Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
June 2, 2017
June 13, 2016
Walking The Pink Carpet
Only in Starbucks Florida...
Does Buddy the bird sing and dance inside the shop next to the coffee drinkers.
Here, my wife was doing some writing for the Federal Communicators Network.
And she is very serious about her writing--and don't bug her when she's into it.
But Buddy was a different story...
He proudly walked right over the iPad pink keyboard.
And then headed for another circuit around the table.
Picking up keys, ripping up the New York Times, hanging upside down, and playing with everyone who was only too happy to pay him attention.
When I asked Buddy if he liked Starbucks coffee, he started bopping up and down like crazy--it was hilarious.
As to my wife's computer and writing, this was about the only thing that she would allow to disturb her.
I was surprised she didn't eat the bothersome bird, but even she had to laugh at his gall to step into her virtual world of writing, brands, and social media. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 8, 2016
May 17, 2016
613 The Perfect Trip
Check out the cost of this vacation trip to Yellowstone National Park.
It's not $599 or $699 like you would usually see these things advertised for.
Instead the family adventure starts at $613!!!
Too many times now, too frequent, and in too many different places to be just random or chance.
Someone is trying to tell us something.
Hopefully, it is a sign for blessings for mankind. ;-)
(Source Photo: Ellen Weiner)
December 24, 2015
Type A-nus
And as it goes, you transition from the busy everyday world of work and chores to a more relaxing vacation mode...Ahhhh!
As I'm still transitioning, my wife says to me, "Stop your type A-ness."
Then we look at each other and start cracking up, because it sounds like she says "Type A-nus."
Okay 7-year olds, stop the silliness.
But maybe she is right, we need to pull our heads out of our asses, and look up at the sky, savor the warm sunshine on our faces, take a breath of fresh beautiful air, and just chill!
A-ness, or A-nus--either way, stop it and live free. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 23, 2015
Popcorn Delight
So we made it to Florida, but the plane ride was horrible.
Spent an hour and a half on the tarmac waiting to take off because of "low clouds."
Is that for real?
It was raining outside and the damp air and smell on the plane was sickening.
But we made it, and in Florida, it's always happy and nice--air was warm, the sun was out, and the people were in holiday party spirits.
Headed straight to the pool and had a great swim--pushed myself even though still woosy from the turbulent flight.
We had a nice dinner and then stopped in this store with amazing popcorn--covered in caramel drizzle and milk chocolate.
Only in Florida (these were no Cracker Jacks)!
The lady gave me a sample and I passed it off to my daughter and wife--oops, the one with the big chocolate gob fell on the floor.
Then we passed this tattoo place and watched this guy in the widow getting a huge tattoo on his calf of this fantastical women's face. The lady proprietor tried to convince us to come in--ah, no thanks.
Next was a bottle of wine for the night and back to the hotel.
Looking forward to more adventures this week. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 9, 2015
It Doesn't Get Better Than This
This video was composed and produced by one of my very talented colleagues, David Ausman (2015).
I was really impressed by the skill and creativity of this music video as well as the vivid portrayal of a fantasy vacation to Havana, Cuba.
He recorded it in his own voice and used Garageband and his digital piano to jazz it up.
When I asked him how he got the idea for this, he said that his associates overhead and told him a friendly conversation they overhead that went like this:
"Bob: Bill! I haven't see you in ages. How have you been?
Bill: Bob, you old sob! How ya doing?
Bob: I'm doing great, especially since I'm no longer posted in [edited out].
Bill: I know, I know. So how are you liking it back home?
Bob: (pointing his finger at Bill) It doesn't get better than this!
Bill: (pointing back) Yeah, it doesn't get better than this!"
Now that he shared this funny story with me, I also can't stop thinking about some fantasy fun trip somewhere.
And most important that when we appreciate everyone and everything we have in our lives then "It [truly] doesn't get better than this!" ;-)
August 17, 2015
PARROT Does Amazing Impromptu DANCE
December 29, 2014
Iced Pool BUT Hot Tub
These folks on the left are in the outdoor steaming hot tub.
However, see the pool next to them on the right--it's nearly completely frozen over (and it would be except for a fireplace at the other end of the pool deck)!
The temperature outside a frosty 19 degrees fahrenheit.
Yes, for those who know me...I keep the air conditioner on in the Winter (true).
But even I didn't bare it all in Santa Fe in December--at least not yet! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 19, 2014
It's Friday
December 7, 2013
Life, Cartoonish And Not
And they say texting while driving is distracting -- what's this?
Some other weird things:
- At a food store, saw an argument between an Asian customer and a Spanish-speaking cashier--they were arguing over something as silly as an orange juice, but what made this especially comical was because of the language barrier, each was getting more and more frustrated, until they both sort of gave up, and the customer storming out saying he was never going there again.
- At the rehabilitation facility, spoke to a couple where the husband--age 88--was there "unexpectedly" for the last two months after a relatively minor surgery. The wife--age 79 (married 60 years)--was visiting him every day. She said that they had never been really sick before, and that when he got out, they were going to visit their other condo in Florida and resume their regular, favorite hobby of ballroom dancing.
- A nurse assistant, from Sierra Leone, told me how he had escaped the bloody civil war there that left 50,000 people dead. He described how the rebels would overrun the villages killing everyone as he pointed his finger saying "boom, boom" and making slashing movements as if holding a knife or machete--and that many from his family were murdered. He described how he had escaped to neighboring Guinea and from there called his uncle in America who helped get him here, but the price was that he had to leave his family--a wife and two children behind. He said in the last 11 years, he was able to visit them only once in 2008 for a couple of weeks, and at the end of this month, he was finally able to go back to bring them to America.
I wondered how very different our lives are--and how some people suffer with war, poverty, illness, and loss, while others are vacationing and dancing into their 90's. I'm not judging or implying anyone as good or bad--especially since all these people seemed very nice--but these events reminded me of a Jewish saying about the conundrum of the seeming righteous people that suffer and the wicked that prosper--and that only G-d is The Judge, who knows who is really righteous and wicked, what they really deserve, and that some people get rewarded in this world, while others in the world to come.
Either way, I hope G-d has mercy on us, so we don't suffer, and have much more happy dancing times and less to none illness, poverty, and fighting.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 29, 2013
Like That Scarf
Found this awesome scarf on Las Olas.
It is handmade and made up of this individual squares of beautiful fabric.
The store also had these gorgeous ties in a similar design.
Prices for the scarf was something like $395.
I admired, but wasn't insane enough to buy. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 25, 2013
Rock Into Space
Paragon Space Development Corp is developing a space helium-filled balloon to take us into the wild-blue (and black) yonder.
The balloon will be as wide as a football field.
It will transport 8 people to an altitude of 18 miles, high enough to move around for about 6 hours and get a "panoramic view of the globe without having to wear space suits of don oxygen masks."
The cost will be about $75,000 per person--which seems almost doable for middle class folks who want the ultimate travel experience.
In contrast, Virgin Galactic will rocket passengers 60 miles high where customers can experience weightlessness for about $250,000.
Other ventures are developing offerings of trips to the International Space Station, an orbiting hotel, and even the moon.
I think it would be so awesome to experience space travel and see G-d's creations in a whole new perspective-filled way.
It's amazing, we are so small in the realm of things, yet we fallaciously think we are so big. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 22, 2013
On The Air With Madhouse
This is us and the gang from Morning Madhouse at the Westin Diplomat.
My wife said we were vacationing, I said we were on a second honeymoon.
Either way, it was nice to tell everyone how much we love visiting Sunny Florida! ;-)
January 7, 2012
People Watching
Between the sunshine, the ocean, the palm trees, and more generally the beautiful flora and fauna--I am one happy camper!
This time, we actually saw a couple of pretty large iguanas just casually walking along the causeway...not something I see everyday in D.C.
When I'm down in Florida--aside from working out and having a good time--one of the fun things for me to do is just to "people watch."
People come from all over the world--the "Spring Breakers" who party hearty, the South Americans investing in real estate market, the Europeans still enjoying the strong Euro, and of course, many U.S. family "snowbirds" who come for Disney and the other attractions in the warm climate.
In Florida, it is hard not to notice the wide discrepancy between rich and poor--I saw what looked almost exactly like the TV image of an extraordinarily rich man in the open collar and blazer and women in fancy hat and scarf in a Rolls Royce with a little white dog sitting on the lady's lap--these two were just "perfect" and apparently had the perfect life going on.
At the same time, there are so many unfortunate people walking around in tattered clothes, eating from the garbage, and so on, it is heart-breaking and scary.
When the Occupy movement rails against the 1%--I think this is sort of what they must mean.
Then there are the proverbial weirdos--nothing personal--but these are the folks who are do things either for the attention, a little extra cash, or because they may just be at the other end of the "normal" spectrum (would that be a political correct to say it?).
There is the guy who bikes around town with a live chicken on his handlebars, the mime lady in white (head to toe) who stands like a statue all afternoon and evening for some pocket change, and then this guy pictured on the blog who walks around in a pink bikini and red handbag (yes, quite a fashion statement, indeed!).
I wonder whether back home, there are equally strange and interesting people all around, but I'm just not noticing them the same way, because I'm busy with daily life, in "work mode" and not sitting around on vacation just "taking it all in."
It's good to stop a while and "smell the roses" and see the variety of beautiful and interesting things all around us--even if they shouldn't be wearing that bikini in public!
July 31, 2011
Technology Anonymous
With the latest addiction being everything technology, there is now a movement toward "technology detox" or the AA equivalent, Technology Anonymous.
I remember reading months ago about people so addicted to the Internet and online video games that they literally had to be institutionalized to get them to eat, sleep, and return to some sort of normal life again.
Apparently, technology taken to the extreme can be no less an addiction than smoking, drinking, of fooling around.
And there is even a Facebook page for Internet and Technology Addiction Anonymous (ITAA).
I've recently even heard of challenges for people to turn off their technology for even 24 hours; apparently this is a tough thing even for just that one day--wonder if you can do it?
The Wall Street Journal (5 July 2011) reported on someone who "signed up for a special [vacation] package called "digital detox," [that] promised a 15% discount if you agree to leave your digital devices behind or surrender them at check in."
The message is clear that people "need a push to take a break from their screens."
Here are brief some statistics from the WSJ on technology addiction even while on vacation:
- 79% expect to remain connected for all or some of the time on their next vacation.
- 68% (up from 58% in 2010) say they will check email while on vacation--daily or more frequently--for work.
- 33% admitted to hiding from friends and family to check email on vacation.
- Also, 33% check email on vacation while engaged in fast-paced activities such as skiing, biking, and horseback riding.
For people routinely checking email as many as 50-100 times a day, going on vacation and leaving technology behind can be a real shock to our social computing systems. Should I even mention the possibility of not logging unto Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flikr, etc. I see people convulsing and going into withdrawal just at the thought.
So what is this technology addiction we are all on? There's no nicotine or alcohol or testosterone involved (except in some extreme video games, maybe).
Incredibly, for many technology is the first thing we check in the morning and last before we close our eyes at night.
It even lays on the night table right next to us--our spouse on one side and our smartphone on the other. Which do you cuddle with more?
It's scary--technology is an addiction that is not physical, but rather emotional.
It is the thrill of who is calling, emailing, texting, friending, or following us and what opportunities will it bring.
Like Vegas or a lottery ticket...technology holds for us the possibility of love, friendships, sexual encounters, new job opportunities, fame, fortune, travel, and so on.
There is no limit, because technology is global and unbridled and so is our ambition, desires, hopes, and even some greed.
(Source Photo: here)
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