Cruisin’ Alaska with the Jordans – Day Five

Skagway Today has been a pretty low key day. We arrived in Skagway at about 6:30 a.m. and watched the tugs maneuver us into port. As we had decided not to book an excursion, we just lounged around all morning and had a very late breakfast. If we were going to do an excursion, we…

Cruisin’ Alaska with the Jordans – Day Four

Endicott Arm Fjord and the Dawes Glacier in the Tracy Arm Wilderness Juneau and the Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Adventure Up at five for glacier watching. We decided to get up early and go up to Deck 14 as we moved toward  the Dawes Glacier. The only issue was that it was raining. I went up to…

Cruisin’ Alaska with the Jordans – Day Three

Ketchikan, Alaska Slipping into port at Ketchikan. We thought it was 6 am. but it turned our it was really 5 a.m. What that meant is that we were able to watch the sunrise as we pulled closer to Ketchikan. Room Service Time. At 8 we got a little room service snack. Coffee. Tea. Assorted…

Cruisin’ Alaska with the Jordans – Day Two

Day Two – At Sea Once past Port Angeles, Washington, we headed out on the open sea as we inch along the Canadian coast toward Ketchikan and Alaska. Breakfast in the room. We decided to have breakfast delivered to the room. Coffee. Tea. Bagels. And a whole plate of bacon. Why? Because we could. And…

Cruisin’ Alaska with the Jordans – Day One

Day One – Sacramento to Seattle to Sea We never thought of ourselves as cruise people. Cruises were for older people who couldn’t navigate well by themselves anymore. Cruises were for rich people who want to wear a tux every night for dinner.  Cruises were a place for bad entertainment. Cruises were just a little…

The Reality of My Retirement

What it’s been like during the first nine weeks of retirement. October 7, 2017. When you leave a career you’ve loved for 40 years, it’s easy to worry about what the transition to the retired life might be like, but I am here to report that retirement for me is off to a wonderful start….

Summer of 17.

The summer of a teacher is a beautiful thing. That is unless it’s too short or you work too much. This year summer was both too short and I worked to much. That is if I were going back to teach on August 7. But I’m not. This is my retirement summer. By the way you…

Jim’s First Day of School Advice to All My Teacher Friends

 I have always used the metaphor that a school year is like going on a long boat ride on a sometimes raging river. There are rapids ahead, and we all need to be a part of navigating the waters together. Triumphantly. Sadly. I have just stepped out of the boat and am waving and shouting…

The Retirement Journey of James Mason Jordan

The long and winding road into retirement. When you hit 55 here in California, a teacher can begin thinking about the retirement process. At some point starting at age 55 you must declare with STRS what option you plan to take for your retirement benefit which will depend on if you have a spouse and…