Plane or Cruise...Either way I'm a Part Time Traveler!

In the past, I have been ready to jump on a plane and go.  But since I have been cruising lately, I am finding it more difficult to do anything but cruise.  And don’t mistake me for never going to fly again.  I have trips planned but cruising is just convenient, more cost effective, and the party starts sooner.  I had mentioned that I was fortunate to receive a free two day cruise by the Katie Couric Show for Hurricane Sandy moms. I gave two reviews on my brief yet fully loaded cruise on the Breakaway.  Since then, I decided to travel to Bermuda on their seven day cruise.

I boarded with intentions of hitting the slides, ropes course, the 80s party, spin class, and the ice bar.  All but one accomplished.  But I am returning in December!

Long story short about our room:  Originally in 5800, ocean view changed 3 days later at 1AM to 5124, family suite ocean view.  Original room is right below the restaurant Taste and its galley.  Combine that with a vibrating floor and it was time to move.  Second room was fine.  Had two sinks in the bathroom, a bathtub and a couch.  It did also have very little room to pass the bed so getting our luggage from one side of the room to the other was a job for Hercules, also known as me.  

Restaurants: Service was spotty. With all these guests aboard, 4500, you would think that there would be enough staff to service the passengers’ needs.  But it just wasn’t adequate.  Servers were not always wearing a smile, and not always pleasing to the passengers’ requests.  We had one, yes one, server that hustled.  She was all over the place in a good way.  She was no joke when paying attention to her tables.  I have to say that the food was on point.  Always great choices in the three free “dining rooms.”  Usually there was not a wait to get in, except one night when the wait about 25 minutes but this was because it was later in the evening. We missed out on the lobster night in the buffet and we had one exceptionally bad situation inO’Sheenans.  

We boarded, and since O’Sheenans was open for lunch as announced as we boarded, we rushed there.  Sat down where about 6 other tables were seated.  We ordered tuna sandwich, bacon cheeseburger, mozzarella sticks, spinach dip, and chicken pot pie.  We also asked for water with lemon 5 times.  Waiter took 5 times of us asking and about a half hour later we got the water and lemon.  We then ordered our appetizers.  Okay.  Then mom ordered tuna.  Sorry no tuna yet.  

Hmmm.  Okay, how about the bacon cheeseburger.  Fine.  Out came the burger…simply a plain burnt rubbery hamburger on a bun.  That’s it.  Nothing else.  Hmmm…I thought it was a bacon cheeseburger.  The waiter then said we don’t have all our food on board yet.  So no tomatoes, at least to make this somewhat juicy?  Nope.  Lettuce.  Nope.

Anything? Finally he brought mayonnaise.  Hmmmm.  No.  My mom was so hungry that she had to take some bites.  Disgusting. We then walked up to the buffet as they had no desserts either!  And there we found, juicy burgers, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes.  All the fixings.   

But in O’Sheenans 7 decks down nothing.  Unacceptable.  We did report it to the Asst. Maitre D who “apologized,” but they just don’t get their food products from a supermarket.  Not sure how this was good customer service or even an excuse, but it was unacceptable for us and many others who dined there that afternoon.  We never returned for dinner or lunch as we were very turned off.  Sad because I hear the tuna and brownie are delish.

Before we had our lunch…we did sign up for Vibe Beach Club.  The best choice for us!!!  For a small price for the week, we did not have to save chairs by the pool at 5AM, endure smoke, fight for room in the hot tubs, and sit at a crowded bar.  Nope.  We had access to a private area, 2 decks above the pool, where we were guaranteed a lounge chair, a padded one at that; 2 hot tubs, a private bar, fruit served to us, wash clothes, wonderful people and pizza deliveries each afternoon!  So no there was no pool.  But that is okay.  We had the ocean!  The only thing I missed about the pool was the silly games that were played.  Other than that, this was the perfect Vibe for us!!

Flywheel Spin Class: At first I was turned off due to the competition level that they tout but I signed up anyway because I need to exercise and I have a fondness for spinning.   And guess what?  I loved the class!!!  I loved hitting those pedals hard. I wanted more.  I never achieved first place but I always exceeded my points, and maintained in the top 3.  I hope to hit Flywheel up in Manhattan so I can see how I fare with the City folk!  

All in all, a great vacation with my mommy! And to the Bahamas we go in December.  

Umami, Chobani, It's August oh my!

I always liked putting pen to the paper.  However when I am at a desk and have access to a computer AND have TONS of thoughts flowing though my head, I like to put my fingers to the keyboard.  

However this has not worked for me for the last month!  I have been trying to complete a blog entry right sincebefore we jumped into August.  I now have so much to say that I have to put pen to the paper and then try to figure out how to work with my technical difficulties!!!

Anywho….so where was I a month ago???

Yes, here I was:

Chobani- I am loving Chobani Soho! I actually have been opting for yogurt instead of ice cream this summer.  Sorry Cool Haus.  I have tried many of their concoctions and as long as it has nuts in it, I am totally fine with it.  What can be better than walnuts and figs, pistachios and chocolate, peaches and almonds, peanut butter and jelly????  

Umami Burger-I arrived to Umamni on their grand opening unbeknownst to me.  But why was there a line outside of this joint so early?  And why were there plenty of empty tables inside the joint? And why was I putting my name on a wait list?  And why did I actually wait 15 minutes?  With that said…Ordered were the Original Umami burger and the Hatch burger with sides of truffle cheese fries, and fried pickles.  

The burgers looked picture perfect!  The waitress suggested that it should be served as medium rare-I was a happy camper.  I love rare burgers so for me it worked but I can see how many others will object.  The burger, rare on the inside, had a wonderful crisp on the outside which helped keep it together as I demolished it in my mouth.  The Hatch was amazing.  It was flavorful and just the right amount of spicy.  The original was still good, but not as flavorful as the other.  Even though the Umami Ketchup was on the original, it needed something more.  Service was good, attentive, and knowledgeable, but with the people being staggered in slowly I wonder if it were TRULY busy….

Cronut-How would you like to lose 9 hours of your life?  Not in New York.  The people you hang with early in the AM and the crazy people you meet in the cronut line makes you feel like you really haven’t wasted time, just gained time in tolerance and endurance.  Yeah-I call it preparing for my future Big Brother stint or a Spartan race…Anywho…last month I was very close to getting a Blackberry Lime cronut but 15 people in front of me were lucky to get the last of the cronuts.  Finally returning on a rainy day, I was able to score 2 cronuts! Coconut was the flavor of the month.  The cronut texture was, I could say a donut and croissant, but it was more like a pastry like that of a danish and crème puff.  It was good.  Don’t get me wrong.  Not amazing.  The waits were fun but I wish I got that blackberry lime.  I am thinking that the fruity filling would have been a better match for my tastebuds and tired legs!

So all in all-my food odysseys were complete and fulfilling in their own right.  Onto the next burger and dessert!

A View from the Window

Last week A couple of short weeks ago I had tweeted "As a little girl I'd grab a chair & stare out my window.  I find myself in that very same chair but my view is a little different."

When I was little I was the child with the oldest parent, as a result being 10 years younger than my oldest sister.  I was the child who lived with 5 women as a result of my great aunt and grandma living downstairs.  I was the child who had the only divorced parents as a result of, well, a divorce.  And at times, I felt like the only child...in the world...as a result of my over thinking.

When I looked out the window I looked for something, somewhere I could fit in.  Something I was missing.  Something I longed for.  I hated looking outside that window. 

And here I am about 30 plus years later and I still look out the window.  But instead of those feelings, today I examine what's inside the window, breath and accept. 

What's inside? A little boy and his mommy. 

A mommy who is determined to do it all by herself.  Maybe not perfectly.  Maybe not as fast.  Maybe...

A little boy who is creative and social and amazingly handsome.  A child who wants it all, wants to be the all...and looks for love and acceptance from all. 

And all of that, he needs to know, can be found in his house home inside the window...Within that little boy and his mommy.