1/5/08 – Gnome Sweet Gnome

Arrived back at home today to find that the house's heating system went kerplooey. It's a wee bit chilly in here but our memories of the Caribbean are keeping as warm. We're taking turns snuggling up together to conserve body heat. It seems to me like Mr. S is taking more than his fair share of time with Mrs. S.

Check back soon as I’ll be posting my album of pictures from the trip!

1/4/08 – Customs

My, oh my. Disembarkment has taken a wee bit longer than expected today. Despite arriving at noon and the ship being cleared by officials at 12:45, it is taking a very long time to get everyone through customs. Mr. & Mrs. S & I were not called to leave the ship until almost 4 o’clock. And to make matters worst, the customs officials were not familiar with my Gnomistani passport. What a scene that caused! Thankfully the large customs officer with the latex glove was surprisingly gentle. Finally we made it to the car. Farewell, Explorer of the Seas, farewell!

1/4/08 – Day 12.5!

A bonus half day! Last night we received our daily planner and were pleasantly surprised to learn that instead of having 12 days at sea, we would be treated to 12.5! I love bonuses! Not only are they feeding us more but they going to entertain us today, too. Anything to prevent the natives from getting restless.

1/3/08 – Rock the boat, don’t rock the boat, baby

Hello again from the rocking and rolling Explorer of the Seas! Our wild ride has continued throughout the night well into today. Captain Erik informed us during his noon report that we are unable to make up the 10 hours lost during the medical evacuation due to the really bad sea conditions. Our new estimated time of arrival is high noon on Friday-- 5 hours later than expected. Not only are the seas still very rough but within a 30-minute span today we witnessed a rainbow, sleet, and even SNOW from deck 14! Of course, us gnomes are seafaring creatures and not easily phased by such harsh conditions. I remember when I was a small gnome off the coast of Gnomistan, we braved a ferocious…golly gee, that’s a story for another time. I’m delighted to report that Mr. & Mrs. S & her parents are holding up quite well too.

1/2/08 – I’m in the money!

Today we went to the casino so that I could watch all the pretty lights. Mr. S gave me a dollar to play the nickel slot machines. I have always liked watching the nickel slots…I don’t understand them, but I like to watch them. Not many people know this but gnomes are very lucky creatures. I took the single dollar and turned it into more than $20! I was so excited I decided to throw the money on the bed and roll around on it. I was nice enough to give Mr. S’s original dollar back.

1/2/08 – Let’s Go State!

Some of my fans have inquired about the Alamo Bowl. I was just too upset to discuss it before now. We were all set to watch the game on ESPN. Our fabulous waiter delivered our dinner in record time and we were off to watch the game. Imagine our surprise to find that the NFL Network had hijacked our ESPN feed! What nerve they have! Instead of watching Penn State face Texas A&M we were stuck with the Patriots and the Giants (and everyone knows how Mrs. S hates the Pats). To add insult to injury, the station didn’t even provide score updates. Our party didn’t learn until the next day that
Penn State had prevailed…not that we had any doubts! But all’s well that ends well—Fight on State!

1/2/08 – Helicopter Rendezvous

We had quite a bit of excitement yesterday. Captain Erik informed us that we were heading not north, but SOUTH! I was very pleased with this news because it meant that Mr. S’s plan to extend the cruise had worked. But alas, that turned out not to be the case. In reality, a passenger was sick and the ship had to travel back toward Puerto Rico in order to rendezvous with a Coast Guard Medical Helicopter. At 10 p.m. Atlantic time, we met up with the helicopter on the high seas and the passenger was successfully evacuated. Due to this unexpected excursion, we lost about 10 hours but the good captain is doing everything in his power to return to Bayonne on time. Due to some bad weather that is expected this evening (15-18 ft. waves and 30 knot winds with 40 knot gusts), we might lose some ground and not arrive until 9 a.m. on Friday morning. But that’s fine with me!

Read more about the evacuation:
http://coastguardnews.com/cruise-ship-passenger-evacuated-by-coast-guard-helicopter/2008/01/02/

1/1/08 – Happy New Year!

What a smashing way to ring in 2008! The balloons! The confetti! And the noisemakers, oh my! Have I mentioned the champagne? Happy New Year to all!

12/31/07 – I am NOT for sale!

We went shopping today on the Royal Promenade. Unfortunately Mr. and Mrs. S set me down in the most precarious position and forgot about me. Not only were all of these strange people staring at me but one woman actually tried to purchase me! I am not for sale!

12/30/07 – Always travel in style

As I mentioned previously, Mr. & Mrs. S have been kind enough to carry me around the ship. Don’t I look cute!

12/30/07 – And then there were none

I’m starting to suspect foul play. When Mr. and Mrs. S and I returned from dinner, we couldn’t find our last companion but we did find what looked like pieces of him. Are those his arms and legs? Oh, the gnomanity of it all! There are crumbs all over the place!

12/29/07 – Beach break in Barbados

Today we decided to take a jaunt to a local beach for some fun in the sun. After a short taxi ride we arrived at a beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear water. This was my first time seeing the blue water of Caribbean. I decided to venture in…only to learn that I cannot swim. I do float well, though.

12/29/07 – This is starting to get strange

Time to alert the authorities…or the X-files! Four of the five gingerbread men have gone missing. The last one is starting to get worried. I have alerted the crew but they don’t seem too concerned. It seems that gingerbread men have a reputation as party animals on cruise ships and have been known to go missing for the entire duration.

12/28/07 - It really DOES rain in the rain forest

On today’s adventure we visited two waterfalls and a sulfur spring in Dominica. The views were beautiful and I learned something interesting--the name “rain forest” wasn’t an accident. It really does rain there. Thankfully it seems to stop as quickly as it starts.

12/28/07 - Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Let’s see, I’ll have a scoop of chocolate and a scoop of phish food…and put it in the cone that is shaped like my hat.