Oh What Secrets The Ice Glaciers Keep

For months and years my favorite Uncle Leon would tell me about his favorite place on this earth....Alaska. He could never specifically tell what his favorite part about it is, but that it is somewhere I need to consider going at least once in my life. So "thinking" I was done with school, I booked a cruise up there (only to find out that I was short one more class to graduate, so I would be schooling and cruising at the same time).

I booked our trip on his favorite ship The Norwegian Pearl and set sail. Our ports would include Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Victoria BC and back to our starting port in Seattle.

If you happen to see a few gambling pictures (I'm not bragging too much) but it seemed everything I touched turned lucky....from Deal Or No Deal, BINGO, Slots and Blackjack.....they ended up paying for the trip!

We leave Seattle, get settled and go down to have a glass of wine and peruse the art collection...many in the 10's of thousands; we did go to one of their auctions.





Each night back I decided to look at the pictures I had taken that day and try to copy my favorite one with the water colors that Dayna had given me for a past birthday present (I found that I love water colors and really want to take classes in it).




Winning....



Our first port stop in Juneau,our off shore excursions included see Mendenhall Glacier and Mr. Roberts Tramway. Mendenhall Glacier was my first glimpse and touch of a glacier.







Back on board along with more food, more drinks and more winning.... we are on our way to Skagway.



In Skagway I chose to take the White Pass Railway which travels along the Yukon Route Railway, passing by Dead Horse Gulch and stopping at the Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp. (I was thinking maybe the conductor would be this trips' Hot Guy...but I found the ultimate Hot Guy a little later on).












Our wonderfully talented town guide "Ophelia" (loved her name!)







Back on board we have a night of traveling....




....only to awake to the most beautiful sight ever ~ Glacier Bay. The ranger had told us previously about not counting on even seeing a glacier calving let alone getting a picture of one. The God's were there that morning and we got both!! The extreme quietness and the background crackling leaves you with a feeling of awe and eerie combined.






It was then I remembered about the times the Artist Way women would talk about the Breitenbush Hot Springs and in the background the ranger was talking about the secrets that these ice glaciers must know. I decided to give them one more secret to keep.



I then talked Stan into sharing his secret with the ice glacier, which ultimately lead him to being this trips' Hottest Guy!



On to Ketchikan where I signed up for a land/water tour and also a lumberjack show. Stan and I also just toured on our own where we happened to stumble across "Dolly's", a house of ill...well, let's just say that it had a condom-rosette shower curtain!











Back on board there is still....more food, more drinks and more winning (I'm in the first seat!) A short stop in Victoria BC where we get off to visit the Craigdarroch Castle.








The trip was fantastic ~ meeting new people and seeing new sights, along with fantastically too good to be true weather. And now I think I am ready for Breitenbush!

Pre-Graduation Celebration

Every year the collages' individual departments hold a pre-graduation celebration party. Last Wednesday, the Gerontology Department held theirs.

I had previously attended last years celebration to root on Paul Perry. I can't remember the exact moment we became friends but I do know that I felt honored to be there last year for him. I remember thinking that he would have this abundance of time now on his hands being done with school. So with that in mind I pondered whether to get him a hamster or a plant to take up some of his spare time....I chose wisely...I got him the plant!

Jan Abushakrah, the head of the Gerontology department was there to hand out the certificates to those that would be graduating. The lady is a champion for all and has an overabundance of patience.




You could feel the proudness of each person, receiving their certificate and knowing that they were just a couple of weeks away from graduating; many off to different universities, job paths or a new adventure.



She asked each of us what was something that stood out for us - what was the one thing that we were coming away with. Mine I told the crowd was meeting the Doodle-ers! Four other students, that I met along the way, that have become my friends and a part of my life. Paul Perry, Annette Lansing, Teresa Tardy and Patti Witherite...they are the best!




I loved receiving my certificate and I am giddy with excitement about receiving my degree in a couple of weeks.



Even more wonderful was that Stan and Paul and Annette were there to cheer me on.

Oh and did I happen to mention the beautiful bracelet from Paul? Yes....a tad bit nicer than a hamster or plant!!



Thank you so much my wondermous cheerleaders!!