rafinmd

Today's sunrise is from my 2014 Wind Star Transatlantic. October 10 was the first day out of Lisbon. Roy

Thank you for the Thursday report, Rich. I like all 3 of the days although my favorite as a Treasurer (Church) and Treasurer Emeritus (Fire) is International Accounting Day. I see a lot of truth in the Orwell quote and expect to visit Cartagena on my coming cruise. The menu sounds interesting. My alternative is Chilled Mango Gazpacho, Chateaubriand, and Carrot Cake A la Mode as served on MS Prinsendam October 10, 2017. No official word on the port but both Eurodam and Rotterdam are north of Hollywood. Today’s care list: Those in the path of Nicole, including HAL Sailer Quartzite Cruiser DH clot complications interrupting surgery Kazu severe foot injury Grapau27, smitty34877 postponing joint replacement Kazu sister recovering from fall Ottahand7 Brother in rehab Lady Hudson DH recovering from oral surgery HAL Sailer Sister in Law with aggressive cancer therapy and new blood clot Mister67 persistent hand injury cruisin single step-son with double cancer and months of recovery before kidney removal From the rotation: Marshhawk and DH struggling with smoking Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Marshhawk’s friend Jesse with throat cancer and poor attitude Luvteaching DH recovering from fall and facing dimentia Celebrations and Shoutouts: A great rescue at sea by Rotterdam Ichiban Nekko settling into new house Sandi’s neighbor Linda well enough to receive visitors Work about to start on Cruisin Terri’s house Me boarding today (Eurodam 11/10 to 11/20) GTVCRUISER (Koningsdam 11/5 to 11/12), Dobiemom (NCL Bliss to 11/13), CrazyForCats and segarsmoker (Nieuw Amsterdam to 11/13), Norseh2o (Sirena to 11/18), and Kazu , 0106, jimgev, Heartgrove and ger_77 (Oosterdam 11/5 to 11/19) at sea Cunnorl (Noordam to 1/2/23), and Horizon Chaser1957 (Zaandam 10/1 to 12/20; Zuiderdam 12/22 to 5/12) at sea Roy

Things seem to be improving on the East Coast of Florida today, even the space coast area shows improvement but still bad. No word on the port opening but the Eurodam is now north of Miami Beach. Roy

I don't think it's the same but also very good. "Burning Cold" By H Paul Jeffers. It is available on Amazon. Roy

Wednesday, November 9, 2022, Delayed by Nicole, Fort Lauderdale It was a very quiet day; I haven’t been so sedentary for almost a year. I was up about 4:45 and it was already raining heavily. I had solidly decided against using my car today so dining was a bit of a pot pourri. Breakfast was the most conventional meal of the day with the best stocked breakfast bar so far in the trip. I started wit a bowl of raisin bran, and came back a bit later for sausage, although I kind of forgot about the camera well into the sausage. A little after 7 it was not all that bad but quite dreary. https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/0720.jpg After breakfast I finally got things right on my stay extension. I officially got permission to stay in my initial room. Lunch was a combination of a muffin from breakfast, a small pack of pringles, and a carton of UHT milk. At 1PM it was especially threatening but not actually doing much in the way of weather. https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/1300.jpg I had found that there was a sandwich shop about a block from the hotel, and it looked like there might be a lull in the rain around 5. Things really did not look too bad at 5 and I started out. I was within sight of the shop when it started to drizzle. I decided that the sandwich was not worth the risk and started back. I got to the hotel in time but stopped to check something in the big bag in the car and as I was closing things up the sky opened up. It took about 30 seconds to lock the car and get back under cover but in that short time I was pretty well soaked. There was one thing at the hotel shop that did look reasonable; a frozen Stouffers Mac & Cheese dinner and it did the trick for me. Not nearly as bad a day for eating as I had feared. In the evening I had a zoom meeting with the leaders of our fire departments scout troop for girls. I had planned on missing it since I would be at sea. The day’s final update from Holland America is that boarding will be Thursday afternoon. If we leave at all Thursday afternoon we can salvage most of the cruise, losing the day at Half Moon Cay, and possibly our first port in the ABC Islands but then be back on track. Still no word on when the port will re-open but the Eurodam is making her way along the Florida Keys so it looks like they are optimistic as well. My parting shot is a wish for minimal effects for those affected by Nicole as she storms across Florida this week. Roy

I see a couple of hopeful signs. Nicole passed Nassau quite recently and already there's a ship there with a Carnival ship closing in rapidly. Meanwhile Eurodam is about half way up the Florida Keys. Don't see Rotterdam yet, possibly because she stopped to help a small boat in distress. Roy

Working on my laptop. Roy

I called the HAL Hotline for the noon update. No change in the status which I think is guardedly good. Next update at 8PM. They did add one thing, asking us to call for the latest update before heading to the dock. Roy

They will slow but not stop. While the open enrollment period will end, people keep turning 65 personal enrollment periods every day so they'll keep on pushing. Roy

Post 273 on her live thread: The dam shuttle took forever and my sisters and BIL were late. Apparently everyone on the shuttle was unhappy (I think it was over an hour?) Fortunately Laura had waited and found them. My one sister though tried to walk too fast to get to the meeting place and took a tumble. 😢 She has very sore arms. She did get checked by Medical (after a lot of bugging) and I have given her some of my meds that I had for my foot.

Such a touching sendoff and Kudos to HAL for the way it was handled. Both that and the tribute at the Flamenco show.' Roy Roy

I'm quite sure you will board as planned. At least hope so as I have plans for Sunday and Auto Train Monday. It would be tight to get to the train, especially if we are back late. My cruise was originally 10 days and then moved to 11 days at your expense. Roy

Not so sure I would be thrilled. I would be pretty much packed up and I expect there is not a lot to do outdoors as I expect the weather is not the greatest, and definitely an inconvenience for changing flights. Some who were going to be a day short of 4-star may be thrilled. I am officially ok for an extra night at the hotel. I did try for a single lap around the Comfort Inn but ducked inside at the first opportunity when the rain started. Roy

I have a sunset today rather than a sunrise. It's from a 2006 Blount Intracostal Waterway cruise from Long Island to Florida. On November 9 we anchored overnight between Norfoll and Beaufort, NC: Roy

I have a sunset today rather than a sunrise. It's from a 2006 Blount Intracostal Waterway cruise from Long Island to Florida. On November 9 we anchored overnight between Norfoll and Beaufort, NC: Roy

Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Fort Lauderdale Today was supposed to be a relaxing day with a bit of exploration and perhaps shopping. Famous last words. I had heard rumblings about a little lady called Nicole and pretty much dismissed her as something to watch but not really worry. Unfortunately, the weather report last night and this morning was not promising. It did look like a decent morning with worsening conditions in the afternoon. I had planned on scouting out the locations of 2 churches I have considered visiting November 20 after disembarking on November 20. Miramar UMC is a little off the beaten path. I have been there before but never from the cruise terminal. From there I proceeded to St. John’s on the Lake in Miami Beach. I have a church in Miami I usually visit but they are rebuilding and St. John’s on the Lake is their temporary space. It looks nice but it was starting to rain as I arrived. I had planned on visiting the Miami location but decided not to due to the rain. I filled up with gas and stopped at Panera for takeout (both lunch and dinner), and then parked my car for what will likely be about my last time before the Eurodam. The weather for the day was not really bad in the afternoon and I did get out for about a 20 minute walk; it was sunny although quite breezy. I had parked in one of the higher spaces in the lot so I was not about to move the car. Dinner was mostly Mac&Cheese from Panera heated up in the room’s microwave. I took the huge wheeled bag that will not be used until I am back on the ship. I did open it briefly to restock some of the meds I will use before boarding the ship. In the evening I touched base with my local Scout leaders meeting and did a bit of organization for Wednesday but was a bit drowsy and did not accomplish a great deal. My parting shot: You can’t really beat Mother Nature, flexibility is a necessity. Note: as of the latest update from Holland America they were more confident that boarding will begin at 2PM Thursday. They say next update will be noon today (Wednesday). Roy

Thank you for the Nicole day report, Rich. I'll salute both Carl Sagan and World Freedom Days but won't be going to an Art Museum or anywhere else today, hunkering down for the day and getting a bit more optimistic about boarding Eurodam tomorrow. I like the Monroe quote but have not been to Ilfracombe. Not sure about the meal but probably better than what I will actually get today (other than a nice breakfast). My alternative is Classic Caesar Salad, Lamb Chop with Mint Chimichurri, and Dutch Apple Pie as served on MS Prinsendam November 9, 2017. I think the person I talked to at the front desk was not the sharpest tool in the shed. It turns out he apparently made an additional reservation for LAST night. I talked to the front desk this morning and have my room for another night. We will sort out the details later this morning. Today’s care list: Those in the path of Nicole, including me and HAL Sailer Quartzite Cruiser DH clot complications interrupting surgery Kazu severe foot injury Grapau27, smitty34877 postponing joint replacement Kazu sister recovering from fall Ottahand7 Brother in rehab Lady Hudson DH recovering from oral surgery HAL Sailer Sister in Law with aggressive cancer therapy and new blood clot Mister67 persistent hand injury cruisin single step-son with double cancer and months of recovery before kidney removal From the rotation: Luvteaching DH recovering from fall and facing dimentia Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1) and JAM37 (7/7) Cruisin Terri leak damage and recalcitrant insurance company Sandi’s neighbor Linda recovering at home Celebrations and Shoutouts: New cat for 4966 and 556 Marshhawk at the Symphony Sharon in Charleston The end of election ads (except possibly in Georgia to 12/6) Ichiban Nekko settling into new house Sandi’s neighbor Linda well enough to receive visitors Work about to start on Cruisin Terri’s house 1 day for me (hopefully) (Eurodam 11/10 to 11/20) GTVCRUISER (Koningsdam 11/5 to 11/12), Dobiemom (NCL Bliss to 11/13), CrazyForCats and segarsmoker (Nieuw Amsterdam to 11/13), Norseh2o (Sirena to 11/18), and Kazu , 0106, jimgev, Heartgrove and ger_77 (Oosterdam 11/5 to 11/19) at sea Cunnorl (Noordam to 1/2/23), and Horizon Chaser1957 (Zaandam 10/1 to 12/20; Zuiderdam 12/22 to 5/12) at sea Roy

We have now been officially informed of a change but not surprisingly without a lot of details. The earliest we could POSSBLY be able to board is 2PM Thursday, about 26 hours late. I think that's optimistic, but it is what it is. Roy

Thank you. "Maybe" on Thursday best wishes with getting home. I'm hunkered down in a Fort Lauderdale hotel. Roy

NOBODY knows exactly when the storm will arrive and how long it will keep the port closed. Would you really prefer that they just say nothing until the port is actually open and they have an exact plan. Roy

Closed is not an all or nothing thing but takes place in stages. The port closed to arrivals at 8AM today and all ships are strongly urged to leave (required except under certain circumstances). At 8PM no one will be allowed in or out. Roy

Definitely feels like the calm before the storm today, with sun most of the day (except for a morning heavy shower); rain is due to start about 6PM but I was out for a walk about 2. Someone has gotten an email that boarding will begin about 2 Thursday. Roy

Beyond is leaving now. Roy

Not a word. I'm thinking there may not be any until there;s a real plan. Roy

I just extended my hotel stay another day. Strangely, they claim I need to move to another room because my category is fully booked. I find it hard to imagine a lot of people actually arriving tomorrow. Wondering if I should have made it 2 more nights. I have brought every bit of food I have in the car up to my room, as I don't expect to go out to dine tomorrow. It will be a strange day with a potential diet consisting mostly of pringles, peanuts, and chocolate mints. Roy