And the saga continues with a big challenge over the next few days…

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On this date in 2014, our ship was Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.

There are no words I can write to describe how safe I feel being at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, in the competent hands of professionals, none of which I’ve experienced in the past. Every doctor or technician I encounter has the utmost credentials, exhibits kind and caring service, and treats each patient individually, not just as a number and income source in the system.

Doc Theo, a family practice physician in South Africa, was the only other doctor I’ve ever seen who was so qualified, caring, and competent. I last saw him in April 2023, 16 months ago. Since that time, with escalating heart-related problems, I sought the help of a few cardiologists as we traveled from South Africa to Ecuador to Nevada.

The most accurate test results I received were in South Africa. Still, the cardiologist in Ecuador last October and then in Nevada in March misdiagnosed my issues, according to the tests and doctors I have seen at Cleveland Clinic, only in the past few days. The problems I have with my cardiovascular system are still not fully diagnosed, with many more tests on the horizon that have nothing to do with my valves.

First, I met with Dr. Grimm, a heart “plumbing” specialist. He’d ordered numerous tests, including an angiogram, yet to be scheduled, an invasive test to see the status of the patient’s veins and arteries, done in the cath lab. Yesterday, we were waiting to hear about other tests to be scheduled to complete my diagnosis. I was told to call Dr. Grimm’s office at the clinic to arrange my future appointments.

When I was on hold, the scheduler finally came to tell me my next round of appointments would begin on November 7. I was shocked! Did I not just wait four months to start this process? She explained that many others were waiting ahead of me and that she could do nothing about it.

When I explained my symptoms, leaving me in a wheelchair to get around, I kindly asked her to do better. November 7th wouldn’t work for me. I was very diplomatic. She asked me to stay on hold, and she’d see what she could do. I waited a full 20 minutes to have her return on the line asking if we could get back to the clinic in 20 minutes for an appointment with the doctor who is a specialist in the heart’s electrical systems, an electrophysiologist, Dr. Keogh.

Within five minutes, we were out the door after asking the front desk to order a Cleveland Clinic shuttle, one of which makes a loop in the area hotels from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Within minutes, the shuttle arrived, and we made it to Dr. Keogh’s reception area.

After we arrived, I checked My Chart to see if the appointment with Dr. Keogh wasn’t until 4:00 pm. It was 12:30 pm. This wait would be better than waiting until November 7th! Moments later, Dr Keogh’s nurse escorted us to his office. He’d had a no-show and could see me now. Tom and I giggle that it was “safari luck,” an expression we’ve always used when we had great sightings on the many safaris we’ve experienced.

Minutes later, Dr. Keogh entered the room, and his expertise and knowledge far surpassed any cardiologists we’d seen in the past. I felt like I was in the best of hands. The first thing he told me was I had to stop taking the dangerous drug Flecainide, which I have been taking for Afib since last October when we were in Ecuador. It was the only afib (for heart rhythm control) that worked for me.

Ecuador doesn’t allow that drug to be prescribed in their country. When I couldn’t any more than the one month’s supply I had on hand, we left Ecuador and headed to Nevada, where a cardiologist said I had terrible valve disease and needed surgery immediately. He didn’t hesitate to prescribe more of the drug until I could have surgery on my valves.

Dr. Keogh explained this drug could kill me with a massive heart attack and I must stop it now. It’s been 26 hours since my last dose. The drug leaves one’s system in about 48 hours, when the Afib undoubtedly will return. When he reviewed all of my tests thus far, and I explained that Flecainide prevented my heart rate from going above 90, the stress test I’d had on Thursday could have been inaccurate.

When we left his office, he said he’d devise a plan for me and get back to me soon. Time is of the essence when I am going to be in what is called persistent Afib within two days when the drug is out of my system. When we returned to our hotel room, my phone rang. It was Dr. Keogh. He decided I needed to retake the nuclear stress test without Flecainide in my system. Then, he could better determine where to go from there, such as a pacemaker, ablation, surgery, or other treatment modalities.

Within minutes, I received a message from My Chart stating I had a new appointment, rescheduled for another nuclear stress test on Tuesday at 9:30 am. It was such a relief, especially knowing by then, I’d be experiencing awful Afib. Dr. Keogh didn’t want me on any Afib drugs for the repeated test. He explained that if the Afib gets too awful, we should head to the emergency room to oversee my care. That was comforting.

Now, I’m scheduled for the angiogram next Friday instead of November 7th. And so it goes with more tests and an upcoming scary few days, especially when we are moving to the new hotel on Monday. Whew.

I can’t express enough gratitude for the love and support I have been receiving from so many of our worldwide friends and readers. You all mean the world to both of us!

To all of our family, friends, and readers in the US, have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend and a happy weekend for our international readers.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 31, 2014:

We were on Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas. The following day, we were off on our first tour to Le Havre/Normandy, France, for an all-day excursion to see WWII Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and American Cemeteries. For more photos, please click here.

“It’s always something. If it’s not one thing, it’s another”…

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South Kensington consists of one pretty street after another, with parking always at a premium.

My sister Julie often reminds me of the humor from Rosanne Roseannadanna from “Saturday Night Live” when Gilda Radnor said, “It’s always something! If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” See the video here for a chuckle.

It’s so true. None of us are exempt from life’s unexpected turns, which can result in serious situations requiring an enormous amount of time and effort to resolve, all the way down to minor annoyances that may only need a few minutes of our time and little effort to resolve.

Ironically, we get angry and upset over minor annoyances when most of us handle life-changing issues with resolve and determination. That’s where we are right now. We’re leaning into accepting whatever health situation I am presented with over these next few months, but we are annoyed with the small things we encounter along the way.

The only annoyance we encountered associated with our experiences at Cleveland Clinic was on Wednesday when I appeared for the first round of tests in the cardiac unit when my Medicare number couldn’t be entered into their system for some reason. The night before my appointments, I had tried dozens of times to enter my Medicare number into “My Chart,” the medical information system available for doctors and patients.

In “My Chart,” appointments, notes, test results, and communication with medical staff are readily available promptly. Many medical facilities use this system for their patients, which most patients find helpful in reviewing their care processes.

Two days ago, I felt compelled to complete my file before my upcoming appointments on Wednesday. The app kept reminding me to accept my insurance information but to no avail. On Tuesday night, when we went to bed, I worried about why my Medicare number wasn’t accepted into their system.

Awake early on Wednesday morning, I tried again, but to no avail. I called and spoke to tech support for My Chart at Cleveland Clinic, and the rep said, “No worries. They’ll enter the number when you check in for your first appointment at the desk.” That was a significant relief.

Once we arrived at “imaging” for my first appointment, the rep at the desk couldn’t get the system to accept my Medicare info either. After 15 minutes of trying, even with the help of other staff members, we were sent to a different office where a particular tech support person, 15 minutes later, somehow managed to get the Medicare number into the system. We hurried back to imaging for my appointment.

Fortunately, we are always the “early birds,” and we made it to the appointment on time. Since we had three appointments, one after another, we were concerned. If we missed the first one, we could be late for all of them. After all, we waited for these appointments for four months. It would be a fiasco if we missed any of them. Whew!

From there, everything went smoothly at Cleveland Clinic. But in the past week, another medical insurance-related issue cropped up. A week before we left Minnesota, I received a bill for $1300 from Park Nicollet from my recent stay at Methodist Hospital when I had that horrific blood pressure event requiring me to go to the hospital by ambulance. Why did I get a bill for $1300 when I purchased the zero deductible supplement Plan G with Aflac, along with Medicare Part B?

I’d already paid the annual Part B deductible of $240 when I went to the cardiologist in Nevada in March. I ended up on the phone with Pak Nicollet’s customer service for at least 20 minutes to resolve the $1300 bill, and then, a few days ago, I got another bill for $83.32 from that hospital visit. Today, I called again and discovered they had no information on my Aflac supplement, which I’d provided at least twice during the hospital stay.

Plus, they had my name wrong, using only my first and middle name along with the wrong phone number, again, which I provided on several occasions. The customer service rep retook my Aflac information this morning, and the bill is gone. Such an annoyance!

Now, I discover there is nothing wrong with my valves. Whatever is wrong with my heart is not related to my valves. I had three tests in different countries, all stating I desperately needed valve surgery immediately. The echocardiogram I had here at Cleveland Clinic took twice as long and was more thorough than any of the three previous tests. Go figure.

Last night, I received the results of yesterday’s nuclear EKG that stated, in part, the following, as quoted:

‘EKG  reviewed from stage 2 of Cornell 0% and consistent with exercise-induced type 2 second-degree AV block. This is a very abnormal stress test.”

I’ve researched this comment, but the answers are unclear. I guess I have to be patient and let the professionals determine a proper diagnosis and treatment, whether it’s surgery or other treatment. By Tuesday (due to the holiday weekend), I have more appointments scheduled for next week, with more diagnostic tests, including an angiogram, the test I’m dreading the most. Ugh!

So, I’ve handled some annoyances hanging over my head right now. We’ll see what pops up next. Tomorrow, we’ll share where we’ll be over the next three months as we work through this medical process.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 30, 2014:

This was the shortest car we had ever seen in South Kensington, England. For more, please click here.

The process continues…No news yet…

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In the Charles Darwin wing of the Natural History Museum, there were many interesting displays of insects, butterflies, and small creatures.

After three echocardiograms in three different countries showing severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, which prompted us to come to the Cleveland Clinic, we’ve found that my valves are moderate and not severe based on the more comprehensive echocardiogram I had yesterday. I do not need valve surgery.

However, after many other tests, including blood tests, it appears something is very wrong with my heart, requiring more doctor visits and invasive tests. This morning, I had a nuclear stress test, which started with a heart scan with injected radioactive isotopes, followed by a stress test.

They stopped the stress test early when it was too dangerous for me to continue and considered using a blood vessel-dilated intravenous drug as an alternative. Still, the doctor refused to have me injected with the alternate medication for a lay-down stress test since it, too, was too dangerous with the awful EKG (ECG) they were reading on the screen.

Soon, I have to call the cardiologist we saw yesterday to be referred to another cardiology specialist to go to the next step. My not-so-good blood test results are pointing to other possible heart conditions, and at this point, we have no idea what’s on the horizon. My past cardiac bypass surgery may have failed, which may require another open heart surgery.

After I had the bypass surgery in South Africa in February 2019, the cardiothoracic surgeon explained I might get eight years out of that surgery. Now, I am 5½ years old since the major surgery, and it may have run its course earlier than expected.

We’ll continue with as many more tests and doctor visits as possible to have a complete diagnosis and treatment plan in the next few weeks.

The thoroughness, competency, and care exhibited by all Cleveland Clinic employees, from the reception desk staff to the highly specialized doctors, are outstanding. We couldn’t feel more at ease being here. A big sign in some lobby areas states, “Cleveland Clinic is recognized as the #1 cardiac center in the world.” We knew this, but it was comforting to see it, making us realize we’d done the right thing by coming here.

The hotel is nice, but we plan to move on September 2 to the nearby Residence Inn by Marriott, which also has a shuttle to the clinic. Due to demand, hotel prices are high here, but we have to bite the bullet and see what kind of deal we can get from Marriott’s Bonvoy perks program since we are members. We’ll be calling today to see the pricing we can arrange.

Am I nervous or afraid? Surprisingly, not. We’re always enjoying our time together, staying upbeat and hopeful. Tom is a perfect wheelchair operator, and we often laugh over the incredible nature of my being wheeled everywhere.

Some may say, “How do I so freely share such intimate details of my health?” However, hundreds of readers have written our vulnerability has helped them with their worries and concerns. If we can help one person gain comfort during their health challenges, it will be worth every revealing moment.

We are not special. Like many of you, we are trying to navigate challenging times in our lives using whatever means are available to us with dignity, persistence, and humility.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 29, 2014:

This is an actual bee, with its size as shown at the Museum of Natural History in South Kensington, England. For more photos, Please click here.

Today’s the day…It’s been a long wait…Test results to follow as soon as we know…

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Day #160 in lockdown in Mumbai, India hotel…The frightening reality…
Walking down the street from our hotel in South Kensington, London.

Last night’s attempt at sleeping was fitful, filled with short naps and vivid dreams. As it turned out, I forgot to remind Tom to put “Do Not Disturb” on his phone, and every few hours, it beeped, waking me up when a message came in. Since he doesn’t hear the beeps with his impaired hearing and without his hearing aids while sleeping, he doesn’t notice.

But my sharp hearing picks up every little sound during the night, especially since I am a light sleeper. It was a long and uncomfortable night. I imagine that, with a bit of anxiety about today’s appointments flooding my thoughts when awake, I couldn’t find a way to escape them, regardless of how hard I tried to reframe my thinking.

When I got up this morning, I felt better and ready to tackle the realities of today, but going downstairs for a big breakfast in the restaurant was the last thing on my mind. Instead, Tom brought me decaf coffee from the complimentary service in the lobby. I ate one of my new favorite, very healthy protein bars, IQBar, which can be found at Amazon (please click our Amazon link on our site) and here.

These bars have the most healthy ingredients of any bars I’ve tried and are delicious, a perfect meal replacement or snack. That was all I needed today. The “My Chart” notes didn’t indicate that I’d need to fast for any blood test. I’m sure I’ll have many blood tests down the road, but not today.

Using the HDMI cord, we’re watching the “Garage Logic” podcast from the Minnesota State Fair on the TV monitor. It’s fun to see the guys at the fair. Had I not been having the breathing issue and needing a wheelchair, we certainly would have gone to the fair to see them. Joe continues to mention “the Traveling Lymans” every broadcast, five days a week, which always brings a smile to our faces.

At 11:00, we’ll call the front desk to have them order the Cleveland Clinic shuttle, which will take us to the building specified in “My Chart” for my first appointment. My last appointment is scheduled for 3:30 and lasts one hour. We should know something by the end of the day, but we are prepared that we won’t know much until the next round of tests, the dates for which are yet to be determined.

We should return to the hotel by 5:00 when we assemble a roast chicken dinner from the grocery order we placed yesterday. There will be enough chicken, rice, and salad for a few dinners. At that point, we’ll settle in for the evening and stream a few shows. Without a car, we would not be interested in going out for the evening.

That’s all we have today, folks. Soon, we’ll order the shuttle and be on our way. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 28, 2014:

Ah, my heart flipped at the sight of this warthog at the Museum of Natural History in South Kensington, Londo. The first time we had seen a warthog was in October in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, while on safari. Of course, later in South Africa, we joyfully saw them several times a day. Click here for the first time we saw a live warthog (scroll down the page. For more photos, please click here.

We’ve arrived in Cleveland!…Clinic appointments begin tomorrow…

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This is artwork from the Victoria and Albert Museum, which we could walk to from our South Kensington, UK hotel.

What a relief to be here. If something goes wrong, I am where I’m supposed to be. Although I am a little anxious about what’s to come, the peace of mind of finally being here outweighs any apprehension. No doubt, most of us feel a little out of sorts when facing significant medical appointments when we have no idea as to the outcome.

Will I have surgery right away? What if I must wait for a surgical opening for another few months? Will the breathlessness worsen while I wait? Hopefully, these questions will be answered in the next few weeks or sooner. In any case, knowing what is on the horizon will give us both peace of mind to finally know what is upcoming.

The two-day drive was easy when we only drove about 350 miles each day, allowing us to stop for breakfast, a restroom break, and refueling without feeling rushed. We arrived at the Cleveland Clinic complex around 4:00 pm. Little did we know there were two Intercontinental Hotels in the immediate area.

We ended up at the wrong hotel, the Intercontinental when we were booked at the Intercontinental Suites Hotels, a few blocks away. In no time, Tom maneuvered me in the wheelchair back to the car, and off we went to the correct location, having no trouble finding it.

No words can express how grateful I’ve been to have the wheelchair. Thanks to many readers who encouraged me to buy one during this challenging time. It was the best purchase we’ve made in years. Hopefully, after recovering from my treatment and recovery, I won’t need to use it.

There are some nuances in using a wheelchair when, in fact, I can still walk unassisted about 20 feet without gasping for air. This morning, at the breakfast buffet in the hotel ($22.00 per person plus tax and tip), I insisted on getting out of the chair to serve myself. Tom was concerned I’d have a problem, but the short buffet was within the 20-foot range, and I did fine. It would have been tricky to serve myself while seated. I’m trying to maintain a level of independence. I’ll need constant help after surgery, so I’d like to preserve a little leg strength and mobility while I can right now.

Last night, we ordered room service, and it was mediocre. I ordered the most sparse Cobb salad I’ve ever had, and Tom had a grilled cheese sandwich with potato chips. That bill was almost $50. We’re trying to keep our daily food purchases $80 – $100 daily, leaving us with $50 for breakfast and $30 – $50 for dinner.

Thus, we decided to order some groceries from a local market, with free delivery from Instacart for the next month. This morning, I ordered two roasted chickens, two premade chicken and veg salads, and cooked white rice for Tom. Our room has a refrigerator and a microwave, and the grocery order was $34, including tax and delivery. There’s enough food to get us through three to four dinners. We’ll only be in this hotel until September 2.

Once we know what the future holds, we’ll move to a nearby Residence Inn by Marriott to stay through my recovery, for however long that may be. Once we know what’s on the horizon, we’ll book the Residence Inn through Bonvoy member benefits for a reasonable price, as we did at the same hotel in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

How are we holding up? Actually, very good. We are upbeat and looking forward to getting all of this behind us so we can continue our world travels.

My first appointment is at 12:45 pm tomorrow, and we don’t need to arrive until noon to check-in. A Cleveland Clinic shuttle will pick us up and take us where we need to go, which information is clearly outlined in “My Chart.”  From there, I have two more appointments. We should be done tomorrow by 5:00 pm, with more appointments to be arranged in days to come.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 27, 2014:

Our new friend/reader, Liz from Bristol, England, took the train to visit us while we stayed in South Kensington, England. Meeting Liz, with whom we’ve stayed in touch over the years, was a joy. For more photos, please click here.

We’re on the road to Cleveland at long last!..

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If we could have cooked our meals in London, we would have purchased some items at this Farmers Market.

Often, we’ve been asked, “Why did we choose to go to the Cleveland Clinic rather than to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a short 90-minute drive from our current location, which is also highly rated worldwide for heart treatment?”

For me, having already had open heart surgery 5½ years ago and with remaining severe cardiovascular disease (hereditary) and my age, I decided I wanted to go to one of the highest-rated valve disease cardiovascular surgeons in the country, if not in the world, regardless of how long I had to wait to see Dr. Gillinov. It’s been a four-month wait for my appointments, which are upcoming next Wednesday.

If I had to wait another month or two, it wouldn’t have been possible as my condition continues to deteriorate, as evidenced by the necessity of using a wheelchair to get around outside this hotel room, which I can maneuver if I frequently pause when moving about. But any trip outside, even to the car, requires using the wheelchair.

It’s helped make the past few days tolerable and allowed me to see family and friends. They even accommodated me to stay in the wheelchair during Friday’s pedicure.

Following are some of the reasons patients choose Cleveland Clinic for their procedures and surgeries.

  1. Reputation for Excellence: Cleveland Clinic is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States and worldwide. Its reputation for high-quality care, particularly in specialties like cardiology, neurology, and orthopedics, draws patients seeking the best possible outcomes.
  2. Expertise and Innovation: The clinic is known for its cutting-edge treatments and surgical techniques. Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic are often leaders in their fields, offering advanced procedures that may not be available elsewhere. This expertise is especially appealing for complex or high-risk surgeries.
  3. Multidisciplinary Approach: Cleveland Clinic offers a collaborative environment where specialists from various fields work together to create personalized treatment plans. This approach ensures comprehensive care, addressing all aspects of a patient’s health, which is particularly important for those with multiple or complex conditions.
  4. Advanced Technology: The clinic invests heavily in the latest medical technology and equipment, allowing for minimally invasive surgeries, robotic surgery, and other advanced techniques leading to faster recovery times and better outcomes.
  5. Patient-Centered Care: Cleveland Clinic is known for its focus on the patient experience. From pre-surgery consultations to post-operative care, the clinic emphasizes clear communication, patient education, and support, helping patients feel more confident and comfortable throughout their surgical journey.
  6. Research and Education: As a major research institution, Cleveland Clinic is involved in numerous clinical trials and studies, offering patients access to the latest medical treatments and innovations. This research-driven approach means patients benefit from the most current and effective surgical options.
  7. Global Accessibility: Cleveland Clinic attracts patients from all over the world, offering specialized international patient services, including translation, travel assistance, and culturally sensitive care. This global reach adds to its appeal for those seeking top-tier medical care.
  8. Positive Outcomes: Cleveland Clinic’s high success rates and positive patient outcomes contribute significantly to its appeal. Patients often choose the clinic based on recommendations from others who have had successful surgeries there and its track record of excellence in complex cases.

These factors combined make Cleveland Clinic a top choice for patients seeking surgical care, particularly those with complex conditions or who want access to the latest medical technology and treatment advancements.

We’re moving along the road to Cleveland and will stop for the night, well before dinnertime.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 25, 2014:

We had no trouble finding the distant Laundromat, Bobo’s Bubbles, in South Kensington, England. For more photos, please click here.

One day and counting…Packed and ready to go…

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Hertford Bridge, the “Bridge of Sighs” in Oxford, England, is similar to the one we saw in Venice the previous summer.

Yesterday afternoon, after I had a pedicure with my dear friend Chere at the beauty school in Hopkins, Tom picked me up at 2:30 to drive to Billy’s Bar & Grill in Anoka for our final get-together with Tom’s siblings for dinner and happy hour. It couldn’t have been more enjoyable to see everyone and visit with familiar patrons who stopped by.

But the highlight of the evening was when Tom’s long-time friend from the railroad, Tommy, stopped by to say goodbye to both of us and wish us well. Tommy has always been special to me, as well. This wasn’t the first time he stopped at Billy’s to see us. He has been reading our posts for 12 years and knows plenty about us, as many of our dear readers do from years of reading about our daily lives.

But Tommy has always been very special to me and Tom, and it was delightful to spend some time with him yesterday. Tom had pulled my wheelchair close to the big round table where we all sit every Friday, and when Tommy arrived, he sat between Tom and me while lively conversations ensued. When he left, we immediately continued our discussions with his family, and the time passed quickly. Thanks for stopping by, Tommy!

Before we knew it, it was time to go, and we headed back to the hotel, only stopping to fill the rental car with fuel for today’s drop-off. Tom left a short time ago to go to the airport to drop off the rental car and pick up another larger vehicle, preferably a roomy SUV. He’ll pack the car before we head out tomorrow and then shower afterward.

I just received a text from Tom informing me that he requested an upgrade for a large SUV. It was an extra $35 a day, but since we’ll drop it off in Cleveland on August 27, it will be well worth it. Once we know how long we’ll be staying in Cleveland, we’ll arrange for another rental car or not, depending on how close we’ll be to Cleveland Clinic at whatever hotel we book for the extended period.

This morning, we packed everything we own and were done in less than two hours. It proved to me, once and for all that I don’t need to start packing days ahead as I’ve often done in the past. Even in my current condition, where I run out of breath from walking across the room, I packed all the household items, my clothes, and the toiletries. Tom packed his clothes, and now we can relax for the remainder of the day.

Greg’s lovely girlfriend Heather will stop by within an hour to say goodbye since she could not join us and Greg’s family at Pizza Luce at 3:00 pm. She is driving from a location an hour from here. No words can express how much I appreciate this remarkable woman. I’m so grateful she and Greg have found each other. Heather has three children, who are a little older than Greg’s three, and together, they form a perfect blended family in which everyone gets along well.

These past three months in Minnesota have been a fantastic opportunity to spend valuable time with family and friends. It’s sad to say goodbye. God willing, everything will go well in Cleveland, and we’ll be back many more times.

That’s it for today, folks.

We’ll return with more tomorrow while I post “from the road.”

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 24, 2014:

The varying colors of the row buildings created a charming feel in the village of Oxford. For more photos, please click here.

Part 4…Suggestions from readers…Two days and counting…

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This is the famous Radcliffe Camera Building at Oxford University, UK, one of the best-known buildings on the 38-campus site.

Continuing our posts from the past three days, our dear readers and long-time cruise friends Judy and Gary suggested topics for future posts. Yesterday, we covered the first, second, and third items on the list below. Today, we’re covering the fourth item, “best and worst meals we’ve cooked.”

Here are a few topics to consider;
Favorite cruise lines
Favorite ports
Best and worst cruise ship excursion you’ve taken
Best and worst meal you’ve cooked
Favorite and least favorite country you’ve visited
Favorite and least favorite city you’ve visited

Regarding the “best meals we’ve cooked,” there are countless favorites we’ve enjoyed over the years. To keep this post within a reasonable size, we’ll review the meals we’ve cooked since we’ve traveled the world for almost 12 years.

In many countries where we’ve stayed for months and cooked most of our meals, we’ve had the glorious opportunity to enjoy locally-grown produce, chicken, eggs, and meat. When we arrive at a new location, we often search for the best local foods to purchase to prepare our meals.

However, most of these ingredients are used to prepare recipes we already know we like. Although we often try new recipes, we find them online or stored in one of my clouds. Overall, I have about 3000 recipes to reference at any time. As a result, we can’t recall a meal we prepared that we didn’t like.

As for those meals we’ve especially enjoyed, the list is infinite. We had favorites of, course, all of which are suitable for my keto way of eating, which include:

  • Pizza with Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, sliced green olive, homemade pizza sauce, mozzarella and parmesan
  • Chicken Pot Pie made with an almond flour crust
  • Unwiches – similar to lettuce-wrapped unwiches at Jimmy John’s
  • Meatballs with homemade red sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese
  • Tuna patties
  • Chicken bakes (keto copycat from Costco)
  • Stir fry with chicken or beef
  • Steak, salad and veg
  • Chicken salad with a side salad
  • Taco salad (no shell, keto spices)

The above ten items are staples we frequently make with various changes to some ingredients that satisfy our taste buds and create a pleasant menu for a few evening meals. We often make enough of each dish for two to three meals. If we go out to dinner for several evenings, we can quickly freeze any of these dishes, except for the unwiches we make fresh each evening.

When we’re in a pinch and don’t have something delicious on hand, we can always make mushroom, bacon, and onion omelets with bacon on the side, all of which ingredients we tend to keep on hand.

I have undoubtedly written about these meals over and over again. But for our new readers, we decided to reiterate our choices, following along on the list suggested by friends/readers Judy and Gary, whom we thank one more time for providing us with these helpful ideas.

Yesterday, I had a wonderful day with lunch with my dear friend Karen, who happened to be in Minneapolis on business. Tom picked me and my wheelchair up at 5:30, and we headed to another restaurant in Hopkins to meet up with Tammy and Tracy for our final goodbyes. Again, we had a lovely dinner with the two of them. I had a small appetizer for lunch with Karen and a Caesar salad for dinner.

That’s it for today, folks. Soon, Tom will drive me to Hopkins to meet my dear friend Chere for our pedicures. She and her husband Gary returned from three weeks in Africa yesterday. I can’t wait to hear more about their adventures, although we connected via WhatsApp during their three-week vacation. She sent me photos almost every day!

After the pedicures, Tom will pick me up, and we’ll head to Billy’s Bar and Grill for our final visit with his siblings. We’ll get together with Greg and the three grandkids tomorrow afternoon for an early dinner and say goodbye.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 23, 2014:

At Oxford University, UK, there were a few streets where no cars were allowed to make getting through the crowds easier. For more photos, please click here.

Part 3…Suggestions from readers…Three days and counting…

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The altar inside the church where Mary and Matthew were married is Downton Abby in Bampton, which we visited on a cruise tour.

As a continuation of yesterday’s posts, our dear readers and long-time cruise friends, Judy and Gary, sent some suggestions on topics for future posts. Yesterday, we covered the second item, “favorite cruise lines.” See that post here.

Here are a few topics to consider;
Favorite cruise lines
Favorite ports
Best and worst cruise ship excursion you’ve taken
Best and worst meal you’ve cooked
Favorite and least favorite country you’ve visited
Favorite and least favorite city you’ve visited

Today, we’ll discuss the second point on Judy and Gary’s suggested list, “best and worst cruise ship excursion you’ve taken.”

Ironically, the above photo and the photo below, along with yesterday’s photos, are from one of our favorite cruise tours over the past 12 years. As fans of the TV series Downton Abbey, seeing the stunning Highclere Castle where the series was filmed was a sheer delight.

Ironically, this tour transpired ten years ago, almost to this date. Most often, when we booked tours with the cruise line or on our own, alone or with others, we avoided those that required riding on a full-sized bus. But this particular tour required riding on a bus when the location was too far from the port to ride in a taxi or private tour shuttle.

In this case, the cruise tour was less expensive and more convenient than if we had planned something independently. We weren’t disappointed by the long drive or the service. The only disappointment was that the owners of the magnificent castle didn’t allow photos of the interior, which we would have loved to share here,

However, we were allowed to take photos of the exterior, and there were many fantastic photo opportunities on the gorgeous grounds and gardens. Since it was August, few flowers were blooming, but we can easily imagine how beautiful it would be in the spring.

We loved many other cruise ship tours. Still, another favorite was the many Zodiac boat rides, twice a day, that we took while cruising in Antarctica to various islands to see wildlife and icebergs at the end of January and beginning of February 2018. There were no added costs for these tours. Please check our archive, which is noted for Antarctica, for those dates to see the fantastic sights during this once-in-a-lifetime 16-night cruise.

Tom particularly loved the cruise tour to Normandy, France, which was again on a small tour van, independent of the cruise line, although the cruise line offered a similar tour on a bus with more passengers. I had no idea how meaningful it would be for me as well. We highly recommend this tour.

We were at a loss to choose the least enjoyable cruise tour. Many small island tours in the South Pacific offered little other than for those interested in buying trinkets. Even the tours in Hawaii mainly involved stopping at various sites. We enjoyed Hawaii more when we stayed there for eight months and were able to tour on our own.

There was one tour we despised, although it wasn’t from a cruise ship. When we stayed in Marrakesh, Morocco, for almost three months, living in a “riad” in the souk in the Big Square. Our “house man” arranged this tour, which was encouraged for all guests renting the riad. It was an extensive tour of the Atlas Mountains by car with a guide and driver who stayed with us during the entire tour.

The tour was awful for many reasons:

  1. The driver drove very fast through the mountain roads, swerving at every hairpin turn. For the first time in years, I became very carsick for the entire drive.
  2. The hotels booked for the overnight stays were equally awful. They were sparse, without any amenities or good air conditioning.
  3. The meals at the various restaurants along the way did not have options for me. There was no plain meat and vegetables or anything Tom liked. Since I didn’t dare eat salad, there was nothing I could have.

Several times, we stopped to see villages, religious sites, and mosques, most of which were abandoned with few photo ops. On the second day, we told the driver we wanted to return to Marrakesh, but it required another day of speeding through the mountains and becoming carsick. We couldn’t get out of there quick enough. Tom felt the same way. It wasn’t fun.

We hadn’t done 60% of the tour, and when we returned, our “houseman” got us a partial refund. That was the only horrible tour we can recall.

When booking tours, it’s important to research the tour details online, including the time of the tour, the time the tour will return to the ship, the cost, the number of other passengers joining the tour, the means of transportation, and safety guidelines. We strongly discourage arranging tours on rickety and worn vehicles since so much can go wrong.

Plus, we must add that if you book a tour on your own, not sponsored by the cruise line, if you don’t return on time for a sail-away, the ship will leave without you. You will face a fiasco trying to reconnect with the ship at its next port, incurring visa issues and additional costs.

That’s it for today, dear readers.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 22, 2014:

This is St. Mary’s church in Bampton, known as the Church of St. Michael of All Angels, as shown on the series Downton Abbey. Here, Mary married Matthew, Edith was jilted at the altar, and eventually, Matthew was buried. For more photos, please click here.