Travel - April 30, 2013  - Tuesday – Ft. Lauderdale

We arrived yesterday afternoon and stayed at a fairly old Hyatt Regency on Pier 66.  It was comfortable and we slept well.  We had a typical Florida sunny morning and it turned to rain by afternoon.  The evening was warm and balmy.

For anyone visiting Fort Lauderdale I  would highly recommend the 66 Grille and Bar at Pier 66. The view is of the inter-coastal waterway and the new menu is inspired by Michael Siegel, a well known chef in the area.  The boats usually viewed in the harbor include those of Judge Judy and Steven Spielberg, although both were out to sea during our visit. John and I both had one of the best steaks we have had in a long time.

We are now aboard the ship, survived the lifeboat drill and our first meal.  The sunset was beautiful.  We took lots of pictures and will have more downloaded tomorrow.  

Here is a picture of the boat. People and goods are being loaded in the rain.

Here is our favorite place on the ship.  It is called the Crow's Nest and is at the very front of the ship.  AAAHHHHHH!!!

At SEA TOMORROW...

A little about Fort Lauderdale!!!

Fort Lauderdale, nicknamed “Venice of America” for its 300 miles of navigable inland waterways is located just 45 miles north of Miami.  The city was named after Major William Lauderdale who established a fort in the 1830’s during the Seminole Indian Wars.  After 1960 this resort developed a huge following among America’s students who headed to the city in the thousands for their  traditional Spring break. 

In addition to being a leading resort area, Fort Lauderdale also is an active commercial center.  The marine industry and citrus groves play important roles.  Port Everglades has one of the deepest harbors south of Norfolk, Virginia, which provides excellent facilities of luxury cruise liners and millions of tons of cargo each year.
 
For those who have never been to the port at Fort Lauderdale here are a few facts and a little map of the area.

Quote

A common mistake, Port Everglades is not actually part of the wetland ecosystem known as the Florida Everglades, we are located on the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula within the three cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach, as well as unincorporated Broward County.

The Port is conveniently situated near the Atlantic Ocean shipping lanes, the Florida East Coast railway, Florida's highway system, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the beautiful beaches of Greater Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.

Port Everglades serves all of South Florida and is in close proximity to Miami (23 miles south), West Palm Beach (48 miles north) and Orlando (215 miles north).

End Quote

http://www.porteverglades.net/includes/media/docs/Port-Map-2009.pdf

Travel    - Artfully Ann’s new Adventure!!!

We are headed out on a 27 day “Portuguese, Spain and Mediterranean Crossing” cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam.  After the cruise we will board a train for an additional few days in Zurich, Switzerland, before heading home.  

Our bags are almost packed, electronic gear is all programmed, cameras lenses have been cleaned, and we are ready for our adventure.  We hope that you will enjoy following along with us as we travel across the Atlantic and visit beautiful ports along the way.  Here is the overall itinerary of our trip.

We would love for you to comment, ask questions and generally keep in touch through this blog.  It is a great way to share with each other and travel vicariously.  Enjoy the trip! 

I hope all the grand-kids print out this map and follow along!!  Get your stick pins out and mark out our progress.  Even better, as we visit a port you can Google that city and find out more about where we are visiting.  OFF WE GO!!!

ART - I visited Dale Chihuly's new glass museum next to the Space Needle yesterday.  It is a must see triple E Ticket.   My husband and I had the privilege of visiting the museum yesterday evening for a private function.  

The museum was so beautiful and so was the weather.  We had wine and hors d'oeuvres out in the garden of glass.  Then listened to a presentation in the beautiful glass house.  It was all spectacular.




I took some pictures with my Droid just so I could share a few with you.  These don't do the art justice.  You really need to see the creations in person!!!

Chihuly Garden and Glass

305 Harrison St
Seattle, WA 98109

Artfully Ann is getting ready for her next adventure....!!!!!!
Stay tuned, there is more to come.  She is going on the road to wander around shops, open air markets, native culture museums, cities, towns, mountains and beaches.

Her secret adventures will be revealed soon.

The sun is shining in Seattle this Sunday afternoon.  Glorious!

I'm getting my application ready for the Taste of Edmonds fair, in Edmonds, Washington, this coming August. The application requires a picture of my product.  This took me back a bit, I make so many different things.  One picture was going to be difficult.  I decided to try a collage.  Here is the collage I plan to submit.  It's just a taste, but I hope a taste that the Chamber of Commerce of Edmonds will like. I've got my fingers crossed.

It made me realize how diverse my art product really is. It is unique, wearable or usable art in colorful materials, just like my card says. ;-)

ART - I had a wonderful day yesterday, shopping at St. Vincent de Paul, gathering display items and items for up-cycle.  It's one of my favorite stores.  Of course, Goodwill is tops!  I've decided to branch out and try selling my items in a couple of art markets this summer.  Art Fair selling should be an exciting adventure.  My husband, John, is busy designing and building display shelves for my jewelry, pouches and jewelry boxes.  They should be beautiful.  Photographs are being printed professionally and banners are on order.  

The learning curve continues on a steep upward climb.  However, I am still having fun.   Here is one of the pretty boxes I've refurbished (up-cycled). I added my photograph of a Black-eyed Susan printed on silk cloth to dress it up.  It will display my jewelry and hopefully someone will also fall in love with the box.  I've found others just as pretty.  I'll let you know when the art markets are this summer.  I'm busy making items just for these activities.

Ann's adventures continue...

ART - Going to the Spring Craft and Garden Show this weekend in Marysville.  Should be fun!!  It's this Saturday, April 13th, 2013, 10AM to 4PM  at the Ken Baxter Community Center, 514 Delta Avenue, Marysville, WA 98270
There will be Local Crafters and Gardners galore.  It should be lots of fun.  I'm looking forward to finding some more diamonds!! 

Maybe I'll see you there!

TECHNOLOGY - Looks like the Artfully Ann's Adventure Blog system actually works. Thank you, John and Chris, for helping me validate the Comments feature! 

There is a lot for us to learn, depending on the technology we select.  We either fight it or join.  I embrace it with open arms.  I'm also hoping it will stave off senility, as I exercise my brain learning how all these systems work.

Social media and advancing computer technology may not be familiar to many of us.  These are not things we grew up playing with, but they are here to stay.  I hope to embrace them, and to employ them in useful directions.
 
My father had one of the first computers.  It covered a fairly large area of the desk and had a memory tape drive that looked like a small tape recorder.   He had one of the first JUNO email accounts.  He also had one of the first copy machines that worked with liquid developer.  Thirty-five years ago, he transitioned his accounting books to Peachtree accounting software.  I guess I'm following my father's example.  I think that even back then he understood how much computers were going to change the world.  He has been gone fifteen years now, and look how far we have come.   

The thing that amazes me is how reluctant large businesses are in embracing some of the technology and software that would streamline their operations.  Some of the upgrades do cost money; however, the return on investment, if they ever bothered to calculate it, would be astronomical.

A company I used to work with a number of years ago is just now putting in an Oracle system that integrates all the company's data systems into a cohesive, cross-talk system.  This allows the following: an end user (customer) identifies a requirement to Purchasing; Purchasing places the order; in some cases the supplier can communicate with the company system; end user tracks the order; Receiving and Shipping communicate with Purchasing; Purchasing communicates with Accounting; and Purchasing communicates with the end user.   Sounds simple doesn't it?  Computer technology wise it hasn't been. 

Until now, each segment of the above communication link was controlled by a separate system, and all communication was done in person or via email.  Think about the money saved when these links are integrated across a single, automated management system.  In many cases, handheld devices connected with these integrated systems can only help to improve the flow of information.  Surprisingly, many large businesses do not have integrated software systems and are still in the Dinosaur Age.

The same thing can be said for the engineering side of business.  Tracking design, from concept to an as-built drawing with change and configuration control, is usually done with various CAD systems.  Each engineering discipline has its own favorite software.  None of the systems speak to each other.   

Over the years, I have worked for a number of technically complicated businesses.  The way these businesses handle changes and communicate design issues is mind-boggling.  So much money is wasted due to the slow approach to addressing system wide technology.

I fought the good fight, being on committee after committee.  My team mates and I tried to pull companies along into the computer age. Most, if not all, were very reluctant to come around.  Now, with Artfully Ann's, I have the ability to keep learning and to incorporate new technology as it becomes available.  I may be older, but I'm not dead yet!!  

To all readers, please feel free to leave me a comment on my blog. You should be able to add comments without having to sign into Google.

Important Information - I have been working on getting all the kinks out of my blog.  It appeared that no one could comment on my articles.  I hope I've fixed the problem.  I want everyone to be able to comment and communicate with me.  Blogspot is the vehicle I've chosen.  If you read this notice please leave me a note and let me know if my comment system is working.  You should not have to sign on to Google to access or comment on my blog.

Thanks,
Ann