Saturday, March 01, 2008

It's been a long time coming but I'm finally feeling almost normal! The coughing is almost gone and energy is returning!


I've had lots of time to dwell on our recent cruise with Diane and Keith. Even though I was in my stateroom for the last part of the trip we managed to pack as much in the first three days as some folks do in seven so it was a good vacation. I certainly got a lot of rest during the second half of it!


The first day ran into the second one for Jack and I. We were up at 6 am Friday, flying out of Klamath Falls to Portland at 4 pm. During our 5 hour layover in Portland we ran in to a Klamath Falls neighbor and Caleb joined us for dinner so time went quick. Sleeping on the plane during the all night flight was the plan. It didn't work out. There was turbulance the whole way and everytime the warning sound went off I jumped a foot- waking both Jack and the other passenger sitting with us.

The warm, soft air in Orlando felt wonderful after the weeks of cold we've had in Klamath! Diane and Keith picked us up and we were looking for breakfast at 7:30 am Saturday! They do not feed you on airplanes anymore. Our food was a warm cookie around 3 am!

When we got to Port Canaveral we got sidelined to a dirt parking lot. Sis mentioned that was 'different' . With my belly full I wasn't able to stay awake any longer so I laid back the seat in Diane's van and took a nap. Sis got out and chatted with the flagger to get the scoop on why we weren't allowed to enter the regular passenger parking lot. Keith, Diane and Jack getting back in the van woke me up and they shared the news as we made our way to the passenger unloading area. A piece of luggage had been left unattended and the bomb squad was called. No one was allowed to leave the ship for seveal hours after the normal departure time which set everything back a bit. Sis seemed to think that might freak me out but it didn't phase me. After a night of turbulance on the airplane what's a bomb scare?

I was amazed with the organization of the cruise terminal. The porters were really hustling to get the tons of luggage for the delayed boarders sorted and loaded when it started pouring down rain! It wasn't cold but it was getting everything wet! Those guys kicked it up another gear and got the huge carts under cover! It wasn't long before the rain was over and 2,000 cruisers had been checked, stamped, photographed and boarded!

Can you tell who came from snow country?


Sis knew just where we wanted to be. Off to Deck #9! The Lido Deck - where we wasted no time getting food and drink as it was now 2 pm. The ragge music was going, the food was great, we were on the ship - Jack could finally relax! Keith and Diane explained the Carnival Capers activity sheet and showed us how to kick back.

Jack and I explored the outside decks before we started moving just in case I wasn't able to once we were underway!


The ship was big and bueatiful! It was everything that the brochures said it would be. Diane and I left the guys on the Lido Deck and took the Spa tour. That tour included a trip though the men's locker room which brought on a lot of remarks about the "guaranteed satisfaction" slogan! Everyone was in a party mood! After scheduling an 8 pm Hot Rock massage and ginger body rub we returned to the Lido deck just in time for the required life boat drill.


Then we got to go to our staterooms. Jack and I quickly unpacked and I was already in my nightgown when our portress came to introduce herself! Our dinner time was at 5:45 pm and I needed some real sleep before then! We got about an hour of sleep and then headed one deck up to the Platinuim Dinning Room. Diane and Keith had been checking out what the ship had to offer while we slept! We wished Diane a happy birthday and gave her a package to unwrap. It was a bunch of "dust collectors" for her dresser. As I'd expected Jack was ready to call it a day as soon as dinner was over so after tucking him in Diane and I headed off for our girls night out 2 1/2 hour spa treatment. It was decadent!
After that I slept like a baby! And so ended our first day on the ship!