#263...all aboard! the grande desktour is about to begin!

     

Here ye!!  Here ye!!   By order of the Queen of Pointless Posting (and don't forget - flippant floralilian flimflammery) - this decree is hereby written:

 Let it be known to all who enter here that this entry doth officially mark the opening of

                                 {{...the sound of blaring trumpets...}}                       

          The Official Grande Desktop Tour   

                             as was royally promised here...and here....  

Let it also be known and addressed to all,  that the Queen is fully aware that this posting does not fully meet the true criteria of pointlessness - being that the desks of tour, and their computers thereon, are in fact, necessary to the process of posting -  pointlessly or otherwise.   

Therefore, the Queen has so ordered the immediate and overly elaborate posting herewith to include a bunch of pointless verbosity, pomp and circumstance (this would be the bells and whistles part) to go along with said tour, in order to satisfy the said criteria of pointlessness..(big inhale)... thereby maintaining the self-proclaimed status as Queen of posting pointlessly, as well as pointless postings.  (go ahead, just you try - i can go on like this for hours....)  

Let it also and finally be known to all, that the Queen doth hereby extend her royal thanks to all who were brave enough to join this cause, as well as those who tried to join said cause, but do not have a camera....but the aforementioned "thanks" does not go out to those who just simply - wimped out. (ahem. tap...tap...tap..)

Of course...special dispensation will be granted to those who humbly ask forgiveness after seeing how much fun they are missing - and now want to join the cause.  (in other words, if you send it - I will post it..)   

If  there is anyone the queen dideth miss - please let her know!  ( hey - I might be queen, but (shockingly) am not infallible!)  

And so, without further adieu....{{ pulling back the curtain....}}  

Please, if you would be so kind - click on the provided links...and be nice, and leave a comment...
                          

                             Let the grande royal desktop tour now begin!!! 

(P.S.  A special royal thanks must be extended to the good fairies of beta j-land...who made this 25k character limit possible, thereby granting this foolishness and my pointless ramblings to reach literary mach speeds and distances.  Sigh...aren't they just dreamy...?)   

         

 

http://journals.aol.com/derossetfamily/MarysCrap/entries/341  

 http://journals.aol.com/justcherie/whocareswhatithink/entries/627

 http://journals.aol.com/andreakingme/Unhinged/entries/371

 http://journals.aol.com/slowmotionlife/slowmotionlife/entries/380

 http://journals.aol.com/slowmotionlife/slowmotionlife/entries/247 

 http://journals.aol.com/sepintx/sometimesphotoblog/entries/389

 http://journals.aol.com/diannevan/MTHeadedRambling/entries/258

 http://journals.aol.com/johnmscalzi/bytheway/entries/1083

 http://journals.aol.com/floralilia/ahemtaptaptapisthisthingon/entries/339

 http://journals.aol.com/hsent/MyPhotojournal/entries/314

 http://journals.aol.com/sunflowerkat321/WhatsinaName/entries/145

http://journals.aol.com/hunybea4him/HunybeasOpenJournal/entries/597

http://journals.aol.com/carolhehe/GypsyPaths/entries/229

http://journals.aol.com/aynetal3/AynsMPDWorld/entries/396

http://journals.aol.com/aynetal3/AynsMPDWorld/entries/344  (and another - yay ayn!!)

http://journals.aol.com/deabvt/DeablerVT/entries/291

http://journals.aol.com/rrveh1/WAIT-NOTYET-/entries/221

http://journals.aol.com/dmt66frd/TheSojournersTale/entries/416

http://journals.aol.com/slacbacmac/SlackBackMackthelog/entries/1348 (Yes!! - the slackster jumped onboard!!)

http://beta.journals.aol.com/my78novata/LorisLaurels/entries/226 (lori's says her desktop is in the 4th and 5th pics..)

http://journals.aol.com/glopsblink/ATreasureTroveofGoodies/entries/276  (new!)

http://beta.journals.aol.com/viviansullinwank/ThisOneIsJustForBirthdays/entries/389 (you rock vivvie!)

Well I'm country ya know so I puter in the barn. No camera and wouldn't know how to use it if I had one. Wish ya the best with your endeavor. Paula
Comment from plieck30 - 4/1/04 8:18 PM http://journals.aol.com/plieck30/Iwantedtobeacowgirl/

**Wow that's neato streeto. Here's mine: http://www.siskiyous.edu/photos/ComputerLabs/
Believe me?    
Comment from uncoolduck - 2/20/04 2:18 PM     (uh, no- i don't)  

 **..huge problem with my sloppiness. It's supposed to be a sign of intelligence. Yeah. "As the sign over my desk at work said, "A clean desk is the sign of a sick mind."
Comment from olddog299 -2/3/04 11:08 PM  (then, i too have a sloppy sick mind..) hey..wait a minute...

**What a great idea......I aint showing my mess uh no way........!
http://journals.aol.com/bernmilo/WAYNEATOPICTURES
Comment from bernmilo - 2/20/04 12:39 AM  http://journals.aol.com/bernmilo/WAYNEATOPICTURES/entries/227  (do i spot a ...desk..yes!) 

** you are so brave to post a pic of your workspace !! i adore your lamp !! i'd have to spend at least week cleaning before i dared to post a pic of where i post from .. ok, maybe 2 weeks lol
pamela
Comment from his1desire - 2/19/04 8:29 AM  (come on - live large!)

** LOL! Totaly nuts! I'll probably pass for no other reason than I'll undoubtedly forget. LOL! We'll see. :-)

Gregg
Comment from itsjustusinnc - 2/19/04 7:16 AM     (ahem....tap...tap..tap..no comment.)  

**Your desk looks beautiful! I'd have a lot of cleaning to do before I could let everyone see my work space. I'll have to give up some online time. ::shudder:: LOL Happy journaling! -- Jeanette ~^v^~
Comment from shesahawk - 2/19/04 7:02 AM   (just shove it on the floor)

**I don't really have a "desk" at home, sorry to say. I have alaptop and my lap is my desk! I do have a big desk at the office...
Comment from musenla - 2/20/04 2:55 PM   (then show us your lap!)    

 and where the hell is the slackster? 
http://journals.aol.com/slacbacmac/SlackBackMackthelog/ 

and we still want to see a pic of Mara's lap.....

 

#262....and then, blammo!...it hits me...

you know, I was just thinking that darn poem below will haunt me until the day I die, and in fact, now I know it will -

I wrote "A Trip to the Light" back in 2001, and ever since I keep reworking it..remolding it..I've taken lines out,  put lines in, restructured and repainted it so many times now, that I've lost track - even today, again, I did this...

(re-reading it)... tonight, it sits okay with me, but it probably won't tomorrow -

at least now I know why. (laughing, okay michele!..i get it!)

Let me give you a little background...that poem, along with a few others, was totally inspired by truly, my best friend, Michele, who died about 3 years ago, of breast cancer...she was 38.  I wrote it a day or two after she had died. I tried to imagine, to feel, where she was in those moments, those hours, right after death extended a hand for her..

Now, let me tell you a little about Michele (because she would just love this).

She left behind two very young children, Max and Madison. She loved her children enormously. She was a good, no, a great mother. She loved her husband, even when he was not, by all standards, deserving of her love.  She loved living and she lived life to the fullest.  She was wild, in all the good ways.  She lived large, and loud, and with intent.  She was avid. She loved music, and shopping, and shoes. She had the best, most dirty, laugh.  She made me smile.  She was loyal. She was my Lucy, I was her Ethel.

She's been on my mind alot this past week...more-so than normal...

I miss her, still.  (as of course, I knew I would.)

Anyway...one weekend, even though she was very sick, we went away together, to get all of the last, most necessary things in order.  We stayed near the ocean, and walked...(well, okay I pushed her along in a wheelchair) along the boardwalk. 

We talked, and ate, and shopped for small gifts for the kids - to then wrap up with notes and put away for special occasions - for all the occasions she wouldn't be there for them.... special birthdays, christmas, and all the"firsts" - first days of school, first dates, first kisses, first driver's licenses, graduations, weddings..and also for days when....they would just need a hug, a word, a surprise, from their mom. We bought a few important gifts, but the best ones (to me, anyway) were the most simple ones - a piece of gum, wrapped with a few lines of encouragement...a trinket...a letter...a picture...

We lit candles, opened a bottle of wine and even smoked a few cigs...just to be bold and "bad" in the face of cancer. We ate dinner and spent a good bit of the night talking...sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, sometimes hugging.  Her biggest fear?....that somehow she would be forgotten. (an impossibility)

 We listened to the sounds of the ocean and breathed deep the damp salty air.  We sat on the balcony in a blanket, shivering, quiet, and looked at the stars.  When she napped, I studied her. When we slept, I held her. We remembered old times, and made new promises....and this was one of them.

this, being - finding a way to haunt me...to let me know she's there - from the other side...for if anyone could do it - she could.

and look, now she has.

and I am not at all surprised.

(psst..michele...say hi to my mom for me...)

#261...a trip to the light

A Trip to the Light

Come, gather close to me
 - if you dare
to take a trip to the light
fantastic
-a journey to stellar nowhere,
everywhere.

With wide-eyed and glistening wonder
we will visit 
          a lifetime of meaning-filled pauses...
                         and slip silently into each stolen breath.

and there - with deja-viewed curiosity
we will study
each miniscule marvel
and adorn ourselves with memories that were half-forgotten.

We will circle round crystallized
breathing dreams
            -and smile wide at their auras of borealis.

Inhale deep 
the freshness of bright new being...
for then
we must run our fingers along the ruins
     of plans            unfinished
and touch the textures of crumbling heartaches and emptiness.

We will return then,
to shadow the loved ones...

to repair and dress their wounds of sorrow 
          - and kiss away
the sweet/saltiness of falling tears
sprung forth from griefs -
                          of unknown depths.

And in the bitter and sweetness of familiarity,
            we will comfort 
by placing petals of serenity upon their lines of worry.

To soothe and ease their uncertainties - 
                      ...we will shatter pain with a feather touch.

Then, with a full, but un-heavy heart,
we will return
to lounge by the side of nowhere...everywhere
to delight in observing life's mysteries unfold - 
one,
  byone,
      - by one...

and relax to the rhythm of new knowing and seeing,
perfumed with the knowledge of the hearts we had nutured,

and sleep soft on the solar winds of eternity
        blanketed in starlight -
               and love's light -
                    and God's light...

and dream with the colours of a million white suns
             - dressed in dewdrops of our imagination.

Come, gather close to me,
        if you dare -
to take that trip through life fantastic...
a timeless trip to the essence of being,
of life,
       of love,

              ...of death.

 

~2001floralilia

#260...this morning,

i am officially uninspired.                 

hence, this entry, isn't really an entry.

maybe later....

 

#259...floraliliadotcom.

if you'd rather not use your esp to see how it finishes, click my beta link here...

 ahem...ok..flettera floralilia here..

I suppose this page was first inspired by a question that was posed to me not long ago: "What is it that you do on here night after night?" "Well, lot's of nothings," I would reply. And for the most part, at least on the surface, that was quite true...

 As of this writing, I've been online for about 8 years. I remember the days when AOL would charge by the number of minutes you would be online. There may still be a few million or so of you that still remember those days - and it is to those countless anonymous meetings that this website is dedicated.

I suppose I was always considered a night owl - the definition of someone who, for whatever reason, needs the quiet serenity that the night hours can bring. It is a time where one recharges their batteries, as it were, by allowing themselves to completely "decompress" from the day's events.

 It is a time where, while being completely physically exhausted or emotionally drained from a hard day of work and routine, that same person needs to bring their mind down to a place of calm and total fantasy.

 People achieve this calm in various ways - via exercise, reading, TV, or other venues and for me, at least initially, my nightly mental exercises online here were just that. While it still holds a very therapeutic avenue for me to achieve that calm before sleep, it also demands of me a serious fascination with the elements of the unknown.

 It is safe, yet dangerous. It is calming, yet at times, disturbing. It is fun, and oftimes tedious and laborsome. But what keeps me tuned in for all these years is my innate curiousity to see what makes other people tick.

 I can be the observer without feeling like I'm intruding. Conversely, I can be the observed without being invaded. Anonymity each according to one's own boundaries remains the substance that draws millions nightly into the cyberworld. Dabble enough into this neitherworld, and I guarantee you, you too can become addicted.

 On thesurface the cyberworld can appear extremely misdirected, or more simply put - boring. I wholeheartedly agree - but dig a little deeper and a fascinating world opens up to you. You can be anyone you want to be, or no one in particular. You can play innocently or play with malice and intent. The boundaries are up to the individual.

 There are few rules that govern this new territory. Set aside preconceived notions and the canvas is empty and waiting to be filled. Here, you can be your own individual. If you choose, you are not the wife, mother, daughter, sister, husband, father, brother, law-abiding citizen, co-worker, or friend. You don't even have to be your given gender or sexual orientation. Traditional morays are suspended if you so choose, for that one encounter, that one night, or that one personality. It is the ultimate personal learning experience. Here, you learn your own personal boundaries - or lack of them. Don't be mistaken - real emotional relationships can be forged. Sometimes more real than those offline has to offer. Therein lies the danger - or does it?

I believe it is in these types of relationships where real personal growth can be obtained. One can be accepted or rejected according to ones own essence. It is what you learn about yourself or "selves" in this type of atmosphere that you take back with you into the daily grind - into your daily relationships. Dig deep enough and you will find that the anonymity given to you allows for some true honesty.

 I get a bit irritated when people criticize or blame being online to have ruined relationships or marriages. Individuals here allow themselves to be tempted according to necessity. There are no other arguments to be made. And anyone that tries to tell you differently is lying - pure and simple. The degree of involvement is in direct proportion to necessity too. It can involve anything from pure recreation to a desperate cry for help. Sometimes it's a bit of both, according to life's assults.

 If you choose, it can be a terribly seductive place. Alluring you into areas you could never go otherwise.  Again, you discover your own limitations - or lack of them.

 Many times, it can be funny as hell - you stumble into personalities that quite literally make you laugh right out loud. It's also curiously akin to being in a story that unfolds right before your eyes. You are the writer, but incredibly, the characters are the unknown element. The dialogue happens right before your eyes - the story writes itself.

 It's your own personal Alice in Wonderland. Some nights you haven't a clue what dangers you will get into - or - what absolute delights await you around the next corner.
Here, you will meet people from all walks of life. People you could never meet in a lifetime -from all areas of the country -even the world, and from all times zones. You can meet powerful, complicated people - or  the most common, simple folk. Here, the cloak of anonymity allows us all to be equal.

 Now, having said that..let me readjust my hairnet, push up my pointy rhinestone studded bifocals...and get back to business..

Oh, and one more thing - please don't hesitate to say hi once in a while...I'm always up for an unexpected delight...

~poof~ i'm outta here...

#258... I can hear her sick snickering even now...

so.... i get this email from cuz snookie, who is dealing with bad weather in arizona...how dare she mock us!!!   she writes: 

"Since misery likes company I thought I would send this photo of our Arizona storms and the havoc they can cause too.....  I saw your journal and the pictures of your storms.....

Here is a photo of the damage from terrible storm that passed through Arizona last weekend. Most people stayed home and most schools were cancelled. It really makes you cherish our usual balmy climate and reminds us not to take life for granted.  And this is only March!

Warning: Following picture is very graphic."

at least we don't have to wear oven mitts just to open car doors in the summer...so there!
 

#257...and finally, from Saba to home...

And on the last day, the Family had time to relax and revist the many wonderful memories of the trip...the beautiful islands, the fun, the togetherness, the new experiences and the many unexpected delights. 

In a final gesture of appreciation, they toasted each other and then turned their glasses toward the setting sun, and saw that it was good. 

They were thankful for having each other, for every moment that was given to them, and  were reminded how very fortunate they were to be so truly blessed. 

~ The end.

 

"The advantage of living is not measured by length, but by use:  some men have lived long, and lived little; attend to it while you are in it." 

#256...cruising past Saba...

and off in the distance the small Island of Saba sat as an emerald in the Caribbean water...lush, moutainous...beautiful...

#255...The last day - views of Montserrat...

And on the last day, the day at sea - the Captain eased the vessel toward San Juan.  Along the course he maneuvered the ship close to the island of Montserrat to allow the passengers a good view of the recent volcanic destruction the island had endured.  There they saw where whole villages were consumed by lava and new land was formed once again in the age old way....

 

#254...March 17, and there is snow on the ground...

Why, that must mean it's St. Patty's day!!!!

royal irish blessings to all!

#253....abracadbra!!...beta-bewitched and betazzled...

... by the magic of the aol fairies....

                         I am now ..officially better...er,

                                               

                                                         ...BETA!!

   

 (please, adjust your dials accordingly, folks...)

#252....High sea adventure found them instead...

After the dive, the Minnow hoisted her sails once again and set off for a little party time before returning to the Mothership.  Rum libations flowed once again as easily as the wind, and the passengers relaxed to the rhythm of the waves.  Tales of the day were spoken among each other.

Suddenly an ominous duel masted ship dubbed the Jolly Roger appeared off the ship's starboard side. The crew, jumped to their stations and readied themselves for battle.

"This calls for swift and immediate action," yelled Sam, the first mate - "On my count of three, we must deliver the deadliest of insults - the seafarer's moon - to those rotten scaliwags at large"  The crew and passengers readied their positions...as the countdown was finally called..."One!  Two!......Three!!!"

And there they all stood, all asses on deck...bent over... pants down... dutifully obliging their captain's direct order -

Great jeers and great gasps were heard across the water as the Jolly Roger adjusted her course and set off for the horizon - never to be heard from again.

 

#251...Fishes and fins and flotsom and fun

as they flippered and fed and floated among the fishies...

 

#250...Ah, snorkeling, Barbados style!

Now it had been arranged that the Family should do a little underwater exploration on this trip, and before long, they found themselves bouncing merrily along through the congested streets of the busy town of Bridgetown. 

After a time, the van of amateur snorkelers boarded a party-catamaran and once again found themselves sailing the bright blue seas in search of shipwrecks and high sea adventure.  The crew of the catamaran flirted shamelessly with the women while pointing out the sights on the island.  Before long, their snorkeling destination was upon them.  Without hesitation, they geared up and jumped into the warm crystal blue waters. 

And lo - just below the surface, what watery wonders their eyes did reveal...

#249...think happy thoughts Flora...happy thoughts today...

The Queen, after looking disgustedly out the window at the current blizzard conditions, adjusts her lap blanket and turns back to her story....

"After the midnight gorging, the Family retired to bed and woke the next morning to the beautiful island of Barbados.....

 

#248....Mother Nature takes a dump...

on us...actually more than a dump, she looks like she has the runs now too.

Yesterday, here in Pennsylvania - windows were open, the sun was bright, and you only needed a sweater.  Oh, the horror - oh, the insanity....

ENOUGH.   ENOUGH OF THIS I SAY!!

 

(Suz, remind me again, why did we ever come back?)

#247...a "Knight" to remember: the official notice.

 As you well know, from time to time your Queen here has official business to attend to, and it so happens to be a fine day for just that. For it seems that there is a special someone here in journal-land, that I deem fit to receive some official recognition, for his unending quest of finding and bringing to the light and forefront, new journals worthy of recognition.  And...quite surprisingly, as case may be - he did find, even this - The Official Journal of Pointless Posting - of a journal worthy of the world to see.  (Wasn't that nice of him?)

So, to honour him in return, (cause that is what self-proclaimed royal people like us do..) and after little thought to how big this will make his head swell, the Queen in all of her worldy opinion, doth feel a knighthood is in order. 

So, to make it official - let us roll out the red carpet and a fresh carton of white table wine:

Here ye!  Here ye!! Let it be known to all -

that the Self-proclaimed Queen of Pointless Posting, Her Highness Floralilia, doth hereby dub the once humble Gregg of the realm of the golden child with illusions of grandeur  forever onward as,

          Sir Greggeth the Pure*, the Shining Knight of the Unknown Journalho's 

and now knight to the Floralilian round table. (even though she acknowledges that he is already a queen in his own right.) signed and sealed, this 15th of March, anno domini 2004.

Congratulations to him, are now in order.

#246...meanwhile, back at the Mothership...

...there was a flurry of activity within the ship's galley in preparation for the night's grande event.  Chipping and chopping and grating and sizzling and stirring and mixing and rinsing and flipping and freezing and sculpting and coring ...(big inhale)... and rolling and baking and icing and tasting and flipping and roasting and cutting and sweating and smelling could be heard from every direction.

Chefs and their assistants worked the frenzied pace until every last garnish and every last detail was perfectly in place.  After all, it was their night to shine - their night to provide their guests with a bit of culinary magic and wonder - the one, the only, night of the Grande Gala Midnight Buffet...

#245...Time for a station break... THE PASSION OF CHRIST

Okay, folks, I just had to take a break from our regularly scheduled boat trip and get this off of my chest.  I simply, cannot hold my tongue any longer.

We went to see Gibson's "THE PASSION" last week.

Let me just say that it was the biggest waste of my time and money. I came away feeling angry and my religion abused.

It was so over the top hollywood gore that it really did teeter on the edge of pornography. I would rank it right up there with all the other type B slasher flicks, only worse. 

Isn't is nice that The Good Catholic Gibson exploited Christ's suffering for his own monetary gain and all the perks of the good/bad publicity of his slasher flick?

Oh, and now we get to enjoy all the holy rollers jumping on his band wagon. Perfect. Doesn't it strike you odd that now they applaud a type of film that normally, given any other character, would be consider outrageous and dangerous to society?

Shame on both of them.  That's it. That's my opinion. That's all I gotta say.

No wait, I lied - I also happen to find it interesting and rather amusing that the actor who played Christ, Jim Caviezel, got struck by lightening while filming on location....Hmm...now what does THAT tell you?  Pretty damn clear of a sign from God for me....

Now, if you care to read, also in my opinion, an accurate and professional movie review go here --> Gibson's Passion leaves this critic uninspired.

Thanks for letting me vent - now back to our regularly scheduled boat trip...

#244... Piracy on the High Seas.

Before returning to the Mothership, the captain of the party-catamaran sailed his ship into a small cove so that the passengers could enjoy a little beach and swim time. 

Almost immediately after the anchor was dropped, the ship's passengers found themselves completely surrounded by modern day pirates on lime green kayaks. With pleasant, but unending persistance, they offered to barter their handmade trinkets for US dollars.  The King from experience, knew full well how to appease the restless natives, and haggled skillfully for a couple of large conch horns and a few baubles for his beauties.  He did, however, decline the trade on the woven palm baskets.

While the King distracted the pirates, the Queen and her children slipped stealthfully away for a swim in the clear blue waters. There they splashed and played and took silly pictures with cheap made-for-water cameras.

After a time, the crew was able to defeat the pirates by hauling anchor and starting the ship's engine.  Fortunately for them, not one of the kayaking pirates was able to keep up the pace, but let it not be said, without first some considerable trying. 

In their rejoicing, the rum punch flowed as freely as the wind blew their sails, and before long, the entire boat was soused.

#243..Exploring the Grand Teat-ons...er...

...no wait - The Grand Pitons!...

Once the Family disembarked the Mothership, they found their excursion leader and set out for the party-catamaran.  Once on board, they settled their royal bums and their touristy belongings upon the bow of the ship, and jockeyed for prime seating positions in which to view the Grand Pitons.

Miss Carlie took to sitting at the very bow and was dubbed the official sea-turtle watcher.  (She spotted one.)  All along the way, the wind buffeted their hair, the sun kissed their foreheads, and the crew passed out copious amounts of rum-laced libations.  Together the crew and passengers danced the day away to reggae melodies, while rolling gently along the beautiful blue Caribbean sea.

The family admired the coastal sights and watched in amazement as the twin "peaks" grew larger and larger right before their very eyes. 

Not surprisingly, all of the menfolk gasped loudly at the wonderous sight before them.  Somewhere, someone whispered, "Oh...my...there is a God..."

 

#242....The Queen gets reassured.

....Paging through her handbook, the Queen stopped to read a bit -

"St. Lucia is a favourite port of call for all the right reasons:  the island is among the loveliest in the Caribbean, and the people are arguable the friendliest.  Sandwiched between Martinique and St. Vincent, St. Lucia is the largest of the Windward Islands, with its calm Caribbean coast acting as a counterpoint to the wind-buffeted Atlantic shore.  The mango-shaped island is seductively lush and has preserved its green heart, with banana plantations, giving way to botanical gardens and vibrant forests.  The south is dominated by the Pitons, the jungle clad-twin peaks that symbolize St. Lucia.

Yet these sailors' landmarks are only part of the island's sensory overload.  The interior is a Gauguin-esque palette of tropical scenery: primary colours and parrots; hummingbirds and hibiscus; bougainvillaea and bananas, volcanic waterfalls and sulphurous springs; Creole cuisine, calypso and secluded coves; coral reefs, and the best botanical gardens in the West Indies.  St. Lucia is both the quintessential Caribbean island and an elusive patch of paradise."

~ Insight Guide Caribbean Cruises - Discovery pg.273

Having read that, the Queen was assured that St. Lucia was where it was supposed to be, and plans were set to embark on a coastal shore excursion to the Grand Teatons..er, Pitons...

#241...First views of the island, St. Lucia...

Over coffee and fresh orange juice, the Family marveled at their first glimpses of the Port of Castries.  The sun was a warm and welcomed sight once again, caressing their shoulders and refreshing their sleepy morning faces. 

St. Lucia spread open her lovely green arms in a welcoming gesture and beckoned the Family to come and explore her hidden treasures. The Family quickly finished eating and dove into their bathing suits and set off to find new adventures...

 

#240...the next morning - Port Castries, St. Lucia!

"Quick, somebody call Hawaii - ask them if they lost one of their islands!" the Queen called out in alarm....

Ahh, St. Lucia.  If ever there was a Caribbean island the likes of the Hawaiian islands, St. Lucia is surely that one.

Lush, mountainous, tropical and drop-dead gorgeous, all neatly packaged on one small island with the added benefit of being a hell of a lot closer to the Queen's royal driveway than Hawaii is....

#239...it's onto the island of Antigua...

"It's pronounced....An-tee-gah...not An-tig-wah," said the official Sister to the children.  "Anybody think to bring an umbrella?" she called aloud.

For it seemed that their day in Antigua was met with rain. Lots of rain, with only an occasional peek of the sun to shine through to tease them.  And alas, no one thought to pack an umbrella, so the Family made the best of it and decided to catch up on some much needed rest and relaxation on board the ship. 

The boys, Connor, Ryan and Harry, set out for the arcade, the girls to the spa, the son, to the rock climbing wall, and the menfolk in search for some extra dry martini's.

"Who could have guessed that visiting paradise could be so tiring," Susan, said aloud.  "It feels like we've been running non-stop since we started."  

"Well, eating and drinking and playing and dancing and shopping is hard work," the Queen reminded her sister sternly.

Feeling vindicated, the sisters repositioned themselves in the hot tub and ordered another frozen drink...

 

#238...a sample of ....well...

well...they can't be sure if this was "Marty from Ohio" acting frenchy...or...one of the tamer french hedonistic natives....

one of the more prettier sights, indeed.

#237..."that will be 80 euros, please..."

So after a time, the Family grew hungry, and decided to sit and have a small bite to eat.  They decided on four small, appetizer size pizzas and soda to split between the ten of them. They knew they would be eating on the Mothership again soon, and so did not want to overfill themselves. 

The small gourmet pizzas were simple but delicious- true to the french cuisine. They were sated, but by no means filled.  They sat and enjoyed each other's company and discussed the day's events.  The queen quietly smiled to herself when some of her menfolk described the horrors they discovered while wandering down to the "naturalist's" beach.  They were a bit discouraged to find it was not the virtual centerfold, as they expected, from Playboy. 

When they were finished, the menfolk paid the food bill of 80-some Euro dollars, which roughly translated to about $100 US dollars for a small slice of pizza and a glass of coke. 

.....Ah well, "Vive la France!", they chanted.

#236...ooh, la, la! - Orient Beach....

Louie helped each of the family out of the van, and directed them to the entrance to the infamous beach..

The Family followed the sandy, but shaded path past little palm-shaded huts, and  little shops and took in the sights and sounds. In the distance, they heard the sound of surf crashing on the shore, and the wind rustling through the palm trees.  Delicious scents wafted through the air, a gentle mix of barbeque, coconut oil and flowers...

Before long, the path spilled out onto the soft white sandy beach dotted with royal blue umbrellas and comfortable lounge chairs. Almost immediately, someone came over to aid the Family in finding a place to put their belongings, and offer shade from the strong tropical sunlight.  A bronzed waiter asked, with a heavy french accent,  if he could get them something cool to drink...

Once settled, the Family found simple pleasures to do - some swam in the clear blue waters, some sunned, and some (and I'm not naming names), went people watching....The Queen, took to sailing on a catamaran with a beautiful bronzed french instructor. Her rusty sailing abilities quickly returned once the seaspray and the wind hit her face. In french, they chatted lighted, and she enjoyed the pull of the wind and the sights from (the sailboat) and the sea...

#235...Louie with the incredible blue eyes...

So the Family negotiated a cab ride with "Louie" (who had most beautiful clear Caribbean blue eyes)...and soon found themselves rolling merrily over the Dutch, and then French countryside. 

Louie, with his wonderful french accent, pointed out some of the island's highlights.  The countryside was lush and blushed with beautiful fuscia flowers. The little villas, were compact and sported rooftops of various pastel colours.  The Family quietly enjoyed the fantastic panoramic views of the island...

#234...onto the "Saint Tropez of the Caribbean."

The teens, having slept off the previous night's festivities, woke to find themselves in beautiful Dutch port of Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.  After a quick breakfast, the Family set off to enjoy a little fun and sun at Orient Beach.

Now, Orient Beach is located on the French side (St. Martin) and sometime's fancies itself as being the "Saint Tropez" of the Caribbean.  "Hedonism is the name of the game here: plenty of food, drink, music and flesh (a naturalist resort occupies the beach's southern tip, but nudity isn't confined to any one area)." 

With that in mind, the official husband, thought it would be good to expose the family to this kind of worldly culture.  The Queen, not buying into it for a nanosecond, nonetheless went along with her husband's wishes. 

(Having been exposed to this type of culture in an earlier life, she knew that once he spied the exotic nudity of a few elderly pot-bellied hairy old men and women strolling along the strand, that it would immediately burst his hopeful little bubble of cheap thrills.) 

"His stunned expressions would be well worth the wait," she thought to herself...

#233...back to the Mothership...

Sometimes just for sanity sake, you just have to leave places without daring to look back. 

And that's precisely what the family had to do in order to leave St. John's.  At least they knew in their hearts, that the trip had more wonders in store for them, and armed with that knowledge, they were able to climb back into Spencer's surrey-taxi and head back to the Mothership.

Once on board, the family again joined in the many festivities the ship offered to ease their heartaches. They nursed their sunburns and weary muscles by enjoying more than a few frozen exotic drinks, poolside or in the hot tub, and listened to the relaxing tunes of the steel drums.  After enjoying a late dinner and some night life, the elders of the family retired for the night where they slept like babies, slumbering to the soothing rocking motion the sea had to offer. 

....The teens, on the other hand, par-tay'd like animals...

#232...ooh, Trunk Bay...

"For the true beach lover, missing the great white sweep of Trunk Bay would be like touring Europe and skipping Paris."  The family, having read those words, had to agree..

Spencer 4 hire, stopped the surrey-taxi under a canopy of palm trees. The family piled out and set down upon the sandy trail that lead to perhaps one of the most glorious sights their eyes had ever imagined - Trunk Bay. 

A small sign was posted about the large surf conditions (an event that happens only once or twice a month) and because of this, they quickly found out that there would be no snorkeling that day.  Their disappointment was quickly erased once they set foot on the great span of soft white beach.  They stood there mesmerized by the colors and sounds of the waters and the beautiful tropical surroundings. 

The whole island smelled of sweet orchids in bloom...

#231....Aah...St. John's....

Upon landing at St. John and negotiating a taxi fare ride by "Spencer 4 hire", the family had reached their much anticipated destination - Trunk Bay, but not before Spencer the taximan, showed them some of the beautious sights along the way...

The family was awed by the incredible beauty, lush growth and pristine conditions of the island...they marveled at how the whole island smelled of tropical flowers...beautiful vegetation and crystal blue waters surrounded them in every direction.  The sky was a clear wash of blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds...

The children were amazed at the sights and sat wide-eyed and smiling...

#230...they ferried merrily to St. John's...

As beautiful as St. Thomas was, the Queen knew from experience that St. John's was even more lovely, and a must-see for those in the family who hadn't yet been there.  So after breakfast, they all hopped on a open surrey-style taxi to Red Hook, to catch the ferry over to St. John's.  Their destination - the incredibly beautiful Trunk Bay.

Although they enjoyed a white-knuckled ride to the ferry - over roads that were extremely narrow and hilly, and had more than a few hair-pin turns
along the way - alas, not a picture was taken, for they all feared for their lives. 

For it seemed that their hired driver was a bit short of patience that morning, and tailgated and blew his horn almost continuously the whole way... but - he did manage to get them there in time for the 10am ferry...

No sooner had they stopped, that the same taxi-man then turned his attentions toward Brian, and with his hand held out - hath said - "That'll be 80 dollas mon, please."

 

#229....the dawning of a new day -beautiful St Thomas.

The next morning, the Queen and her husband, Bud, greeted the dawn from matching treadmills in "The Shipshape Gym"...then they went out to savor the new sights from the ship's deck while sipping a cup of warm coffee...

After a short while, they woke the royal children and other members of the family...

#228...the family has a look around...

and so on that very first night, the family of ten decided to explore the wonders of their ship and partake of the festive festivities, which mostly included drinking, dancing, laughing, and eating, and then drinking some more, with an occasional pause to marvel aloud at the beauty of their surroundings and all of its beautiful treasures...

#227...the family flies into san juan..

...and so, after a somewhat uneventful flight into San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Family found that they were greeted with rain.  Lots of rain. So much rain in fact, that any excursions planned to see the island that day had to be shelved...

#226....so let's see..

Where to begin, where to begin...

You know, time is a funny thing...it keeps marching on, with or without your approval - and that, my friends, can be so damned irritating...

It's so hard to believe that this time last week, I was sailing on a Hobi Cat with a wonderful french specimen of a man over crystal clear blue waters in French St. Martin...but alas, I get ahead of myself here...

It's best always to start at the beginning...so pull up a chair kind friends, and lend me an ear, for I am about to tell you a tale of beauty and adventure.

Once upon a time there was a family of ten -  two sisters, two husbands, and six children of various ages who set out upon a short sail to the Caribbean islands via a very new and beautiful ship called the Serenade of the Seas....

The family was in great need of rejuvenation and sunlight, as anyone living on the east coast in the middle of winter can well understand.  Months of shortened daylight and sleet and freezing rain and hours behind a snow shovel can make even the most well adjusted persons cranky and slightly comatose while walking around sporting epidermis of unnatural paleness. 

The Queen and her husband, noting the severity of the winter induced doldrums made plans to save the family straight away.  The Queen's sister was summoned promptly as to also be included in the plans.  Almost immediately, the sisters went to work, studying the Caribbean itineraries. Schedules were rearranged, shopping commenced and bank accounts were drained. 

 And before long, the time of the official departure had arrived...