April 29, 2015  Graduation Day  Yeah

Well Mary asked me to speak at graduation today  mistake #1 then they tell me to make it short mistake # 2.  I went to Arwin (Head computer person) the other day and asked him if he had any of the old computer paper that is all stuck together and he said no why.  So I told him I wanted to make my speech look a lot longer than it was and he said “give me your speech and we will glue  alot of papers together and make it rolled up. This way it will look long.

This is exactly what we did.  We all marched in (23) from our main “Everything Apple Course” which was 63 hours and 17 from the Mini class (21 hours) to Pomp and ?.  Stan welcomed everyone and told them how much work we did.  He then invited me up to speak.  I went to the podium where Arwin had put my speech and after I greeted everyone I said.  They asked me to speak mistake # 1  then they asked me to make it short mistake # 2 so here goes and I unrolled all these papers!  Everyone was hysterical!!!  Stan and Mary almost feel off their chairs.  Here is a copy of the speech.

Good Afternoon

I have been asked to say a few words from our class.  After speaking with many in our class it seems most of us took this course so we didn't have to ask our kids, grandkids, or significant others for help. We wanted to be able to figure out things without the eye rolling or shaking their heads!

It has been an amazing ride.  And all of us at times felt like throwing in the towel and quitting. I asked some of my classmates to describe it. Here goes

 " thoughts of mass suicide entered my mind a few times,

wanting to throw all electronics overboard more than once and not dialing 3333

there is no way I can do this"

But with Stan's patience and Mary's encouragement we persevered. We have been so fortunate to have Stan and Mary. They have been there for us from day 1. Stan has spent countless hours after class helping each and everyone of us. And let me tell you it was not easy. With the Internet issues alone this man deserves a drink!  Mary has been our cheerleader from day 1. So from all of us we would like to say thank you so much Stan and Mary you have saved us from suicide and throwing electronics overboard which is a strict no no on Crystal.  Classmates please join me.  on behalf of the Everything Apple Graduating Class 2015 we would like to present you with a small token of our appreciation and  our thanks

We presented them with a beautiful globe that moves continuously by the light!  We then were called up individually and handed our diploma and the photographer took individual pictures followed by a group photo of our main class.

Champagne and cookies were served. 

We had gotten invitations in the beginning of the week so I had invited a few of my friends and they all came and clapped.  Ilene and Andy presented us with flowers.  It was a lovely day but we are both so excited that we have 2 more sea days and no class!!!!!! What to do Movie, lecture, sit by the pool oh the choices are endless!

Tomorrow we are in Barbados and we are planning to head to the beach!!!!!

Another great day.  They are really going fast.  We have only 4 more days.  We get off on the 5^th day!  WOW!

Thanks Ilene for the picture

April 28, 2015 Devil’s Island

We were headed to Devil’s Island and there was some question as to if we were going to be able to get over to it.  Something about the Swells.  Captain promised he would do his best.  The Tenders went out and came back and proclaimed it safe.  There were no tours offered.  We were told to go at our leisure and there were people on the Island to answer  questions.

This is the Island that housed the prisoners way back when and it is where no one excaped since there were sharks in the water.   No one that is until Pappion!  They coincidentally showed that movie this afternoon.  They do show movies from the places we are!

We took the tender over and it is really a pretty Island.  It was hot, humid but we walked all around the island which is a gradual incline we saw the prison, the hotel (why anyone would come and stay here is beyond me) and the church and cemetery and we saw the strangest rodent  they look like a huge pack rat without a tail.  Monkeys roam free also and then we saw a beautiful parrot.  Like I said it was a pretty Island but not one I would return to.  There is no swimming due to the Sharks! Nothing to do…..

We saw some homes that we are not sure if people live here all the time or just when tours come in.  There are 2 or 3 other islands nearby all French.

Glad  I went (got that pin in my map) but would not return.

Tomorrow is a sea day and Graduation!!!!!!!

Jail Cell on Devil's Island

Inside of Jail

Church on Devil's Island for the guards and prisoners

April 27, 2015 @ sea

Today is our last DelMar College “Everything Apple” class.  Our projects were to be turned in today and we will get to view them all.  Bill did a great book about his car collection and when we get home we need to change out a few pictures as he didn’t have some of the cars on the laptop and then I will have it printed for him.

I did an IMovie about our Safari called “In the Jungle”  I downloaded the music “The Lion Sleeps tonight” and everytime they sang that I showed the Lion sleeping then I figured out how to stop the music and had the video of the Lion roaring plus more.  It was almost 5 minutes. 

The project could be a slide show, calendar, book, Imovie trailer, or Imovie.  Only 2 of us did the IMovie mostly slide shows or books and one calendar.  They were all great!

Mary asked me if I would say a few words on behalf of the class! OhVey!!!!!  How can I do this I am so shy and quiet!

Tonight is a formal night and I have decided to wear one of the new fancy dress I bought not a long gown.

Tomorrow we will be in Devil’s Island!

I can't upload a video on the ship's internet or I would post our projects.  Maybe when I get home I can do it!

April 26, 2015

Santarem, Brazil

Our tour today was called Snapshot of Santarem.  As most people (over 300) went Piranha fishing we decided on this tour.  We were taken back into the city where the Shuttle left us off and walked to a platform where we saw the “Wedding of the Waters”  this is where the muddy Amazon and the Tapajos river meet.  After this stop we went to a beautiful OLD church and museum.  As Mass was going on this morning we were not able to walk around the church.  We headed to a village along the Amazon.  Yesterday we were both dressed in our Safari gear this am I had the pants and a long sleeved shirt and asked Bill if he was going to change.  He did not want to so he went with shorts and sandals.  As we walked through the Jungle Bill realized he should have had on long pants and sneakers but it was too late. 

We got to see how they extract latex from the rubber tree and we learned how they make a meal from some kind of root.  I would be very skinny if I had to do this.  It looked like a potato and you peeled it then you had to put it through this machine which is a grater with a large wheel then you put it through a looked like a mesh screen and then you had to cook it before you could use it as It was poisonous  then you cooked it like a meal!!!!  This farm also had wonderful fruit they grew.  We spent quite some time here and then we headed back to the ship around noon.

After lunch we rested and I met with Leanne at5 3:45 since we were sailing at 4:00pm.

Tonight they had a special WC show called Bombshell.  It was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe and Sarah played Marilyn and was fabulous.  Everyone was great and the lead singer played the piano and sang Candle in the Wind.  When it was over Gary came out in a Marilyn wig and did a strip tease and had on the dress from 7 year itch when it went up.  He had two people blowing up balloons and put them into his dress and went and stood on the stage where his dress was blowing.  It was hysterical and a great end to another great day.

I just can’t believe that we have only 7 days left.  We have our last Computer class tomorrow we get to see everyone’s project and then we were given invitations to our Graduation Ceremony on the 29^th!

Since I am so quiet and Shy I have been asked to speak at Graduation.  We will actually get College credit for this course as it was 14 hours every segment! And we will march in with caps . 

So  I am exhausted so off to bed I go. 
I am thankful for this wonderful adventure!  I am so blessed!