Safety

Safety is the number 1 priority on a ship. Everywhere there are signs telling you to mind your head or watch your step. But, the most important safety issue, is the lifeboat/safety drill that everyone has to participate in before the ship sets sail.

Depending on the company (Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Princess, etc.) there are specific standards that HAVE to be met. One of the basic standards is "Everyone has to participate in a safety drill." That's not hard. However, how you participate in that safety drill is different for each line and sometimes for each ship.

As an example, when we were on the Oasis of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship, we were instructed to go to the Champagne Bar to see the pre-recorded safety message on the TV that was scheduled to be shown at a specific time. We showed up without our life jackets, listened to the message, watched a live demonstration on how to wear a life jacket, and we were dismissed. That was the full extent of the safety drill.

On most Princess ships, we have been instructed to go to a lounge near our muster station, with our life jacket, and watch a pre-recorded safety message on the TV. Then there's a live demonstration on how to wear a life jacket followed by the passengers actually putting on their life jackets. After getting "inspected" for doing it correctly, everyone is dismissed. 

Then there's "The Westerdam" on Holland America. No cushy lounge or bar for the Westerdam...no... We had to go to the actual muster station which is boldly printed on our room key. At the designated time, we proceeded to our muster station where we were checked in. Then came a waiting game as everyone had to be quiet so the captain could speak. He told us what needed to be done in case of an emergency. The captain of this ship is definitely the leader as he has a huge booming voice that does not let anyone even think about doing anything other than following his directions. After the directions, we saw a live demonstration on how to put on the life jacket. We were not requested nor required to put on the life jacket. It did not take long to get to the muster station, but it took a lot of time for everyone to get quiet and then listen to the announcement. It was a very different feeling from any other ship we have been on over the years. I don't know if it was "better" than other safety drills, but it was certainly different.

Whatever the case, when the drill is over, most folks have a general idea what needs to be done in case of an emergency. What is never ever told to the passengers is HOW to get into the lifeboats.  Somehow that is completely ignored. I guess we are supposed to know how to do that task. 

These are the formal directions for putting on a life jacket. 

And these are the formal directions for putting down the extra life rafts. Again, no directions on how to get into the life rafts. 

20 Knots Per Hour

That might not seem like a lot, but it's 20 knots per hour, day and night. By noon yesterday we had traveled 350 knots and we were 1900 knots from Hawaii, our first stop. 

The ocean is calm and the sky is blue. Yesterday we saw a whale surfing on the water, and after a few minutes, it dove under never to be seen again. That was our "excitement" for day! 

The folks I've met are all experienced travelers. Most of the pax are older, but there are 2 children on board. They are celebrities as kids are rare on a 30 day cruise. We have at least 2 lecturers on board, and there might be more as the cruise director's staff is bringing them out slowly. Trivia has started, and it's a "big" thing. I have a team and I'm sad to say, we lost yesterday. Do you know how many seconds there are in a year? 

Learning the Ship

Each ship is different, even though they do the same thing. It takes a bit of time to learn what a ship does and does not do. Today and tomorrow I will do some exploring to find out more about the ship. 

I did find out this morning that it's very possible to walk two miles outside, on the ship's deck. That's important as I like to walk 2 miles a day. It takes 6 laps around the Promenade Deck (aka deck 3) to accumulate 2 miles. Along the way I experienced sunrise, which is always special on the ocean. As I looked if the back if the ship I could see just a glint of sunshine trying to push up the clouds. Alas, this morning the clouds won

...but that will not always be the case. It might be cloudy, but it's still very pleasant outside. We are steaming along at 20 knots an hour, and at this rate, we will arrive in Honolulu in about 4 days.

I'm off to do more exploring after our breakfast arrives. It's nice to have breakfast delivered, something that does not happen at home.

On The Westerdam

We finally embarked on the HAL Westerdam. It was a slow process that was not well organized. HAL you should be able to do better. 

Once onboard, things are a little better. We have a Suite, with a huge bathroom

There are double sinks

...a Jacuzzi

...and a shower. We will stay clean!

Of course there's a huge bed, that I hope is comfy

...then there's a sofa

A desk with TV and a hidden fridge 

...and another desk.

We have a verandah, with two "lounge" chairs (they don't look too soft to me)

And a little table for breakfast in the waves. That's always fun!

We are still in San Diego, but sail-a-way is at 5 and then we will head for Hawaii. Watch this space....more to come. 

Turkey Time

It's springtime, and that means it's time for turkeys to "strut their stuff." Yesterday we saw some wild turkeys doing their dance. The pictures are not great, but if you look carefully, you'll see the Tom displaying his beautiful tail. 

Wild turkey are never easy to find, and here they were just walking around on a back road. 

What a treat!

On The Road Again

Watch this space as we're on vacation again. Today we drove south to San Francisco and we were treated to a green state. 

The hillsides are covered in green and yellow. The meadow foam is lush.

We've not seen this much green in CA for a long long time. It's a treat. Keep watching this space as the scenery will be changing yet again. We are beginning a new adventure.

It's Easter

May you have a happy one!

Blankets To Be

Yesterday I turned in 9 blankets to Project Linus headquarters in Sacramento. It was my first visit to HQ but I think I'll go again. The reason is simple...the HQ is like a candy store for blanketeers. There are boxes and boxes and boxes of brand new yarn that is there for the asking. All you have to do is be a Project Linus volunteer and promise to make at least one blanket a year. Since I have made about 400 blankets, I have "permission" to sample the store. 

So I brought home a lot of yarn for a lot of blankets. I think this should keep me busy for a few months, don't you? A lot of kids are going to get some hand made blankets. That is a good thing!

9:30 PM Arrival

That's when the vernal equinox happens...at 9:30 PM PDS...that means it's at 4:30 AM Greenwich Mean Time. 

Here's a flower for spring!

Baby Blanket

I just finished my ninth blanket of the year. It's for a neighbor's baby. The parents are playing the old fashioned game of NOT learning the sex of their baby, so I made a "neutral" blanket of white and a

 variegated yarn of white, yellow, green, blue and pink. I think the blanket came out well and I know the parents to be will like it too.

In addition, it has the Teddy Bear Seal of Approval.

Green Spring

In addition to rising water levels, the hillsides are greening up too. Spring is in the air!

Rainbows and flowers...

All is good.

8 Feet

We have had several days of rain. Wonderful, wonderful rain. The ponds are filled. The rivers are running high, and the big lake, Lake Oroville, came up 8 feet in just one day!

This picture was taken on October 3, 2015.

I took this picture yesterday. As you can see, the great tall barren banks of the lake are definitely less. 

Another view of the lake and again, the water is high. I've not seen Lake Oroville this high for several years. The rain is good!

 

Daylight Savings Time

Today was the first day of Daylight Savings Time for 2016. What a messed up day! 

I woke up before the sun and my timing was "off" all day.  At 6:30 in the morning, it was too early to eat breakfast yet my body told me I was hungry. I ignored the feeling and plowed ahead thinking I'd eat a bit later. I started my day and forgot that I had not eaten anything, when all of a sudden it was 2:45 in the afternoon. Now it was too late for breakfast and too late for lunch. What to do? The answer was simple...I set the timer for an hour and when it rang, I started to cook dinner. Dinner was on the table at 5:30, which was a bit early for us,  but since I forgot about breakfast and lunch, I was ready for dinner.

Tomorrow has got to be better.  Given the above, I hope you remembered to "spring" ahead and set your clocks an hour forward last night. 

Peru Part 2

I just finished my 8th blanket for the year. It's made of leftover from the blanket I called Joseph's Coat. I have more yarn in these colors, so there will be a third blanket coming soon. However, the next blanket to be made is for an upcoming baby. We do not know if the baby is a boy or a girl, so I'm going to make a white teddy bear blanket. It will be cute.

You Only Live Twice

The fourth James Bond movie, You Only Live Twice, was on the agenda for tonight. It was made in 1967 right at the height of the Cold War between the Bear and the Eagle. The space race was being run. Man had not stepped on the moon. Set at that time, our man James, must find out who is capturing both American and Soviet missiles. The suspect is in Japan. Cutting to the chase, James finds the evil doer--Spectre--and saves the day. The story works if you put yourself into the right time frame. 

The movie is very typical James Bond. The setting is exotic. The beginning of the movie takes place in Hong Kong but most of the action takes place in Japan. Hong Kong and the  Ginza in 1967 is not nearly as glitzy as they were when I last saw them. If you see the movie, try to pay close attention to the locations as they are interesting. In addition, there are lots of pretty girls in skimpy costumes.

Now for the bad news. Everything that deals with space is not believable. The graphics are laughable. The spaceship models are wrong. The "futuristic" look does not work any more. The audience, 49 years later is very sophisticated. Tin mini-models of rockets just don't "cut it" anymore. 

Should you watch the movie? Of course you should. It's a great escape into another reality that will give you a good laugh.

Sunny Afternoon

What do some folks do on a sunny afternoon? We usually go for drives...but others are 

...learning how to kayak. 

One thing for sure...they are not using the traditional boat ramp facility as it's way above the water line.

Trees I'm Watching

On January 23, I posted a picture of brown and dying conifers. Today I walked past those trees and discovered

...this. The trees needed to be cut down as they were dead. It's just sad to see.

It's an old giant that could not adapt to the drought. On the other hand, the valley oak trees are more adapted to years of drought and seem to be doing better, at least in the Park. 

Make A Blanket Day

Saturday is "Make a Blanket Day." Project Linus in concert with various craft stores has events planned for Saturday. There is a "blanket-in" at a Sacramento area Joann's store. Michael's and Joann's have sales on yarn. Project Linus is asking for folks to crochet or knit at their local craft store to encourage folks to give to worthy causes. As you know, I've crocheted hundreds of blankets for Project Linus over the years. It's a good thing.

If you want to participate in Make a Blanket Day and you have yarn that has never been used, and don't know what to do with it, contact a local Project Linus chapter and it will be happy to take it off of your hands. Most of the blankets I make are from donated yarn scraps...and the blankets turn out really pretty. (At least I think they do.)

It's Irish

The seventh blanket of 2016 is finished just in time for St. Patrick's Day. It's green!

I love the way this blanket turned out. I had several small balls of different color green yarn.  I was trying to think of a good way to meld them together when I came up the 5 row white motif to separate the different colors. Now they look like they belong together instead of just so many different colors. This is going to make someone a very nice lap blanket.

Goldfinger and Thunderball

We bought a small collection of James Bond DVDs which are proving to be fun to watch. Recently we saw Goldfinger and Thunderball. Goldfinger is probably the most famous of the two movies, yet it has a story that does not hold together and is filled with quite of few logical gaps. It does have the naked girl painted in gold, which made quite a splash 52 years ago. Trouble is we've seen so much more "ugly" stuff between then and now. The music is still good. As a romp, it's good clean fun.

Thunderball has a story that ties together. There are not a lot of lapses in the plot line and the story still works, even now, 51 years later. Sadly, the threat of a nuclear bomb being exploded in a major American city is still on the radar screen. The action is OK but it involves underwater feats of daring do. For me, underwater action does not have the same pizzazz as a good car chase on a windy mountain road. The movie won an Oscar for special effects, long before computer animation came along. I wonder how many of the Bond repertoire won Oscars?

When looking at old movies it's always fun to see how things have changed. What was considered cool then is not necessarily cool now. Women just do not have the same "figures" they had in the 60s. Today women are slim and sleek; while their counterparts of 50 years ago had a lot more curves. Given that, there are no x-rated scenes in either movie, but there are a lot of x-rated "hints." Leaving stuff to your imagination is always better, IMHO. Clothing styles in the 60s were more elegant and formal (at least to me). Then as now, James is always dressed in the latest, best, most sexy fashion of the time. 

Hair styles were far more constructed. James has some sort of slicked down 'do that you will not find on anyone today. Imagine putting your fingers in his hair and coming up with sticky goo. The women wore serious up-dos plastered together with a ton of hairspray. There is no way that hairspray could be broken! 

Then there are the cars. Big, finny, American cars all over the world, from Paris, Rome, and London to the Bahamas. Stretched Lincoln limos, classy Cadillacs, fast Mustangs (remember in 1964 a Mustang was brand new and every kid wanted one) fill the landscape with glamour and luxury. As a time capsule these movies are a blast from my past.