Discovering New Places Right Here at Home

When we went to Shore Acres Park for Sarah's wedding I hit all kinds of new places. One of them was Simpson Reef, which I think is part of Sunset Bay State Park - I had never heard of either of these places, partly because you have to mean to go there. You don't accidently find them on the way to somewhere else. Anyway, Simpson Reef is a natural rock reef on the Oregon Coast that provides sheltered water for a variety of seals and sea lions. Park Rangers are there on summer weekends to help us newbies figure out what we're looking at. Here's a pic I took through one of the Ranger's telescopes - this is the largest island within the reef area, called Shell Island. There are numerous smaller rocks/islands sticking out of the water and they are all loaded with animals.

We went here twice, it's a cool place. I have more pics on flickr.

Holy Crap!

My big trip is only 4 weeks away and I have not done anything to get ready. All of the clothes I want to take are at least one size too small. I get out of breath walking from the tv to the bathroom. What the hell am I going to do?!?!? Amelia will kill me if I can't keep up on the ship and shore excursions.....I think I'm in trouble. I'm going to be encased in my clothes like a sausage and I won't be able to walk to the dining room!

BUT, here's one way I'm getting ready: I have pre-ordered the essentials for the 35 day cruise. They are: 2 coffee cards, 2 soda cards, 2 bottles of vodka, 1 bottle of rum, 1 bottle of kahlua, 1 bottle of Bailey's, 1 bottle of white wine. I keep thinking I should order some Jim Beam or Crown Royal and I'm pretty sure we need another bottle of Rum. What do you think?

Cruise

Ok, the best thing that's happened post-retirement is that I made reservations for Amelia and I to take a cruise. And not just any cruise.

This cruise is for 35 days, it goes from Seattle WA to San Diego CA to the 4 main Hawaiian Islands to Kiribati to the Cook Islands to the Marquesas Islands to Tahiti to Bora Bora and many points in between. 35 days in and around the South Pacific. It's been a dream for so long I can't hardly believe it when I think about it. Although, my checkbook knows it's all true.

I come back home for 4 days and then head to Kauai for two weeks. First class all the way.....should be awesome.

Lily Pond

Lily Pond
Originally uploaded by sunshinegurl2

I am currently retired and enjoying it very much. I've almost forgotten about alarm clocks and downtown and lunch hours and all that stuff. I went to Sarah and Jacob's wedding this past weekend at Shore Acres - here's a pic I took on the grounds, in the Japanese Garden section. That's a pretty cool place, my first time there.

Wedding photos are at flickr.com/photos/sunshinegurl2