I'm back!

[Ysabel Kid]

Not that I was missed, with my recent run of infrequent posting!

Before my recent flare-up of the back and surgery, my wife and I had planned to take our kids on a cruise to the southern Caribbean. Someplace she always wanted to go. We've been to the eastern and western Caribbean islands on cruises, and always enjoyed ourselves. Her more than me. She's a nut for beaches and all that. To me a beach is a beach is a beach. However, happy wife = happy life, and this was over our 28th wedding anniversary, we stopped where we honeymooned all those years ago (Grand Cayman on our way to Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire), and bluntly, I needed the relaxation after the back surgery. My doctor said we could go if my son carted all the luggage (only fair since Y2K rivals my wife in packing so much), I behaved and did not do any BLT's (bending, lifting or twisting). I did; I spend much of the time reading old J.T. Edson books (now on Kindle), and drinking umbrella drinks. My back bothered me (the bed wasn't great), but only flared up once (after Y2K and I had to rescue a snorkeler during one of our excursions when he bumped into fire coral and freaked out).

Actually, all the stops were great. Unfortunately, I caught a sinus infection the last day, but at least it waited until we were almost done!

Now I just have to dig out from hundreds of e-mails...

Anyway, I'm happy to be home - in my home and here...

[Blaine]

It's good that you're on the road to recovery. Happy times with family and Umbrella Drinks.

[OldWin]

Glad you're back safe and had a good time, YK.
Sounds relaxing. Probably could have set up a nice range on those beaches.......everybody wins.

[Sixgun]

Well, Kid....
You look like your good-to-go and all relaxed....so.....break out the shootin' irons.-----6

[3leggedturtle]

What's the best and worst thing about a cruise? Glad you got some rest, having a hurting backs sucks more than I can explain. Todd3/leg

[gamekeeper]

I wondered where you'd been......

[AJMD429]

I wondered where you'd been......

.........what was your name again....?????......

Glad you're back.

The physician in our group who just passed away had done really well after difficult back surgery, then a simple slip-and-fall and he evidently hit his head and got an asymptomatic bleed (made worse because he was doing like everyone says to, and avoiding 'those evil narcotics' and taking Advil instead....Advil thins the blood). So BE CAREFUL, and don't substitute politically-correct stuff for REAL medicine when you need it.

[RIHMFIRE]

Umbrella drinks!...really....a levergunner drinking fruity umbrella drinks.....C'mon man!!!
Can you say Captain Morgan? after all....you were on a big boat!
Well...... I hope you had a great time!.....and are feeling better......

What cruise line did you go on? RC? and what ship?
We did the East C and West C also...Hope to do the southern C soon...
I used to go to Aruba windsurfing years ago....when nobody lived there!

[Ysabel Kid]

What's the best and worst thing about a cruise? Glad you got some rest, having a hurting backs sucks more than I can explain. Todd3/leg

Best thing was just spending quality time with my wife and kids - without electronic devices. Hard to come by anymore. We normally don't take a big trip like a cruise every year, but with Y2K wrapping up his first year at college, we figured he may be working an internship next summer, so might as well go now. Plus my wife found the last cruise of the season to the ABC islands, and at a good deal.

The first couple days I was a bit concerned. They booked us for the late dinner, which is too late for all of us, and couldn't move us. Our waiter then as a dead fish if ever there was one. Food was not as good as the last cruise either. However, we ended up with an earlier dinner time, really enjoyed talking with the foursome at the table next to us, and the entire wait-team was fantastic!

We really enjoyed all the excursions, and the ABC islands we great, every one of them. Family, and those = best things.

My general dislike of people, especially in crowds, worsened over the trip. I saw so many times people abusing the hard-working crew, being rude, disrespectful to them and other guests, and generally being obnoxious that it sickened me. I thought for sure I'd get into a fight before the cruise ended, because I just started standing up for the crew and calling people out for their behavior.

At the breakfast buffet one morning I spilled something on the counter, and got a napkin to clean it up. A pretty, young Asian girl rushed over and stated "I will take care of that", smiling all the time. I replied, "I made the mess; I'll clean it up. Besides, if I didn't clean up after myself at home, my wife would blister my hide." She understood, and it was everything she could do to not break out in open laughter.

So, the worst thing was the other guests...

[Ysabel Kid]

I wondered where you'd been......

.........what was your name again....?????......

Glad you're back.

The physician in our group who just passed away had done really well after difficult back surgery, then a simple slip-and-fall and he evidently hit his head and got an asymptomatic bleed (made worse because he was doing like everyone says to, and avoiding 'those evil narcotics' and taking Advil instead....Advil thins the blood). So BE CAREFUL, and don't substitute politically-correct stuff for REAL medicine when you need it.

I'm not supposed to take ibuprophen at all for three months. Supposedly inhibits bone repair? Anyway, I am off the hard stuff and have been for a month now. I am taking acetaminophen when needed. Right now I'm back on prescription cough syrup though - so I guess I am back on the REAL medicine!

[Ysabel Kid]

Umbrella drinks!...really....a levergunner drinking fruity umbrella drinks.....C'mon man!!!
Can you say Captain Morgan? after all....you were on a big boat!
Well...... I hope you had a great time!.....and are feeling better......

What cruise line did you go on? RC? and what ship?
We did the East C and West C also...Hope to do the southern C soon...
I used to go to Aruba windsurfing years ago....when nobody lived there!

Well, when in Rome...

Actually, I wanted umbrella drinks because I wanted the coldest drinks offered. Dang is it hot down there!

We were on Celebrity's "Equinox". All in all, they do a great job. Our previous trips in the Caribbean were on Carnival ships, but we switched to Celebrity several years back. Better food; quieter ships and generally nicer cruisers, though this one, as noted above, did have more than its fair share of rump-heads...

Aruba and Curacao are pretty build up now. Bonaire is still pretty small, and the Dutch are trying to keep it that way!

[2ndovc]

Sounds like you had a great time! Glad to see you're back, seems like most of the "Chosen Ones" have abandoned us for other interests.

jb

[Bill in Oregon]

Friend, a Caribbean cruise with plenty of umbrella drinks sounds like just the ticket for a back surgery patient. I am almost 8 weeks out from my laminectomy, and instead of a relaxing cruise and a chance to heal, my sweet bride took a notion that we need to move back to the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon. So instead of sitting in the recliner with the puppy and a good book and asking for another martini, I am feverishly cleaning and repairing the house, mowing and weed=whacking, blowing off the roof, pressure washing, decluttering, packing etc. so we can rush our house into the market. I am in as much pain as I have been since the surgery this evening, gobbling aspirin, worrying about the cedar deck that needs painting and thinking that if you go on another cruise, can I come too, PLEASE?

[Griff]

Welcome HOME! Didn't know you were gone! Glad to hear you're up and mobile!

[Ysabel Kid]

Well, Kid....
You look like your good-to-go and all relaxed....so.....break out the shootin' irons.-----6

Got to the range for a quick session over lunch today. First time I've shot anything since mid-March. Started small, wanting to see if it hurt my back at all (over my new baseline amount of daily pain), and how bad my accuracy suffered from the forced hiatus. Shot a FM "Detective" - basically a "commander-length" Browning Hi-Power clone from Argentina. Being a 9mm, it didn't cause me any problem whatsoever! Further, I shot the same score (248/250 or 99.2%) against a FBI silhouette target with the "routine" I do (varied distances, holds, positions).

So far, so good!

[Ysabel Kid]

Friend, a Caribbean cruise with plenty of umbrella drinks sounds like just the ticket for a back surgery patient. I am almost 8 weeks out from my laminectomy, and instead of a relaxing cruise and a chance to heal, my sweet bride took a notion that we need to move back to the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon. So instead of sitting in the recliner with the puppy and a good book and asking for another martini, I am feverishly cleaning and repairing the house, mowing and weed=whacking, blowing off the roof, pressure washing, decluttering, packing etc. so we can rush our house into the market. I am in as much pain as I have been since the surgery this evening, gobbling aspirin, worrying about the cedar deck that needs painting and thinking that if you go on another cruise, can I come too, PLEASE?

Bill, I bet you pack better than my wife and son, so I'll see about bringing you along the next time!

I can't believe you are doing all those things already. I'm only allowed to walk. Granted, the couple weeks before the vacation, and so far this week, I'm doing 20,000+ steps a day - but that is it. No other workout permitted by my doctor until after I meet with him on 6/20 - and absolutely no "BLT's". Don't push it my friend - you know how much agony awaits you if you do...

[Ysabel Kid]

Sounds like you had a great time! Glad to see you're back, seems like most of the "Chosen Ones" have abandoned us for other interests.

jb

I'm afraid to ask what I was "chosen" for?!?

[2ndovc]

I was thinking about the other Green Lable guys. They don't seen to show much interest around here lately.

Just an observation.

jb

[AJMD429]

Glad to see the interesting political food for thought you post, too.....

Gets too boring around here with everyone always wanting to talk about guns all the time.....

What do they think this, a lever-gun hobbyist site...?

[Sixgun]

Gets too boring around here

I hear ya Doc...seems most guys are more interested in what kind of socks they wear to the convenience store. Exciting!----6