Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[Host Jazzbeau]

12 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

I had both the hi-dose flu shot and the latest Covid shot (my 7th) on the same day. The pharmacist and I discussed which arm to use for which, but I think we got it backwards. I'm left handed so I wanted the sorer arm to be my right (non-dominant), but it turned out to be the Covid shot in my left arm that hurt a bit more. I have a prescription for the RSV vaccine, but I haven't done anything about it yet.

I don't have three arms, so definitely won't be getting all the shots on the same day!!!

 

8 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

The newest Moderna gave me a sore arm for a few days. The only thing that helped was getting in the hot tub and letting a jet blast my shoulder at full strength. Or perhaps it was the G&T...

I also don't have a hot tub – but I will keep the G&T cure in mind!  [Doctor's Orders – DW can't object!!!]

[Host Jazzbeau]

10 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

We saw an ABBA tribute band which played about two hours of fun music. Some dancing was seen in the aisles. A fun Halloween!

First, that purple thing looks like a salad bowl, not an egg...

 

But more importantly:  you mean I don't have to pay for a cruise to get an ABBA tribute concert?  That could save a lot of money, money, money...  🤣

[jpalbny]

44 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

First, that purple thing looks like a salad bowl, not an egg...

 

Budget shortfalls. They only built the bottom half. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Just now, jpalbny said:

Budget shortfalls. They only built the bottom half. 

I'm gobsmacked!  Albany stopped short, when they were spending 'my money' 🤣

[gnome12]

54 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I don't have three arms, so definitely won't be getting all the shots on the same day!!!

Here they are pushing doing flu and Covid together. Other than that, suggest at least 2 weeks between them and any other vaccination.

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

[jpalbny]

9 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

But more importantly:  you mean I don't have to pay for a cruise to get an ABBA tribute concert?  That could save a lot of money, money, money...  🤣

 

Yeah, the show originated in London about 20 years ago. There is a different cast for their North American shows, apparently. We enjoyed the show despite a few imperfections. 

 

The two female performers were good though the one playing Anni-Frid had a more powerful voice than the one playing Agnetha. Their voices blended nicely together but both had a limited vocal range. On a few songs with higher notes, they couldn't hit them, and both sang harmony in a lower register. That sounds a bit odd when the actual melody of the song is ingrained in your memory! Their choreography was good and they really got the audience into the show.

 

The guys were almost invisible in comparison. The one playing Benny was behind the keyboard all show but did play the instrument nicely. Bjorn was comical. He had an acoustic guitar that was clearly a prop as he just pretended to strum it now and then if he remembered. Otherwise he sang some very quiet background vocals and stood around looking pretty. He tried to sing lead vocals on "Does Your Mother Know?" but was not on par with the other three.

 

It was a fun way to avoid the Halloween chaos at home and the music was good. I'd see them again. The show is called "Mania the ABBA Tribute" and they are in Waterbury CT tonight...

[mysty]

Our daughter is coming up from Prince Edward County for an overnight tomorrow.  We are taking her for her first taste of the wonder of Black Tartan Kitchen.  She is stoked!  Here is the November menu.

 

 

I think I solved the puzzle.  It seems the final answer is......these crosswords are just a contrived COMPLIATION of useless hints and bad puns.  Pictures will follow on Saturday.

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

[drron29]

 

 

 

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Sorry, I'm late.  Last night was a long one!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

[mysty]

Black Tartan Kitchen is celebrating it's 7th Birthday with the November menu.  The culinary offerings were incredible.  Our daughter was blown away.  And Chef Ian gave her a rose to welcome her to BTK.  The night was magical!  Now for the pics (with the answers to the crossword).....

 

1.  Mushroom - dollop of blue cheese sorbet added to the delicious soup

 

2.  Beets - salad

 

3.  Venison

 

4.  Scallop

 

5.  Duck

 

6.  Apple

 

7.  Cake - Happy Birthday BTK

[Lois R]

Mysty, that beet salad looks amazing😃

[jpalbny]

Good morning from Johannesburg! We board for Maun in less than an hour.

 

Friday we left Albany at the crack of dawn. It made for a pretty picture once we got above the clouds. 

 

 

Looking east towards Virginia Beach, halfway to Atlanta. 

 

 

We got to Atlanta a little early but had to wait for a gate. Still we had over 8h to kill before the JNB flight so we went to a lounge for coffee, then got on the MARTA to Midtown. 

 

Piedmont Park was beautiful in the crisp sunny morning light. 

 

 

 

 

We wandered for an hour or so then went for lunch at South City Kitchen. Shrimp and grits. Fried chicken. So much better than airplane or lounge food!

 

 

 

Back to the airport where security took about 20 minutes, even with both Clear and TSA PreCheck. We walked all the way to Terminal E for two reasons. One, the Fly Delta app said that the SkyClub there was the least busy one. And most importantly, our flight was leaving from there...

 

We found seats and almost immediately, they commenced the preparations for our arrival. 

 

 

The 15h20 flight to Johannesburg was quicker than expected, only about 14h30. I stayed up as long as I could and finally slept around midnight. Woke up around 6AM and still had 3h to go. That was better than the last time I flew this route. 

 

We landed early around 2:30PM and passport control was almost empty. We were waiting for luggage by 2:50 and out walking to our hotel by 3:15. Checked in and after a shower we decided to stretch our legs.

 

There is a nice fitness center on the 8th floor of the IC Hotel here at OR Tambo. But the virtual view from my treadmill was better than the actual view.

 

 

Now time for a swim! The sigh said the pool was 30°C. It felt even warmer.

 

 

Dinner at the hotel restaurant, called Quills. Local wine was less than $25 for the bottle.

 

 

Chris had millett "risotto" with duck and mushrooms to start.

 

 

The restaurant gets its name from the mobile hanging overhead, made with lots of beautiful quills.

 

 

For a main, Chris had ostrich. Delicious! One piece had a tasty spice rub that seemed like za'attar. 

 

 

We were zonked and went to bed after dinner around 8:30. I slept on and off until 6 this morning. After another go on the treadmill we had our included breakfast and checked out for the long trek back to the airport (just kidding; you can see the terminal from the hotel restaurant). Now enjoying some bubbly in the SLOW lounge here in the International Terminal. Next stop, Maun!

[Emtbsam]

JP and Chris - Your energy amazes me.

[turtlemichael]

I've had a couple of stays at the IC at JNB, before or after flights, though not for a few years and I reckon the hotel and restaurant are as good as any airport hotel I've been in.

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

[jpalbny]

6 hours ago, mysty said:

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

 

Geez Mysty. Don't let Chris know that she has that option! I've got her convinced that it's hopeless. 

[mysty]

14 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

 

Geez Mysty. Don't let Chris know that she has that option! I've got her convinced that it's hopeless. 

 

Not to worry JP.   I think the parts are only available for the newer models.   😅

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, jpalbny said:

Geez Mysty. Don't let Chris know that she has that option! I've got her convinced that it's hopeless. 

 

1 hour ago, mysty said:

Not to worry JP.   I think the parts are only available for the newer models.   😅

It comes as a package:  ears for the husband, a mute button for the wife.  Win-Win...

[mysty]

1 minute ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

It comes as a package:  ears for the husband, a mute button for the wife.  Win-Win...

 

That's the economy package.  Reports are that the mute button repeatedly fails.  😅

[Lirio]

14 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Good morning from Johannesburg! We board for Maun in less than an hour.

 

Friday we left Albany at the crack of dawn. It made for a pretty picture once we got above the clouds. 

 

 

Looking east towards Virginia Beach, halfway to Atlanta. 

 

 

We got to Atlanta a little early but had to wait for a gate. Still we had over 8h to kill before the JNB flight so we went to a lounge for coffee, then got on the MARTA to Midtown. 

 

Piedmont Park was beautiful in the crisp sunny morning light. 

 

 

 

 

We wandered for an hour or so then went for lunch at South City Kitchen. Shrimp and grits. Fried chicken. So much better than airplane or lounge food!

 

 

 

Back to the airport where security took about 20 minutes, even with both Clear and TSA PreCheck. We walked all the way to Terminal E for two reasons. One, the Fly Delta app said that the SkyClub there was the least busy one. And most importantly, our flight was leaving from there...

 

We found seats and almost immediately, they commenced the preparations for our arrival. 

 

 

The 15h20 flight to Johannesburg was quicker than expected, only about 14h30. I stayed up as long as I could and finally slept around midnight. Woke up around 6AM and still had 3h to go. That was better than the last time I flew this route. 

 

We landed early around 2:30PM and passport control was almost empty. We were waiting for luggage by 2:50 and out walking to our hotel by 3:15. Checked in and after a shower we decided to stretch our legs.

 

There is a nice fitness center on the 8th floor of the IC Hotel here at OR Tambo. But the virtual view from my treadmill was better than the actual view.

 

 

Now time for a swim! The sigh said the pool was 30°C. It felt even warmer.

 

 

Dinner at the hotel restaurant, called Quills. Local wine was less than $25 for the bottle.

 

 

Chris had millett "risotto" with duck and mushrooms to start.

 

 

The restaurant gets its name from the mobile hanging overhead, made with lots of beautiful quills.

 

 

For a main, Chris had ostrich. Delicious! One piece had a tasty spice rub that seemed like za'attar. 

 

 

We were zonked and went to bed after dinner around 8:30. I slept on and off until 6 this morning. After another go on the treadmill we had our included breakfast and checked out for the long trek back to the airport (just kidding; you can see the terminal from the hotel restaurant). Now enjoying some bubbly in the SLOW lounge here in the International Terminal. Next stop, Maun!

Atlanta was my main US hub for many years. Delta is going to start flying direct from Rio very soon. i hope I will be there next year. LV shrimp and grits, the Botanic Garden and Piedmont Park. But I have never been in JNB before, shame on me......

[QueSeraSera]

Southern Africa is definitely on our to do list, just not sure the best way to do it.

[jpalbny]

9 hours ago, QueSeraSera said:

Southern Africa is definitely on our to do list, just not sure the best way to do it.

 

It's amazing. Hope you get the chance, soon!

 

We've been 3x now and the only advice I have is to use an agency. We DIY it a lot but haven't tried it here.

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!