Pushing 40 ... but only 39!

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The clock has started and if I was more musically inclined I would sing Seasons of Love from the Broadway Show Rent. How will I measure this coming year? I guess you'll just have to wait and find out.

I'm actually really excited about the coming year. I've established myself at my job and all of my family, though dealing with their different dramas, are all in good health. And that is my goal this year ... to improve my health. Wish me luck ... take me out for a walk if you get a chance.

Alaskan Vacation - Our Boat... Holland America's Amsterdam

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In the early part of the 17th Century, Henry Hudson set sail from Holland in a tiny ship called "de Halve maen." his long voyage across the Atlantic heralded the beginning of the Dutch exploration and settlements in the New World.


Years later ... the Holland America Line is carrying passengers to all parts of the world ... our journey? To the wilds of Alaska. Our ports of call included Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC.


Frank loved the food ... I was a little bit skeptic. We had fun entertainment and Amy Armstrong and Freddie delivered. Donna Sachet ... barely deserves a mention for her duties, though Sister Helen Holy gets props for her delightful take on Church Bingo.

Frank surprised me with a balcony room, which made for larger space for the two of us and a much more pleasant experience watching nature pass by us. Jeff's mom, Phillis, was delight to be with and even though we tried our best to win the Bingo prize ... it escaped us. We could have used the $5,000. Next time.

I've separated the major ports of call by entries, so read forward for more pictures and information.

Alaskan Vacation - Juneau

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In the middle of the expansive Southeast Alaskan wilderness, cosmopolitan Juneau residents enjoy one of America's most risting regions at their doorsteps. Of course, this is largely due to the fact that there are no roads to Juneau. Everyone arrives by either plane or boat.

Our excursion for the day was a canoe trip on the Mendenahll glacier. We took a bus out to the glacier in the morning and watched the salmon spawn and saw our first black bear! Amazing. There were titters among the other cruisers that the big boat docked dead-center of town was one a gay cruise ... shocking.

Once we returned to downtown, we wandered the shops and while tempted by the Alaskan Igloo nativity sets, resisted.

In the afternoon, we headed back to the lake and got to get up front and personal. Our guide was sort of a nomadic fellow and has been living on his own since 15. I'll simply state that the boy has the art of over-sharing.

We excercised and it was time to head back to the boat and get a little sustinance back into our bodies!

I believe it is the first round of Church Bingo today ... maybe it is our time to say, "Hallelujah!"

The video below gives a sense of the soothing experience of being on the water watching the birds fly over and iceburgs floating past.

Alaskan Vacation - Glacier Bay

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Two hundred years ago, Glacier Bay was visited by Captain George Vancouver who observed it to be a large open bay, blocked at its northern end by a giant wall of ice.

Since then, the ice in Glacier Bay has slowly receded, uncovering a new waterway 65 minles long containing many fjords and inlets.

This was the day that we really leveraged our balcony room. We had breakfast delivered, then we bundled up and joined all of the other balcony folks to watch the different glaciers as they cam in to view. Jeff joined us and when the boat turned, we would head up to his room, which had an even bigger balcony view! Hot chocolate capped off the day.

Of our trip, this was the only day that was really dismal outside. We were really grateful to not have to stand on the deck with an umbrella. I think the surprising aspect of this day was that the glaciers were not pristine clean.

Tonight is the lumberjack party!

Alaskan Vacation - Sitka

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Sitka was one of our port of calls where we did not have any specific plans. It was also the one port of call that we had to tender in.

We laughed when we realized that our wallets were still locked away in our cabin. We decided to stay on a budget of nothing and wander Sitka on foot. We wandered the town, saw the rain forest and then returned to the ship for a little relaxing time in the sun.

Mom and Dad recalled the Russsian Dancers ... but due to budgetary limitations, we did not see them.

Alaskan Vacation - Ketchikan and Victoria

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Ketchikan was one of my favorite stops. Our boat docked right at the center of town and we enjoyed one of the few sunny days. Before our float plane trip up to the fish hatchery we took a quick wander about the town. We found Creek Street and had the crap scared out of us by Dolly ... matron of the last brothel in town who stepped out of a doorway to invite us in. Now, I'm accustomed to seeing toothless people on the streets but I'm not accustomed to having them chat with me. Make eye contact and then speak. Maybe there is something to be said about country folks ... us city folks can be a bit edgy.

We took a float plane trip to a fish hatchery ... one that was rumored to be very inviting for bears. Prior to our trip, two planes crashed but we were not overly aprehensive. On the flight to the hatchery, I rode in the back. On the way back I got to sit in the copilots seat and had a front row view of the sights. We saw a bear and a pair of eagles. Awesome.

Victoria is an elegant city situated on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Growing up I have the opportunity to visit on several occasions and like so many other things ... it is much smaller than my childhood memory. It is clean, well-maintained and filled with flowers.

Alaskan Vacation - Back Home in Seattle

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After a week at sea, we arrived at our home port, Seattle. Mom and Dad picked us up from the terminal and we spent the weekend exploring the city. We went to Pike's Street Market, saw the flying fish, Mom kissed a pig, and then we met the Ducks. The Duck tours are a great way to see the city by both land and sea and our guide ... Lotta Danger showed us a good time.

Quack Quack!

Kitty Passes

Kitty came into my life by being subtle. I had gone to the SPCA and there were crazy desperate cats begging to come home ... but then I saw her. She was curled up in a ball, raised her head, shot a glance at me and then went back to sleep. She had her blanket and a good snooze ... did she need more? Probably not, but I did.

She came home with me and after spending a few weeks hiding under the bathtub, made her way in to my heart. She wasn't much of a talker and that was okay because she liked to cuddle on my chest or lay her head on my heart. She didn't like heights, so didn't get on the counters. She didn't like the scratching post either ... but there was always a couch for her to sharpen her talents.

Kitty has been my constant. She is the one thing that always brought me home. She warned me when the earth was about to shake, but was otherwise pretty respectful of my need to sleep. She shared my studio, claimed Malle's room as her own, and was there when Frank and I bought our first home. She got her own room, but pretty much spent her days following the sun as it made its way through the apartment.

She also made room for the important people in my life, though some of her nicknames were not always the most complimentary. Miss Fatty ... said with love is endearing. The fact that I referred to her as a "used cat" got a giggle. She just found a spot, made herself comfortable and let the rest of us do our thing.

And now she's gone. She won't be here for our first Christmas, though her spirit is with us. Even now, I catch a glimpse of her sneaking by the TV room on her way to the office and her new bed. She was a good cat, a friend, a comfort and I miss her greatly. Safe journeys my friend.

My Tribute