Technology

Do you ever feel that you're just wasting your money on new technology? I mean 2 weeks later something newer, better, faster, prettier, more efficient, cheaper (doubtful) and fancier is released. Heavens, I still haven't mastered loading audio books to my old Palm phone and now I have an iTouch and a different smart phone, ha! Then there's the issue that the books I want to load on my iTouch required me to have a working CD ROM drive and it is verrrrrrrry finicky. So since we bought that little Acer One and portable CD/DVD drive for it you'd think I'd be set, NOT. It isn't loaded with all the programs you need, can't figure out why the email won't send so for now it isn't compatible to the iTouch, ROFLOL! BUT, last night I bought a few songs and managed to load them to the iTouch as well as some photos :-) My friend Beryl will help me as soon as all my ducks are in a row, tee hee.

My sister was suppose to arrive next week and then several days following we'd head to Idaho with my daughter Jennifer for a quilting/crafting retreat. My brother in law is not well and she is the full time caregiver, and very worn out I might add. My heart just aches for her as the arrangements she made for him to be cared for while she came to visit fell through. Now she can't come. I'm so sad that she is not going to get the much needed break and sad for us that we are not going to spend time together sewing and playing.

Darling daughter is doing well with her pregnancy and baby girl is growing steadily; both are healthy and she's ready to get started decorating the nursery! I have collected the fabrics I need for a baby quilt and will get started on that soon for her.

I made a baby quilt yesterday, all but 2 more sides; it is a 50" square log cabin block. I used the Chunky Monkey fabrics and it is for a soon to be new mom at work. Her shower is tomorrow and since I messed up on my math I had to go get more fabric today and it won't be done to give her. I have a couple other things to give her instead and will finish this for once she has the baby. Hmmm, maybe I should go whip her up a few burp cloths to throw in!! Yes, that's a great idea........... night now!

Updated information

My dear daughter brought it to my attention that I posted the picture of the tram as being in Ketchikan, Alaska when in fact it was in Juneau. Ho hum. I also worked with a colleague today who left on her Alaskan cruise the day we returned and had gorgeous weather the whole week! She was able to tell me that the glacier we went to was in the Endicott Arm and named Dawes Glacier. It was the same one they went to as the Tracyarm was still too dangerous for approach by the ships. I still need to get her pictures to see what's best between us to post but above are the only 2 pictures I took in the sewing room on the ship. We had drop dead gorgeous views as you can see to sew by!! Most of you are aware it was a quilting cruise for Jennifer and I but about a month before we sailed Pat Sloan backed out when not enough people had signed up to pay her husbands' way. So not many of us to sew and we only went part of 2 days while out to sea and didn't go to any of the evening sit and sews. The machines there were a really nice Brother quilting machine and the co owner of the shop designed and taught the wall hanging we made, Sue Walsh. Mine is ready to be sandwiched and quilted. I'll share when it is done if not before. I think it is safe to say I wouldn't be inclined to go on another quilting cruise. The quilting piece of our trip was a big disappointment having Pat Sloan back out. There is so incredibly much to do and keep busy with on the ship when out to sea that I'd just rather relax and enjoy the cruise should I ever get another opportunity to do one. When I get the pictures sorted through and combined with Jennifer's I will post more. Meanwhile things are really busy at work and I'm in a wrist brace for tendinitis, ugh. I had to baby it all weekend so I'd be able to go to work today. They are letting me work in the brace and I didn't have to do any lifting today so I lucked out. I work again tomorrow and will hope it is light patient care again. Everyone have a great week!!

Sunrise at Sea

I managed to be up extra early one morning to catch this sunrise. Isn't it gorgeous?!

Ketchikan, Alaska

Jennifer and Tim took the tram up for the wondrous view. Gene and I passed, our fear of heights and vertigo were screaming NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, hahaha.
Being the first port we were amazed to find so many jewelry stores. They are everywhere!

The clouds and drizzle didn't deter us from enjoying the town.

Doesn't Ketchikan sit in a gorgeous setting of mountains?

Next stop........... Juneau.

The Glacier

I realized I didn't share the photo of the glacier we went to I was so enamored with the Berger Bits, LOL! The name of this glacier escapes me as it was not the one we had on our itinerary. The Sawyer Glacier was not accessible safely the day we were there, the Captain let us know he believed this one to be much better anyway and we indeed found it to be awe inspiring! Perhaps Jennifer and Tim recall the name as I can't find it online either.

"Berger Bits"

It's sure a smack ya in the head kind of day once you return to work after our fab vacation, LOL! Goodness, where is that room service anyway? I said I'd share a few more pictures but how funny to find that we took the most of the glacier and ice bergs, hahaha. All four of us gathered on our balcony to watch the ice bergs float by and come up on the glacier. It is an awesome site! All of us were so surprised to see that the "Berger Bits", as the Captain called them, were BLUE! Just phenomenal!

Our stateroom was much roomier than I anticipated with lots of closet space, a large full bathroom which had a divider to close for the toilet. The bed had a memory foam topper and was fairly comfortable overall. We also had a TV, coffee maker and fridge, couch which opened into another bed and a table and chair besides the one you see here with the food on it. Our balcony was incredible to have, it allowed us fresh air, great views of the scenery and came with 2 nice deck chairs and table.

Above is our beloved Seattle, the Emerald City, as we pulled out the first day. That is Mt. Rainier you see in the background standing tall and gorgeous! Just had to share our local scenery as well :-) Now I need to do a little housekeeping around here before the day gets away from me completely! Thanks for letting me share some of our adventure with you.

We're Back!

Yep, back to Seattle yesterday and here sits Gene as we wait for Aime to pick us up. It was a fantastic time for all of us although Gene had some rough times with his equalibrium. The food was fabulous and plentiful, the service absolutely superb at every level! I am in awe of the friendliness we found in every single crew member we encountered. I could have cruised forever. Our bed was made, clean towels each day, those cute towel animals with candy on our bed, room service. Ho hum, life will be very dull again in comparison, LOL! The day of departure was a gorgeous day and we sat on the pool deck as we headed out. I wish I could say the weather held for the rest of our trip but it didn't and we had clouds, rain and wind. It didn't dampen our spirits though nor keep us from heading off the ship at each port. Skagway was miserably cold and windy but we still managed to walk into town and hit the quilt shop, yarn shop and a few other stores as well. As the days go by I will try to share a little more of our trip and pictures too. Today we have Jaiden and she's spending the night with us. She helped me hull the strawberries for dessert using a straw and did a great job. Love that little trick! It is warm and sunny here and finally feels like summer will arrive :-) One more day off and then back to work for me. I admit I was thrilled to indulge in my own coffee this morning and real coke this afternoon, LOL! The ships coffee left a lot to be desired and they serve Pepsi, not Coke. Very minor disappointment when everything else was beyond my wildest dreams. Definitely hard to return to the real world, hahaha!