My emergency backup water system is now complete. If we ever have a long term water outage due to toxin release, drought, or civil/nuclear war, I’ll be ready to go.
I started with a 275 Gallon IBC water tote that I picked up for $150. I got it cleaned out and covered the exterior with leftover roofing metal in order to keep the sun out to avoid the growth of algae. It kind of looks like a doghouse. I’ll paint a black opening on one side and people will never know it’s a water tank. LOL. As pictured above, a removable panel had been slid out for water level viewing.
In order to provide pressurized water to the house, I bought a 75 PSI 5.5 Gallon per minute RV water pump for $61.00 as well as the needed hoses and adapters to get everything connected. To go from the pump to the garden faucet, I used a leftover washing machine hose, which has female garden hose connectors on each end.
The last step is to go to the water meter at the street and turn off the supply valve, which essentially disconnects the house from the water supply. Just plug the pump in and I’m done.
I chose to use a 110V pump because I have an extensive backup solar power system that will run off-grid if the power goes out at the same time. You could opt for a 12v pump, a deep cycle battery, and a solar panel to charge it.
Not shown is an inline filter that I didn’t use for this test, since the water in the tank is fresh and came from the hose. If I was to be using rainwater or water from the river, I would install the filter, which includes carbon filtration as well as physical filtration. I also have a reverse osmosis system under the sink to make sure the water I drink is especially clean, no matter the source. I plan to buy a water bladder and a 12v pump for the truck in case I have to obtain water from the river.
For the first test, I turn on the faucet in the kitchen and bam. Water as normal. The pressure is slightly less, but it’s hardly noticeable.
I started with a 24-hour test where I marked the water level in the tank and then used the water normally for a day. I found that the water level went down 2.5 inches over that period. The tank measures 39 inches tall when filled to the max, so 39 divided by 2.5 = 15.6 days.
That will provide approximately 2 weeks of water. Even more with additional conservation measures. I’m pretty happy with that. (Consider that it takes two weeks after a nuclear blast for the fallout radiation to subside to acceptable levels. Just sayin’.)
It feels good to be properly prepared for unusual circumstances. I’m totally off grid capable with my electricity and good for two weeks with water. I could also include water from my hot tub if it ever came to that.
Are you prepared? No? Well, what are you waiting for?
Dermatofabricitis is a rare skin disorder characterized by an extreme hypersensitivity reaction to contact with any type of fabric. Individuals affected by Dermatofabricitis experience severe discomfort, inflammation, and pain upon exposure to clothing materials, regardless of their composition or softness.
The condition manifests as an exaggerated immune response within the skin’s dermal layers, leading to the release of inflammatory mediators and histamines in response to fabric contact. This immune hyperreactivity results in the rapid onset of symptoms upon contact with clothing, including intense itching, burning sensations, and the development of painful, blistering lesions.
The symptoms of Dermatofabricitis can vary in severity from mild to severe, with some individuals experiencing debilitating pain and discomfort that significantly impairs their quality of life. The affected areas of the skin may become red, swollen, and tender, with the potential for secondary infections due to scratching and compromised skin integrity.
Management of Dermatofabricitis typically involves strict avoidance of contact with all types of fabric. Affected individuals may require specialized garments made from hypoallergenic materials or non-fabric alternatives to minimize skin irritation and prevent exacerbation of symptoms. Affected individuals may be required to live completely clothing-free in order to avoid the painful rash.
Although Dermatofabricitis is a chronic and incurable condition, symptomatic relief can often be achieved through a combination of avoidance strategies, topical treatments to soothe inflammation, and medical interventions to manage associated complications. However, living with Dermatofabricitis requires significant lifestyle adjustments and ongoing support to maintain comfort and minimize the risk of symptom flare-ups.
Hooray!! I fixed the cruise control on my 2008 Prius after doing without for over 10 years.
It always comes down to “just doing it.” The cruise control on my Prius stopped working a long time ago, but I’m not a huge fan of it anyway, so I never bothered to fix it. I mostly just drove from home to work and back, so it was never really necessary.
The problem isn’t in the cruise control itself, but in the control stalk on the steering wheel. There’s a mechanism called the “Clock Spring” that is a spiral wire that allows the wheel to turn while keeping the buttons connected. This part apparently wears out easily, taking some or all of the button functions with it. The main buttons still worked for me, including the AC temp and radio volume. I could use the LCD touch screen for the other functions that didn’t work, all except the cruise control. I put it off forever.
Finally, recently, I decided to check it out as I am hoping to embark on some long journeys. With a little googling, I came across the word “Clock Spring” which opened up some usable results. The part I needed only cost $30.00 on Amazon, so I ordered it. I watched a few videos on installation and it looked pretty easy. When the part arrived, I set to install it.
It only took about an hour, which included a small setback when I had to figure out that you have to remove the steering wheel position sensor and attach it to the new clock spring. I thought I had purchased the wrong part that was missing the sensor. YouTube set me straight, so I swapped it and put the steering wheel back together.
I hooked up the battery and turned the car on. Like magic, all the buttons worked, and the cruise control light lit up when I pressed the button on the stalk.
It’s amazing how easy and inexpensive it was to fix, and I did without it for 10 years. I love my 2008 Prius and have every system operating perfectly except for the tire pressure monitoring system, which needs to have the sensors replaced due to dead batteries. Even though I just got new tires, I didn’t want to deal with them and have to figure out where to go to get them programmed to communicate with the car. I’ll just leave the electrical tape over the light for now until I’m ready to bother with it. Otherwise, the car is 100% and good as new with over 200,000 miles. Max Awesome!
I just watched the first two new episodes of Doctor Who 2024. They were HORRIBLE! I’m not complaining about the new doctor. He’s fine. But the stories are just plain stupid. They seem to be written for little children.
I grew up on Doctor Who, watching it since the 1980s. Each episode and story were good and interesting. They made you think. They were written for adults as well as children. They were worthy of watching and had you looking forward to the next one.
Oh, Wait! The Disney logo just came up at the end of the credits. Now it makes sense. Thanks, Disney. Fuck you for ruining Doctor Who. You assholes! Why must you ruin everything that’s good and decent?
I woke up before my 7:00 alarm. It was a good thing because I needed to fix the cat’s automatic feeder that a raccoon seems to have discovered. Great. I anchored it down and barricaded it in so hopefully it will be OK now. My sister is going to stop by in 2 days and check on it.
I was already packed so all I had to do was gather a few last minute things and I was ready to leave at 8:00. It was a 3 hour drive to Galveston and I lucked out that other than a short traffic jam, I made it with 30 minutes to spare before boarding time started for me. Somehow I ended up in the wrong terminal for the wrong ship so after waiting in line, I had to leave and go to the other terminal. Dumbass me. I need to pay more attention
Eventually I boarded the ship (Carnival Breeze) which was already full of rowdy, horrible, gross, humans. I made my way to find my room which meant waiting forever for an elevator or climbing six floors on the stairs. I went for the stairs. The room is tiny but that’s OK. I’m not worthy of a big room. It’s perfect for me. I dropped off my baggage and headed for the Muster Station which is required for every passenger. That only took a few minutes. I then headed back to my cabin to unpack.
I figured now would be a good time to explore the ship. It was pretty easy to figure out since I had been on the Carnival Magic 10 years ago. It’s basically the same. I don’t know if I’ll ever know where I’m going but eventually I tend to end up at the right place. I had a light lunch at one of the buffets.
I found a shady spot on the deck and waiting for the ship to pull out. The captain’s announcements came on the intercomm but I couldn’t make out a word of it because everyone around me didn’t care and was talking loudly and raucously. I guess it couldn’t have been too important. I moved to find a quieter location to watch the disembarkation. I found a spot on the Lido Deck where I could lean against the rail and watch the land slip by as we made our way out of the docking area to the Gulf of Mexico. I sat there alone and invisible for a while.
After becoming bored, I headed to my room, took a shower to wash off the salt and sunscreen and rested on the bed for a little while. It was close to 5:30pm and there was supposed to be a gathering of independent cruisers in one of the bars. I made my way there to check it out. I sat there alone for 15 minutes then decided to go have my dinner.
I was seated in the dining room at my table for one. Interestingly enough, a girl at the next table was also cruising alone. We spoke to each other across the tables making small talk while we ate. Her name was Amy I think. She said her sister didn’t want to come with her and her son would rather work. Married. The food was good, of course. I had some Dragon Rolls for an appetizer, some kind of roast on mashed potatoes and green beans, and Carnival melting cake for desert. After we finished, she got up, we said goodbye and she disappeared. I would have been open had she been interested in a cruise buddy but she showed no interest. I could have been more direct but I didn’t want to ruin her cruise if she didn’t want to. Thanks OK.
I changed back into my shorts and tank top and went out to the rear pool to read a while. The sun was going down could barely be seen through the clouds. With the wind blowing, it was kind of cold. I considered getting in the hot tub but couldn’t find any towels anywhere. They were picking up and stacking the deck lounge chairs as if the pool was closing. It was only 7:30. Not sure what was going on, I decided to give up on this foolishness and went back to my cabin for an another shower. I had put on sunscreen expecting to be out in the sun a bit. I’m already a little sunburned somehow and it’s only the first day.
There are a lot of things going on around the ship but none of them appeal to me. They are for regular people who are drunk and silly. I had seen enough silliness for today so I think I’ll just make it an early bedtime. There’s an outdoor movie at 9:30 that I may or may not attend. I think I’ve seen The Flash before. We’ll see if I feel like it. Otherwise, I’ll just chill out in the cabin where it’s quiet and I don’t feel so awkward. Tomorrow is a whole day at sea. I’m not sure what I’m going to do to pass the time. I certainly don’t want to spend the whole time in my cabin. I’ll just have to brave the silliness and awkwardness.
Part of me wishes I hadn’t signed up for this but I’m hanging in there in hopes of having somewhat of a good time. This is likely to be my last cruise with Carnival. I would prefer something classy like The Titanic minus the sinking. Carnival is, well, like a carnival. Great for dunk people. Awkward for me.
Day 2 — Letting Go and People Watching
It took me a long time to get to sleep because of the shaking of the bed and the creaking of the room. There is also a loud liquid sucking sound that occurs every 20 seconds. The pillows are unsupportive and the bed has a huge hole in the middle. I didn’t plan on complaining here but there it is.
I woke up around 7am and went upstairs to have a breakfast buffet. There was a lot of good stuff but it was cold. Not complaining….
I grabbed my ebook and headed to my favorite corner of the ship. The far right side back corner. There’s a shady spot with tables where I set up for the day. I had a view of the rear sun deck by the pool where I could watch all the Potato Men and Sausage Women getting their sunburns on. I could have done that but I have two shore excursions coming up and there’s no need to get pre-sunburned. There were even quit a few kids considering school is still in session. I guess they were “sick.” Cough cough.
There’s no good place to lay back and read in the shade so I leaned back in a chair against the side window of the ship and put my feet up on another chair. I had this table staked out for the majority of the day. The table next to me filled and emptied a number of times. I read from the morning until around 2:00 grabbing some paper-thin, floppy, tasteless pizza for lunch.
This rear corner of the ship is my favorite because it’s relatively quiet, without any loud music banging into your ear like a sledgehammer as there is at the center swimming pool. I was able to concentrate on my reading and enjoying the fresh ocean air.
I was lucky to get a room on the 9th floor which is just one floor below the Lido Deck where all the food and swimming pools are. After determining that the rest of the ship is for drunkards and fools who will buy anything, I was happy to keep to my little portion. Even in the pool area, people were buying beer and mixed drinks from a server. I don’t know how much they cost but they must have been cheap because they were buying with abandon. (I’m sure they were expensive but these people were too dumb to care. It’s good to be rich.)
So, by 2:00 I was getting tired of reading and being invisible, and my butt was starting to hurt from so many hours of sitting. I headed back to my cabin, took a shower to wash off the crazy, and it felt really good to lie in the bed for a few hours in the dark while listening to some podcasts.
After recuperating, I was ready for a little dinner. Somehow the two pieces of paper-thin pizza were still filling my stomach so I thought I would eat light. It was “Elegant Dining Night” which is also silly, so I decided to steer clear of the fancy restaurant and just eat at the buffet. I was going to eat a salad but the salad didn’t look appetizing so I tasted a few different entrees and a little desert. Didn’t overstuff.
Next came the 7:30 88 Keys Piano Show. I think I’m deaf. It was very loud. They basically played well known tunes and had dancing, video and Lasers. They weren’t actually playing the piano though. They were key-synching and sometimes not very convincingly. I hope they were actually singing. I was kind of put off by the fake piano playing but I’m a musician myself so I can’t just let that go. The show was still entertaining. I give it a thumbs-up and was better than a completely dark cabin.
I was going to go back to my room but my phone indicated that a comedy show was starting soon. I decided to check it out. It was just down a few floors from me. It took forever to start as they spent 30 minutes of the time selling alcohol. It was a lounge after all. The people next to me said their blue drink tasted like fish. I didn’t know what it was. Being blue, maybe it was an ocean themed drink and I would expect it to taste like fish.
The comedy show was really good. It made me crack my serious face. I don’t remember the guy’s name but he was supposedly on HBO. Carl Strong I believe.
That’s enough for me for today. I went back to my room to sign off. I decided that it was obvious at that point that I would not be using the condoms I brought along so I jacked off, took a shower and went to bed.
Day 3 – Cozumel
I woke up close to 7. The ship hadn’t arrived at port yet as I had expected. I went to the breakfast buffet again. This time the food was warm, but the Eggs Benedict had a strange taste anyway. Like some kind of cardboard I’ve never eaten before. I don’t think I’ll try that again.
Next, I went to the ship’s railing where I could see land in the distance. We must be getting close. I went to the other side and we were actually approaching the dock. I watched for a while as a little rain fell from the mostly cloudy skies. I headed back to my cabin to prepare for docking and to gather my stuff for the Cozumel excursion. The announcement was made and everyone made their way down to the bottom of the ship to exit the ramps on level zero. It didn’t take long.
You walk down the dock where you are force-funneled through a duty-free shop full of jewelry, alcohol, cigarettes, and other things I have no interest in. Not many other people stopped either. I guess they’ll buy their dumb stuff when they leave.
I found my gathering place for the “Awesome Snorkel and Beach Club” excursion. While waiting for the group to get checked in, I bought a small towel in one of the nearby shops for $15.00. I only brought $30 with me thinking that would be enough and I’ve already burned half of it. Turns out I didn’t REALLY need the towel but now I at least have a souvenir for a while.
The group was taken like ducks following their mother to the bus area where we loaded onto a bus with no windows and loud music. It was quite a long ride to get to our beach club. The first thing they did was lead us to the snorkel area where we got our HOW TO talk. I had brought my own mask from my scuba equipment but the fins were too long to pack so I used their tiny fins. I wished I had my own. Small fins are underpowered. The snorkel was pretty nice. It has been many years since I’ve snorkeled in ocean water and it took me a while to get my bearings. It didn’t help that one of my fin straps came unbuckled in the water. I recalled to my scuba training and kept calm while I removed the fin and fixed the buckle while floating. After that I was good.
The snorkel itself was pretty nice. It maybe lasted around 30 minutes or so and was near the shore in 10-15 foot deep water. Still, the water was clear and there were plenty of colorful fish to see which swam right in front of your face. I also saw a Stingray and two starfish. This certainly isn’t the Great Barrier Reef, but what do you expect? It was worth it and our whole group had a great time.
After we returned our equipment we were free to spend as much time as we wanted in the beach club where I found a nice lounge chair under the shade of a palm tree. I sat invisibly while watching the fat black girls in tiny bikinis and thongs. What a world we live in. If only men had that freedom too. We’re getting there but I’ll be to old by that time. Where were these girls when I was young?
I spent an hour or so sitting there during which time I got tired of my own thoughts and pulled out my EarPods and listened to a podcast to help pass the time while looking at the sun and sea.
I needed the diversion because my thoughts kept ruminating on how awkward I felt and how I didn’t fit in or belong here. I tried to dismiss them as much as possible. I hoped I was as invisible as I felt.
People were starting to thin out so I gathered my bag and headed for the shuttle station for the ride back to the ship. Being a single traveller, I was offered the last available seat on the bus in the center of the very last row. I sat next to a young woman who made at least some small talk with me.
The trip has bumpy and swervy and a couple of times the girl’s bare upper arm touched my bare upper arm. It was nice. Perhaps this was the best part of the trip so far. I haven’t been touched, even inadvertently, in at least two years since my mom passed away. I could use a hug right now.
Eventually we got back to the ship where I boarded. It was around 2:30 and I hadn’t eaten. I had to rent a locker for my stuff at the beach which ate up another $5.00 so I didn’t have enough money to buy an overpriced lunch at the beach’s Mexican food restaurant. Lesson learned. Bring more cash next time. I gave the shuttle driver a $5.00 tip. It was supposedly his birthday today. I figured I might as well donate some of the leftover cash to The People.
I went to the “Blue Iguana” taco station on the ship and had two tiny tacos. They were very mediocre. Needing more, I had one of their burritos. It was like a Half-sized Chipotle but not as good. It was better than the tacos though.
I took it easy in the room for a few hours to rest then went to the buffet for dinner where I had a big salad and should have stopped but my interest got the best of me so I had a plate of samples from the main buffet. I don’t think I overdid it too much. Overall, I don’t think I’ve overdone it with poor eating this trip. I could have done much worse. I’ll get back to my regular eating when I get back. This is supposed to be special so don’t worry about that.
It was getting dark so I went out on the deck to watch the coastline of northeast Yucatán pass by. There were lots of buildings but not as many lights as I would have expected. I think most of those buildings have been damaged in the big hurricane a while back. It’s still early but none of the evening entertainment looks interesting to me so I’ll just all it an early night. Tomorrow is Progreso. I don’t know much about Progreso but I assume that’s not where they make the soup. My excursion starts at 10:00 and includes a Cenote (a natural sinkhole pool), Wildlife, Mayan Ruins, a buffet and another beach. I hope this one is a little more classy.
Supposedly, the Yucatán is where the asteroid that killed all the dinosaurs hit. I wonder why there’s no evidence of it. I have a theory that the whole Gulf of Mexico is the asteroid crater. Look at the shape of it.
Day 4 – Progreso
I woke up around 8am and went upstairs for some brekky. At 10:00 we were to be down at the end of the dock to meet our tour guide. It was a pretty big group and filled the bus except for a seat next to me. Our first stop was a natural pool or Cenote where we could swim and cool off and see some wildlife like a group of raccoons that come right up to you. They are still wild so you can’t pet them no matter how cute they are. No feeding them either which wasn’t a problem since I wasn’t carrying any food. It was a short boat trip to an island covered in mangrove trees I think. Nice place.
Our next stop was a Mayan Ruin site. Aaron, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable of the area and has even studied the Mayan language and shared a few words with us. It’s not like Spanish at all. The ruins are pretty amazing to think that people lived there considering the hot weather and high humidity. I probably won’t complain about Texas humidity any more. Yeah, right. It’s almost as bad. I got lots of pictures.
We didn’t stay long and that was OK with everyone because of the heat. I was sweating like a pig and I’m somewhat used to it. The AC in the bus was very welcome.
We drove through an area with a bunch of fake dinosaurs and it turns out that is the area where the Chixalub asteroid hit. Neat. We were driving through the crater. We need another one of those to reset the world again. LOL.
Our final stop was a beach hotel/resort where we had an “authentic” Mexican food buffet in a shady, sandy spot. It was OK. I imagine it would be more authentic if it was in a restaurant environment and had better presentation. I sampled most of it. After that we had an hour to enjoy the beach. I got in the water for a while. It was slightly cold but nothing to complain about. It was nice and though it was not “clear” it was way clearer than the brown water of the Texas beaches. Shortly before we were to board the bus, we had a rum tasting where we tried tiny shot glasses with flavors local rum. I’ve never had rum before so I thought I would give it a try. It was good but not something I want to drink often.
The people must have been tired because it was a subdued ride back to the ship. Or maybe drunk. It was a great tour. I highly recommend it. Look for Aaron.
I got back to my room, cleaned up and waited for dinner at 6:00 where I went to the dining room to take my chances. It was a good meal. I had stuffed mushrooms for appetizer, Chicken Parmesan for the main course, and Tiramisu for desert. All very good. Probably my best meal yet.
Next was the 7:30 show, “Flick” in the main theater. Lots of dancing, singing, lasers and video effects. Pretty neat. It was good. Loud.
After that there was just time to get to the back of the ship to watch another Comic at the comedy lounge. He was pretty good too. Did voices and played the electric guitar very well. I wished the show was longer.
Day 5 – The Voyage Home
I woke up a little after 7:00. The earplugs were starting to chafe my ear canals. If it wasn’t for the Every-20-seconds-sucking-sound I could probably do without them. I am glad I brought them with me. Never travel without earplugs.
I went up for the usual condimental breakfast where I once again noticed that I didn’t recognize any of the music playing on the speakers. At least it wasn’t loud. It was just repetitive and annoying in a back of your brain kind of way. It was mostly electronic drum beats and a woman screeching random notes. Music.
There’s still a whole day ahead of me and only one thing on the list of “fun things” that has any interest for me. The map on the TV shows that we are almost halfway home. We’ll be in port tomorrow morning which, at this point, can’t come soon enough. It’s not that this cruise was bad but it’s kind of a “No country for single introvert men” situation. I took this trip to get out of my bubble but the bubble only shrank and came along with me. Wherever you go, there you are. It is obviously a repressed mental disorder caused by a lifetime of loneliness and intelligence.
I just went down to the service desk to find out about a “behind the scenes” tour that briefly appeared on my phone yesterday evening. Of course, it was sold out. It’s a tour where you get to see the workings of the ship. Maybe there’s a YouTube video. They really should do those every day instead of just once. They charge extra anyway and could rake in more dough if they had multiple tours. As an engineer, it probably would have been the highlight of my trip.
I changed into deck attire, grabbed my ebook and my bubble and went to my favorite spot on the rear deck to read and watch the ocean and time pass. I actually finished my book “The Elegance of the Hedgehog”. Book review coming soon. It was a pretty appropriate book for me considering my feelings at this time. At another table I tried to ignore some loud white women discussing their banal existence.
While reading an older Asian woman sat at the table next to mine and played a game on her phone. Her serene bubble touched my invisibility bubble and it was kind of calming. I assumed she was waiting for her husband and eventually found that I was correct. Also showing up was what I think was her Down Syndrome granddaughter who immediately saw through my invisibility bubble and smiled and waved at me. I smiled and waved back. She offered her fist for a bump and I complied. She spoke to me but I couldn’t hear what she was saying due to the noise and her gentle voice. She may have been speaking in Japanese but I played along getting the gist of the conversation. We said goodbye with an exploding fist bump as her grandmother drug her away down the hall without any eye contact with me. This experience left me with a tear in my eye ad a smile on my face that lasted at least 10 minutes.
When I finished my book, which surprisingly included an encounter with someone having Down Syndrome, it was time for lunch so I hit the buffet, which had some pretty good and different choices. It was good.
I had to go to the bathroom and found that my room had not been serviced. yet. I didn’t want to hang around and be in the way so I found a sheltered lounger up in the forward adult only section where I listened to a podcast and rested my eyes until the sun was no longer avoidable. As a nudist, I’ll be plenty sun-kissed by the end of the summer so I had rather not get sunburned unnecessarily. Some sun is good for you but too much is bad.
By that time, my room was done and it is early afternoon. I have an hour to kill before the Harry Potter trivia thing at the middle pool. The pool is FAR too noisy right now with a black DJ incessantly making repetitive pounding noises at amplification level 11. That’s why I never hang out at this pool. I’ll take my chances of finding a chair at the exact time the trivia starts. If not, who cares. I’ll chill in the darkness for a while and listen to another podcast while children repeatedly thunder down the hallway. What would it be like if this wasn’t a school day?
I just noticed that the Harry Potter trivia is for kids in the children’s only club. Pbbbbt. I’m only 8. I just look 55.
The maps shows that we are more than halfway home. I’m past beginning to look forward to returning to my regularly scheduled program.
Rest – Dinner – Sleep
I think I’ll eat at the buffet tonight because last night I ate in the main dining room and felt infinitely awkward sitting alone at a table for two, six inches away from a couple who couldn’t see me at all. I don’t need that kind of mental abuse when I eat.
There’s a show about diversity and inclusion in the theatre tonight but I’m not interested. I’m not a millennial safety zombie. I grew up in a time where if you wanted to be something, you went out and made it happen.
Day 6 – The Return of the King
I digitally scheduled myself for debarkation between 8:30 to 9. I might at least have another mediocre but free breakfast before the drive home. That way I won’t have to stop and eat anywhere.
Although I seem to have disliked much about this cruise, there were ample good moments to make up for the bad. The bad moments weren’t necessarily so bad. I’m proud of myself for going with the flow as much as can be expected. I didn’t complain about the hole in my bed, the unsupportive pillows that made my neck hurt, or even the ever-present every 20 seconds sucking sound. I took it like a man. Suffering builds character.
I look forward to putting the ship in my rear view mirror and saying goodbye forever to the 2000 bohemians whom I simultaneously abhor and envy.
Will I do this again? Perhaps, but not with Carnival. I’m assuming that Royal Caribbean might be more classy but it’s not the ship that makes it classy, it’s the clientele. I’m thinking that the time of classy sailing is long past. Still, I’ll look into it for next year. I hear they offer single passage at a single price.
For me, it’s not about the cruise itself, it’s about the destinations and seeing some of the world live and in person. Maybe there’s a better way. I guess I should look into flying to locations and exploring them on my own. It’s unfortunate that the majority of the beautiful destinations are generally dangerous and there’s a lot to be said for safety in a group. Perhaps my invisibility can work to my advantage in this case. If only there wan’t a language barrier. Perhaps I should start with the United States. If only I had a traveling partner to make my existence feel more legitimate.
I’m glad to be home where my house is my own personal private cruise ship through time.
If you read my whole report, I’m impressed. I wrote it mostly for myself in order to preserve the memories which will soon be lost to the fog of time. It’s always nice to go back and read about it again.
Yay! My cruise is coming up in a few days. I’m starting to get my stuff together. I should be able to pack everything I need in a small carry-on style roller case.
I’m still looking forward to it and even though this is my second cruise, I watched some YouTube videos with tips and stuff to help me prepare. It should be a breeze. Lol.
I’m not really sure what I’ll be doing the whole time, so I’ll just take it minute by minute. As an introvert, there are a lot of things I’m not interested in like drinking, dancing, gambling and clubbing. I’ll mainly spend time by the pool, see a few shows, watch the evening movie by the pool, and enjoy the food. I think I’m most excited about all the food. No doubt I’ll gain a few pounds because I want to eat it all.
I’m set for two shore excursions, which should be exciting. I hope I can keep from getting sunburned.
I was originally thinking it would be great to find someone to spend some time with, but on second thought, I’ll probably just stay invisible in order to keep it simple. I certainly won’t say no if another invisible person wants to hang out with me, but it’s no longer my primary goal. Who knows. I’ll keep my mind open.
My boarding time is 1:00. I’ll probably leave the house around 8am to make the drive to Galveston. It should take 3–4 hours, which gives me an hour to spare. Maybe I’ll leave at 7:30. Yeah. That’s it. I won’t want to stop and eat a big lunch because of all the food on the ship. I might stop at Buc-ees for something snacky to much on during the drive. Got to make it feel like a road trip.
All my documents are in order and on hand, and I’m pre-checked-in, so all should go smoothly. It’s going to be weird being around all those regular people. I looked at them all walking around like zombies on the YouTube videos. Good thing I’m invisible. I’ll just blend in with the furniture and be just fine.
Wish me luck. I’ll post a full report when I return.
I’m still working on my promise to get out and do stuff, even if I have to go alone. Today I had a doctor appointment in New Braunfels, so I decided it was a great time to visit Natural Bridge Caverns since I’ll already be more than halfway there.
I first went for my first visit to my new doctor since I got new insurance for this year. I really liked this office. Everyone was very friendly and happy. I almost like going to the doctor anyway, since a doctor’s visit is a form of attention.
After that I stopped by Home Depot for a few things then had lunch at Chipotle. I likes Chipotle.
Once my tummy was satisfied, I drove a short distance to the Caverns. It has been a really long time since I’ve been there. At least 10 years or maybe more. Time is going by at an astounding rate now, so who knows. I’ve probably been there 3 to 4 times since I was born. Last year, they opened a newly discovered portion of the caverns that I had never seen before, so it was exciting!
I was making a day of it, so I bought the combo-tour, which included both the new and the old caverns. It was $54. Wow. I’m sure it didn’t cost that much 40 years ago during my first visit. I was only paying for myself, so I guess it wasn’t too expensive. Good thing I don’t have a family, right?
I do have to admit that it felt a little weird being there alone. To make it worse, at the beginning of each tour, they take a picture of you so you can buy it later. I REALLY hate this forced marketing practice because it makes lonely people feel extremely lonely, standing there by themselves trying to force a smile. They did this to me at NASA in Houston. Talk about an unnecessary mindfuck. I considered making a big deal of it, but I went along with it knowing full well they were wasting ink on me because there was no way I was going to buy this picture. It was my only solace. Joke’s on them. I tried to forget about it and move on. Fog!
Being a Thursday during work/school hours, I expected to probably be on the tour alone but was surprised to see how many people were there. I think the majority of them were tourists with funny accents. One family that was on my tour spoke in what sounded like Russian. I recognized a few words, like “Da.” I think I heard one say Ukraine, so they might have been from there. I guess when your country is being destroyed, there’s no school, so you might as well go tour safer places. They spoke English pretty well too. I took their picture for them in front of the “bridge.”
The caverns were most awesome. They had updated the lights and handrails since my last visit. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and outgoing as well. It kind of brought back childhood memories and since things in a cave change very slowly, taking 100 years to grow an inch, they basically were the same. Well, maybe a 1/2 inch longer now. Eeek.
I pondered time as I looked at some formations that took millions of years to look as they are. We are just a blink in time in comparison. They will be around long after I’m gone. And being underground, probably long after the humans have nuked themselves into oblivion. It’s so bizarre to think about stuff like that. Time is amazing for the planet. It’s quite the bitch for humans.
If you happen to be in Central Texas, I highly recommend a visit to Natural Bridge Caverns while you’re still alive. I think I’ll put it on my agenda to visit all the other caves again while I’m still healthy enough to navigate them.
I’ve written about this recently, but I feel like I want to cover it again because the more I write, the more it makes sense and I can get a better hold on the concept.
It comes back to me, especially when I hear about the death of a famous person. Often a well-known celebrity or even a person who made special contributions to Humanity. They might mention their passing on the news, and then you never hear about it again. They’re dead and nobody cares any further. It’s like, “Thanks for improving the world, now I have to go over there and worry about more important things and never think about you again.”
If nobody really gives a damn about a person like that, then what chance does a nobody like me have? So then it comes back to, why bother? If you’ve got what it takes to make a difference, then by all means, do it. Otherwise, just hang back and don’t stress about the fact that you won’t.
It can be a great relief that you don’t really HAVE to do anything. You may think you do, but you obviously don’t. When you accept that fact, you are instantly free. You may now do as you please and enjoy life. Do you really want to spend your best years struggling to achieve something that won’t even matter in the end? A wise man once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” I almost did. In fact, I missed more than half of it before I began to learn the lesson. I need to make better appreciation of what I have left. From now on, I’m one level up on freedom.
I was lucky enough to live very near the path of totality, so I picked up my sister, and we drove 65 miles to Blanco, Texas. It was an easy drive getting there. We passed a number of people parked in rest areas and businesses who were obviously set up for viewing. Using Google Maps, I had selected a hopefully to be available location to park and experience the phenomenon.
It was a small cemetery in a rural section of the town. I figured being a fairly secluded but public place, nobody would hassle us. It was a very good choice. A few other people had also chosen that spot, but it wasn’t crowded. There was even a portapotty there. I chose… wisely.
We were there early, so we walked around the cemetery looking at all the unusual gravestones, many of which were dated from the early to late 1800s. We returned to my car which was parked under a large oak tree and got out some folding chairs to sit and wait. We weren’t sure when the eclipse actually started, so I searched the app store and found an app that was exactly what I was looking for. It had all the pertinent information, including a wonderful graphical simulation. That simulation was especially useful because the sky was overcast. It showed that there was already 30 percent coverage. There were occasional thin spots in the clouds, so we took out our welding glass and sure enough, we could see it. Quite exciting.
The app included a countdown to totality, so we sat in the chairs and compared the simulation to the sun whenever it showed itself. As the time drew nearer, it was getting noticeably darker, like dark clouds preceding a major storm. The timer got down to one minute and the changing darkness was visible as darkness fell. I counted down with the simulator 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ZERO!! It was indeed dark as night. A small solar-powered landscape light on the grave in front of us flicked on. I stood up so I could best take in my surroundings. It was so weird. The birds had actually gotten quiet, as expected.
I appreciated that my fellow viewers were reverent about it, as well as the residents of the cemetery. They were all totally silent and were drinking in the experience. Only softly-spoken comments could be heard. I was curious, so I opened the app on my phone to view the video through my gate camera back home. It was dark enough that it had switched into infrared night mode. It wouldn’t have been as dark at home, but it would have been around 95% coverage or more.
The app counted down to the end of totality. At that point, the light quickly started to return, like a time-lapse sunrise. Within one minute, it was day again. A rooster crowed in the distance. Seriously!
I sent a tip to the author of the app. He did a great job!
What an experience. It was totally worth the drive. There wasn’t much else to see or do, so we packed up and hit the road back home to hopefully beat the masses. We still got stuck in a 45-minute delay traffic jam, but it was through a beautiful country drive, so it wasn’t so bad.
I hope you got to experience it in some way. What more can I say?
Buying Time 