Rough Ride

Tuesday, May 3
The best part of the day was this beautiful sunrise that I could see from our stateroom window at about 5:30 in the morning. 

A little fuzzy since it was through the window.  It was really beautiful!

It sort of went downhill from there.  There was so much turbulence all day.  Like Hubby said, on an airplane you may have turbulence for a few hours at the most, but when you have it on a boat and you’re on that boat with no way off for about 36 hours, then it becomes a real problem. 
I tried to walk around the ship today, looking in the shops, etc., but the boat was swaying and rocking so much that I was becoming very nauseated.  I had on my Sea Bands that are supposed to somehow avoid this by pressing on some pressure point on your wrist.

 I guess you could say they were maybe working because I never threw up, but I sure felt like I could.  I ate some ginger snap cookies and drank Ginger Ale.  It just wasn't working.  Mom had some nausea pills so I took one of those and then thought if I would just lay in the sun for a while.

Dad looks nice and relaxed, but I look like I'm in pain, don't I?  Really I wasn't, the sun was just bright!

 The sun was shining and it was becoming warmer.  I was feeling much better so I went with the rest of my gang to play bingo.  Before bingo even started, our friend Don now became so sick he had to go back to his room.  After bingo I just couldn’t keep my eyes open.   A side affect of the nausea pill is drowsiness.  Mom had taken a pill earlier and was in her room sleeping by now.  I thought I would just go back to the room and close my eyes for a few minutes.  Well ---I slept for hours!  I missed dinner, a movie and the entertainment in the Showroom.

Today was just not a good cruise experience day!

This was Day 2 of our vacation.  Read about Day 1 in the previous post.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Happy 73rd Birthday, Dad.  It was a low-key birthday for my dad this year.  We'll save the big celebration for two more years.  Mom, Dad, Bob and I went to dinner last night at Luigi's, one of our nicest Italian restaurants in our little town.  It was also Prom night so it was very crowded.  But we really didn't mind.  Watching all those kids in ill fitted tuxes and dresses that are too long and tight was a fun show.  I suppose I looked that goofy when I was going to my Senior Prom 34 years ago!

Here's my dad and his baby girl (me).  Color coordinated even.

I wrote about my dad's 72nd birthday last year, so I thought I would just re-post as it all still holds true.  I should point out a couple of changes since last year.  My grandchildren have lost a great grandparent (Bob's mother Millie) and a great-great grandparent (My Grandma).  And now my Dad, Big G.G. has a blog of his own: http://roland-bechtel.blogspot.com/  Go take a look.  It's very political, opinionated, and conservative.  But regardless of your political leanings, it's very well written.  I'm always proud of you, Dad.

Originally written 5/17/09

Yesterday was my Dad's 72nd birthday. He's affectionately know as Big G.G. This nickname came about after my grandson's came into this world. They are lucky little boys in that they have several older generations of relatives; 6 grandparents, 5 great grandparents, and 2 great-great grandparents. We had to come up with different "names" for all of us to differentiate. Since they couldn't say "Grandma and Grandpa" for a few years, my Bob and I are just lovingly called "Bob" and "Nina" by our grandsons. And ever since they heard Bob's mother call him "Bobby", that is the new name given to him by the grandsons. We think it's so cute. Well, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa was just too much of a mouthful for the little guys, so their names were shortened to "Little G.G" for my mother, Great Grandma, and "Big G.G." for my dad, Great Grandpa.

My dad is the perfect father and grandfather. He loves to be around all his kids. We are all so lucky to have such an active, healthy, young father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He's always supportive, even at times that his support is not deserved; we're always loved unconditionally by him, even at times that we may not be that lovable; and he's always forgiving, even when we probably shouldn't be forgiven. I know my grandparents and mother would agree that he's also a wonderful son and husband

Dad is very intelligent, extremely successful and accomplished, and admired for his community volunteer work. I'm sure the whole family, though, would agree that his OCD (obsessive/compulsive disorder) and his ADD (attention deficit disorder) keep him from perfection. But I must say that these two traits seem to run in the family and we all must embrace these traits and make them work. We can't help it.


Happy Birthday, Big G.G. and I hope you're around for a long time.  Long enough to become Big G.G.G.

My Dad, the White Male Conservative

I just wanted to introduce everyone to one of my favorite bloggers, My Dad.  http://roland-bechtel.blogspot.com/


He's just entering the blogland and he has a lot to say.  And he loves  feedback, positive or negative.  Now I will warn any of you liberals out there that his opinions will probably not agree with yours.  I must say, though, that it is still worth your reading as he is an excellent writer and may have some thoughts and ideas that you maybe haven't considered.  I'm trying to remain un-biased as I say this, but this is a good blog.  My Dad is a very intelligent man with 72 years experience on this earth, with an excellent education, and retired from a very rewarding career.  In other words, he's no dummy. 
 
If his blog is just not up your alley, please share with any bloggers you know that you feel would be interested. 

http://roland-bechtel.blogspot.com/  White Male Conservative.