slidergirl

Hmmm. Are you talking about just Centurion? I've gone onto Delta Sky Lounges 4 hours before, especially when I have a loooong connection time.

I stopped doing my spring flowers, other than crocus. The tulips & daffodils would show up, look nice one day then get trampled by the next snow storm. OOTD: I'm still cranky and I'm the only employee on site today, so: black jeans, my new mottled green hoodie thermal shirt from Smartwool, another Buff in my hair, and my grey Chaco booties.

Well, I will wear a baseball hat because I care about melanoma (had a dear friend die a slow and painful death from it). I don't decorate my door. I don't do the MDR. I don't do shows/games/ etc. I don't cruise to meet people unless they are the locals onshore. I don't run back to the ship to have a meal "because I paid for it". After being a slave to the Forbes standards for years, I will not necessarily speak in full sentences - I'll use contractions 😉

I'm going to walk back to my hotel (the Marriott Waterfront), give one of the bellmen some cash and ask if they will keep my bag for a few hours. Has always worked for me, wherever I travel. My flight out of Seattle is at 5:30pm, so I'm going to try to get over to the Chihuly Glass Exhibit for awhile before I go out to the airport and settle into the AMEX Centurion Lounge...

NA - I am soooooo over the snow I'm dealing with here at my home in the mountains of Utah. 2 more feet from last night to Saturday expected with another good foot coming in next Wednesday. My winter work season has been extended to April 23rd and I fly up to Seattle on the 28th for my Alaska cruise that starts on the 29th. Should I just bring what I've been wearing??? I'm a sucker for my Woolx leggings with one of my insulated mini skirts and then boots. I was thinking those, with a pair of jeans, some long sleeve Ts with my Patagonia vest and my Patagonia jacket and rain shell and I'll be good. I'm very used to the cold and I don't even own a parka, just the Patagonia down sweater. I'm a layering pro. Yes, I'll dig out a pair of gloves and a toque to wear... I should have listened to myself and just drove down to Las Vegas...

Mother Nature: PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!! Another 6" showed up on my driveway overnight. This afternoon, it's howling blowing, whiteout and snowing. The Interstate by my house is a parking lot now with no visibility. Fortunately, I got into work before this latest incarnation of He!! arrived this afternoon. It's supposed to be 9" total today, 4.5" tomorrow and 2" Sunday. Then a break until next Wednesday, with 7.25" and 2.25" Thursday. I'm giving up on shoveling my driveway - I'll just plow through it now. Right now, I'm watching the mature Aspen trees across the street get blown about 2" in each direction... Janet - I don't know midtown from anywhere in NYC. But, I did stay at the Andaz 5th Ave a few years ago and loved it. Right across from the iconic Library and Bryant Park. The other time I was in NYC, I actually stayed across the River at the W Hoboken. A quick ferry ride across to the Trade Center. I start thinking about all my snow here and leaving for Alaska 4 days after I finish my season, I wonder if I'm going back into the snow???? 😹 That would be my luck!! OOTD: I'm by myself today, and I was in a cranky mood, so: black jeans, black hoodie sweater, grey Chaco booties and a bright-colored Buff in my hair (it wouldn't have been any good to try to do anything with my hair today). ETA: I took video with sound to try to let you know how loud and hard the wind it, but the file is too big...

cynthia - have a fantastic adventure! I didn't realize it was such a long cruise. I'll look forward to your postings. Lois - sorry 'bout the cold. I sure hope you are 100% before you leave for your cruise, Wow - it seems like it's cruise time for all!!

I stayed there a few years ago when it was a Kimpton hotel. I really liked the place. Kimpton took the bones of a great old building and made a cool hotel. It's an easy walk down to the Pike Place Market, down to the wharf. Professional and friendly staff. I would definitely stay there again.

Last time I was down at Cocoa Beach (near Port Canaveral) during a sargassum invasion, it was disgusting. The stench was awful. No place to put down a beach chair unless you liked the top the tide mark. Some industrious people did rake a few paths through the stuff to get to the beach. Add some lovebugs to that situation and it was definitely NOT pleasant.

You have rain on the way, I have more snow ahead. Towns and cities up here are starting to think about the potential of flooding when the thaw happens. Last time there was this much snow (actually we've surpassed it), there was massive flooding down in Salt Lake City - they took sandbags and turned the main N/S street downtown, State Street, into a "river" to cope with the flooding from City Creek and others. Melody - keep on keepin' on!!! PT is a hard thing to keep engaging in at your best, I know. I did a year 3/week for my shattered leg. If I had gone at it half-a$$ed, I wouldn't be walking! Enjoy that first bath/shower unencumbered!! Lois - I hadn't even started looking at stuff. I just picked this cruise out of the sky when Cynthia mentioned it. My first thought are always food, it seems. I remember Anita doing a car museum which had those period dresses for the ladies, too. I was already going to just walk through Sitka because I was definitely interested in the Russian history. Cynthia - you're going to have a magnificent time with your Japan cruise! It's a long time to be gone that far away! At least with me, I've got jeans, pants, leggings, insulated mini skirts, vests, jackets and shirts to go. I should fit right in with Alaska! The big thing is which wool hat to take and do I take my tie-dye boots or my trail runners (both GoreTex'd). I did forget I have to buy a new rain shell - when I last wore mine it was, well, less than water-proof. It is 10 years old, after all! Sales abound right now for that kind of stuff so I just have to figure out which one I want (I've got a 20% off 1 full price item at REI and a Patagonia outlet nearby). With our season extended, I'll have a whopping 4 days to get everything packed and stuff at home done before I fly out. No pressure...

Yep, and cruise Glacier Bay. And, just wander around Victoria. It's been awhile since I've been there. I've got $100 credit toward an excursion if I want, but I'm not an excursion person. There are food walks in 2 of the ports that I could always do if wanted to do something. Mendenhall Glacier doesn't interest me as I've walked on Athabasca Glacier in Jasper NP In Canada and got to some glaciers in Austria. I may get out of here without spending much more - I have $200 OBC and the $11 max beverage package. And, I have 1 specialty dinner (thinking Tamarind) if I so choose. Not much else needed. We got the official word today that Deer Valley is staying open until April 23 so that is my new last day. I've lived up here since 1988 an this is the first time DV has extended the season. But, it's going to be totally lazy days at the Lodge with only 3 owners on the books for now.

Ok, Ok. I did it. After doing my taxes I decided I definitely needed it. Not doing Inside Passage. Doing Glacier Bay and Stevens Passage. Booked it, used points for my flights & hotel. Took the sting out a little. I just have to remember to take my binoculars - haven't used them since Kenya.

Wow! That is definitely fantastic news!!! What a great Birthday present!! Now, take a big breath and let out a big happy whoop! Ladies - Cynthia got my hamster wheel spinning on Alaska. don't know why, but I started looking, The Konigsdam would be a little much with flying in/out of Vancouver. BUT, the cruise on the Eurodam in/out of Seattle is better. I'd have to have my balcony to have my own space. I can do cruise, airfare, 1 night hotel in Seattle for $3000, less if I use some points for hotel & flight. By now you all know me: I'm a loner, I do love the outdoors, I just like wandering. what do you think?

Yeah, it is a lot but you have to be naughty once in awhile. And as long as the yogurt is under 40 grams of carbs, it's on my OK list for breakfast. I can't have oatmeal and eggs all the time.

I know. I got a mailer for some solo rates on NCL, one for Orlando-Lisbon at a very good price. Then, the hamster wheel got spinning... I'm just not sure if I should just wait and save more for next year. NCL had some cheap solo prices for some Alaska cruises, too, but I have certain dates that I already have commitments and I have to try to work around them in May. The 17-19 are already taken.

My store has the strawberry, chocolate and the salted caramel. The lemon sounds like it could have potential. Purple - owie on the toe pick. Hopefully only your pride was hurt. I am soooo exhausted from the last 3 days of work. Yeah, I did everything and nothing burned down. I just put extra pressure on myself when I'm the only person - I've always done that. The boss gave me the day off, so I'm just going to play Rip van Winkle and do nothing. I slept for 10 hours. OOTD: my knee-length capris and a long sleeve T.

Allow me to give you the email addresses of my management....

I stayed at the Hotel De Tourny this past summer for a few days. I did like the hotel and it's location. There is a Paul at the end of the block to get morning croissants. A Carrafour Express the other way a block away to pick up any last minute snacks. It's maybe a 5-10 minute walk to the Place des Quincones and the Place de la Bourse and the waterfront. Lots of restaurants and shops just South of Quincones, including the large outdoor shopping mall of Rue Sainte-Catherine. It's not a US chain hotel, and it's small. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.

It will be like good ole' UCLA when Coach Wooden retired. He had been there for decades. Games just weren't the same. SU won me some money back some years ago. They were playing someone in the NCAA finals and the spread was huge. I bet the spread because I knew there was no way the loss would be that big. The other team lost but beat the spread. I got $20 for my $20 - yes, I'm a HUGE bettor 😹

Glad to hear you're feeling better. I'm there with you about the hair - mine is finally starting to grow back! My "hairlets" are about 1.5" long now. Even my stylist says it's coming back well. And, I had my first dose of Covid back in Jan/Feb 2020!!! I do have to go get my 4th booster, though. Do NOT want another visit from the 'vid...

I think I'm just over all the people trying to cajole freebies out of me and my Front Desk folks. I don't fall for the "$20 tip for an upgrade" trick, either. And, since I have to deal with it myself, I do not try to get anything from anyone. I respect most front-facing employees nowadays. I've been known to actually apologize to an agent for the bad behavior of the person in front of me at the desk.

You can buy beer of a certain strength and some of those awful wine coolers at the grocery. But for wine, alcohol, high strength beer and pre-mixed drinks, we have to make the trek to the state store. Big deal this summer - they put in refrigerators in the store so you can buy cold beer!! Day from He!! yesterday. All by myself at the Lodge. That means things will go wrong. The garage door stopped accepting key cards, so I had to open the door from the console here until I could get a tech to get on the phone with me to troubleshoot. Ugh. People were parking in other people's spots and it got ugly once. My least favorite guest from last year was back and tried to get checked in early - I was in NO mood to argue with him this time, so I let him in 2 hours early (it was ready anyway). No time to bake cookies for apres ski, but I did make time to have wine & cheese hour. The wind was howling all day an it was snowing/sleeting/raining. Ugh. At least my house had a little thawing of the driveway then only an extra inch of light snow - only took about 5 minutes to clear. But, the highway into work was like a sheet of ice - chunky, iced over snow/sleet from overnight. It took me 45 minutes to go what is usually 20 minutes to work. LOTS of people trying to get up to ski plus I forgot it was 8:30 in the morning instead of 10:30. What a difference a few hours make!! By myself again today. At least tomorrow I have my maintenance guy and our new intern. OOTD: jeans, black/grey turtleneck Tshirt, white Athleta oversized hoodie vest, pink hightops.

I had to laugh at this. When I was in charge of the Front Desk at several resorts, how you looked made ZERO difference to me. The only time someone got an upgrade was if it was required by their Frequent Guest status or book with AMEX Plat or Centurion. Maybe if your 3rd party booker screwed up and we didn't have the room you supposedly booked you would get what we had left and that could be an upgrade. 😉 ETA: I forgot to say I also wear compression sleeves (not socks) on my legs when I fly. Been doing that since I had my shattered my left leg back in 2007. I like the sleeves because I can put them on when I get on the plane and take them off at the end.

Last summer, going over to Europe, I wore my Pact Airplane Pant (no longer available) and Airplane Poncho (really a light hoodie sweatshirt), a white organic cotton Tshirt under that. I think I wore my Merrell trail runners. I had one of my scarves with me. On the way home, I wore my Faherty faded railroad stripe overalls, a white organic cotton Tshirt and my pink high tops. Brought my Airplane Poncho with me. Since I flew Delta One, I could be comfy whatever I wore, but my overalls are actually very comfy. I had already shipped home my Merrells and some other things because it was just too darn hot. I was nonstop home go I could look as grungy as I wanted to be at the end of a 10+ hour flight - no need to look pretty for an upgrade 😉

Bummer. Weird that the soles were slippery - I didn't feel mine are slippery. Yeah, not a padded tongue but I didn't even notice that when I wore them.