I do it my way...or better yet...we do it our way

I believe for the most part, human beings are very much creatures of habit. We find a little bit of comfort in the ritualistic way we go about our lives....from something as simple as how we brush our teeth, to the more complicated way we organize our finances each year to prepare for our tax returns. Sorry to bring that up folks....but it is just around the corner :(

I giggle to myself as I consider on just how small a level, this idiosyncratic behavior plays itself out..and for me anyway, on the weekends...how it most often times, all falls apart...

--As I settle under the covers each night, all of my body must actually be "under" the covers...other than my face, no skin out in the air....the temperature is not a big consideration, the weight of the covers soothes me as I quickly fall asleep (ok, this never varies)
--I put on my makeup on in a particular order so as not to muss up the previous step (weekends, I don't bother at all...pretty scary)
--the way I eat my food, veggies followed by carbs, followed by protein....then a sweet treat (weekends......sometimes I skip right to the good stuff)
--putting together an outfit from the pants up, finishing with jewelry (weekends are loose comfy clothes, slippers and forget about the shiny stuff)
--parking in the same spot at work everyday...easy to pull in and very easy out (I run errands some weekends...most of the time I leave the parking to Roger)
--I drink bottled water all day, but not poured into a cup, it's from a straw that I drop right into the bottle (exactly the same on the weekends, except you can find 2 or 3 half-filled bottles all over the place)
--security badge always the very first thing that comes off as I step in the door...right on that little table so I don't walk out without it on my way to work the next day (thankfully, that little puppy stays right where I left it ALL weekend!)

It's also the routine we share with loved ones that continuously comforts us on yet another level....

--Roger and I always kiss each other goodbye, even if I have to wake him up to do it (not to worry, the man is an old pro at this and will be sleeping again in minutes)
--to take it a step further, he usually jumps out of bed, looks out the window and insists on waving goodbye as I drive away (that's just talent folks, no way could I do that in the middle of my sleep pattern and easily find my way back into dream land...told you he was a champion at snoozing!!!)
--I empty the gas tank...he fills it
--I fill the trash...he empties it
--I quietly prepare for work each morning to not disturb his sleep (yes, I know I wake him for a goodbye kiss, but that's hours later and he's upset if I don't)
--he quietly comes in after midnight and watches tv in the living room, to not disturb my sleep (yes, he falls asleep and I later wake him so he can stumble into bed)

Now you know exactly why we love our weekends together so much....most of the time, unfortunately, we are two ships passing in the night (unless of course we are ON a ship).....but then again....it really does work for us.....we do it our way!

As time goes by....2010 The Year in Review

Some folks traditionally tuck a one page note inside their annual holiday cards, sharing news of the past year with friends and loved ones. I've never been very good about sending cards, so it stands to reason that I also have not taken the time to write a yearly letter. That being said, I thought I'd instead look back through many of the photos I've taken in 2010, and provide everyone with my pictorial version of the LaFlamme Family's Year in Review....enjoy!



In May, just as proud as two parents can be, we attended Stacey's graduation from her Master's Degree program...all of her long hours commuting and late nights after working full days, truly paid off!


Keeping the light on for her at home...Scott is her biggest cheerleader


In June, we were all finally together again, to greet the summer at the rental home in the Outerbanks of NC


We spent an afternoon out on a boat enjoying some time away from house


Father and son sharing a beer


Captain Scott navigating the waters


Brian and Taryn filling us in on all the details of their honeymoon adventures in South America


The whole clan, fulfilling my Mother's dream of vacationing as a family under one roof


The six of us had a very relaxing vacation by the sea...we look forward to many more together

My baby girl in June, with the newest member of the family...Otis is such a good boy!


His Mommy and Daddy love him a bunch


In September, we realized our dream of renewing our vows on board a cruise ship in the Mediterranean...a memory to last a lifetime


In early October, we heard the wonderful news that this couple is engaged to be married :)


Later in October, we traveled to Chicago to share a very special weekend with Taryn and Brian


Who knew we would be on top of the world...in more ways than one :)


In November, my first solo cruise...although I really missed Roger...it was a lot of fun


My December weekend with Stacey in Boston--Mom and Justine joined us for a day in the city


I was finally able to give this very large, ever-growing puppy some grandma love


And lastly, two weeks ago...cruising the warm Caribbean far from the cool chilly place we call home in Florida.

Although it may be difficult to believe...next year promises to be full of so many more heart-warming experiences...a few beyond even our imagination...Happy New Year!

Thanks for the memories

Holding on to memories is important....especially when I'm dealing with my slowly depleting brain cells...thanks to the wonderful world of photography...some things will never be forgotten :) I wish I had photos from all of our vacations over the last 33 years. As we begin some early preparation for our anniversary/birthday trip in 2011, here's another quick peek at a few more pics from our pre-holiday cruise.


Yes, that is actually how close we were to Eclipse...the ship that almost carried away our misplaced luggage! At that point, it's still up in the air if I'd be wearing the same outfit for 5 more days???


Glasses-yes....suitcase full of clothes-yes...I'm smiling now :)


The beginning of our wonderful day on the island


George, Chief Engineer invited a few guests into his world in the bowels of the ship...Rog was pleased to be this close to the engine room...I was happy to see George again, he had been on vacation so we'd missed him during our Mediterranean cruise


Quiet sunrise off the back of the ship...no one around so early in the morning...only us crazy people :)


Hello Grand Cayman...did I mention this island is famous for it's oversized turtles...well not really, but it sure sounded like I knew what I was talking about!


On our tour, we were treated to an exhibition of this exquisite one-of-a-kind ship's engineer's version of a Christmas tree...very quaint don't ya think??? The crew on this ship always have a great sense of humor!


We shared a final drink with our friend Chandru, who has sailed with us on all three of our Century cruises...we will miss him next month while we are on board Eclipse. We do however, have plans to meet him for breakfast that morning, because Century will also be in port the same day. Let's see if I can make sure my luggage doesn't end up on his ship by mistake?!?! Terminal F...Terminal G....it's all so confusing...not to worry, we have our luggage tags and they say "ECLIPSE"


Our windy morning at Grand Cayman....where we pulled into the less breezy??? side of the island before being tendered to shore


Four days earlier, we had watched as Eclipse pulled out of Miami before us....knowing that the next time we saw her, we'd be the ones waving to the passengers standing on the deck of the Century :)


Thanks for all our wonderful cruise memories in 2010 Celebrity Century!

Remember who…remember what…remember where….remember when?

It's really a crap shoot for me now-a -days…I sometimes feel like my brain is similar to that old drug prevention public service announcement from the 80's

"This is your brain......


....this is your brain on drugs"



The issue here…I'm not on drugs, nor have I taken any prescription medication in the last 21 years (or any recreational drugs, for that matter). So what happened to all those brain cells that, in the past, kept me on my toes for 16 hours at a stretch? It's a well known fact that as we age, we lose some of our sharpness, and the light bulb may not be shining as brightly as it was when we were younger. It must be time to get out the ginkgo biloba, and yet I wonder, does it even work very well? I am not referring to the debilitating and heart wrenching idea of Alzheimer's setting in, this is simply a lack of cognitive skills when it comes to recall. When do we lose the ability to remember all the little things we took for granted in our youth?

I often stop before stepping out the door on my way to work and run through a mental checklist….keys, security badge, cell phone, lunch and/or $$, wallet and whatever else I need for that particular day. I can't even count how many times I've had to turn around once I've reached the elevator, only to realize I didn't put on my ring, or the mail is still sitting on the table and needs to go out. We are such creatures of habit, I find myself going through the motions and then later in the day, questioning if I actually did something or not. Here is a silly one for you…did I put my deodorant on this morning? There are times I get distracted while standing in front of the sink, and overlook such a simple task. I have found it's easier to complete my morning ritual in some kind of order, then it's hard to forget the small details.

I guess those mental checklists don’t always work…especially if you FORGET to even check off the items. This morning for example, I was within steps of the car when I realized I hadn't double checked to see if I had my keys. In my mind's eye, I couldn't recall putting them back in my purse after coming in the door yesterday afternoon. I only hoped that I'd been diligent and replaced them, and as I approached the car, it would open when I placed my finger on the handle. Gotta love that keyless entry! Please don't think this was a onetime occurrence…it happens more often than I care to admit.

Along with my key issue--here are a few others that tend to frustrate me--being unorganized at times doesn't help any particular situation:

What was the name of that island we stopped at? (yes, I know...it was only 3 weeks ago)
Where did I put one of my 4 pair of prescription glasses and/or 2 pair of prescription sunglasses?
Where is the headset for a hands free call on my phone? (I used it the last time I called Mom...hmmm)
What did I come into this room for? (a question I frequently ask when I find myself in the supply room at work)
Who is that person…looks so familiar…name escapes me? (worked on the same floor with this person for years!!!)
Who was supposed to call who? (did she say me or her...the conversation was only yesterday)
When is the book/CD due at the library? (you don't want to know what I've paid in fines)
What did I do with my chap stick? (beach bag...tote bag...rolling knapsack...purse)
Where is my black/white/cream colored slip? (slippery little things that for some reason don't find their way back into the drawer)
What did I do with my favorite flip flops? (yes I have 10 pair...but I want a specific pair)
Where is the scarf that goes with that dress? (lots of scarves...lots of dresses...such problems I have)
What happened to the remote control I had in my hand 2 minutes ago? (walked into the kitchen...did I leave it there?)

After the silly minor snafu during the beginning of our cruise earlier this month, perhaps I just need to take a deep breath, remove all other thoughts from my mind (is that even possible???) and concentrate on the task at hand. I understand that when push comes to shove, we all have the capability to remember what is truly important and who really matters.

All I can say for sure...I'm happy that I finished being a Mommy with little ones while I still had a brain that actually worked. How did I do all of these things, which seemed so easy, while I was working (2 jobs at one point), running a household and raising two children…I don't remember….do you?

Color my World

How many times in your life have you been asked this question?

“What’s your favorite color?”

How do we as individuals, determine which colors make us happy?

Long before we are even born, color seems to play an important part in how our family prepares for our arrival. For generations, if you were expecting a boy, people tend to lean toward blue items, and after the arrival of a baby girl, the world can’t seem to have enough pink in it. Why are these stereotypical shades on the color wheel automatically assigned to babies of different genders?

Unfortunately, it does not stop there, as growing children and even into adulthood, certain colors appear to be taboo for the male gender. Women, on the other hand, have no such boundaries, and all manner of color combinations can be seen in every aspect of our wardrobe and across the board in the choices we make for our decorating schemes.

When I think back to my own color choices as a child, I tended to gravitate towards all the various shades of blue. Later in life, I find myself drawn to greens in a variety of hues, and it recently dawned on me, that these two colors are the most prominent ones that we see in our everyday life. Nature provides us with green forests, blue skies, green meadows, and blue-green oceans across the world. All of my life I’ve found beauty in the art of nature, so it only stands to reason that those two colors are forever at the top of my favorites list.

Let's look at just a few of the interesting statistics I found when researching how color affects a person’s temperament, and how we associate certain colors with our various moods.

Red: (think passion) stimulates, arouses, heightens awareness.
Blue: (think water; the ocean) relaxes, calms, transfixes.
Yellow: (think sun) recharges, energizes, revitalizes.
Green: stabilizes, balances.
Orange: cheers, orders.
Purple: protects, comforts.


Interestingly, I follow the majority when it comes to my choice of favorites.

The Color Psychology of Green

· Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature and the natural world.
· Green also represents tranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy.
· Researchers have also found that green can improve reading ability. Some students may find that laying a transparent sheet of green paper over reading material increases reading speed and comprehension.
· Green has long been a symbol of fertility and was once the preferred color choice for wedding gowns in the 15th-century. Even today, green M & M's (an American chocolate candy) are said to send a sexual message.
· Green is often used in decorating for its calming effect. For example, guests waiting to appear on television programs often wait in a “green room” to relax.
· Green is thought to relieve stress and help heal. Those who have a green work environment experience fewer stomachaches.
· Consider how green is used in language: green thumb, green with envy, greenhorn.

The Color Psychology of Blue

· Blue is described as a favorite color by many people and is the color most preferred by men.
· Blue calls to mind feelings of calmness or serenity. It is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.
· Blue can also create feelings of sadness or aloofness.
· Blue is often used to decorate offices because research has shown that people are more productive in blue rooms.
· Blue is one of the most popular colors, but it is one of the least appetizing. Some weight loss plans even recommend eating your food off of a blue plate. Blue rarely occurs naturally in food aside from blueberries and some plums. Also, humans are geared to avoid foods that are poisonous and blue coloring in food is often a sign of spoilage or poison.
· Blue can also lower the pulse rate and body temperature.
· Consider how blue is used in language: blue moon, blue Monday, blue blood, the blues, and blue ribbon.

By Kendra Cherry, About.com Guide
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Where the blue meets the green in my world...we live at the red star

Today, when a very large portion of the entire country is covered in white, I'm reminded of many a New England winter spent missing all my favorite colors. The sky seems to be perpetually gray, what grass that is still visible is straw colored and the oceans, which reflect the color above, are completely dark and dreary. This may very well be one of the premier reasons that, for the last 10 years, we’ve chosen to live in the southern most part of the country.


This afternoon, some colorful flowers by a tree at home...guess the cool temps this morning didn't slow down these hardy plants.

Although here in the sunshine state, we've been experiencing a winter of record breaking low temperatures for 2010, I’m very pleased to report that the grass is still green, our skies are a beautiful pale blue and the ocean and waterways mirroring our peaceful sky, are a calm shade of blue-green.


Even on this cool and chilly day in South Florida, as the sun sets in the west, I continue to be soothed by the colors in my world.


Enjoying a clear, sunny, breezy day in the 70's, walking with my friend in downtown West Palm Beach on Thursday...I love to be where the blue meets the blue!

Wonder Women of the World...who is the super hero in your house?

Sad to say.....some things never change...does sentimentality of what we want the holidays to be for others, push us to soldier on and create the "perfect day" for everyone else. Do we secretly wish the New Year would hurry up and get here so we can take a break and relax from all the extra work and added expense? How many times were you in the middle of all the craziness that the holidays entail, when you found yourself saying, I'm not going to do this much next year...I'm going to cut back on the festivities???

How is it, that in this day and age, when both partners in a relationship work and carry joint responsibilities for the family, that one half of the couple is the force behind the preparation for all the holidays? I'm not sure about the rest of the world out there (tongue in cheek-because yes...I AM pretty darn sure), but if I didn't do it...it just didn't get done. Case in point, when I decided to cut back on the holidays, there was no one that said, "Oh honey, you've done most of the work around the holidays for the last 20 years, let me take over." Not quite, when I chose to stop, the holidays ceased to exist...plain and simply, if it was up to the men in our family, there would have been no Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, and generally any gatherings that we all come together to celebrate. I'm not singling out my family in particular...this situation exists across the board. Although I personally have not been a witness to the exceptions to this rule, I'm quite sure they do exist.

I have never seen a man stressed out at the holidays...I'm not sure what would happen to Christmas, if all the woman decided that they'd had enough and turned the reins over to their spouses. If you think the stores are having a tough time staying afloat in this economy, can you imagine the impact that would be created if for just one year, every female took a break from holiday preparations....the world would stand still?!?! Except of course, on Christmas Eve...never mind Black Friday...the 24th would easily take the place of that little shopping phenomenon by a mile. Most husbands only responsibility during this time of the year, is to pop into the store right before the 25th to pick out a gift for his spouse, and also put up the Christmas lights if they happen to partake in those kind of decorations. The remainder of the preparations, fall to the wife....no matter the family situation, the scenario differs very little from country to country.

In our house, my mother did all the shopping, cleaning, cooking, wrapping, decorating, and eventually un-decorating of the house each year. And, if my memory serves me correctly, my father carved the turkey and may have helped with the pots and pans in the later years after dinner. As a child, I recall getting away from the dining room table and while my brothers went off to play, I was required to help my mother clean up the mess in the kitchen. It was not just one or two days a year...this was the way it was all the time in my house. Many years later when we finally got a dishwasher, the boys had to help load/unload it and perhaps they washed a pot or two.

I wish I could say that I've seen an equal sharing of tasks over the years, but I am still witness to female friends and family that continue to bear the brunt of the responsibility during this season. Just take a quick peek at your Facebook page...how many men have listed a cooking, cleaning, and current shopping status next to their name?

As woman, we are truly in the driver's seat, it's only a matter of putting your foot on the break pedal to complete the cycle...no gas....no work...less stress. Go out for dinner....let someone else do the cooking...put up a few special decorations, enjoy the holiday in a way that makes you happy, the rest of the family will eventually get the idea and either pick up where you left off, or not. I've always felt that most of what we do around this time of year is for the young children and with no little ones around, it becomes very routine and more about how much activity you can cram into the last 6 weeks of the year. I firmly believe that it should be a group effort with everyone who celebrates, pitching in to take a different task.

Why does everyone just automatically expect the female gender to take the responsibility for everyone's holiday experience? I have noticed that as families grow and the generations progress...the roles change and the workload falls to the next group of females in line. While this certainly allows the elders of the family a break of sorts, it still perpetuates the tradition of a woman as the main character, director and producer of this holiday show. Over the last few years, I've spoken to many woman in my age group, who are more than happy to simplify the holidays at this time in their lives. However, it still bothers me that the current scenario plays itself out from year to year, with very little variation of who steps into the role of super hero.

I hung up my cape in January of 2000 and now I watch as the cycle continues, not only during the holidays, but at every other time of the year. Do men just not care...or have they decided it's easier to take a back seat in these situations? I honestly think there is something wrong with this picture...unfortunately, I'm not sure if we will ever evolve in this particular aspect of family life. I'm thinking the Wonder Women of this generation need a break...without feeling like they've let others down. I can only hope that as my adult children begin their own family traditions and it's time to decide who will put on those capes....it will eventually be....one size fits ALL?!?

How are you?

The common courtesy of a welcome greeting can be heard throughout the hallways and on the phone each day at work. If you are unfamiliar with the so-called routine, let me refresh your memory…

“Hi, how are you?”

“Great, how are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

I’m sure that you have been a participant in a similar exchange from time to time, whenever you happen to run into another person, either on the phone or face to face. Just for the heck of it, and because I get a bit weary of this often times boring banter (just being honest here folks) I mix it up a bit and ask a different question, like “What’s going on?” or “Do you have any fun plans this weekend?” And when someone asks me how I am doing, I like to say “absolutely wonderful” or “I’ll be better when it’s 4:30 and I can leave!”

At times, these back and forth greetings can be a bit awkward, especially when you find yourself walking quickly down a hallway and by the time you’ve answered, you are almost out of sight, so I tend to refrain from the typically responsive “how are you?” part. Let’s face it, sometimes it’s really just easier to smile and say “Hi.” I've had a total stranger ask me how I'm doing...HUH??? I believe this form of greeting is so "rote" people don't even think before they speak. A simple "good morning" or "good afternoon" is a perfectly acceptable alternative in my book.

I honestly believe that most of the time folks just respond with “I’m fine” no matter what is really going on in their life. I can understand the desire for a bit of privacy, however, I’m pleased when a friend is honest and says, “not so great because…..” and actually tells me how they are doing. I don’t mind listening and perhaps lending an ear might be all they need to feel slightly better about whatever is going on. A few minutes of your time may be all that is necessary to offer a word of advice or help to solve whatever issue happens to be troubling them. I’m also more than happy to share whatever news might be the cause of a big smile on any particular day. Isn’t that why we ask in the first place, or is all this just idle chit chat for common courtesy’s sake?

On the other hand, it might be the very same person who greets you each day with a smile, that left their crusty, nasty oatmeal bowl soaking in the sink, that people have to look at for days on end (yes a pet peeve of mine--some folks seem to think a magic fairy will come by and clean it for them...this is a shared kitchen area in corporate america, not your Mom's kitchen sink) Or perhaps they’ve neglected to remove a week old, leftover wilting salad from the fridge and it has begun to turn into a smelly mess sitting next to your lunch bag. How courteous are they actually being now? Thanks for listening to my itty-bitty rant :)

Some of you may be unaware of what particular type of greeting occurs between staff and passengers on a cruise ship, and so I will explain… all cruise ship personnel, are encouraged to greet each and every guest throughout the day either with a “good morning” or “good evening.” I always reciprocate adding a responsive smile and have been known to engage in conversation (who me???) when the situation allows. Over the years, we’ve continued our friendship with a few of the staff members, keeping in touch when we are no longer on board and always very pleased to see our cruise friends when we return to the same ship. We’ve shared meals, drinks, tours, special occasions in their lives as well as ours, and even an occasional walk down memory lane with these people while viewing photographs of distant family members.

Recently on our cruise, I found myself in the ladies restroom on the very first afternoon and ran into a woman whose responsibility it is to keep them spotless for all who enter. She was missing her children at this time of year, and I listened for quite awhile to her description of each child and shared her concern of being so far away from them. During the remaining cruise, whenever I happened to see her again, I greeted her warmly and thought of our conversation as two women who are both mothers, and who miss their children no matter what day of the year it is.

I can't help feeling that the real courtesy we should offer each other, is to be genuine in our thoughtfulness across the board, in all aspects of our life.

That being said, at this time of year, when we are more busy than usual with all that our Christmas preparations require of us…..I hope all of you are well and enjoying the time spent celebrating with family and friends during this season…wishing each one of you....Happy Holidays!

Please move forward and don't forget to make your payments along the way

During this season of giving, I’m reminded of the many years I spent running errands, wrapping gifts, searching for ingredients and staying up late to prepare for family holiday celebrations. I believe that we all reach a point in our lives when were realize that all our efforts are more stressful than we truly care to admit. I made a rational decision, after our children were grown, to simplify not only our daily lives, but during the time between November and December as well. I have found that all year round, there are occasions where giving can be just as significant as it is at this special time around the holidays. I agree 100% that the joy of doing for others, far outweighs what we can ever receive in return…actually I believe it is the incredible feeling of sharing ourselves with those around us, that is truly a wonderful gift.

This story may be an example of how our simple actions affect those individuals we meet during our lives, if even for a very brief time.

When we were packing our suitcases for our trip this fall, I had a strong feeling as I set the wedding dress that I had purchased for our vow renewal into the bag, that I would not be returning home with it. I didn’t know exactly how that particular scenario would actually play itself out, I just felt in my heart, that once I had worn the gown, I would not be storing it away to never be worn again. It had come to me in an interesting manner, and I felt that it deserved to be enjoyed by someone else, who would fall in love with it the same way that I had.

Let me back up a bit to explain just how that dress came to be in my possession. If you have had any experience with shopping for a wedding dress, you know that it can be a long drawn out process. I hadn’t even contemplated buying an actual wedding dress until the daughter of a friend of mine, began her own search for the perfect gown for her wedding, and we spent a bit of time looking at a few of the online bridal sites. I was searching on the internet and saw a dress that I instantly loved for myself and decided to make a trip to our local store to try it on to determine the correct size, before placing the online order. I was keeping my fingers crossed that it happened to be in stock and was disappointed when the first consultant was unable to locate it on the rack of sample dresses. I made my way back to the front of the store to speak with another consultant who knew exactly which dress I was referring to and was coincidentally holding one aside for another customer. I happily tried it on and it fit like a glove…I was pleased to know I would be able to place my online order without any custom alterations necessary (I did end up having it shortened, which was a simple task). By the time I again made my way to the front of the store, I was told that the customer no longer wanted the dress, and it was mine to take home that very day. I was more than thrilled to know, my search for the perfect dress for our renewal was complete. To top that off, it was discounted to 1/5th of its original price. Not too bad for a woman who had been married 32 years and was purchasing a wedding gown for the very first time.

Now back to the day of our renewal…I had been able to keep the dress a secret from Roger, wanting to have a surprise moment as I entered the room, similar to a typical wedding ceremony. Of course my plans almost backfired when I sent the dress out to be pressed still inside the protective bag, and it was returned to our cabin completely uncovered (with the bag neatly folded and attached to the hanger????) and hanging there for all to see. Thank goodness, Roger happened to be out of the cabin that afternoon, or all my months of “stealth dress mode”, would have been for naught.

As I walked down the hallway about to enter Michael’s Club, unknown to me, a security guard was behind me as I turned to go through the doorway. It would not be until later when the photos where uploaded, that I would notice her observing me. That afternoon, long after the ceremony, we found ourselves on the bridge of the ship to take additional photographs as we sailed up the Grand Canal into Venice. I met the very same security guard, who expressed how much she loved my gown, and at that moment I knew she would be the next person to wear that dress. I asked her if she would like to have it.....her eyes lit up and she was almost speechless. I don’t think she believed I was being completely honest with her, but I told her, it was hers if she wanted it. She mentioned that she would be getting married in February of 2011, and I was very pleased to hear the dress would be worn by yet another happy bride. I did make her promise that after she wore the dress, that she would pass it along to someone else. You may think it strange, but I didn’t even know this young woman’s name, but would later find out that it is Joanne and we are pretty much about the same shape and stature....you just can’t make these things up.


Joanne and Joanne...I was not aware of her standing behind me...we would meet later that day


The following week...two security guards swapping tips

The ship has a strict policy that staff cannot go to a passenger’s cabin to obtain any of their belongings, even in the form of a gift. So, I was required to package up the dress and leave it at the customer relations desk with her name on it. Well, it quickly became known that I was the lady who gave her wedding dress away and quite a few of the female staff thought it was a lovely gesture on my part. For me it all just seemed so natural, something that had brought me such joy for one very special day in my life, should be passed on so that the same feeling could be experienced by many others. I knew that style of the dress was not something that would appeal to Stacey, she has a more simple taste in clothing, dissimilar to the formal look of my gown. We were so happy to see Joanne’s face when we were recently back on the Century last week…I know she will be leaving the ship soon to travel back to the Philippines for her wedding.


I love this dress...I truly felt like a bride that day

Please remember that the time of the year should never be a concern when you are giving a gift, whether it is one from the heart or just something special to make a friend smile. No matter the circumstances, take the time to fully understand what you set into motion every single time you make the decision, to pay it forward.

Jumping back on the hobby horse

Just in case you were wondering….

Wikipedia says:

A hobby is an activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, typically done during one's leisure time.

A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse (which was sometimes called a "Hobby"). From this came the expression "to ride one's hobby-horse", meaning "to follow a favorite pastime", and in turn, hobby in the modern sense of recreation
Hobbies are practiced for interest and enjoyment, rather than financial reward. Examples include collecting, creative and artistic pursuits, making, tinkering, sports and adult education. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring substantial skill, knowledge and experience. However, personal fulfillment is the aim.

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Since my teenage years, I’ve tried my hand at numerous hobbies, some have held my interest more than others and for some, I find my skills are completely lacking. To name a few…gardening, jewelry design, gourmet cooking, scrapbooking, cake decorating, photography, writing, sewing, drawing, playing the piano and guitar, back-stage theater production, and the list goes on. That being said, I’m back on the horse again…this time revisiting my scrapbooking days and I've decided to pick up a crochet needle to work on a few special projects. My grandmothers on both sides of the family, had great knitting and crocheting skills, mine are certainly very basic at best. At this time of year, when we spend a bit more time indoors (yes even in Florida there are cool damp days we don’t want to be outside), I’ll pull out my long buried containers of materials and get lost in the world yarn, paper punches and glue sticks.

My father's mother started a great tradition in our family, she hand knitted Christmas stockings as each grandchild was born (because I married very young, Roger is also the proud owner of one of my grandmother's hand knitted stockings).


I'd be hard pressed to count how many of these my Grandmother Joseph knit over the years


My Grandmother Grado was amazing with a crochet hook in her hand, and my Great Grandmother also created many wonderful pieces over the years

My mother then carried on the tradition when her grandchildren came along. I've completely dropped the ball when I realized I should have picked up where my mother left off....I'll be a bit late to include Taryn, the newest member of our family. Although I've found a crochet pattern for a Christmas stocking (knitting is not something I'm prepared to teach myself at this point)…I'm pretty sure it won't be done for this year. I have to admit, it was a lot of fun heading to Michaels on Saturday, with my 40% off coupon, to search for my supplies. I've also been known to whip up a blanket or two....more than 30 years ago, I made one for both Stacey and Brian when they were babies. I completed my last and biggest crochet project when Brian was a freshman in college, I made him a large blanket for his dorm room, working on it a little each day as I commuted on the train between Old Saybrook and New Haven.


In my early baby blanket making days...that tummy did tend to get in the way


Stacey sleeping through her first trip to Switzerland at the ripe old age of 2 months old, wrapped up in the blanket I made


When we were first married, my Mother made the afghan pictured here

Although I've tried my hand at sewing since my 4-H days, my mother was very clever with a pattern and made me dresses, coats and even made pajamas for the boys one year for Christmas. I remember when the button-hole maker and the snap maker were a pretty hot commodity in our house.


My Mother had sewn this green Christmas dress, that was eventually passed down to Justine

Additionally, I’ve loved scrapbooking for years, but moved away from it when digital photography took over my world. I still have all the “stuff” that goes along with cutting, pasting, stamping and embellishing photographs, so it’s easy to drag it all out if the spirit moves me. While on the ship in November for my solo cruise, I noted that there was a scheduled scrapbooking meeting in the card room very close to my cabin and I popped in for a quick peak. I’d seen this listed on several daily activity calendars in the past, and had never been curious enough to participate. Years ago, a dear friend of mine tried to convince me to take a 7 day scrapbooking cruise….umm, I like to do it…but not THAT much!!! I was under the impression that passengers actually toted all of their “stuff” on the ship to scrapbook during these gatherings. I have enough luggage, thank you very much…the idea of bringing my roll-a-long scrapbooking bag (yes I actually have one of those), just seemed ridiculous.


What the finished product should look like for the 1st of the kits..Roger began this one....


On the 2nd kit, I started the punching out and gluing process...the rest to be done at home

How silly and presumptuous of me, I was missing out on all the complimentary packages of scrapbooking goodies the cruise line distributes to passengers…and now I attend every one of them if the timing is right. It’s usually on a sea day, so Roger decided to come along and he started punching out paper and gluing right along side of me. An interesting sight to see for sure!


Yes, that is the XXL version of a scrap booking tote bag--I can pretty much guarantee it will never sail the high seas


A few scrap book pages...



So, if you noticed that my writing has been a bit distracted lately, and not nearly as wordy (there are a few who appreciate this), please understand that other projects have taken some of my attention away each evening. Too many hobbies, not enough time! So when the freezing winter temps keep you indoors for extended periods of time…remember….it’s really never too late to jump back on that horse!