Oasis cruise Sept 2014

Day 1 - Monday, Sept 1 - Boarding day. 

The boarding was rather painless. After security, we went to a counter where a guy gave us a cabin assignment and key cards with dining room table, etc. We trolled our bags onto the ship ourselves. We waited in an onboard cafe  for the rooms to be ready, then we rolled the bags to our cabin on Deck 11. It's very cute. We went for dinner at 6 pm, which was good, but we didn't like our table, no others guests there. 

Day 2 - Tuesday, Sept 2

First full day on the OASIS of the Seas. What a place! Manfred insisted on eating at the buffet. It's a beautiful place to sit, but a bad place to eat. 

We have been exploring and finding where things are. It is so huge, and we have to figure out all the free and not free food and quiet and nice places. 

There is no shortage of deck chairs, I'm sitting on one now--just took a photo of the view of sky and sea, and my toes and Manfred, sleeping on deck, in his new striped t-shirt. 

Central Park has the Park Cafe - excellent salad. Can't see the sea, but it's pleasant.  Formal night in the dining room, so Manfred put on his pants, and his coat over his new, striped t-shirt. We were alone at the table again, and we asked the waiter to get us together with other people soon.

Day 3 - Wednesday 

Manfred got up at 7 and went to the buffet. I got up at 9 and went to look for him. There were plenty of tables, including window ones. Park Cafe for lunch was good, but too crowded. Finally, after dinner alone again, we arranged to join another table tomorrow. 

I finished Soulless, the book Karen bought me, it was a lot of fun. 

Day 4 - Thursday

This morning I finally got on the TV to order tickets to shows. Not much left. I met Manfred at the Windjammer buffet - he was with an Israeli couple from Germany.  They recommended the crime lecture @ 11, so I went. It was interesting, about the assassination of Robert Kennedy. Lunch at 

Park Cafe, which was rather warm. The pool deck was too windy but I got a place on some sheltered, cushioned chaises under the stands.  It's great, I see the sea, no wind, no sun, nice music.

First time change today, had a lot of trouble trying to set my new watch. 

At dinner we met our new table-mates. Such a nice couple, Howard and Sally. They cruise a lot. They are going to visit England, France and Germany, including the Rhine and Oktoberfest. Then they fly home. 

We went to the Headliner show, a really good, hilarious ventriloquist. 

Then, we had a beer, for $5.50 at the pizza place, and took a couple slices of pizza to the room. It wasn't especially good. I wish we had Internet. Sally has the whole package, which I think is $240 - she says it's really slow. That's one very bad thing about boats. 

...to Ft. Lauderdale

And the whole place is a sauna. I thought it would be like Hawaii, but, no. Much hotter wetter. 

Number 1 Son and Number 1 Daughter-in-Law met us at the airport and we're staying in a nice Best Western Hotel near the airport and the cruise port. We didn't ever go to bed that night, since we had to leave home at 5:15 am. 

It was a heroic and MUCH-appreciated 5-hour drive for them to get here, and a 5:35 hrs flight for us. It reminded us why we don't ever want to fly anywhere if there's any alternative. Cruise ships are getting very busy, last minute deals are harder to get. More likely, the cheaper cabins get sold out. That's already happened to the Celebrity cruise from Rome to FL that we wanted to take. It looks like we might have to take the same Oasis ship back, even tho it's too early and it leaves from Southampton. 

We had a marvelous dinner last night, Mexican+, and now we have a day to enjoy with Rick and Karen and do a little last-minute shopping. 

Now we go

12 hours from now, we will be on our way to Europe via Florida and cruise ship. I'll be up all night, because we have to leave at 6 a.m. There's no point going to bed, since my usual bed time is 4 a.m.  

I'm anxious to see #1 Son and #1 Daughter-in-law. 

New iPad - new iPad classes - train trip

Still waiting on Manfred's passport to book the ship. Other things are still pending.

My iPad was having troubles, so after some weeks of trying to fix it, Apple finally replaced it!  So my iPad is now brand new. It's hard to use now because passwords and some settings have been lost, but it's quicker and smoother. I got a new Zagg cover for it, too.

Friday, the day of iPad exchange, we went on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railway -- an authentic old steam train used to transport loggers in the old days.

And, on Wednesday, the 22nd, we had another pair of iPad classes at our good old Senior Center in Port Angeles. I had a co-teacher who will now carry on the classes, because it's a long drive for us. 

Planning Europe Trip

We have been working on options for Europe this Fall. Manfred wants to go and return by boat 'cuz flying is so awful these days. This is what it looks like now:

August 30 - fly to Ft.Lauderdale,  Alaska Air, non-stop

Sept 1 - take World's biggest cruise ship, Royal Carribbean Oasis of the Sea to Barcelona. 

Sept 13 - arrive Barcelona

Sept 16 - take overnight ferry to Rome

Sept 17 - arrive Rome, take train to Florence

Sept 18 - see David 

Sept 19 - take train to Innsbruk 

Sept 21 - rent car, drive to Fussen/Neuschwanstein and back

Sept 22 - train to Saltzburg, rent car,
.                  drive to St.Gilgen to stay @ Annalise's place

Sept 23-Oct 4 - visit w/ Runi, visit Salzkammergut,
.                            go to Munich for Oktoberfest, etc.

Oct 4 - drive to Maria Alm to stay in RCI condo one week

Oct 11 - drive back to St.Gilgen for 4 more days

Oct 14 - head for Rome

Oct 17 - board Celebrity cruise in Rome for Miami

Nov 1 - Miami, see Rick & Karen

Nov 5 - fly back to Seattle, Alaska Air, non-stop

We will get a Eurail Pass for the trains. 

What's booked is the flights to/from FLL, the RCI conco, and Annalise's place. 

Cruises can't be booked yet because we're waiting for Manfred's passport. He let it expire and now it's holding up the works. 

Now the new boy-cat is gone, too!

He seemed to be right at home, but after 2 or 3 days of coming and going outside, he didn't come back any more. It was raining and Bill closed his window, and I don't think he had learned how to jump up on the other window. He was the one most wanting to go outside, so maybe he's just a born vagabond. Manfred pictures him with his toys wrapped up in a bandanna on a stick.

At least we still have feline supervision -- a Wink without a Tiddly.  She is very demanding of brushing and petting. 

Bill stayed with us for almost a month. Now I'm starting to plan a trip to Europe, looking at travel by ship. We both have to admit that we can't get around like we used to. I get a backache after a trip to the grocery store. I will see if I can find boats both ways and then just visit Sintra, St Gilgen, and one other place. 

Mercutio is gone, new cats are here

Mercutio just didn't come home.

We waited for 10 days, then went to the Poulesbo Animal Shelter and got 2 "barn cats" - cats that have lived outdoors, and are free. A tabby male and a tuxedo female, both young, both very scared of people. They stayed hidden for several days, but now they come out.

We call them Tiddly (boy) and Winky (girl).

More iPad classes

We went to Port Angeles to teach 2 iPod classes: a beginners’ class from 11 to 1p.m. & “advanced” from 2 to 4 p.m.  There were not so many people, but it was beaucoup fun.

Bill was supposed to come, but then he had to go to a funeral. 

We have given up on Mercutio, and arranged to get a shelter cat, and maybe two. 

Mercutio is Missing

Where could he be?  He has been gone for 2 nights, now.

He was eating very well, very demanding: canned pet store cat food, wild sockeye salmon canned by Bill Jones, some dry kibble soaked in water, and mice or birds 3-4x/wk. he was putting on weight (when he was sick he became a bag of bones), shiny coat (brushed daily). 

We are so sad. The house is no good without him.

Tacoma day

 We went to the Apple Store in Tacoma. The speaker on my iPad was sounding terrible - they fixed it. 

  We wiped the drive on the older MacBook and installed Snow Leopard. Now it is ready to sell. I'm just hoping there was nothing on there that we need/want, because I forgot the external drive, so couldn't back up anything. 

Then I got the sticker/skin removed from my iPad, and got new Zagg covers, front and back. Looks like a different device. 

Goodby to the Blue Flames. It was pretty scratched and tattered. 

iPad class @ Senior Center

Yesterday I actually taught a class about iPads at the Port Angeles Senior Center!

I never saw such happy people!  It just goes to show you -- get an iPad and you will get happy.

They want me to do another class, iPad 2, and I want to also. It was so much fun. 

It was supposed to be limited to 8 people, but 9 got in before someone cut it off, and still others wanted to come.  So I might be able to give another beginners class as well.

  

My so happy Mothers Day

I actually got a FedEx package marked "Shari's Berries".

What a thrill! -- They have been advertising like crazy for the last 2 weeks those unbelievably beautiful strawberries coated with various chocolate concoctions. It was from Richard & Karen, that most wonderful son and daughter-in-law.

The ads say it's an unforgettable present, and they are 100% correct. The most delicious mix of two of my fav things. Yum!

Choo choo... Hello

Manfred just received his train-telephone from Chuck and Diane. It is very good-looking, and it not only whistles, it makes all the chuffing and clicking and screeching sounds of an old-fashioned steam engine pulling into a station.

Finally....

Flus and cough are mostly gone, terrible backache is gone, I think the tapping helped me, but I still feel terribly weak. Can't do much.
Manfred still coughs, can't do much, either.

Mercutio is still thin, he eats a little, then quits. Still catches creatures and sometimes eats them.

Now then....

Bill Jones returned to Canada on the 23rd. When we drove him to Port Angeles to get the ferry to Victoria, we visited the Senior Center, and I agreed to teach a class about iPad. It will be next month, May 22. I will probably also go to the Senior Center Fair, to give an Intro to iPad. I have this little campaign going to convince people, especially older people, that the iPad is the new computer. 

Mercutio is still very thin, he eats, but not enough. Manfred is feeding him. Mostly canned cat food and canned salmon. He hasn't brought in any critters, lately. 

I still feel very weak, from the cold I had, but Rosemary reminded me about EFT Tapping, and I used that to stop the cough. Manfred, too. Silly of me to have forgotten about it. 

Update...

Bill is visiting us, it's been a long time since the last time.

Robin is here in WA, giving 2 weekend clinics near Ellensburg. 

And I have a horrible cold, started about 4 days ago.
Tonight is a total lunar eclipse. 

The cherry trees are flowering and the fence got fixed. 

Robin visit

On Tuesday, April 15, Robin drove here from Ellensburg, where he is giving 2 weekend clinics, for lunch and a look around.  Then he went to the airport to pick up Natalie for their stay in Seattle.

My cold continues -- it's even more horrible.  Lunar eclipse was socked in, as usual. 

New WorldMark Credits are in

On April 1st (April Fools Day) our WorldMark credits were renewed (no joke). We have 17,000 of the expensive credits bought from WorldMark, and 5,000 cheaper, bought from 3rd party credits. So we now have 22,000 new credits, plus 1,600 left over from last year. 

We have used credits 4 times since our stay in the wonderful resort in Hungary. 

We stayed a week in San Diego in Dec. 2012, and 

in 2013 we spent a week in Leavenworth WA in May,

 then 5 days in Long Beach WA in September,

 and 5 days in expensive Indio CA penthouse in December. 

Spring is ....l.

Flowers are popping out all over the place. Some days it's sunny, some days it's rainy. Temperatures are cool, 40s and 50s.

This is the view from our front door.

Other pics snapped around town.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Manfred went to SoCal & Mexico

On Monday, February 24, Manfred flew to San Diego, where he was picked up and taken to his dentist's office in Tijuana. His lower denture had gotten very loose, and eating was difficult. The dentist replaced the screws with gold ones, and said they cannot loosen again. Ever.

Then he went to Encinitas and spent 2 enjoyable days with friends Chuck & Diane. They visited a retirement home that is very nice, and very expensive. He took a jar so they made Kombucha Tea. 

On Thursday, Feb 27, he flew back to Seattle. He left his car at the bus stop (a gas station) so he was able to drive home, with the GPS and toothbrush I had left behind.