Cruising to Alaska

We haven't booked a cruise to Alaska this year.  We usually go every year, sometimes more than once.  If someone asks me about what to do in Alaska, my favorite shore excursion in Ketchikan is a Crab Feast.  You can book it through the ship or on your own.  The ship's excursion usually charters a boat to get to a lodge.

We always go to George Inlet Lodge and book directly through them.  They pick you up by the rock statue right at the pier in a van.  The people who work there are all students and very friendly.  To get a spot in the van you need to book very early.  It's about a 30 minute drive and the scenery is wonderful.  We've done this on our the last four trips to Alaska and it is delicious.  The meal starts with a nice green salad, it includes a drink, blueberry cheesecake and you get a lot of crab.  I have to tell them to stop as they give you so much!  Two years ago we paid US $75.00 a person.  This year it's increased to $109.95.  I realize prices have increased.  

https://catchcrabs.com/

A cruiser posted a picture of the menu at Ketchikan Crab & Go.  That makes the $109.95 crab feast at George Inlet Lodge a real deal!

We will not walk away

Every so often, a journalist comes along who doesn’t just report the news — they help you understand the world. For me, Ali Velshi has always been one of those rare voices.

Though he’s now a well‑known Canadian journalist working with MSNBC (now rebranded as MS Now), his story began far from our borders. Born in Kenya to a family with deep roots in East Africa and South Asia, Velshi eventually made his way to Canada, where he built the foundation of a remarkable career. That global perspective has always shaped the way he tells a story — with context, clarity, and a deep respect for the truth.

I’ve watched his Sunday show for years and genuinely enjoyed it. There was something steadying about the way he approached complicated issues: no theatrics, no shortcuts, just thoughtful journalism that treated viewers like adults capable of understanding nuance.

Recently, he stepped down from his weekend program and will now be hosting a nightly show on MS Now. For many of us who appreciated his weekend presence, it feels like a shift — but also an opportunity. A nightly platform means more space for the kind of reporting he does best: connecting the dots, challenging misinformation, and reminding us why journalism still matters.

What I’ve always found most compelling about Velshi is his insistence on explaining why the news matters. He talks openly about the erosion of rights, the fragility of democratic norms, and the importance of protecting a free press. Not in a sensational way — but in a way that makes you stop and think about the world we’re building for the next generation.

In a time when trust in institutions is shaky and misinformation spreads faster than facts, voices like his feel essential. Journalism isn’t just about headlines; it’s about accountability, transparency, and the courage to speak plainly when it counts.

Ali Velshi has never shied away from that responsibility. And as he moves into this new chapter on MS Now, I’m looking forward to seeing how he continues to shape the conversation — one thoughtful, steady broadcast at a time.

Here is the last report he did on Sunday:

Happy Anniversary

 

Some moments arrive softly, almost shyly, yet change the course of a lifetime.

For our daughter Cheryl, that moment came at 12:01 AM on January 1, 2000 — the very first minute of a brand‑new century. As fireworks lit the sky and the world celebrated a new beginning, Dave chose that perfect, symbolic instant to ask her the most important question of his life. She said yes, and with that, their new century truly began.

What followed was a year filled with planning, dreaming, and building a future together. On June 9, 2001, surrounded by family and friends, Cheryl and Dave were married. It was a day full of joy, hope, and the unmistakable feeling that these two were meant to walk through life side by side.

For their honeymoon, they received a wedding gift — a cruise to Alaska. The glaciers, the quiet majesty of the Inside Passage, the sense of adventure… it all suited them perfectly. That trip became one of their most cherished memories, a beginning that set the tone for the years to come.

Now, 25 years later, they are returning to Alaska once again — this time to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  And in true Cheryl-and-Dave fashion, they’re doing it with intention.  They are sailing on the brand‑new Star Princess, a ship that represents fresh beginnings and new chapters — just like that first minute of the year 2000.  

We are so proud of both of you and wish you many more years of your life together.

Project Jetsetter

If you missed the news, read the post below from Ontario:  

Today, Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) announced the results of Project Jetsetter – a coordinated enforcement and investigative response focused on criminal tourism.

Project Jetsetter is the culmination of multiple major investigations into organized criminal activity in Durham Region and across the Greater Toronto Area. This initiative targeted organized groups travelling to Canada for the purpose of executing high-profit crimes, often connected to international criminal networks. These activities are deliberate, coordinated, and profit-driven; not random or opportunistic. Through more than nine separate investigations and over 5,000 investigative hours, the DRPS Financial Crimes Unit has tracked more than 200 incidents tied to criminal tourism, resulting in over $2.61 million in confirmed financial losses in Durham Region alone.

I feel Canada has always prided itself on being welcoming — a country built on immigration, diversity, and compassion. But there is a growing crisis that Canadians are talking about more openly: people entering the country, committing crimes, and then slipping back out before facing justice. It’s a problem that doesn’t target any nationality or community — it targets the loopholes that allow bad actors to take advantage of our openness.

And Canadians are right to demand better. Surrey's problems are definately the result of a weak and inconsistent border strategy. We hear young men are offered $1,000 to fly to Vancouver, carry out an extortion shooting and fly right back to India. I don't know if that is true, but Durham catches them and Surrey and Vancouver don't.

Canada’s border system is designed around the assumption that most visitors are honest, law‑abiding people. And the truth is, the overwhelming majority are. But a small number have learned how to exploit the gaps:

• Enter Canada legally as visitors

• Commit crimes — often theft, fraud, organized retail crime, or coordinated property offences

• Leave the country before charges are laid or before police can identify them

Police departments across the country have raised alarms about transnational crime groups who fly in, carry out targeted operations, and fly out again. These aren’t refugees or immigrants building a life here — these are individuals using Canada as a temporary playground for criminal activity.

The problem isn’t that Canada welcomes newcomers. The problem is that our systems haven’t kept up with modern criminal networks.

1. Slow identification

By the time police gather evidence, the offenders are often already gone.

2. Weak exit controls

Canada does not have the same strict exit‑tracking systems that countries like the U.S. or U.K. use.

3. Visa‑free travel loopholes

Some visitors don’t require visas — only an eTA — making it easier to enter quickly and anonymously.

4. Cross‑border crime rings

Organized groups know exactly how long they can stay before raising suspicion.

This isn’t about ordinary travellers. It’s about organized, intentional exploitation.

Communities across Canada — including right here in B.C. — are feeling the effects:

• Retailers losing millions to coordinated theft

• Seniors targeted by fraud schemes

• Police stretched thin trying to track offenders who are already back overseas

• Residents feeling less safe in their own neighbourhoods

Canadians are generous, but we are not naïve. We know when something isn’t working.

We need:

Stronger exit controls so offenders can’t simply fly home

Faster information‑sharing between police and border agencies

Mandatory biometric checks for high‑risk travellers

Harsher penalties for organized crime groups operating across borders

Better tracking of repeat visitors connected to criminal networks

Enough police officers and Border Service Agents to make this happen

Cable TV is gone

I was helping a neighbour lower their cable bill.  They only watch sports and news and don't use a computer.  They were paying $250.00 a month!  They had been loyal customers of Shaw that is now owned by Rogers.  They don't want to commit to a two year contract because they are elderly.  

I went online and saw there were seniors packages for $25.00.  If you live in an area with Eastlink you can get this package.  If you live in an area with Telus or Shaw/Rogers you can no longer get cable tv.  It's now "internet" TV as the technology has improved.

The cheapest package you can get is $140.00.

Rogers Xfinity Internet Starter 100 (Rogers Xfinity Gateway rental included) 105.00

Rogers Xfinity Gateway (Gen 2) Rental                                                                 0.00

Rogers Xfinity TV Essentials (Rogers Xfinity Entertainment Box Included)      35.00

That's better than $250 they were paying but it's still expensive.  You can get it cheaper if you want to install a satellite dish or a TV antenna.  TV is their entertainment and the signal is excellent.  

No wonder so many people have stopped ordering TV packages and are streaming. 

Changes at Tsawwassen Mills Mall

 

I read there were changes at Tsawwassen Mills.  They added an Asian Food Court 24,000 square feet!   It's located at the Restaurant Entrance between Montana's and Boston Pizza.  When we got to the shopping centre we wondered why there were so many cars.   When we went inside, they were all at the new food court.  There were lots of tables but they were all in use.  We had a nice walk around but didn't stay for lunch.

The old food court in the middle of the mall is still there.  There were very few people at the food court.  One vendor had left and I wonder if the others will stay.  

We like walking Tsawwassen Mills for exercise.  Usually it's pretty quiet on a weekday but it sure wasn't yesterday.  There is plenty of parking and lots of great stores.

Mall Entrance

Dogwood trees

In 1956 British Columbia adopted the Pacific Dogwood as it's official floral emblem.  I always loved the dogwood.  When we lived in Steveston the neighbour across the street planted a dogwood tree in his front yard that I admired every year.

When we moved to where we live now the landscaping was already done.  We had a tree that was planted very close to our house.  Every year it made putting up our Christmas lights difficult.  I went onto the city website and found the tree was planted too close to our house.  We could remove it but we had to replace it.  We went to a nursery and bought a pink dogwood.  It's only three years old and look how well it's doing!

Our neighbours liked our tree so much, they got permission to remove their tree and replace it with a dogwood.

Cheryl and Dave have a beautiful dogwood tree, but it bloomed before our and I didn't get a picture of it.  My friend Ann in Langley has a gorgeous dogwood in her yard:

What a beautiful tree!