Monday, December 29, 2008

A day to remember

While on our vacation in the Bahama's, we stayed at the Atlantis. What a gorgeous resort. My Daughter and I was very fortunate to have a day together. This day was a very memorable one for the two of us. We didn't know if my daughter (Jen) was going to be able to do this out of fear. To start out they suit you up. Believe me when I say it...those suits are very unforgiving, and are the most uncomfortable thing I have ever put on. I think the embarrassment of putting this skin tight suit on, was a help to forget some of the fear of the dolphin.LOL


Before we went to the waters, we watched a movie and had a small lecture about these beautiful mammals. These are bottlenose dolphins...Just like flipper. Our Dolphins name was Hercules. Which certainly didn't help Jens fear what so ever. And the fact that have 105 or so teeth. Hercules was a gentle giant. They lined us up like soldiers. Then we had to kneel down.



The water was the perfect temperature for both mammal and human. The water was very shallow and dropped off very quickly. The dolphins needed some deep water to show off their talent. And talent they have. I can not believe how talented these incredible mammals are. There are 16 dolphins at Dolphin Cay that were rescued from Hurricane Katrina. And I am happy to report that they are doing great.

They took us one at a time to meet Hercules. They picked me first..I guess they saw the excitement in me. My husband was near the beach taking photos. When I had the chance to look at the photos, you can see my daughter praying for her mothers safe return. LOL...



There was a professional photographer in the water taking photos. My Daughter wouldn't go by herself, but she did want her picture taken so I went with her. I got to kiss Hercules, and he tasted very salty. And they feel like rubber. They shed their skin about every hour or so.



I was so proud of Jen for being able to dig deep for some courage to be able to experience this wonderful adventure. The dolphins were so happy to perform for us, and it was very exciting to watch them show their talents.

I will always forever remember this day. I know I will return to the Atlantis many more times. My Darlin Husband is already looking for another trip....soon.
Kindredly,
Ellen









4 comments:

Unknown said...

What a beautiful header and the pictures are so awesome. I'm glad this trip was a success and not like last year (broken arm kept Ellen home). It is going to be a great new year.
Hugs,
Sister S.

Anonymous said...

oh ellen what a treat.oh man,i have watched flipper and others all my life.oh man,what i would give to touch and kiss one.and...i've always wanted to hold a penquin.aw------------what a joy that must've been.happy new year dear...ann

Anonymous said...

i see you have the estes award,i just received mine yesrerday.i am so thrilled................

Melissa Miller said...

Amazing! I have always to visit Atlantis.

Have a wonderful and blessed New Year! :)

Beaded ornaments

My 50th Birthday banner my sister made for my surprise party


Hedda Hopper


Birth:

May 2, 1890
Death:

Feb. 1, 1966
Actress, Journalist. Despite a 23 year career that encompassed over 120 motion picture appearances and chorus girl roles on Broadway to motion pictures, she is best remembered for her newspaper column and radio show that focused exclusively on Hollywood gossip, a subject she was able to tell more about to her audience due to her Hollywood insider status. Born Elda Furry in Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania, she left school to act on Broadway. In 1913 she married marquee star William DeWolfe, a man who was 32 years her senior. They had one son, and divorced in 1922, but she kept his name for the rest of her life (and changed her name to Hedda on the advice of a numerologist). In 1931 she began “The Hedda Hopper Show”, which initially ran as a 15 minute gossip show mostly devoted to Hollywood marriages and divorces. Enormously popular, it ran until 1951, and on the strength of its popularity she started the “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” column in the Los Angeles Times in 1938. She steadily gained a reputation for exposing tidbits about the lives of Hollywood figures, and created a character of herself in her own right, especially in regard to her vast collection of sometimes outrageous hats, and a long standing feud with rival gossip columnist Louella Parsons. With the advent of television’s popularity in the late 1940s and early 1950s, he radio show waned, but she herself became a staple of television programs and game shows, being a frequent panelist on “What’s My Line?’, and appear on shows like “I Love Lucy”, “The Colgate Variety Hour” and “The Beverly Hillbillies”. In 1960 she received the Journalistic Merit award, and published her autobiography “The Whole Truth and Nothing But!”, which recapped her over 20 years or being an Hollywood insider. She died in Los Angeles of double pneumonia in 1966, working right up until her passing. As a Hollywood icon, she created a number of friends and enemies; she gave harsh advice to actress Ida Lupino, which helped her gain recognizable part, but was despised by actress Joan Bennett, who once sent her a skunk. In 1985 a movie about the feud between her and Parsons was released as “Malice in Wonderland”, which Jane Alexander as Hedda Hopper and Elizabeth Taylor as Louella Parsons