Sharon in AZ

Good afternoon from Waco! I wanted my friends to know that I arrived safely yesterday and we had a wonderful day eating and touring and shopping at Magnolia. Tonight we are going to the 1928 Hotel for dinner. I hope everyone is doing well.

Good evening. Been busy getting ready for my trip and leave tomorrow. Hopefully the storms will wait until I arrive. I probably won’t be able to post while I’m gone. We have been to Juneau many times. This is from September 2021, one of the first cruises after the restart , on the Nieuw Amsterdam. I really love that ship.

Bon Voyage!! ⛴⛴⛴

Good morning and Happy Monday. Wow on those tornadoes and so sad for the loss of lives. I’m anxious about flying on Thursday because of this. I’m not usually an anxious flyer. All good days to celebrate today. The salad recipes look good and thank you Tina @0106, I think I would prefer your recipe too. Roy @rafinmd, thank you for your timeline. I was an early member of CC and the HAL board, May 12, 2000. It’s a long story but the DD host Walt posted a lot on an AOL travel board for HAL that I hosted. AOL was shutting down their boards and Walt suggested that I join CC which I did. I didn’t post much but did join some M&G’s and even did one myself in 2001. I don’t remember anything like the Fleet Report back then. I didn’t check CC very often, just mostly when I was planning and going on a cruise. I became more active in February 2020 when the rumors started about covid and a possible shutdown. I was interested in what was going to happen and I had a cruise planned for May 2020. That is why I started reading the FR daily and I sure am happy that I did. I not only have met some delightful people who have become friends but also enjoyed the community we have become. There is nothing like it anywhere else. Have a great day everyone!

Good afternoon and Happy Sunday. The weather is nice but a bit breezy. I went for an early pedicure and then errands and got home about an hour ago. I’m really not ready for my trip so need to step it up. I spoke with DM when I got home and she sounds so much better and is actually going to the dining room to pick up her meals. She is still weak but not as much as a few days ago. I think she got her fight back. I would like the second recipe but today we are having an antipasti platter. I decided something easy needed to happen. I went to a different grocery store than I usually do just to get Boar’s Head mortadella and prosciutto. I hate their parking lot and since our vehicle is only 2 weeks old have been parking out in the boondocks. I will pass on the drink and wine. And I have never been to Japan but those pictures are sure drawing my interest. Have a great day everyone!

I have ordered these several different times for different cruises, mostly for get togethers with cruise friends. Done very well. I preorder from home to arrive on embarkation and I refrigerate them when we get to the room. If I get several trays I put them all on one so they fit. The pate mousse is good and there is a shrimp one and cheese, usually Brie, too. Here’s an example:

OMG so adorable! Whenever I hear the name Kevin for a pet I always think of the movie “Up”.

Thank you Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser What a bummer. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t cause any flight delays. I’m meeting one of the ladies in our group in Dallas for the flight to Waco so at least I’ll be with someone. The others are driving from Austin and Houston and the birthday girl lives in Waco. Everyone but me are leaving on Sunday. I wanted to stay a few extra days plus it was cheaper than flying on a Sunday or Monday. I’ll just keep checking the weather and also reading what you and Elizabeth @Haljo1935 write.

Jacqui @kazu, just catching up with your Live From. Sounds like the Merry Widows are having fun! I use hiking poles as walking sticks. They collapse into themselves which is nice when traveling. I bought them on Amazon. Ann @Vict0riann, I’ve never taken my hiking poles on a plane. I collapse them and they fit in my largest suitcase. However, I have had problems with them sliding and falling on tours and buses and also worry about forgetting them so now I use a carabiner and hook it to my bag.

Good morning and Happy Saturday from a chilly, for me at least, Tucson. I’m with Pennie @Nickelpenny, I think I need a sweater. I have not had any problems with CC either on my iPhone or iPad. But both are old if that makes any difference. Like I said yesterday I really need a new phone but don’t want to buy one after buying the new vehicle. But I’ll probably buy one soon so I can utilize the vehicle app. Little Blue is 9 pounds and very spoiled but that’s okay, he’s worth it. I had never heard of devil dogs, both the Marines and the cakes. I’ll pass on the meal suggestion, not a cauliflower although the last recipe with the cauliflower mash looks good. The Brunello sounds good even though I don’t drink very much red wine. Very interesting history on that winery Ann @cat shepard. After all the weather talk about Texas I’m beginning to get worried about my Waco flight on Thursday. It looks like rain all week. Have a great day everyone!

Thank you Lenda. I spoke with her about a half hour ago and she sounds so much better and said her salmon dinner tasted good. She had hardly been eating so that was good news. I should have posted the recipe I use for the salmon power bowl. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/salmon-and-veggie-grain-bowl-3409067

Good morning and Happy Friday from sunny Tucson. However it is supposed to be windy. I like salmon power bowls and have a recipe I follow but really you can add whatever you like and have on hand and any grain you like. I use faro and add things like avocado, hard boiled eggs, radishes. I like the bowl concept because it is like a salad with lots of goodies. I’ve gotten tired of just salmon so a bowl sounds really good. I would try drink version 2 because I would never buy watermelon liquor that is in version 1. Vanessa @JazzyV, thank you for adding my DM to the care list, she really needs all the prayers and thoughts right now. She is better but still weak. We took her to the doctor yesterday for a follow up and her oxygen and BP was much better. She seemed more talkative too but still needed to use a wheelchair. I think she is finally on the mend. Thank you all for thinking of her. Happy Birthday Debbie @dfish!! 🎈🎈🎈 Safe travels today. Enjoy your special day! I need to get a new phone. I’ve been putting it off but in just the past two weeks I have been unable to download new apps. One for our new vehicle and then today I couldn’t download Joy’s @Seasick Sailorbird app. Frustrating. Have a great day everyone!

I realized that I forgot to wish @marshhawk & @cunnorl Happy Birthday yesterday. I hope your special day was great! Thank you Elizabeth. And I’m sorry about your cruise. I hope you are better so you can take your next one. Yes that’s right. I only use my thighs because it’s hard to see the yellow sliding down so I can count to 5. I hope Allen does well on it!

Good afternoon and Happy Wednesday. Great collection of days today. I’ll happily celebrate SB wine. Thanks to all the explanations too, very informative. I prefer NZ SB also but California and French are second. Chile would be my least favorite. Nebbiolo is really good, especially if you are in Italy. I like mimosas and prefer the amount of sparkling wine to be more than the amount of OJ. I bought some small bottles of LaMarca at Target on sale so have that on hand. I hate to say it but I’ve gotten tired of salmon. Craig eats so much of it so I just make a few pieces for him to enjoy when he wants. My DM made salmon cakes a lot when I was young. Speaking of DM….. she’s not any better. I took her to her doctor on Monday and he started her on antibiotics and ordered a second chest X-ray which ended up being clear. She has a follow up appointment tomorrow. I’m not sure what else can be done. She is very weak. Joy @Seasick Sailor, I’m so glad that the Dupixent had arrived. I don’t pay anything for mine, it’s one of those programs that help with the outrageous cost of prescriptions. I recommend alternating the area of injection to reduce injection site reactions. Vanessa @JazzyV, I’m so happy to read that your surgery went well and you are sleeping good. I hope you can manage the stairs tonight for bed. Have a great day everyone!

DH Craig did the Whale Watching tour through HAL on Kona and said that it stayed near the ship area and they didn't see much. We had dining companions who did the Whale Watching tour in Maui and saw so much. Next time we will pick that instead.

Good morning and Happy Sunday from sunny Tucson. It looks like a lovely day. I went to an all day kindergarten in Kansas City and especially remember nap time. I think that was the beginning of my love of naps. I like cashews and chocolate but not a big fan of chocolate covered nuts. Funny that hemp day is right after 420 day. Yes on the wine, no on the drink. I never made the beef with broccoli stir fry yesterday so am making it today. It’s similar to the last recipe and also a Ree Drummond recipe. I have been to Trinidad but not Tobago. It was 2001 on the Zaandam with DM. That was a fantastic cruise. Bon Voyage Jacqui @kazu and Colin & Ellen @VMax1700!! Happy Anniversary Brenda @bennybear! Happy Birthday Tony @sailingdutchy! Have a great day everyone!

Good morning and Happy Saturday. It’s going to be warm again today. The meal suggestion sounds good and I like the idea of the shaved Brussel sprouts that Debbie @dfish posted. I’ve made scallops with pasta before with shrimp. It’s yummy. Today I’m making a batch of no knead bread for the DGD and making her a grilled cheese sandwich from the bread. One of her favorites. Not sure what we are having but probably beef and broccoli stir fry. I used to know a few Chinese words, my good high school friend is Chinese. Her mother made the best Lo Mein. The family owned several restaurants, one in Tucson and one in San Francisco. I ate at both but they are long gone. Joy @Seasick Sailor, I hope the Dupixent approval comes in soon. Mine took a month. I’ve been on it since January and so far so good but I do have a few breakouts. The dermatologist said that Dupixent isn’t 100% effective but it helps to control the severity. So far I haven’t had any side effects. The company is really good at refills too. Let me know if you have any questions. Pennie @Nickelpenny, so great that you are on the Oosterdam TA November 2026. We have a great group! Have a great day everyone!

Bon Voyage!! ⛴⛴⛴

Good afternoon! It’s been warm the last few days. Yesterday was spent in the ER with DM. She’s been sick for a week with a bad cold and hasn’t been drinking enough fluids or eating so is weak and faint. Her BP was low upon standing so the caregiver thought it was best to have her checked out. After tests and fluids she was better and I took her home. Today she says she feels weak but better. I think she just needs a few more days and will be feeling better. I love couscous so today’s meal suggestion sounds great. Also, I agree with those who prefer more garlic and onions! Have a great day!

Wow Vanessa! Amazing pictures of both the eclipse and Denali. Thank you. Thank you, I’ll check them out.

Good evening everyone. I was under the weather yesterday so watched the eclipse on TV. I didn’t care for most of the coverage but did enjoy the Science channel coverage. It was only for 30 minutes and no one talked during the actual eclipse. It was broadcast from Baylor in Waco and spectacular. Some scientists talked at the beginning but that was all. I didn’t go outside but it did get dim. Thank you for the recipes Debbie @dfish, I made something similar for Christmas and made them ahead which made it so much easier. I love sundried tomatoes too! When we board our dog Blue he is always tired and sleeps for two days. And they feed him earlier than I do too. It takes a while but I finally get him back on my schedule. I just do it about 15 minutes later each day. Paul, I’m enjoying your Beauty of Nature experiences. Thank you for the lovely pictures. Also, if I remember you organized a dinner in Barcelona last year for your roll call. What restaurant did you go to? Happy Birthday! What a beautiful cake your son made! Wow, just wow. I’ve made a German Chocolate cake but it never looks like that. Lovely pictures of a lovely couple! Bruce, I love taking pictures of markets also. Yours are wonderful and thank you for sharing. Happy Anniversary! What a beautiful couple you are on your wedding day 47 years ago!

Happy Birthday @Norseh2o! I saw that you were in Tucson and saw the SpaceX launch! I hope you enjoyed your special day!

Happy Anniversary to @erewhon and @Overhead Fred! 🥂🍾🎊

Happy Birthday Sandi @StLouisCruisers!! 🎈🎈🎈

Good morning and Happy Sunday! We watched the rocket launch last night. Amazing! This first picture is 6 minutes after takeoff. This is a short video, make sure to watch it once Craig zooms in: IMG_5347.MOV I find it amazing that we can see it so well almost 700 miles away. The trajectory was toward Cabo San Lucas. I wonder if those on the Volendam saw it.