Tim's blog can eat a Jade!

Hello everyone! I'm home, and I have to say, it's good to be back on the west coast where it somewhat feels like winter and I am surrounded by my friends and family. My time on the Jewel was a blast, but it's nice to be back in California for the next 3 weeks or so. I have already seen a most of my friends in Chico and now I am greatly looking forward to my trip down to SoCal this weekend to see the newest member of the clan: Grace Elizabeth Merrill!!! Isn't she just perfect!! I have yet to see her in person since her birth at the end of November, so I am STOKED!

The second piece of information that I am excited about is that unlike last time I came home from a contract, I actually know when/where I will be traveling to next!! I will be leaving Chico on the 4th of February, on my way to join the Jade in Barcelona, Spain! I will be cruising the Mediterranean Sea for 2 months (hopefully longer), making stops in such places as Malta, Morocco, The Canary Islands, Italy, Greece, Egypt, and Turkey. After this contact, my plan is to meet up with my brother in England, as he is finishing up his degree at a school just north of London. Please pray for safe travels, health, and epic-good-times!!

A small side-note, my brother made it known that he will be starting a blog of his own which will out-do mine. I'm not sure how that's even possible, how it could be measured, or what he's been taking to make him have these outlandish visions! That being said, I'm sure his blog will be moderately entertaining, and you should probably check it out.

D

Last Week on the Jewel!

The last 7 weeks have gone by SO fast and I'm already on the cusp of my final week on board. I can't believe I'm going to be coming home in 7 days!! I am excited to go home to see family, friends, and the new baby, but as i did on my last ship, I met a lot of really cool people which I will miss! This week I have no work in port, so I am going to make every effort to get off and do as much fun stuff as possible. Hopefully Cave Tubing/Zip-lining in Belize, and renting Jeeps Costa Maya and cruising around! I'll take tons of pictures. This is a picture of me and Lisa, the Art Auctioneer, on Christmas Eve in Costa Maya.

A couple weeks ago my "Ready List" request went through so I'm one step closer to being full-time, so that's good. Also this last week I put my ship request in for my next contract. I am hoping that I wont have 2 months in between ships this time...so bored!! I requested the Jade, Gem, and Sun. The Jade and Gem both sail to Europe this spring, and the Sun is doing 2 week cruises through the Panama Canal and around South America to Brazil. Any one of these three would be awesome, so I'm praying I get one!

This last week was New Years and although I had to work in the Teen Center till 1AM, I still a blast!! Although weird to be one a ship instead of with family and friends, New Years was awesome.

Hope everyone had a great holiday season, I will see you all next week or soon thereafter!!

D

Christmas is Here!...and i'm laying on the beach!

So, the holiday season is upon us. I am feeling a bit weird about Christmas this year because of some of the trades i've made: Snow and Rain for Sand and Sun, Coats and Beanies for Board Shorts and Sunglasses, Family and Friends for Peruvians and spoiled Teenagers. What a weird Christmas. Luckily my parents sent a care package with some things to remind me of tradition. I'm sitting at the Costa Maya National Beach Club, having a beer and an enchilada, soakin' it up! To all of you back home, have a great Christmas, and i'll see you in...17 days.

This week on the ship we have all sorts of Christmas activities...A story telling time, a Youth Program Christmas show, and as always, the family fear factor Gunk Challenge, and Fountains! Should be a fun week, and next week we got new years, which should be a blast!

Until next time, love you all!

D

Nothing like Christmas!!

So, Christmas is about a week and a half away and other then the Christmas decorations around the ship, and the santa hat i periodically wear, its far from a typical Christmas season. I do not miss the crowded parking lots, shopping, or crazy Starbucks customers, but I do sorta miss the cool weather and family traditions. I am just about half way done with my contract on the Jewel and time is flying by, its really weird.

This last week we had this lady janet onboard, who is the shoreside Youth Program Manager. She basically controls where, and if I am assigned, so i wanted to get on here good side! She obviously loved me and everything I do, so that should be good. :-) Also this week, I was confronted by a prostitute and a 10-year old drug dealer within 10 minutes...oh silly inner city Roatan! This next week I am going to try and get off the ship to do some zip-lining or cave tubing! Should be fun, i'll take pictures.

I will be sending out postcards and Christmas gifts next week so you should get it just after Christmas, or never if I didn't get you one.

I still love my new teen position, I think I have finished re-vamping my program and its running very well now! We are also starting a "Nickelodeon-type Gunk"-Family-Fun-Game this week, in which I will be hosting from time to time, that should be fun. Last night we performed "Fountains" at the crew-show, and it was the best ever!...My togo fell off in front of a couple thousand people, Butters fell down on stage, and we tried and successfully executed the ever-dangerous vomit-poo maneuver! they loved it...

Talk to you all soon!!

D

I heart my job

Hey there people! I'm currently sitting at Mamasitas in Roatan, Honduras and i thought i'd blog some stuff. I'm a couple days into my third week on board the Jewel and time is flying! Just this week I started as a teen counselor and I will be doing that for at least the remainder of my contract. Huge answer to prayer because I have much more fun and much more experience working with older kids and as cute as 3 year olds are, pee and poop get old real quick! I also submitted my full-time request which would be another huge thing. Now that I'm hanging out with teens all the time, I love my job even more!

It is really weird to think that i'm already a third through my contract, hopefully i won't have 2 months off in between next time. I am however excited to see my beautiful new niece and sister! Welcome to the family Grace Elizabeth!!!

I would love to show you some of the pictures i have so far, but I forgot to pack my camera cord, so...Mom if you read this, you could send that. That'd be awesome. Until i get that you'll just have to imagine how gorgeous it is here!

Take care until next time!

D

First Week in Paradise

I'm one week into my second contract with NCL, i'm settling into my new ship and meeting all kinds of new and fun people. The Caribbean is amazing, from the weather, to the people, to the beautiful surroundings. I'm not nearly as connected as I was while I was in Alaska as the internet and phone connections are few and far between...Oh well. I did manage to see that Timmy won the Cy Young and I watched just as much football as when I was home.

This week I applied to become a full-time teen counselor which would pay a bit more and i would have a lot less "bum-time" between contracts, which would be sweet. One thing that was a bummer was that in my attempt to find Scuba certification facilities I discovered that when ships are in port, all the instructors are leading dives with tourists and don't teach classes. damn. I'm going to need to find a way around that, online or something, or else AWad will destroy me! ;-)

Still waiting for the big news of course...Tan is coming soon and I can't wait to see him/her! Good Luck Sis!!

Well, Thats all for me, i will put more pictures on facebook soon. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving, and take care!

D

I'm off again, Finally

Hello again everyone! I am once again beginning another leg of my adventure with Norwegian Cruise line. I have been in Chico and and taking various trips around the state. I have had the privilege of visiting my sister who is pregnant and due in two weeks, go to a couple baseball games, visit friends in the bay area, and go to see U2 play in the Rose Bowl. I have had a great time while I have been home but i am definitely ready to get back to "work".

I fly to Miami this Saturday morning, and I am set to join the Norwegian Jewel on Sunday. I will be working on 7-day cruises from Miami, to Roatan, Belize City, Costa Maya, and Great Stirrup Cay. I am really excited to go somewhere warm for the winter, meet some new people on the ship, see some beautiful places, and adding 3 more countries to the places I've visited.

I hope to keep everyone updated on my travels as often as possible. I'll post pictures on this site as well as facebook. I hope you all are doing great, and take care!!

D