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Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! I appreciate my hairstyle for the fact that it's easy to maintain. To be perfectly honest, I'm just not a fan of jazz. Especially the stuff where there are just a bunch of notes being played seemingly at random. Although it went down to 0 last night, this morning we've got bright sunshine and clear blue skies again. I'm starting to see the little nubbins on the poplar trees which means in a couple of weeks we should see leaves popping out. And last night as we were having dinner on the deck, we saw 2 little mourning doves having a date in the back yard. I do hope they make a nest nearby, one that is safe from predators like magpies and crows. The last time a pair nested in one of the spruce trees, it was raided by the flying killers. @JazzyV sorry to hear about your fall; I hope the bruising is minor. @kazu I hope you're feeling much better soon. I heard on the news yesterday that the town of Udan where our young Ukrainian family came from (and where many family members still reside) had been hit by a rocket . Apparently an apartment only a couple of blocks away from a sister's house was hit, causing great devastation. I contacted our friends to make sure everyone was okay, then made another donation to the Red Cross for more assistance. It's hard to know what to do when you're so far away. It will be a busy day for us today, as the executive from DH's historical group is meeting at our place. The deck is all ready for them (I can't believe how dusty it got in just 1 day!), but will have to run the swiffer over the floor and a duster over the surfaces one last time before they arrive. I'm making a big charcuterie board for them to enjoy after the meeting, so I won't have to make dinner for us tonight, as the meetings usually go late in the afternoon. Once the group is gone, we can just sit on the deck enjoying the sun and warmth and listen to the returning robins fighting for real estate in the trees. And wine. Prayers for everyone in need, cheers for those with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! Unfortunately, most of the independent bookstores in our city are gone, replaced by the big names. When we did road trips, we often stopped in small centres and found their book stores just to see what they had. The skies are clear, so hopefully they'll stay that way and we can enjoy seeing the stars tonight. Dance Day? I'll leave the radio on and convince DH that we need to take a spin around the kitchen. He'll like that. LOL I put a post on FB the other day that DH thought I should share with my CC friends; he thought you might enjoy it: I just found out we haven't been invited to the King's coronation. It looks like we'll be keeping the kitchen clock we were going to give him. Now I wish we'd bought an air fryer. I love paella, having consumed a lot of it whenever we've been in Barcelona, I know I'd like today's drink of the day, and if I could afford it, would like to try today's wine. Today DH and his son are heading out of town to bring back the roofless car from it's winter storage. That means my car, which has been lounging about in the garage, will be relegated to the driveway once more. Not a lot happening today, just putting the finishing touches on the deck for the season. I'll likely make a butter tart slice to serve for lunch at tomorrow's meeting, but that's all I need to do for it. Dinner tonight will be breaded pork chops, baked mini potatoes and green beans served on the deck. And wine. Prayers for everyone who needs them, cheers to all with celebrations. BTW, today is Willie Nelson's 90th birthday - what a guy! Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! I appreciate comedy, clean and not so clean. Vulgar comedy, no. I think I'll pass on the poetry reading, and will definitely kiss my mate today. It's amazing how much dirt and clutter one can accumulate on the deck over the course of the winter. Obviously it isn't sealed and airtight like a room in our house, but you'd think the dust, etc., would just stop coming in at some point. While DH was at a gig with his band, I spent the afternoon on the deck trying to get it back to where we can use it comfortably again. I swept up the big things, then vacuumed, then damp mopped and finally steam cleaned the floors. And then there was the dusting - we have several tiered stands with "things" on them on mirrors . . . they were awful! I went through about half a bottle of windex just cleaning the darn things. DH loves them, though, so I do it for him. Today will be spent cleaning the cushions and making sure all the cobwebs are gone from the ceiling; the windows are going to have to wait until it's warmer and I can get up on the ladder to do them. @marshhawk you and Chuck will be in my heart today as you say goodbye to Irving. @St Pete Cruiser a venomous spider bite? Yikes! I hope you're fixed up and back home soon! I'll take a pass on today's menu suggestion - the only way I really like pumpkin is in pie, and DH only likes pumpkin pie if there's more whipped cream than filling. It's Friday night pizza night, so we'll check out the online menus to see what appeals to us. I hope we'll be able to have our first meal of the year on our deck tonight. And wine. Prayers to all who are in need, cheers to everyone with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! Cheers for the King of the Netherlands; I can probably tell a story or two, I know Babe Ruth was a famous baseball player, and I've never tried to study Morse Code. Maybe spring is here? I don't want to say it too loudly, but we did hear a robin singing last night. Looking at the predicted temperatures for the coming week, our overnight lows will all be just slightly above freezing, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we just might have kicked old man winter to the curb. But I'm not stupid, our heavy jackets are still in the front hall closet. We took a tour at Ponta Delgada similar to @StLouisCruisers, except we didn't stop at a brewery first. We were taken by the beautiful scenery along the way, the greenery, the hills with cows tethered to them, and of course the blue and green side by side lakes. I'd love to be able to do that tour again some day. So far, so good with the shingles vaccines; both DH and I are only feeling soreness in the arm muscle - I hope that's the only reaction we get from it. @dfish please wish your DS Sue a Happy Retirement! Tell her that retirement is the time of your life when every night's a Friday and every day's a Saturday! @smitty34877sending good vibes for DH's consultation today. @kazu I hope the ouchies don't last long for you. Does anyone here have one of those robot vacuums? I purchased one online a week ago and had to return it. I just wasn't happy with it; first of all, it wouldn't go from the hardwood to the area rug in the living room, and it seems we have way too many things on the floor (chair legs in the dining room, cat bed, plants) for it do actually do much cleaning. Finally I found Steve (yes, I gave him a name) stuck in a corner trying desperately to fight his way out, to no avail. I put Steve back in the box and returned him to the store where they said they weren't surprised, as others have returned theirs as well. LOL I'd like to try the drink, even though I'm not a fan of tart drinks, it might be good. I'm pretty sure I'd like the wine, but it's above my price point, and if I were to make today's menu suggestion, I'd have to leave the blue cheese off, as I'm allergic to it. Tonight I'll make panko crusted salmon with parmesan potatoes and green beans that we'll enjoy at the kitchen table. And wine. Prayers for everyone who needs them, and cheers to all with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! If our Australian friends were close, we would certainly give them a hug. I was introduced to Dots pretzels a couple of years ago - they are addictive!! We were in a lovely hotel in Tokyo a number of years ago when an earthquake that measured 6.0 took place. At first it felt like we were on a cruise ship in rough waters, but then it started shaking, which really felt weird. Hedy Lamarr was quite an amazing woman who also had a sarcastic streak to her; I believe this quote is a prime example. We've enjoyed many gin tonics on BHB's, and I've never been known to turn down a glass (or bottle) of prosecco. DH has asked me to please extend his thanks to everyone for your birthday wishes for him yesterday. He had a very good day - his son took us out for breakfast, then he got to go shopping, and we had take out from his favourite Italian restaurant. In between, there were many phone calls and emails wishing him a happy birthday. Speaking of birthdays, a very Happy Birthday to @dfish, with many healthy returns of the day for you!! Special thoughts to @ottahand7 as you mark the passing of your DH. Anniversaries of a loved one's passing are always somber days, some are better than others. Wishing @kazu and @bennybear successful surgeries today, with good outcomes for both of them. We had our first Shingrix vaccinations yesterday - I didn't even feel the injection; DH said his hurt. Today my arm is a little tender, more like the muscle is stiff, that's all. I'll check DH's when he gets up in a bit. I think I'd like to try today's meal suggestion if it was on a menu for an appetizer, but can't imagine trying to make an entire meal of it - unless you're on a diet. We still have lots of pasta left from last night's take-out, so we'll be enjoying that at the kitchen table tonight. And wine. Prayers for all who are in need, cheers to everyone with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

@bennybear I’m adding my prayers for your surgery tomorrow, as well as for your DD’s FIL.

Thanks John, for taking us along with you. Please give my best to Maria!

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! Remembering all those who served and died in the Australian and New Zealand armies as they commemorate Anzac Day. Thankful for those involved in the East Meets West meetings, have had my ancestry DNA analyzed, and who doesn't like penguins? As some have already mentioned, today is DH's 82nd birthday. After all his health issues (3 heart attacks, a sextuple bypass and a few other things), I'm blessed to still have him in my life. Today will be mostly about him - we'll head off to a hotel for breakfast by the river, then to Krazy Bins (he's a bargain shopper, what can I say?). After shopping, it's off to our local pharmacist for the first of our Shingrix vaccinations. Later in the afternoon we'll place a delivery order from our favourite Italian restaurant. @marshhawkmy heart breaks for you and Chuck, knowing that Friday is the day Irving will cross the Rainbow Bridge. Even though you know you're doing the best thing for him, it's one of the hardest things a pet parent ever has to do. Take pictures of him enjoying the life he has now for your memories. @kazu I like the shopping you did yesterday; I'll bet Ivan will, too. The drink of the day sounded like a frou-frou drink, but seeing the ingredients, it sounds like something I'd like to try! I know I'd like today's wine selection, as I only drank malbecs on our last 2 cruises. I don't normally entertain the idea of meat substitute, but today's menu selection has me curious as to what it might be like. If it was on a menu, I would like to try it. We won't be having a meatless dinner tonight - DH orders the Penne Campesino, while I'll enjoy Penne alla Gigi at our dining table tonight. And wine. Prayers for everyone who is in need, cheers to all with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! Remembering the Armenian genocide, and all genocides - terrible loss of life. I haven't often felt like screaming, but you never know what the day will bring. I always enjoyed Paula Poundstone's humour, and think the drink of the day would be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day. Apparently we missed another round of northern lights last night - I'm seeing lots of photos of them on FB this morning. The skies are bright and clear this morning with the temperature just above the freezing mark. The wind should help take out a lot of the snow that's still in the yard, and maybe in the next couple of weeks we'll actually be able to go out and buy some hanging baskets for the yard. I'm not sure if you know, but the public service workers in Canada are on strike, and many people have made holiday arrangements, thinking they would get their passports on time for flights. Now folks are wondering if the airlines would refund their money because they can't fly without passports. Uh, no. According to the passport website, they're only accommodating those who are in "emergency circumstances" such as illness or family death. So many are booking without travel insurance, and they're going to be left on the hook because they put getting a passport on the back burner for too long. I'm SO glad we got ours well in advance of any possible travel; it pays to be prepared. Not that we have anywhere to go right now, but you never know! @Mr. Boston welcome home; so many of us had you in our hearts this past week. @marshhawkhoping for the best for Irving, but know you will make the right decision for him. @cruising sisterI'm sorry the funeral was so upsetting for you; grief works in mysterious ways. Take care of yourself. @Ichiban Nekkowelcome back - it sounds like you had a great tour! I'm going to give today's menu suggestion a pass; neither of us is a fan of eggplant, and I think it would be rather mushy - am I wrong? Instead of having to figure out what to make for dinner tonight, all I have to do is go into the fridge and take out the leftovers from DH's daughter's dinner last night. We had delicious breaded pork chops, spaghetti with home made sauce and a mixed greens salad, so that will be enjoyed at the kitchen table tonight. And wine. Prayers for everyone who is in need, cheers to all with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! I'm so glad my lover is still with me, I occasionally enjoy an english muffin, and although I enjoy a picnic, we still have glaciers in the parks, so will have to wait for another day later in the year to do so. Every morning I turn on the computer, load up FB, CC, and the PE webcam - what a surprise to see a submarine coming into port! Now that I know it's Fleet Week, it certainly makes sense. I'm usually up right around 6AM, but this morning I totally slept in and didn't roll out of bed until 8:10; I think I finally caught up on the naps I was missing when our friends were with us. They called us when they arrived home to say they were greeted with about 100 robins in their yard who were - as they put it - cleaning up after the deer. Apparently their singing was quite the sound! to @marshhawk and @cunnorl with many happy, healthy returns of the day! The sun is shining which means some of the glaciers will continue to melt, but it also means it might be warm enough on the deck to start cleaning it up after using it as a winter storage place. It will be nice to be able to have lunches and dinners out there again; it's been a long winter. I do like today's menu suggestion as an appetizer (spinach artichoke dip with corn chips), but not sure about having it on mac and cheese. Sounds very filling, and rich. I'm not having to cook dinner this evening as DH's daughter has invited us over for a pre-birthday dinner for DH who will celebrate his 82nd on Tuesday. Not sure what she's preparing, but she's a great cook, so it whatever it is will be delicious. We'll enjoy a lovely meal around their dinner table tonight. And wine. Prayers for everyone who is in need, cheers to all with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Bon Voyage; this is one itinerary I'm thinking of booking as well.

Bon Voyage; enjoy your cruise!

Darn, I hoped to get a screen shot of @JazzyV, but couldn't pick her out of the folks on deck. Too bad. I waved like crazy, though, just in case. LOL

Do you have any idea where she'll be for sail-away?

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! Happy Earth Day everyone; we need to take care of our planet so our children's children have something to give their children. I wasn't a Girl Scout, and find jelly beans way too sweet; maybe if they were made of chocolate . . . It was nice being able to get up and not tippy toe around the house to wake our guests. I could get up, shuffle into the kitchen, start the coffee maker, open and shut cupboards and drawers, etc. We love our friends dearly, but do love our privacy as well. @Rowsbywishing you a very Happy Birthday; love the cake! @smitty34877oh my gosh on the oxygen; hopefully the company shows up quickly for you! @RMLincolnglad you were able to attend your cousin's funeral and enjoy a visit with your grands. @Lady Hudsonwell done - I've got to get into that mode as well. In the past I've also found that a low carb diet is one that really works for me. @JazzyV Bon Voyage!! I just heard on the radio that the great Australian entertainer "Dame Edna" (Barry Humphries) has passed away. Gosh, I loved him and his "Hello possums!". A loss to the entertainment world, but at 89, he deserved a rest. Not a lot going on right now, laundry to do, some vacuuming and dusting and that's about all I've got on my agenda for the day. Oh, and watching the snow melt off the lawns again. LOL Although I'm not a huge fan of ravioli, I think the menu suggestion sounds good - I'd likely sub in plain spaghetti instead. Looking at the fridge, we've got leftovers to eat from these past few days, so we'll be enjoying them at the kitchen table tonight. And wine. Prayers for everyone who is in need, cheers to all with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

Good afternoon, time for a quick check-in. Our friends left right after lunch, although it took them nearly an hour to get things out of their room and into the car. I can sympathize with that though, because that's what happens to us when we go to Calgary with all the shopping we do. We took our friends to a couple of thrift stores, the big box store, and the greenhouses, and they were able to buy so many things they just can't get in their small town. We've checked the highway hotlines about a dozen times this morning and it was decided they would be safe to travel if they left after lunch when most of the large trucks would have gone through the areas they will be driving, clearing the road for them. The temperature is warming up which will definitely help clear the snow and melt the ice that could have formed overnight. They were a little upset when a neighbour phoned to tell them they had 2 feet of snow on their driveway. A couple of phone calls later, though, and someone in town with a front end loader said he'd be more than happy to clear it out for them in time for their return home. Strange thing, they no sooner left the driveway when I went to open the cupboard under the sink to get some dishwasher tablets, and the door came off in my hand. One of the hinges broke. I'm glad it didn't happen while our friends were here, as it would have been mighty inconvenient! LOL DH didn't sleep well last night, and he finds our friends quite exhausting, so he's taking a brief nap right now and will get back to fixing the cupboard door later this afternoon. I wanted to say @superoma what a great job you've done today; @JazzyV left the lists in good hands. @bennybear Happy 50th Anniversary to you and your DH; what a wonderful milestone for the two of you. May the love and laughter continue for many years to come! @dobiemomyour sleeping arrangements amaze me; I can't imagine how you can get any rest at all!! @kazu I hope the relationship with Ivan works out; he looks to be a very caring fellow. See everyone tomorrow!

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! We didn’t have kindergarten when I started school; it became a thing in our small town about 5 years later. Well, we’re still in this season I’m calling Sprinter, as it should really be Spring because the robins are back, but we’ve had nothing but snow for the past 3 days. Our friends are still with us and we’re keeping them entertained by playing Sequence and tile rummy. And cooking. Normally DH and I eat smaller meals, but our friend has to take meds 4 times a day with food, so I’ve seen more of the kitchen this past week than you could imagine. On Wednesday we were able to drive them to their appointments before the roads got really bad, and yesterday we ventured out to a couple of greenhouses just to get some fresh air. Unfortunately it’s a little too early for the greenhouses to have much stock, but it gave them (and us) an outing. It snowed again overnight, but the temperature is supposed to be rising, so they may be able to go home after lunch today. We’ll see. I haven’t had a lot of time to read the daily the past few days, so want to extend my woo hoo’s for the happy things and cyber hugs for the not so good happenings. If I recall though, @JazzyV is leaving today, so safe travels to her! Time to get breakfast started, so prayers for all today. Stay safe, I’ll hopefully be able to check in later. Oh, I’d like to try todays wine but haven’t won the lottery, so it will remain on the list. And I’m going to try to find a pizza that is gluten/dairy free for our friend in case they can’t leave today because it’s Friday night pizza night at the dining table tonight. And wine. Smooth Sailing! 🙂🙂🙂 Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! I love garlic, enjoy hanging out (and the smell of laundry fresh off the line), but haven’t had a bicycle in years. It appears we might have escaped the worst of the storm, but we’ve still got snow - on top of rain that froze overnight. Police are already warning people to put their zoomy-zoom thoughts aside because they’ve attended many fender benders over the past few hours. Our friends are so happy they came to the city a day early so they didn’t have to worry about their safety. Medical appointments are the order of the day for them, but not until just after lunch. By that time (hopefully) the city will be out with sand and salt so driving won’t be quite as treacherous. More snow is expected this afternoon, continuing on through tomorrow, so we’ll have to see what happens. Seriously, this as what it was like this week: I like today's menu suggestion, but would likely substitute salmon for the tilapia. Our friends insist on treating us to dinner tonight, so I have no idea what it will be, but I don’t have to prepare it, and I know it will be good. I heard them talking about ordering in, so we’ll enjoy food and good chats at the dining table tonight. And wine. Followed by several rounds of Sequence. The ladies have to come back from our losses to the gentlemen last night. Prayers for everyone in need, cheers to all with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! 🙂🙂🙂 Gerry

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! Happy big 150 to Holland America Line! A great milestone to celebrate! Our taxes are done (all but the paying part), I try not to stress too much on any day, and I appreciate the coordination of jugglers. Its cloudy right now and the rain is supposed to begin within the hour, turning to snow later on in the day. Our friends arrived late yesterday afternoon and we’re so glad they decided to come a day early, rather than risk driving in stormy conditions. For a while it looked like we might escape Nature’s wrath, as the forecast showed the system moving south of us, but overnight the winds came up and we’re back in the storm zone again. Happy Birthday @Cruzin Terri’s DH, and to @sailingdutchy’s DW. @marshhawk sending good vibes to you today. @Mr. Boston will think of you and your family today as you travel. Plans for today include taking our friends shopping while they can still navigate safely on the streets, having lunch out and then just enjoying a good visit. I’ve decided tonight will be an easy dinner, as I’m putting a stew together in the crock pot - a gluten free, dairy free meal. We’ll enjoy that with our friends in the dining room tonight. And wine. Likely followed by a game or two of Sequence. Prayers for everyone who is in need, cheers to all celebrants. Smooth Sailing! 🙂🙂🙂 Gerry

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAL !!!

Just returned from getting our 3rd Covid boosters; I'm sure there won't be any issues, just like the previous 5 jabs. Scrambling around the house a bit, as our guests who were supposed to arrive tomorrow, called to say that because we're supposed to get a storm, they'll be coming in today. They left their house only about 20 minutes ago, so will be here in time for dinner tonight. We'll still have the rotisserie chicken, etc., for dinner, but now I'm figuring out what to make for them tomorrow. I'll come up with something! Stay safe, everyone!

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily! In the summer we frequently see bats swooping through our yard at dusk, enjoying their nightly feast. I have lots of things that are only partially completed, but there just never seems to be enough hours in the day. I applaud those who put their bodies through the rigors of a Boston Marathon, but if you ever see me running, try to keep up, because it isn't good. @Mr. Bostonplease accept my sympathies on the loss of your brother; mental illness doesn't just affect the individual, it involves the whole family and is heartbreaking when it ends this way. You and your family will be in my prayers as you go through the coming week. Today will be a busy day getting the house ready, as our elderly (85+) friends are coming from out of town tomorrow for medical appointments. They have a 4 hour drive (they take turns) to get here, so will be tired, but they still want to do some shopping before having dinner. Over the next couple of days we'll take them around to the places they want and need to go, thus relieving them of having to "drive in the city". The only fly in the ointment is that we're expecting bad weather; there's a Colorado Low coming in that over the next couple of days will be dropping up to 7" of heavy, wet snow. I know they're not going to want to go home on Thursday if there's snow, so we'll have them as houseguests a little longer, which is fine, as they're easy to entertain - we'll pull out the Sequence game to help pass the time. I'm just going to say no on today's menu suggestion, as it doesn't appeal to me at all. Pretty sure I'd like the wine, but it's a little pricey. We're going to get our 3rd Covid booster at noon today, so I think while we're out, we'll pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store that will be served along with tiny baked potatoes and a salad at the kitchen table tonight. And wine. Prayers for everyone who is in need, cheers to all with celebrations. Smooth Sailing! ☺️☺️☺️ Gerry

@marshhawk unlike the US, many places near the border will in fact accept US dollars, but the exchange rate will be somewhat less than pleasing. I suggest getting some Canadian dollars either from your bank or motor club prior to arriving, or at an ATM when you do arrive in Canada. Enjoy your visit!

@GTVCRUISER Bon Voyage!!!