To Blog or Not to Blog? That is the Question.

Did I get it right Cindy? ;)

I keep thinking about setting up a blog, but I don’t have that many pictures of Abby and I can’t figure out how to get them on a computer anyway, so I haven’t done it. All I would really do is complain about things, and who needs more of that? So I haven’t. But I do have a lot to say about stuff and a neat-o place to put it all would be cool. Yeah right, a JOURNAL. No. Who writes in those? I use Facebook for most of my inner most private thoughts, that’s a good place to keep ‘em, right?

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about the Cruise. I haven’t started packing or weighing my luggage yet, but I have started setting aside clothes and today I am starting to make my own souvenir t-shirts. Not because it’s cheaper, just because I have awesome ideas for t-shirts and no better reason to make them. If I could put pictures from my camera onto a computer I would show you some when I get them done, but . . . don’t hold your breath.

I have started kinda getting ready for the Cruise though. I got my passport. I don’t absolutely hate my picture. I can’t decide on my pages for my stamps yet, but I have decided that if they won’t stamp my passport I am going to draw my own. Speaking of which, Cindy says I have to enter the “Win, Lose or Draw” contest on the ship so don’t let me take any motion-sickness pills that afternoon! Hopefully someone will have thought to bring markers for their children to draw with so I will have a color variety at my disposal, otherwise I might be making my own passport stamps with Carnival Cruise line markers from the gift shop, which they better have, because now I have to have some! I think it’s important to focus on the positive things, like traveling outside the country and seeing and doing and tasting things I wouldn’t in Utah. What’s a little muss and fuss when you look at it like that? Who cares how much it costs me, who else do you know with Carnival Cruise markers? Shazaam! Add it to the list!

Speaking of sickness, John was very sweet the other day when he said he was expecting to spend a lot of time alone on the Cruise. I was confused and asked him “why?” from my fetal position under 2 big blankets on the bed. He said that when I don’t feel well he has learned to leave me alone so he figures he will be leaving me alone a lot on the Cruise. Awww, poor guy! If I hadn’t felt so crummy I would have done more than roll my eyes, but hindsight and all that. . . So I have researched motion sickness remedies and am cutting and pasting them into the blog. Supposedly you adjust, so every time I get on or off the boat I might need to readjust, although it would be quicker and less messy each adjustment. Good to know. Knowledge is power.

"Motion sickness puts a real cramp in your travel style. If you're at sea or traveling by car, bus or train, you'll need motion sickness prevention tips and long term remedy ideas. If you're flying, you may just need to avail yourself of the "barf bag" when motion sickness strikes, but you can still try to make motion sickness on a plane as painless as possible. Let's understand what motion sickness is, understand what causes it and study some prevention and remedy ideas.
Motion sickness starts with a mild feeling of nausea while you're traveling in a car or on a bus, boat, train or plane. If you don't deal with it, it will progress to a bad case of the sweats while your tummy feels worse and worse; eventually, you'll be vomiting - perhaps nonstop. That will lead to dehydration and utter misery.
What Causes Motion Sickness? Your inner ear. According to WebMD.com: "Motion sickness occurs when the inner ear, the eyes, and other areas of the body that detect motion send conflicting messages to the brain. One part of your balance-sensing system (your inner ear, vision, and sensory nerves that help you keep your balance) may indicate that your body is moving, while the other parts do not sense motion. For example, if you are in the cabin of a moving ship, your inner ear may sense the motion of big waves, but your eyes don't see any movement. This leads to a conflict between the senses and results in motion sickness."
How to stop motion sickness before it starts? For starters, you can try several over-the-counter preventative drugs and devices. [Wrist bands that stimulate the nerves in your arm are somewhat helpful, if not stylish.] Fellow travelers have reported great success with scopolamine patches, worn behind the ear. [You can] eat before you travel; starting out with something in your tummy will help.
Once you're traveling in a car or bus or on a boat or train and motion sickness has struck, try these remedies:
· Look at the horizon; focus on a distant point. Don't read - keep watching your horizon focal point. [F]resh air helps. [G]et out and walk around: restores your sense of balance.
· Carry or have access to lots of liquids - club soda [and ginger ale] is a great stomach settler. Guzzle H2O and electrolyte-laden beverages like Gatorade, even if your belly keeps tossing the liquid overboard or out the window. Drink at least eight ounces of liquid every time you throw up.
Traveling by plane? Try the over the counter helpers - the scopolamine patches are meant for long term (up to three day) use, so give them some consideration for long overseas flights. It's hard to find a horizon focal point unless you have a window seat and a clear day and, of course, this technique is useless at night. If you don't want to risk the drowsiness drugs can cause (who wants to land in Paris and head straight for the hotel to sleep?), your only choice may be the "barf bag". Ensure that you stay hydrated!
If you're prone to motion sickness, you may want to carry your own (sorry) barf bags. They're stronger than the type offered by airlines (imagine dealing with a formerly full and now split bag on top of feeling terrible).
Take precautions and take care and remember, it will end eventually!

The blog has really become a giant Frankenstein of information: some decorative and useless like the bolts on his neck, some scary and relevant like his scars on his head, and some hidden under ragged green, gray and purple clothes. Maybe we should go over Halloween instead of Thanksgiving? JK! I wouldn’t miss Halloween for, oh, edit that, it sounded funnier in my head!

I was contemplating having a Thanksgiving dinner before the Cruise, because I love the food, but figure it will go bad while we are away. Been there, done that, Sam and Ella are NOT invited to my turkey leftovers ever again! I thought about doing one after, but I don’t know if I will be in the mood and how do you ask your in-laws to pony up a turkey banquet when you just got back from lying around for 10 days? Any suggestions on this matter would be appreciated, unless they are not kind and then you can stuff ‘em in your turkey. Don’t edit that, I meant it.