durangoscots

I am here. Still waiting on one bag.....one of the luggage forward bags is in pretty sad shape....not sure if it will be able to make the trip home. Will have to work with it. It is going to take me awhile to get my things where I can find them. Captain say tonight may be a bit bouncy. Susan .

Me too. I hear about I later.

Will try to read through today's comments later but right now my tablet and CC are not doing well together. Cloudy with rain in San Diego. Am about to make another run at Rite Aid as I forgot some things. I was going to do Hop-On/Hop-Off but the weather sort of discouraged me. Hope all that are on their way make it with a minimum of effort. See you soon. Susan

Chance of rain is less than it was this morning.... hope it holds off....or better yet goes away.

I want low key also - My phone number is in my previous post. I am looking forward to meeting everyone in the next few days and having a great cruise on the Volendam. By the way..... I did not accept any of the up sell offers. I am going to have a huge boarding bill for my dogs even with the discount my friend who owns the kennels gives me. Susan

Good morning to all from rainy San Diego. The showers are supposed to move out by noon. We shall see, but this morning will be spent reading and drinking coffee. The travel from Durango was both good and bad. My flight from Durango to Phoenix was delayed over 2 hours (why did I think that might happen?). A maintenance issue and they could not locate the proper contractor and then deicing since the outside temperature was 13F. And frankly it felt like that inside too. And they kept us on the plane the whole time. I had a long layover scheduled in Phoenix, but they got me on to an earlier flight and wonder of wonders... they sent my checked luggage with me. So I actually arrived at the Wyndham well before check in. They had a room for me ready, so I am in and settled. My back is really protesting the travel and lugging about my carry on so I will be glad to have a few days to rest up. I find also that I do not do long walks well (I had to change terminals at Phoenix and it was an absolute zoo... easier to walk than to try to find a ride). Will try to catch up on the Daily. @dfishGlad your surgery went well (I did see that) and my best to all of you. This afternoon I am supposed to meet up with friends. And maybe I had better invest in a new rainjacket. Mine is packed in my shipped luggage and I just looked at the forecast for the 3rd. We cann hope it will change. @cruising sisterI will be at the hotel when you arrive. My cell phone is 970-749-5930. Or ask for me at the desk. I think my full name is on the roll call. Susan

Good afternoon.... taking a quick break for lunch, then back to work. Took the dogs out to boarding together with all their stuff- their own blankies, food, and meds for Bandit. The owner gave me her personal email to I can keep in touch - she is there most of the time. They seemed happy enough to go in. I think they get bored being at home with Mom. Did a quick stop at the bank and now I think the rest of my day will be concentrated on home and packing. Still have a list to work through. Love the pictures of Dubrovnik.... don't think I will ever get there and it looks very interesting. @richwmnthanks for posting the menus. I am going to have trouble keeping my weight under control... the choices look really good. Susan

Good morning to all. Sunny and will be in the 40's. This will be short... will post more later. I need to get hustling if I am going to head out the door tomorrow morning at 3:30am. Right now the house looks like I have a tornado inside that is looking for an exit. To do today: Dogs to boarding kennel! Bank. Straighten up this mess as best I can. Keys to my neighbor. Finish packing. I am behind since the past two days I have felt like I was coming down with a cold (just what I needed) and I spent some time napping when I should have been working. However took allergy meds yesterday and it has cleared up. I suspect it was all the dusting and sorting thatI was doing. I would love the minestrone for supper tonight but it will be a final attack on the frig before I throw some things out. More later. Susan

Glad it was no worse. I usually hate all the attention more than the fall. Susan

Good morning. As usual sunny and cold. Temp was 9F when dogs and I walked (short and quick). Will be out again when the sun finally warms things a bit although high today will be in the high 30s. Then it begins to warm a bit. Today will be spent cleaning up the house as best I can in preparation for my departure. I fly out on Friday morning. I am allowing time to visit with friends around San Diego but also I need a couple days to decompress. Have to finish writing up condo information for the person who is going to cover for me. And finish packing. Everything seems to take longer than I anticipate. Dogs go to boarding Thursday so I can do the final packing in peace without having to remove furry butts from the bed and suitcase. @rafinmdSorry to hear about the flare up but glad they are monitoring the situation carefully. Back later when I take a break. Susan

Terri, sorry you have the sore throat. I was told to use whiskey rather than salt water. 😁

Good afternoon. Cloudy and cold. Low tonight in the single digits. @Cruising-alongI had a very restless night last night for exactly the same reason. Today is being spent cleaning and tomorrow will be reviewing and completing a large portion of my short-term to do list. Sent an email to a number of my friends explaining why I am not sending cards this year. Many of them are also not sending but for far less pleasant reasons. We are aging... no doubt about it. We get a little snow tonight, but the weather is supposed to be dry for the next week or so although they threaten possible snow on New Years Eve. That would be normal for us. More later maybe back to trying to be productive. Susan

So supposedly you know what service the dog is trained for. What you don't know, and can't ask, is does the person with the dog have that condition. Frankly, traveling with a dog is real hassle and would cut down on one's ability to do certain things. I have seen the kennel areas on the QM2 and also traveled on the QE2 when her kennels were operational. Met a lovely Scottish Deerhound that way.

In the past I have worked with people who are training dogs to become service dogs (my participation was the teaching of basic commands). HAL can not as what someone's disability is, can ask what function the dog performs. I wondered about a "service dog" years ago on the Grand South America. Owner had the dog with him in Crow's Nest and at meals and sometimes on tours BUT he seemed able to do a full day tour at least once and left the dog in his room. And there were several places where the dog could not go ashore but the man went anyway (like the Falklands). He let the dog off leash often and the dog really liked me.... would come and sit on my feet quite a way from the owner. Nice dog.... but...... Susan

I can't understand why someone would want to take a non-service dog on a cruise. I love my dogs and I do miss them while I travel, but on a cruise I would spend all my time worrying about them and not enjoying myself. All the service dogs I have known are well trained, do not bark, and are very low key. And they don't wear tutus although one did have a rather neat looking formal coat for evenings. Susan

That is really scary!! Just glad she is ok. Susan

Good morning. Rainy day here and I am sure the ski resorts are getting snow. They will be thrilled. As long as the rain does not freeze, I will be happy. The dogs rushed in and out on their morning "business trip" so I will have to take them out again shortly. Little to report from here. I will spend the day cleaning the house in preparation for my departure for San Diego the end of next week. I still can't believe that anyone flies out of Durango at 5:30 in the morning during the dark days of winter but evidently they do. Time is rushing by. The dogs know something is up. Off to get a cup of coffee and get cracking. I have a friend coming by to take some junk out to the dump for me later this afternoon. That is one closet cleared out. Susan

That is really interesting to me.... I lived on Dunkirk Road in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood for a number of years. It was always a pretty neat neighborhood. Susan

Good morning from Durango where it is dry and cold. A storm is supposed to move in tonight, but it looks like it will be mainly in the higher elevations. We may get some snow, but more likely rain which will freeze.... so my outing will be done today. @Cruzin TerriI know telling you not to worry is futile because worry is what we all do.... but take a deep breath and wait for the Doctor's appointment. Those results are hard to interpret.... even for the doctor's at times... too many variables. I will be picking up some things today for the trip... putting stuff into my safety deposit box and generally trying to tie up loose ends. Still debating a checking my bag or trying to deal with only a carry on.... have to see what fits and what doesn't. I know I will have to do some quick shopping in San Diego. Take care all. I think my Christmas is going to be very quiet this year and that is probably a very good thing. I will be sending out Christmas emails to friends and family.... I did not get cards done this year. Susan

Love Maxine today.... sounds like my family. You know, I have the doll.... maybe I will bring her on the cruise with me if she fits. She would great on my bed. Susan

Condolences to all the family. What a sad situation at any time but it seems doubly so during the Holidays. Susan

A late good morning. Sunny here although it was foggy this morning when dogs and I went out. High today forecast for mid-40's. We are supposed to get rain and then rain mixed with snow and then maybe snow on Friday night/Saturday. Since I am not planning to go anywhere it should be ok except for dragging the dogs out into the wet. Watching as everyone begins wending their way to various cruises. Got my boarding time for the Grand Australia and it is late but it may change before the actual time .... and I will probably go earlier and try for an earlier boarding. Time to deal with all that later. I will be happy to make it on to the ship..... this has not been easy making travel arrangements and supports my idea that I will not be doing much travel in the future. Things are getting to be too much of a hassle. Late luggage pick up.... changes to flight times... etc. And just the worry of getting out of Durango in the winter although so far that looks good. Thankful for my next door neighbor who is willing to brave the early morning to get me to the airport. Off to run an errand or so. I am not walking dogs at the Humane Society these last couple of weeks... it is too slippery in places and I get upset seeing the number of dogs and other critters coming in. Recently it has been rabbits .... including several obvious pets that were dumped. Grrrrrrr!!! Did make my end of year financial contributions to our local shelter and several others I support including Maui which is still dealing with injured pets from the fires. Take care all. For those traveling, hope all goes smoothly. Susan

Good morning to all. Weather here is uncertain for the next few days. Right now the feeling among most of our forecasters is that there will be rain this afternoon late.... turning to snow over night and then some light snow again tomorrow. After that it is a toss up but possibly more light snow on Saturday. Checked my Luggage Forward this morning from force of habit and curiosity and it has reached San Diego. Now to finish getting ready for the time in California ahead of the cruise. Take care all.... @JazzyVI really hope the insurance company behaves.... I think they forget that when people are needing to use their insurance....they don't feel well and probably not up to having more stress put on them. Right now their are alot of complaints about our local hospital which keeps jumping from one group to another. Good care seems so hard to get. Susan

That was some exit. Love her size. Susan

Good morning. Sunny here and chilly but not nearly as cold as usual. That is on the way. Went out to breakfast with a colleague from the college today. Food was good, but they are cutting back on the offerings even for breakfast and there were very few people out and about - but then this week is usually pretty slow for the eateries. I am tracking my luggage on its way to the Grand Voyage and it has made it as far as Beaver, UT. At least it has left Salt Lake City and is moving again. I am now packing for what I need to carry with me to San Diego since I will be there for 5 days. Still trying to decide between carry it on the plane with me which means less taken.... or checking a bag. I am going to have to get myself pulled together shortly. Today I am going to try to take care of a number of errand and writing some emails. @richwmnI think I envy you your extended trip but not sure I could handle it. One reason I rejected the P2P cruise which was very, very tempting. Otherwise it is the same old routine just now. Best wishes to all. Susan