Looking for inspiration.
People seem to have a desire, a craving actually to see some wildlife. I notice it at Greenleaf State Park where 25 people will gather to view wild turkeys or deer. There were a hundred folks trying to glimpse the black bear silently ambling through the woods at Mendenhall Glacier with bus loads more coming. Twenty-two hundred people on the cruise ship looking for a whale, a sea otter or other wildlife. Everyone looking for inspiration.
This seems a huge disconnect somehow. I'm torn between sadness and appreciation of this human desire. My mixed emotions compounded by the sense that if the observer didn't get a photograph it didn't happen. As the family and I sat and watched the sea on the promenade deck people would pop-out and ask, "Do you see any whales?" One lady asked so many times I finally told her, "It takes patience to whale watch." Other people would pop-out, ask about wildlife and then tell you about the "shot" they got. So: wanting to see a wild animal, compounded by wanting a photograph to prove it, compounded by a lack of discipline to sit and wait for it, results in my semi-sadness over the disconnect -- somehow.
I wondered about the ports we stopped at with their Alaskan charm and wondered how hard the locals had to fight to protect that charm. Do they have to fight off condo and resort builders or is it recognized that it is the low key charm that produces more tourist trade, more tourist trade stability, more success catering to all us lower 48 inhabitants looking for inspiration.
Other inspirational charms: Jean and Cathy.
Jean is busy "flying mercy missions" once again, for Roger and Stephanie, for Janice, for Jan. Jean found discounted tickets for the Carrillo Clan. Jean arranging oxygen concentrater for Janice, it seems it won't be delivered to the State Park anymore. Jean changing Jan's airline ticket so she can fly home with the afore mentioned Carrillo Clan. Jean rearranging cabins and reservations. Whew.
Cathy arranging for a cabin and a car for Roger and Stephanie. She traded the smaller cabin that Jeff was holding for me, so they could have the larger cabin with a view that she was holding for herself. Plus she will supply the vehicle for them to travel in and drive for the duration. Whew.
How to inspire, nurture, and enrich children, lifted from The Sno-Isle Library home page; Talking, Reading, Playing, Singing, Writing. How simple is that?
Also lifted from The Sno-Isle Library home page; Celebrate Banned Books Week. In 2013 there were 307 challenges to books, everything from 50 Shades of Grey to The Hunger Games, with "The Captain Underpants" series for kids leading the list, along with the other characters Poopypnats and Tinkletrousers. Go be naughty, read a banned book.
Inspired Cookery; if you are like me sometimes cooking inspiration is low to non-existent. Well I have stumbled on a magnificent cure. I was looking for a few certain recipes and started going through fifty years of clipped, written, scribbled, tore out, or jotted down recipes. It was a gold mine of inspiration, now I just hope I live long enough to cook a portion of these forgotten treasures.
I also culled out a grocery sack of garbage and my kitchen is lighter and better for it. Several categories emerged like; still interesting but I will never make it -- into the trash. I did keep my Turducken Recipe Janice sent me in 1990. Then there was the "What in the hell is this and why did I keep it?" catagory -- into the trash. Although Jane and Julia I still have the recipes you guys sent me once: Fladchensuppe (pancake soup) and Leberklobchensuppe (liver dumpling soup), after all you never know. I couldn't get rid of those. And I kept the recipe Amber so kindly clipped for Sweet and Sour Liver. Thanks Amber, not the gem I was looking for, but I couldn't throw it away. Another category was the recipes I had eighteen copies of because I love them so much, like my 1966 Magic Bar Cookie recipe that I think I re-clipped every year at Christmastime since about 1966. Most of the copies went into the trash, but I couldn't toss them all. I also kept recipes in the handwriting of ones I loved; Mom, Aunt Josephine, Aunt Imo, Ms Carrillo. Lovely handwriting and lovely recipes given with love.
Heritage recipes is what I was looking for and I found a bunch that I will start including in future blogs. If anyone wants mom's recipe for lye soap or her egg noodles they are coming. But for today:
Aunt Nadine's Fresh Coconut Cake
1 box yellow cake mix, 2 8 or 9 inch round pans, baked and split
filling between each layer, reserve some for top
1 box (8 oz) sour cream
1 box (16 oz) powdered sugar
12 oz fresh coconut shredded, can use frozen
1 teaspoon vanilla
frost
12 oz cool whip
add reserved filling mixture on top
Jean I didn't find the recipe I thought I had for the fondant filling to stuff Christmas dates with. I think it is this one but I'm not 100% sure now, after all I am almost as old as you.
Grandmother Gilbert's Caramel Cream
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup cream, the real stuff
1/3 cup Karo syrup
1/2 cup butter, the real stuff
2 Tbls flour
1 Tbls cornstarch
Boil sugar, half of cream and syrup a few minutes, then add rest of cream slowly so as to keep the mixture boiling. Boil until thick then add butter, flour, and cornstarch that have been creamed together. Continue to boil until thick again then add vanilla and nuts. No amounts for vanilla and nuts were included.
Version A. add 3 Tbls coco with sugar to make fudge, use pecans
Version B. In the white fudge add 1/2 cup black walnuts or 3/4 cup roasted peanuts. I hope you don't have to pick the black walnuts, there was a job I hated as a kid.
Version C. Substitute 1 cup brown sugar for one of the cups of white sugar use English walnuts
Date Loaf Candy
3 cups sugar
1 cup milk
1 package dates
1 cup nuts
1 Tbls butter
Cook sugar and milk to soft ball. Add dates and cook until medium hard. Remove from fire and beat until stiff. Pour into large wet towel, roll to shape. Slice. Soft ball is about 235 degrees, hard ball about 260 degrees. I can't do it by feel or dropping in cold water like our ancestors did, I need a candy thermometer.
...and Two cookie recipes for Jane, better then liver soup I bet.
Single Chocolate Chip Cookie
1 Tbls butter melted
1 Tbls white sugar
1 Tbls brown sugar
3 drops vanilla
teeny pinch salt
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup flour
2 Tbls chocolate chips
Microwave 40-60 seconds in cup or bowl
Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
Bake carefully because they burn easily
10 min @ 350 degrees
"To meet, to know, to love -- and then to part, is the sad tale of many a human heart." ST Coleridge
I'll see what you are cooking soon. Hey, are we still going to do the Bacon Fest on Friday morning at 11 am at Kathy and Mike's campfire?
Be inspired -- Love to all
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Jean's 75th Birthday Cruise
Okay, I'll get what I hated out of the way.
I hated:
The aspect of a cruise ship that was reminiscent of The Mall of America or The Home Shopping Network. I came to the sea to see the sea and it wasn't always easy with 3000 other travelers and lots of bingo, dancing, auctions, shopping, spas, nightclubbing, enrichment courses, cooking lessons, boutiques and much much more.
What I liked:
I liked looking for the aurora borealis, I didn't see it but I liked looking for it on the 15th deck of a big ship sailing silently through the night. I liked looking for whales, sea otters, mountain goats, bears, eagles and watching other family members looking for whales, sea otters, mountain goats, bears, and eagles. I liked coming upon family at the Horizon Court or sharing a bench with them on the promenade deck and sea and wildlife watching with them. Deck seven, towards the aft, on the starboard side was my smoking place.
I liked pondering how many hats had blown into the sea from arctic winds whistling around. I liked the size and shape of the bathrooms. I liked Amber swimming, Cathy shopping, Jerry scanning with his binoculars, Jane enjoying every form of seafood possible, and Jean sitting quietly.
What I loved:
I loved sailing. I loved sailing on a ship. I loved sailing on a big ship. I loved sleeping on a gently rocking ship in the middle of a fairly calm sea. I loved the weather. Imagine the best, most stunning, most glorious weather imaginable and that was our weather; brilliant, mild, beautiful. No eighteen layers of clothing was needed to keep warm. Some of our party had several layers, but they were the light weight layers not the intense layers. I loved my Alaskan bag Julia and the Bowman family bought for me on their Alaskan cruise. I carried it everyday everywhere. I loved empty decks and smoking benches. I loved Jean sitting quietly
I loved coffee with family, midnight strolls along empty decks, meeting and talking to people. I loved 3000 people having a good time, people talking in the elevators, hallways, around the buffet, at lunch tables, Sharing stories, lives, space; more or less gently. I didn't hear a single argument or disagreement. I loved how sweet an officer of the ship smelled when he walked by, the deck swabbing at 5 AM. I loved Jean sitting quietly.
I loved the courtesy and efficiency of the staff. My bed prepared with a chocolate treat. The pampering. The staff continually inquiring, "Do you need anything?" "Is everything okay?" "Did you enjoy the day?" "What can I get for you?"
I loved watching Jerry and Amber vibrate with excitement and joy. Cathy's shopping excursions, dinner with the family, the dining room wait staff that had my ice tea with a straw at the table before I even sat down practically. I loved the interesting food, the Twisted Fish dinner in Juneau where I over ordered but didn't over eat. I loved Jane sharing her love and expertise with all the family and strangers when needed. I loved Amber running errands, doing tasks, jumping up and saying "I'll do that." And Jane eating more seafood -- crab legs the length of an arm. And Jean's quiet contentment.
I loved Jean's ability to make her way on foot, with her cane and slight wobble, everywhere she wanted to go. Up to the Horizon buffet Court or down to the dinning room or out to Jan's smoking bench. Jean made her way slowly carefully everywhere. Janice had ordered her an electrical scooter, but Cathy used it due to her needs with her bum knees, otherwise we would have had to carry Cathy to medical every day, and NO one wanted to do that.
I loved meeting and chatting with staff at the smoking areas as they dashed out for a quick smoke; chefs, the junior assistant food and beverage manager, the deck officer. I asked him what a deck officer did and he said drive the ship. I asked if it was on auto pilot as he smoked -- he laughed. I said I thought the captain drove the ship, he said no the captain only drives the ship when it is docking. The captain did a fine job of docking.
I don't think I went on an Alaskan cruise, or a whale watching cruise, or a bear watching cruise. I went on a tourist/staff/people watching cruise. It was pretty geriatric. I think the average age hovered around 62. There were more grey headed folks then I have ever seen in one place at one time. Folks with canes, walkers, wheel chairs, oxygen, scooters. We noticed one mother and her wheelchair bound daughter sharing the cruise experience all over the ship. They were wonderful to watch; laughing, eating, and whale watching. I never saw them without smiles. I loved all the smiles and laughing on board. The three most interesting t-shirts I noticed were Azle Texas (Cara), Eskimo Joe's, and Camp David. I don't think many people could own a Camp David shirt. I'm still wondering about that. I saw an employee carrying a small bird cupped in her hands walking the length of the promenade deck early one morning. I still wonder about that, where she was going to release a bird at 5:00 AM in the morning in the middle of the sea.
Insomniac that I am at 1:30 AM I saw the nightclub revelers laughing their way back to their cabins. At 2:30 AM it was me and the cleaning staff. At 4:30 AM it was me, the cleaning staff and the other old men insomniacs wandering the ship. At 5:30 AM it was me, the cleaning staff, the other old men insomniacs and the early morning coffee drinkers looking for that first cup. And Jean resting quietly through it all.
Watching Jerry was fascinating as he connected the dots between the history books he has read, history lessons, history documentaries, history articles. Connecting the dots from what he has read to what he saw to what he figured out; land masses, water ways, animals, nothing escaped his notice.
Jean's 75th Birthday Alaskan Family Rolling Cruise Circus was everything; drama, crisis, beauty, shopping, loving, laughing, crying, a bit of drinking. Ask Amber about the lemon drink, the wine, the Baileys and coffee, the Bloody Mary's. Cathy had 100.00 in her casino account when she was whisked off the ship. Jane retrieved that. I don't think Jane and Amber won much.
We started with a submarine sighting at our first sit down dinner and ended with a whale sighting at our last sit down dinner. There were fishing boats, cruise boats, ferry boats, sail boats, excursion boats -- all fascinating. We saw things we may never see again. As we sailed out of Glacier Bay I saw a small lone fishing boat out on the icy waters and it made my heart stand still; at the beauty, the danger, the life, the romance of something I know nothing about.
I know nothing about the nautical life, or the fishing life, or the living in Alaska life, but I do know the cruise was wondrous, spiritual. Glacier Bay felt Holy. Time literally slowed down on the cruise. I loved traveling 2328.17 miles at sea. I think I could sit on a sailing ship and watch the sea forever.
And Jean sat quietly, contentedly, mostly at peace through it all.
I hated:
The aspect of a cruise ship that was reminiscent of The Mall of America or The Home Shopping Network. I came to the sea to see the sea and it wasn't always easy with 3000 other travelers and lots of bingo, dancing, auctions, shopping, spas, nightclubbing, enrichment courses, cooking lessons, boutiques and much much more.
I liked looking for the aurora borealis, I didn't see it but I liked looking for it on the 15th deck of a big ship sailing silently through the night. I liked looking for whales, sea otters, mountain goats, bears, eagles and watching other family members looking for whales, sea otters, mountain goats, bears, and eagles. I liked coming upon family at the Horizon Court or sharing a bench with them on the promenade deck and sea and wildlife watching with them. Deck seven, towards the aft, on the starboard side was my smoking place.
I liked pondering how many hats had blown into the sea from arctic winds whistling around. I liked the size and shape of the bathrooms. I liked Amber swimming, Cathy shopping, Jerry scanning with his binoculars, Jane enjoying every form of seafood possible, and Jean sitting quietly.
What I loved:
I loved sailing. I loved sailing on a ship. I loved sailing on a big ship. I loved sleeping on a gently rocking ship in the middle of a fairly calm sea. I loved the weather. Imagine the best, most stunning, most glorious weather imaginable and that was our weather; brilliant, mild, beautiful. No eighteen layers of clothing was needed to keep warm. Some of our party had several layers, but they were the light weight layers not the intense layers. I loved my Alaskan bag Julia and the Bowman family bought for me on their Alaskan cruise. I carried it everyday everywhere. I loved empty decks and smoking benches. I loved Jean sitting quietly
I loved coffee with family, midnight strolls along empty decks, meeting and talking to people. I loved 3000 people having a good time, people talking in the elevators, hallways, around the buffet, at lunch tables, Sharing stories, lives, space; more or less gently. I didn't hear a single argument or disagreement. I loved how sweet an officer of the ship smelled when he walked by, the deck swabbing at 5 AM. I loved Jean sitting quietly.
I loved the courtesy and efficiency of the staff. My bed prepared with a chocolate treat. The pampering. The staff continually inquiring, "Do you need anything?" "Is everything okay?" "Did you enjoy the day?" "What can I get for you?"
I loved watching Jerry and Amber vibrate with excitement and joy. Cathy's shopping excursions, dinner with the family, the dining room wait staff that had my ice tea with a straw at the table before I even sat down practically. I loved the interesting food, the Twisted Fish dinner in Juneau where I over ordered but didn't over eat. I loved Jane sharing her love and expertise with all the family and strangers when needed. I loved Amber running errands, doing tasks, jumping up and saying "I'll do that." And Jane eating more seafood -- crab legs the length of an arm. And Jean's quiet contentment.
I loved Jean's ability to make her way on foot, with her cane and slight wobble, everywhere she wanted to go. Up to the Horizon buffet Court or down to the dinning room or out to Jan's smoking bench. Jean made her way slowly carefully everywhere. Janice had ordered her an electrical scooter, but Cathy used it due to her needs with her bum knees, otherwise we would have had to carry Cathy to medical every day, and NO one wanted to do that.
I loved meeting and chatting with staff at the smoking areas as they dashed out for a quick smoke; chefs, the junior assistant food and beverage manager, the deck officer. I asked him what a deck officer did and he said drive the ship. I asked if it was on auto pilot as he smoked -- he laughed. I said I thought the captain drove the ship, he said no the captain only drives the ship when it is docking. The captain did a fine job of docking.
I don't think I went on an Alaskan cruise, or a whale watching cruise, or a bear watching cruise. I went on a tourist/staff/people watching cruise. It was pretty geriatric. I think the average age hovered around 62. There were more grey headed folks then I have ever seen in one place at one time. Folks with canes, walkers, wheel chairs, oxygen, scooters. We noticed one mother and her wheelchair bound daughter sharing the cruise experience all over the ship. They were wonderful to watch; laughing, eating, and whale watching. I never saw them without smiles. I loved all the smiles and laughing on board. The three most interesting t-shirts I noticed were Azle Texas (Cara), Eskimo Joe's, and Camp David. I don't think many people could own a Camp David shirt. I'm still wondering about that. I saw an employee carrying a small bird cupped in her hands walking the length of the promenade deck early one morning. I still wonder about that, where she was going to release a bird at 5:00 AM in the morning in the middle of the sea.
Insomniac that I am at 1:30 AM I saw the nightclub revelers laughing their way back to their cabins. At 2:30 AM it was me and the cleaning staff. At 4:30 AM it was me, the cleaning staff and the other old men insomniacs wandering the ship. At 5:30 AM it was me, the cleaning staff, the other old men insomniacs and the early morning coffee drinkers looking for that first cup. And Jean resting quietly through it all.
Watching Jerry was fascinating as he connected the dots between the history books he has read, history lessons, history documentaries, history articles. Connecting the dots from what he has read to what he saw to what he figured out; land masses, water ways, animals, nothing escaped his notice.
Jean's 75th Birthday Alaskan Family Rolling Cruise Circus was everything; drama, crisis, beauty, shopping, loving, laughing, crying, a bit of drinking. Ask Amber about the lemon drink, the wine, the Baileys and coffee, the Bloody Mary's. Cathy had 100.00 in her casino account when she was whisked off the ship. Jane retrieved that. I don't think Jane and Amber won much.
We started with a submarine sighting at our first sit down dinner and ended with a whale sighting at our last sit down dinner. There were fishing boats, cruise boats, ferry boats, sail boats, excursion boats -- all fascinating. We saw things we may never see again. As we sailed out of Glacier Bay I saw a small lone fishing boat out on the icy waters and it made my heart stand still; at the beauty, the danger, the life, the romance of something I know nothing about.
I know nothing about the nautical life, or the fishing life, or the living in Alaska life, but I do know the cruise was wondrous, spiritual. Glacier Bay felt Holy. Time literally slowed down on the cruise. I loved traveling 2328.17 miles at sea. I think I could sit on a sailing ship and watch the sea forever.
And Jean sat quietly, contentedly, mostly at peace through it all.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
How Jean's 75th Birthday Cruise became Cathy's Wild Ride
Cathy was sad, Cathy was mad, Cathy was crying, Cathy fell, Cathy was disappointed, Cathy was hot, Cathy was slow, Cathy was fast, Cathy was hurt, Cathy went to the ship's Doctor, Cathy shopped until she dropped. So Cathy was voted off the island -- and we all sailed off and left her at the hospital in Ketchikan Alaska.
...With two, Two, TWO hurt knees, rheumatoid arthritis, raging infection, compromised immune system, a hematoma in one knee and an infected cyst on the other, with the Doctor suggesting a hospital visit in Juneau and insisting in Ketchikan, Cathy was abandoned.
Cathy was escorted off the ship by the youngest and most able and most mobile family member, Amber. Cathy was met by an official car and an OFFICIAL from the Port Authority and whisked to emergency. The main fear was the rampant infection overwhelming her weakened immune system. You know, the stuff that kills you.
What a wild ride. Cathy had been going to the ship Doctor once or twice a day to try to get ahead of the issues and to try to continue enjoying her cruise. Sadly her cruise ended.
Jean was sad, Jean was crying, Jean fell, Jean was disappointed, Jean was slow, Jean was overwhelmed by grief and decisions that had to be made in hours. Jean couldn't stay due to her physical limitations, Jane and Amber were willing to stay because of their caring and medical expertise, Jerry and Jan were pretty worthless. The ship was supposed to sail at noon, the Port Authority assured Amber HE and only HE had the final say on when the ship left and that it wouldn't leave without her, or rather without his, well, without his authority, but still decisions had to be made.
It seems as though Cathy travels with some kind of angel sitting around. She traveled with a nurse, a hospital executive, her travel agent, and boat loads of caring folks. PLUS she traveled with Travel Guard Insurance -- don't leave home without it.
Travel Guard would take care of everything, and I mean everything, Princess Cruise Lines jumped in with all their care, Doctors were communicating with Doctors, ships were communicating with Port Authorities, Travel agents were explaining cruise insurance and opening claims, Amber was talking to Doctors and explained she needed to make a decision in five minuets, phone calls were flying, and Cathy. Well, Cathy took it all in stride.
Cathy was insisting, insisting that everyone continue with out her. I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to have let the ship and my family sail away with out me. Cathy absolutely wasn't going to let her mother stay. Jean really would have difficulty hobbling to and from a hotel to the hospital and Cathy knows more about her needs and capabilities than all the rest of us put together.
So off we sailed. Originally we hoped Cathy could meet up with the ship in Victoria -- that didn't happen. Then we hoped she would meet up with us in Seattle -- that didn't happen.
What happened is Cathy stayed for six days in the hospital in Ketchican. Meanwhile, back on board, Princess Cruise Lines told Jean to make all the ship to shore phone calls she wanted at no charge (the regular charge is 4.95 a minute), her travel agent arranged for visits from people she knew in Ketchican, nurses made sure she had the room with the best view, Travel Guard Insurance started arrangements for Cathy's boyfriend, Kenny, to fly to Ketchican to escort her home. Cathy and Kenny are flying first class from Ketchikan Alaska to Oklahoma City Thursday, her regular doctors are fully informed and appointments have been made for Friday.
Cathy's wild ride.
There is more, but it will have to wait for a campfire or a coffee session or a Tulsa trip.
And I need to tell you about Jerry's first visit to a bikini barista, the one where Marc texted Amber, "I told you to take care of him not kill him."
And Cathy really, really wanted to go to the Christmas shop in Ketchikan. It was supposed to be the best one in Alaska. She was within 30 yards but didn't make a break for it. Cathy was brave, again.
Jerry, Jane and Jean fly out of Seattle Friday the 19th, and I owe Cathy big time, especially a trip to, or maybe 15 or so, Christmas shops. If you feel like it send Cathy a Christmas doodad, not a get well card.
I am still in awe of her bravery. Can I pretend she stayed in Ketchican for an extended stay at a Health Spa?
...With two, Two, TWO hurt knees, rheumatoid arthritis, raging infection, compromised immune system, a hematoma in one knee and an infected cyst on the other, with the Doctor suggesting a hospital visit in Juneau and insisting in Ketchikan, Cathy was abandoned.
Cathy was escorted off the ship by the youngest and most able and most mobile family member, Amber. Cathy was met by an official car and an OFFICIAL from the Port Authority and whisked to emergency. The main fear was the rampant infection overwhelming her weakened immune system. You know, the stuff that kills you.
What a wild ride. Cathy had been going to the ship Doctor once or twice a day to try to get ahead of the issues and to try to continue enjoying her cruise. Sadly her cruise ended.
Jean was sad, Jean was crying, Jean fell, Jean was disappointed, Jean was slow, Jean was overwhelmed by grief and decisions that had to be made in hours. Jean couldn't stay due to her physical limitations, Jane and Amber were willing to stay because of their caring and medical expertise, Jerry and Jan were pretty worthless. The ship was supposed to sail at noon, the Port Authority assured Amber HE and only HE had the final say on when the ship left and that it wouldn't leave without her, or rather without his, well, without his authority, but still decisions had to be made.
It seems as though Cathy travels with some kind of angel sitting around. She traveled with a nurse, a hospital executive, her travel agent, and boat loads of caring folks. PLUS she traveled with Travel Guard Insurance -- don't leave home without it.
Travel Guard would take care of everything, and I mean everything, Princess Cruise Lines jumped in with all their care, Doctors were communicating with Doctors, ships were communicating with Port Authorities, Travel agents were explaining cruise insurance and opening claims, Amber was talking to Doctors and explained she needed to make a decision in five minuets, phone calls were flying, and Cathy. Well, Cathy took it all in stride.
Cathy was insisting, insisting that everyone continue with out her. I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to have let the ship and my family sail away with out me. Cathy absolutely wasn't going to let her mother stay. Jean really would have difficulty hobbling to and from a hotel to the hospital and Cathy knows more about her needs and capabilities than all the rest of us put together.
So off we sailed. Originally we hoped Cathy could meet up with the ship in Victoria -- that didn't happen. Then we hoped she would meet up with us in Seattle -- that didn't happen.
What happened is Cathy stayed for six days in the hospital in Ketchican. Meanwhile, back on board, Princess Cruise Lines told Jean to make all the ship to shore phone calls she wanted at no charge (the regular charge is 4.95 a minute), her travel agent arranged for visits from people she knew in Ketchican, nurses made sure she had the room with the best view, Travel Guard Insurance started arrangements for Cathy's boyfriend, Kenny, to fly to Ketchican to escort her home. Cathy and Kenny are flying first class from Ketchikan Alaska to Oklahoma City Thursday, her regular doctors are fully informed and appointments have been made for Friday.
Cathy's wild ride.
There is more, but it will have to wait for a campfire or a coffee session or a Tulsa trip.
And I need to tell you about Jerry's first visit to a bikini barista, the one where Marc texted Amber, "I told you to take care of him not kill him."
And Cathy really, really wanted to go to the Christmas shop in Ketchikan. It was supposed to be the best one in Alaska. She was within 30 yards but didn't make a break for it. Cathy was brave, again.
Jerry, Jane and Jean fly out of Seattle Friday the 19th, and I owe Cathy big time, especially a trip to, or maybe 15 or so, Christmas shops. If you feel like it send Cathy a Christmas doodad, not a get well card.
I am still in awe of her bravery. Can I pretend she stayed in Ketchican for an extended stay at a Health Spa?
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Alaska Versus Cruise
I took a brief survey without any kind of scientific control and discovered most folks are excited about going to Alaska, but my boss was excited about the cruise.
People are always interesting.
Isn't that the way it always is. There are those who like a slow picturesque climb and those who want a power surge to make it to the top of anything. Alaska versus Cruise?
I like frog legs, but I know people who will move to another table to avoid sitting with someone eating frog legs. When I went to the local cinema metroplex once to see the movie The Milagro Beanfield War with two other people in the audience, my date lasted about 1/3 of the way through the movie and then bailed for a neighboring theater to see something with a little more action. I wish I could remember the name of the movie he ditched me for, but I don't. I still love that movie -- The Milagro Beanfield War.
Speaking of "bailing" I bailed out of work yesterday morning at 9:30 am. Just up and left. I packed up, shut down the computer, and informed my boss that I was leaving. Too much excitement brewing in the air for me to sit any longer. She just smiled and said take lots of pictures. I love understanding bosses. Out the door I skipped whistling a happy tune. Metaphorically.
I went on a fact-finding mission to try to determine if I should buy a smart phone before my cruise, another type of survey. Ian said maybe, Roger said yes, Stephanie said no, Carol said I have an old one you can have. Problem solved. Stephanie might have said hell no.
Monday three generations of Brown women came over to get me wired. Carol brought a phone, a pink polka-dotted charger, a car charger, an adapter, a battery. I don't really know what all she brought she just kept tearing things out of shrink-wrap. I am afraid this might be a debt I can't repay. About the fourth time I asked Katie, "What is that?" She said, "Jan, you are killing me here." Now she knows how inept I really am.
Ian made a run to the T-Mobile store and it's only going to cost him 20.00 more a month. Mostly unlimited shit and 5 gigabytes of something. The lady told Ian most people use about 3 gb and as you all know I am not "most" people. But am I going to have fun taking photographs.
The graying American's are alive and busy and out and about and heading to Alaska. I noticed even the young'ens have a smattering of grey, we old'ens just take pity on them and don't talk about it.
How many reasons are there to cruise to Alaska?
Birthdays, anniversaries, babies born, celebrations, what if you had survived a year battling cancer, those sort of survival celebrations, retirement, adventure, just running away from home or going home. Some big life event, or life time dream.
Now is the time, today is the day, the adventure begins. I wonder how much toilet paper they have to stock for thousands of people for eight days and seven nights.
Life events:
I am supposed to get my hearing aids tomorrow.
Connor started school today.
Those qualify.
My blogging is done until I reach the flip side of this adventure. My family is arriving and my energies are otherwise engaged; looking for rocks and avoiding socks -- in Alaska.
People are always interesting.
Isn't that the way it always is. There are those who like a slow picturesque climb and those who want a power surge to make it to the top of anything. Alaska versus Cruise?
I like frog legs, but I know people who will move to another table to avoid sitting with someone eating frog legs. When I went to the local cinema metroplex once to see the movie The Milagro Beanfield War with two other people in the audience, my date lasted about 1/3 of the way through the movie and then bailed for a neighboring theater to see something with a little more action. I wish I could remember the name of the movie he ditched me for, but I don't. I still love that movie -- The Milagro Beanfield War.
Speaking of "bailing" I bailed out of work yesterday morning at 9:30 am. Just up and left. I packed up, shut down the computer, and informed my boss that I was leaving. Too much excitement brewing in the air for me to sit any longer. She just smiled and said take lots of pictures. I love understanding bosses. Out the door I skipped whistling a happy tune. Metaphorically.
I went on a fact-finding mission to try to determine if I should buy a smart phone before my cruise, another type of survey. Ian said maybe, Roger said yes, Stephanie said no, Carol said I have an old one you can have. Problem solved. Stephanie might have said hell no.
Monday three generations of Brown women came over to get me wired. Carol brought a phone, a pink polka-dotted charger, a car charger, an adapter, a battery. I don't really know what all she brought she just kept tearing things out of shrink-wrap. I am afraid this might be a debt I can't repay. About the fourth time I asked Katie, "What is that?" She said, "Jan, you are killing me here." Now she knows how inept I really am.
Ian made a run to the T-Mobile store and it's only going to cost him 20.00 more a month. Mostly unlimited shit and 5 gigabytes of something. The lady told Ian most people use about 3 gb and as you all know I am not "most" people. But am I going to have fun taking photographs.
The graying American's are alive and busy and out and about and heading to Alaska. I noticed even the young'ens have a smattering of grey, we old'ens just take pity on them and don't talk about it.
How many reasons are there to cruise to Alaska?
Birthdays, anniversaries, babies born, celebrations, what if you had survived a year battling cancer, those sort of survival celebrations, retirement, adventure, just running away from home or going home. Some big life event, or life time dream.
Now is the time, today is the day, the adventure begins. I wonder how much toilet paper they have to stock for thousands of people for eight days and seven nights.
Life events:
I am supposed to get my hearing aids tomorrow.
Connor started school today.
Those qualify.
My blogging is done until I reach the flip side of this adventure. My family is arriving and my energies are otherwise engaged; looking for rocks and avoiding socks -- in Alaska.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Gladys Makes Me Happy
I'm just so freaking happy.
I'm happy with my home, my art, my Godzilla plant, my family, my living room animal kingdom, the idea of a cruise. I'm happy planning itineraries, excursions, cars, menus, wardrobe, routes.
I'm happy Ian cleaned and dusted. I can't brag on all Ian does for me or you would think it is child abuse.
I'm happy with Sons, Grandson, Daughter-in-Law. I'm happy with friends and book club and car. My job is okay, but I'm happy I have a job and that I can still walk uphill to get to it, barely and slowly, but I make the trudge every day.
I'm happy for all the things my family has done for me; flights, rides, and so much more. I'm happy for San Juan Island gifts of lavender. Gifts of coffee cups. Gifts of flowers, especially tulips.
I'm happy with books, libraries, teachers, movies, bosses good and bad, road trips, coffee, Ginko trees, especially in the fall when all the leaves turn yellow at the same time for a blast of brilliant color and then almost immediately they all fall together, their brilliance done for the year. I'm happy for Ginko trees in the fall and Redbud trees in the spring. I'm happy making observations random or deep. I'm happy for days off, smart phones, greeting cards, Holidays, my Carrillo connections.
I'm happy with acts of kindness even when it isn't directed at me but when I see it alive in the world. I'm happy I have been the recipient of random acts of kindness, everything from strangers sharing books on a train or at a campground to the Mississippi Queen's Captain providing me a private tour because he was the recipient of my kindness.
I'm happy for every precious son I've ever held in my arms no matter how briefly.
And Gladys makes me happy, if you haven't met Gladys come see me and you will. A most precious piece of art from Julia and Nora.
I guess I have meandered on this path long enough, some of you I will see in October and some of you sooner. Makes me freaking happy.
I'm happy with my home, my art, my Godzilla plant, my family, my living room animal kingdom, the idea of a cruise. I'm happy planning itineraries, excursions, cars, menus, wardrobe, routes.
I'm happy Ian cleaned and dusted. I can't brag on all Ian does for me or you would think it is child abuse.
I'm happy with Sons, Grandson, Daughter-in-Law. I'm happy with friends and book club and car. My job is okay, but I'm happy I have a job and that I can still walk uphill to get to it, barely and slowly, but I make the trudge every day.
I'm happy for all the things my family has done for me; flights, rides, and so much more. I'm happy for San Juan Island gifts of lavender. Gifts of coffee cups. Gifts of flowers, especially tulips.
I'm happy with books, libraries, teachers, movies, bosses good and bad, road trips, coffee, Ginko trees, especially in the fall when all the leaves turn yellow at the same time for a blast of brilliant color and then almost immediately they all fall together, their brilliance done for the year. I'm happy for Ginko trees in the fall and Redbud trees in the spring. I'm happy making observations random or deep. I'm happy for days off, smart phones, greeting cards, Holidays, my Carrillo connections.
I'm happy with acts of kindness even when it isn't directed at me but when I see it alive in the world. I'm happy I have been the recipient of random acts of kindness, everything from strangers sharing books on a train or at a campground to the Mississippi Queen's Captain providing me a private tour because he was the recipient of my kindness.
I'm happy for every precious son I've ever held in my arms no matter how briefly.
And Gladys makes me happy, if you haven't met Gladys come see me and you will. A most precious piece of art from Julia and Nora.
I guess I have meandered on this path long enough, some of you I will see in October and some of you sooner. Makes me freaking happy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
