Take a risk a day....

I found this quote that I try to live by...."Take a risk a day-one small or bold stroke that makes you feel great once you have done it.  Take a real risk that can change your life-start thinking of yourself as an artist and your life as a work-in-progress."

So, with that said-I'm going to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia to teach 4th grade at East-West International School.  Yeah! team!!!  I'll be leaving the end of July.  I'm very excited, but as you know with anything new there's always some trepidation.

Check out their Facebook page.

How bad can it be--Starbucks is there!

I'll leave you with this quote-"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

Happy Thanksgiving to All

Please enjoy photos from my recent adventure to Kauai and Seattle/Bainbridge Island which I enjoyed with my friend, Robbie and her friend, Kris.  I do get around!!!

I’m very thankful for all of you.  Each of you has touched my life in special ways.  I’m very fortunate😊

What do you think--Kauai sunset or sunrise?

 

Ditto?

 

Ditto??

 

Kilauea Lighthouse and Bird Sanctuary

From the Lighthouse you can see Bali Hai in the distance.

 

 

Debbie is a friend who is a docent at the Lighthouse and she gave us a special tour:) 

 

Long story which I'll make short--we are on our way to the North Shore, Hanalei.  Last year they had 50 inches of rain in just 24 hours and it wiped out that part of the island including the famous one lane bridges.  They are rebuilding, but a slow process, BUT...

...we were finally able to get to my favorite part of the island and favorite resort, Hanalei Colony Resort!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this paradise or what!

 

Rebuilding

Still building and many of the bridges are now concrete which is good for the 100 year flood, but it does take away from those old see through slates where you felt like nothing was between you and the ocean!

 

Grand Hyatt.  Is it a picture or ?

 

Love his expression!  Is he guarding the restroom LOL

 

Full moon

 

Amazing full moon

 

Our last night with another amazing experience:)

 

Bainbridge Island with view of Puget Sound.



Kris spotted this--can you see the bird?  We think he's a heron.  What do you think?  He entertained us for quite awhile.

 

Kris took us on a beautiful walk through Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.

 

A Room with a View--Seattle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not a cruise, but a crossing! I just returned from a 7-day transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2. Something I have always wanted to do and I'm not a cruise person, BUT this far exceeded my dreams:)

It was a voyage of wonder and discovery.  To be in the middle of the Atlantic with no land in sight I think is an explorer's dream...at least, this explorer.  I was on Cunard's QM2 with 17 dogs and 2 cats having their own kennels or maybe staterooms.  I felt as though I had gone back in time.

Getting ready to leave New York for Southampton, England/see info on this crossing, QM2

What a sight!

And I have a balcony!  I wonder if the dogs and cats do?

 

 

View from my stateroom!

 

A library with a view!

 

The dining room where I met the Captain.

 

Someone knew how much I love chocolate...and it's own room...with a view!

 

I love the ocean.  Out there it seemed to go on forever.  Did I mention no stopping for 7 days!

 

All afternoon high teas have their own harpist, don't they?

Sunset

At 8:30pm Sunday night we passed the spot where the Titanic had gone down...very eerie.

 

There are 13 decks and this is the 7th one which is the promenade where you would find walkers and joggers...and me.  The weather was unusually warm and the Atlantic was unusually calm so people used these lounges to enjoy the sun/ocean and/or read...or nap!

The bridge.  There's a glassed hallway where you could observe all that went on in the bridge which I did several times.

 

Rainbows are always good omens.  You don't often see the beginning and the end.

Spectacular sunrise!  This was my favorite thing to do...stand at this spot on deck 7 watching the ocean.  I did see a whale and some dolphins.  But the allure was always the ocean.

 

I had to do a selfie:)

We only saw a few container ships, but nothing else for 7 days!!!  Oh! there were a few sparrows that I guess hoped a ride to merry ole' England.

They changed the real flowers daily.

This was our table with Oscar, Ben, Heather, me and John.  We really had a good, fun group!

 

On the last day, the choir made up of passengers entertained us...see Heather!  There was plenty to do on broad or not to do.  I heard some good lectures--one on the oceans and also went to a wine pairing...or back up to deck 7 and the deep blue....

It was another time.

 

But alas after the crossing I did spend a few days in London.  I just happened to find Christie's Auction House and went in for a viewing.

 

Iconic photo

On my last night I went to High Tea at the Savoy...

...a celebration.