luvteaching

When we were there a couple of years ago we rode the train from where you pictured it. The area is flat and easy for scooter use. Karen

I'm done - thanks all. It's snowing pretty good in Juneau today.

Seattle and the Alaska ports are "silent" due to noise ordinances. Too bad.

I'll be on Eurodam in early September to Alaska and the Westerdam in early July to Alaska.

Checking in

When I looked the cruise ship schedule shows you are at the ORE dock. The train does pick up right at the ship. Karen

Hi @Niagarawine. If you get on the accessible train you can take your scooter on. There is a lift that lowers to the ground, you drive on, and up you go. It's pretty cool. Then you can stay on the scooter or go to a seat. The nice thing about the accessible car is that there are a lot less people in it as compared to the other cars. My DD DH loved to ride the train and we've done it many times. Karen

@missadventure85. Welcome to Cruise Critic. I've sailed over 20 times to Alaska out of Seattle on both Holland and Princess. The Princess ships out of Seattle are 3000+ and I find them to be too big. I'm not as big a fan of the buffet area either but that's more personal preference. I find it crowded. However we traveled on Princess when DH wanted to go to Skagway and ride the train. The two HAL ships out of Seattle are more in the 2000 passenger range. I've heard great things about the kids club but we haven't traveled with kids. One advantage, to me, is that you go to Sitka which is more of an authentic unspoiled town. I would think your kids would enjoy the Raptor Center, Fortress of the Bear and the Oceanography Center. Sitka is very walkable, lots to see about Russian history of the area, there's a great playground near the Oceanography Center and the Totem Pole park has wonderful walking trails. Both lines go to Juneau and Ketchikan. If you do Glacier Bay then the National Park rangers come on board and there is separate programming for the kids. On Princess, in Juneau, Libby Riddles may be on board. It's really what you want to see. Karen

Good morning, I've been reading every day but the last few days have been busy. Currently we're in a warm spell with a high of 62F yesterday and close to that today without rain. The rain comes back tonight and they we go lower temps and sun. Love the Pacific Northwest. I hosted (with the help of DS and DDIL) my DD DH's side of the family for Christmas on Sunday. So Friday and Saturday were spent house cleaning and getting some food ready. I made hamburger stroganoff which we had over baked potatoes. Sunday morning I got the potatoes in and they were done just right when the group arrived at 1:00 PM. I had 17 between the ages of almost 4 (in two weeks) and 80. We had a wonderful time, everyone ate and visited, and the 5 "greats" (ages almost 4 - 11) played with my dollhouse, my baby doll, etc. It was a lovely Sunday but I was tired after everyone left! Yesterday was back to the pool for two water aerobics classes. Today is putting what's left away from Sunday and maybe some escaping by working on cruise plans for Alaska this summer. Karen

@HAL Sailer Happy Birthday! I have a story that I hope will give you a smile. My DD DH also had the memory loss and my last birthday (and our wedding anniversary the same day) was spent in the hospital as he was recovering from sepsis. I go in that morning and walk in to him telling me "Happy Anniversary!" and "Happy Birthday". I grinned, hugged him and wished him a Happy Anniversary as the nurse was watching. I asked him how long we'd been married and he told me 46 years (which was right) and then I asked him how old I was. He got a puzzled look, thought for a minute and then said "umpteen". I just grinned and grinned even more when the nurse went by and said "we didn't practice that". It was our last anniversary/birthday and the memory still brings a smile to my face. Enjoy your day!! Karen

Good morning, In my corner of the state of Washington the rain is coming down hard but at least it's not snowing! Tomorrow I'm having DD DH's family in for family Christmas so today is busy prepping. I need to get some house cleaning done, rearrange the living room and add some seating, clean off counters, do bathrooms, etc. In the interest of chocolate I'm not doing cake but do have the top layer of the Nanaimo Bar to finish (both the top and bottom layers have lots of chocolate in them). Tomorrow's menu is baked potatoes and toppings and I'll make a crock pot of hamburger stroganoff. I got the ground beef and onions cooked yesterday so will put it together today and let it simmer away. It's an easy recipe with the other main ingredient being canned cream soups and then sour cream. I can handle "quick and easy". Others are bringing contributions and I have lots of cookies in the freezer poised to come out in the morning to thaw. I'm expecting 15-22 people including 5 under 11 so will set up the family room with the doll house, stuffed animals, drawing paper, etc. Have a good day and stay dry! Karen

GOod morning from a rainy Pacific Northwest, I see grass, I see road, and my outdoor thermometer is above freezing! I parked the car last Monday and it hasn't moved since so it's off to water aerobics today (yay!) and errands. I haven't had a lot of human interaction the last week so it will be nice to get out and actually talk to people. Have a good day! Karen

Good afternoon, I'm honoring sweatpants and cheesy socks day! I have lots of patterned and themed socks. When I was teaching I taught 6th graders in the elementary setting and you couldn't get to over-the-top with them but having fun socks was ok. I had enough Christmas themed ones to go the whole month and not repeat a pair - including one that played music and a couple with bells on them. My newest fave pair are the hummingbird ones my cousin got me for Christmas. DD DH loved his hummingbirds and the socks give me a good memory and feel like my feet are being hugged. As for sweatpants - that's been my attire for almost the last week as I haven't been further than the end of the driveway. @atexsix Caregiving is not for the faint of heart, believe me. Take advantage of any help you can get and anybody who will come and sit with DD so you can get out for a bit even if for a walk (yes, in the rain if need be). I was advised years ago when my caretaking started to always do something for myself as our mental health is so important. Give DD a hug for me - he was alway fun to visit with on our cruise. Karen

NS is now confirmed for 15:45. Princess is confirmed at 15:00 and Ascent at 15:30.

Checking in. We are finally above freezing!! My road isn't in great shape so staying home at this point but we're on the upward trend. Karen

Good morning, I'm all for cheese and like the harder ones. I do love havarti as well. It's a foggy morning and the temp didn't make it above 32F yesterday and is at 30F this morning. The weather forecast has temps close to 50 but it hasn't happened yet. I'm looking at icy snow. My road hasn't been plowed since earlier this week and yesterday was a sheet of icy slush. So far the mailman has made it down the road (it's a flat area but a bit off the beaten track) but not the Amazon driver. I did see a Fed-Ex van yesterday and one school bus go by. So, I'll be home today and probably tomorrow. I'm hoping things thaw out enough to go to the pool on Monday. My day - cleaning, organizing for DD DH's family Christmas on the 28th, working on my counted cross-stitch project (baby one but the recipient will be 4 in March) and I need to organize what kits I have and get rid of some as I'll never do them. Nothing too exciting. Dinner will be a cheeseburger tonight. Have a good day, stay safe, and I'll see some of you on the sail away thread this afternoon. Karen

Congratulations @seagarsmoker!! So happy for you!

Good morning, The only potion I'll be brewing is my tea and I like popcorn especially the 100 calorie bags of Smartpop I get at Costco. It's slowly starting to warm up but it's taking awhile. My outside temp is 30F with rain falling. All the school districts in this county are 2 hour late start but the county to the north of us has them all closed except the university. My friends and I are rescheduling our lunch out today. The main roads, if I could get to them, are fairly good but getting there is the rub. My friend walked out to her mailbox and almost fell from ice so I'd be concerned about the parking lots as well. We can get together next week. Meanwhile another day at home. I have lots to do here as I'm having DD DH's family for Christmas on the 28th so it's time to start cleaning, etc. @ger_77 so sorry you had to cancel but it's the right move. Hope all goes well for your DH and you can get this taken care of soon. Karen

Good morning (almost afternoon) from the snowy Pacific Northwest. Another day in snow and ice here. It's supposed to warm up later. Meanwhile the grader did come down the road yesterday and my mailman has made it both days but not the garbage man. I had a call from Amazon Delivery to say they couldn't get here and I assured the person who called that I totally understood and they can wait until Monday to deliver if they want (it's just a jigsaw puzzle). All the districts in our county are closed today (and were yesterday) and the county north of us, which is harder hit, is also closed. To the south it's more 2-hour late start. I'm so glad to be retired!! No to coffee - it stunts my growth! Maybe on the potatoes and there's always maintenance to do around my place but I'm a low-maintenance type of person. My neighbors finally got water back yesterday and I'm hoping to not have to have my taps running after this afternoon as it's all supposed to turn to rain. Meanwhile back to cleaning and organizing my craft room and working on my to-do list all from the comfy cozy inside of my place! Karen

Good morning! We have temps just at 31F and a rain/sleet mix over top of slush and black ice. All the local school districts started out as late start and are now closed. Lots of accidents and people being urged to stay home. The county to the north of us, Whatcom and especially the Bellingham and Lynden area, really got hit and have several inches of snow. I have just a skim but it's coming down now. Oh - the Pacific Northwest. I'm not going into town for water aerobics - the car will stay in the driveway! Love Betty White (Hallmark plays the Golden Girls reruns and love her St. Olaf stories) and cable cars are fun. No to the drink and wine and maybe to the stew. Thanks for the good feedback on my "Bragging" about doing the feeders yesterday. It's these little things that I can finally do that says my body is on the mend - slow as it may be. @grapau27 Good to see you back Graham! Have a safe and dry day. Snow is in the forecast until late afternoon and then we're supposed to warm up and it will be warm enough I can finally turn the taps off! Karen

Afternoon check-in, Our temperature is above freezing - barely - but it's there! We have a winter weather advisory in effect until tomorrow morning with freezing rain as well as snow and ice accumulations. If that's the case I'll be staying home and forgoing the pool tomorrow. I'm at a bit higher elevation and town can be raining and we'll have snow so no sense taking chances. I'm rather proud of myself. For the first time in months my leg with the stuck hip muscle allowed me to fill the front bird and squirrel feeder and get on the ladder and hang the hummingbird feeder up in the back. I was careful and all went well. I'm on hiatus from PT since mid-December but do need to go back. Had to wait for the Medicare coverage to restart. Have a nice evening everyone! Karen

Good morning and checking in from the Pacific Northwest, We're still in the low 20's and it's a nice day out. Rain, snow, and ice are on the way for tomorrow and then we go back to the normal rain, rain, rain (if we believe the weather forecast!). If the rain/ice/snow mix happens tomorrow morning I'll probably stay nice and snug at home and not go to the pool even if it is my "happy place." Today I'll salute Book Publishers as I love to read! Don't you wish your favorite authors would write as fast you read them? I've done very well and my water hasn't froze up this cold spell so very grateful for DS and a new pumphouse. The neighbor who comes for tea froze up on Friday, had something burst in her pumphouse, have fixed it but now have to wait for the pipes to thaw. She's down her for tea (Earl Grey Cream today) and took water home with her. She may be back later for a shower. Nothing else too exciting around this place. I'm working on getting my craft room cleaned, baking cookies, and I need to start making payments for my summer Alaska cruises. Happy Tuesday! Karen

Thanks everyone for staying late!

Just checked and confirmed for 10 PM now.

Thanks @kazu! It's interesting seeing a cruise I've done many many times through the eyes of someone who hasn't cruised at all. Her only cruise ship experience is a Bon Voyage experience on Princess pre-Covid. I've made it clear that she is to do what she wants in ports and on ship as our interests may not coincide - if they do great. We'll be sure to have dinner together and other things as well. Stay warm and safe and take care of Ivan! Karen