Ph-Ph-Ph-Ph-Ph-Phoenix

It’s 6:30am and I find myself, once again, at gate C3 at the magnificent Harrisburg International Airport. International my azz. You can barely get out of the state without connecting to a larger airport. Regional airport is a better description, but I digress.

I am flying in coach*. (I paid for this ticket) I see the little Buddy Holly plane sitting out there on the tarmac. Despite having a jet-way, I will not be fooled this time. You do walk down the jet-way and then out the door, down the steps, across the tarmac and then climb the steps to board your ‘luxury’ coach.

I have Admiral’s Club passes so I can get into the secret little club at the Philadelphia airport. Much to my chagrin, the passes expired April 15^th—yes, YESTERDAY. Arghhhhhhhh.  Being able to hide out in the lounge prior to the next leg of the trip makes the coach trip a lot better. I plan on throwing myself at the feet of the receptionist and begging to be admitted.

The gate is much more crowded than it was the last time I was here. I am hoping the loud toddler that is currently racing around the terminal screaming is not on my flight. We shall see.

My flight to Phoenix is supposed to arrive about 12:15, Phoenix time. I think it’s so bizarre that they do not observe Daylight Savings Time. Well, not that they don’t observe it, but that, as a country, we can’t even agree on that. I am not getting into the whole political process that is going on right now. But, I will say this is not a time to be a proud American.

I’m going to share something I am more than a bit excited about! I’ve resurrected my kiln and have been creating lots of pottery. Since last year, I’ve been getting the feel for the clay again and discovering the new glazes that have come out in the last 25 years. Well, that isn’t the news, although it is exciting! The real news is, I contacted a store I’ve visited a few time in Phoenix and asked if they would be interested in selling the incense burners I’ve been making. THEY ARE!!!!!! I have a container packed with bubble wrap in my carry-on.

The ride on the Buddy Holly plane was uneventful until near the end. As we made our approach to Philly, the flight path took us over the river. As we crossed, one of those huge cargo container ships was sailing underneath us. It was so huge it seemed like it went on forever. The landing gear was down on the plane and I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say it looked like the plane cleared the ship by less than six feet. But, a few minutes later we were on the ground.

And, once again, we taxied to Terminal F. Then you have to take the internal shuttle bus to terminal A. The shuttle was filled with so many people I thought I was in Italy again. No concept of load capacity. 

Made it to the Admiral's Lounge and sat in the comfy chairs and used the secure wireless. I also made myself a little breakfast of fresh fruit and trail mix. If you are travelling more than once or twice a year with layovers, you really should look into the different ways to purchase access. It certainly makes the whole layover much nicer--and the free booze is another plus. 

You can find several credit cards that offer a couple of passes to their lounges as part of a welcome package. 

Here are few interesting articles regarding how to get lounge access. (I am not endorsing any of these methods and make no promises on the accuracy of the information.) Always do your own research though!

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Buying a day pass is also an option--but a fairly expensive one. However, I would have no problem doing that if for example, I had a very long layover, prior to an even longer flight. Say, like one to Tahiti. The TBIT has a gorgeous  AA Admiral's Lounge . 

The flight from Philly to Phoenix was delayed. The pilot came on and said there were a large number of planes waiting on the jetway for take-off. So we inched along just like rush hour on the highway. We sat for about 40 minutes. Sigh. Once in the air, the pilot was unable to make up that much time and we ended up arriving about 20 minutes or so late. 

I carried on my luggage so I made it out to the shuttles to the car rental facilities that are miles from the airport. It's a humongous place with all the companies in one giant building and then escalators leading to the various levels where the cars are kept in mammoth parking garages. It was a ZOO. 

On the way over in the shuttle, I checked my email and had one from Hertz stating if I wanted to join their gold members club, I could avoid the line, head directly to the cars, find my name on the gold board and pick up the car and my rental agreement would be printed as I exited. OH YES, sign me up. 

So, off I went, bypassing the queue of at least 30 people, and down to the cars. I did not see my name on the gold board, so I went to the little office on that level and was told I'd have to call 1800GOLDCAR or something like that and have the reservation rebooked under my new gold member number. NO, he could not do that there. So, I did that, came back inside and got back into the line and listened to one person after another have issues--the charge amount wasn't right, the car they requested wasn't there, and on and on. Finally, it was my turn and the other man working the desk found the reservation right away. He was going to upgrade me to a Toyota Camry--loaded. I said, I'm not going to have the same issue as these other people am I?  No way!!!!  Ok! My luggage and I schlep the whole way across this garage to Row Q, space 26. And I had the Steve Martin, Planes, Trains and Automobiles experience. 

Steve Martin

So, my luggage and I make our way back to the counter. By this time the line is even longer so I stand there and listen to the man being 'served' explain that he booked a full-size car but when he got there, it was full size but it has hand controls--"you know for a crippled person" And the rental counter guy says, and you don't need that? The guy says, "You saw me walk up to the counter". Then he spots me and says OH NO. I said OH YES, there was NO CAR in row Q26. He motions me up to the counter.

He then disappears into a back room or something and comes back about 5 minutes later with keys to a brand new Impala for the man with the handicapped car. Then he says, I'll find you a car. And I said, with a huge smile, and when you find the car, I know you will want to go and get the car and drive it right up beside this building, right? Of course, he said and disappeared to the back. I went outside and waited and waited and waited. He finally pulls up and says, sorry, the car I went to get you wasn't there either. I had to find a different car. So, almost 2 hours have gone by since I left the airport and I finally am on my way to see the kids! If this is the Hertz Gold Experience, I don't think I want that experience again.

Thirty-five minutes later, I am hugging my son! And another hour or so, my daughter gets the same treatment. Happy, Happy, Happy!!!

It's now 8:10 here and I am meeting the kids at Pappdeaux's for a late dinner. The food is magnificent! It's 11:10 where I come from and I am beat. But I am also very hungry and thinking after dinner and a few drinks, I will faceplant into the bed when I get back. 

BTW, I am staying at a Candlewood Suites. They are very reasonably priced and would be a great deal for a family. They have a full kitchen (no oven), a desk, a couple of chairs, a recliner and a queen size bed. I know they also have 1 bedroom suites with a separate bedroom and living room with a sleeper sofa.  They have so many 'little things' they do right here. You can borrow movies, board games, and things like blenders. They also have a 'Candlewood Kitchen' and it operates on the HONOR SYSTEM. It's stocked with soda, juice, water, snacks, fresh fruit, cereal and canned soups.

There is also a laundry room, a very well-equipped gym. Outside there is a heated pool and jacuzzi and a gas grill and picnic tables for outdoor dining. I try and stay here every time I visit. 

OMG just back from dinner. As expected, the food was exceptional. The reason: it's a scratch kitchen and the seafood and fish is flown in daily. No pre-made meals. Everything from sauces to desserts are made fresh here. And you can certainly taste the difference. 

It's about 11:30 here--so 2:30 'my time'. I'm more than tired. And so ends my first day. I couldn't give the kids enough hugs and kisses. No matter how old they get, they will always be my bebes. Life is so good!

*Coach—kind of ironic that there is a line of pocketbooks that people equate with luxury and status. The reality of coach travel on an airplane is anything but. Just sayin’

What to do?

Okay, I admit it, I am more than a little obsessed with travel. There are so many places I feel like I need to see that I have a hard time deciding what to do next. (I know real problems huh?)

These are the things I am thinking about for late 2017 or early 2018:
Flying to Sydney, Australia, touring a few days and maybe a 7-10 night cruise from there.
Flying to either Singapore or Hong Kong and then doing a cruise to Vietnam and Thailand
Flying to South Africa for 2 weeks, staying in Johannesburg and then doing a safari and Victoria Falls

What to do, what to do???

I guess I will have to create a spreadsheet! List all the pros and cons, and estimate the costs. Or maybe I will just put the choices in a hat and pick one!

I do know I need to start figuring out what I am going to do and see when I am in Hawaii later this year. So far, there are only a few things I know for certain I want to do:
Snorkel as much as possible.
Snorkel with turtles!
Take a helicopter ride somewhere
Visit Pearl Harbor
Drink some Kona coffee
Wear a lei
Chill on as many beaches as possible with a slushy drink in my hand.
Eat Hawaiian pineapple
See lava oozing over the land
Take thousands of pictures
Watch the sunset over the water

As for what I plan on doing for five sea days on the way to Hawaii:
Read
Sit on the promenade deck and stare at the ocean in a cushiony lounge chair (planning on spending countless hours doing this)
Read
Lounge by the pool.
Lounge in the Serenity area (aft) and watch the ship's wake
Read
Go to tea at least once
Take a nap on a comfy lounge chair
Read
Sleep soundly underneath a comfy, perfect weight duvet
Blog!
And possibly, read some more.
(Notice MAJOR lounging is planned!)

The ports we are stopping at are:
Hilo                10am-6pm
Kauai               9am-6pm
Maui                9am-11pm
Honolulu         8am   Disembark
Then I will be in Honolulu for 3 more nights

I guess I really am resurrecting the spreadsheet. There is a lot to keep track of.

So, if you've been to Hawaii or Vancouver, what is the one thing I have to see in each city???

Safety Tips for Travellers

I often get questions like "Aren't you afraid, travelling all by yourself?" or comments like "You are so brave going there."  And no, I am not afraid OR brave, what I am, is PREPARED.

How in the world can you prepare you may ask? Well, below are some ideas on how to help you stay safe and reduce your risk of becoming a victim when you travel.

Research your destination

This is probably one of the most critical steps and a lot of people simply read a few Trip Advisor reviews and off they go.  I don't think you should EVER visit any place without knowing what to expect when you get there.

"But I'm a spontaneous person, researching isn't my thing," you may say.

 You can still maintain your spontaneity; but having basic knowledge of the  area/country is crucial.

 You should know if there are areas or specific places to avoid.

 Do you need Vaccines or Visas for your destination?

I always check the Government Department of State website for travel advisories and information regarding diseases or Visas. You should also note the phone number of the US Consulate            http://www.state.gov/countries

Understand a bit about the culture--especially gestures, clothing or words familiar to us that maybe offensive in the country you visit.

       In many countries, visiting sacred sites require specific dress.

For example, in Italy, to visit the Vatican Museum, you cannot wear sleeveless shirts and your knees must be covered. They really do check that stuff and will refuse to let you enter.

      

    Safeguarding your Passport and Credit Cards**

Before I travel, I always scan a copy of my passport photo page as well as the front and back of any debit/credit cards I will be taking and then Email them to myself using an Email account I can access any place in the world.  (Ex. Yahoo)

While you can't use the copy of the passport to travel with, it may help expedite the process of obtaining a replacement. 

            (Having said that, this goes back to Research.  Always know who to contact if your passport is lost or stolen. )

The copies of your credit cards will be helpful if your cards are lost or stolen.

  The back of the card contains a phone number to call in just that situation.

**You should notify your credit card company if you are using their card while travelling.

**Try to use credit cards that incur no foreign transaction fees.

**Using a credit card almost always gets you a favorable exchange rate.

**Always take at least 2 credit cards in case one is lost or stolen.

**I generally use Credit Cards every place I can because it eliminates the need to carry a lot of cash and if lost or stolen, you usually are not responsible for fraudulent charges.

        Cash

I never carry much cash with me when I travel. With ATM machines almost every place on the planet, there is no need.  In addition, ATMs usually provide the best conversion rate for foreign currency.  So, I normally only withdraw the amount of money I will need for a day or two. 

Use common sense when choosing/using an ATM machine.

(If there are banks in the area, I go there.)

What you need to remember is to contact your bank and let them know you will be out of the country and make sure your PIN will work (usually needs to be 4 numbers).  That way, they won't 'freeze' your account thinking use is unauthorized.

Sometimes there is a need to have some cash in advance. I found Travel Ex; through my local credit union was a reasonable place to purchase local currency at a decent exchange rate and a low fee. 

Another thing that falls under Research--Know the value of the local currency compared to your currency.     Foreign Currency

       

     Clothes and Accessories  

Try not to look or act like a tourist.  In other words, try to blend in.

        Dress more like the locals do.  (Especially when in Europe-- They can spot an                 American a mile away if they are wearing white sneakers or sweat pants etc. 

        They don't wear that type of clothing, unless in fact, they are going to the gym)

       Also, most people in other countries say they can identify Americans because they          are so loud!

      Never wear t-shirts with explicit language or offensive images.

Keep the travel paraphernalia to a minimum. **

**You are more of a target for a pick pocket or to be robbed if you are seen wandering down the street, focused on a local map, totally engrossed in taking pictures or staring in awe at the beautiful surroundings.  The reason being: You are not aware of your surroundings.

I'm not saying not to do these things--perhaps try this:

Consult the map before you leave your room. If you have to refer to it again, stop and move to the side of the walking area and get your back near a wall.   

Wear a cross body bag--men and women.  Make sure the zippers and snaps are closed when you are out and about.  (Men: they make cross body camera bags that can carry a lot more than the camera!) And wear it towards the front of your body.

Keep the camera out to take candid shots but use a wrist or neck strap and keep the carry bag closed/zipped.

I try not to carry a backpack because they are easy to pick pocket. (Although I did see a new design where the zippers are backwards that are supposed to be pick pocket proof)

When sitting in a restaurant or café, do not sling your bags over the back of the chair. Keep them on the ground between your feet. Make sure straps are not trailing out behind you.

I also try not to walk directly next to a road, if possible. In Europe, there were reports of thieves on motorbikes snatching bags or purses from people and speeding away.

The whole idea here is to make it difficult to anyone to rob or pick pocket you.  The most important thing to remember is to be aware!! If you don't look like an 'easy mark' they will probably move on to someone else that does.

There are many websites that offer travel clothing, travel bags, garments to wear underneath your clothes to safeguard money and other valuables etc. I've never felt the need to purchase any of that stuff, but if something like that makes you feel more secure, go for it.

   Luggage

      Never put your address on your luggage tag--inside or outside. Only include your name and a phone number.

                 Why advertise your home address to anyone with access to your bag? 

                And always put a luggage tag or card with your name and phone number            inside the bag in case the tag on the outside is torn off.

    Travel Insurance 

             In my opinion, travel insurance is a necessity.  I use a wonderful site called InsureMyTrip.com

(No, I get no financial benefit by telling you that. I just like it)
You enter basic information and it brings up a bunch of different types of policies with all sorts of coverage. The price of the insurance is based on your age,value of the trip and I believe the location.

You can then narrow your choices down however you like and compare them--a fabulous feature. I usually choose a Comprehensive package that covers most things. A couple of the things I always include in my insurance are:

Trip Interruption    Baggage Delay    Medical Evacuation    Medical Coverage

     Random Tips 
               Before you climb into a taxi, make sure it is an 'official' one.
               In many countries, there are no meters in the taxis--negotiate the fare BEFORE you get in.
               

               

                     

      Summary

Despite all the planning and safeguarding, if you travel enough, something will happen to you.  I speak from personal experience! However, by doing the things I've outlined above, you will save yourself some headaches and hopefully make the process less painful. 

New Beginnings

So, I've been out of touch for a bit. What have I been doing you may ask....Well, I got a new job that I am enjoying very much. The people I work with and for have been wonderful. They really appreciate the work I am doing, how fast I am catching on to new tasks...... and they TELL ME that.
This is such a foreign concept to me. After almost 2 months there, I am sure I chose the right job.

I've also spent quite a bit of time repainting and 'sprucing' up the house. And, I've fired up my kiln again and I'm quite obsessed with making pottery right now. I am hoping to sell some of my work to local shops and then maybe set up an Etsy store. I'm still experimenting and trying to get the feel for the clay again. But I have created some pretty interesting pieces.

With regard to travel, I do have a few things planned and will have to add them to my travel list on the home page. The first thing up is a long weekend in Phoenix to visit my kids. I wanted to go out for my son's birthday last week but hotel prices were so crazy because of spring training, I decided to wait until April. Cannot wait to see my kids!

After that, I have a quick 4-night cruise in May. The ship is stopping in Key West and Cozumel. I plan on going snorkeling in Key West on the Fury and in Cozumel, just spent the day chilling at Nachi Cocum. More on that trip as it's happening--LIVE.

In July, I have a trip to Sanibel Island planned for the week of the 4th. I was there in December for a long weekend and decided I needed to go back as soon as possible. What a gorgeous place. And if you collect sea shells, you will just lose your mind there. I'm told the shelling is so great because the island lays east/west  whereas the coast of Florida is north/south. Once I cross that bridge to the island, I don't plan on leaving until it's time to go home!

Then, September is the 'big' trip. I'm flying to Seattle for a few days to visit with my cousins. Then the Amtrak Cascade to Vancouver for one night. And then the cruise to Hawaii!!! Five glorious sea days to cross the Pacific and then 5 nights of sailing around the islands, followed by 3 nights in Honolulu.

I'm baaaaaaaaack and living gypsy once again! Life is good!

Key West -- Where the Weird Go Pro

The title of my post is actually on a sign when you arrive at the airport. And it couldn't be more true.

I have been to Key West five times over the years and it really does get more outrageous every time I go. I've arrived by car, airplane and cruise ship.

Every night, they celebrate the sunset with a big party type atmosphere. There are vendors selling Conch Fritters, boozy beverages, jewelry, scarves, hats--just about any type of craft and food you can imagine. The Street Performers set up and do dangerous looking things with knives, fire and tight ropes. They sell booze cruises to view said sunset from the water. Many people make their living by providing these things to visitors.

The cruise ships that visit the port in town MUST leave before sunset as they block the view. This is how important and money making the activity is.

The first time I visited, the area where the sunset celebration was held was just an open concrete area next to where ships could dock. In recent years, hotels and condos have sprung up all across that open area but the celebration lives on in a paved area close to the water.

The drive from Miami is LONG and HOT but the 7 Mile Bridge views are just stunning.

Arriving by cruise ship is usually a quick stop--5 or 6 hours both times for me. One time we docked right at the Key West port and the other was at the military base a mile or two away.

One port stop was filled with drama as well. When we docked in the town, after our day of shopping and drinking, we watched from our balcony as the ship escorted part of a wedding party off the ship for reasons we were never sure of. The woman was screaming and carrying on that all their stuff was still on the ship -- even their car keys. Then we got to watch the approach of the late arriving drunks trying to run or at least walk fast to make it back to the ship. In the end, the ship left on time and the wedding party was left behind, still screaming and crying.

The second time, was the cruise I took my nephew on. I took him on a pub crawl I booked through the ship. Now that was fun! We had a guide and made our way all over downtown Key West, having at least one drink at every stop. My favorite drink place is called The Flying Monkey Saloon. They have a whole row of slushy machines and you can get your drinks in to-go bottles complete with lid and sippy straw! Well, you know we had to get a to-go cup because the next bar was 5 blocks away!!

The very best place for a Bloody Mary is this place, in my opinion, Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the place. I had to have two Bloodys in the short time I was there.

We didn't stop here this time....but here is the Smallest Bar!!

And of course, we did the requisite drink at Sloppy Joe's. I'm not really sure what I had here but I know it was alcoholic!!

Needless to say, our group was a teensy bit intoxicated when we boarded that Conch Train back to the ship. It was about 126 degrees in the shade that day and the little train had to stop and everyone had to show their ship card and picture ID to the MPs. Let's just say, it's probably easier to herd cats then to try and get 25 drunks to not only understand the command but comply with it.

When we got back to the ship----finally-----and after sweating off a pound or two in the sun, we got into that air conditioning, decided we were just going to go back to the room to shower and then head up to the pool. Ummmm..... yeah......six hours later we woke up, showered and went to dinner. LOL

I've also visited during the Wine and Food Festival they hold in January. While I enjoyed it, I don't think I would do it again. You should be a very big wine connoisseur to truly enjoy what it has to offer. Wine, wine everywhere and all I wanted was a beer or a gin and tonic!! The trip was a gift though, so I just went with the flow!  I did love the food events we went to though.

And I visited with several friends a couple of times. We stayed at a hotel across the street from the Southernmost point in the United States. We cabbed it to the Sunset Celebration and after imbibing quite heavily there, decided to walk back (a couple of miles) to our hotel and visit every bar on the way back for a drink or shot.

It was during this trip back to the hotel that I was somehow talked into posing with some sort of parakeet, a lizard of some sort and a snake, artfully coiled around me. We're talking some EPIC drunkenness. Of course, this was when I was much younger and could still run with the big dogs!!
I do have the pictures, but I think I will allow you to just use your imagination here!

And the picture everyone has to take when they visit:




And remember, if you go to Key West, your liver will need several months to recover afterward.

Priceline is NOT always your Friend

I have been using Priceline for years to book hotel rooms prior to cruising. After all, it's usually only for one or two nights at the most. I estimate that about 90% of the time, I got a really nice hotel for far less than other booking engines or the hotel website.

If you've never used Priceline, it works like this:
You tell it where you want to stay, (In large cities, you need to specify an area like "downtown" or "beach")
How many 'stars' the hotel should have. (This is supposedly based on the type of hotel or quality of the hotel)
The date(s)
And finally, how much you are willing to pay.
You then proceed to enter your personal information---INCLUDING a credit card number.

Once you agree to their terms and press enter, if your bid is accepted, you are stuck with the hotel they choose for you. There are no refunds. You cannot change the hotel if you don't like it.

That is a very basic explanation of how Priceline works, but there is additional strategy to get free bids, rebidding or to see which hotels are being assigned. I always do the extra research...but.......

Last September, I took my nephew on a belated 21st birthday cruise. I had given him several options and he chose the cruise where Styx was performing on board. The cruise was on the Carnival Ecstasy, out of Miami.

So, I went to Priceline and chose the area "Miami, Downtown" as this encompassed the port area as well as a Shopping/Restaurant area we planned on visiting. I named my price and it was accepted. The hotel that came up was one that I had not seen on other search engines in the Downtown area.
Hmmmmm.

I went out to Trip Advisor and searched the hotel. OK---maybe it won't be so bad I thought. There were some negative reviews but I always try to balance them out with the positive ones.

Off we fly to Miami. We take a cab to the hotel and the cab driver cannot find the place and we are moving further and further into what I will just describe as the "Hood". OMG! We finally find the place and it is a high walled complex in the middle of said hood with all sorts of security in and around the place. Great.

The hotel itself was very nice and appeared very clean. It was a Springhill Suites by Marriott. It offered free breakfast and a free shuttle to the downtown shopping/restaurant area. Cool beans!

We didn't plan on leaving the hotel except on the shuttle so all seemed well.












We settle into our room and early evening we decide to take the shuttle and go to dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp. As we leave our room, and head to the elevator, we notice a very medicinal smell in the hallway and it gets stronger as we head to the elevator. Waiting for the elevator was what I can only describe as a Hospital Patient minus the butt showing gown. It was a woman, attached to an IV, with a massively bruised face and a cast on her arm. OOOOOOOOK.

We get on the elevator and head to the lobby and make our way to the shuttle. After eating at Bubba Gump's, we walked around for a couple of hours and decided to head back to the hotel. The shuttle arrives and we make our way back to the hotel passing some scary looking individuals. I was honestly a bit scared when we stopped at red lights. Anyway, we made it back to the hotel and up the elevator.

As we make our way back to our room, there is a team of paramedics attempting to move a large man on a gurney, complete with IV, out of his room (2 doors down from ours) and down the hallway. The man is moaning and while not exactly screaming, he is making quite a bit of noise.  WTH?

We go back to the room and just look at each other, not knowing what the hell is going on. I decide to go back downstairs to speak to the people at the front desk.

It turns out that this hotel is very close to a hospital and they send out of town patients here to recuperate after surgical procedures before they let them go back to wherever they are from. I said to the woman at the desk and you don't think this is something you should note on your website? Or something you should inform guests when they check-in? Apparently not.

All I am thinking is, I wonder if these people are allowed in the pools and/or hot tub. What cleaning agent they use to disinfect the rooms? Does it kill HIV or Staph or whatever??  The germaphobe in me is on high alert. Then I start thinking about the air conditioning system. Could any type of disease be spread through the air? OMG I'll never sleep.

At some point, exhaustion takes over and I fall asleep only to be awakened several times by screaming sirens on the streets and highway near the hotel.

Finally, it's morning and we can get the hell out of Dodge, so to speak. We go downstairs for the free breakfast and Nuh-Uh.. there is no way  I am eating any of that food that has been breathed on or touched by anyone staying here. We console ourselves with a cup of coffee and some boxed cereal and boxed milk.

Needless to say, I wrote quite a scathing review for both Trip Advisor and to the Hotel. Oh and the best part--my credit card information that I gave the front desk for 'incidentals' got stolen and there were fraud charges showing up for weeks after I was in Miami, LOL  Luckily, I was not responsible for any of it and a new card was issued.

The experience had no impact on my use of Priceline or on the vacation itself. I just wanted to warn everyone that Priceline is not perfect. It's really good most of the time though.
My nephew and I had a wonderful cruise and Styx was amazing!

That's how close we were to the stage! It was great. They performed for over an hour. Not bad for $10 a ticket!

Despite the ship being older, I LOVED it. I thought the decorating in the various venues was great. I would sail this ship again in a heartbeat.
One of the Bars:

 Piano Bar:

 Lobby

 Lobby/Atrium

So there you have it my friends. Priceline is like that one friend you have that is a good friend most of the time, but once in awhile becomes an obnoxious drunk!

Hey Jealousy....It's not just a Song

I thought of that song by the Gin Blossoms--"Hey Jealousy" today as I was reading my friend's blog. She and her husband are in Tahiti and have been for quite some time now sailing on the Pacific Princess.
Here is a link to her blog. It is very entertaining and very informative:
http://www.pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com/

Anyway, back to jealousy. I was feeling a bit down what with the time change looming over my head, feeling cold weather breathing down my neck, less and less light each day. Well, basically feeling sorry for myself. I was jealous that she was there... again and I was here. Before I got myself into a full blown wallow, I pulled on my theoretic 'big girl pants' and made myself think of all that I have to be thankful for.

First of all, out of all the people I know, friends and family both, I am the only one that I am aware of that's done a vacation like I've just done. The people I know are not wealthy. We exist in that class that is known as the middle class. Some of us are high middle class and some are at the bottom. But middle class all the same.

In general, most of us are happy to have our two weeks at the beach every summer, with a trip to Disney, the Caribbean or a cruise thrown in every few years to change things up. As a matter of fact, I felt that way for many years. Then I got bitten by the travel bug..........

Back in the late 90s and early 2000 was when I got my first bite. I got a passport and went on a cruise to the Bahamas and that was all it took. I began to long for distant destinations, more exotic locales, new adventures, ancient history and cultures foreign to me.

A new savings account was started-this one strictly for travel. As my salary increased at work and my kids grew to adults my travel savings account grew. Some people choose to use their increased disposable income for the latest car or a new house or the latest gadgets. Me, I choose to drive an old car and keep my old house. I also think I am the only person on the planet that does not own a flat screen TV. I choose to spend my money on travel.

Don't get me wrong, I have spent money on my house over the years. It has a new roof, windows, furnace, front porch, deck and kitchen. All necessary improvements done over the last 15 years. I also did a lot of work myself-painting, installing shelving, a new hot water heater, hanging blinds etc....And I think my house looks pretty nice.

Oh, I got lost there for minute. Back to the travel bug. Once bitten I'm pretty sure there is no cure. At least there doesn't appear to be one for me. The further afield I roam, the further I want to go. My latest obsession is Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. But I was very impressed by French Polynesia and would love to spend more time getting to know a few of the islands in more detail.  So who knows what the future has in store!!!

For me, part of the excitement of the trip is doing the research and planning. Learning about the country, culture and history. For about 3 years prior to my trip to French Polynesia, I read about the islands, explored the various ways to visit. And during those 3 years, I saved money to finance the trip.

And here we start talking about another type of jealousy. Other people's!
That's what a lot of people don't understand. They asked me over and over how I afforded it or said snarky things like "it must be nice". I didn't pull this money out of the air, I don't have a sugar daddy footing the bill, I did not run up credit cards to pay for it. I saved for it. I chose to bring my lunch to work. I chose to only eat out once a month or so. I chose to only buy the things I needed--not the things I wanted. I lived on a budget.

I created spreadsheets and budgets for the trip so I understood what I could afford and what I could not. (This is nothing new. I have done this for all the trips I've taken-although not to this extent) I also researched how much things cost and how to save money on airfare or hotels. And in the end, I was able to do and see everything I wanted and spend almost 3 weeks in paradise.

After writing all of this, I realize I am no longer jealous. I am grateful for what I have. I have both of my parents--both in good health, living independently and loving me like no one else ever will. I have siblings that I am thankful for. Especially my sister. She has been there whenever I have needed her to help me or just to listen.

I am also blessed with nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles--all of whom have had a hand in making my life full of love and happiness. My mind is full of memories of time spent at family reunions or just visiting for the weekend or the evening. Holidays full of family and too much food made with love. Laughing until it hurt......

My friends need to be included in this list of gratitude. I don't think I tell them often enough how much they mean to me and how much they've enhanced my life. My true friends have ALL been there for me when I needed help or just someone to listen.

And finally, my children. I don't think they have any idea how they've made such a difference in my life and how much I love them. I remember their first everything and how proud their father and I were, and still are, of them. I celebrate every one of their 'victories' perhaps even more than they do. Until I had them, I never knew it was possible to love anyone that fiercely or as much as I do.

I am blessed.

So, in closing, a post that started out full of 'woe me' is ending with me feeling teary-eyed and grateful for everyone and everything in my life.

I think this Gypsy is going to take a stroll down memory lane in future posts. I'd like to relive some of the more memorable places and experiences I've had over the years. I hope you'll follow along!

Vacation Time Rant

While on my Pacific Princess cruise, I had the opportunity to speak to people from Australia and New Zealand about Vacation Time in their country. This is what I was told:

In both Australia and New Zealand, EVERYONE gets 1 month of vacation time. You also have the option to 'buy' up to another month off and the cost is taken out of your pay for the next year.

Also, you are EXPECTED to take at least 1 month of vacation each year. If you don't voluntarily do this, the company you work for will TELL you that you are on holiday for the next XX days. If you chose to come into work, you are working your holiday.

This completely blew my mind. A person, I used to work for, tried to make me feel guilty for using all of my vacation time. There are even those people that lose days or must take days off from time to time so they don't lose them.

I say, what the hell is wrong with that picture? The company says to you: We are giving you these days off and we will pay you for them and some people say "No thanks, I'd rather work"

Who is the crazy person here? I'm thinking it's not me.

The people I talked to were just incredulous of the atmosphere in the US regarding vacation time.

Staying 'connected' while on your vacation, taking your work laptop or checking Email when you were on holiday...Their eyes got big and said Ummm.. No, we don't do that. Our time off is so we can come back refreshed and ready to work.

According to Miriam Webster, here is the definition of "vacation":

• a period of time that a person spends away from home, school, or business usually in order to relax or travel
• the number of days or hours per year for which an employer agrees to pay workers while they are not working

I believe the US has somehow lost the concept of a vacation. How have we let the companies we work for make us believe that vacation is wrong or something you are not supposed to do very often or for very long? And by God, the 'you better stay in touch or else' mentality has spread from upper and middle management to the peons that work for them. 

This is an excerpt from an article:

U.S. workers are using only 77 percent of their paid time off, according to the research group's report released Tuesday. And the decline is not just tied to recent economic worries; use of vacation days are at their lowest point in the past four decades. In 2013, U.S. workers took an average of 16 days of vacation compared with 20.3 days in 2000, according to the report.

The link to the full article is here:

http://www.cnbc.com/2014/10/23/unused-vacation-days-at-40-year-high.html

169,000,000 days forfeited to the tune of $54 billion in benefits . Look at all those zeroes...That's MILLIONS my friends. 

I think we need to take a long look at where we work and why we are doing this. Is this a choice we are making for ourselves? Or is the company or management trying to discourage vacation time? Perhaps it's time to reevaluate our priorities and move the company from the #1 position in our lives.

Just my opinion of course.

I Finally Used the Cubeshaped-like Appliance in my Kitchen

I know, I know? I haven't really cooked a regular meal in a long, long time. But, for some reason, I just couldn't get the Chef demonstration on the Pacific Princess out of my mind. He cooked up this pasta dish that smelled heavenly and looked even better.

Now, I did not have scallops or peppers---but I did have some diced tomatoes and fresh mushrooms. a shallot, cream, a lemon and garlic. Oh and pasta. So, I improvised!  

And, guess what? It tasted pretty darn good. I was proud of myself. My culinary skills are very, very rusty. I would make this again and use more fresh lemon and more garlic and add pine nuts! (Sorry no pictures of the finished product. I ate it before I remembered I was supposed to take a picture)

Oh and in case you were wondering, my feet are still cold and the heat is still on. UGH It's going to be a very, very long time until it's warm enough for me.

What the Hell happened while I was gone?

It seems like I can't leave this state for a minute and it all goes to hell.

When I left for my vacation in late September, it was still hot enough to use the air conditioner. Now, only three weeks later, I need socks, long sleeves and I had to turn the heat on. I am NOT liking this one bit.

I wanted to flaunt my tan in capris and short sleeves. Dammit, my legs are probably the most tan they have ever been. Sadly, the only person who will see them is me. Sigh.

Leaves? Frost? Pumpkin flavored everything.  And to make matters even worse, according to PennLive, the only thing newsworthy in our area is freakin' Football. UGH I honestly don't care who "WE ARE" and I am never going to be "Ready for Some Football".