- Flying to Indie Cruise
February 24, 2012
The beginning of something wonderful. I head off to LaGuardia Airport to begin my journey to Miami International Airport. I am meeting up with my roomie for this trip Ms. Marilyn from Ritual Waters. I had planned this trip back in July and I was so crazed in my head that the trip day was actually here. Days leading up to it there were lots of chatter on the FB Indie Cruise page (closed group) and this just made my insides jump with happiness.
Despite the happiness, I was sad because this was the first time ever that I was leaving my son for 6 days. Also the thought of not being able to hear his voice daily while I was out at sea made me emotional. Let me say that JP was not happy about this trip either. He is fearful of boats because he doesn’t understand how they float and he just wanted me home safe. I told him that this trip could change our lives forever. JP is a wonderful cheerleader of Mama’s soaps but he needed to know that Mama has to make decisions that could better our small online business.
Off I go, to LAG then to ALT then to MIA! I arrived at around 3:50 pm and found Marilyn standing at the pink elevators. We have a special fondness for the pink elevators. My not so trusty phone, company name will remain a secret (cough) blackberry, had frozen on me so that only way to communicate was with me catching her call and making sure I didn’t lose signal. I really hope this wasn’t a sign of the journey that was ahead.
Cocont Groove Miami
Our next stop was to the hotel where we were going to meet with Robin from Dragonfly Soap. Can you imagine 3 overly excited giddy woman in one room together? Well let me tell you it was loads of fun! I had met Robin back in July 2011 at the Central New Yorkers annual gathering in Binghamton, NY and she was gracious enough to let us stay with her.
We spent the night chatting away about our excitement, what we looking forward to and what we wanted to accomplish. All the while we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Donna Maria, whom at the last minute had to drive from SC to FL. The next morning we did see Donna Maria and I felt like I ran into a celebrity in the hotel lobby. I hugged her so hard and vowed to never bathe again! LOL
I am ready to get this party started!
Saturday arrives and we are ready to bust out of this joint! Marily, Robin and I are ready and yet we were met with a stumbling block. We make arrangements for the hotel to call a cab for us for a 12 noon pickup. We are downstairs, ready, willing and able, patiently waiting. Twelve o’clock, twelve fifteen, twelve thirty..do you see where I am going with this? Yup, cab was no where in sight. Now mind you my phone isn’t working so texting and facebooking were out out of the question. When it did work, I was able to post quickly on the FB page that we were stuck waiting for a cab that wasn’t coming. I was adamant that this boat was not leaving us behind and I was going to make this trip. Eventually a cab pulls up to drop off a passenger and we ambush him! Oh let me not forget the nice sweet gentleman from Ecuador, living in San Francisco, visiting Miami for a job interview. He was waiting just as long for a cab to the airport. We told him to jump in the cab with us and he could get to the airport after we get to the port! This poor cab driver has no idea what he was going to experience. We arrived, safe and sound. Our hearts back in our chests, our excitement was at its high again and the we were checked in!
Being that this was my first cruise, the process was smooth. It was incredible that they were able to get over 2,000 passengers on a boat without a bump. Oh so here is my second celebrity sighting! As we are standing online getting our room keys Ms. Lela Barker from Bella Lucce arrives. Now I am about to pass out, first Donna Maria now this! Oh Lawd! Lela is gorgeous and super super sweet. I have been a secret stalker to her fanpage where she shows photos of her company’s growth. It was a long first day of just getting settled in and the excitement of being on my first cruise. We gathered on Lido Deck for a drink, or two, or three…
Enough said..
Stay tune for Day 2 – Indie Cruise 2012 (twitter #indiecruise)
I am so glad you gals made it on board the ship…but you had nothing to worry cause we would have made the Captain of the ship wait to set sail until our fellow Indies were on board!
I know you guys would have taken care of us and sweet talked the captain! LOL I am glad we made it and the relief to be on the boat and see everyone was wonderful.