Update + Need a new home for my Kitty... :-(

Okay, so lets get the not so fun stuff out of the way....Ricky will become homeless in September as his current living accommodations will no longer be available to him. When I had set up this home for him it was agreed that they would take him for a trial 6 months (my first contract) to see how things went. The woman that initially took him, absolutely LOVES him, unfortunately she lives in her mother's house and mom is elderly and does not want to accept his love. So I have been informed that when I come home in September I will have to find him a new home. I would like to find something sooner if at all possible so that we can get him settled somewhere else sooner. Please let me know if you are interested by sending an email to tabithav@shaw.ca .

A few things about Ricky, he does need a home without other animals, he's not a bit fan of other animals, and will attack (even big dogs) though I suspect that eventually he could be acclimatized if necessary, but I think the stress of moving again is enough. He needs a lot of love, and does tend to talk a lot...but he's the most loving kitty I've ever met...

Okay, on to happier thoughts...

I know it's been awhile since I wrote about my adventures, and I appologize about that, I've been upset about writing to ask for Ricky's new home...But I do have much to talk about!

Well, last time I think I told you that our Financial Controller Theo was leaving us, and Javier was coming on board to replace him. I really miss Theo, he was a great guy! But Javier seems really cool as well - really seems to respect us, and has a fun time along with the work that needs doing. He's asked me to train with Liza (the guest account purser) so that I can have the opportunity to do that once the bank duties are transferred to Guest Relations, so I will start that training in mid June sometime.

About the bank duties, we have a couple of staff from Shore side coming on board a little over a week from now to oversee the transfer of the bank duties to Guest Relations, so this week and next we are doing a bit of training with the guest relations officers so that they can become familiar with our practices and get an idea of what they will be doing in a couple of weeks. Apparently on the other ships it's been pretty crazy so they are trying to plan ahead a bit more with us, we are one of the last ships to make the change so we shall see how things go!

I finally made it off the ship in Sitka this week, it's a small town, I didn't have much time, so mostly just a quick walk around, ate some not so good Japanese food, had a walk up this hill where you can look over the town for a few pictures (already posted on Picasa!) and then it was back to the ship. I was told there was a great spot to have Hamburgers, where 3 older ladies ran a hamburger cart, but I wasn't able to find it, I'll have to get my friend to show me next time!

We of course were back at Hubbard Glacier this cruise, I hadn't planned to go and take photo's this time as it was also payroll day for the staff, which means that we are working long hours to hand out all the pay, but when I went upstairs to have some lunch I noticed that we were a lot closer to the glacier that we had been before, so of course I had to run to get my camera and head out to shoot some pictures. It was really clear this close to the glacier how big that thing is...When you are a mile or more away it doesn't look so big as right up next to it! It was really incredible. The glacier comes out into Yakatuk Bay, and normally you come into the bay, and you end up next to a bit of an island that's just on the right hand side of the bay, but this time we were able to go past the island, and when you get this close you can actually see that the glacier also extends down this narrow channel (or maybe the glacier makes the channel narrow!) So you can see down the side of it. There was a lot of calving activity (Ice falling from the glacier) but I was late getting up there so didn't see much of that! Next time! (Again, check out the pictures on Picasa)

Next up was Juneau, I finally brought my camera with me in Juneau this time - usually I end up doing chores - shopping, and don't bring the camera cause of not so good weather, but this time I decided to bring it anyways, I went down past the docks to where you can over look the bay a bit and there was a bit of an estuary type area where i took a few photos...On the way back I saw a sign for the Alaska State Museum, I don't know what made me do it, but I thought, well if it's cheap to go in, I'll check it out...It was $5, so I went in and I'm so glad I did! Upstairs they were having a photo exhibition for local amature photographers, man there were some BEAUTIFUL photo's in there. I was so impressed! I wish I could show you my favorites! There was one that was of a bay type area in Alaska, mountains in the background (but they were a little over exposed) but the bay was reflecting the mountains, and they'd set up the composition so well, that the best part of the mountains was highlighted by the sun, and reflected into a small little pool of water (and perfectly exposed)...I know I'm not explaining it well, but it was so incredible!!! The winning photo was of an old abandoned building rooftop that had graffiti on it, and water, and the lighting was perfect with reflecting in the water on the roof and off the graffiti...Mmmm...may have go to back next week!

Well, that's about everything for where we went and updates about work...Now for the fun stuff...ship life!

I finally feel like I'm not the new girl anymore, I now have friends on other ships!! My co-workers from the beginning of my contract, Anna and David, have started their new contracts. David was able to get on the ship he wanted (Summit), as his girlfriend is on that ship. I sent him an email, but haven't heard back yet. And Anna has gotten the job she wanted working as a Casino Cashier on the Mercury - which is also in Alaska but we won't ever meet in any ports to say hello...too bad!

Other things on the ship are going well, been to the gym a couple of times, and still eating fairly healty. I am seeing a guy from Shore Excursions and that seems to be going pretty well... ;-)

Mom and Dad are coming by the ship this Thursday, and are bringing a little barbeque to cook me up some hotdogs, and potato salad, so I'm pretty excited to see them! I also get to see my dear friend Shannon and chat with her all night, hopefully I'm not late back to the ship!!!

Anyways, I've written tonnes, and probably need to get off the internet for a while! So I will say good night, Love you all! Write soon!

Tabs