The Fleet Report and Daily for Friday, January 12th, 2024

[smitty34877]

Good morning. My overnight guests are even worse than I am in the insomniac department. I heard them stirring at 3:45. So did the excited pups. An early breakfast was had by all.

Today I will venture out to the produce store to restock once again before the latest storm. The flooded areas are of course vulnerable again with the expected rain. Two of three parkways only reopened yesterday. It is  much worse in New Jersey where several large rivers are still rising.

I will pass on the meal today. We are having baked ziti tonight which our teenager assembled last night for us. I am loving the cooking assistance and hope this trend continues.

@seagarsmoker, best of luck today on the second interview. 
 

@marshhawk, Annie, I am sorry that you are in a funk. There is so much that you have to deal with on a given day, I am not surprised. I am glad that you were able to let us know how you feel.

These days, I sometimes have no idea how I feel.

 

@rafinmd, Roy, I hope things go well with your busy day. Thinking of you.

 

@Cruzin Terri, thinking of you and Jim as well. I hope today is a good one.

Be careful out there today

[marshhawk]

Good Friday Morning Dailyites!  Computer says temps to drop.  I am going to show you what they will drop to  eventually, this if for Tuesday the 16th-

Tuesday

A chance of rain and snow showers before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

 

 

Yippee!

Edited January 12 by marshhawk

[dobiemom]

It’s FriYAY! 😃 Thank you for the HAL fleet report and all the daily information.

 

It’s been cold (for me) here: Highs in the low 60s F, lows in the upper 30s to low 40s F. I’ve been wearing socks all the time for a couple of months now; my feet are always cold. 

 

I hope to meet a friend for lunch this weekend. We haven’t been able to get our calendars to agree for a while. And volunteering at church. That’s all I have planned for this long weekend. 

 

Prayers 🙏 for the Care List and Cheers 🎉 for the Celebration List. Thank you all for caring and sharing. Stay safe and healthy everyone. 

[StLouisCruisers]

1 minute ago, marshhawk said:

Good Friday Morning Dailyites!  Computer says temps to drop.  I am going to show you what they will drop to  eventually, this if for Tuesday the 16th-

Tuesday

A chance of rain and snow showers before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

 

 

 

 

Annie, no way I can like your post today!  Snow showers?  14F?  Yikes!  This is the South!  🥶

[quilty964]

Good morning from a 'snow day' in Wisconsin.  It's coming down fast, and not supposed to stop until tomorrow.  Schools were all closed already last night--this is the 2nd cancelled day for the week.  The forecast also includes very cold days for next week.  Not looking forward to that!  

We've been to Alaska, but not Sitka, looking forward to pictures.  'No' to butternut squash, the drink sounds interesting.  

Prayers for all that need them and cheers to the rest.  I'm hearing about lots of flu, and other illness going around.  Our dear GS and his girlfriend are very sick with the flu, a young man from church is in the hospital with the flu, strep and pneumonia.  Lots of kiddos were coughing at school the other day, with several out sick also.  Prayers for all of them also.  Stay safe everyone!  Karen

[cat shepard]

Dailyites, I confess, I am beginning to suspect @richwmn Rich of getting a kickback from the Butternut squash growers of the World. This cannot be a coincidence. 

[kazu]

6 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

Dailyites, I confess, I am beginning to suspect @richwmn Rich of getting a kickback from the Butternut squash growers of the World. This cannot be a coincidence. 

 

I don’t think it is Rich @richwmn who is getting the kick back - it’s the programmer of the website/serch engine Rich uses 😂 

[marshhawk]

I guess we will have to run the taps on Tuesday, and figure out how to keep Bubbles warmer on the porch.  And run the neighbors next door taps.  Set up shelters for the strays, they actually are already set up, but no one uses them.

 

There is a homeless woman who lives on Memorial Drive, our major road, She is always having a conversation with someone who is not there.  Someone she cares deeply about. She is not the ones that talk to themselves, or yell at everyone in case someone should hear, she really is talking to someone.  I worry about her when the weather is bad, but since she is always clean, with clean hair, over the years we suspect someone takes her home once in a  while.  I got an email from our neighborhood news about the shelters being open for the homeless over the next 5 days, with a phone number to call. I really don't see a lot of homeless people with phones.  

 

DH is having angioplasty surgery on the 17th.  The high that day is projected to be 34.  Now I know to my friends up north this is just sweater weather, but down here, that is COLD! I need to remind DH to add some antifreeze to the car.

 

 

 

[tupper10]

We finally are seeing a yellow orb in the sky.  It should finally be a nice day here in South Florida. So for all of you coming here for cruises the weather will be in the low 80's today with chance of rain coming for the weekend.  I never minded the cold weather where we lived before we moved to FL but my DH cannot tolerate anymore.  The heat of our summers bothers us both so this summer we planned a long cruise to be away most of late June and July.  We are doing a short cruise to Norway and then a long one that takes us back to Boston that @StLouisCruisers is also going on. My husband said he would only do one long flight. Our DS and DIL and GKs live in New Hampshire so we will head there from Boston and spend some time visiting all of our children and grandchildren, in NH, NJ and NY.  

 

I woke up today to a text from my brother telling me that my 94+ mother has been writing checks on a closed account so that every check has bounced. None of us realized that she even had checks  for a closed account and must have put them in her check book when she lost  some of other checks for her actual checking account.   I guess I will have to now take over writing all of her checks which are just to a few to family members and some activities where she lives since I do most of her banking online. What a mess.     My mother  has 24/7 in home care but her memory and cognitive abilities are quickly deteriorating.  It is becoming a full time job for me on top of all the other things I have to do.  It is very sad to see. We have had major issues with her caregivers since her regular one got injured.  If the new ones don't work out I don't know what will happen since she refuses to move out of her home to assisted living. Even if she went to assisted living she would need an aide during the day.  My motto now is one day at a time.  

 

@seagarsmoker good luck on your 2nd interview.

 

For all those waiting for big storms - please be safe and I hope the grocery stores are not too crazy today.

 

@aliaschief your cruise sounds wonderful.  Enjoy your time in Panama.  

 

Have a good Friday everyone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RedneckBob]

Thanks for the Fleet Update and General Info from all contributors.

 

Back to Sitka. Been there several times the past two years on this thread. So I will tell a repeater true story that happened to me in Sitka several years ago. If you have heard it, please still read it.

 

We arrived in Sitka in July at the new docks and took the shuttle bus to town. On the way the bus driver gave us a brief info about Sitka on our drive into town.

Halfway to town the Bus driver said, “Over the next hill you will see on your right the only McDonalds in town. And if the happy meal disagrees with you there is a hospital across the street. And if things don’t work out well in the hospital, there is a funeral home behind the hospital”. So then I asked the bus driver, “Was the Funeral Director thinking outside the box”. 😀😳

 

Then the bus driver said to ignore the signs in the shops in town that say, “End of Season Sale!” He said the sale has been going on for ten years! 

[Mr. Boston]

Good morning everyone.  Thanks for the daily updates.  Three nice days to celebrate, I’ll be having hot tea this afternoon for sure.  I like today’s quote, it’s sound advice.  Yes to the meal and suggestions.  Butternut squash again, really?  I haven’t been to Sitka but hope to one day.  Prayers for those on our prayer list.  Cheers to those celebrating happy events!

[RedneckBob]

2 hours ago, MISTER 67 said:

Greetings and salutations.

Very good quote.

Have a great day and stay well.

Welcome back Mister 67 from Punta Gorda. 

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, summer slope said:

Blue Hawaii cocktail:

 

The Blue Hawaii cocktail was born at Honolulu’s Kaiser Hawaiian Village (now Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort). In 1957, a sales representative of Dutch distiller Bols asked legendary bartender Harry Yee to design a drink that featured its blue curaçao, a Caribbean liqueur made using the dried peel of the Laraha citrus fruit. The Blue Hawaii is a tropical cocktail made of rum, pineapple juice, Blue Curaçao, sweet and sour mix, and sometimes vodka. It should not be confused with the similarly named Blue Hawaiian cocktail that contains creme of coconut instead of sweet and sour mix. Wikipedia
Ingredients
3/4 ounce vodka
3/4 ounce light rum
1/2 ounce blue curaçao
3 ounces pineapple juice
1 ounce sweet and sour mix*
Garnish: pineapple wedge
Garnish: cocktail umbrella

Preparation: Combine all ingredients with ice, stir or shake, then pour into a hurricane glass with the ice. For garnish score pineapple or orange slice with a knife and inert onto rim of glass; optionally use toothpick or cocktail umbrella to spear maraschino cherry through center and attach to top of fruit slice; otherwise float cherry on top of ice.
Served: On the rocks; poured over ice
Standard garnish: Maraschino cherry, Orange slice, Pineapple slice
Drinkware: Hurricane glass

 

Thank you, thank very much! 🕺🕺🕺 For the drink recipe

[marshhawk]

My mother was a very cynical person.  She said that Catholics ate fish on Fridays because the fishermen hadn't been doing well in sales, and they approached the pope (at the time) explained their situation and the pope decreed that to help the fishermen, everyone should eat fish on Fridays.

 

Hog wash she said.  Turns out her grandfather had been a priest who left the church, and had told her all sorts of stories.  I was not raised Catholic, nor was she, but we always had fish on Fridays.  Well tuna casserole.  That was the only fish she would cook.  BUT, I think that Rich is in with the Butternut Squash growers,  have we had 52 butternut squash recipes yet?  One for each week of the year?

[RMLincoln]

@ger_77 OMG Gerri!  Are you sure you want to be out?  That is dangerous weather.  Prayers you stay safe!  
 

Prayers for Terri and Jim dealing with a new outlook. I’m working on not borrowing trouble, just one foot in front of the other!  Not always easy…
 

Prayers for Roy’s treatment, those in pain or other struggles. 
And prayers for @seagarsmoker’s job hunt!  
 

Thank you all for being here. Blessings for all in need of healing, comfort or hope!  
Peace in our hearts and lives and families, and the too many war zones. 
Smooth travels to all away, enjoy those cruise days!  Thanks for sharing! 
Celebrating those with milestones!  You remind us Life is Good🌈

 

Off for an adventure to a DMV an hr west of us that does all the tasks we need!  Which is everything. Hopefully we have all the documents we will need to prove our ID, our NJ residency and our ownership of the vehicle🤞.  Glad we have some sun and a balmy 32!  
Maureen
 

[travelingbums]

Thank you everyone for sharing.

Have a great Friday.

[0106]

World record butternut squash 2022 104.5 pounds

 

The Daily is a conflict free zone.  Unfortunately, butternut squash has divided us.  Do you like sweet potatoes?  Butternut squash is very similar. It is a superfood.  I love it in salads, soups, casseroles, and desserts. Try it!  (This message is NOT sponsored by the Butternut Squash Growers Association 🤣)

 

I hope everyone stays safe in this January weather and has the best weekend possible.

[grapau27]

Good afternoon.

It is 48°F at 15.02pm here in North East England.

I like chicken least in Curry.

I prefer coffee but still drink some tea usually Earl Grey.

I hope everyone is safe and well.

 

 

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a sunny, windless, cold day in Quartzsite.  It was 31F when I got up an hour ago, and it is now 32F.  Our predicted high will be 57F.  It seems that USPS has finally gotten it's act together.  Yesterday, the Yuma PO sent our mail back to Phoenix, and this morning it arrived in Quartzsite.  We still won't go into town until later this afternoon to give them time to get it in the box.  At least, the mail didn't go to Florida on the way to Arizona like it did one time.  Otherwise, I have laundry to occupy my time today.

 

Someone else can have my curried chicken.  I don't know anyone ginger to kiss, but I do like hot tea on occasion.

 

I like the Phillip Green quote, but feel sometimes it's easier said than done.

 

Also, someone else can have my curried butternut squash.  When I saw butternut squash again, I wondered if I'd start dreaming I was being chased by a large butternut squash.  We'll also pass on the drink and the wine.  

 

We have been to Sitka several times, and I'll retrieve my pictures next.

 

Another two important days in history that helped shape the world.

 

@seagarsmoker  Good luck with the second interview today.  I hope it goes very well.

@rafinmd  Roy, I hope your physical and treatment both go well today.

@kazu  Jacqui, stay safe today as you run your errands.

@ger_77  Gerry, I hope you both stay safe and warm as you run your errands today.  I hope your DH can see the chiropractor today and that the visit will help his back.

@Seasick Sailor  Joy, I hope home you make it home safely Sunday.  It looks like the bad weather won't start until that night.  Or you could see if you could stay on board for another cruise.

@dfish  Debbie, don't go to the trouble of finding every butternut squash recipes for me.

@smitty34877  Terry, I hope you are not impacted very much by the storm.

@kazu  I hope whoever is getting the kickback for promoting butternut squash is paid with butternut squash.

@tupper10  I'm sorry your DM is having cognitive and memory problems.  I hope you can get the banking straightened out.

@RMLincoln  Maureen, good luck at the DMV.  It's never a fun process.

 

To all the Dailyites in the path of the storm barreling across both countries, please stay safe.  I hope no one is adversely impacted by the storm.

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda

 

[kochleffel]

I posted Sitka pix the last time it was the port.

 

It's English night in the MDR: fish and chips, chicken pie, roast beef. But the Indian dish is butternut squash curry.

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Since we usually do b2b2b2b... cruises, we've been to Sitka 12 times on the 14 day Alaska cruise.  It is one of my favorite Alaskan ports and one of the prettiest.  We've been to the Fortress of the Bears twice and the Raptor Center at least three times.  My pictures are from all our cruises.  I found in looking at the pictures, on each visit after the first two or three times, I took fewer and fewer pictures.

 

There is a statue of Alexander Baranof near the Ceremonial Hall.  On one of our 2010 visits the statue was on a pedestal, but by 2015 it had been lowered and moved.

 

Meet Volta, the mascot of the Raptor Center.  It's his picture on the t-shirts and on the wall behind him.

 

This is along the forest path between the Raptor Center and the Totem Park

 

On our first visit in 2010, we took a wildlife small boat tour, and these are from the boat.

 

In later visits, as we explored further from downtown, we saw the National Cemetery.

 

On an early visit we toured the Bishop's House, which is now run by the National Park Service.  They left two rooms partially restored so visitors could see some of the construction details.

 

The Bishop's private chapel

 

One of the old Russian blockhouses on the island

 

The Cable House near downtown

 

The inside of St. Michaels Cathedral

 

We were told it is considered good luck when the eagles perch on the cross on top of the Cathedral.  We've seen a bird there twice and once saw an adult and a juvenile eagle at the same time.

 

A plaque commemorating the 250th anniversary of the 1741 Russian expedition

 

One of the many sculptures of marine animals found along the path between the road and the harbor.  The Episcopal Church is in the background.

 

On our third visit to Sitka in 2015, the Statendam docked at the new cruise dock instead of tendering.  It is a nice dock and building, even if it is out of town.  The drive to and from the new dock gives a good picture of the rest of the island.  This was Statendam's last call to Sitka.  When she got back to Seattle, she then headed to Singapore for a drydock before joining P&O Australia.

 

Lenda

[dfish]

17 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

 

@dfish  Debbie, don't go to the trouble of finding every butternut squash recipes for me.

 

 

I plead innocent.  Rich @richwmn is the one who finds the meals.  I did find the one with carrots just for you, though!

 

 

15 minutes ago, kochleffel said:

 

It's English night in the MDR: fish and chips, chicken pie, roast beef. But the Indian dish is butternut squash curry.

 

I think it is you, Paul, that is attracting all the butternut squash.

 

@0106 Thanks for the picture of the huge butternut squash.  That one might feed all of us Dailyites.

 

[marshhawk]

it's 11:10 am and the rain just started.  currently trying to motivate DH to get a move on so that we can get lunch before his eye appt. it's like herding cats.

[RedneckBob]

14 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Since we usually do b2b2b2b... cruises, we've been to Sitka 12 times on the 14 day Alaska cruise.  It is one of my favorite Alaskan ports and one of the prettiest.  We've been to the Fortress of the Bears twice and the Raptor Center at least three times.  My pictures are from all our cruises.  I found in looking at the pictures, on each visit after the first two or three times, I took fewer and fewer pictures.

 

There is a statue of Alexander Baranof near the Ceremonial Hall.  On one of our 2010 visits the statue was on a pedestal, but by 2015 it had been lowered and moved.

 

Meet Volta, the mascot of the Raptor Center.  It's his picture on the t-shirts and on the wall behind him.

 

This is along the forest path between the Raptor Center and the Totem Park

 

On our first visit in 2010, we took a wildlife small boat tour, and these are from the boat.

 

In later visits, as we explored further from downtown, we saw the National Cemetery.

 

On an early visit we toured the Bishop's House, which is now run by the National Park Service.  They left two rooms partially restored so visitors could see some of the construction details.

 

The Bishop's private chapel

 

One of the old Russian blockhouses on the island

 

The Cable House near downtown

 

The inside of St. Michaels Cathedral

 

We were told it is considered good luck when the eagles perch on the cross on top of the Cathedral.  We've seen a bird there twice and once saw an adult and a juvenile eagle at the same time.

 

A plaque commemorating the 250th anniversary of the 1741 Russian expedition

 

One of the many sculptures of marine animals found along the path between the road and the harbor.  The Episcopal Church is in the background.

 

On our third visit to Sitka in 2015, the Statendam docked at the new cruise dock instead of tendering.  It is a nice dock and building, even if it is out of town.  The drive to and from the new dock gives a good picture of the rest of the island.  This was Statendam's last call to Sitka.  When she got back to Seattle, she then headed to Singapore for a drydock before joining P&O Australia.

 

Lenda

Ms Crystal, omg, we were also on that last cruise of the Statendam to Sitka before leaving Seattle. Did I run into you. Spent lots of time in the Crows Nest looking for wildlife.

[superoma]

And here I was looking for a recipe for butternut squash this morning. I had one that needed using. I have the ingredients for the second recipe in my slow cooker now. I will report later how it turns out.

 

so far all we have is wind, no rain or snow and still just above freezing. Fingers crossed my DD makes it home tonight before any significant snow fall.