It occurred to me today that I've read quite a few books lately and I haven't posted my thoughts on any of them. I didn't used to think of myself as much of a bookworm, but finding books on circus history really changed my ways. Here are a few of my reads of the last few months...
The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy
This one really blew my away. Sure, I love reading about circus, but this book is less about the circus and more about the people and events surrounding the tragic fire in 1944 that left 167 people dead, 487 injured and many intriguing questions unanswered.
The book was impossible to put down; full of well-researched information and well put together. Photos are presented in limited number, however, they are extremely moving and I found myself examining them repeatedly the more I continued to read. Highly recommended.
Angel Time: The Songs of The Seraphim, Book One
I was told Anne Rice wrote good books (see: The Vampire Chronicles). However, this book was a complete snooze, and it promised so much more intrigue from the synopsis:
"Toby O’Dare—aka Lucky the Fox—is a contract killer of underground fame on assignment to kill once again. He’s a soulless soul, a dead man walking. His nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions is disrupted when a mysterious stranger, a seraph, offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives.
What you end up with is a short read about an unbelievable contract killer, followed by a very long, tedious read about him changing on a dime and putting all his effort towards conflict resolution in the name of unbelievable angel. I found the entire affair very uninspired and I won't be picking the next book. Highly recommended. For me to poop on.
Stieg Larssons: Millennium Trilogy
Yes, I've read all three books. Yes, I believe they are worth all the hype. I've also watched all three of the movies, I even saw the second film in the theater. The bottom line is Lisbeth Salander is a very magnetic, readable character and I wouldn't have enjoyed the nearly as much without her. If you haven't read these books you need to, especially before the american film version comes out and we have another Twilight-Saga tween shit storm to deal with.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Day #1 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Our flight coming out of MSP was delayed by more than an hour, effectively making us and a handful of other people very close to missing the boat. By cutting it close, we ended up missing the better part of the day aboard the ship and rushing through embarkation. They moved us along so quickly that we didn't even get the cheesy "Welcome Aboard" photo taken. After we found our room, we quickly headed to the muster station drill with our life vests, making it just in time yet again.
After the safety drill in the theater, we were able to breath a bit easier and officially start our vacation. Since both of us hadn't eaten on the plane, we headed up to the lunch buffet to get a bite to eat. After lunch we did the customary walk around the ship to get orientated and see everything up close and personal. Our ship, called the "Ruby" is the flagship of the Princess fleet; built in 2008, it's also the newest ship.
After a relaxing afternoon, we unpacked our bags and headed to dinner. The highlights of the dinner on the first night were both deserts. My carrot cake and Angie's flour-less chocolate cake were delicious. After dinner we headed to the theater to watch the welcome show. It was mostly song and dance, previewing the talent aboard the ship and letting everyone know what was yet to come. We closed the first night with drinks while watching the house band play in Explorer's Lounge.
Day #2 - Princess Cays, Bahamas
Princess Cays is a small island that Princess owns and therefore has exclusive access to in the Bahamas. After taking a short tender ride from the ship, we were free to spend the day doing whatever on the private island. While the weather was only in the 70s and a bit cloudy, I still wasted little time in getting in the ocean. While Angie relaxed on the beach, I did a little snorkeling.
After relaxing a bit, we took a long stroll down the beach. The sun came and went along the way, and near the end of the walk I found a living conch shell in the shallow waters. Lunch was provided to everyone on the ship near the beach, although it wasn't anything different than the buffet on board. After lunch, we decided to head back to the ship a little early and sit in the hot tub for awhile.
We spent the time before dinner watching a comedian (who was quite good) and having a cocktail. Dinner on day number two was highlighted again by dessert; some sort of neopolitan ice cream cake. After dinner we took in another show featuring an illusionist named David Cats.
Day #3 - A Day At Sea
Most cruises have days where you just travel to your next destination, and ours was no different. Our first sea day found us soaking up the sun and swimming in the pool. During the afternoon we grabbed some ice cream and headed inside for a bit to play some Bingo. After lunch, we attended a rum tasting.
Before our formal night dinner, we spent a little extra time getting ready and stopping for champagne in the Piazza.
Day #4 - St. Maarten
We originally booked a snorkeling tour, but found out it was cancelled due to low visibility. It ended up being just fine, and we spent the day at the beach next to town. The port was very busy, in fact there were five other cruise ships in port with us. Either way, the weather was sunny and the ocean was wonderful.
We spent a little time wandering the shops afterwards, and I picked up a book to read and souvenir magnet to put on the fridge at home.
Before dinner, we were entertained by the physical comedy of Jim Maltman. We both really enjoyed his work and later learned he has a history with circus! Dinner was above average, and I especially enjoyed the cod w/chorizo and bacon.
Day #5 - St. Thomas
Easily the best day of the trip. We got an early start with room service breakfast and headed off the ship at 8:00am to meet with our tour group. Shortly after 9:00, we walked to the nearby dock and boarded a beautiful catamaran called "The Cat." Our new home for the day, The Cat first took us sailing to Buck Island, where we dropped anchor and snorkeled for about an hour. Among the many fish, we were lucky enough to spot a large number of sea turtles and a sting ray. After we were all aboard again, we hoisted sail to our second stop; Honeymoon Island. Along the way the sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the rum punch was flowing; absolute paradise.
Once we were on Honeymoon Island, we had hot BBQ ribs and chicken waiting for us. The food was fantastic and a nice change from the ship's cuisine. After lunch, we spent the remaining time we had sitting in the water and enjoying the never-ending supply of rum punch.
When it was time to sail back to port, neither one of us wanted to get off. Before we did, I made sure to buy a T-Shirt with The Cat logo on it. Needless to say, it was a great tour and a great day!
Day #6 - Grand Turk
Grand Turk consists of a man-made cruise terminal and not much else. Tourism is the islands primary income, and not many people have heard of it. Either way, we made the best of it by booking a Bike Tour which not only gave us a taste of the island, but a bit of exercise as well. Our bike tour ended with a relaxing dip in the ocean at Governor's Beach before heading back to the ship.
For better or worse, I went with an all-seafood dinner selection that night. Beginning with lobster salad and caviar, then escargo, and finally lobster tail and prawns. Caviar is not my favorite, escargo is quite good and I've always loved both lobster and prawns.
Day #7 - Another Day at Sea
Our final day was spent at sea, as we made our way back to Fort Lauderdale. This was the only day were the weather was a bit cool and overcast, making it a bit difficult to sit outside and lounge. We spent some time playing bingo again and checking out the art auction. We especially enjoyed the culinary demonstration in the theater, not so much for the food but for the entertainment the cooks provided.
The early evening show was a rather interesting play, using some 3D-esqe stage effects I'd never seen before. Our last dinner was delicious, including a watermelon/feta salad and perch w/curry and rice.
Overall, the weather was fantastic and life aboard the Ruby was good. Checking the weather at home in Minnesota, we successfully missed the coldest weather of the winter, too. And while I'm sure it will get just as cold again, all I have to do is close my eyes or drink a little rum punch and I'll be feeling warm all over.
Our flight coming out of MSP was delayed by more than an hour, effectively making us and a handful of other people very close to missing the boat. By cutting it close, we ended up missing the better part of the day aboard the ship and rushing through embarkation. They moved us along so quickly that we didn't even get the cheesy "Welcome Aboard" photo taken. After we found our room, we quickly headed to the muster station drill with our life vests, making it just in time yet again.
After the safety drill in the theater, we were able to breath a bit easier and officially start our vacation. Since both of us hadn't eaten on the plane, we headed up to the lunch buffet to get a bite to eat. After lunch we did the customary walk around the ship to get orientated and see everything up close and personal. Our ship, called the "Ruby" is the flagship of the Princess fleet; built in 2008, it's also the newest ship.
After a relaxing afternoon, we unpacked our bags and headed to dinner. The highlights of the dinner on the first night were both deserts. My carrot cake and Angie's flour-less chocolate cake were delicious. After dinner we headed to the theater to watch the welcome show. It was mostly song and dance, previewing the talent aboard the ship and letting everyone know what was yet to come. We closed the first night with drinks while watching the house band play in Explorer's Lounge.
Day #2 - Princess Cays, Bahamas
Princess Cays is a small island that Princess owns and therefore has exclusive access to in the Bahamas. After taking a short tender ride from the ship, we were free to spend the day doing whatever on the private island. While the weather was only in the 70s and a bit cloudy, I still wasted little time in getting in the ocean. While Angie relaxed on the beach, I did a little snorkeling.
After relaxing a bit, we took a long stroll down the beach. The sun came and went along the way, and near the end of the walk I found a living conch shell in the shallow waters. Lunch was provided to everyone on the ship near the beach, although it wasn't anything different than the buffet on board. After lunch, we decided to head back to the ship a little early and sit in the hot tub for awhile.
We spent the time before dinner watching a comedian (who was quite good) and having a cocktail. Dinner on day number two was highlighted again by dessert; some sort of neopolitan ice cream cake. After dinner we took in another show featuring an illusionist named David Cats.
Day #3 - A Day At Sea
Most cruises have days where you just travel to your next destination, and ours was no different. Our first sea day found us soaking up the sun and swimming in the pool. During the afternoon we grabbed some ice cream and headed inside for a bit to play some Bingo. After lunch, we attended a rum tasting.
Before our formal night dinner, we spent a little extra time getting ready and stopping for champagne in the Piazza.
Day #4 - St. Maarten
We originally booked a snorkeling tour, but found out it was cancelled due to low visibility. It ended up being just fine, and we spent the day at the beach next to town. The port was very busy, in fact there were five other cruise ships in port with us. Either way, the weather was sunny and the ocean was wonderful.
We spent a little time wandering the shops afterwards, and I picked up a book to read and souvenir magnet to put on the fridge at home.
Before dinner, we were entertained by the physical comedy of Jim Maltman. We both really enjoyed his work and later learned he has a history with circus! Dinner was above average, and I especially enjoyed the cod w/chorizo and bacon.
Day #5 - St. Thomas
Easily the best day of the trip. We got an early start with room service breakfast and headed off the ship at 8:00am to meet with our tour group. Shortly after 9:00, we walked to the nearby dock and boarded a beautiful catamaran called "The Cat." Our new home for the day, The Cat first took us sailing to Buck Island, where we dropped anchor and snorkeled for about an hour. Among the many fish, we were lucky enough to spot a large number of sea turtles and a sting ray. After we were all aboard again, we hoisted sail to our second stop; Honeymoon Island. Along the way the sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the rum punch was flowing; absolute paradise.
Once we were on Honeymoon Island, we had hot BBQ ribs and chicken waiting for us. The food was fantastic and a nice change from the ship's cuisine. After lunch, we spent the remaining time we had sitting in the water and enjoying the never-ending supply of rum punch.
When it was time to sail back to port, neither one of us wanted to get off. Before we did, I made sure to buy a T-Shirt with The Cat logo on it. Needless to say, it was a great tour and a great day!
Day #6 - Grand Turk
Grand Turk consists of a man-made cruise terminal and not much else. Tourism is the islands primary income, and not many people have heard of it. Either way, we made the best of it by booking a Bike Tour which not only gave us a taste of the island, but a bit of exercise as well. Our bike tour ended with a relaxing dip in the ocean at Governor's Beach before heading back to the ship.
For better or worse, I went with an all-seafood dinner selection that night. Beginning with lobster salad and caviar, then escargo, and finally lobster tail and prawns. Caviar is not my favorite, escargo is quite good and I've always loved both lobster and prawns.
Day #7 - Another Day at Sea
Our final day was spent at sea, as we made our way back to Fort Lauderdale. This was the only day were the weather was a bit cool and overcast, making it a bit difficult to sit outside and lounge. We spent some time playing bingo again and checking out the art auction. We especially enjoyed the culinary demonstration in the theater, not so much for the food but for the entertainment the cooks provided.
The early evening show was a rather interesting play, using some 3D-esqe stage effects I'd never seen before. Our last dinner was delicious, including a watermelon/feta salad and perch w/curry and rice.
Overall, the weather was fantastic and life aboard the Ruby was good. Checking the weather at home in Minnesota, we successfully missed the coldest weather of the winter, too. And while I'm sure it will get just as cold again, all I have to do is close my eyes or drink a little rum punch and I'll be feeling warm all over.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
32
It's my Birthday today, but you already knew that, right? Part one of the mass celebration starts tonight with a trip to the movie theater to see Black Swan. The fun continues tomorrow with a birthday dinner out, and still more merriment on Friday with club level seats at the Minnesota Wild game. Finally, the funtastic week comes to and end on Sunday with flight to Florida and a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean for seven days of a sensational sea-faring sojourn. 32 FTW!
Edit: Didn't end up going to Black Swan tonight; decided to save it for when we get back from the trip.
Edit: Didn't end up going to Black Swan tonight; decided to save it for when we get back from the trip.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Screw You, Frosty
In just a few short days we'll be embarking on our first cruise together, heading to the tropical eastern caribbean for a 7 days of fun n' sun. We'll be aboard the Ruby Princess (Princess Cruise Lines) and our ports of call are Princess Cay, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.
While separtately both Angie and I have done quite a bit of cruising, this should prove to be an entirely different experience spent together. I'm really looking forward to the warm weather, swimming/snorkeling, delicious dinners and activity-filled days and nights.
While separtately both Angie and I have done quite a bit of cruising, this should prove to be an entirely different experience spent together. I'm really looking forward to the warm weather, swimming/snorkeling, delicious dinners and activity-filled days and nights.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Kinections
After much deliberation, I decided today was the day to pick up Microsoft Kinect and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. Driven partially by a need to invigorate my exercise regime, and partially because it was on sale this week on the cover of the Best Buy ad. You might be quick to label me a New Year's resolute, but I assure you I've had my eye on this game since Kinect was introduced. Besides, running after work everyday in subzero temperatures isn't exactly something I look forward to on a daily basis.
So now that I took the plunge and spent the evening getting my feet wet, I can say I'm very happy with the purchase. The Kinect system itself was simple to setup, and it performed exactly as I expected in my play area. Granted, our living room is the ideal setup (6 -8 of empty space in front of the TV and no coffee table) but I was still impressed with it's functionality. Navigation is more of novelty, but the voice commands are quite useful when you are preparing for your workout and don't want to carry the controller around.
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved is very fun way to do cardio, strength training and/or just break a sweat. After taking a short physical evaluation, numerous workout programs are available tailored specifically to your level and goal preferences. I've only just scratched the service of the programs, but the workouts feel precise and the feedback is helpful to get the most out of each exercise. With just me and my digital personal trainer, I feel less likely to be self conscious, and being "scored" on the exercises gives you incentive to improve where it's needed.
So today I burned 227 calories and $195, both of which I feel are a great start to a more diverse, enjoyable exercise routine.
So now that I took the plunge and spent the evening getting my feet wet, I can say I'm very happy with the purchase. The Kinect system itself was simple to setup, and it performed exactly as I expected in my play area. Granted, our living room is the ideal setup (6 -8 of empty space in front of the TV and no coffee table) but I was still impressed with it's functionality. Navigation is more of novelty, but the voice commands are quite useful when you are preparing for your workout and don't want to carry the controller around.
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved is very fun way to do cardio, strength training and/or just break a sweat. After taking a short physical evaluation, numerous workout programs are available tailored specifically to your level and goal preferences. I've only just scratched the service of the programs, but the workouts feel precise and the feedback is helpful to get the most out of each exercise. With just me and my digital personal trainer, I feel less likely to be self conscious, and being "scored" on the exercises gives you incentive to improve where it's needed.
So today I burned 227 calories and $195, both of which I feel are a great start to a more diverse, enjoyable exercise routine.
