Muscat here we come

April 29 2010


The temperature for today and tomorrow is predicted to exceed 100 degrees F. You can bet we’ll be inside!
We are sailing SW so while the sunrise is very bright, it isn’t as bad as we would expect. I went up to the library to finish my internet stuff before the piracy drill. Ed was cleaning up as I left. As I left, I saw that the little sign we put out on our door to signal the cabin steward, had been put out saying that the cabin was ready to be cleaned up. Good thing I got out early enough to see it and change it. Of course, by now poor Edison knows the cabin probably won’t be ready for him until after 9 am on sea days.
In the library each time I come up, there is a man who is sitting asleep in the same chair each time. Also, on the tours, many of the men, usually travelling alone, will be fast asleep in their seat as we move from place to place. Seems a shame to come all this way and miss most things!
Piracy drill
I’m amazed that folks do not follow directions. I could hear the cabin steward knocking on doors and often having to do it several times before they could determine that the occupants were there. We were supposed to have our cabin doors open at that time as we were being counted off. Eventually, the names of two passengers were called over the loud speaker and asked to call in. We spoke with one woman who was in the medical clinic waiting to be seen when the MD came out and, gruffly she said, shooed them all off to their cabins because of this mandatory drill. She was upset and I kept my mouth shut, but Daauuuh! What if it had been real?
I was disappointed however, because I was waiting to see how it felt to be on a ship that was rapidly zig sagging. We are travelling very slowly but our next port is pretty close to Dubai so that doesn’t seem to be related.
We read in the cabin until it was time for me to go to audit my computer class. Since another person showed up to take the class, I was able to audit. Ed went to trivia and when I saw him, he immediately asked me who St. Agatha was as a patron saint. Nursing but we also sometimes claim Camillus. While I’m on the subject of trivia: this afternoon it was done by a fellow passenger, a woman who, while she has a lovely speaking voice, is not particularly well liked by many. And you know how we feel about trivia being done by other passengers. This was awful. We all swore an oath that we’d refuse to show up if passengers do the trivia. And just to wrap up this part, I was also able to audit the afternoon computer class. I’m at the point where I need help remembering which tool is the best for what purpose. I’m hoping a book at home will help me when I start practicing there with Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Lunch
Again Ed and I had our wires crossed but he eventually did find me at the Panorama Buffet since I had a short time for lunch. We were joined by our dining room table mates with whom we such a fun conversation last evening. They are cribbage “students” so they had to leave early.
Spectacular culinary demonstration
The Commandatore joined the ship again in Dubai and so he wowed us with two main dishes involving pasta and a demonstration of how to make tiramisu. It all looks so easy but it takes hours to prepare the ingredients in all the little containers so he just pops things into the pot or pan.
More precious than gold: a short history of the spice trade
This is a new speaker on board. She’s very attractive, probably in her late 40s or 50s, with a PhD in anthropology. I assume it was her husband who read an overly long introduction for her. Her graphics were clever and the content was interesting. But she has a rather monotonous delivery voice and it sounded like this was a very well written book from which she was reading. Since she’s published several books, perhaps this was one. If so it’s narrative is very interesting and well written but overly ponderous when it’s read. Still I’ll attend her next lecture and be aware that you have to listen carefully for the pearls.
Dinner
All present. Much less tension though the conversation is still somewhat strained to me. I try to think in advance of questions to ask the others that I think would be of interest to them and are designed to draw them out about their activities. You always learn something. And after the tension of the trivia session this afternoon, I told Ed I’d share a bottle of wine with him. Don’t misunderstand, each of us had a single glass of wine and we’ll finish the bottle over the next few weeks. Just so you don’t think Trivia has turned us to the bottle.
Tonite’s entertainment
This was a mentalist and while I don’t have a clue as to how they do “it”, but he was very good. He used about 20 people of all stripes from the audience and would admit when something wasn’t working (he usually had two folks during these skits so he was exonerated when he nailed the thoughts of the remaining person.