ANNIVERSARY PHOTOS

When on our anniversary cruise, we always get at least one photo in our dressy outfits. This time we looked so good we bought two of the photos!!

By the way, the lowest cost way to get studio style photos is on a cruise. And  you get many  poses to look at before you select any to buy. Of course you are not obligated to buy any of them,

Flying Fish Sandwich

When I was talking to Richard Ernst about our cruise and told him we were going to be in Barbados, He said we had to try a flying fish sandwich!! Now when Richard and I served together on the Hazelwood many years ago we used to see these fish actually get  up on the deck of the ship. The were not large and I could never expected to hear of anyone making a sandwich out of the. However Richard said when he cruised in the Bahamas (in his own sail boat) he would never miss the opportunity to have a sandwich or dinner of them when in Barbados.
So here we are having our Flying Fish Sandwich in downtown Bridgetown, Barbados.

 The sandwich reminded me of a perch sandwich but the seasoning was excellent and had a Caribbean flavor to it. Thanks to Richard we now know how good they can be.

55th Anniversary Cruise



We have been going on a cruise each January to celebrate our anniversary and this year was no exception. We departed from Miami on January 27th, our anniversary for a 10 day cruise to the eastern Bahamas. St Thomas, St Lucia, Dominica, Barbados and St Maarten. While on the cruise Carol recognized the head manager of the hotel operations from a previous cruise we were on. While talking to him she mentioned it was our anniversary and he asked for our cabin number. Later in the week he called our cabin and arranged for us to dine as his guest in one of the specialty restaurants and have bottle of wine also.

We chose the steak house (a $25 per person fee) and of course even got a complimentary bottle of champagne!! Here we are enjoying the evening.

This was certainly a very nice gesture and we really enjoyed the meal. We both  had a small fillet which was super.They even brought an anniversary cake and sank "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" to us!! A truly special evening for us.

 

Here we are with Steven Jacobsen the officer who provided us with the pleasant evening.
Since we are now Gold Members in the Latitudes Club we get some nice perks such as  2 nice receptions with complimentary drinks and snacks. On completion of this cruise we will  move up to the Diamond level and hope the perks move u p nicely also!!
We have already booked our next anniversary cruise for next January. It will be a 7 day cruise departing from Tampa.

Happy New Year

It is easy to see that both Carol and Marilyn are having a good time at the New Years eve party. We went to the same place we went last year but the music was not a good ... not bad but not great as we like it.
As soon as the hew year came in we left and headed home. We did make it to midnight which is not bad for a couple of old folks!

December Cruise

We just got back from a 4 night cruise out of Tampa to Cozumel Mexico on Royal Caribbean. We went with our friends, Marilyn and Gus Lopes. They are nearly profession cruisers as they are Diamond Plus members in the Crown and Anchor Club. We are only Gold members but they were able to take us along for many of the perks they get.

Here is Carol, Marilyn and Gus enjoying complementary champagne in the lounge for the diamond members. We had plenty of it each evening!!!
This cruise made a stop at only one port, Cozumel.  Jim did not go ashore because he  was still nursing a torn ligament in his left knee. There was just too much walking for him as he was still using a cane. The major reason to go ashore was to get some reasonable priced Kahlua. Each couple got 2 liters for  only $10.00 per liter, a great price.
Of course one of the obligatory pictures is the formal picture on "dress up night".

Here we are in our finest!!

One of the cute things done on the last day at sea was the baking of a cake made into a "gator" for lunch. The kids, and adults enjoyed the cake after lunch.

Mini Phi Kappa (Theta) Reunion

We were treated to a most enjoyable mini reunion by Jim and Nancy Stroke at their condo in Naples, FL. The Phi Kaps attending were: Bob Brisco, Jim Julian, both class of 1957 and Dan Smerald and Jim Stroke both of the class of 1958.

 

Left to right is Brisco, Smerald, Julian, and Stroke.

 

While I have seen Jim Stroke and Bob Brisco since graduation, this was the first time we got to get together with Dan since graduation in 1957. Dan also got the "prize" for travelling the greatest distance since he has been living in Wales in the UK for the last 20+ years. He was not able to have his wife make the trip but the wives that were there had a good time.

 

 Here is Carol Julian, Nancy Stroke and Marlene Brisco.

 

When we were attending RPI, the fraternity was Phi Kappa but several years after our graduation they merged with another fraternity and became Phi Kappa Theta. For  us old timers, we are still Phi Kaps!! The  house we had during our college days has been torn down and the fraternity is now in a house near the RPI field house.

Carol and I visited it when were were at my 55th class reunion. It was really fun because they had old photo albums from the years I attended!! They even salvaged some  of the bricks from the old house and made a bar out of them. Also they salvaged the old brass plate with Phi Kappa on it.

Here we are at the bar with the old bricks and the door plate.



Bloomin' Onion & Veterans

Sunday was Veterans Day and the Outback Steakhouse had a special for veterans. They were giving a free Bloomin' Onion and soft drink to vets. I couldn't pass up such a good offer so I took Carol out to lunch since I am such a big spender!!

I had to spring for a glass of wine for Carol but that was OK.

We thought we might have dinner after the onion but it was plenty and we were full after finishing all of it. We will go there isn the future for a dinner since they are giving 10% off to veterans for the rest of this year. Not a bad deal at all.