HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
I went to bed at 11pm last night and fell asleep rather quickly. We moved an hour forward at 2am, and at 3:30am, I was wide awake. By the time 5:30am rolled around, I decided enough was enough, showered, dressed, and went up to deck 12 for breakfast and to watch us sail into St. Petersburg, Russia. That was an odd sensation. First, I never thought that Russia is a place I'd visit. Nine years ago, when I was working at New World School of the Arts in Miami, my then-boss visited St. Petersburg and raved about it. To be here now feels odd. Second, as today is America's independenc day, it's even more surreal. Having grown up during the cold war, it feels ironic to be here today. And the funny thing about Russia . . . in order to go ashore, one must either buy a bus ticket, or have a excursion booked. Really? I'm from the days when people defected FROM Russia . . . not the other way around. It's a very odd mindset around which I must wrap my head.
We had the weekly boat drill this morning. In my position, I am lucky that I only have to attend one per month and since I just boarded, today was my lucky day. I have no safety duty, so once the general emergency alarm sounds, I go to a certain station on the promenade deck, put on a life jacket, and wait . . . and wait . . . and wait . . .
After the boat drill, we had a full entertainment department meeting, then I took a nap. Unfortunately, my mobile phone rang twice, waking me from a sound sleep both times. Ah, to be on call 24/7 . . . one of the reasons I didn't want to repeat this position. LOL. Oh well.
Tonight, the five female production cast singers performed an abbreviated, ship version of SHOUT! The Mod Musical. It's 60's music and takes place in England. It's a fun little show with great tunes. We had our technical rehearsal at 3pm, then I did some work, grabbed a bite to eat, and worked more. The show was at 8:30pm. There was a BBQ and 4th of July party up on the pool deck in the evening. I attended, had a couple of cocktails, and chatted with the production cast members for quite some time, getting to know them. Two of the female production cast singers performed an a capella version of the U.S. National Anthem, and it was WONDERFUL! We have more Americans on the ship than I initially thought we did. It was a lovely evening, perfect weather - clear, a slight breeze, mild temperature . . . but it was very odd to have the sun out at 10pm . . . then 11pm . . . then midnight. I didn't have my camera with me, but am planning on carrying it more next week. I AM going to take a photo of midnight sun at some point!
I am HOPING that this jet lag will end soon and I'll be able to sleep through the night . . . although, as cool as it is, this daylight at midnight really messes with one's head.
Oh, tonight, up in the Market Cafe (the buffet on deck 12), there were American flag cakes. I didn't have a camera, or I'd have taken a picture. And I did not have any cake, though it looked delicious. I remember, as a kid, having an American flag cake for the 4th of July, at our family cottage on Honeoye Lake. Apparently I was pooping blue for days . . . that I don't remember, but hey, we all show our patriotic colors in different forms, right?!?!
After the boat drill, we had a full entertainment department meeting, then I took a nap. Unfortunately, my mobile phone rang twice, waking me from a sound sleep both times. Ah, to be on call 24/7 . . . one of the reasons I didn't want to repeat this position. LOL. Oh well.
Tonight, the five female production cast singers performed an abbreviated, ship version of SHOUT! The Mod Musical. It's 60's music and takes place in England. It's a fun little show with great tunes. We had our technical rehearsal at 3pm, then I did some work, grabbed a bite to eat, and worked more. The show was at 8:30pm. There was a BBQ and 4th of July party up on the pool deck in the evening. I attended, had a couple of cocktails, and chatted with the production cast members for quite some time, getting to know them. Two of the female production cast singers performed an a capella version of the U.S. National Anthem, and it was WONDERFUL! We have more Americans on the ship than I initially thought we did. It was a lovely evening, perfect weather - clear, a slight breeze, mild temperature . . . but it was very odd to have the sun out at 10pm . . . then 11pm . . . then midnight. I didn't have my camera with me, but am planning on carrying it more next week. I AM going to take a photo of midnight sun at some point!
I am HOPING that this jet lag will end soon and I'll be able to sleep through the night . . . although, as cool as it is, this daylight at midnight really messes with one's head.
Oh, tonight, up in the Market Cafe (the buffet on deck 12), there were American flag cakes. I didn't have a camera, or I'd have taken a picture. And I did not have any cake, though it looked delicious. I remember, as a kid, having an American flag cake for the 4th of July, at our family cottage on Honeoye Lake. Apparently I was pooping blue for days . . . that I don't remember, but hey, we all show our patriotic colors in different forms, right?!?!
