October 6, 2009 | About Me

President Bill Clinton in Sarasota, Sept. 2009

Think I’ll be able to stretch my wings after this weekend when the workload releases me physically and mentally. Perhaps I’ll be able to take this blog in the direction I’ve intended. Maybe I’ll return to roller derby practice. We’ll see.

The past week has involved the Whip It roller derby movie directed by Drew Barrymore and starring Ellen Page. I saw a sneak peek the weekend prior then again with the roller derby league - which made it much more enjoyable! Check out my movie review of Whip It.

Then is was watching Ken Burns’s new documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, which is now available on DVD and Blu-ray. I was so moved by seeing the series, which took 6 years to film, I wrote how a hiking trail led to a career path, a brief synopsis of my time in the national parks and how it prepared me for the job I have now. I’ve also recently written “8 Basic Safety Tips for Camping in Naitonal Parks,” since I hope Burns’s documentary will encourage more people to get outside and enjoy their national parks.

And then, it was off to see President Bill Clinton in Sarasota last week. What a fabulous speaker! If you’re into tabloid-style info, then check out my article called, “Bill Clinton’s Whirlwind Visit.”

If looking for more hard-hitting questions of Clinton, well, there really weren’t any. But, if you don’t want to know what brings Bill Clinton joy or what he had for lunch (read the article above for that information), read this article, “President Bill Clinton’s Sarasota Visit.”

Unfortunately my camera sucks and the best I could do in capturing a snapshot is posted here. Just pretend he’s behind a frosty glass or something.

Hoping life is back to “normal” soon and I’m planning on running away next weekend. Not sure where but thinking of Sanibel Island. Stay tuned.

September 29, 2009 | About Me, Fuzzies, Gadgets & Stuff

I’ve received all sorts of career advice over the years ranging from customer service tips while working at a Burger King (”Make the customer feel important.”) and Xanterra Parks & Resorts (formerly TW Recreational Services: “If it’s good for the guest, do it.”) to technical pointers in using spreadsheets or cash registers. Key tips I learned from my late ex-husband (who worked for Xanterra) include, “A vacant room is the most perishable item in a hotel,” and “Keep on doing what you did to get you where you are.”

But, the most valuable piece of advice received was from public relations pro Mona Mesereau with Denver-based Mesereau Public Relations who managed (and continues to manage) the public relations account for Xanterra Parks & Resorts while I worked with the company more than a decade ago.

Mona’s savvy and authentic way of dealing with people always awed me. She was the opposite of my image of a PR pro, which wasn’t a nice one. She isn’t a spin doctor – “We don’t spin,” I recall her once saying. She is up front, genuine, kind and tells it like it is.

These days, I’m always pleased seeing her media releases about the national parks and happy seeing her mentioned on travel writer message boards as a good PR pro. When thinking of growing up, I knew I wanted to be like her and am thankful when she worked on the account where I worked (Flamingo Lodge in Everglades National Park), she graciously shared her knowledge and a book she found valuable, Digging Your Well Before You’re Thirsty by Harvey McKay.

It’s been more than a decade since Mona gave me the book yet I keep it handy. Copies have been given to other women whom I thought it would help in their careers. In a nutshell the book is about making connections and nourishing them before the need to call in favors. Although a simple concept, it’s amazing how many people don’t dig their well, self included.

During these economic times people need to be digging their wells. Job security is uncertain and being handed a pink slip is not the time to be making connections. The time is now so get digging.

August 22, 2009 | About Me, Solo Adventures

I like to think of myself as a good person and responsible traveler but here’s a confession: I’m not.

Sure, I’ve chastised litterbugs and those molesting animals in national parks and even gave my food to a homeless man but my irresponsible tourism blunder happened during my 2006 trip to Kabul. For those who know, I missed my flight to Kabul and ended up spending the night in Dubai before meeting up with the rest of the group the next day.

The taxi driver who picked me up from the Dubai Airport was named Shazad and probably thought he scored the jackpot by picking up an American. I realize I wasn’t the first American he’d come in contact with as his English was nearly perfect (better than my Farsi) and Western contractors have been crawling throughout Dubai. But I had to wonder how often he picked up solo women travelers from the airport. We engaged in innocent chatter and he replied, “I think Afghanistan is very dangerous,” upon telling him my final destination.

Not sure how the conversation segwayed to living and working in the United States but Shazad told me about his cousin who was living the American dream so he pleaded his case as to why I should help him come to the U.S. to find his dream. Unlike my 2003 trip to Cuba when I was propositioned twice on the streets of Havana, no marriage proposal was involved but Shazad straight out asked me for my mailing address and phone number so he could get a working visa.

Having no clue how close we were to the hotel (Hilton Dubai Creek – loved it!) and afraid to say “no,” I gave him AN address, phone and name. While the name was real – not mine – the address and telephone number were fictitious.

I didn’t know what to do. I had spent the past two nights sleeping on airplanes, was disorientated and in a country I had curious yet negative stereotypical thoughts about. If I said no, would he have taken the extra long way to the hotel? Or worse, would he have harmed me since he knew which hotel I was staying in? He gave me his phone number, too, and for an odd reason, I still have it.

It’s been more than three years since our chance encounter and guilt still lingers. I wonder if he tried to contact me or provide “my” fictitious information to the U.S. Embassy in hopes of gaining a visa for an opportunity to live the American dream. And if he did, how disappointed did he feel that the information was false? Did he feel cheated and wronged by an American? Have I contributed to the international hatred of the United States by not delivering on a promise?

Forgive me World, for I have sinned and vow to be a more responsible traveler.

July 25, 2009 | About Me

It’s time to step up my game and deliver on the promise to myself with getting this blog off the ground. BlogHer ‘09 has been the needed validation I’m doing the right thing. Read my initial thoughts about the blogging conference here and look forward to at least a couple of posts this weekend.

July 22, 2009 | About Me, Solo with Others

It’s time to step up my game with this blog and just delve into posting. Hopefully BlogHer ‘09 and TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange for those not in the know) will be the inspiration I need to get back on track with my passion for travel blogging. I will be live tweeting for the event, so follow me for updates @jenniferhuber, #blogher09 is the hashtag and hope to be posting photos on Flickr, too. I received my new business cards and will TRY to post a photo of them over the weekend.

Off to packing!

May 5, 2009 | About Me

I had grand plans for the launch of this travel blog but just like any journey, things quite didn’t go according to plan. So, welcome to the soft launch of SoloTravelGirl.com and allow me to introduce myself.

“You’re traveling alone? Aren’t you lonely?” I hear this countless times while traveling solo and it’s always in a tone of amazement. I simply reply with a smile and, “I’m traveling alone, not lonely.”

Continued on the “About Me” page…

April 29, 2009 | About Me

Hello, world! This is my new blog devoted to solo travel. Check back after May 1, 2009 for a VERY soft launch and if you live in Southwest Florida, stay tuned for a launch party sometime this summer. Hope you enjoy the ride! In the meantime, checkout my current blog, QuirkyKitschGirl.com