Marval Movie

Ketchikan - Tuesday September 6 - I'm excited about getting off the ship and walking on land. The dramamine has been doing the job, but I'm ready to "run free".  We sign up for a small tour and Bob the guide is quite a character. We soon find out that folks that live in Alaska are unique with a quirky flavor.  Bob was no exception - very folksy manner. I'm guessing a former hippie of sorts.  We are on a bus for a short jaunt and then exit to wander to a stream where...

Juneau - Wednesday September 7 - cute, colorful views from the ship.  We exit the ship at 10 for our excursion. it's a rainy intro to Alaska's capital. Not a big city at all. We board a bus and head to the Macaulay Hatchery. The life of a salmon is fraught with danger - the odds of living are ridiculously low. And yet, millions of fish manage to survive and make their trek to spawning  grounds and return to this same place. Amazing nature story and miles of swimming involved. ...

Skagway - Thursday September 8.  This is one of my favorite days. I highly recommend the Glacier Point Wilderness Adventure. These excursions do cost extra but are worth the bucks spent. How else to truly experience Alaska? You have to get out there...into the rugged wild...albeit with guides. Prior to coming on a big trip like this I do recommend walking. Get into some semblance of shape - you'll want  to keep up and be worthy. 7:30 am  and off the boat. We board a harbor boat...

Friday  September 9 - It was a dark and stormy morning". Alas, the big boat event day - our tour into Glacier Bay was ominous. This would be our worst weather day. Oh  well. You never know in  Alaska what you will get late September. We listen to a prep talk about where we are headed and what to expect. Then we go to the Crow's Nest - 10th floor of the ship. Alas, it's misty glare and way too crowded. Rumor has it they might open the bow. We hurry to our room to bundle up. First...

The finale of the UTA Maverick Speaker series featured Fareed Zakaria. His general talk on the issues of the global economy was enlightening. A key aspect he touched on was technology - money can change hands and cross borders at lightning speed. Communication has exploded exponentially. The speed of progress and automation affects perceptions and has heightened fears. However Zakaria is optimistic. I liked his view that America has been great, is great, and if it can maintain the OLD American...

A tale as old as time….Beauty and the Beast gets a live action Disney remake that is absolutely gorgeous and worthy. Go see it on a monster big screen. Spring for the good theater with XD fancy screen and sound. Get the big tub of popcorn and bask in an old fashioned musical.  Not much new to the story. Belle (Emma Watson) is the odd girl in an old French town. She reads books, for goodness sake, and dreams of more to life. No, she does not want to marry Gaston (Luke Evans) – the hot male...

Of course, Saturday September 10th dawns glorious. It's our day at sea, not the Glacier Bay day. Oh well.  There's a lot of motion on the ship and we both have a slight sore throat and cough. Probably best to stay on the down low. Ray does his one gambling foray in the casino. That's a bust. We hang on our verandah in the sun and read. We do get in our one mile walk on the Lido deck, but even that's getting tiresome. We are ready to get off the boat for good. I can highly recommend Holland...

Land Ho.  Monday September 12.  Okay, I admit I do take some dramamine because we are going  to be on a bus all day. You never know - better safe thank sorry.  Ray did check around midnight for the Northern Lights. Alas, too much cloud cover. We never did see them. 2 pm tour bus for the Tundra Wilderness Tour.  Book this now........wow, what a splendid day. Justin, our tour guide, was studying for his masters in biology. He's been studying wolves. His gig as a Denali...

All Aboard - Tuesday September 13 - Denali to Anchorage via train We boarded the McKinley Explorer  at 9:30 am. I love trains and this one did not disappoint. We had comfortable seats in a glass open  bubble. The views were breathtaking. Misty clouds, golden leaves, reflecting lakes, burbling  rivers. "Termination Dust" is a light snow dusting signaling the end of summer. Look up the Dr. Seuss House in Alaska. You could see it's unique design from the train. So smooth,...

 Sunday March 19th Ray and I went to the Dallas Arboretum - one of my favorite places on this planet.  We are having a very early spring with a week ahead of 80 degree weather. The tulips are almost past their prime. Glad we could visit and see them Absolute bliss.  And I know this is rotten, when my Dad and family are all chipping away at ice and dirty snow piles in PA.  Hey, it will come back to bite us in August with over 100 degree temps. Meanwhile, we smile...

Hungry Heart – Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing by Jennifer Weiner is heartwarming and endearing.  It’s like hanging out with a good friend who “gets” you.  She’s now a bestselling author (Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, et al), but she’s also a mom, daughter, sister, wife, and is a mix of Nora Ephron and Tina Fey. (That’s a good thing!)  From the cover – hilarious and moving, Hungry Heart is about yearning and fulfillment, loss and love, and a woman who searched for her place...