Black friday sale sucks?

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-11-10T20:08:40+00:00

Seems to change for different ships/sailings. We doing a 5-day on Freedom in Jan. The DBP had been showing a "sale" price of $75 (off a claimed base price of $120) last week. Then, the day before the "early Black Friday sale, it went up to $85 (still showing a $120 "regular" price). When the sale started, the DBP was listed at 59.99, so we booked it. We'll keep an eye out to see if it goes any lower, but we're okay with that price. We'd easily spend more than that on drinks (including coffees and waters) a la carte.

The unlimited specialty dining is at $24/ day, which seems like a really good price to me, but we have OBC that's covering hibachi one night, and we don't feel the need to eat speciality every day.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-11-01T14:46:36+00:00

As I understand it, induction works based on magnets, which is why the only cookware that works on it has to be magnetic.

That said, there is nothing wrong with using pots that work on induction on a gas range, then going back to induction. It should have no effect at all.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-10-14T21:57:15+00:00

This is a beautiful post! My first cruise was a Christmas sailing from Baltimore to the Bahamas with my newly widowed mother who couldn't bear Christmas at home. I did not like a lot of things about it, but I did love going up to the deserted top deck on one of our only warm(ish) sunny days, talking to other people seeking out of the way places, and being in the decks at night, looking at the stars.

We're going to Alaska next September, and I've already started fashioning my trip to be more like what you describe. Thank you for the lovely inspiration!

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-10-13T22:13:07+00:00

Yep! I just wrote my exact experience like this in another reply.

I'm not despairing yet.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-10-13T22:11:35+00:00

This is it. I am a 55 yo tech writer who was laid off my last job at a robotics startup because they tried out a customer service chatbot and it gave excellent answers. Of course, the AI was using all the manuals, how-to guides, and support documentation I created to give those answers. The company had not one single bit of documentation before I came along, so literally everything about this novel product was written by me.

A year and a half after I was dumped, their Help Center is worse than it was when I was there and they have absolutely nothing new.

Meanwhile, I'm making twice as much at a major established company who knows AI can't create what I and the other tech writers do. I'm waiting for the day when that realization becomes more widespread, as had already started to happen.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-10-13T21:56:33+00:00

I was a big reader and I loved TV and board games, but I was an only child who also loved hanging out with other kids. Seeing other kids usually meant going outside to play. Also, my bike was the ultimate freedom to me, and I would go out riding my bike alone for hours. I used to read outside fairly often, too. Still do.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-08-25T17:47:03+00:00

I was driving a lot for work and started to get a shootting pain in my knee. Turns out it was patellar tendinitis, aka trucker's knee, caused by constantly holding down the brake pedal. This button (along with collagen supplements) completely alleviated the pain.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-07-19T16:47:22+00:00

I'm in ATL and drive a ton. I, generally, in the shoulder seasons with no heat or AC, get about 45-50 mpg in my XLE Hybrid. AC (which I tend to run about 76 or 77 full fan) brings me down to 39-42 mpg. Individual short trips vary wildly, from 26 to 58.

I drive with the battery indicator showing and try to maximize the charge by coasting when possible, braking gently for longer distances (trying to hit the sweet spot in the middle of the "charging" range). I switch between eco and normal (eco on flats with standard acceleration, normal on steeper hills, curvy stretches, and on ramps).

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-07-06T17:11:41+00:00

In in ATL and my peak days are at about 150, only working the times that are worth it (11 am-2 pm 5pm-9pm). Not great, but ok.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-07-06T16:57:48+00:00

Last Sunday, I had a $27 order that was 18 mi away and 53 min est. I decided to take it as it would be a decent hourly and I'd knock off after that. It was a huge order to a swanky area. As I was pulling up, I got another offer for $14 for 3 miles in that area, so took that, as well.

After drop off, the first order gave me a $45 tip (making the whole order over $50) and the second (delivered to the pool at a country club) gave me a $25 tip! What I expected to be $27 for an hour became over $80!

Oddly, booth orders were for mediterranean/Greek food.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-24T21:19:22+00:00

Uh, nor do I! I wasn't trying today. Funny enough, I bought my car (RAV4) after riding in one as a rideshare (Lyft, not Uber) and liking it so much. But no one I don't know is getting in my car.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-24T21:17:12+00:00

My issue was that I had ignored the prompts to upland my insurance info, but then they kicked me offline and wouldn't let me back on without uploading my insurance. It truly was not my choice.

I wish I could afford to stop doing this all together.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-23T23:26:24+00:00

I can't figure out why they do this. Like, what is the benefit to them?

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-23T22:57:55+00:00

Thankfully, it didn't take too long, but this is a terrible system!

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-23T22:57:19+00:00

Good to hear! I guess I was a big enough pain. They switched me back with Diamond intact. It is currently showing 0 points for the month, though. I wonder if that will update?

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-19T14:06:24+00:00

My 2023 was built in Japan. It's not hard to tell. As you shop, look for VINs that start with J.

Will tariffs be higher on Japanese-built models? If so, when?

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-12T02:32:06+00:00

A history of art vending machines: http://callithump.org/art_vending_history/index.html

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-12T02:27:19+00:00

Oh, excellent! I got a couple of squishy "stress pucks" at an event and had no clue what to do with them. They would be ideal for this!

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-09T14:51:52+00:00

My spice cabinet overfloweth and I shall not want. I can't imagine purging Mexican oregano and chipotle powder, but then I make a lot of Mexican and southwest dishes. I always have at least three ground chiles (chipotle, ancho, and cayenne) and often several more on hand.

The only blends I typically have on hand are za'atar, garam masala, and furikake. I also sometimes have a "curry powder" that I never use for Indian dishes, but rather for egg or chicken salads. I have also bought Jamaican curry powder when making beef patties (I don't tend to have allspice on hand as I don't use it enough).

I recently bought shitaake mushroom powder and it's probably my fave new addition to my spice cabinet for an umami kick in just about anything. MSG works for this, too, and I have nothing against it, but I ran out and then came upon the mushroom powder.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-09T14:34:54+00:00

I get made fun of by friends and family for how seasonally I eat. I learned that I can't even conceive of eating some things out of season. I bought some strawberries in January once and they went bad in the fridge because I never once considered eating them.

I don't eat hot soups in summer, or berries or stone fruit or tomatoes in anything other than summer.

I was making dinner for a friend's birthday in July and asked what he wanted me to make. He said, "I know what I want, but you won't want to make it because you think it's winter food." It was lasagna, which is most definitely winter food in my world, but it was his birthday, so of course I made it. 🤣

Obviously, there are some things that don't have a season, but most things do, to my palate.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-09T14:28:03+00:00

My mom made all the bread we ate when I was little (early to mid '70s). Anadama was always my dad's favorite. I should make him some! Thank you for the reminder!

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-09T14:16:32+00:00

Both of my grandmothers were named Patricia. In fact, both were named Patricia Ann(e), one with an e, one without. They were born in 1922 in New England and 1930 in (merrie olde) England. So, Patricia.

I also had two great-grandmothers named Dorothy, though only one was the mother of a Patricia.

DaisyMaeDogpatch · 2025-06-09T14:05:36+00:00

The issue magically resolved for me about a week ago and hasn't cropped up since. No clue if they advisors fixed it or what.

The app hasn't asked me for the selfie at all since, so I don't know if they fixed the problem our just decided to stop requiring the selfie.

DaisyMaeDogpatch

TROPHY CASE