Family Cruise

Bill and I had a fantastic time on our cruise! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a really relaxing vacation that takes you to different places without having to ever empty your suitcase. Here's Bill on deck as we sailed out of Tampa Bay, and a picture of most of the LaPierre gang.

We visited Key West where we ate at the original Jimmy Buffett's Margueritaville restaurant and saw Ernest Hemingway's house.

Next stop was Belize (after a day at sea) where we took a boat out to the barrier reef (2nd largest in the world) and snorkled. We were taken to a private island where we got to spend an hour or so on the beach. We also went to a bay where we saw manatees coming up for breath. A dolphin swam around our boat as we were stopped and when we motored out of the bay it followed us in the wake of the boat. It looked like he/she was having a wonderful time!

Guatemala was depressing as it's so poor. We took a trolley tour through Santo Tomas de Castillo and Puerto Barrios. Notice the guy with the machine gun in the background. The 2nd picture is of the marketplace in Puerto Barrios.

The best part of that port stop was taking a trip into the Las Escobas rain forest to the protected waterfalls.

Costa Maya Mexico was next where we saw the results of Hurricane Dean and the amazingly beautiful beach. We toured the Mayan ruins at Chacchoben and ate fresh pineapple from a roadside stand in Pineapple Town.

We took advantage of the spa services on the ship and had wonderful meals in the dining room each night with our servers Chandra and David.

Bill's parents' marriage vow renewal ceremony was special and performed by the captain himself.

All in all it was a wonderful trip and everyone got along well. This is a picture of me on deck at sunrise our first day out at sea.

Now, Bill and I would like to put out the possibility of having MY family get together for a cruise to Alaska. We're planning to go in 2010 and I know Tina expressed interest in joining us. So, if you are interested start saving your money! Because Bill and I are now considered "Mariners" after our first cruise we can book for 37% off the price for ourselves and anyone who books with us. Perhaps if we get enough people we can even qualify for a group rate.

I did a quick calculation to give you an idea of what it would cost 2 people and if we were to use today's rates for a trip in June of this year the cost would be $3,300 for a verandah room which I highly recommend. The air fare to and from Vancouver (where we'd take the boat from) right now through Expedia is $819 for 2 people. That totals about $4,200 for the air and cruise. Expect to spend another $1,000 - $2,000 on the ship (for drinks, souvenirs, spa, and other activites) so figure you're talking minimum $6,000 for 2. We would most likely fly into Vancouver earlier to spend a day or so there (it's a beautiful city) so all told you can expect to need $7,000 to $8,000 a couple.

I know that sounds like a lot of money and you may decide that you want to spend that going someplace else but I think it would be a blast to have the family on a cruise (sans mom - she'll never go on a boat!). Perhaps if we want to plan a family vacation that would include mom we could think about spending similar money and booking a Caribbean all inclusive resort instead. Anyway, food for thought and as Bill and I will be heading to Alaska in 2 years we hope at least some of you might consider joining us.

Annie's WW Update

After 5 weeks on weight watchers I've lost a whopping 2.8 lbs! I know any amount lost is good, but I'm getting sick on these .6 or .8 lbs lost each week. On a high note, after the trip to FL, I still managed to loose .6 lbs but that was really over a 2 week period.

Oh well, slowly, slowly, catch a monkey.

Octo Mom

So, what do you all think of the freak show with the 14 kids?

Uncle John, you as a self proclaimed maybe socialist, what do you think? Should she get benefits/money/etc to take care of the kids? (I singled you out only cuz reading your last post made me think of bringing this up) There is a website where you can donate money to her. Although TMZ just had video up of her video game shopping, sans 14 kids. And she's got fake nails, and has clearly had quite a bit of plastic surgery. So I dunno. She might be well off.

Interesting topic, anyways, which I dont think anyone has really discussed yet.

So what do you all think???

Hey

Uncle Mike....

are you traveling anywhere interesting any time soon? maybe you could stop by minnesota...

By Popular Demand - Latest Comments

It's amazing what a Google search can do for! As requested by Annie, John and maybe Patty, I have been able to display the last 5 comments to the site. The solution was pretty easy, setting up an RSS feed to the site itself. I still am getting up to speed on RSS feeds, I understand what they do, not real clear on how yet.

Let me know if 5 is enough. If not I'll figure out how to make it longer!

Yes I am a GEEK!

Chris

More American Idol

I'm loving the guy who lost his wife - he reminds me of Robert Downey Jr. I haven't picked out any of the woman that I like yet. I'm interested in seeing how far the weepy, gay boy (the one who wears the skinny headband) makes out. I also like the guy from LA with the cool haircut and eye makeup. I'm really glad "Bikini Girl" is gone - what a witch! The first group that performed for group night was amazing. They were really tight; they must have practiced all night.

Whoa!

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/extremesportswmv/4285505748/?icid=VIDLRVSPR01

JOBS

Okay, you're a presidential - advisory. What advice would you give to create jobs, and get the broken economy back on track?

Here's an idea: Instead of all the baby boomers working until they drop dead, or making them work longer then the current SS retirement age, how about find a way to allow older workers to either retire or be fazed out - as needed. Let's say everyone at 60, or over. If you haven't made by then will you ever make it? If you have made it, then you probably have enough to quit working. Look at each and allot them a decent retirement situation based on their lifelong (thus far) achievements and current requirements. Not a level that is necessarily desired, but at least adequate (the Social Security concept). I know, it's socialistic - yes it is and the Capitalist would have to be on board - perhaps like Canberra did with a stock ownership plan that distributed the wealth a lot better. Of course that depends on company performance, but if you look at CEO bonuses (even for badly performing companies) and outrageous salaries for some individuals (despite their talents or success), money can probably be found (taken if not gifted, in some case instead of prosecuting, or giving to the wolves).

Okay so some people will have to vacation in Appalachia instead of the Alps - more money stays here, meaning more jobs here. Others needing/wanting something to do can work as volunteers - perhaps reducing size of government payrolls (of course that will lose jobs in the public sector). Some will deserve nothing but a hovel and enough for meals.

By opening the positions held by the old fuddy-duddies, the next echelon of middle-aged workers move up and new workers are hired - of course at lower/startup wages. A lot of experience is lost, you say? Yes, but that can be overcome with the phase-in time for hand-holding and just plain fumbling through it - can service be much worse than it is? In some cases new/good ideas will win out over "we've always done it that way".

What do you think?

Super Bowl!

Okay, does everyone have their terrible towels out, or is anyone jumping ship over to the Cardinals? I don't actually have a terrible towel, but I do have a "terrible" Steelers blanket so I'm good. Have fun, see ya.

Blog S-Bowl Pool

Okay Barnowski Football Fans, even though we're all heading our separate ways to various Super Bowl parties, etc., this doesn't mean we can't have a friendly Barnowski Super Bowl pool. So anyone interested has until the official kick-off time tonight (est 6.25PM) to respond to this post with your final score prediction:

Steelers _______, Cardinals______.

The difference between your scores and the actuals will be added together and the lowest number wins !! The winner will honored at Ma's Birthday dinner/party. Tie breaker (if needed) will be determined by who can bounce a quarter into a shot glass first at the dinner/party*. That's how tie breakers are done in Ireland then they beat the $#!+ out of each other.

*If a tie breaker person is not present at the dinner/party, he/she may designate another attendee to represent and bounce the quarter for them.

Dave ( your Super Bowl Pool Administrator)