The Fleet Report and Daily for Monday, January 1st, 2024 - Happy New Year!

[ocean sounds]

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit, and a Very Happy New Year to you!  
 

It’s a mild morning, with a passing rain shower.  The dogs did not like the noise of the fireworks, and cuddled (hid) under blankets last night.  They woke me bright and early at 4:30 this morning - I sure hope that is NOT their 2024 Resolution 😂.

 

I love the idea of air fryer sweet potatoes @0106, and will definitely try them this  week.  I like to cut them open, andsprinkle a little brown sugar and cinnamon inside.  Yum!

 

Love, love, love your Daughter’s Candyland tree, @StLouisCruisers !  It makes me smile to see to see the photo.  

 

@JazzyV, I love the meme you posted!
 

As always, wishing for Health, Healing, Happiness, Blessings and a full life to each of you in 2024.   

Edited January 1 by ocean sounds

[RedneckBob]

2 hours ago, summer slope said:

Rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit!!  Said at 12:05 because of the fireworks.  Happy New Year friends.

 

Birthday Cake cocktial:

 

Ingredients
3 oz Caruva Horchata Cream Liqueur Available at Total Wine
2 oz Licor 43
3 oz Pineapple Juice
4-5 ice cubes for the shaker
additional ice for glass
Frosting + Sprinkles

Instructions
With a knife smear frosting on the glass' rim. In the shallow plate pour sprinkles and coat the glass rim. Set Aside. In the cocktail shaker add Horchata Cream Liqueur, Licor 43 and Pineapple Juice. Shake Vigorously until it's frothy. Add ice to the two short glasses and pour cocktail mixture.

Looks like I will be celebrating my birthday every day! 😀

[RedneckBob]

Thanks for the Fleet Update and General Info from all contributors.

 

Happy New Year!

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@Cat in my lap  Wishing both of you a very HAPPY 47TH ANNIVERSARY!

 

 

Lenda

 

[mamaofami]

Rabbit rabbit rabbit. Good morning everyone and Happy Healthy and peace filled  New Year. I watched the ball come down in NYC with my friend that I’ve done this with for at least 58 years but our tvs weren’t in sync. She was about 20 seconds behind me. Strange. 
Today our family is meeting to celebrate Sam’s  birth day which is actually tomorrow but it’s a work and school day. 
Stay well and safe everyone.

[RedneckBob]

2 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Happy New Year everyone. We had a great lobster dinner. One of lobsters was a mistake on order and weighed 4.22 lbs.! I put a pretty good dent in it but some will become homemade pizzas topping. The other two Canadian lobsters were two pounders. After dinner we watched A Walk In The Woods with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. The book was so much better. Everyone of us went to bed at our normal times happily knowing we made it to another year.

We were going to make homemade pizzas but neighbors invited us to a pizza party at their house so that will be our New Years dinner and celebration.

It’s time for another cup of coffee and a homemade maple glazed scone.

Enjoy the day and may 2024 be everything you wish for. Bruce

 

Chief, the hole in the ground and shattered window cartoon reminds me of something that happened last night!!!

 

My neighbor decided he was going to have a large barn fire in his back yard at about 9:30 PM. At 10:02 PM there was the huge boom, that shook the windows and sliding glass doors on our house. It sounded like TNT. When I looked outside I expected to see a huge hole in his backyard and him somewhere up in a tree. But no, everything was ok except one of his mowers was upside down!

[dobiemom]

Mornin’ family! I made French toast for breakfast and getting ready to watch the Tournament of Roses Parade (starts at 8 am PST). Then later I’m visiting my friend (and bringing poke bowls) who got out of the hospital Friday evening. 
 

2 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

God bless us all this year and wishing peace, happiness, health and healing.

Amen. 

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, Sir PMP said:

Especially to all 'old' timers: have a healthy New Year:

ok, where are the pancakes?

[cruising sister]

Good morning from San Diego,

We had about 17 people stop by from our roll call at the Wyndham. Some stayed to talk and othered just said hi. I met Susan and Caron and we are going in the hop on and hop off bus today. It is a bit chilly and I am glad I grabbed that jacket. 
 

I thought I heard sea gulls honking since we are on the water here but soon realized they were noise makers!  It really wasn’t bad and I went right back to sleep. 
 

Everyone have a great New Years Day!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info.

[RedneckBob]

Oh, I forgot.  Bunny, Bunny, Playboy Bunny!

[NextOne]

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit!  Happy New year! Wishing our Daily family a happy, healthy and safe 2024!

[sailingdutchy]

First of all I would like to wish everyone of you on the Daily a Happy and Healthy 2024 !

 

This was on our cruise with the Volendam in October / November of 2017 .

 

We had a fantastic tour from Osaka , Japan to go for the day to Kyoto with 3 other couples and guided by a retired professor Mr Ken Sakurai a man with incredible knowledge and wonderful humour in a  very comfortable Jumbo Taxi with wifi for all ! 

 

Because of the large number of pictures I might do it in a couple of posts 

First stop was at the Fushimi- Inaru Shrine and viewing the five storied Pagoda 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our next place to visit was the Kinkaku- Ji Temple  ( Golden Pavilion ) .  An incredible

 beautiful place and gorgeous setting which despite a mild rain we all really enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After spending quite a bit of time here it was time to dry up a little and have a wonderful Japanese lunch , I always invite the guide and the driver to join us ,that way we get the best information about the local menus  and what to order in the foreign countries for a little bit of extra cost for the group .

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued after the break ……..

[sailingdutchy]

Our visit to Kyoto from Osaka Part 2 

 

After lunch Ken took us to the Ginkaku-Ji Temple  a World Cultural Heritage site  ( Silver Pavilion )  with some of the most incredible gardens we have see in Japan .

 

 

 

 

Here a couple of gardeners were sitting on their knees with tweezers  taking out very small plants that did not belong in the particular desired moss or ground cover . 

 

 

 

 

 

Ken took us next to the downtown Gion street area a very old part of this old Imperial City 

 

 

 

 

Young Japanese ladies that dress up for the occasion , there are a lot of kimono for rent locations .

 

 

 

 

Sorry I misidentified the first site from the other post it should have been the Ninna-Ji Palace and Gardens NOT the Fushimi Inari Shrine because that is where we went next and it is quite different .

 

 

The cleansing ceremony explained and shown to do the proper way 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a long but incredible day we arrived back in Osaka to continue our journey 

 

 

Sorry I am taking so much space today , but it so hard to make a choice out of hundreds of pictures on an incredible day .................... Hope you liked Kyoto a great location to go to from Osaka . 

 

Tony 😀😀

[RMLincoln]

Happy anniversary @Cat in my lap! Ours is tomorrow..  each is a treasure,  never enough anniversaries!  

 

Maybe our most memorable anniversary was dinner on the Queen Mary after being at the Rose Parade, 2002!  Tomorrow it’ll be 31 years, not a given when you marry at 50 and 38. Every day is a good day to be happy!
 

I did Rabbits last night, I hope they remember!  
 

Grandkids joined us for dinner last night!  It is so great to be closer!  Dinner was special menu, as is brunch today. I got us a late reservation at 1:15, hopefully I’ll be ready to eat again!  
 

I’m working on my gratitude attitude!  2024 is a gift I never expected, and here we are together!  And living in such a  great place. 😇 

 

My NYE traditions have all gone away. Our favorite was watching the ball drop from the hot tub. It was DH’s ritual to set up the small TV on extension cord and cable cord on the porch so we could see it from the hot tub. Champagne in plastic flutes (no glass in the hot tub) and my pot lids to bang placed nearby!  Last night we shared the memories before we kissed goodnight at midnight. Nice!  

 

Great football games yesterday!!  Unless you’re an Eagles or Vikings fan…. Go Ravens!  We’re recording the Rose Parade, always a highlight for us. DH got  to go as a child and we jumped at the chance in 2002 for a Rose Parade RV Rally!  Before our first cruise!  
 

Prayers for our Cares list, each of you!  All our many travelers!  And peace for our world’s troubles. 
Maureen
 

[Annie, you asked about DH’s eye issues…. seems he’s allergic to his glaucoma meds. Has been on many kinds. Now on “preservative free” meds because that is apparently a common problem that develops but it doesn’t seem to have helped much. The surgeries planned for this year, starting Jan 23, are supposed to get him off the meds. In 2023 he had 2 surgeries to implant stents (drains to draw off the excess fluid and reduce the pressure) but he still needs the meds, so the next surgeries are the last best hope of getting him off the meds.  These are deeper and more complex surgeries. They’ll be fine at John’s-Hopkins in Maryland, the best! Follow-ups will be for a few months after each eye by a NJ doc trained by his surgeon at John’s Hopkins. We’re going down the path!  Grateful they are hopeful! Thanks for your caring thoughts!] 
 

 

[luvteaching]

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit, 

 

Happy New Year! Having a quiet morning so far and have the Rose Parade on. I haven't watched it in years so enjoying the floats especially. 

 

Nothing much planned for today. DS will be by later to put the tree in the shed and have a visit. A neighbor will be down for tea. I have lots to do around here so that's fine with me. 

 

@StLouisCruisersI love the Sweeties tree and am in awe of the stocking that's going to be done (and the ones in the background of the picture). It's sure nice to have the grid in color. I'm working on baby ones for great-nieces. We had 2 great nieces and a great granddaughter born in 4 months at the start of Covid (Feb, Mar and June) and the first one has her picture and I'm about 3/4 done for the second one. I worked on it when visiting DD DH in hospital and in care. Haven't touched it in a while but am determined to make time daily for it now. 

 

Happy Anniversary @Cat in my lap

 

Enjoy the first day of 2024! 

Karen

[Cruising-along]

Happy New Year to everyone!

I was asleep by 10 last night, with the sound machine turned up full blast and a sleeping pill.  Still, I woke up at what must have been midnight when the fireworks (which started here around 3 yesterday afternoon) suddenly got VERY loud.  I just put the pillow over my head and turned over. 😅  We have a full 3 days ahead of us, I was determined to sleep last night. 🤣

 

DS will be here this afternoon to take us to our airport hotel, and tomorrow by noon we should be landing in San Diego.  Can't wait!!  It may be hard to keep up with everything happening with the Dailyites, but I plan to do my best. 🙂  

 

Sandi @StLouisCruisers I LOVE your DD's latest tree.  I think it's my favorite!

 

I wish a healthy, happy 2024 to everyone and maybe a cruise or 2 or 3.  🙂  

[grapau27]

18 minutes ago, RMLincoln said:

Happy anniversary @Cat in my lap! Ours is tomorrow..  each is a treasure,  never enough anniversaries!  

 

Maybe our most memorable anniversary was dinner on the Queen Mary after being at the Rose Parade, 2002!  Tomorrow it’ll be 31 years, not a given when you marry at 50 and 38. Every day is a good day to be happy!
 

I did Rabbits last night, I hope they remember!  
 

Grandkids joined us for dinner last night!  It is so great to be closer!  Dinner was special menu, as is brunch today. I got us a late reservation at 1:15, hopefully I’ll be ready to eat again!  
 

I’m working on my gratitude attitude!  2024 is a gift I never expected, and here we are together!  And living in such a  great place. 😇 

 

My NYE traditions have all gone away. Our favorite was watching the ball drop from the hot tub. It was DH’s ritual to set up the small TV on extension cord and cable cord on the porch so we could see it from the hot tub. Champagne in plastic flutes (no glass in the hot tub) and my pot lids to bang placed nearby!  Last night we shared the memories before we kissed goodnight at midnight. Nice!  

 

Great football games yesterday!!  Unless you’re an Eagles or Vikings fan…. Go Ravens!  We’re recording the Rose Parade, always a highlight for us. DH got  to go as a child and we jumped at the chance in 2002 for a Rose Parade RV Rally!  Before our first cruise!  
 

Prayers for our Cares list, each of you!  All our many travelers!  And peace for our world’s troubles. 
Maureen
 

[Annie, you asked about DH’s eye issues…. seems he’s allergic to his glaucoma meds. Has been on many kinds. Now on “preservative free” meds because that is apparently a common problem that develops but it doesn’t seem to have helped much. The surgeries planned for this year, starting Jan 23, are supposed to get him off the meds. In 2023 he had 2 surgeries to implant stents (drains to draw off the excess fluid and reduce the pressure) but he still needs the meds, so the next surgeries are the last best hope of getting him off the meds.  These are deeper and more complex surgeries. They’ll be fine at John’s-Hopkins in Maryland, the best! Follow-ups will be for a few months after each eye by a NJ doc trained by his surgeon at John’s Hopkins. We’re going down the path!  Grateful they are hopeful! Thanks for your caring thoughts!] 
 

 

Happy 31st wedding anniversary tomorrow Maureen.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

RABBIT  🐰  RABBIT  🐰  WHITE RABBIT!  🐇

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Good morning from a mostly cloudy Quartzsite.  At 8:55 am it was 43F with a 1mph wind.  Our high today will be 62F.  BTW, we stayed up until a little after midnight, and toasted the New Year with the last of the Prosecco.  We also said rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit before wishing each other Happy New Year.  There were some fireworks in the neighborhood, but the stopped sometime between 8 and 9 last night.  Today while watching the Rose Parade and probably some afternoon bowl games, I'll be putting away the Christmas decorations and taking the tree down.  I hope to also get to the outside lights later this afternoon.

 

Ellis Island was very important in US history as that was the first place most immigrants first stepped foot on US soil.  The Euro definitely made visiting Europe easier.  We first went to Europe in September 2001, and had to exchange money when the ship changed countries.  We were back in Europe in April 2002, and the Euro was the currency by then.  I think I'll let DH be the first one to step out and back into the house, because after the last couple of years, he needs good luck even more than I do.

 

I like the George R. R Martin quote.  Even though we need our sleep, without books the world would not be as open to us.

 

We'll skip the meal today, but we've had roasted sweet potatoes as a side dish along with air fryer sweet potato fries.  We'll pass on the drink, but the sparkling wine would be nice to try if it wasn't a tad bit expensive.

 

We have been to Osaka twice in 2000 and 2002.  The first time we disembarked the old Regal Princess and spent the day in a banquet room of a local hotel before going to the airport.  The second time we were there on Volendam's APEC cruise.

 

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, the days your picks for days in history are good and were changes for the better.  The celebration tree is lovely.  Thanks for the pictures of Antarctica.

@ottahand7  Safe travels to Ft. Lauderdale today.  I would also like to read how your cruise is going.

@rafinmd  Roy, thank you for stepping up and providing us with the maps of the ship locations.

@grapau27  Graham, thank you for the explanations of the days.

@Denise T  Denise, that is good news that you're getting your blood sugar under control  Condolences on having to return to work tomorrow.   I'm sure you realize work is a four letter word. 

@dfish  Debbie, we usually don't watch too much football, but this year we've seen a lot of bowl games, and we will be watching the Sugar Bowl and cheering on Texas.  HOOKEM HORNS!  🤘

@kochleffel  Paul, I hope you are feeling better today, and that the emotional distress is easing.

@rafinmd  Roy, the train ride to the Copper Canyon was always on my father's bucket list, and something I've wanted to do, but haven't had the chance.

@marshhawk  Annie, I hope you enjoy the collard greens.  They are our favorite of all the greens.  Blackeyed peas were the traditional good luck food when I was growing up.  DSIL said that in Louisiana cabbage was eaten on NYD for good luck.  Tonight we'll be having a ham and cabbage dish along with blackeyed peas, doctored with Picante Sauce.

@VMax1700  Welcome back.  You have been missed, and we hope you will visit often.

@Nickelpenny  Pennie, thanks for the New Year pictures.

@tupper10  I hope you are feeling better, but sorry your DH is getting a cold.  I know your family appreciates all the precautions you are taking to keep them well.

@mamaofami  Carol, please wish Sam an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY from us.

@cruising sister  Lorraine, I'm glad some of you got to meet last night.  I hope you, Susan and Caron enjoy the Ho-Ho, and that the weather cooperates.

@sailingdutchy  Tony, thanks for sharing your pictures of Osaka.

@Cruising-along  Carolyn, safe travels tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda

 

Edited January 1 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[JazzyV]

Good morning. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily. Happy New Year!

I'll salute Ellis Island for it's former importance. Euros have made it easier traveling around Europe. First Foot day - around here they say the first person through your door after the new year should be a dark haired man, for good luck. Nice quote, as I get more books than sleep these days. I like roasted sweet potatoes. I'll pass on the drink, but take the wine. I have not been to Osaka.

 

It's 32F and there's snow on the roofs and grass, but the roads are clear. BFF and I managed to stay up until after the new year. Now the pork and sauerkraut is cooking in the slow cooker. I got my usual about 4 hours of sleep. My watch told me I had a new trend the last 2 weeks, with almost 4 hours of sleep rather than the 2.5 I'd been getting. No big plans. We'll watch the Rose Parade and just relax.

 

@Cat in my lap Happy Anniversary!

@StLouisCruisers Thanks for the days in history. Happy Birthday to your DD tomorrow! Love her tree. Great Antarctica Travelogue.

@ottahand7 Safe trip to FLL. Looking forward to your live from Eurodam!

@rafinmd Thanks for the maps.

@VMax1700 We hope to "see" you here more.

@tupper10 I hope you and DH are over the colds soon.

@sailingdutchy Wonderful photos, thanks.

@RMLincoln Prayers for a successful surgery for DH later this month.

 

Prayers for the Care List and for a Happy and Healthy 2024 for all! Cheers to those Celebrating.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We have been to Osaka twice, and missed the port in 2018.  In 2000, it was the disembarkation port for a trans Pacific cruise.  We did not see much of the city, as we were taken to hotel before our late afternoon flights, and were stuck in a banquet room.  We were there for a long day in 2002 on the APEC cruise on Volendam.  

 

We covered a lot of ground that day.  Early that morning, we took the train to Kyoto and spent several hours walking around and touring one of the many temples there.  We took a local train to Kyoto, which was very interesting.  We took the bullet train back to Osaka, and our car was mostly empty.  What a difference!  I'll post the Kyoto pictures in another post.

 

These first pictures were taken as we walked back from the train station.  It was a grey day and very  polluted.

 

The giant Ferris wheel as seen from Volendam.  It was the first large one we saw.

 

Back on board, we had dinner in the Lido, which at that time, you picked up your appetizer and salad, then placed your order which was cooked and delivered to your table.  After dinner we walked over to the aquarium and went through it.  The aquarium is multi-storied. You take an elevator to the top, and begin walking down a gently sloped ramp that circles a very, very large tank.  As you descend, the sea life changes from fish that live near the surface to the denizens of the deep.  This is the outside of the aquarium.

 

Lenda

Edited January 1 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Here are some of my pictures of Kyoto. 

 

These are the two trains we rode.  I did not get any pictures inside the first train, but it was crowded.  It looks like there were six others in our car on the bullet train.

 

Scenes as we walked to the temple. 

 

Pictures from the temple.  Sorry, I don't remember which temple out of the many temples in Kyoto we visited.

 

 

A view of Kyoto from the temple.

 

The street leading to the temple

 

Kyoto Station, where ironically, we found some very good Chinese food for lunch.

 

Kyoto as seen from the train station

 

Lenda

[kazu]

1 hour ago, tupper10 said:

I still have the cold courtesy of my GK's and it looks like DH is now going to be sick with it as well. My brother and SIL and nieces and DH and grandnieces and nephew are all visiting but they are all staying at my mother's house. So far we haven't been able to see them. I will try and visit tomorrow with a mask on and outside.    I know they don't want to get sick and given that my mother is 94 we have to be very careful around her.  

 

So very sorry you are starting the New Year off sick and that your DH has now succumbed 😔 

 

How very thoughtful of you to visit outside and masked 👍 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, mamaofami said:

Rabbit rabbit rabbit. Good morning everyone and Happy Healthy and peace filled  New Year. I watched the ball come down in NYC with my friend that I’ve done this with for at least 58 years but our tvs weren’t in sync. She was about 20 seconds behind me. Strange. 
Today our family is meeting to celebrate Sam’s  birth day which is actually tomorrow but it’s a work and school day. 
Stay well and safe everyone.

 

A happy early birthday celebration to Sam!

 

 

 

 

33 minutes ago, RMLincoln said:

Happy anniversary @Cat in my lap! Ours is tomorrow..  each is a treasure,  never enough anniversaries!  

 

A very early anniversary to you two.

 

 

 

 

33 minutes ago, RMLincoln said:

The surgeries planned for this year, starting Jan 23, are supposed to get him off the meds. In 2023 he had 2 surgeries to implant stents (drains to draw off the excess fluid and reduce the pressure) but he still needs the meds, so the next surgeries are the last best hope of getting him off the meds.  These are deeper and more complex surgeries. They’ll be fine at John’s-Hopkins in Maryland, the best! Follow-ups will be for a few months after each eye by a NJ doc trained by his surgeon at John’s Hopkins. We’re going down the path!  Grateful they are hopeful! Thanks for your caring thoughts!] 
 

 

 

I do hope that the surgeries can hep your DH 🙏 

 

 

19 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

DS will be here this afternoon to take us to our airport hotel, and tomorrow by noon we should be landing in San Diego.  Can't wait!!  It may be hard to keep up with everything happening with the Dailyites, but I plan to do my best. 🙂  

 

Enjoy your stay tonight and very safe travels to you tomorrow.

 

 

[Overhead Fred]

 

And

 

 

Time for Hoppin' John!

 

[kochleffel]

3 hours ago, kochleffel said:

I may or may not have been awake at midnight.

 But I was definitely awake after midnight. Someone set off fireworks within earshot, and that set off a festival of barking all around.