Thursday April 20, 2023

Today most of the passengers depart with the exception of 9 couples who are on the ship for another 11 days. We will wander in Papeete for a bit today but not do much else. Tomorrow is an at sea day so not much to do tomorrow either. We don't mind as we were pretty active for the past week.

The internet is a huge frustration as reaching apps we rely on to transfer funds and pay bills are essentially unreachable. I'm hoping when we check into a hotel on May 1 that we will be able to get some access at that point.

I was okay with the eating again yesterday but definitely have more glasses of wine in the evening than usual (it is included as well as the food).

Have a thriving Thursday!

I struggled with that on the ship in South America and again visiting my friend in the UK. In the UK, my bank (BofA) was blocked to access from there! And another site where I wanted to place an order so I would get it as soon as I got home. No go from the UK. The bank one surprised me the most. I suppose it's to prevent fraud? But ugh. With the ship it was mostly that they seem to universally have crappy internet.

I was right about having a good feeling my cold would be on the way out today! I feel much better. Still gunked up, and headachy from the clogged sinuses, but much better in the ways that were driving me nuts.

Irrigation work starts today and will continue every day until they finish. Woohoo!

My bats have found somewhere else to sleep today. I am hoping the peppermint spray helps which comes today.

My eating has not been good and I need to make changes. The weather is warming up quickly and I cannot continue to hide my rolls behind baggy sweatshirts.

Given I am a week through the cold, no longer blowing, dripping, coughing, or sneezing, I did go to a presentation at the fiber arts guild I joined. Wow. It was amazing. This woman upcycles fabric, clothing, denim, etc. to make one of a kind garments so gorgeous they are bought by celebs and have had museum exhibits. She briefly touched on how the things she used to be able to buy at thrift stores is now mostly garbage as a result of "fast fashion" and its poor quality and man-made fibers. She said that a garbage truck of fabric is dumped into landfills overseas every second of every day as a result of our appetite for fast fashion. It's a real problem. I had a moment where I felt pretty good about wearing my clothes over and over into the ground... mostly because it's all that fits, but now I can say it's eco-friendly as well! This is her website: https://www.karenlukacs.com

Anyway, I'm going to try to nap away my headache now. Take care!!

Liz, interesting about the Internet. I can see the problem while onboard the ship (but not entirely, there's no way they not using internet for all the business they need to conduct), but even when you are on the mainland? Are the places you're arriving so rustic?

CC so glad you are feeling better. That was one awful cold. I get the argument against fast fashion, I really do. I try to buy higher quality items on clearance (I bought 3 sweaters at Talbots this winter for under $25 a piece, yeah!) or consignment, but I also buy a lot of cheap clothes, because when I need pants, I need pants, and that's what I, and probably some other shoppers, can afford. Much like buying meat processed in slaughterhouses and eggs from commercial chicken farms, I wish I could buy grass fed beef and organic eggs or a hybrid car for that matter, but it's not in the picture for me.

I feel like groundhogs day. Overcast, rain, kids and teachers with low energy. Or frustrated. Spring coaches and spring players are tired of cancellations. I'm tired of deciding which boots to wear. Its time for sandal weather, not just for 3 days for one week, but until October.

The other thing that concerns me about fast fashion is who is being exploited to sew these clothes. I don't know if the garment workers sewing better brands are treated any better, but it would make sense since they have better skills...

I think the concern was more about people who buy tons of poorly made things because it's the fashion of the moment and then they fall apart or they give them to goodwill when it's no longer "in" where no one wants them because they are bad quality and yucky fabrics that don't feel good to wear. She was saying in the 70s and early 80s, she would get tons of gorgeous items, beautiful natural fabrics, etc from goodwill. Now the best stuff she finds is denim, hence her denim lines. She makes cool purses with silk ties too...

I like to buy well made clothing. I also buy from online consignment shops for good quality used clothing which means that the clothing gets recycled (and I enjoy getting a bargain!).

I love all your Lilly Pulitzer, which you mentioned you often get in consignment stores. I haven't had a lot of luck finding LP since I had regain.

Lilly used to only make smaller sizes (up to size 12 I think - and it was the "old" size 12). At some point they broadened their size range and updated the fit. Still a good brand when purchased new and they have decent sales about once a quarter. They last a long time, wash and pack well, and have resale value.

Greetings all

I thought I was going to be at the gallery today but realized we had traded the day. Ended up with errands as there was an error in payroll for studio and I had to get another check. Anyone could pick them up but I have to sign them. Oh well. Then I decided to go to the gallery anyway since I have quite a few new things to offer and was planning to go anyway. It's so great to have an electric car and not worry about the cost of extra errands.

DH is out so I get to control the tv. Yay. We started a new series on Apple - the Big Door Prize or something like that. People use this sort of fortune telling machine that tells them their potential in a word or two and they all get totally wrapped up in it. Entertaining. Also the Reluctant Traveler.

So I was reading about Murphy the eagle. They described what they are fed: chopped deer, chopped fish and CHOPPED RAT! Rat tar tar. Ick. Who fixes this stuff.

While I was getting my glasses yesterday there was a little girl and her dad there. I heard him saying "I promise no one will hurt you". She was scarred of the big machine in the dark. But later she was happily picking out glasses. Trying on all these Elton John looking specs and her dad gently coaxing her into something more plain. It was very cute. Made me think of my own first glasses which were blue and kind of ornate. I thought they were fun for about a week and then refused to wear them.

DD wishing you a swift spring. Sandals are in order.

Lack of wi fi sucks Liz. Seems like the ship should have it via satellite.

CC that clothing web site was so cool. Love that stuff. I would buy more expensive stuff if my weight was not all over the place. Even so, I will do about anything to get cotton clothing as polyester just is so uncomfortable. Hope the Bat-be-Gone spay works.

Steak tonight. Diane S

I would too! My height/weight combo means I actually don't buy many clothes. It's hard to find things that fit, so I don't bother.

She said she enjoys the art of what she does, not the production, so when she makes pieces she tries to make one item that fits many bodies and shapes. She showed a picture for a promotion for one of her lines she did one year and it was women of all shapes and sizes from tiny to a woman who was 6'10" and busty all wearing her things. There are so many bodies that need covering and want to look nice doing it!