Cruisin' on a Sunday Afternoon

The day before my birthday my husband says to me, "Let's book a cruise. I have to get out of here." So we did and we left a week later. We got on the Carnival Miracle in New York City and headed for Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. Personally, I thought it was a miracle that TK wanted to plan a trip to anywhere but a living room during football season.

We had two days at sea so we hung out at the sports bar watching football. I hated that people were allowed to smoke cigarettes, but we were in international water so the clean air laws were out the window, literally. Of course we made a few visits to the 24 hour buffet and sat at the card tables. We had a lot of time to spend on the ship while we were traveling south. At the Fun 21 table we met some of the friendliest people in the world. They were Peggy & Tony from NJ, who had the same wedding anniversary as us (that day) and Ann & Chris from Boston. They were very nice and full of personality. They also introduced us to John & Barkley (a hysterical blind man and his cute seeing eye dog), Anna & Joe and Robin & Kevin, more awesome people. We ate most dinners with them and I laid by the pool with them because they saved me a chair most days. It was so refreshing how courteous and considerate they were; always saving us seats and always inviting us to whatever they planned to do. We really felt loved and TK was happy that they taught him how to play blackjack.

The first day at sea I spent mostly in bed. The rocking of the boat really messed me up. I didn't think I could get seasick, but I severely underestimated how rocky the boat gets during hurricane season. My stomach was pretty woozy most of the trip, but that didn't stop me from stuffing my face for most lunches and dinners. I took full advantage of the unlimited amount of grub. Even though I am a New Yorker, I enjoyed the pepperoni pizza they made fresh for you whenever you asked. I didn't try the sushi, but I had two appetizers with every dinner. Hey, why not?

On the third day when we were heading into Puerto Rico, there was a bird flying in front of the ship like he was leading us into port. It was like he said, "Oh, Old San Juan? Bienvenidos! Follow me." When we arrived at Old San Juan, we took a little walk until we found the carriage rides. We took a horse and carriage around town so we could get acquainted with the town. The last time I was in Old San Juan, I was seven and I only remembered a Pizza Hut and cobblestone streets, so I needed to brush up on a few things. After the ride, we did a little shopping through the streets because TK wanted a fedora and I wanted some jewelry. We made a stop at Restaurante Raices because we saw it on Man vs. Food and heard that the food was delicious...and it was. TK had the Chuleta Kan Kan and it was a pork chop as big as both of our heads together. After dinner, we picked up some liquor from the duty-free shop, dropped it off in the room and then headed to Senor Frog's. That was a fun bar, but it was only TK and I so we didn't really get into the mix.

On the fourth day we headed into St. Thomas. The boat docked at 7 a.m., but we are not early risers so we got off the boat when we felt the need and that was at 10 a.m. We did a little shopping and TK finally found his fedora. Then we took the skyride up to Paradise Point where there were a few shops, some parrots and amazing views. There was even a little bar where TK had the world famous Bushwhacker, but I am not sure how famous it is being that no one at home knew what I was talking about when I told them we ordered one. It was a frozen concoction with Bailey's, Kahlua, vodka, rum, creme de cacao and Coco Lopez topped with whipped cream and a little nutmeg. It was tasty but I opted for a pina colada because my stomach wasn't ready for all that alcohol before noon. I am 30 now so I am getting old. After taking the skyride back down to street level, we did the tropical thing and went for lunch at Hooters. I know, I know...TK wanted wings, I think??? After lunch we headed back to the boat because we didn't have much time on the island that day. We got back to the boat and changed for dinner, which we were having in the steakhouse that night. That food was delicious too and the service was on point. We felt spoiled.

On the fifth day we arrived at Grand Turk and that was somewhere neither of us had ever been to. It was beautiful. We pulled right up to the beach and found the guide who would be taking us on our dune buggy tour. I shared a buggy with TK and our entire group drove all over the island for two hours on the left side of the road. The people were very friendly and the livestock ran wild. We saw horses, donkeys and cows just roaming around and hanging out. We saw a lighthouse, we watched the waves from a cliff and we drove across the beach. It was a lot of fun and we love doing wild things like that. Then we met all the cruising folks at Margaritaville, and let me tell you, this Margaritaville was like no other. It was a restaurant and bar but it had a DJ, an enormous pool, poolside cabanas and beach access. It was a little like MTV spring break but I loved it and wished we could have stayed longer. Grand Turk is definitely a place I would return to in the future. It was so tranquil and lovely, well, outside of Margaritaville.

On the way back to NY the next couple days, I tried to walk around the boat as it swayed from side to side and I actually slept like a baby at night because I was getting rocked to sleep. It was near impossible to walk in heels and it was a little scary because I kept having thoughts of the Poseidon Adventure and what I would do if the boat flipped over in the middle of the Atlantic. People did say that they have been on cruises where it was worse and we were having 6 - 8 foot swells, so that eased my nerves.

After eight days at sea, TK now wants to take a cruise every year for the rest of his life. He thinks it's the only way to travel. However, I will stick to three hour plane rides instead of three hour tours until my stomach settles, and I will definitely invest in those gray granny wristbands or some Dramamine the next time I get on a ship during hurricane season. Lesson learned.

So, I'm 30

Now that I am 30, I can't say that I feel any smarter, more mature or cooler, but I can say that I have received some pretty great gifts, so that's a plus.

TK bought me a Nikon D5000 SLR camera so that I can take crisper pictures and be able to actually blow them up larger than 5" X 7". The camera came with a very large manual so I think I am going to have to suffer through that very shortly. I feel like most people don't read the manual for their cameras so they don't even use half of the features that are built in. I just think that is useless and a waste of money, so I will read it or, at least, skim it all.

My parents' gift to me is fabulous, and I can say that because it involves NYC. They reserved a room for TK and I at the Michelangelo in the city. It looks like a pretty luxurious hotel. They also reserved a table for us at Victor's and bought us tickets to see In the Heights. The food at Victor's is Cuban and Hispanic food is one of my favorites. I will try not to order rice and beans because there are so many delicious dishes to choose from, like Ropa Vieja for instance. Ropa Vieja translates to "old clothes" and it is seasoned, shredded meat that is just so moist and delicious that it almost melts in your mouth. I love it and I think everyone should try it at least once. Maybe I will have a Mojito to complement my meal as well. Big plans!

My aunts and uncles were also very generous with me this year. I got a gift card, some cash and a photo album. All of my gifts this year were very generous and I am very appreciative.

Two other things to mention about my birthday festivities are the two very delicious cakes that were purchased for me. One was for the celebration at work and it was a yellow cake with light chocolate frosting and peanut butter filling. It took a few glasses of milk to get down but it was good. My co-workers did well. The other was for my family get-together and it was a layer cake with chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, cheesecake and chocolate ganache. My mother bought it at Audrey's Bakery in Sayville and it was so good. I don't like anything shiny in my cake (i.e. custard, pudding, fruit, etc.) so I love mousse and peanut butter fillings. These two cakes were perfect...for me!

Another thing I just HAVE to mention is that I will be going on a cruise for my 2nd wedding anniversary with TK. We are leaving from NYC and heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, USVI; and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. We are so excited because we are really stretching out our summer and TK has never been on a cruise before. I'm also excited that I can eat 24 hours a day if I want. Not the best idea while traveling to Caribbean islands, but a great idea indeed.

Moral of the story = Turning 30 is pretty damn good!

30 B4 30 Day 30: Write a Book

I have gone through 29 days of new things as I journeyed toward 30 years-old. Some items were ridiculous and some were just plain, well plain, but they were all milestones for me. All things I have never done in 29 years of life and did in 30 days before my 30th birthday. This project made turning 30 more fun for me, even though I knew that it was just an age and not a state of mind or body. So for my final item on my list of 30 B4 30, I have decided, with some advice from my friends, to Write a Book called 30 B4 30.

I have always wanted to write a book, but I never knew what I wanted to write about. Was there enough to create a book about my grandmother? Or figure drawing? Or my trips to Hawaii, Disney or Tennessee? I didn't think so, but after publishing blog post after blog post about all of my completed tasks, I realized that I have developed enough text to fill the pages of an entire book. I will be adding an introduction and a conclusion to the 30 B4 30, but I have finally found something that I can print. So, I researched a few publishing companies and sent them my information. They have contacted me but I wanted to make sure I didn't answer any of their questions until this project was complete. Now that it is, I can call them back and see how much money this madness is going to cost me because it will be expensive. (I am also tallying up how much these 30 days have cost me and will get back to you with that figure as well.)

I don't know if anyone will read this book I am publishing, but I think enough people have read this blog and just maybe they will be interested enough to purchase it as a book. Kind of like The Julie/Julia Project that started out as a blog, then a book and then a movie. I don't think it will ever become a movie because I think maybe my mother, my boss and a few of my family members will end up buying the book, but it is interesting to wonder who will play me. Hmm...

Now that my 30 days are complete, I want to thank you for taking this journey with me and for supporting me with each and every post. Like I said in my "Learn to Say Thank You in 30 Languages" post, I wish there was a sentiment I could say to you that would thoroughly show my appreciation, but there isn't, so all I can offer is a wholehearted THANK YOU because I really do appreciate your interest and hope you will continue to read what I have to say. After all, life is nothing without people to share it with.

XOXOX
30 B4 30

UPDATE: The total price of my 30 B4 30 is $338.63, but that is before any publishing or anything else. 30 days, 30 new experiences and more than $300 later, I am happy with the result. Thanks again!

30 B4 30 Day 29: See the Sunrise

I am not a morning person. I was even born at 7:17 at night. In the morning, my stomach is never ready for food and I have skipped many a breakfast because thinking of eating food has made me nauseous. So, unless I stayed up all night long, I have never seen the sunrise. So, today I made my object to actually See the Sunrise and it was so darn early.

I set my alarm for 6 a.m. because I did my research and found out that the sun was going to rise at 6:25 p.m. Then I peeled TK out of bed because he said he wanted to come with me. I am used to dragging him places he doesn't want to go (i.e. botanical gardens, plays, movies, etc.) so this was no different. We drove to the marina and saw the sun trying to rise but there was a large cloud blocking its way. There have been a few days where I have come home and the sun was coming up, but I have never sat and watched it as it did. So, after about 15 minutes, the sun broke through the clouds and came out, and then it burnt my retinas and I saw bright spots for the next few minutes. Not ideal, but it was nice.

I have seen many sunsets, especially in Hawaii where we chased them every night to get the perfect picture but never did. Being there to see the sunset was more memorable anyway. It is a pretty amazing phenomenon to see the sun rise and set on a clear day. It reminds you of life's cycle and how dependable some things are. Even when you don't know what tomorrow will bring, at least you know that the sun will come up and the day will begin.

"The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, they'll be sun." That Annie was so perceptive.

30 B4 30 Day 28: Try 30 of the 31 Flavors at Baskin Robbins

Like I have said before, I am a foodie. I love to eat and it kind of shows. (No wise cracks please.) One of the foods I love to eat is ice cream and one of the most famous places for ice cream is Baskin Robbins. In NY, Baskin Robbins shares their location with Dunkin Donuts just in case you want to have some coffee or a donut with your ice cream cone. Tonight I decided to Try 30 of the 31 Flavors at Baskin Robbins because I felt there was a need to stretch out the summer just a little bit more.

Baskin Robbins is famous for having 31 flavors of ice cream at any one time. I called one location to see how many flavors they had on tap and the creepy guy said he would serve 30 of them to me personally. So, obviously, I decided to steer clear of that place and chose another of the five locations in a three mile radius. I took my friends Colleen and Nicole with me and it was a great idea because Nicole knew the guy behind the counter. She practically mainlines Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, so he knew what she drank and what car she drove. This guy was great. He piled up the 24 flavors from the showcase and then went searching in the back freezer to find the 6 remaining flavors to complete my 30. Some flavors were great and some were pretty disappointing. For instance, after trying Chocolate Chip, you should not immediately try Lemon Chiffon or Bubble Gum (which had mini Chiclets in it). I also suggest you pass on having Birthday Cake after Chocolate Explosion. However, my favorite flavors were Pistachio Almond, Rocky Road and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Those were especially delicious. I can really eat ice cream all year round and plan to.

The moral of the story is to choose one flavor at a time, but try them all. Like Whoopie Goldberg's advice from the movie, Corinna, Corinna, which I can't add verbatim because I don't know the exact wording, but she says you can't die until you have tried all of the flavors and I still have one left...even though I don't know what it is.

Also, it is good to know that you have good friends that will laugh at you first and then completely support your crazy ideas. This is key.

30 B4 30 Day 27: Kiss in the Rain

I am a sucker for romance and I watch romantic comedies over and over until I know all of the words. For instance, I have seen The Holiday, Sleepless in Seattle and Someone Like You dozens of times. I have even repeatedly rewound Pride and Prejudice to the part where Mr. Darcy tells Elizabeth that he loves her while they stand outside in the rain and argue. It makes your heart hurt because you know they both love each other and are both too proud to just let it happen, without words and other people to get in the way. That scene is very intense for us hopeless romantics, so today I decided that my item would be to Kiss in the Rain for my 30 B4 30.

It didn't actually happen like it does in the movies. I showed up at TK's job and texted him to come outside, to which he answered, "Now?" Yep, so he came running out. I got out of the car, walked over to him and then kissed him, while kind of giggling. He asked what I was doing and I said, "Kissing in the rain." He laughed and kissed me back. Then he said, "OK, it's raining, let's get in the car." And, with that, our romantic tryst was over.

Romance isn't always what you think it is going to be. Love isn't all hearts and fireworks like we learn growing up and watching Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I learned about romance and love by watching Disney movies and from my inseparable parents. I always wanted a Prince Charming and a happy ending, and I got that on September 12, 2008 when I married my best friend. He wasn't a knight and he didn't have shining armor, but he does love me, want to protect me and want to spend the rest of his life with me. He didn't have to prove himself by climbing a tower to rescue me or slaying a dragon to save me, but he did get down on his knee in a castle to propose, with fireworks in the background, so, to me, that is as close to perfect as I can think of.

We will be married for two years this year and we laugh with each other every day. Of course we fight and slam doors too, but that comes with the territory. And, like Caroline Manzo from The Real Housewives of New Jersey said, "Anyone who is married and tells you that they don't fight is a liar." She's right, fighting is natural because you care about each other and have to tell each other how you feel. In the end, it doesn't matter how much we fight because we are in love and we know we will live happily ever after, just like the story says. (Even if I can't have romantic makeout sessions in the rain.)

30 B4 30 Day 26: Send a Message in a Bottle

People have been sending messages in bottles since before the book by Nicholas Sparks and the disappointing movie that followed. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest message in a bottle spent more than 92 years at sea. As my item for today, I decided to Send a Message in a Bottle to follow in the footsteps of other curious people throughout history.

I had TK bring me home an empty bottle with the labels removed and I wrote a letter to roll up and put into the bottle. This is what the dated message said:

Well, hello! I bet you didn’t think you would find a bottle with a message in it on your trip to the ocean today, but I knew you would or at least someone would eventually.

I will be celebrating my 30^th birthday this year and in the 30 days before my 30^th birthday I have decided to do 30 things I have never done, and sending a message in a bottle was one of them. I call it my 30 B4 30 project and now you are part of it. Sorry…or you’re welcome, depending on how interested you are in reading this message.

Fortunately for me, I’ve made it to my 30^th birthday. Some people do not and I do not take my age for granted. In 30 years I have been on many adventures, so I wanted to send this bottle on its own adventure to go wherever it may. I believe that life is too short to not enjoy it however much you can. If there is something you are a little apprehensive about because you are afraid, weigh out the pros and cons and make a decision. Whether it is to jump in feet first or say no and turn away, being decisive is what’s important. “I don’t know,” is an incredibly damaging statement, especially if it isn’t followed by, “but I can find out,” because it provokes inactivity and laziness in your own life. There are many people in the world that are too wishy-washy in their decision making and aren’t active participants in their own lives. Please don’t be that person. I am not a self-help guru but I do think that people owe it to themselves to take the reigns on their life and be the person they want to be. So, be that person because you are the only one stuck with you for the rest of your life.

Enjoy,

30 B4 30

So yes, I made an obnoxious, vain statement to a complete stranger. I just thought that the message in the bottle should be empowering so that the person who bears witness to this little project I have started can actually get something out of it. I am not trying to change anyone's life, I am just trying to make him or her feel a little better about him- or herself, if there is a need for some uplifting. There is no harm in brightening someone's day or helping them find their smile.

Tomorrow I will take this bottle to the ocean and toss it in so it can begin its aquatic journey. I just hope I don't break it or throw it too close to the coast. Photos of this act to follow...

UPDATE: While cruising back from Grand Turk on the Carnival Miracle, I tossed the bottle off the Lido Deck into the Atlantic Ocean. So, right now, I think the bottle is floating somewhere between Florida and New Jersey.