Most of you would probably say that my life is a vacation. Yes, I get to see tropical islands on the daily, and I live at sea for the most of the year, but I do work my butt off believe it or not. And I too enjoy a good vacation once in a while. Even if it is a 'stay-cation' and I'm working during it …
Most people who go on vacation from working on a cruise ship, will be home for 6-8 weeks, enjoying their friends and family, and living off the money they saved whilst working on the ship. I, on the other hand, take quite long vacations because 1) I like spending time with my family at home 2) there are usually a few major family oriented events that happen while I'm home that I make sure I schedule my vacation around.
This vacation for me consists of me being part of a musical that my Aunt is directing, and my Mum is stage managing with our local theatre group called the Mississippi Mudds. Normally, I'm one of the people on stage doing some singing, or acting or tap dancing, but this I'm backstage doing the make-up and some of the set changes. Totally different realm of what I'm used to so it's a fun new challenge for me. Doing the set changes really does make me appreciate the ASM's backstage.
I'm also working at my beloved Hallmark. I've been working there since I was 16 and the manager is a great lady who always tells me to let her know when I'm home and she puts me on the schedule to help out. This is great because not only does it keep me from lying in bed 24/7 while I'm home on vacation, but I also get to make some money while I'm here because, well, I'm not the best with saving money. (re: my Michael Kors watch collection -_-)
I'm lucky enough to be able to go to a few concerts while I'm home too! Some friends and myself managed to score GREAT seats to Ed Sheeran in June so I'm pretty pumped for that. If anyone knows me at all, knows how much I LOVE gingers (weird, I know) and I've always enjoyed his music. I saw him at the MMVA's at Perez Hilton's after-party a few years ago and of course, my love only grew deeper from there. I also get to go see Kenny Chesney thanks to my friend Jamie - she got tickets for my sister and I and her to go see as a birthday celebration for my sister. The concert is ON her birthday, so that worked out quite well.
Another reason I'm staying home for so long - my Poppa, he's turning 90! NINETY!! What?! I love him so much and I'm so glad I get to be here to help him celebrate that. Such an incredible milestone that not many can say they've met. But this ninety-year-old, I get to call him my Poppa.
And also, last but not least the reason I'm staying home for SO long, until September in fact, one of my best friends Laura is getting married and I'm lucky enough to be one of her bridesmaids. With only another 4 ish months to get everything done, things are getting down to the wire. There's a bridal shower to plan, there are centrepieces to be made, there is a dance to perhaps choreograph. I'm excited for it all! Most of the wedding party was able to do a joint bachelorette/bachelor party in Las Vegas back in February where we went to a few shows and got wasted .. what else do you do in Vegas? Good times! And I know only better times are up ahead and I can't wait for the big day to get here!
Well, come September 7th, I'll be on my way to Seattle to join the Carnival Legend where I will get to embark on a journey from Seattle to Alaska and then Vancouver. And then from Vancouver I get to do something that not many people have been able to do - I get to do the crossing from North America over to Australia!! From there we'll be making stops in Hawaii, Tahiti, Bora Bora, New Caledonia and then finishing off in Sydney, Australia where that will be our homeport until April. I'll only be on there until March so I'll get to spend the entire Australian summer down under. I hope you are all ready for some more burnt Jodi pictures because you KNOW they're going to happen!
Chat soon!!
Oh p.s. I'm blonde now :)
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
What Day Is It?
'..and in what month? This clock never seemed so alive.'
But actually though, where has the time gone?! This contract is FLYING by for me. I've been here almost 3 months and will be leaving in 74 days - sorry Mum I know I told you like 60 the other day - I can't count. I also have no idea what day it is half the time. I can tell you the number but honestly not a CLUE what the actual day is whether it be Monday or Thursday. Port or Sea day ..that's all you get.
I haven't posted a new blog on here since 20 days in and now I'm close to done which is crazy to think! Obviously went through all the holidays on here already, getting ready to go for one of my best friends bachelorette so getting a 3 day work break, and beginning to line up my next ship!
I never in a million years thought I would work so hard on a 3 and 4 day itinerary, but I'm glad I was wrong because I'm never bored. Constantly doing debarks and embarks, and rotating karaoke around every 3 and 4 days instead of every 8-10 days is refreshing. And all in all, the crowd out of Long Beach is a lot of fun for the most part! They're usually ready to get on and party which can be kind of a pain when we have to get through the safety briefing first and all they want to do is drink, but once we get through that, it's smooth sailing from there.
Now, back to the holidays. This was only the second time ever that I've been away from home for the holidays, but I must say I did improve from the last time. I wasn't so much of an emotional wreck this time. I mean obviously I still missed my whole family and friends and all the celebrations at home, but this holiday on board was really great. Our entertainment department on here is really close so when we did our white elephant gift exchange on Christmas eve/Christmas morning it was a lot of fun. It was my rotation for karaoke that cruise so we sang a LOT of Christmas music but that was PERFECTLY fine with me because for anyone who knows me, knows that I loooooove Christmas music and I actually listen to it all year. Yup, I'm one of those people. Anyway, not being HOD for Christmas was great, but that meant that I would be HOD for New Years which made for a veryyyyy long day on New Years Eve. For the past few ships I've been on, when you're HOD that means you work all day while the rest of your team is off in port, but you have your evening off and then the rest of the team works at night. Well not for New Years Eve. It was all hands on deck so I was one tired puppy by the end of the night. I think I ended up in bed by 4am or 5am and started work at 9am to welcome people to Ensenada. I was one lucky duck though when most people didn't show up to ANY of my activities until about 4:30pm when we had a trivia. Anyway, long story short (which ended up being super long anyway) I survived. It's a new year and I'm ready for the next challenge.
My next challenge may be coming up sooner than I expected and I can't wait to find out and confirm anything but I'll wait until I get any sort of confirmation before I share anything! Let's just say I'm beyond excited and will be heart broken beyond belief if it doesn't happen but if it doesn't, just means it wasn't meant to be. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed please and thank you .
I'll probably end up writing another entry after my big 3 day work break where I'm going to be absolutely exhausted by the end of it because I'll be spending my break in Vegas and we all know no one ever sleeps in Vegas.
Ciao for now!
But actually though, where has the time gone?! This contract is FLYING by for me. I've been here almost 3 months and will be leaving in 74 days - sorry Mum I know I told you like 60 the other day - I can't count. I also have no idea what day it is half the time. I can tell you the number but honestly not a CLUE what the actual day is whether it be Monday or Thursday. Port or Sea day ..that's all you get.
I haven't posted a new blog on here since 20 days in and now I'm close to done which is crazy to think! Obviously went through all the holidays on here already, getting ready to go for one of my best friends bachelorette so getting a 3 day work break, and beginning to line up my next ship!
I never in a million years thought I would work so hard on a 3 and 4 day itinerary, but I'm glad I was wrong because I'm never bored. Constantly doing debarks and embarks, and rotating karaoke around every 3 and 4 days instead of every 8-10 days is refreshing. And all in all, the crowd out of Long Beach is a lot of fun for the most part! They're usually ready to get on and party which can be kind of a pain when we have to get through the safety briefing first and all they want to do is drink, but once we get through that, it's smooth sailing from there.
Now, back to the holidays. This was only the second time ever that I've been away from home for the holidays, but I must say I did improve from the last time. I wasn't so much of an emotional wreck this time. I mean obviously I still missed my whole family and friends and all the celebrations at home, but this holiday on board was really great. Our entertainment department on here is really close so when we did our white elephant gift exchange on Christmas eve/Christmas morning it was a lot of fun. It was my rotation for karaoke that cruise so we sang a LOT of Christmas music but that was PERFECTLY fine with me because for anyone who knows me, knows that I loooooove Christmas music and I actually listen to it all year. Yup, I'm one of those people. Anyway, not being HOD for Christmas was great, but that meant that I would be HOD for New Years which made for a veryyyyy long day on New Years Eve. For the past few ships I've been on, when you're HOD that means you work all day while the rest of your team is off in port, but you have your evening off and then the rest of the team works at night. Well not for New Years Eve. It was all hands on deck so I was one tired puppy by the end of the night. I think I ended up in bed by 4am or 5am and started work at 9am to welcome people to Ensenada. I was one lucky duck though when most people didn't show up to ANY of my activities until about 4:30pm when we had a trivia. Anyway, long story short (which ended up being super long anyway) I survived. It's a new year and I'm ready for the next challenge.
My next challenge may be coming up sooner than I expected and I can't wait to find out and confirm anything but I'll wait until I get any sort of confirmation before I share anything! Let's just say I'm beyond excited and will be heart broken beyond belief if it doesn't happen but if it doesn't, just means it wasn't meant to be. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed please and thank you .
I'll probably end up writing another entry after my big 3 day work break where I'm going to be absolutely exhausted by the end of it because I'll be spending my break in Vegas and we all know no one ever sleeps in Vegas.
Ciao for now!
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