Christmas this year is going to be quite different than my preceding 60+ Christmases. All of which I celebrated and enjoyed those celebrations.
Why is this one going to be different, juvat?
Beans, I thought you'd never ask. First and foremost, it's the first Christmas that Mrs. J and I are Grandparents. I know I've mentioned MG in every post since her birth (and I'm trying to ween myself from that habit), but she is probably the center of our universe right now.
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| She's way more aware of her surroundings now than she was the last time we saw her 10 days ago. |
Another difference, Mrs. J, wearing her travel agent hat, is assisting two local wineries in putting on Winemaker Cruises (one each). We have been on several of these over the years and they typically conduct seminar's and tasting on the sea days and the port days are pretty much on your own. And, typically the people that like learning about wine and tasting it also, are usually the people we hang around with, so...
Win/Win.
We've got one scheduled mid-January with our friends the Owners of Texas Hills Vineyard. with whom we have, quite literally, traveled all around the world. In those travels, we've done a wine cruise with them twice before and had a blast. This one has many of the same people attending as the previous tours, so laissez le bon temps rouler!
She also organized one for Texas Heritage Vineyard, a newer winery in the region. This will be a first for both the winery and us, although the owners have been enjoyable to work with. So...We shall see what we shall see.
In both, the winemakers will handle the educational parts of the program, and most importantly, bring the wine. Mrs. J will be there to handle any "issues" which may crop up. Me? I'm just the Steppin' Fetchit guy. But...
I'm quite experienced at that.
Another aspect of this is finding out what impact WuFlu lunacy (WuFluLu is officially now a word) will have on that. Mrs. J has been working very diligently on trying to make sure everyone understands what can and cannot happen on board. Long times on hold with different answers to the same questions haven't helped. She had recently joined a travel agent organization and received a coupon paying for the cruise portion of a voyage for two. All the other add on costs (There are many!) are ours. She decided that we would use those coupons for the same cruise itinerary on the same cruise line as our Wine Cruises. Then we would have first hand knowledge of the WuFluLu's impact on the voyage and be able to answer our client's questions better.
See why I married her? Talented, Hard-Working, Lovely, Funny and Smart (well except for that marrying a fighter pilot thing).
So. At the point you are reading this, we should be somewhere in the Caribbean, either wrapped up like a mummy to supposedly protect us from some disease, or basking in the warm sun with a tropical beverage in our hand. I'm praying (hard) for the latter.
We'll get home just before Christmas at which point we will be prepping for the return of Little J and DIL around the 30th. They'll arrive at the Austin airport 24 hours (on their reset watches) after TO which translates to 36 hours of actual travel. We suggested and they agreed to stay at the Austin Airport Hilton and we'd pick them up the next morning. Late Morning.
Their R&R will be extended through mid-February as their previous one last year was cancelled by...you guessed it...WuFluLu.
But, rather than celebrate Christmas Day, the Family will be celebrating the Visit of the Magi. And I think that will be absolutely wonderful. And kinda resembling that particular Biblical setting.
So, if responses to comment aren't appearing or are written by the support staff (you know who you are) that will mean bandwidth on the cruise is not what we'd been led to believe it was. My apologies.
A grandchild SHOULD be the center of your universe. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteBoat Guy
BG ,
DeleteThanks,
MG is the center ou our universe, and will stay that way.I’ll also still post pic to document her growth and improving self-awarness. I think that’s a positive aspect of The internet is forever”.
The center of your universe...oh, I love that! How very blessed you are!
DeleteBBC, thanks, yes we are. , surprising number of families on the ship with small kids. I’ enjoying watching their antics and imagining MG in their place. Kinda fun!
DeleteDon’t dial back on baby news; share the joy and love as good things should be celebrated.
ReplyDeleteBtH
DeleteWill do & woohoo! My reply to Boat Guy worked! The satelites re in alignment and shipboard commenting seems to work!
Thanks!
You two enjoy the cruise of the guinea pig...er...ah..so to speak and have fun. Grandparents are required to focus on grandkids, it's in the contract.
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteThe lessons learned list is quite long already. Next weeks post is already in the hopper but the next one will talk about it. Bottom line is the reality of wuflulu is in between the two extremes mentioned in the post. Tolerable but….
A fourth vote for more grandchild pictures. We all need good things and it is never an imposition.
ReplyDeleteHave fun on the cruise! If it is any help at all, getting back in to the US from Costa Rica was not a huge issue. We had to test within 24 hours and get the certificate - in our case the tour company organized the technician to be at the hotel the day prior to our departure; the cost was not unreasonable and we had our certification (in Spanish and English) within four hours.
TB
DeleteThanks,
I’m a bit concerned. There’s been no mention of a returning test. Were you gone more than 14 days?
We were only out of country for a total of 7 days.
DeleteThB
DeleteSorry, I misunderstood the circumstance. I thought you meant you needed a second test to come back IN to the country. You and I are now synced back up. Those are the same circustances we are under. But, hat’s exactly why we’re taking this cruise. Thanks.
I Should’ve been clear. We did indeed need only a single test to return to the country. Hopefully if this is through a tour guide organization they will have thought of that and made arrangements, or the cruise company as well. Also, it turns out that your Covid test can be billed back to your health savings account if you have one.
DeleteAny cruise that doesn't include 5000 sailors, and airplanes landing and taking off on the roof is a great cruise!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy.
John
DeleteThere’s about 3500 Sailers on board, but,so far, no aircraft ave landed on the roof. So, looks like it’s got the potential for a great cruise.
Thanks
Speak for yourself, I kind of miss those.
DeleteI miss most aspects of my military career also. Certain ones however…
DeleteSounds like a Right Proper end to the year! Well Done!
ReplyDeleteStB
DeleteThanks. I think Mrs J ‘s idea is going to pay off in Spades on the wine Cruises. The wuflulu requirements are irritating but tolerable. The mask nazis are other passengers and not the crew. Which makes FOAD a n acceptable response. Highlight of tha mindset. We were out walking,and got passed by a lady jjogging. We’re outside, 2-300 miles at sea, at least 15 MPH breeze blowing. She’s wearing her mask. Ships rule say outside no mask required. I love Virtue Signalers. Or in the original Latin, Dumbasses!
They are a strange lot, they actually seem to relish their fear. Enjoy your Sea Time!
DeleteWine cruises? Sounds like fun. Did similar type things in Germany with the Wing's annual bus trips to the Mosel for wine "tasting." (Had to drink quite a bit to really appreciate the flavor, no, not really. But it's what we did.)
ReplyDeleteAin't being a grandparent the best gig ever?
She is more aware and she is certainly growing her cuteness by leaps and bounds!
Have fun!
We’ve always had fun on them and, Since mos of the gang are returnees,wee don’t expect anything different.
DeleteStill got room, If you and The Misss want to go. Caribbean sunny, clear and a breezy 80 vs. RI Mid January wx. Et me know and I’ll get Mrs J to send you info.
I think MG favors her Mther and pray she does’t inherit her Maternal Grandfather’s hair folicles ( or lack thereof). Looking forward to watching her grow.
Have fun, Aye!
Cute grandkiddo pics--2 thumbs up!! Just not buck naked in the tubby...cause the internet is forever!
DeleteCaribbean cruise...while drinking wine (ok, so I am not the world's most enthusiastic wine drinker, but I will have one once in a while) sounds like a lotta fun. Especially if it is with folks ya know and like.
Just be sure to indulge heavily in the sunblock also....a hang-over and a sunburn at the same time doesn't sound like much fun to me...and be sure to wear one of your fighter jet ball caps, especially so folks can recognize you, not just because you are folicle-ly challenged. Besides, my Dad says having a (very) high forehead is a sign of wisdom and maturity.
And since my birthday is on Epiphany, I think it is a great time to celebrate Christmas with family!
Enjoy!!
Suz, Agreed.
DeleteThe wine seminars involve 3 x 1 oz pours, with the winemaker talking about the characteristics and how he worked the juice to enhance or reduce them to improve the wine. I find it pretty fascinating, but it’s not a grab and gulp. And as you said (amended slightly) sunburn and a Wine hangover isn’t any fun. But the gang is pretty easy going so we’re looking forward to it
New ballcap is in place . Sunscreen in place. Your Dad is wise.
Hope you have a happy birthday!
The Missus Herself gets seasick. We went on a cruise to Bermuda back in the day, hit storms on the first day out of Boston, she was quite miserable. I doubt I could get her on another boat! (But I'll try.)
DeleteOh, totally. Keep up the MG reports. Please.
ReplyDeleteAnd enjoy the living heck out of your cruise.
Glad to see that some people actually understand that Christmas is 12 days long.
Other than that, what the heck are you doing commenting? Go have fun, be mellow, eat too much and whatever else you are supposed to do on a cruise.
Beans, well right now I’m having lunch, this morning was spent on the pool deck watching the young’ins play marco polo, The late teens being coy with the members of the opposite sex. The newly weds looking at each other than get up and leave, returning later with big smiles. The families with young kids playing with them in the pool. The old guys gathered together telling war stories, The older women either tut-tuting at their husbands orslyly maneuvering towards a new widower. In short, people watching is fun. Recording it for future enjoyment is just a bonus.
DeleteSorry just had a visual reminder of a group I left out. That would be the folks, of both genders, who should never,ever under any circumstances, wear a string bikini.
DeleteHeaded to the infirmary for an emergency eye bleach!
Go enjoy. I just can't do cruises... too many memories of what I saw over the years. And changing the schedule to match up to family isn't unusual for people like us...LOL
ReplyDeleteI can understand that.
ReplyDeleteSchedule changing is kinda De riguer isn’t it. Hope you have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We too are first time Christmas grandparents. Not so little guy (93rd percentile) just turned 10 months. His name is Logan (Wolverine!). We babysit him a few days a week. While a challenge at our age, it is also a blessing as he has gotten to know us.
ReplyDeleteToo bad I can't attach video. Have one of him at home in his rolling walker on their wood floors, careening off furniture in hot pursuit of their Corgi, laughing his little rear off the whole time.
Looking forward to that kind of antics, but enjoying this period as well. That was why kid watching on deck was such fun.
DeleteWuFluLu&Cor- I would suggest we add "& corruption" in order to get it exactly right as it's a very money-driven lunacy. Eventually we'll have 3 or 4 doses, more variants (real and other), and people will finally start to open their eyes. My gov'nuh just reinstituted a mask mandate indoors- vaxxed or not.
ReplyDeleteYou’re absolutely right, Tuna. It really is about seizing power. Which is why I’m concerned. Should elections not remove the unwanted from office….well History does teach us of another option. I don’t think many of our current politicians studied history though.
Delete