Wednesday Pirate's Trivia: I got none...Just the coolest video ever

Well, I have no trivial thoughts at the moment soo....

We have a big summer swell here in Hawaii today and it's always a good day for some wave watching and soul searching.

(Not to mention, the surfers.)

Enjoy it...it's my new favorite music video and song.

Tuesday Travel: When preparing....

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money”. – Unknown

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Yogi Berra

I'm just messing around because I have no thoughts of travel at the moment except to go back in time and find my brain cells! 
Later Mates!

Monday Madness: Darn you Angry Birds!

Let me see by a show of hands, who has the Angry Birds ap on their phone or ipad or whatever?  Go ahead, come out of the closet.  Seek counseling like the rest of us...we are here to support you.

So on a recent 6 hour airplane flight, my son introduced me to Angry Birds.  I had seen everyone else playing it but had resisted the urge to go there.  I just hadn't quite grasped the birds killing pigs thing in all of it's glory.  However, that all has changed.  I downloaded it and was off and running.

To say the game is maddening is an understatement.  I'm a science person  (IE, I understand physics) and am stubborn to boot.  I was convinced I could beat every level and wasn't going to pay the additional $.99 it costs for the destroying angel eagle.  Wrong, because some marketing genius made it so there was a level where the birds couldn't even get to the pig fortress.  I relished having the big eagle destroy the pigs then!  That level and the one where the pigs are in the concrete block semi are the only ones I used it on.

I couldn't just casually play the game.  I had to finish all of the levels!  If I didn't, it would only be there like a silent menace on my phone screen.  I practically did a touchdown dance in the end zone when I beat the last glorious level and killed the last king pig.  Truly one of the grandest accomplishments in my life!  Ok, that's maybe a little dramatic, but dang...it felt very rewarding. 

I hadn't picked it up at all after that...psychological victory in the 12 step process.  Then...Angry Birds Rio!!!  So the 13 step is back to the game!  I am confident I shall conquer again!  (And since I'm working, I honestly will spread my playing time out.  Seriously.  No really.  You're right, maybe not)

But thanks to the sick, twisted freaks who invent this stuff to afflict and torment man!

Later Mates!

Sunday Jack: Where there is anger...

"Where there is Anger, there is always pain underneath."

Eckhart Tolle

I sat down to write a post of inspiration and I just didn't have it in me.  My friend Tiffany on Facebook posted this and I decided to share it here.  Fortunately with a little Divine help, anger and pain can fade away...just takes a little time.

Saturday Inspiration: My little girls...the sun is still in the sky

I had a completely different post written for this, but my little girls Summer 9, and Saige 5, inspire me differently.  The words are from a song Chiquitita by ABBA which in Spanish means, little girl.  They love that song.   I even let them pick the colors.  The meaning works for all of us I think.

Chiquitita tell me what's wrong.  I have never seen such sorrow.  In your eyes, there is no hope for tomorrow.  How I hate to see you like this, there is no way you can deny it.  I can see that you are oh so sad, so quiet.

Chiquitita tell me the truth, I'm a shoulder you can cry on.  Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on.  You were always sure of yourself, now I see you've broken a feather.  I hope, we can patch it up together.

Chiquitita you and I know, how the heartaches come and they go and the scars there leaving.  You'll be dancing once again, and the pain will end, you will have no time for grieving.

Chiquitita you and I cry, but the sun is still in the sky and shining above you.  Let me hear you sing once more like you did before.  Sing a new song Chiquitita.  Try once more, like you did before, sing a new song Chiquitita.
 
(Try once more....Don't forget to teach your kids the same lessons you need to learn for yourself.)

Friday's Personal Journal: Remembering Rome...

Strange title, considering I've never actually been to Rome.  It's on the bucket list somewhere after bungee jumping off the bridge in New Zealand.  I've always been fascinated with Roman culture.  I took a mythology class in college and it was one of my favorites.  For history's sake, around 44 BC- about 400 AD, much of the world was under the rule of the Romans.  The reality is they were considered to be cruel and controlling.  That's not the Rome I'm  talking about.  I'm talking about the Rome that exists as the pinnacle of so many of our modern day legends and comparisons.

Rome was a dream or ideal initially.  The idea that government, knowledge, art, religion and philosophy could progress to somewhat of a state of perfection.  Rome is often spoken of in romanticised tones or a place in time where harmony existed.  Of course it was far from it.  The Roman Empire eventually fell apart but the grand remnants remain to be enjoyed by all.

I asked myself,  "At what point in my life did the dream of Rome exist...the idea of perfection on this earth.  Was there a moment in time that if I could recapture it, I would live in that state forever?"  (Yes, I think strangely sometimes.)  Initially, I thought there is, there has to be.  Maybe it was sometime during my marriage when all of my family was together, maybe a holiday, or a vacation, or a warm fire in the winter...it had to exist somewhere in time and that was probably the closest I could come up with.

The fact is, in this life, perfection seems to happen for only moments at a time.  Once you perceive that it is present, time moves forward and new levels of discovery and change are reached.  Nothing stands still.  Fond memories taint the surrounding circumstances that existed in an imperfect world, but allow us to remember the world as we might like it to always be.  Have you ever noticed that good memories are always perfect. 

Sometimes, perfection can crumble, just as it did in Rome.  But a beautiful city has been rebuilt around it that is even richer in culture brought on by the Renaissance.  The idea of perfection was redefined and the dream of Rome lived again.  I take that lesson to heart.  Memories are great things to build on.  Take the good things and focus on that verses the bad things.  It's ironic, but you always get more of what you focus on..good or bad.   

I remember my Rome...it has existed all throughout my life.  The dreams, and hopes, and wishes all colliding into perfection at one moment in time, and then another, and on and on.  It's heartening to know that Rome can be rebuilt even better than it was.  If you aren't living proof that it can be and that it is time after time, then something is terribly wrong in your life.  Just understand, Rome wasn't built in a day...the old adage applies well. 

And at some point, in another place and time not on this earth, perfection does exist and to me, that is not a dream, but comforting knowledge to look forward to, to build on, and to plan for.  I'm excited for that Rome.

Thursday Treasure: Colors....Caribbean Blue

One of the biggest surprises for me in writing this blog is how much I enjoy using color in it.  I love finding pictures (someone is going to hunt me down and arrest me sometime) and matching the color of the text to it.  I hope that you all enjoy it as well, as I try to make it appealing and pleasant to look at.

And therefore, Color is my Thursday Treasure.  What would our world be without color.  It can warm us up just by looking at it, or make us calm, hyper, and about every other emotion imaginable, just by the hue of the color.

We all have our favorite!  I bet you can't guess mine.  Well, maybe it's obvious.  Always has been blue in all hues.  Especially the color found in clear blue ocean water...to me there is nothing like it.  It calms me and I feel at peace.  I'm drawn to it.  My kids must take after me because my 5 year old will see a wave break and say, "Mom, there's my favorite color."  I'm not sure if I can live somewhere without the ocean again.

One of my favorite songs is Caribbean Blue by Enya.  This video says it all for my favorite color.  I hope you take the time to watch it, I promise it will make you feel good.  And for heaven's sake, take the time to find your favorite color in nature and enjoy it!  Man made objects can't compare.  Later Mates!

Wednesday Pirate's Tidbits: The Design of Jack Sparrow

I wanted to do a piece on what went into designing Jack Sparrow as I had heard the story and found it to be quite fascinating.  I started researching it and came across a wonderful description of it in the Disney film archives.  This piece is taken directly from it as I couldn't have rewritten it any better.  I will rarely not write the piece myself but this is an exception.  If I use a reference such as this, I will always site it.  Jonny Depp, who plays Jack Sparrow, had very specific ideas for the character.  Depp is eccentric and often designs his characters.  I don't know about you, but I think it worked out pretty well.

Ouch!

"Jonny Depp wore a wig to portray Sparrow's dreadlocks, an aesthetic influenced by Depp's rock n' roll approach to pirates.  In addition to a red bandanna Sparrow wears numerous objects in his hair, influenced by Keith Richards' (Rolling Stones guitarist who plays Jack's dad Captain Teague) habit of collecting souvenirs from his travels;  Sparrow's decorations include his "piece of eight".  Sparrow wears kohl around his eyes, which was inspired by Depp's study of nomads, whom he compared to pirates, and Depp also wore contacts that acted as sunglasses. 

Sparrow has several gold teeth, two of which belong to Depp, although they were applied during filming. Depp, who forgot to have them removed after shooting The Curse of the Black Pearl, decided to keep them throughout shooting of the sequels.  Like all aspects of Depp's performance, Disney initially expressed great concern over Depp's teeth.  Sparrow wears his goatee in two braids. Initially wire was used in them, but the wires were abandoned because they made the braids stick up when Depp lay down.  Sparrow also has numerous tattoos, and has been branded a pirate on his right arm by Cutler Beckett, underneath a tattoo of a swallow. In At World's End, one of the "Jack" incarnations is working stripped to the waist, and a full body tattoo of the poem Desiderata is clearly seen.

Depp collaborated with costume designer Penny Rose on his character's appearance, handpicking a tricorne as Sparrow's signature leather hat: (the other characters in the series could not wear leather hats) to make Sparrow's unique. For the scene when it floats on water in Dead Man's Chest, a rubber version was used.   Depp liked to stick to one costume, wearing one lightweight silk tweed frock coat throughout the series, and he had to be coaxed out of wearing his boots for a version without a sole or heel in beach scenes.

The official line is that none of the costumes from The Curse of the Black Pearl survived, which allowed the opportunity to create tougher linen shirts for stunts. However, one remains which has been displayed in an exhibition of screen costumes in Worcester, England. It was a nightmare for Rose to track down the same makers of Sparrow's sash in Turkey. Rose did not want to silkscreen  it, as the homewoven piece had the correct worn feel. Sparrow wears an additional belt in the sequels, because Depp liked a new buckle which did not fit with the original piece.

Sparrow's weapons are genuine 18th century pieces: his sword dates to the 1740s, while his pistol is from the 1760s. Both were made in London.  Depp used two pistols on set, one being rubber. Both props survived after production of the first film.  Sparrow's magic compass also survived into the sequels, though director Gore Verbinski had a red arrow added to the dial as it became a more prominent prop. As it does not act like a normal compass, a magnet was used to make it spin. 

Sparrow wears four rings, two of which belong to Depp. Depp bought the green ring in 1989, and the gold ring is a replica of a 2400-year old ring Depp gave to the crew, though the original was later stolen.  The other two are props to which Depp gave backstories: the gold-and-black ring is stolen from a Spanish widow Sparrow seduced, and the green dragon ring recalls his adventures in the Far East.  Among Depp's additional ideas was the necklace made of human toes that Sparrow wears as the Pelegosto prepare to eat him, and the sceptre was based on one a friend of Depp's owned."

Whew..that was quite the description of a very complex thought process that took place to design Jack Sparrow.  Hopefully it was fun and a bit enlightening.  Later Mates!

Tuesday Travel: Grenada, "Islands of Spice"

I am not sure why I picked this destination other than the fact I had been thinking about it a lot...weird.  Anyway, Grenada, or the Islands of Spice, are about as far south in the Caribbean as you can go.  Pretty much right off the tip of Venezuela and the furthest point south in the Atlantic that I have been.  It consists of the main island Grenada, and six smaller islands in the southern Grenadines.  It is absolutely beautiful there!

The history is quite fascinating for an island so small.  It was first sighted by Columbus on his 3rd voyage in 1498.  (The man puts modern day cruise itineraries to shame!)  It was inhabited by the native Caribes and they called it Camahogne.  The Spanish didn't settle there and the English failed at it in 1609.  In 1649, the French did settle it and drove most of the native people out or killed them.  The typical French, British, French, British thing took place through the 1700-1800s when the island finally settled in as British crown colony.

Independence was granted in 1974.  Nice and calm then right?  Not even close.  I'm going to try to summarize what happened next.  The government was rocked by a series of uprisings and takeovers that basically lead to a military party in control that had communist ties to Cuba and the Soviet Union.  This did not sit well with neighboring countries or the United States.  Grenada was a perfect port and was building a huge airstrip that was assumed from which the communists could shuttle insurgents into South America and throughout the Caribbean.  So, the United States controversially invaded Grenada on Oct. 25, 1983 by order of President Ronald Reagan.  (Seems a bit of a mismatch to me, but the cold war stuff was pretty serious)  The pre-coup government was reestablished and the country moved forward.  What a history for such a tiny island!

 

There must have been some reason for all of the fuss.  Location, beauty and resources.  Grenada is one of the spice capitals in the world.  Nutmeg was introduced when a bunch of trees were left by some merchants.  Now Grenada supplies 40% of the worlds supply.  They also produce cloves, ginger, allspice, mace as well as wild coffee and cocoa beans.  These all equal 20% of the worlds entire spice exports.  One of my favorite things that I ever purchased in the Caribbean was spice necklaces that I hung up at home and the smell was amazing.  As it went away, you simply wet it down and the smell comes back.

I have been to Grenada twice.  The first time was in 2004 and the island had just been walloped by Hurricane Ivan.  Ninety percent of the homes were damaged or destroyed so much of the tourist industry was not functioning at the time.  We went through the streetside markets where the people are friendly yet not too pushy and bargains abound.  I collect shells and got a Trident's Horn and Queen Conch for a total of $10.  It would have cost me $150-$200 in Key West.  I went back again in 2007.  I got to see what Grenada was truly like...amazing.  I went diving and it was spectacular.  Healthy reefs, lots of fish with an underwater art gallery that had man made statues of all types.  I would go back for a week just to dive.  Others in our group went on a party cruise and had a ball.

There are beautiful beaches, the highlight being Grand Anse beach which commonly is featured in the top 10 best beaches in the world.  Grenada pioneered organic cocoa production so you can get your fix at the Grenada Chocolate Company.  Waterfalls, ziplines, ecotours of the lush tropical forests...it's all here.  The residents take great pride in the ecology/preservation of the island so it is relatively safe and clean.  Sailing is also big with many races hosted throughout the year.  You won't find miles and miles of resorts, but rather a range from posh like the Spice Island Beach Resort to quaint like the Mango Cottages.  It's uncrowded leisure at it's best.

Many of the southern route cruises stop here and I would highly suggest looking for an itinerary that includes it.  Otherwise, hop on a plane and treat yourself to one of the places in the Caribbean that I consider to be the most peaceful, strikingly beautiful and fascinating.  Later Mates!

Monday Madness: Who tried it first?



Feelin hot, hot, hot

Have you ever looked at something and wondered who invented that and who tried it first?  I have kind of a personal story that goes along with it to illustrate what I'm talking about.  I went to Belize a couple years back on a dive trip with a couple of friends.  I think they may have brought me just as insect repellent because the sand fleas and mosquitoes all love me and leave everyone else alone.  So by the third day I stopped counting at about 100 on my legs and was trying to figure out how to stop the itching.  I don't know why but my friend and I thought, well maybe lime juice would help.  And, it did.  Weird stuff.  Being a science person, I thought cool, let's try more.

So we expanded the thought to something even hotter and more acidic, the habanero pepper.  (Except for the ghost pepper, it's the hottest one there is.)  After dinner, we cut it up and rubbed it over the bites on my legs.  Yup, it stopped the itching!  One small side affect though.  It burned so bad I could barely put my diveskin and dive boots on the next day!  It was a true dumb and dumber moment in my life.  Lime juice, good thing, habanero pepper, not so good thing.  If I had the time and resources I could have taken the knowledge I gained and developed an itch relief cream from limes...I still might do it.

Point is, that's the process of discovery.  You see a problem and try to find the solution.  Just some musings here: A caveman has a headache.  His buddy hits him with a club and knocks him out. Problem solved.  Then Dolf  wakes up and decides he would like a less painful remedy.  So he sees a plant leaf and eats it, then breaks out in a rash.  Lesson learned.  He sees another plant and eats it, then vomits.  Another fail.  Still undaunted, the third plant works and the headache is gone.  Score another point for science.

Did you know that some corals have been proven to help with cancer?  I mean, who thought of that?  Brilliant!  Why cancer...did they try it on say diverticulitis first?  I'm not even going to think about what happened with the whole Viagra/Cialis thing...holy cow, that's some sheer desperation there.  But it's all quite fascinating.  And here's a shout out to the volunteers for the trials (that Viagra one took some guts for sure).  Someone steps forward and says I have this problem, bring it on.  An unselfish gesture for the betterment of humanity.

Thomas Eddison said: 

"I have not failed 1,000 times.  I have
successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."

I don't know about you, but I'm extremely glad he didn't give up.  So here's to all those people who have a problem, come up with a theory, try it out (maybe over and over again) until they got it right for all of us.  It's amazing the genuis of the human mind with some divine inspiration.  (I don't know that lime juice was inspiration, but hey, it worked!)  Later Mates!

Sunday Jack: Dieing Is A Day Worth Living For

This post is going to leave Capt. Jack for a bit and focus on one of my favorite lines in Pirates 3.  It actually is one that Capt. Hector Barbossa says.  If you haven't seen the movie, I'll set the stage for you.  Barbossa is the pirate who led a mutiny against Jack to take command of the Black Pearl.  While in command, he and his crew took cursed Aztec gold from the Isla de Muerta.  The curse they bore was that they could not die nor could they fully live.  The moonlight showed them for the hallow beings they had become with no flesh and no way to feel what humans enjoy feeling.  The curse is broken when all of the pieces of gold are returned to the chest and Jack kills Barbossa.  The sea goddess Calypso brought him back to life.  His greatest fear is of returning to that fate again.

At the end of Pirates 3, the pirates are set against apparently insurmountable odds to go to battle with the English fleet.  They need a pep talk as Barbossa tells Elizabeth that revenge for her father's death isn't something that he is willing to die for.  She replies by asking, "Then what shall we die for?"  She gives a great speech that I'll save for another post.  The pirates head into battle as Barbossa ponders what she said to him.  The waters turn into a maelstrom and they need the best captain to steer the ship:

Elizabeth yells, "Captain Barbossa, We need you at the helm!"

Barbossa, who has been looking at his hand apparently remembering his own death, replies as he turns and grabs the wheel, "Aye, That be true...Brace up yars you cacan of deck apes!  Dieing is a day worth living for!!"

What a great line!  Just think about it for a minute.  We are all going to die.  That and paying taxes are the only sure things it seems.  Is dieing a day worth living for?  Absolutely and I have two trains of thought on that.

The first is what type of a reception do you want on the other side.  What did you do while you were living to warrant your place after death.  Was living worth dieing for to receive your eternal reward?  That is a question that only we can answer ourselves.  I for one want to leave this life with no regrets.  I want to be able to say that I helped everyone that I could, that I was a good mother, that I endured life's trials with dignity and that I have been a "good and faithful" servant.  If I am able to do that, then dieing IS a day worth living for.

The other line of thought is that it really is a tragedy to think that many people are dieing while living.  Sounds strange.  But living must be worth dieing for.  Here's an illustration.  I spent all week at work indoors.  That's a new concept for me because I don't like to remain indoors alot.  I love my job and it is worth living for.  But a visitor to a patient made a comment that caught my attention.  A simple comment of "Oh, it's raining outside."  What?  I realized that I hadn't taken the time to even glance out a window at work all day.  I had spent the week with my head buried in training, reports, and charts.  One of the things I live for wasn't even on the radar...that is...being outside and enjoying the beauty.  I made sure that this weekend, I went to the beach and just sat there to soak it up. 

Those experiences with the people you cherish and the places you love are worth living for.  Try this...insert a word of something that makes you happy into the phrase like "DIVING is a day worth living for!"  If you can't think of something then you bloody well better get a life!  Don't make the mistake of really dieing when you weren't even living.  Because in my opinion, Dieing is a day worth Living for.  Later Mates! 

Tuesday Travel: Just keep swimming....

Saige and Summer trippin at the pool

Hey all...I must apologize for my lack of new posts as my job is requiring an enormous amount of training, the kids are all starting school routines, and life is all basically chaos!  But what we do if it was any other way but get bored and die.  I will be back to writing nice, long, hopefully enriching posts by the weekend hopefully.  In the meantime, it is definitely "Just keep swimming".  (I love Dory in Nemo).

By the way, need a quick pick me up?  Head to the local pool, or lake, or beach and find some water.  The power to rejuvenate is remarkable...just spend a few hours swimming and relaxing.  It's like taking that vacation you always dreamed of.  OK maybe not that far, but hey, you can always dream!!

(And here's a funny first....I had a patient ask to order a beer today.  Hmmm, probably not.  Later Mates!) 

Friday's Personal Journal: Everything I do...

This is a very short personal post, but I am tired from job training this week.  Holy cow is it a big job..the biggest challenge in the work place I have ever faced.  I'll get it...just need to get the wheels in my brain to start cranking.  So my posts may all be a bit shorter as I adjust to this.  My hope is that I can maintain my blog because I really enjoy doing it and have had great feedback.  So thanks for reading and hopefully what I have to say may still help someone out there.

It's interesting how perspective can change so quickly.  Just like the seasons actually.  In one moment, life seems set and calm.  But the laws of nature are firm that nothing is constant...it is either moving forward or backwards, nothing in between.  That most definitely includes relationships. 

I have probably been a little selfish in life.  In fact I guarantee it.  That is impossible to do at this point and I regret that I may have ever done it.  My focus has been renewed and everything I do now is all for my kids.  I actually really like that.  They are remarkable individuals who deserve my full attention and love right now.  I am more than happy to give it.

I have already had people telling me that I need to find someone else and move on.

My instant thought is, Nope not in this lifetime.  I had what I wanted and the seasons have changed.

My work, my days, my nights, and my life, are consumed by the five individuals who mean the most to me...

And I'm good with it.

Thursday Treasure: Lifesaver

My Alma Mater

That's kind of a strange title for a post so let me explain.  (I like gummy berry lifesavers by the way.)  Most of us are told when we are younger and messing around in life, that we should go on and further our education.  Of course a 16 year old may believe they are invincible and looking beyond a month or so is just waaayyy too complicated.  I would like to slap them up side the head and tell them to listen!  The advice is, is that a marketable skill may just come in handy at some point.  You never know, in the case of male or female, that something could happen and you have to support yourself and maybe your kids all by yourself.

At this point, words can not express how thankful I am that I took that advice and got a college degree.  There was never any question that I would because I loved school and was a decent student.  I loved college!  But I thought of my career as more of a hobby, something that could help people in medicine.  I could not have been more wrong and am on my knees with gratitude that I have a very good job that I can fall back on.  Working is no longer a hobby, but a necessity.

A few months ago, my professional license was up for renewal and I had a couple of continuing education credits left.  I thought, "Why do it, I'm not going to need it with my husband being a dentist."  I went ahead and did it with a feeling that I really needed to do it.  Was that ever the truth as only months later, I went back to work full time in the profession I studied for, 20 years ago.

It is never too late to acquire a skill that is marketable.  In this economy, it's proven that education can make all the difference.  There are soooo many ways to learn, with much of it available to do online.  Don't make the mistake of believing you can't do it, or that you are too old, or that it's too much work.  Just do it.  A marketable skill learned in post high school education is my Thursday Treasure.  I'm not sure what the future would be looking like if I didn't have it.  Never stop learning.  Later Mates!

“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.”

Laertius Diogenes

Wednesday Pirate's Humor: This is the day that you almost caught...!!

Ever Feel Like This?

Having one of those days?  Or maybe you are lucky enough to never have one of those days.  If that's you... denial...take your xanex.  For the rest of us, it is the days where you are hanging on by a thread.  My guess is we all have had a few of those.  Well?  I dare you to say this out loud..."This is the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!"  Say it with Gusto!!  Go into the closet if you have to.  I actually did it and it was fun.  Made me feel like I was a little nuts so I knew I was on the right track.

Why say that you ask?  Sometimes it seems that you hit stumbling blocks, or entanglements, or what ever it is you would like me to say you are knee deep in.  There seems to be no escape.  Not so.  Just take a page out of Capt. Jack's book.  Improvise!  He gets out of every mess he's in and he's in a lot of them.  One good way to start is to say something completely outrageous like, "This is the day that you almost caught....(your name)!"  Scream it in public!  If you get sent to the nut house that's great!  You can rest and someone cooks and cleans for you!

But seriously, it will pull your mind off a stressing micro focus that has stumped you or it will pull it back into focus if you are wandering around in the daze of overwhelmed.  Sounds too simple?  What on earth have you got to loose...I honestly tried it and my brain started focusing on ways to find solutions and organization to move forward.  So give it a go! 

Kind of interesting isn't it?  You have to be a little nuts to be sane.  Plus, just thinking of Jack saying that in the movies makes me laugh.  Later Mates! 

Tuesday Travel: Ten Tips On The Ship

I came across this in Royal Caribbean's passenger feedback and thought I would share it...these are perfect tips!!

1. Don’t expect perfection. With today’s ships carrying three and four thousand people at a time, trust me, the experience is not going to be perfect for everyone. Your toilet may clog. The handle may fall off the sliding door. Your table mates may sometimes be rude (my own children come to mind). Have a good attitude and your cruise will go a lot more smoothly.

2. Get some exercise. Fact: The elevators are going to be crowded around dinner and show times. A bunch of crabby people waiting for the elevators will only stir each other up even more; I saw it happen time and again. If you are physically able, why not walk off that crème brûlée and take the stairs — or maybe do a lap on the Promenade Deck.

3. Shut up. It is not necessary to slam your cabin door each time you enter and exit the cabin, and it is rude to do so at 3 a.m.(some passengers actually sleep — at night! — on a cruise). Close the door slowly and preserve some of the peace. Never been on a cruise? There are probably a hundred cabins within earshot of each slammed door.

4. Practice moderation. OK, it’s your vacation: Have fun and party on. But know your limits. No one likes a sloppy drunk, and the last thing you want to do is spend a night in the medical facility because you planted your ass through the glass coffee table. No one will convince me that excessive drinking is not a huge factor in any crimes aboard ships.

5. Be discreet. Aboard ship, we are all equals. I don’t need to see your Rolex watch, or that 10-carat diamond. No need to flash a wad of cash in the casino either. For one thing, you could be asking for trouble, for another (listen carefully): No one really cares! And another thing, while the ship is your home away from home, it isn’t actually your home, so if you feel the need to wander the hallways, please do so wearing street clothes not your curlers and nightie — or less!
6. Remember that you are a world traveler. You may hear others speaking a different or unfamiliar language. (No, it is not a foreign language; it may be foreign to you, but it is not foreign to millions of perfectly competent speakers). If an announcement needs to be made, it will likely be made in several languages; after all, people who speak a language other than yours have the same right to safety and information as you do. Do not demand that people accommodate you. It is all about compromise.

7. Be a good audience member. If you are tired, don’t sit in the front row. How demeaning is it to a performer who is giving his or her all to look out and see an audience member nodding off mid-performance? Now imagine the reaction if there is also a line of drool dribbling from the corner of your mouth. Not a pretty sight, although the photograph I took is a good conversation piece!

8. Stop whining. If something has gone wrong or you are unhappy, there is no need to drag a few thousand other people into your mess. There is a simple solution: Ask management to correct the problem. Whining just brings everyone down and — who knows? — your expectations may be way out of line. And another thing: There’s not much anyone can do about a cloudy day.

9. Dress for public view. If you wouldn’t walk into Wal-Mart wearing short shorts and a tube top, you probably shouldn’t wear them on vacation, either. Same with a thong. People come in all shapes and sizes, but most of us are not looking to become acquainted with your every bulge and curve.

10. Be generous. Tip. Our waitress on the Freedom of the Seas is paid $50 a month. Yes, you read that correctly! The rest of her income comes from gratuities. To the family in the cabins across from me: I heard you all making plans to order room service for 16 on the last night of the cruise so you could avoid having to tip in the dining room. Shame on you!

Bon vogage and later Mates!

Monday Madness: Airport!

The joys of modern air travel!  Don't get me wrong...I love airplanes and the convenience and benefits of getting somewhere in relatively quick time.  I have never had a fear of airplanes because I figure if your gonna go, you might as well go out with a bang and the airlines will settle up with your posterity.  Sick and morbid, I know.  I do enjoy airports for the simple fun of people watching.  Like right now, I'm sitting in Salt Lake City watching three middle age couples getting ready to head to Vegas.  It's obvious that the slots and bar at the casinos are the major attraction for this adventure.  One is complaining the lemon muffin is too strong and another is complaining that there aren't enough eggs in his burrito wrap he bought for $6.  Another family is sitting across the way with the two teenage sons looking miserable as they had to be here at 6:00 for an early check in.  Good times on those long early flights with kids.  I've done it many times.

At least they have improved significantly in the check in process.  You can do it online, at a kiosk, at the desk...all sorts of ways to get yourself to the gate or simply fouled up.  I had to laugh at one guy who was trying to cut his way to the front claiming his flight left in 1/2 hour.  One of those business guys that you can tell believes that the world owes him for simply gracing us with his presence.  That's fine, I'm good with it.  But he gets up to the front and did the cardinal sin...he ticked the the desk representative off.  He was still standing there when we walked away to head for security.  Rescheduling bites.

Of course then you have security.  I don't find it to be all that bad.  Unless the lines are long.  Walk, stop, drop...moved forward about three feet.  Repeat the process about 50 times and you are there.  So how long have strict regulations been in effect?  Oh probably at least 11 years.  And yes people, you still have to take the liquids out.  Make it easy on yourself and assume nothing has changed since the last time you did this.  Yes, you have to take off your shoes, yes, you have to take out your computer, yes, you have to empty your pockets of change keys and cell phones.  Don't do this and you earn yourself a pat down from Guido standing on the other side of the scanner.  The new full body scanners?  I hope if they use one on me they get a good scare.

And who designed airports?!?  Some of them make complete sense and you get exactly where you need to go with great directions.  Others, not so much.  It looks like the architect left his computer on and the 4 year old got ahold of it and made a few major modifications.  Los Angeles is my least favorite anywhere.  Another thing I wonder about is how on earth do they remotely keep the luggage straight?  I rarely check a bag, but when I do, I'm totally stunned that the bag ends up where it should be.  I would love to go in a piece of luggage just to see how this works.

On the airplanes:  Have you ever noticed that the stewardesses never age, or more accurately, the hair, make up and clothing never changes.  My time clock would be so fouled up if I flew around that much.  They do a great job and put up with some serious passenger nonsense.  Like the bag that will absolutely not fit in the over head bin.  I watched one woman this morning throw a fit when an obviously not fitting bag was checked to below.  I personally would have liked to check her to below and let that valued bag take her seat.  Kudos to the attendant for being polite and professional.

I forgot to mention boarding...it's a cattle stampede like the dinner bell rang.  Why is anyone anxious to get on and sit up in a thrombosis inducing posture any longer than you have to.  And heaven forbid, you move two feet in the wrong direction and end up on the first class rug.  That is hallowed ground and they will make you move!  The mat is much thicker and redder on the other side of the fence for the 3 seconds you are on it.  I only have flown first class once when we volunteered to bump to another flight and were upgraded.  I felt like a pompous idiot.  Put me back with the rest of the slaves to flap my arms.  If you have extra time though, that's a great way to get upgrades and flight credits.

The madness of air travel...Here's to a marvelous evolution we are able to enjoy.  Don't like the minor inconveniences of check in, baggage, flight delays or cancellations?  Get your shoes and start trekking across the plains or start swimming.  I guarantee you will have a paradigm shift quickly..Later Mates!

Sunday Jack: Wrong Place...Right Time

     

It is often said that you can be in the right place at the wrong time and conversely, the wrong place at the right time.  That is a mind bender if you think about it.  In Pirates 4, Jack is reunited with Angelica, a woman from his past for whom he had "stirrings".  I really enjoyed the interaction and banter between the two characters in the movie.  And, Angelica is played by one of my favorite actresses, Penelope Cruz.

 

Apparently, their initial meeting may have been under interesting circumstances.  Jack was in the wrong place at the right time.  (He actually has a habit of doing that.)  Angelica is also a strong willed, feisty character.  She is quite a religious person and was going to join a Catholic convent in Spain.  Jack sweeps her off her feet (understandable) and a tumultuous, ongoing  love/adversarial affair developed. 

Angelica is speaking to Jack:  "And what were you doing in a Spanish convent anyway!"

Jack: "I mistook it for a Brothel...honest mistake."

While not an ideal situation and one I certainly wouldn't condone, this mistake leads to a life long relationship that seemed to bring fun and adventure into both of their lives...by being in the wrong place at the right time.

That kind of represents how many of the good things actually happen in our lives if we take advantage of a situation that may present itself in the wrong place.  Think about Benjamin Franklin, he's flying a kite that is struck by lightening and electricity comes about.  I'm NOT talking about making an extremely stupid decision that puts you literally in a wrong and dangerous place.  I'm talking about trials and end results.  It's as if the stars align and something destined to happen, good or bad, happens followed by the opposite.  Or as I believe, by enduring trials and "wrong places" in our lives with dignity and integrity, something good at the right time happens and true blessings result.

I have had this recently happen.  Right now is definitely a wrong place in my life.  After 21 years, I live in a place I am relatively unfamiliar with and a family situation of divorce that I never thought I would be in.  Sink or swim.  I have had a desire to establish some security for myself and decided to look for a job.  Thankfully, I have a college degree that I can use, but jobs are rare for full time positions in hospitals.  I had seen an on-call position advertised for quite some time and decided to go ahead and apply.  I interviewed and was told to come back and meet with the hospital CFO.  I did and the position turned into part time.  They asked me to come back a third time, and told me the position was now full time as the other employee was leaving to return to school.  I don't believe it is a coincidence.  The only job of it's kind on the entire Big Island becoming available exactly when I needed it in my wrong place.  (By the way, I do know exactly how that happened and am so thankful for it.)

The second part of that puzzle of a wrong place/right time, is to recognize it and feel gratitude for it.  Sure there are trials and hardships in life. That IS just life.  But it is wrong to work your way through it with blinders on focusing only on the wrong place.  If that's what you're looking for, you are sure to find more of it.  Sometimes it takes a head jerk and a conscious realization that good things are happening as well.  That epiphany can be like a stunning jolt, a light bulb turning on in the brain.  There is good and bad at the same time!  Be thankful for the good, acknowledge it and build on it.  Then, surely more good is headed your way.

It is often in the wrong place that we learn the most about ourselves and really grow as a person.  Hopefully at the right time something good is presented, we grab is with both hands and run with it.  And maybe, at the "wrong place", the "right time" ends up being a miracle.  Sooo.....possibly, we were actually in the right place at the right time after all?  Hope this all makes sense..Later Mates! 

Saturday Inspiration: Happy Shark Week!!

In honor of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel:

Here's to sharks and the awe and fear they inspire in all of us.  I can't imagine diving in an ocean without sharks or what would happen to the balance of nature if they didn't exist.  Respect them and protect them...the marine environment needs them.

Sharks are as tough as those football fans who take their shirts off during games in Chicago in January, only more intelligent.
Dave Barry

Turns out, I couldn't catch them - or even get close to them. I realized that sharks are amazing, beautiful animals who have absolutely no interest in checking me out.
Malin Akerman

My all time favorite: "

We're gonna need a bigger boat."  Jaws

(No Kidding)

Friday's Personal Journal: What Matters Most

So a surprise trip to the mainland has given me a bit of time to contemplate what really matters and what happens when dreams are shattered and the future seems so uncertain.  I came across a story that I'm going to share today since I have a bit of time sitting here in the hospital to type.  It is a great analogy of how to look at events in your life that significantly alter the path,  "Welcome to Holland" by Emily Pearl Kingsley.  When you are going to get married, it's like planning a fabulous vacation to Italy.  You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans...The Coliseum, the Michelangelo David, the gondolas in Venice...You may learn some handy phrases in Italian.  It's all very exciting.  After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives.  You pack your bags and off you go.  Several hours later, the plane lands.  The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?" you say, "what do you mean Holland?  I signed up for Italy.  All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."  But there has been a change in the flight plan.  They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.  The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease.

It's just a different place.  So, you must go out and buy new guidebooks.  And you must learn a whole new language.  And you will meet a whole new group of people you never would have met.  It's just a different place.  It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy.  But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around and you notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips and Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there.  And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go.  That's what I had planned."

The pain of that will never, ever go away because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.  But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, lovely things about Holland.

Life is different now, no doubt.  But good still exists in it and my children are the absolute joy of my existance.  It hurts, but love for them will concur. And...I'm hoping that instead of Holland, the pilot makes a mistake and ends up in Fiji. 
Janet B

Thursday Treasure: Modern Technology and Delta Agents

Today's is short and sweet. I love that I can write a mIni post while siting in Los Angeles airport after an all night flight. Thanks Delta for the emergency flight help to Salt Lake City to bring my son home. Yup, my life without chaos does not exist. Savvy? Later Mates!

Wednesday Pirate's Tidbits: Pirate Clothing!

Pirate Clothing:  The Golden Age of Pirates! The pirates who operated during the Age of Exploration have become synonymous with a definite style of   Pirate Clothing. But what pirate clothing was fact and what pirate clothing was fiction? The legendary apparel of a pirate has created a pirate stereotype. But much of the pirate clothing was developed through necessity and befitted the lifestyle of a pirate seaman.

Pirate Clothing - the 'Slops':  Many pirates were recruited from unemployed seaman - there was plenty of work for a fighting sailor during times of war but during peacetime the seaman became impoverished and turned to a life of piracy. In 1628 the British Admiralty established sailor's clothing (which were called 'slops') to be worn by men who had been press-ganged. This type of clothing consisted of a  canvas doublet and breeches, knitted caps called Monmouth caps, cotton waistcoats and drawers, stockings, linen shirts and shoes. So much of this clothing was adopted by the seamen who turned to the life of a pirate.   

Pirate Clothing - The Motley Crew:  The clothes of pirate seamen were mismatched with multi-colors - hence the expression 'Motley Crew'.  Many of the tasks performed by the pirates were extremely arduous - clothing could be easily ripped, tattered and torn. The pirate clothing for ordinary seamen, by necessity was tight fitting. Loose fighting clothes would be dangerous when performing tasks like climbing the rigging. The clothing of the captain or pirate clothing worn on land did not need to follow such requirements.    

Pirate Clothing - the Fabrics and Materials:  The fabrics used in pirate clothing depended on how wealthy they were and what clothing had been stolen! But basically there were no rules! The practical fabrics used for ordinary pirate clothing included canvass, leather, wool, linen, cotton and sheepskin. The fabrics and materials used in pirate clothing when on shore, or by the Pirate Captain, were far more flamboyant and expensive. Velvet, silk, damask, sarcanet, camlet and taffeta were included in the fabrics and materials used for this type of pirate clothing - exotic feathers were also favored!  

Pirate Clothing - Colors:  The colors of pirate clothing included the colors which had previously banned by the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws. Crimson, violet, purple and  deep blue were typical of the colors which had previously banned for anyone other than the Upper Classes!

Pirate Clothing - The clothes worn by a Pirate Captain:  The typical clothes worn by a Pirate Captain are illustrated in a description of the clothing worn by Black Bart (Bartholomew Roberts). He was described as flamboyant dresser. His waistcoat and breeches were made of velvet in a rich crimson color. His hat was decorated with an exotic red feather. An expensive satin and leather sash diagonally decorated the front of his coat and a sash was tied around his waist. The clothes of this pirate captain were adorned with gold jewellery and ornaments.

List of Pirate Clothing:  The following list details the items of pirate clothing and some interesting facts and information about various items of Pirate Clothing:

*Motley clothing - bright mis-matched colored

*Bandana - A pirate clothing item which kept the sweat out of the pirate's eyes

*Tri-cornered hat - made of various materials including leather

*Doublet or coat - Expensive item of pirate clothing. Long clothes, including the doublet were a style of pirate clothing best suited to land. Decorated with ornate braids and fabrics

*Breeches - trousers were generally only worn by English pirates

*Knitted caps called Monmouth caps

*Waistcoats - flamboyant addition to pirate clothing

*Drawers - tight fitting to allow for the difficult tasks of a pirate

*Stockings - Woollen stockings for practical apparel and silk for land use

*Shirts - The puffed sleeves were suited to pirate clothing on land

Pirate Clothing - the Accessories:  The famous accessories of pirate clothing!

*Gold Hoop Earrings -  A sign of wealth but also believed to serve a practical purpose in easing sea sickness by applying pressure to ear lobes!
*Bracelets, chains, pins and pendants - Gold, silver, precious jewels and pearls
*Sash - Alsio called a baldric made of fine fabrics, sometimes overlayed with a leather sash to take the weight of pirate weapons
*Braids and ribbons - adorned various elements of pirate clothing but were also used to braid a pirate beard or hair. Blackbeard was famous for tying black braids to his beard and hair and famous for sticking lighted matches under his hat on either side of his face to terrify his enemies
*Pirate Boots - Ranged from bootcovers, to Bucket boots up to thigh-high boots, Pirate seamen often went barefoot - a practical decision when a task might include 'swabbing the deck'
*Pirate belts - these wide belts were worn around the waist and diagonally across the shoulder in order to take the weight of pirate weapons
*Buckles - Ornate buckles were used to adorn pirate belts and shoes
*Fancy buttons - a decorative addition to pirate clothing
*Scarves - a flamboyant addition to pirate clothing
*Wigs - stolen or purpose made - favored by Pirate captain. 
*The pirate cutlass - A heavy curved sword with only one, but deadly, cutting edge
*Daggers - often held in the leather sahes or belts
*Pistols

Pirate Clothing - the Stereotype Pirate:  All of the items of pirate clothing have been covered but other elements became synonymous with the pirate. These related to the injuries which befell men who followed the pirate's life. Fighting was an important skill but inevitably pirates were wounded. Pirates lost eyes during battle - hence the famous pirate eye patch. Limbs were often amputated as the only resort for a badly injured leg - hence the wooden peg leg. Hands which were lost were replaced with hooks.

Just a fun look at what dressing like a real pirate would be like!  Argh!  Later Mates!

Tuesday Travel: My Top Ten Places

Cozumel:  Flying Carpet

I was writing the next piece for cruise travel and realized I needed to break it up even further to write it better.  So I thought of something that might be a little fun to do.  I decided to come up with a list of my Top Ten Places I have been.  Not just in the Caribbean, but everywhere.  Wow...might be tougher that I thought, but, here goes:

10.  Long Caye, Belize:
 I went to Belize a couple of years ago with some friends to do some work in an orphanage.  Of course since it was Belize, we had to throw a dive trip in there.  The place we choose to go was a resort on Long Caye.  (Caye is pronounced Key by the way)  We were at the only resort on the island where about 20 people were staying or lived.  That was the closest I have felt to being on a deserted island.  We were the only three guests on the dive boat for much of the trip and had our pick of fantastic, pristine sites and extended bottom time.  It was my favorite place for self reflection and discovering a cure for sand flea bites.


9.  San Diego, California: 
I love San Diego, it's one of the few big cities I would live in.  The climate is perfect year round.  The downtown is easy to make your way around with great hotels and restaurants that are family friendly as well.  Strangely, I like how the airport is in close proximity to all of the attractions and yet doesn't intrude.  Sea World is my favorite place there with the San Diego Zoo a close second.  My 17 year old daughter remembers being spit on by a walrus when she was two.  The beaches are nice, abundant and clean with fun shopping around the perimeters.  Of course, scuba dive the kelp beds! 


8.  Holland America's Private Caribbean Island: 
Most large cruise ship lines have a private island or resort located in the Caribbean and more generally in the Bahamas.  Holland America's is one of my favorites anywhere.  It is small but has powder white sand and crystal clear water.  And I do mean clear!  The first time I went there, we were doing a dive in about 20 feet of water on a small coral head.  An hour and a half later, the divemaster had to come down and make us surface.  Holland America has food facilities, shops, and shore excursions like stingrays, parasailing, spa services etc.  Kind of your own private Nirvana.  I must say I have actually picked certain cruises because they stop there and that's the only way you get to go there.


7.  Kailua Kona, Hawaii
I wrote a piece on the Big Island of Hawaii a couple weeks back that is pretty detailed.  Enough said that I actually lived there.  It's big, it's beautiful, it's in the USA, there's a Costco and Target, the diving is awesome, there is a Mormon temple here, there is enormous diversity, and the Polynesian people are as wonderful as it gets.  And that's just the short list of the wonders of Hawaii.


6.  Vail, Colorado
I have skied at many resorts and have lived by some of the best in the world.  The reason I put Vail is the time I had when I went.  I was a senior in high school and I went to stay with my uncle and his family in their condo over New Years.  It was awesome to ski with my favorite male "we got into trouble with everything we did" cousin.  The pool and the jacuzzi were perfect on a frigid night after the ice show.  Fireworks and fondue graced New Year's Eve and I'll always remember it as a highlight of carefree youth.  (Except for a 2 hour wait for a gondola, only did that once)

5.  Ketchikan, Alaska
I love Alaska.  It's kind of funny that a lot of people here in Hawaii have moved there from here and vice verse.  I totally get it.  Ketchikan is where I have done two of my most favorite adventures.  The first was snorkeling.  No one would go with me the cowards.  Yes, it was cold but I had a six ml suit on and the marine life of the northwest was more than worth it.  My biggest fear is that I would be mistaken for a big seal by an orca.  The other was a fishing trip out on the bay.  After pulling in the lines and crab pots, we headed to a local island and the chef cooked the fresh fish and crabs in a boulibase served with sourdough bread, greens, and a berry cobbler to die for.  One word, amazing.

4.  The Cayman Islands
I wrote my first travel piece on the Caymans.  It is in one word...perfect.  Nice resorts, fabulous beach, breathtaking reefs, golf, seclusion or socializing...it doesn't get much better, seriously.  It's a bit more expensive and there are hurricanes, but I can't think of any other reason that would keep you away.  Strangest story:  17 people in a minivan with six tanks on the floors on a dive trip.  Have fun with that one.

3.  Lake Powell, Utah
Another throw back to my youth but one of the places that defined me.  My family had a boat and waterskiing was a very regular event during the summers.  For one magical week, we left the cold lake waters of northern Utah, and went to Lake Powell located on the Colorado river, behind Glen Canyon Dam.  My uncle had a houseboat there.  (Yup same uncle in Vail...he is a great uncle to have)  We would pack the houseboat and tow the speed boats to a secluded canyon to spend the week.  Mornings were and early ski on glassy water...as great a feeling a natural high can give.  Afternoons was a survival of the fittest on tubes behind the boats.  Food, red rocks, warmth and family made those trips some of the greatest of my life.

2.  Cannon Beach, Oregon
If I ever leave Hawaii, I'm moving to Cannon Beach next.  It is cool and rainy much of the year, but sooo pretty.  I love those beaches and the quaint towns not so crowded by tourists and development.  My favorite shell shop is there along with the best place ever for chowder, Moe's.  We've been there with kids and had fires and marshmallow roasts on the beach.  They love the tidepools.  Strangest thing there was coming on a baby Great White shark about 4 feet long that had washed up on the shore.  I was with my dive buddy and her kids so of course I had to dissect the thing.  Much funner than biology class.

1.  Cozumel, Mexico
I'm going to write a longer piece on Cozumel in a couple of weeks, but it is my favorite place I have been.  It won't be everyones, but if you are a diver and want somewhere cheap, layed back with the clearest water I have ever seen, this is your place.  I love the drift diving, the closest to flying I've come and the splendid toadfish lives there.  My second favorite dive ever on Paradise site was there.  Clear, tons of fish were going nuts, and only four of us in the water...my kind of dive.  It is also the place we took my favorite family vacation with the kids too on the 4th of July one year.  I'd go back anytime in a heartbeat.  Oh, and ya, drink bottled water but definitely eat the food.

This has seriously been fun...talk about memories.  I would most definately suggest giving it a try, you will remember you have done far more than you think you have...so have some fun with it!