Monday, August 31, 2009

Christmas & New Year's on QM2 in 2010

In 2010 I will be spending the holidays aboard Cunard Cruise Line's QM2.

Itinerary:

Day Location Arrival Departure
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 --


Care to join me? Email for details and pricing as well as travel agent contact information to book. Group amenities and pricing apply.

SWF42email@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A Girl's Weekend of Shopping - Good Idea!

I was reading an article about a Girl's Shopping Weekend this morning in Examiner.com, and, began thinking how long it's been since I've gathered my friends together to enjoy such as weekend. Of course, we always put our unique spin on it like going for afternoon tea at The Plaza or heading to Lucky Cheng's for a some laughs, but, it has me thinking it's a good time to start planning for later this Fall.

I'm actually a bit amazed at the hotel prices, and, how low they are compared to years past. And, yes, regardless that we're all in the NYC area, we still do our shopping weekends right, and, get hotel rooms, it's all part of the experience. But, after checking Expedia.com this morning, I will be making some calls to get things arranged this week...

Take a look at some of the prices I've found (weekend of Friday October 23 through Sunday October 25):

Omni Berkshire
for $762.88 for 2 nights in a Deluxe King Room

The Michelangelo Hotel for $746.12 for 2 nights in a Executive King Room

Loew's Regency NYC
for $1,032.04 for 2 nights in a Superior King Room

Taking into consideration these are all 4 star or better hotels, these are outstanding rates! Time to call the girls and figure out a shopping weekend before the holidays!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

I Want A Do Over

I wanted to shared this - I wrote an email to a friend - it pretty much sums up how my week is going:
Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you were a kid and you could start it over with a "do-over"? What a night/day I've had... Normally I'm not one to complain, well at least not too much, it has to be something pretty major to get me going or lots of little things that add up to be a bigger pain than just one big thing. (Did you follow that?)

Anyhow, I go to the gym last night and everything was fine. I come home and the apartment is stifling hot. First thing I do is check and make sure the cat is ok. He's warm but otherwise fine. I walk into the living room in socks and the rug is soaking wet - the air conditioner broke. So, after waiting for the super in an unbearable heat (I have an apartment where the window's only open a bit), he tells me he needs a part and can't get the part until the morning. Well there is no way I'm staying there so I get a room at a hotel where they accept pets.

I get to the hotel and my cat (who is a huge chicken to begin with) freaks out and runs under the bed. I figure this normal, he'll come out eventually. So, I wait and I wait and I wait, I fall asleep and get up in the morning. He's still wedged under the bed. I have to check out and get back to the apartment.

So I call the front desk and explain the problem and they send someone up to help me. It took two guys to physically lift the bed while I went under and pulled the little sucker out. Luckily he went right into his carrier. So, I check out and get back to the apartment to let the super in.

As I wait it's getting warmer and warmer since the day is getting brutally hot. FINALLY the super shows up and gets the AC running. After babysitting for a good two hours I figure it's cool enough that the cat is ok and I can head off to work.

I get home and now find out the delightful news that our never, ever broken elevators are undergoing maintenance, and, to use the freight elevator. On any other day this would be simple. Today, someone is moving into the building and the freight elevator is use and in the hold position for a good 20 minutes as they unload it.

Finally make upstairs- what a day

So can I get a "do-over?" :)

Monday, August 17, 2009

Summer Finally Arrived and I'm planning a trip to Russia

Well summer finally arrived, it's hot here, well into the 80s in NYC but, with the humidity factored in it feels more like 90 or hotter. By week's end it should be much cooler. This is going to be short and sweet entry since I'm planning a cruise for Northern Europe and Russia next July. Here's the itinerary:

Day Location Arrival Departure
Saturday, July 10, 2010 Southampton, England -- 04:45 PM
Sunday, July 11, 2010 Brugges,(zeebrugge),belgium 08:30 AM 03:00 PM
Monday, July 12, 2010 At Sea -- --
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 Berlin (warnemunde), Germany 09:00 AM 11:59 PM
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 At Sea -- --
Thursday, July 15, 2010 Stockholm, Sweden 08:00 AM 05:00 PM
Friday, July 16, 2010 Helsinki, Finland 10:00 AM 06:00 PM
Saturday, July 17, 2010 St. Petersburg, Russia 07:00 AM --
Sunday, July 18, 2010 St. Petersburg, Russia -- 06:00 PM
Monday, July 19, 2010 Tallinn, Estonia 08:00 AM 05:00 PM
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 At Sea -- --
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 At Sea -- --
Thursday, July 22, 2010 Amsterdam, Holland 09:00 AM 11:59 PM
Friday, July 23, 2010 At Sea -- --
Saturday, July 24, 2010 Southampton, England 05:30 AM --

For more information about this cruise visit: Celebrity Cruises at http://www.celebrity.com

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Life's Curve Balls - Putting Things Into Perspective

Looks like I'm heading to jolly old England next May for a short trip on Cunard Queen Victoria. It's only a 5 night cruise but, I am very much looking forward to it since it is visiting some of my favorite cities in the world. I'm also looking forward to the pre-cruise stay in London before heading down to Southampton. No, I'm not taking requests for someone to join me, I've already been bombarded with my half joking request to have someone join me for The Nutcracker.

*Sigh*... A friend of mine just returned to England and not for the best of reasons. Her beloved brother died of cancer last night - he was only 45. The worst part is that he couldn't hang on until my friend got home to say good-bye to him - she was mid-flight home when he passed, and, I received the terrible news this morning.

It's times like these when life gets put into prospective a bit. The little annoyances just don't seem so troubling after receiving news like the death of someone too young to die.

So if you find yourself having a rough day, put things into perspective and somehow it probably won't seem so bad. ..

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Gentlemen Please Only Respond If...

Well, I have an email box full of my half joking request to have one of you join me for the Nutcracker in December at Lincoln Center. I appreciate that many of you ladies would like to accompany me, and, while I do agree with the argument that going to ballet is very much a "chick thing", I would much rather the company of a gentleman.

A gentleman is defined as "a man of noble or gentle birth b : a man belonging to the landed gentry c (1) : a man who combines gentle birth or rank with chivalrous qualities (2) : a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of propriety or correct behavior d (1) : a man of independent means who does not engage in any occupation or profession for gain (2) : a man who does not engage in a menial occupation or in manual labor for gain"

So to the rude, blunt man who thinks me hanging off the back of his Harley is my idea of a good time, thanks but, no thanks. There was much more to his vulgar email which isn't fit for public reading, simply use your imagination for such a person.

To the rather cocky UES doctor who apparently thinks he is God's gift to women, to you I also thanks but, no thanks. While tales of romantic escapes might be enchanting to some, it is only a turn off to me. Anyone who has more than 50 partners in his past and has yet to reach 50 years of age is not for me. I wish you luck in finding your next victim, I mean date.

To the 23 year old. You are absolutely adorable. If I was 22 there is no way I would be able to wait until December. Alas, young man (and I do mean young man) I am not a cougar nor do I want to be one. And so I toss you back into the dating pond.

To the snide guy from the Midwest asking who I think I am or what do I have to offer, my reply is this:
  1. I am well traveled and will continue to be well traveled. Why is this important? To quote Mark Twain "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." I have been to over 25 countries in the world (including 3 of the 7 continents). I can hold intelligent conversations about many countries and cities around the world.
  2. I am not a fat couch potato. I walk at least 3 miles every day and go to the gym at least 4 times a week. My body is toned.
  3. If you had followed my blog from the start or had bothered to read anything about me, you know I will not reveal my profession. Rest assured I make a very good salary.
  4. My looks might not appeal to everyone, but, I do seem to be appealing to the majority of the population including the professional modeling agency who approached me in my younger years. Oh yes, they were from a very real and legitimate agency; and, yes they approached me, not the other way around.
  5. I can converse on many topics from music to real estate to equine related topics, and, those are to just to mention a few.
And these are just a few of my qualities. I made a promise when I started this blog that I would at least write back once to anyone who wrote to me. I am continuing to keep that promise, however, if you don't hear from me again, you simply couldn't hold my interest.

The invitation to the Nutcracker with me was meant tongue-in-check. In other words, it wasn't meant to be taken seriously. However, apparently more than one of you did take it seriously, and, if someone out there truly thinks he might be a match for me then by all means please email me at SWF42email@gmail.com

Nutcracker Sweet!

For those interested in attending the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center this year, individual tickets go on sale on September 28th. Group tickets are available now. Here's the link: http://www.nycballet.com/nutcracker/nutcracker.html

Who wants to go with me? Email me at swf42email@gmail.com with photo and why you would be my dream date.