Blog Posts

SHE'S A BEAUTY

4/22/2016

“It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.” ― Neil Armstrong

Today marks the largest secular observance in the world, a day celebrated by more than a billion people in 192 countries across the planet. Did you know today is Earth Day?

Well, now you know! Thanks to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson and the 20 million Americans who took to the streets coast-to-coast in 1970 to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment there’s a chance we might just do right by this beautiful planet we call home.

She is a beauty; and I have a dozen pictures to prove it.

AMERICA'S BEST IDEA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

4/21/2016

Hit the road and head to your nearest NPS site.

HURRY! The celebration has begun; admission is FREE for the rest of the week, through Sunday, April 24th!

Turn off all electronics! Grab the kids, the pets, the passport, the camera, and the car keys and get out of Dodge. America awaits, in all her beauty, glory and history; it’s National Parks Week!

Pick a site, any one of over 400 National Park sites covering a plethora of possibilities and make some memories for FREE.

Yes, a plethora of possibilities, including . . .

HERE'S TO A GAP YEAR FILLED WITH LOTS OF TRAVEL

4/15/2016

Well, it’s official – 2016 is my gap year; one tooth bites the dust !

Who says gap years have to be devoted to travel alone; which is not to suggest travel is not part of my plans for 2016. We’re headed to Colorado in May, Alaska in July, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in October. All the other months are still up for grabs. My dentist is going to miss me.

Which reminds me, no Fun Fotos to share today; this past week wasn’t really all that much fun. But I do have 7 Truths to share, one for each day of the week I spent on the bumpy road to recovery.

FLORIDA'S MARVELOUS MANGROVES OFFER A SPOOKY WALK

4/14/2016

One of the advantages of falling behind my sister, Lynda, and the leader of the pack, Jimmy, is there are few pictures of my behind.

It was an invitation we couldn’t refuse.

The boardwalk stretched as far as the eye could see, steeped in mystery courtesy of Florida’s marvelous mangroves; and was quiet as the breeze off Miami’s nearby Biscayne Bay.

Spooky quiet with all those trees harboring all manner of wildlife ready to pounce.

FUN FOTO FRIDAY: OUTTAKES FOR THE WEEK 04/04/16

4/8/2016

It’s been tough stringing together two coherent thoughts this week (well, tougher than usual); hence no Thursday post.

Like a neon sign insistently flashing a single message, tooth #19 (I know far more than I ever wanted to know when it comes to odontology; for those of you lucky enough to have been spared this life lesson, odontology is the branch of science concerned with the anatomy, development and diseases of all 32 teeth and related structures) has been busy 24/7 flooding my information highway with the same annoying message – PAIN, PAIN, PAIN!

Enough already! My nerves are shot, literally and figuratively.

Alas, there is an end in sight! Later TODAY tooth #19 and I part ways. Apparently the ingrate has little appreciation for the time and money I invested on her behalf over the last few years via two wonderfully entertaining (NOT!) root canals.

And speaking of wonderfully entertaining, I do have some Fun Fotos to share. Enjoy, while I keep my date with the doc. He promised to take me to la-la land. He knows how much I love to travel.

WHO KNEW? FIBS, FOOLS & FUN FOTOS

4/1/2016

Is the joke on us, America?

Well, peeps, today is April Fools’ Day, and if you haven’t seen the video making the rounds, it’s time you did. We have Jimmy Kimmel to thank for this prank he aired last night on his late show (he expertly strung together old campaign footage of Donald Trump and added a voice over that was just good enough to sound convincing); but remember, Trump does like having the last word (as well as the spotlight).

I saw this travel-expectations-versus-reality post recently on boredpanda.com, which too often represents the last word on travel when it comes to popular destinations. Wish these were pranks. My last word on the matter (okay, two words) – holy humanity!

I suppose we could all stay home, but where’s the fun in that? In fact, I’m off to find some fun via a few pranks of my own. Watch your back(side) Jimmy!

Ah, that would be my Jimmy, not late-night-show-host Jimmy. And now, for those Fun Fotos.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S OAK PARK HOME: AN INVESTMENT IN BEAUTY AND TRUTH

3/31/2016

The original FLW home is now part of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust established in 1974.

Let’s just put it right out there.

I’ve never been a big fan of the Prairie Style of architecture; conforming to one design aesthetic, from structure to style, from rooftop to windows to walls, carpet to furniture to dinnerware feels more socialistic than democratic. In fact, for years I wasn’t really a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright.

It has always been a challenge separating the brash, outspoken, self-serving man from the architectural genius. By his own admission Wright professed, "Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change."

Okay, so I didn’t hold back; but there is still more Wright than wrong when it comes to the 20th century’s most influential architect. And what do you know; I’m willing to share my thoughts (the good, the bad, and the ugly) on the matter. Right here, right now.

Happens every time I tour one of FLW’s homes, in this case his own home in Oak Park, Illinois; I come away with a deeper appreciation for the man’s genius despite the man's personal shortcomings. I promise to try to stick to the genius qualities.

FUN FOTO FRIDAY: OUTTAKES FOR THE WEEK 3/21/16

3/25/2016

I love how little babies look like wise old sages; their soulful eyes speak volumes about the sanctity of life. They are the masters of the universe, indeed the universe that now spins around their sun.

Spend time with these amazing creatures and know God is benevolent.

I had the pleasure of spending time yesterday with the youngest member of our family; Charlotte turned five months earlier this week. She’s all tender, fragile skin and rose-leaf softness that begs touch. I couldn't help but want to kiss that softness, smell her precious wonder in every fat fold, in every delicate finger and toe.

She’s such a good listener, too. In this age of distractions, she knows how to focus on what’s important. I have much to learn from this adorable little bunny.

Which reminds me; Easter is right around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I plan to rejoice and be glad. I also plan to share a few Fun Fotos.

WHERE MODERN MEETS THE MASTER: FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S OAK PARK HOME & OFFICE

3/24/2016

I was 25 when my husband and I bought into the American dream. The open floor plan of the 3-bedroom ranch centered round a great room flanked by modest kitchen and equally modest dining room imbued our little starter home with the grandiosity befitting our growing family and dreams.

At 25, this east coast momma knew very little of America’s greatest architect (wait for it!), or of the prairie covering America’s heartland that proved such an inspiration for the organically inspired Frank Lloyd Wright (tah-dah!).

Then again, what do any of us really know at 25?

Well, actually, at 22, Frank Lloyd Wright knew considerably more than most, particularly this flunky. Well, okay, I graduated college by the time I was 22, which is more than I can say for the master (FLW took a few courses in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin in 1886, but never received a degree; it’s questionable the self-made man even graduated high school). I delivered my first child just weeks shy of my 23rd birthday. Then again, so did FLW. Well, actually Wright's wife Catherine did the delivering; but I digress.

My point is (yes, there is one buried beneath all the reminiscing), . . .

FUN FOTO FRIDAY: OUTTAKES FOR THE WEEK 3/14/16

3/18/2016

The really amazing thing about spring isn’t all the new life that turns gray to green, but rather the hope that turns gray to gay.

Hope for the Flowers (what a beautiful book for young and old alike!); hope for humanity.

Alas, all the hope stopped short of the current political landscape. Two out of three ain’t bad.

Today’s Fun Fotos ain’t bad either.

Here’s to spring! It's official this Sunday, fine-ahhhh-ly! We can only hope Mother Nature got the memo.

<<Previous

Forward>>