Thirteen days until Spring. Twenty-three days until our Cruise to the Mexican Riviera. I got out some pictures of the Caribbean Cruise that we took in 2001. I am so glad we were able to do that. Clayton and I enjoyed it so much. It was the first cruise we had ever been on. I put two pictures on today. One is a group picture of some of the people on our cruise. I am the one down in front with the blue dress on. The other picture is our Family Group .

I kept a diary of our cruise. I intend to do that for our Mexican Riviera cruise too. Anyway, today I am going to post the first day of my diary from the Caribbean Cruise for you to read.

Diary of our Cruise to the Caribbean---February 8, 2001 through February 19, 2001

Thursday, February 8 We left for Sea-Tac Airport about 6:30 AM. The first snow we had all winter. The crew had to defrost the wings on the plane. We were about 30 minutes late taking off for our first stop at George Bush Airport in Houston Texas. We had to hustle to make our connection to Miami, Florida. Between Donna and Clayton we would not have made it except for the electric cart. Donna is just getting over Broncitis and fighting Asthma as well as her bad knee. Frank rode too because he can't walk too well either. What a mess this family is sometimes. Laif and I hoofed it clear across that airport. This is one big airport. After I get back, I am going to have to buckle down and keep up losing weight and doing my exercises.

We finally got on the plane. It was about 4 hours from Sea-Tac to Houston and it will be another 4 hours to Miami. About 20 minutes out of Miami we had a medical emergency, which turned out to be Donna. Donna and Laif were sitting toward the front and Diane and Frank and Clayton and I were sitting near the back so we didn't realize at first it was Donna. Donna couldn't get enough air because of her Asthma and also she was just getting over Broncitis. The air was really stuffy. They gave her oxygen. Once the plane dropped altitude she was better. One good thing is that we had clearance to come right in. After we got off the plane, one passenger turned to Donna and said "I'll fly with you anytime". Everyone was getting so tired. When we landed at Miami International there were medics and a wheel chair waiting for Donna but she only needed the wheel chair.

We were bused to the Radisson Hotel. One couple that was not with our group was getting off at the Hilton. After the bus driver dropped them off, he started to pull out and a van tried to go around him. The van hit the bus. The bus driver couldn't see the van because it was right alongside. He didn't even know it hit him until someone told him to stop. The police had to check it out,etc. We got on another bus to finish our trip to the hotel. We were all getting extremely tired. We had planned on eating out when we got to the hotel but no one had the energy to go out in our little group which consisted of Clayton and me, Donna and Laif and Diane and Frank. We decided to order in Pizza. We ordered Domino's Pizza. It took over an hour. I think I will complain to Debbie when I get home.

Finally, at last, bed. The bed was very comfortable and I slept good. I meant to mention about the plane. It was a great flight and I felt relaxed, which for me, is something. I even managed to sleep between Houston and Miami. It was 82 degrees when we came into Miami. All this happened on our first day. Donna is feeling better but is still coughing a lot. I am afraid she is a lot like my father. Asthma, Allergies run in my family. My sister is like that too. I know I am lucky to have missed it.

Well, so much for Day One. I wonder what will be in store for us tomorrow. Already I love the warm temperature. How wonderful it is to even be able to run around even at night in February without a coat.

I would not like to live in Miami. It is too large a city and I am sure not the safest.

OK. That is it for day one. I will try to find time for day two tomorrow.