January 17, 2025

JIM MAAS BIRTHDAY PARTY

Jim Maas one of our favorite, sweetest, super great guy residents through his own Birthday Bash Dinner and Dance Party. About 80 of attended in our fancy dining room. The chef provided a nice steak dinner and Jim had Champagne flowing ! Fellow resident Paul Fishman approached me earlier in the day to help him execute a surprise for Jim. He wanted to borrow some stuff from me to give Jim a Marilyn Monroe type moment! I solicited a few other ladies to help me and we pulled together the dress, wig, sparkly sandals and my special touch, custom undies for Paul to flash Jim! Paul & I slipped out between dinner and cake and got him all dolled up. Jim had no idea! Paul later returned to dining room in his regular clothes and present Jim with the undies! Don't think I will see them be returned - just happy i got another use out of them after New Years Eve. I love putting my craft skills to use!

Stark beauty of desolate dunes
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MAGNETIC ISLAND - KOALA'S

By Patricia Patrick • February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.

MAGNETIC ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.