Observations
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!) One of the cool things about this flower... Read article...
Why we travel, and old-world travel advice
Most people say they travel to get away or to see the world. However, I believe that there is another dimension of travel that can change you forever. It's easy when we stay in one place to come to see that as the center of everything. We know there's a whole world out there, but... Read article...
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, and if Amazon had a frequent flyer club... Read article...
Do you laugh alone?
I heard an episode of RadioLab about Laughter recently. They did a fascinating job of covering the topic from multiple angles. One item stood out for me, though. They said laughter is a social thing, and that people don't laugh alone. This doesn't mean when you're watching Letterman... Read article...
I travel for travel's sake
"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson . . . A man after my own heart! ...
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The urge to be someplace else
"When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever... Full article...
I'm going through a metamorphosis
Tonight I'm going through "the change". Again. No, not THAT change! I'm changing back into my alter ego, "tour leader". Most of the time, I'm doing product development, marketing, processes, finances, systems, etc. But a few times a year, I get to go out and lead a tour myself! ... Read article...
Memories of things you can't remember
"The safest memories are those in the mind of someone who can't remember." . . . No, I didn't make that up! It's the astonishing conclusion of a scientist who was on the Radiolab episode on memory and forgetting. This podcast explores a variety of subjects (like memory, time, or life)... Read article...
Atlanta diet & exercise plan
On arrival at Atlanta's airport, I was PLEASED to find signs telling me the walk to baggage claim was 4000 feet, or about 3/4 mile. After sitting cooped up on a plane, a brisk walk is a great way to get the blood moving. Why not start with exercise in the airport? (Don't worry - there's a train!)... Read article...
Missed connections - c'est la vie
My trip back from Belize took about 24 hours longer than expected, but that wasn't such a bad thing. In fact, in a way it made me feel good about people. The trip started out great, with a morning puddle jumper from Ambergris Caye to Belize City... Read article...
