Dec 14, 2007 | General, Travel |
I will be aboard a ship heading for the Caribbean. I have to ask myself why, after 3 years of living in Hawaii, I'm going on a tropical vacation instead of doing something I've never done before.
I've been to warm places in the winter. I've lived the island lifestyle. So why go back to the tropics just a little over a year since I left them?
I dunno. Seemed like the thing to do at the time. 🙂
This will only be my second cruise, and I'm ambivalent. The first one was okay, nothing spectacular. You're onboard a floating hotel with a couple-thousand other people. You eat, sleep, drink, and breathe the unique atmosphere that a cruise experience provides. This isn't authentic travel, like driving across a foreign country alone or backpacking through Europe. This is luxury travel, no matter whether you have the cheapest room in the belly of the ship or the penthouse. You are taken care of, catered to. I'm not sure I enjoy that non-stop for a week. (Weird huh?)
So I'm trying it again, just to see how I feel this time. I thought about swearing off cruising the last time, but that wasn't fair. This is the second chance, though I doubt the cruise industry will miss me if I decide I prefer a different mode of travel, one that allows me to explore a country rather than float into and out of it without experiencing the authenticity of the place.
Are there any vacation experiences you prefer? If you've cruised, do you like it or are you ambivalent like me? (Oh, I will enjoy myself — last time, we tried to do too much; this time we're vegging by the pool with books and umbrella drinks, which should help a lot.) What's the one must-have item you take with you when you travel?
Dec 6, 2007 | General, Goals |
Yesterday, I did something you are never supposed to do. I bought a dress that's too small because I loved it and I intend to get into it. It's not way too small, but I have a few pounds to go if I want to wear it.
How could I pass up a Calvin Klein formal gown on markdown at Ross? I couldn't. I've gained nearly 20 pounds since moving to Alabama. This does not make me happy, as you can imagine. Too much good Southern cooking, and not enough exercise. In Hawaii, I could walk to the track. Year round. There's no track close to my house now, but that isn't a good enough excuse.
So now I'm motivated to get into this dress by the National conference. I want to sashay through the hotel in this gown. I want to feel like a million bucks in a gorgeous designer dress.
I know it's wrong to buy clothes that don't fit in the hopes they will. Typically, I don't. But, well, it's Calvin Klein. It almost fits. It's gorgeous.
Have you ever bought clothes that don't fit because you just couldn't pass them up? Because you wanted the motivation? Did you succeed in getting into them?
Dec 5, 2007 | General |
Wow, guess what I got in my email this morning! A job offer! How cool is that? They got my email address from the department of Commerce and decided to offer me a job. I'll need to deposit money in my bank account, of course, and they will then withdraw the funds — except for the 10% I'll get for working so hard. How can I pass this job up?
Dear Sir/Madam,
Compliment of the season to you, My name is Ms. Felicia Mark and I came Across your email through the United State Chamber of commerce, I am the manager of Mark Textiles & Fabrics Limited company here in the United Kingdom, I am contacting you because we are in need of a Payment Representative in the Unites States. So I would like to offer you a part time job as our payment Representative and you can earn between 4,000 – 5,000usd in a month depending on your Speed, Accuracy and Devotion to your work.
REPRESENTATIVE ROLE:
1. Receive payment from Clients 2. Deposit Payments inside your account at your Bank 3. Proceed and 24 hours in which funds have cleared into your account for withdrawal of funds 4. Deduct 10 percent which will be your percentage/pay on Payment processed. 5. Forward balance afar deduction of percentage/pay to any of the Offices you will be contacted to send payment to (Payment is to Forwarded either By MoneyGram / Western Union Money Transfer).
MAIN REQUIREMENTS:
18 years or older, Legally capable,Responsible, Ready to work 3-4 hours per week. With PC knowledge E-mail and internet experience (minimal) If you are interested in our offer, and would like to work for our company kindly fill the requested details below:
FULL NAME:
STREET ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBER:
SEX:
AGE:
CURRENT JOB:
Thanks in this regards, Felicia Mark
Felicia Mark
(Hiring Manager)
This is a new one on me, I have to admit. Usually, I get the emails about helping some poor dying or dead person who left millions behind.
Nov 5, 2007 | 70 Days of Sweat, General, Goals, Life |
How does Monday creep up on me every week? I don't know about you, but the older I get, the faster the weeks go by. In August, I was looking at Caribbean cruises to book. Now, it's less than two months before I get on the ship. Where does the time go?
It also means that, once again, I'm facing the end of a year in which I haven't necessarily accomplished the things I wanted to accomplish.
Every January, I feel like a new woman. I have goals and plans and by golly I'm going to do everything I can to reach my goals. I guess I can't complain about this past year too much since it entailed a complete change in my life — a transition from military life to civilian life, a new home in a new state, a new RWA chapter, new friends, etc. I really LIKE where I am in my life. And I have been working on my goals, so I can't complain too much.
But the new year is approaching, and that means new plans. It also means a reevaluation of old plans. I have to decide what's working, what's not, and what more I can do to get where I want to go. It's only November, and I'm thinking about it, probably because I have a busy two months ahead of me. Company for Thanksgiving, company after Thanksgiving (hubby just informed me of this one over the weekend), parties, events, a cruise over Christmas, and who knows what else will pop up between now and January.
It's never too early to consider goals and plans, IMO. One of my goals is to write the first draft of a new book during the 70 Days of Sweat. How am I doing with that? Since finishing my other WIP on Wednesday, I've written only about 300 words. Been a busy few days. Guess I better get cracking if I'm going to reach my goal.
Are you on track for your goals this year? Need to reevaluate? Thinking about next year already?
Oct 10, 2007 | General, Life, Photos, Writing |
Hey, y'all, since I'm still recovering from the events of the weekend (and believe me, it took ALL weekend to prepare for and go to Talladega), preparing my entry for the GH, and trying to rebuild the iPod list I accidentally deleted last week, I'm introducing my very first guest blogger. My husband is only too happy to tell you about the Talladega experience. So please welcome Mike, the man who indulges my writing habit, keeps me in groceries, and says nice things about me. 🙂
We went to Talladega for the big NASCAR race and these are my thoughts on it. First, it was a very long and hot day. We got up at 0500 and did not get to bed until around midnight.
Shortly after arriving in Talladega , we setup for a “tail-gate party” with tables, chairs, and food. It was around 0900 when we started partying. The race did not start until 1:00 p.m., so we did a lot of people-watching, eating, and drinking. I can't get over just how many people and campers there were. The best way I can describe it was “immense.” There were cars and campers for literally miles around. It was like a carnival atmosphere. There were concessions all over the place selling food, t-shirts, and whatever else you can possibly imagine.
Around noon, we all hiked up to the race stands and found our places. It was around 90 degrees outside and getting hotter by the minute. I was starting to rethink this whole watching the race thing because of the heat. Every once in awhile a cloud would block the sun for 10 to 15 minutes and grace us with a much needed break. The hour prior to the start of the race went by fairly slowly, but our patience was soon rewarded.
At 1:00 p.m. the race started and I couldn't believe just how much noise the cars make. I won't try to describe the race, but rather my impressions of being at a race. I've seen NASCAR on TV and never thought it was all that thrilling. Well, being at a race in person is very thrilling! The sound of the engines combined with the speed they travel (around 200 mph) is incredible to watch. There is an ever present smell of fuel and rubber from the tires. (Lynn here: oh heck yes, the smell of burning rubber and the feel of grit on your skin. Just what I needed on a Sunday…) In addition to the smells, the feel of the ground shaking as the cars whip past is amazing. After the cars pass there's a sudden rush of wind with all the smells intensified which shortly fades into the background. The race went on for about 3-hours and wasn't boring, which was a complete surprise to me. Jeff Gordon won on the final lap and that was the end.
Here's Jeff driving back to the pits after his win:
If the traffic was bad getting to Talladega , it was ten times worse leaving. Many of the campers that spent the weekend there had packed up and joined the exodus. Since we knew traffic was going to be bumper-to-bumper, we decided to tail-gate again to cool off and eat some food. After a two-hour break, we decided to head home. The traffic was still bumper-to-bumper, but it was starting to move. We didn't get home until 11:00 p.m. After unpacking and showering, it was midnight.
Lessons learned: Spend the weekend down there so we don’t worry about the traffic. It would probably be best to have an RV instead of a tent since a drunk can't trip and knock over your RV. Make sure you have the day off after the event! You have to RECUPERATE. (Lynn: When you add in the migraine I got from the heat and lack of sleep, it took me three days to recover…) Oh yeah, traffic should not be a big problem t
he day after either. Take more pictures. I shot around 80 pictures, but I don't believe I captured nearly enough. I may need to get a digital SLR because taking pictures with a typical digital camera is challenging during the race. (Lynn: Ohhhhh, trying to sneak that one in on me huh? The man is a gadget junkie! It's a ploy, darn his hide.) Tracking the cars becomes an art of anticipating where they'll be when you press the shutter. I had a few empty shots (at least I'm not wasting film). Take a video camera for general purposes. I can't describe the enormous size of this event and I believe a video camera would have helped by recording our drive in and out. Go with a “Hot Babe” like I did. (Lynn: Notice the flattery. This is to smooth the way for the camera! I've got your number, cup cake!)
Well, that's the Talladega experience in a nutshell. Am I sorry I went? No way! It was pretty cool, and I learned that the car chase scene I wrote into my WIP needs the smell of burning rubber and the grit that gets thrown from the tires. I wouldn't have known just how bad it smells if I hadn't gone to Talladega. A car burning rubber on your street is different from that sustained smell of melting rubber that a racecar exudes. And since my car chase involves a high-powered sportscar, I can just imagine what that would smell like. Did I mention the smoke? These are things I'd forgotten to include, but you can bet they'll find their way in now. So, going to Talladega was a learning experience for my writing. And isn't that what all our experience does anyway? Gives us fodder for our imaginations.
Oct 4, 2007 | General, Life, Photos |
A few months ago, perhaps in the throes of distraction related to the WIP or fresh from the happiness of a shoe shopping extravaganza, I uttered these famous words: “Sure, I'd go to Talladega to see a race.”
Oh be careful what you utter! This Sunday, I am going to Talladega for a Nascar event. I know nothing about Nascar. Ricky Bobby is my favorite driver, if that tells you anything.
Truly, the full import of what I have done is beginning to sink in. They drive around and around. For hours. It's loud (someone told me to bring ear plugs for pete's sake!). It's crowded (the gates open at 5-freaking-AM people! On a Sunday!).
We live a good 150 miles from Talladega, so I can't imagine what unseemly hour we shall have to rise for this occasion. (Can I confess that before I moved to Alabama, I thought Talladega was in Florida? It sounds like Florida, and since they have Daytona, I was certain Talladega must be there too.)
Getting up early and driving so far won't be fun, but maybe the day will be more fun than I'm currently anticipating. We are going with two other couples, people we like, and people who, apparently, already know things like who drives what car and what a points leader is and all that stuff.
Since I'm also the person who said, “Sure, I'll go to the Pro Bowl,” and who had a good time there (it was the tailgating more than the game) and who said, “Sure, I'll run an 8K race with you,” and who survived it with only two dead toenails (always get running shoes in the proper size), I suppose I should look forward to this whole Nascar thing. There will be tailgating, and that's always fun. There will be beer. And I — the person who brought a newspaper, a notebook and pen, and 2 books to the Pro Bowl just in case of boredom, and who never did a thing with any of them — will be taking an iPod, a couple of books, and maybe some paper and pens. Just in case.
So how's your spirit of adventure? If you don't know a blasted thing about Nascar (like me), would you go to a race with friends? Has your adventuresome spirit ever gotten you in trouble or committed you to something that you then asked yourself why did I agree to this?
Man, I hope I get to see Ricky Bobby……
