It's always something else!!

Saw the opthalmologist/retina specialist today.  My vision is the same as it was 3 months ago.  However, apparently, a new "growth" has appeared on the iris of my right eye.  This wasn't visible at my last visit.  After several dozen pictures, IV contrast dye and more pictures, she told me that she would consult with others to determine next steps.  She contacted my brain/radiation oncologist to have additional views added to my scheduled MRI next week.  Then, a possible biopsy of the growth will be done on Wednesday.  Using the pictures, MRI and biopsy, the doctors will determine an appropriate approach.  So...I will wait & see what comes next. 

Allen final trip update

2012 9 CARIB CRUISE

3/23 At sea. Lazy day. Using up complimentary online Internet to check email. Have just a few minutes left. 

Mostly packed for disembarkation tomorrow AM. Time has flown. We've had a great time. 

Allen trip

2012 5 CARIB UPDATE
3/19 PM Good dinner. OK show. Ankles/feet swollen for 3rd day. Maybe more
salt than normal for me.
3/20
St Marten Excursion today. I think it is a bus to see sights. Docked next
to the Norwegian Epic - large ship. Very sunny. Feels like mid 80's or
warmer.

Allen cruise update

2012 6 CARIB UPDATE

3/20

Learned yesterday at dinner that election voting is required by law in Australia. You are fined for not voting. We talked about the craziness of US political parties, primaries, elections, electoral votes and much of the silliness of US politics. 

Excursion today to see a small zoo. We had a guide from Kenosha, Wisconsin. All kinds of small animals - cockatoos, parrots, macaws, leopard tortoises, turtles, monkeys, lizards, snakes, ocelots, iguanas, an ostrich, ducks, and other colorful birds. 

After the zoo, we toured (drove around) the island. Our guide was very talkative - pointing out beaches, hotels, historical sites, etc. She also gave us a brief history of the island and explained the Dutch/French split of the island. 

The bus stopped a few times for photo opportunities - we stayed on the bus. The long walk from the ship to the bus and a 45 minute walk at the zoo was more than enough exercise for us. 

Back onboard about 4PM. Afternoon tea arrived just after we got to our cabin. We both had a few snacks since we hadn't eaten lunch. 

Another good dinner with a great group of table-mates. 

Not interested in the magician tonight. So...I am relaxing in the room. Jill went out to play the slots. 

Allen update

2012 7 CARIB CRUISE
Morning trivia. Then, time in the Persian Gardens at the spa. Dry sauna,
steam herbal sauna, whirlpools, therapy pool and other relaxing comforts.
Jill won on the slots last night. She played $1 slots for about 3 pulls.
Of course, she won $156. She sure is lucky.
Trivia this afternoon - 3 times.

Allen trip

2012 8 CARIB UPDATE

3/22 Relaxing day at sea. 2 trivias. Not much else planned. Sunny. Warm. Gorgeous weather. The pools will be packed with trying to get more sun - sunburn.  Nice day to sit on the verandah. Slept & woke up to being a little chilly on the verandah. Remainder of the day was a typical, slow day at sea. 

3/23 Last day - at sea. 

Allen 3/16 updates

CARIB UPDATES
3/13
Managed to locate wifi service on Aruba. Used a new list app on my iPhone
for trip updates. I hope it worked.
Saw Midnight in Paris at the cinema. Good movie. Woody Allen film.
Our dinner table mates are very nice and interesting. Food has been good.
Typical day - Breakfast in our cabin. (Should have gone on the verandah
today.) Cereal, bagel, donuts, juice, chocolate milk, coffee, and lots of
pills. Added bacon today. Then, we usually skip lunch. Trivia has
conflicted with afternoon tea. But, George leaves cookies on our table.
Dinner is usually pretty big. We usually don't get all courses. But, we
always get dessert. At the cinema, we have popcorn.
3/14
Looks like we will walk around Willemstad (Curaçao) today.
Oops. Change that. It seems that downtown is a longer walk than we can
handle. $15 one way for a taxi - I don't think so. In Aruba, Jill bought a
few bracelets and necklaces for around $3 each. Not worth $30 taxi fare to
get to the shops.
Just relaxing onboard. A couple afternoon trivias. Maybe get some ice
cream.
3/15 Thursday at Sea-Wonderful breakfast this morning on the verandah. We
decided to have lunch in the dining room. Our dinner table-mates (from
Australia) joined us along with another US couple and a couple from
Holland. We had a good meal and good conversation.
Jill has gone to play the slots. I am relaxing in the cabin. Progressive
Trivia at 4PM - same team throughout the cruise with scores totaled at the
end.
Docked in Grenada. Going on a glass-bottom boat.

Barbados

2012 3 CARIB UPDATES

Docked in Grenada today. Went on a glass-bottom boat. Small boat - 13 passengers. Glass-bottom was four 18" x 36" viewing holes.  It was like looking down rectangular chimney with a window into the water. Not like others we have been on. It was so-so due to rain yesterday & today - the water was very cloudy. It was quite warm. 

Many streets in Grenada are very steep -  like San Francisco. Very narrow - I would never want to drive here.  Stop signs & stop lights seem to be " only a suggestion". 

Some nice buildings; but, most of the island buildings look like parts of the larger cities in Jamaica. 

3/17 Barbados today. Took an early excursion. Saw Park's Farm - a working farm with black- belly sheep. Next, Andromeda Botanical Garden. Very nice. But, a little strenuous for us. We made it but we were both pretty tired. Good view the coast, ocean waves and rock formations. 

Allen trip update

2012 4 CARIB UPDATE

3/18 Docked this morning in St Lucia. Went on an aerial tram in the RAINforest. And boy oh boy it really rain!! 

Luckily, the tour guides provided rain ponchos. We still got a little wet; but, we would have been drenched without the ponchos. The rainforest was beautiful - like in Jurassic Park. Dinosaur-size leaves, plants & trees. We went low in the forest one way and returned high above the forest. 

When we returned to the cabin, Jill soaked in a warm tub and I took a warm shower. Damp clothes draped on chairs. Luckily, most stuff was in a pretty waterproof tote. But, our passports were in my pocket. They are currently being pressed in a magazine. 

3/19 Docked in Antigua. Went onshore briefly to check close stores & check for wifi. Couldn't get email on my iPhone. Will need to use the ship's wifi later today. 

No excursion today. Maybe a good day for a nap. 

Sunny & 81. Quite hot in the sun. Trivia 4times today. We have been mediocre. Jill is up $200+ on the slots. She hasn't played a lot.  But, of course, she wins when she plays. 

Allen update

3/10/12 CARIB CRUISE

Travel yesterday, 3/9, to Ft Lauderdale was OK. Our wheelchair guy at the airport hooked us up with a ride to our hotel. Nice clean Escalade. Flat rate. Renaissance Hotel - Port Everglades is very nice. 

Boarded the Celebrity Constellation about 1 PM Saturday. Sail tonight. Next 2 days at sea. Will arrive in Aruba Tuesday AM. 

Settled into our cabin - very nice Royal Suite. Met our cabin steward, Olivar, and butler, George. Relaxed a bit -  really needed it.  Went to the welcome show. It appears there is lots of excellent music talent on this ship.  We are looking forward to the shows. 

Sunday - breakfast in our suite. Joined others for trivia three times. We have very nice teams.  Did OK but didn't win. Listened to Caribbean music poolside.  Nice tea delivered by George. Dinner in the Italian Tuscan Grille tonight. Dinner was fabulous!

Monday, 3/12, at sea. Relaxing day. Breakfast in the cabin.  George set up white tablecloth and roses. Morning trivia- so-so.  Cinnamon ice cream. 

Party band by the pool. Met Nigel & Margaret - a nice couple from England. Chatted for over an hour. We will probably miss afternoon tea due to trivia. 

Back to our normal dining room table tonight. We'll see if anyone else shows up. We were alone on Saturday and we were in a Specialty restaurant last night. 

The ship's cast show was excellent last night. Ventriloquist tonight - so, we might go to a movie - Bridesmaids. 

Met our table mates tonight. Two very nice couples - one retired in Sarasota and one from Australia. Saw Bridesmaids at the cinema - not our kind of movie. 

 

Allen 3/16 updates

CARIB UPDATES
3/13
Managed to locate wifi service on Aruba. Used a new list app on my iPhone
for trip updates. I hope it worked.
Saw Midnight in Paris at the cinema. Good movie. Woody Allen film.
Our dinner table mates are very nice and interesting. Food has been good.
Typical day - Breakfast in our cabin. (Should have gone on the verandah
today.) Cereal, bagel, donuts, juice, chocolate milk, coffee, and lots of
pills. Added bacon today. Then, we usually skip lunch. Trivia has
conflicted with afternoon tea. But, George leaves cookies on our table.
Dinner is usually pretty big. We usually don't get all courses. But, we
always get dessert. At the cinema, we have popcorn.
3/14
Looks like we will walk around Willemstad (Curaçao) today.
Oops. Change that. It seems that downtown is a longer walk than we can
handle. $15 one way for a taxi - I don't think so. In Aruba, Jill bought a
few bracelets and necklaces for around $3 each. Not worth $30 taxi fare to
get to the shops.
Just relaxing onboard. A couple afternoon trivias. Maybe get some ice
cream.
3/15 Thursday at Sea-Wonderful breakfast this morning on the verandah. We
decided to have lunch in the dining room. Our dinner table-mates (from
Australia) joined us along with another US couple and a couple from
Holland. We had a good meal and good conversation.
Jill has gone to play the slots. I am relaxing in the cabin. Progressive
Trivia at 4PM - same team throughout the cruise with scores totaled at the
end.
Docked in Grenada. Going on a glass-bottom boat.