Tag Archives: maui

Birthday Parties I Remember Best (In Honor of the Fact that My Birthday [and my sister’s] is on Tuesday)

  1. Grown-up Girls Slumber Party – My 38th/Meredith’s 35th
    • Pink & Yellow polka-dot theme carried out on cupcakes, cd cases, gift bags
    • Personalized Party Music CD
    • Gift bags of goodies for everyone
    • Late night drunk Twister
  2. My Fabulous Fortieth Birthday – My 40th/(Meredith couldn’t be there)
    • Art heist mystery!
    • A Classic Never Goes Out of Style
  3. The First Time Parents Rented Falcon Field Swimming Pool Party — My 12thish?/Meredith’s 9thish
    • Guest list limited to 60, not counting Grandparents who got to come no matter what
    • An entire picnic table full of presents for both of us
    • Home-made pool party invitations
  4. Mystery Party in Maui – My 39th/(Meredith couldn’t be there but Michelle was!)
    • Murder Mystery — Carlene did it!
    • Travel companions and island friends
  5. Small Water-Games Themed Party — My 9thish/Meredith’s 6thish
    • Water balloon toss
    • Two guests each, plus 2 mutual guests
  6. Surprise Party at Organ Stop Pizza — My 19th/(Meredith was on a youth group trip)
  7. Camping Party in Grandma & Grandpa Rock’s Camper — My 11th/Meredith’s 8th

Our birthday - June 18, 1982
Our birthday – June 18, 1982

Adventurous Travel in the USA (amongst the places I have been)

  1. Kenai Peninsula, Alaska – Road trip, get a rustic cabin, visit the tip of the Homer Spit, see moose, avoid bear, stop at the Ranger Stations to chat with locals  (http://www.kenaipeninsula.org/)
  2. Maui, Hawaii – Visit the top of the Haleakala Crater, take the Road to Hana and make all the stops, swim under waterfalls, take a surfing lesson, kayak with whales, rent a condo on the beach from my friend
  3. Phoenix, Arizona – Only go in the winter, hike the desert, float down the river, golf, search for the Lost Dutchman’s gold, drive north of Mesa at night and view the glittering city
  4. Boston, Massachusetts – Follow the Freedom Trail’s red line through town to tour history on your own, order seafood, wander Boston Commons (with a friend), take in a museum
  5. New York City, New York – Choose your top 3 must sees and count everything else a bonus.  You could explore this city for weeks, maybe months, and never see it all.  Museums, skyscrapers, sports, exhibits… Take in a Broadway show, skate at Rockefeller Center, rub the Wall Street Bull’s unmentionables for good luck, pose for a pic with the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, eat authentic cuisine from another culture, see the Statue of Liberty, relax in Central Park or any of the smaller ones scattered through the city, ride the subway, wear your walking shoes
  6. Los Angeles, California – Hit the beaches… Huntington for ocean swimming, Venice for weirdo-watching.  Visit Hollywood, drive into Hollywood Hills to see the city, take in a professional sporting event, wander a pier at dusk
  7. Boundary Waters, northern MinnesotaPlan with an outfitter, rent a canoe, and tour your way through the beauty of the North Woods.  Be sure you know what you’re doing or hire a guide.  Portage trails, paddle lakes, camp in remote wilderness, watch out for bears
  8. Chicago, Illinois – Museums, sporting events, tall buildings, shows, shopping, visit the sand dunes and beaches surrounding Lake Michigan
  9. Juneau, Alaska – Fly or ferry in since there are no roads into this capital city.  Visit glaciers, hike trails, view wildlife, cough up the funds for a helicopter tour that will land you on top of a glacier
  10. Grand Canyon, Arizona – Hike or trail ride into the canyon but only with thorough preparation.  Incredible views, challenging trips, white water rafting, desert camping
ERA Helicopter tour to the top of Taku Glacier, Juneau, Alaska