Tick...Tick...Tick...Time Marches On

I ate too much last night. 

Wanda and I went to Older Daughter Jennifer and Husband Eric's house for dinner and a birthday celebration. I mentioned in the blog yesterday, it was our grandsons eighteenth birthday. I was good putting a little salad on my plate but the ribs, steaks, pasta and cake did me in. Wanda and I don't eat much meat..."What do you mean? He don't eat no meat." ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") at home.

The word processor got very upset with "What do you mean? He don't eat no meat." This is Terrible use of the English language.

All day I kept hearing a voice in my head. Not the frightening kind that tells you to bludgeon someone with a salami but like song lyrics you can't stand, "I'm Henry the Eighth I am."

My brain synapses kept firing "Its Not Everyday Your Young Man Turns Eighteen" and it was driving me mad. Why do I recognize that and where is it from? "It's Not Everyday Your Young Man Turns Eighteen."

At 3 a.m. "Its Not Everyday Your Young Man Turns Eleven" popped out of my brain. This is a quote by Hagrid to Harry in the first Harry Potter film.

And two sets of 60 something grandparents sat around the dinner table wondering where the last seven, no make that eighteen, years went.

Nick is a very lucky young man; all his grandparents are still here and still healthy. Hopefully we will all be around for many years to come. 

Time is fleeting that's for sure. I'm just starting to think about the time I will never get back. I think that is perfectly normal for someone my age. I hope this commitment to the blog offers me some satisfaction when it's time to stand in the check out line.

Nicks other grandparents were booked on their first cruise last year.

Wanda and I love the cruise experience so we were happy about it. They were going to cruise Alaska. At the very least everyone should see the inside passage and the ports cruise ships call on. And don't wait until you're old to see it. 

It's majestic and beautiful. It's awe inspiring. There is nothing like standing on the bow of a ship while the sunlight fades at 3 a.m. and the sky lights up ninety minutes later. 

I think everyone should have this sight and feeling in their memory.

I was hoping they would enjoy the cruise and want to do it again. I've longed for a "family cruise" and their participation would make it so much better.

Then the Carnival Triumph lost power and floated off the Mexican coast for several days. While this was a very isolated case and blown somewhat out of proportion they canceled their upcoming Carnival cruise to Alaska.

I can certainly understand a cruise virgin feeling that way. We just had a friend tell us they had rough Atlantic seas sailing a round trip New York to Bermuda. He was fine but many people got seasick. He saw some people taking luggage off the ship once they were in port. They were going to fly home. 

Our cruise last month felt like we sailing on glass but you're on a ship on an ocean, it can get rough. Of all our sailings we have never experienced anything that had me running to a toilet, not even crossing the Atlantic.

But I understand the uncertainty of trying a new experience.

Eight hours ago a woman in her mid 50's jumped off the Grand Princess. This is the ship we just sailed. The Grand left San Francisco last Saturday and was about 650 miles northeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Camera's caught her climbing the railing and leaping into the Pacific. The ship tuned around and began a search, she is now presumed dead.

With the increase in cruise popularity there seems to be an increase of "death by jumping." On average twenty people a year jump or fall. Alcohol, outdoor sex (on the balcony railing...and isn't that a pretty picture) and depression account for most of them.

Wanda told me about the jumper this morning. She said it had been confirmed, she jumped. And the ship is (was) looking for her. This from MSN news: It's confirmed, a 54-year-old woman jumped off the Grand Princess.

I may come off as terrible person here and maybe I should keep this to my self but can't help it. While I do think it's sad, it angers me that someone would do that with over 2,000 people on a cruise ship. She has taken her life and left a memory for all those people.

"Why are we sailing in circles?"

They now have a memory they don't need. I think it is the act of a desperate, selfish person who in death needed recognition.

But, that's just me.

It's not every day your young man turns eighteen.

I really feel like the older (oldest) generation now. I hope we take that cruise soon.

According to an article on Monster.com there are workplace conversations that should never take place via email or text

Offering Kudos and Criticisms
Pointing Out Problems
Announcing Personnel Changes
Asking For a Raise or Promotion
Discussing a Complex or Contentious Topic
Discussing Your Attraction to Barnyard Animals
Revealing Your Avocation is Patrolling the Neighborhood Dressed as Batman
Announcing You Have Changed Your Name from Sam to Sonya and Will Now Use the Ladies Room
Asking For the Day off to attend a Miley Cyrus Concert
Offering Up Details of Your Recent Date with the Bosses Daughter
You Follow Kayapataka Swami and Krishna Consciousness
Your Home Grown Weed and Brewed Beer is For Sale
You Have an Extensive Pez Collection
Over the Weekend You Watched Fourteen Hours of Stallone Movies.
After Thirty Years of Trying You Finally Solved Your Rubik's Cube

Often times the She said He heard segments make no sense phonetically. I just write them as I heard them.

While discussing a new Janet Evanovich book title:

She said, "Take Down Twenty"
He heard, Cake Town Honey

While Talking about new construction near her office:

She said, "They were laying tar and the whole building was shaking"
He heard, They were playing guitar and the whole building was shaking

While watching a toothpaste commercial

He heard, Urine Namel
She told him it was "Your Enamel"

Back with more Monday.