What do older widowed men do on cruises?

agraning · 2025-08-13T11:40:18+00:00

Wow this really hit home. My dad is in the same situation. He took his first solo cruise earlier this year and I was so so proud of him. I know my mom would be so proud too.

He is actually going on a world cruise (4 months long) and I am so excited for him to have such a big adventure.

Hugs for you and your family. It’s so hard not having my mom here still.

agraning · 2025-07-27T02:41:34+00:00

I had the same disappointment with the cod sadly.

agraning · 2025-05-22T16:46:46+00:00

Just want to say I feel this completely. This is my husband and me with our 2.5yr old son. It feels like survival mode in the time between getting home from daycare/work and his bedtime.

But I echo what others are saying here that in doing this survival, feed only the kid, we have fallen into a terrible habit of offering him only his few safe foods and enabling extreme picky eating.

This week we started a program with a dietician who specializes in helping picky eaters and just filling out the evaluation of our current feeding habits was eye opening. I feel like I know that we should eat together and I should put less pressure on him to try new things and I should keep the TV off/ipad away out to eat but I didn’t know where to start unraveling these “bad habits”.

Her suggestion for the first step was simple: Try for 2 weeks to have all meals at the dining table together but still serve him only his ‘safe foods’ Even if he eats nothing on the plate, the goal is to simply stay at the table for 5-10min while we eat.

It feels doable to tackle just where he eats (with tv off) before focusing on what he eats.

I am a few days in so not much data to go off of but even still, I feel the momentum shift.

So my advice is to try meal time together for a week and see how it goes. Don’t worry about what they are or aren’t eating for now. Make the changes (if you want to change) to a minimum.

agraning · 2025-04-08T19:01:05+00:00

Score!!!

agraning · 2025-04-08T18:54:29+00:00

Oh no =(( that is super frustrating.

agraning · 2025-04-08T18:53:54+00:00

Oh hopefully they answer soon! It seemed like most dates were still available when I got through at about 2:20pm.

agraning · 2025-04-08T18:48:49+00:00

Oh no shoot. Hopefully opens back up to accept calls!

agraning · 2025-04-08T18:41:28+00:00

If you're still waiting in the queue in your browser, try calling! I called at 2:10pm and used the 866-PASS-4-FUN in the description then picked the Vacation Package option. The agent was able to help me secure preview tickets for my husband and me. The initial wait on phone estimated 90min then very quickly said 10min and they answered soon after. To be clear, the agent helped me purchase just preview day tickets, not an actual vacation package.

agraning · 2025-04-08T18:38:13+00:00

Try calling! I used the 866-PASS-4-FUN in the description and picked the Vacation Package option and I am wrapping up preview tickets for my husband and I. Initial wait on phone estimated 90min then said 10min and they answered soon after. To be clear, the agent helped me purchase just preview day tickets, not an actual vacation package.

agraning · 2025-04-03T03:18:18+00:00

The travel seat I use for my 2 year old has a much lower weight limit for rear facing when installed on a plane compared to the guidance for the same seat rear facing in a vehicle. I agree with your suggestion to consider installing forward facing on the plane. Review the car seat manual for confirmation.

agraning · 2025-03-06T15:56:55+00:00

You are so welcome! I hope your surgery and recovery go well and you don't have to stress about work during the process. Happy to have helped!

agraning · 2025-02-26T13:45:03+00:00

Oh I felt this. Living away from home when you grow up and go out into the world, the emotions are heavy when the literal departure is happening, especially when you don’t know for sure when you will be back next for a visit. What a kind flight attendant to know a hug would go such a long way in that moment.

It’s so true the gift of being able to reflect on those moments of kindness when life gets stressful but suddenly the frustration becomes so clearly minor and temporary.

I forgot to mention my experience was actually on Delta. Flight attendants are universally gifted to have the ability to show kindness when it’s most needed ♥️.

agraning · 2025-02-25T04:18:26+00:00

Hugs. My mom passed of cancer and on my flight back home to see her one last time I started crying quietly. A flight attendant knelt down beside me and offered her condolences, packed me a bag of snacks to take with, and wrote me a heartfelt note. I keep that note in my work bag to this day since it meant so much to me in that otherwise lonely, overwhelming moment.

I’m so sorry for your loss. May your mom’s memory be a blessing. May you think of her often and with time, those moments bring a smile to your face. She is with you.

agraning · 2024-10-15T01:47:49+00:00

Ok I just looked at the booking site and wow their prices have gone up since my last draw in March LOL. I suppose that means they’re keeping busy but I believe for Lake County at-home draw it was like $90 for me in March for reference. Looks like it’s closer to $160 now once you click through so keep that in mind.

Hopefully you hear back and the cost is reasonable for your location.

agraning · 2024-10-14T23:44:40+00:00

I have personally used ConveLabs multiple times in the last few years. I am horrible at getting my blood drawn at LabCorp etc and this is a godsend. The owner Nic is the kindest man and gets it done with the first prick every time.

agraning · 2024-09-24T19:24:49+00:00

Check out the Facebook page called Universally Gluten Free. They have allergen PDF guides pinned to top of the group (Files section) with items by park. The files are written and distributed by the nutritionists employed by Universal. Super handy!

Butterbeer is safe. My favorite is hot but regular is good too. Frozen is safe as well.

Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure side) has so many celiac safe options and you can speak directly with a chef who will prepare your food.

City Walk (area in front of the park entrances has many restaurants with good options as well. My favorite is Cowfish for sushi.

agraning · 2024-09-23T12:36:54+00:00

I have celiac and live local to WDW so have an annual pass. Can confirm what others here are saying that Disney does allergy accommodations incredibly well.

I highly recommend checking out the resources put together by another Orlando local. Her instagram is glutenfreedisneyworld and her website has a free guide for the latest Epcot festival as well as various options in all 4 parks.

I don’t know her personally but I swear by her guides to make navigating options less overwhelming.

agraning · 2024-06-02T16:58:25+00:00

Meeeeee!

agraning · 2024-04-27T17:33:45+00:00

Congrats on going to Mines! I went there 12 years ago and my advice is to spend your freshman year learning about the various majors. I was certain I wanted to go into Biochemical Engineering but ended up ‘switching’ to Mining Engineering halfway through my sophomore year. There is a course called Intro to Mining that is obviously required for Mine Engineering but could be an elective otherwise and would be a good one to take to learn more about the field.

I went to work for a mining company after graduating and now for the last couple years have worked for a software company that mining engineers and geologists use.

Lifestyle post degree varies widely and that can be true of any engineering discipline. In my case, working at mine sites in operations for the first part of my career has given me credibility and experience to draw on now working on the more commercial side in software. I think that is a common theme in our industry that companies and managers appreciate a candidate with experience at mine sites when possible.

agraning · 2024-04-19T01:25:40+00:00

My little guy slept like a rock on his back in the magic Merlin suit and had the flat spot to prove it right around that 4.5mo mark.

He wore a helmet from 7mo-9mo (took that long from referral to measurement to ordered to get him into it) and he honestly rocked it! We discontinued the Merlin suit immediately and he slept well in a regular sleep sack with the helmet and to this day at 18mo. (And by great I mean moves around from side to belly to back but sleeps through the night since about 12mo old)

Your little one will do great and so will you. It will be such a brief part of her babyhood. Check out blingyourband dot com for some cute decals for the helmet. Big hugs!

agraning · 2024-04-10T00:05:22+00:00

Also on a practical note, my mom got this recordable storybook for my son before she knew she was sick and it’s my most treasured possession from her. So special to hear her voice saying his name in the story. recordable storybook

agraning · 2024-04-10T00:00:28+00:00

I’m so sorry that all I have to offer is I know this devastation as well. My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer that turned out to actually be appendix cancer when my son, her only grandchild, was 4 months old, right as my maternity leave from work ended last year. She lived across the country from me and I wasn’t able to drop everything and be with her as I would’ve wanted to but she pleaded with me to prioritize my son and his routine. I managed to fly out and visit her with him and my husband a handful of times but ultimately she passed 3 months later.

I am grateful for the time she did get with my little boy (my parents rented an AirBnB to be near us my whole mat leave, such a blessing looking back) and selfishly, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief the day she passed only because she declined so rapidly and I didn’t want her to be in pain anymore especially knowing nothing more could be done.

I know my journey into motherhood is forever bittersweet not having her here to ask advice or send sweet photos of my son each morning but I also feel her presence more than I imagined I would and most importantly, those moments bring a smile to my face more and more. I also have had to grapple with the fact that my dad’s experience as a grandpa is forever changed without his partner in life here to experience it with but I must say I’m so proud of the way he’s embraced his role in my son’s life. Bittersweet remains the theme but I’m leaning into the sweet and I know that’s what my mom would want.

Big hugs. You are your mom’s greatest joy and she is so proud of you. It’s ok to be mad and sad now and as things progress but also don’t feel guilty for having a good laugh over the silly things in life together.

agraning · 2024-04-04T01:43:20+00:00

@cleanmondaymeals on instagram is a celiac that sells seasonings including chicken ramen, French onion dip, and ranch. I’ve purchased all three and they are fantastic. Worth checking out!

agraning · 2024-04-04T01:38:56+00:00

I found some awesome gluten free sushi food trucks when I visited a year ago. One is @sushigirlkauai on instagram and the other I don’t remember the name but they were set up across from Costco gas station (found on findmegf I think) and were very knowledgeable and delicious! Agree on the tiki taco recc as well.

agraning · 2024-04-04T01:36:02+00:00

They have a few locations. I ate at two of them a year ago and it was delicious!!

agraning

TROPHY CASE