Quartzsite Cruiser

The really bad storm with high winds went south of us, but that didn’t mean we didn't get rain. We also got another hail storm a while ago. The hail was smaller than yesterday, but a lot more of it. The hail and pounding rain were extremely loud on the metal roof. It is thundering again, so I guess we'll get more rain. According to the forecast, the rain will taper off after midnight, and then pick up about noon tomorrow until about 8pm. Vanessa, I'm sorry you felt bad yesterday and your eye is flaring. I imagine the stress of the last few days didn't help. I'm glad BFF is home and doing well, but sorry he is experiencing a lot of pain. Debbie, the iris are lovely, and my favorite color. Annie, congratulations on the sales. Lenda

A bit of good news today. DH's new passport arrived today, but without the passport card. They are probably sending it separately. This was a real fast turnaround. The application was mailed on May 7 and received at the acceptance center on May 9, which means it took about two weeks. My passport and passport card are taking a bit longer, but that is due to my losing the passport card. When that happens, once the loss is reported, the card and the passport are canceled immediately. Then, you have to fill out an application for a new passport and card instead of a renewal. I know they received the application on May 8 and are going over the paperwork. So patience is the order of the day. Karen, safe travels tomorrow. Lenda

Good afternoon from an increasingly cloudy central Texas. It looks like the rain will be here about 5 pm and will be off and on tonight and into the morning. We are under a tornado watch, but that is typical of thunderstorms this time of year. I finally called W-M about my prescription, and even though the web-site said they were filling it, they weren't. The lady said they could have it ready in 30-45 minutes, and I said I'd be there in 45 to 60 minutes. I wanted to get there and back before the bad weather arrived which was supposed to be about 2 or 3. If I hadn't called, I'd probably still be waiting. Thank you, Graham. Great quotes from Johnny. Thank you, John. Thanks for the flower picture and the animal part pictures, Ann. I've wanted to go to the animal park, but we've never made it. Lorraine, thanks for the pictures of your grandson and granddaughter. Cute kids. Great pictures, Brenda. Carolyn, glad the test results were all normal. Enjoy your getaway with the DGSs. Hugs! RNB, I'm sure we have a few VCRs around here, but I don't know if they are hooked up. Lenda

This is what I posted on September 17, 2021. We have been to San Diego many times, and DH lived there in the 1950s for a short time. The town has really changed and grown since then. When the DDs were little, we spent a couple of days there in our motorhome, and visited the zoo. Since then, it has been a cruise port, a turnaround day or we embarked or disembarked. I thought I had more pictures of the town, but they must be pre-digital. In 2009, we drove by the house DH lived in, and it was in the process of being flipped and enlarged. We were able to wander through it, and they were doing a nice job. Unfortunately, five years later, the new owners had really junked it up. In 2016, we had a port day while on the Ruby Princess. We walked down to the Midway and spent quite a bit of time exploring the ship. Here are just two of the pictures, but it is worth a visit. These are from our walk back to the ship. The remainder of the pictures are from various sailaways A submarine in drydock Lighthouses and markers on Point Loma The Del Coronado Hotel, where Some Like It Hot was filmed, even though the moving was set in Florida. It is pretty grainy as we were several miles off shore. As we were headed to the Panama Canal. Lenda

These pictures were from our 11/14-12/12/21 cruise. All were taken from the Koningsdam either while we were in port, at the sailaway parties or as we sailed down the channel between North Island and the submarine base on the way to Point Loma. Pictures of the harbor while we were waiting for the new passengers to board. San Diego skyline as we left the B Street Pier. North Island When we sailed on 11/28, it was a sunny day looking toward the San Diego skyline, and the skyline picture above was taken that day. As we turned to pass between North Island and the bluff leading to Point Loma, a fog bank moved in, then it was clear before we reached the point. I've never seen anything like it when we've sailed out of San Diego. The ferry dock between the area around the sub base and either North Island or downtown. The leading edge of the fog bank was approaching the area. The fog bank. We could not see the area where the drydock used to work on submarines was. The backside of the fog bank. This is the area where I think the submarine in @StLouisCruisersSandi's picture was docked, but at a different angle. This last picture is Point Loma and the sunset as we sailed into the Pacific on 11/14. As you can see, we had an obstructed balcony, and it was almost impossible to take a picture without part of the lifeboat included. Lenda

Good morning from another cloudy day in Central Texas. It is already 79F with a predicted high of 88F. The humidity is 98 percent with a dewpoint of 76F. We also have a flood warning beginning this morning through early Friday morning. The rain and thunderstorms will start about 3 pm, and there is a risk of high winds, hail and tornados, but that is always a risk with thunderstorms in Texas during the spring. All of today's days are worth celebrating. I always try to be myself. Harvey Milk was a LGBTQ pioneer, and I wonder how much more he could have accomplished if he'd lived. Biological diversity is important for the planet's health which is important to our health. The Helen Rowland quote is amusing, but I'm don't agree with it. The meal sounds good, but we'll pass. The drink and wine are worth a try. We have been to San Diego many times, but mostly to board a ship. Occasionally, we've had it as a turnaround day or even a port day. Johnny Carson's last show in 1992 was a sad day for late night tv. @ger_77 Gerry, I hope all goes well for your DH today, and that he will cover nicely and regain his strength and stamina. Remember to take care of yourself too. @JazzyV Vanessa, I hope both you and BFF had a restful night, and that he will be discharged today. @grapau27 Graham, I appreciate all the information about the days that you find and share. Thank you. @Mr. Boston Safe travels to and from Portland. I hope you find what you're looking for. @kazu Jacqui, I'm sorry the vicious dog attacked Ivan. I hope he's all right and that the attack did not scare him from walking. I'm glad you reported the man and his dog. I also hope the CT scan will give the doctor some answers to what is going on with your foot. @puppycanducruise Melanie, thank you for the pictures of the beautiful flowers. @Haljo1935 Elizabeth, I hope the surgeon is in the office today, and that you get some good news. @Cruzin Terri Terri, safe travels to and from Hilton Head, and I hope your DH's appointment goes well. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, I agree. Please take the cold medicine. @dfish Debbie, I hope you follow the advice to report your "friend" to the higher ups at the community center. He needs an attitude adjustment or to go. @smitty34877 Terry, I hope you and Tana can get some rest this afternoon and that tonight is much better. @marshhawk Annie, congratulations on the sale. Sandi, @StLouisCruisers I'll post the links tomorrow. I've already looked up the links for tomorrow and more of the days ahead. Thanks for the heads up on the days. Lenda

Yes. I was glad I had a strong metal roof overhead. Lenda

Texas weather is known for being weird, but this afternoon, it got even weirder. A while after the hail, it rained twice but while I heard it and smelled it, I couldn't see it. It was like really low verga with only a very few drops hitting the driveway. DH said later that we were under a hail warning. Now, I'm glad the prescriptions weren't ready, or I clould have been driving in the hail. Lenda

I hope no damages either. The cars and motor ihome were under the port roof, and the golf cart seems okay. Here may be a few dents in the metal stood. Most of the siding in the path of the hail was protected by an overhang. The rest is to high to know about for sure. Lenda

Wow! We just got a hail storm that lasted several minutes. No rain, just big hail. I'm sitting out in the port, and it sounded like someone beating on the metal roof. After it stopped, I gathered some of the larger ones which had already melted some. For a size comparison, I put them by my book. Lenda

I hope Shirl will be happy with the move, and the "trial" visit is made permanent. Hats off to your brother for working to convince the move is necessary. Nancy, I think you would enjoy the island, especially if you find a way to tour the island. It is very pretty and also interesting where the volcanoes did damage. It can also be hot and sticky so be prepared. Lenda

Good afternoon from a pleasant but cloudy central Texas. We both enjoyed our donuts this morning, and have enough for two more days. We've also gotten a couple of chores out of the way. Will probably be heading to W-M later this afternoon to finally pick up the prescriptions. It turns out they did not go through when they were called in yesterday, but they were called in quickly after I called the dentist's office. Gerry, I'm glad your DH is doing better, and you could get out of the house yesterday. Best wishes for the valve replacement tomorrow. Maureen, yesterday's doctor visit still sounds like the eye is improving and healing. I hope in two weeks, the pressure is low enough to avoid a pressure lowering medicine. Sorry the concert was not the best environment. Sharon, I don't blame you for being upset yesterday at lunch. There's not much worse than a ruined steak. That manager needs to be retrained in customer service. Terri, I'm glad the power washing was done, but why can't workers show up at the appointed time not before or after. Thanks for the beautiful picture, Brenda. Thank you, Graham. Jacqui, I'm sorry you did not get a definitive answer and have to go back. Get some rest in the meantime. Elizabeth, I'm sorry the surgeon was not in, and I hope you get good news tomorrow. And sorry about needing a new tire. I hope you can get the tree work done soon. Loved the end of the world memes, John. Lenda

The second stop on our tour of New Britain Island and Rabaul was the Kokopo War Museum. Kokopo was named the capital of NB after the 1994 eruption and it is down the coast road from Rabaul. The museum over looks a beach resort. Rabaul is a tourist destination with resorts, snorkeling and other activities. Before heading to the museum, we got a look at the resort and an opportunity for shopping. The museum which houses a lot of war materiel and some local items. You will notice our "luxury tour buses" in the background of some of the pictures. A couple of native items in the museum. This might be the security guard. What was supposed to be our final stop, the Bita Paka War Cemetery. The Indian slaves were also buried here. It turns out, our final stop was on the side of the road on the way back to Rabaul. Our van had a flat tire, and it took a while to get it changed. Ironically, we had to change vans before we left the port as the first van had a flat tire. I can attest that the spare might have come from "A Christmas Story" since I had a good view of it on the tour. The spare tire was hanging from the back of the front seat just in front of me. Tavurvur volcano as we sailed. Lenda

On June 11, 2005, the Pacific Princess docked in Rabaul located on New Britain Island, which is part of Papua New Guinea. Until the 1994 eruption of the two volcanos which buried the town, it was the capital of New Britain Island. Since 1994, Vulcan has been quiet, but Tavurvur has been active. In 2005, Tavurvur was sending out ash, which covered the streets and the ship. After the 1994 eruption, the ash was about 15 feet deep in places, and they plowed a path through the ash to open the coast road, leaving high walls of ash on either side. In WWII, New Britain Island was never retaken from the Japanese. Instead, the US captured the islands that ringed NB, and opened airfields and Navy bases on the island. This resulted in cutting the Japanese supply line to NB and ending any Japanese military activity. As I said earlier, I have a lot of pictures from Rabaul and our tour of the island, and I'll divide the pictures into two posts. These pictures are of the town from the ship, and the dancers that greeted our arrival. A couple of streets in town. Note all the ash on the roads and on the dock in the previous pictures. The ash was from the activity from Tavurvur. The first stop on our tour was one of the barge tunnels. The Japanese would drag the barges into the tunnels for protection when they were not in use. The barges were dragged along rails by Indian slaves. The first picture is one of the tunnels which we saw as we sailed that afternoon. The tunnel entrance One of the tour guides and the remains of a barge The tour will continue in the next post. Lenda

Good morning from a cloudy central Texas. I think I'm beginning to sound like a broken record again with the cloudy skies. It is already 76F with 92% humidity and a dew point of 73F. Our predicted high is 89F with 10+mph winds. Our rains will return tomorrow night and also Thursday and Friday nights. I'm glad I got the yard work, plus the house and driveway washing finished this weekend. Not much on today's agenda except catching up on some things on the computer. I'll probably get doughnuts for breakfast since they are softer and easier to chew than my cereal or toast. At least, that's a good excuse. If and when the prescriptions from the dentist's office are ready, I'll head to W-M to pick them up. I got about 8 hours sleep last night thanks to the pain med that makes you sleepy, but it wore off about 4:30. I took some ibuprofen in the larger dose the dentist recommended and got another 2 1/2 hours sleep. Right now, I am still not hurting and have just a bit of swelling, so it will be the ice pack again today for the swelling. It was recommended that I sleep with my head elevated above my heart to help keep the swelling to a minimum, and I managed to sleep with two pillows. Two of the days will be honored, but not the first one. That is something that should not be predicted. Patches are very useful. I hope the working conditions for the tea workers are humane now. The quote is interesting and one we could aspire to achieve. The meal sounds good, but today I think I'll finish the mac and cheese and jello from last night to play it safe. We'll pass on the drink and the wine. We visited Rabaul in 2005 as part of the Pacific Princess Islands of the Pacific Theater cruise. I have a lot of pictures to share as we had a very interesting day on the island. Amelia Earhart's 1932 trans-Atlantic solo flight marked a great day in aviation and women's history. @MISTER 67 Congratulations on a great day yesterday in spite of your knees. @grapau27 Graham, thank you for the great explanations of all the days. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, I hope you get over your cold soon. Thanks for the pictures from Rabaul. @JazzyV Vanessa, best wishes for a successful surgery for BFF today. @ger_77 Gerry, I hope your DH is well enough for his surgery today, and that it is successful, with a quick recovery. @Heartgrove Jack, I'm glad Sam is showing no ill effects from his fall, and I bet since it's getting warmer, he is glad to get rid of his winter coat. Congratulations on booking the winter cruise. @ottahand7 Nancy, glad you are just about settled in for the summer. @1ANGELCAT Such a sad story about the Singapore airline flight and the one killed and so many injured. @smitty34877 Terry, I hope the teenager and his girlfriend have a great time at her prom. @kazuJacqui, I hope you get some answers at the appointment today, and that the drive is not too difficult. @Haljo1935 Elizabeth, I hope your appointment with the surgeon goes well today. Lenda

Good afternoon. I survived the dentist visit, but have been taking it easy since I got home. I've said before, I really like my dentist, and I'm so glad he does implants and I don't have to go to Waco. Originally he planned to pull the two teeth and put in the bone graft material. After he administered the three shots of anesthetic, he asked if I wanted the implants done too if there was enough healthy bone. Naturally, I said yes. He checked the x-rays from my last visit, and found he could do the implants too. That will save one visit. The dentist is good and fast. Once he started, it was less than 30 minutes before the teeth were out, the bone graft material and the implants were in, and he'd finished with the stitches. I go back in a week for them to check the incision site, but otherwise, that's it until late August. I'm still bleeding, probably a bit more that I should be, but I think I did something to dislodge the clot. I also learned something new. If the dental gauze does not stop the bleeding, moisten a tea bag and put it on the wound. The tannins in the tea help promote clotting. It was interesting since the only tea bags I have family size. I know I have a big mouth, but it's not that big. Right now, I'm not keeping anything in my mouth and seeing how that goes. I think the bleeding is slowing down. I'm still partially numb which makes drinking fun. I almost need a bib. I'm just glad the worst is behind me. The Dental tech showed me the extracted teeth, but I told her they could keep them. I doubt the tooth fairy would visit me at my age anyway. Lenda

Susan, I'm glad you got home safely and that the dogs were glad to see you. Gerry, I can't believe someone wanted off the plane at the last minute, and caused a 1 1/2 hour delay. It's nice of Wayne and Fran are bringing you dinner tonight. Thanks for the good wishes for this afternoon. Thanks for the pictures of today's port. Thanks for the good wishes. As of right now, I don't go back for the next appointment until late August. When I had the first implant 20 years ago, they used dissolving stitches. Vanessa, thanks for the good wishes today. When DH had his back surgeries and shunt placement, I took pictures of the incisions as they healed. I hope your stomach feels better, and I also hope BFF's surgery goes well tomorrow, and he can begin healing. I don't envy you the 5am arrival time. I'm glad you are staying with him for a while. Lenda

HAPPY VICTORIA DAY to all our Canadian Dailyites. Good morning from a sunny central Texas. It is 72F with a predicted high of 88F and 10 to 15mph winds today. Unfortunately, I'll be spending part of the afternoon at the dentist office getting two teeth pulled and starting the implant process. I already have one implant, so I know what to expect. This morning, I'll be making some Jello and chocolate pudding for tonight. Two of the days today are not ones I really want to celebrate or honor, so I'll celebrate Eliza Doolittle Day. I am one that likes the Albert Camus quote. The spring salad could be good, but not today. We'll pass on the drink and the wine. We have not been to Miyako. The 1927 flight by Charles Lindbergh helped prove the value of airplanes. @superoma Eva, I hope you feel better and get rid of that cough soon. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, the cakes look yummy. Thanks for the pictures. @0106 Tina, thanks for the explanation of draw a picture of Mohammed. @grapau27 Graham, thanks for the explanation of Eliza Doolittle Day. @smitty34877 Terry, I'm happy your helpers made a big difference in the work load this weekend. @kazu Jacqui, I hope your yard work can be accomplished without too much pain from you foot. @ottahand7 Nancy, I'm glad you and John arrived at the cabin safely yesterday. I was sad to read about your iris bed being decimated. @Heartgrove Jack, I'm sorry Sam fell down the stairs. @aliaschief I hope your back is better soon, Bruce. Lenda

Sharon, thanks for sharing the great picture of your lovely family. Lenda

Good afternoon. It is sunny but with a thin cloud layer. The driveway is clean, and it only took about 2 1/2 hours from start to finish, That's a lot better than last year that took three days because it had been too long between cleanings. Since our driveway slopes, it too at least two passes to get the dirt up the slope and in the street. I need to run a few errands, and then I plan to take it easy the rest of the day. Congratulations to your nephew Nick on his graduation from Notre Dame. Gerry, I hope all your TLC pays off and your DH can have his much needed surgery Tuesday. Sharon, what a great way to celebrate birthdays and Mother's Day. Enjoy your pizza and family. Pennie, I'm glad your recovery is going so well after a rough start. Please be careful and don't over do. Yikes 😱 on someone invading your private space and stealing from you. I hope the lock and the light will be a good deterrent for the future. You might want to mention the invasion to the management of your apartment. I'm sorry your anniversary dinner was not what you expected. Glad you have a great cruise to look forward to later this summer. Vanessa, I guess I'm lucky that I'm still able to do a lot of things. Often, it's because I don't like to pay someone to do what I am capable of doing. Also, as far as the yard, I haven't found anyone who will do it the way I want it done. When we're not here we do pay a neighbor to mow and trim. Debbie, I hope you can figure a way to get the water exercises you need, even if it means paying to join another gym. In all honesty, it took me a couple of looks to catch onto the meme. Lenda

Good morning from central Texas. It is a cloudy start to the day, but the sun will make an appearance shortly. It is 74F with a predicted high of 89F. There is a slight breeze, but the wind will increase to 10+mph this afternoon. The plan to to pressure wash the driveway today. Last year, the concrete was so dirty, it took three days to clean. It doesn't look too bad this year, and I'm hoping it will all get done today. All the rain this spring seems to have washed a lot of the dirt into the port, that will wait for another day. The Boys and Girls clubs do a lot for children, especially in the inter cities. I won't be getting tested for hepatitis today. I'd not heard of May Ray Day before this morning. I found the Jay Leno quote amusing. When I fix salmon it is with a teriyaki glaze, but I don't think I'll turn it into a salad. We'll pass on the drink, but the merlot sounds nice. We have not been to the Conflict Islands. The 1649 unification of the three colonies was a big step forward in the early history of the US. @grapau27 Graham, thank you for letting us know about May Ray Day. @1ANGELCAT I hope your friend can adjust to the changes she is facing, and will accept moving near her son. As we grow older, it is difficult to accept some of the changes in our bodies and the other changes that come with them. @Heartgrove Jack, thank you for letting us know that Sam did well while you were on your cruise. I hope he continues to do well, and you can take your fall cruise. @Cruzin Terri Terri, I'm sorry you were feeling so ill this week. I hope the "bug" is behind you and you are recovering nicely. Lenda

Good news! Lenda

It's been a long day, but I got a lot done. All the house has been power washed, except for the part in the port, along with the patio and sidewalk. This is the fastest I've ever gotten the house washed. It helped that I washed it last year, but all the rain we've gotten this spring helped too. We ordered an extension hose for the pressure washer a few years ago, and unlike last year, I remembered to use it. That saved a lot of time by not having to move the washer often. Also, the extra hose length did not reduce the pressure. Depending on how I feel tomottow, I may wash the driveway. The rest of the house and the port will have to wait for ia week or two. @Copper10-8 I loved the mems, John. @dfish All the hard work paid off, Debbie. The deck and pavers look good, and the furniture looks so comfortable. Lenda

Good afternoon. The yard is done, and I'm sitting outside cooling down. If I have the energy later, I may start power washing the house. Between all the rain and the fact I washed it last year, it doesn't look too bad. However, with all the rain, there are green spots on the north side I want to get them before they get bigger. While I was mowing, a large butterfly flew just in front of me. It looked like a Monarch, but because of the size, it could have been the one that mimics a Monarch. It was still pretty, and I haven't seen one here in years. Another sign of spring were the three fire ant mounts I found. They were promptly treated, and I avoided getting bitten. Carol, congratulations to Jeremy on his greaduation. I remember when he started school there. Debbie, I hope the second chair is easier to put together. Welcome back. Pennie, I'm glad your recovery is going well. I agree large tongs work well to pickup and reach things. I used mine until DH got the grabber. Now, I think I use it more than DH. Lenda

The Houston and east Texas areas were slammed hard by the storms. Most of our regular Texas Dailyites live along the I-35 corridor between Austin and the DFW Metroplex. There was heavy rain in that area, but high wind and devastating storms, so there was not as much damage or flooding. We lived north of Houston for 14 years, and had flooding in Houston and between us and Conroe after heavy and/or prolonged rains. One neighborhood along the San Jacinto River flooded so often, the Federal government quit offering flood insurance to the area. They were paying out big bucks to the area every year or two. Thanks for the great pictures. Graham, thanks for adding me in your comments about the pictures. Sharing them with the Dailyites brings back good memories. Gerry, I hope your DH is well enough for the surgery. Keep up the good nursing. Eva, I hope you feel better soon. Lenda