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Seeking a SYMPHONY in an OASIS INDEPENDENCE-ly 1/12/2025-1/30/2025

Ampurp85

By Ampurp85
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Ampurp85
Ampurp85

We have landed. Our bags were the first from our flight. It looks like MIA migh have removed some carpet.

Ampurp85
Ampurp85

My preferred airport is ORD, which were we flew from. There was more Lyft shenanigans and we didn't get to port until 10:55. I will mention later. The WJ has seafood spread of giant shrimp,

AshleyDillo
AshleyDillo

Hijacking because this is YOUR sign...this is from St. Maarten this morning..not AI generated 🤯

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WAAAYTOOO Pinnacle

WAAAYTOOO

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2 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

I am!

I have been unsuccessfully trying to avoid the casino and will likely end up there again later.

I WISH I had stayed out of the casino.  Bloodbath…

I’ll PM you and we’ll set something up to meet -finally !

Ampurp85 Pinnacle

Ampurp85

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18 days to go

MERRY CHRISTMAS 🥳😍

I hope everyone has a wonderful day of delicious food and wonderful company.

Some moderately good news is they have removed all the infection, and of course 5 little toes, and my mother's husband was transferred to a rehab facility on Christmas eve. This is great news because he was originally scheduled to stay in the hospital 2 months. Now he will rehab for 3 weeks and then be allowed to go home because he is doing good so far. The only downside is the facility is almost 2hrs away and my mother hasn't learned to drive the Florida highways. So instead of being able to drive 15min and visit him every day, she has to wait until her friend can drive and teach her the route. Also, his visitation has changed, she will only be able to see him today this week and twice a week after that. So, she is catching an expensive Uber to see him for Christmas. Since her friend is spending the day with her children and grandchildren.

All of the rest of my Bezo's purchases came yesterday and after the holidays I will be able to begin some packing. I ordered a new charging adapter as my original one added two outlets and I know those types recently became banned.

Ampurp85 Pinnacle

Ampurp85

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14 days to go

So they had to actually remove a third of my mother's husband foot 😱🤯. I thought it was just the toes but they had to go further down to remove all the infected area. He was recently fitted for a special shoe and will walk with a cane for the remainder of his life. He is doing really well in PT. They believe he will be able to go home on the 6th or 7th of Jan. Which is far less than the three weeks they quoted. Unfortunately they canceled my mother's Christmas visitation and she has not been able to visit. However she talks to him multiple times a day and can tell he is much better.

I have begun receiving the refunds for her cruise cancelation. However I can't get her lunches and dinners canceled because they are linked with my brother's. I am sure when the last refund post, it will drop off. If not I will go to GS and get them refunded. I sent an email requesting a table for 2 for my brother and I since we have traditional dining on Indy.

I have booked our mani/pedi appointments. This will be the first time my brother has had a pedicure.  I am excited to see how he reacts. This will be the longest he has cruised and plans to wear flip flops and sandals the whole time.

I am still deciding on how many bags as I have just pulled my cruise clothes out.

WAAAYTOOO Pinnacle

WAAAYTOOO

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I guess it’s good-news-bad-news situation for your mother’s husband.  Very sorry to hear that the infection was worse than they originally thought but very happy to hear that he’s doing so well in PT.  Imagine if he had developed sepsis !?  I can’t believe they cancelled your mother’s visitation.  That seems excessive !  Hopefully he will be home soon and continue to recover completely.

Please please take a photo of your brother in the pedi chair !  I wish I could get Dan to go but he won’t.  😒

 

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Ampurp85

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They canceled the Christmas visitation because of some sort of illness amongst the residents. Her husband also wasn't doing that well that day because they had given him the wrong food and he was tmi, in and out of the bathroom. My gas was it was a stomach bug.  It sucks because they had already told her she wouldn't be able to come again until either the 30/31st. So she was expecting that but not the cancelation.

I will get a commerative photo of his first pedicure.  🤣😆

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Ampurp85

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11 days to go

Happy New Years 🥳. I hope everyone rang in 2025 with positivity, love, health, and happiness.

I have the next two days off and I plan to get some packing done. My biggest challenge is what does one wear to a wrestling match 🤔. Seeing live wrestling in Cozumel is something my brother is really looking forward to. Plus, there will be margaritas and tacos involved. 

Although there is a "sale" happening the current price for BC is $206 and Hideaway is $87. Neither are worth it at that price imho. It is a shame they don't lower the prices for things like that and unsold cabanas onboard. I was hoping my brother would have gotten a chance to try the BC but anything over $100 is too much. Maybe next year when we sail PDCC again he will. 

We have prebooked our Lyft to the airport and my fur baby leaves on Mon to be fattened up by my grandmother over theses next weeks. 

My mother's husband comes home on Sunday, and they are coming tomorrow to build a ramp on their home. He has to be in a wheelchair and walker for the time being. The truth came out that he is being stubborn and refuses to do the PT that would allow him to walk with a cane and the special shoe. He told them he would rather just be in a wheelchair because he won't remember to stay off the foot properly. 

I thought it was over but a few more Bezo purchases will be delivered tomorrow. 

I love when we are getting down to single digits, it makes everything more real. 

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Ampurp85

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5 Days to go

First........The weather is horrible in Chicago. It snowed a couple of days ago, but it all turned to ice because it is cold. I am actually really looking forward to the warmer weather.

Second my mother's husband is coming home today. I was right in my original assessment of the 6th or 7th, despite my mother believing he would be home on this past Sunday. He couldn't leave until the shoes were done, getting special shoes made takes time, and all his equipment available. Both the shoes and his walker were delivered yesterday morning, so he is scheduled to be released today. 

I have actually settled on bags and once they are fully packed, I will take a photo. I plan to knock out a couple loads of laundry today as all the cruise clothes have been settled. I have 2 compression travel bags for each leg of the S2S2S. And one regular compression packing cube full of miscellaneous items. Toiletries and supplements have been packaged and labeled.

I want to link a couple of additions I ordered last week.

AirTamer I purchase this after my brother discovered it looking for a new sound machine. They had a post-Christmas sale, also a BF one, were you get the personal purifier and a sound machine for $132. The personal purifier was original $150 on its own and that is currently the price on Amazon. I plan to use it in the casino, but preliminary test so far makes me want to return it. It has a 3ft radius, but you have to keep on your neck and that is annoying

Personal Purifier After trying out the AirTamer I looked for something else and landed on this, hopefully it arrives before we leave. I want to eliminate the smell of smoke and germs in general, so I think this is a better bet.

Fizz and Go. I have had a SodaStream for a long time, maybe even 10 years and recently they came out with these bottles. They hold and maintain the fizz. This is a game changer because sometimes they give you soda from the bottle or nozzle, but it will go flat in any other container. Now I can fill up at the casino or any bar and not feel like I wasted a voucher on one measly can.

Charger This is the new charging block I will take since they banned the other ones.  They had it in purple and it gives me just enough spots to charge what I need. 

Cactus527 Pinnacle

Cactus527

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I remember you saying that your mother's marriage came out of the blue (kind of) previously, but now that you've had time to see how things are for her, what are your thoughts? Is he a good match for her? Is her old fogie single friend still upset with her for getting married? Are you planning to visit them while in Florida?

Also, cold = yuck. It's been 80F here for the past few weeks (unusually warm), and it's turning this week. I think the high tomorrow is only going to be 50! I may die, I own about one sweater. 🤣 I don't know how people live in places that get snow anymore - the Midwest has been taken out of me after all these years in the Southwest. 😛 

I've often thought about those caps/tops you can put on cans/bottles to maintain the fizz. Have you tried those before? I'm wondering how effective they are, that bottle you linked to is beautiful but pricey (to me). I love the fizziness! My kids used to call it "spicy" when they were little, so all soda was spicy, LOL. 

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Ampurp85

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3 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

thought about those caps/tops you can put on cans/bottles to maintain the fizz. Have you tried those before? I'm wondering how effective they are, that bottle you linked to is beautiful but pricey (to me). I love the fizziness! My kids used to call it "spicy" when they were little, so all soda was spicy, LOL. 

I tried the caps/tops, and they don't work well. But that was probably like over a decade ago when they first came out, who knows how well they work now. I gave up traditional soda and drinking when I am not on vacation. So, when I cruise, I tend to have my soda every day but the cans from the casino get warm. The Yeti only can keep one can cold, so that bottle will help with larger quantities. As D+ and Prime, that bottle is worth not having to get any drink package, so it will pay for itself.

3 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

I remember you saying that your mother's marriage came out of the blue (kind of) previously, but now that you've had time to see how things are for her, what are your thoughts? Is he a good match for her? Is her old fogie single friend still upset with her for getting married? Are you planning to visit them while in Florida?

 

I am still reserving judgement. I have only seen them together twice, but he is willing to put up with her, so I would say they complement each other🤣. She knew he was sick and chose to be with him, take care of him instead of continuing to work. The S2S2S was booked and arranged before she got married, so I had not factored in visiting them. She was originally supposed to cruise, and they were going to drive down, we all get breakfast and then lunch on the return. Since he had surgery, she isn't going, and we are coming down to visit for Easter/ brother's birthday. 

The friend is delusional, she thinks they are good. My mother is the one who doesn't talk to her anymore.

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Ampurp85

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4 days to go

My mom's hubby is home and already complaining 🤣

I am making a dent in the packing and there will be a total of 6 bags between us......which includes our personal items aka backpacks. 

I often check my casino offers daily and today there was an interior offer for the Jan 12th Symphony sailing. I was really tempted to call in and redeem so I could get double points and stay solo, but I would lose out on the black Friday lunches and dinners I booked at 40% off. I checked the website, and it looks like there were a lot of cancellations as tons of rooms are available. I think it was because the itinerary changed from San Juan, PR/St. Maarten to Labadee/Falmouth. 

I had a meeting on Mon, and it was nothing but sick vintages coughing and farting, but spraying Stetson and other old cologne to cover it up. Which resulted in my allergies flaring up bad. At first, I thought I was getting a cold despite taking all the precautions but today the cranial/eye pressure came, and I knew it was a sinus reaction. I have three days to feel better. Which I already feel better today than yesterday.......the headache/eye pain has lessened........so there is that.

The salon we are scheduled to get mani/pedis from called and ask if we would change out appointment. Which was originally scheduled for Thurs morning and then moved to Fri at 5pm but now back to Thurs at 6pm, I am okay with it because they are also giving us 10% off, I love a good deal. A bachelorette party booked up the salon for that Fri. 

The personal purifier arrived this morning broken, so I guess I won't have a purifier for this trip. I have just enough time in my busy schedule to send it back for a refund. The AirTamer was already going back as it did not protect me from the bad cologne. 

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WAAAYTOOO

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1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

I had a meeting on Mon, and it was nothing but sick vintages coughing and farting, but spraying Stetson and other old cologne to cover it up. Which resulted in my allergies flaring up bad. At first, I thought I was getting a cold despite taking all the precautions but today the cranial/eye pressure came, and I knew it was a sinus reaction. I have three days to feel better. Which I already feel better today than yesterday.......the headache/eye pain has lessened........so there is that.

 

Ugh.  Feel better !!!  I always keep a Z-Pak around for situations such as these.  I used one not long ago....cleared it right up.

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Ampurp85

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10 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

I don't understand why people seem to think they HAVE to go to work/meetings/events when sick. Stop spreading the germs! It's like people in the restrooms on board that just breeze by the sinks and go straight in the Windjammer. WHY?????

I understand some people can't afford to be sick, companies need to do better about sick days. But if that is the case, COVER YOUR MOUTH!!!! Also, these vintage gents had those handkerchiefs, which do nothing but shuffle germs around 🤢

I had a coworker who refused to wash his hands unless he pooped. He claimed that is why everyone gets sick because they have ruined their immune system with too much handwashing. 

I went to the gym with my brother, he goes almost every day 🙄, not really to work out but to use the spa facilities. I just took a steam and already I feel much better, of course now everything is draining, and I will be blowing my nose for the next few hours, but a good steam really helped. By tomorrow I should be at 95% and definitely a 100% when we leave.

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Ampurp85

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4 hours ago, SweetPea said:

Hey, this might be out of the blue, but ... whatever happened to the blind guy your mom randomly invited on one of your cruises?

Not out of the blue, they are friends still. They hang out on the computer twice a week since both are retired now. When the dust settles, he is supposed to attend another cruise with us as the husband has no desire to cruise. 

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Ampurp85

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3 Days to go

We went to get our mani/pedis and my brother was shocked. They asked if he wanted color, and he was really confused. I have to say I was a little disappointed in my nail tech as he barely did anything but cut my nails and polish up my cuticles. I expected him to sand my foot so I would have to be extra careful in the tub......not that I want to fall but I wanted my feet so smooth the option was there. 

Packing has been a disaster because I have swapped out luggage's three times. We do not want to use the ships laundry as they ruined two of my brother's linen outfits, his whites and one of my dresses that I thought couldn't be ruined. So, we are bringing enough clothes for 18 days. Which from a logistic standpoint seems to be a nightmare. 

Luggage tags have been printed and folded. I am currently looking up the terminals that each ship sails out of, so I give the Lyft drivers the right information. 

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OCSC Mike Pinnacle

OCSC Mike

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14 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

So, we are bringing enough clothes for 18 days. Which from a logistic standpoint seems to be a nightmare. 

Yikes, I can imagine. We only made it work in Alaska by washing almost everything halfway through (on land of course).

As someone who won’t even drive to South Florida, I don’t think I could handle some of the logistical stuff the majority of the bloggers here go through.

I have faith you guys will figure it out somehow.

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Ampurp85

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1 day to go.

After 2pm we will be in vacation mode. My brother has a job site and I have errands. Which included a new pedicure. The owner of the salon found out my tech didn't even touch the bottom of my feet and allowed me to come in and get a do-over. I am currently here and hoping for a better outcome.

Packing is haphazardly completed. We placed everything in the bags and weighed them. Some are over and some under. We will reconfigure nicely and close up. Photos will come after completion.

Funny story. I went to the bank, my brother and I have the same bank, last week for 1s and 5s. I fill out a slip and insert my debit card. The teller says I will be charged for the change, I ask if it's a new policy and she said only for none members. I stare at her, she stares back. I finally say "I gave you my account number" and then she giggles and says blonde moment. Then she says if you don't have enough I can't complete the transaction. I stare at her again, she clicky clacks and says loudly how much I have in my account. Her coworker tells her something in Polish, which is probably "you dummy, inside voice. " Not a good experience. So exactly a week later my brother goes in. He gets the other teller and she is bending and grinning 😀. He asked for 1s and 5s, she tells my brother back in Poland she was a dancer and walks back and does a spin. He said everyone was looking so he said this is for a cruise. Which makes that teller grin even more and start talking about speedos......he is dead. She is doing the most and drops all the money and has to put it in the sorter. Meanwhile my teller is telling a customer he can't cash a check because he only has a checking account 🙄. The teller wrote her number on a card for my brother........while she was supposed to be helping a man cash his check. People are wild these days.

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