HAL4NOW

Stopped in Coquimbo on the Zaandam in 2019. Loved the Cruz del Tercer Milenio (Third Millennium Cross). We didn't see any tours that interested us that day, so just did a walk about through the town and up the steep hill to the cross. We went up into the cross and saw the museum that is located in the cross-bars. There is a chapel under the cross and numerous sculptures situated all around the grounds at the cross. One of the wild dogs that were so prevalent around town seemed to be guarding one of the sculpture scenes, but I think she was actually watching over her puppies that were behind the sculpture. This very ornate set of doors led into the chapel under the cross. It read, "per me si quis introierit salvabitur" which translates from Latin into: if anyone enters through me, he will be saved.

This looks like the bed is closer to the window. Not sure if 4102 would be the same. 4124 – Nieuw Amsterdam PO | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com)

Today is Doctor Seuss's Birthday. I think the Cat in the Hat may have been a Rescue Cat. Here is a picture of my DW and the pre-school teacher during today's story time. The children have been cropped out of the shot to honor their privacy.

People love it when I hike with them because the bugs also love me more than most of them. I think it is my O negative blood type.

Our bulk contract with Comcast for cable at the condominium has been cancelled by the HOA. We found that streaming YouTube TV works well, is less expensive, and has more channels that we might enjoy. We are not really TV watchers and haven't had TV at home for any of our 46 years of marriage, until buying the condo that had two tv's, so your DH's opinion may differ.

Growing up, we had a gumdrop tree every Christmas season. I like to keep the tradition alive; this is a picture from our condo in December 2022.

For those that are thinking their body parts are too old for donations, here is a quote from the Washington State Organ Donation Registry: "Organs, eyes, and tissues can be used for research after it has been determined they are not usable for life-saving or enhancing transplant."

Most of us won't be donating organs today, but it might me a good day to consider getting on a donor registry (Sign Up To Be An Organ Donor | organdonor.gov) or just donating blood, as a way to celebrate.

A friend had a burned-out lightbulb in the cabin of his RV. He went to the dealership to have it replaced and drove home with a new $200,000 motorhome that they drove around the country for a few years after he retired. That was an expensive bulb.

Thanks for the fun fact! The only alligator I ever got close to was after an airboat ride in the everglades near Fort Lauderdale. The gator was small and had some electrical tape around his mouth.

We stopped in General San Martin in April of 2019 on the Zaandam. @StLouisCruisersis correct about it not being a walking port. I was surprised and a little astonished at the dryness of the whole west coast of South America. For some reason, I wasn't expecting so much desert beside the ocean. We took a large coach to the Paracas National Reserve and then to a Pisco Distillery. Here are a few pictures of the shoreline; I was drawn to the sea because there really wasn't much else of interest. We did find some interesting signs: Here is one about sea lettuce that reads: Many confuse me with plastic bags, but I am a seaweed. This sign: We are two reptiles; we eat insects. My name is Gecko and I am nocturnal. My name is Lizard and I am diurnal. While on the airconditioned coach, we enjoyed (being generous) a local soda. Cathedral Rock. The distillery: and vineyard: and pisco tasting: and a fun sign about otters (the sea cat)

Has he received the new passport yet? From October 23, 2022, until now, January 23, 2023, it has been three months (or 13 weeks).

@rafinmd Roy, I think I remember you saying you submitted your application online for passport renewal about 7 or 8 weeks ago. Has that process been completed yet?

Thank you, Roy, for expanding my vocabulary today. Scamp sounds like an insult with some admiration attached. scamp: (n.) a person, especially a child, who is mischievous in a likable or amusing way.

Yes, they are linked to your mariner number.

Maybe you could try "voice to text" and find out how efficient the one finger typing really is. I suspect the typos would increase and it would take just as long to fix the multiple autocorrect errors.

Your EMBARKATION date: May 1, 2023 The SHIP you are on: Koningsdam  # of days: 5 days NAME of your cruise: Pacific Northwest Cruise We weren't planning to add any cruises this year, but then we received a special offer that was close to our ANNIVERSARY (46 years), we can drive to the port, and it fit into our schedule. Happy Anniversary to us. Hope you are doing better, Jacqui!

In addition to "National Human Trafficking Awareness Day" it is also "National Milk Day".

I scroll through the threads and read the threads I am interested in and skip the others. Then I click on the "MARK FORMUM AS READ" option. This is a little more work than I would prefer, but it does the job. An "IGNORE THREAD" option would be wonderful. I am sure that I miss some interesting conversations this way, but I also don't have to trudge through the nasty replies.

Maybe we should get @dfish involved in the brine conversation. We call the spray used on the roads “pickle juice” and I am always pleased to see the solution on the highway when the temperatures are moving below freezing. Is there a good brine recipe for driveways and sidewalks that could also be used in the kitchen if we don’t need to use it outside?

Not San Diego, but on our circle Hawaii from Vancouver, BC, we had smooth waters for all ten sea days.

That sounds like trying to take a walk in Skykomish; we don't really take walks, we take 'talks'. It would be rude to see someone and not converse.

2021 US Annual Report (carnivalcorp.com) This link will get you all you need to know. It takes you to the Shareholder Benefit pdf page.

When my DW and I were in room isolation, we would put the tray out (as instructed by guest services) and call to have it picked up. It often took them a long time, and other passengers walking by would add coffee cups and other trash to the tray.