Bringing it back!

I think I'll bring the blog back... for a while it looked like I couldn't log on and enter data, but now it seems that's changed! 

I've retired... free days have been on my agenda for the last few months - since May 31, 2024! It's an amazing realization that I can do what I want, when I want...everyday... as long as the money hold out. With the current political administration, I'm not really sure it will, so I feel like I better enjoy it while I can! 

So what travel plans do I have? 

• Cruising in May to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao)
• Cruising in October (Mexican Riviera)
• Travel to the African American History Museum in DC
• A Europe Cruise
• Panama Canal Cruise
• Local Exploring using the Adventure Book

Yes, big plans and not sure if they are 2 years or 3 years in the making, but we shall see! That's half the fun!!

We have arrived! ....

...in Mobile, Alabama! It's a lovely town so far with the friendliest people! They are willing to share thoughts on restaurants, offer you food to try off their plate or just shoot the breeze. Refreshing!!

The we is, my mom (The Wise One), my uncle (Charismatic) and my aunt (MeansWell). We drove from Louisville, KY to Birmingham, AL yesterday - left at 11:54AM and rolled in about 7PM. We spent the night there to relax and then headed to Mobile about 9:30 this morning. We've been here for a while and even had time for catfish dinners at Love's Seafood. 

Now it's nap time ! I have cousins in various states of arrival - some on airplanes, some in cabs, some not even having left yet. Can't wait for them to get here! We are going to be on a Carnival Cruise for 5 days together...so much fun!! 

What else?....ALASKA!!!!!

Here's the great thing about life...there are always places to visit! I love that!!!

So in a few weeks, I'll be heading to Alaska... I'm going to need a few more names because there are 10 of us going! So excited!!!!

Is this on your bucket list? It is absolutely on mine... more to come!

The Greatest Goodbye

Today ... and most of this week.... My beautiful hometown hosted The Greatest Goodbye for The Greatest of All Time. There are only a few things that Muhammad Ali and I share but our hometown is one of them. I didn't get to participate in the ceremonies but my town did well and I am proud to be a native Louisvillian.

Family Trip? Or Family a Trip?

It's late on Monday and we're all still kicking! It's my regular Florida vacation with Ratac but we added a few folks.

R and I were planning and he suggested that we bring my mother with us since she would have been recovered from her knee surgery for several months. She was all for it.

Later my cousin CaliBornAndRaised messaged me to find out when we were coming down - since she only lives 15 miles from where we stay. Once she knew the dates, she coordinated with her sister - theVoiceOfReason - and they ended up renting the condominium next door to ours. So she has been able to bring my Mom's sister - GiftedGabber - with them. Along the way, my cousin- ManAboutTown - called to see if he could come along. So we are all here - all 7 of us taking FL by storm! 

It's great because GiftedGabber is 85 now and will be 86 in November, Lord willing and my mom is 82 now. They and my uncle, LadiesMan - are the only kids left in a family of 11 kids. My uncle couldn't come and we were all disappointed but we had to get over it...

We ate at some great restaurants... Petrillo's Italian, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and a few others.

We visited the Sebastian Inlet, the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and of course I got some Ingress in during the week.

It was a lot to manage with 7 people, but we did it.

Me, BeautyISee, GiftedGabber, CaliBornAndRaised, theWiseOne, theVoiceOfReason and ManAboutTown...love my Family!

It was 1965....

So this is the year of the 50th birthday! I am in Chapel Hill, NC celebrating with the Native New Yorker. I've already had mine and next will be GoodHeart's turn. We are making 50 look great. It's great to get to though!!!!

My friends ... Spesh and TrueSister  ... are with me. We are heading home after a great time! Sad to go... 

Life of the Wild

Up early this morning..figure that.

The wellness challenge at work is about sleep this month and I am doomed to fail even on vacation. We are supposed to get 7 hours a night and that never happens for me! I think I went to bed about 1AM and I was up at 6AM like it was nothing.  Better morning response than when I'm at home and need to go to work! I've already had my breakfast and sat on the patio watching the wildlife.

Every year we come here there is some wildlife that is the one we see more than others... one year it was crabs walking across the streets, one year it was love bugs, another it was the blue jellyfish...always something.

This year it's DOLPHINS!!!!! I'm so excited! There were about 10 of them out this morning and yesterday afternoon we saw two over on the river side by the park. They are just out there playing...

So of course thoughts run through my head...

• I guess dolphins don't sleep? I guess no fish do. 
• I've been sleep all night - lazy human - and they've been swimming
• What makes the morning the best time for them to have fun?
• Will this be a pattern I'll see all week? 

It's just so cool...I can'd wait for R to get some really good pictures with his good camera. But that might be tomorrow because he's a lazy human and hasn't even stirred yet!

P.S. Dragonflies are the other - less exciting - prominent wildlife right now. So far they are cool too...they don't bother me, so they can stay.