marshhawk

To all who are traveling / cruising this week, Bon Voyage. Take lots of pictures, have lots of fun, stay safe, mask up and have a grand time!

Good Saturday Morning! I have a hundred places to go, but to be honest it's too early for me to be awake, and I wont drive when I am this tired. So guess I will get those particular chores done on the way to dinner. I was curious about the Moon Festival and this is what I found out. The Moon Festival is rooted in many different myths. Legend traces the story to a hero named Hou Yi, who lived during a time when there were 10 suns in the sky. This caused people to die, so Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns and was given an elixir by the Queen of Heaven to make him immortal. But Hou Yi didn't drink the elixir because he wanted to remain with his wife, Chang'e (pronounced Chung-err). So, he told her to watch over the potion. One day a student of Hou Yi tried to steal the elixir from her, and Chang'e drank it to foil his plans. Afterward, she flew to the moon, and people have prayed to her for fortune ever since. She's presented with a variety of food offerings during the Moon Fest, and festival-goers swear that they can spot Chang'e dancing on the moon during the festival.

Chuck and I thank you all for all the kind wishes on our anniversary and our bon voyage adventure. While I am looking forward to trying a cruise again, I will miss you all for two weeks! OMG! How will I survive? I am packed, got my new purse stuffed with paperwork and passports, got all the clothes in the suitcase, the shoe bag has to be packed next, and then tomorrow pack up my meds, and I'm ready to go. But I am still working tomorrow. Sleep well Angels, and Thanks.

Happy Friday Morning! I cant believe we leave in two days, and that we cruise in 3. When DH wakes up I will start breakfast, get out the suitcases and start packing. I showed Chuck what I would be wearing for several of the fancy dinner nights, and he decided to take one button down shirt to spruce up his cruise wardrobe. Years ago he would try to match my outfits with his bowties, now, not interested, wants to go more casual. I love Teddy Bear Day! When my father had his heart attack, and was alone a lot, I gave him a teddy bear. He had it when he died. I kept his teddy bear, which he named Stupid Bear, and Stupid Bear has gone on all my travels. He has gained a few friends along the way, (Build a Bear) and on this trip, since we cant take all of his friends, he has asked for the bed while we are gone, and he will stay home with the cats. We are taking the gnomes instead. We have had so many hours working that neither of us got each other a card for our anniversary, and I am working late tonight so we will have dinner out tomorrow after my shift. I am not sure whether i am addicted to work or just love the extra money. I now have the ability to choose my hours, and I was going to take Thursdays off and attend art classes at the senior center, but I noticed that the art classes are not happening, so I will have to readjust that thinking. The only thing that is constant, is change. OK, I saw the meal, and I will pass. I know sardines are very good for you, but they taste, um . fishy. I have always been weird. When the world went to go go boots, I started wearing cowboy boots. When the world wore mini skirts, I went to maxi skirts... and I just don't get Sudoku, DH loves it, plays it on his phone, and if the ships offer the daily game, he picks one up in the mornings, and works on it, while I doze, and doodle in my art book.

Good Thursday Morning! Yesterday was a small fiasco, getting pulled immediately from one campaign into training, and then when they told me to start calling, well, they loaded the leads wrong into the computer and I sat and stared at a blank screen for an hour. At least I got off work 15 minutes early. Up early today to take DH to his pain doctor. Trying to utilize any free hours getting ready for the cruise. So figured I would get up early. Even the cats aren't up. The quote is so true, I love date nut bread. Not sure how to celebrate ampersands and I know I will read something today, like the sales pitch. Have a great day!

@grapau27Thank you for the food porn! I'm debating about making breakfast, or stopping at chick fil A on the way to the pharmacy.

Good Wednesday Morning! It's cloudy and 69 degrees in Stone Mountain GA. I was actually up early enough to catch real news. I had no idea about Providence's amount of rain. I have been job napped once again. And I will be working for my very first boss that I worked with when I started with this company and that was back in 2016. With all the campaigns and people working all over the country, our "direct" boss is the person who hired us. He has risen above manager into some high position within the company, but he still has to run a campaign. It's a small group, just two of us who will be working Asheville Symphony. I was stolen from my Louisville campaign, and will keep my California campaign as back up for those extra hours that I need. I think my training is sometime this week, and then I'm on my cruise, and come back to work the day after I get back. I did ask if I could work all 3 campaigns , but the max is two, and my brain really wouldn't be able to hold all that sales information. Todays adventure is to go pick up the meds that we will need for the cruise, work two shifts, STILL walk the dog, and get the suitcases out and start packing. DH is procrastinating about picking up another pair of light weight shoes, and knowing him, he will be out shopping the day before we leave. I love salami, I love the quote, I respect my mail person, and I never really liked beer, (but I drank it anyway back in the day). I was up at Road Atlanta Race Track years ago with my ex husband, and one of his work buddies with his wife, and son, Corrie. Corrie wanted to get autographs from all the drivers, (he was 7) so I took him into the paddock area after the races, and he asked all the drivers for their autographs. This worked well until we got to Paul Newman. "I dont give autographs kid" he said to Corrie. Corrie said to him " I got (some woman drivers) autograph, and she drove better than you did." Again Mr. Newman said, " I dont do autographs, get yourself a beer out of the cooler". Corrie said, "gesh, Mr. I'm only 7, I dont drink beer...do you have root beer?" I think of that moment every time I have a root beer. Corrie of course is all grown up, and I doubt if he remembers that day. I saw his father often at the symphony when I ushered, he had a new wife, so did not talk much about the past.

Good Tuesday Morning Dailyites! Another hot and humid day in Stone Mountain. I'm confused, am I supposed to Procrastinate Fighting, or fight my procrastination? I love to read, or I should say I used to, I have not been very diligent about reading these days, but I have set aside two Randy Wayne White books to read during the cruise. My friend Margot sent me a very short note regarding their Alaskan cruise . Five out of 10 in their group have all tested positive for Covid since they got home. Wear your mask when you are inside the ship, she tells me.....Duh. I have been procrastinating doing a lot of things, I want a mask with some bling for evening wear on the ship, gotta go buy one, I need to call the vets and make sure they will see our furbabies in the event of an emergency while we are gone. Oh, and the neighbor (mom of dog) has not found anyone to help her with her dog, and wont I please keep helping her. (could she remember to pay me?) I told her I would work this week, but when I get back I wont. I know I sound like a mean person not wanting to help a neighbor out, but she could work from home. She just hates being home. It takes time away from my job, which does pay, and pays better, and it keeps me from stressing out when I have things to do, like doctors appointments, and Chuck's appointments, and having to be somewhere at a certain time. Every day of the week. For more than a year. It's not my dog!

@StLouisCruisers

@Cruzin Terri My thoughts are with you. Yes, be grateful it's clean water! Our house was built in the 60's. They used terra cotta plumbing from the house to the street. The day before my first colonoscopy, right before I was to take those "pills", I heard a crack. Sounded weird, checked out side, nothing fallen from the pines. Flushed the toilet,, and all of a sudden, the shower in the back bathroom started filling with brown yucky water. As did the tub in the front bathroom. as did the toilets. I called DH at work, he said, call a plumber....10K dollars later, the entire front yard had been dug up, all the terra cotta plumbing changed out, turns out that one of the pines had a root that grew around the terra cotta, and crushed it. I spent a lot of money that wiped out a good savings source, the plumbing service had financing, and never offered it to me. When DH asked where all my money went, I said it went down with sh.. in the front yard. There is an upside to everything though, since the yard was dug up, I planted seeds and had jalapeno and green peppers grow there for two years. 🤗

Happy Labor Day Monday Dailyites! I love todays quote. Remarkable doesn't have to be huge, but if you can make a grumpy or sad person smile or laugh, that's a tiny miracle. I'll start with that. So many of you make me laugh, and on some days that is a miracle. Be proud of small miracles that you do! I will never solve any world problems. I have great ideas on how to, but not the voice. Ever notice the squeaky wheel gets the grease? I squeak to my friends, and my DH. It is a tiny squeak in the universe of noise. I will be working today, it is amazing how few people didn't realize it was a holiday, and said , no, call me on Monday. So why not. I was just going to sit and watch TV on this rainy day, I can sit and get paid instead. Counting down my days until the cruise, will get out a suitcase today and start throwing in shoes. @rafinmd it's a 10 day cruise. Yup. On a Fantasy class ship. In a porthole cabin. And I see that the rain will still be going on when we drive to Mobile. I hope we don't have hurricanes for 10 days. Penny called yesterday, Jesse is home. He is currently in denial about his condition, and she found him outside, having a smoke. She broke down and started crying, and needed to talk to someone. So she called me. Being a smoker, I explained about habit and addiction, and you have to break one before you break the other, and on top of that he needs to want to quit. I understand Jesse. I sympathize for her, and I was probably not the best person to call. But I also believe, life is short, just be honest. I hope you all have a fantastic day! edited- I love cheese pizza in NJ and NY, sorry, the rest of the US, just cant get it right. Love the cheese fats dripping down my chin.

@ger_77 Chuck and I have been looking at the googly news, I am so glad that you posted that you are safe, the doors are locked, and the cars are locked. PHew, and take care. the flooding in Georgia is not near @StLouisCruisers or me, so far. it has been raining most of the early evening, and i guess we are expecting more. i love the sound of the rain.

Ee gads, I made it through the day, I still have racing to watch, the mother in law has been called, the dinner with our friend was right on time, and I caught up with the daily! Amazing! @Seasick Sailor Adding Allen to my prayers, and you too. Unless you have "been there" (being the loved one, when something goes wrong with your other half) is so hard to understand how much is knocked out of you in a moment. I get out, as do many on the daily. @USN59-79I was thinking of that song the other day, might it be "Urge for Going" written by Joni Mitchell made famous by Tom Rush? And I get the urge for going, when the summer winds are winding down, all the leaves are turning brown, the evenings empire is falling down, and winters closing in. I was visiting my folks while in MN one winter, and they took me up to Dad's lawyers house north of Minneapolis for the night. Not sure why we spent the night up there, they were partying so I guess no one wanted to drive home drunk, any way I got to stay in the rec room with one of the younger sons, watchin tv, it was New Years Eve, I do remember that. I'm not a sit in the house all day person, I need air, of course I had not been out in the middle of a winter night in MN, but the kid and I went outside, and I got to see the Aurora Borealis! What a treat!! I think back on that night a a gift from God to celebrate the New Years.

The shorter the cruise, the hardier they party. If it's not on the menu, or on the plate you want, order it any way, as long as you dine in the MDR it wont cost more, unless it is stated that it is. Happy cruising, what ever line you are on.

Happy Sunday Dailyites! Penny called yesterday, Jesse's surgery went well (they always says that) they cut on both sides, of course the left side was the worst side, and they took out some of the back of his tongue. He is up and talking, and Penny said the hospital said he may be released later in the day. That was yesterday though, and since he has tubes sticking out of his neck, I did remind her that releasing him in a house that is full of cats and dogs and fur every where, might be a bit hard on him. She had to run and hung up, and I have not heard back from her. I met (over the phone) a bunch of fascinating people yesterday. I was amazed at how many people during the pandemic and post pandemic had joined an online support team. How many people added others to their prayer list, how many people were in the know of about to lose their jobs, and how they were handling it. The plans of how they were changing their lives. I bring my manners to the job, but over the years, my table manners have taken a severe hit. When it comes to flavoring, I love some spices. I think it is fun to spice up my life, but remember some spices dont mix well at all. So when it comes to people, hang with the ones whose spice blends with yours.

#74

@Heartgrove I am a Perez fan. Then Mick, then Bottas. DH is a bit more fickle...Max, Lewis, Russell, well pretty much anyone but Perez. I call Perez, my chipmunk, he's just so cute. Well its the end of my day, so back to the tv, and catch up with the Sprint races. I'm weird I know. http://worth1000.s3.amazonaws.com/submissions/778500/778560_921a_625x1000.jpg

I meant to say that for all our friends here who are suffering from this terrible heat wave, stay hydrated if you can, and i have read that sitting in the heat with a fan on, is not that healthy as it would seem, as the air continues to dry out out. Formula 1 is calling me to the tv, so have a great day!

Good Saturday Morning Dailyites. Thank you all for your posts today, and I will take a break to catch up, not like yesterday! I don't want to sound disagreeable today, but I don't like going to movie theatres, I like the looks of some skyscrapers, but hate to be in them, and I would have to like some type of sport that creates the situation of having a tailgate party, but being neither a fan of football (i like soccer) or baseball, well anything with major crowds that I have be in, I'm not going to be there. In fact, I think the more I isolate these days the more I actually like it. One more week until we cruise, guess I will find out if I can handle crowds. And when I am on a ship, I usually find the quiet places, and plant my butt there. Cats in the movies- @grapau27Thank you for the early morning (to me) breakfast porn. It looks so yummy! @0106Thank you for the recipes, my DH will love all of them. I like the idea of the bacon wrap. @aliaschiefgreat pictures! @kazuThe geese are here! Some group showed up the college around the corner from us, and have taken over the lawns and parking lots. Are they edible?

Thank you all for the Anniversary wishes, we celebrate on the 9th. I am actually too tired today to catch up. This morning I booked our flights to and from Alaska for May, we ended up booking with Alaska Air, or is it Air Alaska....and we upgraded the first half of the flight, but Seattle to Vancouver we just booked cheap. With insurance. And we booked cheap Vancouver to Seattle, and then upgraded ourselves on the long flight back to Atlanta. Getting excited for all upcoming cruises. Hugs to you all. Tomorrow is another long day.

@Quartzsite Cruiser Happy Anniversary!

Good Morning Dailyites! Happy Friday! Really, I only know it is Friday because we watched the pre race info for F1 last night. Long day today, and long day tomorrow, and then I am off on Sunday. I dont actually start working until 12, but because it is an F1 weekend , it's a donut run day. @0106 The pictures of the food look great, but not if you tell me it's eel. I'd rather not know.

@lindalerWe get into Mobile on the evening of the 11th, and cruise out on the 12th (our 13th anniversary is on the 9th, so this is our anniversary cruise) We've been together since 2000, but actually made it legal in 2009. 9/9/9. Spending the night at the Holiday Inn Airport. They have a good deal on park and cruise. We have a 10 day cruise and get back into town on the 22nd. I have to drive like a crazy peep back to Atlanta as DH has dr's appointments the next morning, and I go back to work on the 24th.

@Cruising-alongSeveral years ago, at the start of Covid, the couple up the street just disappeared. They had purchased the house, with cats included. One cat disappeared, and the other survived. But while they were gone, and I mean cold winter months for at least 3, their neighbor fed the cat until they ran out of food, I guess, so Chuck and I saw the cat moving closer and closer down the street each day. We figured in a couple more days, he would be living at our house....so every afternoon, we drove up and filled his food bucket up so that there was food, and water. The cat went back home,,And eventually the family came home. And we stopped feeding the cat. I have to admit, that I do care more for animals than most humans. When God was assigning the animals all of their powers, when he got to humans, the human asked for the power that he would get, and God said, your power is to care for the animals. I heard that story years ago, and it hit my heart like a hammer. Even that darn dog that I have walked for a year, is still dear to me. And I finally heard from it's mom, when she got home today. She is working from home tomorrow, as Dragon.con is in town. So today was my last day walking the dog. Back to job #2 now ....