Sea Day Sound Off, May 17th

Sound Off – Sea Day May 17th, 2008

OK – since this is my space, I’m ranting here – of no big importance so consider you warned. If you do not want to hear me rant – please feel free to skip over this and my feelings will not be hurt.
So today was a sea day. The first of 2 – we should be getting into Acapulco on Monday, May 19th. Not a big shopping port as Pippa recommends waiting until Puerto Vallarta or Cabo for any jewelry. The mood I’m in right now – I am going to get myself something. So here it goes.
I went to bed early – by about midnight – I was exhausted. BTW, Capt Thord came on the speaker system and confirmed that the reason the cameras were down was because it is the PC policy that anytime any US (probably others too) subs come through that they black out the cameras. So those that guessed that reason – you were right. At 10 last night we were only about 492 miles from the equator. The closest “supposedly” the Magic’s ever been. We were proceeding at noon time today at about 18 knots and would be speeding up in the evening. It was also about 94 degrees at the time. Today has been hot and a bit cloudy. No more sun for me so I’m inside all day. So after a very eventful day, I went to bed. Of course, I kept waking up about every hour starting at 5 am. Finally got up at 9:15 and puttered around hoping that Steve would get up. No go so I went to Pippa’s shopping talk. Found out the best port for Tanzanite – the rich, dark color I want is Puerto Vallarta. I will remember the name of the recommended store it slips my mind at the time but it is not Tanzanite International.
So after the talk, I head down to the room to see if Steve is up. For some reason, I guess I was a bit snappy but I move forward a bit. He was, we went up looking for brunch. We settled on Lumiere’s. Let me stop here by saying something. I am, believe it or not really, really shy. I get very flustered when meeting strangers. And as it has happened, several times over the years when we go to sit down, we get some very mean people that either look at me funny or flat out have told us they wanted to be alone – and not in a nice way. I have no problem if you want to sit alone but tone of voice people – you can be nice about it. So whenever we are asked if we want to sit alone I will always go for yes. The last couple of times, Steve has rolled his eyes and so I have opted to take a chance. Today, they sat us at a table of 8. So as we are sitting down, I jokingly said, well folks, we’ll be sitting down with you. I thought you could tell I was joking as there was either a family of four or an older couple and 2 younger men. As I sat down, I left one chair open between the lady and I. Well as I’m adjusting my chair, she turns her body a bit and moves her shoulder in. A couple of seconds later, the conversation tone at the table turns down. I tried to say something but the body posture was not open to starting a conversation. I tried to talk to Steve but he is not a big conversation person, hence the need to sit with other people for sanity’s sake. I lasted about 13 minutes (I timed it) couldn’t take it and fakes a seasick as I was facing a window on the starboard side in Lumiere’s. We got moved and I excused myself from the table on the pretense that I was getting sick. The other people barely turned when I mumbled the excuse. They hardly broke conversation. So I did not feel bad.
After getting to our table which was next to that one but facing a different way, we went through the prerequisite silence. Then Steve asked if I was feeling better. I replied that I was never sick just that I felt uncomfortable. His reply? Well, it looked to me like you didn’t make effort to make conversation to me. You never do. (Aside here – his mom has accused me of being Anti-social in the past – I’m not bt they look upon me as if I am and have never, ever updated their opinion of me. Just because I chose to not hide my feelings, doesn’t make me anti-social. Just as saying stupid things doesn’t automatically make you a stupid person. You make walk like a duck – but you may not be a duck – enough said!)

Boy, did that tick me off – it really is a stupid reason to get mad, but as I tell him, when you sit with people, you don’t turn your shoulder or back to them. My mother has drilled that into me since I was a child. OBVIOUSLY, HIS MOTHER DID NOT. I am rather sensitive to body posture and when I get a shoulder or ½ of one, its obvious you don’t want to interact. So, I took the hint. I moved. Then I got blamed as if it was my fault. Was I wrong? Maybe I was but I already don’t speak at dinnertime when its just Steve and I, why would I want to spend lunch the same way? BTW, dinner has been a blast with my “adopted Mexican family.” They are a hoot to be with. And the kids are great. Very nice and polite and don’t act like little children – very polite and can carry on a conversation. How delightful.
So that set me off. I was ticked. But decided to swallow it for the sake of being nice. I proceeded to order chicken noodle soup – which really was chicken broth with julienne veggies. Then I ordered a glass noodles salad – which was a cold Thai-type of dish with julieened pieces of pork with a Five-spice dressing. Let me tell you – it was delicious. I wanted another one. Then I had the Lumiere’s burger with double cheese and bacon and French fries. The food came out hot! Hot, steaming French fries for once! What a pleasant dinner. Once we ate, I tried to point out to Steve the lady’s posture and how I felt this was a subtle way of excluding people, he told me I was crazy or making it up! Wrong thing to say to me. But I forgave him. By this time, the Ducky Williams talk was about to start, we went – DIDN’t win a sketch so we proceeded to his art auction. This was the main auction – they will have another one but they will only auction off 3 pieces. Today was the usual 12 pieces. OMG! It was crazy. One painting went for $10,000. Yes, folks - $10 Grand. Another went for $7 grand about 2 I think and the cheapest went for $600. I didn’t really like it or I would have bid against it – it was another DIS-swer and I didn’t really want to make enemies. That person also bought another one but again, nothing really tickled my fancy. I was going to bid on one but once it reach $4,000 – figured I would settle for a diamond or tanzanite instead! J I did bid on something but left it for someone at $2,000. ROTFL.
So, then after, Steve headed out for Jackpot Bingo – the jackpot is going for $7,000. I am up in quiet cove typing and updating. That’s it so far today. Tonight is semi-formal night and we are in Animator’s Palette. Last night we got our litho. Very nice one – I am going to try to post another picture – I haven’t had much success lately but I’m going to try something else. So I will end this for now and let you know how things go.
Oh yeah, I decided to finally do the Mystery at Sea – does anyone know who stole the portrait of Captain Thord? ROTFL!
Later Folks,