Way to rub it in Mitch!

We stopped at Iditerod Headquarters today and at least I got to see the doggies, and hold the puppies.

Well, Andi and AManda and Masaki and Andrea just all left. We've been out to eat in Anchorage after taking an all day drive to pass the time until our flights tomorrow. Since we missed Denali, we had some time to fill, but with LCT Friends, it could never be without much laughter.

We've been pulling our best thoughts for all these pet health issues and glad to hear we've all landed somewhere. We'll be traveling much of the day tomorrow. Hoping for first class upgrades. Keep your fingers crossed!

Mitch & Bert, so happy that you got to see wildlife (other than in STARS)That's great! Andrea, getting to hold the puppies must have been so fun!! Kathy, happy flying home and keeping my fingers crossed for you and Frank to get the upgrade.

Masaki & Amanda, please let us know about your 2 cats. I sure hope everything is OK with them and also with Maggie, Andi & Doug. So many of us having sick pets right now! Keep us posted....

We're back home, too, barely able to function. So sorry about the pet problems. Ours didn't recognize us at first, boo hoo. But with some good old Fancy Feast they came around. These long plane trips are soo hard. Think our cruising days are getting to the end (after Fjords)!! sorry we missed out on the fun nights but wait until you are 91!!! Still was a great cruise and meeting every one was a bonus but next time can we have the screen names, too??

Safe travels home to those who are still making their way back home.

Sorry to hear of more pet illnesses. Wishing the best, Masaki/Amanda, Doug/Andi.

Glad to hear that almost everyone is home. So sorry about the sad pet news, Marcie, Masaki/Amanda and Doug/Andi.

Jean, I hope I'm still cruising at 91 even if I have to miss the late nights! We will be on FJORDS with my mother-in-law who will be 89 by then. She will be disappointed to find out that she is not the oldest! Looking forward to meeting you.

Glad to hear everyone is making it home. So sad to hear about the pet problems, best wishes that they will be resolved quickly.

I had a "pet" issue of another kind yesterday. A baby squirrel fell out of his nest and took up residence on my patio. He was cold and dehydrated so I warmed him up, fed him an electrolyte solution and he perked right up. I'm taking him to a wildlife rehabilitator later this morning. So cute!

Way to go Lauri! I sure hope he's OK!

Jean,

You and Clyde are so very fortunate to be traveling as extensively as you have, and hopefully, will continue, to do! Not too many seniors who can say they still have the stamina, financial and physical abilities to take the exciting trips you've both taken!

I hope you both continue to enjoy your travels for many, many years to come. There are so many people who either can't afford to do this with any frequency, due to living on tight fixed incomes, or failing health. You are blessed and I know you appreciate, welcome and savor each and every trip!

Just back from dropping off my wayward squirrel. He's fine and will go hang out with a few others his age until he's old enough to be released. The rehabilitator was off to pick up a rabbit and another squirrel.

Hi Mushers: We had a fantastic 8 nights as did our group from PV! We were scheduled to get off ship 9/6 and rent 2 vans and spend all day and one night and another day in Anchorage - thank God we got to spend 8th night on ship and no vans - Anchorage is OK but for short period of time - we took Regent bus and went to Hilton 9/7 - took scheduled flights out the 7th at 9:35 pm all went well - got home noonish yesterday - house behind us and across the street from us leveled while we were gone - knew it was going to happen but shocking to see it, though, after 30 yrs - wonderful old old beach houses torn down - sad for us but just as sad they cut phone lines GRRRRRR - so no internet for day and a half - I did get laundry and unpacking done - boring - trip was so wonderful - our group of 11, from here, had a great time - and so special to reconnect with old friends and meet many new wonderful people - Stars Lounge was jumping every night - do not mean to single out folks but "Bert" is one sexy woman and dancer - we have some great pixs but have to rely on "Grumpy" to download - Olivia do you have pixs from ML of the "girls"? It was so neat for us to have the gang from here and our Mush friends - miss you all and missed my LCT friends - Joanna

Do you mean this one? Oops, can't c/p from Ofoto.
Go to MUSH people pix near the end.

Welcome home Joanna, I really missed you!!

Nancy

I missed you too Nancy!!!!!!

Yes O - got them - thanks

Hi Guys! We arrived yesterday ?? I think, losing track of the days. No, the day before (duh), thanks to Ngaire and Ken doing some smooth talking and changing our flights. They really are the best, always quick to accomodate if they're able. We had lunch at Chili's/ANC airport w/Carla&Frank - then flew to LAX w/Marcie&Tom (they had a little more legroom than we did tho :D ). Marcie, so sorry to hear about Magoo. We were just talking about doggie health issues at dinner the last night - doggie ins not sounding so expensive now, is it? I hope it works out w/OUT surgery. Also, sorry to hear about Maggie and the kitties. It was sooo wonderful to see all of our old friends and to meet so many new friends. Tough with such a large group - we wanted to spend time with our friends, but also wanted to have dinner with those we looked forward to meeting for so long. Just not enough dinners to be had! Joanna, your PV group fit in so well, the last night I had a great conversation w/a couple of them (you know, you kept embarassing me with them!). It amazes me everytime that with these huge groups, we all seem to mesh - mush - so well, everytime. We will post pics soon, I have to sort through them - take out some of the 25 pics of the same glacier, baby humpback's tail, etc.

Doug and I are home. Took the redeye last night. Anchorage is a mellow city with some good restaurants, and we did the city yesterday. I came home a mess -- threw out one knee and sprained the ankle in my other leg. I'm in a wheelchair on my way to the hospital.

No Maggie...still under observation. She has a lesion (tumor, not sure if it is benign or malignant) on her liver and is one sick girl. House is too quiet...especially after MUSH excitement. It was wonderful to see old friends and make new ones.

Dang Andi, I hope it isn't too serious. Keep us updated.

Welcome home Kimmi and John!!

Welcome home Kimmi! It's a good thing you and John didn't depend on us to get you to terminal 4, our car wouldn't start! Glad you're home safe and sound.

Andi, so sorry to hear about your knee and sprained ankle! How did this happen?? Hope you're good as new soon. Maggie is in our prayers too. Poor baby!

No real update on Mr. Magoo. He's home but barely walking...one sick puppy! We take him back to the Vet on Tuesday. For now he just takes his 3 meds 2x a day and lies on the rug looking so sad. His appetite is still good (takes after me).

Marcie, it is a downer to come back from such a great trip to our babies being ill. Masaki and Amanda and Doug and I kept getting updates on our furry offspring while we were trying to revitalize our post cruise trip. Thanks for the kind wishes.

My left knee has been giving me problems and I saw a doctor in Vancouver and on the ship because it wasn't working and was hurting a lot. However, I wasn't going to let that knee stop me and I was walking in Talkeetna (SP?) two days ago and it gave out and I fell down some stairs and sprained the right ankle.

Keep us up to date on Mr. Magoo...how old is he?

We made it home last night.
Had a very nice 2 days in Anchorage. We took the trolley tour around town, went to an iMax movie on Denali (second best replacement to actually going to Denali), saw a dogsled racer and dog team at the federal building and had an absolutely delicious meal at Simon & Seaforts Bar and Grill - highly recommend.
I was really impressed with Anchorage.

On the plane home, we met a nice couple from Australia. They couldn't stop raving about their trip to Denali. The weather was excellent and they saw so many animals on the Denali park tour. <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

David

Wishing you and Maggie well, Andi! Sorry to hear of your knee and ankle problems and the situation with Maggie.

Welcome home, David, John/Kimmi!

Marcie, Hope Mr. Magoo is doing much better soon!

Andi,

We were doing what we do best, in Talkeetna - SHOPPING! (But there was nothing worth buying!)

Andi, so sorry to hear about your knee and ankle. Keep us posted. You're a trouper to not let that interfere with a good time!

Joanna, no phone or internet... that's a disaster! Are they going to build a new house on the empty lot? Should be interesting.

We missed all of you. Had a good time on TUSH but everyone there spoke this foreign language! Being Southern, I couldn't understand most of it. Check out the TUSH threads. Maybe you can interpret for me :D .

Now, with no MUSH or TUSH, what will we do for fun around here? A bunch of LCT'ers have to go on another cruise to keep us homebodies entertained!

Marcie, Mr. Magoo is a cutie pie! Ashley has a matching bandage, except hers is orange with smiley faces. Hope he and Maggie start feeling better! Do you think our pets are trying to tell us not to stay away for so long?

Donna: No phone/internet for 2 days - Tony said first time in ages I have been available without him having to compete with LCT!! Yes, new homes in place of the oldsters - big ones no doubt - house across the street, on ocean, was built in 1928 - on two lots - very unique - GONE!! House behind us 60 yrs old (like ours) also gone - not many originals left - sort of sad - Joanna

Gee, Kathy, weren't you looking for chocolate and I was looking for Moose? Fess up!!

I finished up my chocolate off the ship just today from our bedtime treats.

Yes, looking for Chocolate Moose (lol)

Very good Kathy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to see everyone checking and know that you are now home.

Andi - so sorry to hear about your knee and ankle, last time we saw you at the Conservatory, you were doing ok, but worrying about Maggie. Plese take care of yourself and get well so you can be ready for the next LCT cruise. :D

It was so fun meeting everyone, and I wish we had had more days so as to get to know everyone a little bit better, but hopefully on another cruise, another time!

LOL...thanks, JoAnn!

JoAnn - for us that will be on CROSS! Please save your night of November 5th in Barcelona for dinner with us. Better book it now while our dance cards are open!

My chocolate moose at Orso was awesome!! Nothing like Bailey's infused whipped cream!

We made it home today as planned. I was personally thrilled to have the "bonus" day on the ship but I did feel bad for those whose plans were drastically affected. We spent a few days on our own in Denali where the fall colors were gorgeous and we had a close encounter with a grizzly bear! Fortunately we were in the bus at the time...

This was our first LCT group cruise and Grant and I had a blast! It was so much fun to meet everyone and we were pleased and impressed with all the extras that Ngaire and Ken arranged for us. We are looking forward to our next cruise in December on the PG, but we wish we weren't going by ourselves!

I'm sad to hear of all the pets that have been ill while we were away! I'm hoping they will all have speedy recoveries now that their owners are home.

Well, better get back to reality...unpacking, laundry, sorting through mail, putting together something for dinner tonight, and back to work tomorrow! I will try and post some notes and photos when I find time.

Dena

Welcome home Dena! Sounds like you and Grant had a great time tootling around on your own. Now I guess the only ones left are Mitch & Bert!
Reality is tough...good luck at work tomorrow!

Andi, hope you are doing better and I'm wishing the best for Maggie.

Nancy

PS. Welcome home to everyone I missed

Dena, we are so jealous of your getting to Denali. Glad you had a great time.

Welcome home, Dena and Grant! Glad you were able to make it to Denali and visit with your friend and that you had a great time on the cruise.

We need to make dinner plans to discuss the details of MUSH!

Donna,

I'm with you on the TUSH foreign language; had to pronounce out loud to get a clue - more foreign than a north GA moonshiner!!

Welcome home all and hope to hear soon of everyone and their pets' recoveries! Andi, hope it's not too serious for you; please keep us posted.