Well worth a stop - Woodburn just South of Portland, Oregon
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Favorite Signage
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Mel Gibson
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The joy of travel
At a function in California, I was having a conversation with a young man from London. He said that he had lived near the Regent Square Tube Station. I told him I hated that station and he agreed. He said he tried to avoid it. We talked about pubs about the British Museum and Bloomsbury. Only because I've been to London a couple of times and each time for a good visit do I know what he was taking about. We are serious when we say that it is more fun to learn a lot about a little than to see a little of a whole lot.
Florence, Italy
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Among My Favorites
Among my favorite west coast of American towns are: Jacksonville, Oregon; Ashland, Oregon; Jamestown, California and Half Moon Bay, California. As well, I also cast a vote for Friday Harbor, Washington.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
International Driver's License
Some folks say that they are a good thing to have and others say they are a must have in Eastern Europe and parts of Africa, so we went to AAA and got our international driver's licenses. It cost $15 (DUS) and two passport pictures. You show your current license (ours from California) and fill out some paper work. It would be nce if they fit into a wallet - they are bigger than your passport - but now we hve them and are ready for a year.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Four steps to traveling
How to plan a trip:
One) decide what your passion is. Two) find out where is
the best place to see it. Three) read, research, and plan. Four) go and hope to
be surprised by not over-planning..
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Tracy California USA
From a plane at 30,000 feet high, the Rockies look like a natural playground, Greenland looks like a wonderful white circus tent and London appears to be a fairytale village.
Close up, one wonders how the pioneers ever crossed the Rockies, Greenland is obviously harsh and cold, and you can see the snarled traffic around Trafalgar.
From a distance — a long one — one might confuse me for George Clooney.
Well, maybe not.
But certainly, the point is that we suspect from afar that things might be better than they are. Our neighbors seem to be happier and better off than we are. Those people — the ones over there — appear to have things under control.
Of course, it is difficult to see the black roots and warts from 100 feet. It is also hard to see the struggles of downtown Pleasanton merchants from the Altamont.
Thus, we imagine that things out there are better than they are right here.
People seem to love carping about the familiar and well-known around them. It is so easy to see what is not so hot in our lives. It also is too easy to be blind about the same defects in cities, homes, and folks far away.
I was recently interviewed by a Sacramento television station. The reporter asked if I liked Sacramento or Tracy better. He knew I grew up in Sacramento. Indeed, I like our state capital a good deal, as it used to be home. It is not anymore.
My answer might have surprised him, as he did not seem overwhelmed by our city. I, on the other hand, like Tracy best.
This is not to say that Sacramento is bad. But, blemishes and all, Tracy is where I know I’m home. Sacramento seems like a nice place, but it is not where I belong.
When we are far, far away from Tracy, I realize that this town is where I feel in the right place.
Much of the time, however, Tracy is so close that I can see all of the challenges, warts and fractures.
Being in the midst of it, the flaws are quite evident. I can tell you what is wrong with my neighborhood, my friends and even my family.
I still like them best.
As near as things are, failings and all, this is the only place where I have a right to point out the flaws and forgive them at the same time.
When you love someone, they are nearly perfect. So is your home town, when you care enough about it.
It matters not that you are close enough to see the imperfections and wrinkles. What matters is that you don’t care about them. Relationships are what are important.
Now, if I could only feel the same about the man in the mirror. Seems like the closer I get, the older he becomes.
Read more: Tracy Press - Tilted Windmills Everything looks better from a distance
Close up, one wonders how the pioneers ever crossed the Rockies, Greenland is obviously harsh and cold, and you can see the snarled traffic around Trafalgar.
From a distance — a long one — one might confuse me for George Clooney.
Well, maybe not.
But certainly, the point is that we suspect from afar that things might be better than they are. Our neighbors seem to be happier and better off than we are. Those people — the ones over there — appear to have things under control.
Of course, it is difficult to see the black roots and warts from 100 feet. It is also hard to see the struggles of downtown Pleasanton merchants from the Altamont.
Thus, we imagine that things out there are better than they are right here.
People seem to love carping about the familiar and well-known around them. It is so easy to see what is not so hot in our lives. It also is too easy to be blind about the same defects in cities, homes, and folks far away.
I was recently interviewed by a Sacramento television station. The reporter asked if I liked Sacramento or Tracy better. He knew I grew up in Sacramento. Indeed, I like our state capital a good deal, as it used to be home. It is not anymore.
My answer might have surprised him, as he did not seem overwhelmed by our city. I, on the other hand, like Tracy best.
This is not to say that Sacramento is bad. But, blemishes and all, Tracy is where I know I’m home. Sacramento seems like a nice place, but it is not where I belong.
When we are far, far away from Tracy, I realize that this town is where I feel in the right place.
Much of the time, however, Tracy is so close that I can see all of the challenges, warts and fractures.
Being in the midst of it, the flaws are quite evident. I can tell you what is wrong with my neighborhood, my friends and even my family.
I still like them best.
As near as things are, failings and all, this is the only place where I have a right to point out the flaws and forgive them at the same time.
When you love someone, they are nearly perfect. So is your home town, when you care enough about it.
It matters not that you are close enough to see the imperfections and wrinkles. What matters is that you don’t care about them. Relationships are what are important.
Now, if I could only feel the same about the man in the mirror. Seems like the closer I get, the older he becomes.
Read more: Tracy Press - Tilted Windmills Everything looks better from a distance
Friday, June 1, 2012
GREAT CITIES
There are some great cities in this world. I will have more to say about Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris and Vaduz after September. For now, I would like to comment on my experiences so far.
We love San Francisco and New Orleans. We enjoy Chicago and New York. We like Atlanta and Seattle. We call Tracy, California and Portland, Oregon home(s). But, ask about our favorite and it would have to be London. There is something old/new/magical/earthly about London. We could easily live in Edinburgh and Sterling in Scotland or Kenmare and Kilkenny in Ireland. London seems to beat them all.
We love San Francisco and New Orleans. We enjoy Chicago and New York. We like Atlanta and Seattle. We call Tracy, California and Portland, Oregon home(s). But, ask about our favorite and it would have to be London. There is something old/new/magical/earthly about London. We could easily live in Edinburgh and Sterling in Scotland or Kenmare and Kilkenny in Ireland. London seems to beat them all.
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