StLouisCruisers

@seagarsmoker I have my fingers crossed that you have a good interview today!🤞 Thank you so much Graham. I hope it won't take us too long to get the ceiling repaired. Makes me appreciate the fact we turn our water off at the street level (underground) when we leave and release the pressure on the pipes. Wouldn't want this happening while away! Thank you Terry. They have finished already and now we will have to find a drywall person for the next step. Thank you also for your comment of our cruise photo with DD. Thanks Graham! The photo wasn't taken in Aruba but I like this photo of the three of us from that cruise so posted it. That's in St. Thomas. Thanks Nancy! Your scenic photos of Aruba are nice. It's good to hear you had a nice walk and everything went fine.

Well the plumbers have been here a while and got the whole story of what we heard, saw and did. First thing they did was cut a smallish hole in the ceiling. One of the pex pipes under the bathroom sink above where the wet ceiling was had cracked where it rubbed against some wood for 12 1/2 years. This our first house without copper pipes and we've had all our homes built new for us. Eight of them. They're replacing the pipe that cracked and we will have to have some more drywall cut out and replaced by whole pieces, mud and tape, then stain seal the ceiling and repaint. That sink is rarely used as it's in a guest room.

Our trips to Oranjestad, Aruba were in 2006 (Crown Princess, 2016 (Westerdam), and 2019 (Rotterdam). Imagine my surprise when I read @VMax1700 was in Aruba on March 18, 2016 on Oosterdam! We were there the same day on Westerdam. Here is a photo of the two ships together. The one on the left is Oosterdam Wish we'd known you then @VMax1700 as our Daily friend! Anyway, we enjoyed watching the parade go by. Actually we were there when they were setting up. The classic car parade was a favorite. We saw two of those light blue Thunderbirds that day and were amazed this small island had duplicate Thunderbirds. Liked the motorcycles too. I took a photo of this car because my first car was a 1968 Camaro, though it was a Rally Sport and not an SS. Getting ready for some marching and playing. We saw this pelican, and I noticed a big iguana in the upper left of the photo on a rock, trying to blend in. Onward in our exploration. This is City Hall. It formerly was owned by Dr. Eloy Arends, but was sold to the government of Aruba in 1986 because his heir (son Jesus Arends) could no longer afford the maintenance. It was restored in 1997 and converted into City Hall. Pretty striking building IMO. We were first in Oranjestad in 2006 when we took our DD along on a Crown Princess cruise. That trip she did a little souvenir shopping for her kiddos. If you can't find it here, you can't find it anywhere!

Good morning friends! Today it is 43 and will be 66 and sunshine later. Thanks Rich @richwmn for the Fleet Report and Daily. It seems we have some sort of leak in a water pipe which has resulted in a wet ceiling in DH's downstairs Study. We're moving as many furnishings as we can out of the room right now. We thought we heard a faint slow but steady drip above our heads so turned off the water in the house and drained the pipes at the lowest level of the house by running the wet bar faucet. Next we will call a trusted plumber to come figure out what is the problem. Above the room is a bathroom seldom used and next to that bathroom is a laundry room and another guest bathroom. There is no water problems upstairs in those rooms. However I did do laundry both Saturday and Sunday. We don't see any leaks at all upstairs. So it must be in the walls or drain pipes. Sounds like we're going to have some holes cut into the Study ceiling and a lot of work ahead getting the household back to perfect. Well, today sounds like a good day for Cookie Day! I could use something to bolster my spirits after the latest disheartening discovery. Also a nod to cheetahs and banks, though in my household it should be National Plumber Day. Meh to the quote by Dawson, no thanks to the soup, drink or wine. Nice days in history with the black players joining the teams, Britain's oldest Sunday newspaper, and the 1619 first thanksgiving. Thank you Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for your reports for us today. Prayers for all on the Care list, those in Israel and Ukraine as well as hostages taken, and for my DB and friends in need of them. Congrats to all on the Celebration list especially the cruisers! Hope you all have a wonderful time! Thanks Vanessa @JazzyV for your continued work on the C&C lists. You are a wonder! Our port of the day is Oranjestad, Aruba. It was our port before on April 6, 2021. I'll post that link next. We have been there about 3 times and I had some photos posted last time so will repost them. DS says he and Colton's Dad drove to South Bend, Indiana Saturday and went to the soccer game between Notre Dame and Indiana and it was a lot of fun with good spirits by all in the crowd. Lots of IU people came up for it. Colton has committed to attend Indiana University so this was an interesting game for both families. I heard Ren called Colton after ND won and razzed him good naturedly about it. The Dads had a good time and I suspect there will be many road trips for them in the future to see their sons play. In other news there is a huge soccer "showcase" for all the young players in Phoenix this week, so the FC Dallas team will be flying there this afternoon. DDIL is on the same plane as the team. DS is flying to Phoenix from Detroit today for the week. This is more of a talent scout look at the players than a true tournament. Some of the players are already committed to play for colleges but some are not and the younger ones certainly aren't. Should be fun for all! Well, hope you all have a good day. I really hope DH and I don't have a very bad day, and the leak can be found and fixed without tearing up our entire house! Anyway, stay safe and well!

Bon Voyage! Have a great time!

So that's a Stars and Stripes Bloody Mary!? I can't believe the time people spend thinking these drinks up! Doesn't look very appetizing to me, but then how many drinks have you seen me "Like"??? lol

Good morning friends! We had a warm night and are 63F right now. High will be 67 and cloudy so pretty steady temperature wise. Thank you Rich @richwmn for the Fleet Report and Daily for Sunday Dec. 3. I'm sorry to hear Georgia lost to Alabama yesterday. 29 straight wins over 3 seasons and then suddenly a bad day for the team.😢 I'm happy to hear it's International Day of Persons with Disabilities Day. My DB is considered disabled due to his injuries in a bad auto accident in the 90's. And now he has Pulmonary Fibrosis as well. It's not easy for our disabled people and we should be considerate of their limitations every day. I didn't have green bean casserole for Thanksgiving so maybe we should do that soon. It's one of my fave dishes for the holidays. I like Let's Hug Day! Today's quote is humorous and those are my favorite type. The soup today is a new variety. I can't wait to hear how they make a Bloody Mary starred and striped! I might like the wine today if it is a white one. And I recall when the first heart transplant happened. A major breakthrough in medical science. Thanks to our gals Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for the food and beverage reports.❤️ Prayers for all on the Care list. Many of us, our family and friends are in need of help and I hope the prayers are doing some good. Prayers for those in Israel and Ukraine who have lost their loved ones and homes. May all the hostages be returned safely soon. Special prayers for DB, Scott and Bob and their wives. 🙏 Three cheers for the lucky people celebrating the good things in their lives. 🥂 Birthday, anniversaries, cruises, and team wins! 🎉 Glad to hear Roy @rafinmd is home and hopefully settling in. Thanks Vanessa @JazzyV for the Care and Celebration lists and all the hard work involved in keeping them updated. Hope you are doing okay sleep and pain wise while you await answers to your leg problem. Wishing you good luck on getting the work on your radiator and floors complete.❤️ Our port today is Puerto Limon (San Jose), Costa Rica. It was posted here once on November 9, 2021. I haven't been to that particular Costa Rican port before so no photos to share. Here's the link to the 2021 date. My congrats to the Michigan football team and the Notre Dame men's soccer teams for their winds last night. Big Ten Champions and final four for the soccer College Cup. Hope you all stay safe and well. And have a great day!

Thank you Melanie! Thank you for your comments about Ren's college choice. I hope your DF Wayne is on the road to recovery (and the food is good!). Adding prayers for you as you go through the process. Hoping for a good result with fast healing and little pain.🙏

Joy, it would be good practice! Maybe he could practice his left and right foot penalty kicks. I hope you enjoy your pool day and the serenity of having most passengers at HMC.

More park photos. I have a photo of this spot in the park but I'm not sure what its purpose is. Tourist info? Selling Coca-Cola? Time to catch our ride back to the ship. There she is way off in the distance in the center of this photo. The day after, we left Mindelo we were supposed to tender into Praia, Ilha de Santiago in the Cape Verde Islands, but the weather didn't cooperate and we headed towards Banjul, The Gambia arriving there a day early. This is as much as I could see of Praia. Next time!

Mindelo, Cape Verde Islands was an overnight stop on our 2018 Grand Africa and Mediterranean voyage on Prinsendam. On the island of Sao Vicente, the city of Mindelo was the Prinsendam's stop in the Cape Verde Island on March 22 and 23, 2018. We were able to dock there, and then there were small shuttle vans that would drive us to the downtown area from the dock area. We were dropped off on the road running along the beach. Nearby was a replica of Lisbon's Tower of Belem. First a stop at the market Then you could watch these locals carry goods home on their heads! Real talent! The lady on the right could make some out-of-this world salads I bet. The one on the left has eggs on her head! We also saw a fish market, and the main church in town. I believe this was a government office. This pink building called the Palacio do Presidente was once home to the island's governor. There was a small park a block or so off the beach road, and it was called Praca Nova which means New Square. It seemed to be a gathering place and we used it to take a rest before heading back to the ship that day. Will continue in next post.

Good morning friends! It's a lot warmer this morning at 61F but we will have rain most of the time with a high of 65. The rain hasn't been heavy so far but we could see a period of heavy rain sometime today. Thanks Rich @richwmn for the Fleet Report and Daily. As for the days to celebrate, hooray for bartenders! It's a good day for International Spirit of the Game Day with all the huge sporting events happening today especially in college sports. It would be nice if the polluters in this world would be held responsible for it. They know who they are. The quote is deep, especially for this early in the morning. The Dutch Oven Whole Roast Chicken dish sounds great! No idea what the drink and wine are but probably would pass on them. Interesting about Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804. That was an amazing and important archeological find in China in 1929. Thank you Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for the food and beverage reports each day. Prayers said as I walked the treadmill this morning. Lots of time to focus on those of us here on the Daily with health problems and painful conditions. Hoping the prayers help all of you improve or find solutions to your health issues. Special mentions for Vanessa, Tana, and Baby Murphy. Also prayers for our family members listed on the Care list, including my own DB and my friends Scott and Bob and their caretaker wives.❤️ Continuing thoughts and prayers to those in Israel and Ukraine at war, and for all the remaining hostages to come home. 🙏 On the celebration list, hurray that Roy is nearly home. 🎉 Hope you got some rest last night Roy and have a safe drive home. May all the celebrations of birthdays and anniversaries be blessed and enjoyed. 🥂 And to the cruisers, fair winds and smooth seas! Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for continuing your work on the Daily lists. Praying that you had a decent night and that all your troubles are soon over. Our port this morning is Mindelo, Cape Verde Islands (Sao Vicente Island). This was a past port of the day on May 3, 2021 and Sept. 3, 2022. We were there once before and enjoyed our look around the city of Mindelo. My early 2021 photos have disappeared from the post I made but I will bring them back and post again next. Here are the links to the former dates for your convenience in retrieving your photos. Hope you all have a great Saturday, even if it's raining or snowing where you are. Stay safe and well. Good luck to the Fighting Irish men's soccer team today. ⚽ And Go Blue!🏈

Thank you Sharon, Marcia and Susan! We're very happy with the news.

Thank you so much for your comment on Ren. He's been playing soccer since he was 5. Guess he's good at it. 😄 Wow, that is a lot of outdoor Christmas lights. Who gets the job of putting them back into the box next month?? Thanks Brenda! Oh and your Princess deserves the title. She's a beauty. Thank you Debbie! We're all pretty happy. Time for me to wind down tonight. A little reading and then some sleep. 5 am comes early! BTW, the book I'm reading is "The Little Liar" by Mitch Albom. It's about Greek Jews in WWII. Very interesting.

Thank you Vanessa. I agree completely. I'm really sorry to hear how painful your MRI was today. I don't know that I could get through it with that much pain. Hope something good comes from the results. Thank you Lenda. I think it was worth the wait. Thank you Joy! Me, too! Thank you Jacqui. He would be honored to know of all this support. Thanks Maureen! I hope the sleep does you good.

Whoops! Missed your post while posting! Thank you!

Thank you ladies! He has a bright future. Here is his photo from his announcement. Such a cutie!

Thank you Annie, Graham and Carolyn. I thought he'd never get that announcement out!

I am so happy to announce that DGS Ren has decided to verbally commit to further his academic and athletic career at the University of Notre Dame after graduation in 2025. I am so proud of this decision because he weighed all his options and I think made the correct decision for his own needs. DS says the soccer coaching staff are a good fit for Ren. Notre Dame is currently listed as #2 in the nation and play in the quarterfinals this Saturday. GO IRISH!

No ma'am the announcement has to wait until all the facts are in! I can't wait!!

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear of all the debris ending up in your garden. I hope no permanent damage was done and once cleaned up you have no reminders of the mess it made. Your garden is so beautiful it would be a shame to have it damaged.

Graham I hope the water pipe break didn't cause any flooding for your home, and that the inconvenience is soon passed. What a mess with the cement slabs lifted!

Both excellent and very important days in history! I hope you forgive me for my teasing!

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit! 🐇 Good morning friends! Today it's 45 and cloudy with rain expected soon and for a large portion of the day. We will have a high temp of 62. Thanks Rich @richwmn for the Fleet Report and Daily for Friday December 1. Right on time we have National Christmas Lights Day. It's good to remember World AIDS Day, and I'm sure Romanians are happy to celebrate their independence. The quote is a humorous version of America's beginnings. I think I'll skip the Arctic char, the drink and the red wine. I didn't see any days in history today so let's assume nothing has ever happened on this date. 🤣 Thanks to our reporters Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for their work bringing us info on the food and beverages. Prayers for all our Daily people who are in pain, recovering from or preparing for medical procedures, or just not feeling great. Extra prayers for adorable Baby Murphy, and Vanessa @JazzyV who has had more than her fair share of troubles lately. Prayers for those in Israel and Ukraine and the hostages still not returned. Special prayers for DB and friends Scott and Bob plus their caretaker wives. For those on our Celebration list, congrats to you all and to those cruising have a great time! Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for today's C&C list! Safe travels to Roy @rafinmd today. What a journey you've had this past month! The port today is Fortaleza, Brazil which was our port once before on Nov. 30, 2022. We have not stopped there on any of our cruises to Brazil. Here is the link to that date for your convenience in retrieving your photos. Hoping all of you have a great day! Stay safe and well.

Lorraine, what a beautiful little girl! We are so thankful the family felt safe enough to share her with us. It's been a long struggle and she is doing so well! Hoping she continues to improve and has a normal life with her wonderful family. I'm glad to hear you made it safely today to the hotel. Rest up and take it easy tomorrow to join the car train. Thank you for keeping us all updated. Looks good Graham! Glad you three had this time to connect and enjoy a meal together. Debbie, finally you have the results. I hope you talk to the surgeon tomorrow and come up with a plan, soon! You've been patient enough! Well, I'll have to try to be patient and wait until I have the ability to share our good news. Hopefully tomorrow, but I won't promise anything. But it's worth the wait, at least to me it is! I'm going back to watching last night's Survivor episode. Then I still have Amazing Race which will have to wait until tomorrow. I seem to wake up at 3 a.m. every day no matter whether I go to bed at 9 pm or 11 pm so I suppose I should try for earlier to get more hours in. Good night everyone!