9991909

December 14, 2018

That was my lottery ticket for a drawing at the Effy jewelry counter for a $50 on board credit.  The drawing was held after the fashion show.  Several guests volunteered to wear clothing and jewelry that is for sale on board and stroll down the cat walk.  It was all pretty cheesy, but two of our table mates were in the show, so we went to support them.  And lottery tickets were passed out before the show.  The winning number was 9991908!  And that person wasn’t there – you have to be in it to win it.  So they drew again.  This time 9991906!  And that person was there.  So close, and yet so far (hmmm – there’s a song in that!).

After the show tonight, the cruise director, Neil, asked me if I would lead the worship service Sunday.  Of course I said yes.  It’s been several years since I’ve done one on board.  Ships today don’t ask (and don’t tell) for fear of hurting someone or another’s feelings I guess.  On Holland America, they have a chaplain, usually protestant and Catholic.  I carry a couple of services in PowerPoint with hymns and such, but they have a regular service that they use, and I will be the leader.  Service is at 9 and my talk is at 10 and they are in different locations.  Hustling I will be.

Good crowd today and good response for “History: It’s What’s For Dinner.”  Tomorrow is “Water: It’s Universal.”  And I am on the cover of the Princess Patter two days in a row!  Neil told me this evening after the show that they do not have a lecturer for the next cruise that leaves out of Fort Lauderdale the day we get back.  I told him I would volunteer for it, but I am already booked on the Carnival Pride, and I have 4 kids, three kids-in-law and 10 grandkids and if Pappy and Granny don’t come home for Christmas, we don’t need to come home.  He wasn’t asking, just remarking, but one of my unfulfilled cruise fantasies is to be asked to stay on in just such a situation when we could legitimately do it.  There is always next year.

The Atlantic Ocean is a bit rough where we are, smoother tonight than this morning when we had – according to the Captain – 3 meter waves (9 feet for all of us non-metric folk).  He said there was a storm about 1,000 miles away from us that was causing the conditions and he was steering us in a course to get away from that.  Not having a destination that we have to reach tomorrow makes that course correction possible.  And we all appreciate smooth seas and following winds.  Or is it calm winds and following seas.  I need help from a naval expert or a fan of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

Okay, it’s time for BonBon to tell you her version of today’s events, and I’ll see you tomorrow night.

Oh, we set our clocks back an hour tonight, so tomorrow we will only be 4 hours ahead of you.

TTFN

Well, where shall I begin. As they said in the “Sound of Music” , let’s start at the very beginning. That was somewhere around 3 or 4 when I started to wake up on an hourly basis adding 5 hours to my watch time so I would know what time it was here. We finally got up at 6:30. I showered, shampooed and shaved my legs ( I know TMI). But you get what you get when I blog.

Breakfast was an English muffin, hot chocolate, a piece of cheese and cantaloupe. There was much rocking this morning and breezy outside so I went to Zumba and did the best I could. Then, it was time for his talk. Had a crowd of about 100. Nice group. After the talk we went and sat on Deck 4 in the Atrium until about 12:15 and headed up for lunch. I had a pasta salad, carrot sticks, feta cheese and cantaloupe. Three chocolate chip  cookies finished off the lunch. Then, down to the fashion show. Very cheesy.

After the drawing, which we lost, we headed back to the room where I crocheted for a while and then took a nap. We finally got dressed and left for supper at about 5. It was formal night, so I had to dress extra. Dinner was long!!!! Our table is the last to be served and the last to get out every night! Uggh!! [editorial comment by the founder of the blog – I enjoy the long leisurely suppers, so there]. Supper: was rum infused pineapple and fruit, a lettuce salad, Chateaubriand beef ( that was the best meat I have had all cruise) and dessert was a sugar free crepe with chocolate filling and chocolate sauce. The chocolate filling was disgusting. The chocolate sauce was good. There was a scoop of some kind of sugar free ice cream and it was gritty and tasteless. This was formal night meal but really nothing extra except for the beef.

Because we didn’t get out of the dining room till 7:30 there were almost no seats in the cabaret lounge. We sat behind 2 rows of seats with very tall men. There was a line of sight through them, so I could see the show, which was on the same level as the seats. The show was great except for the young girl guest who did ear piercing screams through out the whole show. She was seated just on my left and literally my ears were hurting so bad I had to put my fingers in my ears. And after the show I had a horrible pain in my ears.

Well, we are back in our room. I have on my pajamas and am playing on my kindle. It will soon be time for bed.

 Love you all, Mom , granny and Bonnie