More tomorrow - I can't stay awake a minute longer.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Swimming with the 'rays in Grand Cayman
So I am having a heck of a time trying to get pictures uploaded. I am trying one more thing which I really hope will work.
We were in Grand Cayman today, and had an excursion to swim with the stingrays. We took a boat out to a sand bar where we could stand in about 4 feet of water. The stingrays swam around us, which was pretty freaky. In fact, Kim and I completely ignored the directions of our guide when one came sort of near us - we shreiked and jumped up and down. We looked real cool I'm sure! But we got used to it and got brave enough to touch them. I later put on goggles and a snorkel and watched them underwater - it was a whole lot less scary that way! When we got back to town we had lunch at a local restaurant and had typical Caymani food - fried mahi in a tomato-type sauce, beans and rice and fried bananas. Yummy! We headed back to the boat, played some bingo and watched Great White Sea on the Lido deck as we sailed away to Jamaica. We're off to dinner and a slew of concerts now...
My attempt to upload picture failed again. Sorry!
And, uh... if you want to sent us comments, please do!
We were in Grand Cayman today, and had an excursion to swim with the stingrays. We took a boat out to a sand bar where we could stand in about 4 feet of water. The stingrays swam around us, which was pretty freaky. In fact, Kim and I completely ignored the directions of our guide when one came sort of near us - we shreiked and jumped up and down. We looked real cool I'm sure! But we got used to it and got brave enough to touch them. I later put on goggles and a snorkel and watched them underwater - it was a whole lot less scary that way! When we got back to town we had lunch at a local restaurant and had typical Caymani food - fried mahi in a tomato-type sauce, beans and rice and fried bananas. Yummy! We headed back to the boat, played some bingo and watched Great White Sea on the Lido deck as we sailed away to Jamaica. We're off to dinner and a slew of concerts now...
My attempt to upload picture failed again. Sorry!
And, uh... if you want to sent us comments, please do!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Busy Monday!
Wow! For a day of doing nothing, I am pooped!!! After breakfast we did in fact head up to the deck to catch some rays. In fact, our fellow 2500 passengers had the same idea and it was really difficult finding deck chairs! We finally did, and each managed to read about 4 pages in our respective books before we started dozing. I left Kim keep an eye on our chairs while I went to a listening party for BNL's upcoming children's CD. It was terrific - some really great stuff for kids and adults alike. After lunch, I watched Ed host a Guitar Hero competition for a while and then headed over to a Brothers Creegan show - featuring BNL bassist Jim, his brother and former BNL member Andy, Kurt Swinghammer on guitar and Ed on drums(! - Tyler said "no".) It was pretty good - they did some old BNL stuff from the albums Andy was on and it was fun watching Ed try not to mess up on the drums. We got dressed for dinner - it was green dress formal night - and then caught the Carbon Leaf (band from the airport) concert on the Lido deck. They were great - good guitar rock from Richmond, VA. Then it was off to dinner where we each had the lobster in honor of Doug. :-) We then were off to watch Gaelic Storm on the Lido deck - a pretty decent Celtic rock group. I should mention that the Lido deck concerts are outside and in the middle of a huge wind tunnel. Not cold wind, but pretty strong. Hair was flying everywhere! Oh - in between all this, we had sushi (had raw fish for the first time and lived to tell) and got a very cute pig made of towels from our room steward. Then we headed to the Guster main show. They were very good - Tyler played the drums and Ed joined them on vocals for a song. An encore was Tyler singing "Brandy" - awesome and hysterical! Then back to the Lido deck to catch Thinbuckle, Kevin's group, and get some pizza. We finally headed back to the room around 1:30 AM. Time to sleep (if the casino one floor below us will allow us to...) because we will be in Grand Cayman tomorrow and will be heading out to snorkel with the sting rays. Another full day for sure, this time without the luxury of sleeping late!
I have been having trouble posting pics on this very slow and expensive internet connection - I will try again tomorrow.
I have been having trouble posting pics on this very slow and expensive internet connection - I will try again tomorrow.
Monday Morning
From Kim:
Today is our first full day on the ship. It is a day at sea, but as our good ol' friends the Barenaked Ladies say, a day at sea is a FUN day! So, today is a fun day, Woohoo! This morning at 10am was the Naked Picture. (Don't worry, I did not break my promise, there was no naked Kim this morning...no one needs that first thing in the morning before they've even had a cup of coffee!) But anyone who wanted to participate could go up to the main deck, stand in a big group and on the count of three, show their nakedness. We are eating breakfast right now and they are all coming in with their robes on, milling about! PUT ON SOME CLOTHES, people! This is a Barenaked Ladies Cruise, not bare naked ladies (and men)!
Well, we have a busy schedule ahead of us. We need to put on our swim suits, get a couple of lounge chairs and sunbathe. After that, there will be some swimming, a little mini-golf, maybe a snack, and then back to work on the lounge chair. So with that said, we've got to get this day started!
From Jenn:
Alas, there was no bare naked Jenn, either. I couldn't get past the part where the picture has been taken and everyone has to bend down to get their robes. It was way too early in the morning for THAT!! Last night we had all good intentions of floating through the various shows going on, but discovered that the special concert BNL was doing for people who did the cruise last year was being broadcast on the ship TV. So we watched that! It was a good show - they picked song requests out of a hat. So there were some oldies in there - on a few they needed to use a lyric book, and on others, they just la la la'd the parts unknown. Quite funny indeed. Well, as Kim said, we have a ful day ahead of us. We have been watching Cuba float by while eating breakfast. It's a gorgeous day out - time to experience it!
Today is our first full day on the ship. It is a day at sea, but as our good ol' friends the Barenaked Ladies say, a day at sea is a FUN day! So, today is a fun day, Woohoo! This morning at 10am was the Naked Picture. (Don't worry, I did not break my promise, there was no naked Kim this morning...no one needs that first thing in the morning before they've even had a cup of coffee!) But anyone who wanted to participate could go up to the main deck, stand in a big group and on the count of three, show their nakedness. We are eating breakfast right now and they are all coming in with their robes on, milling about! PUT ON SOME CLOTHES, people! This is a Barenaked Ladies Cruise, not bare naked ladies (and men)!
Well, we have a busy schedule ahead of us. We need to put on our swim suits, get a couple of lounge chairs and sunbathe. After that, there will be some swimming, a little mini-golf, maybe a snack, and then back to work on the lounge chair. So with that said, we've got to get this day started!
From Jenn:
Alas, there was no bare naked Jenn, either. I couldn't get past the part where the picture has been taken and everyone has to bend down to get their robes. It was way too early in the morning for THAT!! Last night we had all good intentions of floating through the various shows going on, but discovered that the special concert BNL was doing for people who did the cruise last year was being broadcast on the ship TV. So we watched that! It was a good show - they picked song requests out of a hat. So there were some oldies in there - on a few they needed to use a lyric book, and on others, they just la la la'd the parts unknown. Quite funny indeed. Well, as Kim said, we have a ful day ahead of us. We have been watching Cuba float by while eating breakfast. It's a gorgeous day out - time to experience it!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Setting sail
Still in Miami
We finally were able to get into our room and unpacked. Then we had to get to our muster stations for the drill (we passed). And now we are staking out a spot on the Lido deck for the first BNL concert. Actually, I am staking out a spot while Kim gets us margaritas. What a good niece! They are still loading equipment for the 20 something bands onto the boat, a painfully slow process involving one crane. So our departure is a bit delayed. Hopefully they will be done soon! This may be the last post for a while - I have been doing this vial email from my BlackBerry and I'm not sure when I will lose service. Which is a whole better than losing my BlackBerry, which I did earlier today. Luckily, BNL fans are the nicest people in the world and someone turned it in. Ok - gotta start scoping for a position again. Bon voyage!
OMG!!!
Pic is of Ed greeting someone at the check in desk
We're at the ship!!!
Kim and I are at the ship, waiting to get through security. Our van driver nearly killed us all on the way to the port when someone in front of her stopped short. But the accident was averted and here we are! And Kim wants everyone to know that she's on vacation. It was news to me! :-)
Kim's here
Saturday, January 26, 2008
In Miami and feeling fine
Ahhh... I am in my hotel room in Miami - finally! - and feeling fine. Actually, a bit snockered would be more accurate. :-) Once the cross-country exodus completed, I realized how hungry I was and set out in search of dinner. The shuttle van driver pointed out a few local choices as we approached the hotel, and I settled on Olivos, a Argentinian/Chilean/Spanish/Italian restaurant, primarily because my sister married an Olivo! They had a take out menu at the door but I needed to enlist the bartender's help on interpretting it - no habla espanol. I settled on a tuna salad nicoise and while I was waiting for the tuna to be prepared, I agreed to a glass of white wine from Argentina. After all - I'm on vacation!!! It was quite good, but all I have eaten all day was a bowl of cereal on my first flight and a Wendy's cheeseburger during my layover. So I drank my wine, gathered my bag and headed out back to the hotel - making a pit stop at CVS. We don't have CVS in Seattle and for some reason, I get all excited when I am out East and see one. It's not like our pharmacies don't have the exact same stuff! I crossed some major intersections with a goofy grin on my face, making it safely each time which would be an accomplishment at any time. What's with the no crossing signals, Miami??
I don't think I have ever been to Miami before. While I am not exactly on South Beach right now, it seems like it would be difficult to live here without a good handle on Spanish. (Knowing "Un cerveza mas" and "Donde es el bano?" isn't enough.) And does anyone here own full-length pants?? It's 70 degrees and almost 10 PM - I was a bit out of place in my jeans, although I did switch from my sneakers to flip flops.
By the way - my salad is fantastic and I am feeling a bit better now.
Flights here were uneventful, although full. I never really made it to bed last night and did sleep a little on the plane, but I think I am beyond exhausted. Saw a funny site in Houston during my layover - a woman who must have been in her 60's sitting cross legged on the floor with a laptop in front of her and a headset on, talking - or more accurately, I think, skyping - over the internet. And my ear tells me her accent was Dutch. It's pretty amazing what we can do with technology nowadays.
Saw several bands at the Miami airport that I am pretty sure will be on the cruise as well. Definitely saw Carbon Leaf lugging their gear around looking for a ride to their hotel. (Thanks for putting your name on your guitars, guys!) Saw another band with a chick who had dreadlocks. Her gear had a name I don't see on my schedule, so maybe they're not on the cruise - I'll let you know. Was envious that all they had to check was one guitar case and a suitcase. Travelling with Bells of the Sound is so not like that!!!
Had a bit of a nightmare with the hotel shuttle from the airport - Let's just say it took 2 hours to get here and leave it at that. But I did befriend a family on my shuttle who is also taking a cruise tomorrow and we coordinated a shuttle van ride to the dock together, which will save us all some money.
OK - I think that is all I have to say for now. Going to finish dinner, check email and go to sleep. I've got a BIG day tomorrow! Kim should get to the hotel around 8 AM or so, and we'll head to the dock at 11 AM.
I don't think I have ever been to Miami before. While I am not exactly on South Beach right now, it seems like it would be difficult to live here without a good handle on Spanish. (Knowing "Un cerveza mas" and "Donde es el bano?" isn't enough.) And does anyone here own full-length pants?? It's 70 degrees and almost 10 PM - I was a bit out of place in my jeans, although I did switch from my sneakers to flip flops.
By the way - my salad is fantastic and I am feeling a bit better now.
Flights here were uneventful, although full. I never really made it to bed last night and did sleep a little on the plane, but I think I am beyond exhausted. Saw a funny site in Houston during my layover - a woman who must have been in her 60's sitting cross legged on the floor with a laptop in front of her and a headset on, talking - or more accurately, I think, skyping - over the internet. And my ear tells me her accent was Dutch. It's pretty amazing what we can do with technology nowadays.
Saw several bands at the Miami airport that I am pretty sure will be on the cruise as well. Definitely saw Carbon Leaf lugging their gear around looking for a ride to their hotel. (Thanks for putting your name on your guitars, guys!) Saw another band with a chick who had dreadlocks. Her gear had a name I don't see on my schedule, so maybe they're not on the cruise - I'll let you know. Was envious that all they had to check was one guitar case and a suitcase. Travelling with Bells of the Sound is so not like that!!!
Had a bit of a nightmare with the hotel shuttle from the airport - Let's just say it took 2 hours to get here and leave it at that. But I did befriend a family on my shuttle who is also taking a cruise tomorrow and we coordinated a shuttle van ride to the dock together, which will save us all some money.
OK - I think that is all I have to say for now. Going to finish dinner, check email and go to sleep. I've got a BIG day tomorrow! Kim should get to the hotel around 8 AM or so, and we'll head to the dock at 11 AM.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Ready to go
I am packed, save for my computer bag. I need to schedule a cab and get myself in bed - my flight is at 6:20 AM tomorrow! I wasn't tired an hour ago when I started procrastinating, and now my eyes are really whining. So I need to get moving and get a few hours of sleep. Guess I didn't need to buy a book for the flight tomorrow!
Ha ha!
This is the forecast for Seattle for the next few days:
SATURDAY...RAIN LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS NEAR 40. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT...SNOW SHOWERS. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES. LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
SUNDAY...RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S. SOUTH WIND AROUND 10 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT...SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S. SOUTH WIND AROUND 10 MPH.
MONDAY...RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.
MONDAY NIGHT...SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. LOWS NEAR 30.
TUESDAY...SNOW OR RAIN LIKELY. HIGHS NEAR 40.
TUESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.
THURSDAY...RAIN LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S.
THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S. HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S.
The forecast for Miami, Jamaica and Grand Cayman - mid-80's and sunny all week. Ahhhhh...
SATURDAY...RAIN LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS NEAR 40. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT...SNOW SHOWERS. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 2 INCHES. LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
SUNDAY...RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S. SOUTH WIND AROUND 10 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT...SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S. SOUTH WIND AROUND 10 MPH.
MONDAY...RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.
MONDAY NIGHT...SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. LOWS NEAR 30.
TUESDAY...SNOW OR RAIN LIKELY. HIGHS NEAR 40.
TUESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.
THURSDAY...RAIN LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S.
THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S. HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S.
The forecast for Miami, Jamaica and Grand Cayman - mid-80's and sunny all week. Ahhhhh...
Clarification
Just a clarification for any confused parties....this cruise is for the Barenaked Ladies. NOT bare naked ladies. Kim will NOT be naked (Aunt Jenn might, who am I to rain on that parade?) but there will be no bare naked Kim.
It's 5 PM somewhere...
Just not here, dang it!
I just got an IM from a colleague on the East Coast wishing me a Bon Voyage, and rubbing it in that HER day was nearly over! I guess it was the thought that counts!
I just got an IM from a colleague on the East Coast wishing me a Bon Voyage, and rubbing it in that HER day was nearly over! I guess it was the thought that counts!
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