Take a look it him in the helmet frame and now. He can take the big bandage off in a couple of hours.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
TN progress Mark IV
We are back at the hotel. He's been released. He's s bit groggy but everything went as planned. Now we have to wait a few months to see how well it worked.
Take a look it him in the helmet frame and now. He can take the big bandage off in a couple of hours.
Take a look it him in the helmet frame and now. He can take the big bandage off in a couple of hours.
TN Progress-- Mark III
I just had a call from the nurse. The MRI is finished and they have figured out the "treatment." He will be in the Gamma Knife procedure for an hour. (We were told it would probably last 30 minutes in the prep we had yesterday.) It's now 8:56. I'll be able to "sit" with him about 10:30.
More later
More later
TN Progress Mark II
We got up way too early this morning. Looked out the window and saw inky black skies. It was 4:30. We rarely see 4:30 yet we've been up that early twice in the past 3 days. I hope we do not make a habit of it! After dressing we found our car in the hotel parking lot and drove the 5 minutes to the hospital. Valet parking at the hospital (the only way you can park your car) had just opened. We were given a receipt for the car. All is going to plan.
Next stop was Admission and Registration on the second floor. No one was waiting so we walked right up to the clerk who had our paperwork ready. He signed a few papers, gave the clerk the required medical cards, got a wrist band, and we were sent to the Gamma Knife Waiting Room.
Surprise! We were not the first people there! 7 other folks were in the room. Next direction was to call the nurse to tell her we had arrived. About 5 minutes later the nurse came into the waiting room and gave all of us there some directions as to what was going to happen next. We all kissed and hugged our "person" good luck and they filed into the Gamma Knife room leaving the rest of us to wait. We are told they will call us with progress.
The hospital has a free wifi and some of us are using it. Others have iPods attached to their ears and -- get this -- one person is reading a real magazine! One person is making a series of calls to concerned friends and relatives.
It's now 7:35 and the phone just rang. Alas, the call is not for me, but that's all right. The wait continues.
As an aside, there's a Starbucks in the hospital and its really popular! I just had a latte and frankly, it was pretty bad! I wonder if hospital food has contaminated it!
Next stop was Admission and Registration on the second floor. No one was waiting so we walked right up to the clerk who had our paperwork ready. He signed a few papers, gave the clerk the required medical cards, got a wrist band, and we were sent to the Gamma Knife Waiting Room.
Surprise! We were not the first people there! 7 other folks were in the room. Next direction was to call the nurse to tell her we had arrived. About 5 minutes later the nurse came into the waiting room and gave all of us there some directions as to what was going to happen next. We all kissed and hugged our "person" good luck and they filed into the Gamma Knife room leaving the rest of us to wait. We are told they will call us with progress.
The hospital has a free wifi and some of us are using it. Others have iPods attached to their ears and -- get this -- one person is reading a real magazine! One person is making a series of calls to concerned friends and relatives.
It's now 7:35 and the phone just rang. Alas, the call is not for me, but that's all right. The wait continues.
As an aside, there's a Starbucks in the hospital and its really popular! I just had a latte and frankly, it was pretty bad! I wonder if hospital food has contaminated it!
Monday, November 19, 2012
TN Progress Report
We have an appointment with a gamma knife at 5:45 AM. I've been calling the procedure CyberKnife and that's wrong. This morning we met the doctor who will do the procedure as well as one of the nurses. He was also asked a series of questions about his TN; he took a blood test, and we were sent on our way.
We were going to explore Pittsburgh in the afternoon but we were both tired, so we took a nap instead. Boy, we are exciting people!
We were going to explore Pittsburgh in the afternoon but we were both tired, so we took a nap instead. Boy, we are exciting people!
Some Fun Pictures
As we were "parking" our tiny Embraer aircraft this morning at SFO, I saw a beautiful SouthWest 737 painted to look like the CA flag. The plane looked brand new as it was the shiniest plane I've ever seen!
Fast forward to Pittsburgh, and we are rolling into our hotel and what do we see...the Oscar Meyer WeinerMobile! I've never seen it before. It's in town till tomorrow...so I snapped a couple of shots tonight. I walked around this "little beauty" (it's quite long) and discovered that even the head rests and the dashboard are shaped like hotdogs in a bun. The vehicle has a standard (not commercial) vanity license plate. I wonder how many miles this well-over-a-foot- long-hotdog has on it?
Fast forward to Pittsburgh, and we are rolling into our hotel and what do we see...the Oscar Meyer WeinerMobile! I've never seen it before. It's in town till tomorrow...so I snapped a couple of shots tonight. I walked around this "little beauty" (it's quite long) and discovered that even the head rests and the dashboard are shaped like hotdogs in a bun. The vehicle has a standard (not commercial) vanity license plate. I wonder how many miles this well-over-a-foot- long-hotdog has on it?
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Flying High
We just boarded United Flight 716 headed for IAD. IAD stands for International Airport Dulles...so we are flying to Washington, DC. IAD is one of my least favorite airports, but that's how we are getting to Pittsburgh.
We are flying in a relatively new craft and we are sitting in Row 1 where there is room and service. The only way to go! Our 5 hour flight across the country should be comfy. As I look at our controls, I see we have a seat that folds down flat to make a "bed." We have a private TV screen with a host of programs to watch, various plug/USB outlets for laptops, iPads and the like, not to mention 3 compartments for storing extra stuff, 2 pillows and a comforter. This is a far cry from cattle car in the back!
Pittsburgh here we come! We check into the hospital at 11 AM tomorrow morning.
11PM: we are in Pittsburgh. Our flight from IAD was delayed about 4 hours. We ate a meal (who knows which one given all the time changes) then sat down and waited while chatting with some nice folks from Pittsburgh. I received directions to the hotel and the hospital. But I decided to use Apple Maps to get me to the hotel. Mistake!!! Hey Steve Jobs---you need to beam down to the folks at Apple a fix for the iPhone map program. The current iteration is not very good!
We are flying in a relatively new craft and we are sitting in Row 1 where there is room and service. The only way to go! Our 5 hour flight across the country should be comfy. As I look at our controls, I see we have a seat that folds down flat to make a "bed." We have a private TV screen with a host of programs to watch, various plug/USB outlets for laptops, iPads and the like, not to mention 3 compartments for storing extra stuff, 2 pillows and a comforter. This is a far cry from cattle car in the back!
Pittsburgh here we come! We check into the hospital at 11 AM tomorrow morning.
11PM: we are in Pittsburgh. Our flight from IAD was delayed about 4 hours. We ate a meal (who knows which one given all the time changes) then sat down and waited while chatting with some nice folks from Pittsburgh. I received directions to the hotel and the hospital. But I decided to use Apple Maps to get me to the hotel. Mistake!!! Hey Steve Jobs---you need to beam down to the folks at Apple a fix for the iPhone map program. The current iteration is not very good!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Slow Progress
The shower is done! The vanity is done! The bathroom is not! The grab bar was installed on Thursday along with a towel bar that "lives" on the back wall. We tried to install the other towel bars, but unfortunately one of the plastic brackets broke. Moen is sending me more brackets. The flooring is somewhere between North Carolina and California and will be installed on December 14 (if all goes to plan). Then, and only then, will the room be ready for paint.
In the meantime I've made cushions for the window seat and 2 benches, as well as a valance for the bathroom window...and I have changed the bedding and drapes to match the new color scheme. It all takes time.
However, before the bathroom gets finished, we have to deal with another problem. The other DrC is having a CyberKnife "surgery" for his Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) on November 20. We are flying to Pittsburgh, PA as that's the "Mayo Clinic" for TN. Google CyberKnife and find out all about it. The name sounds scary, but when you read about it you will find its a non-invasive procedure. He should be out of the hospital one day later.
We plan to stay in Pittsburgh for a few more days, just in case anything else is needed, and then we are going to fly to Florida and board the Emerald Princess for a Caribbean cruise. If that name sounds familiar, that's the ship we were on for the last cruise. The cruise has been on the books for about a year. When the hospital gave us the date for surgery, I said "I'll cancel our cruise," and they said "NO, it will be good for him." So we are going on the cruise!
Watch this space to find out more about the "surgery" and the cruise.
In the meantime I've made cushions for the window seat and 2 benches, as well as a valance for the bathroom window...and I have changed the bedding and drapes to match the new color scheme. It all takes time.
However, before the bathroom gets finished, we have to deal with another problem. The other DrC is having a CyberKnife "surgery" for his Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) on November 20. We are flying to Pittsburgh, PA as that's the "Mayo Clinic" for TN. Google CyberKnife and find out all about it. The name sounds scary, but when you read about it you will find its a non-invasive procedure. He should be out of the hospital one day later.
We plan to stay in Pittsburgh for a few more days, just in case anything else is needed, and then we are going to fly to Florida and board the Emerald Princess for a Caribbean cruise. If that name sounds familiar, that's the ship we were on for the last cruise. The cruise has been on the books for about a year. When the hospital gave us the date for surgery, I said "I'll cancel our cruise," and they said "NO, it will be good for him." So we are going on the cruise!
Watch this space to find out more about the "surgery" and the cruise.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Shower Update
The shower is finished. It looks great. Now we have to do all the finishing touches. It's good to have a project. 
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Shower Installation
The crew worked at the house all day installing the shower. When they left at 6 PM a few finishing touches were needed but they were so tired I asked them to go home and come back tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be another busy day as the plumber is going to install all the faucets. In addition the floors are being measured. And the crew will come back to finish their part of the job.
Slowly it's coming together. The first of several small mail order shipments from Lowe's arrived this morning. The bedding, towels, drapes, etc. we're purchased over the weekend. Just maybe most of it will be done by the weekend.
Tomorrow will be another busy day as the plumber is going to install all the faucets. In addition the floors are being measured. And the crew will come back to finish their part of the job.
Slowly it's coming together. The first of several small mail order shipments from Lowe's arrived this morning. The bedding, towels, drapes, etc. we're purchased over the weekend. Just maybe most of it will be done by the weekend.
Hansel and Gretel -- The iPad Version
My favorite place to find free apps is Apps Gone Free. Yesterday and today they offered an interactive book for children that I had to look at. The book --"Grimm's Hansel and Gretel, the 3D Interactive Pop-up Book"-- is yet another version of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. The story has been updated a little bit, but the basic bones of the story are intact.
What is different is how the book is presented to the reader. After choosing your language (English, German, French, or Spanish) you tap on the screen and you can have the book read to you one page at a
time OR you can read the book by yourself OR you can have the book read for you using "autoplay." I heard parts of the book in all 4 languages and was impressed (I'm wondering if something like this would be a simple way to brush up on my rusty Spanish and even rustier French).
Every few pages there are 3D pop-up interactive displays that give the reader a chance to "do" something with the story. Some are fun and a few actually have reading "merit" (such as matching, or crossing mid-line or following directions). What the book does not have is individual word recognition. Some interactive books let the reader touch a word and the word is pronounced or defined. That does not happen with this little book.
The art work is OK and the kids are not too "cutesy." We never see what the evil witch looks like and that's a plus.
I read and played with the book. Then I gave it to the other DrC to get his take on it. He read and played too. He thought it was a kick. I wonder what kids will do with a book like this? Does it encourage reading? Does it allow for visualization? Does it encourage creativity? What happens when a child gets a "normal" book with actual pages made of paper? I don't know the answers to these and other questions. As a former reading teacher I was continually looking for interesting books and "things" for my reluctant readers. Several books like this one would definitely be in my "bag of tricks" as it has merit.
It's a new world out there. We've had interactive books in CDs for years. This is the logical next step. If you have an iPad and a child who might sit down long enough to read this book, download it and start asking questions. It's free today.
What is different is how the book is presented to the reader. After choosing your language (English, German, French, or Spanish) you tap on the screen and you can have the book read to you one page at a
time OR you can read the book by yourself OR you can have the book read for you using "autoplay." I heard parts of the book in all 4 languages and was impressed (I'm wondering if something like this would be a simple way to brush up on my rusty Spanish and even rustier French).
Every few pages there are 3D pop-up interactive displays that give the reader a chance to "do" something with the story. Some are fun and a few actually have reading "merit" (such as matching, or crossing mid-line or following directions). What the book does not have is individual word recognition. Some interactive books let the reader touch a word and the word is pronounced or defined. That does not happen with this little book.
The art work is OK and the kids are not too "cutesy." We never see what the evil witch looks like and that's a plus.
I read and played with the book. Then I gave it to the other DrC to get his take on it. He read and played too. He thought it was a kick. I wonder what kids will do with a book like this? Does it encourage reading? Does it allow for visualization? Does it encourage creativity? What happens when a child gets a "normal" book with actual pages made of paper? I don't know the answers to these and other questions. As a former reading teacher I was continually looking for interesting books and "things" for my reluctant readers. Several books like this one would definitely be in my "bag of tricks" as it has merit.
It's a new world out there. We've had interactive books in CDs for years. This is the logical next step. If you have an iPad and a child who might sit down long enough to read this book, download it and start asking questions. It's free today.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Vanity In
The progress on the bathroom is slow and steady. We did have a glitch this weekend when the well decided it would be a good time to "break." So in the middle if everything we had limited water too.
Today the floor in the shower and the vanity were installed. The top picture shows what it looked like as the fellows were destroying the vanity. The bottom picture shows it "all cleaned up." If all goes to plan, the shower will be installed early next week. The plumber will install faucets etc. at that time.
Today the floor in the shower and the vanity were installed. The top picture shows what it looked like as the fellows were destroying the vanity. The bottom picture shows it "all cleaned up." If all goes to plan, the shower will be installed early next week. The plumber will install faucets etc. at that time.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Befores and Afters
The water valve in the shower was installed today. Here are the before and after pictures. We are changing finishes from chrome to oil rubbed bronze (aka ORB). Tomorrow the shower will start to take on a more familiar shape. 
Sunset
We have lived on the top of a butte for too many years. Most nights we are treated to magnificent sunsets where the sky gets streaked with yellow and orange and pink. Tonight the sky turned yellow and it looked as if a volcano was erupting. We had never seen that shape or color before. It lasted just a moment. 
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Drying Day
We have a day off from the bathroom project. The pan needs to dry. It looks like there will be flurries of activity in between quiet times. The next tradesman to come is the plumber. I was under the impression that he was going to install the faucet assembly but I was corrected--he is going to install the "valve." It's always good to know (and use) the correct vocabulary.
The next step is installing the new greenboard. Because it is in the shower this type of "drywall" does not have to taped.
The beat goes on!
The next step is installing the new greenboard. Because it is in the shower this type of "drywall" does not have to taped.
The beat goes on!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Creepy Critter
Construction (or in this case deconstruction) disrupts the natural order of things. This afternoon after the fellows had finished destroying the shower and were leaving, we were greeted with this critter in the garage. To give you an idea of the size of this spider look at the palm of your hand. The spider was speedy too. Thank goodness it was not a jumper!
Progress Report 2
The fellows worked on the shower for the whole day.
They stripped the tile down to the studs, and discovered the old green board was spongy in places. I guess it was a good thing to have it replaced.
The old "pan" (which is a layer of heavy duty plastic with several inches of cement on top of it) was finally removed. The fellows used mallets, crowbars and brute strength to destroy it.
After taking the rubble to the dump the guys returned to install a new pan (Red this time instead of black) and float it with a few mores inches of cement. The new pan needs to dry a day and then the new greenboard (special drywall for showers) will be installed.
(PS: Try as I might, I cannot get Blogger to post the pictures in the correct order. Therefore the pictures are in reverse order 3-2-1. Ain't this too much fun!?)
They stripped the tile down to the studs, and discovered the old green board was spongy in places. I guess it was a good thing to have it replaced.
The old "pan" (which is a layer of heavy duty plastic with several inches of cement on top of it) was finally removed. The fellows used mallets, crowbars and brute strength to destroy it.
After taking the rubble to the dump the guys returned to install a new pan (Red this time instead of black) and float it with a few mores inches of cement. The new pan needs to dry a day and then the new greenboard (special drywall for showers) will be installed.
(PS: Try as I might, I cannot get Blogger to post the pictures in the correct order. Therefore the pictures are in reverse order 3-2-1. Ain't this too much fun!?)
Let the Demo Start
It’s begun. The sounds of swinging hammers and flying crowbars can be heard throughout the house. The pounding goes on and on...and they’ve only been at it for a couple of hours! Two days are scheduled for the demo!
Before
After
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Madness Begins
In a few days our shower and vanity will undergo a major change. The old tile will be replaced with man-made "granite." The basins and fixtures will be replaced too. The demo starts on Monday with the removal of all the tile. I can only imagine the mess. (I wonder what it will really be like?)
The process has been relatively easy but it's been in the planning stages since April. The hardest part was deciding on colors and patterns. We chose Granite Transformation for the shower and counter top with traditional designed rubbed bronze fixtures made by Moen.
Now all we have to do is move stuff out of the master bedroom and bathroom. While it's just a bathroom that is getting the work, the bedroom, closet, and dressers are involved too. The process is supposed to last 2 weeks. Then the flooring will be updated and if any painting is needed that will happen. I will take a while before everything is finished.
The process has been relatively easy but it's been in the planning stages since April. The hardest part was deciding on colors and patterns. We chose Granite Transformation for the shower and counter top with traditional designed rubbed bronze fixtures made by Moen.
Now all we have to do is move stuff out of the master bedroom and bathroom. While it's just a bathroom that is getting the work, the bedroom, closet, and dressers are involved too. The process is supposed to last 2 weeks. Then the flooring will be updated and if any painting is needed that will happen. I will take a while before everything is finished.
Friday, October 5, 2012
The 844
A few years back the Union Pacific steam engine #844 stopped near our home town. This year, as we're driving west on I-80 we saw her again. What a treat! She was steaming eastward toward Winnemucca. If we had stayed in WY one more day we would have been able to see her up close and personal.
There's something majestic about these old steamers. Not only are they huge, they exude POWER. They showed the promise of our nation. Nowadays, I wonder, what shows that promise?
If you are interested in seeing pictures of this Iron Horse and seeing her schedule for this season go to http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/details.shtml.
There's something majestic about these old steamers. Not only are they huge, they exude POWER. They showed the promise of our nation. Nowadays, I wonder, what shows that promise?
If you are interested in seeing pictures of this Iron Horse and seeing her schedule for this season go to http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/details.shtml.
Friday, September 28, 2012
iPads at LaGuardia, etc.
We flew out of LaGuardia in NYC a couple of days ago and were treated to a public lounge filled with iPads. All we had to do was sit down and push the screen and we were online. The offerings were limited--USA Today, ESPN, some games, Google Maps, and a menu. Turns out the iPads were part of a "restaurant" in the terminal. Click on the menu and we could order a sandwich and a drink and it would be delivered to our little table. But we did not have to order anything ... And if we wanted to use out own iGadget there was free wifi. We were at our little iPad/table for a couple of hours and there was no charge.
It was a neat deal. It made waiting at the airport a bit more enjoyable. I wonder if/when I'll see this at other airports.
BTW--the number of iGadgets I see when I travel is amazing. A couple of years ago I had one of the few iPads around--not any more. I even see people using an iPad as their main camera (which is a bit bulky IMHO). I wonder what the long term ramifications of these iGadgets means?
One more thing--go to the Apple website and look at the 4 ads for the iPhone 5--none of them mention the fact that it can be used to make phone calls!
It was a neat deal. It made waiting at the airport a bit more enjoyable. I wonder if/when I'll see this at other airports.
BTW--the number of iGadgets I see when I travel is amazing. A couple of years ago I had one of the few iPads around--not any more. I even see people using an iPad as their main camera (which is a bit bulky IMHO). I wonder what the long term ramifications of these iGadgets means?
One more thing--go to the Apple website and look at the 4 ads for the iPhone 5--none of them mention the fact that it can be used to make phone calls!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
St. John, New Brunswick
Yesterday we were in St. John (not St. John's). Strange that 2 cities so close to each other have just about the same name. Reminds me of a similar problem with 2 towns in California. One is called Chico--the other is Chino. We have a friend who applied for her job in Chico thinking it was Chino. The two towns are about 500 miles from each other-- one known for its university--the other for its prison.
St. John is known for the huge tides in the Bay of Fundy. It was interesting to watch our boat "sink" below sidewalk level at the port as the tide rolled out and then rise above the sidewalk level as the tide rolled in.
St. John's used to be known for the Grand Banks where the fishing was endless (but alas, after nearly 500 years of over-fishing, that endless supply of fresh fish "dried up" and is now reduced to sport fishing 2 weekends a YEAR).
In St.John we went for a leisurely walk near the dock. Three ships were in town and the port had room for more. Lots of tourists were enjoying a blue sky day albeit not a very warm one. The port facility had a free wifi connection so the crew were using it -- as were a few of the pax. If you want to know where the free wifi connections are in port, ask the crew members as they know all of them.
It was our last stop on this 27 day cruise adventure. We stopped in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Finland, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Iceland, and Canada. It's been a great cruise. Lots of things to see and learn coupled with relaxing sea days. Reality starts tomorrow when we disembark the ship and head for LaGuardia Airport in NY and then home. Right now we are packing for that event.
St. John is known for the huge tides in the Bay of Fundy. It was interesting to watch our boat "sink" below sidewalk level at the port as the tide rolled out and then rise above the sidewalk level as the tide rolled in.
St. John's used to be known for the Grand Banks where the fishing was endless (but alas, after nearly 500 years of over-fishing, that endless supply of fresh fish "dried up" and is now reduced to sport fishing 2 weekends a YEAR).
In St.John we went for a leisurely walk near the dock. Three ships were in town and the port had room for more. Lots of tourists were enjoying a blue sky day albeit not a very warm one. The port facility had a free wifi connection so the crew were using it -- as were a few of the pax. If you want to know where the free wifi connections are in port, ask the crew members as they know all of them.
It was our last stop on this 27 day cruise adventure. We stopped in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Finland, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Iceland, and Canada. It's been a great cruise. Lots of things to see and learn coupled with relaxing sea days. Reality starts tomorrow when we disembark the ship and head for LaGuardia Airport in NY and then home. Right now we are packing for that event.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
New Found Land
Yesterday we visited the only Canadian Province we had not visited before--Newfoundland! It's a long long way from home. We've been as far as the ferry building in Nova Scotia but at that point we turned around and headed west.
We sailed into the protected harbor at St. John's early in the morning. The day did not look promising as it was foggy. But soon the fog drifted away and we were treated to a warm sunny day. We had been prepared for Greenland's ugly weather and this was a complete treat. Our big ship, Emerald Princess, squeezed through the narrows and slipped into dock, dominating the harbor. I don't think the port will fit anything bigger.
On our shore excursion we learned about port wine, beer and demon rum...all of which have something to do with local history.
Since St. John's is the oldest inhabited city in in North America, there's a lot of history to learn. During those early days port wine was shipped here then reshipped back to Europe (I don't remember why). One year the wine could not be reshipped due to ugly weather so it over-wintered in some caves and then shipped back to Europe. That's when it was discovered the port had changed. It now tasted better than ever. So, it was decided that port wine should age in NFL in the wintertime. From 15-something to 1997 that's exactly what happened. Nowadays there's a problem with European Union liquor laws and Port Wine cannot leave Europe "unfinished" and then return. Needless to say we had a taste of the Port which is now aged in Europe.
From there we went to a local micro brewery and tasted about 4 large sample of their fine beer and we were given a bottle of beer.
On the last stop, all of us feeling a little happier, was to Signal Hill. It's the place where Marconi received the first wireless message in Morse Code a scant 120 years ago. Here we learned about the special connection between NFL and Jamaica. NFL had tons of cod. Jamaica had tons of rum. Jamaicans liked cod and Newfies liked rum and that created a significant trade relationship--cod for rum/rum for cod. Of course we had a wee taste some of the great Jamaican spiced rum.
In between the drinking history of the place we saw the city, the fishing boats, and the colorfully painted houses of St. John's. It was a fun excursion.
We sailed into the protected harbor at St. John's early in the morning. The day did not look promising as it was foggy. But soon the fog drifted away and we were treated to a warm sunny day. We had been prepared for Greenland's ugly weather and this was a complete treat. Our big ship, Emerald Princess, squeezed through the narrows and slipped into dock, dominating the harbor. I don't think the port will fit anything bigger.
On our shore excursion we learned about port wine, beer and demon rum...all of which have something to do with local history.
Since St. John's is the oldest inhabited city in in North America, there's a lot of history to learn. During those early days port wine was shipped here then reshipped back to Europe (I don't remember why). One year the wine could not be reshipped due to ugly weather so it over-wintered in some caves and then shipped back to Europe. That's when it was discovered the port had changed. It now tasted better than ever. So, it was decided that port wine should age in NFL in the wintertime. From 15-something to 1997 that's exactly what happened. Nowadays there's a problem with European Union liquor laws and Port Wine cannot leave Europe "unfinished" and then return. Needless to say we had a taste of the Port which is now aged in Europe.
From there we went to a local micro brewery and tasted about 4 large sample of their fine beer and we were given a bottle of beer.
On the last stop, all of us feeling a little happier, was to Signal Hill. It's the place where Marconi received the first wireless message in Morse Code a scant 120 years ago. Here we learned about the special connection between NFL and Jamaica. NFL had tons of cod. Jamaica had tons of rum. Jamaicans liked cod and Newfies liked rum and that created a significant trade relationship--cod for rum/rum for cod. Of course we had a wee taste some of the great Jamaican spiced rum.
In between the drinking history of the place we saw the city, the fishing boats, and the colorfully painted houses of St. John's. It was a fun excursion.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Iceland
Yesterday we visited our 102nd country, Iceland! That was pretty exciting. We did an unusual tour--instead of taking a Reykjavik city tour or a whole island tour (9 hours in a bus) we took the Monster Jeep back country tour.
We climbed up and down roads that had 15-16 degree grades! We splashed along a stream bed and we bounced by a few hidden geo-thermal power plants. It was a fun excursion -- even though our particular Jeep broke down two times. The first time the axle broke and we were put in a replacement Jeep--the second time we lost our air suspension system and the drivers were able to put together some hoses and fix the problem well enough for us to continue our drive in the riverbed and then back to the ship.
We climbed up and down roads that had 15-16 degree grades! We splashed along a stream bed and we bounced by a few hidden geo-thermal power plants. It was a fun excursion -- even though our particular Jeep broke down two times. The first time the axle broke and we were put in a replacement Jeep--the second time we lost our air suspension system and the drivers were able to put together some hoses and fix the problem well enough for us to continue our drive in the riverbed and then back to the ship.
Iceland -- Part 2
Iceland sits along the meeting of 2 tectonic plates--a place that is very active geologically--a place that has harnessed that asset to create very inexpensive geo-thermal power. We saw a few of the power plants which send up huge plumes of steam high in the sky. The steam is not polluting anything as the power source is very clean. We also saw how the power is piped into the cities in the island nation.
I was expecting a far less developed country. There is a ring road (highway 1) that circles the island so it's relatively easy to drive from one place to another. Our guide said that most Icelanders own 2 vehicles. There were a lot of cars in Reykjavik but we did not see that many on our Monster Jeep adventure (but then we climbed some pretty steep roads that were paved with rocks and potholes)!
We passed one other town, Serfoss, that was more central than coastal, and it was a lot smaller than the capital. The climate is cold. Yesterday it was about 45 degrees F. It was not windy. The visibility was incredible. Our guide kept telling us it was rare to see this mountain or that volcano as it was so clear. We were hoping to see the Northern Lights last night, but alas, they did not put on a display last night.
We did see the volcano that erupted a couple of years ago disrupting air traffic for a several days. Today it's a high snow covered mountain that does not look deadly at all.
Icelandic is an interesting language to look at. While the alphabet is basically English, there are lots of extra accents, dots and squiggles. Given that, it was difficult to read most signs as the names are long and multi syllabic. When I asked the name of the
mountain we were on I was given its name in Icelandic and quickly told that the name translated to Wolf mountain. Thank goodness for that, as I had no idea how to spell the Icelandic word.
There's a lot more to see--but we just ran out if time. There is a neat church in Reykjavik we missed. There are some world class waterfalls and some thermal pools that are supposed to be 84 degrees F. Maybe we will see them next time we get an opportunity to stop in Iceland.
I was expecting a far less developed country. There is a ring road (highway 1) that circles the island so it's relatively easy to drive from one place to another. Our guide said that most Icelanders own 2 vehicles. There were a lot of cars in Reykjavik but we did not see that many on our Monster Jeep adventure (but then we climbed some pretty steep roads that were paved with rocks and potholes)!
We passed one other town, Serfoss, that was more central than coastal, and it was a lot smaller than the capital. The climate is cold. Yesterday it was about 45 degrees F. It was not windy. The visibility was incredible. Our guide kept telling us it was rare to see this mountain or that volcano as it was so clear. We were hoping to see the Northern Lights last night, but alas, they did not put on a display last night.
We did see the volcano that erupted a couple of years ago disrupting air traffic for a several days. Today it's a high snow covered mountain that does not look deadly at all.
Icelandic is an interesting language to look at. While the alphabet is basically English, there are lots of extra accents, dots and squiggles. Given that, it was difficult to read most signs as the names are long and multi syllabic. When I asked the name of the
mountain we were on I was given its name in Icelandic and quickly told that the name translated to Wolf mountain. Thank goodness for that, as I had no idea how to spell the Icelandic word.
There's a lot more to see--but we just ran out if time. There is a neat church in Reykjavik we missed. There are some world class waterfalls and some thermal pools that are supposed to be 84 degrees F. Maybe we will see them next time we get an opportunity to stop in Iceland.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday in Belfast
We are in our 101st country -- Northern Ireland. Six of the 9 counties in Ulster make up this tiny Protestant country. If all 9 counties had been included then the Catholics would have had the majority thereby negating the reason for the division!
I did not know what to expect other than rain as the average temperature is between 50 and 60 and it rains all the time. So we had a sunny day! (for a little while anyway...then the sky clouded over and it started to sprinkle).
We saw the City Hall, downtown, the University of Ulster, and the "murals" that talk about the troubles. The material the ship gave us on Belfast did not even mention there is an age-old battle here between the Protestents and the Catholics.
We also visited the new Titantic Museum that opened this year. It is a beautiful modern aluminum structure that tells the story of the building and eventual sinking of the Titantic. I was most fascinated with the building of the behemoth and now I would like to see how a modern ocean going vessel is made. I'm sure the advances in technology would be interesting to see.
I did not know what to expect other than rain as the average temperature is between 50 and 60 and it rains all the time. So we had a sunny day! (for a little while anyway...then the sky clouded over and it started to sprinkle).
We saw the City Hall, downtown, the University of Ulster, and the "murals" that talk about the troubles. The material the ship gave us on Belfast did not even mention there is an age-old battle here between the Protestents and the Catholics.
We also visited the new Titantic Museum that opened this year. It is a beautiful modern aluminum structure that tells the story of the building and eventual sinking of the Titantic. I was most fascinated with the building of the behemoth and now I would like to see how a modern ocean going vessel is made. I'm sure the advances in technology would be interesting to see.
City Hall
Belfast is not a huge city. It's longer than it is wide and is divided into districts. We saw the City Hall district which is the very center of town. There is the University district, Titanic district, the Mural district and the like. I've created 2 collages showing a couple of the districts. 
Signs in Belfast
Belfast is a clean city. Not a lot of graffiti. Not a lot of litter. The houses have tidy front yards. And there are signs all over the place warning people what to do. There's are £120 fine for parking in a no parking zone. There's an £80 fine for littering. And here's the most expensive fine of all....£500 for alcohol abuse! 
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Dublin
Our first time in Ireland since 1990 (or so) and Dublin looked different. I remember a down at the heals Dublin, but today it looked pretty prosperous. Granted the country does not have any spare cash now (no country does) but it had a boom during the first part of this century and a lot of sprucing up was done. There are lots of modern looking buildings and bridges interspersed among the Georgian or older structures. It's also a cleaner city than I remember.
We visited St. Patrick's Cathedral (which is not Catholic) as well as the University of Dublin--Trinity College. We walked along the main shopping street and looked at the folks doing business on a busy Saturday.
The day was gray (is it ever sunny in Ireland? I don't think we have been here when it is sunny!) but it was not very cold. A good day for seeing things but not necessarily for taking pretty pictures.
We visited St. Patrick's Cathedral (which is not Catholic) as well as the University of Dublin--Trinity College. We walked along the main shopping street and looked at the folks doing business on a busy Saturday.
The day was gray (is it ever sunny in Ireland? I don't think we have been here when it is sunny!) but it was not very cold. A good day for seeing things but not necessarily for taking pretty pictures.
Dublin
Here are two more collages of Dublin. One shows scenes from Trinity College; the other is of random images around Dublin. 
Friday, September 14, 2012
Firth of Clyde
Definitions are enlightening. Firth is Gaelic for fjord. Clyde is derived from the name of the old river goddess that is said to have inhabited the river. Her name sounded something like "cistern" which means cleanser or cloaca. So now you can figure out what the Firth of Clyde means.
The Salmon, ring, bell and trees
As you wander around St.Mungo's Square you see that the light standards are quite decorated with a salmon holding a ring, a bell and some trees. I asked what the symbols meant and was told the following story.
Way back when the queen was having an affair with her guard and she gave him her gold ring as a symbol of her love. The guard lost the ring. And about that same time the king noticed his queen was not wearing her gold ring. The king wanted to know where it was. The queen now had to produce the ring so she went to St.Mungo and asked him if he could find the ring. He told her to take one of her servants to the river Clyde and net a salmon. So as soon as she could she ordered her gilley boy to net a salmon which he did. The salmon was then cut open and her gold ring was found! I was not told what happened next, but I'm guessing she was "safe" for awhile.
The bell stands for St. Mungo himself as all holy men of the day could be identified by their specific bell. As for the trees...legend says St. Mungo brought many trees to the area.
Way back when the queen was having an affair with her guard and she gave him her gold ring as a symbol of her love. The guard lost the ring. And about that same time the king noticed his queen was not wearing her gold ring. The king wanted to know where it was. The queen now had to produce the ring so she went to St.Mungo and asked him if he could find the ring. He told her to take one of her servants to the river Clyde and net a salmon. So as soon as she could she ordered her gilley boy to net a salmon which he did. The salmon was then cut open and her gold ring was found! I was not told what happened next, but I'm guessing she was "safe" for awhile.
The bell stands for St. Mungo himself as all holy men of the day could be identified by their specific bell. As for the trees...legend says St. Mungo brought many trees to the area.
St. Mungo's Church
Today we visited St. Mungo's High Church in Glasgow. For Harry Potter Fans you know that St.Mungo is the name of the hospital for magical maladies. Who knew that St. Mungo really existed? Apparently St. Mungo was an Irish holy man from the 6th century (or so) who helped convert the Scottish Picts to Catholicism.
The church is now Presbyterian and rather dour and dark, except for one small chapel that has been maintained in the old tradition. It is whitewashed and has painted escutcheons. It's called the Black Adder Chapel (and we thought that Black Adder was just a horrible Brit-Com). Travel is broadening!
The church is now Presbyterian and rather dour and dark, except for one small chapel that has been maintained in the old tradition. It is whitewashed and has painted escutcheons. It's called the Black Adder Chapel (and we thought that Black Adder was just a horrible Brit-Com). Travel is broadening!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Copenhagen Day 2
We made a loop, Copenhagen to Copenhagen, on the first leg of our voyage. It took 12 days. During that time we visited Oslo, Aarhus, Warnemunde, and Stockholm. Today we started leg 2 which will eventually take us to New York, The Big Apple! Tomorrow we make another stop in Oslo then we head for Kristiansand a resort village in southern Norway.
Twelve days ago when we landed in Copenhagen we were so jet lagged we hardly remember anything. Today we actually remember what we saw. Other than the Little Mermaid, we saw a couple of old palaces, the new Opera House and the new Theatre, and some pretty "Danish Modern" buildings along the way We cruised the main canal and saw the old "new town" (circa 1600) as well as some neat houseboats (circa 2000) all working together to make Copenhagen a vibrant city.
All of the Baltic countries we have visited are all based along the water--have lots of boats, big and small, and rely on the bounty of the sea in more ways than you can imagine from fish to oil. They have little arable land and cool to cold temperatures. The people are hearty and have learned how to eke a living from their homelands. I have a whole new appreciation for these northern climes.
Twelve days ago when we landed in Copenhagen we were so jet lagged we hardly remember anything. Today we actually remember what we saw. Other than the Little Mermaid, we saw a couple of old palaces, the new Opera House and the new Theatre, and some pretty "Danish Modern" buildings along the way We cruised the main canal and saw the old "new town" (circa 1600) as well as some neat houseboats (circa 2000) all working together to make Copenhagen a vibrant city.
All of the Baltic countries we have visited are all based along the water--have lots of boats, big and small, and rely on the bounty of the sea in more ways than you can imagine from fish to oil. They have little arable land and cool to cold temperatures. The people are hearty and have learned how to eke a living from their homelands. I have a whole new appreciation for these northern climes.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sea daze
To me, cruising means visiting strange and exotic places and relaxing. Sea days are perfect for relaxing. There's no reason to get up early to go to shore. There's no need to go bed early either. When you have a sea day you just get to do what you want to do.
Today I walked 2 miles on deck 7, then took a long shower and headed for the coffee bar for a yummy white chocolate latte before the morning Trivia game. Sadly my team did not win, but that's all right. Next on the agenda was to find a quiet place to read and look at the ocean. Deck 18 is always a good hideaway -- followed by lunch at the grill -- followed by a bit of shopping -- see what I mean? Sea days are cool. Tomorrow we are in Copenhagen again before we start the next leg of the cruise which is an Atlantic crossing. Keep watching this spot.
Today I walked 2 miles on deck 7, then took a long shower and headed for the coffee bar for a yummy white chocolate latte before the morning Trivia game. Sadly my team did not win, but that's all right. Next on the agenda was to find a quiet place to read and look at the ocean. Deck 18 is always a good hideaway -- followed by lunch at the grill -- followed by a bit of shopping -- see what I mean? Sea days are cool. Tomorrow we are in Copenhagen again before we start the next leg of the cruise which is an Atlantic crossing. Keep watching this spot.
100th Country
Today we stepped foot in Sweden, making it our 100th country! This has been a personal goal for over 25 years and one I did not think we would accomplish when I set it! So, the DrCs have been to all 50 US states, all 7 continents and now 100 countries. We are using the list of countries provided by "Century Travel" who list 321 counties on the planet. So we have only covered 1/3 of the world!
We had a short visit to Stockholm which is a beautiful city made up of islands in the largest archipelago in the world. Right now we are sailing thru that archipelago of over 3000 islands as we depart the city and head for Copenhagen. it's a cool day and it's hailing right now! Our guide said that summertime hail was quite rare.
The pictures show the American Embassy in Stockholm and the other shows some of the neat old buildings that line the waterways of the city. Who knew that Stockholm is a "Venice of the North."
We had a short visit to Stockholm which is a beautiful city made up of islands in the largest archipelago in the world. Right now we are sailing thru that archipelago of over 3000 islands as we depart the city and head for Copenhagen. it's a cool day and it's hailing right now! Our guide said that summertime hail was quite rare.
The pictures show the American Embassy in Stockholm and the other shows some of the neat old buildings that line the waterways of the city. Who knew that Stockholm is a "Venice of the North."
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Aarhus, Denmark
It might be the second largest city in Denmark, but I had never heard of it before. It's famous for its university (started in the 1930s), it's culture (named European Culture City--2017), ship building and maybe a recreated "town" of old houses from the 1500s to the present (Den Gamle By).
We drove through the university, walked through an old Lutheran Church, and we walked the grounds of Den Gamle By.
The church was great. It started out as a Catholic Church in the 1100s but was converted to a Lutheran Church by the mid-1500s. Over the years the church was added onto and painted so by the 1960s it was in need of a renovation. That's when they found a wealth of frescos under the whitewash dating from the late 1400s. While they are Catholic in nature they show pre-renaissance logic and form. Fascinating to look at--I took some pictures but I truly needed more time to study them.
The restored town of Den Gamle By was the dream of a teacher, Peter Holm, at the turn of the last century. He noticed that the old houses were being replaced by new ones so he decided that he would save a few from the wrecker's ball. During his lifetime he managed to recreate a village of 25 old homes in a back lot of the Aarhus Botanical Garden--now there are 75 homes and shops on display in a village setting. The houses are pretty authentic with stone streets and of course no sewage or water system. There are several streets each representing a different era from the 1500s, 1700s, 1850s, 1927 and 1974. As the houses become more modern so do the facilities. In the 1500s the streets are rocky--but by the 1700s the streets are paved with larger stones -- and by 1927 the streets are cobblestones with sidewalks. In 1927 a BP fuel pump and electric lights are included. Not quite like Williamsburg or Old Sturbridge Village, but of a similar ilk. Very interesting to see some grand half timbered homes.
The Queen of Denmark was in Aarhus today. We saw her boat and guard, and the back of her coat but we missed her smiling face as she walked up the gangplank. She was opening the annual culture festival of Aarhus.
We drove through the university, walked through an old Lutheran Church, and we walked the grounds of Den Gamle By.
The church was great. It started out as a Catholic Church in the 1100s but was converted to a Lutheran Church by the mid-1500s. Over the years the church was added onto and painted so by the 1960s it was in need of a renovation. That's when they found a wealth of frescos under the whitewash dating from the late 1400s. While they are Catholic in nature they show pre-renaissance logic and form. Fascinating to look at--I took some pictures but I truly needed more time to study them.
The restored town of Den Gamle By was the dream of a teacher, Peter Holm, at the turn of the last century. He noticed that the old houses were being replaced by new ones so he decided that he would save a few from the wrecker's ball. During his lifetime he managed to recreate a village of 25 old homes in a back lot of the Aarhus Botanical Garden--now there are 75 homes and shops on display in a village setting. The houses are pretty authentic with stone streets and of course no sewage or water system. There are several streets each representing a different era from the 1500s, 1700s, 1850s, 1927 and 1974. As the houses become more modern so do the facilities. In the 1500s the streets are rocky--but by the 1700s the streets are paved with larger stones -- and by 1927 the streets are cobblestones with sidewalks. In 1927 a BP fuel pump and electric lights are included. Not quite like Williamsburg or Old Sturbridge Village, but of a similar ilk. Very interesting to see some grand half timbered homes.
The Queen of Denmark was in Aarhus today. We saw her boat and guard, and the back of her coat but we missed her smiling face as she walked up the gangplank. She was opening the annual culture festival of Aarhus.
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