Quantum of Solace…. but make it Alaska!: Quantum 09/16/24-09/23/24

[asquared17]

6 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

while my good friend @asquared17 thinks it starts in the 70s. For reference the vintages I am referring to are 65 and 69.

amen.

however some of us, like yours truly, are “pre-vintage”

[Lovetocruise2002]

40 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

amen.

however some of us, like yours truly, are “pre-vintage”

I'm probably vintage if we are going by mindset lol

[Kelseylovestocruise]

13 hours ago, asquared17 said:

amen.

however some of us, like yours truly, are “pre-vintage”

I may be getting close to pre-vintage at 27. I went to bed last night at 9:30 on a cruise

[Ampurp85]

17 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I'm probably vintage if we are going by mindset lol

No, well I consider myself pre-vintage because I have a mature mindset as well.

[Ampurp85]

I want to point out I started using the term vintage to describe my mother and bbf's mother when they were 56/57.......and first started vacationing with me. Because they would say things like "what's Uber's number, I want to call me one?" And then do sort of 70+ people things on a cruise, like just stop waking and put their hands on their hips and look around. Also just give advice to random children and youths. Then start randomly reminiscing about something from the 70/80s that no longer exist. Personally, I think bringing fifty-eleven suitcases with tons of wardrobe changes is a very vintage thing as well . Especially when you "need a" wheelchair to navigate the airport but you also participate in "walks for Jesus"

[Sweety]

I am back in the loop. I live in Hyde Park. We must meet up for lunch. I Love your blogs.

[asquared17]

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

they would say things like "what's Uber's number, I want to call me one?"

crying

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

then do sort of 70+ people things on a cruise, like just stop waking and put their hands on their hips and look around

BUT WHY DO THEY DO THIS!!!!!

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Also just give advice to random children and youths

THIS ONE HAD ME DEAD AND GONE.

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Personally, I think bringing fifty-eleven suitcases with tons of wardrobe changes

ah, well….. [stares out into the void]

not me staring at my luggage come december and remembering this vividly

[Ampurp85]

@asquared17 First your luggage is full of comforts needed. My vintages bring shoes/bags to match each outfit and several changes of outfits per day. They also expect everyone else to push/pull these luggage

[Lovetocruise2002]

5 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

No, well I consider myself pre-vintage because I have a mature mindset as well.

I meant I was totally stubborn and stuck in my ways

[Yesiamthere6]

I’ll be 68 in October and definitely do and say some “old lady” stuff.  My daughter was talking about a 401k, and Im thinking who could run a 401K….heck, I can barely run to my mailbox. I still don’t know how to call for an Uber. I just mastered turning my TV from regular to Netflix.  I can’t remember my passwords, for even this site, so I just stay logged onto the site as well as many others. Sometimes I get kicked off, so have to find the password that is written down somewhere, but have a hard time remembering where that somewhere is. I have whiskers growing just above my lip, and forget that I do, until I look into my magnifying mirror.  All above is true with the exception of the 401K. On the flip side, I work out with weights at the gym, and walk a few miles everyday.  Here’s your vintage test:  stand on just your left leg (right leg bent at knee) cross arms across your chest…so far easy, right….but now close your eyes.  Stand like that with eyes closed.  If you are not a vintage you should easily be able to do it for 30 seconds or more.  I’m a vintage. 

[Cactus527]

15 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

And then do sort of 70+ people things on a cruise, like just stop waking and put their hands on their hips and look around.

WHY DO THEY INSIST ON DOING THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A GROCERY STORE AISLE WITH AN EMPTY SHOPPING CART it makes me want to maim produce...

2 hours ago, Yesiamthere6 said:

Here’s your vintage test:  stand on just your left leg (right leg bent at knee) cross arms across your chest…so far easy, right….but now close your eyes.  Stand like that with eyes closed.  If you are not a vintage you should easily be able to do it for 30 seconds or more.

My dog says thank you for proposing something that made me fall over on top of her. Not that I've been drinking tonight...much... I'll try it in the morning too (the balancing, not the drinking).

[SynEpona]

On 8/15/2024 at 3:55 PM, Ampurp85 said:

Day 32

To be so close to vacation is the best. I find that the last month goes by fast while the final week seems to drag.

... and then spend the rest of the dinner judging people. So, I may change their MTD to around 7 and keep ours at 7:45. 

It's so true! July flew by and the week before we left in August dragged!

You've perfectly described some group dinners I've been at. Great plan to separate for more pleasant dinners.

[Yesiamthere6]

17 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

WHY DO THEY INSIST ON DOING THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A GROCERY STORE AISLE WITH AN EMPTY SHOPPING CART it makes me want to maim produce...

My dog says thank you for proposing something that made me fall over on top of her. Not that I've been drinking tonight...much... I'll try it in the morning too (the balancing, not the drinking).

So, how did you do, with the balancing,, not the drinking?

[Cactus527]

22 hours ago, Yesiamthere6 said:

So, how did you do, with the balancing,, not the drinking?

It worked much better in the morning! Imagine that... 

[Ampurp85]

21 days to go

Well, my mom is officially a Floridan. She no longer has a residence here and has an appointment next week with the DMV to get her license. It has been a rough couple of weeks getting her moved. Lots of vintage shenanigans.

I filled out the special needs forms for the vintages to get wheelchair assistance at the port and airport. Neither have confirmed how many luggage, so they may need to get tags at the port. 

Lots of activities are sold out in CP. I don't think I have ever seen things like the all-access tour, sushi and cupcake class sold out this fast. It is probably because there are only 2 sea days and people were anxious to fill up activities.

I will start packing next week, because the week before I leave is usually a busy week.

If anyone has restaurant recommendations for any of the ports feel free to drop them.

[WAAAYTOOO]

5 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Well, my mom is officially a Floridan.

I was thinking about you/your mom this morning and wondering how things were going.  Sounds like it was a whirlwind, but she's someone else's problem now ! (meant with LOVE only).  How's your grandmother taking it ?

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

 It has been a rough couple of weeks getting her moved. Lots of vintage shenanigans

You could probably write a novel 

[Ampurp85]

4 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I was thinking about you/your mom this morning and wondering how things were going.  Sounds like it was a whirlwind, but that she's someone else's problem now ! (meant with LOVE only).  How's your grandmother taking it ?

Not too well, but it will take time. I really hope she becomes someone else's problem. I needed the laugh though, because mere hours after landing she called to asked me to look something up for her. That something was how to make an appointment at the DMV, which her husband told her he had done........

[GatorCruiser]

As the bible says , twice a child , once a man. We start out needy and we end needy. It’s the cycle of life. 

[Ampurp85]

17 days to go

I am currently fighting the flu. Of course, all sorts of germs are going around and after 3 negative covid test, I was like maybe give me a flu test and it came back positive. Having the flu in the summer when Chicago had a couple of 100+ degree days recently is the absolute worst.  I am pretty sure I got it during the vintage's outings with my mom as they love bringing a random stray. Some of those strays insist upon hugging strangers, aka me, without my consent. I am grateful that I am on the tail end of it and should be 100% by next week.

I sailed Odyssey as my only Quantum class and it was from PE, so I am not sure of Quantum's class cold weather capabilities. Although I know Anthem sails from port Liberty in the winter. I am wondering if I should bring any dresses, which I would feel like would also mean tights. My first thought is only long pants, but the vintages somehow believe I will be hot on the sea days . I am properly confused as to why they believe that but all I know is I am bringing pants only. 

The vintages continue to be them, according to the tales we will be feeding bears and whales. 

I know the next couple of weeks will go by fast and the real shenanigans will begin.  Next week will be a fairly busy one as it is the end of a quarter for me and my brother, as a mechanical engineer, has a project due. We got an extra camera, so hopefully I can fill this blog with lots of cool pictures. 

 

[Cactus527]

19 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

The vintages continue to be them, according to the tales we will be feeding bears and whales. 

We got an extra camera, so hopefully I can fill this blog with lots of cool pictures. 

 

THESE TWO STATEMENTS GO TOGETHER *PERFECTLY.* I cannot WAIT to see your cool pictures of them feeding the whales. 

[asquared17]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

Some of those strays insist upon hugging strangers, aka me, without my consent

the way hands would BE THROWN!!!!!!

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

the vintages somehow believe I will be hot on the sea days . I am properly confused as to why they believe that but all I know is I am bringing pants only. 

the vintages continue to do The Most

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

The vintages continue to be them, according to the tales we will be feeding bears and whales. 

i………..

my lord. 

(to be fair, my parents did see whales but no bears much to my fathers eternal dismay, as he LOVES bears)

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

and the real shenanigans will begin. 

gosh i gotta pull myself together and get ready for this!!!!!!!

[DDaley]

On 8/30/2024 at 9:48 AM, Ampurp85 said:

I am wondering if I should bring any dresses, which I would feel like would also mean tights. My first thought is only long pants, but the vintages somehow believe I will be hot on the sea days . I am properly confused as to why they believe that but all I know is I am bringing pants only. 

Yes! A perfect plan! I wasted room in my one carry-on for 3 dresses and a skirt and it was so cold that I only wore my one pair of jeans and one sweater to every dinner. Learn from me and bring more than one sweater!!! haha My pullover Mammoth sweatshirt also got some dinner action and my poor dresses hung in the closet until being re-packed.  

[Mrs. Regular]

I hope you're feeling better and setting your sights on having a great time in Alaska! 

[Sweety]

I am wearing my mask. A few teachers had to take off already due to colds. Please be careful. There are too many flu strains around since going back to school (work).

[Cactus527]

13 hours ago, Sweety said:

I am wearing my mask. A few teachers had to take off already due to colds. Please be careful. There are too many flu strains around since going back to school (work).

Ugh, I totally hear you on this - my high schooler missed 3 days in a row of the second week of school due to germs/colds/virus/illness. YUCK. Stay healthy!

[Mrs. Regular]

22 hours ago, Sweety said:

I am wearing my mask. A few teachers had to take off already due to colds. Please be careful. There are too many flu strains around since going back to school (work).

I feel this! Working at a university means all kinds of icky germs are concentrated in one place. I'm also masking, including last week a Disney! Packed into those lines indoors with all manner of coughs and sniffles - no thanks, I'm too busy to get sick. Stay healthy!!

[Ampurp85]

10 days to go......

I have recovered from the flu, but it was rough.

I have packed masks.

We had our quarterly meeting at work this week, I am about 95% wfh with exception to these meetings, and I was purely disgusted. I had two men sneeze into the air, blow their nose with an actual hanky.......then help themselves to coffee and pastries. Despite there being hand sanitizer, I was the only person who used it. Another coworker said one of those men didn't even was his hands in the restroom . Thankfully I am always early as I had gotten my breakfast before are the nasty folks joined. If it is happening at workplaces, you can guarantee it is happening on a cruise ship. Seeing as though all my excursion are through Royal, I know I will have to share transportation and need to be prepared. 

I have packed my checked bag and checked the weather. It will more than likely be raining all the days I am on the cruise and the weather in NOLA might be a little wet as well. I have three packing cubes and two pairs of shoes (all-terrain Mary Janes by Merrell and Croc boots) with my fan. I will put a change of clothes and toiletries in my carry-on......which I will pack later next week.

I had asked the vintages if they would prefer an earlier dining time and they said no, they would prefer to eat with us. Yet they have been telling everyone else, who keeps telling me, that 7:45 is late . They still have not told me their bag count, so I am not printing any luggage tags for them, all my documents will be printed and placed by Mon. 

I am waiting on one last Bezos purchase, some trouser socks and lens wipes, and I will be all set.

This vacation can't come fast enough. 

[Cactus527]

33 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

We had our quarterly meeting at work this week, I am about 95% wfh with exception to these meetings, and I was purely disgusted. I had two men sneeze into the air, blow their nose with an actual hanky.......then help themselves to coffee and pastries. Despite there being hand sanitizer, I was the only person who used it. Another coworker said one of those men didn't even was his hands in the restroom . Thankfully I am always early as I had gotten my breakfast before are the nasty folks joined. If it is happening at workplaces, you can guarantee it is happening on a cruise ship. Seeing as though all my excursion are through Royal, I know I will have to share transportation and need to be prepared. 

UGH. Same thing is happening through my conference. PEOPLE ARE GROSS!!!! Just...I don't get it. I'm with you on masks!

[DDaley]

I am with you both on safety masking in uncomfortably tight or audible cough-y conditions. I masked on the SeaTac bus from Quantum last year and then later heard people got Covid from that exact part!

I am just back from Europe (sneaky trip report currently going down at that other place in my sig) and brought masks, hand wipes, sanitizer, Emergen C packets and tissues expecting to have to arm myself but didn’t need any of them! I was on sooo much public transportation and chartered buses through the cruise line and never saw anyone who looked or sounded remotely sick to set me onto my handy supply! I know they could’ve been sneaky but it set me at ease to see people covering their mouths and always using the hand sanitizing sprays we passed. And the breakfast buffet was a dream! Serving spoons regularly wiped down/swapped out. Shocking, I tell you!! 

I hope you see eagles and whales and bears, oh my! 

[asquared17]

5 minutes ago, DDaley said:

masked on the SeaTac bus from Quantum last year and then later heard people got Covid from that exact part!

this was my parents two weeks ago; they were on transpo from edge and came home with covid. we had friends on ovation (or was it quantum?) (same week/trip) and they also got covid. 

it was a rough go; we never get sick, but it got both of them and then they came home and it got me too. 

just be wary, friends

[Ampurp85]

7 days to go

We have decided to extend our NOLA adventure by one more day. We will now depart on Friday after 3pm. That now means we get a whole extra day of eating, which my brother is super excited for.

At 2pm on Tues I will be officially done with work until the 29th, my brother can't officially clock out until Fri at 10am after his last meeting. Since I will be done a bit earlier than expected, I have booked a sauna at the new gym/spa they put in my neighborhood. I used to do this all the time when I did international vacations because usually, I am doing a ton of activities and excursions. I have been eating pretty healthy, so I am excited for the food and drinks. Saunas help me shore up physical and mental energy, which I think I will need a lot of for this cruise .

The vintages continue to do the most. They have decided to book a limo to take them to the airport, so they can sit in wheelchairs . This limo is $175. For reference we catch a Lyft to the airport, and it is usually $30-35 with tip. I am sure you know where I am going with this. The vintages expect us to use the limo and pay $75.......... as it stands, they will only pick up from one location and we would have to take a Lyft to one of their houses. Not happening. Why would we pay almost 3x the amount???? I informed them that an Uber/Lyft Black would still be a cheaper option. I should point out that some limo services use big, sleek black SUVs anyway. We had this same conversation last cruise, and they still acted brand new. But now they are vacillating about which to use.......either way we aren't riding with them.

My brother and I are sharing a checked bag and my half was packed. But with the extra day added, I will change out some outfits and add the extra's I need. 

The airline has sent me a couple of emails asking to preorder snacks and Wi-Fi. With T-Mobile I get in-flight Wi-Fi on Alaska, so I am disregarding them........also the snacks are expensive and leave a lot to be desired. I will get my DD munchkins and call it a day .

My brother went to the bank and apparently was confused and got $100 in singles and $100 in quarters because I said to get change. I will take the quarters back and get $5s. The lens wipes and trouser socks arrived from Bezos on yesterday so I can get my carry-on packed early this week. 

After work today I will do my vitamin and supplements, I am bringing extra Emergen-C. I will print ss passes and luggage tags on Thurs after I complete my last load of laundry. I will also be dropping my fur baby off with her babysitter for the next couple of weeks, my grandmother, who always request her early. But also, that means I can clean and repack without all of her "help" .

[Cactus527]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

My brother went to the bank and apparently was confused and got $100 in singles and $100 in quarters because I said to get change.

I laughed so hard at this. Imagine the weight that $100 in quarters is!

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

They have decided to book a limo to take them to the airport, so they can sit in wheelchairs . This limo is $175.

WHHHYYYYYYYY I don't understand one bit. They have fancy Ubers too, like you noted!

[WAAAYTOOO]

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

My brother went to the bank and apparently was confused and got $100 in singles and $100 in quarters because I said to get change.

I almost spit out my Coke when I read this.  TOOOOO funny.  Where did he think you were going to use all those quarters ?  

[Ampurp85]

3 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I almost spit out my Coke when I read this.  TOOOOO funny.  Where did he think you were going to use all those quarters ?  

So he explained he thought the crew might have requested quarters. We bring chocolate and stuff, so for some reason he thought we were going to tip them with quarters for laundry. Bless his heart

[asquared17]

$100 in quarters

GOODBYE FOREVER 

[Cactus527]

8 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I almost spit out my Coke when I read this.  TOOOOO funny.  Where did he think you were going to use all those quarters ?  

Quarters, for the really terrible strippers that you don't want to give $1 to for their efforts.

[Ampurp85]

5 days to go

My living room is currently a mess. Because of the extra day in NOLA, I now need to pack a few more items and configure things. So packing cubes, and loose clothing are scattered across the room. Also, the weather forecast has improved dramatically across the board. It will be close to 90s in NOLA and almost the same when we leave Chicago. It will be high 50s/low 60s in the ports with light and regular rain. Instead of the storms and high 40s I had previously saw. But who knows, I am packing in a way to be prepared for any eventuality. 

A week ago, I received an email from Royal asking me to tell them about my upcoming travels. I took the survey and at the end they asked if I would mind taking others. I said yes and then a couple days ago I got an email asking if I would do a digital diary for OBC. I said sure and was selected. Because I don't know whether I can say more, I won't go into details until I have all the information. 

The app has populated a lot of the activities, and I added a few to my calendar. It looks like the puzzle break will have some space when you board. It also seems like the bumper cars have a theme. I plan to go on 70s night.

The vintages continue to tell my mother and not me their plans. So far Robin has 3 checked bags, a carry-on and two purses/totes. MB has two checked bags (one is apparently all shoes ), a carry-on and a purse/tote. I didn't know what to say when my mother told me this. They coordinated with each other on themes: my mother said MB told her they brought about 5, out of the 10 new outfits purchased for the cruise, the same. Just in different colors. So, they will have the same dress on for formal/dress your best night. I don't understand any of this, but I am prepared to be entertained. 

Current plans over the next 2-3 days are self-care and to finish packing. I doubt I will have too much downtime, so the books are two biographies this time: Elvira and Pamela Anderson. 

[Cactus527]

4 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

 Robin has 3 checked bags, a carry-on and two purses/totes.

You might want to remind her of FAA regulations that prohibit having more than two items when you board a plane. Every time I see somebody with more than two, the people working the gate force them to condense it down to two or check the remaining item. 

4 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Elvira and Pamela Anderson. 

These sound like very interesting biographies!  I'm a huge nonfiction fan, so you'll have to let me know what you think of them.

[Ampurp85]

6 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

You might want to remind her of FAA regulations that prohibit having more than two items when you board a plane. Every time I see somebody with more than two, the people working the gate force them to condense it down to two or check the remaining item. 

These sound like very interesting biographies!  I'm a huge nonfiction fan, so you'll have to let me know what you think of them.

 I have told them this, they always have to consolidate at the airport. It's annoying. 

I will do on the biographies. I am not a nonfiction fan because I get enough of that in life, but I will do biographies of interesting people.