Christmas week away from home...

We spent this year's Christmas Day at the airport and on our way to Las Vegas, NV. Jim's mother moved there several years ago and this would be Jim's second trip to see her there and my first. We also took Patrick with us since Jim took James with him the first time that he went to visit her.

Las Vegas was much different than I remembered. The only other time I had been there was the year that we drove to Southern California via the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam at Las Vegas. Then, the only place that we stopped was at the Circus, Circus Hotel and Casino --- mostly because that is one of the few that had something for the children to see.

Now Las Vegas has gone from a place for adults---to a place that adults can take their children---to mostly a place for adults again. The buildings are tremendous, unusual, and continuing to be built there in that dry desert town that truly is a busy and a tourist filled place. After we landed at the airport and got checked into our hotel we drove to Jim's mom's apartment. Actually, she had moved and we had the first address as opposed to the current one. When we finally found the correct place, Bruce (Jim's nephew) answered the door and we picked up both of them and went out to get something for dinner. We ended up at the a huge casino: The Orleans, and ate at TGIFriday's.

Have Retired, Will Travel

We have returned (it's actually been since Sunday night) from our cruise to the Southern Caribbean. We are happy to say that we didn't get seasick even once on this one...Evcn though we chose this particular week because it was AFTER the hurricane season, it seems that this was one of those years that don't fit the norm. Hurricane Olga or what later became Tropical Storm Olga was let loose in the Caribbean and even though we weren't actually in it we certainly felt it! Especially the rolling waves and the one time that we were awakened by the sound of everything all over the ship falling off the shelves and tables at 4 am. The ship was listing! For about 10 minutes we were laying in our bed thinking about whether or not we should get up and get dressed in case we are called to the life boats. And then we were thinking but trying not to think of movies we've seen like "The Poseidon Adventure" and "Titanic." When the ship slowly righted itself we went back to sleep---hard to believe, but we did!

The picture above was taken in St. Thomas at the top of the cable car ride up the mountainside right near the dock.

The next afternoon we (and everyone else on board) received a letter from the

captain explaining what had occurred the night before and apologizing for it. He said that the ship was never in any danger...

\

Anyway, we did have a good time. Each morning we were docked at a new port (except for the last day when we were at sea all day then.) So, we slept at night with the ship rocking and rolling because as we began the waves were described as being rough and then by the end of the week they were "very rough." We were not such wonderful sailors that we didn't feel just a little bit blah so on the nights when the show was only at 10:30 we usually were already in bed and asleep because once we returned to our room after eating those nights we usually just watched a movie and went to bed. The two shows that we saw were at 8:30 and very enjoyable. I don't know how those dancers can move around on the stage with it moving at the same time!

)ur ship the Carnival Destiny...

More about the ports of call later...

Decorated but not quite ready...

These are pictures of the inside of the house...since we had our Christmas parties before we left for our cruise to the Southern Caribbean (pictures of that to come)...

More Party Pictures...Smile!

Party pictures...we held the Sunday School Class party at our house this year. Following a delcious meal prepared by various members we held the annual gift exchange...

Seeds of Faith Sunday School Class Christmas Party

Here are those pictures of last week's gathering at our house...

Just Three more Days until Embarkation Day!

It's again, hard to believe it but we are just a few days away from our cruise in the Southern Caribbean. We will be flying out of DFW and flying to San Juan , Puerto Rico. From there we will make stops at these ports: St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and then a full day at sea before we return to San Juan and home via Miami. I am looking forward to a lot of just sitting around....taking in the sunlight and fresh air (but not with out sunscreen slathered on liberally!)...enjoying the shows and maybe even a little dancing so that we can use some of our just learned and soon to be forgotten skills of ballroom dancing!

We have decorated for Christmas and already had two parties...one with our Sunday school class and one with our Bunko group...will finish this tomorrow morning and post a few pics of the decorations...bedtime now!! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..................