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

[Jimbo]

12 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

United.  We're good with only the personal item.  Jack has a backpack and since my last post he found one for me as well.  Both within personal item guidelines.  Works well for both of us.  Actually, I prefer that than having to "shlep" a small wheelie in addition to a handbag. 

 

It's because of the kind of ticket you bought. "Basic Economy"

 

If you were to check a carry on at the gate, it will cost you the standard bag fee plus $25.00

https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/baggage/carry-on.html#basic-economy

 

Regular tickets, the carry-on is included in less it's an oversize carry-on.

https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/baggage/carry-on.html#size-limits

[Jimbo]

4 hours ago, MJSailors said:

@George C Kitchen Reno’s are not for the faint of heart!

We have done two plus a family room, laundry and bathroom addition with screened porch and deck.

It takes time, patience and $$$$!

Hang in there!

 

 

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

You got that right ! Cha Ching !

[xpcdoojk]

59 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I can't believe it takes a year to get a replacement done.

It is only a matter of time until that is the way it is everywhere.  😉

[derorim]

2 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

None of my friends originally from different parts of NY say y'all.

 

It's hard to say y'all without a southern drawl. 🙂 

 

[George C]

27 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

United.  We're good with only the personal item.  Jack has a backpack and since my last post he found one for me as well.  Both within personal item guidelines.  Works well for both of us.  Actually, I prefer that than having to "shlep" a small wheelie in addition to a handbag. 

 

We never pack light , for a week cruise we used to take two large suitcases , two garment bags and two carry ons . We were able to eliminate one large suitcase on last cruise but still will check 3 bags for our 7 day New York City, Buffalo vacation next month , but we fly first so no extra charge and I get to drink Bloody Mary or scotch for the entire flight. 

[derorim]

4 hours ago, MJSailors said:

Kitchen Reno’s are not for the faint of heart! ...It takes time, patience and $$$$!

 

The three most expensive words in kitchen (or any) remodeling... "Might as well!"

[George C]

2 minutes ago, derorim said:

 

The three most expensive words in kitchen (or any) remodeling... "Might as well!"

It would be a lot cheaper if I made the decisions , I really didn’t think we needed to  replace our tile floors or replace all our stainless steel appliances. Luckily wife gets a large bonus so she can splurge. We did totally redo our master bathroom shortly after moving, as most of us know a house will always be somewhat of a money pit. 

[bobmacliberty]

6 hours ago, Momof3gurlz said:

Bob, I loved your zoo photos.  Is there an IPhone secret to getting such vivid colors? 

 

Short answer: I use Lightroom Mobile to take most pictures instead of the built in camera app.  I then click on the LR auto adjust button before saving that picture to the phone's camera roll.  That typically adds a little bit of vibrance to the colors, among other things.

 

Long answer: Within Lightroom Mobile, I take all pictures in RAW format.  RAW captures all of the data straight from the camera sensors so that you have the most flexibility to edit the photos later.  Any camera app that saves files in a .jpg format will automatically do some adjustments to color, lighting, sharpness, etc. and then compress it to make it a smaller file.  Each phone/camera company has their own "secret recipe" for how to turn the raw data from the sensor into a .jpg file.  If you save a photo using the RAW format, none of those adjustments are made automatically and you need to make them yourself somehow (a RAW file itself looks pretty flat and boring).  I will typically just click on the auto button within the editing portion of Lightroom Mobile and then save it as a .jpg file to the camera roll.  If there's a photo that I really want to look good, I'll manually adjust various lighting, color, contrast, sharpening, etc. settings within LR before saving as a .jpg.  This gives me more precise, creative control instead of just accepting what the auto button does.  There were two exceptions to what I just said.  For the long exposure waterfall shot, I used an app called Slow Shutter and saved the file as a .jpg from within that app.  It looks like that app cranked up the color saturation when saving as a .jpg.  For the flamingo picture, I used the iPhone's built in portrait setting, and the color is exactly what the iPhone saved.

 

5 hours ago, Luckynana said:

@bobmaclibertyGreat pictures of the Jacksonville Zoo.  Is the zoo small, or is it in a huge area?

 

I'd call it a mid-sized zoo.  Smaller in both size and number of animals than the Cincinnati Zoo, with which I'm most familiar.  Much smaller than the San Diego Zoo, but I think that's true for every other zoo in the world.  They've got all of the "big name" animals...elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, tigers, gorillas, baboons, etc.  We've been twice and spent about 4 hours each time.  They have a 4D theater and several different feedings/talks that are included if you pay $10 extra for a "total experience" ticket.  That would probably add another couple of hours if you did several of those extra things.

[h20skibum]

Out for drinks and dinner tonight.  Susan has been brainwashed by Starbucks, into thinking that a “tall” is something small.  

I know what a tall is when ordering a beer. 
 

I may have to help her with hers. 

[Luckynana]

1 minute ago, h20skibum said:

Out for drinks and dinner tonight.  Susan has been brainwashed by Starbucks, into thinking that a “tall” is something small.  

I know what a tall is when ordering a beer. 
 

I may have to help her with hers. 

Enjoy your evening dinner, Susan and Mark.  Hope your grandson is feeling better!

[maggieq]

5 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

If I may -- Santorini is amazing, and I strongly recommend a ship excursion which will take you up to Oia, and then to Fira, with a voucher for the cable car.

Corfu - we rented a small car right at the pier, and drove all over the island, beautiful.

Mykonos - one and done.

Kusadasi -- we went a bit just outside the terminal and negotiated & rented a taxi just to take us to Ephesus and back, no shopping stops.

Rhodes -- the old city is a short walk from the pier, we enjoyed the atmosphere, sitting at a busy cafe.

Of course!  I appreciate you posting this info.  Thanks so much Dani!  😊 

[Luckynana]

@bobmacliberty The only zoos I've been to are the Bronx Zoo (biggest),  Turtleback Zoo in NJ,(much smaller),  and the Staten Island Zoo.  (smallest)😁  Oh, and Disney's  Animal Kingdom....but that doesn't count!!  Your pictures really are beautiful from your day at the Zoo.

 

 

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

Sorry that you need to have the surgery.Hopefully the exercise will help.

I just finished my Parkinson’s Support Group meeting .The topic today was exercise and how beneficial it is for every medical ailment.

Thank you Lenny.

I hope your Parkinson's support group meeting helps you and you are okay.

Graham.

 

[Sea Dog]

4 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Just to add.

Each exercise I do 12 repetitions or up to fatigue.

I do 3 sets of each exercise. 

 

I think you will find that the exercises will not only help in pre surgery but also help in your rehab. Good luck I’m sorry you have to wait but I think you will be much happier after having your hip replaced. I’ll be rooting for you!

 

 

1 hour ago, George C said:

We never pack light , for a week cruise we used to take two large suitcases , two garment bags and two carry ons . We were able to eliminate one large suitcase on last cruise but still will check 3 bags for our 7 day New York City, Buffalo vacation next month , but we fly first so no extra charge and I get to drink Bloody Mary or scotch for the entire flight. 

 

I love a man who knows his priorities!😉

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Sea Dog said:

 

I think you will find that the exercises will not only help in pre surgery but also help in your rehab. Good luck I’m sorry you have to wait but I think you will be much happier after having your hip replaced. I’ll be rooting for you!

 

 

 

I love a man who knows his priorities!😉

Thank you Greg.

I was told that they do not use a General anaesthetic now which I was wary of with my heart medication instead they inject an epidural in your back.

Graham.

 

 

 

[h20skibum]

35 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

Enjoy your evening dinner, Susan and Mark.  Hope your grandson is feeling better!

He is better.  Was back to school the next day.  
 

I have some catching up to do, but time seems to be at a premium.  
 

Dinner was nothing fancy.  Just a burger topped with brisket for me. 

 

 

[Sea Dog]

Special afternoon for me even though I don’t have pictures of the meeting. A few weeks ago the General Manager of KMBC-TV called me to ask if I would be willing to serve on a committee to start a new Hall of Fame for our station.
 

Our 70th anniversary is this August and we are having a big celebration. Part of it will be to induct 2-5 people in our inaugural hall of fame. It was a blast going back and seeing everyone. It was so nice to hear how they miss me. I miss them I said but added I don’t miss the work. 

 

I talked with my old news director and talked how once you are in broadcast television you are in it for life even after you retire. It gets in your blood. I was happy to see again people that I love and care about.

 

On another note just got confirmation that the synthetic lawn people are coming out Monday to install the artificial grass in our backyard. I can’t tell you how glad I will be along with the pups to not have dirt backyard. I’ll post pictures of the process next week. Should be interesting.

[Sea Dog]

4 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you Greg.

I was told that they do not use a General anaesthetic now which I was wary of with my heart medication instead they inject an epidural in your back.

Graham.

 

 

 

Wow! I had no idea that they do that. Somehow even if I wasn’t feeling anything I don’t know if I would want to be awake during that operation.

[Ocean Boy]

10 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Wow! I had no idea that they do that. Somehow even if I wasn’t feeling anything I don’t know if I would want to be awake during that operation.

You are not exactly awake. They give you twilight anesthesia like what they use for a colonoscopy.

[Sea Dog]

Just now, Ocean Boy said:

You are not exactly awake. They give you twilight anesthesia like what they use for a colonoscopy.

That’s good. I had that before and I didn’t remember a thing. I would not be awake or aware of what’s going on. Heck I wish they would use that for routine dental work. I hate being conscious.

 

going to being watching Below Deck Sailing tomorrow night. Was it a good episode?

[Ocean Boy]

11 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

 

going to being watching Below Deck Sailing tomorrow night. Was it a good episode?

Good in some ways, somewhat disgusting in other ways.

[George C]

11 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

That’s good. I had that before and I didn’t remember a thing. I would not be awake or aware of what’s going on. Heck I wish they would use that for routine dental work. I hate being conscious.

 

going to being watching Below Deck Sailing tomorrow night. Was it a good episode?

Yes I definitely prefer being under for most dental stuff , was definitely not happy with last visit to specialist since the good stuff wore off in middle of procedure then finding out procedure didn’t really work and needed a couple of follow ups that somewhat interfered with cruise, will be looking for a new specialist.

[Sea Dog]

6 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Good in some ways, somewhat disgusting in other ways.

 

I saw the word “blood” and thought oh my that can’t be good.

 

 

2 minutes ago, George C said:

Yes I definitely prefer being under for most dental stuff , was definitely not happy with last visit to specialist since the good stuff wore off in middle of procedure then finding out procedure didn’t really work and needed a couple of follow ups that somewhat interfered with cruise, will be looking for a new specialist.

 

I’ll say, that’s ridiculous what happened to you. Sorry you had to experience that. Another reason why they should put you out.

[Jimbo]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

 

Our 70th anniversary is this August and we are having a big celebration. Part of it will be to induct 2-5 people in our inaugural hall of fame. 

I'm going to take a guess right  now that you are going to be 1 of the 5  elected inaugural HOF.

[Tree_skier]

13 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Good morning.

It is sunny and 48°F here in North East England.

This morning I saw the muscular skeletal physio who confirmed I need hip replacements but I asked for an exercise program to delay the operation's although there is up to a 1 year waiting list.

I hope everyone is well.

Sorry about your knee Graham... I hope for a quick and successful hip replacement.

 

4 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I can't believe it takes a year to get a replacement done.

 

3 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

It is only a matter of time until that is the way it is everywhere.  😉

 

Hopefully not...

 

Back when we still lived in Canada.  I waited for 13 months for an MRI on my knee.  DW's cataract surgery was an 11 month wait.