I do love reading about the shitshow. You are so fortunate to be on your floating shitshow and not present for the one going on here. Whatever you do, don't let ICE on board. Stay safe.
Well, welcome back to the real world—if in fact mainland USA is any more real these days than floating around the globe in an often collapsing mini-world at sea.
We here often feel like we’re living in a dream, whereas you ARE living a dream. A 3 year luxury (?) cruise which many lesser mortals can only dream of once they get rid of those pesky 9 to 5 jobs and the kids. Of course I’m guessing since I’ve never had a real job OR children.
But L.A. has to still be reeling from those fires and floods on top of what the rest of us grapple with, whatever new blows the government can inflict daily.
Dick’s singing teacher just relocated to L.A., found an affordable apt in, yup, Alta Dena, before the sparks started flying. Flames only got to the end of her block, but she lost everything anyway to soot and toxic dust. But so far FEMA’s been helpful, and she booked a commercial.
Here’s hoping all your L.A. friends came through okay, and have apartments where you can stay and I’m sure so happy to see you again!
Hi, Joe. I'm always sorry when the newest installment is over. All of it is fodder for your storytelling expertise which I greatly anticipate. Have a great time on your 3 week break
I’ve been looking forward to this update! Thanks for making my week! Safe travels back to the States and I hope you don’t have to chase down the ship outside of San Diego!
oh my god the shitshow must go on----hahaahahahhahahhaaa, another great! and no vomitting! and that couple got married! I do remember when they were engaged. not to sound cynical but do they perform divorces as well, at sea? Fare Well in SoCal and hope to see you in NoCal!
Because I'm a fan of details, rather than 4 months, the launch delay was actually a bit more than 4 1/2 months - 141 days to be exact from when they were supposed to leave May 15 from Southampton and instead left October 3 from Belfast. Surprised you underplayed that one.
Did you plan this exact time to be off the ship? It seems a master stroke to skip the possibilities of running out of lettuce and beer on the 7+ day crossing, the possibility of something happening mid-ocean with that sketchy engine and skipping the (slight?) potential of having to exit ship in expensive Hawaii for an unknown period of time if repairs and more retesting becomes necessary. But for your personal US re-entry, I would recommend deleting your social media posts and get a burner fone for arrival. There is definitely some subversive material on your phone and you've already recently been to El Salvador and don't need another trip there.
Why are there no sports at Mike's Sports Bar? That seems like a very easy fix, unlike the pools apparently. Is it because there isn't a sports channel at all on the ship? Or is it they don't want to pay for it with so few people onboard? (All time high 289!) Have you thought about asking some ladies onboard for red fingernail polish and in the wee hours, when I believe you are awake anyway, sneaking up and painting the sign "Mike's NO Sports Bar"? It's Important to stand up for your beliefs and live the protest life.
I hope things go great in San Diego and you are able to store up enough memories of good beer to last you for the (hopefully) remaining 80% of the cruise.
I swear to God.. You must be arguing with a fly on the wall! What went wrong in your life Samantha?
You must spend 18-20 hours every day scouring the internet about everything and anything that entails Villa Vie Odyssey (Samantha Sullivan here aka RetiredZGrt (Backroads Tourist) aka Truthful S (Cruise Critic) ). You wallow in negativity and darkness and clings desperately to the hope that Villa Vie will fail. Any positive news, like Villa Vie may make it to US waters you try to mock and then belittle the people that does believe it may happen. You search and dig so hard after negativity!
Is your retirement and your golden years so little worth and lacking of REAL content for YOU? The experiences that Joe and all the other residents have onboard the Odyssey is enriching their lives. Is it so hard to understand?
I am 100% convinced you envy Joe Rhodes and the other residents the life, and fun that they AFTER ALL do experience. You Samantha Sullivan live your life reading about other peoples lives totally devoid of your own pleasures and soul lifting experiences! Get out and live your own life!
It is all just so sad and heartwrenching to see your posts at all the forums that exists and covers Villa Vie. It is the same negative regurgitation (that word, "regurgitation" is a strikingly appropriate choice of a word that another poster coined you at another forum).
At any given chance and opportunity like here at Substack, you infringe on other peoples own space with your darkness. You just can't help yourself can you? You are like a stuck record puking out the same putrefied and bitter gall every single time. Over and over again. Every time you post something, I just skip reading it. Nothing new!
And if you readers reading this have any doubt. No, I have my own bad personal experience with Mike, Kathy and Villa Vie. They are awful people! But Samantha, why cant you give the residents the credit that they are in fact, getting something in return now from Villa Vie after all the grief and frustration they all had to endure (and still have to endure). I have never ever met a human being that has so much bitterness, envy and sorrow in her life. So much despair over other peoples happiness and fun life! I bet that your soul will be in agony if the Odyssey actually will make it to US waters..
You really ought to try and live your OWN life. Life can be so beautiful with so many enrichments for the taking! Life can give you so many beautiful experiences. I hope that you can see some of all the beautiful colours life can offer you. Life is short. Why not try to enjoy it?
Best of luck for your shitshow to make it to the US! Do you have plans for rejoining it if it doesn't turn up in San Diego, though? We need our regular Villa Vie snark updates -- we can't have you missing the rendezvous! :)
Also, when did the Odyssey beer get bad again? I thought you'd told us that it was offering not-terrible beer for a while.
They were. They brought on Minerva IPA from Guadalajara, which was delicious, but they only purchased 40 bottles, which I drank immediately. Also, other people were apparently allowed to order it, which is bullshit. We were down to Heineken and Moema by the time I disembarked. I was forced to drink spicy margaritas instead. My suffering knows no bounds.
we had a family vacation that took us from...Laredo maybe, to Los Moches (Mochis?) and Topolabompo, or however you spell it. we rode a train through the mountains. I was about 9, I think. there were guys farming on these nearly sheer mountainsides, visible from the train, out there hoeing perpendicularly. In Los Mochis there were young dudes riding cheesy motorbikes in the street outside our hotel late into the night, the combined din of the motors and the guys' yelling. a few days in my brother Alex got real real sick, and after a day trip with my other brother and mom I also did. I came back to life on the long train ride back. and in Texas, on the road between McCamey and San Angelo, my mom got violently ill and my older brother Steve had to drive the last hour in the darkness though he was underage and unlicensed. she ended up in the hospital for a couple of days bc dehydrated. anyway sorry, TMI, but this is the first time I've heard anyone mention Topolabompo (sp?) outside family nostalgia since we were on that trip almost 60 years ago and it got me all Prousted up. have fun in Cali, hope the docs can help and that the ship makes it into U.S. waters. love the posts, keep 'em coming.
I'll recommend the Kings St. IPA from Anchorage should you ever see it offered for sale. Being from Utah (no I'm not Mormon), I don't drink alcohol at all ... while I'm in the state. But when I'm out of the state I do drink. I drink with my little brother in Arizona, at weddings in Wisconsin, on the beach in Maui. When we arrive at our cabin in Homer, it's usually a cold Kings St. IPA that Mark Turner will offer me the moment we reach the cabin and unload our crap from his creeper van. Maybe we'll add some cake to that ritual. Fun read, looking forward to the next.
Love your writing and your style! I'm wondering if there's a betting pool in Las Vegas as to whether or not Villa Vie will be allowed into the United States! 🙂
I do love reading about the shitshow. You are so fortunate to be on your floating shitshow and not present for the one going on here. Whatever you do, don't let ICE on board. Stay safe.
I started to say something similar!
Always a pleasure to hear from you Joe!
When are you going to write a script for your comedy version of the Love Boat?
Well, welcome back to the real world—if in fact mainland USA is any more real these days than floating around the globe in an often collapsing mini-world at sea.
We here often feel like we’re living in a dream, whereas you ARE living a dream. A 3 year luxury (?) cruise which many lesser mortals can only dream of once they get rid of those pesky 9 to 5 jobs and the kids. Of course I’m guessing since I’ve never had a real job OR children.
But L.A. has to still be reeling from those fires and floods on top of what the rest of us grapple with, whatever new blows the government can inflict daily.
Dick’s singing teacher just relocated to L.A., found an affordable apt in, yup, Alta Dena, before the sparks started flying. Flames only got to the end of her block, but she lost everything anyway to soot and toxic dust. But so far FEMA’s been helpful, and she booked a commercial.
Here’s hoping all your L.A. friends came through okay, and have apartments where you can stay and I’m sure so happy to see you again!
Happy trails!
Shrimp tacos! With your dodgy tum tum?
‘You are out of your fucking mind’ [To quote a great writer]
Uncle Joe, you live life on the very edge.
Hi, Joe. I'm always sorry when the newest installment is over. All of it is fodder for your storytelling expertise which I greatly anticipate. Have a great time on your 3 week break
I’ve been looking forward to this update! Thanks for making my week! Safe travels back to the States and I hope you don’t have to chase down the ship outside of San Diego!
You crack me up. I hope get all your shit done and return an unchanged man. Stay safe.
oh my god the shitshow must go on----hahaahahahhahahhaaa, another great! and no vomitting! and that couple got married! I do remember when they were engaged. not to sound cynical but do they perform divorces as well, at sea? Fare Well in SoCal and hope to see you in NoCal!
Promises made, promises kept. Thanks Joe! 😁
Because I'm a fan of details, rather than 4 months, the launch delay was actually a bit more than 4 1/2 months - 141 days to be exact from when they were supposed to leave May 15 from Southampton and instead left October 3 from Belfast. Surprised you underplayed that one.
Did you plan this exact time to be off the ship? It seems a master stroke to skip the possibilities of running out of lettuce and beer on the 7+ day crossing, the possibility of something happening mid-ocean with that sketchy engine and skipping the (slight?) potential of having to exit ship in expensive Hawaii for an unknown period of time if repairs and more retesting becomes necessary. But for your personal US re-entry, I would recommend deleting your social media posts and get a burner fone for arrival. There is definitely some subversive material on your phone and you've already recently been to El Salvador and don't need another trip there.
Why are there no sports at Mike's Sports Bar? That seems like a very easy fix, unlike the pools apparently. Is it because there isn't a sports channel at all on the ship? Or is it they don't want to pay for it with so few people onboard? (All time high 289!) Have you thought about asking some ladies onboard for red fingernail polish and in the wee hours, when I believe you are awake anyway, sneaking up and painting the sign "Mike's NO Sports Bar"? It's Important to stand up for your beliefs and live the protest life.
I hope things go great in San Diego and you are able to store up enough memories of good beer to last you for the (hopefully) remaining 80% of the cruise.
I swear to God.. You must be arguing with a fly on the wall! What went wrong in your life Samantha?
You must spend 18-20 hours every day scouring the internet about everything and anything that entails Villa Vie Odyssey (Samantha Sullivan here aka RetiredZGrt (Backroads Tourist) aka Truthful S (Cruise Critic) ). You wallow in negativity and darkness and clings desperately to the hope that Villa Vie will fail. Any positive news, like Villa Vie may make it to US waters you try to mock and then belittle the people that does believe it may happen. You search and dig so hard after negativity!
Is your retirement and your golden years so little worth and lacking of REAL content for YOU? The experiences that Joe and all the other residents have onboard the Odyssey is enriching their lives. Is it so hard to understand?
I am 100% convinced you envy Joe Rhodes and the other residents the life, and fun that they AFTER ALL do experience. You Samantha Sullivan live your life reading about other peoples lives totally devoid of your own pleasures and soul lifting experiences! Get out and live your own life!
It is all just so sad and heartwrenching to see your posts at all the forums that exists and covers Villa Vie. It is the same negative regurgitation (that word, "regurgitation" is a strikingly appropriate choice of a word that another poster coined you at another forum).
At any given chance and opportunity like here at Substack, you infringe on other peoples own space with your darkness. You just can't help yourself can you? You are like a stuck record puking out the same putrefied and bitter gall every single time. Over and over again. Every time you post something, I just skip reading it. Nothing new!
And if you readers reading this have any doubt. No, I have my own bad personal experience with Mike, Kathy and Villa Vie. They are awful people! But Samantha, why cant you give the residents the credit that they are in fact, getting something in return now from Villa Vie after all the grief and frustration they all had to endure (and still have to endure). I have never ever met a human being that has so much bitterness, envy and sorrow in her life. So much despair over other peoples happiness and fun life! I bet that your soul will be in agony if the Odyssey actually will make it to US waters..
You really ought to try and live your OWN life. Life can be so beautiful with so many enrichments for the taking! Life can give you so many beautiful experiences. I hope that you can see some of all the beautiful colours life can offer you. Life is short. Why not try to enjoy it?
You had a “veritable Pantheon of not-at-all-shitty beers” on the ship back in Thanksgiving. Holy hell! Did you drink the coolers dry?
I just read down through the comments and saw your reply about the beer situation. Tragic! This brings me to wonder. Does the ship do burials at sea?
Love the update.
Best of luck for your shitshow to make it to the US! Do you have plans for rejoining it if it doesn't turn up in San Diego, though? We need our regular Villa Vie snark updates -- we can't have you missing the rendezvous! :)
Also, when did the Odyssey beer get bad again? I thought you'd told us that it was offering not-terrible beer for a while.
They were. They brought on Minerva IPA from Guadalajara, which was delicious, but they only purchased 40 bottles, which I drank immediately. Also, other people were apparently allowed to order it, which is bullshit. We were down to Heineken and Moema by the time I disembarked. I was forced to drink spicy margaritas instead. My suffering knows no bounds.
Oh dear. As a resident of the Netherlands, I feel that I should apologize for the existence of Heineken.
we had a family vacation that took us from...Laredo maybe, to Los Moches (Mochis?) and Topolabompo, or however you spell it. we rode a train through the mountains. I was about 9, I think. there were guys farming on these nearly sheer mountainsides, visible from the train, out there hoeing perpendicularly. In Los Mochis there were young dudes riding cheesy motorbikes in the street outside our hotel late into the night, the combined din of the motors and the guys' yelling. a few days in my brother Alex got real real sick, and after a day trip with my other brother and mom I also did. I came back to life on the long train ride back. and in Texas, on the road between McCamey and San Angelo, my mom got violently ill and my older brother Steve had to drive the last hour in the darkness though he was underage and unlicensed. she ended up in the hospital for a couple of days bc dehydrated. anyway sorry, TMI, but this is the first time I've heard anyone mention Topolabompo (sp?) outside family nostalgia since we were on that trip almost 60 years ago and it got me all Prousted up. have fun in Cali, hope the docs can help and that the ship makes it into U.S. waters. love the posts, keep 'em coming.
I'll recommend the Kings St. IPA from Anchorage should you ever see it offered for sale. Being from Utah (no I'm not Mormon), I don't drink alcohol at all ... while I'm in the state. But when I'm out of the state I do drink. I drink with my little brother in Arizona, at weddings in Wisconsin, on the beach in Maui. When we arrive at our cabin in Homer, it's usually a cold Kings St. IPA that Mark Turner will offer me the moment we reach the cabin and unload our crap from his creeper van. Maybe we'll add some cake to that ritual. Fun read, looking forward to the next.
Love your writing and your style! I'm wondering if there's a betting pool in Las Vegas as to whether or not Villa Vie will be allowed into the United States! 🙂