Comments, Please

1/25/26

The day started out as many do now, with an exercise class, which I’m thoroughly enjoying.  I was today years old when I learned the benefits of Yoga and Pilates.  I may have to break down and join a gym when we get home.  I guess I have time to consider it as we still have about 110 days of this cruise.

After yoga, I went to the fitness center for 30 minutes to get in some treadmill time before Sunday Church Service (more on that in a minute).  I didn’t have my tablet with me so wasn’t thrilled to exercise without it, but for 30 minutes, I could hunker down and get through it.  But luckily for me, I didn’t have to.  As providence stepped in and I selected the treadmill next to David, originally from South Africa, and now a pharmaceutical scientist living in N. Cal.  A self-described introvert, he recognized me from my blog and engaged in conversation immediately.  No shirt needed, though I was wearing one with a clever saying.

He had a few questions about my blog and specifically how to comment on the posts.  I use the Wix App and as the blog owner, I don’t see what y’all see.  So despite being at a high point in his interval training on the treadmill, he navigated to my blog and showed me his view.  While not dramatically different, it was good to see what y’all see.  I scanned the options and found out you can comment, which is displayed below.  On my 2023 blog, I received lots of comments, mostly positive, and “likes”, but for 2026, only 1 comment so far.  So this was actually a good exercise for me to undertake and understand how the interface works.  To the left of the yellow arrow shows a rating option. Once you select that field, it takes you to the lower screenshot.

Here you can fill in your name, or not, and your email, or not, and then provide a rating by clicking the highest star you want to rate it. Write a comment and then select "Publish".

So now that you know how to add comments and stars, please provide feedback, suggestions, and the like.  David helped make my time on the treadmill pass in a flash!!!  Thank you, David!!!   And thanks for allowing me to give my latest blog 5 stars under your username.

And then I was off to Sunday morning services.  It was pretty well attended and very casual, though some dressed up.  It’s quite the departure from a traditional service, regardless of your denomination.  No bible readings, no choir, and no confessions.  But we sang some familiar songs, said the Lord’s Prayer and a gentlemen cobbled together a sermon.   As Scott, Anita, Sherri and I discussed the sermon afterwards, I mentioned that I always have a sermon prepared on my phone and so we discussed that as well.

Much like the leader today, years ago I was asked to provide a sermon with about 30-minute prep time while on a mission trip in Ecuador; this meant I also needed to translate it into Spanish, while on a bumpy bus ride into the amazon jungle.  Yup, ideal conditions to prepare for a great (?) and inspirational (?) sermon.....in my mind if no one else's. Thankfully, it turned out OK and I keep it with me at all times just for this scenario.  In case you’re interested, I’ve added it below, but PLEASE don’t take it as preaching or proselytizing.  That’s not the purpose of this blog, so it’s just inserted as a point of interest.

So many things in life are cyclical, the economy, relationships sometimes, fashion trends etc.  For some reason, things seem to come back to the beginning again to be repeated, hopefully better each time we make a revolution.  Experiences are the same way.  There’s an acronym I coined but it’s probably a twist on someone else’s idea or concept, EPAAE. Experience, Perspective, Attitude, Action, Experience.  It’s short for Experiences form our Perspectives, our Perspectives inform our Attitudes, our Attitudes drive our Actions, and our Actions lead to new Experiences.  There are some people stuck in bad cycles, bad experiences, bad perspective, bad attitudes, bad actions and then more bad experiences.  How can one change that cycle.  The question becomes, if we want to become more Christ-like, where do we insert the cross in this cycle to create the best outcome?  The natural answer would be to say in between each letter or possibly in the center of the cycle; but that’s the easy answer and the hardest to apply because we’re human.  If we’re going to focus our Christian lens in one place, where should it be, E-P, P-A, A-A or A-E.  I think a lot of people, especially very action-oriented people would say A-A, right before they act, consult with G-D, and that’s a fine answer, there’s no right or wrong.  But for me, those people can come across disingenuous because their actions are inconsistent with their attitude.   I think a lot of people do that and we can usually tell when someone is being insincere.   I think the most effective place is between E-P.  I want my Christian lens to inform my perspective.  I don’t want to have contempt in my heart but still behave properly.  I want a pure heart that comes from a perspective as close to Christ’s perspective as possible. Then the attitude, actions and new experiences will naturally follow and create a positive cycle.

After church, I ran up to the pickleball court and played 3 games with all new folks I hadn’t met before.  They’re not Jason, but they’ll do 😉.   After that, I headed down to the international café for a new treat at Anita’s recommendation…..a pistachio croissant.  Damn, that was good.  Add that to the list of sinful pleasures. (see, I can be a heathen too 😉). 

By this time, the first of the two playoff football games were on the big screen on the lido deck (also called Movie Under the Stars screen).  It’s one of my favorite things to do on board is to watch these big games with a crowd of fans (for both teams) on a comfy chaise, sunny warm weather, and food and bar service.  I arrived at the beginning of the second half and it looked cold there.  Shortly thereafter, it started to snow and by the end of the game, it was a completely different game.  The Broncos had the opportunity to completely alter the outcome but for 2 failed field goal attempts.  That will haunt that young man for the rest of his career.  But you can never count the Patriots out, regardless.  If you remember the 2017 Superbowl between our Atlanta Falcons and the NE Patriots, that was painful for us.  In Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime, marking the largest comeback in Super Bowl history:

Game Overview

Date: February 5, 2017

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Final Score: New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT)

Key Highlights

The game featured a historic comeback by the Patriots, who were down 28-3 in the third quarter. They scored 25 unanswered points to tie the game at 28-28, forcing the first overtime in Super Bowl history.

So needless to say, I wanted the Broncos to win.  Not a good rationale but that’s the candid truth. The game ended just in time to play cards with Scott and Anita in the Horizon Food Court.  Ginny and Greg were getting a bite to eat about the same time and joined us for fun conversation and even showed us a new card game we’ll likely integrate into our repertoire of card games.

Notice the big plate of ribs on the left. About 3:30, Scott and I went to catch the rest of the NFC Championship where the Seahawks won and it seemed like there were fewer Seahawk fans than LA Rams.  So it will be interesting in two weeks for the Superbowl, who has the most fans onboard.  It may be an east coast/west coast thing.  Either way, it will be a BIG deal on board with the Lido Deck full of food, drink and fun with the game on the big screen.  There hasn’t been a big problem with people saving chaises, but there will be that day for sure.

We left about 4ish to get ready for dinner at the Crown.  Scott and I planned it months ago, along with 16 other specialty dinners throughout the cruise.  We actually have 10 more beyond that we’re saving for impromptu dinners.  Gotta love the package.  We were seated by a window as usual, which I love.  I never miss an opportunity to see a sunset.  Scott and I split a special 36oz cowboy cut steak.  Sherri got Lamb Chops and Anita got the sea bass.  Everyone enjoyed their meal, but next time, I think I’ll try the 16oz ribeye.  But I will admit, being served the cowboy cut was an OMG moment.  Along with the sides of creamed spinach, asparagus, and truffle fries, I was full.  They do a great job of ensuring our wine glasses never run dry (hiccup). 

It was a great dinner and just like that, we were off to the show in the universe lounge where we saw a different show by the acrobat couple from a few nights ago.  This show was less about physical capabilities and more about finesse with some magic peppered in for good measure.  It was definitely worthwhile.  On a side note, as free-wheeling as I am combining foods that aren’t necessarily meant to go together, I’m historically more of a purest when it comes to alcohol.  But not tonight.  I ordered an after-dinner drink called Disaronno, which is an orange/almond liquor.  I somehow got rum, so instead of wasting it, I asked for a Cointreau and mixed it together.  It was pretty awesome.  I might have invented a new drink.

We left in time to make the 9pm show which was a singer of Whitney Houston and Diana Ross songs, but we saw her show a few nights earlier and it was GREAT, but I just didn’t think I’d stay awake for it all, so back to our stateroom we went where I fell asleep promptly.  The Rum and Cointreau may have had something to do with it. 

Thanks for reading today’s blog and I encourage you to comment if you feel comfortable doing so.  Let me know what you’d like to know about World Cruises or the process of booking, packing, preparing or enjoying such an adventure.  Thanks!!!!