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| the cutest thing...
Isn't she the cutest thing? I'm sorry, but she really is (IMO of course). I know all grandparents feel this way. It happens the minute you set eyes on that tiny new life... or hold her or him in your arms. It's an amazing feeling. She has lost most of the red hair she was born with and looks like a little Q-ball these days. And don't you just love that tiny foot...
It's Sunday morning and we have been up since about 7:30, had coffee and biscuits, read the paper, played games on grandson's Meep, watched some soccer and football (at least the boys did), made peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and prepared a brisket for marinading. I've not had much experience with cooking brisket.... so this is an experiment. I found a recipe in a magazine that looked fairly easy and delicious, so I thought I'd try. I will marinade it today (in BBQ rub, onions, onion soup mix, Lea and Perrins, and Soy Sauce) and cook it tomorrow in the low oven (250) of my Aga for about 10 hours. We'll see...
I'm going to bring up something here that has come up only recently and I've got to make a decision about it in the next week or so. A good friend is going on a cruise to Alaska and wants me to go with her. Neither her husband or mine is interested in going. I originally told her that I really couldn't afford it at this time. But her argument is that we can't afford to wait - which I agree to some extent (She's 70 and I'm 67). It is a special fare cruise where IF you book now for the end of April, you get the 2 for 1 fare. The whole trip from what she says on the discounted rate (her son & daughter have checked it out) shouldn't cost me more than $1000.00. That's hard to believe, I know. Anyway, she's already booked and really really wants me to go with her. I would like to go and probably won't get another chance, but I keep thinking that I would need clothes for the trip which would cost $, and I tend to get seasick (don't want to ruin her trip), etc. But she is a very dear friend, so I said that I would 'think about it'. I probably should mention that she and I have taken great trips in the past to England, Paris, Ireland... and still take local road trips now. We get along great and the trips have given us wonderful memories. I think its just that with retirement, we have to be so careful that I feel guilty even thinking about it.
On another note, I noticed on someone's blog that they had a "live feed" which told them that 'someone from where-ever' was visiting their blog. I thought that was a neat fixture. How do you get that on a blog?
And one other question, is my font big enough? I use the normal default font, but it looks a little small to me.
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This blog is meant to be a documentation of our journey into the world of retirement. I know the title should be "Older, but wiser". However, I really didn't know if that would be accurate. The "Older, but better...?" title could also be misleading. The 5 cats in the above pics are: Molly, Rose, Tux, Julie, and Ghost. (I have tried to make this collage smaller, but with no luck...)
Sunday, January 13, 2013
the cutest thing...
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Yes, she's a cutie patootie and it's great she's doing well, looks so happy.
ReplyDeleteRE: the Alaska cruise: My dad took me on a 7-day cruise for my 40th birthday, lo those many years ago. He's in the Vancouver, BC area, so it was easy for me to fly out and we cruised from there.
It will cost you more than $1000, IMO. Any tour you want to take ashore costs $$$, especially via the cruise line. The hitch is that if you take an on-shore cruise from a private tour company, and something happens, the cruise ship will NOT wait for you. That's how they sucker you in to paying their exorbitant tour fees. LOL.
Dress: If you plan to dine in the "captain's" dining room, yep, you need to dress. Oh, I suppose it depends on the cruise ship company, of course! Ours was via Holland America, geared to a more mature clientele.
And while the food is free, anything alcoholic you purchase at one of the MANY lounges is not. Neither are the clothes and souvenirs in the on-board shops.
Go, have an awesome time (the scenery is amazing, stunning, breath-taking), but do be prepared to spend more than you expect. Maybe you won't spend more than $1000, but I definitely would be prepared for it costing significantly more than that.
Kim, my grandpa's brother moved from England to Vancouver, BC back in the 20's (when my dad moved his family to the US). My Great Uncle Richard had 6 children so I'm sure there are many still in the Vancouver area. If you get a chance, just ask your dad if he ever knew any Regans or O'Regans...?? (my dad changed from Regan back to O'Regan when he became a citizen here, but I don't think his brother did.
DeleteAs for the cruise, I am thinking about it... and I do agree that $1000 sounds awfully low. But I WILL say that I don't drink and am not interested in souvenirs (except photos), but I do imagine any onshore excursions will cost. Incidentally I've been on one cruise in my life and it was with my mom when she was in her 80's - it was also on a Holland America line.
She really is a little doll. I know how the money end weighs on us retired folk, but I do envy that you have a friend with whom you have a good travel history. I would give it very serious consideration.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Olga. I'm 'thinking' about it.
DeleteShe is gorgeous in my eyes too....as for the Brisket ...it sounds amazing ...I love it but no point cooking it as no one else does ...and my recipe is not a yummy a yours.
ReplyDeleteNow the trip ...I would be just like you ...thinking of the cost and whether it was a waste of money I might need later ...but if hubby is happy for you to go ....GO ...you know she is a great companion too and its a chance of a life time xx
Thanks, Angie. I'll let you know how the brisket turns out. BTW, I recently came across a really good biscuit recipe. I've been meaning to post it.
DeleteAs for the trip, I'm 'thinking about it'... DH says go, but I've not convinced myself yet. Making a pro's and con's list today.
You are very fortunate. It must feel good to be a grandparent. She is precious.
ReplyDeleteIt does, John. And it's strange too... because the first grandbaby (which was a boy) was the exact image of my own first baby (who also was a boy). This surprised me so much that my first words upon looking at him were, "OMG, this is my baby"...
DeleteThat baby is sooo adorable. No wonder you love that little foot. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't know much about Live Feed but you can google and find out how to do it.
We went on an Alaskan Cruise (given to us for our 50th anniversary by our children) 3 yrs ago and it was WONDERFUL...saw so many neat things and places. You will never regret going, Rian.
If it would put you in a financial bind,tho, I understand how you are unsure about going.
Thanks for the input, bj. It is our 45th Anniversary this year and DH is not one for traveling much... I am giving it serious thought as the days go by. It's not that it would put us in a financial bind, it's just that retirement is still new to us (the no paychecks anymore part)that it scares me a bit to spend money unnecesarily.
DeleteCute doesn't even begin to cover it! :-) What a little doll. And born with red hair, so it will be returning, betcha'. We have one red headed Grand daughter and she is a doll too. Although she is now 19 years of age. :-)
ReplyDeleteI can read your print. We all can increase/decrease the size of print, on our own computer. So I say, make your blog, the size, which is comfortable for you.
This possible cruise.... I hope you will ask your own *gut instinct.* I really believe that if we quietly ask ourselves, whether something is a good idea for us or not, we will get the correct answer.
As to the impact on your finances, that too, would have to have a direct impact on your decision, though. I believe in the "If not now, when?" motto. But only if I can afford it. :-)
"Auntie"
I believe in *gut instinct* also, but my gut is having a harder than usual time giving me an answer here. If we were both still working, I'd go in a minute... if not because I would like to, then because my dear friend wants me to.
DeleteShe is sooooo sweet, Rian. I have three lovely grandsons, but would have loved a grand-daughter too, so enjoy every minute of her.
ReplyDeleteMy instinct is to say yes to the cruise if you think you can afford it, as the price seems to me very good for what you will get. Modern ships are very stable and I don't think seasickness should be a problem in a cruise which stays pretty close to shore much of the time.
I do find your default font small, but then I have cataracts and have to enlarge most webpages to 125% or 150%. I use a 14 point font on my blog which seems to work well for most people.
As for the live feed, the one I use is Feedjit:
http://live.feedjit.com/
which is very easy to set up and free.
The price does seem unbelievably good. And the fact that the ship may stay close to the shore is a plus.
DeleteFeedjit, huh? One other question, what exactly is the purpose of 'live feed'?
For bloggers it's a bit of fun really, showing you the wide range of places your readers come from and when they viewed your blog. The paid-for professional version can help website owners to see in more depth how often their site is being accessed and from where, which, if you're trying to sell something, can be very useful information.
DeleteI have heard the Alaska cruise is the best of all the cruises. Not so much partying...good food and beautiful scenery. I think you and your friend would have a grand time. I would love to have another grand baby and if it was as cute as yours...I would be doubly blessed. Those little toes peeking from the quilt are adorable.
ReplyDelete