Airplane ESSENTIALS

Top 10 things NOT to forget when you board that plane!

10. Gum - makes ear popping a little less painful

9. Vitamin C - Questionable germs in a sealed tin can. Better safe than sorry!

8. Water. I bring 2 empties through security and fill them before I board.

7. Snacks. $3.50 for a cookie? Puh-leez. I like nuts, dried cranberries, crackers, and chocolate.

6. Ear plugs and Eye mask. Crying babies? Roaring engines? Late readers? Bring it!

5. Travel pillow& blanket. It's mine, and it smells like Bounce. What does the free one smell like?

4. Hand lotion. Airplane soap makes my hands feel like sandpaper. Keep it soft, baby!

3. iPod Touch. Yeah, I bring it EVERYWHERE anyway. Will be testing SKYPE app for next trip.

2. Pen. You never need it until you DON'T have it!

1. PATIENCE. Nothing goes as smoothly as you'd like, esp. with all the cost cutting these days. Patience is your BEST FRIEND. Sit back and let the business men climb all over each other to get on and off the plane. Take a deep breath, and have another piece of chocolate!

Prost! Let the games begin!

I'm about to embark on my first trip to Germany. The occasion? My dear friend Dörte has invited me, and a bunch of other fun folk to celebrate her birthday in her hometown in Thielbeer. Although, that's reason enough to go, as luck would have it, her birthday just happens to coincide with the most famous (and longest running) wedding celebration on Earth: OKTOBERFEST!

Oh yeah...I'm so there.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some facts about this amazing event, just in case I'm in no condition to do so later! ;-)

In 1997, Oktoberfesters consumed more than 5 ½ million liters of beer, about 45,000 liters of wine, and almost 165,000 liters of nonalcoholic beer.

The local name for Oktoberfest, "Wies'n," is derived from Theresienwiese, the name of the field on which the festival is held.

The festival halls in Munich can seat 94,000 people.

The beers that the Munich breweries produce specially for Oktoberfest contain 4.5 percent alcohol.

Cincinnati, Ohio, which claims to hold the "largest authentic Oktoberfest" in the U.S., draws about 500,000 people to its celebration.

Thanks to http://www.everythingaboutgermany.com/Oktoberfest/OktoberfestHistory.htm for the info.

On the way to (and from) EarthFest 2010

Things I saw on this glorious day! Enjoy!

"Day"-Cation to Providence

I just flew in from Providence, and BOY are my arms tired! YUK YUK! Anywhoo, the weather was fantasmagorical. Enjoy the pics.

Weekend Road Trip #1 - Plymouth and Cape Cod Canal

Rockin' and a Rollin, Splishin' and a Splashin'!

This is the first of what I hope is a series of weekend road trips. Yeah, gas is pricey, again, but I can offset those carbons by riding my bike to work as often as possible!
Distance Cambridge to Plymouth 34 miles. A mini-road trip this time.

Plymouth Rock . Have you seen it? This is the place where the Pilgrims landed when they hopped off the Mayflower after that long cruise across the ocean blue (yeah, I know that was Columbus' line, but it's the SAME ocean! So pffffffft!!!). At most tourist sites, they take the "thing" they're famous for, and showcase it! But that is so not how they roll in New England!

Wanna see the Plymouth Rock??? Walk down to the small neo-classical stone temple down by the water and look...WAY DOWN! See that little rock down 10 feet down in the hole? HISTORY! :-D They did pull it out of the fire with the Mayflower II . Why, yes, it is a replica of the actual Mayflower. Y'all know that's cool; don't front!

Note: Take a moment to for the Native American perspective on the Pilgrim Landing at Plymouth.

Next stop, the Cape Cod Canal. Any old timer Cape Cod road tripper knows that you're NOT on the Cape until you cross the Sagamore Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal. It's the "Widest Sea Level Canal in the World"! Woo hoo. It is neat. You can sit on the banks and watch big barges and pleasure boats take the short cut across the cape, bypassing the dangerous shoals that kept the Pilgrims stuck in Massachusetts (they were trying for New York, true story!)

I think the thing that struck me the most was the realization that I would NEVER BE CAUGHT DEAD in either of these places after Memorial Day! There was just the right amount of folks milling about in Plymouth. No traffic jams, or long waits for the restaurants. Parking was abundant. In summer, it would be unbearable, and frankly, the sights (and sites) really aren't worth the traffic.

See pics from the road trip
Hmmm...where to go NEXT weekend?

Is it over? Is Winter finally over?

Is it finally over? Winter has lasted SOOOOOO LONG! Global Warming? Yeah, I believe. It's just taking it's dang time! (Sorry folks, who will end up under water!!!)

Travel plans are heating up. I'm in desperate need for a Va-Ca, but my only firm trip is Oktoberfest in Munich (oh the humanity). A dear friend has invited me to spend some times toolin' around Chicago, and my Austin peeps are beginning to forget how awesome I am (I'm coming!!!!)

Oh, let's not forget the Jersey Shore for the 4th. They still sell Aquanet, don't they??? So many ideas, so little time/money! But I'm going to make it happen. Don't you doubt that for a sec!!! ;-) Hopefully, you'll be up for a little tag-along? Holler at me, we'll make it happen!

Great Idea! Traveler's edition

I've heard of Footzyrolls before. The idea was to sell them in vending machines in NYC nightclubs, but when I saw them featured in a Facebook ad today, I though, those would be perfect for lady travelers, who want to feel comfortable eating in a nice restaurant after spending the day walking around a big city. I remember feeling awkard going into a nice restaurant in Paris after spending the day walking around town in my comfy walking shoes. Comfy, yes! Stlyish, HARDLY. It would have been cool to have these little roll up shoes in my bag. And they come in Sasquatch (they call it XL) for ladies with big feet, like me! YAY! I may need to get these. I'll let you know how they feel.

Where ya headin'?

I visited www.43things.com and saw that a lot of folks have resolved to do some traveling in 2010.

How about you? Where ya headin'? Anywhere fun? Somewhere new? Going back somewhere you love? Just visiting family? Let me know! I'd love to hear about it!

Did you get new luggage for Xmas? Yeah, me neither, but my birthay is at the end of March...hint...hint! :-D

Let it SNOW!!!

When it's cold out there...I imagine myself HERE!

3 Somewhat Random things I love about Troy, NY

In no particular order. Not even the things I love the MOST about Troy...
Mr. Snowman
Green Island Bridge
Concrete slabs that spell out Troy