Jan 27, 2009

Christmas Part Deux -The Cruise

Here we are in Perth, and I've got more time and I'm more relaxed than I've been in months. I've given Ben his once a month allotted night to watch one of HIS shows rather than one of OUR {my} shows. He's toggling back and forth between the Australian Open -which he'd much rather be sitting at live... and The Journey to the Center of the Earth. I have no choice but to blog. It's working out perfectly actually. Nothing like a little time spent together!


Back to Christmas. So one week before Christmas Ben and I left the darlings with Ben's parents {THANKS!} and headed out to a cruise with my sister's, bro in law, parents, and Grandpa + New Grammie. It was awesome. If you've never done a family cruise I am here to tell you it is a must. You've probably been on the fence about it for some time and I urge you to pull the trigger on it. If these pictures don't convince you I don't know wha twill. That last one was a typo, but I kinda like it. It kinda works. I'm going to start a new word trend.

But I digress.



The ladies, catching a show


One of life's dreams fulfilled and you are now here to witness the box litterally being ticked. I swam with dolphins. This is the time the dolphin pushed my foot with it's nose whilst I rode on a boogie board. Best hundie I ever spent. Went with Sissy Kate. Sorry the pics are so far back, Ben, our photographer sitting on the sidelines {with a single tear running down his cheek for being left out] sadly could get no closer.


Rubbing her belly for good luck. Not sure if this was before or after the 18-year-old girl started FREAKING out and crying because she was scared of the dolphin. She was scared, trembling {later convulsing} with real tears streaming down. Katie and I could do nothing but snicker -not allowing ourselves to look at each other for fear of losing it more than we already had. It was pretty hilarious. Kinda like when people freak out about clowns.

Anyway, the trainer then tried to calm her down by having her swim over to her {she was standing outside the pool, yeah, she had climbed out. It was more pathetic than I can describe} and he said to the dolphin "do you like this girl?" and the dolphin shook it's head yes. And then he said "are you going to bite her?" and the dolphin shook her head no, I think a little 'uh, uh' escaped it's lips too. It was so funny, seriously, I think a little pee might have escaped. I'm pretty sure.


I DO know however this was around the time that another hilarious incident started, involving a 45-year-old-ish woman who had come with her "Mommy". Mommy was an 85 pound woman who's skin was as wrinkly and saggy as her swimming suit- of which the crotch was hanging down a good t 2-3 inches. She was a possible Alzheimer's sufferer and just stared off into space with a blank stare as she shivered from the cold of the water {as you do when you weigh 85 pounds}. She seemed truly oblivious to her older adult daughter shouting 'Mommy, Mommy, watch me! Mommy, did you see me? Did you see me and the dolphin Mommy??!"


Again, could not. even. look. at each other.



Right before our big moment -this pic, besides embarrassing me, reminds me of that one of Ben taken a few months ago. The one where it looked like his head had been photoshopped on. Here it is so you can snicker again, I know I always do. The similarities are striking.

After this we enjoyed a FANTASTIC day at my favorite place on earth, a place where if I could spend every day of my life I would truly be happy -the water slides. It was included in our ticket so if anyone is heading to Puerta Vallarta -please let me know and I'll hook you up. The cost without he dolphins is $14. A steal since the place is both deserted and awesome. You can run up the ramp like a 12 year old kid- or was that just us? and hop on slide after slide with no supervision. The slides were sick, seriously sick and the food was delicious. Possibly my favorite day, ever.


I'm not doing this sequentially, you should know. Here we are about to ride our horses. On the excursion we took in Mazatlan Look at that enthusiasm! We were humoring Mom actually. See, we had purchased this way awesome {not} excursion online and it was built up as this awesome day spend on Stone Island. Long story short, after being off the ship for 3 hours, we finally arrive to the 'port' of the island -only to find the ship was literally 50 paces away by water. It was sadly funny.


Anyway, pretty much the rest of the excursion followed suit -I do not recommend this tour unless you are with family who can make you laugh your head off at all of the ridiculousness! The horses were almost as hilarious as the fact that we were riding along this lame town rather than the beach that we could see in the distance. My horse kept being naughty and getting spankins' -not as cute as it sounds. He would jump with a stir and nearly buck me off after being spanked for eating people's front gardens. Just more fodder to laugh at.



Water Weenie. Need I say more? Here is where we really made our money back. Especially riding with Nick {brother-in-law} who's crack was in my face the entire time as he jumped up and down like a 10 year old kid. And the time my Mom got bucked off the back and called us 'jerks' repeatedly was pretty funny too.


These next shots are for a calender the "Gildea" men are secretly putting together. I've probably said too much. Since Nick is the sexiest, it is mostly of him. Shoot them things straight Nick!


"When in Rome!" was Nick's reasoning for this picture taken in Cabo



This one is very Art Nouveau

The crew, including New Grammie at a Cathedral in Mazatlan.


Mom and Dad's Prom Picture. Sexy.



Nick and Ben's Prom picture


Is that it? It feels like I'm forgetting something. Is there anyone still reading this post?

-

15 comments:

Englishfam said...

I don't know if I was laughing harder at the 85 pound alzheimer mom or Nick in the lifejacket. It's a toss up. You Gildeas all know how to make my day! You and Katie are the best storytellers ever!! Sorry we missed you when you were here. When are you out here next?

Gaengy said...

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Its always fun to relive the trip! Love hearing the hilarious stories too! They never get old!

Mel said...

Nick in that picture made me laugh for days. Made Carl laugh even harder. That is hilarious. I love your Dolphin excursion. So funny! I think I would have laughed out loud!!! Hope things in Perth are well for you guys!! When are you moving back here?

RufflesAndFringe said...

I really think Mazatlan was my favorite part. I wouldn't really want to do it again, but the experience was priceless. Especially dad's face when our "transportation" pulled up. Doesn't anyone have the head on shot of Nick walking around with his shirt tucked into his swim trunks, that was really the best shot. He certainly does keep things entertaining!

P.S. Nick rented Journey to the Center of the Earth the other night. He wasn't aware that it was a kids movie. This didn't stop him from jumping and screaming at a few parts!

*natalie said...

You are soooo funny!

Nick said...

That post made me laugh until I cried. Reliving all those precious memories. We have got to do that again.

AnneMarie said...

I love how you make me laugh! I'm sure one could go anywhere and do anything with the Gildea Fam, or just any one member of said Fam, and have the best time ever!

Ashley said...

You are hilarious. I am laughing my head off at the thought of crack in your face on the weenie. The life jacket pic made me tinkle a little.

The Wells Family said...

i loved the recap. i got the first edition from kate. thank you for bringing continued laughter to my day. seriously, i was just thinking. has your family ever considered doing a reality show titled, "who wants to be a gildea?". i can just picture it...all the crazy things your family would make people do, while laughing your butts off, while the others are just hoping to get in. HA! i would watch it.

riley said...

Honey, very entertaining and a little crude as usual...all the elements of a great post. Just so I know how to rank things in order of highlights in your life, I wonder if you could help me out here. This is as far as I have gotten:
1. Swim with Dolphines and water park in Puerto Vallarta
2. Going roller skating over Christmas last year
3. Upgrading to sleeping with Cujo for the two weeks I was in Australia...

Can you help me out with a few others (mind you some may not have cracked the top 10):
Our wedding day, Birth of Laine and Gabe, Graduations...

It was great to read a post while I am travelling this week- I miss you and the kiddies

Heart,

Ben

Hayley Nelson Potter said...

That looks like an awesome vacation. You may have just inspired me!!

pop pop said...

You guys have not mentioned the guy we dealt with at Stone island much. Me chasing him around for our stuff. Him explaining stuff in Spanish for 7-8 minutes, and then saying in English "lunch is at 1:00", or two excursions each. Calling the guy on the other boat a fag over the sound system 10-12 times for all of the 5-600 people there to hear. Talking up the cliff divers, and then driving by and saying "there it was". ANd my favorite, Natalie working the vendors. That could have been a how to video. I am hooked on Stone island, I am thinking of camping there.
And of course all the special dinners. Dad

Whitney said...

ok, so i laughed out loud at the picture of your brother in law nick in a life jacket! kate was really holding out on us on her blog! i love the caption, shoot em straight nick! haha, still laughing. it's funny because i was teasing kate that her life jacket wasn't quite closing ( i have the same problem) in the pic with you two, but nick totally out did her! also, it's that the time of year for fun dips for the super bowl! and i wanted to make the delicious bean salsa but had lost the recipe, but then, bam, remembered, nat had totally posted that recipe! life saver! thanks! :)

Nicole said...

How fun! My family did a cruise once but Mike and I didn't go:) So sad. I could really use a vacation right now, I am glad you are enjoying one:)

Emilee said...

Looks like you had a fabulous time on your cruise. Our friends are going this september and they want us to go...I think you just made my decision for me. Looks like a lot of fun. I loved the story of the "girl" and her "mommy"! I laughed so hard I had tears come to my eyes.

 
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