Guest Patrol

June 28, 2023 my husband and I set out on a seven day Alaskan cruise on the Crown Princess doing the Voyage of the Glaciers.  We departed Whittier, AK sailing south to Vancouver, British Columbia.  Upon arrival at the Anchorage Airport we were transported by bus to Whittier, AK. The only way into Whittier is through a 2.5 mile tunnel.  Toward the end of the tunnel the bus driver told us to look to the left, she then played the theme to the "Love Boat" as we went through the tunnel exit.  There on the left sat our ship the Crown Princess.

On our way to Beaumont, Texas we stopped at the Louisiana Welcome Center for the usual rest break. While there, I thought to ask the attendant about Cajun restaurants close to I-10 where we could stop for lunch. She gave me a number of brochures and finally came to one on Crawfish Town. She said that she had eaten there herself and that it was very good. This turned out to be very fortuitous advice because my brief comment on Crawfish Town would be simply OMG!

Debbie Murray is a dog enthusiast from LaGrange, KY. She currently has five dogs - all Miniature Australian Shepherds who share a house with her and her husband Paul. Debbie also breeds her pets on occasion to share this marvelous breed with other dog enthusiasts. Susie is excited because she hopes to be getting another mini Aussie to keep her company from Debbie's  next litter. Debbie has been kind enough to share this article on choosing a veterinarian with the Boomer Travel Patrol.

For more detailed information on Debbie and her dogs you can visit her web site Alangus Mini & Toy Aussies as well as her blog. This article is one recently featured on her blog and offers excellent advice on selecting a veterinarian.

I was recently listening to an interview with the musician, Bobby McFerrin where he describes improvisation as movement, as catching song. What does it mean to catch a song? It implies that the song, our creation, is already here– and so part of our work as artists is to listen, to observe, and improvise from our experience. At La Romita, we will develop these skills through drawing, writing and watercolor techniques–  and taking daily sketching trips into the small Umbrian hill towns. In the afternoons we return to La Romita for time in the workshop. 

First, just a brief aside regarding genetics and our family: There are times I think my family puts the “Fun” in Dysfunctional and perhaps in the final analysis, there might be times that I think my Mother (New York Times Best-Selling Author Joanne Fluke) just might be “A few peas short of a casserole”.

Angouleme and the towns and countryside around it along the Charente River provide much to do and see. My approach has always been to investigate things in depth rather than trying to see every site available. Also meeting and talking to the locals gives a better feel for the locale. Once again quality is better than quantity.

In November of 2005, only a couple of months after returning from Ghana, I was off again on a journey to Angouleme, France to attend and speak at a computer gaming conference, this time on “The Role of Computer Games in Bridging the Digital Divide.” 

Many times when we travel we only see the veneer of the destinations that we visit. Much more lies beneath the surface that can add a high level of richness and understanding concerning the places and people that we see in our journey. I always make a point in my travels, whether it is in the familiar territory of my own country, the United States, or in a global destination such as France or Ghana, to speak with the people that I encounter there. The amount of additional insight that we can receive is amazing. Nowhere was this more evident than in Ghana in West Africa.

There is no doubt about it, a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth requires more planning than most other destinations. From where to stay to what time of year to visit, there are many decisions to be made, each of them with numerous options. But with thoughtful planning comes great reward, and when you’re taking in the fireworks in front of Cinderella’s Castle, you will no doubt think you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust.