A little less than three years ago, I was graduating college with all my friends. I was so excited about my future-everything looked unknown and scary. I had some plans for my life, as I knew that I was moving to Florida where I was doing AmeriCorps for a year. After that, I figured I'd be heading back to school again for Graduate School, something it seemed, everyone was doing.

     Well, life changed a little bit. Not really in a bad way, to be honest. I now work on a cruise ship, sailing around the Hawaiian islands and playing with children. I get to be in the warm air, and I basically get paid to be "on vacation". Of course, as with every job, it has its downsides. If you talked to some of my co-workers, they'd tell you EVERYTHING that is wrong with the job. My first contract, I was the same way.
    The recruiters do tend to lie when they tell you about the job. They "photoshop" the job for you. It becomes exactly what you are looking for. "You'll have plenty of time off to see all the islands and do everything the guests get to do." "You'll get to party and drink at sea, staring out at the waves and moon and laughing."  "You'll be in paradise, all day, everyday."  Did you forget you'll be working? It is a job. However, when you do have time off, yes, you'll be able to see the islands. It just depends on what your job is and how much time off you have. If you take the night shift, you'll get all day off. You just won't be able to drink and party with your friends at night. It's a give and take situation. Isn't it like that with every job? Nothing is perfect in life.
    Once you remember that no job can be perfect and that you are actually living on a cruise ship, it gets better. You don't pay for room and board. The food on the ship is not the best, but hey, you'll defiantly lose weight!  A lot of times, when you are bored, the only thing you'll want to do is work out. You walk everywhere anyway (unless you take the shuttle) so you'll probably be in the best shape of your life!
    You will meet a lot of people on the ship, including crew members. You'll most likely, unless you are anti-social, make lots of friends. Sometimes people come and go, so get used to that. Not everyone should work on a cruise ship, and sometimes the cruise ship hires people who are terrible co-workers. We always wonder if some people are just really good at interviewing or if the company was desperate, but sometimes people just need to be fired. Then there are those who decide it's time to "jump ship". I kind of think of these people as those who "end their life". It's like, "I can't handle this anymore, I have to go." It's terrible, because they have to pay for their own flight home, and they don't give a two weeks notice, so they look terrible to the company. How hard is it to last two more weeks?  If I ever leave before my contract ends, I'll make sure to give my two weeks.
     When you come home from the ship for your vacation, everyone is so jealous of you. They want to know what your life is like and have these amazing ideas in their head. Sometimes you want to let them keep the ideas. "You make millions of dollars for being on vacation? Do you sit on a lawn chair and look at the ocean all day?" It's so funny. Yes, I get to see the islands on my time off, and most weeks I get plenty of time off. Sometimes, though, I go a whole week before I'm able to get off the ship! However, I love to look at the positives of life, and hey, it's Hawaii! It's beautiful! It's warm! And I am pretty happy. So, to anyone who is unemployed, why not head to Hawaii and work on a cruise ship? It's pretty awesome.

So it's been an extremely long time since I wrote on this blog. A lot of things have happened since then as well.

I love working with the children. They are so much fun and very cute. Sometimes my patience gets a little thin, but then one of the kids shoots you a toothy grin and you remember why you love this job. Who else gets paid to play with children all day and then spend all their free time on the beach?

No matter how bad things get, or how little you feel you make, nothing can compare to enjoying life. To realize how blessed you are is truly priceless.

I don't have a lot of time today, as I need to get back to work,but I leave this:

Enjoy the time you have today for tomorrow may not come.

 

Yesterday was my last day as a photographer on a ship. Today, I start my new career as a youth counselor on a ship. I'm excited because I love kids and I'm so tired of all the excuses from adults. If you don't want to take a picture, you don't have to be rude about it!

Some of my favorite (terrible) excuses:

-"I'm too beautiful to have my picture taken"
-"I'll break the camera"
-"oh, don't waste your film" (it's not film!)
-"i smell bad" (I wasn't aware the camera could smell you)
-"the police are after me" (really? Cause I'll call them and let them know to pick you up)
-"I'm wanted by the FBI" (what's with everyone wanting to be in trouble? And technically, this should make me want to take your picture even more!"

The waves are rushing against the ship, there is a herd of people rushing all around the ship...yup, it's defiantly a Saturday. The day that all our old guests (the nice ones and the rude ones) exit...and we await the arrival of our new ones, hoping they are nice.

I've been back on the ship for two weeks, the start of my second contract. My lack of blogging does not stem from laziness per say, more that I have limited internet connection, and spend most of my free time sleeping, eating, showering, calling people, or laying on the beach. I personally wish all my free time was spent on the beach, but once a week is more what happens.

I enjoyed my five weeks off a ton, and really wish I could have had more time off. The only reason I even looked forward to coming back was my boyfriend.

It's still a little crazy to think I actually have a boyfriend, having been single for such a long time. But it's really good that I waited...defiantly worth it.

Well, it's time for work.

I have some pretty exciting news to share that nobody will probably believe me about but I actually met Owen Wilson today! I went on a date with the chief mate (he's a pretty big deal) today and while there, I see this guy eating at another table. "hey that guy kind of looks like Owen Wilson!" (thankfully I whispered this) he says "it is. I actually know him." he then leads me over to the table and introduces me! Owen has a quiet voice actually or maybe he was being quiet because of the other people! he was super nice and rob made plans with Owen to play golf next week. In the car, he fills me in that Owen had a baby with his friend from school and when they were still dating, rob actually got to stay at his house for a couple days! How cool is that? So crazy! I wish I could have taken a picture but everything happened so fast and that would have been creepy I think. But since they are friends, maybe I will get to hang out with Owen! Ha ha! And that is why this blog is private.... :)

I love what my co-worker said today: "I think its so disgusting that we feed so many guests good food but when it comes to the crew, norwegian just feeds us slob. That is so cruel!" I totally agree-I feel that not getting good food on this ship keeps everyone on edge and a little grumpy. Not good for moral! Other than terrible food, the other big thing here is that the mail is evil! I bought an ipad and the mail people are holding it...its just sitting in california doing nothing...its been four weeks already...I am so annoyed! I can't stop thinking about it and how mad I am about the whole terrible situation! If I had just paid more and bought it in the store, I would be so much happier! But there are a couple cute guys here who are making life a whole lot more interesting which is cool. More to go on that later! :)

Some co-worker of mine just chased a turtle around trying to get a picture of it with my underwater camera. He is so crazy! After working since 5am this morning, I got to go snorkeling in kona for a bit. It was so pretty-super colorful fish, the water is clear blue and really warm. If I get to keep doing things like this, i will be living the life. Ha ha. Well break time is over. Time for work.

So I've been trying to blog using my phone, because then I can actually blog on the ship instead of having to wait until I have a few hours off and get somewhere with Internet where I don't have to pay 10 cents a minutes, like on the ship.  Well…I just realized that it HASN'T been uploading my blog entries like I thought, so I do apologize for no entries for a while.

For the past two weeks, no scratch that, for the past THREE weeks, I've been working basically the same schedule. That means my boss keeps putting me on gallery shifts and taking pictures in all the restaurants. That wouldn't be so bad, but I'm getting really bored, which lately has made me extremely grumpy. Several people have come up to me to ask what is wrong and to see if I'm okay.  Not all of the problems is work related, I am having a lot of personal issues since I found out that my brother has cancer and is getting his leg removed.  I decided I should finally tell everyone, because it will explain why I'm kind of faking it. I mean, usually I'm naturally happy, but lately, it's been a struggle.  How do you fake a smile at an angry guest complaining about a photo that costs $12.95 (who is VIP, by the way, meaning they spent thousands of dollars on their room) when your brother is struggling to support a family of five and have his leg removed? I mean, really, is it that big of a deal that the photo is almost $13 dollars? I'm not shoving it down your face-you don't have to buy it. And you certainty don't have to  scream in my face like a big baby. Really lady, really? Just because you think the world revolves around you does mean it does. Get over yourself.

That's what I'd really like to tell these people. Instead, I have to try and smile and say, "I'm sorry, miss, but that is the price." Or something like that. No wonder people are becoming fake. It's what we have to do to survive. "Be yourself." Sorry, but I can't be myself if I'm going to get fired.

Now…it's time to list all the crazy responses people have given me as to why they can't get their picture taken….

"Sorry, I'm running from the police"  (really, did you know we have tons of cameras on this ship? Cause you are going to be in trouble now)
"My husband or wife might find out" (both you and the women across from you sir have the same matching rings, can you explain that?)
"I'm part of the mafia" (I thought the mafia just kill people, not tell everyone)
"I'm allergic to cameras" (I'm the one who is allergic to everything, and even I'm not allergic to cameras, so nice try)
"Your stupid flash is making it hard for me to eat, just get out of my face" (okay, that was just mean)
"I look ugly today" (Sorry lady, I don't think it's just today…)
"Really? Do you know who I am?" (no, and I don't really care)
"You have to talk to my agent first" (my co-worker thinks this is original, well..no)
"I'm on the FBI's Most Wanted List" (is your wife aware of this? cause she is staring at you like you are an idiot)


List to be continued next entry…we've been keeping track at work. Most people use the same excuses and think they are so original and they start laughing like they are sooo funny. Why can't you just say "No thank you"? Really, is that so hard?

I'm sitting at the beach right now, chilling with some people. A bunch of people are drinking, which of course I'm not doing. But there are a few sober people and we are all on our phones texting. Lol. This past week was super annoying because the people were just plain mean. You'd think that people would be nice during thanksgiving but nope. One guy called me worthless, another told me I was mean for taking their photo and some asian guy made devil horns at me. So I'm very excited that the group is gone. Gone. Lol new group and so far they seem nice for the most part. A bonus!

Black Friday…Black Friday…

Every year, I have always went shopping on Black Friday. It has always been an exciting day-searching to get the best prices, looking through all the newspapers on Thanksgiving with my family trying to figure out what we want.  It was one thing as a family we all agreed on-my mom and I would adventure out at 3, 4, or 5 am and try to find everything we want at the best prices. Yes, I was one of those.  But this year…I'm actually going to be WORKING a Black Friday sale…on a ship!  Our ship is holding a big Black Friday deal in the photo gallery, and from what I hear, it's going to be NUTS.  The bad thing…no shopping for me. The good thing? I guess I'll be saving myself some money, right? lol

Thanksgiving is also going to be really weird.  It's strange to be in such a warm place for the second time in a year celebrating Thanksgiving away from my family.  Holidays have always been a bit of an issue for me  because my family is…special. I'll just leave it at that.  I know that the people reading this are my friends (because you had to get the special invite from me) but I still don't want to blab about my family issues on here. You can ask me personally if you want to know about that. It's a long story anyway.    Still, despite holidays not really being my favorite thing, it's kind of strange to celebrate them on a ship with a lot of people who don't believe the same things that I do. Christmas is very special to me…there is a lot of meaning behind it. There is no one else on the ship like me-or in the world for that matter-but there are many people with completely different values and morals than me.  I have had some great talks with people about life, heaven, etc. and for that, I am very thankful.  However, I haven't had the same talk with someone like I could have back home, and I desperately miss it. I miss having Bible study, I miss going to church…there is nothing on the ship except one group who gets together when I'm working!  I did find two guys who wanted to do a Bible study with me maybe, but we have such different schedules, it hasn't really worked out. And with all the bad stuff happening back home right now, I really just need a group of people who think like me…

The cruise this week is full of families, and they have all spent a lot of money to get here. So they are very crazy about their money, and a little snippy.  They are always ready to complain if something isn't the way they want, and one lady tried to kill people yesterday!  Let me tell you what happened…

When we set up for a photo shoot, there is a green screen, and then two light stands on each side with a stand, light and umbrella.  We nicely ask each person to walk around the lights so they don't hurt anyone. This lady came up and tried to skip the line. I said to her, "Miss, you are able to skip the line, but I just need you to wait until your turn and then you can just go on right through."  The lady looked at me, saw me setting up the next family on the green screen, and decided to plow right through, cutting across the light stand.  The light stand tipped over, and almost hit a lady in a wheelchair. I caught the light stand in my hand and said, "MISS! MISS! You can't do that!"  The lady turned around, glared at me and snapped, "YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER" and then kept going!  As though it was my fault she skipped the line!  That's just an example of some of the crazy things people say.

I have to go and pay some bills now, and I'm running out of time. I only have a two hour break all day today, and I spent some of it eating, and I'll have to walk back soon to the ship (we go across the street to Whole Foods to get Internet) where I have to send all my stuff through a x-ray machine and wait in a super long line (there are about 2,400 guests this week or something like that, so the lines are nuts).

Wackiness at its best! I am currently sitting on another photographers lap as we ride to the luau to take pictures. There are so many photographers now that we can't all sit in the car without putting me on someones lap. And I'm in a dress!

"Excuse me miss, please come this way."
"NO! I don't want my picture taken!"
"You don't have to get your picture taken. But you do have to come this way!"
*lady comes at me* "I'll come this way!"

People can be so mean! It's all about them on this cruise-they want everything handed to them. I am still a human being and you can't just shove me because you feel like it. That is so horrible! I like taking pictures but this job makes me see humans in a new light and I don't like it. On the other hand, I'm learning new poses and how to work in a studio which is pretty awesome.

One word. Tired. As I sit in Starbucks typing this, my body is aching. It's screaming "Help me!"  My nose sniffles with the horrible cold I've caught, letting me know it's not a fan of Hawaii right now.  As I try to keep my eyes awake, I wonder how I got myself here. I'm working on a cruise ship, taking pictures, and running around in a parrot costume. This past week, I've gotten maybe six hours of sleep a night, and been working on and off since six or seven in the morning.  Any free time I have, I can hang out in my freezing ice cold room, sit in the smelly mass hall, or lay out up on the top deck where you can sweat your butt off.

The above is a post I started to write about three or four weeks ago, when I had some free time.  Since then, not much has changed, except I'm trying to keep a positive attitude (although I often find myself failing when I'm off duty).  You may be wondering why I made this blog private-well, I had many requests to write about how life is really like-and I want to.  However, if I make the blog public, I could get fired for writing about situations with guests.  Therefore-you are now going to get the uncensored Kristine-ha ha.

What is life truly like on a cruise ship?  Well, it's kind of like High School-you have rules you have to follow, and people you always, always have to be nice to. For example, the "officers" would be the teachers in a typical school situation.   The crew is divided, with those who have special privileges (me) and those who don't (my friends).  Those with privileges would be like seniors in High School, who sometimes could leave school early or come late and the others would be freshmen, who can't do as much.  Your job determines your privileges, and everyone thinks that our job is the "golden job". They may think so, but most guests don't really like us. They seem to think that shoving a camera in their face is the cruelest, meanest thing you could ever do.  While I understand that some people don't like themselves and therefore don't want to ever see pictures of themselves, getting mad at us is not going to change who they are or what they look like!

Story time!  One of our jobs is to walk around the restaurants taking pictures of people while eating. These actually sell really well, but people don't like you very much while you do it.  Anyway, I went up to this one couple and started on my typical talk: "Aloha! How are you guys doing tonight?" -wait for answer "Great! Well, my name is Kristine and I'm going to be your photographer tonight.  I'm just going to take a couple quick photos."  -now is when they either smile or they get angry, but in this case, the lady cut me off after my name and said rudely "I never want to remember this cruise EVER again. I don't want any proof of this and I can't believe you'd even try to get my picture!" then she started on another rant, but I quickly said sorry and tried to run away.  That was my first week, and I'll never forget how rude that angry lady was.

Another week,  I had a couple come up and try to weasel something free out of us.  I understand that they paid a lot for the cruise, but just because you have a big mouth and like to complain doesn't mean that you should always get something for free!  "I really think you have to give me that picture," he said, pointing to one, "because I don't like it enough to buy it." What? Explain that logic to me again-because you don't like the picture, I have to give it to you for free?  Oh my, oh my…

Doing laundry here is awful. You don't have enough time on your free time to do it, because washers are often full (there are only three in a room, and that's for about fifty to a hundred people to share) so you do it right before you go to work. When you come back, people have usually dumped your clothes. If you do it on your free time and wait for that hour, you can still come back to find that halfway through your load, some jerk dumped your wet clothes on the floor to put theirs in.  Annoying!

On the other hand, I know a lot of the crew now, since I run all over the ship.  Everyone seems to know me, which is really cool. I have some people I hang out with a lot, and others when I can. We all have different schedules, so sometimes you might see someone only once a week, which is really sad. My schedule changes almost everyday, but I have a friend who is a Junior Waiter (you deliver the food that the head waiter gets from their order) and she works insane hours.  Any free time she has, I'm usually working then.  It really stinks.  But we usually all have time at night to hang out, so we stay up late just to talk.

I have to go but I will write some more later.

I've been so busy studying for this firefighter's test that I haven't had a chance to really write a blog entry (which I could then quickly upload when I was off the ship and around Internet...looks like it will only be once or twice a week).  I don't have too much time, as I have to get back to the ship soon for class again...I feel like I'm in school again! 

We had a big test today that determined if we would go home or not. Thankfully, I pass the test, so I don't have to worry about that "part" of the whole thing. But I still have a movie to watch today, more tests tomorrow and on Saturday, I have to put on a big fireman outfit and put out a huge fire! I also have to go through a huge maze without any light (and two people). Finally, I have to jump into the water and flip over a huge raft. (I'm not too worried about that)  It sounds hard...but I also think it will be fun too. I think I tend to over-think everything, and freak myself out for no reason.

I'm starting to understand the layout of the ship, but only the crew areas. We aren't allowed in the "passenger" areas yet, so I have only seen part of the ship so far. The crew here is very...interesting. There is a type of every person on this ship, and I've already seen some pretty crazy stuff.  I'll tell some stories next time, when I have more time to write.  Let's just say that the guys like to stare..a lot. The girls here are considered "fresh meat" because we don't know their history with girls, and they like that thought. Um, creepy.

The food here is so gross. The crew food, at least, is just not good. It's always the same thing every day, and it depends who makes it on how the taste will be.  I've found that salads, fruit, potatoes,  and ice cream are good, and everything else is iffy.  All the people who said I would be getting fat....looks like I'll be in tip-top shape. I'm eating healthy (super healthy), walking A TON (and I haven't even started my real job yet) and the thing to do when you are bored is work out.  Maybe I'll get some nice abs now. Ha ha.

Well, it's time to go for now. I completely UNDERPACKED and need to purchase some more stuff (more? ahh!). I'm going to make a fun list of all the LIES the recruiters told me...and everything I forgot/needed but wasn't told.

I'm in Hawaii! It's really beautiful here!  I've been really busy with training, learning the ship, adjusting to a new time zone (we are five hours behind Wisconsin…meaning that all my friends are "in the future"), and making friends (I made some great ones!).  I'm really excited too-it looks like I'm going to have a fun time here. Some things are a little bit of an adjustment…such as the fact that my recruiters failed to mention things that you kind of need to know…such as the recruiter who told me not to bring my cell phone (um, you really need it here…everyone has one!) or my laptop (really, really need that!).  I'm thinking of making a post telling you what is true and what isn't! (I'll have to do that soon)

As of right now, I'm in "class" for a week because if I fail this test we have on Thursday (and Saturday), I will be shipped home at my own cost from whatever island they leave me at.  Thankfully, I have to get a 70% or higher (that's 15 questions wrong) so I think I'll be fine.  I did really well in school, my mom reminded me, it's just that I hate multiple choice questions. They always have such similar questions, and I get all confused and choose the wrong ones!  But a 70%…I didn't really get C's too often…I'll be fine. I passed the first test already…so that's good!  (oh, these tests are on fire safety, CPR, and other stuff like that)

Friends…so I met a girl named Krystal who is going to be a Junior Waiter…we were sitting next to each other filling out paperwork when we got to the ship and she helped me figure out the tax information (yup, nothing has changed…that stuff still confuses me) and we just "clicked".  :)  I also met a friend name Lady who is Ultility (her real name is Felicia but she asked us to call her Lady). She started work this week (she takes the test next week) so I haven't seen her much.  And then…I met Jessica, who is another new photographer with me!  :) She started work last week and is taking the test this week, so I learned all this cool "inside" info about the photography department. Yay!  Don't worry everyone, I have plenty of postcards and letters coming your way.  AND phone calls and skype dates too! :) (although the Internet is a little slower than I planned…but it's not too bad. And at Starbucks, which Tiffany will love, it's free!)

Pictures…I know that I promised pictures but I haven't really had a chance to take any yet. I'm going to be carrying my phone around with me now, so I'm going to start snapping them and uploading them like my friends have been doing.  Next week, when I have my camera with me 24/7, I'll be able to take more pictures, no worries!

We went walking out last night on the beach, which was beautiful, and there was a full moon…but my camera was dead so I couldn't take a picture!

from google

I hate dead animals. I hate seeing them, thinking about them, I hate it all. Therefore, it only makes sense that I would not like seafood.  I don't mind eating meat, because I can't see the animal I'm eating.  However, when someone eats a lobster, you see the whole animal. You know what you are eating. That's disgusting! I don't want to see some creepy eye staring at me, reminding me of what a horrible person I am.   Ewww.  I can think of a lot of other foods that are just as tasty-and don't make me feel grossed out.  What is the East coast known for? Lobster. Everywhere I go, people are eating lobster!  I understand most people don't think like me, so no one is going to stop eating their food just because I'm grossed out, but couldn't you least not have your dinner's eyeballs staring at me? That would be the polite thing to do, correct? But no, every time we go out to dinner, some lobster is staring at me, saying "They killed me. They killed me. And you didn't stop it!"  Thank heavens that you can buy other food and not have eyeballs attached-or I'd become a vegetarian.  Some leafy green vegetables sound really good right now...

This trip has been fun, but hasn't had as many photo moments as I had planned. I enjoy taking pictures of land and beautiful nature, but I have found that pictures of people are what I enjoy the most. 


People are so interesting, because they make different faces, move around, and are just ALIVE.  Nature is alive too, but you and I can probably take the same picture.  However, I might catch someone laughing, while you catch them smiling. I might zoom in on their face, while you catch their whole body. It's just…more interesting.


I am putting some photos in that I've taken so far.  These are unedited, although there are a few in my collection. I do plan to edit. However, I think there is something to be said for those photos that are great from the beginning, and need no editing. Thus, enjoy! :)

On a different note, I have noticed  that I tend to see pictures everywhere.  It's not as weird as it sounds. When I see someone smile or laugh and tilt their head, I think "click". I often find myself always wishing I had a camera attached to my head and could take a picture as quickly as I think.  I suppose photography is as close as I'll come to having a camera in my head. It's pretty fun to look back at a picture and think "I took that".  I've come a long way from the photographer I was in high school (with a film camera and early digital) to the one I am today. I know I'll become even better in the years to come.

Anyway, trip aside, I wanted to mention that I found a blog of a guy named James who used to work on the Pride of America ship. He worked on ships for 5 years total and now he has some job traveling.  That's pretty cool-I'm excited for my first chance on the ship! I noticed he mentioned what to pack, so I copied and pasted that into my little notes I've created by googling other crew members.  Everyone keeps mentioning, "Pack half of what you are planning!" I know that I better watch what I bring!  I was so worried about having things to do when I'm off-duty, but according to his blog, he likes to either nap (long days) or talk to people. I'm pretty sure (being a social butterfly) that I won't have to worry about finding something to do.  Of course, bringing my laptop along, I will always have something to do!

I'm starting to get a little nervous. I don't know what to expect! I'm currently working on finishing my website, so I can have people look at my work without having to e-mail it to them, and I know that I'm good. I'm great at taking pictures-it's something I love doing!  I'm just worried that I won't know how to do I their way-or that I'll do something wrong.  I know that I will be fine, but still, I'm a little nervous!  I'm going to be far away from friends and family (just like when I lived in Arizona-or in Florida actually) but it's not like I won't make new friends! 

Okay, this is starting to be a blog all about my worries. I better make this more cheerful!  I have a week and a half left, and I'll be in HAWAII! :)

I'm currently lounging in a hotel room, enjoying the free wireless. This morning, around 2 am (I never went to bed), my parents and I got in the car and headed for New York. I, of course, went to sleep. I sleep about half of the trip, making it a really easy car ride.  Why am I headed back to New York again? Well, not really New York city, just Albany, New York. We are only staying here tonight (after driving 14 hours, you want a rest) and then heading to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. It's going to be a vacation where I get to take lots of pictures, and enjoy the scenery.  By the end of this trip, I will have seen almost all 51 states, excluding Hawaii (which will be soon!), Alaska and a few other states.

Anyway, I have some news!  I found out that I will be leaving October 8th, which is exciting, and a little scary because I found out yesterday, we left today, and I won't be back till October 4th.  So I only have three (or less) days to pack, shop (I got a new packing list) see people, etc. I will be a very busy lady!

Ready for a fun story? Yesterday, I went out to Waukesha to close a bank account and I had a doctor's visit (I have had lots of those recently).  After that, I went shopping at Kohls because I have to get more business casual outfits.  My friend met me there, and he decided he wanted to help me shop.  His choice of outfits for me was…interesting.  He kept picking these not so cute outfits and I was just laughing at him. He insisted he was just trying to figure out my taste, so he could from there. I'm not so sure though. I think he was covering his tracks. ha ha

Then we went to the mall, where another male friend of mine met us there.  Together, the two guys proceeded to help me pick out clothes. So imagine me running around stores, with two guys following, grabbing clothes off the racks and saying, "This would look good" and then holding blue or purple shirts up to themselves to show it off. Several clerks raised their eyebrows.  It was so funny. One of the guys even said, "You don't think they think we are…?" and then he just started laughing.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. -Dr. Seuss

I've always been really good at buying stuff on E-bay, but I've never sold anything.  Well, as I've started packing up all the stuff in my room to put it in the attic, I've set aside some things to be sold.  These are stuff people told me probably wouldn't get me any money, but I thought I'd try it anyway.  I didn't do so well at first, (my first item sold for a .99, but it was worth much more! and I lost .25 with my second item because I didn't count on shipping being so high) but I just sold two more items, and finally, might make some money! Two other items have already been bid on, but don't end until tomorrow.  So it looks like my success with e-bay is finally starting, and now I'm on the hunt to see if I have anything else in my room to sell!

I may be off on my adventure sooner than I thought.  The Merchant's Mariner Credential that I have been waiting for arrived this weekend, and I e-mailed them I had received it this morning.  While it is not a bad thing that I have to leave early (I'm excited to be in Hawaii), I'm not sure that I'm ready yet. I have a list of things I wanted to get done before I left, and it's not completed yet!

I'm hoping that they won't be able to get me on the ship until October, which was my original departure date anyway.  I want to go the second week, as that would be perfect timing! (my parents planned a vacation with me, and I still want to go on it)

I've been looking up photos of my new home, and thought I would share them with you. Photos found on flickr and google, by looking up "Pride of America".  I did not, of course, take these photos, since I'm not on the ship yet!

Owner's room

Awesome swim area for families, singles, couples etc.

  Room with a balcony.  Looks nice, right?

This just looks so pretty!

    I heard these things are fun. I wonder if I can

        go on when guests aren't around?

Hello home!

       outdoor cafe for guests

    one of the US themed restaurants

     I showed this to my guy friend and he said,

    "I bet all the ladies will like that." lol

They put up a window that looks like a porthole.