jagsfan

You had a lovely birthday with all the sweet memories to add to it. The Finger Lakes area plus Broadway? I call that a win!

Our traumatic proctored COVID test: On Wednesday, Aug 27, I had our appointments set up for me at 2:30 and Dick at 2:45, with Rapid Test and Tracing. We were in a condo unit in Pompano Beach. We arranged our test supplies, including pens on the table. Sat my iPhone up and went over the test instructions again. Washed our hands and applied hand sanitizer. We were not going to screw this up! I had received an email with a link. At 2:27 I clicked on the link. What? It said install Microsoft Team! I had read you don’t have to do that, but when I read through the entire email again, it only said click on the link. So I went to the Apple Store and installed Microsoft Team. Now what? Sign up! By now it is after 2:30. Everything from Rapid Test said miss your appointment, no refund. I tried to set up a Microsoft Team account. It said email address already in use. I had never heard of Microsoft Team. How could they have my email address? Ding! New email. From Rapid Test. “You did not check in for your test. Your appointment is canceled.” OMG! We still had Dick’s at 2:45, so hurry up and fix this mess! I looked in my secure password list and I had a Microsoft account. Don’t remember why. So back to the app, and signed in. I got in, but saw nothing to tell me how to connect to Rapid Test and Tracing. I gave Dick their phone number Asked him to call while I kept fooling around with the app. We’re way too old to be in this technology muddle! He called and I heard him leaving a voicemail. I gave him their email address. Enail them and ask for help, I said. Ding! Dick didn’t check in for his appointment. It is now canceled. I tried the phone number and managed to get a human. An actually human human who listened to my tragic story. She said she would talk to her manager and maybe they could slot us in on Thursday or Friday. I begged her to try to see what could be done. I then started looking online for anywhere we could go at whatever cost. made a Walgreens appointment for the next day 30 miles away. tried Care Spot and had to leave a message. Their recording did mention walkins. Then Dick said “My screen says SG!! Then he kept saying “I can’t hear you”, and then “Now I’m back to Home Screen. Five minutes later, as we tried to calm each other down, my screen said SG and then I was looking at my face. I said “Don’t hang up!” Shadey Grant, the manager said not to worry. She could see us side by side though we couldn’t see her. She walked us through the test and while we waited the 15 minutes we chatted. She’s in Toronto but enjoys South Florida. Then we had to hold up our cartridges, which we had marked with our initials, we could hear her camera click, and then she said the blessed words “I just sent your emails. You’re both negative!” And after 45 minutes of terror, it was over. Of course, effective the 22nd, no more witnessed testing required except for longer cruises. That was our first precruise trauma!!

I’m trying to catch up and stay caught up with y’all. So much to absorb! Mark, I wish I could give you and your family a hug. Having your child diagnosed with cancer has to be a most painful time. Thank God with modern medicine there is hope. I’m terribly sorry your grandchildren will have to face another heart wrenching event. Losing a pet is losing a beloved family member. I and I’m sure the rest of us are praying for your daughter and for her doctors to be given the tools she needs. Life seems to be a constant change from smooth to bumpy. I hope yours goes back to smooth in the not too far distant future.

There was so much to say I didn’t want to get started. Traumatic 90 minutes trying to do our COVID test. Trapped in an outdoor elevator on a hot August day in Pompano Beach. Great Allure cruise till we got sick. Tested positive after we got home. Been sick ever since. When I feel better I’ll explain. Still sick, both of us, but not seriously ill. Thanks for letting me know you noticed! Mimi

@sgmn@grapau27 So much of the world mourns with the people of Great Britain. It’s a great loss. Her Majesty gave her entire life to her country and set an example for all of us. A very sad day. And a new beginning.

I remember streets lined with wattle trees in Canberra. It was a gorgeous sight! Thanks for sharing these photos.

What beautiful grandchildren! I think Kenzie and Lottie are charming. Finnley will have a great childhood with that bunch!

Thanks for your review and for your recap. I’m looking forward to sailing this Saturday; it will be our first Allure.

It got down to 60° last night here. In Florida! In August! Xrays are always fascinating, aren’t they.

Especially Falmouth. There is a beautiful old church there.

Outbound on my first Alaska cruise, we were eating dinner when suddenly everyone else ran across the dining room, including the servers. we thought something awful happened, but our server came back, camera in hand, and said “sorry, whale”. It took me a few seconds to realize it was a whale sighting. I hope everyone, including our servers, got a picture!

But on Harmony in March we saw Grease and the Aqua show in the afternoon. I agree about the Aqua show being better at night, but I’m no longer a stay up late person.

Sue, When I read the list of Showtimes, I was surprised that Mamma Mia, the Aqua show and the ice skating shows were all at night. I enjoy those shows in the daytime because I have a better chance of staying awake. Am I overlooking something?

I was thinking just that! And when I was single I often ate cold pizza on the way to work. Back then it was Romano or Parmesan rather than mozzarella. I can still remember that taste.

Beautiful baby! What a relief for your whole family to have her and her mother safe and sound!

I look at your mushrooms??? and think sautéed lamb kidneys. I had them for breakfast in NZ every day. But never in Great Britain or Ireland.

My daughter’s doctor told us with preeclampsia the baby develops faster. Abd especially the lungs, which are a concern with premature babies. Maybe Mother Nature knows they need to be born earlier.

Yes, you are smart! I would have looked at the water and thought Huh! but wouldn’t think of an earthquake.

My daughter’s blood pressure zoomed with her first one and she developed preeclampsia. They admitted her but couldn’t get the bp down. They were trying to keep the baby in for two more weeks. Lisa went into a coma and her organs started failing. They rushed her into the operating room to do an emergency C section. They told us the prognosis was bleak and did we want to watch the C section. We were put in a room with a big window and could see Lisa draped and her husband standing there holding her hand. We couldn’t see her face because there was a drape between her chest and head. The incision had already been made and we could see the inside of her body at an angle. Poor Jon was white as a sheep, and Dick and I were holding each other up. The obstetrician lifted a tiny purple plastic looking doll out and laid it on a metal table right in front of the window. Two miracles happened. The little plastic doll opened its mouth and mewed like a kitten. Its color lightened up and she opened her eyes and looked up at the nurse. The biggest miracle happened a few minutes later when Lisa woke up. I hope this wasn’t too much TMI, but modern medicine and dedicated hospital staff work miracles every day. I hope and pray your daughter has her own miracle and they both come through like champions! Edited to say Congratulations! A healthy daughter and healthy baby are indeed a miracle!

Mmmm good!

Thank you for asking. We thought Ginny had given up. At 98 she was tired. Not eating, and sleeping except when she had PT. She can’t put her weight on the fractured hip, but her doctor says it won’t be long. Yesterday, she ate her lunch, and sat up all afternoon making post rehab hospital plans. Her townhouse bedrooms are upstairs, so she intends to have her bedroom furniture moved to her dining room, which is an ell off the living room. She may not have thought of the fact that the first floor bathroom is only a powder room. Knowing Ginny, she’ll find a way to add a shower. So we are all feeling hopeful that she’ll give it a go, and then move into one of the assisted living facilities near us. We’re not talking about the elephant in the room, the masses seen on scans in her lungs and around her spine. Fingers crossed that we keep her for a few years longer.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Junior was pregnant. Not a very good movie, but nice to get to see a man go through it.

Great news! Being at sea soothes a wounded heart and soul. Sharing it with family makes it even better.

We were in 8254 on Harmony in March. Perfect location.

I thought Deck 8 was my secret. When a friend heard me say Deck 8 she said she would never book that deck because of the noise from Central Park. I just smiled.