Christmas 2013

After going all over the USA this summer and fall, we thought we would spend a quiet holiday at home!  Wrong again!  We just got back from a wonderful 5 day cruise ... Royal Caribbean was wonderful.  My friends from Reston and Cinci relocated to FL and Bob is a cruise specialist.. so he did a really great job of booking this.. a balcony stateroom on Brilliance of the Seas.  The ship is just able to fit under the SkyBridge in St Petersburg Fl after a departure form Tampa.  2 days at sea and 1 each in Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  Played with stingrays, shopped in Cozumel.. got the required tree ornament, and Lafitte Rothschild wine tasting.  Met so many really nice couples.. many from FL.  And lots of children on board.  Santa visited - landed on pool deck.  The cruise line did a great job of keeping kids occupied.  And there was not time to take in all the fun activities but did get a massage and facial.  Art auction - won a print in raffle.  Thinking of next year already.. maybe New Years one.   So here are the pictures:

 Going under the Sky Bridge into the Gulf

 Ready to leave!!!

Tree in Dining Room of Ship

 Captain on the Bridge steering us backwards into Cozumel

Al on Sunday- hopes dashed again :-(

Some of many gingerbread houses

Amit surprized us us!

  Christmas Eve bunny

 Grand Cayman

On way to Stingray  Sandbar

 Playing with the sting rays.. really fascinating.. Al held a 50 yr old female - males are smaller

 Backing into dock in Cozumel

Al & I on dock in Cozumel.. our is the smaller ship - Brilliance of the Seas

 

Cruise Director Flo and Captain  singing carols on Christmas Eve & balloon "snowballs" in the Centrum

Brunch on the balcony - mimosas!

 

"Unexpected Boys" entertainers - did a 4 Seasons show but also made for some cheer on Christmas Eve

Back home!

Merry Christmas to All!

And here we are on formal night... Happy New Year to all!

September travels

We went to the Catskills for a family friend's son's wedding... Alicia and Jim gave a great weekend.  Beautiful B&B @ Margaretville Mountain Inn.  Dance with my son and nephew (oh, yes, one with Al too!).  The area is just a beautiful as I remembered from teen years in NJ.  Amazingly we did not stop at the Woodstock NY Harley store or ride the local railroad.  Just one great party with wonderful friends, family, and making new ones.

After the Catskills we met Al's daughter in NYC.  Did the Empire State Building, Tiffany's (she is a Audrey H fan), and Rockefeller Center.  Lunch in the Garden Cafe at Rock Center!  We took Al to the USS Interpid - he wanted to show Chrissie where he served in Navy.  While there, I surprised him with a star in the Enterprise Space Pavilion as an advance birthday gift.  The director of development came down and presented him with a DoD 70th  anniversary of the Intrepid commemorative coin.  A real surprise for him.  We saw Motown the Musical which was incredible show!  Recommend it!  We did have a bbque dinner with Brian & Lara and suffered thru the Redskins game on Mon night football.

Family visit in MISSOURI

August 5th was another log drive to Unionville MO.  We spent 2 lovely days with Al's niece, Wanda and her family.  It was wonderful to see family when it is not a life event like weddings etc.  And best of all we just sat around and talked.  Wanda cooked a great meal for the family.  Phil and Wanda's kids (Mike, Danny, & Megan)  and spouses/ signficant others were all there including Al's great-great nephew, Case.  There are 2 additions expected in late Aug and mid Oct.  I had a wonderful time chatting with the expectant moms and with Megan about her nursing career.  Thank you, Wanda for the hospitality!
Even got to see the Arch in St Louis on way home.

Mike, Al, Chris (Megan's husband), Phil, & Danny

4 generations: Danny, Wanda, Al, Mike, Case, & Megan+

Phil, Wanda, Al, Mike & Mary, Chris,Case & Megan, Tracy& Danny

South Dakota aka Sturgis

August 2nd found us "experiencing" Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.  Needless to say the operative word was "Experience".  We were blessed to have SWFL HOG Chapter members, Deanna and Jerry to show Al the ropes.  My great friend and business partner, Kathy, came for the weekend as well.  So Al went off on the motorcycle with Jerry and Deanna riding though canyons and mountains.  He did see a casualty who later died from injuries.  They rode to Rushmore as well.  Saw buffalo, deer and other wildlife (aka bikers).  Kath and I ventured to Sturgis via 4 wheels and I have never seen so many motorcycles.  The "wildlife" there in human form was interesting (photos censored).  There were varied attire seen all over... leather to body paint.
We also saw the Crazy Horse Monument ... the hole where they are starting the armhole is 110 ft high to get an idea.  Mt Rushmore heads can fit in the Crazy Horse Head area.  Truly spectacular and all privately funded.
Enjoy the pics!

Al, Me, Deanna, Jerry, & Frank (All SWFL HOG Members) in Sturgis

Kath and I in our Sturgis shirts

Colorado Springs

Wed July 31 found us in Colorado Springs.  We crossed the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass at10000 ft. with beautiful wild flowers from recent rains.  Impressive driving over these roads by Al!  In Colorado Springs we visited the Air Force Academy and you will see pics of the Chapel.  Beautiful place to have a moment of reflection and thanks for our airmen and all they do. I especially loved the needlepointed kneelers by altar.  Also on the agenda was Garden of the Gods - a city park free to drive through.  As a friend said - who thought rocks were so beautiful.  Sandstone worn away by the elements just jutting upward.  Notice the Balancing Rock- over 60 million yrs in making.  A visit to the Manitou Springs area included the Anasazi Cliff Dwellings-- over 900 yrs old.  These native Americans were very short and loved one family to a room about 10x10 ft.  Pikes Peak looms over the area.. 14300 feet up.  Next visit will be the Cog Railroad there.  Al has been observing all the train rides that I missed or "forgot" to tell him about. Harlette and Harley Hog, our "faithful HOG members", have accompanied us everywhere there is a Harley dealer, so Pikes Peak Harley was included.
We are on the downward slope, literally and figuratively, of the trip of a lifetime in my books.  As I keep saying, the US is one incredible country.  One has to see it in its glory on the ground not from the air.

Wolf Creek Pass road

Air Force Academy Chapel

Garden of the Gods

Anasazi Cliff Dwellings - Manitou Springs

Flowers @ Cliff Dwellings

Majesty of the USAF Academy Chapel