Tag Archives: Travel

New beginnings…or just another shaky start?

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It’s been years since I have written anything in this blog. Last I looked, I was on my way to Israel. I’m glad I went then because I wouldn’t go now. The food was incredible though! Sadly, now there is too much conflict to return.

During the years that I haven’t shared, there was the Covid pandemic, my oldest brother died from esophageal cancer, Biden and Trump have secured their places in history, I sold my home in Florida, moved to Maine by a lake, sold that and moved again. My restlessness is becoming legendary among my family and friends. I’ve always wandered, but perhaps there is more urgency now to do more, see more, and become who I should be remembered as. I didn’t freak out when I turned seventy last year, but it did sound an alarm that my mortality had become measurable.

My health has always been great and with the exception of back issues (and who doesn’t have that ?), my only other concern has been an increase with tremors. I’ve been to several notable hospitals and the diagnosis is always the same. “Essential tremor with mild Parkinson’s.” I shake. Sometimes not at all and sometimes a lot. That’s one of the reasons that I stopped journaling and started blogging. Well, intended to blog! Hahaha. I live life and actually had no time to shake rattle and roll over a keyboard. So, with the help of voice recognition and medication that sometimes quiets my hand-shaking, I intend to share the experience of getting Focused Ultrasound for my tremors. I’m sure there are a lot of people with tremors that know nothing of this exciting procedure and/or have a lot of questions. I will attempt to stay focused ( please bear with me as I also have ADHD ) and give updates as I progress through the maze.

Wow, this is a long post! Having said that, I’m hungry and need to make my breakfast. You’d think that scrambling eggs would be a no brainer, but I assure you, tremors don’t help that process at all. My ever-loving husband will provide for me in that regard so that I won’t make an even bigger mess slopping eggs out of the bowl while I stir them. Catch you later!


Waiting for my Back-Pack (serious post!)

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While not blogging, I am traveling.  I was going to combine the two, but I forgot to.  A weak excuse for some but this time I was really glad I didn’t bring my computer, since we were the victims of a smash and grab in Oakland, CA and our backpacks were stolen. We were notified last week that someone found them ransacked and tossed and we are now waiting to receive the box with the backpacks and whatever the thief left behind.  The experience was unnerving and we felt quite violated.  I now have trust issues.  Just kidding, but I will be far more aware of what I carry with me and what I leave in my car!

Anyone traveling to Oakland, CA, please be aware that this type of crime has become incredibly common.  We were parked in a church parking lot attending a wedding reception in broad daylight.  There were video cameras and people around, including an outside caterer, and we never expected it…so please be careful.

My “Pen-a-log” continues…

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A startling day of rain, dark clouds, and the realization that I may have more than 300 writing implements filling old cups, dresser drawers, and baskets hidden under counters.  Since I have nothing else on my agenda today other than my “to-do” list, which I never “do-to”, here goes…

CLUSTER 2:

  1. Yuma Recycling Center in Yuma, Arizona.  A family owned (but now sold) business for 36 years.  My oldest brother started it and retired from it having processed every kind of metal, plastic, cardboard, and paper known to mankind through its gates.
  2. Stirling Castle in Stirling, Scotland.  I’m definitely keeping this pen since it looks like an arrow.  Actually I have several of them and could fill a quiver.  Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most historically important sites and deserves to be on everyone’s list of things to do when visiting.
  3. Duraflame.  This is a pencil and will be useful to start a fire.
  4. Comfort Suites.  Nothing memorable about this.  In fact, I’m kind of embarrassed to have the pen!
  5. The Rock Church.  Wow! Two pens from Yuma, Arizona in one batch!!  I attended this church with above named brother and another sister.  Great music and very friendly people who care.
  6. La Quinta Inns and Suites.  Clean.  I remember that much.  I think it was in New Jersey?
  7. Mel’s Diner in Bonita Springs, Florida.  50’s theme and crazy paddles to hold while you wait in a line too long.  The paddles have the names of bands and singers that were popular during the 50’s and early 60’s.  I feel old when I’m there because 1. There are usually retired people there and 2.  I recognize the names on the paddles. My favorite item on the menu is the Salmon Club sandwich.
  8. Town Place Suites.  Yes, I said I traveled a lot and on road trips this type of 3 star hotel comes in handy.
  9. Viejas Resort and Casino.  Located in Alpine, California and a half hour from San Diego, Viejas also has a great outlet shopping mall across the street – if you have any money left from the casino.  I usually start at the mall and then wander  into the casino, hoping that I find that one lucky slot machine that I missed the last time I was there.  I know you’re beginning to think that I also gamble a lot, but think about that…I couldn’t afford to travel that much if I did since I’m a loser!!!   Not in life, but certainly in a casino!
  10. BITE ME BBQ.  Seems to be an appropriate follow up to number 9.  This restaurant is in Wichita, Kansas and is absolutely mouth-watering.  More on Wichita later, I’m sure.

I’d like to throw this out also… (not my back, that’s why I started a blog!  I couldn’t move and needed something to while away my time while I stayed home)…if you see the name of a pen place that you’d like more info on, please comment.  I’ll share what I know!

“Penning” my story

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Good morning.  By the time I finish writing this blog though it may well be into next week.  I travel quite a lot and I don’t necessarily collect normal souvenirs.  Sometimes I simply take the pens and pencils from hotels that I stay at or the restaurants I eat at and toss them into my suitcase. Consequently over the years, I have probably 300 pens/pencils in containers everywhere in my studio. I’ve been cleaning out a lot of of my acquired trinkets and the pens have definitely got to go. This blog will therefore begin the process of helping me to both clean out these items and remember the places that I have been. It will therefore be a totally disorganized travel log which I will refer to as my “Pen Time Memories.”

CLUSTER 1 (scientifically referred to as a “grab sample):

  1. A Pinocchio pencil with a bobbing head on a spring.  That was in the village of Collodi, Italy near Florence.
  2. An “I Love New York” pencil.  I live in upstate New York and love the beautiful mountains and valleys up here and enjoy going to the city for their museums and plays once in awhile, mostly when I have company from another part of the globe and they want to venture into the city.
  3. Ah…The Inn at Mayo Clinic.  It’s a Marriott operated Inn, located and adjoined to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.  It is incredibly convenient for early morning lab work and MRI’s, etc.  Once parked and checked in, one never has to leave the building, rain or shine.  On site restaurants and in room kitchenettes.
  4. This one reads, “My Lucky Pen” from the Barona Casino in Lakeside, California.  I do not recall ever being lucky there but their food is excellent, accommodations very comfortable, and I love it when their casino employees form a line and sing, dancing their way through the casino and giving out lots of $5 and $10 dollar bills…which you promptly put back into the slot machine that you just lost $100 in!  Fun!!
  5. The Hampton Inn.  Always a safe bet when I’m on a road trip.  The beds are super comfy and their coffee is great!  If you’re not happy for some reason, the management always makes it right.
  6. Capital Region Upright MRI.  Located in Latham, NY, this is definitely an easier option for MRI’s.
  7. Lexington Vacuum Cleaners.  Haven’t a clue where this came from!
  8. Homewood Suites.  Also by Hilton.  Beds are not as comfy as the Hampton Inn but it’s a great place to stop on a long road trip to do your laundry and if you have children with you, usually you can get a 2 bedroom suite with a kitchenette.  There are also nightly dinners held in the common area of the hotel at their restaurant.
  9. TD Bank.  Always pleasant and helpful.  Located on the northeastern side of the USA with a few branches in Florida.
  10. Esplanade Zagreb.  A luxury hotel in Zagreb, Croatia.  Their breakfasts were exquisite.  The rooms beautiful.  The bed very very firm.  Location wonderful.

Was that painful?  It’s amazing that I grabbed only 10 writing implements!  I think that going forward I will always do only 10.  So now, I will choose to keep only the Pinocchio pencil to give to a child and the Zagreb pen to keep.  It’s quite heavy and writes well.  I’m sure I paid dearly for it!

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