One day closer to retirement

is my new mantra. Really thought I would have been out of there a year ago, but such is the life in the fast lane. I guess it really is all in the timing and with lots of prayer we'll be looking back at it all soon.



Day 3, Saturday May 17 Surprising thing about our boat, (yeah I know, its a ship) but there is no clock in the stateroom. Actually there are very few clocks on board at all. A couple in the main stairwells by, but not by the elevators where you can see them ~ who uses stairs??? And one and only one on the Lido Deck by the pool. So got up and found the boat channel on tv which had the time, travel distance/time to and from the current ports, and the our point on the map (lol, i can not think of what is is called) you know, longitude and lattitude. And of course, none of us had a watch. We never knew what time it was, and quite frankly really never knew where (on the boat) we were. Quite disorientated. I'd go out on one deck and the sun was there and around to the otherside where there was no sun and I would swear the water was going in the opposite direction. No wonder the Ancient Mariner had issues, but I think they were more than just water related. He was old, probably blind, and didn't have a watch. To top it off, get this, on the last day of the cruise what do you suppose happened????? Yes! They had a watch sale!!!! $75 watches ~ 2/4 $25. Can you believe it. And NO, we did not buy one.


We awoke as we had slept~upside down in our bed. When we went to bed, the room was so dark, the bed just didn't feel right. With the rolling of the ship and being so disorientated I convinced Wayne to sleep upside down with me. Got a good nights sleep though. After the first night we slept normal. So we get up and get dressed. Boots, ski socks, long johns, undies, jacket, hat, gloves and out the room we head. 6:30 am. LOL we were ready for Juneau ~ our first stop. We toured the boat, made our way through breakfast and finally caught up with the kids. Around 10:30 am, we are just about out of things to do before getting in to port. This ship-guy comes walking by and I asked, "hey, what time will we be docking in Juneau?" He looks each one of us and quite matter-of-factly states, "Why tomorrow morning about this time." We all had to pick our jaws up off the floor. Somewhere in all the goin's on, we missed the fact that the first day out was a "at sea day". No wonder the little chart on the boat channel looked like would have to be doing some fast sailing to make Juneau which appeared to be still 2x as far as what we had traveled through the night. Off we all went.....a perfect time for a nap.


Decked out for Juneau ~ 24 hours early. Don't we look good.





















The Room Animals ~ each day when we returned to our rooms we had little room animal that the cabin steward made for us. This one was the first one we got. A Turkey. I wonder if there is any signifigance in that. It was cool though, every time we left the room we would hear him say, "Good Morning, Mrs. Perman." or "Good Evening, Mr Perman, how is your day?"

We Salute You

~All those that have served our country to ensure freedom in the world. As noted from a soldier's mouth today, "If we were not here, who would be."

On with the story....okay....epic....

Day 2, Friday, May 16th: Up with intention of getting out to Pike's Market. A knock on the door. Jolene appears. White dots on her throat. So off we went to the local Urgent Care. Seattle is a mass of hills. Down up, up another. Three hours later we were hoofin' it to a Pharmacy. Note that was Pharmacy, not a drug store like Longs or Rite-Aid. Pennicillan. By the time we got back to hotel it was time to get our bags and ready our selves for....EMBARKATION. (I love that word.)

Me, Jolene, Phil, and Amelia in Seattle's oldest park. Take a guess at the name of it....I don't remember. : )

Transportation in Seattle had already become quite costly and that was only for the trip from the airport to the hotel. So, penny-pincher that I am [snicker] we cut a deal with a limo driver ~ two town cars for 40 bucks to the pier. Wayne and I rode with Hussen, a nice man who proceeded south to the docks. Somewhere along the line he either made the wrong turn or deliberately took a short cut that included a U-turn on a freeway / bridge route that brought a semi hauling cement to within 10 ft of our rear end as he gunned the town car back towards the pier. Remember the nerves I mentioned in the last post????? Well at about that time my guts were churnin'. We are at the terminal just long enough to wonder where the other three were when Jolene rings me. She informs me their driver has taken them to the otherside of the terminal and would not deliver them until they paid her. By agreement, we had already paid Hussen. So I give a call to a number listed on Hussen's card. No answer. A call to the second number connects me to Hussen's brother, maybe even an uncle, who ever it was could not or at least acted like he did not understand English. Infuriated, I hung up and as I was dialing 911 to get assistance with my "hostage crisis" the releasees come walking up; apparently the driver settled the issue with Hussen and let them go. [Yes an Email to both Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the hotel has already been sent.] Just thinking about it pisses me off. How dare they come to our country and treat us like that. Its bad enough they have ruined all the 7-Elevens and hotels in the country, now its the taxi services. GO HOME.


Through the terminal, baggage surrender, check in, up the ramp ~ I knew I should have bought those binoculars ~ and onto the boat. Rooms not ready, up to Deck 8 ~ The Lido Deck ~

Here is Wayne and I with Seattle in the background. Mind you, the city set a record at 85* that day. And the air was oh so clean!

We sailed out at 4:00 pm.

Sun setting during dinner at our window table was fantastico.

Wait 'til you hear what we did on Day 3!!!!!

Tonight It Is Meatloaf

We are home.
Got in last night after a four-hour drive from LAX ~ what a nightmare traffic was.

I have been thinking about this blog, wondering how I can tell you of all the things we saw and did and all the things that happened during the last 7 days on our Journey to Alaska. My intent was to blog during the trip, but internet access on board, well, it ain't free. So get ready to sit awhile.

I hope I can give you some of the flavors we encountered and the sights we have seen. But in the end, I do believe you will need to go for yourselves. As pictures are up-loaded, I'll post.

Most of today has been spent doing laundry, yardwork, and organizing our "booty" as Wayne calls it. Tonight, we had meatloaf. Homemade, served on a not so pretty plate, and assembled with no parsley. I think the comment I got was, "Ummmmm, this is your best meatloaf yet!" That one, I'll take it.

I will start with Day One and work forward. I wouldn't want you to miss out on Day One. It will give you a better understanding by the time we get to Day Seven.

Ohhhh yeah, it has been a trip.

DAY ONE Thursday, May 15th: 4:45am arrived early. Plans were that by leaving at 5:00 we could easily make our 9:35 am flight out of LAX (LA) to SEA-TAC (Seattle). We waved good by to home and the incoming 103* weather expected. And I got the wheel. Long about 8:00 am I realize I am on the 5 not the 405, almost to Long Beach, not LAX. We stop for directions. Catch the 605 to the 105 and go straight in to LAX on Imperial. Sounds simple, huh. Well it wasn't . We drove a little ways and found Imperial, dropped off the freeway, and in a panic stopped for more directions. Back on Imperial to the 105, which is the Imperial Highway (duh), after a short 20 minute drive and numerous calls to friends we could have "google" a map for us, we found Parking Lot C and headed for the shuttle. 1st shuttle bus drops off at the "real" shuttle bus station. Thank God they had a bathroom. "But Mom, the next bus will be here in less than two minutes!!" Knowing that it wouldn't take two seconds, I ran for the door. Nerves. I just explode in these kinds of situations. We arrived at 9, checked our 8 bags, was herded through TSA screening along with another kazillion people and arrived exactly on time 15 minutes before boarding was to begin.

On the shuttle bus, this guy hit on a young woman (with her own man). Get this for a line. "Hello, I sure would like for you to call me." Hands her his card. "Yes, I think ........, Yeah...Uh yeah I sing with Marvin Gay, so call me." And he gets off the bus at the next stop. One of the guys that stayed on the bus reminded us that Marvin Gay has been dead for sometime now. The more I think about, perhaps the guy said, "Hello, I'm Marvin, and I'm gay. Let's get together."

Lesson 1: Regardless of the price difference in air fare, do not fly out of LAX. It is a madhouse ~ I live on the edge of lunacy every day of my life, but that place is a ZOO. And, it is FILTHY.

Delta, little plane. 2 hour flight. Beautiful view of the Western Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Ranier. Blue skys the entire way. Such textures of the earth amaze me.

Lesson 2: Regardless of the price difference in air fare, do not fly Delta. You get better goodies on SouthWest. Even with the stop overs, the planes are much more comfortable.

Sea-Tac. Ever play follow the leader when there are 5 leaders? Let's go here, no this way, over here, outside! Okay so we finally found a shuttle in to town and settled in at the Holiday Inn. Sundown in the north is at 9:30 pm!!!!!! Makes for long days to do wonderful things in the city. Many hills to walk, police and fire stations to find, the Space Needle, and of course dinner at the Outback on our own private patio was wonderful ~ the fish place we were looking for closed down.

What a day. What a day. And only the beginning.

Allllllll a-boarrrrrd

I cant remember what the ship captain says when they load the ship...which is embarking....so train talk will have to do for today. I am so excited. I even left work early today so i could come home and get my butt in gear. But before I left, my staff gave me a send off, which included a kazillion ships in various sinking positions and a zip line that looks like its 500ft in the air and of course the numerous pic's of people barfing over the side of the ship. And lunch, mmmmmm tri-tip and chili. What a hoot they are, a real bunch of knuckleheads, but I LOVE them, each one of them.

Favor from you, please, keep us in your prayers.

Batten down the hatches,,,,,in case there is a storm.
Sail away, Sail away, come sail away with me.

adieu.

Circus Follies

Once, I think it was when I was in kindergarten, I had the opportunity to be a tight-rope walker. Yes, I did. At first I was extremely disappointed that I had not been selected to be one of the elephants. (Little did I know then, that it was probably not a good wish to be an elephant. Oh baby, look at me now.)

Anyway, after I got into the act itself, I did become a tight-rope walker. What was really cool about it is that I got to wear my bathing suit. But even better than that, my big sister stitched sequins on the bathing suit, so that I would glitter, just like real tight-rope walkers. How exciting is that?!?!?!?!?!? (Bowing, thanking my big sister.)

And then, Circus Night came. I really don't remember where I was in the line up, doesn't really matter. When my turn came, I stepped out there onto the rope (which was laying in a straight line on the floor ~ really you didn't really think I was going to step out onto a rope in the air, did you? I was only 5 years old, for crying out loud.) But there I was, toes pointed ror each step I took down the rope. The lights were on me. B-a-l-a-n-c-e. Balance....Arms out to the side. Step by step I made my way down to the end of the rope. My concentration could not be broken. Even with the eyes of the world upon me, my performance was, well it was what life was all about,,,,at that moment. Yes! I had made it, successfully, not only to the end of the rope, but I had successfully entertained a crowd of 3,000...okay, maybe 100 parents, and some teachers. Oh but I was good. And my costume was the best. Yeah.

Sometimes I wonder if these are the same feelings shared by the American Idol contestants.

See how to be a tight rope walker.

Ahoy Matey

dju 'ear the pi-rate accent i' 'at? aaaiiiiiiiieeee aright jud 'id. aaaaaaarrrrrrrgh

im practicing for our cruise. flying out of la on thursday and hoppin on board friday. North. to Al-las-Ka, north from Idaho. LOL i am sure i just wrote some new lyrics for you. i hope they get stuck in your head. for reals though its: North to Alaska go north the rush is on. i like mine better.

the challenge is to squeeze two weeks worth of clothes, including boots, gloves, socks, and coats into two suit cases. trying to avoid the 25 dollar baggage charge means eliminating the garment bag. i hope they have irons on board.

i think i am looking forward to seeing the orcas the most.

so maybe i will get back here before i leave. .....if not hang tight, i'll be back befor you miss me

Another day as a MOTHER

A a special one to remember.

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalms 145:13-14

Happy Mother's Day

Mary Poppins is on TV today. I just flipped into it. Its to the scene were they are singing in the air, "I love to laugh, loud and long and clear. I love to laugh, so that everybody can hear." I remember this song, its probably from one of the first sound-tracks we ever owned. Oh and then they had to think of something very sad in order to come down from the ceiling. Up and down they went. LOL