What a fantastic week!
As our DREAM cruise gets closer (35 days til we fly down, and 37 til we board the Disney Dream) I have been getting more and more excited. But also a little sad since I didn't have the next trip planned. Mom has Allure of the Seas booked for later this year...so she still had something in the works.
Then on Sunday I get a text from mom "Want to go on the Fantasy with the Nelsons on 4/21/12?"
Um...HECK yeah!
See, our Dream cruise is only 4 nights. The shortest Disney cruise we've done (shortest any cruise for that matter). Being a new ship, we've really been struggling with having so little time on the new (40% larger) Disney Dream.
We'd also been kind of talking with our friends from our Magic 2008 cruise about needing to all do a 7 day together on the Fantasy in 2012. So, I promptly messaged them about our potential plans.
This was Sunday. Mom and I talked more Monday. We were both swamped this week..so she said she'd call member services on Friday. Then Tuesday morning (after a HORRIBLE 4 hour drive in terrible road conditions) I get a text that we were booked! Disney Vacation Club cabins have been getting limited since they are only allowed a certain % of each sailing and mom didn't want to miss our opportunity so she went ahead and booked.
Our first 3 DCL cruises we did a Deluxe Stateroom with Veranda, and always on Deck 7. After having chain smoking neighbors on cruise 3 prevented us from using our veranda we opted for an ocean view down on deck 2. Was nice to still see outside, and deck 2 midship was a surprisingly convenient location. Our upcoming DREAM cruise we are in a deluxe INSIDE. Because that cruise is with the WDW Radio Show Podcast it had to be booked using cash (and not DVC points like we usually do). And I was super stressed about money at the time, so we went inside Deluxe (Plus we get to have a cool virtual porthole then!). For the Fantasy our plan was to shoot for a Deluxe Ocean again. But due to DVC availability they were gone (as were the inside deluxe). So instead, we're in a FAMILY Deluxe Ocean. its going to be HUG! you know, relatively speaking.
Okay, so that is exciting Disney Vacation number 1. 456 days until that one.
Now onto Disney vacation number 2! Mom and I had been talking about trying to go to Disney late this year to see holiday decorations. See, growing up, we ALWAYS went late Nov/early Dec. But its been probably 15 years since we've been at Disney for holidays. So before the Osborne Family lights moved from residential street and the Castle got its holiday light overlay. That said, with booking Fantasy, we are using all of that use years points for the cruise - leaving nothing left for a holiday stay this year.
So mom proposed, we plan our holiday trip for 2012 instead - and then we can make it a full week (we were only going to have a few days over thanksgiving this year since she has planned all her vacation days already). We were toying with either going the week of my 35th birthday, or going down thanksgiving day. Either way staying 9-10 days. I ran the points analysis yesterday and we decided on my birthday week. So....I get to celebrate my 35th birthday at WDW. The first time I'll ever celebrate my birthday there! its way to early for us to book at this point, but we're hoping to do a 1 bedroom at Bay Lake Tower. we like the idea of it having two bathrooms and being able to do laundry so we can pack super light!
So...659 days until that trip.
Yay!!!!!!!!!! Now I have two more disney trips to plan for after the Dream!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
2011 goals Report 1
So, one of my goals for 2011 was to have less projects going on at one time. Which also means to finish up some works in process.
This weekend I wrapped up TWO works in process. One, newer, and one that I've been working on for a couple of years.
Item 1, is my Ruth's Entrelac Butterfly Shawl (ravelry.com log in required to see that). This I've been wanting to do since I first saw the pattern this summer. I finally cast on over break, and finished knitting it on Jan 9. This past weekend I washed and blocked it. And I wore it Monday!
My second...well...that is a gift so I can't post it until its been received by its new owner...but its something I started working on a couple of years ago not knowing for sure who it was intended for. It came out better than I could have imagined.
And I think most importantly...despite finishing two items up this weekend...I didn't cast on anything new yet! usually I cast on as SOOOOOON as I finish something! In the words of London Tipton "YAY ME!"
This weekend I wrapped up TWO works in process. One, newer, and one that I've been working on for a couple of years.
Item 1, is my Ruth's Entrelac Butterfly Shawl (ravelry.com log in required to see that). This I've been wanting to do since I first saw the pattern this summer. I finally cast on over break, and finished knitting it on Jan 9. This past weekend I washed and blocked it. And I wore it Monday!
My second...well...that is a gift so I can't post it until its been received by its new owner...but its something I started working on a couple of years ago not knowing for sure who it was intended for. It came out better than I could have imagined.
And I think most importantly...despite finishing two items up this weekend...I didn't cast on anything new yet! usually I cast on as SOOOOOON as I finish something! In the words of London Tipton "YAY ME!"
Monday, January 17, 2011
Zeus's Story
My dear friend Darlene recently said goodbye to her beloved dog, Zeus. So many people don't understand how much love our pets bring into our lives, and how hard it is to let them go. We should all be as lucky as Darlene to have a friend like Zeus in our lives, for however long it might be.
Zeus my doggie, my son, my bestfriend, rest in Peace! By Darlene
Zeusywoo came in to our lives in the summer of 1999. We went to see him & my hubby put him in my arms. That was it Zeus put his paws around my neck & his head on my shoulder Keith said we’ll take him it’s a done deal. We choose to get a second puppy to keep my Louie (Rottweiler ) active. It worked for about a year as Lou died the next summer.
Zeus was my dogs a girls best friend. He was my alarm clock in the morning. He was my companion when hubby & daughter were out. We had an exercise schedule me in the morning with help with my sit ups LOL. Then his walks after I got home from work. Then relaxing watching tv together & then going to bed. Keith introduced him to the bed when he was with us the 1st night home. Well he still slept in bed all the way up to 11 ½ years & 92.5 lbs. Yes he was a big boy. He also listened to me when I spoke & no one was home. He was a great listener. He helped me though a lot of lonely days. He let my daughter, hubby & myself dress him up! He loved to pose for pictures like his momma.
His favorite things to do were take walks, take rides in the car anywhere, visit with people & be outside. He had a special attraction to playing with a silver bowl outside & inside. He would kick the bowl until he found a reflection. That would occupy him for hours on end. Once he had some teeth removed the bowl went bye bye, but we played with a flash light so he could chase that & he begged to have it continue even though he was tired. We even bought him a laser that played on the walls & he thought that was awesome.
My baby was an active guy even up to the day before his last. My daughter & I took him for a car ride to the bakery. My hubby & I took him for a walk in the snow storm & he found 1 deer to try & catch which he didn’t. He slept a lot after that last walk. But it was the best last day of his life. As I tear up writing this last line I know my baby boy is at peace & playing with his bowl in heaven again pain free! I will love & miss him everyday of my life as he was the best dog I could ever have!
Zeus my doggie, my son, my bestfriend, rest in Peace! By Darlene
Zeusywoo came in to our lives in the summer of 1999. We went to see him & my hubby put him in my arms. That was it Zeus put his paws around my neck & his head on my shoulder Keith said we’ll take him it’s a done deal. We choose to get a second puppy to keep my Louie (Rottweiler ) active. It worked for about a year as Lou died the next summer.
Zeus was my dogs a girls best friend. He was my alarm clock in the morning. He was my companion when hubby & daughter were out. We had an exercise schedule me in the morning with help with my sit ups LOL. Then his walks after I got home from work. Then relaxing watching tv together & then going to bed. Keith introduced him to the bed when he was with us the 1st night home. Well he still slept in bed all the way up to 11 ½ years & 92.5 lbs. Yes he was a big boy. He also listened to me when I spoke & no one was home. He was a great listener. He helped me though a lot of lonely days. He let my daughter, hubby & myself dress him up! He loved to pose for pictures like his momma.
His favorite things to do were take walks, take rides in the car anywhere, visit with people & be outside. He had a special attraction to playing with a silver bowl outside & inside. He would kick the bowl until he found a reflection. That would occupy him for hours on end. Once he had some teeth removed the bowl went bye bye, but we played with a flash light so he could chase that & he begged to have it continue even though he was tired. We even bought him a laser that played on the walls & he thought that was awesome.
My baby was an active guy even up to the day before his last. My daughter & I took him for a car ride to the bakery. My hubby & I took him for a walk in the snow storm & he found 1 deer to try & catch which he didn’t. He slept a lot after that last walk. But it was the best last day of his life. As I tear up writing this last line I know my baby boy is at peace & playing with his bowl in heaven again pain free! I will love & miss him everyday of my life as he was the best dog I could ever have!
New Knitting Challenges and Goals for 2011!
I was guest blogger over at yarn-love this week and talked about my 2011 knitting goals. Thought since I need to stay accountable to these goals someplace I'd post over here too!
1. Lace - Like for REAL, not a lacy pattern in worsted weight yarn. One of the very first skeins of yarn I bought at yarn-love back in 2008 was a beautiful skein of Claudia Hand Painted Silk Laceweight. I remember fondly petting it on multiple visits. Staring at it from the table on a couple of First Fridays. Finally I broke down and bought it. I had no project in mind, and did search some on Ravelry looking for inspiration..but never came upon a project I wanted to do. I've also started to incorporate lace stitch patterns in my work. I love lace panels on socks to help keep me interested in what I'm doing. And love doing fingering weight shawls. But in setting goals for myself for this year, I've decided I finally need to knit up this gorgeous skein of yarn in a true laceweight project.
2. Colorwork - This is actually carried over from last year. I was looking for a new challenge and decided to try not just fair isle. but fair isle and STEEKING! For those of you who don't know, steeking is when you cut your knitting. ON PURPOSE! Terrifying right? I started knitting a fair isle vest last year with the intention of not only doing two handed stranded knitting, but also trying out steeking. Well.....I have made quite a bit of progress....I'm on the decreases for the arms and deep v neck. But since I tend to be a very promiscuous knitter....well.....it hasn't been touched for a while. So last year I got the colorwork part down. This year, I want to finish this vest so that I can steek it!
3. Speaking of my promiscuous knitting ways. I have a LOT of WIP (works in progress for those who are like what?). My love for yarn, and seeing all the amazing new projects on Ravelry, result in me getting cast-on-itis. Looking at my current WIP in Ravelry, I've got: one shawl, three sweaters, three pairs of socks, the aforementioned fair isle vest, a baby blanket, and a pair of fingerless mitts all in my current WIP (that ignores the 11 WIP that are "hibernating"). I need to learn to be more faithful to my knitting. But with SO many WIP ... I don't know that I can do that this year. So, for every new project I cast on, I'm also going to try and make sure I'm finishing up an OLD project. perhaps if I get good at this, then NEXT year I can have a goal of say, only 5 WIP at one time.... maybe....
4. Last but not least, I have a goal to do a NON-worsted weight sweater. Those of you that may remember me knitting Decimal last year (DK weight I think?) will remember that I was NOT so fond of how long it took me to knit up a non-worsted weight sweater. But I fell in love with the Austin Hoodie, by Connie Chang Chinchio, late last year. And have a sweaters worth of Madelinetosh that is destined for that sweater. That would be fingering weight. Yikes! And if that isn't enough, there's also a sportweight pattern I happen to be sitting on yarn for. That would be Goodale, by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. So, my goal is to knit at least one, if not both, of these non-worsted weight sweaters in 2011.
1. Lace - Like for REAL, not a lacy pattern in worsted weight yarn. One of the very first skeins of yarn I bought at yarn-love back in 2008 was a beautiful skein of Claudia Hand Painted Silk Laceweight. I remember fondly petting it on multiple visits. Staring at it from the table on a couple of First Fridays. Finally I broke down and bought it. I had no project in mind, and did search some on Ravelry looking for inspiration..but never came upon a project I wanted to do. I've also started to incorporate lace stitch patterns in my work. I love lace panels on socks to help keep me interested in what I'm doing. And love doing fingering weight shawls. But in setting goals for myself for this year, I've decided I finally need to knit up this gorgeous skein of yarn in a true laceweight project.
2. Colorwork - This is actually carried over from last year. I was looking for a new challenge and decided to try not just fair isle. but fair isle and STEEKING! For those of you who don't know, steeking is when you cut your knitting. ON PURPOSE! Terrifying right? I started knitting a fair isle vest last year with the intention of not only doing two handed stranded knitting, but also trying out steeking. Well.....I have made quite a bit of progress....I'm on the decreases for the arms and deep v neck. But since I tend to be a very promiscuous knitter....well.....it hasn't been touched for a while. So last year I got the colorwork part down. This year, I want to finish this vest so that I can steek it!
3. Speaking of my promiscuous knitting ways. I have a LOT of WIP (works in progress for those who are like what?). My love for yarn, and seeing all the amazing new projects on Ravelry, result in me getting cast-on-itis. Looking at my current WIP in Ravelry, I've got: one shawl, three sweaters, three pairs of socks, the aforementioned fair isle vest, a baby blanket, and a pair of fingerless mitts all in my current WIP (that ignores the 11 WIP that are "hibernating"). I need to learn to be more faithful to my knitting. But with SO many WIP ... I don't know that I can do that this year. So, for every new project I cast on, I'm also going to try and make sure I'm finishing up an OLD project. perhaps if I get good at this, then NEXT year I can have a goal of say, only 5 WIP at one time.... maybe....
4. Last but not least, I have a goal to do a NON-worsted weight sweater. Those of you that may remember me knitting Decimal last year (DK weight I think?) will remember that I was NOT so fond of how long it took me to knit up a non-worsted weight sweater. But I fell in love with the Austin Hoodie, by Connie Chang Chinchio, late last year. And have a sweaters worth of Madelinetosh that is destined for that sweater. That would be fingering weight. Yikes! And if that isn't enough, there's also a sportweight pattern I happen to be sitting on yarn for. That would be Goodale, by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. So, my goal is to knit at least one, if not both, of these non-worsted weight sweaters in 2011.
Friday, January 07, 2011
I guess I'll have to be happy with my next Disney trip....
Had to use that line with one of my business partners today. See, we sponsored and incentive contest in 2010 for them where they could earn a chance to go on a cruise in April. As part of getting us reps excited, there are a few chances for some of us to go as well. Looks like all my business partners qualified....but not looking good for me. One of them asked me today when I told him it looked like he would win, if I got to go as well. When I said no he said "that sucks" (this is a VP mind you, I love the people I get to work with). I told him "You know me, I roll with the punches. Guess I'll just have to be happy with my 9 day Walt Disney World and Disney Dream Cruise coming up". Sure I had to pay for that one. And I have to take vacation time for that one (I wouldn't have for the work cruise). But.....the Disney Dream will be filled with all my Disney friends, and the work cruise would be filled with LOTS of business partners (hence why we don't have to use vacation time if we get to go). So I think I'm still doing good!
Speaking of my trip, thought I'd share our plans for the upcoming trip!!!!!
Friday - Feb 25 - Mom and I fly into Orlando.
Will probably hit up downtown Disney for some shopping.
Dinner - No ADR, we are thinking Big River Grille and Brewing Works which mom wants to try
After - hopefully meeting up lots of our WDW Radio friends at Jellyrolls!
Saturday - Feb 26
Start off at Animal Kingdom
Lunch at Yak and Yeti
Head to Epcot when done with Animal Kingdom (maybe meet up with Meet of the Month if its in the afternoon)
6pm Dinner at Teppen Edo
8pm Dessert party with WDW Radio group!!!!!!
Sunday - Feb 27 thru Thursday March 3 - DISNEY DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday March 3 - We'll be disembarking as the earliest possible time and dropping our stuff at Boardwalk. Then...EPCOT for flower and garden (my first time!)
12:45 pm lunch at Biergarden
7:45 pm dinner at Via Napoli
Friday March 4 - Magic Kingdom!
Lunch probably at pecos bills (must do taco salad this time and not pulled port!)
8:15pm dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe
Saturday March 5 - Hollywood Studios Day
1pm lunch at Mama Melrose
Move to epcot when done at the studios
8pm Dinner at le Chefs de France (and if we don't see Remy I'm gonna be pissed!!!!!)
Sunday March 6 - Back home.
Those are the plans....who's plans overlap ours?????
Speaking of my trip, thought I'd share our plans for the upcoming trip!!!!!
Friday - Feb 25 - Mom and I fly into Orlando.
Will probably hit up downtown Disney for some shopping.
Dinner - No ADR, we are thinking Big River Grille and Brewing Works which mom wants to try
After - hopefully meeting up lots of our WDW Radio friends at Jellyrolls!
Saturday - Feb 26
Start off at Animal Kingdom
Lunch at Yak and Yeti
Head to Epcot when done with Animal Kingdom (maybe meet up with Meet of the Month if its in the afternoon)
6pm Dinner at Teppen Edo
8pm Dessert party with WDW Radio group!!!!!!
Sunday - Feb 27 thru Thursday March 3 - DISNEY DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday March 3 - We'll be disembarking as the earliest possible time and dropping our stuff at Boardwalk. Then...EPCOT for flower and garden (my first time!)
12:45 pm lunch at Biergarden
7:45 pm dinner at Via Napoli
Friday March 4 - Magic Kingdom!
Lunch probably at pecos bills (must do taco salad this time and not pulled port!)
8:15pm dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe
Saturday March 5 - Hollywood Studios Day
1pm lunch at Mama Melrose
Move to epcot when done at the studios
8pm Dinner at le Chefs de France (and if we don't see Remy I'm gonna be pissed!!!!!)
Sunday March 6 - Back home.
Those are the plans....who's plans overlap ours?????
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