Respecting the flag

I had a great time in Tacoma with good friends, good food, good cowboys and great bulls. I got to see more work of a great glass artist that I really enjoy (Dale Chihuly), stopped at the Port of Kalama (which I always see but never stop at) to take pictures, and actually relaxed for a bit. I have a bunch of video and pictures to go through, but this one stands out. I snuck this picture during the singing of the national anthem.

Three young, well behaved, cute little boys, with their dads, sat in front of us. Someone raised them right. All three stood during the anthem, paid attention, and showed respect (which I guess is more than can be said for me since I was taking pictures).

The bullriders at the event were not just Americans. Brazil, Mexico, Canada and Australia were also represented. The foreign cowboys stood during the national anthem, which at least 2 of them would need translated to understand the words since they had a translator with them.

If these three boys and non-American cowboys know how to the respect the flag, why can't professional athletes?

US Border Patrol at the PBR

The US Border Patrol was at the PBR on Sunday (which makes sense since a quick Google search says the two made an alliance in 2008). I stopped at the Border Patrol booth on the concourse to say thank you for the job they do, and to hopefully get one of the challenge coins they were handing out. Watching the crowd give them a standing ovation was something to see.

That was before we learned they lost one of their own on February 2nd. Her family was honored Sunday, by not only the PBR but also the Border Patrol, and the fans in the Tacoma Dome.

Border Patrol Donna Doss honored

Veterans Day 2018

I wish I was the person who could walk up to a Veteran and say 'Thank you for your service' but I'm not that comfortable, so I do these things.  Maybe you can too.

Buy them a cup of coffee.  

Support those that support them:  
Fisher House
Close to home for me:  Northwest Battle Buddies

A special veteran for me:  Tommy

Cruise Animals

One of the things to look forward to on a cruise are the towel animals you get each night. I'm pretty sure we got a lobster, bear (dog), manatee, and the last night was an elephant.

The cruise that mom and dad booked for us included gratuities, however we all agreed our cabin stewards deserved something more. They did an awesome job taking care of us. So we did something more for them. Mom and Dad's cabin had already been done for the night and they were working on ours (we were side by side). We cleared out Keno (one of our cabin stewards was terrified of dogs and once we realize it we tried to be conscious of it as much as we could. Keno is a family fixture so we messed up sometimes when he was in the other cabin), and Mom and Dad came over to give them something extra. Then I did the same for Nichole and I. And then we all cleared out.....


Nichole and I got an elephant    Our room stewards were Indonesian, and in their culture an elephant is good luck. It's the only one that didn't follow the sea/Alaska creature theme.

Handa and Hakim on Holland America ms Amsterdam are amazing! They asked at the beginning how to address Nichole and I, and I said by our first names. And they did. They would see us in the hallway at any time and know us by name. They would say good morning or welcome us home in the afternoon and ask how things went.

I asked one if I could asked where he was from, which he answered Indonesian and immediately asked where I was from. That's always a trick question for me. Most people only hear Vancouver and then think Canada. Explaining Vancouver, WA to someone who speaks English as a second language is fun.....but it really was fun this time.