Does DW (or DH) feel comfortable?

[Orcrone]

I've been spending a lot of times on this board, and have felt like I've gotten to know some people very well even though we've never met. When we go on our cruise I'm going to want to meet up with other CCs. I already know that DW thinks it's weird chatting with people I don't know. I'm not sure if she'll feel uncomfortable going to a sailaway party with people she does not know at all. Does anyone have problems getting their DW or DH to join in?

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[jhannah]

I haven't. I believe my DW was a little hesitant at first about going to meet people she hadn't even chatted with online. (She doesn't "do the boards" like I do.) However, she really enjoys meeting new people, and sailaway get-togethers provides a great catalyst for doing that. I believe she has found a fellow school teacher every time, so she enjoys having someone to talk shop with.

'Vegas Jim

[sail7seas]

I haven't had the chance to go to a CC get together yet so don't know if DH would be happy or not.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[a1moty]

Pardon me~~I am new at this~~
I keep seeing DW and DH~~I have figured out
(I think) that this is referring to Wife and Husband~~~What does the D stand for??
Is there a place to go and get all of the abreviation lingo translations??
Thanks, T. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[TedC]

Either Dear or Dastardly, depending on your POV (point of view)

[Orcrone]

s7s, with all your posts you were one person I had specifically in mind who could answer that question. I guess I shouldn't assume.

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[sail7seas]

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[clopaw]

I'm the poster in our family, and we've been to two CC parties. I think my husband thought it was a little odd at first, but he came along and enjoyed himself. It's a good way to meet people that you will run into again on the cruise. It's not a big time commitment, so tell her to give it a try!

[Tatka]

I went on CC party by myself...but mostly because my husband is even more shy about language barrier than me. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

------------------------------
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Zuiderdam 8/21/04 FLL - Key West - Cozumel - Grand Caymans - Half Moon Cay - FLL
<LI>Splendour of the Seas 05/15/04 Barcelona - Marseilles - Villefranche - Livorno - Chivitavecchia - Naples - Barcelona
<LI>Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
<LI>Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum [/list]

GO BRUINS!!!!

[iluvcruzin]

I usually cruise with my best friend. She does not do the online chat thing. However, she does like going to the board gatherings to meet new people. So much so that on her last cruise she attended a M&M on RCCL and never posted.

My family is used to me chatting online. After meeting a group of online people back in the early 1990's in Vegas.. they have become acustomed to it.

Now as far as my BF.. odds are I will have to drag him to the sailaway next October. Once he goes he will enjoy himself.

Maureen

MS Maasdam 10/30/2004
Princess Sun 2/27/2005
Mariner of the Seas 10/16/2005

[Orcrone]

Sounds like others have similar circumstances. DW does better in small groups rather than large crowds. She'll think it's a little weird, may feel uncomfortable at first but hopefully hit it off with others.

Tatka, I can understand the shyness about the language barrier. I lived in Marlborough & Hopkington Ma for 10 years. It's difficult to understand the Massachusetts accent. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[gizmo]

Go meet the people but don't force her to go. You will be seeing them through out your cruise and you can introduce your wife then.

[Krazy Kruizers]

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif CC'ers

Have never had a problem getting DH to join in cc meetings - wether they be a small or large group.

We enjoy meeting new people.

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Randyk47]

My DW was a little uncomfortable with hooking up with some "strangers" that I'd met here on the board for our Oosterdam cruise. In fact, when I made the reservations I asked for a table for 6+ and she wasn't totally comfortable with that either. It's not that she's an introvert, it's more that we only cruise once a year and we do it to celebrate our anniversary and she sees that as a private, romantic time. I think she thought I was planning to spend every minute of the cruise with either table mates or CC'ers. We did go to a CC sail away and sat at a table with 3 other couples. So...fast forward to our cruise next March....guess who has invited all of the table mates to join us??? DW! Not to mention we're hooked up with Lougee1043 and spouse and a couple from one of their previous cruises. We'll still get our private time but we'll know quite a few people on the ship!

Until Galaxy
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;3;21;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600

[Vicar]

My Gf would not have a problem meeting up with people I have met on here.

I mean everyone we meet on a cruise is going to be a stranger, at least meeting a fellow CCer would break the ice a little cause we have something in common.

S7S

I have to admit I also thought you would have a definitive answer. After all the cruises you have been on and all your posts , I thought you would have met a lot of people from these boards while on board.

[sail7seas]

We've met hundreds of folks on cruises and have stayed in touch (and cruised again) with many. We have met a number of CC posters onboard ships but in coincidental settings. A number of times we met someone at a cocktail party or at the pool or wherever and while chatting discovered they visit/post here and we had fun talking about the Board.

DH and I have a set routine when we board the ships and always follow it. Seeing as most of the get togethers are immediately following life boat drill, we are not available at that time. We are catching up with crew friends etc. I have learned after life boat drill is the favored time so I don't even bother to suggest we'll come as I know we won't.

Every one of the CC people we have met we have thought were great and we enjoyed them very much.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[Tatka]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Orcrone:
Sounds like others have similar circumstances. DW does better in small groups rather than large crowds. She'll think it's a little weird, may feel uncomfortable at first but hopefully hit it off with others.

Tatka, I can understand the shyness about the language barrier. I lived in Marlborough & Hopkington Ma for 10 years. It's difficult to understand the Massachusetts accent. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The thing is .. You are American, right? We are Russians.

Yes we've made alot of progress during 8 years we lived in US but my DH still isn't very comfortable with his language. ( I am too...but because I spend all the time on different message boards I have no choice but to talk http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif and I love to talk anyway).

Plus, I am a computer programmer and even though I don't have to talk to customers I still have about 150 users and have some "conversational" practice. DH is a day stock trader so he spends most of his time with computers and not people.

------------------------------
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Zuiderdam 8/21/04 FLL - Key West - Cozumel - Grand Caymans - Half Moon Cay - FLL
<LI>Splendour of the Seas 05/15/04 Barcelona - Marseilles - Villefranche - Livorno - Chivitavecchia - Naples - Barcelona
<LI>Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
<LI>Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum [/list]

GO BRUINS!!!!

[sail7seas]

Tatka....
I've been intrigued reading the list of your past cruises and would very much like to hear about some of those ships you list.

Would you do a comparison of sorts between what they are like vs. a HAL ship?

I hope you would share that info as I think it could be very interesting.

Thanks if you think you'll consider it.

(BTW....you "speak" and write English very well. Congratulations. I am sure it has been challenging to become so proficient in a second language so different than your native one.)

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[Orcrone]

Tatka,

I was just poking fun at Massachusetts accents. From your name and your list of previous cruises I assumed you and your husband were from Russia.

It was also just my way of saying hello to someone who lives in the same area I used to.

Actually your English is a lot better than a lot of people born and raised here.

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[This message was edited by Orcrone on 06-17-04 at 01:35 PM.]

[Tatka]

sail7seas,

There is no way you can compare modern liners with anything I sailed before, although history is interesting.

Admiral Nachimov has very "sad" sad history. It sunk 4 month after my cruise. (about 400 of passengers and crew died)

This is a short history

http://www.feldgrau.com/hs-berlin.html

It did look better when we cruised!

I was 14 at that time so I was happy to be on this ship, not thinking about things like service, room size etc, although I remember food was very good and we had nice shows by the crew.

My two Volga cruises were on the ship named "Komarno". River ships are of course different from ocean liners.

This is approximately how it looked
http://www.*************.com/ships/viking_kirov_cruises.html

It had 3 floors , not 4 though but I couldn't find right picture. Of course most river ships don't have amenities of ocean ships like pool, basketball courts etc although I remember us sunbathing.

River cruises are very interesting because you always see river banks, villages etc. Volga route was very interesting in term of history as we stopped in many old Russian towns..and each of them had own "Kremlin".

Volga is a major producer of black caviar and we had opportunity to buy it from the fisherman for very small price (something like $2 per pound).

Unfortunately I have to get back to work.. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif but if you have any questions, please ask.

------------------------------
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Zuiderdam 8/21/04 FLL - Key West - Cozumel - Grand Caymans - Half Moon Cay - FLL
<LI>Splendour of the Seas 05/15/04 Barcelona - Marseilles - Villefranche - Livorno - Chivitavecchia - Naples - Barcelona
<LI>Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
<LI>Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum [/list]

GO BRUINS!!!!

[Tatka]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Orcrone:
Tatka,

I was just poking fun at Massachusetts accents. From your name and your list of previous cruises I assumed you and your husband were from Russia.

It was also just my way of saying hello to someone who lives in the same area I used to.

Actually your English is a lot better than a lot of people born and raised here.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thank you! I hope it isn't just a compliment. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Massachusetts accent??? Noooo!! We don't have an accent. It's all these people in other states. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

(We are "Chowdahh heads from Bah-ston")

------------------------------
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Zuiderdam 8/21/04 FLL - Key West - Cozumel - Grand Caymans - Half Moon Cay - FLL
<LI>Splendour of the Seas 05/15/04 Barcelona - Marseilles - Villefranche - Livorno - Chivitavecchia - Naples - Barcelona
<LI>Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
<LI>Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum [/list]

GO BRUINS!!!!

[Sue's Mom]

I would have real difficulty with DH. He is sooooo shy - always has been. I am a member of a Disney forum ( www.thedibb.co.uk (http://www.thedibb.co.uk) - a friendly bunch) and we have been to two meets but I decided that enough was enough.

[Stevesan]

My wife, Japanese, has a definite English language deficiency, but that doesn't slow her down. She just plows right ahead. I'm the one over on the edge of the crowd.

1957-USS General A.E. Anderson, Tokyo to San Francisco; 1999-Norwegian Sea, W. Carib; 1999-RVI, Europe; 2000-Mercury, W. Carib; 2000-Volendam, S. Carib; 2001-Viking Star, Danube River; 2001-Veendam, E. Carib; 2002 B2B- Veendam, Alaska; 2003 B2B-Zuiderdam, W/E Carib; Mar 2004-Maasdam, E Carib; 26 Nov 2005 Veendam, S Carib

[marco]

No, because even though I am the poster, I frequently mention the names, dialog, topics etc etc. DW usually will say, "oh, ask so-and-so this", say "this or that, the next time on the board", ask, "What ever". So even though I am the poster, I think DW feels just as connected.

[Orcrone]

marco,

Good idea. I'm sure some of the threads would interest her. I'll just avoid the dress code threads. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[localady]

I agree with S7S, I don't find sail away to be a good time to meet. We had luck with an initial "meet" at 11:00am the first sea day on the Amsterdam last Dec. As it was a good size crowd, Jasl and I set up another pre-lunch reception in the Crows Nest with the bar manager Harry later on in the cruise. We had good turn out at both "meetings" and all (including significant others) seemed to enjoy the company! Look forward to sailing with friends from that group in 11/05 on the Veendam!

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[cactuslady]

Gee, my DH is the one who usually does the dragging, while I'm the "shy" one. He's even been willing to marry at least one perfect stranger he met on a cruise. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

--Cactuslady
Prinsendam 9/20/04 soon!
Statendam 2003
Ryndam 2002
Veendam 2002
Maasdam 2001
Dana 24 sailboat 1989-1999

[a1moty]

TedC
Thanks for the enlightenment!!
a1moty

[ekerr19]

We had our CC meeting on the Maasdam in the evening, about 9:30-10:00 pm, Crow's Nest, first night out.

I am so happy we attended! It was a blast to finally meet everyone, we had been posting for months. I am the poster, ekerr (DH) does not post or chat online, but he had a great time meeting everyone. I had told him a bit about some of the others before we got together, and the other posters knew quite a bit about him...

I know I have previously mentioned this, but I think our CC group turned a good cruise into a great cruise. We got along fabulously, many of the same interests, hobbies, likes & dislikes. Several families had children the same ages who began e-mailing each other before the cruise. The kids still keep in touch.

I think it makes a big difference posting on the roll-calls ahead of time and getting to know some of your fellow travelers. If I hadn't posted ahead of time, I probably wouldn't bother attending a CC meeting with people I hadn't communicated with prior to cruising.

Noordam 1984
Veendam 1999
Amsterdam 2000
Noordam 2001
Statendam 2001
Noordam 2002
Zuiderdam 2003
Maasdam 2004.
Noordam 2004

[Vicar]

Sail 7 Seas

Now I know you and I would have a ball on a cruise together.

I end up meeting everyone and can talk to anyone . I can strike up a conversation with someone in line at the bank *LOL*.

GF cannot believe I was never kidnapped as child, because I can strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger. *LOL*

I get it from my Mom , I think we both have the "Talk to me " sign on our foreheads, that just invites nice folks to come up and chat with us *LOL*

[sail7seas]

tatka.... Very interesting. Thank you.


Vicar..... I hope we have the chance to meet someday....soon http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif aboard one "dam" ship or another.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[debsea]

We had a wonderful CC group on our transatlantic last year. Grannynurse, SueSails, Mickey and I met on this board. Their DH's don't post and my DM doesn't even own a computer, but the eight of us met on the first sea day for lunch in the dining room (we all agreed that meeting after lifeboat drill was just not convenient) and we became fast friends.

[Tatka]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by sail7seas:
_tatka...._ Very interesting. Thank you.


_Vicar....._ I hope we have the chance to meet someday....soon http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif aboard one "dam" ship or another.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>



<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thank you! You are very kind. I would love to meet you on board on HAL or Celebrity some day.

These are my photos from our recent cruise in Med.

http://community.webshots.com/album/146181776yMJYhY

(I didn't have a time to organize it properly ...so my Mom created it for me. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif )


And...our son Mike on Century last year:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/87890932/87891350xFPINE


http://community.webshots.com/photo/87892952/87893101UEpjSb

[This message was edited by Tatka on 06-18-04 at 12:27 AM.]

[sail7seas]

Tatka.....hopefully we shall. I would enjoy meeting you, I am very sure.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[Bill S]

My DW has told friends that I book cruises just to meet people from CruiseCritic.com! I think, I will leave it at that. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Bill S
-------

[tinmanswife]

We were on the Zuiderdam in May and I "lurked" on the boards for awhile waiting for someone to post a roll call. I finally did it myself and met 7 great people...now considered friends. DH and my teenagers teased me alot, because by the time we sailed 5/15, some of us had been emailing daily! DH is usually the "organizer", so he had no problem with us meeting. Our group ended up spending time together daily..it made our cruise even greater...the downside was that it made the end of the cruise having to say good-bye and the cruise "withdrawal" even worse.

[Orcrone]

While on the boards last night DW came in and the discussion of sailaway came up. She said that she thought it would be great to meet and get to know other people.:D

[sail7seas]

Sounds like you and DW are sure to have a wonderful time. I very sincerely hope so. I feel so protective (in some odd way) about Maasdam....she is such a very dear favorite of mine. It is so hard for me to explain the incredible people we have met aboard her; the wonderful memories we have; the special occassions we have celebrated aboard her.

I want everyone to love that ship as we do. :) which, of course, can never happen. We all have such different likes/dislikes/tastes.

[the2ofus]

Met with several fellow CCers on our first sea day of our Hawaii trip last year. DH is reluctant to meet a crowd of new people but he tagged along to the get-together and ended up having a good time. He agreed it was nice to recognize folks and chat with them later in the cruise. We would still meet plenty of folks as we enjoy striking up casual conversations in the lounges or the Lido.

[Orcrone]

S7S,

We are soooo.... looking forward to our cruise. A couple of the things I've read here had made us a little apprehensive. We read that there weren't as many activities as other cruise lines. But when not at port we enjoy finding a chair, laying out in the sun and relaxing. Went with Carnival last year and don't think we did one planned activity during the day. The other thing was that the ship gets a bit dead late at night. Well, DW and I are early risers, although I tend to stay up late. But the only way DW would know about how quiet things were after 11 is if I woke her up to tell her.:D

DW is also very much into some of the things you mention, although it's not as important to me. Things like tablecloths, even in the Lido. Fresh flowers throughout the ship. But most of all, just getting away from everyday life for 10 days and being pampered sounds great!

[sail7seas]

Marc.....

I understand what you mean when you say DW is into "some of the things" I mention more than you are.

Butl.....you sound like a DH who takes pleasure in seeing your wife's pleasure. In all honesty, my DH (while he certainly appreciates and notices when things are nicely done) might not notice the bud vase on the table with a fresh pink rose. But, he takes pleasure from my pleasure at enjoying the scent and sight of that fresh bud.

He might not notice if there is a water spot on a goblet.....but he'll smile when I comment how sparkling the crystal is.

I in no way mean to say he does not have fine tastes and is not very observant as he is and does. But...some things simply are more "a girl thing" and most caring husbands are happier when their wives are happy.

Seems to be rather universal....if She is happy; everyone around Her is happy.

(Although, IMO.......if HE is NOT Happy; then No One is :) )

[Vicar]

S7S,


You are very right on that.

I think women pick up on and appreciate "the little things" more then men.

If I walked into a room I will notice it is decorated in nice colors, it is well taken care of and clean and it is overall pleaseing to the eye.

GF is the one who will notice things like the rose bud in the vase and the way the drapes match the wallpaper and the carpet.

I will certainly catch glareing things like a room with black carpet and red walls *LOL* She will pick out things like the tablecloth is champagne gold and the napkins are light beige or whatever.

When we bought furniture and decorated our home when we moved in she had free reign to get what she wanted to (within reason *LOL*)

Not that i didn't care, I just knew that she had very good taste and the little details of it all were more important to her . And in the end the place looks beautiful and she is very happy with it. And like you said when she is happy, I am happy.

And when she isn't happy, I go play golf *LOL*

[Joedog]

I met my DW on the internet in a hobby chat room so I don't think she is uncomfortable with it in any way.

[Orcrone]

Marc.....

I understand what you mean when you say DW is into "some of the things" I mention more than you are.

Butl.....you sound like a DH who takes pleasure in seeing your wife's pleasure. In all honesty, my DH (while he certainly appreciates and notices when things are nicely done) might not notice the bud vase on the table with a fresh pink rose. But, he takes pleasure from my pleasure at enjoying the scent and sight of that fresh bud.

He might not notice if there is a water spot on a goblet.....but he'll smile when I comment how sparkling the crystal is.

I in no way mean to say he does not have fine tastes and is not very observant as he is and does. But...some things simply are more "a girl thing" and most caring husbands are happier when their wives are happy.

Seems to be rather universal....if She is happy; everyone around Her is happy.

(Although, IMO.......if HE is NOT Happy; then No One is :) )I have to be careful to express myself better. These things would not cause me to pick one cruise line, or one restaurant over another. But I do know that these things are important to DW. In fact, we went to a fancy restaurant several months ago. One of the first things she commented on was that there were no tablecloths. Now we don't often do fine dining. But when we do, she expects the fine things.

But I digress. Although these things are not as important to me I know that she appreciates these things. And like you say keeping DW happy makes the whole family happy. Actually IMO, DH keeping DW happy and DW keeping DH happy really keeps everyone happy.