Official Free Republic Network "Freeps Ahoy" Cruise After Action Report (WHOTCSOTC)

NA ^ | June 8, 2003 | Seeking the Truth

[Seeking the truth]

The FRN "Freeps Ahoy" Cruise aboard the Carnival Cruise Triumph arrived back in Miami this morning.

No SARS, No Norwalk, No Terrorism - just a hell of a lot of fun, food and sun!

As the first cruiser back at his computer, I have the honor of starting this thread and posting the above pic, which was taken at the foot of the staircase descending into the "London Room", which was the dining room each evening for our Freeper Contingent.

Front Row (left to right): Judy (Qwert's wife), Jean (friend of Bush_Democrat), Eileen (BobFromNJ's wife), MinuteGal, Bahbah, Hoosiermama

Second Row: Lisa, Utah Girl, Bush_Democrat, Apple Pan Dowdy, Bizzy Bugz

Third Row: Verily, The Shrew, FRBI (STT's wife), diotima, Strela

Fourth Row: Edomaden, Dennis (friend of Bush_Democrat), Colonel Jim, Seeking the Truth, BobJ, Sheryl (Dale Reed's wife), Sarah (Interesting Times' wife)

Top Row: Mike (Bush_Democrat's husband), BobFromNJ, Dale Reed, Interesting Times

Missing From Photo: Qwert, Sharktrager, Mycroft Holmes & spouse Marisa, Principle Over Politics & spouse Judy and lurkers Elaine & Cindy, Sharktrager's brother John & Win.

I've gone over the name tag list and the notes of this group photo. I hope I didn't leave anyone out.

[strela]

Here's a few that came through OK - more to come before this weekend from my waterproofs.

Here is my preferred mode of transportation, but I had to settle for that ratty old cruise ship we were on:

The lovely and talented Ms. De Jongh, our "lifeline" on the Grand Caymans beach party. (Does ANYONE have her phone number. Please? I'm beggin' ya ...)

Yes, the ship really had a water slide.

I have more, but I will ask permission of anyone who appears in them before posting them. Call me a nut, but ...

[dalereed]

For those that might hae missed them, there are a lot of pictures @ "Network CRUISE Pics! Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica!" http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/925858/posts

[MinuteGal]

.....and she's also UNATTACHED, Strela. I asked her!

Why not dial information in Pretoria, South Africa and see if she's listed?

:-)

Leni

[strela]

Why not dial information in Pretoria, South Africa and see if she's listed?

The very second after I finish uploading more pictures ... the very second. ;)

[hoosiermama]

More pictures? More pictures! Please

[strela]

I'll be picking up the prints from my waterproofs today (the Ocho Rios odyssey and a couple on the beach). If I can talk my recalcitrant scanner into rendering them, I'll post 'em and a few I've uploaded today.

[TruthNtegrity]

Bumping and bookmarking. Maybe the cruise next year......

[hoosiermama]

There is a book called "The Last Farmer" It is out of print. Written by Howard Kohen of Kohn.(Don't remember the spelling of the last name.)
A small book. A journal of sorts relaying his visits as a adult to the family farm. A bit of history of farming in the USA and how it has influenced our communities/lives etc. ....Influence of liberals and education on fly over country.

Little slow at the beginning of the book, but has high impact on everyone I've suggested read it. Highly recommend it to anyone who has farm or rural background or central America's values. M

[The Shrew]

I'd like to read it! I am currently rereading "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. I'm enjoying it!

Regards,

TS

[hoosiermama]

Just checked it out on AMazon. THere is a trilogy (used available of "O Pioneers", "The Song of the Larks" and "My Antonio" for less than $10 with shipping. Can't resist a bargain! Books are becoming my vice very quickly!

[strela]

I am familiar with "The Last Farmer" - a wonderful read. There's some fine material in the "Foxfire" series of books as well.

[MinuteGal]

I didn't get in too much shopping this trip due to a gimpy foot, but the little shops right at the ports saved me from a fate worth than death.....coming home empty-handed!

In Cozumel, a little sombrero ash tray for my garage, hah, and two tiny brightly-painted bud vases for the red and yellow hibiscus I pick each morning in my Florida garden.

Ocho Rios has a dandy outdoor complex of shops right on the water within walking distance of the docked ship. Here I found two beautiful hand-painted, lacquered wooden "potteries" plus an inexpensive slim-line "fun" watch with a narrow red leather band to wear with my red, white and blue freeping ensembles.

Also the obligatory Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee for my neighbor who watches my house when I'm gone, a small, intricately-woven straw mat for outside my front door, and a couple of unique, carved miniature Russian dolls for my sister who collects them.

Except for the Blue Mountain coffee which is pricey, yikes, I got away dirt cheap as I was able to bargain some prices down. It was fun poking around the shops and the straw market. I was twice happy when I returned and unwrapped the items, some of which I forgot I had bought!

What did y'all bring home with you?

Leni

[Bizzy Bugz]

Far too much Leni, Far too much. The good part is that I did not get all of it for me. A beautiful necklace for my daughter , a necklace for my daughter-in-law, a lovely tee shirt (from the shop on the ship) for my good friend who is going to Hawaii in July. I did get some loose stones (to go with some pearls (that I have owned for a long time that are sentimental to me) for a ring that I am designing) I hope to wear it on the next Freeper Cruise. AND a bottle of Grand Marnier. I use it in cooking lots. I love it in carrots. I also saute shrimp in butter and just before they are done I add a little Grand Marnier just to glaze them and serve with orange rice. ( cooked rice with a little gratted orange rind in them) I also like to put over fresh peaches for dessert. Oh my now I am getting hungry.
My sister and her daughter both said that the cruise far exceeded their expections. We all met so many good friends and if hoosiermama is reading this, I am looking forward to that pumpkin pie in October. Sure sounds good to me.

[MinuteGal]

Post-party depression bump!

Leni

[hoosiermama]

Have a set of the fox fire books, but tend to peruse them instead of reading through. Lots of information still usable today, if you live on a mini-farm.

[hoosiermama]

Pumpkin Pie! DO you also like Persimmon Pudding? Or is that just a southern Indiana treat?


As to the shoping, bought jewlery gifts for friends,gifts for son, Kalua for (cookies) and neighbors and a few trinkets for self in about an hour maybe an hour and half. That's why Bah Bah calls me a "power" shopper. Know what you what and where to get it. Don't waist any time.

[strela]

What did y'all bring home with you?

The djembe drum I so desperately wanted to find (in a head shop in Margaritaville of all places), 10 lb of JBM coffee, various trinkets and nicknacks for souvenirs, small vials of soil/sand from our ports of call, my "frou-frou" drink glass from the ship (with companion paper umbrella of course), a slightly damaged ab muscle (healing nicely now), pictures pictures pictures, and scads of dirty laundry.

I left my kite (on purpose), a sock and a pair of trousers that didn't make it back in my grip and which I cannot find anywhere, a plastic trophy of the ship that I won in single mental combat but found a much better home for, a certain amount of my dignity (left in the Big Easy Bar on "air microphone" night; I do not want it back, thank you), and some cash. I didn't take the Mexican gentleman I met in Cozumel up on his kind offer of his sister either.

The important things I brought home were not contained in my suitcases though; they were the memories of new friendships established, old friendships strengthened, new horizons explored, and curiosity satisfied (and piqued in some cases). I also got to meet one very special Freeper who provided me with a living, breathing example of grace, beauty, and intelligence, and who will always carry a piece of my heart.

All in all, the trip was more than I deserved. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

[strela]

Have a set of the fox fire books, but tend to peruse them instead of reading through.

I got interested in them while writing a chapter of my family history/tree several years ago. My father held some interesting jobs in his lifetime, one of which was manning a shotgun on a hill in Georgia, guarding his friend's still in the early 30s. I found complete instructions in one of the Foxfire books on how to construct, set up, locate, and operate a still which matched my father's descriptions; I used parts of this information as background material for the history.

[MinuteGal]

Special thanks to our freeper couple, Slip 18 and Cyber Liberty who donated a nice cash prize to the winner of our Tom Swiftie cruise contest.

Also, the work of our contest chair, Dittomom and her committee, Utah Girl, Slip 18 and Hoosiermama, is much appreciated.

"Our cruise committee team was the greatest thing since sliced bread", said Tom, crustily.

Leni

[Bizzy Bugz]

Or even better. But I know that you put in a large number of hours also. Thank you or your time and patience.
And now on to next year freepers. Start thinking about it now and you will be better prepared. It is so good to be with fellow freepers and other friends. I will look forward to seeing all of you.