Chester H ~ Are you OK?

[gkm]

I have a few more stories to tell from the land trip – all I need is time…

 

All the best,

chesterh

 

We'll be watching for them Chester. I look forward to reading about your adventure.:D

 

Garry

[newhips]

Hello and thank you, Theron, wrp96, Cindy, Jan, Garry, Sheila, Sharon, Nicki, Sandy, newhips (always loved that name) and Donna&Harry.

 

Comparing land trips to cruises, I must say that with the former, more time is spent on the planning than on the executing – especially when there is a ruse involved. I long for a cruise, where all I need do is pick a ship and a few shore excursions. Well, maybe that’s over-simplifying just a bit, but our recent vacation tired me out like no other in memory.

 

I’ve been waiting for Kris to surprise me somehow. I’ve been doing it to her for decades without reciprocation, so she must really be planning a doozy. In the meantime, giving is much more fun.

 

Donna, aren’t you taking Ali and Phil with you? I’ll be looking forward to hearing of your RCL experience.

 

I have a few more stories to tell from the land trip – all I need is time…

 

All the best,

chesterh

 

I love the new hips - I think I wrote you the history on the name.

 

Love your storytelling - as I said previously you defiinitly have a gift!!! :)

[CaroleSP]

There you have it – a life-long memory, as it happened…

It's wonderful that your talent exhibited in your sea sagas extends to the land.

What a great surprise for Kris; thanks so much for once again sharing your adventures with us.

By the way, the pictures look like painted landscapes.

[Nanatravel]

Hi Chester. Boy is Wells turning into quite the handsome young man. It seems like yesterday and he was just going to graduate from high school. Glad he is enrolled in college. Kris looks well. How about you? I did email you on your web site.

 

We are getting ready to sail on the largest ship afloat; Freedom of the Seas. We have done the Western itinerary so much but am looking forward to just relaxing and seeing new areas. Love Labadde for a great beach day. Wish you could join us in November. I am still amongst the unemployed. When I temp, I save the money for our cruises!

 

Look forward to hearing from you.

Bev

[Nancynurse]

Chester...it's nice to have you back. Looks like you had a great surprise for Kris and a nice vacation. We have missed you...please keep up the writing. It feels like you are a member of the family.

 

Hope you are feeling better and the problems have decreased in intensity.

 

Take care,

 

Nancy

[chesterh]

Hey Bev - Got your message. You have mail...

 

Nancy - Good you see you. Frequency and intensity are tolerable, so I'm not going to complain.

 

I wanted to write some things about the Grand Canyon, so I started typing to see what would happen. Well. looks like it'll take a while to get us to our destination. It's a rainy day in NH, so what the heck...

 

Leaving Las Vegas

 

The bleary-eyed young couple practically climbed over us to get into the elevator. I guess they didn’t notice that we were trying to haul 200 pounds of luggage through the door.

 

“What was their hurry?” asked Kris.

 

I could think of at least two possibilities, but kept one of them to myself. “I’m sure they’ve been up all night and need some sleep.”

 

We exited the elevator lobby and entered the cavernous space that lies between any two points in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The atmosphere in the casino was markedly different than it had been just a few hours earlier. When we’d traversed it at 1 a.m., there was barely room to pass through the thousands of revelers who jockeyed for positions at the slot machines, gaming tables and bars. The noise was deafening. Now, at 6:30 a.m., a few of those same souls wandered about in stunned silence. A handful of new arrivals, freshly arisen early birds armed with coffee and the morning newspaper, paused to try their luck at the slots. Otherwise, the place was deserted.

 

I was, for the briefest moment before I came to my senses, tempted to feed another dollar into one of the machines. The prospect of the second phase of this vacation pulled me back from the brink. It had been a long time – at least 20 years – since we made a genuine all-American road trip. There was a lot of ground to cover today, Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by way of Hoover Dam.

 

Kris waited with the luggage under the hotel’s portico while I fetched the rental car from the parking garage. I had requested a mid-sized Jeep SUV knowing that we’d need some cargo room later when we moved Wells into the dorm at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Clutching keys I’d picked up at the rental counter the previous afternoon, I walked about a mile – at least it seemed that far – to the hotel’s parking garage. When I finally found space #38 on the fifth level, it was occupied by a monster truck – a Jeep Commander that looked remarkably like a Hummer. It was menacing. Deep, dark blue with windows tinted black, a chrome grill that looked like shark’s teeth and tires that bulged obscenely from the fenders. Children would cry when they saw us coming.

 

I hadn’t driven anything so big and unwieldy since a memorable white-knuckled trip through the narrow streets of Philadelphia in a 20-foot U-Haul truck many years ago. I climbed aboard and sat in the captain’s chair, adjusting things to my liking before backing carefully out of the parking space. Something started beeping. The tone grew more urgent as I crept backward, and ceased when I shifted into drive. It dawned on me that this beast had a radar warning system, lessening the chance that the driver would inadvertently crush an innocent Volkswagen hiding in the blind spot.

 

I found it remarkable that the parking garage at MGM was free. It seemed so out of character for Las Vegas, where even the free drinks came at a steep price. By the time I’d driven in spiraling circles down five levels, I was so dizzy that I took a wrong turn and was forced to go all the way around the block. Going around the block in Vegas is like driving the periphery of our home town, and it took ages. Finally, I pulled onto the Hotel’s entrance road and, using all of the dumb luck that had otherwise remained dormant throughout our time in the city, chose the correct lane – from at least twenty candidates - to take me to Kris.

 

“Where have you been?” Kris asked. “And what is this thing? I thought a pimp was checking me out.”

 

“It’s a Jeep. I guess they upgraded us from the little one I asked for.”

 

“It’s so…huge! Does it cost more? Is it a camper, too? I thought we were staying in hotels.”

 

As big as it was, it still couldn’t hold all of our luggage behind the rear seat.

 

“What kind of gas mileage do you think it gets?” asked Kris.

 

“I don’t know…maybe ten or twelve,” I said. Out of curiosity, I popped the hood. Standing on tip-toes, I peered into the engine compartment. A massive empty space allowed me to see the pavement below. Several people could have stood upright in there, feet firmly on the ground, without ducking. “Look, it’s the Grand Canyon.”

 

“Where’s the engine?” asked Kris.

 

“Up there,” I said, pointing to a tiny little motor sticking out of the upper rear wall of the compartment. “It’s only a six-cylinder. I think we might get fourteen miles to the gallon.”

 

We exited the hotel’s private expressway and made a u-turn on Tropicana Avenue, heading east into the blinding sun. “I have to make a stop,” I said.

 

“Already?” asked Kris. “You didn’t even have coffee yet. Maybe you should talk to the doc…”

 

“Not for that. I’m going to pick up a GPS unit.”

 

“Where? Why?”

 

“At the main rental car office,” I said. “They don’t stock them at the hotels.”

 

“Well, that’s kind of a pain. Do you know where it is?”

 

“Sort of…but it would be easy if we had a GPS. That’s why I got it.”

 

It turned out that the rental office was just a block off our intended route, so the detour was brief. I traded my signature for the GPS unit, installed it in the Jeep and programmed it to take us to the Hoover Dam.

 

“Can it tell you where to get a decent cup of coffee?” asked Kris. She had been warned by her well-traveled brother about a lack of decent coffee in the western United States, and she was starting to get a little edgy. “I really need some good coffee.”

 

“I’m sure we’ll pass a hundred places before we get on the highway.” I said. “Look…there’s a McDonalds – how about that?”

 

Kris growled.

 

We drove block after block without seeing so much as a Starbucks. The GPS advised that we’d soon be turning onto the highway, and Kris grew desperate. “Here! Burger King – I can live with that.”

 

I pulled into the deserted parking lot, entered the equally empty drive-thru lane and stopped at the menu board. “Do you want anything else?” I asked.

 

“Just coffee,” said Kris. “A big one.”

 

A garbled voice came over the loudspeaker. “Orning. welc…urger…ing…oment, please.”

 

I don’t know exactly what the voice said, but I got the impression that he or she wasn’t ready for the sudden rush of business and was asking me to wait. A few moments later, I heard some more noise. Detecting a rising inflection at the end of it, I assumed it was safe to submit my request.

 

Speaking slowly and deliberately I said, “Two large regular coffees, please. That’s it…”

 

From the response I picked out just three words - “…six…drive…window” - but I got the message and stepped on the gas.

 

Simultaneously, the person in the passenger seat went into a violent, thrashing conniption. “Get the turbo! Get the turbo!!” Kris shouted. If she hadn’t been wearing her seatbelt, her head would have dented the roof. “You didn’t ask for the turbo! I have to have TURBO! AHHHH” I’ve only seen her display such emotion during football games, which is why I retreat to my office when the Patriots are playing.

 

“You said you didn’t want anything else. What the heck is a turbo?”

 

“It’s their special coffee. I can’t drink their regular coffee – it’s disgusting! I have to have the turbo. Go back and tell him…”

 

I pulled up to the window as Kris carried on. Through the glass I could see a man struggling to put a lid on a tall coffee cup, a task made difficult by the fact that he only had one arm. He turned in our direction, opened the window and passed me a cup of coffee. “A dollar eighty-six, please,” he said.

 

“Is it the turbo?” Kris shouted.

 

“No, maam. Did you want a Turbo-Joe?”

 

“Yes. I have to have turbo!” Kris’s voice actually echoed in the cavernous Jeep.

 

I interjected. “Actually, I asked for two cups.”

 

“I’m sorry – I couldn’t really hear you on the intercom. So you want two cups of Turbo-Joe, sir?“

 

Kris leaned over and shouted, “Do you have any cinnamon rolls?”

 

“Yes, maam. So that’s two Turbo-Joes and a cinnamon roll?”

 

“Large! Large turbos!” yelled Kris.

 

“Actually, I’ll just keep this regular coffee,” I said. “So it’s just one turbo and a cinnamon roll. Large…”

 

“I’ll be glad to take that one back and get you a Turbo-Joe.”

 

“No thanks, it’s fine,” I assured the man, not wanting to be more of a burden. I sipped the coffee to seal the deal.

 

A minute later I pulled out of the parking lot. The soothing voice of the GPS unit said, “Turn right in point one miles.” Kris was sipping her way to caffeine nirvana. I had a hunk of the family-sized cinnamon roll stuck to my fingers, bits of sugar coating in my mustache, a burning hot cup of non-turbo coffee between my legs and a beast of a vehicle at my command.

 

What more could one ask for? The road trip had begun…

[mmp13]

OH Chester, What a great read. Please keep the stories coming. Your son has turned into a very handsome man. It is so wonderful that you are able to share your life with us. Keep those stories coming! Can't wait till you finish the mother's cruise. You really have left us all hanging!...And I don't mind saying, a little worried about your health. I was so glad to see that you are writing again.:)

 

Does Chris know how much pressure she is under? I can't wait to read the story when she finally surprises you!:eek:

[NJ Cruisers]

Another great story! I have missed reading your tales! We are back from the Explorer of the Seas trip, and sadly Ali & Phil did not join us.

 

I have not the energy or the talent to write a full review, but we will return to our beloved Celebrity. The trip was nice and we had a good time, but there were lots of little things we just found lacking. Activities that did not produce revenue for the cruise line were close to non-existant. Except for the coffee (which was boiling, old and burned) nothing was hot at the buffet, dining room or even in the specialty restaraunt. Our cruise also included 900 folks from Russia who evidently did not believe in using utencils (tongs at the buffet, forks and spoons when they ate, etc.) that kept us away from the buffet and in the dining room. Evidently they don't believe in swimwear either since they were going into the pools in their dirty undies! This group also beleived that if they wanted a seat they just took it, even if you were already sitting at their table of choice. It was certainly interesting and we did our best to avoid them but were sorely outnumbered. The ship itself was very nice and we did meet some very nice folks, but with 3200 passengers, it was hard to keep track of people. On several occasions we got into conversations with great people who we never saw again. I guess we just like the smaller ships, hot food and folks with table manners!

 

Ali and I are pushing the guys to do a Med cruise next year to celebrate our 50th birthdays, but we are meeting some resistance. I'll keep you posted on our plans and progress!

 

I have to tell you I have shared your wonderful book with many friends going off on their first cruise and they have all enjoyed it. They tell me it really does help them get an idea of what to expect. We are all waiting for book 2 where the names will be changed to protect the innocent (and not so innocent!).

 

Please keep writing my friend; you have a true gift and a very loyal following.

 

With love to you and yours,

 

Donna

[gkm]

Chester, how great to see you're writing again. I can't wait to hear more about your LV trip! I'll be hovering so get busy!!!!:D :D :D

 

Garry

[Offtune Angel]

Chestah, it's so good to see you "in print" again. Congratulations on your Award. :) I hope all is well.

 

"Turrah"

[Lois R]

Hi Chester,:) I wanted to tell you I just received your book

in the mail yesterday. After seeing this thread started by Carole,

I decided to order it and now I am wondering why I didn't

do this right after you made it available to us.

Suffice to say, I am thoroughlly enjoying it:D your writing

is FABULOUS.....I am laughing throughout, while hoping

that bump on your forehead healed quickly.

 

Thank you, Thank you, what a truely wonderful book.

[USNDiver]

Chester,

 

I've been writing a review on my first Celebrity cruise (4 day PNW) and one of the folks who read it asked if we were related (didn't have a clue who you were at the time.) I asked for some clarification on this and got the reply that we had similar writing styles. After reading some of your work I will take this as a sincere compliment.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Dave

Leaving Las Vegas

 

The bleary-eyed young couple practically climbed over us to get into the elevator. I guess they didn’t notice that we were trying to haul 200 pounds of luggage through the door.

 

“What was their hurry?” asked Kris.

 

I could think of at least two possibilities, but kept one of them to myself. “I’m sure they’ve been up all night and need some sleep.”

 

We exited the elevator lobby and entered the cavernous space that lies between any two points in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The atmosphere in the casino was markedly different than it had been just a few hours earlier. When we’d traversed it at 1 a.m., there was barely room to pass through the thousands of revelers who jockeyed for positions at the slot machines, gaming tables and bars. The noise was deafening. Now, at 6:30 a.m., a few of those same souls wandered about in stunned silence. A handful of new arrivals, freshly arisen early birds armed with coffee and the morning newspaper, paused to try their luck at the slots. Otherwise, the place was deserted.

 

I was, for the briefest moment before I came to my senses, tempted to feed another dollar into one of the machines. The prospect of the second phase of this vacation pulled me back from the brink. It had been a long time – at least 20 years – since we made a genuine all-American road trip. There was a lot of ground to cover today, Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by way of Hoover Dam.

 

Kris waited with the luggage under the hotel’s portico while I fetched the rental car from the parking garage. I had requested a mid-sized Jeep SUV knowing that we’d need some cargo room later when we moved Wells into the dorm at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Clutching keys I’d picked up at the rental counter the previous afternoon, I walked about a mile – at least it seemed that far – to the hotel’s parking garage. When I finally found space #38 on the fifth level, it was occupied by a monster truck – a Jeep Commander that looked remarkably like a Hummer. It was menacing. Deep, dark blue with windows tinted black, a chrome grill that looked like shark’s teeth and tires that bulged obscenely from the fenders. Children would cry when they saw us coming.

 

I hadn’t driven anything so big and unwieldy since a memorable white-knuckled trip through the narrow streets of Philadelphia in a 20-foot U-Haul truck many years ago. I climbed aboard and sat in the captain’s chair, adjusting things to my liking before backing carefully out of the parking space. Something started beeping. The tone grew more urgent as I crept backward, and ceased when I shifted into drive. It dawned on me that this beast had a radar warning system, lessening the chance that the driver would inadvertently crush an innocent Volkswagen hiding in the blind spot.

 

I found it remarkable that the parking garage at MGM was free. It seemed so out of character for Las Vegas, where even the free drinks came at a steep price. By the time I’d driven in spiraling circles down five levels, I was so dizzy that I took a wrong turn and was forced to go all the way around the block. Going around the block in Vegas is like driving the periphery of our home town, and it took ages. Finally, I pulled onto the Hotel’s entrance road and, using all of the dumb luck that had otherwise remained dormant throughout our time in the city, chose the correct lane – from at least twenty candidates - to take me to Kris.

 

“Where have you been?” Kris asked. “And what is this thing? I thought a pimp was checking me out.”

 

“It’s a Jeep. I guess they upgraded us from the little one I asked for.”

 

“It’s so…huge! Does it cost more? Is it a camper, too? I thought we were staying in hotels.”

 

As big as it was, it still couldn’t hold all of our luggage behind the rear seat.

 

“What kind of gas mileage do you think it gets?” asked Kris.

 

“I don’t know…maybe ten or twelve,” I said. Out of curiosity, I popped the hood. Standing on tip-toes, I peered into the engine compartment. A massive empty space allowed me to see the pavement below. Several people could have stood upright in there, feet firmly on the ground, without ducking. “Look, it’s the Grand Canyon.”

 

“Where’s the engine?” asked Kris.

 

“Up there,” I said, pointing to a tiny little motor sticking out of the upper rear wall of the compartment. “It’s only a six-cylinder. I think we might get fourteen miles to the gallon.”

 

We exited the hotel’s private expressway and made a u-turn on Tropicana Avenue, heading east into the blinding sun. “I have to make a stop,” I said.

 

“Already?” asked Kris. “You didn’t even have coffee yet. Maybe you should talk to the doc…”

 

“Not for that. I’m going to pick up a GPS unit.”

 

“Where? Why?”

 

“At the main rental car office,” I said. “They don’t stock them at the hotels.”

 

“Well, that’s kind of a pain. Do you know where it is?”

 

“Sort of…but it would be easy if we had a GPS. That’s why I got it.”

 

It turned out that the rental office was just a block off our intended route, so the detour was brief. I traded my signature for the GPS unit, installed it in the Jeep and programmed it to take us to the Hoover Dam.

 

“Can it tell you where to get a decent cup of coffee?” asked Kris. She had been warned by her well-traveled brother about a lack of decent coffee in the western United States, and she was starting to get a little edgy. “I really need some good coffee.”

 

“I’m sure we’ll pass a hundred places before we get on the highway.” I said. “Look…there’s a McDonalds – how about that?”

 

Kris growled.

 

We drove block after block without seeing so much as a Starbucks. The GPS advised that we’d soon be turning onto the highway, and Kris grew desperate. “Here! Burger King – I can live with that.”

 

I pulled into the deserted parking lot, entered the equally empty drive-thru lane and stopped at the menu board. “Do you want anything else?” I asked.

 

“Just coffee,” said Kris. “A big one.”

 

A garbled voice came over the loudspeaker. “Orning. welc…urger…ing…oment, please.”

 

I don’t know exactly what the voice said, but I got the impression that he or she wasn’t ready for the sudden rush of business and was asking me to wait. A few moments later, I heard some more noise. Detecting a rising inflection at the end of it, I assumed it was safe to submit my request.

 

Speaking slowly and deliberately I said, “Two large regular coffees, please. That’s it…”

 

From the response I picked out just three words - “…six…drive…window” - but I got the message and stepped on the gas.

 

Simultaneously, the person in the passenger seat went into a violent, thrashing conniption. “Get the turbo! Get the turbo!!” Kris shouted. If she hadn’t been wearing her seatbelt, her head would have dented the roof. “You didn’t ask for the turbo! I have to have TURBO! AHHHH” I’ve only seen her display such emotion during football games, which is why I retreat to my office when the Patriots are playing.

 

“You said you didn’t want anything else. What the heck is a turbo?”

 

“It’s their special coffee. I can’t drink their regular coffee – it’s disgusting! I have to have the turbo. Go back and tell him…”

 

I pulled up to the window as Kris carried on. Through the glass I could see a man struggling to put a lid on a tall coffee cup, a task made difficult by the fact that he only had one arm. He turned in our direction, opened the window and passed me a cup of coffee. “A dollar eighty-six, please,” he said.

 

“Is it the turbo?” Kris shouted.

 

“No, maam. Did you want a Turbo-Joe?”

 

“Yes. I have to have turbo!” Kris’s voice actually echoed in the cavernous Jeep.

 

I interjected. “Actually, I asked for two cups.”

 

“I’m sorry – I couldn’t really hear you on the intercom. So you want two cups of Turbo-Joe, sir?“

 

Kris leaned over and shouted, “Do you have any cinnamon rolls?”

 

“Yes, maam. So that’s two Turbo-Joes and a cinnamon roll?”

 

“Large! Large turbos!” yelled Kris.

 

“Actually, I’ll just keep this regular coffee,” I said. “So it’s just one turbo and a cinnamon roll. Large…”

 

“I’ll be glad to take that one back and get you a Turbo-Joe.”

 

“No thanks, it’s fine,” I assured the man, not wanting to be more of a burden. I sipped the coffee to seal the deal.

 

A minute later I pulled out of the parking lot. The soothing voice of the GPS unit said, “Turn right in point one miles.” Kris was sipping her way to caffeine nirvana. I had a hunk of the family-sized cinnamon roll stuck to my fingers, bits of sugar coating in my mustache, a burning hot cup of non-turbo coffee between my legs and a beast of a vehicle at my command.

 

What more could one ask for? The road trip had begun…

[poetic license]

Chester, thanks for indulging us so. ;)

 

I'm really looking forward to reading your Grand Canyon adventure! Hope the fall colors are picking up in your area.

 

Nicki

[frosty52]

Chester -

 

Great to see you writing again. I'm waitng not so patiently waiting for the next chapter.

 

Sandy

[CaroleSP]

Hi Chester,

 

I am really enjoying your road trip; hope we see more very soon.

 

Even though you have come back to your old crew at CC, you are so mean to leave us in suspense on two vacations. You know you can't think of another vacation until these sagas are completed. I hope that's the carrot that will help sharpen your pen. Of course with another snowy New England winter around the corner, you may have to type just to keep warm. :D Only kidding...maybe!

 

Happy autumn to you, Kris and the family.

[haras]

I'm sure i'm not the only person who goes to your website to re read your stories. Today, instead of working, I re read the cruise with the moms as my memory is short and I had to refresh it. What a delight to discover the land vacation as I continued to ignore my paperwork and fantasized about booking a new cruise. You should post a link on your website in case other avid readers don't follow the celebrity or hal boards. (about the land story) You have a flair for writing and it makes my mundane day at work fly by when I read your stories. Thanks so much for the time you put into sharing your escapaes with your fans!

 

Sarah.

 

p.s. are you still autographing books that are sold on your website?

[rondeb]

Hello Chester,

I am a fan from way back who rarely posts but loves to read. I remember one of your installments where you included a photo of you and one of your sons as a toddler in St. Thomas. And now, to see one of your sons as such a handsome young man ready to be launched to college... you and your wife must be,and should be, very proud. Life is demanding and time is precious. Nevertheless I, and many others, check in every so often for one of your truly wonderful installments. Until then...

[MGilly]

Out of curiosity, I clicked on this thread. What terrific writing style! You really do grab the reader! I guess I'll have to check out your web site and see what this book is that everyone is talking about. Please! Keep writing! I can't wait to hear how your adventures end!

[chesterh]

Hmmm – you’ve all been busy. I have some catching up to do.

 

Peg, Kris doesn’t seem to recognize the pressure. She had a major birthday two days ago (in all likelihood, Wednesday was the last day I could ever claim to be married to a woman under 50), and I asked what she’d like me to make for her “special” dinner. When she said, “Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup,” I wasn’t the least bit surprised. Maybe I can talk her into going out tonight. If she says yes, it will be a surprise. Would that count?

 

Donna, thanks for the report. We’ve toyed with the idea of trying one of the mega-ships, but why mess with success? I’m relieved that you still had a good time, but I know you guys are experts at the task and I wouldn’t expect otherwise. As for protecting the innocent and not-so-innocent - fine. But there will be no mercy for those guilty and convicted of excessive fun. (What are we talking about? A cruise on Mercury in October, 2002. This will be the subject of book 2, should the opportunity arise.)

 

Thanks Garry, Terry and Sandy. I have fun doing this stuff, and only wish that I had more time for it. Good thing we don’t travel much…

 

Lois, is it possible that in all these years on CC we’ve never “met?” If we haven’t met, then it’s a pleasure. If we have, then my memory is failing but it’s still a pleasure. Glad you were enjoying the book, and I hope that it inspired some more laughs before you ran out of pages. I still have a little bump on my forehead, but the scar seems to have finally faded.

 

Dave (USNDiver) – Well I’ll be…my long lost 3rd cousin! Welcome to CruiseCritic. I posted my first review (45,000 words) in August of 2002, and I must warn you – it is an addiction almost as powerful as cruising itself. From what I see, you are at risk. Be careful… Actually, this is a good way of prolonging the fun. I’ve learned to space a single review out over a 12-18 month period just to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment out of a trip. Perhaps we should take the same cruise and alternate chapters in a review – we could stave off carpal tunnel syndrome that way. Good luck, and keep ‘em coming.

 

Nicki, I noticed the fall colors creeping in last night as I drove home from work. I suppose they’re some compensation for the six months of grayness that follows. Always look on the bright side…

 

Carole, don’t worry – there won’t be another vacation until the two open sagas are ancient history. The next trip of any consequence will probably take us back to Arizona for Wells’s graduation. Good suggestion about typing to keep warm. It’ll be a longer, colder winter if I finish writing too soon…

 

Sarah, I’m thrilled to have been able to help you through a mundane workday. I do need to do some work on the website – just another in a long list of chores. I don’t think anyone has exercised the option in at least six months, but signed books are still available there.

 

Rondeb, thanks for posting. Proud parents we are, indeed. Wells is actually a junior at the University of Arizona, having served two years at a state college in New Hampshire. He is thriving in the new environment, and we’re thrilled. The little boy in the picture (repeated below) is now doing his internship in radiography at Mass. General in Boston. How time flies…

 

 

 

 

 

Merryl (not MGilly) probably would have been our son Wells’s name had he not been a boy. If you’re just stumbling upon these adventures, you have a lot of catching up to do. There ought to be enough material on the website to keep you busy for days (it was all posted here at some time over the last 4 years, but was lost to various upgrades). I should warn you - the adventures never end. They just segue in to more adventures…

 

All the best,

chesterh

[USNDiver]

Dave (USNDiver) – Well I’ll be…my long lost 3rd cousin! Welcome to CruiseCritic. I posted my first review (45,000 words) in August of 2002, and I must warn you – it is an addiction almost as powerful as cruising itself. From what I see, you are at risk. Be careful… Actually, this is a good way of prolonging the fun. I’ve learned to space a single review out over a 12-18 month period just to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment out of a trip. Perhaps we should take the same cruise and alternate chapters in a review – we could stave off carpal tunnel syndrome that way. Good luck, and keep ‘em coming.

 

It's a date! We'll meet up in the Martini bar.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dave

[SheilaNC]

Chester,

As another who came late to your fame :) , I'm thrilled to get access to past posts/writing/humor/wisdom. Thanks for the link AND for the link to your book. Sounds like just what I need for good cruise reading (except that I expect I'll give in and read it beforehand). Look forward to future additions and to my enjoyment of your stories. Thanks so much for sharing.

[gkm]

Hi Chester! It's been a while since we've heard from you. Are you writing? I hope so and I hope it's something you will share with us.:D :D :D

 

Garry

[CaroleSP]

Lois R & I were speculating about what was up with you and Kris; we were hoping all was well and you were busy raking leaves.

 

It has to be getting colder and your keyboard (& fans) miss you. Hope you pop in soon.

[logan1_2000]

Chester--

 

Count me as another Newbie to your book and brand of humor. I think I left off last evening with the sparkle in Kris' eyes when you told her to take the tux when it was brought to your room and she knew nothing about it previously. And the wasted $14 to press the shirts ASAP even though you were not going to need them. Good stuff.

 

My retired school-teacher,gray haired widowed DM up in Connecticut is saying she'll go on DCL with us next year, but up until now she has cruised HAL and now X, while DW, DS (10) and I have gone DCL and RCI. She has enjoyed X and from your early chapters about the service, perhaps we might join DW on an X cruise sometime in the not too distant....

[chesterh]

Well, the family is back together – sort of. Wells arrived from Tucson last night, happy to be home for a couple of weeks. He and Ryan have gone off to the driving range, open today to take advantage of the balmy 50 degree temperatures. I am in an unusual situation – all alone on a Sunday afternoon. Normally, the house is filled with rabid football fans screaming at the TV and waiting for me to serve them something to eat, but today is different. Kris has actually gone to the Patriots game in Massachusetts and the boys plan on watching at a friend’s house, so it’s just me and the computer. I’m on the hook to write the annual holiday newsletter, and of course, I’m looking for any excuse to delay the inevitable. I’d started writing about the Hoover Dam a while back, but got sidetracked by life in general. Maybe I’ll see if I can pick it up again for old time’s sake…

 

I’m waiting for the definitive word, but the prospect is that my father will be discharged from the nursing home tomorrow. He contracted a very serious pneumonia and was hospitalized from early August into October, and has been in a nursing home since then. None of us thought he would ever go home again, but this is of those times when it is nice to be wrong.

 

Seems I missed a few posts here. Sheila, nice to meet you. Logan1_2000, today is our 29th anniversary. When Kris gets home from the game, I’ll have to see if I can induce a sparkle for the occasion. That reminds me – I should go put some champagne in the fridge.

 

Hope everyone is doing well, and that the holiday season brings you and yours unlimited joy.

 

All the best,

chesterh