PurpleHays

I have a pretty good limoncello recipe. My current batch is half-done. We were talking about it at work a couple of weeks ago and I think my next batch will use the same recipe, but with orange or blood orange (if I can find some) peels instead. I tried a mandarin liquour recipe, but didn't like it. This is actually one of the best places I've ever worked, but our good manager retired two years ago, and the director before that. Both were replaced from inside *and* we're on our second manager in that time. The director has *zero* OR experience--she has no concept how it works. The manager needs experience-I think she'll be good one day, but she has to grow a backbone and learn to back her staff no matter how much the surgeons are yelling. They aren't always right. And the surgeon causing all my problems this week hates me. Not exaggerating because he really only likes about four staff menbers. On the otherhand, I get a bye from work tomorrow because I have jury duty. I've lived in NC for 35 years and this is the first time I've been called,

Shore excursions. You can splurge some if you want to. And check out balcony dining. It's nice if you have a balcony or above.

Y'all are all making my next cruise seem puny since we're just going to the Caribbean for my 60th birthday. Just finished a miserable week at work. You know, the kind that makes you want to turn in your letter of resignation and never go back. There's a general feeling of unhappiness and I don't know what to do. For the time being, I'm going to go in, do my job, and go home. None of the extra little things I've been doing. I'm close, but not close enough to to retirement to just say **** it and quit. Maybe I just need to look at it as my vacation fund and take all six weeks I'll earn and not bank them. Oooohhhh! Two nice cruises a year! On the bright side, it was in the 70s today, I got to skate and meet an online friend that's thinking of moving to the area. And got fabric to make a new dress for our upcoming cruise. I also get to skate tomorrow--an adult event with dinner first.

Bergen Norway from the Enchanted Princess

We were down four RNs and also had three more out on medical leave. Two planned, one not. More likely catching up on my reading and getting my life back. Last week was still busy, but this week is terribly slow, except for Friday when I'm off. Then we were a month behind uploading documents into patient charts. I learned how to do that to both make myself more indispensible and to get more hours in. And plan my next vacation.

It's pretty easy: Dip glass (wine or champagne flute) in water, rim with colored suger (I found some Christmas stars). Put sugar cube in glass, place a few drops of bitters on cube. Add one ounce vanilla vodka, top with prosecco. If you sprinkle the sugar, it almost dances in the bubbles. At least the stars did. Enjoy! 20221231_170406.mp4

Hey y'all, I'm back! We are through the craziness of Nov/Dec at an ambulatory surgery center. I've worked late multiple times in the last month and was exhausted. We started the season down three RN positions, then lost another to childbirth, one to a knee replacement (both planned abscences (SP?) and one more to emergency medical conditions. That's two rooms of staff that we didn't have. I think we are all exhausted and ready to start the new year. We got pretty cold, but not as cold as some of y'all. My Mom-in the Ozarks-was all the cold I wanted to know about. I don't think I went outside for three days. I hate to see our gas bill this month. We did Christmas on the 23rd with DD/DGD/DSO and DD's BFF and her mother. DD and her BFF have been friends since the 7th grade-they're 34 now-and she calls me Mom 2.0. I call her Daughter 3.0. I made matching themed shirts for all of us with only one mistake on seven shirts. We made Sugar Cookie Sparkler drinks and had pizza/appetizers/dessert. We had a wonderfully relaxing time. Now to start our annual healthy start of the year including Dry January--as soon as I finish the glass of wine next to me. Got to get skinny for my 60th birthday cruise in April!

^^^^^This. I don't want paid desserts for spin/exercise classes. Just drinks and (working) wifi. And working wifi isn't a deal breaker. Totally agree with the middle package. Maybe make it a "pick three" kind of thing.

I got the book one time and read it before boarding, then found out they'd changed it once on board. I liked the original book more than the substitute.

Yeah, that's kind of stupid to add something to a package upgrade that was free before. I'll just pick mine up in port. You know, when I show them the credit card that I can never get to take on the app. I've never been able to log in to the web-based version. I tried your method, and I still can't. I get a "this booking has already been claimed" message.

I got mine at Target. Three plugs and two USBs. It lives in my travel bag.

Late October to mid January is crazy busy.. Everyone has met their deductibles and out of pocket maxes and want to get that carpal tunnel that's bothered them for twelve years fixed. Glad the colonoscopy is over. I didn't schedule it far enough out to stress too much about it. Not thrilled about the repeat in three years because I'm high risk now, but it is what it is.

I finally gave in to my primary care doc and did my first colonoscopy. I'm 59 and considered high risk, though I didn't know it (two of Mom's siblings had colon cancer, but one was a heavy smoker and the other lived with a heavy smoker). The doc took five polyps and they're all benign, but I have to repeat in three years. The prep wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I can't say I'm looking forward to doing it again. 🙄 I'm spending the week burning use-it-or-lose-it vacation time. I'll still have about 20 or so hours to burn after this week. I feel a sick coming on. Cough, cough. I've hung up a bunch of things that have been leaning on walls and am tackling some sewing tomorrow. I hope. I may continue to sit on my @$$ and conserve energy for the crazy end of year at work. It's also turned chilly (not as cold as some of you) and I'm struggling with the abrupt change from shorts and tees to long pants and sweatshirts.

I almost got this pattern. How did it go together?

I've been on both, and the Enclave is the same in both. Relaxing, electronic and kid free.

That looks like a waltz jump! It's one of my favorite jumps. What is her music?

Coming out of the fjord from Bergen Norway. I think I like my new (to me) camera. This one of the first occasions I've used it and was terrified because I didn't take my laptop. I had to wait until I got home to download and *pray* I had used the correct settings. There is no after processing as I don't have any programs yet.

I took mine when I was in college, but have stopped. The only other reason was to download from my "real" camera, but I took multiple memory cards and *prayed* they worked. Not to mention the wifi was abysmal on our last cruise.

I just wore it with black leggings. Nothing fancy. I also wore it in London with a black skort. Sense a trend here? 🙄😆

I made the purple/lavender-ish top over the summer and wore it on our TA last month. I made the "40" shirt for my daughter's birthday next week. We're going to New Orleans. While I was at it, I went ahead and made a "60" for my upcoming April birthday/cruise.

Jalie makes a lot of skating patterns, so I have quite a few. I like that they are mulitsized on heavy paper.

Go Canes!?! We just finished a TA and the WiFi was easily my major complaint. I managed without it, but my poor DH went through TikTok withdrawal. Five *whole* days without it crossing the Atlantic. I'm hoping April in the Caribbean is better, but I'm not holding my breath. It is what it is and I plan ahead for such events.

When we moved 45 minutes west a few years ago, I tried a new doc. I didn't like that she didn't listen to me or ask appropriate questions, so I went back to my old doc and drive 45 minutes once or twice a year. I've seen him for 30+ years at this point, so why change? We survived Tropical storm Ian with 35 MPH gusts, 4.5" of rain, and power loss for 19 or so hours. Two empty flower pots knocked over and one one day where neither of us accomplished anything. Much better than Fran (96). All of my FL friends and relatives seem to be OK so far.

Deck 9, port side near the panoramic elevators. The hall door was closed and marked as off limits (I forget the exact wording). I saw it every time I used the stairs going up for the Piazza to the Caribe deck.

I was on the same cruise and there were a couple in the International Cafe on the coffee bar side.