Speaking of cruise ships, Dianne and I went on an enjoyable cruise last Sunday. Fortunately formal dress was not required!
We were aboard the Peerless II which tours Lake Muskoka out of Port Carling, Ontario. The ship isn't huge but it does have an interesting history. It has a capacity of 30 passengers on two decks. It was built in 1946 by the BA (British American) oil company as a fuel delivery ship for the myriad of cottages on the Muskoka lakes. It continued in that service until 1994. In 2003 it was put up for sale and purchased by a Captain Potts who still owns and operates the ship.
The cruise was interesting in that it showed just how many cottages line the shores of Lake Muskoka. With a few exceptions the shoreline on the mainland and the numerous islands are solid cottages. To say that there is money on Lake Muskoka would be an extreme understatement! Many of the cottages and boathouses are palatial. Personally, having been spoiled in my younger years with a family cottage with few neighbours, I would have a hard time living there.
If I win the lottery I want a small cottage on a lake in the wilderness. However, I'm not holding my breath. For now we have found a wonderful rental cottage just west of Mattawa, Ontario which suits us just fine. It is a bit more urban than we would like, but we can live with that.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Regarding suits and ties, sort of left that behind when I worked in Alaska, jeans and a flannel shirt were dress up. Never forget when I interviewed for my job at Harley-Davidison, of course I wore a suit and tie for the interview, and they asked if I had a problem with wearing jeans and a t-shirt for work, and I aswered "you mean Alaska dress up".
I still have one sport coat and some ties for weddings, funerals, etc. Also if you need and coat and tie if you want to eat at Chez Francois in Vermillion, OH, it is required dress at that French Restaraunt.
Speaking of coming close, when I worked in New Jersey, we lived in Catasaqua, PA just outside of Allentown, PA and on the flight path for the ABE airport, one of the jets was so low over the house my wife could read the tail number as it went over.
Cardiac Rehab is going well, I think tomorrow they will up the time and difficulty on the required excercise machines.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Good afternoon all.
Zoe - Cold drinks round for all please. Extra cold one for David (NorthBrit). Include one of those nice looking lemonade's for me please. Thanks.
David - Hopefully the heatwave will retreat from your area soon. It made the news "across the pond" so I know it must be hot!
Kevin - You mean you don't want a new G400? Can't imagine why not, you could buzz my house like that other nutcase guy. I contacted my local airport about some guy in a larger plane (6 Engine Turbo-prop) that buzzed my place so low that I was concerned he was going down! (Any lower he could have used the props to trim my treetops!) He was low enough that, from inside the house, with air conditioning running and TV on, I could hear him coming. I made it to the window in time to watch all the birds scatter from the feeders, and clearly see the pilots face as he flew over me. Too bad I wasn't quick enough to read his checklist off, I probably could have! Even a neighbor called and asked if I knew what was going on... He couldn't have been higher than 300 feet, maybe not even that high off the ground. I'm no expert, but I'm very sure that FAA Regulations require a bit more height than that!
Dog - Jazzy is a very nice puppy, likes to run around a lot, but also is a cuddler. Held her still long enough to have someone get a picture worth sharing.
Jazzy by Richard Woodworth, on Flickr
She gets a "wellness" check on Monday to establish her at my prefered vet office.
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Tin Can IIBig and tall suits are expensive.
Amen to that.
I donated all mine to a local charity that helps people trying to work their way up and out.
I hope somebody made well with them. I don't know how many 6'7" 300 pound people are in need, but it might make a real difference.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Dress up. UGH. I hate to wear coats and ties. I am more of a sport coat guy, because big and tall suits are expensive. I dressed up for most of my banking career. I had to dress up at times depending on what I was doing in education; although during COVID I went in to an empty building in jeans and fishing shirts every day. Loved it. The last year and a half I have to dress up again because I am in administration. Although I admit that with the boss in Hawaii the last two weeks; no coat or tie for me.
Going to Colorado next week after our board meeting for four nights in a mountain cabin. This will be the first real vacation my wife and I have had in years. For years our "vacations" were volleyball or baseball trips; then it was "vacations" to college football games or volleyball matches. Last couple of years we have spent down time working on house projects or visiting family.
ED: Great picture of the ATSF F units. I love the way you can see reflections in the polished side of the B unit.
I just love F units. Nothing looks more like railroading to me.
In better days:
19720600 25 AT&SF Chicago by David Wilson, on Flickr
Then there was none:
Santa Fe - 22nd Street Coach Yard by d.w.davidson, on Flickr
This is where the Super Chief and El Capitan was stocked and made ready for the cross-country trip to California.
Never again...
Regards, Ed
SeeYou190... I am very tall... ... OK, I just got a bottom pop-up ad for the new Gulfstream G400. Why? Of all the things I will NEVER buy, this has to be on the list.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning Diners. As today is forcast to be the hottest day of the year here, a cool glass of lemonade please, Brunhilda.
An easy going day today.
SeeYou190 OK, I just got a bottom pop-up ad for the new Gulfstream G400. Why? Of all the things I will NEVER buy, this has to be on the list. -Kevin
OK, I just got a bottom pop-up ad for the new Gulfstream G400. Why? Of all the things I will NEVER buy, this has to be on the list.
Been there, Kevin. Something not wanted all at once becomes a MUST HAVE.
Stay Safe Everyone.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
York1 I kept two suits, about ten ties, and some dress shirts.
I finally gave away the last of my suits. I just kept one in solid black for in case anyone "kicks or gets hitched".
Ties... that is another story. I am very tall, so I require long ties, and I LOVE all my ties. I still have all of them. I don't think I can part with them, ever. They are all so amazing.
I was dressed up everyday for over 40 years. My own kids usually didn't see me without a tie.
When I retired, I got rid of most of the dress clothes. I kept two suits, about ten ties, and some dress shirts. I didn't mind dressing for dinner on cruises -- it was kind of a special time.
The last ten years on the job, I allowed teachers to have casual Fridays. The men did not have to have ties, and the women could wear the school polo shirts with jeans. It's strange, but the kids were the ones who were surprised. They were used to seeing the teachers 'dressed up'.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Good afternoon diners.
Flo - Round of floats of choice for all. Coke float for me please. Thanks.
Kevin - Glad to hear your wife is doing better!
Doggo's - Well, I am back to having a doggo. Adopted a Labradoodle from the local shelter over the weekend. She is 6 months old, and nothing but legs and energy.
Her original owners could not take care of her, so she now has a new home. (They said she was agressive with others when eating, shelter denied it. I can stick my hand in her food bowl and come away with all my fingers and skin intact.) Needs some training, but should be a good companion for a long time.
I will get a picture of her if I can get her to stay still for more than 2 seconds.
Changed her name (that she didn't respond to anyways) to Jazzy. (Sounded much better than Onyx.)
Formal attire conversation - I do have a pair of nice suits, along with several different color button up shirts and coordinating neck ties. I do feel that certain occasions (weddings, funerals, etc) should be formal attire, and that it is disrespectful if you show up in casual attire. (Not saying that you need a tuxedo, but it should be nice looking and respectful.)
Trains - Small projects in addition to rebuilding layout benchwork. No major progress yet though.
Hope all are well, best wishes for those not, and all enjoy the day!
Just got off the bike, went like a mad man and that was enough to pop my fitness level back up into superior from excellent. Hard to stay there with my bad arthritis but I'll see if I can last the week.
When my son landed his big executive position last year of University he went and spent a small fortune on a couple of suits as he meets regularly with Bank presidents and Government officials from across the continent. He said it was a complete waste of money as he never wears them, the dress at these meetings is almost always casual.
I still have three suits going back from when I graduated High School and they fit just fine 48 years later. 32" waist. I took them to the local suit shop to see how outdated they were and the guy said two of the three were good to go, you could not tell they were old by the style and I should wear them.
I attended a funeral of a special old guy that topped 100 years old. His sons and Nephews were PallBearers, two had suits and the other four were in jeans and T-shirts, I was not impressed. I am not big on when it comes to formality, just ask my wife. But this man deserved a lot of respect for a lot of reasons and these guys could afford to buy a suit even if they were only going to wear it once.
The dress code at dinner on cruise ships was the one thing I didn't like. I sailed through the Whitsunday Islands in Australia for a couple of weeks on an 80' sailboat and it was always casual in case you wanted to dive overboard for a swim or strap on the tanks and dive with some dolphins passing by. I may try a cruise again but I am more of a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy. On the one cruise we did, it was pretty hit and miss on the dinner conversation.
Shower and then guitar. Playing the guitar a couple of hours a day is the only reason my hands have not completely seized up from Arthritis so it is a must.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
On all of my cruises all we ever wore to dinner was greasy work clothes.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Greetings all. I have never been on a cruise so cannot speak to any dress code. However, when I was 8 years of age, I rode the "Builder" from Whitefish to Minneapolis with my Mom and wore coat and tie the entire trip. Our accomodations were in the Pullman just prior to the Obs. Dad would not want any of his family riding in anything less than a pullman. It was a very nice trip and I wiled away many hours talking with the staff in the Observation car.
Here is a shot I took of the No. Crawford depot awhile back.
Too early for a brew here on the left coast so's I shall settle for what "The Bear" is having along with a hot cuppa Joe!!
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
Good evening Diners. I like the ordinary Samuel Adams brew. Never seen the cherry brew.
In Gibraltar I bought a bottle of 'Pusser's Rum' and 'Pusser's Gunpowder Rum'. (My favourites.) Dawn said I should have bought two bottles of each. Now she tells me.
On my first cruise way back in 1971 the dress code was simple. When at sea it was 'Formal'. In a port or just left it was smart casual.
As far as i know, on Cunard ships it is still the same dress code. It was like that when we did the World Cruise.
On many cruise ships now, the dress code is smart casual with one Formal Night per week. The Formal Night being when the ship is 'at sea'.
Time to pick-up our younger granddaughter from the Bowling Alley.
Stay Safe Everybody
MisterBeasley This was a white tablecloth place and people used to respect their atmosphere and dress accordingly. I wore a suit and the GF wore a long, elegant dress.
There used to be a lot of restaurants that required jackets to be seated.
None have this policy any longer, not even the two Dinner Theaters.
This calls for a bottle of Sam Adams Cherry Wheat brew:
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
Good morning from a cool damp Pacific Rim.
The weather this summer has been perfect, not hot but warm enough to not need a jacket even at night. Usually, by now the lawn is brown and like concrete and the only place I need to mow is over the septic fields. I have an acre or so in grass and it is green as can be this summer. The surrounding forest is much nicer to walk through as well, so lush and the smell is completely different when it is not dry as a bone.
Rapido just got the loco I sent them. It arrived at 1128hrs. I sent it surface for $20.00 and it took six days. I have never been disappointed in Canada Post. I know the guys at Rapido will get to it right after lunch.
The wife gets back from her dog show circuit today, she did pretty well so will be happy. I haven't left the house in over a week but that is normal for me even when I have a car. There is so much food out in the freezer I could stay home a long time and not starve. The backyard is full of fresh vegetables and there is something about a stirfry that you make out of veggies that just came out of the dirt. We have more tomatoes of several varieties than you can imagine. The dogs are hilarious they love tomatoes and will stop and very gently pick one and eat it as they walk by I am positive they learned that from watching me do it. I will also grab a carrot or a hand full of lettuce wipe the dirt off on my clean sweaty T-shirt and chow down. They have not figured out the carrot thing yet but eat the end when I throw it at them.
My daughter left the windows open on the truck over the weekend and it got a little damp inside from last night's rain, not the first time, it'll dry, she just threw a big dog towel down to sit on. She'll leave the windows down while at work and it will be dry by quitting time.
My daughter was showing me the phone that work gave her, it can encrypt voice and text/photos, it is about the size of her iPhone but much thicker. She is not a purse person or even a backpack or fanny pack person, she is like me that if it doesn't fit in a pocket it doesn't go. She can't really get this thing in her jeans pocket and is not happy. Poor baby.
Time to hop on the bike, play my guitar(s) for a couple of hours and maybe go for a long walk with the dogs. The smell of a forest after a rain is the best. Retirement is sure rough even 13 years into it.
All the best to all.
I've been on a few cruises. We never got seriously dressed up for dinner, but they did ask us to dress a step up from shorts or jeans and T-shirts. That was no problem and it did lend an air of elegance to the ship's dining experience. My guess is that the change started when passengers started flying to their departure port, and suddenly carrying changes of fancy clothes became awkward. These days, I would not trust the airlines to even get my bags to my destination.
A couple of years ago, we went out to a fancy local restaurant to celebrate a birthday. This was a white tablecloth place and people used to respect their atmosphere and dress accordingly. I wore a suit and the GF wore a long, elegant dress. Our waitress came over to our table and enthusiasticly thanked us for actually looking nice. We looked around and realized that most of the other diners were in "beach casual" dress, shorts, tank tops and flip-flops.
It was disappointing to see that one of the only "nice" places around has been taken over by the fast food crowd.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good morning everybody.
I watched Titanic on NextFlix again recently. I probably watch it about once a year. It is a good movie, but I have gotten to the point where I am fast-forwarding through some of the scenes.
So, Captain Smith, aside from that little incident, how did you like dinner?
Quote)
maxman gmpullman Titanic Final Luncheon Menu by BostonPeter, on Flickr So, Captain Smith, aside from that little incident, how did you like dinner?
gmpullman Titanic Final Luncheon Menu by BostonPeter, on Flickr
Titanic Final Luncheon Menu by BostonPeter, on Flickr
Don't forget to wait an hour before you go swimming.
Good morning, diners.
I just finished cutting the grass before it gets too hot. Now for breakfast.
All the ship and train menus are interesting. Years ago, we had to dress for dinner on the cruises. I haven't been on one for years, so I don't know if they still require that.
I'm going to be out of town for a while -- babysitting. We should be back within a week.
Even though this photo is in Nevada, it's in part of Death Valley which is mainly in California.
Hope everyone has a good day. I'll let you know next week if I've survived babysitting.
NorthBritI have ordered the book 'Last Dinner on the Titanic'. It should be here in three days time.
I'm certain you will enjoy it. Beautiful illustrations, history, menus and recipes. Plus how to set the table, fold the napkins and what to wear
In fact you have roused my interest and I've dusted off my copy to renew old friendships.
SS Titanic narrowly escapes collision with SS New York at start of maiden voyage from Southampton, England by Boston Public Library, on Flickr
NorthBritMany years ago Dawn and I travelled on a container cargo boat to the Baltic. That cruise we did eat with the crew.
I've toured the plain, old ore boat William G. Mather here in Cleveland and the officer's and guest dining room sure isin't your usual crew mess:
Officer's Dining Room by Bruce Gage, on Flickr
Of course, the stokers and oilers wouldn't be dining here
Water Level RouteOf all the non-summer foods to have, I made a lasagna last night.
I've had a craving for some good Italian meatballs or maybe veal Parmesan. Sure I love the summertime burgers and corn on the cob but there's something missing by not having a traditional tomato-saucy dish.
So why are there French bread pizzas but not Italian bread ones?
After dining on some of these items shown above I sure hope the berth you have in steerage is copiously ventilated
[edit]
Actually the folks in steerage didn't have it so bad — well, except for that one minor detail — at least I recognize the items on their menu:
Third Class menu for the last day of R.M.S. Titanic by David Flett, on Flickr
Good Morning All. Chloe, I'll have the scrambled eggs w/ chopped ham and malted milk off Ed's menu please. I'll also take one of the sweet rolls Brother Lion brought.
Not sure what I did in my sleep, but wow did I wake up with a sore neck this morning. I imagine I must have been twisted up like a pretzel at some point in the night!
Of all the non-summer foods to have, I made a lasagna last night. My daughter requested it, and it sounded good. Still, eating lasagna on the deck in 80 degree weather, just didn't hit the spot like normal. Still good, but not quite as good as usual.
Yet another Monday. Off to the races. Have a good day fellas.
Mike
Good morning, Diners. I'll have the same as Bear please, Chloe.
Ed Thanks for the tip. I have ordered the book 'Last Dinner on the Titanic'. It should be here in three days time.
Back later.
NorthBritLoving the Menu card Ed. I do enjoy looking at Menu cards of the 1920s/1930s. Such class, style and elegance. Dawn bought me a book 'The Captain's Table Life & Dining on the Great Ocean Liners' by Sarah Edington. How passenger life aboard ship was.
Glad you enjoyed, David
If you don't already have a copy, The Last Dinner On The Titanic is a wonderful book. I've had a copy since 1997 when it was first available. I see hardbound editions have gone up in price! Perhaps a used copy can be procured?
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Dinner-Titanic-Menus-Recipes/dp/078686303X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=DJPXXN2Q1LCO&keywords=last+dinner+on+the+titanic&qid=1658122020&s=books&sprefix=last+dinner+%2Cstripbooks%2C127&sr=1-1
How about another NYC Menu, this from 1927.
NYC_menu_1927 by Edmund, on Flickr
Today, those French sardines in Olive Oil would set you back $12.75!
Cheers, Ed