Monthly Archives: December 2025

New Year’s Eve – 2025

As I am writing this, my friends in Australia have already rung in the New Year and sensibly have gone to bed. It is only a couple of hours short of midnight here in Tenerife, Santa Cruz. The harbor, the … Continue reading

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Cabin Upgrade

When I booked this trip – which was when it was first released – I looked at the deck plan, looked at prices, looked at the ship size and decided that Deck 3 was where I wanted to be. Especially … Continue reading

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Two Stairways

  Since there are a significant number of sea days on this trip, I will be able to entertain myself and everyone else with exploring the new ship. Yes, brand new ship and an honest maiden voyage. None of this … Continue reading

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Star Seeker – Maiden TransAtlantic

That, my friends is our route. and this is the itinerary Date Port Arrive Depart Sunday, December 28 Malaga, Spain 6:00pm Monday, December 29 At Sea Tuesday, December 30 At Sea Wednesday, December 31 Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands 1:00pm … Continue reading

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A very long day

Which started yesterday upon landing in Istanbul (the 26th)  and just slid into today which is now the 27th on this side of the world,  Eleven hours time ahead of California for anyone who cares,   After hanging out in … Continue reading

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Shiny, very shiny

We might have been a few minutes late in departing SFO, but considering the weather, it wound up being fine. Without Miriam, the middle seat of the three was empty. The young man on the isle is a new transplant … Continue reading

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Heading out

After all the disruption, drama, and general suckiness of the last couple of months, I decided to go ahead and brave traveling.  The cruise that I will be catching in Malaga has been planned for well over a year.  Similar … Continue reading

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Zeroing out

I finished today with zeroing out 11 more colors, just leaving me five. Of course, those are ones with a fair number of stitches considering that the Menorah is complete and I “only” have the background squares to finish. In … Continue reading

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84%

Is my current status on the full coverage Menorah cross stitch. Today is the 7th. I might just have this finished before Hanukkah starts. Seven days – about 5K worth of stitches. My only challenge is going to be losing … Continue reading

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0 dark whatever

I can keep comforting myself with the fact that the days will not be getting any shorter after the next 2-3 weeks. The winter solstice will slide by resulting in a few extra minutes of light at each end of … Continue reading

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Simple wipe out

I spent last night at the eldest daughter’s place while she was working a night shift. The boys pretty much slept thru; unfortunately I woke at 020 & couldn’t go back to sleep. The small one was btight eyed before … Continue reading

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Glasses

About a year or so ago, the VA apparently changed contractors /switched from in house to a contractor/whatever for the production of prescription glasses. Last year’s pair was marginal . This year’s? Not good quality. So on Wednesday I picked … Continue reading

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All the miles

Since we (the US) are still not on a reasonable measuring system. After almost 10 years back in the US, I am used to looking at miles on my speedometer, and miles/hr on the speed limit signs. But I really … Continue reading

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Second Verse

likely same as the first. Normally, the first Tuesday of the month has a lovely Zoom get together sponsored out of Acorns & Threads (Portland). I attempted to participate two weeks ago, it didn’t go well. Neither head phones or … Continue reading

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Silence isn’t Golden

For anyone else reading this who is old enough to remember that song. But silence isn’t golden – it sucks.  I know that a lot of us fume about how much time younger people spend on their phones, scrolling on … Continue reading

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