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

[Lionesss]

Woke up at 6:30am as the winds were howling. Looked out the window, total white out. 
coffee in hand and googled power outages. None in our area yet. 
 

Rick had to travel to work. First freeway snow covered. Was able to go 55 ish mph and cars passed him. 
Then on 680 to Boardman slowed down a little.  

 

 

Then. Since

”……I’ll be home TILL Christmas…….”  I decided to bake kolachi. 

 

Currently 10 degrees. Winds 25-30 mph. 
 

 

 

Be safe out there 

 

Oh Fox News had a story for those living in Florida to be careful for falling iguanas from trees due to cold.  😳

Edited December 23, 2022 by Lionesss

[h20skibum]

It is 25°F and feels like 13° in North Carolina this morning.  We have a short drive to Kingsland, Georgia today.  Waze says 6 hours, or maybe 9 hours with holiday traffic and speed traps.  
 

Mapping says there are 16 sped traps on I-95 in Georgia, so I am letting Susan drive that part.  She has a way of sweet talking the Georgia cops when they pull her over.  Or, at least it worked that way last January. 
 

So a few more pictures from our hotel. The main lobby tree

 

 

I love these little village houses

 

 

Everything Christmas in the lobby seating area. 
 

 

Even the buffet area has tons of figures

 

 

One last one, but everywhere you look, there are figures, and trees, and twinkling lights. 
 

 

At least the sun is shining bright for our drive today. 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by h20skibum

[Keksie]

Brrr.  The cold front arrived last night.  This morning to take the dogs out I had on 2 coats, gloves, mittens and a hat.  I will wear more clothing when I take Cocoa for an eye recheck today.  Yuck.  Wednesday night we went to the  "Sowell's North Pole"  It was a very nice display and a former "Light Fight" winner.   

 

 

 

 

Then yesterday we went to the casino in Mississippi.  There were a lot of speed traps on the way so watch out on the highways.  The casino had beautiful displays for Christmas.  I didn't win but my son and his GF came out ahead.  

 

[BonTexasNY]

10 hours ago, brillohead said:

I decided to drive from Champaign (Illinois) to Battle Creek (Michigan) a day early.  (I'm working weekends in MI for a while.)  

I left mid-afternoon and it was snowing in IL with a temp of 14F and a wicked wind.  When I got into Michigan, the temp climbed a bit (low 20s).  Indiana forgot to put snowplows out, so I-94 was running at around 10mph in that state, but Michigan actually plowed a bit, so traffic was going between 40-50mph.  

Now just need to worry about my son's drive from Fort Drum, NY, to Michigan.  He's officially discharged from the Army (for good) and headed home... in the middle of a blizzard, on a holiday weekend!  LOL 

Safe travels and happy holidays (whichever holidays you celebrate) to all of my CC "framily"!!!

Happy holidays to you and your family as well.  Thanking your son for his service.  Home of the free, because of the brave!

45 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

 

Oh Fox News had a story for those living in Florida to be careful for falling iguanas from trees due to cold.  😳

It's 10 degrees here.  Thankfully, no falling iguanas 😏

[Jimbo]

6 hours ago, sgmn said:

School holidays are usually from the third week in July. 

Scottish schools usually break up a little earlier as do private schools

So  what are you saying it's a bad time to take these cruises? just not understanding your post into regards to the B2B cruises at that time?

[Jimbo]

2 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

Amazingly enough zero. Two years ago the provincial hockey association decided to have no hockey games during Christmas and March school breaks for all ages of kids. They determined that the kids needed some time to themselves for  an actual physical and mental break.

So is Owen going with you next week on your cruise?

[BonTexasNY]

This was not a terrific year for us, but thankfully it's getting better. This thread helped, honest!  So I did something to perk us up even more.  Checked online into our February cruise.  Set sail pass done!  I wasn't crazy looking forward to the cruise until yesterday, but that did it, plus we got a 10:30-11 check in time which we were hoping for.  Now the excitement begins!

[bobmacliberty]

9 hours ago, brillohead said:

Hey @Sea Dog....

TV NEWS SNOWSTORM BINGO

Turned on the news just now and there was a reporter standing next to a highway that had been shut down. Within seconds, she told people to stay off the road, and mentioned the station app. When she tossed it back to the studio, the anchor told her to stay warm and then said they’d have full team coverage. Bingo!  Took less than 30 seconds. What do I win?

 

-8F, feels like -32F here. I lived here almost 30 years and don’t remember it being this cold. I think I’m Florida soft already. 

[sgmn]

Just now, Jimbo said:

So  what are you saying it's a bad time to take these cruises? just not understanding your post into regards to the B2B cruises at that time?

As an American you may not be aware of school holiday peak times over here,  just trying to be helpful.  Not saying it's a bad time, weather should be good. But the cruises, airports, hotels, flights etc are all going to be very busy.

[Jimbo]

Looks like it will be a White Christmas here this year.

Just got back inside from plowing the driveway. Very cold and very windy.

Getting down to 2 degrees tonight wind chill  minus 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by Jimbo

[sgmn]

5 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

So, DD decided I needed a photo of grandad in the framed multiple family photo montage of his birthday dinner that I am gifting him for Christmas.

 

I went to Officeworks this afternoon to print off one photo, ended up selecting 95 recent holiday photos ….then inadvertently selected the poster size so the bill came to $895.00…had to cancel and go through the whole process again of uploading 4500 mobile phone photos (yes I should have put them in folders beforehand) and  selecting the ones I wanted.  Hit print for them to be printed out.  No receipt. Receipt needed for auto print machine.  30min queue at the help desk to get a receipt printed off.

 

Photos printing off very slowly, Then the at the 50th photo I realised that there was an issue with the printer, the photos were being printed with multiple green horizontal lines.  Sigh.  Back to the help desk.  No they can’t cancel the order mid print and no they can’t reprint right now. 
 

After spending over an hour and a half at Officeworks, I gave up and left the building with 50% good photos ….only to have the photo envelope carrying the photos burst and the 95 photos blown everywhere on the road and down a carpark ramp…,I had four kind strangers chasing after my photos….

 

Hoping no-one will notice will  the horizontal lined photo until I have a chance to replace….

 

 

 

 

😲what a nightmare.

I'm always meaning to sort out my photos and print out important ones. Just downloaded photobox to make up a calendar 

[A&L_Ont]

29 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

So is Owen going with you next week on your cruise?

Yes indeed. There is no way I’d leave him behind on my birthday. Maybe in a few years he won’t want to go but that’s not the case now. 

[TravelGirlinDallas]

It's 10* here in DFW, Texas. 

 

Our city has been redoing the streets, curbs, and sidewalks in our neighborhood. They finally finished the section beside our house and moved on down the road (thankfully taking the porta-potty they had set up in our yard with them). And then, in their infinite wisdom, they decided to replace the sod that they had damaged on either side of the sidewalk on Tuesday. Brian discovered it yesterday. When it was 15 degrees. Who in their right mind lays fresh sod when it's extreme freezing weather and no one can water the grass? And I'm sure if it dies, the city will insist that they fulfilled their obligation, so oh well.

 

I have been consumed with work lately, working lots of 12-hour days these last couple of weeks since we found out that our company has been sold. I have lots of emotions about this sale, but we have been told that we will continue to be employed by the new company, so hopefully that will be the case long-term. I found out that my annual leave will increase significantly in 2023 due to the new company's policies, so that's good, at least.

[Sea Dog]

10 hours ago, brillohead said:

Hey @Sea Dog....

TV NEWS SNOWSTORM BINGO

 

I have actually done "Live Shots" where all those things were done except the one at the beach since Kansas City has no beaches. I will give my station credit last night they had no reporters standing outside in the cold. Most were either indoors or in our live van driving down the highway. I can't tell you how many times I did live shots out in the freezing cold. I don't miss those days at all.

[Sea Dog]

Best Christmas movie of the season, "I Believe in Santa" on Netflix. Me being a Christmas freak and loving watching Christmas movies (So far 35 this season) I have found a movie that speaks to my heart. This movie about a guy who totally loves Christmas and who believes in Santa, is totally about me and my views. It's fun and heartwarming and has a great message. Want to know who I am? Watch this movie. Here is the trailer.

 

 

[A&L_Ont]

Here is a little something to get you in the spirit of the holidays and warmer weather. 
 

 

 

 

[bobmacliberty]

This is Florida:

 

[h20skibum]

This is what South Carolina looks like this morning.  Sunny and no snow, and traffic is not horrible.  

 

Although it is 36° and windy.  When I walked into the welcome center without a coat on, they said “You must be from the north.”

 

When the guy working there found out we were from Pennsylvania, he started talking about all the Canadians coming thru this time of year. I learned what provinces don’t like the others, plus which ones have more jokes about them. Andrew should be glad to hear that those from his province are well thought of. 
 

Oh, and I just saw the strangest billboard.  It said “OOPS, life is short, get a divorce”. The graphics for the O’s were two wedding rings. 

 

[h20skibum]

15 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

Here is a little something to get you in the spirit of the holidays and warmer weather. 

I used to do these every year with the people who worked for me.  They have some hilarious ones.  

[helen haywood]

@h20skibum Interesting that you’re en route to Kingsland.  I’m driving over there this afternoon to get my hair cut.  Safe travels!

 

@HBE4 Nothing compared to what you’re going through, but the talk of paperwork reminded me…after my mother died in 1991 I was trying to cancel her safe deposit box at the bank.  I had a death certificate, a letters testamentary and I was a joint signee on the box.  I was told I’d also need a copy of her birth certificate!  I decided to just let that go.  This was the same bank that once told me I couldn’t use a US passport as valid ID…

[Sea Dog]

34 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

Here is a little something to get you in the spirit of the holidays and warmer weather. 
 

 

IMG_1928.MOV 48.16 MB · 3 downloads  

 

 

 

This is awesome!

[BonTexasNY]

24 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Although it is 36° and windy.  When I walked into the welcome center without a coat on, they said “You must be from the north.”

 

When the guy working there found out we were from Pennsylvania, he started talking about all the Canadians coming thru this time of year. I learned what provinces don’t like the others, plus which ones have more jokes about them. Andrew should be glad to hear that those from his province are well thought of. 
 

Oh, and I just saw the strangest billboard.  It said “OOPS, life is short, get a divorce”. The graphics for the O’s were two wedding rings. 

 

I have seen people here in TX wear heavy puffy (down?) jackets when the temps "dipped" to the 40s. In the 19 years I'm in TX, I have worn my down jacket maybe 6 times.  I like that!

[h20skibum]

12 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

 

@h20skibum Interesting that you’re en route to Kingsland.  I’m driving over there this afternoon to get my hair cut.  Safe travels!

 

The last few years we have stayed in this area on our drive to and from Florida.  We used to stay around the Jacksonville airport. 
 

Kingsland just seems like a safer area to us, and it evens out the drives. 

[George C]

1 hour ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

It's 10* here in DFW, Texas. 

 

Our city has been redoing the streets, curbs, and sidewalks in our neighborhood. They finally finished the section beside our house and moved on down the road (thankfully taking the porta-potty they had set up in our yard with them). And then, in their infinite wisdom, they decided to replace the sod that they had damaged on either side of the sidewalk on Tuesday. Brian discovered it yesterday. When it was 15 degrees. Who in their right mind lays fresh sod when it's extreme freezing weather and no one can water the grass? And I'm sure if it dies, the city will insist that they fulfilled their obligation, so oh well.

 

I have been consumed with work lately, working lots of 12-hour days these last couple of weeks since we found out that our company has been sold. I have lots of emotions about this sale, but we have been told that we will continue to be employed by the new company, so hopefully that will be the case long-term. I found out that my annual leave will increase significantly in 2023 due to the new company's policies, so that's good, at least.

My wife has also been working long hours and is currently working from home even with office being closed , she was on the computer a lot during our cruise a couple of weeks ago . But she gets very nicely compensated with raises and bonus and she will retire in about two years. 
  We are hoping that city will be working on our streets soon , might be brave and do our normal table13 lunch today if not we have plenty of wine and food and other beverages at home.

Edited December 23, 2022 by George C

[dani negreanu]

13 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 Thank you. Sorry for the long winded rant. 

 

No worries, HBE4. This thread doesn't charge by the number of words, commas, etc., like I was charging when doing editing work 😉

 

13 hours ago, NHProud said:

I’m going to ask for a 3-D printed tooth and some glue 😄

 

Judy, sorry about your teeth. The pain is just awful, take care 😘

 

12 hours ago, brillohead said:

Safe travels and happy holidays (whichever holidays you celebrate) to all of my CC "framily"!!!

 

  🎄 Merry Christmas

 

to all who celebrate 🎄

 

 

8 hours ago, Coralc said:

Eeew. I don't want to live where it is that cold. I can't even imagine your heating bills. 

 

+ 1 Brrrrr 🌞

 

7 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

After spending over an hour and a half at Officeworks, I gave up and left the building with 50% good photos ….only to have the photo envelope carrying the photos burst and the 95 photos blown everywhere on the road and down a carpark ramp…,I had four kind strangers chasing after my photos….

 

😢 Somedays, are not "our" days....

 

40 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

Here is a little something to get you in the spirit of the holidays and warmer weather. 
 

 

IMG_1928.MOV 48.16 MB · 5 downloads  

 

 

Hilarious... Lisa is the best dancer between your three 😘