This is the first of a series of articles about the transformative power of traveling.  No one really knows the impact a trip is going to have on their lives.  It can be a restorative escape, educational, or thought provoking – often all at the same time.  Sometimes the experiences a person has while traveling, […]

Movie awards season is upon us once again.  This year I was struck by the diversity of the contenders for Best Picture as determined by the Academy.  The films take place in a rich universe.  Two films represent the Middle East (and it’s turmoil), two show 19th Century America, and others deal with France, India, […]

I’ve traveled to a lot of places.  Most of them, due to my being an American, were places that I certainly didn’t speak the language.  I’ve gotten by with the help of hand gestures and pantomime skills.  I don’t want to brag here, but I’m good.  Very good.  I’ve taught class to group of Russian […]

I headed back down to New Orleans last week, my second time in just a few months.  This time it was for a wedding of a close friend and it was really lovely, and loads of fun.  As the evening wore on the bride and groom left, and the party slowly dispersed.  I found myself […]

It’s that time of year again!  That’s right Oprah has officially announced her “Favorite Things” list!  Oh, yeah, it’s also Christmas time!  Everyone is currently engaged in my least favorite activity – fighting crowds.  I hate it.  I’m more of a sneak into the mall an hour before it closes a few nights one week, […]

The holidays officially begin this week and cameras everywhere will be wearing out their shutters.  I’ve decided to pass on some tips to optimize the use of your camera.  I’ve been playing around with photography for several years, but it’s only been in the last year that I have invested in a high quality SRL […]

I grew up in what I have come to learn might have been the last “Cold War” community in America.  My elementary school had fire drills.  We had tornado drills.  We even had nuclear bomb drills.  Seriously.  I can remember being in my classroom and crawling under my desk to prepare for the pending nuclear […]

Inevitably, at some point, in even the best-planned trips, the shit will hit the fan. Your luggage will get lost.  You will get lost.  You will miss a connecting flight. You will get sick. The person or people you are traveling with will drive to the edge of sanity.  Something WILL happen, and whatever it […]

This week, I have a treat for you – a guest contributor- my good friend, Ben Osborne!  It’s almost Halloween, so why not learn a little something about his odd, and some might say spooky, travel obsession.  Maybe it will inspire you to create a goal for yourself……..   After you are asked “You’re here […]

This weekend I got the opportunity to do one of my favorite activities – play tour guide!  I was fortunate enough to show my friends from Amsterdam, Kjell and Walter around the Big Easy for a few days.  I’m certainly not an expert on the city, but I have been there more than a few […]