The Fleet Report and Daily for Sunday April 2nd, 2023

[cunnorl]

Good Morning from a warm and cloudy day at the beach

      I love PB& J sandwiches, even now.  Sometimes it is just the thing. I always enjoyed childrens books and reading to my children.  

   @smitty34877 " Make Way for Ducklings" is a favorite of mine. I remember when we lived in Boston taking the kids to the Public Gardens to see the Ducklings. I always give that book as a baby shower gift. 

     I have been following the World cruise blogs and it is interesting to read the different perspectives. I have heard the comments that the "Grand" cruises are not so Grand. DH and I had this conversation about what makes a trip " Grand". Not sure.  We have never been on a Grand but we are scheduled for the S. America/Antartica in the fall.  We were on the Noordam for 85 days. Was it perfect-no. But it was wonderful. I do not know but is it expectations?? 

      We are all going to a friends birthday party this afternoon.

 Stay safe and enjoy today

     Charlene

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

Good morning. Well I fell asleep in the recliner at 7:30 woke up and went to be at nine so I definitely got enough rest. Currently 58 degrees but will climb to 78 this afternoon. Will be getting ready for Palm Sunday services and the start of Holy Week.

Need to start packing for our cruise as we have a busy schedule and the week will go fast. Probably will watch NASCAR and some basketball 

We have been to Cherbourg and will be revisiting in June when we do two back to back cruises with Azamara. Start in Barcelona on an Intensive Spain cruise and the second leg is an Intensive France cruise that starts in Bordeaux and ends in Amsterdam.

Time to get ready for church. Thanks for the report and special prayers for all who have been affected by this weeks terrible storms. 
 

The cartoon about the electric car battery really isn’t funny but true! No one ever wants to talk about how much replacement batteries costs or maybe you would not buy an EV.

[RedneckBob]

I like the Oscar Wilde quote. I used that line on my first date, got slapped in the face and told go back and finish your self portrait.

[JazzyV]

Good morning on this Palm Sunday. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

I'll salute children's books; reading is so important for the young ones. I love peanut butter (crunchy only) and have a spoonful as a snack almost every day, but rarely eat PB&J. Many are observing Ramadan, which started last month. Interesting quote. I'll pass on the meal (fish and coconut are 2 things I don't eat). Pass on the meal and wine.

I will be going to the beaches of Normandy on my upcoming TA cruise, when we stop in Le Havre.  

 

The weather is finally improving. Although 30F this AM, it's sunny and we'll go up to 50F later. The wind has finally diminished. Lots of toppled trees and lines down, with about 200,000 without power around the region yesterday. I was fortunate that mine only blinked on and off several times. No big plans for today, but I've got to start laying things out to take on my cruise and for the time in Germany.

 

@StLouisCruisers Thank you for faithfully starting us up in Rich's absence. Exciting times for Ren, DS and DDIL. 

@grapau27 Thanks for sharing Fr. David's Palm Sunday Sermon.

@smitty34877 I saw a video of that lightning hitting the WTC! 

@dfish Good to hear your friends in Ohio are ok; our weather here in Western PA comes from Ohio.

@GTVCRUISER Bon Voyage!

 

Prayers for the Care List and a Toast to the Celebration List.

Be well everyone.

[ger_77]

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily!  Every time we visit our grandsons, we bring new books for them - the older one is able to read on his own, but it's always a joy to read to the little guy.  Cuddling is part of book reading, no matter what age. I often become the middle of a "Grandma sandwich".  I still enjoy a good PB & J sandwich - sometimes I'll even top my waffle or pancake with PB & J.  Yum!  Wishing everyone a peaceful Palm Sunday and a blessed Ramadan to my friends who are taking part in the daily fasting.

 

A busy day ahead - with our new found friends from Ukraine, we've had an amazing outpouring of support from friends and family across the country.  Right now we have a bunch of boxes of things in our living room that we will be delivering this morning, as they were able to get into an apartment late yesterday afternoon.  I was brought to tears last evening when we received an email from friends in another province who wanted to send an e-transfer of an amazing amount of money to help this young family get started.  I know they will put it to good use, as they are literally starting over with just their suitcase of clothing.  We'll deliver the boxes, then will take them out for breakfast and groceries and will stop for whatever sundry items they might need for the next little while.  

 

I think we'd like the sauce for today's menu suggestion, but I've got a small beef roast that will go into the slow cooker along with veggies, so that's what we'll be enjoying at the kitchen table tonight.  And wine.

 

Prayers for everyone who needs them, cheers for all with celebrations and cruises!

 

Smooth Sailing!  ☺️☺️☺️

Gerry

Edited April 2, 2023 by ger_77

[0106]

Thank you to everyone that make the Daily a special place.

 

Reading is one of my favorite activities, probably because I was read to so much as a child.  My grandmother told a story about how she thought I could read when I was 2 until she realized that I memorized the book.  She always told me, if you can read you can do anything. I always give a book called “I’ll Love You Forever” as a baby shower gift.  Check it out if you haven’t heard of it, sure to bring a tear to your eye.

I prefer peanut butter without the jelly on apples, bananas and raw sweet potatoes.  PBJ as recently seen on the Food Network.

It is important to think about the Wilde quote in the context of the novel.

 

The steamed fish recipe looks good to me.  I frequently order it that way in Asian restaurants.

 

Hoping everyone has a bit of sunshine in their life today!

Edited April 2, 2023 by 0106

[rafinmd]

Looks like I have just one useable photo from my day in Cherbourg.  I'm pretty sure it's the Holy Trinity Basilica.

 

 

Roy

[Vict0riann]

Good morning, Dailyites, thanks for all the news this morning.  We are still waiting to hear if we will get to go ashore on HMC.  If we are not cleared by the Bahamian medical people, I guess it will be another day at sea.  They must not be altogether sure what the passenger died of last night.  And then I wonder what will happen tomorrow in Fort Lauderdale.

[RMLincoln]

It’s still howling windy here in Maryland a little north of DC. 45 now, sunny which is a nice change. Probably won’t make it to Palm Sunday church service but can watch it live on YouTube. Just helped DH with eye drops. 
 

Had a hard time getting to sleep, thinking too much…. a friend and fire dept colleague has a husband dying. They are younger than me so that always hits harder. He’s had a cancer fight the last 2+ years which has been miserable for both of them. Then pneumonia. Went to hospital last week and they said he had COVID. He has degraded. So today I will communicate with friends and wait for updates. 
 

Blessings to all in need for healing, comfort or hope. Multiple nights of tragic destruction from storms have left so many in need!  Prayers for the rescue workers and decision makers. 

 

Cheers 🎉 for all celebrating happy milestones!  Life is good and you lift us up!  🌈
 

Bon Voyage to the cruisers sailing away today!  🍾 Smooth seas and happy times for all aboard!  

And thank you to ALL who are here!  Maureen 
 

 

[HAL4NOW]

Spring continues to elude us in Skykomish.

[cruising sister]

Good morning from Atlanta,

Yes I said Atlanta. My flight from KC to Tucson was canceled last night. They rerouted me through Atlanta. Yikes , this will be a long day. No sense in getting upset as it does not change things. Planes couldn’t get to where they needed to go yesterday with all the storms. 
 

I hope everyone has a great day. 

[travelnap]

Gerry, In a time when our news is usually filled with bad news, such as tornados, floods, shootings, and crazy politics, it is so nice to see that there are still people who care about others and do whatever they can to help them; and try to make their life better.  Thank you again for helping these young refuges from a war-torn country.

[kochleffel]

Back from Target, or as Israeli friends call it, Tar-zhay. For a change I was able to get the app to work and pay with a gift card balance.

[aliaschief]

1 hour ago, RedneckBob said:

The cartoon about the electric car battery really isn’t funny but true! No one ever wants to talk about how much replacement batteries costs or maybe you would not buy an EV.

Tis true!

[HAL4NOW]

2 hours ago, smitty34877 said:

 I once read “ Make  Way for Ducklings” about five times in a row. 

My DW was a children’s librarian and she especially liked the older Caldecott Medal books. She has a copy of Make Way For Ducklings her mom purchased for her from the Corner Bookstore in Boston that is pictured in the book.

 

 

 

[Seasick Sailor]

Good morning Daily-ites.

 

Feeling very crummy today but wanted to stop by and say hello.

 

Prayers lifted. My heart aches for those who are suffering in war torn countries and for those who have lost everything in these horrible storms.

 

 

[aliaschief]

Seems to be the norm these days.

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

We visited Cherbourg (Normandy) on board the Zuiderdam in 2019, just a few days before the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Some of the sites had restricted access due to the upcoming celebrations, but it was still an impressive sight.  

 

The simple epitaph on this D-Day memorial at Courseulles-sur-Mer reads: "Here on the 6th June 1944 Europe was liberated by the heroism of the Allied forces."

 

 

For over 90 years, a grand two-storey home has sat alone on a beach in the village of Bernières-sur-Mer, in Normandy, France, looking toward England across the English Channel. It wasn’t built by Canadians, and Canadians don’t own it. But on June 6, 1944, it became a part of Canadian military history. On that day, it was the first house to be liberated during Operation Overlord, the Allied military operation to try to liberate France

 

Sadly, more than 100 Canadians were killed on the beach in front of the home during the first few minutes of the battle.

 

 

 

 

The house is, and has always been, two semi-detached homes in a single building. The left-hand side is owned by the family of Hervé Hoffer, whose grandfather owned the home during the war but was evicted by the Germans. 

 

The Hoffer family has lovingly maintained the spirit of their home's wartime history, and the memory of Canada's sacrifice. Today, visitors are almost always welcome, and inside they will find a living shrine to remembrance — a summer home festooned with maple leaf flags, regimental insignia and a large collection of wartime maps, photographs, uniforms and other artifacts.

 

There was also fighting inside the Hoffer house, as Canadians cleared the building of enemy troops. A veteran, who returned to visit in 2009, left this message in Hoffer’s guest book: “Ernie Kells, Queen’s Own Rifles — one of five soldiers who arrived at this house on D-Day, now 84 years old. Sorry about throwing grenades into your cellar.”

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a cloudy, windy and cool, 63F, central Texas.  Thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon and early evening.

 

We decided to go get donuts this morning, since we finally tried the local donut shop the other day.  Our favorite donuts are Krispy Kreme glazed, especially when they are hot.  Our local shop is the only one who comes close to matching KK, which is good since the nearest KK is 60+ miles north of us.

 

Since I'm late this morning, I'll repost my pictures, then go back an finish reading the Daily.

 

We've been to Cherbourg at least four times by 'BHBs.  We have always rented a car and toured the Normandy beaches.  I thought I had pictures of Cherbourg but didn't find any.

 

In 2004, on b2b2b2b cruises on Noordam III, we were in Cherbourg twice, for a total of three days.  Most of the pictures are from the ovenight on June 5 and 6.  The ship had passes to the 60th anniversary of D-Day ceremony, and we were lucky to get a couple.  While I don't have pictures from the ceremony, which was very crowded, I do have other pictures from the American Cemetery on June 4, 2004.

 

These pictures are of Pointe du Hoc, where the American Rangers scaled the 100 foot cliffs and took our the German emplacements.

 

 

 

The first group of pictures of the American Cemetery were taken on June 5, 2004, before the crowds arrived the next day.

 

 

This was the seating arrangement for the D-Day ceremony with the tv camera platform in the foreground.  They had tv monitors placed at intervals on each side of the seating.   When we were there a few days earlier, the chairs were not there.  Instead, there were risers along each side facing the center aisle.  That was changed when the White House said the arrangement was unacceptable.  It really didn't matter since we were just a few rows from the back and could not see much of the ceremony.

 

These pictures ere taken on June 6, 2004.

 

Preparing for the 21 gun salute

 

Omaha Beach from the cemetery

 

I have a few more pictures that I will post separately.

 

Lenda

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

I'll continue the tour of Normandy with a few  more pictures.  We were there in 2011 and 2016 on the Prinsendam.  These pictures are from 2016.

 

We stopped in Arromanches that day.

 

 

Some of the mulberries still in the harbor.

 

After a stop at the American Cemetery, we drove the Saint Mere Eglise.  This was the first time we were able to drive in the town and to stop at the church were one soldier's parachute was caught on the steeple.  He was lucky the Germans did not see him.  IIRC, some of the towns people cut him down.

 

 

 

 

In 2011, we saw this cart being driven on Omaha Beach.

 

In 2004, after the D-Day ceremony, we drove to Mont Saint Michel.  We had time since it was a very late sailing that day.  The next day we were in Le Havre.

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot to mention the security surrounding the D-Day ceremony.  We had to park about 10 miles from the cemetery and take a bus to and from the cemetery.  Before June 4, 2004, when driving around the area of Omaha Beach and down to the beach, we noticed a missile battery and a field hospital just below the ridge where it was difficult to see from the cemetery.  They brought many soldiers from Germany to be in the cemetery on June 4.

 

Lenda

Edited April 2, 2023 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[durangoscots]

Good morning to all. Sunny here in Durango and the snow is melting. High today may reach 60!!!.... but then they are forecasting snow and a high of 35 for Tuesday. I think Spring is trying to get a foot in the door. I will use the sun today to get some of my rugs aired out. Still not feeling like doing much, but things are getting better. I am assured that this how everyone who has had this "whatever it was" feels, so I just keep plugging. The dogs keep me moving.

 

Have not been to Cherbourg for many years. I do remember our stop there on the Queen Mary in the early 1950's when it still showed heavy signs of the war. In the mid 1970's I had students in France and we visited the battlefields and war memorials and cemeteries, but Cherbourg for some reason was not on our schedule- or maybe I have forgotten.

 

Best wishes to all. I hope Mother Nature will settle down for awhile. When I look at the pictures for the South and Midwest, I realize I have nothing to complain about.

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sunviking90]

Good Morning and thank you to all who contribute to the Fleet Report/Daily.

Weather here is cool and threatening rain all day, so.. Vancouver.

Love children’s books and all the warm memories of reading DS bedtime stories. @Mr. Boston Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel was a favorite still 25 years ago.

My first visit to Cherbourg was on a ferry from Jersey (Channel Islands) when I was 12. I finally returned last fall in the Emerald Princess. I found the classic decor of the terminal really lovely.

One of my favorite movies is The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Visually beautiful!

I hope everyone has a good day. Cherbourg:

 

[luvteaching]

Good morning, 

 

It's a grey overcast day here in the Pacific Northwest but no snow so that's good. I attended a baby shower last night after being at the hospital for the day. I got there for part of it and most of it was the gift opening. The new-to-be parents got lots of books and I added to the stash! I got sent home with a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant so that was dinner - nice and easy. 

 

DH has a new device in his room. It's called a tele sitter and watches him to be sure he doesn't try and get out of bed or take out the feeding tube. If his hands go near his nose a voice is heard "... put your hands down" and he does! It is monitored 24/7 and will alert the nurse if he falls or anything major happens. Technology! Yesterday PT came in and got him sitting up so another small step. Today or tomorrow they are hoping to put him in the sling and transfer him to the reclining chair. Bloodwork is continuing to move in the right direction. Next is to get him talking.

 

 

 

Not a fan of peanut butter and jelly, do like cod, and love children's books! This morning, before heading out to the hospital, I want to get the Easter cards done for Canada relatives, even though they'll be late, and then work on the US ones. 

 

Have a good Sunday! 

 

Karen

 

 

[smitty34877]

@ger_77,Gerry,  I so admire what you and your DH  are doing for this family.It brought tears to my eyes to read about it.

@luvteaching, The robot in the room will be helpful  but I am sure it takes some getting  used to.

 

[Cruising-along]

Good morning all!

We have a lot of children's books here.  Sadly the boys have outgrown a lot of them.  They're (almost) 8 and 10 now, hard to believe.  One of their favorites was "Pajama Time" -- that one had to be read over and over.  We usually made a song out of it and they sang along with me.  I still have some of my own books from childhood too, "Mary Poppins" is one.

 

I love a good PBJ but the "J" is never jelly, it's always jam.  I've just never liked jelly.  We've been to Normandy but not Cherbourg.  We rented a car and drove to the D Day Beaches.  Photos would be too much like Lenda's @Quartzsite Cruiser so I won't repost them.

 

I would like the wine but it's out of my budget, the drink sounds great (for dessert!) and I would like the cod but without the coconut.  Seems like we've had a lot of coconut lately??  Tonight we're having halibut, most likely will make "Heavenly Halibut" with the parmesan/mayo topping with lemon juice and hot sauce.

 

Not a lot on the agenda today, other than going to the Commissary to restock on produce mainly.  And more cruise planning.

 

Gerry @ger_77  I am so impressed by all the help you organized for the young Ukrainian family.  I know they are grateful!  We also have a large Ukrainian population here, some have been here for years, some more recently.  I've mentioned before about the young family across the street from us and how much we enjoy them.  In their case the husband/father has his own company and is doing well.  We had a Ukrainian company do our siding a few years back and we'd never seen such hard workers!!

 

Maureen @RMLincolnI'm so sorry to hear that your friend's DH is dying.  It's no wonder you had trouble sleeping.  Prayers for him, your friend, and you.

 

Karen @luvteaching Good to hear about your DH's improvement!!