cruzn single

Good morning to everyone! Can't believe it that I "might" make it onto Page 2. Living in the Western US puts us posters as the late ones. It is quite cloudy here today and will make it to lower 70's a little later. We can still hope for cooler weather for the mountain snowpack. Don't know if the ski areas will ever close for the summer!??!! Today I get to wait for the surgeon's office to call with the new time to go to the surgery center. I hate that the whole week has been tied up with this. Oh well, if I am at home, I cannot spend much money. I am not one for ordering stuff from Amazon, etc. But I have 4 gift cards that could be spent if I ever went into Grand Junction. Hope the good medical news continues. @St Pete CruiserI hope that you get to fly home soon, but your place looks lovely for a temporary recovery situation! @smitty34877, I think I understand all the trials that Tana is enduring at this time. Hope that she regains strength and continues her valiant fight. IPF is such a nasty disease. @kazumy newest grand-puppy is a Golden Doodle who is just precious and is still a puppy handful! Ivan looks like such a sweetie and it seems that he has made himself quite at home. Have a great day, everyone. Mary Kay

Late checking in again! Am so happy to read some nice encouraging health news. I wasn't upset over the re-schedule of my surgery. Doctor was called away from the afternoon surgeries due to an emergency. Sorry I neglected to add in that piece of information. Got in a good nap this afternoon, as I hadn't slept that well last night. Good night everyone! Mary Kay

Good morning! First of all, many thanks to all for their well wishes. My surgery was just re-scheduled to Friday. In a way, I am glad, as today's surgery was for 5pm, but now on Friday, it is going to be at 10:30, or so the office thought. Also, Friday's surgery will be at the day surgery center, but the one today had been actually in the hospital. The only thing in life that is constant Is change!!!! It is overcast today. That is a good thing right now in Colorado. With such a heavy snowpack this year, there is flooding concern throughout the Western part of the state. I have been involved for the last several days with calls and Zoom meetings about the possible flooding and the need for shelters being set up for those evacuated. Anything, such as cooler weather, or snow (projected for some areas this weekend) will help slow the melt and perhaps reduce the flood risk. Best wishes for successful surgery for @cunnorl. Also for @kazufor a good visit with surgeon. Prayers for all in need and a big happy dance for those celebrating or cruising!! Have a great day, everyone. I think I am due for a nap as I got up early to make sure I could eat in the proper time prior to my cancelled surgery. Mary Kay

Happy late Saturday afternoon from a very sunny Western Colorado! There is barely a cloud in the sky and it is finally in the 70's. Many things are finally blooming, although rather late in the season. First of all, many thanks to @StLouisCruisersand Rich for the Daily, the F&B department, and the Care/Congratulations list keepers!! Without all of you and the rest of the marvelous posters, how would we be able to share so much. @superoma, you can please remove me and my step-son from the Cares. He can be in the rotation for a while, until the melanoma procedure is definitive. Finally got my plastic surgery scheduled. It will be late Wednesday afternoon under general anesthesia, and then another session about 3-4 weeks later. I am not looking forward to it, as the doctor has indicated it will be the more involved procedure which he feels will yield the best outcome. But the doctor knows best! My precious step-daughter will stay with me for the first 24 hours at home, or more, if needed. Think I am finally getting caught up after the cruise. Finally finished the last of the laundry yesterday, and wrote some miscellaneous checks this morning. I am truly not sure that I could ever plan an extended cruise of more than 30 days. Guess I am just getting old and hesitant about working things out! My prayers for all on the Cares list, and I will raise a glass (of Coke) to all those celebrating! Have a great evening everyone. Mary Kay

Good morning! Haven't read any posts - will do that later. Just a quick update. Off to see the PA at the Plastic Surgeons office. Then after that off to the hearing aid place. Wire came off the hearing aid. Wish me luck with the PA.

Well, it is now past 7 pm. Just got home from MOHS surgery. Had to have two scrapes. Doc wanted to do reconstructive surgery tonight and I just couldn’t do it after an entire day in the office. Alternative is plastic surgery under general anesthesia. I opted for that. I am feeling beaten to a pulp. Holes on my nose are large and fairly deep. My dear sweet DIL brought me McD’s. Prayers for @kazuand @bennybearfor surgeries tomorrow.

Good morning, all! Returned from my TA on Rotterdam on Saturday (day late due to airline problems). My internet was horrible on ship - part of Navigator worked on iPhone and part worked on iPad, so gave up trying to read or post. Just enjoyed the ship, new people to meet and the whole experience. On 1st part of cruise (5-day Bahamas cruise), I FINALLY made 4-star. It took a very long time for me - been cruising with HAL since 1985. Will try to comment on past posts and today's when I return home. I am leaving shortly for the doctor for MOHS surgery on my nose. Bit worried about this one. Wanted to report good medical news that happened during my trip. The second major surgery for my DStepson for kidney removal was a success and the extremely large tumor was non-cancerous. Still have to deal with oncology because of adrenal gland malignancy. Also learned he also has melanoma (bad sort) that must also be dealt with. So definitely a mixed bag of things going on for him. Hope to get back later. Wish me luck with the dermatologist. Have a good day, everyone. Mary Kay

Many thanks to all for birthday wishes yesterday. Got a birthday cake in MDR last night and 2 free drinks (why I’ll never know as I have HIA) will read later, as I am out to see Key West since I have never been here. We all had to go thru Immigration today since were in Nassau yesterday!

My favorite Hawaiian picture

Good morning! Just waiting for my shuttle time to head to the Port. The saga of the Holiday Inn Express continues. Now I have an email to do a “digital” checkout!! Manager who called me yesterday isn’t in till after 10. So, that must be handled yet this morning. My prayers for all those in need. Wish all cares and illnesses were gone so others could be joining cruises. Hooray for all celebrating. I will be thinking of all while on the Rotterdam. My oldest Dstepson will be having his kidney removal on April 11. It is anticipated surgery will be about 3 hours which won’t be as hard on him as the 6 hour surgery for the removal of his adrenal gland. I pray that all of his cancer will be a thing of the past. Have a great day, everyone! Mary Kay

Just met 4 ladies from Ontario who didn’t even get a call. So lots of us at the same hotel. Guess it is okay, as we all have HAL taking care of us tomorrow!

I was supposed to be at the Holiday Inn Express. Got the call from the manager to change me to Sheraton Four Points while I was walking down the jetway in Denver. Caught me off guard, so I agreed to the change. This hotel is okay for one night.

Made it to FLL. Hotel is okay. Got the Sheraton Four Points on Federal Hwy. location seems loud, but I will sleep good because I can take my hearing aids out! Tomorrow will be great when I get on the ship.

Good morning Travel is an adventure. While boarding plane in Denver, hotel called. Guess I am being moved to a different hotel in FLL! Later!

I never got to join the roll call. Life got in the way. But I am packed and ready to leave tomorrow morning. Hope to meet others on the ship. This trip is the culmination of a long held dream. Finally will get to go to Kuekenhof. My deceased DH always talked about taking his kids to see this special place when he was in Germany on his 2nd time in Germany. My step-kids always reminisce about this also. See you Wednesday! Finally get to step aboard a Pinnacle class BHB. Had 2 cruises canceled on the Nieuw Statendam. I will make 4* after the first short Caribbean!

Late post from me today. Tried to post last night to no avail, like many others. It has been a crazy day, between pre-cruise stuff - haircut, bank, and other little things, plus one crazy hour with Red Cross - emails, phone, texts, and figuring things out for my two different roles with our local chapter. Hope RC stuff is resolved early tomorrow. Have to travel 1-1/2 hours one way for 2 meetings! I am so happy for @dfish (good surgery and aftermath) and @kazu for breaking out of medical jail! On the medical scene, sorry that your appointment was so disturbing, @marshhawk. Since one of my lung diagnosis's is COPD, I am curious about your inhaler. The one I have currently isn't much good, and I have used 2 others which were worthless to me. @Vict0riann, I am so pleased to see that you aren't giving up on the cruise. @Overhead Fred, didn't realize that you were on the same cruise. I never really joined the Roll Call on both segments, because because by the time I booked, the Roll Call was intimidating (over 16 pages long). I hope to meet all of you on this cruise(s). Have a great night, everyone! Mary Kay

Happy Spring, or so the calendar is telling us! The season won't be making it to Western Colorado (and @durangoscots) for the better part of this week! At least we are still getting more moisture and are way ahead of the yearly average! Finally,, I am caught up on the things I have had to do for Red Cross for the last 2-3 weeks. I have felt like I had a job again, so it will be nice to be able to concentrate on getting ready for the Rotterdam in just about a week! Just 2 meetings on Thursday about an hour away. @kochleffelI am so sorry for your loss. I think that losing a pet is truly so hard to get through! @dfish and @mamaofami, wishing you both the best on upcoming surgeries. My prayers for all on the Cares list and happy thoughts for those celebrating! Have a great rest of the day, everyone Mary Kay

If you purchased hotels and transfer to the port from HAL, you should have a letter for you waiting. I have done this several times and hotel front desk will give you the letter at check-in.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Many thanks to all who make this such a wonderful, especially everyone who does their "regular job" and keeps the FR& Daily running like clockwork. What would we do without everyone!!! It is bright, clear, and cold in Western Colorado! Nice reprieve from the rain that we have been having, but next week promises more rain and even some snow. Hurry up March 28 when I leave for FLL and the Rotterdam on March 29!! I NEED some Florida Sunshine. Well, corned beef and cabbage will have to wait till tomorrow for me. Our bishop did NOT issues a dispensation, so it is fish for me. Thank goodness our local Methodist is having their annual corned beef dinner tomorrow! The last cruise that DH and I enjoyed together started in Kobe. We flew to Osaka, and then it was the ill-fated Volendam cruise back to Alaska/Vancouver. Totally different than what the original itinerary because of earthquake tsunami, and power plant event. Instead of 3 ports in Japan, we got Korea and two Russian ports, and then a "bumpy" ride across the Bering Sea in 40' waves and captain said it was a Force 12 storm (which I really never knew how bad that was)! We had a very dear friend (met at the Hale Koa in Honolulu) who spent his entire Navy career as a submariner. What a wonderful person he was and such a special friend to my DH during hs last days. I still see his wife every year in Hawaii in January. Have a great evening everyone. Think I better quit as I am turning into a gloomy Gus, after reading some of this post! Mary Kay Mary Kay

Finally, after a crazy week, I get time to post. I usually at least get the FR & Daily read, but posting becomes a challenge. Just know, I applaud everyone who works so hard to keep this community going so well! I have felt that I have a full time job as my volunteer duties with RC have grown exponentially. I must have spent at least 1/2 of everyday on the laptop for the last week. Still more to go, but today I have to attend a meeting about 2 hours away! I have a cute butterfly story to share. When we lived in another home we had a butterfly bush in our backyard. DH and I were enjoying watching the hummingbirds as they feasted on the lovely flowers. Along came a very large butterfly and went right to the hummingbird. With a swoosh of its wings, it batted the hummingbird away!!! Guess butterfly was making sure that hummingbird knew that it was a butterfly bush, not a hummingbird bush! We have had some crazy weather days in the last week in Western Colorado. Bright sunshine, overcast, and even more rain than usual. Right now we are almost 1" over average precipitation for the year. Please remind me of that when I complain about how dry it is this upcoming summer. Right now, snowpack is way above average, and with decent runoff, Lakes Powell and Mead should be a little higher. I am starting to get things organized for packing for my cruise starting the end of the month. I did such a good job of planning this trip that I will be gone on my birthday. This is driving my step-daughter crazy as she thinks it should be a birthday month, and I will be gone! I hate having any sort of celebration for my own birthday. Hoping that everyone has a great day! Sending prayers for those on the Cares List. Mary Kay

Quick late post from me. @StLouisCruisersi am so happy and thankful for the wonderful news for your brother. Hoping this is his answer for a much longer and fulfilled life🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻!!!!

@Quartzsite Cruiser, your suggestion for freezing smaller portions is great, except for a few things. Person in charge of freezer doesn’t keep track of what is there and forgets to write down what is there. Things get lost in chest freezer, and by the time is located, it is usually freezer burned. So, to avoid food waste I just eat things for several days in a row. Repeat meals don’t bother me. When DH was alive, we had a different meal every day - both lunch and dinner. It honestly boils down to a disorganized cook! 🤪🤪

Good morning! It is a bright, clear blue sky day in Western Colorado. After our on again/off again snow that can't make up its mind, I am enjoying the sunshine! I have to go to a meeting that is about 1-1/2 hours away, so am grateful! I have never had shepherd's pie, so think the recipes look interesting. I am trying to reduce the amount of meat I eat, so that might be one way for me to try something new. Of course, when I make anything, then I get to eat it for 3-4 days, even if I try to downsize a recipe. I probably will get In the mood to "declutter" but when the weather warms up. There is too much old stuff around here, including me! I am keeping all on the cares list in my prayers! So many of the Daily family have such difficult health challenges currently, Since I returned from Hawaii, I have had wine on one occasion, so I will raise a glass of water/soda to those celebrating. I know the wine industry is probably hurting! Have a great day, everyone Mary Kay

First of all, many, many thanks to all for the wonderful answers to me for the communication information! Last time I traveled to Europe was before the cell phone age, so staying in touch wasn't the issue. Guess it is just the info about the outcome of DSSon's surgery outcome that was mu concern. I have an iPhone, as does DDIL, and DSDaughter! Got my airline seat situation resolvesd. I was talking to my PCC and he got the seat assignment for the London-Dallas leg. That one was my concern, since I had paid for business class. And he also got my Dallas-home seat, which was of no concern at all. It is a 10:30 pm flight and I have been on it several times, and I can literally stretch out, if I want. FEW passengers. During this conversation, I also took advantage of a decent upgrade. This TA will be a once in a lifetime for me (because of paying double), so I want as much as I can feel comfortable with, $$$ wise. @StLouisCruisersI was so sad to read of the IPF diagnosis with your DB. That was what my late DH had. He lived almost 4 years after diagnosis. The medications were in very early stages at the time, and because of his age, he wasn't eligible for them. Besides his WTC exposure, I am sure that Agent Orange in Vietnam didn't help. Hope that a grant can be obtained for the meds. From what I learned, the meds seems to be successful.

Good morning to all. Guess I started out the day "celebrating!" I had peanut butter on my breakfast toast. Really the only way I eat peanut butter. My late DH was a kid all the time he was at home with his pb&j sandwiches. Practically the only food type item that he would prepare for himself. I currently am "annoyed" about my flights home from Amsterdam in April. HAL booked my air with American Airlines, but since the Amsterdam-London-Dallas flights are on British Airways I have to pay for seat selection! Of course, the only truly American Airlines portion of the flight will be from Dallas to home. I just have never paid to select my seat. Our weather is truly "iffy" today. Says it is snowing out according to my weather app, but the tiny amount that was on the ground when I got up is gone. Wish the weather would make up its' mind, either snow or we would have decent weather. Of course, mountain areas are still getting lots, so that is good for the summer water conditions. But who knows if Lakes Powell and Mead will start to refill with this year's snowpack?! My special prayers for those whose DH's are undergoing special challenges. With the multiple years that my DH had home hospice care, I truly understand. We find out what difficulties we can overcome. I did things I had never before had to accomplish. @aliaschief, Happy Birthday. Congratulations to all others celebrating special events! @marshhawk, I will join you in upcoming cruise questions. On my TA on the Rotterdam we will be transiting the Atlantic for multiple days. I have the HIA, which includes wi-fi. I have never had wi-fi before on any cruise, so I am unsure what happens. Since my oldest step-son will be having his kidney removal during that period, will I be able to receive either texts or emails about the surgery? Or will I have to wait till we get to England to have any communication? Sorry I am so clueless, but have never been out of touch for so long. Also, I know the step-kids will want to know how this 80/81 year old woman is doing traveling solo. Have a great day, everyone! Mary Kay