Adventure of the Seas - Quebec City, Quebec CA Day 3

Started our day with a yummy breakfast at Hotel Le Dauphin and then jumped in the rental car to drive the 150 miles to Quebec City to get on the ship, Adventure of the Seas. The ship was going to be in port overnight and departing the next day so there was no rush to get on. It was a beautiful drive up to Quebec City, as the leaves were turning. The landscape was on fire.

 On the way up we decided to visit Montmorency Falls, just outside of Quebec City while we still had a vehicle. It was a cold and blustery day. We didn't have a lot of time before the car rental was due so we didn't go to the top and walk across the falls, but you can. There is also a gondola you can ride to the top for a nominal fee. These falls were beautiful. They are higher than Niagra Falls at 270 feet.

 After visiting the Falls we drove back to Quebec City and returned the car, which was an adventure in itself. There was a long line of people waiting outside the Avis office for someone to return a car, so they were glad to see us! We had dropped our big bags at the ship earlier, so we just had backpacks to walk back the kilometer back to the ship. We wondered around and took some pictures of town.

 When we got on the ship we dropped our stuff and wandered around. We checked out our dinner table and of course it was not a large table, only a 4 top for us and our friends. We got that straightened out and got a 8 top where we met two sisters Kathy and Chrissy, and there husbands Mark and Joel. They hailed from California and Alabama. We all connected and enjoyed our dinners every night in the main dining room until they turned the lights on to kick us out. It was a great experience, and is exactly the reason we always request a large table in the dining room. The great connection finally happened, and it probably won't again for ten years.

We unpacked our folding bicycles in the room for ride around the port the next day. We didn't get off that ship in the evening because it started to rain. We enjoyed our first night in the Diamond Lounge even though it was super crowded. There were over 1000 diamond members trying to get drinks in a small room with 60 chairs. Staff soon set up an extra bar in the Blue Moon to serve drinks and that helped. They served potstickers and chicken wings for appetizers. Yum!



Adventure of the Seas - Montreal, Quebec CA Day 2

Actually, this is day 1 pictures which I realized were missing when I wrote yesterdays post. But we were in Montreal on Saturday and Sunday. The action is on Charlotte Street in the Village. There were barricades blocking the street so everyone can walk in the road. The street is lined with overhead balls on strings that reflect the lights, and that is cool too. The night we walked around there was a Festival of Color with marching groups dancing in costume and playing music. It had a Caribbean flair to it.


We had some poutine in a resto on one of the side streets, I can't get enough of that stuff. We also road bikes on the bike paths along the river to see the unique apartments called Habitat 67.

Parade on Charlotte Street

Charlotte Street in the Village

Shop in The Village

Charlotte Street bikes

Poutine at Dirty Pizza resto

Mont Royal stairs to top of park

Bixi Bikes

Here is a link to all Montreal photos Montreal Photos

Adventure of the Seas - Montreal, Quebec, CA Day 1

We started our Canada and New England adventure in Montreal, Quebec, and for the geographically challenged that is in Canada which is really part of North America, but it felt like we were in Europe. No shit. The signs were in French, the money was Canadian, and it was in the same time zone as Florida. How cool is that! Wicked cool, I tell you.

We spent two days in Montreal before heading to Quebec City to board the beautiful Adventure of the Seas ship which would sail us through Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, Massachusetts and finally back to Florida over a 13 day journey. And it was a great one. I would recommend this itinerary to anyone, and we hope to do it again the year after next.

October is autumn weather in Canada. We had weather in the 40's and 50's the entire time, never thought of wearing shorts. We wore our winter jackets many days, and just the liner jacket all the other days. This was a biking vacation for us, as we brought our folding bikes on the trip and used them in all the ports. In Montreal, we opted to use the city share bikes, called bixi bikes. It was $5 for 24 hours unlimited use, (but the exchange rate made it $3.88). You download the app and check out the bike which you can ride for 30 minutes before you return it. If you want to ride more, just check it out again. We opted to ride to different destinations, then walk around and pick up another bike at another bike stand. The bike stands were plentiful and spread out all over the city. We biked about 10 miles each day.

There is lots to see and do in Montreal. They have wonderful bike paths, lots of bikes, the gay village with live street entertainment, over 50 murals are painted on buildings, there is Mont Royal, and an amusement park in town. Too much to do for a weekend, we'll need to come back.

We stayed at a nice hotel Hotel Le Dauphin which has an urban décor which was cool, high ceilings, wood floors and a nice Apple Mac computer in each room. We used our Chase Reward points to book. We had some great poutine every day in Canada too! Probably why I gained a couple pounds on the trip.





All Montreal Photos

2018 3rd Quarter Mileage Report

Welcome back to the regularly scheduled update, our mileage report for the 3rd Quarter this year. It was a typical summer of mileage, just over 3000 miles for our travels. We did do our first checkup with the new mini van and have loved having it for concerts and bike trips.  We got out a couple times on the motorcycles, and even drove the Camry for a few hundred miles. We're getting ready to go on a biking vacation in Canada so we've been participating in a few group bike rides.

2018 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

The 2018 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. This sales tax holiday begins Friday, June 1, 2018 and extends through Thursday, June 7, 2018.

During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

For more information and a list of qualifying items, please see the Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Information Publication on the 2018 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. For your convenience, the Department has provided digital downloads and social media posts for individuals and businesses interested in sharing information about the sales tax holiday. Promotional materials are available at floridarevenue.com/disasterprep

Kanes Strikeout Promo #RAYS 2018-2019 Season

 

Batter Up! If the Tampa Bay Rays get 10 strikeouts, you'll get 2 FREE tacos & a side of chips from a participating TIJUANA FLATS. Participating locations: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ft. Myers, Naples, Orlando, Daytona, Gainsville & Ocala Florida Markets. 
No purchase necessary. 

Within 7 days of the 10 strikeout home game, bring in one of these qualifying items to any Kane's Showroom and get a coupon for FREE TIJUANA FLATS:
- Ticket Stub
- Seat Locator Receipt (for Flex Pack Cardholders)
- Web Voucher (printed or on phone)

Visit http://www.kanesstrikeout.com/

For More Information

PLEASE NOTE: Limit one FREE coupon per person per ticket stub/receipt/web voucher, per game. No purchase necessary.
You must be 18 years of age & you must redeem your ticket stub/receipt at Kane's within 7 days of the 10 strikeout home game date. Meal consists of 2 FREE tacos & side of chips. Restrictions may apply. See coupon for details.

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2018 Friday Concert Series #Tampa #Free

The annual Spring ritual of free Friday night concerts is back again in 2018,starting April 6. This year all shows are at Water Works Park and a new location called River Tower Park. Bring a chair and some snacks and drinks to enjoy these free local concerts, they are every Friday from 7pm to 9pm.

April 6 Chad Montana (Country)
April 13 Dick Rumore Jazz Cellar Orchestra (Jazz)
April 20 Jimmy Griswold Band (Blues Rock)
April 27 Orquestra Infinidad (Salsa)
May 4 TC Carr & the Bolts of Blue (Blues Rock)
May 11 Chello Hollyday Band (Motown)
May 18 Displace (Funk Fusion)
May 25 The Cadillac Cowboy (Country)

See you there!

Diet Dinner Zucchini and Chicken

Sometimes when I've eaten too much during the day I like to have a light dinner The perfect thing is 3-4 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast sauteed with onions and spinach with a side of zucchini ribbons. Zucchini ribbons are a great alternative if you don't have a spiralizer. Just take your potato peeler and slice the zucchini lengthwise to create ribbons. This meal is low carb, low fat, low calorie,  gluten free, vegan and Delicious.

So You Think You Want To Lose Weight...

Every New Year, millions of people decide they want (or need) to go on a diet. But unfortunately, 80% of those with good intentions will have failed within a month and never look back. Personally, I think starting a diet during the coldest time of the year is not really a great idea. In the winter we all have our "fat" clothes and can hide in them for months. I think the best time of the year to diet is in the summer, like right after Memorial Weekend. The days are long and warm, and most people get outside and are more active during the nice weather. That being said, losing weight is not about being more active, its about simple calories in and out.


Your body burns calories even if you don't do anything particularly active, this is your basal metabolism rate (BMR). It is easy to calculate how many calories you burn by knowing your weight, your height and age.

1. Calculate your BMR (basal metabolic rate):

• Women: BMR = 655 + ( 4.35 x weight in pounds ) + ( 4.7 x height in inches ) - ( 4.7 x age in years )
• Men: BMR = 66 + ( 6.23 x weight in pounds ) + ( 12.7 x height in inches ) - ( 6.8 x age in years )

2. Multiply your BMR by the appropriate activity factor, as follows:

•    Sedentary (little or no exercise): BMR x 1.2
•    Lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week): BMR x 1.375
•    Moderately active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week): BMR x 1.55
•    Very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week): BMR x 1.725
•    Extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training): BMR x 1.9

3. Your final number is the approximate number of calories you need each day to maintain your weight.

My BMR without the activity factor is 1231 calories. Since I am moderately active, if I multiplied by the factor 1.55, my calorie intake could be 1908 calories. However, I know from experience if I ate 1900 calories a day, I would gain weight. I also know from experience that I will maintain weight if I eat about 1500 calories a day. I can lose weight at 1200 calories a day (which is the least amount anyone should eat), but the food choices must be healthy and it helps if I burn about 500 calories with walking or biking each day.


You might wonder how to measure your calories and activity now that you've determined what your BMR is and how much you can eat. I use the free app on my phone and computer, https://www.myfitnesspal.com/. You can enter all your activity and meals in one app. You can also enter photos and share with your other friends on the app. It tracks your progress and even calculates your macros (fat, protein, carbs) so you know if you're eating the right proportion of foods to maximize weight loss. I modified my goal in the settings so its 45% carbs, 30% fats and 25% protein.

From my experience last year - starting in May, I ate 1200 calories a day for 100 days and lost 25 lbs. The key for me was to make sure I ate enough protein each day and to measure my food portions so I didn't overeat. Generally, a serving of anything is about the size of your fist. It was a struggle to eat enough proteins at first but I learned to make my snacks a protein source like peanuts, chicken or beef jerky, fat free cottage cheese, almonds, protein bars and protein beverage mixes. I also cut back on breads since I got plenty of carbs in other foods. I did not give up alcohol. I had up to two or three drinks, but I alternated with a glass of water in between.


So, If you're determined to start a diet in the cold of January, do a little prep first. Download myfitnesspal and figure out how many calories you can eat to lose weight. Buy lots of protein snacks. Be prepared to stay out of restaurants for two months at least, until your will power can resist others eating really fattening foods next to you.


Good Luck

10 Tips to Stop Shopping

After reviewing our budget for the last year, one thing is clear - I need to spend less. So that will be my resolution in 2018 to cut out all spending on non-essentials. It will be a challenge to change my addiction to reading emails, feeds and facebook - but it will be worth it when I can add up our spending at the end of next year. That is the carrot on the stick.


But to achieve this goal will require changes, which have begun already. Here  are ten easy painless tips to stop shopping next year:

1. Unsubscribe from all emails from retailers. Lucky for us, almost all emails contain a tiny little link on the bottom to unsubscribe from their email list. If they don't have a link, I just tag them as JUNK and hopefully it won't clutter my mailbox. Some companies state it may take a week to remove you from the list but it shouldn't happen. I happen to have a lot of emails all dump into one email box so I get multiples of some emails. You need to unsubscribe from each separate email. Its best to do this when you are feeling motivated to quit shopping online, just unsubscribe even if you are afraid of missing a deal, if its good enough you'll find out about it some other way.
2. If unsubscribing isn't getting all your emails, you can use a free service call https://unroll.me/ and it will review your emails and you can unsubscribe with one link.
3. Remove feeds from bloggers that promote shopping, spending and deals. I log in to Feedly every day and get hundreds of website update feeds. By unfollowing deal bloggers you will find you don't spend nearly as much time reading about deals and being tempted to spend money.
4. Discard all mail from retailers - catalogs, postcards, flyers, circulars and deals. Don't even read them, straight into the garbage they go.
5. Do not go to stores. Part of the no spending effort, also involves no shopping. Don't go just to watch someone else shop, or even to get your steps for the day in the mall. Walk outside to get your exercise. Stay out of stores.
6. In addition to the money you save by not shopping, you will find it is a big time saver. Take that time and do something useful with it. Instead of reading emails, facebook and feeds, I will go for a 15 minute walk. Or read a book. Or write a blog entry. Try to make your new found time a new better habit.
7. Delete retail apps on your phone. Retailers have found out we spend more when we are members of reward clubs. To spend less its really simple to just delete apps on your phone that make it easy to spend money. If you can order ahead to get your starbucks and jump the line and pick it up, and you've already paid on your app - you are probably spending too much. I know I did. I've deleted all reward club apps for restaurants, stores, and receipt logging apps.
8. Delete payment apps on your phone. The easier it is to pay, the more you spend. You need to make it harder to pay and involve your conscience to realize you're spending. Your awareness of shopping and spending will increase if you have to carry cash, or a wallet instead of mearly swiping your phone over the register.
9. If you think you need to shop and buy something, check around your house in your stockpile for the item. If you already have the item, you probably don't need another one. If its broken, fix it. Or try to find a suitable substitute. Can you borrow the item you think you need?
10. Make your self wait if you feel you must buy something. At least a day or preferably a week. Justify your purchase, but don't research it trying to find the best price, maybe ask someone else to, or just get it from Amazon which is usually the best price anyway.

Good Luck!