Wrapping up work today and out the door, for 3 weeks, at 4:00PM!

A WEEK FROM TOMORROW - CROSS!

I've been following the weather. Looks to be in the mid-60's - low 70's. Perfect!

Denise it has been a long time since you have been on vacation...you deserve it and most of all ENJOY IT!

See you in 2 weeks!!! :hug:

Whew!! I just finally had the time to catch up with all the posts this past few days. It was fun reading it all. My packing endeavor came to a screeching halt earlier this week but will get back "with the program" today. I'm just heading out for a massage, really do need that.

I leave Tues. morning for Sandy's. She's got the limo reserved for Wed., some mutual friends are giving us a bon voyage cocktail party Tues. evening so guess I can say it all starts for me on Tuesday. My mind is reeling with it all.

I'm a thinkin there's going to be some serious fun going on on CROSS.

Shirley

So Shirley - we'll see you Thursday night around 6:30 in the bar unless something changes. I know you told me your last name so I could check if you had checked in, but I can't find it now, so if you have a chance please PM it to me again.

I just received the best phone call I have had in a long while. "Nana, we are o.k. the house is still standing". He said everything is a mess and dirty and a lot of sad sights around their area but to have a house to go home to is a blessing. Our hearts are heavy for all that lost theirs.
Here's my big sigh of relief. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Now I can go CRUISING.

Shirley

I'd say we're definitely popping a cork at that Sail Away Party! Whoo HOOO!!!

Shirley, that is WONDERFUL news. What an incredible relief for you. Let the vacation begin!!!!

Shirley,

What a relief for your family! You certainly will now have more peace of mind during CROSS

The SOCAL contingecy has a lot to be thankful for!

I was just wondering if today was your last workday. Yipppeee!!! TGIF has a new meaning today! Congratulations!

Shirley,

What a relief! I'm so happy for you and your family! Now you can relax and look forward to the cruise!

You made my day Shirley and yes now on to some R&R for Nana!!!!

Shirley, that's great news. We'll see you soon on the Voyager.

Thanks, again, everyone. I'm going to have to power out for the next 3 days so this is "OVER AN OUT" for me. For those of you not on CROSS, your're wonderful beyond words, the rest of you, see ya in a few days and it's HUGS, HUGS, HUGS!!! :banana: :lct:

Shirley, thanks for sharing the wondeful news. I know the past few days have been terrible. Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy the wonderful LCT group.

Nancy

Great news Shirley; enjoy your cruise!

Has anyone heard from Michelle and Don recently as to their staus?>

"Power out", LOL!!, I love it. I should "power out" too or I'll never finish packing!

Yep, that could be a good thing. I have a lot of work to do to be away for so long...Power out here too - for now!

First and foremost, wonderful news, Shirley!!!! As others have said, we will celebrate with you on CROSS. Your news adds a special layer of joy.

Okay, everyone, after weeks of not really being able to focus on CROSS, I'm ramping up my excitement level. (About time, right?) A big and worrisome work project is virtually done, we have made a quick trip to Kansas to visit my elderly mother, household matters are coming together (we are getting ready to sell our house and build another -- yes, I know there is a housing crisis and our timing is unbelievable), and I'm getting more comfortable about our new petsitter. So, Davenport packing central will open later today -- well behind everyone else but in time for us to make our Friday flight and join you all on Saturday in Monte Carlo. It's almost here -- finally. Can't wait!

Priscilla/John :hug: :hug: Virtual hugs for now - in person hugs on Saturday!

Weather for Nice/Monte Carlo and Barcelona looks superb!

Priscilla, better late than never! Don't worry , you'll get it done!

Denise, great news about the weather! I'm optimistic, so I'm bringing a couple of capris pants!

I'm so optimistic that I'm bringing a rain pancho and travel umbrella! :cool:

Glad you are getting things in order Priscilla.

We had my 94 year old Dad overnight, rather than just try to spend a couple of hours taking him to lunch, then took him home this morning and did some stuff for him at his apartment. I think he is good now till we get back. Girls are both only an hour away in an emergency, so I'm feeling ok about him.

Just finishing up last minute stuff tomorrow and Tuesday. We are ready to go. I could be out of here in an hour if need be!! :D :app: Still have toes and fingers on Tuesday, but thats it. Actually have been focusing a little on Thanksgiving weekend, both girls and husbands and kids, plus Dad are coming, so I've been making and freezing a couple of things, making sure I have all the staple items that will keep, getting the guest rooms ready, have "Papa"s room ready, etc. The two days after we get back will be hectic and my Dad turns 95 the day before Thanksgiving, so I want to have a nice dinner for him that night, which means planning another big meal, but hey I'll be so rested it won't even phase me right????

Anyway - anxious to be on our way.

Peggy - if you read this we will look for you Thursday morning in the BA lounge at terminal 1.

See everyone else Saturday onboard. Safe and uneventful travels everyone.

JoAnn, With all the hustling, cleaning, cooking you have been doing pre cruise, I know you will be ready for a rest on that plane ride over. I know you are getting ready for a wonderful cruise. Have a fun time with all the LCTers.

Wanted to let you guys know I got email from my mom (Nini/Ollie). She said QM2 was great and they enjoyed it a lot, but can't wait to get on Voyager next week as that will be like returning home! She mentioned the food was a little inconsistent and complained about the minuscule bathroom, lol. They are having a great time in France right now.

Melinda

So good that you both spent wonderful times with your parents, Priscilla and JoAnn. Certainly puts your mind at ease that you visited prior to such a long and distant journey.

Also good to hear from you, Melinda. Alan and I are really looking forward to meeting your parents next Saturday. Wish you were able to join us.

Everything has been cleaned, laid out and ready to put into suitcases tomorrow. Paperwork has been organized. Calls to family have been made, including plans to go up to Portland, OR, for our Daughter's birthday and pre-holiday celebration in December with our dear Granddaughter. Looks like we are good to go.

Getting on that plane and toasting the beginning of this long-awaited vacation can't come soon enough!

Amen Denise!!! <img src="http://smileys.sm...Fi%253D7%252F7_2_116/image.gif"> <img src="http://smileys.sm...253D23%252F23_28_125/image.gif">

Wow, we are gone for 2 days and we miss a ton of info. on CROSS! ;)

Glad to read everyone is getting things in order and packing has begun in earnest!

JoAnn I baked and froze my pies for Thanksgiving last week...great minds think alike - see you on 11/11/07! ;)

I am so thankful your grandsons home is ok, Shirley - safe travels to Europe for you and Sandy!

Priscilla; make sure the folks in our suite keep it nice and clean for our arrival when they disembark in Funchal...can't wait to move in next door to you!

Denise; thanks for the sweet email! See you soon! :banana:

If I forgot to mention anyone I apologize - safe travels to all this week and see you soon! Please send us Sea Mail!!! :lct: :hug: :bv:

Hopefully we'll see you there JoAnn. I'm not sure if we can go in the BA lounge or not. We're business across the pond on AA, but only coach on BA from Heathrow to Nice. We'll give it a try though--otherwise, we'll see you on the plane. You're on the 9:55 flight to Nice, right?

Peggy - yes we are on the same flight. We used miles for FC on AA across the pond, and our award gave us Club europe business for the flight to Nice. Hopefully you can access the lounge.

See you in any case somehow on Thursday morning...well I could be a total zombie by then, since no matter what I won't/don't sleep well on the plane. Heck, I don't necessarily sleep well in my own bed at home. <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

Dont worry Sue, at least they are not stiletto heels!! :D

Oh, I know what your mom means when she says "miniscule"! It is that and more! But still a great experience. Looking forward to meet Nini and compare notes.

Yay - we're packed, we're zipped and we're jazzed! We will see you all on Saturday and some of you sooner!

Bon voyage, all of you early birds heading to Europe! We'll be behind by a few days, but the important thing is that we'll be there on Saturday, waving at Monte Carlo as we all sail away.

Oh, Priscilla, I am hoping the Sailing School is in session again. There were rows of little pink sails (and their boats with the children learning to sail!) going by the ship while we were unpacking last year...

How picturesque, Kathy! When we sailed from Monte Carlo in 2005, the ship's departure was delayed until 10:00 p.m., so we sat on our balcony watching all the lights of Monte Carlo. It was beautiful!

That works too...Love night time sailaway. Maybe we can have both...nothing like some good scenery for sailing!

Sailaway sounds beautiful either way.

Weather in MC looks spectacular for Saturday sailaway!

Kathy, LAX was a breeze today. Hopefully, you experience the same.

Yes, as long as we are on that ship, sailaway will be wonderful!

Waaahh - I want to leave this week not next week. :mecry: Anyone have room for a "stowaway" on sailway? :p

Priscilla - when were you on in 2005 from Monte Carlo? We were sailing from Monte Carlo-Rome in Sept - wouldn't it be amazing if we were on the same sailing and didn't even know it?

Denise - so Sayonara???

When we sailed out, the sailing was not until 11:00pm, and about an hour before, there was this spectacular display of fire works over the city - it was probably the most amazing display I have ever seen anywhere! I thought they did it just for us, but I'm sure that wasn't the case - it must have been some special thing happening, but it was wonderful.