Sunday Morning waking up

[ToddDH]

I was going to title this thread Sunday Morning coming down...but then I figured, "From what?"

Despite what has happened in the Med, I still am so looking forward to our Epic Cruise in March. Of course the anti-cruise crowd will be clamoring, "We told you so!" but that's to be expected.

I do believe some good will arise out of this. As they do in this country, I think the lifeboat drill will be first on the agenda for all cruises around the world, if not right away. This is a wake up call for all those passengers who, "Can't be bothered." with attending these sessions.

Thanks Mike for some info I always wondered about. I just thought those large white globes on the upper decks housed electronics or something such as that. I would never have guessed they contained life rafts. I read yesterday that there are enough of those for over half the people on the ship.

I guess it's possible that the ship could have lost power and drifted toward the reef but what I can't understand that if that happened, the Captain didn't make an announcement, "just in case." From what I have learned thus far, the power only started failing after the ship hit the shoal. But then again, engine room power alone may have failed. At least the recovered black box will tell the story.

I also don't believe that this tragedy will have too awful much of a long term impact on the industry. Even when an airliner goes down, there remain hundreds of thousands of people continuing to board them.

It also will probably bring some safety modifications in both construction and training in one form or another. The loss of life not to mention the destruction of a 457 million dollar mega ship will pretty much ensure that.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable Sunday. I'm taking the day off from housework...well almost everything, just to read!

Prayers (especially for those inolved in the tragedy) as well as those on the list and a request for Blessings upon all continue.

[rollerdonna]

Good morning Todd and all to follow.
Yes, it is sobering alright, seeing news footage of that beautiful ship lying on its side, 1/2 submerged, and knowing that people died because of the Captain's mistake.
As I'm writing my review and going through hundreds of photos of the Equinox, I am remembering how beautiful she was, and just how much goes into operating a huge ship like that and I just can't imagine one like it going down. Scary indeed.

Well, it seems that winter has finally arrived on the evening of Jan. 14. While we were playing trivia at the pub last night, it started snowing, and by the time we drove home, it was snowing and blowing heavily, which is great fun on a dark country road with no streetlights!
It is stilll snowing lightly this morning, and this time, the ground is completely covered. If it stays this cold (-7C) I guess the snow will stick around.....
Like Todd, I have absolutely no plans for today,
except relax and read and enjoy the quiet.
Wishing you all a good Sunday!

donna

[Trip]

Hi Kids,
No snow on the ground here, but, brrrr. I can deal with it, and, wish the rest of the month would be the same.

One thing I have seen from all the news coverage about the Concordia is, people have such
individual versions of what they saw, & how things were handled. People standing on the shore, helped by the generosity of the Italian locals, speak of their own struggles, so different from the passengers standing next to them. These memories,surely to haunt them
all......

Not sure what today will bring, but, that's ok

Make it a good one.

[Henry43]

Frigid temperatures here today .I am hibernating .

[sue]

temp here is swfl...33 temp in Colorado where our daughter lives 46...something wrong with this picture! Heater is cranking I am sooooo cold.

Wondering also about the cruise ship sinking however I wait for all the answers to come in until I have an opinion. But sad for the people who had to go through this and lost their lives!

On a brighter side our place in Germany is booked. we always stay at a farm that is 100% organic , including the meat cows They bake their own bread in an oven thats 100's of years old. The couple that runs it is just great and we enjoy staying at one of 2 holiday apartments there. They have a wind mill that generates electric for the whole place and heat is also bio<dont ask me how> She makes wonderful organic pastries for the coffee shop and organic luncheon meat and the beer is awesome. Well so much for that today

Stay warm!

[skymaster]

G'Morning Mates, from frigid downtown Lakeland, Florida. It was exactly 32 degrees this morning when the pups wanted to go out and whizz. Well, they got the job done, then IMMEDIATELY headed for the door to come back in. (I don't blame them,,,it's COLD out there!) Supposed to get back up into the 70's this afternoon though. Think I'll wait a while before I head out the door.
WOW, what a shame about "Concordia". I have a feeling that the rules, reference the life boat drill may change, although, on our sailings, 99% of the time we have the drill BEFORE we ever set sail. My heart goes out to all those involved in that tragedy. After listening to a young woman involved, it sounds like they are getting assistance in their quest to get help, and get home.
Hope all of you have a GREAT day, and a fantastic week.

"SKY"

[bjm123]

Nothing on tap here today. Lack of sleep is getting old.
I have been reading a lot though. Almost 400 books on the Nook to read. Guess I need to check out the B&N website as I have not been there in a few days. Anything to pass the time. Can you tell I am so bored?

Brenda

[Moiraine]

Good morning mates. It's bright and sunny here, although a bit chilly. I am dreading calling my mom. She hates anyone in her family going on vacation. This cruise disaster will have her going at me with both guns...but I can't live my life the way she wants. Lightning could strike me in my house, too. Speaking of the cruise ship disaster, there are a lot of questions to be answered. My thoughts and best wishes tot he victims.

Sue, enjoy the trip.

Brenda, enjoy the reading. Sorry you are bored. I know you'll be glad to shed the cast.

Todd, please take the day to rest.

Donna, enjoy the snow.

Trip, glad you have no snow.

Sky, I don't blame the pups.

Henry, stay warm.

Have a good day peeps.

[Manuel]

Good morning mates

The news about the Concordia are very sad. I hope and pray that some lessons are learned from this incident.

Inreference to how cold it is. I am a new Florida resident and I fin the weather comfortable here. After living in Connecticut for 54 years, anything above 20F is quite doable for me. It's only 10F where i used to live.

I wish you all a nice sunday.

TM

[Mike M]

Good(yes it's still morning in Minnesota) morning.

I have to admit I have been engrossed in the Concordia disaster all weekend. It is a tragedy and my heart and thoughts go out to the families of the casualties and to the passengers and crew that had to go through the ordeal.

I find it disheartening that the evacuation went the way that it did. Overall you find that people who didn't panic had better things to say than those who jumped overboard or panicked and were unsure of what to do.

The one thing that I found ridiculous were accounts from passengers that were angry that Costa had not made arrangements for them on the island or there was no one from Costa there to meet and coordinate rescue efforts. What do they think? Cruise lines have teams shadowing the ships in case they sink and can whip up disaster recovery assistance in an hour? It is wonderful what the citizens of Giglio did for the passengers. Opening their homes, churches, schools and business' for the passengers.

Today is just a "see how it goes" day with nothing concrete on the agenda. We have the grandkids until tomorrow but they seem content playing with their "stuff" and Grandma is tired today so we are going to just stay home.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday and that all have a wonderful week.

Take care,
Mike

[CruisinK n J]

Good morning. It's overcast and chilly here in SoCal.

Looks like people on this site are chilling out today with no plans. Same here: coffee, breakfast, paper.

Have a good day.

Judy

[snorklr45]

It's nice and mild out here in southern Texas. A very mild winter and low utility bills...But we still have a few mosquitoes around so I'd like to see a hard freeze before winter ends!

Have a doctors appt tomorrow which reminds me of my looming major surgery in 6 weeks. Getting nervous. I have a friend coming in to take care of me post-surgery (very nice of her)..She's a former Army Sergeant; very no nonsense. Just got over the stomach flu which is running rampant in the state of Tx.

Hope you all enjoy a lovely Sunday!!