We got flowers.
Shipwrecks.
Us dressed up for dinner.
Us not dressed up on the snorkel boat.
And towel animals. Every night, the turn-down service included the expected chocolates, but also towels folded into animal shapes.
We got an elephant.
An Eskimo (or maybe an Inuit).
This might be a dog.
And a frog.
A different animal every night. Where else but a cruise could you get that?
We didn’t bird much. Our cruise wasn’t about that. Couldn’t help spotting a few though.
American Redstart.
Myrtle Yellow-rump.
Northern Waterthrush.
Palm Warbler.
Magnificent Frigatebirds galore.
Yellow-throated warbler.
Yellow Warblers here have a rufous cap.
Life bird, a Bananaquit!
And a Tropical Mockingbird.
We found a new hummingbird for us, the White-eared Hummer.
We think this one is a Canavet’s Emerald.
It was fun to add a few Central American birds to our life-list.
I made a Google Map of the trip.
The snorkeling from shore in Honduras was good, and the beach was nice.
The best snorkeling was offshore in Belize though.
Nice reef.
Plenty of coral.
Lots of fish.
Only 15 feet deep, so very comfortable underwater. Easy to get eye-to-eye with everything.
First time I’ve snorkeled since my cardiac issues a few years ago. I’m happy to report that I still can.
The first pictures I sent out didn’t have many people in them. We weren’t on a ghost ship. It was full. 4,000 passengers. Some times and places were crowded. I guess Judy and I just gravitated to places and times that weren’t.
There was a basketball court.
Miniature golf.
A high rope course.
A waterpark.
And an outdoor bigscreen for movie night.
We spent a fair amount of time on the Serenity deck.
Some time at the Red Frog Pub playing dominoes.
There were spiral staircases.
Glass elevators in a 12 story atrium.
Restaurants, cafes, clubs, and a casino.
We thought it was a big deal a while back when we found a million dollar motorhome that was fitted to float and go out on lakes. The cruise companies build entire cities that float!
The facebook post by Daughter Becky today.
· For the last several months, our family has been working on a major decision. It started with a postcard, that was followed up by an email. That escalated to phone calls between Massachusetts and Colorado. That started a round of meetings with counselors. Next came a visitor from Massachusetts, and a meeting with parents, counselors, etc. A big test was studied for, and taken. Then came a whirlwind trip to Massachusetts, and an interview. Test results came back, and were great! Forms were filled out, essays written. Then we waited. And waited. And waited.
Today came the answer, and we can now let the world know what we've been doing. After the spring semester, Tony will be leaving high school, and entering Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, MA. For those of you counting, yes, he's very young - he'll be 16 in May. Simon's Rock is an early-admit college that specializes in taking gifted kids starting at age 14-18 (on average), that are not getting what they need in high school. For years, we've struggled with providing Tony with an appropriate education. We honestly think that this school will give him what he needs to succeed.
Yes, we've thought about this. A LOT! While I would not be comfortable sending him off to a "regular" college, at Simon's Rock, he'll be with his age-mates. It's a small school, but fully accredited (and not for-profit), so credits transfer pretty much anywhere. He will not be getting a high school diploma (unless he takes the GED), but he'll be awarded an Associate's Degree when he is 18. At Simon's Rock, about half of the kids transfer to a bigger school at that point. Most of the remaining kids spend their Junior year abroad. Most big colleges, including the Ivy Leagues, are happy to accept transfers from there. They teach "seminar style", so the average class size is 11, with lots of discussion between professors and students. That will be perfect for Tony's style of learning. He LOVES to debate! All classes are taught by professors, not grad students.
We're on a roller coaster right now. We're proud and nervous. We're stunned to think of him leaving so young, but amazed at the amount of growing he's done this year. Having college right around the corner has done amazing things for his motivation and maturity. So, we've made the decision, gotten his acceptance, and can move on toward helping Tony plan his future!
Judy and I say, “Congratulations Tony!” Go gettum!
…you want to do something decadent, right?
Our indulgence was side-by-side pedicures.
Fire and ice. Foot soaking, chair massage, salt scrub up to the knees, menthol lotion followed by hot towels. A hot smooth rock foot and leg massage.
Trimming. Shaping. By the girl from Norway.
When it got to the nail polish I drew the line though. No nail polish on me.
Not unless they could find a really manly color….
I think they nailed it with the blue, what do you think?
Maybe sometimes a guy just wants to feel pretty.
And in case any of my brothers are embarrassed for me, let me say that “We’re all four of us just different flowers from the same garden”.
