almost there...

luggage

It's Wednesday already. I've been packing for our Alaskan Cruise. We leave at the end of the week. Well... I leave. Norman and the boys will be here to take care of the house and the cats. Organizing what one needs for almost 2 weeks is hard... didn't used to be.  Must be an age thing. Then trying to remember and follow all the new flying regulations... what you can and can't take, what you must have 'up front' in plastic bags, etc. as well as making sure you don't have too much luggage or that it weighs over such and such... And packing light when you need heavy warm clothes doesn't help...

Oh well, basically it's done. I wanted to get it all taken care of 'early on' so I had a day to relax and think about how much we're going to enjoy this little adventure.  Everyone I've spoken to that has taken the Alaskan Cruise has loved it. The scenery is supposed to be spectacular. I'm excited about seeing Vancouver and some of the Alaskan stops; Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan..... and possibly 'whales'.  I just hope the seas are calm and the  weather is not too cold. But none-the-less, it WILL be wonderful.

I'm taking a journal, a mystery book,  and my Nikon with me.   Wanted to take some yarn, but doubt that there will be time for crocheting.  My friend has signed us up for some 'excursions'.  I don't know what they are, but they should be fun. I have heard that the train excursion in Skagway is fantastic.

That's about all the news from here. Tux will miss our daily nap together. If it gets close to time and I haven't sat down with a book... he starts to follow me around howling.

Jack on left and Tux on right

Molly's handi-work 

After reading some blogs tonight I decided to do a post similar to Perpetua's... only it isn't my birthday until July.  BTW, Happy Birthday Perpetua! And many many many more! I liked the before 60's and after 60's pictures.  Here's mine.  But since I didn't have any recent ones, I had to try to do a 'self' photo.  It didn't come out too good, but after a few attempts, I decided this one would have to do (can you see the camera in my hand in the bottom right corner? I was looking in the mirror and holding the camera down to my side so the flash wouldn't obliterate my face...  kind of looks like a deer caught in the headlights)

me at 10

me at 67

Something I haven't mentioned, but is preying on my mind a bit is that this weekend is my 50th High School Reunion in New Orleans (which I will miss). I graduated from St. Mary's Dominican High in 1963 and had plans to go to the Reunion until realizing that it was on the same weekend as the Alaskan Cruise. Since we haven't lived in New Orleans in 45 years, we don't see many class-mates.  But I keep in touch with a few (one in New Orleans and one here in Texas). They promised to take pictures and gather info for me.

Tomorrow is my last day to get my ducks in a row for the trip so I doubt that I will have time to post again for the next 2 weeks. And I don't have a laptop... did at one time -  however, it went the way of the kids and grand kids. But I will catch up when I get back (both on my reading and comments as well as posting). And hopefully I will have lots of pictures to share!  Until then, Happy Blogging!

Just a short note to add that today (Thursday) when I went to pack my Nikon, it wasn't working... worked fine yesterday. Trip is tomorrow.  Figures... yes?