Hi Gang,<br /><br />I&#39;ve been absent...still fighting City Hall about our jobs, things are hell here in San Francisco.<br />Fifteen nurses had to bid for new jobs yesterday.  The list to choose from was outrageous, nights<br />in OR, ER, etc....for nurses with 25 - 40 years seniority...that&#39;s stuff for new grads.  I took Family<br />Health Center though I haven&#39;t worked in regular nursing in over 30 years.  It is criminal...and, of<br />course, I have phsyical disabiities.  Lawyers are at work as we speak.  It is so demoralizing and<br />degrading.<br /><br />I did go to FL and cruise on my beloved Monarch in January.  Miss that ship so much.  And I&#39;m getting<br />a complimentary cruise to nowhere, in a suite, two days, on the Mariner, the 20th, as she repositions to San Pedro.  That&#39;s a nice thing before the end of my CASARC job of 21 years.  I&#39;ve cried so much the last month, and picketed and fought, I am worn out.<br /><br />I&#39;ve also written about fifty poems...two I&#39;ve sent to Royal Caribbean:<br /><br />BARS AT SEA<br /><br />Belly up to the bar, here we all are,<br />Hoisting a glass or two,<br />Vacationing cruisers, fun on our mind,<br />Friends made when the sea days are through.<br /><br />Sail away parties, steel band is playing,<br />Umbrella drinks served all around,<br />The scene is the same, all over the world,<br />Wherever cruise ships abound.<br /><br />Mornings start off with spiced bloody marys,<br />Or mimosa bubbles that tickle our nose,<br />And, next thing you know, the menu we*ve sampled,<br />Grows and it grows and it grows.<br /><br />The captain is driving, so we are imbibing,<br />And tasting concoctions at sea,<br />You are never too far from a fabulous bar,<br />With bartenders superb as can be&#33;<br /><br />Sip incredible potions, on the world*s oceans,<br />And escape from all of your woes,<br />From the best dry martini to a tasty bellini,<br />The crew love their work and it shows.<br /><br />To the final nightcap, as *last call* resounds,<br />Bars at sea hold a special appeal,<br />It*s a combination of so much that*s hard to describe,<br />That gives this experience such a wonderful feel&#33;<br /><br />Carmen Henesy<br />rnsane@prodigy.net<br /><br />Copyright * 2009 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved. <br /><br />This poem is dedicated with much affection to all<br /> the wonderful bar staff * at all levels, ( bar cleaners,<br /> bar severs, bartenders, bar managers and their assistants ) at <br />Royal Caribbean. I have spent many happy hours sampling cocktails on <br />great ships and hope that <br />I continue to do so for years to come. <br /><br /><br /><br />Ode to Royal Caribbean<br /><br />I love Royal Caribbean<br /> And it’s many splendid ships, <br />With all the dining venues,<br />That do define my hips.<br /><br />The crew from many nations,<br />Are the best that one can find,<br />Working day and night,<br />To help the guests unwind&#33;<br /><br />Exotic drinks are served,<br />At a vast array of bars,<br />But the smiles of staff mixologists,<br />Truly are the stars.<br /><br />Activities keep one busy,<br />Variety for each guest,<br />From things like napkin folding,<br />To more x-rated like, “The Quest.”<br /><br />The various destinations,<br />Are some of the planet’s best,<br />Enough to cruise a lifetime,<br />With little pause to rest.<br /><br />From Caribbean beaches,<br />To Norway’s grand fiords,<br />To Sydney’s lovely Opera House,<br />Cruising offers life’s rewards.<br /><br />As one sails about the oceans,<br />Great friendships form so fast,<br />Among the staff and passengers,<br />Treasured connections last.<br /><br />New ships debut so often,<br />Each grander than the last,<br />But I cannot forget the ones,<br />That were built far in the past.<br /><br />Welcome to the Oasis,<br />The grandest ship of these,<br />But, no matter what may come,<br />I love the Monarch of the Seas&#33;&#33;&#33;<br /><br />Carmen Henesy<br />1-29-09<br /><br />Copyright © 2009 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved.<br /><br /><br />