trip report--dec 19th-Jan 4--in the beginning
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:33 am
first let me preface this by saying i am not a great writer--so this might get boring pretty fast--i won't be offended if you don't read it (even though i worked so hard on it 
)
Day One (or almost) a series of almost misses......
t minus 1 day --we had decided that this trip we just weren't going to do the cooler thing--we'd shop in St Thomas and then in Cruz Bay--we had so much to pack with the kids christmas presents (i still have one that believes in Santa--so can't disappoint) and all of our gear that it just made no sense--also, I worked until 6 pm the night before and still had stuff to do!
Went shopping for Christmas gifts for the gift exchange on the island (if you remember there were some holes where the older kids were concerned--) I had been in touch with Joe Palmienteri on the island, who (if i remember correctly) has been arranging this with the Calvary Baptist Church just beyond Miss Lucy's for the past few years--got home about 8:30--and my husband says--how are you going to pack soccer balls????? are you going to deflate them??
(the thought did cross my mind, but .....) So, long story short, we brought our cooler, but stuffed with a couple of soccer balls and assorted other goodies--and then another suitcase with other stuff for the christmas party there
ohohoh,, the weather report--storm coming into the Northeast and depending on who you listen to it woudl start at 2-3 am (we're so screwed) or anytime after that (maybe we're not so screwed)
Finally got to bed at about 12:30 am with a 4:15 wake up--our cab was coming at 5 am to pick us up since i have a 6:40 am departure from LGA on SPirit) and the kids and Mr. had an 8 am departure from JFK (they flew on miles).
Hurry up and wait.........
we're all up and the luggage (SIX BAGS
plus carry on chairs, and assorted other carryon items--highly embarrassing! oh well....) so 5 am comes and goes....and goes.....now, we use this cab service often and he's really always been reliable--and there is no snow....so we wait a bit longer....finally at 5:30 we call--and the guy had fallen back to sleep 
thankfully he could be at the house in ten minutes--still, i had a 6:40 flight...
We get to LGA at 6:05--Thankfully my husband was taking all the checked luggage so all i had to do was take my carryon and get my boarding card and get thru security--i pretty much literally walked on to the plane, took my seat, and we took off. phewwwww..... but have no idea how the other persons in my party are doing--assumed they will get off okay--but .....
Land in FLL and and hour before we take off again hear from my husband that he and the kids have landed and are going to dependable get the car and do the shopping (what a guy....)
flight to STT was slightly delayed and so we got in to the 'gate' at about 4:15--now the decision...do I take the 5:30 from CA or do i try to make a run for the 5pm from RH??? i jog out to the taxis and one is waiting for ONE more person and was ready to go--so RH it is--text Gord (my husband) he was at concordia (where we stayed the first week) putting stuff away having made a 2-ish barge.---i think i have said this here before, but my guy really rocked this day--he got everything done and all i had to do was arrive. Awfully good planning on my part if I do say so......
first passengers in the van are getting off at the tortolla ferry --all good--then WHAM! Two trucks collide in front of us in the parking lot/roadway--not bad--a fender bender really, but an argument ensues and neither one will move their vehicles--essentially blocking the way
the taxi driver finally is able to pull around , but i am seeing my chances of 5pm RH slipping away--if we really boogie there is still a chance--so i stick with the plan--worst thing would be i have to have a beer and wait..... 
....Then the traffic in CA is REALLY bad--there is a street festival for christmas tonight and many roads are closed.....
We are close to the ferry terminal and by my watch it's 5:06--i am hoping that island time is on my side--but not feeling very optimistic--and i don't see the ferry.... i jump out of the cab, pay the driver and RUN--the Ferry is there ! i run on board and get a ticket from the ticket lady who had just boarded--
dinner that night at shipwreck (a first night tradition for us) and back to p-13 at concordia for an early night--tomorrow we find Pete the christmas branch, deliver presents to Joe and have our first encounter with the tourist trap --
more later. i think.
)Day One (or almost) a series of almost misses......
t minus 1 day --we had decided that this trip we just weren't going to do the cooler thing--we'd shop in St Thomas and then in Cruz Bay--we had so much to pack with the kids christmas presents (i still have one that believes in Santa--so can't disappoint) and all of our gear that it just made no sense--also, I worked until 6 pm the night before and still had stuff to do!
Went shopping for Christmas gifts for the gift exchange on the island (if you remember there were some holes where the older kids were concerned--) I had been in touch with Joe Palmienteri on the island, who (if i remember correctly) has been arranging this with the Calvary Baptist Church just beyond Miss Lucy's for the past few years--got home about 8:30--and my husband says--how are you going to pack soccer balls????? are you going to deflate them??
(the thought did cross my mind, but .....) So, long story short, we brought our cooler, but stuffed with a couple of soccer balls and assorted other goodies--and then another suitcase with other stuff for the christmas party thereohohoh,, the weather report--storm coming into the Northeast and depending on who you listen to it woudl start at 2-3 am (we're so screwed) or anytime after that (maybe we're not so screwed)
Finally got to bed at about 12:30 am with a 4:15 wake up--our cab was coming at 5 am to pick us up since i have a 6:40 am departure from LGA on SPirit) and the kids and Mr. had an 8 am departure from JFK (they flew on miles).
Hurry up and wait.........
we're all up and the luggage (SIX BAGS
plus carry on chairs, and assorted other carryon items--highly embarrassing! oh well....) so 5 am comes and goes....and goes.....now, we use this cab service often and he's really always been reliable--and there is no snow....so we wait a bit longer....finally at 5:30 we call--and the guy had fallen back to sleep thankfully he could be at the house in ten minutes--still, i had a 6:40 flight...
We get to LGA at 6:05--Thankfully my husband was taking all the checked luggage so all i had to do was take my carryon and get my boarding card and get thru security--i pretty much literally walked on to the plane, took my seat, and we took off. phewwwww..... but have no idea how the other persons in my party are doing--assumed they will get off okay--but .....
Land in FLL and and hour before we take off again hear from my husband that he and the kids have landed and are going to dependable get the car and do the shopping (what a guy....)
flight to STT was slightly delayed and so we got in to the 'gate' at about 4:15--now the decision...do I take the 5:30 from CA or do i try to make a run for the 5pm from RH??? i jog out to the taxis and one is waiting for ONE more person and was ready to go--so RH it is--text Gord (my husband) he was at concordia (where we stayed the first week) putting stuff away having made a 2-ish barge.---i think i have said this here before, but my guy really rocked this day--he got everything done and all i had to do was arrive. Awfully good planning on my part if I do say so......
first passengers in the van are getting off at the tortolla ferry --all good--then WHAM! Two trucks collide in front of us in the parking lot/roadway--not bad--a fender bender really, but an argument ensues and neither one will move their vehicles--essentially blocking the way
the taxi driver finally is able to pull around , but i am seeing my chances of 5pm RH slipping away--if we really boogie there is still a chance--so i stick with the plan--worst thing would be i have to have a beer and wait..... ....Then the traffic in CA is REALLY bad--there is a street festival for christmas tonight and many roads are closed.....We are close to the ferry terminal and by my watch it's 5:06--i am hoping that island time is on my side--but not feeling very optimistic--and i don't see the ferry.... i jump out of the cab, pay the driver and RUN--the Ferry is there ! i run on board and get a ticket from the ticket lady who had just boarded--
dinner that night at shipwreck (a first night tradition for us) and back to p-13 at concordia for an early night--tomorrow we find Pete the christmas branch, deliver presents to Joe and have our first encounter with the tourist trap --
more later. i think.
