watching a dragon make contact

That's what I was doing at 10 AM this morning: watching the Dragon that had blazed off of Earth two days ago as it neared the International Space Station.

 

I had become captivated by its travel on Tuesday.

My first niece had texted a photo of it as it flew past her home in Hinesville.

That photo was sent to me at 7:46 AM.

The Falcon 9 rocket is over on the right, flames still shooting out, as that 'space jellyfish' of hot vapors spread across the early morning sky.

Apparently, it was visible all up the Eastern seaboard of the USA.

According to the NASA site, this was the 35th supply mission to ISS.

This one was carrying 6300 pounds (that's 3 tons) of scientific experiments, cargo with new foodstuffs, and two more solar arrays.

Wow.

As soon as I read that I could watch the Dragon dock, that's what I wanted to see, that's what I wanted to witness.

What great progress has been made in these missions!

This particular Dragon has made this trip back and forth to the ISS three times.

Three times!!!

These are not the one-and-done rockets of the past.

Oh, no.

They are recovered from their landings into the ocean and returned to space, to repeat that successful journey multiple times.

Wow!

I learned that from watching the video of its third docking to ISS.

I advise fast-forwarding to the 1 hour 10 minute mark, as things don't really get interesting until then.

I was absolutely enthralled!

And once it made contact... wow.

That was one of the most interesting, and impressive, actions I've witnessed in a long while.

My many thanks to my first niece for igniting that spark within me...

I do so love you, Christina Ann.

You really do 'get' me. 

 

four nights out in a row... nice!

Sunday, I was out having a double header with my A*List for two movies I doubt I'll ever watch again. 

One was yet another with Anne Hathaway, who has certainly been a busy, vibrant woman herself this year with three movies so far. I liked the first one as it was a worthy sequel to the first and made me notice she was the same age as my first niece. I liked the second one, too, as it was a fine piece of science fiction with a lot of heart, and oak trees. This third one, though, was very creepy and so full of deceit that there was no one for me to root for. "Verity" also had Dakota Fanning in it and she's always a bit creepy anyway, and this movie was just another notch in her bedpost. I wanted to cheer for Josh Hartnett, I really did, but he just may have been a creepazoid, too. Ugh.

The other brought back strong memories of a too-real nightmare from several years ago. I do not understand why the makers of "The Social Reckoning" saw fit to include so much footage of that horrible time. I kept having to look away during the final fifteen minutes of the movie. That's just how much footage was thrown in that was five years old. What laziness. As for the acting, that was very good, especially by Jeremy Allen White - good to see him again. As for the whistle-blower, Mikey Madison was very believable as a woman tormented by her moral need to do the right thing, even though it meant betraying the job she'd loved. I hadn't realized she'd played the escort to the Russian mobster in "Anora". Such a different character!

 

Monday, I was out with my usual group of girlfriends, though not at our usual haunt. Nope, we were at a restaurant I'd never been to... and I loved it! Marcia says she and Amanda go to Cava - the one on Oglethorpe Mall Boulevard - about twice a week! I think Sandy and Elissa and Joel have all been there before, too. I was the only novice. I ordered the chef's special, the Greek Goddess Salmon, taking it as described with pickled onions, fiery broccoli, red pepper hummus, sumac cabbage slaw, tomato + onion, arugula, basmati rice, and Green Goddess dressing as the finishing touch. Wow!!! As I told Amanda, the spices reminded me of the meals I'd received from Blue Apron and Sunbasket several years ago. Those had been oases of calm during the pandemic. Such a nice memory to mingle with this new one!

 

Tuesday found me in Jelks Auditorium for the Savannah Arts Academy's play. In the past these competition pieces had been free, but for the last few years, they've drawn as much of an audience as the two-act plays and musicals do. That's wonderful! I do hope they'll win again, but even if they don't I know the actors are going to enjoy being around like-minded folks from other schools around Georgia. Woohoo!!!

I'd come home to watch "Arsenic And Old Lace". I'd spotted the 1944 movie in the listings on one of the PBS channels and taped it. Nice to see the real Cary Grant and be reminded of my middle brother and how funny he could be!

Wait a minute... that's not quite right... it was Clark Gable that Mister Willie always called Ronnie... another good-looking man! 

 

Today has been my fourth night out, though not the way I'd planned. This was the first of six Wednesday Night Suppers over at Asbury Memorial's Holliday Hall and I'd looked forward to it. They were starting off with barbecued pork sandwiches, along with macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and dessert. I was able to grab a slice of cherry pie from that first GOB service - hooray! But all of that had been "to go" as I had a call this afternoon from my first niece. She was going to be in Savannah and could we meet for dinner? I did my duty by the church and suggested the WNS spread, but chicken teriyaki is what she craved.

 

So chicken teriyaki is what she got! I met up with them at the Seasons of Japan on Victory Drive, which none of us had known was there. Surprise!!! She was there with Anthony, Miyah, and Chloe, and we all had a nice visit with each other for about two hours. Sweet! If we'd met up at Holliday Hall, we would have had to greatly curtail that visit length to 45 minutes, as the WNS meal is over and cleaned up by 6:15. That's so choir rehearsal can get started on time at 6:30. It was nice for the five of us to have a leisurely time together!

And now I am home again and having dinner with "R.J. Decker" from last night. I must say, I do miss "Will Trent", but I've been enjoying this ex-con private eye who's keeping the streets and girls of Fort Lauderdale safe. How do I know? Because the show included "The Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce" in one of the episodes. Any show that includes that cut from Elvis Presley is aces with me! Plus I like Scott Speedman. I think it may be the Hawaiian shirts, but it's probably the generous shots of humor in his patter.

I do like a guy that makes me smile! (smile!)

fairy unicorn princess in midway!

Not even the nearly-constant rain could dampen spirits at Susie King Taylor Freedom Park in Midway, Georgia, this afternoon!

Just look at that smile on the face of the birthday girl!

Chloe and her friend, Leela, had taken a break from the playground to do a bit of coloring.

Both girls were rain-soaked, but neither cared!

This was a party!!!

I almost took crayons in hand to color, but I went to chat with others instead.

When I returned, Michael and Alyssa had taken my place!  

I know the saying: You move it, you lose it!

I still sat down and talked with them for a while, though I never got around to coloring.

In the background are Melinda and Christina, both wearing pink as though they had coordinated that.

I doubt it! 

And just what was my first niece fiddling with back there on the table?

That was no ordinary table, it was a nachos bar and I made sure to get a nice helping of most of it!!!

Underneath all that nacho cheese, ground beef, black beans, jalapenos, and salsa is actually a bed of tortilla discs.

It was totally fantabulous!!!

In fact, I was so into that Mexican treat that I almost missed the singing of "Happy Birthday"! 

I saw that Matt was lighting the candles and I tried to hurry and get my camera pulled up and ready...

but the snap just missed Chloe blowing out those eight little flames!

At least Aunt Chelsea was right there with cousin Annaleigh, and so was Grammy and Christina!

Anthony's mom, Tonia, was in her wheelchair and had a great view! 

Then it was time for cake and ice cream!

Silly me, I forgot my lactaid, but I still had a piece of that tall cake! 

I liked the puffy unicorn plate - isn't that cute?

And the cake was so very good that I even ate most of the icing - I did!

Then it was time to open presents, of course!

And was that a familiar face on the woman in the white T-shirt?

Sure enough, it was Kaleigh Cobb, down from Charleston with her fiance, Mac!

I'd spoken with them and Michael while I ate my nachos and it was very nice to get to know more about both of them.

They'll be going to the Savannah Bananas game tonight, if the rain lets up.

Back to the opening of the presents! 

Specifically, the opening of the Minions bag of goodies from me!!!

Here, Chloe paused to read the card.

Why?

Because her Grammy said so, that's why!

(smile!)

Next, she pulled out the book, which I had not even shrouded in tissue paper.

Nope! 

"Creature DIScomforts"!!!

What's this???

A book she'll never see anywhere else, full of beasts and words she's never seen before!

I just -LOVE- this expression on her face!!! 

(smile!!!)

Finally, she reached for the last item...

and it was in wrapping paper!

Oh, joy!

"I love to tear off the paper, " she said!

I'm so glad I remembered she liked that.

When she revealed the little fancy suitcase of art supplies, she held it up high - there were even unicorns on the outer design!!!

Grammy will let her open it later - no need to lose any of the pieces inside!

What a great party!

Later this month, it'll be their turn.

Leila and Alyssa will be 12.

Can that possibly be right???

Yes, yes, it can be and yes it is.

They are so different from each other!

Leila even commented that she wished she could have her own birthday party, but when you're a twin, that doesn't happen until you're grown and on your own. 

As for me, I have been wearing my yellow unicorn tiara ever since I first put it on at the party!

Isn't it gorgeous?!

And now I have two tiaras!!!

And see that little pink unicorn ponytail holder at the end of my braid?

That was in the 'treat bag' that all the kids - even me! - were given by my first niece!

She always spoils me by making sure I get one of those, too.

Muchas gracias, mi cara!

happy bday8 to miss chlo!

Her birthday party is to be held on Saturday, and I am all set!

Remember, I bought her this "Super-Cute Kawaii Fun Activity Case" before we even went on the cruise.

Just the case looks fun!

And it goes so well with the theme of unicorns in this poster that my first niece made two weeks ago, doesn't it?

I pointed out the typo in her daughter's name, but, as she said, it's already gone out to everyone that way.

I decided to capitalize on that by also giving Chloe this book from my kickstarter days.

See, it's full of zany monsters with crazy names and poetry full of made-up words to describe them!

Plus, it's autographed, so that may well be part of Chloe's retirement fund some day.

Who knows?

That could happen!!!

(smile!)

playing a game with christina ann

She had posted a flashback on fb, one of those "let's get to know each other" lists that pop up from time to time.

No one else had chosen to play along... but I did!

Here are the queries and my responses.

 *****

Let's see what has changed.

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
- tuna salad with Italian dressing

2.Where was your profile picture taken?
- on a cruise

3. Worst pain you've ever experienced?
- death of Mama

4. Favorite place you've traveled to?
- Italy

5. How late did you stay up last night?
- 1:57 am

6. If you could move somewhere else, where would it be?
- somewhere that never drops below 55 F

[I would love to live in Panama again, the only place I've ever lived where that was true.] 

8. Which of your Facebook friends live closest to you?
- next-door neighbor, Diane Boyer Sullivan

10. When was the last time you cried?

- last Saturday, after Wendy Taylor Pena's funeral

11. Who took your profile photo?
- my first niece's boyfriend

12. Who was the last person you took a picture with?
- my first niece, Christina Smith

13. What's your favorite season?
- spring, because my Japanese magnolia blooms

14. If you could have any career, what would it be?
- once upon a time, I wanted to be a stewardess, to travel - still sounds good!

15. Do you think relationships are ever worth it?
- yes, I am a hopeful romantic

16. If you could talk to ANYONE right now who would it be?
- Mama

17. Are you a good influence?
- I sure try

18. Does pineapple belong on a pizza?
- heck yeah, with banana peppers, too!

19. You have the remote, what channel?
- one of the 7 PBS channels - no 'mercials!!!
 

meals and more with my girls!!!

Monday, it was time for Music Bingo again!

This was the first time any of us had been since the debacle a month ago.

"Us" would be me, Sandy, Marcia, and Elissa.

Hey, we've been busy, vibrant, women, a'ight, with family from out of town, cruises, and what-not going on!

I remembered to bring my free appetizer reward that I won about six weeks ago, too.

Fortunately, Midtown Sports Grill has changed their menu yet again.

Potato Skins is a new entry, loaded with bacon and cheddar, and that made for a mighty fine "welcome back" dinner with my friends!

And just look at that first bingo game of the evening!!!

That "Dance Party Mix" yielded me the first "Bingo!" of the bar!

Russ was even surprised that I'd won without using the 'Free Space' - I'd managed to do it with five actual songs that had been played, straight down the "I" column!!!

Andrew, the new bartender, was glad to bring me a free lemonade as my "free drink" reward for the game!

How wonderful to have shared that those three hours with friends!

(smile!)

Then, today, my first niece came to share a favorite movie with me!

This was the last week of the NCG Summer Camp Film Festival and they've been screening "The Wild Robot" since Sunday.

We love that movie about parenting and kindness!!!

Want to know how much?

She stayed awake through the entire movie!!!

That's saying a lot, as she has sleep apnea and tends to take a nap if she sits in one place too long.

That wasn't the case two weeks ago when she joined me for "Sing", but that was okay... it let me munch some of her popcorn!

That time, she was early and bought our tickets and kids' packs; this time, she was running on her standard time, so I bought the tickets and snacks.

(smile!)

After, we popped over to the Chick-Fil-A on Victory for our luncheon.

So glad the lunch crowd had mostly passed by then!

She grabbed the last table and we had a leisurely two hours together...

just us, no children, no boyfriend...

letting us truly talk about issues with that latter item.

Here's hoping for the best resolution for that problem.

Oh, plus a really bright spot!

We had been talking about friends from the past and she mentioned one of her middle-school buddies and spoke of them spending nights together.

"So, you're friends still, on fb?"

No, they weren't... but she quickly found her on that social media... and they are now reunited again!

Maybe I should do a few searches of lost friends, too.

(smile!)

Paradise: day 4

"Whatcha got there?"

 

It's an origami parrot, and I made it!!! My first niece had joined me briefly at breakfast, as the rest of her group were still asleep. It was after 10 AM! I was dining with a Jamaican couple. Then she came up and they talked about being parents and teaching and her being a Pisces. Their teen daughter joined us, too. Then Christina left to wake the family, and I went down to the Euphoria to watch more of the Jimmy Buffett concert.

 

"Well, it looks like you had 'Arts & Crafts' today."

 

I did!!! Jason had already started showing some others how to make the folds. He backed up to show me and the others had a chance to repeat. I was the first to get the knack for the little legs!

 

"Joe Guy would have been pleased as punch with you!"

 

I know, right? I even showed the others how to hold the parrot so he looked like he was perched on your finger.

 

"And just where are y'all?"

 

The ship is docked at Freeport, Bahamas. I thought it was funny that the sand mounds looked like the snow-capped mountains in Marcia's pics of Alaska! That's where she was last week. 

 

"Ummm... is that a duck??"

 

It is! A Lady Liberty rubber duck! That's the first duck I've found on Paradise, and I only have the one Jesus. The girls have gotten quite a collection of ducks!

 

"Hahaha! I see that the room steward made you a duck, too!"

 

Mohamed said he was inspired by the ducks I had on my little nightstand. Isn't that sweet of him? I refer to this as "having my ducks in a row". Nice to have another inside joke!

 

"Yes, dear."

 

The tiny duck is one Chloe gave me, and the one wearing shades belongs to Anthony. Chloe had been playing with it nonstop at dinner last night, so I put it in my pocket. I gave it back to him tonight, and gave her the Jesus she found on the ship. It has a red sash.

 

Christina's quartet missed the origami session, as they were at breakfast. But when they all joined me for the onslaught of trivia games at the Euphoria Lounge, her hair was different! It was loose earlier, at coffee with me. Mine had been different, too, in just the one braid on top of my head. Now, with no coordination at all, we both had twin braids, down low!!! That's how Mama wore her hair, too, when I was growing up! 

 

"That's very cool! Y'all's telepathing link is still working! Hooray!"

 

Right? I had changed my hair when I put the green parrot in my cabin.

 

"I wondered when you got the pigtails. Now, talk to me about the trivia."

 

There were only the three, but they were right in a row! First was "Landmark Landshark Trivia" with Jason hosting. I got 15 out of 20; Christina had 17. Mohammed hosted the next two games. "Slogan Trivia" went pretty far back for some of it's 'mercial jingles, but I still managed to score 15 out of 21. I'll take that, gladly! She did better again, of course. The last game was "Guess The Young Celebrity Trivia", and I absolutely sucked at that! I think I had 5 correct out of 14. Yikes! She did better than me again, but neither of us won any of those. That's okay, we still had fun!

 

"And what did Miyah and Chloe do during that time?"

 

A woman with a bag of little ducks gave the bag to the girls, as well as the children in the family from Nicaragua, and asked that they hide them for her. The kids were only too glad to do so!!! LOL!!! That's how I got that teensy blue one.

  

"Great googly moogly! LOL!!!"

 

After all that, we bounced back to Deck 10 for lunch. I went to Frank & Lola's Pizzeria and had an entire Paradise Pepperoni pizza!!! So delicious!!! She got Cheeseburgers for her and the girls... and none of them liked them. They weren't "like Mom's" - hahahaha! Nothing wrong with the chocolate ice cream, though, and they each ate every bit of that! Then they went down to 4024 to change into swimsuits. I headed up to Deck 11, to the License To Chill pool, and snagged a table for us, then relaxed and grooved to the music of DJ Decibels as the "Sail Away Party" began. Ah!!!

 

There was just one snag... I never saw them come up.

Maybe I was too busy singing along with the music, or watching the tugboat that escorted out of the harbor...

or maybe it was because they exited the elevator on the other side of the ship than they usually did.

I waited for them for almost an hour, then I went back inside.

Emmanuel was strumming his guitar again in Euphoria, so I hung out there with him.

I knew they would eventually show up for dinner.

When the Philippine guitarist saw me, he played "Pretty Woman", again - nice of him to do that!

I sang along, of course!

And, sure enough, I caught my girl and her peeps when they showed up for Fins Dining!

However, it was already 7 PM and there was a dinner rush.

We were given a pager and then waited at least 30 minutes for a table. 

Then the maitre d' took us the long way around in the vast dining hall, with Christina speeding along pushing Anthony in the wheelchair as he was too slow with his hands on the wheels.

I could not keep up...

and the sun was setting...

and I didn't want to miss this final sunset on Paradise.

So I left.

I took the elevator to Deck 11, then walked past the pool to the open metal staircase that led to the 12th floor, with nothing but open, darkening, sky above me.

That's where I remained for the next thirty minutes, enjoying the music and the soft sea breeze and that lone star (upper left corner) as the sun kissed the world good night on its rouged cheek.

Yes, others were out there, too, but they were staying in the moment, as was I.

Bliss...

even though it meant I missed dinner.

Renewed in spirit, I knew it was time to head for the Stars On The Water Theatre to snag a table!

Mohammed, the emcee, had said to hit him up for a seat, so I did, getting a fourth row table in the reserved section.

Then Auntie Terry saw me and moved me up to the front row, right where we all sat that first night!

No extra charge to gaze up at Tevin the steel pan man and that scrim of parrots!

Just before the 9:30 PM show time, Christina and her merry band joined me, just in time for the "tourists" checking out the "fishing shack". 

LOL!!!

A fish go snagged and flew up past them, making us all laugh out loud!

What a fun way to start off "Caribbean Heat"!!! 

More music, more acobatics, more twirling on the Luna!

With all the music being played on stage, some of my favorite Bob Marley tunes got mixed in there, too.

I managed to catch the scrim for "Three Little Birds" before they flew off!!!

"Singing, don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing is gonna be all right, yes, don't worry, about a thing..."

I just love that song!!! 

Then the show was over... but not the fun!

 

Mohammed was there on camera duty, taking photos of folks with the cast after the last twirls had been done and the last notes were played.

Such patience he had!

He had to traipse over to the right to get the person's phone, go and get in the middle to live up the shot, then given them their phone back...

over and over and over!

Miyah and Chloe were the first to get their photos taken, then they went over to Auntie Terry and burst into tears while hugging her...

oh, poor dears!!!

She even had tears in her eyes!

But that wasn't the last time we saw her... oh, no!

Even though it was already after 10:30 PM, we headed over to the Euphoria.

 

That's because Cruise Director Terry was the emcee for the game show, "Lip Sync Or Swim" and we had been invited to come!

Christina even managed to grab us some chairs, as the former occupants were up there trying to win free margaritas... or a free cruise!

The game ended in a tie, with both men winning cruises - wow!

Then the girls went up to dance with Terry, and get one more hug, before going back to the cabin to pack and sleep.

Me?

I found out the pizza joint on Deck 10 was still open, so there I went!

It was too late to eat it tonight, but the two slices of Paradise Pepperoni would be perfect for a quiet breakfast tomorrow.

And when I returned to 4089, I still had time to pack my suitcase and sit it outside the door for pickup.

i thank you, God!

Paradise: day 3

I like to think of this as the day I found Jesus.

Like, literally.

The ship docked in Nassau, Bahamas, and I felt the need to at least walk on the pier, maybe even go into town.

Ah, but the sun was so very hot at 10 AM...

still, I made it to the entrance to the city...

then remembered I had no photo ID with me.

Nope, that wouldn't do!

So, back I walked to the Paradise, maybe a little slower, and that pace allowed me to spot the image atop one of the yellow concrete posts on the sidewalk.

What is the message inscribed on that pink sash he wears?

"I AM WITH YOU"

Admittedly, I have not felt alone on this vacation though I travel solo.

Mama's presence has been with me from the start, partly due to the luggage I bought in 2001 with some of her insurance money.

Mostly, though, it's because she always travels in my heart, so there's that.

I know she would have enjoyed this cruise with my first niece and her little girls!

And just where were they on this port day?

They took one of the day trips to go swimming with pigs.

I'm absolutely serious!

I knew the deadline to be back on board was 3:30 PM, so I started hanging out at their door (4024, Deck 4 Fwd) around 3 PM.

Finally, I heard her voice rising from Deck 3 Fwd and went down the hall... and there they were, at last.

The time was 3:41 PM.

It was his fault, though, that they were late, as he broke his dad's walker.

He said he was going backward in it and hit a rough place and bent the wheel.

That'll make the trip easier on him, as the ship is letting him borrow a wheelchair.

I'm glad I decided to forego that side trip!

I'm just as glad to have been viewing Nassau from the windows in Euphoria.

All of those colorful buildings remind me of River Street, as well as Nice, France, which I'd visited in 2002 on that Mediterranean cruise.

Did I say what I did while they were gone?

I hung out in the Euphoria Lounge, up on Deck 8 mid, sipping on a free Frozen Lemonade while I watched Jimmy Buffett sing in a long-ago concert in Memphis!

I was there for Arts & Crafts with Melinda and Kaylee, but that didn't happen, so we chatted instead.

Then I popped up to the Mexican Cutie Cantina for lunch, then back down to Euphoria for "Guess The Flag" Trivia, a la Sheldon's "Fun With Flags".

Guess I should have paid more attention!

After that, I'd stood watch on Dec 4 Fwd until I was assured that Christina had safely returned, then I'd bounced back to Euphoria for "90's TV" Trivia with Mohammed.

I managed to get 15 out of 20 on that!

My score was only 5 of 14 on the flags.

Pete the Parrot came strolling by for a meet and greet, but the family was still getting clean from their swim at a beach with pigs.

High Five to Pete from me!

We all met up again for Fins Dining - we had to, a'ight? - though their appetites were a bit off from a day in the sun.

I started with Caribbean Cauliflower Soup, which was more like potato soup.

The Santa Cruz Fish, however, was fabulous, fresh, and fancy!!!

Want to guess what I ate for dessert?

Of course I had the Key Lime Sponge Cake - it's delish!!!

Christina had the Margarita Bars, but they were too sweet on their own.

So we took it with us to the High Tides Market up on Deck 10, after dropping off Miyah and Chloe at the Parakeet Club on Deck 8.

(Yes, there's a lot of bouncing up and down on elevators! Now, imagine it with a man in a wheelchair and that just adds to the fun! LOL!)

Christina had the Fins Dining dessert with a glass of milk and that made it perfect enough that she had a bit of salad and pasta, too.

That was good, as she'd eaten hardly any dinner and none of them had lunch while they were on the island.

We played some kind of Rummy game with cards until time for my first niece to go fetch her girls.

Then they all had chocolate ice cream and I had Margherita Pizza - ah, yes!

We'd missed the 'clean' show by the comedian at 7:30 because we had been late going to Fins for dinner...

and the girls couldn't go to his 'dirty' later show...

but they were all tired from their day ashore with the broken walker.

 

Time to head back to our rooms and call it a night...

especially as it was already after 11 PM.

And what had my room steward, Mohamed, left there?

An elephant in my room!!!

Hahahaha!

Paradise: day 2

What's better than a day at sea for a veteran sailor?

A day of pomp and circumstance, of course!

But first, breakfast with my peeps at the High Tide Market after a few minutes enjoying this view in my cabin!

Today I dined on Belgian waffles with orange marmalade, as well as pancakes with sliced ham - just what I needed to get some energy!

I was the first one up and I managed to snag a table for 6 for our party of 5 - perfect!

My next stop was the Euphoria (Deck 8-mid) for a game of "Name That Tune" with Cruise Director Terry Ann Barrett!

The first thing she did was ask me where her "friend Chloe was, and her sister, Miyah" - how about that!

They made quite an impression when they hugged her last night after the variety show!

Part of that was their closeness in age to her daughter, who is 8, and is living at home in Jamaica while her mom works on the Paradise for 3 months.

I had to tell her they were still at breakfast, but they joined us before the game was done, so that was good!

As for the photo, the folks as dancing to "Cotton Eyed Joe" while the contestant who guessed the song is singing it for an extra point.

Very much a lot of fun to watch!!!

Christina and family went down after that to change into swimwear.

 

Not me!

The "Salute To The Heroes" was coming up in the Euphoria, again with Terry.

Recognize that setup, with that little table and empty chair?

That's familiar to everyone in the American Legion, regardless of which branch of the service, as the spot for the MIA service member.

I'm going to have to share that with Post 36 and Post 500 at home!

 

Then came the big part of the celebration: the parade of the flags that represent each branch, as well as a brief narrative of their mission.

They even included the Coast Guard, the Emergency Responders, and, as I recall, the National Park Rangers.

That was very nice!

Plus, I was given a free Margarita to commemorate my service!

I turned down the first one, saying that I couldn't drink...

but when they came around again, I accepted that $15 gift.

As my first alcoholic drink since I was diagnosed with A-fib, I can state this for certain: either that was a strong drink, or I'm a lightweight now!

I suspect a bit of both was true.

 

After just a couple of sips, I decided that food was needed to offset that dose of tequila, so up to Deck 10-mid I went.

I headed straight for Mexican Cutie Cantina, as it's Taco Tuesday! 

Yes, that was a very good way to get back to me again!

My next plate was from the High Tide Market, fetching some Jamaican fish, Pollo adobo, and pork loin with lemon.

I sat with a trio from Panama, of all places, and we talked - kinda sorta - about life there in Colon and Panama City.

See, only Isabel spoke any English, and that was sparse.

Glad I had a chance to pull out my high school Spanish from Mrs. Gary!

Then I bopped back down to the Euphoria for "Charades With The Fins Up Crew" and found Christina and Anthony there!

She'd dropped off the girls at the Parakeet Club, so it was just us adults.

She and I each took a turn trying to get the other to guess -

me trying to be "Minions", her contorting as an "Elf", with no help from Anthony either as a guesser or a charade artist -

and didn't win a free margarita at this game, but still had fun.

 

Then she had to collect the girls and I went off to the "Love & Marriage" Game Show at the Stars On The Water Theatre (Deck 8 Fwd).

That was only for 18+, so they went off to the "Family Parrot Quest" with Pete The Parrot over at Keys On The Water Lounge, at the opposite end of the ship (Deck 9 Aft). 

Cruise Director Terry hosted the game show, eventually getting four couples on stage with varying amounts of time together: 51 years, 34 years, 28 years, and 3 days.

Such newlyweds they were!

His answers tended to be the raciest, so it was good the children weren't there and were off chasing parrots!

At game's end, they were all announced to be winners and each won a free future cruise with Margaritaville At Sea - woohoo!!!

 

I managed to beat feet back over to the Euphoria Lounge just in time for the 5:30 PM "Captain's Margarita Toast"!

All of the ship's officers were introduced and lined up in formation behind Captain Dimitrios Papatsatsis...

and all of the spectators of age were given -

that's right! -

a free margarita to drink with him!

Again, I took a couple of dainty sips, then put it down.

 

Christina, her girls, and her boyfriend were there, too for the occasion!

Then she and Miyah and Chloe headed over to "Strike A Pose" for the free photo shoot, that had no strings attached.

Just look at them vogueing it up there! 

 

Then we all headed over to Fins Dining  - not to be confused as the 'Fine Dining', lol! - for some elegant fare! 

The good news was it was right beside Euphoria Lounge, so no need for elevators or traipsing off to another end of the ship!

I started off my four-course dinner with the Trinidadian Vegetable Curry, which followed the bread lead-off.

Then, for my entree, I chose the Antigua Shrimp - ah, fond memories of a much earlier cruise in the Caribbean that visited that lovely isle!

(I think that was in 2006? Or was it 2004?) 

I finished up tonight as I had last night with the Key Lime Sponge Cake.

Jimmy Buffett is right - sponge cake is quite delicious! 

Then it was time to work off that meal and take a hike.

I'm not kidding!

We went from Deck 8 mid, to Deck 9 Aft, to the Keys On The Water Lounge, where they had been for the Parrot search.

That meant going through the casino, which is huge!

At least we had a sunset waiting for us at the Lounge.

 

Then it was time for "Lip Service Family Karaoke"!!!

First up for our group were Chloe and Miyah.

It was originally going to just be Chloe singing "Party In The USA", with Miyah as her back-up dancer.

However, the emcee encouraged Miyah to take the microphone...

and off they went, singing and dancing and never once looking at the screen for the words of the song!

Hahahaha!

Christina and Anthony went next, and guess what she chose?

"Barbie Girl" - hahahaha!!!

Honestly, every time I see anyone do that song, my mind flashes back to Sam Johnson singing it at his birthday fundraiser! 

Good times, good times, so long ago.

More good times were to be had tonight, though!

 

No time for me to sing a song as we needed to go back through the casino, catch an elevator to Deck 8, then bop over to Stars On The Water Theatre (Deck 8 Fwd) for the entertainment!

"Showtime Radio Margaritaville Live At Sea" was set to begin at 9:30 PM.

This time we had second row seats, in the reserved section, courtesy of Cruise Director "Auntie" Terry, who was serving as the D J tonight.

All music was provided by the Fusion Groove Band for all the song and dance routines up there on the stage.

My favorite was the skit for "A Pirate Looks At Forty", one of my favorite Buffett tunes, especially as I've gotten older.

 

All too soon - at least for me! - the 45-minute show was over!

We hung around for the girls to greet Terry when she came out of the D J Booth and guess what? 

As well as hugs, she had gift bags for them!!!

Then she and the girls had a photo session in the D J Booth and even invited Christina up there for the fun!

How very nice for sweet dreams!

Christina and family headed back to 4024 (Deck 4 Fwd), but I said I was going to change into my Spring Dress and go dance!

The "White Hot Neon Nights" shindig had started at 10:30 PM at Keys On The Water Lounge and I was excited when I'd heard about it on fb before the trip.

However, now that it was 'go' time...

and knowing how far off that lounge was...

and my right leg letting me know it was too tired for shenanigans...

I opted to give it due consideration before I set off.

 

Then I opened my cabin door and saw this towel critter waiting!

What a sweet and funny crab!!!

The schedule of events for tomorrow was waiting with it, tempting me to sit a minute and glance at my options for Wednesday.

After all, I'd have the day to myself, as they were going onshore to swim with pigs at some beach.

Seriously.

So, I sat... and before I knew it, I was asleep!

Sweet dreams of pirates and key lime sponge cake!