Sisterhood of the "Traveling Pee Your Pants" - the journey's end

Our last two port days were in Nassau and Freeport, Bahamas. I had been to both of these ports twice before, as had Sissy, but M3 had never been either place. Of course...we had to show her the straw market...there isn't much else to do...or see...in Nassau.

On the walk towards the market, we went in and out of a few shops searching for trinkets to take home. I did find some cute necklaces and bracelets for the girls. The littlebird girls are always easy to shop for. Years ago, every time we (my honey and I) traveled, we would go to the local Hard Rock Cafe and get the girls and Will a teeshirt. After one trip one of them "suggested" we get them something else besides the famous teeshirts. They were certain they had plenty! LOL!

Will and Lex always present a problem for me. Will has such a unique taste that I never quite know what to get when it comes to shirts and such...and my honey is always telling me he has too many teeshirts...so there went that idea. My honey also sent me with explicit instructions NOT to buy him any wooden mugs at the straw market. Dang...I had hoped to get him a full set this trip! ;)

So, my choices were limited...very limited...unless I wanted to buy them each a Coach knock-off. Now the upside to that would be that they would not want them and would give them back to me!

So, I bought Will a shotglass with some Bahama slang on it....and my honey...are you ready for this??...the only thing you can buy the guy who has everything...the guy who does not want teeshirts...or wooden mugs...are you ready???...a genuine...handmade...magnatized...bottle opener for the mancave!!! Wow...was he excited!! LOL!!

The next day we arrived in Freeport...where we had determined we would spend the day on the beach. M3 had insisted that the only thing she wanted to do on this trip was go to the beach...so off we went.

Now...I love the ocean...I mean I really love the ocean. The ocean excites all of my senses...all at once...the smell of the ocean...the sound of the waves crashing against the shore...the breathtaking view of a horizon that seems so vast...the taste of the salt water (hmmm...not sure about this one)...and last but not least...the feel of the warm sand between my toes.

On this beach, however, my senses were overloaded with...the smell of diesel fuel...the loud rumbling sound...and ungodly sight...of one of several tour boats parked directly in front of us for the ENTIRE time we were plopped on the beach. At one point M3 was almost plowed over as she stood knee-deep in the water moving back toward shore slowly...then more quickly...then at a more determined and focused pace...as the stupid boat continued to come to shore at the exact spot where she was standing. I wish I had a video...priceless!

Then there were the vendors selling...of course...beautiful handmade jewelry...and "ocean shells" (not sure what other kind there are)...and teeshirts with a "lifetime guarantee"! Now I wonder...how would one go about returning one of these teeshirts if dissatisfied? What are the chances of finding the exact vendor who sold it to you...and one with a photographic memory who would remember you because he was not handing out any receipts here people.

We returned to the ship...quite worn out after our big beach day...and decided to hang out in the room for a while...order up some room service...and chill. We unanimously chose one thing on the menu...PB&J with a glass of milk. Perfect end to a perfect day!

All of these are memories we will rehash again and again over the next 50 years while we go on many future "senior citizen" sponsored bus trips, cruises, and all-inclusives. I say "senior citizen" because...a) we are all "seniors" and of course "citizens"...b) we will need a tour guide in the future to help us plan our excursions as we seem to have had some difficulty in this area...c) they always give you name tags so you don't forget who you are, where you are going, and the name tags are a "free pass" that get you back on the ship...no need for all that other identifications stuff that we can't remember to take with us!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pee Your Pants...three sisters...three friends...forever!

Sisterhood of the Traveling "Pee Your Pants" - part 4

So...we are still cruising. I did not realize how long it took to get from Baltimore to Florida...but on this cruise ship it was 3 days!

The day after my birthday (day 3 of the slow cruise to FL) was a quiet...do nothing...relax all day...read...sit by the pool...play Bingo...and teach my sisters a card game - PHASE 10. (I will mention here that when my family first moved to MN we spent every Sunday night enjoying family game night...and we played a LOT of these types of card games. This particular one is littlebird Will's LEAST favorite. I can't play it without thinking of him. Love you, buddy!)

We must have been a little "stir crazy" because as we sat sipping our drink of the day, sunning on the deck (maybe it was heat stroke) we came up with new nicknames for the three of us. I know...it seems silly...but we sat there giggling about it anyway. We decided that from this day forward we would be known as "CMP"...you know...just as sweet as the sundae with the same name...Cocoa (Chocolate) Carol...Marshmallow Marcia...and Peanut Patty. Three middle-aged women...laughing our butts off...another "had to be there...pee your pants moment"!

So..."anywho"...we finally did arrive in Port Canaveral, FL. Now, M3 had never been to Universal Studios, so we had decided before we set sail that when in FL we would do the park...CMP style. The cruise line offered a package deal...tickets and bus ride...but M3 said she could get us tickets through her work for a great price...and Sissy said that the park was only about a 1/2 hour ride from the port. So...we got our great priced-2 park-tickets and got off the ship thinking we would just catch a shuttle or cab for the short ride. We hailed a cab...and once on our way was told the ride was a little over an hour! Long story short...we ended up paying a "little" more than what the cost of the package deal was, but had a great chauffeur, Roger the cab driver!

We headed to Universal's Islands of Adventure park first...as we had to experience the kid in each of us. Our first ride was a "raft ride" called Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barge. I had been on this ride with my kids several years ago, and remembered what a blast we had...and how wet we had gotten. I guess I did not emphasize the WET part. Sissy and M3 were not prepared for the drenching we received!! It took us the rest of the day to dry thoroughly. I actually went in the ladies room, removed my shorts and rung them out! M3 tried to dry hers with the hand dryer. On this very hot Florida day it was refreshing, that's for sure!

Our favorite ride in this park, however, was The Cat in the Hat. We were so inspired that we bought teeshirts to commemorate the day!



After a few more fun experiences in the "kiddy park" we wandered around in circles trying to find our way out. After three times circling the park we finally pulled out our map and found the exit to head towards the other park...Universal Studios. Here we again each chose a ride to experience. All day I had been stressing the fact that I did not do roller coasters. I was more than willing to sit down in the shade somewhere while the sisters enjoyed their thrill ride...but roller coasters are not my thing...and you weren't getting me on one. Yeah...right.

We assisted the "Men in Black" but of course had the lowest points for alien attacks of the people in our car. We helped E.T. get home on the "E.T. Adventure". We took a boat ride in Amity and was attacked by "Jaws". And then there was the last ride..."Revenge of the Mummy". Now anyone that knows me knows that I do not do scary. I don't like monsters and such...but the sisters insisted that this was not scary. Uh..huh. This was also a roller coaster, but Sissy insisted it was a "very mild coaster". When do I stop believing what she tells me???? Hadn't I already learned my lesson with the "1/2 hour ride from the port to the park"?

As we are weaving in and out of this very dark maze while in line the room is filled with creepy-looking creatures. Nope...not liking this at all. Then suddenly M3 says..."uh-oh". I followed her eyes and there posted on the wall was a very large sign warning us about the severity of this ride with quick turns...and reverses, extreme speed...and jerky movement! I immediately turned pale and wanted a drink of water and fresh air. There was no exit at this point...no escape from this dungeon of doom. UGHHHHHHHH!!!!

We get on the ride...Sissy is very apologetic saying she "did not remember it being a fast roller coaster". Her gauge for measuring speed is definitely different from mine. We started out ascending...s..l..o..w..l..y...up towards these double doors that I was certain were going to open revealing a drop straight down to hell. NOPE!!! Instead our car jerked to a stop and flew backwards so quickly that I could do nothing but hold my breath and squeeze my eyes tightly shut...while the tears rolled down my face. These were not happy "pee your pants" tears.

I do know one thing...I will NEVER go to an amusement park with my sisters again. I was not AMUSED!

So...we leave Universal behind...and headed to our cab for the long ride back to the mothership. Now...when we disembarked there were signs all over reminding us to take our cruise ship card and picture ID with us so we could get back on the ship without a hitch. We talked about it as we were walking off the ship assuring each other that we all had the required items with us. Well...that just was not the case.

Sissy was leading the pack and breezed through security without any problem. I was right on her heels and did the same. We were walking ahead...20-30 steps in front of M3 when we hear this "Oh, no" and then "step to the side, M'am". Guess who lied about having her picture ID with her...the oldest...and apparently most senile one!! Whoopsie! Just a small delay now as security had to walk to the ship with her cruise ship card and verify when they swiped her card that the picture matched the face of the woman "near tears" holding up the rest of her cruising buddies. Thank goodness they did see a resemblance even though we were all looking pretty disheveled...you know...like we had spent the day running through the rain then tried to dry our hair by whipping it around while flying through the air at the speed of a bullet.

CMP...Coaster-loving Carol...Mindless Marcia...Petrified Patty.

I'm gonna Call My Parents and tell on them!!! Some things never change.

Sisterhood of the Traveling "Pee Your Pants" - Part 3

Well, I could go on and on with what happened our first few hours on the ship. From trying to locate our cabin (picture the sisters with their rolling suitcases, carry bags, purses and bookbag) across the lounge area, up the elevator, only to find out that it was not ready yet so going all the way back down to the lounge area where we started; to giggling over the abundance of naked "artwork" all over the ship (a Renaissance theme) while sipping on our "drink of the day". Needless to say we were exhausted at the end of the day, so after dinner we hit the beds early.

Let the snoring begin. Each of us claimed to be "awake all night" hearing the other two snore! Not really sure how that is possible!

Enter...Day 2.

It's my birthday!!! Happy birthday to me! My honey made sure to send all kinds of fun things to our cabin to help celebrate like...chocolate covered strawberries and petite fores...a box filled with teeshirts, visors, champagne, glasses, and coupons for free drinks and discounted photos on board...and a yummy chocolate cake. So, we decided to raid the refrigerator for the orange juice and have mimosas and cake to celebrate the day.



A great way to start any day!!!!!! Highly recommended!!!

The day was sunny and a perfect day to relax on deck reading a book and sipping a cocktail or two. We searched for three empty chairs by the pool but everyone else on board had the same plan. So we headed to the upper deck where it was much more peaceful...still crowded...but warm and sunny, none the less. And relax we did!!

Dinner time was the first of two "elegant dining" dress attire evenings. It was fun getting all dressed up and heading out for pictures on the way to dinner. One thing they do a lot of on cruise ships is take your picture! Good thing I had that coupon for discounted photos!

After dinner we stopped at one of the many bars located on board. We had seen a display of martini "samplers" and thought we would stop and check it out. Now, my sisters have never been martini drinkers until I introduced them to a blueberry martini at one of our favorite restaurants back home. I thought "this should be fun!"

The martini sampler consisted of 4 mini martinis...our choice of flavors from a menu of eight different concoctions. We made our choices...watched the bartender work his magic...and the sipping began. The bartender...by the way...was closing this particular bar for the evening...so there we sat...just the three of us...celebrating my birthday with a little tini...or two...or three...or four. Yummmmmmm!

The best part of all of this was watching M3...the one that hardly ever drinks...quickly down three of her tinis and then say some pretty silly things. There is no sense trying to write them here because they were all "in the moment" and the humor would be lost in translation. Rest assured, there were lots of giggles and "pee your pants" moments!

So my birthday came and went...the first one that I ever spent without my honey since we have been married. It was a little strange for sure. But the sisters did a great job making it a fun day.

The thing that stands out the most about this day and the event that made the most vivid memory was that this was the day that Osama Bin Laden was killed.

I will always remember what I was doing when I got that news...that's for certain!

Stay tuned...Day 3 is on the way!

Sisterhood of the Traveling "Pee Your Pants" - part 2

Before I continue with day 2 of our adventure I did want to talk a little about the first few hours once we boarded. As always, my sisters continued to make me laugh, leaving me with some great blog material!

A few days before our travels began we had a "sister meeting" over dinner to discuss what we were going to bring with us...mostly how many evening meals would require dressy attire. Although we chose to dine using "open seating"...we still wanted to "dress up" on the "elegant dining" evenings.

During this discussion Sissy piped up with..."OK, so we each take one pair of sandals, one pair of sneakers, and one pair of dressy shoes!" M3 and I looked at her like she was a stranger from some other family, and I replied..."well, sorry "Mom", but I plan on bringing as many shoes as needed to complete as many outfits as I think necessary for a 7-day cruise!" So...as we are unpacking...which I will give a little more detail on below...Sissy digs out her "three pairs of shoes" from one of her four bags and places them in the bottom of the closet.



Guess she liked my idea better. She actually brought more shoes than I did!

So the unpacking process had begun. As I may have mentioned in previous blogs, I tend to be a bit organized. There is a term for this behavior that I never really liked...so I'll stick with "detail oriented" and "properly prepared". After all, I was once a Girl Scout!

After determining whose clothes would be on which shelf and hung in which closet we proceeded to place our giant overstuffed bags on the beds and dig in. I opened my bag, took out all of my "dressy things"...which I packed on the hangers...walked over to my designated hanging area and put everything away. I returned to my suitcase where I had folded neatly and paired together all of my outfits for the week. I reached in and retrieved the pile...went to my assigned section in the wardrobe and placed them neatly on the shelf. Next were my P's and B's, and of course PJ's.... my perfectly coordinated shoes...and last but not least...my health and beauty aids...coined by Sissy as "haba daba". Done! That was it...in a record 5 minutes...I had put my suitcase under the bed and was relaxing...reading a book...totally on vacation.

Sissy and M3 were plugging along for the next 40 minutes unpacking...untangling (M3 packed her hangers separate)...back and forth...back and forth...from bed to closet. Exhausting to watch! Then there was the designated pill drawer where the two of them stuffed their gallon size baggies full of medicine bottles. I will mention here that my pills were in one of those 7-day pill containers, tucked away in my purse.

It was definitely an adventure...and quite entertaining to watch! And yes, another "pee your pants moment", at least for me!

Stay tuned for day 2!

Sisterhood of the Traveling "Pee your Pants" - part 1

Day one of our adventure started off with a road trip to Baltimore to meet our cruise ship. The three hour drive was filled with teasing and laughing, much like the rest of the trip. I would have expected nothing less.

When I picked up my sisters they were "fully loaded" and ready to go. I described my packing process to you in my P's and B's blog, and mentioned how my suitcase was stuffed...and "padded". Well, their suitcases put mine to shame! They both had a very large suitcase like mine...you know the super duper one that you are always afraid will take you over the 50lb limit on an airplane...and some how managed to put even more in there than I could have imagined.

Now, I also brought a small tote...more like an over sized purse...in which my purse nestled quite nicely...along wih two books, my jewelry...which I always carry with me, cell phone charger and a few snacks to keep my blood sugar in check. I also had my camera and case, which I carried separately.

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia (M3) brought, in addition to her super duper suitcase, a smaller overnight rolling bag, and a very large tote in which you could not have fit a toothpick even if you wanted too!...and her purse.

Sissy brought, in addition to her super duper suitcase, a smaller overnight rolling bag, a very large overly stuffed tote, her purse, AND a back pack that was as heavy as your bookbag on the first day of school when you brought all your books home to cover in brown paper bags. (Just had to throw that in there! LOL!!)

Fitting all of that in the car was challenging. Sissy shared the back seat with her super duper suitcase and one ton bookbag. Not only were the suitcases stuffed, but so was the car. The adventure begins!

Sissy works at a job that stresses her to the max...she is so looking forward to retirement!! Anyway, I think she needed this trip more than any of us, which was so obvious just a few miles down the road. I looked in my rearview mirror...and there she was...well relaxed...reading her morning newspaper. There was no reading for me until I got to the ship. Have you ever tried getting into a good novel while navigating the PA turnpike??? Not recommended!! And so, for the rest of the car ride we referred to Sissy as "Miss Daisy".

I peeked on her again when the shuffling of the paper had stopped. She had finished her reading and was sound asleep...enjoying a much needed nap. My eyes, on the other hand, in spite of the early hour, were wide open and watching the road...except for the occasional peek in the rearview mirror.

Now, M3 was not reading or napping either, as she was busy filling the position of copilot. Copilots need to stay alert for any detour signs that the GPS won't let the driver know about. And also to keep talking in case the driver feels at all like shutting her eyes!

So...we are driving along, making great time I might add, when suddenly there is a familiar odor...one that I had smelled just a few days before while preparing for the cruise...coming from the back seat. There sits "Miss Daisy" painting her fingernails! Her vacation had started for sure!

When we finally reached the port we unloaded our overstuffed bags and proceeded to the area to go through customs in order to board the ship. I was walking quite comfortably with my tote in hand, and camera bag on my shoulder. The sisters were lollygagging along...rolling their overnight bags behind...while juggling their very full tote bags, purses...and ahhhhh...yes...one ton bookbag. They needed to stop every so often to "switch hands" or "reshift the load". They needed a bellman...that's for sure! Hmmmmmmmm....

I breezed along...and boarded the ship first. Now who's vacation had started!

Stay tuned...the adventure continues!

Sisterhood of the "Pee Your Pants"...the laughter continues

A while back (Feb. 10, 2010) I blogged about my sisters and how we try to take trips together...always paired with tons of "pee your pants" laughter. Our latest trip, of course, was no exception to this practice. My sister, Carol(Sissy), shows how it all begins...and from this point forward it's nonstop!



Over the next few days I will be describing some of the things that made us "pee our pants" as we traveled together on a cruise to the Bahamas.



Bon Voyage!! Stay tuned!

P's and B's

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Alzheimer's. I am hoping that my temporary loss of memory for simple words when I am making a statement is due more because of menopause than the other more frightening and sad disease. Sometimes I just get so mad and frustrated when I can't think of what it is I am trying to say. And even more upset when I forget to do something that should be second nature to me.

Hopefully I can also contribute this to an overloaded brain. I am told that our brains are much like a computer so it stands to reason that they can crash on a moment's notice.

This past week has caused major short circuiting with my brain. I had 25 people for dinner on Easter Sunday, then went to work Monday morning with two church bulletins to prepare because I am on vacation next week. I also had to pack up and relocate to another office in the church while my office is being renovated. Needless to say I don't know where anything is and feel quite disconnected at work. This is not good for someone known to be such a stickler for details and order!

So...today I began packing for my vacation, a cruise to the Bahamas with my sisters. I had most everything laid out and ready to go, but had to pack it in the suitcase. I had finished the laundry this morning, so after putting all of that away, I was good to go.

After about an hour and a half I had completed the task. I could not fit another thing in my bag...or my carry on. Both were stuffed full!

My honey and I had plans to go to dinner with some friends so I went to take a shower. I opened my drawer to get out some fresh undies. Even though I am forgetful, I do remember my mother telling me that you should never leave the house without wearing clean underwear. After all, you never know if you will be in an accident. Thanks for the advice, Mom!

Well, I stood there looking in my drawer and burst into laughter. There neatly folded and freshly laundered was every pair of Panties and every Bra I own. I had not packed even one in my suitcase!

So.....I unpacked the fully loaded suitcase a bit, refolded a few things, and squeezed in my precious Vic's attire. Now, for certain, my suticase is stuffed, even padded! ;)

Now let's just hope I remember to set my alarm to get up in the morning...and especiallly to put the suitcase in the car.

I'll fill you in with the details of the trip when I get back.

Where am I going again?