Is this your ideal vacation?
We are having some crazy weather so naturally everyone starts thinking about summer and vacation time. When everyone talks about going on their ideal vacation the first thing everyone thinks of is the beach. However, my ideal vacation is not the beach. In fact my ideal vacation is rarely anyplace near an ocean. I’m not saying I hate the beach. On the contrary, I think the sounds of crashing waves and a warm breeze on my face at night is incomparable. As long as the temperature isn’t much higher than 75 degrees, I’ll read a book outside in that nice breeze … in the shade.
I don’t tan, I burn. In fact I burn quite easily, so spending a lot of time out in the sun isn’t ideal without lathering up on sunblock as if I were an infant. So shade is my friend. Therefore going into the water isn’t a common occurrence. Actually going into the water is pretty much out of the question. I don’t know what lurks on the ground, beneath the water. Who knows what creature or flotsam I might step on! Then when you leave the water, and step in dry sand with wet feet!
Then There Is All That Sand!
Anakin and I are on the same page
If I have to pick my least favorite thing about the beach, it would be the sand. All that Sand! Sand! Sand! Sand! (I’m channeling Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch there). Sand on your feet! Sand on your legs! Sand on your clothes! Sand on your hands!!! It gets everywhere; and just when you think you washed it all off, you find more! It follows you home!
You can’t wear sneakers because sand gets all over them; and no matter how long you bang them against the wall, you never seem to get all of the sand off. You can’t wear sandals/flip-flops because then sand gets inside them and your feet constantly feel dirty. If I wear sandals on the beach the first thing I want to do when I leave is shower; and throw my shoes in the washing machine.
So What Is My Ideal Vacation?
While I do love the serenity of relaxing near the beach, there are other places that can provide the same luxury without the presence of gritty silica. I’ve spent time in the mountains, hiking or horse back riding, and I also found the same tranquility as the beach. However I don’t think even the mountains is my ideal vacation. Yes I do enjoy the quiet to do some reading but I really enjoy culture and history. Traveling abroad is probably my ideal vacation, albeit expensive. Spending time in Paris or London provides both culture and history. In fact I would enjoy visiting any place in the EU.
When the wallet can’t handle international travel, there are plenty of places, domestically, that can provide cultural and historical value. The Smithsonian comes to mind immediately. Just spending some time in a city that isn’t close to home. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC etc. I could easily spend a weekend in Chicago; especially during baseball and/or football season. So if there are historical landmarks and locations, museums of art and/or technology, and an immersive culture, that sounds like a great vacation.
What about you? Beach? Or something with a little less mess?
/cheers
I could accomplish so much more if I only had minions!
The recent pace at which I have been publishing new blog posts is appallingly slower. Ideas and “other cortical experiences” are evading my consciousness. I am stuck with the proverbial writer’s block! I will admit that certain events, IRL, have been taking more of my attention. When you are trying to sustain a family, those events take immediate priority. I will not talk about politics so anything that is considered a “political hot topic” or “current event” will never be a subject I will write about. My views do not necessarily align with others. I prefer my readers find this site a sanctuary from political pontificating and mudslinging.
I have taken a break from Facebook. If you notice posts from me they auto-post as part of WordPress plug-ins which automatically sends a tweet for new blog posts. Anytime I submit a tweet to Twitter, it auto-posts to Facebook. While I will also avoid my Twitter feed, I can post to Twitter without actually having to see the latest nonsense. I have also disabled all notifications. Facebook is a harbor of hatred and I just can’t take any more of it right now. Warning: the following might be wrought with disdain and unpleasant suggestions (i.e. nothing will be politically correct).
Activism requires more than sharing memes. I assure you no member of Congress, no judge, no presidential aid is going to change their mind because of a Facebook post! Don’t even get me started on those dumbass Facebook profile filters! All you will accomplish by sharing hateful remarks is alienating your friends and family. There are relationships that are being destroyed because people are not afraid to type what they are too afraid to say to someone’s face. Words are permanent whether spoken or written. While you might be able to repair what you say, the Internet never forgets what you wrote. Once its out on the Internet, you can no longer control its existence.
Many of us are still lamenting the loss of our beloved princess. I know all of her co-workers are still beside themselves with grief. We all wish everyday since the Tuesday after Christmas, was a bad dream that we all will wake up from. Sadly that will not happen. We must endure and ensure every future generation knows the brilliance and beauty of 
I never make New Years Resolutions, I believe 
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The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.