February 8, 2010 | Solo Adventures

Fried Green Tomatoes and Other Southern Foods, Irondale Cafe, Feb. 7, 2010

Yesterday I was in Birmingham, Ala., and rather than sinking my teeth into good ole’ barbecue, I ventured over to the Irondale Café in nearby Irondale for their world-famous fried green tomatoes. You can take the girl out of New York but can’t take the Yankee out of the girl. I love food in all shapes, forms, and tantalizing flavors and textures. I’m always up for tasting something new and rarely turn my nose at anything edible.That’s why it’s so hard for me to say I’m not a fan of fried green tomatoes. (more…)

February 3, 2010 | Snapshots

Not sure about where you live but the past few days, my part of Florida hasn’t lived up to the Sunshine State name. What to do? Share a little bit of sunshine from my trip to Denver in July 2010. The shadow is that of my Uncle PhilZzzz. Wishing you a sunny day. (more…)

Fuzzies, Gadgets & Stuff

Did you know: heart disease is the #1 killer of women? Help raise awareness of this deadly illness by joining The Heart Truth® and wearing red on Friday, Feb. 5, during National Wear Red Day. Spread the message, Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear – It’s the #1 Killer of Women®. Check out The Hearth Truth Web site to learn more. (more…)

February 1, 2010 | Fuzzies, Gadgets & Stuff

There’s no secret, I’m a fan of FREE things but what’s better than free? Free groovy things related to travel! I was so excited to learn about KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ free luggage tag offer on the blog Freebies 4 Moms. [Note: I'm not a mom but love freebies and this is one of the best resource blogs for free stuff and deals.]

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Free and Groovy Luggage Tags

OK, what makes these tags extra groovy? You can upload your own photo! How cool is that? Since I’m a foodie (unfortunately), I uploaded an image from one of my favorite funky Punta Gorda, Fla., restaurants, Peace River Seafood. I also added my contact information to the back of the tag and rather than my address, I inserted my Web site, email and phone number.

What you see is what arrived in today’s mail. Have I mentioned how cool this is? Of course, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has to be one fab airline to extend this offer.

Want your own? Get started here and for future flights, consider KLM and other members of the Sky Team alliance.

January 27, 2010 | Snapshots

Sorry for the iPhone photo but you get the idea: Just another winter day in Blustery Buffalo. So what do Western New Yorkers do to escape the cold? Eat, for one. Here’s a list of some of my favorite Buffalo foods.

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Solo Adventures

Vacations and traveling are usually happy occasions but have you thought what would happy if you died while traveling? Making my connection at Chicago Midway for Buffalo last week I saw something unexpected: a man dying on the concourse.

Heading home knowing my father had bypass surgery the week prior and just receiving a text my mother was in the ER, the sight was even more disconcerting. That man on the ground was somebody’s son and possibly someone’s husband and/or father. (more…)

January 20, 2010 | Snapshots, Solo Adventures

A decent camera or more muscle to pony-up to the stage would have been useful when I attended the Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball a year ago today. President and Mrs. Obama are pictured in this “abstract” image. (more…)

January 18, 2010 | Solo Adventures

I returned from the SATW Institute of Travel Writing & Photography this evening and my mind is swimming with ideas. I first attended five years ago and while some things have remained the same in the travel writing industry (i.e.: networking, protecting work, pitching an editor), much has changed. (more…)

January 14, 2010 | Disclosure, Solo Adventures, Uncategorized

Less than 48 hours from now I’ll be heading to Orlando to participate in the 15th Annual SATW Institute for Travel Writing & Photography for the weekend. I attended in May 2005 and am really looking forward to learning about the changes in travel writing since then, especially in technology. (more…)

January 13, 2010 | Snapshots

My grandma would have been 87-years-old yesterday but she passed away a year ago. Her final wish was to have her ashes dispersed in the Gulf of Mexico (although at one point she wanted her ashes placed in the trash so no one would have to worry about what to do with her) and family made it happen. (more…)