We are on the sidebar of the pages in this blog. The picture is partly a gag because the wind was blowing, it was hot, and I didn't want the picture to be taken anyway. Evie made a funny pose to just get it over with so we could get back on board and enjoy the air conditioning. Evie is retiring from her secretarial home business as her clients slowly get use to that idea, and spending more time working in glass, doing stained and fused glass objects. She is also a Soroptimist having held every office, sometimes more than once. We both received awards this year for our work in the local business association, when we decided 10 years for me and 18 for her was probably enough. I am a retired facilities manager for a nearby Roland musical instruments manufacturing plant that builds a variety of electronic musical instruments including the Rodgers Organ for churches and other types of installations. Now my hobby is mastering the amazing world of video production. On this trip I will always be with my video camera!
A long time ago my mother made sure my brother and I attended Sunday School. 40 years ago when Evie and I decided to be together forever, we went back to the church of my Sunday School days to be married. The pastor married us and within a month or so started a "young couples" group. We were about 12 couples that had a lot of fun together, but Dean & Barb became lasting friends that have been in our lives since. Dean is retired from UPS and has a complete wood shop. But his focus is on trap shooting of which he has attained a national ranking. He and Barb share a love for old cars of which they own 3 classics, plus three other cars. Barb is a nationally ranked water color artist, which she both studies as well as gives lessons. Both have travelled to Europe, England and the Mediterranean plus cruised with us on the various oceans of the world. Both will be taking a lot of pictures for Barb to construct new water color masterpieces from in the future. You can see some of Barb's work here: http://www.showcaseyourart.com/
Pat & Sue Pat (left top) is Barb's niece. She lives in Lake City, Mn, and taught kindergarten for 34 years in an inner city school in downtown St. Paul.
I have two daughters...Kim, who is the mother of my only grandchild Quintin. Kim lives near by in and I get to baby sit my grandson.
My other daughter, Mindy lives on Oahu which I have visited numerous times. I began watercolor painting 2 years ago and love it! I also enjoy golfing, hiking, singing, canoeing and reading.
My sister Sue (left) and I will be making the trip together and look forward to spending time with Barb and Dean, our aunt and uncle. Sue and I traveled to Nova Scotia last summer and Halifax was the highlight of the trip for me. This will be my very first cruise and I am definitely looking forward to the experience!! Sue and her sister Sandy make quilts for service men. She loves to travel in their camper with husband Dean and their dog Sarah. They camp all over and fish, hike, and explore the region. She and Dean have a couple of antique cars which they show in parades and cruise ins.
Don Don is Dean's brother (Dean & Barbara) and is enjoying his work in stained glass. You can see some of his creations here: http://www.showcaseyourart.com/ You will enjoy Don's quick wit humor and easy going style. Evie introduced Don to her weekly stained glass class where an instructor helps with their projects and each person is a resource for another. Each summer the class takes a saturday off of their glass work to create stepping stones in concrete with glass objects incorporated in the design. Don recently created a complete tree ring circle for his brother which made a rather stunning addition to the new planting in his brother's front yard. Don works for the Fred Meyer division of Kroger and this will be his first cruise.
Cass & Cher Over the years of cruising, you meet a lot of wonderful people. Most of our cruises have been with "set" dining times, at a reserved table and with the same folks at the table every day. This tends to create friendships and on the last night of the cruise, everyone promises to keep in touch - but it rarely works out that way. Once in awhile you meet some special people and you may cruise again together - and in between those times you stay in touch. Or even pay a visit to see one another as we did last summer. Cass & Cher are those kind of "special people" and we are delighted to have them with us on this cruise to share some more sights and experiences. Their home is in Wyoming, - where antelope still play in the fields, not too far south from Custer's Last Stand at Big Horn.
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Margo & Jerry Margo is Evie’s cousin, Jerry is Margo’s husband of almost 20 years. They have traveled on a couple of cruises with Mike and Evie, and as scuba divers have also traveled frequently to warm places with palm trees, like Hawaii, Belize, and the Cayman Islands. Margo is a technical analyst for Regence BlueCross BlueShield, and has been with Regence for over 30 years. Her interests are cooking, wine, photography, and travel. Jerry is a software quality assurance analyst, and has worked for several companies in the Portland area. His interests are cooking, photography, art, and travel. They are both news junkies, and wonder how they will survive for a week without constant internet connectivity. They spoil their two furry kids, Guido and Raphael, and will bore you with cat photos if you give them a chance. That’s Raphael in Jerry’s lap an Guido in Margo's. They are "rag doll" cats and quite literally flop in your lap - even sometimes on your first meeting.
Margo & Jerry Margo is Evie’s cousin, Jerry is Margo’s husband of almost 20 years. They have traveled on a couple of cruises with Mike and Evie, and as scuba divers have also traveled frequently to warm places with palm trees, like Hawaii, Belize, and the Cayman Islands. Margo is a technical analyst for Regence BlueCross BlueShield, and has been with Regence for over 30 years. Her interests are cooking, wine, photography, and travel. Jerry is a software quality assurance analyst, and has worked for several companies in the Portland area. His interests are cooking, photography, art, and travel. They are both news junkies, and wonder how they will survive for a week without constant internet connectivity. They spoil their two furry kids, Guido and Raphael, and will bore you with cat photos if you give them a chance. That’s Raphael in Jerry’s lap an Guido in Margo's. They are "rag doll" cats and quite literally flop in your lap - even sometimes on your first meeting.
Duane, Ruby & Desiree This will be the second family cruise for Duane and the first for his wife Ruby. They are both very excited to be joining us to see the great State of Alaska and perhaps the last of the mighty glaciers before they melt away. Duane has become an avid gardner in the past year and is immensely proud of his summer vegetable crop, as well as his on-going work in renovating their home. You may have seen him on TV as he has been acting since he was a teenager. You can see some of the work he has done here: http://www.duanehansonactor.com/ Ruby works in the computer technology field for Multnomah County. She is really excited about this trip and has planning shore excursions and checking in at the blog every day. Thank you Ruby!
"Desi" is 4 and has completed a year of pre-school which she enjoyed. She is mastering the art of riding a tri cycle, has done some dance classes, likes a trampoline, enjoys going down the slide in her back yard and swinging on her new swingset. She also got a dog on her birthday named Lucy. Desi is always ready with a big smile and gives hugs to say goodbye She and her "Gram" are a bonded pair.
Tammy & Matt Tammy's brother is Duane (Duane, Ruby & Desiree). This will be her second family cruise also. She is a relentless worker on her home and yard, having repainted the entire interior of the house, selected and installed all new light fixtures and other design items, did her own cutting and installing of ceramic tile floors, arranged to install a patio of her design and get a hot tub going. She can also be counted on to ask you out for a river run in her boat, go to a Condo at the beach for a weekend or more, or join her in a trip to Cabo San Lucas which she would like to be her second home. She and Matt are avid skiers which explains why her picture contains a snow beard.
Matt has lots of pictures from his time spent in Alaska at Prudhoe Bay where he worked out some hydraullic issues with his company's installation.
