Now if we went to a fireworks show like this, I would be more excited.
But alas, we don’t.
The kind of fireworks show we see is more like this:
*yawn*
Since Kevin’s parents sold their house and moved into an RV full time, and we used to go to their house to shoot off the fireworks we bought at their house, we no longer make the effort. Now, we mooch off the country club’s fireworks show about a mile from our house.
It’s nice, don’t get me wrong. And it’s free, so there’s that, but honestly, it’s not that big of a deal.
Blake, our oldest son, loves the 4th of July. In fact, it might be his favorite holiday. He loves the “splosions”, as he used to call them when he was a little boy.
However, poor Blake has to work on 4th of July for the first time, ever. He works from 3:00 PM to midnight. He used to work for Kevin as a bookkeeper, but Kevin “fired” him, in essence, (don’t feel too sorry for him, it had to be done for a number of reasons) and now he works at Walmart as a stocker. (Again, don’t feel too sorry for him, his starting pay is nearly what he made when he worked for Kevin. Walmart is actually a great place to work. Shelve your preconceived notions, please).
To say he’s bummed out is an understatement. He won’t be joining me, Kevin, Brandon and LeRoy to watch the country club’s mediocre fireworks display. I feel so bad for him but honestly, this is real life. It sucks to be an adult sometimes.
Whenever you go cruising, one of the things the cruise lines do is take your picture.
They take your picture whenever you disembark at a destination, usually with someone dressed up to represent that country’s culture. Or it could be with the cruise mascot. Or something as simple as a sign depicting where you are in that given moment.
Photographers also take your picture when you’re at dinner. Our last cruise, the first night at dinner, a person dressed up as a pirate ran around the various tables and pretended to hold a cardboard knife to your throat.
Photographers are stationed throughout the ship to take your picture on formal night, or any night really.
The point being, the cruise line is giving you another opportunity to take a piece of your vacation home with you by offering to take your picture.
You can buy a photography package before you even go onto the boat. You get so many of this size, so many of this size, etc.
The photos are usually decent and always available throughout your cruise to buy, if you so wish.
The cruise lines have a photography section on the ship where you can browse through the photos at your leisure. They usually categorize them by event, “First night in the Golden Dining Room.” “First formal night” and so on. They do this so if you know your picture was taken at that event you’ll be able to find your picture.
We have gotten some pretty decent pictures of ourselves this way. The photos are expensive but you can justify it by classifying it as one of your souvenirs from the trip.
Kevin and I did have our picture taken the first formal night of our last cruise. The pictures were decent but unfortunately, we picked a background of colored dots and it just looked too busy and we didn’t buy any.
It was disappointing but as with any photo, you run the risk of them not turning out – it is what it is.
After reviewing your pictures, you have the option of discarding them in a recycle bin. That way, the photographers know you’re not interested and you’ve cleared some space for some other people’s pictures.
This is a standard service on all cruise lines.
By the end of the cruise, everyone who is interested, starts crowding around the photo galley to check one last time on their pictures. Because if you opt not to buy any pictures, they are thrown away and lost forever. To my knowledge, there is not an opportunity to see, or buy, any pictures after the cruise is over.
The last day of our last cruise was an at sea day. Kevin and I went to the library and were playing Scrabble when we started noticing people coming in with stacks of pictures. One group was laying all of their pictures out on the tables in the library and sorting through them. We knew, hearing their conversation, that they had bought the photo package and were trying to pick out the pictures they wanted to keep.
After a while, smaller groups of people started coming in with stacks of pictures as well. Only, they weren’t laying them out to look at, they were trying to find a secluded area to lay out their pictures and then take pictures of them with their cameras.
It got to the point about four or five couples were doing it.
It started with one couple – she would lay the pictures on the floor under a table, and then she would lean over and start taking pictures of them with her phone. She would then look around to see if anyone from the photo galley was around and then take several more pictures. The photo galley was right outside the library.
Another couple would come in, see what the first couple was doing, figured it was okay for THEM to do it and would start taking pictures with their phones.
After a while, so many people were doing it, Kevin and I simply stopped playing out game and started watching with our mouths hanging open. It was amazing to just see people’s audacity – to openly steal and not give a shit who saw them.
Kevin actually got up at one point to try and find a photo galley employee but there was no one around, which was part of the problem, I suppose.
I’m not talking about taking one or two pictures, people, I’m talking STACKS of photos. Like, these people took every opportunity to have their picture taken while on the cruise, with no intention of buying any of them because they had every intention to steal them after the cruise was over.
And yes, they STOLE those pictures.
Would it have been stealing if people had simply used the backdrops that were put out in preparation for the photographers to use but they weren’t there to take the pictures? I don’t think so. You’re not abusing someone’s time or using his/her expertise. You’re simply using something that is already there, using your camera and taking a picture of yourself.
Taking pictures of pictures is the same thing as downloading someone else’s music for free. You know you should pay the creator but if you can get it for free, why not?
Remember how much trouble Napster got into? Same principle applies here.
Kevin and I talked about it at length afterward. Is it stealing if you’re taking pictures of pictures of yourself? After all, you’re the subject. And the pictures are so expensive … you’re just taking what is yours, right?
Wrong. The cruise line has hired photographers to take your picture. You have wasted their time and abused their expertise. Will the photographers get paid regardless? Probably, since they are likely employed by the cruise lines, but have you stopped and considered WHY the photos are so expensive?
They’re most likely expensive because assholes like those on our cruise STEAL them. The cruise line has to recoup the losses somehow. Nothing is free, people. NOTHING.
Kevin and I went so far as to alert the cruise line that was happening on our after cruise survey. The cruise line probably already knows that is happening and if that is the case, they need to take steps to prevent that from happening in the future. Instead of putting those pictures out for anyone to grab, they need to digitize them. If you wan your pictures, then here is a disc of them for such-and-such price. I believe Disney cruise lines already does this.
Would Kevin and I be tempted to take a picture of a picture we really liked of us. Sure. We’re human after all. But would we? Probably not. We would feel too guilty because no matter how much you sugar coat it, it’s stealing.
Not only were we shocked by what happened, literally right in front of us, but we were shocked by HOW MANY couples did it. It was like it was no big deal, everyone else is doing it so what’s the problem? Kevin did end up taking a picture of the initial couple that started the whole thing. I don’t know why, it’s not like the cruise line would have asked for photo evidence or had done anything to the people if they did ask for it, but we have a visual reminder of how people just don’t have any morals anymore. We live in a society where it’s all about me and screw you. It’s so sad.
I remember feeling SO ANGRY when those people started doing that. I was angry for like hours. It’s one thing to talk about people doing things like this, reading about it, hearing it the news, but to witness it? It’s shocking and terribly disappointing. I feel like people just don’t have values anymore and it infuriates me and saddens me at the same time.
This sort of behavior is the reason why our world is in the shape it’s in today, people.
I like Taylor Swift’s music. Have you seen her latest video?
So much to talk about. Ready?
First of all, it’s so catchy. That’s one of the biggest reasons I like Taylor’s music – it’s just fun and catchy.
This video is fun, if not a bit insulting but HEY. it’s okay, I’m not upset and it’s certainly not going to ruin my day but damn girl, depicting people who don’t agree with homosexuality as idiots is a bit harsh, don’t ‘cha think?
I mean, to each his own, I guess. I know there ARE people who look like that, missing teeth, rat hair, holes in clothes, poor education, basically meth heads. But to imply that those are the kinds of people who disagree with your opinions is just … stupid.
People are ignorant. I won’t dispute that. But ignorance is present in coastal states too, not just the Midwest bible thumpers.
I understand where Tayor is going with this video and this song. And she’s right, there are WAY too many people who are offended and outraged over well, everything. People need to calm down.
You don’t agree with homosexuality? Okay. Life goes on.
You don’t agree with abortion? Okay. Life goes on.
You don’t agree with one particular politic party? Okay. Life goes on.
To sum up? People are not ignorant, evil or crazy if they disagree with you.
It’s called LIFE.
You need to calm down.
Taylor says people who are against homosexuality need to calm down – I say – same sweetie.
People who think straight people are devil incarnate also need to calm down.
People who have differing opinions have just as much right as you do, it’s called freedom of speech. Do you have to stand there and listen to those opinions? Nope. You can disregard and walk away. But those that try to bully and threaten their way to “being right” need to swallow a dose of reality. It’s not all about you and your life choices, hunty.
Everyone, take a chill pill AND CALM DOWN.
And one last thought – why is it okay to have one whole month dedicated to gay people but if we try and plan one whole month to celebrate straight people, the world goes apoplectic?
So gay people have chosen to dedicate one month to celebrate being gay? WHO CARES? You do you, boo. But DO NOT get upset when another section of our population would like to do the same for their life choice. You can’t have it your way and only your way, people.
You need to calm down.
This song goes both ways, this song goes ALL ways. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
People NEED to get over themselves. Truly.
And I’m going to be straight up honest with ya’ll – people honest to God DO NOT CARE ABOUT HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIVES.
We just got back from another cruise. Well, we didn’t JUST get back, we went mid-May.
If you didn’t know, Kevin and I are BIG cruisers. It’s fun and most importantly, we feel like we get our money’s worth.
When you mention cruising to people they immediately discard the idea. “It’s too expensive. Cruising is for rich people.” I can tell you right now, neither is true.
As with anything, you have to budget for a cruise but when you break down the cost and really see what you’re getting for your money, it’s actually a really good deal.
I mean, just the cost of the room and food nearly justifies the cost alone. But when you break down the number of places you stop, each port that you visit, again, you can’t beat the cost. Imagine how much it would cost you if you flew to each of these places? Then the cost of a hotel room and food on top of that. Don’t forget entertainment and taxis, tips, etc.
You honestly can’t beat the cost of a cruise – and I’m speaking of experience on that; I’m married to an accountant!
Kevin and I try and go on one cruise per year. We have an American Airline credit card that builds points toward airline tickets each time you use it. We also started using the Barclays card, which builds even MORE points toward airline tickets. (Honestly, we HIGHLY recommend looking into the Barclays card). We use our credit cards for everything – I can’t even tell you the last time I used cash for anything.
Now, keep in mind, we pay our cards off every month. Building points toward airline tickets only pays off if you’re not paying crazy high interest payments each month. But we figured, we’ll be buying this stuff anyway, why NOT use a card AND build points while we do it.
However, even though we build a lot of airline points each year, we don’t typically have enough accumulated by the time we’re ready to go on our next cruise the next year, so we have been alternating years we fly somewhere with driving to a nearby port other years.
For example, the last four years, we flew one year, the next year, we drove to New Orleans, then flew the next year, then drove down to New Orleans again.
That way, we continue to build points, don’t pay for flights, and we still get to go on a cruise every year.
In fact, I can’t even tell you the last time Kevin and I paid for airline tickets.
The points cover our airline tickets, it does not cover checking baggage. But still, it ends up costing us maybe $100 dollars to fly when we cash in our airline tickets – FOR BOTH OF US. I’d say that’s quite a deal.
Even though building points sounds great, and it IS great, there is a downside. Cashing in your points means you’re at the mercy of the airline. The available dates and times are limited. Which means, there will be times you have to fly at odd times, or have one or more layovers, or, you have to stay over someplace an extra day or two because the flight plan doesn’t exactly match your travel plans. And yes, then you have the extra cost for the hotel and food but even after factoring that cost in, it’s still cheaper than paying full price for airline tickets for each of us.
In short, it’s worth it. And if you have to stay over someplace, we take that time to do a little sight seeing – when are ever going to be back? Might as well take advantage of the time we’re there.
So again, win/win, really.
And that is how we manage to go on a cruise every year. Remember when I said you really need to budget for vacations/cruises? Well, Kevin has set up a cruising account made up of investments, and that’s the money we use to go cruising. So, we’re saving for retirement and basically cruising on the interest from our investments.
Another perk of being married to an accountant. 🙂
When we were driving back from New Orleans in May, (it takes about 10 hours and it’s really not a bad drive at all), we got to talking about how many cruises we’ve actually been on in our lifetime. We took our first cruise for our tenth anniversary. (Blake was about 8 and Brandon was 6 – they stayed with my parents for half the week and Kevin’s parents the second half of the week). We started naming them but honestly, we knew we were missing a few. (How sad, and how awesome, is it that we lost track of how many cruises we’ve been on? What a great problem to have!)
Kevin, being the super Excel geek that he is, made a spreadsheet of our cruises and I’d like to list them now, have a record of them, because if I don’t list them somewhere, we’ll lose track again.
2000 – Honeymoon cruise – we left out of Miami and cruised to San Juan/St. Thomas/Virgin Gorda – Carnival Paradise
2009 – left out of Miami and cruised to Belize/Honduras/Cozumel – Carnival Valor
2010 – left out of New York and cruised to St. John’s, NB/Halifax – Carnival Glory (this was right after Kevin’s’ motorcycle accident – he walked New York streets with a walker!)
2011 – left out of Port Canaveral and cruised to Orlando/Nassau/Freeport – Carnival Sensation
2012 – left out of Vancouver and cruised to Astoria OR/San Francisco – Holland America Zuiderdam (this was only a three-day cruise – TOO SHORT)
2013 – left out of Vancouver and cruised to Alaska (rode the train into the Yukon territory) – Holland America Statendam
2014 – no cruise – we vacationed in Las Vegas that year
2015 – left out of Honolulu and cruised to Hawaii (big Island)/Kauai/Maui – Norwegian Pride of America (This was our 25-year anniversary trip)
2016 – left out of New York and cruised to Bermuda – Norwegian Breakaway
2017 – left out of New Orleans and cruised to Montego bay/Jamaica/Grand Cayman/Cozumel – Carnival Dream
2018 – left out of San Juan and cruised to St. Thomas/Antigua/Barbuda/St. Kitts/St. Lucia – Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Sea
2019 – left out of New Orleans and cruised to Key West/Freeport/Half Moon Cay/Nassau – Carnival Glory
So I’ve been on 11 cruises, and Kevin has been on 13 cruises. (He took a cruise with the boys and LeRoy a few times without me).
Looking over that list, I would say … my favorite cruises were; 2000 (it was our first cruise and everything was new and exciting), Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda and the one we just got back from.
2012 Alaska is AMAZING and we will most definitely be back.
2015 Hawaii was fun and so beautiful, but it was expensive and we were in a port every day, which was fun, but utterly exhausting. Tip: book a cruise with at least one, or two sea days. Give yourself a chance to relax and catch your breath.
2016 Bermuda is breathtaking. The beaches are pink and super soft. We both loved it and will absolutely be going back for more.
2019 This past cruise was so smooth, literally. Every day the waters were smooth as glass, very little rocking. It was awesome and VERY unusual. If you go on a cruise, you need to plan for one or two patches of rough seas. The captain does everything he/she can do to stay clear of rough seas but sometimes it’s inevitable. You’re on the ocean after all, what do you expect? Just take a Dramamine, sit, relax, drink a ginger ale and the waters will smooth out eventually. Whatever you do, don’t walk around. It makes the sea sickness worse. This past cruise was also awesome because we sailed to Carnival’s private island, Half Moon Cay. It’s a private beach, plenty of room to enjoy the beach (you just have to walk away from the crowds a bit but it’s worth it), and there are no vendors there trying to shove their wares in your face. We will MOST definitely be back for more.
My least favorite cruises?
2009 The cruise itself was fun and this was the first time the boys cruised with us but I hated the ports. Belize/Honduras were pretty but super hot and humid and they had armed guards walking around with guns. Not fun.
2012 The cruise was just … meh. it was a short cruise and we just didn’t really have time to enjoy ourselves. And Astoria Oregon was beautiful but boring.
The rest of the cruises were fun, just nothing spectacular about them. I mean, every cruise is great, don’t get me wrong, I’m not ungrateful, but certain trips are just … perfect, others, are just fun.
If that makes sense.
We are planning our next cruise. It will be our 30th anniversary next year so I want to do something extra special. We have been saving our airline points and plan on flying to Barcelona Spain to take a Mediterranean cruise. It will take quite of bit of planning, the flight itself is about 14 hours long. And we will likely have to stay an extra day or two in Barcelona before flying back but somehow, I think we’ll find something to do.
Write From Karen 