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

[Sea Dog]

2 hours ago, Arzeena said:

EXACTLY my thoughts.

He has other reviews also, from his Celebrity cruises. I find him and his style of writing very entertaining to read about.

 

Link please. I’m interested in reading this.

[Sea Dog]

Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there. Linda gave me two wonderful gifts for our tiki patio.

 

Big Moai sculpture.

 

Smaller Moai planter

 

 

Lizzy approves.

 

 

[A&L_Ont]

Originally a friend from home was supposed to meet us in Vegas Tuesday for the game, but unfortunately his plans fell apart that morning and he could not fly out early that morning to meet us.

 

That left us with 3 seats for four of us. That said a fellow member of CC was in Vegas which I follow on Instagram.  We have never met her in person but feel like we know her from her reviews. Some of you might know her from them as well.
 

@Ocean Boy you could probably guess as she lives close to us here in Canada. 
 

The following is our messaging back and forth.  We all had a blast. 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[Jimbo]

37 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

Before our lunch reservation we walked through the plaza. The ceiling changed colours to reflect upon the time day. We were there long enough to go from sun set to sunrise. 
 

 

Thankfully we escaped the grasp of this store. I took a seat while Lisa and Owen went in.

 

 

I saw this at another store. An interesting take. 
 

 

Owen on the other hand found this and wanted his photo taken. Thankfully it wasn’t his 21st birthday. 
 

 

 

Cool Mugs/Glasses............ 🍺😎

[Ocean Boy]

16 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

@Ocean Boy you could probably guess as she lives close to us here in Canada. 
 

Wow!

[A&L_Ont]

There was one store in the Forum Shops that was very impressive.  It was called Culture Kings.  If you needed branded sports apparel they had it.  They even had a DJ mixing music on a Tuesday at 11am. 

 

At 7 seconds that is a wall of hats, and there were multiple hats behind each visible one. We spent 30 minutes in here walking around looking at stuff. 
 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[George C]

48 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Great minds think alike. I cook my homemade sauce too a for 8 hours or more on a low simmer. I’ll also cook my tennis size meatballs directly in the sauce too. 

 

 

 

 

 

I mix my meatballs with beef and pork. What do you do?

 

Have a great cruise. Cheers!

 

 

 

Happy Fathers Day to a great dad of a awesome son.

 

 

Wishing you the same!

 

 

Happy Fathers Day!

 

 

Welcome home. Glad you had a great cruise.

 

We use ground chuck about 85 percent lean, mix it with shredded Italian cheese , bread crumbs, eggs , cook it in oven for 30 mins then add it to sauce after 6 hours.

[Jimbo]

Cute Kittens at a Pet Store

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3501539763463380

Edited June 18, 2023 by Jimbo

[Bailey & Sophie]

17 hours ago, George C said:

Modestly speaking our meatballs are better than any restaurant, our sauce is really good but our friend who owned a Italian restaurant for thirty years is a little better. We started with Quilt red blend which is a very nice Napa I bought 8 bottles the other day during a wine sale at local supermarket, wine was 12 dollars less than total wine will buy every bottle I can find while sale is on .

 

 

Recipe please, if you wish.

I make a pretty good sauce (if I say so myself) but I don't use wine. I also got tired of constantly stirring it and still scorching it so I bake it for hours to reduce it. 

Yours looks amazing.

[ollienbertsmum]

2 hours ago, SteelCityCruiser10 said:

So we finally made it home from Alaska via Canada.  Post cruise we stayed one night at the Hyatt Regency downtown in Vancouver and went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge/Nature Preserve which we really enjoyed.  Had some beers & dinner at Grain which is inside the Hyatt.  Great beers & good food.

 

Flight from Vancouver to Toronto on Air  Canada at 6am was no issue besides leaving the hotel at 3:15 AM  YIKES 😳 

 

Toronto to Pittsburgh was a whole different story.  Air Canada cancelled our flight because of “crew issues/shortages”.  No other direct flights on AC or any other airline either.  UGGHH  AC tried to put us in a flight the next day  (today) to Chicago then PIT. UHH HARD PASS 

 

Took baggage claims agent 3.5 hours to retrieve 2 of 3 bags - 1 still missing… but I have it air tagged!  

 

Ended up renting a car and driving home last night.  Around a 5 hour drive.  Definitely the right call.  

 

While driving home AC cancelled our flight that would have been today.  So glad we just drove!!  1 measly 50 minute flight that was cancelled caused so much trouble.  

 

Sorry to hear how much of a mess the last part of your journey was.    I think airlines work much tighter schedules when it comes to staff rosters and then when they exceed hours it becomes their undoing. 
 

I bought air tags and have as yet have had no reason to use them.  My iphone 8 gives fairly basic location so no good for keys around the house etc.   I am curious to know if your air tags have actually helped you track your luggage.    

[A&L_Ont]

We met our fellow CC member in the hotel lobby early and headed over to Toshiba Square where the pre-game party and watch party was being held. It was a total atmosphere. 
 

Some were celebrating early and this was hours before the puck drop. Jimbo, that mug is just beer. 
 

 

Some getting temporary tattoos.

 

 

Some getting real ones.  The line was too long for me. Glad our hotel was steps away though. 
 

 

This fan was ready to go.

 

 

We were too.

 

 

But not before world famous DJ Steve Aoki did a set.  After him the Air Force did a fly over. I was not quick enough to film it but you could feel it in your body.
 

If you look up Knights mascot Chance was on the balcony looking down.

 

 

 

[Sea Dog]

23 minutes ago, George C said:

We use ground chuck about 85 percent lean, mix it with shredded Italian cheese , bread crumbs, eggs , cook it in oven for 30 mins then add it to sauce after 6 hours.

Never thought of the cheese. That’s sounds good.

I make my sauce with

Contradina Tomato Paste 

Hunts Garlic and Oregano diced tomato’s 

Garlic

Sweet Basil

sugar our Italian relatives like a sweeter sauce

Meatballs are 50% Beef 50% Pork with garlic, egg, Parmesan cheese and then Italian bread with crust taken off and dipped in milk then rung out. I’ll add a little bit of Italian bread crumbs too. I form the meatballs into the size of a tennis ball. They are huge.

 

[A&L_Ont]

Just a pit of the pre-game vibe. It carried into the arena and didn’t end for the entire night. When the gates opened for viewers the square was full for the watch party.  On Wednesday I was photos of Aoki was out late night partying with the team and the cup.
 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[akcruz]

11 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Pleasant Sunday in Sydney.  Spent the afternoon at the Wildflower Gardens participating in a resin cheeseboard making glass.  I’m not very artistic but I enjoyed the experience and loved seeing

the other ladies creativity.  Pick up my cheeseboard next week when the resin has set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love it, I just did a similar thing with some friends last week on a lazy susan, picked it up Friday once the resin was dry.  Being a beach town here of course it hadvto be beachy.  Here is my finished product.

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day to all those celebrating today.

 

[jmh2006]

4 minutes ago, akcruz said:

 

Love it, I just did a similar thing with some friends last week on a lazy susan, picked it up Friday once the resin was dry.  Being a beach town here of course it hadvto be beachy.  Here is my finished product.

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day to all those celebrating today.

 

April that is so pretty!  Good job!

[DaniDanielle]

My meatballs are 

from my mom’s recipe.  Chopmeat, eggs parsley, garlic, grated cheese and bread crumbs.

[A&L_Ont]

And then there was a bit of Celebrity among us. I saw these guys. 
 

 

We were fortunate that our seats got us into a VIP area.  In that area Owen got his photo taken with Roberto Luongo, who played for Vancouver and the Panthers. He was gracious enough to do it, and after said to Owen “I hope you have an unlucky night”.  Owen responded with something like, same to you.  They both chuckled about it. @Tree_skier I bet you remember him.
 

 

As we walked to lower halls you could hear the Vegas players kicking the soccer ball and just see them through the curtains. We arrived at a small room which had an open bar as well as lobster and carved tomahawk steak and other snack items.  It was a down here where Owen and I each saw Wayne Gretzky as well at separate times.  No photos though. 

 

Headed down to our seats.

 

 

Crystal and Nate spotted us too. 

 

 

Owen got some ice from the Zamboni drivers to take home.  Yes, it’s here in a small container. 

 

 

 

See if you can spot Brad Garrett in the audience. It didn’t take us long. Lower rows if you need a hint. Gary Betman was here too and he got booed. LOL
 

 

And a couple signs to boot. 
 

 

A Letter Kenny reference for those that watch it. 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[Ocean Boy]

46 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

 I form the meatballs into the size of a tennis ball. They are huge.

 

My mother makes meatballs the size of yours as did my grandmother. And that pan you showed cooking on the stove looks just like theirs also. Every Sunday my grandmother's house would smell so good.

[Sea Dog]

Just now, Ocean Boy said:

My mother makes meatballs the size of yours as did my grandmother. And that pan you showed cooking on the stove looks just like theirs also. Every Sunday my grandmother's house would smell so good.

Nothing like Sunday Gravy! So good.

[Ocean Boy]

Just now, Sea Dog said:

Nothing like Sunday Gravy! So good.

We call it gravy also.

[A&L_Ont]

1 minute ago, Ocean Boy said:

My mother makes meatballs the size of yours as did my grandmother. And that pan you showed cooking on the stove looks just like theirs also. Every Sunday my grandmother's house would smell so good.

I can smell them now. 

[Ocean Boy]

[Husky1987]

My favorite meatballs to make....with grape jelly and chili sauce

 

[A&L_Ont]

Here is some video of the game. We all know the outcome so there is a bit of pre puck drop excitement and the final minute of the game.
 

Having sat on both sides of a winning team and team that lost a championship game, I know how it feels both ways. It still was pretty sweet to see the team we cheer for win. 

 

[Jimbo]

When I was little we used to go to my Aunt and Uncle's house in Hammonton, NJ it was about 25  miles straight down Rt 206 South from where we lived.

 

We went there every Sunday in the Summer time, My Aunt made such the greatest Gravy. The house smelled so good each and every time. They also had cherry trees there, always went home with a full belly of fresh cherries too 🙂

 

Hammonton is a real Italian town.  It's also know for it's Blueberry Farms, but there are  a lot of Jersey Tomatoes there too.

https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/njs-most-italian-town/