Anita Latte

I originally thought I wouldn’t want a deck here in Florida. Hard scape patios are much more common. My focus has to be on permeability. We have pavers to do a front yard patio. I want to create a courtyard feel…we have the kind of house footprint where the garage sticks out from the house…it’s a side entry too, away from the front door, so there’s a lot of front yard and like you Melody, I’m all about yard usage vs yard maintenance. I know we’d use a front courtyard. But the backyard…lots of areas that flood…and so I wonder if it would end up being better to have a deck type thing in at least one area I want a “floor”.

Finding good contractors is like finding hidden treasure…I bet there’s a big demand for them now! For sure, I was very concerned about increased insurance cost but it only went up by $162 for the year!

Not the right time to buy a car but our beloved 4Runner was diagnosed with a 11,500 repair bill…our 2008 4Runner lol…so back in February we got a 2023 Subaru Ascent. We shopped all around and drove many many cars and really thought about what we would still want to drive in 10 years. I like to hang onto my vehicles. I feel like I need a my car tech for dummies book going from 2008 to 2023 but I absolutely love our new car!!

Melody…gorgeous deck! Love outdoor living…unfortunately we’re already so hot this year…it can be challenging to enjoy outside this time of year here between the humidity and the rain, but thankfully it is raining again. We’re no longer is any drought status after being stage 2 for the start of the year. What horrible conditions you NY ladies have right now! Omg! Wow? Down to NC huh? We just had a pretty great week in NC. The backpacking was a little rough…it rained quite a bit. That and a few other things made it a bit challenging. DH and I were talking and I was telling him that I’m sure some friends would ask me if it was fun? And my thoughts were more along the lines of it being satisfying…with moments of extreme pleasure sitting in the beauty of nature and having a bit of overcoming with some physically challenging feats. I was pleased with my physicality but also feeling motivated to improve…not so much a weight loss, though that would be a part of it, but more motivated toward strength, endurance, and just maintaining mobility. Outside of backpacking, I managed to plan a pretty great road trip. Dead&Co was fab. We had great lawn neighbors and just had a blast. Our visit with my childhood friend was soooo much fun. Non stop talking and laughing and sharing…it was all very easy and comfortable…on a real, when we were leaving, my eyes were stinging…it’s been a while since DH and I have spent time together with a couple friends…like since GA…we haven’t found anyone like that here yet…so the social interaction was just…idk…very emotional to leave. Hoping we can visit more now. And our new car was a joy to road trip in…confirming our purchase decision. It helped to have 8 hr drives on outbound and homebound days and short day drives when we did change cities.

Oasis class ships aren’t my favorite but I must admit that I get in the mood to go on them! I was on Allure for the TA with my parents and then DH and I sailed Harmony in Feb 2020, which was my last cruise. Not ever, just the last one I’ve sailed. We had such a good time on Harmony, so I have a soft spot for that ship. All the dining choices are what I love about Oasis…the smaller dining venues are soooo nice. My fave on Harmony is 150 Central. Of all the restaurants on board, it is definitely the quietest…the chairs in there are comfy. We had good food everywhere so…food didn’t set any one place apart…the atmosphere at 150 Central is just outstanding. I like the whole Central Park vibe in the evenings. I hear you on the weight…sigh. It can be such a struggle and frustrating to have that need to purchase clothes in a larger size…but after all these years of fluctuating weight, I think it’s really important to feel good no matter what size we are…and so it’s worth it to get good clothing that is flattering and makes us feel good about our appearance…or at least as good as we can feel when a bit unhappy about having gained. I’ve been trying to be more active my I keep having pains and tweaks…the latest was my hip which was really awkward. I didn’t even DO anything…but I stood up and wham, sharp shooting pain…I’m pretty sure that it was muscular because it has responded well to typical muscle strain treatment. I think I need to move more, I think it was actually stiffness from too much sitting. The only way that I have heard that is a super successful way to deter deer from an edible garden is to double fence it. It doesn’t have to be a high fence…apparently deer can jump incredibly high…but one thing that they will not do is jump over something if there is uncertainty about their landing on the other side…so if you have two fences spaced however many feet apart…I can’t recall how many, 3? 4? 5?…but they won’t jump over the double fence situation because the lack of landing is the deterrent. As for rabbits…yeah…haven’t seen anything about that. The deer tip came from sort of show at some point and info stuck with me…it’s info that I think might be useful to me someday. This next growing season…I’m going all in on the veggie garden. I have high hopes to drastically reduce my reliance on grocery stores…we’ll see how it goes. The growing seasons here are so weird…I think after almost 3 years OMG! I might finally get it LOL. I’d like to get more into birding. I love to hear the bird songs and wish I could identify who was who more. I have an app on my phone for that but still. I recently visited a friend that had a wonderful bird house garden outside her kitchen eating room…it was wonderful to sit and watch all the birds. And so special! We got to see an Oriole!! Never saw the bluebirds that are in the area though. Exciting that you have those. I feel like that’s rare. But the next house in my yard will be a bat house. I have the house but still need to figure out exactly where to put it…I’m hoping to get some help with mosquitoes! We are excited for our trip. The weather is looking fabulous. We are so ready for a break from the heat. It has been way too warm already this year.

I still read along even though I’m rarely posting these days. I just got out of the habit when all I could post with was my phone…even after getting my new computer and more recently a gifted iPad…I’m just out of the habit. that’s a beautiful dress Laurie! All my shopping lately has been very practical. My latest purchase, should be delivered Saturday are the heritage gardening bib overalls from Duluth. I’m doing so much yard work…and I love my overalls for it because it’s such a pain to deal with a shifting waistband when doing all the kneeling, bending, etc…but my sturdy duck canvas ones are way too hot for my warmer weather gardening. I’ve been battling cramps because I got myself dehydrated and I’m still trying to recover. These new ones are supposed to be soooo lightweight. I like yard work too Laurie. Well…I like designing and then gardening…and helping DH while he takes the lead on making my raised beds and otherwise bringing my design to life. It’s something I enjoy so much…it might become my second career…I’m still deciding what I want to be when I grow up. Melody, your new haircut looks fab! I let my buzzed head grow out to a length to give a hairstylist something to work with and after trying 2 different hairstylists, I can say I found a good one. I’ve been back to her again…I’m sporting what I call a flippy, messy/shaggy pixie…when it’s doing what I love most, I think of it as anime hair lol. You won’t believe it…DS is unofficially done with school. He had his last thing yesterday…presenting his senior portfolio to a special panel which included people from outside the school for the first time. He said it went “INCREDIBLY well.” We JUST got confirmation that his graduation ceremony will be July 11…fortunately our plans are to be there July 6-18 so we’re good! Im excited to follow along on your cruises Laurie and Margaret. With the London trip…DH’s vacation time and our travel budget is pretty maxed out for the near future…and I’m reluctant to plan anything beyond knowing what is next for DS. He’s in the job hunt right now with the default plan being that he’ll boomerang back home after his visa runs out in October while continuing to look for work…should he not have anything before that. If he’s home…maybe we’d do something all together? Idk… We are headed off on a fun road-trip vacation next week, taking advantage of Monday’s holiday for fewer vacation days for a week off. We’re headed up to NC for backpacking 2 nights at Grandfather Mountain, going to Dead&Co, and visiting my childhood friend I’ve known since 4th grade who recently moved to Raleigh. Should be a good time. Laurie, are you sailing Harmony?

It sure would be interesting for the OP to report back on their Oct 2022 TA to share how it went… I have taken one TA. It was April. It was COLD…our Norwegian master made jokes about the weather saying that they call this summer back home. I remember people using many towels in the solarium as blankets to still try and enjoy being outside. I also found that my TA was the most dressed up ship I had ever cruised…not that I’ve cruised so many. Maybe it was all the extra time due to lack of ports but each evening, the majority of the ship was outfitted fit for a night on the town…very urban, very chic. And definitely dressing like a transition season and no where near summer.

Kat…loved all your pics!! What a fast week it was. It seemed very calm though. And gorgeous. DS went to the coronation. He said he saw the crowning and some sort of viewing from Hyde Park. I didn’t watch it myself.

Cubavera brand sold at Macys. Often on sale. DH has been wearing these for literally years. Perfect warm weather pants that are comfortable but look nice.

I have liked skorts in the past but lately I am bothered by the double layer. I read a while back that skorts are indicative of American modesty Puritan roots. When a French woman knows there’s a chance her undies might show…that’s when she wears her prettiest ones! Lol

I would avoid the leggings and skirt combo. Not just from a looks stand point…if you’re concerned about heat, then I think anything too fitted is a mistake and definitely the double layer seems stifling to me. I did a quick read about the towers and the articles I read said, “the stairs are narrow, dark, and very crowded.” So definitely don’t be dealing with a skirt of any sort. Ive recently purchased some lightweight jogger style hiking pants that I think are street worthy. Paired with some classic street sneakers, you would fit right in with what I observed when I was in Barcelona the one and only time I was there. https://www.rei.com/product/187025/athleta-trekkie-north-jogger-pants-womens Why I would choose these pants…comfort, breathable, water resistant (I’ve sat on damp benches and not had them affect these pants), and IMO street worthy. Zippered pockets are a plus. They are also snag resistant so if your rubbing against a tower wall or others… and the jogger style will also keep others from accidentally snagging you or potentially stepping on your billowy fabric in the worst case stairwell of my imagination.

Did you do your entire waterline? I’ve seen it used on the outer third or so and liked that look.

@slidergirl Glad that your hair has been coming back in after the Covid loss...that was one thing that concerned me greatly because I lost so much. My hair grows annoyingly fast and so when my hairlets as you say were of a certain length, they all stuck out on my head like a weird hair halo...and that's when I shaved/buzzed my head. Speaking of...my hair has grown out so much...I got a cut but the woman styled me in a very old lady style. I felt like I looked 5-10 years older...it was not me at all...but my hair would do what so many of her clients wanted their hair to do...and so I think she was enthused to have that hair style actually work on someone? I washed my hair immediately when I got home.. And I've realized that I haven't been having as much fun with the growing out process as I should and could be having...so I'm looking for another hair dresser and will try to get in next week. I'm looking for what I will call a messy pixie cut...hopefully I'll feel good enough to share a photo of that one. Melody...what a great feeling you must have had at the PT place! I know it isn't the thing to compare ourselves to others but it happens...and sometimes it happens in such a way that we end up feeling really good about ourselves...if we ever beat ourselves up on the other side of the comparison...it surely stands to reason that we lift ourselves up from time to time as well. I definitely think you are young in spirit and just have to deal with your foot after that awful incident...but you deal with it in such an admirable way. I really hope we can have a little get together if you take that PC cruise. Laurie...I have been dealing with my wardrobe too. I've decided to start sewing for myself. There's a website...a community sewing kind of website...and I've entered one of the contests. It's a Sudoku wardrobe contest. It's a 4x4 grid where you have 4 bottoms, 4 tops, 4 pairs of shoes, and 4 extras. Place one item in each square such that you end up with 4 column outfits, 4 row outfits and 2 diagonal outfits. You have to sew 10 of 16 items for the Sudoku grid. I just started without a real plan but my plan has been taking shape as I go. I've decided to make 4 different views of the same skirt pattern...at least 3 views of the same shirt pattern. I've used a fabric that I've had for YEARS...since Hancock went out of business...and old patterns that I've been wanting to sew for too long. Making the skirt fit as I want it to has been a challenge. My Great Grandma taught me some sewing basics...so I'm actually very good at sewing construction...but I'm not a good fitter...that's the skill that I'm working on...and it's challenging. But the process has taught me why I have a hard time with certain style of RTW clothing...apparently my back side is a different size from my front. Apparently I have a bigger rear end/upper hip than a normal straight size would allow for. At the end of this process I should have a great pattern all figured out. I've also come to realize that this time in our FL home has let me explore more of what my own style/taste is. I think I might redo the Style Statement book...and see what happens.

Oooohhhh…I’m jelly over here for your Alaska cruise! I look a look at the HAL site and if I saw what your itinerary is you get to go to Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point?

I’d be careful with how close all your bags are to the 50 lb limit…used clothing does wear more than freshly laundered.😝

I’m over it now and on a real, it wasn’t bad. It was day 5 of symptoms before I had a positive test. At that point Paxlovid isn’t an option though I might have been convinced to have it given my previous Covid experience. I’m happy that I was able to manage symptoms with simple OTC medicine though. It actually makes me feel a bit better about my state of health. I’m just hoping my hair doesn’t start falling out again.

Well…after all this talk of just doing and not worrying about results…I was halted in my doing with another bout of Covid. Omicron is a kinder, gentler beast compared to Delta and so it was just like having a bad sinus head cold. My first symptom was hoarse voice and sore throat. I thought it might be allergies but on day 2 I started running a fever so I took a Covid test. Negative. Alright. Fever broke after the next night so I expected to get better quickly and when I still was feeling so poorly on day 5, I took another Covid test and bingo! Sigh. DH never tested positive. Not sure where I picked it up but I’m guessing the Y. I recall walking into the bathroom and one of the personal trainers was in there coughing up a lung…I remember thinking that didn’t sound good… Today was my second negative test after 48 hours so I’m all better now. Lol. I feel okay…but I do feel like my stamina has been affected. Zumba is tomorrow though so I’m going. I’m sure it will be rough but I know how to pace myself and deal and I gotta get back to it. I’ve started sewing. I’m making a skirt. It’s been challenging because while my construction skills are good…fit issues and knowing which size to make are a major learning hurdle. I made a size way too big…did some unsewing…and now it’s just slightly tight…sigh. Hoping it’ll fit better in a month or so…so definitely going to Zumba tomorrow!

You would use your park pass at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau for entrance to the visitor’s center and to access those trails that require a pass to hike.

It could be true that those companies are the only ones that are licensed for commercial tours at Mendenhall, which is Federal land and thus requires and limits licenses for commercial tours, just like Glacier Bay. I think you might be disappointed in the float trip is you’re wanting to get closer to the glacier. I believe that tour starts in Mendenhall Lake and the float trip goes with the current away from the glacier. It sounds weird but you will have views of the glacier but you won’t be close to it. Mendenhall can be seen from quite far away…we saw it from Douglas Island actually before we went to it. It’s a beautiful view but idk, I think the trip is going away from the glacier so you’d be facing away from the glacier? The canoe trip would bring you toward the glacier but where you land and go around may not be at the glacier. When we went a canoe tour had landed where we had hiked to following the trail to Nugget Falls. The landing spot varies I believe based on conditions and there’s no guarantee of landing on the glacier side.

If you do sail on Wonder, I would absolutely LOVE to get together. However. Whenever. Doing whatever. I sent you an email with my updated email address. Laurie...work life balance...OMG...it is a struggle. DH and I go through this all the time. IDK why it is so hard to find the time to really take care of yourself but it's true that finding that time can be so challenging. DH goes through that same struggle. I do my best to help...and we do what we can to really make the most of non-work time but the demands of work really eat into what should be non-work time more often than not. Back in October...I was thinking that it was time for me to start doing something more regularly again. I was trying to get into a new routine after moving to Orlando and DS going off to Uni in late 2019...I was so energized for a new lifestyle and just feeling like we were getting into the groove when March 2020 hit. Moving into our house purchase in July 2020, the inability to start new things because everything was not normal, and then being hospitalized in late 2021...and it just goes on...well in October 2022 I was thinking about how Zumba had started me on my wellness journey a decade ago OMG and took a look at our local YMCA, they were having a special to join in by the end of Oct with no joiner fee and only $13 for the first month...so we joined and I have faithfully been going to Zumba twice weekly since then. I just added in the Barre Fusion class...it is SUCH a great workout...focused on strengthening doing things that are very much like what I was doing for PT when I busted my ACL. So I'm to 3 classes weekly now...and walking/hiking nature trails on the weekends with DH at the very least... It's a slow process but I've been making achievable goals that have nothing to do with progress necessarily except to being DOING and not concerned too much with what doing is actually doing, trusting that over time the doing will add up and progress will manifest as I keep adding a little bit here and there. I'm aiming to be consistent with everything that I decide to do and work myself up into a pillar of health and wellness. LOL. All I can say on that is to not stress too much about it all...because the stressing has such negative consequences.

I don't necessarily miss dealing with cold weather...but I do enjoy the occasional cold weather...and SNOW!! I love the quiet of the world, insulated under a blanket of fresh fallen snow. I especially like to VISIT it. And I love the sound of footsteps in snow... Unless I go to CO with DH and experience a well timed snow fall though...what little I experienced on Christmas weekend is all I think I'll get this year.

With DH in CO...I'm feeling chatty at home alone LOL... Laurie...I went back on the thread and found where I talked about our Harmony cruise... This link talks about embarkation day and making our reservations for the UDP... Then the next post talks about breakfast, hot tubs, and dinner at Wonderland. Then the next one talks about lunches. Then you'd have to keep reading through discussion to find the rest of my report of our Harmony cruise. For the specialty dining on the UDP, what actually happened was a little different than what we originally reserved. I think that I had made my show reservations online...but I'm not 100% certain. Anyway, I know that the rescheduling of the aqua show ended up affecting our dining plans. It ended up that one of the Jamie's nights was replaced with 150 Central Park. We ate at 150 Central Park 3X!!, Chops 2X, and once each at Wonderland and Jamie's. I know that Mom and Dad really enjoyed their Wonderland meal and at there a couple times...I think the atmosphere wasn't as great when we went...I recall that it was loud...the seating was okay...I think we ended up at a bench type seat where the tables are lined up along the bench so one person is on the bench and one person in a chair. My man at 150 Central Park steered me away from making more than the one reservation there and that worked out well for us. I wasn't enthused to repeat the experience on that one cruise. I would eat there again though...but once per cruise I think is enough for me. We also ended up eating 2 lunches at Sabor. One on embarkation day and one on our San Juan day. Really enjoyed lunch there. I reread my TR about Harmony and I stand by what I wrote previously. I love all the different breakfast options. And I do prefer lunch with a view. Dinner never really has a view...if you are eating in the evening and the sun sets...then dinner atmosphere ends up being more than the view. I really, really enjoy the atmosphere of Central Park, especially when there is music playing there. I love the subdued lighting, I like the cricket sounds, I like the plant material and the path...feels like a lovely courtyard to me and I thoroughly enjoy having a dinner that is there. The UDP is expensive. I think there's no getting around that. I do enjoy the smaller dining venues though... they seem more catered to couples...so it feels nicer to me...and I enjoy having the dinner atmosphere be changed up...going to the different restaurants. For me, that's the fun of the Oasis class ships...you can just mix it all up. I don't recall the quantities being large for dinner. Maybe Jamie's... I feel like I ordered a dinner salad...I recall something about chilled poached pears, candied pecans and Gorgonzola cheese on Bibb lettuce...fish that was served with veggies. I think DH and I would split dessert. Actually, IIRC there was some dessert at 150 Central that we liked so much, on our last meal there, we purposefully ate so that we DIDN'T split dessert! Some may say that we didn't get max value out of our UDP but value is subjective...I don't recall if I did an analysis of that...hmmmm I think I must have done that on my own...I don't see a report on it. IIRC we didn't overspend on the UDP, but we didn't "save" a bunch by going over by a significant amount. DH and I imagined that we would be going to London several times while DS was there. I think we thought we might go to mainland Europe as well...taking DS on trips when he wasn't in school...but we haven't been back to London since we first went to take him and move him over there when he first started. Thank you pandemic. Oh well. It will be that special to go in July. I've been overseas 3 times. DH has more trips than I but he doesn't count them because they were just for work and he didn't have any time to do anything that wasn't work related, but he went to England, Wales, and Germany, multiple times. I've been to Spain, at the end of the one TA cruise on Allure that I did my parents. And twice to London, once to check out London before DS went there on a short spring break trip, and the drop off trip. I really thought I would have gone many more times by now...

DH has a fear of heights and motion sickness. He did GREAT in the helicopter. Not a problem at all. And he sat in front. I have an issue with confined spaces...I had no problem in the helicopter, even sitting in the back. The view out of the helicopter is amazing...line of sight is incredible and there's something about that...I didn't feel confined. DS was also with us and we were all amazed at how stable, quiet, and just effortless the whole experience felt. One minute you're on the ground and the next, you're up in the air. It's like an elevator...no effort. Felt like we were floating. We all LOVED it. It was a highlight of our trip to be able to do it. Viewing Alaska from the air is definitely something worth while to do. Edited to add...our experience was on a 4-seat helicopter. It was really very little difference in the interior from a riding in a smaller car.

DH was able to fly in just fine. All the flights from MCO were yesterday. I'm sure it was shocking though. We were 90 yesterday and it was -11 with wind chill when he arrived yesterday evening!

I sat on the aft bar on Millennium for hours for the sailing out of Skagway. OMG...I couldn't leave. It was so gorgeous. I advise taking a look at a map...there are hanging glaciers, Eldred Rock Lighthouse, etc. It was misty...saw beautiful double rainbow. I was tired, as our whole group was, and they all left for nap time before dinner but I just couldn't leave the view. The passage is narrow enough, you can easily see both sides for a long time. I would never miss the sailaway from Skagway. It naturally follows that if the sailaway is great...the sailing into could be as well. I would go for that as well now because the angle of the sun should alter the appearance of the whole landscape...however...IDK if it is practical to do both, especially if there isn't a comfy place to sit and observe on the bow. If aft on your ship has a nice place...then I would go for the sailaway viewing for sure.