Travel Tuesday

We had a great time on our trip. Me, definitely more than Butch. He's not so good at sitting around. He goes a little stir crazy. For me, what's not to like? Basking in the sun, being waited on with tropical drinks, reading to my heart's content and working on a few organizational projects on my computer. For me the week went by pretty fast.

I'm really happy that Mindy and Justin were with us. We were looking forward to a relaxing trip. Although, unlike Stephanie and Nicky who travel with us, Mindy and Justin travel adjacent to us. Meaning that we mostly each do our own thing, but meet up for specific things--like tours, trivia, happy hours and dinner. That's fine by us as I like to do my own thing on this type of vacation. In fact I only got off the ship once in San Juan and that was one time too many. I had already been to each of these islands and once is all you need. I was happy to stay on the ship.

 

However, we learned a couple things:

1. We're done with the Caribbean. Been there, done that, too many times. Don't need to do it again.

2. We're done with big ships. Ditto from above. We are spoiled by river cruises. It's the only way to go! About a hundred people compared to 3000!

Also, a few more things if you are choosing a cruise. Do Not choose Holland America. This was our first time with this company. The ship was beautiful, spotless and easy to get around. The service was fabulous and the food was delicious. We are used to cruising and know the ropes. This time, everything we thought we knew was a lie!!

1. We upgraded our rooms to connect with Mindy and Justin including the balconies. We pictured ourselves having happy hours there. That didn't happen. All the beverages in the refrigerator were extra charges.

2. We paid for internet, but it was terrible. We simply didn't get it most of the time. We all spent time at guest services trying to figure out what we needed to do. It was a complicated, convoluted mess. The bottom line was that you could not have two devices on the internet at the same time. That meant we could not share photos or get them to sync with our computer. I could not download a book to Butch's Kindle because that required internet connection for both at the same time! So frustrating. Butch went down first. When he got back, he had a puzzled look on his face. He said, “Barb, I cannot honestly tell you what she said. It made no sense."

3. We paid extra to have the tips included. As it turns out, not all the tips were included. Tips were added to the beverages. Here's another thing: sometimes we got a bill we had to sign that included the tip and sometimes we didn't. There was no rhyme or reason as to how it was handled. 

4. We got the beverage package. The package was only good for beverages up to $11. Many, many of the drinks were more than that so we had to pay the difference.  Even a simple cosmo was a dollar more. Then when we got the bills, it looked like we were paying for each drink. Their accounting system was ludicrous.

5. Another thing about the beverage package: we had to count canned water (they don't use plastic) and Cokes as one of the beverages. The only free beverages were tap water, coffee and tea. 

6. In all of our cruise experience, we have never seen a menu where there were additional choices that you had to pay for! It was annoying. Of course the premium items looked amazing! We didn't get any of them and luckily, ALL the food was delicious.

Now I'm going to let you in to see a little of my crazy. I doubt I've ever told you that I am a counter. You might have figured it out by my careful documentation of things: books I've read, movies I've seen, documentaries I've watched, the things I get rid of and it goes on and on. Well here are the counts from our trip:

Drinks:

Bloody Caesar—4 (like a bloody Mary but with clam juice)

Extra Dirty Martini—4

Miami Vice—2

Chocolate Martini—1

Miami Beach Spritz—1

Hot chocolate with Bailey’s—2

Hot Chocolate—1

Iced tea—10+ refills

Diet Coke—6

Water cans—4

BBC—3

Hot tea—6

Orange juice—2

Milk—3

Fashionista-1

Blue Florida-1

Total of Alcohol drinks: 19 (wow, that's a lot for me--they sure were good)

Activities:

Music Trivia--2

Trivia—4

Prom Photos

San Juan, Puerta Rico

Origami (this was stupid--thought I might learn something I could use for scrapbooking. No such luck)

Read on the trip:

People magazine: 8

One book.

And now, the pictures:

San Juan's smallest house.

He couldn't resist stopping at his favorite store!!

What's goin' on Wednesday

It looks like I'm going to be out of touch the rest of the week. The internet is really crappy---even though we've paid for it. It's very complicated as to what you have to do. We are having a hard time even texting each other regarding plans. Luckily Mindy & Justin have the cabin next door. We just have to make sure we discuss our plans before we part--like the olden days! It's hard to go backwards!

We cannot get any of our pictures to transfer to each other or even from our phones to our computers. We're only allowed to have one device connected to the internet at a time. Since both the phone and the computer need to be online for photos to transfer, there's nothing we can do. It's so frustrating. 

We thought Holland American was a top cruise line. We're not exactly having that experience. 

Don't get me wrong, we're having a great time. But it's just frustrating. Nowadays, connectivity is a must!!

See you in a week!

Me on Monday

I've had many discussions with my friends about this. I'm pretty sure I have ADD. There wasn't a name for it when I was little. But, here's the thing---I can focus on specific tasks, but then I can be all over the place too.

My friend, Nancy said I have AADD--Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. That's it exactly. 

I know I have been critical of audio books. I find it hard to believe that anyone can really focus on them enough to follow the story or get enough out of them to participate in a discussion. While listening, it doesn't take much for me to get distracted and go off on a tangent--like--if the book mentions a hamburger, I'm thinking about how long it's been since I've had a burger, where and when and how I'd like to have a 5 Guys right now. Before I know it, I have missed 10 minutes of the book. Or I'll get distracted by a billboard and off my mind goes. 

Heck, I do it in emails. Recently, I was emailing my scrapbooking friends and asking if anyone wanted to go in with me for some things that were on sale. I was looking for a share partner. Before I even finished the email, I jumped to an idea that whoever wanted to could kick in $10 and I'd buy the stuff. When we're together in February for our scrapbook retreat, we'll divvy up the goods. 

My brain never turns off. I always have ideas. Tons of ideas. Add my obsessive tendencies--it's exhausting! 

Now back to the audio books. Ever since Sandy suggested that I listen to memoirs read by the author, I've been on a roll. Those I can handle---even if I am not particularly interested in that person. Somehow, it feels like a conversation and I find those interesting. 

So now that I'm listening to audio memoirs, I've just about abandoned my podcasts---well except for my scrapbooking one. There's just not enough time to do everything! 

Don't even get me started on my "to-do" list. That is ever-growing and never-ending. I have my work cut out for me when we are on our cruise. But when I say "work"--it's really fun to me. And, FYI---since losing ALL of my 841 fonts, I have not fallen back down that rabbit hole! But I am going to try to find a few for scrapbooking purposes. I'm not saying that's really a good idea, but I'm feeling the need to do it!

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I do have AADD. What about you? Don't tell me I'm alone in this!!

Something for Sunday

Today, we are off on a week long cruise in the Caribbean with Mindy and Justin. I'm planning on doing a whole lot of relaxing, reading, relaxing, organizing (I have a lot to do on my computer), relaxing, sightseeing (Butch is forcing me), relaxing and, more relaxing. Notice I didn't say eating and drinking. I'm going to try stick to my plan which is nearly impossible on vacation. 

 It's my sweet tooth that gets the best of me. In fact, I'm thinking of taking the box of Russel Stovers that I got for Christmas with me. That way I can share it with Butch, Mindy and Justin. Last year, I save my box from my birthday until the fall and it was bad. I had no idea that chocolates could go bad. I'm not about to let that happen again!

Still, I'm planning on making good choices. Famous last words. I remember when we took our French River Cruise a few years ago, I told myself that I would only let myself have bread once a day. Quickly it became once a meal! Give me strength! I'm already dreaming about those Miami Vice's I had at Morgan and Olly's wedding.

Just looking at this tells me I will not be able to resist. It was so good! Half Pina colada and half strawberry daiquiri. And then there are the BBC's--Bailey's, Bananas and Colada--so good. There's something about tropical drinks when we are on vacation. I think I'll be having a few. And then there's the new Caesar Bloody Mary I had in Mexico that was so good too. It sound gross as it's made with clam juice, but it's not. It's really a very subtle flavor. Heck when you have an unlimited drink package, that's the time to try everything. I'll have chocolate martinis too. And then the mimosa and bellinis---Okay, Barb, stop!! That's enough about drinks. The way I'm going on, you would think I'm a big drinker. The only reason I have the drink package--which isn't really worth it for me--is because both people in a cabin have to have it.

While we're away, I might or might not be blogging. Internet is always sketchy on the ship. I get so frustrated, so we'll just have to wait and see. 

Now on to what I really want to discuss. When I did my December re-cap, I realized that I forgot to add the documentaries that I watched--7 of them, but only 5 were really good. I love documentaries. I always learn so much!

On Netflix:

Don't Pick up the Phone---this one is so completely unbelievable. You must check it out. Without giving anything away, it's about some crazy person calling fast food places and pretending to be law enforcement. They have the manager strip search their employees---AND THEY DO IT!! It's hard to believe so many fall for it. Scary too.

Bad Surgeon--this is about a con-man that convinced everyone he was a wealthy doctor. He performed surgeries where people died. Very interesting.

Milli Vanilli--you probably remember the story of those two who were lip syncing ALL of their music. What happened to them was downright criminal, yet no one had to pay--except them. It's a sad story. The worst part is I think they were really talented in their own right.

JFK: What the Doctors Saw--finally, what really happened. This is not for the faint of heart. It's very explicit with pictures. There was so much kept from us. I think because it's so far past the event that they can tell us what really went on. Still, I'm going to find out the truth when I get to heaven. I want to know everything! 

On Paramount+:

Sometimes When We Touch--about the music that would come to be known as Yacht Rock. I guess I never really thought about it before, but it's an interesting story. Worth watching.

******************

I got a text from Morgan letting me know that she read 41 books this year. Pretty good for a working girl, avid out-door camper, festival goer, and 3 dog owner. I'm impressed she found that much time in her busy schedule! 

I asked her to send me her favorites:

The Housemaid

The Housemaid's Secret

Dream Daughter

Jessica Simpson Open Book

Lone Survivor

Based on her rec--I'm reading Lone Survivor right now. It's about the lone survivor of a 4 team member of a SEAL team in Afghanistan. It's going to be a 5-star for me. It's unbelievable to me the skill and courage of these guys. His first-person account is bone-chilling. I cannot fathom the pain!

Okay, I guess that's it for today.

Scrapbook Saturday

I made Morgan's wedding album. My goal was to have it finished by Christmas. I did. Here are the layouts, but it's another one of those time when the pictures aren't cooperating. They are out of order, but you'll get the idea!

Friday Funnies

Five Things Thursday

This post is going to be about New Years Eve--not five things this time. 

We stayed home. Butch got the idea of making a lobster dinner, so we did. We had parslied potatoes and a chopped salad with it. He bought a turtle pie for dessert. It was all delicious except he was a bit disappointed at the size of the lobster tails once they cooked shrunk. That's how it goes. We had a relaxing evening while watching Nashville's New Year's Eve. This program has become my favorite---over Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve--mostly because I don't know any of the artists performing anymore. At least in Nashville I know just about all of them.

A couple weeks before Christmas, Sandy invited Stephanie, Mindy and the boys to come for the New Year's weekend. She had all kinds of fun things planned. They had a wine and cheese tasting, had a coloring contest, a make your own pizza party, many games and I can't remember what else. 

The girls called us on New Year's Eve. They FaceTimed us on Butch's phone, so it was a little tricky. We moved to the couch so we could both see. We I kept dropping the phone. 

It's hard to hold it the air for a long time. Anyway, they were having a ball and sent us pictures to prove it.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2024. I wonder what the new year is going to bring. I'm sure there will be some surprises. I just hope they are all good!!