August 12, 2018 - Elisa Plans a DAY-Caytion to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and Tanya's Cruise Day 3

Elisa's Daily Scoop
Covering Long Island & NYC Boroughs 
CURRENTLY IN: LONG ISLAND
​

New DAY-Cation planned to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn

Hello!

This morning, I woke up to thunder.  I was thrilled, but Punkin basically started having a nervous breakdown (insert sad face).  She shakes badly when she is frightened and today was not exception with the clack of thunder.

I just hate it!! With all the thunderstorms in the past few days, she is now freaked out about going in the yard.

I didn't mention to you guys - but Tanya asked me if I'd like to join her on a cruise over Memorial Day weekend.  

Of course I said "I'D LOVE TO!!"  however, there are some practical matters, and the chances are pretty unlikely that this will be possible.

You see, Gianna is in all honors classes in high school and as a result, she is not permitted to miss any school.  (We have to keep this girl very healthy to avoid sick days!!)

Additionally, if I chose to go solo and leave my kiddies home, I don't have anyone to leave them with at this point.  My parents have their hands full with health issues these days, so they are not an option and I wouldn't even think to put them on the spot. 

They would be needed to get both kids to school (different schools) and stay at our house for logistical reasons.  

So, unless I'm able to get special permission from the school to make an exception for her to miss two to three days, I will have to forego this trip!  (insert frustrated face).  I'm not going to give up - going to send it out to the universe and see if some options present themselves!!!

This week is going to be a bit busy.  Gianna is taking a week-long prep class at her new high school, which she is both nervous and excited about!

Me and Kelsey have to go and get her new school uniform this week - she has outgrown her summer uniform - this kid keeps growing!! And the school changed the gym uniform  (thank God!!) and so she will need both the summer and winter gym uniform.

However, it's not all work!  Kelsey and I are going to the movies Tuesday for AMC's $5 Tuesdays and on Thursday, I'll be taking Gianna for her new school haircut and highlights!  Yes, this kid convinced me that she is entitled to a new look so off we will go!

In Travel News...
I have another day trip being planned before the summer ends.

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn!

​  I'll tell you when it's on the calendar, but here are a few of the things that we will be doing during our "Day-Cation":

(Photo credit: brownstoner.com)

* Ocean Avenue footbridge that links Sheepshead Bay with Manhattan Beach. 

* New York’s first public memorial to the Holocaust.

* Historic Lundy’s Building - NYC Landmark in 1989

* Vince Lombardi’s Home 

* Vince Lombardi’s Plaque 

* Saint Mark’s Church  

Did I also mention FOOD!!! Ah yes, we'll be hitting Delmar Pizza (one of the oldest pizza joints around) AND getting some classic Italian desserts at T&D Bakery.

I'll be finalizing my itinerary and day by tomorrow or Tuesday and get it on the blog by Wednesday for you to see some pics of where I'm going!!


Tanya is having a blast on her Caribbean Cruise so far, and we have figured out a great system for communicating - text (yes it works!) and Facebook messenger.  So, she will be sending me her blog daily along with pictures. 

So ABSOLUTELY, check out her blog for the latest and the greatest on this cruise!!

That's it for me folks.  Going to be making a delicious Italian Sunday meal of Spaghetti and meatballs later on.  

Hope your day is wonderful!!
-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop 
Covering the West Coast & the World
​CURRENTLY IN: CARIBBEAN CRUISE SHIP
 FIRST STOP: ARUBA

 Cruise Day 3
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Greetings from sea!

We are currently somewhere off the coast of Haiti, still heading over to Aruba. 

It’s another day floating at sea for me. Well, for us..

We are currently laying back, lounging deck side and in a couple of lounge chairs. 

I’m still dealing with some minor electronic issues, that I hope to figure out once we arrive to Aruba. But I’m making due and hopefully I manage to get up to date with the postings. 

For now I apologize with my tardiness. I honestly cannot even get onto the blog from here, but there are a few sites that I have access to and that I can communicate through.   
And this is how Elisa and I are making it “work”. 

I believe that as soon as she receives all of the information and data from me that she is adding the links to the dates/blogs that might have been missing. But enough about that.

Dave just lost his glasses. We think they went overboard!! Hopefully he’ll be able to get by and even find a replacement pair in one of the atrium shops on-board.

Today is definitely a bit more windy than yesterday was, but not compared to as windy as it was last night in which my hair was seriously all over the place!

Last night happened to be our first “dress up” night of the cruise, which is always a fun one for us. As is I tend to bring more than just one outfit per day while cruising and on the “Elegant” nights we not only change out of our day clothes into evening casual, but take it to another level and dress up in heels and all (yup high heels on a moving sea vessel. LOL) It is all so much fun.

The cruise line sets up backdrops for a variety of picture opportunities and the photographers pose us in all sorts of amusing stances. We are certainly a bunch of suckers for the pics and have quite the collection from all of our past cruises back at home.

Now let’s talk about food. Cruising and eating seem to go hand in hand for most. But us vegans don’t quite have as many choices. But being a most seasoned vegan cruiser that I am and learning the ropes along the way, I definitely know my way around and how to eat while on board. 

NOTE that I am quite the expert on the subject and that our very own travel consulting services might come in handy for you or that special vegan in your life when the interest comes along to start planning your next trip!!

We were very satisfied yesterday with most of our meals, as they were pretty tasty; until dinner... 
Which I suppose was our fault since we left up to the chef to come up with some vegan surprise - and let’s just say that we now have got the feeling that he’s not exactly the most creative when left on his own without any direction from us.

Oh well, we gave it a whirl. And the reason we did is because of some wonderful past experiences where the chefs have seriously wowed us!

For breakfast we placed an order for sautéed tofu, grilled tomatoes, hash browns and grits - all made vegan - some off the menu and some straight from the cupboards of the ship’s galley. 
We also had a plate of sweet and juicy fruit as a starter. So simple and yet so good. 

Being that breakfast was mighty tasty and we enjoyed it so much that we reordered it again this morning with the addition of grilled mushrooms. I’m pretty sure this will be our breakfast every morning.

Lunch for us tends to be sticking to the salad bar. And then since I know from past experience just how great the pizza is on board this cruise line, I make sure to save room for some after lunch and before dinner pizza! It’s really that good. But perhaps you just don’t realize how very picky I am about pizza and how often I refuse to eat it because I find it subpar.   

And as for dinner last night, it was back to the drawing board for for me, but I’ve already sent him ideas.    
I’ll let you know how well he executes them! LOL

These cruise lines should actually hire me as their vegan consultant and advisor!! Hook that up for me ;)

Meanwhile, I’m just gonna continue enjoying the Caribbean breeze, watching the flying fish, feeling the Caribbean vibes (that somehow cause me to involuntarily dance - no matter where I happen to be) and staring out into the brilliant blue sea.

Pics on the way!!

Catch y’all back here tomorrow as I arrive and the ship pulls into Aruba,
-Travelin’ Tanya

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