Valentine Sweethearts for 51 years!!!

More photos, I hope!

Here are a few more snaps of the Mah Jongg Cruise Clan-Members!!

Cruising with the "Clan" . ..

OK, I know it's been ages since I've attempted to update my "blog", so here goes!

A few of my Mah Jongg fellow "clan" members (8 of us) decided to take a short, 5-day cruise and play Mah Jongg as much as we could! We found a cruise out of Galveston, TX (very drivable) and took off on 1/18/10. It was my 1st bona fide "cruise" - the last ship I was on was the "QEII" in 1964 which went from NYC to England, and we definitely didn't have "cabin accommodations"!!

Our balcony cabin was small but very "doable" with a great "cabin attendant" whom we gave $5 on the very 1st day and asked that ice be in the ice bucket AT ALL TIMES (in order to keep our wine cool!) and he never failed us! Being the "princess" that I am, my roomie - Dianne - and I ordered Room Service for a.m. coffee/rolls which always appeared 15 minutes early, but that was OK w/us!! Then we "breakfasted" somewhere on the ship, then headed to the Mah Jongg site for the a.m. games!! We did break for lunch, then another few hours of Mah Jongg, until "happy hour" time, which seemed to get earlier & earlier - ?? -

The maitre'd, Jamal (a REALLY handsome man of Indian descent) gave us a super table with great wait staff, so dinner each night was a "dining experience"! There were shows to attend, karaoke events and general "people watching" to fill the evening. In short, a good time was had by all!!

Next adventure?? Perhaps a cruise in Alaska?? We'll see . .

Until next time . . .

"Big Bend" and me on a "hog" . . .

Steve and I recently travelled to "Big Bend National Park" with 2 other couples; they drove their "roadsters" (a Porsche 'Boxster' and a BMW 'Z3' - WE were the "chase car", loaded down w/the appropriate libations!). We spent the 1st night in Marathon, TX, at the historic "Gage Hotel", which was lovely, 1st class and great food (the "White Buffalo Bar" was a treat, too!). Next stop: Study Butte, TX (the locals pronounce it "studdie boot") where we drove all over the Park, enjoying the myriad vistas and staying in the local "motel/RV Park", complete w/wooden sidewalk, swirling dust and 100+ temps, but it DID HAVE air conditioning. We took a very interesting Jeep Tour onto a private ranch and saw many kinds of cacti, learning about the former mercury-harvesting industry there. On to Ft. Davis, TX and the McDonald Observatory where we took part in a newly-developing Moon Party; observed the moon and Saturn thru one of the telescopes - really phenomenal. We had an "interesting" dinner in Alpine - we had the "waitress from hell" and I was constantly at the Bar pointing out her insufficiency's which garnered Steve & me a free meal! On the return to the "Indian Lodge" where we were staying, we came upon 3 havilenas (ugly pigs that are very destructive) and were shinning the car headlights upon them, when a rather irate Park Ranger confronted us and suggested we leave! Don't think we'll be returning any time soon to that part of Texas! But a good time was had by all and we even stumbled upon some terrific b-b-q before landing back in K'ville - now: what's not to like??

A Texas-Style Block Party

Who says old people don't know how to party??

Some very creative neighbors held a Block Party in their backyards, complete with a live band, "The McKinny Brothers" (both of them). Grills were rolled in, fired up and we were invited to cook our meat of choice which we had brought and enjoy the "sides" that were provided, all for $5/ea - now you can't beat THAT with a stick!

Approximately 130 folks (most who traveled via golf cart!) gathered, visited, ate and listened to the Band until the wee hours - well, OK, we were home by 10:00 p.m., so maybe it wasn't all that late - but a good time was had by all.

Please note the "custom decorating" that adorned the pergula - no expense was spared!

This party will be a hard act to follow, but I'm sure someone is already contemplating the next event . . .stay tuned . .