6/4-6/5 2023 I have spent much time in SoCal/LA area. Years. And all along I've been aware of the Queen Mary - the ocean liner that became a hotel (fulfilling a psychic prediction).

In the pic below there is also a rotting Soviet sub. Feel free to google that as well, a story in itself.

I've often wondered what QM is like. But I guess not enough to actually find out. Until now.

The ship has a fascinaing history and many legends surround her. Almost provided a link but if you care, you'll find it. And if you don't I won't force feed you. Either way, at least scroll through the pix below. What humans could do 100 years ago with no computers is magnificent. The older we get, the better we were :)

This is another business trip, with specific objectives - all achieved, when done. But where to stay? Could be a faceless hotel by the airport. Could be a campground or airbnb as I've done before. Or I could get a glimpse of history. And ghosts, suposedly. Doh.

Arrangements made, flights, stateroom and car booked. Flying into John Wayne/SNA this time. I spent seven years of my life here and the airport used to be home base, where I flew aerobatics from. Circa late 90's. Haven't been here in a while.

Early morning departure from PDX gives a good view of the city. I do love it. But good to get out occasionally.

Arriving SNA I spend a few hours with Tito - one of my college roommates - discussing biz stuff and AI. It's productive. World is changing, I see what I need to do, and it's good to have allies in the battles to come.

But more on the now. As part of the trip objective I have a photo shoot scheduled with a model on the Queen Mary. Because why not. I've been doing these shoots for some time. It is another form of self expression for me. Art. I even have a profile on a model site. You'd have to click the NSFW setting to OFF to see any of the pix, lol. Simple. Don't want to see - don't look.

Anyway, long story short, the model never shows up. Her loss. I still get lots of pix and memories. The ship is amazing. I'll take it step by step.

Arrival is mid afternoon. The ship has been closed for a couple years during COVID, and they are still ramping up services. Lots of it is off-limits, actually - more on that later. The immediate impact is that I have to wait for the room to be ready.

This makes for a good reason to roam about the place.

Finally I get my room. It's A183. I text the room number to Sam, back at the shop. Question: 'how haunted is it'?' - she has been researching. 'Apparrently really fucking haunted. Good luck soldier' is the reply. Hmm. hopefully friendly.The room is all the way at the back of the bus, where the naughty kids are.

A few business-like things to pass the time, then what's left but to roam the hallways a bit. Much of the ship is still off-limits due to reconstruction, unless you take a guided tour. Or a self-guided one, with due apologies :) But first, a peek at the commonly accessible areas. The Russian sub could use some paint.

Interior is a bit of a time machine. It really feels like I've stepped back to 1930's . In a good way.

So to get on top decks you have to join a tour. Of some kind. The experience is unique. The no-show model is missing out. Ship is beautiful in and of herself, anyway. Turns out this is all the model I need.

At the end of the day, the room awaits. Will ghosts join me?

Not the first night. It's calm and I get some good sleep. A busy day scheduled but before I start that, a roam about the bow decks and then engine room in the stern.

I wake to PA announcements intruding through the open window - turns out there's a modern cruise ship that just arrived next door and they're herding the human cargo off it.

Good contrast. They sure don't make them like they used to.

Back on QM, There is a professional photo shoot underway on the bow. Dozens of people, one model. And she's not even nude. Looks like way too much work for a few images. But instructive to observe.

All I can say is that I'm glad I don't have to deal with THAT budget. And my shoots are way more fun :) When they actually happen, that is. Still a goal here.

The map that they give you when you check in points out a lot of things of interest, and the engine room is on it. You have to go to shore and then back onboard near the stern to get there.

Is it worth the effort? WOW. Yeah.

Starts out easy, with a wall-mounted wrench.

Then a random side-detour, which turns out to be a walkway outside the hull, shielded from ambient daylight, and backlit underwater. The port side propeller.

There are three props - port, starboard and center. It's very cool to see one of them.

On to the engine room. I'll just post all the pix and leave comments to the imagination. Let's just say it deeply resonated with me.

Out into the world for business. I keep forgetting how natural it is in SoCal for seven lanes of traffic to be moving 80mph bumper to bumper. Of course I have to do 85. Was uncertain about that, especially in 55 zones, until a cop passed me doing 90+ without even looking my way. Have a nice day, officer. Carry on.

Then there were lasers and robots and planning for all my current and future companies. Oh my.

The day concluded, a second night on the ship. There is a cool section with a bunch of cutaway ship models that helps put QM in perspective.

I did try to sign up for the 'paranormal walk' at 8pm, but it was sold out. So I shadowed the tour instead. If some of them saw, out of the corner ot their eye, a figure in black (or a shadow thereof) - I am the ghost.

Second night, still no ghosts. There are many ways of looking at it. Sam suggested they may be spooked. With me onboard, can you blame them?

In all, a very memorable addition to the list of experiences. Grateful.