Oasis of the Seas Cruise

So I donated $500, in fifty-cent increments, under various aliases, to the Obama campaign for this Clooney thing.

Kidding.

It was $1000. ;)

OK, if I get to go to Mr. Clooney's bachelor pad with Kimberly, I will donate back my airfare, hotel, plus $50. That would be my first-ever donation to a political candidate. It's all about being involved in the process, folks.

Alrighty then---- The Oasis of the Seas. I must first say that the ship is utterly breathtaking. I've been on a lot of cruise ships, and this one is an engineering marvel, as well as a true beauty. You simply must take one cruise on this ship (or its twin sister, the Allure of the Seas) just to be awed and amazed for a week. TWO FlowRider wave machines... a zip line 9 decks over the Boardwalk... a Boardwalk with a working merry-go-round... putt-putt golf... two rock walls... ice skating rink...... a Promenade twice as wide as the Freedom class ships with the Rising Tide bar that floats up and down between it and Central Park three decks above... which is the green area of living trees and all kinds of plants and awesome restaurants and a wine/tapas bar...

Central Park. Real plants!

I could go on and on. You can see the ship's features in their full glory here.

It's just a week of "WOW" and OMG, from its passengers, and passengers on other ships docked nearby. The ship is a deck or two taller than the other super-huge ships, but more importantly, it's up to about 1.5 times as wide.

That's what she said.

The embarking/disembarking processes at the cruise terminal were pretty much flawless, which is an achievement in itself with 6000 passengers. The ship felt exactly as roomy as RCCL's others, seeming to have the same space to passenger ratio. You can always find open deck chairs, rarely stand in a line for anything, etc. That's one of RCCL's best features, with Carnival at the other end of the spectrum, having very little space per passenger and always standing in lines.

Our first stop ended up being one of our frequent mealtime hangouts- the Park Cafe. They have the best salads on board, because you walk the line, having them put in whatever appeals to you at the time, and they toss the whole thing in your choice of dressing and serve it to you in a huge bowl. They also have paninis and other sandwiches. The best is the roast beef, which is an incredible, melt-in-your-mouth experience.

After a few mealtimes there, we renamed the restaurant the Pissy Cafe, because unfortunately, passengers are frequently irritable in there for some strange reason. That is the only place we found anyone being rude to the staff. (RCCL staff are always exceptional standouts on the helpful/friendly scale. Best customer service on the planet.) One guy kept barking at a server behind the counter, "Hey! Get me my sandwich!!" I thought he was joking, but when I looked at him, he said, "It's my vacation, right?" I don't give a flip if it's your vacation, your birthday and your wedding day, buddy. You don't talk to anyone like that.

Anyhoo- at some point I figured out that most of the problem with passengers at the Pissy Cafe is the setup of the cafe itself. There are four lines- the salad line, the roast beef sandwich line, the hot sandwich line, and the dessert counter, which actually never has a line. You can get them to grab something from the refrigerated pre-made items in either of the sandwich lines. The cafe is small, so one line typically forms at the salad area on the left when it gets crowded. The people exiting the salad line naturally feed into the roast beef line, where inevitably a person walks in and appears to cut in front of salad guy to get a roast beef. When you're funneling through with a salad, it feels like you've been cut off.

They should have signs over each area that say they are separate lines. If you go in there, just enter the right door if you want a sandwich, and go straight to the counter to order.

As a second issue, there is limited seating at the Park Cafe, but passengers are allowed to sit at any outdoor seating they like, including the tables at Giovanni's and Vintages (you cannot sit inside either restaurant unless you are eating there).

In other food/beverage options that deserve a mention, there is self-serve frozen yogurt all over, mostly in the pool areas. Most of the machines are vanilla and chocolate, but they have strawberry at the center of the pools on Deck 15. The donut shop is very popular on the Boardwalk. Kids can get chicken nuggets and corn dogs at the Boardwalk Bar next to the Aquatheater and parents will find pre-made salads, sandwiches and terrific fruit options, like cantaloupe sticks and watermelon.

One of my favorite places on any of the RCCL ships is the Viking Crown Lounge. It's at the top of the ship and is usually practically empty. It's sophisticated and quiet and has about a 180-degree view from all the windows. Perfect place to relax and have drinks.

Entertainment-- With 6000 passengers, it's impossible to accommodate everyone with the traditional early and late headliner shows each night. The Oasis shows are done via reservation, and I recommend you make them early, as soon as you book your cruise. At most shows, there are long lines of people waiting to get in without reservations. At 10-15 minutes before showtime, they start letting them in, so get there in time if you do have a reservation.

Hairspray was terrific! We sat in the front row and tried not to sing along the whole time. We sat next to a guy who knew the cast (maybe a family member) who was singing along the whole time. Too funny. Ever wonder what happened to TV's Jim J. Bullock, from Too Close for Comfort? He's playing Edna in Hairspray on the Oasis. He and the girl who plays Tracy sang one night in the Viking Crown Lounge. SO great! He is hilarious.

Jim J. Bullock performing at the Viking Crown Lounge.

Don't miss the aerial show in the Opal Theater. It's amazing. There is a couple who do an act above the audience, where he's hanging from a hook or a scarf or something and tossing the girl around. Freakin' scary, but really beautiful choreography there.

The Aquatheater shows were so impressive. There are lots of jokes made about the shows being very obscure and artsy, which they are, but the world-class swimmers and divers are so talented. Don't miss them.

We enjoyed the comedy club so much- great comedians and also the improv show the last day on board. The improv features actors from Hairspray. And they are FUNNY! Recurring joke of the week- what a crappy place Nassau is. I have always thought that! It's time to take Nassau off the itineraries.

Leaving St. Maarten. Note one of two cantilevered hot tubs overlooking the ocean below. It was so nice!

Platinum Crown and Anchor members (and up) were invited to a champagne sail away party at Nassau, on the ship's limited-access helipad. One of the most fun events! We talked a while with one of the human resources staff there and she had tons of interesting info about the ship. Also met a couple from California there.

Everyone just HAD to stand on that H. What the heck.

Speaking of ship stories... we were talking with our stateroom attendant one morning on the balcony, asking him if he'd ever been on a voyage where someone went overboard. (What. We were curious.) The conversation wound around and he said it is more common than you think that couples drink too much, get into a huge fight and then sleep with other people on board to get back at each other. Wow! How many Mango Tangos do two people have to have to sleep with people at random- especially in a closed space like a cruise ship, where you're all going to be running into each other for the next seven days?

The Solarium has some fabulous, huge, round, cushiony chairs to lay in at the very front of the ship, looking straight out the windows. Don't settle for a deck chair when you lay out. :) Yes, I did get some sun. No burns!

I looked and looked online before I left to see the couch folded out in our stateroom floorplan, but couldn't find a photo anywhere. So for those who are curious...

Oasis of the Seas balcony room with sofa folded out.

The couch is folded up during the day, along the wall under the art. The sofa bed is very hard and bumpy (not that I ever slept in it), but you can request extra padding.

One fabulous improvement of this ship is that most of the stateroom doors open out into the hallway, so you don't have to squish around each other all the time at the crowded closet/bathroom area by the door. The doors are set back, so they don't actually swing into the hallway. Also, not sure if this is now common, or just part of the Oasis, but you do not have to wear your life jacket to the muster drill. There aren't even life jackets in your room at all. They are at the muster stations.

Overall, I had a great time. I'm sure I'll have more to say about the trip, and that I've forgotten a ton of stuff. And I also haven't gone through all my photos yet. But this has been your general review!

The ship is completely awesome. I do think that the number of passengers makes the personal experience very different from the typical cruise. Usually, you feel like you get to know a lot of people, even on a 3000-passenger cruise. On the Oasis, we rarely saw anyone twice, so if you meet people you want to hang out with again, set it up. You probably won't have a chance meeting in the next seven days. Dinner time is the only time we saw the same people every day. And the ship has an anytime dining option, where you could miss even that. We chose a main dining room seating for that reason. I definitely prefer a smaller number of passengers and would probably go back to a Freedom-class ship rather than taking this one again. Still, this super-enormous wonder of a ship is a must-do vacation if you enjoy cruising!

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We're Baaaaack

We have returned from a week-long cruise on the Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship on Earth! Wheeeee! The ship was fabulous and I should have photos and a review coming up tomorrow.

Evidently while I was gone, tons of us Blogger bloggers received a legitimate email from Google that says we have to migrate our accounts (although I am certain I migrated mine a few years ago).  "...Your email address is associated with an unmigrated legacy Blogger account..." The problem is-- none of us can log in with our login info at the page where they want us to accomplish this task. The message says we'll all lose our blogs on May 30 if we don't complete the process. The Google help board is lit up with comments and questions. *facepalm* I love Google, but this sort of buggy weirdness makes me crazy.

While I was gone, Kimberly got an email that she shared with me:

Kimberly --

Mark your calendar: On May 10th, George Clooney is hosting an event at his home in Los Angeles to support President Obama.

If you donate $10 or whatever you can today, you'll be automatically entered to be there, too.

We'll take care of airfare and accommodations -- all you need to do is think about who you'd ask to join you for an evening with President Obama and George Clooney.

When you pitch in, you'll also help build this grassroots organization at a crucial moment in the campaign.

So donate $10 or whatever you can today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Obama-Clooney-and-You

Thanks,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford
National Finance Director
Obama for America

... along with a comment that she's suddenly feeling less ambivalent about the election. I asked if she was taking me, but she said that Gib wanted to go. Whaaaa...?? Please.

A few hours later, she forwards:

Kimberly --

I have some advice for the two people who will be selected to go to a party for the President at George Clooney's house:

Choose your guest wisely.

Whoever you pick to join you is going to owe you big time.

Think about it -- and chip in $5 or whatever you can today to be automatically entered:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Obama-Clooney-and-You

- Ann Marie

Ann Marie Habershaw
Chief Operating Officer
Obama for America

P.S. -- Regarding your airfare and hotel, we've got it covered. Just get your name in the mix today.

Yes!! Choose wisely! I would be far more grateful than Gib. And the campaign wouldn't need to pay my airfare and hotel. I would totally donate that in a heartbeat if I won. Just saying. Heading over to donate now...

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Friday on the Internet

I emphatically recommend one of the most interesting sites I've discovered in a long time- Retronaut

They feature tons and tons of old photographs (and new), in the coolest collections. I can't even begin to tell you all the ones I've looked through already, with countless more to go. There are a lot of celebrity photos and historical pop culture images. Just visit the site and you'll see.

In other internet news, the Yahoo Messenger logo guy has put on about 40 pounds (and 20 years) since the last version.

Messenger 11.0:

Messenger 11.5.0.192:





The new things with the most recent YM version- tabbed chat windows (still not sure how I like this- I think it makes it too easy to type in the wrong window) and something called "recent contacts" that displays people you've most recently chatted with at the top of your list of contacts, so you can easily start conversations with "the regulars."

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Rod Serling Says Hi

Last night, it appeared Kathy was calling my cell. When I answered, it was her mom, Judy (Kathy and her mother, Judy. Sound familiar? Incidentally, her mom is one of the three teachers named Judy at Pearland High School after whom The Judy's are named. But I digress....). She is staying with Kathy's son this week while Kathy is in England.

Judy: Hi Kathy.
Me: Hi!
Judy: What time is it?
Me (???): 8:30.
Judy: 8:30???!!
Me: Yes?
Judy: How could it be 8:30? Where ARE you?!
Me: At home. Is everything ok?
[silence as we are both very, very confused]
Judy: ...Ohhhh...

She had called me by accident when she meant to call her daughter, where it was 2:30 a.m. at the time. Total Twilight Zone. Yeah, we were laughing it up, but honestly, I was thisclose to going over there. :)

I guess the Twilight Zone reference has become completely outdated, since it's from 1960 the Twilight series came out and everyone under 40 thinks it's a reference to Jim and Belle, or whatever their names are. I'm kidding. I know their names. Something and Bella. And Jacob, who is an adult, so I am allowed to ogle him when he removes his shirt, thankyouverymuch.

Well, while Lauren and I were playing speedminton, I hit myself in the head with my racquet. (I'm well-coordinated. I have no idea what went wrong there.) It was one of those "oh, it's fine" things until this morning, when I woke up and my pillow was pressing relentlessly against a painful bump on my head. I hate when that happens! I was sure I had escaped, totally unscathed. Looks like it's going to be a Motrin day.

~ 

RIP Dick Clark. He lived such an amazing life, full of music and laughter. There's not much better than that.

For now, Dick Clark... So long.

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Hump Day Check-In

Happy Hump Day to those who celebrate. :D



Bwahahaha!

My favorite joke of the week- during Craig Ferguson's monologue at 5:13...



*wipes tears*

So A&M football season tix sold out lickety split, and now they are holding back on some student sports passes because of concern that they will also sell out. Right now, any student who had a football pass last season can purchase theirs for next year. Freshmen and other students who didn't purchase a pass last year have to wait until May, when they may actually sell a half-season football pass. Suckage. My kid will be able to go to the games either way, since we still have two extra tickets with ours. I can't put any up for bids on StubHub yet, I suppose!

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Downton Abbey

All I hear about around town and on the tube is how awesome the PBS show Downton Abbey is. For a few weeks now, friends have been asking me if I'm watching it, and the whole time I've been calling it Downtown Abbey. I assumed it was a modern day take on Upstairs Downstairs, set in an extravagant, palatial condo in downtown London- probably with some "Friends"-like, young cast who inherited the place.

Finally, Lauren says to me at lunch, "Did you say 'DownTOWN Abbey??' It's Downton."

How can I go two weeks talking with several people in person and online about this show and not only do none of us recognize I'm mispronouncing it, but we never actually talk about the show itself and how it doesn't take place in present day, or in the city? All the commentary is about having the urge to speak with an English accent after watching. So funny.

It's the first show I've actually found on Netflix in months, although the recommendation is to watch on DVD, because the extras are really great. I will be checking it out!

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Another Day, Another Squirrel in the Engine

As we were driving around town in Jeff's car yesterday, we were discussing this very strange noise that is coming from the center console in the front seat. He was amused that while he thinks it's something to do with a fan trying to spin, but not quite making it up to speed, I think it clearly sounds like a squirrel trapped in the engine, tap-tapping his little paws there trying to get out... which is exactly what I would say, were I to drop it off myself to be fixed. *muffled laughter of Honda service manager*

Skip over here to read a heartwarming story about an autistic child playing team soccer for the first time, through a program called TOPSoccer. What a fulfilling and rewarding volunteer opportunity as well, for the adults who coach these teams!

My friend's autistic son was being bullied at school (9th grade) a couple of weeks ago. They brought it to the high school's attention and, to my surprise, it was handled immediately, with a very firm response. The counselors talked with her son. Then they called in the bully and his parents and had the bully sign an agreement that said he would neither get within 15 feet of him nor speak to him, ever. If the kid violates the terms, he goes straight to ALC. Boo-yah!! I guess this issue, now that it's in the news, has finally become one the schools will take seriously. I'm impressed.

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Busy Saturday

My mother-in-law was here for the day yesterday. She, Jeff and I did a couple of wineries on the Wine and Wildflower Trail. We found the Solaro Estate Winery near Dripping Springs to be so picturesque and the wines are really wonderful. (Here's more about them- they use all Texas grapes, which is very rare.) I'm not big into white wines, but surprisingly, their Arancia was one of my faves. Very citrusy and fresh, but not too dry. They make a Tempranillo, which the owner tells us is the up and coming defining "wine of Texas." My favorite wine of the day was their Bordorosso, a 50/50 blend of Tempranillo and Merlot.

We happened across the Texas Hill Country Olive Company orchards on our way out to the second winery and stopped to check them out. Loved the oils and their blueberry balsamic vinegar. They also have cooking classes! The chef was preparing for last night's class when we were there, and it smelled heavenly. The price of the class includes dinner as well. They have bread baking classes every weekend, too. They do an orchard and production tour, although we didn't have time to take it. We'll be back.

Last night we took Lauren and her boyfriend out to dinner. I spent the late evening at Kathy's, while she's in town for a few days. She and a colleague were accompanied by a British security guy to a couple of recent business meetings. (Yeah, her job is sort of like Sheldon Cooper meets Lara Croft.) The guy had the best stories. One time he was security for Tony Curtis on a yacht, and they happened to cross paths with P Diddy/Puff Daddy/Sean Combs and his group on their boat, and the guy ends up guarding Tony Curtis at this P Diddy yacht party. I wonder what P Diddy and Tony Curtis talk about at a party.


Sunday Stealing: The TV Show Meme

Before reading the questions: Pick 5 TV Shows you like. They can be past or present. Hint: pick shows that you are REALLY into. Hey! no peaking at the questions! List them:

1. Modern Family
2. New Girl
3. Whitney
4. Big Bang Theory
5. Rules of Engagement

1. Who is your favorite character in 2?
Jess

2. Who is your least favorite character in 1?
Aww, I like all of them. I guess Jay.

3. What’s your favorite episode of 4?
Most of them are fabulous, so I don't have one all-time fave. Any episode without very much Priya/Leonard. :\

4. What is your favorite season of 5?
Season 5

5. What’s your favorite relationship in 3?
Roxanne and Mark

6. Who is your anti-relationship in 2?
Schmidt and CeCe- I don't buy that for a second

7. How long have you watched 1?
since Day 1, September 2009

8. How did you become interested in 3?
saw an interview with Whitney Cummings and Chris D'Elia

9. Who is your favorite actor in 4?
Jim Parsons

10. Which show do you prefer 1, 2, or 5?
Modern Family

11. Which show have you seen more episodes of 1 or 3?
Modern Family

12. If you could be anyone from 4, who would you be?
Penny, although I'm nothing like her and most like Bernadette in real life.

13. How would you kill off any character in 5?
Russell catches an exotic and incurable STD.

14. Would a 3/4 crossover work?
Yes. The very strong female characters of Whitney meet the nerdy guys of BBT at a bar... Roxanne ends up with Raj for the night.

15. Pair two characters in 1 that would make an unlikely, but strangely okay couple.
Phil and Gloria

16. Overall, which show has the better cast, 3 or 5?
Rules of Engagement

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A&M Yearbook from 1928

Why is it that all the cool stuff is happening while we're out of town on vacation?? Waahhh!

I know, I know... first world problems.

Jeff donated blood yesterday and one of the guys working there was an Aggie. He happened to have a 1928 Texas A&M yearbook and after they'd talked a while, he actually loaned it to Jeff so he and Lauren and I could look at it. How awesome is that?!

The yearbook was (ironically) called The Longhorn back then. The book is beauuuuutiful. The cover is leather and the color pages are all embossed. The hand-drawn artwork throughout is amazing. The cadet's name is in it. He was a senior that year.





To go along with the Longhorn name, the 1928 baseball team's caps have a T on the front, although not in orange. I'm guessing.



We had an International Livestock Judging team back then. They had a coach. Not kidding.



There are women through the book, who I understand are the cadets' girlfriends. This is from the "Beauties" section:



Funny, Camel didn't mention her child-bearing hips. :)

From the very amusing miscellaneous photos section:

Such wise-crackers, those yearbook editors of '28!


Saturday 9: Ain't Too Proud to Beg

1. What was the last thing that you begged for?
A bike when I was 7. Maybe I am too proud to beg.

2. Have you ever lost a best friend after a fight?
Heavens no. I think the only fight one can have with a best friend that ends the friendship is if they've got something going on with your significant other. Otherwise, you get over it or work it out.

3. When was the last time you just wanted to be invisible?
In November, there was a "suspicious finding" on my mammogram. They whisked me straight into ultrasound. I made it through the testing without freaking out, but when the nurse told me I was fine, I burst into tears. It was some big promotional mammogram day for people who have never had them. I didn't want to scare any newbies in the unusually crowded dressing/lounge area, but I had to go in there and change. I just wanted to put a bag over my head.

4. Which room of your home tends to be the messiest?
not surprisingly, the 18-year-old's!

5. You are to be locked in a room forever with a celebrity. You get to choose. Who do you pick?
Umm.... hmmmm... I'll go wiiiiiiiith... George Clooney.

 

Handsome AND entertaining, so we wouldn't be bored.

6. Has someone ever left another person to be with you?
Yikes. No. I would never want anyone to do that.

7. What’s been kind of a drag for you lately?
Kathy being in Europe all the time. :(

8. How are you different from your (current or most recent) significant other?
I like to be around lots of people and energetic environments. He likes more relaxing, quiet spaces.

9. What is the most perverted thing someone has ever said to you? 
Is it perverted if you're completely willing to try it? ;)  (I'll never tell.)

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Friiiiiday!

Hilary Rosen's ridiculous statement that women who don't work a 9-5 job have no knowledge of matters of economics is obviously not the opinion of the Democratic party in general, nor that of most people. Personally though-  she can bite me. Not working doesn't mean I'm clueless to the financial concerns of American women. Further, I would point out that our household brings in far less money than most of our friends who have two working spouses in their homes, so I have more economic concerns than they do.

Assuming she was making a poorly-worded attempt to refer only to Mrs. Romney's socio-economic class, the Dems always want us to forget that their politicians are just as wealthy and out-of-touch with regular folks as the Republicans. If you think Nancy Pelosi is serving up ramen noodles for dinner every night, I have a bridge to sell you. I would venture to say, though, that just because they're not indigent or even remotely middle class themselves, politicians on both sides of the aisle are perfectly capable of understanding the needs of the 98% of Americans living with tighter budgets than they.

On a much lighter note... THIS HAPPENED:

#4
http://talkingforfree.blogspot.com/2009/09/bob.html

I may or may not have a photo. That girl cracks me up!

Had a late lunch with Douglas yesterday at Red's. He may be taking a job in- I kid you not- Billings, Montana. He has a very likely job offer in Dallas, which he would prefer, but they haven't called him back yet, so he's trying to stretch the Billings folks along another week or so. Meanwhile, I've put him in touch with Kimberly, who will extol the virtues of Billings to make him feel better.

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