Life Adventures
"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." ~Rachel Carlson
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- Joy on February Comes to Oak Island
- Tom on Easter 2012
- pat long on Easter 2012
- Tom on As a fine wine ages . . .
- ris on As a fine wine ages . . .
rental is spelled incorrectly above (3rd line from bottom)…back to work.
thanks, babe. at least I got ‘noogie’ right.
these beaches look like the kind that mom and I like. slopeing gradually out to sea…that is assuming the water temperature is warm enough… dad
I couldn’t decide on how to pronounce it until I listened to the Websters as well. My first two thoughts were “Lu-Chi-ah” and then “Lu-key-ah” before I considered “Lu-shya”. Learn something new every day!! Some very beautiful places you’ve been visiting, I wish I could be there. 🙂
C’mon! It is a drive in volcano, you don’t even have to circle for a parking space. Sounds ideal, though a sulfur waterfall just sounds like it’d be smelly… 🙂
I have a friend who studied at the University of St. Lucia. He is now studying for his PhD in Florida, but plans to go back to his island soon. I hear it is beautiful! Sounds like fun!
Wouldn’t it be an interesting “retirement” to teach at a school like this?
Will,
I wish you could be there, too. One of these days we’ll all be synchronized.
Chris,
Sadly, it all turned out to be too far to make with the short time we were in port. But considering how much fun we had, maybe it worked out for the best.
Warm enough is a relative thing. Warm enough for me at about 80 F, but probably not warm enough for Wayne. It feels quite cool when you first wade in, but comfortable after that. It is just cool enough to be refreshing after baking in the sun for a bit.
The video slide show is great! I was hoping that there would be a little video clip of some of the music and dancing. Maybe another night? I’m glad you got your chance up on stage – what a memorable moment! Cool 🙂 Is there a video of you up there? I’m interested in more photos. My music (singing/playing) skills are poor.. to the point where even singing along with someone else is pretty terrible. Once I sung “Under Pressure” on karaoke… and I felt bad for the other bar folk.
Oh, I hope you guys get to swim with sea turtles at some point on the cruise. have you ever done that before? what a beautiful experience. still, even though you weren’t at your ideal beach, i’d imagine it feels great to get on your feet, on your own, and explore around. The shell studded beach might not be comfortable to walk on but sounds beautiful! Love those variable specks glistening in the sun.
I really identify with this post! Art is such a great way to remember your trip. bartering FOR the art is fun, too. 🙂 Asking folks about their art and inspiration is a good way to get into conversations and learn more about the values of the place you’re visiting. so much fun.
Just a couple corrections in your story …
The Puerto Rican parrots never really thrived in El Yunque (the rain forest). They are a coastline species. Their eggs do not do well in the high humidity of the rain forest environment. People have “thought” that they should do well there, but they do not.
You say that “All of the monkeys are gone”.
Puerto Rico is a volcanic island. We never had monkeys. In fact, we naturally have no mammals. The wild mammals we do have were introduced by man. The only monkeys we have on the island are (primarily) out west and are monkeys that have escaped from research labs.
Thanks, Ray. I must have misunderstood Hector. I stand corrected!
Yes, we have had many opportunities to swim with sea turtles back when we were in Hawaii. They are like our family symbol with honu art all over the house.
love the pictures! how great that you put a holiday review on the website 🙂 thanks for including me even though i couldn’t physically be present 🙂 thought of you guys and missed everyone tons! Like you, I really value all of our family gatherings and the time we get to spend together, so I was quite sad to miss out!
WOW I love the group shot near/ at the end! That’s one of the best group shots we’ve had in a long time! In fact, we’ve been really bad about getting family photos over the past few years. Cheers to picking up that tradition again!
Wow….This looks really, really cool and is even more of an incentive for us to visit. However, at the rate you are upgrading maybe we should just wait for the next one which will probably be a 100 footer? We can tell you are looking forward to a summer of fun on the water. Miss you guys!!!
Thanks. If you two came to visit that alone would make the boat completely worth it.
LOVE the update!! Looking forward to me and Jack coming out for a spin when we return 🙂 The pictures are great! Looks so clean and new… is it new?? or did someone just love it a lot, like you guys will? xxxx! Ruth
It is new, but a 2008 leftover. They’re supposed to rig it this week and hopefully we’ll have it in the water by the weekend. May be a little sedate for you and Jack, but we would be excited to have you. We still have our ski boat, too, for those seeking a little more excitement. Can’t wait till you’re back from Tanzania.
totally understand your traffic story! I always planned my weekend trips home from DC to Morgantown based on the traffic. It was either a 3 1/2 or 5 hour drive… so if I left BEFORE 2pm or after 8pm, it was ok. anytime in between was terrible.
But goodness it was all worth it. look how awesome your new home away from home is! can’t wait to see more 🙂 are you going to decorate the interior? I can’t play the video from here so i’ll just have to see in person
Joy had decorated the old boat with turtle-shaped patches over the holes the previous owners cat had clawed into the upholstery. So far, no need for “decorating” this one.
Just let us know when you can come. We can’t wait to the two of you.
The three blond triplets are stunning. Are they identical or fraternal?
:-0 ouch…one is OLD and one is a dog…I guess that makes us fraternal 🙂
Hey Joy – who are you calling OLD – me or Moku??? Had a wonderful time and can’t wait to return
Joy – nice pic of your and the kids. So glad you were able to spend some time with them. As always, it was good seeing you and Tom and Moku, of course!
Looks like a great time was had by all, wish I could’ve been there! Thanks for putting up the pics and videos, it’s great to see everyone even if it’s not in person. 🙂
Thanks Will. I hoped that would be the case.
I can’t tell what that is hanging on the tow rope but it looks to be in big trouble. I hope you didn’y lose your swim suit like Ronnie did. Glad you guys are enjoying your new boat..Looks like fun..
dad
Yes, Dad, I’m still walking funny (-:
that’s one happy dog! it’s true those dogs do keep you laughing.
We’ve used the pontoon boat a couple of times since then and have found it to be great for combo skiing. I think I’m starting to get used to skiing again. I don’t think I’ll try slalom behind the pontoon boat, though.
That was an amazing Thanksgiving, and I truly had a great amount to be thankful for. It was a blessing to be able to see you and everyone else for the holiday gathering. 🙂
Christmas is my favorite time of the year! It’s great when the whole family can get together and share good times, good food, and good pressies! Looking forward to another wonderful year together. 🙂 Miss you guys! It was so much fun seeing everyone. XoXo, Ruth
pictures much appreciated. it was as if we could relive the good times over and over! just another example of the great tech support we get from our wonderful lovely family geeks.
Well, we went out again on Sunday and everything worked well. I’m guessing that the battery connections had vibrated loose. The volts on the battery read 12.55 before we went out. And after more than an hour the volts on the battery still read 12.55 using the hand held volt meter. Underway the onboard volt meter read 13 to 14 V so I think the alternator is working. The nuts on the leads were loose when I took the battery out to charge it over night so I’m hoping that that was the source of Saturday’s problems.
Nice, wakeboarder!!! My poor wakeboard has just sat in storage lately. 🙁
The Kindle is incredibly interesting, and I cannot wait to hear your review on book selection availability and diversity. Let us know how it does in direct sunlight. I hadn’t heard about it’s anti-glare feature! Keep us posted. xoxo
Fun, innit? I don’t have the kindle, but my digital book was my best friend on the road.
Left behind the dead trees, but picked up a dead cow? Ironic.
Check out http://www.gutenberg.org they’ve got a huge selection of public domain books in an array of formats (I think google has acquired gutenberg since I started using it, so I’m looking for a new independent source to support if anyone has better options)
Ah, the old dead cow conundrum. I knew even as my fingers were typing the word ‘leather’ that I was stepping into a hornet’s nest. There are at least two good arguments against the use of dead cows. (1) Eating cows instead of grain is inefficient. It requires more grain to feed the cow who feeds us than if we ate the grain directly. This places a burden on the world’s poorest people. This issue has been further exacerbated by the implementation of grain for fuel policies whereby instead of depleting the carbon fuel supply we power our engines on the stomach’s of the poor. (2) Cows, and in particular cows in feedlots, are a significant source of methane which is a major green house gas contributing to global warming. But there are also a couple of arguments in favor of dead cows. (1) The native American philosophy of consuming all of the carcass for useful purposes. A position also stated as “Waste not. Want not.” and (2) hamburgers. Without being flip (which I have just done in point 2), I could go on for hours on this topic as I’m sure you could. The truth is that it is difficult if not impossible to pass through this planet without leaving a trail and I appreciate everyone who thinks about how to minimize their trail in such a way as to leave the best planet for the next generation and make the planet as good as it can be for those around them today.
The gutenberg books can be had through the Kindle bookstore at Amazon’s Kindle Store under their Free Book Collections link.
Jealous I am.
Um, Chris has less against dead cows so much as she is FOR irony 🙂
Right, Chris?
BTW – I know this is “my” Chris because I would recognize her tone anywhere.
Sounds like you had a rough start but things turned around as the day went on! I’m glad you were able to get some vacation time to go relax and have some fun!
Hope you guys are having a blast! Moku and I are doing just fine. He’s enjoying his daily walks around the lake – 30 min – 1 hour everyday. Needless to say, he’s sleeping and eating well. Follows me everywhere I go and seems to be doing well during the day when I’m at work. We have a routine down and I don’t think he’s missing either of you – much. Look forward to more postings – take care, eat lots, laugh lots, and have lots of fun. Luv you guys.
Amazing photos even with the small camera! You must have been so upset about leaving the battery, but luckily these monkeys got incredibly close! They’re obviously really habituated to humans 🙂 Gorgeous photos. I’m totally with you on that photo of the little peeper! How amazing! It’s gorgeous. What an amazing adventure so far. I am envious 🙂 Can’t wait to see ALL the jungle pictures!
I can’t get over the picture of Joy at the San Felipe Fortress. Breathtaking! The city images are just as lovely. What a neat city! I’m really enjoying these pictures. They really leave me with a feeling for the places. And I’m loving your travel tips for each spot!
Wow. I’ve heard positive reviews of Aruba before, but your stories and photos have convinced me to add it to the vacation list. The Casibari Rock formations and the natural bridge are stunning. And the waters and beach look clean, inviting, and relaxing! Do you think if you weren’t doing all of this on an organized tour that you could still find you way out to the natural structures and enjoy the beach? How cool that all beaches are public! After reading your day 4 blog, it sounds like Aruba is still your favorite part of the trip so far! 🙂 Of course, the monkeys sounded like a close second! Keep up those fun personal observation stories. It gives us readers a chance to be transported there for a short visit, too. 🙂
Yes. Aruba is quite small and easily navigated. It is a lovely port-of-call, but if one were considering a Caribbean destination for a longer vacation, I don’t think Aruba would be at the top of my list.
Fantastic underwater shots! How did you take those? The stingray shot is the best!!! Although… had I seen that, there would have been no time to take a picture since I’d be high-tailing it out of there. I have an unreasonable fear of stingrays. 🙂 Glad you’re adding onto the good list with this stop! How fun. Snorkeling is really neat and relaxing and easy…. all things everyone can appreciate!
Wait, I thought she was my Chris.
Clearly the locals aren’t the only ones styling out there. Spiffy suit!
Thanks. It was easier than packing the jacket (-:
Wow! The underwater video is awesome!
Thanks, Ruth. The videos certainly help me relive a great experience.
Wish I had been there to share with you all. Your photo with Paps and you is fantastic! Can you please e-mail me the full-size version? Love it! Unfortunately, I didn’t see my dad but did speak with him. Dads are surely great! Glad to hear you all had such a great time. Sounds very full time wise and emotionally. 🙂 Xoxo
Of course the picture is good – your Mom took it! (with my new phone which also makes it fun for me)
Looks like good times were enjoyed by all 🙂 The new waverunner is aaaawesome! There will be endless fun with this new toy. Those osprey pictures are great. Next time we’re bringing our binos. Who knows what we’ll see? Loved seeing you all and playing on the tubes! My mouth might still be stuck in a ridiculous smile from being dragged through the water. See you soon!
I should have some pictures up soon. We had fun, too.
Gorgeous, what a nice morning 🙂
Did you hear Moku bark at me at the end? It was his “I’m bored. Let’s get this boat fired up” bark.
I love the video of the WaveRunner… now where’s the one of the storm? 🙂
I would be really grateful if you’d send that rain my way… it was 122 again today on my way home!
ris – your wish is my command. It has been added.
Will – the water is down 18 inches at our Lake and it has been nearly 100 degrees often.
So are Segway tours not usually available there? I wasn’t clear what the special event was. I see them in DC all of the time and have never seen anyone have a problem with them, but figure, if there is a problem to have, I would be the one to have it. They do look very cool, and with my bad feet I would probably love it, in spite of the tourists I would most likely mow down.
The special event was that Wrightsville Beach was being used to take folks with spinal injuries surfing. In order to stay out of the way, we changed our plans and rode the train to Charlotte (first Amtrak ride) and then toured the city on Segways (also a first for us). Segways are easy to ride and can slow to the pace of the most pokey pedestrian. But it is quite fun to hit an open stretch and “zoom” up to about 12 mph.
My favorites parts were “I’m getting dizzy now,” introducing the post by referring to yourself as dorky, the brick statue of the wall with brick children climbing it, and the segway clips! Never having been to Charlotte, it’s clear that the town would be great to visit. I absolutely love that you all took the public transport down there, got to see that awesome bike trick show, and road around the electric segways. That is all really cool. I hope we’re all inspired to design our trips more considerately after reading about your experience.
Hi Tom! Enjoyed your thoughts about some of your favorite cities and it’s good to know that Raleigh has some great spots to keep you interested and enthused. But just in case you are still looking for that “special place” for retirement, the Bermuda Dunes house across the street should go on the market in a month or so. I’m just sayin’.
Hey Uncle Tom 🙂 We just enjoyed watching your pitch about the Strip! Loved the narration and all the different locations you included. I haven’t even been down to a lot of those areas, so this made me want to schedule a longer visit there during my next Pittsburgh trip 🙂 As an aside, I personally would prefer to have some of the pictures linger longer on the screen so us unlucky ones at home can admire the scenery a little longer 🙂
Love the church in the re-purposed warehouse. So awesome.
While I am not usually a Jazz fan, I enjoyed the music going up the elevator.
Gotta have elevator music, right?
Sounds like a very good start, rain not withstanding. Looking forward to reading more. I knew a girl who used to work as a bartender on a train through Alaska. It was part of the cruise, overland between 2 ships in different ports.
I hadn’t read about anything like that. It sounds like it would be pretty cool.
Tom, this is a great look for you–but you’ve hidden the Steelers logo!
Thanks. It is so wrong to hide the Steelers logo.
Enjoyed the pics and commentary, of course. But so as not to be outdone Marilyn and I will be celebrating her retirement on the Caribbean Princess out of New York June 22 to Halifax & back. It’s not Alaska but should be fun and to areas we have yet to visit. Hopefully my camera eye will be as good as yours. We look forward to comparing notes one of these days soon. Miss you both. M&M
We thought about the two of you often given your romantic Alaskan cruise experience. Can’t wait to hear about your Halifax cruise. We’re looking for a cruise that stops up that way at PEI.
Did you know? This is where Marilyn and I got engaged? We got the ring at “Little Switzerland” a jewelry shop in town after taking the helicopter to the glacier. I guess you could say it’s a special place for us. Then you made it official……I guess we were just one of the 900,000 but to us it was just about us. And still is. We’d have loved sharing it with you. Another time, maybe.
We knew it was on this cruise, but not that it was in Skagway. As to your last suggestion, that would be the answer to the oft asked question, “How could this get any better?”
Hehe, “flightseeing!” You always do an excellent job of mixing storytelling, humor, and detailed descriptions of your adventures. (The weight story was too funny.) I really enjoy reading your blog. Alaska is definitely a state that I want to explore in depth. You have provided a great introduction here. What gorgeous places you’ve seen so far… and the wildlife is surely amazing. I can’t wait to read more!
I meant to add that each photo is really more gorgeous than the next one… especially some of those ones at the end of the bear attack. 😉
Thanks, Ruth. I don’t have your way with words or your Mom’s way with a camera, but what I lack in quality I compensate for with quantity (-;
I think next time ya’ll should bring me along 🙂
I think we do, too! This would be so much fun with you and Tom. If he came, I’d have someone to tell me what was at the top of the Dewey Lakes trail in Skagway. I stopped where the climb started.
Gorgeous, Tom!
I really really like this picture! Very nicely done. 🙂
Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks for posting these! I’ve downloaded a lot of them for myself. Everyone looked particularly lovely according to your pictures. 🙂
My pleasure. I hope we get to eat in the oasis often.
thanks for the pictures. I’m glad you had the magic to raise them from the dead, especially the great group pictures!
Thanks, Mom. I love the way Mrs. Whiteman tilts her head affectionately toward Uncle Dick in the group shot.
He meant a horseshoe crab, not clam 🙂