Shear Delight!

The last few days, I've been writing about Paloma, the 3rd-trimester storm that came out of nowhere, and is now - nowhere! After being ripped to shreds by the high, jagged mountains of Cuba, wind shear took the tops off the remaining clouds yesterday and she is officially off the radar screen. Some computer models showed the storm reforming and turning back South or West, but the models didn't see the upper-atmospheric cross-winds, that finally gave Paloma the crew cut she needed to disappear. I think we're ready for some nice Fall & Winter calm about now, don't you? In this age of mostly negative press, any good news item is worth blogging about.

Yesterday Holland America's "Zuiderdam" came back to port, following a 17-night voyage, and 14% of the passengers (261) reported symptoms of what appears to be a Norovirus strain. That's an unusually high percentage, but I will tell you some preventative ways you can beat the bug whenever you cruise.

Norovirus is fairly common all across the country from October to April, and people who have paid for a cruise are still going to go, even if they don't necessarily feel 100%. They're not going to risk losing all the money they spent on the cruise, so they'll show up and bring their little viruses and microscopic whatsits with them. Typically the Norovirus is not spread air-borne (except in a small area by a sneeze or cough), but those same little droplets of a sneeze or cough that are expelled always land on SOMETHING. It's called gravity. So let's review your memory bank - what did your Mom tell you to do before eating when you were a kid? No, "brush your teeth" was after. Think harder. Yes! Wash your hands. On a ship, people will often go back to their cabin to freshen up before a meal, and they'll be sure to wash their hands thoroughly. Then they walk out of their cabin and grab the door handle (unwashed), then as they head to dinner they often grab the handrails in the hallways (unwashed) or on the stairs (unwashed), or press the elevator buttons (unwashed), and when they get to the dining room, they take a menu from the waiter (potentially unwashed - THE MENU, not the waiter!). Get the picture yet? People are casually hygienic, and they think they've taken preventative measures, but naively so as you can see. That's why Norovirus spreads so easily in an enclosed shipboard environment.

I always go to the galley (dining room), and wait until I've read the menu and ordered, before excusing myself for 1 minute to go to the restroom and wash my hands. That doesn't bother me to do, but for people who get embarrassed by leaving the table, just take a small Purell pack or squeeze bottle to the table. Anyone who would criticize you for sanitizing your hands is the same type of person who catches the Noro.

Did you read between the lines at all here? There's another trap set, if you didn't. People might follow these instructions completely, and still set themselves up for a fall. What's the first thing many people do when they sit down at a table? Unwrap the silverware, put the napkin in their lap, just like Emily Post or Miss Manners. WRONG! As mentioned, you just grabbed the rail, touched the wall, all that Noro-stuff and then grabbed your silverware! Just because you're on vacation, don't check your brain at the door. Go to the dining room, grab the menu and order, then sanitize your hands one way or another, and now you're ready to unwrap your napkin, grab your glass of water (did you think of that one?), or help yourself to a dinner roll (see? there are lots of dangers if you're not thinking!). All us lifelong Seafarers know these tricks, and if you're careful you and your family can enjoy cruising with very little chance of contracting a Norovirus, regardless of the season.

Did you read between the lines AGAIN? Forget about the dining room, sometimes you're out on the deck, and are just going to grab a burger and fries. All the same rules apply, Mates. Same for when you stop in for tea and cookies in the afternoon, or grab an ice cream cone, and on and on. Do you see how easy it is to slip up? Add to the equation that many people have had a cocktail or six when they're on a cruise, and their inhibitions are minimized, while carelessness is maximized. Those are what we professional sailors refer to as the "unprotected sects."

According to the Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles, Washington there is a new danger in the kitchen. Being shot by the stove. I don't mean being shot NEAR the stove, either. Ms. Cory Davis of Sekiu Washington was trying to take the chill of her house, by firing up her wood-burning stove a couple weeks ago. She had put in some small sticks and kindling, as well as a couple healthy-size pieces of firewood, but it was still going to take a few minutes to get up to speed, so she decided to prep the fire by putting in a few newspapers to hurry the process. She grabbed some rolled-up newspapers from her kitchen table, forgetting she had earlier been cleaning her .22-gauge shotgun. One of the shells had made its way into the newspaper, and as Ms. Davis was standing there warming her hands by the orange glow of the fire, the stove shot her in the leg. She was able to drive herself to the hospital, and her injuries were not life-threatening. When asked about the incident, Ms. Davis said "There's always that one problem stray."
Like it was the shell's fault....