70,000 Tons, Thursday through Friday Morning. Last Night and Final day.

I had been fighting a cold all through out Wednesday, but thursday morning I woke up feeling like utter death, and my ears finally gave up the ghost after my abuse to them at the Nightwish concert and being right by the speakers. (I wouldn't take back a single second, it was worth it.) So I got up feeling like I was going to die. After lunch at Johnny Rocket's, and then we went to Alestorm, where unfortunately they didn't get to lift me on pooldeck and I forgot my sunscreen. I took my pirate hat, and I basically got sunburnt to shit. Alestorm was fantastic. <3 Pictures below.

Then off I went to the casino to hang out at the bar and put on my headphones (because my ears weren't abused enough) and listen to some music. I don't know what it is about casinos.. They've always fascinated me, I love the lights, I love the energy, and I love the going ons happening around me. Generally, I'm just a big kid. I see something shiny and I'm like "OHH I wanna hang out there!"

Now for those of you who don't know, I really don't drink, like.. ever. So I'm sitting there with my coke minding my own business when the entirety of Nightwish walks in and sits behind me at the Blackjack table. They keep looking at me.. and so I'm like, maybe I'll start drinking! Four double daquiris later.. I spill one on my shoes. NOT BECAUSE I'M drunk. (I may have.. or may not have been drunk... shhh.) But the bar table is quite high and I'm in my chair, and there's like a lip at the end of the bar so I spill it and the bartender cuts me off. LOL. and asks me where my husband is..

Anyways, the Nightwish boys leave as I'm drinking my now virgin daquiri and Dan comes and he's like, "Come see Eluveitie with me!" so I do and I'm walkin into the chorus line and there they are. OMFG could I get any creepier? Situational irony, that's what this is called.

The only place for me to go is right in front of the speakers, so I decide, what the fuck. I stay for about half an hour and then me and Dan leave and go back to the casino to have a D'jarm black and a drink and there he is.. Finally my chance?

I've been pussy footing around this all cruise... In the mean time, I'm trying to make myself not nervous, I see Marco and figure, he was nice to me! Even though my anxiety is seriously pushing me through the roof and wanting to just.. get out of my chair and run.. I figure I better conquer it and just deal with the consequences later.

So I'm like, "HEY. Picture?!" And poor Marco.. I don't think he knew how to pose with someone in a wheelchair. Honestly, most people just lean. I would have appreciated even that, but he was a trooper. I have no idea how to approach people about posing for pictures with me in the chair either, so don't worry about offending me. You aren't going to. lol.

And then we see Jukka at the bar and I'm like, "Jukka, can I get your signature, because I didn't at the meet and greet!" and He's like "Yeah!" and I'm like, "Can I get a picture too?" Smiles really innocently. ^__^

The time has come for me to drive up to Tuomas, and I just can't.. I can't do it.. So dan tells me to grow a vagina.. and I start to feel really upset because I'm letting my irrational fears in the way, and hey, I thought I had been doing so good all cruise..  Dan (who is amazing and awesome and great and sainted) goes up to him while I'm waiting in the lobby of the casino and they are taking awhile. I start to think it's because he said no, and I put the gift back. Turns out, it was just a huge photo opportunity for Dan.

 

So Cute, I maintain this has to be my favorite picture ever.

Anyways, I'm facing the other way and when I turn around there's Tuomas and Daniel and I'm like, "Hey... So.. I know this is really imprompt and you're busy so I won't take too much of your time but I uh, just wanted to apologize for nearly mowing you down on pool deck, and getting my husband to go get you, I'm just really shy." and I nodded and he looked at me and kind of grinned and said, "Don't worry about it." and I said, "Can I maybe get a picture?" So we posed for a picture together and I said, "I have a gift for you." and he said, "A gift, why?" and I said, "It's a late birthday present, but you don't have to open it now." Tuomas laughed and said, "But I want to open it now, I love presents." So he opens the organza bag and glances at the pendant and I say. "It's a Beauty And The Beast pendant.." and Tuomas says to me. "It's extroadinairy.. What's your name?" 

"Bailey.." "Hailey?" "Bailey.. Like the irish cream.." "Oh Bailey!" and then he gives me a hug, and a kiss on the cheek! WHATTTTTT! Holy bejesus! I think I died. "There's a letter in there too, it's very lame, and I wrote it for you, but eh.." I say and Tuomas shakes his head, "Don't say that, I use to say that about stuff I wrote too, but it's not the truth."

Then he starts asking me about the cruise.. and I ask for another hug and we part ways.

Mission accomplished, and it only took me five days to do it.

All in all, great fucking cruise! I met so many rad people!

Oh, and the next morning, guess who I saw in port as we were leaving?!

 

Total girl crush on Anette Olzon, by the way! <3 She is spectacularly amazing.

Can't wait for next year!