The Fleet Report and Daily for Monday March 27th, 2023

[JazzyV]

Prayers for the children lost in the Nashville school shooting, and their families. This senseless violence must end!

[Dismomx5]

Good afternoon! Thanks to those who keep the Daily up and running every day. We haven't been to Quebec City, but we will be there in late summer this year. I'm looking forward to seeing that part of our great country.

 

We looked after the 4 and 1 year olds while their parents were in Hawaii two weeks ago, and it was regularly....(yawn) time for bed at an early time-you know like the proverbial "HAL rolls up the rugs by 9"

 

Last week, we had to say goodbye to our Berner grandpuppy. I'm so grateful for the time we had the week before.

 

After last week' s resting, we are preparing for our next cruise in two weeks. Haircuts today and picked up the documents. I need to figure out how much money I need to get from the bank, and pack the suitcases.

 

I am ready for SPRING!

 

Prayers for those that need them, and blessings to all.

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by Dismomx5

[Cruise Suzy]

 

1 hour ago, Cruising-along said:

I thought they were affiliated with the Big Box store -- in the past their website had a link to get to their excursions.  Maybe they've changed as @Cruise Suzysaid.

 

They are affiliated with several groups. I didn't see the BB store on their Website today:

 

 

 

 

 

[cruising sister]

3 hours ago, cunnorl said:

Terri,

    I have had a front loader for several years and have never had a problem.  I know people have mentioned this but no one I know has this problem. 

   Charlene

I actually had mold form on the rubber ring. Maybe mine sealed too tight?  I ended up trying to keep it propped open but others kept shutting it. Everyone I know who has one does not close it tight after use. They may make them better now. Mine was 10 years ago when I finally traded it out. 

[dfish]

1 hour ago, 0106 said:

@Cruise Suzy @Cruising-along Thank you for the info about the Shore Excursions Group.  I am probably going to book this tour from Puerto Chacabuco 

https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/tour/casa-penaflor/sapcpena

 

and this one from Ushuaia https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/tour/tierra-del-fuego-national-park/sausfuegopark

I believe some of the Dailyites are planning the 2025 South America & Antarctic cruise.  Chime in if there is a port you are particularly looking forward to visiting.  I’m all about the penguins! 🐧🐧🐧

Just needed to add this for scribbles day

Thanks for the links to the excursion company.  I'll keep that in mind when we start booking excursions for that cruise in 2025.  

 

I am just sick over the shooting at the Nashville school.  How long will we allow this to continue?  How many of our children are we willing to sacrifice?  

 

I always had a top loader and now have a front loader with the new house.  I always left the top open before and now leave the door slightly ajar.  So far no horrible odors from the washing machine.  Just from the drain next to it.  A little clorox took care of that odor. Drain specialist is coming tomorrow at 9:00 am.  Apparently with the rain and rapid snow melt there are a lot of backed up drains.  

[lazey1]

Are Redneck Bob and I the only dailyites who see the name Joe and think of females. I have 3 good friends named JoAnn, plus 1 Joan and 1 Jody. Now who here doesn't know about JoAnna Gains, JoDee Messina, and there is always Jolene, Jolene by Dolly Parton.  All right I will now acknowledge my favorite uncle, the late Daniel Joseph, and his son, my cousin, the late Donald Joseph.

Jane

 

[marshhawk]

Good afternoon Dailyites!  We got the endocrinologist appointments done, and we both need to go back for more tests.  Got mine scheduled, but it's the day after the PET scan with radiation, not sure how or if that will effect the blood tests. If any anyone knows, let me know, I did send a message to my doc. 

 

And in 20 minutes we head off to DH's eye test.  And then off to the farmers market.

 

I was shocked to see that the shooter in TN was a woman.  

 

A question about Lanyards....on Carnival I wear my lanyard with my sail and sign card almost 24/7  how do you carry your sail and sign on a HAL?  Or do you wear things with pockets all the time.  I cant see carrying a purse on a ship.

 

The man I dated before Chuck was named Joe.  Should have been named Jerk.

My mother had a brother named Joe, but I didn't even know she had 5 brothers until i was 18.  She had an uncle Joe, and a brother Joe.

 

My favorite Joe is a cup of Joe. 

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by marshhawk

[bennybear]

Good morning and thanks all!  We loved Quebec City and we’re fortunate to stay at the Chateau Frontenac, highly recommend it, the views are amazing. Our DD stayed there again on her honeymoon. 
 

6 hours ago, cruising sister said:

Good morning,

it looks like the sun will pay us a visit today. Per usual it will cloud up with chance of rain overnight. We did not get our usual snow amounts this year but we are ahead on rain. This will be good for the new sod they laid last fall. 
 

I booked another spontaneous last minute trip. My DSIL who has MS and is the mother of my DN who has epilepsy is very depressed and stressed. I suggested a short getaway before my trip and her move to a new house and we are off to Tucson on Sunday. My FA assured me I could travel and set a travel budget so off I go. 
 

I saw someone mention reaching the bottom of the washer with the new large agitator less top loaders. I am only 5 ft 2 in so I use tongs. I did not like how the front loaders smelled moldy unless you kept the door open and my new laundry room does not allow for the door to be open so top loader it is. 
 

Thanks to everyone who helped me through the last two weeks. Lots of sad anniversaries and my hand put me in a funk.  Hopefully sunny Tucson will snap me out of it before my big trip. 
 

Have a great day everyone!
 

 

I hope your trip to Tucson rejuvenates you!  
 

I’ll jump into the washer discussion.  I don’t like our front loader, leaving the door open, the musty smell and bending over to get the laundry out.  Our next one will be top load again.  
 

We had more snow yet again today,  fitting as we watch the funeral of the two young police killed in Edmonton.  God speed to them!

Edited March 27, 2023 by bennybear

[Crazy For Cats]

About 11 years ago we bought a front loader, along with the matching dryer.  We also bought the drawers that they can sit on.  The drawers serve as storage for detergent etc.  I can say I like it very much.  The biggest plus is that I can wash comforters without needing to go to the laundromat. 

[bennybear]

1 hour ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

 

They are affiliated with several groups. I didn't see the BB store on their Website today:

 

 

 

 

 

Jumping in, we used them once from the big box store and were extremely disappointed in both the quality and the lack of organization. It was so bad the big box refunded our money,  so caveat emptor! 

[Cruising-along]

7 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

A question about Lanyards....on Carnival I wear my lanyard with my sail and sign card almost 24/7  how do you carry your sail and sign on a HAL?  Or do you wear things with pockets all the time.  I cant see carrying a purse on a ship.

I don't wear lanyards, but that's just because I don't like anything around my neck. Also don't carry a purse around.   I keep my ship card in a pocket and the few times I don't have a pocket (at dinner usually) DH puts it in his pocket. 

[Cruising-along]

Just now, bennybear said:

Jumping in, we used them once from the big box store and were extremely disappointed in both the quality and the lack of organization. It was so bad the big box refunded our money,  so caveat emptor! 

Wow, that's too bad!  Do you mind telling what port this was?  

[bennybear]

 

 

Just now, Cruising-along said:

Wow, that's too bad!  Do you mind telling what port this was?  

It was Koper, Slovenia.   They were a complete zoo,  no organization to meet us and we had tickets,  they were busy selling new ones.  Then the tour was really just a transfer,   Terribly disappointing.  

[Cruising-along]

6 minutes ago, bennybear said:

 

 

It was Koper, Slovenia.   They were a complete zoo,  no organization to meet us and we had tickets,  they were busy selling new ones.  Then the tour was really just a transfer,   Terribly disappointing.  

What a shame, especially in Koper.  We took a HAL tour to Lake Bled one time, and a Viator tour another time.  I would have been disappointed too.  

[smitty34877]

@marshhawk, I usually wear jeans during the day and keep the room card in my pocket.I borrowed  a small cross body bag from DD for evenings.DH carries anything else.I always had a lanyard for work and vowed never to wear another!

[0106]

@bennybearThanks for your comments about the Shore Excursions Group.  Based on your comments I will probably only book one tour with them and report back on my experience when I return.  
 

@marshhawk I never wear a lanyard. I carry a small crossbody bag with my key card and my cell phone which I use to take pictures and check the Navigator App for the Where and When schedule.

[aliaschief]

@marshhawk Quite a few folks use a lanyard to hold room key. Go to Guest Relations and they will punch a hole in your key so you can attach to lanyard.

If you carry a phone around many have an attached card holder on the back.

We use the Navigator App a lot so our phones are always with us. Plus we can text each other when separated.

[RMLincoln]

Didn’t post this morning, went with DH for bloodwork for oncologist 6month checks. While there the eye hospital called with time and instructions for tomorrow surgery - 10:00 arrival, etc. So far we’re on track!  
 

@marshhawkRotterdam room cards were awful. So poorly printed the bar code couldn’t be scanned. It’s RFID so the refused to punch it so couldn’t use our lanyards.  Carried it in my phone case credit card slots. 
 

Blessings all! Thanks for your support!  m—

Edited March 27, 2023 by RMLincoln

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good afternoon from a gray and windy central Texas.  There was some sun this morning, but the clouds have moved in and our high has not reached much above 71F.  Without the sun and with the wind, it is cool out.

 

I got the house finished and the last load of towels are in the dryer.  DH got my cuckoo clock working again.  It had stopped in November.  All it needed was a little oil and the accumulated dust blow out of the works.

 

Here is another Consumer Report review for today.  This week was the third time I've used the new steam mop, and so far, I'm very pleased with it.  It does take a little longer to do the floors, but the up side is they dry much faster than when I used a regular mop.  We had a few places where stains would not come up with the mop, and one place that had glue dropped on it, that we couldn't up since 1999 when we moved in the house.  The glue came with the house.  🤣  The stains were gone the first time, and each week, the glue globs are getting smaller.  I doubt I'll every go back to a regular mop for this house.

 

After all the yard work and car washing yesterday, and house cleaning today, I think I'll dig the last of the  One Pot Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole out of the freezer for dinner.  With guacamole and sour cream, it should make a good, easy dinner.

 

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, congratulations to Ren's team on the wins this weekend.

 

5 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Yup it’s Consumer Reports Monday. Today’s feature story. Front Load or Top Load Washers. Ya gotta love the Daily!😁

 

Bruce, this is even better than Consumer Reports since there is no paywall to get to the meat of the reviews.  😉

 

4 hours ago, Cruising-along said:

Good morning all!

It was 32F this morning when I got up but headed for the high 50's this afternoon and sunny.  I plan to set my seedlings out a few hours so they can get some sunlight, and do general gardening.  We're supposed to have sunshine and up to 60F for the next few days, yay!  Then the rain will be back...

 

I haven't known many Joe's, but DH does have one cousin named Joe.  I had nice handwriting at one time, but arthritis has ruined it.  I'll pass on the red wine and the drink (coconut) but love sweet and sour meatballs.  I've printed out the 2nd recipe for future use.  We've been to Quebec City 4 times on BHBs and done a few out-of-town excursions to Saint Anne Canyon, Montmerency Falls, Sainte Anne de Beaupre and other times just wandered around the town.

 

I never got here yesterday, we were out most of the day -- visiting the grand-kitties again and also a trek to Total Wine to replenish the wine rack.  

 

Debbie @dfishI hope your drain problem is an easy fix and not too costly.

Sandi @StLouisCruisersCongratulations to Ren's team!  

Tina @0106We have used Shore Excursions Group several times in Europe and just yesterday I booked a tour with them for the South Pacific.  I thought they were affiliated with the Big Box store -- in the past their website had a link to get to their excursions.  Maybe they've changed to AAA as @Cruise Suzysaid.  In any case, we've been very happy with them.  

 

My photos are a compilation of the 4 different times in/near Quebec City.

 

Of course the 3-D mural in La Place Royale

 

I love the street music every visit.

 

The funicular

 

Evening view from our ship of Hotel du Frontenac

 

One visit we walked to the Chocolate Museum.  A few items inside, all made of chocolate:

 

 

Another time we went to Montmerency Falls

 

Saint Anne Canyon

 

Zip lining across Saint Anne Canyon (not me) lol

 

The Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre

 

A couple photos from inside

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn, thanks for your pictures of Quebec City.  We now have some new places to check out the next time we're there.

 

2 hours ago, dfish said:

Thanks for the links to the excursion company.  I'll keep that in mind when we start booking excursions for that cruise in 2025.  

 

I am just sick over the shooting at the Nashville school.  How long will we allow this to continue?  How many of our children are we willing to sacrifice?  

 

I always had a top loader and now have a front loader with the new house.  I always left the top open before and now leave the door slightly ajar.  So far no horrible odors from the washing machine.  Just from the drain next to it.  A little clorox took care of that odor. Drain specialist is coming tomorrow at 9:00 am.  Apparently with the rain and rapid snow melt there are a lot of backed up drains.  

 

Debbie, I too wonder how much longer we'll let the school shootings continue.  One child killed in a school shooting is one too many.  I hope the plumber can clear the blockage easily and not too expensively.

 

2 hours ago, marshhawk said:

Good afternoon Dailyites!  We got the endocrinologist appointments done, and we both need to go back for more tests.  Got mine scheduled, but it's the day after the PET scan with radiation, not sure how or if that will effect the blood tests. If any anyone knows, let me know, I did send a message to my doc. 

 

And in 20 minutes we head off to DH's eye test.  And then off to the farmers market.

 

I was shocked to see that the shooter in TN was a woman.  

 

A question about Lanyards....on Carnival I wear my lanyard with my sail and sign card almost 24/7  how do you carry your sail and sign on a HAL?  Or do you wear things with pockets all the time.  I cant see carrying a purse on a ship.

 

The man I dated before Chuck was named Joe.  Should have been named Jerk.

My mother had a brother named Joe, but I didn't even know she had 5 brothers until i was 18.  She had an uncle Joe, and a brother Joe.

 

My favorite Joe is a cup of Joe. 

 

 

Annie,  I hope your blood tests do not show any surprises, and that your DH gets a good report from the eye doctor.  I do not wear a lanyard on a ship.  While I wear necklaces, I do not like anything else hanging around my neck.  I make sure my shorts, pants and jeans all have pockets where I can carry my cruise card.  Unfortunately, many women's pants have very small pockets that can't accommodate cell phones or glasses.  For daily wear, I try to get cargo pants.  At night, I carry a small purse to hold my phone, glasses, cruise card and kindle, since my dressier slacks don't have pockets. 

 

2 hours ago, Crazy For Cats said:

About 11 years ago we bought a front loader, along with the matching dryer.  We also bought the drawers that they can sit on.  The drawers serve as storage for detergent etc.  I can say I like it very much.  The biggest plus is that I can wash comforters without needing to go to the laundromat. 

 

When we bought this new washer, I was determined to get another front loader until I saw how low the bottom of the drum was and how much I'd have to bend over.  I also thought about getting the drawers, but that would not work.  We have cabinets over the washer and dryer.  Even without the drawers, the units would have been tall enough to make getting into the cabinets difficult.

 

Lenda

[Tbay]

@0106. @dfish

 

We used Do Brazil.Right for tours in Brazil.

On their website they had a list of tours specifically  fot the Volendam. 

[RedneckBob]

4 hours ago, lazey1 said:

Are Redneck Bob and I the only dailyites who see the name Joe and think of females. I have 3 good friends named JoAnn, plus 1 Joan and 1 Jody. Now who here doesn't know about JoAnna Gains, JoDee Messina, and there is always Jolene, Jolene by Dolly Parton.  All right I will now acknowledge my favorite uncle, the late Daniel Joseph, and his son, my cousin, the late Donald Joseph.

Jane

 

Me too. I grew up with Jody, Josephine, Joan. I guess if the gator had put on lipstick it would have been obvious! 😀

[marshhawk]

Well, I'm home, and after two hours of travel and eye doc time, I told DH I would take him out for dinner, and now, the procrastinators will do the farmers market tomorrow.

 

DH started telling the eye doc, how he wanted to have some cosmetic surgery done to improve his look and he wanted it done after Alaska.  I almost screamed!  I said, no, this time, my lung problem comes before your vanity.  For once, it's me, my turn.  And when I am done with getting what I need addressed, then you can get all pretty.  Oh, he said, yes of course, and we walk out to schedule his next appointment, which she said was in 3 months, and he told the woman he wanted it sooner, so he could schedule his surgery. OMG.  This my friends has been my life for the last 18 years.  And trust me, I should have yelled.

 

Sorry, I just needed to dump that.  My friends who live near us, have all wondered the same thing, that every time something goes wrong with me, like two torn rotator cuffs, he scheduled hip replacement.  My BFF flew down south to help me help him since I could not pull him up out of a chair.  And yes he scheduled it when he knew I was injured.  And when he was in the hospital, I got MRSA, and had a 3 inch hole in the back of my leg, from going into a BAD and apparently very dirty doctors office about my torn rotators.  

 

Sorry, I'm done now.  I think.  

 

We put flea meds on the cats yesterday.  Bobagingee is still not letting me get anywhere near him.

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Hi all!  It's been a long while since I posted early this morning.  Time to wrap things up.  In our neck of the woods, we heard in an email of a fire in the middle of the night on the far north edge of our development.  The homeowners heard their smoke detector but didn't smell anything, so they checked outside and their roof was on fire.  I'm thinking, during a thunderstorm?  But maybe we were between the raindrops and thank goodness they checked!  Homeowner thinks it was caused by lightning.  Years ago in another city we had a home in our neighborhood burn down due to lightning.  It was replaced by a duplicate (beautiful home), and that second one had lightning rods installed on the roof.  In 2014 a house on the corner down the street from us burned down due to an electrical fire.  It was less than 2 years old.  

 

Enough about fires.  The storms have stopped.  The lake on the fairway out back doesn't seem to be getting smaller so we're wondering how the golf club will handle it.  Could take a week to disappear.  A new water hazard!  

 

In other news, a year ago we had a roofer come repair what seemed to be a problem with flashing in a valley of our roof where the front porch roof meets the main roof structure.  Well, it is leaking again!  We called and he will come out late tomorrow afternoon to check on it.  I'm not happy about it.  This will require a good primer and repainting the ceiling in our living room.  I should make the roofer pay for the repainting since he guaranteed it would never leak again.😡

 

For those who asked, my shoulder and back, plus arm are better today, but it has given me some discomfort off and on.  I hope it continues to improve.  If I go to the gym in the morning there will be no arm/shoulder exercises done.  Just legs.

 

Graham @grapau27 I hope the knee injections next week work well and good luck with the hip referral at the hospital.🙏

Lorraine @cruising sister I hope you, DSIL, and DN have a good trip to Tucson next weekend.  Very kind of you to worry about their well being while you have plenty of your own issues to deal with.  😇

Thanks to Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser and Carolyn @Cruising-along (and anyone I forgot) for the super pictures of beautiful Quebec City today.👍

Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for the lists today.  I can't believe you slept until 9 am!!  Must have been fascinating programs you stayed up to watch.

Debbie @dfish good luck with that plumbing problem.  What a nuisance, huh?  And thanks for your photo of Quebec.

Gerry @ger_77 I wouldn't mind showing up for dinner sometime too, but we are also over 2000 miles away.  I'll let you know next time we're in the neighborhood though.😁

@RedneckBob I hope you have a fenced yard to keep future Josephine's out!  That would be my biggest worry if I lived in your area.  

@Dismomx5 I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your grandpuppy.  Very sad for everyone I'm sure.

Regarding the washer/dryer discussion, Terri @Cruzin Terri what did you decide to buy?  My kids both have front loaders and try to remember to keep the door ajar on the washer.  I've read the rubber seal has to be carefully cleaned to prevent mold and mildew issues.  When we bought a new washer and dryer 6 years ago I read all the reviews and saw the foreign made front loaders lasted about 6 years, so we went with a top loader from Speed Queen, a commercial brand appliance manufacturer in the U.S.  They have the longest warranty, and are expected to easily last 25 years. I figured I'd be gone by then!  😬

Annie @marshhawk I put my HAL card on a lanyard.  Then I can either wear it around the neck, or put it in my woven bag from Chile and it's easier to find with the lanyard on it.  I carry the Chilean bag during the daytime hours.  In the evening I use a small shoulder bag for dinner, or let DH carry it in his pocket.  I hope you and DH's appointments and testing go well.  I don't know what to say about him trying to schedule cosmetic surgery when you have more pressing matters to take care of!  Does he have a short memory?? 

 

Sleep well everyone and see you tomorrow!

[TiogaCruiser]

@0106 

I just checked through the Costco website for shorex for our upcoming cruise, and the link went to Shore excursions group. I think they (SEG) are just a middleman. I have not actually taken any of their tours.
 

It was 10 years ago, but our roll all did a really nice tour in Chacabuco. I think @DWAliaschief might have planned it. We went to a couple of National parks and a farm, where they served us lunch and had a dance demonstration. It was booked through enpatagonia (with an office in Wyoming). Our guide was an ex-pat there with his family.

 

I think 2 other shorex might have been with GV Tours- Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt ( which we skipped due to weather.) PA was to the penguin preserve Ottoway Sound ( which I understand no longer has a penguin population). That tour was pretty good.
 

However, I personally would not book with GV again as in 2018 I booked (as did a couple in our rollcall) a shorex to Noa Victoria museum with Fort Bulnes and we were stood up. There was another couple who had booked through Trip Advisor, so a total of 5 clients let down. No driver showed up, there was no answer when I called, texted and emailed. By noon we did get a refund, however, that’s a really poor way to deal with clients. About a week later my review was taken down from TA. No explanation. (Therefore, I take TA reviews with a grain of salt. And I don’t foresee wasting more time posting any reviews to the website.)

In Ush in 2018 I booked a really good shorex to the National Park with Edgardo. I would go with his company again if he’s still in business.

 

 

[Cruzin Terri]

Well I am sorry I never got back here today.  I really meant to.

We bought a set of Samsung Washer/Dryer in Platinum.

We did buy a front loader.  The salesman said that leaving the door open would take care of the odor. Also, there is some doohickey in the drum that stops the mold from forming.

There is also a Self-clean function.

I am hoping we will be happy with it.  

The set was on sale so we felt we would be getting a good product at a good price.  i wasn’t going for anything higher.  As long as it lasts as long as I do.

They will be delivered on Tuesday, April 4.

 

Tomorrow at 7:30 am the glass man is coming to measure the glass door for the shower.  That and the grab bars are the last things that need to be done.  i can’t wait.

Thanks for all the advice.  Maybe we can finally finish this house and get on with our lives.

Tomorrow I plan to start the taxes.

Hope everyone had a great day.

God Bless,

Terri