I worked yesterday. Reality has set in. I am not on vacation anymore. The boat has finally quit rocking so I must have my land legs back again and life continues on whether you like it or not. Brian and Ashlee's light switch romance is still off and on, yesterday it was off today it is on. It's enough to make your head spin. And speaking of spinning heads, mom has been complaining of vertigo and 2 days ago her BP shot up to 191/127 so she was off to the ER 911. She was in the hospital about 24 hours. They did every test under the sun on her heart and head except an MRI, which she refused, cause of "claustra". They offered her ativan and other magical chill pills as an enducement to do it and she told them " I'm 86 years old, If you find a tumor or anything like that in there I'm not going to let you take it out anyway so why bother". I guess she told them!! Mom can be pretty feisty sometimes. She told me on the phone that all the tests they'ed done on her head were normal and there was nothing in there ........I almost snorted. She didn't realize what she had said. I was going to bring it to her attention and then thought better of it. Sometimes it's better to just leave "well enough" alone. I brought her home Tuesday night, her beauty shop day. Her biggest complaint was she hadn't gotten her hair done and she missed bingo. Yes, your mom and grandma has taken up gambling. She won 25 dollars last week and 90 dollars the week before and because she'd won 2 weeks in a row some of the people there were mad at her and not talking to her. Her BP problem probably saved her social life. She seems to be an octagenairian high roller!

I am having about 30 people here on Easter for lunch so must stop here and get back to house cleaning, yuck. Some one had shut the door to the studio while we were gone. That is where the cat box resides. Too bad they didn't shut the cat in there with it. I was so mad. At least the cat picked one designated area by the pool table to make her unfortunate deposites so I brought a shovel, a big can of deoderizor, and a pair of rubber gloves with me for waste removal.What a way to start the day!! Poop at work...poop at home. I just can't seem to get away from it!( OH, POOP!!!)

In front of some pretty flowers, St. Thomas.

On the ship.

I met this cute pirate on St. Thomas.

He was a little thin in the physique dept.

He was kind of quiet and shy too.

Jon says I need more eye surgery!!!

Our boat Half Moon Cay The Bahamas.

At the top of the island. St. Thomas Virgin Islands.

Jon enjoys a view from our veranda.

I test the waters.

Here are the pics I promised. Our stateroom, our boat, and Jon sipping "virgin" pina coladas.

We're back....4 pounds heavier and with farmer tans. ( These bodies never meet the public with less than a T-shirt and shorts)and.... once I got off the plane and found out the life boats were almost like little cruise ships ( with life vests and no floor show). I was in good shape and ready to enjoy the trip. The food was like everyone says....really good, pleanty of it, and I didn't have to fix it!! We ate like pigs, took a nap every afternoon, and enjoyed the entertainment at night. I read a book, attened an art auction( I really wanted that Peter Max but it was 6500 K so I sat on my hands) and talked to someone almost famous at the auction. This nice older lady was sitting next to me with her bidding paddle ( I did not have one). She said she was buying a painting for her daughter who was a collector, already owned a picasso, had 40 ft ceilings in her house with the walls covered with rare art. I asked if she was a business woman . She said no, an actress. I said would I know her name? She said, Sharon Stone. I didn't stay to see what all she bought but as I left she had just purchased a Betty Poop from the cartoon and I was trying to picture how that would look next to Sharon's Picasso....H-u-u-u-um. They actually had a Picasso lithograph for sale at the auction . It was going for 65,000 K. Completely out of my league....so sad.

We loved the shore excurisions, toured all the places we visited. The photos are being developed now so will have some next blog. Seas were calm so no sea sickness. It was very relaxing and I would enjoy doing it again( especially if someone else pays). I still don't have my land legs back yet . We were sitting in church yesterday and I thought the pew was gently swaying...weird.

Well tomorrow is the big day. The big plane and the big boat!I face my fears with prayer and dramamine. I wish I liked flying better( Boy!!, how I wished I liked flying better!!). We are sailing out of Fort Lauderdale at 5 pm tomorrow on the Zuiderdam. I am armed with my camera and bocue film so hope to take a few pictures. Sorry we missed Anna Nicole's funeral...since we were going to be in the neighborhood I thought I might get a couple of shots of some of her boyfriends and then I realized I probably didn't pack enough film.

Brian and his girlfriend, Ashlee, are house sitting for us. I know you don't know about Ashlee yet so I will tell you all about her when we return...sort of like Flash Gordon...a continued, serial, mini saga not to be missed in next week's installment. It has been a whirlwind romance ( more like a tornado at times) or...mabey a sort of light switch relationship, sometimes off and sometimes on.Right now it's on...so, I hope it stays that way at least for a week since Ashlee agreed to feed the dogs and my cat while we're gone. I have this irritating , underlying fear that while we are gone the switch will turn off and I'll come home to a house full of unopened bills and dead animals. Life is so-o-o- exciting.

See you next week...and Bon Voyage for now.