the after 30 part...

Hello USA, Italy is amazing. The people here are so nice. Unlike Spain, where I would be stared at with blank expressions, Italians smile not only with their mouth but their entire face. Ciao Ciao, Bonjourno, Bella Bella, always saying hello!! They completely go out of their way to help you find where you want to go, or give suggestions, making phone calls for you on their cells, and offering maps that they hand draw. We even get free bus rides some times, maybe because Rosie is so cute! So where did I leave off in my tours, Roma? Rome was amazing. We walked and walked and walked and walked, and I thought my feet might fall off at one point, and walked. We saw the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peters, many other churchs, the Spanish Stairs, the Fountain of Trevi (where I threw my coin in for "love"), Piazza after Piazza (squares), a beautiful bridge, Gelato stands (yes I indulged in Dairy!), the Capitol Building, and much more!! The day we ...

After another long day in Rome, I am back at my home stay and feeling content.  Here is a photo album of about 30 pictures from the last two days.  Rome We went to the Vatican City today and I got to see the Sistine Chapel, though I couldn't take pictures.  It's amazing.  Michaelangelo did it in 4 years... and 6 months out of those years he ran away because he didn't like what he was doing and was getting carple tunnel!  He thought the art work was mostly just for the pope who liked grandeur, but what he did was absolutely amazing, considering he wasn't known as a "painter" but as a sculpturist.  We also went to St. Peters, the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Stairs, and many other little stops along the way.  My feet hurt! ha! Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Tomorrow is our last day in Rome, and then on Monday, Rosie and I head to the south.  Kyra goes back to the USA tomorrow night. xoxox

The weather in Skagway has been nothing but gorgeous the last month.  June 23rd, however, I woke, cheerful and excited for my trip... but then I opened my door and stepped outside and instantly my heart sunk.  The clouds were so low you couldn't even see lower lake mountain side.  Of all days, the day I was planning on flying to Italy, Skagway decides to get socked in.  Booo hooo!! I missed all my connections and after a long day of crying on the phone and begging expedia reps, I got no mercy.  (Expedia is the DEVIL!!!)  I finally got some love from Delta (although they did charge me my first born child) but was able to get re-booked the next morning.  Air excursions got me out to Juneau on time to catch the last flight to Seattle (they also ripped my bag, which I demanded the replace and they agreed!)  Geez... what a day!! After I arrived in Seattle, Francis Fields, who is staying in my condo this month, graciously came and picked me up so...

The Fran DeLisle Cancer Awareness Walk was a success!!  We had over 101 walkers (in a community of 700) and raised just below $10,000.  I raised $749 thanks to all your support!  We had six shuttle buses take us out to Chilkoot Post Lodge where we took our group picture!  With my water, 'Save the Boob's' t-shirt on, I was off on my long walk back to Skagway! Group picture out at Chilkoot Post Lodge Walkers (I don't know these people!) Valerie and I and the gorgeous view we had on our walk! The Red Onion booth was the best... lots of goodies!! At this point, Val and I took off running the last mile and arrived at the Elks hungrier than bears!!  There was tons of food and goodies awaiting our arrival. For those that raised over $250, our names was put into a drawing for prizes.... Temsco helicopter ride, a quilt and framed Breast Cancer Stamps with a poem.  I won one of the frames! Thank you for all your support!!  The money that was raised g...

In my dream world I would live in a place I could call home year round.   A place where I have time to volunteer,  to be apart of something,  to have a creative outlet. A place where I have all my girlfriends together to giggle with  and reasons to giggle about. A home where I could have a few gold fish and plants and keep them alive. A home that was open to my friends and family,  to visit, to share, to be loved in. In my love world I would have a partner, who tucks me at night  and kisses my toes goodbye in the morning before I wake. He would be my best friend, my "go-to" man, my chuckle, my love.  He would get me, laugh with me, share with me,  tease me,  set me straight when I get off course  and have just as many imperfections as me. I would have a toddler or two running around me saying "mommy, mommy!" In my earth world I would have a garden, bringing new things to life,  so that I could remind myself of how delicat...

Hey folks, It's been a while!!  The store is up and running and although we started off to a slow start, I think it's finally picking up.  Last weekend I took my first trip out down to Seattle and Idaho.  Thursday night I was able to meet up with some  Get Hitched Give Hope  peeps for a night of games and laughs.  We had a blast!!  Barbie was laughing so hard she was crying and all of us were on a massive sugar high!!!  Friday I was off on a five hour drive to Moscow to visit Michelle.  I sang so much on the way over, my voice was husky when I got there.... oh Ingrid Michaelson how I love to sing with you.  Here are a few pics of us in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (which means Heart of an awl, or as the french say, Coeur d'Alene is an insult and is very rude to say!) Stefan and Michelle on the lake Sisters picking a moose's nose! It was so nice to get out of Skagway for the weekend.  I'm already looking forward to my next trip out....

Every year we make a few changes with this store.  This year we took out candy bars (Twix, Snickers, etc) and chips and put in bulk candy!!!   I got excited about candy when I went to New York for my 30th birthday.  I walked into a candy store owned by Dylan Lauren (Raulph Lauren's daughter).  I thought, I want a candy store just like this one in Seattle!!  Live year round, and have an unlimited supply of sugar at my hands at all time! hee hee  So after I move on from Skagway Mining Co, that is my goal.  But for the time being, I put in some delicious and oh so yummy candy at SMC.  Marcos, my sweet and artistic friend in Spain, made the design on the bottom of the display!!  It's so creative! On the left you can see a waterfall of candy.. trees made of gum drops and a dog with a candy cane in his mouth! The sun is a lollipop! On the right you see a panner mining for candy... I mean, really, candy is the new gold! I put taffy in the o...

Matt came to help out for about a month or so here in Skagway.  He's my new room mate.... he's got the couch! ha!  We are having fun!!  We watch a lot of movies, work during the day, take walks, and even went to Trivia night, where we were 2/2 but decided we were too smart and went home!  Here's some pics of Matt on our walk the other night. Don't try this at home.

The weather was so nice today, so we took our day off and went out to the point to roast hot dogs!!  This week we have another shipment coming in (a huge one) and so resting up for a day was a must!! Sarah, Megan (Sarah's friend who is working a week with us!), Jared, Katie, and Willie and Brittney (in the way back.) Willie resting...notice the other guy hanging off the log.. that's Jared. ahahah Sarah and her sweet hot dog holder! Ashley and our giant cigarette!  hahaha Brittney... eating a hot dog, holding hot dog tongs and drinking her beer. Such a multi tasker! and the reason I am going to go for a run tomorrow.... THIS table of FOOD!

10 more days until opening day!!  It seems so close, and we still have so much coming in off the barge!! EEEK!!  Here are a few funny pics of the employees being silly with this weeks shipment. Can you read the sign?? hahah!! Can you guess what the product the sign is really for?? Brittney sank in the never ending box of peanut styrofoam!! HELP ME HELP ME!! This is a two sided sign... front and back.  The other side is below. I collected antiques to put on the display and now I just need to hang it!! More to come later!!!

As most of you know, I am back in Skagway, AK and working hard.  I haven't blogged in so long and recently my friend Marcos in Spain mentioned that he misses my blog updates.... "why aren't you BLOGGING?!" and  then I remembered I actually have a blog and need to get on it! The ferry ride up to Skagway was great!!  Drew O'Kane and Terry came with me for the ride.  Drew is funny funny funny... always making jokes.  Terry and Drew are opening a kettle corn business in Ketchikan this summer called Pops Kettle Corn!  Drew also owns his own landscaping business, and is into film making.  You can Google his name and find some of his independent films he has made.   Drew and Terry on the ferry! The weather couldn't have been better!!  Blue skies all the way up! The first week I was back, it was a little slow with shipments, but this week it's a bit crazy!!  Boxes and boxes every where.  We got so much stuff this week and are getting t...

Top Ten Reasons I Deserve The Last Cupcake 10.  Wednesday:  Went into Virginia Mason for a "in and out" procedure involving a nasty kidney stone.  Procedure does not go well.  They can't get to the kidney stone because it's too far in and actually inside a "pocket".  So, surgery was a bust.  The next option would be to open me up and take it out.  I don't like this idea but I will see how I feel in the fall. 9.  I wake up to bladder spasms, which is basically like causing acid reflux with your kidney (urine going back into the kidney).  I wish this on NO ONE.  It's insanely painful.  I'm crying like a baby.  They get me to my own room and medicate the crap out of me.  I have a temperature of 102.  Didn't have a BM (bowel movement that day).  I stay the night. 8.  Thursday:   Mom flies down to be with me.  She arrives and shortly after I begin to feel the same pain I felt after the surgery, but i...

The book research trip was eventful and successful.  First stop was Vegas, where I interviewed my dad's mother, Sandy, and her family.  Here is the breakdown of the family members:  Sandy is my dad's biological mother, Cori is Sandy's daughter, Bill is Sandy's husband, Sid is Sandy's sister, Bob is Sid's husband, and Gayla is Bob and Sid's daughter.  I interviewed Grandma Sandy on Tuesday for almost 5 hours.  It went really well.  It's so hard to ask her questions that I know must be hard for her to answer.  She gave her son to my grandparents and that is a huge decision that could not have been made lightly.  I'm not going to share much on the details, as that is being saved for the book..... you're just gonna have to wait (and it might be a long wait!!!)  I also interviewed Sid and she is a "kick in the pants!"  Cori and Gayla were just as awesome!  Two of the most coolest ladies, so smart, and cultured.  I loved listening to...