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

[Sea Dog]

It’s Friday night and you know what that means, It’s cruising for cocktails with Below Deck. Tonight I made the famous cucumber martini from CP 150. I have to say mine are better with a high grade lemongrass syrup and better quality sweet and sour. Yummmm.

Edited September 21 by Sea Dog

[Tree_skier]

Just popping in to say Hi 👋 

 

This is the best day as always.

 

 

We went to hooked for lunch.  It was excellent…

 

There was some question as to whether or not it included the steak and lobster on the lunch menu and I can confirm that it does.

 

 

 

Hooked was great!

 

Shrimp cocktail to start and i finished off with an ice cream and a brownie. Sorry no pictures.

 

 

 

The filet and lobster were excellent. 

 

 

 

 

[Tree_skier]

One more from today… 

[aussielozzie18]

15 hours ago, Luckynana said:

 

We're expecting sun tomorrow, and I sure hope it is so!  Tomorrow is a big, sold-out HS Football game here in town, and the team will be honoring Veteran's prior to the game.  My two grandsons who are in the Marching Band, will be escorting Jim out onto the Field, along with the other Band and Football players and Cheerleaders, who will be escorting their Veteran Fathers/Grandfathers, etc. onto the Field.

Sounds like a very special day. Hope the sun shines down on everyone participating and attending.  How wonderful that Jim will be escorted onto the field by his grandsons.

[aussielozzie18]

13 hours ago, h20skibum said:

We completed our second pack of the school year so that children with food insecurities have food to take home with them over the weekend.  

 

I may have mentioned this last year, but this is a program sponsored by our church for our local school district.  Susan and I volunteer to pack bags of food each week. 

 

This year we started out with the highest number we have ever had for the start of a school year.  First week we packed bags for 148 students, and this week the number increased to 158.  Our daughter said that over 50% of her class is signed up for the program. 

 

Not sure if the increase in numbers is due to the higher food costs people are dealing with, but I have to think that may contribute to it.  

 

How wonderful that is program is offered and you both volunteer.  My friend volunteers at breakfast club  at her son’s  high school.  The teachers’ notice a big difference in the boys’ attention spans on the days the free breakfast club is run.  Sadly, it may not operate next year due to lack of parent volunteers.

[aussielozzie18]

Lovely  sunny Saturday in Sydney.  Ferry to Watsons Bay then a coastal walk from The Gap passing by  Macquarie Lighthouse - the first and longest operating Lighthouse in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would love to go to one of the occasional open days which seem to only occur midweek.

Edited September 21 by aussielozzie18

[h20skibum]

26 minutes ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Lovely  sunny Saturday in Sydney.  Ferry to Watsons Bay then a coastal walk from The Gap passing by  Macquarie Lighthouse - the first and longest operating Lighthouse in Australia.

Lovely photos, and it looks like a nice, clear day for your walk.

[h20skibum]

A few photos from yesterday’s walk

 

The only reason I don’t like to see leaves on the trail is because I will soon be clearing them from my yard. 

 

The pond was clear enough to spot some fish

 

 

These two refused to give me a better pose. 
 

 

One of many stone arches. 
 

 

 

[George C]

8 hours ago, Coralc said:

 

Sorry.I don’t know how to edit text on the IPad. That is too bad about Nelson DeMille. “The Charm School” is one of my favorite books. And the dialogue in all of his John Corey books always made me laugh out loud. 

 

I agree with you about “The Exchange” it was a snooze, and had nothing much to do with “The Firm”.

 

I enjoyed the Scarpetta novels for many years, until the character became so cynical and the characters so unlikeable. I have more recently preferred the forensic novels by Kathy Reichs and her Brennerman character. A Scarpetta series could be interesting, especially from her earlier novels. 

 

I am presently reading “A Calamity of Souls” by David Baldacci. It is interesting. As a child in Seattle in the 60’s, I watched some of the Civil Rights events on TV, but didn’t really understand them at the time. 

I am almost done with Never by Ken Follett , really enjoyed that . Next is Long Shadows by my favorite author David Baldacci.

[aussielozzie18]

You all know I am a bird nerd so my last read was non-fiction called Flight Lines focusing on migrating birds from Australia to Alaska and/or Russia and back via the East Asian Australasian flyway.  Fascinating read about the vast distances these shorebirds take annually and the impact of habitat loss via climate change and coastal development in China has on their migrations.

 

Current read is a very good fiction murder mystery but want to finish the book first before I recommend.

 

Started the new Netflix drama that @lenquixote66 recommended.  I have never been a fan of Nicole Kidman but I do like Liev Schrieber and I am hooked after watching episode one of The Perfect Couple.  No spoilers please.

Edited September 21 by aussielozzie18

[bobmacliberty]

11 hours ago, SteelCityCruiser10 said:

Finally catching up.

 

 I think you’re going to like that Frey Ranch Uncut.  I haven’t been able to get into the JD’s much.  I’ll have to try that Rye.  Eli is one of my go to’s.  Really any of them.

 

Elijah Craig 18 is my current favorite.  Our go to local restaurant had a bottle but now sadly it's gone, and they can't get another one.  VERY difficult to find around here, and VERY expensive if you do find one.    

[bobmacliberty]

We read (well really listened to on Audible) Grisham's Casino Ghost while driving to Cincinnati.  It was OK...a good way to kill 10 hours.  Decent enough story made a little more interesting because Camino Island in the series of "Camino" books is supposed to be Amelia Island.  Lots of references to things that we recognize.  Whoopi Goldberg did the reading, which seemed strange at the beginning, but worked well.  

 

Baldacci will be at our club on Thursday talking about (and signing) his new book called A Calamity of Souls.  Our daughter will be visiting, so we won't be attending, but I may need to read the book.  I'm also a Baldacci fan.

 

I think a lot of big-name writers are now either cranking out books too quickly or are co-writing with other people (to get more books out quickly).  Lee Child for example now co-writes with his brother Andrew, and Andrew is supposedly doing most of the writing, even though Lee's name is biggest on the book cover.  I'm not sure how 2 people can write 1 book, but the quality seems to be dropping off.

[SteelCityCruiser10]

34 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Elijah Craig 18 is my current favorite.  Our go to local restaurant had a bottle but now sadly it's gone, and they can't get another one.  VERY difficult to find around here, and VERY expensive if you do find one.    

For sure!  TBH I’ve never even seen an Eli Craig 18 out in the wild.  If I ever see it, it will be an instant buy.

[aussielozzie18]

13 hours ago, DaniDanielle said:

I think John Grisham is just going through the motions now.  I guess he has to write at least one novel a year but he probably should take a break.

I’ll add Lee Child and Janet Evanovich to your statement.  Lee Child has of course handed the reins over to his brother but that hasn’t been a success.

[aussielozzie18]

16 hours ago, jmh2006 said:

Deb, I just finished The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar and now finally started The Women by Kristin Hannah, who is one of my favorite authors!  

Want to read The Women.  I read The Great Alone before our first attempt to cruise Alaska and loved it.  Read The Nightingale recently which broke my heart.

[aussielozzie18]

13 hours ago, Momof3gurlz said:

 

 

I just read that Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta books will be made into a series for Amazon Prime, starring Nicole Kidman as Kay and Jamie Lee Curtis as her sister.  Anyone else who’s read these books think Jamie Lee would make a better Dr Scarpetta?  

  

 

Ugh.  I am baffled by how Nicole Kidman gets cast in these roles….I was a big fan of Patricia Cornwall’s early novels and yes, Jamie Lee would be a much better choice.

[jmh2006]

14 minutes ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Want to read The Women.  I read The Great Alone before our first attempt to cruise Alaska and loved it.  Read The Nightingale recently which broke my heart.

If you haven't read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah I highly recommend it!

[aussielozzie18]

5 minutes ago, jmh2006 said:

If you haven't read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah I highly recommend it!

It got very mixed reviews here but will add it to my tbr list.  Thanks.

[George C]

45 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

We read (well really listened to on Audible) Grisham's Casino Ghost while driving to Cincinnati.  It was OK...a good way to kill 10 hours.  Decent enough story made a little more interesting because Camino Island in the series of "Camino" books is supposed to be Amelia Island.  Lots of references to things that we recognize.  Whoopi Goldberg did the reading, which seemed strange at the beginning, but worked well.  

 

Baldacci will be at our club on Thursday talking about (and signing) his new book called A Calamity of Souls.  Our daughter will be visiting, so we won't be attending, but I may need to read the book.  I'm also a Baldacci fan.

 

I think a lot of big-name writers are now either cranking out books too quickly or are co-writing with other people (to get more books out quickly).  Lee Child for example now co-writes with his brother Andrew, and Andrew is supposedly doing most of the writing, even though Lee's name is biggest on the book cover.  I'm not sure how 2 people can write 1 book, but the quality seems to be dropping off.

I liked a few of James Pattersons books and he writes with lots of different people .

[akcruz]

11 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

She's one of my favorites as well.  I read The Women, very powerful and amazing.  I also read The Great Alone by her but it would not have been my choice.  I read it only because it was the chosen book for my monthly (actually 5-week) book club. I find that some of the book club discussions are more enjoyable than the actual selections.

 

We find the same in my book club.  We try to rate the book before our discussion then again after. The later rating is usually higher after hearing others point of view.  Besides the discussion going in many other directions besides the book.   Calamity of souls is on our list for next year.  Haven't had any highly recommended this year.

[Mary&Jim]

I like pretty much anything by James Patterson. I just finished David Baldacci's Calamity of Souls. I'm a new fan. His writing style reminds me of John Grisham's older stuff. The Women and Four Winds were good, also. For lighter beach reads, I like Elin Hildebrand and Janet Evanovich. Robert B. Parker and Stuart Woods are also favorites. Sad when they both passed.

 

 

 

[Lionesss]

3 hours ago, h20skibum said:

A few photos from yesterday’s walk

 

The only reason I don’t like to see leaves on the trail is because I will soon be clearing them from my yard. 

 

The pond was clear enough to spot some fish

 

 

These two refused to give me a better pose. 
 

 

One of many stone arches. 
 

 

 

I love your last picture. The one with the bridge.  BEAUTIFUL!  

[RFerrington]

@Luckynana, how can I help ??

[Arzeena]

17 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

I just finished reading The Situation Room.It was a gift from my PT.

Lenny, I have to say....... Thanks for recommending Megan Leavy. 
I am not at all the "movie crier" but more of an "eye roller" when I see people tearing in a movie! However, I bawled when Rex cried and whimpered while Megan was saying good bye. And could not help myself tearing up after that. What profound effects dogs have on us!

[h20skibum]

2 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Elijah Craig 18 is my current favorite.  Our go to local restaurant had a bottle but now sadly it's gone, and they can't get another one.  VERY difficult to find around here, and VERY expensive if you do find one.    

 

2 hours ago, SteelCityCruiser10 said:

For sure!  TBH I’ve never even seen an Eli Craig 18 out in the wild.  If I ever see it, it will be an instant buy.

I was curious after reading this, so I did a search on our State Store (Fine Wines and Good Spirits).  
 

It said that six of their stores had a limited stock, and those were all around Philadelphia.   $199 for a 750 ml bottle.