My wonderful wife and I were sitting together Sunday afternoon discussing….guess….yes it’s a tuff one. Give up? Yup, you got it first guess, our impending visit back to the island. We were discussing getting to the airport. Do we take an airport limo service, do we impose on a family member? We were looking up the pricing of an airport limo (big van) and she asked a great question. Does KC have a park, sleep, fly arrangement like many other large cities?
Surfed the net and low and behold, yes it does and the relative cost beats….limo service as well as the imposition of bothering a relative to get up that early.
Why is all of this necessary? Our flight from KC leaves at 5:30 in the AM. We live 45 minutes south of the airport and we are flying international meaning we would beat every chicken and rooster in the area out of our beds that morning and would be driving to the airport about the time all of the drunks are coming home from the bars.
My wife’s offered solution is awesome and frankly I am a bit embarrassed I didn’t think of it myself. Math works like this….14 days parking at airport (using the outer parking lot) would be $84. Then there is leaving home at probably 3AM to get there, get parked and to the gate early enough to check in go thru security and catch the Oh Dark:30 flight to Charlotte.
Another side journey here is if we stayed home the night before it would most likely be 11 PM or later before we headed off to bed with all of our pre trip activities like watering the plants and making sure everything is just perfect before we went to sleep.
So, we have agreed to leave shortly after my dear sweet wife gets home from work to drive to the hotel close to the airport. We will bring a bottle of wine, some chocolate and cheese and start our vacation that evening before the flight instead of in a rush the next morning. Cost $125 including the room, parking and shuttle to airport. So my math tells me for $41 I can rest close to the airport in a Sheraton hotel, car already parked. Enjoy the company of my wife without all the night before racing around and get at least 2 extra hours sleep.
After all that …the best I can say is GREAT IDEA HONEY, glad I listened this time..
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Who Knew?
Who knew that taking out the trash can be hazardous to your health? I sure didn’t think much of it as I walked out into my garage a week ago and bent over to pick up the bag and take it to the curb. Guess what…I found out right away. No pop or anything like that. I simply felt a sharp sting go down the side of my right leg, then the back spasms set in. I was down for the count! Thursday laid on the floor with a heat pack all afternoon. Went to work on Friday walking like an 85 year old with a bum hip, the only thing I was missing at this point was a walker. Made it to the doctor Friday afternoon.
He filled my hip full of cordozone and another steroid and prescribed a muscle relaxer and sent me home. Repeat Thursday afternoon lying on floor in pain. Sat came and still more pain….took meds but they did very little good. Sunday morning I rolled out of bed and told my wife as soon as I was done with a shower it was time to head to the emergency room, I have never felt my back hurt like this before.
The ER really fixed me up…I left there feeling NO pain. More Steroid and a bit of morphine for the pain along with a new muscle relaxer and an awesome painkiller. First time in several days I had felt at all decent.
I’ll save you most of the rest of the minute by minute cause I did a lot of sleeping and my intent is not to bore you any more than I have. Today is Day 8 and the spasms are most of the way gone but the nerve still tingles down into my leg pretty heavily. I am supposed to continue stretching and cut back on the meds for the next couple of weeks along with some physical therapy.
My biggest concern is there may be a bulging disc or something else that will lead to surgery…..Here is the biggest worry for me. We have 71 days until we load ourselves into a big metal can and fly to the Caribbean. I cant have this still going on while I am trying to get there. I will be going to PT, doing y stretching, cutting out the pain meds and everything else I can and or need to do to get better to include…the obvious dropping of a few lbs along the line.
Learning for the day, if I don’t stay fit, I will end up in a lot of pain by doing something as simple as taking out the trash…by the way I did take it to the curb today with no impact to my back. At this point I have been 21 hours with no painkillers in my system though I am sore enough that they sure would be nice to take they just aren’t necessary at this point.
He filled my hip full of cordozone and another steroid and prescribed a muscle relaxer and sent me home. Repeat Thursday afternoon lying on floor in pain. Sat came and still more pain….took meds but they did very little good. Sunday morning I rolled out of bed and told my wife as soon as I was done with a shower it was time to head to the emergency room, I have never felt my back hurt like this before.
The ER really fixed me up…I left there feeling NO pain. More Steroid and a bit of morphine for the pain along with a new muscle relaxer and an awesome painkiller. First time in several days I had felt at all decent.
I’ll save you most of the rest of the minute by minute cause I did a lot of sleeping and my intent is not to bore you any more than I have. Today is Day 8 and the spasms are most of the way gone but the nerve still tingles down into my leg pretty heavily. I am supposed to continue stretching and cut back on the meds for the next couple of weeks along with some physical therapy.
My biggest concern is there may be a bulging disc or something else that will lead to surgery…..Here is the biggest worry for me. We have 71 days until we load ourselves into a big metal can and fly to the Caribbean. I cant have this still going on while I am trying to get there. I will be going to PT, doing y stretching, cutting out the pain meds and everything else I can and or need to do to get better to include…the obvious dropping of a few lbs along the line.
Learning for the day, if I don’t stay fit, I will end up in a lot of pain by doing something as simple as taking out the trash…by the way I did take it to the curb today with no impact to my back. At this point I have been 21 hours with no painkillers in my system though I am sore enough that they sure would be nice to take they just aren’t necessary at this point.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Quack, quack….boing! Are you kidding me?
Things I read on Facebook can be a bit troubling at times, today I read a hyperlink on facebook that took me to a letter posted on the ST Marten News Network ( http://www.smn-news.com/letters/4440-american-tourist-files-complaint-against-club-orient-and-gendarmes.html ) I don’t normally send you to another link but I found this story to be pertinent to me as a photographer, take a few moments and read his letter as well as the notes following and make your own decision for I certainly have an opinion on this one.
This is a story about a guy that sat down at the edge of a naturist beach resort with a powerful camera that was accosted by the security folks of said resort. They requested to view what was on his memory card….he refused. They jerked his equipment away from him and took it to the front desk of the resort. The clerk viewed the pictures and then reformatted his memory card deleting the pictures he captured. He sent a letter off to the French Govt to complain about how he was treated on the beach as well as by the gendarmes after they were called. The folks at the resort say that there were graphic images of children that were undressed on the memory card. It was deleted so there is no proof one way or another.
I am concerned on a couple of levels here;
First and foremost if this “gentleman” was shooting photos of naked children…he is a sick man and needs see a therapist after he serves time for invasion of privacy and child pornography.
Second, I too am a photographer and bring some reasonably expensive equipment to the island but to capture nature’s scenery not people with or without clothes on.
I hate to feel that because I bring a professional quality camera to a beach to capture the beauty of the island that I will be lumped in with those trying to capture secret pictures of the unaware people on the beach.
When we go to a beach in which there may be nudity, I will shoot pictures of the landscape in the early morning light and if we choose to stay and enjoy the day on that beach I will put my camera away, not to see the light of the rest of the day at that beach.
I simply find the explanation of what occurred tasteless and rude…just the image American’s need. Thanks dude! It says in your note you are 60 but that doesn’t sound like rational behavior of any 60 year old I know.
The Facebook page that I found this on had a lengthy list of responses and basically one could shoot a lot of holes in the story that he told. His complaint is one that leads me back to Woody Harrelson’s character in the movie “after the Sunset” says…..”hey ,look over here at my assistant with the big tits while I take that Rolex off your arm”..one of deception and diversion from what was really happening.
In the end I responded if one walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I seriously doubt that they are a kangaroo….now you know why today’s title is ….Quack, quack, boing!
This is a story about a guy that sat down at the edge of a naturist beach resort with a powerful camera that was accosted by the security folks of said resort. They requested to view what was on his memory card….he refused. They jerked his equipment away from him and took it to the front desk of the resort. The clerk viewed the pictures and then reformatted his memory card deleting the pictures he captured. He sent a letter off to the French Govt to complain about how he was treated on the beach as well as by the gendarmes after they were called. The folks at the resort say that there were graphic images of children that were undressed on the memory card. It was deleted so there is no proof one way or another.
I am concerned on a couple of levels here;
First and foremost if this “gentleman” was shooting photos of naked children…he is a sick man and needs see a therapist after he serves time for invasion of privacy and child pornography.
Second, I too am a photographer and bring some reasonably expensive equipment to the island but to capture nature’s scenery not people with or without clothes on.
I hate to feel that because I bring a professional quality camera to a beach to capture the beauty of the island that I will be lumped in with those trying to capture secret pictures of the unaware people on the beach.
When we go to a beach in which there may be nudity, I will shoot pictures of the landscape in the early morning light and if we choose to stay and enjoy the day on that beach I will put my camera away, not to see the light of the rest of the day at that beach.
I simply find the explanation of what occurred tasteless and rude…just the image American’s need. Thanks dude! It says in your note you are 60 but that doesn’t sound like rational behavior of any 60 year old I know.
The Facebook page that I found this on had a lengthy list of responses and basically one could shoot a lot of holes in the story that he told. His complaint is one that leads me back to Woody Harrelson’s character in the movie “after the Sunset” says…..”hey ,look over here at my assistant with the big tits while I take that Rolex off your arm”..one of deception and diversion from what was really happening.
In the end I responded if one walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I seriously doubt that they are a kangaroo….now you know why today’s title is ….Quack, quack, boing!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Batteries…it must need new batteries.
What needs new batteries? My watch does, especially the date component. I think the damned thing is stuck .
I have most of my plans made for our fall adventure and now it seems as if Father Time is standing dead in his tracks and refusing to budge. Come on, I want to get to ST Somewhere….ok not so much somewhere , really just like to be boarding that giant cigar tube with wings on my way to ST Maarten!.
I still need to be in contact with some island friends to see when I can set up a party and possibly another art showing. I need to spend some time and increase my picture count from the dozen or so I have to a couple of dozen and then have some more prints made up. Get some more canvas works ready as well.
There is still some shooting I need to do to become even more comfortable with my camera and its settings. I may even try out a new product line. Then there is the website that is about half built. Cant sell anything if there is nothing on line to sell.
Hmmm guess I have plenty to do after all. Wait, in thinking this thru, I just saw the second hand move. The watch does work it is just real slow at this point.
I can already see the watch scenario work out and here is what will happen. Those proverbial batteries will get recharged with about 30 days left before our trip and then I will see Father Time move into a sprint to the finish line…leaving me grasping at last minute straws to make sure everything I am looking to get done is ready to go when I am. Guess it is time to stop whining and start winding the watch …..crap, just saw the minute hand move guess I best get a move on! Tick, tick, tick….
I have most of my plans made for our fall adventure and now it seems as if Father Time is standing dead in his tracks and refusing to budge. Come on, I want to get to ST Somewhere….ok not so much somewhere , really just like to be boarding that giant cigar tube with wings on my way to ST Maarten!.
I still need to be in contact with some island friends to see when I can set up a party and possibly another art showing. I need to spend some time and increase my picture count from the dozen or so I have to a couple of dozen and then have some more prints made up. Get some more canvas works ready as well.
There is still some shooting I need to do to become even more comfortable with my camera and its settings. I may even try out a new product line. Then there is the website that is about half built. Cant sell anything if there is nothing on line to sell.
Hmmm guess I have plenty to do after all. Wait, in thinking this thru, I just saw the second hand move. The watch does work it is just real slow at this point.
I can already see the watch scenario work out and here is what will happen. Those proverbial batteries will get recharged with about 30 days left before our trip and then I will see Father Time move into a sprint to the finish line…leaving me grasping at last minute straws to make sure everything I am looking to get done is ready to go when I am. Guess it is time to stop whining and start winding the watch …..crap, just saw the minute hand move guess I best get a move on! Tick, tick, tick….
Friday, July 23, 2010
99 bottles of beer on the wall…
Take one down and pass it around…..Yup, yesterday my return to the island countdown fell below 100 days until we return to the island! Woo hoo and yeah for us! Today is 98 bottles o beer….er, days till we are back on the terra firma of ST Maarten. Guess some of the terra won’t be so firma when the soothing waves wash over the tops of my feet at the beach but I think you get the idea
This trip is going so smooth in planning that I am concerned that it no longer is a challenge or that I am just getting too good at it and is second nature…
List;
Airfare…check
Timeshare…check
Rental car….check
Cell phone…check
Cash……is check the appropriate response appropriate here??? Anyway most of that already put away too so…check
New photo gear….check
Plans for a second art show…in the works
I even made a calendar for the time we are there and have added things like Corresponding times that some friends will be on island
Places I want to shoot
Prospective night for art showing
Evenings available for dinner with friends
This time I am really focusing on capturing more of the photos I desire as well as optimizing my time with the one I desire while juggling activities and friends.
We learn from each trip and the residual effect is that we cant wait to get back to the island and enhance our next trip with the sweet mixture of friends (local and travelers), sun, sand, relaxation and recharging.
See ya ST Maarten in 98 days!
This trip is going so smooth in planning that I am concerned that it no longer is a challenge or that I am just getting too good at it and is second nature…
List;
Airfare…check
Timeshare…check
Rental car….check
Cell phone…check
Cash……is check the appropriate response appropriate here??? Anyway most of that already put away too so…check
New photo gear….check
Plans for a second art show…in the works
I even made a calendar for the time we are there and have added things like Corresponding times that some friends will be on island
Places I want to shoot
Prospective night for art showing
Evenings available for dinner with friends
This time I am really focusing on capturing more of the photos I desire as well as optimizing my time with the one I desire while juggling activities and friends.
We learn from each trip and the residual effect is that we cant wait to get back to the island and enhance our next trip with the sweet mixture of friends (local and travelers), sun, sand, relaxation and recharging.
See ya ST Maarten in 98 days!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Oh Happy Day!
I was up a bit late last night booking our airfare to the island. I then had an issue with going to sleep after I booked. Glad my home town baseball team was playing on the west coast last night, I got to watch the end of the game and all the post game interviews in order to put myself to sleep.
We got great flights again! Price not so great but the flights are perfect.
Rob’s Caribbean flight ideas….I live in Kansas City….I travel in spring and fall….I do not want to go north to go south..especially in those seasons!! I prefer to have one stop when at all possible, from KC flying American I have to make two stops but that is part of the price of flying American. I would like to spend no more than 12 hours in travel to my final destination. That can be done on all airlines when the sun and moon are in alignment.
Now we wonder why the friendly skies aren’t as friendly as they once were ….Airlines amaze me. I have been following prices for ticket since I returned from my last trip in April….American had the best prices however I was going to visit some of the most populated cities and busiest airports along my path to paradise. From KC I was scheduled to fly to Chicago, Atlanta and Miami before heading to the Caribbean. This would have been about 15 hours of travel….just too much time!
Delta has a great flight, KC to Atlanta.. (without going thru Chicago or Miami) and Atlanta direct to our Caribbean destination…but the price was almost double that of American’s flights.
US Scare…sorry folks US Air had reasonable prices and the best flights….up early for a 5:30 AM flight but the reward is touch down at 1:42 PM the very same day…so for an extra $50 each ticket….we chose to fly US Air. Have taken this flight before a couple of times and it is honestly perfect for us…up early and there before we get too tired!
Now time to save cash and work on some more of my art and maybe even a new product to introduce. This time I am thinking two photo art shows while on island.
We got great flights again! Price not so great but the flights are perfect.
Rob’s Caribbean flight ideas….I live in Kansas City….I travel in spring and fall….I do not want to go north to go south..especially in those seasons!! I prefer to have one stop when at all possible, from KC flying American I have to make two stops but that is part of the price of flying American. I would like to spend no more than 12 hours in travel to my final destination. That can be done on all airlines when the sun and moon are in alignment.
Now we wonder why the friendly skies aren’t as friendly as they once were ….Airlines amaze me. I have been following prices for ticket since I returned from my last trip in April….American had the best prices however I was going to visit some of the most populated cities and busiest airports along my path to paradise. From KC I was scheduled to fly to Chicago, Atlanta and Miami before heading to the Caribbean. This would have been about 15 hours of travel….just too much time!
Delta has a great flight, KC to Atlanta.. (without going thru Chicago or Miami) and Atlanta direct to our Caribbean destination…but the price was almost double that of American’s flights.
US Scare…sorry folks US Air had reasonable prices and the best flights….up early for a 5:30 AM flight but the reward is touch down at 1:42 PM the very same day…so for an extra $50 each ticket….we chose to fly US Air. Have taken this flight before a couple of times and it is honestly perfect for us…up early and there before we get too tired!
Now time to save cash and work on some more of my art and maybe even a new product to introduce. This time I am thinking two photo art shows while on island.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Prepare to say goodbye to the couch potato
We have 122 days until we board the big metal bird and head south east!
At day 120 Mary and I are going to start the P90X program. I already know I wont follow all parts of it …as in I wont follow the diet. I will work on a modified diet and be willing to do that. Our goal is to lose several lbs before we get on the plane to our paradise.
How successful will we be? I am guessing I will lose my goal of at least 25 lbs but not as successful as could be if followed the program to the letter.
So I have my tennis shoes ready, sorting out all of my old t-shirts and shorts and getting ready to get my sweat on….wish me luck!
At day 120 Mary and I are going to start the P90X program. I already know I wont follow all parts of it …as in I wont follow the diet. I will work on a modified diet and be willing to do that. Our goal is to lose several lbs before we get on the plane to our paradise.
How successful will we be? I am guessing I will lose my goal of at least 25 lbs but not as successful as could be if followed the program to the letter.
So I have my tennis shoes ready, sorting out all of my old t-shirts and shorts and getting ready to get my sweat on….wish me luck!
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