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ABOUT US John and I (Carolyn) are retired Mississippi State University professors in our early sixties, who currently reside in central North Carolina. Both of us are natives of New Orleans and, as such, are interested in good food (and wine!) and good times. Our preferred souvenir is a small regional or national flag. On this itinerary, I would not need to acquire any flags.
We enjoy both cruises and land tours; often our trips combine the two. Many of our cruises have been in the Caribbean but we have also cruised to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, the Panama Canal, the Mediterranean/Greek Isles, Scandinavia/Russia, Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, South America/Antarctic Peninsula, the Far East, the North Atlantic (Greenland/Iceland), parts of the British Isles, the Norwegian Fjords, the Galapagos Islands and the Holy Land/Egypt. We have taken land tours to the Netherlands, Canadian Rockies, Mexico (Cozumel), London, France (several wine regions and Paris), China, Argentina (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Mendoza wine region), Chile (Santiago, several wine regions), Hawaiian Islands (Kauai, Maui, Hawaii) and to many parts of the continental USA.
On our trips, we prefer nature and wildlife tours that involve snorkeling, SCUBA diving or hiking. In particular, we will hike for miles to see waterfalls, volcanoes, caves or other interesting geologic features. We also enjoy lighthouses, forts, castles and anything else we can legally climb up on for a good view.
We are Elite members of Princess' Captain's Circle loyalty program, but have also sailed with Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Costa, Celebrity and Commodore.
This would be John's and my fourth cruise to Alaska and we would be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary while onboard.
We were joined on this cruise by our DS, DDIL, DGDs (ages 3 and 1-1/2), our DS's college friend and the friend's wife. Our DS has previously cruised many times on Princess as well as other lines; this was his first cruise as an Elite member of the Captain's Circle. This was DS's second cruise to Alaska but the first time for the others. DDIL has cruised several times on Princess and other lines and was a Medallion member of the Captain's Circle. DS's college friend had cruised twice on other lines but not Princess and this was his wife's first cruise.
Cruising with toddlers requires flexibility and a sense of humor. It also presents special challenges, including deciding how many childcare duties the grandparents will assume. While not anxious to take full responsibility for the DGDs, we wanted to allow our DS and DDIL some time to spend together as a couple and socializing with their friends. On the other hand, John and I also wanted to be able to enjoy the cruise and ports.
Our compromise approach started with the choice of a round-trip cruise from San Francisco, because our DS's family lives in the Bay Area and we could all drive to the port. The Inside Passage is a good itinerary for young children because so much scenery can be enjoyed from the ship and the piers are convenient to attractions in the ports (no tendering).
Next, we chose cabins directly across the hall from each other: a mini-suite for John and me and an inside quad for DS's family. With its balcony and extra seating space, the mini-suite served as the living room for our group and had a tub for bathing the DGDs. We asked our TA to mark the cabins no upgrade so that we could guarantee this arrangement. She also linked the three families' reservations and specified our requests for a table for eight in Early Traditional Dining, two high chairs and a Pack 'n Play.
A typical sea day started with John and me getting ready while DDIL ordered Room Service and fed the girls breakfast in their cabin. Then John and I would entertain and sometimes dress the girls while their parents were getting ready for the day. Once everyone was ready, we went our separate ways until after lunch. DGD#1 usually attended the Princess Pelicans program in the morning and some afternoons; DGD#2 occasionally attended (accompanied by DDIL) in the morning. After lunch, John and I usually relaxed in our cabin or on the balcony; thus, it was no trouble for us to supervise (via baby monitor, see Information for Parents of Toddlers below) either of the girls who wanted a nap or to let them play in our larger cabin if they were not sleepy. A favorite game for DGD#2 was hiding behind the window sheers or my evening gown (hanging in the closet) or under the deck blankets.
In the evenings, we could easily trade the girls back and forth between cabins so everyone could get ready for dinner. At dinner, our waiter and headwaiter made sure the girls had favorite items (e. g., milk, slices of cheese, fruit) quickly so that they were happy and generally well-behaved from the time we arrived at the table. The DGDs love music and dancing but were too tired after dinner to enjoy the evening shows (they managed 1-1/4). However, they loved after-dinner dancing in The Piazza. After about 15 minutes of dancing, it was bedtime for the girls. This was John's and my major sacrifice on this cruise: we passed on many of the evening shows (most of which we had seen several times before) in order to read in the cabin and listen to the baby monitor while DS and DDIL caroused until the wee hours of 10 or 11 p.m.
On port days, it was every man for himself from docking until we returned to the ship.
Although some people have commented that we spent a lot of money to take our granddaughters on a trip that they will probably not remember later, John and I will always cherish the time we spent with them and remember the fun of watching them enjoy new experiences. Before the cruise, I gave each of the girls a book (Peter the Cruise Ship: To Alaska! for DGD#1 and Alaska's ABC Bears for DGD#2) to remind them later of the cruise; they will also receive a Snapfish photo book of cruise highlights from me.
For information on Princess' Youth and Teen Programs, see www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/onboard/youth.jsp.
A schedule for Princess Youth and Teen Program should be in your cabin when you board. Children must be 3 or older and potty-trained; counselors are not allowed to assist children with using the toilet. Our DDIL was concerned that the Princess Pelicans (ages 3-7) activities might be too advanced for DGD#1 (who had just turned 3) but was reassured after talking to the counselors that activities are geared to each child. Note that if your child is under 3, he/she can play in the Fun Zone when accompanied by an adult.
Parents receive pagers when they check in their child so that they can be contacted in case of an emergency or if the child wants to leave the program early. Parents can also provide a list of persons who are authorized to remove a child from the program. Those persons must provide photo ID (which is photocopied and kept on file) before the child is released to him/her.
Be sure to save room in your luggage for all the items your child will make and receive in the program! DGD#1 received a stuffed turtle, an eagle and a whale. Thankfully, the counselors understand the problems that young children have with sharing and provided DGD#2 with the same stuffed animals as her sister.
Request high chairs and Pack 'n Play(s) when you book your cruise. Note that even one Pack 'n Play makes an inside cabin very crowded. Maybe some furniture (e. g., desk chair, small table) can be moved to the grandparents' cabin to give you more room.
In addition to necessary supplies, a few favorite lovies and willing grandparents, you might consider bringing along the following:
--- Night light. Our DGDs' night light has a Sunny and Luna display, which can be set for different wake/sleep times and lets the girls know whether they can get up or have to go back to sleep (www.goodnitelite.com/index.php?page=product).
--- White noise machine. This helps our DGDs go to sleep and remain asleep.
--- Baby monitor. This worked much better than anticipated; it was sensitive enough to let us hear a key card inserted in the cabin door even with the white noise machine on. However, our two cabins were directly across the hall from each other; the monitor may not work as well if the cabins are much further apart.
--- Swim noodle. Wrapped under the blanket, this helps keep a child from falling out of bed.
--- Arts & crafts smock (to use as a bib). Our DGDs' are plastic and have long, cuffed sleeves and a pocket along the bottom (www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70179754/). The smock protects a child's clothes and keeps most dropped food from reaching the floor.
--- Stroller. Although our DGDs have two double strollers at home, those are too large to use on a cruise ship. Our DDIL brought a single stroller that was not only useful in port for DGD#2 but also for transporting other items while embarking/disembarking the ship. She did not use the stroller onboard the ship.
--- Backpack-style child carriers. Our DDIL borrowed two of these. One held DGD#1 while embarking/disembarking the ship and both carriers were used in Skagway. However, DS and DDIL were not a big fans of the backpack carriers and would recommend a lot of prior experience with them if you intend to use them.
In general, we prefer DIY port tours, private tours with other Cruise Critic roll call members, or shared public tours. However, we will take Princess tours when the logistics or cost make that a better option. We took one Princess tour on this cruise because the excursion was not available for independent bookings. We also took one independently-booked tour (see Frontier Excursions in the Skagway section below) and toured the other ports on our own.
Other reviews give extensive information on the ship, cabins, food etc. Our reviews are not like that; they are primarily a journal of what we did in the various ports, including links to tourist sites and maps. Because this was our fourth cruise to Alaska but our first review, I have also briefly mentioned what we did in the ports on previous cruises.
We flew United nonstop from RDU to SFO a few days ahead of the cruise to enjoy extra time with our family and get over jet lag. Our DS's college friend and his wife drove in from Arizona, then spent the night before the cruise at our DS's house.
After getting everyone fed and dressed, we managed to cram all eight people and their belongings into two cars and headed off to Pier 35. There was heavy traffic on the Embarcadero and the unloading zone at the pier was very congested when we arrived shortly before noon. Six of us and the luggage were dropped off at the pier while John and DS's college friend went to park the cars. Fortunately, John had reserved two spaces at Ace Parking (www.aceparking.com/san-francisco-cruise-parking/) because they were full and turning away cars without reservations.
Together again, we entered the terminal building, completed the health survey, checked in and went through the security screening. Right after security, there was a table to declare any wine we were carrying onboard. As we had 6 adults and 5 bottles, there were no issues about the wine; our cabin numbers were recorded and after the obligatory Welcome Aboard and security photos we could finally board the ship.
We all headed to our cabins to drop off our carry on baggage. While we waited for everyone to gather at our cabin before heading to lunch, John stuck some of the sparkling wine in the refrigerator to start cooling down before sail away. I called Room Service to change out some of the items in our minibar and requested a large bucket of ice and six champagne flutes.
In the Horizon Court buffet, we commandeered a table big enough for all eight of us while the wait staff rushed to bring high chairs and help get everyone settled. It set the tone for the entire cruise when one of the waiters asked our DDIL, Madame, what can I do to make YOUR vacation relaxing?
Later we all met back at our cabin before the lifeboat drill and returned there afterward for flutes of sparkling wine as we sailed out of San Francisco Bay, enjoying the wonderful views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. As we sailed under the bridge, the wind and waves increased; little did we know that the sea conditions were going to get much worse over the next two days.
Because we had received our requested Early (5:30 p.m.) Traditional Seating, it was soon time for everyone to get freshened up and meet again for dinner. Our table in the Da Vinci dining room was served by Waiter Antonio, Assistant Waiter Ariel, Headwaiter David and Sommelier Mihai; all of them were excellent and made every effort to ensure that we had the best possible dining experience. This voyage offered the Princess wine packages, so we bought a 10-bottle Silver (wines up to $29) and a 10-bottle Gold (wines up to $45) package to share with our DS and DDIL; this was a very cost-effective choice for us.
After dinner, John and I skipped the Welcome Aboard Showtime so that DS and DDIL could put the girls to bed and then bar hop a bit with their friends. We read for awhile, listening over the baby monitor while the girls drifted off to sleep, until DS and DDIL returned and turned off the monitor. Our duty done for the day, we looked forward to a restful night of gentle rocking as the Grand Princess headed north to Juneau.
Unfortunately, the rocking during the night was not so gentle. At about 7 a.m., the Captain made an announcement throughout the ship (including the staterooms, which is unusual): due to the heavy seas he would have to reduce speed and that might adversely impact our arrival time in Juneau. Although John and I have thus far been impervious to seasickness, our DDIL, GDG#2 and DS's college friend were not so lucky. While DGD#2 felt better after a dose of Benadryl, DDIL cannot take Benadryl and was generally miserable most of the day. Experienced cruiser DS's college friend was ill today through the next day and even had to miss tonight's dinner; his newbie cruiser wife had no problems.
Feeling that our higher duty was to take care of the girls while their mom was incapacitated, John and I missed the Cruise Critic roll call Meet & Greet and the Naturalist's talk. Throughout the day, the ship made violent lurches accompanied by shuddering and loud grinding noises; we turned this into a game, with the girls yelling Kaboom!' each time. When we did venture out, we found ship rather deserted, with the Promenade and other outside decks closed and barf bags available at each trash receptacle.
By dinner time, 7/8ths of our group was feeling fine or at least well enough to face dinner. After dinner, we took the girls to the show performed by Bobby Brooks Wilson in tribute to his father. We were able to find seats behind a railing, which allowed the girls to stand up and dance without disturbing the rest of the audience. They both loved this show (we also thought it was very good) and had no trouble falling asleep afterward.
Today the seas were still rough but gradually improving. The Captain finally announced that tomorrow's scheduled port stop in Juneau was canceled and scenic cruising in Endicott Arm Fjord would be substituted.
This morning John and I attended a lecture on whales. The Naturalist presented a lot of information but it could have been organized better and delivered in a more engaging manner.
Tonight was the first formal night and the Captain's Welcome Champagne Waterfall; the girls wore the formal wrap dresses I had made for them. We snacked on chocolate-covered strawberries and sparking wine before dinner. On the way to dinner, we attempted to sit for some formal portraits. However, two wiggly girls equaled out of focus photographs, even with the professional photographer. At dessert time, DGD#1 was surprised with a birthday cake and a serenade from the wait staff. By the time we left the dining room, the Champagne Waterfall was pretty well finished. The girls still had time for some dancing in The Piazza before we headed back to the cabin to listen to white noise over the baby monitor.
MAY 23 (THURS) ENDICOTT ARM FJORD, ALASKA: 5:30 PM to 10 PM (SCENIC CRUISING)
Today we were supposed to be in Juneau (www.traveljuneau.com) from 1-9 p.m., which was less time than on our other three visits. This time, we had planned to accompany our DS's family on the Mt. Robert's Tramway (www.goldbelttours.com/mount-roberts-tramway/) and take some of the trails at the top to the observation platforms; John and I also considered hiking further to Gastineau Peak. On our first visit to Juneau, we took a Princess excursion rafting on the Mendenhall River. On the second visit, we first did the self-guided walking tour of Juneau (www.traveljuneau.com/images/map_downtown_big.jpg). Then we took MGT's Blue Glacier Express bus (mightygreattrips.com/products-page/juneau/mgts-blue-glacier-express-2/) to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where we hiked several short trails and the East Glacier Loop Trail (www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=stelprdb5401520). On our third visit, we took a whale watching tour (booked independently after arrival in port) in the morning and hiked part of the Perseverance Trail (www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/trailNRT/perseverance-AK.html) in the afternoon. For others who are interested in hiking at this port, local trail maps are available at the tourist information centers.
Although we had been looking forward to being on solid (non-lurching) ground today, we were happy to be treated to scenic cruising in Endicott Arm Fjord (nordicquest.com/wordpress/?p=1162). This fjord is visited much less frequently by cruise ships than nearby Tracy Arm Fjord, which we had cruised previously. In the morning, we attended the Naturalist's lecture on glaciers and were reminded that ice in the water can be classified as icebergs (rising more than 13 feet above the water), bergy bits (3-13 feet) and growlers (under 3 feet).
As we approached the fjord, we finally saw a whale back and spout. As we continued into the fjord, we began to see floating ice of various sizes and shapes. Throughout dinner, we had good views of the fjord walls, featuring waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. After dinner, we could enjoy the gorgeous scenery better from the open decks. The ship was not able to approach the end of the fjord very closely, but we could see the Dawes Glacier in the distance. After awhile, we decided to experience the remainder of the return journey from our balcony. Much later in the evening, we passed the Sumdum Glacier, a hanging glacier. Finally, as we reached the entrance to the fjord, it was getting late and John decided to head to bed. Stubbornly still hoping to see more whales, I persevered a bit longer and was reward with a glimpse (through binoculars) of two whale backs followed by two whale tails.
MAY 24 (FRI) SKAGWAY, ALASKA 7 AM to 7:30 PM
Finally, landfall in Skagway (skagway.com)! John and I headed out early to see a waterfall. As we walked along the pier, we saw the coaches of the White Horse & Yukon Route (www.wpyr.com) narrow-gauge railroad waiting to take passengers from our ship up to the White Pass summit. We had taken this excursion on a previous visit to Skagway and enjoyed the views and the historical narration. On that trip, we also took a helicopter tour to the Juneau Icefield that included a walk on a glacier (www.temscoair.com/glacier_discovery.php).
Passing through the town, we got some nice photos of the nearly-empty streets. Our goal this morning was the Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls (www.nps.gov/klgo/planyourvisit/shorterdayhikes.htm). The route to the cemetery detours around the yards of the WP&YR; here we could see more of the rail coaches and locomotives, including a steam locomotive that was being stoked for its weekly excursion to Fraser Meadow, Canada. We finally reached the small, historic cemetery; Lower Reid Falls is accessed from a short trail at the rear of the cemetery. This is a nice waterfall and had a good flow when we were there. The last time we visited Skagway, we had taken the Icy Lake and Upper Reid Falls trail. Although that was a good hike, it is very difficult and dangerous to view the upper falls; it is overgrown and there is no established overlook.
We finished the hike to the lower falls much faster than expected. As we were walking back past the rail yards, we could see the bridge over the Skagway River; we crossed that for some good views. Back on the Skagway side of the river, we walked along the river, around the Ore Terminal and dock, past the Airport Terminal and over the footbridge to the start of the trails to Yakutania Point and Smuggler's Cove. We had also hiked these trails on our last visit, so today we only hiked to Yakutania Point for some photos of the Grand Princess on the other side of the inlet. Now it was time to return downtown for our tour into the Yukon Territory. By now the streets were packed with passengers from the Grand Princess and the other three cruise ships in port.
We booked the 6-hour Yukon Discovery Tour (www.frontierexcursions.com/yukon-discovery.html) independently with Frontier Excursions & Adventures; you can be picked up on the dock or meet the tour in town (as we did). It was lucky that we arrived a bit early because the minibus was fully-booked and we could still get a good seat (on the right side for the outward journey). This tour follows the South Klondike Highway (www.milepost.com/highway_info/so_klondike_highway) into Canada as far as Emerald and Spirit Lakes.
Our driver/guide was Sherri, an actual native Alaskan. She was simply outstanding and succeeded in finding a willow ptarmigan (state bird of Alaska), a hoary marmot, mountain goats and Dall sheep for us as well as a very shy bear and a porcupine. Sherri gave us a map showing the tour route with 13 scenic stops. The stops vary by the guide's choice and the weather; we only had to pass one by without stopping and Sherri substituted a short tour of Carcross. She also postponed several stops until the return trip so that we could avoid the large tour buses. If you have a choice, choose Sherri!
The scenery along this 75-mile (each way) route is spectacular: snow-covered mountains, gushing waterfalls, gorgeous lakes. We stopped for lunch at Caribou Crossing (cariboucrossing.ca). Lunch is included in the tour price and consists of BBQ chicken (leg quarter), coleslaw, roasted potatoes, rolls and their celebrated donuts. I had heard the praises of these donuts sung on Cruise Critic and the batch that was sitting under the warming lights when we arrived certainly disappeared quickly. John managed to snag a couple of those for us but the ones in the fresh, hot batch that came out later were much better (although still nothing to rave about, IMHO). There is also a wildlife museum (many mounted specimens) and a petting zoo included with the tour. The especially interesting part of this attraction is the sled dogs. These are not your typical Husky-looking animals but are athletes who crave running. You can watch the dogs pull a wheeled sled (rides cost extra) and you can play with the puppies. At the end of the tour we had the option of being dropped off at several points in town or back at the dock. In all, this tour was a highlight of our cruise.
Our DS and his family had planned to take the short hike to Lower Dewey Lake. This did not turn out to be feasible with the girls and they spent their shore time exploring the town. DS's college friend's wife was keen to try zip lining, so they took a ship's excursion and enjoyed it very much.
MAY 25 (SAT) GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK: 6 AM to 3 PM (SCENIC CRUISING)
One reason we choose this itinerary was because it visits Glacier Bay. This was our DDIL's first cruise to Alaska and we wanted her (and our DGDs) to experience this spectacular national treasure. John and I were up early to see the boat bringing the National Park Rangers aboard at Bartlett Cove. We also saw a good number of sea otters in the water.
Park maps had been distributed to all of the staterooms last night. As the day progressed, the ship followed the usual route through the bay (www.nps.gov/glba/planyourvisit/cruise.htm) and the Rangers provided a running commentary. The Rangers also set up an information desk and displays in The Conservatory. I had printed out the Pee Wee Ranger Activity Book (www.nps.gov/glba/forkids/beajuniorranger.htm) for DGD#1 and helped her complete it earlier in the cruise. We took the book to the Ranger in the Conservatory, who reviewed it and gave her a Junior Ranger Badge; she also got to touch samples of the fur of many of the animals found in the park. Later, the Rangers held a special event at the Fun Zone where they administered the Pee Wee Ranger oath and gave each child a Glacier Bay patch.
On a previous visit to Glacier Bay at this same time of year, we had seen many icebergs, harbor seals with pups that had recently been born on the icebergs and bald eagles scavenging the seal placentas. This time there was not a lot of ice and we didn't see any seals or eagles. However, we did see a good bit of calving at the Margerie Glacier and were able to progress further up the Johns Hopkins Inlet than on previous visits. Although the ship spends about an hour at the Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers and the Captain rotates the ship so that both sides get good views, we alternated our viewing among our balcony, the Promenade deck and the upper decks.
The production show tonight was Motor City, which John and I had seen and enjoyed before. We thought our GDGs would enjoy the music and dancers, but they were just too tired and their parents took them out after a few numbers. By the time the show was over and we returned to our cabin, the girls were in bed and it was baby monitor / white noise machine time.
MAY 26 (SUN) KETCHIKAN, ALASKA: 8AM to 4:30 PM
This was our third cruise visit to Ketchikan (www.visit-ketchikan.com). On our first visit, we took the ship's boat / floatplane excursion to Misty Fjords National Monument and also had time to walk around town and to hike part of the Deer Mountain Trail (alaskatrekker.com/deermtn.htm). On our second visit, we bought a combo ticket to the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center (now closed) and the Totem Heritage Center (www.city.ketchikan.ak.us/departments/museums/totem.html) and also took the self-guided walking tour (www.experienceketchikan.com/ketchikan-walking-tour.html) around town.
Although we felt that we had already explored Ketchikan pretty thoroughly, we decided to walk along the waterfront to the Liquid Sunshine Gauge, head up Mission St. to Whale Park (gorgeous rhododendron!) and take the Creek St. boardwalk to the Salmon Ladder. We did not see any salmon in the creek, but John spotted a steelhead trout braving the falls at the Salmon Ladder. As we started walking back to the ship, John checked with our DS and learned that his group of six had made it off the ship and were nearby at the Creek St. footbridge. Of course, we could not resist the opportunity to take more photos of our DGDs and the rest of the group, so we met up with them briefly before returning to the ship for our afternoon excursion.
We took only one ship's excursion on this cruise, the Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure with Snorkel Alaska (www.snorkelalaska.com). Our driver, Kevin, whisked 14 of us from the dock to their headquarters, where we were outfitted head-to-toe in 7 mm neoprene: wetsuit, boots, gloves and hood. All of this gear fit me VERY snugly (despite my being totally honest about my height and weight) and I welcomed the help provided by the staff to get it all on. They also provided fins, masks and snorkels. They even had prescription masks that were able to accommodate both me (+1.5) and my extremely-nearsighted (+5) husband.
Next it was back to the bus for the short drive to the snorkeling site at Mountain Point. Those who wanted to free dive were given weights and we took the short, rocky trail down to the shore. As we were heading down to the water, a bald eagle flew by and perched on a light tower right next to us.
John and I usually snorkel and SCUBA dive wearing 3 mm shortie wetsuits. I now learned the disadvantage of wearing all that extra neoprene: in the salt water, even with the weight belt, I was as buoyant as a toy balloon. In fact, I had difficulty remaining seated on a rock in shallow water to don my fins without floating away. Once we started snorkeling, I felt like I was floating on top of the water! Whenever we stopped to view sea life that the snorkel masters brought up for our inspection, I was wafted around by the small waves and light breeze. Oh, for a pair of ankle weights!
Except for being super-buoyant, I did not have any real problems and did not feel particularly cold except on the small area of exposed skin around the mask. The visibility was surprisingly good and would have been outstanding if the sun were shining (which it apparently does once or twice a year in Ketchikan). Our three snorkel masters (Tad, Dylan, and Cassie) were very good and Dylan was particularly adept at free diving to retrieve sea stars, urchins, sea cucumbers, etc. to share with us.
After the snorkeling, Cassie pulled off my fins while I held onto a rock to keep from floating off. Back at the bus, we could remove the hoods, douse our heads with warm water and exchange the weight belts for dry towels. Then it was back to the shop to strip off the rest of the gear and warm up with a hot shower and lots of hot chocolate. This was an excellent opportunity to sample cold water snorkeling with a very professional operation. It was not a strenuous excursion and we would recommend it to water types.
Back at the dock we had time to do a little shopping for Alaska-themed hooded sweatshirts for our DGDs. Today was our 40th wedding anniversary, so at dinner we were serenaded and given a small anniversary cake. John hates being the focus of this kind of attention but I knew our DGDs would love being part of the celebration; he stoically endured it for their sake.
The Princess Grapevine wine tasting was held this afternoon in the Botticelli dining room. As Elite Captain's Circle members, John, I and our DS received complimentary invitations; DS's college friend and his wife also joined us. At one time the wines were the same at every Grapevine but in recent years there has been more variety. We were happy that all of the wines today were new to the Grapevine (except for the ever-present Errazuriz Late Harvest dessert wine). I hope that the rumored elimination of the sommelier position does not mean that Princess will return to a standard set of wines for every Grapevine.
Tonight was the second formal night and the Captain's Circle party for repeat passengers. The Most Traveled passenger had sailed 1,228 days with Princess.
MAY 28 (TUES) VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA: 7 AM to 1:30 PM
With so much to see and do in Victoria (www.tourismvictoria.com), it was disappointing that Princess only allowed 6-1/2 hours of port time. On a previous visit here, we had walked to the Inner Harbour and booked a whale watching tour there (www.princeofwhales.com). Today, we planned to take the public bus to Butchart Gardens.
We were ready to go when passengers were finally allowed to disembark at about 7:30 a.m. The terminal building did not appear open yet but a person was outside distributing maps with several routes to the city center. We took off at top speed up Montreal St., stopping at the Little Gem Grocery (148 Superior) to buy an all-day bus pass (CA$5 pp). From there, we walked to the stop for bus #75 northbound towards Saanichton / Royal Oak (www.bctransit.com/regions/vic/schedules/map.cfm?p=side.txt&line=75&); the bus stop is across the street from rear of the Empress Hotel. If you want to take the public bus, pay close attention to the routes and schedules. Depending on the time of year, the northbound #75 bus may not stop right at the Butchart Gardens and the southbound bus may require a transfer to another line at the Royal Oak interchange. The trip from downtown to Butchart Gardens takes about 50 minutes without a transfer or about 65-75 minutes if you have to transfer.
We arrived at the bus stop with plenty of time to catch the 8 a.m. bus. When we told the driver that we were going to the gardens, he said he would make sure we got off at the correct stop. Our bus stopped just past the entrance drive to the gardens. The bus driver pointed out the direction to go; the entrance kiosk is only about a ¼ mile walk downhill from the bus stop. Note that this is along a narrow street with no sidewalks.
We arrived at the Butchart Gardens (www.butchartgardens.com) entrance kiosk just before the official opening time of 9 a.m., paid the admission fee (which varies by season) and headed off to explore the gardens. Unfortunately, it had started to rain lightly. Although we had come prepared for rain, we were pleased to see that the gardens provide transparent umbrellas for guests to use during their visit.
The map and guide given out at the entrance kiosk shows a suggested path through the gardens. Because we arrived earlier than most of the bus tour groups, the gardens were not crowded and we could enjoy and photograph the colorful plantings without feeling like we were being herded along. There are several themed gardens, fountains and ponds. It's hard to believe that this is a reclaimed quarry! At this time of year, the roses were not yet blooming but the rhododendrons were spectacular. Butchart Gardens is a must-see for anyone who enjoys beautiful flowers.
We completed a leisurely circuit of the gardens in about an hour. The crowds were starting to build up, but we decided to walk the circuit again to take some of the side paths. Our original plan had been to spend about 2-1/2 hours (a minimum of 1-1/2 hours is recommended) in the gardens and return to the ship via bus #75 bus with a transfer to bus #31 (which stops right at the entrance to the port). However, after 2 hours we felt that we had seen enough of the gardens and leaving earlier would give us some time to visit the Inner Harbour area. Once we were back downtown, we took a few photos before heading back to the ship along the waterfront, where we saw a sea lion swimming in the harbor. Back at the port, we walked out on the Ogden Point Breakwater for a good view of the Grand Princess and spotted another sea lion swimming near the rocks.
Our DS's friend and his wife enjoyed walking around downtown Victoria, but our DS and his family never made it off the ship. We had suggested that they go to Beacon Hill Park (www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/parks/beacon-hill.html), which has play areas and a petting zoo. However, the short time in port made it too hard to get everyone organized.
We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the scenery from our balcony. I saw a whale spout but it was gone before John had a chance to see it.
This morning we attended the Culinary Show, which is always fun, but skipped the Galley Tour. A bit later we attended the Most Traveled Passenger luncheon in the Botticelli dining room. We were at table #3 with the Chief Engineer, so we ranked somewhere in the middle of the top 40. The food was excellent, as usual. The rest of the day, we packed and enjoyed our last day aboard. I saw some dolphins but they were gone before I could call John to see them.
This morning we got everyone together in the Explorers Lounge to await our disembarkation time. Disembarkation went smoothly and we had no problems finding our luggage in the terminal. Once we were outside, it seemed smarter to walk the 2 blocks to the parking garage instead of trying to load the cars at the dock. This proved to be a wise decision because it took a half-hour to get everything and everybody packed back into the cars.
Eventually we were on our way. After enjoying a few more days with our DS and his family (plus some short side trips to Yosemite and Sonoma County), we were ready to head back to RDU on United's nonstop flight and get back to work on the plans for our next Princess cruise.


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Summer Arts Program
Presented by United South End Settlements' Children's Art Centre
June 23 - August 29, 2014
Full day vacation programming for children ages 4.5 - 12.
Session 1: June 23 - July 3, 2014*............$425 (*Closed July 4, 2014)
Session 2: July 7 - 18, 2014.....................$475
Session 3: July 21 - August 1, 2014.........$475
Session 4: August 4 - 15, ...more
I'll Leave You With This
Presented by ImprovBoston at ImprovBoston Theatre
August 22 - August 29, 2014
Sam Ike and Kaitlin Buckley join forces to bring some of Boston's hottest stand up comics to the ImprovBoston stage for hilarious, 30 minute ...more
William Devry and Ryan Paevey
Presented by Laugh Boston at Laugh Boston
August 30, 2014
William Devry and Ryan Paevey from ABC's "General Hospital". Will plays "Julian Jerome" and Ryan plays ...more
Soul Sessions xix The Lotus Garden
Presented by 1 O O O V I R T U E S D A N C E at ZuZu @ The Middle East
August 31, 2014
1 O O O V I R T U E S D A N C E presents Soul Sessions, a home for artists of any style to come together to express current themes in a creative ...more
Bread and Roses Heritage Festival
Presented by Bread and Roses Heritage Committee, Inc.
September 1, 2014
This open-air Festival for the whole family is a free, social justice event with great ethnic food, arts and crafts, community workshops, music, ...more
Greater Boston Theatre Expo 2014
Presented by Greater Boston Theatre Expo 2014 Organizing Committee at BCA Cyclorama
September 9, 2014
More than 60 Greater Boston theatre companies of all styles and sizes will unite on Tuesday, September 9 in the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for ...more
Embracing the Journey of Spanish Jewry: An Evening of Music, A Fusion of Traditions
Presented by Vilna Shul. Boston's Center for Jewish Culture. Inc
September 14, 2014
From Spain to Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Israel, South America, Mexico, Cuba and the United States, the dispersion of Sephardic Jewry led to a ...more
Under Milk Wood: A Centennial Celebration
Presented by The Poets' Theatre at Sanders Theatre
September 14, 2014
The historic Poets' Theatre celebrates its return with a gala celebration in honor of the Dylan Thomas Centennial. Under Milk Wood, ...more

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Twin Tips: Ski Technology
The skiing at Canyons Resort is so good right now. There is lots of new snow in the mountains with 26″ of fresh snow over the weekend. One of the things that makes powder skiing even better is to use some ski technology. Not just cool skis and boots – but actual technology. Here are [...]Read more


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Email: firstname.lastname@example.com | Twitter: @WWLTV
NEW ORLEANS - The weather should be great this weekend for a ride aboard the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River.
You can cruise with your crew on the Steamboat Natchez enjoying face-painting from Papillion and, of course, food.
We were in the kitchen with Steamboat Natchez Sous Chef Joey Labella and Adrienne Thomas.
You can join in on the Family Fun Cruise on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Boarding begins at 11 a.m.
For more information, log onto neworleanssteamboat.com.


text:
Below are tutorials and help sheets for various electronic resources For more information on using electronic resources, please visit our Classes page or contact us.
If you have comments or suggestions for improving our help sheets and tutorials, please send them to email@example.com.
help sheet
Video Tutorials
Finding Full Text Articles (duration - 5:26)
help sheet


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To upload to the Creations gallery you must sign in or sign up for a LEGO ID account.
LEGO, the LEGO logo, DUPLO, LEGENDS OF CHIMA, MINDSTORMS, MIXELS and the Minifigure are trademarks and/or copyrights of the LEGO Group. ©2014 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use.


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OS X Dashboard Widget
Weather applications for your computer.
Current version: 1.42
The official Weather Underground weather widget for Mac OS X. Receive weather conditions, animated radar, forecasts, severe weather alerts, web cams and Wunderphotos for any location in the world -- delivered right to your desktop.
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Download the Mac OS X Dashboard widget
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Our room was fantastic. The bed and bedding was the best we had ever slept on. We both wanted to bring it all home with us. We had an ocean view cabin that I just loved looking out of. Our steward was so helpful and left us the most adorable towel animals. Any problem or question we had he took care of or told us who could help.
We did 2 different shore excursions. The first one was in Cozumel where we went to swim with the dolphins. This was the most amazing thing we have ever done. Yes it was a little pricey but in my opinion well worth it. Those animals are totally incredible. The other was in Progresso where we went to play 18 holes of golf. It was extremely hot and humid that day and we only made it through 9 holes. It was a beautiful course and for those who truly love golf I would highly recommend it.
We are definitely going to do this again.


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Route Guide - iPhone / Android - Partners - Forum - Photos - Deals - What's New - School of Rock
Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
This is one of my favorites. Starts out good hands and slowly narrows to thin hands and eventually fingerstacks, which is the crux. It then pulls a cool traverse to a rest and finishes on a #3 Camalot sized crack through a roof. This route is found on the leftmost prow of Cat Wall. Don't miss it!
Heavy on hands, thin hands, and wide fingers sizes. A few smaller pieces but nothing micro or bigger than a #3 Camalot.


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Isaiah Trufant's family ties helped Jet CB hold firm
SEATTLE – Isaiah Trufant has used the typical mantra to downplay his homecoming this weekend, repeatedly saying today's Jets game against the Seahawks here at CenturyLink Field merely is a "business trip."
He's right. The family business, that is.
Trufant, a second-year cornerback who took a long road to get to the NFL, will be playing for the first time against a team for which his older brother, Marcus, plays. Marcus Trufant is in his 10th season as a cornerback for the Seahawks.
And as if that weren't enough, younger brother Desmond was set to play for the University of Washington against Utah on Saturday night on the same field.
Desmond is a starting cornerback for the Huskies, who are using the Seahawks' facility this season while their on-campus stadium is being renovated. The Trufants are from nearby Tacoma.
"It's a good feeling to go back and be able to showcase [yourself] for your friends and family at a professional level," Isaiah Trufant said, "but like I
said, it's a business trip. After the game you can see all the friends and family you want. … My focus is not really the brother against brother or anything like that."
But no matter how much he tries to shrug off the occasion, it certainly is a big deal to his family. His parents, Constance and Lloyd, will be there, as usual. As Isaiah noted, the family has its own private suite at the stadium. Apparel representing the Jets and Seahawks will abound, including half-Jets, half-Seahawks jerseys.
"My parents never gave up on me throughout the years," Isaiah said. "They always had my back and helped me whether it was financially or anything to help me through the minor leagues. Just financially and mentally, being there for me 100 percent."
That's because Isaiah took a much more circuitous route to the NFL than Marcus, who starred at Washington State and was drafted by the Seahawks with the 11th overall pick in 2003. Isaiah played at lower-level Eastern Washington and toiled in Arena2 and the UFL. It was in the latter league where he caught the attention of the Jets, who signed him to their practice squad in 2010. He actually was promoted to the active roster for the playoff win over New England in January 2011, but was waived afterward.
He was signed by Philadelphia, but waived by the Eagles, too. The Jets re-signed him and he made an impact in last season's opener, returning a blocked punt for a crucial touchdown in a win over Dallas.
He has been getting more playing time at corner lately, and was impressive at New England on Oct. 21, helping hold Wes Welker in check.
Marcus told reporters last week he is "proud" of his brother. Isaiah also is grateful for his brother's support, tangibly and emotionally, during the lean times in the minor leagues.
"He helped me out with a lot of things," Isaiah said, "whether it was rent or financial payments. He helped me out and gave me the opportunity to keep shooting for my dream."
Did Isaiah ever have a deadline for giving up on his goal?
"I really didn't have a drop-dead date," he said, "but you get that reality feeling when it's time."
Fortunately for Isaiah, that time didn't come. And after all he went through to get to this point, he takes nothing for granted.
"My mind-set," he said, "is I've got to try to keep my life and my situation where I'm at. I'm playing a fun game [that] I love to play and I want to keep doing that."
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Age limiting the sign up process
Does anyone have any ideas how you might go about placing an age limit on a drop down box for the sign up process? I have an 'additional fields' form for age as a date selector, however, I would like it so that if a user picks a date less than a certain amount of years they get a warning saying they can't sign up.
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2011-12 Women's Tennis
|Oshowa, Canada
|Edison Academies
As A Senior (2013-14)
Posted an overall singles record of 2-1 going 1-0 in the fifth position and 1-1 in the sixth … beat Caroline Anderson from Iowa State, 6-2, 6-3 … defeated Melanie Urvoy from Louisiana Tech 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9) … went 5-10 playing No. 3 doubles with a 2-3 mark in Atlantic Sun play.
As A Junior (2012-13)
While playing in the No. 2 spot for FGCU, went 6-12 and 2-6 against A-Sun competition ... In the No. 2 doubles spot for a majority of the season, finished with a 7-7 mark and a solid 4-2 record in conference doubles play ... Collected singles wins against Iowa State (Feb. 18, St. John's (Feb. 26) and two A-Sun members in Northern Kentucky (Mar. 16) and Mercer (Mar. 22).
As A Sophomore (2011-12)
Competed in all 21 matches in the spring … finished with a 12-15 overall singles record and a 5-3 mark in A-Sun action … went 9-9 in dual matches, including three non-conference wins … had a five-match doubles win streak from Mar. 7-Mar. 23 … earned 16 doubles victories, including a 5-4 A-Sun mark … posted a 14-7 doubles record in dual matches, teamed with Evans at No. 2 doubles … had a 13-3 record at No. 2 doubles ... picked up three wins in the fall by defeating Denise Van Der Ben (New Mexico State), Cristina Valladares (Barry) and Olga Leyshyna (Northwestern State of LA) … had a 6-8 record at No. 6 singles and a 3-1 mark at the No. 5 spot … took down A-Sun foes Katerine Cooper (Mercer), Harjit Gosal (Jacksonville), Jen Miller (Stetson), Danielle Hansen (Lipscomb), Laura Stack (Belmont) and a win against Jacksonville's Virginia Iwinski in the A-Sun tournament … ended the season with a six-match winning streak from Mar. 31-April 21 … clinched a 4-3 comeback win against Stetson by defeating Miller in three sets, FGCU's first-ever win against the Hatters …helped the Eagles earn a No. 3 seed in their first-ever A-Sun tournament … ended the doubles slate with four-straight wins partnering with Jen Evans.
As A Freshman (2010-11)
Participated in all 18 matches in the spring … finished with a 9-9 overall singles record and a 4-6 mark in Atlantic Sun action … held a 9-8 doubles record with a 4-6 A-Sun tally … opened collegiate career on a three-match winning streak with No. 6 singles wins over FAU (Feb. 12), Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 13) and FAMU (Feb. 20) … recorded her first A-Sun singles win against USC Upstate (March 5) … went on a season-high five-match winning streak with a win over Mercer (March 12), a three-set win against George Washington (March 14), A-Sun victories against Belmont (March 17) and Lipscomb (March 19) and another three-setter against UMBC (March 21), all in the No. 6 singles position … opened the doubles slate with three wins at No. 2 while paired with Bettina Botha, defeating FAU, Bethune-Cookman and FAMU … notched an A-Sun doubles win against USC Upstate, teamed with Morgan Bechtel at No. 2 … also added five-straight doubles victories with Bechtel at No. 2 against Mercer, George Washington, Belmont, Lipscomb and UMBC.
Undecided major ... daughter of Mirjana Mandic and Tony Smith ... chose FGCU because of the team chemistry and the chance to play Division I tennis
|Copyright ©2014 FGCU Athletics. All Rights Reserved.


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As more airline passengers express their concerns over the Transportation Security Administration's recent announcement to let pocket knives back onto planes, it's now the CEO of Delta opposing that decision.
After more than a decade of being banned, TSA officials have decided to allow pocket knives back on airliners.
Some passengers we talked to Sunday say they were caught off guard by the decision.
"When we think about safety and the whole reason to remove certain utensils from the airports it was a little bit of surprise that they would then reverse course," said passenger Hasan Kwame-Jefferies.
The decision was made after TSA officials determined that officers could better concentrate on finding explosive devices, especially in liquids, rather than looking for the knives.
"I would feel more comfortable if people were able to carry their soaps and lotions and perfumes rather than a pocket knife," said Kwame-Jefferies.
Now, Delta CEO Richard Anderson is expressing his opinion of the decision saying there are "legitimate concerns" for flight attendants.
Not all passengers feel the same way.
"I've lost several pocket knives going on planes just because I need them for my work and if I forget to put them in my checked luggage then they're gone," said passenger John Baptist.
Baptist believes pocket knives should be allowed on planes and supports the TSA's decision.
"I think a lot of the stuff that's not allowed on planes and not allowed on planes is really more of a theater of fear," said Baptist.
Some just don't see it that way and hopes Delta can be beacon for other airliners to follow.
"I hope other airlines will follow suit and say this doesn't quite make that much sense," said Kwame-Jefferies.
The ban will be lifted April 25th.
Golf clubs, bats and hockey sticks will also be allowed on planes again.
Copyright 2013 WALB. All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 3130
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text:
Secretary of Defense: ISIS "Clearly Poses a Long-Term Threat"
Missouri Governor Orders National Guard to Leave Ferguson
US Launches Six More Airstrikes Against ISIS
Jihadist in James Foley Execution Video Has British Accent
President Obama Responds to the Execution of James Foley
US Intelligence Confirms ISIS Video Is Authentic
Rick Perry Turns Himself in for Arraignment
Obama Hopes National Guard Troops Used in 'Limited' Way in Ferguson, MO
Obama Gives Ann Compton Last Question, Fond Farewell
Rick Perry Calls Abuse of Power Charges a 'Farce'
Will Gov. Perry Get 'Texas Sized Justice?'
Donna Brazile: Can't Erase Centuries of Racial Animosity Overnight
Gov. Jay Nixon 'Thunderstruck' By Images of Militarized Police
Should Obama Do More to Help Ferguson?
Rick Perry Indicted on Felony Charges


text:
Dareda Mueller, left, and her son Jordan, wash dishes after the family's dinner together in the home they manage for Showhomes in Tampa, Fla. Showhomes' "home managers" are an elite crew of middle-class nomads tasked with keeping the luxury homes they live in immaculate to the point of not looking lived-in at all. It is, as company executives called it, "a very different, very difficult life."
Often, the window treatments are one of the last things we do when we decorate a room, but a room just isn't until the curtain call.
The Seattle Times Network: seattletimes.com | Jobs | Autos | Homes | Classifieds | Rentals | Personals
Copyright © The Seattle Times | Advertise with us | Privacy statement | Terms of service


text:
A salt water spill in Billings County has reached a creek north of Belfield. An estimated 150 barrels of brine water were released from a disposal site,
with some of the brine water reaching Blacktail Creek. The release was reported by
Encore Energy Partners Operating LLC on Wednesday.
The spill is located on U.S. Forest Service. The Forest
Service is the lead agency overseeing the clean-up.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>


text:
|National Football League
|All Sports
|Player News
|Latest News
|Dec. 25 8:06 PM PT9:06 PM MT10:06 PM CT11:06 PM ET4:06 GMT12:06 AM 北京时间9:06 PM MST11:06 PM EST10:06 PM CT8:06 UAE23:06 ET2:06 - Chargers rookie coach Mike McCoy says he expects Mathews to play against the Kansas City Chiefs despite missing practice Wednesday because of an injured left ankle.
Analysis: For Mathews, drafted 12th overall in 2010, it would be his first season without missing a game. He has rushed for a career-high 1,111 yards in helping the Chargers (8-7) stay in playoff contention.
|Dec. 23 10:44 AM PT11:44 AM MT12:44 PM CT1:44 PM ET18:44 GMT2:44 AM 北京时间11:44 AM MST1:44 PM EST12:44 PM CT22:44 UAE13:44 ET16:44 - Mathews ran for 99 yards and a touchdown in a win Sunday over Oakland.
Analysis: His bounce-back year continues as he's now up to a career-high 1,111 rushing yards with a game to play.
|Dec. 9 10:29 AM PT11:29 AM MT12:29 PM CT1:29 PM ET18:29 GMT2:29 AM 北京时间11:29 AM MST1:29 PM EST12:29 PM CT22:29 UAE13:29 ET16:29 - Mathews ran for 103 yards and a TD on 29 carries against the Giants on Sunday.
Analysis: He's averaged 81.4 yards and scored all four of his rushing TDs in the last eight contests.
|Nov. 18 11:44 AM PT12:44 PM MT1:44 PM CT2:44 PM ET19:44 GMT3:44 AM 北京时间12:44 PM MST2:44 PM EST1:44 PM CT23:44 UAE14:44 ET17:44 - In Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, Mathews ran 19 times for 127 yards.
Analysis: The 127 yards on the ground were the second-most rushing yards in a game for Mathews in his career. The only game to top it was on Nov. 27, 2011, when he ran for 137 yards in a loss to the Broncos.
|Nov. 11 2:19 PM PT3:19 PM MT4:19 PM CT5:19 PM ET22:19 GMT6:19 AM 北京时间3:19 PM MST5:19 PM EST4:19 PM CT2:19 UAE (+1)17:19 ET20:19 - Mathews ran for 59 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-20 loss to Denver.
Analysis: After a disappointing showing in Week 9, Mathews made the most of his 14 carries against the Broncos. He has now posted at least 10 fantasy points in three of his last four games.
|Oct. 21 11:48 AM PT12:48 PM MT1:48 PM CT2:48 PM ET18:48 GMT2:48 AM 北京时间11:48 AM MST1:48 PM EST1:48 PM CT22:48 UAE14:48 ET16:48 - Mathews ran 21 times for 110 yards and a score against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Analysis: After a slow start, Mathews is the AFC's third-leading rusher after back-to-back 100-yard performances. The yards-per-carry - 4.1 - isn't particularly impressive, but owners will take 20-plus carries any day.
|Oct. 15 2:33 PM PT3:33 PM MT4:33 PM CT5:33 PM ET21:33 GMT5:33 AM 北京时间2:33 PM MST4:33 PM EST4:33 PM CT1:33 UAE (+1)17:33 ET20:33 - Mathews had a season-high 102 yards on 22 carries in San Diego's 19-9 win over Indianapolis on Monday night.
Analysis: The Chargers running back bounced back nicely after suffering a concussion in a loss at Oakland the previous week. He averaged 46.8 yards in his first five games. Mathews has yet to find the end zone but Monday's effort is promising.
|Oct. 7 10:19 AM PT11:19 AM MT12:19 PM CT1:19 PM ET17:19 GMT1:19 AM 北京时间10:19 AM MST12:19 PM EST12:19 PM CT21:19 UAE13:19 ET16:19 - Mathews suffered a concussion in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Raiders.
Analysis: His status going forward is uncertain.
|Sep. 16 6:55 PM PT7:55 PM MT8:55 PM CT9:55 PM ET1:55 GMT9:55 AM 北京时间6:55 PM MST8:55 PM EST8:55 PM CT5:55 UAE (+1)21:55 ET0:55 - Mathews rushed for 73 yards and a fumble in Sunday's 33-30 win at Philly.
Analysis: Once heralded as the next big fantasy weapon, Mathews is anything but and can't be trusted to put up anything more than pedestrian numbers.
|Sep. 10 10:21 AM PT11:21 AM MT12:21 PM CT1:21 PM ET17:21 GMT1:21 AM 北京时间10:21 AM MST12:21 PM EST12:21 PM CT21:21 UAE13:21 ET16:21 - Ryan Mathews caught a 14-yard TD pass on San Diego's first snap Monday.
Analysis: Mathews scored, but he caught one other pass and ran 13 times for 33 yards. He's still probably nothing more than a flex play in most leagues.


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Here is my 1st ranking of the year of the top 200 fantasy football players. There has been a ton of movement this off season, including the chaotic organization called the Patriots. As you see, I have dropped Brady into mid 5th round, with Amendola around the same and Gronkowski into the 9th. All this is due to Amendola and Gronkowski injury issues and Brady's lack of weapons as well as his advanced age.
When braking down the numbers and players this early, in a snake draft there is no way I will not go RB/RB in 1st 2 rounds unless Megatron somehow is at the bottom of the 2nd. There is just way too much uncertainty in the RB position as well as crazy depth at QB and I see a ton of value at WR in rounds 4-8.
As far as the Rams, I will probably not end up with any of their players. Bradford should be better, but still see him between 15-20 as a fantasy QB, the RB situation is too much in the air and I think may change week to week. I also see the receptions spread out amongst 4-5 guys. I actually like the defense the most but that is another article later in the summer.
I only ranked skill players for this list as I think defenses can be taken anywhere but high in a draft as success the year before rarely equals success the next year.
We will update this list in the beginning of August and then once a week
Please feel free to discuss or ask any relevant ranking questions.


text:
NO to DAYS schedule change on SoapNet!
Dear SoapNet, We do not like the new schedule putting Days of Our Lives at 6am and 7pm ET. The fans want it back to a timeslot of 10pm-12am ET. 90210 belongs in the afternoon! Thank you, Days Fans
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For a while, it seemed like Belarus might hang around, giving Finland a flashback of horrors to the 2002 Games. It was then that little Belarus, a former Soviet republic where a young girls' strange exotic journey to Minsk took place, stunned Sweden in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament with a one goal victory.
An Olli Jokinen goal gave the Finns an early lead and Niklas Hagman scored late in the first to make it a two goal cushion. But just 21 seconds into the second, Sergei Kostitsyn of the Montreal Canadiens made the score 2-1. Momentum swing. Ut oh.
Luckily, though, the Finns still had Hagman lurking around, and with about three minutes left in the second, he put another one by Belarusian goaltender Vitali Koval to make it 3-1. That opened the flood gates, and in the third the Finns came out and scored two more to put away the pesky little unknown nation with just two current NHL players on their roster.
Belarus may have had a better fate if they didn't take so many penalties in this one. They were running around for most of the game, laying down a ton of body checks. But they crossed the line a few too many times and took some penalties as a result. It also didn't help that the Finns were in their end for almost the entire game as evidenced by the final shot total -- 45 to 12 in favor of Finland.
Still, by hanging on for most of the game, Belarus proved that with a hot goaltender and an opportunistic offense, these small nations can hang with the big guns in the tourna


text:
CODEshow - Introduction to MongoDB
MongoDB is the leading NoSQL database. MongoDB's open-source, document-oriented technology is popular among both developers and IT professionals given its agile and scalable approach.
CODEshow - Intro to MongoDB - Asya Kamsky from CHARLESTON DIGITAL CORRIDOR on Vimeo.
(Note: Opinions expressed in this article and its replies are the opinions of their respective authors and not those of DZone, Inc.)


text:
Global Outlooks
About Paul Dietrich
Foxhall Capital Management
Your search for
identify trends
returned the following results.
Will Gas And Oil Prices Keep Rising?
Posted December 31, 2007
0 Comments
My clients keep asking me if oil and gasoline prices are going to continue to rise. Will they ever go back down? In the long run, oil and gas prices will continue to go up and Americans must prepare themselves to spend a higher percentage of their household budgets in the future on gasoline, heating oil and food (more about food in another issue of this newsletter). Oil and gas prices are being driven by two LONG-TERM INVESTING TRENDS.
read more
Foxhall Global Outlook,
Foxhall Capital Management,
Paul Dietrich,
long term investmant trends,
oil prices,
trade defecit,
supply & demand,
economic expansion,
U.S. dollar,
highway system
Risk Management
Posted January 19, 2010
6 Comments
The primary goal of Foxhall Capitals investment philosophy and our Offensive-Defensive Investment Strategy is designed to limit and minimize any significant loss in our clients investment portfoliosespecially during historically volatile transition periods coming out of a bear market/recession.
read more
Foxhall Global Outlook,
Paul Dietrich,
Foxhall Capital Management,
Long-term bull market,
risk management,
global trends,
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China's Super Cycle
Posted August 18, 2008
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Discovering a potentially lucrative super cycle, Dietrich thinks, is a lot easier than uncovering -- and investing early in -- the next mega-company such as Google. Super cycles reflect long-term trends based on global transformations, demographics, supply and demand pressures. Some examples: health care, because of the aging boomer population; and energy and food, because of swelling demand from emerging economies.
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How Does Foxhall Consider Investments?
Posted April 22, 2008
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One of the ways we consider investments at FOXHALL CAPITAL is by trying to find and invest in long-term trends in the global marketplace. I often call these long-term trends, GLOBAL SUPERCYCLES. Recently, at the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM in Davos, Switzerland, Herb Meyer gave an important lecture to a very select group of invited global CEOs of major international corporations on some of the KEY GLOBAL TRENDS, unfortunately not often covered in the mainstream media.
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The New Bull Market Has Begun!
Posted July 24, 2009
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As of today, July 24, 2009 Foxhall Capital is switching to its Offensive Investment Strategy for stock markets in the United States, Europe and other Developed Markets and for the Pacific Rim and Emerging Markets. Our proprietary Foxhall Capital Trend Recognition Technology indicators have formally reversed this week from a bear market to a bull market. (See Chart 1) These historic trend directional changes only happen four to six times in a decade
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Stock Market Update: The Summer Doldrums
Posted June 2, 2011
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One of the characteristics of the summer doldrums is that the stock market tends to go up and down during this period in a side-ways pattern. That is what we are seeing right now.
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Is the Summer Stock Market Correction Over?
Posted July 6, 2011
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Since the stock market started to decline in late April, I have been telling readers of this Foxhall Global Outlook that we were experiencing a normal and healthy stock market correctionand that is what it has turned out to be.
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Foxhall Capitals View On The Debt Ceiling Political Drama
Posted July 19, 2011
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A number of people have asked me will Foxhall Capital employ any defensive measures, like going to cash if our brave political leaders continue to play chicken with the debt ceiling.
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An Investment Paradox for 2012
Posted March 2, 2012
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Oscar Wilde once said, "To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect." TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED may be the best advice for investors in 2012.
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Stock Market UpdateFoxhall Stays Cautious & Defensive!
Posted June 12, 2012
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After the elections in Greece next week, stock markets will be on another financial crisis deathwatch, as speculation will grow as to when Greece will default on its remaining debt and leave the euro-zone.
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5 Long-term Investment Mega-trends That Will Change America & the World!
Posted March 27, 2013
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As the United States is slowly emerging from what has been called the Great Recession, investors need to clearly distinguish the differences between the U.S. economy and the U.S. stock market. They are very different and cannot be thought of in the same way.
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When Do You Think Commodities And Asian Markets Will Start Going Up?
Posted September 4, 2008
31 Comments
At Foxhall Capital we follow trends rather than try to predict short-term stock market ups and downs. People tend to have short memoriesIn August 2007, oil prices dropped about 20%just as they have this year after first climbing to new highs. I remember receiving calls from investors asking if they should move their portfolios out of commodities like oil and gold.
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About Paul Dietrich
Paul Dietrich is the Chairman, CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Foxhall Capital Management, Inc. (Foxhall). Foxhall currently manages investments for individuals, mutual funds and private institutions throughout the United States. Paul Dietrich is also a portfolio manager to a publicly traded mutual fund, the Foxhall Global Trends Fund.
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Brand New Ocean View Home near Conchal in Playa Conchal
- bedrooms 6
- baths 6½
- sleeps 14
- pool yes
- hot tub no
- pets allowed no
- type House
- community Montanas de Conchal
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 1,750 - $ 6,000 / week
vacation rental description
Welcome to Casa Brisas del Mar (Sea breezes) This beautiful,
newly built eco-modern style luxury home with 3 guest suites is situated on a
1/2 acre lot in the private and secure Montanas de Conchal gated community.
Incredible ocean views from every room on every level! Ideal location only a
short 10-12 minute walk to Playa Conchal (Puerto Viejo). Short drive to
Pirate's Bay and Playa Minas. Tamarindo and Playa Grande are located 15 to 20
minutes away by car. If you want a true Costa Rican vacation away from it all
and amongst nature and pristine beaches, look no further!
This home has beautiful tropical landscaped gardens and
private infinity edge swimming pool. Main house is two- stories and has 2,500 Sq. ft. of living space, 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, fully furnished and air conditioned in all the
bedrooms and living areas. Beautiful 25 foot ceilings in living room and dining room that leads into the large kitchen area with polished concrete countertops, all new appliances. Volume ceilings throughout the house, laundry room, 2 Car Garage,WiFi, Satellite TV, and phone.
Detached guest suites (total of 3 separate guest suites
that have their own private entrance and balcony) have 300 square feet of
living space each and feature full bathroom. All guest suites are air
conditioned and have an amazing ocean view. Main home can be rented alone or in together with either one, two or all three of the detached guest suite apartments. Daily maid service included in rate
(except Sunday). The option to rent the main home alone is available or rent
the entire property together for your group. Very private setting on over an
acre 1/2 acre of land with your own private pool and plenty of space to relax.
We strongly suggest a 4x4 vehicle to get around the area. The nearest town of
Matapalo is 2 miles away and there is no public transportation in our immediate
area until you arrive in the town of Matapalo.
Great for large groups or families wanting a vacation
home in a Costa Rican, tropical paradise by the beach in the beautiful northern
pacific side of the Guanacaste region. Guanacaste is well known for its beauty
and temperate dry weather and incredible beach sunsets.
Let us help you with your Tour reservations, fishing
charters, rental car reservations, in home chef services, and real estate
assistance at NO additional charge. We receive preferred corporate rates on
transportation and tours. Private, professional pick-up and drop-off service
available for an additional fee to and from the Liberia International Airport
or the San Jose International Airport. **Inquire about our last minute specials
and SAVE $$$!**
If you see we do not have availability for the dates you
would like, please email us--we manage several other properties in the area and
may be able to assist.
vacation rental location
property availability
- dates with deals
- unavailable dates
Last modified on 09-2-2014 at 4:11 PM.
email owner view full calendar
Keith Clower (813)579-3350
house rental amenities
- Maid service included
- Wifi
- Satellite TV
- A/C in all bedrooms
- Phone (free local calls)
- Gated community
- Beach towels provided
- Fully stocked kitchen
- Private infinity edge pool
- Hair dryer
- Safe
- Ipod Dock
activities and attractions in Playa Conchal Costa Rica
Many great activities in the area such as:
- Atv Tours
- Horseback riding
- Catamaran Tours
- Hiking
- Deep sea fishing
- Surf lessons
- Kayaking
- Estuary tours
- Beach Tours
- Canopy/zipline tours
- Mountain biking
vacation rental rates
Rates for Main Home (3 Bedroom, 3.5 Baths):
High Season (Dec 15-Apr 30) …… $350/night (5 night min).. $2150/week
Green Season I (May 01-Aug31) … $300/night (5 night min) .. $1950/week
Green Season II (Sep 01-Dec 14) .. $275/night (3 night min) ..$1750/week
Christmas, Easter, New Years…$4,500/wk (1 week minimum)
Main home can be rented alone OR together with guest suites. Add $50 processing fee plus sales tax to above rates. Maid service included 6x/wk. 50% down to reserve.
Keith Clower (813)579-3350
accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.Learn more in our Security Center
Top things to do in Playa Conchal
- Visit the beach
- Catamaran tour
- Atv Tours
- Horseback riding
- Visit local 'sodas'
Top things to do on a budget
- Visit the area beaches
- Surf
- Hike the area parks
- Visit Rincon de la vieja volcano
- Eat at local sodas
Top things to do with a family
- Catamaran tours
- Atv Tours
- Visit national parks
- Estuary tours
- Visit area beaches
Keith Clower , owner


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Le Petite Spa and Beauty
Every girl dreams of being a princess, and with our young team at Le Petite Spa and Beauty we will glam up your little darlings and her friends with our popular and exciting parties!
At Le Petite Spa and Beauty, we allow YOU to choose what pamper treatments you want from our large selection and allow YOU to create your own package. We do not restrict parents and their daughters from choosing only one pamper package when creating your own will make the party so much more unique.
Our selection of pampers include: hair-do, facial mask, toes and finger nails parted, nail art, foot spa and make-up. We create an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere and include robes, champagne flutes, creams and more for the girls to enjoy.
Our parties are not only all about the pampering; we include an activity or gift with each function and each child will receive a take home gift bag to enjoy.
Le Petite Spa and Beauty are designed for girls who love getting pampered and are aged between 5 - 13 years old.
If you're on a budget or would like us to make some special arrangements please contact us as we are more than happy to cater for everyone.
Click "Visit Website" for more information or to make a booking call us on: 0403 541 668.
Contact: 0403 541 668


text:
5 Series DIY
Knowledge Is Power! ~ The place for do-it-yourself threads on a variety of topics. Start a thread describing a particular job (oil change, cooling system overhaul, brakes, shocks and springs, etc.) or search for one you need help with!
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2002 530i filling radiator often radiator leak
Hello & Thanks in advance for you advice! I admit I am not very knowledgeable re cars. My check coolant light started coming on a few weeks ago on my '02 530i with about 87K miles on my well maintained BMW. Coolant level appeared low, so I called my regular mechanic and he advised filling with regular water, within about 6 inches to the top, since I did not have special BMW coolant to put in. I drove the hour to take the car to him, watching the temperature gauge carefully. He checked the car over and put it on the lift. He pressure tested and No leak found. He did show me where some connecting hoses underneath where beginning to "swell" near their connections & said those wearing hoses would eventually need to be replaced. He checked the block and found a very slight color change to the test fluid, which he said could mean that I eventually may need to replace the head gasket. He put ceramic sealer in the radiator, to see if that would correct the problem. At this point, I keep checking the radiator level before every drive, and have to fill with water from no water needed or up to 1.75 of the small bottles of water. Temperature gauge has always remained at 12 O'clock. There are faint dry white stains that seem to emanate from the radiator cap area and onto the fan and engine. Questions: Should I really be topping off with regular water? What is causing the problem? Should I just continue to top off with regular water or other, and watch the temperature gauge, and carry water with me, and see if the problem goes away? All advice is appreciated, even if you advise me it might be time to sell or trade my Beemer in....
Last edited by carcafe; 06-03-2012 at 11:01 AM. Reason: Added ceramic sealant
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Did you ever receive a response? I'm having the same issue.
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Same Problem Fixed
Last edited by heygar; 06-18-2014 at 11:46 PM. Reason: duplicate post
Same Problem Fixed
I had the same coolant symptom issues. Slow leak, dried water marks around radiator cap, fan shroud and valve cover. Also erratic heat. Turned out to be two sources of the problem. First was a small radiator leak on the driver side seam, nearly undetectable. Try removing the splash pan beneath the engine, thoroughly cleaning and re-installing, and look where coolant first drips onto top of splash pan (not where coolant ends up). Had to replace radiator. Second was a very small hairline crack on overflow reservoir, again nearly undetectable, only becoming apparent when coolant was hot and under pressure and even then a dribbler, not a gusher. You might be able to seal the leak with epoxy but I was concerned the crack would grow at a most inconvenient time. My solution was a new reservoir. Added coolant, bled air from the system. Temp gauge on 12, heater blows hot air upon demand, coolant level holding steady. No cheap or easy solutions here but problem is gone
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The Spa at Great Bay
If you are looking to relax and rejuvenate while on vacation then surrender yourself to treatments inspired by the exotic beauty of the Caribbean. At the Great Bay Serenity Spa, we promise experiences that's more than just spoiling yourself, it's giving something vital back to your body, mind and soul.
•• Featured Spa Treatments ••
Serenity Massage • $110/$160
If you are stressed and your body has tension, then this is the massage for you. Customize your massage with a blend of massage techniques (hot stone, deep tissue, Swedish or reflexology) to give you the total relaxation. 55 or 80 minutes.
Swedish Massage • $90/$135
Looking to unwind? Then say aaah to this gentle and relaxing massage. It will destress you and restore you to a heightened state of calm. 55 or 80 minutes.
Couples Rendezvous at Serenity massage • $170
For two people in love. Let the warm scented oils heighten you senses and ignite the flame of love with this side by side massage. 55 minutes.
European Classic Facial • $105
This is a wonderful relaxing and deep cleansing facial. It consist of double cleanse, thorough exfoliation, steaming, extractions, facial massage and mask. It will leave your skin feeling refreshed, moisturized and renewed. 55 minutes.
HoursMonday - Sunday
9 am to 6 pm
The spa is located at Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort in St Maarten.


text:
Filter Media
Aquarium Filter MediaWe carry many types of filter media, that perform important roles within the aquarium. Fortunately, we sell all the media you'll ever need for your aquarium, from mechanical (sponges and pads) and chemical (carbon, phosphate removers) to biological (bio balls) media.
Marineland Bio Wheel Assembly for Penguin 200B & 350BMarineland/Aquaria Bio Wheel Assembly Replacement for the NEW Penguin 100B, Penguin 150B, Penguin 200B and 350B. Marineland/Aquaria Bio-Wheel should not be replaced unless damaged. The water flow from your filter drives the Bio...ONLY$9.79
Marineland Bio-Wheel AssemblyMarineland/Aquaria Bio-Wheel Replacent, this item is only the bio wheel. The bracket is sold seperately. - Irregular rotation of the Bio-Wheel is also normal. - Discoloration of pleated Bio-Wheel material is normal and desirabl...FROM ONLY$4.97


text:
Alice Munro, 'Master' Of The Short Story, Wins Literature Nobel
Explore this
Reported by
Camila Domonoske
Alice Munro has been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, the Swedish Academy announced Thursday morning. The academy often explains its decision — what it calls the "prize motivation" — with lush precision; recent winners have been praised for their "hallucinatory realism," "condensed, translucent images" and "sensual ecstasy." But for Munro, the committee came straight to the point: They called her simply "master of the contemporary short story."
Munro has been writing short stories for more than 60 years, though she was first published in 1968. Her collections include Dance of the Happy Shades, The View From Castle Rock, The Moons of Jupiter, and most recently, Dear Life. Over the course of her career, she has won the Man Booker International Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction, and Canada's Governor General's Award for fiction — three times.
But even after this long list of accolades, Munro told Canada's CBC that the Nobel came as a surprise. "I didn't think about it, you know ... I had many family things to do," she said, in a groggy early-morning phone call. "So I didn't know about it until quite recently. And then, of course, it just seemed one of those pipe dreams that it might happen ... but it probably wouldn't. I'm very surprised and delighted."
She said in a statement from her publisher that she is "amazed, and very grateful." She added, "I'm particularly glad that winning this award will please so many Canadians. I'm happy, too, that this will bring more attention to Canadian writing." She's only the second Canadian-born author to win the Nobel Prize in literature; the first, Saul Bellow, was a naturalized American who spent most of his life in the U.S.
In addition to Canadians, short-story writers (and enthusiasts) might welcome Munro's win with delight. In a literary culture that tends to lionize novels over shorter fiction, Munro has been a constant advocate for the power of the short story. In her interview with the CBC, Munro emphasized the significance of her win not for herself, but for her art form: "I really hope that this would make people see the short story as an important art," she said, "not just something that you played around with until you got a novel written."
Munro's own short stories have long been met with enthusiastic praise. The Man Booker judges called her work "practically perfect" in 2009, and NPR's Alan Cheuse has written that "she now seems as much an institution as any living writer." A Munro story, Cheuse says, "gives us so much life within the bounds of a single tale that it nourishes us almost as much as a novel does."
On NPR's Morning Edition, Lynn Neary praised Munro's ability to use a few words to sketch an entire character: "In a really short space of time, she can provide a fully realized story that provides remarkable insight into human beings, their shortcomings, their complexities, their loves, their lives."
Many of the stories in her 14 collections take place in rural Canada, and the central character is often a woman — usually well-educated, Neary says, and often bumping against the confines of her life. And while Munro's stories share similar settings, they pull vast themes out of that territory. The Nobel committee noted that the Canadian author's "texts often feature depictions of everyday but decisive events, epiphanies of a kind, that illuminate the surrounding story and let existential questions appear in a flash of lightning." And the academy's permanent secretary, Peter Englund, lauded Munro's focus on a Canadian landscape of small towns: "She's really a broad author — but I think she has everything she needs in this small patch of earth."
Munro was raised in rural Western Ontario by a family of tough Scottish Presbyterians, Neda Ulaby reports for NPR's All Things Considered. Munro's first short story was published when she was 37, a college dropout squeezing in writing time around her children's naps. By the time she was in her 60s, Munro had become one of the most celebrated short-story writers in the world.
Still, as a woman of her generation, she felt conflicted about taking time she needed to do her work, telling WHYY's Fresh Air in 1996: "There tends not to be the feeling that this is what you deserve. I still find it hard to think that I deserve this time — to this day. I can be made to feel guilty if a friend phones just to chat ... Also just about all the things that I could be doing to be a better homemaker, as I was trained to be."
Many of Munro's stories, Ulaby notes, are autobiographical, and while they might be dark at times, Munro hates for her work to be called "bleak." She told Fresh Air that she finds a range of emotions even in sicknesses or betrayals: "Anything that surprises me, that makes me see anything differently, that gives me a gift is entertaining."
Normally adroit at expressing complex emotions, Munro was at a rare loss for words when the CBC asked her what it meant to have won the Nobel Prize. "It just seems impossible — I can't describe it," she said. "More than I can say."
In "Too Much Happiness," a short story in her collection of the same name, Munro wrote about the sometimes-hollow victory of achieving a great prize. Sophia Kovalevsky, a character based on a Russian mathematician from the 19th century, wins a prominent mathematical award, but finds that even after such renown, her gender marks her as a freak rather than a heroine — and her acclaim ruins her relationship:
"The Bordin Prize was what spoiled them. So Sophia believed. She herself was taken in by it at first, dazzled by all the chandeliers and champagne. The compliments quite dizzying, the marvelling and the hand kissing spread thick ... she was an utter novelty, a delightful freak, the woman of mathematical gifts and female timidity, quite charming, yet with a mind most unconventionally furnished, under her curls."
Munro is famous for her modesty, and it's hard to picture her dazzled by chandeliers. But while a female Nobel Prize winner is not an "utter novelty," it is still a noteworthy achievement; Munro is only the 13th woman to win the award.
Munro, who is 82, recently announced that she will likely give up writing: "Not that I didn't love writing, but I think you do get to a stage where you sort of think about your life in a different way. And perhaps, when you're my age, you don't wish to be alone as much as a writer has to be."
The CBC asked her, in their 4 a.m. interview, if her Nobel win alters that decision. "No, I don't think so," Munro said. "I am getting rather old." Later in the day, however, in an interview with NobelPrize.org's Adam Smith, Munro indicated a possible shift: "This may change my mind," she said.
Her fans might welcome new works, but Englund noted Thursday that if Munro does indeed stop writing, it's OK: "What she's done is quite enough."
Best Fiction of 2006
Hear this
Explore this
Reported by
Maureen Corrigan
You can print these titles, along with all our other year-end picks, using this master list.
Nothing makes you appreciate good books more than not being able to read them. That's the fix I found myself in for a few weeks this past summer, as I was recovering from eye surgery and mostly had to stay still with one eye closed.
Of course, I listened to public radio round the clock, but loved ones also brought me books on tape. "Nothing complicated," I pleaded in my weakened state. "I just want good stories."
So in came the recordings of overly cozy mysteries and Maeve Binchy novels read by actors with too much blarney in their voices. What saved me was a droll recording of Allegra Goodman's first novel, Kaaterskill Falls. My husband brought it home from the library because a few months before misfortune struck, I'd been raving about Goodman's second novel Intuition, one of my candidates for one of the best novels of 2006.
Intuition takes place in a cancer research laboratory in Cambridge, Mass. Goodman likes to delve into the intricate relationships among people in close communities; Kaaterskill Falls was set in a summer vacation bungalow colony of Orthodox Jews.
The big idea Intuition explores is, how do we discern the truth? To mull over that question, Goodman, like her scientist characters, takes up a microscope. She's a miniaturist who, like Barbara Pym and Jane Austen, finds wit as well as wisdom in small details.
Another superb novel that also kept its focus trained on a few complex characters was Claire Messud's The Emperor's Children. The children of the title are three friends nearing 30 who live in New York and have the kind of jobs — documentary filmmaker, editor, book critic — that look great on paper, but don't always cover the rent on their Manhattan apartments.
Messud deliciously exposes and slowly unwinds the illusions that wrap her characters in a sense of their own superiority. The climatic scene of The Emperor's Children takes place on Sept. 11, 2001. (Excerpt of 'The Emperor's Children')
Two other works of fiction that came out this year also successfully tackled that tough subject. The title story of Deborah Eisenberg's fine short story collection, Twilight of the Superheroes, describes the attack on the World Trade Center, while most of the five stories that follow take place in what we've now come to call the "post-9/11" world.
Politically charged, these short stories aren't just mausoleums for finely wrought feelings. Ditto for Ken Kalfus' extraordinary novel, A Disorder Peculiar to the Country. A political satire, it links the private nightmare of a marriage gone sour to the public nightmare of Sept. 11.
Finally, Katherine Weber's terrific novel, Triangle, deserves mention in this Gotham lineup. The tragedy at its center is not Sept. 11, but rather the infamous triangle shirtwaist fire of 1911. I lazily thought the subject had been all but exhausted, especially after Washington Post reporter David Von Drehle's excellent nonfiction book on the subject, also called Triangle, that came out in 2003. Nope.
At the center of Weber's clever and moving tale is the last survivor of the fire, a woman now over 100, who remembers far more than she lets on to those eager to capture her recollections for their oral history projects.
Two Alices also makes the best fiction list this year: Alice Munro, whose autobiographical stories in The View from Castle Rock begin with imaginative reconstructions of her ancestors' immigration from their bleak farms in Scotland; and Alice McDermott, whose novel After This is a haunting account of how the sweeping social changes of the 1960s affected one lower middle-class Irish Catholic family on Long Island.
Speaking of families, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey died in November at the age of 98. Who, you might ask? Well, Mrs. Carey was the author, with her brother Frank Gilbreth Jr., of the beloved 1948 best seller, Cheaper by the Dozen. The story of the Gilbreth brood and their parents still fascinates, as evidenced by the recent movie remake of the book.
Last, but certainly not least this year, Richard Ford's novel The Lay of the Land also explores the complexities of family, especially after divorce and remarriage. The Lay of the Land is the final volume in Ford's Frank Bascombe trilogy, succeeding The Sportswriter in 1986 and Independence Day in 1995.
Some of my most recent blissful moments were spent listening to Frank's musings on everything from the Bush presidency to the chummy atmosphere of a lesbian bar to the teeth gnashing familial conviviality of Thanksgiving. If there were ever a reason this year to be especially grateful for the gift of clear sight, Ford's as the author and mine as the lucky reader, it's embodied in The Lay of the Land.


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Teenager charged with malicious wounding (From Basingstoke Gazette)
When news happens, text BAZ and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Wounding charge after attack in Bourdillon Gardens, Popley, Basingstoke
12:23pm Monday 26th November 2012 in News
A TEENAGER has been charged following an assault in Bourdillon Gardens, Popley, Basingstoke on Friday.
Reece Mitchell Scaife, 18, of Burns Close, Basingstoke, has been charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a 22-year-old man with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
He is due to appear before Basingstoke Magistrates today.
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