Jan 26

Jan. 24: Since we are now writing the BLOG off line and cutting and pasting - works for the entries but not the pictures - we thought we could write a little more - that 50 cents a minutes was hampering us! Some of the things we couldn’t afford to tell you about are as follows. Our favorite bar is called the Chart Room where we go every afternoon to slurp beer. We were afraid we were going to have to change our favorite bar because some obnoxious woman sat with us one day and seemed to think we were her new best friends in the space of 10 minutes! Luckily she has found other new best friends! It is our favorite place in spite of the fact that a devotional bible study group meets in one corner during our drinking time. We’ve gotten more religious education during our beer time than we have had since Sunday school days! Also - many MANY people do this trip every year! Boggles the mind. We understand that the record is like 30 times! Yikes!! We are very happy to be doing this this year BUT once is enough! Included is a picture (though not a good one) of the Dive of the QE2 - she has 3 books about herself in the bookstore and does occasional book signings. I happened to catch her act - which was the grand finale of the passenger talent show - and she should have given up singing 20 years ago! But they allow her to warble on to her heart’s content on this ship! Ginnie missed the talent show - says she got to catch it next time. I was glad she wasn’t there because we would not have been able to not giggle out loud! Also included is a picture of the security that was all around the ship in LA where we participated in a Chinese fire drill forced by US Immigration! Everyone had to get off of the ship and do a custom’s declaration and show their passport. Then we were not allowed back on until everyone had gotten off. Thank heavens we did not get off until close to the end! We were not happy puppies but received an apology from the Captain this morning! People watching is still our favorite pastime - it certainly takes all kinds to make the world go round!

Jan 25: Internet was not working yesterday - hopefully, we will be able to get on line this morning. Last night Ginnie and I came back to the room to dress for dinner -AGAIN - and decided we had had it! So we ordered room service and had burgers and beer in our room and were VERY HAPPY!! We watched a movie on TV and then watched our two CSI episodes and went to bed! We think that may become a once a week respite from the formality of this place! Also included is a picture of Ginnie and I in Panama.