Caribbean Cruise August 2011

Have you ever thought of getting together with all your friends and family but just as quickly dismissed the idea because of the logistical nightmare?  Me too!

Christine, Aimee and I have attempted to get everyone together a couple times in the past few years and the plans never solidified for many different reasons. The main reason is that everyone is spread out from Washington State to Florida and all directions in between.  Can we continue not getting together?  NO.  Is it realistic to visit everyone with any frequency?  NO.  Is it expensive to visit just one person for a week?  YES!

Now that we know the problem what is the answer?



Here is what we've come up with.

We'd love to see everyone every year and beginning next year we will start go on a summer cruise with the hope that our family and friends will seriously consider joining us.

The overarching theme is getting the Bering's and Dabaldo's together as an annual family reunion themed cruise vacation.

Why a cruise vacation you ask? 

• Cruise ships are all inclusive and can accommodate as many friends and family that choose to attend.
• Stress free planning.
• You fly to the airport of embarkation and the cruise line gets you to the ship then back to the airport.
• Low deposit and pay as you wish until you pay it off (usually due 2 months prior to cruising).
• The vacation is paid for in advance (booze, sodas and shore excursions are always extra).
• We are all together but with our own rooms (and bathrooms) but can still go our separate ways in port if desired.
• No need for rental cars.
• Cruising is FUN!
• The perfect reunion platform.

That being said, we have already taken the bull by the horns and set up the inaugural cruise reunion vacation and you are invited if:

• You are related to or know a Bering.
• You are related to or know a Dabaldo.
• You think you might know someone that is friends with a Bering or Dabaldo.
• You don't know any of us but think it sounds like fun anyway.

The first cruise is scheduled to coincide with mom and dad's (John & Marilyn Bering) 50th wedding anniversary on 07 August, 2011 and is therefore established as the Anniversary Cruise.

Additionally, Tracy Clark's birthday (girlfriend of Steve Dabaldo) is also the 7th of August and there are several other summer birthdays and anniversary's to celebrate too..

Aimee has set-up a group booking with Carnival Cruise Line for a four day cruise departing from Miami on Thursday the 4th of August.  The first port is Key West on Friday followed by Cozumel, Mexico Saturday then a fun day at sea on Sunday (the 7th) and back to Miami on Monday.  Four days for several reasons.  If you haven't cruised before and are leery you aren't obligated for 7 nights at sea.  Early August is still peak season and rates are still higher than the off season so four days is more affordable.  A mid length cruise works for those that may not have much vacation time available.

With this group rate we need to secure cabins within the next 30 days and that will require a $150 deposit with the balance due by next June. The deposit is per person but if you'd like to stretch it out a bit you can call and place the initial deposit for one person but tell the Carnival rep the name of the second person for the room and that they will be calling in later to make their deposit.  As mentioned earlier, we need to secure the rooms within 30 days but we can stretch out the second $150 over two months or so if need be. If you are a military veteran you get a discount when you call to make your reservation. 

To place your reservation call Carnival Cruise Line: 1-866-721-3225
Give them the booking number: 50T4X2
They will want to confirm that you are with: John and Marilyn's 50th Group
They will take your deposit and answer questions.
If you need transportation from the airport to the ship make sure to let them know, I believe it is a $16 charge.
Then you'll have until next June (2011) to pay the balance.
We have set dining up for the early seating so our group will have a large table set aside to accommodate everyone.
Ask for any discount you may normally receive i.e. military, senior, too darn good looking, etc.

There may be a few single people wanting to attend and cruise line policy is that cabins are rented double occupancy.  Single people should find a roommate or let me know & I'll keep track of who needs a roommate, or, unfortunately, you'd have to pay double fare for the cabin.

We hope you can join us next year and in the years to follow.  We have planned the next three get-togethers as follows:

• August 2011, Miami, Key West, Cozumel, Miami
• Summer 2012, Hawaiian cruise
• Summer 2013, Mediterranean cruise

Please read the attached fliers that go into all the details.  You will notice references to "cruise credits" with several options.  We will be utilizing the credits for a group cocktail party that will include a one hour "open bar" in which all drinks i.e. soda, specialty coffee drinks, beer, wine, liquor and alcohol free drinks (Virgin Mary, Virgin Colada, etc) are free.

Please let me (johnbering@cox.net or jnbering@gmail.com) or Aimee (capecoma1@gmail.com) know if you and/or someone you know would like to attend next summer and if you'll be making a reservation in the next 30 day window.

Lunch in the Chile Capital

Driving south from Albuquerque, New Mexico to El Paso, Texas on I-25 this morning I couldn't pass by Hatch, NM without stopping for a fiery lunch in the chili capital of the world.  The town is very small in population but enormous on the flavor scale.  The sign in front of the Pepper Pot drew me in and I didn't regret it.

Pork in red chili with frijoles and rice with chips and good salsa on the side was the perfect lunch in the epicenter of all things spicy.  After the amazingly satisfying red chili lunch I walked across the street to a chili vendor and bought a quart sized bag of XX HOT Red Chili powder and a small sandwich bad of XXXXX Habanero powder.  Now I am looking forward to making my own pork in red chili this weekend when I get back to Phoenix.  Hatch is a great place to vist for those of us that love spicy food.  In fact, the Food Network is there every Labor Day weekend for the Hatch Chili Festival.  Think I might have to check that out sometime.

Petrified Forest National Park

This month rather than fly to Albuquerque or El Paso I thought I'd hit the road and conduct my routine business in both locations while taking in a few sights along the way.  Today's trip from Phoenix to Albuquerque had me passing by Petrified Forest National Park so I turned off the highway and back in time 250 million years to the Triassic age.  The road to the petrified wood first leads through the Painted Desert.

Puerco Pueblo is an ancient village that contained 100 rooms and a central courtyard.  It was occupied between 1250 and 1400 A.D.  The occupants are believed to have migrated into the Hopi and Zuni nations.

Then the Crystal Forest and Rainbow Forest appear strewn with what were once 200 foot trees and are now beautiful log stones filled with sparkling crystals.

On the original supercontinent, Pangaea, the location of the modern day Petrified Forest was subtropical, around the current location of Panama.  Giant trees eventually fell into the water and millions of years of silt and volcanic ash covered and protected them from rotting.  The silica from the ash eventually permeated the wood and crystals began to grow.  Then a few million years later after severe weathering the petrified wood appeared where what was once the tropics and is now the Arizona desert.  Several ferocious dinosaur fossils have been unearthed as well.

The Petrified Forest is just off of Interstate 40 in Northeastern Arizona and is well worth a stop for two to three hours of exploring 250 million year old fossils.

Christine's Repair and Recovery

The surgery went better than expected last Wednesday but the recovery phase has been a little slow.  She is doing well but just can't quite shake the tired feeling after surgery and anesthesia.  She is on schedule to go in to work tomorrow but I'm sure it will be an abbreviated workday.  I'll be headed out tomorrow on a roadtrip from Phoenix to Albuquerque, New Mexico then on the El Paso, Texas and back to Phoenix on Friday.  I usually fly for these work trips but thought I'd drive this time and blog about the adventure.  Cheers!

It's Been a Long Week

Since Tuesday Christine has been to the Emergency Room four times plus a fifth visit with an ENT to schedule surgery.  She developed a nose bleed that wouldn't stop Tuesday while I was at work and drove herself to Urgent Care.  The doctor at the Urgent Care clinic couldn't stop the nose bleed either and actually called 911.  An ambulance took her to the ER at banner Estrella Medical Center where the bleeding eventually stopped.  I met her at the ER just after noon and took her home around 2:00 p.m.  At 11:00 that night the bleeding started again so back to the ER we went.  The ER doc removed the gauze packing and repacked it with a Rhino Rocket.  The Rocket is about the size of my index finger.  It is soaked in a gel that promotes blood clotting then inserted through the nostril up the length of the nose.  There is a small air hose that hangs out of the nostril and is used to pump air into the rocket sealing the nostril in order to apply positive direct pressure throughout.  The inflator is taped to her cheek.  After that traumatic experience we went home at 4:30 a.m. and I napped until 10:00 then went to work Wednesday afternoon.  Thursday morning I got up at 5:00 and was preparing to head to the gym prior to work when Christine came downstairs with her nose dripping blood once again.  Back to the ER we went.  The ER doc decided to remove the Rhino Rocket and cauterize the bleeding blood vessel.  He used silver nitrate sticks in four attempts at cauterization but the blood kept coming and he confirmed that it was a small artery that was damaged due to seeing the blood spray out after each attempt.  He then decided enough trauma had been inflicted on her and stuck another Rhino Rocket in to stop the bleeding.  She was finally released to go home at 4:30 p.m.  Friday morning she had an appointment with an ENT and the decision was made to surgically repair the bleeding artery; problem is surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday.  Stand By.  Saturday afternoon the bleeding started again so back to the ER we went.  They pumped more air into the Rocket and the bleeding eventually stopped.  Right now she is living minute by minute laying in bed to minimize physical activity waiting for surgery to fix the artery and hoping there are not any more trips to the ER between now and Wednesday.  Highly unlikely though. She is quite miserable and has a tube hanging out of her nose taped to her cheek praying for Wednesday to arrive.

The Total Money Makeover

I just read a wonderful book on personal finance by Dave Ramsey.  His language is down to earth and easy to follow with a message of get out of debt (including your mortgage) asap.  It is a great read and I highly recommend it to everyone regardless of your financial situation.