Nassau or Bust

Thursday was supposed to have been our port day in Nassau, Bahamas. The cosmos had other plans I guess. Not that we were as shaken up over it as the poor Bride to be scheduled to married at 1pm somewhere on the island.

The captain announced Weds night that due to some mixup or other circumstances there was no longer a berth available for the ship to dock in Nassau for the day. The backup plan was we would dock from 6 to midnight. Honestly neither option really thrilled me, we planned on pretending it was a sea day and we were just going to stay on the ship anyway.

We had a fabulous day hanging out with our friends in the morning and then some new friends we met at the Muster Drill in the afternoon. I love meeting new people on board and if they happen to be other homos all the better.

So as we were getting ready to head out for our Elite member free cocktail 2 hours in the Sky Lounge the captain made the announcement that due to the weather the ships already docked in Nassau were unable to leave, which meant we were unable to dock, that there was going to be yet another change if plans.

We were unaware until this point that the CEO of Celebrity happened to be onboard the ship. We knew there was a large Sales contingency on board for a Sales Conference/Awards banquet. So the captain says as a gesture of good faith the CEO was opening all bars with a special menu for all guests free of charge from 5-6pm. In all of the 13 cruises we have ever been on this was a first. So I immediately picked up the phone and called Walt and Ken and we arranged to meet at what I thought would be the least busy bar. We got there and were shocked if was 5 people deep. I’ve never seen that many people at The Passport Bar on deck 3.

We quickly changed plans and scurried off to the Casino bar which was surprisingly less crowded. We ordered our drinks and grabbed some chairs from the slot machines since the casino itself was closed and settled in for the hour which turned into an hour and a half after the captain extended the open bar. Shortly after we sat down our new friends Greg, Bart, and Roger along with his dad Bob joined our little soirée.

After drinks we sent The Boys to dinner and we headed back to the room for our ties and jackets to get some pictures taken. We still had a bit of time to kill before our scheduled 8:30 dinner in the dining room.

 

This is the first time I can say I was really disappointed in the table we ended up at for dinner. We always request to be seated at a large table, we like to meet people. Only twice in our 13 cruises have we ever been at a table with people we just had no connection with. The first was our transatlantic but we ended up meeting others and moving to their table. The other was a 4 top in the middle of the dining room with a straight couple that just didn’t work although we stuck it out.

This cruise we were seated at a 2 top. Now I know so e people would like that but we spend 24 hours together what is there to talk about at dinner with just us. If we were going to be there for more than 2 nights I would have requested a table change. I was hoping the 4 top next to us would be full but the couple that say down didn’t even glance our way.

I will say I loved my dinner though!

Tournedos of Beef with the morel mushroom sauce

 

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

We made the best of it and had a delicious meal and an Anniversary cake the hubby ordered unbeknownst to me.

After dinner we met up with Walt and Ken and hit the casino where I promptly spent 20 minutes on a penny slot and lost $20.

Me and Walt

The hubby modeling the latest in Ship Curtains

I slept well that night.

Qsine

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I wholeheartedly believe this to be true. This post will elicit many words with just pictures and will tell the story of our first nights dinner onboard the Celebrity Reflection.

Our friends Walt and Ken insisted we join them for dinner at one of the newest specialty restaurants Celebrity has put into the fleet. Qsine is a place unlike any other. The menus are iPads. The elegance and presentation are unparalleled. I present dinner  as it was presented to us by Patrick the former Chippendale.

Miami Miami, ain’t we got style

There always has to be something that goes not quite as planed. This trip it happened to be the flight to Miami. Our 4pm flight sat in the taxi line for about 40 minutes which made our flight land about an hour late.

Once we collected our baggage and the shuttle driver found us on the curb we finally made it to the hotel at about 9pm. One would think the woman at the hotel checking people in would have some idea of the surrounding area to answer guests questions. I guess I was wrong.

It took us about 20 minutes worth of walking around and visiting 4 restaurants to finally find one that was open at 9:30 on a Tuesday night. We always try to eat local when visiting places and we stumbled upon a gem.

El Tropico was wonderful. We knew we were in an authentic Cuban restaurant when we couldn’t understand anyone speaking around us. The hubby ordered the special Fried Beef with rice and beans and sweet plantains. I ordered the Fried Pork with rice and beans and Tostones. We each also ordered a Tamal. I had 2 delicious margaritas and he had 2 El Presidente beers.

This morning went much smoother than yesterday. We ended up back at El Tropico for breakfast. The hubby had the meat plate and I had the Chorizo omelet each with 2 Cuban coffees.

After breakfast we called a cab and headed to the cruise port to meet up with our friends who we are cruising with, we had some laughs while we waited for them to let us on.

We boarded the cruise ship by 11:30 and had champagne and wandered the ship to see everything we could.

After lunch we wandered some more and then settled in at the Sunset Bar for drinks before the muster drill.

At the drill we met these 2 funny homos when I butted into their conversation about the ship.

A quick stop back to the room to freshen up after the muster drill then it was up to the top deck for sail away.

Now we sit and drink in our friends cabin and wait for our 8:30 dinner reservation.

So far our only mishap was forgetting to pack the dress belts to wear for dinner. So it will be off to the shops on board to buy one so my pants that happen to be a size too big now since the weight loss, don’t fall down.

We moved on to the Molecular bar for a drink after enjoying some quiet time in the cabin. The hubby ordered the 20yr Martini and I had the most fabulous Mojito ever. The cool thing about the molecular bar is all if the fancy foams and liquid nitrogen they use in the drinks.

That pretty much sums up day one. Look for a separate post all about dinner at Qsine and other recapping the rest of our trip.

Which tie?

Packing for our cruise. Need 2 shirts plus the plain white now to decide on which tie to wear.

Leave your choice on the comments.

Counting down

So the long holiday weekend has come and gone. It was enjoyable and busy all at the same time.

We have finally accomplished 95% of the painting, the last room was the Kitchen which we tackled this past weekend. The walls on Saturday the ceiling on Sunday. This was one of the easier rooms since we just put on a coat of a very similar color, called Sweet Tomato, to the color that was on there.

We did manage to have some fun this weekend too. Friday the hubby and I went out to lunch, then we had dinner with the ex work wife. Saturday was our usual errands and haircuts. Sunday we were men on a mission, seems like we ran all over town on the hunt for some new curtains for 3 of the rooms.

After 5 stores an very few options, either due to not liking the pattern, not the style we want, or them being too expensive ($40 for a single panel)? The winner was JC Penny. They had the style and colors that go with the rooms, and the best part is we were able to order enough for the 3 rooms, plus we got the Cyber Monday pricing, free shipping, and they were only $17 a panel. The 2nd best part was she said delivery in 7 days we got them in 3.

It’s been a hectic week at work for me covering for another team member. I am glad tomorrow is Friday and my covering comes to an end. Last night we went out with some friends to celebrate one of them turning 40. Small group of us for drinks and dinner. It was much needed for me the few drinks I had to wash away the day.

The best part of my week of covering coming to an end is that means her week(ish) of covering me is upon us.

That’s right in just 5 short days we take off on our little mini vacation. We will both work a half day Tuesday, hop a plane to Miami, spend the night there and hop the cruise ship for 3 nights on Weds. Granted 3 nights is nowhere near a long enough cruise but it will be a fun time regardless. I hope to post either a quick typed post or at least pictures as we sail away from Miami. There will definitely be a little recap once we are back.

Thanksgiving in pictures

Started with a Mimosa

The annual Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Of course there was wine.

and Deep Fried Pickly Goodness.

Can’t forget the deep Fried Turkey (of which just the carcass is left which will make a lovely soup).

And more wine.

Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Bars

They were Delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Gobble Gobble.

Feed me Seymour

If you couldn’t tell by the title, this is going to be a food heavy post. I’m sure you won’t complain too much, after all tis the season for Food with Thanksgiving quickly approaching.

Let’s start with Thursday night, a fellow tweeter was in the state not far from us for some training for work. Both his and our schedules allowed it so we decided to meet up for dinner. Sean is just as lovely in person as he is on twitter. After a couple days of research, the town he was in isn’t well known for their culinary selections, we decided on a place called Little Pub.

This was my second trip here, the first being a few months prior with some other friends, but it was the hubbies first time. I think He was as impressed as I was with the food and the ambiance of the place.

I started with the Huckleberry Lemonade which was served in a mason jar. Très Chic.

As an appetizer I ordered the Eggplant Frites. They were so addictive I ate the whole plate.

The only issue I had with them was the red sauce that came with them was cold.

No picture of the burger I had but this was my second drink

A Moscow Mule. I must say I didn’t know what to expect but thoroughly enjoyed it.

Friday night the hubby and I stayed in and I made some pretty good waffles but the chicken didn’t come out the way I was hoping.

Saturday we got up and put the first of 2 coats of paint on the walls in the bedroom, the second coat went on after we got back from running our usual errands. The color is called Barley, it’s almost a dulce de leche or caramel color. It looks really nice and covered the old Wilton Blue that was on the walls. The worst part was sleeping in the double bed in the spare room. Thankfully that was only one night.

After our busy day we met the couple that hosts Gayme Night at the park and ride  and carpooled it down to Queens to meet another couple (I know what you are thinking, 6 queens in Queens) for dinner at Chifa, a Peruvian Chinese restaurant. Sam who is one half of the couple that planned the night is Peruvian so we were taking his word on how good it was going to be.

We started with the Wantan Frita

This was half of my meal the Lomo Asado

Chinese BBQ style roasted pork

Along with the pork I ordered the Ceviche de Pescado

It was Fabulous and acidic the fish was delicious and full of onions and cilantro.

For the table we ordered this plate of Chicken Fried Rice unbelievably this entire plate of rice was only $4.95. We all had some and there was still enough to take home for leftovers.

Sunday was more housework, putting the bedroom back together and some yard work for the hubby. Some groceries for the week, a few things for the house, some stuff for Thanksgiving, which happens to be the biggest food day of the year.

We will have the usual, Deep Fried Turkey and Mac and Cheese, along with all the other sides and baked Turkey. We will also be doing Deep Fried Pickles again, they have been a big hit the last few years. I’ll report more on that later in the week.

Here’s hoping the rest of the work week, Tuesday and Wednesday are kind to everyone. I for one am hoping for a half day Wednesday, to make the long weekend even longer. I rather enjoy having the Friday after Turkey day off, but you won’t find me shopping that’s for sure.

So to all of my American readers I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyous Black Friday.

Blowing in the wind

Oh Sandy!

And no I don’t mean my doggie Sandy (isn’t she cute?), going to be 13 on Christmas day.

Sandy blew into town and thankfully blew out of town quickly and with minimal damage here. We had a few branches come down and some fence panels blow loose but that was the bulk of it. The Mothership surprised us all and closed the offices on Monday and Tuesday, but since I had a laptop I worked from home.  This made for a very weird week and month end. 2 days home 3 days in the office, then another storm forecast for the following week.

The Frankenstorm as they took to calling it was forecast for the Wednesday after Halloween, which had been canceled due to Sandy. What I thought was supposed to be Rain down near the office and a bit of snow at home was way off the mark. We had an offsite meeting Weds morning at a hotel that sits in front of our office. I thought nothing of it and walked over. During the meeting I could see out the window and watch the snowflakes start to fall.

I had a feeling panic would set in and I was right. Slowly but surely everyone in my dept trickled out of the office going home cause of the snow. Now we live in New England, snow is a natural occurrence in the winter (granted Nov is technically not winter) but honestly we all should know how to drive in it. Now I am usually one of the last to panic over some snow, but I was mad at myself for not believing the weather man and putting gloves and a snow brush in my car.

What I did have was my lunch bag and the Drum major Baton I used the last 3 years so I made do with what I had and cleaned off the car. My manager came over about 4:15 and told me to go home. I was 1 of 3 in my dept who hadn’t left yet. The drive home wasn’t terrible, I honestly think by waiting I avoided everyone else leaving early. Since drum corps was canceled (this makes 2 weeks in a row due to weather), the hubby and I hunkered in for the night.

It was good to finally see 2 crazy work weeks come to an end.

Yesterday we had lunch plans with our 2 favorite out of town friends. It has been a long time since we have seen them, we figure it was back in June for their wedding. We love meeting Walt and Ken for lunch at our favorite restaurant. We have such a good time with them. This time was no exception, they even managed to convince us to join them on a short 3 night cruise in 3 weeks. So the hubby and I thought it about while we ran our errands, came home and did some research and decided we were going.

Now 3 nights will not be nearly long enough, so we are still looking at planning another longer cruise for March or April. This would make 3 cruises in less than a year since I am still in the planning stages of the Drum Corps Cruise for next Sept for our Anniversary celebration.

So I guess we have much to look forward to between now and the end of the year. Thanksgiving, the Cruise, another Straight No Chaser concert, a Cabaret show, Christmas, and New Years. Whew I feel tired already.

Seasons Change

And with the changing of the seasons comes my twice yearly attack of the senses. This October was no different from the rest, fall allergies flared up right time, then somehow turned into Bronchitis. I am on the downward spiral of it thankfully.

So I guess it’s time to catch you up on the goings on here.

Mostly it’s been the weekends that have been chock full of friendly goodness. The first weekend of the month my friend Glenn and the Improv group he belongs to (which I  blogged about here) brought the show on the road for 2 night’s to Connecticut. So I did what I do best, rallied the troops and brought 7 of my good friends (and one friends daughter and mother) to the Saturday show.

It had to be one of the best show’s I have seen them do. The crowd was great the improv players were on the ball. A good time was had by all. They performed at the Carriage House Arts Center, which gets its name from the fact that it was at one time the carriage house for a Mansion that still stands on the grounds of Cranbury Park.

The following week I had the pleasure of attending a Benefit a good friend of mine was in charge of for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society local chapter called Rock for a Remedy.

The night consisted of 2 local bands who donated their time that night to perform to help raise money for Team Berlin and the Light the Night walk. It’s not too late to donate! The event was held at a great little restaurant in White Plains NY called Vintage Bar. Aside from the Hubby and I, there were some of our other friends who joined in the festivities. The place was super cute, the food was fabulous, the company was amazing and although I didn’t win any of the raffle prizes we still enjoyed ourselves.

This is our friend Mike, half of the couple who hosts the monthly Gayme Night we attend. Which we attended just 2 days after the other night out. Another fun night and another disturbing game of Cards Against Humanity was played.

Last Friday (seems like it was just yesterday) we got together with some other friends to go out and partake of a local restaurants Oktoberfest Menu. This is actually the same place we go to for our monthly Gay Social Night out on the first Monday of the Month. The new owners have been fabulous and the menu looked quite interesting when we first saw it.

Half of this couple is of German descent so it was going to go one of 2 ways, really well or really bad. Thankfully everything we ordered was delicious and our friend was surprised at how authentic it was.

This was my starter – Potato Pancakes with homemade applesauce and sour cream.

For dinner I ordered the Mixed Plate because I couldn’t decide what to have so I had a little of everything

Sauerbraten, Grilled Pork Chop, and a Wurst with Spaetzle and Red cabbage.

That brings us to the current week. Pretty uneventful so far. Looking forward to date night tonight with the hubby. Tomorrow night we have a halloween party at my uncle’s house and I guess some preparedness to do for Hurricane Sandy (not to be confused with our Greyhound Sandy). This is the 2nd year in a row Halloween weekend/week has been plagued by weather. Last year was the freak blizzard we got.

Now on to a more serious topic. This past monday was the annual Election of offices at Drum Corps. Surprisingly to me I was not elected to be Drum Major again this year, the members decided they wanted the old guy I took over from 3 years ago. So I stand at a crossroads both in life and with the blog.  I think I will be going back to playing the Bells for the corps again and making a difference in the music we play, my other option is to join the ranks of the retired and crazy and carry a flag.

So that just leaves the blog. Since I am no longer a drum major should I consider changing the name of the blog? If so I think I will need to create another blog with a different link through WordPress and import all of these posts (or not and just start fresh). So those of you who have been through this let me know your thoughts either via email or in the comments. And if you know me well enough (either through reading the blog or twitter) and have a recommendation on a new blog name let me know. I will consider most options.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming. I think I have avoided work for long enough this morning. As it is it took me an hour just to type this up since work kept getting in the way.

Sunrise Sunset

I wish I could say there have been some beautiful sunrises and sunsets but the weather has been rainy and foggy for days. It is supposed to break I think tomorrow but then I get my weather info by looking out the window.

When we last left I was waxing poetic about my ten year anniversary of my cancer surgery. So let’s get things back to an upbeat tempo.

Drum Corps marching season has come to a close, and rehearsal season is in full swing. On Sept 22 we had the honor of performing at the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall. It is a 3/4 replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC. We performed 4 songs prior to the opening ceremony for that Saturday. Some pictures below are ones I took of visiting the wall later in the day.

Later that evening we were invited to a friends house for what he has dubbed Septemberfest. We had fun just hanging out and eating and chatting around the bonfire. And of course silly pictures were forced to be taken.

Last weekend was the final performance for the drum corps for the 2012 season. We boarded a bus at 8am and drove 2 hours north to the Eastern States Exposition or The BIG E as it is referred to. This is an annual Fair that takes place for roughly 2 1/2 weeks in September. Each day is dedicated to a different state or group. The fairgrounds are permanent and the main strip contains replicas of the State Capital Buildings from the 6 States in New England. To give you a gauge of how popular the fair is Opening Day Sept 14 had 68,533 people in attendance, closing day Sept 30 had 77,705 people in attendance. The lowest attended day was Tuesday Sept 18 with 13,424, the Highest attended day was Sat Sept 22 with 164,281 people in attendance. The day we attended there were 101,477 people there.

Another must see item at the fair is the Butter Sculpture.

I managed to get a picture of the Marine Corps Band that was there the same day.

Aside from spending the day there eating and shopping for fabulous as seen on TV stuff, we were there to march in the 5pm Mardi Gras Parade. The crowd the entire parade route had to be 10-20 people deep for the entire 2 miles. It was a good way to end the season.

My Lunch was this fabulous dish. Pulled Pork Parfait. Baked Beans topped with Pulled Pork and BBQ Sauce.

After a couple months off we started back up with our Rotating Brunch get together. This time we made it a field trip to a local restaurant that does a pretty good Sunday Brunch. Aside from the never ending Bellinis I had the Frittata special. It had spinach and was topped with hot sopressata and cheese.

The socializing spilled into sunday night with a small get together at a friends house, then the Monday night Social group.

Last night was Drum Corps rehearsal and while the Fifes and Bells were outside during sectional rehearsal I snapped this pic from underneath the arbor listening to them. The streetlight and the fog make this whole picture.