57redbird

The drink sounds yummy!

@USN59-79  You left at the wrong time --- it's 52 & sunny here.  Have a great cruise!

15 minutes ago, dfish said:

Good afternoon!

 

I hope everyone is having a better afternoon than I am.  Dealing with insurance companies, pharmacy coverage, and Social Security has almost done me in.

 

The State of Ohio says I owe them $87 for 2021.  No, I don't, but I'll deal with that another day.

Social Security says I owe them $273 for Medicare since my SS payment is less than the monthly Medicare premium.  Apparently they are not crediting me with the monthly payments I have been making.  

The insurance company processed the claim classifying the doctor as a specialist, so they applied a co-pay.  The doctor is my primary care doctor and there is no co-pay. The hospital billing department just yelled over me when I was trying to explain to them that the insurance company had questions about their coding and refused to consider a mistake.  I told them I would not pay the co-pay.

The pharmacy insurance is charging me a co-pay for my blood sugar test strips which are covered under Medicare Part B at no expense.  They said they can't coordinate the benefits like the local pharmacy can and that they cannot transfer the prescription to their local pharmacy (CVS in both cases).

The prescription insurance is charging me a $275 deductible on a prescription that is not subject to a deductible.  

The Michigan Secretary of State wants me to renew my license plate tags for $196.

 

That has been my day other than the pedicure, which was great!

ARGGHHH!!!!

3 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

With the exception of one cruise, we have rented cars and toured the island, even going around the northern tip a couple of times and once to Hana.  Of course, we also visited Iao Valley twice and Haleakala and the observatory.  The cruise when we did not rent a car in 2007 was roundtrip to Tahiti from LA, so we called at Lahaina twice.  The first time we did the Atlantis submarine, which was okay, but not like in the Caribbean.  On the return visit, we took the Sugar Cane Train, which is no longer running.  

 

We've been to Hawaii on several BHBs and on a couple of Princess ships.  Only once, in 2014, on Veendam was it too rough to tender into Lahaina.  We sat in the Crow's Nest and watched the waves and the one tender that went into port because a passenger had to be medically evacuated.  That was the cruise that we had to head back to San Diego the first sea day to get into range for the Coast Guard helicopter for a medical evacuation, and we were met in every port by an ambulance.  When it was obvious that the seas would not calm down, Captain Peter Bos (one of our favorites) opted to leave early and give us extra time in Ensenada.

 

All these pictures are from our various calls into Lahaina.

 

The charter/tour boat harbor

 

And a view of the harbor from the second story of the Old Courthouse.  This was from Ruby Princess in 2016, and the line for the tender.  That is what you get when on a 3600 passenger ship.  We headed to the Pioneer Hotel outside café for a coke and fries until the line shortened.  And it got longer before it got shorter.  😄

 

The old courtroom with it's displays in the Old Courthouse

 

And I couldn't resist a picture of the banyan tree.  It made a nice shady place for the craft market.

 

The Sugar Cane Train that took us up the coast.

 

Scenes from our visits to Haleakala.  The state bird the Nene.

 

Haleakala Observatory.  The second picture is a new telescope under construction, and I think it is the solar telescope.

 

In the distance you can see Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa above the clouds on the Big Island.

 

A view of the crater

 

Looking up the coast from the tender dock..

 

Maui as we sailed for the next port.

 

After seeing the devastation from the fire two weeks ago, it is bittersweet looking at these pictures.  It is very sad to see all the history and places that were lost in the fire.

 

Lenda

We've been to Maui for the last 20 years & are headed that way in 3 weeks....I agree with your last statement.  😞

3 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Lahaina. Hawaii

 

I'm happy to say we have been to Lahaina while on two Hawaii cruises, and also on two South Pacific cruises.  In 2007 on Diamond Princess we decided to take a whale watching cruise while in Lahaina.  Here's a pic of one of our whale visitors that day.

 

 

 

Afterwards we stepped into a restaurant (Front Street Grill) for a cool drink.  Behind us in this photo is the square with the famous banyan tree.  Shadiest spot in town!

 

In 2009 while visiting Lahaina on the Golden Princess, we hadn't even tendered to shore yet when what did we see?  A group of whales right off the ship's starboard side.  These photos are from the promenade deck of the Golden.

 

 

That day we went shopping with friends Bob and Sandy who were on the cruise with us, then stopped for ice cream at Front Street Grill.

 

But of course before we left town for our ride back to the ship we stopped to pay homage to the banyan tree.

 

In 2014 we returned to Lahaina on our cruise in the South Pacific.  This time we walked as far as we could and tried not to stop in as many shops.  We saw the Old Lahaina Courthouse which was being used as a museum, art gallery and visitor center.

 

Here are ruins of the Old Fort, made of coral blocks and sand.

 

We even saw the King Kamehameha III school.

 

 

Our old haunt, Front Street Grill was now called Captain Jack's Island Grill.

 

 

Island architecture.

 

 

Shopping, shopping, shopping...

 

 

 

And finally, a church!

 

And some nice carvings someone was selling.

 

A Chinese museum

 

photos taken from the ship later in the day, taking in the scenic island.

 

 

In 2017 we visited there on the Maasdam.  Heading to shore on our tender we saw two youngsters surfing nearby.

 

 

What a life!

 

If you stand at the railing and look down at the rocks you see things like this.

 

 

 

There was something in Lahaina for everyone.  I hope the town will be rebuilt soon and the vegetation grows thick and lush again.

 

 

We'll be on Maui next month & will definitely miss Lahaina - some of our favorite shops & restaurants were there.  😮‍💨

You can look at a dining room layout - the tables are numbered.  Once they have picked a few tables e-mail Ship Services with their requests.

😂 @dfish re: leaving the suitcases in the entry till May.

We've been to these ports before --- Manzanillo several years ago & there wasn't much to do or see & Loreto more recently - same.  Anybody have any recommendations for either walkable or private tours for these ports?  TIA.

On 2/15/2024 at 3:10 PM, klfrodo said:

Should you or do you HAVE to? No

Out of courtesy I do though after I have seen what I wanted to see. If you've ever seen 1 glacier, you've seen them all. But, since I live in the northwest and traveled all over Alaska for work, I'm no longer impressed by a glacier, a dolphin, a seal, or a whale.

Nor am I impressed by the Panama Canal -- seen the Hiram Chittenden locks too many times.

1 minute ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

They had the same dinner menu every day???  That's crazy. Never had that happen before on any cruise.

I said lunch, not dinner & it was on the Koningsdam.

For some reason the MDR just isn't our favorite venue...too loud, slow service no matter the day of the cruise or the meal, feels like a high school lunchroom & on our cruise last year the lunch menu never changed.

11 hours ago, SoloAlaska said:

I can’t imagine having to keep it under 7kg being an easy one. I’ve been known to fly with a 16kg carry on when flying on business. Just a rolling hard shell bag alone can easily weigh 2.8kg which would only leave 4.2kg for actual things.

 

This is also part of the reason I don’t take flights within Europe when traveling on business. I’ll fly in from Canada and then take the train from there. My luggage won’t fit the maximums.

Before there were size limits we bought Victorinox large suitcases....now hubby still uses his but I have a Delsey (which I'll trial next month to Maui).  I'm all about low weight but adequate space.  I think the V weighs 8 lbs empty.

9 minutes ago, WELDON said:

Wednesday night, I had a medical incident. About 5 pm, my heart started racing. After about 1/1/2 hrs., I went to an urgent care and they did an EKG. It was abnormal and the MD told me to go to a hospital. I was at the hospital about 8:30 and they did an EKG, chest X-ray and blood work. The results showed an atrial flutter. I was admitted and had to wait for a bed.

So I am in the ER waiting, then I was moved to the hallway, the I was moved to a room used as a holding room in the ER and then around 4 am, moved to another back hallway used only for patients and medical personnel.This hallway had 6 beds against a wall and also a chair. Each bed and chair was partitioned off. Since this was not a room, there was no TV, you could not order food (you got whatever the kitchen sent up). Sitting in a chair is more comfortable so I sat from Thursday AM until I a bed was ready at 9:30 Thursday night. I stared at a beige wall all day with nothing to do. 

All my tests were completed and came out fine. The last piece was staying Thursday night for additional blood tests. Early this morning, a couple of the nurses told me you are leaving soon. My nurse asked if I was ready to go and I got dressed quickly. My friend picked me up and I was home by 9:30. I am now taking Eliquis. That hospital was a nightmare. So many hours with nothing to do, no sleep, being moved multiple times, little food.  The heart racing came on suddenly with no warning. I never had heart problems. If anything like this ever happens, go to an ER so you can be assessed. The hospital people told me I did the right thing and came in quickly. You just never know from one minute to the next what can happen.

Yikes but glad you're home!  Following up with a cardiologist, I hope.

Jason Meyers is also a great PCC...never in a hurry.  He's in  Vegas.

4 hours ago, SoloAlaska said:

People with massive packs that when in the plane take the space of 3 bags drive me nuts.

 

Carry on only isn’t a problem but people are who don’t follow the rules.

When we fly to Hawaii my hubby brings his cane (which he does need at times) & claims he needs extra boarding time so he can find space in the overhead bin...I board when it's my turn till our upcoming trip after my spine surgery - I'll see how I feel.

52 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

I don't know.  I'm sure they're all expensive these days!  

 

Update on the delivery.  At 11:55 the FedEx truck stopped here and dumped our package on the porch.  Just 24 hours later than promised.

 

The problem here is they now deliver our packages from Macon, not Atlanta.  But like the airlines they seem to have a hub system.  The package was driven from Florida past Macon, GA to Atlanta, GA, a distance of 70 miles further up I-75.  Then they turn around and process it for a drive back down 75 to Macon, another 70 miles.  The packages arrive there by late morning and they are put on the delivery truck so they can drive them back north to our house 55 miles away. No idea why the truck that was up here yesterday afternoon couldn't stop here!

 

Today, the package was already on the truck and they simply drove back up here and therefore we get our packages earlier on the second day.  Why do they need to drive past our town to take the package to Atlanta when their trucks up there no longer deliver here?  Why doesn't it stop at Macon and process our package there eliminating all that driving up and down the interstate.  Our packages used to come from Atlanta but that changed a couple years ago.   Surely it's not cheaper doing it the way they do now.🤷‍♀️  End of rant!

 

Gerry @ger_77 I certainly understand how frustrated you must be having sent the grandsons their Valentines in plenty of time.  I've had our post office deliver birthday cards two week late before.  Who knows where they were during that time?  I'm sure the boys know you would never forget them!

Our packages have been on the truck from a city 30 miles away, then to one 5 miles away, then one 8 miles from that city then back to the original 30 mile away one...delivered the next day.

5 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Good morning friends!  This morning it is 36F with an expected high of 66 and sunny skies.  Perfect!  If only our nights were a little warmer.🌞

 

Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting Rich's @richwmn's Daily and Fleet Information plus the maps for him.  We appreciate it!  Some really different days celebrated and recognized this date!  Annoy Squidward Day is funny and thanks to Graham @grapau27 for the explanation.  International Angelman Day sounds interesting and I respect the thought behind it.  Childhood Cancer Awareness (and all diseases affecting children) should be respected and honored.  Interesting quote!  That is quite a different menu suggestion and one that might come in handy at our next get together.  What a name for a drink!  No thanks!  🍹 I enjoy Sauvignon Blanc wine and would happily give it a try.  A bad day for Socrates, an important date for science, and YouTube folks must be celebrating today.  Thank you to Eva @superoma, Paul @kochleffel, and Ann @cat shepard for your F&B reports today.  

 

Prayers said this morning for those injured and for the woman who died at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade yesterday.  I hope they can determine who the suspects are and they are punished to the fullest extent of the law.  I know how traumatizing events like this can be and it will be a long time before these folks feel safe again.  Prayers too for DB and DGD Morgan, Scott and Bob and their spouses, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the hostages held and the U.S. soldiers and sailors at risk in the region.  And of course our many friends here on the Care list in need of prayers and help with their medical issues, personal loss and worry, pain and illness.  Extra prayers and hugs to Vanessa @JazzyV, Annie @marshhawk and Chuck @catmando, Tana and Terry @smitty34877, Jane @lazey1, Maureen @RMLincoln and Richard, Melisa @HAL Sailer and DH just to name a few.  🙏🙏  A cheer from me for those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and all who are cruising!  🥂  DGD Morgan texted us after her presentation yesterday and said it went quite well.  She is optimistic about it. 🎉  Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for the great lists each day.  We are so happy you can continue even with all that you are going through.  ❤️

 

The port today is lovely Lisbon, Portugal.  This was port of the day before on Aug. 10, 2021 and May 8, 2022.  I will post the links next.  Then I'll begin posting photos for myself and Lenda.  However in noting the number of posts from Lenda's photos I'm going to split them up into groups of 2 and not take over the first two pages of the Daily.  I'll give others time to post in between.

 

 

 

 

Once more FedEx has screwed up delivery of a package to our home.  We ordered some supplies from Sam's Club and they have incredible service, usually getting our packages to us in two days time.  However, they use FedEx and they are the ones who are letting us down.  Yesterday our package was on the truck for delivery.  At 1:45 DH saw the truck go up our cul-de-sac and return down again after making a delivery up the street.  She passed us by.  Last night our tracking said they were unable to deliver OR the business was closed and they will try again the next day.  Wrong!  We are not a business, were home and "open" all day, and they just don't deliver all the packages on the truck!  So I imagine we will get our delivery today, a day late.  This is at least the third time we can remember this happening.  UPS would have delivered until the truck was empty but oh, no, not FedEx!  Shame on them!😠

 

I will try to not let this aggravation ruin my day!  Hope you all have a good day, too and stay safe and well!

I agree about FedEx....I wonder if UPS raised their rates so businesses changed to FedEx...bad move in my opinion.

3 minutes ago, JazzyV said:

Good evening. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

Happy Valentine's Day! Lent has started with Ash Wednesday, for those who celebrate. Congenital Heart Defect awareness is important, so it can be corrected. I'll salute Frederick Douglass. I like the quote. Maybe on the meal, pass on the drink, and yes to the wine. I haven't been to Barra Norte Sea. 2 good days in history.

 

It's been a long day. I was up and out to a medical appointment this AM, then on to labwork. So I was starving when I got home around noon. I had missed a call from the Interventional Radiology nurse, so called back. I'm not optimistic about what I was told. He mentioned 2 shots, one to decrease inflammation of the nerve and one to the cyst. I asked about drainage or rupture of the cyst (which was what I was expecting), and he said that on closer exam the cyst was partly calcified and would therefore not collapse. I suspect I may not get the relief I was expecting, but I hope I'm wrong. BFF came over this afternoon, bearing roses. He helped me do some final removal of stuff from the DR. The moving people will come tomorrow morning, so I have to be up and downstairs. Then we went out for a nice early dinner (we were a bit too early, not knowing that starting at 4 apps were 1/2 price and it was happy hour). 

 

So sad about the shootings in Kansas City at the Super Bowl parade.

 

@Suslor Happy Birthday to Lorenzo!

@superoma Happy Birthday to your twins!

@rafinmd Prayers as you and your family remember the passing of your brother. I'm glad to hear your foot is almost completely healed.

@smitty34877 Continued prayers for you and Tana.

@RMLincoln I'm glad a close eye is being kept on DH (no pun intended, lol).

@Nickelpenny I am glad your DGS benefitted from all the advances in treating congenital heart defects.

@ottahand7 Congrats on the casino win!

@lazey1 Thanks for the update. I hope just the right treatment is found for you.

@Cruzin Terri Very nice job by DH for Valentine's Day.

@luvteaching I'm sure today is hard; hold onto the good memories.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for those Celebrating.

I"m sorry you didn't get better news about your cyst...hope there are more options.

6 minutes ago, julia said:

Loving it so far! 

 

We did this cruise last year, and if you think your pre-sail has been a cluster, then just wait til you're on the pier in San Diego! 😲😲  It was the clusteriest of all clusters, and was the talk of the cruise for weeks. (Remember, when everyone has priority, then there is no priority).

 

We did enjoy the ship, staff, and itinerary though... great cruise!!

I agree!  Neptune Suite/CO ---no priority at the pier.

@JazzyV  you can take me off your list....lately I've been taking 1 or 2 Tramadol (if that) a day & still just the 1 Gabapentin at night...I think I'll live.

19 hours ago, slidergirl said:

Today was a good day at work.  No boss 😉  Nice people in house.  Quite a few owners.  I had to explain to some of them that I always work on Sundays, even Super Bowl Sunday.   One owner brought down some sliders for me to eat.  The couple who own the villa in Tuscany made sure I came up to their condo for awhile (brought the desk iphone and my keys) to watch the game and eat more food.   The guys were talking about all the bets they made.  I said I bet that Usher would take off his shirt.  They thought I was crazy.  Well, I proved them wrong!!!  We had a good laugh over that one.  They leave tomorrow to go back to the Villa until the end of March.  I wish...

 

OOTD:  black jeans, my Deer Valley hockey sweater hoodie.  

Well you'll probably score more goodies....

. Cleaning seats then tables with the same cloth -   This is my biggest yuck & I've seen it too many times to count both on cruises & shore-side.....

@kazu  what are the odd symbols (instead of letters) that show up in your wine selections?

@cat shepard  What are you grouting?

37 minutes ago, HappyInVan said: