Cruise Portraits

Towel Art

Family Cruise, Day Four

While on board, you are surrounded by beautiful artistry. Gabe asked for a scoop of ice cream. This is what they gave him.




Poolside ice sculpture demonstration:




On our last cruise, we got hooked on going to the art classes and auctions. The auction itself is fun, but the learning is, too. I like it so much, I'm now wanting to take an art appreciation class here at home. Who knows? Maybe some day we'll be "real" art collectors. And, yes, we did buy something to add to Gabe's boxing memorabilia! Norton, not Ali, this time around.




From Italy, Captain Vito Garuccio:

A sampling of the crew and, of course, our cruise director, Jeff Brrronson!

Eating and talking -- what we all did best:

We were given a free cocktail party that evening before dinner. Our family is such a party family. Ha! Only a few drink, so everyone was bored from the get-go. But all posed nicely for the camera.

So, after leaving the party in one big fell swoop, we wandered into a lobby.

I think we are all into taking pictures. What do you think?

All the paparazzi out to get their pictures of Mama and Uncle Ernest!

The Elias Sandoval siblings in attendance.

The Ofelio Sandoval siblings in attendance.

The Jones girls

Miss Lillie's 71st birthday!

With our waitstaff.

Our nightlight.

Good night.

We leave in the morning.

Family Cruise, Day Three

Due to the Swine Flu scare, we were not allowed to get off the boat in Mexico, so we had an extra day at sea. Poor Cruise Director had to work fast to give us all more activities at the spur of the moment. Honestly, I don't think most people cared that we had to stay on the boat. Just gave us one more day to relax and play.

So, we spent more time on Wednesday doing more of this,


and this.



Dinner that night was fun. Our wait staff entertained us and our waitress even got Gabe to get up and dance!

After dinner, we laughed once more with Jerome. He was called on to do an extra show that night. From the ground floor, I spotted Mama and Janice up in the balcony. Look closely through the dark and you can see them.

After the big show, we made our way to a smaller (though still large) lounge for Karaoke once more. We had three in our party who just loved to sing!

Norma

Uncle Glen

and, of course, Miss Lillie.

Uncle Glen and Miss Lillie were chosen to sing in the Karaoke Talent Showcase that evening. I heard it was to be the top five, but there were just a few more.

Uncle Glen sang, "Green, Green, Grass of Home." He has a very good voice and I always enjoy hearing him sing.

Miss Lillie sang "Oh, Happy Day" of the Edwin Hawkins Singers fame -- of which she was a member. You know, that song was written in 1755, recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers in 1969, but still brought the house down that night. You could look around the room and know that everyone KNEW that it was the truth. She won, of course. And got her own 100% plastic gold ship on a stick trophy!

Well, by that time, it really should have been bedtime, but you can eat 24 hours a day on the ship, so we just had to go check out what was available. I mean, just to see. Weren't really hungry. But, look at these desserts! Sitting there looking so tempting at midnight! So, yes, we had a few bites.

Family Cruise, Day Two

Click here for Family Cruise, Day One.

Day Two started with a Continental Breakfast in our room -- at least for me. Gabe loves a big ol' breakfast, so he would get up earlier than me and go to one of the restaurants and have breakfast and coffee. Me, I'd rather sip on orange juice and take bites of a bagel while I'm getting ready. I like to wake up slowly. And that includes my readiness for food. But, people don't bring me beautiful plates of fruit and smoked salmon at home. So, I thoroughly enjoyed room service!

Today's port of call was Catalina Island. The ship isn't allowed to come all the way in, so we had to take this little shuttle boat (it's called a tender) from the ship to the island. It was a little cold and a bit choppy, but the ride wasn't very long so we all managed.

Arriving on the island.

Gabe and Chick

Chick, Lynn, Gabe, and I took a tour of the city of Avalon and the interior of the island. We had a great guide who made the trip and the island quite fascinating.

Buffalo!
Yep, there are buffalo on the island.

We went all the way to the top of the island where there is an airport! There is a drop off at the beginning and at the end of the runway. It is literally at the very top. It is called the "Airport in the Sky".

And yet, we saw a good sized plane take off from the airport. Gotta trust that pilot!

After our tour, we did a bit of shopping and then went back to the ship to get ready for elegant night! I just love dressing up!

Leaving the stateroom.

Here are some of us in all our finery. (As you can see, "formal" means many different things to my family!)

My sister, Janice.

My mother, Martha.

My Uncle Ernest, my mother's oldest brother.

Gabe, me, Lynn, Chick

My Aunt Geneva, my mother's youngest sister, and her granddaughter, Selina.

My Aunt Laura, my mother's oldest sister.

Aunt Laura's daughter, Lauri, and her husband, Gary.

My Uncle Glen and Aunt B, my mother's sister.

Miss Lillie and her friend, Aaron.

Duane and Gloria, my mother's cousins.

Gloria's sister, Jossie.

More cousins, Don and Phyllis Sandoval, and

Seckie and Norma.

After an amazing dinner, we went to a great production show, "Here's Hollywood", and then ended the evening with Karaoke and a great Asian oldies band called Music Boardwalk.

Family Cruise, Day One

So, I really, really did not mean to take a blog vacation! Real life overtook me and I just couldn't fit blogging in -- not even just the journaling type I usually do. Which also meant I haven't stalked my usual blogland haunts, either! And I miss them! I miss you! I need to know what everyone is doing, creating, and thinking! I really do! You all inspire me!



Daja called me the other day and told me she was going to send the blog police, the blogice, if you will, to get me if I didn't post something. Then my husband told me that he was tired of checking in and only seeing Dave Ramsey! So, sorry, Dave, but you must move down the page!



Though I will catch up eventually, I guess, I won't be journaling in order. Mainly because I would just keep getting further behind! So, I will start out with the Sandoval Family and Friends Reunion Cruise! We had a blast! I'll be posting a bunch of pictures that probably won't mean much to most of you, but you are welcome to enjoy them, anyhow. :-) I know my family wants to see 'em. So, here's Day One:



This was my mother's first cruise. I was truly hoping she enjoyed herself. She must have, because the day after we got back, she said she wanted to go again.

Of course, the first thing most of us did when we got on the Carnival Paradise was to start our eating binge! Well, it was way after lunchtime and we were hungry!

My friend, Lynn, and I checking out our little ship maps trying to figure out where we were going! It took me a couple of days to be able to navigate around the ship without it!

I *heart* piano music, so I loved that there were several being played in various spots around the ship.

Our friends from Pennsylvania, Chick and Lynn Sickels, and us standing in front of the Long Beach cityscape as we left port.

Gabe and I were so thrilled to finally be leaving! We needed this vacation!

The Queen Mary is berthed right next to Carnival Cruises. Uncle Dan and Aunt Phyllis (shown below) spent the previous night there. Cool.

Gabe spent a lot of time time taking profile pictures of me. Here's to hoping that one of these shots will be a good one!

Our first evening's meal in the formal dining room. We took up three tables!

Gospel singing artist and family friend, Miss Lillie Knauls and me at dinner.

My eldest uncle, Uncle Ernest. Isn't he a cutie?

Gabe and I won trophies the first night playing a trivia game! We tied with two other people with a score of 17 out of 20. Not bad. And we each received the coveted 100% gold plastic ship on a stick! Woo Hoo!

We also went to see the comedian, Jerome. It was his "family" show. There was an R-rated one later on that night. We didn't go. I see nothing funny about vulgar language and crude humor. However, he was really funny.

We, of course, played all around the ship until late. Then, reluctantly ended Day One.

This Has Got to Stop!

I don't do business with either of these banks, but if I did, I'd get out as fast as possible. I'd make my stand. How else will "they" understand we do not approve?