Author Archives: Holly

About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!

Blinding flash of the obvious

Posted on 2026-01-10 by Holly

As it turns out, there is a very simple and obvious reason for the stop at Freeport in the Bahamas. This is a new ship. A new ship on her first voyage with a cruise line office in Miami. But, … Continue reading →

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Know your geography…

Posted on 2026-01-09 by Holly

Why? sometimes it is as simple as knowing what city to plug into your electronic device in order to have it give you the correct time as you sail across an ocean or fly from one continent to another. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers & Software, Cruising | Leave a comment

Port opening plaques

Posted on 2026-01-08 by Holly

Yes, I totally agree that commenting/complaining about wall materials is most definitely a first world problem.  The following is not a problem, nor is it limited to the high income countries. There has been a long standing tradition, at least … Continue reading →

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Non-magnetic walls

Posted on 2026-01-07 by Holly

Ok, up front, this is definitely a first world cruiser’s complaint. There is nothing earth shattering or life destroying about this particular complaint. But anyone who has cruised a number of times will understand. Background (in this case almost literally). … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Stitch, Cruising | 2 Comments

Sailing in the dark

Posted on 2026-01-06 by Holly

And tonight night we will have yet another time zone change. According to my calculations this change takes us to the same time zone as eastern Brazil. That just leaves us  two hours to go; first to the Canadian Maritime … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Tapes, Cross-Stitch, Cruising, Cruising, Travel | 2 Comments

Less than 2000

Posted on 2026-01-05 by Holly

Stitches, not miles, kilometers, minutes, or arguments till I finish Fisherman’s Friend.  I have to connect the border, finish two Pegasus and a bunch more fish. I am going to then call it finished – but in reality, I will … Continue reading →

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Slowly calming seas

Posted on 2026-01-04 by Holly

It was a bit calmer this morning and even more so this afternoon. I expect that most people will be able to walk across the deck by tomorrow without looking like Lurch from the Adams’ Family. I spent another quiet … Continue reading →

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Star Seeker – Day 7

Posted on 2026-01-03 by Holly

We are at. sea, not lost. Just chugging our was across the Atlantic. I don’t have an excuse to mentally sing all the “lost at sea” songs that I have collected over the years. Sad? I don’t think so. But … Continue reading →

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Still Rocking and

Posted on 2026-01-02 by Holly

Rolling with an occasional whoosh-bang when the bow slams down added into the fun. Otherwise, we have passed into the open Atlantic.  Asking at the front desk – there are 175 passengers. I have a feeling if the ship was … Continue reading →

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Reel & Roll

Posted on 2026-01-01 by Holly

Starting just after coffee this morning the weather started to change. Also a factor; moving past the protection of most of the Canary Islands. So here we are, headed across the Atlantic with seas that probably wouldn’t bother one of … Continue reading →

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New Year’s Eve – 2025

Posted on 2025-12-31 by Holly

As I am writing this, my friends in Australia have already rung in the New Year and sensibly have gone to bed. It is only a couple of hours short of midnight here in Tenerife, Santa Cruz. The harbor, the … Continue reading →

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Cabin Upgrade

Posted on 2025-12-30 by Holly

When I booked this trip – which was when it was first released – I looked at the deck plan, looked at prices, looked at the ship size and decided that Deck 3 was where I wanted to be. Especially … Continue reading →

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Two Stairways

Posted on 2025-12-29 by Holly

  Since there are a significant number of sea days on this trip, I will be able to entertain myself and everyone else with exploring the new ship. Yes, brand new ship and an honest maiden voyage. None of this … Continue reading →

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Star Seeker – Maiden TransAtlantic

Posted on 2025-12-28 by Holly

That, my friends is our route. and this is the itinerary Date Port Arrive Depart Sunday, December 28 Malaga, Spain 6:00pm Monday, December 29 At Sea Tuesday, December 30 At Sea Wednesday, December 31 Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands 1:00pm … Continue reading →

Posted in Cruising, Travel | 2 Comments

A very long day

Posted on 2025-12-27 by Holly

Which started yesterday upon landing in Istanbul (the 26th)  and just slid into today which is now the 27th on this side of the world,  Eleven hours time ahead of California for anyone who cares,   After hanging out in … Continue reading →

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Shiny, very shiny

Posted on 2025-12-26 by Holly

We might have been a few minutes late in departing SFO, but considering the weather, it wound up being fine. Without Miriam, the middle seat of the three was empty. The young man on the isle is a new transplant … Continue reading →

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Heading out

Posted on 2025-12-25 by Holly

After all the disruption, drama, and general suckiness of the last couple of months, I decided to go ahead and brave traveling.  The cruise that I will be catching in Malaga has been planned for well over a year.  Similar … Continue reading →

Posted in Home, Travel | 2 Comments

Zeroing out

Posted on 2025-12-09 by Holly

I finished today with zeroing out 11 more colors, just leaving me five. Of course, those are ones with a fair number of stitches considering that the Menorah is complete and I “only” have the background squares to finish. In … Continue reading →

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84%

Posted on 2025-12-07 by Holly

Is my current status on the full coverage Menorah cross stitch. Today is the 7th. I might just have this finished before Hanukkah starts. Seven days – about 5K worth of stitches. My only challenge is going to be losing … Continue reading →

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0 dark whatever

Posted on 2025-12-06 by Holly

I can keep comforting myself with the fact that the days will not be getting any shorter after the next 2-3 weeks. The winter solstice will slide by resulting in a few extra minutes of light at each end of … Continue reading →

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