Lost Travels

I travel usually about once a week on business I rarely need to check a bag but on occasion I do, and it never seems to be easy… long lines that seem to take forever and god forbid if you have more than one bag because it is time to pull out the wallet. My base airport is PHL, (I know I am glutting for punishment) however I seemed to have stumbled upon a solution to checking a bag. Since PHL is a US Air hub, I took advantage of getting their credit card which I found to have some excellent perks, some that can even be stretched! With the US Airway’s MasterCard, they allow you to check in at the First Class counters/kiosk even if you have a coach ticket and also get priority Zone 2 boarding. The great thing that I found with checking in a First Class is they never charge you for bags and I have brought Ski’s, etc – checked 6 bags with my family and they were all marked as priority and we were about as far back in coach as you can get. I usually print my boarding passes at home; they ask to see my ID and them I’m on my way. As you know,checked bag fees can be steep, especially for coach passengers… this seems to be a good solution, I have done it at least a half dozen times including this morning on my way to PHX. Give it a try! It works.

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, Canada with a population of over 1 million  people.  Calgary is situated ideally on the banks of the Bow River and is fifty miles from the Canadian Rockies. Calgary is known for having many  fantastic winter sports activities, rodeos and has a lively art scene with many festivals.  Economic activity in Calgary is mostly centered on the petroleum industry, agriculture, and tourism. In 1988, Calgary became the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games.

Employment opportunities are abundant and the demand for Calgary apartments for rent is increasing. Given living choices are dynamic, be sure to research your options and consider the neighborhood, schools and culture to gain the most benefit out of your living experience.

If you seek a multicultural experience, look no further. Forest Lawn is among the most diverse areas in the city and is home to many ethnic restaurants and stores. If the arts are of interest to you, look no further. Calgary is the site of the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium performing arts, culture and community facility. The Auditorium has been host to hundreds of Broadway musical, theatrical, stage and local productions and operates 365 days a year. The city is also home to a number of theatre companies. The Calgary International Film Festival is also held in the city annually, for ten days in late September and early October as well as the International Festival of Animated Objects, held annually in mid-March. Further, there are a number of art galleries in the downtown. Calgary is also home to the Alberta College of Art and Design.

Calgary hosts a number of annual cultural and ethnic festivals and events. Calgary’s best-known event is the Calgary Stampede, which has occurred each July since 1912. It is one of the largest festivals in Canada. Additionally, several museums are located in the city, covering a variety of interests.

My kids are terrible. I have no idea why they are so rebellious. I read all the books on good parenting and I tried to follow them to the letter. I thought I was doing a great job, until I got a call from SECURITYCHOICE in the middle of the night. My husband and I were on a couple’s vacation. We had needed some time alone for quite some time. We had arranged for the kids to stay with friends and family. Apparently, my oldest decided to break into the house with his girlfriend. He had forgotten the alarm code and set it off. When I got the call, I was livid with him. First off, I was upset that my relaxing weekendwas now ruined. Second, I was disappointed in my child for displaying such irresponsible behavior. I had taught him better than this. I had taught him what was wrong and what was right. In my heart, I know he knew what he was doing was wrong and peer pressure got the best of him. However, it is still difficult to accept his actions.

I remember the pre-children days of camping in isolated places of nature with expert hiking, wistful nights of romance under the stars and the moon.  HOWEVER, once our beautiful daughter arrived everything changed.  She loves to cuddle and take a hike, but that does not full an entire day for a child!  We just finished a funfilled weekend at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground.  In our travels, I have seen these campgrounds and thought “how juvenile”, BUT  now that we have a 7 year old this campground is just the peace of mind required. We arrived for trick or treat in mid-afternoon.  So many spooky decorations and a campground full of interesting and friendly campers.  The kids had so much fun.  After a campfire dinner, we attended the Yogi Bear’s majical pumpkin patch wagon ride and jumped on the Jumping Pillow!  I cannot wait until next spring to visit again.  Among the amenities, there is  a pool and snackbar, water park, fishing pond, horseshoe pits, indoor theater, basketball courts, mini golf, paintball, arcade, very clean restrooms and showers and a campstore.  What more could you ask for?  Wi-Fi for those of us whom need to check in with work while on vacation.  Trust me!  If my daughter is happy, my husband and I are happy!  Go Family Go Camping!!!!!   visit www.jellystonemillrun.com

o Traveling abroad from the US for both business and pleasure, my travels have taken me to many opulent and luxurious places.  Notably, one of my favorite places is Paris, France.  While visiting the Palace of Versailles, the Louver (English version), Louvre (British version), L’ouvert (French), the Eiffel Tower, the Panthéon, what I found fascinating is the interesting use of tapestries, paintings, gold-leaf, and rugs.  Most of the buildings extensively hang these adornments on their walls, not just place on the floors.  It’s typical to find very large rugs and tapestries hanging on a huge bar.  Some of the rugs measure 20-30 feet across and 30-40 feet in length.

o Back on our US shores, we also have use of wall décor, but more to the use of paintings and occasional tapestry hangings.  Many buildings, such as museums and hotels, have intricate designs in their buildings. A very special place I came across was the Ahwahnee lodge in Yosemite National Park in California.  This hotel has many beautiful antique oriental and American Indian rugs and evokes a comforting feel in the natural setting of a historic park.

o Wear and tear is especially damaging to rugs.  Keeping them clean is of utmost importance.  A process for cleaning these rugs has been developed.  Some excellent advise on keeping these rugs as well as your own oriental and home rugs clean and in top shape is available from the SteamTeam of Austin, Texas.   Most importantly, it is essential to remove the dirt, soil and dust that can settle in and start to cut the fibers of your rug.  The SteamTeam is a water damage repair company in Austin, Texas, uses state-of-the-art repair methods for deep cleaning of rugs. Using their services can greatly enhance your valuable and beautiful rug and make it last for a lifetime – just like those that hang in fine museums and famous historical sites.

Wow – Breath-taking scenery, picturesque beaches, warm breezes and unparalleled service in this tropical paradise tell it all. The images at Namale Fiji are eye opening. Typically, the weather is a perfect 70 degrees year-round which translates into the perfect place for your honeymoon escape. Tranquility, relaxation, sun-filled days, waterfalls, scuba diving, snorkeling and sport fishing are just a few of the amenities that await your arrival. And those magical huts for lounging about.  What a great place for a honeymoon or anniversary.  If you appreciate chilled champagne and fresh local fruits waiting for you in your suite upon your arrival, this is the destination for you. Check out Namale Fiji and you will be pleasantly surprised. 

Namale Fiji Vacations

The honeymoon packages at Namale Fiji are a everything a couple could wish for and more. Exceptional events and luxuries are abundant. At this resort, everything from a romantic villa to five course dinners are included in the  packages.

Interested in spa-activities? They have that.  A couples massage or body treatment will take the stress away. Interested in swimming with Dolphins? Yes, they have that too.  And the views are nothing like you can imagine.  Come to one of the most romantic getaways for a honeymoon at Namale Fiji.com.

The big book stores are disappearing.  Borders filed for bankruptcy and is closing its doors.  Barnes and Noble still exist but for how long.  Remember the old days when we had small book-stores?  You would go into one of these small libraries or so they seemed, full of books from corner to corner, from floor to ceiling and rack after rack of books.  Really that is all they had in these book-stores.  They might even have a place to sit and read for a bit, a small table tucked into a corner here and there, the light emanating from florescent fixtures overtop.  The smell of old books, and a faint sound of an old cash register making a sale.  Those were the days!  Those days seem to have now all almost vanished. 

What a lonely planet we live on.  The world seems very large, but many of our old past-times are vanishing.  How about the drive-in theater?  Where did that go?  How about a telephone booth?  They are hard to find now. 

With all of our technology, it’s nice to know that books have not yet vanished, albeit the method for their delivery (the corner bookstore) may have.  Books are still available, and can be found through vast databases on various online websites such as the Canadian Post.  On their site, there are not only books, but a way to comparison shop from your own home.  We really don’t have control over time, but we are able to keep a piece of it tucked away in our memories and hearts.  Finding a reliable book source brings comfort even if it is online.

Credit card fraud has become easier and easier with the introduction of the RFID chip into credit cards known as Pay Pass. About 100 million credit cards now have this contact-less technology embedded into them. For a minimal cost a criminal can buy a scanner (available from many online portals) and as long as he/she can get close enough to your card it’s easy to employ electronic pick pocketing and scan your credit card numbers and other personal information without coming into direct contact with your card.

Protect Yourself.

Prevent electronic pick pocketing, identity theft and payment fraud by blocking the personal information being sent by radio waves from your credit cards, passports, and other ID cards. Protect yourself and your money with a wallet that specifically inhibits those radio frequencies from escaping.  RFID wallet protection is available from many retailers with designs for both men and women.

What a great experience that our family will never forget!  With only a select amount of people allowed into Discovery Cove, it was one of the few Orlando area attractions that were not too crowded. We were able to spend almost 45 minutes in the water with a trainer and two Dolphins. One of the highlights that our daughter still talks about is being pulled from deep water to near shore by one of the larger males which weighed in around 300 lbs.  There is a lazy river which flows through a bird sanctuary that was also impressive. The entry fee was reasonable which included the entire day at the Cove and unlimited admission to Sea World and Busch Gardens over a 7 day period. http://www.discoverycove.com/ Reserve early as the dolphin experience typically sells out.

Probably my favorite part of being a teacher are the summers. I’m not like a lot of teachers where I take the two months to travel, but I do like to get out and do something. I often spend my time off working with disabled children and last year I volunteered at Vacation Bible School at the church – it just makes me feel like a good person. When I’ve got time on my hands, l like to do something that helps my community!

Ever since Cindy down the street had a break in I’ve been a bit worried about being away from home all day, especially in the summer when it’s easier for people to endure the elements. I researched some plans at http://www.securitychoice.com/adt-home-security/Arkansas/G/Gould/and found one I think will work for us and once I get it installed I’ll feel much better about being away for ten hours at a time. Next year I’m applying for an administration position and if I get it, no more summers for me!

That means I better make this one the best.