MJSailors

Jimbo-- The opinions about the two mirrors seems to be that the larger one is the better one for placement over the mantle. My opinion- I like the style of the 2nd mirror ,and the color of the frame goes along with some of the lighter color in the bricks. The design of the framing of the mirror makes the reflection of the beams and the pendant lights less noticeable. However, the larger mirror fills the space better and the frame does go along with the grate in front of the fireplace and the fireplace accessories. Of course the ultimate decision is what you and your wife prefer. Here’s a thought though, have you considered a painting or a wreath to be placed over the mantle ? MJ🙋🏻

Curious- are you sailing solo ?

@aussielozzie18 What a wonderful NYE celebration ! Thank you for sharing ! MJ🙋🏻

Happy New Year to all !🥂🎉🥳 Hoping 2023 is filled with days of good health, safe travels,happy vacations and many good things for everyone. Cheers to an improved 2023 ! MJ🙋🏻

@Luckynana Maryann- Are you there yet? Safe travels if you are driving today. Friends of ours left LI this AM to make the long drive to Hutchinson Island. I spoke with my friend yesterday.She is not looking forward to the trip,her hubby though is glad for the drive. They are stopping in Fredericksburg VA and Santee SC. Hoping all goes well for them and you and your hubby too ! MJ🙋🏻

Lenny- Hoping you are feeling better today and the Dr. was able to prescribe something to alleviate your symptoms. MJ🙋🏻

Norris ! What a lovely surprise to find the start of another one of your “Gentleman’s Seafaring Journals”! i am looking forward to reading about your’s and Carol’s adventures on this ten day cruise. You are off to a fine start with receiving upgrades on your flight and the mini suite on the Diamond Princess. I will be checking daily- at least once or twice a day- to read about what you and Carol were up to on this holiday cruise. Cheers ! MJ🙋🏻

@LuckynanaMaryann- hang in there. That drive to FL is no picnic. My hubby and I drove I95 many times round trip NY to FL. I was always glad when we arrived on Hutchinson Island. Hoping the remainder of your trip goes well. Safe travels, MJ🙋🏻

Bon Voyage,Andrew,Lisa and Owen ! Have a blast celebrating your birthday, NYE and being together on a cruise ! Cheers! MJ🙋🏻 ,

HBE4- Thank you for letting us know how you and Little Miss HBE4 spent your Christmas Eve with some men that needed some light in their lives that night. Rather than patting yourselves on your backs, you let us see your good hearts and your empathy of others. Both you and your step daughter and those men will not forget the experience you shared in that Applebees’ bar. You offered them companionship and libations on what was,most probably,a lonely evening for them. But, in a way, they gave you something in return. You were able to show your kindness without request or obligation. A truly free gift from your hearts. Hoping that you will be able to keep a tradition of contributing some light to others as you celebrate many “different Christmases” going forward for many years to come. MJ🙋🏻

@bobmacliberty Thanks for the tip about Kirkland golf balls. I will check if Amazon sells them. I consider a good game of golf is when I finish the round with the same ball that I started with ! MJ🙋🏻

@aussielozzie18 Hot cross buns-yum! But after the Christmas celebrations are the stores reminding their customers that Lent is not so far away ?🙄 MJ🙋🏻

Wishing our friends in England,Graham and Pauline and Sue and family, a pleasant Boxing Day ! It is a relax day here.Hoping everyone has a good day. Sunny and a bit warmer- it was 25 degrees at 8:30 this morning-warming up a bit ! MJ🙋🏻

Lenny- I don’t think that my hubby crossed paths with you as he grew up on suburban LI and went to college in Connecticut. For some time he was an executive with Dime Savings Bank,but that was a long time ago. As I have mentioned,we have been living out in Eastern LI for over thirty years now. I just think that hubby has a kind of familiar face. When he was younger, people thought he looked like Chevy Chase. A few years ago,a waitress thought he was Steve Martin !!! Maybe because he was cracking jokes with friends at our table. We started cruising with Princess in 2004,with an Alaskan cruise that we thoroughly enjoyed. Princess had/has cruises going out of Red Hook and we took a number of them. One went to New England and Canada , we took two round trip cruises to the Caribbean and two repositioning cruises from Bklyn to Ft Lauderdale with Caribbean ports. The Bklyn port was so convenient for us with no flying involved. Our last cruise was the Summer of 2019. We are not sure if we will take another cruise. We do miss those kinds of vacations though. Hoping you are having a good day. It is about 24 degrees here now. At least the sun is shining ! Take care MJ🙋🏻

@TravelGirlinDallasBethany- That is a lovely photo in front of your pretty tree. Wishing you all a happy celebration. Cheers! MJ🙋🏻

@LuckynanaMaryann- Very sorry to hear that you and your family are not feeling well. Hopefully the symptoms will pass and you will be able to celebrate soon. Cheers! MJ🙋🏻

Sue- I am impressed with your creation. I am not sure that if I tried to bake it,I would have very good results. We have a local baker that makes a delicious Yule log- he uses a lot of butter in his baked goods. It is worth the calories IMHO! Your table is looking very festive !. Thank you for reminding me about the Christmas crackers. We are having friends who are family for New Year’s Day lunch. I am going to see if I can find some crackers to put on the table. It is always fun to put on the paper hats and read the silly jokes. It is nighttime now in England. I am thinking that Father Christmas is soon to make a visit to your house. Hoping tomorrow is filled with cheer for you and your family! Thank you for the compliment about our photos. The snowman was a gift from my DH many years ago. I have a bit of a snowperson collection. The one in the photo is actually a cookie jar that he saw in a store window in our village shopping area. The street is named Love Lane. I think I am rambling a bit - Cheers MJ🙋🏻

@Coralc Thank you for the compliment. I agree with what Bonnie from Texas wrote,a home filled with love is always beautiful. Hope you are enjoying this Christmas Eve - although it is early in the day in California. We just returned from a celebratory lunch with some friends at a favorite restaurant. Let the celebrations begin and the waistbands start to widen !LOL! MJ🙋🏻

@Arzeena Thank you. My DH and I have never sailed with RCCL. I started reading Dani’s thread during the Covid lockdown and found it to be like a neighborhood with folks sharing their everyday lives. Almost three years later, I continue to enjoy the postings which now include cruising and vacation experiences. We have the most loyalty level with Princess, though we have sailed with Celebrity,NCL and Cunard. We began cruise vacations with the Big Red Boat around 1987. Apparently everyone has a doppelgänger. Maybe you met my double on a Royal Caribbean ship. Wishing you a lovely holiday ! MJ🙋🏻

@akcruz That is a lovely photo of you and your grandchildren- pure happiness! Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas ! MJ🙋🏻

Mimi-Please accept my condolences for the loss of your dear brother. Looking at the hoots you posted, I can see that he was a kind person. But, as life goes, you have a reason to celebrate for the engagement of your granddaughter and future grandson-in-law. Their wedding is something to look forward to for you and I think your brother would have been celebrating fully with the young couple too. Wishing you and your family peace and healing hearts. MJ🙋🏻

Wishing a Merry Christmas to those here celebrating and a year filled with many good days for everyone. We are decorated and waiting for Santa ! MJ🙋🏻

@Ozark_Kid Your grandchildren are beautiful! Kenzie’s smile and the twinkle in her eye comes through in every photo. Enjoy the holidays with them! MJ🙋🏻

Not necessarily a departure announcement by the OP. Their initial post was their opinion of the Carnival product and that of Celebrity. A clean bathroom does not smell like a used toilet. If the steward gave the cabin bathroom a thorough cleaning, there would be no toilet smell. MJ🙋🏻

@LionesssCongratulations ! Welcome to baby Zoey! MJ🙋🏻