jukeboxy

In another thread some people were talking about this and suggested eating parsley which served as a natural diuritic. They said it worked to get rid of the extra fluid. They even ordered extra from the waiter.

Sometimes I think people can be rude because of sterotyping. For example people could think that someone with a disability takes advantage of the system by claiming they are disabled. They hear of one such case so they automatically assume it is true in all cases. It's not the first time that has happened to various segments of our society.

 

There are all types, degrees and levels of disabilities. I for one have always looked very fit and seem very abled bodied. My mobility for short distances is pretty good. However, I have always had problems with muscle strength decreasing at a very rapid rate. I have to keep a cane with me since I do not know when my legs could start to give out. Muscle fatigue. :o

I just got off ot the Inifity last Sunday after a 14 day canal passage and had so few experiences with rude people I can't really remember one. There were about 8 scooters and more than a dozen wheel chair people with family pushers. I know that if there were two of us vieing for the elevator space I always allowed the other to go first. After all I was sitting down and had water to keep me going. My expression that I voiced a lot much to the displeasure of my wife was, "whats the hurry we are all going to get to San Diego at the same time."

That is a good reminder to people to mellow out and there is no need to be rude.

I too have the problem of looking good and having a Conjestive Heart Failure problem which had no outward display. One lady commented that seeing me get out of my scooter and walk to the table to eat she exclaimed to her friends, "Its a mirricle he can walk."

I have found that Americans are the least rude to people with problems and the Orientals and Europeans are the worst. My bottom line is you don't need to feel that you are second class because of a problem and just be forceful but not rude.

I am sorry you have had so many bad experiences and I can't understand why I have been so lucky.

I guess one reason is I will not allow people to be as rude as you discribe as I am very vocal and try to jokingly embarass them if the act poorly. If they try to keep me off of one that has plenty of room I simply say, "ok folks make room for a lady with a baby." The obovious misstatement wakes them up and they will move. Or if someone is too slow in moving I say, "Watch out for your toes I am taking aim." These are things that shock people to the reality of what is going on. I feel most are not really rude but lost in their own world and not overtly thinking of others.

I also seek out elevators that don't have the highest traffic. Some because of location encourage a higher volume of traffic so I scoot to the lower volume ones. That is easier for me since I have a scooter with its own power. It would be different if someone had to push me.

I have mixed feelings on this subject because I have run into good, bad and ugly in dealing with the elevators during a cruise.

Most of the time at the boat drills they position the wheelchair and scooter people so they can be first to the elevators after the drill. If you don't make it to them first you can run into crowded and filled elevators depending on where you are on the ship. It is at this time I work on my own manners and patatience and try to be understanding. (every now and then it works)

After meals and shows are more tough times for elevators and we have to understand that others too have things to do and places to go.

I have a fairly large scooter since my fat butt is 240 lbs. I have several kids bike horns mounted on it which can be used to break the ice and aleart people. One is a squeeky cute thing which also entertains little children and waiters. The other two are my city and country horns which I use to help remove peoples heads from the oriface they sit upon.

There are times when I am embarassed by the kindness shown me and other times I would like to run over people. Traveling in airports and the lines to get on the ship they always usher me to the front of the line and I am greatful for that. I hate to see fellow riders being rude and expecting special treatment but that is just the nature of people in general. I would guess if they were ABed they would be rude also.

I try to joke about the whole thing openly with others and I find that relaxes them so they don't feel threatened by my mechinal monster.

Well that is my opinion. You just have to accept that there are things you just have to deal with that others don't.

Yeah for lists! Hurray for planners! And BINDERS? Jukeboxy, that's brilliant! You're my new hero!! :p

Oh, I am worse than that even, I use page protecters for some of the items that I can't punch with the three ring punch. I take half a dozen empty on the cruise for stuff I accumulate. Those little scraps that a normal person would throw away go in there nicely.

Oh, I also carry a small travel size stapler to help keep track of those small items.

Oh, I also carry a three ring punch so the normal size pages can go in the binder when I am in the cabin killing time before the next grazing session.

Yes, I bring all that crap home with me but there is a reason for this madness. I start going through all this trivia and trash a week or two after the cruise and it gives me an excuse to relive the cruise. In another post I will give more detail of computers and picture taking. That will give you a good laugh also.

OK, I am not in denial I am as normal as anyone not on a ship at this moment.

I do however make a small effort to be prepared for a few things that could happen in the future.

As soon as I get the first piece of paper from the cruise line confirming my cruise I get a new binder and put dividers in it. Now I have a starting point. Since my wife leaves this stuff to me I have total control of cruise planning. This is a wonderful feeling after 40 years of marriage to have total control of something in my life.

I went through 4 cruises before I discovered cruise critic's and the information contained on these boards. I can proudly say that I discovered 98% of the things required for being a pre-planner on my own with hard work and common sense.

Of course I have many websites for each ports of call and only print out the highlights for my binder. I have every piece of paper involved in the cruise in that binder. (and I mean every one)

I carry this binder with me to the airport, to the hotel, and to the cruise check-in desk. If I am asked for any document I can whip it out in seconds and shock the clerk at the counter. I have everything including medical records to justify the drugs ect.

It doesn't end there. While on the ship I have a special pouch for all recites and things of that nature. I get an extra daily newsletter and shopping guides and excurisions list to go into the binder upon my return home.

This way I have everything in one place and don't have to look all over the house or cabin to find something (I am 65 and can lose a paper without getting out of a chair.)

There are more details that I will not bore you with at this time but my bookmarks on my browser is getting full in the travel section.

SEE!!!! I am nothing but a normal person and not the least bit obsessive or compulsive, not to mention anal.