The art of journaling as you travel – CNN.com

The art of journaling as you travel – CNN.com.

Travel guru Rick Steves offers readers some tips about keeping a travel journal.

Mr. Steves writes:

The key to good journaling is being both observant and disciplined. Take the time to notice what you’re experiencing and then to jot down your thoughts. I use a tiny pocket-sized notepad to capture the moment right there. Then, when I have time, I pull out my actual journal, sort through those notes, and organize them into something vivid and fun to read.

This is a short article but kind of interesting, I think.

I’m going to try keeping a travel journal the next time I hit the road.

Maybe next year, unless I get lucky again and work asks me to travel!

TTFN, and happy Monday.

Library of Congress’s National Book Festival Attracts More Than 120,000 Book Lovers to the National Mall – MarketWatch

Library of Congress’s National Book Festival Attracts More Than 120,000 Book Lovers to the National Mall – MarketWatch.

For some time now, I’ve been planning a 2009 trip to Rochester, New York, which is my hometown.

But.

In June, as many of you know, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in an expert panel for work.

I got a chance to spend four hours in downtown D.C., and I need to go back for a vacation.

Goodbye Rochester, hello Washington, D.C.

Looks like I’m planning a September trip, so that I can go to the National Book Festival!

With my resources, it may be 2010 before I can get there, but I’m going for sure.

Photo credit.

And the weekend flies by

I traveled to downtown Seattle, got my hair cut, had brunch with my son, and picked up a few things for dinner.

Now I’m home, washing my bedding and keeping the Jack Russell company.

It’s not hot in Seattle today, but it’s humid.

Still, it’s not a bad weather day at all.

I”ve finally conquered the jet lag that has plagued me for weeks!

This is such good news, because I can feel my energy returning at last.

And, my daughter-in-law and grandchildren will be back in Seattle in…let’s see…in 15 days!

Woot!

Life is good now, folks, it’s really good.

May your life be as good as mine is now.

Thoughts regarding travel

• Traveling reminds me a lot of work, because  just getting to my destination took time, effort, planning, patience, good manners, and a strong stomach.
• I found changing tome zones confusing and tiring.
• Staying in a swanky hotel raised my spirits considerably (paying big $$ for room service made me choke a bit, but I still felt like a rich bitch, at least for a few minutes).
• Being in an airplane during a thunder and lightning storm is a freaky experience.
• I found all of the  TSA regulations easy to follow, and felt comforted by all of the security.
• I hadn’t been in an airplane for 12 years, and flying twice in two weeks was just too much for my body and mind. When I got off the airplane Wednesday evening, I wanted to kiss the ground, thank the Goddess, and swear off airplanes forever.
• But–I’m planning another trip back east next year.
• I’m extremely glad to be home, and my next vacation will be spent closer to home, with family.

TTFN.

Home

Boy, I’m beat.

It was a great trip to D.C.

The plane (every seat sold) got into D.C. at 5 p.m., EST, on Monday. We landed in a thunder and lightning storm, and it was a rough landing.

By the time I got to my hotel it was almost 8 p.m. There was time to eat dinner and get my clothes ready for the conference the next morning. I passed out at 10:00 p.m., and woke up refreshed and raring to go the next morning.

The conference was amazing, and I had a wonderful time. By 3:30 p.m., I was free of responsibility. I walked back to my hotel, it was less than two blocks from the conference sight, and I enjoyed fresh air and 80 degree temperature (the storm the day before lowered D.C.’s temperatures to the bearable level).

Wednesday morning, I checked out of my hotel and took the metro to downtown D.C. For the next three hours, I walked around our nation’s capitol. I stood across the street from The White House, stared at the Washington Monument, and ate the best corned beef sandwich I’ve ever had the pleasure of consuming.

I got back home at 10:00 p.m. last night, and I have not gotten much accomplished today.

I did not have a camera, so there will be no pictures to share of my trip to Washington D.C.

Some day, I hope that you all get a chance to visit D.C. Try not to think about politics, whether you agree or disagree with the current group in power, wars or anything else. Go to D.C., drink in the sights, and consider our nation’s history.

Hopefully, I will get a chance to go back as a tourist, and have more time to visit.

In any case, it’s great to be home.

Photo credit.

Back Thursday

I’ll report back on Thursday.

TTFN

cool myspace layouts

Stopping to sip the peppermint tea

I always give my all at work, but I really pushed myself this week.

Jet lag disappeared by Thursday, and I finally felt caught up on my rest.

Joy stopped by to visit me today when I realized that I have two whole days off before I take off for the east coast and my conference.

I’m getting lots of rest this weekend and keeping myself well hydrated, because I’m going to be spending 5.5 hours in a airplane on Monday.

Geesh.

Tonight I brewed a pot of peppermint tea, listened to music, and just sat around doing nothing.

I can feel my body start to relax, the kinks in my neck and back are gone, and I’m calm and refreshed.

So, expect more from me tomorrow after I get my lazy arse out of bed.

TTFN.

Vacation, jet lag, and another trip

Life is amazing sometimes.

Always, I guess.

Yesterday I got home from my first real vacation in years.

And next week I will be spending two days in Washington, D.C. for a conference. My employer asked me to attend and be part of an expert panel.

Wow.

I will be putting in some extra work time this week, since I will be gone for four days next week.

My blogging will be sporadic this week, because I need to put in some extra hours on the job.

But that’s just fine, because I’m so excited to be part of a very special conference.

On my vacation, I flew from the west coast to the Midwest–two time zones, and I’m still really tired tonight.

Next week, I will be flying from the west coast to the east coast on Monday, then flying back on Wednesday! And I’m taking Thursday off to recuperate.

Anyhoo, here’s a good article from The Mayo Clinic.

It’s about jet lag.

It’s now 7:37 pm, and it’s time for me to crash.

TTFN

Vacation is coming!

Travel!

Woot!

My battered Roget’s Super Thesaurus lists these synonyms for travel:

Journey, take a trip, tour, voyage, cruise, globe-trot, sight-see…

You get the idea, I’m sure.

What interests me about this entry in my thesaurus are the antonyms:

have an armchair adventure, stay put

I’ve had lots of armchair adventures in the last ten years, my friends.

Staying put has been routine for me, but no longer!

My vacation in June is my first in a long, long time.

I’ve had little weekends here and there, but not the type of vacation where I actually get a chance to travel!

I’ve already started to pack!

It’s true, I’ve picked out the two books I’m taking, airing out my suitcase, and spending a lot of time on the TSA website.

The TSA website is interesting, and fun in its own way–did you know you can have a cattle prod in your luggage (but not a carry-on). I’ll leave mine home, thanks all the same.

I’m going to buy a new pair of sneakers, and make sure that I have clean socks on.

White socks, of course, because warm weather is finally here and it’s time to push those black socks to the back of my sock drawer.

I’m digressing, I know, but as it gets closer to vacation, I’m as giddy as a 16 year-old girl on her way to her first dance (I’m sure young girls go to dances before the age of 16, but in my day we were lucky to get to a dance at 16!).

Anyhoo.

b.burcroff signing out for now.