March 31 - April 1

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 – At sea – changing another hour forward – we are now four hours ahead of Delaware

From our New York Times 4-page daily newspaper, “2 States Win School Grants. Delaware and Tennessee beat out 38 other states and the District of Columbia to win a share of $4 billion in federal education grants, convincing the Obama administration that they have bold plans for overhauling their public school systems. Delaware is to be awarded about $100 million and TN about $500 million. Delaware passed a law that allows even tenured teachers rated as “ineffective” for three years to be removed from the classroom.”

Today was easy; I rested -- at least until 3:30PM. Relatively calm seas but we can feel the wind picking up. Every day at noon we hear an update from the Captain on our location and weather. Today he advised we would actually see another ship in about 20 minutes! Hard to imagine that since Sunday, we have not seen another vessel. We look out at the sea and see plenty of water; just the waves and clouds and stars. It was a cargo ship crossing west-bound.

I watched the replays of the ports of call we will soon visit, walked a mile, did an exercise class in the Ocean Bar (the ship is small so most rooms do double-duty) and then we had a great dinner. Made some new friends who have gone for many years on the QEII and other Cunard ships and we know the same people. Enjoyed a lively piano, accordion and whistle-playing concert by Count Dimas from Romania; he was excellent. Sounds very strange, I know, but he was a great entertainer.

Worked on the computer and went to see the movie “Up in the Air” and had popcorn! Talked to the front desk and did paperwork and we can feel the ship movement much more now. When walking today, you had to lean in to the wind on the starboard side of the ship and you were practically pushed forward in the bow as you rounded the turn!

“Do as much as you can for as long as you can.”

Thursday, April 1, 2010 – At sea -- April Fool’s Day – Black and White Ball!
Sea and swells are moderate – 66 degrees. Formal night!
Raining and cloudy and rough seas

The history of the day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian calendar was introduced, and the “New Year” was moved from New Year’s Week (March 25 – April 1) to January 1st. Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several YEARS later. Still others, who were more rebellious, refused to acknowledge the change altogether. These people, labeled “fools” by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on “fool errands”, sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played on them. The butts of these pranks became known as a “poisson d’avril” or “April fish” because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke. This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continues on the first day of April.

Did not sleep well as the pounding of the waves against the side of the ship is loud and slightly scary. I know it is magnified since we are still “sharing” wet and dry ones and the one at night if very near the front of the ship. You hear a CLUMP, a BUMP and then a WHOP and then pitch forward and up and down. Exciting, huh??

Fitness Class, Tai Chi, Ping Pong Tournament, Crazy Golf, Learn Basic Indonesian, Tango class, Bocce Ball, Wii bowling!, aerobics….plus working on the computer to get the phone to work and laundry. Busy, busy day. I do have to comment that the laundry episode tonight had none of the character of the Queen Victoria. There are only five washers and dryers for 900 guests (we are actually only 600+ at the moment) but since most of the passengers have cruised so frequently with Holland America, the self-laundry room is empty as all the frequent cruisers get FREE LAUNDRY. Great perk; one of the best in the industry, in my opinion and from the guests onboard. We ran up with our dirty laundry while we were dressed in tuxedo and ball gown and to start the wash cycle and it was finished by the end of the Ball!

Entertainer was George Solomon, full of unbounded energy and enthusiasm. He was the Las Vegas Entertainment Personality of the year and won the NY Drama Critics Award. Great crooner and rock’n roll singer.

Captain Halle Thon Gundersen greeted us for the Black and White Ball with dancing to the Prinsendam Orchestra and special surprises with lots of raffle prizes! It was a very, very nice evening with the entire ship decorated in black and white and the crew were in silver sequined jackets and huge bow ties. They were the most decorated crew I have ever seen on any ship; glitzy and gaudy but appropriate for the evening’s ball.

Movie was “Beyond the Sea” but I did not have time to see it. They just started a great system onboard with over 700 DVDs in the ship’s library. We have a pamphlet of the DVDs and can order what we want and view it in the stateroom! Wonderful system…if there was time to take advantage of it!

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” - Albert Einstein