Okay, what I've been up to.....

[Marilyn]

I had washed my hands, but I guess not well enough. Patches are wonderful ways to take medication. I used a hormone replacement patch for years before they decided it wasn't healthy to take hormones. The pharmacist said it gives you a very consistent, regulated dosage of the medication. I'm not good at pill regimines, so I loved the once a week hormone patches.

[HALEY]

We decided on the patch i was going to take the Chantix, but the side effects scare the hell out of me, nightmares, stokes, depression, sick stomach, i can't be feeling down or depressed around Micah or bad dreams that i have no control over since i still sleep with Micah i would die if i ever hurt that child!!!!! I don't need a pill messing with my head, i'm goofy enough on my own

[donna1990]

Wow, Marilyn, what a trip!!!!!
Don't think I would ever go on another cruise.
Glad you are back.

[donna1990]

Originally Posted by HALEY

We decided on the patch i was going to take the Chantix, but the side effects scare the hell out of me, nightmares, stokes, depression, sick stomach, i can't be feeling down or depressed around Micah or bad dreams that i have no control over since i still sleep with Micah i would die if i ever hurt that child!!!!! I don't need a pill messing with my head, i'm goofy enough on my own

You and me too.

[Janet]

So glad you're back Marilyn. I've never been on a cruise and really not sure I want to. My mother loves going. I was a little oozy when we were in Florida and went on an all day fishing excursion.

Sounds like for the most part you enjoyed it, but does sound more exhausting than other trips. Hopefully if you decide to take another cruise, your Dr. can help you out more so you won't feel so 'off.'

I'm really looking forward to the pictures. I don't get out of Clinton County that often so I live vicariously through the rest of you....lol.

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by donna1990

You and me too.

Goofy or are you going to stop smoking????

[DianaB]

I would love to go on a cruise. My Mom and some of her sisters with their husbands went on a cruise a few years ago and they loved it. One of my uncles had been on cruises and he picked which one was best. They left from Florida and each morning, except for the last morning, they woke up to a new port. The sad thing is, I don't think that I will EVER talk Glen into one!! He's just not interested in that kind of thing. I guess that I could go without him.........hmmmmm.......

I'm glad that you're back home all safe and sound!! I'm sure that the break from work was just what you were needing. I would have never known that the patches could make you queasy after taking them off if you hadn't mentioned it. I hope that the dizziness is gone because that's an awful feeling. You know that we love pictures!!! I guess that I live vicariously through others too!!!!

[Marilyn]

The patch didn't make me queezy. It protected me from sea sickness while I was wearing it on the cruise. What happened is that your body gets accustomed to the motion of the ship & when you get off, you can still feel the motion. There is some kind of residual effect in our inner ears. At least for some of us. The sense of motion when there was none is what made me sick. I should have probably had another patch to use for a couple of days after we got home to help combat the effect. I was just totally unaware that something like this could happen, so was unprepared. If we do this again, I will consult with my doctor and see what we can do.

We would like, if the economy improves and we can someday, to do a cruise from Seattle or from Vancouver, BC to Alaska. We also want to do a Mediterannean cruise that loosely follows the apostle Paul's journeys. You begin in Jerusalem and end up in Rome. These are some of our dreams we've been planning and saving for that may not happen if our savings doesn't come back. We both love to travel.

One of the things that I may do in retirement is be a travel agent and plan group trips. The cruise we just went on was a group trip organized by a travel agency that belongs to two retired people who work out of their homes. One of the couples went with us to make sure all went well. They chartered a shuttle to take us from our town right to the boat and back home. We didn't have to deal with luggage or tipping or anything. Their travel was business expense. They can also take research trips that are tax deductable. What a deal!! They are also the ones who planned our Europe trip for us. They have been there so know where to stay and how things work. Kinda like your own personal Rick Steves.

[Tiramisu]

I'm glad you got away and you shouldn't feel guilty, but I do understand.

I worked with a lady who retired and actually started up her own travel agency. She hired some family members in and they all took turns traveling the world.