Modern history is littered with glorious technical failures.
You may, for instance, remember the laser disc. It was a one-foot wide silver record which, said the geeks, would replace the videocassette. I damn nearly bought one, at vast expense, even though there were a few drawbacks. Like you couldn’t record anything on it, and any fast-moving image always “ghosted,” which was a bit of a problem because the only film originally available on laser disc was the very fast-moving Top Gun.
Before this, there was the saga of Betamax. Technically superior to the standard videocassette, it is still used by television companies as the medium on which programs are recorded. Many people bought Beta machines, but then the American porn industry decided to go with the VCR and, as a result, they were left with square holes into which the round peg of expedience wouldn’t fit. Well, I have another addition to the list …… Microsoft Windows Word Pad and the Sony Vaio computer. ………that’s because even though I pressed save a dozen times, it dumped the blog which had taken me two bloody hours to write. I am glad you were not here because the air was blue with swear words in English, Dutch, Italian and even the only rude word I know in French……….Le Soap.
Anyway, after crying my eyes out and throwing the laptop around my office, I decided rather than spend the next two hours trying to remember what I wrote not to bother. Besides, we are going out for a last romantic dinner tonight before I leave on Monday and I don’t have enough time. So, please forgive me for the short blog but I did make a 40 minute video which includes verbal answers to those with outstanding questions …. it was made in a rush and with no hair or make up assistance as you will see. ….I hope you enjoy it.
Sorry everyone but we’re having some techinical difficulties. The video will be posted as soon as possible.
Tomorrow morning I will write the blog intended for today and I shall do so on the companies Dell computer as the Sony is heading for a journey up Mr. Gates’ bottom.
Tomorrow’s blog will feature some great photos of the rock ’n roll cruise on the Carnival Destiny and new photos of the Carnival Paradise fresh out of dry dock. Oh, just in case I forget, I want to say goodbye to an old friend……..George Bush. Next will be a very busy one for me so I wanted to bid a fond farewell to old George W. I have always tried to…..with the exception of my thoughts on global warming……..tried to keep the blog politically free of opinion and that’s not going to change now. However, I defy anyone to watch one of those internet Best Of Bushisms………you know, the gaffes and bloopers of the outgoing president, without a sense of wonderment at his constant battles with the English language.
No longer will the White House be inhabited by a man who blissfully jumbles Slovakia and Slovenia and we say goodbye to the global strategist whose cruise directorish sunny out look on life still has him thinking that Japan and America have “had a peaceful alliance for 150 years” – something of a revelation, one imagines, to the people of Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima. And we say goodbye to the President who said live on TV to a unmarried mother of two. “I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family,” he told her, and we can all attest to that, especially when the little buggers won’t keep still ………..yep…….as I said I don’t want to talk politics ……everyone has their opinions ……… but one thing is for sure………… George W Bush was someone who provided us with wonderful moments of unscripted fun………..and for that…………I will miss him.
Goodnight
Your friends
John, Heidi and the Thingy
Filed under: Destinations, Travel | Tagged: Carnival Destiny, Carnival Paradise, cruise, George Bush, John's Replies, vacation
Sorry for my stupidity, but I can’t locate the CD schedule that is supposedly on the right side of the blog. Any help/more direction for the illiterate from anyone would be of great help.
Thx
Told you to get a MAC ….
have a wonderful romantic dinner.
Sending a big hug for both
Nanni
Dear John just think about the peace and solitude of the open seas to rock your cares away.Which are awaiting you on Monday.Enjoy this time before fatherhood knocks you up side the old bean.Anxiously awaiting the video.Best wishes Gary and Bug
Alright John… this is goodbye…
For the week, as tomorrow I board the Carnival Splendor for a sweet week’s Caribbean cruise, and seeing as it was minus 10 degrees here in NH this morning, it should by my math be about 90 degrees warmer there! See ya!
Jeff
PS… The next four years will make us wish for the days Bush was in office. Hello socialism and scandals!
Hi PJ
it is just about the Links button- right after the bloggers cruise info. deby
John,
Don’t worry about missing President Bush, you’ll have plenty of fun with the new crowd. For example, we’ll soon have a vice president Biden who, when running for president “adopted” the family history of British Labour Party leader Neal Kinnock as his own, becoming the son of coal miners when his parents were actually shop keepers. This past campaign Biden urged an official in a wheel chair “to stand up and be recognized”.
Say what you want about Mr. Bush, but he was honest, kept our country safe, and did what he saw to be right in spite of constant public criticism and derision. As they understatededly say in Texas: “He’s a good guy!”
I am delighted to say farewell to the worst President the U.S.A. has ever had. We’ll be paying for his incompetence for generations.
Jeff, I agree with you about the next four years!
Jennifer
John:
They can joke about Bush all they want to….
but at least he wasn’t “doing” an Intern, young enough to be his daughter, …. in the Oval Office.
Sorry, if Clinton wants to screw an Intern on government property….while President and married…that earns him the “worst President” badge. We won’t even get into all the lies…..which is why he lost his license to practice law.
Gee…when the lawyers throw you out…you have to be rotten!! LOL
As low as President Bush’s approval ratings got…he could always smile, because the Democratically led Congress’ approval ratings were always LOWER!!!
I think President Bush will go down in history as a President that “right, wrong or indifferent” followed his gut and never pandered to the polls…
My biggest complaint with President Bush was he was so “careful” with our enemies (and that is what they are….since they want us dead)….
Instead of worrying about destroying a mosque….I would have leveled the place. Any country that wanted to screw with us would be an distant memory in about 3 1/2 seconds.
I guess that is why they don’t trust me with “the button”!!
Enjoy your time with Heidi…you can write to us all you want after you leave home. I think we can survive the weekend….
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
Hey John,
Looks like there will be 3 CDs on the Carnival Fantasy Blogger’s cruise – Big (or not so) Tex, Risa Barnes, and YOU (OK, not officially). 3 for the price of 1!
Had to open the door didn’t you.
John and Heidi,
By now, since you are 9 hours ahead of us here in California, you have hopefully had your romantic dinner. How did the packing go today? Did you get most of it done, or, should I say, did Heidi? Please have a safe flight across the pond on Monday–I know we can expect rapid fire raspberry blogs as I am sure there will be plenty happening on the plane! There always is when you are around! I can only imagine what we would have gotten if you were one of the passengers on the US Air plane that went down in the Hudson River in New York yesterday. Thank God for the insight of the pilot and that all the passengers and crew got out alive!!!
Sheryl
John Please Respond
I was looking at the CD schedule that you posted and did not see Brent Mitchell listed on it. Is he still with Carnival?
He was the CD when I was on the Miracle in August and I thought that he did a great job. (No one can top you as a CD of course.)
Hopefully the video shows Heidi and the “baby bump”. If not, we want to see some pictures !
Computers… love them and hate them. Have a wonderful dinner.
People always say ” Throw the old bums out & get new blood in the office” Well here he is. Lets give the new administration a chance to clean up the mess the good old boys left this country in. John, you & Heidi have a great dinner tonight. Take care Larry & Connie
Jeff and Linda
Your both so right. Evevything was great for the first 6 years. Then the Democrats got control of the Congress and we went downhill fast.
But I do have to defend Clinton. He did not lie when he said “I did not have sex with that woman”. When he said it he was pointing at the little old woman reporter that always sat in the front row. So now you have the true story.
BIG ED
I’ll take a President that screws an intern over one that screws the country any day.
Senior Bush’s folly into Iraq resulted in the 9/11 blow back. George W’s wag the dog wars will result in far worse. If only he would have tried to fix what is wrong with America instead of going around screwing up the rest of the world and making new enemies daily.
As low as the current Congress approval rating is, even lower is number of people willing to switch back to the Republican embarrassment.
At least Obama didn’t need a brother in Florida to steal the election – there was no controversy. Obama – won the popular vote and the electoral vote. The people won. The country won.
I will now return you to your sour grapes.
Have a great flight hope that it goes well and that you do not have to have anything searched . We will be waiting to read your intersting stories and hear about all the excitement . have a wonderul time , and Heidi – good luck
calvin and lou-anne
Hi John!
Enjoy the last weekend with your wife and have some fun.
Take care!
David
John,
PLEASE REPLY!
We couldn’t be more excited with the blogger’s cruise so near. My wife and I signed up for the New Orleans event to help out but are wondering if we need to bring anything? Do we need work gloves and clothing, face masks, tools, or anything at all?
see you in 19 days!
john & cindy
hey Mr mouth oops
i mean MR.. BILL
you forgot jimmy carter
he wins the WORST by a land slid
by a gun
while you still can
Mr Bill from ZydecoCruiser.com
No, because he had ACORN in most states.
BIG ED
Well John, you sure did open a can of worms here! To all my American friends, I can only say that at least your politicians have some personality! Here in Canada they all look and sound the same–very boring! Enjoy your dinner my friend, lots of time to write later after you’ve gone back to work! Gloria
Tom & Jane
You forgot to say put all your money in the Mason and Kerr State Bank. (Mason & Kerr glass jars). You may want to get a job that pays in cash under the table so you will be able to take something home. The TAXMAN COMETH.
BIG ED
When the bill for the wars comes due, the taxman probably will cometh.
When we have to bailout all the outrageous union entitlement programs, the taxman probably will cometh.
Sure seems to be some sore LOSERS out there.
Oh well, in a few days, the village in Texas that was missing its idiot will have him back.
Boy, you did it now John. At least I won’t have to get involved between the Republicans & Democrats. Here in Canada we just have a bunch of sorry politicians from all provinces and one province trying to break us up. Hey Quebec, are you listening? Nobody really cares about the everyday person in both countries. I wonder why? Oh, I know why. People would rather pick on one another instead of trying to fix the real problems of the their countries and the world. God help us.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
I refuse to get political here. In just 2 wks. Gig & I will be boarding the Splendor for 49 days around South America. Leg 2 will mark 20 Carnival cruises for me. Wish you were our CD, but know Goose will do a fine job. We know all your routines by heart & are ready to learn some new ones with Goose. Hope you are still able to join the transatlantic cruise on Dream in Oct. Give our best to Heidi & the wee one. Ok, I lied here. I’m a huge Obama fan.
Joyce
Joyce
Gee, Clinton is the worst President because messed around with an intern. How about a President who is responsible for thousands of Americans killed or maimed, and thousands of Iraqis who were also killed or maimed. Bush is a war criminal.
Linda and Ed I agree with both of you. As far as Clinton goes, If a president can’t be true to the wife he supposedly loves and is married to until death do us part, how can we expect him to be true to our country. He was a big liar! Either that or no one explained the birds and the bees to him and what is sex and what isn’t. Had I been Hilary I’d have found a good sharp knife or an extra large bottle of super glue! I definitely would NOT have stayed married to him. I’m not Tammy Wynette, I would not have stood by my man……….
Carolyn……. these are my opinion……. Don doesn’t vote so he has no dog in this fight.
John – PLEASE REPLY
Regarding the Dec. 3, 2009 Bloggers Cruise on the Dream, is it required to buy through your Blog and pay the rates listed in order to be a part of the Blog cruise? I have several discounts available to me which make the cruise much more affordable, but I would hate not to be included in the fun. Does it matter what you pay? Can you be included in the fun things while maintaining fiscal integrity?
Thanks, and our continuing best regards for you, Heidi and the “Thingy”. You are all blessings!!!
John & Heidi
Have a wonderful dinner.
John, have a safe flight on Monday and we will be seeing you in NOLA.
Charlotte
Bush should have been impeached in 2003,
-my 2 cents
D-rather have Biden than “Youbetcha”
-My 2 cents
Bush could smile LMAO,really,Clinton may have screwed an Intern,But Bush Screwed your Country
- my Canadian 2 cents worth
Dear John
Please don’t let them discuss politics on the blog
I learned a long time ago
Never discuss Politics or religion
It always causes trouble
Take Care
E T
John,
I don’t see anywhere where you mentioned the location you were saving the blog to… Usually wordpad will keep the list of the recently saved/opened files near the bottom of the file menu. If you already checked there, disregard I reckon.
For the ‘Bush derangement syndrome’ crew, 1. Wartime Presidents are almost always unpopular. 2. Bush kept us from being attacked for the last 8 years, and 3. He was a big spender, but the incoming guy is going to make him look like a thrift store bargain shopper. We’re in the middle of a recession and the guy’s spending 150 million on his inauguration party, for God’s sake.
I’m not a big Bush fan, but I hesitate to jump onto the blind Bush-hate bandwagon. History will judge this president. We are in no way under the proper conditions to objectively judge his presidency, or to make claims that we will ‘pay for him for generations’. That type of a statement made this soon is beyond naive.
Bush kept us from being attacked? We were attacked on HIS watch. While planes were flying into buildings he continued to read children’s books. WMDs? What WMDs?
Bush has assured we will be hit again.
Not including security costs, the Bush Extravagant Inaugural cost $40 million in ‘05 and some estimates peg the Obama Inauguration at $45 million. Obama’s inaugural committee has raised more than $41 million to pay for the events. How many MORE people are going to attend or watch, compared with Bush? How about letting history determine the true cost?
George W has a track record – an extremely poor one, including going from a budget surplus to record deficits. The National Debt clock couldn’t even keep up with him. Anyone who thinks that won’t impact future generations needs to step away from the Kool-aid.
Amazing how the hypocrites who advocate letting history judge George W, or those so delusional that they think he was a fine President, are so quick to judge a man who has yet to take office.
Of course there will have to be money spent – to pay for the general incompetence of the past 8 years, to get this country back on the right track, and stop screwing up the rest of the world.
Everyone is intitled to their opinion
Safe flight over the pond John, this will not be your best trip without Heidi.
We just returned home from 7 days on the Splendor. We had followed the ship via the blog from the building stages, was fun to be actually on board. We made a point of meeting Goose and the team (Adele, Kevin, Sam, Lauren etc.). It was Sam’s first full week he did a great job. Food was outstanding, we took your suggestion and did one evening in the supper club(porterhouse for me). It was for us a highlight of the 7 days, as was the Vrooom show and oh the Fiesta Latina show, ok lots of highlights.
Now for the unpacking NOT a highlight.
Would like to do a Valor cruise in March but not sure yet.
Regards,
Mar & Steve