BELT AND SUSPENDERS

October 4, 2017

Some of you may ask, “David, why do you travel with two computers and 3 flash drives?”  I would answer you, “It is belt and suspenders!”  And today I needed it.

To start with, I left our stateroom and went the wrong way to the “World Theater” where I do my talks.  It is the main theater on the Koningsdam and a great place in which to perform.  There are lots of lights and gadgets that are used in the main shows, and for my talks, and those of the other two lecturers, our PowerPoints are projected onto three gigantic screens around and behind us.

Wandering down the corridor, with the theater no closer than when I began, I asked a crewman, “Is this the way?”  It was not, so I turned around.  Arriving, I slipped in quietly and took a seat because the second speaker was winding up his talk.  Then Wesley, one of the technicians, came up to me and said, “It is good to see you again.  We sailed together on the Westerdam.”  He really did look familiar, but if he hadn’t put it together, I’d’ve been none the wiser.

And here is where the belt and suspenders came in.  My computer wouldn’t talk to their system.  We tried HDMI and VGA (ask technical support) but neither worked.  We restarted the computer, but Control-Alt-Delete didn’t work.  There wasn’t time to go back to the stateroom and get my backup computer, so I pulled out a flash drive, gave it to Wesley who hustled it up to the control room.  They plugged it into their computer, brought me down a clicker and we were off.  A little late, but off.  Those of you who are saying, “He’s frequently a little off,” PTWEEETTTTTT!

Jamie, the head of the entertainment technical crew, said there is a setting we’re missing and I’m going to give them the Sony Viao tomorrow while we are ashore in Alicante, Spain to play with.  And Friday when I do my next talk, I’ll have the spare computer on hand.  A country boy can survive – and my brother, do it without a Mac (computer, not Herrington).

Tonight was formal night and we looked great.  We shared a table for supper with 4 other folks, two of whom you’d enjoying eating with again, and two who, if you’ve done it – they’ve done it at least twice.  I listened to their stories from Japan until I could stand it no longer, and told a couple of Russia stories.  Don’t you know!  They’ve been there and done that, too.  Well, they took one Volga River cruise past Samara.  I don’t think that tops MIR Children’s Foundation!

My appetizer tonight was one of my favorites – escargot, but I was disappointed.  They brought me snails instead.  My entre was beef tenderloin, medium rare.  And my dessert was – Amy, can you guess it?  Creme brulee.  A great meal.

And tonight’s show was “Billboard’s Top Songs of the Last 50 Years.”  Lots of good music ending with the Beatles.  I will tell you no more.  My fellow blogger may wish to add some details there, and I’m sure she will share her menu.  So, hereeeee’s Bonnie!

TTFN

UGGGH!!!  I won’t tell you about getting on the ship because it was over 3 hours of misery. So ask me another time. Now to today. I woke up and it was 7:15 and I let him sleep a few more minutes. I had taken a sleeping pill because I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to sleep after all the aggravation yesterday. We got up. He showered and got ready but I did not shower because I wanted to walk after breakfast. Since his talks aren’t until 4 every day, we have breakfast together and then he studies and I go walk then come back and take my shower. Well, this morning before we left for breakfast, when I flushed the commode I noticed water leaking onto the floor under the commode. I told him and we left a note for our cabin steward when went for breakfast. After breakfast I went walking on deck 10 and he returned to the cabin. (I have walked a total of 3.1 miles today.) After my walk I returned to the cabin to shower but there were two men working on the commode, so I took my crocheting and headed up stairs to get some water and ice and waste some time. After a while I returned and they had left or were leaving and I was able to shower. I then, headed back up to crochet some more while he studied. He came up and got me about 12:30 and we had lunch at the Dive In, hamburgers, hot dogs and fries. Very good.

After lunch I headed to the theater to get a seat for the lectures. They said that it was very crowded and you couldn’t get seats. They lied! The first talk was about the first naval battle of WWI, it  was so-so. To many slides with lots of words. The second lecture was on medical and scientific discoveries in the 1900. Again, way too many slides with words and words to read. Neither speaker was as expressive or entertaining as your Dad. Then, 4pm finally arrived and it was his turn. And, wait for it, the adventure continues. If it can go wrong it probably will, Eyeore says. Oh well, he was about 15 minutes late starting but he got finished and several people came up to me and said they really enjoyed the talk.  Ah, the groupies begin!

His talk ended about 5 and we headed back to the room to dress for formal night. We got to supper about 5:30. The table was nice but I don’t want to sit with the one couple ever again. The wife talked nonstop!! I had pineapple appetizer, artichoke and carrot soup, stuffed ravioli and strawberries for dessert. All good.

Then, tonight was supposed to be a thing with meeting the officers of the ship up around the pool on the Lido deck, free champagne, at 7:15. Well at 8:05 we left to go to the show. The Captain and his gang were no shows. Plenty of champagne, we had OJ, but no captain.  Got good seats for the show and enjoyed it all.

Well, he said it is after 10, so we should go to bed. So I will say goodnight to you all.

Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie