evening sundries

[rm]

Cruise is now paid in full. As is the hotel, the airfare, everything. Rawr. We still have to choose and pay for shore excursions. The degree to which I am trying to refrain from the deeply unnecessary rental of a private cabana on the beach on the private beach complete with butler service is epic. But um, dude...

Enjoy the ultimate in luxury during your stay on Half Moon Cay with the use of your own private cabana. Board the first tender ashore, or have priority tender use, to maximize your time by being the first guests to arrive. For your comfort, you will find your cabana outfitted with a refrigerator, ceiling fan, air conditioner, table and chairs inside, and deck chairs and a misting shower on the private terrace.
You will be provided with fresh fruit, vegetables with dip, and chips and salsa to snack on as well as an assortment of soft drinks and bottled water to quench your thirst. Beach towels, floating mats, and snorkel gear are also included for your use throughout the day.

The Butler Service Upgrade Package includes:
- Unlimited beverages that are available from the various bars on Half Moon Cay. Drinks made from house brand liquor, all beers, soft drinks, bottled water and wine.
- A picnic lunch consisting of appetizer, entree, and dessert.
- Butler escort from your cabin to assist you ashore carrying all belongings to and from the ship.
- Your Butler will see to whatever needs you have on the island including shopping from the island shops and any Shore Excursion bookings you may like to make on Half Moon Cay.

So unnecessary, which is why I am posting it here to get it out of my system. On the other hand, what we really need to do is make friends with another couple on the ship and go in on it together, since the price is for up to four people.

Woah, Keith Olbermann tonight.

No matter what you think of him or him using this situation with his dad to talk about healthcare, I have to tell you -- on the odd chance you are well and everyone you love is well -- that the stuff he says, all rings very, very true to me, not politically, but as someone who has been through this healthcare drill with various cancer and stroke events with my parents, the parents of people I've loved, my friends, and of course my own relatively minor but completely frustrating healthcare adventures. The current system is fucked for a range of reasons included the fact that in many cases it enforces illness and poverty and then blames people for the illness and poverty the healthcare system has decided is their permanent lot.

I also think a lot of what he has to say about death in the piece, that idea that we're all so irrational about this critical discussion is related to the fear of death is also spot on. I should write a long thing about this at some point. Tonight's not that night.

Also, apparently, wanting to read and learn is a petty selfish want and a reason for a lawyer to berate an eleven-year-old in public. I am horrified. (thanks to copperbadge).

Hey the thing on my dad's kidney didn't change, so they think it's a benign cyst. Less family medical drama for the win.

Comments

[sociallyawkrd.livejournal.com]

Ok, not sure if you mean swimming with flippers or not, but you need to do straight leg scissor kicks. It is hard to master, you might get it right on the first chance because of your dance background. I had a hard time for a while and it was hard to pick up again when we snuba'ed (after 9 years of no dive time).

It is not hard. Not at all. Not in any way. You both would be completely able to do it. The most likely things to happen: The regulator freaks you out. It freaks me out and it always takes 5-10 minutes for me to get used to it. It feels mildly claustrophobic but once I let go of the WTF I am breathing under water thoughts I totally forget about it.

Snuba you don't go past 20 feet and that may not happen so sinuses won't be an issue. I do suggest you practice clearing your ears and sinuses on flights etc by holding your nose and closing your mouth and attempting to blow out. I can't really explain it well written apparently. And since you have sinus issues you literally need to do it every few feet. That is how I handle the ear situation (on planes too, I do it constantly although it often reruptures) and with the relatively shallow water you are in it won't be a problem.

You will both be together on one tank that floats on a raft above you. No need to check air or anything. You will do a brief 30 minute class on general safety stuff. Your risk is minimal. Even of the bends. It *could happen* but it is really unlikely even if you quickly ascend. You should acsend slowly and use your air line to slow your ascent (hand over hand) but really, risk is really really low.

Most places will not allow you to take pics if you are not scuba certified, but they will take pics of you in your gear and underwater and you can buy them. Ours are here:
http://tinyurl.com/yzmg4jx
http://tinyurl.com/yfp967h
http://tinyurl.com/ylkfkel

We liked it so much we are doing it again when we do another spring break cruise. Thomas loved it and it was a great way to introduce him to scuba.

I totally recommend it.

Let me know if you want to know anything else. And what port of calls you are going to/snuba is offered at. I might be able to give you some help.