Road Trip 2015 - Mall Of America

From Wisconsin we crossed over into Minnesota through the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Actually to Bloomington which is where the Minneapolis Airport is and the Mall Of America. Bob had chosen a Best Western Plus which was very nice and, like most of the hotels in the area, offered a free shuttle to the MOA.

We dropped our bags in our room and hustled out to the lobby to catch the 3:30 shuttle. It had to drive clear around and past the airport in order to get across the highway to the mall entrance where the shuttles dropped off passengers. (The ride back wasn't nearly as long.) We entered and took some escalators up to the main floor and were immediately awed at the size of the mall as we faced the center amusement area.

I started my Map My Walk app just out of curiosity to see how far we would walk to cover the whole mall. We started by walking all around the center which featured themed rides from Nickelodeon. It wasn't very busy but all the rides were manned and ready for riders. The roller coasters were amazing--to watch. We don't ride any more. The whole center of the mall opened up through four stories and maybe beyond and was a maze of tracks and zip lines and flying rides. There was also an Aquarium you could pay to see.

Once we had covered all there was to see there--including a huge American Doll store, we started our trek to walk the whole mall. The mall actually radiates out and around the center amusement area so it was very easy to get around without getting lost. We just followed around in a circle and each time we came to where we could see the American Girl store, we took another escalator up.

There were some very unusual stores and many of the familiar ones. We stopped in one that had the little robot from the new Star Wars movie and got a demonstration. On one time around, we spotted a Bubba Gump Restaurant and immediately decided that was where we would stop for dinner. By the time we made it around to the third floor where the restaurant was, I was tired, thirsty and really hungry. We were led to a table and once I sat down, I stopped my app. We had walked almost four miles in an hour and a half! And we still hadn't done the fourth floor which had a couple more restaurants but didn't go all the way around like the other three floors.

Shopping and exercise. All in one place.

Wordless Wednesday

Road Trip 2015 - Wisconsin Dells

It was exciting to cross over the state line into Wisconsin. Now we were really getting into uncharted territory for us. Unfortunately I was feeling a little motion sickness. Unusual for me. Perhaps I shouldn't have had the sweet blueberry muffin for breakfast. We stopped for coffee but I thought better of it and walked across the McD's parking lot to the gas station's convenient store and got a bottle of ginger ale. It did the trick and I began enjoying the ride a lot more.

I had asked the friends on the Barn Door blog where I post once a month what things we should see on our road trip west and one suggestion was Wisconsin Dells. We weren't sure what to expect so it was a real adventure to arrive in town and explore. Our first stop was the information center where a very friendly lady gave us some suggestions.

"Are you interested in our water parks?" she asked.

"Do we look like water park people?" I countered with a smile and a chuckle.

"Trust me," she said. "You can never be sure. That's why I ask."

She pointed out the area where all the water parks were just in case we changed our minds and then suggested we take a ride on one of the boat tours along the Dells. A dam separates the upper Dells from the lower along the Wisconsin River. A quarter mile river walk takes you along the edge but the best way, she said, to see the Dells was from a boat.

We thanked her and walked around the block to where the tickets were sold for the boat tour. The boats left on the half hour and the whole tour for one section of the Dells took two hours. It was tempting but by the time we waited for the boat to leave and then added the two hours, it would have gotten us to our next destination a little late. We opted to just do the River Walk which was very nice and gave us a feel for the natural beauty of the area.

The town area we walked through reminded us of Niagara Falls especially when we passed a RIpley's. Lots of souvenir shops, exhibits, salt taffy and fudge, and tons of other novelties that a summer fun destination might offer.

There really is a Wally World!

Back in the car, we took a direction that would take us past the water parks that our information lady had pointed out to us. She was right. They were amazing. Mile after mile had one water park after another and bigger and better along with several amusement rides as well. Anyone into water parks really needs to make this a destination.

Onward. Our next destination: Mall of America!

Road Trip 2015 - Westward Ho!

Our car packed, cups of coffee to go, we headed out and set the navigation system for Elgin, Illinois, our first stop on our trek west. Knowing it would be about a six hour drive, I had looked for a stopping point to have lunch and stretch our legs. I found the perfect place, Linton's Enchanted Gardens in Elkhart, Indiana.

Linton's is actually a huge nursery but they have creatively arranged their display of plants, trees and flowers around several miniature houses of all sorts. Actually the structures are not all that small but certainly not large enough to go inside except for the crazy house that is for kids with a slide they can play on and a swing.

This really would be an enchanted place for kids. Besides the playhouse, there is a petting zoo, a pond with a giant swan that is a paddle boat and a train that wasn't running that day but looks to follow the winding paths around the huge garden area. They can also buy a bag of "dirt" and pan for gems.

Inside is a large gift shop with lots of garden related products and a greenhouse area with plants and a macaw that won't let you pass without saying "Hello!". In the back corner of the store is the Garden Cafe that has a delicious assortment of sandwiches, soups, and sweets. A waterfall is right next to it giving you the feeling that you are outdoors. It's a very small area and filled up at lunch time while we were there. Some ladies (it seemed to be ladies lunch day) took their food out to the greenhouse area (I think they call it the conservatory) and ate on picnic benches there. The sandwiches we had were wonderful.

Back on the highway, we again turned west toward Chicago. I wondered if we would hit construction traffic. In all the years I traveled to a writer's conference in the Chicago area there was always construction. I wasn't disappointed. At least, I thought, it's not rush hour. We were passing through around 2:30. The closer we got, the grayer the skies became and the slower the traffic moved which I decided wasn't all that bad when the skies opened up and poured down upon us. At least we weren't going too fast. You couldn't see the city for the overcast skies and rain and the radio began talking about some areas being closed because of flooded ramps and streets. It's always a little nerve wracking to drive in bad weather in a place you are not familiar with.

Once we made it through the downtown area of Chicago, the sky began to clear and traffic moved a little better at times. Elgin is just outside the city near the airport. We were happy to see the Hampton Inn, our stopping point for the night. Bob found a spot to eat from Tripadvisor's list and we had a nice dinner topped off with Dunkin' Donuts coffee. We also topped off the gas tank so we'd be ready for the next day's journey.

So far, so good. We would now be heading into new territory for the two of us. We'd never been west of Chicago along this route.

Flashback Friday

[Looking back at a fun time from 2007.]

Okay, all you who have had farm experience can sit back and be prepared for a laugh now. While I grew up next to my grandfather's farm, the animals and fields were gone by the time I was old enough to appreciate them and learn from them. I've always wondered what it would be like to milk a cow.

Yesterday, our grandkids accompanied us to a large public farm in our area set up to let kids learn about farming. We adults learned a lot too. (Hubby is a city-boy). I didn't know there were so many different kinds of cows and that they each produce different kinds and quantities of milk.


Nancy was in line to be milked next and she was quite the lady walking up a couple of steps and into her milking station. We got a few quick tips on how to gently squeeze and pull and then lined up to milk the cow. I was the only grown-up but I pretended to be there for my grandkids. Our grandson started to back out at the last minute but he stayed for Grandma's sake and we each milked Nancy a little bit.

What an experience! Nancy was so kind to stand quietly and put up with our inexperienced hands. I didn't know until I saw the picture my husband took that I had my pinkie finger out. Hmmm. Maybe that's the formal way to do it.

The Luxury Hotel Without The High Price Of A Room

Confession time. Yes, we've done it. We've walked into the lobby of an expensive posh hotel and not stayed the night. Some of the truly lavish hotels have lobbies that are amazing and worth a look, even a sit-down in a lobby chair and a little people watching just for fun. Smarter Travel has an article about this very thing and I was amused to find several hotels on their list that I'm familiar with.

The first, I've written about before, The Hyatt Regency at the Arcade in Cleveland. We've been to the Arcade often on trips downtown just to walk in the historic building and enjoy the ambiance and a cup of coffee.

We've actually stayed at the second, the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. We were there years ago for a business convention or trade show. I remember being awed at the huge cavernous central lobby with elevators crawling up and down. The lighting and landscaping is fabulous. It was a real treat and thankfully a business deduction.

Another that I was a bit surprised to see was Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas. I don't think it compares with the elegance of some of the others but certainly is very interesting as are most of the hotels along the Strip. It is quite a tour to just go and walk through the lobbies of the hotels. They are each unique and did I mention they each have unique restaurants and shops?

Also on the list was one will will have to check out soon on our next road trip west, The Glacier Park Lodge. Who new a park lodge would rate as a lavish hotel lobby?

The next time you are in need of a little luxury but it's not in the budget, stop in and have a look see at some of the big hotel lobbies in the area and maybe splurge at one of their restaurants. After all, hopefully you've saved some money staying at the Holiday Inn.

Wordless Wednesday

Book Giveaway on Goodreads!

Click on the link below and enter your name to win a free copy. Already have a copy? Pass the word on to a friend!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Ruby, A Novel

by Karen Robbins

Giveaway ends September 28, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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Labor Day--What Is It?

Researching things for my blog and my books is always an adventure that leads me to new discoveries. I wanted to do a little post about what Labor Day actually is other than the signal for the end of summer. I had no idea it went back so far--all the way to the 1880s!

The first labor day celebration, according to the Department of Labor website, was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. In 1884 the first Monday in September was chosen as the official day to celebrate a workingman's holiday and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to adopt the day as well. It became a federal holiday in 1894.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday. There should be a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.

The spirit of the holiday is meant to honor the ingenuity and productiveness of the American worker. Unfortunately some of that has gotten lost. It's the end of summer, signals the beginning of the school year, and, oh yes, there still that question about the end to wearing the color white until spring.

Flashback Friday - 70 Years Ago

"It was a monumental year--the end of an era and the beginning of a new one," says my copy of The Encyclopedia of American Facts & Dates. The year of course was 1945. The war was ending in both Europe and the Pacific.

Going My Way won the Academy Award for outstanding motion picture and earned Bing Crosby the best actor award. Commercial television came a step closer to reality as the FCC allocated thirteen channels for the new medium.

Rationing for shoes, tires, meat and butter ended. Seventy-three more consumer items were authorized for manufacture as War Production Board bans were lifted.

The Miss America title was won by Bess Myerson from New York City.

In boxing, a newcomer named Rocky Graziano scored five knockouts at Madison Square Garden. Ohio State University did not play in the Rose Bowl. (Neither did Michigan). The 71st running of the Kentucky Derby was won by Hoop Jr. The Tigers defeated the Cubs in the World Series. The NFL Championship was won by the Cleveland Rams who defeated the Washington Redskins.

And Mrs. "Snip" Robbins gave birth to twin boys! It was a very good year!

The Windowless Plane?

There has been some talk that in the next ten years or so we will have planes without windows. The rationale is that the fuselage can be made lighter and therefore will consume less fuel and there can be larger seats in the plane. All of that by eliminating the little windows in a plane?

The article on the Huffinton Post website has a video that shows what the alternative view will be. The inside walls of the plane will become a screen upon which the outside world will be displayed. It will be done with cameras on the outside of the plane. The effect is kind of like the roller coasters at our Cedar Point. You will feel like the only solid thing is the seat you are sitting in.

I'm trying to imagine an eight hour flight to Europe with the sensation of floating in air. Just the thought makes me want to reach for the motion sickness meds. And what would the night sky be like? A little frightening perhaps if it's a moonless starless night? But what bothers me even more is that I've been on so many flights that have had problems with their entertainment systems. What would that plane look like if the walls aren't projecting a view?

There is also the mention that perhaps the savings in fuel would be passed on to the customer. Right. And then there's those larger seats. Uh-huh. Larger seats or more seats? I hate to be a skeptic but the airlines' track records are pretty clear and the finish line is always the profit.

Yes, I will admit to a bit of claustrophobia. Even if I'm not sitting in a window seat and even if the shades are all drawn, I still feel comforted by the knowledge that the window is there.

Hopefully there will be a choice of airplane to fly in because I, for one, will not be flying without windows. I don't do roller coasters either. I'm a leisure traveler not a thrill seeker.

Wordless Wednesday

Looking For Something To Do In Cleveland?

The first tour on my list is FREE! The tour is call Take A Hike and is sponsored by the Cleveland Gateway District. The tours are led by actors and actresses portraying important Clevelanders from the past. Each tour lasts about an hour and a half. Did I mention it was free? But donations are encouraged.

The different tours are:
Gateway District Tour every Wednesday at 6 PM meeting at the Arcade (401 Euclid Ave.)
Warehouse District Tour every Saturday at 10 AM merting at Constantino's Market (1278 W 9th St.)
Playhouse Square Tour every Tuesday at 6 PM meeting at the State Theater Lobby (1519 Euclid Ave)
Canal Basin Park Tour every Sunday at 10 AM meeting at Settler's Landing RTA Station (1025 W. Superior Ave.)
Civic Center Tour every Thursday at 6 PM meeting at the Old Stone Church (91 Public Square)

But you will have to hurry if you want to take a tour this year. They only go until September 16. After all we're talking Cleveland and it could snow in October. I'm guessing the guides have other places to be after the 16th--like school perhaps. Hopefully they will all be back next year.

But the mention of snow brings up the other place on my list and it is nearing the season although any time would be a great time for seeing the original Christmas Story House. The house has been restored to look like the actual set of the movie. There is also a museum and gift shop and yes, leg lamps for sale. As the brochure says, "Take home your own major award." But be careful. It's FRAGILEEEEE.

The Christmas House is located at 3159 W. 11th St. Check out their website for more information.

There you have it! Who said there's nothing to do around here?

A Counterfeit Museum?

Catching up on some of the newsletters I receive by email, I clicked on an article by the Independent Traveler.com that sounded interesting, 12 Great Museums You've Never Heard Of. I always like to see if I've been there, done that when I see these lists. I can safely say I'd never been to any of the twelve listed but as I was scrolling through, I came across one that caught my interest--Le Musée de la Contrefaçon or the Museum of Counterfeiting.


Now I was hooked. I had to find out more information than the little paragraph they gave so I went to the website which didn't offer a whole lot more. Basically they said it was a museum showcasing knock offs and counterfeits of art and fashion, etc.

Well, I thought, is it worth visiting? I went to my go-to site for recommendations, TripAdvisor. It was ranked 155 of 177 museums in Paris. At least it wasn't on the bottom but it was based on 25 reviews seven of which rated it poor or terrible and nine rated it good or excellent. The rest, nine, rated it average. One reviewer actually took the time to give a lot of information on the museum while rating it. My kind of reviewer. Here's what I found out:

The museum was actually inaugurated in 1951 by UNIFAB (a union of manufacturers) which was created in 1872 to protect commercial creations and intellectual property. It was done during the presidency of Gaston-Lois Vitton (yup, that one). The museum was originally just for the manufacturers but eventually opened to the public in 1972.

There are the usual things you would expect counterfeiters to try to copy from fashion designers especially but then according to the reviewer (MiaGlobetrotter who says she's from Paris) there are some surprising things like BIC pens. Apparently there are some self tests to see if you can tell the difference between original and fake and, in some cases, it is very difficult.

So will we put it on the list if we return to Paris? Hmmm.

Flashback Friday - Meet The Man

My boys (all grown now) have a knack for finding the most unusual places to eat. Here's a look back at one we went to in the Seattle area in 2008. I'm assuming it is still open. The most recent review I could find on it was from April of this year.

So where would you take your parents for lunch when they come to visit? How about an old automotive garage under a freeway?

When we recently visited our son and his family out in the Seattle area, he took us to the place where all the Microsoft geeks get together, Dixies Barbeque. It's actually a very popular tourist attraction and known for it's very, very. . .did I say VERY hot barbeque sauce.

When we pulled into the place, I figured he was just turning around because he'd missed the restaurant. But no, he parked the car and we all got out and ambled past the back porch--or maybe it was the front porch--that stretched across the facade of an old automotive garage. The porch had a couple of long tables covered in vinyl cloths with an eclectic collection of chairs including a rocker, some computer chairs, and various wooden kitchen chairs. Could this be where they put together the idea for VISTA?

We entered a tiny room brimming with smells of barbeque sauce. The limited menu included pulled pork, pulled pork over sausage, BBQ chicken, and side dishes of beans, beans and rice, and corn bread. You could purchase plain or sweetened tea or go to the vending machine near the exit door to buy your soda.

The lady I assumed was Dixie sat at the end of the serving counter pouring tea and taking money and all the while kibitzing with the customers. But the big question of the day was "Do you want to meet the man?" The man is how they refer to their hottest BBQ sauce. My acid indigestion was churning up just smelling it but my son said he couldn't go back to his office without "meeting the man."

Only a few drops on a small section of his sandwich was enough to redden his face, cause his neck to sweat, and send his father back in to get a second glass of tea hoping that would cure him. Once he could talk again, we sat back and enjoyed our sanwiches which, by the way, could have fed an army of computer techs, and wondered how in the world anyone would think to come here to eat. It just proves the power of word of mouth advertising and finding the right mouths to spread the word--that is if they can still talk after meeting the man.

My Top Ten Places For The City Lover

A large city is not the number one place on my favorites list of travel destinations but there are some cities that have been fun to explore because of their history or their beauty or their people or all three. Here is a list of the top ten favorite places I've visited.

Sydney, Australia. If you peruse my blog it won't take long to know that Australia is one of our favorite places to visit and if we must be in a big city, Sydney is a great place to be. It's a pretty city with it's harbor area being the jewel. Easy to get around and the iconic opera house and bridge are must sees. Lots of great restaurants with every kind of ethnic food imaginable and plenty of entertainment venues as well.

Paris, France. We've visited Paris several times and always find it the romantic city it is advertised to be. Lots of history, art, shopping, eating. Parks and places to stroll arm in arm. And it definitely lives up to its nickname, the city of lights.

London, England. London was the first place that we ever ventured to out of the country (Canada not included). It's where we got infected with the travel bug. We've been back several times and always find it a delight. Easy to navigate the "tube" and find yourself in a variety of neighborhoods from the formal areas surrounding the palace to the eclectic theater district around Piccadilly Circle and the exciting area across from the Parliament buildings and Big Ben. Fun, food and fabulous people watching.

Cape Town, South Africa. While we didn't get to explore a great deal of Capetown since we were on a cruise, we did get a good taste of it and it was enough to make us want to go back. It is set on the coast of South Africa with a spectacular backdrop of mountains, the most famous, the Tabletop Mountain that actually looks like it has a tablecloth covering it when the clouds sit on top of it and spill over.

New York, New York. Frank Sinatra sang of this city for good reason. It is quite a place. We've been there for the Macy Thanksgiving Parade and again for the tree lighting at Rockefeller Plaza and several times in between. It's fun to take in a Broadway show and stroll Times Square now that its been cleaned up. A tour of the harbor and a peek at the Statue of Liberty is a must and of course a trip to the 9/11 memorial. We need to go back and take in the museum that opened a little while ago. And don't forget to stop into a neighborhood deli and grab one of those great sandwiches!

Tokyo, Japan. We have been to Tokyo twice and now that our son and his family are living there we will return again. Tokyo is a little like London in that there are different areas to explore and each has something unique to offer. While I wouldn't want to eat anything but Japanese food there (there are so many varieties), there are lots of other ethnic restaurants available as well because it is such an international city. The history extends back so far that it boggles the mind but walking through the temples you get a sense of ancient tradition that has carried on through the years. Contrasted with the amazing technology of today that is exhibited as well, it is quite an interesting city to explore.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. While this is probably a one time visit for me, it is still a fascinating city to see. It sits in the middle of desert and on the shore of the Persian Gulf. The biggest, largest, widest, tallest everything seems to be there. A ski resort inside a mall, the world's largest piece of plexiglas that forms one side of a huge aquarium in another mall, and of course the world's tallest building,Burg Kalifa. I'm guessing that the tea we went to at the tallest hotel, Burg al Arab, was probably the most expensive as well.

Barcelona, Spain. Again a city with lots of history and one huge cathedral that has been years in the building and is not done yet. Bob always jokes that we're not going back until they finish the la Segrada Familia. The hop-on hop-off bus is a fun way to see the city but be sure to spend time walking the main street, Las Ramblas, and seeing the performers there and enjoying some tapas. Oh, and don't miss the churros with hot chocolate!

Venice, Italy. When we first arrived in Venice it was raining and it looked dirty and dull and I wondered why we were there. Then the sun came out and the buildings came alive. The architecture surrounding St. Mark's Square is amazing. History abounds and romance ignites with a gondola ride and or a stroll through the little piazzas that surround the main part of the city. Enjoy a cappuccino on the square but be sure to order enough that you don't get charged a cover fee if you are sitting in one of the little outdoor cafes that has musicians playing.


Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland? Yes. There will be lots of people discovering Cleveland as a destination in about 11 months as they descend on the area for the Republican National Convention. There is much to see if time allows. We have quite a history as well. Wonderful architectural examples of years past. A beautiful lake front by the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Museums. A fantastic ballpark. Aquarium. Lots of restaurants with many ethnic choices and new modern cuisine. And a premium theater district, Playhouse Square, that is the second largest complex in the country.

So that's it for now. While I favor little towns and open country, there are some amazing things the big cities have to offer so to be a well rounded traveler put a little of both into your itinerary.

Wordless Wednesday

My Top Ten Favorite Places for the Nature Lover

Everyone always asks what is my favorite place of all I've visited. That's an impossible question to answer. I like different places for different reasons. So with that in mind and while there are still lots of places left to visit in this world of all the places I've been these would be my favorites for the nature lover in  me.

New Zealand. Almost any place in New Zealand you go there are trails to explore and beautiful scenes to take in as well as lots of animals. One of the things I like best is that there are no snakes. So, as I walk the trails, I can hold my head up and not worry about anything slithering across the path. But for a great mix of things to explore, the Dunedin area is probably my favorite. Albatross, penguins, seals, and lots of sheep in the green fields that make NZ such a pastoral landscape.

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. For easy access to the reef, stay in Cairns or on one of the outer islands in the area. A day's trip on one of the tour boats will get you out on the reef and most have snorkel gear, offer introductory scuba diving, glass bottom boats and even a "submarine" with viewing windows that give you eyeball to eyeball encounters with the marine life.

Norway's Fjords. We have been to the fjords of Norway several times and are always amazed at the beauty and awesomeness of the landscape. Cruising is the only way we've seen them but I wonder what it would be like to do a land tour and see them that way? Hey, Hon! Add that to the bucket list!

The Grand Canyon. I struggle with choosing this over Bryce or Zion but if you only get to see one canyon this would be the one to do. It's easy for anyone to navigate the upper level trails and if you want a real challenge, you can go down and cross the canyon floor. Early in the morning on the trails before they get too crowded from tour buses, you can enjoy the clean air, beauty of the landscape, animals who haven't scattered to their hideaways yet, and collect breathtaking pictures of more colors of earth and rock than you ever imagined. And don't forget the star-filled night skies. Amazing.

Antarctica. We braved the Drake Passage and were rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica. Penguins, seals, and lots of icebergs as well as the whitest snow I have ever seen. It is beauty beyond words.

Galapagos Islands. You really have to love iguanas because you will see thousands of them here as well as seals (sometimes close up and personal), albatross, flamingos, turtles, tortoises, and all sorts of birds including the blue footed boobie.

Kruger National Park, South Africa. Our first safari will definitely not be our last. The country of South Africa is beautiful--landscape like nothing I've seen anywhere else. And getting close up to the big five out in the wild was, well, wild!

Australia's Outback. I've mentioned the marine life already but there's much more to see on land as well. We've taken a few tours into the outback and enjoyed seeing kangaroos in the wilds as well as koalas and even the kookaburra. There are snakes though so I don't do much hiking here. Yes, I have a thing about snakes.

Papua New Guinea. While I would not recommend travel there right now, it was the best place we have ever been diving. Wonderful green landscapes were viewed from the dive boat and we did venture in to see some hot springs on one trip but mostly we enjoyed the marine life, large and small, from the giant manta rays to the tiniest seahorse smaller than my little finger's fingernail.

My own backyard. Now obviously I don't do tours for people through my backyard but I want to point out to you that sometimes you really don't have to travel far to see the beauty of nature. While all of you may not have deer, coyotes (on occasion), gophers, chipmunks, even a red fox and quite a variety of birds, most of you do have at least a park or zoo nearby that offers an opportunity to walk or sit and enjoy some of the beautiful things God has created in nature.

Well, that's my top ten for now. I still have many miles to go. ..

Books For The Road - Ruby, A Novel

Like a historical romance with a little modern twist? You'll want to tuck Ruby into your suitcase or download to your device before your next trip or even if you're doing a staycation with reading time at home. The story line involves a girl growing up in the 30s and 40s in Cleveland and falling in love. But it's wartime and her love must sail away. Will he return?

The modern twist is that Ruby's daughter is discovering her mother's first love as her mother lays seriously ill in a senior center. What secrets will she find among her mother's things and will they help her to understand her mother better?

Food for thought as you read: Our circumstances don't define us but what we do with our circumstances does.

I hope you'll enjoy this read. It may be the only historical I ever write. I'm back to working on my more humorous side of writing. The second in the Annie Pickel series.

Oh, by the way, if you're a Goodreads member, check out the free giveaway that starts on August 28. And if you are in the Cleveland area, click on the Launch Party tab above and stop in and celebrate with us.

Flashback Friday - The International Beach Project

Looking back to a post from the summer of 2008 I realized that it is just as relevant today as it was when I first wrote it. Our children are our greatest hope for a better tomorrow.

Yesterday we visited a beach on a lake near where our grandchildren live in Washington. The weather was sunny but a little chill was in the air. It didn't stop several kids who were in bathing suits from wading waist deep into the cold water. I shivered to watch.

What was truly fascinating however was the international beach project that took shape in a matter of minutes. I say international because there were Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, and Indian children involved in the rather spontaneous construction of a river that began at the edge of the grass and ran through the sand about 50 feet to the lake. Several children started the dig and curiosity drew others. As the project escalated, some became dredgers, some supplied water (they owned buckets), and still others banked the sides to keep the water from flooding over.

One enterprising young lady formed a square with her fingers and proceded to interview the others on the project. Questions such as "What is the importance of this river?" were tossed at the workers who answered with surprisingly intelligent responses like, "It will help the lake."

One young boy must have been the ecologist of the group as he shooed the ducks away to keep the project from injuring them. The ducks obviously thought it was a feeding trough.

As the dozen or so children worked for a good hour on keeping the river running, I saw what gives us hope for our future--young people who can come together and work so well to "improve" the beach will certainly grow into adults with the same capabilities to improve our world. I pray no one spoils their enthusiasm.

Dream A Little Dream With Me

Our son, one of the charmers we raised, managed to get his family upgraded to a suite once on a cruise they took. It came with a butler and plenty of space for the four of them. The butler would bring food for the kids' early dinner and then our son and his wife would get to go to dinner on their own later after dropping the kids off at the supervised children's area. They were pampered and made to feel really special and I'm concerned that it spoiled them for any future cruises.

We've been upgraded to what are considered suites a few times but they were nothing like the premium suites available on a lot of ships. The premium suites come with the standard butler service but then you can expect all sorts of other amenities depending upon the cruise line and the ship.

Premium suites usually range in size from about 1,000 to 2,000 square feet compared to a standard cruise stateroom that averages 250 square feet. They often include a grand piano, a whirlpool tub often on the balcony as well as in the bathroom, a small refrigerator and microwave, a dining room table, premium linens,--the list goes on.

Often there are special perks that come with booking a premium suite as well. Sometimes there are designated areas on the ship for suite guests only and special restaurants as well.

On one back-to-back cruise we took, our room was sandwiched between two suites. They must have had a space that needed filling and our stateroom fit there. On one side of us was the top premium suite and when we were in port for the turn around day, our cabin stewardess said we could take a peak. The room wasn't made up yet but it was still amazing. Gold fixtures, a little kitchen and butler's pantry, and of course, the hot tub on the balcony.

Sure we could always book a premium suite for a cruise but that would be it--a cruise. I just couldn't justify giving up several cruises just to be able to enjoy the luxury. Still, maybe someday for a special occasion. Even a practical girl can dream.

Wordless Wednesday

Old Ship, New Ship, Small Ship, Big Ship

No, it's not a new Seuss book. I found an article that compared old ships to new ships and explored the differences you might encounter. It's an interesting article and found on Cruise Critic if you'd like to read the whole thing.

Basically, newer ships are bigger than older ships. I think part of that trend is because the ships are becoming the destination more than the ports of call. The large new ships are fun if you are not particularly interested in exploring some of the smaller ports where a large ship cannot go. We took a cruise on Oasis of the Seas not long after it came out and thoroughly enjoyed the week. I'm not sure we even explored all there was to offer on the ship and we plan to go again on the Oasis or one of the other mega ships.

There are also more balconies on the newer ships. We used to go for a less expensive inside room but once we stepped up to a window and then to a veranda, it was hard to go back. As the article points out however the verandas tend to be smaller than on the older ships.

Of course there's all the new stuff, electronics, entertainment specialties, even a bumper car ride on the Quantum of the Seas! Wave riders and zip lines make the slides at the pools look tame now.

Older ships are not just old buckets chugging across the waters. Cruise lines do upgrades and makeovers on their ships that help to keep the older ships looking newer and in good condition on a regular basis. The best time to sail on an older ship is soon after it's been reconditioned. New carpet, new beds, new TVs, etc. can be expected and hopefully all the charm of an older ship.

There are some things to watch out for  though when choosing one over the other. We made the mistake of sailing on one of the very first voyages of a new ship a several years ago and found that most of the new electronics that were supposed to be available for cruisers enrichment didn't have all the bugs worked out. We don't book now until the new ship has been sailing a few months. And then there was the old ship we sailed that was not in the greatest of shape since it hadn't been reconditioned in a while and we were still to inexperienced to have checked it out--something our travel agent should have done. And yet there was another ship that we recognized as coming from one cruise line that had gone out of business and sold it ships. It was old but had been refurbished so nicely it was a joy to spend a week cruising in it.

Small ship? Big ship? Old ship? New ship? You decide. Do the research. Get the feedback from Cruise Critic or other cruise forums. Decide if you are cruising to see the ports or enjoy the ship more. Your cruise will be more enjoyable if you know what you want and find the best fit for you.

Ah, so many ships. So little time.

Venezuela's Nightly Catatumbo Lightning Storms

Growing up and spending a lot of summers on South Bass Island in Lake Erie I saw my share of spectacular lightning storms. The water allowed for magnification of the lightning and the echo of the sounds of the thunder. Recently I found information on a spot in Venezuela where a spectacular lightning display takes place almost nightly.

The place is the Maracaibo Lake area where the Catatumbo River enters it. The combination of hot days, cool evening winds from the Andes and the moisture put into the air by the day's heat evaporating the water lends to a combination that is perfect for creating thunderstorms. They rage throughout the night and are said to happen around 260 days out of the year.

The storms are not unlike what occur in the midwestern states of the U.S. The fact that they occur with regularity is what makes them so unique. Unfortunately the area where they occur is near  the Colombian border and not a safe place to be due to the drug trafficking that takes place. Still one set of travelers took on the adventure and their trip is told at Slate .com . If you read their story, be sure to read this article from Storm Highway as well that dispels some of the myths that surround this phenomenon.

Flashback Friday - The Happy Parrot Fish

I've been at this blogging thing for a long time--since early 2005 when my son said it was something I needed to do if I was a writer. Where did he get so wise? Thought I would look back to some of my early postings. Here's one from August of 2006.

Diving in Cayman the other day, I couldn’t help but be amused once again by the colorful parrot fish of the Caribbean. They are brightly multicolored mostly on a turquoise blue background with a mouth that looks like a beak—thus the name parrot fish. They go along crunching on rocks and then excreting them. Know those sandy beaches you love? The parrot fish helps make them.


While this may seem like a mundane job, the parrot fish seems to be quite happy in his lot in life. With all that roughage, he’s probably not constipated which certainly helps his mood. When you see the parrot fish from the side, his eye looks bright and clear and his “beak” is shaped like a smile. Rather than swimming along, he seems to skip through the water making him appear carefree and happy-go-lucky. You can almost hear him singing, “Don’t worry. Be Happy.”

Ah, yes. The Caribbean. Even the fish are happy!

A Walk In The Park. . .er, Zoo.

Please don't groan. Yes, it's another zoo post. Bob and I like to walk and one of our favorite places is the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. We spent a morning last week walking around and since the weather was a little cooler, saw some new-to-us animal actions.

The wallabys were hopping around. The bears were all out and moving around. One grizzly went over to the other and batted at him until he woke up.

The new giraffe encounter was interesting and crowded. There were lots of people in line wanting to feed them. You don't have to feed them to get out on the observation platform but you do stand in line so that the platform is not overcrowded. The giraffes get right up to the railing. Only one seemed hungry enough but he was certainly getting his fill of lettuce leaves.

Cool weather also gets the wolves up and moving. One was circling the pond near the observation shelter and another was right up against the window. It's the first time I've gotten a real close shot of one. My camera was home but my iPhone did a great job. So that's probably the reason for this post. I wanted to show off my wolf picture.

Okay, now you can groan.

A Wednesday Filled With Words!!

Today is the day! Ruby is now available for purchase at Amazon .com. Please share the news!

Here's the back cover blurb to pique your curiosity:

Secrets can be cruel especially when they span generations. What Hope Morgan learns from her mother’s love story turns her world inside out. How many secrets did Ruby keep from her daughter?

Hope Morgan has always had difficulty understanding her mother, Ruby. Now as illness threatens to take her mother’s life she discovers that her family history is not what she thought. Ruby begins to reveal secrets that have been kept for generations.

Who was Edward Fields in her mother’s life, Hope wonders, and why has she kept his letters for so many years? What was the butterfly love story they shared? And did Hope’s father, George know about it?

While Ruby weathered the Great Depression as a child and the sorrows of World War II as a young bride, her faith grew and the promises Edward shared with her gave her strength to see her through. Will she have the strength to finally reveal the last secret she holds?

The paperback will be available in 2-4. Click here for paperback. 

Vacation Rentals - Finding Your Special Place

A trip to the Smokey Mountains and a stay on the beach in North Carolina were our first experiences with vacation rental properties. They worked out well and we have lots of fond memories of those vacations.

When we wanted to take our kids and grands to Disney World we saved a lot of money by renting a house that would accommodate all eleven of us since one family had to stay home with a newborn. It also gave us the opportunity to have a home base to visit with each other. In addition, we could cook a few meals and make lunches to take into the park. The house was a short drive from the entrance to Disney and it worked out so well that we did it again several years later with a house that could accommodate fourteen of us (we've grown even more since then).

More recently we have rented several condos in Key Largo and yes, become snow birds for the winter.

Rental properties are available all over the world and are often a much nicer way to station yourself in an area and explore for less than a hotel or B&B especially when you have the opportunity to cook some meals. Several sites online are available to peruse properties: VRBO, Dwellable, Homeaway and Flipkey (owned by TripAdvisor). Here are a few things to keep in mind.

• Not all pictures are the same. A good photographer or edit job can make something look a whole lot better than it is. Look for outdated kitchen appliances and other clues that it might not be exactly as portrayed.
• Check out guest comments on a different site. Sometimes the comments are all from friends and family giving the place a good name or the opposite can be true--the competition tearing it down. Find the middle ground for something closer to the truth.
• Call the owner if possible and ask lots of questions like how many beds and are they beds or pull out couches. Is there a cleaning fee? Amenities like shampoo, laundry detergent (if there's a washer/dryer), hair dryer. Much of that may be on the listing but if not, be sure to ask.
• Get it in writing if you can. This past year, we had someone who said, "Oh, just send me the first month's payment and we'll be fine." We insisted on a lease agreement since we were counting on staying more than a month.

Happy travels!

Where Fiction Comes Alive

A UK site called Just The Flight has designed an infographic that lists many of the places inspired by fictional stories. We found Hobbiton in Matamata, NZ, fascinating but that's only one of several places in NZ that were used for the Hobbit or Lord Of The Ring movies. There are so many more spots to visit for some of your other favorite stories.


I've always been a fan of Superman. My voracious reading habit was fueled early by comic books. Wish I had known back then they'd be collectible. I could have financed a lot of travel with them. The list includes Smallville and points to Topeka, KS. Of course most equate NYC with Gotham City and Batman or with Metropolis for Superman.

While we are on comics and animation, a fjord in Norway is said to have inspired Disney's Frozen.

The popular Winnie The Pooh, by A.A. Milne, is said to have been inspired by Ashdown Forest in England. It is 30 miles south of London in the county of East Sussex. So if you're looking for a stroll through the Hundred Acre Wood, that would be the place to go.

 Jurassic Park or Lost fan? Travel to Hawaii for the places where those were filmed.

Check it out. There are 50 locations noted for movies, books, even video games. Maybe it will inspire a travel adventure.

Flashback Friday - Casa Loma

Back in 1955, my mother decided she was tired of making the long drive to Noelville, Canada, and passing up all the interesting sights along the way. I think that Dad may have bought her a car by then because he would have had to have transportation unless he and his fishing buddy drove together.

She invited his buddy's wife along and their two kids who were close to my brother's and my age. We headed north, crossed the Peace Bridge and stopped in Toronto to do some sightseeing. I'm said to say I don't remember a whole lot about the trip. Some yelling when we kids got too rambunctious--after all there weren't any electronics to keep us busy.

What does stand out is our visit to Toronto's Casa Loma. Maybe it was my eight year old imagination running wild as we toured the "castle" but it made a great impression on me. So much so that when Bob and I had the opportunity to visit Toronto a few years back, I asked that we stop there. It was very different seeing it through the eyes of an adult than a young impressionable girl but the visit renewed the memories and was very satisfying.

Casa Loma was built by multi-millionaire businessman, Sir Henry Mill Pellat over a period of time from 1911-1914 for a cost of $3.5 million. When things went badly with his business base, he was forced to auction off his prized possession and contents. After some attempts to complete and expand the castle, it eventually came to be the property of the city of Toronto in payment of back taxes. The Kiwanis Club of Toronto began offering tours of the castle in 1937 and that continued until 2011 when a new Casa Loma Corporation was formed. The Liberty Entertainment Group in 2014 entered into a long lease with the city and is now using it for special events as well as maintaining it as an attraction to see when visiting Toronto.

Road Trip!

In light of our upcoming road trip out west, an article by Wendy Perrin of Tripadvisor caught my eye: How To Make Your Great American Road Trip Even Greater. I agree with her on most of her points.

The first was to get lost. That's hard to do nowadays with a GPS in the car but I think her point was more to get off the highways and explore. When my mother first learned to drive, there were no GPS gadgets to tell you to turn right or left in one hundred feet. While we didn't venture far, she loved to put us in the car and "get lost." I remember her mumbling one day that if we didn't find our way back to familiar territory we'd end up at 1,000 Islands. Little did I know there really was such a place. One thing we did gain was an appreciation for the countryside and the little places to stop for a treat along the way.

And I so agree with her about setting aside the devices and making the trip time to connect. Adults as well as children should be limited to a set time for using electronics.

I like finding those gems along the way that are tourist traps. The largest, biggest, most amazing, etc., are funky stops and provide a little humor along the way. What? I missed the World's Largest Pistachio in Alamagordo, New Mexico!

For more of her tips, check out the article. 

Wordless Wednesday

The 3 and 6 Month Passport Rules

Planning on going out of the country? Have you checked your passport expiration date? If it is due to expire within six months of your arrival in some countries you may be turning around and heading home before your holiday begins.

I did not realize until recently that there is a rule in many countries that you cannot enter if your passport is due to expire within six months of your entry into the country. Some countries are more lenient and make it three months. We have always allotted plenty of time for passport renewal but that has always been for our peace of mind. Now we will be checking to be sure our passports have plenty of lead time on them.

To find out what the requirements of each country are you can go to the US Department of State's travel site. Generally European countries require a passport that does not expire within three months and many Asian countries extend that to six months. South American countries vary. It's always a good idea to check each country you will visit. You may also need a visa which takes some time. Words for the wise: Plan ahead.

Staying Cool

 My birthday came around while we were on our World Cruise and my table mates had a little celebration for me. I had already ordered chocolate cake with chocolate icing and kept my fingers crossed that it would be real cake not chocolate mousse. It was and tasted great.

I was surprised though when our new friends came up unexpectedly with several gifts, one of which was a cool headband. I wasn't quite sure I would use it but once I got home, it came in pretty handy.

The band is paperlike but when wet becomes soft and pliable. You wet it and wrap it around your head to stay cool while you exercise or work out in the heat. The day the temps climbed uncomfortably high for working in the yard, I tried it out.

I don't like things around my head but I wet it down and wrapped it around my neck letting the length extend into the neckline of my shirt. It was amazing. I had to rewet it once but it kept me working much longer than I would have otherwise.

Recently Smarter Travel.com had an article about clothes that keep you cool when traveling. There was a similar towel mentioned and several items of clothing, including a hat with a built-in fan. Sometimes I feel a little behind the times. Who knew?