Freestyling

I received a very exciting call a few days ago. My BFF, Missy, recently won "Sales Person of the Year" for her company and to reward her for all of her hard work they gave her a Carribean Cruise for 2. We've been friends for a long time and have been very limited in our travels together. When we did travel, though, it was a friggin blast! Anyways- she's invited me to partake in this adventure with her! After a lot of anxiety thinking I wouldn't be able to make it due to work, I asked and my boss replied "heck yeah, you can go, we'll work it out".


So we will begin our adventure Saturday March 28th when we fly from Chicago to New Orleans and spend the night. We set sail on our Norwegian Cruise Boat- Spirit- in the afternoon of the 29th and will be at sea Sunday and Monday. Our first destination is Cosa Maya, Mexico on Tuesday with Santo Tomas De Castilla, Guatemala following on Wednesday. The two that I am most pumped about are Belize City, Belize on Thursday and Cozumel,Mexico on Friday. Then back to sea on Saturday pulling into port back in New Orleans sometime on Sunday.


I excited to do the Zip Line and Cave Tubing in Belize and to explore the Tulum Mayan Ruins in Cozumel.


I have never been on a cruise and actually always wondered if I were the "cruise-type-person", only having so many hours at each place and being on a boat for so long. I was never a big fan of the dress up in your old prom dress and sit at a table with complete strangers either- but I won't have to experience that part as we are "freestyle" cruising. Eat when you want, with who you want, where you want and wearing what you want!

Also, visions of Titanic part II have always crossed my mind. I know there aren't any icebergs where we are going but hey you never know and I wonder in this day and age if women and children would still be let off first.


The ship we are on has 13 decks- 9 being public. 12 restaurants and 8 bars not to mention casinos, smoking lounges, a theater and much more.


I am super excited and only wish that J were coming with as well! I feel bad that we've been together 8 years and have never done any traveling together while I am off roaming the countryside! Also, these are just the perks that go along with having a BFF that isn't married yet!

Grand Marais, Minnesota

On our drive to grandma's last week we stopped in Grand Marais, MN. If you have never been there it is a place to visit. It's a tiny-tourist town with lots of little cafe's and gift stores but it also has some of the most beautiful scenery around.

I took all of the following photos while we were letting the dogs out of the truck to tinkle. I can't imagine how they would have turned out using my mom's Nikon camera. Mine is just a fuji digital camera, no lenses to put on and no thinking to do!

Grand Marais is nestled along the northern shore of Lake Superior.

This is what happens when the waves from the lake crash up onto the shoreline and then freeze

Look at this poor, little, lonely weed all encased in ice! I thought it looked so crazily out of place just standing there.



This is the walking path by the harbor
On our way out of town we noticed some really cool trees, full of little red berries. I have no idea what they are but thought they were beautiful.

(this one is my computer background!)

Hope you enjoyed- I'm going back to freezing my buns off (negative 16 today). Brrrr....

To Grandma's house I go...

My Grandma- Marge- turned 80 years old last week and my parents and I packed up the truck to make the long drive to Grand Portage, MN to visit and celebrate. We left Dunbar at 7 am on Friday morning to make the cross-state trek. The nine hour drive was pretty uneventful- a lot of napping and reading was done on my part. (Grand Portage is in the Northeast corner of Minnesota between Grand Marais, MN and Thunder Bay, Canada)

We stopped in Grand Marais- along the North shore of Lake Superior and I took some great pictures. We arrived at grandmas house about 4:30 pm and spent the rest of the night visiting and getting settled.

Saturday was Grandma's Day. We went out to lunch, relaxed at her house and then planned on taking her out for dinner and a little casino time.

After being cooped up in the truck with my parents and 2 dogs I was definitely ready for a

We ate prime rib at the supper club in the Lodge, played a few slots (I was ahead $16.84 when we finished) and went to grab our seats for

The show- musical celebrity impersonations- was fabulous. My favorites were Cher, Tim McGraw, Elton John and Abba. Grandma even let loose a little and had a Coors Light. We had a great visit and I'm looking forward to J and I visiting this summer some time.

Happy Birthday Grandma- thanks for the great time!