We have husbanded our minutes very well. From 220 to 9 at this moment. Great cruise. Great time. I'll text from the US of A tomorrow. Shutting it down here, boss!
LOTS OF LOVE!
TTFN
Monday, December 19, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
HERE WE GO STEELERS!
December 18, 2016
Google told me. My regular sports reporters have not shared the news yet. Way too close against the Bungles. But a win is a win!
And now on to a day at sea. The Cabaret Lounge was full for my Bermuda Triangle talk at 2 p.m. today. That talk always draws the best crowd. I tweaked it a little today that I think added to it. Some family night soon we will do “Flight 19 and the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle” instead of Wheel and Jeopardy.
Weather is much nicer west of Bermuda. A little motion of the ocean – it is December after all – but much smoother than in recent days. Tonight was the Captain’s Farewell Party. I introduced myself to him (he had not been to any of my talks, although I have had captains come in) and thanked him for the good cruise, for his skillful navigation, and for his brisk sense of humor. I really appreciate that every day at noon he gave a full position report, plus the weather, and kept us updated on what he was doing to avoid the worst seas. He has a couple more legs to sail before he gets vacation he said. Unlike his enrichment lecturer he won’t be home for Christmas. I’ve had several people ask if we were doing the next leg, and I told them, Nope! Gotta get back to 233. Christmas is coming.
Tomorrow is out last day at sea and traditionally the day that we give tips to people on board who have helped us have a great time. Our assistant waiter has been top notch, and we agree, she will get the biggest tip. We’ve had great servers all around, and our cabin steward has been super as well. It’s always fun to give them an envelope or a money handshake, but sad too because we’ve really had a good time together. It’s neat because every once in a while we will see someone again (Juanito, our waiter from April on board this ship for example).
Well, my last talk, “Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Crusoe,” is tomorrow at 11 so I need to cut my blogging short to do a rehearsal before bedtime. I will turn the keyboard over to my traveling companion for her news and views.
TTFN
Well, where to begin. Up at 5 am. Seems that is as long as I can sleep no matter how late we go to bed. Part of it is the oxycodone. I have stopped taking it and there is always withdrawal. Oh well, what can you do as your father says.
After Dad got up at 7 we showered, dressed and headed up for breakfast. Usual stuff. I had a fried egg this morning. Then, off for my walk. It was not very cold and a nice breeze blowing. After walking, I took my bottle that I carry distilled water in down to the medical center to get it refilled. I had used all I brought and I hadn’t been able to find any in Bermuda. They told us it is always available on the Princess’ ships. Good to know. So I dropped off the bottle on deck 4 and then went port side on deck 5 to sit and crochet. They were working on one end of the deck. Oh my word what a noise! I thought I was in the dentist office. They were grinding and drilling. It sounded just like the dentist drill. I sat for about 30 minutes and said that was all I could stand. So I returned to the cabin and waited till Dad was ready to go for lunch. We had lunch and then, because I was antsy and it was really nice out I went and walked a second time. I walked 2 and ½ miles today.
Let me tell you about this old lady (older than me) skinny and knobby kneed who was walking in front of me. She had on these little tiny red shorts. Oh my! What a sight.
I wasn’t going to go to Dad’s talk but changed my mind and arrived just as he started.
He was being followed by an auction of some kind of sea charts at 3 and then bingo at 3:15. So I knew he would me to help close up stuff so he could talk to people.
After the talk he napped, I did not. I took my shower tonight and washed my hair and dressed for Formal night after he had slept about an hour. He got dressed and we headed up at about 5.
The singers and dancers did a show called “Let’s Dance” and it was fabulous. There are only 6 dancers and 2 singers but they are really good. This particular production we have seen on larger Princess ships with more singers and dancers but they weren’t any better than this group. They have a really small stage and area to preform in but they work really hard and are so much fun to watch. If only I could move like that. WOW.
Well, we are back in the room. I am going to get my back scratched and go to bed while Dad practices. His talk tomorrow is at 11am. So tomorrow will be an early day as will the next day as our scheduled time to get off the ship is at 8:20. So hopefully we will be to our car and on our way home by 10 or so.
Goodnight.
Google told me. My regular sports reporters have not shared the news yet. Way too close against the Bungles. But a win is a win!
And now on to a day at sea. The Cabaret Lounge was full for my Bermuda Triangle talk at 2 p.m. today. That talk always draws the best crowd. I tweaked it a little today that I think added to it. Some family night soon we will do “Flight 19 and the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle” instead of Wheel and Jeopardy.
Weather is much nicer west of Bermuda. A little motion of the ocean – it is December after all – but much smoother than in recent days. Tonight was the Captain’s Farewell Party. I introduced myself to him (he had not been to any of my talks, although I have had captains come in) and thanked him for the good cruise, for his skillful navigation, and for his brisk sense of humor. I really appreciate that every day at noon he gave a full position report, plus the weather, and kept us updated on what he was doing to avoid the worst seas. He has a couple more legs to sail before he gets vacation he said. Unlike his enrichment lecturer he won’t be home for Christmas. I’ve had several people ask if we were doing the next leg, and I told them, Nope! Gotta get back to 233. Christmas is coming.
Tomorrow is out last day at sea and traditionally the day that we give tips to people on board who have helped us have a great time. Our assistant waiter has been top notch, and we agree, she will get the biggest tip. We’ve had great servers all around, and our cabin steward has been super as well. It’s always fun to give them an envelope or a money handshake, but sad too because we’ve really had a good time together. It’s neat because every once in a while we will see someone again (Juanito, our waiter from April on board this ship for example).
Well, my last talk, “Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Crusoe,” is tomorrow at 11 so I need to cut my blogging short to do a rehearsal before bedtime. I will turn the keyboard over to my traveling companion for her news and views.
TTFN
Well, where to begin. Up at 5 am. Seems that is as long as I can sleep no matter how late we go to bed. Part of it is the oxycodone. I have stopped taking it and there is always withdrawal. Oh well, what can you do as your father says.
After Dad got up at 7 we showered, dressed and headed up for breakfast. Usual stuff. I had a fried egg this morning. Then, off for my walk. It was not very cold and a nice breeze blowing. After walking, I took my bottle that I carry distilled water in down to the medical center to get it refilled. I had used all I brought and I hadn’t been able to find any in Bermuda. They told us it is always available on the Princess’ ships. Good to know. So I dropped off the bottle on deck 4 and then went port side on deck 5 to sit and crochet. They were working on one end of the deck. Oh my word what a noise! I thought I was in the dentist office. They were grinding and drilling. It sounded just like the dentist drill. I sat for about 30 minutes and said that was all I could stand. So I returned to the cabin and waited till Dad was ready to go for lunch. We had lunch and then, because I was antsy and it was really nice out I went and walked a second time. I walked 2 and ½ miles today.
Let me tell you about this old lady (older than me) skinny and knobby kneed who was walking in front of me. She had on these little tiny red shorts. Oh my! What a sight.
I wasn’t going to go to Dad’s talk but changed my mind and arrived just as he started.
He was being followed by an auction of some kind of sea charts at 3 and then bingo at 3:15. So I knew he would me to help close up stuff so he could talk to people.
After the talk he napped, I did not. I took my shower tonight and washed my hair and dressed for Formal night after he had slept about an hour. He got dressed and we headed up at about 5.
The singers and dancers did a show called “Let’s Dance” and it was fabulous. There are only 6 dancers and 2 singers but they are really good. This particular production we have seen on larger Princess ships with more singers and dancers but they weren’t any better than this group. They have a really small stage and area to preform in but they work really hard and are so much fun to watch. If only I could move like that. WOW.
Well, we are back in the room. I am going to get my back scratched and go to bed while Dad practices. His talk tomorrow is at 11am. So tomorrow will be an early day as will the next day as our scheduled time to get off the ship is at 8:20. So hopefully we will be to our car and on our way home by 10 or so.
Goodnight.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
DID YOU THINK THAT WAS FUNNY?
December 17, 2016
The ship’s entertainment schedule is different tonight. Instead of our after dinner show being at 7:45, it is at 8:15, so we got to the Cabaret Lounge before the performer had finished his first act. We waited just outside the door because we knew he would finish soon, the theater would empty out, and we could get out regular seats. As we listened, he went on and on without a single laugh, setting up his grand finale. Finally he hit it, to a smattering of laughter – his cousin wanted to be an astronaut and go to the sun, but when told he would burn up he said he had rectified the problem because he would go at night – Bonnie looked at me and said, “Did you think that was funny?” I replied in the negative. She said, “Do you want to stay and hear the whole act?” I replied in the negative. So you get the blog an hour earlier.
The captain got us into Hamilton on time this morning. There was some question with the rough seas last night whether or not he would be able to do it, and he warned us that our visit might be cut short because we could not extend our stay. We had to sail in daylight conditions. As I said, he was on time, and we had breakfast and then wandered off into Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda, to shop and sight-see. We’ve been here often, and so we did not have to search for the few things on our list. We found a store that sells electronic games, but the owner told me he had not gotten any of the coveted games in – so Santa’s helper has struck out. Sorry. Bonnie found a store that sold yarn, about which I am sure she will regale you. And we bought a couple of drinks and a can of Pringles. We bought Tate a Christmas present, but I can’t tell you what it is so as not to give away the secret.
We ate lunch back on board, and then I napped. We played cards and she is now ahead 9 games to 7. I am so sick of hearing her say, “Yes, but when I win it is only by 5 points and when you win it is by 200!” I told her the New York Yankees scored 22 more runs than the Pittsburgh Pirates did in the 1960 World Series, and lost the championship of the world 4 games to 3. She still whined. From now on, no mercy. The score will be a gozillion to 9 before we get back to 233!
The day in Bermuda started out very overcast, but by the time we sailed it was a perfect Irving Berlin day, nothing but blue skies! As we sailed out we passed the British entry in next year’s World Cup sailing competition. She was doing practice runs against the U.S. boat, but the U.S. had her sails down at the moment. Very striking craft – catamarans which, our captain said, can bend the wind. It was the first time we have ever sailed away from Hamilton (few ships dock up there because most of them are the colossal size anymore). We sailed down around the Royal Naval Shipyard and up around the eastern side, circling around the top and then heading for Fort Lauderdale where we are scheduled to dock Tuesday. Tuesday before the photon torpedoes are installed, or the tractor beam, or the medical staff.
Speaking of science fiction movies, the little restaurant in Hamilton where we usually eat lunch is also a theater and guess what feature was playing today at 2:15! Yes! “Rogue One”! If our original all aboard of 4:30 had been kept, instead of the change to 3:30, we could have seen it. I wanted to bribe the theater owner for a private showing, but my companion wouldn’t allow me to do so. So close, but yet so far!
Tomorrow my schedule of talks has been changed. I’m on at 2 instead of 1 p.m., and instead of “Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Caruso” I am doing “Flight 19 and the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle.” Several of the which of which there is no whicher asked if I had such a talk, and then they went to the cruise director and asked if he would make it possible for me to give it. And he did. It is a fun talk, and I like doing it. So Selkirk will wait for the last day. And Magellan will not sail. That’s life. A magazine. 39 cents!
Well, I know there is at least one yarn story coming, so I will turn over the key board for a session of hunting and pecking.
TTFN
Well, at least I didn’t get up till 7 am but I was awake at 4, 5, 6,and 7am. These times were interspersed with sleeping and crazy dreams!! I was awakened at 7 by my bed buddy screaming CRAMP!!. which meant rub my leg I am dying. After rubbing out the cramp we soon got up. Oh my what a beginning.
After showering, dressing and having breakfast we retrieved our going ashore stuff and headed off the ship. We visited a mall area we had been to before but didn’t find any of the stuff we were looking for. Going out on a street parallel to the one we had started on we found a really neat store with books, Christmas decorations, toys, clothes ,etc scattered on about 4 levels up and down staircases galore. A fun store. I did find something for young Tate and my first item of the list: a newspaper!! Hurrah.
There was another store directly across the street that looked interesting and we crossed and found more toys, snacks, drinks and a small pharmacy. We asked about distilled water and was told we could find it in the supermarket on the front street.
We would go later.
After looking through that store, we came out and proceeded up to the street where the museum, church and the little restaurant is located. We did not eat there but took pictures of the movie marquee. We decided to go to the museum to have a look. But sadness it was closed. The old guy was tired so we sat on some benches outside to rest. I wasn’t in the mood to sit so I saw a store called Gibbons across the street that looked like fun so I left him to go look. It was a department store having just about everything. Kids, adults clothes, toys, etc. There was a sign up that said they had craft materials downstairs. So I went down the steps to find more clothes, etc. There was another sign that said the craft stuff was in the basement, so I asked a young lady how to get to the basement. The steps down to the basement were just to the left of the back door just before you exited. Actually the steps went up to another floor and on the way up there was a set of stairs that went down to the basement. Much to my pleasure down there was a whole wall of Yarn! Same kind as Joanns. Amazing. Many colors and styles to choose from. Do I need to say I was in hog heaven. I purchased 3 skeins (cherry red, green and white). When I went to check out the lady asked me if I was in their system, I said no ma’am but I was in them all at home. She smiled. I guess I qualified for something because I got 40% off my yarn. Wow. I wound my way back up the steps and finally found my way back to David, sitting where I had left him [and where else did she think I’d be – off with the dancing girls?].
We then went off to buy our drinks, Mountain Dew , is plentiful. Then we headed to the main thoroughfare and the supermarket. But sadly they did not have distilled water , lots of other kinds of water, but no distilled.
We had passed a yogurt store on our way to look for the supermarket and decided some good froyo would taste good. So we walked back the way we came and up the hill to where we had seen the shop. But very sadly it was closed until further notice. Oh well, at least I got some more good walking. Disappointed we headed home and to lunch in the buffet.
After lunch, he needed a nap. Me I wasn’t sleepy so I played scrabble. About 3 we got up and dressed for supper and went down to deck 5 to watch the sail away. We had never sailed from Hamilton, though we have rode ferries into it often. It was neat seeing all the houses on shore and the small sailboats and fishing boats. The British racing catamaran was cool. It could really sail through the water at a swift pace. We sailed all the way down the island past the dockyard pier where we usually dock and saw the mall where we usually shop.
It was neat in Hamilton shopping. Because it was Saturday a lot of people many with children were out shopping and many where Christmas shopping. Santa was in some of the stores and even riding around town in a convertible being driven by one of his helpers. It reminded me that Christmas is almost here and I still having shopping to do. It was a absolutely beautiful sunny day. All we had on were sweaters.
Well, tomorrow is the next to last sea day and I still have crocheting to do. So I will try and use my time wisely. I have loved all the ports we have been to and it has been great fun.
Love Mom
The ship’s entertainment schedule is different tonight. Instead of our after dinner show being at 7:45, it is at 8:15, so we got to the Cabaret Lounge before the performer had finished his first act. We waited just outside the door because we knew he would finish soon, the theater would empty out, and we could get out regular seats. As we listened, he went on and on without a single laugh, setting up his grand finale. Finally he hit it, to a smattering of laughter – his cousin wanted to be an astronaut and go to the sun, but when told he would burn up he said he had rectified the problem because he would go at night – Bonnie looked at me and said, “Did you think that was funny?” I replied in the negative. She said, “Do you want to stay and hear the whole act?” I replied in the negative. So you get the blog an hour earlier.
The captain got us into Hamilton on time this morning. There was some question with the rough seas last night whether or not he would be able to do it, and he warned us that our visit might be cut short because we could not extend our stay. We had to sail in daylight conditions. As I said, he was on time, and we had breakfast and then wandered off into Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda, to shop and sight-see. We’ve been here often, and so we did not have to search for the few things on our list. We found a store that sells electronic games, but the owner told me he had not gotten any of the coveted games in – so Santa’s helper has struck out. Sorry. Bonnie found a store that sold yarn, about which I am sure she will regale you. And we bought a couple of drinks and a can of Pringles. We bought Tate a Christmas present, but I can’t tell you what it is so as not to give away the secret.
We ate lunch back on board, and then I napped. We played cards and she is now ahead 9 games to 7. I am so sick of hearing her say, “Yes, but when I win it is only by 5 points and when you win it is by 200!” I told her the New York Yankees scored 22 more runs than the Pittsburgh Pirates did in the 1960 World Series, and lost the championship of the world 4 games to 3. She still whined. From now on, no mercy. The score will be a gozillion to 9 before we get back to 233!
The day in Bermuda started out very overcast, but by the time we sailed it was a perfect Irving Berlin day, nothing but blue skies! As we sailed out we passed the British entry in next year’s World Cup sailing competition. She was doing practice runs against the U.S. boat, but the U.S. had her sails down at the moment. Very striking craft – catamarans which, our captain said, can bend the wind. It was the first time we have ever sailed away from Hamilton (few ships dock up there because most of them are the colossal size anymore). We sailed down around the Royal Naval Shipyard and up around the eastern side, circling around the top and then heading for Fort Lauderdale where we are scheduled to dock Tuesday. Tuesday before the photon torpedoes are installed, or the tractor beam, or the medical staff.
Speaking of science fiction movies, the little restaurant in Hamilton where we usually eat lunch is also a theater and guess what feature was playing today at 2:15! Yes! “Rogue One”! If our original all aboard of 4:30 had been kept, instead of the change to 3:30, we could have seen it. I wanted to bribe the theater owner for a private showing, but my companion wouldn’t allow me to do so. So close, but yet so far!
Tomorrow my schedule of talks has been changed. I’m on at 2 instead of 1 p.m., and instead of “Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Caruso” I am doing “Flight 19 and the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle.” Several of the which of which there is no whicher asked if I had such a talk, and then they went to the cruise director and asked if he would make it possible for me to give it. And he did. It is a fun talk, and I like doing it. So Selkirk will wait for the last day. And Magellan will not sail. That’s life. A magazine. 39 cents!
Well, I know there is at least one yarn story coming, so I will turn over the key board for a session of hunting and pecking.
TTFN
Well, at least I didn’t get up till 7 am but I was awake at 4, 5, 6,and 7am. These times were interspersed with sleeping and crazy dreams!! I was awakened at 7 by my bed buddy screaming CRAMP!!. which meant rub my leg I am dying. After rubbing out the cramp we soon got up. Oh my what a beginning.
After showering, dressing and having breakfast we retrieved our going ashore stuff and headed off the ship. We visited a mall area we had been to before but didn’t find any of the stuff we were looking for. Going out on a street parallel to the one we had started on we found a really neat store with books, Christmas decorations, toys, clothes ,etc scattered on about 4 levels up and down staircases galore. A fun store. I did find something for young Tate and my first item of the list: a newspaper!! Hurrah.
There was another store directly across the street that looked interesting and we crossed and found more toys, snacks, drinks and a small pharmacy. We asked about distilled water and was told we could find it in the supermarket on the front street.
We would go later.
After looking through that store, we came out and proceeded up to the street where the museum, church and the little restaurant is located. We did not eat there but took pictures of the movie marquee. We decided to go to the museum to have a look. But sadness it was closed. The old guy was tired so we sat on some benches outside to rest. I wasn’t in the mood to sit so I saw a store called Gibbons across the street that looked like fun so I left him to go look. It was a department store having just about everything. Kids, adults clothes, toys, etc. There was a sign up that said they had craft materials downstairs. So I went down the steps to find more clothes, etc. There was another sign that said the craft stuff was in the basement, so I asked a young lady how to get to the basement. The steps down to the basement were just to the left of the back door just before you exited. Actually the steps went up to another floor and on the way up there was a set of stairs that went down to the basement. Much to my pleasure down there was a whole wall of Yarn! Same kind as Joanns. Amazing. Many colors and styles to choose from. Do I need to say I was in hog heaven. I purchased 3 skeins (cherry red, green and white). When I went to check out the lady asked me if I was in their system, I said no ma’am but I was in them all at home. She smiled. I guess I qualified for something because I got 40% off my yarn. Wow. I wound my way back up the steps and finally found my way back to David, sitting where I had left him [and where else did she think I’d be – off with the dancing girls?].
We then went off to buy our drinks, Mountain Dew , is plentiful. Then we headed to the main thoroughfare and the supermarket. But sadly they did not have distilled water , lots of other kinds of water, but no distilled.
We had passed a yogurt store on our way to look for the supermarket and decided some good froyo would taste good. So we walked back the way we came and up the hill to where we had seen the shop. But very sadly it was closed until further notice. Oh well, at least I got some more good walking. Disappointed we headed home and to lunch in the buffet.
After lunch, he needed a nap. Me I wasn’t sleepy so I played scrabble. About 3 we got up and dressed for supper and went down to deck 5 to watch the sail away. We had never sailed from Hamilton, though we have rode ferries into it often. It was neat seeing all the houses on shore and the small sailboats and fishing boats. The British racing catamaran was cool. It could really sail through the water at a swift pace. We sailed all the way down the island past the dockyard pier where we usually dock and saw the mall where we usually shop.
It was neat in Hamilton shopping. Because it was Saturday a lot of people many with children were out shopping and many where Christmas shopping. Santa was in some of the stores and even riding around town in a convertible being driven by one of his helpers. It reminded me that Christmas is almost here and I still having shopping to do. It was a absolutely beautiful sunny day. All we had on were sweaters.
Well, tomorrow is the next to last sea day and I still have crocheting to do. So I will try and use my time wisely. I have loved all the ports we have been to and it has been great fun.
Love Mom
Friday, December 16, 2016
TOMORROW IT’S HAMILTON
December 16, 2016
But we’re not sure at what time. The seas are quite rough, as the Captain said they would be once he turned directly towards Bermuda. We are pitching about 15 feet on the ocean swells. It’s not too bad because the ship is sailing directly into them and we are getting no side to side roll. Because of that, we have had to reduce speed, and our 9 a.m. arrival in Bermuda may be a tad bit late. We have to sail by 4 p.m., because where we will dock, the berthing is controlled by daylight hours. Folks who are going to take ship’s excursions may have them compressed slightly, but at least they know the Pacific Princess will be waiting for them at the time of all aboard. Your favorite cruisers are staying in Hamilton. There is a lot to see and we are going to stroll around, enjoy the day, have lunch, and buy a few more Mountain Dew. I just opened my last can to salute the writing of this blog. Sallllllllll-ute!
It was interesting at supper tonight. Bonnie and I arrived at Table 33 first, as is our habit, and she sat with her back towards the window, but she was constantly turning around to watch the waves and the motion of the ship. Kathleen was sitting two chairs up from Bonnie’s left where it was almost impossible for her not to watch the sea, and she was not enjoying it. Bonnie offered to trade and Kathleen immediately accepted. Both ladies enjoyed their evenings much more with the new seating arrangements. “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a chair like this?”
As part of my “Barbary Pirates” talk today I played a clip from one of my all-time favorite movies, “The Sands of Iwo Jima,” starring John Wayne. The Duke, as Sgt. Stryker, gets shot in the back by a Jap sniper, and as the men are gathered around their dead platoon leader the Marines raise the American flag over Mount Soribatchi. It is interesting to observe the crowd when I give that talk, because the former Marines in the audience always stand while the film plays the Marine Hymn. Semper Fi!
Totally uninteresting supper tonight. I hate to complain, but Linguini Alfredo for the third night on this cruise is failing in the culinary delights department. I enjoy L.A., but they really can do better. Bonnie had some kind of pasta – she said it was penne, the menu said it wasn’t – but it had a marinara sauce, the first of the cruise. So one of us really enjoyed the meal. She had sugar free cheese cake which she said did not taste like cheese cake, and I had a vanilla Sundae with caramel sauce which tasted exactly like a vanilla Sundae with caramel sauce. So one of us really enjoyed dessert.
So, how about “Rogue One”? We received three reviews. Two first hand and one second hand. Mike said, “Fantastic movie!” Matt said, “Wow!” And Luke said, as reported by his mamma, “I have found a new favorite movie!” No spoilers, please! We’ll see it as soon as we get back to Augusta.
As I mentioned above, the seas are really rough tonight, but we decide roll down to the theater for the evening’s entertainment, the ventriloquist’s second show. No sooner had we gotten seated than we came into the strongest wave of the evening. I looked at my cruise buddy and said, “I’m not sitting here for this.” The front is where the swells react the most, and we came back to our room where I am blogging and she is bowling on her Kindle. Cards in a few minutes. She is leading game 7.
Well, that’s it for now. Hopefully some good reportage tomorrow from Hamilton, Bermuda.
Until then,
TTFN
Well, today started at 5 am. Had been up 3 times in the night to pee and then at 5 couldn’t go back to sleep. So I sat on the couch wrapped in 2 blankets and played scrabble. Oh well. He got up at 6 and we got ready and headed to breakfast at 7. Had some cheese and a fourth of a piece of French toast. Some hot chocolate to finish my breakfast. Still having trouble eating.
After breakfast I bundled up and went out to walk around deck 9 which is the pool deck. As the ship went up and down, I walked in amongst the deck chairs and dodging the guys washing windows and squeegeing the water off the deck. It was amusing as fast as they moved the water off he deck, the water in the pool would slosh out onto the deck. Finally after about 2 hours of the in and out they came and lowered the pool. Funny. After my 13 laps I went to the room to pick up my crocheting and headed back to deck nine to sit outside. It was not really cold and I enjoy the sea air better than stuffy inside. I worked till 11:30 then went back to the cabin. I was tired so I laid down and fell asleep. He left me asleep and went to his talk. I enjoyed the nap.
Went up to lunch which consisted of a piece of pizza and a chicken fajita ( I just ate the vegetables not the chicken). He had a naked hamburger in a bun. We returned to the cabin where he napped and I played games.
He got up at about 4 and we got ready for supper and went to the coffee bar and played some cards. Supper followed shortly afterwards. The seas were magnificent. There were at least 15 foot swells. We sit in the back window of the dining room at the very back of the ship. It was light outside for most of supper and the waves were absolutely wonderful to watch. I had a Italian pasta with a very heavy garlic tomato sauce. The sauce was excellent. I ate all the sauce and a little of the pasta. I used a spoon to get the sauce. I also had a blackberry smoothie, oh my word there must have been a thousand seeds! Tasty but the seeds!!
After walking all the way to the lounge he says no way and we walk all the way back. We did take the elevator up. It was way to rocky to try the stairs. Looking forward to Bermuda, I am almost out of yarn and I am going to look for yarn. Fat chance of finding any.
By the way Jennifer and Ivy you are invited over on the 23 to help bake cookies and make fudge if you would like to come. That is my day to make cookies for Christmas. Also, if anyone wants donuts for Christmas, I need you to TEXT me on the 20th or 21 st and tell me your order. I will deliver them on the 24th. We will be getting off the ship on the 20th and driving home.
Well, that is all for now.
Love Mom
But we’re not sure at what time. The seas are quite rough, as the Captain said they would be once he turned directly towards Bermuda. We are pitching about 15 feet on the ocean swells. It’s not too bad because the ship is sailing directly into them and we are getting no side to side roll. Because of that, we have had to reduce speed, and our 9 a.m. arrival in Bermuda may be a tad bit late. We have to sail by 4 p.m., because where we will dock, the berthing is controlled by daylight hours. Folks who are going to take ship’s excursions may have them compressed slightly, but at least they know the Pacific Princess will be waiting for them at the time of all aboard. Your favorite cruisers are staying in Hamilton. There is a lot to see and we are going to stroll around, enjoy the day, have lunch, and buy a few more Mountain Dew. I just opened my last can to salute the writing of this blog. Sallllllllll-ute!
It was interesting at supper tonight. Bonnie and I arrived at Table 33 first, as is our habit, and she sat with her back towards the window, but she was constantly turning around to watch the waves and the motion of the ship. Kathleen was sitting two chairs up from Bonnie’s left where it was almost impossible for her not to watch the sea, and she was not enjoying it. Bonnie offered to trade and Kathleen immediately accepted. Both ladies enjoyed their evenings much more with the new seating arrangements. “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a chair like this?”
As part of my “Barbary Pirates” talk today I played a clip from one of my all-time favorite movies, “The Sands of Iwo Jima,” starring John Wayne. The Duke, as Sgt. Stryker, gets shot in the back by a Jap sniper, and as the men are gathered around their dead platoon leader the Marines raise the American flag over Mount Soribatchi. It is interesting to observe the crowd when I give that talk, because the former Marines in the audience always stand while the film plays the Marine Hymn. Semper Fi!
Totally uninteresting supper tonight. I hate to complain, but Linguini Alfredo for the third night on this cruise is failing in the culinary delights department. I enjoy L.A., but they really can do better. Bonnie had some kind of pasta – she said it was penne, the menu said it wasn’t – but it had a marinara sauce, the first of the cruise. So one of us really enjoyed the meal. She had sugar free cheese cake which she said did not taste like cheese cake, and I had a vanilla Sundae with caramel sauce which tasted exactly like a vanilla Sundae with caramel sauce. So one of us really enjoyed dessert.
So, how about “Rogue One”? We received three reviews. Two first hand and one second hand. Mike said, “Fantastic movie!” Matt said, “Wow!” And Luke said, as reported by his mamma, “I have found a new favorite movie!” No spoilers, please! We’ll see it as soon as we get back to Augusta.
As I mentioned above, the seas are really rough tonight, but we decide roll down to the theater for the evening’s entertainment, the ventriloquist’s second show. No sooner had we gotten seated than we came into the strongest wave of the evening. I looked at my cruise buddy and said, “I’m not sitting here for this.” The front is where the swells react the most, and we came back to our room where I am blogging and she is bowling on her Kindle. Cards in a few minutes. She is leading game 7.
Well, that’s it for now. Hopefully some good reportage tomorrow from Hamilton, Bermuda.
Until then,
TTFN
Well, today started at 5 am. Had been up 3 times in the night to pee and then at 5 couldn’t go back to sleep. So I sat on the couch wrapped in 2 blankets and played scrabble. Oh well. He got up at 6 and we got ready and headed to breakfast at 7. Had some cheese and a fourth of a piece of French toast. Some hot chocolate to finish my breakfast. Still having trouble eating.
After breakfast I bundled up and went out to walk around deck 9 which is the pool deck. As the ship went up and down, I walked in amongst the deck chairs and dodging the guys washing windows and squeegeing the water off the deck. It was amusing as fast as they moved the water off he deck, the water in the pool would slosh out onto the deck. Finally after about 2 hours of the in and out they came and lowered the pool. Funny. After my 13 laps I went to the room to pick up my crocheting and headed back to deck nine to sit outside. It was not really cold and I enjoy the sea air better than stuffy inside. I worked till 11:30 then went back to the cabin. I was tired so I laid down and fell asleep. He left me asleep and went to his talk. I enjoyed the nap.
Went up to lunch which consisted of a piece of pizza and a chicken fajita ( I just ate the vegetables not the chicken). He had a naked hamburger in a bun. We returned to the cabin where he napped and I played games.
He got up at about 4 and we got ready for supper and went to the coffee bar and played some cards. Supper followed shortly afterwards. The seas were magnificent. There were at least 15 foot swells. We sit in the back window of the dining room at the very back of the ship. It was light outside for most of supper and the waves were absolutely wonderful to watch. I had a Italian pasta with a very heavy garlic tomato sauce. The sauce was excellent. I ate all the sauce and a little of the pasta. I used a spoon to get the sauce. I also had a blackberry smoothie, oh my word there must have been a thousand seeds! Tasty but the seeds!!
After walking all the way to the lounge he says no way and we walk all the way back. We did take the elevator up. It was way to rocky to try the stairs. Looking forward to Bermuda, I am almost out of yarn and I am going to look for yarn. Fat chance of finding any.
By the way Jennifer and Ivy you are invited over on the 23 to help bake cookies and make fudge if you would like to come. That is my day to make cookies for Christmas. Also, if anyone wants donuts for Christmas, I need you to TEXT me on the 20th or 21 st and tell me your order. I will deliver them on the 24th. We will be getting off the ship on the 20th and driving home.
Well, that is all for now.
Love Mom
Thursday, December 15, 2016
UP, UP, UP TO THE HEAVY SIDE LAYER
December 15, 2016
We begin today with homage to the first cat I slept with at 103 Valley View Avenue, PJ. He actually might have been the second. Cyrus could have been first. A couch was opened up to a comfortable bed and those two cats joined me. From a rescue collection of as many as ten, the population at Valley View is now down to one. Only Jasmine patrols the hall. Two days ago PJ went to the Heavy Side Layer. He could have been named “Bustopher Jones,” for he was not skin and bones, in fact, he was remarkably fat, he didn’t haunt pubs, he had 8 or 9 clubs, for he was the Valley View Avenue cat. So up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel. Up, up, up, past the Jellicle moon. Up, up, up to the Heavy Side Layer. The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity.
Today was a good day on the Pacific Princess. Rainbows this morning. A few blue skies in the afternoon, and the rain held off long enough for mom to make 13 laps, completing her nautical mile.
With four straight days at sea, the entertainers who got on at the last stop are with us until Bermuda. That means that Mark Preston, an excellent singer and former member of The Lettermen did a second show today, and the ventriloquist will do a second show tomorrow night. Hopefully the Celine Dion tribute act will not be repeated. If it is, your favorite cruisers will skip tht one – last night was the second time we’ve seen her; the first on another ship, and if we never see her again, that is okay. I know there were folks who liked her, but we did not. One of our table mates, who likes Celine Dion, said that other than the performer twirling her fingers there was nothing she recognized. Take that!
I think my crowd today was the largest for my talks. I did “Captain Kidd” today and will do the “Barbary Pirates” tomorrow. Someone asked me if I had a Bermuda Triangle talk, I said I did, they asked the cruise director if I could do it. I told him I would if he wanted me to. Haven’t heard back yet. It will be the day after we sail from Bermuda and are actually in the Triangle. Spooky!
All of the ship’s wait staff and bartenders are wearing Santa Claus hats for the duration. Tis the season. Some of the head waiters add dongly things to theirs and the matre d added antlers to his. As I said moments ago, “Tis the season.” It is fun.
Everyone was back at Table 33 tonight and it was a pleasant evening. I wasn’t crazy about the menu, in fact, I haven’t been crazy about many of the menus and I eat almost everything. Tonight it was veal cordon blue. That wasn’t too bad, but the Japanese chicken dumpling soup wasn’t much. And neither was the fresh made Caesar salad, for that matter. Last night while Carol and Stan went to the fancy restaurant, which they graded maybe a C+, Kathleen and Charles went to the buffet for supper. They had never done that before and wanted to do it. They graded it lower than the fancy restaurant. Breakfast and lunch area always good there, but supper evidently is lacking.
Well, it’s getting close to bedtime so I will say TTFN!
We begin today with homage to the first cat I slept with at 103 Valley View Avenue, PJ. He actually might have been the second. Cyrus could have been first. A couch was opened up to a comfortable bed and those two cats joined me. From a rescue collection of as many as ten, the population at Valley View is now down to one. Only Jasmine patrols the hall. Two days ago PJ went to the Heavy Side Layer. He could have been named “Bustopher Jones,” for he was not skin and bones, in fact, he was remarkably fat, he didn’t haunt pubs, he had 8 or 9 clubs, for he was the Valley View Avenue cat. So up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel. Up, up, up, past the Jellicle moon. Up, up, up to the Heavy Side Layer. The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity.
Today was a good day on the Pacific Princess. Rainbows this morning. A few blue skies in the afternoon, and the rain held off long enough for mom to make 13 laps, completing her nautical mile.
With four straight days at sea, the entertainers who got on at the last stop are with us until Bermuda. That means that Mark Preston, an excellent singer and former member of The Lettermen did a second show today, and the ventriloquist will do a second show tomorrow night. Hopefully the Celine Dion tribute act will not be repeated. If it is, your favorite cruisers will skip tht one – last night was the second time we’ve seen her; the first on another ship, and if we never see her again, that is okay. I know there were folks who liked her, but we did not. One of our table mates, who likes Celine Dion, said that other than the performer twirling her fingers there was nothing she recognized. Take that!
I think my crowd today was the largest for my talks. I did “Captain Kidd” today and will do the “Barbary Pirates” tomorrow. Someone asked me if I had a Bermuda Triangle talk, I said I did, they asked the cruise director if I could do it. I told him I would if he wanted me to. Haven’t heard back yet. It will be the day after we sail from Bermuda and are actually in the Triangle. Spooky!
All of the ship’s wait staff and bartenders are wearing Santa Claus hats for the duration. Tis the season. Some of the head waiters add dongly things to theirs and the matre d added antlers to his. As I said moments ago, “Tis the season.” It is fun.
Everyone was back at Table 33 tonight and it was a pleasant evening. I wasn’t crazy about the menu, in fact, I haven’t been crazy about many of the menus and I eat almost everything. Tonight it was veal cordon blue. That wasn’t too bad, but the Japanese chicken dumpling soup wasn’t much. And neither was the fresh made Caesar salad, for that matter. Last night while Carol and Stan went to the fancy restaurant, which they graded maybe a C+, Kathleen and Charles went to the buffet for supper. They had never done that before and wanted to do it. They graded it lower than the fancy restaurant. Breakfast and lunch area always good there, but supper evidently is lacking.
Well, it’s getting close to bedtime so I will say TTFN!
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
IF THIS IS WEDNESDAY, YOU MUST BE CELINE DIONE
December 14, 2016
Our entertainer tonight was Tracey Shield from somewhere in England who was pretending to be a French Canadian singer. We have seen her before on another ship, and we didn’t understand her words that time either. I reckon she hit the notes, and she did a lot of wiggling with her fingers, but it didn’t do much beyond that for your favorite cruisers. Just goes to show, you can’t please ‘em all. Not everyone’s cup of tea. You win some, you lose some. And other cliched remarks.
Our table for six was occupied tonight by only two of us. Our table mates were at one or the other of the speciality restaurants tonight, leaving us to be cared for in a romantic setting for two. The moon is beautiful out here in the ocean. It comes up from beyond the stern and slowly rises into the sky. Good light show our Lord puts on. I had Linguini Alfredo and Bonnie had a baked potato, plus the usual appetizers and ice cream for dessert.
There was a good crowd for the first of my “Pirates and Sailors” talks, “The Pirate Democracy.” It gave me a chance to tell the audience that one of the most famous Pirates of all time came from Puerto Rico – playing right field, number 21, Roberto Clemente! The Great One got a good reception. And in relaying the history of Hog Island (now Paradise Island) in the Bahamas, I was pleased to announce that it was owned at one time by now President-Elect Donald Trump. Sweet. I think I heard a couple of Hillaryites gag. Tomorrow I will hang “Captain Kidd.”
We have set our watches back another hour, so we are only two hours ahead of you. One more time change before Bermuda, and one after, to get us back on Augusta time. It sure is the way to beat jet lag.
Well, that’s it from Excitement at Sea Land. See yinzs tomorrow.
TTFN
Our entertainer tonight was Tracey Shield from somewhere in England who was pretending to be a French Canadian singer. We have seen her before on another ship, and we didn’t understand her words that time either. I reckon she hit the notes, and she did a lot of wiggling with her fingers, but it didn’t do much beyond that for your favorite cruisers. Just goes to show, you can’t please ‘em all. Not everyone’s cup of tea. You win some, you lose some. And other cliched remarks.
Our table for six was occupied tonight by only two of us. Our table mates were at one or the other of the speciality restaurants tonight, leaving us to be cared for in a romantic setting for two. The moon is beautiful out here in the ocean. It comes up from beyond the stern and slowly rises into the sky. Good light show our Lord puts on. I had Linguini Alfredo and Bonnie had a baked potato, plus the usual appetizers and ice cream for dessert.
There was a good crowd for the first of my “Pirates and Sailors” talks, “The Pirate Democracy.” It gave me a chance to tell the audience that one of the most famous Pirates of all time came from Puerto Rico – playing right field, number 21, Roberto Clemente! The Great One got a good reception. And in relaying the history of Hog Island (now Paradise Island) in the Bahamas, I was pleased to announce that it was owned at one time by now President-Elect Donald Trump. Sweet. I think I heard a couple of Hillaryites gag. Tomorrow I will hang “Captain Kidd.”
We have set our watches back another hour, so we are only two hours ahead of you. One more time change before Bermuda, and one after, to get us back on Augusta time. It sure is the way to beat jet lag.
Well, that’s it from Excitement at Sea Land. See yinzs tomorrow.
TTFN
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
YO HO HO AND MY LAST CAN OF DEW
December 13, 2016
Three more sea days until we reach Hamilton, Bermuda and I have the opportunity to purchase some more Mountain Dew. This time I don’t have to go searching for it. We will dock one block from Church Street and a source of the yummy yellow drink. But for now, I must make one can last three more days. Rationing is in effect!
Today I finished the “Food, Glorious Food!” series with “Spice: KTMB.” It was a good crowd and a good response. It is more free flowing than a couple of the food talks and very easy to give, especially if the audience is with my cornball humor. Oh, the KTMB is not a radio station west of the Mississippi (that is the way radio stations are named with a “K” west of the Mississippi, except for KDKA Pittsburgh, and with a “W” east of the Mississippi, except for WLS Chicago). It is the places you find spice in my talk: Kitchen, Temple, Mortuary, and Bedroom.
The seas have been pretty smooth today, but there have been some 9-10 foot swells. For one of them, I was sitting here rehearsing when the ship went into one of those and the can of Pringles fell off the shelf followed by Bonnie’s two stones from Pompeii. We have searched the room over, and one of the stones is missing. Strange.
Not much else going on here, and since Bonnie didn’t write yesterday, I will turn the keyboard over to her for her take on things.
TTFN
Here goes!
Amy don’t read this part!! Last night at the show I coughed and spit–yuck–and one of the things that has been gagging me for the last four weeks come out. It was a stitch that has been hanging at the back of my throat. Its two buddies are still there. Ugg!! I told you not to read this Amy!!
Well, now about today. I had one of my nights last night. Awake at 12, 2, and 5. Finally I woke him at 7 and we got up and went to breakfast. Breakfast was a bust– they had no good cheese and no baked beans. After eating a piece of toast and some peanut butter with a cup of hot chocolate, I went up top to walk. It was quite windy and rocky but I made it around 13 times. Then, I went and sat on the starboard deck for about an hour and crocheted. But it was pretty rocky so I came inside and went to the room till time for David’s talk.
I left for the talk about 12;30 and at about 1:15 I knew I was not going to make it till the end. With my head pounding and feeling yucky I headed to the room and crawled under the covers. When he got back at about 2, we got up and went to lunch. I had a cheese quesida and salsa and a piece of pizza. I felt some better but we returned to the cabin and I went back to bed till 4. I got up then and dressed for supper. We went to the coffee bar outside the restaurant and played some cards till supper at 5:30.
After supper we went to the show. It was a ventriloquist. He was quite good and did a very different kind of show. So now I have had my pills and have my pjs on and bedtime is no far away. Ship is rocking but hopefully sleep will come quickly. Maybe some cards if he wants. I am losing badly lately.
Love Mom
Three more sea days until we reach Hamilton, Bermuda and I have the opportunity to purchase some more Mountain Dew. This time I don’t have to go searching for it. We will dock one block from Church Street and a source of the yummy yellow drink. But for now, I must make one can last three more days. Rationing is in effect!
Today I finished the “Food, Glorious Food!” series with “Spice: KTMB.” It was a good crowd and a good response. It is more free flowing than a couple of the food talks and very easy to give, especially if the audience is with my cornball humor. Oh, the KTMB is not a radio station west of the Mississippi (that is the way radio stations are named with a “K” west of the Mississippi, except for KDKA Pittsburgh, and with a “W” east of the Mississippi, except for WLS Chicago). It is the places you find spice in my talk: Kitchen, Temple, Mortuary, and Bedroom.
The seas have been pretty smooth today, but there have been some 9-10 foot swells. For one of them, I was sitting here rehearsing when the ship went into one of those and the can of Pringles fell off the shelf followed by Bonnie’s two stones from Pompeii. We have searched the room over, and one of the stones is missing. Strange.
Not much else going on here, and since Bonnie didn’t write yesterday, I will turn the keyboard over to her for her take on things.
TTFN
Here goes!
Amy don’t read this part!! Last night at the show I coughed and spit–yuck–and one of the things that has been gagging me for the last four weeks come out. It was a stitch that has been hanging at the back of my throat. Its two buddies are still there. Ugg!! I told you not to read this Amy!!
Well, now about today. I had one of my nights last night. Awake at 12, 2, and 5. Finally I woke him at 7 and we got up and went to breakfast. Breakfast was a bust– they had no good cheese and no baked beans. After eating a piece of toast and some peanut butter with a cup of hot chocolate, I went up top to walk. It was quite windy and rocky but I made it around 13 times. Then, I went and sat on the starboard deck for about an hour and crocheted. But it was pretty rocky so I came inside and went to the room till time for David’s talk.
I left for the talk about 12;30 and at about 1:15 I knew I was not going to make it till the end. With my head pounding and feeling yucky I headed to the room and crawled under the covers. When he got back at about 2, we got up and went to lunch. I had a cheese quesida and salsa and a piece of pizza. I felt some better but we returned to the cabin and I went back to bed till 4. I got up then and dressed for supper. We went to the coffee bar outside the restaurant and played some cards till supper at 5:30.
After supper we went to the show. It was a ventriloquist. He was quite good and did a very different kind of show. So now I have had my pills and have my pjs on and bedtime is no far away. Ship is rocking but hopefully sleep will come quickly. Maybe some cards if he wants. I am losing badly lately.
Love Mom
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