CruisinMama2003

32 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

I'm doing good - in fact, maybe even slightly better than good! I promised I would come back here and fill you all in on the happenings, so here goes. I can't remember what I've told you all (and what was here as opposed to our other group) so apologies if I'm repeating myself. Grab a drink (or two) and settle in for a long ride...

 

I'm sure you all know that I'm a single mom to two kids and have raised them alone (including financially) for the 13 years. To do this, I've worked two jobs consistently (at times three) to make sure they never went without and hoped that maybe one day karma would come round and we would get some money from their dad. Their dad, by the way, left Canada and relocated, hopping between South America and Mexico to "get off the grid" (aka avoid paying child support). He had not worked in the past 15 years as he used my inheritance from my parents passing to invest in crypto before it got big (and then took off with the investments). To say I was bitter was an understatement...BUT karma did, indeed, rear its head and I received a call in October 2022 that came as both a shock and a relief (sorry to sound insensitive). My ex's body had been found in an apartment in Medelin, Colombia and his death was being treated as suspicious. Thus began a 6 month nightmare of having to deal with the US Government, the US consulate in Bogota, the Medelin police department, and the Canadian Government in Bogota. Of course, the majority of people only spoke Spanish, of which I know not a word. As the kids were his next of kin, it fell to me to make all the "arrangements" - they expected me to pay for him to be cremated (he was so decomposed that they couldn't send his body back), for his remains to either be interred or repatriated, for the rent on the apartment to be paid while they were carrying out the investigation, and for his belongings to be sent back. I refused all of this and began a back and forth battle of them demanding payment and me saying no. 

 

In the midst of this nonsense, I was issued a notice from my landlord telling me that my rent would be going up by an additional $1500 per month. On only one income, it was difficult enough to make ends meet with my current rent, so that additional was impossible. I researched, advocated, gathered documents, and fell into a very dark place! Everyone I spoke with assured me the landlord could not do that BUT if I failed to pay the rent, it would be grounds for eviction. I had everything needed to go to court and win BUT the waitlist was almost a year and, in the meantime I had to pay the increased rent. It seemed hopeless and I definitely thought I would be on the streets with two kids! At this point, I signed over all rights and power of attorney for the deadbeat ex to his parents and they did whatever they needed to do to get his ashes brought back to the US. They held a memorial ceremony in Boston at the VA cemetery, and sent money for airfare for the kids and I to attend. With my rent situation the way it was, I planned to leave the kids in Boston, come back alone, pack up and....(well, I won't mention what I planned). The five months dealing with all of this, along with the prospect of going to the ceremony and having to listen to everyone say how amazing this guy was (even though he abandoned his kids and never paid a penny toward them) was the lowest I have ever been in my life. Thankfully, lots of folks rallied around and supplied us with food, giftcards, and love. Then, two weeks before we were due to leave for Boston, I heard from the landlord (who had been served court papers) that he would like to "discuss" the rent situation - I had been asking for this for the past 3 months and was met with silence but suddenly it was up for discussion. I believe he knew that I wasn't going to just go quietly, so had a change of heart and pretty much put my rent to where it was originally and raised it by only the allowable 2%. One less thing to worry about.

 

The trip to Boston and the ceremony went much better than I had expected and I felt that I had done the right thing by taking the kids to pay their respects, have closure, and meet some of their family. Neither one of them really remember their dad, but he was still their dad. When I got back to Vancouver, I began the process of applying for survivor benefits for the kids. Since he had never worked in Canada, they got nothing from the Canadian side. However, he was in the US military and did work in the US before we moved to Canada. Both kids are US citizens, so it should have been an easy application. Wrong. The problem came because my older child never got a social security number (my son got his when we registered his birth but my daughter didn't). I had been trying to get it long before this happened, but each time I went to the US and applied, I was given different information about what I needed and was always refused. Before heading to Boston I called and asked (again) what was needed, took everything they said, got to the office and was turned away as they said she needed documentation from every year of her life to prove her identity. huh???? I called the office in Seattle, asked what I needed, went down, and was refused because the school report cards we had (which we had been told was what was needed) didn't have the address of the school (ours have school board address, rather than individual school). I called the office in Bellingham and finally got someone that knew what they were talking about - gave me verbal instructions AND emailed me and said if I was refused to show them the email with her info and they could contact her. The teen and I took the train to Bellingham, waited in the office for two hours, and finally got to hand in the application! I was now able to apply for survivor benefits as soon as the social security number was issued.

 

That brings me up to the present (so a year and a half later - that's how long this process has taken). The investigation was completed and his death was ruled "inconclusive" as the body was in such advanced decomposition that they weren't able to do any toxicology testing. I know what my suspicions are, but it really doesn't matter at this point. All the crypto (and we are talking millions) that he worked so hard to "hide" will never be found and any hopes of me ever recouping the almost $100,000 he owed in child support seemed to be dashed. BUT I no longer need to live in fear of him suddenly showing up and making my life difficult! Then, just two weeks ago, I get a notification from my bank (both kids have their own accounts that are linked to mine) that a large deposit had been made. No explanation, nothing. Just a significant amount of money in both of the kids' accounts. Turns out that the survivor benefits are retro to when he passed, so that big deposit was the "catch up". On top of that, each kid will get $900USD per month until they turn 18. Let me tell you how much pressure this takes off me financially - I do ok, but do hustle at two jobs and rarely have a day off. With inflation the way it is currently, it's literally paycheck to paycheck each month. This extra is security that will help with paying for school (yes, my eldest graduates high school next year) and just provide the little extras!!!

 

So, that's my story - bet you're sorry you asked now. I'm slowly getting back to a place where I feel like there is hope and a good future and I never want to go back to the dark time! Lol.

Wow! So glad everything turned out the way it did for you and the kiddos! You all deserve every bit of the happy ending to this story ❤️

15 minutes ago, Funsince1983 said:

Welp 🫠🫠🫠

Well damn! Hope its a mild case for you. I came home from my Jubilee cruise a week ago with it and it was not mild for me at all, like full blown flu symptoms ugh!

Feel better soon!

21 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

People that are down near the port area are reporting that Harborside is flooded and to use 29th St. Just wanted to give you a heads up in case you didnt hear this already. Safe travels to you! 🙂

Just got off Jubilee last Sat, first time on an excel ship and i absolutely loved it! 

Have the best time! Cheers! 🍹🏖

23 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

Sigh....something going on with CC as I have stopped getting my notification of new posts on ALL the threads I am following.

 

I have checked and I am still subscribed as "instant notification" and I have not received any "watch out or you will go to jail" emails.....very strange...having CC withdrawals....

 

@MeganGC1983 @BohJang and @HeyJut have a GREAT dinner, cant' wait to see the pics!

Same thing happened to me, nothing from CC for 6 hrs 🫤, but all is back to normal again.

@TxTeach79im probably in the minority on this buuuut i say Elation! Its a ship you haven't sailed on, no telling how much longer she will be around, and you haven't been to PC in a long time. Plus, 2 days at the end before going back to school 👍

2nd choice would be the Horizon only bc of Bonaire. 

Either way, whichever one you choose, im sure its going to be an excellent Live review as always!

40 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Sorry, I hate to be that guy, but what's PDCC?

Perfect Day at Coco Cay (Royal's private island) 🙂

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Very nice reporting so far!  I'm going to have to show my ignorance, though!  I'm not familiar with your past works...so I have NO IDEA what GSJ means... ???

Gentleman's Seafaring Journal 🙂

 Im sorry for your loss 😔 no need to apologize at all. Sending prayers to both of you for peace and healing through such a difficult time 🙏

We just got off the breeze last week and yes, your circled area is 1 of 2 places on deck 11 for smoking. The other area is further aft right outside the elevators. 

54 minutes ago, sprint180 said:

I don't see pics.  Is it just me?  Is it a setting I have?

 

There haven't been any pics posted yet by the OP

10 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Ugh! I miss it. Glad you enjoyed it. 

Same! I absolutely loved Bimini ❤️

22 minutes ago, Funsince1983 said:

Can someone explain going on a B2B2B2B and never getting off the ship? I don't get it. 

Me either! You must be reading the same Live that I am lol i would go crazy staying on the ship for all of that time. To each their own i guess 🥴

46 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Good Lord I was joking.🙄

I have an Android, the rest of the family had iphones, everytime they text me a video or something that ends up blurry on my end, I always joke with them its because of their phone not mine 🤣 

I refuse to get an iphone, not for any particular reason and nothing against the product, I just love Android too much to switch 🙂

49 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

 

People say things like this sometimes when I'm accidentally in the background of their pictures 

Omg you crack me TF up!  🤣🤣🤣 

1 hour ago, TxTeach79 said:

 

 

....Anybody ever hit these places or anywhere else they like to get in that cruise mode? I've been all over Galveston, but there are tons of spots still new to me. 

 

 

Ive heard good things about Brewchachos (on the Strand), not sure if you have tried them out yet, if not, might be a good "new to you" place to try 👍

2 hours ago, nelblu said:

I haven't read all of the posts and I'll be on Harmony on December 3.  Does the WJ have a made to order omelet/egg station. 

 

Also, this will be my first sailing from Galveston and wondering how the traffic is from the airport.    

Galveston is our homeport and we always drive in the morning of the cruise (3.5 hrs). Not sure which airport you will be coming from but Hobby is about 45 mins away and we hardly ever run into traffic jams on I45, and we hit that area around 1130 am (we normally do 1230-1 check in). Only time we hit slower than normal on I45 is during the summer on a Sat at that time. Sorry, I have no idea what traffic is comimg from the other airport (IAH)

Enjoy your cruise & Galveston! 🍹

Welcome to Texas! 

Thank you for bringing all of us along on your vacation and for all of the info and pix on Regal! 

Enjoy your day/night here in Tx, safe travels home tomorrow 🙂

Thank you so much for this wonderful Live review 👏👏👏  i always enjoy "sailing along" with you on all of your adventures! Safe travels home to both of you 🙂 

19 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

Sure hope you feel better soon and can get a little "me" time to relax over the weekend....maybe have the kids wait on mom for a change???????

Supposedly in today's world gall bladder removal is done laproscopically and often same day surgery.

Can't verify as they took mine out over 30+ years ago when I had a hysterectomy.

 

 

Yep, thats correct. Had mine taken out 2 yrs ago that way, easy peasy. Absolutely no pain afterwards either 👍 

21 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Yeah, normally I can “crawl” through a 24 hour thing, but this has hung on longer. I’m rehydrating today, and pushing through. I don’t think Halloween helped. We walked 6 miles Trick or Treating… not my choice, it was too cold but what can you do when it’s only one time a year. I haven’t even taken my “mom tax” of the candy. None of it sounds any good. 

Yikes! 6 miles in the cold 😱 see, its that "momming" thing again lol

Hopefully the kiddos arent having to wait until mama feels good enough to take her share 🤣

19 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Thanks @Hogladyrider! And @mkcurran is right, but I also caught a stomach virus, that I’ve been trying to get over. I haven’t had much besides crackers or toast since Saturday. The hardest part has been making food for the kids. I even sneezed into 🤮. 
@ceilidh1taxis are plentiful. You can take one to Radio Beach. Lots of food and drink options there. Then walk down to the open air market and to Joe’s conch stand. Or if you like to snorkel, you can take the taxi to the south end and snorkel the shipwreck. You could also walk it. Also, there’s Dolphin House Museum and the Big Game club. 

Girl! I hope you feel better soon! Its the worst when the "momming" cant stop when you are sick, and you definately have your hands full with the 3 kiddos and allllllll of their extracurriculars, been there done that ❤️

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

Actually my schedule is potentially crazy till March.

 

new orleans

Galveston

coming back from galveston

thanskgiving

new orleans
new orleans

new orleans

christmas

new years

new orleans

new orleans (If we win division)

home

new orleans (If we host NFCCG)

mobile 

coming home from mobile 

Galveston 

coming home from Galveston 

Then it’s March.

 

Im exhausted just looking at this 🤣

28 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Pirate's Cove Private Ocean View Cabana

Port: FREEPORT, THE BAHAMAS

Thank you, this looks very nice 👍

12 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Thx kleibo!  Next Live will be this Thanksgiving, a cruise to Freeport and Nassau.  I've booked a cabana on Freeport and we have never been there so we shall see!!😎

May i ask what beach you booked your cabana at in Freeport?

Spectacular Live review btw, thoroughly enjoyed following along! I love following all of your reviews, so informative and such great pictures as well 🩷