Our Girls: Misty and Crystal

Stop by Office Max again today to get color copies of Beth's invitations; plus leave the meeting schedules which I'll pick up tomorrow. To Sherry's for haircut - see Mel and several others. Home and turn on Rush. Check e-mail and news sites. Surf the web for more info. Eventually into living room and find Lawman didn't record. Watch a few westerns I'd recorded while I have a bowl of fruit. Cookies for dessert. Down for nap fully clothed as we're supposed to be getting a delivery for Beth's employers today. Work at computer. Fed Ex here with delivery. Call Beth; then she and Brenda here to pick it up and take it back to work. I back to computer. Break away to clean up side yard and sweep inside tiles. Beth home. Help bring in her stuff. We talk; then I cook dinner. We eat and chat. Both to office. Booth get ready and to bed. Later ~

Al "Lash" LaRue

Leave meeting early so I can get some things copied for Beth with still time left to meet Brenda an Ramona where she's leaving her car; and get her to Beth's place of employment in time for Beth to get her to work. Home and check e-mail and news sites; plus surf around for awhile. Jimmy George calls and we discuss our weekends. He's off to a neighbor's for coffee and talk. I into living room and watch today's recording of Lawman. Fix a sandwich and eat. Follow Lawman with a Lash LaRue PRC western, The Fighting Vigilantes. Then it's down to nap with girls (actually 'girl' - because Crystal can no longer get up on bed). Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Two shirts come from Hawaii; along with my Gadsden flag. Start work on trash. Start seeping tile floor. Work at computer; then Beth home. We talk then we eat dinner. After, we watch Sarah Palin recorded show from Sunday, Get ready for bed. Later ~

Wearing Matt Dillon's hat
Kennedy Assassnation Anniversary

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall to meet Brenda. I up 6:00. Shower and dress. Bring in paper; have breakfast while reading paper. Trim my beard. Work at computer. Beth home and she works outside doing wash and trimming plants. I to office and work at computer for awhile. Beth gets ready and she's off to meet Edie: they're shopping for the mission. I watch TV and have sandwich. Check computer then down for my nap with girls. Up and she's still not home. I out to clean up side yard when she returns. We talk; then she calls Shannon and they talk forever. I into office and putz at computer. Back to kitchen - Beth's talking to Theresa Livers now. Talk after. She to office while I fix (soup & salad) dinner, We eat. Then we watch a rerun recording of CSI: Miami. She does a washing. Both get ready for bed. Later ~

Cast of Arthur

Grocery Shopping after meeting. Home and Brenda helps me unload and take inside; put away. Work in office. Decide to download new AOL 9.5 and by doing that it fixed all my AOL problems. Popcorn for Brenda and me. I watch TV - an old Eddie dean PRC western. Brenda leaves and I make lunch and eat while I watch another old western. Check e-mail; then it's down for nap with girls. Up in two hours. Beth is here. Package arrives for her; plus she brings in mail. I work in office. Move into dining room and sit with her while she checks mail. Call from Lou Bartoletti and we talk for a few minutes. End up in office. Beth in to join me and we look at my blog of Hawaii trip; plus all Hawaii photos. I fix dinner and we eat. We watch "Arthur" with Dudley Moore and John Gielgud. She loved it. She gets ready for bed. I do same. Write here. Later ~

With William Shatner on Kingdom of the Spiders set

Home after meeting and check e-mail and news sites. To get pedicure at 10:00. Beth has her nail appointment at 12:00. Pick up burger and ice cream cone on way home. Beth is there unloading stuff and putting it away. I set up lunch by TV and start watching today's Lawman. Interrupted few times by Beth with a chore or to she needs done. She leaves. Put my car into garage. Watch a few minutes of a John Wayne, George Hayes 1933 western. Check e-mail then down for nap with girls. Up before two. Beth home and working (of course). She's already doing wash and has brought in mail. I work in office until she joins me. Ron calls from next door. Talk to Jeff Sneller about this new (supposedly) 3-D remake of KOS. Work on letter re remake. Fix dinner (soup and salad). Both back into office.

Old friend, Neil Summers

Colder today.
Home after meeting with a stop to talk to Nader on way. Check e-mail and news sites. Make blood draw appointment for Beth. Try call Hawaii to order shirts but realize it's much too early. Call Jimmy George and we talk about photo he sent me; plus he sends 64 pics and we discuss them over the phone. Then he's off to his hometown to spend a few days with an old friend. I into living room and Watch two episodes of Lawman. Call Hawaii and order two shirts. Down for a nap staying dressed as some delivery men are delivering something for Beth between 1 - 5. Up 2:15 - doorbell rings and dogs bark. Put girls in office while deliverymen bring packages into house. Join girls in office. Check mail - no mail. Feed girls and take my pills. Work in office. Finally mail comes. Open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Beth home and help her bring stuff inside. We talk; then I make dinner and we eat. After, we watch Hawaii 5-0 recorded last night. I into office and get ready for bed. She showers. Later ~

Kennedy Assassination Anniversary

New week starts. Starting to get cold.
Stop at copiers for Beth and Von's to get cottage cheese for Beth on way home from meeting. Check e-mail and news sites. Work at computer trying to fix AOL file problem. Work with some photos. Into living room to watch Boardwalk Empire recording from last night. Eat sandwich while viewing. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Clean side yard. Sweep tiles. Work in office. Turn on O'Reilly. Beth home. Help her in with her stuff. We talk then I fix dinner and we eat. After, we watch CSI: Miami recorded last night. I put out trash and get ready for bed. She showers then watches DWTS. Later ~

With Beth and Brenda

Sleep in day. Beth up and to Hall to meet Brenda. I up 5:45 - shower and dress. Breakfast and paper; check e-mail and news sites. Beth home and we talk for awhile - she reads paper. We off to drop something at her place of employment. On to RM Walgreen's to get blankets for mission; to COSTCO to pick up my new glasses; to Wal-Mart to get a radio; lunch an Yellow Basket - fish tacos; to PD Walgreen's for more blankets for mission. Home, ice cream, then I down for nap with girls. Up and wash up. Work in office with her - order some things online. Call in pizza order then down to pick it up. Home and we eat. After, Sarah Palin Special from last Sunday; CSI: Miami from last Sunday. To office. She get ready for bed. I follow. Later ~

Saturday, November 20, 2010

My old friend, Jimmy George from Mississippi

Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and unload and put away with Brenda's help. Brenda is cleaning today. We share some popcorn. I watch recording of yesterday's Lawman. Work in office. Talk to Jimmy George. Brenda leaves. I make lunch and watch a western on TV. Down for nap with girls. Up and Beth is home. We talk and work in office. Bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. To office while she into read mail. Then we off to The River to see Secretariat. After we drive to La Quinta to shop for something for her. Tacos on way home. Home and get ready for bed. Later ~

Beth on Kauai beach

Beth on ship

Ice carving in ship's galley

Leave early and home so I'm there when Damon's floor guys get here. Jimmy George calls for a minute. Bug guy here at same time as floor guys. Everyone going at once and it's only 8:30. Beth finally here a little before 9:00 to pick up girls and take them to groomer. I work in office while all the work goes on around me. All gone by 9:30 (floor guys will be back to apply a second coat). I fix lunch and watch recording of Boardwalk Empire in bedroom. Guys back and they start in on second coat. I continue to watch TV in bed room. They finally leave. I down for hour nap (without girls). Up and call Beth; then start putting small stuff back where it belongs. Bring in mail; open mail for Beth. Beth here with girls. She back to work and I work in office after feeding girls. Clean up side yard. Finish putting house back in order. Watch today's Lawman. Beth home. Bring her stuff inside including ironing. Talk; I fix dinner and we eat. Then we watch Hawaii 5-0 and CSI: Vegas. Both get ready for bed. Later ~

Enjoying the Cruise by Lido Deck Pool

Waiting for the Bus to Hilo Hattie's

Beth walks around the Promenade Deck

Home after meeting. Snack while I open e-mail and check news sites. Do a few things on computer. Make some phone calls. Elaine Henderson calls and wants to drop off ironing. Move into living room and watch Lawman. After that. make some lunch and eat while watching Universal's 1942 Oater teaming Johnny Mack Brown and Tex Ritter: Deep in the Heart of Texas. Beth by in Rolls to pick up Elaine's ironing. I down for nap with girls. Up and check e-mail. Out to get mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Work in office. Clean up side yard. Sweep tile floors. Start getting trash ready to go out. Beth home. I cook; then we eat. After, watch recordings of Hawaii 5-0 and CSI: Vegas. Trash out. She showers and I get redy for bed. Later ~

Beautiful Views at Sea



Stop by Nader's station to gas up and chat with Nader. Home and snack while checking e-mail and news sites. Start copying The Honkers for a man in Carlsbad, NM. Jimmy George calls and we talk and exchange photos by e-mail. Watch Lawman on TV while eating leftover tacos from last night. Finish DVD copying and call Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. To office and wrap DVD for sending. Surf Internet.
Clean up side yard. Sweep tiles. Turn on Fox News. O'Reilly on next. Waiting for Beth to get home from hair appointment. She finally home a little after 6:00. I have dinner ready so I dish it up and we eat. After we watch last Tuesday's NCIS. It's a two-parter. To office with her. Get ready for bed. Later ~

Tenders waiting for passengers off Maui

Beth naps after a long day

Leaving Nawiliwili harbor on Kawai

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites. Work in office for awhile. Talk Beth. Jamie, AC guy, here and switch air conditioning to heater. I off to La Quinta where I buy a calendar for Beth at Office Depot and some lei's for Christmas card at party shop. Home. Make lunch and eat while I watch Lawman. Call Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Brenda here and we wait for Beth. Beth here and they get started on wrapping napkins for Thanksgiving at The Hall. Everyone helps as we prepare for a taco dinner. We sit down and eat - Beth's tacos are great! They continue to prep for Thanksgiving while I go into office and answer some e-mails. Brenda leaves. Beth joins me in office. Get ready for bed. Later ~

Our ship, MS Zaandam, plus various views from



OUR 13th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Albertson's shopping for tomorrow's dinner with Brenda. Home and check e-mail and news sites. Work all morning with VHS to DVD transfer machine and TV. Just don't remember how it works -even with directions. Give up. To living room and TV: Lawman with sandwich and chips for early lunch; followed by Mountain Rhythm, with Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette. Call Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. To bank and make deposits for Beth. Home and sweep tiles. Clean up side yard. Work at computer until Beth gets home. We to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Walk around The River; then home. Both work in office. Get ready for bed. Later ~

Three Angles of our Deluxe Navigation Deck Stateroom



Sleep in day. Beth up and she to Hell to meet Brenda. I up and shower - dress and bring in paper. Make breakfast and eat. Trim beard. Beth home from Hall. Beth reads paper. Beth out to meet Brenda at Michael's to her Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations for Hall. I down for my nap with girls. Up and Beth is here. Watch some golf. I watch some football. Both work in office in afternoon. I out to get pizza. We eat; then we watch two more episodes of shows me missed while we were away. Both into office to work. Get ready for bed. Later ~

Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and unload and put away. Work in office transferring Beth's notes taken of trip to the blog - plus photos. Lunch and a Gene Autry Western. Nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls; open mail for Beth. Back to office and continue with blog until finished. Beth home. She's been with Brenda shopping for Mission; Edie's earlier. She opens mail while I redo some photos on the Hawaiian blog and begin this Saturday blog. We both work in office. I fix dinner and we eat. Then we watch 2 episodes of shows we recorded while we were gone. Bed. Later ~

Monday, 11/8 through Friday, 11/12

Lydia, gofer on our deck -private crew stairs

with Resi in Lido Cafe

Chef by Lido Deck Pool

I'm summing up this week in a single blog because it consisted of unpacking and getting our lives back on our normal routine. We attended our morning meeting every day; Beth went back to work; and I worked on this blog, transferring and editing the notes Beth took while we cruised. Had my haircut on Tuesday, eyes checked on Wednesday, and the usual chores around the house. Brenda was here to clean on Friday and we had dinner with the Grippis Friday night. Now ... starting tomorrow, Saturday, I will get this blog back up and running.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Welcoming seagull at San Deigo Harbor

Gassing up for next Hawaii trip

Beds made for next customers. ALOHA!

Up 4:15 - get ready to leave ship. Set luggage out in hall at 6:00 a.m. - Mission accomplished. Breakfast delivered in room and we eat while watching reruns of disembarkment show. Beth got voice mails off her cellphone. Called Brenda to catch up on election news. Crew in to change the bed; they get an early start. All cabins must be ready for new passengers by 11:00 a. m. Called Joel - he's waiting. Off the ship; Our departure was announced at 8:15. Pick up luggage; and meet Joel - in the car by 8:35 and on way home.
Pull into our driveway at 11:05. Overjoyed to see our girls. Mail all over. Steve went to get lunch at Carl's Jr. - Steve takes nap. Beth makes some phone calls. Taquitos for Beth for dinner and she finishes unpacking; Steve finishes too. Do stuff on computer; Steve downloaded our pic onto computer - over 1,000. Bed by 8:15. ALOHA! exhausted. Later ~

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Transition to reality

The crew gives us a goodbye and we thank them with applause and tips

Beth with Gladys, our Concierge

Up at 6:15 for last breakfast in King's Room. After, we meet Rich, Cheryl, Al and Diane in Mondriaan Lounge for disembarkation presentation. All Crew makes appearance. To Terrace Grill on lido deck for taco lunch and yapping. Steve down to stateroom for daily nap. Beth follows and she packs some more. To Lido Cafe for final dinner with all at our end table; watch sun go down. Resi helps us serve ourselves. Stayed until ship docked in Ensenada, MX. Bye all! Back to room for finish last packing. Bed by 9:00 p.m.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Peacock made from napkin by Resi

With our King's Room breakfast servers

Cheryl and Rich

Up at 6:15 to get ready for 8:00 a.m. breakfast. Beth wears new Crocs; Steve wears new red and black shirt. Beth walked one lap around ship deck. Up to Lido Deck #8 to meet Al, Diane, Cheryl and Rich for lunch. Down to cabin for Steve's nap. Beth rests and begins packing.. AA Meeting in King's Room. All up to Lido Cafe for early dinner - then to get seats for "Broadway Show." It was great! All back to Lido Deck for ice cream. Resi made all the women birds out of napkins and cups. We learned a lot from him about the crew. Bed at 9:00.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Waiters' Napkin Dance in Rotterdam Restaurant

Cheryl and Rich

Diane and Al
Steve and Beth

Up at 6:15 - get laundry ready. Off to the King's Room for breakfast. Beth walked all the way around Promenade Deck - 1/4 mile. Up to Terrace Grill - meet out AA clan: Al, Diane, Cheryl and Rich. we talk and eat by Lido Pool. To cabin for Steve's nap. AA Meeting at 4:00; then dinner with AA pals in Rotterdam Restaurant. Diane to ship's doctor: not feeling well. WE had a good time at dinner with Waiter's napkin dance, etc. Back to cabin and bed 9:15. Good night! says Beth.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Lido Deck Pool Band



Up 6:15 and off to the King's Room for breakfast and more food. Back to our cabin and hang out before going to Terrace Grill to people watch and eat Greek food. Took pictures. Lunch. Back to cabin for Steve's nap and Beth wash hair. Beth to 5th Deck to look around; joined by Steve at 4:00 for AA Meeting with regular group. Dinner in our cabin - Chili Reano. Off to see Blue Hawaii in the ship's theater at 7:00. Back in cabin and beddy-bye by 9:30.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Resi and friends




Up at 5:45 - get ready to eat breakfast again in King's Room. Took time to take photos all over the ship. Sea a little rocky today. Went people watching by Terrace Grill then Beth took tons of photos of the buffet and the fish carving. Lunch. Back to cabin to try to catch results from mid-term elections - only have an international version of CNN. To our AA Meeting 4-5. Back to cabin for more election results. Ordered dinner in room. Went to 8:00 p.m.show in the Mondriaan Lounge - Alfreda Gerald, singer: Tribute to the Divas. Back to room and check on election results. GOP taking a lot of House back; some of Senate. Bed, 9:30.