If I don’t write this week, then February won’t have an entry on the blog, and that’s unacceptable. I write on my MAC, and soon I will be out of range for my MAC, as I am going on back to back cruises the rest of this month! I dislike winter, so it’s time for a beach break again…and pool time. I am going w my besties on the 1st Viking cruise this year, starting from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where we fly to be on land 2 nights before the cruise, in case of winter weather troubles, which happily look to be absent. We all thrive on these trips, not only during, but also to look forward to. I plan way in advance, and usually take up the reins for all aspects of the traveling, including giving my buddies spending $, because I don’t want them stressed out for missing work. Some of them have vacation time, others do a leave of absence, as it’s regimented when u work in a public school. I have no one to answer to tho, being happily retired. On the travel itinerary includes 6 new island nations to add to my international travels: Dominica, St Lucia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, St Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda. I have been before to the US Virgin Islands, Charlotte-Amalie, St Thomas, Puerto Rico & St Maarten. Those r on the itinerary as well. For the 1st cruise. Even tho it’s all warm down there, u also need a jacket to pack on those pontoon boats that go fast, seeing wildlife, and it gets quite cool at a fast sailing on such a vessel. And we have to plan for it still being winter up here too, in the 40’s likely when we leave soon. We have red eye flights to go, which I usually hate, but it’s good to leave early, as u r not apt to be delayed on the red eye flights. And u get to your destination early too, to start your restful vacation. We all have non-stops going down. Great!
I was in a pickle tho, having booked this Viking cruise, and expecting the Star Trek Cruise to be later in March, and it didn’t turn out that way! I found myself back to back on the dates, and had to finagle my way off Viking a day earlier in order to get up to FL to meet up w that voyage, w a night on land before also, in case of flight troubles. So in the 3rd week of Feb, I will fly from St Thomas to Miami & Orlando, en route to Port Canaveral FL. 1 night in a hotel, then board Mariner of the Seas for another 7 nights afloat, going to only Curacao & Aruba as our ports. But the Star Trek Cruise is a must do 4 me, as I am a hard core Trekker, and spend a lot of my year watching various series of the franchise. I am behind however on the newest ones, and haven’t seen the last year of Strange New Worlds or most of Lower Decks season 4. But I will catch up, eventually. I live for that cruise, and to see my sweet friends from Los Angeles, because they come every year too. And I even hobnob w the celebrIties on board: it’s just FANTASTIC! I even stay in a suite near where they stay, so I can run into them in the hall, frequently. But I also line up photo opportunities, autographs, bring my memorabilia, plastic protective sleeves, lots of kitsch. It’s just nothing like a convention, and so much better, so personal, the conviviality, the bonhomie, the camaraderie we share! And great dining is also on the menu, as I’m a foodie. I have sneaked many celebrity photos in the restaurants, and even ate w George Takei & Brad once, side by side tables. We talked even. I have hugged the amazing Doug Jones too, on a Trek cruise! So many priceless memories.
So whether I get my love in this life may not even matter, because I am just jubilant over the things I get to do, unfettered by outside constraints, like if u had a mate who worked, and needed to work, and he couldn’t get the time off work, would that be a strain to go w your girlfriends? Some husbands understand, but then there r those who would be jealous. In March, I am taking another bestie on a trip over the CA Coast, another cruise. And April is seeing us again aboard Viking doing Portugal & Spain. So it’s another busy season of traveling. In between, I got that crazy offer to see Bruce, so there’s Las Vegas too, in March.
Is there any time to do taxes?! Well, there has to be, and I owe a lot this year, but I don’t mind, because this is truly a life worth living! I will fit it in, somehow. And I am also reveling in the past Madonna concert, which was INCREDIBLE! I hate her diva-esque behavior, but her singing and dancing and the show r just off the charts! I won’t go to her shows anymore tho, this was the last of it. But out on a truly high note, and this is in keeping w the style of my life. I play my videos for friends, w joy! See the 65 yr old diva in concert below. She looked better in person than she is seen in the media.
Madonna may be a bitch, but she’s our bitch, and we still love her, even if we hate her severe lateness to her concerts. My show was postponed to January 23, 2024, at MSG, a Tuesday night, and it was the earliest show of this tour, running 9:40-11:50pm. But it was great, and so glad to share it w a dear friend. This is the symbol of a life well lived, even if u don’t get everything u want. Let the music play on…Marsha is happy, overall, free as a bird!
marshaenewman 