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Ron NG does not seem to know jack. Tacky is paying $50 a plate for steak that is cooked to the point of dry. If the wedding is small, and the budget is tight, then having a family provide food may be an excellent suggestion. I would NOT suggest requesting this in an invitation however. We did exactly that at our wedding. What did we end up with? Salmon, Crab, Shrimp platters, home made pasta, fondue, fresh fruit, and plenty more. As someone who has sampled the fare at a few hunderd weddings, I can only say that it’s the poorest meal for the dollar one can get. This is not the fault of a cater. It’s very difficult preparing steak for 200, all ready at the same time, and cooked to individual taste.n Since that is mostly impossible, the steak is generally medium well, but often well. Another option is chicken. Chicken! for $50 a plate! Buffet is likely the best way to go. Still not anything near what my family cooked up for our Celibration. Ron
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Actually, I don’t think pot-luck has to be "tacky" if you’re having a VERY >informal and casual wedding. > It’s is VULGAR. > Ron Ng Knows!
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A friend of mine made a very good point….. "tacky" is a gay man’s word *snickers* so is Vulgar – hmm….. so I suppose Mr. No Good (NG) could be looking for a same sex wedding? Nah, nevermind LOL
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> A friend of mine made a very good point….. "tacky" is a gay man’s word > *snickers* so is Vulgar – hmm….. so I suppose Mr. No Good (NG) could be > looking for a same sex wedding? > Nah, nevermind LOL
"Tacky" seems to be required for talk about wedding stuff you don’t like. I don’t hear much called "tacky" outside the wedding planning newsgroups, even among the gay men I know. — aMAZon zeszutko at nycap.rr.com "It’s never too late to have a happy childhood."
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> I think it is fine to do exactly what you are doing! Weddings can be so > commercialized and out of hand. > Those who cant afford $2,000 dresses, limos,and $80 per plate catering are > made to feel like their wedding will somehow be less of a wedding that those > of folks with tons of money.
Ummm…but so far, I think every post in this thread that has suggested not doing the potluck has *NOT* in *ANY* way suggested that you must feed the hordes lobster and caviar. I also don’t recall anyone suggesting that it’s inappropriate to get married without spending a fortune. That’s a red herring. People have suggested that one provide what one can afford and DO WITHOUT the rest, along with refusing to charge one’s guests admission (i.e., food) in order to attend one’s wedding. That is not suggesting that someone is having less of a wedding. It is the person who is resorting to dunning guests in order to put on a wedding beyond his or her means who apparently feel that a more modest wedding is unacceptable. > I, quite frankly, plan to spend my money in a > more logical way rather than blow it all on 4 hours of commericalism. I > admire those who work within their means, like yourselves, to make an > enjoyable day that dosnt leave you in debt. After all, you are displaying > matters?
It matters–but so does treating one’s guests like *guests*, and not like deep pockets. It’s a fine and lovely idea to decide to opt out of the commercial wedding rat race. It’s just not fine to do that by shifting the costs to one’s guests. Best wishes, Ericka
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> I think it is fine to do exactly what you are doing! Weddings can be so > commercialized and out of hand. > Those who cant afford $2,000 dresses, limos,and $80 per plate catering are > made to feel like their wedding will somehow be less of a wedding that those > of folks with tons of money. I, quite frankly, plan to spend my money in a > more logical way rather than blow it all on 4 hours of commericalism. I > admire those who work within their means, like yourselves, to make an > enjoyable day that dosnt leave you in debt. After all, you are displaying > matters?
The problem is people who do not care to "blow" thier money on 4 hours of "commercialism" but are quite happy to require their guests do it for them by means of catering the reception. Most people can afford a cake, punch, mints and nuts reception costing a few hundred dollars at most. Unfortunately, many people view that as beneath them and are willing to soak the guests to get a reception more in keeping with what they believe they are owed.
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I think it is fine to do exactly what you are doing! Weddings can be so commercialized and out of hand. Those who cant afford $2,000 dresses, limos,and $80 per plate catering are made to feel like their wedding will somehow be less of a wedding that those of folks with tons of money. I, quite frankly, plan to spend my money in a more logical way rather than blow it all on 4 hours of commericalism. I admire those who work within their means, like yourselves, to make an enjoyable day that dosnt leave you in debt. After all, you are displaying matters? I wish you luck…. -Kelly
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> *yawn* > > Food (pot luck, guests bring dishes) > How VULGAR! > >Favors (hard time deciding considering we are low income) > How VULGAR! > Ron Ng Knows!
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> hi there
first i want to say congratulations on your engagement. As far as being financially restricted i completely understand where you are coming from. i am a single mom who works and attends school full-time, so i know it feels to never have enough for exactly what you want. as far as invitations, i am a graphic arts major and am currently looking for freelance work. i would be very interested in helping you out. send me an email if you are interested, and we can discuss things further. Also, as far as the favors are concerned I just did favors for my mom’s wedding and am doing the favor’s for my sister’s in the beginning of august. My mother was married in Cape Cod and honeymooned in Nantucket. She went to the Christmas tree shop and bought 1.99 nantucket baskets, which I decorated with a simple ribbon, silk rose, and a label I designed. For my sister’s wedding, I am using my pc to burn her and fer fiance’s favorite love songs on cd’s. She bought cases for the cd’s (50 for $10) and I am creating cover’s for the cd’s including their engagement photo. If I can possibly help you with anything let me know -deb
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > > If money is that tight, skip the favors completely. > > Personally, I’d do cake and punch before I’d ask guests to bring food > (your > > pot-luck plan). I’d also scale back the number of guests before I’d > do pot > > luck. > > Invitations can be handwritten if printing costs are beyond your budget. > > It’s the way things were done years ago if they weren’t engraved (and > only > > the very wealthy sprung for engraving). > I’d agree with all that. Pot-lucks are okay if your *guests* > organize that for you, but you can’t politely send an invitation > asking people to bring food to your wedding. I think most people > would be astonished to receive a favor when they weren’t provided > with any refreshments–looks like odd priorities on the part of > the hosts. I’d absolutely skip favors (most of them aren’t worth > the trouble anyway) and scale back to cake and punch (and consider > accepting graciously if others *offer* to bring something). > Handwriting the invitations is prefectly charming and > proper and could save a pretty penny, which you could put towards > refreshments. > Best wishes, > Ericka
Seconded here, on all counts. I also read the previous post in which "Mercedes insists on" favors. Honestly, it seems the priorities are skewed here if money is at such an issue that you need to ask guests to provide the food for the supper but are planning to have favors to hand out. Here’s the thing: the reception is the first party you are *hosting* as a couple (emphasis deliberate). Do you invite people to dine in your home and ask them to bring a main dish is their last name begins with A-D? Now, certainly if someone brings a bottle of wine to share with those at the table, that’s a different matter … but you didn’t ask them to bring it. You should view your reception in exactly the same way. If you tell people you are serving cake and punch, they can plan accordingly (i.e., eat before they get there or after they leave). There is no reason to go into debt over your wedding … you have what you can afford and no more. If that means cake and punch, and no favors, so be it. Sharon in San Jose Happily married to Jeff since 9/28/02
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>Actually, I don’t think pot-luck has to be "tacky" if you’re having a VERY >informal and casual wedding.
It’s is VULGAR. Ron Ng Knows!
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> First off, when an invitation comes with my name and address as the return > address, I hardly think they will toss it thinking some organization is > asking for money – second, about the pot-luck thing – what would you suggest > a person on welfare do for catering? Certainly not McDonalds.
You are under utterly no obligation to provide an elaborate meal for your guests! If you schedule your wedding at the appropriate time of day, it is perfectly proper and charming to serve cake and punch or tea and cookies or whatever suits. It is your guests who would be terribly rude to criticize such a decision, not you. Best wishes, Ericka
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The Wedding" is the part where you stand up in front of some official and he/she asks. Do you? And you say "yes" and he/she asks do you? And she says, "yes" and then he / she says, "By the power vested in me, I pronounce you Husband and wife". That’s the wedding part. For my husband and I, and we were married this past Nov. 1st that part cost $35 for the license and another $15 for the cost of the Judge. The other thing is the party you are throwing for the two of you and everybody else, after the wedding. We did our entire wedding on a Friday morning, with just the two of us there, well three if you count the Judge. My Husband bought me flowers since I wanted to carry them ($58) and we wore clothes we already had or could wear again. (No wedding gown, no tux) we got our wedding photo taken by a female guard at the front door of the courthouse. No cameras were allowed in the courtroom. So we asked her to do it. BTW that photo turned out pretty well. We went to a photo place and enlarged it and cropped out the extra stuff around us. So we have it in a nice frame in our living room. You DO NOT need to have the big party after you get married. It’s not required. You want to be married? Fine go and do it. If you have no money and trust me we had very little money when we got married, you can do it. You want the big party, fine either wait or invite less people. I would do both. I wanted to be married. I loved this man and we wanted to live together as Husband and wife, do I regret not having a big party after my wedding? No. I am still married I have a license, a wedding ring and a picture to prove it. And a husband. You won’t get wedding gifts if you do what we did, you will get cards in the mail. We got a few and one from work that everyone signed. Sometimes I think people assume that getting married means getting lots of "stuff" I think that cheapens the wedding somehow. I actually overheard one Bride saying ‘ well, we need to invite ’so and so’ they are pretty rich and they will bring us a nice present’. We actually managed to get married for less then $400 dollars, that included the honeymoon. We drove to Chicago spent the night and drove home. The flowers and the dinner at the hotel up there. You want to get married. Go and do it. Get a ring and a license and go get married, you want a big party for your friends and family, do that in a year or so. It’s called the anniversary. You give a party everyone comes and you celebrate. The wedding is the official part the reception is the party after that. You can get married without the party, without invitations, favors and 300 engraved matchbooks that match the bridesmaid’s shoes. Amber
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> If money is that tight, skip the favors completely. > > Personally, I’d do cake and punch before I’d ask guests to bring food (your > pot-luck plan). I’d also scale back the number of guests before I’d do pot > luck. > > Invitations can be handwritten if printing costs are beyond your budget. > It’s the way things were done years ago if they weren’t engraved (and only > the very wealthy sprung for engraving). I’d agree with all that. Pot-lucks are okay if your *guests* organize that for you, but you can’t politely send an invitation asking people to bring food to your wedding. I think most people would be astonished to receive a favor when they weren’t provided with any refreshments–looks like odd priorities on the part of the hosts. I’d absolutely skip favors (most of them aren’t worth the trouble anyway) and scale back to cake and punch (and consider accepting graciously if others *offer* to bring something). Handwriting the invitations is prefectly charming and proper and could save a pretty penny, which you could put towards refreshments. Best wishes, Ericka
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> Food (pot luck, guests bring dishes) > Cake (possibility of a multi-tiered (shelves) of cupcakes)
I agree with the comments so far, if you can’t afford to feed everyone don’t. Cake and punch is fine. A simple round cake that is decorated, and sheet cakes are fine. I had never thought of the cupcake idea – but that could be fun too. > Favors (hard time deciding considering we are low income)
Unless you have money to toss around, skip the favors. Favors typically end up in the trash within a week anyway. My wife and I still hear from a few people who have our favor – but if you take parents and grandparents out of the equation, I doubt that even a half dozen copies survived to our first anniverssary. > Music (unless a DJ donates time we have a stereo with the capability of > making CD’s of love songs and dance steps)
My advice is to not try to make a "dancable" collection of music ahead of time. It is almost impossible to pre-program a dance party. Instead, I would suggest that you go to your local "warehouse club" (ie. Sams, Costco), and look at their boxed set collections. Decide on the mood that you want to set with the background music. For instance, you can get 10 CD’s of classical music for $15. You can get 3 or 4 hours of music for under $20. They also have collections of jazz, R&B, Oldies (Big Band), and more. This is a great place to get collections of backgound music. –Stan Graves http://www.SoundInMotionDJ.com A Mobile DJ, serving the DFW, Texas area.
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LOL!!! Thanks Jeff 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > <snip> > It’s is VULGAR. > Abusing the English language like that (in such a short sentence, mind you) > is also VULGAR.
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My fianc
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I dont think there is a tradition. actually my DH inherited one before we even met. and some families never owned and never will own one. If DH didnt already have one, we probably would never own one either. I just see it as something to stub my foot on every night. Also you shouldnt set rules on "X must give me …" If you get one as a gift .. great, if not it might be nice for both of you to go shopping for one. Niki,
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Please help stop an argument between my boyfriend and I. > Who should give the Hope Chest…parents or Fiance??? > Thanks
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wow your good… ya i do want my fiance to buy it. In my family it is the man who buys the hopechest for his finace….In his family the parents buy the hopechest. So I guess I may just have to buy my own. Oh well that way I can pick one out I really like Thanks for your input Bonnie
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FWIW–I think the moms of young girls typically start them off with their Hope Chests, so I’d guess it’s mother-daughter effort? Shannon
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My Two older brothers gave me mine on my sixteenth birthday. By the time I was married I had it filled with all manner of things for my home. For Christmas and birthday presents from then on I usually received things for my home. Towels, small appliances, dishes and the like. I didn’t really make a lot of hand-embroidered towels and such but I had a lot of stuff in that hope chest, in a way it was the very first piece of furniture I ever owned. I am now 50 years old and I still have my hope chest. If you want one go buy it yourself or hint that you want one for Christmas or your birthday. It seems to me, you want your fianc
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Hi, Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? Thanks, Paul Netherlands.
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One of the amps I started looking into, but never got out to try one was a Laney TT20. It’s a single channel amp, with a 12" speaker, two EL84 tubes, and a reverb. I’m still considering getting one, but I had to spend money elsewhere first. Since I never tried it, I can’t tell you how it sounds though. Pete >Hi, >Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it >was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A >tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I >have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you >know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? >Thanks, >Paul >Netherlands.
– You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.
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What good sounding amps do you > know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes?
I really like my Ampeg J-12T. Bassman44
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Traynor Guitar Mate III from Canada. It’s a big box for the 2 El84s, but you don’t have to bent over as far to play with the EQ. Foot switch able Trem and R. Peace Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi, > Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it > was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A > tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I > have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you > know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? > Thanks, > Paul > Netherlands.
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Tried the 30 it did Fender pretty well and felt good, I understand they spend extra time on the bench. Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > One of the amps I started looking into, but never got out to try one > was a Laney TT20. It’s a single channel amp, with a 12" speaker, two > EL84 tubes, and a reverb. I’m still considering getting one, but I > had to spend money elsewhere first. Since I never tried it, I can’t > tell you how it sounds though. > Pete >Hi, >Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it >was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A >tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I >have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you >know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? >Thanks, >Paul >Netherlands. > — > You don’t have to go home, > but you can’t stay here.
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Good choice. Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > What good sounding amps do you > know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? > I really like my Ampeg J-12T. > Bassman44
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VOX AC15 or VOX AC15TBX.
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> Tried the 30 it did Fender pretty well and felt good, I understand they spend > extra time on the bench. Chris
If you mean that the Peavey C30 is difficult to service, and takes extra time on the bench, I’ve heard that too. However, they have break first, and I’ve also heard that is a rare occurrence. Lots of the new amps with multiple circuit boards are difficult to work on, Peavey has no patent on that concept. That’s why anyone that wants a truly service friendly amp, gets either a well serviced vintage Point to Point wired amp, or a simply designed ’boutique’. John King http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjohn/rockinamps.html
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> Hi, > Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it > was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A > tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I > have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you > know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? > Thanks, > Paul > Netherlands.
If 3 on a 30 watt amp was to loud I think you might want to go lower the 15 watts. The differance between 15 and 30 watts is not much. I would go with a SE amp, get down under 10 watts. It will give you alot more play with tone, you will have a much more usuable volume knob and will be able to bring it up abit in volume if you want to get your guitar out in front for abit. I would reccomend the THD UniValve with a 2×12 cab and some sort of external reverb since it is without. The UniValve through a 2×12 should be plenty loud, or pretty muuch any other SE amp. adam
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I’ll try the Univalve on my Genz Benz 2 x 12. I like a bit of punch in my clean sounds, so I should get some higher on the volume knob without being too loud for the PA man. A single ended tube amp is probably the way to go for me. Thanks, Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it > was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A > tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I > have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you > know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? > Thanks, > Paul > Netherlands. > If 3 on a 30 watt amp was to loud I think you might want to go lower the > 15 watts. The differance between 15 and 30 watts is not much. I would go > with a SE amp, get down under 10 watts. It will give you alot more play > with tone, you will have a much more usuable volume knob and will be > able to bring it up abit in volume if you want to get your guitar out in > front for abit. I would reccomend the THD UniValve with a 2×12 cab and > some sort of external reverb since it is without. The UniValve through a > 2×12 should be plenty loud, or pretty muuch any other SE amp. > adam
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the gibson goldtone 15rv has a great sound, plus a 6 watt triode switch which should work great for you- at 15 watt pentode, this is a loud amp, but by golly, what a sweet roar! you might be able to find a trace elliot velocette 12, basically the same amp. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it > was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A > tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I > have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you > know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? > Thanks, > Paul > Netherlands.
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>the gibson goldtone 15rv has a great sound, plus a 6 watt triode >switch which should work great for you- >at 15 watt pentode
This is better than my previous suggestion of an AC15. I own an AC15TBX but have the 30 watt version of the Goldtone, the GA 30RVS. The pentode/triode option of the GA 15RV would be quite useful.
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Carvin makes a 14 watt amp that can be run in triode or pentode configuration. Has "long tailed" reverb and sounded well to me FWIW. The amp practically cries for a Weber VST to match the circuitry. "Carvin’s Vintage 16 is the amp everyone has been asking for. This "all tube" amp features 16 watts from two EL84’s and is switchable from its normal Pentode to "Triode" operation delivering 5 watts. There is nothing sweeter for recording! Great soak and tone is delivered from 3 12AX7 tubes. The Vintage 16 features Volume, Soak, bass, mid, treble and reverb (Accutronics tank)."
> the gibson goldtone 15rv has a great sound, plus a 6 watt triode > switch which should work great for you- > at 15 watt pentode, this is a loud amp, but by golly, what a sweet > roar! > you might be able to find a trace elliot velocette 12, basically the > same amp.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Gigged last night with a Peavey Deltablues in a cover/wedding band. On 3 it > was too loud, on 2 the soundman said it was alright, but the sound sucked. A > tubeamp sounds good when the power tubes are working harder. So I guess I > have to go down from 30 watt to 15 watt? What good sounding amps do you > know, with reverb that are 15 watt, 2 x EL84 tubes? > Thanks, > Paul > Netherlands.
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> the gibson goldtone 15rv has a great sound, plus a 6 watt triode > switch which should work great for you- > at 15 watt pentode, this is a loud amp, but by golly, what a sweet > roar! > you might be able to find a trace elliot velocette 12, basically the > same amp.
Speaking for myself, I’ve been trying to find either the 15rv or the velocette 1×12 — it’s not easy. Some of the relatively well-stocked guitar stores in Madison WI haven’t even heard of either model. Called a dealer in Chicago who told me he could get a 15RV - he said he’d check into it and get back to me; two weeks later I haven’t heard back yet. Most of the goldtone 15 watters and trace elliott velocettes I’ve found on e-bay are the 1×10 models, not the 1×12. Also, the velocettes are notorious for blowing output trannies and sometimes other parts; there are some mods that are needed to help prevent this. Just so you know. Having said that, the rep of either amp for vintage Class-A tone is outstanding. Wish I could actually try one somewhere. Grant
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That’s how I look at it Sheena. If the thought or urge for a cig crosses my mind – I just say to myself that I don’t want it. No way – no how!! And this is different for me too – hoping it’s a change that will make this quit last! You are doing good! God Bless! JoAnne Six days, 1 hour, 50 minutes and 57 seconds. 139 cigarettes not smoked, saving $22.36. Life saved: 11 hours, 35 minutes.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it > is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is > destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I > feel like I made it harder than it had to be. > I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be > 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) > I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my > history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big > change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, > neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook > assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law > degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the > geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. > I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding > band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. > The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand > against the night stand at just the right angle. > Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and > lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I > replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back > to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m > even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my > very own soap opera. > /mops up guts > What’s going on today? > -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. > -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. > -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. > -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. > -Still ruling out MS > That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve > thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could > list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can > see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. > Moving the light switch, > Sheena
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Sheena — All the best to you. The secret is — don’t ever quit quitting. You can do this. Hang in there, Coleen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. >/spills guts >You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was >miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and >hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every >little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I >can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided >that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I >don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it >is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is >destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I >feel like I made it harder than it had to be. >I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be >14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) >I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my >history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big >change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, >neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook >assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law >degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the >geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. >I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding >band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. >The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand >against the night stand at just the right angle. >Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and >lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I >replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back >to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m >even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my >very own soap opera. >/mops up guts >What’s going on today? >-Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. >-The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. >-The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. >-My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. >-Still ruling out MS >That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve >thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could >list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can >see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. >Moving the light switch, >Sheena
Response:
Yep, you’re right. No matter where you are at, it sucks. Hopefully not for ever though! And Fat Ass is still here to give you grief about your Thunder Thighs ! Paula
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it > is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is > destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I > feel like I made it harder than it had to be. > I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be > 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) > I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my > history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big > change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, > neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook > assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law > degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the > geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. > I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding > band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. > The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand > against the night stand at just the right angle. > Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and > lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I > replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back > to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m > even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my > very own soap opera. > /mops up guts > What’s going on today? > -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. > -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. > -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. > -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. > -Still ruling out MS > That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve > thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could > list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can > see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. > Moving the light switch, > Sheena
Response:
>Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before.
Welcome back…. All your friends are still here so use us! Jack Dempseys can be a bit ungrateful sometimes Steveb
Response:
> My plan is to not obsess over every little thing, not >to look at other
smokers as those who GET to >smoke. I can smoke if I want to – they are readily >available to me. NOW this is what I want to hear!!! To me, the key to quitting is to *stop* acting like a victim of this habit. Smoking is a choice. You can do it or You won’t do it. Ranting about quitting is fine — just as long as it doesn’t harm your quit. Sometimes it is a good thing to just let your mind wander elsewhere and forgettaboutit. Early in my quit, I avoided talking about quitting smoking while in chat. Talking about quitting used to be a huge trigger for me. What does MikeM call it? Diversion Therapy? Do what works best for you Sheena Good to see you posting again, Joy
Response:
> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before.
Yeah, but having you around again doesn’t Good to see you back to quitting! — mc I haven’t lost my mind, It is backed up on disk somewhere. QOF
Response:
Excellent post! And congrats on your decision, Sheena. The "not wanting" thing is KEY! This quit will stick, Good luck, DG
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it > is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is > destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I > feel like I made it harder than it had to be. > I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be > 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) > I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my > history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big > change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, > neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook > assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law > degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the > geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. > I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding > band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. > The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand > against the night stand at just the right angle. > Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and > lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I > replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back > to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m > even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my > very own soap opera. > /mops up guts > What’s going on today? > -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. > -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. > -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. > -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. > -Still ruling out MS > That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve > thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could > list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can > see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. > Moving the light switch, > Sheena
Response:
Sheena, you are a winner! I know it, because I’ve been seeing you in your struggles. Most of us have been there. Welcome back, we need you! With hope and heart, Kathleen "Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." — Dave Barry : Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. : : /spills guts : You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was : miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and : hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every : little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I : can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided : that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I : don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it : is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is : destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I : feel like I made it harder than it had to be. : : I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be : 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) : I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my : history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big : change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, : neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook : assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law : degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the : geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. : : I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding : band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. : The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand : against the night stand at just the right angle. : : Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and : lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I : replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back : to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m : even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my : very own soap opera. : /mops up guts : : What’s going on today? : -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. : -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. : -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. : -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. : -Still ruling out MS : : That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve : thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could : list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can : see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. : : Moving the light switch, : Sheena
Response:
> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to.
Yup. This is what worked for me, too. Good to see you back and posting. hugs, elle
Response:
Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. /spills guts You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I feel like I made it harder than it had to be. I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand against the night stand at just the right angle. Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my very own soap opera. /mops up guts What’s going on today? -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. -Still ruling out MS That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. Moving the light switch, Sheena
Response:
Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. /spills guts You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I feel like I made it harder than it had to be. I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand against the night stand at just the right angle. Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my very own soap opera. /mops up guts What’s going on today? -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. -Still ruling out MS That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. Moving the light switch, Sheena
Response:
Excellent post! And congrats on your decision, Sheena. The "not wanting" thing is KEY! This quit will stick, Good luck, DG
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it > is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is > destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I > feel like I made it harder than it had to be. > I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be > 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) > I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my > history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big > change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, > neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook > assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law > degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the > geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. > I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding > band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. > The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand > against the night stand at just the right angle. > Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and > lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I > replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back > to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m > even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my > very own soap opera. > /mops up guts > What’s going on today? > -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. > -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. > -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. > -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. > -Still ruling out MS > That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve > thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could > list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can > see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. > Moving the light switch, > Sheena
Response:
>Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before.
Welcome back…. All your friends are still here so use us! Jack Dempseys can be a bit ungrateful sometimes Steveb
Response:
> My plan is to not obsess over every little thing, not >to look at other
smokers as those who GET to >smoke. I can smoke if I want to – they are readily >available to me. NOW this is what I want to hear!!! To me, the key to quitting is to *stop* acting like a victim of this habit. Smoking is a choice. You can do it or You won’t do it. Ranting about quitting is fine — just as long as it doesn’t harm your quit. Sometimes it is a good thing to just let your mind wander elsewhere and forgettaboutit. Early in my quit, I avoided talking about quitting smoking while in chat. Talking about quitting used to be a huge trigger for me. What does MikeM call it? Diversion Therapy? Do what works best for you Sheena Good to see you posting again, Joy
Response:
> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before.
Yeah, but having you around again doesn’t Good to see you back to quitting! — mc I haven’t lost my mind, It is backed up on disk somewhere. QOF
Response:
> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to.
Yup. This is what worked for me, too. Good to see you back and posting. hugs, elle
Response:
Sheena, you are a winner! I know it, because I’ve been seeing you in your struggles. Most of us have been there. Welcome back, we need you! With hope and heart, Kathleen "Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." — Dave Barry : Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. : : /spills guts : You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was : miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and : hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every : little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I : can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided : that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I : don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it : is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is : destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I : feel like I made it harder than it had to be. : : I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be : 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) : I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my : history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big : change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, : neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook : assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law : degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the : geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. : : I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding : band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. : The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand : against the night stand at just the right angle. : : Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and : lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I : replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back : to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m : even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my : very own soap opera. : /mops up guts : : What’s going on today? : -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. : -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. : -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. : -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. : -Still ruling out MS : : That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve : thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could : list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can : see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. : : Moving the light switch, : Sheena
Response:
Yep, you’re right. No matter where you are at, it sucks. Hopefully not for ever though! And Fat Ass is still here to give you grief about your Thunder Thighs ! Paula
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it > is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is > destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I > feel like I made it harder than it had to be. > I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be > 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) > I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my > history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big > change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, > neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook > assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law > degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the > geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. > I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding > band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. > The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand > against the night stand at just the right angle. > Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and > lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I > replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back > to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m > even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my > very own soap opera. > /mops up guts > What’s going on today? > -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. > -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. > -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. > -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. > -Still ruling out MS > That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve > thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could > list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can > see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. > Moving the light switch, > Sheena
Response:
That’s how I look at it Sheena. If the thought or urge for a cig crosses my mind – I just say to myself that I don’t want it. No way – no how!! And this is different for me too – hoping it’s a change that will make this quit last! You are doing good! God Bless! JoAnne Six days, 1 hour, 50 minutes and 57 seconds. 139 cigarettes not smoked, saving $22.36. Life saved: 11 hours, 35 minutes.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. > /spills guts > You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was > miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and > hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every > little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I > can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided > that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I > don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it > is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is > destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I > feel like I made it harder than it had to be. > I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be > 14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) > I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my > history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big > change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, > neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook > assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law > degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the > geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. > I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding > band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. > The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand > against the night stand at just the right angle. > Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and > lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I > replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back > to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m > even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my > very own soap opera. > /mops up guts > What’s going on today? > -Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. > -The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. > -The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. > -My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. > -Still ruling out MS > That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve > thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could > list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can > see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. > Moving the light switch, > Sheena
Response:
Sheena — All the best to you. The secret is — don’t ever quit quitting. You can do this. Hang in there, Coleen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Quitting this time arounds sucks just as much as it did before. >/spills guts >You know, I never felt like the last one ever quite "took." I was >miserable for most of the time. I’ve adjusted my thinking a bit and >hopefully this will be the one. My plan is to not obsess over every >little thing, not to look at other smokers as those who GET to smoke. I >can smoke if I want to – they are readily available to me. I’ve decided >that for now I don’t want to. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t, I >don’t want to. It’s difficult to explain how this is different, but it >is. I think for me, obsessing over the quit every minute of the day is >destructive. Quitting is not the only thing I am doing in my life. I >feel like I made it harder than it had to be. >I finally made an appointment with a real, live psychiatrist. I will be >14 days into the quit, so he should get a good look at the crazy me. %-) >I feel like I need someone to take a good look at my pain meds and my >history, a fresh set of eyes. I don’t hold out much hope for any big >change. In the past, all that has helped is time. Meds don’t do much, >neither does talking or writing or reading or doing little workbook >assignments. Time. I’ve got plenty of it. This doc first obtained a law >degree and then went for his MD. Most of his patients are of the >geriatric persuasion, but my GP recommended him highly. We shall see. >I’m already planning to spend the saved money. I’m getting a new wedding >band and engagement ring. Since losing weight, the old ones don’t fit. >The diamond in my solitaire is cracked – the result of slamming my hand >against the night stand at just the right angle. >Soooo… I’m back on the 21mg patch, using the inhaler. I’ve got gum and >lozenges to use when I get bored with the other methods. See, I >replenished my stock even when I was smoking because I knew I’d be back >to the quit. The vivid dreams with the patches have returned…I’m >even revisiting stories from dreams with the last quit. It’s like my >very own soap opera. >/mops up guts >What’s going on today? >-Hubbs is still smoking and talking about cutting his long hair. >-The Jack Dempsey in the tank on my desk died yesterday. >-The cory catfish are laying eggs every 8-10 days – 4th batch now. >-My LTD has been approved for another 12 months. >-Still ruling out MS >That’s about it except for writing about why I quit quitting. I’ve >thought about it and decided that there isn’t a good reason. I could >list excuses, but they aren’t worth a plug nickel. Looking back, I can >see that I was waiting for an excuse and jumped on one. >Moving the light switch, >Sheena
Response:
Question:
We are booked on Radiance of the Sea for the March 1 Southern Caribbean sailing out of San Juan. We just finished making all the arrangements for our wedding on Megan’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas and we’re really excited! Has anyone else out there gotten married with this plan? It will be just the two of us and it sounds beautiful and romantic. Any tips for making the day as easy as possible that Royal Caribbean doesn’t tell you? Anyone else booked for this cruise? Never been to the southern Caribbean, this is our third cruise and our first on RCCL having previously done Carnival. Hoping for less kids! Really looking forward to Barbados and Antigua we hear they are beautiful. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Lisa
Response:
Lisa: My husband and I didn’t get married thru a ship, but did marry at Black Beards Castle In St. Thomas back in 1992 over looking the harbor with 20 of our family and friends. We took a cruise this past fall to celebrate 10 great years with our three children. Our daughter Meagan is named after the place you will marry. We opted not to spell her name the way Magens Bay is spelled but her name is because of our gorgeous wedding, and stay in St. Thomas. Our trip was a Western Caribbean trip and it was nostalgic to be in Cozmel (since we met in cancun) so we got new wedding bands to celebrate. Our trip next fall on the NCL Dawn (with kids) will show them where our wedding took place and why our gorgeous daughter (6) was named after the gorgeous bay! Have fun it is a romantic place- and despite not having all of our pals, and family on our day, it seemed like the two of us during our vows. RCCL was pulling out and honking – as I said my vows. Best of Luck Kelly H
Response:
Congrats. You will love the Radiance OTS. Dining room food just so-so (IMO) but the buffet and alternate restaurants are quite good. JOHN – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We are booked on Radiance of the Sea for the March 1 Southern > Caribbean sailing out of San Juan. We just finished making all the > arrangements for our wedding on Megan’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas and > we’re really excited! Has anyone else out there gotten married with > this plan? It will be just the two of us and it sounds beautiful and > romantic. Any tips for making the day as easy as possible that Royal > Caribbean doesn’t tell you? Anyone else booked for this cruise? > Never been to the southern Caribbean, this is our third cruise and our > first on RCCL having previously done Carnival. Hoping for less kids! > Really looking forward to Barbados and Antigua we hear they are > beautiful. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. > Lisa
Response:
> We are booked on Radiance of the Sea for the March 1 Southern > Caribbean sailing out of San Juan. We just finished making all the > arrangements for our wedding on Megan’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas and > we’re really excited! Has anyone else out there gotten married with > this plan? It will be just the two of us and it sounds beautiful and > romantic.
Maegens Bay is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. We were just there last month and I got a shot of it with my new digital camera. It absolutely took my breath away. You will get some great pictures because the backgrounds will be just fabulous. Best wishes to you. I hope I get to do the Radiance soon because the itenerary sounds just about perfect. Just do it early and don’t get caught in the St Thomas 5:00pm traffic back to the ship. TR
Response:
We are booked on Radiance of the Sea for the March 1 Southern Caribbean sailing out of San Juan. We just finished making all the arrangements for our wedding on Megan’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas and we’re really excited! Has anyone else out there gotten married with this plan? It will be just the two of us and it sounds beautiful and romantic. Any tips for making the day as easy as possible that Royal Caribbean doesn’t tell you? Anyone else booked for this cruise? Never been to the southern Caribbean, this is our third cruise and our first on RCCL having previously done Carnival. Hoping for less kids! Really looking forward to Barbados and Antigua we hear they are beautiful. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Lisa
Response:
Lisa: My husband and I didn’t get married thru a ship, but did marry at Black Beards Castle In St. Thomas back in 1992 over looking the harbor with 20 of our family and friends. We took a cruise this past fall to celebrate 10 great years with our three children. Our daughter Meagan is named after the place you will marry. We opted not to spell her name the way Magens Bay is spelled but her name is because of our gorgeous wedding, and stay in St. Thomas. Our trip was a Western Caribbean trip and it was nostalgic to be in Cozmel (since we met in cancun) so we got new wedding bands to celebrate. Our trip next fall on the NCL Dawn (with kids) will show them where our wedding took place and why our gorgeous daughter (6) was named after the gorgeous bay! Have fun it is a romantic place- and despite not having all of our pals, and family on our day, it seemed like the two of us during our vows. RCCL was pulling out and honking – as I said my vows. Best of Luck Kelly H
Response:
Congrats. You will love the Radiance OTS. Dining room food just so-so (IMO) but the buffet and alternate restaurants are quite good. JOHN – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We are booked on Radiance of the Sea for the March 1 Southern > Caribbean sailing out of San Juan. We just finished making all the > arrangements for our wedding on Megan’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas and > we’re really excited! Has anyone else out there gotten married with > this plan? It will be just the two of us and it sounds beautiful and > romantic. Any tips for making the day as easy as possible that Royal > Caribbean doesn’t tell you? Anyone else booked for this cruise? > Never been to the southern Caribbean, this is our third cruise and our > first on RCCL having previously done Carnival. Hoping for less kids! > Really looking forward to Barbados and Antigua we hear they are > beautiful. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. > Lisa
Response:
> We are booked on Radiance of the Sea for the March 1 Southern > Caribbean sailing out of San Juan. We just finished making all the > arrangements for our wedding on Megan’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas and > we’re really excited! Has anyone else out there gotten married with > this plan? It will be just the two of us and it sounds beautiful and > romantic.
Maegens Bay is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. We were just there last month and I got a shot of it with my new digital camera. It absolutely took my breath away. You will get some great pictures because the backgrounds will be just fabulous. Best wishes to you. I hope I get to do the Radiance soon because the itenerary sounds just about perfect. Just do it early and don’t get caught in the St Thomas 5:00pm traffic back to the ship. TR
Response:
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mike: > I can safely say that it wasn’t my dog. : ) > However, as the human partner of a service dog team, I can tell you > that when I was paired with Heidi I signed an agreement with the > program that trained her. In the simplest terms, it states that I > agree to give her the proper care, food, etc. and to represent the > program in the most positive light possible. > There was a specific portion with regard to how the dog (and I) are to > "behave" in public. She is to wear her vest and leash, no > inappropriate sniffing, etc. If she has an accident, she is my dog, > I’m supposed to clean it up. This lead to much angst among the crew > on the first cruise we took her on. Most members of a cruise ship > crew cannot fathom a passenger willing to clean a carpet. > I find it hard to believe that any human partner would leave that > there. I guessing it was human.
i was wondering how you do clean up after her. i know you can teach a dog alot of neat tricks – but can you teach her to sit on a toilet? or is there a pan in the bathroom? —Mike Savad — <—> Mike’s Photosig Page –> http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050 Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page – http://www.savad.0catch.com/ Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page 2 – http://www.pbase.com/savad Mike’s Stained Glass –> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/1141/ <–Stained Glass Tips
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…and my wife can’t understand why I am addicted to RTC! I just printed out your story to show her. Maybe now she will understand. – Steve B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You asked for it. So here goes.
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I printed it out as well. lived in the Phila area most of my life. Thanks for a great story.
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"When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long blue satin evening gloves on her arms". Quick! Sign her up for Shipmates! <grin>
Response:
Howard and Eileen, Living in Philadelphia all my life I became friendly with Ken and Elaine Garland. Ken was a radio personality who did wonderful things for our business before he died, and his wife, Elaine is best remembered for her role in the Rabbi Fred Neulander murder trial. In spite of that, they were our friends, and Fred Neulander was our rabbi for most of my child’s formulative life. Forget all of that. We want to cruise with you guys because we need people who can excuse any kind of $hit. — DG in Cherry Hill, NJ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You asked for it. So here goes. > Let me begin by describing the typical passenger(s) on the Seabourn Sun. > Most passengers were married and a surprisingly large number of > married couples included a husband of about 75 to 85 years old and a > very well preserved (through plastic surgery, exercise, cosmetics, etc.) > 60 to 65 year old wife. Half of the 700 passengers were Brittish and > half of these literally spoke the "Queens English". > The general atmosphere on this ship was friendly but very reserved. Many > of the passengers had sailed numerous times on the ship and one couple > whom we befriended occupied the penthouse suite for four months every > year. This particular couple actually left their clothing on the ship > year round. The highlight of the day for most passengers was "team > trivia", played every day at noon. > Most of the crew were holdovers from the Royal Viking Sun. Some very > important priorities for this ship included order, politeness, and > CONSISTENCY. I have two examples: > 1. One night after dinner, a group of passengers stayed around the piano > that was played outside the dining room. When they began to sing along > with the pianist, they were quickly and politely silenced by the cruise > director. > 2. On the eveing that I discovered and reported the shit (about 8:00 > PM), the elevator involved was taken out of commission until after > midnight. This was not because it took them four hours to clean and > fumigate. Rather, it was because the shit was located on on a removable > piece of carpet in the middle of the elevator on which the day of the > week was embossed. It seems they only had enough daily maps for each > elevator. Thus, rather than confuse the guests for four hours with the > wrong day in this elevator, they decided to take it our of service for > four hours. > Back to the fantom shitter. > Two days afer I discovered the shit, I was again in the elevator alone > on my way to the dining room. (Eileen is an addicted gambler and when we > are not dining, dancing, sleeping or romancing, she can always be found > in the casino). When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to > face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid > thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather > miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long > blue satin evening gloves on her arms. > When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were > actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew > exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was > married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the > ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the > dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that > every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack > table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year > old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and > she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it > was stated) whenever she lost a hand. > That night, I witnessed the scene firsthad in the casino. I even got > Eileen to look away from her video poker machine for a few minutes. > Within days this woman had become the talk of the ship. And she was > obviously the fantom shitter, because she had both motive (she was > completely insane) and opportunity (she never wore underwear). By the > second week of the cruise, she was banned from entering the casino. > The story continues. > On day 13 or 14, we arrived in Casablanca. The 100 year old man got > very sick and was taken to the hospital. His devoted wife was quoted as > stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with > him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was > reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror > from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to > snort the stuff. > She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin > (there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six > days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door > and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the > guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. > So that’s the true story.
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Lordie! And, they call CARNIVAL the "party ships!" Yikes. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >His devoted wife was quoted as >stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with >him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was >reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror >from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to >snort the stuff. >She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin >(there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six >days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door >and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the >guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. >So that’s the true story.
Response:
Wow Howard! So you actually got to meet Anne Nicole Smith? <LOL> Jim > You asked for it. So here goes.
<<SNIP>> When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid > thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather > miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long > blue satin evening gloves on her arms. > When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were > actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew > exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was > married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the > ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the > dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that > every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack > table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year > old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and > she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it > was stated) whenever she lost a hand.
<<SNIP>>>
Response:
>She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin >(there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six >days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door >and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the >guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us.
Damn and I thought Baby could be bad.
Response:
Oh, c’mon . . . you can’t keep us hanging like this! Do tell? Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences >that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: >Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. >On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my >way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting >odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in >the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first >thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." > When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was >waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my >tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced >me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the >purser’s desk. >I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." >Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" >I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." >Reply: "Are they sick?" >I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." >The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. >The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while >walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a >pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the >purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. >Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the >identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. >Howard
__ /7__/7__/7__ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::… http://www.cupcaked.com (…and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)
Response:
I have heard it all now What a story. — Gordon Join us on Arline’s MGC-2003 http://www.mgc2003.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You asked for it. So here goes. > Let me begin by describing the typical passenger(s) on the Seabourn Sun. > Most passengers were married and a surprisingly large number of > married couples included a husband of about 75 to 85 years old and a > very well preserved (through plastic surgery, exercise, cosmetics, etc.) > 60 to 65 year old wife. Half of the 700 passengers were Brittish and > half of these literally spoke the "Queens English". > The general atmosphere on this ship was friendly but very reserved. Many > of the passengers had sailed numerous times on the ship and one couple > whom we befriended occupied the penthouse suite for four months every > year. This particular couple actually left their clothing on the ship > year round. The highlight of the day for most passengers was "team > trivia", played every day at noon. > Most of the crew were holdovers from the Royal Viking Sun. Some very > important priorities for this ship included order, politeness, and > CONSISTENCY. I have two examples: > 1. One night after dinner, a group of passengers stayed around the piano > that was played outside the dining room. When they began to sing along > with the pianist, they were quickly and politely silenced by the cruise > director. > 2. On the eveing that I discovered and reported the shit (about 8:00 > PM), the elevator involved was taken out of commission until after > midnight. This was not because it took them four hours to clean and > fumigate. Rather, it was because the shit was located on on a removable > piece of carpet in the middle of the elevator on which the day of the > week was embossed. It seems they only had enough daily maps for each > elevator. Thus, rather than confuse the guests for four hours with the > wrong day in this elevator, they decided to take it our of service for > four hours. > Back to the fantom shitter. > Two days afer I discovered the shit, I was again in the elevator alone > on my way to the dining room. (Eileen is an addicted gambler and when we > are not dining, dancing, sleeping or romancing, she can always be found > in the casino). When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to > face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid > thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather > miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long > blue satin evening gloves on her arms. > When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were > actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew > exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was > married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the > ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the > dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that > every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack > table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year > old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and > she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it > was stated) whenever she lost a hand. > That night, I witnessed the scene firsthad in the casino. I even got > Eileen to look away from her video poker machine for a few minutes. > Within days this woman had become the talk of the ship. And she was > obviously the fantom shitter, because she had both motive (she was > completely insane) and opportunity (she never wore underwear). By the > second week of the cruise, she was banned from entering the casino. > The story continues. > On day 13 or 14, we arrived in Casablanca. The 100 year old man got > very sick and was taken to the hospital. His devoted wife was quoted as > stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with > him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was > reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror > from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to > snort the stuff. > She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin > (there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six > days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door > and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the > guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. > So that’s the true story.
Response:
I am abolutely not kidding. They closed the damn elevator until they could change the mat to the correct day of the week. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > You have absolutely got to be kidding! This is the most outrageous behavior > I have ever heard of! (Of course I mean the closing of the elevator, not > the "woman":) > My inlaws would be very proud of the crew not disturbing the consistency of > routine, in order to open the elevator. > Shauna
Response:
Love your stories and would love to hear more. Howard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences >that rtc readers have had on cruises. > Oh, I got a few–here’s two about the same fellow (names withheld): > While playing music in the orchestra on the Sensy, there was a magician who > had the regular formal night gig in the auditorium. He was pretty good, but > after seeing the show a few times I’d figured out how he did his magic. It > wasn’t obvious, he was pretty good, but you notice little details here and > there. Well, I remarked on this in the crew bar one night to my fellow > musicians (never would I comment on a show in front of the passengers). > Someone must have overheard and reported me, because the next week he was > on, he told the CD to compel all the performers who had any contact with his > show (stage crew, musicians, dancers, etc.) to sign a confidentiality > statement; forbidding us from ever discussing his show in any manner shape > or form. I figure, o-kay, it’s not legally binding and he ought to trust > us, but what the hey. Like someone’s cruise would be ruined by them > figuring out that the girl didn’t actually turn into a bowl of fruit or > whatever. > The other story happened toward the end of my contract on the ship. Same > magician got a chance to audition for an Atlantic City stage show and needed > to send them a video of him on the job. The MD (Musical Director) called us > in and explained the deal, which included us leading the audience in a > standing ovation at the conclusion of his biggest illusion. We laughed, > saying, "He should earn an SO like the rest of us," but again, what the hey. > So the show goes well and at the very end, a dancer is supposed to jump out > of a trick box, with a flourish. The dancer was a guy in drag and if it had > worked would have been kind of funny I suppose, but what happened was as he > was jumping out, his long sequined evening gown got caught on a nail in the > box, so a graceful leap was out of the question–he’s lucky he didn’t bang > his head on the lid tripping over the caught gown! He tried to jerk it > loose, but it just snagged itself tighter. The audience and the video > cameras are recording all this, remember. Finally, the magician comes over > with a big smile and tries to rip the thing loose in a manly show of > strength. Unfortunately, and I think the women who wear sequined outfits > know this already, those suckers don’t rip easily and definitely not across > a seam. So you got two or three people tugging on this bright blue sequined > dress worn by a guy, under the lights and camera’s eye, the band playing on, > and faces are getting red and not just from the exertion if you know what I > mean. Finally, with one big tug they rip a hole in the dress and free the > poor fellow, then they all raise their hands and show dental work to the > audience while the band jumps up and starts applauding. The audience is > going, what the hell was that? > Don’t know if he got the gig in Atlantic City, but I haven’t seen or heard > of him since. > I got plenty stories. Like the lounge pianist who couldn’t keep his hands > off the passengers’ daughters but almost never got caught (he’d'a gotten > beached), the single females wanting a Love Boat experience with the > musicians (my wedding ring was no more a deterrent than spreading honey > around a picnic spot keeps away ants), the new MD forgetting to play walk-on > music (even though he’d played the gig as a sideman for weeks), the fake dog > thrown overboard but no one knew it was a fake pooch, the occasional > passengers venting their bigotry of other passengers or crew not knowing I > was crew myself. Oh yah, I got a few stories.
Response:
>You asked for it. So here goes.
I don’t think anyone can beat that story, Howard!
Response:
>When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to >face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid >thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather >miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long >blue satin evening gloves on her arms.
Yikes! What a story that is. I think the ship you were on was the consummate clincher. Your description of the ‘typical" Royal Viking Sun/ Seabourn cruiser was important. Karen __ /7__/7__/7__ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::… http://www.cupcaked.com (…and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)
Response:
You have absolutely got to be kidding! This is the most outrageous behavior I have ever heard of! (Of course I mean the closing of the elevator, not the "woman":) My inlaws would be very proud of the crew not disturbing the consistency of routine, in order to open the elevator. Shauna
Response:
You asked for it. So here goes. Let me begin by describing the typical passenger(s) on the Seabourn Sun. Most passengers were married and a surprisingly large number of married couples included a husband of about 75 to 85 years old and a very well preserved (through plastic surgery, exercise, cosmetics, etc.) 60 to 65 year old wife. Half of the 700 passengers were Brittish and half of these literally spoke the "Queens English". The general atmosphere on this ship was friendly but very reserved. Many of the passengers had sailed numerous times on the ship and one couple whom we befriended occupied the penthouse suite for four months every year. This particular couple actually left their clothing on the ship year round. The highlight of the day for most passengers was "team trivia", played every day at noon. Most of the crew were holdovers from the Royal Viking Sun. Some very important priorities for this ship included order, politeness, and CONSISTENCY. I have two examples: 1. One night after dinner, a group of passengers stayed around the piano that was played outside the dining room. When they began to sing along with the pianist, they were quickly and politely silenced by the cruise director. 2. On the eveing that I discovered and reported the shit (about 8:00 PM), the elevator involved was taken out of commission until after midnight. This was not because it took them four hours to clean and fumigate. Rather, it was because the shit was located on on a removable piece of carpet in the middle of the elevator on which the day of the week was embossed. It seems they only had enough daily maps for each elevator. Thus, rather than confuse the guests for four hours with the wrong day in this elevator, they decided to take it our of service for four hours. Back to the fantom shitter. Two days afer I discovered the shit, I was again in the elevator alone on my way to the dining room. (Eileen is an addicted gambler and when we are not dining, dancing, sleeping or romancing, she can always be found in the casino). When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long blue satin evening gloves on her arms. When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it was stated) whenever she lost a hand. That night, I witnessed the scene firsthad in the casino. I even got Eileen to look away from her video poker machine for a few minutes. Within days this woman had become the talk of the ship. And she was obviously the fantom shitter, because she had both motive (she was completely insane) and opportunity (she never wore underwear). By the second week of the cruise, she was banned from entering the casino. The story continues. On day 13 or 14, we arrived in Casablanca. The 100 year old man got very sick and was taken to the hospital. His devoted wife was quoted as stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to snort the stuff. She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin (there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. So that’s the true story.
Response:
Now, that’s funny! Howard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I also encountered a sample of the same substance when I worked for > Royal Viking Line, but it wasn’t a "phantom" who left it, it was just > a poor man who got incredibly sick. Fortunately for him, he was in a > very uncrowded part of the ship during the dinner hour when it > happened, but I don’t know why he headed for this room instead of back > to his cabin. > While I worked on the same ship I was walking outside the dining room > when I saw a female passenger who had obviously just left the > restroom. Her formal gown was caught in her pantyhose waistline in the > back. I "ahemed" loudly and when she turned around I pointed > discretely to my back. She just started at me quizzically for a long > time until I did a little "your ass is showing" dance for her. Then > she reached behind her and discovered her em-BARE-ASS-ment and > proceded to fix it. > Paul Motter > www.cruisemates.com
Response:
> I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences > that rtc readers have had on cruises.
Oh, I got a few–here’s two about the same fellow (names withheld): While playing music in the orchestra on the Sensy, there was a magician who had the regular formal night gig in the auditorium. He was pretty good, but after seeing the show a few times I’d figured out how he did his magic. It wasn’t obvious, he was pretty good, but you notice little details here and there. Well, I remarked on this in the crew bar one night to my fellow musicians (never would I comment on a show in front of the passengers). Someone must have overheard and reported me, because the next week he was on, he told the CD to compel all the performers who had any contact with his show (stage crew, musicians, dancers, etc.) to sign a confidentiality statement; forbidding us from ever discussing his show in any manner shape or form. I figure, o-kay, it’s not legally binding and he ought to trust us, but what the hey. Like someone’s cruise would be ruined by them figuring out that the girl didn’t actually turn into a bowl of fruit or whatever. The other story happened toward the end of my contract on the ship. Same magician got a chance to audition for an Atlantic City stage show and needed to send them a video of him on the job. The MD (Musical Director) called us in and explained the deal, which included us leading the audience in a standing ovation at the conclusion of his biggest illusion. We laughed, saying, "He should earn an SO like the rest of us," but again, what the hey. So the show goes well and at the very end, a dancer is supposed to jump out of a trick box, with a flourish. The dancer was a guy in drag and if it had worked would have been kind of funny I suppose, but what happened was as he was jumping out, his long sequined evening gown got caught on a nail in the box, so a graceful leap was out of the question–he’s lucky he didn’t bang his head on the lid tripping over the caught gown! He tried to jerk it loose, but it just snagged itself tighter. The audience and the video cameras are recording all this, remember. Finally, the magician comes over with a big smile and tries to rip the thing loose in a manly show of strength. Unfortunately, and I think the women who wear sequined outfits know this already, those suckers don’t rip easily and definitely not across a seam. So you got two or three people tugging on this bright blue sequined dress worn by a guy, under the lights and camera’s eye, the band playing on, and faces are getting red and not just from the exertion if you know what I mean. Finally, with one big tug they rip a hole in the dress and free the poor fellow, then they all raise their hands and show dental work to the audience while the band jumps up and starts applauding. The audience is going, what the hell was that? Don’t know if he got the gig in Atlantic City, but I haven’t seen or heard of him since. I got plenty stories. Like the lounge pianist who couldn’t keep his hands off the passengers’ daughters but almost never got caught (he’d'a gotten beached), the single females wanting a Love Boat experience with the musicians (my wedding ring was no more a deterrent than spreading honey around a picnic spot keeps away ants), the new MD forgetting to play walk-on music (even though he’d played the gig as a sideman for weeks), the fake dog thrown overboard but no one knew it was a fake pooch, the occasional passengers venting their bigotry of other passengers or crew not knowing I was crew myself. Oh yah, I got a few stories.
Response:
>Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the >identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story.
Well dont leave us in hanging, tell it
Response:
I also encountered a sample of the same substance when I worked for Royal Viking Line, but it wasn’t a "phantom" who left it, it was just a poor man who got incredibly sick. Fortunately for him, he was in a very uncrowded part of the ship during the dinner hour when it happened, but I don’t know why he headed for this room instead of back to his cabin. While I worked on the same ship I was walking outside the dining room when I saw a female passenger who had obviously just left the restroom. Her formal gown was caught in her pantyhose waistline in the back. I "ahemed" loudly and when she turned around I pointed discretely to my back. She just started at me quizzically for a long time until I did a little "your ass is showing" dance for her. Then she reached behind her and discovered her em-BARE-ASS-ment and proceded to fix it. Paul Motter www.cruisemates.com
Response:
Mike: I can safely say that it wasn’t my dog. : ) However, as the human partner of a service dog team, I can tell you that when I was paired with Heidi I signed an agreement with the program that trained her. In the simplest terms, it states that I agree to give her the proper care, food, etc. and to represent the program in the most positive light possible. There was a specific portion with regard to how the dog (and I) are to "behave" in public. She is to wear her vest and leash, no inappropriate sniffing, etc. If she has an accident, she is my dog, I’m supposed to clean it up. This lead to much angst among the crew on the first cruise we took her on. Most members of a cruise ship crew cannot fathom a passenger willing to clean a carpet. I find it hard to believe that any human partner would leave that there. I guessing it was human.
Response:
Was this the ship that no longer provided bathrooms in the staterooms? (hilarious typo from a review some weeks back) What a story! And on Seabourn no less. This one’s going to be hard to top, Howard. Ben S. (thinks the Sun’s shops ran out of Depends) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences > that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: > Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. > On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my > way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting > odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in > the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first > thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." > When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was > waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my > tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced > me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the > purser’s desk. > I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." > Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" > I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." > Reply: "Are they sick?" > I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." > The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. > The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while > walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a > pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the > purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. > Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the > identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. > Howard
Response:
Okay, Howard. Who was phantom shitter??? Babette
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences > that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: > Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. > On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my > way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting > odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in > the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first > thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." > When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was > waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my > tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced > me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the > purser’s desk. > I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." > Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" > I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." > Reply: "Are they sick?" > I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." > The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. > The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while > walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a > pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the > purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. > Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the > identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. > Howard
i can only assume it was a seeing eye dog or some other related helping animal. —Mike Savad — <—> Mike’s Photosig Page –> http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050 Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page – http://www.savad.0catch.com/ Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page 2 – http://www.pbase.com/savad Mike’s Stained Glass –> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/1141/ <–Stained Glass Tips
Response:
I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the purser’s desk. I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." Reply: "Are they sick?" I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. Howard
Response:
I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the purser’s desk. I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." Reply: "Are they sick?" I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. Howard
Response:
Was this the ship that no longer provided bathrooms in the staterooms? (hilarious typo from a review some weeks back) What a story! And on Seabourn no less. This one’s going to be hard to top, Howard. Ben S. (thinks the Sun’s shops ran out of Depends) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences > that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: > Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. > On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my > way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting > odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in > the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first > thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." > When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was > waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my > tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced > me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the > purser’s desk. > I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." > Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" > I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." > Reply: "Are they sick?" > I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." > The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. > The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while > walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a > pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the > purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. > Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the > identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. > Howard
Response:
Okay, Howard. Who was phantom shitter??? Babette
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences > that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: > Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. > On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my > way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting > odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in > the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first > thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." > When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was > waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my > tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced > me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the > purser’s desk. > I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." > Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" > I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." > Reply: "Are they sick?" > I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." > The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. > The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while > walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a > pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the > purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. > Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the > identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. > Howard
i can only assume it was a seeing eye dog or some other related helping animal. —Mike Savad — <—> Mike’s Photosig Page –> http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050 Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page – http://www.savad.0catch.com/ Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page 2 – http://www.pbase.com/savad Mike’s Stained Glass –> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/1141/ <–Stained Glass Tips
Response:
>Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the >identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story.
Well dont leave us in hanging, tell it
Response:
I also encountered a sample of the same substance when I worked for Royal Viking Line, but it wasn’t a "phantom" who left it, it was just a poor man who got incredibly sick. Fortunately for him, he was in a very uncrowded part of the ship during the dinner hour when it happened, but I don’t know why he headed for this room instead of back to his cabin. While I worked on the same ship I was walking outside the dining room when I saw a female passenger who had obviously just left the restroom. Her formal gown was caught in her pantyhose waistline in the back. I "ahemed" loudly and when she turned around I pointed discretely to my back. She just started at me quizzically for a long time until I did a little "your ass is showing" dance for her. Then she reached behind her and discovered her em-BARE-ASS-ment and proceded to fix it. Paul Motter www.cruisemates.com
Response:
Mike: I can safely say that it wasn’t my dog. : ) However, as the human partner of a service dog team, I can tell you that when I was paired with Heidi I signed an agreement with the program that trained her. In the simplest terms, it states that I agree to give her the proper care, food, etc. and to represent the program in the most positive light possible. There was a specific portion with regard to how the dog (and I) are to "behave" in public. She is to wear her vest and leash, no inappropriate sniffing, etc. If she has an accident, she is my dog, I’m supposed to clean it up. This lead to much angst among the crew on the first cruise we took her on. Most members of a cruise ship crew cannot fathom a passenger willing to clean a carpet. I find it hard to believe that any human partner would leave that there. I guessing it was human.
Response:
Oh, c’mon . . . you can’t keep us hanging like this! Do tell? Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences >that rtc readers have had on cruises. Here is one of mine: >Eileen and I were on a 19 day Atlantic crossing of the Seabourn Sun. >On day 4 of this cruise, I stepped into one of the rear elevators on my >way to dinner. When the doors closed I was overcome with a disgusting >odor. I looked down and found that someone had left a pile of feces in >the center of the elevator. I was alone in the elevator and my first >thought was "what if the doors open and someone thinks that I did this." > When the elevator stopped, I was relieved to find that no one was >waiting there to board. I rushed to dinner and quickly told my >tablemates what I had encountered. After some laughing, they convinced >me to report this to purser’s desk. I left the table and went to the >purser’s desk. >I stated: "Someone has had an accident in one of the rear elevators." >Reply: "Have they fallen? Are they hurt?" >I stated: "No, not that kind of accident." >Reply: "Are they sick?" >I stated: "There is a pile of shit in the elevator." >The expression of horror on the desk clerks face was indescribable. >The next evening, one of the women at our table reported that while >walking in the corridor outside her stateroom, she also encountered a >pile of shit. She went on to tell us that when she reported this to the >purser’s desk, her conversation went pretty much like mine had. >Before the first week of this cruise was over, we had discovered the >identity of this fantom shitter; but that is a whole other story. >Howard
__ /7__/7__/7__ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::… http://www.cupcaked.com (…and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)
Response:
> I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences > that rtc readers have had on cruises.
Oh, I got a few–here’s two about the same fellow (names withheld): While playing music in the orchestra on the Sensy, there was a magician who had the regular formal night gig in the auditorium. He was pretty good, but after seeing the show a few times I’d figured out how he did his magic. It wasn’t obvious, he was pretty good, but you notice little details here and there. Well, I remarked on this in the crew bar one night to my fellow musicians (never would I comment on a show in front of the passengers). Someone must have overheard and reported me, because the next week he was on, he told the CD to compel all the performers who had any contact with his show (stage crew, musicians, dancers, etc.) to sign a confidentiality statement; forbidding us from ever discussing his show in any manner shape or form. I figure, o-kay, it’s not legally binding and he ought to trust us, but what the hey. Like someone’s cruise would be ruined by them figuring out that the girl didn’t actually turn into a bowl of fruit or whatever. The other story happened toward the end of my contract on the ship. Same magician got a chance to audition for an Atlantic City stage show and needed to send them a video of him on the job. The MD (Musical Director) called us in and explained the deal, which included us leading the audience in a standing ovation at the conclusion of his biggest illusion. We laughed, saying, "He should earn an SO like the rest of us," but again, what the hey. So the show goes well and at the very end, a dancer is supposed to jump out of a trick box, with a flourish. The dancer was a guy in drag and if it had worked would have been kind of funny I suppose, but what happened was as he was jumping out, his long sequined evening gown got caught on a nail in the box, so a graceful leap was out of the question–he’s lucky he didn’t bang his head on the lid tripping over the caught gown! He tried to jerk it loose, but it just snagged itself tighter. The audience and the video cameras are recording all this, remember. Finally, the magician comes over with a big smile and tries to rip the thing loose in a manly show of strength. Unfortunately, and I think the women who wear sequined outfits know this already, those suckers don’t rip easily and definitely not across a seam. So you got two or three people tugging on this bright blue sequined dress worn by a guy, under the lights and camera’s eye, the band playing on, and faces are getting red and not just from the exertion if you know what I mean. Finally, with one big tug they rip a hole in the dress and free the poor fellow, then they all raise their hands and show dental work to the audience while the band jumps up and starts applauding. The audience is going, what the hell was that? Don’t know if he got the gig in Atlantic City, but I haven’t seen or heard of him since. I got plenty stories. Like the lounge pianist who couldn’t keep his hands off the passengers’ daughters but almost never got caught (he’d'a gotten beached), the single females wanting a Love Boat experience with the musicians (my wedding ring was no more a deterrent than spreading honey around a picnic spot keeps away ants), the new MD forgetting to play walk-on music (even though he’d played the gig as a sideman for weeks), the fake dog thrown overboard but no one knew it was a fake pooch, the occasional passengers venting their bigotry of other passengers or crew not knowing I was crew myself. Oh yah, I got a few stories.
Response:
Now, that’s funny! Howard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I also encountered a sample of the same substance when I worked for > Royal Viking Line, but it wasn’t a "phantom" who left it, it was just > a poor man who got incredibly sick. Fortunately for him, he was in a > very uncrowded part of the ship during the dinner hour when it > happened, but I don’t know why he headed for this room instead of back > to his cabin. > While I worked on the same ship I was walking outside the dining room > when I saw a female passenger who had obviously just left the > restroom. Her formal gown was caught in her pantyhose waistline in the > back. I "ahemed" loudly and when she turned around I pointed > discretely to my back. She just started at me quizzically for a long > time until I did a little "your ass is showing" dance for her. Then > she reached behind her and discovered her em-BARE-ASS-ment and > proceded to fix it. > Paul Motter > www.cruisemates.com
Response:
You asked for it. So here goes. Let me begin by describing the typical passenger(s) on the Seabourn Sun. Most passengers were married and a surprisingly large number of married couples included a husband of about 75 to 85 years old and a very well preserved (through plastic surgery, exercise, cosmetics, etc.) 60 to 65 year old wife. Half of the 700 passengers were Brittish and half of these literally spoke the "Queens English". The general atmosphere on this ship was friendly but very reserved. Many of the passengers had sailed numerous times on the ship and one couple whom we befriended occupied the penthouse suite for four months every year. This particular couple actually left their clothing on the ship year round. The highlight of the day for most passengers was "team trivia", played every day at noon. Most of the crew were holdovers from the Royal Viking Sun. Some very important priorities for this ship included order, politeness, and CONSISTENCY. I have two examples: 1. One night after dinner, a group of passengers stayed around the piano that was played outside the dining room. When they began to sing along with the pianist, they were quickly and politely silenced by the cruise director. 2. On the eveing that I discovered and reported the shit (about 8:00 PM), the elevator involved was taken out of commission until after midnight. This was not because it took them four hours to clean and fumigate. Rather, it was because the shit was located on on a removable piece of carpet in the middle of the elevator on which the day of the week was embossed. It seems they only had enough daily maps for each elevator. Thus, rather than confuse the guests for four hours with the wrong day in this elevator, they decided to take it our of service for four hours. Back to the fantom shitter. Two days afer I discovered the shit, I was again in the elevator alone on my way to the dining room. (Eileen is an addicted gambler and when we are not dining, dancing, sleeping or romancing, she can always be found in the casino). When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long blue satin evening gloves on her arms. When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it was stated) whenever she lost a hand. That night, I witnessed the scene firsthad in the casino. I even got Eileen to look away from her video poker machine for a few minutes. Within days this woman had become the talk of the ship. And she was obviously the fantom shitter, because she had both motive (she was completely insane) and opportunity (she never wore underwear). By the second week of the cruise, she was banned from entering the casino. The story continues. On day 13 or 14, we arrived in Casablanca. The 100 year old man got very sick and was taken to the hospital. His devoted wife was quoted as stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to snort the stuff. She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin (there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. So that’s the true story.
Response:
>You asked for it. So here goes.
I don’t think anyone can beat that story, Howard!
Response:
>When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to >face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid >thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather >miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long >blue satin evening gloves on her arms.
Yikes! What a story that is. I think the ship you were on was the consummate clincher. Your description of the ‘typical" Royal Viking Sun/ Seabourn cruiser was important. Karen __ /7__/7__/7__ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::… http://www.cupcaked.com (…and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)
Response:
You have absolutely got to be kidding! This is the most outrageous behavior I have ever heard of! (Of course I mean the closing of the elevator, not the "woman":) My inlaws would be very proud of the crew not disturbing the consistency of routine, in order to open the elevator. Shauna
Response:
Love your stories and would love to hear more. Howard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I would like to hear about the most outrageous or bizarre experiences >that rtc readers have had on cruises. > Oh, I got a few–here’s two about the same fellow (names withheld): > While playing music in the orchestra on the Sensy, there was a magician who > had the regular formal night gig in the auditorium. He was pretty good, but > after seeing the show a few times I’d figured out how he did his magic. It > wasn’t obvious, he was pretty good, but you notice little details here and > there. Well, I remarked on this in the crew bar one night to my fellow > musicians (never would I comment on a show in front of the passengers). > Someone must have overheard and reported me, because the next week he was > on, he told the CD to compel all the performers who had any contact with his > show (stage crew, musicians, dancers, etc.) to sign a confidentiality > statement; forbidding us from ever discussing his show in any manner shape > or form. I figure, o-kay, it’s not legally binding and he ought to trust > us, but what the hey. Like someone’s cruise would be ruined by them > figuring out that the girl didn’t actually turn into a bowl of fruit or > whatever. > The other story happened toward the end of my contract on the ship. Same > magician got a chance to audition for an Atlantic City stage show and needed > to send them a video of him on the job. The MD (Musical Director) called us > in and explained the deal, which included us leading the audience in a > standing ovation at the conclusion of his biggest illusion. We laughed, > saying, "He should earn an SO like the rest of us," but again, what the hey. > So the show goes well and at the very end, a dancer is supposed to jump out > of a trick box, with a flourish. The dancer was a guy in drag and if it had > worked would have been kind of funny I suppose, but what happened was as he > was jumping out, his long sequined evening gown got caught on a nail in the > box, so a graceful leap was out of the question–he’s lucky he didn’t bang > his head on the lid tripping over the caught gown! He tried to jerk it > loose, but it just snagged itself tighter. The audience and the video > cameras are recording all this, remember. Finally, the magician comes over > with a big smile and tries to rip the thing loose in a manly show of > strength. Unfortunately, and I think the women who wear sequined outfits > know this already, those suckers don’t rip easily and definitely not across > a seam. So you got two or three people tugging on this bright blue sequined > dress worn by a guy, under the lights and camera’s eye, the band playing on, > and faces are getting red and not just from the exertion if you know what I > mean. Finally, with one big tug they rip a hole in the dress and free the > poor fellow, then they all raise their hands and show dental work to the > audience while the band jumps up and starts applauding. The audience is > going, what the hell was that? > Don’t know if he got the gig in Atlantic City, but I haven’t seen or heard > of him since. > I got plenty stories. Like the lounge pianist who couldn’t keep his hands > off the passengers’ daughters but almost never got caught (he’d'a gotten > beached), the single females wanting a Love Boat experience with the > musicians (my wedding ring was no more a deterrent than spreading honey > around a picnic spot keeps away ants), the new MD forgetting to play walk-on > music (even though he’d played the gig as a sideman for weeks), the fake dog > thrown overboard but no one knew it was a fake pooch, the occasional > passengers venting their bigotry of other passengers or crew not knowing I > was crew myself. Oh yah, I got a few stories.
Response:
I am abolutely not kidding. They closed the damn elevator until they could change the mat to the correct day of the week. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > You have absolutely got to be kidding! This is the most outrageous behavior > I have ever heard of! (Of course I mean the closing of the elevator, not > the "woman":) > My inlaws would be very proud of the crew not disturbing the consistency of > routine, in order to open the elevator. > Shauna
Response:
I have heard it all now What a story. — Gordon Join us on Arline’s MGC-2003 http://www.mgc2003.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You asked for it. So here goes. > Let me begin by describing the typical passenger(s) on the Seabourn Sun. > Most passengers were married and a surprisingly large number of > married couples included a husband of about 75 to 85 years old and a > very well preserved (through plastic surgery, exercise, cosmetics, etc.) > 60 to 65 year old wife. Half of the 700 passengers were Brittish and > half of these literally spoke the "Queens English". > The general atmosphere on this ship was friendly but very reserved. Many > of the passengers had sailed numerous times on the ship and one couple > whom we befriended occupied the penthouse suite for four months every > year. This particular couple actually left their clothing on the ship > year round. The highlight of the day for most passengers was "team > trivia", played every day at noon. > Most of the crew were holdovers from the Royal Viking Sun. Some very > important priorities for this ship included order, politeness, and > CONSISTENCY. I have two examples: > 1. One night after dinner, a group of passengers stayed around the piano > that was played outside the dining room. When they began to sing along > with the pianist, they were quickly and politely silenced by the cruise > director. > 2. On the eveing that I discovered and reported the shit (about 8:00 > PM), the elevator involved was taken out of commission until after > midnight. This was not because it took them four hours to clean and > fumigate. Rather, it was because the shit was located on on a removable > piece of carpet in the middle of the elevator on which the day of the > week was embossed. It seems they only had enough daily maps for each > elevator. Thus, rather than confuse the guests for four hours with the > wrong day in this elevator, they decided to take it our of service for > four hours. > Back to the fantom shitter. > Two days afer I discovered the shit, I was again in the elevator alone > on my way to the dining room. (Eileen is an addicted gambler and when we > are not dining, dancing, sleeping or romancing, she can always be found > in the casino). When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to > face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid > thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather > miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long > blue satin evening gloves on her arms. > When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were > actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew > exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was > married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the > ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the > dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that > every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack > table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year > old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and > she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it > was stated) whenever she lost a hand. > That night, I witnessed the scene firsthad in the casino. I even got > Eileen to look away from her video poker machine for a few minutes. > Within days this woman had become the talk of the ship. And she was > obviously the fantom shitter, because she had both motive (she was > completely insane) and opportunity (she never wore underwear). By the > second week of the cruise, she was banned from entering the casino. > The story continues. > On day 13 or 14, we arrived in Casablanca. The 100 year old man got > very sick and was taken to the hospital. His devoted wife was quoted as > stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with > him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was > reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror > from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to > snort the stuff. > She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin > (there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six > days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door > and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the > guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. > So that’s the true story.
Response:
>She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin >(there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six >days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door >and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the >guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us.
Damn and I thought Baby could be bad.
Response:
Wow Howard! So you actually got to meet Anne Nicole Smith? <LOL> Jim > You asked for it. So here goes.
<<SNIP>> When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid > thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather > miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long > blue satin evening gloves on her arms. > When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were > actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew > exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was > married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the > ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the > dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that > every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack > table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year > old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and > she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it > was stated) whenever she lost a hand.
<<SNIP>>>
Response:
Lordie! And, they call CARNIVAL the "party ships!" Yikes. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >His devoted wife was quoted as >stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with >him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was >reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror >from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to >snort the stuff. >She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin >(there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six >days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door >and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the >guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. >So that’s the true story.
Response:
"When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long blue satin evening gloves on her arms". Quick! Sign her up for Shipmates! <grin>
Response:
Howard and Eileen, Living in Philadelphia all my life I became friendly with Ken and Elaine Garland. Ken was a radio personality who did wonderful things for our business before he died, and his wife, Elaine is best remembered for her role in the Rabbi Fred Neulander murder trial. In spite of that, they were our friends, and Fred Neulander was our rabbi for most of my child’s formulative life. Forget all of that. We want to cruise with you guys because we need people who can excuse any kind of $hit. — DG in Cherry Hill, NJ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You asked for it. So here goes. > Let me begin by describing the typical passenger(s) on the Seabourn Sun. > Most passengers were married and a surprisingly large number of > married couples included a husband of about 75 to 85 years old and a > very well preserved (through plastic surgery, exercise, cosmetics, etc.) > 60 to 65 year old wife. Half of the 700 passengers were Brittish and > half of these literally spoke the "Queens English". > The general atmosphere on this ship was friendly but very reserved. Many > of the passengers had sailed numerous times on the ship and one couple > whom we befriended occupied the penthouse suite for four months every > year. This particular couple actually left their clothing on the ship > year round. The highlight of the day for most passengers was "team > trivia", played every day at noon. > Most of the crew were holdovers from the Royal Viking Sun. Some very > important priorities for this ship included order, politeness, and > CONSISTENCY. I have two examples: > 1. One night after dinner, a group of passengers stayed around the piano > that was played outside the dining room. When they began to sing along > with the pianist, they were quickly and politely silenced by the cruise > director. > 2. On the eveing that I discovered and reported the shit (about 8:00 > PM), the elevator involved was taken out of commission until after > midnight. This was not because it took them four hours to clean and > fumigate. Rather, it was because the shit was located on on a removable > piece of carpet in the middle of the elevator on which the day of the > week was embossed. It seems they only had enough daily maps for each > elevator. Thus, rather than confuse the guests for four hours with the > wrong day in this elevator, they decided to take it our of service for > four hours. > Back to the fantom shitter. > Two days afer I discovered the shit, I was again in the elevator alone > on my way to the dining room. (Eileen is an addicted gambler and when we > are not dining, dancing, sleeping or romancing, she can always be found > in the casino). When the elevator doors opened, I found myself face to > face with this woman (or perhaps a man I thought). She was in her mid > thirties, very tall, and butt ugly. She was dressed in a black leather > miniskirt, a red halter made of ostrich feathers, and she donned long > blue satin evening gloves on her arms. > When I described her to my tablemates, one of the couples who were > actually the bridge instructors on the ship, indicated that they knew > exactly who I was talking about. They stated that this woman was > married to a 100 year old man whom she had met one year earlier on the > ship. They went on to tell me how mean she was to this guy and how the > dealers in the casino had complained about her behavior. It seems that > every night, she would come to the casino and and sit at a blackjack > table with one leg thrown over the lap of her wheelchair bound, 100 year > old husband. The dealers reported that she never wore any underwear and > she cursed like a truck driver (sorry for the cliche but that’s how it > was stated) whenever she lost a hand. > That night, I witnessed the scene firsthad in the casino. I even got > Eileen to look away from her video poker machine for a few minutes. > Within days this woman had become the talk of the ship. And she was > obviously the fantom shitter, because she had both motive (she was > completely insane) and opportunity (she never wore underwear). By the > second week of the cruise, she was banned from entering the casino. > The story continues. > On day 13 or 14, we arrived in Casablanca. The 100 year old man got > very sick and was taken to the hospital. His devoted wife was quoted as > stating that there was "no fucking way she was staying in Morocco with > him". She got back on the ship by herself. That same evening, it was > reported that during dinner in the dining room, she removed a mirror > from her purse, ran three lines of cocaine on the mirror, and began to > snort the stuff. > She was immediately put under house arrest and locked in her cabin > (there is no brig on the Seabourn Sun). For the remaining five or six > days of this cruise, she spent hours on end, kicking her stateroom door > and cursing at the top of her lungs. This was very disturbing for the > guests who occupied nearby cabins but very amusing for the rest of us. > So that’s the true story.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mike: > I can safely say that it wasn’t my dog. : ) > However, as the human partner of a service dog team, I can tell you > that when I was paired with Heidi I signed an agreement with the > program that trained her. In the simplest terms, it states that I > agree to give her the proper care, food, etc. and to represent the > program in the most positive light possible. > There was a specific portion with regard to how the dog (and I) are to > "behave" in public. She is to wear her vest and leash, no > inappropriate sniffing, etc. If she has an accident, she is my dog, > I’m supposed to clean it up. This lead to much angst among the crew > on the first cruise we took her on. Most members of a cruise ship > crew cannot fathom a passenger willing to clean a carpet. > I find it hard to believe that any human partner would leave that > there. I guessing it was human.
i was wondering how you do clean up after her. i know you can teach a dog alot of neat tricks – but can you teach her to sit on a toilet? or is there a pan in the bathroom? —Mike Savad — <—> Mike’s Photosig Page –> http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050 Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page – http://www.savad.0catch.com/ Mike’s Canon Powershot Pro90 IS –> Photo Page 2 – http://www.pbase.com/savad Mike’s Stained Glass –> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/1141/ <–Stained Glass Tips
Response:
…and my wife can’t understand why I am addicted to RTC! I just printed out your story to show her. Maybe now she will understand. – Steve B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You asked for it. So here goes.
Response:
I printed it out as well. lived in the Phila area most of my life. Thanks for a great story.
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Question:
>Really? Day 7 and 8 were the first time I’d been that long without a smoke >since I was 17. Intellectually, yes, I know it’s tough. Viscerally, ain’t >been there in a while, and am surprised at how it feels.
Hi DG, you are doing fine. You are making a lot of experience right now. Try to learn from that experience. Make something different. You have the right to learn from your experience. Your efforts weren’t for nothing. And YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUCCEED. Make yourself clear that you are in no way different than other quitters, who seem to be more successful. You just didn’t find the right way yet. Please read the post of ddsteve i reposted about fear of discomfort "Reposts about inner dialogs …). Could be of help to you. Learn from your experience and you will make a huge step forward. Good Luck Karl
Response:
> >Sandie, you are absolutely right! I did take Peter’s comments personally, >and perhaps I shouldn’t have. If he was using reverse psychology, it >certainly was effective. >I ought to thank him. >*waves to Peter* Thanks, Buddy!! >DG >face completely straight > You’ll be fine. > wb. > — > Lemming > Curiosity *may* have killed Schr
Question:
2 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring For Sale My new wife has a beautiful diamond ring from a previous marriage. The ring was appraised in 1991 by B. C. Clark Jewelers, Tulsa OK. The description reads: "Ladies 18K yellow gold diamond wedding ring. Ring contains one (1) marquis center diamond weighing 82/100 carats, plus fine white in color and minus very slight internal inclusions. Center diamond is flanked on each side by six (6) channel set marquis diamonds, total weight 1.2 carats, fine white color with very slight internal inclusions. Total weight 2.02 carats. Est replacement value: $10,145." And that was in 1991. Now that she is married to me, she would like to sell this ring. She is asking $5500.00. This really is a beautiful ring. The kind people stare at and compliment. When I proposed to my wife, I went though the whole ring purchasing experience. Now I wish I had explored this avenue (buying from someone else) as I could have saved an awful lot of money. If this ring might be of interest, drop me an email and I will send back pictures and a copy of the appraisal report. regards Dale, Houston TX
Response:
SPAMMER Ron Ng Knows!
Response:
You might have better luck selling it on ebay with a picture – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > 2 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring For Sale > My new wife has a beautiful diamond ring from a previous marriage. The ring > was appraised in 1991 by B. C. Clark Jewelers, Tulsa OK. The description > reads: "Ladies 18K yellow gold diamond wedding ring. Ring contains one (1) > marquis center diamond weighing 82/100 carats, plus fine white in color and > minus very slight internal inclusions. Center diamond is flanked on each > side by six (6) channel set marquis diamonds, total weight 1.2 carats, fine > white color with very slight internal inclusions. Total weight 2.02 carats. > Est replacement value: $10,145." And that was in 1991. > Now that she is married to me, she would like to sell this ring. > She is asking $5500.00. > This really is a beautiful ring. The kind people stare at and compliment. > When I proposed to my wife, I went though the whole ring purchasing > experience. Now I wish I had explored this avenue (buying from someone else) > as I could have saved an awful lot of money. > If this ring might be of interest, drop me an email and I will send back > pictures and a copy of the appraisal report. > regards > Dale, Houston TX
Response:
Question:
Just because you’re not capable of picking a mate who doesn’t have her values straight, doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t. Why are you in a wedding-related newsgroup anyway??? You’re not getting married, remember? —
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Does anyone know if pearls or any other stones are considered to be bad luck > if worn by the bride? > thanks in advance > nw > www.net-weddings.net > The on-line wedding services directory > Since most weddings end in a divorce a few years later, I think it’s > safe to say that DIAMONDS (on engagement rings) are bad luck.
Response:
Does anyone know if pearls or any other stones are considered to be bad luck if worn by the bride? thanks in advance nw www.net-weddings.net The on-line wedding services directory
Response:
> Does anyone know if pearls or any other stones are considered to be bad luck > if worn by the bride? > thanks in advance > nw
Opals are reputed to be unlucky. but that has more to do with the fragility of the stone than anything else, FWIH. Otherwise, most precious or semi-precious gems are okay. — aMAZon "It’s never too late to have a happy childhood."
Response:
>Opals are reputed to be unlucky. but that has more to do with the >fragility of the stone than anything else
The Opal is also considered unlucky if it is not the birthstone of the wearer. As an October baby that is what I have always been told anyway. Ashley
Response:
> The Opal is also considered unlucky if it is not the birthstone of the > wearer. As an October baby that is what I have always been told anyway.
Ditto. I’ve always been told the same thing.
Response:
> Does anyone know if pearls or any other stones are considered to be bad luck > if worn by the bride? > thanks in advance > nw
I’ve heard superstitions that pearls mean tears, opals are unlucky if they aren’t your birthstone, and that emeralds are soft and fragile. I’d ignore the first two and ask a reputable jeweler about the last one. gloria p who isn’t superstitious
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> I’ve heard superstitions that pearls mean tears, > opals are unlucky if they aren’t your birthstone, > and that emeralds are soft and fragile. > I’d ignore the first two and ask a reputable jeweler > about the last one.
Opals and pearls are also fairly delicate stones. Personally, I wouldn’t want to chance them for a ring meant for daily wear, unless the setting was highly protective of the jewels. Best wishes, Ericka
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> Does anyone know if pearls or any other stones are considered to be bad luck > if worn by the bride? > thanks in advance > nw > www.net-weddings.net > The on-line wedding services directory
Since most weddings end in a divorce a few years later, I think it’s safe to say that DIAMONDS (on engagement rings) are bad luck.
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credit. Write it off as garbage removal.
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Let me tell you this from someone who did "everything right" for > someone he thought loved him. > I did the whole "two months" salary as a guide baloney. I really went > over the top and paid over $9,000 for a Hearts-On-Fire diamond > engagement ring. This ring was made of platinum, and had princess-cut > baguettes on either side. > She said "yes", and everything was right with the world – right? > Wrong. It wasn’t two months before she started "complaining" that the > f——- ring wasn’t big enough. The total carat weight was over 1 > carat, but the center stone was only something like .85 carats. Now, > most people probably don’t know about Hearts-On-Fire diamonds. They > are designer diamonds (they have a web page), that are cut perfectly > so that they really sparkle like no other diamond. Really, the > marketing isn’t BS. The diamonds really shine, and are of a very good > quality. She received raving compliments about the ring – it had a > platinum band, diamond baguettes, and a Hearts-On-Fire center stone. > It is an understatement to say that it sparkled like crazy. > Why didn’t she like it? Well, it was "too small." She really had her > heart set on at least a 1.5 carat ring, she told me. And, she also > told me that her friends rings were all much larger and she felt > second-rate. Never mind the fact that her friends rings didn’t have > 10% the sparkle that her Hearts-On-Fire ring had, it just wasn’t as > big as theirs and there was no way in changing her mind about it. > So, what happened, you are probably wondering? I called off the > engagement, took the ring, and sold it on eBay for $3,500. > To the guys: My advice is this: buy a moissanite ring (she probably > won’t know the difference). Or, buy a giant rock that is of very poor > quality. They really don’t care about the quality of the rock. Guys > tend to shop for quality rocks. Girls only want a big stone. > And, if she ever complains about the rock — TAKE THE RING AND RUN FOR
Sorry you had to go through all of that but at least you found out how materialistic she was *before* marrying her. And, you’re very lucky to have gotten the ring back. As I understand it (legally, in CA anyway) she could have kept it as you were the one that called it off. The same thing happened to a good friend of mine. Bought a nice ring, she said it’s too small, they fought about it for about a week, he called it off and she kept the ring. I myself don’t want a ring at all and my fianc
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