Just A Cuptag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-156622007-04-08T08:56:49-04:00TypePadArubatag:typepad.com,2003:post-326297642007-04-08T08:56:49-04:002007-04-08T08:56:49-04:00Since I have been back from Aruba - I have been quite busy. So here are a few of the promised pictures.... Outside of the Resort area - Aruba is a desert At Sopranos Piano Bar - Yes the song...Coffee Boy
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Since I have been back from Aruba - I have been quite busy. So here are a few of the promised pictures....<a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=200,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://justacup.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/08/aruba_017.jpg"><img title="Aruba_017" height="150" alt="Aruba_017" src="https://justacup.blogs.com/just_a_cup/images/2007/04/08/aruba_017.jpg" width="480" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p>
<p>Outside of the Resort area - Aruba is a desert</p>
<p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=481,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://justacup.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/08/aruba_026.jpg"><img title="Aruba_026" height="360" alt="Aruba_026" src="https://justacup.blogs.com/just_a_cup/images/2007/04/08/aruba_026.jpg" width="480" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p>
<p>At Sopranos Piano Bar - Yes the song was 'New York - New York' - No we are not the Rockettes - and Yes there was alcohol involved</p>
<p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=481,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://justacup.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/08/aruba_033.jpg"><img title="Aruba_033" height="360" alt="Aruba_033" src="https://justacup.blogs.com/just_a_cup/images/2007/04/08/aruba_033.jpg" width="480" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p>
<p>Barry's Easter Bonnet</p>
<p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=162,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://justacup.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/08/aruba_073.jpg"><img title="Aruba_073" height="121" alt="Aruba_073" src="https://justacup.blogs.com/just_a_cup/images/2007/04/08/aruba_073.jpg" width="480" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p>
<p>Sunset</p></div>
Easter Bunnytag:typepad.com,2003:post-326296562007-04-08T08:48:27-04:002007-04-08T08:48:27-04:00This News story had me get off the sofa, while was enjoying my 1st Starbucks of the day - and read more about it on line. What the hell people? School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' ABC News (April 7)...Coffee Boy
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This News story had me get off the sofa, while<em> </em>was enjoying my 1st Starbucks of the day - and read more about it on line.</p>
<p>What the hell people?</p>
<div class="bbarticleHeadline bbarticleText">School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'</div>
<div class="bbarticleProviderArt"><div class="bbarticleCreditLine bbarticleText">ABC News</div>
<div class="bbarticleBody"><div class="bbarticleText">(April 7) -- A Rhode Island public school has decided the Easter bunny is too Christian and renamed him Peter Rabbit, and a state legislator is so hopping mad he has introduced an "Easter Bunny Act" to save the bunny's good name.</div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><a href="http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/school-renames-easter-bunny-peter-rabbit/20070407201309990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001">FULL STORY</a></div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><div class="bbarticleText">So my gripe is 2 fold: </div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><div class="bbarticleText">1) Banning the Easter Bunny by a school official and renaming him? What do they call Santa Claus? Uncle Nick?</div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><div class="bbarticleText">I suppose banning is OK, since his first name is the name of a Christian Holiday. But renaming him? Who ARE they fooling?</div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><div class="bbarticleText">2) The IDEA, that a political official would take time to introduce legislation to protect the Easter Bunny is absurd! Do politicians not have enough to do? Are there not more pressing things at hand that require their attention? Granted he is just a state legislator and is not deciding things like Social Security, Global warming, Iraq, gar prices. Thank goodness he is not - he is too damn busy protecting that rascally rabbit!</div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><div class="bbarticleText">IDIOTS - ALL OF THEM!</div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><div class="bbarticleText">Happy Sunday/Easter/Passover/Spring/14th Sunday of 2007....</div>
<div class="bbarticleText"><div class="bbarticleText"></div></div><script type="text/javascript"></script></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
Trip Picstag:typepad.com,2003:post-313976582007-03-09T11:24:27-05:002007-03-09T11:24:27-05:00Posted are a few of my lastest trip pictures. See Photo Albums. I will be heading to Aruba in 2 weeks to see my good pal Barry From Boston. I will post pics from that trip as well. Cheers!Coffee Boy
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Posted are a few of my lastest trip pictures. See Photo Albums.</p>
<p>I will be heading to Aruba in 2 weeks to see my good pal <a href="http://www.barryfromboston.com">Barry From Boston</a>. I will post pics from that trip as well.</p>
<p>Cheers!</p></div>
Vacationtag:typepad.com,2003:post-308969542007-02-26T00:24:01-05:002007-02-26T00:24:01-05:00So our last vacation was on the Royal Caribbean's ship Voyager of the Seas out of the sunny port of Miami. We had booked this vacation, while on our last cruise in the Med, last fall. See when you book...Coffee Boy
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>So our last vacation was on the Royal Caribbean's ship Voyager of the Seas out of the sunny port of Miami.</p>
<p>We had booked this vacation, while on our last cruise in the Med, last fall. See when you book on the ship - you not only get a good price - but a ship board credit. (Which is equal to about 1 days bar tab for us).</p>
<p>We went with Sailors family; his Dad & step-mom, Aunt & Uncle. Truth be told none of us couples are married --- why screw up a good thing?</p>
<p>At any rate; we were disappointed because we were hoping that our dear - and very talented friend- Barry from Boston- would be aboard. In fact he was, until his agent changed his departure date. He left the ship the day we got on the ship. OYE!</p>
<p>So here is the story of our latest adventure:</p>
<p>We left Washington DC on Friday evening. Wintertime and airport delays being what it can be for travel - we always fly out a day early -just in case. We had a semi-OK flight to Miami, collected our bags and caught the shuttle to the Days Inn.</p>
<p>I quickly remembered why I HATE Days Inn. It is because they SUCK. At $150 a night - you would think it would be semi - OK. We were not staying at the beach - just a dumpy place by the airport. After 2 complaints to the front desk (and major attitude from the desk clerk) - we were able to at least get a room not right above the bar (and the HUGE speakers). The good thing that came out of it - Sailor did say from now on I can spend the extra $50 for the Marriott.</p>
<p>Somehow we survived the night and off to the ship we went. Our friend Barry gave us a 'heads up' : The ship is on Code Red - 200 people sick on board. Bring hand sanitizer - don't touch anyone and wash your hands every 20 minutes and you will have a GREAT vacation. GREAT - I was already worried.</p>
<p>Now I must say, Royal Caribbean does a great job at moving thousands of people on and off such a huge ship. They told us they would not board until 2pm. Well we did get there a bit early - and waited in a line for about 30 minutes - but soon we were headed on board. </p>
<p>Being on board so early the staterooms were not yet ready - so off to the nearest bar we went. --After several cruises we found the best lifeboat drills are the ones when you are a bit tipsy. We met up with Sailor's family on board and chatted and drank then headed off to lunch.</p>
<p>It quickly because evident that the ship was in fact on "enhanced sanitation" protocols. No self-service buffet - crew putting hand sanitizer in your hand before you walked into the dining rooms, etc.</p>
<p>We did our usual routine when get on board a ship. We had an ocean view room on deck 4. Again, knowing the ships (and the fact that we never used the balcony when we had it) - we know right where we like our room. We can also unpack all our clothes in about 12 minutes.</p>
<p>The first night at dinner we were at a table of 8. There were the six of us and this couple of two that claimed they were on cruise 44 - or some such nonsense. The wife a talker - the husband a lame dufus. We were not sad they didn't return for another meal. Our waiter Nicole and Asst waiter Zsolt were fun and attentive. It does always seem the first night the wait team fumbles a bit - but by the 2nd night are in the swing of things.</p>
<p>The first day was a sea day. Always the best on a trip when you leave your home and its 20 something and now your first real day of vacation and its 80 plus. Sailor and I went to the Art Auction. Free Champaign you know. Well I did buy a piece for my collection and then I saw another one I wanted to bid on. Well the guy pissed us off when he said; "Thats a special piece - and we won't put that up unless you are gonna really buy it - because its quite expensive". EXCUSE ME?! I was so pissed off and I told the nice woman so. After all, we have spend ALOT on art on cruise ships and to be treated like that. Well let's just say that is that last thing I will buy on a cruise ship from Park West Galleries.</p>
<p>The rest of our 1st day was quite enjoyable and relaxing. That is until we went to the Schooner bar and ordered a Mojito Royal. A drink I always enjoy on RCCL's ships in the Schooner bar. Except on Voyager the waiter said "You're kidding right?". I looked at him like he was crazy - I got the same look back. "If you want that you will have to go to the bar on deck 13". I wasn't sure if I was more angry at the fact that I couldn't get the drink I always enjoyed on other ships in the same bar or the delivery of his message to me. He acted like I was some idiot or something. So off to the Crown Lounge at the top of the ship. Not a quick task seeing as everyone was using the elevators at the same time. So we make it and order the drinks and the bartender says "Sorry no mint".</p>
<p>Now I am appalled. We have been at sea for less than 18 hours and they can't make a Mojito? My other half heads to the pursers desk and head to another bar for a basic rum and coke. Hope they have that! Needless to say; 15 minutes later, we were on a first name basis with the Bar Manager, Guy, who made our Mojitos and delivered them to the schooner bar. Now if only the Piano Player didn't have to spend several minutes between songs flipping between sheet music. Oh I miss Barry from Boston. </p>
<p>The next day was Haiti. Well its RCCL's private beach - not sure you'll find it on a map - but it was a perfect beach day. We had to tender - which I usually HATE - but their private beach has very large ferries to take you off the ship - so the process was very quick. Once we found a quite place on the beach we chilled for a few hours, drink a yummy frozen alcoholic beverage, ate lunch and headed back to the ship. We went to the mostly empty pool deck at about 2:30 and ordered a drink of the day (It was a good day - why risk a Mojito). "I'm sorry we are out of the drink of the day". Well I can see why - it was after all so late in the afternoon (yeah 2:30pm) and the pool deck was mostly empty... note my sarcasm. So we enjoyed our Pina Colodas and chilled by the pool.</p>
<p>I made my usual donation to the Casino - chatted with family and enjoyed a wonderful dinner in Portofino. Ate way too much and went to bed.</p>
<p>In Jamaica most of our party did the zip line excursion. I opted for relaxing and shopping. OK so I hated Jamaica and will never go back. I was never so hounded by the locals offering me everything from pot to a private tour of the island. I shopped had lunch (jerk chicken) and went back to the ship early. </p>
<p>The on board entertainment was OK. Nothing awesome - but always plenty to do. This vacation to us was more of a relaxing time than a do -do - do vacation.</p>
<p>We did go to the Turtle Farm in the Cayman Islands the next day. We skipped a tour the last time in Grand Cayman so we were looking forward to this. It was very neat and only took up a few hours. Then we of course bought the only cheap thing to be purchased in Grand Cayman - Liquor. It is a bit scary to order 8 or 9 liters - give them your credit card, ship name and cabin number and leave with just a receipt. But somehow it always ends up in our room on the last day of the cruise.</p>
<p>The biggest issue with Grand Cayman is this : small island : no docks - its all tenders back and forth from the ship : 8 cruise ships in port the same day. It is obnoxiously busy and crowded. </p>
<p>Our next stop - Cozumel. Now the 1st time I was in Cozumel it was a sleepy island where I remember the guy the hotel tell me - stay out of town on Thursdays - thats when we have a big cruise ship come to the island. The day we were there I think I saw 6 ships. The amazing thing to see was how the beautifully, convenient cruise ships docks I saw 2 years ago - were basically gone. Much of them decimated by the hurricane 18 months ago - construction crews working dawn to dusk - but it is a huge project.</p>
<p>We did the tour of the ruins of Tulum. The only issue with this tour is this:leave the ship quite early - take a 45 minute ferry ride : then a 15 minute to a bus of a 90 minute ride. We did see the ruins for about 90 minutes - then back to repeat the return trip. Then of course the ferry drops you back off in the town where we had about 30 minutes of speed shopping to do then a cab ride back to the ship. The tour was "OK" at best - and had it not been for family coming along on the trip would have stayed on the Island and had a more relaxing day. Definitely not the trip to do if you want time to shop or see the island of Cozumel.</p>
<p>Our last day was a sea day. The weather was crappy and cold. No sun or pool deck - bummer.</p>
<p>We did decide that the Voyager Class ship is beautiful - but too big. We did book our next cruise for Northern Europe this fall on Jewel of the Seas - the smaller (well still big just not huge).</p>
<p>The service I would rate as followed:</p>
<p>Main Dining room: B+ Portofino: A- Windjammer: B</p>
<p>Entertainment: B- </p>
<p>Bar Staff: A- (Overall the staff was good - obviously the issue was with the management/ordering) </p>
<p>Of my last 3 cruises I would rate the service of these ships in the following order:</p>
<p>Best to worst:</p>
<p>Spleandor of the Seas</p>
<p>Adventure of the Seas</p>
<p>Brillance of the Seas</p>
<p>Voyager of the Seas</p>
<p>Happy Sailing!</p></div>
OYE !!!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-308940562007-02-25T22:36:03-05:002007-02-25T22:36:03-05:00Almost a month since my last post - bad me. It is not easy keeping up with bith a professional / work related blog and one just for fun. I am trying. Plus we were on vacation (yes again) in...Coffee Boy
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Almost a month since my last post - bad me. It is not easy keeping up with bith a professional / work related blog and one just for fun. I am trying.</p>
<p>Plus we were on vacation (yes again) in the sunny and warm Caribbean. I will get a few picks up here in a few.</p>
<p>But first a picture from today.... <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=481,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://justacup.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/hpim2943.jpg"><img title="Hpim2943" height="360" alt="Hpim2943" src="https://justacup.blogs.com/just_a_cup/images/hpim2943.jpg" width="480" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p>
<p>Yes kids - that's SNOW.... </p></div>
Auto Showtag:typepad.com,2003:post-154828332007-01-28T21:03:46-05:002007-01-28T21:03:46-05:00Has Detroit lost it??? So we went to the Auto show in DC this weekend. One because my other half thinks we need a second car and two because it is 3 blocks from where we live and three because...Coffee Boy
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Has Detroit lost it???</p>
<p>So we went to the Auto show in DC this weekend. One because my other half thinks we need a second car and two because it is 3 blocks from where we live and three because it was something to do.</p>
<p>So we looked at almost every single car made outside of the US. Basically all of the small cars averaged 38 mpg. Some were in the mid 30s others up to 40 - and NO, these were not the Hybrids.</p>
<p>Then we went to the floor in the convention center with the American cars (General Motors and Ford - along with those that called something else, but made by the American companies...</p>
<p>So here is what I saw... 28 mpg -- 34 mpg is unheard of. Oh how about a Hummer? Oh the new and improved H3 gets 20 mpg (manual transmission, on the highway - and probably down hill).</p>
<p>And people wonder why FORD Motor Company posted its biggest loss in history!! Detroit needs to wake up and see the gas prices! </p>
<p>As I former "Big 3" baby and Michigan native, I am down-right embarrassed by our country's auto-makers. It is pathetic!</p>
<p>I told the other-half that we will NOT buy an American car - it is simply not practical. </p>
<p>Detroit MUST divorce the oil companies and start making cars that I can afford to put gas in!</p></div>