My System For Travel

Tags

Starbucks, Travel

My System For Travel

1)  Pull Suit, Slacks, Shirts and Ties.

2)  Pull one pair of jeans, two casual shirts, workout clothes and shoes.

3)  Refill kit bag with toothpaste, shaving cream etc.

4)  Load Suitcase- Pack undies, socks and tees at bottom to level out the bag.  Then suits, shirts, tie holder and finally workout clothes and shoes.

5)  Pack Briefcase- (See above-Actual Briefcase) Files, agenda and travel plans in back pocket, Laptop in the middle, Magazines in front.  Current book being read (Servant Leadership) in front right pocket and in front left pocket charging cables, wireless mouse and glasses.

Done.

I have a travel system.  It does not change or vary much ever.  It starts with the suitcase and briefcase, and continues all the way to parking, checking in bags and getting through security.  Once through security, it moves onto a stop at the Starbucks for an iced-coffee, a quick grab of wireless to check email and/or blog and then to the gate.

My system never fails.  It has been tried and true to me.  Or so I think.

What would happen if my system would fail?  I don’t really have a backup system or plan B if you would.

You are laughing at my system more than likely but if you really look st it this system tends to be a metaphore for life.  The scary part is that we think the system is tried and true but it can and will fail us at some point.

We get up each and everyday, get the kids ready for school, have breakfast and generally go about our day in the same manner we did the day before.  Don’t think so, log your activities for a week and see how many of the same things you do over and over again.  It is why the girl at the local coffee house knows what you are going to order or why the guy at the Parking Spot knows my name when I park my vehicle there for travel.

But what happens when you wake up and your child has a fever?  You car doesn’t start?  There is an accident on the interstate and you cannot get to the airport to catch your flight?  There is a new person working at Starbucks and you actual have to tell them what you drink?  Your system or plans fail you.

How do you deal or cope with a change in plans or a failure in your system?

tourism strikes back at biden

Tags

Joe Biden, Travel, USA Today

I saw this ad in the USA today and found it brilliant.

I am going to let it speak for itself…your thoughts?

In case it is hard to read..the caption says “Mr. Vice President, if you had said it here, no one would have known.”

looking back

Tags

culture, Education, Life, Travel

I was reading a post from a fellow blogger Mo and it made me look a little different at today.  (if you stop by her blog be sure and wish her a Happy Birthday!)

Often, I wake up, I know my plans and my work schedule and off I go.

I work hard, focus on success, and what will come next.

What I do not do is look back at some of the amazing things I have done and the beautiful things around me.  I tend to worry about the little things I cannot control and also spend time wondering about what I do not have.

As I get ready to turn 40 in a few weeks, I want to look back a little…take stock and see what an incredible life I have had thus far and how my experiences have shaped me.  My wife, daughter, career, family and friends and faith.  My story.

If you think it or not, we all have amazing stories to tell.

We have been given an amazing gift by living in this world no matter our background.

We meet people from all over the world with different beliefs, values and stories.

We experience travel, cultures and education.

We see vivid colors in trees and plants and smell the fragrance of that growth.

We laugh, cry and get angry at all different things and people we run across.

We get and give hope and get and give love.

We create friendships that last lifetimes.

So here is what I want to do today….take a look back.  What have you done in your life that you should remember?  What experience have you had that has made you a better person for having it?

cuba..would you go?

Tags

Castro, churches, Cuba, Travel

It looks as if travel restrictions are lifting on travel to Cuba.

Not completely yet, but well on the way there.

Now, I am a travel junkie.  Love to travel and the more mysterious the place, the more intriguing it is to me.

Cuba, has long been one of those places I have often wondered what it would be like to travel to.  I have also believed that one day it would be possible to go there with ease.  A quick flight from Miami and you are there.  This is a country full of beautiful churches, architecture and beaches….although some if not much of it in disrepair.

Currently their infrastructure does not allow for a mass influx of American travelers and accommodations for the most part are not up to par with other countries when it comes  to island travel.  Europeans and Canadians have gone for years and tend to speak well of the small island country.

None the less….communist dictator not included in discussion (whole other blog)

Would you travel to Cuba?

do you……..

Tags

Facebook, Prayer, Starbucks, Travel, Twitter

Pick a couple (or all if you like) and answer…...I want to learn more about you all.

Do you use Facebook, Twitter or both?

Do you read non fiction books?

Do you pray daily?

Do you travel?

Do you think the other members of your family are the weird ones?

Do you sing in the shower?

Do you like local coffee houses or major chains like Starbucks?

Do you think you are the best at what you do for a living?

Do you set goals and work at them?

Do you look forward in your life or behind at your past?

Do you look to learn something new everyday?

Do you reach out to make new friends?

Do you have a competitive side to you?

Do you like to grill out or cook in?

Do you like to save or spend?

Do you like great conversation or a great book?

Do you work in an office, from home or on the road?

Do you blog or just read blogs?

back and rested….I think

Tags

goals, Jalisco, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Travel

Well, after a beautiful week with my family in Puerto Vallarta, I am back.

No computer, no contact, just an enjoyable vacation in the State of Jalisco, Mexico.

It was a great chance to think, reflect, recommit and re-energize.

I have not used a vacation in the past to do this, but this time it just seemed right.  I think we all need those times to self reflect and plan.  Plan out our health, goals and dreams.

After this trip I have re-affirmed my career goals, financial goals and re-visited my goals I set in the new year.  Some of them had not gone well to date, but there is still several months left to accomplish them.

So, what do you do on vacation?  Are you a reflector or a vacation doer?

Where have you gone lately, what did you do?

A Message In The Video

Tags

Dance, Matt Harding, Travel, Video

I love this video.  It has been viewed 17 million times.

I don’t know the story behind it but find an interesting message in the video.

I am not going to tell you what I see in it but love to know what you see in it.

If possible, click on the red arrow and choose HQ.  It looks a lot better in High Quality.

Farts Ahead? Fart Between Bumps? Fart Zone?

Tags

Farts, Road Signs, Travel

This picture showed up in my Facebook today and I have to post it.

This is one reason traveling in foreign countries is so fun.  Their street signs.  Since I do not speak the language, I obviously do not know the meaning.  So lets go with our best guess.

Take your shot.

Viva Las Vegas- Recession?

Tags

casino, Las Vegas, money, mutual funds, recession, stocks, Travel

Well, after a few glorious days in the sun, I am back from Las Vegas.

My wife and I took our Lucky 13th Anniversary to Sin City.  I LOVE Las Vegas!

The lights, the people watching (there is no place better), the food, and the absolute absurdity behind the billion dollar hotels and their luxuries.

While we were there one thing I noticed was how packed it was.  Every casino, restaurant, and sidewalk packed with people.  People from every part of the world.

According to the media we are in a recession right?  Well not in Vegas…not even close.  I could not count the amount of people who were gambling at the high end tables ($500 minimum bets) and did not seem to care about the supposed doom and gloom of todays economic woes.  Every restaurant was packed and the tabs were not a concern.

Why?  Why would Vegas be any different?  IT ISN’T.

I have come to the complete conclusion that the financial struggles and the impending doom of our country is a bunch of made up crap.  Well, mostly made up by the media.

I think there are pockets of people who have honestly lost jobs, and there are some increases in forclosures about the country.  But the complete loss of money and the idea that everyone will be enjoying the Great Depression all over again is way over-hyped.

How many of you have lost everything?  How many of you have 401K’s that you think will not rebound?  How many of you are finally living smarter for once instead of spending to your hearts content and then outworking your own stupidity to pay it off?

Here is what has happened in my view…..the market corrected like it does every so many years.  Instead of the typical american way, ignoring it, people had to take cover because of gas prices and got a bit smarter.  This drove markets down because for once in our lives we lived within our means.  Is this bad?  No way…..it is how things are supposed to be, it is just that the media doesn’t like it.

Here is a tip to leave with….everything is on sale right now…stocks, mutual funds, houses etc…now is a great time to buy and move yourself ahead in this game.

It is not the end of the world…it is just a really cheep beginning.

A Day Trip To Chicago- For Pizza!

Tags

Buffalo Wings, Chicago, Petes, Philly Cheese Steak, Pizza, Thousand Islands, Travel

Out in the morning, back by 6.  My trip to Chicago.

Now it wasn’t just for a slice of pizza, I was there for work.  The pizza was a bonus!  A slice of deep dish from Pete’s.  Thanks Pete…you make a good pie.

What I found interesting on my trip was that on my plane was about 20-30 architects from Nashville going on a day trip to a cubs game.  According to one it is an annual thing they do.

It got me to thinking…would I go to Chicago on a day trip for a piece of Pizza?  Buffalo for some wings at Anchor Bar?  Philadelphia for a cheese steak?  Any of these places to catch a game.

The answer is easily YES.  And what a cool day it would be.

So I took this further.  Would I do this to accomplish one of my goals?  Many of you who know me, know that I have one really strange goal in life.  One that I have done very well with (see sidebar with weight watcher results).  This is eating as many foods from the places they come as possible before I die.  Buffalo Wings in Buffalo..check.  Philly Cheese Steak in Philly..check.  French Fries in France (I know- they don’t actually come from there but I have to keep it consistent)..not checked.  Thousand Island Salad Dressing in the Thousand Islands..not checked. Etc.

So I need your help.  I am going to plan a day trip to try a food from my goal…

Where and what should it be?  Remember, if possible it must share the name like Buffalo Wings in Buffalo.