G'Day from Down Under

Recently we returned from a unique and special vacation with good friends. We decided to call this Bob's retirement trip. It was a blessing in so many ways. We had three couples that were our host/hostesses. Because they were local, we did and saw things that we would not have known about without them. What a privilege to make their acquaintance. We are thankful.

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Impressions of Ireland

We went to Ireland with friends ten months ago but I just decided to post a couple of photo books. The trips were wonderful and we were so blessed to enjoy them with friends.

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Sea como sea

We had the opportunity to go for a few days to Cancun—mostly business for Bob.

However, I usually love to do an excursion of some kind and see the area and learn or experience something new when I accompany Bob.

However, this time, I wanted to be careful not to spend any extra money because after all, we are building a new home and have not sold our current home.

However, I did want to enjoy the water and sunshine and relax and read books. I went well supplied and read four books that were just fun.


However, the weather was uncharacteristically cool and rainy with two downpour drenching rainy days and temperatures never getting above 62 degrees.

However, we did enjoy watching the coatis. I loved sitting and listening to their chirping sounds. They were quite tame and although I did not have my camera ever with me, the phone worked well enough to capture a couple of shots.



I do so wish that I could speak Spanish.

However, it was a joy to hear “Hola” and other gracious phrases every time I stepped out of our room.

Sí, gracias, I am remembering this trip con mucho gusto.

Three Heads Are Better Than One

Donna decided to go on the Girls Get Away Cruise, invited her sisters, made the arrangements, handed out vouchers at appropriate times. She would have gone alone but three was better than one.

The night before the cruise, we rejoiced over the miners rescue, and then were amazed at Secretariat and Penny Chenery. We would have enjoyed watching alone but the shared experience was better.

We were happy campers in a closet sized room—with each having three drawers and a few hangers. I slept on the top bunk, Donna provided bathroom spray, and Lou shared shampoo and conditioner. Donna woke at the crack of dawn each morning after a few hours of sleep, showered and had her coffee than woke Lou who showered and then woke me. It worked.

My sisters quickly fell into the role of rescuing me. Because of them, I arrived on time, heard all of the speakers, and enjoyed all of the entertainment planned by the Premier Christian Cruises' Girls Getaway staff. Three was so much better than I would have been alone.

Without the sisters, I would have lost my sea pass and sweater. Donna would have searched longer for the earrings that were on her ears and might have forgotten to wear her swimsuit for the called-off snorkeling adventure. Lou might not have found the meeting place for the Taste of Key West excursion.

Regarding Taste of Key West, Lou was one of two that tasted all of the hot sauces up until a waiver was required. Donna and I watched with pride and amazement and a bottle of water.

All of us thought the key lime foods were fabulous.

Because we insisted on sharing another excursion experience together, we signed on for the Dolphin Experience. We supported each other when we decided to buy photos at exorbitant prices. More are here on Donna's post.

We loved sharing our meals with an Alabama mom and two sisters and of course our efficient, excellent, delightful and entertaining wait staff, Harish and Tashoy.

Our room attendant amused us with her towel creations.

Regarding leisure time on the day at sail, Donna provided a book for me to read. I provided a book for Lou to read. Donna brought books and bought books.

Regarding photos, mostly, I was the photographer. Donna was most photographed. Lou requested a photo book of our cruise.

We liked and were challenged by all of the same speakers. Angela Thomas ranked in the first or second spot for all of us. And of course, Melissa Reeves and Lysa TerKeurst who reminded us that “With age, your mess becomes your message.”

And oh yes, Carol Kent and Karen Kingsbury, who warmed us with her humbleness and availability. Then there was Mark Harris, who led us in amazing worship and marvelous performances by Johnny Diaz, and Nicole C. Mullen. Of course, Kenn Kington, who kept us laughing as well as The Spa Girls and Penny Dollar and Polly Esther. In all it was an amazing event—a happy shared sister time.



Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

A Boston Marathon in Four Days

Grif and I did a Grandma Day on steroids from Monday-Thursday in Boston.

We had a great time.

Grandpa was in Boston at a convention and had a large complimentary room. I did not think the spacious room should be wasted on one person. Grif and I redeemed some miles tickets and went to keep Grandpa company — sort of.

Fourteen year old Grif was sure that there would be absolutely no problem getting his ten ounce conditioner and toothpaste through the airport carry-on security. He told me in no uncertain I-know-what-am talking-about, how-can you-possibly-believe-otherwise terms but he did refrain from saying the stupid word that one was a gel and the other a paste so neither were liquids. I guess he was right as both items passed right through both Chicago and Boston security. Even Grandpa who travels every week was wrong on that one. You must know how hard it was not to secretly alert the security scanners just to prove myself right. Grif and I are cut of the same like-to-be-right cloth—even though not we are not blood related.

Grif and I are not natural travel companions.

On an airplane, I like a seat on the aisle.
Grif likes a seat by the window.
I like to sit together.
Grif could probably care less about that.
It worked out well for us . . .
On Monday, during the day, on the way to Boston, Grif sat by the window, I sat in the middle seat. On Thursday night, our plane left at 8:30 p.m., Grif sat in the middle, I sat in the aisle.

Grif told me that he was mostly interested in taking the trip with me for the plane ride.

I was primarily enthusiastic about the history of Boston and the surrounding area.

Grif explained that he is not that into history. He likes living in the present and doesn’t believe all that stuff about learning from the past.

I thought Grif would like a bike ride tour—doing something active.

"No, not particularly."

He liked the tall ship ride because he had forgotten how nice it is to relax on a boat just drifting out to sea.

Grif was enthusiastic about having a TV right across from his bed, reminding me that his main interest is electronics.

Grandma, that would be me, was disinterested in TV but concerned about Grif’s interest. Hubby had all of the “Adult” channels blocked but
even so . . .

Grif forgot his wallet, his school ID, his swim suit, a hat and a jacket.
Grandma brought much more than needed.

Grif did not need a wallet, a school ID (that I asked him to bring in case we needed it at the airport or for fares into some venues but there was no need) a swim suit, or a jacket (the weather was warm even at night.) He did miss his hat but was fine without it. I did not use much of what I brought.

We I found a half-price swimsuit that looked twice Grif’s size. Grif insisted that it was fine. I coerced Grif into a dressing room and stood outside and waited briefly, ridiculously hoping that Grif would show me how it fit. I was astute enough not to ask. Grif emerged quickly stating that it fit fine and so it was purchased.

Two days later, I coerced Grif into going swimming by saying, “I bought you a suit and I want you to use it at least one time.” Also, I was pretty sure that Grif had not showered or washed his hair while we had sweated through Boston and thought the pool was a lesser request than a shower. And so he accommodated me by trying the pool, but really, Grif did not need a swimsuit, I should have trusted him more, I am pretty sure that a shower would have been just as entertaining for him.

Grif likes to stay up very late, or early depending on how you count time. He is a self-proclaimed insomniac that absolutely cannot fall asleep at night. I like an early bedtime, around 10:30 p.m., and generally fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

I like getting up in time for the complimentary breakfast.
Grif loves sleeping in the morning.
We figured it out though.

I got up for the free breakfast and brought back a few items that I thought Grif might like. Then I opened the shades and said “Sure” to the maid cleaning our room and Grif woke up. He ate, with no complaints, cold dried-out pizza from the night before and then we were off to explore by the early hour of 10:30 a.m. each day.

I love to take photos and record my trips. One time Grif showed a bit of interest and told me to take a picture of this statue with its hat. He thought it was comical.

Other than that, he appeared oblivious of the camera but was aware enough to duck if I pointed it in his direction. I felt like the paparazzi as I furtively tried to sneak a photo of him here and there.

I love walking everywhere and do not mind a few distractions or back tracking between destinations. My feet and my legs never got sore nor was I ever stiff the next day. Praise God for that and I mean that seriously. Obviously that was not so for Grif’s still growing body.

I would have been glad to take a swan boat ride because we were in Boston. Grif thought not.



I asked him to indulge me if the line was not too long.
It was.


Honestly though, Grif was an easy and pleasant traveling companion. He is very low maintenance in the clothing, shoe and food departments. He never once asked for a souvenir or if we could please go shopping. Shopping and souvenir hunting are also way at the bottom of my favorite things on vacation. We had some serious and some amusing conversations and some quiet stretches. I was delighted.

We agreed on most things.

We both liked the Duck Tour. It was informative and fun.

And we would both definitely like to return to the Museum of Science. It was fascinating. We especially enjoyed the Mathematica exhibit and I really enjoyed the exhibit of George Washington Carver.

We saw two IMAX movies, one called Thrill Rides and the other was Whales but I may have nodded off a bit during the last movie.

It was fun eating lunch as we looked over spectacular views of Boston, Cambridge, and the Charles River.

We both enjoyed Fenway Park.

I gave Grif no choice about attending a baseball game. I wanted to see the historic field and the Green Monster. Even though neither of us is a fan of either team, I thought it was a great game. We both liked the old ball park and we both love ballpark food—almost a different food for each inning but we showed a little restraint.

We both liked figuring out the subway and found it quite easy to navigate.

We walked the Freedom Trail because I just thought we should do that and we enjoyed the tour of the USS Constitution or Old Ironsides.

Grif likes routine, the familiar and dislikes change. He says that he is not normal for a teenager because he is a deep thinker. He is thankful that God gave him such a good mind. It makes both of us wonder how to turn on and off the switch in our brain sometimes. I was glad for the brief moments, we were able to travel together and talk about navigating life as well.

Before the trip Grif told a friend on FB, “I have to go to Boston next week.”

I’d like to believe that it was better than he expected. He graciously told me a couple of times, “I’m really glad that I came/went to Boston.”

That was a perfect finish for me.

Zippity do dah

It is not that I am afraid of heights.

But I was scared to climb this pole.

It was easy.

I wanted to jump right off like Morgan

and Kathi.


But I whimped out.


The view was beautiful.


I was flying—such fun—until . . .


I started worrying about the dismount.

“Easy. . .
No problem," I was told.


“Just run up the hill.”


“Nope, no one has ever broken a leg.”

But then, came the part that had me nervous.


“You may need to run backwards.”


“What?”

“You’ll see. It is no problem.”


And guess who came in backwards.


No graceful running up the hill like RaeJean.

I was hoping for something like Chariots of Fire.

But no broken leg either.

I am thankful that part was right.