Eastern Caribbean Cruise 2025 - Sea Day #3 (11/29/25)

 

 (Queen Mary 2 Library)

It started out as a sunny day, and that could only mean one thing: We're now in the Caribbean, and it's warm outside.  I'm comfortable with this for now, but I'd rather be inside in air-conditioned comfort, than to be outside in the warmth.  At times like these, I'm glad that my mom's side of the family emigrated from "the islands" to come to America - the weather is better up here for people like me.

- - - - - - -

We went to Breakfast in the dining room and met 5 other people at a shared table.  All of us were from North America, and we had a few common things to talk about.  This is the type of table at which I enjoy eating at the most, as there is always a chance for a great chat.  All too soon, breakfast had to end, and it was time to go back to our cabin for a while.  Once in the cabin, RQS worked on her painting,  while I worked on my blogs for a while.  And then, I ended up taking a rest. 

As we sail further South, it seems as if it's becoming much more humid outside.  (RQS says it is doing so, as she sits on the balcony working with her watercolors.) For me, this will be a bit of a curse, as I've noticed that I've become much more sensitive to heat and humidity.  So, I expect that our shore excursions may be a little hellish for me on this trip.

RQS wanted to get out of the room, and we decided to find the ship's library after a late lunch in the buffet.  We went upstairs and walked to the front of the ship, where we found the largest library I've ever seen at sea.  It is a great place to relax and get away from crowds, and one of the "little" nooks on this ship that make it cozy.

- - - - - - 

At 6:00, we went to dinner, and were seated without much of a wait.  However, today's service seemed to be slightly slower than usual, and the formalities of flatware placement before serving any of the meal's dishes wasn't observed.  Instead, they were replacing flatware after each course, as if there was a backlog of clean flatware coming from the dishwashers.  The meal was good, albeit with a couple of misses in appetizers and desserts.

After a short stop in our cabin to refresh ourselves, we went to the ship's theater to see a pair of aerial acrobats (Duo Quintessence) perform a Cirque du Soleil like show.  This couple did a fantastic show, showing off their talents and skills at their best. Would I see them again?  Yes.  Yet, I wouldn't go out of my way to do so, as there is only so much variety one can insert into this type of performance. 

 

Lunch, and an aborted evening

 

My brother seems to call at the darnedest times.  Today, he called me as I was getting dressed for lunch.  And this evening, he called when I was getting ready to go out again.  Both times were interruptions to my routines.  I responded differently in the evening - I was no longer in the mood to go out for anything.

But first....

I had only one thing on the docket for today - lunch with my friend from the census.  We get together on a monthly schedule, and it's usually either Mexican or Italian, as she's a vegetarian.  Since she goes to the health club at noon and gets out at 1 pm, we know the time to meet-1:30 pm. The only decision we have to make is which restaurant we'll eat at.  And that decision is usually made the night before.

My brother called me at lunch time, just before I was to apply my makeup.  He wanted me to review the paperwork for someone who wants to rent out the family homestead.  I said that the people look stable, and would be good renters.  Then, I had to cut my brother off, as I had to finish getting ready to go out.  Luckily, I still had a few minutes to spare, and I was able to make it to Ossining at 1:30 on the dot.

My friend and I order almost the same thing - Baked Ziti.  There was only one difference between the two dishes: hers had no meat, while mine had several meatballs with the ziti.  We talked about what is going on in our lives.  For me, it was the upcoming cruise and that we have renters for the family homestead.  For her, it was her husband preparing to retire and her son's employment (he may have a new and better job).  Eventually, lunch had to end, and we scheduled next month's get-together.

After I got home, I rested for a while.  But before I was to leave, my brother called me to ask me for something he would end up doing himself - getting a boilerplate rental contract.  (He thinks of things way too often at the last minute.)  And then, he mentioned that his job may still be at risk.  Sadly, at the age of 62, he has not hit "the number" he needs to retire.  By the end of the call, I was ready NOT to go out for the evening, and I succumbed to resting on the sofa for the rest of the evening.  

Sometimes, giving into temptation can be the wisest thing to do....

 

Guess who was the birthday gal! (No, not me.)

 

I rarely drive to TCL's house these days, as she is uncomfortable with me when presenting as female. So, I save the times I plan to see her for when I'm presenting as male.  This means that I visit her much less than I visited a former cruise partner when we were still friends. Today was a day I was presenting as a male, and it was a perfect day to visit TCL.

But first...

RQS's friend was in town today, and we had made arrangements to meet her for lunch.  Of course, this dictated that this would be Mario's day out. So I made sure that we'd see TCL for a belated birthday dinner.  While I was at it, I also scheduled my Covid vaccination for today as well.

Waking up at 9 am, RQS and I went to CVS, so that I could get my arm stuck.  Then it was off to a small diner in Yonkers where we'd meet RQS's friend (and family) for lunch.  This diner was tiny, and not geared for 5 people (plus infant) to have a leisurely meal.  Yet, we were able to get a table quickly and we were able to have lunch together.

RQS's friend started off by telling us about her sister falling ill overseas.  I won't describe the symptoms here, but she has been stuck in a clinic in Fiji.  Travel insurance does not cover her evacuation to America.  Instead, it covers evacuation to the nearest place where appropriate care can be given - Australia.  AARGH!  Now, RQS's friend is trying to figure out a way to get her sister home and under the care of American doctors.  Although we talked about other things, this was the overriding focus of our get together, and something still being worked on as we left the diner.

Next, we were off to New Jersey.  RQS had to go to Land's End to return a coat, and came out with another at a lower price.  (Everything was on sale at 50% of the list price.)  Once done at Lands End, we killed 90 minutes before driving to TCL's place to pick her up for a belated birthday dinner.

The 3 of us made it to a nearby Italian restaurant just before the crowds came in.  We had a leisurely meal, TCL being greeted as a regular at the restaurant.  Around 6:45, I got a subtle hint from one of the wait staff that they'd like to seat new people  (Don't think this was an unreasonable hint - there was over 15 people waiting inside the doorway, and another 15 waiting outside in the chilly weather.)  So, I signaled TCL after she finished the last bite of dessert that it was time to leave.  When I pointed out how many people were waiting to get in, she understood why it was time to leave.

It was a long day.  And an expensive one, as I dropped $250 on two different meals.  Yet, it was a good day.  RQS got to see her friend, and I finally got the chance to see TCL

HVRW - Dinner and Lunch reservations (a short post)

 

I look terrible in this old picture  But I was having a good time eating out at a meetup.  Now that Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is near, I'm looking at going to 3 restaurants to enjoy nice meals.  The first 2 will be with Vicki, both places which have been around as long as this country has been around.  The other will be at a bistro where RQS and I can get some French Vittles.  (Why make French food sound fancy?  French people simply consider it proper dining.)

It would be nice if I could afford to eat at these places after restaurant week.  But it is a special deal offered only twice each year.  So, Vicki and I try out new places when we can.  If I can afford it, I may add another dinner to my choices, but this will stretch the budget a bit.  Dining at nice places isn't always affordable in the New York region.

- - - - -

Soon, I will need to pack for my next cruise.  It feels strange to have had so many cruises in one year.  And then, we will again be eating hearty for the better part of two weeks.  Hopefully, when I pass away, they will place a bucket of KFC, a sausage pizza from Frank Pepe's, a couple of Big Macs from McDonald's, and a few liters of Diet Coke to send me on my way to the afterlife.  😆😇💭 

 

Lunch and Dinner with friends (a short post)

When I woke up this morning, I had only two things on the docket: Lunch with CCS and Dinner with Vicki.  And both were scheduled for today due to the timing of the Jewish High Holy Days.

But first....

Lunch with CCS is usually after 1:30 pm, as CCS has her exercise class scheduled during "lunch hour". Today, it was scheduled for 2:30, as her exercise class was later than it usually is due to the Jewish holiday.  So, I had much more time than usual to get ready, and made it to the restaurant at the same time her was pulling into the restaurant's parking lot.

We didn't have that much to say today.  I talked a little about my travels, and she told me a little about her travels.  Both of us feel the same way about what's happening in the world these days, and both politics and world affairs came up - and we both see the signs of loudly creeping authoritarianism, understanding what they could mean if left unchecked.  Lunch ended, and we set a new date, then we were on our separate ways.  I then went to BJ's to do a little shopping, and then back to the house to rest before meeting Vicki for dinner.  

Vicki and I met in Mt. Kisco at Lefteris for dinner.  Both of us ordered the Greek Salad w. Chicken, Vicki polishing it off more quickly than I did.  Just as we were finishing our salads, another diner asked me when I thought of NYC's mayoral candidate, and we had a polite discussion with Vicki taking on more of the lead in talking.  This fellow didn't like what Mamdani stood for, and Vicki mentioned that Mamdani will be checked by the realities of NYC.  As for me, I support Mamdani for one reason only - he can't be controlled by the Orange Snowflake.  

When I got home I had a decision to make: How will I present for the weekend with RQS?  As Marian or as Mario?  It'll be nice to stay in dresses while I'm able to do so comfortably.

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Sea Day #2 (09/13/25)

 

Another sea day, and I wish we could be in port today.  However, we were still at sea, and it'd be another day before we would reach Saint John, NB.

- - - - - -

The day started out with us going downstairs for breakfast, where we encountered lackluster service.  Both of us ordered blueberry pancakes with sides of bacon and sausages.  When breakfast was delivered, the waiter brought the pancakes to our table first (without syrup), then served the table next to us, and finally served us the syrup, with the two servings of sausage and bacon on the same plate. If we had to pay for this service at a local diner, we'd never eat there again. Yet, I'd rather eat here, than in the buffet.

After we rested, we went to the pop-up pizza place for lunch.  This time, I decided to have a non-alcoholic beer with the meal - and I was surprised at how good Heineken Zero tastes.  (It's far from a perfect flavor for beer, but it's close enough to enjoy with a pizza.)  This time, we shared a table with 2 other couples and had a good conversation.  I held back a little on one of my opinions, as it was better to make one's key point in a non-challenging way.

When we finished lunch, it was back to the room again to rest some more.  (Both RQS and I seem to need a bit more rest than usual on this cruise.) Around 6:40, we went down stairs to eat, and had to wait a little bit before being shown to our table.  Again, we struck up a good conversation with the couple at the next table, and we wished we had more time with them.

 

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Halifax, NS (09/10/25)

 

I knew that I was going to hate waking up today, as I knew that I wouldn't get enough sleep before our scheduled shore excursion.

But first....

RQS and I had to get up at 6, so that we'd be ready for our shore excursion to Lunenburg by 7:30.  With neither of us having enough sleep the night before, I knew that we'd both be exhausted by the time we got back to the ship.  I was up early enough to get some shots of Port Halifax before we docked at Pier 20.  (All my previous cruises to this port docked at pier 21.)  

The first thing we did after showering and dressing was to go to the buffet. Being up at 7 made it so easy for us to both find a vacant table and find something to eat.  Too bad we're not early birds.  Around 7:30, we made it to one of the staging stations (a ship restaurant) to await our group number to be called.  After a short walk to an awaiting bus, we were on our way to Lunenburg.

 

 

 

Our first stop along the way was to Amos Pewter in Mahone Bay.  We saw the "Soup to Nuts" presentation on how pewter is made, and participated in using the skills needed to make a pewter ornament.  It was a nice demonstration, and made us appreciate the work the artisans do at this studio.

From Mahone Bay, it was off to nearby Lunenburg.  Old town Lunenburg was a planned colonial settlement, and a Nova Scotia treasure.  All of the buildings in this district reek of history, even if they are post colonial in style.  It was here where we decided to have lunch and enjoy our day away from the ship.  
 

After lunch, we explored the old town a little, but didn't have that much time or energy to do this place justice.  Hopefully, we may be able to find the time and money to visit this part of Canada by land and explore it as my parents once did 55 years ago, when I was a child.

All too soon, we were on our way back to the ship.  After a stop at a Maple Syrup store (a stop geared to generate money for both the store and the tour company), we were on our way back to the ship.  Sadly, we had no time to find a place selling needle and thread (I wanted to secure a button to a jacket), so this task will be put off to our next port stop.  And then, it was time for both of us to take a much needed nap before dinner.

Dinnertime came, and we went to the main dining room for dinner.  We were seated at a shared table with 5 other people, and had a nice time.  However, we noticed one thing: Service was so slow for a 7 pm seating, that we could not make it to the theater in time for the nightly entertainment. 

 

 

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Sea Day #1 (09/09/25)

 

The above is a view fro our balcony this morning.  The seas have been relatively calm.  However, being near the bow of the ship, one feels the waves more than if one was near the stern of the ship.  Hopefully, we'll have smooth sailing for the rest of our cruise.

- - - - - -

For the most part, we relaxed today, leaving the room primarily for meals.  Having nowhere to go, and no one to see takes away many of the headaches that keep a person from truly relaxing.  Since we didn't get up early enough for a "sit down" breakfast, we went to the buffet instead.  This was a mistake.  The buffet was very crowded, and we had to share a table with another couple.  I noticed a saying from Neil Degrasse Tyson on one lady's shirt, and I opened up a chat with her.  Her friend came back, and the 4 of us were having a friendly conversation, lightly toughing on current politics.  The woman next to me was very upset at her church's pastor, as he was vehemently anti-abortion and showed the fetus at various stages of development in the womb.  This woman's job was to see that others could get the health care they needed, and understood why certain pregnancies had to be terminated, mostly for the viability of the fetus or the life of the mother.  This woman complained to her church's elders (I don't know what happened), but the pastor made another unforgiving rant the next weekend.  It's sad to see a woman's faith tested by the willful ignorance of a religious leader.

RQS and I took care of some minor errands before going back to the room to rest.  Around 6:30 pm, I got dressed, and we went to the ship's Italian specialty restaurant for dinner.  Although the food was very good, the service was slow. (I had made a joke to the lady who seated us: we have something to do tonight, so we have to be out of here by 10 pm.  She smiled, saying that was the end of her shift.)  We enjoyed our 5 course dinner, but we didn't get out until after 9 pm.

Both of knew that tomorrow would be a busy day, as we had to get up by 6, so that we could meet at 7:30 to be escorted to our tour to Lunenburg.  So, I suggested that we call it a day, and we did. 

 

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Embarkation Day (09/08/25)

RQS and I got up a little bit before 9 am today, and we took our time getting showered and dressed before making our way to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.  Both of us were a little forgetful in our packing.  She forgot a sweater she wanted to wear (and would need to wear) in cooler weather, and I forgot my memory stick that I planned to use on this trip in my shirt pocket left at home.

Around 11 am, our ride took us to the cruise terminal.  Traffic was slow (as expected) for a weekday, but we made it to our destination at noon. Unlike our prior experiences in Brooklyn, it took less than 15 minutes from the time we dropped off our bags with the porter to the time we made it to our cabin.  Cruising on a smaller ship has its benefits, as there were hardly any people queued for processing (compared to other cruises) due to our ship's low capacity AND the use of the Princess Medallion.

Once RQS and I were finished with the muster process, we went downstairs to have lunch in the main dining room.  Although the wait staff were polite and professional, I could tell that they wanted lunch service to end, so that they could get a much needed break before dinner service began. (We got to the restaurant 20 minutes before lunch service ended.)  It was an enjoyable lunch, with my salmon prepared the way I like it - grilled, not too dry or moist.

After lunch, both of us took a nap before unpacking our suitcases.  (I usually take out my packing cubes and take clean clothes out as I need them.) Yet, we didn't unpack the way we usually do, as both of us had our own agendas - me to take a nap, and RQS to take her photos.  And then, both of us relaxed until dinner time. 

At 7 pm, we went to the dining room for dinner, and there was a long line to the door.  Someone pointed out that the line we were standing on was for people who didn't have reservations.  So we went to the other line, and were seated at a shared table with 3 other people.  Everyone else at the table were seasoned travelers, so our conversation lasted until well after 9 pm.  Hopefully, we will see these people again on the cruise.

Finally, RQS needed to buy a sweater, so it was off to the ship's store to buy one.  She found something she liked, and wanted to buy two - but only one was available in a color and style she liked.  Then it was back to the cabin for the night. 

 

 

Lunch with a friend and zoom after dinner

The day started with a gradual waking up.  By 11 am, I was up and running and getting ready to have lunch with MSJ.  It was nice to be able to see her again, as we have had way too many postponements of our lunches this summer.

 - - - - - -

I made sure that I was properly shaved and made up before getting dressed.  It was still warm enough for me to wear a casual denim dress from Universal Standard that has been a staple of my summer wardrobe since I bought it.  Rushing out of the apartment, I barely made it to the pizzeria on time.  When we met, it was as if no time had passed.  So we went inside, ordered a couple of slices each, then went to the park to chat and eat.

MSJ talked about family affairs, and how recent dealings with the government put her and her family through the ringer.  Then, we discussed medical issues, specifically an incident with her and marine life, while I mentioned my recent pinched nerves and doctor's recommendations.  She brought me up to date on what was happening with her sons, and while she was talking, a mendicant came up asking us for money.  Neither of us had ever seen a homeless person or a beggar in Croton before, and we handed this person some small bills so that she could get some food.  (I hated seeing her hunt through nearby garbage cans for food, that I felt I should help her out a little.)  We then shifted to talking about current political events, and both of us felt we had good cause to worry about what is happening to us, or what could happen to us in the near future.

All too soon, we had to part. I went home, and awaited a zoom meeting with our Texas friends.  Opening the meeting at 8, I had to use my Chromebook in the living room, as the AC in the bedroom wouldn't keep me cool while I was wearing my wig.  RQS and I talked about our Alaska trip, and I showed off some pictures I took.  I made a joke about who would wear the white dress if we got married, and it evolved into me saying that a wedding would be held in San Francisco, and that our friends would be invited.  I'm pretty sure that they would come if we were to do so.

Shortly after the zoom meeting ended, I had my nightly phone call with RQS, and then closed things up for the day....

Only one thing on my docket came to pass today.

 

I had two things on the docket for today, and one of them got postponed (again).  First was a lunch with (Short) Vicki (postponed), and the other was a movie with DS.  It was just as well that Vicki postponed our lunch, as I would have been totally exhausted before going to the movies.

But first....

DS had suggested that we see the "Naked Gun", a reboot of the old comedic series which starred Leslie Nielsen.  I was surprised that Liam Neeson did this movie, as it was a departure from his usual style of film.  So, after a day of rest, I put on a comfortable, casual denim dress and drove to the movies.  DS knows I am trans, but we relate to each other as two women.

I should have allocated more time to get to the movie.  It took me 45 minutes to make it from Croton to Mamaroneck, and park in the lot behind the theater.  DS was easy to find - there was no one else in the theater, and they still had 10 minutes of trailers to go before the movie started.  We didn't have a chance to chat before the film started, so I turned off my phone and sat down in the reclining seat.  This film did not have as many rapid fire gags as the original movie did.  But there were a few that made me chuckle.  For me, the best part of the movie was the ending.  No, I was not waiting for the film to end.  Instead, they slipped gags into the credits and broke down the "4th Wall" as part of those gags.  (If you see the film, make sure to stay through the credits.) 

Once the film ended, we walked over to a nearby pizza parlor.  DS is in-between jobs, and has to watch her money.  So we both ordered a couple of slices and caught up on what is going on in each other's lives.  I talked about my cruising, while she talked about the gigs she is doing to pay the bills.  All too soon, and yet, just in time, dinner had to end, and we went our own ways.   

Seeing a friend, while Amazon has still not delivered.

 

When the above dog says "Woof!" he really means it - unlike Amazon's 2-day delivery pledge for Prime members.  But first, I'll talk about friendship....

- - - - - -

About a month ago, I last saw my friend CCS from the census.  Both of us were in good moods when we met at the local pizzeria, and had our choices of where to sit when we got there.  We were chatting so much, that I had no time to think of what I wanted to order.  (She is a vegetarian, so her limits made it easy for her to quickly know what she wanted.)  So, I ended up ordering an old standby, lasagna, even though I knew it was too heavy for a late summer's day.  We caught up on things such as our cruises, politics, and where we are vacationing next.  But all too soon, it was time to go, and we scheduled out next lunch for late September. 

Once I left the pizzeria, I dropped off my leftovers at home, then took a short drive just to see some sunlight. before going back home for a few hours to wait for game night.  Around 6 pm, I noticed a message: Our hostess was sick, and game night was cancelled for tonight.  In a way, this was just as well.  It gave me some time to straighten up the mess in my apartment.

- - - - - -

But back to Amazon....

The above items were originally ordered on August 25th, with delivery scheduled for August 26th. (I didn't care about next day delivery, but Amazon said they would deliver these items a day early.)  They didn't come on the 26th.  They didn't come on the 27th.  They were only noted as being late in transit, although they were reported as having reached the Hawthorne, NY carrier facility.  And this status remained well into the 28th.  

At the time I'm writing this entry, I don't think I will receive these items today, the 28th.  So, I prepared a new order, being ready to cancel the first order at 11 pm and issue a new order at that time.  I'll add a postscript to this entry if things change.... 




PS: I cancelled the order at 10 pm.   I'll reorder things over the weekend.

Alaska Cruise 2025 - Sea Day #4 (08/20/25)

  

The Pacific Ocean just after sunrise.  It's a beautiful sight, and something I'll have the chance to see one last time before reaching San Francisco.  Views like this are one of the many reasons to be sailing in a balcony cabin when taking an Alaskan cruise.

- - - - - -

Last night, while I was doing laundry, I met another cruiser in the laundry room.  We got to talking about current affairs, both of us being appalled by our current fascist regime's policy of hassling (or worse) anyone who doesn't look like a piece of white toast or have a white toast sounding name.  We wondered if the military would revolt (we didn't think so), and how people are acting out of fear.  I opened up about being TG, noting that I have filed for a European country's foreign birth registry.  She said that she has dual US and Mexican citizenship, and that she is trying to get Spanish citizenship, in order to be able to live in the EU if needed.

This morning, I started to think: Could I leave the US with nothing but the clothes on my back and get by?  30 years ago, I would have said YES! without a thought.  Today, I'm not certain of this, given my age. But I won't dwell on this question right now.  Instead, I'll sit and watch the ocean go by my balcony and stay relaxed until we get to San Francisco.

- - - - - -

The first thing we did after getting up was to go for lunch.  Yes, I pigged out with an appetizer, some soup, a burger and dessert.  And it was all yummy!  Then it was off the the atrium too see what was on sale.  As I write this, I have $322 in onboard credits - $172 nonrefundable, and $150 refundable.  Assuming that RQS burns off $75 of the nonrefundable credits in a spa session tomorrow, and that we burn off $140 at the Crab Shack pop up tomorrow, that means that I still have $113 to burn.  This means that I may buy a watch that I don't need to use up the remaining credits.  (Or, I could have Princess cur me a check for the remaining refundable credits.)  While we were still out of the room, we asked guest services about whether they have behind the scenes tours of the ship, as they do on some other ships.  All they have is a guided walk through the galley area, where one can see what goes on in the main kitchen.  Although it is something nice, it's not what I was looking for.  Yet, it paid to ask.

- - - - - - 

Around 6 pm, we had to get ready for the last formal night of our cruise.   I forgot where I put my tie, so RQS was ready before me.  We got more photos taken, and then went to another specialty restaurant (the Crown Grill) for surf and turf.  RQS had the lobster tail, while I had the veal chop.  Yum!  As usual, we were ready to pass out after eating, so it was back to our cabin to get a start on packing, and to watch some TV before going to sleep.  (You'll never know how quickly one can fall asleep until you watch a 50 y/o episode of The Love Boat!)

 

Alaska Cruise 2025 - Glacier Bay - Scenic Cruising Day (08/16/25)

 

Glacier Bay.  It's a national park where only two cruise ships are allowed to enter it on any one day, and we are on one of those ships.  It's a place where nature has been allowed to run wild, and I am grateful that I have the chance to see it before global warming ruins it.

- - - - - -

One thing I've noticed where RQS and I differ greatly is in our sleeping habits.  If I wake up, I tend to stay awake.  If she wakes up, it's easy for her to stay asleep.  This is not usually a big problem, as I will often go into another room and do my thing.  But when it's in a cabin, it's something else.  I have to find ways of doing my thing without disturbing her. And that can be tricky when we have an inside cabin.  Luckily, we have a balcony cabin for this cruise, and we'll be able to see glaciers without leaving the cabin if we want to do that.

Around 9:15, we went to the buffet for breakfast.  Not much to say about that, save we were on the opposite end of the ship from where the Park Ranger was scheduled to give a talk about Glacier bay.  By the time we reached the theater, there were almost no seats left, and we had to walk to the front row to find seats.  Of the 2 presentations we have seen this cruise, the park ranger's presentation was the best. After the presentation, we walked back to our cabin and watched Alaska glide by from the comfort of our balcony for a while. 

 
After lunch, we moseyed up to the lounge where the park ranger was talking.  She noted several things about Glacier Bay park that made the cruise a little bit more interesting: Why the color of the water can be a shade of aqua, how fine glacial silt can be, what causes icebergs to calve from glaciers, etc. Even though what she said was interesting, I found it relaxing to see Mother Nature in her majesty.  All too soon, the park rangers were dropped off at the entrance to the park, and our ship started on its way to Juneau.

- - - - - -

Dinnertime came, and we sat at our usual table with some people we ate with before. Although it was noisy, we were able to enjoy a good meal and good conversation.  Unfortunately, I took a chance with another Indian chicken dish and struck out.  Such is the life of someone who gambles with food.  At least, the creme brulee was good. 

Later on was the stage show.  It was a 30-minute song and dance extravaganza, where the performers sang (and danced to) music from around the world.  One problem: more than half the numbers stunk. One of the decent tunes was an abbreviated version of Iz's "Somewhere over the Rainbow" / "It's a Wonderful World" medley. The men performing "Nessun dorma" and the woman doing Alicia Keys' "New York" did a great job on their tunes.  However, the show was ruined for me because the cast ruined "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Mas Que Nada", both tunes I've loved from childhood.

With that being said, it was another good day in the great white north.

 

Alaska Cruise 2025 - Sea Day #3 (08/14/25)

The clocks moved back an hour last night, and we still got up late for breakfast.  It's just as well, as neither of us were in the mood to do anything but relax.  Outside, we can see nothing but the Pacific Ocean, and it's nice to know that we'll have a nice continuous view of the inside passage when our ship leaves Skagway tomorrow.

- - - - - - 

We got up late, and decided that our first meal would be lunch in the main dining room.  I wanted something simple to eat, as I knew I'd be having GI Tract issues later in the day.  So, I had some lentil soup followed by a gussied up hamburger.  Both were yummy.  But this would not be the focus of our day.

Sometime towards mid afternoon, we entered the Inside Passage, and had calm waters to sail on our way to Skagway.  From our balcony, we saw some snow covered mountains, while others nearby saw whales. Both of us broke out our binoculars to get a better view of things.  Even though the tops of the mountains were often covered with clouds, we enjoyed the view.  This is one cruise which I would always recommend a balcony cabin.

All too soon, dinner time came, and we had to stop enjoying the views from our balcony cabin.  So we trekked downstairs to the restaurant where I ordered the Crab Buccatini, the Seafood Antipasto, and the Tandori Chicken for dinner.  There was nothing that wasn't top notch. While having our appetizers a couple from the Denver area was seated at our shared table. I recommended the pasta, and the woman opposite me loved my suggestion.  The four of us had a nice conversation, even though the noise level in the restaurant made it hard to hear each other.  To finish the meal, I had the Apple Strudel, while RQS had the Cheesecake.  We could have kept talking for a while, but RQS had to go up to the room, and I wanted to go and capture the last minutes of our first Alaskan sunset. 

 What a nice way to close out a day, isn't it?

 

Alaska Cruise 2025 - Embarkation Day (08/11/25)

Embarkation day.  It's one of the 2, 3 or 4 most stressful days of a cruise vacation, the others being Disembarkation day, and the days one flies to a cruise port or returns home from a cruise port.  Today, RQS boarded the Ruby Princess for our cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage.  And, as expected, we encountered a long line to drop our bags off with the porters and another long line to make it onto the ship.

 

Nob Hill is a ritzy neighborhood in San Francisco/ When one stays at a hotel on  Nob Hill, one has limited choices for breakfast, as there are no easily affordable places where one can find a bite to eat, or find snacks to munch on.  To sate one's hunger, one could choose the hotel's restaurant and pay through the nose for a nice breakfast.  Or, one could take the cable car to a district where affordable dining is possible.  Or, one could use a service such as GrubHub or DoorDash to have breakfast delivered to the hotel.  We chose the latter and saved ourselves some effort and maybe a few dollars in the process.  Mickey D's is usually predictable, but today it was terrible - we both got spicy (read: HOT) breakfast sandwiches by accident.  At least, this would calm any hunger pangs we might have until we were on the ship.

Around 11 am, the bellman picked up our bags, and we went to the lobby to wait for our cab to come. After loading our bags into the back of the taxi, we were off to the cruise terminal.  It took us a while to drop our bags off with the porters, and then to snake through the line to get on the ship.  Yet, we were in our cabin by 12:45 pm, and in the restaurant for lunch by 1 pm.  Although there were two disjointed lines for luggage drop and for boarding the ship,it felt much easier to board the ship here than in some ports I've cruised from.  Hopefully, this will be a sign that we'll have a pleasant cruise.

 

After a little bit of unpacking and resting, we went on the balcony to watch the view as we crossed under the Golden Gate Bridge.  And then, it was off to the lounge to have a drink or two. Given that I didn't want to hang out in the lounge and keep drinking, I suggested that we look at the buffet and see how appetizing it looks. So, we went to the Lido Deck, and sat down and had some tea.  

 

While killing time before dinner, I noticed some islands to the side of our ship.  We weren't sure of what islands these were until I remembered that the Farallon Islands were somewhere off the California coast, West of San Francisco.  Looking at the islands in the distance and photos taken by others, I figured that the Farallon Islands were what we were seeing in the hazy distance.  Although I can say that I've seen these islands, I can guarantee that I'll never visit them.

Around 7 pm, we went to one of the main dining rooms for dinner where were served by a talented and experienced waiter named Marco.  It was a pleasure to have him serve us, as he kept us entertained from appetizers to dessert.  Dinner ended, and it was time to go back to the room to rest.  It was a long day, and we wanted to be fresh for the morning's activities. 

An afternoon with Vicki

 

Although I dropped RQS off at the train station today, I don't have much to say about it except that she will return in a coupe of days.  Instead, my focus will be on the time I spent with Vicki nd my thoughts about that lunch date.

- - - - - - 

Once I dropped RQS off at the station, I killed a little time before Vicki came to pick me up for our lunch date.  The first thing on our docket was a stop at J.Jill to return two garments that she mail ordered but didn't want to keep. So it was off to the Westchester mall in White Plains.  Vicki thought she could get in and out of the mall within 20 minutes, and not get charged the $4 for parking.  (She's losing a sense of time, now that she's not working. But that's something that gradually happens to retirees.)  Neither of us saw anything we were interested in the mall, both of us feeling a sense of sterility about the place.  Hardly anyone was there, and neither of us wanted to spend any more time there than we had to.

Vicki was in a mood today, taking control of the conversation when I wanted to explain my feelings.  She has stronger feelings about my exes and my late wife than I do - and she is likely projecting her feelings about her past relationships onto mine in this conversation.  Later on, she mentioned that she sees me as being authentic in my living life as a woman. She noted that for me, it's not putting on an act like Drag performers.  It is truly wanting to be seen and treated as a woman.  She disagrees with me about the things I need to do (partial facial feminization surgery, FFS), noting that my face isn't strongly as masculine as I feel it is.

After lunch, we drove back to Croton (with a stop at the Blue Pig for ice cream), and she dropped me off at my apartment.  Shortly afterward, I went to Walmart in search of pillow protectors and pillowcases for a new pillow I bought the other day.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find the pillow protectors and will need to buy them from Amazon.  At least, this wasn't a totally wasted trip.  

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch with TCL

 

I was semiconscious for part of the morning, and I didn't start getting ready to see TCL until 11 am.  My original plans were to get some paperwork taken care of, get passport photos taken, go to the bank to notarize a form, and then send it in for my second passport - all before driving to TCL's place.  None of these things took place - all I could do was to shave, shower, and dress as Mario before driving to New Jersey.

The usual trip to TCL's place has been getting longer over the past few years, as more traffic than ever is on Route 287. Making note of the Eastbound traffic on the bridge, I made plans to return home via the Bear Mountain Bridge.  Just before my intended exit, there was some road construction that backed up the highway for 1 1/2 miles.  So I was glad to have built in some extra time to get to TCL's place, as I barely got there on time at 1 pm.

TCL took a few minutes to get ready, and we first drove to the mechanic's shop to pick up her car.  And then, we went to lunch in town.  TCL treated me to lunch, as my birthday was earlier in the month, so I was a little bit ahead of the game today. However, my mind wasn't in sync with our conversation, as I was still a bit out of things until lunch was halfway over. This was just as well, as she has some of the same judgemental habits that she doesn't like in others.  After lunch, we went back to her place, and I took care of hanging some pictures for her. 

Around 3 pm, I left TCL's place and drove home via the Bear Mountain Bridge, arriving home at 4 pm.  At this point, I needed a nap, and didn't regain a form of consciousness until 7 pm.  At least some paperwork I requested for our family homestead was ready and I'm now ready to submit the next set of paperwork, so that we can rent out the house.... 

At least, after taking care of some more paperwork, I will be able to switch back into Marian Mode tomorrow. 

Another lunch, another friend....

 

Today, I had another lunch date on my docket.  This time, it was with CCS, my friend from the Census. One wouldn't know it looking at her, but she and her husband have had successful careers.  They just live modestly, save for the upper middle class area in which they live.  (She's a perfect person to have as a friend, as I'll bet that she could smell pretentiousness and BS from miles away.)

- - - - - -

I got dresses and met CCS at the Mexican restaurant down the hill.  And as usual, we caught each other up on what has been going on in our lives.  Again, I recounted the story of our "Moved Over" cruise, and dealing with the summer heat.  While having lunch, I received a call from our co-op's managing agent.  They didn't have copies of our meeting minutes for 2025.  So I left lunch more quickly than I'd have liked and sent 7 months' of minutes to him 15 minutes later.

Now that I had nothing to do until a zoom meeting later in the evening, I decided to look for a summer weight cotton blanket for my bed.  It's hard to believe that after Bed, Bath and Beyond closed its stores, that these blankets seem to be only available on Amazon.  So, another item will get added to my Amazon shopping cart soon.

Once home for the night, I started up a Zoom meeting with our Texas friends. First, I told the story of our "Moved Over" cruise, then I encouraged RQS to recount the trip into NYC to see Rakugo.  Later on, RQS noted that it was much more lively than usual, one of our friends opening up more than usual  It was good to know that I could lay back a little and let someone else chat for a change.... 

Lunch with a friend who I used to work with.

 

The docket for the day had me lunching with SJM.  We skipped our monthly lunch in June, as she had too many things pop up that got in the way - right before the cruise we were supposed to take.  So we had a lot more to say than usual, but less time than we wanted.

- - - - - -

For some reason, my CPAP turned itself off last night, and it wouldn't turn back on.  I wondered why it did.  So, I switched the transformer and power cord (I have an extra in my CPAP travel bag) and it worked.  Now, I had to check out the original transformer and power cord.  This time, I plugged it into a different outlet - and everything worked!  Because I can't explain why things happened, I will need to swap the original back to my CPAP machine and make sure it works - then keep it that way for a while.

Now that I was wide awake, I decided to eat breakfast and nap until 11 am.  At 11:15, I started to get showered and dressed for lunch.  Making it to lunch at 1 pm, I met SJM and sat down for our meal.  I told her about my cruises, and she told me about what was going on with her, her sons, her husband, and her "headaches" with everything.  Her older son has the problems that one would expect from someone who needs more real-world experience before he can safely be completely on his own in life.  The other is willing to take on more challenges than his mom is comfortable with.  All of her problems share one detail - she is not a superwoman who has a solution for every problem. 

All too soon, lunch had to end and we parted.  I then checked in with my brother and found out that I still needed to get a document so that we can submit paperwork needed to rent out our house.  Tomorrow, I'll call up the town, and get things done.  But first, I would stop by the local Walmart to buy myself some anti-chafe slip shorts to wear under my dresses.  By the time I was home for the night, it was 7:30 - just enough time to get a load of laundry done.

It was a nice day to spend as Marian.  Soon, I'll have to switch back to Mario mode to get some paperwork notarized....