Oh boy, I knew exactly what Jenna was talking about when she described gatherings of travel writers. I call it the Commander McBragg syndrome. I always lose that game. I’ve never even been to Nepal.
I’ve seen more places than many people but not nearly as many as others. I hope to see more of the [...]
Monthly Archive for December, 2009
New Year’s Resolutions? Sort Of
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 28th, 2009
Last week I had drinks with a bunch of other travelish types. On the way there, the old nerves cropped up a bit. Get a gaggle of travel writers together and the conversation can turn competitive. Most know exactly how many countries and states and counties and tributaries they’ve visited and, yes, we do sit [...]
Hope on the Boardwalk
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 23rd, 2009
I met Ojenga last January on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. On winter days, the seagulls outnumber the people wandering the boardwalk by about 1000 to one. But Ojenga’s out there drumming, day in day out, unless it’s really really freezing. When I met him, he’d just logged his 17th year on the boardwalk. Business had [...]
On Saturday, my friend Cathy posted on Facebook this photo of her Pennsylvania neighborhood.
This is what it looked like in my Texas neighborhood. The temperature was about 55 degrees.
I’d rather be where Cathy is.
Golly, her photo made me homesick for the East Coast. It stirred in me a deep pang of recollection of hunkering down [...]
This (Really Interesting) Old House
Posted in Three-fer Friday on Dec 18th, 2009
Home for the holidays? After that’s all wrapped up, how about decompressing with a trip through one of our favorite historic houses? Though some people believe I’ll go to hell for this, you might even want to play one of my favorite historic house tour games: What’s that? Just pick some random item in a [...]
Remember that old travel magazine I found?
In it was a two-page spread titled “America’s Little Known Statues” by Frank L. Remington. Among the statues highlighted is this donutty monument, with the caption:
“In Camden, Maine stands a monument to Henry Brewster who invented the hole in the doughnut after he heard his mother remark that the [...]
Your Photo in America’s Wallets
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 15th, 2009
Though I spend a fair bit of my procrastination free time wandering photography websites, the fine print has scared me away from pretty much every amateur photography contest I’ve considered entering. Clause 39 usually features something about your likeness in perpetuity and that they own the back left tire of your car. Or something. But, [...]
If You’re Going to Buy Us a Goofy Souvenir, Make It Something Like This
Posted in Buy, Three-fer Friday on Dec 11th, 2009
We’re none of us immune to the pull of the gift shop. I’m a sucker for souvenirs, though I choose carefully. It’s a thin line between charming and cheesy. I don’t mind crossing it, but with care. So if you’re thinking about getting us a little something while you exit through the gift shop, today’s [...]
Travelers Roasting by an Open Fire
Posted in Stay on Dec 10th, 2009
I’m a big fan of the fireplace. If my hotel room has a fireplace, I make time to sit in front of it no matter how much seeing and doing I’ve done all day. Forget Jacuzzi tubs. They take forever to fill and sound like an idling jet-engine. Go for the fireplace instead.
When I travel [...]
Handmade in the United States: A Gift Guide (From MT to WY)
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 8th, 2009
You still haven’t finished your shopping?* What am I going to do with you? Well, get to it. Here, handmade goods from or about or somehow just having to do with states from Montana on through to Wyoming. (Hankering for the AL to MO set? I got your back.)
Montana: Hmmm, I may need to read [...]
