Slow Travel February Blog Everyday Challenge . . . .

A blogging friend, AnnieNC, posted a thread on the Slow Talk Forum about starting a February Blog Everyday Challenge for 2009. The response has been overwhelming with 23 Bloggers signed up.

The goal is simple, blog each and every day for the entire month of February. Annie said that it's a lot fun and that was enough reason for me to join the challenge. So starting tomorrow, I will post an entry every day during the month of February.

So what can you expect from me? Well, after looking at some of my old posts, you can probably expect just about anything. I can get a little goofy, I'll post photos, I'll do maybe a movie review or two, I'll write about any subject that peaks my curiosity and I may also write about my quest to adopt a cute kitty (little Ronda!). Oh, and I must warn you about my American Idol obsession! Yes, I love that show! I will mainly talk about travel (including my next travel plans), because that is my passion and to borrow a term from another blogger I tend to enter the "Inner Vertical Descent" on that topic! I will share stories of my experiences and post photos not only of my recent trip to Spain but also on my other travels. I will even venture to share a few embarrassing travel moments. I think this will be a great challenge for me to blog everyday, but I will also enjoy reading everyone's blog a lot!

And in honor of Annie's exciting February Blog Everyday Challenge on Slow Travel, I created a Photo of the Month Graphic!


You can check out all the other awesome Bloggers in the challenge and also all of my Favorite Bloggers listed on my side bar to the right.

Happy blogging everyone!

AI Rocks in Louisville . . .

At the AI Louisville tryouts this past week there were several standouts such as Alexis the stay at home mom, Matt the dueling pianist (and I agree with Simon that he reminds me of Elliot Yamin), Ryan the railroad worker and Leneshe the college student. You can check them out on Youtube and pick out your own favorites HERE!
And remember Anoop from UNC last week. The more I think about it, the more I believe that he can really go far in this competition. Here he is featured with the UNC Clef Hangers singing "The Only One for Me". He has pretty good stage presence during this performance!



And taking a page from Anne’s blog, I'm going to use this entry to also test my post scheduling blog feature in preparation for Annie’s February Blog Everyday Challenge on Slow Travel! I took a peek at all the bloggers gearing up for this challenge and can see that I'll be in some mighty fine company! I’m really looking forward to this cool blog challenge, so thanks to Annie for starting it!

I'm setting this to post at 12:30 pm Saturday. Hope it works!

On the Eve of History . . .

It's been a long time coming, but change is finally here!



Starting at 7:00 am PST, History will begin! Enjoy the inauguration ceremony everyone!

Obama's tough decision . . . and mine!

In an interview, George Stephanopoulos posed several questions to President Elect, Barack Obama, about the many pressing decisions that he has to make in transitioning to the White House. One of Obama's responses . . . . it has been "tougher than finding a commerce secretary.” The question, “What kind of a dog are they getting and when are they getting it?”

Okay, okay . . . so I’m not the next soon to be President of the United States and no I’m not faced with important decisions like selecting our Nation’s next Secretary of Commerce! Or that I’m getting a Kitten rather than a dog! I can still totally agree and relate to Obama’s comments on how difficult it is to find and adopt the right pet for your home.

Yesterday, I made arrangements to meet with the foster parent of the two kittens I saw on the Adoption Site. She brought them to the Adoption show which was convenient. They are a little older than their photos on the website, but are so cute. They already have names (Sally & Susie) so when I told their foster parent that I already have names for my kittens, she said that adoptive parents often rename their kittens.


In addition to Sally and Susie, I also saw two red haired kittens

and two black and white kittens that are only a few weeks old.


So here’s the thing. This decision has turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. All the kittens are so cute even the older kittens. Sally and Susie were sort of shy although I’m told that Sally is a lap kitty and very sociable. The red haired kittens are both so cute and shy (but that is also because I was told that it was their first visit to the adoption show and they were a little frightened and uncomfortable). And then there are the two youngest B&W kittens who remind me of Annie’s Maria. They aren't shy. They are so energetic and playful.


This one kitten when I moved this cloth close to her cage, she reached her little paw out and gently touched my fingers. She was so playful and tender.


They are all so cute . . . While I was enjoying playing with the one kitten, I must have tuned everything out. I turned around and saw that the adoption people were watching me play with the little kitties. I felt a little embarrassed.

The adoption people just smiled and told me to take my time because they want me to be completely happy with my choice. They told me that when I have made my decision they will need to visit my house and make sure that it is kitten proof. I’ll have to show them where I intend to put their liter box, make sure all my cords are safe, etc. I told them that I still need to buy their beds and liter box. They told me not to feel rushed. They encouraged me to return today, which I will. Plus they will have more kittens. Yikes, more choices.

Here's the other thing, I'm sort of feeling really bad for the kittens that I don't pick and I wonder if they will find homes. I'm glad that our next President is looking for their family pet at adoption shelters! It really sets a great example. I hadn't realized how many homeless animals are out there and now I am a huge supporter of pet adoptions!

The George S. interview snippet was actually sent to me by the pet adoption agency's Newsletter. In addition to the pet adoption discussion, I found it also interesting because it gives a small glimpse of the tough decisions that Obama will be facing when he takes office. So on January 20, 2009 when I watch our next President be sworn in, I will look on with great respect for the new responsibilities that he will inherit. I have confidence that he will take great care in each and every decision! Why? Because he knows how important each decision is and he is so committed to making the best possible decision for us.

Don't forget to watch the Presidential Inaugural Opening Celebration, "We Are One", today at 11:30 am PST.

Only two more Days! Whoo Hoo!

SUPPORT PET ADOPTION: PETFINDER.COM

AI and the Cool One . . . .

AI is back with a new 4th Judge (Kara GioGuardi). And from last night's premier episode she seems to be an awesome addition! There were some standout singers featured and then there were the usual duds and divas! I have a feeling this will be a great season! Annie, I hope you remembered to watch it. :)

Yesterday my cool one concert pal, Yoli, told me that Prince is coming out with a brand new CD, Yay! As much as I am a huge fan, his last CD was a disappointment to me! I just heard samples of his new songs on his new website LotusFlower and it sounds like he has thankfully gone back to his old school funk and R&B roots!

And don't forget the big day everyone! On January 20, 2009, the world (not just the US) will watch History when our new President elect Barack Obama gets sworn into office. I just realized this morning that since my regular 9/80 day off is Monday which is a Holiday I actually get Tuesday off which is the official swearing in date! Whoo Hoo! I am so happy that fellow Slow Traveler Jane and her grandson Casey will be there! What an awesome experience that will be for everyone who will be there in person. I'm so glad that I will be off on Tuesday to watch the ceremony as well. I think my other blogging friends, all fellow Team Obama members will also be tuning in. Team Obama Rocks!

I did a little research and found THIS site for schedule of events so I can watch them on TV. It speaks of all the Hollywood stars and big name elected officials who will be attending the ceremonies, but to be honest I'm more excited and interested in the two star attractions, our new President Elect Barack Obama and the American People! We did it! Whoo Hoo!

Lastly, I added my name to the Adoption list for Little Ronda (and maybe Lola too) at a local adoption agency. Whoo hoo! I'll keep you all updated on that! I'm very excited. After reviewing my Cats for Dummies book that Annie recommended I realized that I need to kitten proof my house, so I've been pretty busy with that as well. Luckily I have a 4-Day Weekend coming up! Oh and then there is my B2V race coming up!

Thank you again everyone for all of your wonderful comments! Thanks to all of you I am feeling so much better.

Tears and Joy . . .

I learned yesterday that someone that I had worked with for nearly 8 years passed away suddenly over the weekend. I last saw her right before the holidays when she gave me 4 large shopping bags filled with toys for my friend's Holiday Toy giveaway project. She was a very kind and generous person with a big heart.

Let me introduce her. Lucie was born in France and although she lived here for many years she really never lost her accent. I thought it was cute. We shared some work responsibilities and worked well together. But the really great thing is that we shared the same passion for travel. She traveled all over the world, spent six months in the bush in Africa, she rode on an elephant in Thailand. She always had the best stories to tell of her travels that always surprised me and made me laugh. When she returned from her trip to the Netherlands she was encouraging me to plan a trip there because she said that I would be amazed at the beauty there. Recently she returned from Vietnam and we exchanged stories having just returned from Spain myself. Whenever we’d get together we would get all work discussions done then we would always find time to talk about travel ideas.

I hesitated to write about this initially because I can be a bit private about very painful things. But I started this blog to talk about the passions in my life like travel and also about the things and people who affect me. The words could no longer be held in. Years ago since the passing of my parents, I decided that I would try to live my life everyday to the fullest because for all we know tomorrow may never come. Lucie did just that! Lucie lived a long and very fulfilling life.

Happy Travels Lucie and thank you so much for all the wonderful stories and travel advice. And especially for your example of living life to the fullest.

Hello 2009 . . .

Hi everyone and a very Happy New Year! I'm back after a brief absence while my sis and her family were visiting me! It was so wonderful spending quality time with my sis. And they also had a really great time too! While here, they managed to . . .

See fake Paris . . .

They did a little of this . . .

did a little of that . . .


Ate a lot of this . . .

and a lot of that . . . .


Thanks for visiting Sis! Can't wait until the next visit . . .

And now I am back on-line and am happily catching up with all the new 2009 entries from my blogging buddies! It's a brand New Year with new thoughts, exciting new experiences, a new President (yay!) and more travel to read and write about! Whoo hoo!