For the last few months I’ve been planning a trip to see my 86 year old Irish grandma, Nanny. Nanny lives in Florida in the town where I was born. She’s been feeling a little restless lately and told me she’d like to go on a cruise. Unfortunately a cruise was just not in the budget. But I told her I’d look up some cruises online anyway. Thankfully our eMac didn’t die until after I did my research. I knew we’d want to sail out of Tampa or Port Canaveral, both easy drives from Nanny’s house. Nanny wanted to cruise in November along the same time line that I would have been visiting her. So I looked for a 3-5 day cruise. People, I hit the jackpot! I found a Royal Caribbean 4 night cruise to Nassau & Coco Cay for just $139 each! When you add taxes & port charges it came out to $207 each. That’s just $52 a night! You can’t get a decent hotel room for $52 a day! And my “hotel” comes with 3 meals, entertainment, and takes me to islands!
I’m excited. Nanny & I haven’t cruised together since I was 15, and that cruise included our entire family. This time it will just be her & I. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll spend a couple days with her in Florida before & after the cruise. Then I’ll be home with a week to get ready to host Thanksgiving at my house. Busy month ahead!
*** I found the cruise deal at Cruise.com but it was a Royal Caribbean deal. I know that part of the reason it’s so cheap is that we’re sailing during an off time. 2 weeks before Thanksgiving & all the kids are in school. Plus it was a last minute thing. I’m sure there are cabins available if you’d like to join us!
When I knew that CSP & I were serious, and that it was highly unlikely that our families would be merging into a big, loving Disney musical family, he & I sat down & discussed a holiday schedule. He’s the only child so if we aren’t with his parents on a holiday then they are all alone unless they make plans with other friends and/or family. Splitting the day is not an option for us as our families are all day celebrators and running between two houses while making sure each family gets good, quality time with us is not my idea
of fun. We talked it over with both sets of parents and came up with a schedule that we’ve been following now since our first set of major holidays. It works for us and our parents. CSP’s parents know what to expect so they make plans ahead of time and it ensures that they are not alone on Christmas or Thanksgiving. One year they even went to NYC for Thanksgiving. Works out great. Our schedule is this: if my parents get us for Thanksgiving then they also get us for Christmas Eve and CSP’s parents get us for Christmas Day. The next year we alternate. New Years Eve & day are up for grabs, as are the other holidays throughout the year. CSP is a grocery store manager so he often has to work on Christmas Eve til 8pm (SUCKS! DON’T go to a grocery store on Christmas Eve! It gets later every year!), and every other year or so he’ll have to make a stop in at his store on Christmas Day. New Year’s Eve he’ll often have to work til 11pm and New Year’s Day & Thanksgiving are wide open. He might work at 6 am or til 11pm or even overnight. I loathe his job come holiday season. Although he does come home with funny stories, like the time this one elderly lady who always wore headphones to keep the government out of her head (her words) returned her egg nog because it didn’t taste right. That’s because it was half & half.
— Fabulous! Suspenseful. Like watching a movie in my brain.
Brian Freeman — Also fabulous! Reminded me a little of Jennifer’s Body without all the blood and gore & hipster speak.
Jodi Piccoult —Loved this book right up until the last couple of chapters. I lost sleep staying up to read this book, excited for the big trial at the end (not a spoiler, it tells you that on the flap). It just seemed like the author got tired and wrapped it up quick as she could so she could take a nap. Felt jilted.
Janet Evanovich —I’ve never read her until this book. I picked it because it had a cute cover & synopsis on the back. Fun book until just before the end and then I have to pronounce it the stupidest book I’ve ever read in my life. EVER.
I am so in love with these products. Seriously. I will have a big, thorough review for you in a couple days.
Bless Your Heart 