Cruising-along

So the kitty litter containers weren't empty, but did contain litter? That's very odd! Once things are done at the house I'll send photos. DDIL is an artist so has an eye for color so between her and the people they hired, it's coming together beautifully. We laugh because literally the only thing inside the house that didn't change is the mantle on the upstairs fireplace.

Wow, they sure did leave curious things behind. Sorry you had to deal with that. I'm chuckling though about the cat on a leash because my neighbor does that too, and I think my sister-in-law does too. Both their cats are indoor cats but they like to get outside sometimes so they put them on a leash so they don't get away 😉 Miss you too! And we really missed you when all of you left after the first 2 weeks! It was a great cruise, and so nice to get to know you better too. We had a very nice visit with DS and DDIL and saw all the changes that have been made on their house in the last 2 months. Things are really coming together and it will truly be a showplace!

I'm sure you have. Of course DSIL's parents have a reason, she's Canadian-born and they have a Time Share at Whistler so have always used it the week of the US Thanksgiving. The kids love the skiing, so I can't say much, although our family here misses them every Thanksgiving. Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiserthat's great news that your DH's bp didn't drop this morning. I really think you're onto something about the heavy-duty pain meds. Funny that you and I thought the same thing about that kitty litter. 🤣 Karen @luvteachingI know exactly where Sedro Woolley is, my niece lived there for several years. I don't know if you're familiar with the "Woolley Mammoth" but they owned it for a few years and did extensive remodeling on it. Vanessa @JazzyVI'm glad your eye is feeling better and your tummy a bit better too. You need to feel well for that cruise. 🙂

Thank you for your review! We recently (Oct-Nov) sailed 28 days on the NS and other than a few billing issues that got resolved quickly, we had a great cruise. This paragraph (above) jumped out at me though....nothing like our situation 2 weeks ago. Our disembarkation papers were left in our cabin a few days before the end of the cruise, as always. This included our issued tags. I did see that they had more tags by the guest services desk, but they were meant to be used if you wanted to change what you had gotten. Very strange that you didn't get them earlier.

Good morning all! 30 F this morning, I'm sure it got lower in the night. I think this is our last sunny stretch for awhile, the rain is starting on Tuesday. We had a nice time yesterday with the oldest grandson and he had a good time at his friend's birthday party too. DD, DSIL and the boys are leaving today for a week at Whistler, Canada. They go every year for Thanksgiving (strange to me, to celebrate an American holiday in Canada every year, but it has been their tradition since DSIL was small. His Mom is Canadian-born. They use it as a skiing holiday. We always miss them here, but it is what it is. This afternoon we'll go see the progress on DS and DDIL's house -- I'm excited to see all the changes! They're trying to unpack what they need and yet keep things away from areas that are still being remodeled -- a challenge I'm sure. In a few days they will get their new puppy too, so exciting times for them. Welcome home everyone who is returning from a cruise! Debbie @dfishI wondered the same thing, why didn't they just dispose of the containers as they were emptied?? (At first I thought you meant they were full LOL)! I guess if they were you could use them for traction in the snow. 😉 Sharon @Sharon in AZI'm so sorry to hear you've been so ill! Feel better soon.

Good morning all! All good days today. I'll pass on the meal (not a fan of mushrooms), drink and red wine. This afternoon we'll be going down to DD's house to take one of the grandsons to a birthday party, pick him up, and have dinner with him. The other grandson will be with DD and DSIL on an outing. I'm trying to think of some errands we can do there while he's at the party. I'm VERY thankful that my sister invited us to their house for Thanksgiving, and to stay overnight (they live about 75 miles north, near the border). I'll be bringing 2 pumpkin pies, rolls from the bread machine, and a corn casserole. Bon Voyage @StLouisCruisers, @summer slopeand @GTVCRUISER!! Bruce @aliaschiefenjoy Monterey today. That's where DH and I met in 1968 🙂 Welcome to the Daily @SDARCHand @12cruise2! We took a land/cruise in May of 2019 with my best friend and her DH. We flew into Fairbanks, but because of flight schedules, our arrival time was too late in the day to see anything. The next day on our way to McKinley Park, Denali we did a 3-hour river boat ride on the Chena River, stopped at an Athabaskan village and saw where Susan Butcher raised her Iditarod dogs. On the flight between Anchorage and Fairbanks Caribou, moose and grizzly skins at the Athabaskan village This parka weighs 23 pounds and would sell for $3600 7-foot-long Timber Wolf skin

Thank you Lenda. I'm thankful that DH goes regularly for his checkups (sometimes as often as every 3-6 months and never complains) and no, it isn't pleasant. I'm also thankful for his first doctor who is the one who told me that this is controllable, and more of a nuisance than anything else. I hope they figure out soon what is going on with your DH's bp. What a mystery. It is comforting to know that all the tests they've done show that everything else checks out ok.

Thank you Sandi! The doctor said it looked just as all the other times, so that was good news (no spread beyond the bladder wall). He's taking it easy the rest of the day. 🙂 Bon Voyage and have a fantastic time!!!

Good morning all! I’m sitting in the waiting room while DH has a procedure done. We don’t talk about it much but he’s had bladder cancer for a number of years. As his doctor once said to me, this is more a nuisance than anything else. He goes for regular checks and if no new growths have appeared that’s good news. As long as new growths haven’t gone through the bladder wall (none ever have) they just remove them. It’s just something we live with and don’t think about it until days like this. DDIL worked as an Imagineer for Disney until recently. She always said she worked for “The Mouse” 🤣 I like apple cider and have never been a princess. Hard pass on the sardines. I hope everyone has a great day!

Thank you Lenda, I hope so too. I see that her son is over there too, and I know he's looking out for his Mom. 🙂 Great news about your DH's progress. I agree, "slow and steady" is good! Thank you Sandi. DS and DDIL are also getting another puppy! I will be having new grand-pup photos to share 😉 One of their dogs passed away this year and they have been waiting to get another until they're able to move into their house.

Good morning all! Another sunny, crisp morning here. More heavy frost and high 30's heading for 50 F. No rain until Monday! Neither DH or I have ever smoked. Unfortunately our son got the habit while at the Naval Academy and has tried to quit several times (presently too). He recently got back into swimming (he swam for swim teams from the age of 8-22 and was very successful) and that's a big reason he wants to quit, so he can progress further now. Will pass on the meal, wine drink and Baklava (both too sweet for me). Have never been to Thailand, but DD, DSIL and the DGSs will be in Thailand for 10 days in January to visit friends and do a lot of diving. I'm still trying to process in my mind that they will be so far away. Today is a big day for my neighbor -- the insurance adjuster will be out today to assess the damage to her house from the tree that came through the roof. Also a big day for DS and DDIL because finally after having their household goods in storage for 11 months, they will be delivered to their home here. The renovations on the house are almost done, it really is going to be beautiful and we're so excited for them. It's been a long time since the move up from CA, the threat of a lawsuit against the seller from the neighbor, and the start of the renovations. But they finally will be able to move in soon. The final touches will continue after they move in.

Good luck! The times you can reserve are very limited and can depend on the cruise. One time we lucked out and most others wanted to eat very early so we had no problem getting the same table every night at 7:00. But that was unusual. All you can do is try!

We just spent 28 days on the Nieuw Statendam and had anytime dining. We found that if we went early (close to 5 pm) and probably late (but we didn't try that) it was easy to get a table for 2. Not if we went 6:30-7'ish. We didn't try reserving the same table for several nights as we have in the past, because we dined in specialty restaurants more on that cruise.

Good morning all! Another crisp morning, 30 degrees when I woke up. Heading for a high of 49 and clear. We fill our large recycle bin with glass, plastic and paper and it's picked up every 2 weeks here. I never could understand why the yard waste is picked up weekly (year-round) but the recycling every 2 weeks...oh well, the bin is big enough to hold it all. In the winter we don't have much yard waste after the leaves have all been picked up. I have 2 bundt cake pans but rarely bake cakes anymore. No need to clean out the fridge, that was done before our 4-week cruise and now we're filling the fridge up again 😉 I "get" the quote, like the last 2 recipes (thank you Debbie @dfish) and will pass on the wine and drink. We'll go to the port on the Grand Australia '24, thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisersand Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiserfor the great photos. Hmm, wondering what's best to do there. I think I like the idea of renting a car... Today we'll make a Costco run and I'll continue to try to get ready for the upcoming holidays. I'm usually more prepared, being gone 4 weeks really slowed me down!

They do. At least they did on our cruise -- too many nights IMO LOL!!

To add to what Lenda said, Cobh is pronounced "Cove".

Good morning all! Another heavy frost this morning, but clear. A crisp 33 F heading for 48. We're enjoying this dry stretch! I come from a family of 3 sisters, so I salute Girls' Day and Children's Day. Will pass on the pickles, meal, drink and red wine though. Never have been a fan of Mac & Cheese, and Sweet Potatoes with Mac & Cheese? Just no... We've been to Cobh twice, in 2014 on the Eurodam British Isles cruise, and in 2019 on our 50th anniversary cruise on the Nieuw Statendam. In 2014 we took the train to Cork and went to Blarney Castle. In 2019 our Captain was Noel O'Driscoll (who was our Captain on the NS again last month). This is (near?) his home and the whole town came out to cheer the arrival of the ship! On that visit we took the ferry out to Spike Island, or as our guide calls it, the "Irish Alcatraz". Melissa @HAL SailerI'm sorry to hear your DH's confusion is worse with your change in location. Lenda @Quartzsite Cruisersorry about your DH's pain -- I hope it's short-lived. Terry @smitty34877I hope the new aide will be a big help, I'm sorry you aren't doing well right now. Linda @lindalerCongratulations to your son winning twice even against professional chefs! Some photos of our visit to Spike Island, the "Irish Alcatraz" Entering the prison grounds Cell Block A, burnt in the 1985 riots. The punishment block from the 1850's Solitary confinement cell View of our ship and Cobh from Spike Island Love the colorful streets of Cobh These houses in the background going uphill are called The Deck of Cards. And a few of Blarney Castle from our visit in 2014. We did not choose to kiss the stone 😉

I know in the past we could get better laundry rates if we booked it pre-cruise, that may be the case again. I also saw that it was $30/bag on the NS recently (this month) according to a paper in our cabin (we're 5-star so weren't charged). Our cruise started in Canada -- so North America, not Europe.

True! We prefer to look in port. It's also a way to find local delicacies!

Good morning all! I was awakened this morning by the sound of fireworks and then remembered that the Seahawks are playing in Germany today. Hence the early morning booms in my area. I live in a fireworks-crazy town unfortunately. The meal, drink and wine all sound good to me. My first thought about the quote was that now the editor wouldn't bat an eye at the word damn. The plan today is to replenish the wine rack and get the house in order for the holidays -- and do some laundry. Have a great day everyone!

Since jackets haven't been required for years now, I'm guessing this was a long time ago...

Wow! What ship was this? Just goes to show that each ship and each sailing can be so different because we had all these things (except for the long wait at Dive In) on the NS in Oct-Nov. About the food on Celebrity -- we haven't sailed Celebrity since 2017 and we thought their food wasn't good at all. I'm looking forward to seeing how it is on our next Celebrity cruise next fall.

Enjoy the NS, I hope we hear more from you! We disembarked a week ago after 28 wonderful days.

Good morning all! I like French Dip sandwiches, but can't remember the last time I had one. Pneumonia awareness is important. I always think of the phrase "Pneumonia the old person's friend" because in the case of both my parents, pneumonia is how their lives ended 😞 Not sure it could be called a friend, but it is what ended their suffering. I know a lot of us are up for celebrating Happy Hour. Although the photos in the recipes look really good, I'm not a fan of squash so will pass on the meal today. The drink sounds good, and Pine Ridge is one of my favorite wines, we always have it in the house. We were pleasantly surprised on our cruise last/this month to see it on the wine package list. @StLouisCruisersSandi Happy Birthday to your son! @rafinmd Condolences to the family and friends of Andy. Congratulations on making 5-Star! @Crazy For CatsJake Happy Birthday! @*Miss G*Happy Birthday to your son-in-law! @dfishDebbie the people at the pest control company have a screw loose to expect you to give them a copy of your purchase agreement. Totally nuts IMO. That makes no sense at all.