Football & Deaf Trivia

The huddle formation used by football teams originated at Gallaudet University, a Washington, D.C., liberal arts college for deaf people. The purpose was to prevent other schools from reading their sign language.

Little Red Wagon Trivia

The classic toy wagon was designed by Antonio Pasin, who founded his company in 1918. Pasin wanted to give his wagons a modern flair, and chose the word "radio" for what was then a new form of communication, and "flyer’ for the wonder of flight—hence, "Radio Flyer."

Three of us girls went down a steep hill (actually it was the road in front of one of the girls' houses) in one of those when we were probably around 11 or 12 (who remembers?). When I decided to do it by myself, my weight wasn't enough to keep the front wheels from swerving all over the place no matter how hard I tried to control the steering with the handle. It turned over, and I skidded down the paved road long enough to have many painful abrasions. I hobbled home embarrassed about the whole thing.

Some of us in the neighborhood did foolhardy things like that as well as riding our bicycles "no hands" and standing on the seat while speeding down a driveway that had two right-angle turns in it. My knees were scar tissue after a while. Yes, my mother was home and a good mother, but that's when kids played outside all the time in the neighborhood. We all had large yards, an empty lot, and a woods behind us. We survived quite well actually.

Here's a wagon with cute puppies to help you cope with the sadness of that story.

This Week

I missed DWTS while I was on the cruise and decided not to recap it this week. This season hasn't been that interesting, so I'm not sure I'll recap any more of them. I might just write about them a little.

For almost a week I've been sick with sinus problems and went to the walk-in clinic Sunday to get meds to keep it from going into bronchitis. I got prescriptions for a Z-pack and Flonase spray. I already have prescription Allegra and have been taking all those and whatever else helped like chicken noodle soup. I'm feeling better.

Tuesday I went to Yarn Frenzy, a new yarn shop a friend opened several weeks ago, to take a class to make a hat. So far I've just made simple scarves. Some of us who knitted at a coffee shop on Tuesdays hang out there now. It's a fun group, and I enjoy the social part of it all.

Yesterday I stayed home and read American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson. Thank goodness I'm past the drunk and disorderly part. I dated some guys like that and it brought back memories. I really like his show and knew some of this since he tells about some of it. He's pretty hard on himself, but it sounds as if he was out of control for quite a while. I worked at Feet & More today and read more of it since the owners took the afternoon off to go to Nashville to celebrate their anniversary. Only about five customers came in and several called for appointments and information. Nice afternoon!

Then I headed over to Yarn Frenzy and had fun with Tina, Emma, Yvonne, Hope, and Diane. We ordered pizza and laughed and knitted. All this time I've been a social knitter but now am wanting to try more adventurous (for me at my skill level) projects. I don't expect to ever be that great at it but might make a few neat things.

The rain is knocking too many leaves off the trees before they finish turning colors.

Oh Captain!

After lots of searching, I found a photo online of the captain of the cruise ship we were on. He's Italian and well you can see for yourself. Now, Miss Ginger, I have delivered! I had to crop the passenger who posted the picture out of the photo, but here he is!

Fall Foliage

Linda and I went to lunch today at the Front Porch, a tea room with blue plate specials. This tree was beside it. We're beginning to have beautiful trees which makes such pretty days with a blue sky behind them. I nearly always have my camera in my purse and snapped a few pictures of them.

TV Trivia

Mickey Rooney turned down the role of Archie Bunker in the 1970s sitsom "All in the Family." The former child star was convinced that the show would bomb, and he wasn’t willing to jeopardize his professional reputation, although his film career had been on the skids for years. Little-known character actor Carroll O’Connor won the role as a result.

Confession: I'm glad. I don't like Mickey Rooney. Besides, who could have been better in that part than Carroll O'Connor?

Trivia

Phobia: dishabiliophobia
Fear of: undressing in front of someone

Sometimes that's not a phobia but a public service. I couldn't get drunk enough to think I'd look good enough to get nekkid with any man.

Thankful Trivia

In 1857, Joseph C. Gayetty of New York City invented toilet paper.

Amazon Trivia (no, not the river)

In October 1994, Jeff Bezos wanted to name his new Web venture "Cadabra," as in "abracadabra." But his attorney convinced him that this magical moniker sounded a bit too much like "cadaver." Reluctantly, Bezos went with his second choice: Amazon.com.

This 'n That

I told you that Tina and I both won trophies playing trivia on the ship. She won first and had one point higher than I did. Then other people won games other days, and then I won by one point over Tina. This is it. Or as Tina calls it Ship on a Stick. Impressive, isn't it?


Brigit thinks so.


This is a t-shirt I bought in New Orleans. Yes!


This is my birthday present from Brian he had waiting for me when I got home. They were in a cute gift bag with cartoon pirates all over it and a tag that said, "Happy Birthday and Welcome Back!" He's a good son (and funny, too). The gifts were perfect! I never miss House and Craig Ferguson's show and had planned to get his new book. I have his other one Between the Bridge and the River, and he writes so well! If you watch House, you'll know how it's always lupus. It's sort of hard to tell that it's a black t-shirt since it's against a dark brown (espresso) couch, but I love it! Two of my very favorite British men! Thank you again, Brian!


Of course, Brigit had to get in this photo, too. Gotta love her!

FYI

You guys may call me "Joy" and don't have to add Miss or Ms before it. Thanks for the respect and all, and if you feel better adding titles, go ahead, but you don't have to. I sort of like Doña Alegría. Or just Doña. :-) Auntie Flame still works out just fine for some of you, or Auntie.

Wow Trivia!

Paul Winchell, the ventriloquist, was not only the voice of Jerry Mahoney, Knucklehead, and Tigger in the Winnie the Pooh films, he also invented the artificial heart. He donated the patent for it to the University of Utah.

Last Cruise Pictures

Leaving New Orleans on the Mississippi River


Returning to New Orleans


At the New Orleans Amtrak Station Tina and I seem really interested in what Dick is saying.


Our luggage - my Winnie the Pooh bag (second large one from the right) and black one with the colorful circles which are easy to spot.

Bye-Bye!!



OMG! I can't believe I forgot to tell you how hot the captain is! He's young, Italian, and HOT! Somehow I didn't get a photo of him and neither did Linda. We were too busy ogling him and swooning when he talked.

Cozumel

While I went to Cozumel, I can't say I was really there since I didn't experience being in the real area. It was 118 degrees and so humid that I couldn't handle it very well. I am not a rain forest kind of person and get over-heated here in Tennessee. After we left, they had a cold front that brought the temperatures down to the 80's. It rained a bit that day, so you know it was humid.

I could tell it's beautiful there. We did some shopping and exploring. I bought some vanilla, t-shirts, and jewelry. I wish I could have spent more time there and branched out a lot more. I guess we stayed there a few hours, but Tina and I both got over-heated. :-( I didn't take many photos. Sorry.




When we went to eat, I wasn't sure I'd be able to since I was so hot and clammy. Janie heard about a place she wanted us to eat she'd heard about which turned out to be a big mistake. Do not go to Senor Frog's unless you'd like a male Hooter's, which I know some of you would. It was a frantic frenzy with noise, sexual hats and signs. See what I mean? The one on the left says "Horny Girl" and you can see mine. All the pictures can be embiggened.



Maybe male Hooter's isn't the best description. It was more like some circle of hell according to Dante. To quote Dorothy Parker, "What fresh hell is this?" is also accurate. They're always doing something to you like putting hats or balloons on your head, setting signs behind you, goosing you, slapping you on the butt, blowing whistles, making all kinds of noise, and who knows what else! Here I am trying to be nice about it.


On the way back to the ship.

Progreso

Next time I'm going on some excursions and packing differently. I over packed for one thing and would make a few different choices. You might have noticed a few "Glamour Don'ts" in the pictures. I'm also prepared now for the gauntlet of vendors that assault us when we get off the ship. It's sad and upsetting at the same time. I'd heard about it but wasn't prepared for how invasive and difficult it is. I didn't spend much time in Progreso but wish I'd been with Emma who found a tour for $15 and got to see flamingos, Mayan ruins, villas, local homes, and all kinds of places. I want to go back to several places in Mexico sometime when it's not so hot and when I can be there longer.

That bridge in the background is where we rode the bus since the ship has to dock about a mile from the shore. As soon as we got off the ship and went through the security gates, the vendors started trying to sell us things. They shout and call you over to buy whatever they are selling. We made our way to a table on the deck of a cafe and enjoyed being on land and looking at the Caribbean. The water really is as blue as you hear it is. Many shades of blue and just beautiful. We had Mexican Cokes. Notice that Diet Coke is Coca-Cola Light.

Carnival Fantasy Cruise Ship

There's no way to have taken pictures of being herded through the masses to get on board. We had a taxi ride to the pier which cost $40 (not counting tip) to go about three blocks, and he didn't even touch the luggage. The concierge and guys at the pier did it. After this happened again when we got back, we figured out we needed to check the rates on the cabs. Those red cabs charged $8 and $7 a person! It said that or the meter, which they didn't turn on! Live and learn, huh? Some of the other taxis don't charge that much and go by the meter on short trips. It cost us $11 on a white cab from Amtrak to the hotel which was farther.

When we first saw all those people in lines in a huge room, it was overwhelming! But we got through it and made it on the ship and into our stateroom. Tina and I stared at each other like, "What have we gotten ourselves into?" All those Wal-Mart people and noise and no quiet places! Later on as we found places to go, it was fine and we had fun.

Our room. It's small but efficient - just like the bathroom.



We left our room and went on the Promenade Deck where we spent a lot of our time, and watched as the ship sailed down the Mississippi, which is 110 miles long through the Mississippi Delta to the Gulf of Mexico and takes 8 hours. Since the ship left New Orleans around 4:00 PM, it was dark during most of it. We watched from the Promenade Deck until we had to go to dinner.

Later on, we could see lights from oil refineries along the way. Here they are in the daylight.


I'd like to take that trip during daylight and see more of it sometime.

We saw some of the lights from the windows while we were having dinner in the dining room. Here are Tina and I getting ready to order.

Gwynn and Linda sat across the table from us.

Janie and Dick sat to our right.

Emma and Jeanette were at the table to our left.

Marilyn and Paula sat across from Emma and Jeanette.

This is one of the towel animals our steward left in our room - a different kind every night.

New Orleans

Murals in the hotel in New Orleans.




The Mississippi River from Riverwalk on the way to the streetcar stop.


On the Streetcar not named Desire ... Actually, it's the Riverfront. They cost $1.25 to ride but .40 for seniors!! Such a deal! Tina had to pay full price. Left to right - Linda, Tina, Janie, and Dick.


Yes, we did! Beignets and café au lait at the Café Du Monde! You can't eat them without being messy. Tina unwisely wore black.

Dick, the waitress, Janie

Here's our carriage driver Brendan Finn McSomething who told us interesting stories during the tour.


Front seat left to right - Tina, Janie, Dick Back seat left to right - Linda and me


Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop - the oldest bar in America (1772). Check it and the other 10 oldest bars in the US out HERE. They have curb service. The waitress came out to the carriage to take our order, but it was a little early in the day for us. In New Orleans you can take drinks out on the sidewalk, and the bars are open 24/7 except for an hour on Ash Wednesday from midnight until 1:00 AM. It's definitely a party town!


It's Voo Doo!


Linda and I walked around the French Quarter while the others rode the Canal Street Trolley to the end and back through the Garden District. We happened upon Touché where a friend of Dan's is bartender. I went in and asked an attractive woman behind the bar if her name might be Donna. She said it was, and I told her that Dan from Chicago told me to stop by and tell her hello. She smiled a huge smile and asked how he was and said she'd lost his phone number when she changed cell phones, so I gave it to her. I told her I'd never actually met Dan in person but knew him through blogs. Donna said I'd love him because he's so sweet and nice. I told her I could tell that from what I knew about him already and looked forward to meeting him in person. I told her my name and about "Auntie Flame" - we hugged each other and I let her get back to work. No pictures unfortunately. This is on Dumaine.




Home of the famous Muffaletta!


Blue Dog paintings by George Rodrigue. More HERE


We all met at the Gumbo Shop for dinner (another suggestion by Dan) and totally enjoyed it. Linda and I stopped in earlier for a bowl of gumbo and based on the menu wanted to have dinner there, so we suggested it to the group. Everyone thanks Dan!

End of the day at Pat O'Brien's


I have more New Orleans and cruise pictures I'll post on Facebook.