JLMoran

This is interesting. A friend of ours had a daughter just graduate from the school I believe you are talking about and was in their art program. I should reach out to her and see if she had the same experience. I usually take online reviews with a grain of salt because people are typically more apt to leave negative reviews than positive ones. If your daughter is interested, I bet I can put her in touch with my friend.
 
PS, I'm glad you are all healed up, and I'm never grossed out by pictures!
 

Yes, I'm back! And you know what that means, right?
I'M HEALED!!!!
***with a few caveats and provisos...
 
All of the skin is completely regrown (if a bit ugly), and the suture lines around the flap are fully closed and clean looking (but with a visible crease or seam along the bottom edge). And just in the nick of time, as we're going up for our college visit on Monday. The doctor gave me the green light to go, but there are a few strings attached.
First: I'm still in a compression wrap until I'm back home. The doc told me that healed wounds like this are still quite delicate for a long time, typically at least a year. No way am I going to be wearing a shoe or walking around for miles after just getting healed. Fair enough, I was able to find a loaner folding transport wheelchair that we'll take with us, and my wife and daughter (or maybe the college tour guide) will just have to take turns pushing me along.
Second: Even after the compression wrap comes off and I'm back to wearing my regular compression socks (Bombas makes a great line of these), I have to very gradually get back to wearing a shoe. And because my shoes are custom-made for my feet, they'll guaranteed require some modification from my orthotist before they properly fit again without rubbing or pressing on the area.
Third: I was hoping this meant I can finally stop elevating the leg when I'm working, but no dice for at least a few months and maybe longer. It's fine to put it down for a bit and gradually rebuild that "stamina", but right now I need to baby the scars and give them enough time to solidify. If I feel it swelling, I have to elevate again and not try to power through. Otherwise I'll just be tearing everything open all over again.
Good news on this last point is that once I'm tolerating my shoes again, I can at least start going on short walks and build back up to longer ones over a couple of months. Walking and moving around isn't any issue since that keeps the blood pumping and cuts down swelling. It's just the sitting around that's no good. And my garden really needs me able to get out there and do some major pruning!
With a 1-year clock, things will be truly solid right in time for my Mediterranean cruise next July/August as long as I treat everything right. Which is good, because that's when I'll be doing tons of walking and need the strength / durability this procedure is supposed to provide.
I won't quite call this blog done and closed just yet. Since we're going up for the college visit in less than a week, I figure I'll let y'all know how it went and whether it's still my daughter's number 1 pick. She's already picked another school as her new #2 choice, so this could turn into a horse race! 😉

So, we went up and did the college visit. And the college that had been my daughter's first choice for close on two years is suddenly one she isn't even going to apply to. Few reasons:
First, she went onto niche.com and found it has a lot of negative reviews from students on just about every front. The quality of the professors, the academics, the housing... Biggest issue being that multiple students reported that professors don't take students experience into account. They reportedly teach everyone as if they're rank beginners with no accommodation for people who, say, already know color theory quite well or have a lot of experience drawing in perspective. Or just did the work of creating an AP-level art portfolio that got a 4 or 5 when evaluated.
The small size of the school was also worrying her. With only 400 students total, she was very worried about being able to find friends or develop a decent social circle.
But the final nail in the coffin was the town the college is located -- Beverley, MA. To be clear, it's a beautiful town. Lots of old houses that look like they've been well-kept, very picturesque, and right on the water. But it's also a very quiet town with not a whole lot for a college-age kid to do with her classmates. The main street through town has a small movie theater and a handful of restaurants and bars, but almost everything was closed at 8:30 PM when we were driving back from dinner the first night there.
Even the very nearby town of Salem was closed early, except for a couple of restaurants. And the mass transit all closed down at 11 PM, too, so she wouldn't even be able to go into Boston (an hour away) with friends for a late night on the weekend.
Some of this might have been due to Covid and not being in the peak tourist / college season, but it gave my daughter enough concerns that she spontaneously told us on that first night there that she didn't want to even attend the college tour at that point, and she wasn't going to apply there any longer. She realized that she wants a larger college than Montserrat (closer to 1,500 students than 400), in more of a city setting; or at least close enough to a city setting that it's an easy option for a late night on the weekend.
So while it was a disappointing visit, it did do what a college visit is supposed to do. She saw exactly where she'd be and what the reality of attending there would be like in some measure, and had the chance now to realize it wouldn't be a good fit at all.
And now we're looking at other schools, including some she hadn't considered before. She has a reach school in mind (RISD) and is also looking at some additional schools in NYC, maybe one in Chicago.
===================================================
After we got home, I had my final visit to the wound center. I'm officially discharged, and I'm following all those caveats I outlined earlier. So far it's looking great, just have to keep it lotioned up through the day while it gets used to being in the open air again.
 
Question for everyone -- I know I said I wouldn't post pics of the procedure or anything, but now that it's healed would any significant number of you want to see the final result? I'll be honest -- when this has had a few years for the scars to settle down, I'm probably going to get a tattoo to either cover it up or else totally embrace it. Would love to hear ideas of what to get based on what it looks like. But I won't post those pics unless I hear some overwhelming votes to do it.

So, we went up and did the college visit. And the college that had been my daughter's first choice for close on two years is suddenly one she isn't even going to apply to. Few reasons:
First, she went onto niche.com and found it has a lot of negative reviews from students on just about every front. The quality of the professors, the academics, the housing... Biggest issue being that multiple students reported that professors don't take students experience into account. They reportedly teach everyone as if they're rank beginners with no accommodation for people who, say, already know color theory quite well or have a lot of experience drawing in perspective. Or just did the work of creating an AP-level art portfolio that got a 4 or 5 when evaluated.
The small size of the school was also worrying her. With only 400 students total, she was very worried about being able to find friends or develop a decent social circle.
But the final nail in the coffin was the town the college is located -- Beverley, MA. To be clear, it's a beautiful town. Lots of old houses that look like they've been well-kept, very picturesque, and right on the water. But it's also a very quiet town with not a whole lot for a college-age kid to do with her classmates. The main street through town has a small movie theater and a handful of restaurants and bars, but almost everything was closed at 8:30 PM when we were driving back from dinner the first night there.
Even the very nearby town of Salem was closed early, except for a couple of restaurants. And the mass transit all closed down at 11 PM, too, so she wouldn't even be able to go into Boston (an hour away) with friends for a late night on the weekend.
Some of this might have been due to Covid and not being in the peak tourist / college season, but it gave my daughter enough concerns that she spontaneously told us on that first night there that she didn't want to even attend the college tour at that point, and she wasn't going to apply there any longer. She realized that she wants a larger college than Montserrat (closer to 1,500 students than 400), in more of a city setting; or at least close enough to a city setting that it's an easy option for a late night on the weekend.
So while it was a disappointing visit, it did do what a college visit is supposed to do. She saw exactly where she'd be and what the reality of attending there would be like in some measure, and had the chance now to realize it wouldn't be a good fit at all.
And now we're looking at other schools, including some she hadn't considered before. She has a reach school in mind (RISD) and is also looking at some additional schools in NYC, maybe one in Chicago.
===================================================
After we got home, I had my final visit to the wound center. I'm officially discharged, and I'm following all those caveats I outlined earlier. So far it's looking great, just have to keep it lotioned up through the day while it gets used to being in the open air again.
 
Question for everyone -- I know I said I wouldn't post pics of the procedure or anything, but now that it's healed would any significant number of you want to see the final result? I'll be honest -- when this has had a few years for the scars to settle down, I'm probably going to get a tattoo to either cover it up or else totally embrace it. Would love to hear ideas of what to get based on what it looks like. But I won't post those pics unless I hear some overwhelming votes to do it.

😎

See, I disagree for the exact reason you just gave. This is a free market and if FL's law didn't block it, NCL could require proof of vaccination while RCL and Carnival don't. Consumers have choice here, they can choose to sail on a fully vaccinated sailing or one that's mixed vax'ed / unvax'ed. Market will speak, all businesses get to operate and see who has the more desirable / profitable option.
Yes, I'm aware that prior to this law going into effect that RCL was also going to have only fully vax'ed sailings in FL as well. But Carnival notably wasn't, and was proudly marketing that fact. So even then you still had a free-market system working. But it was never given a chance to play out because Florida's governor decided he knew better, and IMO overreached badly with this blanket law that impacts every business.
 

Yes, it was cancelled!  I felt the earthquake where I live (Kenai Peninsula).  I heard the tsunami warnings going off for a couple of hours before it was cancelled.  The earthquake felt a little different that others in that there were no hard jolts, but just a long 2 minutes of moving and swaying.  My hanging lights and chandelier just swayed back and forth, and there was enough movement that my grandfather clock stopped!  That was rare!  People along the coast do take this seriously, and I watched a steady stream of cars evacuating low lying areas.  The news reported that some of the coast guard ships based in Kodiak left port and headed out.  While out on the water, a tsunami is usually barely detectable, and only materializes once it gets close to shore in shallow water.

https://www.ktoo.org/2021/07/28/major-quake-hits-near-alaska-peninsula-triggers-tsunami-warning/
Hopefully, those waves are less than a foot. 

Unfortunately, as with all things involving these kinds of suits and our legal system, it ain't over yet.
I'm also not thrilled with this particular line in the article (emphasis added):
For frick's sake, Today, that area is not a children's play area!! That's just the spin the ambulance-chasing scumbag lawyer has used. The Solarium is no more a children's play area than the Schooner Bar or Boleros is. Do just two minutes of homework so you can give a truthful statement. 😡

From what I’m hearing from my neighbors, everyone’s pool builds are taking a lot longer than they used to. And that’s if you can find a company to do one at all. 
 
We broke ground on our gunite pool September 27, 2017 and it was complete by mid May. We’re in New Hampshire, so they stopped early October and picked it back up in April. Our neighbors used the same exact company, took an extra month with less “extras”, and they had a lot more headaches. 
 
ETA - picture of ours for reference. 

Today a one man crew came out, and the pool shell was cleaned for plaster.
He started by draining the pond that has been in the deep end for a few months now. Then he cut the plumbing flush with the gunite and added the jet pieces. 

 
Next he power washed the interior of the pool. There was quite a bit of tile set and coping mortar that had dripped down the walls when they were installed. Here are a couple before photos. 

 
Once all the debris was shoveled out of the pool, he added a some sort of concrete / mortar / tile set to the underside of all the jets and lights.  I'm assuming to help support them.

Finally he uncovered the drains and left. It's nice to be able to see the bottom of the pool again. 


What's really exciting about today is that we have a date for plaster! This coming Monday, August 2. Of course we may get a little rain Sunday night, but from what the forecast showed this morning, I don't think it will be enough to push us back.
The broken step stone was also fixed sometime in the last two weeks - the crew was here for maybe 5 minutes. 
DH is trying to get dates from the PM on the rest of the items that still need to happen - finish the electric at the kitchen, grind the firepit coping, and move one of the French drains. It would be nice if this could all be finished this week, prior to plaster. Then all that would be left after plaster is sod and sprinkler repair. 

So I think we have more or less decided to stay on our cruise..🤪
There is a real chance that restrictions might be eased by the time our cruise rolls around and if not for everyone then at least for those who are vaccinated..
We are currently 36 days out, no contact from our Genie yet but I suspect we may hear from him or her prob alittle later than usual as everyone waits to see what we can and can't do closer to deoarture.
Glad we have a Genie this time to cater to all the last min changes/bookings..which I'm pretty sure that will be in this current situation 
In other news, I have placed my Royal Upgrade bids..and the temptation is there to revise it everyday..😆

To quote Ted Lasso...

"It's the hope that kills you."
 
 
😉 

@SpeedNoodles is right that Cafe Promenade does not offer the kummelweck. That's on Oasis and Quantum class (Q class offers it in the Cafe Two70 area).

Unfortunately, as with all things involving these kinds of suits and our legal system, it ain't over yet.
I'm also not thrilled with this particular line in the article (emphasis added):
For frick's sake, Today, that area is not a children's play area!! That's just the spin the ambulance-chasing scumbag lawyer has used. The Solarium is no more a children's play area than the Schooner Bar or Boleros is. Do just two minutes of homework so you can give a truthful statement. 😡

Last night, while Red Sox were in rain delay, we watched an episode of Dream Cruises with a very similar itinerary.  DR did not look good even on a show that really only shows good stuff.  Daughter & hubby both said “don’t want to go there!!”  So option #2 it is!  Thanks for all the feedback.

Not sure about the rum, but our local grocery store here in Michigan stocks their ginger beer. I pick it up now and then for making Moscow Mules!

My grandmother used to take my sister and I to a place called Happy Land on Siesta Key in Sarasota for lobster night.  It was an AYCE which was rare then   This was in the late 50s or early 60s.  They had this huge revolving salad bar which was unusual then also.  The first time I grabbed my salad plate to go to the salad bar my grandmother took the plate from me,  tapped me on the back of the head and said  "You are here to eat lobster"

Be careful with this, even on a closed-loop cruise from the US. My first cruise in 2018 had a port stop in St. Kitts, and as we were approaching the checkpoint to return to the ship there were boards everywhere stating you had to have a passport to get through, and that drivers license + birth certificate would not be accepted. We had our passports with us, so I just pulled them out and showed them.
It's possible that in the hurry of the moment I misunderstood that sign and thought it was for all travelers, when it might have only been for residents of the island. But I say better safe than sorry, just in case something like that should happen.

Fun post.  Lol...I know exactly what you mean.  DH and I started having a drink with dinner every Sunday evening due to missing cruising (our inspiration).  He sometimes makes a Dark and Stormy, already mentioned.  Lately we've mostly been having Mike's Hard Lemonade type drink (flavored).  We tried a slushy version of it.  It was quite good, but TBH, not quite the same as sitting out on a pool deck with it or in the theatre.  He once attempted a mojito, which is one of my favorites (discovered on cruises), but it didn't quite work right. 
DH and I got the drink package for our next 2 potential cruises (one of them should be a go).  We don't typically get it when we have our kids with us, but too much time missed not cruising so we went for it.

Wife and I would like to say a big thank you to all for your great suggestions. We will certainly be testing all the recipes, and keeping our cruise drinking stanards up in preparation for day when we can finally cross that gangway. Take care  

What, only one extra shot of Kraken? LOL

I love a dark and stormy. In Australia we have a company called Bundaberg, who are famous for their rum, and make an awesome ginger beer. JLMoran you have talked me into one or two or three of those for tonight, cheers

My go-to on boarding day is the Mango Melon 'Rita in Boleros. Per the drink menu, it's "Avion tequila, melon liqueur, mango juice and margarita mix". Sorry that I can't give exact measurements on these, but I imagine it's the standard amount of tequila, somewhere between 1/2 - 1 oz each of the liqueur and juice, and then mix to fill the glass. Pour all into your cocktail shaker with ice, shake very well, and pour into an unsalted glass. (I definitely remember there being no salt on the rim of this one, since it's sweeter)
 
My other favorite is a dark and stormy, the classic drink of Bermuda.
To an ice-filled glass pour in 6 oz of ginger beer (traditionally Gosling's; make very sure it's not ginger ale, which has a very different flavor!) Follow with 2 oz dark rum (traditionally Gosling's Black Seal, but any good dark spiced rum will work) You can leave the rum floating on top of the ginger beer for that threatening sky look, or stir with a cocktail spoon to mix