Seattle to Alaska & Back - Fun Time With Friends

The Cruise Crew and yes, the sun does rise near Dan's head most of the time. (Just ask him.)

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We were just on board, we were getting ready to have a little snack. We had already sent Vinny out for Bloody Mary's.

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Thanks Carolyn for organizing the trip. We all had fun!!

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Vinny told me that "Kakrayok Illas" means "Kiss My Ass" in Alaskan Induit Indian language. I told him that I have never heard Carolyn tell anyone to kiss her ass. He just said, "you don't live with her". I am not sure what he meant. He might have been pulling my leg.

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One of the Glaciers in Glacier Bay.

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I put a couple of Alaska scenery pictures in that I took from the ship. The only problem with them is that they are about 10% as spectacular as I remember the scene to be. So my posting of them is sort of "ho hum" if you know what I mean.

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As I recall, the best sunset that there was occurred on the cloudless first night. Keith managed to convince everyone that the sunsets in Alaska are really not that good because there is no air pollution. Keith has convinced himself of a lot of interesting things that people enjoy listening to. People believe that Keith is a long story teller by profession. I used to work with him, so I have pretty much heard them all. Which is not to say I am bored with them... I pretty much just pretty much know how they end.

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The cruise entertainment was good. Every night there was at least one big show and lots of other smaller venue things to do.

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Doug and Carol posing on their "deck" (last minute upgrade) prior to leaving the Port of Seattle on Sunday afternoon. The weather was beautiful all week except for one rainy day in Ketchukan.

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Up or Down? Only Keith, Carol and I know. These were steps that we encountered after we were done with our hike in Juneau. (The hike starts out about a mile out of the bus stop at 8th and Gold. We recommend it - it was fun.)

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Boy, I was sorely tempted while in the Glacier Bay to stop the ship with this Emergency Stop button that I spotted out on the back deck. I resisted but even now I can feel the temptation that nearly overwhelmed me as I sat in my deck chair.

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Keith, Carol and I took a wonderful hike in Juneau.

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The world famous Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. Keith tells me that this is where Sarah Palin announced that she would pretend to respect and obey her running mate in the last election. He says that this is where her daughter went to the Prom. Not many Saloons in Juneau.

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Carol chatting with her daughter in the beautiful middle median of the main street in Juneau. (Note her facing the Red Dog Saloon. Dan and Vinny were just about to start a fight with a couple of fisherman in the bar. Apparently one of them told Vinny that there was no way he owned 2 Mercedes, a Porsche, a Lexus, a Prius and a 64 red Corvette.) I think that they misunderstood when Dan piped in... At any rate, they were out of jail by the time we needed to sail to Sitka. Dan took most of the beating as it turns out because Vinny can run slightly faster. Dan told me later he was wishing he had an ejectionation seat in the bar.

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There was alot of talk about who is going to be the biggest whale after the cruise ended. I heard Carol tell the group that she thought she had spent the most time on top of the biggest whale during the trip. (I thought she was referring to this picture.) Now I know she was poking fun at me because I was a fixture at the ice cream line. I get the last laugh though because right after we took this picture, the cement whale split right down the center. You should have seen the little kids in the park cry...

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Alan, Carolyn and Nancy: Brother, sister, sister-in-law.

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There is a story here and I plan to tell all one of these days...

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A cute, historic little Victorian in Sitka.

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Totem poles are big in Alaska - they are doing a really good job of saving the old ones by putting them in covered, safe from the element places to preserve them. This one happens to be a copy of an old one that is now residing for view in the National Park we visited.

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My lovely wife in the Sitka National Park Preserve with the Oosterdam in the background.

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The first Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska.

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(Left to Right) Vinny: used car salesman.

Vinny's hot-wife, successful clothing designer: Carolyn. Vinny's hot sister-in-law, an Indiana Teacher Prolifferate of the Year: Nancy. Vinny's brother-in-law cool, calm, suave, successful, Rancher/Farmer: Alan.

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Deserts anyone?

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Deserts anyone? ?enoyna streseD

Vinny told me that "enoyba stresed" means "kiss my fat ass" in Alaskan Intuit Indian language.

Vinny is really quite proficient in the Alaskan Intuit Indian language. I was impressed.

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A typical evening dinner desert.

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I hung out in a very comfortable library at the front of the ship overlooking the direction of travel. I read three full length novels while on board.

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My favorite book!! I miss my kids and Grandkids!!

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Pikes Peak Place - Getting Ready for the Cruise

We all met in Seattle, Pike Place to be specific - we had a good Saturday on our way to a Sunday cruise to Alaska on the Holland America Oosterdam.

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There we are in all of our Saturday slendor: Kay, Doug, Dan, Carol, Ellen, Keith, Carolyn and Vinny for good measure. Note that Alan and Nancy were still enroute.

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Seattle had a parade for us. We thought that was really nice of them.

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A Great Supper at Susie and Clint's Place. Thanks!!

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I shoulda been a dog.

Esther Short Park in Downtown Vancouver, Washington

Dinner at Jodie & Brian's Place: Missing Myra

We all had a great meal at the Jodie/Brian house tonight - great brauts, Keith. Carol did the salads, Keith did the brauts and Brian set the table. I guess that means that Jodie and I did nothing. Oh wait, I bought cones... I guess that leaves the Jode. Hmmm... well she did write things on her hand, does that count? Myra, we missed you!

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SoDak to Idaho: Stopped to see my brother Tim

We stopped in Lewiston and hooked up with Tim & Ryann before heading further west to Walla Walla for the evening. Tim is doing great, working really hard due to a positive paper business, but also working on a CD - Rock Rocks. Ry is doing well too, she is working two jobs and drives a cool little car with NOZ. If you do not know what that means, look it up... She is thinking about a technical career in resolution of BMW/Mercedes vehicular problems via computer analysis. Smart move girl!!

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On the way to Idaho we stopped on one of the trails that highlighted the beautiful river on highway 212 that goes from Missoula to Lewiston. What a great hike...

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The New Roof - It Looks Great

Trying To Locate Quinn, South Dakota For Quinn

We took a 5-mile gravel road cross country trip off of Interstate near Wall to find the village of Quinn, which has a population of 44 people. This adventure was the request of Quinn, she wanted a souvenir from there, something with her name on it. Well we found a T-shirt made by the local artist - see below. Unfortunately it will be quite big for her, maybe she can use it as a nightie.

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The Post Office sign.

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The local artist designed this Quinn T-Shirt.

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Our Black Hills Friends: Rex and Shellie

After what seems like years of trying, we have finally been able to connect with both Rex and Shellie in Rapid. Rex has been travelling the US promoting his new book... Shellie is a couple of years of retiring from teaching in the city. We caught up with all of the news from each side of the family - they have been duly invited to Germany - which they said they will seriously consider in the next 3-years as we travel back & forth.

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Rex continues to produce beautiful wood products using his lathe. His workshop is wonderful - I can imagine a similar one with all of my glass fusing equipment. Rex and I miss each others artistic company - maybe someday we will get a chance for some quality time in the shop together. I believe that the above piece he made from a large tree root. The inside of the root ball was lathed carefully by hand without much eye direction. Rex is apparently very good at working without a lot of visual confirmation.

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I am not even sure how he accomplished this piece but it is one of my favorites. I am really impressed with his workmanship. Good job Rex!!!

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Our Black Hills Family

Carol and I stopped in the Rapid City area to visit with friends and family. Mark and Judy made us feel welcome for two nights in their brand new Terry Peak home. Thanks !!

FLY took a bunch of us to lunch to the Firehouse Pub in downtown Rapid City. Thanks FLY !

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Carol, Francis Leonard Young (FLY) and Judy in his beautiful backyard where he has planted fruit trees of every personality. I swear that I even saw a Juicy Fruit tree.

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The Rapid City Main Street Association has been very successful in revitalizing their downtown. On almost every corner they have some beautiful life size sculptures - some are concrete, such as the one shown. Others are copper or bronze; a really nice area.

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I noted a Harley logo T-Shirt in the pub that Willie Davidson has autographed. I took a picture since I had just watched an hour long PBS show on their new KC factory.

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Judy, Carol and Bev convinced me late in the day that I needed to go to church to repent all of the sins that I collected today by hanging out with the Boyle Boys: Frankie, Jim and Bobby. I reflected the day; beer before noon, cigarettes all day, Jim's midget jokes... and decided they were right. Frankie asked me to pray for him in Latin and away we went.

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We stopped at the Bear Butte Overlook (I called it the Bear Butt overlook but I couldn't get any posers) after church and I had Judy, Carol and Bev pose for me on the nice wooden bench in front of the overlook. Before you can say "show me the love", Carol was showing some love to Bev. Bev howled with delight, or surprise, or delight and surprise I couldn't tell. They all just about peed their pants. I thought that moment alone was worth going to church. (I figure that I had just exercised one of the Lord's subjective conjugants. "If you go to church, I will let you see some pure sisterly silliness - a joy to see 50+ year old women acting like adolescents." It was fun... I thank the Lord for the Young sisters, especially for one of them.

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Judy, Carol and Bev doing a very nice pose for the photographer. Bev is holding Carol's hand, making sure that she can no longer "feel the love." Oh how these sisters must have acted out rooming together growing up... if only the walls on the west 5th house could talk.

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I decided that as a part of my upcoming world journey, I would try to document the age of all the churches that I visit from this Sunday forward. This may be one of the youngest churches that I visit in the next 5 months: St Ambrose Church, Deadwood, South Dakota. Amen. Oh Lord forgive me for all the slightly sarcastic remarks I make in this blog... I mean no harm, or at least not much. Amen again.

Victorian Wonderland

Doug went to Ken & Jan's for a relaxing two days, Carol has been there for a week. We thoroughly enjoyed their company and hospitality. We sent sightseeing in the fine small town of Yankton, we spent time with Brian who was also visiting and Ken took me fishing. We caught a bucket full of white bass - after cleaning them - we ate them for lunch. What a treat. Thanks for the fishing lesson Ken!!

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Three babies of the five bird family in the hanging plant of their porch - this picture was taken prior to an evening departure of one of the house finch babies. It was quite a day for the advent of flying - Doug was impressed. By the middle of the next day, the other two young birds had also left the nest. Unfortunately none of us actually witnessed the event.

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The Last Mohicans - Heading for SoDak Very Soon...

Adios Berg Pipe!!

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Last Train to Clarksville... (South Carolina)

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The Last Mohicans: Doug (TN), Jacob (TX), Colby and John (PA)

Adios Amigos!! It has been swell working with you all...

Almost Finished - Ready to Head Home, Now Where is That Exactly? Hmm...

I miss my wife and kids and kids kids but I have to admit, I am going to miss work... I have grown a bit attached to the Panama City Beaches and Water Ways.

The next time back, if for any length of time at all, I will make sure that Carol and I have a boat to cruise around on. If she won't let me name it after her, I may just buy this one since I like the name.

BMW Station Wagon: Red Hot Car Magnet

I parked at the mall today, going forward in the space with no cars on either side of me. (This is where Carol told me to park even if I had to walk a really long way to the store. She wants her car to be all by itself for safety reasons.) When I got back there was a hot red Corvette on one side of me and on the other a hot red Mustang. I guess Carol's beamer is a red hot car magnet.

A Precious Conversation - You Can Bet On That

I Found the Place in Panama City Where the Purdy Family Parties

Wife Gone, Dog Gone But Keith Came to See Me

Keith and I met in Panama City at Berg Pipe. We were both there working on different projects. We went to the library after work and did some metallurgical research. Here is a picture of both of us, very pleased on how much we learned at the library.