Talkin' 'Bout My Generation...

gen .er. a. tion ( noun )

According to Miriam Websters dictionary  a geneartion is   a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor.

 I  often find my mind drifting to another time .. wondering once again where my roots are .... where did I come from ( I know for all of you wise-cracks out there ... from my mothers womb ...) but don't you ever wonder what it would be like to have a conversation with your great great great ....  I pull from my deepest memories sometimes to grasp on to the recollection of spending time with my Granny Carroll ... She was my fraternal  great great grandmother . I can barely remember now her home in Maryland but what I do remember was her huge hugs - burrying me in her bossom with her  white apron on ... She was quite the lady - certainly not too affectionate but definitely full of love ... a hard working , strong woman but gentle and kind... I remember the way her eyes twinkled when she would smile ... and I remember  ever so slighlty her immaculate home - wide porches and a fabulous winding staircase leading into a big entry parlor.  I remember being very small and in that very house when the Nixon scandal was ground breaking news... and I remember her cellar and the fish pond in her yard. .. I have always wished I could have spent more time with her sitting on her porch and hearing stories of her childhood ... I'd love more time  with my grandfather ... pictured here ..  I was his only grandchild and he treated me like a princess ... he was always patient ( probably due to a little help from his afternoon martini ) and always so proud to show me off to his friends ...  So when I received this old photo the other day those fond ole' memories flooded back and my heart smiled... Thanks for lifes lessons , thanks for your love, and ... thanks for the memories !  I love you still ....

Let it BEE

Nothing like a little sweet honey ....

Today when I woke up I had no idea the adventure we  were about to embark on ... I always have a list of things I want to experience but when I need to extract those options I seem never to be able to recollect my bucket list.  However ... today simply proved that my other half actually DOES listen .. one more reason why I love him so much .... so with no idea if I've dressed appropriately we hop in the car and off we go ... quietly I take in the surrounding route south ... we stop at a gas station for gas .. I don't know if this was to stump me or if we truly needed fuel ... but post stop we went "swurvin' down a dirt road ... ok... not really swerving but it sounds good ... we hugged the Edisto River ... and I thought I had an A-HA moment ... we are going to Bulls Island ... really ... I'm starving so as much as that would have been a great idea too  I'm glad we ended at ... Bee City ... there is a spot to get a hotdog there and as hungry as we were , that little nugget was as good as any steak would have been at the time ...
After our victuals we ventured through Bee City .. interesting ... very interesting ...they have more than just bee's at Bee City ... there are turtles and goats, and donkeys and goats, and monkeys and goats and exotic animals ... and did I mention goats ??   We also hiked the nature trail ... don't be too impressed ... the nature trail is a small little loop through the yard but when in Rome ... you know the deal ...  We did see some bee's and we even brought home some honey and I even saw how turtles "do it " ... don't ask ... it's not pretty... But I had fun and I have learned a few things today :
*  Randolph really does listen to me
*  I can check Bee City off the list
*  I don't really like to see animals   ( other than snakes which I'd really rather not see at all ) caged and out of their natural habitat.
*  And in the words of John Lennon ... There will be an answer ... let it be,,, let it be ...

PS.. I think this little guy liked my shirt too ... 

Cruising Through Lunch ...

It really can be done .... First you gather the friends who will push fun to the edge .. those who know you but wanna come along anyway ! Once you've rallied, let the fun begin ....

The Port purchased a fancy new gangplank which is air conditioned... key for keeping your good looks for that ship photo once on board...

 Make a quick stop in front of the mosaic tile wall ..
Photo Tip: All the Color makes a girl look skinny . 

A Quick Dash Through the Disco will help make room for the Luscious Lunch that Awaits... We choose to " Do the Monkey " .. our theme song ... 

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil .. Just like Vegas what happens on the Ship, Stays on the Ship...



 

A 5 Course Lunch with Shrimp, Scallops, Beets, Goat Cheese, Lobster, Filet, and a Trio of Desserts - It's true that the way to a mans ( and woman's) heart is through the stomach then Carnival Cruises  has won our hearts !



It's OK if he doesn't speak English ...
He can just show us how the equipment works...




Yoo Hoo ... Is This Right ?







Check Matey!



FORE!



A Quick Run Through The All Day Buffet



American Idol Ain't Got Nothin' On Us!

Shore Excursions Never Looked So Good ..

Lucky 7's .. Come On ... I need some bar bucks !

Poster Girl !

Carnival Fantasy Ships Is Home Based Right Here in Charleston ... All Aboard !



Post Cards Ship to Shore.. Weathers Great .. Wish You Were Here...





I'm beat.... But it sure was fun ! Wonder if they have a great rate at the Courtyard Historic Distict ?

Yesterday we were treated to a tour and lunch on Carnival's Fantasy Ship ...  It brought a whole new meaning to the term " Lunch & Learn" ..  I learned that you can have a mini vacation during your lunch hour, meet tons of great new folks, see an awful lot of fun getting ready to take place on the ship, eat , eat, and eat... then run through a variety of fun activites before heading back to reality ... Thank you to Carnival for Choosing Charelston as a home port - your support of our community both economically and philanthropically is aplauded ... May we sail into many beautiful sunsets together ....