luvteaching

IF you want a change of scenery go check out the Juneau webcam. It's a lovely sunny day there with snow capped mountains.

Thanks Leanne and everyone for the thread and a nice way to escape on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Much appreciated. My computer didn't have a buffering problem today so that was an added bonus. Karen

Checking in

Good morning everyone, It's a very rainy start to the day here in the Pacific Northwest! I'll gladly say yes to chocolate covered nuts - especially almonds - and to clam chowder (the white kind). The egg muffins might be good to make and I could take them out as needed to help with the healthy eating. Nothing too exciting going on here. I plan to stay in, watch the ships sail away, and do fun stuff like sweeping the floors, organizing my desk, and even working on a jigsaw puzzle. It's a 1000-piece one from White Mountain Puzzles called Television Families. So far it's going together quite nicely. Tomorrow is water aerobics, the Widows Support group lunch and I get a haircut! Isn't there a law, somewhere, that if you get a haircut you lose 5 pounds? I know I sure feel lighter and have a bit more spring in my step after it's all cut off. Happy Sunday! Karen

I'm now done and off to fold laundry, sweep floors and other exciting things.

I'm still here. I did a quick 10 laps of my "in the house loop" so now have my 4000 steps in - my daily goal.

Checking in from an overcast gloomy Pacific Northwest. Much better weather today in Fort Lauderdale!

Good morning, it's a foggy start to the day here. It's supposed to clear off and be sunny and in the low 50's so not bad at all. Of course it's the precursor to a rainy stretch coming up along with some snow in the mix but the snow isn't forecast to stick around. Not much going on here. I got the income taxes done and in, have been going to water aerobics, had PT for my stuck hip muscle, paid off an Alaska cruise (Westerdam at the beginning of July) and other fun stuff. Off today to do some errands including Costco and the Hallmark store. Have a good day! Karen

Hi Jacqui, I have 2 HAL cruises up this summer. July 7 - 14: Westerdam to Alaska. Taking a friend with me and it will be her first trip to Alaska and first cruise. She's soooo excited! We'll be sharing a cabin so it could be interesting. I do have a Signature Suite for this one so the extra space will be nice. September 7 - 14: Eurodam; Alaska again. This time a friend and her husband are joining me (in their own cabin) and it's also their first cruise and they are very excited. It will be interesting to see Alaska through the eyes of first timers when I've gone so many times. I also have Princess booked for June and August so all 4 cruises to Alaska and out of Seattle. Thanks for posting the two HAL ones! Karen

Thanks everyone. Checking out and on to more fun stuff like shredding old paperwork, cleaning the bathroom, and doing dishes. The fun never ends.

Checking in and it's sure not a nice weather day in PE.

Good morning, It's a rather overcast gloomy start to the day in this area but no snow or rain so that's good. I'll go with the wine and will toast DD DH today. He'd love battery day. For Christmas 2022 I got him the "Battery Daddy" to hold all his batteries and he was in heaven. He came home at the end of December and one of the first things he wanted to do was fill that case. It turned out to be a great manual dexterity exercise for him and he did it twice as he spilled it. That box is heavy with all the batteries in it! Today is the fun stuff - clean the bathroom, etc. I did get the income tax done and had to do a bit of research to see how to file since DH had passed away. I sent it all in snail mail as it was just easier for me. Now to do some research on "surviving spouse" as it seems I can file that way for a year or two. There's always something! Have a nice Sunday! Karen

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone is having a good day. I've had texts from DS, DDIL and DGD and just got off the phone with my Mom so all is good. This is the first Valentine's Day without DH and I was a bit melancholy this morning but fine now. I am wearing the earrings he bought for me last year and I'll have a glass of wine and toast him when I have some dinner. He was a keeper and I miss him. Today was the pool for two water aerobics classes. I also stopped by the local junior college and got tickets for their production of The Music Man on March 1st. A friend and I are going and I used DD DH's account to pay for it so he's treating! Next up this afternoon is getting the income tax looked at again and ready to file and then relaxing. Have a lovely day. Karen

Since it's right around noon I usually have something light for lunch with me as I watch along with my mug of tea. Today's tea is Murchie's Paris Afternoon.

Checking in from a wet Pacific Northwest. Good afternoon to watch ships.

Good morning from a rainy Pacific Northwest, After a long day yesterday I'm planning to stay home and relax just a bit. Yesterday my friend and I went to Canada to visit my 97-year old mother. We finally got on her social calendar! She had plans for us that included cleaning her jewelry and cleaning two lower cupboards. We watched the Canucks lose to Detroit in an OT penalty shot then headed out to lunch. We went to a local Italian place that has great food, good parking (a consideration with DM's walker) and is usually quiet. The food was good and one of the best caesar salads I've had in a long time. I brought most of my cannelloni home so that's dinner tonight. Then we went to a local bakery to get scones - yum. I have a triple chocolate and a cinnamon one to munch on. This place is so popular and just a small spot. They sold out of the hot cross buns by noon! Fortunately the border crossing, both directions, was easy and less than 5 minutes. I like the quote, no on the food, maybe on the poppers. Today is getting the Valentines in the mail for the great nieces and nephews and working on the income tax. I've had to do a bit of research since I'm dealing with the DH's passing but my rough draft looks good. No to the Super Bowl unless I look at the commercials. Have a lovely day! Karen

Good afternoon, It's been a full day today and even yesterday. DS got the range hood and sink in yesterday but I had to wait until today to use the sink. Now my kitchen is all stainless steel and I love it. PT was fine yesterday but I was feeling it this morning. This morning I got brownies made, did a walk, and then headed into the potluck for the widow's support group I'm part of. It's very much a social group and there weren't that many there today but a reporter and photographer from our local newspaper was there to do a story so that was nice. I got a few groceries done as well while I was in town. This afternoon has been cleaning out my car and getting read to head to Canada for the day tomorrow. A friend and I are going up to have a visit with my 97 year old DM. She wants me to clean her jewelry and clean a couple of cupboards for her and we'll go to a local pasta restaurant for lunch. It will be a full day as I'll leave by 9 AM and probably not get home until 5:00 PM or later but that's ok - nothing planned for Sunday! Have a great rest of the day! Karen

@HappyInVan. Count me as another who always leaves the auto gratuities in place and then I tip my room stewards and dining stewards over and above especially when my DH was alive and sailing with me. His mobility issues made some extra work for them and it was always accomplished with a smile.

Good afternoon, What I thought was going to be a quiet stay-at-home day is turning out a lot differently. Oh well - go with the flow. DS was here about 10:30 and got the new range hood installed and then got the old kitchen sink out. It was set in there with the idea of not moving it and it turns out to be a cast iron one so that sink is heavy! Now the new stainless steel sink is in place and DS is off to get parts and caulking. I've given him money so he's fine. I got a call a few hours ago that there was a cancelation at PT and did I want to come in this afternoon and I said YES so I'll be out shortly. This will be my first PT session since mid-December and my stuck hip muscle is letting me know it's needed even with all the water aerobics. DS loaded up the recycling in the car so now I can make that a stop afterwards. Once I get back and my kitchen is back to normal I need to bake a quick pan of brownies to take to a Widows Support Group potluck tomorrow. Have a good day! Karen

Good afternoon everyone, Not much going on here the last while which is why I've been not contributing. It's been more of "same old, same old". I've been to the pool on Monday and Wednesdays for two water aerobics classes which I really enjoy. Today I have a memorial service to attend with a friend. It's for the father-in-law of our music teacher at school when I taught. He passed last week in his sleep at age 100. I also have to make a stop at the post office to get international stamps. That's a hit to the pocketbook! I paid for my June Alaska cruise on Majestic Princess yesterday and do need to get my parking in place which I'll do later today. I have 4 Alaska cruises this summer - one a month - and hope to do Dd DH's burial at sea on the September one (Eurodam). We'll see how it all goes. I'd better get organized. It's also the day to put out the trash for pick up tomorrow and I need to get a birthday gift for a friend ready to go for tomorrow. Karen

Checking in. It's a lovely sunny day in the Pacific Northwest. I'll take it!

When we were there a couple of years ago we rode the train from where you pictured it. The area is flat and easy for scooter use. Karen

I'm done - thanks all. It's snowing pretty good in Juneau today.

Seattle and the Alaska ports are "silent" due to noise ordinances. Too bad.

I'll be on Eurodam in early September to Alaska and the Westerdam in early July to Alaska.