Installment #2

Merry Christmas and a Happy Boxing Day to you! We have had a great couple days. The cruise line has helped make our holiday very merry! A visit from Santa, decorating cookies, a marvelous dinner and a holiday show in the evening filled our Christmas Day. Daughter 1 and Daughter 2 had a great time opening presents that Santa left in their stocking. Sir surprised me with a beautiful necklace and a new IPod. All bets are off for next year – this is the second year in a row we agreed to buy no presents and he didn’t follow the rules!

Boxing Day was filled with lying in the sun, playing games, reading, working on college essays, eating good food and RELAXING! This was our 3rd day at sea and we have our first stop tomorrow!

Sea, sea and more sea! I watch out the balcony, looking for land and all I see is the blue ocean and sky. The ocean is vast, mesmerizing and at times, a bit frightening. Songs from the Titanic fill my mind as I lookout – not a smart thing. Then at night I dream of privates overtaking the ship. I guess this is what happens when you have too much time on your hand!

Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Panama Canal Cruise - Installment #1

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the ship, the crew was all working including the mouse. The stockings were hung by the TV with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would not forget them here. Sir in his dress suit and I in my dress, had just fancied up for a grand evening out!

What a great way to spend an evening and a wonderful end to our first day at sea. We embarked on the 23rd and left port late due to the late arrival of airline flights. Gotta love the weather! The captain assured us that the late departure will not affect our arrival at the first stop. We explored the ship from bow to stern figuring out where all the favorite spots were located; internet café, teen club, shopping, our dining room, fitness center, spa , etc. Daughter 1 and Daughter 2 put our names in for a drawing at the Spa, so we went down at the designated time for the drawing. I was so excited to win a foot massage, but I did have to dance to get the certificate—embarrassing Daughter 1 and Daughter 2!

We spent today in a most relaxing way! Sir and I started with 6 laps around the boat, amounting to a little over 2 miles. Then we all spent a day sleeping, relaxing, reading, spa-ing, eating and watching TV. There is still a cold nip in the air, so not a lot of lounging at the pool was in store for anyone on board! The evening is ending with Christmas Eve activities and dinner. So. . .

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Christmas In California

The woman on the move is on the move to California! I am here celebrating Christmas with my husbands family. Another set of fun events and traditions. We enjoyed two wonderful meals one with a rib roast (felt like I was right in the middle of Whoville) and the other meal was the traditional turkey dinner. The family here makes sugar cookies every year - thank goodness we were here to eat and sample!

We had a great evening sailing in the Newport Beach Harbor Boat Parade. The boats were beautifully decorated with lights reflecting a wide range of holiday scenes. My favorite was a sail boat decorated as a Christmas tree!

The rest of our stay here has been filled with games, movies, walks, puzzles, college visits and naps!

We head to the boat today! I am on the move! Stay tuned - I will try to post most days!

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Blessings from a Woman On The Move.

Christmas At Home

Well, I am on the move again! But before heading out, we took time to celebrate Christmas with my family. My parents traveled from Michigan to spend the holidays with my family - so everyone gathered at my brother's house to celebrate before I hit the road.

Several years ago we started a tradition on Christmas Eve - wings, shrimp, baked potatoes and other fixings. A night of finger licking fun! We talk, we laugh, we eat, we sing - we just have a darn good time! This year was no exception. We talked, we laughed, we ate and most played Rock Band. We called an early evening so Sir, Daughter 1, Daughter 2 and I headed home to finish the last minute packing.

What a great way to treat me to the holiday traditions I love and adore!

The couple responsible for us all!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. What a wonderful time of the year. For most of us it means a cold nip in the air and snow on the ground. But that doesn’t stop us from gathering with friends and family to enjoy each other’s company, give thanks for our loved ones, and reminisce of those no longer with us. I am always most impressed with the way that everyone works together to get a Thanksgiving meal on the table. I love to walk into the house and smell the turkey roasting and the pumpkin pies baking. I love looking at all the dishes we have year after year - declaring it would not be Thanksgiving without them. I love to hear orders being given, men getting shooed out of the food before the meal, kids whining because they don’t want to help and everyone cheering for their favorite football team. There is nothing like Thanksgiving Day!

This year Sir’s family gathered at our home to enjoy the holiday. For 6 days, we enjoyed card games, dice games, reading, movies, football games, photo shoots, piano playing, a trip to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and food, food and more food! When everyone left on Sunday morning – the house was quiet, the leftovers filled the refrigerator and the mounds of laundry spilled all over the laundry room floor. I was exhausted but wouldn’t trade one minute of it for anything!

Sir's family! What a great bunch.

My brother joined us for Thanksgiving Day!

Okay! I was busy! I didn't mean to burn the sweetpotato casserole and the green bean casserole! Yes, they were on fire in my oven!

A few of the family favorites!

Having Fun!

We Have A Winner! Where Am I #3

Congratulations to Lisa! She answered Las Vegas, NV. Check back for the update on my girls trip this year!

Where Am I #3?

I have been on the move again! Where am I? Give the city, state - address not needed!!

The first person to guess correctly recieves a gift from around the world photos!

Happy Guessing!