The Daily for Saturday Mar 13, 2021

[Overhead Fred]

We had a good birthday celebration for Mitzi yesterday, but I was so busy entertaining/cooking that I didn't get any pictures! 

 

Niall and Emilee (DS & SO) came over and we sat around the new fire table chatting for awhile. They brought lovely tulips and an Irish gin for Mitzi. Niall made us all Martinis with they new gin which was very good.

 

I grilled a 3 pound bone-in rib steak and made twice-baked potatoes. We also had sautéed mushrooms & sweet onion, roasted Brussels sprouts, chopped salad (from a bag), Irish soda bread, and birthday cake - and wine of course. I think it will be leftovers for tonight! 

 

Here are some pictures of the aftermath that I took this morning - 

 

 

[kazu]

34 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Maybe it's more of a cautionary day, like a warning. As in "just say no".  When my ex-DH and I went to Rome for a week, I warned him about pickpockets, but he insisted that as a lifelong New Yorker and one with a high degree of situational awareness, he would be fine. 

 

Well -- on our arrival day, the very first walk we took outside our hotel after a quick rest, we found ourselves surrounded by the "gypsy" children on the Spanish Steps. Before you could say bob's your uncle they had surrounded him and used a flattened piece of cardboard against his torso while below it they were busy trying to open the zipper on his fanny pack.

 

Glad your ex escaped without losing his valuable.

 

This reminds me of when we were in Israel.  Over and over our guides would say, before we get out to explore and see please remove your fanny packs.  They will be slit open before you are even aware of it.

 

Of course, a few didn’t and they discovered they had been robbed later.

 

I had never used them before and will never use them.  They certainly help announce you are a tourist IMO 😉 

[mamaofami]

Good morning everyone. The sun is shining this morning, but after two days reaching 70, it’s back in the cold range today.

 

Roy, hoping you’re doing ok today. Prayers for your continued health.

 

I certainly salute K9 vets and all the dog handlers, especially copper who I was lucky enough to meet at one of our Meet and Greets. On one occasion, I had the opportunity to watch the dog trainers on the rooftop of the NYC garage at the NY port. They were teaching them to sniff out drugs.

 

The meal suggestion sounds great today. I love ribs, but don’t have any in the freezer.

 

Last night we had a real treat. We belong to a club in the Delray Beach community we rent in during most winters and they presented a zoom program featuring Dr. Watson, a well know professor at Lynn University. He gave us a great lecture on Alexander Hamilton, his parents, his childhood, and his eventual coming to America. It was fascinating and now Inwould like to watch the movie again.

 

Stay safe everyone.

 

Carol

[Horizon chaser 1957]

Good morning, all! DH is trying to get me moving and out the door. I salute all K-9 Veterans. The meal sounds good, but not for me today. I must try that Pinot Noir, though.

Today we are going to Salt Spring Island to open up the house for the summer! I’m very excited and looking forward to it. There will be a few hours of trying to get plumbing working and clearing winter debris that won’t be so much fun, and it will take a couple of days to,get the winter chill out of the houses bones, but it will be worth it!

@dfish I agree with the ‘replace them both’ camp. The washer will give up the ghost before long, and probably in a spectacular way at a bad time. It will last just long enough that your brand will have changed design and colour just enough that the new one won’t quite match the dryer. Get a lovely new matching set now, and enjoy!

 

And of course, Happy Saturday courtesy of our beloved Amsterdam and her elevators!

 

[Copper10-8]

3 hours ago, richwmn said:

Today is K9 Veterans Day..............................................

 

 

 

This is Wodan (think Thor and Norse mythology), my K-9 partner for five years; best assignment in the PD ever! Like myself, Wodan came from Holland, from the province of Limburg, way down in the far south of the country, bordering Belgium and Germany. I'm from Amsterdam in the northwest.  He took his commands in Dutch and was three years old, and fully trained in the Netherlands, when I got him. Our (K-9) handlers course was three weeks long and in Riverside, southeast of Los Angeles County. After the initial course, training continued every Wednesday evening with either the other K-9s from my Department, a group of K-9s from neighboring cities, and/or the dogs in our area which all came from the kennel in Riverside. Like working on the ships, training never stops! 

 

Wodan got his share of bad guys, mostly burglars and robbers that ran and hid in people's backyards or, in one case, in some shrubbery along the busy San Diego freeway. We also did lots and lots of presentations for school kids, rotary clubs, safety fairs (as in this pic with former L.A. Rams football player and actor Fred Dryer), neighborhood watch meetings, etc.

 

When his five years was up, the city sold Wodan to me for one dollar and he became a full time pet. Unfortunately, after a year in retirement, he developed hip dysplasia, which is not uncommon for working shepherds, which affected his hind legs. He had hip surgery but never walked again. The drive to our vet to have him put down is still the longest drive of my life 😟 You develop an incredible close bond with these animals in five years and fully depend on them!    

[Rowsby]

I've been addicted to Genealogy for decades....

 

Saw this online....and it totally says it all......:)

 

 

[Sharon in AZ]

Good morning everyone!

 

Look what we woke up to this morning:

 

 

[garlictown]

☕Happy Saturday and Thank You for the Daily! ✏️

Maybe one day we will visit Molde...it wasn't on the itinerary for the 14 day r/trip on the Rotterdam a few yrs back. 

We've heard the same thing about fanny packs...🙃don't wear them while touring!

💗Love Piot Noir....favorite drink to order out or have at home.

🙏Prayers for all in need...happy weekend.😷

[Copper10-8]

So we all know that HAL ships have fully functioning medical centers staffed by one passenger physician (E.R.-trained), one crew physician, and two to three registered nurses, one of which is the lead nurse or lead medical officer (LMO). One of the duties of the lead nurse is to manage the onboard pharmacy which is located within a secured part of the infirmary. The medications that are dispersed, like on land, have a shelve life. The lead nurse will take inventory regularly (subject to regular audits by USPH inspectors) and those meds which are expired will be disposed of in a procedure known as a "narco burn."

 

The ship's security officer (SECO) will be notified and will meet the LMO in the medical center. He will then escort her/him and the expired narcotics to the engine room where we will meet up with the 1st engineer. The three of us will then take a trek down the innards of the engine room (nice and hot and noisy, ear protection required) where the narcotics will be burned in the ship's furnace. All this is documented by the LMO. Enclosed are some pics of the narco burn on Amsterdam with the lead nurse, a nice lady from Canada, eh 😉 as well as the Dutch 1st engineer who was facilitating the process

[Cruising-along]

Good morning all!

When I saw it was K-9 Veterans Day I too thought first of @Copper10-8.  Thank you John for telling Wodan's story and posting the photo. 

 

My parents researched their genealogy as far back as they could (Mom's 17th century France, Dad's 18th century Germany) and I have those records but haven't looked any further.  I joined Ancestery.com but really haven't done anything with it.  A distant cousin by marriage is totally obsessed with genealogy, I guess it's a good hobby if that's what you like doing.

 

Agree about fanny packs, I think they're a pick pocket's dream!  

The meal sounds good but no ribs in the house, probably will be pizza and a Guiness tonight.  For the first time the drink of the day sounds good, I don't care for the sweet drinks and I do like Vodka and coffee 🙂  

Gosh, another Norway port I haven't been to and it isn't even on the itinerary next summer.  We'll be going to 8 ports in Norway but no Molde. I'm waiting to hear if anyone has been there, would love to hear about it.

 

@dfishDebbie sorry to hear about your dryer!  Wow, 38 years.  Good that you've decided to buy a matching set, best idea for several reasons.  

@ger_77congrats to your DH for an appointment for his first jab!

@Sharon in AZsnow in AZ?  And it looks like it's coming down pretty hard.  Did it last long?

 

 

[cat shepard]

15 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Good morning everyone!

 

Look what we woke up to this morning:

If I saw this at my place, you would all be able to hear my shout of amazement - no matter where you live!

[lindaler]

3 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

Today we are going golf cart shopping. We don't golf but in Sun City there's lots of spots to go with your wine and cheese and enjoy the sunset or stop by several restaurants. Any ideas on what to get? Gas? Battery? 

I have had both gas and battery. The quiet of battery is wonderful. You can enjoy your drive. The thing to thing about is hills. Like a vw, a battery powered golf cart will be passed by walkers on some hills where a gas one can take on most hills with little effect. That was ten years ago so maybe they have improved the rechargeable ones. I would take both for a test drive and see if you enjoy one over the other. 

[Crazy For Cats]

This just crossed my FB feed.  I miss these friendly reminders.

 

[Sharon in AZ]

16 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

 

@Sharon in AZsnow in AZ?  And it looks like it's coming down pretty hard.  Did it last long?

Crazy!  It has stopped for now but still cold enough that it might again. This is the second time this year which is quite unusual. 

[Sharon in AZ]

17 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

If I saw this at my place, you would all be able to hear my shout of amazement - no matter where you live!

I know!  I tried to wake up DGD (she spent the night) but she wasn’t interested. At 13 sleeping in on a Saturday morning is more important than snow. 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning.  We have a mix of clouds and sun, but no rain.  Will always honor K-9s and their handlers, especially our Copper 10-8 and Wodan.  Off and on during this past year, we have looked into our families genealogy, but haven't gotten into the serious digging through records.  I have never been a fan of fanny packs either.  About 22 years ago, we won HAL bags that could be worn as a shoulder bag or as a fanny pack.  Only in dicey situations, would I convert it to a fanny pack, and wore it in the front with one arm resting on it.

 

The quote is true. 

 

@bennybear Happy Birthday!  🎂 🥂

 

@Seasick Sailor  There are pro and cons of both gas and electric golf carts.  We have a 30+ year old gas golf cart, and sometimes it does jerk when you start it.  We have also run out of gas.  The biggest consideration for you in Sun City, is gas ones are noisy.  The problem with electric carts are they might need a charge when you need the cart, and you have to watch for battery leaks.

 

@dfish  My vote is to replace both since the new ones are so much more efficient.

 

In 2001, the Prinsendam took us to Molde.  It's main claim to fame is the Atlantic Road, an 8.3-kilometer long section of County Road 64 that runs through an archipelago in Hustadvika and Averøy municipalities.  There is a very unusual bridge between two of the islands.  We did not see too much of the town, as we took a tour along the Atlantic Road.

 

Some of the WWII fortifications along the coast.

 

One of the two villages along the road.

 

The road and the bridge.

 

Molde from an overlook. 

 

The sports complex the locals are very proud of, as seen from the ship as we sailed away.

Edited March 13, 2021 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[AV8rix]

41 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 <snip>...the engine room...<snip>

And I'd cut my right arm off at the ankle to see that space just once 😢.

[Sharon in AZ]

Good morning everyone, again!  Thank you for the Daily Rich. Thank you for your lists Roy. I was thinking of you all day yesterday. 
 

I will celebrate all the days. Yes, I am a fan of fanny packs, but not when traveling. The one that I’m using right now is a HAL Fanny pack. I’m not sure when I got it, I vaguely think it was a prize. I found it tucked under some old HAL canvas totes in my closet still wrapped up last year. I started using it after I retired last June. The best thing I like about it is that you can wear it around your waist or use it like a handbag (which is what I normally do). 
 

I also have a Geico one (DH’s employer) that is bigger and has more pockets and a water bottle holder. I use it for walking/hiking. 
 

The meal suggestion sounds good but I’m not sure what we will have today. 
 

Another port of the day that I haven’t been to, maybe someday. 
 

I’ve never had a Black Russian but have had White Russians before. They are very good. 
 

Have a great day everyone!

Edited March 13, 2021 by Sharon in AZ

[Copper10-8]

10 minutes ago, Av8rix said:

And I'd cut my right arm off at the ankle to see that space just once 😢.

 

 I tell you what, when cruising resumes and you book a cruise, you let me know on FB which ship and when. I might have a connect among the engineers in the engine room and we'll see what we can do since you need both your ankle and right arm to be able to control those flying machines 😉 

Edited March 13, 2021 by Copper10-8

[rafinmd]

Today's sunrise is from my 2018 Crystal 2-ship World Cruise.  On March 13, the Crystal Symphony was in Rarotonga:

 

 

Roy

[Sharon in AZ]

29 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

About 22 years ago, we won HAL bags that could be worn as a shoulder bag or as a fanny pack.  Only in dicey situations, would I convert it to a fanny pack, and wore it in the front with one arm resting on it.

Yours sounds like mine. Maybe that was about when I got mine, I just can’t remember though.  And I have no clue how I won it, I’m horrible at trivia. 

[richwmn]

2 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Yours sounds like mine. Maybe that was about when I got mine, I just can’t remember though.  And I have no clue how I won it, I’m horrible at trivia. 

For a while HAL was giving away "Dam Dollars". You could get them for trivia, but also for participating in other activities like the golf putt, and a walk around the promenade deck. At the end of the cruise you could use the "Dam Dollars" to buy things like the Fanny Pack. Maybe you participated in other activities and got enough for yours.

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

1 minute ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Yours sounds like mine. Maybe that was about when I got mine, I just can’t remember though.  And I have no clue how I won it, I’m horrible at trivia. 

That is the same one.  We won several at trivia in 1998, especially when we had DDs with us.  Friends also gave us some they did not want.  I used one as a travel shoulder purse and DH used one as a camera bag for almost 18 years.  We wore several out, but still have a couple.

 

Lenda

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

1 minute ago, richwmn said:

For a while HAL was giving away "Dam Dollars". You could get them for trivia, but also for participating in other activities like the golf putt, and a walk around the promenade deck. At the end of the cruise you could use the "Dam Dollars" to buy things like the Fanny Pack. Maybe you participated in other activities and got enough for yours.

 

These bags preceded the Dam Dollars, and were prizes for many activities.  You might have been able to get them when your Passport to Fitness book was full of stamps for participating in various activities.

 

Lenda

[bennybear]

5 hours ago, cat shepard said:

@bennybear

Brenda, you did not specify which day this weekend was your birthday, so Happy Birthday Weekend to you! Hope it is filled with laughter, love & good health!

Thank you!  These Covid birthdays can stretch for mo this, lol!   A lady never tells...🤷‍♀️