I changed my mind. I'm not a fan of silly pranks.
Many jokes of the day humiliate or upset people and I don't think that's nice. But, who am I to spoil your fun. If you enjoy telling white lies have at it. I did a little research on the origins of today and for each explanation I found another debunked it.
This is my favorite origin (maybe) for April Fool's Day.
April Fools' Day began when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, which moved the New Year from around April 1 to Jan 1. The story goes that people made fun of those that stuck with the old calendar.
They replaced a calendar named for a cut of vegetable with one named for a chant.
I can see how people celebrating the New Year three months late deserved to be made fun of. Wearing silly hats, blowing horns and banging pots and pans is bad enough on the correct night. Income tax time must have been confusing.
Sailing out of San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge never gets old.
Wanda and I were so fortunate our weather during the cruise was beautiful. The day we left it was 70 degrees and sunny. Older Daughter Jennifer drove us into the city. It's about a fifty minute drive from the house to the ship.
When we did this last October the Bay Area Rapid Transit System workers were out on strike. The roads were very crowded. The drive that day took us a couple of hours. This trip I suggested a short cut, a different route through San Francisco would be faster. One hour after discovering our day of departure was also the day of the San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade I forgot. My suggested short cut put us right in the middle of the parade traffic, and it wasn't moving.
It took us just over an hour to travel five blocks east and five blocks west (which got us back to our starting point). Eventually Jenn drove us out of the mess. We made it to the ship at Pier 35 around 1 p.m. At that point we had been on the road for a few hours and Jennifer said, "I have to pee like a race horse." There is a bathroom just inside the pier entrance but there's no place to park anywhere around the passenger drop off area.
Wanda told Jennifer to pull over and while we very slowly removed our luggage she could "run (like a racehorse) to the ladies room." We took as much time as possible and no Jennifer. Eventually a cop told us to back up so a bus could enter a driveway. Wanda (who knows how to drive a standard shift) jumped into the driver's seat, started the car and couldn't find reverse. She spent the next agonizing minutes grinding gears and yelling, "I can't find reverse. Where is reverse? And how do you back this f'ing thing up?"
The police officer wearing a good natured smile relived her of the burden by saying, "Just pull it forward and park over there," as he pointed to a spot on the other side of the bus driveway. Wanda moved the car, the bus made the turn and Jennifer returned with an empty bladder. We said our good-byes, went through check-in and were on board and in our cabin ten minutes later.
This was the only photo I took of the cabin. Wanda likes it because you can't see her face. I like it because you can't see my head.
I don't care what she says, I think she's cute.
We had a great week on Grand Princess. It was the same cruise we took last October with a slightly varied port order. Knowing we had 'been there-done that' this trip was more relaxing. We read several books, saw a few movies on the large outdoor screen at the pool and took more naps. As I said the weather was beautiful and even out at sea we dressed in sweatshirts, grabbed a few blankets some fresh popcorn and hunkered down for "Captain Phillips," "Gravity" and "The Desolation of Smaug" (the second Hobbit movie).
Wanda and I also braved the indoor swimming pool and for the first time since our first cruise remembered, and actually went to afternoon tea. Princess has the best cookies, cakes and scones with their tea service from 3:30 to 4:30 every afternoon.
I used to wonder why our friends Pat and Marilyn never did much on their cruise, now I know. Eventually excitement and exhilaration is replaced by a familiar comfort. It's the opportunity to spend a week together with none of the distractions of every day life, which is, I think, the best part of a cruise vacation.
I just took advantage of a break in the weather to take out the trash totes. It's been raining all morning. As a matter of fact the area has received some much needed rain over the last week. The news reports: Yes, we have rain but it's only a drop in the bucket....negative Nellie's. Whatever the amount, it helps.
I digress.
Somewhere along my short garbage trip I lost my entire chain of thought.
So for now that's the blog entry for today. I hope to be back to full speed (I'm currently at 70%) by next week. I'll be back tomorrow with more.
1 comment:
Did the first make it? If not glad you're getting better!!! Noj
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