life in the old lane

Interestingly, the dummy was dressed as a crewman not as a guest. Guess that makes sense.

First thing you know it’s lunch time. And it’s nap time. And now it’s book reading time. And it has gotten cloudy but it’s nice and cool. I think it might have rained but how would I know because I was napping in the sardine can.

Oops, it’s definitely raining right now. One of those lovely tropical rains. The heavens just open up. I’m completely drench everything in sight.

Tomorrow, we’re going to CoCo Cay. That would be Royal Caribbeans private water park. I have no interest in that either. But it seems horrible. I’m fairly certain I’ll get off just to look at it. Although I’m sure the kids like it. Kids being anybody under the age of 75 you understand.

Still having fun. Mostly reading and relaxing. And right now I’m enjoying this topical rainstorm all safe and dry on the deck.

After breakfast with Christie, it’s off to the origami dojo.

Somewhere along the line this morning I signed up for another trip on this very same boat in the very same sardine can room. With the very same. Christie. June the 5th next year, nobody’s promised tomorrow much less next year. 

After that rigorous morning what to do but take a nap.

Will be going to the ship’s Japanese restaurant tonight for dinner. So far so good.

Start with a nice breakfast.

Then a walk along the Charleston water front.

Then Christie and I headed out on foot to Magnolias. A restaurant that both of us like. Last night out in the middle of the ocean I went online and made reservations. That’s pretty cool for a couple old women don’t you think? We’re old, we ate the food but didn’t take a picture of it. You’ll have to take my word for it. It was marvelous.

This has been a fine day and it isn’t over yet. We cancelled dinner tonight. But drinks are still on.

Around 1:00, I meet up with Christie and we have lunch. Lunch is mediocre but the company is good. And the coffee is reliably good on this ship. By the way, Christie is going to knit me a bathing suit.

And one from last evening while we were leaving Baltimore harbor.

According to Christie, tonight is formal night. She told me to wear a pretty blouse. Fat chance.

Walked 3.6 Miles today. That’s about it exercise wise. Christie has been walking a lot too. We are fine. But it’s only day 2.

Tomorrow we’re in Charleston. I reckon I’ll get off the boat wander around a little bit. Or not. Whatever happens is what I planned.

The time for departure comes and goes and we are still at the dock. Eventually, the captain comes on and tells us that we’re not going to Boston to Maine or to Canada, but we are going to Charleston, South Carolina and the Bahamas. WTF!

Confusion, disappointment, whining and complaining to the max. Some people get off the boat. But we didn’t know that was an option. So here we are heading to the Bahamas with our winter clothes. Whatever happens is what I planned.

Plan to make the best of it. 

A nice cool misty damp day. Much more relaxed than yesterday was. Time to think about getting ready to go.

I dragged everything out and put it on the bed. Then I went into my normal extreme minimal packing mode.

But wait. I don’t have to do this. I got out my BIG suitcase (still carry-on sized) and just tossed things in. Even an extra pair of shoes. And a nightgown! Who knows what else I’ll stuff in the bag before morning? 

I am supposed to have Wi-Fi, so I should be able to put up a picture or two every day. I am starting to get a little nervous about possible rough seas. I have been extremely lucky on my five ocean adventures. I packed the Dramamine, just in case. That’s the only just-in-case item that I packed.  

The crown popped off at 10:00 PM last night. And by 8:15 AM this morning it was glued back in place. 

Gratitude

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Grateful that nothing was wrong with the tooth. And that I got everything glued back together in less than 12 hours.

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I didn’t sleep so very well last night fretting about the tooth. Because of the upcoming trip. 

There was yoga today. I took the zoom option. And a couple of meetings at The Asylum this afternoon. One was about the Asylum hospice program. You get old. You care about things like hospice. 

Very busy doing nothing at all today.
My elderly friends will understand this.
The rest of you, maybe not.

Gotta consider getting ready for the boat trip. But how ready do I have to be?

Just chillin today. Folded some paper, did some laundry, went for a very little walk. Watered the orchids. Took a nap. Backed up the computer. Can I my elderly heart stand all that excitement?

I am not a fan of ice cream drumsticks. I had apple pie. And a Mai Tai. And a glass of wine. As Carlton was fond of saying “Moderation only leads to long life.”

The arrow points at my old building. I might be the only person here who can see their beloved old home from their “forever home”.

Since Covid, I have had very little good to say about the food at The Asylum. (The burgers, fries, hot dogs, and grilled cheese sandwiches are reliably good. Omelets are good at the moment.) This week lox and scrambled eggs were the breakfast special. Excellent.

Happy for the crows.

Just snagged a three-leg flight back to The Asylum. Leaving Kona on the 24th getting back here on Xmas morning. Doing it with miles. After all, she who dies with the most frequent flyer miles doesn’t win. And, if I find a more interesting way back, I can always cancel and get the miles back.

According to my watch, I walked 4 miles today, 11,171 steps. Pretty good for an old woman.

BUT. What’s not pretty good for an old woman.
This week, I have:

1. 1. Early this week, left my phone on the breakfast table.
   2. Today, left my milk and banana on the breakfast table.  (I frequently pick up milk and fruit to take to the Old Bat Cave.)
   3. Yesterday, wrote “Tuesday” on the blog not “Thursday”
   4. Today, disconnected a disc without ejecting it.
   5. And also today, I copied the wrong file to the improperly ejected disc. 

I choose to believe this is just “normal age-related absentmindedness”. But, what if it isn’t? Hello Switzerland.

Once upon a time, I could keep 4 or 5 balls in the air. Now, I need to pay attention to keep one ball aloft. Focus Peg. Focus. 

What have I done? Yesterday, after a fine lobster dinner with the entire Asylum Family, I booked an inside cabin on a cruise ship heading up the coast to St John, New Brunswick. Leaves a week from today. From Baltimore. A member of the Asylum Family is going. So, I can get a ride to where the boat leaves from. (Baltimore). It’s cheap. But, there is no window. Not even a porthole. It will be like living in a coffee can for 9 days. I hope the ship TV broadcasts a picture from the bridge 24/7. 

Normally I wouldn’t consider paying an additional $200 for wifi. But, I am going to treat myself to wifi. That’s what the ship does. It gets you to spend money. But, I think wifi might help preserve my sanity. 

It should be interesting. And hopefully “fun”. “Fun” is increasingly harder to come by as I get older. I am willing to settle for pleasant. Or mildly interesting these days.

Haven’t a clue why this orchid is blooming. Is it an omen? Is it dying? Am I dying? Well, of course, both of us are dying. Nobody is promised tomorrow.