The Fleet Report and Daily for Thursday July 7th, 2022

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

1 minute ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you for your good wishes Lenda.

Prayers 🙏 for your husband to have successful surgery and for his health to improve dramatically.

Take care.

Graham.

 

 

Thank you, Graham.  As I said, it could take quite a few months to get everything lined up and then get the procedures scheduled.  In the meantime, we'll keep on doing what we're doing.

 

Lenda

[JazzyV]

@HAL Sailer Wishing you and DH the best, and lots of wonderful new memories made together.

 

@Seasick Sailor Enjoy the time with your sister!

 

@Cat in my lap Woohoo on the negative tests!

 

@Quartzsite Cruiser It's good to hear DH has a good doctor and a treatment plan, even though it will take a while to get things fixed. 

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

Thank you, Graham.  As I said, it could take quite a few months to get everything lined up and then get the procedures scheduled.  In the meantime, we'll keep on doing what we're doing.

 

Lenda

Our prayers 🙏 and best wishes are with you both always.

Graham.

[irishjim]

3 hours ago, cruzn single said:

Just a quick post from me.  Haven't been able to post for over a week between being gone for DGD's wedding, visiting a friend, and some long Red Cross days.  I have read daily, almost, but getting to the laptop was not happening.

 

@StLouisCruisers, I was so sorry to hear of your family health problems.  Just to give some encouragement  for Buddy's wife.  Doing hospice care at home for my DH for almost 4 years was the hardest work of my life, but in reflecting back, it was also the most rewarding experience I ever had.  I cherish the time we had together and it makes the loss easier in so many ways.  (I know that 4 years is unusual, but lung diseases don't follow many timelines, according to his hospice nurse!). If his wife has the support of hospice nurses, etc., they will guide her lovingly through the whole process.

 

More later, if I get back in time from an out-of-town Red Cross meeting.

+1

[irishjim]

1 hour ago, Cat in my lap said:

ye took our COVID tests and both passed!  
 

Best wishes and prayers to all!

 

 

Great  news  on  Covid  test  results. My  Wife Sheila  and I got  our

4th Booster shots yesterday and  no  bad  reactions arms  little  sore  this morning but  much  better this afternoon. Yea.

                                                                                         Jim.

[HAL Sailer]

47 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Paulines late mam had a number of health issues but with her wheelchair we got her on 6 cruises with us in her mid 80s and her last being on her 90th birthday.

Never give up and cruise if you possibly can.

 

Graham, I appreciate your sentiments and I admire how you two were able to accommodate Pauline's late mam's travels. 

 

With DH's significant decline in physical and cognitive health, it wouldn't be wise of me (nor fair to him) to risk medical evacuation in a farflung corner of our world. For now, I will armchair travel and add to what will now be my bucket list…

 

Thanks, though, for your heartfelt ideas,

-Melisa

[irishjim]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you for asking Vanessa.

The constant pain has gone and although I know ultimately I will need an operation the Steroid injection has been amazing.

I have an appointment in a couple of weeks to assess the knee and possibly get an injection in the other knee.

Graham.

Hope  everything goes  really great  for you and  a  fast healing.

                                                                                                               Jim.

[grapau27]

16 minutes ago, HAL Sailer said:

 

Graham, I appreciate your sentiments and I admire how you two were able to accommodate Pauline's late mam's travels. 

 

With DH's significant decline in physical and cognitive health, it wouldn't be wise of me (nor fair to him) to risk medical evacuation in a farflung corner of our world. For now, I will armchair travel and add to what will now be my bucket list…

 

Thanks, though, for your heartfelt ideas,

-Melisa

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband Melisa and totally understand your concerns.

Sending you both our prayers 🙏 and very best wishes for the future.

Graham.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@Cat in my lap  Great news on the negative tests.  Enjoy your cruise.

 

Lenda

[Tbay]

7 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

We have a New England Canadian cruise planned for next year and I think Corner Brook is on the itinerary.  Looking forward to lots of photos today.

When we visited Corner Brook, at the Legion in Sandi's pictures, you could be 'screeched in".  A fun Newfie ceremony.  It's just up the street from the city hall.  

There was also a small tour train to tour around the city.  It was $2  in 2019.

[kazu]

6 hours ago, Cat in my lap said:

Jacqui what is flower with whitish flowers?

 

It’s a variety of goat’s beard.  

 

3 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Jacqui, you are hanging in there. You've done some cleaning, packing, gardening, wine drinking. 

 

Who said anything about cleaning 😂.  At least I did clean up after the jams 😆 😉 

 

3 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

Today we pick up my sister at the airport.  She will stay a week to celebrate my sweet husbands birthday. This is the longest time we've spent apart (a year!) So we have much to catch up on!

 

How wonderful!  Have a great time together.

 

3 hours ago, HAL Sailer said:

It doesn't make me sad. It is actually a comfort as the specialist's advice helps me focus on enjoying 'the now' making different types of memories with my DH.

 

Melissa - just love the way you are approaching things and these words n particular.

 

I think I have an idea of how you feel.  When I cancelled my cruise with DH in the hospital - I wasn’t sad - I just wanted to be with him.  

 

2 hours ago, Cat in my lap said:

We took our COVID tests and both passed!  

 

Yay!  I always say I failed (i wasn’t positive).  Great news!

 

1 hour ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Yesterday, DH had an appointment with a new doctor, for a second opinion about his spinal stenosis and sciatica.  Tuesday, we found out the results of a head CAT scan ordered last week by our PCP in time for yesterday’s visit.  It turns out DH also has normal pressure hydrocephalus, which can occur as we get older.  Fortunately, both the back and head problems can be fixed with a surgical procedure.

 

However, the process to fix them will be on going and will take many months.  The fixes shouldn't take too long, but first you have to jump through all the hoops before Medicare will agree to pay for the next step.

 

I am so glad to hear that your DH has new doctor who is good and offering solutions.  I know it will take time but it is ever so encouraging 🙏🏻 

 

 

[bennybear]

2 hours ago, HAL Sailer said:

 

 

@Seasick Sailor, @bennybear @puppycanducruise, and ALL other:

 

Thank you, but anything I can muster in our situation I owe to the example of my DM who cared for my DF through nine years of increasingly debilitating Parkinson's during what should have been their best years of retirement. And, after being widowed at age 72, she resumed their love of travel for her next twenty+ years eventually touring six continents before her own passing at age 97.

 

I consider their life lesson my blessing,

-Melisa 

What a wonderful tribute to your DM.  My mother was similar,  lost my dad after severe Rheumatoid arthritis and a year in hospital with supra  nuclear palsy and she was early 70s so she travelled a lot with us.  I too try to look at the cup as half full.   We are grateful for all the travel we have done.  
 

@kazu sending extra hugs today!
 

We have severe storm with tennis ball hail and tornado warnings,  the flight path of the cloud seeding planes!

 

Edited July 7, 2022 by bennybear

[Himself]

Thanks for the fleet report.

[Cruzin Terri]

5 hours ago, HAL Sailer said:

Yesterday, my DH's specialist opined that a couple of routine tests that would usually be recommended following DH's recent hospitalization have a risk level for him that outweighs any possible reward. Sigh.

 

It doesn't make me sad. It just confirms the truth of our new phase of life. Or, as one Crystal cruiser posted when asked which line he/she would select above the others during Crystal's shutdown, "Our cruising days are behind us is in first place."

 

So, everyone that still can, please get out there and travel as you can! And, know that I will travel vicariously enjoying your photos and stories and suggestions till the day comes that I can resume my journeys.

 

It doesn't make me sad. It is actually a comfort as the specialist's advice helps me focus on enjoying 'the now' making different types of memories with my DH.

 

Bon Voyage,

-Melisa 

Prayers for you and your DH as you both enter a new phase in your life.

God Bless,

Terri

[AncientWanderer]

3 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Yesterday, DH had an appointment with a new doctor, for a second opinion about his spinal stenosis and sciatica.  Tuesday, we found out the results of a head CAT scan ordered last week by our PCP in time for yesterday’s visit.  It turns out DH also has normal pressure hydrocephalus, which can occur as we get older.  Fortunately, both the back and head problems can be fixed with a surgical procedure.

 

However, the process to fix them will be on going and will take many months.  The fixes shouldn't take too long, but first you have to jump through all the hoops before Medicare will agree to pay for the next step.

 

DH was very impressed with the new doctor, who answered all our questions and did not hem and haw on the answers.  He started the first step to fix the back problem and referred DH to a neurosurgeon in Dallas to work on the head problem, which will most likely be a shunt to drain the excess fluid from his brain.  We were impressed when he said in the end both problems could be fixed, but he added that since they had gone on so long, he did not think the results would get DH back to where he had been previously, but would show a big improvement.  It was nice to have a doctor no promise what he might not be able to deliver.  He also wants DH to continue the physical therapy.

 

We agreed that the first course of action would be to handle the fluid  on the brain as it is making DH lightheaded and not feeling all that well.

 

It looks like we’ll be in Texas for longer than expected, but it also looks like we will be able to enjoy more time in Quartzsite and on BHBs in the future.

 

 

Lenda, my sister had the procedure with the drainage shunt and she recovered well and feels much better for having done it.   I was frankly very nervous when I heard she was having the procedure.

I'm glad that you've found a doctor you like.  It makes so much difference.

Prayers are with you and your DH.  Maybe you'll end up with us on some BHBs out of San Diego.  Princess has some cruises out of San Diego now, too.  That's new.   😊

[Cruzin Terri]

@rafinmd Roy I would like you to take me off the rotation. There are others worse off than I am health wise.  The pain in my hands will not go away until I do something about scheduling surgery.  That will not happen for a while.  In the meanwhile, I am going to schedule another steroid injection.

The Polymyalgia Rheumatica is resolving albeit slowly.  I am weaning off the prednisone and at present I am doing okay.  If I start complaining, you can re add me to the list..

 

So you ask why no surgery now?????

Well,  there are some things DH and I want to do and i don’t want elective surgery to put a crimp in those plans.

In two weeks we are going to Williamsburg, VA to visit some friends.  I am really looking forward to this.  Here we live like hermits.  So it will be a welcome change.

 

Also, last October Jim and i had planned to go to Barbados for two weeks to celebrate our 40th anniversary.  However, DBIL, Eugene became ill and passed away.  We cancelled our trip. Had we gone as planned, we would not have been home when he died.  We did the right thing and we do not regret it. We decided to make the celebration a moveable feast.  However when we tried to rebook, the hotel (where we went for our honeymoon) was completely booked through April.  Well, we had already had a cruise paid for so we decided to wait.  

So we are going this October and celebrating our 41st anniversary.  It’s all booked. We have both our hotel and plane reservations and we are praying and keeping our fingers crossed that the airline cooperates.  We are really excited about it.

 

And last, but not least we have a Christmas Cruise booked.  Since we have no family on either side, we decided a cruise would be the best way to celebrate the holiday.

 

So, hopefully another injection will get me through the rest of the year and I will think about surgery after the Christmas holidays.

So that is my good news and hopefully all will work out for us.

Pray we can pull it off.

Terri

 

[HAL4NOW]

6 hours ago, St Pete Cruiser said:

My Holland America news states that June was a post pandemic record for bookings, with Alaska getting the heaviest of it.  There is no question travelers are releasing their pent up dollars.  The pics on CC from our people show beautiful sunny days in Alaska, only pushing more of us to click that confirm button.

Yesterday, for personal therapy, I looked at booking the N Statendam for Oct 8, Quebec to Fort Lauderdale.  The itinerary is better than Zaandam's, with 14 days including Saguenay and port calls at Gaspe and Portland, Maine as well as Boston.  My hope was to fly to NYC, overnight for 2 nights, and ride Amtrak to Montreal on the Adirondack, taking in the autumn colors and sites. Found out, that service still hasn't been restored since the border was closed for Covid.  Flights to Quebec don't work from down here.

Once I get a clear bill of health, I may resume my cruise therapy.

You could add the six day Boston to Quebec City (October 2-8) leg on the Nieuw Stantendam and avoid flying into Canada. That cruise is being heavily discounted now.

[richwmn]

7 minutes ago, HAL4NOW said:

You could add the six day Boston to Quebec City (October 2-8) leg on the Nieuw Stantendam and avoid flying into Canada. That cruise is being heavily discounted now.

That can't be added, it is a violation of the Passenger Vessel Service Act (PSVA), sorry.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

2 hours ago, kazu said:

 

It’s a variety of goat’s beard.  

 

 

Who said anything about cleaning 😂.  At least I did clean up after the jams 😆 😉 

 

 

How wonderful!  Have a great time together.

 

 

Melissa - just love the way you are approaching things and these words n particular.

 

I think I have an idea of how you feel.  When I cancelled my cruise with DH in the hospital - I wasn’t sad - I just wanted to be with him.  

 

 

Yay!  I always say I failed (i wasn’t positive).  Great news!

 

 

I am so glad to hear that your DH has new doctor who is good and offering solutions.  I know it will take time but it is ever so encouraging 🙏🏻 

 

 

 

Thanks, Jacqui.  BTW, the new doctor is Canadian.  He got is degree and medical degree at McGill in Montreal and his neurosurgery training at Stanford University.  How he wound up in Waco, Texas, I'm not sure, but I'm happy he did.

 

48 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

Lenda, my sister had the procedure with the drainage shunt and she recovered well and feels much better for having done it.   I was frankly very nervous when I heard she was having the procedure.

I'm glad that you've found a doctor you like.  It makes so much difference.

Prayers are with you and your DH.  Maybe you'll end up with us on some BHBs out of San Diego.  Princess has some cruises out of San Diego now, too.  That's new.   😊

 

Maxine, that is good and encouraging news about your sister.  A BHB out of San Diego or even Princess, sounds good.

 

38 minutes ago, Cruzin Terri said:

@rafinmd Roy I would like you to take me off the rotation. There are others worse off than I am health wise.  The pain in my hands will not go away until I do something about scheduling surgery.  That will not happen for a while.  In the meanwhile, I am going to schedule another steroid injection.

The Polymyalgia Rheumatica is resolving albeit slowly.  I am weaning off the prednisone and at present I am doing okay.  If I start complaining, you can re add me to the list..

 

So you ask why no surgery now?????

Well,  there are some things DH and I want to do and i don’t want elective surgery to put a crimp in those plans.

In two weeks we are going to Williamsburg, VA to visit some friends.  I am really looking forward to this.  Here we live like hermits.  So it will be a welcome change.

 

Also, last October Jim and i had planned to go to Barbados for two weeks to celebrate our 40th anniversary.  However, DBIL, Eugene became ill and passed away.  We cancelled our trip. Had we gone as planned, we would not have been home when he died.  We did the right thing and we do not regret it. We decided to make the celebration a moveable feast.  However when we tried to rebook, the hotel (where we went for our honeymoon) was completely booked through April.  Well, we had already had a cruise paid for so we decided to wait.  

So we are going this October and celebrating our 41st anniversary.  It’s all booked. We have both our hotel and plane reservations and we are praying and keeping our fingers crossed that the airline cooperates.  We are really excited about it.

 

And last, but not least we have a Christmas Cruise booked.  Since we have no family on either side, we decided a cruise would be the best way to celebrate the holiday.

 

So, hopefully another injection will get me through the rest of the year and I will think about surgery after the Christmas holidays.

So that is my good news and hopefully all will work out for us.

Pray we can pull it off.

Terri

 

 

Terri, I'm happy things are improving for you.  If the steroid shots keep working, the trip, anniversary celebration and cruise are worth the wait.  Sending good thoughts all three happen without any problems, especially from the airline.

 

Lenda

 

 

 

[dfish]

When do I get really nervous about my airline reservations?   I'm paid and was ticketed for my cruise coming up July 17th.  We fly out a week from tomorrow.  There was a last minute change in itinerary for the return trip.  United says HAL has not reissued the tickets.  HAL thinks they did as one of the three flights has a ticket number, but the other two don't.  I've requested that the tickets be reissued, but so far nothing.  I really don't want to get on a plane to Amsterdam unless I know I have a way home.  

[kochleffel]

4 minutes ago, dfish said:

When do I get really nervous about my airline reservations? 

 

I can only tell you that I check mine, for the end of August, almost every day. I wouldn't ordinarily be so anxious, but I'm traveling via Amsterdam, and Schiphol airport has been ordering airlines to reduce boardings. The concern is about long delays at security and doesn't really affect most transit passengers, but when airlines can't simply block the remaining unsold seats, or don't want to, they've been cancelling the flights instead.

[Cruzin Terri]

Sorry, wrong post.

Edited July 7, 2022 by Cruzin Terri

[Cruzin Terri]

18 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

Thanks, Jacqui.  BTW, the new doctor is Canadian.  He got is degree and medical degree at McGill in Montreal and his neurosurgery training at Stanford University.  How he wound up in Waco, Texas, I'm not sure, but I'm happy he did.

 

 

Maxine, that is good and encouraging news about your sister.  A BHB out of San Diego or even Princess, sounds good.

 

 

Terri, I'm happy things are improving for you.  If the steroid shots keep working, the trip, anniversary celebration and cruise are worth the wait.  Sending good thoughts all three happen without any problems, especially from the airline.

 

Lenda

 

 

 

Thank you Lenda

Terri

[TiogaCruiser]

9 hours ago, HAL4NOW said:

Forgiveness often eludes us for the wrong reasons. We think others don't deserve forgiveness because their actions are too egregious; and we are correct. Yet, we desire forgiveness from God and others for our own egregious actions. As we realize that we have been forgiven much, we become more capable of forgiving others. 

Forgiveness is more for our own health and wellbeing than it is for the people we choose to forgive. It doesn't mean that they "get away with it". It doesn't require reconciliation. Forgiveness from us is just a way of releasing the hold that the behavior of others has on us; forgiveness frees us to move on from the pain. 

Thank you for this. 
i screenshot it and it’s going in my planner.

[StLouisCruisers]

1 hour ago, Cruzin Terri said:

@rafinmd Roy I would like you to take me off the rotation. There are others worse off than I am health wise.  The pain in my hands will not go away until I do something about scheduling surgery.  That will not happen for a while.  In the meanwhile, I am going to schedule another steroid injection.

The Polymyalgia Rheumatica is resolving albeit slowly.  I am weaning off the prednisone and at present I am doing okay.  If I start complaining, you can re add me to the list..

 

So you ask why no surgery now?????

Well,  there are some things DH and I want to do and i don’t want elective surgery to put a crimp in those plans.

In two weeks we are going to Williamsburg, VA to visit some friends.  I am really looking forward to this.  Here we live like hermits.  So it will be a welcome change.

 

Also, last October Jim and i had planned to go to Barbados for two weeks to celebrate our 40th anniversary.  However, DBIL, Eugene became ill and passed away.  We cancelled our trip. Had we gone as planned, we would not have been home when he died.  We did the right thing and we do not regret it. We decided to make the celebration a moveable feast.  However when we tried to rebook, the hotel (where we went for our honeymoon) was completely booked through April.  Well, we had already had a cruise paid for so we decided to wait.  

So we are going this October and celebrating our 41st anniversary.  It’s all booked. We have both our hotel and plane reservations and we are praying and keeping our fingers crossed that the airline cooperates.  We are really excited about it.

 

And last, but not least we have a Christmas Cruise booked.  Since we have no family on either side, we decided a cruise would be the best way to celebrate the holiday.

 

So, hopefully another injection will get me through the rest of the year and I will think about surgery after the Christmas holidays.

So that is my good news and hopefully all will work out for us.

Pray we can pull it off.

Terri

 

 

I can understand your reasoning totally.  You have so many plans to look forward to, and deserve to enjoy them after the past couple of years and its problems.  We lived in Williamsburg for 7 years and I loved it there, even with the humidity. We had many relatives come visit us there.  Besides Colonial Williamsburg, ask your friends about driving the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown to see the museum there.  Also Jamestown is right nearby and that's a nice visit also.  Hopefully someone hasn't closed down the Parkway or something since we lived there and visited there last.  Enjoy all your plans!!