30 August 2006

Josiah Beach, 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9


Josiah Beach, 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Seriously, this is the beach where Catherine and I were 'stranded' during our tour. I think this may be the start of my jigsaw puzzle picture taking career.

Catherine & her Bud (yuck), 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9


Catherine & her Bud (yuck), 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

You can go with either headline, really: Beer, it's not just for breakfast anymore OR Budweiser the Breakfast of Champions!

The Islands

Not to be ungrateful...but...when you've been to St. Thomas as often as my family, there really isn't anything exciting to see and do. In fact, if you ask me, when you've been to the Caribbean as often as we have, there isn't much left to do anywhere down there. Aside from a few really remarkable locations...if you've seen one...

That said, we weren't took surprised by St. Thomas. We were well versed in the location and its offerings. Coral World was kind of interesting and kind of run down simultaneously. If you've been to Sea World, there's no need to go to Coral World. Stick with Shamu!

The next day we were in Tortola, which was new for all of us and what sold us on the cruise. We were all looking for something new. While we had a nice time, we didn't see anything new. It was the same island tour. This time the family split up. Catherine and I took a 4x4 Land Rover tour, which wasn't very much of a Land Rover tour. Mom stuck with the tried and true bus tour, hoping for some A/C. It's August folks, we were all hoping for some A/C. In the end, we lucked out. While neither had A/C, our stop had beer! Check Catherine out with her breakfast of champions!!!

26 August 2006

Waters of St. Thomas, USVI - Aug 8


Waters of St. Thomas, USVI - Aug 8
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Here we are on St. Thomas in August. With a cold beer in your hand, life ain't so bad!

With the ship having left the harbor, we are on our way for eight days. We won't be back in the States until Aug 13. The ship is really nice, and best of all...we have two days at sea before we get to any ports of call, which really just get in the way, if you ask me.

With two days at sea, a balcony and a knitting project is necessary! We've come prepared for breakfast room service - it's the best. We have the same routine on every cruise:

1. Room service at 6;
2. Walk a Mile/Gym;
3. Breakfast in the Restaurant;
4. Mass if offered.

You'll notice it's activity - eat - activity - eat :)

I finished the yarn for the project I brought, which was upsetting. Then I had to spend more than I wanted in New York on yarn for a new knitting project. Just what I need, another unfinished knitting project, but that's for another blog.

Ahh...life at sea. Reminds me of "Failure to Launch" when Matthew McConaughey says to SJP:

"Holy Crap! That's a big wave."

Sailing from New York City to St. Thomas, the family begins to relax finding time for craft activities (needlework for mom and Catherine, knitting for me) and reading our books from the ship's library. Now I'm hooked on Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Guess I'll have to rent the movie, now! Catherine had finally broken down and was reading The Da Vinci Code.

Oh, man, land's in sight. I hate that.

19 August 2006

Mustering with NYC as the Backdrop - Aug 5


Mustering with NYC as the Backdrop - Aug 5
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

The roadtrip finished, it was time to sit back and relax on our summer cruise. We took the Norwegian Spirit out of New York for eight days with stops in St. Thomas, Tortola, and Bermuda.

'PlayHouse' at Boldt Castle, Heart Island, NY - Aug 2


Mom in 'PlayHouse' at Boldt Castle, Heart Island, NY - Aug 2
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Visiting Boldt Castle on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands. I love this photograph!

18 August 2006

HOT! HOT! HOT! Oneida, NY - Aug 1


HOT! HOT! HOT! Oneida, NY - Aug 1
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Driving around Oneida Lake in New York; it was freakin' hot. Just to prove it...I took a photo of a time & temp board!

17 August 2006

Philadelphia & Western New York

WooHoo! Family roadtrip. Mom and I on the open highway, looking at the map in the morning to see where we'll end up that day/night. LOVE IT!

Over the next week/ten days we drove to Bethlehem, PA where we had dinner with my grandmother and down to Philadelphia for a long weekend. Checking out my old 'hood and city was fabulous. So many things hadn't changed; yet, so many things had. The best part was catching up with an old pal and recently retired president of the Philly Gator Club.

With our visit in Philadelphia at an end, mom and I wound our way back up to Bethlehem, crossed in to New York and over to Brewerton on the edge of Oneida Lake. We wound our way around Oneida eating at Grazziano's in Canastota often. Honestly, it's the best Italian I've eaten in a very long time.

We then worked our way up to
Thousand Islands following the coast of Lake Ontario until we came to the St. Lawrence River. The coast and island area is really quite nice and quaint, almost untouched.

Then it was time to return to Syracuse to collect my sister from the airport just in time for our cruise out of Manhattan!

Entering NY State - July 31


Entering NY State - July 31
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

My piss-poor "Welcome to New York" picture captured from the car coming from Penssylvania.

16 August 2006

Back in the States...Safely

Landing safely at JFK and making my way to Raleigh; my roommate and I finished packing up our apartment. We moved from one apartment to another within the complex that Monday and Tuesday so we can enjoy a patio during our final year of study. It was 100-degrees outside, but we got it done.

Immediately following, I left with my mother for a three-week roadtrip and an eight-day cruise. After which, I would leave one family to visit with another, my girls in NYC.

Here I'll post the stories...

First, mom and I drove to Mechanicville, NY (outside Albany) to take an elderly grand (?) aunt to a variety of doctors. We drove from Greenville, NC to Mechanicville, NY over the course of two days. While in Mechanicville, we took a trip around Great Sacandaga Lake. A few days later we headed back to Greenville for our own doctor's appoitments, a family birthday party, and to play with the kittens.