Day 1 of 16 years and cruising

10 hour drive to New Orleans accomplished. New city marked off the bucket list and I remember why I don’t like big cities, way to many people. But I will say after the boring drive through southern Arkansas and Mississippi once we hit the boot of Louisiana it was so cool coming through on 55 seeing  the Marshes and then over Lake Pontchartrain. We saw real live Alligators in the waters beside the highway.  I’m so easily amused in a vehicle. That’s where the amusement ended.

Checkin at Hilton Riverside was difficult. It has so many levels and drop off/parking is at the end of a street so you can only be there for so long before they make you move. Have to have a bellhop to get a luggage cart. Then rooms are separated into 3 different buildings. There have been a few wrong turns but we eventually got settled.

Went across the street to Harrahs casino for dinner after we looked at the hotel restaurant menu and saw that crab dip was $89!! Holy Crap!!!   So we did the buffet at Harrahs and we were not disappointed. It was wonderful. I learned that in New Orleans no matter what you are going to eat it’s going be hotter than expected, the macaroni, the Chinese noodles, but the flavor is awesome. They said don’t you remember watching Swamp People, and Troy putting all those spices on everything??  I said I saw him putting them on there but I don’t have “taste”avision, I have television, I didn’t know what the finished product tasted like. Now I’ve had a Taste Of New Orleans.  After we were stuffed we moved on to the slot machines.  I lost my $20 and Jimmie won our dinner back. It was a no- smoking casino. They had a smoking area outside with a few machines out there. There were a lot of shops, restaurants and bars. I think it’s one of the cleanest casinos I’ve ever been in.

Returned to the room, watched some tv and the ships go by on the river.  Went to bed with the curtains open, mainly because I’m a dork and didn’t figure out there were black out shades behind the sheers until this morning 😂😂. Yep, and that’s the second dumbest thing I did yesterday. I didn’t even write about the dumbest.   Let’s just say it involves an elevator, and I hadn’t even been drinking yet. Bet me and the people in the elevator got a good laugh and I’m sure they got off and had a OMG you’re never going to believe what just happened. Oh well, live and learn. There’s a reason I live in the boonies.  Technology sometimes is not my friend.

We watched the Glory come into port around 6:00 this morning. Been hanging out this morning waiting for boarding time. Definitely not ordering room service. We did walk to the Cafe Du Monde and got beignets for breakfast. I’ve now been there and done that, New Orleans!  Boarding at 11:30, so close now!!

16 years and Cruising Final Preparations

This was the start to my morning. 😂😂 We are only taking Rex to Kamp K9 the first week then Goober is coming next Friday. Rex decided he wasn’t leaving without Goober and Goober  was not happy about being left. So I had one in the house whining to get OUT and one 70 pound Australian Shepherd refusing to load up that kept running back trying to get IN.  Finally end up having to get Goober out and put him in the car to try and coax Rex in but he had figured out it was a trick and was still having none of it. I did finally catch him and carry him to the car (and get his collar back on him).  Poor Goober had to go back in the house. Then had to listen to Rex cry all the way to Kamp K9 because he missed Goober. I’ve never seen a more dependent dog. He has to have another dog around. Get to Kamp K9, Micah carried him in, he was still sulking.  Her husband gets the bright idea to let their dog out to come see him and I’ll be darned if Rex doesn’t perk right up and forget about being unhappy to run off to play with Cooper.  All he needed was a dog forget people.  🙄

Finally make it to work much later than planned.  Had a pretty good day. And you know what time it is?? Vacation time!!! Emergency numbers written for Ryan. He may be an adult but he’ll always be our little boy. Lists made and crossed off. Bags packed and ready. Documents printed.  Leaving for the Big Easy bright and early in the morning.  It’a time to get #16yearsandcruisin started.

Happy Birthday Kaleb Forever 17

Your laugh was unforgettable.  The way your eyes twinkled and that smirk you'd have on your face when you thought you'd got away with something.  That booming voice of yours that could be heard for miles.  The many cowlicks you had causing  unique hair patterns and those sharp knees, elbows and butt bone that you loved to dig into people.  That sharp angular jaw line and those baby blue piercing eyes.  The endless puns, one liners, jokes and punchlines.  Your go or go home attitude.  Not afraid of anything including me.  I never found your "currency" as Dr Phil puts it.  I never learned what made your tick.  You were as unique as they come.

Today is 21 years since I gave birth to you but you were only given 17 years 1 month and 1 day on this earth or 6241 days.  You were so special that's all God had planned for you.  You touched so many people in the days you were given here.  And you are making such a difference even after your death.  You taught me so many things.  You taught me there are different ways to accomplish the same goal, and to respect peoples differences.  You taught me patience and some mean negotiation skills.  You taught me humility and that it's OK to ask for help.  You taught me to live EVERY SINGLE DAY like it's your last because tomorrow isn't promised for anyone.

I believe that everyone is only given so many days on this earth.  I've always believed when it's your time, it's your time whether you’re driving a race car, swimming with sharks, skydiving or sitting at home on your couch, when your time is up, it's up.  I wasn't able to apply it to your death until recently.  But it must have been your time.  No matter how you go, if it wouldn't have been your time, you'd still be here.  So I've stopped imagining a career, wedding, grandkids because I know they were never in  your cards.  You were given to us for 6241 days, to make a difference in our lives for that time, and then for us to make a difference in other peoples lives for the rest of ours however many more days that may be.

So I'll celebrate the day of your birth and this marks 21 years since the day of your birth but you are Forever 17.  Love you forever Kaleb.  I will continue to #BeKalebsVoice in the fight against Suicide and to help bring Suicide Awareness programs into the mainstream.

Countdown to Cruising 2019 - need a catchy name

I need a catchy phrase for our 2019 vacation.  This is a repeat of a cruise we did 9 years ago, so maybe somethings x 2, or do over.  We're going to the Bahamas and it's for our anniversary, so any of those things could be used for the name also.  We're sailing on Carnival Glory, out of New Orleans with my in-laws.  Ok, that's about it.  Any ideas are appreciated but I'm having a block.  I can't come up with any catchy hashtags to name the cruise.  We are cruising on a different ship out of a different port.  So it's not a repeat of the Glory or New Orleans, just so there is no confusion on names.

Other than that, we are down to we leave for the drive in 4 days.  Saturday morning about 4:00 a.m. can't get here soon enough.  Bags are almost all packed, final arrangements made for house sitter, dog sitters, grooming for the dogs while we're away has all been taken care of.  Working on finishing up final instructions for work stuff and wrapping up final projects and doing last few days of "daily" work.

Tuesday is work and hair appointment day.  Everyone has to have a fresh hair-do for a trip.  Getting my highlights done and a haircut.  If it's called a haircut when you are growing it out in front.  I realized after I cut off my hair this last time, that I wasn't able to wear my CC Beanies in the winter time as my hair was to short.  I looked bald.  So now I'm working on growing out some hair for a stacked bob so I can wear my hats in the winter time.  The things we do to have a warm head in the wintertime.

I'm off Wednesday to spend the day celebrating Kaleb's birthday and pampering my fingers and toes.  I'll pretend he's there with me.  That would have been funny.  One his feet were ticklish so he'd have never made it through the pedicure and would have been overly dramatic about it and two he'd have given us every fact about how pedicures came to be whether they were true or not, I'd have had to look them up to see.

Thursday is a full day of work.

Friday is drop of Rex at Kamp K-9 at 8:00 in the morning when they open.  He's staying the full time at Kamp K-9, while Goober gets to stay with Ryan at the house the majority of the trip.  Rex is still an overgrown puppy and needs a little more oversight than Goober does.   This way he gets lost of play time and other dogs and people to play with, while Goober will get some one on one time with his boy.  Then the next Friday Ryan will bring Goober out to join Rex and they'll both get groomed on Saturday.
Anyone that is ever looking for a boarding place for your dogs and they are over 6 months old and have all their shots, Kamp K-9 is the best place ever.  Our dogs love it.  After drop offs it’s to work for the day and then home to make sure everything is packed.
Then off to bed that night, after checking to make sure EVERYTHING is packed and that the boarding passes are accessible and in the carry on luggage.  Hopefully this cruise I don't lay a bag down with my camera in it and walk off the ship.  I might have ducked security while they were busy and ran back on the ship to grab my bag.  Hey, I love my camera and it had all my trip pictures on it and we know how I love pictures and photo ops!  I just thanked him and smiled as sweet as possible as I passed him my 2nd time exiting the ship.  Oops.

Saturday - up at 3, leave our house at 4:00 to get to inlaws and get everything in the truck and loaded and ready to leave by 5:00.  On the road to New Orleans!

Here’s to a great no name vacation!