I'm Gettin There

It's taking longer than expected with my cruise up date - I wanted pictures to go along with the words. The cam is not downloading correctly and its going to take some time to fix it - so bear with me.... trust me I will fill you in on all the details!

Today was a good day. I simply rested and go my self back into the groove of the real world. It was good to finaly have some time to my self - its amazing what a world of difference that makes.... Tomorrow I'm going job hunting - whish me luck!

We're Home!

The Widdowson's have just returned home - safe, happy, and very tired. I'm heading to bed but be reassured that you will receive a full update shortly.

until Then......

!!!!! BONVOYAGE !!!!!

Well tomorrow is the day! I'm boucing off the walls, the bags are packed, and were all just sitting here waiting to leave. I'll be back on the 26th and sure to fill you in on all the wonderful details.

Life is great and things are working out for this summer and next semester - my last at Elon :-) I'll fill you in on that as well at a later point.

Untill then - smooth sailings for all and BONVOYAGE to me!

Two People Not To Piss Off

These are two great pics of Lauren and I - we are both normaly great for the camera but..... as you will see... these are not our best smiles.




What Are You Looking At?  



Telling You How Its Gonna Be!  

Bonvoyage to Me!

This will hopeful be my last entry until about the 27th of June. I plan to head home tomorrow evening to get ready for the cruise - that and I am out of money.

Today was another good day - got plenty of things accomplished and things are looking brighter all the time. The only sad aspect is that with me buying my dads car I have lost the prividlidge and honor of being none other than CROOZMAN.... this does depress me - but I can reapply for it in January. I'll just put the old CROOZMAN plate on the front of the car.

Tomorrow I hope to get all the registration stuff done and then finish packing the stuff at my apt for the cruise. The next few days will get longer-loonngger and lllooonnngggeeerrr counting down for the cruise. God loves to try my patscience leading up to cruises.

Well I wish ever one a great few weeks and I might possibly add a Blog post from the ship.





Until then.... Bonvoyage!!!!

Ahhhh... What A Good Day!

Today was an all around good day! I got plenty of things accomplished and life is once again on the right track. I had a great time this weekend with the family and I think that we are all doing better than ever. I am officially the owner of at 2000 Passatt and went and got the tags and title today - it should be officially CROOZMAN by the end of the week.

Tomorrow I'll start preparing stuff for another semester at Elon. I am by no means excited that I couldn't finish up my college career in 4 years - but oh well that's life, and things happened this way for a purpose and I have the faith that what ever it is will be better than if I had graduated on time. Things will be different next semester and my nickname will not be "TheElonDream." It will be rough going back to Elon for class in the fall but its my decision to do so. I need to get a job this week and find some place to live that's not as expensive as where I am living now. Talk about independence! Its scary yet fun and exciting all at the same time but regardless I am optimistic about it.

The count down is on for the cruise and as Vivian puts it "its that hell week again." We're all excited and I'm bouncing off the walls. To think that one week from today I will be cruising along in the middle of the Baltic sea and then two weeks from today I will be in Dublin - gives me cold chills - I LOVE CRUISEING!!!!!

Here is a pic of mom and dad on our balcony during our last cruise - needless to say it was very cold that day as we approached Hubbard Glacier.

Hubbard Approach 

Bermuda

Dad and I in Bermuda fall of 2000.


 

Not Your Typical Cruise Ship Photo

This is by no means your typical cruise ship photo. Taken May 25, 2003 by Miami's News 7. This is the last moments of the SS Norway.

Early on the morning of May 25, 2003 the SS Norways boilers exploded. Sending passengers to their muster stations and 5 crew men to the hospital. From what I remember 3 later died. The Norway had just begun its typical Sunday turn around in Miami when the explosion occurred. Many of the passengers where still sleeping and reported to only feel a slight rumble before the alarms sounded to go to the muster stations.

The photo its self shows the aftermath only minutes after the explosion occurred as black clouds of smoke began to rise from her decks. The Norwegian Cruise Lines the owner of the Norway now has her in Germany. Rurmors are she will not be deployed again. Norway will possibly become a hotel ship permanty berthed at some famous world city. Originally the SS France the Norway was the one of the last true liners. I never got to cruise on her - but hopefully some day I will be able to visit her. The picture is a bit small but you get the point

 

A Rainy London Day

Today was just like a rainy day in London. Perfect for sleeping in, reading, self contemplation, and just plane relaxing. I did all the above in perfect fashion and even had time for some napping.

Over all today was a good day. I had some very crucial answers in my life get answered and I feel more empowered than ever. I can now be officially ecstatic about the cruise - be warned people - and I can officially dive into conclued and wrap up all the Elon crap that needs to be finished.

God bless mom and dad for understanding and always being there for me. Things are happening this time and they always do work out for the best - God has a way of making that happen for those that are faithful and vigilant.

Well its time for bed. Hopefully tonight I can get 8hrs of sleep. I plan to head home tomorrow and relax with the family. Hannah and I can go see the new Harry Potter movie. Then aferwards we can all do some pleminary "last week before the cruise" planning.

Current Song Playing: Enya's - Sail Away, other wise known as, Orinoco Flow.

!!!!! TALBOTS !!!!!

The automatic reflexes of the family during a Talbots sighting. We all immediately go into shock.

Last year we decided that mom had become such a fan of talbots that we where going to catalogue every talbots we happened upon. Dad, Hannah, and I were in Raleigh before seeing Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion when this talbots sighting occurred. Its amazing the effect it has on the family even when moms not around.

 

Where Do I Go From Here?

Today was an ok day - mind you I never have bad days - I make it a point to never go to bed or wake up the next morning saying that was a bad day. Yet note, today was an ok day.

Life's kinda nerve racking right now. I'm probably at the greatest cross roads of my life. Everyone else I know has gone ahead of me and I'm stuck. I'm making sure to take every moment of this "purgatory" and analyze it for its full potential.

God offered Alamance County a beautiful thunderstorm this evening - so I decided to hop into my car and ride out into it. I drove down to lake Macintosh and watched the lightening move over the lake - just beautiful. It calmed me down and hopefully I'll actually sleep tonight. I haven't had but 3hrs of sleep in the past 48 - just way to much to think about.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day and I can get some of those life questions answered.

A Pic Actually Not From A Cruise

July 2002 - Edinburg Scotland - Hollyrood Palace Gardens - a great summer time picture!

I took this during a weekend trip to Edinburg the summer I studded abroad in London.

 

Fearing For Your Life

This ones another odd update - so here goes....

On my way back from my session I stoped to get gas at the Exxon in Chapel Hill. All things where normal as they can be when one stops to get gas. That was until I heard a loud crashing sound.

I looked up in time to see a jeep across from me pulling away from the gas pump with the nozzle still inserted into the jeep. The crashing sound was that of the pump unit falling over and being dragged away by the jeep. This sent gas spewing everywhere.

This is the point where I immeadity pulled my nozzle out of my car, screwed on the tank lid, and bolted for the safety of the interior of my car. I drove away as fast as I could and parked my car in the adjacent parking lot to view what was developing. "I've always loved disaster movies!"

One would think that by now people would be fleeing and screaming as the store clerk ran out the door screaming "Everyone Run!" Yet no one did a thing. The pump stopped spewing and the jeep proceeded to pull up to the front door of the store and parked - mind you the hose was still attached. The owner of the jeep proceeded in side and everyone else just continued to do their normal gas station routine.

Had I just been on candid camera - or one of those scare the crap out of you then tell you your on TV shows? No one was doing any thing. So there sat the pump in the middle of the station in a pool of gas. This was twice in three days where I had witnessed a climatic social event and no one did a thing!

Needless to say - drove off and came back to the apt to write it up as a blog. I pondered over the act of fearing for ones life all the way home. I don't think I had ever truly had my "flight or fight" instinct kick in before. I didn't realize I could run that fast!

This is just another experience in the life of CROOZMAN - the excitement never ends - and I hope it never does!

Me In My Element

July 28th 2003 Lynn Feiord Out Side Of Hanes Alaska - Me on the deck of our cabin 6024 of Celebrity Cruises' Summit, viewing Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas though a fog --- This Is Truly Me In My Element - I Could Look At This Picture For Hours - Honistly, I Realy Need A Cruise About Now....... 

Don't Go To K-Mart After 9pm

Well the majority of the day was just perfectly fine and dandy. Relaxed - Did Work - Relaxed - Paid Bills - relaxed - Did More Work and then even more work - tried to register for classes - took a nap - did more work - and then researched for the cruise. Tonight I ran to GSO treated my self to a Krispy Kreme donought and dinner at Stames BBQ. Came back to Borington and relaxed and watched TV. Then I went to K-Mart

I'll try to stay away from the soap box approach to this. I ran to K-Mart like always. It was about 11:30 no biggie I'd done that before and even at a much later hour. As I pulled into the parking lot I expected the normal two or three cars, yet something was odd that there were at least 30 cars there. I didn't think anything of it other than that the locals sure where out in force tonight.

I proceeded into the store making my way to the Cosmetic-Heath and Beauty section; you know the section by the pharmacy with every thing from shampoo and bandade to maxi pads and nyquill. I was in the process of searching for my deodorant when I noticed an African American family coming though the section. This was no biggie a mom, dad, and two children - boy and grill both 9 and under are common at K-Marts and Wall Marts even at 3 in the morning.

I found my deodorant and proceeded to the isle with Mac3 razors - on my way I noticed out of the corner of my eye the family huddled around something. I glanced that way to see the entire family huddled around the condoms. There they were mom and dad picking out condoms and little Billy and Susie played with the boxes. They all immediately glanced my way as if I was intruding on the most private of family rituals. So I continued on my way to by find a Mac3 razor. A few second later I actually heard little Billy say "oo I like the blue ones" this was immeadtily followed by Susie saying "no I want the pink ones!"

I hate to say it but that was actually reassuing. Little Billy and Susie did not know what their parents where shopping for. It still bothered me to no end that parents were taking their children to K-Mart at 11:30 at night to by condoms - "at least they were practicing safe sex" I found my Mac3 razor and headed over to the cleaning products section. I got some Lysole wipes and headed for the check out counters.

On the way to the counters one passes the second entrance to K-Mart. I looked that way just in time to see that very family running from K-Mart in quite a hurry. They passed though the shop lifting detectors and "Whoop Whooop Whoooooppp!!! You Have Activated The K-Mart........" and before I could even look their way they were out the door.

interestingly enough this is when things got odd. No One Did A Thing! There where at least 5 employees in the general area as well as 10 shoppers including myself. So the last thing on my mind it that - I'm the one who should chase after them. No other shoppers had looked up or given the loud alarm any attention. Again the employees did nothing - I stood there in bewilderment and pondered the events a moment before proceeding on.

I was happy to find no one at the check out lanes but the cashier and I was quickly though the lane. As I picked up my bag a K-Mart employee came up to the cashier and he said - "did they steel any thing" she responded in "how am I to know, I don't pay attention to that thing." I began to turn away and head out when the man looked at me and said "what did you see" - Well I of course told the truth about what I seen the family doing and how I had witnessed them running out the door. We could only come to the conclusion that they stole condoms.

As if things hadn't gotten odd enough the next sentence that came out of the man mouth was the true shocker "sir - why did you not stop them?" I was dumbfounded! I simply replied "It didn't occur to me to go after them" He gruffly responded "you should have its your civic duty" If you know me at all - you know I do my civic duties and I'm the last one to not be actively involved in the betterment of my community. The man proceeded to mumble into his walkie-talkie and I began to turn and walk away. A few steps later I heard over the stores intercom "acknowledge code 10 - store exit two - khaki shorts - blue shirt"

Well that was me! Not knowing what code 10 was I proceeded towards the shop lifting detectors - becoming very nervous for some reason. I successfully made it though them. Then turned and walked though the doors to my car. Once I got in I breathed a sigh of relief - began to pull off and simotainously put down the sun roof for some fresh air - as I did I noticed the full moon and said to my self "don't Ever Go Back To K-Mart After 9pm"

One things for sure - my life is never dull. I would much rather be on this roller coaster of mine than to be stuck on some boring marry-go-round. Its possible for me to comment on the social ramifications of these sequences of events for at least two pages - instead I'll let you ponder them - feel free to use the comment section if you'd like - I'd love to hear others responses.

Blog'ing is becoming fun. I believe I'll keep this up for some time longer.

You just gotta love the oblivious'ness of this photo. Taken aboard the Carnival Spirit for my 21st birthday dinner in the Nauvo Supper Club. I had just finished the trio of crem brule's (SP) and was playing for the camera by picking my teeth with a careamel swirll stick on my plate - I was completly oblivious to the fact that I had that offul stain on my shirt! I think it was the mango creme brule.