Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Happy Birthday, MA! 

Frequently known as The Incredible Sleeping Woman, she managed to stay in bed until late in the morning.  This is the result of losing an hour for a time-zone change; staying up late on her tablet; and being perpetually tired anyway. 

When we finally opened the curtains to the verandah, we discovered it had acquired new residents -- there were a half-dozen birds settled on the floor looking very smug.  Beating on the glass did not bother them.  Opening the door did not bother them.  Yelling at them did not ruffle their feathers, as it were.  Earlier in the morning, the captain had said something about a fire alarm and a flock of birds, but our door was closed so we didn't hear him clearly.  The birds on the balcony backed up his story. 

We didn't leave the cabin until we headed off to lunch.  D had apologized to the room stewards for being late today and asked them to take the laundry but not worry about the room. Even so, as we were leaving, they arrived to clean the room and straighten the bed.  We all smiled at each other and went our separate ways. 

We ate by the pool again [noodles and fruit] and them MA spent time on the internet responding to birthday wishes and catching up on the outside world while D read off-line.  Our internet package allows us to have only one item connected at a time, but we have not had a problem sharing. 

We were surprised when we opened the door to the cabin to find that the stewards had left a menagerie of towel animals on the bed and a note wishing MA a happy birthday.  There may be hope for them after all. 

MA treated herself to a shrimp cocktail at dinner, her big celebration.  After we declined dessert or cappuccinos, Danan said he had a surprise for her.  Shortly thereafter, he arrived with a little birthday dessert with "Happy Birthday"written on the plate in icing.  He cut two small pieces for us and, at our direction, kept the rest for himself and the assistant.  Then a half-dozen waiters gathered round and lustily sang the Indonesian birthday song.  Of course, we sang along. 

We went to the casino as usual and MA won a little on her slot and D doubled his/the casino's money at the blackjack table. T

Thus endeth the birthday. 

Tomorrow -- Transiting the Panama Canal [Again]