The Daily for Saturday 04/02/2022

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a calmer Pacific Ocean.  It's a cool, grey day outside.

 

We read a lot of children's books to the DDs.  While I love peanuts, I've never cared for peanutbutter.  We DIY most things, and DH is teaching me how to do more, but wishes it wouldn't take me twice as long to do them.

 

While not a Heminway fan, I do like the quote.

 

I like fettuccine alfredo, but don't have it often.  We'll pass on the drink, but the wine sounds good with a nice price.

 

In 2005 on a theater of the war in the Pacific cruise on Pacific Princess, we visited Saipan, and three of us flew to Tinian where we rented a car to tour the island.  The airfield where the Enola Gay took off is now a US National Park.  I posted pictures before, and will look for some later.

 

@kazu  Jacqui, I'm sorry you are still having to fight so hard to get Jose the things he needs.  

@smitty34877  Terry, I hope today is a better day fornall of you.  As I said to @kazu Jacqui, it shouldn't be so hard to get the medical care and support people need.

@Heartgrove  I hope your sister gets a good report from her scan after going through such a rough treatment.  I'm sorry your cruise had to be canceled.

@mamaofami  Carol, howmnice you are helping the new aide celebrate her birthday..HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kate.

@sailingdutchy  Tony, I agree with you that relaxing the rules on masks along with a casino cruise is behind the big outbreak of cases.  Add to that the fact that since last week, they are no longer testing the intransit passengers.  All that is the reason we are not as sad to be leaving the Koningsdam tomorrow.  We actually felt safer on the ship last fall.

@Cruising-along  Please wish your DS HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

@marshhawk  Sorry you aren't feeling well. Please take care of yourself.

 

Lenda

 

[JazzyV]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Daily and to all contributors.

Children's books are an essential. I love PB; rarely eat PB&Jam. I like to DIY; I currently need to replace the commode innards with a new fill valve and flapper. Great quote.

I love fettuccini alfredo, but rarely eat it due to the carbs. Not sure about the drink. I like the red wine.

I have not been to Saipan. Hoping to see pictures.

 

It's sunny and warming up a bit today. It's laundry for my chore this afternoon. I noticed the last few days that my right hand hurts around the middle finger knuckle and today it looks swollen. I took some pictures and may try to talk to my rheumatologist on Monday, if no improvement. It's always something. The restaurant I ate in yesterday was fine at the start, but then got busy enough to give me pause about being there, even though I was distanced from others. Hopefully nothing happens.

 

@kazu Safe travels to and from the hospital. Prayers for Jose and you. So sorry you have to fight with them to get care for Jose.

@smitty34877 Funny, I love peanut butter but not peanuts! Sorry to hear yesterday was a tough one at your house; prayers for you all. 

@Heartgrove Prayers that your sister's scan shows her treatment helped. Hopefully her doctors can give her something to help the nausea. Oh no on the flight cancellation! Sorry there are no other options. So sad you have to cancel your cruise. 

@sailingdutchy I'm glad you're both feeling better and got some assistance with things. Take care!

@aliaschief Take it easy until you feel stronger.

@Cruising-along Early Happy Birthday to your DS!

 

Prayers for the Care List and Ukraine. Cheers to the Celebration List. 

Stay safe everyone.

 

 

 

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Cruising-along said:

Good morning all!

We have lots of children's books here for the grandsons and I still have a few old tattered ones from my childhood.  In our house PBJ is always with jam or preserves, never jelly. We love to DIY  in ports, but around the house we leave the bigger jobs to the professionals. 

 

I love Fettuccine Alfredo, but only as a small side dish, too many carbs for a plate-full. Will pass on the drink and red wine, have never been to the port. I look forward to any photos!

 

Today DH has training for his part-time work with the Mariners. He's been doing this for decades now, I keep asking him how old he'll get before he stops.  But he loves it....  I will be spending the day getting food and the house ready for a family dinner tomorrow.  We're having an early birthday celebration for DS.  His birthday is actually the 11th, but DD and family are leaving on the 6th for Hawaii so we're doing it early.  This will be the first birthday with him since he moved out of state 25 years ago 🙂  

 

Jacqui @kazuprayers for your strength as you continue advocating for Jose's care.  

 

Jack @Heartgroveprayers that the results of your dear sister's scan shows that the new treatment is helping.  I'm so sorry to hear about the airline fiasco resulting in your having to cancel your cruise.  And at the last minute 😞  

 

Tony @sailingdutchyI agree with you re dropping mask mandates. It seems like the numbers mushroomed after that. 

I'm curious (and this question is for anyone) -- you mentioned before that you're able to take walks and go to stores while in quarantine -- has it always been that way?   I'm probably not remembering correctly, but I thought that people in the past had to stay inside their hotel room (?)

 

Prayers for everyone on the care list and cheers to all who are celebrating!  

 

Wishing your son an early Happy birthday Carolyn.

Graham.

[Sharon in AZ]

Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday!  I used to eat peanut butter and honey (never jelly) sandwiches every day for lunch while in high school and my early working days but got out of the habit. I make farfalle with Alfredo sauce frequently for DGD and since she’s with me this weekend I’m planning on making it for lunch today. I don’t follow a recipe, I use cream, butter, fresh Parmesan, a bit of pasta water and the cooked farfalle, then sprinkle with more Parmesan and chopped parsley. Yum. 
 

Jack @Heartgrove — prayers for your sister and so sorry about your cruise. What a huge disappointment. I’m sure you checked all possibilities. 
 

Jacqui @kazu — good for you standing up for Jose’s care!

 

Prayers to all on the Care list. Thank you for the Daily Rich. 
 

Have a great day everyone!

[cunnorl]

Good Afternoon from an overcast but warm day at the beach

      Our crazy weather continues. Suppose to have heavy rain coming in again this afternoon. Lots of people on the beach right now.

        Have not een to Saipan. When we were on the French Polynesia trip in 2019, there was a speaker on board. He spoke of Saipan and several other WW2 battleground spots. He was very good and we enjoyed all his presentations.

        I still have several childrens books on hand. One of my favorites and often gift is " Make way for Ducklings as mentioned by @smitty34877.  

   @Heartgrove I am so sorry to hear about the cancelled trip. That is so disappointing. I saw on the news early this AM that Southwest has cancelled or delayed over 1000 flights today. Not sure what is going on with that airline but it cant be good. 

 

Stay safe and enjoy today

[Horizon chaser 1957]

Good morning, all! Let’s see if the gremlins let me post today. I enjoy PB and jam. It also enjoys my company and settles in for a prolonged stay on my hips, so I rarely eat it anymore. Ditto today’s meal. I haven’t been to today’s port.

Yesterday was spent traveling back to the mainland. It was also spent in contact with our TA, HAL, and the company arranging our safari I was so pleased at being able to book. Mozambique is restricting the number people who can deviate from the ship’s itinerary on the Grand Africa. Unlike most years, they are not entertaining the possibility of increasing the number. It has been made clear if you don’t already have permission to deviate, you aren’t getting it. I’ve cancelled the safari, and the tour operator is looking at 2 day 1 night possibilities out of Zanzibar or Cape Town. As long as we leave with the ship we came on, we can do overnight trips with no special permission.

@HeartgroveIm so sorry about Southwest messing up your cruise. That’s just nasty. @kazuhopefully today will be a better one at the hospital. What can even be said? @RowsbySue, I am so sorry for your loss of your DH. 

@marshhawk I hope you feel better, and remember to take care of yourself.

@mamaofamiit is so wonderful to hear you talk about taking an aide out for a birthday lunch and enjoying life, instead of what you’ve been going through up to now!

Happy Saturday, everyone, both on and off a BHB!

 

[kazu]

4 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

My sister will find out the results of her most recent scan this week to see if the new treatment has any effect on her cancer. The new medication for the immunotherapy is not going well for her and leaving her very nauseous. Time will tell.

 

I pray the new treatment has helped her 🙏🏻 Please let us know.  So sorry to hear about her side effects 😔 

 

4 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

We received a very disappointing email very early this morning concerning this coming week's cruise! The flight to FLL on Southwest was cancelled last night due to equipment problems. Our rebooked flight was to be  Sunday evening - well after the ship sails.! Checked ALL of the available options to no avail. So, that means we will not be cruising this week on the Rotterdam.

 

 

I am so sorry to hear all of your plans have been dashed so close to your cruise 😢. What a disappointment for you both.

 

 

4 hours ago, richwmn said:

This morning I stumbled upon this

This is a picture I took of Prinsendam 10/01/17 while I was on the land portion of a long cruise / land / cruise vacation

 

What a lovely memory.  I never tire of seeing the EE.  I miss that ship 😞 

 

@sailingdutchyI so agree with you on moving to fast dropping the mask mandate - especially as they begin to fill the ships to greater capacity.  Glad to hear that you have both pretty much recovered and on your way home.  Safe travels.

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We were in Saipan in 2005 on the Pacific Princess cruise of the Islands of the Pacific Theater.  That was the day we flew to Tinian, but we still had time to tour Saipan.  We stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe for t-shirts, but no pictures.  My pictures center more on the battle for Saipan in 1944.

 

American Memorial Park

 

 

 

 

 

I believe these are Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff, where about 1000 Japanese jumped to their deaths rather than be captured by the American forces.  I am not sure which is which.

 

 

Japanese memorials on top of the cliffs

 

 

The last Japanese Command Post from the cliff top and from ground level.  The sea spray has not been kind to the military equipment left behind.

 

 

 

 

 

Another memorial

 

Bird Island, a bird observatory 

 

Some pretty flowers along the road

 

Lenda

 

[bennybear]

Good morning and thanks all!  Like @ger_77 peanut butter is good just not in cookies!  almond butter is ok!  @Heartgrove so sorry about your cruise.  Hope your insurance covers your costs! @kazuSo glad you can advocate for Jose,  but it just take so much energy. Hugs! 
 

Hope all recover quickly from Covid with no long term effects.  Dd and family have recovered and are out of quarantine but DS still in the midst. I have been shocked by how many don’t seem to be following the isolation rules.  We went to a virtual funeral yesterday and a person who said they couldn’t go in person due to symptoms, showed up in person 😩
 

Well we went out to see the aurora, but it was disappointing and I cannot stay up late enough,   I’ve attached our unimpressive view🤷‍♀️

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by bennybear

[irishjim]

1 hour ago, Crazy For Cats said:

Eurodam has arrived in Aruba.

This  is  not Eurodam

[StLouisCruisers]

10 minutes ago, irishjim said:

This  is  not Eurodam

 

I'm pretty sure Jake was taking a photo of the port and another ship sitting in view from his balcony.  According to MarineTraffic that could be a ship named Freewinds (and affiliated with the Church of Scientology).

Edited April 2, 2022 by StLouisCruisers

[grapau27]

5 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here.

 

My sister will find out the results of her most recent scan this week to see if the new treatment has any effect on her cancer. The new medication for the immunotherapy is not going well for her and leaving her very nauseous. Time will tell.

 

We received a very disappointing email very early this morning concerning this coming week's cruise! The flight to FLL on Southwest was cancelled last night due to equipment problems. Our rebooked flight was to be  Sunday evening - well after the ship sails.! Checked ALL of the available options to no avail. So, that means we will not be cruising this week on the Rotterdam. All of preparation (COVID test, dog sitter reservation, hotel reservation, and airport parking) are now wasted. I guess the new precaution is to fly TWO days before a cruise! Now on to finish the rest of the cancellations.

 

Have a good weekend!

 

- Jack

Prayers 🙏 for your sister getting great results from her scan.

I'm sorry that your cruise plans have been cancelled close to departure Jack.

I hope a solution can be found for you.

Graham.

[Heartgrove]

1 hour ago, bennybear said:

 @Heartgrove so sorry about your cruise.  Hope your insurance covers your costs!

 

The flight was booked with points. But luckily had (as always) the Platinum insurance for the cruise fare. Still waiting to see if we will be charged for the hotel rooms for tonight. 

 

Our Roll Call is alive with other unfortunate CC members with cancelled/delayed flights!

 

I guess we won't have the chance to sail on the Rotterdam until our Transatlantic in October..

 

- Jack

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Heartgrove

[kplady]

Good afternoon - from HOME!

I had my surgery yesterday afternoon, and was discharged from the hospital this afternoon.  All is good, and I'm definitely happy to be home.  Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers, they definitely helped!!

Laura

[rafinmd]

1 hour ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

I'm pretty sure Jake was taking a photo of the port and another ship sitting in view from his balcony.  According to MarineTraffic that could be a ship named Freewinds (and affiliated with the Church of Scientology).

That was definitely the Freewinds.  It seems to spend most of it's time in that spot.  Eurodam got the prime berth while Aida Pearl has a longer walk to town.

 

Roy

[Cruzin Terri]

So we got our PCR tests back from Walgreens.  Both tests were rejected because the samples were compromised during shipment to the lab.

So we wasted an hour of our time yesterday for nothing.

Thankfully we do not need to have a negative test to enter Spain.

Thanks Walgreens for wasting our time yesterday.  Won’t do that one again.

Terri

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Just now, kplady said:

Good afternoon - from HOME!

I had my surgery yesterday afternoon, and was discharged from the hospital this afternoon.  All is good, and I'm definitely happy to be home.  Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers, they definitely helped!!

Laura

 

Laura, glad you are hime and that all is good.

 

We're packed except for a few things that go in the suitcases tonight, and what goes in the carry-on in the morning.99

 

Lenda

[bennybear]

20 minutes ago, Cruzin Terri said:

So we got our PCR tests back from Walgreens.  Both tests were rejected because the samples were compromised during shipment to the lab.

So we wasted an hour of our time yesterday for nothing.

Thankfully we do not need to have a negative test to enter Spain.

Thanks Walgreens for wasting our time yesterday.  Won’t do that one again.

Terri

Yikes!  That’s awful! Maybe you could do another rapid test. Would hate you to go all that way and not be allowed to cruise.  

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

As I mentioned this morning, three of us took the small commuter plane to Tinian and rented a car to tour the island before returning to Saipan and touring that island.

 

This picture shows the four runways used by the US after taking the island from Japan.

 

A plaque remembering those who died in the invasion of Tinian 

 

A monument to the 509 composite group, and a sign about the 509 Composite Group and another about the runways.  Runway Able is the best preserved.

 

 

 

One of the pits used to load the bombs on Enola Gay and Bockscar.  The bombs were too heavy to load normally.  There was a hydraulic piston in the bottom of the pits to raise the bomb after the plane was parked above the pit.

 

 

There were the ruins of many buildings used by the Japanese that are preserved in the National Park along with old air plane engines and parts.  There is a cave that contains rusting fuel drums, where we could stand in the entrance.

 

 

On the other end of the island is a casino and resort that caters to Japanese tourists.

 

 

Our visit to Tinian and Saipan was a very interesting and moving experience.

 

Lenda

 

[Crazy For Cats]

3 hours ago, irishjim said:

This  is  not Eurodam

That was taken from our sail away spot while they were docking.  We got the all clear about 15 minutes later.

[Cruzin Terri]

32 minutes ago, bennybear said:

Yikes!  That’s awful! Maybe you could do another rapid test. Would hate you to go all that way and not be allowed to cruise.  

Walgreens said they had nothing to do with it.  They just sent out the tests via FedEx. The Lab is blaming FedEx.  I love it.  It is always someone else’s fault. No one takes responsibility. If I call FedEx they will blame some one else.  The bottom line is, we don’t have a valid test. 

We will be tested three days before the cruise in Barcelona and then again at the port.  We tested negative with the home test. I think we are okay.  We will just have to take our chances at this point.

I may try an urgent care locally tomorrow.  They are closed now.

Terri

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Cruzin Terri

[Oceansaway17]

hello all.

yes I love the quote.  A book is a friend for a week or a few day especially during the pandemic.

I have two books selected for my cruise on the Wonder of the Seas this coming Friday.

 

I love Peanut butter any day and I love Alfredo pasta.  Yum

 

toodles all

[Oceansaway17]

8 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

 

We received a very disappointing email very early this morning concerning this coming week's cruise! The flight to FLL on Southwest was cancelled last night due to equipment problems. Our rebooked flight was to be  Sunday evening - well after the ship sails.! Checked ALL of the available options to no avail. So, that means we will not be cruising this week on the Rotterdam. 

 

wow sorry to hear this.   My goodness if not one thing its another.  Gee Whiz sorry to hear.

 

I was supposed to be flying from Phila for Odyssey of the seas. But that got changed a few months ago.  today the weather is bad in Port Canaveral but down the coast is fine.

 

So on You Tube look up LIVE with JJ cruise.  these guys are driving 19 hours from Indianapolis as their S West cancelled to. Seems like a glitch with that airline. gosh even other airlines could not accommodate much so these guys are driving.  They are very entertaining married men who do a lot of videos and provide information and smiles to all.    they are hosting a cruise group and will only have about 5 hours to spare driving all night to Ft Lauderdale.

[TiogaCruiser]

A quick question for Dailyites-  Are we able to bring a small corkscrew? We are driving to the dock.....

The corkscrew in question is one of the cheapies, and is not attached to any knife, etc. All i find in the current KBYG is no knives over scissors over 2 1/2" blades. 

[ger_77]

Just now, TiogaCruiser said:

A quick question for Dailyites-  Are we able to bring a small corkscrew? We are driving to the dock.....

The corkscrew in question is one of the cheapies, and is not attached to any knife, etc. All i find in the current KBYG is no knives over scissors over 2 1/2" blades. 

I always carry a corkscrew and have never had it confiscated.  Should the unthinkable happen, just ask your cabin steward for one.