In Loco Motion

School's back in the full swing of things and all is well so far. First grade is definitely more hands-off for me than K was. I'm happy for that because it takes a load off my shoulders. It also gives my daughter the independence she needs to grow more mature and responsible. Her teacher is pretty tight with the rules but also kind and seems to know how to reward as much as correct. Since that's the way I run the ship around here she responds well to that kind of method. I think it's going to be a good year for all of us.

It's Thursday already and I am feeling ultra lazy. That's doing me no good. I've got auctions to work on and the box purses are starting to haunt my sleep. If I get the ball rolling I'll feel better. Unfortunately Summer has left my house in a state of slight discombobulation and I've got to get it under control first. It just drives me nuts to try and create anything in the middle of a mess. Which is funny because most of what I create causes a mess before it's done! So, I'm going to finish watching Lost In Translation (again) and tackle the home asthetics first. Afterwards I need to do a supply inventory since the kiddos have been using my gear a lot lately. Hopefully I'll have enough energy and motivation later to actually create something. Yeah, gonna need more coffee with that...

Oh!! Hey!! I got a really nice comment by a Park Ranger blogger from Virginia and I found a super cool art blog by Coop. It's gonna to be a good day Tater!

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Daily walk around the decks

Here's a tip for a successful rail and sail tour experience. When you go on the train tour portion of your trip don't stay confined to your room. Trains might not seem like the easiest place to hang out with other travelers, but it isn't that difficult. The tables that are set up for dining are a great way to sit down and socialize with new people! I have found that a lot of trains scatter dining tables throughout different cars so if you don't like the people you meet, you can always go somewhere else! 

Spending time with other travelers is a little bit easier on a cruise in my opinion. Why not take time out to join the enthusiastic band of 'deck-walkers' on board ship. Every morning, these happy groups stroll the decks, doing a circuit several times around. It's an excellent way to start the day (leaves more room for your on-board breakfast) and you can meet new friends and acquaintances on your walk!

While we're on the subject of doing circuits around decks, I recall that years ago, a friend of mine decided to go to Taiwan on a cruise. When he was in port there, he purchased a motor-scooter. They were very cheap at that time. The only problem was, being a new machine, there were no kilometers on the odometer, and he knew that when he returned Down Under, he would have to pay import duty due on a new scooter. So under an arrangement with the captain, he was allowed to 'scoot' around the deck every morning (carefully avoiding fellow passengers) and by the end of the cruise, he had accumulated quite a few km. This effectively meant his machine was now second-hand, and he thus avoided the import duty!

Happy traveling!