Posted on 06/07/2003 12:58:54 PM PDT by 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.
I must go down to the sea again....
Wonder if we could get a group of freeper to sail on one of the tall ships along the eastern coast? There is one the stops in WMburg I believe!
What a lovely idea. One of the Windjammer cruises perhaps ...
Another "social" organization with which I am affiliated. Check out:
http://www.amtgard.com
http://amtgard.pinkpig.com/bards/topknot.htm#kingdomwetlands
(Topknot is better known in our ranks as a sword-and-board expert, but is a darned fine bard as well).
Personally, I'm hoping that the young lady from "Helga's House of Pain" makes an appearance. I've always been fascinated by tall, striking Nordic women who are two axe handles across in the shoulders and who can bench press a Buick.
Goodness no. Helga and her henchwomen staffed the massage service on the ship. From myriad reports I received, getting them to work out the kinks required a steely, fatalistic outlook and paid-up Blue Cross.
I myself did not seek out their services on this trip. I am not into pain, except that which I inflict upon my own lookout.
I do remember the "scary" ladies very well. You must admit though that anyone who can slam down a can of Coors Light when everybody else is drinking wine and champagne has a certain odd panache. Definitely tasty, if not necessarily nourishing.
Do you think your workout buddy, Alphonse, the fire dancer, will be checking into FR to see what it is?
Those seem to be conflicting statements! I'd love to share more with you on this matter but WHOTCSOTC!
But, to answer your question - Yes, I think we have created a new Freeper!
BTW - did you share your story about winning the Hairy Man Contest?
;-)
Regards,
TS
Hmmmm! Let me just say in regard to the "spa" treatments offered by the ship's spa staff. They were indeed staffed by the most professional, intelligent, attractive young lass's of Australian and European descent seen on this cruise. I have been an ardent student of massage for three decades and suffice it to say I learned some new things about the art of touch.
1. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! EVER, refer to the attractive accent of your potential pain inflicter, errrr massuese, before reading her nametag. Or, you might be subjecting yourself to the painful inflictions caused by mistaking a sexy Scottish Brogue for the sexy Irish lass. "Thass like me askin' ya' if ya're from Canada". They don't like that.
2. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, tell your potential torturer, err massuese, that you might have screwed up your ankles while you were a former Marine. i.e. they think you LIKE pain.
3. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, crack wittily about said techniques thereby causing your new drill instructor, err massuese, to laugh repeatedly and often throughout your session thereby making her think that because she was laughing you were having fun!
4. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, decline the essential massage oil and aromatherapy products guaranteed to continue the therapeutic massage experienced in the spa to your home - and upon which she is being paid commission - prior to your departure from Helga's House of Pain.
I did thank Clare - the Irish Lass - for removing the naive, quaint, American notion from my tiny little brain that a massage was supposed to be pleasurable.
Besides if I went into detail I would be violating the supreme title of this thread - WHOTCSOTC!
Regards,
TS
Man, I wish I had entered that contest.
I coulda bin a contendah!
The hard part about being home is that now the diet restarts! I'm off to the gym for about six miles!
You won't recognize me on the next one!
Regards,
TS
General announcement and pledge (and this applies to all Freepers on the cruise as well): I will Freepmail you first and obtain your permission before posting any of my photographs in which you clearly appear. I will also obtain your permission before attributing any action specifically to a Freep name in this or any other thread. Finally, I'll be happy to email you a copy of the picture in question for your perusal before posting it. I'll be contacting each of you who appear in a photo before doing any of this.
I take this sort of thing pretty seriously, and am a firm believer in the principle of WHOTCSOTC (not to mention basic courtesy and privacy).
(but he reeled it in and all was okay, I can tellya)
Leni
But then it was confiscated by a Grand Cayman-a ... ;)
The kite did indeed serve its purpose, and hopefully will spur others to fill the skies over idyllic places such as we enjoyed with its brothers and sisters. It gave its little nylon and fiberglass body for a good cause, and must be well-pleased with its conduct somewhere up there in Kite Valhalla.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.