Stromboli Island | August 21, 2026

Last night, our captain announced a course change that would have us sail by Stromboli, an island that is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. And said we would pass it on the ship's port side. That meant we would be able to see it from our balcony! 

We got up at 05:30a, rolled out of bed, and stepped outside, for the sight. We were not disappointed! Mainly clear sight lines, and we also witnessed some volcanic activity! Here are a few of my photos. 

I even captured a sailboat for scale. 😎

Note: The 5:30am time mentioned in this post was local to us on the ship. That time is six hours ahead of Eastern Time, which is still the time this blog follows. So, we woke up at 11:30pm Eastern, and then I published this post at 4:08am Eastern (or 10:08am Madrid time). 

#ScarletLady #Eclipse2026 #cruise #Stromboli #volcano

Scenes from a Monte Carlo excursion | Aug 15, 2026

Here are just a few photos from our Monte Carlo excursion today. This was the shore trip for Day 5 of our Virgin Voyages cruise. Main focus was the car museum (Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco), but we also got to see the casino grounds and glimpses of where the Monaco Grand Prix actually takes place.

#ScarletLady #Eclipse2026 #cruise #Cannes #MonteCarlo 

Fifty-Eight

We are now midway through April 2026. During this month, I'll complete my 58th orbit around the Sun. That's right! April is my birth month! 

As usual, I will not use this occasion to have a party or seek presents. Nor will I give Facebook the opportunity to directly track my friends' donation activity. But if you choose to somehow celebrate or acknowledge my Born On day, I ask that you donate time or money to your favorite charity or not-for-profit organization. If you cannot donate, then just take a walk in your favorite park, and maybe pick up some litter. 

And if you can donate, but you don't have a favorite charity or non-profit, here are several of my own:

• School of Sacred Ministries -- Independent divinity school that offers a program of spiritual training with ordination as an Interfaith Minister upon conclusion. I was ordained here, I continue to work with them, and they can always use money to continue their programs and further the cause of interfaith dialog. In fact, they will be observing the 30th anniversary of their founding just next year, 2027!
  
  
• Philabundance -- The Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization. Working to end hunger and malnutrition since 1984.
  
  
• Hero Initiative -- These folks help comic book creators in all sorts of situations: emergency medical aid, financial support, help finding work, etc. Much of their work is in the sales of merchandise or features whose proceeds benefit creators in need, but they also have several donation options. 
  
  
• Americans United for Separation of Church and State -- With that name, it's probably fairly clear what Americans United (or AU for short) does. Help them fight theocracy in the US. 
  
  
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- My father-in-law would have celebrated another birthday on Monday (4/26) -- if he had not succumbed to cancer in March 2005. My own father was diagnosed with a recurrence of Myelodysplasia syndrome (MDS) in November 2009. He did have a successful mini transplant, but eventually passed in 2013 due to complications from a recurrence of cancer. So, yeah, I'm all for funding cancer research and treatment.
  
  
• Cleveland Clinic -- My father had his bone marrow transplants performed here. They also treated him in March 2013. This clinic has an excellent medical staff and wonderful family support programs.
  
  
• A Woman's Place (AWP) -- Providing emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, legal assistance, and more for victims of domestic violence in the Bucks County, PA, area. 
  
  
• Human Rights Campaign -- More than ever, advocating for equal rights is necessary. Particularly with the current administration seeking to undermine hard-won LGBTQ+ protections.  
  
  

Thank you in advance! Let's meet back here in another year!

40 Years Ago Today: Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster (January 28, 1986)

 

Jan. 28, 1986:  I was a high school student standing in the hallway just outside the gym. As I recall, I was with a few classmates. I think we were waiting for the class dismissal bell. Then the principal's voice came over the PA system, and he announced the shuttle explosion (later investigation showed that there was no detonation or explosion in the way we commonly understand, but the huge fireball certainly looked like an explosion). 

That was 40 years ago today.

The Space Shuttle Challenger was engulfed in a cloud of fire just 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven astronauts aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, intended to be the first teacher in space. Other astronauts killed were Francis "Dick" Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik, Ronald E. McNair and Gregory B. Jarvis. 

Remember the pioneers!

"For the Gods do not give lightly of the powers They have made,
And with Challenger and seven once again the price is paid,
A nation watched her falling, but a world could only cry,
As they passed from us to glory riding fire in the sky."

(Fire In The Sky - Dr. Jordin Kare)

// NASA image via History.com: The five astronauts and two payload specialists of the STS 51-L crew in January of 1986: (left to right, starting in front row) astronauts Michael J. Smith, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee and Ronald E. McNair; and Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis and Judith A. Resnik.

More: https://www.nasa.gov/challenger-sts-51l-accident/