I love to travel! I mean, I really love to travel.
 [Photo: © Lynn DeVries] |
I married young and was a single parent raising two kids just a few years later. I never had the time or money to travel when I was raising my kids, so now that they are both grown, I’m making up for lost time. Over the past few years, these are the trips that I have taken, including one really exciting one that is currently being planned this November for me to go to Asia for the first time. I’m so excited!
- Carribbean Cruise
- El Paso, TX
- Las Vegas: June ‘09
- Las Vegas: New Year’s ‘09
- Miami, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Reality Convention, Nashville, TN
- Seattle, WA
- West Coast Trek
- Scottsdale & Sedona, AZ
- Phoenix & Grand Canyon Hike
- Survivor Charity Events
- Long Island, Dec. ‘08
- Long Island, Nov. ‘07
- Taipei, Taiwan – Currently being planned for November 2009
I’ll be posting photos from my various trips and future ones too, so be sure to check back often to see all the great photos I have to share!
Tags: Arizona, El Paso, Florida, Grand Canyon hike, Las Vegas, Long Island, Louisiana, Miami, Nashville, Nevada, New Orleans, New Year, Phoenix, Reality Convention, Scottsdale, Seattle, Sedona, Survivors, Taipei, Taiwan, Tennessee, Texas, thunder snow, travel, Washington
Anne & Terry’s trip to Ireland
This is the third photo of Anne & Terry’s trip to Ireland. This one is the Tower of O’Brien at Cliffs of Moher on the Atlantic side of Ireland; the Aran Islands are in the distance.
Technorati tags: ireland, travel
Tags: Ireland
Anne & Terry’s trip to Ireland
Another of Anne & Terry’s photos of Ireland is this one. It’s a view from the grounds of an old church being used in part as an information center; hydrangeas in the foreground.
Breathtaking! You’ll want to click on the photo to see it larger! 
Technorati tags: ireland, travel
Tags: Ireland
Anne & Terry’s trip to Ireland
My good friends, Anne and Terry, just got back from a fabulous trip to Ireland. (Ok, yes, I am jealous!) 
But she sent me three photos from her trip and I just had to share them. This one is along the Ring of Kerry on the Iveragh Penninsula (just below the Dingle Penninsula).
Technorati tags: ireland, travel
Tags: Ireland
The old fort on the Fort Bliss post before dawnOriginally uploaded by cree8iv_1.
Sunday, I did something I have never before done. I spent the night on an Army post. In fact, I had never even been on a military post or base before. It’s amazing how huge the place is!
Yesterday, on the way to the airport to catch my flight home, I shot this photo of the historic old fort located on the post. I have to say, my new camera takes kick-butt photos because this was taken before dawn. Yes, I did adjust the shadows in Photoshop, that’s why it’s grainy, but you get the idea.
Also on the way out of the post, we saw hundreds of young men and women in their camo, running. It doesn’t matter what one feels about the situation in Iraq, it’s still a sobering thing to see these young people training to go there. They will soon be placing their lives in danger for all of us. I got a little choked up by the realization when they were running past us. All I can think is that I hope each and every one of them come home safely…and soon!
Regardless of political leanings, they deserve our complete respect. My hat’s off to them!
Technorati tags: el paso, fort bliss
Tags: El Paso, Fort Bliss
Originally uploaded by cree8iv_1.
Ok, this is admittedly a blurry photo, but we were driving through the city of El Paso when I snapped it. The giant flag (this photo does not do it justice) is located at the entry to Mexico from El Paso. You can see the flag for several miles. Very impressive!
Technorati tags: el paso, fort bliss
Tags: El Paso
The view of the mountains from El Paso
Originally uploaded by cree8iv_1.
This weekend, I helped a good friend move to El Paso, Texas. ..on purpose!! Believe it or not, my friend David actually voluntarily moved to El Paso!
To make a long story short, he needed someone to drive his Ford Explorer down while he drove the moving truck.
Anyone who has ever travelled by car with me knows that I like to go just a “tad” over the speed limit in order to get there sooner. That was not our luck this time. The moving truck never made it up to the actual speed limit. The 1300 miles seemed to drag on forever. My only request in return was to have an “authentic” Mexican dinner upon arrival.
David took me to a restaurant in El Paso called Forti’s. It did not disappoint!! The food was amazing! I recommend that everyone who finds themselves in El Paso should go to this restaurant. It’s worth it!
And, much to my surprise, I found out that El Paso is actually a pretty nice place. The view of the mountains from the city is spectacular. Ok, I take back the kidding about moving to El Paso. It’s a pretty ok place, after all.
Technorati tags: el paso, fort bliss
Tags: El Paso
Since I just returned from Seattle, I have to also write a bit about my other favorite place to visit while there. Anyone who likes music absolutely MUST take the time to visit the Experience Music Project Museum right next to the Space Needle. It truly lives up to its name too. It’s a wonderful experience.
When you first get there, they give you a receiver that you wear, a pair of earphones and a remote control. Every item in the museum has a number by it. You punch the number into the remote and the item gives you your own little experience. For example, if it’s an item of clothing, you might hear its owner tell you about it. If it’s a video screen you might get to watch a video of the performer (for example, Jimi Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock.) If it’s an album cover, you could listen to the tracks on the album. There’s even an entire room of one-of-a-kind instruments and you can click to hear each one being played.
Each person’s experience is unique that person. You watch, listen and learn all about everything music. They have areas set up for types of music where they tell about the origin of each and the people who made it famous; from gospel, jazz and blues to rock, hip-hop and grunge. Jimi Hendrix even has his own room of memorabilia. (My son loves it when I go there because he’s a huge Hendrix fan and they have a very large variety of unusual and rare t-shirts, especially for Hendrix.)
I’ve never visited a museum like it. Next time you are in Seattle, you really must check it out!
Technorati tags: travel, seattle, Experience Music Project
Tags: Experience Music Project, Seattle
During my 5-day trip to Seattle this week, I frequented Pike’s Market in downtown Seattle. If you have never heard of it, it’s a combination of a farmer’s market, a fresh fish market, a really spectacular florist, an artist’s walk, a new age area and oh, so much more. The Market consists of many, many shops and booths and restaurants and pubs all gathered in a multi-level underground market that is truly unique. The atmosphere buzzes with excitement, no matter what time of the year or what day of the week. I’ve been there many times and never cease to be surprised by something new and wonderful each time I visit.
As might be predicted by those who know me, I’m always a sucker for the varied and beautiful jewelry on sale by the designers. I never leave Seattle without a few new pieces. It’s also a great treat to pick up some fresh fruits or other goodies to snack on in the hotel during the visit. And the lovely warm people of Seattle are so welcoming, it’s just a fun adventure any time you want to visit. I guess this post sounds a lot like an ad for the place, but I just love it and would love to see it continue to thrive. Please make sure you visit Pike’s Market any time you find yourself in the Seattle area.
Technorati tags: Pike’s Market, travel, seattle
Tags: Pike's Market, Seattle
This blog is a result of my trip this week to Seattle to attend Thunder Lizard’s Web Design World conference. While there, I attended one session specifically about blogging and how it can benefit us all in one way or another. As a result, I’m going to start this blog and see what happens.
First off, I want to say that the Web Design World conference was great! It’s the second one I’ve attended and learned quite a lot. They do a very professional job giving the latest trends, tools and strategies, and even manage to entertain while they do it. If you are a web design geek, you’ll love this conference. The next Web Design World is planned for Boston later this year.
I also want to highly recommend the book about blogging that was written by the presenter at the conference. I had to walk to three different book stores to find it, since it was just published last month. Check it out! 
Publish and Prosper: Blogging for Your Business, by DL Byron & Steve Broback
Technorati tags: blogging, web design, Web Design World
Tags: Seattle
