Author: Dackel Princess

At Sea

November 14, 2007

Our first day at sea saw me getting up much earlier than I had planned. When I awoke I felt the light pitch of the sea, and despite using the patches, I felt just a tad dizzy. So I threw on my clothes and went for a walk around the ship. I call this, “getting my sea legs”! So far, it has worked well.

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All of Tuesday was spent at sea. All I can say is that I still turn the wrong way when I get off the elevator when coming back to our stateroom! But then, my sense of direction has never been too good anyway.

Hubby and George played some ping pong, and explored the upper decks and found this.

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We went swimming at the pool and I swam close to a couple and we started talking. I asked where they were from and they were from New Hampshire too! In fact they live in southern New Hampshire where Fritz’s eye doctor is. Naturally we talked about the Red Sox and the Celtics and the Patriot’s football team! Right now God is smiling on New England fans and our teams have made us pretty happy!

It was our first formal night so we got all dressed up and went to dinner. The food was wonderful, and our table mates were quite nice. Most of us had the Tornedos of Beef and then it was, time for dessert. I kept mine simple, and just had peppermint ice cream, but Hubby had a wonderful banana cream dessert that was sugar free.

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Then we were off to the Captains cocktail party. I thought it would be a nice quiet affair, but the place was packed and sort of crazy, but in a fun sort of way. Hubby had some sort of Caribbean Cocktail before we left to go to a live musical show.

This was really fabulous! They had two women and two men who sang beautifully.They were backed up by the Island Princess dancers, who have more energy than a Jack Russell terrier! They sang the songs of Billy Joel, Neal Sedaka, Elton John, Barry Manilow and yes they even did a few dance numbers to music once played by Liberace. I was able to get this one picture of them, all the others were blurred. I think that was from low light and fast moving dancers!

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Now we are sitting back getting ready for our first shore day in Curacao.

San Juan & The Departure

Our flight down to San Juan went well, once we got past Security. Hubby was frisked in the most aggressive way by a big Agent named Bubba, all due to his artificial knees. I mean, he patted down areas on Hubby that even I haven’t touched! And at one point I thought, perhaps he might make Hubby drop his drawers! Fortunately everyone was spared that sight! LOL We left a cold and rainy Boston and landed in bright, sunny and warm San Juan.

I do have to make several notes about the flight down. First of all, ladies, be careful how much perfume you wear in an enclosed space. There was a woman near me who bathed in her cologne and it brought tears to my eyes. I kept the air blowing in my face the entire 3 1/2 hour trip!

Men, you don’t get off either. One guy had so much gold around his neck I feared he might fall over from the weight. This tiny man also consumed the most alcohol on the flight. 6:30 AM and he is downing his first beer. Okay, maybe beer is food, but…

Now back to the travel log.

We gathered our bags and took the Princess Bus to the cruise ship. We checked in, Hubby and Carole checked out the Duty Free and then we went to our room. All I can say is WOW!

After we settled in a bit

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Our room.

and had lunch on the Lido Deck, off Hubby and I went to Old San Juan and Fort San Filipe De Morro.

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It has breath taking views of the Island. We walked all through the old fort and took many pictures.

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Then we walked around Old San Juan. It was beautiful,

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the people were so nice and I enjoyed walking around, but then…my feet gave out and we saw a taxi and waved him down and he drove us first to a small super market and then back to the ship.

We met up with George and Carole again and went to dinner. All I can say is sweet heavenly father, the food was good!!! We had Lobster and Seafood turnovers, with salads and a Lobster pate. For dessert Hubby had a sugar free chocolate Mousse and I had the Princess Chocolate mousse. It was all heavenly and we felt very spoiled.

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Our departure out of San Juan was so interesting. We had a Pilot form San Juan steering the ship out of the harbor. Hubby and I stood and sat on our balcony watching the seaport slowly fade away. Then we noticed a small vessel up ahead. This little vessel stayed right beside us for quite a while, in the darkness. Then as we reached the mouth of the harbor the small vessel came right up to our side of the ship and a moment or so later the Pilot jumped on board. Everyone on our side of the ship cheered!!!! Then Hubby and I turned from our balcony, came in and went to bed. Now we’re off and headed to Curacoa!

Boston

We arrived down in Boston about 3:30 and settled in our motel room. After getting acquainted with our room, and getting our things organized for tomorrow, we sat down, made a couple of drinks (a cocktail for Hubby and a cup of tea for me) and waited for George and Carole.

I needed to get some of that fake milk stuff for my tea, so I headed to the front desk where I found George and Carole checking in. They got settled into their room, and then we headed into Boston to the world famous Durgin Park.

Carole and Hubby had Prime Rib,

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George ordered pot roast and I got the Ipswich Fried Clams!

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The meal was everything we thought it would be and more! Especially my clams. I kept saying that I had the best meal, but Hubby and Carole disagreed! They really loved the Prime Rib! And George wasn’t disappointed with his Yankee Pot Roast either.

Then we ordered dessert. The sweet, rich, warm, Indian Pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Hubby and I shared this and I have to say, WOW was it good!!!

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Now we are back at the motel and will catch an early night’s sleep. After all, we have to get up at 4 AM to make it to the plane on time!

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Sunday we worked tirelessly, packing, cleaning and rechecking our packing. Finally about 4 PM I was happy with what we’d accomplished and I actually sat down and had a cup of tea. Even Hubby was busy today getting his carry on bag packed, and changing the oil in the car.

The dogs have sensed that something is up and have been a little strange all day. A little clingy, a little fussy, just like a little child.

I managed to get a simple dinner made of a hodge podge of leftovers, which helped to clean out the fridge. Once I got that cleaned up, I finally was able to sit down, put up my feet and sip a cup of my favorite tea.

We’ll probably watch a little mindless TV tonight, like Desperate Housewives, before going to bed. I’m just so tired and I need a good night’s sleep before we begin the traveling to Boston and then San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Monday we will drive to Boston and meet up with our friends, George and Carol. We will be traveling on the cruise with them! We plan a dinner at Durgin Park, and then an early bedtime at a motel near the airport.

Our flight leaves on Tuesday at the ungodly hour of 6 AM! Factoring in time to shower and dress and go through security, I figure we will be getting up in the middle of the night!

Then we fly off directly to Puerto Rico, where we will get on board the ship. We’ll be getting there around noontime, but the ship doesn’t sail until 11 PM, so we thought we might tour around the island a little. George, Carol, and Hubby have all been there before, but this will be my first trip to the island.

Well, I’ve printed up some new pictures of my doggies and have them tucked into my bag. All I need to do in the morning is shower and dress and kiss the babies goodbye.

That’ll be the hardest part about leaving on our trip.

You Got The Socks?

My hair is done, my nails are filed and painted a lovely pale pink, and I tanned for the last time today.

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I have done 3 loads of laundry (2 more to go), cleaned two of the three bathrooms in the house, and made a list. A list of what, you might ask? A list of all the things I need to do before noon on Monday. I tend to get pretty nervous packing. I worry about forgetting things.

There was one time we went to Munich and I forgot to pack socks for Hubby. I was shocked to find out that socks in Germany cost $10.00 a pair! After that, I never forgot to pack socks again!

As we get older there are more things to pack, pills, make-up, sunscreen, insect repellent and tons of moisturizer. Remember the days when all one needed was a backpack with extra underwear and t-shirts and you just sort of lived in your jeans? Ha! Those days sure are gone!

So the next 24 hours will be spent counting out the items to go in our 4 large bags!

Don’t worry. I have already packed the socks!

Getting Beautiful

When I was 21 getting beautiful meant that I showered, washed and dried my hair and put on a little lip gloss. My body parts were still where God had intended them to blossom, and my skin was fairly flawless. Because I was running after two little ones I was in good shape and because I tended to take them for long walks and play outside, I had a sun-kissed tan from May until October.

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Yes, those were good times.

Now, I must plan on “getting beautiful”. I made the appointment three months ago for the full treatment. In fact they called today to remind me that I was due to be overhauled.

There is, of course, only so much one can do, but I try pretty hard to keep myself up. Of course short of going to Pamela Anderson’s plastic surgeon or going on the people version of Extreme Makeovers, I am sort of stuck with a body that is slowly headed south.

It’s not that I really mind this. It happens to women my age, after all, but when I think of how totally hot I was when I was 21, I feel bad for Hubby. He never got to see me then, or enjoy the wonder of my youth! (LOL)

Okay, I admit it. I wouldn’t mind seeing myself like I was at age 21 just one more time.

Do you think that when you go to Heaven you get to chose your body?

If so, I’m asking for my 21 year old body back!

Kathleen Alynne 11/8/78 – 6/19/85

Today would have been my youngest daughter, Katie’s 29th birthday. She has been gone from us for 22 1/2 years, but it still feels like yesterday. I chose to celebrate this day because it was one of the happiest days of my life.

No, you never do get over losing your child, but somehow you go on. And I know more than anything that this is what she would want for Mandy and me.

Happy Birthday, Katie!

Photographs and memories
Christmas cards you sent to me
All that I have are these
To remember you

Memories that come at night
Take me to another time
Back to a happier day
When I called you mine

Photographs and memories
All the love you gave to me
Somehow it just cant be true
Thats all I’ve left of you

Oh, Deer!!!

It was the most amazing day. Not only was I packing our things, (and making great progress!) but after finishing my lunch I looked out the back door and saw that two young deer had wandered into our yard and were sampling the fallen apple tree leaves.

Oh so quietly I told Hubby about this and then put the dogs in our bedroom, and got the camera to take some pictures. It was an impossibly dark day with a lot of rain, but I managed to get a couple of pictures of our young deer.

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Deer 2

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I love deer, but seeing these youngsters made me think that if they are coming into a densely populated area, then the herd is getting too large and the food sources are dwindling. Hunting season begins in a few days and this will help to thin the herd and make it possible for the strong ones to survive the winter.

These deer and the wild turkey’s that came through the other day, remind me of why I love living where I live. The wildlife always thrill me, always make me feel a part of something that is larger than me.