It’s almost 2009! In just 48 more hours, I’ll have to prepare myself to scratch through everything I have to put a date on for about a month. I seem to have about a 20-30 day window in January when my brain refuses to acknowledge that the year has changed!

For now, I’m just reflecting on a beautiful Christmas holiday with my family. On Christmas morning, we had a pretty quiet and uneventful time opening presents. Then my mother arrived at 10 a.m. bearing a BIG giftbag and envelopes for each of us. She read a poem and then instructed us to all open our envelopes at the same time. Inside each was a Carnival Cruise Fun Pass! The big bag held a new set of luggage, and we had two and a half hours to pack and be ready to leave for the port. Yes, you read that right. We were all sailing on Christmas day! I was aware of this, as my mom needed an ‘inside man’ to help get arrangements made for our two dogs, and to set as much of the clothes we’d need for the trip aside as possible without drawing attention to what I’d done. Her bag was already packed and in the trunk.

So while she cooked us all a big breakfast, we packed and got everything set to head out to the Port of Tampa. We arrived and boarded the Carnival Inspiration about 1:45. A little past 4:00 we were underway. We passed under the beautiful Sunshine Skyway Bridge at sunset, which made for some beautiful photos. I haven’t cruised for a long time, and it was the first time for the rest of my crew. It was amazing how relaxed we all felt as soon as we stepped out onto the deck!

Sailing under the Sunshine Skyway at Sunset...that's a lot of 'S's'!

The next few days were wonderful as we enjoyed all the great things the ship had to offer. We were thrilled to arrive in Cozumel, and took a great excursion where we drive Rhinos (sort of like off-road golf carts) through the ecological preserve at Punta Sur. We enjoyed the beautiful lighthouse, spent some time on a gorgeous beach, saw saltwater crocodiles, an 800 year-old Mayan temple, and ended with some snorkeling. A late lunch portside and some shopping capped off a truly memorable day.

Driving the Rhinos along the coast at Punta Sur

The lighthouse at Punta Sur

Tom, me and Annie at the Port of Cozumel

I’m amazed by how many students told me they were cruising right before or right after Christmas or New Year’s. I would have figured that to be more of a spring break activity, but some were actually doing both – a holiday cruise with the family and a spring break cruise with friends! None of the ones I spoke to were on our specific cruise, but who knows…there may have been a few!

So enjoy some more photos of the trip, and rest up for your New Year’s festivities! I’ll see you back here in 2009!

Me enjoying a seaside hammock at Punta Sur

This lovely fellow came near to visit us while we enjoyed some chips and salsa in the ecological park

Annie and my mom all decked out for snorkeling

Annie and Mom with one of the fabulous towel animals left in our staterooms each evening

Posted by Saint Leo University at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes the end of the term is upon us! Students are busy with exams, and I bet that the amount of studying taking place during exam week alone exceeds the total amount spent in all of the preceding weeks of the semester! Just kidding, our Leo students wouldn’t procrastinate like that (wink, wink).

While we on the Admission staff are starting to wrap things up, we will be here a bit longer than the students and come back earlier! We’ll be off as an office beginning December 24th, but we will have skeleton staff here for December 29-30. Our office will reopen in full on January 5th. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the holidays and some much needed R & R, but there is WORK to be done first!

To help students with a study break that will stick to their ribs, the university staged a Midnight Breakfast on December 8th. The dining hall opened to serve late night breakfast to hungry and stressed students. Volunteers from around the university come to help serve the students. It’s a great way for everyone to take a break and kick back for just a little while before returning to the books.

Volunteers help to serve the students breakfast.

Students enjoy some downtime before they dive back into their books and notes!

My family has a big Christmas surprise coming, but I can’t post it yet or they might see it! So check back after Christmas and see what it was! I know all of you are probably running around shopping, decorating, hosting or attending Christmas parties, etc. I do hope that you will all take time to sit back and relax, breathe in, breathe out, and ENJOY the holidays and your time together. I’d like to close by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season.

Posted by Saint Leo University at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)