Wednesday, December 04, 2013

November Ornament

Well, I have to say that went as badly as I imagined. Seven days with eleven other people? That kind of thing is doomed from the start.* Sure we had an owner’s suite with a bathroom that was bigger than ours at home (a  double sink! it had a double sink!) but as everyone always says about cruises, you don’t spend a cruise in your stateroom. 

The weather was kind of bad (um, you could feel the largest cruise ship in the world rocking and rolling with the waves), and we had to skip Nassau all together because the seas were too rough to navigate such a narrow port. We went deep sea fishing in St. Thomas on 3-5 foot** seas.  And then they canceled our mountain trek in St Maarten because of the mud after three days of rain (too slippery). Also, there were about 5000 kids on the cruise. So fabulous accommodations aside, this was not the best vacation I’ve ever been on. But it’s over and we survived. (And, my BIL saved a woman’s life. For real. She was choking in the dining room, and her husband was doing a bad imitation of the Heimlich maneuver. Jersey strode over, pushed the husband aside and the next thing you knew, he was being congratulated by people at all the tables around us.)

I did finish my November ornament. I even did it before last Wednesday, but I was totally disconnected on the trip. I didn’t miss a minute of social media. On Monday my first full day of reconnection, I was bored by Facebook and had no desire to play WWF. The horror!

This is Little House Needlework’s Pear Tree from the 2006 JCS Ornament Issue. This poor ornament was plagued with errors in the printed pattern, not down to Diane Williams, I am sure.  I stitched this on a random piece of khaki fabric, 28-count. It’s not the pale green of the original, so the green in the design looks really washed out. Oh well, I was out of reach of my supplies. Sometimes you have to make do.

*Now my mother is talking renting a house for 12 people next time. OMG. I have to figure out how to divorce my family. Hasn’t anyone ever heard of traveling alone?***

**That’s what Captain Crazeballs told us it was. It was over five. (In response to me saying “A bad day fishing’s still better than a good day at work,” my cousin’s husband said he just kept imagining being at his desk in New York to be followed by a Manhattan and a steak at Sullivan’s.)


***You would be correct if you think the dude and I would never travel with you. I was just flabbergasted the first time I heard about people traveling with another couple. Why on earth would anyone do that?

16 comments:

Margaret said...

lol! You crack me up! Well, we travel with my sister and her husband and kids. We can never decide if we like it or not. We have not done it as well as done it, so I think the jury is out. But another couple that's not my sister? No way. My sister's done it, but not me! Sorry your cruise was not the greatest. I hope the renting the house for 12 next year falls through. lol! Love the ornie!

Karen said...

Traveling with that many people would put me right over the edge. You deserve a medal.

EvalinaMaria said...

Way to many kids... My best vacation ever was when I went on Silent Retreat. No internet, no telephone, lovely surroundings and great library.

Needle Nicely said...

There can be nothing worse than being on a cruise ship in a horrible storm--believe me, I was on the QEII during the perfect storm (yes, that storm, though we didn't know it at the time). The cruise line should issue vouchers for passengers, because who would cruise again after that experience unless it was free? And especially if it's a cruise with lots of relatives!!!

Beth said...

Laughing so hard I can barely type. Welcome home!

Linda said...

So glad you made it Nikki. We went with my inlaws last year on the cruise. It was okay with them. But, I don't think I'll go on another cruise. At least you got your ornie done.

Linda

Chris said...

At least your survived the trip! Love the stitching. Start planning all your vacations now for next year...plans that you can't change...

Melody said...

Glad you survived your cruise. I've never done one, and don't think I would like it. And, I agree that you should make other plans instead of the house party vacation for 12....

I love your ornament. Looks great on that fabric.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

I don't even really enjoy visiting with that many people at home, so you have my admiration! Nice ornie. I'm sure Stella was happy to see y'all.

Marcy said...

Well, at least you finished your ornament ... and it looks great to boot.

Christina G said...

My husband and I traveled with another couple on a cruise many years ago and that was a very bad thing to do. I won't bore anyone with the details, but suffice it to say, we couldn't wait to get away from each other. We are not a close family and have never vacationed together. We've brought our MIL along a few times but she's too old and cantankerous to take along now.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

That's a lovely ornie. I have thought of having a collection just of Partridge in Pear Tree ornies as alot of people seem to design just that one then stop.

I think I'd have been very antisocial and spend the holiday in the suite. I actually like spending holidays with like-minded strangers because I don't like feeling responsible for other people's enjoyment!

shirley said...

I give you full marks for bravery for going on a boat/ship of any kind.

Jennifer said...

We've gone to Bethany beach with my in-laws 8 of the last 9 years. 7 of the last 9 years, my VERY Christian BIL and SIL and their kids came. This just speaks to the power of the guilt my MIL can wield for me to even think about going. Every year, we drive away saying "WE ARE NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN" and somehow, my husband gets vacation amnesia and agrees to go. The one year we didn't go, we had a huge blow out over it. But we may be to the point where our hatred of going outweighs the effects of MIL guilt. Clearly I need my head examined.

Jennifer said...

I will say that one of the BEST vacations we've ever done was San Francisco last year. We went to visit friends of ours and had the best time with them, but the four of us get along extremely well anyway. It helps to have planned time apart from each other to do your own thing during the day, and then get back together for dinner and the evening.

Casa Pearl said...

Oh no, I'm going on a cruise next week - my first - and its with a sister and 23 other people she works with. Maybe it will be better with only 1 family member....Sorry yours wasn't quite what you planned!