Help me decide vacation 2010

After another restless night (I was coughing and pretty much miserable all night), I started looking into the various cruises I might be taking in 2010. An idea came to me that perhaps I will take two different vacations in 2010 instead of one long vacation.

Here are the two cruises I am thinking about booking in July, 2010.

July 2, 2010 aboard Princess Cruise Line's "Caribbean Princess". This is a 9 night cruise to Bermuda and the Caribbean which sails round trip from NYC. Since the 4th of July falls on Sunday in 2010, that means Monday is the legal holiday (even for the post office and banks). I would be able to take a 9 night vacation and still only use 5 days of vacation time.

Here is the itinerary:

Day	Location	Arrival	Departure
Friday, July 2, 2010	New York, New York	--	05:00 PM
Saturday, July 3, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Sunday, July 4, 2010	Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda	08:00 AM	05:00 PM
Monday, July 5, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Tuesday, July 6, 2010	San Juan, Puerto Rico	01:00 PM	11:00 PM
Wednesday, July 7, 2010	St. Thomas, U.s. Virgin Islands	07:00 AM	04:00 PM
Thursday, July 8, 2010	Grand Turk, Caicos Islands	01:00 PM	07:00 PM
Friday, July 9, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Saturday, July 10, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Sunday, July 11, 2010	New York, New York	07:15 AM	--

July 1, 2010 aboard Cunard Cruise Line's "Queen Mary 2". This is a 5 night cruise to New England and Canada also sailing round trip from NYC. Once again, since the 4th of July is Sunday, the 5th is the legal holiday, and, I would only need to take 3 days vacation.

And here is the itinerary for Cunard QM2:

Day	Location	Arrival	Departure
Thursday, July 1, 2010	New York	--	06:00 PM
Friday, July 2, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Saturday, July 3, 2010	Halifax	08:00 AM	05:00 PM
Sunday, July 4, 2010	Boston	12:00 PM	11:00 PM
Monday, July 5, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Tuesday, July 6, 2010	New York	07:00 AM	--

Interesting proposition. My family has been tossing around the idea of a Christmas cruise for 2010. Since everyone lives within 150 miles of NYC we are thinking about either taking Queen Mary 2 OR Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas.

Here is the Explorer of the Seas itinerary:

Day	Location	Arrival	Departure
Sunday, December 19, 2010	Cape Liberty, Bayonne, N.j.	--	04:00 PM
Monday, December 20, 2010	Cruising	--	--
Tuesday, December 21, 2010	Cruising	--	--
Wednesday, December 22, 2010	Labadee, Haiti	08:00 AM	05:00 PM
Thursday, December 23, 2010	Samana, Dominican Republic	08:00 AM	05:00 PM
Friday, December 24, 2010	Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas	08:00 AM	05:00 PM
Saturday, December 25, 2010	Cruising	--	--
Sunday, December 26, 2010	Bridgetown, Barbados	08:00 AM	06:00 PM
Monday, December 27, 2010	Roseau, Dominica	08:00 AM	06:00 PM
Tuesday, December 28, 2010	St. Johns, Antigua	08:00 AM	05:00 PM
Wednesday, December 29, 2010	Philipsburg, St. Maarten	07:00 AM	05:00 PM
Thursday, December 30, 2010	Cruising	--	--
Friday, December 31, 2010	Cruising	--	--
Saturday, January 1, 2011	Cruising	--	--
Sunday, January 2, 2011	Cape Liberty, Bayonne, N.j.	07:00 AM	--

And here is the Queen Mary 2 Itinerary:

Sunday, December 19, 2010	New York	--	06:00 PM
Monday, December 20, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Tuesday, December 21, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Wednesday, December 22, 2010	Grand Turk	08:00 AM	01:00 PM
Thursday, December 23, 2010	Tortola	09:00 AM	06:00 PM
Friday, December 24, 2010	St Maarten	08:00 AM	06:00 PM
Saturday, December 25, 2010	At Sea	--	--
Sunday, December 26, 2010	Curacao	09:00 AM	02:00 PM
Monday, December 27, 2010	Grenada	09:00 AM	06:00 PM
Tuesday, December 28, 2010	Barbados	08:00 AM	06:00 PM
Wednesday, December 29, 2010	St Lucia	08:00 AM	06:00 PM
Thursday, December 30, 2010	St Kitts	08:00 AM	06:00 PM
Friday, December 31, 2010	St Thomas	08:00 AM	05:00 PM
Saturday, January 1, 2011	At Sea	--	--
Sunday, January 2, 2011	At Sea	--	--
Monday, January 3, 2011	New York	06:30 AM	--

I am very fortunate that the company where I work automatically closes for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's so it's like a bonus week of vacation. And, other members of my family who are still in the work force and not retired also have this same great benefit with their respective companies.

Additionally, since Christmas falls on Saturday in 2010, that means my company will use December 24th as the holiday, and, therefore, the Christmas cruise will only cost me 4 vacation days on Royal Caribbean and 5 days on Cunard.

Vacation Carry Over

So, if I take the QM2 sailing in July, I will be able to carry an additional 2 to 3 days vacation into 2011 or no extra vacation days in 2011 if I select Caribbean Princess for the 4th of July in 2010 and QM2 for Christmas.

Confused yet? Help me decide! Vote in the poll (found in the upper right hand column)

On the right hand column you will see that I put up a poll. If you'd like to give your opinion of which you believe is the best vacation combination - based only on the choices I have presented, please take a moment to vote.

The polls is open for the next 10 days but, realistically, I'll probably book by next Monday or so.

At Heathrow Waiting to Fly to the USA

Well, here I am at Heathrow waiting for my flight home. This is NOT how this vacation was suppose to turn out. And to answer your question, yes, he has called over a dozen times, I didn't talk to him, but, he left messages pouring his heart out what a mistake it was and he wasn't sure why he did it. I'm not buying it.

In my 20s, heck, even in my 30s I would have been devastated by him cheating on me. I probably would have taken him back. However, I'm older, hopefully a bit wiser, and, I simply am not going to put up with this type of nonsense at this point in my life. I've been through far too much, and, I am certain someone better - more mature - is out there for me.

The only thing that has me really upset is my cold which is absolutely horrible. I thought about staying in London a few extra days to rest up, but, I'll feel better being in my own house, in my own bed.

I probably won't be posting tomorrow so I will wish those of you following this blog in the United States a Happy 4th of July. As for those in other countries, have a wonderful weekend. I'm off to get some soup or tea or something before boarding for my flight home starts.

PS - One bit of good news. He caught my cold! And, I hope he is feeling miserable complete with all the symptoms I've been suffering while he was out cheating on me!

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The Romance of Paris Can Bring About Unexpected Delights

If you ever doubted that Paris is among the most romantic cities in the world, if not THE most romantic city in the world, I would like to put your doubts aside. Oh yes, I know I've been missing in action for the past couple of days, however, I am very happy to report it is not due to a relapse of either of our cold; rather, the joy of the passion we've been expressing with each other.

Now, I don't want to imply we haven't left the hotel, we have indeed, but, we finally found our rhythm in the most intimate of ways, and, it has been fantastic. And the most unexpected twist of fate presented itself these past few days. I don't know how or why, but, I'm kind of engaged to be engaged. My love has vowed to me we WILL be returning to Paris within a year's time, and, we will become engaged at that time.

Truthfully, I'm a bit nervous. I've been down this engagement path before and it ended in disaster, but, I am throwing caution to the wind, and, just allowing things to proceed in it's most natural of courses. If we are meant to be together, if this one is truly "the one" then fate will take our hands and show us the way. If this is merely another heartbreak waiting to happen, then I will enjoy every moment I can until that time to say good-bye crosses our path.

I'm also feeling a bit more pressured now, since Monday we fly to Spain, and, I will be meeting his family for the first time. I'm trying to keep my composure to present the best possible me and not some blathering, self-centered, stereo-typical American.

More later...

We're going to the theater, are we crazy?

It's heading for 4pm here in London, and, against my better judgment, we are going out to dinner and the theater this evening. While I'm a bit better, my love is worse, and, I hate that he wants to go out just for my benefit. We're back at the hotel, and, he is taking a shower. He has a fever, and, he isn't going to enjoy this, so, why are we going?

I swear, until the day I die, I will never understand men. They're either totally macho or total wusses when they get sick. I see I have Mr. Macho here. I hear him in there coughing his brains out.

I will write again tomorrow... I love him, but, right now I just wish he'd let himself be sick.

I'm just not that into HIM

For a while now there has been a phrase in use that goes along the lines "He's just not that into you." Meaning that a man just doesn't have as much interest in a woman as she has in him. Often times, women find themselves making excuses for why a man she really likes hasn't called or asked her on another date.

The twist in my life? What if I'm just not into HIM? For the past several months I've been seeing a man, who, well, just isn't my type. I think he is wonderful as a friend, and, would hate to lose his friendship, but, there are so many turn offs about a romance with him. I'm just not that into him.

The problem is that I keep telling this guy that I'm not interested in getting romantically involved with him, and, yet, he keeps pursuing me. I've told him point blank that our ideas, tastes, and, other important factors are too far apart for this to work for me.

Twice already I've tried to break up with him in our "relationship" that has developed only in his mind. Twice he has come back insisting that I will change my mind.

I guess I'm to blame a bit too. I'm not as strong or as insistent as I should be with this man, but, I've never been good at breaking up. I'm far too concerned about hurting the other person's feelings, and, so I continue to hurt myself by allowing this to go on.

However, I've met someone new, and, albeit, it's going to be months before I see this man again (I live in New York and this new man lives in Europe), we have been in communication, and, opening up to each other via telephone conversations and emails on a daily basis and communicating several times a day.

So, now the problem is how do I tell my "clinger-on" guy that I am interested in someone else without crushing this guy who is already vulnerable and currently in a rehab program for an addiction?

There is no question that my new gentleman friend is a much better fit for me, and, there is no question (even if the new guy doesn't work out) that the man I am not into just isn't right for me. Meaning, I was trying to break up with this guy even before this new guy entered my life. And, I don't want to do something cruel like have him "catch" me with the new guy, and, I do truly want to let him down as easy as possible. Having been on the flip side of this situation (me liking someone who didn't feel the same towards me), I know how hard it's going to be for him to accept it.

I will keep you posted how things develop. Wish me luck.

Under the Tuscan Sun - Oh that white dress!

If you've never read or seen the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" the story is about an American woman who finds herself divorcing, and, through a series of events she ends up buying a villa outside of Florence, Italy. It's a wonderful story, and, if you're looking for a good summer book, this one comes highly recommended (or if you're looking for a chic flick this is a good one to rent.)

In the story, our heroine, Frances, has a dream that she needs to buy a white dress before meeting one of her romantic encounters. And by the photo above, you can see what I mean when I say "Oh that white dress!"

Why is it so hard to find a white dress that equals the one Dianne Lane wore in the movie? A white dress with style and class. I've tried doing internet searches to see if I could locate a replica of that white dress and, no one seems to know of anywhere or anyone that offers a dress similar to it.

Furthermore, why is it that all the designers seem to copycat each other regardless of the garment? If designer A puts out a long dress and calls it a maxi dress, then designers B, C, D, etc also put out a long dress and call it a maxi dress. And, this doesn't apply to just the maxi dress but, nearly every piece of clothing out there.

Personally, I am tired of everything being marketed to the trashiest, lowest sector of society. These are the same people who watch reality tv, who value looks over intelligence, and, generally speaking, cannot speak or think independently for themselves.

Surely I cannot be the only person out there who feels this same way. How many times have you gone into your favorite department store to find absolutely nothing close to what you are seeking? Even the most upscale department stores and boutiques fall short in offering something other than what everyone else is showing.

One thing is for certain. I do LOVE that white dress. And, personally, I cannot wait to return to Italy to see if our Italian counter parts are having more success in finding better fashions.

So, who wants to come with me? Anyone want to go Italy and go shopping?

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