Saturday, February 21, 2026

Should I purchase a cruise ship liquor package?

 

Cruise drink packages can be a good value if you typically enjoy five or more alcoholic drinks a day, or if you like to mix cocktails with specialty coffees, sodas, and bottled water throughout the day. They offer predictable budgeting and plenty of convenience. However, they’re usually not cost‑effective for light drinkers, families with children, or travellers on port‑intensive itineraries where you spend most of your time ashore.

I do the math.  Some drink packages include tips, wi-fi and a shipboard credit.  On my next cruise that is 23 days, I did not order the drink package.  We are Elite on Princess and we get 50% off wi-fi packages.  The drink package only includes 1 device.  We each take a phone and computer and ordering the four device package is worth while for us.  We will pay for our drinks and that will make us aware of the sugar and calories we are consuming.

The first cruise we went on after COVID 19, we had the Princess Plus package.  It was a great cruise and we were with friends who loved the bar.  We drank far too much!  We were thrilled to be cruising again.  When we came home we realized by the scale on how much damage we did.  Oh well, it was fun but next time we will be more responsible.  

If you've never had a dirty banana, order one.  I would gladly pay for that drink.  It's a chocolate banana milkshake with a lot of alcohol.  I ordered one when I heard it was good.  I sent a picture to my daughter with a caption "we are having a great time".  Her reply was "mom, don't drink two or you will never find your cabin"!  She was right.

This Dirty Banana cocktail recipe is a dangerously delicious and boozy frozen drink recipe loaded with rum, banana, coffee, and chocolate flavors!

  • 4 cups ice
  • 1 banana
  • 1 ounce dark rum 
  • 2 ounces Kahlua
  • 1 ounce Jamaican rum
  • 2 ounces Banana Rum or Banana Cream Rum I like Blue Chair
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup chocolate syrup plus extra for glass
  • whipped cream for topping
  • maraschino cherries for topping



Friday, February 20, 2026

Foncie Pulice

 

Vancouver's famous street photographer, Foncie Pulice in action at the corner of Robson & Granville in 1968. Foncie snapped an estimated 15 million photographs over his 40 year career from 1935 to 1979. He would take pictures that captured Vancouverites going about their business on the streets of downtown Vancouver. The next day customers could redeem their claim ticket and buy their picture at Foncie's storefront.

I have pictures of my parents taken by Foncie! I'm sure many people have Foncie photos in their family photo album.

I don't know who these gals are, but it's a great photo.



Thursday, February 19, 2026

Robin Williams

 

I never know what to believe on Facebook.  I liked this post and I checked it on AI and here are the results:

Yes — Robin Williams did leave his children an inheritance with specific conditions, and these conditions were part of a carefully structured trust.
Here’s what the available reporting shows:

🌟 What the trust required
Robin Williams’ three children — Zak, Zelda, and Cody — were to receive their inheritance through a trust with age‑based milestones. While the exact percentages aren’t detailed in the sources surfaced here, multiple reputable estate‑planning analyses note that Williams set conditions tied to the children reaching certain ages, rather than giving them a lump sum all at once. This is a common structure among high‑net‑worth families to encourage financial maturity.

🌟 Additional provisions
Williams also included clear instructions for his third wife, Susan Schneider Williams, ensuring she could remain in their Tiburon home and receive funds for living expenses. His children were designated to inherit the Napa Valley property and other assets through the trust.

🌟 Estate dispute context
After his passing in 2014, a dispute arose between his widow and his children over personal belongings and interpretations of the trust, but the trust’s structure — including the children’s conditional inheritance — remained intact. The parties eventually reached a settlement in 2015.

🌟 Bottom line
Yes. Robin Williams intentionally set conditions on his children’s inheritance, using a trust that released funds at predetermined ages. This approach reflected his desire to support them while also encouraging responsibility and long‑term stability.

Thank you Co-Pilot, my new best friend.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Al "Wailin" Walker

My next door neighbour's son was featured on Global TV on Sunday night.  Here is his biography from his website:

Al “Wailin” Walker is a Canadian blues master and the lead guitarist, singer, songwriter and band leader of the Wailin' Walker Band. Walker’s stunning electric guitar solos and commanding vocals have forged a formidable brand of Rockin’Rhythm and Blues that have kept dance floors packed and albums on top of the blues charts for over five decades.

The first recording of Wailin' Walker was with his band The Houserockers in 1978. Since then,  six outstanding self-produced blues recordings have been released: The Devil Made Me Play It, Buzzsaw Boogie, Crazy at Night, No Regrets and All Fired Up. The Devil Made Me Play It, released under Double Trouble Records (Amsterdam), climbed to the top of the blues charts in the Netherlands, Spain and Australia. No Regrets and All Fired Up have topped the blues charts in the USA and Canada. The newest album Blues Lightnin’ was released in September 2025 and was instantly the #1 blues album in Canada. 

Walker has played with and been personally mentored by Buddy Guy, Pee Wee Crayton and Otis Rush and has shared the stage with Johnny Winter, George Thorogood and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name a few.

Noteworthy Accomplishments
Songwriter for Long John Baldry and Powder Blues 
Portland Blues Festival (1992)
Moulin Blues Festival (1996)
Honorable mention on Jr. Watson's album Long Overdue 
House Band at the Commodore Ballroom - 78 shows
Jerry Doucette Band (Toured 2006 - 2018)
#2 Roots Music Report (2014 - 2015)
#1 Roots Music Report (2024-2025)

Here is his interview on Global TV:

https://globalnews.ca/video/11669212/vancouver-musicians-well-earned-recognition/

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Michael Buble

Noah was just three years old when he was diagnosed with cancer—an instant that shattered his world and his family’s.  In 2016, Michael Bublé was at the height of his career. He was adored by millions, selling out arenas across the globe and filling them with joy. But in a single moment, the bright lights of stardom went dark.

For Michael, the applause meant nothing compared to the silence of a hospital room. Alongside his wife, Luisana Lopilato, he stepped away from the world, trading the stage for a bedside chair.

He later shared that the room felt as though it was spinning.  Overnight, his identity shifted from world‑renowned performer to a father fighting for his child’s life.

Noah had been diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare and aggressive pediatric liver cancer. The diagnosis plunged the family into a world of clinical milestones, medical terminology, and grueling procedures.

Beyond the treatments themselves, the true weight of the journey was the emotional toll. Michael described the experience as a “descent into hell,” one that forced him to question everything he once believed mattered.

To give Noah the best chance of survival, the family moved to Los Angeles, where he began a multi‑stage treatment plan.

The first phase was four months of chemotherapy. Because liver tumors in children are often large and difficult to operate on, the goal was to shrink the mass enough to make surgery possible.  During this time, Michael’s sister‑in‑law called Noah a “warrior,” admiring how bravely he endured the harsh side effects.

Once the tumor had shrunk, Noah underwent a high‑risk surgery. Michael later explained that the surgeons aimed for “clean margins,” meaning they needed to remove the entire tumor along with some surrounding healthy tissue to ensure no cancer cells remained.

To reduce the chance of recurrence, Noah then received radiotherapy—a final safeguard targeting any lingering traces of the disease.

Throughout this period, the family lived in a constant state of “fear and hope,” waiting for biopsy results and scan updates. During those long months in the hospital, Michael didn’t just lose his desire to perform; he feared he might never feel the joy required to sing again.

But witnessing Noah’s resilience changed everything. His son’s courage became a new source of inspiration, proof that even the smallest heart can hold the strength of a lion.

In early 2017, after months of treatment and uncertainty, the family received the news they had prayed for: Noah’s treatment had been successful.

He was in remission.

They eventually returned home to Argentina to begin the long emotional healing process. Today, Noah is a thriving young boy, but the experience left a permanent mark on his father.  Michael often says that those years in the hospital transformed him. Music still matters deeply to him, but his children are his true center.  Even in the darkest moments, he watched his son show a bravery far beyond his years.  That strength reshaped Michael’s life, and when he finally returned to music, it wasn’t just a comeback—it was a celebration of survival.

“He was braver than anyone I’ve ever met,” Michael recalled, still in awe of his little boy.  When he stepped back into the spotlight, he wasn’t the same man who had left it. The ordeal had stripped away the superficial layers of fame, leaving behind a profound gratitude for the simple, irreplaceable gift of family.

Today, when he sings, there is a new depth in his voice—a raw, soulful resonance shaped by a journey through fire. He emerged with a truth that guides him still: the world’s praise is fleeting, but love is what carries us home.

“Fame fades,” he said. “But love—love is what saves you.”

Monday, February 16, 2026

Love Story - John F Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

 

FX and Hulu have teamed up to bring one of America’s most intriguing modern love stories to the screen: the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.  The series opens during John’s long relationship with Daryl Hannah, offering a glimpse into their five years together before his life took a dramatic turn.

At the same time, we meet Carolyn in her pre‑Kennedy world—working at Calvin Klein, carving out a place for herself in the glossy, high‑pressure fashion scene of the 1990s.  A fiercely independent woman devoted to her adopted city and her career, she rose quickly thanks to her impeccable eye, ambition, and unmistakable presence.

When John and Carolyn finally cross paths, the chemistry is immediate.  He’s drawn to her intelligence, her quiet strength, and that effortless charm that made her unforgettable long before the tabloids ever learned her name.  While their relationship would eventually thrust her into overwhelming fame, the series does a beautiful job honouring the vibrant, full life she built before becoming a Kennedy.

Naomi Watts delivers a standout performance as Jacqueline Kennedy—elegant, layered, and compelling.

I’ve watched the first three episodes so far, and I’m hooked.  New episodes air Thursday nights on FX. If you don’t have FX through your cable package, Hulu is offering a one‑month free trial, which makes it easy to dive into this beautifully crafted series.  It’s absolutely worth the watch.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

The Billionaire, the bridge and the lesson Canada will never forget


Every so often, a story comes along that perfectly captures the difference between private interest and public good. The saga of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is one of those stories.

For decades, the Ambassador Bridge—one of the busiest border crossings in North America—has been privately owned by the Moroun family, a billionaire dynasty known for guarding their monopoly with iron fists and endless legal battles.  When Canada announced plans to build a new publicly owned bridge just a mile down the river, the reaction was predictable: outrage, lawsuits, political pressure, and every tactic money could buy.

He fought it.
He sued Canada.
He tried to block permits.
He even dragged the matter through U.S. courts.

But Canada didn’t flinch.

Canada built the bridge.
Canada paid for the bridge.

And in a gesture of goodwill and partnership, Canada even gave half ownership to the State of Michigan.

Now the bridge is complete—standing tall, modern, and ready to serve the millions of people and billions of dollars in trade that flow between our two nations.

And yet, here we are.

The billionaire has made one last desperate plea, this time at the White House, hoping the only sympathetic ear he could find might stop the bridge from opening.  A $6‑billion piece of infrastructure—built to strengthen two nations—is suddenly caught in the crossfire of one man’s fear of competition.

Canada now faces more threats, more tantrums, and more attempts to delay what is inevitable.

But let’s be clear:  The Gordie Howe Bridge will open.

Trying to stop it now is like trying to stop Niagara Falls.  The momentum is too great, the need too obvious, and the public interest too strong.  When the bridge finally opens—and it will—it will stand as more than steel and concrete.  It will be a reminder that no individual, no matter how wealthy or powerful, should ever be allowed to divide communities, economies, or nations for personal gain.

The Gordie Howe Bridge will connect us.
It will strengthen us.
And it will remind us that progress cannot be held hostage by a billionaire’s tears.






Should I purchase a cruise ship liquor package?

  Cruise drink packages can be a good value if you typically enjoy five or more alcoholic drinks a day, or if you like to mix cocktails with...