Quartzsite Cruiser

Good afternoon from a still cloudy central Texas. While there was rain in Dallas, it was over and the roads were dry before we got there. The appointment went well, and DH does not have to return until next year unless there is a problem. It turns out we didn't see the surgeon but his nurse practioner, which was all right with us. She released DH to drive, so I handed over the keys to the convertible to him. @JazzyV Vanessa, we appreciate your putting DH on the Care List and the rotation, but I think it's safe to take him off both lists. The few remaining side effects will clear up slowly -- too slowly for him, but there is progress every day. Our 1999 diesel motorhome is at the stage that it will probably need some expensive maintenance in the very near future. It is still not practical for DH to play mechanic, and some would probably still need to be done by a mechanic. That being said, on the way home, we detoured to a large RV dealer and looked at new, slightly shorter motorhomes. We found one we like and are thinking about it. It will take some getting used to a different layout. In the meantime, we'll be going through the current one and weeding out stuff that's stored in it that we no longer need and/or want. Nancy, your night at the casino sounds like fun. Terri, I know you are disappointed about needing to cancel the trip, but you did what was best for you and for your DH. Thanks for the pictures from Gisborne. The train ride sounds like fun. We've enjoyed train trips with old steam engines. Bruce, I'm glad you and your luggage made it safely to Montreal. Enjoy your dinner and then your cruise. Ann, that is bad news that your DSIL tested positive. I hope she is better soon, and that she can reschedule her trip. Lorraine, I hope you are enjoying a double helping of chocolate today. I hope you get good results from your test. Vanessa, I'm sorry the leg pain is getting worse, and you are having trouble relieving it. Glad the car passed inspection. Tony, I'm glad you and Martha made it safely to Athens and are enjoying your cruise. The empty plane sounds like our flight to Barcelona the week after 9/11. Lenda

Maybe we like the stupid stuff. 🤣 Lenda

So do I. Lenda

Good morning from a still dark, but not rainy central Texas. As usual with Texas weather, the forecast changed -- AGAIN! 😁 Now, the rain is predicted to begin Thursday, just like the original forecast. It is 72F and feels like 72F with 92% humidity and a dewpoint of 70F. If it's not raining when we are on the road to and from Dallas, I can live with the humidity, even if I don't like it, and neither does my hair. Our high today will be 82F, and this looks like the last week of warm weather. At least, next week's highs are predicted to be in the 50s and 60s, but by the following week, it should be back in the 70s. No mothers-in-law as our mothers and step-mothers are all gone. I did have two good mothers-in-law, and I try to be a good mother-in-law to our DSILs. My first thought about mole day was the pesky law critters, but thanks to Graham @grapau27 I know it's a chemistry thing, and way beyond my pay grade. Younger DD will understand the day since she majored in chemistry. Like everything else, talk shows have changed a lot in the past 50+ years, but even today some talk show hosts are better than others. The Jim Carrey quote made me laugh. We'll pass on the meal and the drink. Chicken soup would be good, but I'm not a fan of rice in my soup. I'd like to try the wine. Gisborne is another NZ port we have not visited. An interesting discovery by Elso Barghoorn in 1977. @StLouisCruisers Sandy, thanks for the good wishes today. I'm glad Scott was able to move to rehab. That should help boost his and Susan's morale as they face a long recovery. @aliaschief Bruce, I hope you have safe and uneventful flights today. @Heartgrove Cute pictures of a cute little girl. My mother also had curly red hair. @smitty34877 Terry, I'm glad you and the dogs along with other family members got to enjoy the park yesterday. It's amazing what a difference time outside on a sunny day can make. Lenda

Good afternoon from a warm and humid central Texas. Our very gray skies are now a mix of white clouds and a little blue sky. Unfortunately, rain is still predicted for tomorrow with the biggest chance during the time we will be driving to and from Dallas. I know Texas weather can change, and I hope it does this time. Actually, it has changed since the rain tomorrow wasn't supposed to start until Wednesday. It's been a busy day between the house cleaning and needing to get gas for the car. While I was at the store for gas, I also picked u a few groceries. Now, it is time to catch up on the Daily happenings. Jack, thanks for adding your pictures of Stockholm to the mix. Vanessa, I'm sorry your legs were worse this morning. I hope it is a one off and the shot will work for you. Ann, I hope your cold and Pat's cold are history before you leave for your cruise. That is a good idea to attach the air tag to something bigger. Please wish your DS a VERY HAPPY 58TH BIRTHDAY for us. Something very weird happened while I was writing this part of the post. All of a sudden, the post was posted. Glad I was able to edit it. Thank for the nice compliment. My camera is a Sony DSC-TX30/B 18 MP Digital which I bought in 2013. I like using a camera since it has a wrist strap that tighten. I use my phone some, but I'll always afraid I will drop it, especially if I'm out on the open deck of a BHB taking pictures over the rain. I also use a photo editing program on my computer to straighten files and "fix" them. Terri, I'm so very sorry it was necessary for you to cancel your trip. I know you were looking forward to it, and I was hoping the problems would be resolved so you could go. I hope everything is better soon. Maureen, I too hope you get the letter that your DH needs and that you don't have to find a Plan B. I hope Jacqui's @kazu flight situation improves and she can make it home earlier. Lenda

We have been to Stockholm twice on BHBs. In 2003 on a 33 day roundtrip from NYC on Rotterdam VI, we stopped in Stockholm as part of the Baltic portion of the cruise. In 2016, on a Baltic cruise on Prinsendam, we spent another day exploring the city. The first time, we walked around town, and the second time we took the Ho-Ho and the water Ho-Ho to see more of the area. The pictures are from both visits. A view of the city as we sailed into port in 2016 The amusement park along the way to the dock Scenes from our walk around town in 2003. The picture of the palace is from 2016, and the changing of the guard is from 2003. In 2003, we toured the Nobel Museum which honors all the Nobel Prize winners except those who receive the Peach Prize. They are honored in a museum in Oslo. In 2003, we also went to the Vasa Museum. This is the only picture that is not a little fuzzy due to the lighting in the museum. The outside of the Vasa Museum from the water ho-ho. Another scene from the water In the same area as the Vasa Museum is the amusement park and the ABBA Museum. We really enjoyed the ABBA museum. The area from the boat dock leading to the ABBA Museum and the museum. One of ABBA's early tour "buses" One of the attractions in the amusement park. I loved how they had so many flowers in the park. I'll leave you with a picture of our home away from home in 2016, Prinsendam, docked behind a beautiful flower arrangement and a fence with a picture on it. Lenda

@Smmessineo I hope you have a great cruise. Lenda

Good morning from central Texas where it is 66F and feels like 66F. The humidity is 72% with a dew point of 56F. Our high today will be 87F with cloudy skies. Tomorrow it looks like we'll be having a pretty good chance of rain starting about the time we are to leave for UTSW and DH's four week post op check up with the surgeon. The rain will be even heavier about the time we will be heading home. It looks like it will be raining off and on through Thursday. We need the rain, but I hope it holds off until we are back home tomorrow. Make a difference day is good, and our neighbors help each other whenever needed. Fossils are interesting, and nuts are good. The Elie Wiesel quote is very interesting and thought provoking. Chicken Marsala sounds good, but I'd prefer someone else to make it for me, maybe on a BHB. We'll pass on the drink and the wine. We have been to Stockholm twice on BHBs. I agree that the Vasa Museum was very good, and we enjoyed the ABBA Museum also. The invention of the light bulb among other inventions by Edison changed the world, as did the addition of longitudes, with Greenwich being the Prime Meridian. @kazu Jackie, @0106 Tina, and @St Pete Cruiser welcome home, and I hope your cruise was everything you wanted it to be. @Lady Hudson Katherine, I'm glad the joint birthday was good and that your DH is doing well at home. @Heartgrove Jack, thanks for the beautiful picture. It's time to look up my pictures of Stockholm and then start housecleaning. Lenda

Congratulations. I'm sure you will find many uses for the printer. Lenda

I'm glad your DH is home. I hope the waiting to see if the external ablation did what it was supposed to do is not too long or hard. Lenda

Good afternoon from a cloudy central Texas where it is about 85F. This morning turned into a busy but productive one. I've been needing to go to W-M for a while, and decided today was a good as any. DH decided he wanted to go with me, and that we'd do a drive-thru breakfast. When we got to the store, he went in with me, using his walker for safety. He even headed to the automotive department while I headed to the grocery side. We met up in the dairy section and finished our shopping. Once home, we needed to plug the motorhome in the charge the batteries, and we also did a few things while we were inside. DH is doing better everyday, and is walking around the house without the walker more and more. We'll take the slow but steady progress, even if it is not a quick as one of us would like. I can see the physical changes better than he can, and he can feel the internal changes that I can't. There is a big difference from the days pre-shunt placement, so all is good. Melissa, thank you for the update. I'm glad your DH is home, but understand that means more work for you. As others have said, even if it's easier said than done, try to pace yourself and rest when you can. The two of the things we used most when DH got out of rehab were the shower chair and the grabber. Now the shower chair is more of a towel holder when we take showers, but the grabber is used frequently by both of us. Maureen, the picture from your condo is beautiful. You sound more upbeat after a good night's rest. I think things for the move will come together in time, and you will have the movers to do the heavy packing. Wow, just beautiful. Terry, it will take time for exhaustion to ease. Even though what DH and I have been through these past few years was not a bad as what you have endured, I'm still catching up on my rest. While right now cruising may not seem to be in your future, please don't rule it out. It is a safe way for single ladies to travel. You never know what the future will hold. Ray, I hope someday we can get out metal roof pressure washed, but we needed to get that pesky leak fixed first. We have a pressure washer, but there is no way either us us will get on the roof or a ladder to tackle that job. Some of your older National Geographic magazines might be worth some money. Sandi, we've used a trickle charger at times, but since our cars can sit for up to six months and are in a port, we've found disconnecting the batteries works best for us. We also do that when we have to park a car at an airport or port when we take a long cruise. The battery disconnect that I showed @Mr. Boston makes it easy by just loosing the green knob, but it won't fit in many newer cars. I'm glad that Ren and the team won. Good luck to Michigan since they are not playing one of the colleges we support. Vanessa, I'm glad you got a good night's sleep, and I hope the steroid shots work. Lenda

@Lady Hudson Katherine, I hope you and your twin have a wonderful birthday today. Lenda

Good morning from central Texas. It is a crisp 56 F and feels like 56F with 75% humidity and a dew point of 48F. This time of year, I can wait until it warms up to take my walk. Our high will be 91F, but by the time we reach today's high, we will be inside watching the Texas Longhorns v U of Houston Cougars game. HOOK EM HORNS! 🤘 I probably babble at times, but I try not to do so. Over the years, I've gotten quite a collection of buttons, but will not count them. Nachos sound good for today, but we'll be having fajitas instead. The Goethe quote is interesting. We'll pass on the meal, but the drink sounds good. I would probably try the King Estate Pinot Noir instead of the Pinot Gris. We have not been to Surabaya, Java, Indonesia, either, so I do not have any pictures to contribute. I will salute Florence Nightingale and her 38 nurses who went to the Crimea in 1854. To find the links to the port of the day, I have a different method. Once I'm on the Daily, I use the search tool on CC. I just put the name of the port, and do not include the country. The important thing is to switch to search this Forum, not this Topic. Using this method will usually result in just a few pages to scroll though. Today only showed nine posts, but if the port is one that BHBs visit often, there will be more pages of posts to sort though, but it is quicker than guessing the page(s) where to search. If it is a port that I have posted pictures of, I'll look for my post(s). I tried to do a screenshot of the search, but it didn't work. @grapau27 Graham, thank you for your kind words about my photos. The bring back good memories for me, and I hope they inspire others to visit the ports. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, I hope Scott will be able to go to rehab soon. In DH's case, the three hours of PT included OT and was geared to the abilities of the different patients. As DH and others progressed, the PT changed to meet their newer abilities. The OT included showers and group activities with the group sitting in wheelchairs. FWIW, the rehab DH was in was a mini-hospital that also met the medical needs of the patients, and when needed would send the patients to a nearby ER. @JazzyV Vanessa, I hope the shots are working better today. Don't hesitate to add yourself to the Care List when needed. @Mr. Boston When we leave a car sitting for more than a week, we usually disconnect the battery so all the hidden functions don't continue to drain the battery. If there's room on the battery this is the disconnect we use. @smitty34877 Terri, I hope tackling the closet isn't too difficult for you. @dfish Debbie, I hope the weather improves before the wedding. @Haljo1935 And it was a white knuckle last inning win for the Astros. Lenda

Denise, I'm glad your DFIL is now well enpigh to be in rehab. I hope he will adjust well when he adjust well to assisted living. Enjoy your well earned get away on the Oregon coast. Mary Kay, I'm sorry you are dealing with so much fatigue. I hopr it eases soon. Thanks for the pictures of Longwood Gardens. We always like going there when we lived in Kemblesville. Carolyn, I'm glad your BFF finally got her flowers. I'm also glad Rhonda is home. I hope she continues to improve. Debbie, thanks for the pictures. Gorgeous scenery. Lenda

Good afternoon from a sunny, warm and breezy central Texas. Not much going on around here today. As soon as I finish this, I plan to take my walk and check to see if we got any mail. That just might be the high point of the day. We received a starter jar of brandied fruit for a wedding present, which neither one of us really wanted to try. After a couple of months of "feeding" it, by a joint decision, it was fed to the garbage disposer. Truthfully, my first thought about today's port was Delaware, but having lived in and near that small state, I was pretty sure there was no Rostock in Delaware, but I knew we'd been to the one in Germany. Debbie, I hope you and Sue have a safe drive to Traverse City today, and a good time at all the wedding festivities. Sharon, that is good news you are cleared for cataract surgery. I hope Craig's appointment today goes well. I'm glad Craig's sister is doing well from the surgery. Ann, I'm glad you are feeling better. Susan, I hope you feel better quickly. Thank you, Graham. Eva, that sounds like a daunting, but interesting task. Lenda

We were in Warnemunde in 2016 on Prinsendam, and at the beginning and end of a Marco Polo cruise in 2005. After the cruise, we took the train to Berlin as part of the cruise package and spent two nights there. Since Berlin is not the port of the day, I'll save my pictures of Berlin for when it's the port of the day again. 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. To be perfectly honest, Rostock was our least favorite of the places we visited. We enjoyed Warnemunde better. I only have a couple of pictures taken in 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

@sailingdutchy Tony, I hope you have a wonderful cruise. Lenda

Good morning from central Texas where it is 57F, feels like 57F with 57% humidity and a dew point of 42F. Whew, finally another number. I thought we were stuck on 57. 🤣 Our predicted high is 91F late this afternoon. I'm not sure what is on the agenda for today. Brandied fruit is not a favorite, so will let someone else have mine. It's appropriate that international chefs and UK waiters are celebrated on the same day. They can make or break a meal. The Oliver Goldsmith quote is true, just like the saying, "Actions speak louder than words". We'll pass on the meal. I like red snapper but not as ceviche. We'll also pass on the drink. The wine sounds like one I'd like to try. The Louisiana Purchase was important to the growth of the US. Sydney was honored by Queen Elizabeth II opening their Opera House in 1973. I believe today's port is Rostock, Germany. DE is the country code for Germany. It is not really a port, but a city near Warnemunde which was listed as Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany, as the port on August 6, 2022. Below is a link to Rich's @richwmn thread that day. We have been to Warnemunde three times, and I'll look for my pictures in a minute. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, wishing Ren, the team and his parents safe travels to the game tomorrow. @Crazy For Cats Jake, I'm not sure how I'd react if dinner was presented like it is in the picture. @RMLincoln Maureen, I'm glad you have a date for your move. It will all come together, and you'll be ready in time. @Cruzin Terri Terri, I'm glad you had time to check in this morning. Flying out of Savannah sounds like a good idea. I'm sure it will all work out fine. Lenda

The ALCS is tied up with two wins each with the Astros winning 10-3. I'm glad yesterday's surgery wwent as planned, and I hope he comes home tomorrow. I hope the steroid shots on Monday give you some relief. DH found the Tylenol arthritis 650mg worked best for him. Terri, thank you for taking the time to check in. I'm sorry your DH is having a hard time now. I hope things improve for both of you. Lenda

Mavs yes. Stars? I'm not a hockey fan. Lenda

Debbie, I hope your appointment with the general surgeon Tuesday goes well, and the nernia repair can be scheduled soon. Well, I was outside this afternoon, but not doing any yard work. It's all done to get the yard ready for winter. All I have to do is mow every so often until the grass quits growing. That could be in November or even December. I spent about three hours enjoying sitting outside with my book. It was peaceful and relaxing. Even the traffic in the highway behind our place was not bad today. I don't remember the last time the weather and lack of things to do made it possible to enjoy a relaxing afternoon outdoors. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I've never been a Rangers fan, even when Nolan Ryan was with the club. I was always a NL fan, and only pulled for one AL team, the Astros, after they were moved to the AL. Whichever team Texas is in the World Series, I'll be for them against the NL team. Even as a native Texan, and this is probably heresy, but I have never been a Cowboys fan either, but then I'm not into the NFL. My team is the Texas Longhorns. Lenda

Good afternoon from a pleasant central Texas. This is one of those days that started with thinking I might tackle my to-do list. However, it turns out, it's one of those days that I just don't want to do anything. Since this is about the first day that is nice enough to sit outside in the port, I think I'll take my book and other things, and head outside. It might just recharge the batteries, since a long walk a little while ago didn't. I think I just have the blahs today. I watched the Astros/Rangers game last night. Living this close to DFW, our neighbors are big Rangers fans, and one even works for them during home games. However, we became Astros fans in about 1986 or 1987 when our neighbor gave us box seat tickets to a game. That was the era when Nolan Ryan was their star pitcher and Yogi Berra was a base coach. While they did not win as often as we'd like, there were a bunch of great guys on the team. The upside is there will be a Texas team representing the AL in the World Series. Vanessa, I'm glad your leg pain was less this morning. I hope the steroid injection continues to work. Thanks for your pictures fo Santiago and Valparaiso. Carolyn, I hope your friend Rhonda gets to go home soon, and I hope your BFF has a quick and uneventful recovery. I'm glad the antibiotics have cleared your DH's congestion. Lorraine, thanks for your pictures, too. Lenda

@Lady Hudson Katherine, safe travels to NJ today. Have a great cruise with your sister and a wonderful birthday Saturday. BON VOYAGE Lenda

These are a few of the pictures I took on our tour of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar in 2015. Some of the pictures are not that great since I took them from the bus. There are a couple where the western sun mess up the pictures too. We were a bit disappointed in our tour since it wasn't quite what was describe, but at least, it got us off the ship for a few hours. We saw this creature from our aft balcony, shortly after we docked. The view of Valparaiso from the ship What we saw from the bus heading to Vina del Mar Museo de Arqueología e Historia Francisco Fonck. We spent some time in the museum, but the pictures are not that great. The little bit we saw of the beach in Vina del Mar The upper part of Valparaiso One of the not so nice areas. I'm still trying to figure out how they got the cars on the deck of that house. The harbor area We stopped for our obligatory shopping venue near a sidewalk overlooking the lower part of town. We had a good view of the town and the harbor. A street on the way back to the ship. Lenda

Good morning from cool, but warmer than yesterday central Texas. It is 56F and feels like 56F with 78% humidity and a dew point of 50F. There is a 4 mph breeze right now. Our high will be 84F with the wind increasing to 13mph at mid-day. There is not much on the agenda today. I think we've been evaluating our life the past three years since there was not much else to do. I wish all conflicts worldwide, on a person-to-person level, and all those in between could be resolved easily. I try not to dress like a dork, and won't be making an effort to do so today. The Hugh Leonard quote is good. We'll pass on the meal and the drink. The wine sounds nice, and the price isn't bad either. We have flown into Santiago, Chile, twice to join BHBs in Valparaiso. Both times were in the pre-digital age, so all my pictures are in albums. The first time in 1999, HAL took us to a hotel in Santiago until it was time to take the bus to Valparaiso, so we saw a little of the city. The second time, we went by bus from the airport to a hotel overlooking the Pacific. Since both flights were overnight from Miami, I think I slept during most of the bus rides. In 2015, the Ruby Princess had a turnaround day in Valparaiso on her 49 day repositioning cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to San Pedro. We took a ship tour around Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. I'll post my pictures in a few minutes. The development of Streptomycin in 1943 was a game changer in the fight against TB. I also remember Black Monday in 1987. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, thanks for your pictures of Santiago and Valparaiso. @RMLincoln Maureen, I'm sorry the grandkids are sick, and I hope they are better soon. I also hope things fall into place so you can move sooner. @Haljo1935 That is good news that your got your international DL, a I hope your DH gets his before Tuesday. I hope you start feeling better soon. Lenda