a. have a lot to say

b. have been learning a ton about social media & should be a crazy blogger by now

c. have plenty of times to watch “so you think you can dance”, but not enough time for true writing

d. just haven’t had felt like it. . .

answer: all of the above.

I am going to work on the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge to try and get myself back on track for the new year. I’ll start with a simple one.

December 1st

What was your best trip in 2009?

My best trip was last February. Ken and I went on the Cayamo Singer/Songwriter cruise through the US & British Virgin Islands. We went snorkeling, listened to amazing live music every night, ate amazing food, and I really fell in love with traveling all over again. Traveling is like a muscle if you don’t use it, it gets flabby (or even worse, you forget how much you love it).

Second best, seeing my sister’s new apartment in Chicago. Don’t get me wrong, Chicago is awesome, but what is really thrilling is seeing someone you love open themselves up to adventure and moving to a new city where they don’t know anyone because a quiet voice whispers “there is something more for you to do and be.” She is brave. No doubt.

Check pics from our cruise:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lapster/sets/72157615017843955/

– laura

It’s is especially nice to have such a great friend to travel with. That makes it all worth while!

My second best “travel” as been in and out of Portland, OR. I’ve been conscripted by my job to do IT support down there and I try to explore the city every time I go. There are some fantastic restaurants in Portland. Check them out.

– ken

CAYAMO!
I haven’t written about anything for awhile but I want to send my thanks to Laura for getting us a room on this cruise. I haven’t had so much fun in years!

Top of the list:

• Snorkeling
• Great musicians!
• Blue water (so blue that I couldn’t get over it)
• A giant boat with 10 restaurants
• Snorkeling!

I have never seen coral in the ocean – live, up close and personal. I didn’t know that it came in brain versions and purple fan versions. Because I love flower photography, because the color is both extreme and natural at the same time, I was mezmorized by the coral and the fish that had every stripe of the rainbow in them.

There were several memorable moments snorkeling: One was seeing a live octopus, another was being followed by a school of striped fish for the entire time we were in the water, and lastly was watching a school of silver shimmers float ahead of me while the tide pushed them around into strange and elegant formations.

Each day we arrived back to the boat to see, not only music, but some favorite musicians. Our lineup of number ones was the Indigo Girls, Brandi Carlile and Patty Griffin. We luckily managed to see all of them several times in the seven days at sea which was truely ‘totally awesome’.

Then we caught a few acts late at night, like everyone else, joining the exhilarated crowds looking for an opportunity to witness performers inviting favorite performers onstage with them. My heart is still sitting on the floor with a cheap camera shooting video of Vienna Teng and Brandi Carlile doing a lovely rendition of ‘Let It Be’.

I was a little overwhelmed by the experience of this cruise. I guess that is why I have to apologize to Brandi Carlile. As everyone was heading off the boat and dragging they’re luggage behind them, Laura and I happened to be hoping for an elevator. She was waiting nearby for one or two of four doors to open, I was at door number four. At that moment it opened and there stood Brandi Carlile and entourage heading to the exit with luggage. I sincerely wanted to thank her – for her music, her shows and her love of singing and supporting other musicians.

So, of course I said, ‘Hey Brittany – thanks…’ – for everything.

She kind of scowled at me.

The elevator doors closed and I realized I had called her Brittany too late to take it back. I have been tortured by that moment for two weeks now. I have also laughed about it in the parking lot of an Everglades overlook with Laura to the point of physical disability and tears. We couldn’t drive our rental out of the lot.

So, sorry Brandi Carlile. I called you Brittany. I was nervous. Sorry.

But the real star finds of the cruise were the lesser known artists playing into the wee hours of the morning.� You could find them in the atrium, lounges, and out by the pool playing away.� Many of them really had a unique talent, creative use of instrument, and above all you could feel their passion for music.� I linked the bands below so you can go to their site — go hear their music and see where they are touring.� Many play local clubs or bars and would be a great evening out.� Here are a few of my new favorites:

• Vienna Teng (honestly, probably my favorite new artist on the cruise, she is a must!)
• The Greencards
• Girlyman
• Oakhurst
• Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars
• Katie Herzig

Now take a listen to a single or two:

So, I’ll save the in depth recap for my family and give you the general fun summary.

Ken and I had a WONDERFUL time.� We went on a cruise hosted by a company called Sixthman out of Atlanta.� They run music cruises — basically a sailing musical festival.� They have a variety of genres.� Ken and I chose the Singer/Songwriter cruise called Cayamo.� It included maybe 25 or 30 different acts throughout the week (5-6 headliners and multiple combinations of artists playing in the atrium, small lounges, the elevator, wherever there was a group of more than 5 people, there was probably music being played).

Just to give you a sense of it, Ken and I are on a small side deck playing shuffleboard [yes, insert cliche cruise comment here].� The wind was crazy, but it was so warm and we had some time before music started in the late afternoon.� We quickly threw all respectable game rules out and it became more of shuffleboard roller derby — trying to knock each other off the board first.�� As we were playing the afternoon away, we were serenaded by Eamon McLoughlin, the fiddler from a fantastic progressive bluegrass band (their term, not mine) called the Greencards.� He was just warming up for his set, with ipod buds in his ear and playing away.� It felt like we had our own private soundtrack for the vacation.� Everywhere you stumbled there was music.� And these moments go on and on — Indigo Girls playing by the pool, Vienna Teng rocking out covers in the atrium until the wee hours of the morning, etc.� Not only was the cruise expertly run by the Sixthman staff, but the artists they chose were awesome.� Even the musicians whose music wasn’t really my style, I couldn’t help but admire the artistry and talent of the group.

So, I could go on and on — but today, I’ll just talk about our Port stops.

Samana, Dominican Republic: In Samana, we went whale watching.� It was the season of migrating humpback whales who make the journey from Norway.� We saw several whales (including mothers with babies), and they were extremely close to our little boat.� In two weeks, they head back to Europe and will return again next year swimming thousands of miles in the process.� Ken and I were really lucky to be in Samana during the few weeks the whales are in harbor.

Then the afternoon was followed by “dos Cervesas de El Presidente por favor” (Special thanks to my high school classes that reminded me how to order beer in Spanish).

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands:� I had been to St. Thomas before, well, my parents traveled to the island while my mother was pregnant with me.� I love this fact and although we had a few small rain showers, we went snorkeling in Coki Point.� We even got to see a little octopus move across the sea floor like a pro.� It was a tiny beach and despite a slightly bitter tour guide, Ken and I went into the water and didn’t come up for air for about two hours.� Spent the afternoon walking through fancy harbor-side shops — just to be clear, even though it is duty-free — you still can’t afford a Louis Vuitton or Coach purse.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands: This was one of my favorite stops.� Ken and I took the ferry from Road Town, Tortola to the second larges islands in the British Virgin Islands — Virgin Gorda. There we explored the Baths.� The Baths are a collection of giant boulders which form from spectacular pools and grottoes which flood with sea water at high tide.� The hundreds of huge boulders and rock formations are worn smooth by rain and sea water and form a maze that leads to Devil’s Bay Beach.� So we swam in crystal clear blue water with our little goggles and braved the crazy path to Devil’s Bay. The path at times was so narrow and small that Ken and to crawl on his hands and knees to get through.� There we saw a beautiful Ray skating across the ocean floor.� It was, in my opinion, the most beautiful place we went to on the vacation.� I loved it.

Nassau, Bahamas: Thankfully, our weather was bad — well, serious wind — on Thursday night so the captain changed our course from Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian Cruise lines private island) to Nassau.� Ken and I had our eye on more snorkeling, so we stumbled onto a small company that took the two of us out into the Bay to the best coral reef snorkeling of the vacation.� First of all, it was great since we had the place to ourselves.� After a week of being moved around in a group of thousands it was fantastic to be alone.� The abundant sea life was incredible.� Curious schools of tiger fish followed us everywhere.� Rainbow fish and every shape of coral.� Brain coral as big as a sofa.� We were under for about an hour, the water was cold, but our guide had to pry us out of the water.� Then he dropped us on Paradise Island, home to a giant resort called Atlantis with a fancy casino from an old James Bond movie — Casino Royal, I’m told.� We lost $20 with lightning speed and headed back to our final night of music.

Everglades National Park: After returning to Miami on Saturday morning, Ken and I rented a car and headed to the Everglades for some brief hiking and park fun.� The weather was perfect and thanks to a helpful visitor center guide (seriously, there are no signs for the Everglades Park until you are already there, so stop at one of the visitor centers and get some directions).� We got the suggestion to do two small walks just inside the park at the Royal Palms stop.� The walks were incredible and bubbling with wildlife — birds, fish, gators, etc.� Ken took some fantastic wildlife photos.� We’ll post then and let you know.� It was a great afternoon and we are committed to going back when we have more time to explore the more than 1.5 million square miles of park land.

We had tons of video and photos of all these adventures.� tomorrow, music.. . .

We have tons of photos, little movies, bootleg concert footage, band t-shirts, new crazy musical interests and much, much more.� Right now though, we are just happy to be home with cats safe and just enough creamer for two cups of coffee this morning.

Then we spent 2 hours on the tarmac while the de-icing crew got their shit together and misted our plane.

Now we’re trying to get a stand by flight to get to Miami at 10pm. I mean, we have a $200 condo awaiting us with a view of the beach! Houston just doesn’t compare…

P.S. Special thanks to Jen for keeping Laura company while on the phone in the airport.

Vacation Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 26th: Ken and Laura fly to Miami

1. Saturday, Feb 28th: Launch from Port of Miami
2. Monday, March 2: Port, Samana – Dominican Republic
3. Tuesday, March 3: Port, St. Thomas – Virgin Islands
4. Wednesday, March 4: Port, Tortola – British Virgin Islands
5. Thursday, March 5: Port, Great Stirrup Cay – Private Island of NCL
6. Saturday, March 7: Return to Miami, Florida and fly back to Seattle

Neither of us have ever been on a cruise before.� So we can’t wait.� We don’t think we’ll have much online time, but will try to send quick updates and post pics as possible.

I’ve been to the Atlantic ocean when I was very, very young, so this seemed like the first time I’d ever seen it. I was most struck by the small waves, as compared to the size of waves you see when standing on a Pacific beach. Carl, one of Rob and Mandy’s friends, said that it was due to the long continental shelf off the coast, which we don’t have in the west. Another odd thing, sunset happened on the wrong side of the water! Weird…

We got to see Washington, DC, but it was so cold and so brief that I didn’t snap any photos of note. Had a very nice time staying with and visiting some friends of VTgirl, and seeing her old neighborhood.

Happy New Year!