Rags1

On 3/11/2024 at 7:28 AM, Lovetocruise2002 said:

@Rags1 what do I win? I figured out the blinds right away. Someone had the switches labelled clearly

That’s like an open book quiz!. 

This just makes my day!  I’m so happy that you’re finally achieving that goal!  Although I’d love to be doing it this week, I at least have “family” to follow!  I’m sure it will be all you’ve dreamed of and more. I’m so genuinely thrilled for you and your hubby and kids!  May the loft retractable television Gods smile on you and it works as designed . And I believe that if before day 5 you can select the correct button to open/close one of the 6 draperies downstairs on the first try you win a bottle of wine!  But seriously it’s the loft shower. There’s nothing else like it. You’ll see. And now I’m off to my 86th day in a row to open and close our restaurant. But I know this week I’ll be spending more time in the walk-in refrigerator catching up on this trip!  Have the most awesome time my friend!  I’m so happy!

6 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Sabrina, forgive this breach of blog etiquette but…

…I have to ask @Rags1 ….how are things with the restaurant ?  I was thinking about you guys over the past week with all the Holiday Star Class blogs going…

Thanks @WAAAYTOOO!  I posted a restaurant update to my October blog. Thanks so much for asking

I commented on @Lovetocruise2002 current blog last night and @WAAAYTOOO inquired about our newly opened restaurant. We opened, after 21 exhausting months of dealing with various government agencies, on December 13!  We are receiving overwhelming support from our community. If I do say so myself, our casual little eatery is turning out some amazing food!  Our website is still under construction.  We do have an IG account but I’ll have to ask my daughter what it is. You can follow our journey on FB, Just A Small Town Grill, Morongo Valley, CA.

Checked the blogs tonight for the first time in quite awhile and here you are!  Sending good thoughts and prayers to your dad and your entire family. I’m so happy you made it!  I’m looking forward to keeping up in the next few days. We opened the restaurant on December 13th and haven’t had time to go to the bathroom, let alone read my favorite blog site!  Enjoy every minute my friend!

Enjoying following along!  Have a wonderful cruise!

So nothing to do with sailing on a ship. But someone who loves cruising is happy to announce that we received approval today to open the restaurant!  

Happy cruise day! Can’t wait for more!

7 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

This blog is everything

This!

On 9/9/2023 at 8:17 AM, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Congrats! And I fully endorse using your honeymoon for your first cruise!

Agree. My first honeymoon cruise on the Mayflower was very memorable!

On 9/9/2023 at 1:19 PM, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

I never felt I was getting old…just everyone else was!  

I agree.  But now at 72, and after 14 months of physically doing the work to remodel the restaurant, I’m feeling a tad beat up and old

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

You are right! Feedback is so important to them. Awesome that you took the time to that. 

We all submitted the end of cruise survey and commended many crew members. I just felt compelled to single out these two.  

1 hour ago, asquared17 said:

looking forward to seeing the restaurant THRIVE!!!!

Thank you so much!

I had high hopes to close this out with a ton of witty comments and food pictures. But I’m home. I have a restaurant I need to open and it’s consuming my days right now.  So I will leave it here for now.  I may pop on later if I find some free time. I will definitely add a final comment when the nurse’s Just A Small Town Grill opens its doors. Thank you to all who have followed our journey!  The cruises just keep getting better for us. We are very blessed to sail in that amazing suite. We have met people who have become family to us and we’re thankful for that. We survived massive hangovers from a long night of Quest, MO5AIC, tequila and a guy named Jay. Each of us in the family made great memories we will treasure for many years. The ships, the entertainment, the ports, the food all are important. But for me it’s the people. We had servers, our loft attendants, bartenders, cleaners and entertainers that we interacted with many times a day. They made each hour of our vacation special. And whether it was a hug, a high five, a joke, a filet from chops, a Starbucks drink or two dozen cartons of milk we tried to brighten just a minute of their day.  As I get older a couple of things happen.  I have to pee more frequently during the night and I treasure special moments with others.  This cruise was full of special moments.  
I’ve attached an email I sent to the Hotel Director and forwarded to Miami.  I’ve also included responses to that email. I’ve been assured by Jay and Lusi that it matters when we take time to let management know of great service. 
My last Star Class tip:  If you sail with Jay as your Genie just do this:  the very first moment you meet him, grab him in a bear hug, kiss him on the cheek and just tell him you adore him. Just get it out of the way - it’s inevitable!
 

7 hours ago, SweetPea said:

Also, be advised not all Genie requests are granted. I was bummed. I felt it perfectly reasonable to commandeer a Star Loft for like 20 min to set up a private zipline experience for the 2 of us. Hmmph.

It’s official. We need to cruise together!. You are brightening my days now!  Not only am I going through cruise withdrawals but it’s nonstop meetings with vendors and new employees as we plan to open the restaurant. No matter how trying my day I know I can come home to your blog!  Keep it coming my friend!

23 minutes ago, SweetPea said:

I feel like i have very big shoes to fill!

You blew everyone else out of the water with your first post!  Actually laughing out loud. This will make my cruise withdrawals a bit easier!  Can’t wait for more

I’m loving this!!

Received word today that an email I sent to the Hotel Director resulted in both Lusi and Jay being recognized for exceptional service.  Haven’t found out yet what exactly that means for Jay but evidently Lusi received a copy of my email with hand written comments from the boss, extra time off and dinner in the specialty restaurant of her choice!  That makes me happy!  More tomorrow.  Sorry for the delay!

12 hours ago, SweetPea said:

I'm sad you're home!! I had so much fun reading your blog and joining you! I think you blog your restaurant opening. No one here will mind it's not cruise-centric.

And thank you for your female pilot story ! Not to make this all about me, but i can very much relate as i work in Operations and its difficult to be female there sometimes. One time i was managing a restoration that was necessary due to a bombing (yes an actual bombing), and i asked something twice on a conference bridge to no response. I had to tell Batman to ask my question for me. Boom. Male voice got me the answer i needed. Happens all the time.  Fortunately, my last name is a common male first name. So when i have to reach out to someone who doesn't know me, i try to manage over MS Teams chat where I'm often called "sir." I just go with it!

 

@SweetPea, Bombing?  I need more about that story!  I learned my lesson early in my career.  One of the first protective details I worked was a formal dinner at a Washington, D.C. hotel.  All of us on the team wore a small identification pin on our lapel. While securing a large ballroom I noticed an attractive female, dressed in a beautiful evening gown, hanging out where guests shouldn’t have been.  I casually walked up to her and politely informed her that she needed to leave the area.  I don’t remember her exact words because it’s been about 50 years ago but it was something like “Had you looked looked a little higher on my dress, instead of at my breasts, you would have seen the same pin you’re wearing.  Move along Junior.”  A humbling experience to say the least. Life lesson learned that night. 

I’m still planning to wrap this up but it didn’t happen today!  We spent the day at the restaurant planning the how and when to open. But I promise I’ll do it soon because I really do have more to say

Allan is great!  He doesn’t miss a thing!

The sailing crew has made it safely home. Our Vegas to Palm Springs flight was delayed about 30 minutes because our aircraft was late arriving. Then once we boarded we were delayed about another 25 minutes waiting on 8 passengers on a late arriving SWA flight from Cleveland. The direct flights from Vegas to Palm Springs are listed as one hour. When you actually board one they usually announce a flight time of around 45 minutes.  Tonight once everyone was onboard they announced a flight time of 36 minutes. We made it in 27.  We dropped Katie at her house, stopped to get young Melissa some vegetables for her dinner, dropped her at her house and then Stacy, Taylor and I arrived home to be greeted by some happy pets!

The highlight of my day happened in Las Vegas. It might have been the highlight of my week. I was sure nothing could top that Aintzumi Chinese food in the Houston airport but I was wrong.  While standing in line to board our aircraft this happened:  I saw a female pilot come out of the jetway to talk to the agent at the gate.  After their discussion the gate agent, another female, resumed calling out the boarding instructions.  The female pilot took a step away from the podium and leaned against the wall reading something.  Shortly after that a guy, maybe in his 50’s, bypassed the boarding line and kinda just thrust his boarding pass at the pilot.  She looked up and said “I’m sorry, you have to show that to her” as she pointed to the gate agent. When I boarded I glanced in the cockpit and that pilot was in the left seat. She looked to be in her early 30’s. I’m sure a little older but didn’t look it. After a 27 minute flight we landed in Palm Springs and as I left the aircraft the Captain was in the jetway talking to other Southwest people. I told the family I’d catch up and I waited for her to finish her conversation. Then I told her I just had another day when  I’m embarrassed to be a man. She looked bewildered and asked why. When I told her I saw the guy try to give her his boarding pass she laughed like crazy. She told me it happens all the time.  And then, this is my favorite part, she said, “I just use it to my advantage.  When we have problem passengers I look at them, and in my sweetest voice  I say oh honey, you’re gonna have to talk the Captain about that.  He’s right over there!”  We both laughed and I told her “You just made my day Captain.”  And she responded “No Sir, you made mine” and gave me a hug. I mean it wasn’t Chops or Mama Mia or anything, but it was a moment for sure!

I’ll have more tomorrow to wrap this up

Funny Krazy Lobster tidbit. While waiting for Taylor to get her braids I asked the Manager if they sold Krazy Lobster shirts. He said sure and brought out both a black one and a yellow one. I bought them. Last night when I was packing I noticed that on the sleeve of each shirt it says “Staff!”

Made it to Las Vegas. Plane change and a short hop home. Crew picked up our luggage at 0630. Breakfast in CK. Jay met us in the room about 8:50 and we were on the curb about 10 minutes later. Same car service as last week whisked us off to the airport. Had a snack from a business claiming to sell Chinese food. Routine flight in to Vegas stuffed full of Southwest’s yummy snack bags. Girls having fresh pretzels now. I’m waiting till I get home and make a fresh pizza!  
I’m telling you, these goodbyes with the Genies are just getting harder!  I may or may not have emailed Royal that I might not even cruise in the future if Jay isn’t aboard!. I’ll have more to share about him after I’m home. But for now I’ll just sit here at my gate, staring at a Burger King, and process those visions in my head of some strange people leaving 1740 on their way to CK for filet night. It’s not a good feeling

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Both your blogs are, and will be awesome! You both have a hilarious writing style. That's what makes them awesome! 

Thank you for taking us along another great one @Rags1. Congrats on the restaurant, and one day, maybe we can sail together! I would love that. You and the fam seem like genuinely good people, and I would say that Jay and Lusi are just as lucky to have you guys!

And @SweetPea, you're next. We are all counting on it! 

Yeah @SweetPea, what she said!  Can't wait!

Thanks for the kind words @Lovetocruise2002!  It'd be a hoot to cruise together

Our luggage going the wrong way!