Quartzsite Cruiser

Good morning from a sunny, breezy and already very warm day in central Texas. It is 79F and feels like 86F with 7 mph wind. Our humidity is 87% with a dew point of 75F, but it will drop as we heat up during the day. Yesterday afternoon was hot, but not too bad since the humidity had dropped to pretty low. I still wasn't out too long. Our predicted high is 101F, and we're under a heat advisory. As soon as I finish here, I'll run my errands, and then stay inside the cool house. I'll pass on celebrating Chauvin Day, and if we had any pets, they would be chipped. Green Data Day refers to using modern technology that is more energy efficient, and that's a good day to celebrate. I like the Josh Billings' quote, and I realize I sometimes use too many words. The salad looks good, but I was already thinking about substituting grilled chicken. We'll definitely pass on the drink, and I'm not sure about a light red blend, but would try it if it was offered. We have not been to today's port. In 1969, we were living in Dover, NJ, where DH was at Picatinny Arsenal. Most of the 75 enlisted GIs wanted to go to Woodstock, but the commanding general issued an order banning travel to Woodstock. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, welcome to hot Texas. Sending positive thoughts to your twin for her surgery tomorrow. @grapau27 Graham, thanks for the information about Chauvin Day. @ottahand7 Nancy, I'm sorry the dinner did not live up to expectations. @Heartgrove Jack, I hope your DSIL can have her surgery soon. @smitty34877 Terry, I'm glad you are feeling better. I'm also glad you will have more help from the family this weekend. I'm glad the edibles are helping Tana with the nausea, but I wish something could be done about the coughing so she can eat more. @Cruzin Terri Terri, that's good news you have an appointment with the orthopedist scheduled. Lenda

@HAL Sailer Melisa, I was sorry to read your diagnosis. FWIW, my DFIL lived with lymphoma for 25 years from the very early 1970s. I say lived with because during the periods when his lymphoma was in remission he took cruises, with family rented sailboats in the Caribbean, took long motorhome trips, and had a good life. I'm sure the treatments have improved in the intervening years. Sending positive thoughts for a good treatment plan and a long remission. Lenda

Debbie, I wouldn't like that attitude either. My dentist always wanted to be a small town dentist, and he has a great "chair side" manner. After the appointment, when you are paying, they print out what will be done and the fees at the net appointment. If you agree, you sign one copy and keep the other copy. It's still not cheap. Oh No, is right, Joy. I hope they send a different technician tomorrow, and/or pay part of the extra water bill after their mistakes. Lenda

Good afternoon from a sunny and hot, 98F, central Texas. The humidity is lower now than in the early morning, and our skies are the beautiful blue I remember from my childhood. As usual for a sunny summer day, big, fluffy white clouds are forming. Roy, I hope you get a good report from the PCP's office. Joy, I'm sorry there are so many complications for Bonnie with her upcoming surgery. Sending positive thoughts that all goes well for her. Jacqui, Ivan looks quite relaxed in the pictures. All these people around are providing good training for him in your new home together. I hope all the lookers start a big bidding war for your house. I also hope your doctor appointment went well today. Robert, thanks for all the pictures from The Baths. That is such an interesting place. Paul, I'm glad your fever is gone and you're feeling better. It's good that you will be able to go to Glimmerglass. Thank you, Graham. Ann, I hope all goes well for Pat with the angiogram tomorrow. When DH had one, the recovery was not from sedation but the need to lie flat for several hours so the blood vessel could seal back up. I hope you can make your radiation appointment while he is recovering. Jane, I'm sorry your DS had an accident and then been so ill. Positive thoughts for his recovery. Take care of yourself, too. Debbie, I needed a deep cleaning a year ago, and it saved me from needing to see a periodontist. Ask Sue about getting dental glue and putting the crown back on at least temporarily. DH keeps some in his travel bag, and has used it on cruises. He's also given some to a tablemate who lost her crown. I'm very lucky that my dentist will listen to me, and when he gives me options will tell me what he'd do in my place. He even suggested a bridge to replace the two teeth I had pulled three months ago, but said an implant would be possible if done within a year. I hope you find a good dentist like mine, because I'm keeping him here. Vanessa, I hope you find the problem with the generator outlets. It sounds like a circuit breaker might have tripped, but I'm sure you've already thought of that. I'm sorry you were dizzy this morning doing the maneuver, but glad there was no nausea. Roy, our first HAL cruise was on Ryndam in 1998, and Rick Spath was the CD. He joined us at lunch in the Lido one day, and we had a very nice visit. When we were on Ryndam again later that year, I was sorry to learn he had gone to work for Disney. He is a great DC. Lenda

We returned to Road Town on April 28 on our way back to FLL. That time, we took a tour to Virgin Gorda, another island in the BVIs. This was on the recommendation of DFIL who along with DH's stepmother, and others had rented a catamaran and sailed around the islands. Our destination was The Baths, an area of large boulders and caves. We snorkeled and swam through one of the caves. Since we didn't want to fight the current to swim back to the starting point, we walked through another cave. In hindsight, I think the swim would have been easier since there was one steep point where we had to climb over a boulder and use a rope "handrail" to help pull yourself up the boulder. I didn't get any pictures in either cave because the camera was not waterproof, and I needed both hands walking through the second cave. The view of Road Town as we headed toward Virgin Gorda. The Baths from the parking lot from our open air bus. Tortola is in the background. The area of The Baths at sea level. This is just a small portion of the area. The restaurant at the top of The Baths and the views from the restaurant. Our final view of Road Town and Tortola as we headed to sea and FLL. I wish more ships that sail from the US would call at the BVIs. Lenda

On April 10, 2006, we arrived in Road Town, Tortola, BVI, for our first visit on the Old Regal Princess. We were on our Amazon River cruise, but would be returning later that month as we headed back to Florida. That was easier and more fun than flying home from Manaus. If you were not a charter flight, you would have to fly to another city in South America and then to FLL or Miami, and a final flight(s) to your home airport. The first day in Road Town, we rented a car and drove around the island. This first picture is from the ship as we approached Road Town. The boardwalk in the small boat harbor. I seem to get a lot of pictures of DH from the back. This time he was heading to the car rental place. A nice beach close to the harbor The view from a high point of the island, the observatory, and Road Town in the distance. We didn't do the swim with the dolphins or see their show, but we did see this one interacting with one of the trainers. We found a lovely place on the beach to have a beer or a coke. Some of the locals at the bar Our final view of Road Town as we sailed toward Dominica. Lenda

Good morning from a warm 77F central Texas where it will be sunny again today. We have a 5mph wind from the SSE with 91% humidity and a dew point of 74F. Like most days, the humidity will drop as we warm up, and yesterday afternoon it was about 34%. It looks like we'll have a high of 99F but feeling like triple digits, and there is a heat advisory. I'll be inside cleaning house and then trying to stay cool until it's time for our golf cart ride about sunset. Lizards are important for the environment, and we see a lot in Arizona and some here. The Navajo Code Talkers were very important in helping win the war in the Pacific in WWII. Sadly, there are very few still alive. Romance is good. Interesting quote today. The first Caprese salad looks good, but we usually have it without pasta. The best place to enjoy a Mai Tai is at the outdoor bar at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel looking at Diamondhead at sunset. Today's wine looks like a good one to try, especially since the price is good. We visited Road Town twice in 2006 on the old Royal Princess on our b2b Amazon River cruises. That way we didn't have to fly either to or from Manaus. A good day for women in New Zeeland in 1891 with the petition to allow them to vote. The introduction of Social Security helped many people throughout the years. The end of WWII is a great day to celebrate. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, have a safe flight to Dallas today. I was ready to post the link early, but saw you found a way to do it. @grapau27 Graham, thanks for sharing the information on the Code Talkers. The Navajo language is an interesting and hard to learn language for outsiders. @ottahand7 Nancy, enjoy the special dinner tonight. Congratulations to John for winning it. @cat shepard Ann, I hope your neighbor has a safe flight to Utah tomorrow. @0106 Tina, safe travels to Rotterdam today. Looking forward to your live thread. @dfish Debbie, I hope the crown is not too expensive. I'm glad Sue and River enjoyed the fair. @smitty34877 Terry, I hope you and Tana have a calm day. Today is the first day of school in our area. Lenda

I've been lucky that both dentists were able to put the implant in at the same time the teeth were pulled. This time he wasn't sure he could do that until he got started. That saved one trip to the dentist, but not any money. Next week, they'll do the impressions followed by putting the post in the implant and adding the crown. Twenty years ago the oral surgeon did the extraction and put the implant in the bone. This time my regular dentist is doing everything. Lenda

Glad I could help. My other option was a bridge whichnis less expensive, but after hearing DH complain for years about food getting under his bridge, it didn't appeal to me. I don't want to scare you, but since extracting the tooth and putting the implant in is surgery, your mouth will be sore for several days depending on what they have to do. In the end, it's like having a regular tooth. Lenda

Sandi, some how I missed that you had booked the summer solistice cruise in 2025. We need a Daily Mert and Greet. Brenda, I'm glad your DH was not hurt. Since they can do root canals through crowns, maybe they can out a crown on the tooth. However, implants are not so bad. I've had one for 20 years, amd I'm in the process of getting two more. That was the more expensive but preferable option. It takes a bit longer since the bone needs to heal atound the implant before the crown is added. Dachshunds are the clowns of the dog world, and the puppies are so cute. Lenda

Jacqui, even without training, by letting people love him, Ivan will be providing therapy. Getting my dachshund fix by petting the neighborhood dachshunds helps my morale. Lenda

Paul, I'm glad you went to Urgent Care and now have prescriptions, but not good about having to go twice to the pharmacy. I hope you feel better soon. Vanessa, I'm sorry you are still having so many problems with the dizziness and nausea. I hope they can find the problem -- SOON. Charlene, how disappointing for all of you. I'm sorry it made the tour less than enjoyable for you and that your DH and DD could not go. Joy, I'm glad they did not charge for their error. Jacqui, I hope next Monday, you have lots of offers to choose from. Yes, leaving will be sad, but you and Ivan will have many new adventures. Just be care as Ivan may become spoiled by all the attention. He may also have a new gig as a therapy dog. Dixie, that is good news the surgery was very successful. Sandi, I'll be more than happy to post the links tomorrow, especially since I'll be getting up earlier to start the house cleaning. With your hint about the date and page number, the link should be easy to find. Sorry about getting Dennis' age wrong. He can say he's celebrating the first anniversary of his 75th birthday. There is no way to prepare for triple digit temperatures except staying inside. A piece of advice is doing outside things early in the morning or just about sunset. Have a safe flight. Lenda

Joy, I hope the rest of your week is better as far as things around the house. I'm sorry about your neighbor's cat. Susan, I hope you will keep the 28 day Alaska cruise booked, and hopefully get a better cabin. There are three of us Dailyites already on the cruise, including @Cruising-along Carolyn and Henry and @NextOne Edi. Looking forward to meeting you then, if not sooner. Lenda

Annie, thanks for your pictures. I am not a fan of heights, but the Space Needle is not too bad. If I'm inside, towers and observation decks don't bother me. Thanks for adding the pictures from the Museum of Flight. We've talked about going there, but haven't made it yet. Joy, best wishes for our sister's surgery next Tuesday. Jack, I'm sorry our DSIL broker her ankle. I hope the surgical repair heals easily and quickly. Lenda

I have a few more pictures from Seattle that I did not share in 2021. They were taken the day we took a boat tour of the harbor. One of the Washington State Ferries A smaller Alaska Marine Highway ferries. the LL Bartlett Seattle skyline A couple more pictures from Pike Place Market And the skyline from the Amsterdam as we prepared to sail Lenda

This is what I posted on May 22, 2021, from our visits to Seattle. I found some (actually a lot of) pictures from Seattle. We have done the 14-day Alaska out of there four times, always doing 2 to 4 b2bs. In 2010 and 2012, we did most of our touring of the city, and had good weather. In 2015 and 2018, except for one day, we stayed on the ship (Statendam and Zaandam) and sat in the Ocean Bar watching the new passengers board, and the luggage and stores being loaded. It was like having our own private (BIG) yacht. Flying in and out of Seattle on clear days, the pilots gave us a bird's eye view of Mt. Rainier. Seattle from the Space Needle Seattle from a Dam ship at sail away In 2012, we had a coupon book for Seattle and Victoria similar to the Alaska Tour book, so we covered a lot of ground on our two port days there. These first pictures were taken on our cruise from Union Lake through the locks to downtown Seattle. And the Amsterdam as we sailed passed The next time in Seattle, we took the Ho-Ho and toured Underground Seattle. The tour took us through some of the old places from early Seattle that are now below street level and below the modern buildings. Some scenes from the Ho-Ho And the flower market at Pike Place Market Lenda

Good morning from another mostly sunny day in Central Texas. It is 78F at 7:30am with a 7mph wind from the SSE that is not moving the neighbor's flag. We have 92% humidity with a dew point of 76F. The predicted high is 99F, but the long range forecast says 101F. Either way it will be hot this afternoon. An interesting quote from Carl Jung. My mother was a lefty, and even though I'm a righty, I can use my left had for some things. A good fillet mignon would be good if I had some in the freezer. We have a bottle of Prosecco in the refrigerator. I think we'll skip today's zucchini meal and the drink. These different mojitos to me are like the pseudo martinis are to Paul @kochleffel. I'll stick with a regular mojito. I would like to try the wine if it's truly medium-dry since the one I drink is also from the same area. We have been in Seattle many times, and I'll retrieve my pictures in a few minutes. A good day in 1918 when the first woman joined the Marines. From experience, women Marines are just a tough. One of my journalism professors was a Lt. Colonel in the Marine Reserves, She also worked on the Corpus Christi newspaper in the summers, and some of the male reporters said she'd go down to the docks at night when they wouldn't. She was a good teacher too. This day in 1521 was not a good day for the Aztecs. The beginning of the Manhattan project in 1942 was important. @summer slope Best wishes for an easy and successful cataract surgery today, Dixie. @cunnorl Charlene, enjoy your tour in Iceland. @smitty34877 Terry, I'm glad you have the aide to help during the week. I hope the teenager has a fun, safe and injury free football season. @kazu Jacqui, I'm sorry you are now dealing with dizziness. I hope reducing the dosage on the medicine continues to help. Stress could also be a factor, so I hope with all the showings you have scheduled your house will sell quickly. @cat shepard Ann, I hope you find the perfect continuous care community. As a fan of TBBT, I loved the soft kitty meme. @marshhawk Annie, I'm glad you both got some relaxing time at Penny's Sunday. I'm sorry the swelling was too much and prevented your DH from getting his infusion. @kochleffel Paul, I'm sorry you have a fever and are still feeling bad. Last night, our local PBS station aired a segment of Rick Steve's show from Iceland where he toured the entire island. It was fun seeing many of the places we visited. If your PBS station airs that show, it's worth watching. Lenda

@Copper10-8 John, I hope you and your lovely bride, Maria, enjoy your anniversary. Lenda

@StLouisCruisers Sandi, please wish Dennis a VERY HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY for us. Lenda

Where we live, the limestone bedrock is just inches below the surface which makes basements a problem. Growing up, the house nextdoor had a basement, but the lot was at least 4 feet above out lot. Many houses and farms in Texas have storm cellars. When we lived in The Woodlands, they preserved as many trees as possible. We had 38 pine trees in our backyard which meant there was very little grass area. It you wanted to take down a tree more than 4 inches in diameter, you had to get permission from the HOA. Lenda

Debbie, I'm glad you got the problem fixed before it became a disaster. Elizabeth, I'm glad the embarkation was quick and easy. Your cabin looks comfortable. Dixie, it's interesting that in Texas while we had milk delivery twice a week, we did not have an insulated milk box. Lenda

Good afternoon. It's been one of those mornings with several unexpected things to take care of. I think we've got everything done correctly now, but why not give us guidance in filling them out in the first place? Maureen, I hope you are able to sail this afternoon. I'm glad you able to get out and enjoy Boston today. I'm still having trouble with using trucks to bunker. Joy, sending positive thoughts for your sister, Bonnie. I'm glad all your plumbing problems ar solved. Gerry, I'm sorry about your friend being so ill. Sending positive thoughts for a full recovery. Brenda, thanks for the lovely pictures. Carolyn, thanks for a great picture of you and Rich. Thanks for the pictures of Castro, Vanessa. I hope we can visit there sometime. Thanks for in the information on National Vinyl Record Day. We sill have all our LPs and I have all my 45s. Talk about antiques! Sharon, we visited the Pima Air and Space Museum way back in 1997 on a road trip to Oakland. Great museum. Roy, thanks for the information about where the Martin planes were built. Ann, thanks for the pictures of the Martin Mars arriving in Victoria. Several years ago, cruising friends picked us up at Ogden Point, and we "took" them to the air museum. It was their first visit. Lenda

Good morning from a mostly sunny central Texas. There is a 6 mph wind from the SSE which should help it feel a bit better out. It is 78F at 7:30am, but feels like 85F with 90% humidity and a dew point of 75F. This is our last non triple digit day with a predicted high of 99F, but I'm pretty such the feels like temperature will be in the triple digits. So besides laundry, I'll be trying to keep cool again today. The youth today should be nurtured as the become the leaders of the future. DH is the middle brother. I remember the milkman delivering milk when I was growing up. Like others, I still laugh at the Groucho Marx's quote whenever I see it. The meal sounds good, but tonight we'll be having the salmon (me) and cod (DH) we didn't have a couple of nights ago. I'll pass on the drink, but would try the wine. We have not been to Castro, Chile. The invention of the sewing machine was a time saver for people. Henry Ford's introduction of the Model T made car ownership easier for many. When DH bought his first IBM personal computer, I inherited his Radio Shack Model II computer. Computers have certainly come a long way since 1981. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, I'm glad your DS made it to Frisco safely, and I hope the storms in Oklahoma didn't cause any delays for Ren and DDIL. Thanks for the pictures from Castro. The stilt houses are interesting. @MISTER 67 Welcome, home. I'm glad you had a nice cruise, but I agree about too many passengers on ships now days. Our first cruise in 1987 on Costa Daphne which held 530 passengers. The biggest ship we've sailed on holds 3600 passengers, which is okay if the itinerary is right. @0106 Tina, thank you for sharing your day in Castro. @dfish Debbie, I hope you can get the plumber there soon. @Mtn2Sea Robert, thanks for you pictures, too. I love the woodwork in the ceilings of the churches. Lenda

@luvteaching Karen, please wish your mother a VERY HAPPY 98TH BIRTHDAY for us. Lenda

@Haljo1935 Elizabeth, I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise. Lenda