Monday's the Day!

[dicksbro]

Yep. Monday (tomorrow) is going to be my wife and my 46th wedding anniversary! How I ever got so lucky to meet and marry the best wife I could ever hope to have is beyond me, but, somehow it happened. :)

To celebrate, tomorrow we're going for a cruise on Peoria's "The Spirit of Peoria" paddle-wheeler riverboat. We'll spend the night at a well known Illinois state park called "Starved Rock" and then return on Tuesday on board the riverboat. Should be fun and, as I understand it, there's great food in abundance served on the boat and at the lodge! :)

Looking forward to a wonderful anniversary!

[jseal]

Congratulations to both of you. :thumb:

[Pita]

Congrats DB and to Mrs. DB. What a wonderful testimony you two have for doing what it takes to be happy. Have a wonderful day! :)

[jay-t]

congrats to both of you on a long and happy marriage DB

[Scarecrow]

Happy Anniversary, best wishes from both of us to the two of you. See you in about 25 days.

[dicksbro]

Thanks, peoples! We're just getting up and finishing getting ready to leave for our cruise. Scraecrow, we'll be looking forward to seeing you two also! :wave:

[Lilith]

Married for 46 years is a miracle. I know, not really. It is easy when it is two like you! Kiss eachother for me. ((hugs))

[Irish]

DB & Mrs DB.Congratulations!My wife & I are only 44yrs,so we know how many
trials & tribulations,you have both had to endure!We hope that you have many more yrs together. Irish & Mrs Irish :thumbs:

[Oldfart]

All the best from M and I.

[Lord Snow]

Happy anniversary! Shame more people I know can't find a love strong enough to endure like that.

[PantyFanatic]

You are saddly very right LS. That makes the DBs even more respected. Congrats to both of you.

[ShadowDancer]

Congrats to you both DB!

[gekkogecko]

Woah...

[Aqua]

Happy Anniversary, Mr and Mrs db!

You two are an inspiration. :wine:

[dicksbro]

Thanks everyone. Anniversary was terrific and made more so by the marvelous time we had on the river cruise. There were about 60 or so passengers on board and the food and entertainment was exceptional. The trip up to Starved Rock took eight or so hours and they passed quickly. Breakfast, lunch and Prime Rib supper coupled with great singing and guitar playing, piano playing and river lore story telling. At the lodge, a terrific Mark Twain impersonator gave us an hour show. The man was a genius. Took a few pictures of the lodge and called it a night. Today, we had breakfast at the lodge (delicious) and then boarded the boat for a seven-hour return trip (shorter because we were going downstream). A fabulous lunch and wonderful snacks together with more music and riverboat stories. Nobody wanted to get off and many plan on returning again as soon as they can. Wonderful time. Oh yeah, two of our grandsons work on the boat and so we got to spend some time with them (when they weren't working).

The Riverboat, The Spirit of Peoria, is judged the most authentic example of a paddlewheeler still sailing the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Terrific boat propelled solely by the stern paddlewheel. No side thrusters to help it dock or move about.

[dicksbro]

Okay, here's a bunch of the pictures ... only a fraction of those we took, but probably more than you cared about. :shrug:

:)

Tbe second picture is of this couple celebrating their anniversary. (blush). And, the last picture (9983a) is of a bald eagle's nest along side the river. The eagles have returned to Illinois and there are a few pair nesting along the course of the river. :)

[dicksbro]

Here's a few more ...

The entrance to the lodge, one of the "chain saw" art sculptures that are all around the grounds, the main hall where we were meeting to hear "Mark Twain" and finally, Mark Twain himself. :)

Oh, yeah, the bottom one (out of order) is another sculpture of an eagle and here eaglets in a nest high up in an old tree. Beautiful. For half a second, I thought it was real. ;)

[dicksbro]

Last bunch ... next morning and our trip home ...

First pic of us all getting back on board The Spirit of Peoria yesterday morning. Next, our piano player playing the calliope, The ladies in the audience participated in one song with the guys all whooping and a hollerin' to cheer them on; then, our story teller and river historian (outstanding). Finally, we caught up with a tow boat pushing 12 barges and passed it.

[dicksbro]

... it's in the attachment. :)

[Lilith]

looks like fun! The lodge is beautiful! A very romantic little get-away.

[gekkogecko]

Is there such a thing as too much fun? Doesn't seem like you've reached that point yet.

[dicksbro]

Is there such a thing as too much fun? Doesn't seem like you've reached that point yet.

Nah. That's why I won't let the cancer get the best of me. Still got PAGAN 09 in Michigan, plans for a cruise to St. Louis in the fall or next spring (3 days and 2 nights on the boat); and, PAGAN 10 in Vegas. Heck I don't have time to be sick. If they want me sick, they'll just have to keep to my schedule. :)

But, as an insurance, all the good wishes help ... for all us Pixies whether we're hurting right now or not. :thumbs:

DB