Overhead Fred

Near and dear to the hearts of chemists everywhere - The Bunsen Burner

@cruzn single and @Suslor

Have a great 5 days everyone! Mitzi and I will be seeing you on April 3rd!

A few pictures from our one (so far!) visit to Honolulu -

With Tony & Martha!

Has he tried a nasal spray containing oxymetazoline (like over-the-counter Afrin or Neo-Synephrine)? It will constrict the capillaries, it helped Mitzi when she was having nosebleed problems. See - https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-nosebleeds/basics/art-20056683 Editing to add- Neo-synephrine actually has phenylephrine hydrochloride as the active ingredient. Both ingredients are nasal decongestants and are recommended for stopping nosebleeds. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21036-managing-nosebleeds-at-home-instructions

We were in 4043 on the NS for 21 days last March and loved it. The balcony is large and relatively protected from the wind. The "sideways" layout made the room seem larger or at least gave you more usable area. No narrow space between the bathroom door and the closets!

Oh My! There's a statement that could start a minor civil war. Corn Dogs and Pronto Pups are distinctly different and each have their ardent supporters who have nothing but disdain for the opposite camp. Me, being the consummate diplomat, like them both. Or does that merely make me indecisive? I just don't know! Anyway, you might find an amusing reflection on the controversy in the links below - https://quickcountry.com/the-difference-between-minnesotas-pronto-pup-and-a-corn-dog/ https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/02/definitive-guide-to-pronto-pup-corn-dog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNWzFXvv22I

See https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-beverage-menus/ for many drink menus and prices

The GDC is very nice, but not nice enough to build your cruise around it! The Nieuw Amsterdam is fine ship and I think you will be happy with it. Save the GDC for a future cruise on the Rotterdam, Koningsdam, or Nieuw Statendam.

If you want to talk to Flight Ease directly, call 800-628-4771. Please note that you must choose option 3 or you will get routed to regular reservations and they will simply tell you to call the 4771 number 🙄

I think my first post on the Daily was July 24, 2020. Happy approximate 3rd birthday to all of us!

AARP sells them at a 10% discount

Oh, I hadn't thought of that! I'll give it a try if I'm running short of time to get cards before final payment!

I used AARP gift cards to pay for most of our upcoming 150th Anniversary Trans Atlantic on the Rotterdam. I made the payments online which was way easier than reading the card numbers off to our PCC over the phone! Do remember that you can only buy $2500 per month. I will start buying them again this summer to pay for next year's cruise.

Maybe we should have a Daily Thread Meet & Greet!

We are glad to hear that you will be joining us on the Rotterdam! If you need any help during the cruise don't hesitate to ask. It will be nice to finally put a face to a familiar CC name. Fred & Mitzi

We are slowly getting organized for our upcoming 150th Anniversary cruise on the Rotterdam - less than 2 weeks away! I bought a Tux! HAL has recently posted some 2025 cruises that look interesting to us and I plan to book one during the upcoming cruise. Trying to decide between - 35 day Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas on the Koningsdam, RT San Diego, February 15, 2025 and 43 day New Zealand & South Pacific Crossing Collector on the Westerdam, Auckland to Vancouver, March 16, 2025 Both have their pluses and minuses. We had the Tahiti one booked in 2021 which was cancelled due to Covid and HAL selling the "old" Rotterdam. We also had it booked on the Koningsdam for February 2024 but switched to an east-bound transatlantic/Canary Islands cruise instead. So this would be the third attempt! Flights to and from the ship would certainly be easier. And Feb/Mar seems like a prime time to be out of the cold and snow of Minnesota... The New Zealand cruise seems like a more interesting itinerary, but would involve a long flight to Auckland. But we could break it up by flying to Hawaii, spending a few days with Mitzi's brother, and then fly on to Auckland. That is starting to make for a pretty long trip though and might impinge on getting to the Canadian cottage in the spring. We would also probably prefer the Koningsdam over the Westerdam... Decisions, decisions - "Oh Waily-Waily" (to quote Terry Pratchett and Nac Mac Feegles of the Wee Free Men)

I am giving you a 😄 in self defense!

Hey @KroozNut, can you check on drink prices when you get on board? There have been some talk of increased prices that have moved some drinks out of the Sig Bev package range... Thanks in Advance!

From the Butterfly Farm in Aruba (https://www.thebutterflyfarm.com/index.html) -

@grapau27 - For Pauline!