Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Sea Day #3 (09/17/25)

 

Our last day on the ship, and we already reached a high point with the culinary challenge and galley tour.  Princess seems to do this on every cruise, and it's a fun presentation by the culinary staff of the ship.  On one side is an actual chef who knows what he's doing and does it very well.  On the other is a staff member acting as a clown, having fun and ruining a recipe for (usually) an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert.  This presentation shouldn't be missed.  Following this presentation, cruisers are encouraged to visit the galley and ask questions of the staff.

- - - - - -

But let's put first things first....

We were unable to do laundry last night.  So, I knew that I had to wake up bright and early to get to the laundry room and not wait for a machine.  Showering and dressing before 8 am is difficult for me (it'll be much worse tomorrow, on disembarkation day), but I made it to the laundry room by 8:05 - where 2 of the 5 washers were in use.  I asked some people to watch my laundry bag as I walked down to guest services to get some tokens.  On my return, I loaded up the washer and struck up a chat with 2 people from Canada.  It was a good chat, and I stayed in the laundry room until the wash was done.  And that's when RQS came in, saying we had to get some breakfast.  I loaded the dryer, paid another token for a 60 minute run, and it was off to breakfast.

We didn't have time for a dining room breakfast, so off to the buffet we went.  And again, I struck up a conversation with another out-of-towner wanting to see a baseball game.  Again, I was an instruction manual for someone wanting to see a game in Flushing.  Once the couple left, we decamped to the laundry room to await our dried clothes. 

Once our clothes were dry, we dumped them off in our cabin, then went to the culinary challenge.  There were no seats left, so we sat in the aisle's steps to watch the show.  RQS enjoyed it (as I expected), and then we went to the galley tour.  From there it was off to the gastropub for lunch.

- - - - - - 

Lunch at the gastropub was pleasant.  I chose their mushroom dish for an appetizer, as the other 2 menu choices were not appetizing to me.  And then I had the signature burger - which was tasty, but over embellished with fried jalapeño peppers.  This was the high point of the meal, as the pudding like dessert was marred by the popcorn embellishments.

And then, we packed for our return home....

- - - - - -

At 7, we went for our last specialty dinner of the trip.  It was a good meal,  Around 9, we put out our luggage for delivery to the pier.  And then we went to see the comedian in the main theater.  He was funny, but I left just before the show ended - I was ready to pass out, and I needed sleep.

 

 

 

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Boston, MA (09/16/25)

 

The above was the view from our Bridge Cam this morning.  At first, it looked like it would be a cloudy day. But as time went on, the day improved.  Yet, we just weren't in the mood to get off the ship.  So we spent this last port day on the ship instead of exploring Boston as we originally planned.

- - - - - -

We woke up around 9, and were having breakfast in the buffet until 11.  And then we walked outside to get some fresh air.  There is something about being on a quiet ship on a port day that is relaxing. For example, there was no crowd around the pool today.  If one wanted a deck lounge chair, it was there for the taking.  The ship was empty, and those left on the ship had it to themselves.

There is one problem with staying on the ship on port days - all of the shops and most of the restaurants are closed while in port.  One can't take advantage of everything the ship has to offer, as this is the one time many of the ship's personnel get a break from work.  Although the spa may be open, I've never found anyone rushing to get treatments due to the inflated prices charged by this venue.

For the most part, this was a day to relax, and relax we did - until it was time to go to dinner.  Tonight was "Surf and Turf" night, the one night that the main dining room goes all out to serve cruisers.  Was the surf and turf good?  Yes, but the steak was drowning in sauce - something I don't like on most cuts of meat.  (At least, RQS had the duck breast, and she enjoyed it to the fullest.)  While at dinner, I struck up a conversation with the man at the table next to us. RQS and enjoyed talking with this man about cruising, life, and other things, and chatted for the better part of an hour after our table was cleaned by the wait staff. 

After dinner, we tried to do a load of laundry.  Unfortunately, we were too late to get a load in and done in time.  Tomorrow, we'll have to squeeze this task in, between everything else we have scheduled. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Portland, ME (09/15/25)

 

Portland, Maine.  It's a nice place to walk around when the sun is not too high in the sky.  There is enough old architecture in the port district, that one can easily find interesting buildings to photograph. And yet, it's a relatively modern place to be in, most of the traditional seaside businesses having left the main road years ago.

When we arrived in Portland, US Customs and Border Control requires everyone to get off the ship, so that they can verify every passenger on the ship's manifest.  We woke up early, so that we could get off the ship at our appointed time.  And then, we hit a minor roadblock: someone typed my name wrong on the manifest.  My name was changed from Marian to Narian.  AARGH!  Once the CBP person caught this error, he fixed it and sent me (and RQS) on our way. 

However, this doesn't mean that Portland's nautical past has been forgotten.  Take a walk down any of the side streets and you'll see traces of its nautical past.  For example, the above establishment has been here for years.  Now, it's a full service tavern.   

At the end of the pier is the original Luke's seafood restaurant. From its humble seafood processing beginnings in Portland, it has morphed into a restaurant chain with branches around the world.   We killed a couple of hours before walking to Luke's as it normally opens at 11 am.  One problem: they had no electricity when we arrived.  (A circuit breaker was triggered, and they had to reset it.)  We appreciated this delay, as it gave our breakfasts more time to be digested.

When we finally got into Luke's, we ordered the fried clam bellies, and they were on our plates before RQS was finished in the washroom.  We feasted, and the lady at the next table struck up a conversation on cruising.  It was a nice thing to chat with a stranger about something we all enjoyed - especially our trips to Bermuda.

All too soon, it was time to return to the ship.  So we walked the mile back to the ship and decided to rest for a while before the evening's activities started.

- - - - - - 

Tonight was dress up night, and we again donned our finest for the photographers downstairs near the atrium. I couldn't wait to take off my blazer and tie to be comfortable while dining at the ship's steakhouse.  This would be our second visit to the place, and I tried to order different things from what I ordered on our last visit.  Well, I almost did just that, but had the same dessert.  Today's main course was a veal chop so thick that I couldn't finish it all.  RQS was wearing something similar to what I would have worn had I been able to go as Marian.  (Well, there will be opportunities to do that once the Orange Snowflake leaves office.)

After dinner, we went back to our room to relax for 30 minutes, and then on to tonight's entertainment in the ship's theater. Tonight's show was a musical revue called "On The Bayou", and it was a pleasant performance of songs with a New Orleans area theme.  (Mind you, this was a little bit of a stretch, but the best way to label these numbers.)  Most of the performers did their songs justice, and in contrast to the last night's performer did her songs better.

 

Next it was off to the lounge where we saw Carlos Oscar and his comedy routine.  (Think of Joe Pesci as if he had a Puerto Rico background.)  As much as most comedians don't get me to laugh, Carlos did. Much of his routine got into the differences of men and women, but not in a nasty way.  Instead, he exaggerated how our behaviors seem, such as women flothes shopping for themselves and then for their partners.  Would I see him again?  If this show is an example, it will be on the last night of the cruise.

 

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Saint John, NB (09/14/25)

 

Our last day in Canada, and I met someone from where I used to work.  Long story of our relationship made short: He is a Type-A, and I am a person who doesn't fit into a type mold. As such, we butted heads when working, but were pleasant and polite now that we are no longer at the bank.

- - - - - -

We arrived on a Sunday and had breakfast in the buffet.  That's where we sat next to a former rival coworker and shared pleasantries. It was nice to know that there were no hard feelings.  Then, we decamped to our cabin to pick up some things and go into town.

For those readers who haven't been to Saint John yet, the passenger port has room for two ships on a normal day.  There is a shopping area next to the terminal with stores housed in shipping containers.  Once out on the main street, one will find street merchants selling their wares, with stores, pubs and restaurants doing their thing on the other side of the street.  To go inland from here requires navigating up some steep streets to the top of a hill.

Since it was a Sunday, most of the shops in this district were closed.  But, as one would expect, the church was open for Sunday services.  It was the first time that I've visited this city where the port district was quiet.  It was a perfect day to photograph some of the old and unique buildings in this part of town.  Sadly, the candy store that sold us "Toxic Waste" candy was no longer in business, nor was the city's police museum.  So we walked back to the ship for a late lunch.

- - - - - -

Eventually, dinnertime came and we were seated next to a nice British couple.  Even though we were at separate tables, we were close enough to consider our tables to be shared.  I had two appetizers, a main and a dessert, and I was well sated after the meal.  (The appetizer was a poached pear with blue cheese, and the dessert was a poached pear with cinnamon.  So I don't feel that guilty about having two pear dishes.)  All too soon dinner had to end, and we went back to our cabin for a few before the nightly theater entertainment started. 

  

 

 

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 - Charlottetown, PE (09/12/25)

 

Today was a big disappointment.  This would be the second cruise we've taken to this port, and we had to skip this port again due to weather conditions.  The last time we were supposed to be here, it was on the heels of a hurricane.  This time, strong winds coming from the wrong direction made it unsafe to make port. (It seems strange that the waters weren't choppy from where we were.  But that's another story.)  So, we had an unexpected sea day, and more time to spend money on the ship's onboard activities.

- - - - - -

We decided to go to the MDR for breakfast today, and service was sloppy.  Although the food was good, I couldn't wait to leave and get back to our cabin to relax.  About 2 hours later I woke up after napping, and then it was time for lunch.  (There often isn't that much to do on sea days, save to relax and eat.) 

Even though this was a sea day and the main dining room was open for lunch, we didn't go there.  Instead, we went to one of the casual dining restaurants staged for lunch in the premises of the evening specialty restaurants.  During the day, Princess's pizza restaurant, Alfredo's, uses Sabbatini's space for its meals - and if one wants a custom personal pizza, this is the place to go at lunch time. Both RQS and I enjoyed our pizzas and wondered whether we'd have enough room in our stomachs to eat at the Crab Shack pop up later in the evening.  Although we could have dessert there, neither of us wanted Tiramisu. (Alfredo's on other ships usually has its own space, as well as O'Malley's gastropub.)  So, it was back to our cabin to rest.

Around 4:00 RQS decided to do laundry.  We still had tokens from our last laundry run on the Ruby Princess, so we hoped that the same tokens would work - they did.  About 90 minutes later, we retrieved our laundry from the dryer, and then proceeded to Crab Shack for dinner.

On the Island Princess, Crab Shack is not a lunch time pop up.  Instead, it is a dinner time venue in a cordoned off section of the buffet.  Other than that, it is the same pop up venue in a different area of the ship than on most Princess ships.  On our last cruise, we ordered the seafood bucket for two.  This time, we both ordered the seafood pots which contained clams, mussels, shrimp and crab (claws and legs).  It was tasty as expected.  Next time, we'll try the seafood boil for comparison.  

Once done with our meal, it was back to the cabin to rest while the food digested.... 

 

Canada/New England Cruise 2025 - Sydney, NS (09/11/25)

 

 

  

My first impression of Sydney, NS is one of a bleak and dreary place as evidenced by the bridge cam picture above.  There is no way I could do this place justice today, as the drizzling rain made it impossible to explore the town and get to the nearby museums in town.  Hopefully, RQS and I will return to this place on a sunny day and have the chance to do some exploration in good weather.

The one thing of note in Sydney is the giant fiddle near the cruise port.  I joked that should resurrect Seward Johnson and commission him to erect an appropriately sized sculpture of Itzhak Perlman next to it.  But that's my strange sense of humor at work.  RQS and I went to the stores in the nearby shops and we opened up our wallets:  RQS bought 2 pairs of gloves, while I bought 2 necklaces (at CA$10 each) for when I'm in Marian mode.  We then walked over to a record store (well stocked with classic vinyl albums) and got into a chat with one of its proprietors.  He said that he was impressed with my (limited) knowledge of classic albums, and I made sure to get his card before leaving for the ship.

- - - - - -

Around 7 pm, we went to another specialty restaurant, the Crown Grille.  This restaurant is a wonderful steakhouse where (on other ships) I was never served a bad meal.  RQS ordered the strip steak and I ordered the lobster tail - both were yummy!  Our only complaint was that we had to wait 10 minutes or so to be seated, the food, the service and the ambience of the place.  It'll be nice to eat there again later in the cruise.

 

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. 

 

 

By the time you read this, we'll be ready to be landlubbers.

 

 

 

By the time you read this, we'll be back from our cruise.  We originally planned to take this cruise in June, but one thing got in the way: an offer from Princess Cruises to "Move Over" to a different Canada/New England cruise, so that they could make our cabin available for people who paid for a "Guaranteed" cabin. In exchange, we'd receive a free cruise, the money paid for this cruise returned to us as refundable onboard credits.  Within 10 minutes of receiving this offer, we accepted it and were booked on this cruise.  Little did we know that this cruise would be even more popular than the cruise we originally booked.

(New Cruise Cabin Location Above)

 

(Old Cruise Cabin Location Above) 

When we booked the new cruise, we were given a balcony cabin on the Aloha deck (12) of the ship.  this deck is just below the Lido deck (14), and I expect that the cabin will be a little noisy until late hours on the ship, due to the buffet area being above us.  I'm not sure whether it is much of an upgrade from the obstructed cabin we originally had on the Emerald deck (8), as it was near the main atrium.

- - - - - -

We've been on this and similar Canada/New England routes before, so choosing shore excursions wasn't as important to us as it could have been if this were our first cruise together.  We've already been to Peggy's Cove, NS, so we weren't that interested in going there again for a photographic tour.  But, we hadn't been to Lunenberg, NS yet.  So we booked this excursion.  We would have liked to get the Alexander Graham Bell excursion at another port, but this was sold out before we had a chance to book it.  So, we had a few days without scheduled excursions to explore some ports at our leisure.

This will be the 4th cruise we are taking this year.  We have one more left to go.  Strangely enough, we'll enjoy having most of autumn to enjoy on dry land.... 

 

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.   

Today was a nothing burger of a day. (a short post)

 

It's rare that I wake up early and cook breakfast.  And it's even rarer that I go back to bed and fall asleep again.  But that was the main focus of the day - my total lack of energy until afternoon came, and when I found the energy to stay out of bed.

- - - - - -

Around 7 am, I got up and cooked some breakfast.  I rarely find myself having a short burst of energy, then depleting it quickly.  But that was my morning in a nutshell.  Right after breakfast, I felt a need to go back to bed, and I couldn't find the energy to leave it until the afternoon.  This meant that my plans to go into the city and see a Broadway play would have to be changed.

By the time I was ready to go outside, it was way too late for me to do anything that required a trip to the city.  So I got showered and dressed, wearing my new dress from Universal Standard.  It fit me well, but I'm unhappy with how the flutter sleeves look on me. Then I took a drive to the store to pick up some face powder.  My first stop had me picking up setting powder a little darker than my usual shade.  Once I realized this, I decided to drive to Target to get another container of powder.  

Once I was done with my shopping, it was back home to spend the evening.  Not much to say about today, and just as well.  RQS and I will be doing a Zoom meeting with our Texas friends in a couple of days, and we will be booking our next European cruise over the weekend as well.  (We may delay this until we get back from our next cruise, due to constraints on RQS's finances.)

The day started with a call from my doctor...

 

I can't say that I was asleep when my doctor called this morning.  But I can say that the call disturbed me before I got out of bed.  And this set the overtone for the rest of the day.

- - - - - -

My doctor wanted to review the results of a blood test he gave me a week ago.  Seems like one of the levels was way too high, and he wanted me to avoid alcohol until I see him again next month.  The reality is that I eat too much fatty food, and that the rich food I was eating on the cruise combined with the 2-3 drinks per day I was drinking on the cruise (I rarely drink alcohol otherwise) could have been a factor.  I guess that this has to be a wake-up call to get my act together when it involves what I'm eating.

Now that my morning was shot, I took care of some little things around the house, then went out for lunch and then make a run to the supermarket.  At the supermarket, I made sure to pick up some salad, as well as some fruit.  Maybe I can start changing my diet before my next cruise?  I hope so.  And then, I was home for the night, as I had a co-op meeting scheduled for 5:15 pm.

I started the co-op meeting, and it took a while for the board members to join in.  We conducted our business, and yet, it still seemed as if the president and I were the only two doing the work.  I'll be glad when we get some issues resolved, as both of us want to go on and do things other than spending our time keeping the co-op running. When the co-op meeting was over, I started 2 loads of laundry, and then called my brother.  His boss made an offer to him that he couldn't refuse - a promise to pay attention to my brother's need for a better work/life balance.

Finally, I chatted with RQS.  We got price quotes for 2 different cruises.  She wanted one cruise, and I wanted the other.  Both are good choices.  But RQS is more sensitive to the price of the cruise than I am.  So, I think I will bend to her preferences, and choose the shorter, less expensive cruise.  More on this later.

A split weekend with RQS

 

(The Marxes made more sense than our current government.)

I spent the Labor Day weekend with RQS.  Half of the time at my apartment, and the other half at hers.  She needed to replace her printer, and I needed to spend as much time in Marian mode as I could.  Given that I would be the one driving her from the computer store to buy her new printer, and back home to install it, this made perfect sense.

As expected, RQS arrived on Friday afternoon, and we decided to go out to eat.  This time, we drove to an AYCE (all you can eat) sushi place in Yonkers, where we chowed down on some delightful grub.  And then, I suggested that we stop by Micro Center and pick up a new printer.  I knew that if RQS bought the same printer as I had in my place, that she'd likely be happy. So I steered her to buying the exact same printer as I owned, and she got it on sale - $20 less than I paid for mine. After buying the printer, we drove home to relax - and we did do through Saturday.  Neither of us wanted to go out.  This meant that a possible dinner with Vicki was out.  So, I cooked some chicken I had in the fridge, and stayed in until Sunday morning.

Oft times, I joke with RQS about going to church while she stays asleep on the bed.  Well, as much as I thought about going back to sleep when the alarm rang, I decided to wake up and make this weekend's service.  By the time things were over, I called RQS, and was bring home Mickey D's for us to eat around 12:30.  Within 90 minutes, we were off to her place, hitting almost no traffic on the way there.  If we had waited until the next day, we'd be stuck in traffic.

Labor day came, and I had to leave.  It was nice to spend another weekend as Marian, knowing that when we take our next cruise, I'll be stuck for two weeks as Mario. 

Gone are the days I'd visit DC. (a short post)

 

Normally, I'd consider a short run to DC if I had nothing better to do at this time of year.  Ever since the Orange Snowflake took power, he has had nothing but hatred for the LGBT community, even trying to erase transgender history from the record.  A year ago, DC welcomed us all.  Now, I can't trust that I'd be safe, given the militarization of the nation's capital.

The above photo was taken in the Kennedy Center for the Arts.  It was a place that artists would be proud to stand on its stage.  Now, the snowflake has debased its stage and the honors it hands out.  In the name of cultural cleansing, he has taken over the Kennedy Center and is now eliminating any "Degenerate" entertainment. As a result, many artists are boycotting the center and its awards.  People like me are staying away from the Kennedy Center and DC.

The use of the National Guard to "clean up the city" by moving the homeless out of town is offensive.  What is going to be done for these people?  People who can't afford housing need shelter, something not available to them.  People who have mental health problems are not receiving treatment.  While the guard has been in DC, what has it done?  Picking up the trash, "Police Call" in military usage.  Did we need to call out the guard for that?

But what about the cases where the guard has been used to terrorize a city, as it did in LA a few weeks ago?  Can we say that the snowflake won't use the guard like Hitler used the SA, only to replace them by the SS?  DC is an unsafe place right now, and I choose to go elsewhere, where people like me are tolerably safe for now.

We're now programmed to fail.

 

Years ago, when I started my career in technology, I had faith in a system that provided opportunity for all.  It didn't matter whether a person was black or white.  There was a relative meritocracy in this country, with an elite that cared somewhat for the conditions that the masses lived under.  I learned to analyze a situation, find the cause of a problem, and resolve it.  Over the years, I learned to look at larger systems and perform root cause analyses for problems in these systems.  Today, what I'm seeing frightens me.

We're seeing, in real time, the gradual destruction of American society.  A bandit class has gained control, a class which has no ability to care for the welfare of the masses.  The leader that we elected has exposed his toxic nature, and many of his followers are finally seeing the man for what he is - a man who only cares for himself, someone who has no ability to care for the little people who put him back in power.

People like me are under attack because we don't cleanly fit into the gender binary that his core supporters use to define their world. But we are not the only people under attack.  People who believe in science and the scientific method are under attack too.  We've seeing the destruction of the CDC, due to a crackpot in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services.  I can only wonder what epidemics will affect our nation, given the outflow of qualified, talented professionals from our government.  We're seeing a government ready to debase our currency, institute questionable tariffs, and do everything possible to create another great depression.  What's going to happen when people lose hope?

What is the root cause of society's current problems?  As I see it, it was a big mistake made by the elites 50-60 years ago.  America's business elites decided to globalize manufacturing without providing a safety net, a transition plan for those workers who would be displaced from their jobs as work migrated overseas.  Educated people in large metropolitan areas would still be able to find work.  But few jobs were being created in areas being hollowed out by globalization.  People in these areas lost hope in the system, and became ready to follow a populist leader who'd make idle promises.  They needed to show their anger towards the elites, and became more radicalized. 

Once people become marginalized and lose hope, they are willing to gamble on anything that would improve their lots in life.  They will often feel that restoring the oppressive social norms of the past will fix things.  But they only make things worse.  Instead of looking for ways to grow the economic pie, they look to keep others from getting their share the pie.  This only serves the bandit capitalist, as alienated people will blindly support leaders that make speeches that give lip service to the supposed needs of those people.

Right now, our president has set America on a course to fail.  As a result, he will likely collapse the world economy.  I shudder to think of what will happen if he succeeds in his plans.  What he will gain from this, I'm not sure.  I think he's a Nero who will fiddle while Rome burns - and enjoy the flames.  As for me, I want to be as far away from Rome as possible....
 

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.

Amazon 2-Day delivery isn't so.... (a short post)

 

On Monday, August 25, I placed an order for 8 items, 6 of them were expected to be delivered the next day, August 26th.  However, Amazon sent me a "sorry message", saying that the above 6 items would be delivered on August 27th.  But these items were never delivered.  Now, Amazon reports that these items will arrive on August 28th.  If I desperately needed these items, I'd find another seller and buy similar things (if possible). One can understand why I am annoyed at Amazon, and may cancel this order if it doesn't come by the weekend.   Of these items, 3 are used to remove unwanted back hair, apply makeup, and help my wig stay on my head.  Luckily, I can get by for a while without these items.

A while back, RQS and I went to the Amazon fulfillment center to see how the firm processes goods.  It's a highly automated process, with people performing repetitive tasks all day.  (Not a job I'd want.)  The tour guise pointed out spots where items can get mishandled, or fell into the cracks of the process. I'll bet that my shipment fell into the latter category, as Amazon reported that the package had been received at the Hawthorne, NY distribution center.  (Sadly, that message can't be retrieved, and all I have is the status from the day before.)  But what could have happened?  Knowing how much they know about any package, whether it has been assembled, packed, shipped, or delivered, what could have gone wrong?  A 1-day delay is understandable, with a loose understanding of Amazon's processes. But a 2-day delay without a full explanation is not understandable, given Amazon's technology.  

Hopefully, this delivery will arrive tomorrow.  If not, well....