PaintedArtist

(I am letting you see my dyslexic writings before correction, review, rewrites rewrites and more rewrites and finally a proof reader’s notes. Read knowing you have to bare thru this with me as I work this out in text)

PART 1:

I’ve been on this journey now for over three years. It started when we sold our home and my business in Ruidoso NM and said far-the-well to most of our worldly do-dads and truly I say to you, we don’t missed our stuff. Stuff can be like weights that hold you in place and keeps you put.

Humm … now wait a minute: Actually this started like 13 years ago (age 50) when we made a great decision to go for achieving good health … you can’t pull off this kind of. get lost lifestyle we want, if you’re living in a doctor’s office. So perhaps (not by our will but God’s) for the moment anyway, we have good health. Ok I digress.

What I did not know all those years ago, is I’ve always been preparing for this very day … for my husband’s eventual retirement (exactly how many years from now that will be is a huge unknown as he is happy and in no rush)

But this trip is truly our first step on discovering just how far from comfort we are willing to stray as we go out into the world, as nomads with our hands turned up in gratitude. We are so ready to meet you, by what means you ask? Well my art and my willingness to show the world just how to get after whatever it is you long for.

So for these our final years the years before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calls us home or sends us to the hospice bed …

LET’S go!

Ok So far I love the Regal Princess the very most because there is no flights involved for me to visit her. They like me there. They let me teach and create all over that ship. I’m grateful because my husband can take me to her (the ship) in 2.5 short hours. No flights no hotels – it’s really nice on old ass bones but art enrichment isn’t really offered on short itineraries.

Regal Princess shenanigans

People who love what they do never stop doing it and that would be me. Which makes me our future. Kevin has been an exceptional steward of our past and our right now, but I’m preparing a way for our freakishly fun and fabulous future.

The Grand Princess is our first step to test our willingness to live tiny for long periods at a time, so we can be free to roam about the world.

Why tiny? you may ask: Well mostly because tiny will be what a ship might offer me and my little helper (Kev) one day. Or we will live in a tiny hole-in-the-wall apartment on beaches around the world and I will turn kids on to art supplies and creation … oh and plus we are not wealthy people. And also, I’ll say it again, belongings are weights that hold you in place.

To get to do this on the Grand Princess!?! Are you kidding me? Thank you Princess Corp. Omgosh … Well truly this is the next step towards world segments which is my eventual goal when Kev retires.

But here’s the rub guys … to get to the Grand, we will have two long days of travel with 200 LBS of art supplies to teach class, art supplies that were donated by my followers to be given to the artistic crew members, all the duck raffles and a fleet of ducks that all need good homes are all in tow … all must happen before I get to have my first meeting with the entertainment crew onboard ship.

I will let you all know as we go along just how we’re doing. My ass already feels sore in it’s first airplane seat, which is an indication that I’m going to need to lift weights and work out way more than I currently am, if my future is going to be about … ?!? What is this. lol

So we are on the way to catch a ride on the magnificent Grand Princess located in Long Beach CA. I can’t wait to meet you all.

Yesterday our *first stop was to dump the kids to grandma’s house – 7 hour drive .*

At *Lubbock airport to catching our first flight to Dallas TX. Check in was easy. Southwest took possession of the 200 pounds worth of bags. That was nice.*

I meet a nice policeman interested in my duck paintings. I showed him photos of them from my phone. Oh yeah, he thinks I’m a totally kewl bad ass now. Hehe. I asked if he is pleased with our new President. He almost cried, stating “Trump’s got my back”

*Ok. This is a good idea for travelers. $4 bought me 20 minutes – a pretty good message for a airport chair. I recommend it.*

*First flight near complete to Dallas TX. Is it cocktail hour yet?*

*Four hour layover. Humm. Perhaps we can get better at timing.*

Part Two: The layover

Killing time in a Lovefield bar with bar back Ilene. She lived in Las Vegas the same time we did. Our Last flight 2 hours from now.

In San Pedro waiting our hotel ride we are beat.

Part 3: About to jump a board the Magnificent Grand Princess!

Me dancing into the buffet. It’s coffee time.

I’m pretty sure this is original Berth 93 – where the hit TV show The Love Boat was filmed boarding the ship shots.

My adventure has begun.

The Elite traveler area is nice at Berth 93 thank you Princess Grand!

First drink waiting your stateroom to readied for your arrival is always the best. This is Samson. Oh yes! The Waikiki Duckie is Going home to Zimbabwe. Number 12 of 100. Number 12 represents the 12 tribes of Israel he informs me. Yes. You are right my brother. He’s patiently waiting his wife? Who is she? God knows already.

The sail away Duckie Party went great!

It always amazes me when people take time out of their vacation to come see me. Grateful!!

PART 4: At sea March 24

I got to meet the entertainment crew today – we worked out the detail on my duck painting class. And today I get to hand out Tickets to my first duck painting class.

See you at Tea Leaves deck 7 at noon!

But now I’m inking ducks and entering folks into my ship wide raffle.

Truth about the room:

It’s small for two on a long journey. But we got ideas and I know some of you have others. HELP. We know we can do it! The greatest sleep on a ship in in a completely dark interior stateroom! Best sleep in the world is on a moving ship!

https://youtu.be/EhmxpZxFbho?si=wj-t0tSJAaLU-2C6

Part 5: A glorious sea day. Plus I get to teach a duck class:

So I’m up early this morning with excitement. Perhaps because I won a $1900 hand pay yeaterday. Or the fact that I also have $1700 in my casino bank. I would cash out but there’s nothing to pay off. I had recieved $2500 OBC because of all the cruises I was scheduled to be on that got cancelled. I still got to cruise plus have free money?!? No bitch here I promise they treated everyone great over that issue! Also I own the stock and thats a great dividend if you play the market. Which i do. I can teach you ladies. Oh and I got $200 more when I booked this cruise. SCORE. WITH ALL THIS FREE money … and OBC I think ill try to win free future interiors cruises. I’m half way to the 5000 points I need to do that! Let’s go.

Well, to my point I’m up early. Doing my run/dance around the ship to get all the old lady aches and pains shook off my body. So I’m out of breathe anyway and – I began to cry because look what I caught this morning. Photos does not do it justice. I can not express my gratitude to God above for all this magic. In the beginning in the Hebrew roughly translates Christ has always been here. Check it. This chick is groovy smart!

This is AMAZING! ❤️✝️🙏CHRIST IS KING! pic.twitter.com/Av1hOEfoME
— 🇺🇸🍩 JULIE DONUTS 🇺🇸🍩 (@Juliesnark1731) March 16, 2025

So anyway. This is what I saw that brought me to tears and near to my knees in gratitude.

I can’t catch my breath. Was dancing the saw this and immediately started crying. Graduated washed over me.

So yesterday I got to teach my duck painting class. It still blows my mind that people wanna come see me on their vacation. I’m so grateful.

Diner at the Crown was divine

*It was so good I forgot to take more photos*

PART 6: March 26 sea day – I get to teach my 2nd duck painting class today. I wonder who I will meet today?

*Another gorgeous sunrise. I didn’t cry this time. Grateful for that cause that was embarrassing and uncontrollable.*

After the sunrise I hit another hand pay. Guys that’s like getting hit by lighting twice for me. Even though everything most of everything I do, I do for free, God finds away to make sure I get paid. Super cool.

Just so you know … If you win before casino has a casino host on shift – you have to fill out a paper and the they will pay you later when they arrive. Kinda spooky. But your machine locks up and know one can play till your paid.

Im raising money for the Bastrop Emergency Food Pantry – check it.

https://youtu.be/0wvBO25jk14?si=aK-M-jWsvPs7vhWk

100% of all moneys collected will go to the #bastropemergencyfoodpantry thank you for your bids.

Thank you Nicole Haddon-Murphy for the first bid! Grateful!

ART KITS for Cruise members collected by my followers:

https://youtu.be/MKn9LPjc8xE?si=tjHFEChPDgbsyAjx

Ok. Lets pray from a meeting with the guy in charge of “all things happy for crew members” ive requested because I got these art kits they you guys bought! They need to get to the artist crew members on board the magnificent Grand Princess. Im think i couldd set up a raffle a shift change for the crew if they are interested they could enter to win

Thank you followers for these art kits!!

Thank you Hollis, Janet, Donna, Lisa, Lorri and Shana !! Sweet donation.

Update: I got to meet the guy in charge of the happiness of the staff. His name is Billy I hope to have a meeting soon about the art kits you guys donated.

I got to teach again today! I think everyone had a great time.

*Two really cute sisters. So grateful they have each other.*

My story – https://youtu.be/y8QYWTQ9eB4?si=4cPKAmmQLQdubVrA

I won the ship wide slot Tourney and 2 other hand paid Jackpots this week so far. Most of everything I do, I do for FREE – God promised to feed us, grateful he found away.

*I taught my duck painting class today so I barely made it to the playoffs. My score stuck as one of the top 6 scores. 5 boys and 1 girl (me) made it to the finals. and I won!! Too cool.*

Part 7: a free sea day. March 27 2025

Not doing much of anything today.

I Had a great facial this morning at the Lotus spa – thank you Bolo from South Africaits amazing how the the duck i painted of a lotus spa work months ago looks just like you. That happens to me all the time. Not that amazing really since God has never left ether of our sides

Thank you Bolo for taking your duck home with you to South Africa in August.

So I have been at the pool ever since.

I’m drink my free bar set up – the one you get when you acheive Elite statue. I earned that statues fast because I travel alone often – Princess gives solo cruisers double the days you actually travel. So a 7 day cruise equals 14 days.

Tonight Texas Tech basketball plays! They made it in final sweet 16. Game is at 5 pm our time because we in the middle of the ocean.

Kevin Stepp’s going to do that.

I may try to hit the 5000 points I need to win free interior staterooms from the Casino. I’m so close. Ive already scored free drinks and a spectacular massage. Thank you Angel, casino host … now that’s so cool, I’m playing on the money they gave me when those 3 cruise got cancelled last October/ November I was on all of them but Im pleased because FREE MONEY is fun money! Plus I got replacement cruises?!? Princess treated everyone so fair over that deal – a situation that could not be helped. They were generous – so now I’m about to win another free cruise. Super cool.

Most everything I do, I do for free – God finds ways to get me paid. – I’m so grateful. 🥲 what a blast Kev and I are having.

OH I get to be on the Wake show! April 2 it airs. How super cool is that?

PART 8: 5th sea day. Almost to the Hawaii Islands on the Grand Princess.

I had another relaxing day. I started my morning dancing around the ship. Sanam the gal making sure we all use the washing station at the entrance to Horizon Buffet on deck 14 filmed me. She said I make her feel happy. She gets me! That was fun.

https://youtube.com/shorts/OmTHSqT2ktw?si=VrhYlZQfNRVL99Vb

Later that day I set up my crew and cruiser shipwide raffle in Crooner’s bar deck I also inked and jeweled ducks for anyone that wanted one. Everything I do on the ship I do for free in case you were wondering.

https://youtube.com/shorts/QK-XkQxW6kc?si=DppYPn5f42RJw1p1

Tonight we are dressed and ready for a night on the cruise. First stop Crooner’s deck 7.

*I suck at taking food photos. I think you are suppose to take them before you put your face in the bowl. Sabatini’s on board the Grand Princess was delicious*

PART 9: coming soon. The Hawaiian Island

https://paintedartist.com/hawaii-islands-on-grand-princess/

Regal Princess Review and Trip Report

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**She’s the real deal guys!** Trust her reviews.

Sarah AKA Prof. Cruise ties my name to Regal Princess in her resent blog about her cruise Feb 23, 2025.

She cannot possibly know how much this means to me. I’m in tears. I have to thank her followers, who reached out and told me that she was on my cruise and that it was her birthday.

They told me how nice she seems and that I just had to meet her.

So when I learned that Giuseppe Moschella, Cruise Director – Head of Entertainment requested that I speak on the Wake Show I took this opportunity to shout her out. Check it.

It seemed the entire ship watches the Wake show – but Sarah had missed it.

I was sad at her lack of response. I thought perhaps I had outed her, that she travel incognito so that she could do her job, writing cruise review without being noticed. I was sick I felt I messed up.

But I prayed on it. It took a days of prayers and almost the entire trip before I finally spotted her – working on her review blog. I got up the nerve to go apologize. And to my surprise she just had not been aware of the gift. And her kindness took my breath away.

I was so pleased I was able to present her with the duck I made and I invite her to attend my class. I was so pleased when she come.

I was shocked to learn that her followers had also told her … about me. ?!? What a cool deal! Unreal.

Thank you Prof. Cruise. You made my year!