bennybear

Good morning and thanks all! @RMLincoln a very happy birthday to you? @Quartzsite Cruiserhappy anniversary! Enjoy! @Crazy For Cats yikes, hope all goes well! @kazu Good news on the physio! Hoping it does the trick!

So important!

Rabbit rabbit rabbit! and thanks to all, I learned to love tofu. Especially in Japan with a ginger teriyaki Ike sauce and scallions. @Cruzin Terri happy birthday! @marshhawk so sorry! Hoping things improve very soon! @smitty34877 I am sending you wishes for improvement soon. Glad you are going for a nice walk! @kazu I am so sorry your elbow hasn’t improved! Praying it does soon! DGD is volunteering today for Rescue adoption event! Six pups, sounds like @Seasick Sailor

@Sharon in AZ my condolences on the loss of your aunt!

@Haljo1935@grapau27 Thanks! In order the beaches are: Tropea, Italy, Elafonisi, Crete, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii Mauna Kea, the Big island of Hawaii Montenegro

Good day and thanks all! Grief is often what we don’t talk about, yet it is life changing. I worked with a number of students who had lost their parents, truly the most important work I did. @dfish love those fish tacos! Thanks for the port photos, Lenda, Sandi and Tony! I hope everyone stays safe! @ger_77 agree you did the right thing! my mom had the inner ear issue and the exercise really helped her. @Cruising-along hope you feel better soon! @Seasick Sailor what a touching story! Love beaches!

Just popping in to say I hope everyone stays safe! Woo hoo, congratulations Sandi on Five star! I’m sure you’ll get your gold medallion ! We were with a friend when she received hers, very nice! Good to hear that HIA counts, we’re ever so close to four!

Everyone is different, but it’s not a badge of honour to do without and deprive yourself of something you really want if you can afford it. We have friends who fall into this camp and will leave a very large inheritance. As our age creeps up, the horizon comes nearer. I learned a lot from my parents, my dad grew up in the depression and it made it almost impossible for him to spend any money. He saved everything and loved going to Hawaii, but we had to buy the tickets without his full knowledge. You could only borrow money for a house, period. My mother taught me the importance of donating to charity, she didn’t have a large income but faithfully donated her entire life and from her estate. We’ve always been about experiences rather than things. I have always loved to travel and that has been a priority in our family. New cars didn’t come until much much later in our lives. I am grateful to have more than enough, so we follow my parents examples.

Late to the party, after returning from the lake, darn smoke! Sadly, still in the sleepless club. @Crazy For Cats how wonderful! We had the opportunity for a Neptune once, only downside is now you’ll want one again! Enjoy! @cruising sister so sorry to hear about baby Murphy, praying it is darkest before the Dawn. @rafinmd just wanted to say how much I appreciated your photo, reminds me of being onboard! Lol! I used to tell my junior highs I was 80,. They said ok and carried on. I thought bless your heart had an alternative meaning 😂🤷‍♀️😉 glad you enjoyed the beautiful trails. Guess some were looking for the diamonds international and shops, lol! Yikes, hope you heal well!

@Clay ClaytonLove this thread, the Book sounds good and a World cruise! Ooh! I just read the Description of the book and it seems to align with my philosophy. I lost my brother at 30 so I realized life is Now, not retirement. I put it on hold at the library, lol! Still frugal I guess. The one who leaves with the least wins, lol! Also on a more serious note, it’s also nice to help the kids now when they really need it if you can afford it. I remember my parents buying a new washer dryer when we had our first child, I think I appreciated that more than a much larger inheritance when I really didn’t need it. @shipgeeks just curious why you don’t like a balcony? It’s interesting when I think of the tortoise and the hare, we are similar, didn’t make the really big bucks but that guaranteed income has made things very pleasant for us. Sounds like you have travelled a lot along the way! Way to go! Happy travels in what ever way you wish!

Good morning and thanks all. Add me to the strange sleep club. No thank you. so nice to see the great suggestions for Rome. Such an amazing city. I second Galleria Borghese, I have never seen such amazing sculptures We had a lovely lunch in the wilds of rural Alberta by a silver medalist chef at the world culinary Olympics. Bison and Korean short rib burgers. Also an interesting view

Hoping your DH heals quickly. Yikes poor guy

Good morning and thanks all! @marshhawk such wise words, it’s such a tough journey for both the person needing treatment and their love ones. Good ideas to ask about alternatives and weigh risks and benefits. It’s tough to make these decisions. I agree joy is so important, for all of us. I wish you and Chuck and Terry and Lou, Hope and joy! Agree on the masking, things are not looking good. @Haljo1935 hoping you get loosen things to prepare for your cruises and surgery! I have found walking with hiking poles has helped my shoulder. Something to ask about perhaps. Welcome back Debbie! @dfish And @StLouisCruisers Many thanks @0106, that cocktail sauce sounds interesting! @ger_77 yay, on the good test results, we should never take them for granted. Good to celebrate! @kazu cheers to Ivan and you! Wow! Love this photo! Well DD and family made it safely home, they had to travel through the area of wildfires, so very grateful! my foxglove have been very happy this year.

Good day and thank you to all! Great photos of the port and food and bevies! Sending prayers and good wishes for both Lou and Chuck! Surgery and treatments are so difficult. It is terrifying and so difficult making these tough choices. But hopefully after they’ve been made, everyone can find the peace and strength needed. big boy is alive and well in Japan!

Good day and thanks all! Great photos today thanks! @Vict0riann happy birthday, but so sorry for all your sad news! @smitty34877 happy birthday to Jessica! So glad some laughter is returning, it really helps! @ottahand7 yikes on the bat! Good thinking! @marshhawk hope all goes well for your DH

Good morning and thanks all! I love the quote, never enough tea and if the book is good like Hilary Mantel’s I will agree. However the luminaries was 800 pages too long! @grapau27 happy anniversary to you and Pauline! @superoma happy birthday to your DH! like @Quartzsite Cruiser and @kazu I can be a bit of an imp too! But my DGD told me years ago I’m her big angel! Jacqui, that rhubarb jam sounds wonderful! Sorry about the insurance, I think they are in business to make things as difficult as possible and avoid paying! Tina, yum on those salads! @sailingdutchy what an amazing celebration! Congratulations! We were onboard Koningsdam right after your celebration.

Just a heads up to check your airline points balance, We just discovered DHs account has been hacked and hundreds of thousands of airline points have been fraudulently redeemed for e gift cards. Sigh. Hoping it doesn’t take too long to resolve,

What! You’ve been driving in the back roads of the prairies. We actually saw that scenario last year and you know who won and who lost. my condolences @aliaschief, Never easy, even when expected, congratulations @Denise T Brings back memories of my orals for my masters, three professors examining me, and I had spent the night before at the children’s hospital with my daughter for chicken pox. Both my children had chicken pox in the two week period of my comprehensive exams. Thanks to those who have checked in from California, stay safe everyone!

Hello and thanks all! Here’s to the fishies in the deep blue sea of Bonaire and the bees! Hoping people in Washington state can update about the Everett fire. I couldn’t find out online. That’s where my very elderly aunt lives and my DD may be visiting as our main highway home the trans Canada is closed due to the wild fires. My friend evacuated yesterday and other friends are on alert.

We love trying the local Italian wines and find it worthwhile even when paying the corkage on Holland America.

See this thread, it depends on which medications, how long and medical devices like CPAP.

We used Michael Sterianos taxi tours from Athens to Delphi and Meteora. He was great to deal with and arranged good overnight accommodation, an excellent driver and good van. We have visited Crete several times and find it easy to get away from touristy areas as it’s a huge island. We have also enjoyed staying on Paros, Santorini, Skiathos, Skopelos. Keffallonia, Zakynthos. So many islands yet to visit!

We had an aft wrap on the Nieuw Amsterdam and loved it. I do remember a slight shimmy at times, but nothing to stop me from doing this again. It was divine!

We found Rotterdam a great city to spend a few days in, and the boarding was easy.

Good morning and thanks all! Love the wine and drinks today and the Marilyn quote. Great cartoons! @smitty34877 hoping Lou starts to feel better, and will start eating. @RMLincoln appreciate the great lists, something we all need to think of because we all never know. I had a friend evacuate during flooding and she prepared a Go bag. I wish you well in your next chapter, ti sounds like a good option. @rafinmd thanks to your teams, terrible tragic work, but necessary. They will be forever changed. Hoping they will be provided debriefing when they return. @DeniseTgood luck next week, how exciting! stay safe all!