Sea Princess Ducks and DITs!!!

ginnylou

Bosun (Boatswain)
Have some things laid out and will do laundry that I need for packing after getting school stuff for Alex done. He start high school tomorrow and is :( big time that he won't be coming.

Getting better each day and going without the back brace for long periods of time.

Have fun in SF and save some hot fudge for me! :)
 

ShipMaven

Forever Remembered
Tobyn phoned me several hours ago. They were in Seattle waiting for their connection to San Francisco.. Fortunately and obviously, they were able to get out of Fairbanks.

Then, Jacquie and Leon arrived on scene. Big hugs for our first meeting.

The Duckie group is growing!!

BTW, the HIE is a LOVELY hotel. I'm really sorry I'm not staying there, too.

The excitement is building!!!
 

GloBug

Senior Flea Coller Tester
The flock is fluffing up nicely!

I have a flea infestation I am battling with here. :bbat: My boss nicely told me to stay home and deal with it tomorrow, thank you thank you thank you. Flea baths for 4 cats and a dog. Kiefer is pretty easy. The cats fight every step of the way. When I was done with Kiefer's buddy Kitten, he stood over the wet cat and shot me this look like I was the Charles Manson of the 00's! Kiefer took me for a 1 1/2 walk a few days ago, and I just realized the reason my big toe is so sore is because it has a blister on it! No walk today, sorry buddy. Want to be in good shape for the cruise.
 

ginnylou

Bosun (Boatswain)
Hope the flea problems resolve quickly. Here in the Antelope Valley we don't have fleas or so I am told.

Wishing I was there now but know it is best that I made plans to get Alex off for this first day of high school tomorrow. :)
 

Judi

Environmental Compliance Officer
Glo, You're Hired!

We thought we had good weather when we were here 5 years ago. That was nothing compared to what a gorgeous day today was.....Glo, you outdid yourself! :D

We had a FANTABULOUS time today. We took a 3 hour Mr. Toad Adventure Tours which took us all over the place. We went through Little Italy, Chinatown Haight Ashbury, the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, etc., etc., etc. They're open cars without windows so you can take pictures right from your seat without having to climb into and out of a bus every time there's something of interest. They have a few and the one we had held 10 people. It was our Family and a delightful newlywed couple from Monterey, Mexico. We would highly recommend it to anyone! :)

So far, Queen Quack, J.E.M and his Wife, our Family, Jacquie & her Husband, Calgon & Sunflower Star and Coys Dad & his Wife are here. We're all anxiously awaiting the rest of the Gang!!!!!
 

GloBug

Senior Flea Coller Tester
Hopefully I won't be fired by the time Wednesday comes!

I am so happy the Golden Gate Gods listened to me. But they took their revenge by visiting on my critters fleas. We haven't been bitten at all, but all my animals are getting flea baths and Frontline. No fun bathing huge cats!

Sounds like you had a great time today. Little Italy...? :confused: You mean North Beach? We used to live 2 blocks away on Union Street, loved being that close!

Calgon called me when they got to the HIE, said there was a large duck at the front desk! LOL!

See you in three sleeps!
 

Snowblower

2nd Officer
Hi Gang,
Had a great dinner with bOB, Sheryl, Cruise Cutie, Cruise Hubby & Anne. We had a wonderful evening. Just finishing the final touches with CC/CH getting ready to head to SF tomorrow morning. Glad to see everybody is arriving safe and sound. See most of you tomorrow!!!
 

Judi

Environmental Compliance Officer
We had a great dinner tonight at Fisherman's Grotto on Fisherman's Wharf. Yes, I know, it's a tourist trap, but all eight of us had fantastic meals, so I don't care what it's called. :)

We all came back to the rooms. Mal and I, however, discovered we weren't as tired as we thought, so we took a walk to the Buena Vista Cafe for one of their "famous" Irish Coffees. I must admit that we have at least two places back in Joisey that beat the pants off the one we had tonight, and are far more reasonable in price. :(

We have had one fantastic day and we can't wait until tomorrow to introduce the Family...all except Colleen and Meghan Anne, who are doing the Winchester Mystery Tour...to the cable and trolley cars around town!!!

So ends another night of what has been so far a wonderful time thus far in the Duck Crew cruise.

I do so wish you could all be here helping us have such a wonderful time.
 

Tobyn

Staff Captain
WELL HOWDY ! ! ! ! We did make it out of Fairbanks after a short delay that had nothing to do with the smoke. Mother Nature cooperated and it started raining heavily about 1:00 AM. No issues with getting out of Fairbanks other than a minor maintenance issue. Arrived safely in SF early and then delayed by NOT SO Super Shuttle.

Went to dinner and then waited in lobby for the Queen Duck along with JacquieP and Leon. Had a good visit, cocktails at the lounge in Hilton. Finally had to put Bread and the mini-loaves to bed.

So here we are waiting for more fun tomorrow. Glo, thanks for the wonderful weather so far. Keep up the good work!

WOOT ! ! !
 

Judi

Environmental Compliance Officer
Yo, BILFAM, sorry we missed you. Mal is already sawing wood.! :)

Will catch up with you guys tomorrow....glad you made it safe and sound!!!
 

ShipMaven

Forever Remembered
Well - the Ducks are checking in one by one, and now Suer and Warren have landed, and are at baggage claim.

I am enjoying matching names and faces for the first time at long last.

Glo continues to work wonders with the weather. Thank you, Ma'am!!!

Mama Duck
 

ginnylou

Bosun (Boatswain)
It's is 1:14 AM here in Lancaster, CA and I can't sleep! Have large suitcase packed although I have things that I decided I would like to bring along will add them tomorrow. Carryon is also packed so it is just the carryone that act as my oversized purse that is left.

Will finish up paperwork and last minute details tomorrow and hope to get some sleep Monday night before get a ride to LAX Tues morning about 5:00 AM.

Sounds like you'll are having a wonderful time.
 

Calgon1

Awaiting results of mental evaluation
On-board after a couple days absense. Long flights out of Detroit, but part of that was a 5 hour hold-over in Phoenix. Made the most of it as the DS, DiL and GDx2 met us at the airport for lunch (us)/Breakfast (them). The GDs are GROWING! Had a great time, but too short. Flight to SFO was uneventful (good thing).

Agree w, Tobyn ... SS was slow gettting out of airport, but then made good time. Great driver.

Turned on the cell on arrival to find a quack (voice) mail from The Bug. SHE HAS FLEAS!!!!!! Boy, oh boy, will this be an interesting cruise!!!!!

HIE is really nice. Do recommend for future C@ cruises, especially those out of San Francisco.

Big inflatable rubber duckie on registration desk. Thanks Mama Duck! Got settled in and back to lobby. Two major accomplishments with the flock (so far) ...

1) Presented Mama Duck with her crown and scepter. Figured Queek Quack needs the proper acrouterments for her high office.

2) I managed to leave Mal totally speechless! I walked into the lobby wearing my flapping/quacking duck hat. The poor man didn't know what to say! I love it!!!!!

Dinner at Boudin's. Yes, get the crab and corn chowder in the bread bowl. Excellent! Then wandered the dock area and down to pier 39 so SunFlower could see the sea-lions. SunFlower commented on how active most of them were. Well, except for the emaciated one by itself on one of the floats. ..... Honey, that's because .... it's dead! Ewwwwwwwww.

Love Pier 39. Many, many tourist schlock shops. Loved it. Today is the Winchester House and (maybe?) Chinatown tonight.

More duck adventures to come ....
 

Calgon1

Awaiting results of mental evaluation
Help For The Glo-Bug

Thought I'd be my usual helpful self and provide you this guide top bathing a cat -


Cats, like their nemesis, the dog .... do get dirty and have a variety of odors... from smelling like the outhouse where you camped last year to the same odor as your dog's breath. (Remember... your dog will try to eat anything.) Now we all know that cats HATE water. And we know that giving the cat a sedative to ease this process of a bath is out of the question.

So, the best approach is both sneaky and direct. Remember now, this is not the dumb dog who can be led to tub with lies and a trail of Kibbles and Bits.

Although your cat has the advantage of smarts, quickness and total lack of concern for you .... you have the advantage of size, strength, and the ability to wear protective garments.


First .... dress for the occasion. A 4-ply rubber wet suit is suggested, along with a helmet, face mask and welders gloves.

A Bathtub with a glass enclosure is preferred to the one with a shower curtain. A frenzied cat can shred one of these in about 3.5 seconds.

Have the Kitty Bubbles and towel in the enclosed bathtub area before hand. No ... blow drying the cat after the bath is not suggested.

Draw the water, making it a little warmer than needed as you still need to find the cat. Position everything strategically in the shower, so you can reach it even if you are face down or prone in the tub.

Find your cat. Use the element of surprise. Pick the cat up, nonchalantly as if you were simply carrying him/her to the supper dish. No need to worry about the cat noticing your strange attire... the cat barely notices you anyway.

Once you and the cat are inside the bathroom .... speed is essential. In one single liquid motion .shut the door to the bathroom, step into the shower, close the sliding doors, and drop the cat into the water. While the cat is still in a state of shock, locate the Kitty Bubbles and squirt whatever part of him is above the water line. You have just begun the wildest 45 seconds of your life. Remember that cats have no handles and add the fact that he now has soapy fur. His state of shock has worn off and he's madder than a wet hornet.

As best, you can, wearing welder's gloves, try to field his body as he catapults through the air toward the ceiling. If possible, give another squirt of Kitty Bubbles with his body now fully exposed.

During the 5 seconds you are able to hold onto him, rub vigorously. No need to worry about rinsing. As he slide down the glass enclosure into the tub, he will fall back into the water, rinsing himself in the process.

Only attempt the lather and rinse process about 3 times. The cat will realize the lack of traction on the glass by then and will use the next attempt on the first available part of you.

Next, the cat must be dried. No...this is NOT the easiest part. By this stage, you are worn out and the cat has just become semi-permanently affixed to your right leg. We suggest here that you drain the tub and in full view of your cat . reach for the bottle of Kitty Bubbles.

If you have done step 10 correctly, the cat will be off your leg and hanging precariously from your helmet. Although this view of the cat is most disgusting, he will be in a much better position for wrapping the towel around him.

Be sure cat is firmly wrapped in towel before opening tub enclosure. Open bathroom door .... put towel wrapped cat on floor and step back quickly. Into tub, if possible, and do not open enclosure until all you can see is the shredded towel.

In about 2 hours .... it will be safe to exit the bathroom. Your cat will be sitting out there somewhere looking like a small hedgehog while plotting revenge.
 
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