Open Thread - Friday, March 3, 2017
Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 03/03/2017 - 3:20am
The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind -jump in.
~ Charles R. Swindoll ~
By the time you see these words, I will have embarked on adventure. Thing1, Thing2, Thing2 Boyfriend and I are headed to Pittsburgh to first get together with Sweetie's Mom and siblings.
The Things and boyfriend are all chronologically adults, and I booked rooms on the South Side.
I am hoping to frequent one of my favorite taverns.
And then there is The Life Celebration, Saturday afternoon.
Have a great weekend! I will.
Comments
I hope things go well for all involved as the Living
And also hope that the weather improves for your stay.
Did you ever see Fallingwater? My (underage for the tour daughter) screamed at the end, "I want this house!" I hear that the cantilever is finally stabilized... Other exciting tours might include fracking towers. Just don't drink the water there.
Awaiting pre-surgical interview call from hospital today. Also thinking about logistics of post-surgical convalescence. Too many half-flights of stairs. 6 each level. Consequences of living in my architect-designed house of 1983, when we would stay Forever Young. Architect could not walk a month or so before he died, watched as my carpenter installed stair rails (a new practical love)that he never included in design, because lines. Better than one not-architect-designed house we rented that had a sleeping loft sans even pony walls. Fanciest sinks I ever saw, but impossible design. Happy Friday to all.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Good luck riverlover on your med interview!!
NCTim: are "Thing 1 and 2," your kids? Just wondering.
Have a great time in the Steel City!! I remember my one (business) trip there. It really is a beautiful place, though driving in ice is not for the faint of heart. Take care and be safe. Rec'd, my soul (fine) friend!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Apparently I flunked, surgery postponed until bloodwork
on Tuesday. Dammit, all my med records are in their control! Anesthesiology has "concerns". So six weeks of a destabilized foot. I will bite a bullet for pain before they do anything. Give me horrors forever, do it "lite", as long as I do not see my own bone exposed.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
@orlbucfan they are my 27M and 23F
they are my 27M and 23F
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
As always, an open thread that is both clever and beautiful.
I hope your time with your children and Sweetie's loved ones is a healing and a blessing (in the spiritual sense of the word (rather than organized religion, though that, too, if it suits you) for all of you.
If you do get to your favorite saloon, lift a glass or grab a bite for the rest of us. (I don't drink alcohol, but that food looks great!) We'll be wishing you well on every step of your journey.
Have fun...
I'm one of those procrastinators. I always have to measure how much do I want it? Enough to put me out, spend "that" much money on it? I don't travel because I can't handle the idea of herds of people on airplanes and in airports, standing in line, waiting for anything, compromising, coping, and generally inconveniencing myself. Last time I was on an airplane was a trip home from Jamaica. The plane was virtually empty, and I never had a more miserable time. By the time I landed, I was grateful I didn't kill the pilot and crew - not that they did anything wrong.
Having said this, I am trying to commit to two trips this upcoming year: Africa and Europe. I have actually pursued this far enough to get the name of a travel agent. Maybe this time I'll follow through.
Have fun, Tim.
Good luck with your surgery and rehab RL.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
What kind of trip to Africa? Where to?
All by yourself? And Europe? That's quite a large place... You know that there are lots of people, right? It's full so to speak, crowded ...
Are you visiting Italy? Ischia? Rome? Florence? Venezia?
Heh, take it easy, slowly and hopefully you can enjoy the trip. I wish for you that it will not be a disappointment. I am sure you enjoy the food in Italy.
https://www.euronews.com/
Hi Mimi
I would be going with my husband. I'm looking at the trips with Roads Scholar. It used to be the elder hostel. They are small group, include everything in the planning and price, are educational, and escorted which will allow us to cut lines and have experienced tour guides everywhere we go. This is the Africa trip.
https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/13938/african-safari-a-clo...
If my grandson is still in Stockholm, I would like to do the trip linked below and then work with a travel agent to add-on. Where I don't think I care since I haven't been anywhere. Of course, a trip to Ischia would have to be included. If Kevin isn't in Stockholm, then I don't think I would include the Sweden/Copenhagen leg. On the other hand, Kevin says of all the places he's been, and he's traveled a lot, he likes Copenhagen or Amsterdam the best - can't remember which.
https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/21898/the-beat-of-the-nord...
I like the part where I don't have to do anything but follow along with the group. If I was doing a second trip, I might like more independence. As is, I'm happy to be taken care of. Oh, I have to be kept warm. I live in Michigan. It is 21 degrees outside. I never want to be any place else that is cold. Do you have recommendations Mimi?
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
oh nice, for some reason - and I don't know why -
I thought you might be by yourself. Great that you can travel with your husband. Enjoy it. I can't really recommend something specific. It depends so much what one is interested in. Myself I am less interested in the Northern countries. It depends if what you enjoy more the landscape or the cultural and historical sites. I have seen a bit of Italy and I thought because you talked about your Italian anchestry and your grandkids getting dual citizenship, you were likely to go there.
If I could travel the way I would like to I would try to visit the East European countries, including St. Petersburg in Russia. I like to ride the trains, but I guess it becomes harder and harder to do. Greece and Portugal and Malta I have in mind since a long time.
With regards to Africa, I saw several countries (not as a tourist) and on one trip we included a short safari trip with my son, when he was a kid. If I could, I would visit Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, but that's difficult to do for me alone these days. I have also to say that I am not that much interested in the Natural Parks in Africa (though of course, if I am there for other reasons, I would visit) than I am in the people.
I wish you enjoy whatever you can as long as you can. Take some photos and share with us, please. Bon Voyage.
https://www.euronews.com/
ah, sounds beautiful - enjoy the trip to the fullest! /nt
https://www.euronews.com/
Pittsburgh carousel
started with a steam calliope and wound up here
Sounds good, Tim. Think I've been to that place...
Years ago, used to take an annual weekend trip with a group of old friends to see a football game in a different city.
When we went to Pittsburgh I knew a girl from there who took us to a few places and I think that was one of them. Definitely one of the most decadent things I've ever eaten. Classic working class city, over-the-top, food fare. Seem to remember even french fries stuffed on top of that mile wide burger, if that was the same place.
Fun city, great people, R&R vibe. I dig all those Rust Belt cities along Lake Erie, including Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit; even though Pittsburgh isn't on the Lake it's got a similar kind of vibe to me. I've got such a serious hankering to go to N'awlins soon too, reminded that you'll be hitting the Jazz Fest coming up.
Man, this baby has been wearing me out big-time this week. I need a reprieve. First thing's first, I guess. Getting the motorcycle back on the road could definitely help with that.
Have fun, my man!
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
How old is baby now?
Well, I headed for Las Vegas, only made out to Needles.
[video:https://youtu.be/dm6qw_yeo6o]
Good morning, Tim~~~
Glad to hear you are going on a road trip. Getting away is difficult but necessary. When my husband passed, I took my kids on a vacation about four months later and you should see the pictures. We all look so sad! We were. Oh, well. Glad I took them - it made all other trips after that easier and happier.
I watched the video of that Tavern. Glad I don't eat meat anymore - As much as I would enjoy it, one of those would give me a heart attack!
Safe travels to you, my friend.
Have a beautiful Friday and weekend, folks!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hola, Tim! Enjoy as much as you can & have a good one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Political earthquake in Northern Ireland elections
The DUP are getting hammered and Sinn Fein are seeing a surge in support. The DUP has acted so egregiously, so corruptly that they have not only energised the Nationalist electorate they have alienated a chunk of Unionist voters. There are still constituencies where the DUP were able to successfully beat the tribal drums of bigotry to circle the wagons but it is dangerously close to Sinn Fein being the largest party. A perfect storm of electoral events coalesced and we will not know for sure until tomorrow.
Brexit is a big driver of this change, Nationalists and a large chunk of Unionists want to remain in the EU and when May triggers Article 50 this month it will begin the reunification of Ireland. The voting pattern in NI2017 are the first evidence of that change. Within five years the north of Ireland will have voted to re-unify or it will already be done.
The times, they are a changing, not just abroad but here also. The people are waking up and taking charge because the politicians have failed. Does not mean there will not be defeats after victories - Syriza for example. But ultimately the people will be victorious.
Change does happen
A pissed off electorate has turned out. Sinn Fein has gone from 167k votes in May to 225k votes, the DUP from 203k to 225k. Seat totals are looking to be neck and neck with SF and DUP being one, two seats apart or maybe even tied. Nail biter indeed.
This election is a sea change in voting patterns and turnout. The next few weeks with the trigger of Brexit and Scotland about to call a new referendum are going to be interesting.
The wave of unruly electorates overturning applecarts continues its march west, next stop the USA!
[Edit typo and unfinished sentence.]
To you and Sweet Sue ...
[video:https://youtu.be/n_pLdM12yx4]