lazey1

We had a visit to Torshavn on our 50th anniversary cruise aboard the Eurodam in 2008. No photos to show, sorry. We did a ship sponsored walking tour of the city, ending up in a very old turf roofed home where we were treated to lunch. My memory must be failing as the only thing I remember is reindeer sausage. Our guide was a young lady about 30 years younger than me who looked so much like me that several people on the tour asked if we were mother and daughter. The guide told me that I have a very typical Welsh complection; black (at that time) hair, dark brown eyes, very white skin with a bit of rosacea. I had to go out for appointments every day this week and it has been miserable. Yesterday the actual temperature was 117 with winds both dusty and smokey. Today felt like a blessed relief at 106, very slight breeze and some clouds. We are in our monsoon season but no rain so far. @kazuthank goodness the infection has cleared, hopefully the growth can be cleared soon and you will be pain free. Prayers for those who need them and hurrahs for those who don't. Jane

I have not been to Mumbai, I really like Chenin Blanc, wouldn't be adverse to trying an Arnold Palmer and no thanks to today's meal as I don't care for eggplant. Roy's alternative meal sounds good. My father passed 20 years ago today at the age of 92. I am finally feeling good although I still tire easily. Who knows if that is left over from the Covid or if it a part of my new normal. I have been getting physical therapy for the Vertigo and it has been amazing. Next week I may get to begin cardiac rehab to increase my stamina. @JazzyVplease remove me from the care list. Happy father's day to all who qualify. Prayers for all who need them and hurrah's for all who don't. Jane

Here is another hurrah for Miracle Whip on basically everything. I love the light tangy flavor. I like deviled eggs but not spicy. So deviled eggs and the white wine sound like a real winner for dinner tonight. Pass on the drink. Finished up my Paxlovid last night and was thinking I am over the Covid however this morning I am coughing up high quanties of "stuff" and my chest hurts. If this continues for more than a couple of days I will see my pulmonist to determine if I have developed bronchitis. Prayers for all who need them and cheers to all who don't. Jane

I have been trying to keep up with the daily postings but haven't felt up to posting myself. I have Covid (again) and allthough I am obviously recovering I still have no energy or stamina. Am I the only one who hates the aftertaste of Paxlovid? My son who was forced to medically retire was hoping to get moved here by the end of last month but that obviously didn't happen. He developed cellulitis and spent 5 days in the hospital. His feet are still swollen and painful but he said last night that he was able to get a little bit of cleaning done. His goal now is to get moved buy the end of this month. I have not been to today's port and am certainly enjoying the beautiful photos. @marshhawk I also would love to see photos of the kitties. @kazuI am glad you are able to get some of your gardening done. I was surely hoping to read that you were fully recovered or if not at least well on your way. For the past year or more it seems that if it weren't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all. @grapau27I am glad that you and Pauline are recovered and out and about. @smitty34877I can't say how much I admire and respect you and especially Tana throughout all the troubles. Jane

First cfruise was Alaska, June 1989 with husband, my mother and my dad on the Noordam III Jane.

Yum yum on croutons, hummus and todays white wine; that would be a wonderful snack or even a meal for me. Hard pass on the sandwich, black beans are about the only kind of bean that I dislike. A baked sweet potato with butter is always good. My late husband was a lifelong model airplane enthusiast and had converted a TuffShed into his workshop. It has sat untended for almost 9 years now and it is quite full of junk and stuff plus very dirty. I am trying to get it cleaned out first then cleaned up so my son can make it into his man cave when he moves in with me. That should be around the end of this month. I can only work for an hour or so at a time so the clean up is slow but steady. I have cruised Atlantic Canada 4 times but I can not remember ever porting in Gaspe. Is it a faulty memory or have I never been there; who knows? I am enjoying the photos. I hope to cruise Atlantic Canada again in 2025. @kazuI am praying that yuor foot is healing and that you are no longer in pain. Please let us know. Prayers for all who need them whether they know it or not. Jane

I just read that the Northern Lights will be visible as far south as Arizona. Best chance for viewing between 10:00 PM and 2:00AM Mountain Standard Time wither tonight or tomorrow night. Jane

I did not know that Mexico and some of the Central American countries celebrated Mother's Day on May 10th. The meal of the day sounds good, the drink intriguing and I would love the wine. We never had a hamster or any pet with fur or feathers as DH had severe asthma. We did had turtles, goldfish and desert iguanas. My late DH and I had several cruises with Sydney as a port. I am loving all the photos. We did many wonderful excursions including the Cabot Trail to Cape Breton where we had lunch at the Inn. Anne Murray was in residence and sang a couple of her favorite songs for us. The one excursion we never did was the Louisbourg Fortress. If I am fortunate enough to do another Canadian cruse I will rent a Scootaround. Prayers for all who need them and thank you God for all who do not. Jane

I have been to Norway but not to Flam. The quiche sounds wonderful if someone else would make it for me and serve it with a white wine. No on the drink and on the red wine . Yesterday afternoon there was an areawide outage of Cox Cable internet that lasted from about 3PM until??? after 10PM. Today everything seems to be working. I had my appointment with Dr. Eng at Banner University Hospital. After further intensive review of my heart test procedures he said that the valvuloplasty would not work on me so after ruling out surgery, TMVR and valvuloplasty I can only be treated with medication and diet. I am okay with that; in a way I am relieved that I will not be undergoing any invasive procedures, even if minor. I am feeling well as long as I take it slow and easy. Please take my name off thecare list rotation. My son was forced by the company he worked for to resign due to health reasons. So far he has not been able to get any help at all in Tulsa so he will be coming here to live with me probably by the end of this month. I am sure it will be an adjustment for both of us but in the long run it should be good as we will have each other for help and care as needed. Prayers for all who need them and praise God for those who do not. Jane .

Love the carrot cake, would like to try the drink but not the wine as it is both red and way to expensive for me. I also got the EFFY email and I pass. I have not been to Marseille so I am enjoying all the photos. I heard from the research Dr. and the special CT Scan of my heart shows that I am not a candidate for the TMVR procedure as something is to small. He is having me come back to his office to explain another possible procedure for me called a valvuloplasty. While this will not replace the Mitral Valve it would hopefully stretch it and help the blood flow. My DBIL will again drive me to Phoenix University Hospital so I am treating him, his wife and his eldest son to dinner tonight at Serranos Mexican restaurant. (in honor of Cinco de Mayo the restaurant is having a special on a dish called Mexican Flag Enchiladas which none of us have tried before.) @ger_77 Gerry, I think I know the anxiety that you and Maurice have been going through and I Thank God that Maurice has been approved and has a date for his Valve replacement. Prayers for those who need and yeah for those who don't. Jane

Yum, yum. I have never tasted a cole slaw that I didn't like however my all time favorite is from Kentucky Fried Chicken. I've never been to any of the Greek Island so I am really enjoying the photos of Mykonos; it is so beautiful and so clean. @kazuI love the concept of your Merry Widow cruise and intend to follow your thread. I wonder how many of us regular readers of the Daily are widows. Is a support group here a viable concept? Prayers for all who are in need and double so for Vanessa with her surgery today. I hope she is able to give us an update soon. Yeah for Tana's recent progress. And a big hurrah for all who are healthy and happy. Jane

This widow will be happily following along. I totally agree with Marion expecting that your friendship will grow and be stronger than ever after this first cruise togather. Jane

I have never been to Sydney and my age and medical problems now forbid it. Thank you to everyone who posted photos. Same with Mumbai, thanks for the photos. I love spinich/artichoke dip and I love grilled cheese sandwiches but the thought of mashing them togather is very off putting. I had my semi-annual neurological exam yesterday and my mild peripheral neuropathy remains unchanged. I have not had any colitis flares or bronchial flares for several months and generally I am feeling good except for the frequent, severe fatigue that is heart related. I am scheduled for an enhanced CT of heart and lungs on April 29th then a week later the cardiologist at Banner University will let me know if I am a candidate for the TMVR study, if more tests are needed or if I am not a candidate. If yes he will refer me to the reseachers for hopeful approval. @kazu I am very happy to see that your foot is improving and you will be able to cruise. Remind your self to take it very easy. Prayers for all who need them, whether mentioned or not and hurrahs for those who don't. Jane

I couldn't see any of the eclipse here in Mesa so I watched it on ABC network. Amazing. Feeling somewhat better today but still rather light headed and having some balance issues. I am going to ask my BIL to go with me to the cardiology appointment on Wednesday. Jane

Thank you to all who expresssed concern about my symptons this morning. My medication has remained the same for over 2 months so I doubt that it is medication related. If it happens again I think I will call 911 to go to E.R. as I certainly would not be able to drive to a doctor's office. Jane

I would love to have some of that potato salad if only it could be prepared without salt and low sodium mayo. Pass on the drink and would like the wine. I was at Costa Maya 1 time, took a HAL expedition to visit the ruins of Tulum, the most beautiful Mayan Capitol as the ocean is it's background. A strange day for me so far; I woke up about 15 minutes before my alarm feeling very dizzy, very weak and slightly nauseous. Almost fell as I staggered into the bathroom. After taking my morning meds I made my way into the kitchen by holding onto the walls, fed my cats and had a cup of coffee. Blood pressure was 161/87, high but not alarming for me. After sitting for an hour or so the dizzyness slowly went away. I was afraid to try driving so I watched a live feed for church and now the nausea has gone away. Still feeling somewhat weak but able to walk unsupported. I have an appointment at Banner University Hospital Interventional Cardiology department on Wed. so I will be sure to tell the Dr. about this. @Sharon in AZ thank you for the video of the rocket launch. Gives a new perspective of how fast they travel. @grapau27I swear you are making me gain weight just looking at your food porn. @aliaschiefThank you for posting the beautiful photos of Kuala Lumpur, also the rest of your photos of your world cruise. You are a gifted photographer. Prayers for those who are in need and hurrahs for those who are not in need. Jane

1989 Alaska tour then cruise on the Old Noordam. Still my favorite HAL ship and I have cruised on all of the ships except the Nieuw Statendam. Maybe next cruise on her? Jane.

I am feeling well and thoroughly enjoyed my Mexico cruise on Koningsdam. The only excursion I went on was a whale watch in Cabo. It only took us a couple of minutes to find 3 different groups consisting of a mother and a baby whale. The one closest to shore was the most active I have ever seen. Mom was teaching baby tricks and baby was just plain showing off, in constant motion until we had to leave. I found out that the chefs can cook any food for the sodium restricted diet and make it delicious. I enjoyed the shows in the showroom excpt Humanity which has gotten a bit old. There was a next Step One dance show called move. The vatiety show was good and BillBoard Onboard was outstanding. Mel C. was very good but Clara Vee is phenonimal both as a pianist and as a singer.Either could certainly entertain as a soloist. The only thing that was not good was embarcation in the cold windy rain and debarcation which was even colder, stronger wind and heavier rain. (The storm in San Diego was bad enough that our arrival time was changed from 7AM to about 3AM). Flights into and out of San Diego were being delayed. Of course there were a few people yelling loudly that they would never cruise Holland again because of this. I can not understand why some people feel they are so entitled that they can not endure waiting or getting rained on etc or why they think that HAL has control over the weather and the ports in a storm. Now to read todays posts and possibly yesterdays. Jane

Thank you Jacqui, that is something I never thought about. I will definitely follow Dr. Jose's advise. The first time I had a heart failure problem my feet and legs swelled a lot. The only other time I had heart failure, and wound up in the hospital, I had no swelling of the extremeties, it was all in the abdomen and chest. That was frightening because I didn't recognize why I was unable to breathe. Jane

First a very big thank you to all who answered my questions regarding special dietary restrictions. I think that for lunch in the Lido I will stick mainly to salads with oil and vinegar dressing and ice cream. Very little sodium there. Breakfast I can pretty well handle by myself and knowing there is a special menu iwth help for planning dinner is a relief. If I have to much sodium I retain fluid and it gets hard to breathe and that is something I certainly don't want anytime. I have not been to Ashod but did a land Holy Lands 10 day tour with my DH and my parents back in the mid 80's. The photos are bringing back fond memories. Thank you to all who posted. Prayers for all who need them (especially for Tana's new hospital type bed) and hurrays for all who don't. Jane

and my name is Jovial McNaughty. I would love to have corned beef and either cabbage or sauerkraut however with my sodium restricted diet I can't. A question for any of you who may have cruised while on a restricted diet. My T.A. has notified HAL of the dietary restriction. How is this handled by HAL? Am I given a special menu to choose from; am I given a list of foods with the sodium content listed; am I expected to know the sodium content without help or ??? Jane

@Haljo1935go ahead and rant and/or rave all you want. I hope it makes you feel better to let it out. I was told a long time ago that I could be helpful as a heart with ears. @StLouisCruisers Like you I bought a pair of beautiful black pearl earrings at a shoreside kiosk in Moorea. @Quartzsite CruiserUnlike you we took a glass bottom boat tour in Moorea and saw the same loveliness. We had tone Patricks tour in Bora Bora the day before. Is it just me or is it impossible to choose which island is the best; Moorea or Bora Bora. @grapau27Blessing to you, Pauline and especially for Sarah. You have been through way to much. The Good Lord is the great healer however he does it in his own time, not in ours. Jane

The Ides of March has always been good to me. That day in 1958 my DDDH proposed. We married 5 months later and that marriage lasted for 57 years until he passed. Today I received a call from Banner University Cardio-Vascular Institute making an appointment for me to be seen on April 10 for my Mitral Valve problem. As of today I am feeling better that I have for many months but I am all to aware that the Heart Failure can come back at any time. I am looking forward to my 3/23/24 Mexico cruise on the Kdam even if I stay aboard the entire 7 days. Prayers for those who need them and hoorays for those who don't. Jane

No on the drink and the meal, yes to the wine and I would love the banana cream pie if someone would make one for me. I am having difficulty finding things I can eat and still stay within the 1500 to 2000 sodium limit per day. I think that banana pie would be something my cardiologist would approve of. I've not been to the Phillipines, looking forward to seeing some photos. Yesterday I went ahead and reserved a whale watch excursion and my complimentary Pinnacle Grill dinner. Both of my cats are rescues and right now one of them is tapping my shoulder reminding me it is time for her dry food so I will go feed the cats then find me something for lunch. Priorities, you know. Prayers for all in need that hurrahs for those who aren't in need. Jane