tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42038662812496391952024-03-05T12:29:30.811-08:00Grammy TalkTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-6786239987554975892011-03-08T07:45:00.001-08:002011-03-08T07:58:46.670-08:00My Half Century MarkWhen I wrote this blog (that I found buried in my purse recently), I was still enjoying a country weekend--house had been cleaned, plants watered, candles lit in every room, so good smells were wafting about and I took pen (keyboard) in hand to write. <br /><br />Right before Christmas was my birthday. My 50th Birthday. I was the first in my Elder Group to turn 50. Expected to set a precident? I hoped not. I'm quite uncomfortable being the center of attention so I was hoping no big secret plans were made. I heard a phrase and ran with it--I wanted to elope with my birthday. <br /><br />Papa turned 50 several years ago. He had worked himself into such a state that I had to plan a trip and we left town so he wouldn't have to endure any birthday festivities around home or work. We had a very nice trip to Sanibel Island, Florida laying on the beach in the daytime and going to spring training baseball games in the evening. By the time we came home, he was relaxed and had moved past his birthday.<br /><br />I wasn't quite this bad. I wanted it to be a non-event though. Haven't enjoyed my birthday in several years, not connected to aging, that's never been the issue.<br /><br />I suggested maybe a weekend away at a lodge in the Ozarks but Papa isn't the trip planner in our family. Unless I plan it, it doesn't happen. I guess I could have planned it but it was pre-Christmas and I was getting exhausted already and didn't have much initiative myself.<br /><br />We had planned to drive to Phoenix over the holiday break from work (we get two weeks off), but then Papa cmae home one night telling me he may have to work during the break but wouldn't know until the last minute! GRRRR.<br /><br />I was missing Fantastic Son something awful and told Papa if we couldn't drive to Phoenix, then I, at least, wanted to fly down myself for a short visit.<br /><br />So as my birthday loomed closer, Papa started hounding me for a birthday gift idea from him. So I said buy me a ticket to Phoenix to I can go see my son. Done.<br /><br />So even though it was another Christmas without having FS there, I knew I was at least going to get to see him and Serious Girlfriend and the Three Bonus Kids and that improved my mood terrifically.<br /><br />So as the actual date of my 50th year arrived we were in the country. I was happy and it was a low key day. Papa wanted to go to dinner and a movie and kept pushing that all day but by dark the wind had picked up, it was drizzling and sleeting, biting cold and I had to play the "it's my birthday, let me do what I want to" card. What I didn't want to do was go outside at all. So I popped two Salisbury Steak tv dinners in the oven and we ate those in front of the tv and watched White Christmas two times that night and let my birthday pass on by. And that was that.<br /><br />An Older GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-73985334014089432252011-02-23T07:30:00.000-08:002011-02-23T07:59:29.685-08:00Long Time--No See(Read/Blog)Boy, so glad I didn't sign that contract with Blogher! That way I can have these four month vacations from blogging without repurcussions.<br /><br />Let's see since October, when I last wrote, there has been: Halloween, Thanksgiving, snow, my half century birthday, a long overdue medical physical, snow, holiday stress, car issues, sock monkeys, more snow, Christmas, medical tests including a colonoscopy, tornadoes, New Year's Eve, a trip to Phoenix, more car problems, being sick, back to work, snow, snow, snow, ice, stuck in the ice and snow, more snow and continual car problems, the P's started a soccer career, Pollyanna's 50th, and now you are pretty much caught up with me!!!<br /><br />So you want some more details? Let's condense--holidays. Ok Halloween with the P's.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcsp3m1f7jqW1q7kyV0OgCvzuVA40bCe3DHMLHf1zjk2Tuu_o0SWdc2jT_1GoLUqxJGLQfUTvZ4G94hFpFfY2_iZ0z3nfdpo8yLKaq3ADdWrd_srr8txslyTDLO73_1FEhb38EBHx8f3B/s1600/untitled.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576909716950175410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcsp3m1f7jqW1q7kyV0OgCvzuVA40bCe3DHMLHf1zjk2Tuu_o0SWdc2jT_1GoLUqxJGLQfUTvZ4G94hFpFfY2_iZ0z3nfdpo8yLKaq3ADdWrd_srr8txslyTDLO73_1FEhb38EBHx8f3B/s320/untitled.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFdVa4txSbVJoOhfvdt-TSeIxpTASvV-utE28nOXypROiHpLrb3-IO5iqFLFowO8JbO_MDUZhbEn0EVZqbit8tJRMQw4fPsRSo8EpNBzRc_Tkt-Drht9xP2FGh4YdAOZ_6tbOKvFhxsW8/s1600/untitled2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576909712973935794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFdVa4txSbVJoOhfvdt-TSeIxpTASvV-utE28nOXypROiHpLrb3-IO5iqFLFowO8JbO_MDUZhbEn0EVZqbit8tJRMQw4fPsRSo8EpNBzRc_Tkt-Drht9xP2FGh4YdAOZ_6tbOKvFhxsW8/s320/untitled2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Both Perfect and Precious were Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. Precious so wants to emulate her big brother and no talk of being a princess or even Jessie, the cowgirl, from Toy Story would change her mind. Perfect was going to be Buzz so Precious woul be Buzz.<br /><br />Thanksgiving was low key. DD had to work and had big Black Friday plans (spreadsheets and all!) and so SIL took the P's to Iowa for a long weekend with extended family on his side of the family. Papa, DD, and I had a low key Thanksgiving with the usual fixings, an afternoon movie, and some last minute help with DD's Black Friday planning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJSt99b0iFJFXMN2IAFyFtpN0yCGrvaBWqRVjeoBy855qqxMvHdW4lY7i5hEAa49jfKJzMhRZeaD-ukmB20X70EP5d5Z6KCJdyAeR0UMbdnThl_MLXl6USFICjNiiv87AbRd85sxB1IMh/s1600/untitled3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576911216877971378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJSt99b0iFJFXMN2IAFyFtpN0yCGrvaBWqRVjeoBy855qqxMvHdW4lY7i5hEAa49jfKJzMhRZeaD-ukmB20X70EP5d5Z6KCJdyAeR0UMbdnThl_MLXl6USFICjNiiv87AbRd85sxB1IMh/s320/untitled3.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahM2uOA5KmpN9JPhziXPcljsdXBraGLLAAsFGSwhF4ELmO2XHQR-2sKI1_GfgGyBvDCbq59VSDBBA50FqxCYrRLdvxmp84udMz95dLFZP4Q8iTHqCOj07t2tHon25tnGeskjjDK2BKMYo/s1600/untitled4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576911211994048642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahM2uOA5KmpN9JPhziXPcljsdXBraGLLAAsFGSwhF4ELmO2XHQR-2sKI1_GfgGyBvDCbq59VSDBBA50FqxCYrRLdvxmp84udMz95dLFZP4Q8iTHqCOj07t2tHon25tnGeskjjDK2BKMYo/s320/untitled4.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I finished the weekend at a Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute show with a couple of my elders. Here's Tiny Sun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_sETVVqeh7EzOZKT_zZGID3I6Ps-2xPGACEPoCISTqIoyqL34o1C9c1UA5JRVwem83CK2T5kOYLDxw0DiUXF7c4G6AwplSwz32L5EpxapyUA22KaxSdhUK1ctyr0jB4xU3z1vEUb5fM2/s1600/untitled.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576911883716214306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_sETVVqeh7EzOZKT_zZGID3I6Ps-2xPGACEPoCISTqIoyqL34o1C9c1UA5JRVwem83CK2T5kOYLDxw0DiUXF7c4G6AwplSwz32L5EpxapyUA22KaxSdhUK1ctyr0jB4xU3z1vEUb5fM2/s320/untitled.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Soon after Thanksgiving, the weather changed and winter set in. We had the usual pre-holiday stress, shopping, wrapping, shipping, work functions, holiday dinners, happy hours, decorating....just a lot of work. This year we again focused on the city house for the holiday and didn't put up a tree in the country.<br /><br />We'd been busy during the Fall weekends with moving and unpacking things from #2 Massey Gardens back to #1 MG until the bad weather hit and the road between the two places got undriveable for the winter. So things slowed down on the weekends and I just didn't want to stress out during my small amount of weekend free time with putting up and then taking down decorations at a second house. That and I fell once again in early December on a Christmas walk in Augusta (the weekend I had planned to decorate) and was sore for some time afterward. Just a plain snow/ice mishap.<br /><br />Now here I sit in February enjoying my country weekends once again. My books are all unpacked and we are spending weekends watching movies (and ID tv), reading, napping, going into town to eat at the diner pretty often, and over to the Walk for an occasional movie out.<br /><br />The snow has finally melted but it's pretty much a muddy mess out here right now. It rained earlier today (this was written Saturday, 2/19 actually, just had some delay in proofing and publishing!) as well, so Snoopy and my walks don't look to be happening either any time soon. So <sigh>guess I'll become one with the recliner and murders on tv--maybe a bowl of popcorn would be appropriate now.<br /><br />Hope to talk to you......sooner.<br /><br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-7232269921996323192010-10-06T05:36:00.000-07:002010-10-06T05:42:31.945-07:00WHAT???So Aunt Cracker has been on a vacation at the beach, she's been sending me pictures through email and on my phone. Gorgeous place.....she can open the sliding door from her bedroom and there is the sand...ON THE BEACH....about 100 yards from the ocean....GORGEOUS I TELL YOU.....<br /><br />She tells me, come down, you can make it happen, just do it. So I do. I scurry around doing lots and lots of laundry, working out details for work coverage. Don't have to stress about Snoopy, plants, or mail because Papa is not coming with me.<br /><br />I'm going on a vacation and it's so nice because I'm really calm, unlike when I usually am planning on leaving for vacation. Other than all the massive amounts of laundry that I continue to do.<br /><br />But then........<br /><br />something happens.......<br /><br />All of a sudden Cobie Calliat is blaring by my head.<br /><br />WHAT?<br /><br />Oh No,,,,,I open my eyes.....<br /><br />It's 5 a.m.....that's the radio alarm telling me it's time to get up and go to work.<br /><br />WHAT?<br /><br />No vacation.....it was a dream? But it was so real. I was going to the beach. It was going to be big fun.<br /><br />No beach? It was so real.<br /><br />But it's just Wednesday.......time to get up.<br /><br />Still stinging from the disappointment......GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-14441258288651378412010-10-04T12:45:00.000-07:002010-10-04T13:11:39.924-07:00COURAGEI probably shouldn't be getting too cocky but I did it! I spent the night at the country house. Just one night, but it was A NIGHT. My first since the snake sighting.<br /><br />We got out to the country house after dark Friday, which wasn't my idea but when traveling with Papa, one mustn't get in too big of a hurry. <br /><br />We then went, with me carrying a flashlight, room to room searching for any evidence of the snake's return. Papa just wanted to overview all the rooms but not I. I pointed out this and that and shone the light for him to look closer--under beds and on top of shelves and in all sorts of hidey holes. <br /><br />I believe this snake came in along the pipe under the vanity in the back bathroom. When Papa opened the door, it looked like everything had just been swiped over. I had just put the contents back in this cabinet not long ago and know everything was upright and stacked nicely; not anymore though. Convinced me this was the point of entry. There looked to be a small area around the pipe that a boneless being might slither through so we're going to have to come up with something to close this off completely before I'm relaxed. Papa kept assuring me that he thought it was too small but still.....<br /><br />After a complete search turned up nothing, I placed cedar oil containers (recommended by the Home Depot guy as a snake repellant) under all the bathroom vanities and in the corners of the bathrooms. Then I started strategicly placing mothballs everywhere (recommended by Billy the Exterminator on A&E) inside and then saturating the perimeter of the house on the outside with the mothballs. <br /><br />Feeling a bit safer, I then turned to cleaning. By midnight the house had been vaccuumed, mopped, wiped, scrubbed, and was sparkling. Only two incidents of coming out of my skin......the first when I was remaking the bed after washing all the sheets and blankets. I heard a loud rattle and a hiss and jumped and screamed waking up Snoopy who was snoozing in her dog bed. It turned out to be my Glade sensor air freshener that I had walked past, hidden behind a picture. <br /><br />Finally, I was so exhausted that I thought I could sleep, so leaving both bathroom lights on and the tv on in the bedroom, I laid down. I did not sleep deeply by any means and every time I rolled over, I raised my head to take a gander in the bathroom to see if anything was moving there. So far so good.<br /><br />Then I must have gone in a deeper sleep because it was 8:00 before Snoopy finally resorted to licking the palm of my hand to try to wake me up. Needless to say, this was the second incident of my flying in the air, screaming. Usually she wakes me up easily at 5:30 so not sure what caused this delay---she couldn't wake me up or she decided to sleep in. <br /><br />Saturday was a routine busy work day out there. We power washed the outside of the house and hauled in all houseplants and then had to pack up to leave as Papa had an early morning Sunday baseball game in the city. Before we left though, I wanted to take a shower and with the thought that snakes can also come up the water lines, I make sure Papa was in the house and within screaming range and I positioned Snoopy right by the tub, where she shook the whole time just knowing she was going to get a bath as well. I then showered very fast, keeping an eye to drain almost the entire time. Next time, I may just plug the sucker just for peace of mind. <br /><br />But the main thing was I got a night behind me and nothing adverse happened and with time, I may just relax and enjoy my country time once again.<br /><br />Your Brave GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-29259567132822585072010-09-20T11:11:00.000-07:002010-09-20T11:35:36.383-07:00I MAY NEVER RETURNSo three weeks ago me and Papa were at the country house one evening. He was laying on the couch watching tv and I was in the recliner reading or whatever I do when he is watching tv. At one point he kind of jumped up and started fiddling with the cushions on the couch…..always one to blame the evil cigarette, I asked if he dropped an ember or something and was I going to die a fiery death later that night after it had smoldered for hours? No, no he said but wouldn't elaborate and so I tended to go back to ignoring his behavior and HE LAID BACK DOWN……so last week we were out there again....now in my normal nightly routines I get up in the dark in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom and I usually get up in the predawn, DARK hours and let Snoopy out as she wakes up at 5:30 Monday-Monday, just normal nightly behavior for me.<br /><br />This past weekend I stayed in the city because of obligations and he went down to the country on Saturday night to get the mail and check on things. He spent the night and yesterday we met up at a friend's house for a BBQ party. While we were there, Papa makes a comment "not sure if I should tell you or not but..." He did this in front of others knowing I wouldn't go into full blown hysterics in front of a crowd. <br /><br />Continuing he says "I found a 4 1/2 foot black snake in the back bathroom this morning when I went in to take a shower." Silence... He explained also that a few weeks ago when he jumped up from the couch and I had questioned what he was doing that he had seen a snakeskin by his foot. So he checked under the cushions for snake and seeing nothing laid back down to continue his tv viewing and contemplating whether to share this information with me or not. FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. Continued silence but about this time I'm feeling physically sick.<br /><br />Going back to Sunday's story. No, he didn't kill it, he caught it and took it outside and left it on the side of the road……STILL ALIVE where it's probably found it's way right back in my house, probably under the covers in the bed waiting for me as I type this…..No I don't think I can ever go back there…..<br /><br />And being the empathic sort he is, Papa just keeps saying………"the black snake is your friend"…. <br /><br />I beg to differ. I consulted the internet this morning about said "black" snake.....if it's indeed that and not an "old cottonmouth---that IS posionious, who turns dark, almost black as it ages". It is non-poisionous but has excellent climbing ability (i.e., all the better for climbing into bed with me! When startled, they may freeze and wrinkle themselves into a series of kinks. If they feel further threatened, they may flee quickly or vibrate their tails in dead leaves (a form of mimicry, to make it sound like a rattlesnake). JUST WHAT I NEED TO HEAR NOW. They are also capable of producing a foul smelling musk which they will release onto a predator if picked up. PERFECT. The female lays about 12 to 20 eggs after five weeks and they hatch about 65 to 70 days later. SWEET, he couldn't tell if this was a male or female snake but it was an "adult" and so now there is the possibilty of 20 more of these in my house! These snakes eat anything they can catch that will fit down their throats, and are highly defensive. This does not mean they will chase you, it means if you corner them they will defend themselves, if you get between them and where they want to hide, they will run right under your feet to get to their hiding spot (making people think they're being chased). Once cornered black snakes put up a vigorous fight, biting hard and often. <br /><br />Needless to say I had vivid nightmares last night (before I did the above research)and I believe I'll be consuming lots of wine just to sleep this week at the CITY HOUSE where we NEVER SEE SNAKES!<br /><br />NEVER WILL I MAKE FRIENDS WITH A SNAKE.<br />Extremely Distressed GRAMMYTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-4257078363792881062010-08-13T08:22:00.000-07:002010-08-13T08:53:48.843-07:00My Son<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yfRdYfmf7FIgol8DGPqszL-MzlggiRN0J79BDAIxAMX85e4j2KHDMNcQ1ISHFsNnlT-t-nhAGYXjddp4LVSxaYCARU5rmcJcM22KA3UkitJKMyxGtHfcdrwnJiGIbcaJA5FagXN2VU4M/s1600/nathan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504916692467186370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yfRdYfmf7FIgol8DGPqszL-MzlggiRN0J79BDAIxAMX85e4j2KHDMNcQ1ISHFsNnlT-t-nhAGYXjddp4LVSxaYCARU5rmcJcM22KA3UkitJKMyxGtHfcdrwnJiGIbcaJA5FagXN2VU4M/s320/nathan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My son has lived in Phoenix for about 7 years now...maybe...I've lost count. At least that long and from his house to mine is approximately 1508 miles....almost 22 hours by car and approximately 4 hours by plane. Definitely a long way but my worry for him and about him is constant. A mother never stops worrying.<br /><br />He left for Phoenix when he was about 18 years old. Such a baby going off on such an adventure but it's something he had to do for himself. My first trip to Phoenix astounded me. How did this young boy drive down the mountain into this town and find his way around? Get himself to work every day or find his homes? Everything was so foreign to me and him as well or what he had known or done thus far during his life.<br /><br />He came to see us in May of this year and visited the cemetary where his father is buried as he does on every visit home. I looked through the pictures his girlfriend took and noticed these two pictures next to each other.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKPtC_YlBOYzWhl68LjNpM9l9728TfDxg34cFwaGxYBtBXk1H9IRL3sFpboNMjfNBvJYlhrGwMtKlyhRnAVjrhXiBk3ZQKU1ttUZr_LerdqcL673bryYbqIVKinPpvBz6whOwaGuaavbn/s1600/stone.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504920212667937458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKPtC_YlBOYzWhl68LjNpM9l9728TfDxg34cFwaGxYBtBXk1H9IRL3sFpboNMjfNBvJYlhrGwMtKlyhRnAVjrhXiBk3ZQKU1ttUZr_LerdqcL673bryYbqIVKinPpvBz6whOwaGuaavbn/s320/stone.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVOycJPjxAHHtxlWvL21dmtaeoylEjwNi1ZIwpQwWTGvlQ6zdwrptyHwY6Fj_9aRTVH7UstQ8zM7hyWLW0RGJISdSVGWdOBtMdxUr0Fv5obeHEeaevQdTQJweIMrVinhT3dhqlsAnSL64/s1600/nathan3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504920388960701826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVOycJPjxAHHtxlWvL21dmtaeoylEjwNi1ZIwpQwWTGvlQ6zdwrptyHwY6Fj_9aRTVH7UstQ8zM7hyWLW0RGJISdSVGWdOBtMdxUr0Fv5obeHEeaevQdTQJweIMrVinhT3dhqlsAnSL64/s320/nathan3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I put them in a double frame on my desk at work and look at them quite often during the day. It is a good mantra for my son.<br /><br />He has made a good life for himself. He has a very good job as a heavy equipment operator that he trained for for many years. He has a wide circle of very close friends, many acquaintances, and has a wonderful girlfriend with three small children that he's grown close to. But still I worry.<br /><br />He is 25 years old now. This week he started a new work project in Yuma which is about 185 miles from Phoenix. He will drive there every Monday morning, work 4 11 hours days and then 8 hours on Friday and drive home to Phoenix---for approximately the next two years. A hard job; a hard life but he's young, I keep reminding myself.<br /><br />He left for Yuma at 7:30 on Wednesday night (my time). I made him call me. He did. He's a good son. He arrived about 10:30 (my time) that night. I had asked that he text me that he was there safely. He did. So I got a good night's sleep on Wednesday knowing everyone I loved was safe.<br /><br />He said it's a long, desolate drive from Phoenix to Yuma. There is nothing there. Thank God for cell phones, I thought. What would he do if his truck broke down out there in desert? Call for a tow truck, he answers. A simple answer but he has had learned lots and lots from this life he lives in the desert so far away from his family and his childhood.<br /><br />But he's happy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7ILK15w51Cmke50EfIu6VuQiyfdl-y59XRJZdlZ28m9w-VQm6eiGB291MVX0DU8Q5wOdGeCZ4-noiHInS3bwQ93UTlTBl2aQWza2YeFj2HFXzfOqPinBTfEKnrH2XdxIl5XgkbRQ46J9/s1600/nathan2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504921286942206914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7ILK15w51Cmke50EfIu6VuQiyfdl-y59XRJZdlZ28m9w-VQm6eiGB291MVX0DU8Q5wOdGeCZ4-noiHInS3bwQ93UTlTBl2aQWza2YeFj2HFXzfOqPinBTfEKnrH2XdxIl5XgkbRQ46J9/s320/nathan2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But still I will worry, every Friday afternoon and every Monday morning knowing he's on that deserted stretch of highway driving by himself. Until I get his safe calls....for at least the next two years.<br /><br />Arizona is lucky to have him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBTqf9r24cbGC8IpkECgJkVB3drzspBUYJuns2nzJxenolm2bfmH5E5aJd0ZdcKbi0yyrznLMQADvLCcwXNCHYS7CPV2nWYJD6ht2VAtyNq7qQr0YRGtSC65D51s_FdJ1S6l3FW8x3Zp9/s1600/nathan4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504921959917724450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBTqf9r24cbGC8IpkECgJkVB3drzspBUYJuns2nzJxenolm2bfmH5E5aJd0ZdcKbi0yyrznLMQADvLCcwXNCHYS7CPV2nWYJD6ht2VAtyNq7qQr0YRGtSC65D51s_FdJ1S6l3FW8x3Zp9/s320/nathan4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />AND I AM SO PROUD OF HIM.<br /><br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-16145720726897416612010-08-04T05:38:00.000-07:002010-08-04T05:58:49.356-07:00On WritingI've been meaning to write a blog entry but regardless of the fact that I keep a notebook where I jot ideas to write about, I just don't know what to say alot of the time. <br /><br />I have always had numerous book ideas slam into me at odd hours, usually in the early morning, sleepless times. I can make outlines in my head laying out an entire novel and even including that elusive first sentence that I've always struggled with on college papers. But getting started in the daylight hours is really hard. <br /><br />I tend to keep notes and have notebooks of this and that--daily journal, little journals for both the P's documenting their growing up, reading journal, blog ideas, book ideas but seem to do more collecting of things I want to write about than actually doing the writing. Why is that? <br /><br />Is it that I have SOOOO much in my head that I'm overwhelmed? I feel like that somehow. I'm so backlogged with the notes and ideas that I'm collecting that I never can catch up with what I need to say. How to get organized? How to start?<br /><br />I'll be working on these questions now and making more plans but doing the actual writing.....? Who knows. <br /><br />Stay tuned.<br /><br />Grammy, overwhelmed with words and thoughts.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-45815638289421014032010-07-21T06:28:00.000-07:002010-07-21T07:44:06.500-07:00Cruise Wrap-up----FINALLY!!So our last day of cruising was a Sea Day and a most uncomfortable Sea Day for me. Remember I was getting sunburned before we stopped in Costa Maya. I wore capris and one of Papa's oversized t-shirts---oh so glad I did.....because from the bottom of my capris to the top of my feet was a fire engine red when I woke up. Yes, I had on sun screen but my legs were also in the water alot of the time and so I'm guessing the sunscreen was just eventually washed off.<br /><br />I had to get up in the middle of the night and I was in horrible pain. Not only were my legs on fire but they had swollen to about 3 times their size. BRIGHT RED ELEPHANT LEGS. Once I got up and walked a little, it wasn't so painful but still hurting.<br /><br />Friday we spent the day just saying bye to our ship. We had breakfast in the dining room and went to the debarkation lecture with our cruise director. I definitely did not want to be in the sun whatsoever, so just kind of wandered around because like I said above, my legs were more tolerable when I was walking.<br /><br />After lunch, Papa and I were watching tv in the room and starting to gather our stuff for packing and he mentioned my legs were sooo red that they looked blue and he wondered if maybe I was getting blood poison. So we decided to make our way to the doctor's area and have them take a look.<br /><br />Our room was on Level 7 about mid-ship and the doctor's area was Level 0 at the front of the ship, so off we went, very slowly.<br /><br />When we arrived, we found all sorts of information hanging on the wall just outside the offices and one sheet dealt with swollen legs/ankles----too much sun, alcohol, salty foods, soda, just about everything I had done. Their advice was elevate or walk (hum, kind of a contradiction but I had been doing both). We also read that for a consultation the doc charged $120. Well, it was Friday afternoon and we were leaving the ship first thing Saturday, so decided to save our money and if I were the same or worse on Saturday, we would just hit an urgent care on shore. For now I'd try walking and elevating the rest of the afternoon. Which I did.<br /><br />That night at dinner it was time to say goodbye to Lim, Marco, and Klaudio.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_-7-dlC8y7aAJ4CqZ5KBrdYjikUqCaCfY_cRbJd155HSX3J0qXlPvPe3z2y03_qJ-ypiXChyVwmFW0PEGK3s2LfYg8v60ilMeLY3TGHgJfYTOy6UU4dVCPN8qUwYA9VxXAs8kphaULWE/s1600/3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496355730022227298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_-7-dlC8y7aAJ4CqZ5KBrdYjikUqCaCfY_cRbJd155HSX3J0qXlPvPe3z2y03_qJ-ypiXChyVwmFW0PEGK3s2LfYg8v60ilMeLY3TGHgJfYTOy6UU4dVCPN8qUwYA9VxXAs8kphaULWE/s320/3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lim, the best waiter evah!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2wieYadRXIJ0cx2qDWO8uoT78YgJjX-JZEGCr7mARY7wXIqKquqL5E4XSNNH9g5FgMmS3vShxnJj56oTxBweW6chCcqr32ImucWwdUn9NSIIteksBezQFL7woBbOa4ZeSO5gmwyagY0O/s1600/4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496356789628858754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2wieYadRXIJ0cx2qDWO8uoT78YgJjX-JZEGCr7mARY7wXIqKquqL5E4XSNNH9g5FgMmS3vShxnJj56oTxBweW6chCcqr32ImucWwdUn9NSIIteksBezQFL7woBbOa4ZeSO5gmwyagY0O/s320/4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3WG3sltr8VVjLYc2xOMqBGMmmEZ8MppPOZyl7yBxOIOJjAbw-nYSyXAfgFSe2Rf9bZoSpveqMlp8uEwZDQnr5MD2xLw0dtGMAUCmZFO1j4RTDYH_rVGglkm3k2u_fjo2NBHDSq-wHJOu/s1600/5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496356804132935874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3WG3sltr8VVjLYc2xOMqBGMmmEZ8MppPOZyl7yBxOIOJjAbw-nYSyXAfgFSe2Rf9bZoSpveqMlp8uEwZDQnr5MD2xLw0dtGMAUCmZFO1j4RTDYH_rVGglkm3k2u_fjo2NBHDSq-wHJOu/s320/5.jpg" border="0" /></a> Marco, of the cokes and wine!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvbaTl2fqwg8YtkkfKHQe7noTOAe3iV6hrJvsAONzQDo36Lr_fgzXZYtNyJbtaiGgHj4YuE6DKsOvDdnJ3b_wy3MCJqzOxtYkEeKbVX5HszjyO5WKMPb-480mI_5iTHZmZSuqAiOkZLxb/s1600/2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496355720591839346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvbaTl2fqwg8YtkkfKHQe7noTOAe3iV6hrJvsAONzQDo36Lr_fgzXZYtNyJbtaiGgHj4YuE6DKsOvDdnJ3b_wy3MCJqzOxtYkEeKbVX5HszjyO5WKMPb-480mI_5iTHZmZSuqAiOkZLxb/s320/2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Klaudio, our maitre d'.<br /><br />We were sure going to miss them every night when we sat down to dinner. I thought, I would really miss sitting down to dinner with my family as well....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rs3LacQO92GMyaxdV_m6HQiJnW8h-qazrD3EaMG4LhOY7nNRLYXwjO2bECyM7b9hgBqO9DcRw3WcOpfQloJl-8qLhloK2k65Oj-mp06a-A9tZT15gQx_eBWj8RVmhVEOqhdEsMbQzIj7/s1600/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496355716271477794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rs3LacQO92GMyaxdV_m6HQiJnW8h-qazrD3EaMG4LhOY7nNRLYXwjO2bECyM7b9hgBqO9DcRw3WcOpfQloJl-8qLhloK2k65Oj-mp06a-A9tZT15gQx_eBWj8RVmhVEOqhdEsMbQzIj7/s320/1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />DD got quite attached to our "beverage boy", Marco.....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oXb9aofW1RpRxDoognJvSV8CzEXGvxf7HVdSHJsEkCEr2LtQDs86b4Kv9mJr0Q18hS_iodH2nsVg2NKDKElXBpjE5CBkhJBgZ_0JT335HgKFxMy0iFNmQ6rKGLsIqhxx9es5wYXC-6kt/s1600/6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496356810200766578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oXb9aofW1RpRxDoognJvSV8CzEXGvxf7HVdSHJsEkCEr2LtQDs86b4Kv9mJr0Q18hS_iodH2nsVg2NKDKElXBpjE5CBkhJBgZ_0JT335HgKFxMy0iFNmQ6rKGLsIqhxx9es5wYXC-6kt/s320/6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And we all adored Lim, our primary server.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Lh7BCbeAmY6pSoGKcTBm_1mzcQKm2uuC1jaQOUvLBBQZ1p04n2E5EznvnDvxPqo-B60R-tU8lRqeIg8D_tfclcu11cLrB7tdBYtPHO0c2nZSqFGaRNAcy7Ie9Gu8-RemvogdfRBzylh4/s1600/7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496357505034085474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Lh7BCbeAmY6pSoGKcTBm_1mzcQKm2uuC1jaQOUvLBBQZ1p04n2E5EznvnDvxPqo-B60R-tU8lRqeIg8D_tfclcu11cLrB7tdBYtPHO0c2nZSqFGaRNAcy7Ie9Gu8-RemvogdfRBzylh4/s320/7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was more singing and dancing the last night and then before we knew it, it was all over. Some of our group went for last night partying. Papa and I went back to the room and finished packing up. We had to sit our bags in the hall before we went to sleep.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpTSxSMHLgZORVhrH3yY0rl46i5GPRnMTMvu0qKX-4IGejxhtc3vnvRj7DZTg0icyi2KWzdug4rOMlT16ejTg0sZ_7k0d0kHXudnawHMeXlm4vrUyW4WgU7Z5Cv5JX33XcEw7h4ZEqqKR/s1600/8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496357513930429842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpTSxSMHLgZORVhrH3yY0rl46i5GPRnMTMvu0qKX-4IGejxhtc3vnvRj7DZTg0icyi2KWzdug4rOMlT16ejTg0sZ_7k0d0kHXudnawHMeXlm4vrUyW4WgU7Z5Cv5JX33XcEw7h4ZEqqKR/s320/8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Where they would disappear during the night to be found the next morning on the luggage racks after we debarked.<br /><br />The next morning debarkation was painless, another fabulous process by Carnival. We breezed through customs, claimed all our luggage and was back at the van loaded and ready to go by 8:00 a.m.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutBDuBF2w_K73dG7mI1RKTP_B8B5XAj3K18b95nmsxhDPnWRGJJcl5LzGBXK7ZK5WNPx4Kai7GYSbocmQOCNe4uUKG9EuCvyaqTp7Uzheb9tkJB13jJwUBaA5PDhi7JTUzcY9K5HUmbe0/s1600/10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496358857479908066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutBDuBF2w_K73dG7mI1RKTP_B8B5XAj3K18b95nmsxhDPnWRGJJcl5LzGBXK7ZK5WNPx4Kai7GYSbocmQOCNe4uUKG9EuCvyaqTp7Uzheb9tkJB13jJwUBaA5PDhi7JTUzcY9K5HUmbe0/s320/10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was still in alot of pain from my sunburned, swollen legs, but decided I just wanted to get home and then I would deal with it.<br /><br />The ride home was a bit uncomfortable...we had agreed to bring some of Cracker and the Weatherman's luggage back with us so they could avoid more extra luggage fees on their plane home so we were a wee bit more crowded and I really needed to elevate my legs but was unable to most of the time and everything hurt that touched my legs....I spent the trip home quite crabby and vocal but my co-travelers were pretty patient with me.<br /><br />About midnight after driving all day long we were nearing our exit on the highway when we FINALLY got pulled over for speeding---I had wondered throughout the day if that would happen. SIL was in quite the hurry to get home. We were so exhausted from our day that we didn't put up much of an argument. We took our ticket and went that last mile to home sweet home.<br /><br />All in all if that's the worst that happened to us on this trip---broken camera, sunburned legs, and a speeding ticket, I count this vacation as quite successful.<br /><br />Thank you Dream for a wonderful time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMavB9nDoCo3AM-3F4YksSrvSK-5JGvVCi2euXPqjeYkc6oJ9PzuCxZguhrsdfk6rvVZ0U1NedRRiVVYcEudsS4Yww9jGAvgg4Df4cILLEVZ5PkSHu0DSMYu_qj-k6oCOXRLbY24x0N8SW/s1600/9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496357519982796322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMavB9nDoCo3AM-3F4YksSrvSK-5JGvVCi2euXPqjeYkc6oJ9PzuCxZguhrsdfk6rvVZ0U1NedRRiVVYcEudsS4Yww9jGAvgg4Df4cILLEVZ5PkSHu0DSMYu_qj-k6oCOXRLbY24x0N8SW/s320/9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-29781840955438329482010-07-16T07:50:00.000-07:002010-07-21T07:40:29.071-07:00Cruise-Costa MayaNo, I haven't been cruising out there for the last two months. Just a litte blogcation. So much going on. Fodder for future reports.<br /><br />Back to our cruise----and boy, I desparately need another one right now.<br /><br />I left off just after our tour of Belize. Just read this week that a Carnival cruiser, 14 year old girl, was killed on an excursion in St. Thomas (I believe?). Caught in the middle of a gang war shootout. Wow. We believed we were so safe in all our ports of call but after discussing this yesterday with a co-worker, I could so imagine our school bus getting stopped in the middle of the Belize jungle and being hijacked by criminals of some sort. With just Mah-lisa and our busdriver to protect us. We were just a busload of naive tourists and quite lucky tourists at that. Never take your surroundings for granted.<br /><br />So the day after our Belize experience, we floated on up to Mexico and stopped at what they call Costa Maya. I don't believe this is actually a town. More like a pier with quite alot of stores.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx17GbVM0l0UFgSCWJlrzP7kdgg9XU1yi8R7gvIdnxtiaClQYGuKMgDxQnMi8QWSvaijlaNBCsHQ_CjVqkJPm2RAMEeD7SH0ewfcO0a0rdgoJY13WGRaPWLGuhM4xU0q9NGHJjQ0NPqMx_/s1600/1cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494523009842803874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx17GbVM0l0UFgSCWJlrzP7kdgg9XU1yi8R7gvIdnxtiaClQYGuKMgDxQnMi8QWSvaijlaNBCsHQ_CjVqkJPm2RAMEeD7SH0ewfcO0a0rdgoJY13WGRaPWLGuhM4xU0q9NGHJjQ0NPqMx_/s320/1cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Notice in this first picture, the green by the shore and away from the shore is all gray destruction. Hurricane Dean hit this shore dead on several years ago. It was descimated. The gray are all the dead trees that still remain. You'll see this alot in the following pictures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZunfgvzl1HKLzyrF4NVWTJTCb-QnYVMYti-ew3bXuj2e7t-TN9BQXjtLgUIS2BzpWufpg_fNgVQBcCO2DFLAyJkQ8MryzYXPPM1iYqUUOtMSIsqu1yVZDAR6oZRcEGjT8263nDB-piiL/s1600/2cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494523013399315650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZunfgvzl1HKLzyrF4NVWTJTCb-QnYVMYti-ew3bXuj2e7t-TN9BQXjtLgUIS2BzpWufpg_fNgVQBcCO2DFLAyJkQ8MryzYXPPM1iYqUUOtMSIsqu1yVZDAR6oZRcEGjT8263nDB-piiL/s320/2cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjOOoo-2T962-4hm0niWxeDyVF1Xp9TO-yhsdi6knkryEzV-CcjhAGoXZlZAwpoKSzWuctrjvWqOeZM506AB5rRH1jT4HG6jWuD_PFVgQK38e8PnaJD5yE43nrFDWLmoVFx-12xh7UXJP/s1600/3cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494523021101805362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjOOoo-2T962-4hm0niWxeDyVF1Xp9TO-yhsdi6knkryEzV-CcjhAGoXZlZAwpoKSzWuctrjvWqOeZM506AB5rRH1jT4HG6jWuD_PFVgQK38e8PnaJD5yE43nrFDWLmoVFx-12xh7UXJP/s320/3cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGULosV_qF0XRqXUGnUhV_WZST3IPk15XeXBv5FbOTXKRZdlmqFLRBk_DKrrIh_NXoTCzxv-ZfD6O60eQkleD1dXr05jRrbWs73p6wFQ1rVU-Hpe2hKBGQ6Nh94X31o9qESq1eYfFY_BL/s1600/4cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494523025972304642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGULosV_qF0XRqXUGnUhV_WZST3IPk15XeXBv5FbOTXKRZdlmqFLRBk_DKrrIh_NXoTCzxv-ZfD6O60eQkleD1dXr05jRrbWs73p6wFQ1rVU-Hpe2hKBGQ6Nh94X31o9qESq1eYfFY_BL/s320/4cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVZ0DhMt4JyqZVDNr3ig1vWKFC6z90bzqQDymeI03wlYx5nmP8NY25ioiKQCVFLxf8CzL-LLSAnnzJvXPv1t8B9EEvINWCF3dJQ3KKX-9TEfPKetvPwl6UuH28bH7rIAI3creIUkxnFh7/s1600/5cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494523035622925746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVZ0DhMt4JyqZVDNr3ig1vWKFC6z90bzqQDymeI03wlYx5nmP8NY25ioiKQCVFLxf8CzL-LLSAnnzJvXPv1t8B9EEvINWCF3dJQ3KKX-9TEfPKetvPwl6UuH28bH7rIAI3creIUkxnFh7/s320/5cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And I apologize for the quality of some these pictures from Costa Maya. I bought an underwater camera (to prepare ahead for the sinking of my kayak) and the quality of the film was very poor but it was all I had on this island.<br /><br />So as I mentioned above, we were going a Clear Kayak excursion at this port. The night before I started getting a little anxious about it all and was sharing my fears at dinner. We were doing our floating in the ocean. I had never kayaked before and was concerned about the boats being closed top kayaks and I might turn over and not be able to exit from it successfully. I shouldn't have worried so much ABOUT THAT part. They were open kayaks, more like canoes.<br /><br />So at the end of the pier we hooked up with our excursion leader who was glad to see us BUT explained the weather was kind of treacherous today with high waves, etc. and were we sure we wanted to do this? What kind of question was that? I was getting more terrified by the minute. I looked at Papa who threw it back to me and after asking "were we gonna die out there", our leader assured us we were going to be just fine but here sign an additional waiver that says "I informed you about the weather and ocean conditions releasing the tour from responsibility in the event of.......... "<br /><br />Regardless of this gloomy outlook, we had quite a few people in our excursion group and so we all headed to our safari bus that would transport us to the fishing village of Mahahual.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-q4M7IRN6MgoMMwAJnZGhdJjn9NYCYC7FfGjP9ygujGEKWImuHRor23OpKHKHFIJeLO7ePOp73-z8zs8XiFpQIbXpvFD5Mzgyj2lI6enwGrsMiNEWQM52zlUfuqnyYBSAO_pU9RDFr0t/s1600/6cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494526231909435202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-q4M7IRN6MgoMMwAJnZGhdJjn9NYCYC7FfGjP9ygujGEKWImuHRor23OpKHKHFIJeLO7ePOp73-z8zs8XiFpQIbXpvFD5Mzgyj2lI6enwGrsMiNEWQM52zlUfuqnyYBSAO_pU9RDFr0t/s320/6cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHuFCGIKvWpLgbkghia3nQeTfbGJD2V3wD8qzHgZxafEMZzDHymaE-4lF9-yuQ-U2tfV4xAVP70FRGfCVfCBQgMJ0mTsQ64Sp5MQ8rdNe9dh32E1S6R1rmEyqtdNv4htamL-IpibfZqA0/s1600/7cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494526238001641058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHuFCGIKvWpLgbkghia3nQeTfbGJD2V3wD8qzHgZxafEMZzDHymaE-4lF9-yuQ-U2tfV4xAVP70FRGfCVfCBQgMJ0mTsQ64Sp5MQ8rdNe9dh32E1S6R1rmEyqtdNv4htamL-IpibfZqA0/s320/7cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLjlJhcy4utJOUjAwOvZQ7hleyMBhlH5rQ8qa_gZVu2NxEWcSbhOBplKx4-hC1v7xj1I5LLz9vIdM7KJ9ZHT4vSlVlKP9ieQH8J9P21e0LgxKPDP359SOeEqPs10dFisLqAOf2PWAk5Tz/s1600/8cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494526241147554306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLjlJhcy4utJOUjAwOvZQ7hleyMBhlH5rQ8qa_gZVu2NxEWcSbhOBplKx4-hC1v7xj1I5LLz9vIdM7KJ9ZHT4vSlVlKP9ieQH8J9P21e0LgxKPDP359SOeEqPs10dFisLqAOf2PWAk5Tz/s320/8cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />See what I mean about the hurricane aftermath. So very sad. This was the one place that I really felt like my tourism dollars might do some good. That's all they seem to have.<br /><br />After about a 20 minute bus road, we arrived at the village which is basically a long strip of stores, restaurants, bars and sections of the beach that have been cordoned off as "private beach areas". The rest of our cruise group had optioned for a private beach day at this port and so they found themselves in this area as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfX4wOCkrPucOa86CCcosJOJdji9O0jgLW0RnHW6OVg8_pvL7BnIgxaYQUlH7IcN4PEWor5eO_4jP3OcNwwnU4iLVx9UKvh5NliRQOLHswVjb4xLL7kOIKK_ToEP8zELQBcxeVMc4xrVy/s1600/12cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494529096233843010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfX4wOCkrPucOa86CCcosJOJdji9O0jgLW0RnHW6OVg8_pvL7BnIgxaYQUlH7IcN4PEWor5eO_4jP3OcNwwnU4iLVx9UKvh5NliRQOLHswVjb4xLL7kOIKK_ToEP8zELQBcxeVMc4xrVy/s320/12cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc82xMegTqVbNREDuv4y69Vzbb3OdjINuF0AWUslj_EKXdIBlMNojYLDVJDCSv0NfvwCogxlWuOSVjlC2r-sjODO_1DULns0KAMlsNDr0Dgo65McwhpngkKyPRnvNzDFQQd6OdH84DBerc/s1600/13cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494529093184371314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc82xMegTqVbNREDuv4y69Vzbb3OdjINuF0AWUslj_EKXdIBlMNojYLDVJDCSv0NfvwCogxlWuOSVjlC2r-sjODO_1DULns0KAMlsNDr0Dgo65McwhpngkKyPRnvNzDFQQd6OdH84DBerc/s320/13cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, we gathered at our "excursion bar" to lock up our valuables and went to the beach where we received our 5 minute kayak tuitorial, loaded up and started paddling.<br /><br />More setting of the stage. I was getting a bit sunburned by this time in our vacation and so I opted to wear some capris and one of Papa's shirts versus a swimsuit trying to avoid an all out sun-scalding. SO VERY GLAD I DID.<br /><br />So off we paddled:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieobVNEBDR2w7Lkv2_MexB_pkBSZeJTIg0mVVOreWjYpWfTYHLD4zkYqsgv8x9oNa6tx9DrXIvxC20a4WH4W62cMdbl-wJlZwTxEWuc_c6omhzIX4Evx3m6-H62cIt4i2txOb3JPIPSE74/s1600/9cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494528348760158866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieobVNEBDR2w7Lkv2_MexB_pkBSZeJTIg0mVVOreWjYpWfTYHLD4zkYqsgv8x9oNa6tx9DrXIvxC20a4WH4W62cMdbl-wJlZwTxEWuc_c6omhzIX4Evx3m6-H62cIt4i2txOb3JPIPSE74/s320/9cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SedXfjGhxLfGqZTC-GnWW8lXsRfs4R-aoArBymD5tD0WC80x7kZUu7ko87fx4Gs_CphtETsZxJNX_spyZH4MdO3rDogiv2i1BdZ80GXUI2oK_XwcTsoefOeWdvDYnnAFzdzleZciHByA/s1600/10cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494528347218509810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SedXfjGhxLfGqZTC-GnWW8lXsRfs4R-aoArBymD5tD0WC80x7kZUu7ko87fx4Gs_CphtETsZxJNX_spyZH4MdO3rDogiv2i1BdZ80GXUI2oK_XwcTsoefOeWdvDYnnAFzdzleZciHByA/s320/10cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and who did we pass by. The Weatherman and Cracker on their "private beach". When they spotted us paddling by, they started yelling and flailing about, amazed that I had gone through with it (after discussions from the night before at dinner when I admitted I was terrified of doing this). That's the Weatherman, front and to the right...Cracker is a little behind waving her arms.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwUCRd7mKTP21HwELpU75Mx1-_x-btodJeOuI4x7vaVkgx18l2dyxsI68twzCmxxO547AL2bC9ZpHNSyOTdPzwODbA0O3_YkmeWofQtMAsJQrT2hipnjgu4nJ9VsRhRjek-V-DH2-rD4w/s1600/11cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494528339484158450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwUCRd7mKTP21HwELpU75Mx1-_x-btodJeOuI4x7vaVkgx18l2dyxsI68twzCmxxO547AL2bC9ZpHNSyOTdPzwODbA0O3_YkmeWofQtMAsJQrT2hipnjgu4nJ9VsRhRjek-V-DH2-rD4w/s320/11cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So out to the open ocean we went. It was pretty wild. We were going out so far to a reef but as we would get closer, the water breaking over the reef was quite abit over our heads. One kayak got swamped and started sinking but it wasn't our's.....I should tell you now that there was a leader of our group who we were following and following all of us was a speedboat with our rescuers aboard. We were told that if anyone just wanted to quit, get their attention and they would pick you up or if anyone had a problem, again just get their attention and they would be rescued. By the end of our time, they had picked up 2 boats worth of folks but again wasn't US.<br /><br />Now if you've been reading this blog long at all, you will realize that Papa and I sometimes see things differently and butt heads from time to time. Paddling a canoe, I found out, was something we should have done with different partners. Papa kept telling me I was paddling on the wrong side than him and not paddling fast enough, and just basically not doing it right. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME. I was in the front, how do I know what side he is paddling? And I should be doing opposite? And this was not a race, I wanted to enjoy our little ocean voyage not come in first. And we were on the open ocean....a very wild, wavy ocean and the whole thing was just a tad bit FRIGHTENING to me. I barely had time to snap a photo here and there and no time whatsoever to apply EXTRA SUNSCREEN TO MY EXPOSED CALVES. I'm sure you can see where this heading.<br /><br />So needless to say, the Bickerson's paddled along yelling at each other. It was so hard for me to refrain from knocking him out of the boat with my paddle to shut him up (only because I knew I needed him to help me get back to shore!) We ended up battling the ocean and wind and the waves and each other for about an hour but viewed no ocean life through our kayak bottoms. Our leader finally gathered us around and said we were heading back to shore, the conditions were a little bit dangerous. WHEW....and so we paddled back to shore. I was partly relieved and partly proud that I wasn't one of those in the rescue boat. I HAD DONE IT and SURVIVED.<br /><br />We ended up receiving alot of free drink tickets from the bar since our excursion was cut short and were set loose on the beach, to eat, drink, or shop. Which is what we did.<br /><br />We stopped by and visited Cracker and the Weatherman for a few minutes and received a serenade.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupWqy6GqvNKKG2xlIwM22hB9clrsvF_hQN9CUOdh73uSGklbwYyCyKMj6Q9ZRD6OHaO77k5c95-KCw3BD0asGpYziPxC8X1bruZn3GyD4ZjVo4GuZWbvSxErlgeYSH2v50jBgq1FyZvT1/s1600/15cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494532844393723762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupWqy6GqvNKKG2xlIwM22hB9clrsvF_hQN9CUOdh73uSGklbwYyCyKMj6Q9ZRD6OHaO77k5c95-KCw3BD0asGpYziPxC8X1bruZn3GyD4ZjVo4GuZWbvSxErlgeYSH2v50jBgq1FyZvT1/s320/15cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then it was time to meet up with our group once again for the bus ride back to the the Costa Maya pier.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaxf5uGvr19RLZ6AWqg-DJ3qoSAQY6COEbYq9kIFHT3BK9Dvh-q8NTOy5rjfYPhdpOrbWBbp9-8b1rxvxGcie9RUqaROsH3kpcaZ6P9ussrhmRV6erG8qW0iMFvB97tnHlXdqU9EKcatF/s1600/17cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494533832576349682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaxf5uGvr19RLZ6AWqg-DJ3qoSAQY6COEbYq9kIFHT3BK9Dvh-q8NTOy5rjfYPhdpOrbWBbp9-8b1rxvxGcie9RUqaROsH3kpcaZ6P9ussrhmRV6erG8qW0iMFvB97tnHlXdqU9EKcatF/s320/17cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Those that didn't have a safari bus ride, had to use a taxi to get back to the pier. Quite the little traffic jam to get all the cruise boat (more than one at this port) passengers back to their ships on time. DD and SIL had a smashing time but it seemed to be exhausting for them as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zm9bvb1_65hNuPlUIr_Y7MojD_Xobxf86Rk-YI1lSvqHiAaOguVIgp-6O6hoAYqCsR_Q6XVTH3q-ckFLj4HgFCPvQLHd_9Fr40ESalEh060Cyy7BUx7Bc6Z68FrP3zonLg5VKWBcrHcb/s1600/16cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494534129488004242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zm9bvb1_65hNuPlUIr_Y7MojD_Xobxf86Rk-YI1lSvqHiAaOguVIgp-6O6hoAYqCsR_Q6XVTH3q-ckFLj4HgFCPvQLHd_9Fr40ESalEh060Cyy7BUx7Bc6Z68FrP3zonLg5VKWBcrHcb/s320/16cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QB8AvSOsWg7g0O8GOAQhMg9eVFrUQrkSFOvRrn2cS4AQA-k0e8D3Gid3fmi0FpzJ7sfcUJ-iIam36Mf2JWRWfdFET1iBd-eVznkNWCb-EbQd9Or_D3ctPdktfBoqyl_Dsq9QsfT5a953/s1600/18cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494534123411670978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QB8AvSOsWg7g0O8GOAQhMg9eVFrUQrkSFOvRrn2cS4AQA-k0e8D3Gid3fmi0FpzJ7sfcUJ-iIam36Mf2JWRWfdFET1iBd-eVznkNWCb-EbQd9Or_D3ctPdktfBoqyl_Dsq9QsfT5a953/s320/18cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kNpSNf5ZdtlVwEf8Ixf65ZHAXNHUqMDc5TG3H_IgMw_iTzGwaXOvQFlwNuWexcPgfIIuEEHQHJh93rCgZ5QN7gJCs9QIcMEWUdqKkdHjf5P3Qrtmobu7eyCqrhXKvWmUigHkAVtgqTrc/s1600/19cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494534113502319506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kNpSNf5ZdtlVwEf8Ixf65ZHAXNHUqMDc5TG3H_IgMw_iTzGwaXOvQFlwNuWexcPgfIIuEEHQHJh93rCgZ5QN7gJCs9QIcMEWUdqKkdHjf5P3Qrtmobu7eyCqrhXKvWmUigHkAVtgqTrc/s320/19cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34b8fP-7b3XFHdUyI9gvJKHgCVlwo1ronQMe5jPmQ-b1tYmAJwXXf3aD8F4nZjmfMu2ijAKegz6aDfUcmmtwaTlk2FFpfHBcE2mo2YdkMEqQMqvgBrvzACOu60SK1C832DWI0iB1-l0Go/s1600/21cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494534729154286034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34b8fP-7b3XFHdUyI9gvJKHgCVlwo1ronQMe5jPmQ-b1tYmAJwXXf3aD8F4nZjmfMu2ijAKegz6aDfUcmmtwaTlk2FFpfHBcE2mo2YdkMEqQMqvgBrvzACOu60SK1C832DWI0iB1-l0Go/s320/21cm.jpg" border="0" /></a> That's SIL in the big straw hat toward the left.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1fL-X-9VUcikjUgM-BBCX25wrDEB1rHG2873hZ1BB8od9Npl_gsvyWFShZkL8EraLYWSY27g50d2l5NG8lSIDajd9ovvpzHHZEBQK_i3Z4viNV1sxxmAObOHyojmcCeHCzseNU2Uqyy4/s1600/22cm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494534721966330674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1fL-X-9VUcikjUgM-BBCX25wrDEB1rHG2873hZ1BB8od9Npl_gsvyWFShZkL8EraLYWSY27g50d2l5NG8lSIDajd9ovvpzHHZEBQK_i3Z4viNV1sxxmAObOHyojmcCeHCzseNU2Uqyy4/s320/22cm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night was our final formal night for dinner. The winds and high waves on the ocean were a precusor to a bad storm at sea that evening, so after showering and getting dressed up, I slapped on my sea bands and took a Dramine and off we went to dinner.<br /><br />Cracker and the Weatherman enjoyed their port time immensely...so much so, they called it an early night and went to bed, passing on dinner. Papa almost made it to the dining room but when he passed by the sushi bar, the seasickness had it's way with him and back to the room he went. I continued on, lurching down the boat until I made it to the dining room and met DD and SIL. DD was hunched over stating she was just going to eat some bread for dinner but we convinced her to pack it in and go back to the room if she felt so awful. So SIL and I had dinner together that night and participated in some more singing and dancing with Lim, our waiter.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zlBzjAmr9n40y_yWPfPoUpNsyBTOV5b9Hf7p0PPoFPVujVwaaSGN-TcA2PvgkkX1ti-O9y_k_C9KRXX0RjUafWqEcoFbTl9j6-5SKSnOW37aWwKDOpRHwfEFqQAQTC8-SjVjGQc-o5al/s1600/cruise+145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494536899574760226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zlBzjAmr9n40y_yWPfPoUpNsyBTOV5b9Hf7p0PPoFPVujVwaaSGN-TcA2PvgkkX1ti-O9y_k_C9KRXX0RjUafWqEcoFbTl9j6-5SKSnOW37aWwKDOpRHwfEFqQAQTC8-SjVjGQc-o5al/s320/cruise+145.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then I called it a night.<br /><br />Next report will be our cruise wrapup.<br /><br />For now....Grammy </p>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-36603182440157537442010-05-17T11:03:00.000-07:002010-05-17T11:23:54.210-07:00Belize - PART 2So I left our story of Belize in the Altun Ha ruins. Very interesting, very hot, very bug infested...your typical jungle rain forest setting...felt very Lost-like there. <br /><br />After viewing all there was to view, we boarded our bus for the trip farther inland to the "resort". Said loosely. At the Black Orchid resort, we ate, bought a souvenir or two and boarded our boat for our Rio Wallace tour. Again, Mah-lisa was our tour guide (below in the bright yellow shirt) and now we were in the blazing sun on the river instead of in a hot, shady jungle.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_R_0OYofRmoDnZfvXS1xtkvsgbwl7v1VXJ1j1DUWYXRdayLn0PzofJ-57PPp6cE7ZJVclK8a7D9aT48HGLxdYLgxUvX-Pd8A898wAnwxXhRO_g3Bd0P6YxSwYK29V9ScVYOEso-0aLrW/s1600/cruise+127.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_R_0OYofRmoDnZfvXS1xtkvsgbwl7v1VXJ1j1DUWYXRdayLn0PzofJ-57PPp6cE7ZJVclK8a7D9aT48HGLxdYLgxUvX-Pd8A898wAnwxXhRO_g3Bd0P6YxSwYK29V9ScVYOEso-0aLrW/s320/cruise+127.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472303692755945330" /></a><br /><br />Leaving the Black Orchid "resort".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G-5V0O9xL8u7W1CAqtRLnODkS46V5qxUk0ANhEEi6hGoliBt9Q7CMmbpW-xQgSOG9C7I7wtUVx_XU0os9TPrSDIofv_iMeE4ZPQTYhoWfC2nqqAFQ1WwQISpgYD_VGJQ29l8MjLjKsPn/s1600/cruise+128.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G-5V0O9xL8u7W1CAqtRLnODkS46V5qxUk0ANhEEi6hGoliBt9Q7CMmbpW-xQgSOG9C7I7wtUVx_XU0os9TPrSDIofv_iMeE4ZPQTYhoWfC2nqqAFQ1WwQISpgYD_VGJQ29l8MjLjKsPn/s320/cruise+128.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472303447889198258" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO5e8JrTNlygWd_Kf8X8Mp-8ShEeKbYB4ECrgapvljTg2-2mPzLohQQ0r9ETos90i-sJZgqABbyKU70f0T2AXc33rYWbZ5TYN_ZSOX15xCZiBKMj11TfNaqT2_qZlMztex1V_N34pjqPM/s1600/cruise+129.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO5e8JrTNlygWd_Kf8X8Mp-8ShEeKbYB4ECrgapvljTg2-2mPzLohQQ0r9ETos90i-sJZgqABbyKU70f0T2AXc33rYWbZ5TYN_ZSOX15xCZiBKMj11TfNaqT2_qZlMztex1V_N34pjqPM/s320/cruise+129.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472303457477571634" /></a><br /><br />On our river jungle ride we saw Howler Monkeys (look closely in the tree branches).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSENlapfuNUlzfwDDzMsGBT5_1bCj0ZgCFOitVFGdQa-9I3rBYJ4t1hLwZ-qhYUueQUiSVIiSst3_LIx8rdImsJgPW62kg0G_dRYGg4p3MqwM_5CmUfZGyGJRZG4Wi-Tj_-2taSScGN3u1/s1600/cruise+131.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSENlapfuNUlzfwDDzMsGBT5_1bCj0ZgCFOitVFGdQa-9I3rBYJ4t1hLwZ-qhYUueQUiSVIiSst3_LIx8rdImsJgPW62kg0G_dRYGg4p3MqwM_5CmUfZGyGJRZG4Wi-Tj_-2taSScGN3u1/s320/cruise+131.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472303969848852130" /></a><br /><br />Crocodiles of all sizes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xUiNX0Kp3l4lJrB-32X6Wp0XNDnrt8yjWx2TSDS5l-6G_daTgwsq8O0u-VTY96AkfAIJu6KYF304aMaX4GACuRJtT3zuDIq1F-24CJHfC8rndNyxT_FDpZt5JEW4LktpidKMl-t-dWBL/s1600/cruise+132.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xUiNX0Kp3l4lJrB-32X6Wp0XNDnrt8yjWx2TSDS5l-6G_daTgwsq8O0u-VTY96AkfAIJu6KYF304aMaX4GACuRJtT3zuDIq1F-24CJHfC8rndNyxT_FDpZt5JEW4LktpidKMl-t-dWBL/s320/cruise+132.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472304147074878290" /></a><br /><br />and Orange Iguanas.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrvJt_zPxa2TH5frH-Y2fXv7pR5-pDzwea6pKrcpdsFARKocntLeksMuMhLOfZEJkk3z4v-JBlozIHUksBmhDuNUW9zgauzpsmL48L1pgDTvFLUGn8CxSLtLwkwW19xFokNvlZxG-hsFR/s1600/cruise+138.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrvJt_zPxa2TH5frH-Y2fXv7pR5-pDzwea6pKrcpdsFARKocntLeksMuMhLOfZEJkk3z4v-JBlozIHUksBmhDuNUW9zgauzpsmL48L1pgDTvFLUGn8CxSLtLwkwW19xFokNvlZxG-hsFR/s320/cruise+138.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472304282186356322" /></a><br /><br />And then we headed back out to the open sea,,,the Caribbean Sea that is<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZ4KYww75KX3j_9Iq0oqjNlMsr5bFemrwlaNcDTlALrNPUkyTj106byYdNQjId4vhbUIbfayPrNdlYHjXoxOwsKKhbxKMXFpzgclI9oXufkMQrZdiuZEQSnQ5NNsvPktlfalcBG6XCeep/s1600/cruise+139.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZ4KYww75KX3j_9Iq0oqjNlMsr5bFemrwlaNcDTlALrNPUkyTj106byYdNQjId4vhbUIbfayPrNdlYHjXoxOwsKKhbxKMXFpzgclI9oXufkMQrZdiuZEQSnQ5NNsvPktlfalcBG6XCeep/s320/cruise+139.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472304636257757170" /></a><br /><br />We were dropped off back at the tourist area in Belize City (again behind the gates away from the criminals) where we did a bit of shopping.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFrYnpvTcdT_Z89x6UIxEyWlyvKwvcvxBvAssGOOwhwhCs7OnaQRfKxmutlyjDjspm9_LVJWDnnWDf-uwJHB1RC5kzcJJsUNEK_Ra5IDN6zqNR7H_iaSk21oPcSBTINbaHPzH3fg6J0nG/s1600/24129_1289646643833_1310220354_30841163_3768762_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFrYnpvTcdT_Z89x6UIxEyWlyvKwvcvxBvAssGOOwhwhCs7OnaQRfKxmutlyjDjspm9_LVJWDnnWDf-uwJHB1RC5kzcJJsUNEK_Ra5IDN6zqNR7H_iaSk21oPcSBTINbaHPzH3fg6J0nG/s320/24129_1289646643833_1310220354_30841163_3768762_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472305231139574194" /></a><br /><br />Then it was back to the ship for our usual night of dinner, shows, and bed. Papa seemed to enjoy his birthday day in Central America.<br /><br />I aim to please.....Grammy.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-28483232308527594192010-05-14T08:21:00.000-07:002010-05-14T09:40:18.547-07:00CRUISE---Belize, CA (that's Central America)--PART 1So after our disappointment at Roatan, we sailed on to Belize for our next stop. But first since the next day was Papa's birthday, I had arranged a surprise celebration the night before at dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7dm5YzWm5qUNQv__WObl_K4y9PWm4PsHfoNN3WjGtHh8XxkKuqBexunpgMDNsObJuXFDmf-d_ovCF4s9yp2rWX9ygoeR52rbYR6RfdltsrwT9vZjToxq68EVK16EyigDbteuTZYYx_gn/s1600/cruise+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471148106405094594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7dm5YzWm5qUNQv__WObl_K4y9PWm4PsHfoNN3WjGtHh8XxkKuqBexunpgMDNsObJuXFDmf-d_ovCF4s9yp2rWX9ygoeR52rbYR6RfdltsrwT9vZjToxq68EVK16EyigDbteuTZYYx_gn/s320/cruise+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopfJ2T7-dzDyphrhfMzB0kFrdXf8_QCee22jIr7GDsjOA8gaxSSbR6LWkJS14HDRRq7R15_F5SejMIKlNmly8zIwWm3s32gO244K5uqypOTw9qR5kgUmIY5BbFOLaz75J_67LH5NyCe87/s1600/cruise+084.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471148126106320962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopfJ2T7-dzDyphrhfMzB0kFrdXf8_QCee22jIr7GDsjOA8gaxSSbR6LWkJS14HDRRq7R15_F5SejMIKlNmly8zIwWm3s32gO244K5uqypOTw9qR5kgUmIY5BbFOLaz75J_67LH5NyCe87/s320/cruise+084.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWutXoTkVecTMYqNDA3EiywinEt1Up2lzkXMocQLHzbfh94z9xnTx44G4AOSw43rZWKpWpgCOH3rk2yvgO9NSuDq18FFfPVXKK1lSOGX2hUB2F1o1LuJYmktF3b3aZiJTalftrCF4mAF6X/s1600/cruise+083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471148115734893778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWutXoTkVecTMYqNDA3EiywinEt1Up2lzkXMocQLHzbfh94z9xnTx44G4AOSw43rZWKpWpgCOH3rk2yvgO9NSuDq18FFfPVXKK1lSOGX2hUB2F1o1LuJYmktF3b3aZiJTalftrCF4mAF6X/s320/cruise+083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a surprise, even to me--I thought they were bringing the cake to our room that night---but Papa enjoyed it. We had made arrangements for a special dinner the next night on his birthday at the Steakhouse restaurant on the ship.<br /><br />So back to our story....We were quite apprehensive about this port of Belize. We had been scared about the crime. The CD (Cruise Director), John, said if you don't have an excursion planned, through Carnival,,,,,just don't get off the boat. There is a tourist area at the pier but once you walk through the back "gate", crime is rampant....supposedly.<br /><br />Papa and I, however, enjoyed Belize to the fullest. We had signed up for the Altun Ha Mayan Ruins excursion and then a ride down the Rio (that's River in their "language"....aw, English, oh well) Wallace. We were to be gone ALL DAY and we were ready. DD and SIL were going cave tubing (DD asks "Wonder if there are 'things' in the water?"). Cracker and the Weatherman didn't really have plans but we were not to worry.<br /><br />But first we had to get there. Belize has the second largest coral reef in the world around the island so we had to drop anchor about 5 miles out and were tendered in from the cruise ship. Again, Carnival has this process down pat. We had specific orders to meet at various places on the ship according to the plans you made. Deboarded with our excursion group, and then we went from the tender boat straight to our excursion bus....the criminals weren't even able to access us whatsoever. We were kept safe.<br /><br />Here we are tendering to Belize City.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw6ZcB8t5-JLrmaGKdjrgAy1T_BuMkC1tevx63_al9VfVU9brSEpm2jVDz0OzMTHc8G1F7OjO_REjcf8jkpYC-ZDCh5fKohEf9xZePaupUGuyZMj2_Gfbq0CBdTKdG4kCPsZSFm1Bmwfe/s1600/cruise+095.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471156386452577794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw6ZcB8t5-JLrmaGKdjrgAy1T_BuMkC1tevx63_al9VfVU9brSEpm2jVDz0OzMTHc8G1F7OjO_REjcf8jkpYC-ZDCh5fKohEf9xZePaupUGuyZMj2_Gfbq0CBdTKdG4kCPsZSFm1Bmwfe/s320/cruise+095.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ddi65nzp2iME56Inl1z6utHfpC1nDDu0Z6ccKoYapwcOxpHJqgm8X-0jaSfnjPSJXUEvNnXcEV1SmQ1bTKxhslpONHkXWzOO-TKAO9tNfsoBjSLla6539bmiEVcswhEfBDK9fxy1Fmu4/s1600/cruise+094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471156374789367826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ddi65nzp2iME56Inl1z6utHfpC1nDDu0Z6ccKoYapwcOxpHJqgm8X-0jaSfnjPSJXUEvNnXcEV1SmQ1bTKxhslpONHkXWzOO-TKAO9tNfsoBjSLla6539bmiEVcswhEfBDK9fxy1Fmu4/s320/cruise+094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9hHclh9HngdA7M0VCp9f-JQazy6B7odBKZb-ne_GiWl-dwDDQHJNiXHcg2EgaIwY5kvUtn62OE7AYoTNamI1Kb20wYDlFsVI46bfdGWePA0keGhEp8qegQntCgRtBCHFHgvpGqi_B0Eg/s1600/cruise+096.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471156395041578034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9hHclh9HngdA7M0VCp9f-JQazy6B7odBKZb-ne_GiWl-dwDDQHJNiXHcg2EgaIwY5kvUtn62OE7AYoTNamI1Kb20wYDlFsVI46bfdGWePA0keGhEp8qegQntCgRtBCHFHgvpGqi_B0Eg/s320/cruise+096.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ydFm48kKoXf51HdYzr6DpSyGWESDaFV1Xmgx-WaGXpviwK1mr_kiIHhQ9_bd6rfFqYPxaaLOuoNghSdRGekoLYB6OI2zUxcngYarTLSw3750zHLeioygvdOnwysnNvwrh33K1H6gDYIf/s1600/cruise+097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471156401753670802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ydFm48kKoXf51HdYzr6DpSyGWESDaFV1Xmgx-WaGXpviwK1mr_kiIHhQ9_bd6rfFqYPxaaLOuoNghSdRGekoLYB6OI2zUxcngYarTLSw3750zHLeioygvdOnwysnNvwrh33K1H6gDYIf/s320/cruise+097.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhRoAxwEp-_k63aVlTyoKTf0gBxdFZMBSN-QkODW7PBG124A3YAssrJrHeoxXyD85RKPcQ-HFghIysvGr5CoNa4s-gExvKdVExFr7mvnMobdU6PwKFF9dx2N5Z2_LToGbAFEOfwUEPvnd/s1600/24129_1289646523830_1310220354_30841160_334597_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471160152759635506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhRoAxwEp-_k63aVlTyoKTf0gBxdFZMBSN-QkODW7PBG124A3YAssrJrHeoxXyD85RKPcQ-HFghIysvGr5CoNa4s-gExvKdVExFr7mvnMobdU6PwKFF9dx2N5Z2_LToGbAFEOfwUEPvnd/s320/24129_1289646523830_1310220354_30841160_334597_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnefi3bsoBZCyKwm-duwfQ23aC8jtOQlvPaU-ubEydPt35QHnjifp3Y0mOehUN9XsnyBsJnefWsnaAYOS7AKlFwmD34Q4ZFDb-G9NUggyGiq0Z3bz3A-VLB3eFNWEY-ChtrnnRf2PhBQO/s1600/24129_1289646643833_1310220354_30841163_3768762_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471160159157718114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnefi3bsoBZCyKwm-duwfQ23aC8jtOQlvPaU-ubEydPt35QHnjifp3Y0mOehUN9XsnyBsJnefWsnaAYOS7AKlFwmD34Q4ZFDb-G9NUggyGiq0Z3bz3A-VLB3eFNWEY-ChtrnnRf2PhBQO/s320/24129_1289646643833_1310220354_30841163_3768762_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Where the criminals reside....just outside the tourist area.....although they weren't showing their faces to us!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWh1CGVMyezDX9QwVJOMfAoyXGspS66oB0mVr4NjE3xovV1xVIX11C5Iy5UlQ5LD-rWVwgAnOWyzTY6YbDwGb1A5iApjArpJ8Ofnl_udJih3dWVbznCtJZQoZMcL3ZqKXPq3J_osvQYE7/s1600/24129_1289646723835_1310220354_30841165_7939237_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471160166358387970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWh1CGVMyezDX9QwVJOMfAoyXGspS66oB0mVr4NjE3xovV1xVIX11C5Iy5UlQ5LD-rWVwgAnOWyzTY6YbDwGb1A5iApjArpJ8Ofnl_udJih3dWVbznCtJZQoZMcL3ZqKXPq3J_osvQYE7/s320/24129_1289646723835_1310220354_30841165_7939237_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE6c_UV5rcrnDDDvwM1wJecRF8oz_YK7eAsBz4-sAw0Xhlh2CLNtV1QUr9FmMAK7Kd_6U4tuvbcK_Os7k2qzcaoLK4wC52B9xwW1-NM5DSFkXCXbB0aIDEt-wei6XpCG7w0BtvbTzaij7/s1600/24129_1289646763836_1310220354_30841166_2626542_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471160174578304802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE6c_UV5rcrnDDDvwM1wJecRF8oz_YK7eAsBz4-sAw0Xhlh2CLNtV1QUr9FmMAK7Kd_6U4tuvbcK_Os7k2qzcaoLK4wC52B9xwW1-NM5DSFkXCXbB0aIDEt-wei6XpCG7w0BtvbTzaij7/s320/24129_1289646763836_1310220354_30841166_2626542_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our tour guide was Mah-lisa and since Belize used to be known as British Honduras, she spoke with (as well as all the country) a very pleasant English accent. And informative. For the next seven hours, she told us about the country, the people, families, school systems, the political system, roads, economy, animals, Mayans, ruins, rivers, the ocean, coral reef, even the children's love of Fruit Loops cereal. That girl knew some stuff and I'm sure she doesn't get paid at all what she is worth as a tour guide. <br /><br />Here are some pictures of the Mayan ruins part of the tour.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY4KDrO9v0cIwpvswLE-W-sdRaO-sqTEg3wdtei6etETaaYzbHGt814IndUcvBLAZn-wv2NwrbOS-aF2VVw2a-DMW4F1bNL8LQWSga14R9-ALATuf5wn_Vy1C3YghMd8zotLcQ9-3bJw7/s1600/cruise+100.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY4KDrO9v0cIwpvswLE-W-sdRaO-sqTEg3wdtei6etETaaYzbHGt814IndUcvBLAZn-wv2NwrbOS-aF2VVw2a-DMW4F1bNL8LQWSga14R9-ALATuf5wn_Vy1C3YghMd8zotLcQ9-3bJw7/s320/cruise+100.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471162251992351682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBseTfqej_2mEfd8aetIv-IuEktHA7RuPINv-jsVTBxu0RDq1V1rZWFHBsSY96j7qD28oRTR3BuPMichsIRN_UpSy2gwAoJBCvxZ1kTuJO-m_l68NZsIf1sI95Nnwi5ubDYQjt8VRbGmY/s1600/cruise+101.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBseTfqej_2mEfd8aetIv-IuEktHA7RuPINv-jsVTBxu0RDq1V1rZWFHBsSY96j7qD28oRTR3BuPMichsIRN_UpSy2gwAoJBCvxZ1kTuJO-m_l68NZsIf1sI95Nnwi5ubDYQjt8VRbGmY/s320/cruise+101.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471163013437093330" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecyx9HfgRwNLuI8WIZrDryC6UEKboNYPZxx3XGLO6Qa0yW2TQLQLpO2YaCoUWXVtNxRGtZjf7jm5YFZteT5hUGNfUGU151DHdzdTtvBvcMIO4h32rM_XctBNIp1Q3oA_6aCx5-ECw1IHb/s1600/cruise+106.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecyx9HfgRwNLuI8WIZrDryC6UEKboNYPZxx3XGLO6Qa0yW2TQLQLpO2YaCoUWXVtNxRGtZjf7jm5YFZteT5hUGNfUGU151DHdzdTtvBvcMIO4h32rM_XctBNIp1Q3oA_6aCx5-ECw1IHb/s320/cruise+106.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471162278561854562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RokzuDyAqCapwjC7Kz-1I-XI1krIizIkFHzVzttQMB_2vod9FdvE8cga6jKSlgKxzAK0uwCokbTs_54nNNu4sVdGvNY3qQ2JYV2jTWXEX9zG7i5JcMWKyddoGdc8jwEiKbiCkvE5q5V9/s1600/cruise+103.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RokzuDyAqCapwjC7Kz-1I-XI1krIizIkFHzVzttQMB_2vod9FdvE8cga6jKSlgKxzAK0uwCokbTs_54nNNu4sVdGvNY3qQ2JYV2jTWXEX9zG7i5JcMWKyddoGdc8jwEiKbiCkvE5q5V9/s320/cruise+103.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471162269812667714" /></a><br /><br />and did I mention I'm a faller? I was completely terrified up here and notice this absolutely horrifying staircase. The Mayans were very small people but they have a huge step. It's a wonder I didn't experience a Belize hospital during this day!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpEscEAZAZsNQ6R_aKRiOPO5-AY40KAAQEvmHC0uz2Y5UvJ1ZMSfAwI2YFRiCFWe_j0uwJo7j1vFrmmDncPrKD25h_Of2C_FGw_G_9QRmf2agNCpem6PCQE9-xedPWikTdAnAv2g3hnWy/s1600/cruise+109.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpEscEAZAZsNQ6R_aKRiOPO5-AY40KAAQEvmHC0uz2Y5UvJ1ZMSfAwI2YFRiCFWe_j0uwJo7j1vFrmmDncPrKD25h_Of2C_FGw_G_9QRmf2agNCpem6PCQE9-xedPWikTdAnAv2g3hnWy/s320/cruise+109.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471163874598289202" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygFSxzpMD_nrOwOGrj4TCGho5aVybTrDXHlPXKaIxhQqkQ8y45kisUNzlxTmqMHreSiK-j9rKp2cqeSWQEc1r6P-WpqoaggcRUxB8aPSiVKRtZr-eUIMUBav7k2w4j0K9e9Nuv-LK0BIX/s1600/cruise+110.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygFSxzpMD_nrOwOGrj4TCGho5aVybTrDXHlPXKaIxhQqkQ8y45kisUNzlxTmqMHreSiK-j9rKp2cqeSWQEc1r6P-WpqoaggcRUxB8aPSiVKRtZr-eUIMUBav7k2w4j0K9e9Nuv-LK0BIX/s320/cruise+110.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471163883593688114" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4FgwzsIWDKx35p-gb97NmVox6ZY1FEUtAnmTbe7kJXLw567FOcqUghgC9YqwzovAQYzq0_NlKncm7lx9lNFG6Qon4mOXauLq1guGJAlWGRS-0vFeVTPVxu0ZJSSG3phEyO0OCD2Lk5b/s1600/cruise+111.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4FgwzsIWDKx35p-gb97NmVox6ZY1FEUtAnmTbe7kJXLw567FOcqUghgC9YqwzovAQYzq0_NlKncm7lx9lNFG6Qon4mOXauLq1guGJAlWGRS-0vFeVTPVxu0ZJSSG3phEyO0OCD2Lk5b/s320/cruise+111.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471163889629390434" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lXW6-OzpYeG5mi2p0myBED-D8qGsKrwcpLLTQscdB7n8r-_0ln6Vb2ISbPjXWPR9YOxHacuHG_De2yIJLThru186K9ixMGgfwBXcTBIuEEbQ5cq-qVRvvlQRQBpNcoGW3x4tJ2_4mmy7/s1600/cruise+113.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lXW6-OzpYeG5mi2p0myBED-D8qGsKrwcpLLTQscdB7n8r-_0ln6Vb2ISbPjXWPR9YOxHacuHG_De2yIJLThru186K9ixMGgfwBXcTBIuEEbQ5cq-qVRvvlQRQBpNcoGW3x4tJ2_4mmy7/s320/cruise+113.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471163898192169810" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJAvxT3ZZzQcfRIjTZzsNDU2Iq9v0Nnxs6yBMWzwyCC8RWr02s_kExtKW7M90-Olph5QsSZbBaVauS08ooRdeNEg-3FDKQWd18cCs3oW2ZyoKLgnYZXxZ67awsobbLKCPtKPIhd-UY7fn/s1600/cruise+114.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJAvxT3ZZzQcfRIjTZzsNDU2Iq9v0Nnxs6yBMWzwyCC8RWr02s_kExtKW7M90-Olph5QsSZbBaVauS08ooRdeNEg-3FDKQWd18cCs3oW2ZyoKLgnYZXxZ67awsobbLKCPtKPIhd-UY7fn/s320/cruise+114.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471163909211681794" /></a><br /><br />AND you'll notice Belize is going to be in Parts---it was a long day....so I'll finish with the rest of tour a little later......<br /><br />Kind of a tired Grammy....Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-42076810187815633522010-05-07T08:11:00.000-07:002010-05-07T09:17:14.581-07:00Cruise Interlude--Part Two CON'T---The Gas CompanySo, as I was still struggling with this allergy crap, I had to wait one Friday afternoon for the gas company to come out and put a new meter in at the city house.....sometime between 12 and 6 p.m. So the guy shows up at 3:30, puts the new meter in and then informs me that he is detecting a gas leak somewhere....possibly in the ceiling in the basement....doesn't have time to look for it, because he is off at 4, shuts my gas off and tells me when I get it fixed to call and they'll come back and turn the gas on.....THIS IS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON....I can't possibly get anyone to fix this over the weekend.<br /><br />OH and he told me the connector for the gas stove was also not up to code.....I informed him that THEY (the gas company) put that on 5 years ago when we had the gas turned on....."well, that's what they used to use but not any more".....AGAIN, I CAN GO to Home Depot and get such and such a connector and have that reconnected when the guy turns the gas back on. This Gas guy was something. He went from "gotta tear out the entire basement ceiling" to "maybe gotta tear out the front yard to see if that's where the leak is"......GRRRRRRRR. I never smelled anything and he explained that the leak is so small, I probably wouldn't smell it, nevertheless it is a hazard and must be fixed.<br /><br />Anyway, when Papa got home, he called the Toxic Avenger (Polly's husband <see>), who knows heating and cooling and plumbing and carpentry and all sorts of wonderful things and THANK GOD, he is certified in such things as gas work, who knew?! They talked things over and made plans to meet the next day.<br /><br />So we went on down to the country house and then Saturday morning Papa drove back up to meet the Avenger. He didn't think we had a leak, but thought maybe the guy was in a hurry and didn't do this or that (sparing you all the details) and that caused gas to register. Avenger didn't have some sort of chemical required to check for leaks that day, his tank was empty and couldn't get filled until Monday....So Monday he was coming back out to see if he can figure out what was going on.....<br /><br />So we were once again communting from the country house to work, 62 miles one way. Was up at 4 a.m. Monday morning to drive up and drop Snoopy off in the yard at the city house and hopefully the problem would be resolved that day.<br /><br />HA, but ROUTINE laughs in my face.....so Avenger arrived on Monday with his special tank and did indeed find a minute leak in the basement ceiling in the laundry area that doesn't have the ceiling tiles and he easily repaired it without having to tear anything apart. He also procured a new stove connector to install but that ended up being the wrong size, so we agreed that he would exchange that on Tuesday and finish up and we would commute for another day.<br /><br />Tuesday afternoon all was completed and I called the gas company to see if I could get an APPOINTMENT (HA) for after 4 that day when Papa would be home from work, to turn on the gas. They tell me I have to go on the emergency board for a "turn on" and it will be 20 minutes to 2 hours for an installer to show up and why don't I call them as soon as I get home and it would be taken care of.<br /><br />Papa got home, verified that everything was done and calls to say he's coming to pick me up from work (we've been car pooling while commuting from the country) and to go ahead and call the gas company and we would be home before 20 minutes passed. Done.<br /><br />WE WAIT....FOR THREE HOURS and at 8:00 p.m. I call them to find out what's up and "they've been busy, we are on the emergency board and the first available person will be there" I asked when that would be, she put me on hold and then returned to tell me ABOUT TWO HOURS--10:00 p.m. I was just speechless. Papa and I talked, we had to go back to country that night...his car was there....all our meds were there, my make-up bag, and all the groceries for the city house were still down there, so it wasn't like we could wing it one night and go down the next night, we needed too much stuff. Not to mention no gas, it was getting cold in the house, no hot water for showers and we couldn't cook anything.<br /><br />So he calls them back about 15 minutes later to tell them forget it for that night, we would reschedule for the next day as we needed to leave as it was getting late. They tell him that someone was dispatched already and is on the way (15 minutes earlier they were telling me 2 hours!) but the guy won't be there for another 45 minutes. He told them OK, but if he's not here by 9:00, we're leaving.<br /><br />So, of course, 3 minutes to 9 he arrives. Comes in put some sort of register on the meter, looks at the gas heater that is in the family room part of the basement (doesn't like the valve although Papa said it was checked and it's fine, no leaks).<br /><br />Looks at Avenger's work, takes his sniffer thing around, no leaks....checks the stove and that's ok. Lights all the burners, lights the top and bottom ovens, all's well. Takes the next 20 minutes trying to light the pilot for the hot water heater. Turns the furnace on. Another round with his sniffer thing. Back to the basement heater...thinks it's leaking but can't get it to register that it's leaking (DUH, IT'S NOT LEAKING.....) Still doesn't like that turn on valve for it.<br /><br />Papa has been standing by the cabinet where the meter is and it is ticking like an alarm clock. He asks if that's normal. No.....goes to the meter, starts taking pieces and parts off it if to make it stop ticking. Then announces we need a new meter--this one was just installed on Friday and hadn't been turned on before then!! We just gave each other horrified looks, like it was going to have to be another scheduled job.<br /><br />THANK GOD, the man had one in his truck. He goes out and gets the new meter. Comes in, disconnects the stove, the hot water heater, and the furnance and the heater downstairs, switches out the meter and hooks up everything again but turns the gas valve off on the downstairs heater, because he's still convinced it's leaking although not registering......wrote that up and left at 10:30.......now we have to, I guess, get the valve on the heater replaced in case we ever have a fire, might be an insurance issue, but Papa can still turn the valve on and use the heater whenever he would like to.<br /><br />We jumped in the car and headed to the country. In bed by 12, back up at 4:30 because I had to be at work at 7 for breakfast meeting....and just as I'm about to walk out the door....can't find my glasses. TORE THE HOUSE APART and finally found them under the corner of the bed,,,,who knows, my country home ghosts playing tricks I guess. BUT THE GAS CRISIS SEEMS TO BE OVER FOR NOW.<br /><br />Then a funny......the next day,,,,a news alert came out "A three-alarm blaze at the Laclede Gas building in downtown St. Louis broke out about 8 a.m.".....I WAS TOTALLY INNOCENT.<br /><br />Grinning GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-73524000547359251982010-05-05T06:57:00.000-07:002010-05-05T07:22:46.846-07:00Cruise Interlude - Part Two -- The FallYep, I'm a faller. I think we've established that, haven't we. And I think I've mentioned that this Spring my allergies have been on overdrive and I was sick for almost three solid weeks with them. Head, chest, ears, everything but that has finally settled down and I finally threw in the towel and started getting allergy shots about two weeks ago, which will continue for about the next year or so...once a week........<br /><br />So in the middle of the allergy attack, we had an issue with our Gas Company (next blog!) and then I fell!<br /><br />I'm painting on a Saturday night in the bathroom in the country. The front room of our two room bathroom which is easy enough. I just have solid walls, one window and then the wall with the light fixtures, mirrors, and vanity. I'm about 3/4's done and went and got a chair to do the tops and above the mirror and one minute was standing on the chair and the next minute, I swear, the chair just disinegrated under me into about 10 pieces and I hit the floor before I knew I was falling and landed on my back NATURALLY. <br /><br />The same back where I cracked my pelvis last August and am still going to see the chiropractor regularly for adjustments, taking pain pills and muscle relaxers for, and Dr. Magic is going to start giving me nerve blocks for. He thinks 9 months of pain is entirely too much and he has these magic shots...... <br /><br />Papa comes running in when he heard me scream and proceeds to yell at me out about destroying the chair----from his mom and dad's kitchen set-----he's sentimental like that.....I couldn't move, he is screaming at me, I'm in tears, IN PAIN, and covered in paint as well. I was holding a roller and a brush when I fell.....I cleaned up the paint when I could stand again; he removed the chair pieces. <br /><br />I took a hot shower, took the max of pain pills and muscle relaxers and couldn't find an ice bag, so laid with a bag of tator tots on my back and pretty much passed out by 8 p.m. <br /><br />Before I passed out, Papa did ask if I needed to go to the ER....between gritted teeth, my response was "DON"T TALK TO ME" and then........(here's where you all can laugh).....he brings in the big, full size ladder from the garage "so I can finish painting when I feel better".....I turned off the light in his mid-sentence. The ladder disappeared from the bedroom the next day<br /> <br />The next morning, I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to get out of bed, but was surprised when I did and was just pretty sore, but not in pain like the last fall. I was sore for a couple of days and then went to my regular chiro appointment and told him this sorry tale of woe. He checked me out and determined I just did some soft tissue bruising and he didn't think I even needed an x-ray. Explained that because of our constant work, we might have saved me from alot of damage because I'm more flexible. <br /><br />Whatever...I escaped the bullet it seems. A couple of days later, Papa and I were getting ready for work in the half-painted bathroom and I just mentioned "you know you are finishing this room, don't you?" Without a second of hesitation, he answered, "Yep, I'll take care of it this weekend." And he did.<br /><br />Signing off for now,<br />Bendy, Flexible GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-51870702655414990932010-04-29T07:33:00.000-07:002010-04-29T08:10:47.887-07:00CRUISE - Roatan, HondurasThe port that wasn't. We were so looking forward to visiting Roatan as we had some friends that live there. For weeks, we've been emailing back and forth, planning our time on the island. That morning we were up early, had breakfast and then in the dining room, saw Roatan approaching.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrBM1Cgp5xcU9TqKToff5UH_NVcHd3r5O6UdqiE2eAW4rVR3_bjjZ7idkdg9mBRtPNFja8TGuDsiVLovYoFh8tqH3Zav6188Eh9IKXFMgloVo_-wTYnh5M5qjiDPyVECgqq4JIIf7vnSQ/s1600/cruise+075.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrBM1Cgp5xcU9TqKToff5UH_NVcHd3r5O6UdqiE2eAW4rVR3_bjjZ7idkdg9mBRtPNFja8TGuDsiVLovYoFh8tqH3Zav6188Eh9IKXFMgloVo_-wTYnh5M5qjiDPyVECgqq4JIIf7vnSQ/s320/cruise+075.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465571195377378418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYNh7R3rHO9CoTP6i8eLPL6x3EHBqWRjuR8Srn0JUcWwv1M-6ZmS_-zJJy6wtPFIxl-ecFHgMpG5nDCyfFDX_WyKiuCobpqDuw6wTOPZ61hl3bY_0lK7I9tDTa0j6RKUfKI8mSgAHWiT0/s1600/cruise+078.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYNh7R3rHO9CoTP6i8eLPL6x3EHBqWRjuR8Srn0JUcWwv1M-6ZmS_-zJJy6wtPFIxl-ecFHgMpG5nDCyfFDX_WyKiuCobpqDuw6wTOPZ61hl3bY_0lK7I9tDTa0j6RKUfKI8mSgAHWiT0/s320/cruise+078.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465571190443752402" /></a><br /><br />We went up to the Promenade deck to watch and it seemed to be such a beautiful island, very green and hilly, unlike flat Cozumel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNqHsVtzKib_iiV0gavjoemePztwdGyrhtJXA-5k_9O8jpKo-ALScS9R9cLk134mGryF5t0EZHIxhJzC-3j5zvW189H05yr4YiF0nJRT0jWvYl3DwWucUadGB-fj_G0XzgIqeUBZPJlaE/s1600/getfile9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNqHsVtzKib_iiV0gavjoemePztwdGyrhtJXA-5k_9O8jpKo-ALScS9R9cLk134mGryF5t0EZHIxhJzC-3j5zvW189H05yr4YiF0nJRT0jWvYl3DwWucUadGB-fj_G0XzgIqeUBZPJlaE/s320/getfile9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465572560971839074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmdHMWMIJLPTvveM4-ZZ3PLFbx3jLkql4kitEoURzHjJn9i4LW_hD45qTvnmo9Gqzc6RsSDsvzUTFTz_PwPZRnhxMoqzueKCz7HbS7JO0_r-ANm60yRn8NR-18FXE6Mb496qMkU2TdEyp/s1600/getfile10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmdHMWMIJLPTvveM4-ZZ3PLFbx3jLkql4kitEoURzHjJn9i4LW_hD45qTvnmo9Gqzc6RsSDsvzUTFTz_PwPZRnhxMoqzueKCz7HbS7JO0_r-ANm60yRn8NR-18FXE6Mb496qMkU2TdEyp/s320/getfile10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465572550242945330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT_Jwvn3l5rc9d1E2cKYDPdeb6Cmj1zF7xMkjO1-D3omx3Z6LIMnzgxokJh3ESFd1yqieSwGm7FMlGf1Lmh2q6_uDJih0l4xM3JXpN_nDLC3_djJjSpLc_APCDPbnezL6tq85noU-lAq6/s1600/23478_376422869463_598349463_3415538_1832731_n.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT_Jwvn3l5rc9d1E2cKYDPdeb6Cmj1zF7xMkjO1-D3omx3Z6LIMnzgxokJh3ESFd1yqieSwGm7FMlGf1Lmh2q6_uDJih0l4xM3JXpN_nDLC3_djJjSpLc_APCDPbnezL6tq85noU-lAq6/s320/23478_376422869463_598349463_3415538_1832731_n.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465572546093643330" /></a><br /><br />But, wait,,,,,something seemed to be wrong.....we were circling around in the ocean as was another cruise ship.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7w3wchyCKipt_JozpkdJdtVCaERQMi3psZGXSCyn9EW28ICtShCfrfLbrfk1H1SekD-cKymEM0SKJiqkqVoxUXyaY1PxGHB9e0ZLwIl_5aJ-tMRD-QzlOcw-2eeG3DEyJEwJHP_pkdxM/s1600/cruise+076.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7w3wchyCKipt_JozpkdJdtVCaERQMi3psZGXSCyn9EW28ICtShCfrfLbrfk1H1SekD-cKymEM0SKJiqkqVoxUXyaY1PxGHB9e0ZLwIl_5aJ-tMRD-QzlOcw-2eeG3DEyJEwJHP_pkdxM/s320/cruise+076.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465573322996362322" /></a><br /><br />Finally, the captain came on and said due to high winds and rough seas, we weren't able to sail into the port. It was somewhat dangerous.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8mmqPMoUWVBcIUuS7N0ZsbWb4fIcL0iJNt2k6YL-Sm6ToVXV4B2MrQrznwwQrASPDtdcQFkp3tCs9KUqFx2kU8CxWy5ZgWAlVFIdjC9Kb5NBLjSGu1-yDL3hz_1CVtBobTwuemi4lHbs/s1600/getfile8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8mmqPMoUWVBcIUuS7N0ZsbWb4fIcL0iJNt2k6YL-Sm6ToVXV4B2MrQrznwwQrASPDtdcQFkp3tCs9KUqFx2kU8CxWy5ZgWAlVFIdjC9Kb5NBLjSGu1-yDL3hz_1CVtBobTwuemi4lHbs/s320/getfile8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465573735606804738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObuDDKE2ryGWboKzaBjOPvDIP8xz1wvMOeH2rSHrOT8bXm9NkAay70WxJ-kM-ekhVWq-4spi3T8b9hMygoGDatFDbbyez_5uhalG2zy315816WZ5SWKzdXaW5_QCB3oqmgDNZ42tcNh2B/s1600/getfile11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObuDDKE2ryGWboKzaBjOPvDIP8xz1wvMOeH2rSHrOT8bXm9NkAay70WxJ-kM-ekhVWq-4spi3T8b9hMygoGDatFDbbyez_5uhalG2zy315816WZ5SWKzdXaW5_QCB3oqmgDNZ42tcNh2B/s320/getfile11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465573736818835874" /></a><br /><br />So we circled around for about an hour and a half and then our captain came back on and said the harbor master had deemed it too dangerous for our big ships to enter the port and so us and the other circling ship were being turned away.<br /><br />Papa and I photographed ourselves with the island the best we could.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutzkBSCEcj_ZdVVKd4nPca-pHkVnvk3PsKkbClIxFIqykd9AsfKuiKxtwbwN203e63O9VJbXtmN9gJfjyAKIe7U2VsLGrIMyJDUG3ByUFLU8tos1NOFtQEmy-TyyLm9U0tOoUbn_1ArV7/s1600/cruise+077.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutzkBSCEcj_ZdVVKd4nPca-pHkVnvk3PsKkbClIxFIqykd9AsfKuiKxtwbwN203e63O9VJbXtmN9gJfjyAKIe7U2VsLGrIMyJDUG3ByUFLU8tos1NOFtQEmy-TyyLm9U0tOoUbn_1ArV7/s320/cruise+077.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465574358527795922" /></a><br /><br />And we proceeded to drown our sorrows in a Sea Day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLuxmRe-Azd8WQ3X9uLKC0CLHiMQsiip7DjS7raPWH4b6YYGHXh3vFTA3vNdjfIlZEYsR0O5B88W79nGB2Ha4DyRh50ssXwlo53CPc2s0MGq2kPjmxrph36X87OV5Pw3O1RiFLN4VLVOq/s1600/getfile1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLuxmRe-Azd8WQ3X9uLKC0CLHiMQsiip7DjS7raPWH4b6YYGHXh3vFTA3vNdjfIlZEYsR0O5B88W79nGB2Ha4DyRh50ssXwlo53CPc2s0MGq2kPjmxrph36X87OV5Pw3O1RiFLN4VLVOq/s320/getfile1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465575973126265634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLrMexiyC7HItKHwFdgtZzRgQ-w878gUz2g2JFzlv96Sb1hq1Fh1RLKKj2FBImLKN6mcX78QBINZn4OODb1fnwCDmEMDKiCA_lA8fWdLf5ps30r1vtldicRvtUK0WS0dGRSHBQoxWu4O8/s1600/getfile13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLrMexiyC7HItKHwFdgtZzRgQ-w878gUz2g2JFzlv96Sb1hq1Fh1RLKKj2FBImLKN6mcX78QBINZn4OODb1fnwCDmEMDKiCA_lA8fWdLf5ps30r1vtldicRvtUK0WS0dGRSHBQoxWu4O8/s320/getfile13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465575969755559618" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb09jmBYjFEsVfhACdY1kzU3_Xpw-M6WN3jquM9fTqIcDI4Pc5IzJKiEamskE60AluTWsX3CSDNst90y4wyDK76LthOJX7ONLsxitL0klLFF-h1OBf2JSu1Omy5PC7Xcss5ISDaebZ1GKw/s1600/cruise+080.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb09jmBYjFEsVfhACdY1kzU3_Xpw-M6WN3jquM9fTqIcDI4Pc5IzJKiEamskE60AluTWsX3CSDNst90y4wyDK76LthOJX7ONLsxitL0klLFF-h1OBf2JSu1Omy5PC7Xcss5ISDaebZ1GKw/s320/cruise+080.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465575961218915010" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYp2YhQIOCND7gRqxsuZcrY71RS636T42XI9iAIkb8Ac2u3Wiqw9q2wBboLDY95NjjJo8qIoRTPtuuqbQY3Xey52yireWdpbBUmJl0iFJ6G7RoKPGMwS2Bx4dgIE2kb4roR0u6INTm5Kga/s1600/24599_1288640498680_1310220354_30839072_106319_n.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYp2YhQIOCND7gRqxsuZcrY71RS636T42XI9iAIkb8Ac2u3Wiqw9q2wBboLDY95NjjJo8qIoRTPtuuqbQY3Xey52yireWdpbBUmJl0iFJ6G7RoKPGMwS2Bx4dgIE2kb4roR0u6INTm5Kga/s320/24599_1288640498680_1310220354_30839072_106319_n.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465576449025027314" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2OJnKLzjssx7PX5Xp-yuDnk9L7eEbQZ2nh2taRJT0VQVNCRfSY5hH7uoeCzWxYH7AwU1NDTK2syHU9GhrFaT2zjjRcvDOmA46zaqqcpdizVW67eGZ3xGebvjnFrpPGL65WouqOpF-ASx/s1600/23478_376422629463_598349463_3415499_4440100_n.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2OJnKLzjssx7PX5Xp-yuDnk9L7eEbQZ2nh2taRJT0VQVNCRfSY5hH7uoeCzWxYH7AwU1NDTK2syHU9GhrFaT2zjjRcvDOmA46zaqqcpdizVW67eGZ3xGebvjnFrpPGL65WouqOpF-ASx/s320/23478_376422629463_598349463_3415499_4440100_n.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465576442918507938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz_zW1FXAtEeCgmSwhQDiY4JeSm_wpDLrKfydxiwJNtpIzplASuAfbYpIQYOED4lPLoGLlp0zrJUhUVmLsueaa59ThHEWKydCfOXPw6k4HGAMpgEPxx-Lby3Z5x4Cf4Rr4cYamHfah4LB/s1600/23478_376422604463_598349463_3415495_3753601_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz_zW1FXAtEeCgmSwhQDiY4JeSm_wpDLrKfydxiwJNtpIzplASuAfbYpIQYOED4lPLoGLlp0zrJUhUVmLsueaa59ThHEWKydCfOXPw6k4HGAMpgEPxx-Lby3Z5x4Cf4Rr4cYamHfah4LB/s320/23478_376422604463_598349463_3415495_3753601_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465576436838335602" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uQRxQO6_JSJQv3s4Lre0yKt-DnE8GhCo0WnExBoGro_d5SMPeFHPJaLrXPpSZqE6oZX-gez9uA04UiDv3QjDkiO4pO04iRqlaKGNwlbKsiHU0IU1W9qVvFE410-pWS-3zjLqXvlvOzQm/s1600/25859_1385920897821_1525989604_31003534_7217706_n.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uQRxQO6_JSJQv3s4Lre0yKt-DnE8GhCo0WnExBoGro_d5SMPeFHPJaLrXPpSZqE6oZX-gez9uA04UiDv3QjDkiO4pO04iRqlaKGNwlbKsiHU0IU1W9qVvFE410-pWS-3zjLqXvlvOzQm/s320/25859_1385920897821_1525989604_31003534_7217706_n.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465576695250873922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VOdbAl2WHkgJNEEEsqy-h0bcs-ZaR_yt0v5BqJ0AWNVQDYUkmtfmGAse0xOXAwWLeAtip4glu7b9vwKIPC-CvRLEkg3ajipU0a_TktgHZ_egK-VgUAmL_QrTLKOeFwF9NtcuVvhsSuXN/s1600/25859_1385920417809_1525989604_31003523_650454_n.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VOdbAl2WHkgJNEEEsqy-h0bcs-ZaR_yt0v5BqJ0AWNVQDYUkmtfmGAse0xOXAwWLeAtip4glu7b9vwKIPC-CvRLEkg3ajipU0a_TktgHZ_egK-VgUAmL_QrTLKOeFwF9NtcuVvhsSuXN/s320/25859_1385920417809_1525989604_31003523_650454_n.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465576689261644674" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow, we're going to Belize, CA (that's Central America campers, not California!)<br /><br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-73938884929089031692010-04-15T11:09:00.000-07:002010-04-16T07:46:14.734-07:00CRUISE--Cozumel, MexicoMonday, we woke up very excited - our first shore excursion. Papa and I had picked a sub tour that was to go 100 feet below the surface. I had my eye on that tour but right before I signed up, it disappeared and I had to sign up for the backup tour, another underwater tour that went only about 4 feet underwater and was much shorter in duration.<br /><br />We were pleasantly surprised when we got on the ship and saw the Atlantis tour offered again but I had to wait to receive my tickets before I could go to the excursion desk and do the exchange for the ones we wanted.<br /><br />Everyone laughed and made fun of me for the "tormenting" (their word not mine) of our travel agent and now I've moved on to tormenting the Excursion Desk and Guest Services with my constant barrage of questions. But hey, if you don't ask, how do you find out. And that are what those people get paid for, answering questions and helping out the passengers. You'll be happy to know, I got my money's worth from both areas!<br /><br />So with submarine tour tickets in hand, we watched Cozumel approach from the sea. We were actually the one doing the approaching but semantics...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOOI13t-zxEdKLUcVeKlIbTzWGHvJVMvw9_58HbYOAG4clu_Rvlyv39y0Tyzm6cRIe9Zib5keippTzQ9mttsoWVV_XJ5GBrOc1_LTQAmpIUvLEZ_KvqI2QH5_8uPTKDH4-oz5D4JU-6KV/s1600/25859_1385832535612_1525989604_31003201_4927024_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460431048062898850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOOI13t-zxEdKLUcVeKlIbTzWGHvJVMvw9_58HbYOAG4clu_Rvlyv39y0Tyzm6cRIe9Zib5keippTzQ9mttsoWVV_XJ5GBrOc1_LTQAmpIUvLEZ_KvqI2QH5_8uPTKDH4-oz5D4JU-6KV/s320/25859_1385832535612_1525989604_31003201_4927024_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ls9Fwi9qxCDfpJY0a5gPxW92uloGYOLNPkSl92nU0254kCx3-bb6NyJDcPN0vj_PPNRC6XzqPlf9YUjrdbQ7rmQl0Lr4ZPx4G7Asr2XK2rEcOPkTL16hWYTKyDBNrx8R413yqS5W9Bad/s1600/25859_1385832615614_1525989604_31003203_7223010_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460431054507186866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ls9Fwi9qxCDfpJY0a5gPxW92uloGYOLNPkSl92nU0254kCx3-bb6NyJDcPN0vj_PPNRC6XzqPlf9YUjrdbQ7rmQl0Lr4ZPx4G7Asr2XK2rEcOPkTL16hWYTKyDBNrx8R413yqS5W9Bad/s320/25859_1385832615614_1525989604_31003203_7223010_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkiTltLgg5zIzrKbpJvs9VHU_VgtFsOXtJs_ezYIuFhaJi3dx8li-wn9VhURI_Y5yv7QOMkIgP49SlD_L55kAWh-QZwiu1xlBz8b9msWmMW5QBnDgdwYHAZtpZnLzPArUdXgjj9CJ9drZ/s1600/25859_1385828495511_1525989604_31003106_2526308_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460431043138060914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkiTltLgg5zIzrKbpJvs9VHU_VgtFsOXtJs_ezYIuFhaJi3dx8li-wn9VhURI_Y5yv7QOMkIgP49SlD_L55kAWh-QZwiu1xlBz8b9msWmMW5QBnDgdwYHAZtpZnLzPArUdXgjj9CJ9drZ/s320/25859_1385828495511_1525989604_31003106_2526308_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRotSt_aqLOOMrws0QjImnyC3BYxyIbBzCdEla7HVg8mFzION3bRslPrRWwi8XEdZ3Bz1ODMbt3G2WqjpESrqIARSVOa41P9BpvyzadTgs1AZXGYBqt0Y6LI6fOLzjqXy6OrLXa0C_dTt6/s1600/cruise+071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460431059535602130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRotSt_aqLOOMrws0QjImnyC3BYxyIbBzCdEla7HVg8mFzION3bRslPrRWwi8XEdZ3Bz1ODMbt3G2WqjpESrqIARSVOa41P9BpvyzadTgs1AZXGYBqt0Y6LI6fOLzjqXy6OrLXa0C_dTt6/s320/cruise+071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course, leaving the ship, my Sail and Sign card was invalid for some reason and it left off an dull bong when I scanned it. You have to scan your card when leaving the ship and then when returning. Since mine failed leaving the ship, they took a picture of me and let me know when I returned it wouldn't work but to let the "gatekeeper" know I was "in the book" with a new picture and I would be allowed back on the ship and would then have to the go to Guest Services (where they would be getting to know me) and be issued a new card. This was a little worrisome (like I needed something else to worry about---not falling off the boat, not MISSING the boat while on an island, not getting arrested, abducted or assaulted some other way while in a foreign country, not getting thrown in a Mexican jail, etc., etc., etc.). Now I'm told my card would not work to get back onboard but oh, have a nice tour of Cozumel.<br /><br />But we proceeded on. Did a little window shopping and met our tour group for the boat ride out to sea where our sub was docked.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOObRQM6ug8t2Grsu4iVVdVHImPVrTQf1JYGobIDMQLwsyk1iy0_bWwHbpOCc5g8kWLX-IvUkvfBxTkx1TJ7BvO40hiv4iQF-e2NaKdGf3UOpFcYWU0UGWoQa7rOhEQe8qhivIAb7fV18/s1600/cruise+067.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460433927070390258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOObRQM6ug8t2Grsu4iVVdVHImPVrTQf1JYGobIDMQLwsyk1iy0_bWwHbpOCc5g8kWLX-IvUkvfBxTkx1TJ7BvO40hiv4iQF-e2NaKdGf3UOpFcYWU0UGWoQa7rOhEQe8qhivIAb7fV18/s320/cruise+067.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4QCeY6XPAN4HwIvwl4KN7QY5bjUCGKdtXv9o5v4cFabwkro1hSHU2F_wX5nSjVK_BU7pU-l6l6YLu5yKv5uLEsIOYtvKYP48dyOsirPaUVMBNtXp8WOAD6YuQB1Z-KMKASt0Wn3877zL/s1600/cruise+066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460435861652087074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4QCeY6XPAN4HwIvwl4KN7QY5bjUCGKdtXv9o5v4cFabwkro1hSHU2F_wX5nSjVK_BU7pU-l6l6YLu5yKv5uLEsIOYtvKYP48dyOsirPaUVMBNtXp8WOAD6YuQB1Z-KMKASt0Wn3877zL/s320/cruise+066.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So I am faller, plain and simple. I was a little concerned after reading the description of the tour and that I would have to back down a long step ladder. I can climb up ladders without issue but going down ladders always make my hands sweat and with my bad ankle and back and neck, I was worried about this. I made Papa promise to go first in case I slipped. He could help me or at least break the fall. But like any rat leaving a sinking ship, he got on the ladder and climbed down as fast as he could and was nowhere to be seen by the time I mounted the top of the ladder. Paco though, pictured above, assured me that I could do it. "Just take that first step and it will be fine." And I did and it was.<br /><br />First, I need to rewind a bit. I had bought a new camera with all sorts of wonderful bells and whistles for my trip. I had had it for three months and was learning light and appertures and speed and all. So excited to put all I'd learned into practice on this vacation and then.....du dum....and on our Sunday Sea Day, du du dum, it just wouldn't turn on again.<br /><br />It had been starting to act up and I couldn't understand why. I hadn't dropped it or left it in the sun or heat but first it started eating batteries. Take 3 pictures and change batteries. Oh, take 2 pictures and batteries are dead again, huh? Take one picture and then just NOTHING. It stopped working by Sunday night. I was pretty distressed over this but thankfully had brought my old faithful along and that's what I started using in Cozumel and for the rest of the trip (except one foray with an underwater camera in Costa Maya). (I ended up exchanging the camera when I returned home and the new one is fabulous and makes me think the other one was a lemon from the get-go.)<br /><br />So here I am underwater with an OK camera but it wasn't spectacular and didn't begin to record what our eyes were seeing. The vividness of the colors of the fish were unbelievable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXGw_hLNEcw_YtLz0hcfB0-2PZ2n4M7h92whyb9Lkl_9jf0zLxVFGcbznPLMx2QFjIlaBkP2G5NSESMqe4AbVGkSTrww0wK8RR3ksCIuAxgRmq_VSvFOcrOhCFYaQssqFk0hWfxpR3Gan/s1600/cruise+045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460437295607180066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXGw_hLNEcw_YtLz0hcfB0-2PZ2n4M7h92whyb9Lkl_9jf0zLxVFGcbznPLMx2QFjIlaBkP2G5NSESMqe4AbVGkSTrww0wK8RR3ksCIuAxgRmq_VSvFOcrOhCFYaQssqFk0hWfxpR3Gan/s320/cruise+045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLE4-yRDjB6BVO4YJgD2yrYyeNIlc_eeq2uc4gFBxkMQ1YyGdQH06cSO9dISEDkKq2q9fkm3JojNekYyS1X69Ny9KGwi5rp5BadySag3NQfJMCOGY5mSaGls3iwmr_vkSzcgqU5HU3_-GG/s1600/cruise+046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460437305565722594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLE4-yRDjB6BVO4YJgD2yrYyeNIlc_eeq2uc4gFBxkMQ1YyGdQH06cSO9dISEDkKq2q9fkm3JojNekYyS1X69Ny9KGwi5rp5BadySag3NQfJMCOGY5mSaGls3iwmr_vkSzcgqU5HU3_-GG/s320/cruise+046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The top picture is Papa looking our our porthole and then the other 42 people (sans crew) that were on the sub with us.<br /><br />We had a fabulous time. Although the pictues were subpar, what we experienced and saw with our eyes we will never forget (even the divers!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvhxCSyONFrBvWle39iz0sM-fE_vnqfLyTbQPPcEDxv0P635JfOLYcssh19EqNuS7YmzPULsrRGdpgmKApdvIIKiSJerZhSnekSLSI5Aetr_cShEUx_ZEllbBdVZ3pNtSSbteGWbxVPu2/s1600/cruise+052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460440234095166930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvhxCSyONFrBvWle39iz0sM-fE_vnqfLyTbQPPcEDxv0P635JfOLYcssh19EqNuS7YmzPULsrRGdpgmKApdvIIKiSJerZhSnekSLSI5Aetr_cShEUx_ZEllbBdVZ3pNtSSbteGWbxVPu2/s320/cruise+052.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqZ-vTd1_CROrDbyOdZWENa1hNrzUSeqRhXS4FOewDRZAA64uxt80W3IYGC7vxWMMQqtdxtI3bvXfeA4nMkTEaZnLtoaZ-Gb2SNe24LGvPzQIB6yUMJpK_rvXVUZjnDIz-BOsv4yv9W9x/s1600/cruise+051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460440224296001266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqZ-vTd1_CROrDbyOdZWENa1hNrzUSeqRhXS4FOewDRZAA64uxt80W3IYGC7vxWMMQqtdxtI3bvXfeA4nMkTEaZnLtoaZ-Gb2SNe24LGvPzQIB6yUMJpK_rvXVUZjnDIz-BOsv4yv9W9x/s320/cruise+051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFi08eBPMyS-8agdoe_AgKvr6_7UfousoFu0kPkXN98FpboMXgz9FPiE2DP3j_n3baEiqW24g_WBQ2Zp4oz7zKGFxk09bsLLgCvB2ma9pSqC0sEuTdF7ZCIbR4RZtVfKetDrXTTUiKFIk/s1600/cruise+056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460440243950489234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFi08eBPMyS-8agdoe_AgKvr6_7UfousoFu0kPkXN98FpboMXgz9FPiE2DP3j_n3baEiqW24g_WBQ2Zp4oz7zKGFxk09bsLLgCvB2ma9pSqC0sEuTdF7ZCIbR4RZtVfKetDrXTTUiKFIk/s320/cruise+056.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And we went a bit below 100 feet underwater:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJBuK7FR4aXb08KsmKW9_Ah5X4PEWrpWNb1jhYoxTsC_2kLfHyzUqnDLEFv_PZbnavkbAzdR6yLGC2iFbC4nIW8LsUZw7HaRZUhefI1NAKCuriBXLwNTaQTfrPmrNWPDZIGR17ZQ1wX3G/s1600/cruise+061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460440815606517650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJBuK7FR4aXb08KsmKW9_Ah5X4PEWrpWNb1jhYoxTsC_2kLfHyzUqnDLEFv_PZbnavkbAzdR6yLGC2iFbC4nIW8LsUZw7HaRZUhefI1NAKCuriBXLwNTaQTfrPmrNWPDZIGR17ZQ1wX3G/s320/cruise+061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Papa deemed it the "coolest thing I've ever done in my life." And I beamed!<br /><br />We made it back to the port area safely and did a little shopping. Then it was time to reboard the ship where my card not only "bonged" again and I was pulled out of line. But after they determined I was "in the book" and ok to come back on board, I beeped in the security scanner and had to be pulled out of line again and hand scanned. FINALLY, I was determined to be safe and let on board where I went immediately to the Guest Services desk and procured myself a new Sail and Sign card that worked without a hitch the rest of the week.<br /><br />In Cozumel, Cracker and the Weatherman rented a car and took their own tour (no pictures) and said they had a nice time.<br /><br />DD and SIL and their group hit a private beach and took advantage of the cheap- priced, high-quality tequila.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgXfXS0ONBj_7Aid0C_TGLKlGX9BT9qRZoY6OQw8YdzqyTLiXl_p3iuKvVslgKGbXM_6emnoetstKVC49TukAgIlsHoDVj3c2-SeNKNsh2M1_GD8eZs6itJtwTQZRHVV4NRUfNRjhxM-v/s1600/25859_1385828695516_1525989604_31003110_4410432_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460443544819164418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgXfXS0ONBj_7Aid0C_TGLKlGX9BT9qRZoY6OQw8YdzqyTLiXl_p3iuKvVslgKGbXM_6emnoetstKVC49TukAgIlsHoDVj3c2-SeNKNsh2M1_GD8eZs6itJtwTQZRHVV4NRUfNRjhxM-v/s320/25859_1385828695516_1525989604_31003110_4410432_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8jBYLlptCJyvurknfvO5yKPN0_4VsziQBCXxK_iFUGVIzmMTOVWz7dcwxb04dB5Re5-cAeb1MnITdBp9xb8-XMgXXR-kphLZPOi65M8zJfrCH51SZh491ApHj-QBldhEnl1MPoYIefZG/s1600/24129_1289645683809_1310220354_30841140_3724124_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460443540272044994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8jBYLlptCJyvurknfvO5yKPN0_4VsziQBCXxK_iFUGVIzmMTOVWz7dcwxb04dB5Re5-cAeb1MnITdBp9xb8-XMgXXR-kphLZPOi65M8zJfrCH51SZh491ApHj-QBldhEnl1MPoYIefZG/s320/24129_1289645683809_1310220354_30841140_3724124_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjM3xUbJ9kw4aI8mMQS03hywYOuTO-ymbXuKDZX3H6ZL_1_TwF4-w3vCz-XZJ-Ka_y3LwL8XzVyno0YySSfY-2EpBAvw4qBJgA5tfZ7yd7FXczmmPPmj7Ht4MFJlCGPFHrjLvozR-KI4D/s1600/24129_1289644963791_1310220354_30841122_5657009_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460443539529446258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjM3xUbJ9kw4aI8mMQS03hywYOuTO-ymbXuKDZX3H6ZL_1_TwF4-w3vCz-XZJ-Ka_y3LwL8XzVyno0YySSfY-2EpBAvw4qBJgA5tfZ7yd7FXczmmPPmj7Ht4MFJlCGPFHrjLvozR-KI4D/s320/24129_1289644963791_1310220354_30841122_5657009_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ71Ousf85nVR00vLnrrg__8gZCo1l7XML-kQAShpCwBLLBRHUlsih_0Fe4LlueOPr0YWH4SrlkeaSY-UR49kVLtsHrr-bXHW3Qs_-nBvbhqcgYHQu1xLDDbtfv2Y5bI0v_2yLdqrm5Imt/s1600/25859_1385831015574_1525989604_31003165_7748334_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460443998426245202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ71Ousf85nVR00vLnrrg__8gZCo1l7XML-kQAShpCwBLLBRHUlsih_0Fe4LlueOPr0YWH4SrlkeaSY-UR49kVLtsHrr-bXHW3Qs_-nBvbhqcgYHQu1xLDDbtfv2Y5bI0v_2yLdqrm5Imt/s320/25859_1385831015574_1525989604_31003165_7748334_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVAT6GCOmpEOdVrlEfPilVUSEbAWeW2VIKhHrP5gtsk0Hv-dq8i8tsrkZtZIO2K_kkJjYtHfH3vG5lUFUK5hGHWs9FFX39rFPXOlRcfzYjclkzqKZ05HUT3Ghp2sK1-u7lbw4tlQMUQL7/s1600/25859_1385829335532_1525989604_31003125_1764968_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460443989161890882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVAT6GCOmpEOdVrlEfPilVUSEbAWeW2VIKhHrP5gtsk0Hv-dq8i8tsrkZtZIO2K_kkJjYtHfH3vG5lUFUK5hGHWs9FFX39rFPXOlRcfzYjclkzqKZ05HUT3Ghp2sK1-u7lbw4tlQMUQL7/s320/25859_1385829335532_1525989604_31003125_1764968_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb-RcOstrhhPGdHB_dv_JGk02tnFgmsVG0aQLmeVPHXdSdcQeNnfEE5L4Uc-PgG2Pk-x0gB5jlEjqI1zrSsmC_aZKv93euc78RcE_C0x24NMtKu1FmJmOKgXFHUveDfLTQHglfRurxvHZ/s1600/25859_1385829295531_1525989604_31003124_4436041_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460443984768275474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb-RcOstrhhPGdHB_dv_JGk02tnFgmsVG0aQLmeVPHXdSdcQeNnfEE5L4Uc-PgG2Pk-x0gB5jlEjqI1zrSsmC_aZKv93euc78RcE_C0x24NMtKu1FmJmOKgXFHUveDfLTQHglfRurxvHZ/s320/25859_1385829295531_1525989604_31003124_4436041_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9rBaZhqkwBkEhcSZAWelKIMOOGNvXX_mKeD2hKbAa2aHXX_6qVX9IqSumYYiJ2bVQ9exznprBahmXk4ixNl9tX3LThMEoiZLuivVrgbgw3c9H4Llb_7gzQHPZ0o1VY30e1KiZhJXmrdp/s1600/25859_1385828895521_1525989604_31003114_1881145_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460443981965070066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9rBaZhqkwBkEhcSZAWelKIMOOGNvXX_mKeD2hKbAa2aHXX_6qVX9IqSumYYiJ2bVQ9exznprBahmXk4ixNl9tX3LThMEoiZLuivVrgbgw3c9H4Llb_7gzQHPZ0o1VY30e1KiZhJXmrdp/s320/25859_1385828895521_1525989604_31003114_1881145_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir7h2UukeulwYJTZ6i35RJEWEB_bLsFVly5fyPjC7Pc5oBe148equIvLo74J2-IX5pNeJ_EJtVyqsCBlIEG-JEtPKHa6BsDpp775kZNCDzi-1PV9U-ypT2raVmuNi3w8rOotyK8PO9NI1/s1600/24129_1289645923815_1310220354_30841146_7362254_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460444370177815010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir7h2UukeulwYJTZ6i35RJEWEB_bLsFVly5fyPjC7Pc5oBe148equIvLo74J2-IX5pNeJ_EJtVyqsCBlIEG-JEtPKHa6BsDpp775kZNCDzi-1PV9U-ypT2raVmuNi3w8rOotyK8PO9NI1/s320/24129_1289645923815_1310220354_30841146_7362254_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm sure that beach will never be the same?!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhX02JC5B4HAk85XnS-3tRTc-zP54KKIAQh69cXIOvpILrmcrqS16NiwULUBIfKbqd6945VT24AklLuCP0e4WYYNOvakot_IW03NJy0U_k9oD_XH2UzO0Lj9VegEuJuHWHInEWxiMPhaC/s1600/24129_1289644963791_1310220354_30841122_5657009_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460444364676685746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhX02JC5B4HAk85XnS-3tRTc-zP54KKIAQh69cXIOvpILrmcrqS16NiwULUBIfKbqd6945VT24AklLuCP0e4WYYNOvakot_IW03NJy0U_k9oD_XH2UzO0Lj9VegEuJuHWHInEWxiMPhaC/s320/24129_1289644963791_1310220354_30841122_5657009_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The main thing was that ALL our group had a marvelous time in Cozumel and made it back on the boat safely. <br /><br />That night, Night 3 in the Dining Room, our little group suffered the "effects of tequila" with Cracker and the Weatherman passing on our group dinner. (Although, we didn't know that up front and checked with the Guest Services desk AGAIN to make sure they were back on the boat with us when our worrying got the better of us.)<br /><br />Tomorrow Roatan, Honduras.<br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-9252404444320872602010-04-14T10:52:00.000-07:002010-04-14T11:43:35.066-07:00CRUISE--PART 4OK, back to vacation. First,,,,,saw a really cute movie the other day, Julie and Julia. Just really enjoyed it. Also read a good book the other day, Making Toast. Both recommended.<br /><br />OK, NOW back to the vacation.<br /><br />With such a large group vacationing together AND our past family vacation history of too much togetherness, it was decided that yeah, we were all going together but it was a big boat and there were a wide range of activities, something to suit every personality, both on the boat and on the island excursions. So we weren't going to try to organize group activities during our vacation. Everyone go and do whatever and have fun and if a few people pick the same things, so be it. No plans. However, since Papa must be kept active, I had planned alot for the two of us. No winging it for us, we knew what we were going to do at least once a day (a planned activity).<br /><br />But we all discussed about eating as a group. Well that seemed to fall through when DD's group of friend chose the early seating and our group (DD, SIL, Cracker, Weatherman, Papa and I) chose the later seating. Nevertheless, it was decided at least the six of us would meet for dinner at night and share our day's activities.<br /><br />Here we all were on the first night's dinner--the "come as you are dinner."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RGSVC2NCu1ip6dSvYIwQPWRWujMXUY1Ag4cZbflGn2AYsaChf3HhT7WxIQPOOSFSFX5ikfv7U6VE8EfXMSJYpdzgESwt1g7E6Tn5YUQUSlTcztuIRyb8JFFyfuzekYHfDTLlteNvKK60/s1600/cruise+020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RGSVC2NCu1ip6dSvYIwQPWRWujMXUY1Ag4cZbflGn2AYsaChf3HhT7WxIQPOOSFSFX5ikfv7U6VE8EfXMSJYpdzgESwt1g7E6Tn5YUQUSlTcztuIRyb8JFFyfuzekYHfDTLlteNvKK60/s320/cruise+020.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460056139872400226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQl9MQhMQOcAVxk_VyP8U2hTc_KAmU4TLJJmPJHw4FWot6gp13fWyiXhAoLumNbYVEAp7lPAuI_RJARMBGLD5aLY9YNpOW_UVz9GIA5mgQssxyiagN5gExL7skhNad5j-_sQqPSd9uwbO/s1600/cruise+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQl9MQhMQOcAVxk_VyP8U2hTc_KAmU4TLJJmPJHw4FWot6gp13fWyiXhAoLumNbYVEAp7lPAuI_RJARMBGLD5aLY9YNpOW_UVz9GIA5mgQssxyiagN5gExL7skhNad5j-_sQqPSd9uwbO/s320/cruise+019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460056131914129986" /></a><br /><br />The food was pretty marvelous in the dining rooms. Everyone always raves about cruise ship foods and the awesome 24 hour buffets. We had a pretty killer salad from the salad bar and a good burgers but other than that we had one lunch and one breakfast from the buffets and weren't too impressed. Especially when we discovered made to order breakfasts in a dining room on the third day! Now those were awesome.<br /><br />So Sunday was a sea day and I won't bore you with details....we wandered about, ate, saw a show, sat in the sun and read, walked ALOT from one end to the other exploring, napped and then got dressed up for our first formal dinner--a Captain's Dinner. I really need to invest in a scanner because we got some nice photographer's pictures of all us that night but alas, no scanner, so you're left to come up with your own "sights".<br /><br />Tomorrow, we're off to Cozumel<br />Your traveling GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-56981624805080652962010-04-11T11:56:00.000-07:002010-04-16T07:50:16.096-07:00ANOTHER INTERLUDEI know, I will get back to the cruise....I'm buried ankle deep in pictures, so I'm not forgetting one thing about the trip.<br /><br />We've ALL been sick. Since before Easter. DD had bad sinus's (how DO you pluraize sinus?) and went to the doc, or Walgreen's clinic actually, Easter morning because she felt so bad and has double ear infections. I've been sick since the Saturday night before Easter....allergies,,,,actually had been suffering since we entered Georgia and the tall pine area on the way home from vacation. Saw my allergist the Friday before Easter and he said double-up on all my allergy meds and added an antihistimine/decongestant to the mix. <br /><br />Well by Saturday night before Easter, my head CRAP all flowed down into my chest and now I'm envisioning the cartoon mucis people on the Mucinex commercial. This is exactly what anti/decon's do to me ALL THE time. Yeah, they clear my head but it's gotta go somewhere.<br /><br />So Easter Sunday, I'm sick, DD's sick, Papa had a headache (probably sinus), both P's are sick and SIL is the only one feeling halfway good. We had a very abbreviated day to say the least. We were all dreaming of nice, long afternoon naps.<br /><br />Monday, I stayed home from work. Tuesday I went to work for three hours and after my seal barking was causing my workmates to glare at me ("Seriously, I'm not contagious."), I went home and back to bed. Worked a short day on Wednesday and had the P's and felt oh so bad because I had less than no patience, couldn't talk right, continued coughing, they both had runny noses but were overly energetic and the combination caused alot of Grammy's raised voice and the P's spent an inordinate amount of time in time-out.<br /><br />Thursday, I went to work where my boss kept trying to send me home. Finally I called my primary doc and went in to see him. I also, have a double ear infection, who knew, my ears don't hurt. But the rest of my "issues" are all allergy based. I just cough and now the mucis people have risen back into my head. Long story shorter, I got alot of meds in addition to all I've been taking that I was told to keep taking. <br /><br />Friday, DD took the P's in to see their doc, both have sinus infections and Perfect has pneuomina (the beginnings of) and Precious has a horrible rash all over her face and body caused by her virus. So the entire (MO)branch of the family is just chock full of snot and other assorted bacteria. I've turned my a/c on and it's only in the 70's because there is no chance of rain until Friday and the allergens are off the board according to the weather guy on tv. <br /><br />No one seems to be getting better, I've been on meds for 8 days and have another workweek looming. We did have a birthday party for Precious yesterday (poor thing)...pictures and details coming later. And I'm going to start allergy shots late next week. I threw in the towel on Friday and sign the consent forms after some long (hack-filled, blowing, snorting, coughing) phone conversations with my allergist.<br /><br />My what a negative post but that's this Grammy's life this week and last week and probably next week.<br /><br />Until next time, here's hoping something I'm taking starts to work.......GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-75253033509281597902010-04-07T08:09:00.000-07:002010-04-07T11:45:45.366-07:00CRUISE INTERLUDEI laugh when I see those pictures in a magazine or newspaper of people and their pets. You know, those contests where you send in pictures to see who looks the most like their pet.<br /><br />My pet has taken on my personality, and I've noticed, my "illnesses" as well. We are both constantly trying to lose weight with no good results.<br /><br />Last year when I fell down the stairs and cracked my pelvis, two weeks later, she "blew" her knee chasing something in the country so we both were on R&R most of the late summer and fall.<br /><br />I have horrible allergies that seem to get worse every year. When we are driving to the country, Snoopy always wants the window all the way down the last couple of miles so she can hang her head out the window, ears flapping in the breeze. That is until we would hit the gravel road and she would start coughing---dust allergy? It can only be.<br /><br />This week, my allerigies have picked up and settled in my chest and I've been pretty sick with bronchitis since the weekend. Last night, Snoopy was walking through the house repeatedly sneezing. Papa just says...."unbelievable".<br /><br />At least we're not looking alike.....YET.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rfut-7WuP9EjQVHsKo1_DC5n1atQlRe-9Ilw9icnME7jABHqthyphenhyphen7Upt6wvG_QkaobcL7N-CCHb7jtkHV5YHOm62QmhHrcyv2cbFd2iUx1E0qlQg1DdRQG40p9l6if-I-cJ7qsFXqAENA/s1600/sadie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457415835113410274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rfut-7WuP9EjQVHsKo1_DC5n1atQlRe-9Ilw9icnME7jABHqthyphenhyphen7Upt6wvG_QkaobcL7N-CCHb7jtkHV5YHOm62QmhHrcyv2cbFd2iUx1E0qlQg1DdRQG40p9l6if-I-cJ7qsFXqAENA/s320/sadie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpIcpLkRWEQuHfcSysqIjyBhWRaoa_PcRuM9jTqAfE872ggQBnEkIcnNYX7_Wr-kfU3wBLnmOjuP37Gddm8kmaGCDzbYT3qpX7CmCC0Nfws0TQgNK4l0Je7DTLEUfZ-yoQbGT5murrCjs/s1600/me.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457415831261182066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpIcpLkRWEQuHfcSysqIjyBhWRaoa_PcRuM9jTqAfE872ggQBnEkIcnNYX7_Wr-kfU3wBLnmOjuP37Gddm8kmaGCDzbYT3qpX7CmCC0Nfws0TQgNK4l0Je7DTLEUfZ-yoQbGT5murrCjs/s320/me.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now this little girl....yeah, I'll agree that we are related!!!<br /><br />Stay tuned for more cruise story in the near future.<br /><br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-39099166673246702562010-04-02T06:19:00.001-07:002010-04-11T12:35:44.369-07:00CRUISE---Part 3Saturday dawned bright and sunny and we were raring to go. Papa broke a belt first off which necessitated a trip to the corner Walmart which took alot longer than expected (another story---Papa shopping!) Anyway, belt purchased and we loaded up again for the short drive to Port Canaveral.<br /><br />And our first glimpse of The Dream.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA26DP_NKEieGnQnTGqbu_7PE5hQu3qaawjzdN7k_FANxVAjHkhmCv6Upt35Vys5-ul9ZWodP6_YMUyDBTlGqQ3Fsz-E0tDo-b-zGJAH2SArbxrn0i3QGeRdFekOMfUhv6LMxpM6JHlkSn/s1600/cruise+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455529444914092658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA26DP_NKEieGnQnTGqbu_7PE5hQu3qaawjzdN7k_FANxVAjHkhmCv6Upt35Vys5-ul9ZWodP6_YMUyDBTlGqQ3Fsz-E0tDo-b-zGJAH2SArbxrn0i3QGeRdFekOMfUhv6LMxpM6JHlkSn/s320/cruise+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUeV_oNEGZRoTKYZlDvV7eF5tW2vKjr4vFVOQbkzircgA3SFC6g-GlPm4Bhpe8VcspsIY2etP-7EXvObALHz_aYLE6drzirKnagc3WvmjKlRZxcJmjk6jhkMPyUZ1BiWZEfug6dCgd7Lu/s1600/cruise+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455529436091115250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUeV_oNEGZRoTKYZlDvV7eF5tW2vKjr4vFVOQbkzircgA3SFC6g-GlPm4Bhpe8VcspsIY2etP-7EXvObALHz_aYLE6drzirKnagc3WvmjKlRZxcJmjk6jhkMPyUZ1BiWZEfug6dCgd7Lu/s320/cruise+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwDB9dyxb45Qau_rITYv43GsnQzViAhfaMfAq-uskxb3hAwxSpZEaPVs897LNrYzwTWHk9S-GM5dDf4Ng7I7SciFpVi54olEVO29YbXektmMrTl20oOMylJna1nWuxsHJuVQqskhuqTyz/s1600/getfile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455529453796792098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwDB9dyxb45Qau_rITYv43GsnQzViAhfaMfAq-uskxb3hAwxSpZEaPVs897LNrYzwTWHk9S-GM5dDf4Ng7I7SciFpVi54olEVO29YbXektmMrTl20oOMylJna1nWuxsHJuVQqskhuqTyz/s320/getfile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was huge, we were terrified and excited all at the same time. SIL dropped us off with all the luggage<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZR2VphhGic2u254KIjA_AiLVvjoY5O0Yl-y9-vnobRdwp59a8ddWVeyOHITHIXb8mnfARrjOYwYWxtVQ_lXp9EAvsIHiW-MqOcEW0z-Vkte8jnCUVERIyCm08_pxXGj7iY9OU6wh82mg/s1600/cruise+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455530313726598370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZR2VphhGic2u254KIjA_AiLVvjoY5O0Yl-y9-vnobRdwp59a8ddWVeyOHITHIXb8mnfARrjOYwYWxtVQ_lXp9EAvsIHiW-MqOcEW0z-Vkte8jnCUVERIyCm08_pxXGj7iY9OU6wh82mg/s320/cruise+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />LOL! He went and parked the car while we stood and tried to imagine how the four of us would transport all that just a short distance to the front doors.<br /><br />Thankfully, there were luggage porters about two rows over and they took the majority of luggage off our hands and we entered the front doors to begin the embarkation process.<br /><br />Got checked in, passed security, had our Sail and Sign cards issued (the most important belonging to any cruise passenger---it's the room key, method of payment, identification on and off the boat--something NOT to lose) and across the gangway we went---all at seemingly breakneck speed because before we knew it, we were on the ship where we dropped out carryon luggage and collapsed. Those cruise people know how to work a process.<br /><br />We were here!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoYExGmBu0x9fSxlCwzwnoWnq3tW2DNrpMSNvpBNoBnPkN7S4T6LTsniczyzKQ64WwjHbwmxhLpUxy8t9kPMEQA2SGE13Yv-oNGeFWvco9_vHgLdKitjAK6L3IvYmt5L63BOCrboE4829/s1600/cruise+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455541695442800866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoYExGmBu0x9fSxlCwzwnoWnq3tW2DNrpMSNvpBNoBnPkN7S4T6LTsniczyzKQ64WwjHbwmxhLpUxy8t9kPMEQA2SGE13Yv-oNGeFWvco9_vHgLdKitjAK6L3IvYmt5L63BOCrboE4829/s320/cruise+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWND21KIFqPwWtHox5tXxFBkaStydnQjgYAlgtBZpaYWh7dXEVJXbaRnga8Ypzwy-MBO3ThBQqf3214toaf5kbSoyhyAlaEJ0bmrLSjn_QIB2-IXWl27gOwKv5bOSK0V8mKEkC-LSaHRbw/s1600/cruise+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455541682601320354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWND21KIFqPwWtHox5tXxFBkaStydnQjgYAlgtBZpaYWh7dXEVJXbaRnga8Ypzwy-MBO3ThBQqf3214toaf5kbSoyhyAlaEJ0bmrLSjn_QIB2-IXWl27gOwKv5bOSK0V8mKEkC-LSaHRbw/s320/cruise+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztg2ypl-ItrJv4-pnDZ0a3twrMfCMBVjarnUAv2FnVWbxbezbQfkeh0RjDL4CR3HVCc1N5j8S0WimniCPvclFuCV3mP7mArpOCAR2-8sHkGJh2r0SWlMkRy9mMUSoCRzV5kiujbTYIiCx/s1600/cruise+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455541670095481778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztg2ypl-ItrJv4-pnDZ0a3twrMfCMBVjarnUAv2FnVWbxbezbQfkeh0RjDL4CR3HVCc1N5j8S0WimniCPvclFuCV3mP7mArpOCAR2-8sHkGJh2r0SWlMkRy9mMUSoCRzV5kiujbTYIiCx/s320/cruise+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since we couldn't go to our staterooms until after 1:30, we all headed to the above pictured Lido Deck aka the party deck to grab some lunch from one of the buffets and start meeting our other cruisers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lyTshrZxKN8BzYlejls-OuMjgCUVNQHxG3EStHEEERXO9o7ptm0TJ4qg0W8e2_DdpbGvHmAAZfCT3Sfi4Rmq1iMDr8LXtwsJErgLblY48idaVzMZ7N_vygMcXEMFu0z3ioK3DQhT1cV_/s1600/25859_1385983219379_1525989604_31003826_3712607_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455543152216811282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lyTshrZxKN8BzYlejls-OuMjgCUVNQHxG3EStHEEERXO9o7ptm0TJ4qg0W8e2_DdpbGvHmAAZfCT3Sfi4Rmq1iMDr8LXtwsJErgLblY48idaVzMZ7N_vygMcXEMFu0z3ioK3DQhT1cV_/s320/25859_1385983219379_1525989604_31003826_3712607_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta5CLYoSXCStUpDn5V10JxPjhA7YP222ZdyR1UJ-NwcNRAEuNI4tq5z29MiEnq65BIeuOmGU9gXUfJs_QotPnzKV3xwr7vioTBmQhH7IbVeLGQ2XVp6acmvXMfMiCjKdy2wIkKv_zJgQF/s1600/25859_1385982819369_1525989604_31003817_6057954_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455543146065135074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta5CLYoSXCStUpDn5V10JxPjhA7YP222ZdyR1UJ-NwcNRAEuNI4tq5z29MiEnq65BIeuOmGU9gXUfJs_QotPnzKV3xwr7vioTBmQhH7IbVeLGQ2XVp6acmvXMfMiCjKdy2wIkKv_zJgQF/s320/25859_1385982819369_1525989604_31003817_6057954_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02HswaX52HjlETD5pWG5hB5mKNYi21PL9AuIJXJCfaXNXZYkOUNrLNMYh0MCE4s1uuwVc4Vm4wYn8cYIAzPrEzQhNfZlTrjofiLIVq4Oou5Lm7gBJlLTp79xD3nth0nbr-lA6KVlnAjBN/s1600/25859_1385982659365_1525989604_31003813_2922833_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455543136806309890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02HswaX52HjlETD5pWG5hB5mKNYi21PL9AuIJXJCfaXNXZYkOUNrLNMYh0MCE4s1uuwVc4Vm4wYn8cYIAzPrEzQhNfZlTrjofiLIVq4Oou5Lm7gBJlLTp79xD3nth0nbr-lA6KVlnAjBN/s320/25859_1385982659365_1525989604_31003813_2922833_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZGlIRI337sREvwcS-nH7vY-pwf_Bwrvlar9FO6Tz9PrXK0Ck-T-caLYV8PwDT-ciIy0vN3bpIjiEfbdhs_P3AndZVt5Qn6v-aWz88rtTJooWC7kpffk01B1iQVJmmeFm30NIMpKEiIUJ/s1600/25859_1385832095601_1525989604_31003192_2535952_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455543132763509842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZGlIRI337sREvwcS-nH7vY-pwf_Bwrvlar9FO6Tz9PrXK0Ck-T-caLYV8PwDT-ciIy0vN3bpIjiEfbdhs_P3AndZVt5Qn6v-aWz88rtTJooWC7kpffk01B1iQVJmmeFm30NIMpKEiIUJ/s320/25859_1385832095601_1525989604_31003192_2535952_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then it was finally time to find our rooms.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QLhVMkT2Lw7gMKcB7wIaTc3kXoRv3DR0Z7U0ZRFOK1TKWwxqIVBELJ8MgoU_lexrUfMecimjr7lObYMLX7Ce89PnVJJ8FP8rS_bA8kTGExHi7l5_rlXMibT1Io0nDvvukGN7l3_4tvkO/s1600/24599_1288643098745_1310220354_30839131_5520283_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455544028553012962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QLhVMkT2Lw7gMKcB7wIaTc3kXoRv3DR0Z7U0ZRFOK1TKWwxqIVBELJ8MgoU_lexrUfMecimjr7lObYMLX7Ce89PnVJJ8FP8rS_bA8kTGExHi7l5_rlXMibT1Io0nDvvukGN7l3_4tvkO/s320/24599_1288643098745_1310220354_30839131_5520283_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't think to take a picture of our stateroom but the below is an example except for couples, those twin beds were "united" to make a king which is what we had.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sIdfLzmCs7I9VXqvMtN7X8PrGj3pEhxUMdEKnNmLqj4rJpk_DMYUDqD7gGX0_414_MLM4dqtfhEvQ5BQxt4BFdK3SGmeFL6rAaFbCGQKz3H1NGy4abdDEanI-0xH7kQpROWv1ATsktW2/s1600/25859_1385915857695_1525989604_31003414_7541325_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455544054133518178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sIdfLzmCs7I9VXqvMtN7X8PrGj3pEhxUMdEKnNmLqj4rJpk_DMYUDqD7gGX0_414_MLM4dqtfhEvQ5BQxt4BFdK3SGmeFL6rAaFbCGQKz3H1NGy4abdDEanI-0xH7kQpROWv1ATsktW2/s320/25859_1385915857695_1525989604_31003414_7541325_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We already had had a full day and it was only early afternoon. We unpacked and got a little acclimated with our room and then toured the ship.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDFow6CznEsjyDqi9XlMAGSUMYVLxZ5e8cytTY6SS-qrZC4zuwZds2CBmrw-_-ixq8GflrsEuZu3D_X2Pu4NF8E8yRbc8bbAOGJ0hCg3bOJhr-lZ-spuNqIISl9PeXIEi7BuBBXJaGrIU/s1600/24599_1288640738686_1310220354_30839077_268318_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455546695509323346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDFow6CznEsjyDqi9XlMAGSUMYVLxZ5e8cytTY6SS-qrZC4zuwZds2CBmrw-_-ixq8GflrsEuZu3D_X2Pu4NF8E8yRbc8bbAOGJ0hCg3bOJhr-lZ-spuNqIISl9PeXIEi7BuBBXJaGrIU/s320/24599_1288640738686_1310220354_30839077_268318_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFFVGQnHHa_R_K0GuzUxY0DIfzitVNPHVZUdnIUdLSYC6V5C7mksPunB2c5B6g0VywLdz_tIoyl38K5ZPWKQ7PcC9QlT_g91NcwqWsOQN-lqA9rTIGZD9LQ4ZfRtD4DbYHSruY6a_vnlV/s1600/24599_1288639818663_1310220354_30839057_7165087_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455546691988273106" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH0D7shvUra5NJpB4WwhQf_PgkGj1fScvjSO3xKqPtVIzS6UukESK_66gWnaGivC7Y8YzfFHAXKGvyMXXjHprLtI0aTrVpm8kXqnY2MthbbOnR1c48OwYhDkb-jHNhT_vXBfZtNQKoHqr/s320/24599_1288638738636_1310220354_30839033_4118284_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14YL53pZ-i7vuXJnA_7vV_h68L13P1TWVScsE5yL_eb5Dkj__4PEpJLywZgva6JnUD5bFwUjVgU9vSy2p4Rk4LJHK7ApjhHZVT9H2EmRMjvaAjD01gufhwwGgP_97d8gjTtUszXudyeNQ/s1600/24599_1288638698635_1310220354_30839032_3052939_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455546678298730466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14YL53pZ-i7vuXJnA_7vV_h68L13P1TWVScsE5yL_eb5Dkj__4PEpJLywZgva6JnUD5bFwUjVgU9vSy2p4Rk4LJHK7ApjhHZVT9H2EmRMjvaAjD01gufhwwGgP_97d8gjTtUszXudyeNQ/s320/24599_1288638698635_1310220354_30839032_3052939_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqziYaeie6lARH_dparxAqIZGGrjojXWecogNUw9IQv2_Yu-xkSoHV4Id9LD8mBVvzR-q7A-BDKXbtxnoWlrUxbhFD_jYGdewWXVAnrzl55PaRZLkOp3fgZr3SfILhesE8pLyGuqDFi7au/s1600/25859_1385914097651_1525989604_31003370_2392339_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455547154119942530" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqrZi79xN6SpcMOIZzFbAGlnVDV_cMDfdNIRWSnSSV6WIQFtN-439o2Dtu-RLDsB5FAYJISW5OprD3nQjqZEfvsuR2ZBgmK5ryF7_fXg3T7N5C8UbaofQI06fv7106Avon-qe9II6wgFh/s320/25859_1385919577788_1525989604_31003502_1366657_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEmFyDC1stjdYUuo_e7ocF3WlBhK-yKG7FirRiy_P9Iqu9vs2tvb4qVtdb5nmaBmSf8w6lG9LM9uoJDe5u742X0jvFvdbzuDlFXDknNzgZbj2CgyIoVBtF2lyA24Tg4Ziz2iyhP1Ssmqu/s1600/25859_1385918217754_1525989604_31003469_5912984_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455547925894367378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEmFyDC1stjdYUuo_e7ocF3WlBhK-yKG7FirRiy_P9Iqu9vs2tvb4qVtdb5nmaBmSf8w6lG9LM9uoJDe5u742X0jvFvdbzuDlFXDknNzgZbj2CgyIoVBtF2lyA24Tg4Ziz2iyhP1Ssmqu/s320/25859_1385918217754_1525989604_31003469_5912984_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle4SiHw-pF8N7MuGlOh5Kw2FdpF6sHkCz2J7qnZ9MP8jzAw0Q_AFF_BpLFUGzegyNmPeq8tDYzQMf2CSfXMUzyI-Pa60F90IqdlWs5b57-by2L9397upf35eMxbbYnxIZs2-M2-BlJ9lj/s1600/25859_1385914457660_1525989604_31003379_3560193_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455547915204165234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle4SiHw-pF8N7MuGlOh5Kw2FdpF6sHkCz2J7qnZ9MP8jzAw0Q_AFF_BpLFUGzegyNmPeq8tDYzQMf2CSfXMUzyI-Pa60F90IqdlWs5b57-by2L9397upf35eMxbbYnxIZs2-M2-BlJ9lj/s320/25859_1385914457660_1525989604_31003379_3560193_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0iz0AzC3YDipQkP3lSXKfcHNmNXvTmcI4hqUUfR7eGCaNl3JjcUXuY5jQYxNOXYhqbL9rDAAqQ8GuvZdWU-97lTv6IzoNF4mYJ7CmI-SQeTOo7-Ya7u30D3SntDmHKyfm7H3yJpJTpBk/s1600/24599_1288640858689_1310220354_30839080_151645_n.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455547905508515794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0iz0AzC3YDipQkP3lSXKfcHNmNXvTmcI4hqUUfR7eGCaNl3JjcUXuY5jQYxNOXYhqbL9rDAAqQ8GuvZdWU-97lTv6IzoNF4mYJ7CmI-SQeTOo7-Ya7u30D3SntDmHKyfm7H3yJpJTpBk/s320/24599_1288640858689_1310220354_30839080_151645_n.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That's enough for today,<br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-70157243410562715282010-03-31T11:10:00.001-07:002010-04-11T12:36:33.736-07:00CRUISE--Part TwoSo we spent the night catnapping, talking, reading (with reading lights, silly), listening to our ipods and just looking at the dark countryside fly by. <br /><br />Friday was DD's 30th birthday. Hard to believe that my little baby girl was that old. But she was and did it gracefully! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR7_l_aVoAgOHgnKbiopF2Xu9967MhhxHQ14_0toEQkep3GRKht3l_NlNnzFKHNAOVkmRvaHKyb7MHcouZTIiu33dRqWR1ByyUqyBlVkkSfcCTgxJSZXiKqzLwmRqey63mAAG2wQT_ADb/s1600/cruise+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR7_l_aVoAgOHgnKbiopF2Xu9967MhhxHQ14_0toEQkep3GRKht3l_NlNnzFKHNAOVkmRvaHKyb7MHcouZTIiu33dRqWR1ByyUqyBlVkkSfcCTgxJSZXiKqzLwmRqey63mAAG2wQT_ADb/s320/cruise+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454862344373683506" /></a><br /><br />Yep, Graceful....that's my DD. Somewhere early morning Friday, we stopped at Waffle House to have breakfast. We still had half the journey ahead of us (15+ hours to Orlando where we were stopping for the night and Georgia and Florida are LONNNNGGGG states). We were tired and travelworn already from a long sleepless night and so we went in and sat down and ordered a good breakfast. DD, meanwhile, went over to the Jukebox and filled it up with "breakfast music"....So it's 7ish in some small Georgian town in a Waffle House filled with older folks having a quiet breakfast and here is Skynard blasting out of the jukebox and DD with her hooked horns flying, yelling Freebird. Yep, she's a shy, retiring peach, that one!<br /><br />The trip otherwise was uneventful, just long. Thinking back I don't even remember stopping for lunch but we arrived at Orlando sometime late afternoon and checked into our hotel. This is where Papa and I were stepping off the family vacation train and hiding out in our room for next 12 hours. DD and SIL were meeting up with some of their friends, our fellow cruisers, to go out on the town and celebrate DD's 30th and another girl's 21st.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_h5dasKk3t-Uj3-psxU61WAtVUM-C3ciR1IK_XSdhkWucD4pEoJsys1LADOLwHsorCWvWV6wXz9Sxe6ujOjFKd2Fx5jKHhoMfnPgp2rKUQb5li5ci83OWGCTklMRnoh1QtJ-JTsU__KlP/s1600/24599_1288638058619_1310220354_30839019_5908179_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_h5dasKk3t-Uj3-psxU61WAtVUM-C3ciR1IK_XSdhkWucD4pEoJsys1LADOLwHsorCWvWV6wXz9Sxe6ujOjFKd2Fx5jKHhoMfnPgp2rKUQb5li5ci83OWGCTklMRnoh1QtJ-JTsU__KlP/s320/24599_1288638058619_1310220354_30839019_5908179_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454865158228825154" /></a><br /><br />Nice new hotel, quiet, comfy beds, huge room, cable tv, everything we needed to R&R quietly before our 8 day vacation began. We popped out to grab some burgers for dinner but otherwise, uneventful and we were both snoozing early, trying to catch up from the night. We're not spring chickens, ya know, and staying up all night can be a bit taxing.<br /><br />Until tomorrow....<br />GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-59072741572458433642010-03-30T06:05:00.000-07:002010-04-11T12:38:48.581-07:00Continuing----CRUISE Part OneOK, no more excuses about why I'm not writing. I will just start again. Thanks for hanging in there. Referred to my book of ideas...the Book of Ideas and figured to start with most recent and work my way back. Yeah, that's the plan.<br /><br />THE CRUISE<br /><br />Scary, Overwhelming, BIG, Exciting, Leery, Unbelievable, Once in a Lifetime, Optimistic, Pessimistic...just about every word I could think of entered my emotions before, during, and after.<br /><br />And I haven't been the same since I returned. I'm not destined to live the life I've been living. I need to be independently wealthy, have numerous servants, and assorted people in my employ to take care of my every need. Travel the world, seeing all there is to see. Definitely not sitting here in middle America, toiling at a boring desk job, enduring crappy weather, and living a routine life. <br /><br />Oh well. I'll try as I can to endure in between my vacations!<br /><br />Darling Daughter had brought up this idea way back last summer. She was getting ready to turn 30 and wanted to do it up big. I was amused as I had my 30th in Cracker's first husband's basement and she had her 30th party at a VFW hall. <br /><br />At first a cruise wasn't the idea. It was just going someplace tropical. For her friends and family to all get together and have fun. As she investigated, a cruise popped up as the ideal way to get tropical, travel, and do something most of us hadn't ever done before. So we scrimped and saved and talked to travel agents and started making reservations. The Carnival Dream, which at that time (last summer), wasn't even done being built yet, let alone sailing.....ah, The Titanic came to mind. <br /><br />Then there were a rash of stories about people falling off of cruise boats (happens more than you know--just look out in the internet.....I did!) So I quickly crossed off a balcony stateroom and chose an inside cabin. If I had a do-over, I would have stuck with the balcony. But at the time, I could envision, me, early one morning, sitting on the balcony reading a book and enjoying my solitude while Papa slept in and the boat hitting a "bump" and over the rail I would go whereas Papa would be reporting, "she was just here, I have no idea where she went off to...."<br /><br />I was equally afraid for my friends and family falling off the boat as well and thought, I'm just going to have to bring a long rope and start tying us together or I'll never be able to relax and enjoy this trip at all. Now after the fact, I see how hard it would be to actually fall off. Oh, it can be done on purpose or on accident, but it wouldn't be quite such a simple accident.<br /><br />So by fall, we had our trip booked and paid for and spent the long, long, cold, snowy, miserable winter buying summer clothes and anxiously awaiting March and our departure.<br /><br />Our group consisted of DD and SIL, Aunt Cracker and the Weatherman, Papa and I, and about 8 of DD and SIL's friends, many in that group were prior cruisers. We so wanted Fantastic Son and Serious Girlfriend to come along but they couldn't make it happen this time.<br /><br />Everyone was flying on different days and times but DD, SIL, Papa, and I were driving down together. Now if you know our "family vacation" history, you might wonder if this was a good idea but we were determined to make this work and prove that we COULD enjoy a vacation as a family (regardless of what happened on all the past family vacations)...our history was NOT going to be the pattern for the future. Or at least this was my main objective.<br /><br />So Thursday night at midnight, we all got in their van and off we went.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN7k2bEg2xXwadv_hrr9glIudMp8Ucf80PizuOYeSe6d1mFtf4uW4L0u-AN-JzcB6dquak9JithyphenhyphenJn-Eb5C1rgZYj0OQevcyBewSjbFmSODs5L-33trVRs9bVu1DzVU5ZEj4-QOlz8dFb/s1600/cruise+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN7k2bEg2xXwadv_hrr9glIudMp8Ucf80PizuOYeSe6d1mFtf4uW4L0u-AN-JzcB6dquak9JithyphenhyphenJn-Eb5C1rgZYj0OQevcyBewSjbFmSODs5L-33trVRs9bVu1DzVU5ZEj4-QOlz8dFb/s320/cruise+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454454917724686930" /></a><br /><br />Part 2 coming next.<br />Traveling GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-16987427521454989332010-02-27T05:53:00.000-08:002010-02-27T06:12:34.922-08:00Try, Try AgainSO we've been having some little medical issues around the house the last two weeks and for a change it's not my behind or neck. Although I am still see doctors routinely for both.<br /><br />No, it's been Papa. Two weeks ago he told me his jaw was sore and he thought he felt a bump. Oh no! Really, I said, you'd better check in with the doctor. But as before with the "heart attack", come Monday when the doctor's office opened, he said he felt OK and wasn't calling. This time instead of calling those close to him and tattling, I started researching "things" on the internet (I know, bad, bad Grammy) and sending him what I was finding. <br /><br />After only an hour or so, he calls me and said he had a doctor appointment the next day. Well on Tuesday his doc seemed very concerned and didn't see evidence of a "bump". He called it an assymetrical mass on one side and he could definitely see it. Of course, after relaying this information, Papa refused to let me see him head on for any length of time so I could investigate.<br /><br />Doc sent him for a CT scan, the sooner the better, and so the appointment was made for Thursday morning. (I was just thanking God that I had bought travel insurance.) <br /><br />CT Scan was accomplished and, of course, they don't tell Papa any diagnosis. Thankfully early Friday morning the doc called and said it was just a bacterial infection in his jaw and around the salivatory glands and gave him a heavy duty antibiotic to take 4x a day for a couple of weeks and a refill tacked on and TO FINISH ALL THE MEDICINE. "Oh, and how is your aspirin therapy going?" Well that was a new one. After Papa's last round of bloodwork, I noticed in addition to his cholesterol being high, that he was pre-hypertensive and wondered if they were going to put him on the aspirin a day plan but no mention of it. Obviously they did mention it and either Papa didn't pay attention or he "forgot."<br /><br />Ok, fast forward to this week and Papa had a three year routine colonoscopy scheduled. His father had colon cancer and at Papa's first procedure, 10 polyps were found, five being pre-cancerous so "you must come back in three years." We checked and rechecked and the antibiotics mentioned above as well as the aspirin and cholesterol meds were all allowed to be continued while prepping for this procedure.<br /><br />Papa was a little more relieved, a different prep was being used than what he had to ENDURE the last time. So long story short, no cheating on food (I was the supreme food nazi), his prep liquids were consumed and the pooping commensed and all was well, so the next day off to the doc's office we went for the procedure. <br /><br />Afterward, while we were sitting in the recovery room, the doc came in with some "bad news"....could only view the bottom half of the colon because the top half was...well, you know...not empty. We discussed all this and it could be that Papa ate too heavily on Tuesday, his last day of solid food. Maybe the antibiotic caused a little stopping up. Maybe the new prep wasn't as effective as the last one. Of course, later on that evening, Papa blamed the doctor as being at fault (no details as of why this blame) but continuing on this thread my jello was also thrown in as being at fault. See what I'm dealing with!<br /><br />Anyway, bottom line, we have to repeat this whole process again in SIX MONTHS and go back to using the original prep, and to limit food to soups only on his last solid food day. <br /><br />Maybe I'll just stay in the tropics until September when this procedure is over and come home. <br /><br />Collecting once again for a Grammy fund!<br />Until next time....Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-53015310713686754372010-02-21T12:19:00.000-08:002010-02-21T12:38:29.460-08:00OBEPlain and simple--Overcome By Events! Sitting at Massey Gardens, yes we are back over here. Somewhat. We have beds, tvs and DISH satellite set up. Bathrooms and kitchen are coming along but the weather is really impeding our progress. <br /><br />First, it snowed and snowed and snowed and we couldn't get up the road to Massey Ponds and now that the snow is pretty much gone, it's raining and the road is quite muddy. We did make it up yesterday for one truckload and one carload but that's all the progress this weekend. Oh well, we're not in a hurry and we are comfortable out here now and not trapped in one bedroom while trying to rehab the other house. That was all pretty miserable.<br /><br />I've decided to do alot of deep cleaning over here as we move back and I'm getting ready to paint the front room of the back bathroom next weekend. We've had some roofwork and carpet cleaners in here to give the carpet a thorough cleaning after our "renters" left. Good riddance to that nightmare and I may write more of that story as time goes on but for now, just moving on.<br /><br />We are getting ready for our big once-in-a-lifetime cruise to the Western Caribbean. We'll be there two weeks from today. Will be a whirlwind I'm sure.<br /><br />I'm suffering another addiction which is contributing to my lack of writing. I've decided I enjoy reading more and from the looks of my blogroll, you'll see I have a ton more blogs that I'm enjoying. Having a hard time just trying to keep up with all that reading, let alone getting my blog written. But think I'm gonna switch around my priorities....I won't allow myself to read UNTIL I write a little bit. <br /><br />All the cast of characters I've written about previously are all doing well and I'll get some updates written on everyone and some new pictures included.<br /><br />But that's my short update for now.<br /><br />Stay tuned....GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-15568356778007872712009-11-24T05:31:00.000-08:002009-11-24T05:39:34.054-08:00Back to WritingWhat to say....LIFE!<br /><br />Woke up very early, with the sunrise, on Sunday morning out in the country, Massey Ponds. Sat outside with Snoopy and watched the sun come up and light up the wild pampas grass that is growing in the front yard. Thought I should go in and grab the camera and try to capture that picture but knew I probably couldn't. So still and so beautiful and almost quiet with just the few winter birds left. <br /><br />Watched some deer walking through the side woods heading down to the front to grab a drink and cross the road into the woods at Massey Gardens. For once, Snoopy didn't attempt to chase them....in the funny way she mimics them...the deer/kangaroo hop we call it. Another thing you'll just have to visualize.<br /><br />Then the near silent, peaceful Sunday morning was shattered with Papa in the house talking to himself and gun shots in the distance (it is hunting season) and the sounds of a hunter walking in the side woods. But I think my deer are safe in the woods at Massey Gardens. No hunting there......more to come.<br /><br />Contented GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4203866281249639195.post-37038119919823805522009-10-06T08:45:00.000-07:002009-10-06T12:34:14.641-07:00GUMBOOK, let's face it, I'm just not a prolific blogger on the screen that is. I'm always writing up things in my head naturally when no keyboard is available. I've just got entirely too much life going on ALL THE TIME to write routinely and I apologize,,,,but then again there's only three of you. But regardless of the amount of readers, I shouldn't disappoint those that are looking!<br /><br />I do have topics in my handy, dandy notebook (I watch entirely too much Blues Clues!) but as usual, I have some catching of a myriad of things--hence the Gumbo title,,,,it's a little of everything, exactly what Gumbo is.<br /><br />I haven't written about the P's lately.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIKOYa49BQE3NFp_g1aujBPMUACBHuEB4tVkOEf2Rhyphenhyphens_8EQ-ObWirzdjyidAyiLQu5YIDaDIBL_cD2gWVkCauN74baDJOwfGVhlVtUlO3ybk8ucNosw1p5ZiR_Kh6XmGFEvt2DQyiHwc/s1600-h/aj.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389519507623771362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIKOYa49BQE3NFp_g1aujBPMUACBHuEB4tVkOEf2Rhyphenhyphens_8EQ-ObWirzdjyidAyiLQu5YIDaDIBL_cD2gWVkCauN74baDJOwfGVhlVtUlO3ybk8ucNosw1p5ZiR_Kh6XmGFEvt2DQyiHwc/s320/aj.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They are growing and growing and growing.....Perfect is so dang cute and he so wants to be the special boy still. He loves Precious and thinks about and of her and includes her in what he's doing. But sometimes when I'm spending alot of time with her, he'll just come over and climb up in my lap and want some extra attention. I do try to divide my time equally but he's getting so independent and can just sit still and watch a movie whereas Precious needs constant attention all the time. So I do feel like she gets more of Grammy than he does.<br /><br />But then again, he had me soley for almost two years. I think it's just kind of bittersweet for him realizing that he's not the only baby in town anymore. That first child syndrome, oh I know it so well.<br /><br />Precious got a new bike recently.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJTmuz2ZoLrLmmjEAImRiyzt3virr0km7_jjOrECpn_r79SFGqZ_yRva-wLCi896nbmYaSW9KZyQhUpSGY1ouUqXV_VN7vb9JjQhyphenhyphenqR0C6duLlg1xKMMSaALoRFwWorwv9V2Mz6lkk_Q7/s1600-h/ky_bike.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389521542780713922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJTmuz2ZoLrLmmjEAImRiyzt3virr0km7_jjOrECpn_r79SFGqZ_yRva-wLCi896nbmYaSW9KZyQhUpSGY1ouUqXV_VN7vb9JjQhyphenhyphenqR0C6duLlg1xKMMSaALoRFwWorwv9V2Mz6lkk_Q7/s320/ky_bike.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Her look just says it all.<br /><br />Then there's Papa who suffers greatly (in his own mind) on Wednesdays!! Oh, the ignoring he endures from me. But to get back at me, he ropes my P's into working for him and they love helping. Usually, it's just picking up sticks in the yard but a few Wednesdays ago, he handed out brooms to everyone and they started their acorn removal (those darn squirrels).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oeTeHgc4pJHT7UieAQBGf4XJAu78M_cIvtteu1QhWUWZiFTS-_2u2KvSfRw-aw6PoaA1FQqIza0T06EfI4ebdztKGsZ4RlhvaEiWLERE64NfZYx6j3Rpy4GemteYGVk-2exPuRZ5v1EQ/s1600-h/drwy4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389544369109684898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oeTeHgc4pJHT7UieAQBGf4XJAu78M_cIvtteu1QhWUWZiFTS-_2u2KvSfRw-aw6PoaA1FQqIza0T06EfI4ebdztKGsZ4RlhvaEiWLERE64NfZYx6j3Rpy4GemteYGVk-2exPuRZ5v1EQ/s320/drwy4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR5d4tAk4WQ7pEVQPWS6VvXh6eUjoy71-Xos8jljscyX-uTSi1r-9XWPZeY-XnBYOK0TH60EFbQLxiU8mXPJRAD_YD2mQIQQ_N4MjB_eHM-i8dqMPjx0laR0Mdbn7gCIa9eSsDMqTy9Gc/s1600-h/drwy3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389544348299131650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR5d4tAk4WQ7pEVQPWS6VvXh6eUjoy71-Xos8jljscyX-uTSi1r-9XWPZeY-XnBYOK0TH60EFbQLxiU8mXPJRAD_YD2mQIQQ_N4MjB_eHM-i8dqMPjx0laR0Mdbn7gCIa9eSsDMqTy9Gc/s320/drwy3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF79ZrhN_jmzMpCv5nV40gopa_RswhtR7KLKlyJ2F1TWJ9OYBxNCfG57Kk103bMXflj6FDIVTBxhsPLNMXhjnCoJ0y6saYk1-8swXJGwDe1a2ODOapSm78XOQcofLymMYmSlSP81ai5NbD/s1600-h/drwy2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389544334504904818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF79ZrhN_jmzMpCv5nV40gopa_RswhtR7KLKlyJ2F1TWJ9OYBxNCfG57Kk103bMXflj6FDIVTBxhsPLNMXhjnCoJ0y6saYk1-8swXJGwDe1a2ODOapSm78XOQcofLymMYmSlSP81ai5NbD/s320/drwy2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVLTt3n1ytU-JFf4NunSGKKVzaTh9urM0tof27ISoCzmhXk9Gopy3Kc_B9T7nmPY60h7EmUzhp-StWPvTziUQxaBncd893JmhEKKPTwFcRi7wOUrU601RLz4t_Suu8k5I783Db-z0y4U7/s1600-h/drwy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389544320782041650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVLTt3n1ytU-JFf4NunSGKKVzaTh9urM0tof27ISoCzmhXk9Gopy3Kc_B9T7nmPY60h7EmUzhp-StWPvTziUQxaBncd893JmhEKKPTwFcRi7wOUrU601RLz4t_Suu8k5I783Db-z0y4U7/s320/drwy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's like herding cats he says. I thought it was hilarious and they were all so dang cute and working so hard--not working together, they each had their own agendas but it eventually got swept up.<br /><br />Papa's been a little irritable of late. What with the moving and rehabbing and undue, excesses we've suffered all summer. A couple of months ago as we were driving to the hardware store in the country, he offhandedly said "I think I had a heart attack last night." Needless to say, my worrying went into overdrive. No, he didn't want to go to the hospital, yes, he felt fine now but did promise to contact his doctor on the following Monday. Well, Monday arrived and he was in denial that there was even an issue. I finally had to take matters into my own hands and called both his son AND his supervisor and told them what had taken place and how he was acting. He was furious with me but I could handle that as long as he called his doctor. He did, went right in for an examination and tests and had a stress test the following week and everything came up a big fat negative. Don't get me wrong, this was wonderful news BUT why did he experience the symptoms he did? That was never explained...to me....satisfactorily.<br /><br />But back to the moving and rehabbing....SO we moved in three weekends in July into the house we were rehabbing across the road from the house we lived in so our "buyers" could move into our old house. HOWEVER, they had yet to procure their loan BUT had sold their house, so were in a predicament. We agreed (under my duress) that they could come in and rent for two weeks until their loan went through. <br /><br />Well, two weeks turned into two months and one thing led to another, etc. etc., yadda, yadda, and bottom line, we believe they did NOT get their loan but wouldn't fess up. We heard a gamit of excuses of why they "didn't" want to go through with the deal now. "Too far to drive to work", "thinks property is worth less than the agreed upon (signed contract stated) price", "can't drive his show cars on the gravel road" (will mark up the tires), "there are mice in the garage where his show cars live" (hey, it's the country---the garage has seen feral cats, birds, possums, raccoons, and other unnamed wildlife in the nine years we've lived out there). <br /><br />The excuses just went on and on and on. Papa was just boiling and finally gave an ultimatum that they had to be out by October 1, we were not landlords and were not renting that property, it was a purchase or nothing. Papa also contacted a lawyer and is still wavering back and forth whether to pursue legal action. <br /><br />The month of September was quite unpleasant in Masseyville and relations were cold with our "renters" who by this time, had acquired a dog from the Humane Society that we later learned, destroyed several things in the house, i.e., the tile in the sun room was just shredded.<br /><br />Rehabbing went on as usual at Massey Ponds. The painting of the ceilings in the hall, dining room, and kitchen was finished. The walls in the dining room were also painted. Some landscaping was also completed in the front using a pile a rocks that were nearby and we accumulated a huge bowl full of Indian arrowheads in the process which was kind of cool. All the time we were working, we were shooting glares across the road at people that seemed to hide out on the weekends when we were out there. It was quite uncomfortable. No wonder Papa thought he had a heart attack. <br /><br />AND at this same time, Snoopy went running off into the fields one afternoon and came back limping. She limped around and stood with her leg in the air for about three weeks before I hauled her into see her vet who proclaimed a torn cruciate ligament (i.e., blown knee) in her left hind leg. Not a complete tear and she may recover without surgery if I keep her on "bedrest" for about four weeks and she takes an anti-inflammatory daily. <br /><br />Bedrest, seriously! It's a dog! So complicating matters more, I decided to keep her at the city house, inside. For the next two weekends, I would drive down to the country during the day, driving back home every night to stay with Snoopy. I could not contain her in the country---the house is a construction site and the yard and woods and fields are wide open. In the city, she was more comfortable with a dog bed in each room and a fenced yard when she needed to go outside.<br /><br />It's been three weeks since her vet appointment and she has improved considerably. So much so that last weekend, I did take her to the country for 24 hours and she did fine---for the most part---although she was limping a little on Saturday night when I brought her home. <br /><br />Hopefully, we have avoided the surgery bullet but time will tell. She's been off her meds for a week now as well but the vet said she could resume taking them on an as needed basis if she starts limping frequently. So we hold our breath every time she flies off the back porch after a squirrel but other than that, bedrest is working out for her and she's healing.<br /><br />OK, time to cover the Gumbo and let it percolate.....maybe I'll add more to it tomorrow.....<br /><br />Chef GrammyTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13610323987729186248noreply@blogger.com1