Cruise, Part One

I left Fresno headed for Miami early Saturday morning, April 10, 2010, with great anticipation of my trip ahead. I reached Miami about 6 PM. I was met at the airport by my friend, Steve Epperson, who lives in Ft. Lauderdale. (We met on the trip to Italy in 2007.) We had dinner and visited for a while, then called it a night.

The next morning, he picked me up and I went to church with him. His pastor is Bro. David Elms, and did we ever have church! Steve said that church never lasted longer than noon, so we would have plenty of time to grab some lunch, then he would take me to the port of Miami. Last boarding call was at 2:30PM and sail away was at 4PM. Of course, Bro. Elms was a little "extra" anointed that day, so at several minutes after noon, when he had us all stand, Steve and I crept out. We rushed out to his pickup only to find that it was blocked in! Someone had parked behind him, and another in front, with cars on both sides. This was actually quite funny, but Steve was a little anxious, knowing that you can never trust traffic, and wanting to get me to the port in time. We finally got someone to move his vehicle and we were on our way. I made it with lots of time to spare, of course...!

I said goodbye to Steve, and got in line to board the ship. Several "old" friends from past trips starting showing up. There was a feeling of excitement, as we all started talking and catching up with each other. Of course, it was easy to spot more of "us" that I hadn't met yet, also in line ahead and behind me. I finally boarded ship and headed for my stateroom. I didn't know any of my room mates, and wondered if I would meet them now. The room was empty, so I put down my carry on, and went out to the top deck to take pictures as we pulled away from Miami. At 4 o'clock the ship started moving. Everyone started screaming and shouting with excitement. It was so funny!

At 5 o'clock, we had our first meeting in the Green Room. It was here that I met my room mates. Kathy and Diane and I were in one room, and Heather, Sherry, and Barb were in an adjoining room. They were all from Illinois and all went to the same church. They were a lot of fun, and welcomed me into their group. At 6 o'clock we headed to our first dinner of the cruise.

After dinner each night we all headed to the PG comedy show. These were good, clean comedy shows that were really, really funny. They actually became the highlight of the cruise (while on board ship, anyway). After the comedy, we usually headed for Karaoke. This was hilarious fun since a lot of our group could sing. We usually kind of took over the Karaoke since there were so many of us. One night another cruiser passed us and said, "I know you are all Pentecostals, so that means you all can sing!".

(I will tell this part now, so it makes sense to you later. Multiple times throughout the cruise they had "try outs" for the Carnival Legends show that was put on the last night of the cruise. They had cruisers try out for the parts of James Brown, Ricky Martin, Brittany Spears, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Elvis, Frank Sinatra and others. After each person would sing for the try out, whoever got the most cheers from the crowd won the part. That person had the rest of the week to practice the song and had a costume fitting on Saturday. Saturday night was the Carnival Legends show. It was awesome and hilariously funny since two of our people tried out and won parts.)

I think there were 113 singles that went on this trip. There were at least 2 people that were 18 years old, and the oldest was 84. There were so many people that I did not learn everyone's names. I tried, but couldn't do it.

This was the first day, and it was good.......tomorrow Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

ALL OF US SAM CRUISERS

On Monday, we were docked at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. First on the agenda was a beach volleyball game. This was great fun, although my team got slaughtered. (The ball only came to me once, otherwise we might have won...! LOL) After the game, I left and changed into my swim wear and headed to the water. I got this swim wear especially for the cruise. It worked out perfectly, and I am so glad I had it! There were about 15 - 20 of us ladies with this swim wear, and we all loved it. (If you would like information on where to order, let me know.)

After swimming for a while, we had lunch. The ship had set up a buffet of many different kinds of food for all of the cruisers. Delicious, of course. After eating, Linda and I walked around the island taking pictures, and getting a bit of exercise, then it was time to get back on board the ship.

This was the second day, and it was good....tomorrow, a day at sea.

Tuesday was our first day at sea. I slept in until about 9:30, left most of my room mates sleeping, and went in search of breakfast. I went through the buffet line and after getting my food, I searched the dining room looking to sit with someone I knew. I didn't see anyone I knew, but I saw another lady from our group sitting alone. I asked if I could join her, and this is how I met Shanell Hudson of Arizona. I love these trips, not only for having places to go, but for meeting new friends. Shanell and I talked for hours, discovering how much we have in common, then it was time to meet in the Green Room again. This time we introduced ourselves. We had to tell our name, where we were from, something about ourselves, and if we were an "Over or an Under, or were we just happy to have some..."....that, in reference to our toilet paper! (In case you were wondering, I am so fanatically an Over, that if I come to your house and it's Under, I'll change it for you.) LOL

This was a lazy, kick back day and I don't know what happened to the photographer in me, but I didn't take many pictures. This night was our first "dress up" dinner. Then, it was PG comedy and karaoke again.

This was the third day, and it was good.......tomorrow, St. Thomas!

Yay! St. Thomas! I was looking forward to St. Thomas because I was going snorkeling for the first time in my life. I have wanted to for a long time, but never had anything to wear in the water. Did I tell you how much I LOVE my new swim wear??? I have always wanted to go sailing, too, and I "killed two birds with one stone", on this trip.

We were headed for Buck's Cove. They passed out our masks, snorkels, fins and life vests and everyone got geared up.

When we got to Buck's Cove, there were two ways to get off the boat. There were stairs with a long line of people, or there was the "express line". One of the crew men was helping people jump off the side of the boat. I wanted to go the stairs, but knew it would take a long time, and I wanted to get in the water, so I took the "express line". I was a bit nervous about jumping in, so the crew man had me sit on the side and slide in. I still couldn't do it, so I told him to push me in, and push me in, he did! Over the side I went and the water went over my head. I must confess that I came up a little panicky. I was hyper-ventilating and knew it, so I swam over to the steps and grabbed the rope of the ship. I held on for a few minutes to calm down. I was still rather nervous when the crew men started asking who wanted a "pool noodle". I got one, and that held me a little more out of the water and I was good after that. Our "tour guide" took off and I swam after him. I tried putting my face in the water and breathing through the snorkel, but when I did, I felt panicky again. I loved what I saw in that brief moment under water, so I kept trying until I felt comfortable. By the time we had to get out of the water, I didn't want to. I was having such a great time. I saw a baracuda, many, many different fish in various colors of the rainbow, a coral reef, a ship wreck, Fire Urchin, (don't touch) White Urchin, Conch, Brittle Sea Star, sea anemone and so many other things. That was one of the most fun things I have ever done! I took an underwater camera, but I must not have put it back together correctly after putting in the batteries, for it filled with water and wouldn't work. Rats!

After snorkeling, they took us back to shore and Avis, April and I went to find lunch. We found an outside cafe and all ordered different kinds of sea food and then shared with each other. It was delicious!

When we had our fill, I went my own way and headed up to Paradise Point. I met up with Tim, Sarah, and some others, and we rode the sky tram up. I took several pictures from that vantage point, then headed back to the ship for dinner, PG comedy and karaoke.

This was the fourth day, and it was good....tomorrow San Juan, Puerto Rico. Next post....(next week).

Back Home

The cruise is over. No more seeing the ocean out my window. No more "old" friends and new friends everywhere I turn. No more having my blankets turned down for me. No more towel animals on my bed. No one to unfold my dinner napkin and place it on my lap. No one to cook my meals and have them at my beck and call. No more PG comedy shows that were hilariously funny. No more karaoke and "Carnival Legends" shows. No more snorkling in beautiful turquoise water. No more....

I landed back in Fresno at 5PM last Thursday evening. I return to work tomorrow and my vacation officially ends.

I had such a wonderful time. I will tell you more about it and have pictures galore to show you soon.

25 Days

But who's counting?

April 10, I leave Fresno for Miami, Florida. On Sunday, April 11, I board ship headed for the Eastern Caribbean on the yearly SAM trip. I am getting excited. I have so much fun on these trips. I am the only one who has been on every one of them. (Which is proof that these trips are for fun and to enjoy with like-minded singles and not to find a mate! LOL Although, there have been several weddings as a result.) I have met so many wonderful people on these trips. I have made life long friends from all over the U.S. and Canada.

The cruise is 7 days and we will leave Miami headed for Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. From there we will go to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Grand Turk. We arrive back in Miami on Sunday, April 18. Tim and Joyce, (my friends who recently got married as a result of the Hawaii trip in 2006), will be meeting me there. We plan to go to the Everglades on Monday, and then possibly to the Florida Keys after that. We really aren't sure exactly what we will do, but we will be staying in Florida until Thursday, April 22.

I will be home for the month of May, and then on June 11, friends from Louisiana are coming to visit for a week. They want to pack as much as possible into that week, so we are going to stay busy. We will be going to Pismo Beach, Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, where we will be staying in a cabin for two nights, and San Francisco. If I can find any time in there, I will take them to Monterey.

I really need this vacation. The hospital has been full to over flowing lately. I have been working extra days, not only to help out, but to pick up some extra fun money while I can.

What are your plans for vacation this year? Are you going anywhere, or just staying home and relaxing?

Words and the English Language

I love words, and the English language fascinates me, so when I got this in an email, I just had to post it. I found it very amusing and I hope you do, too.

You think English is easy???

Read to the end . . .. a new twist

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce .

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present .

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row amongst the row of oarsmen about how to row ..

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line..

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible..

PS. - Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ?


You lovers of the English language might enjoy this .

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.'

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ?


Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report ?
We call UP our friends.


And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen.

We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.

At other times the little word has real special meaning.


People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.

A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP !

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary.


In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.


If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used.


It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP ..

When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP...
When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.
When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so.......it is time to shut UP!


Now it's UP to you what you do with this email

A Song in My Heart

I pretty much always have a song in my heart. To keep from singing aloud in public, I whistle. The song breaks out through my whistling and most usually, I am not even aware of it. Here is a common conversation as I walk into a patient's room....

Patient: "Oh, that's you I heard whistling out there. It sounds so cheerful and happy."

Me: "I am happy. I have a song in my heart that my God gives to me, but I whistle because I don't think you want to hear me sing!"

Patient: "That's just awesome. You don't hear people whistling or singing very much anymore."

For the past several weeks I have had a song in my heart that just won't go away. Not that I want it to, I love this song. Here are the lyrics.

"I Can Only Imagine"

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you


Will we just stand there in awe for a while, or will we immediately begin to praise and worship Him? I can only imagine. Just to be in His presence forever! Walking with Him forever! I can only imagine, and I can't wait to see HIM!

3 Months Already

It's hard to believe, but Patrick turned 3 months old last Sunday. Here are some pictures I took on Friday while I was babysitting. He's getting to be fun. He coos and "talks" and smiles and laughs. He has found his hands, but can't quite make them do everything he wants. He's very good at getting them in his mouth, though. He is already fighting sleep. When he starts to nod off, he gets really mad and starts crying extraordinarily loud. It won't be later, but right now it is quite funny.

Yesterday

For my first time ever, I went snow-shoeing yesterday. I have been trying to do this for several weeks, but something always happened to prevent it. I finally made it yesterday and it was so much fun. Hard, and tiring, but fun.

I went with a couple of friends, Jesse and Julie Hall. When we left town it was so foggy we could hardly see. As we started climbing the mountain we left the fog behind. The weather was ideal for snow-shoeing. The sun was shining and it was about 58 degrees. The sky was azure blue with hardly a cloud. After we started the climb, I soon shed my jacket.

We were climbing in Kings Canyon National Park, going to Panoramic Point. The climb was 1,000 feet in 2.5 miles with a round trip of 5 miles. It was steep and I had to stop to rest quite often but I was determined to finish. We started climbing about 10:15 am, and made it to the top about 12:30 pm. As I was climbing, an old song that we used to sing when I was in youth choir came to mind. "Climbing up the mountain, trying to reach the top.....almost finished my battle, gone half way and I just can't stop. At the end of the mountain there is faith and trust, I can see Jesus waiting there to meet us. I thank God, I've almost reached the top." That was what I was thinking as I was climbing. Sometimes, (but not always)living for God can seem to be all uphill, but it will be worth it when we reach the top!

And it was!! It was so beautiful looking at that panoramic scene. We could see Hume Lake and all the surrounding mountains in the distance. We spread out our mats, took off our snow shoes and sat down and ate lunch. We stayed up there for a couple of hours taking pictures, and resting before we headed back down. As I was trying to put my snow shoes back on, I thought I would lean up against a tree for support. Ha! NOT! Near the tree the snow was so soft, that I sank up to my knees and Julie had to help me out. Of course, she had to take pictures of me before she would help. It was so funny! Going down was much easier (but still not easy) and didn't take as long.

As we were driving to the mountains we passed an old fireplace in the middle of a meadow. I told Jesse that I wanted to stop on the way back and get pictures of it. I don't know the history of it, but it appears that a house either burned down, or was knocked down and left the steps and fireplace standing. It is just the kind of thing that I like to photograph. We did stop on the way home and I got several pictures of it. I also got a few shots of the beautiful sunset that we saw on the way home.

Here is a slide show of a FEW of the pictures I took. Enjoy...