Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[Jimbo]

4 hours ago, Momof3gurlz said:

So finally some pictures of the kitchen island project.  First, the before photos, including blue tape we used as a guide for the placement of the new island.  You can see it’s not only an unusual shape, but very oddly placed and not at all practical for cooking due to the distance from the sink and stove.  

 

 

 

The placement also meant the kitchen table had to be pushed too close to the far wall to allow for any type of China cabinet or hutch. (Old photo from last Christmas)

 

This is the new island. Much larger, more functional and so much more storage. It also allows the table and chairs to be centered and room for a hutch.  

 

 

 

 

There’s still some discoloration in the hardwoods from the old island but that will eventually darken. I absolutely love the two deep drawers for all my pots and pans.  

Island looks outstanding, the larger Island is so much  better when preparing meals. We love ours which has both our sink and dishwasher installed in it. Plus like you we have storage on both sides of island too.

 

Looks like the countertop you selected for the island matches the countertop around your sink and stove. How hard was that to find?

[ReneeFLL]

@Ocean Boy Happy Birthday. Here’s a cocktail just for you. 

Edited June 2, 2023 by ReneeFLL

[Ocean Boy]

5 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

@Ocean Boy Happy Birthday. Here’s a cocktail just for you. 

Thanks! That drink sounds very good.

[h20skibum]

9 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

Owen’s Rugby season has now come to and end.  
 

For @Tree_skier and others interested they are undefeated in regular play and won all tournaments.  It’s nice to see the season come to an end with the game today even though we have enjoyed it. The first game was just over freezing and today it was in the 90s.  Tomorrow we are gone for a baseball tournament.  Thankfully school ends in 3 weeks for him. 
 

As for today, they won 38-0.  Owen got 2 tries and made 3 conversions for a total of 16 points. He was also the player of the game. Owen’s conversions and one try are in this video. At 45 seconds in you will see a running play where one player throw the ball to Owen and he takes off for the try. 
 

 

Congratulations to Owen on a season well played.  Good luck in the baseball tournament. 
 

My grandson’s next baseball game is tonight, as they play to keep their undefeated streak going.  After baseball, he will be moving on to golf.  He will be playing on a team sponsored by one of the local golf courses.  

[Sunshine3601]

14 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

Tomorrow it is expected to be 90 degrees here.

 

Yup, same weather here.  We are expecting 95 f today then drop to a high of 70 tomorrow.   Which works for us as long as it's sunny so we can finish up mulching our back yard flower beds.

[A&L_Ont]

18 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Congratulations to Owen on a season well played.  Good luck in the baseball tournament. 
 

My grandson’s next baseball game is tonight, as they play to keep their undefeated streak going.  After baseball, he will be moving on to golf.  He will be playing on a team sponsored by one of the local golf courses.  

The excitement never ends. We are 3 for 4 this year in ball but haven’t hit our pace yet. We have one player out to mid-July from foot surgery recovery.  2 players missing frequently because they have drafter to OHL hockey teams and a couple new players you are gelling with the team. 
 

I’ll have to say, these are the days we live for. 
 

Good luck to your grandson these next few days.

[Sunshine3601]

11 hours ago, Momof3gurlz said:

So finally some pictures of the kitchen island project.  First, the before photos, including blue tape we used as a guide for the placement of the new island.  You can see it’s not only an unusual shape, but very oddly placed and not at all practical for cooking due to the distance from the sink and stove.  

 

 

 

The placement also meant the kitchen table had to be pushed too close to the far wall to allow for any type of China cabinet or hutch. (Old photo from last Christmas)

 

This is the new island. Much larger, more functional and so much more storage. It also allows the table and chairs to be centered and room for a hutch.  

 

 

 

 

There’s still some discoloration in the hardwoods from the old island but that will eventually darken. I absolutely love the two deep drawers for all my pots and pans.  

Hubby did an excellent job.  Definitely flows much better than the previous island.  Great job💖

Also, your Grandson is a very handsome young man.  I hope he enjoyed performing.

[Sunshine3601]

10 hours ago, QueSeraSera said:

Mostly good news today from the vet surgeon regarding our new puppy Alfie.  Surgery not recommended as she has adjusted well to the pains she is likely feeling from the massive amount of arthritis in her young hips and a knee that goes out and pops back in on its own - both due to some trauma she received some time ago.  This agrees with my observations - she is full of the joy of life.

 

We are to keep an eye on her and if the limp worsens or she is in obvious pain, return her to the doc.

 

This morning she had to fast, those puppy eyes seemed to say "HOW COULD YOU?" as I fed our cat and elderly dog before off to work, Karen took her to the vet.  I don't think its been more than a year that we bought the sofa below, that has turned into Alfie's bedroom.

 

 

Love Alfie❤️

[Keksie]

Samantha, Annabel, and Elmer wanted breakfast on their patio.  It is a nice 70F this morning.  We need rain though.  

 

[Arzeena]

Deb, your new kitchen layout looks fantastic!

[akcruz]

11 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

Do you need me to send you a Turtle Crossing sign? 😉

 

I will let you know if we see another one 😁

[StanleyandGus]

I have a question. We are doing a Panama Canal cruise on Serenade of the Seas in November, arriving in Los Angeles. 
 

For those of you familiar with the area, is a 1215 flight too tight for comfort? We are travelling in a suite, so getting off the ship shouldn’t be a problem. We are flying to Vancouver, and then Regina.

 

Also, momof3gurls and Jimbo, the kitchen and hardwood look great!
 

[George C]

Vacation is almost over heading to Bar Bills for another beef on wick and some buffalo wings, we haven’t used our rent a car other than to go to hotel since our friends drove us everywhere. Has dinner with friends and some of my wife’s family last night at a nice Italian restaurant with a great wine list Stags Leap Cabernet for just 70. 

[Arzeena]

3 minutes ago, George C said:

Vacation is almost over heading to Bar Bills for another beef on wick and some buffalo wings, we haven’t used our rent a car other than to go to hotel since our friends drove us everywhere. Has dinner with friends and some of my wife’s family last night at a nice Italian restaurant with a great wine list Stags Leap Cabernet for just 70. 

Enjoy and have a safe journey back home.

[DaniDanielle]

14 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

Even more than AC and SI ?

Vegas is a different vibe than AC and SI will always be special😁

[jmh2006]

Well look who I spotted crossing the street in front of my house just now!  

[lenquixote66]

TSOTD is Canarsie,NY where T and I lived 36 years.

[lenquixote66]

5 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Vegas is a different vibe than AC and SI will always be special😁

We began going to AC in 1968.There was no gambling .We went to see The Fifth Dimension in concert and the Ice Capades.

 

[clochette]

1 hour ago, StanleyandGus said:

I have a question. We are doing a Panama Canal cruise on Serenade of the Seas in November, arriving in Los Angeles. 
 

For those of you familiar with the area, is a 1215 flight too tight for comfort? We are travelling in a suite, so getting off the ship shouldn’t be a problem. We are flying to Vancouver, and then Regina.

We just did the panama crossing in April and were out and ready for a ride by 8:30 we did walk off with our luggage, it seemed that the luggage situation was not great and they did not allow anyone to get luggage until all of the luggage was out.

So no issue getting a 12:15 flight.

[DaniDanielle]

37 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

We began going to AC in 1968.There was no gambling .We went to see The Fifth Dimension in concert and the Ice Capades.

 

We saw The Fifth Dimension in Vegas in 1973!

[HBE4]

2 hours ago, akcruz said:

 

I will let you know if we see another one 😁

 

48 minutes ago, jmh2006 said:

Well look who I spotted crossing the street in front of my house just now!  

 

I'm beginning to think there is a real money making business opportunity making Turtle Crossing signs. 😃

[HBE4]

52 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Vegas is a different vibe than AC and SI will always be special😁

 

I love Vegas as well. First time was in 2003 or 2004, I think. This was after going to Atlantic City dozens of times. Night and Day difference.  I tried to explain it to a few of my Atlantic City buddies that in their minds, a slot machine or poker table is just a slot machine or poker table no matter where it's located. 

 

To which I replied, Vegas is akin to going to Walt Disney World or a Great Adventure Amusement park while AC is more like a traveling carnival that performs at the firehouse or local mall parking lot.  Sure, both offer rides and games of chance and food but they are still light years apart.

[DaniDanielle]

We first went in 1972 and then continued going until the kids came along.  Back then you couldn’t beat it for dining and shows.  We went back in 1999, a lot of changes but still fun😁

[lenquixote66]

8 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

I love Vegas as well. First time was in 2003 or 2004, I think. This was after going to Atlantic City dozens of times. Night and Day difference.  I tried to explain it to a few of my Atlantic City buddies that in their minds, a slot machine or poker table is just a slot machine or poker table no matter where it's located. 

 

To which I replied, Vegas is akin to going to Walt Disney World or a Great Adventure Amusement park while AC is more like a traveling carnival that performs at the firehouse or local mall parking lot.  Sure, both offer rides and games of chance and food but they are still light years apart.

We were only in Vegas once.I set my alarm clock for 2AM and went to a casino and won 400 quarters.

 

[Husky1987]

So, we had an eventful May.  Last weekend of April, we had a house fire.  Freak spark accident into an Arborvitae plant (pro tip: cut the torches-waiting-to-happen down if they're next to your house, like I always wanted to do but never got around to LOL).  Thankfully, the fire went up through the roof and not down.  Everybody....wife, dog, cat, chickens, were all okay.  Not a lot of fire damage to the house itself (in fact, you can't really tell there was a fire inside the house other than the smoke smell), but lots of smoke and water (fire department did an amazing job).

 

 

Looking at 6-8 months for reconstruction.  From the outside, 95% of the house looks normal.  I'm sure they'll have to gut the inside down to the studs due to the smoke and fire.  In the meantime, we were lucky to find a rental house in our neighborhood just a couple blocks away, so we are super close for the duration (depending on the wonderful county permitting/inspection process, may be there up to 12 months).  Easy enough to feed the chickens and keep an eye on things during reconstruction. 

 

Didn't lose anything sentimental.  Insurance company thus far has been great (even, dare I say, overly generous in their valuing of certain items).  Anything we lost....stuff is just stuff anyway. 

 

The only cruise-related casualty is a 16 day we had planned in October.  We really don't want to be away for 2-1/2 weeks so we're cutting it back to a week in October.  Which is fine, since we'll be on our favorite ship, the Adventure.

 

Which is appropriate, since life is an adventure, right?  

 

In the meantime, here's Stevie and her best friend Tucker, all tired out from playing.  We stayed with our next door neighbors for about three weeks while the whole rental deal was being hashed out.  They were wonderful, told us to stay as long as we needed to.  Stevie played with Tucker all day long, every day, and thought us burning the house down was the best thing we've ever done.