Domino D

10 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Snow looks lovely when you can stop at home and look out of the window.

Not so when you have to go out and drive in it.

I find snow is lovely when I see photos of it on here, but am nowhere near it.

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I left work around 530 tonight with about 6 inches of snow on the ground.    Probably have about 8 or 9 inches now but having a break before it starts back up and continues thru the night.  

We got 10 inches in Atlanta about 2 years ago.  We considered moving the entire city 100 miles south. Then it all melted the next day and we forgot about it.

Well it was cruise related.  @davekathy it's easy to tell us you don't shave your legs, but we can only take it on faith. 

YouTube music is on autopilot on the TV.  In order it just played

Kermit the Frog - Rainbow Connection

Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree

Kendrik Lamar - Humble

Carpenters - Close to You

Emmylou Harris - You Never Can Tell

Tupac - Changes

It's anyone's guess what is next.

Edit: I think I finally defeated the algorithm.

27 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Six years ago we paid 25 euro pp, but who's counting, when we "saved" the queue to the cable car for going up. Waiting in line 2 hours for going down was enough....

 

Santorini is an amazing place, highly recommended 🌼

12 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

2 lovely places.

Santorini is a tender port.

We got off the ship early and went straight to the cable car rather than walking around the handful of shops on the dock.

Sail in to Malta is lovely.

Valletta is about 20 minutes walk and has  lots of bars, restaurants and shops.

23 minutes ago, voyager70 said:

 

I'm hoping to make it to Santorini in 2022 Dani.  Maybe Malta as well.  Need to make up for that 2020 Med cruise we both missed ☹️

Walking down the steps was an avoidable chore, BUT I would recommend for anyone to go to Santorini, it is beautiful.  On the list of places I could do a land vacation.

30 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

LOL...usually...but not always.  Sometimes no hot water,.... sometimes no water...sometimes no toilet flushing in the cabin bathroom.  Uggh...not fun times when that happens. 

 

Oh...and another one...A/C goes down just as we are returning from a hot day tour in port, and trying to shower for formal night.  😮 😮 

Have had the toilet situation on more than one occasion  (usually fixed quickly but once took 3-4 hours).  Never ran out of hot water or had an issue with AC, knock on wood. 

4 minutes ago, vistapat said:

Tomorrow is my 75th birthday.  Normally, we would make a pretty big deal about it, even though it's 8 days before Christmas.  We might have taken a Mexican Riviera cruise out of San Diego, where we live.  We might have even taken a flying land visit to Paris for 3 or 4 nights.  We might have gone to Las Vegas for a couple of nights, stayed at a big hotel, had a nice dinner, and taken in a show.  We might have done the above at a local Indian casino.  We might have at least gone out to a local restaurant for a nice dinner.  But, no........

 

Pat

Happy Birthday Pat.  

Yeah, no getting around it, celebrations are different this year.  Order a special meal for delivery and still mark the day.  Then next year double the number of days in Paris.  Maybe, it would help to spend some time tomorrow booking your trip for next year.  Wish we could do more for you, and remember were all right here with you.

1 minute ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Basic rules for visiting Santorini -- do not use the donkeys and do not walk down the steps... Use the cable car down, and the speed boat to Oia up.

 

Duly noted, Domino D?😁

Yes, Yes, and Yes.  This is my advice.

We took the speed boat to Oia.  I think it was like 15 euro.  Awesome experience.  

We saw a man (was on our cruise we later found out) fall off a donkey and break his ankle with like 400 steps to go.

The donkeys have right of way.  The handlers do not care about pedestrians walking the stairs.  The donkey walks where it wants (and poops where it wants), it is your problem to avoid both.  Through those shoes out. 

I will say we have some beautiful pics from the stairs, but could have bought post cards and rode the cable car. 

2 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

That is indeed the biggest draw for us in cruising.  Unpacking once, but still traveling to different destinations.  😉 

 

Another reason we have started to do almost 100% B2Bs and longer.  

So when I retire, 2-3 years I think, I'm thinking of taking a 111 day around the world cruise out of Ft Lauderdale.  I'm wondering, what's the most days consecutively you've sailed?  I include back to back, as that is mostly like a port day in essence (even if you do have to repack sometimes or switch ships).  Have you ever felt like it was too long?

I'm sure we would be okay and enjoy it, but just curious. 

4 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

That's true.  I hit the shower while Bucky finishes his wine, then out to the little desk to finish and dry my hair, and sip the last of my wine before dinner.  His turn then.  😉 

And unlike at home sometimes, there is always agua caliente.

1 minute ago, ATG said:

Ours thought about IU since grandparents would be close.  At least until he found out there was no Chick-fil-a anywhere near.  That was a dealbreaker! He’s a native Atlantan, born at Crawford Long.

Dylan was born at Georgia Baptist.  Yes, that is another thing no Atlantan can survive without.  Plus there is line above which they don't know about sweet tea. 

3 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Yeah, I try to hide my stress from Bucky...who is an aggressive driver anyway.  He does all the driving, since he is crap at navigation , and has no patience for it.

 

We enjoy the "staying" part in the parks...not the traveling part.  Love taking the land yacht to the Florida Keys, but mostly our favorite...the pretty beaches (state parks) of the Florida Panhandle.  Have a 2-3 month tour coming up this Fall there.  🙂 

This is us too. If Jane isn't asleep on a drive, she is (rightfully) complaining about my NYC Taxi Cab inspired driving.  I have been trying to convince her that we can travel in an SUV and just plan out Airbnb's to base out of in an area.  The down to side to that is we would have to stay on a stricter schedule, and probably not be able to stop as often.  #tradeoffs

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

Agree. On our cruises I use the gym/spa showers in the morning for the day and late afternoon for getting ready for the evening . I shower, shave, brush my teeth and whatever else is required at the time. However I'm allowed to use the cabin bathroom at night before going to bed. 😉

And thankful that you can.

I have to wait until the BL is done with her shower and teeth.  Then when she sits at the desk to do her hair and makeup, I get the bathroom.  I would have to rush, but she likes to have a glass wine while doing her hair.  So long as no steam escapes the bathroom, which causes a redo on her hairdo, the system works. 

30 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

It's not easy to drive like a car.   Nope...close to divorce proceedings there.    

 

Then the biggest problem.  People coming onto the highway and don't even look, assuming you can just "hop over" to the next lane to let them in.  

 

Funny thing is, if a tractor trailer is going by...they respect it.  But us...no.  

During the pandemic we have watched a lot of Youtube videos about living in an RV and travelling full time.  My wife, who has been feeling the pandemic restrictions much more than me, became determined that we should look to do this right after the pandemic.  She would retire from teaching, and I can easily work from the road.   

The things you mentioned above are the things I brought up to her as concerns.  A lot of the videos we watch are couple in their 30's monetized by Youtube, and making it all look "fun".  We are two 60 year old (I mean I am 60 married to a woman of indeterminate age) northeast Italians.  Us in an RV for hours on end would require the "Verified Age" login due to language. If I'm working, she would have to do a lot of the driving, not the way we travel now.  I'm sure the driving would be much more stressful than she is thinking. 

I know there are aspects we would love and could out weigh the issues, I just think you need to go into things eyes wide opened.  Not heeding this policy is why we ended up walking down 600 donkey poop covered steps in Santorini in 90 degree heat.  When people online tell you to get in line for the cable car early, you should say "Okay" and go get in line.

Sitting here in my office (in my house).  Getting ready to start a new project and have a bunch of background material to wade through.  So in others words "procrastinating".  It is absolutely freezing in the house today.  The woman in charge told me last night that the heat was running too much and turned the thermostat down.  Even though she is gone for the day, I'm afraid to turn it up. 

I just calculated that if I turn it up, I need to turn it back down at 3pm, so the house gets cold before she gets home.  Leave no trace of the heat running.   I am realizing how well trained I am. 

19 minutes ago, ATG said:

Our oldest son just moved near DC after living his whole life in Georgia, San Francisco and Abu Dhabi.  He just sent an email that it was snowing.  His Dad and I just laughed.  Looks pretty, but I HATE snow.  That’s why we moved from Indiana to Atlanta almost 40 years ago.

My son grew up in Georgia.  When it was time for him to look at colleges, he said "Maybe I'll go to Syracuse?"  (I am SU alumni).  I had to tell him, you have not  been conditioned to survive the winter there.  Boy didn't even own a winter coat or gloves. 

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

Anybody remember who said "second place is the first loser"🤔

I think it was Dale Earnhardt

I always liked Walter Hagan's "Nobody remembers who came in second"

4 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Bonanza and The High Chaparral were series where I watched every episode too.

Have you seen Branded and the Rifleman?

1 hour ago, A&L_Ont said:

Lisa just shared this with me, as they a filming an hour from our house. She loves the show and did drama in high school and was part of the school shows.  Even though there might be a dramatic moment once in a while in current times, I informed her that she was far from “Plain Jane” and wouldn’t make the cast. 
 

Praise be. 
 

Torn about what to do.  It doesn't technically say female, I suppose Jane implies it, but Johnny Cash had a song about a boy named Sue.  I don't have colored hair, fake nails, or fake eyelashes.  I am "plain" on a good day. I have never been on TV.  Every picture taken of me in my entire life has been without makeup.  I'm 60 but think I could play 35, I am very immature for my age.   Oh wait, I can't travel to Canada.  Never mind. 

2 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

Surprised Lisa today too. 

Last time I gave Jane flowers for no reason, she said "What did you do?"

2 minutes ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

Nice!

That is a bathroom every 19 feet, if my math is right.

1 hour ago, Lionesss said:

Today is a mini holiday here..........in case you need a reason to celebrate.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.

 

Stay healthy

Happy Birthday Lioness.  Was looking for a reason to eat something sugary.  Thank you for providing. 

6 hours ago, grapau27 said:

I have always been a big follower of Westerns and a big fan of Clint Eastwood,Audie Murphy,Alan Ladd,John Wayne etc.

Places like Wyoming and the old Wild West are my favourites.

On my wall is a quote from The Magnificent Seven  (original)  by James Coburn "Nobody throws me my own guns and says run, nobody." 

Of course, next to it is a quote from Albert Camus (French Philosopher who I doubt ever saw a western) "Integrity has no need of rules".  Next to that is  Ric Flair "To be the man, you got to beat the man".  

My wise says I have a wide circle of influences.     

10 hours ago, molly361 said:

Trying to stay excited for what will hopefully be our next cruise (May 2021) but my cruising enthusiasm seems to be diminishing as time goes on.  I would think it would be the opposite.  Even have a suite booked for this one but the thought of having to possibly get myself tested,  having to get the vaccine  and wear a mask is putting a real damper on things.  Anyone else feeling this way?  

I'm not the right person to ask.  I am a fatalist.  I take what comes and move forward.   My wife is definitely feeling a sense of hopelessness .  So I don't think she has lost enthusiasm as much as she is losing faith that we will ever be able to travel without restrictions again.  Really, I don't think she literally feels that this will last forever, but she just keeps asking when will it end.  Problem is we can't know.  If cruising in May happens, it won't really be cruising as you know it.  The problem is, we all want to know when does real cruising return, and that won't be until the pandemic is brought under control.

For me, when the vaccine is widely distributed and proven, the infection rate will drop, and things will be more normal.  Some things may not ever come back, but I'll deal with it the same way I had to deal with 9/11 changes.  I remember thinking "Take my shoes off, are you nuts?"  Now I don't even think about it.  I hated getting to the airport 2 hours early, again now it is what it is.  So if somethings change in cruising, at first they will be noticed and annoy me, but 2 years in I won't even notice.  

I have a cruise booked in November.  Will that sail?  Who knows.  If it does great, if it doesn't, oh well.

When the pandemic is behind us, and cruising is safe, I'll be back on board (probably over paying) and complaining about people cutting the buffet line.  I don't care you only want bacon, you get in line and wait your turn.  Or pay for a suite and have the bacon concierge get it for you. 

I'm sorry to hear that it's weighing on you, but your not alone in that.  It will end.  It won't be fast enough, and some things will likely change for good.  BUT... I think, the minute you get back on board, that enthusiasm will be back.  You'll sail out, see the ocean from the back of the ship, and think FINALLY.   Then you'll get up the next morning and think "How can every pool chair be taken?"  Wala, Normal.

4 minutes ago, singinalot said:

I like #6 just because we’re capable of so much more than we think we are

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

 

"Endeavor to persevere.” It's one of my favorite lines from “The Outlaw Josey Wales,” and it's probably my favorite line from any Clint Eastwood film that's not actually spoken by Clint Eastwood. The line (as many, dare I say most of you, already know) was spoken by a character named Lone Watie.

 

Wikipedia

I also liked this one “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”  Maya Angelou could write.