Quartzsite Cruiser

Good morning from a sunny but still windy Quartzsite. It is 52F with a predicted high of 68F with the clouds returning this afternoon. Our winds will also continue today. We'll be heading to Blythe for one last grocery run this morning. All three days today are good, but the second and third ones are very important. The Stephen Chbosky quote is true. I've had the shrimp tacos on BHBs including on our recent Koningsdam cruise. For some reason fish tacos don't appeal to me, but I like the shrimp tacos. HAL uses the America's Test Kitchen recipe. We'll pass on the drink, but the wind sounds nice. We have not been to Kiriwina Island PNG. We also have another three interesting days in history to honor. @marshhawk Annie, congratulations on another sale. The lady who wants the call backs must have some interesting stories to tell. @dfish Debbie, safe travels today and enjoy your visit with your former student and her family. I hope the girls have fun, too. @Haljo1935 Elizabeth, I hope the good memories of your brother help ease the pain. I like your other brother's thoughts about today. Hugs @smitty34877 Terry, I'm sorry about the water in the basement, but I'm glad the sump pump is working well. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, safe travels to your DD today and tomorrow. I know you will enjoy seeing her today. Thanks for the pictures from PNG. Lenda

@RedneckBob RNB, enjoy your cruise on the NS. I hope the internet is much better than X. Lenda

Good afternoon from a windy Quartzsite. Before it got too windy, I got a few more things checked off the to do list, stored for the summer, and loaded on the motorhome. I also got one of the storage sheds straightened up enough so that we can put the RZRs in it for the summer. Tomorrow, we'll make a quick run to Blythe for things we need until I have time to shop in Texas. Then I will work more on getting things ready to put on the motorhome, and maybe actually getting more loaded. Vanessa, that is good news you slept more last night. I know you will be happy when the house cleaners are finished and you can put things back in place. I hope the new radiator can be found and installed soon. Brenda, your snow is pretty from this distance, but I bet you wish you were back in Hawaii. Eva, I know you are glad all the taxes are finished and filed. I'm glad you are getting help with the trust return for your father's pension death benefit. Lenda

Good morning from a very cloudy and windy Quartzsite. It is 62F and heading to 75F this afternoon. Our wind will be about 22mph this afternoon, with the clouds and wind continuing tomorrow, but the wind won't be quite as high. Then, we'll be back into the 70s and 80s until next Saturday and Sunday. Of course, the long range forecast could change more than once. It's been a while since we had chips and dip. Sadly, we don't have kittens or puppies to cuddle today. With all that's going on in the world today, we should remember that atheists are people too, and they are caring and loving people. Eleanor Roosevelt was a very wise woman, and today's quote is very true. The meal sounds good, and the recipe with the stuffed mushrooms could also be adapted for our vegetarians by substituting cauliflower, carrots, and maybe black beans for the chicken. The drink sounds interesting to try on a BHB if like Gerry @ger_77 I had the drink package. I had never heard of the Canadian whiskey Pendleton before today. Someone else can have my glass of today's wine. We have not been to Madagascar. Three interesting days in history to honor covering religion, war and music. @kazu Jacqui, I hope you do not get too much ice, especially on your driveway. That black hole could include red dachshunds. We always said our Nikki would be a great help to the crew in the Lido by cleaning the floor for them except for lettuce. @smitty34877 Terry, I hope the roof repairs hold. Cute kittens. @dfish Debbie, I'm glad the snow was less than predicted. Safe travels to Sue today when she picks up River. @cat shepard Ann, I hope all goes well when your DS goes home. I'm glad her DS and DDIL will be there, and that the family will put a plan in motion to help your DS. @marshhawk Annie, I'm glad you have your new keyboard, and congratulations on the sale. I hope it's the first of many. @Haljo1935 Elizabeth, I hope your yard guy can get the grass mowed. @Heartgrove Thanks for the pictures of Juno and Sam, two beautiful dogs. @ger_77 Gerry, can you share some information about your DH's book? @Seasick Sailor Joy, I read about that horrible accident yesterday. Our condolences to the families and friends of those killed, and positive thoughts that those injured heal quickly. I hope today is a better day than yesterday. We've had enough accidents, explosions, injuries and deaths. Lenda

@seagarsmoker Wishing you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Lenda

@GTVCRUISER Lenda

@Lazy 1 Jane, I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing cruise. Lenda

Karen, thanks for the wonderful pictures of the daffodils. Vanessa, while no one wants back surgery, sometimes it reaches a point where it is the best option. I'm glad you and the surgeon agreed to go for the minimally invasive procedure. I am sending positive thoughts that the surgery will relieve you pain and let you resume a normal life. Lenda

It is tragic that two crew members were killed. Our condolences to the families of the crew members, the crew of the Nieuw Amsterdam, the officers and staff of the NA.

No matter which ship, it is tragic that two crew members were killed. Our condolences to the families of the crew members, the crew of the Nieuw Amsterdam, the officers and staff of the NA, and the passengers. Lenda

@grapau27 Graham and Pauline, I too was saddened and shocked to learn that the lovely and vibrant Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer. I hope the surgery removed all the cancer cells and that the chemotherapy eradicates any stray cancer cells. Sending positive thoughts that she makes a full recovery and has a long and happy life with her family and eventually as your Queen. Lenda

Good morning from a sunny and calm Quartzsite. It was 55F when I got up and is 57F now. Our predicted high is 84F, then tomorrow, we will be back in the 70s for a few days except for Sunday when it will be 67F with a 15mph wind. Today, I'll put some of the food we won't need on the motorhome, and see what else I can put on it, too. I like as young as you feel day, and generally, I don't feel as old as the calendar or mirror say. I love daffodils, but the ones I planted in central Texas did not do well. In fact, only one came up after the first year, and I finally had to pull it up last year. I won't be goofing off all day, but hope to have time to goof off with my book this afternoon. The Marcus Tullius Cicero quote is very true. We'll pass on the particular cake for a meal, but we've been known to skip the buffet in the Lido at lunch and head straight to the desserts. I think we have our priorities right. I'll substitute a regular Mojito for today's drink, and would definitely have the wine. We've had it before and enjoyed it. We have not been to Falmouth, Jamaica, by ship, but we spent a week there in 1975 at a resort that doesn't seem to be there anymore. Part of the week, we rented a car and explored the coast from Ocho Rios to Negril. Back then, Falmouth was a sleepy town without a cruise port. Back then, the locals were not as pushy. Two interesting days in history. It seems the malls are going away and being replaced by outdoor shopping centers, which are always fun in the summer heat in Texas. Good for Charilaos Vasilakos of Greece winning 1st modern marathon in 1896. @MISTER 67 Glad you can now get your new driver's license and register your car in your new town. @dfish Debbie, I hope the weather and roads clear by tomorrow so Sue can go get River. @seagarsmoker Thank you for the pictures of Falmouth and Pennie. Falmouth sure has changed since 1975. @Cruzin Terri Terri, I hope you don't have any problems driving to Hilton Head today, and that the injection helps your foot. @cat shepard Ann, I'm glad your DS is ready to go home tomorrow. It sounds like you have everything ready for her discharge. Good luck to Brayden and you in getting her to follow through with what she needs to get stronger. @RMLincoln Maureen, I'm sorry your DH's PSA numbers are still going up. I hope the oncologist can help him. The picture of the flowers is beautiful. @ottahand7 Nancy, I'm sorry your hip is bothering you. Thanks for the picture of the daffodils. @Nickelpenny Pennie, I hope the CT gives the doctors some answers and a clear path for the surgery in May. @Heartgrove Jake, thanks for the pictures of Sam. I hope he continues to do well for a long time, but I can understand why you want to stay home with him. Lenda

I've called it quits for the day. Right now, the motorhome is ready for us to start loading it, and I hope to do that a little bit each day. Now, I'm going out to my favorite "room", the south patio and read for a while. That helps me relax and rejuvenate. This time of year, with fewer people here, it is really quiet and relaxing. Joy, I'm sorry it really was a crappy day. I hope Allen can be made comfortable until he sees the MOHS surgeon. Vanessa, I'm happy you found the envelope. I know that is a relief. Lenda

Good afternoon. After a couple hours or so, I now have things in the motorhome arranged a bit better. At least, it seems to be better for getting to the things we need regularly. After 24 years of one motorhome where we had a lot of storage, switching to a smaller one requires a different arrangement. Also, there were a few shelves that wobbled because whoever installed them had at least one support bracket lower than the others. Between DH the other day and me today, I think all but one is fixed. That one is a challenge because the brackets are in the right locations, but since it is a long shelf, the back track and brackets should have been further back in the cabinet not supporting the middle of the shelf. Otherwise, when the toaster was taken out of the front, the mixer on the back of the shelf caused it to drop. Easiest solution was putting the mixer on the bottom shelf and the light loaf pan on the back of the wobbly shelf. I wish all of life's problems were so easy to solve. Debbie, I use CeraVe lotion, and it works well, when I remember to use it. There are a couple of formulas, and it comes in a lotion or a cream in a tube. The cream is good for traveling. I'm glad you have your state taxes straightened out, and will be able to handle them next year. One good thing about living in Texas is no state income tax. Roy, that is such sad news about the 15 year old girl dying in the fire last night. Our condolences to her family and friends. Karen, that type of excitement is what you don't need. I hope the victim is all right and will recover. Vanessa, could the envelop have fallen out of the car at the PO? I hope you find it. I hope your appointments tomorrow go well, and that the neurosurgeon has some answers for you. I also hope that horrible fire was not arson. I think they always look for the source of a fire to determine if it was an accident, something that could have been prevented or arson. I forgot to mention this morning when I first saw the meme of walking the cat, that our grand cat Tiburon was that way. Once I was walking him on the leash and thought he was coming along easily. No, I was dragging him down the carport. Eva, that cake looks yummy and the meal sounds wonderful. When we moved into our neighborhood in 1999, we were some of the youngest there. While we are not the oldest, there are only two houses whose occupants moved in before us, and one other that moved at the same time we did. At least, we have "youngsters" to take care of the things in the neighborhood now. Lenda

On July 3, 2019, Veendam docked in Salerno instead of Naples. We were told it was for operational reasons. Since we were doing b2b2b2bs and would be stopping in Naples three times, we were glad to see a different town. This is the area where the shuttle drop-off and pick-up was located. This small church on the mail street is the Church of St. Lucia de Judacia. Some pictures from our walk along the main street This building is Palazzo Edilizia built in the 1920s. In 2007 part of the plaster on a corner of the building collapsed, but no one was injured. The Church of St. Mary of the Announcement. We went inside, but did not know we could have visited the crypts. By the time we found out, the church was closed and the doors were locked. One of the smaller back streets Lenda

Good morning from another sunny, but windier day in Quartzsite. It was 55F when I got up, and is now 62F. The predicted high is 82F. It looks like we'll be in the 70s to mid 80s until we leave, with the exception of one day. Sunday we'll only reach 67F with 15mph winds. I'm running a little late today since I slept until about 7:20 this morning. Incredible kid deserve to be celebrated everyday. I'll also celebrate Big Bang Day and the tv show The Big Bang Theory. It's nice when we find a company that cares about it's customers and it's employees, but that is rare these days. Loved the Helen Hayes quote, but I'm not sure the hardest years stop at 70. We'll pass on the pot roast today, but I love a good pot roast with potatoes, lots of onions and lots of carrots. We'll pass on the drink, but DH might like the wine. We were in Salerno on Veendam in 2019 as a substitute port for one stop in Naples. It is a much quieter city than Naples, but I enjoyed our day just walking around. I'll look for my pictures shortly. The Napoleonic Code in 1804 was a big step forward in writing laws. Henry Morgan Stanley's 1871 African expedition is well known. I'll definitely salute The Beatles first appearance at The Cavern in Liverpool. I'm still a big fan. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, fingers crossed 🤞 that the roof repair holds and that there are no surprises at the dermatologist today. @grapau27 Graham, thank you for researching all of today's days. @Crazy For Cats Jake, I'm glad the Tamarind was excellent last night. @Denise T Denise, I hope the vet is pleased with Chases recovery, and that Chase can ditch the cone of shame. @dfish Debbie, I hope you get the evaluation you want and need for the procedure you need. @aliaschief Bruce, I hope you have a good view of the laser show. It is really good if you are docked near the Star Ferry instead of the new cruise terminal. @cat shepard Ann, I hope Brayden has fun at the chocolate factory. I also hope your DS gets a good report from the evaluation today. @Nickelpenny Pennie, that is good news you have a plan to help with the pain, and that the doctor wants to take a conservative approach with the surgery. @marshhawk Annie, that is good news the keyboard worked and you could work yesterday. I hope the callbacks all result in sales. @kazu Jacqui, I'm sorry about the x-ray results, and I hope the physio helps. Unfortunately, sometimes back surgery is necessary, but I hope you can avoid it. @ottahand7 Nancy, I'm glad the spot on John's ear was not serious and that he got the pain meds for his knee. @Seasick Sailor Joy, I hope the dermatologist will prescribe the needed meds for Allen. I hope you get to see the eclipse at the winery. We're lucky we are in the country and will not have to deal with crowds for the eclipse though I think the state park and Corps of Engineer parks in the area will be crowded. @quilty964 Karen, I hope Cooper is all right now. @rafinmd Roy, I hope the concerns about the fire station's tax returns are easily solved. @Cruzin Terri Terry, thanks for checking in today. I hope you can get some help with the torn rotator cuff. I'm glad your DH is doing as well as he can. @Vict0riann Ann, I'm happy that the surgeon does not think your DD needs surgery. I hope you can go on your cruise. @RMLincoln Maureen, I hope you can get the NJ tax return straightened out. Lenda

Brenda, that is good news your DS did extremely well. I'm glad the farmers will be getting some much needed snow for their fields. Lenda

Finally, the last really big chore is done! The yard is raked and most of the bare spots are now covered with rocks. We will need to get a load of rocks next fall and have someone spread them. I'm reaching the point that it's getting to be too much of a chore. Raking isn't bad since I basically walk back and forth dragging the rock rake behind me unless I need to push rocks in a tight place. Vanessa, thank you for letting us know about that horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the mother. the two surviving children and grandfather on the loss of some many family members. I hope there are more extended family members to help them. Edi, sorry about the plumber canceling. I can understand his canceling if he didn't have helpers, but he should be the one to call and set up another appointment asap. What is happening to customer service. Lenda

Good afternoon. It's not bad outside with the light wind. I'm slowly getting things crossed of the to do list to get ready to leave for Texas on April 1. This morning I got the gates painted along with the frames for the tiles on fence, a decorative Kokopelli and the hanger for the wind chimes. Now that the signs and Kokopelli are dry I'll rehang them. While I'm outside, I'll get the rocks raked and the bare places covered. Raking is the last biggie on the list. Annie, I loved the song, but then I have a weird sense of humor. Jake, thanks for the pictures from Antigua. Lenda

Good morning from a beautiful, sunny day in Quartzsite. It was 49F when I got up and is now 53F. It looks like it will be 78F this afternoon. It might be a good day to paint the gates since they haven't been painted for at least two years. The summer sun is not kind to the paint on the metal gates. I take the easy way out, and use spray paint, so I have to wait for a day with not as much wind. Astrology can be interesting, but I don't take it seriously. Day of Happiness is good, and I like the idea behind Dogs in Yellow. The Benjamin Franklin quote is good, but probably not always easy to achieve. The quiche sounds good, but I think I'd like one with a crust. We'll pass on the drink, and the wine sounds nice but pricey. We have not been to today's port. The Dutch East Indian Company played a big roll in developing part of the world. The electric battery was a big step forward in having portable power. @aliaschief Thank you for the pictures of Manila and the dinner around the pool. @0106 Tina, that is a very cute puppy. @grapau27 Graham, thank you for the information about dogs in yellow. @Haljo1935 Elizabeth, I hope the boss' boss shows up today and ends all the speculation about what is going on, and I hope it's good news. @Denise T Denise, Chase must have really wanted that bandage off. I'm glad his foot is healing well and he can walk on it. @Nickelpenny Pennie, I'm sorry the PT has not helped. I hope you can get some answers, and an MRI. If it is hip pain, a steroid shot could help. @marshhawk Annie, I hope you can get the computer working and are able to make some sales. @quilty964 Karen, I hope the snow isn't as bad as predicted and you don't lose power. Lenda

Brenda, sending very positive thoughts to your DS for his master's defense tomorrow. Lendda

Coco is a cattie, but what mischief is she plotting? Welcome home, but I wish it had been a better kind of welcome. Thanks for the pictures from Colombo and of the elephants. Lenda

Good afternoon. While the sun makes it seem hot standing in the sun, it is cooler outside than inside. It the first time we've been able to open the house during the day. We usually open it after dinner, and always at night in the bedroom. The laundry is off the line, folded and put away. I've also gone through the food in the pantry and the storeroom to see what was really out of date. This year, there was very little to toss, and it went in the trash pickup today. Vanessa, I'm so sorry the pain is coming back, and I hope you can find something that will help longer than two weeks. I'm glad you got to visit with you British friends, but sorry you were in so much pain. Graham, you are Sarah's real parents, the ones that basically raised her, taught her how to be a loving caring person, and the ones who were there for her when things were at their worst. Annie, FWIW, I had an implant in 2004, and I have not had any problems with it. Back then, the oral surgeon, not my regular dentist, drilled out the root because the tooth failed under the crown. At that time he put the post in, and I had to wait four months until the bone grew around the post to have the rest of the implant put in. I think they do it a bit differently now. I'm sorry your DH is having to deal with the jaw bone disintegrating. It mush be very painful and disheartening. Kazu, there are different ages when you can begin drawing Social Security. While the SS official Full Retirement Age is 66 and two months and heading to 67, you can begin drawing SS benefits, at a smaller amount, at 62. You are eligible for the full amount when you reach FRA which depends on the year you were born. For some people who had higher earnings, waiting until 70 to start receiving SS benefits is best. Sadly, our government does not do things the easy way. Lenda

We have been to Colombo, Sri Lanka once. In 2000 on the P&O world cruise, we docked in Colombo shortly after a bombing. We could only walk around the dock area adjacent to the ship. I have a few photos of town taken from the ship. Colombo The welcoming dancers. There were a few vendors who were allowed to set up tables near the ship. Like HAL and the Prinsendam, P&O had a ship that was beloved by the passengers. However, the officers and crew were not as fond of that ship, the Canberra. That ship was very old, and would have been retired years earlier if the British government had not used her as a hospital ship during The Falklands war. Before returning her to service, the government fully restored her, and to better condition than before. The Canberra was in port the same day, and we were supposed to be able to tour her, but that was canceled too. Lenda

Good morning from a mostly sunny Quartzsite. It was 43F when I got up this morning and is currently 50F. After a much cooler than usual last week, we are getting back to our normal March temperatures. Our high today will be 75F, and with the exception of one day, we'll be in the 70s and 80s for the next two weeks. I'll celebrate Certified Nurses, and all the wonderful nurses who took care of DH the past two years. Several of DH's customers and many of those who worked with him were from other countries, so International Client's Day is important too. And we cannot forget International Read to Me Day which is to encourage children around the world to ask the adults in their villages to read to them. We read to our DDs each night before bedtime for many years. The DDs would bring library books home for us to read, and because of our preferences, I read Dr. Seuss and DH read the Curious George series, many, many times. I have a great recipe for Chicken Cacciatore that I make with bone-in, skin-on thighs in the pressure cooker, and serve with rice. I just won't be making it today since we'll be splitting a ribeye tonight. We'll pass on the drink and the wine. We have been to the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and I mean just the port. In 2000, the guerilla group the Tamil Tigers set off a bomb in Colombo a few days before we were to arrive. Because of the unrest, we were not allowed off the pier, and could only go as far as the few vendor tables set up near the ship. The opening of the Sydney Harbor Bridge in 1932 and the premiere of Faust and worth celebrating. It was a sad day in 1920 when the Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles and would not ratify the League of Nations. @Haljo1935 Elizabeth, there is quite a bit of confusion between when you can collect SS benefits, and Full Retirement Age, which is 66 years two months if you were born before 1954. After that it increases gradually to age 67 if you were born between 1955 and 1960. As others have said, if you begin collecting SS benefits before FRA, the payments are decreased. If you wait until FRA, then it gets a bit trickier. In my case, it was better for me to start collecting SS benefits at 66, but for DH waiting until he was 70 was better. You just have to make the calculations to determine what is best for each individual. @smitty34877 Terry, physical therapists and occupational therapists also deserve their own day to be celebrated, too. @grapau27 Graham, with each new revelation about Sarah's parents, I'm more appalled. I'll never understand people who reject their own child and are mean to them. But in reality, Sarah's parents were responsible for her birth, but you and Pauline are her true loving and kind patents. @marshhawk Annie, from experience, barfing cats or dogs will really wake you up quickly. @cat shepard Ann, I hope your DS is ready to go home and will do the required work needed to recover. If you don't think she is ready, it is possible to appeal the decision to Medicare. We (mostly me) talked to DH's case manager and therapists about what we/I felt was needed before I could comfortably take care of him at home. They listened and reevaluated his case each week, and even extended the discharge date by three days. You might think about talking to your DS's case manager and therapists about your concerns for when she is home. We've found home health care is varied. A neighbor had great care, but DH's nurse and therapy aide were sub-par. @ottahand7 Nancy, I always enjoyed watching the Pileated woodpeckers and the Ladderback woodpeckers. @RMLincoln Maureen, safe travels to your DGD and her husband. Lenda