2024 Christmas Journal Activies

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 

To all my friends and family

Hope this year brought you lots of health and happiness. 

Just a recap of our adventures this year. 

January, we took our first cruise on the NCL Cruise Ship from New Orleans, where we visited Cozumel, Roatan Bay Island Hundours, Harvest Caye, Belize, and Costa Maya, Mexico. 

In February, we took a cruise on Carnival Spirit from New Orleans to Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico.

In April, we did several Walking Tours: the Huntsville Walking Tour, the Walking Tour of Courtland, and the Museum Tour. 

We also went to our great-grandson's Tee-Ball Game. 

Took Ava to several Museums and bought a new computer.

In May, we went to Cullman and Moulton Strawberry Festivals. 

We went to Atlas Tee-Ball Games.

We took Ava to several museums: Space and Rocket Center, Train Depot, and Muscle Shoals Municipal Art Display.

Attended Ava’s School Program.

Went to a baby shower.

Attended the Front Porch Story Telling Festival.

June Hubby and I took our third cruise to Alaska on the Norwegian Encore. 

We flew into the State of Washington, where we boarded the NCL Cruise Ship for seven days.

We visited Juno, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC.

We attended Atlas’s fourth birthday Party and Hazel’s third birthday party. 

At the end of June, we took a bus trip with Diamonds in the Rough to Niagara Falls, Canada, for 7 days. 

In July, we did several day trips with AVA: Pulaski & Lynville, TN (to see the train depot), Corinth, MS(Corinth Museum & Depot, Welcome Center, Civil War, and Coke Museums. We ate lunch at the old Borrums Drug Store. 

We also took AVA to the Jesse Owens and Oakville Indian Mount Museums. 

Hubby and I rode to Granville, TN, to tour several museums about Andy Griffith and Lucy Ball. 

In August,  we took AVA to the Savannah Museum, then to the Battle of Shiloh and Museum, from there, we rode to Iuka, MS.

We attended the Killen’s Founder’s Day in Killen Park. 

We rode to Lutts, TN, to see the Sunflower and Zennias fields. 

At the end of August, we took a bus trip with Diamonds in the Rough to South Dakota.

We saw Mount Rushmore, the Journey Museum, Wall Drugs, the Corn Palace, the High Plains Heritage Center, The Crazy Horse Memorial, and the WWII Museum in Kansas, MO. 

We toured Deadwood and the Black Hills.

In September, we took a train trip from Chattanooga to Chickamauga, Ga. 

In October, we attended Oktoberfest Festival in Cullman and St Florine.

We attended the Banana Pudding Festival in Centerville, TN. 

We did our fourth cruise on NCL Gem out of Quebec.

We flew into Montreal, and the next day, we took a three 1/2-hour bus ride to Quebec, where we boarded the NCL Gem for a seven-day cruise. 

We visited Prince Edward Island, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine. We took a bus from Portland to Conway, New Hampshire, to ride the train. 

We flew home out of Boston, Mass. 

We took AVA to the Renaissance Faire and the Fall Festival, Trunk n Treat at Shiloh Church of Christ.

In November, My friend and I rode the AM Track Train from Tuscaloosa, AL, to New Orleans.

We took the trolly to the Audubon Park and WWII Museum in New Orleans.

We took a taxi to the Cruise Terminal and boarded the Carnival Liberty for seven days. (This was my fifth cruise this year) 

We visited Montego Bay, Grand Caymans and Cozumel. 

We rode the AM Track Train back to Tuscaloosa, where hubby picked us up.

The next day, hubby and I rode to Decatur and bought a new car. (A Hyundai Sonada Hybrid)

That Friday, I woke up with Bronchitis but did not go to the doctor until Monday.

She gave me a Steroid shot and several bottles of medicines. 

I went back to the doctor a week later, still coughing, and got another shot and another round of Medicine. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with family at our house, and everyone had a great time.

In December, I attended a Christmas party at Zoey Bells with new and old friends. Hubby and I attended Haynes's fifth Birthday party at the Launch Pad. 

I attended our CBS Christmas Party at Church. 

Attended our Wednesday Night Zoom Bible Class on Dec 13. 

My daughter and her hubby are coming home for a week for Christmas, and we will be celebrating Christmas with all the family.

And on New Year's Eve, I will be celebrating with my sisters.

Another year has come and gone. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my friends and family

2023 April 25-28, AMTRAK Trip to New Orleans, LA. from Tuscaloosa, Al (4 days)

Day 1:Travel  Tuesday, April 25, 

We dropped off our bags at the Amtrak station, parked the car in the public parking, and walked several blocks back to the Amtrak Station. 

At 2:00 p.m., we loaded onto the train and began our trip.

 We took the Amtrak in Tuscaloosa and traveled through several cities, stopping in Laurel, Hattiesburg, and Meridian, Mississippi, picking up or letting off passengers.

I did not buy any food on the trip to New Orleans. I had brought a Sprite Zero and a couple of Granola bars. 

We arrived around 10:00PM and took the local taxi to The Marque Hotel 144 ELK PL., New Orleans. Room 1910. Reservation #380VR.

Our room had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, 2 balconies, and a window in my bedroom to see the City of New Orleans, located on the fourteen floors. 

It was late I took a shower and went to bed. 

Day 2: Wednesday, April 26, 

We walked down Canal Street, stopping at IHOP for breakfast. Our waiter was new, and I ordered a Belgian waffle it was cold and plain. 

We decided to buy a day pass to ride the Trollies. 

We saw the Mortuary Haunted Mansion and walked around in several Cemeteries. (St Patrick Cemetery)

We saw people loading onto the Ferry Boat and the Riverboat.

We shopped at Riverwalk Mall and ate lunch at Pei Wei Asian Restaurant. I ordered two egg rolls, shrimp, chicken, and noodles. 

Could not eat it all I took the rest with me.

We walked through the park at Riverfront, where we saw the Holocaust Memorial. 

We saw Woldenberg Riverfront Park, a dedicated memorial to Malcolm Wolodenberg, who prospered in New Orleans and left a Legacy of caring and confidence to the City of New Orleans. 

Alongside was his statue with a young boy.

On Canal Street, we saw many murals depicting the City. 

We saw the Shops and Canal Place with Mardi Gras statues in front.

Dr. John's statue in front of "The Shops and Canal Place" 

We took the Trolley up St. Charles Street, where we saw historic homes, stores, The Auduban, the Zoo, and the Loyola College.

We saw a lot of homeless people and trash everywhere, at the overpasses and sidewalks. 

We stopped at a chicken restaurant to use the restroom, and sitting outside was a homeless young man asking me to buy him some chicken, I said we'll see. I went inside to use the restroom. I remember that I had a plate full of leftover food with me, so when we went outside, I gave the homeless man the food. It also had a fork inside. 

He was thankful for the food. I was glad that I had helped one of the homeless. I had heard a man on the trolley say the government had sent money to help the homeless, but the money was not used for that.

We rode two different trollies, and most of the trolley workers were jolly and friendly.    

We headed back to the hotel. 

We had spent the day hopping off and hopping on the trolley, and we walked several miles.

Day 3: Thursday, April 27, 

We walked down to Canal Street and bought a day pass to ride the trolley. We rode to the French Quarters.

We walked to Cafe Biegnite, where we both ordered Beignets. (A square of fried dough eaten hot and sprinkled with powdered Sugar). They come with 3 Beignets, and mine was drizzled with Chocolate.

Beignets with Chocolate 

It came up a thunderstorm while we were eating, and people flooded inside. They had a large roll-up door opened, and when the rain started to blow inside, they closed it. It was blowing hard, and several of the employees got wet.

After the rain subsided but was still sprinkling, we left and walked toward the Riverfront Mall. 

We heard several Laughing Gulls, and we rode the ferry across the Mississippi.

We walked to the Riverwalk Mall and shopped. I bought a shirt and a pair of shorts at Gap. 

I returned a top I had bought the day before. It was too small and swapped for a larger size. 

The cashier/manager said all their clothes were coming in smaller. 

We walked back to Canal Street and took the trolley up St Charles Street.

Meet a family from Vermont, a journalist from Denmark, and a couple of women looking for the Military Museum. We also met a couple looking for the French Quarters, and I told them they would have to take the red trolley # 49 to get to the French Quarters.

There were a lot of people taking the trolleys today. 

We got off the trolley and walked along St. Charles Street, looking at old homes.

Historic Home on St Charles St

We ate lunch at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood LLC.

New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Restaurant 

I ordered Shrimp Tacos with Onion Rings. My friend ordered a shrimp Poor-Boy with fries.

We also ate a complimentary Vanilla Ice Cream in a cone.

 We rode the trolley back to Canal Street and stopped at CVS for a couple of Sprite Zeros and a bag of candy.

There were no Diet Cokes or Sprite Zeros in the cooler, so I asked the manager if they had any.

We walked to the back of the store, and the manager loaded several Sprite Zero and Diet Coke into the cooler. 

I paid for my merchandise and walked back to the hotel.

We packed our bags for tomorrow, and we will be leaving.

Day 4: Friday, April 28,  Travel Home

Finished packing and ate my last Beignet, called the Taxi, and said he would be there around 8AM.

We walked downstairs, and my friend got a cup of hot coffee, and we waited for our taxi.

Selfie Station at The Marque Hotel 

We arrived at the train terminal and waited to load the train at 9:00 AM.

It was going to be a full train, so we were told if we were traveling with someone to sit with them.

When they announced the dining car was open, we walked down. 

I ordered a bagel and drank my Sprite Zero. My friend ate her leftover Poor-boy.

We arrive at the train depot around 5PM.

Walked inside the depot to use the restroom and put everything inside our luggage.

We began our walk to the parking deck.

It was a lot harder walking uphill, pulling our luggage. We finally arrived at the parking deck.

Loaded our luggage inside and began our trip home. 

We stopped at Jack for supper, and after we finished, I bumped my right hand, and it tore the skin. 

It would not stop bleeding, so one of the workers placed a couple of bandages on my hand.

We stopped again at CVS to use the restrooms and get more bandages.

We arrived at my friend's home, and my husband picked me up.