The Sibs

Sue (left), Phil (center) and Sharon

I just adore my sibs!  We are all 18 mos apart in age and grew up in the boonies as buds.  As childhood contemporaries in the early 50's without movies, malls or TV, we learned how to amuse ourselves and negotiate our space and issues.

You can see from this picture, that I am the "serious, older" one in charge of my screeching, younger siblings.


My sister, Sharon, who owns and operates a riverfront RV park in California's north coast redwood country, found a window of opportunity to visit immediately following the flood season, foot surgery and collection of monthly rental receipts and before a surgical consultation for a knee replacement.  She gives joints new meaning...

She arrived with a slight limp and  the usual northern pallor and---a meteoric blood pressure!

"How high was it?"

Back in my nursing days, she would not have been permitted to leave the physician office until receiving treatment to immediately lower the pressure.

So, we began a regimen designed to lower blood pressure:  herbal remedies, antianxiety meds, sleeping in, morning visits to the hot tub, lunch, shopping, pre-cocktail naps, 5 o'clock cocktails, chocolate, scrabble games and evening reality shows enjoyed with cocktails.  We met friends from Orlando and had a fine dining experience at Chez Suzanne.

My sis also went RV shopping with me!  I had already been to the Tampa Supershow and identified several travel trailers that I was interested in possibly purchasing for use in California.  Since my sis would be hosting the trailer in her RV park and I intended to let her use it when I wasn't there, I thought she should be involved in the choice.  We had a lot of fun checking out the trailers and both agreed on Prime Time Mfg Lacrosse model!

My bro, Phil, joined us towards the end of her visit and his condition was disturbing.  He had suffered a fall down a flight of stairs 5 days earlier and lost consciousness for 8 hours.  In halting speech, he described his body as "hurting everywhere except HERE" as he pointed to a small freckle on his right forearm.  He was obviously still suffering symptoms of a battered brain ie dizziness, speech and motor problems.  As a nurse, I knew there was no brain bandaid and nothing one could do unless his condition deteriorated.

So....we immediately began a regimen designed to support a healing brain.  Of course, that involved alcohol (but not for him!).  We did a lot of chatting and catching up of life's activities, eating out, movies, sleeping in, pool time and reading.  Periodically, I assessed him by asking him "What state are you in now?" and "Who is the current President?"  Being a wiseguy, he would purposely give Ridiculous answers (Wisconsin, Harding).  As the week wore on, it was evident that his condition was improving.

On Saturday morning, he found his tongue swelling and started to have trouble speaking.  He quickly realized that a tooth had broken producing a razor sharp edge that was cutting his tongue.  I began the search for an "emergency" walk-in dentist on a weekend as far away as Lakeland.  Short story: "Don't have a dental emergency on a weekend!"

Bro had quite a long time to await his flight departure and wandered over to the Airport Marriott to loiter and ogle women.  He meandered his way to a corporate convention that had vacated a meeting room.  There he found an appetizing array of food tempting him to Eat!  Being a hefty fellow, he succumbed to the siren song of a great roast beef hoagie with side salads.

Mid-chomp, in walks a lady with a clipboard and asks him if he is a member of the group.  Savoring what might be his last morsel as a free man, he swallowed and replied "Why, yes M'am... I am a member of the universe of man".  He is a wiseguy but has a charming manner with women and was not immediately reported to Security.

Making a clean getaway, he continued his exploration of the Marriott while digesting his stolen hoagie and found the rooftop pool.  My bro loves pools almost as much as his kitty kat (he is a kitty shelter volunteer and loves cats!)  The entrance to the pool was through the Men's Dressing Room which was locked.  The area was deserted.  Spotting a large fake plant grouping, he quickly stripped off his street clothes and donned his swimshorts.  Poolside with one of his magazines "Mental Floss", he remained amused and wet for several hours until time to go to the gate.

Later that day, my sister made the obligatory phone call to announce she had arrived home safely and reported that a curious announcement came over the PA system as they were taxiing to the gate in San Francisco:  "This is your Captain.  We are NOT approaching the gate; the plane will be towed in".  Before anyone could say "Whaaaaa?", four storm-trouper type US marshalls burst through the door and roughly handcuffed and removed 4 male passengers.  In shocked silence, the passengers were deplaned midfield and hiked to the gate.

End of blood pressure control!

We just got some terrific news from my brother's son (Lucas); he will be married to his longtime ladylove (Laura) in Savannah in November, so we will all be getting together at that time for more family frolics and learn about our new and improved blended inlaw family!  Laura will bring some much-needed class to the Pfaff Pfamily. So exciting!

My readers have been warned.  I am no longer blogging about travel in my RV and will blog about anything that strikes my fancy from now on.  I have always been a writer of "my stuff" and use the medium to blow off steam or as a diary of sorts to amuse myself.

The dogs said it best: 

I have to get this off my chest.  Has anyone noticed women in TV commercials lately?

It all started with Flo, the perky, quirky Progressive insurance pitchwoman.  Her image is currently an icon on my smartphone representing my insurance company.  Flo is much easier to identify with than a slimey green gecko with a stuckup accent.  Kudos to Progressive for finding Flo and demonstrating the safe use of Name Your Price guns.  (No registration or mental health clearance necessary.)  I like her and hope she never retires. 

Midway into 2012, here comes "Emily"--the bespeckled, brainy, redhead designer for Haverty furniture (cheap Chinese chairs).   She is a modestly attractive "everywoman"--but when she confidently declares to her speed date, who shows her his matching shirt and jacket lining,  "I like it...I like it a LOT.  Come...Sit..." --well, I have to admit that I find that Hot.  I love all her spots:  Speed Date, Meet the Parent, The Interview and currently, The Engagement.  I think she should be a Movie Star.

What say you?  Is Emily Hot...or Not?

Another Tax season is upon us--meet Ana Maria Costanza--the manic H & R Block Tax Professional who spent 2 weeks reading the entire 900+ pages of the Affordable Care Act and knows how it will impact your tax return.  She is genuinely excited about tax matters.   Only problem is that the Act has no tax consequences at all for 2012  returns! 

Maria, Maria...your eagerness is inspiring but you scared so many viewers that they stopped running your commercial! 

And, Maria...the law is 2,409 pages--not 900.



I follow these ladies' careers with great interest and look forward to a new era of females in TV ads who are not portrayed as passive "happy housewives" preoccupied with dirt.

Happy Sue Year 2013!

Blogging has always been part of RV'ing but, 2012 has brought changes for Sue.  In the future, I'll be blagging- a combination of blabbing and blogging!

When I returned home from my 2012 trip in October, I immediately plastered the internet with ads to sell the RV.  I had decided, after spending two wonderful summers in Eureka, CA, that I wanted to spend EVERY summer there!   But, it was just a little packed in my sister's driveway with my RV and all the other cars...

Since my sister owns an RV park, it seemed reasonable to change gears and get a trailer to live in during the summer months.  This would also save me a boatload of money as I would not make loan payments, pay storage fees, insurance, repair/maintainance or fuel.  And, I would have my car with me while out in California.

So, it is with relief and sadness that I must report the motorhome has been sold.

Relief:  I took the financial hit and survived.  It is a fact that, once you own a recreational vehicle, you are trapped in a cycle of trading it in to avoid the punishing reality that these vehicles don't hold value like a normal vehicle and you are gonna get slammed financially some day.  That is true in "normal" times, and the current economy is not normal (hopefully).  Thankfully, I was able to make a bank deposit after the sales transaction.

Sadness:  This is the first time in 12 years that I have been without a motorhome and travelling (or planning to travel), an activity I learned to love with Frank.  This is a pic from our inaugural trip with Tofu in her jammies.  So, this is goodbye to a wonderful lifestyle associated with Frank, as well as a part of my identity as "MovinSue".

On the positive side, I will be looking at new and exciting ways to travel and include friends and family and took a fantastic Alaska cruise this year.  Next year, fam is planning a fall getogether in Lake Tahoe where many of the hotels permit and even cater to pets ("out-west" is much more dog friendly than east).

Other events of note in 2012:

My face went into the Repair & Restoration Shop.  I nearly went into shock one day looking at a photo of myself and decided it was time for some cosmetic self care.  I have never been much interested in hair style changes, makeup, skin care and all that but times change.  I was shocked and distressed to see the damage that time and stress had taken on my face. 

The tune-up was done in mid-June and was uneventful-nearly painless-and I was out in public two weeks afterwards.  Here is a Before/After photo taken 4 months after the procedure:

 I subsequently wrote a blog series on the clinic's website which can be read here:  Sue's Mexican Adventure

My doctor asked me to get a Glamour Shot for his website!  The prospect of being photographed scared the you-know-what out of me, but it was his dime so I said OK.  This turned out to be romping fun with Androgenous Aaron, who twisted me into alien poses throughout the session while I painfully reminded him that this was a conservative business appointment!   He called me Miss Sue and said I was pretty limber for my age.  Kids! 

Early in 2012, I fell out of love with the community in which I chose to live after leaving Cape Coral in 2009.  I adore my home, but will never again buy property in an HOA which is likely to be run by Despots and Dummies.  Many of the friends I made here have either sold, have their homes up for sale or wish they could sell!  It is an ongoing and sad transition.

I only bought two new gadgets in 2012 and returned one of them, so that really means I only bought  my Asus Transformer tablet.  I tried to get a new laptop, since my current one is squirrley and taunts me daily with sudden shut downs, has a dead CD/DVD drive and dead webcam.  I carefully researched the latest crop of laptops--the new hybrids and ultrabooks.

It is scary out there!  We have entered a major computering restructuring.  Not only has the operating system undergone a major change, so has the hardware!

There are many surprises in store for Windows 8 users who buy Windows 8 laptops--not the least of which is the demise of the CD/DVD drive in many of the Windows 8 laptops (the "ultra" means "light" which means they left out a lot of good stuff!).   The absence of it is not described in the specs as such and when referred to, it is called "optical drive", which some might not know is the CD/DVD player.  What this means is that you will not be able to make your own backup restore disks and you will be charged $40 for this service.   If you should fail to make or buy the restore disks and need to reformat at some future time, you will have to send it back to the factory for an OEM restore or risk dealing with an internet restoration service.

Also, you will not be able to play your CD's or DVD's unless you buy a separate CD/DVD drive--cheapest one around $25 on amazon and $40-50 in the stores.  That's progress???   Adding on a corded clumsy peripheral to play your media?  Wow!

Also, get this!  Many batteries are NOT user-replaceable--they are built-in and can't be removed and replaced without a congressional order or at least a trip to the Geek Squad!  Yikes!  My laptop batteries die in less than 2 years!

I learned that the touchpad has been modified for Windows 8 laptops.  The touchpads require new navigation behavior (swipe gestures) but this is not well-engineered; it is inconsistent and sloppy.  My swipe gestures were often ignored and cursor placement was bizarre.

And the new Win 8 operating system?  Don't get me started!  If you like not being able to talk to your computer, you might like it but I was extremely frustrated with it.   The problems went way beyond the discomfort of a learning curve, as the MS Developers would like the computing public to believe.

I read an article by an MIT computer scientist entitled ‘Christmas gift for someone you hate: Windows 8’.   After playing with it for a few days, I returned it and joined the escalating hordes of "haters" who hate Windows 8.   I am now starting over for 2013 looking through the remaining crop of Windows 7 laptops.  End of Rant.

My advice for 2013?  Don't lose your Windows 7 product key!

So, as with all years that I can remember, 2012 was a mixed bag of blessings (Family and Friends) and baggage (Windows 8).   Sue wishes for everybody in 2013 "May your blessings be bright and your baggage be light!"!   

Happy Sue Year!

Alaska Cruise-#5 That's Entertainment!

Here are some entertainment events of note:  a singing act called Fire & Ice.   Not a well-chosen name for a Cruise Ship act.   It was immediately obvious who the "fire" was; a Whitney Houston look- and sound-alike with a dramatic flair, a bad case of hyperhydrosis (haha go look it up!)  and a voice that was almost worthy of Whitney.  She did an amazing tribute concert to Whitney to a packed house and was truly "on fire".  

The second memorable entertainment was "Dancing with the Jewell Stars".  This was a hilarious, rowdy and adult-only production where audience participants were matched with ship's pro dancers.  The panel of judges included the Paula-like ship hypnotist  ("We're looking for a connection; use your bodies to have fun!"), the Simon-like ship magician ("You'll never see these people again so let it rip!") and the Dawg-like staff singer ("Yo Contestant #3; we know you're wearing white underwear").  The participants were uninhibited, hilarious and bawdy.  It was very well produced with projection screens for post vote-off interviews with the eliminated couple.  We laughed so hard it hurt! 

The "main" event was Duo Eligia, an acrobatic adagio duo, who were choreographed into a dark, cirque-esque act about a sinister circus.  I have no idea what the plot was about, but the act was notable in that these two performers--a married couple--oozed sensuality yet were hardbody strong and performed unusual tricks of strength and beauty.

The lounges were packed nightly with a singer who could mimic anyone from Michael Jackson to Elvis to James Taylor and provided a very mellow environment for sipping nighty-night cocktails.  He was Philipino (as was most of the crew) and all he had to do was change his hat and his accent vanished.

An under-appreciated entertainment element greeted us every time we entered a Dining Room.  Here is a too-cute pic of The Washy-Washy, Happy-Happy Girl.  She greets you coming into and dining room and plants herself in your path.   You are then expected to hold out a hand which she will squirt with her squirt bottle while sing-songing "Washy-Washy!" 

And what is "Deal or No Deal" all about?  This game consumed the stage for an evening and was heavily pre-promoted and required a significant $$$ buy-in to play.  Along with the Bingo fiasco, there appears to be a trend that cruises are setting up expensive gambling venues for customers.

I am happy to report that the Nickelodeon characters did not invade adult spaces after Weds.  I would like to think this was due to "passenger feedback" but probably more likely due to lack of profits at the bar.  Or perhaps SpongePants was tossed overboard?

The White Hot Party was hosted by the bartenders and the singer/dancers and everyone dresses all in white to look hot under the blacklights.  Here is a group that sat nearby us.

The bartenders had special equipment for serving tequila.

We ordered shots--a couple rounds, I think...

After that, I do recall us dancing out on the floor  under hot lights with many young people.   They did many of the "new" (new to me) dances that were taught in the tutorials workshops during the week. 

When Mare and I returned to our cabin, we were soaked and had to take midnight showers.

All in all, I was surprised and pleased about the quality of the ship entertainment; it was definately "above average" compared to other ships I have been on.

Our sole shipboard "foodie extra" was the Jazz Brunch, featuring a live Jazz band.  It was a tasteful and cozy dining room and featured choices like chateaubriand and asparagus soup.  Ummmm

I think we found where all the best ingredients were being diverted to;  the food was quite flavorful and more like what we expected.

Note to self:  consider the dining room upgrade package on the next cruise.

It was a very enjoyable treat for all the senses and we left very happy and satisfied!

We scheduled our own shore excursion at our final port, Victoria BC--High Tea at the Empress Hotel.  

The weather was superb for browsing the many Sweet Shoppes lining the street tempting passersby with the smells of fudge and other tempting confections.

We strolled over to our appointment at the Empress Hotel for our High Tea and were pleasantly accosted by an over-animated Tea Hostess, who, though happy and accommodating, should cut down the caffeine.

The setting was lovely and we began our Tea with celebratory champagne, toasting to the end of our wonderful cruise together and good friends to share it with!

We had our tea served in fine china and real whipped cream on our perfect berries. 

Our frenetic hostess did get some nice photos of our group enjoying our champagne...

...and our tea sandwiches and baked goods.

After tea, we decided to take a horse buggy ride to tour the city and that is when we met "Bob".


We were told that "Bob" was a new horse to the team having been rescued from the glue factory due to his age.  He was a seasoned show horse but just getting long in the tooth.

Here is Mare, one of 5 well-fed adults attempting to squeeze herself in a carriage built for 4 adults...ouch!



Though the tour was to have "historical narrative", our driver was quite preoccupied with Bob's orientation.  He stopped in the road and had to be encouraged several times to keep walking. 

He also does not like the noise and bustle of the pickup/leaveoff place so we were encouraged to jump off the carriage quickly!  We wish the best for Bob in his retirement career.

As we began to gather our wits and things together to return to the ship, Mare realized she could not find her all-day bus pass.  It wasn't cheap, so she plopped on the Empress Hotel lawn to empty her bag and search.

Not finding it, we devised a plan to get her on the bus without a ticket.  We would bunch together as a group and all wave our tickets while one person asked the bus driver a question as we boarded.  It worked.


It was our final night on the cruise, so after dinner we retired to our private bar for some cocktails and a last Texas Hold 'Em card game. 

We were shocked to learn that, because we were still in port, the ship had shut down the smaller bars and we could not be served until the boat took off around 8pm!  Our barserver, Arturo, went to another open bar for our drinks and walked half the ship for to deliver our round!  The bartender then called the BOSS up and asked if an exception could be made for us and he said YES!  All is well.

We presented our favorite barserver, Arturo, with his own pound bag of Taffy.  This was to be his last cruise; he said he couldn't tolerate the live aboard lifestyle any longer.

The Alaska cruise was SUPER FUN for everyone and Thanks and Props to Theresa who came up with the original idea and acted as our coordinator!  I wonder what our next adventure will be?

Alaska Cruise Part 4- A Passport Picadillo

It's mid-cruise by now--we have found our pace and our stomachs have quieted down from the initial shock of walking on a moving target and ever-changing horizons.

Our biggest decision is no longer  "which cocktail bar shall we play Texas Hold 'Em in? " ...

...but "where shall we have dinner tonight"?  There are 3 dining rooms to choose from, as well as many themed specialty restaurants $$$.

That night's entertainment demonstrated why I love cruise shows:  it was a hodgepodge of performances staged by the crew!  The crew performers were mostly men singers and a group of singing/dancing cooks.  One of the men was so good it brought tears to my eyes that his special light was hidden in the cold food locker of the cruise ship kitchen.  Doesn't seem right.

Here is a representative of the bartenders; this guy found an ingenious way to fill large cocktail orders--from a huge banana decanter with multiple drain holes positioned perfectly over martini glasses.  It was fun and endearing to watch amateurs do something they loved-- no matter how wacky.

The next day we parked in Skagway.  We all have shore excursions; a train ride, bike trip and horseback trail ride.  The day is gloriously sunny and warm and we were told by excited tour operators that days like this are very rare in Skagway!

Even the port seal was feeling frisky as he  entertained cruisers by flipping an unlucky salmon up out the water and then chasing it down, only to grab it in his mouth and flip it up again, like a toy!  The seal would then pause and look at us, as if to make sure he had an audience and then continue the salmon flip game.  Must have been terrifying for the fish but great fun to watch the playful seal perform!

Soo-Eeee was responsible for some drama because she was unable to locate her Passport.  I checked with the Tour Operator to see if there was any wiggle room where the passport issue was concerned but Noooooo...they would wait a few minutes for me to tear my cabin apart but I had to have it to take part in the bike ride which began in Canada.  I raced back on ship and tore the cabin apart--no passport!  The Tour Operator refunded the bike half of the activity and I was able to go on the train ride since it was round trip with no disembarkation in Canada.  I was disappointed but glad to be able to go on the train, even if it was all my myself!

I would later recall that I put my ID and credit cards in my yellow slicker rain gear in Ketchikan and thought it remained in one of  the pockets...

The Train trip was spectacular!   This is the Klondike Highway which replaced the train route.  It is the road that the bikes would be coasting back down from the summit in Canada.

I have always loved train mystique and the rumble and vibration of train travel.  Not to mention the thrill of being perched on tiny elevated tracks!

I remained outdoors on the platform between cars for a great view, smell of pine and electric feel of the air.

I was also the train photographer since many folks wanted group photos with the beautiful mountains in the background. 

Here is a glacier-- see the blue at the base of the white snowpile?

While I was having a wonderful time on the train, my friends, (Sharon, Mary and Marilyn) coasted on their male bikes down the Klondike Highway.

"Marilyn--I feel your pain"--why on earth do they use only MEN'S bikes for these tours?!   Why must ladies risk injury "down there" to pole vault onto these things?  Is is too much to ask to stock both styles of bikes??

Here is the hearty group.  It was reported that the bike ride was quite athletic with some uphill inclines and the speed down the mountain was very challenging.

After all tours were complete, we explored the town.  Here is a view that looks like the ship is parked at the end of the street.

A suitable bar was located--the Red Onion Saloon.  Photos & History

The link is pretty entertaining.

The Red Onion is an infamous brothel where the bar servers (madams) wore tight bustiers hoisting their lady parts up to their noses.  The pictures on the wall are all ...racy.

Here is another Skagway street scene.

Our time at Skagway was awesome.

PS.  The next day, I reached into my tiny shoulder bag--the fourth compartment--and there was my passport.  It was a new bag purchased just for the cruise and I had forgotten there were FOUR compartments... I had it with me the entire time.