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 A blog of no uncertain musings. What goes on in my mind is often a source of wonder to me. |
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My mind and my life are wonderous things ... as are yours, I'm sure. I have more slips of paper and pages of notebooks with musings and thoughts than I really know what to do with. Someone, actually several someones, have suggested I start a blog ... or a journal as a means of focusing some of this mental energy. To be honest, I don't even know what the difference between a 'journal' and 'blog' is--or if there even is a difference. Read on, my friends, and you can judge for yourself whether it even matters. And so....  I'm JACE. Yep ... that's me! And somewhere in all my writings my last name may be posted. But I'll just leave it at Jace for right now. I'm 70 years old and heading full tilt to 71. It's strange that while I'm going through some rather serious medical issues, I still consider myself to be in the prime of my life--pretty good shape physically AND mentally, though I don't run for competition anymore  . I love to ... dang, if I put this stuff here, I won't have anything for my blog.Guess you just have to be patient until such stuff leaks out.  Perhaps 2025, having embraced my retirement, will see more participation in my journaling efforts. Well, one can hope.... |
| Rainy ... RAINY ... and RAINY, with a strong side of Windy. I know I'm behind with my cruise itinerary. Perhaps this is the day to catch up; in case anyone's interested ... beyond my kids, that is. |
| While there are several grocery stores in our town, we tend to use the Wal-Mart Supercenter for our groceries. I suppose like so many folks, it's convenient. We'd spend more money in gas driving all over town just to save a few pennies here and there. And, like many families who grocery shop, we are subject to a bit of impulse buying while in the store. We do prepare a list of the things we absolutely need during this trip. But we always seem to find things "we just can't do without." Ever feel that way when YOU shop? In late August, Jeanette said she wanted to try Wal-Mart Plus service, whereby you list the items you want to buy on the Plus app specifying exactly what you want and whether you would accept substitutions or not for the items selected. Insert credit card info, pay, and the store employee is on his/her way to fulfill your order. They even deliver to our house, and we live out of town about ten miles away. The service costs $98.00 per year. I thought this was a lot to pay for someone else doing our shopping. Ok, I'm cheap. And sometimes those impulse buys were needed. (Yeah, I keep telling myself that.) We've now used the service for two months. Today, my wife asked me to do a quick and dirty study of our expenses during these two months and the previous two months before using the service. My first thought after totaling the Plus-related months was 'Dang, we sure spend a lot on food for just the two of us.' We spent $855.50 in two months. Of course, not all is food, and we have a rather well-stocked pantry, so I surmised that was part of that expense. Then I calculated the amount we spent during the two months we spent before signing up for the service. Holy crap! We spent $1246.50. Granted, we did have family visit during that period for a week. But that's a 46% increase over the period using Wal-Mart's service. Even allowing that a 20% impulse buy cost of the $855.50 is $171.10, which is well over the cost of the service, the Plus service is a bargain. And this includes tipping for the delivery service. I'd be naïve to think that over four months the cost of groceries has not gone up some. I can't do much about the staple items--bread, milk, vegetables, etc. But maybe it's time to rein in the other items, like chips, cookies and candy. Easier said, than done. |
| We woke up on morning three in the picturesque community of Baie-Comeau. Officially named for Napoleon-Alexandre Comeau (1848-1923), who was a self-taught naturalist and government official, Baie Comeau itself was founded in 1936 by Col. Robert McCormick, who owned the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News. Before McCormick arrived, this area was a camp for the Hudson’s Bay Company primarily for furs and some logging. McCormick established logging camps, and built paper mills, a hydro-electric power station and housing in order to provide newsprint for his newspaper companies. The paper mill would close down after the turn of the 21st century when the demand for newsprint decreased dramatically. The power station continues to supply power to several communities in the area. During those early years, many men in the town would work six months of the year in the logging industry and the remaining six months at various jobs in the town including the mill. One of the excursions we went on was to a typical lumberjack village. I decided there and then I would not have survived the conditions under which those men worked. Many used axes as the early chainsaws were very large and cumbersome to use. Lots of accidents. The daily requirement was for each man to cut three cords of wood. Figure four-foot long logs of various thicknesses stacked on a wood cradle eight-foot long by four-foot high. That included limbing the logs after cutting the trees down. They ate meals of 3-4000 calories (mainly salt pork beans and flour), and lived in drafty log buildings with one 55-gal drum heater kept going all night by one of the younger loggers. As you might imagine, hygiene was particularly poor. It was a rough existence. And this was in the early to mid-20th century. Baie-Comeau is also home to a very large Aluminum mill that employs a significant segment of the population today. There were two Catholic churches in the area, one attended by those working in the paper mills; the other by those working in the Aluminum mill. When the paper mills closed, the Saint-Amelie Church eventually closed due to dwindling attendance and tremendous expense to heat. It was later purchased by a non-profit organization to preserve the breath-taking fresco paintings on the ceilings and walls, and 30 stained-glass windows. They were breath-taking. After walking around the community and the beaches, we returned to the ship where various activities kept use entertained until dinner. Dinners always consisted of your choice of two or three appetizers; the same with choice of soup. The main course was a choice of a fresh fish catch of the day, a meat dish (lamb, beef or chicken), and a pasta dish. If one of the main courses didn’t meet your approval, the menu provided for five other items every day. And then it was time for dessert. Two or three choices changed each day, along with four items that were offered every day. One did not go hungry on this ship. You could have seconds of your main course, or several deserts if your waistline (or your mind) allowed. That included the meals where lobster and prime rib were served. Honestly, there was no need for a buffet. If, by chance you were hungry between meals, they set out pastries, fresh-baked cookies, chips, granola bars, sodas and water in the lounges. Heavy Hors d’Ouevres were set out at 3 pm upon return to the ship along with an Open Cocktail Bar. Each cruise carries a Guest Speaker who would tell us each about some special aspect of the next stop the afternoon prior. Mike was a real font of knowledge about each leg of our trip. He offered tips about sights to see while we were in Port. Again, meeting in the lounge for his talk was a great opportunity to meet some new friends, some of whom might be on our next excursion. And the entertainment was first rate—a husband-wife duo well versed in the major musical genres, including country, the 50’s through the 80’s, British Invasion segment and a wildly popular evening of Celtic music. Jeff played guitar and piano, while Jacinthe (pronounced Ja-saint) played fiddle with a classical crossover. The weather at Baie-Comeau was perfect—about 65 degrees. In fact, our next stop would be almost 15 degrees warmer. Ah, but later we would not be so lucky. But that’s for another day. |
| Heading to Springfield (Missouri) this morning to meet GrueSum1 and his lovely wife, Kathy. They're in town for the Akita Club of America National Specialty showing their dog, Buddy. (I hope I got that name right, Jim). Jeanette has always wanted to go to a dog show, and I get to satisfy to birds with one stone--her show; me meeting a fellow WDC-er. Back to our trip soon. |
| Most of our cruising is done at night getting to our next destination. Waking up in the small port of Saguenay was no exception. The town's name was likely derived from an Innu word "Saki-nip" meaning where water flows out. Located at the end of the largest fiord in Noth America, Saguenay was first settled by the French in 1676 as a trading post. Even today there are no roads north into the wilderness leaving access by seaplane or boat. Today, Saguenay is a conglomeration of seven towns lumped into one political and social community. The extended population is almost 150,000 people. The ethnic origin of the top four groups by highest are Canadian, French, Québécois and French Canadian. They are followed by First Nations, Irish, Scottish, Métis, Arcadian and Innu. Nope, I can't explain the differences between Canadian, French and French Canadian. Various excursions were set up by our ship at each stop, and Saguenay was no exception. Jeanette is very interested in rocks, so the excursion we chose naturally included a local artist proficient in lapidary. Our lapidarist spoke only French, but had a very capable translator. I managed to pick up some earrings for her upcoming birthday that had an added bonus of naturally being red and yellow--the colors of our favorite football team, the KC Chiefs. Our lapidarist was also proficient in the art of glass-blowing. We watched an awesome demonstration of him making a whale complete with flippers and flukes as it broke the surface of the sea. One of our ship-mates negotiated a price for his creation to be mailed home after the project has slowly cooled to ensure no cracks were forthcoming. Various powdered metals were used to color the whale and sea base. The waterfront of Saguenay was picturesque with lots of craft shops and restaurants; the government and other support for the population was more inland. We found that tourists were welcomed heartily ... especially if you tried to speak French. Many natives were bi-lingual. We were only there for about six hours, but we definitely saw the appeal of the city at the end of the fiord.  |
| Tomorrow I'll continue our trip with a stop in Saguenay. But today's date, 18 October, is rather special ... to me, at least. Seventy-five years ago on this date, my wife, Jeanette was born. Happy birthday, Babe! Unlike me who has moved around a lot growing up (Dad was career Air Force), she lives in a house built for her when she married about 150 yards up the road from the house where she grew up. Though we only met 13 years ago, we've crammed a lot of fun years in our time together. She's always wanted to travel, and we've managed to do just that--western Caribbean (Cozumel & Cancun), eastern Caribbean (Key West, Bermuda & Bahamas), Hawaii, Alaska (including Denali), France, Germany (twice), a Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Athens, Huatulco (Mexico), a Great Lakes cruise, and the Maritimes cruise we just finished. We've both wanted to visit New Zealand and Australia but feared the long flights to achieve that desire. It's a bitch getting older. We also took a 2-week RV trip west (including National Parks in South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado). Several of our trips included her daughter and son-in-law--they drove the 32-ft RV and we bought the fuel. It was a very equitable arrangement. I couldn't be blessed with a better partner in my life. I should mention a happy birthday to her son, Mark, who was also born on this very day. The place at which Jeanette worked always gave their workers a day off for their birthday. However, since she was in the hospital (giving birth), she had to use her sick leave. Bad Ju Ju! She found a better job shortly after. Also, on this date 250 years ago, the British sailed into Casco Bay and burned the town of Portland to the ground. Then known as Falmouth, part of Massachusetts Bay Colony, the town of some 400 buildings was completely burned to the ground in retaliation for raids of British shipping along the coast. The British did allow the inhabitants to pack up their belongings and flee the city. Warfare back then was oh so civilized, what? Colonists' raids had been taking place for several years along the coast from New York up the coast of what is now Maine, and the British decided to regain control of the coast by terrorizing the coastal townspeople. Rather than attack Boston where surrounding colonies might respond quickly with force, the British decided the coast from Portland (Falmouth) north would be better pickings. Although a great success for the British, the attack backfired spectacularly. The colonist's resolve that the British had no consideration for their well-being was strengthened. The coastal towns were fortified against potential attack. And the rest, they say, is history. Having just visited Portland, I had not considered the part it played in the Revolutionary War. One story of so many stories. That Portland was re-built into the largest city in Maine is a testament to the colonists who forged our nation. |
| Pearl Seas Cruises offers a wide range of amenities suitable for both first time and seasoned cruisers. Geared toward adult cruisers, there are no waterslides, basketball courts, or putt-putt golf courses. The Pearl Mist can accommodate up to 200 guests, offering much more personal cruises than those ships that have a capacity of 2-4 thousand people. Every stateroom and suite has its own balcony, and a glass-enclosed dining room offers a panoramic view while four to nine-person tables affords the opportunity to make new friends at every breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. There is no buffet dining, but a variety of choices for every meal never fails to satisfy one’s palette. Complimentary snacks and drinks were available throughout the day at both lounges. I suppose I could just list all the amenities offered, but suffice to say, we did not want for anything. If you’re interested in learning about all the amenities, check out their website: www.pearlseascruises.com. Returning home from the cruise was so much easier (and quicker) than getting there. We arrived at the Springfield-Branson airport in Springfield, Missouri at 4 am, well before our 5:50 flight time to find our plane delayed for maintenance. The three-and-a-half-hour delay meant we would miss our connection in Chicago to Quebec City. Apparently, Quebec City merits one flight per day from O’Hare. Our check-in agent went above and beyond to find an alternate route. Over the next 30 minutes, Katlynn was able to weave a path from Springfield to Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark to Quebec City. It would cram a six-hour journey into 20 hours but would avoid missing our 11 am boarding call on the Pearl Mist. We always schedule flights a day in advance so we can spend some time in the port of departure … and to allow for flight delays. We arrived at our hotel after midnight. But we were able to see some of Vieux (Old) Quebec City from the backseat of our Uber to the ship’s dock. It was considerably warmer than the excursion I took from the University of Maine to Winter Carnival in old Quebec City in February 1975. Our first order of business on board was the Mandatory Emergency Drill. Take your personal flotation devices from your room’s closet and go to your muster station to learn how to ‘abandon ship’. Obviously sitting at the dock doesn’t give much or an air of urgency to the drill. But I have to say as the seas got rougher on the Atlantic Ocean side of Nove Scotia, the lessons became a bit clearer. We sailed at 3 pm heading toward our first stop. Jeanette and I headed to the upper (Pacific) lounge to meet other travelers during the Sail Away Party, a feat much easier to do with only 175 cruisers on board. Small boat cruising really lent itself to more personalized service. We met folks from Maine to California, and Texas to Minnesota, including some very nice, but serious Lions’ fans with whom we shared the Chiefs-Lions Monday Night Football game during the second week of our cruise. What fun! All told, sports rivalries and political affiliations remained well in the background of most conversations on the cruise. We went to sleep traveling up the final 65-mile-long fiord to Saquenay, Quebec.  |
| Hi Folks. Just returned from a Fall Foliage cruise on the Pearl Mist from Pearl Seas Cruises. This was the same ship we took on a tour of the lower four Great Lakes in July 2024. It may have been a year older, but the amenities were still top notch. Despite our cruise being cut short a couple of days due to the nasty weather coming up the Atlantic coast, we had a great time. Though we missed our planned stops of Iles de La Madeleine, Quebec; Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; and Eastport, Maine, we spent a few extra days in Portland, Maine. A lot of ships on the northern Atlantic made port in Portland and Boston ahead of the anticipated rough seas. It was quite a ride for a while. Though I had lived in Maine for more than ten years growing up, I never visited Portland. That was my loss--if you ever get the chance, take time to tour Maine's largest city, its 19th century architecture, specialty shoppes, and the waterfront. Lighthouses? There are several to visit around Portland. If you like lobster, don't pay $100 or much more for your meal at home. The market price was $12.99/lb--in a local restaurant, your meal might be $20-25 ... cooked right. At the fish market we toured, we saw lobsters from one and one-eighth pounds (the smallest the lobster boats can keep) to four and a quarter pounds. Normally, the boats don't bring back anything larger than three pounds. By the way, what do you think is the largest lobster ever caught? Answer ▼ Flying home was much less eventful, and quicker, than flying to the cruise in Quebec City. Only five and a half hours to landing in Springfield, Missouri. But more to come starting at the beginning tomorrow. |
| Just dropping in while I have a moment to say hi everyone. Still cruising the Atlantic. All we have to do is avoid the weather coming up the eastern coast. And hoping the air traffic controllers are still on the job .... Back on the 15th. See all y'all then. |
| Welcome to October! The tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, October comes from the Latin and Greek ôctō meaning "eight". The original calendar created by the Roman had ten months with October as the eighth month. (November and December were the ninth and tenth months.) Sometime later, the months of January and February were inserted at the beginning of the calendar. Associated with the Autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere, October is a prime time for Fall festivals and harvest. It's also the only month in which all four of the major US/Canada professional sports leagues have scheduled games--MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA. It's also the time that Christmas decorations show up in stores. Yeah, you were just waiting for that. For me, October is a busy birthday month. My wife's is the 18th, my Mom's is the 10th, a brother is the 17th, and my son-in-law is the 18th {same day as his mom's). Which reminds me, it's shopping time for my wife. Ah, what to get .... |
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