Just Call Me Pollyanna

Good news out of Bermuda:  no injuries and no mortalities because of Igor.   For such a massive storm, this is a blessing.  (Pictures of the waves amazed me).

We got our flu shots on Friday.  Coming out of the doctor's office, my husband mentioned he wasn't feeling well and his arm hurt and if he got sick it was all my fault.  I assured him that the side effects from the shot, while mild, would not have been evident in 10 minutes.  He's not sure...

And we're packing again.  We leave in a few days for a cruise to Canada -- something we've talked about doing for a long time.  The cruise we were initially interested in isn't offered from our port of choice, but this one, while not visiting the Maritime Provinces, does stop in St. John and Halifax, and a couple of ports in Maine. I love being at sea and sit for hours just staring at the water.  It is our habit to have an early dinner, and then hot tea with lemon as we watch the sunset.  Yes, I realize for some the excitement overwhelms, but that's just the way we are.  Hopefully, storms and their effects will be kept at bay (just not the Bay of Fundy ☺) and what Gilly and her husband experienced a few weeks ago, will not be the case. 

The visceral responses to my post on "Choosing Civility" and Dr. Forni's program surprised me.   After reading Bill's post and seeing how graciously he handled a bad situation,  I've decided that a change starts with me.  Remembering my favorite quote, "For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be, what is once well done is done forever," (Thoreau) I will be out there being gracious and kind and never flipping off another driver or scowling at rudeness again.  I will simply bite my already bloody tongue, smile and handle caustic, obnoxious behavior with aplomb and gentility.  Maybe the latter will begin to come naturally.

THAT Ship Has Sailed...

Because we've cruised on Norwegian, we frequently receive notice of special deals.  Lately, they've been hitting us hot and heavily with specials on Epic their new mammoth ship.  It boasts 4200 capacity/double occupancy. (Does this mean it can hold 8400 passengers?) Doesn't matter; 4200 is way too many for us.  And while watching ships like Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas pulling into port is certainly thrilling, we won't be on them.

I think cruise lines, like NCL, have made a big mistake.  Yes, these floating communities featuring courtyards, spas, rock climbing walls, and offer guests full resort amenities and entertainment.  For some this appeals, but traveling with that many people holds absolutely no enjoyment for us.   In fact, we had originally chosen NCL, because they offered cruising to Alaska on a 'smaller ship', Norwegian Wind (occupancy about 1700), which was retired in 2007.  Last year, our trip to Bermuda on NCL's Norwegian Majesty, a ship of commensurate size to Norwegian Wind, was a wonderful experience as we departed out of Baltimore and down the Chesapeake Bay into the Atlantic. Now, NCL can no longer cruise out of smaller ports like Baltimore and Vancouver, because the ships are too big.

I could be totally wrong and building and sailing these behemoths may be economically viable. Will we recant and reconsider?  No. I think these ships will be sailing without us.

Stronger Every Day

There's this spot in my garden where I dumped extra manure. I had forgotten about it until the perennials -- red monarda that I had planted there a long time ago began to grow. It all looks healthy, but in that particular spot the monarda are mutantly gigantic. Here are two views:


When we got back from Bermuda on Sunday we learned our daughter had a problem and so we welcomed her and our 14 month old grand daughter into our home. The adjustment has not been easy as my husband and I have been empty-nesters for some time and I'm a confirmed neatnik. It's not been easy on our daughter because she is hurt and sad and independent and used to being in her own home, but we're all dealing with it. We're glad to have them both here and are thankful we can help her through this bad time.
So what's my point? Nietzsche says what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I believe this to be true. I guess another way of saying this is "manure happens". Look what it did for the monarda.

And Away We Go

One of my favorite shows of all times is Frasier. The writing, to me, illustrated comedy at its finest; the relationship between the characters Frasier and his brother Niles, their father, Daphne (their father's live-in physical therapist), Roz, the producer of Frasier's radio show and others is timeless, priceless, and amazing. I am not able to determine a single, favorite episode; it is just not possible as there are too many.

One of the occasional characters was Daphne's drunken sot of a brother from Manchester, England -- Simon Moon, played by Anthony La Paglia, the star of Without A Trace. It is a testament to his abilities that he can play, and do so well, two antithetical characters. Every once in a while, I want to see him as Jack, the FBI agent, launch into a Simonesque diatribe, sure of himself, a veritable font of misinformation, and totally inebriated. A favorite line -- to Daphne on her mood before her impending wedding, "You wouldn't be the first Moon to walk down the aisle carrying more than a bouquet." I miss Simon and Frasier, Niles, Daphne, Martin, and Roz.

We babysat for a short bit this morning. I've included a photo of middle daughter and baby. They're both so cute, I can't stand it.


Richard and I are packing as we leave tomorrow morning for a cruise to Bermuda. We're really excited about seeing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from underneath!!! We've arranged for someone to stay here and look after the gardens, and, of course, the business is run from our house and although people will be checking online, I'll be away from my blog. I'll miss you all.