March 22, 2015


The internet on board was down Sunday night, so this is late.

My talk today, if the original rotation had been followed, would have been at 10 o’clock, but for whatever reason, I was at 2 p.m. today with “Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Crusoe.”  Since I had the second talk, we had breakfast at the Lido Buffet instead of ordering room service.  I did order a pot of coffee for me and a glass of tomato juice for Bonnie.  I am getting very spoiled – don’t even have to make my own coffee.

We went to church today.  It was led by an Assemblies of God minister and his wife.  At least I am guessing they are A/G because he went to an A/G seminary (of course I went to a Presbyterian seminary, and I am not a Presbyterian).  He told us we were like Octopuses.  An octopus can get a tentacle cut off and it will grow back – we should be like that because failure cannot defeat us.

The technicians on board and I have given up trying to get my computer to talk to their projector.  The lead guy told me he thought it was because I was running Windows 8.1 and they are using something very old (I have no idea what).  But they’ve copied my flash drive and have all of my talks on their computer, so it works okay.  Today for the first time I used my fancy clicker.  It has a timer on it, so I can better keep up with the time while I do my talk.  And instead of a red laser beam, it has a green one.  I like the green one – it is easier seen.  I am easily impressed!

The seas are calm this afternoon.  We’ve had 8 to 10 foot swells, but today not so much.  It wasn’t enough to cause any problems, but definitely smoother today.  And it’s an Irving Berlin afternoon – nothing but blue skies.

Last night’s entertainment was four of the crew – two guys and two gals as a singing group doing a program called “Unforgettable.”  They did a lot of stuff from the 40s and 50s.  Stuff us old folks on board know.  They were very good.  Tonight is a violinist from Royal Albert Hall.  I got to hear a bit of his program because he was rehearsing right before my talk.  Looking forward to the rest of it tonight.

Afternoon tea was good.  The usual sandwiches.  Scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam.  But the best part was a really great table today.  Lots of fun talk and good fellowship.

My beloved wife has just aroused herself from a long winter’s nap.  We set the clocks up an hour again at noon today.  That’s the third time since leaving Fort Lauderdale.  I guess she was making up for the lost time – literally.  We will do it two more times, because Rome is 5 hours ahead of the East Coast of the U. S. of A.

Well, that’s about all for today.  See y’uns tomorrow!

TTFN