The Fleet Report and Daily for Tuesday April 23rd, 2024

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, JazzyV said:

Today’s Care List:

RMLincoln’s DSIL in hospice care

Cruising-along’s BFF’s DIL Amber with HTN, stroke, brain swelling/surgery

RMLincoln’s DH’s eye surgery today

Haljo1935 eye procedure today

JazzyV with R leg pain, numbness – post surgery 4/22

Cruzin Terri's decision to cancel the trip to Italy

 

Citizens of Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, hostages still held

All Dailyites going through worries and stress, whether mentioned or not

 

From the Rotation:

Tana with chronic pulmonary issues, on maximal oxygen

Ger_77’s DH Maurice needing heart valve replacement

Nickelpenny with leg numbness and pain; surgery in May

 

Celebrations and Shoutouts:

Happy 70^th Birthday Marshhawk (Annie)!

Happy Birthday Cunnorl (Charlene)

Smitty34877’s NH family visiting

StLouisCruisers stepping up to keep the FR/Daily going while Rich/Kazu are cruising

 

The Daily Gardening Club posting wonderful flower pictures

All the contributors to the Fleet Report/Daily

 

Upcoming Cruises or At Sea:

 

4 days for Haljo1935 (Westerdam Apr 27 to May 12) 16d North Pacific Crossing + (May 12 to May 19) 7d Alaska (celebrating birthday on board)

 

Summer slope (Disney Wish to Apr 26) 4d Bahamian cruise with DGS & his parents, Lobsternight (Koningsdam to April 27) 22d Solar Eclipse & Circle Hawaii, ORTravelGal (Rotterdam to May 4) 21d Atlantic Isles, Norway, Scotland, Richwmn (Volendam to May 4, The Atlantic Coast), AncientWanderer (Westerdam to Apr 27) 14d Japan Discovery + (Westerdam Apr 27 to May 12) N. Pacific Crossing, Kazu (Volendam to May 4) 13d The Atlantic Coast, Sailingdutchy (Nieuw Statendam to May 5) 28d Bermuda, Brittany & Canary Island Allure, VMax1700 (Nieuw Statendam to May 5) 14d Canary Island Allure. Overhead Fred (Nieuw Statendam to May 5) 28d Bermuda, Brittany & Canary Island Allure, Cat in my lap (Zuiderdam to May 11, 128d Grand World Voyage), Gail & Marty sailing away (Zuiderdam to May 11, 128d Grand World Voyage) and Aliaschief (Azamara Onward WC to June 9, 156d World Voyage)

Thank you for today's lists Vanessa @JazzyV.

I hope you are feeling well.

[cat shepard]

Thank you for today’s FR& D, Sandi! Thank you for our maps, Roy!

 

Vanessa, I can not believe you have already posted our lists. I hope this doesn’t mean you didn’t sleep well. I am sorry the procedure took longer, but I pray that means it will permanently eliminate your pain. 
 

It is quite cool this morning. Not sure what we will do today. A couple of this year’s fawns entertained us earlier this morning. They are so adorable. 
@grapau27 Graham thank you for explaining about the Impossible Astronaut. Though my fave Dr. Who will always be Tom Baker. I believe he was the 4th Doctor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma.  The caregivers. 
 

Terry, thinking of you & Tana.

@Cruzin Terri Terri, thinking of you & Jim.

@ger_77 Gerry, praying that Maurice’s surgery is approved ASAP.

 

Cheers to all who are celebrating. 

@cunnorl & @marshhawk

Charlene & Annie, hope your new year is filled with laughter, love, great health and a cruise. 

 

May we each find a reason to smile today!

 

 

***********

Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2020

This red blend from Chile sounds lovely. It has lots of fans in both the consumer & critic ranks. Too bad the price is out of my league. Quite a few online distributors with prices starting at $117.98. 

Winemaker Notes

Dark rich red with purples hues. Expressive nose with red fruit such as black and red cherry, figs and plums. with a spicy and black pepper notes. Complex and concentrated with broad tannins that open up the palate, with intense structure that bring more fruit and spices towards a very long finish.

Blend: 64% Carménère, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot

• 99James Suckling

  A really refined, expressive and layered Clos Apalta with fine olives, incense, cigar box, cocoa powder, Spanish chocolate, pencil shavings, graphite and fine spices. Juicy, bright and full-bodied palate with a fine saline, savory twist. Very long and juicy. 64% carmenere, 19% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot and 2% petit verdot. 

• 97Decanter
  A great effort in the hot and dry 2020, COVID-19 vintage with the earliest harvest ever. The grand vin shows power, richness and tons of fruit but retains a sense of charisma and direction that is so compelling. Bright, forward, sleek and silky, tannins enrobe the palate creating a cushion for the ripe blackcurrants and blueberries, bright acidity and underlying spice to meld together. A large percentage of Carmenere at 64% gives the fragrance and backbone while 19% Cabernet Sauvignon adds texture and depth, 13% Merlot bringing freshness and acidity and 2% Petit Verdot adding spice, colour and richness. Only just beginning to really express itself with liquorice, eucalyptus, figs, plums and a salty-wet stone minerality that comes in on the finish. Despite the intensity, this is layered and well sculpted with tons of pleasure to be had with a few more years ageing. Ageing 27 months in 225L French oak barrels, 85% new, 15% two years old. 3.7pH. Winemaker and viticulturist Andrea Leon kept more leaf coverage, a thicker and higher trellis and natural cover crops during the vintage to moderate the high temperatures. Bottles for this, and the second wine, are now made in Chile as of this vintage and have reduced in weight by 10% in a bid to increase sustainability. Clos Apalta now also featuring its name embossed in the glass at the bottom of the bottle.
• 95Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The grand vin 2020 Clos Apalta was produced with a blend of 64% Carmenere, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot from a ripe and warm year. It's ripe, concentrated, dense and powerful, reflecting the house style and the conditions of the year, with more influence from the élevage than in the second wine, Le Petit Clos. It fermented with indigenous yeasts for five to six weeks, with manual punch-down of the cap in 7,500-liter French oak vats, followed by malolactic in new French oak barrels. The élevage was 27 months in 85% new barrels and 15% second use barrels. It has a creamy, smoky and spicy personality, with notes of sweet spices, such as cinnamon and vanilla and ripe blackberries, and it is quite forward, ripe and showy, with generous oak and 15% alcohol. It's lush with abundant, fine-grained tannins and a persistent finish. Give it a little more time in bottle, and enjoy with powerful food. 
• 94Wine Spectator

  Offers a wealth of ripe blueberry and blackberry flavors, as well as notes of black currant, with good concentration but also a touch of grace, as the midpalate acidity reveals a sublayer of herbs de Provence and white pepper. This flexes a bit on the finish around persistent yet well-integrated tannins that have a slight chalky tinge, but maintains its elegance and form on the lengthy finish. Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

Edited April 23 by cat shepard

[grapau27]

Happy birthday Annie @marshhawk

[dfish]

@marshhawk

 

 

@cunnorl

 

 

 

[smitty34877]

Good morning. It is a little chilly here but will go up to 63 later. Sunshine is abundant. I have a lot of dog walkers this week and have taken advantage of that. My granddaughter was impressed by the numbers of neighbors that know our dogs by name. 
Happy Birthday to @cunnorl, Charlene!
Happy Birthday to @marshhawk, Annie!

 

I was very happy to read that Vanessa @JazzyV made it home late yesterday and I hope she had a comfortable night.

@RMLincoln, Maureen, best wishes and prayers for both you and DH today. I hope all goes well.

Things have been very busy here and our NH family has been a great help. I have not had to cook or shop and all sorts of tasks I have  been procrastinating  about have been tackled. My DS is an organized and take charge person and can be very bossy! I wonder where he learned that….

Tana has been happy for the company but tires easily. If she is not up to joining the family for meals she always has someone to eat with. 
Take care everyone.

 

 

[Nickelpenny]

Good early morning to all and thanks for the daily and fleet report. Up early to hit the gym and then sub at the high school.  It is spirit week and today is Twin Day but I don't think I will wear anything special.  

 

I will celebrate the English language and English muffins but I have no idea what or who Dr Who is/was.  Disagree with the quote but I do think it does pertain to some people.  Meal sounds good and I love either Campari or Aperol Spritz. The wine would be good but way out of my budget.  Went to Kona last December.  Interesting about the UK coins!

 

Glad to read @JazzyV got home ok and hopefully is resting and take it one day at a time.  Happy Birthdays to @marshhawk and @cunnorl!  May you both have a fantastic day.  Thoughts for @Haljo1935 and @RMLincoln DH medical procedures today.  

 

Today will be not quite as warm as yesterday - only to the low 90s.  It is already 60F at 0500.  

 

Had a weird dream last night - the surgeon came to the house to say it was time to go.  I went back to sleep (in my dream) and then woke up about an hour later thinking I probably should get someone to pick me up from the hospital.  Then I realized it was too late and decided to go back to sleep.  All of this was a dream.  Weird.

 

Well, off to start the day.  Thoughts for those on the care list and cheers for those celebrating.  Have a great day everyone.

 

 

[aliaschief]

Today we are visiting Sir Bani Yas a 32 sq. mile island off the coast of United Arab Emerites on the Persian Gulf. The Sheikh purchased the island and developed it into a 17,000 animal Game Preserve along with a couple luxury resorts, kayaking, bicycling and beautiful beaches. Our ship hauled a ton of supplies off the ship and provided us with a great beach BBQ lunch.

Tomorrow we visit UAE’s main city Abu Dhabi. It has been a very memorable day.

The animals appeared to be very well taken care of. Being a desert island they receive some supplemented food and plenty of watering spots.

Thanks for the reports and post. Bruce

We have a real weak signal so most of pictures just won’t load. Will try later.

 

[dfish]

Good morning, everyone!

 

It is a gray day today with intermittent rain showers predicted.  All the better for those May flowers that will soon be here.  I will be so happy when the trees finish budding out.  Apparently, tree pollen is a big irritant to me.  I'm sure once the trees finish, the grass will take over. 

 

@RMLincoln Keeping you and DH in my thoughts today that all goes well.

@Haljo1935 Hoping all goes well with your procedure today.

@JazzyV I hope you are resting comfortably.  I'm glad BFF is with you.

 

I have a pedicure this morning and hope that is all I need to deal with.  Yesterday got busy with details for the conference I am attending on Saturday.  I left the position of State Director two years ago, but for some reason, I am in charge of the details of this conference.  Or at least it seems like I am.

 

Today's meal sounds tasty.  What makes it stand out is the scallion ginger sauce.  https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/272931/sheet-pan-sesame-chicken-broccoli-with-scallion-ginger-sauce/

 

 

This one uses chicken that has been cut up into cubes.  It doesn't have a separate sauce, but does bring in the ginger along with a sweet chili sauce.  https://www.eatyourselfskinny.com/sheet-pan-sesame-chicken-and-veggies/

 

 

Here is one more variation that uses just broccoli as the vegetable.  https://www.punchfork.com/recipe/Sesame-Chicken-and-Broccoli-Sheet-Pan-Meal-Kalyns-Kitchen

 

 

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@JazzyV  Vanessa, I hope you had a good night with plenty of restful sleep.

 

 

Lenda

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@marshhawk  Annie, enjoy your 70th birthday.  

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

 

Lenda

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@cunnorl  Charlene, I hope you have a wonderful day today.

 

 

Lenda

[smitty34877]

@Haljo1935,Elizabeth, thinking of you and sending prayers . I hope all goes well with the procedure.

[ottahand7]

@JazzyV   I am glad you mending at home with your BFF taking care of you.   

 

[ottahand7]

@marshhawk Happy 70th Birthday Annie!   🎂

 

[ottahand7]

Happy Birthday Charlene @cunnorl!   🎂

 

[marshhawk]

@cunnorl

[ottahand7]

Good morning everyone!  Thanks for the Daily Sandi, Roy and Rich!   I celebrate the English language and have found an excellent low carb English Muffin that I can enjoy from time to time with natural peanut butter.  Never watched Dr. Who.  Thanks for our explanations today @grapau27.   Today's quote made me think of the dreaded philosophy classes I had in high school and college.  My brain doesn't work that way.   Thanks for today's Kona photos Sandi, I look forward to everyone else's.     I was there in 1988 and we stayed at the fabulous Waikoloa Village Hotel.   We did helicopter and deep sea fishing.  Happily we will return three times in early 2025.   

Vanessa I don't know if you are posting from your bed or chair at home but if so you are a hero.   @RMLincoln prayers for your DH today as he has his eye surgery at Wilmer.   Safe travels home.   @Haljo1935 I pray your eye procedure goes well today.  Prayers of healing for Chuck, Tana, Annie and everyone else who are ailing.  Prayers for all in war zones through no fault of their own, Ukraine and the innocents in Gaza. 

I have a dental cleaning appointment then will get a mani and pedi and hit the grocery for things we always run out of, lettuce, eggs and water.   Out treatment system adds unhealthy amounts of salt so I avoid it.   Have a lovely day!  Nancy 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a sunny and breezy central Texas.  It is currently 56F with a predicted high of 78F, but the clouds will be moving in later this morning.  Our 11mph wind will increase to 17mph this afternoon.  This morning is DH's turn for his annual visit with out PCP.  We're not expecting any surprises since we've seen the results of last week's blood tests.  Once we're home, I will be mowing the yard before it turns into a jungle with all the rain we had over the weekend.  I was also hoping to be able to spray the weed killer, but the wind will be too high.

 

I'll celebrate the English language in all it's variations.  I enjoy a nicely toasted English muffin with jelly.  I have never watched Dr. Who, so I appreciate Graham's @grapau27 explanation of the Impossible Astronaut Day.

 

Another interesting quote from Oscar Wilde, but I don't agree with it entirely.

 

We'll pass on the meal, and instead have the leftover meatloaf and scalloped potatoes from the other night.  We'll pass on the drink, but would like to try the wine if it wasn't so pricey.

 

We were just in Kona on February 9, and enjoyed our HIA excursion.

 

I'm happy England changed over to the decimal system of currency in 1968, many years before we visited that country.  

 

@VMax1700  Colin, I'm glad the Bay of Biscay was kind to you.  We've seen it calm, and seen it earning it's reputation for being rough.  I hope the patient that was evacuated from the ship will recover quickly.

@AncientWanderer  Maxine, I'm glad you are enjoying your cruise.  Thanks for the pictures.

@smitty34877  Terry, I'm glad you are getting a rest from chores, shopping, cooking, etc. while your NH family is visiting.  Glad your DS is tackling some of the chores.  It's good to know that when Tana is not up to joining the family for dinner someone is joining her for dinner.

@marshhawk  Annie, thanks for the pictures of the kittens yesterday.

@aliaschief  Bruce, great pictures of the animals, and thanks for the information about the game preserve.

@Haljo1935  Elizabeth, I hope the eye procedure goes smoothly today.

@RMLincoln  Maureen, best wishes for an easy surgery and recovery for your DH today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda

 

Edited April 23 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

On February 9, we did the Kona Highlights tour as part of our HIA package.   We had a beautiful day for touring.

 

The coast and the Atlantis submarine being towed to it's dive position. 

 

While waiting for our check-in time for the tour, I walked down the main road to the Church and the Palace.  First, the beach and swimming area just off the tender pier.

 

 

 

 

The view from our first stop, a coffee planation.  These buildings were part of their processing facility.

 

Our second stop was St. Benedict Catholic Church in Captain Cook, Hawaii.  It is known as the Painted Church.  The interior was painted by a priest using house paint.

 

 

Part of the grave yard

 

The memorial to Father Damien.

 

The original steeple

 

Our final stop was a National Park which was the Royal Compound and is considered sacred by native Hawaiians.

 

 

The Royal compound and sacred ground

 

 

 

Lenda

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

My pictures below are from our three BHB stops in Kona,  We were there in 2014 on Veendam, and in 2017 and 2018 on Westerdam.  We rented cars those days and drove north to Kapaau.  I have a few pictures of the area near the tender dock that were taken in 2017.

 

King Kamehameha statue outside the visitor center in Kapaau, and the view across the road.

 

 

A couple of pretty birds on the grounds of the visitor center.

 

For the garden club

 

The rugged coast near the north point of the Big Island

 

Lapakahi State Park

 

A lava tube close the the highway.  We did not venture from the roadside.

 

The area near the tender port

 

 

 

Lenda

[travelingbums]

Thank you everyone for sharing.

Have a wonderful day.

[Mr. Boston]

Good morning everyone.  Thanks for the daily updates.  Three good days to celebrate, I wish we had some English Muffins to enjoy this morning.  Interesting quote from the letter that Wilde wrote while imprisoned.  The meal suggestion sounds delicious but I wouldn’t like the drink. I haven’t been to today’s port, thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.  Prayers for all on our prayer list.  I hope that @JazzyV is doing well after her surgery yesterday.  Cheers to those who are celebrating happy events and birthday wishes to @cunnorl and @marshhawk! 🎉🎂🥂

[marshhawk]

Good Tuesday Morning Dailyites!  It is currently 45, but 30 minutes ago it was 42...the day is getting better. Sunny, and I'm on the daily spending the morning with friends.  Thank you all for the well wishes on my day of aging.  I really think starting a new job, and being re-trained, is a good way to get older. 

 

@dfishthat first dinner looks really good.  But we are going to Red Lobster for the 20 dollar crab leg dinner tonight.  And an early lunch at Taqueria del Sol, after i walk the dog. 

 

The kittens are now a week old, we should see by the end of this week, their ears uncurl, and their eyes open.  So far, all we have seen is them sleeping and eating.

 

Tigger went to the vets yesterday for his follow up,  surgical site is good, but he has been running a fever for a week, and they don't know why. So they gave him an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory shot yesterday, and when he came home, he played.  Fever was back up last night, and he stayed in bed all night long.  Our bed. Along with Tazi and Furnando. It is getting very crowded in bed. 

 

[aliaschief]

Now that internet seems stronger here are the pictures that didn’t load on previous post about Sir Bani Yas. QAE.

QAE’s version of Half Moon Cay.

 

 

[RMLincoln]

🎂🎂🎂 Happy celebrations today @marshhawk Annie!  Love you bunches!  
 

Thank you Sandi!  I opened todays Daily then skipped ahead, will read in the waiting room while DH is in surgery. He’s better I think today, yesterday some of it was weighing in him. He’s being very brave!  He’s always been phobic about his eyes!  At least we’ve had the blessing of the successful surgery for the first one!  It’s a really strange surgery and healing progression but we keep moving forward!  Thanks all!  Oh, time rescheduled to 11:45, no bets. Later,  Maureen