morrea french polynesian

Ahh the Island of Morrea...we arrive via Ferry like cattle. The trip was a delight to our senses, Rose sat back and enjoyed the trip while I took pictures and watched the water for any kind of exciting stuff. Over to the left near shore appeared to be a dolphin but it was too far away to tell. I believe it was as several other people thought so as well. People in long boats, and surfer were in the water. The sky and the water was as many different colors and textures as the people on the ferry. It was a treat to intermix with them, to be able to watch the people, the sea, the birds and watch as the Island approached. So we have arrived and our ride is awaiting for us in this very large bus. Everyone is aboard, the luggage is stored and our driver welcomes us to Morrea like this. "Welcome to my Island, on my Island you will not have any problems and if you do you all me and I will fix it. Everyone will have fun on my Island."
We are the first drop and is maybe a 10 min ride from the ferry, along a winding road that is boarded by sea on one side and mountains covered with dense plants on the other. Everywhere you look it is many shades of green and blue. I am itching to explore! Our hotel is the Morrea Pearl and Spa and we have our own lagoon. All the buildings have been thatched. We are met with a smile and warm welcome, invited to sit down and brought ice water and a cloth to freshen up with. AGAIN we find that the reservation is for Charles and Mary Buchta..no big surprise this time. Our lagoon has a white sand beach and the water is warm and crystal clear we have our own coral reefs and fish we can sit on the boardwalk and watch play. Our room has two stories with a loft that has a bed tv and dresser, downstairs we have two beds a tv and dresser, we opt to just use the downstairs.
Wow it is Tue already and we have a full day ahead of us...We am up early and down exploring our beach and having breakfast and a dip in this wonderful pool...the pool boy isn't bad either. We have a lagoon tour today that includes lunch and a swim. So the driver picks us up and takes us on down the road about 30 mins and we board this funky boat. Joseph is our guide and Brian is the photographer. After a short wait we are off..ahead of us is multi blue seas dark blue sky's, white fluffy clouds, deep green mountains and an adventure of a life time. As we boat we stop and pick up more people, lunch and just relax as we watch the beauty float by. We are told that the Island is totally protected by natural reefs that keep the rough seas out. We see people snorkeling everywhere, there are people fishing with spears, boating, and wind surfing with a para sail. We are at our first stop and the water is chest high a beautiful teal color and filled with Stingrays. We get off the boat and go into the water and have a one on one experience with these large gentle creatures. They remind me of a dog or cat that circle around your feet waiting for attention. About 10 feet from where we stand there are about 10 large black fined reef sharks circling back and forth. We finally advance toward them and we told to stay out of the deep water and watch, our photographer swims into the center and Joseph begins to feed and taunt them. They respond by circling and grabbing the fish and just swimming back and forth. We are maybe 5 feet from them and in the same water but we are standing on a sandy bottom. WOW! Now we move to our right where there is a reef and we watch as Joseph feeds large more eels and watch two very large giant clams. This is the best tour ever. I Mary Lou Buchta swimming with Sting Rays, Sharks, and Eels. So back on the boat and off to an Island where we are fed, shown how to make this delicious raw tuna meal, how to husk and break coconuts and how to make coconut milk. After some snorkeling and hanging out we are back on the boat and headed back to the hotel. Yes we bought the tape of our trip but only one and we are gonna burn a copy so we both have one. Back at our hotel we change and walk down to the town which is the biggest shopping center on the Island. We have 2 banks, a supermarket, and 4 or 5 stores. There is a great fabric store, a very interesting jewelry store and yes a store for tourist with cheap( or not) little gadgets. We do a bit of shopping and head back to swim, hang in the sun and have dinner.

Tahiti // exploring papette

Last Dec. I won a trip on Air Tahiti to either Paris or Tahiti for two. Having been to Paris twice I chose to go to Tahiti. After much discussion it was decided that RoseMary and I would go, thus followed many months of preparation. We decided not to just show up on our own and went through a travel agent and booked our land package. 1500.00 pp gave us our hotels, our transfers, a tour on Papeete and a tour on Morrea.

So almost a whole year has past and here it is Nov.6th and time to go. Our bags are packed, passports ready, and we are sitting at the Boise Airport being told they can not get us to Lax in time to catch our flight. The plane had a problem that was checked out and oked but no paperwork done so the captain will not put it in the air untill it is checked again. OK so back up and start over...how do we get to LAX? So they reroute us Boi/Pdx/Lax and we get in 2 hours late and are lucky enough to get on the 5:30 flight out of LAX.
Air Tahiti is a hugh plane with great service, we have movies or music, we get a pillow and blanket, an eye mask and two meals. I have a terrible time sleeping on planes but did just fine this time around. It was an 8 hour flight from Lax to Ppt with us arriving at 11:30 pm Tahitian time. We file off and wind thru customs to be met on the other side by a beautiful women holding a sign with our names on it and welcoming us with a real flower lei. We run to the bathroom and stop to exchange out money and then we are whisked off in a bus to our hotel (the Radissen).
Upon arrival we are met with what could have been a very nasty surprise...our reservation is in the name of Mr and Mrs Charles and Mary Buchta. I am not very happy and after they determine that this is my reservation, we are taken to a great room on the 3rd floor. We have double beds with a shower room and a hugh sunken tub (which we use for drying our swim suits), a great patio with a table ad chairs overlooking the sea. Beautiful Black Sand beach right at the foot of the patio, this time of night all we can do is hear the waves as they crash on the beach. It is like 2 in the morning so lights out for now. After about 4 hours of sleep we are up showered and out exploring the area. The birds are singing and whizing everywhere, the waves are crashing and we are two very excited ladies. We walk the beach and look at the coral and rescue a star fish and just enjoy the begining of a new day and oh what a glorious sun rise. We opt for an early breakfast a swim in the pool and back to get ready for our Island Circle tour. Our driver arrives in a large bus and we are off, our first area is called One Tree Hill and we don't even stop just hear how captain Cook planted it because you couldn see everywhere from that spot. Other spots we visited was Faarumai Waterfalls, The Blowhole, Fern Grottos, Lookout Point, Point Venus and the Lighthouse. We also went to the Paul Gauguoin Museum and Restraunt. The Museum was lame but the food was wonderful, after eating we were able to fist the fish farm where they had all type of fish including shark swimming just outside the dining area. The Falls and the Blowhole were excellent as was the Fern Grotto but the area where the lighthouse and Point Venus was very run down and the streets were filled with garbage. One our tour we learned that the natives work hard all week and play hard on the weekend. Sunday the market is open from 4am to 6 am and then everyone goes to church and to the beachs where they relax and enjoy the water. We seen surfing, boating, spearfishing, snorkling, and many friendly happy people on our tour. Managed to get in a couple of birds along the way as well. Their Polynesian Imperial Pigeons were out, loved the looks and sounds of the Zebra dove and you had plenty of terns, Bulbuls, and Myans. So now we are back at the hotel and thinking about our next adventure......We are exhausted and decide to take a short nap....a nap that lasts all afternoon and night.
Day two is more time on the beach another sunrise, breakfast, the pool and showered, packed, and waiting for our ride to the Ferry. We really only get a very quick glance at the Capitol city of Papeete as everything was closed. There are many people awaiting the Ferry to go to Morrea. There is a hugh Chinese ship parked there that we later learn is a science expedition that is staying over for a few months. We also learn that there is a cruise ship that is berthing there for several months and taking people on short trips of the Islands. (that would have been cool) So we are on the Ferry and heading out to our next Island which is a short 30 mins. away. So far Rose and I have had a great trip...wait there is a Brown Booby sitting on a red buoy with a surfer below it and several long boats coming up fast. That is all for now our first day and a half have been very busy and we are tired but we will have down time on Morrea.

Life

So God has a plan for me that I don't understand but once again my life has been jolted. Again I had to move and it was kinda traumatic but I know it was the correct thing to do. I am now in a cosy apartment in a beautiful part of Boise down by the river. I have a pool and a work out room plus the Green Belt is right next door. I have been too busy getting moved in to take advantage of any of them but I sure plan on doing so. I have been in for a couple of weeks and I have already met everyone in my building. I will not have room to entertain like I enjoy doing and I decided to set up an office rather than a second bedroom. If I have company coming I will get a blow up mattress and we will be A ok. When my grandchildren visit they never use the second bed anyway. I have it all put together and it feels comfortable and safe. My house, that I loved, was way to big and there was room that I never used the family that bought it will use the space and I hope will love it every bit as much as I did. I trust that this move will make life better for all of us involved and am open for whatever the next step will be.......later

Birding with the Audubon Group

Yesterday was my first trip with the Audubon Society and we visited the City of Prairie. We went out of Boise to the Black Creek Road and drove North to the end of that road. I had never been there and it was breathtakingly beautiful. The road is fairly decent and right now everything is green. Our first stop was at Bonners Point, (said to be the first stop when the settlers entered into the Boise Valley and where the city and river were named.) Here we were treated to 2 long billed curlew, who must have had a family close by because they screeched at and dive bombed the area. My first sighting of this magnificant bird. Next it was a group of Eastern King Birds trying to lead us from their nest followed by as Sage Thruster just sitting pretty as you please, followed by Honed Larks, Meadow Larks and Hawks. Our next over the top view was a Red Tailed Hawk sitting on a tree branch with his/her nest and two half grown babies. This was across from the Blacks Creek Gold Mine and the tree was sitting right next to this amazing old farm house and believe it or not the barn that is displayed on most drivers licenses. From there it was on up the valley to an area of large dead trees where we seen a Lewis Woodpecker and two Hawks soaring with one dangling a snake. There were more stops and more birds and wonderful views, however the best was yet to come. At the Belknap cabin
( our guide place) we were treated to lunch with the birds, followed by a walk around the pond where a Great Blue Heron had a Hugh nest at the top of a tall pine with 3 half grown babies. We were blessed that the birders carry a scope for just such sitings so we could watch as they interacted with each other.
My friend RoseMary went with me and I think she is going to join as well and thank God she drove as I was working on 3 hours of sleep and might not have been able to go otherwise. WE had four cars with 8 people (10 counting us) who were all really into hiking and birds. I am hooked and hope that I can find time to really get involved with the group..Unfortunately my camera was on the fritz so very few pictures. Oh well I wanted a new one anyway.
PS: at one point our guide, Bill, stopped backed up got out of his truck and picked up a snake and checked it out to see if it was hurt. He advised us it was a Blue Race and it was hurt bur he though it would be OK. He took it and place it off the road. Gotta say he/she was kinda pretty. Bill spent the entire time telling us about the area, pointing out different types of flowers and plants and information about every spot we stopped. He and his wife have ranched that area for many years.
Thank you Lord for opening a new door for me to pass thru.

more on my vacation

I went home in May to see my mom, sisters, and their families. I was to have gone to Europe but God intervened and so I went home. I have to tell you that I was afraid to go home....home as I remember it isn't there anymore. My mom is in a nursing home and she doesn't speak and we don't know that she understands what, where, or who any more.
Ellen and I go early on Sat morning and when we arrive she is sitting in a chair with her back to us. I walk around and lean in and say "hi mommie", she kinda jerks, turns ,looks at Ellen and then she grabs me and we hug and she doesn't want to let go. We talk and she stares at me and hangs on me the entire time. Of course I was hanging on to her as well. Ellen asks her if she wants to show me her room and up she get and we take off down the hall. At the first room she stops and looks in and continues doing the same at each room. When we come to her room she does the same and I say "mommie are you sure this isn't your room?" She turns to me and says" nooooo" just as plain as day. It was an anguished sounding no and very drawn out....but she spoke!
So in between visits with mom I stayed with Ellen and the family came to visit. I got to see my neices and nephews and their families. We did a lot of talking and laughing and yes crying. I am so glad that this is the path I choose rather than going to Europe which will always be there...MOM won't be.
Mothers day we took mom to a program and she would place her hands togehter like she wanted to clap and she hugged CD and then I had to say goodby. Just thinking about it makes me cry so I won't go into details but I came away with these thoughts.

I needed to go home and my God knew that so he made a volcanio go off so I would go to Iowa instead of Germany.
I know that mom knew who I was and that she was very glad to see me. I here as well.
I Loved seeing my sisters and their families....I have missed so very much with them
I am sooo ready to go back just have to find the time to make it happen.

Thank you, GOD, for sending a volcanio to wake me up to what was important. Now you may let it go back to sleep and let Europe begin to recover.

Yesterday

Yesterday was bitter sweet...

18 years ago , come Oct., I watch my grandson be born...yesterday I watch as he graduated from high School. He plans on going to college this fall, however as I watch him receive his diploma, I think about all the time we have spent together and the time we have missed. I wonder what out Lord has in store for him and how he will deal with them. I wonder how he will do out in this big bad world.

I have another grandson who turned 19 in May. I have been forbidden by his parents to have anything to do with him and his brother. Yesterday he was there and I cried when he reached out to hug me. Yes he did some bad things, but he was very young. My heart begs to know this boy, to know who he is. I miss him and his brother so very much...and his mom...I love her and miss her very very much. I missed their graduation...will not be there for their weddings...first child...and so many more things that I would love to share with them.

I know I will never have the option to know them as adults so I take joy in yesterdays touch and I think GOD for that small moment. I pray for more small moments and that God will bless me with one for Cory.

I pray that they know that I love them and no matter what I will always love them.
God forgives us anything so why can't we as humans forgive and just allow love to transform all.

Disney World Summary

I never thought it was a place I wanted to visit..how wrong I was. We were there 4 days and took in a lot of events but hardly scratched the surface. The concert we took in at House Of Blues , downtown Disney, featured Ben Harper and Restless 7, with Alberta Cross opening for them. Throughout the visit we were treated to music with bagpipes,and several different types of instruments that I will add later. All told I lost my fear of rides and fell in love with the Disney Experience, I now see why people go back over and over again.

Sunday

It is our last day at Disney World so we are up and out...kinda. Hollywood Tower here we come! Laura and Eric has joined us and so we are going to spend the day doing as much as possible. We start out with Holloywood Studios, riding the Rocking Roller Coster, and Hollywood Tower. Moved on to Aimal Kingdom where we explored the Dinosaur Land, Expedition Everest, and the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Enjoyed seeing the Tree of Life and the other amazing things. Now it is off to Epcot for more rides and dinner followed by fireworks, which is an exceptional way to end a visit to Orlandos Disney World.
For a lady who doesn't do rides, I rode the following: Rocking Roller Coaster (twice), Hollywood Tower (twice), Star Wars, took a safari, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest(wonderful ride), Splash Mountain, rode the train, It's a Small World, Snow Whites scary Adventure, Space Mountain, the Merry go round, Mission Space, Test Track, Soaring Land . We visited the Tiki Hut, the Tree House, and many other attractions. My favorite attraction was the Reflection of China, we went twice. We ate at the Germany Biergarten Restraunt, which was a smorgaoard, Moroocca Restraunt Marrakesh, and Chinas Nine Dragons Restraunt. All the food was unique to the area we were in.
Our night ended with the fireworks and a run to catch the bus back to our resort.
Oh wait I stood in line for like 20 mins. to see Micky and get a picture with him. I told Micky I had waited 4 days to visit him and he gave me a hug kiss on the cheek and sent me on m way. I thought the stars would be more visible and we did see a lot but to get any special pictures it was a wait so I just snapped and ran. Did not get shots of Winnie and Tiger but they were out and about and I did see them. Ready to take another trip.
Thank you Bonnie for suggesting this tip.

Boggy Creek

Sat. no parks for us today we are going out and yes I am driving. Time for me and the Bitch to interact again.
Boggy Creek is where we are going to ride the Airboat and hunt for alligators. It is on a lake (can't remember the name) which is at the beginning of the everglades (s0 says the operator). On the way out we see some beautiful territory, the trees are green and big and hung with moss, the birds are plentiful and I am very happy. If I had been alone I would have stopped and shot may pictures of birds as it was I only stopped once to get some magnificent shots of Sandcranes.
So we are here and have to wait for the next boat so we hang out and wait. I take a couple pictures of Turkey Vultures and Common Brown Greckles and turtles.
So it is our turn and the boatman tells us "the water is only about knee deep and if you fall out and the gator doesn't get you, you'll be fine." Off we go out thru the backwater with all its plants and birds and YES gators. For about half an hour we just drive around and enjoy the wildlife including a bald eagle, a racoon, multiply types of Herons and Ibris, and the gators.
When we are getting ready to leave we spy a fishing tournament and I walk over and ask permission to watch, even took a picture of a bass that weighed in at 8lbs 15 ozs.
So we are off back to town and a bit of shopping.
It was a great day which ended by Laura and Eric joining us for the next to days.

House of terror

So we have arrived and visited a couple of parks and I have ridden Space Mountain. I have not been on any ride (except the merry go round) since 1991 and Bonnie puts me on Space Mountain. I truly don't know if I enjoyed it or not, since I kept my eyes mostly closed and breathed hard to keep from screaming my lungs out. Hell yes I was scared almost to death. From there we went to Splash Mountain which I loved and on to the Hollywood Tower. OK how bad can it be? Bad enough that if I concentrate I can still feel my stomach and backside separating from the seat. Did I go back yes I did and I would again. I"m not sure what happened up there in that elevator but I lost my fear and began to have fun...lots of fun

The Bitch

Let me tell you about this bitch of a GPS....she took us in circles tried to tell us that Disney World was in a rundown section of town which was a big empty field. Ok getting ahead of myself.
Bonnie brought her home GPS to help us get around Orlando. Great ideal except neither of us played with it before hand, so do we know how to use it..of course not. Nor did the gentleman at the parking grage where we got our car. Ever persistant Bon doesn't give up and finally we have a setting but no voice..so off we go and over all we do very well, until as you read above, Disney World isn't where it took us. Never to be outdone Bon goes into a store and askes directions and off we go again. Ok we are finally where we need to go and we won't have to use her again until Sat.
Off we go on Sat and by now Bon has programed the voice and she takes us straight to Boggy Creek, however on the way back she again tries to take us to the empty field. We are smarted than she is now...well almost and it only takes us a couple of hours to get back to the room. So is it the Bitch or the operators? She was funny as hell when I would go one way and she wanted the other she would advise me that she had to recalucate. We contributed to getting lost because we decided to shop on the way home instead of follow the direct route.
On Sunday we give it to Eric and Laura and we follow them...onto an incorrect highway and once again we are backtracking. Needless to say we made it to Cocoa Beach ( I didn't get too far from Erics bumper).
Bitch time again for us to find our way back to the airport and once again she lead us in circles. To give her credit she was giving us street names when there wasn't any signs and I missed a couple of turn offs that common sense should have told me to take. Even though the Bitch tried to sabatoge the trip we never stayed lost long and oh hell we can get lost even on foot and with no help from our friend the Bitch.

Disney World

So we made it to Orlando with no problems at all. Oh wait can't put any pictures on since I left the cord at home.....bummer!
We are staying in the All Star Movie Resort and we are in the Dalmantions room. We have stars on our walls and dogs and critters on out double beds. The weather is beautiful, the rides are fun and the lines are short. Today we did Magic Kingdom, and yes we did It's a Small World. We seen the disney parade and a couple of chatures but not Mickey or Miney. Gonna crash for now more later....Loved Splash Mountain

today

Memories...they make you happy they make you sad.......

Today is a happy/sad day for me.........

I have Keegan who I Heart more than words can say
I plan on visiting Tristan later who makes my life special
I have had the privilege of wishing several very special people happy birthday

My mind is filled with thoughts of George and that day 6 years ago that changed our lives...
I wonder what he thinks of me now..if he see the new people in our lives....
I wonder if his kids know just how special they were to him.....
I wonder if it makes him sad that we don't interact as a family......
I wonder does he get to laugh and feel joy.....
I wonder does he still know he is LOVED...........

EYJAFJALLAJOEKULL

NASTY...NASTY...VOLCANO GO AWAY! You are messing with my trip....
Right now all countries except three are closed to air travel. We have ten days before we are set to go so maybe we will be ok. I am worried about getting stranded in Europe...Oh wait I threatened to stay....but that was all it was was a threat didn't really want to stay, not now anyway. Stay tuned for the next installment

minus two weeks and counting

April 27th 2010 will see me on a plane headed for LAX where I will board a plane to Frankfurt Germany. I plan on blogging my entire trip while I am there. I hope to post pictures as we travel.
Our agenda will go something like this:
LAX.......FRANKFURT.......SALZBURG.....EDELWEISS....PRAGUE...AND POSSIBLY VENICE....
This trip has been a long time planning and I have worked my fanny off and I am so ready to board that plane and fly off into the blue.....For any of you who care I hope I don't let you down.

Yesterday

Yesterday Tristan had his tonsils and adenoids taken out and his sinius routed. My precious little 3 year old was so brave right up until they tried to prep him to "fix his throat." At that point I am told he was like a furious tiger. So much so that mom and dad were asked to leave while they preped him. They were over an hour late taking him in, they should take into account that these children haven't eaten or slept since the day before.
When the surgery was over they took his parents back to this little cube and sat Mindy in this hugh leather recliner. Her baby boy was given to her and she and dad were the first persons he seen when he woke up. In post opp he had trouble keeping his oxygen levels stable and had to have a couple of breathing tretments.
Shortly after we went to visit him he kept putting his arms in the air and when his mom spoke his name he turned to her and put a hand on each side of her face and pulled her in for several kisses. God how I wish I had had my camera it was beautiful.
Today after work I went to visit and give Mindy a break. You could tell he wasn't feeling too good but he sure wasn't having anything to do with sleeping. We played games, read books, and watched Scooby Do.

Moments to remember

My youngest grandchild was born in June 2.5 years ago. I am lucky enough to get to watch him every Thursday of the school year, and it the highlight of my week.

Last summer Amanda, Keegan, and I were at the Nursery picking out plants when this happened:
Amanda had gone back to pick out some plants and Keegan and I were talking with the sales agent. I glance down and Keegan has his shorts pulled down and he is peeing in the mud puddle. Of course me being me I begin to tell him he can't do this and pulling his clothing up. Totally confused him to the point that it was months before he volunteered to go to the potty again.
Oh yea the sales man was laughing his but off and telling the little man to go pee on the rocks.

Last week his Mommy changed her hair color..(my beautiful blond is now a beautiful Burnett). After she was done we went to lunch and while we were setting in the booth she turned to him and shook her head and asked if he liked it. He stands up and shifts his fingers through her hair and then he said "OK" and he was done.

The Olympics are on and we were watching the kids come down this hugh snow hill with their snow boards doing their flips and spins and he is announcing that he is the one on the hill and he is the one spinning upside down and it is like he really believes it. At one point he launches his elf into the air from the couch just trusting I will catch him.

He never forgets a game we play and may come back weeks later and want to play with the "monster."

He calls me on the phone to tell me he went "poop" in the toilet...to wish me Happy Valentines Day....that he fell and got an cut on his head at grandma Jackies.

He completes my life like no one ever has....Thank you God for this wonderful joyful person.

Time vs Life

Very few things change in my life yet time just keep moving.
Another year is upon us, another birthday around the corner, another chapter awaits.
My grand babies are growing and moving on with their lives, another will be graduating and entering college this fall. My Children prosper and move forward with their lives and find joy with their families. My son will soon embrace (I hope he embraces ) the joy, pain, and bewilderment of his beautiful daughters having "boyfriends." I believe that he is strong enough to be there for them..strong enough to listen with an open heart and mind. I believe if they let her Mindy can be a great resource for them.

I miss the Buchta side and continue to make the effort to stay connected. It is hard when you live in a different city and work all the time.

I have a bucket list of things I want to do..and I don't plan to wait until I am old and feeble..well feeble anyway.

My first order of business is to stay healthy..which leads me to this dance class I am taking.. the gym membership I hardly ever use..the walks I love and haven't been doing. Time to get my priories in order. Enough for today...I plan on doing a lot of blogging this year.