Wordless Wednesday - Um, about alaska, ya think!!!

You folks are going to get so sick of Alaska, you will scream.........Will I hear you??

Nah.    Alaska is beyond awesome.  Start booking your trip now!

Vibrant Vancouver

 On September 3rd, Ray and I flew to Vancouver, Canada to begin our cruise adventure. Vancouver proved vibrant, sunny, and warm. We delighted in walking along the harbor.

 Any city on water is wonderful

 We toured Stanley Park. Here's a Little Mermaid statue

 Totem poles were unique and colorful, celebrating some native heritage

And the runner statue is emblematic to me of a city in motion.

We enjoyed our oh-too-brief time in Vancouver and thank our friends to the north for their hospitality.

Now it's Monday and I'm back to work for a full week slog. I shall be getting back to regular posts and visits. Hope everyone is well. Let's have a great week.

Alaska is Wild

 Oh yeah - boat, walk, canoe, and walk to see Davidson Glacier. Do I have stories for you, golly you betcha!!

And Denali - Tundra Wilderness Tour. This fella decided to cross the road in front of the bus, only twenty feet away. He was foraging for berries, not humans.

Wow is all I can say about our Alaska adventure.  We got back to Dallas Thursday morning at 7 am (4 am Alaska time). I am currently a zombie as I prepare this post, and I have to work on Friday (ugh - reality bites)

It's a teaser. I hope you are prepared for way too many Alaska pics and stories..... Are you with me?

Happy Friday and weekend. More to come

Book Review - The Best of Enemies

Jen Lancaster is a hoot and her latest novel The Best of Enemies does not disappoint.  The cover blurb says it all – Bridesmaids meets Big Little Lies in a novel told from the alternating perspectives of two women who define the term frenemies.

Jacqueline Jordan is a journalist who likes a very spare life. In contrast her childhood friend, Kitty Carricoe, is a beast in the world of carpools and minivans and the latest in clothes, kitchens, and panic. However, a joint friend Sarabeth keeps the two connected. Sarabeth’s wealthy husband dies in a suspicious plane crash. Now Jack and Kitty “must bury the hatchet and hit the road for a trip that may just bring them together – if it doesn’t kill them first.” (cover blurb)

The Best of Enemies is fast paced froth. Lots of product placement, PTA, and uber woman drama. Can women have it all?  It’s tough, but these ladies manage to pull it together when they aren’t pulling their hair.  Jen Lancaster has amused me ever since her memoir self-effacing book Bitter is the New Black. Her style cracks me up. If you want a quick read with plenty of laughs, you can’t go wrong with this author.

Irving Penn - Photography Exhibit

I talked Ray into taking me to the Dallas Museum of Art. We needed some culture (he didn't know it!) It was the last day for Irving Penn  Beyond Beauty and the exhibit was worth the drive. Back in the day, Mr. Penn's photos popped from the pages of Vogue. He had an elegant eye for beauty and iconic fashion portraits. This exhibit was organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and featured over 140 photographs from 1930s to the 2000. He died in 2009 at the age of 92.

He traveled everywhere and again brought a distinct look to his pictures of people in their native state. Street scenes, still lifes, and private studio images rounded out the show.

Excellent exhibit - beyond beauty indeed.

Book Review - Browsings

Browsings by Michael Dirda is a collection of nonfiction essays on the literary life. This man lives and breathes books, has opinions on books, collects books, and earned a Pulitzer Prize as a critic on books. This book is not for everyone and I admit I skimmed some chapters. However, he also offers some funny anecdotes. He discusses literary pets, the lost art of cursive writing, book inscriptions, author photographs, novelists in old age, Oberlin College, a year in Marseille, writer’s block, and more. (cover blurb)

And he offers up reading suggestions that would last more than ten lifetimes.  He gives lists of perfect book titles, great adventure novels, favorite words, books about books, and children’s classics. He offers this with love and hate – eager to steer the world in the proper direction toward good books. He himself cannot stay away from used book stores, and admits to almost hoarder status as far as boxes and stacks of books in his home. He is married, so it sounds as there is some control and he won’t be crushed by his collection.

Dirda’s enthusiasm shines through, and he does put a lot of work into his passion.  Browsings was a library book choice for me and worth signing out to browse.

Cruisin'

 Well - Ray and I are off on an adventure. In honor of his 60th birthday back in August, he chose an Alaskan cruise to celebrate. The time has arrived. Our bags are packed.

These photos from Dreamstock are a hint of what's to come. 

Cruise boat, trains, hikes, and more.  Yes, Ray can outrun me if there's a grizzly bear in view.
Hopefully I shall return with plenty of pictures of my own and stories to share

Until then - all the best to you, blog friends. I shall be off the grid for a bit, but shall visit upon return.

Ahoy Alaska!