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Angel Creamepuff R.I. P.
Active within 520 Days
Hi! My name is Angel Creamepuff R.I. P.
I am a Maine Coon from westport, NY
Nicknames: elmo,sunshine on my shoulder cat, old faithful,scream- ing creamie,puff
Age: 18 years old
Gender: F
Coat: long haired
Education: used to drop coated hair bands into boxes like it was her secret "stash".she always had a certain kind of"happy-proud" sort of meow whenever she discovered one of these prizes.
My favorite tricks and treats are: cheese
Where I hang out: when she was younger,she had one of those flat,cardboard scratching things.she liked to lay on it, like it only belonged to her.we jokingly called this "elmos couch"
My favorite grubs: cheese
My pet peeves: beig disturbed from nap or eating
What I love about my owners: taking me in at 1 1/2 years even with my tempermental personality
My cat hobbies: growlng and hissing a lot she would growl,with her signature hiss at the end. just her vocalizations
Pet motto: i may sound tough but i'm really not
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was dropped off at vets,most likely because she has lupus, vet said she was too tempermental for her to keep,growls and hisses a lot and still does.my daughter was at the vets when my mothers cat died,she talked me into taking creamie and i'm glad i did she's a sweet cat!
I've had 876 friends visit me.
I'm the 53,901st member on CatChannel.com.
5 friends have voted for me since I joined Club Cat!
Come visit me, Shadow <3 Button, Yoda- <3 Strudel-she said yes!!!, manchester &,snuggles,elivs & kali house, Sir Manchester <3 Queen Snuggles & SIR M's & ANA'S ANNIVERSARY #247289.
Come visit me, Sir Hedley, K. Neelix (Angel Katie's guy) & Count Jakar (Vote Dame Mouse for COTM).
Come visit me, Team RAGDOLL PAWesome PURRsonality #235194, :¦:Chloe:•:(¯`v´¯):•- :208036:¦: & Team CHLOE, a PAWSitively PURRfect NAME #234964.
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RICHMOND, CA, January 27, 2009--Caroline Sjostedt, a seasoned real estate lender with nearly a quarter century of experience, has joined Mechanics Bank as the new manager of the Real Estate Industries Group. Her office will be in the bank's East Bay Regional Lending Group headquarters in Walnut Creek, California.
"Caroline's deep knowledge of the complexities unique to the real estate industries has always impressed me," said Cort O'Haver, Executive Vice President and Division Manager of Corporate Banking. "Especially in this challenging environment for growth and profitability, it's great to have the leadership of a consummate professional."
Ms. Sjostedt began her career in the mid-1980s with Union Bank's Real Estate Industries Group. Her twelve years there were followed by six years as a senior manager in the Real Estate Division at U.S. Bank, then three years as the Real Estate Bank Group Marketing Director for Bank of the West. Her most recent assignment was as Senior Vice President and Manager of the Income Property Group for KeyBank Real Estate Capital, leading a team of real estate professionals marketing a wide variety of real estate loans.
A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Caroline also holds a Masters of Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento. She is a board member of the San Francisco Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and a member of the East Bay Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women. Ms. Sjostedt also is active in community organizations such as Girl Scouts and Shelter, Inc. (a non-profit providing housing services in Contra Costa County).
Ms. Sjostedt resides in Lafayette with her husband and three children.
For more than a century, Mechanics Bank has been committed to helping people build prosperous communities as a trusted financial partner, forging lasting relationships through teamwork, respect and integrity. The $2.7 billion independent bank, headquartered in Richmond, California, offers personal banking, business banking, trust, brokerage and wealth management services through 33 offices across Northern California. For more information, please visit www.mechbank.com.
Press contacts:
Mr. David Louis

subset: commoncrawl


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Starwest Botanicals, Organic, Rosehips C/S, 1 lb (453.6 g)
- You earn loyalty credit for every order you place at iHerb!
- Loyalty credit is equal to 5% of the value of your order, excluding shipping charges.
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Expiration Date:?Jan 2021Expiration Date
The length of time for the expiration date or "best used before" date depends on the type of product, as well as the brand.
Perishable items (such as flax oils or certain probiotics) generally have shorter expiration dates. Although our warehouse is fully air-conditioned, these more fragile items are put in cold storage (freezer or refrigeration unit) for maximum freshness.
Our receiving department does its best to verify and then enter the correct expiration dates for all incoming products. However, discrepancies do occur from time to time. This being said, the exceptionally high turnover at iHerb ensures that our inventory is among the freshest in the industry.
Shipping Weight:?1.47 lbsShipping WeightThe Shipping Weight includes the product, protective packaging material and the actual shipping box. In addition, the Shipping Weight may be adjusted for the Dimensional Weight (e.g. length, width & height) of a package. It is important to note that certain types of products (e.g. glass containers, liquids, fragile, refrigerated or ice packed) will often require protective packaging material. As such, these products will reflect a higher Shipping Weight compared to the unprotected product.
- Product Code: STR-02488
- UPC Code: 767963024886
- Package Quantity: 1 lb (453.6 g)
- Dimensions: 11.7 x 6.4 x 1.2 in, 1.24 lbs
Note: Korean Customs will quarantine and inspect this item before final shipment to the customer. Please be advised that ordering this item could cause delivery delays
|Combo Discount:
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- Rosa Canina
- Origin: Chile
- Kosher Certified by Kosher Certification Services
- Certified Kosher
- USDA Organic
- Certified Organic by QAI
Suggested Use
Prepare as tea- Pour 8 oz of boiling water (212º F) over 1-2 tsp. of herb. Cover and steep 3-4 minutes, strain, and serve.
the ultimate skin beautyfying tea
Verified Purchase
the ultimate skin beautyfying tea
if you want to have beautiful skin, drink 2 to 3 cups of this tea every single day and you should see some results.
Starwest botanicals, organic rose hip
Posted by 4907129630113355621 on Apr 07, 2016
Haven'started using it yet. Should be better than vit. C Only 4 rating as I have yet to use it
great company
Posted by Reviewer3025781 on Nov 14, 2014
Ordered a few other times and got a quality product. Fast shipments and professional customer service.
very happy :)
Posted by 4677017989458438447 on May 10, 2014
Thank you for fast shipping and super service. Just starting with product so as soon as I know how it works will let you know
love it
Posted by 5533733033140141129 on Mar 27, 2014
makes tasty vitamin tea. good quality. will purchase again
a lot of vitamin c !!!!
Posted by Reviewer2383605 on Sep 11, 2013
a lot of vitamin c !!!!


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'little neck clams' tag.
I really enjoy weekends when there is nothing big going on, no house projects that need tending too. A weekend like that is a good time to catch up on movies that have spent too much time on the coffee table and to read a few pages of interest from books that always seem to pile themselves in any space there is room.
The kitchen was well in use this weekend, testing out new ideas and cooking up favorites it was hard to decide which one to write about. As indecisive as I can be more often than not I decided to post a few of them here. Cooking food for capturing "that shot," can mean eating food that has sat to long or in most cases cold, my thought through this process was to be quick and precise, allowing time to enjoy food as it should be, "right out of the kitchen."
Seafood Chowder Recipe
¼ cup shallots, diced
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cups fish stock
13 little neck clams
13 mussels
1 1/3 pounds white fish [swordfish was used here]
1 large russet potato, approximately one pound, peeled and chopped
½ cup cream
1 Tablespoon Sunny Paris Seasoning [Penzy's]
¼ cup fresh chopped dill
Sea salt & freshly grated black pepper [to taste]
1. Sauté shallots and garlic on low heat for a few minutes until light golden.
2. Add the fish stock bring to a simmer.
3. Add clams and mussels and cook covered until they open approximately 3-5 minutes.
4. Remove clams and mussels, discarding any unopened ones, set these aside.
5. Add chopped potatoes and simmer until just tender. At this point add the swordfish and the seasoning mix. Cook just until fish flakes.
6. Stir in the cream and season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Add clams and mussels back into the pan and heat through.
8. Serve with crusty French bread and garnish dish with fresh chopped dill.
Serves 2-4.
Quinoa Salad w/ Toasted Chickpeas & Summer Vegetables
½ cup quinoa
¾ cup water
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 medium zucchini
2 Tablespoons safflower oil
1 cup small heirloom variety tomatoes, halved
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 Tablespoon safflower oil
1 teaspoon Sunny Paris Seasoning [Penzy's]
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
cooking the quinoa:
1. Place quinoa, water and sea salt in a small pot and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered until all of the water is absorbed.
3. Turn off heat and rest for 5-10 minutes. Spread out on a sheet tray to cool.
preparing the chickpeas & zucchini:
1. Toss chickpeas with the oil, seasoning, salt and pepper and roast in a 350ºF oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden and toasted. Cool.
2. Blanch the zucchini whole in salted water. Shock in an ice bath until cool enough to handle.
3. Quarter zucchini lengthwise and then into one inch pieces.
4. Place zucchini between paper towels to dry.
5. Sauté zucchini in oil and season with salt and pepper.
6. Combine all of the ingredients and adjust seasoning to taste. Serve room temp.
Serves 2-4.
Cherry Clafoutis
2 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
5 Tablespoons granular sugar
½ cup cream
½ cup whole milk
4 whole eggs
1 cup red cherries, pitted
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
preparing the custard:
1. Whisk together flour and sugar.
2. Add a little bit of the milk to the flour/sugar mix to form a smooth paste.
3. Add remaining milk, cream and eggs, whisk until smooth.
filling & baking the clafoutis:
1. Butter an eight inch baking dish and dust with sugar.
2. Arrange pitted cherries in the bottom and gently pour in the custard as to not disturbe the cherries too much.
3. Bake clafoutis for 20-25 minutes or until custard has puffed and browned.
Serve at room temperature with a dusting of confectioner's sugar if you desire.
Serves 2-4.


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Featured New Nonfiction for October
Click here for a list of all our new nonfiction titles!
Magnificent Principia : exploring Isaac Newton's masterpiece / Colin Pask (531 P) -- Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg has written that "all that has happened since 1687 is a gloss on the Principia." Now you too can appreciate the significance of this stellar work, regarded by many as the greatest scientific contribution of all time. Despite its dazzling reputation, Isaac Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, or simply the Principia, remains a mystery for many people. Few of even the most intellectually curious readers, including professional scientists and mathematicians, have actually looked in the Principia or appreciate its contents. Mathematician Pask seeks to remedy this deficit in this accessible guided tour through Newton's masterpiece. Using the final edition of the Principia, Pask clearly demonstrates how it sets out Newton's (and now our) approach to science; how the framework of classical mechanics is established; how terrestrial phenomena like the tides and projectile motion are explained; and how we can understand the dynamics of the solar system and the paths of comets. He also includes scene-setting chapters about Newton himself and scientific developments in his time, as well as chapters about the reception and influence of the Principia up to the present day.
The butler : a witness to history / Wil Haygood (B ALLEN) -- When acclaimed Washington Post writer Wil Haygood had an early hunch that Obama would win the 2008 election, he thought he'd highlight the singular moment by exploring the life of someone who had come of age when segregation was so widespread, so embedded in the culture, as to make the very thought of a black president inconceivable. He struck gold when he tracked down Eugene Allen, a butler who had served no fewer than eight presidents, from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan.During his thirty-four years of service, Allen became what the Independent described as a "discreet stagehand who for three decades helped keep the show running in the most important political theatre of all." While serving tea and supervising buffets, Allen was also a witness to history as decisions about America's most momentous events were being made.
Artificial maturity : helping kids meet the challenge of becoming authentic adults / Tim Elmore (649.125 E) -- How to raise kids who can handle the real worldToday's Generation iY (teens brought up with the Internet) and Homelanders (children born after 9/11) are overexposed to information at an earlier age than ever and paradoxically are underexposed to meaningful relationships and real-life experiences. Artificial Maturity addresses the problem of what to do when parents and teachers mistake children's superficial knowledge for real maturity. The book is filled with practical steps that adults can take to furnish the experiences kids need to balance their abilities with authentic maturity. Shows how to identify the problem and what to do to help children balance autonomy, responsibility, and information. Artificial Maturity gives parents, teachers, and others who work with youth a manual for understanding and practicing the leadership kids so desperately need to mature in a healthy fashion.
Stuffed and starved : the hidden battle for the world food system / Raj Patel (338.19 P) -- It's a perverse fact of modern life: There are more starving people in the world than ever before, while there are also more people who are overweight. To find out how we got to this point and what we can do about it, Raj Patel launched a comprehensive investigation into the global food network. It took him from the colossal supermarkets of California to India's wrecked paddy-fields and Africa's bankrupt coffee farms, while along the way he ate genetically engineered soy beans and dodged flying objects in the protestor-packed streets of South Korea. What he found was shocking, from the false choices given us by supermarkets to a global epidemic of farmer suicides, and real reasons for famine in Asia and Africa. Yet he also found great cause for hope—in international resistance movements working to create a more democratic, sustainable and joyful food system. Going beyond ethical consumerism, Patel explains, from seed to store to plate, the steps to regain control of the global food economy, stop the exploitation of both farmers and consumers, and rebalance global sustenance.
Armor and blood : the Battle of Kursk, the turning point of World War II / Dennis E. Showalter (940.5421 S) -- One of America's most distinguished military historians offers the definitive account of the greatest tank battle of World War II-- an epic clash of machines and men that matched the indomitable will of the Soviet Red Army against the awesome might of the Nazi Wehrmacht. While the Battle of Kursk has long captivated World War II aficionados, it has been unjustly overlooked by historians. Drawing on the masses of new information made available by the opening of the Russian military archives, Dennis Showalter at last corrects that error. This battle was the critical turning point on World War II's Eastern Front. In the aftermath of the Red Army's brutal repulse of the Germans at Stalingrad, the stakes could not have been higher. More than three million men and eight thousand tanks met in the heart of the Soviet Union, some four hundred miles south of Moscow, in an encounter that both sides knew would reshape the war. The adversaries were at the peak of their respective powers. On both sides, the generals and the dictators they served were in agreement on where, why, and how to fight. The result was a furious death grapple between two of history's most formidable fighting forces-- a battle that might possibly have been the greatest of all time.
Oil and honey : the education of an unlikely activist / Bill McKibben (363.7 M) -- Bill McKibben is not a person you'd expect to find handcuffed in the city jail in Washington, D.C. But that's where he spent three days in the summer of 2011, after leading the largest civil disobedience in thirty years to protest the Keystone XL pipeline. A few months later the protesters would see their efforts rewarded when President Obama agreed to put the project on hold. And yet McKibben realized that this small and temporary victory was at best a stepping-stone. With the Arctic melting, the Midwest in drought, and Sandy scouring the Atlantic, the need for much deeper solutions was obvious. Some of those would come at the local level, and McKibben recounts a year he spends in the company of a beekeeper raising his hives as part of the growing trend toward local food. Other solutions would come from a much larger fight against the fossil-fuel industry as a whole.
Unbelievable : investigations into ghosts, poltergeists, telepathy, and other unseen phenomena from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory / Stacy Horn (133.1 H) -- From The Sixth Sense to Medium, Ghost Whisperer to Ghost Hunters, the paranormal stirs heated debate, spawning millions of believers and skeptics alike. Nearly half of us say we believe in ghosts, and two-thirds of us believe in life after death. What would you make of rain barrels that refill themselves? Psychic horses? Mind-reading Cold War spies? For a group of scientists at the Duke Parapsychology Lab under the leadership of Dr. J. B. Rhine—considered the Einstein of the paranormal—such mysteries demanded further investigation. From 1930 to 1980, these dedicated men and women attempted to test the bizarre, the frightening, and the unexplainable against the rigors of science, ultimately finding proof that the human mind possesses telepathic powers.
Lace one-skein wonders / edited by Judith Durant (741.432 L) -- Judith Durant has done it again! This all-new collection of 101 original lace knitting projects, each using just a single skein of yarn, will thrill knitters of all levels. From clothes and accessories to pillows, curtains, and tablecloths, these beautiful projects were contributed by designers and knitters around the world. Try your hand at an heirloom-quality lace shawl, a lacy pair of gloves, or a dainty child's dress with a perfect lace insert – the possibilities are endless!
Shady characters : the secret life of punctuation, symbols, & other typographical marks / Keith Houston (411 H) -- A charming and indispensable tour of two thousand years of the written word, Shady Characters weaves a fascinating trail across the parallel histories of language and typography. Whether investigating the asterisk (*) and dagger (†)—which alternately illuminated and skewered heretical verses of the early Bible—or the at sign (@), which languished in obscurity for centuries until rescued by the Internet, Keith Houston draws on myriad sources to chart the life and times of these enigmatic squiggles, both exotic (¶) and everyday (&). From the Library of Alexandria to the halls of Bell Labs, figures as diverse as Charlemagne, Vladimir Nabokov, and George W. Bush cross paths with marks as obscure as the interrobang (‽) and as divisive as the dash (—). Ancient Roman graffiti, Venetian trading shorthand, Cold War double agents, and Madison Avenue round out an ever more diverse set of episodes, characters, and artifacts. Richly illustrated, ranging across time, typographies, and countries, Shady Characters will delight and entertain all who cherish the unpredictable and surprising in the writing life.


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Editor for this issue: Michael Appleby <michaellinguistlist.org>
Rank of Job: Lecturer or higher, according to candidate's qualification (lecturer is equivalent to Assistant Professor in US universities) Areas Required: Language Education Other Desired Areas: Second language acquisition, learning and teaching, language issues of immigrants and minority groups in schools, discourse/conversational analysis and or related areas University or Organization: Tel Aviv University Department: School of Education State or Province: Ramat Aviv 69978 Country: ISRAEL Final Date of Application: 30 April 2001 Contact: Professor Malka Margalit malkapost.tau.ac.il Address for Applications: Tel Aviv University, School of Education, P O Box 39040 Ramat Aviv - 69978 ISRAEL TENURE TRACK POSITION IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION The program of Language Education at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University, is seeking candidates for a tenure track faculty position for the 2001-2002 academic year. The main areas of specialization are second language acquisition, learning and teaching, language issues of immigrants and minority groups in schools, discourse/conversational analysis and/or related areas. The position is at the rank of lecturer or higher, according to candidates' qualification (lecturer is equivalent to Assistant Professor in US universities). Duties: teaching of courses in the above areas in the MA and teachers' certificate levels, directing MA theses and Ph.D. dissertations and conducting research in the above areas. Requirements: Ph.D./Ed.D. degree in applied linguistics, or second language education or related fields and advanced research background. Knowledge and experience in language education; background in teacher training; knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Applications, including updated CV, list of publications, copies of recent publications and three references should be sent to Professor Malka Margalit, School of Education, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel. Deadline for applications is April 30th, 2001Mail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue


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hey just throwing this up that if there is anyone ine south mississippi alabama or louisana we have a great feild named biloxi river paintball!!!! here is the link for the website http://biloxiriverpaintball.com/. the website has all the contact info and prices. i personally play on terror squad who is sponsered by the feild and it is a great scenario woodsball feild! the prices are far beyond fair and cheap and the feild also fills its own hpa and co2, we also offer rental packages for those who have friends that dont have gear!!!! if your looking for a awsome place to play and meet great people take a look at the website and were open every saturday!!!!
biloxi river paintball
Started by ctrific, May 09 2010 05:22 PM
2 replies to this topic
Posted 09 May 2010 - 05:22 PM
Posted 06 November 2010 - 05:32 PM
Yeah this field is awesome. Great field with great prices that has a great group of people that plays there. What more do you need.
Posted 03 December 2010 - 04:05 AM
Edited by southmsbrad, 24 February 2011 - 01:18 AM.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


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Cobblestones, Cols and Cowbells - Page 3
I, on the other hand, try to ease into a steady uphill rhythm. A deserted shepherd's stone hut is nestled among dense trees on our left. Two thousand feet above the valley floor, at a meadowed precipice from which I could imagine paragliders taking flight, we come upon a six-foot-tall cross, the first of countless others that we will encounter in this heavily Catholic region. Soon, to our right, nearly 50 horses graze, facing the glaciered torso of Mont Blanc.
Part of the Tor des Géants' enchantment is that it doesn't really feel like a race. In the early miles, the Sound-of-Music scenery and cobblestone charm of running in the Alps entrance runners into a numb perma-grin and, later, a benevolent stupor.
The pitch of the trail increases on the final approach to the col, a distant saddle between two soapy white granite faces. A runner says something in Italian and motions ahead with the tip of his trekking pole. I squint to make out the shapes of people awaiting us at the top. Soon, I hear them: the clang-clanging of a hundred cowbells, summoning us upward.
The Tor des Géants claims a Vangelis-esque orchestral as its unofficial anthem. It plays in the promotional videos and reverberates around Courmayeur as runners begin the race. For me, the official anthem is the joyous rhythm of cowbells. At the top of climbs, in valleys and approaching aid stations, their mystical jangle lifts my spirit and, sometimes, my legs.
"Hup, hup, hup!" shout the spectators at the top of Col Arp. I pause to savor the moment and point my toes downhill, following Dominik Aichinger, an Austrian ultrarunner with whom I was able to exercise some of my rusty German skills during the climb. "Wie geht's? [How's it going?]" I ask.
"Gut [Good]," he replies between deep breaths.
We crest the Col and absorb the sprawling view. "Unglaublich schon! [Unbelievable, beautiful!]" I shout out.


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Alice Louwagie
Nov. 5, 1929-March 25, 2013
MARSHALL – Mass of Christian Burial for Alice M. Louwagie, 83, of Marshall and Green Valley, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Holy Redeemer Catholic. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. with a 4 p.m. rosary service and 7 p.m. prayer service today at the Hamilton Funeral Home. Visitation will continue at the church on Thursday, one prior to the service.
She died Monday, March 25, 2013, at her residence.
Alice was born Nov. 5, 1929, to Henry and Marie (DeWilde) Noyes in Ghent. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent.
Alice was united in marriage to Leon Louwagie Nov. 10, 1948, at St. Eloi. The couple farmed near Marshall. Alice was a wonderful mother and housewife. Alice and Leon retired in 1988 and moved to Marshall.
Alice loved playing cards, telling jokes, spending the weekends at the lake, volunteering at the Auxiliary Thrift and Gift Shop, fishing, and in her younger days, square dancing and dancing to Blacky and the Blue Boys.
Alice was a faithful member of St. Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley. She was active in Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters and Weiner Memorial Auxiliary.
Survivors include her seven children, Duane (and Bernie) Louwagie of Marshall, Ron (and Yvonne) Louwagie of Cottonwood, Joyce (and Francis) Laleman of Minneota, Jean (and Terry) Gordon of Russell, Allan (and Deb) Louwagie and Brenda Louwagie, all of Marshall and Randy (and Cheri) of Green Bay, Wis.; 26 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; sister, Bertha Louwagie, of Marshall; brothers, Jules (and Marlene) Noyes and Joe (and Millie) Noyes, all of Marshall and Ray (and Colleen) Noyes, of Ghent; sisters-in-law, Mary Noyes and Annie Verly and brother-in-law, and Maurice Louwagie, all of Marshall; and many other relatives.
Alice was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leon on April 1, 1989; parents, Henry and Marie Noyes; brother, Emil Noyes; and twin grandsons, John and Jeff Louwagie.
Blessed be the memory of Alice Louwagie.
Hamilton Funeral Home


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Meg Ryan Hits the Beach
Carrie and Big's living room includes a sofa by Montauk Sofa upholstered in blue wool-mohair from Donghia and a pair of beige midcentury side chairs. The bright floral Birdie Blossom Cushion by Paul Smith for the Rug Company adds a classic "Carrie" touch.
Recognizing that Carrie wouldn't cook, Conway designed the kitchen and dining area of the couple's home with Mr. Big in mind by including such modern touches as aqua-blue tiles by Heath Ceramics from Ann Sacks installed on the kitchen walls.
The Comfort Factor


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (93 votes).
In short: Big City Feel to a really great half marathon.In full: Liverpool has arrived! Everything went like clockwork, water stations spot on, crowd were great. The best Liverpool half yet, grandstand at finish very noisy. Well done to everyone connected.Date of review: March 27, 2011
In short: Very enjoyable. great medaal and t-shirt!In full: The start is too small for the number of runners. but once out the dock able to pick up pace. water stations good particularly mile3! a good race with the potential of a PB but not for me this year.Cracking medal and bright orange T-shirt.Defo will do again. thanks to all marshalls and supporteron making it a good race.Date of review: March 27, 2011
In short: Another good renewal of the Liverpool halfIn full: Having taken part in this event in 2009, I knew what to expect. The rise in the entry threshold however made getting a good spec at the start problematic, and I had to fight my way through to get to the pacing group I was running in. Despite that, and the failure of my GPS watch, meant I had a quick but measured early section.I am used to using carb gels in races now, but today I felt sick for a large part of the race. But I put that down to not having milk with my porridge at seven. Pacing without a watch is tough, and there were many times when thought my legs would pack in.The crowd as usual in Liverpool cheered for everyone, especially the children, hopefully the next generation of runners. Made it to the end, in a massive PB of sub 1:22, so very happy but tired. Bring on the Brighton marathon In two weeks, and the liverpool marathon in october.Date of review: March 27, 2011
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text:
Tami Brass, Personal Banking Officer, Hampton Office
The fluctuation in the weather this spring is allowing Tami more time for indoor hobbies such as baking, decorating and quilting. While she enjoys all three, Tami is ready for the warmer weather to arrive so she can spend time outside in her flower gardens.
Tami has been married to her husband Tom for 33 years. They have two grown children – Tara and Tanner – and two very special granddaughters, Maddie and Maci.
Tami joined the UBTC team in October of 2000. She currently handles personal banking officer duties at our Hampton UBTC office and enjoys helping customers.
|Chocolate Pie
|by Tami Brass
|30 large marshmallows 1 env. Dream Whip
|3/4 c. milk Graham cracker crust
|1 (8 oz.) chocolate bar Cool Whip
Using double boiler, combine large marshmallows and ¾ c. milk. Heat and stir until melted. Stir in ¾ of an 8 oz. chocolate bar. Cool. Prepare 1 envelope of Dream Whip and fold into cold chocolate mixture. Pour into a graham cracker crust. Refrigerate until firm. Cover with Cool Whip and chocolate curls made from ¼ of the 8 oz. chocolate bar.


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Universal Fit
J.Fi Acoustic Natural Ebony Wood and Metal Fusion Earphones (Ebony / Titanium)
"I picked these up at Staples since they starting carrying Jlabs. I'd never owned any before and heard good things about them. They're very beautiful. They have real ebony wood and a kevlar cord. The most important thing is the sound of course. I'm a newbie in the audiophile market. I'm a die hard Ultimate Ear fan so right now they're all I have to compare them too ( only used the 350,..." --echo1284
JBuds J6M High Fidelity Ergonomic Earbuds-style Headphones with Microphone (Nero Black)
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text:
Ever since I began flight training in 2008, the same question regularly comes up around the airport. "Why aren't more people coming out to learn to fly?" Given that I was still early in my lessons when first confronted with this industry-wide dilemma, I was baffled–learning to fly was simply the greatest life experience (and investment) possible. I was living my dream for what amounted to the cost of a short-term car payment (more on that later). So, why didn't others feel the same way?
I started digging into this issue when soon enough my own "plight of flight" set in. Weather started hampering my schedule, and with a three-hour round-trip drive to the airport only to find upon arrival that crosswinds now exceeded the Thorpedo's limitations, the process quickly grew old. If it were not for the great relationship with my CFI and genuine enjoyment drawn from every lesson (even those on the ground), Mother Nature combined with what soon became one mechanical obstacle after another surely would have shooed me away.
Now, five years later with close to 100 aviation lectures under my belt, I realize that cost itself is not the barrier, but rather, value determines commitment. "How much am I willing to pay to live my dream?" In other words, if it costs me $6,000 to get my sport pilot certificate (and that is what I paid), it is only expensive if I am having a lousy time. If the experience is great, it's a bargain.
So, what are some things the flight training industry (and pilot community in general) can do to stop losing eight of every 10 students? Here are four ideas:


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August 21, 2013
Dogs free to roam at WagFest this weekend
WagFest, one of the area's biggest pet events, returns Saturday to Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
Dogs can swim in the lake, play in the kiddie pools full of ice or just sniff other dogs.
There are plenty of free samples of treats and dog food, and a few stands selling human food too. Several groups will present demonstrations, from dog training tips to dock diving.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Prairie Oaks, 2755 Amity Road in Hilliard. See the event website for more information.Continue ReadingPosted by Kelly Lecker on August 21, 2013 05:04 PM
August 20, 2013
Petco to release 'Star Wars' apparel, toys and more
Petco is releasing a line of Star Wars-themed products for cats and dogs, StarWars.com announced today.
Among the more hilarious items are Princess-Leia-bun headwear for cats, toy mice dressed as Star Wars characters, dangling starships on sticks, and Yoda, Chewbacca and Boba Fett costumes for dogs.
Petco will release the product line on Sept. 1.
For more information and to see more photos of the products, visit StarWars.com.
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or anyone with opposable thumbs! You're my only hope!"Continue ReadingPosted by Susannah Elliott on August 20, 2013 05:20 PM


text:
Vegan Shopping Guide
It's never been easier—or tastier!—to give your kitchen a cruelty-free makeover. Major health-food chains chock-full of animal-friendly fare are popping up everywhere, and mainstream supermarkets have become meccas for followers of meat- and dairy-free diets. The best part? With PETA's shopping guide, you don't have to strain your eyes!
PETA combed the aisles of countless grocery stores, poring over ingredient labels, and compiled a list of vegan products for your shopping convenience. So before you grab your canvas grocery totes and head for Harris Teeter or Piggly Wiggly, check out what's in our virtual store.
You'll find everything on your shopping list and lots more—from the obvious Tofurky Beer Brats and Gardenburger Riblets to the "I can't believe it's vegan" Kraft Creamy Italian Dressing and Little Debbie Cake Donuts.
We are constantly updating our lists, so if you know of a product that isn't currently listed here, or if you find a product here that is not vegan, please contact us.
Aisle 1: Baking
Aisle 2: Baked Goods
Aisle 3: Beverages
Aisle 4: Breakfast
Aisle 5: Condiments
Aisle 6: Produce
Aisle 7: Refrigerated and Frozen Foods
Aisle 8: Snacks
Aisle 9: Staples
You may have been thinking about a vegan lifestyle for a while but didn't know where to start. Well, it's as easy as one, two, three! Here you can find out how to go vegan in three simple steps.
Commenting is closed.
@Cassy: You should check out peta2.com to get tips on going vegan and how to help animals in other ways!
Well I've been a vegetarian for about 7 or 8 months mow and I've been honking of becoming vegan but I'm not supported by my family (not even to be vegetarian) but now I guess I can share these options I don't think I would like to eat fake meat but I guess I have to since I'm only 13 and I'm still growing…
http://veganmarket.wordpress.com/ – I found out a new vegan store imarket! I've already got first order (tofu+stevia) – eating all these stuff (friwd tofu with herbs, stevia with carob and soya milk) – and what can I say except – yammy! Tasty! Delicious!
My favorite snack are the Active X energy bars. They are 100% Organic "CERTIFIED", Gluten Free "CERTIFIED" and 100% Natural. They are very moist and packed full of amazing flavors and are Soy Free, NON GMO, Vegan and Kosher. I can't find anything better for me and my family to snack on.
@garyobese – first of all, cracking effort with the weight loss. Secondly, you're focusing on protein too much and the fact you tell yourself you can only get it from animals. Something that helped me understand it all a little better was a YouTube video called "101 reason to be vegan" it's around an hour long, and worth watching! Trust me 🙂
Good luck!
I want to go vegan/vegetarian but everything is so carby, I just lost 23lbs on a low carb diet – "Six Weeks To OMG". I ate lots of meat and therefore had lots of protein and managed to eat a low amount of carbs, I don't want to go back to eating lots of carbs.
As Marin says, it's a list of Vegan items.
I'm looking to start.. but start small, considering I have been an omnivore my whole life, meat for at least 5 dinners a week… if I looked at a list that said:
" 1)all fruits 2) all veggies, and 3) tofu." I might just kind of go.. "oh, so I'll be bored with my diet.. k.. nevermind"
As I have friends and family members who are vegan, I know there's a million and 1 recipes, and plenty of vegan products.. but others (my boyfriend for example) think that all I can have are salads, vegetable juice, water and tofu, a list of everything and anything that promotes a Vegan lifestyle, is a good list. People just have to use their better judgement when choosing their foods, just as everyone else does. Just because "this" container of fries is Vegan, doesn't make it healthy.
In regards to Sarah's comment, not every vegan/vegetarian is healthy and I personally would like to know EVERY item that's vegan, not just the healthy ones. If PETA only listed the healthy stuff, someone who is researching a vegan diet might be like, "Wow there's not a lot of vegan products" and it could deter them from going on the diet.
I agree with Sarah's comment. Although this list may be vegan, it may not necessarily be the healthiest. Why not combine 2 attributes: vegan & healthy? That would be the ultimate!
Check out Kimberly Snyder's "Beauty Detox Solution". It's very infotmational; a book on nutrition to help you glow from the inside out! And she supports vegan, basically. 🙂
Can I be positive that all of these products are 100% cruelty free? No animals harmed?
This is a great resource website and this grocery list is quite helpful, although I do have some concerns with some of the products you've listed. Some of the kraft products such as Crystal Light, contain aspartame and acesulfame potassium, which have been linked to causing some cancers. I know it's a vegetarian shopping list and not a "healthy" products list but I think that it might be a good idea to include some information about the products you're promoting.
I am currently a vegetarian and am researching on how to be a healthy vegan as i am very active and want to ensure that i don't become ill due to an improper vegan approach, any suggestions?
I just started to make the commiment to be a Vegetarian! And to be honest I'm really excited to do this for my life and help animals and the earth! I really feel more people should consider this but I know that's a challenge for people. I'm hopeing I can be a Vegetarian for life and change my life for the better! 🙂
Btw, this site PETA.org is very helpful and great resource for those who want to become a vegetarian or vegan. Thank you PETA.org!
This is very helpful. Thank you so much. I am new at this so I really needed something like this. Just be careful of certain products that contain soy that is genetically modified by a process called hexane which is harmful.
I just watched maybe one minute of the video about how our freinds chickens and cows are treated . I just started practicing Buddhism and now i realize that becomming a vegan is my next step to becomming more loving and aware . Thank You All At Peta . I hope that thru my journey someone else in my life will be inspired . Blessings to All !
Here is a place that you guys can check out for extra vegetarian/vegan alternatives.
I am getting ready to go vegan, but am finding it very hard to find much to eat as I do not like many vegetables,(lettuce, carrots, green and wax beans, corn, potatoes and only cooked cauliflower and broccoli). I also am not finding many choices of meat alternatives in our Appleton, Wisconsin Stores. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I am seventeen and I have been a vegetarian for three years now. i love this website and everything PETA does to spread the word about animal cruelty! it's shocking to see the world like it is… and I hope we can change it. It's nice knowing there are other people out there who are just as passionate about the environment and the animals as I am.
This question is for vegetarians not vegans. I'm a vegetarian myself and I do not understand why other vegetarians do not eat eggs. Eggs from the grocery store are not fertilized eggs. Hens lay eggs even without mating and the grocery store eggs have not been made with the help of a rooster. So why don't vegetarians eat eggs when the egg has no embrio?
This is so helpful! I am a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian and trying to become a vegan and this will help so much. I want to thank PETA for helping make the decision to become a vegetarian and now try and become a vegan. You guy's have helped me so much! Thanks!
Hey ya'll! 🙂 I'm a new vegan and am trying to promote cruelty-free diets here in the deep south. Needless to say, it is very difficult to do down here considering I'm from a small town and the only vegan I know. 🙁 People on this website are so inspiring and just what I need; I am very grateful of Pita and of all the good that they do for animals. Thank you and God bless. 🙂
I'm thinking about making the switch to full-on vegan (I've been an off-and-on vegetarian for over 10 years and now only eat occasional dairy and eggs). I find these lists and the meal plans so helpful and really make it seem like the switch would be very easy. I was wondering how recently this list was updated and if it would be again soon?
I've been vegan for several years and am an avid runner. Recently, my dreams came true when I discovered an online vegan vitamin store called VeganVita.com. For me, I feel better supporting a vegan store when buying my vegan health products.
I have been vegetarian ever since I can remember. Since I was just a few months old, my parents raised me to be aware and to show kindness towards all living things. I am now vegan and have been for just about half a year. I plan on going on for the rest of my life. Thank you, PETA, for making the choice to go veg so much easier for newbies as well as tried-and-true members. Love y'all! <3
I have tried many vigorous, and unhealthy diets for a couple years now. I am 18 in 3 months and I'm ready to start living healthier. I heard about PETA from a friend and started looking up info on the site. I'm now ready, and excited to go vegetarian. Not only will it be a good weight loss plan and healthier lifestyle for me, but I'm helping save animals, which is one of the most important things in my life! I would appreciate it if i could get a list of Health Food Stores that provide animal safe, foods to go along with a PETA diet 😉
Tip for becoming vegan or such and convincing family members: there are certain cookbooks out at the well-known online book retailer, where they say how to replace standard ingredients in traditional recipes by vegan ones and how to convert traditional recipes into vegan ones (by taking into account the differing traits of the vegan replacement in the recipe over the traditional ingredient). I guess, this also sure works for vegetarians 🙂
I am looking into becoming vegan after looking deep and hard at how I am feeling deep within and how I appear on the outside.. I live in Adelaide South Australia and am unsure what to buy (food wise and toiletries wise) or where to buy it from. Or where to find invaluable recipes to make vegan fare 🙂 Thankyou xxxx Namast'e
I became a vegetarian at age 8 and am now 13 and still going! I was the first in my family, (now my mom and brother are too), and have convinced many friends to try it. I LOOVVEE the taste of meat-and yes, I can remember it- but animals are much more important! I am planning on going vegan soon:) I have already tried vegan backpacking!
I've been a vegetarian since I was 13, and now I'm 15. My family was hard to convince but they did finally come around and start buying me meatless dinner options. My dad has been eating vegetarian breakfasts since 2009, although he doesn't know it. Thanks Morningstar sausage 😉
I'm 17 years old and I've been a lacto-vegetarian for almost 2 years now. Haven't convinced my family yet, but since I became a vegetarian they now only eat meat about 2 times a week, instead of almost every day like they used to! Some people admire the lifestyle and how vegetarians/vegans keep it up, but what I don't understand is how they can keep on eating meat like nothing!
The hardest thing I find about being a vegetarian trying to go vegan is that as a teen in a family of meat-eaters, as well as in this recession, it's difficult to convince my parents to buy animal-free dairy products and whatnot. So I end up eating a lot of grain and fruit instead. Any tips for convincing my parents that meat-free is the way to be?
Hi! My names hannaH<3, and after doing a little research on here about animal testing and such, I plan on becoming a vegetarian. However, every tip this site has to offer is for anyone going vegan. I'm looking for helpful advice and tips for a vegetarian..?
I'm almost fourteen and i want to start a vegan diet. I understand this will take alot of work and commitment. I'd really appreciate any tips anyone has on getting started.. Like what ingredients and foods i should be getting to start off.. [email protected]
Hi! I have formally been a vegetarian but now i'm going vegan. I love animals with all my heart and really appreciate what this site stands for. If any of you need some faux meat, try Morning star products in the frozen food section of your local walmart! Going vegetarian/vegan is a great way to lose weight and/or stand up for our beloved animals. Keep it up you guys! 🙂
Are all the products mentioned both vegan and vegetarian?
just decided to become vegan any tips? specially in cooking and i would appreciate if you could share easy and fast recipes
I have always been a vegetarian for 40 yrs and i am happy . I love making peace with all the animals and people. I have a motto live and let live.If we want a peaceful world start from ourself, be a vegan and protect the animals .I always wanted to meet a club where we teach people how to be vegan and share our good experience of vegan life.
I also have just decided to make this my life style and need all the help and advice for receipes and all. Thank you so much!
Hey everyone! Just wanted to say that I recently made the switch to being a vegetarian and loving it. It is my goal to make it to 100% vegan. I started a blog and a twitter account (@howtogoveggie and http://howtogoveggie.blogspot.com) to offer support (and get some support!) while making the switch! Look me up and we can all help each other stick with it!!
I have been a vegetarian for 6 years now, and am still trying to find ways to improve my diet. These lists help a lot! They will also be helpful when cooking for my boyfriend (who is not a vegetarian, but will only eat meat maybe once or twice a week)! Thanks so much!
I just decieded today 2 start a veg/vegan diet & lifestyle. im very excited to start this. if any1 has any tips or ideas for me id appriciate the help.
I am currently transitioning to the vegan life style, I wish I would have done it sooner! The food I am able to cook now is much healthier, tastier and I feel great ever since I started fallowing this list! Thanks! I would suggest this to anyone!!
Check out the mcdougall diet folks…it's a starch based vegan diet that WORKS!


text:
Public notices, April 24, 2013
(April 23, 24, 2013))
Name/Certificate of
Assumed Name
Minnesota Statutes,
Chapter 333
The filing of an as-
sumed name does not
provide a user with ex-
clusive rights to that
name. The filing is re-
quired for consumer
protection in order to
enable consumers to
be able to identify the
true owner of a busi-
1. List the exact as-
sumed name under
which the business is
or will be conducted:
Complete Relocation
2. Principal Place of
37 Village Lane
New Ulm, MN 56073
3. List the name and
complete street ad-
dress of all persons
conducting business
under the above As-
sumed Name, OR if
an entity, provide the
legal corporate, LLC,
or limited Partnership
name and registered
office address:
Complete Relocation,
37 Village Lane
New Ulm MN 56073
Sandra Donnay
37 Village Lane
New Ulm MN 56073
Jolene Field O'Hare
516 11th South Street
New Ulm MN 56073
4. I, the undersigned,
certify that I am sign-
ing this document as
the person whose sig-
nature is required, or
as agent of the
person(s) whose sig-
nature would be re-
quired who has author-
ized me to sign this
document on his/her
behalf, or in both capa-
cities. I further certify
that I have completed
all required fields, and
that the information in
this document is true
and correct and in
compliance with the
applicable chapter of
Minnesota Statutes. I
understand that by
signing this document
I am subject to the
penalties of perjury as
set forth in Section
609.48 as if I had
signed this document
under oath.
Peter Hemberger,
April 2, 2013
Peter Hemberger, At-
torny #392240
Email Address for
Official Notices
Enter an email address
to which the Secretary
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porate Farm Pro-


text:
35 User Reviews of Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship
In April 2013, we board the Carnival Freedom at Fort Lauderdale to surprise our friends for a 7 days crusie. My opinion on food, was adequate no complaint. Room and services very good, no complaint on that.
Pool in rear of the ship, too small for the amount of users, at one time we were all standing in the pool like a bunch of aspergus sholders to sholders. This was too much. I found also that the age group is more incline for young couple, so we did not fit in, and I noted a lot of young men drunk of their skull, and close to a fight. Too much for me.
I like to Casino, however that is where my complaint comes in, THE SMOKE. we cannot go in without passing by a bar, and this where the blanket of smoke start. I felt sick just to make my way in...it 'stink big time. I saw an old man with a churgical mask playing at a machine while the lady beside him was smoking a little cigar that smelt like s.... Poor man. Smoking is not control, you cansmoke on any desk with no respect on the none smokers. We cruise with Princess a lot, and we are back with Princess. The age group fits us, the smoking in well control, every second night, the Casino is a no smoking area and so on, so at least the none smokers can enjoy the casino without being poisoned by the smokers.
Therefore, I assume that the same set up exist on all Carnival ships, and we cruise at sea, it is to enjoy the fresh air, not to be smoked. I know what I am talking about, I was an heavy smoker at one time, and 24 years ago, I QUIT, I am now 70 years old, in good health and wish to remain healthy for a long time. I am avoiding all places where there is possible king of smoking, and Carnival Freedom was not one. Bad experience.
The cruise it self was nice we have cruised 3 other times on RCCL and wanted to try Carnival. The ship was laid out nice and a bit confusing at the beginning as they all are the first day. The staff was wonderfull and the ports were fantastic. Our only issue was the staff of Carnival not keeping the teens and children out of the adult only section at any time of the cruise. And Maria at Carnival Customer Service saved the day allowing us to connect withe ship in Key West.
We went on the Carnival Freedom on Sunday 1/22 to Saturday 1/28/...I could not help notice the total lack of sanitation and sterilization aboard. First of all this was my 25 cruise...last year I cruised 4 times...so I know what I am talking about!
After the major stomach viruses a few years ago...at night the ships were pressured cleaned every night about 2 am...passengers had to spray their hands with sanitizers...or they were spray. Sunday night...ed by the crew! This trip you could not find the hand sanitizers and there was no overnight sanitization.
Again we returned on Saturday 1/28...the baby Daniela started getting sick on Monday...her mom Rosalie got sick on Tuesday...I got sick on Wednesday and her dad got sick on Friday...that is 4 of the 6 on the cruise.
I contacted Carnival...who said they would document it...otherwise "Feel Better"...now two other of their ships have be effected do to their lack of proper sanitation...This I feel is another epidemic about to explode!!!!
FYI...can'tnot eat anything...constant Diarrhea (every 1/2 hour)...the good news is I lost 7 pounds and the Bad News is I am still going 5 days later...same with everybody else...SO:
GO GET THEM...Joe Nasuti...BOOKING # 330RD8
The Carnival Freedom was a big disappointment for the food and service of the crew. It seems that some of the crew thought we were going to other areas and this was the start of the problem. The crew thought they would sell the same ports as they did a year earlier and this would let some of them get to ports of their home. If not for our server Alberto the whole food and service would have been horible. Stopping at the ports was the only good thing, this was to get off the boat. The 80.00 per person tips for the crew was a surprise. This was a no choice 80 per person times 5 = 400. This was taken out of our account on the second day. The room service was horible sometimes waiting up to 45 min for an item. I will never travel on Carnival again.
This was Mrs. Brown's and my 8th Carnival cruise, and we (I) chose this itinerary specifically because Panama was one of the port stops.
We spent two nights prior to embarkation in Ft. Lauderdale at the Ft. Lauderdale Sheraton Beach Hotel which was very pleasant. I prefer to travel from Miami, but only one carnival ship goes to Panama, and only on one cruise every 4 weeks, leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, so we had little choice. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining though, as we did enjoy the stay.
Embarkation went well although I was surprised that there were no check in kisoks like in Miami. Instead, a long row of agents was busily and quickly processing incoming guests.
Two nights before we left home Carnival called and asked if we wanted to upgrade from our interior cabin to a balcony that came open due to a cancellation. On the spur of the moment, not knowing whether the $350 offer was a good deal or not, I accepted, and we were very pleased with our room, never having stayed in a balcony cabin before. Our room was 1015, almost atthe top of the ship, very near the front, only steps away from the forward open decks which I really enjoyed. Our room steward was excellent and took great care of us.
Our first port stop was Cozumel, which I've never been impressed with, so we just got off the ship for photos and souvenirs but didn't go into town.
Our second stop was Limon, Costa Rica. When we were here previously in 2004 we took a train ride excursion; this time I had no preference so Mrs. Brown picked an excursion called Carribean Cacao Experience, which was a tour of a nearby nature preserve called Cacao Trails, where we learned the history of the cacao bean and experienced hands on methods of making chocolate. I initially had low expectations of this tour, but was surprised that we had a busload of 50 or so participants, and was very pleasantly surprised to find the tour very informative and enjoyable.
Colon, Panama was our last and by far best port stop. In 2004 we took the train ride across the isthmus, which was a very rewarding tour, but I was left wanting to see more of the Canal, so this time we took the Panama Canal tour. On this tour we rode buses across the isthmus to Panama City, where we boarded ferries for the trip up through the Miraflored and Pedro Miguel locks, through the Culebra Cut to Balboa where we reboarded the buses to go back to the ship. This was an excellent tour and the guide was extremely knowledgeable and easy to understand. We met 6 or 8 oceangoing ships in the canal which I found exciting. The tour may have been a bit long for anyone who is not as interested as someone like myself, as it took the entire day. We left the ship in Colon soon after docking at 7 or 8am and didn't get back until after 5pm. The ship was supposed to leave at 5pm but as there were 10 busloads of passengers on this tour, and we were late getting back, we didn't depart until nearly 6pm.
After Panama we had 2 sea days on the way home. I was surprised after going back to the room late the second night to step out onto the balcony at 1am and see a nearby island. Looking at the ship's position on the cabin TV I saw that were were at Grand Cayman; an announcement later that morning revealed that we had stopped to disembark a passenger with a medical emergency. Between this and the late start from Panama we were several hours late returning to Ft. Lauderdale, but debarkation started around 845am so I don't think it was a problem for anyone.
A couple observations: Since our frist cruise in 2002 it's seemed to me that Carnival is really cutting costs. In 2002 our dining room waiter and assistant had 2 tables of 10 and one table of 4; on this cruise our poor waiter with 2 assistants had a huge section of tables with what had to be 50 or more passengers. They were running constantly during the service, with very little time to visit as we'd become accustomed to previously. We were seated with a very pleasant couple at a table for four.
Unfortunately Carnival's food quality also doesn't seem to be as high as it used to be. Don't get me wrong- it was all very good, just not AS good, and a couple of my wife's meat dishes were quite ordinary. I think in addition to saving money on food costs, Carnival seems to be trying to push passengers to use the upscale extra charge restaurants. We haven't made it to the point where we want to try one of those yet.
Another thing that surprised me was an $8 pay per view charge for in room movies- these used to be free.
Freedom is a huge ship; the largest we've been on yet, and at times felt very crowded. The buffet areas and Promenade deck were by far the worst, with traffic along the promenade often moving at a snail's pace due to the crush of people.
One area that I was impressed with was the upper decks; there is a lot of deck space on this ship with what must be thousands of deck chairs. Although there was a lot of chair saving going on, there were always multitudes of empty chairs elsewhere so it wasn't a problem.
There are several pools on this ship, and 2 hot tubs in the Serenity area forward on the top deck that were fun and well located, so we never had a problem finding a place to swim.
The ship's entertainment was good, with the usual mix of big shows and comedy, etc.
I always enjoy the multi-cultural exposure we see while on cruises, and I wish I could adequately describe the amusing encounter I overheard in the ship's store, while one of the ship's officers from the purser's desk was asking the store clerk for advise on buying snack food. I'd previously encountered this very attractive Russian officer at the Purser's desk when changing bills, and while she was far from hostile, she was all business, almost severe, so imagine overhearing her, with strong Russian accent (think of Natasha from the Bulwinkle show) question the poor young store clerk about the merits of cheese balls vs. caramel popcorn. It was quite funny.
While I do miss the "old days", overall this was a very enjoyable cruise, and Carnival's staff still gets high marks from me, although sometimes I wonder what management in Miami is thinking (not really- I know it's all dollars). I'm not a big fan of the huge ships, but this one took us where we wanted to go and did it well, and I am looking forward to a little smaller scale on our Spirit cruise to Hawaii in April.
CARNIVAL FREEDOM Western Caribbean Cruise Sept. 4-10, 2011 By Mary & Vincent Finelli
If you must drive on I-95, what better time than 11:00am on a Saturday morning. All the anxious days South Florida spent watching hurricane Irene meander up the east coast of the US were over for Florida --- but not for the rest of the country. Irene dropped record rain on everywhere in the Eastern US, but not in South Florida, where it was badly needed. Yet, here we were boarding the Carnival Freedom on a cruise we thought might never happen, since we waited a long time for a wheelchair accessible cabin with balcony. The Freedom was built by Fincantieri Shipyards in Italy, and she is a cookie cutter replica of most other recent Carnival ships. Once you have sailed on one, the physical layout is the same on all the others. This makes it easy for repeaters to get around the ship. It is only the Joe Farcas (ship architect) decorations which differ. Color schemes are mainly black and reds, with the "Farcasian" penchant for repetition. If he likes something, it will be repeated ad infinitum. TheFreedom has some truly lovely rooms like the Jeffersonian style Monticello Library, with classic furniture and book cabinets, and the impressive Millennium Atrium and Cafe`. Very nice!
We made several new friends on board including the very interesting Captain Antonio Marchetti, Staff Captain Francesco Borgogna, Chief Engineer Ferdinando Ruocco and Maitre d' Jogi, who all added zest to our cruise.
EMBARKATION We had received a phone message to do early VIP boarding, so we arrived in Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale at 11:30am and had an easy luggage drop off and went straight to check in. It was a breeze and we were on the ship in twenty minutes. Since, this was our 91st cruise we were prepared for the sharply angled gangway. Mary's swing away wheelchair footrests were folded back, thus preventing damage. Vincent got off his scooter and it was lifted over the too tall gangway; thus we were on with our equipment intact. But, the first thresh hold proved to be a doozie. The wheelchair made it on the second attempt and the scooter again had to be lifted over it. Fortunately, these were the most problematic areas, all on Deck 3, which also is the Promenade Deck. Moreover, on Deck 10 forward the access to the Stress Less pool was also problematic for the high ramp and the heavy wood door without an automatic opener. We found the rest of the ship to be wheelchair friendly. We were in our cabin by 12:30 and on our way to a very nice Buffet on Deck 9. As one cruiser put it, "If this is just lunch, I can't wait for dinner." He was right!
THE SHIP The Freedom is a member of the Conquest Class, and we have written on deck plans similar to this class and the Carnival Spirit Class. She has 14 decks accessible to passengers, from Deck 0 to 14 (there is no unlucky Deck 13).
Deck 0 has the Tender area and the ship's Medical Center, which, thankfully, we did not have to visit this cruise.
Riviera Deck 1 and Main Deck 2 are all staterooms: Ocean View categories 6A, 6B and 6C (220 sq. ft.); Porthole category PT (185 sq. ft.); Interior categories 4A, 4B and 4C (185sq.ft.); Interior Upper/Lower category 1A (160 sq. ft.). Decks 3, 4 and 5 are all public areas.
Lobby Deck 3 forward has the three deck high Victoriana Theatre, giving homage to the 1800's English Theatre. It has a mini dome and many portraits of Sarah Bernhardt the "Prima Donna" of the Victorian stage. The theatre has elegant marble and gold leaf everywhere and many ornate wood moldings. Seating is sofa style. Midship are the Guest Service Desk, the Shore Excursion Desk and the showy Millennium Atrium and Bar. Aft is the two deck high Posh Restaurant with red patterned walls and a balcony, which is the upper level of the restaurant (Deck 4).
Atlanta Deck 4 forward is second level of Victoriana Theatre; midship there are the Photo Gallery, the Monticello Library (with very limited hours, approx. 2 hrs. per day) and the Chic Restaurant. Toward aft there are the Dynasty Conference Room, the Web with Internet stations and the Habana Cigar Bar with Cuban décor. This bar reeks of 1940s atmosphere and a pictorial homage to Cigar Box labels. The many room names foreshadow their distinct motifs. Aft is the upper level of Posh Restaurant.
Promenade Deck 5 forward is the Victoriana Theatre's balcony. Midship are the shops around the upper level of the Millennium Atrium. From midship toward aft there is a series of aptly named bars including the following: Players' Sports Bar, Formalities, Centuries Bar, Viennese Cafe`, Meiji Sushi (open 5 to 8:30pm most nights) Bar Nouveau, Scott's Piano Bar (Joplin), Swingtime and the Babylon Casino. All of these have unique decorations worthy of close inspection. The Players' Sports Bar has many screens and classic photos of old time greats. Huge soccer, baseball and basketballs are stools. The Babylon Casino is just after the Atrium, with all sorts of card games tables, roulette, craps and a multitude of slot machines, from pennies to dollars, something for everybody. The towering brick columns with winged figures give an ambiance of ancient Babylon. On the starboard side is the Centuries Promenade, a beautiful inside promenade, with many seating areas and windows, often with setups for the professional photographers; it is the major path to the aft elevators and to the International Lounge. On the port side is also a very large area for teen-only activities: The Club O2 which is operated by a director who facilitates the interactions and activities of the young cruisers, such as parties with a DJ and state-of-the-art lighting and sound system, and the Video Arcade, with video games and interactive game pod, etc.
Upper Deck 6, Empress Deck 7 and Verandah Deck 8 are mostly staterooms: Interior, categories 4D, 4E, 4F. 4G (185 sq. ft.); Interior/Window obstructed view, category 4J (185 sq. ft.); Balcony, categories 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F (185 sq. ft. - balcony 35 sq. ft.); Aft-View Extended Balcony, categories 8M, 8N (185 sq. ft. - balcony 60 sq. ft.); Premium Vista Balcony, category 9C (185 sq. ft. - balcony 75 sq. ft.); Ocean Suites, category OS (275 sq. ft. - balcony 65 sq. ft.); Grand Suites, category GS (345 sq. ft. - balcony 85 sq. ft.)
Lido Deck 9 forward also has staterooms: Interior, categories 4G, 4H; Interior/Window with obstructed view, category 4J; Balcony, categories 8E, 8F (all these categories are the same as the corresponding ones on other decks); Junior Suites, category JS (same size as cat. OS). Midship on 9 are the Timeless Pool & Bar and aft are the Freedom Restaurant Buffet, the Pizzeria, serving tasty pizzas, calzone and Caesar Salad, and the Grille with great frankfurters, hamburgers and French fries. All the way aft are the Endless Pool/Spas and Bar surrounded by a nice area with tables and chairs.
Panorama Deck 10 forward has staterooms: Interior, category 4H; Interior/Window obstructed view, category 4J; Balcony, categories 8E, 8F (all these categories have the same sizes as the corresponding ones on other decks). After the forward elevators there are the Stress Less Pool and Spa. Midship is Carnival's Seaside Theater with a gigantic (12-by-22 ft.) outdoor movie screen. Aft is the Sun King Steakhouse (more on this fine dining experience later). And, finally Fish and Chips, a great alternative to the buffet.
Spa Deck 11 forward has 18 Balcony staterooms, cat. 8F; in addition there are the Spa with Beauty Salon, Sauna and Massage Rooms and a well equipped Gym; the aft section comprises the Sports Deck and the Jogging Track.
Sun Deck 12 forward has the Camp Carnival and Kids Pool and aft is the mini golf course.
Sky Deck 14 has the entrance to the 214 ft. water slide which is enjoyed by kids and adults alike. The flying sliders end the run with a big splash on deck 10, near the Stress Less Pool.
The ship's statistics include the following: Registered in Panama; she weighs 110,000 tons; length is 952 ft.; beam is 116 ft.; passenger capacity 3,700; Crew is 1,150; 577 inside cabins and 910 outside, with 555 cabins and suites with balconies. There are 28 wheelchair accessible cabins, of these cabins 15 are interior and 10 obstructed view, but only 2 with balcony and 1 Ocean Suite.
CABIN We had a wheelchair accessible cabin #6208 on Deck 6 forward, all the way forward! When entering straight ahead is the large bathroom with a single sink. There is a commode and a large shower with a fold away seat and a handy shower head on a long extension; an adjustable vanity mirror, but alas no shelves for amenities, just a small bowl filled with excellent gifts: creams, lotions, toothpaste, razors etc. There is also a closet with many shelves.
To the right of the entry is a double armoire with very high poles for hangers and six drawers; in the other section there are high and low poles for hangers, but no place for long dresses or coats. Next is a TV set very high on a shelf, and below a shelf for the ice bucket and glasses. There is a personal safe, just the right height. Then, there is a lighted vanity with a hassock (too low for comfort); a small refrigerator, and two more low shelves. To the left is a kingsize bed, at just the right height, flanked by useless night stands (too low for the physically challenged) with night lamps. There is also one upholstered barrel chair and a small coffee table. There are double windows to the balcony, which is so tiny that the chairs have to be piled up to allow the space for the wheelchair. Since Vincent has a small scooter, the only place left to park the wheelchair is in the shower. A very nice accessory to this cabin is the automatic door opener.
The wood is all pretty orange maple and two oil paintings complete the peach and maroon décor. One is of an Egyptian looking sailboat in bold blue, orange and yellow colors. The other shows two small cottages and a pony cart all in bold primary colors. When designing theses handicapped cabins, designers should be required to stay and live in one for several days and only then they will realize the inconveniences that future handicapped passengers will have to face. A better way may be to seek suggestions from handicapped passengers. However, to compensate for the inadequate features of the stateroom, we had a great team of stewards, Oscar and his assistant, who were always cordial and efficient and provided us with excellent service.
SERVICE & FOOD Its obvious that things are going to be good when the Asst. Housekeeper Nemanja Skakavac visits your cabin on the first day to see if you need anything. He called on us a few more times to check on our comfort and we appreciated the attention. Service on board is excellent. Of course, hospitality always filters down from the top and we knew that when we had dinner with Capt. Marchetti and his lovely Signora Claudia and other officers at the Captain's table. Mary conversed with Chief Engineer Ferdinando Ruocco about his adopted hometown of Avellino and the nearby city of Salerno, where Vincent attended secondary school. Mary mentioned how cold it was in our cabin, and while we had dinner, he had the thermostat in our room checked and adjusted. Carnival's motto is "Just ask and you shall receive." Vincent also enjoyed conversing in Italian at the table, since he was seated between Captain Marchetti and Staff Captain Borgogna, both from the region of Campania where Vincent was born. A delicious dinner and pleasant company: Thank you, Comandante Marchetti!
The food is greatly improved and portions are perfect. There is a new menu instituted just last month. Maitre d' Jogi (Jayaram Manjunath, Jogi, India) was both cordial and helpful in giving us a table for 2, # 430 in the Posh Dining Room. Our Waiter Dana was excellent and turned out to be an excellent dancer and part of the Dining Room entertainment. Ida and Gibson were his assistants and they were both great.
The menu has several appetizers, soups and a "Didja" course (food you always wanted to try, but did not dare). This whimsical course led us to try alligator, frog's legs, salmon tartar, shark, etc. The menu is a thoughtful one with a broad selection of courses and food options. These include starters such as fresh fruit cocktail, guacamole and tomato salsa with tortilla chips, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, prosciutto and melon, smoked duck and caramelized oranges, beefsteak tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, and finally a delicious New England Crabcake. If that doesn't please, then you may have one of the many soups: cream of sun-ripened tomatoes, minestrone Milanese, West Indian Roasted Pumpkin Soup, Strawberry Bisque, French onion soup, black bean soup, chilled cucumber with dill, Tom Ka Gai (chicken, coconut and lemon grass), Chilled Peach cream, Gazpacho blanco, wild mushroom soup and an old fashioned chicken noodle soup.
Salads are fresh and varied such as a California Spring mix, Fatoush Salad, Portobello and mesclun, Caesar salad, heart of iceberg, etc. Main courses had several options. The ones indicated by a heart symbol denote healthy, low fat, low cholesterol and low sodium, such as grilled corvina fish filet, a study in sushi, chicken Sicilian style with grilled vegetables, grilled marinated pork steak and many others. Regular entrees included a duet of roasted rack and leg of lamb, seafood Newburg, Petite filet mignon, Grilled jumbo tiger shrimp, Sweet and Sour shrimp (highly recommended by Mary), Broiled lobster tail and jumbo shrimp, Prime rib of beef au jus (excellent) and Jerked Pork loin, etc. And the third category is called Comfort foods: Chicken pot pie, Old fashioned Pot Roast, Meatloaf and gravy with mashed potatoes, St Louis Barbecued pork spareribs, Southern fried chicken and Bacon Mac & Cheese (kids favorite).
There are many pasta entrees but the grand finale is the desserts: Chocolate melting cake (don't order this the first night or you'll never try anything else!), hot souffle`, crème Brulees plus an assortment of sherbets, ice creams, and assorted cheese and fruit plates. Excellent! What can we say about the food --- it is plentiful, nicely portioned, fresh and elegantly prepared.
Our evening in the Sun King (Louis XIV) steakhouse was magnificent. The chargers were Versace plates. Service by two waitresses was superb. Chef Derek Dias (Bombay, India) was kind enough to visit our table. This young chef is top notch. We dined on Carpaccio, Escargot, and crabcake for starters. The focaccia bread was light as air, while the Caesar and Spinach salads were crisp and excellent. Sides were creamed spinach, Yukon gold potatoes and a medley of mushrooms. We both thought our surf and turf to be perfect (filet mignon and lobster tail). The décor is all maroon and gold gilt carved woodwork with crystal chandeliers. The ambience, the service and the food were stupendous. Don't miss this experience!
ENTERTAINMENT This was the final week of the US Open Tennis Tournament, so we spent some time in the Sports Bar, where Zed Oragun of Croatia and Miro of Serbia were helpful in displaying the matches for us, and getting the sound up. Cruise Director Jacques De Lange is very personable and constantly moving among the cruisers with many entertainment options. The Freedom Orchestra, Dancers and singers are A-1. We especially enjoyed "Jump, Jive, and Wail."
The Punch Liner Comedy Club featured Eddie Capone, whom we have seen many times before. He is amazing with several new routines; he has three nightly shows, the early show is a family one, then there are two adult comedy shows. He is great.
Carnival Freedom has extensive youth programs: Camp Carnival, formulated for the entertainment of children ages 2 to 14, is run by trained counselors with arts and crafts, special activities and games such as pool time, scavenger hunts, etc.; and Club O2 for teens that, in addition to the organized parties and video games, offers many activities, such as basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, karaoke, pool time, etc.... At night there is a teens-only party, with dancing the night away to the latest hits.
Just tear off the Daily Schedule from the "Funtime" and take with you a pocket list of every event on board: Exercise, Daily Puzzles, Trivia, Sports Court Contests, Sail Away Parties, Card Playing Groups, Art Auctions, Ping-Pong Tournaments, Black Jack Tournaments and Concerts under the Stars --- plenty for all ages.
PORTS OF CALL Day 1. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. USA Depart: 4:30pm Day 2. Key West, FL. Arrive: 8:30am Depart: 5:00pm Day 3. At Sea Day 4. Grand Cayman Arrive: 7:00am Depart: 4:00pm Day 5. Ocho Rios, Jamaica Arrive: 7:30am Depart: 3:30pm Day 6. At Sea Day 7. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Debarkation 7:00am
DEBARKATION This was one of the most painless debarkation. We put out our tagged luggage the night before. Saturday morning, after breakfast in the Posh dining room, we were assisted by a crew member through debarkation. His help was appreciated especially to overcome the problems we had with our scooter and wheelchair on the gangway. In less than 20 minutes we were out of the terminal and on our way home.
CONCLUSION A reason why we have not cruised with Carnival ships in the last few years is our limited mobility and the fact that Carnival's newer ships have limited number of wheelchair accessible cabins with balcony, only 2 in balcony categories and 1 in Ocean Suites. The same thing can be said for Costa Crociere which used to be our favorite cruise line when we did not have mobility problems. Every time we tried to book a wheelchair accessible cabin with balcony it was not available. But this time we were persistent, so after several attempts we found cabin #6208 available on this ship. That is the same number we have had in several Carnival ships (or 6207 starboard) indicating that nothing has changed in the deck plan of the newer ships. We have already voiced our suggestions on this issue several times but our comments have been ignored. (*We are attaching below the "Suggestions" section we wrote in the cruise review of the Carnival Liberty, published at this website on February 2006).
This was our 10th cruise on Carnival ships, thus we achieved the distinguished status of Platinum Guest. We were surprised to see the VIP treatment offered to us by the newly formed "Carnival Concierge Club" with a welcome back letter by Gerry Cahill, President and CEO. This letter listed the complementary amenities on this cruise: Personalized Stationary, Canapes and petit fours sent to our stateroom on gala nights, a gift of a carnival logo item and many more special services and Concierge attention, etc. We felt appreciated throughout the cruise! These perks and the dinner at Captain Marchetti's table made this a very special cruise.
We have booked two more cruises for this year, the first we will return on the Crown Princess, Nov. 12th and the second on the Celebrity Eclipse, Dec.10th. Happy Cruising!
*Attachment from Carnival Liberty Review: "SUGGESTIONS" This was our fifth cruise on Carnival ships and every time we have returned we have found improvements. This time the upscale restaurant Harry's Club is definitely a plus in the rating of the ship. We had a wonderful cruise and we'll definitely cruise again on Carnival ships. However, the location of our stateroom was not optimal, since it was the first cabin at the bow, far from the elevators and the center of the ship which is an added problem for those of us with limited mobility. In addition we could not use the balcony much due to exposure to strong wind especially when the ship was in motion. In the future, if we book again on this class ship, it will be in a suite, since the location of wheelchair accessible cabins is inappropriate for us. We feel that Carnival, as well as Costa, have to put some effort in designing appropriate accommodations for disabled passengers in regard to comfort, location and number of wheelchair accessible cabins by emulating those lines, such as Princess and RCI, which offer more user friendly accommodation to the growing number of cruisers with limited mobility.
Wife and I stayed at the Hilton garden inn cruise port/airport hotel in dania ,beach fl. the day before our cruise. We had breakfastthe day of the cruise at burger king next door. For 10 dollars a person we used the hotel shuttle to port everglades to cruise on the carnival freedom. Nice hotel, we will stay here for our next cruise out of ft. Lauderdale. The cruise was our 7 th cruise with Carnival since 1999.
Freedom was a great name for this cruise because that is the way we felt during this vacation.
Starting with our cabin 1051 on the panorama deck, the balcony view was great for taking pics when coming into a port, Plenty of storage space in the closet and under the bed for 3 full suitcases. The room attendant cleaned out the mini-fridge so we could store our soda and liquor supplies. The room along with the bathroom was big enough for DW and I to share on this cruise. We cruised on the Conquest last year and having the Serenity adult only retreat available on this cruise was a added plus, as we areearly risers we were able to use a lot of the ships facilities without felling rushed or crowded.
The DW and I really enjoyed the food on this cruise.
Took a taxi tour of st. maarten around the island which made for a fun day. The next day DW and I took the st. kitts scenic railroad tour around the island, this was a very fun and informative way to spend a day on st kitt. The next day was at san juan ,we just walked around downtown in and out of several stores before stopping in the Sheraton for a little casino time. Last but not least grand turk was probably DW favorite stop. Took a taxi tour of this small island, then went to the beach bar were DW and I shared a plate full of jerk pork prepared outside of the bar, GREAT DISH!!.
As on past cruises DW and I met and hung out with several of our fellow cruisers. Bruno and Brenda we really had a great time with you guys. DW and I had so much FUN on this cruise, Thanks CARNIVAL for another great vacation. Another carnival cruise in 2017 lord willing.
Only a few issues to mention.
I am not one to complain and have loved cruising on Carnival since 1977 on the Mardi Gras. 30 plus cruises on Carnival. Diamond cruiser for the last year on Carnival.
We were on the Empress deck on the Carnival Freedom, a Balcony cabintoo close to the back of the ship by the elevators. The room never got cool and the air conditioner just was not able to cool that area of the ship. Our friends across the hall on the inside also had the same issue. Normally my wife is complaining that i like it too cold when we go to bed. we were both sleeping on the bed with no covers and were hot.
Called maintenance and they said there was nothing they could do. Not a good area to book if your going on theFreedom and like it cool. I had to get some budget work done for work and the internet connection was so slow it was unbeliveable they could charge for this service. Carnival you might want to make the white cards with diamond shapes on the card. you mightalso want to give your diamond passengers unlimited internet access. You can keep the chocolate covered strawberrys and little gifts and laundry service. Give the passengers what they could really use and need.
just my opinion from Chris Reynolds folio number 7887 freedom sailing 11/16/13. looking forward to the Glory 3/2/2014
Pros and Cons of the Freedom: Having been on over 35 cruises, this was without question the fastest and easiest embarkation process I've ever seen. We arrived earlier than our 1:30 scheduled time, yet walked through the terminal and never had to wait for anything. They had at least 20 agents open to process people and the whole thing took less than 15 minutes.
PRO: We had an Aft Extended Balcony Cabin (7445) and it was wonderful! There are 3 windows for great viewing, a HUGE balcony with 2 lounge chairs, 3 chairs and a table. Spent a lot of time out there!
PRO: Great food in the Posh Restaurant (Traditional seating). All beef was excellent, which isn't always the case on ships, seafood, fish, pasta and appetizers wonderful and the Chocolate Melting Cake a delight.
CON: The SunKing Steakhouse was disappointing. Having had the best meal ever on the Legend a few years ago, we were not as excited this time. We both ordered Surf and Turf and later talked to each other and found that our lobster was undercooked. We should have commented on it at the time. The service fora specialty restaurant was not the best - things forgotten, served to the wrong person, etc. Not really worth the $35.00.
CON: The pools are all VERY small and are really "dunking" pools, not swimming pools. One cannot swim more than 4 or 5 strokes and are at a wall. They are also salt water, which is fine with me, but others seemed to mind that. I must say I haven't seen a saltwater pool since the Norway in the early 90's.
CON: The entire ship's decor seems to be 1970's orange, brown, gold, yellow, with no variations in color. It was a difficult ship to figure out as there are "blind spots" and no real visual changes to orient oneself. It seems to be "cut up" with walls,mirrors, turns, no "landmarks" in your head to orient yourself. That in itself might prevent me from sailing that class of ship again.
CON: The entire ship seems "dark" inside. We were in the sunny, bright Caribbean and the decor did not lend itself to that airy, light feeling.
PRO: The staff and crew were helpful, cheerful, accommodating in every area. Room service in the a.m. was prompt and every order correct. Room steward was efficient and gracious. Dining room staff was excellent.
THE PORTS: We called on St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua and Nassau. Each port has it's own charm and flavor and we enjoyed them all. Bought some jewelry in St. Thomas, local things on the other islands, and each island is what one makes of it. If you go outside of the terminals and into the towns and beaches, your experience will be greater.
We did go to the hypnotist show which was as predictable as they all are, albeit entertaining. The passenger talent show was fun - always one woman who HAS to sing "Crazy". Cruise Director, Brad Calabrese, must have been a student of Johnny Carson as his timing and quick witted replies are refreshing.
PRO: Debarkation: Casual morning as you don't have to be out of your cabin until 8:30. You can also get room service on the last morning, which doesn't happen on all ships. Nice breakfast on the Lido Deck, waited for number to be called. No lines to speak of onboard, small area to look for luggage, a bit of a wait for customs and immigration, but all in all, quite efficient. We were at our hotel by 10:15 a.m.
Again, there's no such thing as a "bad cruise" and we had a ball. Just wanted to put those things out to you.
Just want to thank you ahead of time for reading my review. I will not talk about the ports because I didn't do any excursions due to the extremely high prices, so this review is all about the ship.
Embarkation We arrived at the cruise terminal at about 12 and there was already a line. After waiting in line for about 15 minutes since we were earlier then most people, the line had already grown to about 65m long at 5 people wide. Getting onto the boat took about an hour in total and there were weave lines after weave lines, but they did move fairly quickly.
Food The Main Diningroom had a good choice of food and desserts. The Dining staff were not as friendly as I would have liked, but they weren't rude. Just felt like they didn't want to be there. My recommendation would be to order the baby back ribs on the first and last night of the cruise. They were the best ribs I've ever had and you can cut them with your fork!! Both dining rooms are really nice, but if you do not likerumbling then request the posh dining room in the middle of the ship. Both dining rooms offer the same food.
The buffet food was O.K but there was not a large selection. The layout is confusing as there are 3 buffet lines throughout the cafeteria. In the main lines there was a great salad selection but the hot food selection was limited to 5 items and 1 was a sauce.
The Ship The ship has pretty good amenities but the pools in the middle of the lido deck are small and always packed. The waterslide is great and you can really get some speed on it. There are tons of spots to tan, and if you are self-conscious there is a secret tanning spot that you have to go through the basketball court to get to. The basketball court and mini putting are great and not too busy, only problem is you have to walk to the front of the lido deck to sign out a basketball or putters. The show lounge was nice and big, and offered seating for everyone. The main floor had long bench style seating with plenty of walking room and tables. The second and third level offers love seats and single movie theater style chairs.
Entertainment The entertainment put on by the dancers I found to be really fake. There was one amazing show involving music from the Beatles, can't remember what it was called but it was the best by far. The cruise had two comedians each doing comedy at the show and then adult over 18 comedy the next day in the International Lounge. The lounge might be the worst laid out lounge ever and is always packed for the comedians. You can't walk end to end when everyone is sitting down. One of the nights also featured a great ventriloquist.
Activities This is where I thought the cruise lacked the most. The activity sheet was full but most of the entries were promoting a bar opening for example. 9:00 am Sports bar opens. Each day only had maybe 10 activities. Battle of the Sexes I was really looking forward to as on RCL it is pool game fun, but on Carnival it is boring trivia on the lido deck. There was no belly flop competition and there probably will never be one with the layout of the pools.
Cabin We had an inside cabin the first week and an outside cabin the week after. The inside cabin was huge compared to RCL and Princess. It had a good layout, easy to watch t.v and had three closets -- one with shelves for your shorts and stuff. The bathroom was just like every other bathroom, small but usable. Bring a puff for the shower because the liquid soap is so watered down that it rolls right off your hand. The ocean view stateroom was very big. It featured a good size window, two beds, and a full 3 or 4 seater couch. The t.v was a 25 inch flat panel t.v and there too was plenty of storage. The rooms also had comfort beds and great pillows. This is definitely the biggest strength of Carnival.
I hope you enjoyed reading my review and hopefully it helps. I am only 20 years old and pretty picky. Overall I would give the following ratings:Ship: 8/10 Food: 7/10 Carnival Dancers and Singers: 5/10 Other Entertainment: 9/10 Room: 9/10 Excursions: 6/10 (Pricey and not a lot to choose from)


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Mohonk Redux
January 28, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.Add new comment | Filed under: academy of music, art series, berstein, brooklyn, brooklyn academy of music, da fonseca, dena derose, element, helio alves, images, Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, jazz photography, joe locke, kaufman, maucha adnet, michael bourne, millennial territory orchestra, mohonk mountain house, new paltz, photos
Here are a few images from Jazz on the Mountain, Michael Bourne's yearly January retreat at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. Fran Kaufman took these photos. Fran is always on the scene, taking shots of music in the making. Now thru February 24th, you can see more of Fran Kaufman's jazz photography at Brooklyn Academy of Music's Brooklyn Next Art series.
Here's Steven Bernstein and the Millennial Territory Orchestra:
Brasileiros - Maucha Adnet, Duduka da Fonseca, and Helio Alves:
And Michael Bourne very much in his element with Maucha Adnet and Dena DeRose:
Finally, a note from Michael Bourne:
"Jazz on the Mountain" was the best it's been in the 9 years I've been working the jazzfest at Mohonk Mountain House. All three nights the enormous hotel was sold-out, first time ever for the whole Martin Luther King weekend. Every concert was a hit, which was especially heartening since I book artists that I personally like. Joe Locke was especially a hit, playing opening night with The Brazilian Trio (Helio Alves, Nilson Matta, Duduka da Fonseca) and Maucha Adnet, playing an electrifying show Saturday afternoon and getting a standing O with his own new Force of Four group, joining Dena DeRose on Sunday afternoon, and highlighting the free-form "Parlor Games" on Monday morning. When I asked folks which were favorite shows, every artist was enthusiastically named, including singer Kendra Shank, Steven Bernstein and the Millenial Territory Orchestra, Hipmotism with saxophonist Erik Lawrence and singer Marya Lawrence. Marya Lawrence was the surprise of the weekend, twice playing seriously bopping solos on a slide-kazoo. The Frank Vignola Quintet blew the roof off Sunday evening with the swinging vitality of Django's Hot Club Quintet but without trying to imitate Django. I "performed" "As Time Goes By" during the Monday morning musical mixing and matching of players from the weekend. We've already pretty much programmed next year's jazzfest, which will be my 10th at Mohonk." -- MBourne