Quartzsite Cruiser

Roy, I hope the PT will help your neck problem. Many, many years ago, when I had a stiff neck from being rear-ended by a car, the doctor told me something counter intuitive. He said to move my neck, and showed me how to do it safely. I was surprised how quickly my neck starting feeling better. I'm sorry there is no way to safely repair or replace the mitral valve, and I hope the cardiologist has something up her sleeves to mitigate the problems. Susan, I'm glad you are finally able to get the dead trees removed. Sandi, thanks for the information on Rejuvenate Outdoor Color Restorer. I need to work on our shutters which I think are fiberglass. I have been disappointed with the Rust-oleum Recolor the last few times I've used it. Thank you for the comments on my pictures. Terri, good luck with the data transfers to the new computer. I've always preferred Windows, and I gave up on iPads years ago. iTunes was such a hassle. Vanessa, I'm sorry the PT did not help with your dizziness. Take it easy today after your booster yesterday. Lenda

Joy, I bet your glad the skunks did not return Oliver's greeting. Thank you, Graham. Maureen, I hope you're feeling better today. Great pictures of Bethlehem. Carolyn, I'm glad your DD and family made it home safely after such a long drive. Lenda

I hope you have a wonderful day, and that the restaurant has improved. Lenda

In 2016 on our last Baltic cruise on Prinsendam, we were in Warnemunde on August 1. Since we had been to Berlin, we decided to rent a car and visit some of the towns to the west. The weather that day was a mixed bag of sun, heavy clouds and rain. Most of the rain was while we were on the autobahn. That day we visited Lubeck, Schwerin, Wismir, Bad Doberan, and Rostock. Our first stop was Lubeck, the furthest west we drove. It is an old walled city known for its gothic style red brick buildings. In Medieval times it was the capital of the Hanseatic League. Only the city gate remains of the wall, and it has a decided list as one side is sinking. The back side of the city gate The first building you see after passing the city gate. It might have been the building above, but somewhere nearby, we were at a high point and these are pictures of Lubeck and the Trave River. This picture was probably taken in Wismir. Schwerin Castle We could not find a parking place, so we did not tour the castle. The area cross from the bridge to the castle. I believe these were taken in Bad Doberan, and we just made it back to the car before it stated raining again. On the way back to the ship, we drove around Rostock, but did not find anything interesting to stop to see. We also drove around Warnemunde, and this is the church. Lenda

In 2005, we began and ended our cruise on Marco Polo in Warnemunde. While on the Prinsendam Baltic cruise in 2016, we stopped in Warnemunde. These are my pictures from Berlin taken on August 28 and 29, 2005. At the end of the Marcel Polo cruise, the passengers boarded a private train to a station in what had been east Berlin. We were traveling with friends, and the four of us managed to get one of the private compartments for the trip. Once we were in Berlin, there was a bus tour of Berlin and a riverboat tour on the River Spree. The next day, three of us took a bus to the Brandenburg Gate. Our friend left us there, and we continued to the Holocaust Memorial, and a self tour of the city. We saw this part of the wall in the former East Berlin. This section was in west Berlin, IIRC. Checkpoint Charlie. The bus stopped there for a photo op, and we returned the next day to visit the museum shown in the picture right behind the picture of the US GI. It was a very interesting museum and there were a lot of displays about escapes from East Berlin. These pictures are from our second day in Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate and a plaque in the line that marks the location of the Berlin Wall. The line runs along any part of the wall where the actual wall was torn down. The Holocaust Memorial One of the big intersections in Berlin and the rooftop garden area of a department store's buffet. The shell of this bombed out church was left as a reminder of the war, and the very modern new church beside it. We took a tram out to the 1936 Olympic Stadium. It was closed, so we could not go inside. Looking from one of the museums on an island in the River Spree between East and West Berlin. We visited the museum and saw Nefertiti. For being several millenniums old, she is in good shape. They also have many other Egyptian artifacts. The River Spree Lenda

Good morning from another cloudy morning in central Texas. Yesterday afternoon, we saw the sun for several hours. It is 74F with 100% humidity since the dew point is 74F. I really didn't need the weather app to tell me that since the condensation on the window is pretty thick. Our high this afternoon will be 88F. Not many plans for today. Not only black women, but everyone should receive equal pay. Love is Kind day is good, and those suffering from abuse of any kind deserve all the love we can give them. I'll honor Korean Veterans Armistice Day, but didn't we have it just a few days ago? A funny quote today. We'll pass on the meal, drink and wine today. We have been to Warnemunde both as a port and as an embarkation and disembarkation port. Three good days in history, with the isolation of insulin being the biggest one. @richwmn Rich, thanks for the information about the pdf final statement files. @cunnorl Charlene, thanks for the pictures of the icebergs. I don't remember ever seeing that many in one place at the southern end of Greenland. @1ANGELCAT Thanks for the information of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for the Moravian settlement. @cat shepard Ann, glad you got some much needed rain, but sorry it was accompanied by a lot of thunder. @jodi58 I agree with you about the athletes. They had nothing to do with the host city's welcoming ceremony, and they deserve our support. While we will support Team USA, I hope the best athletes in each sport make it to the podium. @0106 Tina, thanks for the explanations of two of our days. @ottahand7 Nancy, I'm sorry your computer is officially history. @Mtn2Sea Robert, thank you for the pictures from Bad Doberan. It is a lovely town even in the rain which is how we saw it in 2016. @lindaler Linda, you and your DH made a lot of progress yesterday. Your not alone on getting washers on little screws. Lenda

@Horizon chaser 1957 Laura, have a great time on your cruise. Lenda

@superoma Eva, I hope your birthday is wonderful. Lenda

Your Uncle Jim sounds like a very extraordinary person, and you were lucky to have him in your life. It's a shame he died so young. Terri, you Aunt Josie left a wonderful legacy in your memories of her. A great picture of her and your Uncle Angelo on their 50th anniversary. She was outstanding. What a voice. Roy, I think as spread out as everything was during the ceremony, it was better to see it on TV instead of in person. I was glad to see they included two para-Olympian's in the torch relay. Lenda

Good afternoon from a partly cloudy and windy central Texas. It is about 84F currently. Most of the time I was mowing and trimming the yard, it was not too bad out. The temperature in the 70s most of the time, the breeze and the clouds certainly helped. I was finished before noon, and have been watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. I will say they are quite different, but interesting. After the opening ceremonies in Beijing, the host nations have a big challenge to compete with them. I forgot to mention earlier, that I like bagels, but also prefer English muffins. I've found most bagels are too thick for me, but I do like the bagel thins with cream cheese. Gerry, enjoy your weekend with DS being home. Vanessa, I hope the vertigo maneuvers will help. I think sometimes, it takes a bit for them to work completely. Carolyn, safe travels the last day home for your DD and her family. They have had quite an adventure. Karen, I'm glad your DM is doing so well, and I hope her face heals soon. Elizabeth, I'm glad your shoulder is doing better and hope you can get the surgery scheduled soon. I also hope the plan for the kidney stones and the diet is one you can handle. Charlene, I'm sorry you are missing a port, but the scenic cruising should be wonderful. I hope the rest of the ports in Greenland are a go. Graham, the earthquakes, were actually in a small town 250 miles west of Dallas, and 231 miles west of where we live. There have been a series of about three or so earthquakes near Hermleigh which is close to the epicenter. There have been more in Texas since the oil patch started fracking several years ago. We did not feel any of them. We have felt earthquakes centered south of El Centro, CA, in Mexico when we were in Quartzsite. Lenda

Good overcast morning from central Texas where it is 72F and feels like 72F. Right now, the humidity is 100% because the dew point is 72F. Our predicted high is 87F with a nice breeze beginning in about an hour. Last night, the forecast showed rain all morning tomorrow, but how just in the early morning hours. However, I think I will still do the mowing and trimming today since it will be warmer tomorrow morning. With all the rain we got this week, the grass has really grown, and the native grasses in the unsodded area are green and growing again. The world needs to speak with one voice so we can have peace. Sadly, I don't think that will happen anytime soon. All my aunts and uncles were great aunts and uncles, and they have been gone for many, many years. We are aunt and uncle to DH's nieces and nephew. Today's quote by William Nicholson is true. I would like the steak, but I'm not sure about the Chimichurri sauce. Except for the seasoning before DH grills our steaks, I never put anything on a steak to interfere with the steak's flavor. We'll pass on the meal and the wine. Sadly, we have not been to today's port or any place in Tunisia. A great day in 1806 for British transpiration. The ADA made a big difference for those with disabilities, but we still have a ways to go to be inclusive for those with disabilities and their caregivers. For some reason, this posted, so I'm trying to edit it to finish before time runs out. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, please wish Morgan a VERY HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY for us. @grapau27 Graham, thank you for the information about One Voice Day. @kazu Jacqui, great you are making good progress getting the house ready to sell. It is not unusual to be hit with the enormity of a move, but just remember you were comfortable with the decision before these latest challenges. Too bad you can't teach Ivan how to sort and pack, too. @cunnorl Charlene, I hope you can make it into the Greenland ports. @ottahand7 Nancy, I hope the repair shop can fix your computer. It's ironic that until the latest update, I was dealing with a blue screen after every update, but not now. I'm still using Window 10, and I hope I didn't just jinx myself. @smitty34877 Terry, I'm glad your DD could stay with Tana last night so you could get some much needed and deserved rest. It is nice she and DSIL are going to do the shopping today. @Mr. Boston Enjoy your visit with friends this weekend. @dfish Debbie, I'm happy you did not have any back pain when you woke up, and very little leg pain yesterday. @Heartgrove Jack, I hope the doctor's appointment goes even better than you expect. @marshhawk Annie, thanks for the wonderful, happy pictures. @lindaler Linda, that is nice of your DS to assemble the shed for you. Lenda

Ann, the YouTube videos are a good idea. When we were there, we could not go into the Great Pyramid of Giza. Evidently, they only open one pyramid at a time, and we went through the next biggest one. @summer slope Dixie, DH said if he'd had knee or back problems in 2003, he would not have gone all the way down. I didn't have any problems, but still was not enjoying it. Seeing them up close was good enough. What I really enjoyed was our stop at the Sphinx. Lenda

Maureen, you are correct about the new 3D are better, but I'm not sure how much more comfortable they are. Our regional hospital has one of the new ones, and the technician said they have a lot fewer call backs with the new machines. They do not have to press down as hare either, which is better. However, I've found on a couple of positions, when the machine is pressed down, it pulls on the muscles in my neck and down into my side. That being said, I'll take the discomfort knowing the scans are easier and more detailed for the radiologist to read. Dixie, we did a tour similar to the one Sandi @StLouisCruisers cruiser did, but we had free time at the pyramids and could go down in one of the pyramids. It was in 2003 when we were younger and fitter, too. DH made it all the way down, but I turned around when there was a break in the flow of people coming up. It was warm and surprising humid in the pyramid. The ancient Egyptians must have been shorter because we hand to bend over. DH took a couple of pictures at the bottom, including the steps going up. This will give you an idea of what is at the end of the tunnel, and the steps into and out of the pyramid. A word of caution. There will men offering camel rides for about $5, and we were told not to get on the camels. A friend did, and the camel driver said it would be $25 to get off the camel. One of the tour guides noticed what was happening, and made the driver get the camel to kneel down and let our friend off him off. Susan, I'm not claustrophobic, but I was not comfortable in the narrow part going in. It was wide enough for two people to pass. The tunnel was downhill going in, and DH said it was steeper at the end. Lenda

We had a pop up rain cell pop up about 20 minutes ago, and it has already dropped 1/3 inch of rain. It is still raining, but not as hard. I won't have to turn the sprinkler on for a few more days. I wish the areas that have the wildfires and/or in need of a lot of rain, would also get some of this rain. You have every right to take credit for introducing your friend's daughter to the joys of reading. Brenda, I could not like your post, because the devastation in the pictures is just too sad. Thank you for keeping us updated on the Jasper fire. I hope everyone listened to the evacuation orders and left, and that no one is injured or killed by this fire. Lenda

Good morning from an increasingly cloudy central Texas. Since I was going to the store, DH decided we'd do a drive-thru breakfast while the weather was still a bit cooler. Then a few chores once we were home. Now, I'm trying to tackle what I didn't get done yesterday. Thank you, Joy. This time the credit for the pictures goes to DH since had the only digital camera on that cruise. Gerry, the picture from Jasper is so sad. It was a lovely town to visit. I'm glad your DH got a good report yesterday, and they adjusted the pacemaker. Enjoy your visit from your DS. Terry, I was sorry to read that you and Tana had a bad night last night. I hope you both can get some rest today. With the aide looking after Tana today, please take time for yourself. Edi, I hope you and your DS enjoy the concert and picnic tonight. Debbie, I hope the fire department can determine the cause of the fire. I hope the homeowner can find a place to stay until her home can be occupied again. Enjoy your dinner out tonight. Carolyn, I hope the need for additional tests is because of a glitch in the initial test. That happened to me once because the did not press down hard enough. Thank you, Graham. Lenda

Here are the remaining pictures of our day in Bali. We were supposed to be there in 2002 on Volendam's APEC cruise. The port was canceled after the nightclub bombing. Captain Peter Harris sailed close enough to Bali for us to take a few pictures of the island. It was a very grey, cloudy day, and the pictures are not good enough to share. I'm pretty sure we were the only four people on the ship who got to see how the Balinese live. Our driver took us to his family's home, which is really a compound. His brother's job is carving masks which someone else paints before the "big boss" sells them to the shops. We got to see the brother carving a mask out of balsa wood. After much discussion, the brother agreed to sell us an unpainted mask. He was afraid he would get in trouble with his boss, but in the end each couple walked away with a mask. It means more to me than a finished one I could buy in a store. Notice the chickens in the cages. Our next stop was Klungkung, a former royal palace in Semarapura, Bali. One the way back to the tender pier. At the tender dock. Some of the girls who danced for the passengers as they shopped. If you did not want to be hassled, you kept your eyes off the items for sale. We wanted one of the large, decorative kites for sale on the island, but knew we couldn't get it home on the plane. Ironically, we found one in Quartzsite the next winter, and it's hanging on our livingroom wall. Good thing the ceiling is 17 feet high. Our driver for the day stopped on the way back to the tender, and asked us to pay him then. He, along with other drivers, lived with the owner of the car. If we paid him at the dock and tipped him (which we did ), the owner would see the transaction and want all the money. By paying before the final stop at the dock, he got to keep the tip. We also had to get back a little earlier than necessary, as the driver had to be at the owner's house in time for the evening meal. If he arrived after the meal, he would not be fed that night. Lenda

This is what I posted on September 3, 2023, when Celukan Bawang was the port of the day. Since no one seems to have been to today's port in Bali, I thought I'd repost my pictures from our 2000 visit to the other side of the island. I think some of the places we visited can be reached from Celukan Bawang, but others could be a bit too far away. We were in Bali in 2000 on the P&O world cruise. Another couple invited us to share a taxi for the day with them. We saw a lot more of the island than most people who took tours. It was a very interesting and fun day. I will need to split the pictures into two groups and post them separately. Approaching Bali Greeters at the tender dock The majority of the population on Bali are Hindu, and there are personal shrines at most businesses and homes. This shrine was at the gas station where the driver stopped. There are interesting statues along the roads. I think this was our shopping stop. Our driver took us to the Scared Monkey Forest, which is a sanctuary and old temple. The monkeys know the tourists will feed them bananas. Our driver bought each of us a small bunch and warned us to only hold out one banana at a time as the monkeys can be a little aggressive trying to get the bananas. We finally had to give several bananas to one monkey. A mother and her baby. The temple in the monkey forest. We were required to cover our legs since we had on shorts, but they provided a cloth we could tie around our waist. That included the men, too. Lenda

Maureen, that is great news about your DH's eye pressure numbers. Very glad yesterday was a good day. I'm glad the lady from SSA was able to set up your account. Denise, I hope your sore throat is from allergies, and you feel better soon. Tina, thanks for the picture of the Chincoteague Pony Swim. We heard about it when we lived in NC, but never good get time to go see it. Lenda

Good morning from a mostly clear central Texas. It is 74F and feels like 74F, and even though it says 97% humidity and a dew point of 73F, I can see out the window this morning. Our predicted high is 84F and there is a moderate chance of rain mid afternoon. This morning I'll make a quick trip to the store to get what I didn't get yesterday. Then, I'll be catching up on what I didn't get done yesterday afternoon. Veterans should be hired if qualified, and they should be able to return to their old jobs, but that is not always the case. I was just old enough so I can remember when the Korean conflict ended with the armistice. I'll try to remember to wear my red shoes today. A funny quote from a funny lady, Joan Rivers. We'll pass on the meal, drink and wine today. We were in Bali in 2000 on P&O Oriana's world cruise, but I think we stopped in Benoa instead of Celukan Bawang. George Stevenson's invention of the first steam locomotive in 1814 revolutionized travel. The 1984 spacewalk by Svetlana Savitskaya was a good day for women. @bennybear Brenda, that is sad news the fire reached Jasper and is destroying buildings. I hope they can contain it soon. Those numbers caused by the smoke are unbelievable. I hope the dog that was attacked by the cougar is doing all right. Glad they were able to run the cougar off and save the dog. @grapau27 Graham, thanks for the explanation of Red Shoe Day. I hope Pauline's mammogram is clear. Not fun, but a few minutes discomfort is better than waiting too late. @rafinmd Roy, good luck with your appointment today, and be safe on the busy roads. @cat shepard Ann, the Sahara dust can be uncomfortable, but it does make pretty sunrises and sunsets. I've read it is also putting a damper on the formation of tropical storms. @ottahand7 Nancy, I'm sorry your asthma was bad yesterday, and I hope today is a better one. @Heartgrove Jack, good news that your bloodwork was good yesterday. @aliaschief Bruce, I hope your echocardiogram results are good today. @kazu Jacqui, I'm sorry about all the internet, tv and phone problems yesterday, and about the leg pain and lack of sleep last night. I hope today is a better day all around. CC has been giving me some problems this morning, and now I can't download the memes for today. I'll try to get time in another post or edit this one. Lenda

Good evening. Finally, everything is put away, supper is over, and the dishes are done. It's time to relax after a busy afternoon. Brenda, sorry about the extreme heat, smoke and water rationing. The smoke does make prett sunsets, but it's better without the smoke. Vanessa,I hope the at home exercises hel0 with the verigo. It took a few days for them to work for DH. You probably could find them on the internet. Terri, I'm glad your DH's appointment went well. I hope you get your internet back soon, if it isn't already back. Ann, I hope you and Pat can stay well. Best wishes for his cardiologist appointment. I hope they can help him soon. Debbie, that's too bad about the house fire. I'm glad no one was hurt, and I hope they find the missing cats soon. I'm glad tou leg is mostly pain free. Sandi, thanks for the sweet picture of the two precious babies with their mother. Lenda

Good evening from central Texas. Today did not go as planned. We learned that one of the two watches I took to Ft. Worth was back and ready to be picked up. To get out of the house, DH said he would drive me up there. It's a good thing he went, because the watch had not been fixed after all. There is the main watch and a small one in the band. They fixed the small one, but didn't do the main watch. The jewelry store is sending it back. Since we were up there anyway, we stopped at Total Wine and W-M. That made for a long, but not wasted afternoon. I'll read the rest of the Daily after supper. Lenda

Roy, I hope the muscle relaxer and ibuprofen help the torticollis. Great news on your PSA levels. Lenda

Good morning from a cloudy and humid central Texas. I could tell it was humid when I opened the blinds and could not see out. It is 74F and feels like 74F with 97% humidity and a dew point of 73F. We have a 2mph breeze from the WNW. Our predicted high is 89F with no chance of rain. We haven't had any rain since the 1/10 inch we received early yesterday morning. Now, the long range forecast has a 33% chance of rain Friday morning, and no rain afterwards. We actually saw the sun for a few hours yesterday afternoon. All my cousins are distant cousins with whom we don't have contact. I try to carve out some time each day for self care, but don't always succeed. It's been a while since we did a drive through breakfast, and right now, it's too humid to be comfortable eating in the car. I also remember Sam Levenson from various panel shows in the 50s and early 60s. The quote is funny, but I doubt if many need someone to lead them into temptation. The second soup looks good, and I like Debbie's @dfish suggestion to not add all the vegetables the first day. My father enjoyed whiskey sours, but I never liked them. The wine sounds good, but we've found a good Prosecco at a lower price, and have a bottle in the refrigerator. We have not been to Red Bay. A good day for France and Canada in 1534 when Jacques Cartier landed in Canada. The 1911 discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham gave us a better understanding of the Inca civilization. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, thank you for sharing the pictures of Clement John and Declan George, two cute little boys. @dobiemom Marcia, I would not call the bathroom work a little repair job. Glad your DH is able to do the work. @cunnorl I hope you all enjoy the day in Red Bay, Charlene, and that your DD will enjoy seeing the Labradors. @ottahand7 Nancy, I hope something can be done soon to help your DB. Is switching doctors a possibility? @rafinmd Roy, I hope you can get some help at the Urgent Care, and that it is not anything serious. @aliaschief Bruce, I'm sorry your DGD has an ear infection, and I hope she is well soon. If you are prone to allergies, you might consider adding an electrostatic filter to the new system. @kazu Jacqui, I'm glad you made it up and down the stairs yesterday without too much pain. We've found a lot of uses for the grabbers DH got in rehab, but never thought about using one to play fetch with a dog, Very clever. @cruising sister Lorraine, enjoy your trip with your DGS, DDIL and DGD this weekend. @dfish Debbie, I'm glad the leg pain is gone. I'm sorry about the right hip. If the pain is on the outside, it could be the sciatic nerve where it passes through a bursa. DH's hip pain was the sciatic nerve which was irritated by the spinal stenosis, and steroid shots in the bursa helped for years. @Heartgrove Jack, I hope the bloodwork shows no surprises. @RMLincoln Maureen, great news that your DH had very low pressure readings the past to days. Enjoy your lunch with the Maryland friend. @Cruzin Terri Terri. I hope all goes well with your DH's appointment today, and that you can get lunch while you are out. @Seasick Sailor Joy, best wishes for Bonnie at her appointment today. @marshhawk Anne, I hope today is a better day, and good for you taking charge of your DH's medications. Glad you are getting more sleep even if it's on the sofa. HUGS! Great pictures, too. @grapau27 Graham, I'm sorry your arthritis in the hips and knees are causing you so much pain. It looks like the sun is trying to break through the clouds. ☀️ Lenda

Vanessa, when DH had vertigo due to crystals in his ears, the doctor showed him how to do the Epley maneuver, and told him to do it at home. It cleared everything fairly quickly. Lenda

Ann, it sounds over all that the nurse was positive. Low grade sounds better. I hope the oncologist can help ease your concerns. Annie, I'm sorry the MRIs did look as good as last year. I'm glad they ignored the rules and did both MRIs today. Krispy Kreme donuts are always good. HUGS to both of you. Sandi, I'm glad the twins arrived safely, and that all are foing well. Carolyn, we saw the eruption on the news. That was incredible. Lenda