Doom and Gloom

I know I shouldn't complain about the weather this winter, as so much of the country has had it worse, with subzero temps and mountains of snow. 

But I think I'm entitled to a little grunting after I packed up the Solara, closed and arranged for monitoring of two places back home, and paid for a six month Florida rental in a place that was supposed to be in the 60's for the winter months, and 70's for fall and spring! Since November, a few weeks total of nice weather aside, it has averaged 50's (some days never getting above high 30's!) and my overall impression has been of gray or cloudy skies and rain.  Today, for example, while Mobile, Alabama gets snow and sleet (!!!) it is not expected to get above 37F here. 

Ok.  That's all you have to hear.  And to prove that I am trying to remain optimistic, here is a shot of the sunrise from yesterday (a day with some sun early on, but a high of only 47F).  And yes, this is the sunrise, not the sunset! 

(Click to enlarge)

Why I Travel Solo

Posted on February 10, 2010 - by Guest

Why I Travel Solo

Welcome to guest blogger, Andy Hayes. Andy is a professional writer, published author, and probably not as introverted as he’d have you think. He’s the editor of Sharing Travel Experiences, an online magazine that shares rich and authentic travel stories, whether they’re solo travel or not. Click over and check it out – maybe you’ll find the inspiration you’ve been looking for.

Empty seats along the promenade at Birzebugga

There’s an awful lot of talk about whether one should travel alone or not. Sure – there are issues like safety, security, and your own physical health that influence a decision like that. But the bottom line is only one person can make that decision: YOU. I’m not going to tell you whether it’s right or wrong, and nor can the next person. What I can do is tell you a bit about why I mostly travel solo. I hope it leads you to some internal thought and possibly a better idea of what kind of travel is best for you.

Reflection. Maybe it is because I’m a writer or perhaps I’m a bit of an introvert. (Those of you that know me, stop rolling your eyes!) No, really, when I travel I like to soak up the experience. Notice the details. Feel something – the sounds, the taste, the smell. As a solo traveler, you can give your undivided attention to the experience. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy myself or the destination with another person – just to say that when I’m alone, it maximizes the potential for personal reflection.

Flexibility. I am location independent so my businesses come with me while I travel – that’s what enables me to travel a lot. So I need to be a tad flexible; if a client is having a major issue, I like to be able to take a timeout and solve it so I can move on without having that on the back of my mind. Plus if say it is rainy, I can choose to spend the day holed up in a café instead of out in the thick of it, without having to negotiate it with someone else.

Going All the Way. Sometimes I like to do stuff a little towards the edge of the box. And I find it hard to find a travel companion who’s in for the ride. (Ok, there are one or two I know – hi if that’s you!) For example, when I was in Fox Village in rural New Zealand there was a problem with my luggage. It’s a very long story but the thing was I didn’t have any proper shoes, just sandals. But I had planned on seeing sunrise on mirror lake the next day. It was going to be the only sunny morning so I had to go. Alarm clock at 4:30AM, 3 miles on a bicycle [no lights], and then a trek through the woods using my mobile phone as a guide [yeah, I know – no luggage]. Oh, and did I mention it was absolutely freezing and I had on sandals? And the mosquitoes? Anyway – that sunrise was priceless. Truly priceless.

Uncomfortableness. Ok, so I know that isn’t really a word, but it’s about being uncomfortable, so let’s get started, shall we? I’m a worrier by nature, and add introvert on top of that and I’d probably be happy in the corner of a coffee shop with dim lighting or maybe a padded cell would be better. But solo travel forces me to do all the uncomfortable stuff, because there isn’t anybody else to do it. Eating dinner alone, navigating complicated train stations, forcing conversation in foreign tongues – that stuff is hard even when you’ve got a teamwork thing going on. But solo? Yeah, it’s mildly terrifying. But it builds confidence, builds character, and makes you a better person. So lean into the uncomfortableness and roll with it.

Reprinted from http://www.solotravelerblog.com/



(I couldn't agree more with Andy.  As to reflection, I discovered the joys of aloneness in my 30's on a motor coach trip across Europe.  Opting for cafe-sitting and soaking up the "flavor" of Paris and the Parisiennes instead of doing a side trip with the group, the benefits of quiet introspection became quite clear to me.  I enjoy my time with others just as much;  I just need a balance of the two.  Once I spent 11 days alone in London and was never lonely.  Now I don't hesitate to go almost anywhere alone.  It is nice to have complete flexibility, and I sure have "leaned into uncomfortableness and rolled with it." 

As to the "going all the way" (crazy, daring) aspect, I once (foolishly, I see now, and would never repeat something so risky) accepted a car ride in Paris to Galeries Layfayette from what turned out to be a Morrocan or Algerian man who asked me during the ride, "Êtes-vous marié? Veux-tu m'épouser?"  (Are you married?  Would you marry me?)  Yikes!  Talk about wanting to get to America!  This guy wasted no time.  Amazing how your French returns when in a situation where you really need it!  I feigned fright, saying "J'ai peur. Je veux sortir." (I'm afraid!  I want to get out!")  Luckily, we were in a very busy business district mid-morning.  His eyes opened wide when he said, in French, "Of me?!  Okay, I'm stopping."  Guess he thought I'd call the "gendarmerie!"  Oh, some of the dumb things we do when young.)

Update June 13, 2010:  This now seems more than a harmless incident to me.  Please go read June 13th's post, Caught in a Con Game.

Still in Atlanta....

helping out with/enjoying/being exhausted by the grandchildren.  Thank God for McDonald's playland on rainy days.

And although I don't have any Madison and Cayden photos today, I can show you the lovely view out my guest room window, even on a gray day.

Grandkids

Have been in Atlanta a week.  The goal was to post every night about what we are doing, but the reality is that it gets so busy and hectic, I rarely remember my photo ops.  Trying to get over this virus doesn't afford me any extra energy, either.  (Just hope the kids don't get it....)

I did take a few shots out at dinner tonight, so these will have to do for now.

The "rightie" of the family

The "leftie" (like her dad)

Atlanta-Bound

I'm in Atlanta with my son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and grandson for a few days.  The weather is lousy (rain, rain, cold, rain) but the company couldn't be better. 

Yesterday Madison had her first ballet/tap dance class, which will go down in my book of favorite grandchildren memories forever.  At first, head tilted down, she cautiously evaluated the three other little ballerinas and teacher sway and twirl with long, purple scarves held aloft.  Eventually, she inched her way over to the teacher, gave her a big hug, and lay her head against the teacher's waist.  Her teacher returned the love, glancing up to the little window through which I peeked to wink and smile.  The ice was broken.

After that, Madison happily joined in the dancing.  They spun and leapt in their pink ballet slippers, then traded them in for shiny black patent tap, clicking practice steps from one side of the floor to the other.

It took me back, way back, to 1957 when I, too, was a little ballerina/tap dancer, performing in my first dance recital to "Hey, Jealous Lover" and "Green Door." 

Although she hasn't another class till next week when I'll be back in Florida, Kate will snap a shot of her then and I'll post it.

Meanwhile, here's a picture I took yesterday of her (4 1/2).

The Bad Ass

Love this little coffee shop on old #98 along the beach.

Although I have to admit I like the name and free WiFi better than the coffee.

(Click to enlarge)

If you don't want to sit at the cafe and sip your morning java, you can board the van and imbibe as it traverses the beach!

Ha ha....not really.  I just made that up.  I like that idea, though!

What a Dope

The creator of this "game" should have his head examined, IMHO.  What do you think?


Web Game Creator: Buying Condoms, Adopting Orphans is 'Stylish' Fun
by Amy Hatch  Jan 27th 2010 3:45PM

The controversial new My Minx Web craze has outraged parents' groups.

Credit: Tim Stewart News / Rex USA

An online game designed to let young girls create a character based on breast size, adopt third-world orphans a la Angelina Jolie and take "anti-baby pills" has parents up in arms.  The "My Minx" Web game encourages young girls to buy condoms and engage in all kinds of scandalous virtual antics, London's Daily Mail reports. They also can visit an "adoption agency" -- where orphans are named after the adopted children of celeb parents such as Jolie -- to choose a child as an accessory to make their avatar more fashionable.  The paper goes on to report that 4-year-old Zahara is said to be Ethiopian and a fan of eating guinea pigs, while Maddox enjoys cockroaches. Actor Ewan McGregor's adopted Mongolian daughter, Jamiyah, doesn't escape unscathed, either. She, apparently, prefers a diet of rats.

Chris Evans is the founder of Blighty Arts, the UK-based company that created "My Minx." He tells ParentDish that the game is intended for users ages 11 and up. He says the kerfuffle over the Web site is the work of "rogue journalists" who don't have their facts straight.

"It is not aimed at children," Evans says. "This is for teens or early 20s. When you register, you can't register if you are under the age of 11, and even so, there is nothing on there that would offend any child who might play the game."

When we signed up for our personal "My Minx" character, we were able to select from a drop-down menu description that included "single," "unhinged" and "horney [sic.]." We were unable to shop for fashions in the game's "boutique" section, because the game requires users to pay for the privilege of dressing their characters. Boys can play, too -- a male avatar is available.

A page from My Minx. Credit: Tim Stewart News / Rex USA

Any kid with a PayPal account can buy "pounds," which can then be used for purchasing "anti-baby pills," condoms and lingerie. When pressed on these facts, Evans maintains that the average age of "My Minx" users is "19.1" according to Blighty Arts' database.

"This is a stylish game for stylish ladies," Evans says. "This is a fantasy world and there is no way that we are going to get customers that young. I can't see how an 11-year-old would have any interest in it."  He adds that the company has no intention of lowering the minimum age requirement and points out that the site is closely monitored. "I don't think there is anything on that site that [a child] would be damaged by," he says. "We have a strong team of moderators making sure that there is no bullying going on, and if anyone is causing trouble we ban them."  It is, he says, "a responsible site."

Blighty Arts has been criticized in the past for its "Miss Bimbo" game, which lets girls give their virtual characters breast augmentation and diet pills.

Parents' groups in the UK are outraged, according to the Mail. Andy Hibberd is the spokesman for parents' rights group Parentkind. He tells the paper that parents won't have "any idea" that their kids are playing the game and that they are too young to appreciate its irony.  "Having them getting virtual condoms or morning after pills will not make them any less promiscuous," he tells the Mail. "As regards child adoption, this game encourages them to think that they don't need to worry about morals or ethics."

According to the Web site, "My Minx" is a beta version of the game. What will the final version include? Evans refused to answer, calling the update's features a "secret."