Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[Luckynana]

4 hours ago, h20skibum said:

A couple beach pictures from yesterday.  I guess people in Florida don’t go to the beach when it is a little chilly. 
 

 

 

Usually, I run from the waves like this, but for a change, the water is much warmer than the air. 
 

IMG_6486.MOV 75.07 MB · 2 downloads  

 

 

When I lived in Ft. Lauderdale, I had a long corduroy coat that I wore when it got chilly...the tourists would be lying on the beach with their bikinis on.  Luckily, it got cool only once in a while.  We experience a chilly day or two in Naples, but not too often..thank goodness.

 

I sure hope your daughter and grandchildren make it to Florida tomorrow.  They sure could use a few days vacation away from the cold!

[h20skibum]

@Sea Dog Greg, it looks like you had a great Christmas.   Thanks for sharing your story.  
 

It seems that Kirkland makes some decent things.  I have had some of their wine, now I will have to try some cognac. 

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Deb, I hope it's not too painful for you. Your nail polish is just my taste...😉

 

 

+ 1, April & Jim @akcruz

 

 

+ 1, Mark & co.  @h20skibum

 

 

+ 1, Marietta & co.  @DaniDanielle

 

 

As a regular swimmer, I find it very relaxing. And your pool is amazing, seems it is Olympic size?

 

 

+ 1

 

 

I'm using liquor chocolate as an ingredient for my snow white chocolate cookies --

 

 

In the background, a pirate book for our grandkids, thinking of you, Greg @Sea Dog

 

 

 

Greg, thank you so much for your stories and pictures of Christmas.

 

 

 

 

I love the book! And thank you for everything you do for us on this thread. You have made a genuine safe haven for friendship, love and commonality. I feel blessed to know you.

 

 

10 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

@Sea Dog Greg, it looks like you had a great Christmas.   Thanks for sharing your story.  
 

It seems that Kirkland makes some decent things.  I have had some of their wine, now I will have to try some cognac. 

 

I can't seem to find out where this is sourced from but everything thing they do in the Kirkland Signature brand is top notch. I found this cognac incredible smooth and at $55 it is at least 3 times cheaper than most other XO's

[Luckynana]

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

LOL OB!!!  Where do you find them?

[h20skibum]

Speaking of chocolate and liquor, back when my kids were both in college, Susan had a part time job in a chocolate candy store so we could make their tuition payments. They made all of their own chocolate, and one of my favorite things from there was their chocolate shot glasses.  Of course, she got all of the chocolate items at a steep discount.  
 

No better way to enjoy a shot than in a chocolate shot glass, then eat the glass. 
 

I still don’t know if we saved any money for tuition, or just fed our chocolate addiction. 
 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by h20skibum

[bobmacliberty]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

@Sea Dog Greg, it looks like you had a great Christmas.   Thanks for sharing your story.  
 

It seems that Kirkland makes some decent things.  I have had some of their wine, now I will have to try some cognac. 

Kirkland also makes good golf balls, believe it or not. They perform almost as well as expensive balls, but are a lot cheaper. They’re a great value for people who lose a lot of balls. 

[bobmacliberty]

22 hours ago, Jimbo said:

I look at it as a test drone to see if this is something I really want to pursue farther or not. Looks like this one doesn't really  have a long range it can travel but could be interesting to learn how these things work.

 

After getting this 85" inch Tv(Samsung QN85QN90A) now installed on the wall and searching 4K material on you tube. It's amazing how many people use these drones and make 4k Material for you tube. There are amazing video of all over the world that make you feel like you are really there.

Check out the Scenic Travel channel on YouTube. They create awesome aerial view videos of beautiful places. Most are in 4K and are 3+ hours long. They are great for background videos while doing something else. 

[dani negreanu]

2 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

The pool is a 50 metre heated outdoor pool.  They do have a floating barrier that they occasionally install to make it 25 metres if the pool is being used for other activities, but I prefer swimming the 50 metre distance.

 

I swam during 36 years in a 50 meter heated pool, with retracted sides during the summer. The owners decided to sell it to an upscale company, which will charge X3 more than I was paying (63$ per month).

 

I can understand that the pool [and the showers and the bathrooms] need "revamping", but they're talking about 2 years time when the pool will be closed, so many of us switched to a 25 meters, which is really not the same....

 

Moreover, all the people who were swimming in the 50 meter had no choice but to switch, and the pool is now beyond capacity, if, for example, at the beginning there were 2 people in every lane,  swimming back and forth, now we're 3, swimming in circle, and from January -- 4 will be allowed in the same lane. It is very sad that a big city like ours has now only one heated pool, the others being only outdoor.

 

Moreover, now there is an application where you have to book a slot (1-2 pm, for example), which is opened only 24 hours before, so I'm in constant worry that I'll miss the times when I want to swim...

 

Rant over. 

 

[MJSailors]

@aussielozzie18 Hot cross buns-yum!

But after the Christmas celebrations are the stores reminding their customers that Lent is not so far away ?🙄

MJ🙋🏻

 

[BonTexasNY]

@Sea DogGreg, your joy of celebrating Christmas is awesome.  Happy belated birthday to Linda.

 

I actually watched "Miracle on 34th Street" yesterday for the bajillionth time, the one with Natalie Wood.  Such a sweet movie.

 

@dani negreanu Dani, I remember Sabra Chocolate/Orange liqueur from Israel.  So good.

 

Hope everyone reaches their destinations!

[MJSailors]

@bobmacliberty Thanks for the tip about Kirkland golf balls. I will check if Amazon sells them.

I consider a good game of golf is when I finish the round with the same ball that I started with !

MJ🙋🏻

[Sea Dog]

3 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

@Sea DogGreg, your joy of celebrating Christmas is awesome.  Happy belated birthday to Linda.

 

I actually watched "Miracle on 34th Street" yesterday for the bajillionth time, the one with Natalie Wood.  Such a sweet movie.

 

 

 

Thank you I will tell her. I love Miracle on 34th St.  I like all of them but the original with Natalie has always been my favorite. I will watch it this week. I hate to think how many times I've watched it but great everytime.

 

 

19 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Kirkland also makes good golf balls, believe it or not. They perform almost as well as expensive balls, but are a lot cheaper. They’re a great value for people who lose a lot of balls. 

 

I know their Signature Bourbon is produced in top distilleries in Kentucky usually by the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. The brand and distillery have been owned by the Sazerac Company since 2009. Great stuff.

 

 

[bobmacliberty]

Fun day today. My daughter and her fiancé, who have the cat named Goose, decided that they wanted another cat. We all went to the Kitty Brew Cafe. It’s a local place that is half a typical cafe that sells Starbucks like drinks and food (but with a cat theme and some proceeds going to cat organizations) and half a big open area where you can interact with a bunch of kittens for adoption.  It’s essentially a retail store front for cat rescue agencies. They got Goose from this place and are already “registered” with them. 
 

They found a great kitty that they named Roo. If you ask my daughter, Roo is short for Kangaroo and they name their cats after other types of animals. If you ask her fiancé, Roo is short for Rooster, and the cats have father and son TopGun call signs. I don’t have any great pictures of Roo yet but Goose is carefully checking him out while Roo checks out his new surroundings. 

 

 

 

[ReneeFLL]

 

On 11/14/2022 at 3:35 PM, mo&fran said:

Guess what we got today. had to try a bite first.

 

Congrats.

 

On 11/15/2022 at 4:00 PM, Luckynana said:

Bobbie sounds like quite a character!!  Too funny with his tantrums!  I would never think that kitties could have tantrums!😊

Our cat Chloe has tantrums. If she doesn’t get her way she will either sulk or she has a certain meow that voices her displeasure especially when she wants out in the shade house.

 

[ReneeFLL]

On 11/25/2022 at 7:42 PM, Ocean Boy said:

Feel like switching your January Harmony to Jan 28 Odyssey? The timing and pricing worked out better for me. I get a block on this cruise.  I would have preferred an Allure block but that isn't happening. 

This is what we have booked during that time. They are already paid for so it’s to late to change. The Harmony would be getting back a day after you leave. You could make it a b3b and catch up with us on the Odyssey on February 11th. 😃

RC Harmony Of The Seas 8 night Eastern Caribbean 01-21-2023

RC Odyssey Of The Seas 8 night Southern Caribbean 02-11-2023 

[lenquixote66]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

Kirkland also makes good golf balls, believe it or not. They perform almost as well as expensive balls, but are a lot cheaper. They’re a great value for people who lose a lot of balls. 

My PT uses them in his practice by having patients walk on them barefoot.

Not just any golf ball ,only Kirkland.

[mo&fran]

4 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

This is what we have booked during that time. They are already paid for so it’s to late to change. The Harmony would be getting back a day after you leave. You could make it a b3b and catch up with us on the Odyssey on February 11th. 😃

RC Harmony Of The Seas 8 night Eastern Caribbean 01-21-2023

RC Odyssey Of The Seas 8 night Southern Caribbean 02-11-2023 

WE  will be on Harmony the 21st. B2b for the next week.

[George C]

46 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

@Sea DogGreg, your joy of celebrating Christmas is awesome.  Happy belated birthday to Linda.

 

I actually watched "Miracle on 34th Street" yesterday for the bajillionth time, the one with Natalie Wood.  Such a sweet movie.

 

@dani negreanu Dani, I remember Sabra Chocolate/Orange liqueur from Israel.  So good.

 

Hope everyone reaches their destinations!

We watch 1938 version of the Christmas Carol, Christmas vacation ( my favorite) and this morning watched “ it’s a wonderful life “ need to see “ miracle on 34th street “ , had Christmas with a good friend who just retired after being a chef for 40 years so food was fantastic, plus some great conversations with good friends. 

[grapau27]

Good evening everyone.

We had a wonderful day yesterday and today when our Sarah stayed with us.

I hope everyone else has had an amazing Christmas.

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by grapau27

[grapau27]

[aussielozzie18]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

 

I swam during 36 years in a 50 meter heated pool, with retracted sides during the summer. The owners decided to sell it to an upscale company, which will charge X3 more than I was paying (63$ per month).

 

I can understand that the pool [and the showers and the bathrooms] need "revamping", but they're talking about 2 years time when the pool will be closed, so many of us switched to a 25 meters, which is really not the same....

 

Moreover, all the people who were swimming in the 50 meter had no choice but to switch, and the pool is now beyond capacity, if, for example, at the beginning there were 2 people in every lane,  swimming back and forth, now we're 3, swimming in circle, and from January -- 4 will be allowed in the same lane. It is very sad that a big city like ours has now only one heated pool, the others being only outdoor.

 

Moreover, now there is an application where you have to book a slot (1-2 pm, for example), which is opened only 24 hours before, so I'm in constant worry that I'll miss the times when I want to swim...

 

Rant over. 

 

Rant warranted.  If you have to share a lane with people who all swim at different speeds and/or one person is doing breaststroke and three people are doing freestyle it can be a very frustrating experience.  Have only experienced it in a 50m pool.  In a 25m would be a nightmare 
 

We had the booking of the lane thing during Covid, having to do that as a ongoing basis would do my head in.

 

Sorry your daily swimming has gone from a pleasurable experience to a complete debacle.

[FromSea2ShiningSea]

A few day late but here’s a few random Christmas pictures.

 

Snoopy display in a neighborhood near us

 

A nativity scene decoration at a house in a nearby neighborhood

 

Had our family Christmas dinner at my niece’s house on Christmas Eve

 

 

 

 

Cheese-stuffed pizza dough Christmas tree

 

A Starbucks ornaments Christmas tree.  Starbucks ornaments collected from all over the world.

 

Cody making sure no scraps are left behind 

[Ocean Boy]

47 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

This is what we have booked during that time. They are already paid for so it’s to late to change. The Harmony would be getting back a day after you leave. You could make it a b3b and catch up with us on the Odyssey on February 11th. 😃

RC Harmony Of The Seas 8 night Eastern Caribbean 01-21-2023

RC Odyssey Of The Seas 8 night Southern Caribbean 02-11-2023 

I don't think b3b cruise are in my near future.☺️

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

They found a great kitty that they named Roo. If you ask my daughter, Roo is short for Kangaroo and they name their cats after other types of animals. If you ask her fiancé, Roo is short for Rooster, and the cats have father and son TopGun call signs. 
 

Welcome to the family Roo!!!!

 

 

 

1 hour ago, George C said:

We watch 1938 version of the Christmas Carol, Christmas vacation ( my favorite) and this morning watched “ it’s a wonderful life “ need to see “ miracle on 34th street “ , had Christmas with a good friend who just retired after being a chef for 40 years so food was fantastic, plus some great conversations with good friends. 

 

You have great taste in movies! 😉

Always good to know a really great chef.

 

 

27 minutes ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

A few day late but here’s a few random Christmas pictures.

 

 

A nativity scene decoration at a house in a nearby neighborhood

 

Had our family Christmas dinner at my niece’s house on Christmas Eve

 

 

 

 

Cheese-stuffed pizza dough Christmas tree

 

 

 

Wow! Love that custom made nativity scene.

 

Wish I hade a dining room that could host that many.

 

That is a gorgeous Prime Rib and Christmas Tree shaped Cheese Pizza Dough looks amazing.

 

Cheers!

[h20skibum]

We had rain most of the day, with temperatures in the low 60’s.  So we stocked up on a few groceries and spent some time in the hot tub at the house.  
 

I guess it isn’t cold enough for these to fall out of the trees. I looked over, and it was sitting on the ledge of the hot tub with me. 
 

 

When I moved closer, it jumped into the pool, and finally managed to climb out.