Good news! It is not too late to be a part of the Kleverkathy 2010 Couple’s Caribbean Cruise! All you need is a partner (of the opposite sex), a deposit and an attitude for fun! Currently we have 9 couples on our adventure and there are a limited number of spaces left! We’d love to have you join us! Of course you can go on a cruise anytime but here’s the thing, this one is already planned and ready to go! All you have to do is pay your deposit now, pay the balance on or before August 1, 2010 and get ready for a fun, sun filled, extraordinary excursion set on the breathtaking back drop of the gorgeous Caribbean! What more could you ask for? Because we are going as a group, there are perks and bennies that you’ll receive with the group that you won’t get if you travel alone. But…. just because you go with us as a group doesn’t mean you and your sweetie have to vacation with us!  Please take advantage of this prearranged expedition and make it your romantic getaway for two! We go as a group but we vacation in whatever style suits us best!

Please read all the information below so you will know exactly what you need to do to be a part of our exciting voyage!

DATE:
The date of the Kleverkathy 2010 Couple’s Caribbean Cruise is October 24 – 31, 2010.

ITINERARY:
Day #1 – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day #2 – At Sea
Day #3 – Bridgetown, Barbados
Day #4 – Castries, St. Lucia
Day #5 – St. John’s, Antigua Day
Day #6 – Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Day #7 – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Day #8 – San Juan, Puerto Rico

TRAVEL AGENCY:
Omega World Travel Leisure Office. Our agent for the Kleverkathy 2010 Couple’s Caribbean Cruise is Aleece Rothandler. Aleece is very happy to be working with us and comes to us out of the corporate office in Fairfax, VA.

CONTACT INFO:
Aleece Rothandler
Omega World Travel Leisure Office
3102 Omega Office Park Ste 100
Fairfax VA 22031,
Phone: 703-359-8888
Email: arothandler@owt.net

CABIN COSTS:
Keep in mind; these are all PER PERSON costs based on two occupants per cabin:
Inside cabin – $704.83
Oceanview – $804.83
Balcony – $944.83
Suite – $1443.40
What’s your pleasure? Which cabin would you like? You gotta let me know ASAP as we are already rolling!

PAYMENT INFO:
* NOW – initial down payment of $500.00 PER CABIN (not per person) is due. This holds the actual room you will occupy during the cruise.

*August 1, 2010 – Final payment is due! So after your initial deposit, you don’t actually have to pay another dime for 8 months at which time, your final payment is due. I don’t recommend waiting until the final due date, but it is up to you. I foresee February – April cruise payoffs with your income tax returns!

* Flight breaks – We will possibly be able to get deals on our flights! (Remember, flights are not included). I will stay on top of that and I will get with Aleece on flight breaks as soon as she is able to do it. Good to hear huh?

CANCELLATIONS:
If for some reason you would have to cancel your trip, you can cancel up to 60 days in advance and get your full refund. After that you loose 20%.

VERY IMPORTANT:
It is BEST to pay by credit card. If you do have to cancel and are awaiting a refund, receiving you refund after paying by cash will take up to 16 weeks, however, if you pay by credit card, you will receive your refund within 3 – 5 days, big difference. Hear me on this one! I don’t want anyone’s feelings hurt if you need to cancel and have to wait four months for your refund. You will blame me! And I won’t blame you for wanting to blame someone, but I am telling you now. If you haven’t heard anything else, please read and re-read this.  But understand; paying in cash is acceptable. Just be aware of the above stipulations before you decide your payment method.  Also, at the time of deposit, Aleece will need to know your full address and birthday.

PASSPORTS:
If you don’t have a passport, run, don’t walk to your local post office and ask them to help you get started with the process. Passports are a must have when cruising!

Q & A:
Ok, I think I have covered the initial things necessary to get started. I’m sure many of you will have questions and concerns I haven’t thought of. If so, please do not hesitate to shoot me an email letting me know. More than likely it is something all of us will want to know too.

I am always available to you!
Week days from 7:30 – 4:00 pm eastern time:
Kathy.a.curry@us.army.mil
706.545.3328

Evenings and weekends and anytime:
kleverkathy@gmail.com
Aanp37@aol.com
Kathy@kleverkathy.com
812.369.0914 – 24/7
706.225-7849 – evenings

I think that is all for now. Got a question? Just ask! That is what I am here for! I am really trying to make it as uncomplicated as possible!

Need anything…. (say it with me) Holla back!

We can be divided on his health care reform. We can think his plan won’t work. We can even not like the man but… to heckle the President of the United States, at an address to a joint session of Congress, is WRONG! So very disrespectful! As I sat and watched and heard the boos and shout outs, I got mad but he held his own! Regardless of whatever, he is the HPIC! (Head Person In Charge) How dare they! We can debate his ideas, plan and promises all day long, but at the end of that same day, he is still due respect.

I love watching/hearing Obama and I do get nervous when he makes promises. I want him to succeed. Period. I question how some of the fine tuning (as he said) is going to play out but the hutspa (an Oprah word meaning “guts”) he demonstrates is enough to make anyone want to root him on because his success equates to our country’s success.  Last night, he was a different Obama!  He was a man succinctly stating his vision for this country’s future, he stood firm on his beliefs and he didn’t care who liked it or didn’t like it.  There were no wimps present at the microphone last night!  Good job!  If it all doesn’t fall into place as he plans, he’ll try something else.  Has any President had a perfect, fail proof 4 years?  No, and neither will Obama.

Last night’s Capitol Hill show was amazing. Seeing the blatant disrespect and disregard on so many faces shocked me. How did some of these folk get these positions with such ugly attitudes? Kudos for all of those democrats and republicans who disagreed with Obama but were still big enough to applaud when he did say something they agreed with and big enough to maintain their composure when he said something they didn’t agree with.

I want to know, what do you think about the conduct of some of the members of congress who were there last night, and acted out the way they did? Wasn’t it a travesty? Share your thoughts.

Holla Back!

I know Las Vegas is called “Sin City” for numerous reasons. The excitement and adventure of Las Vegas, with casinos galore, can sweep you away and, I believe, cause addictions, especially gambling…but there is so much more!

I just returned from a weekend in Las Vegas. I went for my niece’s first birthday and a surprise retirement party for my brother. Believe it or not, I didn’t drop as much as one nickel in a slot machine and it’s Vegas, they are everywhere! I could have begun gambling as early as my arrival to the airport but surprisingly, I wasn’t even tempted. Will I go back? Certainly. But not for the shows or gambling or the excitement, all that is nice and one day I will experience some of that excitement, God knows, they have it in abundance; I will go back for the calm serenity I felt and the spectacularly beautiful landscape I encountered.

I have been there once before but this time I soaked it all in. That is, the overwhelmingly and undeniable picturesque piece of the world called Las Vegas. We did the strip and even that was a perfect work of lights, sizzle and Bling Bling! It will make anyone sit up and gaze in amazement, but the part of Las Vegas that is so severely understated is all the rest! E.g. – the mountains and the trees and the rocks and the backdrop and the gorgeous homes and equally gorgeous neighborhoods, etc. It was a piece of serenity and breath taking beauty I thoroughly enjoyed.

Below is a picture of me and my sisters. You may not be able to make us out very well but what you can see and sense is the beauty surrounding us. Really, if you haven’t been, you must go and do Vegas and what will happen in Vegas, you won’t want to stay in Vegas. You will want to bring it back with you!

Vegas rocks!!!

Holla back!

Happy 48th Birthday President Barack Obama! God Bless you to see 48 more!

Guess what? It is not too late to be a part of the kleverkathy couple’s cruise! All you need is a partner (of the opposite sex), a $50.00 deposit and an attitude for fun! Currently we have 12 couples on our adventure and we’d love to have you join us! Below is all the information you need to get started. If you have a question, please don’t hesitate to ask! Please, don’t miss out on the fun, call me…TODAY! and…stay tuned for the kleverkathy upcoming “anybody can go” cruise and the family fun Disney cruise! 2011 promises to be just as fun and exciting as 2010! Kleverkathy will make sure of it!

Please read all the information below so you will know exactly what you need to do to be a part of our exciting voyage!

DATE:
The date of the kleverkathy couple’s cruise is October 24 – 31, 2010.

ITINERARY:
Day #1 – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day #2 – At Sea
Day #3 – Bridgetown, Barbados
Day #4 – Castries, St. Lucia
Day #5 – St. John’s, Antigua Day
Day #6 – Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Day #7 – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Day #8 – San Juan, Puerto Rico

TRAVEL AGENCY:
I am working with Omega World Travel Leisure Office. Our agent for the Kleverkathy 2010 Couple’s Cruise is Leslee Gearhart. Leslee is very happy to be working with us and comes to us out of the corporate office in Fairfax, VA.

CONTACT INFO:
Leslee Gearhart
Omega World Travel Leisure Office
3102 Omega Office Park Ste 100
Fairfax VA 22031,
Phone: 703-359-8888
Email: lgearhart@owt.net

CABIN COSTS:
I don’t like being blindsided so I asked Leslee to tell me all possible costs. Because we are taking a large group, tax and gratuities of $70.00 is required up front. That $70.00 might sound like a lot to those of you who have not cruised before but it is $9.95 a day for your waiter and housekeeper. You will have the same waiter and housekeeper for the entire week. $70.00 is worth the special love and attention you will receive from each of these people. You’ll see! The only other thing that we might have to pay, once we are locked in, is some kind of extra tax if gas continues to rise quickly and substantially. Don’t worry! I got a call into God for that, cruise or no cruise. I just need it to regulate!

So here are the costs. Keep in mind; these are all per person costs based on two occupants per cabin, without the tips and gratuity added in:
Inside cabin – $704.83
Oceanview – $804.83
Balcony – $944.83
Suite – $1443.40
What’s your pleasure? Which cabin would you like? You gotta let me know ASAP as we are already rolling!

PAYMENT INFO:
There are three ways you can pay:

* Call Leslee with your payment
* Mail Leslee your payment
* Email Leslee letting her know you want to make a payment and how much

Emailing Leslee saying I want to make of payment of $50.00 (just an example) would probably be the easiest. In order to do that, she will need to have an authorization from you for the FIRST PAYMENT ONLY. As long as you continue to use that particular credit card, that you have given her authorization to use, she never has to ask or hassle you for that info again. In order to get her to do that, you will need to fax the following authorization (using YOUR information):

I Kathy A. Curry do authorize Leslee at Omega World Travel to charge my Visa card, #xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx, expiration date 01/13, in the amount of $50.00, toward the kleverkathy couple’s cruise, October 24 -31, 2010.

_____________________________________ _________________
Your signature Date

(This is just an example. You need to put in your info.)

You will also need to attach a COPY OF FRONT AND BACK OF BOTH: the credit card you will be using and your driver’s license. BOTH NEED TO BE SIGNED.

Here is the payment schedule and other pertinent info:

* NOW – initial down payment of $50.00 per cabin, is due. That equates to $25.00 per person. You can pay more but $50.00 is required. If your cabin of choice is a suite, you will need a $500.00 deposit instead of $50.00. This holds your actual room. At the time of your deposit, Leslee will locate a room for you and hold the actual room you will occupy during the cruise. For all others, since there are so many of those types of rooms, the actual room will not be selected until closer to time of the cruise.

* December 15, 2009 – the names of all companions are requested, however, as long as payments are being made, companion names can be switched later.

* December 29, 2009 –$450.00 per cabin is due. That equates to $225.00 per person.

* August 1, 2010 – Final payment is due! So after your December 29, 2009 payment, you don’t actually have to pay another dime for 8 months at which time, your final payment is due. I don’t recommend waiting until the final due date, but it is up to you. I foresee February – April cruise payoffs with your income tax returns!

* Flight breaks – We will possibly be able to get deals on our flights! (Remember, flights are not included) However, that process cannot begin until a year out which means October 2009. I will stay on top of that and I will get with Leslee on flight breaks as soon as she is able to do it. Good to hear huh?

CANCELLATIONS:
If for some reason you would have to cancel your trip, you can cancel up to 60 days in advance and get your full refund. After that you loose 20%.

VERY IMPORTANT:
It is BEST to pay by credit card. If you do have to cancel and are awaiting a refund, receiving you refund after paying by cash will take up to 16 weeks, however, if you pay by credit card, you will receive your refund within 3 – 5 days, big difference. Hear me on this one! I don’t want anyone’s feelings hurt if you need to cancel and have to wait four months for your refund. You will blame me! And I won’t blame you for wanting to blame someone, but I am telling you now. If you haven’t heard anything else, please read and re-read this.

But understand; paying in cash is acceptable. Just be aware of the above stipulations before you decide your payment method.

At the time of your first payment, Leslee will need to know your full address and birthday.

COMPANIONS:
For those who haven’t settled on a particular companion for the trip, that’s fine. But I will ask, as soon as you know who will be the other half of your couple, please let me know, the sooner the better. FYI: You can change companions until August 15, 2010 and then we will need to solidify that person.

PASSPORTS:
If you don’t have a passport, run, don’t walk to your local post office and ask them to help you get started with the process. Passports are a must have when cruising!

Q & A:
Ok, I think I have covered the initial things necessary to get started. I’m sure many of you will have questions and concerns I haven’t thought of. If so, please do not hesitate to shoot me an email letting me know. More than likely it is something all of us will want to know too.

I am always available to you!

Week days from 7:30 – 4:00 pm eastern time:
Kathy.a.curry@us.army.mil
706.545.3328

Evenings and weekends and anytime:
kleverkathy@gmail.com
Aanp37@aol.com
Kathy@kleverkathy.com
812.369.0914 – 24/7
706.505.1535 – evenings

Ok, I think that is all for now. Got a question? Just ask! That is what I am here for! I am really trying to make it as uncomplicated as possible!

Need anything…. (say it with me) Holla back!

Typically I don’t talk much about my family.  Many of you who come to kleverkathy and comment know me and my family make up.  My mother raised us not to brag too much, saying it gets on people nerves.  Well… today I ask your indulgence!  I had to share my grandson with you!  You might not think any of this is as cute as I do, and quite honestly, I don’t expect you too because he is mine and I am biased (just like the President ), but I wanted to share it with you anyway.

If you’re wondering, he is the smallest guy in the video and this is the conclusion to his first ever week of vacation bible school!  Grandmother loves it!  He was really not suppose to go because he is only two and it starts at age three but since he will be three in a month, they made an exception and he got to go.  He loved it!  So did I!  And then to see him singing up in front of the church with the big kids!  I could hardly stand it! 

This is an isolated incident.  I won’t force him down your throats too often but I thought this was the ultimate cute, so I shared! 

Holla back!

Ok, so I’ve been out of pocket and have been quiet for a few days but I am back! Happy belated 4th of July to you all!

Recently, I have had holiday conversations with many people and lots have said, 4th of July is their favorite holiday! I think people say that because there is no real cooking involved, other than maybe a pan of baked beans to go with the grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. There is no great expense like buying a turkey and all the fixings for Thanksgiving or the numerous gifts and food for Christmas. 4th of July is just a happy time, usually with good weather to go with it!  A time for a picnic with your nearest and dearest where you just sit and laugh and talk and enjoy one another’s company.  I think of it as a middle of the year time out!

I personally have a great fondness for the 4th of July because… it’s my birthday! That was pretty “klever” of my mom, don’t you think? I enjoyed this year with my family in South Carolina. I surprised them with my visit and must say, had a fabulous time! We had great food, great conversation, great fun, many many laughs and as usual, we broke out in song!  Our family get togethers are not complete without at least a few minutes of harmonizing to the gospel greats we grew up on!  lol.  Sunday night we capped it off with a trip to the beach and more friends and family fun.  All I can say is, there is absolutely nothing as satisfying as spending time with family and loved ones!  If you aren’t a “family” person, try it, you might like it!  Already, I look forward to July 4, 2010!

What did you do this year and what is your favorite holiday? Holla back!

A lady said to me in the store the day after Michael Jackson’s death, “yesterday everybody hated him and called him a pedophile, today, everybody loves him…” Last night I saw that love.

A few blocks straight down the street from where I live, was a Michael Jackson celebration. Oh my! There were people everywhere! Young, old, middle aged, children walking, babies in strollers, white and black. (oddly enough, in this eclectic, ethnic rich, military community, those are the only two races I saw, and only a few of the latter). Of course they played a lot of his music but for about half of the social gathering they gave space for people to talk about their MJ memories and experiences. Amazing. The stories ranged from little kids three years old who got on stage and gave their thoughts on MJ and told how their parents taught them about Michael, to 60 year olds sharing highlights of growing up with the Jackson family. Some rubbed elbows with Joe Jackson. Some with Janet. One told of MJ millions dollar contribution to a prominent black college. If nothing else, the sport of people watching was enjoyable. Imagine… I am in the South – Georgia – with a group of MJ fans gathered in the summer heat dancing to the music. I’m sure you can picture the scantily clothed and all the other sights this type of functions draws. There were no dignitaries or city officials. There was a prominent pastor who came and gave the benediction but other than that, just people. Regular Joe Blows that loved Michael.

One lady danced like she was being paid! I think she danced from the first note of the first song until the last note of the last song. I was astonished and overly entertained. In fact, I was so astonished that I couldn’t help but video her over and over with my cell phone, 30 seconds at a time. I would have shared one of those videos with you but unfortunately and unbeknownst to me, my sound was turned down!!! It just isn’t the same without the music. I’m so sorry I couldn’t share that with you, I know you would have been just as astonished and entertained as I was!

At the end, they gave us candles to light and say a prayer for Michael. For Michael? I was a bit confused. Michael is gone. I thought surely he would add in, say a prayer for the family but he didn’t. He just kept saying, say a prayer for Michael. They had 600 to 700 candles and ran out. Their eyeball guesstimation was that there were 1500 people in attendance. And did I mention there was another celebration going on simultaneously a few blocks away? Uh huh. Yesterday was Michael Jackson day in Fort Benning/Columbus, GA!

To be honest, I was somewhat out of my comfort zone. Typically I don’t go to functions of that nature. But it was just down the street, I was curious, I knew I was going to share this with you and I wanted to tell you all about it, so I stayed until the end. But as I stood there among the people I thought about my biggest hero and wondered, would the people come out in droves like this if they said, come let’s celebrate the life of Jesus? Doubt it.

Holla back…

Although he has been out of the spotlight as a singer/performer, we always knew Michael Jackson was somewhere doing something. The thought of him being gone forever is still numbing, but a reality we must accept. Although we must accept his passing, the world is grieving the loss of a legendary singer and performer. Imagine this: there isn’t a place in the whole world where someone doesn’t know who Michael Jackson is. Talk about crossing over!

During the grieving period, those of us who were fans will undoubtedly think back to certain moments where Michael Jackson made us say, “wow.” A lady that works in the building next to me was asking everyone who came up to her desk what their favorite Michael Jackson song was. Only a few said they weren’t fans, but they all know who the King of Pop is. On my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thomasesawyer), I asked the following: Is Michael Jackson’s death the equivalent to Elvis dying for our generation? Surprisingly, this guy replied with “Michael Jackson can’t hold a candle to Elvis.” It made me think of what the rap group Public Enemy said about Elvis – if you know what I’m talking about, you know what I’m talking about. If Elvis was a bigger deal, I can’t imagine how much the world loved him…but my money is on MJ.

These are some of the things I remember about Michael Jackson:

1. Michael made up words and he sang them with such conviction that we didn’t care. Does anyone know how to spell “Schumone” correctly?

2. The moonwalk! You can’t tell me you weren’t mesmerized the first time you saw it. Ironically, I was watching a special on the old group Shalamar and one of the original members, Jeffrey Daniel, said he was doing it before Michael. He called it the “backslide” or something like that and they actually showed footage of him doing it. Still, Michael is the one who made it popular.

3. The dancing in the videos. MJ’s dancing is a true testament to his charisma and star power because he really didn’t have very many moves. Yes, they choreographed things with other dancers, but when Michael was dancing alone he normally did a variation of the same moves. But we watched intently anyway.

4. Has anyone before or since been able to have such long videos? How long were the Thriller and Smooth Criminal videos?

5. Would “We Are The World” have been made without MJ?

6. I really liked those cartoons. Some people may be too young to even remember them. That was back when Saturday morning really meant something.

7. I’m originally from Indiana and I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked if I knew Michael Jackson. Do people really think the state is that small?

8. How many people had one of those red “pleather” jackets with all the zippers?

9. He wore tight, short pants and we let him get away with it because he was Michael Jackson. Now you know if Beyonce came out wearing something whack people would talk about her, but MJ was beyond fashion criticisms. Who else could make wearing one glove OK?

10. I don’t know of any other performer who could have women and men crying and passing out in the audience.

The passing of an icon is a loss for the entire world. Michael Jackson will truly be missed.

Go ahead and use the comment section below to add some memories of your own.

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Hello Fellow Sailors!

I am excited! I have begun the process of solidifying our trip! I will be working with the local travel agent at Omega Travel, here on post at Fort Benning, GA! Here’s the deal. Of course using a travel agent vs. booking straight offline is a little higher. But it is not too bad. Below are the costs, which include everything except the tips and gratuities. Please let me know your cabin choices ASAP! Once we have locked in the number of couples going (number of cabins) we can begin making payments on our trip. Let me put this little bug in your ear. These prices are great! My sister, brother, sister-in-law and I took this same trip basically (with the exception of one port) in 2006 and it was $500.00 more!!! Kid you not! We are getting a deal!

I myself don’t like things sprung on me and I don’t like being blindsided so I asked her to tell me all possible costs. Because we are taking a large group, the tax and gratuities are required up front. When I/we went, with only four of us, we paid them at the end of the cruise, after receiving our services. I believe we paid more than the (approximately) $70.00 they are asking up front. That $70.00 might sound like a lot to those of you who have not cruised before but it is $9.95 a day for your waiter and housekeeper. You will have the same waiter and housekeeper for the entire week. $70.00 is worth the special love and attention you will receive from each of these people. You’ll see! The only other thing that we might have to pay, once we are locked in, is some kind of extra tax if gas continues to rise quickly and substantially. Don’t worry! I got a call into God for that, cruise or no cruise. I just need it to regulate!

So here are the costs. Keep in mind; these are all per person costs based on two occupants per cabin, without the tips and gratuity added in:

Inside cabin – $704.83  (I had inside cabin my first trip, it was nice. No windows.)
Oceanview – $804.83  (I had oceanview for my honeymoon cruise. Loved it and was so glad I paid the extra for it!)
Balcony – $944.83  (I will probably do this one this time!)
Suite – $1223.40  (Fancy!)

What’s your pleasure? Which cabin would you like? You gotta let me know ASAP so I can give her the numbers, we get locked in with these delightful prices and we can begin making payments! You know what to do…

Holla back!