more on the holidays...

So, as is tradition for me to do on the ships, every home port, I hold a wine and cheese get together for the cast in my cabin. Last year, it looked like St. Nick vomited in my cabin, what with all the decorations everywhere. This year, since I will be having company for the cruise, I needed to consolidate the decorations in a way that would make more room in my cabin. I decided to go with a minimalist style tree... and I made a little sitting room in my cabin for those of us who are extremely homesick and miss sitting around the fire roasting chestnuts. (Like I ever did THAT!)

Anyhow, here are the pics... on a side note, one of my guests, who was an officer, asked me to help him decorate the bridge for Christmas. So I did. But I don't have any pics of the bridge decorations, sorry. Here are the ones of my Christmas Cabin.

The chimney now has garland and other decorations hanging from it, so it's not as bleak as the picture makes it look. Many thanks to Paul for making me do tons of set painting in my teaching days...

Christmas

Is coming. The goose is getting fat. I miss milky way dark bars.

Here is my Christmas picture for all to enjoy. It sums up the entire beauty of Christmas in New Zealand, as well as the fact that it is a Christmas tree. I love and miss you all!

Christchurch, NZ

Busy cruise! So far we have already been at red level (norovirus), as well as the unfortunate fact that for some reason my hand has gotten infected, and the infection is spreading up my arm. Very unpleasant and uncomfortable. I have been performing the shows with a stent in my arm, which makes fast costume changes very interesting. I'm hopefully getting better, though. Getting the infection lanced today at 4.

Don't you hate it when you would swear that there is a restaurant somewhere in the town you are in, and you can't find it anywhere? There is a Chinese place somewhere (thought it was here) that has the best dumplings... I, of course, get the whole gang ready for them, and now I can't find it. Hate that. All these ports seem to be starting to blend together.

Been doing more tours. Did a luge tour the other day, which was amazing... tons of fun. Then I went on a bus tour to the top of this mountain where I saw sheep and thought of my sister. Had one of the best cups of tea I have ever had, overlooking the cliffs of Wellington. Awesome. Enjoy the pics...

Mom, I think there might be a door or two in here for you!

more pretty pics

So... let me tell you, those Aussies are an interesting lot of people. Not big on the whole queue thing. If there's a line, they sure ain't gonna stand and wait in it. Unfortunately the words "excuse me" are not in the Aussie vocabulary, which makes for an interesting get bumped and it's my fault automatically-type of situation. Met some really nice people, though. This next cruise we are headed back to New Zealand. I'm still searching for the old one, but I will let you know if I find it.

Rainy Melbourne

In Melbourne today. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning... it is SO true. The sunrise was a blood-red. Shoulda known. But, i did pack my umbrella, so i was covered, no pun intended. Here are some pics from the last leg of our transit around the continent of Australia. I saw wild kangaroos, tasted some amazing honey, went on a bunch of incredible tours, and some not so much. The holidays are coming quickly, and I am nowhere ready. Paul comes in a couple weeks, and that should be tons of fun. It will be nice to catch up and maybe get some work done on a future project or two... hint hint hint...

but wait... more pics!

Love ya, mom! You were asking for an update... here you go.

and still more pics...

So the monkey pics are from Bali, where I went to the Monkey temple... I went camel riding in Broome, Horseback riding in Vanuatu. Having lots of fun, trying to save money, which is why i have to do the free internet in port, and not on board, cause I have no available cash. Christmas is coming, and we are performing a fundraiser that I put together called Dancing with the Cast... tomorrow night. Tonight is the dress rehearsal. We'll see how it goes.

Crossed the oldest bridge in Australia...twice. Once to get over, and once to get back.

More pics from tours and the like...

Better late than never!

Hey all, sorry about the long wait but here you are, finally! I am sitting with the gang at Little Creatures brewery and restaurant in Fremantle, WA. Had an amazing day at Rottnest Island, which is more or less the Fire Island of Western Australia. Gorgeous beaches, no cars only bikes. Saw tons of Quakka's... I think that's how you spell it. Little marsupials that hop around blindly because their eyesight is so bad. Enjoy the pics, I will try to post more later.