msmayor

Thank you for the daily and lists for today.  Missed yesterday completely...work consumed the day.

A blessed Yom Kippur to those who observe.  Love the 'hat' days...I've always been a fan of a great hat, just hate that it flattens out my hair.  

Chicken and rice is one of my favorite combinations so looking forward to seeing today's recipe.  Love a good pinot noir too (who am I kidding...I love most wines!).  Have not been to today's port but always fascinated of the stories and pictures I've seen others share.  Can't wait to see it through all of your lives and lenses.

Hoping to get home at a decent hour today and NOT have to open the work computer.  

Prayers to those on the care list, shout-outs to those celebrating!

@rafinmd hope you have a wonderful time at your reunion!

18 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

I haven’t made this particular recipe but make quiche about once a month and it freezes very well. I cut it in half (don’t slice into individual portions though) wrap and freeze. Sometimes I Food Saver the frozen quiche half so it lasts longer. Defrost before reheating, just don’t over heat since it’s cooked already. 

Good to know that it freezes...I have a favorite quiche recipe but never tried to freeze it (though I've re-heated leftovers just fine.

I'll give this one a try!

6 minutes ago, mamaofami said:

Good morning everyone. Roy, thank you for putting Sam on the care list and thank you to all for yesterday’s good wishes. They are so appreciated. Several weeks ago, Sam’s cardiologist said he wanted a CT of Sam’s brain so he could start him on a blood thinner. My daughter called the neurologist 4 times to have it done before Sam’s scheduled appointment several weeks ahead.Never a call back. So, on the day of his appointment, he had the scan and then it took a whole week to get it read. My daughter told the neurologist he would be responsible if her dad got another stroke because he hadn’t done his job and that’s when we got the all clear to start the new meds. He had only been on them for a week before this second stroke and his levels weren’t high enough. He really slipped through aa big hole in the medical care. Right now they are monitoring his levels and doing some tests and it looks like not too much damage was done. Hopefully he will be home tomorrow if he reaches the warfarin levels they want.

I am not a happy camper with this outcome, but I’m trying to adjust to this new normal as best Incan.

 

Before we moved to our new home where we were downsizing, we ate at a Chinese restaurant. My fortune said You can be just as happy in a small home as in a large one. We have been very happy in our home, here 8 years already and have made some wonderful friends.

 

Stay safe everyone.

Carol

Carol...I cannot imagine the stress levels that you and your family are under.  Kudos to your daughter for speaking up - it is a fact of the times that we must be our loved ones' best advocate today.

I know a few years ago when my Dad had taken so ill and my brother and sister and I took turns being with him throughout the day, and having doctors/nurses in and out.  We kept a blank journal by his side, and any time a medical professional came in, whoever was with him at the time took detailed notes.  It not only kept us all equally informed, but gave us the chance to refer back to what some other medical professional had said any time a doctor or nurse came in afterwards with a question or comment that contradicted what had been said.  Made keeping track of details easier.  It's something I know I will use again should another family member be in a similar situation.

I hope that things move in a good trajectory for Sam and better days are ahead.

Good morning all, and thanks for the Daily Information.

Defy Superstition?  I think I'd be afraid of the bad karma (my most consistent superstition?  Every time I board an airplane, my right palm goes flat to the fuselage at the door...sends good vibes for a safe flight).  My family knows to save all the fortune cookies for me.  My favorite peanuts are wrapped in chocolate, a colorful hard shell coating and the letters "M&M" printed on the outside.

The recipe should be interesting...crustless quiche?  Curious on that one.  As for the drink of the day, it's my son-in-law's favorite, but after a bad turn with Jack almost 40 years ago, I haven't touched the stuff.

I really love all the photos people share of each port of the day.  Thank you to all who bring these wonderful places to me!!

Prayers to those in need, and a toast to all who are celebrating.  Hope all have a great day!!

2 hours ago, kb4683 said:

Good Morning!

 

Thank you Rich, Roy, and the F&B Department for the Daily.  Healing hugs to those on the care list and cheers to those on the celebratory list.

 

Agree that today is indeed a solemn day in our history and needs to be remembered forever.  Thank you to all who have shared their feelings, @rafinmd for the special 9/11 remembrance, and @dfish for the updated commercial link.

 

Now for some good news, got my Covid test results back at 11:30 last night and I am negative 🎉.  @rafinmd, thanks for having me on the care list but happy to be removed now.

 

We have been to Rhodes 4 times.  Will look for pictures and post later.

 

Kay

Wonderful news on the negative test! 

3 minutes ago, dfish said:

Good morning everyone.   

 

I'm adding my remembrance of 9/11.  I read that Budweiser is updating this commercial to mark 20 years.   

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riB30oZ4Q9k

That still brings me to tears...thank you for that link.

Good morning all - I echo the thanks for the special list today of those we need to remember.  

I woke this morning and the sky is as blue as it was 20 years ago, the air feels just as clear and crisp.  Last night my husband and I reflected on that day, remembering so clearly many of the details.  I have newspapers and news magazines printed just after but still cannot bring myself to open and read.  Though I'm sure many of the memorial programs and shows are well done, I cannot bring myself to watch.  I saw a fire truck from that day at a museum a few years ago and broke down.  Today will be one of personal and quiet reflection.

I did learn something I hadn't known though...Cantor Charity Day.  Back then my husband had a lot of contact with Wall Street brokers and firms, and Cantor Fitzgerald was one.  CF had offices on the 102-105th floors of the WTC and lost 2/3 of its employees assigned to that office that day - 658 souls.  To honor them and keep their memory alive, each year on September 11 they hold a Charity Day.  100% of their global profits (global!) goes to a fund and is distributed to charities - many of which provide assistance to people who have suffered great loss due to disaster.  To date they have raised over $180 million.  (https://www.cantor.com/philanthropy/global-charity-day/charity-day-2021/)

So for me, while I share prayers and concern for all on the list...I'm going to add a little extra to those families who continue to live with the pain and loss of that day.  Extra prayers for all in the military who stand ready to prevent and defend us from another such attack, and wishes that somehow we can get back to the feeling that we had in our hearts on 9/12/2001...that we can put aside the differences that don't matter and all come together for a common good.

4 hours ago, kazu said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one made me smile - reminds me of the logo that my favorite wine club uses, the Tipsy Squirrel!

Good morning all from rainy NJ - was pretty heavy overnight, but they say it should taper off this morning.  It is the price we will pay for what is supposed to be a beautiful weekend coming up.

Love a good teddy bear - I still have the one that my husband gave me when we first started dating over 35 years ago.  Sudoku frustrates me, but it is one of the puzzle types my son loves best.  Wonderful weirdos day sounds interesting, but I think rather than the term 'weirdo' which carries a negative connotation, I'll consider it Exceptional Eccentrics day.  

When I first read the meal of the day I truly wondered 'which meat and cheese pasta dish?' I have quite a few in my recipe box that use a variety of meats and cheeses.  The recipe that @dfish posted reminds me of one that we ate a lot as a kid growing up...only we called it 'pasta with quickie sauce'.  Takes me back for sure!

Would likely enjoy today's drink - love a good margarita, but hold the salt.  Today's wine would also be a great choice.

Alaska is a trip we plan to take in the future once I have retired as it will likely be a good 2-3 week trip.  Looking forward to seeing the photos of the grandeur of that place by those of you who have visited in the past.

Wishing you all a splendid day...celebrate the victories, big and small!

2 hours ago, NextOne said:

Is that Mederma scar removal gel available without a prescription? I have a place from   " Moze on the nose" that I'd like to minimize! Thank you!

I know I was able to easily find it over-the-counter when my son had a cyst removed from his cheek a few years ago.  It was a fairly large incision, and the dermatologist told him to do all he could to keep sun off of it for a good year, and use mederma twice a day.  It's barely visible now.

3 hours ago, richwmn said:

for example:

Ampersands are celebrated today with National Ampersand Day. The day was created by Chaz DeSimone of AmperArt, who wanted to "acknowledge & applaud the ampersand." He chose September 8th as the holiday's date because he found that when using ampersands in various fonts he could spell out "September 8" using only ampersands.

 

So, pick something you wish to celebrate, pick a day, and tell everyone to celebrate it!

(But make sure it is not already celebrated on another day!)

That's fascinating!  I had to google and see if I could find a graphic...

Good morning all!  Literacy is certainly valuable, but the other two days seem more 'fun' - my daughter is a graphic designer and one of her favorite symbols is the ampersand...I'll have to share that today is a day to celebrate that!  I'll pass on the date nut bread though...

The quote by Buddha seems so appropriate for the times.  Treasure the present day, soak it all in - you will never know when an ordinary moment might become extraordinary.

Jaeger schnitzel was always one of my Dad's favorites...if the recipe looks moderately easy, I may need to try cooking it.

The drink of the day sounds interesting, but the wine had me at 'Chile'...a favorite region, I'm sure it is one I would love to enjoy.

Cheers to those celebrating, and prayers to those who seek better days.  May we all have an extraordinary moment of joy today.

I had my vaccine done at a mega-center here in NJ, and no one running the show put my name on my card.  

They only reminded us at the time we left the center to "remember to fill out your personal data on your card"...so I could put my name in any format I wanted.

Thank you all so much for sharing your photos...I am enchanted by what I see, and hope that my husband and I can get to Italy and see all of these wonderful sights in person someday.

Good morning All!  Labor Day is bittersweet - love the three day weekend, but in this area it is always considered the symbolic end to summer.  As @cat shepard says, the flowers outside have more finished blooms than buds, but I procrastinate dead-heading because it will soon be time to just ditch them and switch over to fall mums.

Have always loved reading a good book, but to me the best place for that is on the deck chair of a HAL ship with a nice adult beverage by my side.  

Not sure what a 'cockle' is, but I'm guessing it is some type of seafood.  Not a big fan of that, so will pass.  The drink?  Ooof...was never one to mix beer and spirits so will pass on that too.  The wine sounds interesting though.

@StLouisCruisers, a very happy anniversary to you and DH!

The comedy night we went to Saturday was very enjoyable - funny and (mostly) clean comedy but all in good spirits.  I haven't laughed so hard like that in a long time, and DH and I decided we need to find events like that and get out more often.  It was outdoors under a tent, so we felt more comfortable being in a more crowded space.

Daughter sent a text all excited that her gender test results had come in, but was waiting for her husband to come home before opening.  A few hours later, she texted again, disappointed that it seems the results weren't actually loaded into her portal account.  With the holiday it probably won't happen until later this week.  I told her it just keeps the anticipation growing.  

Today, the sun is out and humidity lower.  DH booked us a tee-time this afternoon so we'll round out the holiday weekend with 18 holes of golf.  

Prayers to all on the care list.  Despite the challenges, may each and every one of you find moments of joy to celebrate.

Not every free stateroom is upgradeable...the casino deals are often capacity limited.

That being said, I can almost always get a casino discount on any booking I make.  It usually comes to around $300-$400 per person.  That discount is different from the 'free stateroom' offer though.

Jacqui, much thanks for maintaining this list...so good to see it getting longer as that is a sign cruising is coming back.

I'm about to make the list shorter - you can remove this one for me please:

N Statendam - 16-Mar-22 - Southern Caribbean Wayfarer
msmayor - 1st voyage on this ship

While a bit sad to give this up, we're now greatly anticipating the birth of our first grandchild right around that time and I'll be in VA helping my daughter adjust to her new role as 'Mom'. 

We'll get something on the calendar down the road

I've enjoyed aft staterooms three times...I'm in the group that loves them.  Love watching the wake, and the fact that the breezes are limited means it's easier to spend time back there without things blowing around.

I find they are usually a bit longer so a little more space.  Hubby and I like that they are often more shaded which makes them easier to use regardless of the weather.  

We've not had issues with any soot or particles.

@Mr. Boston, so sorry to hear of Paws passing.  Pets fill a special place in our families and hearts.

Morning all!

Manners matter for sure.  Bacon is best when super crispy.  Tailgating memories at Phillies games with friends years ago, never the driving kind - I'm a 'two-car spacing' gal.

Buffalo wings are a staple in my house...I've grilled them, but the best ones come from places that do the 'unhealthy' and fry them crisp. 

Heading out today with my son to look at new cars...not sure how much luck we'll have.  Availability was already short due to supply chain problems, and now with the historic flooding the demand for ANY car is going to go up even more.  He's got his eye on a particular model - fortunately, the purchase isn't critical and he can afford a long lead time.

Tonight is 'date night' for me and hubby - we're going to a comedy night at a winery about an hour north of us.  I'm in the Vintner Club there but this is the first time we're visiting for an evening show.  All outdoors, but we'll be bringing masks just in case.  Should be a pleasant evening.

Thank you for the care and celebration lists...good thoughts and wishes to all for better days ahead!

@mamaofami so glad you are feeling better today. 

@Vict0riannhoping for good news on your DD.

@irishjim most definitely hoping for a good outcome for you!

I may have taken National Lazy Mom's Day a little seriously today...by noon at the office, I'd decided that I was running out of gas.  I wrapped up the reports I needed to finish, emailed them off and headed out the door by 2:30.  I just couldn't bear sitting in the office with the sun shining.

I'd already warned my husband that I was coming home early and to please wipe down all the deck furniture.  By 3:15pm, it was me, feet up, with a new book, cheese plate and a glass of crisp chardonnay sitting in the sun.  Stayed out there and barely moved for three hours...lazy as can be.  It was glorious!

Thanks for the daily report!  I'm getting an early start today in hopes that my work day moves quickly and I can start the holiday weekend early.

Skyscraper Day is one I've not heard of before - they're nice to look at but with my fear of heights, tough for me to visit and look outside windows (during a visit years ago to the Hancock Tower in Chicago, the floor-to-ceiling windows on the observation floor were a non-starter...I spent the entire visit plastered against an interior wall, well away from the windows and full of anxiety).  

College Colors day is a nice one for all the students headed back to campus.  I'll celebrate by enjoying my morning coffee from my MSC (Montclair State University) mug.

Love the Berlin quote - life really is what you choose to make of it.

Will skip the meal - not a fish fan - but interested in knowing what's in that drink of the day.  Sounds ominous!!  I'm betting the wine is fantastic - I'm a big fan of Aussie varieties.

Woke to another glorious day of sunshine and pleasant temperatures.  Haven't seen the care and celebrations list, but sending thoughts and good wishes to all for a day that is better than yesterday, no matter what. 

Check in later!

2 hours ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

@msmayor  stay safe. I’m watching channel 6 right now.  Lots of tornadoes happening now

We had the news on and had heard of the one that came through Mullica Hill...a colleague lives there and I immediately sent him a text to check on him.  He and his family fine, but a lot of devastation.  A family his kids are friendly with lost their entire home in 30 seconds.

We finished dinner and I started the dishes, ABC Channel 6 on in the background.  We were watching the report on the confirmed tornado moving through Cherry Hill and into Maple Shade...my son's phone was the first to go off with the tornado warning and he looked at me and said "Let's go Mom...basement".  I yelled for my husband and we headed down the stairs, watching the ABC app on my phone to get the updates.  It moved closer to us, but must have taken a more westerly track once it got closer to Willingboro (town just south of me) and moved into the Bristol PA area.  We emerged from the basement after 45 minutes and thankfully, all seemed fine.

I've lived in NJ for nearly 57 years and never remember tornado watches or warnings (or REAL tornados) in this state like I've seen the past few years.  Even the meteorologist said we were only used to seeing 'gust-nados'...bursts of swirling winds that take days for the weather service to decide if they are legit tornados or not.  Today...at least three "confirmed and extremely dangerous" tornados on the ground...visual confirmations.  

And we all thought 2020 was a crazy year...

Thank you all so much for the good wishes...we're full of joy and anticipation and looking forward to holding that sweet bundle of joy in six months or so.

Lots and lots of tornado warnings popping up on my area right now...PA, along the western side of where we are (I am about 15 miles northeast of Philadelphia and not far from the Delaware River).  Looks like things are moving north and could reach closer to our area soon.  One just confirmed over Willow Grove PA.  Fingers crossed, nothing comes of it.

@bennybear - that hail!!  OMG it must have made such a noise while falling.  

22 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

 

 

"Don't count your days...make your days count"    

Reminds me of The Dash Poem:

May we all live our dash with gusto!!