Bullet post

This seems to be a trend in the blog world lately so I am going to give it a shot...

-My final payment for my trip to Ireland is due in a couple weeks.
-I need to start making purchases for the trip.
-Reference above, I started those purchases today...I got a new rain jacket...


and a new pair walking shoes...


-I need to figure out if I need any new clothes to take with me.
-I want to pack as light as possible so I want to do a practice run with the packing. Maybe next weekend.
-I made final plans for my birthday trip. I am going to California, to spend my 30th birthday with Mickey Mouse and friends.
-Libby is going to be a big sister... That is an entire post in and of itself.
-My dog poisoned herself, eating 2 entire boxes of dCon, rat poison last Saturday night. We made an emergency trip to the vet and she will probably be okay. We'll know more in a couple weeks but for now she is doing well.

I think that is all for now. I will leave you now with a couple pictures from the trip to Glenwood Springs with Libby.

Pictures

Well, I have been really bad about getting my posts all finished up. I have just been preoccupied with some other things going on. I thought I would get a slideshow together of my pictures from Hawaii. Hope you all enjoy.

Back to Hawai'i

*** Before I get back to my trip, I thought I would give a quick update on my cousin. She is doing well, I went over yesterday after work and helped her finish up packing. We will start actually moving her out tomorrow afternoon. Don't know how much longer she plans on staying in the apartment, although she has to be out by Thursday. Continue to pray for her, as she has a long rough road ahead of her.***



Alright, where was I? Oh, yes... Kaua'i day 2... My favorite day on that island. I went tubing...The company that did the excursion was Kaua'i Backcountry Adventure. It was so much fun. You tube down these old irrigation ditches that were hand dug in the late 1800's. The 5 tunnels you go through are also dug by hand (no explosives). The ditches bring the water down from Mt. Wai'ale'ale, to the sugar cane fields. It was fun, and I would love to do it again.





Here I am decked out in my stylish helmet complete with flashlight.



One of our guides could have easily been my cousin C's long lost brother. He looked like him and also had the as sense of humor as him. I have to share this with you... The Hawaiian word for appetizer is pupu, the word for beef is pipi, and the word for chicken is moa. So you can have a pipi pupu, and then moa pupu. I am seriously wondering if there is some relation there, it's scary... Here is a picture of him... (he's the one on sitting up on the beam).



After we got out of the water, we went to a little picnic area where we had a snack and there was a little swimming hole we could get in if we wanted to. It was pretty.



We sailed out of Kaua'i early that afternoon. We sailed past the Napali coast (the north shore of Kaua'i). It is absolutely gorgeous.




While we were sailing along the coast, they told us to keep an eye out for whales as they had spotted a couple out ahead of us. (I was there right at the end of the migration period for the humpback whales). Unfortunately, I did not spot any, but I hope to go over there again so I could see some.

Well, that is all for Kaua'i. I will continue with it soon (possibly tomorrow)... Next stop, Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

Kaua'i Day 1 April 30th

Sorry it took me a few days to get to continue on my trip. I have been exhausted all week, never thought jetlag would knock me out this bad, especially when it is only a 4 hour difference.

Our first stop was on the island of Kaua'i, the Garden Isle. It is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and has no live volcano on it. The wettest spot in the world is here on the island, on Mt. Wai'ale'ale, this stop receives between 450 and 500 inches of rain a year.




We were lucky enough to spend about 2 days on the island.
The first day, I took a trip to Waimea Canyon. It is called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It does resemble the Grand Canyon but it's not as big. It was really pretty though.




On our way back from the canyon, we stopped at the shore where there were some blowholes, where the sea is pushed up through lava tubes. It really is pretty.




We spotted a sea turtle popping his head up in the surf, but I didn't get any pictures of him. At the spot with blowholes, I was able to get a picture that shows you how many chickens run wild on the island. When Hurricaine Iniki came through the islands in 1992, it destroyed a chicken farm on Kaua'i releasing the chickens which have run wild since.




We made a couple other stops along the way, and then back to the ship. Ready for day 2 in Kaua'i.

Honolulu April 28th and 29th

Okay, so I didn't get into Honolulu until about 8:30 on Saturday night but I was traveling a good share of the day so I am going to count it. I got in, rented my car and made my way to the hotel. I stayed at the Aqua Palms and Spa. It is not on the beach but it is definately within walking distance. Parking was $15 a day so I would probably not suggest it if you will have a car and stay there for an extended period of time, but the room rate that I got (AAA rate) was really great, at lesst than $100, you can't ask for much more in Honolulu. I had a great nights sleep (thanks to a really comfy bed) and when I got up I stepped out onto the balcony and much to my surprise, I was able to see both Diamond Head and the beach.




I took my time getting ready and then headed out to Pearl Harbor. At the USS Arizona memorial, they had a small museum and gift shop. You then go in and see a short film about the history of Pearl Harbor and the attack on December 7th. Then you take the shuttle boat out to the memorial. It is really pretty and calm out there, even with all the people.




I then headed off to the ship to set sail for the rest of the islands. They had a sailing away party with Hula dancers and music and also leis and a barbecue on the pool deck.




We said Aloha to Honolulu about 8:00 and headed off for Kaua'i. Stay tuned...

I Made it Home...

Well, after a very long night of traveling, I finally made it back to Denver about 11:30 am on Monday. It is now almost 1am on Tuesday, and I just now got my pictures loaded onto the computer. I would try to get a post started but I have to be up for work... not looking forward to it and I will have my pictures from my waterproof cameras when I get a chance to sit down to do a post tomorrow night. It might take me a couple days to get it all out but I will do my best. Until then... Aloha.

Aloha, Colorado! Aloha, Hawaii!!

Well, in about 13 hours, I will be taking off headed for Hawaii!!! I still can't believe I am actually going. It's just so surreal. I have always wanted to go, but I really don't think I thought it would actually happen... But here I am, finishing up some things tonight before I head to bed. I will get up and finish last minute things in the morning before leaving for the airport. I doubt I will have a chance to update while I am gone, but I will definately post when I get back with pictures. Until then... ALOHA!!

It's Getting Closer

Wow... I can't believe that in less than 2 weeks I will be in Hawaii!  It just seems so unreal to me.  I really need to start giving some thought to what I am going to take with me and such.  I want to pack as lightly as possible as I will have no one to help me lug my bags around the airport.  I need to call the airline to check on somethings for my flights, I need to figure out how much money I will have to spend while I am there.  I feel like there are another million things I need to do before I go but right now I can't think of them.  I should start making a list... In the meantime, I need to get some sleep.  Goodnight!

Things to do...

I made my reservations for my shore excursions on my Hawaiian cruise. I am really excited about them too. In Kauai, the first day, I am going Tubing on the Hanamaulu Ditch system an then the second day, I will be going to Waimea Canyon (the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"). In Hilo, I will be taking a tour of an area that was destroyed by a lava flow in 1990. The stop in Kona, I will be renting a car for the day and get to drive around and see some of the sights on my own and probably spend some time just sitting on the beach. Maui is the one I am really looking forward to. First, I will be snorkeling at Molokini Crater. Hopefully I will get to see some sea turtles. Then the second day in Maui, will be a really early morning. I will be up at 3:30am on my way to the top of Haleakala, a dormant volcano where I will get to watch the sunrise. Then the rest of the day will be on my own and I will probably be taking some time to nap that day. So, just a little over a month to go and I will be off to paradise. I have already started to give some thought to what I want to do next year. I would really like to make it to Europe (Paris/London) but I am seriously considering taking a couple of small trips and driving around some areas of the country where I have never gotten to see. I have lots of time to consider those plans.

ALOHA!!!!

So what I thought would not be happening... is actually happening!!! I am so excited. I got a steal on a Hawaiian islands cruise in addition to the steal on airfare to Honolulu!!! I leave for Honolulu on April 28th and after 7 nights cruising around the Hawaiian islands, I will be back home on May 7th! I can't believe it! My travel agent was even in awe at the prices I found.

Big Fat NO for Hawaii

So it's not going to be Hawaii... too expensive but I did find the place I will hopefully stay at when I can afford it. I did get my airline reservations for July. I am still in need for something for the spring... I will figure something out eventually, hopefully soon though. Before I know it, spring will be there.

I am a Traveloholic...

I think I have a SERIOUS problem!!! I am looking for trips again. I know I will be in FL for the 4th of July, however, I do not have my tickets purchased. I need to make a decision. Airfare is going up and I need to do it quick, but I am wanting to wait in hopes that fares will drop. Not likely with my travel dates though. So I should book them tonight. We'll see. I am wanting to plan something for the spring (around the end of April) and am leaning toward Hawaii. But if I go to Hawaii, I want a nice hotel on the beach, not on Waikiki (too many people for me thank you). I would really like to stay at the Turtle Bay Resort on the north shore. But they are really expensive (about $250/night) and I still would need plane tickets into Honolulu (expensive, yet again) and am thinking if I am on the north shore, I really should get a rental car also... So this trip I am fantasizing about could cost me $2000 before I even get there!!!! It probably will not happen. I have also been considering another cruise... I have looked at some Caribbean sailings and am right now looking at Alaska (that would be early May). My fall trip, I have no idea right now, I just know I need to go somewhere. I get restless if I don't go somewhere every couple months. I think I have it down for my future plans... I will take trips in Jan/Feb, Apr/May, Jul/Aug, Oct/Nov... I have the vacation time to do it but I don't know how long I will have the $$$ to do it. I am just hoping that when I have children, they will keep me occupied enough that I will need feel the need to go somewhere all the time. I do want to travel with them though, I just know I won't be able to 4 times a year... unless I win the lottery and I am set for life with lots of extra spending money. Time will tell...

I was trying to check a price on a cruise to Alaska (Vancouver to Seattle) but the RCCL site is not working right... I will probably check tomorrow.

Pictures

It's too late to really write a post, but I leave you with some pictures from my vacation... I could look at these all night and the rest of the week since it is cold and snowy. YUCK!

I'm Back

I made it home from the cruise. I update with pictures tomorrow (hopefully)!

I am finally back

Well, I made it back from NYC on Tuesday evening and I am just now getting around to posting. I have not been consistent about posting. But I am okay with that. Not like anyone really reads this anyway. I really did enjoy my trip, although there was not enough time to see/do a fraction of the stuff I wanted to do. When I got in on Saturday, it was 72 degrees!!!! That's right, it was so warm they had even had to close the ice skating rinks in the city because the ice was melting. Sunday, I went to the Empire State Building and went shopping. I got the silver bracelet from Tiffany & Co. which I have wanted for sooo long. I love it, but I am afraid to wear it too many places as I really don't want to lose it. So then I think... what was the point in buying it in the first place... so I will try to consciously wear it as much as is appropriate. I had a ticket to the Sunday matinee of Mary Poppins. I loved the show just as much as I love the movie. After the show I wandered around Times Square. There are a LOT of people there!!!! Even in January when the temperature is supposed to be in the 30's. Crazy people... but wait... I am one of those crazy people. Oh well. It started raining that night and it rained all Monday morning. Therefore meaning I didn't get to do a whole lot. I was planning on trying to make it down to Rockefeller to be in the crowd outside the Today show... but I didn't hear my alarm clock. So I finally got up and made it down there and took the NBC Studio Tour. The best thing about the tour was when we got to go into the studio where they tape Saturday Night Live. Other than that it was pretty uneventful. I then headed back to the hotel to eat and then I was hoping to make it down to go out to the Statue of Liberty. They closed the ticket window 10 minutes before I got there. I was really bummed. I plan on going again though.



On Saturday evening my friend D called to wish me an early Happy Birthday as she was unsure if she would be able to call on Sunday. Her daughter C, who I absolutely love and adore, got on the phone and sang Happy Birthday to me. She will be 4 at the end of January. It was so precious and touching. When I got back, I got onto MySpace and D had left me a note that C one day out of the blue said to her mom... "Mom, Aunt R knows how to find our house right?" D said C misses me so much.... C I miss you more than you could possibly imagine. I will get to see them in 3 weeks... my mom and I are staying with them the night before we have to be to the port for our cruise. I am excited even if it will only be for a few hours... that is better than nothing. Well, I will leave now with a couple pictures from my trip....

Christmas and Snow

Christmas is finally over. I am glad, not because I don't like Christmas, but now my countdown to my trips can really begin. I leave for New York in a little over a week and then not a month later, I am off on my cruise. I didn't take many pictures this year, just two. The tree with all the presents and then the pile of wrapping paper after the feast... Oh the carnage.

And this is what the "experts" are telling us. More snow....

Just what we needed when we still have a foot or more on the ground from the storm last week. Where we are, we usually fall somewhere between what they predict for the Metro area and the Foothills. Goodness gracious... 2 feet!?!