There are several kinds of travelers and most of them miss out on the golden rule: Travel Light. There are a lot of reasons why the smaller your bag is more advantageous than bringing half of your room or even your bath. Personally, I used to bring almost everything until some things have dawned to me which urge me to pack only one bag when going somewhere else:
1. When things go wrong in a trip, I could run and get away from the scene easily. I don’t mean to be skeptical, but there are always inevitable circumstances that just require you to instantly escape the place. What if the captain screams abandon ship? Of course I could not immediately go if I’m carrying a big luggage, right?
2. There is always a laundry mat or store. I believe that the world has evolved and even the most rural place has a town that offers me the basic necessities like fresh clothes. It’s either I repeat my clothes the second or third, or I’m going to head off to some laundry mat. Besides, I carry cotton shirts and quick dry stuff. Plus, I could always buy new clothes in case everything is not wearable.
3. No checking in of baggage and waiting in line. It saves me a lot of time in the airport. Plus, I really don’t like waiting. Who would want to wait, right?
4. Saves me from giving tip to the bell boy. I’m not cheap but I do travel at a floor’s cost. I work within my budget and I don’t spare some for those tips.
5. Easy to succumb to spur of a moment to go beyond the travel itinerary. I have a travel plan but I’m also open to instant thought of going somewhere else. With only a backpack, it’s always possible.
Did I say I’m a backpacker? I say, I’m half a backpacker but I sure do travel light.
1. She is a wife of a former president. She has first hand experience. Being a wife it means that she has to listen to everything her husband has to say. I believe that standing by his side all those times earns her so much political respect. Remember that a woman has always influenced a man’s decision. I think that she did half of the time or so. Why do you think that she has won as a senator? It is not because she is a wife per se to Bill Clinton, it is because she learned so much and transformed, if not added, those experiences to her personal goals for the country. She has gone beyond planning cocktails.
2. She embodies forgiveness. It is a stale issue, but still some people are making fuzz out of that White House Scandal. It’s a big issue that affected the United States. In spite of it all, she has forgiven. Forgiveness is important and she has exercised and shown the world how crucial to keep the family. She has managed to stand tall against the world.
3. She will stop the war in Iraq. She will! She will! The former Clinton did and the new Clinton will stop the almost senseless war. There’s nothing more to say.
4. She has a comprehensive health care plan. She has a solid health care background and she will continue her effort to improve health care through out the country for every age and status. She has changed the rural health care in Arkansas. Why not the change the whole country’s?
5. She will create more high-rate jobs. That’s what the majority of Americans need. Remember that the economy has been stable with Bill’s term, why not the second time around.
I don’t mean to vote because Hillary is a wife of Bill Clinton. But again, it is personal choice. I believe that the United States has been really okay with Bill’s term. I want lesser war time and more economic advantages. Her experience as a senator couple with her experience as a first lady will make the necessary change that everyone desires. I think that this country needs a matriarchal command. Hillary has strength of a man and compassion of a woman. Nothing beats such a combination.
Of course, the rest of you have your reasons. I really hope that you choose well. Vote for someone who supports and carries on your ideals in life. Make sure that you do the right thing and not because you want to vote like your neighbor does.
Is it because Mothers' day is fast approaching and Katie Holmes feels that her little angel needs a hair makeover to
prepare for the occasion? Honestly, it is the most decent reason I could ever think of. In fairness to Suri, she looks amazing in her new hair. But really, does she really need a new hair color? She’s the only two year old I know who gets to dye her hair sooner than she gets her period. Perhaps she has told Katie, "Mom, I want a brown hair." I remember in an interview that Katie mentioned that both she and Tom give Suri everything. I mean come on, do you really give in when your toddler is so obnoxious because she thinks brown is the new black?
You can hate me but I really questions Katie's parenting skills. It's not
really a fashion statement to color your baby's hair. It's too much if they
want more attention. Seriously, I don't really get the hair color. Is it part
of the Scientology thing... babies need to change hair color by the age of two?
It's not really a good example for mothers out there. Oh, and maybe, there is a
new line of hair dyes for baby hair and it's Suri's first modeling job. Who knows,
right?
School is not a good place for some people. It spells fear and terror in their everyday existence. What’s worse about it is skipping school is a big No No. It’s part of growing up and education is inevitably a need these days. School is supposed to be a learning environment. It should be fun as well as nurturing. But, is bullying part of the whole process of being educated? Unfortunately, it becomes a tradition of some sort. What is a school without a bully, right? Someone has to do the bullying or else everybody in the class is missing something.
Who are the bullies?
They are usually the big kids in the campus, the cheerleaders, the jocks and just about anybody who is making a hell out of everybody else.
Why bully?
Bullying has been miscalculated as a normal thing with kids. It’s part of growing up too, as they would say. Bullying is when an individual or group repeatedly tries to do bad things on someone, preferably vulnerable and weak. It comes in many forms. It could be teasing or taunting, name calling and even hitting. Sometimes it is indirect like creating and spreading rumors, or just trying to make the whole school despise someone.
Why worry about bullying?
Some parents would just look at bullying as a child’s play. However, it could really become ugly, especially when it leads kids and teenagers to be horribly afraid. Somehow bullying becomes one of the reasons for poor academic performance. Why bother go to school, if it would mean being beat up? In severe cases, the victims may react with drastic measures such as attempting suicide. And others, well, the effects of bullying leave an endless scar of their life.
How to fight the bully?
Avoid the chance. It’s not really
hiding from the bully, but taking another route to the class just to avoid him
or her or them.
Stand tall and fast. If there’s
no chance of avoiding the bully, then facing the person is the only way. Be
brave and fight back. It’s not really a good advice but sometimes standing up
and doing something is necessary. This does not mean kicking or hitting back. It
means saying a strong “No” or “Stop it.” Answering the violence with violence
will just encourage the bullies. Or, call the principal or any adult.
Be confident and strong. Remember
that bullies go after the weak, so don’t be one. Don’t let them smell fear.
Also, they are not perfect too. They have weaknesses and flaws just like
everybody else.
Get a friend. Having someone around will lessen the chance of getting bullied. Stick with a buddy when going to school or eating lunch. A friend will always stop the process. If not, he or she could tell the principal or teacher.
Always remember that sooner or later the bullies will eventually get into trouble. They might lose their friends or get expelled from school for being bullies. What you can do is to be strong and be on guard always.
Have you watched the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy? Besides the competition that made Meredith, Izzie and Cristina jumpy, it was the elevator scene of McSteamy and McDreamy that bothered me. Whew! Did he just turn gay on his best friend? He just blurted out about how they should spend a guy to guy quality time together, that he missed it or something like that. It's very unlikely of Mark Sloan to say that kind of words. Maybe he really got the right challenge with Erica Hahn. And then, he decided on some sex sabbatical because he just wanted to do Hahn.
I don't know, the character of Eric Dane has changed dramatically over the latest seasons of the show. My forecast on Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan is he would hit on Meredith, or at least become carried away by some kind of moment. I mean, Derek just took a nurse into his arms as something out of desperation for Meredith. It definitely would be an Addison revisited. For what it's worth, I like the personal issues of Meredith. It keeps the anticipation constantly on fire and the storyline solid.
Sometimes traveling the European vicinity is best with a little bit of fun. Some people actually go for it for the rush and the challenge. What do these vacationers do? Well, they hitchhike and find a ride from one place to another. Some of them find the process the climax of the entire journey. The countryside speaks for itself. You just want to stop and then go. A car is good, but hitchhiking saves on gas.
But, it might be risky for someone new and not from Europe. You might be taken advantage of. Plus, not all drivers intend to give you that lift. It's either they are afraid or you are somehow afraid for yourself. So, what do you ought to do when you want to hitchhike on your European vacation?
1. Be neat and clean. Definitely, respectable. Make a good impression and not a threatening one.
2. Look smart as much as possible, but don't push it, like look strange with how you dress. Be subtle and real, practically with a warm attitude.
3. Face the oncoming traffic with a sincere smile. Make the driver see you clearly. Never wear sunglasses.
4. When the car stops, be polite to ask the driver where he or she is heading to. This will also be a chance for you to refuse a lift if you find the driver strange, or if he or she is not going your way.
5. Don't smoke in the car, unless of course the driver offers.
6. Always take your driver's license with you. Sometimes the car owner ask to share the driving.
7. Travel light as much as possible. This means easy mobility.
Now if hitchhiking is a matter of low budget, there is no reason for you to be ripped by those supposedly cheap vacation packages. How about crossing your fingers and join a contest?
Cellulite is a very heartbreaking fact about being a woman. Unfortunately they don't really go away, so forget all those method and product promises in the market. That lumpy little fats are there to stay and they will constantly spread if you are not going to do something about it. The only chance you are entitled to is to make them appear as if they are not there at all. Yup, that's what products or those treatments do - make them a invisible to the naked eyes. Just don't try to start pinching. I mean, really pinching because they will really show.
Where are they usually visible?
Ask your self these questions to know if you're at risk with cellulite:
1. Can you notice the cellulite even without pinching?
2. Do you feel pain if you pinch your cellulite?
3. What age did you start seeing cellulite?
4. Where are they located?
5. Do you have any premenstrual syndrome?
6. Do you have water retention?
7. Do you suffer from chronic constipation?
8. Are you taking hormones?
9. Does your weight fluctuate more than 5% in the last three years?
10. Do you drink tea, coffee or alcoholic drinks regularly?
11. Do you smoke?
12. Do you eat salty or junk food?
13. How many glasses of water you drink everyday?
14. Do you exercise?
Seriously, if you negatively answer these questions, you're really in trouble with cellulite. It's not really about what treatment or product works best to make them invisible. It's about a change of lifestyle and habits that will make them seem to go away.
Basically, the sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation that at some level helps the skin fight nasty germs and skin diseases. UV rays are even important to Vitamin D3 production in the body. However, overexposure to UV is very dangerous, especially now that the ozone layer has significantly depleted. Such part of the atmosphere is supposed to protect us from the sun's harm. Not anymore though, because we are taking things for granted. That's why sun protection now lies within our hands. We need to wear sunscreen even if it's not spring break.
The sunscreen has SPF or the sun protection factor, which is the length of time that the sunscreen protection works on the skin before it start with redness (erythema). In short, it is how long you can stay out under the sun before having a sunburn.
SPF varies according to skin type. If a person has a fair skin, it means it burns more faster than a person with a dark skin. For instance, SPF 15 enables a person, who burns after 20 minutes, to spend 15 times longer (300 minutes) under the sun without getting burned. It is important that a sunscreen has a broad spectrum, which protects the skin from all types of UV rays (UVA and UVB rays). Take note that sunscreens differ in the active ingredients and filters they contain. The higher the SPF, the better!
The sunscreen protects the skin in two ways:
1.The chemical filters absorb some ultraviolet rays, and then convert them to heat. Remember that such filters mostly absorb UVB rays than UVA rays.
2.Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are common physical filters that reflects rather than absorb both UVA and UVB radiations.
Here are the basic ways to protect the skin from the sun:
1.Avoid the sunlight between 11:00 A.M. And 4:00 P.M.
2.Always wear sunglasses to protect the eyes during outdoor activities.
3.Stay under the shade or use an umbrella as much as possible.
4.If the UV index become three or higher, it is best to wear a hat and other protective clothing.
5.Wear sunscreen even if the sky is cloudy. It does not mean there's no UV rays. Take note that it is an invisible light. It gets through haze, fog and even light clouds.
6.Wear at least an SPF 15, but it's better to use a higher SPF. Always refer to the label on its application. Make sure to reapply after swimming or heavy sweating.
7.Kids and teenagers have more delicate skin than adults, besides the fact that they love staying outdoor to play. They need extra protection.
Again, it is important to wear sunscreen all-year round, not just in the summer or spring, or a beach vacation.
I'm not married, nor do I play golf (there isn't much to be said about my hand to eye coordination...) but I do love to watch golf and in my past travels, there's always a spectacular golf course to visit.
Just last week, a good friend of mine had trouble telling the wife he was going on a trip to Florida for a few rounds of golf. His wife is a kind, gentle, lovable person who transforms into an annoying monster when he even tries to broach the idea of golf! That got me thinking, those golfers must have tricks up their sleeves for their wives to graciously allow them to play golf - I've come up with a few myself (and asked a few friends) so your wife won't have to box your ears when you ask permission (that is, if you're the kind of guy who does ask permission!).
Some of the reasons can go from reasonable to just crazy (and some are just dirty lies!)
- "Honey, I need to go relax, to let go of all the stress & to commune with nature...." (as if you're a nature lover!)
- "I need to close this deal with Mr. Yamamoto and he's a HUGE fan of golf.. what do you know! there's a tournament over at ..."
- "Honey, it's time to wear my funny pants.."
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- If you have a son, this usually works, "Our son Michael wants to play, so maybe I should spend time with him, you know? quality time with your family... lessen the troubles of society.."
- Most golf courses have Spa facilities; why not start with the relaxing offers of the Spa and go, "by the way, while you're at the spa, I'll just drive a few rounds!". She cannot say no to that sinful chocolate spa treatment! At least, both of you are enjoying the resort/golf facilities.
- Start winning money - and share your winnings with her. Usually the ladies will support whatever it is that fuels her shopping habits!
- Honey my sock tan lines are fading already...
and last but not the least..
- Golfers make the BEST lovers.
Golf requires patience, stamina, coordination - things you can apply in real life (like in bed of course). Want a better lover? Let your husbands play golf!
There's always an excuse to do something, I understand that golfing is a way of life - if your wife truly loves you like she says she does, she will understand this passion of yours. However, if you are sincere during the time you made your marriage vows, you'd understand that your participation in this sport of yours should include her - the more you include her and introduce her to whatever it is you like - whether a hobby or a sport - the better she'll understand and the lesser the fights.
Just a tip!
I have no illusions of a genie coming out of a lamp, nor do I believe in a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow (but in case you wanted to know, I've chased a few when I was a kid). However, there are a few wishes I believe every traveler wants to be granted – genie or not.
The perfect seatmate. Do not hog the arm rest. Do not carry too much stuff that it actually rests on my arms or my legs – that’s the point of the overhead cabin. And most specially, I’m a friendly person but once the flight attendants turn down the lights, please turn down the volume of your talking voice as well. No more small talk when it’s sleeping time please.
On time, all the time. I’m usually at the airport 3 hours before check in time; I expect the plane to leave at the designated time. Not a minute later, nor earlier.
Delicious meals – is this too much to ask? I did pay you know. So don’t give us crappy items you’d like to call
food.
No more lost luggage – I wonder, if everyone complains of a lost luggage once in their lives, imagine how many bags there are floating around the world, waiting to be claimed…
A Free Trip – who
doesn’t want a free trip? I know I want one (that’s why for every contest there
is on the net, expect me to be in it!)
How about you? What’s your travel wish?
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Timothy said:
[this is good]This is a great post. I like Hillary. Even though I am a registered Independent, I will vote for her... read more
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travel buff said:
That's what I thought too. Considering it is night time in the picture. I also come across a blog post... read more
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Emu with a Clue said:
Are you sure it hasn't just lightened in teh sun? that's what used to happen to my kids when they... read more
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I don't care what you say about her stopping the war... It won't effing stop! Hello? Why are we there?... read more
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