Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[Host Jazzbeau]

On the River Cruising Water Cooler thread [which I was inspired to start by this very thread!], someone suggested posting your favorite Christmas Tree ornament (or other holiday decoration).  Here's mine:

 

Many years ago I was at a convention in St. Louis and the hotel had a knitting/embroidery shop.  This Santa ornament caught my eye, so – despite never having done any kind of needlework – I bought the kit.  It came out so well that I decided to quit while I was ahead and never did anything like it!

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

PS – DW and I just got our Moderna boosters.  Waiting for the reaction...  But feeling safer for our Jan. 14 Caribbean cruise!

[Lois R]

14 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

PS – DW and I just got our Moderna boosters.  Waiting for the reaction...  But feeling safer for our Jan. 14 Caribbean cruise!

Hi Jazz, I got Moderna for all of my shots. Had my booster in early November and I don't recall having any reaction so maybe you will have the same🙂

[highplanesdrifters]

[FlyingScotSailors]

Edited December 21, 2021 by FlyingScotSailors
remove double image.

[Host Jazzbeau]

3 hours ago, FlyingScotSailors said:

This is wrong!  The cold tap should dispense White Wine.  The Red Wine should come from the hot tap.

[highplanesdrifters]

THEY'RE ALL ASKING FOR COVID TESTS!!!

[Host Jazzbeau]

[jpalbny]

Decision time. 

 

Looks like Finland (and the rest of Europe) is getting hit hard. I'm getting emails from some of the hotels we've booked, outlining new restrictions which will be in place at the time of our planned visit. It doesn't sound like it will be very fun, and I think it's just going to get worse.

 

Finland went to Level 4 (per our CDC and State Department) over the past weekend. And yesterday our hospital administration reactivated their "Incident Command" team, which means that our vacation requests are all suspended and will be re-evaluated on a day by day basis, 48h prior to the requested date. So theoretically we'd have to come home early if they request it.

 

Looks like the stars are rapidly falling out of alignment. Seriously thinking of delaying it for a year. But not very happy about it! I'm thankful that we had our two cruises this year but really not looking forward to being grounded again.

 

Anyone else have any travel updates? Hopefully something cheerier than mine!

Edited December 23, 2021 by jpalbny

[silkismom]

Still waiting to see if our Muse Japan in Mar. will go--or no.

[highplanesdrifters]

[Stumblefoot]

7 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Anyone else have any travel updates? Hopefully something cheerier than mine!

Winter Storm watches and warnings have been posted from tonight through the end of the year here.  FINALLY!  But, only us Bumbles get excited by that much snow.

There is always in Hawaii in January.  Much more pleasant weather too! 😁

[TrulyBlonde]

18 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

Winter Storm watches and warnings have been posted from tonight through the end of the year here.  FINALLY!  But, only us Bumbles get excited by that much snow.

There is always in Hawaii in January.  Much more pleasant weather too! 😁

Yes! Maybe up to 20 inches here. It is snowing right now. Just think about all of those private jets trying to get here for Christmas 😉

[Stumblefoot]

1 hour ago, TrulyBlonde said:

Just think about all of those private jets trying to get here for Christmas 😉

Totally forgot about that.  Aspen is a mighty tricky airport made more so when bad weather rolls in.  Hopefully, pilots don’t try and push their luck, but divert to Eagle (or Montrose) as necessary.

 

One of my greatest ski memories was back in the early 90s when Silver Queen and I got stuck in Vail for 4-days with 65” of snow.  I-70 was closed, so none of the front range skiers could come up.  It felt like it was just us and locals.  By far, the greatest powder trip of my life and my quads remember it like it was yesterday.

[spinnaker2]

Like flying into a box according to some pilots I know.

Sort of like a visual into eagle

 

[Daveywavey70]

9 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Decision time. 

 

Looks like Finland (and the rest of Europe) is getting hit hard. I'm getting emails from some of the hotels we've booked, outlining new restrictions which will be in place at the time of our planned visit. It doesn't sound like it will be very fun, and I think it's just going to get worse.

 

Finland went to Level 4 (per our CDC and State Department) over the past weekend. And yesterday our hospital administration reactivated their "Incident Command" team, which means that our vacation requests are all suspended and will be re-evaluated on a day by day basis, 48h prior to the requested date. So theoretically we'd have to come home early if they request it.

 

Looks like the stars are rapidly falling out of alignment. Seriously thinking of delaying it for a year. But not very happy about it! I'm thankful that we had our two cruises this year but really not looking forward to being grounded again.

 

Anyone else have any travel updates? Hopefully something cheerier than mine!

Another response that just didn’t post. I Must remember to copy my response before submitting.

 

Im truly sorry you’re in this position JP, that sounds like a whole load of buggeration. I’ve been dithering about my 4th January trip. I Booked the Versace mansion weeks ago knowing that I could cancel foc until 30/12. I Booked the cruise last week (knowing I can cancel for fcc) as soon as a verandah came available. I still haven’t booked the flights. Looks like I will be able to go now but there is still the risk of unknowns such as testing positive at the pier or a rule change requiring quarantine etc. I really hope you get to go but if all else fails do you have a plan b closer to home and keeping that fantastic holiday in the bank for a future withdrawal? Interesting  times.

[TrulyBlonde]

12 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

Totally forgot about that.  Aspen is a mighty tricky airport made more so when bad weather rolls in.  Hopefully, pilots don’t try and push their luck, but divert to Eagle (or Montrose) as necessary.

 

One of my greatest ski memories was back in the early 90s when Silver Queen and I got stuck in Vail for 4-days with 65” of snow.  I-70 was closed, so none of the front range skiers could come up.  It felt like it was just us and locals.  By far, the greatest powder trip of my life and my quads remember it like it was yesterday.

Yes, I remember the year a jet landed on Hwy 82 thinking it was the runway. Years ago we used to call it the "Vomit Comet".  Hope nobody pushes their luck.

[TrulyBlonde]

Coolers! It is almost Christmas. Some advice for all of you. If you happen to have a Cat (we do not have any) please make sure you keep them away from chewing on the Christmas tree lights.

signed,

The Griswold's

[Host Jazzbeau]

15 minutes ago, TrulyBlonde said:

If you happen to have a Cat (we do not have any)

Yet another reason to like you!  😂

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 hours ago, TrulyBlonde said:

Yes! Maybe up to 20 inches here. It is snowing right now. Just think about all of those private jets trying to get here for Christmas 😉

Our forecast for tonight: 

Snow – Little to no accumulation

 

And that's already enough to make me say:  when can we head South???

 

Actually this is the perfect forecast.  I love watching it come down, just hate having to remove it!

 

[Daveywavey70]

1 hour ago, TrulyBlonde said:

Coolers! It is almost Christmas. Some advice for all of you. If you happen to have a Cat (we do not have any) please make sure you keep them away from chewing on the Christmas tree lights.

signed,

The Griswold's

Luckily I only have 6 cats and 2 spaniels. The worst of them is Rosemary West. She has a rather specialised diet that involves robins, voles, blackbirds, swallows and stoats. She’s a real sweety.

[frantic36]

11 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Our forecast for tonight: 

Snow – Little to no accumulation

 

And that's already enough to make me say:  when can we head South???

 

Actually this is the perfect forecast.  I love watching it come down, just hate having to remove it!

 

Tomorrow we will have a Christmas Day of 43C (109F) and Boxing Day of 44C (111F). Thank goodness we have a pool and good air-conditioning. Christmas lunch will be turkey cooked on the covered BBQ outside served with salads and cold desserts.

[Stumblefoot]

2 hours ago, frantic36 said:

Tomorrow we will have a Christmas Day of 43C (109F) and Boxing Day of 44C (111F).

Oh my goodness.  How’s the humidity?

[highplanesdrifters]

JP- thanks for the advice and well wishes. I plead delirious from fever.

Good luck with your decision.

[Fletcher]

Of course I'd probably rather be on a cruise this Christmas but we are here, at The Lake House, part of the Gilpin Hotel in the UK's Lake District.  The weather is . . . well, don't bother to ask. But this is the view from our room and we're happy bunnies.  Or is that Easter?

 

Edited December 24, 2021 by Fletcher