Sea Dog is Live with Life on Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in the MDR. 10-16.

[Sea Dog]

And dessert Carrot Cake and a side of ice cream. I’m stuffed.

 

[Luckynana]

43 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

WOW!

 

Glad you did make it home and your husband is doing ok. 😢

Thank you so much!😊

[Luckynana]

28 minutes ago, davekathy said:

My wife's favorite appetizer. 🐌

Mine also!!!!!!😁

14 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

And dessert Carrot Cake and a side of ice cream. I’m stuffed.

 

Yum!!!!

[Sea Dog]

Pacing myself for the stretch.

 

 

[Sea Dog]

That last post uploaded lightning fast. Your evening Star Link internet speed test.

 

[gambler]

Sorry for your mishap but glad you are doing ok. Now that you know you will have a few bucee's on the way home, you can drink more water. Loving your review.

 

 

[c-leg5]

21 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Pacing myself for the stretch.

 

 

How is the entertainment? Has Country and Western taken over?

[Sea Dog]

10 minutes ago, c-leg5 said:

How is the entertainment? Has Country and Western taken over?

Great question. We talked to someone the first night that said the concert in Studio B was very lightly attended. It could be because a lot were in the Schooner Bar watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Poor piano player thought every time someone clapped or cheered it was for him…Not.

 

Tonight for formal night I’ve never seen so many cowboy hats, bolos, and boots on a ship in my life. I will say that that everyone has been polite and very courteous. Still not my scene but it seems like they are having a good time. I usually hang out in the Schooner Bar but it has been packed every night so I’ve had to find other bars to visit.

 

 

Rum Punch in Oliver & Twist aka Viking Crown lounge.

 

[Sea Dog]

Never had Texas Bourbon before so the R Bar had Balcone’s Pot Still Bourbon. I had a glass and it tasted like S#%*. Leave bourbon to Kentucky folks.

 

 

My Elephant towel animal does like Templeton Rye however. Good taste for what the famous gangster Al Capone called “The Good Stuff.”

 

 

 

[Kathscof]

On 10/15/2022 at 2:16 PM, Sea Dog said:

That was the best Chocolate Croissant I’ve ever eaten. The fact that besides the chocolate on the inside white icing and chocolate was drizzled on top made this so incredible.

Woooaahhhhh

[Kathscof]

On 10/15/2022 at 4:51 PM, Sea Dog said:

 

If anyone asks how I got injured I’ll say it happened in the war? Actually I wouldn’t do that as I respect veterans too much. But I’ll think of something.

 

 

 Totally agree. I always get the Eggs Benedict in the MDR for breakfast. This was so much better. Thicker Canadian bacon and the poached egg had some runny yolk which I love. Hands down one of the best I’d ever eaten.

You’re a new cast member in the new flow rider stunt show.....obviously, since you’re the star, it’ll have to wait until you heal up 🙂

[bobmacliberty]

8 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Never had Texas Bourbon before so the R Bar had Balcone’s Pot Still Bourbon. I had a glass and it tasted like S#%*. Leave bourbon to Kentucky folks.

 

 

 

Never heard of it.  There are still some strange liquor laws in this country.

[Sea Dog]

9 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Never heard of it.  There are still some strange liquor laws in this country.

Yeah if you see it don’t buy it. Bad after taste. Are you home now? I need to catch up.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Sea Dog

[Sea Dog]

 

 

 

Good morning from Cozumel and breakfast in the WJ. 7am and already getting crowded.

 

[bobmacliberty]

11 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Yeah if you see it don’t buy it. Bad after taste. Are you home now? I need to catch up.

 

Yes.  Got home Saturday morning after flying all night.  Getting back into the normal routine...football on Sunday, golf in a few minutes.  😁

[crewsweeper]

8 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Never had Texas Bourbon before so the R Bar had Balcone’s Pot Still Bourbon. I had a glass and it tasted like S#%*. Leave bourbon to Kentucky folks.

 

 

My Elephant towel animal does like Templeton Rye however. Good taste for what the famous gangster Al Capone called “The Good Stuff.”

 

 

 

Well these folks are relatively new to the game.   Maybe 12 years.  Reviews I've seen say there are better bourbons at the inexpensive range.  They use blue corn, wheat and rye from Texas.   So blue corn is a different spin. Worth a shot to try but I wouldn't make it a bar staple.

[BonTexasNY]

On practically all of our cruises, we couldn't find empty seats in the Schooner Bar at night especially during trivia.

 

Are you taking pain meds for your shoulder?  I hope it isn't giving you too much pain.

 

[rudeney]

10 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Never had Texas Bourbon before so the R Bar had Balcone’s Pot Still Bourbon. I had a glass and it tasted like S#%*. Leave bourbon to Kentucky folks.

 

 

 

I'm not much of a bourbon drinker.  I prefer Scotch, but I joined our neighborhood bourbon club mainly for the social aspect.  Each month we meet and have a theme.  One time it was "bourbon NOT from TN or KY" and someone brought that Balcones, and yes, everyone agreed it was horrible.  One that was surprisingly good that night was John Emerald's Purveyor's Double Oak Bourbon from Opelika, Alabama.

[George C]

11 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Great question. We talked to someone the first night that said the concert in Studio B was very lightly attended. It could be because a lot were in the Schooner Bar watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Poor piano player thought every time someone clapped or cheered it was for him…Not.

 

Tonight for formal night I’ve never seen so many cowboy hats, bolos, and boots on a ship in my life. I will say that that everyone has been polite and very courteous. Still not my scene but it seems like they are having a good time. I usually hang out in the Schooner Bar but it has been packed every night so I’ve had to find other bars to visit.

 

 

Rum Punch in Oliver & Twist aka Viking Crown lounge.

 

I used to wear my bolo tie with my tux 😁, retired tux a few years ago.

[Momof3gurlz]

It looks like you’re enjoying the MDR so far, everything looks delicious. 

[h20skibum]

Now I am getting confused between your thread and John’s thread, with who is eating what meals.  All I know is it all looks good, and it is making me hungry. 
 

I think we will have hibachi for lunch today. 😋 

[Sea Dog]

3 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Well these folks are relatively new to the game.   Maybe 12 years.  Reviews I've seen say there are better bourbons at the inexpensive range.  They use blue corn, wheat and rye from Texas.   So blue corn is a different spin. Worth a shot to try but I wouldn't make it a bar staple.

 

Must have been the blue corn. It was a taste I’d never tasted before. Not a fan.

 

 

2 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

On practically all of our cruises, we couldn't find empty seats in the Schooner Bar at night especially during trivia.

 

Are you taking pain meds for your shoulder?  I hope it isn't giving you too much pain.

 

 

Alternating Tylenol and Advil. ER doc asked if I wanted pain meds and I said no. I did not want to feel drugged. As long as I don’t move my arm around too much I’m ok. Just have to live with it for now.

 

 

1 hour ago, Momof3gurlz said:

It looks like you’re enjoying the MDR so far, everything looks delicious. 

 

 

I have been very pleasantly surprised how good the food is. I have not had a bad meal in the MDR yet.

 

 

54 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Now I am getting confused between your thread and John’s thread, with who is eating what meals.  All I know is it all looks good, and it is making me hungry. 
 

I think we will have hibachi for lunch today. 😋 

 

Yeah with 3 of us doing lives it’s hard to keep up. I’m trying to at least check in on the other threads but it’s hard with all of our activities and posting on mine. I’ll re read everything when I get back.

[Lorey2007]

When you get a chance can you check to see if there are any newer pay per view movies or older on demand movies on the tv? This year Ovation had nothing and Navigator had some free on demand. We occasionally like to watch something other than the news.

Thanks loving your review.

[Sea Dog]

37 minutes ago, Lorey2007 said:

When you get a chance can you check to see if there are any newer pay per view movies or older on demand movies on the tv? This year Ovation had nothing and Navigator had some free on demand. We occasionally like to watch something other than the news.

Thanks loving your review.

No on demand movies in the stateroom but they do show movies down on Deck 3 in On Air. Like they are showing. Thor, Ghostbusters, Elvis and some others.

[Sea Dog]

Dia De Los Muertos Celebration

 

 

So for our excursion today we decided to do something different. The Dia De Los Muertos Celebration celebrates Day of the Dead on November 1st and November 2nd. We always do beach days but we wanted to learn some culture. Now keep in mind we booked this long before our cruise.

 

 

 

First the obligatory tourist setting shot.

 

 

Now remember me telling you about our adopted friend we met before entering the terminal on Day 1? Elaine had lost her husband 6 months ago. This was supposed to be their first ever cruise together. After he died she wanted to cancel but her daughter urged her to go as a solo. She had been depressed after losing her husband she dearly loved. But her daughter convinced her to go.

 

Now had I not broken my collarbone I would have stood in line but a Royal CSR told me to go sit down on a bunch in front. I did and happened to sit next Elaine. It was fate. She told me the story and was nervous about her first ever cruise. I answered a lot of questions and told her she could count us to help her have a great time. As I said to her, “Your husband would want you to be happy and the best way to honor him is to celebrate his life.” It was fate that Linda and I were meant to look after her.

 

 

Fate again, Elaine and Linda and I happen to be booked on the same excursion a celebration of the dead.

 

 

Angel (great name) explained the holiday to us.

It was a way to honor loved ones who have passed. First by building an alter and then having a feast. Our excursion was at the Mayan Cacao Company, where we  ate local dishes,  including fresh tortillas with chocolate sauce.

 

 

Then we engaged in Dia De Los Muertos rituals including an altar-decorating contest.

 

 

 

Elaine honored her husband.

 

 

 

Linda honored her Mother Joyce who actually died on our anniversary which is today.

 

 

I honored one of my best friends and longtime coworkers Maria and Tim who lost their son at a very early age. Maria was one of our long time anchor/reporters and is Cuban. Her husband was a photographer like me. The anniversary of his death is tomorrow so I will send this to them as a tribute. For the last 25 years, each year of Tyler’s death I tell them I am thinking of them and that I love them. This will be a special tomorrow.

 

Our special alter.

 

 

A spread of delicious snacks were served and sampled flavored Mexican chocolate, sweet bread, masa-wrapped tamales, fried codzitos and more regional bites.

 

 

I even had a Chocolate Daiquiri. Tasted like a good chocolate milkshake.

 

 

Again everything happens for a reason. Elaine and Linda and I were meant to be together. We laughed, we cried and we hugged each other. Sometimes a personal connection is better than a beach day. It’s the warm embrace of a stranger that can leave a more lasting memory. Cheers to the ones we loved and lost. This  day was for you!

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by Sea Dog