Back Home!

[gja1000]

WHEW! I'm so glad to be back home from the Caribbean cruise. It was OK, but I will NEVER do that again and Gary swore he wouldn't either! I hope he meant it.

It was fun to be with his sisters, brothers-in-law, and nieces. They all had a great time and really loved being together.

But the cruise just mostly irritated me. And it was horribly rough for at least 4 days while sailing. We were never near the hurricanes/tropical storms in the gulf - but I think that is what caused our weather to be cloudy and WINDY! There were some days you had to be very careful walking because the sway and pitch of the ship would almost cause you to fall. I had to wear a scopalamine patch every day.

Gary did OK, not good and not terrible. At first he tried to do too much and was just exhausted on the fourth day and had to sleep most of that day. He took it easier and was able to do some things. He played blackjack in the casino every night, but could only stay about an hour due to the smoke in there. One night was non-smoking and although it stunk like smoke, it was better as no one was smoking. He started with $100 and ended up with $300 so he was happy with that. His brother-in-law won the $500 blackjack tournament. That was lots of fun to cheer him on!

I have a few pix - didn't take many. I'll get them posted soon!

[Blueyes]

I'm so glad you're back! I missed you:) At least you got the cruise behind you. A cruise has never appealed to me, either. I'm glad Gary made it fairly well and got to see his family. How was the food? I would dearly HATE being able to eat all of that yummy stuff...I'd be as big as the side of a house..literally:rolleyes: Some things are just to hard to resist:p

[gja1000]

Oh Man Betsi - the food is to DIE for - and it is EVERYWHERE!!!

Each night we had a 4 course dinner - appetizer, soup/salad, entree and dessert (and if you wanted two appetizers, two soups, two entrees, two desserts, you could have it) . Of course you didn't have to eat all 4 courses, but who could resist!! LOL! Some of the food was really weird though, and we didn't like it. We special ordered escargot one night, because it wasn't on the menu - but was available by request. Then they brought it to us the next 3 nights also! OH MAN! It was soooo good, but soooo rich!

Actually, each course was very small - not the huge quantity of food you get at a restaurant. But eating all four left you very very FULL!

Then during the day there was a continuous buffet for breakfast lunch (and dinner if you didn't want to eat in the fancy dining room). Plus you could always get pizza, hamburgers and hotdogs and french fries (to die for). I'm actually sick of eating and looking forward to eating regular food for change.

[Blueyes]

I would have been in BIG trouble with all that food, lol!! I have lost 35 lbs over the last several months, and it's just so, so hard. I'll bet I could gain it all back in 3 weeks:eek: You know, I have eaten lots of things in lots of places, but I've never had escargot!

[gja1000]

I would have been in BIG trouble with all that food, lol!! I have lost 35 lbs over the last several months, and it's just so, so hard. I'll bet I could gain it all back in 3 weeks:eek: You know, I have eaten lots of things in lots of places, but I've never had escargot!

Oh Betsi! I'm so happy for you losing weight - it IS so very hard!!! I wanted to lose 5 lbs cause I knew I'd gain some on the trip - but I ended up gaining rather than losing before the trip. Sometimes I can NOT lose weight and the harder I try the worse I eat. I am on the upper limit of my weight right now and I have to get it under control before the holidays. This trip did not help at ALL!!! :mad:

OMG! Escargot is wonderful!! It is a small little piece of meat (kinda like an oyster) covered in garlic butter. You scoop up the meat out of the garlic butter, so that it is just dripping with butter and then you pop it in your mouth! Soooo goooood!!! :p

[DianaB]

Gayle, I'm so glad that you're back home!! I'm sorry to hear that Gary had trouble with getting tired. I'm sure that he was over doing it with his family there. Now that he's home he'll be able to rest.

The food sounds wonderful!!! We had escargot once and it WAS really good!! I can't imagine having it several nights in a row because it's so rich. I'd have a horrible time with my weight if I went on a cruise but it sounds like fun!!!

Betsi, what did you do to lose weight? Was it something special?

[paula1961]

Hey Gayle! So glad you're back. Sorry your trip wasn't great! I've never been on a cruise and I've always wandered about the ship motion. Glad you had wonderful food though. I bet Gary was tickled to death with his winnings! Looking forward to seeing your pics!

[Blueyes]

Diana, I did the South Beach diet. My oldest sons doctor put him on it to lower his cholesterol so I started it with him. I've never been one to go on a diet that had a "name" but this one works for me. Once I FINALLY made it through the first 2 weeks, I really did loose my craving for sweets and carbs. If I'm in a situation where I have to eat something I shouldn't, I just don't beat myself up about it because I know I can start this diet again with ease. I have fought with my weight all of my life...BIG time, lol!!

[DianaB]

Thanks, Betsi. I'm so glad that this one worked for you. I'm sure you're thrilled with the weight loss. I need to do something so badly. Most of my problem is exercise. I just need to find something that's fun to do. Ha!! Ha!!!

Sorry to interupt your thread, Gayle!!!

[Blueyes]

Yes Gayle, sorry about that:)

[gja1000]

No need to apologize at all! I was very curious about how Betsi lost weight, so I'm glad to find out! Way to go Betsi!!!

Unfortunately, Gary is sick today. He woke up in the middle of the night with severe abdominal pain right in the appendix area. We thought he had appendicitis so we went to the doctor this morning. They did blood work and a CAT scan and thankfully, his appendix is OK! But they think he has an intestional infection so we have to take in stool specimens :o (3 of them) so they can figure out what it is and what kind of antibiotic to give him. He felt better today than he did last night, but he doesn't feel good now!

Poor baby - he just can't catch a break!

[Blueyes]

I'm so sorry for Gary and you. It just never ends, does it? Keep us posted please.

[gja1000]

Thanks Betsi! It's always something..............................:(

[Blueyes]

It's like...when they play, they pay:o

[gja1000]

That is just too true, Betsi!

[Marilyn]

Gayle, so glad that you are back, and sorry that the weather wasn't better for you. Do you suppose Gary picked up a bacteria on the cruise? Did you get off at any of the ports? So hope he is better very, very soon!!!! Will pray for both of you!!

[gja1000]

Yes, I think Gary picked up this bug on the cruise - but I don't think it was in any of the ports - I think it was from the ship. He did get off in Grand Turk, but only drank a margarita from Jimmy Buffet's restaurant, Margaritaville and I shared it with him.

Cruise ships are nortorious for spreading GI bacteria. He'll be OK, but he's pretty miserable right now.

[paula1961]

So Sorry that Gary is sick. Sending prayers your way Gayle:)

[DianaB]

I'm so sorry to hear that Gary is sick. Poor guy. I'm sure that it's stressful for both of you when this happens. I hope he gets well soon.

[Janet]

Yay you're back!!! Don't know how I missed this!!! Yes I do....too much Facebook! I have always wanted to go on a cruise but when we went deep sea fishing....I didn't fare so well...LOL.

I would love to be able to eat all that good food although I'd be paying for it later. I did the South Beach Diet and lost over 50 lbs a couple years ago, but once you go off it...it all comes back.

Sorry Gary isn't feeling well. Poor guy...didn't really enjoy the cruise that well and now not feeling well. Hope he's feeling better soon.

[judy]

Welcome back Gayle!!! I missed you!

Too bad the weather was not good, and that you were a bit seasick. It does sound like Gary enjoyed some of it, and that the food was yummmmy!

How is he feeling now? I hope it is easy to treat this infection. Cruises are known for these things, but it is a shame that Gary caught it!

[Gina]

I missed this post to.. Welcome home once again.. and I hope that Gary is feeling better..

Nothing worse than a bug. I remember when I was newly married we went to Acapulco, Mexico. I swear to you I stayed away from water and so much other food. I was thin to start with but believe me after two days I was sick as a dog and losing weight. Funny thing is at the time I was so sick and when I went to the hotel dr. he gave me over the counter drugs which happened to be sulfur pills and never told me to drink lots of water with it and he injected me with something at the time I didnt care. It was the dairy that made me sick, I met another couple who said that the malts was like back home.. I was soo hungry and thirsty from not eating anything never thought DUH!!! the milk was not pasterized... I picked up a parasite.

You live and learn and I will never go back to Mexico only in passing with a cruise ship in which I have.. The food is an abundance on the ships no place to be on a diet.. Gayle we usually have the early dinner, for I learned if you eat at the later time then you cannot go for the midnight buffett.. oy!

[gja1000]

Gayle we usually have the early dinner, for I learned if you eat at the later time then you cannot go for the midnight buffett.. oy!


You are exactly right Gina :D There's no room for the midnight buffet if you have the late dinner!!! But I didn't make the arrangements, so I was stuck with the late dinner.

When we went on an Alaska cruise, we also had the late dinner. BUT it was daylight till midnight - and our table was right beside floor to ceiling windows and the view was breathtaking - so we really enjoyed our late dinner. We would stay till they closed the dining room, about 10:30, just sipping wine and enjoying the view and good company.