Homestead AFB

I made it to Florida okay, with one minor snafu with the hotel, everything is okay though. I just booked at the wrong hotel, I thought I was making reservations for the one near the airport and the dock... and I was able to move to a hotel within the same chain that is closer to where I wanted to be, where I thought I would be.

Anyway... I got here to the hotel about 11am and was able to check in and then I hit the road. I went to the Cracker Barrel restaurant for Thanksgiving Dinner and then I drove on down to Homestead Air Reserve Base. Of course... I didn't recognize anything there. I was stationed at Homestead AFB back in 1976-1977. It was my first official duty station. I'm glad I got to go back there. They had an F-4 on static display, which is the aircraft that I worked on.

Then I went down to Miami Beach (I was trying to find a Hard Rock Cafe, which I did find, but it was closed). I wandered around down there, and found the RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line) headquarters (its their Cruise ship I'm going on). After hanging out down there for awhile, I found a Hard Rock Cafe Hotel/Casino in Hollywood, closer to where I am staying. So... I got my Hard Rock tee shirt! *smiles * (First of three... I plan to pick one up in Jamaica & in Columbia).

I also decided to gamble a little. I was going to spend $60, but on the 2nd pull, I won $100 or so. I didn't want to waste my wins... so I left with $90 extra in my pocket! I like that!

Okay... it's late, I'm tired, I'm going to lay down soon and be glad when the pups aren't here to wake me up in the morning. Although I plan to get up early and head down to Key West (I think it is about 220 miles each way... so it will be a LONG drive). Those who know me best, know I like road trips.

Aloha from Florida!

- Kris

Aloha Hawaii!

Some shots of Diamond Head as I passed... beautiful, eh?

I'm at the airport in San Francisco, I've been here awhile and will need to be boarding soon.

I went in for the company function today, it was good, I got to see some of my clients on an informal basis. Then it was a mad scramble to the airport. The pups got dropped off... I hope they do okay, especially Bruno, this is a first for him.

My flight to SFO was good, it was a full flight, but I had a window seat, so it wasn't too bad. I fly from here to Dallas, then on to Fort Lauderdale. It'll be a long night.

I'm going to keep this short so I can check my email.

Aloha!

- Kris

One more night... just one more night!

So... I had a crazy busy day and didn't see or talk to as many clients as I should have. I saw 9 clients today! AND I put a couple charts into a power point presentation for my supervisor. I *missed* lunch today though. I got out of work about 5:30 and then went & got my nails done, grabbed a bite to eat and then came home to watch the rest of "The Biggest Loser." I *still* need to pack (finish packing). I don't think it will take TOO long (as long as I can find everything I need). I *do* need to figure out what I want to wear tomorrow, I'll be in the same clothes for over 24 hours (ugh!).

Which reminds me, I *won't* be posting a blog tomorrow night. I will be flying ALL night. I'm NOT taking my laptop with me, but WILL have access to the computer at the hotel & on the ship and I will post as I can. Keep me in your thoughts for safe travels.

Mahalo & Aloha! (until I can post again)
- Kris

I should be packing...

I thought I would post some floral pictures that I took yesterday while walking the dogs in the morning.

Work was okay today, I worked an extra hour & a half. Tomorrow will probably be similar. I have a full schedule for tomorrow and still need to do some extra work for my supervisor before I leave for the day.

Tonight I've just been watching some TV. I am going to take the pups for a walk, find a couple more things to throw in my suitcase (mainly electrical stuff... battery chargers, et al). Then I hope to get to bed before too late.

Time to sign off...

Aloha!

- Kris

Tiling finished for now...

So... the living room & dining room are done. Whew! The baseboard also got put on in both areas too, along with the bathroom. The furniture is all basically back to where it needs to be. All the tiling is done that is going to get done... the spare bedroom just has to get done now. The work took most of the day though and started at about 8am.

I did get my hair colored today and got it cut. I did all my laundry, but haven't started to pack yet. I've taken the pups out several times today and gave them a bath today. There's still so much to do... and so little time.

Bette asked me about my itinerary. I fly out Weds and get to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday (Thanksgiving). On Saturday my ship leaves.

29 Nov - sailing

30 Nov - Ochos Rio, Jamaica

1 Dec sailing,

2 Dec - Santa Marta, Columbia,

3 Dec - Cartagena, Columbia,

4 December - sailing,

5 Dec Puerto Limon, Costa Rica,

6 Dec - Colon Panama.

Then I take the ship excursion up to Panama City where I spend the night. I fly out of Panama City on the 7th and get back to Hawaii late that night (about 10:30pm).

Okay... I've got to sign off and go see if I can get started packing.

Aloha!

- Kris

Where would you rather live?

This morning in Fairbanks at 27 below... (BRRR! And BETTLES, Alaska had a record low of MINUS 47 below yesterday.... wowza!).

Rainy, snowy Spokane this morning.... looks like the kind of day to stay inside & hibernate!

And then there's Hawaii.. with Diamond Head in the distance, with 73 above temperatures this morning. A beautiful day to wake up in Hawaii Nei.... *smiles*

Aloha!

- Kris

Busy, productive Saturday

The baseboard that is being put in (beats the rubber stuff that was there before!)

The dining area. These pictures were taken last night. Today the rest of the livingroom into the hallway was finished. Tomorrow I need to mop over the floor and then the new baseboard needs to be put in. Dang... I'll be glad when everything is finished... I'm wiped out and my lwer back is giving me grief.

Today WAS very productive though... besides the tiling work, I also maked out my Christmas cards & Calendars (I ended up getting about 20 more cards of a different design made, because I ran out of the other ones). I had to stop by the bank to check on my debit card (it is at a bank I don't use very often), come to find out, they sent it to my old address. I also got my cans turned in for recycling... that's one less thing and I got my suitcase out so I can start packing for my cruise.

Tonight I went & saw 2012. It *was* a really good action packed movie. It's 2 hours and 38 minutes long though... so it took up all night. On the way home I stopped by Zippy's for some chili and then came home & took the dogs out.

Oh yea, I got an email from a friend of Bob & Caryl's (they are my sailboat friends). Her name is Karen and she's going to come spend a few days with me just after Christmas. She's involved in a sterilization program for dogs over on the South Pacific islands. She needed a place to layover enroute to a clinic there.

Okay... I'm going to sign off... it's almost midnight and I'm "dog" tired. *smiles*

Aloha!

- Kris

An exhausting day...

Just a pic of Peanut & Bruno that I took a few minutes ago. Came home and got the dining area and half the living room grouted. Tomorrow I'll be moving the furniture over to the other side of the livingroom to finish the couch side of the living room.

I still need to get my suitcase out and pack. I still need to create a "to-do" list and a packing list. I still would like to get my Christmas cards all addressed & ready to drop off by Wednesday, along with the calendars for friends & family. So much to do, so little time (maybe I can work on the Christmas cards tonight... getting them addressed).

Work itself today was hectic, the morning was filled with meetings and this afternoon I had a new intake to do a risk assessment on and another one to do a complete psycho-social on. I also met with a client and a case manager (I actually met with a couple case managers today). I think I'm dreading Monday & Tuesday because I know how busy my schedule is going to be and then there are little extra tasks that I need to do over those two days (and I need to get my nails done again before I leave).

Okay... I'll sign off and try to get something else done productive.

Aloha!
- Kris