The Fleet Report and Daily for Monday September 2nd, 2024

[puppycanducruise]

Good morning.  Thanks for the Report.

The internet is back, we were off for a few hours this morning.  Ugh.

Cool and windy here.  It was only 7C (45F) when Bertie and I went for a walk, too cold for this time of year, I hope it warms up soon.

Interesting days.  I don't want to adjust my calendar, that's too confusing.  I like coconut in some things.  I wish everyone could live fearlessly, there's too much violence and terror in the world.

I agree with the quote.

I'll pass on the meal but I'd like to try the drink and the wine.

Prayers for so many.  I hope there are lots of reasons to celebrate.

Have a great day.

[puppycanducruise]

@Quartzsite Cruiser  Happy Anniversary! 🥂

[puppycanducruise]

@RMLincoln Happy Birthday! 🎂

 

And congrats on the arrival of the new Great Grandchild.  I hope the little one has a long, happy life.

[puppycanducruise]

@Denise T  Congratulations of completing your dissertation.   That's an outstanding accomplishment.! ✨

[grapau27]

Wishing you a very happy birthday Maureen @RMLincoln.

[Sharon in AZ]

24 minutes ago, cunnorl said:

Did they fix the window yet?

No and it doesn’t look like it will happen soon. I still don’t know how it happened. Makes picture taking tricky. 
 

[Seasick Sailor]

Good morning from the beautiful Westerdam. Day 2 of our Majestic Japan Cruise. 

 

We had a lovely sail away last night.

Dinner was in the MDR and of course I had lobster, Allen surf and turf. Both were delicious. The yum yum is back! I enjoy the ginger also Sharon. 

 

 

Here are pictures of our cabin. I love the layout.  I will also share the pictures with HAL Facts.

 

It is an SY fully accessible suite. The doors are push button to open and automatically close. One difference, on Rotterdam the outside deck door was an easy slide open where this cabin still has the pull open door.

 

The heavy blinds on the door and window make a nice black out for sleeping. A sign says to keep the blinds shut at night, and the bridge will control our outside light for safe navigation purposes. 

 

We are stocked with robes, the cute little HAL lap blankets, and binoculars.

On request, we can get slippers but I always feel like they fit Bozo the clown best. I did not notice an umbrella but I'm sure they are available somewhere;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[seagarsmoker]

1 hour ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you all for the Happy Anniversary wishes.  We appreciate every one of the good wishes.

 

It's hard for me to believe it's been 57 years, and even harder to wrap my mind around the fact, I'm old enough to be married 57 years.

 

My preference is to thank everyone individually, but if I did that, The Daily would become too long and cumbersome.   

 

Lenda

Happy Anniversary!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info.

[StLouisCruisers]

41 minutes ago, richwmn said:

Greetings from Victoria, BC, looking forward to a good day with some local CC members.

 

@StLouisCruisersSandi, sorry for the blanks this morning. I work from a local copy at home and failed to load it to halfacts before I left. That oversight has been taken care of.

 

 

Great Rich!  Thanks.  I've just been making a list the night before because it takes too long in the morning.  Hope you're already having fun!

 

 

Joy @Seasick Sailor your cabin looks so nice and roomy.  Make yourselves at home; you'll be there awhile!

[grapau27]

21 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Good morning from the beautiful Westerdam. Day 2 of our Majestic Japan Cruise. 

 

We had a lovely sail away last night.

Dinner was in the MDR and of course I had lobster, Allen surf and turf. Both were delicious. The yum yum is back! I enjoy the ginger also Sharon. 

 

 

Here are pictures of our cabin. I love the layout.  I will also share the pictures with HAL Facts.

 

It is an SY fully accessible suite. The doors are push button to open and automatically close. One difference, on Rotterdam the outside deck door was an easy slide open where this cabin still has the pull open door.

 

The heavy blinds on the door and window make a nice black out for sleeping. A sign says to keep the blinds shut at night, and the bridge will control our outside light for safe navigation purposes. 

 

We are stocked with robes, the cute little HAL lap blankets, and binoculars.

On request, we can get slippers but I always feel like they fit Bozo the clown best. I did not notice an umbrella but I'm sure they are available somewhere;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice cabin Joy.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a cloudy and gray central Texas.  Our much needed rain prediction was moved from 4am to 6am, and now the weather app is saying we'll get rain at 6pm.  I'm not holding my breath, but since DH has an appointment Tuesday and another Wednesday, my guess is that is when we'll get rain.  It is 77F and feels like 77F with a 9mph wind from the NE.  The humidity is 90% with a dew point of 73F.  Our predicted high is 83F, quite a change from last month.

 

I hope everyone enjoys a relaxing Labor Day.

 

Calendar Adjustment Day is celebrated on September 2 to commemorate the day Britain switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.  Someone else can enjoy my coconut.  I think a small amount of fear in our lives is necessary to keep us from doing some dangerous things.

 

The quote is interesting, but I don't totally agree with it.

 

We'll pass on the meal, but would love to try the wine.  I've enjoyed a few Tequila Sunrise drinks on BHBs.

 

We have been to Port-of-Spain four times.

 

The Great London Fire in 1666 was devastating to the city.

V-J day ended a horrible war.

 

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, please wish Austin a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY for us.  If Brenda and Paul still have their motorhome, they will have a place to live until they find a new house.  We did that for four or five months before the house we're in now was ready.

@grapau27  Graham, glad your internet is back and you are back on The Daily. 

@ottahand7  Nancy, I hope the fishing is good today.  I hope the doctors can finally figure out what is going on with your DB and find a cure.

@RedneckBob  RNB, we were on a tour in Trinidad where they ran out of bus space, and many were loaded into taxis.  This was in 1999, and our taxi was so old it was a Datsun.  We did the entire tour feeling like sardines, and were very glad when we reached the beach and could get out of the car for a few minutes.  Thank you for wishing us a Happy Anniversary.

@Denise T  Congratulations, on getting your dissertation sent off for review.

@Heartgrove  Jack, that is good news your DSIL came home Saturday.  Thank you for the anniversary wishes.

@Mr. Boston  Thank you for the anniversary wishes.  Enjoy your DBIL's visit.

@Seasick Sailor  Thank you for the nice anniversary wishes.  Thank you too for sharing the pictures of your cabin.

@dfish  Debbie, enjoy your day in Charlottetown.  Thanks for the anniversary wishes.

@marshhawk  Annie, thank you for the good wishes.

@smitty34877  Terry, thank you for the good wishes today.  Enjoy your dinner cooked by DSIL.

@puppycanducruise  Thank you for the good wishes today.

@seagarsmoker  Thank you for the anniversary good wishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We were also in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2015 on the same cruise as @StLouisCruisers Sandi.  We also did the same tour that day, but we went to the Botanic Gardens first and then the Monastery.  Sandi, thank you for your pictures from the bus.  Then windows on our bus were so heavily tinted that my pictures turned out blue.

 

We've been to Trinidad three more times.  We were there twice in 2006 on the old Regal Princess on b2bs roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale to Manaus.  Our first time was in 1999 on Noordam III, so those pictures are pre-digital.  

 

The port area and it's approaches are very shallow with shifting sand, so there were many ships that had run aground in 1999.  The Noordam even ran aground for a short time, but managed to work herself free.  That was when we learned they need a diver to inspect the hull before she could sail from Trinidad.  That is the case whenever a ship runs aground.

 

In 2006, on our second visit, we rented a car and drove to the tar pits.  Known as Pitch Lake, the tar pits are the world's largest natural asphalt deposits.

 

Along the way to Pitch Lake we passed was a beautiful oceanside park with huge piles of firewood under several platforms.  Every Wednesday, families come there to cremate their dead.  On our way back, the cremations were underway.  Out of respect for the dead, we did not take any pictures, but it was an interesting introduction to one island custom.

 

The tar pits

 

 

 

 

A band greeting us in 2006

 

Contrasting views of the port area.  The first pictures were taken from the ship in 2006 and the second ones in each set in 2015.

 

 

 

 

More pictures of Port-of-Spain taken from the ship in 2006

 

 

 

The Botanic Gardens

 

 

 

A few different views of the monastery

 

 

 

Now it's time to finish reading the Daily, so I'll be back in a while.

 

Lenda

[marshhawk]

Good Monday Morning Dailyites! Slept on the sofa again last night, wise choice as both of us got up way too many times in the middle of the night, we would have both been awake all night if we had been in the same room. Its sunny, and going back up to the 90's today.  No big plans, for the day, I would like to go to the farmers market, get DH some croissants and jelly and that elusive Olive oil that I keep forgetting at the store.  Maybe some green beans , and I can make beef curry massaman this week.  We had steak last night, and we always start with cutting it in half, and then using the left overs in salads or sandwiches.

 

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day!  

 

@RMLincoln I am so glad that the baby was born!  And they didnt have to be in labor on labor day!  

 

@rafinmdYou used a word today that I just started hearing in the last month.  Pemultative.  Have you secretly been watching Formula !?  Also I have a question, you mentioned that you have to do AV at church....What does AV stand for, my mind was thinking Awful Vocalists, but that doesnt sound right.

 

If I do nothing today but sleep, is that OK?  

 

I invited Donna over for a burger tonight, but she said she had been ill most of the weekend. I should have paid attention, she is an obsessed mower of her lawn, she uses the bag to pick up all the pine cones,  and when I looked out early yesterday morning, the lawn mower was in the middle of the side yard.  Just sitting there.  No Donna in sight.

 

Have you ever noticed that when you are give the opportunity to relax you end up allowing all the germs in the world to attack you? Donna had 5 days off, and got sick.  I go on a cruise or vacation, and get sick.  My bosses would tell me that it is important for my health to work as much as I can.....I guess I just need to learn how to stop the germs from attacking me, when I have time off.  

 

 

[ger_77]

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily!  No calendar adjustments needed here, I can see it's September 2nd.  I like coconut, fresh, dried, or sweetened out of the pack when baking.  You know, sometimes you just have to live fearless, even if it's only for a few minutes.  Just go for it!

 

It's a bright, sunny, warm day for us already with a temp of 18(64) and an expected high of 31(87).  Currently all the windows are open and we're enjoying a slight breeze that will help keep the house cool for a few more hours till everything gets shut tightly and the a/c kicks in.  

 

I finally had enough worrying about DH and yesterday morning got him up and took him to a walk-in clinic.  The clinic opened at 9 and we were there at 8:40; there were already a half dozen people standing in line, so I got in line and waited.  DH got out of the car when the doors opened and we went in to register - well, as soon as you mention chest pain, you're given 5 star treatment!  He was whisked into an exam room where of course they did an ECG and asked a zillion questions.  After a short while they determined the pain wasn't heart related, but was musculoskeletal in nature and sent him home saying 2 Tylenol arthritis 3 times daily along with alternating heat/cold would be the best thing for him.  It was a relief to know it wasn't his heart, and it was later confirmed with a phone call from the same doctor later in the afternoon once they'd received the results of the blood test.  He spent last night sleeping in the recliner and when he got up, said it was the first day he hadn't had pain across the front of his chest, so it looks like we're making progress.  It was suggested that the pain could have been viral, but they couldn't be sure.

 

@Quartzsite Cruiser wishing you and Steve a very Happy Anniversary today!

@RMLincoln Happy Birthday to you with many happy returns of the day, and congratulations on your new great-granddaughter!

@Seasick Sailoryour cabin is great - what a view to wake up to!!

@Denise T congratulations on finishing your dissertation - wow, after all you've had to wade through to get it done, you deserve a cruise to celebrate!

 

Not really anything on the agenda for us today, so we might just take a drive around the city to see if there are any colour changes happening on the trees along the river.  And because DH was such a good boy at the doctor's yesterday, I think I'll take him for ice cream.  LOL 

 

I'd enjoy the drink of the day as well as the wine, but will pass on Jennifer Anniston's salad.  A number of years ago when I dieted to lose weight for DS's wedding, I ate the same thing every day at lunch for almost a full year - a salad consisting of cottage cheese, chicken breast, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers.  It worked; I lost 39 pounds.  Sadly, I've found them all again.  LOL  Because it's Labor Day, I'm not going to be laboring much for dinner - I think we're going to have hot dogs on the grill along with Greek Salad (I've got to use up all these cucumbers people keep leaving for us!) and we'll enjoy it all on the deck tonight.  And wine.

 

Prayers for everyone who is in need, in grief, in pain, and especially for the souls of the slain hostages in Gaza and their families.  Cheers to all with celebrations today.

 

Smooth Sailing!  ☺️☺️☺️

Gerry

[marshhawk]

@ger_77 said

 

 I think we're going to have hot dogs on the grill along with Greek Salad (I've got to use up all these cucumbers people keep leaving for us!) and we'll enjoy it all on the deck tonight.  And wine.

 

Be grateful it wasnt zucchini.  You can always make cucumber sandwiches, but who ever wanted a zucchini sandwich.....

[rafinmd]

18 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

What does AV stand for, my mind was thinking Awful Vocalists, but that doesnt sound righ

Audio Visual.  We livestream the service to some people at home.

 

Roy

[RedneckBob]

30 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Good morning from a cloudy and gray central Texas.  Our much needed rain prediction was moved from 4am to 6am, and now the weather app is saying we'll get rain at 6pm.  I'm not holding my breath, but since DH has an appointment Tuesday and another Wednesday, my guess is that is when we'll get rain.  It is 77F and feels like 77F with a 9mph wind from the NE.  The humidity is 90% with a dew point of 73F.  Our predicted high is 83F, quite a change from last month.

 

I hope everyone enjoys a relaxing Labor Day.

 

Calendar Adjustment Day is celebrated on September 2 to commemorate the day Britain switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.  Someone else can enjoy my coconut.  I think a small amount of fear in our lives is necessary to keep us from doing some dangerous things.

 

The quote is interesting, but I don't totally agree with it.

 

We'll pass on the meal, but would love to try the wine.  I've enjoyed a few Tequila Sunrise drinks on BHBs.

 

We have been to Port-of-Spain four times.

 

The Great London Fire in 1666 was devastating to the city.

V-J day ended a horrible war.

 

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, please wish Austin a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY for us.  If Brenda and Paul still have their motorhome, they will have a place to live until they find a new house.  We did that for four or five months before the house we're in now was ready.

@grapau27  Graham, glad your internet is back and you are back on The Daily. 

@ottahand7  Nancy, I hope the fishing is good today.  I hope the doctors can finally figure out what is going on with your DB and find a cure.

@RedneckBob  RNB, we were on a tour in Trinidad where they ran out of bus space, and many were loaded into taxis.  This was in 1999, and our taxi was so old it was a Datsun.  We did the entire tour feeling like sardines, and were very glad when we reached the beach and could get out of the car for a few minutes.  Thank you for wishing us a Happy Anniversary.

@Denise T  Congratulations, on getting your dissertation sent off for review.

@Heartgrove  Jack, that is good news your DSIL came home Saturday.  Thank you for the anniversary wishes.

@Mr. Boston  Thank you for the anniversary wishes.  Enjoy your DBIL's visit.

@Seasick Sailor  Thank you for the nice anniversary wishes.  Thank you too for sharing the pictures of your cabin.

@dfish  Debbie, enjoy your day in Charlottetown.  Thanks for the anniversary wishes.

@marshhawk  Annie, thank you for the good wishes.

@smitty34877  Terry, thank you for the good wishes today.  Enjoy your dinner cooked by DSIL.

@puppycanducruise  Thank you for the good wishes today.

@seagarsmoker  Thank you for the anniversary good wishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda

 

OMG, were we in the same taxi! Our one and only trip to Trinidad was on the Volendam in Dec 1999!

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, GTVCRUISER said:

I prefer the naked feet photo! 😀

[kochleffel]

In my world view, school doesn't begin until after Labor Day, and it was a shock to find when I moved to Oklahoma that the first day of school there was about August 13. A few school systems here opened last week, and most regretted it, having to close because of the heat. OTOH, the high today is going to be about 68°.

 

 

Let's be sure this is clear: there is no need to adjust your calendar today.

 

I wouldn't mind the salad, once in a while. Pass on the cocktail. For the wine, let's branch out a little with J.R. Dill's Cab Sauv-Cab Franc blend, $22.

 

I determined, unhappily, that I probably can't run the presentation I'll have to give in class during the PC cruise from an iPad. It is sort of possible, but too clunky, so I'll have to take a laptop computer. I thought a bit about live-blogging that cruise, but probably won't: the popular live reports in that forum are by people who seem to be very chummy with the captain, cruise director, dining manager, et al., which I never am.

 

 

[durangoscots]

2 hours ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Denise, congratulations on the completion of your dissertation. I didn’t realize that so much work and time was involved!  Wow!  Your upcoming cruise will definitely be a celebration!

@Denise TI am adding my congratulations. I remember when I went through this many years ago. It took me forever to write the dissertation as I kept worrying about first this bit and then that bit.  I got mine back with very few edits and questions, but several of the comments were really weird..... places where they wanted to me to make changes, but the places were in quotes.... so obviously I could not change what someone else had written. I had the feeling someone on the committee was looking for something to comment on and did not really pay close attention. I did my in person defense which turned out to be very very short and easy and then turned in my final copy and after many years was done!!! Felt very strange.So again, congratulations!!!! It is a big accomplishment. 

 

Susan

[luvteaching]

Good morning and Happy Labor Day, 

 

@Quartzsite Cruiser Happy 57th Anniversary! 

@RMLincoln Happy Birthday!

@Denise T Congrats on completing your dissertation!

 

It's cloudy and somewhat cooler here today with a predicted high of just 70. I'm ok with that. 

Yesterday's 50th anniversary celebration at Lake Cavanaugh was very nice. The drive there was about an hour and some twisty roads but I made it. The driveway to the house was a sharp turn and somewhat steep so DS took my car back up when I left. There were close to 20 people there and it was all casual. Most were down on the dock and enjoying the water, kayak, canoe, etc. There was lots of food and around 5:00 everyone was in, we toasted the happy couple, a few tears were shed especially by their daughters, and we ate. I was home before dark so that was good. 

Today is hanging out at home. I have some cookies I want to get mixed up and maybe baked since it's cooler today, my neighbor will be down for tea when I text her it's ready, and I should do fun things like change the sheets, etc. 

 

Happy Labor Day!
 

Karen

[Overhead Fred]

@Quartzsite Cruiser 

 

[Overhead Fred]

@RMLincoln 

 

Happy Birthday!

[StLouisCruisers]

Denise @Denise T congrats on your work completing your dissertation.  Will you be getting a hardback published copy of it?  When my kids got their graduate degrees, they handed us hardback books of their dissertations.  I'm proud of both of them for their hard work, and they were equally proud to show us how much work went into it.

 

 

35 minutes ago, RedneckBob said:

OMG, were we in the same taxi! Our one and only trip to Trinidad was on the Volendam in Dec 1999!

 

Are you kidding us RNB?  If not, what a huge coincidence that would be!  🫢  Let's hear from Lenda!

 

 

Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser I was thinking Brenda and Paul might live in the motor home too.  I know they have some storage space aka barn/storage building where they could put their huge amount of furniture.  They had a U-Haul truck here yesterday around dinner time, and had two men helping take furnishings to it.  Since they have a lower level they used their golf cart to attach heavy pieces from downstairs, onto the back of the golf cart and drove it out front to the U-Haul ramp. It left early this morning and is probably down south dropping off furniture right now.  I don't envy them all this work!