Quartzsite Cruiser

You may already be reading these authors, but I enjoy David Baldacci, Ken Follet, John Grisham, and Jeffery Archer. For some lighter reading, I like cozy mysteries. Lenda

We also still take paper back ups for everything,. Our last cruises were b2b2b2bs out of San Diego. We were told we needed to carry the CDC cards if we left the ship on the turnaround days. There were some places that required proof of vaccinations to enter. While that may have changed in recent months, it is a good idea to be prepared.

Good morning from a partly sunny central Texas. I'm late this morning since we got a few outside chores done before it got hot. It was 71F when we started and 75F when we finished. It was pleasant in the carport, but the sun was already making it warm out of the shade. At least, three things are crossed off the to do list, plus some straightening up in the house. This afternoon, we'll finally go to our favorite Tex-Mex reataurant for our delayed anniversary dinner. We usually go shortly before 3pm to take advantage of the lunch specials, which are the right size for us. A bonus, is this is also the time the place is the least crowded. We like salami, but don't have it often. Our regular letter carrier is good, and with a new Postmaster, I've read the service in Quartzsite is improving. I used to drink beer regularly, but in the last few years, I've lost my taste for it. I always prefer a Pilsner. I like the quote very much. We'll pass on the meal since we are not curry eaters. We'll also pass on the drink and the wine. Late harvest Rieslings are a little sweet for me. We visited the Kennedy Space Center in the mid 1970s on our way home from Disney World., but we have not been to Port Canaveral. @SusieKIslandGirl it looks like your in the right place for one of the days. @marshhawk Ann, I liked the story about Corrie and the autographs. Good luck with the new campaign. @smitty34877 Terry, I hope the the resident teen makes the JV team. @dfish Debbie, you have a busy week ahead. I hope you get the house listed Friday. BTW, since your sister is a neat painter, I guess she can be an honorary member of the messy painters wine group, especially if she provides wine. 😉🍷 @durangoscots Susan, I'm sending positive thoughts that your friends continue to be safe from the fire. I hope you get good news from the cardiologist, and that therenis less stress at the shelter since the work is almost finished. @Vict0riann Ann, I join you and your doctor in thinking "no news is good news". Lenda

Oh, Terri, how awful. I so sorry the damage is so much worse than first thought. Just take it one day at a time and don't do more than you can handle in a day. Debbie, I hope the sellers will be reasonable and that you get the house. It sounds like you will have some work to do on the house. That prompts me to ask is your sister qualified to join the messy painter gang, or is she one of those who can paint a room and come out paint free? Lenda

This is really weird. Looking out the window to the south, south west, I see very dark clouds, but the sun is shinning and it looks pretty clear in all other directions. I know Texas weather is always unusual, but this year has been down right weird. Who knows what will happen next. Debbie, welcome home. Hope you can work out a very good deal on the house your are interested in buying. Looking forward to pictures of the new house when all is settled. Glad you had a good trip and arrived home safely. Linda, it looks like you've really settled into Mobile and are having a good time. Your up coming cruise should be a lot of fun. We always enjoy Alaska. Karen, thanks for the pictures of Glacier Bay. Enjoy ISP tonight. Good you found a place to get the watch battery changed. Ann, you must be very organized. We always pack the day before we leave for a cruise. However, we do try to get everything in one place so it is easy to throw into the suitcase. Good news on the upgrade, and I hope the upgrade fairy visits again. Lenda

This morning I've been fighting procrastination, but not by doing the project I've been putting off for months. Instead, I'm working on all my pictures on the computer, trying to make some look better and not as tilted, and culling some really bad ones and duplicates. This has been an on going project for a couple of years now, and it will probably take at least that long to finish. After a while, it gets tedious and boring, and I think the computer feels the same way. At least, it starts really slowing down when I click to save the changes. 😁 Yikes, two lightning strikes in four weeks! 😱 You might want to take that target off the tree. 🤣 Ann, I think I would have told your neighbor very politely that you are too busy this week to walk the dog, and add, again nicely, you gave her four weeks notice, not the normal two. Please don't let her take advantage of your generous nature and keep roping you in to dog walking because she is too lazy to look for a dog walker and does not want to stay home. That's her problem. I'm sorry half of your friend Margot's cruising group got Covid. I'm afraid as long as people put themselves and their comfort and pleasure ahead of the passengers trying to do the right thing, we'll have more Covid on the ships than necessary. 😷 Gerry, I saw on our news feeds about the one suspect having died. I hope they capture the second suspect, so the victims and their families can have justice, and the rest of the province can relax. Joy, I'm glad Allen is feeling fine. I hope the doctor has some answers for you soon. Susan, I hope your friend and her family are safe from the fire. I also hope there are no more fatalities and that the fire can be contained soon. I enjoyed your story about the teenagers entertaining themselves at the hotel on the Isle of Skye. Carolyn, thanks for the pictures. I hope we can get there someday. Bruce, thanks also for your pictures. It looks like you had a good day to visit the castle. Lenda

Good morning from central Texas. Our weather will be about the same. I definitely need to fight procrastination and tackle a project I've been putting off for months. However, I'd much rather read a book instead of tossing eggs. The Eleanor Roosevelt quote is very true. We'll pass on the meal and the drink.. i'd like the wine if it's not too pricey. We have not been to the Isle of Skye. Thank you , Sandi @StLouisCruisers, for the pictures. This morning, I need to run a couple of errands before the stores get crowded. Lenda

🎊 🌹 HAPPY 53rd ANNIVERSARY, SANDI AND DENNIS! 🥂 🍾

True. We did spend quite a while using the stern thrusters getting off the sandbar. This was in April, and it was dark when we docked. It was at the end of the rainy season and the river level was very high. That was in 2006, so I giess it will remain a mystery. Lenda

It's been a quiet day here. The weather people on tv teased us with rain, but I doubt that we'll get rain. The old Regal was built in 1991 or 1992, and was about the size of an R class ship with a little more than 1500 passengers. Which also makes me think we docked some place else. Sandi, I don’t remember the walk being that bad. The only problem was getting off the rocks. We still enjoyed the rest of the cruise. Of course, we were 19 years younger. Well, I just looked at our pictures, and I probably wouldn't do the same walk now. There was a lot of water and slick rocks. However, the view was great. Lenda

Roy, we both thought the ship said we'd dock in Belem to have the hull inspected after the old Regal Princess ran aground on a sandbar 40 miles off the coast. After reading your post about Belem, I'm not sure where we were,but we were definitely docked so the hull could be inspected. Lenda

Sandi, actually, the tour was in the morning, and we took the shuttle into town, which ended the day on a sour note. If we every go back, we'll probably just go to the Isle de Goree or stay on the ship. I'm glad they built a boardwalk in Illulissat out to see the glacier. When we were there in 2003, we had to walk across the tundra and climb some of the rocks, which was not the safest. DH was worried about me, since I'm not always sure footed, but he was the one who slipped coming back and hit his back on a rock. Lenda

Sandi, I forgot to mention the hawkers who met us at the shuttle stop. We did not have as much of a problem walking up the street, but when we returned to the shuttle stop, they descended again. Once on the bus, while waiting to leave, they pestered us at the open windows and tried to get on the bus. We did not have that problem on the Ilse de Goree. The guide lead us from sight to sight, then to an area with various vendors. In that case, they were all very nice and not overly persistent. We even found a very nice wooden mask that now graces a wall in Quartzsite. Even when we stopped at a café for refreshments and had free time to walk around, we were not bothered. Lenda

Good morning from sunny and breezy central Texas. We are back in the upper mid-90sF for the next ten days and with very little chance of rain. We got bought some very strong (ie: expensive) weed killer to try to get rid of the crab grass and other weeds taking over the yard. Now that I need a calm day to spray the yard, the forecast is for 5-15 mph winds fore the next ten days. I hope everyone has an enjoyable Labor Day. I try not to be late, but today I can celebrate? be late for something day since I am washing the sheets that did not get washed yesterday. The past two years, we've taken quite a lot of things to the local thrift store and to Goodwill. Like so many other Dailyites, I like a lot of cheese on my pizza with other toppings. When we are in Italy, we usually get a Margarita pizza, which is the closet we come to a cheese pizza. Today's quote is interesting, and if we make someone smile, laugh or feel better that is remarkable even in a small way. We'll pass on the meal and the drink. I prefer my chili with beef and a thick red sauce. True Texas chili does not contain beans, but we like our chili with beans. We have been to today's port, but no one got off the ship as it was an unscheduled stop. After the old Regal Princess ran aground off the coast of Brazil, Captain "Sandbar" as he became know around the ship, was required to stop at the first port and have divers inspect the hull. Since it was at night, I don't even have pictures of the town. Hope someone else has some to share. Good for your DW's grandmother helping organize the seamstresses in Los Angeles. It's good you know some of the triggers for migraine headaches, but I'm so sorry chocolate is one of them. For me, that's a basic food group. Terri, I'm glad you had help last night, and good luck with going through your things. I hope most will be salvageable. Safe travels home, and I hope your flight is on time and goes smoothly. Ann, thank you for your nice words about the Dailyites bringing laughter to your day. They help make my days better, too. Jacqui, I don't blame you for paying someone to detail the car. I don't mind washing and waxing the cars, but I do not like cleaning the inside. We visited Dakar, Senegal, in 2009, and took the shuttle into town. After walking about two blocks from the drop off point, we turned around and headed back to the shuttle. It was not a comfortable feeling walking around there. On our way back to the shuttle, the afternoon call to prayer was sounded and all the men unrolled their prayer rugs and took over the sidewalks. Our shuttle was the last one to let people off; after that, the shuttle ride was basically a quick tour without stops. If you do make it to Senegal, I recommend going to the Ile de Goree. It was the island where slaves were shipped to the new world. We enjoyed the tour there. Because the ferries to Goree run from a different dock which is not close to where our ship docked, I would also recommend a ship tour. Safe travels home today. @ger_77 Gerry, I'm glad you continue to be safe. I hope they capture to the suspects soon. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Lenda

Gerry, good to know you weren't in any danger, and that you are taking precautions. I hope they catch them soon. Terri, sorry this happened to you. I'm glad you got some help. Ann, thanks for letting us know the flooding is not near you or @StLouisCruisers Sandi. Lenda

Good afternoon from a now cloudy and windy central Texas. We had the top down on the convertible for a while, but the sun was just too intense. We were gone longer than we planned, but we enjoyed our day out. We explored some of the back roads south of Dallas, and we found gas for $3.05, 👍👏 in Italy. Yes, there is a town named Italy in Texas. At least, I got the laundry to the point I only needed to dry 1 1/2 loads and fold the clothes when we got home. The sheets can wait to be washed in the morning. 😉 Just saw on the weather that another thunderstorm is moving in from the north. At least, dinner tonight is easy. We'll have catfish fillets (not fried) and sweet potato fries cooked in the air fryer, and corn-on-the-cob steamed in the microwave. Thank you for the reminder that today is national wildlife day. We definitely need to do more to save wildlife. Ann, I'm sorry you didn't get to see the Northern Lights. They are something every one should see once. Thanks for the pictures. Brenda, thank you for, those wonderful pictures. We got to see the northern lights in 1996 while camped at Santaland in North Pole. Alaska. My non-digitial pictures did not do them justice, but DH got some great videos. We did not see Steve or a shooting star that night. Karen, good to know the transfer between ships went smoothly. Have a great ctuise. Lenda

Joy, I'm so sorry Allen had a TIA, but he was in the right place at the right time. I'm sending positive thoughts that this was a one off, and that it and the other issues are taken care of quickly. Lenda

Good morning from a sunny and pleasant centtral Texas. I'm doing laundry, but may put it on hold so we can take the convertible out for a ride. When I worked, I tried to take my manners to work. Now days, there are some people who need to find their manners, dust them off, and begin using them. Fortunately, those people do not frequent the Fleet/Daily. I salute newspaper carrier day, though we no longer get a paper delivered. Spices are good. Another interesting qoute today. We'll pass on the meal and the drink. Pinot Noir is my go to red, but with the price of this one, I'll not be going to it. We have not been to today's port, and I had to look it up on Google Maps. Rich, that's interesting, and I wonder what's going on with the Oosterdam. Gerry, I think a lot of us would like that key blank. Graham, enjoy being treated Royally. That's good news Jesse's surgery wnt well. Wishing him a speedy and uneventful recovery. @Sharon in AZ Sharon, please wish your lovely mother a very HAPPY 93RD BIRTHDAY from us. Lenda

Just before sunset, we had a stray thunderstorm come through with high winds and hard rain. It didn't last long and dumped about 1/10 inch in just a few minutes. Ann, you were extremely lucky to have such a clear day and great view of Denali. We always enjoy all the flowers in the far north. Thanks for the pictures. Lenda

Good morning from central Texas, where we don't know what the weather will do today. Rain was predicted overnight and this morning, but it's a no show. The skies are cloudy, but it is bright with the sun trying to make an appearance. It's been years since we saw a movie in a theater. All the ones around here and around Quartzsite have closed. Tailgating has evolved since the first ones in the 1950s. Now, many are elaborate cookouts. The tallest building near us is maybe four stories. We have been to the top of Taipei 101 and the Shanghai Tower, which in 2018, was the second tallest building in the world with 128 floors. DH just read that even though the Shanghai Tower is not the tallest building, it has the highest observation deck of any building on the 121st floor. The Suzanne Collins quote, unfortunately, is true. We might have the meal, but also without pesto. We'll pass on the drink, but might try the wine. @kazu Jacqui, I hope today goes better, and sorry about the mess with the deed and the POA. I loved all the Canada geese mems. There were a couple in a campground in the PNW that were a menace. Our two dachshunds did not like them, and I'll admit, I let them chase the geese, but only when they were on a leash, and couldn't get too close. Other types of geese can also be mean. @aliaschief Bruce, sorry the dishwasher had to be replace. I like the pictures from your new phone. @cat shepard Ann, when I said I thought they would feed you at the Princess lodge, I was not expecting a quick box lunch. @luvteaching Karen, our condolences to you, Wayne's Karen and family and all his friends on his passing. These are the pictures of Mindelo that I posted on May 3, 2021. We have been to Mendillo twice, but not on a BHB. In 2000, it was our next to last stop on the P&O world cruise on Oriana. We rented a car and drove around the island, which is pretty dry and treeless, for the most part. After three months of ports in the British Commonwealth, where DH drove on the wrong side of the road, I had to keep reminding him to get back on the proper side of the road. Fortunately, there was not much traffic. We suspected the car we rented was the man's personal car. The second visit was in 2009 on the Tahitian Princes. That time we just walked around town. Couple of markets. As you can see, the fish market was not the cleanest, and there were a lot of flies, no ice and very, very fishy smelling. A mix of street scenes from our two visits. A few pictures from around the island. One of the locals The airport Lenda

Ann, thanks for the good wishes. I love the cat meme. Glad you have your flights booked for your Alaska criuse. We like Alaska Airline, and the upgrades will spoil you. Thank you for the anniversary wishes. I wish we could share some our rain with you. I know the southwest part of the country needs rain too. Try to stay cool in the hear wave. Lenda

Again, I want to thank everyone for their Happy Anniversary wishes. It was a nice, quiet day here this year. Unfortunately our plan to go to our favorite Tex-Mex reataurant had to be postponed. About the time we were ready to leave, it started raining again. Later, we wound up getting take put. We'll have a delayed dinner next week. BTW, our rain total for today is 2.08 inches. Our condolences to Captain Workman's family, friends and colleagues. Lenda

Jacqui, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to wish us a happy anniversary. Lenda

Thank you, Graham, for the anniversary wishes. Thank you. Lenda

Thank you for the good wishes. Lenda