The Daily for Saturday Mar 20, 2021

[richwmn]

Today is Bibliomania Day, International Day of Happiness, and International Earth Day

"That's my only goal. Surround myself with funny people, and make sure everyone has a good time and works hard. - Joe Rogan"

Meal suggestion for today - Country Ham and Potatoes

Drink of the Day - Brandy Alexander

Wine of the day - Bodegas Riojanas 2016 Viña Albina Reserva (Rioja) Northern Spain

Port of the Day - Dili East Timor

At Sea Mediterranian Sea
Volendam Destination Corfu GR eta 3/26

At Sea Pacific
Nieuw Amsterdam Destination La Paz MX eta 3/24
Noordam Destination La Paz MX eta 3/20

Brest FR
Eurodam Dry Dock

La Paz MX
Koningsdam Anchorage
Westerdam Anchorage
Zuiderdam Anchorage

Port Everglades
Nieuw Statendam Anchorage

Southampton
Oosterdam

Torquay UK
Zaandam Anchorage

 

 

[rafinmd]

Thank you for the first Spring Daily of 2021, Rich.  A great selection of days with a special salute to books.  A really exotic port today.  Interesting Rogan quote.  Country ham and potatoes sounds quite nice.  My alternative is Chilled Blueberry Soup, Filet of Beef Wellington, and Strawberry Crisp as served on MS Prinsendam March 20, 2019.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/dishes20.jpg

 

Today's care list:

Caregiver Gsel and her DH battling Alzheimers

myself facing cardiac surgery

NextOne DH in rehab and facing chemo

Cunnorl’s BIL hospitalized and declining

RIP Icand1923's Friend

and Krazy Kruisers and Joe

 

Today's Celebrations and Shoutouts:

Teachers, school workers and at home surrogates

Front Line Health Care Workers

A jab plan for Mamaofami

Jabs coming for VintateGeo and Lori

Nieuw Statendam in Everglades Sunday

and Sabine, HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it)

 

Roy

 

[puppycanducruise]

Good morning.  Hope everyone has a Happy Saturday!  Welcome Spring!

Interesting quote, wish everyone could live that way.

The meal suggestions sound good, but, I don't have any ham.  But I do have some beef, so maybe I'll tackle a (sorta) beef wellington.   Or we'll have fish and chips.🙂

Another exotic port that I have never been to, so I'll be happy to read about other cruisers adventures.

Looking forward to reading about the wine and the drink of the day.

Prayers and cheers!

Stay safe.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info ..

[dfish]

Good morning, everyone!

 

We are looking at another beautiful day here in northeast Ohio.   Sunshine and warming temperatures.  What more could you want?

 

@mamaofami  Somehow, I missed your vaccination plan yesterday.  I went back and found it and it sounds like a very reasonable way to proceed.  Congratulations on developing that plan with your doctors.   Here's hoping you'll be just fine.  

 

I'm not sure how to celebrate the first day, so I'll concentrate on Happiness Day and Earth Day.  Let's all do one thing to make someone else's day a Happy Day.  And one thing to benefit the health of the earth.  

 

Today's meal has several comments to the effect that it is not really country ham.  I'll let you decide and you can join in the debate if you wish.  I'm not a ham fan.  I like the flavor, but not the texture of most store bought hams.  I don't know what they inject them with, but it seems rubbery to me.  

 

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/country-ham-and-potatoes/

 

 

[Mary229]

Good Morning and Best Wishes to Everyone.  Beautiful spring weather here so I will be raking leaves today.  Of course leaf raking days are neighborhood visiting days - I spend more time catching up with the neighbors emerging from hibernation than real work.  I have not been to East Timor but I do own some fossils from West Timor.    

[summer slope]

Good morning.  I had to google Bibliomania.  I guess I'm sort of like that.  I usually find a series I like and buy the whole series.  I probably have 40 or so ready to read.  Try to stay happy and care for the earth.  The meal sounds wonderful.  DH just left for the grocery store so I said pick up a ham steak.  Look forward to reading about and seeing pictures of today's Port.  Our car race is today and Lee ***** is singing the national anthem.  We live close to the track and should be able to hear him.  Prayers and 🍸toasts to both of our lists.  And everyone else.

Stay safe, social distance, and wear your mask.

I believe you like this one Father.

Brandy Alexander:

Ingredients: 1 oz (1 part) Cognac, 1 oz (1 part) Crème de cacao, 1 oz (1 part) Fresh cream

Preparation: Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Sprinkle with fresh ground nutmeg.

Served: Straight up; without ice

Standard garnish: Grated nutmeg

 

[kazu]

Thanks for the Daily on our 1st day of Spring, Rich and our morning smile 🙂 

 

I’m surprised that the day picked for Bibliomania is the day that Blumberg was caught stealing over 23,000 books.  I know you can never have too many books but seriously?

 

 

The day of Happiness & Earth day should be celebrated 365 days a week.

 

Love the quote by Rogan and his goal.  The meal suggestion sounds good.

 

Albina is such a great grape.  I really like that Rioja in the white but alas, I fear today’s wine is a red.  Looking forward to the description just the same.

 

It’s way too cold here for a spring day 😔 My neighbour was going to be picking up some baby chilies this weekend but alas, I fear it’s too cold to risk transporting them.  We’ll have to wait until it’s warmer.

 

Well since it is Bibliomania day let the argument of kindle versus book begin:

 

 

One way to start off your day being happy 😉 :

 

 

Prayers for everyone on Roy’s Care list & for those that need them and a big 🥂 to those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list.

 

Hope everyone enjoys their first day of Spring and has a great Saturday!  Stay safe and please don’t forget your masks 😷 

 

 

[Crazy For Cats]

Good Morning All, the following link appeared on my FB feed this morning.  It’s the Oosterdam arriving in Southampton.

 

[portofrome]

Thank you for the Daily Report.

[StLouisCruisers]

Morning everyone.  It's a nice sunny morning here but only going up to about 57F today.  I just heard the Folds of Honor race will be taking place tomorrow at Atlanta Motor Speedway at 3 pm.  That sort of snuck up on me.  We don't attend, but live about 9 miles from the speedway so if the wind is right can hear the faint roar of the engines as the race starts up.  We are going up to Atlanta tonight for an event, spending the night at a hotel and coming home tomorrow so will have to try to plan our route to avoid traffic problems getting back.  I may be late to the Daily tomorrow for that reason.  

 

Glad to live here on planet Earth so happy to celebrate it.  I hope today is full of happiness all day long, and I love books, too.  What a great day!  Thanks to all for your contributions, prayers to all in need of them and joy for your celebrations as well.  So great to hear about all the vaccination appointments.  I'm feeling much more at ease with our shots, and hearing all of my family members getting theirs.  

 

Oh, and Dili, East Timor is a spot I've never visited but I would LOVE to.  Please post photos if you've been there.  Can't wait!

 

 

[cat shepard]

Thank you for today’s Daily, Rich! A wonderful combo of days. I confess to being a a Kindle person. I try to celebrate Happiness & take care of our Earth everyday. The rudest environmental awakening I have ever had was in 2016, when I helped to clean up local State beaches after Hurricane Matthew. The sand was carpeted with water bottles, their caps, laundry baskets, flip flops, gallon water jugs filled with sand, netting, etc. I was horrified. 

Roy, thank you for keeping our lists. Any update on your surgery? Morning Dailyites & my Sisters! @DeeniEncinitas, you should enter David’s sunset pics in a contest. The color & tone are spectacular.  

Great quote. Love ham, but rarely have it.  @kazu, you are correct, Jacqui - it is a red wine!

@summer slope, you really need to stop cursing so much. 🙃 It is fun trying to figure out what triggers the dreaded asterisks.  I am going to look at a map, so I can see where today’s port is. 
 

Hiking in a local state park between showers, if the gale force winds stay off shore. And if not raining hard, Bindi will join us!  Then dinner at my place. Turkey & asparagus frittata and salad. With wine & testing a version of our Champagne Margarita, by replacing the lime juice with Meyer lemon juice. I guess that would make it a “Champagne Lemon Drop”.

 

Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone!
 

**********

I found a few distributors that ship this wine, with prices starting at $27.99. You might find it locally for less. Would love to try this one. And if all else fails, it would be a good base for Sangria.

Distributor notes

There is a very short list for “old school” producers in Rioja and Bodegas Riojanas is on the top of that list. Founded in 1890 it has been controlled by the same family for 90 years. The bodega is located in the village of Cenicero where they have large land holdings. Cenicero is located in the heart of Rioja Alta just across the Ebro from Rioja Alavesa. Their two famous bottles are Vina Albina and the Monte Real, which they make in both Reserva and Gran Reserva styles. Great for tonight, these wines age wonderfully, you can still find bottlings from the 60’s and earlier still.

Wine Enthusiast rating:92 Mild reduction on the nose leaves room for earthy plum and berry scents as well as floral aromas. This reserva from a great vintage is lively and juicy on the palate, with rubbing tannins that should soften in short order. Cherry, cassis and wood spice flavors finish dry and firm, with residual red fruit notes. Drink through 2025.

[cat shepard]

[VMax1700]

Good morning everyone and welcome to Spring 2021.  What excitement will it bring to us??

Thanks for the daily and the fleet and the food and the wine Rich and Roy.

Today is the day 13 years ago (March 20th 2008🙄) that we saw our first 'B.H.B.' (Blue Hulled Beauty) as we sailed from Curacao on day 4 of our first ever cruise.  OK we were lead astray and were cruising on X on the Galaxy, but looking across at Westerdam set us in a direction that has ended up here! 🤣

Stay healthy and safe everyone. 

Edited March 20, 2021 by VMax1700
reprimanded for bad math.

[summer slope]

@cat shepardIt was a singers last name. Don’t understand why?

Edited March 20, 2021 by summer slope

[VMax1700]

9 minutes ago, Crazy For Cats said:

Good Morning All, the following link appeared on my FB feed this morning.  It’s the Oosterdam arriving in Southampton.

Thanks for posting.  

[richwmn]

55 minutes ago, summer slope said:

Our car race is today and Lee ***** is singing the national anthem.

I have no idea why Green wood is a problem for CC. Isn't it amusing how these AI (Artificial Intelligence) filters quite often do things we really don't want?

[Cruise Suzy]

11 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Today is the day 13 years ago (March 20th 2013) that we saw our first 'B.H.B.' (Blue Hulled Beauty)

 

Not sure how math works on your side of the pond, but my mind can't figure this one out.

[cat shepard]

10 minutes ago, summer slope said:

@cat shepardIt was a singers last name. Don’t understand why?

  
It really is strange sometimes. Remember the problem Sandi, @StLouisCruisers, had with a certain Captain’s name?

[cat shepard]

3 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

Not sure how math works on your side of the pond, but my mind can't figure this one out.

Blarney time?

[StLouisCruisers]

Just now, cat shepard said:

  
It really is strange sometimes. Remember the problem Sandi, @StLouisCruisers, had with a certain Captain’s name?

 

I know, right?  I've decided to name him Captain D. D. now and so far that has worked.  

 

hope I didn't jinx myself there....

[VMax1700]

4 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

Not sure how math works on your side of the pond, but my mind can't figure this one out.

OOOOPs! Corrected now, thanks 

[mamaofami]

Good morning everyone. The sun is out and it’s going to be 57 today. I’ll take it and will venture outside and maybe visit with some friends.

 

I love the happiness part of today and will do my part to be happy and thankful,for what I have and will do what I can to make others happy. It goes without saying that I care greatly about our earth.

 

Today’s port is another one I haven’t been to. I forgot to add yesterday that Intook a land trip to Italy and was in Liverno. At the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa we met our back door neighbors and their grandson who was a friend of our son. Small world indeed.

 

The country is opening up, and I for one don’t understand the kids on spring break in Florida and how much illness they will be bringing back to their families or colleges. I guess they feel invulnerable since most of them can’t have been vaccinated.

 

Yesterday, DH reported his strange reaction to the vaccine ( he lost vision in one eye for about 2 or 3 minutes)  to the VA and they in turn reported it to Moderna. Moderna said they hadn’t heard of anyone else with this issue but we thought it should at least be reported. Since he’s had every possible test, ordered by a slew of different medical specialists, and everything was normal , we can’t figure out what else it could have come from.

 

Stay safe everyone and enjoy the first day of spring. Summer can’t be far behind.

 

Carol

 

 

 

 

[ger_77]

Good morning, thanks for the Daily!  I admit to being a bibliomaniac until I got my first e-reader.  I wasn't sure how the transition would go, but I was hooked in short order.  I now have over 1,000 books in my library on my iPad mini.  Fortunately a friend of mine has similar taste in reading, so she gladly took possession of all my paper books.  I think every day should include happiness of some kind, and try to be kind to Mother Earth wherever we are.

 

Today's menu title is somewhat misleading - I was expecting a baked ham, not a fried ham steak, but it is certainly something I can see making in the near future.  For tonight though, it's leftover pizza - DH figured if small was good, XL would be great, so we have lots of chicken-bacon-ranch pizza left for tonight.  And wine.  BTW, I was really pleased with his choice - it's one I'm sure we will order in the future.

 

Happy Spring everyone - let's hope this new season (and the jabs) bring brighter and happier days ahead!  We haven't been to today's port, so I'm looking forward to hearing (and seeing) about it!

 

Prayers for everyone who needs them and even for those who don't think they do.  Extra hugs for Roy.  Toasting all on the celebration list with raised glasses tonight.  Stay safe, be well, wash your hands and wear your mask(s).

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

Gerry

[JazzyV]

Good morning. Thanks for the Daily. Happy Spring!

Good days.

I like the meal and drinks. Also Roy's menu. Not sure what's for dinner. I do have a ham steak but I bought it to make split pea soup.

I haven't been to today's port.

 

It's sunny and chilly, but we'll be going into the 50's later.

SMH. There's a protest downtown today against the mask mandate and business closures (although the occupancy limits are gradually being lifted). I guess they won't be wearing masks. And cases are slowing ticking up.

 

Prayers to the care list and cheers to the celebration list.

Stay safe and wear your mask!