RNSANE

I agree with you completely about the Monarch staff, Fred...wish I could have been on with you. I have been getting emails from so many of the staff who are waiting for me...of course, I've known so many of the crew, now, for fourteen years and, when they were here for ten days in dry dock two years ago, I took a week's vacation and was out with them day and night. I have been grieving since they left CA...I used to cruise four times ( or more ) a year when they were sailing out of San Pedro but this is only my second time sailing on the MN since the FL move.

Hi Everyone, Sorry I haven't checked in lately. It's been good to see so many of you on Facebook where I hang out more regularly. No real news. Life goes on, even after retirement. I'm struggling to make ends meet - six months of unemployment are taking its toll. I'm looking for work, though, honestly, after 21 years of going in to do sex abuse cases day and night, I don't relish doing that any more if I can avoid it. As 65 fast approaches, I hope to do legal consulting from home! I'm off to FL and the Monarch on Monday ( my 24th time on her and my 75th Royal Caribbean cruise in a little over 14 years ). My friend of 47 years is treating me as an early birthday gift. She was out here for a week a month ago and I was amazed that she had only done one cruise in her life. I will celebrate my Oct 3, 65th birthday in Rome, then will sail six days on the Navigator with four friends. We will spend three days in Barcelona at the end. After that, no cruises are booked and won't be until I find some sort of work. I am using the rest of my frequent flyer miles for three plus weeks in India, arriving there Nov 17th, staying all over the country with Royal Caribbean crew friends. After that, it will be two buck chuck wine and the ferry to Sausalito! Cross your fingers, I find work. Hope everyone is well. Come over to Facebook sometime! xxxooo!!!

Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone...I am sure wishing I was in Temecula at my friend, Werner's...long before he became an F & B Director for Royal Caibbean, he was a chef for many years...and I know there was going to be a real feast waiting for me today, and a great extravaganza planned for me, Joey and David tomorrow. This getting old and infirm is no fun....I am feeling a wee bit better right now, just in the doldrums. Off to finish my book and drink another quart of water.

Fred, thinking good thoughts and sending prayers your way for your son....hey, you saved enough on the Monarch to take me along!

Looks like you may have a sleeping threesome if the weather stays bad, James...at least I forgot my kidney stones, picturing that scene...it gave me a laugh!

Well, so much for San Diego...back to the ER early this morning and feeling crummy. My doctor is scheduling a lithotripsy for Monday. I've had two done before with little success since the large stones I have are in locations that are hard for the laser to reach. Hopefully, this time there will be success. I am miserable and I am drinking so much liquid, I am having to spend hours with a strainer and I'm not finding gold! Hope you guys aren't suffering too much in the heat zones...it's been nice here in the SF area.

Sorry, I couldn't seem to write...haven't been around for awhile. Up in West Sac last weekend shopping for wedding dresses...such fun. In the ER last night, getting IVs and heavenly morphine for kidney stones...missed my AM flight to San Diego but will go tomorrow to spend two nights in Temecula with my good friend, Royal Caribbean F & B Director, Werner Zurcher, before he heads off to the Liberty. Then I'll spend two days in San Diego and hang out with the "Queens", my nurse buddies with whom I often cruise...probably won't check back in till Wed afternoon. Have a great weekend!!!

A bright and shiny San Francisco morning with no fog...of course, that can change in a split second! It's nice to hear that TJ is a tad better temperature-wise but the hospital is the place to be for IVs if he can't keep anything in his tummy. I, of course, have never been able to relate to that problem! I am headed to Sacramento in a little while, a hundred mile drive for an overnight visit with my middle son, Alex. He's 26 and he and his sweetheart, Laura, just bought their new home. I was invited to go wedding dress shopping with Laura and her mom tomorrow though the wedding won't be till next spring, I believe. Laura felt that, with three sons and no daughters, I might not have that experience - she is a sweet and thoughtful girl and I am glad Alex finally proposed. They have been dating for five years! Alex keeps trying to talk me into moving to Sac but I don't really like it there...I know nary a soul, it's too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, it's too close to Arnold ( though he won't be there much longer, hopefully ), the ocean is too far away, and all of my friends and fun things to do are in San Francisco. I've lived in this area for 33 years and I don't want to leave unless I absolutely can't afford it.

That is really weird, Shaunna....I tried to reply to you and it ended up in the middle of your note... sure sign that I should get off the computer and find something else to do. Good night everyone.