Why should I be comfortable!?

So, its the start of week 6 back on the jewel and I am having an absolute blast! Yes, I've been on the ship before, and yes I've visited all the ports a dozen times already, but the people here are first class and I am so glad I'm here!

That being said, i live with two other guys: Ravioli and Julius. Ravi is a YC like me and Julius is a pool attendant with cruise staff. These guys are great roommates, very neat, fun, and fairly courteous....BUT, we have developed a scare/prank atmosphere in our room that has me paranoid beyond belief. I walk the halls, sleep, and shower in fear! The other day i opened the shower curtain and Julius is standing is the bathroom an screams at the top of his lungs. So i obviously pooped in the shower and went about my day. A couple weeks ago, my neighbor Samee got in on the act and with the help of my entire hallway of neighbors, she successfully moved all my stuff into her room and vice versa. It was ridiculous! I keep telling Julius I'm going to get him back, and this week it will happen. Samee and I acquired about 600 sq. feet of aluminum foil, and we are going to wrap every single thing Julius owns and hopefully ruin his life!! I should just let the war fizzle out because there is no doubt I will feel his revenge in some terrifying way...oh well.

The last two weeks have been the first two spring breaks of the year, and they've been insane! The number of kids on board has increased a little, 400 this next week, but about half the ship is college kids, so the atmosphere is much younger, dumber, and more fun.

Its beginning to come down to my last few weeks on board and I am very much looking forward to Europe and hangin' out with the bro! Don't spend all your money Tim!

D

I'm back!!

After 2 weeks back on board the Jewel, it seems that I never left. I am back in the swing of things and having a great time. Basically the same people are here that were here when I left, although I have made a few new friends along the way. The weather has been a bit sub-par by Caribbean standards, however it has not snowed, so that’s cool.

I did find out that I do have a family & friends discount rate, so if you want to come on board my ship in the next month and a half, you should! I think JWade and Peto may come toward the end of March…should be a blast.

My brother is still studying in England and from what I’ve heard, he is having the time of his life, going to Club Fudge and studying hard!! I can’t wait to join him in May. My niece is now almost 3 months old, is as adorable as ever, and I miss her and my sister a lot.

As I’m sure I’ve informed you of, my sports intake is quite limited on the ship, however, I was able to take in the Superbowl, the NBA All-Star game, and will get to see a great deal of the NCAA tourney. I have not seen even one Olympic event unfortunately, however I hear the U.S. is dominating!! In the world of baseball, I did get the news that my boy T.L. signed a two year deal with the Giants, making me even more excited for the upcoming season!

Other then these tidbits, I’ve got nothing much to share. Until next time my friends

D

Sweet and Sour

Hey there everybody. Well, i'm still in Chico until this Saturday. At that point I will leave for my 3rd contract with Norwegian Cruise Line. The little bit of bad news I have is that a couple weeks ago the powers that be changed my assignment from The Jade which travels from Barcelona around the Mediterranean, to The Jewel which is the ship I just came from. On the bright side, I know the ship, its ports, and many of the people on board, and it will be fun to see them all again. On the other hand, visiting 8 different countries over then next few months had me very excited. Instead i'll have to choke down another two months of Miami and the Caribbean, and what is sure to be nearly perfect weather. ;-) This Sunday, around Superbowl kick-off, I should be in the Miami harbor, about the sail toward Honduras. Wish me luck!

However, as many of you know, my little brother is studying in Hatfield, England this semester, and will be there until the end of June. Partially because of my changed assignment, I decided that going to visit Tim in Europe would be an intriguing idea. So, I will finish with the Caribbean on April 11th and will be back in California until May 23rd, at which point I will be flying to join Tim for a month or so of European Emmons Adventures!!

It been great being in Chico, Southern California, and The Bay Area, visiting friends and family, and meeting my beautiful new niece! Thank you for keeping me in your prayers, and i'll continue to be adventurous for all of you, and keep you updated with pictures and bloggettes!

D

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