I am totally hooked on Ancestry.com. So much so, I’ve forgotten to sleep and eat a few different times over the past few days. Wow. I mean, who knew? I obviously didn’t. It started innocently enough. I was working on my memoir and was reminded of a discussion with a colleague about her web search for those in her past. I thought that perhaps a free trial would be harmless in helping me fill in some of the blanks in my family mystery. ( I always call it that versus history). It was easy enough to find most of my father’s relatives as they seemed well documented down through the years. I had only a few names from a couple of generations, but it was amazing to find documented proof of their lives back 5 generations. It is my recently deceased mother’s mystery that has always been the center of my family. Things unsaid. Conflict based on painful memories shared sparingly. Would I be able to find anything? Read more…
I’m on my semi annual media fast until February 1, but I just couldn’t resist watching and listening to all of the iPad news this past Wednesday. After hearing lots of talk about this product not being exciting enough, just an iphone on steroids, or not really making a 3rd category of mobile device between smartphones and laptops, I had to throw my 2 cents out there. I have an iMac, Macbook Pro and an iPhone. Each has a very specific use in my day to day. Let me show you how that works for me, then show how I think the iPad might fit perfectly into my lifestyle, replacing some of the weaknesses of all three. Read more…
I love popcorn probably as much as I love my iPhone. I eat popcorn almost daily, and when I can find flavored and gourmet popcorn it makes life all the better. Over the years I’ve enjoyed Dale and Thomas. Saw them on Oprah’s favorite things one year and tried them out. They were good but their flavors were limited. I’m a candied popcorn fan so the cheeses and toffee cashew mixes are great but not my first in line fav. One summer on a Myrtle Beach S.C. trip, I discovered a popcorn shop at Broadway at the Beach that had my simple and cherished cherry popcorn. Lost contact with them when they closed shop. Discovered Chicago’s famous Garrett’s popcorn. Very good but again, limited in flavors to about 4-6, and heavy on the cheese versions. Chagrin Falls (Ohio) Popcorn Shoppe surprised me with a limited edition cranberry mix. Good, but the cranberry pops were mixed in with kettle corn. Interesting flavor but not fully fruity like I wanted it. Read more…
My four-day qigong experience in Miami (general photos of the workshop) left me on such an emotional high, I felt it wise to come back down to earth before speaking on it at length. I figured I should return to my day to day challenges and life before blogging on the practicalities of what was probably meant to be a lifestyle shift. Lifestyle shifts are pretty regular for me and are typical surprises. I never look for them. I rarely say anything like, “This year I’m going to…” It’s more like they fall in my lap and I say, “I think I like this.” Some last, and some don’t. Some take me to the door of another experience. Some drop off with nothing in its place and I flounder without direction for who knows how long. Read more…
I admit I was amazed by what I saw on the AMA’s when Lambert did his controversial performance of “For Your Entertainment.” I have to say though, I respect him for sticking to his guns as a performer and offering no apologies in the name of artistic freedom. He does this in a “CBS This Morning” clip. He also criticizes the uproar by mentioning that the show had several moments from several artists that could have been just as maligned but weren’t. A very valid point. I probably was more offended to hear Eminem talk about his Slim Shady persona committing “17 rapes,” then I was seeing Lambert performing a glammed up version of any number of Madonna-like performances.
I also agree that he is a performer and not a babysitter. His near 11 pm performance was probably the best spot for it, and parents should have been aware of this. Really, if you’re going to sit with your pre-teen and watch the show, you had plenty of times to turn it off way before he hopped on the stage. Or as he said…”TiVo it” and review it before letting them watch. Ultimately, I won’t be buying his album, not even one song off iTunes. His vocal style and pop techno beats are not my cup of tea. But what he says here makes sense, and reminds us that it’s our responsibility to monitor our own kids, turn off the tv, or not buy a product. Parenting is a tough job, but somebody has to do it. How about you?…not ABC.
The Unisex Steam Room at the Hotel Victor- Miami Beach Florida
Miami Beach was a bit of an accidental road trip. We had planned to attend a 4 day qigong workshop in Charlotte NC, but due to a bad back that said, “nada,” we couldn’t make it. The next scheduled stop on the qi revolution tour was in Miami, so away we went. I initially thought Miami would have been too much of a distraction. Having never been there, I wondered if its frenetic, pulsing nature against the slow and precise qigong experience would turn the trip into a Jekyll and Hyde nightmare. Read more…
Had a great experience down in Miami attending a 4 day qigong workshop. Will be blogging on it soon. One of the many things I came away with was a new personal commitment to start a food based health program that I learned of while there. Part of that program is intensive 3hp blending, and the recommended blender comes from Blendtec. While doing my online research I was “horrified” to see the power of this blender demonstrated by the destruction of my beloved iPhone. Amazing! But even more crazy…did you see the toxic smog that came from the phone? Where can we safely recycle these things?
Saw this performance of “I Am” on the American Music Awards this past Sunday. My new favorite song. Mary J is a phenom that continues to grow and shine with time. This will be on her next studio release, the album “Stronger,” due out on December 22, 2009. By the way, it didn’t bother me one bit when R n’ B teeny bopper rapper Drake (who?) introduced Ms. Blige as “my mothers favorite artist.” She looked great, sounded fab, and her body wasn’t up for display, but was still sexy. We grown folks have wonderful taste and it shows!
Ok. This guy brought tears to our eyes because he’s so talented and yet singing on the corner. I had to video him. We were walking down the street in Miami Beach and this voice just drifted over. He was singing for change. We went up and talked to him and he was happy to oblige a song for us. PLEASE PAY IT FORWARD. Share this clip on your facebook page. Twitter it. Send it as an email link to friends. Just one moment on your page. One moment in your life…make that change. You never know who might see it.
I’ve added a few new categories to the blog. Hope you enjoy the content to come. Remember you can click “I’m Blogging On..” in the sidebar to see category related posts.
North Carolina- I was born here and spent nearly all of my childhood here. The road less traveled beckons me to explore my state through adult eyes and revisited experiences.
Road Trips- When I head off, I’ll be writing about the journey. Who knows what’s next!
For the Love of Food- Ah yes. From my struggles to return to vegetarianism, weight conscious food choices, or just musing about my favorite meals and restaurants I discover on adventures. It will all be here.
Raleigh Restaurants- A subcategory of “For The Love of Food,” especially for locals. I live here. Therefore I eat! (These local posts will not be posted to the homepage. They can be accessed at the sidebar. )
The Observations from the Road Less Traveled (ORLT) blog is now screen optimized for several popular touch screen based mobile phones.* If you have an iPhone, iTouch, Droid, Blackberry Storm, or MyTouch smartphone, simply point your browser to the home page and you’ll be able to enjoy the site on the go. Read more…
Just returned from an excellent and quick getaway up to Washington DC. While at a family function Saturday night, I had a sudden craving for my favorite Mexican restaurant. So what if the restaurant was in DC 4 hours away? I could taste the Carne Asade and the Margarita’s that many say are the best in town. They’re the kind of ‘ritas that have just the right mix of top shelf tequila, grand marnier, cointreau, lime, and salt. The perfect combo of taste and disguise so that when you stand up to leave you’ll have a smile on your face, but also feel very fortunate that you’re walking to your hotel in the cool evening air. That, my friends, can be found at Alero in DuPont Circle. And so with those memories hot flagging my taste buds, I started to plan my escape. Read more…
I am a planner. Some would call this being a control freak and on many days, I might be inclined to agree with them. I come from a long line of planners, most evident being my mother, who went to her passage with notebooks full of ideas and unfinished dreams near her side. I too have such notebooks, and if I’m not writing plans out there, I admit to having a dry eraser board tucked in the corner of my office for those moments when I need to see my grandiose ideas drawn out on multicolored mind map diagrams. I actually never knew what a mind map was until my daughter had to draw one for a middle school project. I was smitten. What a way to dream. What a way to plan! Read more…
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