May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!!

[LiserAnn]

Our big issue is figuring out the school - our school is a public one, but they don't lose any funding if kids don't go to school (it has a financially strong foundation). But 10 days...argg. Only two (4th grader and 2nd grader) will be affected. I guess I feel like this is a special opportunity - we could go on another cruise line for the Panama Canal during summer time but it just wouldn't be the same. Our kids start school the last week in August so the EB wasn't an option as missing the first week of school would be too tough.
When would you all advice me to notify the school? I was thinking about waiting until right before Christmas.

The only hiccup would be if STAR testing is done while we are gone (both the testing and makeup). We can't miss that. I'm hoping it will be that second week in May, right before we leave.

Another LISA!!! And a California Lisa too! (I'm in Southern Cal). Welcome!! I'm in the same boat (no pun intended) as you. At sailing I'll have a DS9 (almost 10) and DS6. STAR testing in our school is usually the first two weeks, so I'm thinking we'll be OK, but at this point I don't care....we're going either way. I know that's what they use to determine GATE but it will be what it will be. We regretted not doing Panama in 2005 so this is a no regrets trip, so to speak. We're in!

Anyway, welcome to the thread!!

 

[LiserAnn]

can you see all of us shipping those little umbrella folding chairs to our cabin and taking them on deck so we don't have to wait!!!! if we order alot maybe we can get them cheaper....let's ship 200 or so to the ship (lime green of course) only for DISers to sit in!!!

Now there's an idea!

 

[LiserAnn]

Welcome!!! Liserann started a thread on this very issue and if I find the link I will post it for you. My DD's will be 11 and 5 when we cruise. IMPO I think the history that my oldest will learn will far outway missing school. We are doing an independant contract which enables the girls to miss without it counting against them. The only issue would be the state testing and to be to be frank (no flames) I could care less. It is for the schools and has no bearing on my child's grades. If she misses it and can't make it up. Oh well. The only thing that I will miss is knowing her strongest and weakest points. Us as parents can get a pretty good feel for that anyways though.

Lori-when are you going to tell your school? I was going to tell them after the New Year. By the way, I'm am with you, at this point, I could care less about the state testing. What they'll learn will last them a lifetime! Like someone said....most geography teachers haven't done the panama canal...and they're teaching it!

But, having said that, I totally respect if other's feel differently. I don't want to give off the aire that I'm disrepecting anyone else's opinions!

 

[birkner]

Elizabeth, and everyone else saying prayers for us all....

The police have arrested a 54 year old woman and bailed her over this. They found the car on fire in a nearby road. So, not only did she fail to stop, it seems, but then deliberately set out to hide what she'd done....there are some very wicked people around.

Also, I just found out today that my friend was in hospital having an operation herself when her daughter was hit, and couldn't be taken to see her before she died. That made me so so sad.

Life is just so short and precious, anyone wanting to make the most of their time with their children on this cruise should go for it I think.

What a terrible, tragic story!! My heart and prayers go out to your friend and her family. I agree life is too short. When I was 29 years old, I lost my first DH to a drunk driver. He was run off the road, went over a cliff and was killed. The driver called in the accident, ran away and was never found. I too agree life is too short.

 

[clynne]

What a terrible, tragic story!! My heart and prayers go out to your friend and her family. I agree life is too short. When I was 29 years old, I lost my first DH to a drunk driver. He was run off the road, went over a cliff and was killed. The driver called in the accident, ran away and was never found. I too agree life is too short.

Oh, Noel...how sad for you!

Carolyn

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Yes, I learned all about the canal on our lasp PC cruise. I read a book by Dabid McCullough called "Path Between the Seas." It's a great read, and really made ,e appreciate all the blood sweat and tears that went into building the canal. If you haven't read it, I'd recommend reading it before the cruise in a heartbeat.

It is a great book, though I had to keep going back with some of the names. It really makes one appreciate all the effort that went into the Canal.

I agree that it is a great recommendation for anyone who is interested in the Canal.

 

[LiserAnn]

What a terrible, tragic story!! My heart and prayers go out to your friend and her family. I agree life is too short. When I was 29 years old, I lost my first DH to a drunk driver. He was run off the road, went over a cliff and was killed. The driver called in the accident, ran away and was never found. I too agree life is too short.

Noel-that's terrible, I'm sorry to hear that. Hearing life's tragedies such as this, make one's heart stop and think about what we have and take for granted.....

 

[birkner]

Oh, Noel...how sad for you!

Carolyn

Carolyn:

Thank you. I learned at a very young age how precious life is with your family. I was very lucky to meet a wonderful man and remarry. He is a wonderful husband, father to my two older children and dad to our youngest daughter.

Noel

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I would strongly recommend LAX. Ontario is a very long drive from the Port, and the two routes there (91/15 and 110/10) are prone to having problems, even on weekends.

Thanks Tony! Linda said that you would know best for sure.

I am still debating on whether to do a couple of days at Disneyland or not. If we stayed at a Disney Hotel, would you still recomend LAX?

TIA

 

[UKANGEL]

Noel, how awful for you.
I'm so glad you have found someone to love and care for you again though.
x

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I would choose LAX. I just booked a flight for my boss to mexico and we had to have him fly in/out LAX to get the best deal...and he lives near San Francisco! They are larger and have more flights. Ontario may seem close (miles wise) but there is a ton of traffic to ontario. It's not as close as it seems on paper. FYI.
Steph

Thanks! Between you and Tony, I am sure that I am getting the best advise.

Well, then we will probably fly from LAX unless you both recommend against it since we will probably stay a couple of days at Disneyland.

 

[birkner]

Noel-that's terrible, I'm sorry to hear that. Hearing life's tragedies such as this, make one's heart stop and think about what we have and take for granted.....

Lisa:

We all need to take time to enjoy the time we have with our loved ones as much as we can.

Noel

 

[birkner]

Noel, how awful for you.
I'm so glad you have found someone to love and care for you again though.
x

Thank you. I feel like I have the best DH in the world.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

DS did know this and shared it with me, but not sure if he gleaned this tidbit from his social studies reading or from a book (He reads A LOT!). I've checked out that pancanal site and have ordered some books from Amazon (one with nifty old photos!), but what I'm really looking for is a way to model how the locks work. I would even pay for a kit, but either they don't exist or I'm not searching correctly. If anyone has any ideas....

Carolyn

I would love to get a kit too, I bet anyone with a physics or engineering degree can help. This link from the pancanal website explains it, but I don´t think my then 5 year old can understand based on this:
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/general/howitworks/como-funcion.html

 

[UKANGEL]

Noel, isn't that just the best feeling....I mean to have such a wonderful husband? My dh is absolutely the most amazing man ever, after a bad first marriage we'll be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary on our cruise next year

oh and note to Holly........he's 10 years younger than me, so your friend on the cruise would have been fine!!!!

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Thanks for keeping an eye out! I think the kids would really enjoy building a mini lock. May be an outdoor project (well, ok, not at Holly's house...all the water in the locks would freeze!) for us...Messy can be good!

Carolyn

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Lori-when are you going to tell your school? I was going to tell them after the New Year. By the way, I'm am with you, at this point, I could care less about the state testing. What they'll learn will last them a lifetime! Like someone said....most geography teachers haven't done the panaman canal...and they're teaching it!

But, having said that, I totally respect if other's feel differently. I don't want to give off the aire that I'm disrepecting anyone else's opinions!

Yes I am going to wait until she has her new teacher. And yes I agree with you on the other that's why I did not say that on the other thread I was not wearing my flame-retardant suit.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

I have to get our passports still but if anyone wanted to know what the fees were here they are.http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html

 

[LiserAnn]

Yes I am going to wait until she has her new teacher.

That's what I was thinking too. And I figured to wait until January 2008 to tell their teachers...that will have given us enough time to form relationships with the teachers and also for the teacher's to see what type of students my kids are.

 

[jellojatdisney]

OMG (oh, in Utah that would be OH MY GOSH!)

Just realized that not only will we be on the ship for Mother's Day, it will also be my birthday that same day..Sunday, May 11th. (that would be my 29th birthday...... )

Yippee, two celebrations in one!

Seaulater - we should celebrate our bdays together - mine is the 21st. It will be my 39th (for real)