Sea Days are What you Make of Them.

Day 2 was such a wonderful day as we continue to acclimate to a new normal. I started my day at 5:30 as I normally do. Since my 20's I became a morning person. I think best, dream best, plan best in the morning. I don't pray well in the mornings because my mind is too active. Perhaps I should pray in the morning to slow it down, but that's what evenings are for. As I quiet my mind and get ready for bed, I recount the day and do a "file/save" in my mind of the best parts. I think that's why I'm enjoying this blog so much.

I made it to the gym by about 5:50 and did exactly 1 hr on the elliptical at a resistance of 13. I logged 5.13 miles. Not bad considering my exercise prior to the cruise had really tailed off due to winter in GA. "Winter in GA?", you might quip. Well, if you're reading this from anywhere north of the Mason Dickson line, you're snickering and rightfully so. But in my defense, the body does get used to certain kinds of weather. For me, I have an easy definition of the weather..... if the temperature is below my age, it's too cold. And it was in GA before we left.

I returned to the room for a quick change and to grab my Yeti thermos and my computer and headed up to the Lido deck for a light breakfast. Sea Days are light breakfast days, yogurt, fruit and alike. The treat for the morning was 5+ cups of decaf cappuccino in my thermos to start the day. It took the barista about 10 minutes to brew it, but it was worth it.

Then I found a great quiet spot with a chaise facing the ocean and an outlet to start my work day, 8-12. In my first meeting, I reconnected with a co-worker I hadn't actually worked with in a while and I shared where I was working from. She thought she might have a friend on the same cruise and confirmed it during our meeting. How amazing is that? I look forward to meeting her at some point during the cruise.

After work, we had a light lunch and then I went to the casino for a few hours while my wife attended a seminar. A modest win for the first day in the casino a good sign. I haven't recouped the cost of the cruise......yet ;-)

Then I took my first shower on this cruise. I'll provide more information about our accommodations in a future post, but suffice it to say, the shower is so small ("How small is it"?) it would have been easier to cover the shower walls with soap and just spin around. Later that afternoon, we had complimentary mini facials. Don't judge. We both look 10 years younger.....without our glasses on.

It was our first of many formal nights on the boat, so we prepared for that. There will be about 2 per week, or so I hear. Dinner was filet for my wife, and salmon/shrimp for me, which I placed on a salad. That's my go-to meal and I never tire of it. But the food critic in me will venture out next week. So far, dinner has been a 2hr event, good wine and good company so it's really a wonderful way to transition into the evening activities. We then spent the hour after dinner and before the late show in one of the many music venues on the boat. We're both fans of James Taylor type music and we found a spot with a musician who will be on the boat every night for the entire cruise. He was such an easy-going chap with a kind face and interesting banter between songs. Though he looked in his mid 60's, I'm guessing he is younger. Playing the cruise circuit might sound glamorous, but I think it can be a hard life. I'm not sure why but I found myself wondering about his story as he played a little Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and similar artists. I'm hopeful I get to meet him around the ship and hear how life lead him here. We then went to the late show and I'm hesitant to admit I fell asleep. It's not a judgement of the show, just hit a lull. My wife liked it. I'll do better next time!