Observations
Back to the Balmy Breezes,Virgin Islands
It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world. You step through the door of the airplane, out onto the metal stairs. Sultry tropical air greets you, heavenly after the chilly plane. Palm trees sway against a bright blue sky, and in an instant, you realize “normal life” is gone. You are now on a tropical island… Read article…
The leading cause of stress
Monday quote:
Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it.”
~ Jane Wagner
Funny and true! Especially when reality is as full of stress-causers as it is these days!
Geez, Louise — you can’t turn on the news or walk past a newspaper stand, without seeing more dismal news. And for millions of people, it’s not just bad stuff on the news – it’s real life. I tell you, it’s enough to turn a person into a giant screaming ball of stress!
But wait… I’ve taken stress management courses before, and their mantra was that “You’re the only person who can cause yourself stress.” …
Why traveling this winter could make sense
In spite of the current economic turmoil, this winter could be a good time to travel. Holiday rush aside, of course (which is always a zoo at major airports).
A primary reason is that for those of us in the US, things are apt to get better economically after the election is over. I can’t say for sure if this is true or not, but there is some logic to it. Whoever wins the election, it will accomplish two things for sure:
So there we were… with a gazillion boats
Fleet Week on San Francisco Bay gets all the once-a-year boaters out on the water, and everybody heads for the middle of the bay. Normally empty parts of the bay are crowded with boats jostling for position, as everyone waits for the Blue Angels… Read article…
White water rafting through the economy
Today started out as a beautiful blue-sky Monday morning.
But by this afternoon I realized it was really a black day. Or perhaps a black & blue day?
The bailout plan went down to defeat, as did the stock market. Shock waves are circulating. For many, it’s a day of… Full article…
What was frowned upon as unladylike
Adventure quote:
What was once frowned down upon as unladylike, trivial, and shocking, is now done openly and with the approval of the beholders. Perhaps nothing illustrates this so much as the riding of the bicycle.”
~ Dr. Gracie Ritchie
Would you believe it – a woman with a… Full article…
There’s no cure like travel
Monday quote:
And there’s no cure like travel to help you unravel the worries of living today. When the poor brain is cracking, there’s nothing like packing a suitcase and sailing away.” …
San Juan Islands – old friend foxglove
It’s almost time for our San Juan Islands trips this year, and I’d be wiling to bet that we’ll see bald eagles, orca whales, and foxglove (digitalis). We often see them when we’re hiking on Orcas Island. (The foxgloves, that is, not the whales!) …
Why we travel, and old-world travel advice
Most people will tell you that they travel to get away or to see the world. However, I believe that there is another dimension of travel that gets inside you, and can change you forever.
It’s easy when we stay in one place to come to see that as the center of everything…
You’ve gotta be there, do that
“Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Now don’t get me wrong — I’m a huge fan of books! I can’t walk into a bookstore without buying something, can’t visit a museum without patronizing their bookshop, and if Amazon had a frequent flyer club, I’d have free tickets around the world…
