"Live Life Like it's a Vacation"

For most of our children's young lives, we made regular summer vacations to Oregon. It was a relatively cheap vacation for us since we could stay with my parents and they were even paying half our airfare---at least for the first 5 or 6 years. Even though the kids didn't always appreciate vacationing there every year, it grew on them. Now in their adult years, they often talk about moving there. In fact, I really thought Ken and I would live there after he retired!

We spent a couple weeks in Oregon every summer from about 1980 up until about 2008 (when neither of my parents were around anymore). After that, we still went from time to time, but for a specific purpose (a niece's wedding, a family reunion X-mas on the beach, and to show Oregon to some friends who had never been there before).

I decided to go back into my archived photos and blog about some of those trips.

2015 Oregon 3 week Christmas trip with the "kids"

2014 Oregon (continuation from Utah), Crater Lake, Clear Lake, waterfalls, Coast---with Schneiderjans

2010 July trip --- Kim's wedding

2006 July trip to Oregon and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington

2005 Oregon July trip with Barb (Crater Lake)

2002 Oregon/Montana/Yellowstone summer trip

2001 Oregon (showing Dad around Oregon)

2000-Oregon Vacation (Faith's 1st trip to Oregon)

1998 - Oregon with a side trip to Seattle (with Holly)

1997 Oregon summer vacation (yurt and Crater Lake) / Shannon

1996 Oregon and Seattle and Vancouver,BC

1995 Oregon (North coast surfing and Maupin white water rafting)

1994 Oregon (mother-in-law with us)

1980-1993 the early years

Willamette Valley

Oregon Coast

I still love Oregon! Don't see us ever moving there now. Probably wouldn't be able to enjoy it like we did when we were younger---hiking, floating, visiting with family (still have a sister and a couple nieces there, but not as many family members as we use to have there). How I miss those days!!!!

Thursday, October 23, 2025

The Hawaiian Islands

Oahu, Kauai, The Big Island, Maui

Many years ago---around the year 1998--- Ken and I went to yet another timeshare presentation in St. Louis (for the entertainment and free stuff they gave us), but this time we ended up buying into it. This presentation was for Pahio Resorts (specifically Kauai Beach Villas---- one of the 4 Pahios on Kauai). We had never been to any of the Hawaiian islands and didn't really figure we'd go to the Pahio resort, but we were sold on the idea that we could bank the week into RCI and go anywhere, anytime, that we desired. We were so naive back then!!! So we bought a 1 bedroom/1 bath EOY (every other year) unit.

About the same time that we went to the presentation, I came across a great TWA Getaway Vacations to Oahu for $599/person which included airfare from St. Louis and 5 nights on Oahu ( at the Maile Sky Court Hotel which we extended to 7 nights for a couple hundred dollars more).   With our first year at KBV set to be 1999, and we already had reservations for Oahu for Nov. of 1998, we banked the KBV week into RCI---and began to learn what "go anywhere, anytime you want" really means - go anywhere that is available, at the worst times of the year! That usually means somewhere over saturated with timeshares (like Orlando or Las Vegas); or where you really want to go (usually only available during off season) if you're lucky enough to catch it as soon as it's banked. Since we had a really good time on Oahu in 1998, when our next EOY week rolled around in 2001, we decided to go with the sure thing and see exactly what we bought into.

We never banked that week again. In fact, we bought more and more weeks at Pahio until we had 2 weeks every year (1 bedrooms in even years and 2 bedrooms in odd years). That worked so well, that when Wyndham took over as the management company, we eventually converted our weeks into Wyndham points by buying another EOY 1 bedroom unit at Bali Hai. With that purchase, all our Pahio weeks were converted into Wyndham points. Which ended up being a rather inexpensive way to become Platinum VIP in Wyndham (which has been great!). Part of what got us to convert, was we were told we'd be able to reserve ocean view rooms 13 months out. That did work for a couple years, then they "learned" that we could only reserve our original type units that far in advance. But it worked out. With lots of persistence and patience, we still got a lot of ocean view rooms in the 10 month Wyndham open reservation window and even often within the 60 day reservation time when our Platinum VIP privileges of 50% off the number of points non-VIPs pay and free upgrades takes place.

And this is my blog of my love affair with Hawaii!

1998 Oahu - first trip to the islands

2001 Kauai - first trip to Kauai

2nd trip to Oahu

2002 The Big Island

2003 Kauai with Dad (buy a 2 bedroom week)

2003 Oahu with Dad for Sean's reinlistment

2004 Kauai with Tim and Faith

2005 Kauai

2006 Kauai with Tim and Faith, then Dad

2006 Maui father/daughter trip - first trip to Maui

2007 Kauai

2008 Kauai

2009 Oahu by myself,

         Kauai with Ken, Angie and Josh (and we convert to Wyndham)

2010 Kauai with Tim and Faith, again

2011 Kauai

2012 Kauai with Schneiderjans

2012 Maui sisters' trip

2013 Maui with Baileys

2014 Kauai

2015 Feb. 6-26
          Kauai
          Maui

2016 8/18 - 9/14 (2 weeks each place)
          Maui
          Kauai starting 8/31

2017 no Hawaiian islands!!!!

2018 Maui for 4 weeks with Fischers

2019 Kauai (with Carolyn) / Maui (solo!)

2020 Glioblastoma hit and COVID 19 pandemic---our 2 weeks at Maui Schooner and 2 at Kihei WM for March had to be cancelled.

2021 Ken still fighting Glioblastoma and COVID 19 pandemic still raging ---week at Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy and 2 weeks at Kihei WM canceled, again. (for April). Now I have WM reservations for March 2022.

2022 Ken STILL fighting Glioblastoma. Covid still going around, but people are beginning to ignore it. But had to cancell our reservations for Kihei in March, again. Now have reservations for Feb. 2023.

2023 Ken STILL fighting Glioblastoma---not doing well, but is a long term survivor now. Covid, not so bad. But had to cancel 2 weeks at Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy and 2 weeks at Kihei Worldmark on Maui. As of Jan. 2023, I have 1 week booked for Feb. 2024 on the Big Island.

With 20+ trips to the islands between 1998 and 2018, we obviously LOVE the islands! It feels like another home to us! Can't wait to go home again!

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Cruises

2019 Dec. 10-20 --- 10 night HAL sunfarer (bonaire, curacao, aruba, amber cove, half moon cay):

2017 Nov. 28 - Dec. 12 --- 11 Night HAL sunfarer cruise; 3 nt S. Florida vacation:

2016 Dec. 4-14 Koningsdam 10 nt cruise (Half moon cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba):

2015 Nov. 8-15 Western Caribbean Cruise on the Eurodam: Key West; Grand Cayman; Jamaica; HMC

2015 (April 17- May 1) Southern Caribbean Cruise: St. Thomas; St. Barths; St. Lucia; Barbados; Grenada; Bonaire; and Curacoa

2014 Dec. 6 night girls' Carnival Freedom cruise: Key West; Grand Cayman; Cozumel

2014 April 11-22 Maasdam Southern Caribbean Cruise: Barbados, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, St. Kitt's, St. Croix, Martinique, and Half Moon Cay

2013 Dec. mother/daughter Carnival Freedom 4 nt Bahamas cruise

2012 Noordam Nov 8-13: St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Barbados, Dominica, Martinique, St. Thomas, and Half Moon Cay

2011 Nov. 5-11, Eurodam cruise do-over Eastern Caribbean: Grand Turk; San Juan, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay

2010 Nov.5-12 - Another Dam vacation! 7 nt, Eurodam: Samana, San Juan, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay

2009 Carnival Splendor Mexican Riviera "sisters" cruise: Puerto Vallarta; Mazatlan; and Cabo

2009 Alaska Cruise --- 7 nt. Gagznos family NCL Pearl; Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay, Victoria B.C.

2008-Oct. 25-31 Oosterdam 7 nt Mexican cruise with Carolyn: Puerto Vallarta; Mazatlan; Cabo

2007 Aug. 24-31 (7 nt) Alaska Cruise--Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas: Juneau, Skagway, Prince Rupert, Tracy Arm

2006-Jan. Cruisin' to Baja California-4 nt Carnival Paradise: Catalina Island, Ensenada

2005 Feb.---Disney Wonder Cruise (7 nt), Let's try again!--St. Maarten; St. Thomas; Castaway Cay

2004 July 7 nt. Graduation Cruise to the Western Caribbean with Angie on Carnival Elation: Progresso; Belize; Cozumel

2004—Feb. Disney Wonder 4 nt; Not your ordinary 1st Cruise!--Nassau; Half Moon Cay

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

St. Louis, Missouri!

St. Louis

OK---not a vacation for me. This was my "home" for over 50 years. But it really is a pretty neat vacation city. Lots of history and lots of free activities!

Just a little info to start with:

The city of St. Louis was founded in 1764 by Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau, and after the Louisiana Purchase, it became a major port on the Mississippi River. Much of the area is a fertile and gently rolling prairie that features low hills and broad, shallow valleys. Both the Mississippi River and the Missouri River have cut large valleys with wide flood plains. With a Metropolitan Statistical Area population of 2,812,896 it is the 18th-largest MSA in the country and has a total area of 66.2 square miles.

Summers are hot and humid with the humidity often making the heat index feel well above 100°F. Fall is mild with lower humidity and intermittent bouts of heavy rainfall. The first snow flurries usually coming in late November. Winters are cold with periodic snow and sleet and temperatures often below freezing, however thaws are usually frequent. Spring brings frequent thunderstorms and mild temperatures.

On to some of the sites of St. Louis:

Anheuser-Busch Brewery!

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Forest Park

Citygarden

Kenner Plaza

Busch Stadium

Gateway Arch National Park

St. Louis Union Station

old City Hall

Edward Jones dome

Soldier's Memorial Military Museum

Delmar Loop

Faust Park

Museum of Transportation

Laumeier Sculpture Park

6-Flags over Mid-America

Grant's Farm

Casinos

Wineries

Crystal City Underground

gastronomic landmarks!

And those are just a few things I like about St. Louis.

Saturday, October 19, 2024

Georgia state of mine!

In and around Georgia:

If you'd told me years ago that some day when we were retired we'd live in Georgia, I would have been very surprised, and wondered how and why! But here we are---2018, and on our 2nd location in Georgia and our 3rd year! Why??? We followed our daughter and son in law awaiting our first grandbaby. In Dec. of 2017, they adopted a beautiful baby girl. Now we're smitten.

From May of 2016 until May of 2018, we lived about 40 miles north of Atlanta in Buford. Loved the proximity to Lake Lure and the N. Georgia mountains only being an hour away. I also loved Ivy Creek Nature Preserve which we lived adjacent to---spent many many hours walking around in there. And that there was every store or chain restaurant I could ever want to go to within a couple miles of our apartment. What I didn't love about Buford, was the TRAFFIC!!!! Atlanta traffic some 40 miles away!!!

Then in 2018 our son in law got a promotion and territory in middle-lower Georgia. So we followed them to Perry. We ended up buying a house this time. We really didn't get to experience much of small town middle Georgia. As son as we moved there, hubby started having health problems, so we spent a lot of time driving back up to Atlanta to a specialist. Good thing about that was we usually made it a full day excursion and stopped at places along the way. But Perry seemed to be a nice out of the way location. Didn't find a whole lot to do around there, but did find a few favorite spots---Lanes farm, Massee Gardens, our daughter's pool... .

Now---April of 2019---we're, again, looking to move. This time up to the Marietta, Ga. area just to the NW of downtown Atlanta. The kids didn't like living in the "country", so Josh took another job within Cintas back up in the W. Atlanta area. Now to get our houses sold and find places up that way!

Update---Jan. 2022---we're living in another really nice house that we've purchased in Dallas, Ga. What do I like about Dallas? It's close to hubby's Drs. There are just about every store or restaurant within 10 miles of here. We're in rolling hills with lots of pine trees and beautifully landscaped areas. Lots of fun activities nearby---like Chalktoberfest, free outdoor concerts, Gibbs gardens... . Dislikes? Shortly after we moved here hubby was diagnosed with Glioblastoma and the Covid 19 pandemic hit. So the last 2 years have been rough.

But I thought I'd start a blog of the places we've been to in Georgia.

Perry:
   4-13-19 Perry Dogwood Festival
   3-10-19 Go Fish Education Center
   9-27-18 Perry Art Center
       2018 Georgia National Fair
       6-26-19 Warner Robbins Air Force Base Museum of Aviation

Lake Lanier:
Feb. 26, 2018
March 2, 2018
      Oct. 13, 2017
        June 8, 2017
        April 19, 2017
March 21, 2017
May 31, 2017 - Old Federal Park
        Jan. 31, 2017

Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona:
         8-12-19

State Botanical Gardens of Georgia:
   10-19-17
3-29-17

Gibbs Gardens:

Oct. 13, 2021-Wildflowers

   March 19, 2021 - daffodils
   Nov 10, 2019 - fall
         March 7, 2018 - daffodils
         Nov. 4, 2017
         Nov. 2, 2017
         Sept. 7, 2017
         May 2, 2017
         March 8, 2017 - daffodils

Atlanta Botanical Gardens:

         10-26-19 - halloween with Layla
          6-11-19
3-19-19 Tulips
        11-20-18 Autumn in the gardens
10-16-18 ghouls in the gardens
         july 2018 , Imaginary Worlds
   Oct. 2017 ,
   Aug. 2017 ,
   June 2017 ,
   May 2017 ,
   March 2017 ,
   Oct. 2016   , chihuli

Atlanta Botanical Gardens at Gainesville:
         May 6, 2018
         March 28, 2018 - tulips
         March 23, 2018 - tulips
         Nov. 21, 2017
         Oct. 8, 2017 - Fall Woodland Ramble and Goblins in the Garden
   Aug. 9, 2017
   April 1, 2017 - tulips
         Aug. 16, 2016

Massee Gardens:
1-2-19 winter Camellias
1-16-19 winter Camellias
2-27-19 Massee Gardens with Layla (and Angie)
11-29-18 Fall
June 2018 ,

Smith Gilbert Garden:
         11-5-19 with Layla

Gainesville
         Feb. 23, 2017

Atlanta
         6-10-17
         Dec. 2010   Atlanta Aquarium:
     July 7, 2012 World of Coca Cola
   July 7, 2012   Centennial Olympic Park
         Oakland Cemetery

Savannah:
         June 2018 ,
   May 2018 ,

Marietta:

10-10-21 Chalktoberfest

5-30-17

Macon:
   11-24-18 7th St. Salvage in Macon:
   10-28-18 visit to the Hay House in Macon:
         5-29-18

Brasstown Bald:
   Nov. 3, 2017
   Oct. 17, 2016
         Aug. 2, 2016

Waterfalls:
         Amicalola:
                   Jan. 2018 ,
   Oct. 24, 2017
   March 12, 2017
   April 17, 2018
   Helton Falls
   Nov. 3, 2017
   Oct. 17, 2017
   DeSoto Falls
   Toccoa Falls:
Nov. 7, 2017
Oct. 3, 2017
         Panther Falls
         Minnehaha Falls
         Sea Creek Falls
         Fall Branch Falls
   Poole's Mill
   Duke's Creek Falls
   Aug. 2, 2016
   Anna Ruby Falls
   June 20, 2016
                     May 7, 2018

          High Shoals Falls
                     10-28-19

Red Top Mountain:
                      10-28-19

Ellijay:
   march, 11, 2017
   March 10, 2017 - River Run Cabin
   April 17,18,19-2020

Dahlonega around Christmas

Gainesville
4-1-17

Helen
Nov. 3, 2017

Dalonega:
        11-25-17 xmas lights

Providence Canyon State Park:
Feb. 11, 2017

Wineries:
Cineta:
   10-21-17
8-21-17 eclipse viewing
   Kaya (Frogtown Vineyards)
2011

The Mall of Georgia

Ivy Creek Greenway and Mill Creek Nature Reserve:
         6-5-16
8-9-16
         10-11-16
1-20-17
3-26-17
4-29-17
7-2-17
7-4-17
8-19-17
9-2-17
         Nov. 2017
1-8-18 icy mill
2-27-18 picnic
4-3-18
5-3-18
   11-9-19 a visit there with Layla

Sloten Auctions:
   11-10 &11-2017
4-29-17
         11-12-16
          11-9-19

Mt. Tabor Park

George Pierce Park:
          5-26-17
          4-28-17
          4-10-17
          4-8-17 birding
Battle of New Hope Church

Hopefully I'll be able to continue adding on to this blog for many more years!

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Florida

Florida! If you asked me many years ago what I thought of Florida, I'd probably have said I don't really think about it. But over the years, I kept getting drawn back there. First was a work trip for Ken in 1988 which the kids and I tagged along to. Then when the Angie graduated from high school in 1999 I arranged a short trip to Florida and the Bahamas as a family senior trip. Then there were a couple of my work trips there for winter meetings in Orlando. Dad joined me for one of them and bought into the RCI resort I had gotten a bonus vacation at (Orange Lake Resort). So Dad and I started going almost every year to use his 5th week of the year at Orange Lake Resort. Then we started venturing out to S. Florida. Eventually Angie and Josh even moved to S. Florida and we really started going there a lot. I was hooked!!! Fell in love with S. Florida. We even moved there to be near the kids, then they moved to Georgia. So we followed them to Georgia and are back to vacationing in Florida.