Well, it&#39;s almost 11PM here on the left coast and I am one weary lady.  We&#39;ve just finished the <br />strawberry rhubarb cobbler - dinner was fabulous - but, I must say, I spent hours chopping, etc.<br />What with the 2-1/2 cups of wine in the lamb shanks, the other nice bottle of 2007 Sebeka® Shiraz-Pinotage &quot;Cape Blend&quot; ( Jackie, have you ever tried that? They have a wonderful label with a running<br />cheetah on it and the cork is yellow with a cheetah&#39;s spots ) and the Tiramisu after dinner drinks, I<br />should sleep well tonight.<br /><br />Welcome Menou, 56 days of cruising, how glorious.<br /><br />If only my retirement were based on full time employment rather than half time, I think I&#39;d be <br />doing a little better.  While we were required to cover 24/7, all hours beyond half time were per<br />diem so that the city did not have to pay benefits on anything more than half time.  That&#39;s what&#39;s <br />hurting me so much now&#33;  I actually put in full time plus....with only four nurses covering 24/7 and<br />doing all the child sexual abuse cases for the city, we often worked the equivalent of 120 hours/<br />week&#33;  I&#39;ve been alone all my life bringing up my three sons...and, thankfully, they are grown now<br />and FINISHED with college.  Jeremy graduated last June.  I just need a little income to cruise.  It<br />will soon be six months since my last Monarch cruise and that just won&#39;t do.<br /><br />Night everyone...sweet dreams.<br />