First Post; Catching up on email - what a chore!

I recently went on a cruise trip to the Bahamas with my wife (Kim), mother (Val), and lil' sister (Alicia). Had a lot of fun but dealt with a pulled muscle in my neck the whole trip. I enjoyed the Royal Carribean ship, Soveriegn of the Seas, but man did they nickle and dime us to death. $1.99 for a bottle of water, $1.50 for a 12 oz. can of soda, and top that off with a %15 gratuity that went to the stateroom attendant, I guess. I also went to the doc the first day on the ship because I couldn't take the, no pun intended, pain in my neck. I ended up owing a little over $200 for that - $30 of it because I saw the doctor 'off hours'. The nurse is listed on the door as being there from 2-7 pm but the doctor is only there from 4-6 or some crazy hours. I show up at 1410 and the nurse refers me to the doctor. I am not warned about the extra 30 bucks and would have waited until 4 if i would have known. Oh well, live and learn. All of the above leads to: catching up on email - what a chore! I have over 200 personal emails and 50 work emails because of my little trip because internet access on the ship was $0.50 a minute - yet another example of the cruise line nickle and diming. Don't think from 'knickle and diming' comments that I hated the cruise or the cruiseline. I very much did enjoy the cruise, and I am very thankful for my mom who purchased the cruise tickets and plane tickets (what a great mom!). I now know more about what I need to pack for a cruise trip, like bottles of fresh water. :) Argh, #9 button broken on my work laptop. Makes typing 9s and (s 'ard.

 

2021 Derek here: it's a blast to see what I was thinking in the past. I definitely remember dealing with the neck pain if not the feeling of pain itself. 

Oh to only have to pay $1.99 for a bottle of water when they can run $4 in a movie theater or even more at special events and theme parks.

The medical costs have only gotten worse in America. Currently paying $2000/month for Medical/Rx/Dental/Vision through COBRA. For medical and Rx that still has a $3000 yearly deductible before the insurance pays for anything besides "well visits". Between $3k and $7k insurance pays 80%. After $7k 100%. That means I don't see the doctor or get medicine sometimes between $0 and $3k unless it is a cheap generic or I get my doctor the year prior to move me from the name brand that doesn't have a generic to a generic that mostly does what I need but isn't as good. God Bless America!

The computer situation has improved a lot. At least I have that going for me! :D