A quick trip

We've been back from our cruise for almost a week. It was a 6-night cruise and it was far too short. We both really enjoyed it, perfect weather, and it was just so nice to be away. I booked another while we were on board but will have to change it because we can't get direct flights for the date I chose. I can move it without a penalty so I will do that once they open up some more dates in early April. I will be replacing it as well, with another cruise for the same time frame I had booked for.

We flew to Fort Lauderdale, about a week after the tragedy there. Which made me rather nervous, but it went ok. We ended up taking a taxi to the hotel because I didn't have a cellphone to call the hotel shuttle. I think the driver took us for a bit of a ride around, and it cost more than it should have. But whatever. The hotel was nice enough, we walked over to Taco Bell for lunch but it was so slow, we ended up at McDonalds instead. Then to Kmart, we don't have that here. Jackson got some little cars. Silly kid. He wanted to swim, but the pool was not heated so it was rather cold. He swam, I watched, and when he started to turn blue lipped with shivering I made him get out. We went back to Taco Bell for supper, he really wanted to try it, and then ended up getting McDonalds as well, the tacos were good but wow the service was so slow!

Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel, well kiddo didn't really eat anything. My goodness he is picky. We took a shuttle to the ship and were on super quick. Right after we ate some lunch we got to go to our cabin, kiddo put on a swim suit and we went swimming. Also not heated. He swam a bit before the emergency drill. Then it was pretty much time to get ready for supper and the ship headed out. Our luggage was super late arriving. We signed him up for the kids club, which he didn't go to at all! We had table mates for dinner from Toronto, which was kind of fun. They only came 3 nights. We ran into them all over the ship though.

We had a sea day and Jackson played in the H20 zone a lot. We played games, walked around the ship, ate hot dogs for lunch (he did that everyday) and generally enjoyed the sun and nice weather.

Our ports were Cayman Islands, Cozumel and Costa Maya. They were all quite amazing. We swam with sting rays on a practically private tour, went to beaches, he used his goggles to look at fish under the water. It was all over far too fast. Our last sea day was nice as well, lots of time in the splash zone, a good dinner, packing up and then to bed.

Enjoying Costa Maya beaches

7 Years good luck for kissing a sting ray

Debarkation was a disaster and I thought we were going to miss the flight home. Next time we will take our bags off ourselves for sure. I still get stressed thinking about it. But we caught the flight, barely. Jackson got sick on the flight home but still wants to go again. There was turbulence so that explains it. I wish he'd take some gravol or something before the flight.

The cats were super happy to see us when we got home. They were well taken care of while we were gone though. I spent Sunday doing laundry, some groceries and that's it! Back to work as of Monday, feels like I didn't have a vacation at all, but will start working on plans for the next one soon.

I still haven't received my back pay although everyone I know has received some money. If I don't have anything by the 8th I'm finally allowed to call and find out what's going on. I got information about the severance portion, which I will put into my RRSP and use as a down payment for a home. I can't decide when I want to buy though, or what. So I will be here for awhile. I keep thinking of all the extra expenses when you own. My furnace died the day before my trip, landlord had it replaced while we were away. Expensive. Fence fell over this summer and got replaced, expensive!  So many things and they add up.

Work has been frustrating, I like the project I am working on but feel like I'm the only one doing anything, or perhaps I'm just not being kept in the loop very much. Maybe a little of both. I will try and stick it out. I notice that this is the time of year I start wanting a change, job or whatever. We'll see I suppose!

I will be getting us both snorkeling masks and we'll be practicing in the pool in preparation for next time. I will also be getting us Nexus passes to speed up crossing the borders, and also I think clearing security in some US places. I was asked for his birth certificate on the way home this time, I had it with me. But it was still kind of annoying. One of those things I guess.

Happy New Year 2017

We made it through the holidays! Well we have tomorrow off still to get through but I guess we made it past the interesting days. Christmas was good, he got lots of gifts he was happy to get, and my sister got him a hatchimal which is funny, creepy, annoying, and well enjoyed. Last night was tricky. Jackson really wanted to stay up until midnight, but by 9 he was tired and ready for a nap. He had a little rest but was back up soon. Apparently he had an image of a big party with lots of people talking and chatting, eating food and having fun. The weather was crappy though so we didn't go out. Around 10:30 I could see he was done so I flipped the TV to Newfoundland, they are 90 minutes ahead so it was midnight there. We counted down, said happy new year, kissed (he hates kisses but he gave me one on the cheek and let me kiss his head). Then we danced and he ate a bit more candy before we went up to bed. By 11 he was out. He wasn't too happy about it though, and he got up at 7 this morning any way.

Today was a long day. I am, by nature, an introvert. I thrive on alone time. Kiddo is not like me. He doesn't like to be alone at all, so it gets hard on me sometimes, like when we are together for 10 days in a row and he doesn't want to leave me alone and all I want is to sit and read a book or something. Normal work/school days I get some time in the morning before I get him up, and then again at the end of my work day before I get him from daycare. This week has been hard for me. Of course he takes it to mean I don't like him/love him, and he feels bad. Once again I explain, hopefully he will remember but I guess we'll see. I do love my kid, and I like him too, he is a good kid. But I just thrive on some me time! He stays up later so I get less after bedtime, and last night I had none. Today was rough for me.

For New Years I joined a transformation challenge. I know I won't win the challenge but I am still hopeful. I realize I will miss a week due to the cruise, I will do my best to eat well, but do plan to enjoy the things I like while I'm travelling. My goal is to start working out tomorrow, we will see how that goes with kiddo at home, and to do mainly cardio until the trip. I will use some of my easier videos to get back on track. When I get back I have a new set I got through airmiles that is a 60 day plan, and I will do that. I may add on some extra cardio as I go. I plan to cut carbs and processed foods, hopefully before and after the trip. It is hard with having to feed kiddo but if I plan and do pre-cooking on the weekends it usually goes ok. I mean I am making the cats food now, surely I can make my own!

Once the 60 days are up I will still have 2 weeks to the end of the challenge, and the plan is to really do whatever I can to make the most of those two weeks. I still can't believe I took, and posted, my before pictures. Hopefully they will prove motivating over the next few months. The trickiest parts will be doing all of this and keeping kiddo happy. It should be that if I am happy, it's easier for kiddo to be happy too. That doesn't always work though.

Other than the challenge I don't really have any goals for 2017. I may buy a house, we will likely plan another trip. I would like to yell less, though I think I have gotten better at that over the past year any way. I hope to cook more, plan more, so I don't just say "let's eat out". I think we will be happy, as we usually are. Though kiddo would be happier if I played with him more. I would be happier if he played on his own more. Whatever happens, we will be together.