Ships and Dip - A barenaked cruise

Well, I went on vacation, now I am sick.  I have a fever and everything hurts. Even my butt. It hurts to sit or stand.  So, why not sit and blog? I am going stir crazy in my house, so the internet is my only saviour.

My vacation was awesome. I am going to break it down like this:

Day 1 - Thurs Feb 3 - flew into Toronto, stayed in the Four Points Sheraton, had room service, watched CSI and then passed out.  Horrible sleep, bed was not comfy.

Day 2 - Fri Feb 4 - flew out of Toronto into Ft Lauderdale.  Decided to take a shuttle to hotel in South Beach.  Met friend Bob in bar, checked in, cute room, back to the bar.  Texted Stacy, Michelle, Bari, Sam.  Bob bought me an amazing drink called Miami Vice.  I then found my friends and had a great evening.  Had a couple of drinks in Matt and Michelle's room with Stacy and Shawn.  Had dinner at Johnny Rockets, and got hamburger grease all over my white shirt.

Day 3 - Sat Feb 5 - Had breakfast at Johnny Rockets for $1.99.  Went and got Gelato at the place the Jersey Shore kids worked with Matt, Michelle, Stacy, Shawn, Bari, Crystal, Sam, Jake and Brandy.  Then we went shopping.  Andrew got a cute sweater at the Puma Store for half price.  We went to Urban Outfitters and got cute shoes, and Stacy bought us necklaces for that night's events that said "Hot Mess, Fucked up and Shit Faced".  Got into a fight with our waiter and the manager called the cops. It was awesome!! We went to the beach and saw boobs, asses and portegeuse manowars.  Had some pre drinks in Matt and Michelle's room again, then headed to Wet Willies!  That place was awesome! They had a wall of slushie drinks! My fav was Margherita!  I met so many people and totally got shit faced!  Andrew left early and left me with $18.00, Matt left Michelle and she had no money. Stacy got so fucked up, she left.  Crystal gave me and Michelle money so we could get more drinks!

Day 4 - Sun Feb 6 - S0 hungover. OMG.  It was horrible.  Had Johnny Rockets for breakfast. We checked out of our hotel the Colony,. and so did 40 of our friends. We filled the lobby! We had to move across the street!  I had rented a bus to pick us up and take us to the port.  We got on the bus and headed to the port to board our ship the Norwegian Dawn.  After we all checked our bags and got into a lineup, Andrew couldn't find his passport. PANIC TIME!!!!  After 5 minutes of complete and utter stress (and me deciding I was going without him) we found his passport in my purse!  Once on the boat, we had lunch, did the muster drill, found a group of tables and watched the sail away show featuring Barenaked Ladies.  At this point I was so overheated. I ordered two pina colada's and was starting to pass out from the heat. I got up and watched the show in a shaded area for awhile. I was feeling okish.  Then off to a message board party to share Canadian candy and get my Orbitz Gum (mint mojito and pina colada) and coconut M & M's.  That was fun, got to meet some of the new kids.  From there I went to dinner with Andrew, Matt, Michelle, Stacy and Shawn.  Everyone but Andrew wanted to see the Great Big Sea concert, but it wasn't till later.  So we split up. I went to my cabin with Andrew, I felt ill.  I laid down and set my alarm to meet at the GBS show.  I had heatstroke from earlier in the day (line up at port and sailaway show). Andrew left to go see Second City and I passed out at 9:00pm.

Day 5 - at sea - Woke up feeling great. I had rough sleep but felt great. Today is naked photo day!  Went to Crystal and Sam's room and drank their water and had some of their food.  Then ordered my own room service.  Then it was time to head up to deck 12 to take our Barenaked Photo with the Barenaked Ladies! This was my 4th time doing this photo!  We had our slide flutes and we had fun throwing them into the crowd to create a large Naked Slide Flute Band.    All my friends were there, I think.  Afterwards was fun too, taking pics and goofing around.    We got into the Snacktime show.  It was so great!!  I can't remember what we did all day, but I do know it was pajama night. After dinner, we changed into our pajamas and Andrew was sick.  I went to see Jenn Grant and fell in love with her! She was such a cutie, Michelle, Stacy and I got a pic with her, but Shawn hasn't uploaded it yet.  We then wound up on the top deck watching the Odds Play, with our feet in the water of the pool. Stacy and Michelle got their pic with Ed!

Quality Time with Friends in Costa Maya

Day 6 - Costa Maya Port - Today was my favourite day.  Along with 40 of my friends, we rented a private beach club called Maya Chan.  Bari organized the whole thing. It had all you can eat and drink.  We had cabana's, beach chairs and hammocks.  It was so much fun!!! Some quality time with my friends and some yummy coconut choppy thingies.  Best part? Free WiFi!!!   Later that night, we went and stood in line for tickets to that nights BNL main show.  It was a great set!  After that we went and saw Second City Improv, they were friggin hilarious!

Team Awesome J.A.M.M.S.S

Day 7 - Cozumel Port - I was looking forward to this day because I had found a great excursion called "The Amazing Cozumel Race". I posted it on the msg board and Rhonda took charge.  She organized it all.  It was so hot and humid and we were thirsty before we began.  We started out with a team photo and then the race was on! On our team was Matt, Michelle, Stacy, Shawn, Andrew and myself.  We all took off running. And then we stopped.  It was so much fun, but gawd, it was hot and I am fat.  We fell behind quickly.  I was happy when we wound up in an air conditioned museum to get a clue.  Then onto a boat, where Shawn dove down to a sunken ship to get the name of it for our last clue.  Upon exiting the boat, I smoked my head on the roof and almost knocked myself out.  We then sat for 30 minutes while I iced my head trying decide if I was ok.  I am glad I was ok to go on.  We did a few more clues, including Stacy getting a henna tattoo, and the best was yet to come.  We had to play mini golf.  If we missed the shot, we could restart again, or buy drinks from the bar.

We chose drinks! $1 for beer and $2 for Sangria!!!  So we sat down and chilled and drank!    After awhile we headed out on our clues again, stopped and bought some stuff, and then finally headed for the finish line.  We were second last to check in, but yet, we came in last place cos we had asked for help at one point.  It was a fantastic race.  But again, the heat took over and I was about to pass out, plus with my head injury I was in pain.  So off the boat we went while, the rest of our team stayed and had a great time in Cozumel.  

Day 7 was also Irish Night.  Great Big Sea played the sail away show, and Stacy got us great seats, and we waited and waited.  It rained and we stayed!  The show was fantastic.  We then went for dinner and then off to another Barenaked Ladies main show.  The concert was FANTASTIC!! Lots of guests came on to sing some of our fav Steve Songs.  Jason Plumb, you rawked my sawks BIG TIME!!!  Afterwards, we watched Acid Wish play and Michelle and Stacy got their pic with Alan!

Day 8 - at sea - A lot happened this day. I slept in till after 10am.  Then had breakfast. We went to the merch store and bought some stuff and headed back to our room to drop off our stuff. Upon returning to our room we had a letter in our mailbox saying we were invited to a BNL meet and greet!  I missed Bob's book reading. We then got in line for Songwriters in the Round.  That was a great panel.  Andrew and Sam got us front row.  I even asked Ed to sing Bank Job and he did!! That was awesome.  We then went to Meet and Greet, and got pics with the band.  It was fun! Ed was like "You were the one who requested Bank Job!" and I was like "yeah, I meant to say When I fall, but Bank Job came out and I was happy with that too" he then laughed! He signed our ships and dip poster, and a promo pic I had.  Melissa had gotten 2 of the guys to sign her Iphone case, so I brought it with me to get the other two to sign.  Tyler said that this was the best cruise ever, and Kevin said he hoped we would sail again.  I was happy!!  Afterwards, we ran into Boothby and Jason Plumb, and got our pics taken with them.  

We had a big dinner with our friends at Cagney's steak house.  Once last chance to hang with our cruise friends and it was awesome!!! Then went and packed up our room.  My feet were so swollen, shoes wouldn't fit, so I put my feet up and watched Andrew pack.  Crystal and Sam were packing up their room too.  We just left our doors open, so we could talk and goof off.  She had some adult chocolate milk and I took it all.  I poured it into my Starbucks cup.

This was our last night on the cruise, and we then went to watch Acid Wish perform, knowing it was the final show of the cruise and that the final jam would occur there.   Stacy, Shawn, Matt and Michelle had a seat saved for us when we got there.  They were drunk!! With my starbucks cup of ACM, I wasn't far behind. I had so much fun!! We danced and sang and we went on the dance floor for a long time.  We finally left at 1:30am back to our room to pass out.

Day 9 - back in Miami - Woke up hung over and went and joined our friends for breakfast.  It was so sad, we knew this was goodbye for awhile.  Some of these friends I hadn't seen in 2 yrs.  Not knowing if there will be another cruise, and not knowing who will be on it, made me so sad.  We organized a group shot, before all the hugging.  Amber made me cry because she was crying.   Saying goodbye was so hard.    We finally left the cruise ship, had a clusterfuck of a time with our shuttle to the airport.  Kate and Eric joined us.  I love them too.  At the airport was fun, long lineups.  But I did see Boothby at the info desk. It was awesome. "Omg, hi Boothby" he smiles "Hi darlin', how are you?" and I say "tired" and he said "me too" and then I left, and turned and ran into Jason Plumb. Literally.  I really had to pee at that point so I just said "SORRY!" and kept going.  He was on our flight to Toronto!

We had a yummy lunch at Chili's and then onto our flight.  By the time we landed in Toronto, my legs were so swollen and sore I couldn't walk.  Thank goodness Dr. Landy was on that flight!  She assured me I was ok, and for me to find some compression socks and ibuprofen.  I did find that stuff in Toronto.  Then we got on our next flight.  We got home around 1:30am and I passed out big time.  On saturday, I didn't even shower or get dressed.

I had the best vacation ever.  Now I am sick, as well as Matt and Michelle. Who's next? It was worth tho.