We're on our way to Galveston as I write this not knowing what internet access will be. I will try to flesh it out a bit if able.; Out of 56 folks signed up for the "Wine Cruise", only 8 are actually sailing after our wine maker friends decided the risks of WuFlu were too great. While disappointed, I can't disagree with his decision given his health status. So, a fearless eight-some is off to explore the Southern Caribbean.
Good news was that since this decision was made after final payment was due, the Travel Agent's (also known as Mrs. J) commission was locked in. So...we've got that going for us.
Oh...and of the 8 cruisers? 3 of them are closely related to me.
So, given the circumstances, I've got a particular tune stuck in my head. Hope you like it.
Update 1: The Gummint's requirement for a Covid Test within 48 hours of departure are a Royal PITA. The home tests require software on your cell phone (something I dislike intensely). A phone call to a third world call center, where someone with complete command of the English Language with no accent (/sarcasm) will attempt to talk you through the test. Everything has to be visible to him throughout the 15 minute process. Holding the phone while swabbing your nose is...difficult.
Update 3: Still at home, but the Covid Tests are finished. 4 out of 4 had issues taking the test. My particular problem is when I created my account the page only asked for First Name, Last name. However all my ID's have First and Middle. So, they said I'd have to create a new account that matched ID's. Second try the connection was lost, fortunately before I compromised the test kit, still. Third one made it through ok. The only good news is we're 4 outta 4 tested Negative. Suffice it to say, Chip Roy, AKA my Congressman, is fixin' to get a letter. What utter, total and complete Bovine Excrement. We're outta here!
God forbid that any customer service rep be a native English speaker. It's enough to make one a nativist.
ReplyDeleteIt wan’t so much that they were’t native speakers but that their sound volume faded in and out such that you couldn’t hear them at all. The accented English only exasperated the problem.
DeleteThe biggest part of the problem was that all 4 of us lost connection completely at some point in the process and had to start over from scratch. Fortunately, it occured either before the swabbing or during the test results readings. Otherwise the test would have been compromised.
Damn, just damn. A pox on our inefficient, bloated, and increasingly corrupt government.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes it is.
DeleteBut I’m sitting on the balcony, watching the sun come up, with a cup of coffee in my hamd ( ok on the table, commenting on an iPad requires two hands) so, for the moment life is good. Slaying bureaucratic dragons is on pause for now.
Covid. My sister's side of the family went through a run of Covid a week ago. No lasting issues and symptoms ranged from moderate flu like, to just a stuffy nose without fever.
ReplyDeleteAll those with symptoms tested positive and yes, they were all vaxxed, and a couple were vaxxed and boosted.
Around that time I started getting a stuffy nose and as we were planning the long delayed interment of my father in law's remains, I needed a Covid test.
I don't know if any part of the test involves seeing if there were brain cells on the end of the swab, but it certainly felt that way.
We cancelled the funeral and shifted it to February.
I didn't have Covid, and it seems to have been a simple head cold.
My family is now pretty much healthy.
It has been an interesting couple of weeks and I mean interesting in the bad way.
Enjoy the cruise.
JiP,
DeleteGlad things worked out for you, healthwise. Sorry about your Dad. Bad interesting is no bueno. Hope things improve
Sitting on the balcony looking at absolutely nothing but blue sky and water. Very enjoyable.
Thanks
Juvat, you had nothing but my sympathy. We had some of the same issues both leaving for and coming back to Costa Rica, although not to the extent that you did. The layout of the name on the forms seemed to be a real snag, as well as all the flight information (Name as it appears on the ticket and passport, etc. etc.). I will say the Costa Rican experience - other than that care of attention - was pretty smooth, probably because we were doing in through a travel service: The last day of our trip as we arrived the hotel, we immediately went up and got our test. Two hours later the Spanish version of our certificate came, about three hours after that the English version.
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing represents every reason big government fails: having created policies, they give zero attention to making sure the implementation of that policy is as efficient and smooth as possible. Make that your platform, potential Congress Critter Candidate, and I am interested.
Also, 100% approve of the song. Styx (the original incarnation) remains one of my favorite bands of all time (perhaps only exceeded by ELO).
DeleteTHB,
DeleteTalk about a task for Siisypus ( or however you spell his name)! Naw
, I don’t have the diplomatic language skills. My fighter pilot heritage pretty much guarantees make the first engagement the last. Not gonna help in politics. Light a fire under my Congressman’s butt might. We’ll see.
Oops, yep Styx was one of my regulars also
DeleteHey, TB, like your choice in bands. Took the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame long enough to get ELO in. Now we are still waiting on Grand Funk Railroad... and waiting... and waiting...
DeleteSailing away, huh? I'm still snowed in - have a stuffy nose, well stocked up and not going anywhere.
DeleteJust sitting still and waiting.
Beans, agreed about Grand Funk. Sea day today, so just sittin on the veranda, reading a book ( and checking the blog) and chilling. Heart rate and BP are numbers I haven’t seen in a while.
DeleteBBC,
DeleteI’m kind of a fan of Texas snowfall. Usually it snows about an inch, just enough to turn everything pretty and nice. Lasts long enough to get pictures, then leaves. Occasionally, it decides to remind Texas drivers that they have no clue how to drive in it and culls the herd a bit. Of course, then comes summer…
Hope you feel better soon.
We got 26" where I am...and it s l o w l y melts.
DeleteAw, I'm really ok. Sneezing, blowing, feeling run down, but really ok.
We're out of the single digits, 28 to low 30's.
Bbc, glad you’re somewhat ok.
DeleteOut of single digits is a plus also. 28-30 isn’t that a tropical heat wave up there?
Blah. Yet another reason to stay hermited down in the apartment. 3rd World customer service reps are not my most favored people right now. Like it only took 5 calls and about the same time to figure out that Cellphone Company did not need to ship me a new sim card and that the mini in my old phone turns into a nano size by carefully pushing on it and the little invisible rim pops off. Which none of the idiots on the other end ever explained to the idiot on this end of the communications line.
ReplyDeleteHope you and yours are gonna enjoy the living snot out of the Caribbean. And avoid the cold that is infesting the South.
And how about that Tonga volcano? Sound pulse went around the world, and so did the water pulse. Glad I'm not in the South Pacific now.
Beans, yeah I heard that Santa Barbara experienced a pretty large tidal surge. Maybe the gods are upset atthe way things are going.
DeleteCold? The Captain just got off the intercom. His Wx report said the temp right now is 78 degrees. Given that when we left Galveston, the temp was 38 and there was a 40 Knot wind blowing, this is quite nice.
Fair sailing, Juvat! Dealing with the first tier of customer representatives on the phone is a pain in the posterior, especially when English is not their native language. In dealing with our satellite T.V. service I have dealt with some that are in the U.S. and that leads me to wonder if some with accents are in the U.S. as these are entry level jobs.
ReplyDeleteAs to good ol' Chip, my congress critter also, I have some misgivings. His stance on the 1/6/21 protests is questionable. I am going to take a close look at those that are running in the primary against him.
Again, enjoy the cruise.
BillB,
ReplyDeleteAgreed, I most likely won’t vote for him in the primary, depending on his opponent. May not in the election depending on how likely his opponent is to win
Thanks
There are 3 folks who are running against Chip in the primary (March 1). They are a real different mix of backgrounds.
DeleteIf Chip wins the primary, I will reluctantly vote for him. At the current time, with the current state of the Democrat(ic) Party, I just can't bring myself to vote for a Democrat nor allow a Democrat to win by voting for an off party. I did that in 92 for President and we got Slick Willie.
BillB,
DeleteYou are pretty much,if inadvertantly, following the Juvat voting rubric. Therefore I agree and am planning the same approach. I like the way you think!!!
Testing, testing, testing. Where did all this demand for constant testing come from? Seems like it would create stats that the LGB/FJB Administration wouldn't want, but what do I know. There are lines throughout San Diego right now for people wanting to be tested. Not sure if that's because they're caught up in the hype, or jobs/travel require it. I'm heading to St. Thomas in March. I better figure out what the requirements are. Enjoy the wine.
ReplyDeleteShip or airline or both. You can do the test yourself by buying a kit from wallyworld. That’s what we did( reread what we thought of the process) ships require that it be read no earlier than 48 hours prior to sail time. So that can and did in our case put you in a time lurch. Even moreso when it doesn’t go smoothly. I suspect that airlines will be similar, but don’t know for sure. You can also get it done at walgreens or similar. Haven’t done it there,but at least your within arms reach of the person giving the test. That’s gotta be an advantage in negotiation about test admin procedures ;-)
DeleteHope the actual cruise goes better! Sigh...
ReplyDeleteThe Cruise is going quite well. Thanks.
Delete