Seattle

 Over Memorial Day, I flew out to Seattle to visit my goddaughter.  I had airline miles and I knew just how to use them.  I've visited this little nugget in four states now.  Dad is a sgt major in the army. Mom is my lifelong partner in crime.
This post is more personal than informative, but...it's my blog, and ultimately where my memories live.
This little gal, Micah, is the world's friendliest tour guide.  She stood behind her Mom's car in her pjs late Friday when Regan was heading out to the airport, she was not getting left behind to do something silly like sleep.   She was there in pjs to greet me, and then she proceeded to tell EVERY sales clerk, base guard (they live on post), and tourist she passed that I was her Mom's best friend, and her Aunt Christy.  Then she'd usually ask said person for a high five, or...on special occasions "high five/knuckles."
After a very extensive home tour when we arrived at her house (I was introduced to every room, and pipe cleaner, toy, and pet present in her house).  She introduced me to her dad and let him know I was her Mom's best friend.  I'm sure, after more than ten years of knowing me, he was grateful for the clarification.

 Saturday morning we went shopping for some room decor (more on this later) and a few last items for her fairy garden, and then we went to some gardens near by.

She wore her dress, polka dot tights, rain boots, and boa.  She collected all the flowers she could hold along the path.  It was a gorgeous walk they take often through the Lakewold Gardens full of mossy stones, ferns, and flowers.  

 She offered me half of her findings.  I asked her to pause so I could take a picture of her flower in her cute little hand.  She wanted to take a silly picture, I told her OK, I'll take two, or serious, one funny.  For the remainder of the weekend whenever we stopped for a photo she'd say, "Take five pictures of this, Aunt Christy."

 After our garden tour, we went home and got to work on the fairy garden.  She painted up the fence and bird house (now fairy house) I brought-I posted about that separately.

 The fairies move at night, and she was super excited to see their new positions the next morning.

 This is her work in progress room.  Once upon a time, I was there for her baby shower (pre-birth) and her Mom, another friend, Liz, and I decorated her nursery.  Now, Regan and I have begun decorating her room.  Here is a small corner.  I'm going to work on some banners etc and send it up, but there is definitely going to be a dress up corner.  Though....by dress up I mean, her daily outfit.  She added a tutu to her pjs on Saturday and came to say good morning Sunday, still wearing that tutu the next morning.

 One thing Regan and I have in common-a love of dogs.  I have shed many tears over the loss of one of her gals a few years back.  I still teared up looking at old photos, but in her place is Diesel, a humongous, goofy, German Shepard.  I'm in love.  And faithful little Odie-Regan, Odie, and I have quite a few memories together.

 On Sunday, Micah, Regan and I headed to Mount Rainier National Park.  It was about an hour and 45 minutes from where she lives up very winding, beautiful roads.  Note to self-bring Dramamine next time).  The wild flowers weren't out yet, and the snow still sat in upper elevations, but we did get some beautiful peaks at the volcano.

 We made all the stops we could on the roads and park offices that were open.  We spent some time at Christine Falls.

 We ended up at Paradise where we discovered there was snow.  Micah was excited about that.  She couldn't wait to play.  She was super disappointed there was no lave (she kept telling me about the fact that we were going to a volcano to see lava), but....she seemed OK with the alternative (snow).  She threw snowballs, mad snow angels, and ate some questionable snow piles before anyone could stop her.
I kept telling her I was excited she got to go on a girl's trip with Regan and I.  We got a package of Twizzlers (which Micah calls Snappys....who knows why, but it's cute, and Regan and I have shared many a package of Twizzlers on a drive).  I see many more girl's trips in our future.
Last up, I forced the family to pose for a picture.  And then I left a huge piece of my heart in Seattle until next time.  Too little time, but too much time had already passed, I'll take anything I can get. Now....to plan the next trip!

Alaskan Cruise Post 2: The Carnival Spirit

This is my third Carnival cruise.  This is my favorite of the ships.  It's the nicest.  It's longer and narrower than previous boats (because of the need to weave through narrow glacier carved mountains), but more elegant than some of my prior boats, though they were all nice.  I've never taken any other cruises, and I know there are some definite differences, but I think the thing about a cruise....you really can't go wrong.  They are all nice.  This isn't the difference between Motel 6 and the Ritz.  It's a cruise, it's nice pretty much no matter what liner.  Carnival is great.  Big rooms, great shows, funny comics, and fantastic amenities from golf courses, slides, (heated) pools, spas and gyms with an ocean view. 

Casinos, more food than the state of Rhode Island consumes in a month, coffee bars, free room service, 24 hour pizza and ice cream, and views...views....views.

The rooms host a channel that tracks the boat's progress.  I like to keep track of everyone.

 We had a balcony room on the back of the boat on this journey.  I usually don't bother with the extra expense because we spent most of the time in ports, and the rest of the time in open ocean on previous cruises.  With this trip up Alaska's inside passage, we only spent pieces of two days without a view of the land (and a little bit of a rocky boat), the rest of the time there was land, ice bergs, glaciers, bald eagles...

 ...sunsets, well, as much as the sun ever sets in Alaska in the summer.

 And whales. 

 Humpback whales, and killer whales, and a naturalist on board to point out the animals (we figured out you can hear the deck announcements on a TV channel, and she announces animals and land formations as we pass them). 

 We spent most of one day on the back of our balcony (the thing about the aft of the ship if you can see both sides, the balcony is extended, but it is noisy).  I ordered room service, sat, took pictures of seals, and slothed my way through Alaska's fjords, more on this in a future post...well, more on Alaska and the seals, that's probably all I'll say about my laziness. 

Except this...room service....free chocolate cake while you float through ice, yes please.  They clean your room twice a day, turn down your sheets at night, leave mints, and towel animals.  Towel animals are pretty much my favorite thing.  All included in the original price of the cruise, unless you are a drinker, then you've got another bill coming, fortunately, my Mama raised me Baptist for moments, and trips just like this....no drink bills, except for my bottomless bubbles card-diet coke....

Every night includes formal dining (if you forgo the buffets) of steaks and fish, crabs, and lobsters, but really, I go for the molten lava cake. 

The first cruise I went on a didn't know what to do with myself.  I'm sort of a go go go kind of gal, and then I was trapped in a moving vessel for days on end, and relax just isn't a vocabulary word I dust off and use very often.  I've learned to love cruises because they take you multiple places it would be a headache to get to otherwise.  The Spirit took us on a week long journey from Seattle to Tracy Arm up to the Sawyer Glacier, on down the innar passage of Alaska to Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Victoria, Canada.  I've been fortunate (and determined) to see a lot of the world.  I LOVE Alaska.  I was ready to send for my puppies and stay in Skagway.  Tomorrow begins my post-a-palooza on all the great stops.  In the meantime, I'm planning my next trip move to Alaska. 

Alaskan Cruise Post 1: Seattle, Washington

 This was my second time to stay in Seattle, and for a city who boast more than 200 cloudy days, all I've been met with is beautiful sunshine.  I'm not complaining because I loved it several years ago when I swung through on my journey up the coast via the Starlight Express, and I loved it this time around as an overnight stop before my cruise ship left port.  My favorite thing to do is ask the expert, AKA, bloggers who live nearby, and this go 'round I got great advice from Malia from Yesterday on Tuesday. 

My Mom and I got in after a four hour flight from Dallas. We gained two hours, thanks to the time change.  We chose to stay in the same hotel we found last time via Frommers.  The Moore Hotel.  I love this place.  It's affordable (a little less than 100 a night), vintage good (clawfoot tubs, old wooden doors and locks, but updated luxories).  The staff is fabulous.  They have always been friendly, professional, and extremely helpful.  I don't recommend too many hotels unless they go above and beyond, or are unique, this is one of my favorites. 

We headed straight to Pike's Market (2 blocks down a steep hill).  The thing I'm discovering is the market closes pretty early (5-6), and doesn't open early (sometimes after 7....even the donut shop), thought the (very first) Starbucks was open and available for my drinking pleasure at all hours of my visit. 

We walked and shopped, I left *you* plenty of seafood (bleck, no....I don't like it Sam I Am.  I've tried it fried, baked, smoked, in a box with a fox....I just don't like it....sorry....I've spent the last 20 years of my life trying to convince others I really can't stand eating fish, they always insist this :insert the dish you'd recommend for me: will be different.  I try it.  It's not.  I tried it this time.  It's not OK!....I'm done.  I left it for you because I do not like it Sam I Am.)

I didn't consume too much fish, but I did watch the fish fly here....I love this fish stall, home of a good time, but also a great work structure called FISH that I've lived and breathed with a really great boss once upon a time, birthed right here. 

I left plenty of this pretty fish behind, but I didn't leave too much else at the other vendors. 

I made the pilgrimage to the gum wall.  (Underneath the fish shop show above down a ramp)....otherwise known as:  'Why they don't allow gum in school.'

This time I tried out a new delicacy (thanks to Heather and Amber's advice).  Donuts (next to the newsstand, around the corner from 'the flying fish' place).  Yes, these really are that good. 

Someday I'm going to give Seattle more than 24 hours of my time, but after an evening and a morning exploring Pike's Market, it was off to the port...

Sleepless In Seattle

I only stayed in Seattle for two nights, one full day, but it was a really neat city with a lot of personality....emphasis on the word lots. I'd definitely love to go back someday and spend a little more time there. I made the treck to the Space Needle and had brunch, then headed to Pike's Market and saw the fish flying, local fruits, the gum wall. I also made the pilgrimage to 'the' first Starbucks. After shopping down the piers, I headed across the sound, and got a great view of the city.