Pam Webb

a writer's journey as a reader

Archive for the category “travel”

03 Oct 2014
1 Comment

Of Entry Deadlines Whooshing By


Scrolling through my iPhone notes, I came across a bit of writing that I had good intentions of entering into a writing contest. Oops. That Vonnegut deadline whoosh went by me, but I like the piece so much I couldn’t resist sharing it. The contest required the telling of a story in dialogue only, without any tags. Challenge accepted, just not actualized. Here goes:
“Do you need some help?”
“Seems I’ve twisted my ankle.I’ll be all right. My friends are returning with the car.”
“I’m going in that direction. I’ll take you to when you’re staying.”
“That’s all right. They should be along shortly.”
“Those clouds indicate a change in the weather.”
“Yes, I think you’re right. Are you sure it’s no trouble?”
“None at all.”
“Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome. You’re American?”
“Yes, I’m visiting with friends. We’re on a hiking tour.”
“Yes, I’ve often hiked this area. You must have stepped in a rabbit hole.”
“Probably so. This is a bit awkward. I don’t quite know what to say.”
“Ah, we are addressing the elephant after all, then.”
“Oh, right. Yes, well…”
“I’m on holiday. There is no obligation.”
“Courtesy and good manners at least.
“And they say Americans are rude.”
“Not always.”
“How is the ankle?”
“Truthfully, I’ve forgotten about it. It doesn’t look like a bad sprain. I’ll recover.”
“Ice and elevation. I’m no physician, but I’ve dealt with a few twisted ankles. The men folk do their fair share of traipsing these hills on their hunts. Do you hunt?”
“Only with my camera.
“Much preferable, though I still appreciate the hunt. Tradition. It’s difficult to get away from tradition.”
“That’s my group. Up ahead, yes, over there by those trees. Looks like they’ve stopped for lunch.”
“Are you up to walking? I can set you closer to your camp.”
“Yes, well. The ankle is still a bit tender.”
“Then it’s best I drive you to your camp.”
“Only if it wouldn’t be an inconvenience. Thank you. That would be appreciated.”
“Is that it, by those cars?”
“Yes. Well, thank you once again.”
“Enjoy your stay and I hope you have a full recovery.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

 

 

Posted in Americans, Blogging, holidays, summer, travel and tagged , , , ,
06 Jul 2014
11 Comments

Road Trip Reflections


It’s been about a week since I’ve been back from my Road Trip. Along the way I jotted notes and here’s what I came up with:


Reader Board: “without ice cream all would be darkness and chaos”

Rest stop bathroom poster: “no one should force you to work”–immigrant worker rights poster

Parking lot: one legged-seagull and a choir of grackles.

Dairy Queen: girl to grandpa–“how do they get the swirl on top of cone?”

Wireless Connect Option:
Drunkengiantgrogshop; dishonestdon–what neighborhood have I stopped in?

Window Shopping: seen on bib–“these fools have turned my super cape backwards.”

Coffee Shoppe: eclectic chairs and tables, tall ceilings, bookcase of children’s books, windowed playroom with dress up clothes, chalkboard walls, train set, kitchenette hutch. A brood of children frolicking while moms and dads read, deviced, paperworked. Lovely chocolate chip cookies too.


At the park: full out barbeques and families on a Saturday night

Dessert

Any guesses what this deliciousness might be? Oooh, yummers. Dark chocolate wrapped around cheesecake with raspberry crème garnish sauce. Note the in-house signature chocolates decorating the sides. Caloric penance.


At the restaurant: a dessert so beautiful I actually took a photo


In the parking lot: grated fern, a statement of deeper naturalism versus industrialism that Keats, Byron, or any of the Romanticist poets would have found poignant.

Trapped Fern

This can be viewed as either a poignant expression of nature being trapped by encroaching society or how nature finds a way to bloom amidst the trappings of industrialization. Or–isn’t that weirdly cool?


On the highway: no way, amazing, sleek as a Woolworth counter grilled cheese sandwich on a pastel Bakelite plate, a blast from the past–an actual Greyhound bus sporting a “hundred years” sticker to boot.

image: greyhound.com What are your memories of Greyhound?



In the motel room: white noise box with ocean waves, complete with seagulls scree; forest dawn, crickets and birds quite charming,; rain pattering, too close to home; fan, buzzy hum. A novelty never before encountered and even available for purchase. Tried it on first night and grandkiddo, the one who needs a minimum of two-three books, some conversation, and a bit of snuggling was out within two minutes of being lulled by waves.


Return home: a road trip is not complete without road construction delay. At one section the two lane highway is down to one lane and nobody is moving. Not no way. Not no how. Behind a little red car which is behind a huge white truck, yet from strained sneak peeks the road looks clear ahead. The MEPA is quietly muttering for  the car ahead to edge around truck. Finally it does, and like a cork popping from a bottle, traffic started flowing again. The problem? The exit ramp so full it flowed onto road. No flagger directing traffic, construction crew absolutely  clueless to havoc below on highway.

Dinner stop: connection with youngest progeny for dinner. Roadside grazing produces guilt to eat lightly–salad bar. Yet when it’s $12.00 though all one can eat, I strive to get my  monetary satisfaction. It is possible to overdose on greenery, especially when artichoke hearts and curried chicken salad are involved.

Rolling in late to home some 6 hours later than the Google Maps prediction: truly there is no place like home

 

Posted in America, children, Family, Reflections, summer, travel and tagged , , , , , ,
20 Jun 2014
5 Comments

Penthouse Ponders


image: flickerriver.com Looking out over the world from my penthouse view…

This week I am on my yearly sojourn of eldest progeny visitation. She now lives in a third floor apartment with a view of the neighborhood park–well, sideways squint from the bathroom window. There is no elevator. This is an o-l-d building. If I were a realtor I would employ the words “charming,” “has character,” “a link to the city’s past.” In other words, the stairs are steep and the hallways long, and the foyer smell is a bit aromatic. The apartment itself is charming with lots of light from the east, west, and southern exposure. Her last place was a basement studio. The window and light were practically non-existent. The landlords seem to be trying to update the building. There are mock wood floors, cream-colored stucco walls, deadbolts, and newish windows. They don’t quite close all the way but there is hope for a fix in the works.

After the fourth night of staying in a third floor walk up having lived in relatively ground level dwellings all my life, I have the following observations:

  • Costco shopping hauls are ludicrous because all that is bought can only be hauled if held in each hand
  • Always think about if you have everything before leaving the apartment
  • Should I take the garbage down?
  • Looking at life from a bird’s-eye view lends a pleasant start to the morning
  • Going outside for some fresh air takes on deeper meaning
  • The opportunity to develop voyeurism is tempting
  • Less is more when it comes to gathering possessions, since it all has to be moved down eventually
  • Having neighbors below makes one more sensitive to noise being made since we were once the neighbor below
  • Streetside parking involves intuition and strategy
  • Buns of steel and stamina are a bonus to the view

These observations might be different if the building had an elevator–then again the rent would probably be higher. There seems to be an irony here: most places charge more for the tippy-top real estate, then again elevators must be part of the equation.

Perhaps if I were in my formative years of twentyish ,a walk-up domicile with windows would be exciting. At present, I am learning an appreciation for my yard, driveway, and ability to amass belongings without too much consequence.

 

 

Posted in America, Blogging, Family, Reflections, travel and tagged , , , ,
27 May 2014
2 Comments

The Road Less Traveled


NOT on the road again…sorry, Willy N. image: http://www.3.bp.blogspot.com

The open road tends to beckon when twenty something. That yearning to travel starts young and bubbles up in the teens, often erupting into a boil up upon achieving graduation.

Where to go? Europe, Australia, explore the continental USA–all possibilities.
I was fortunate to travel to Europe when a mere 21, spending the entire summer in Bavaria visiting family, experiencing Deutschland like a native.

No, I did not go total native when visiting Bavaria

Even though I had family around, comforts, experiences, even fabulous doses of chocolate, I was incredibly homesick. Good thing I discovered early my penchant towards being a homebody. I have yet to renew my passport.

From time to time I do wonder what it would be like to see more sights than I have.

For instance, I recently attended a conference and inevitably we shared a bit about our lives. When I hear how some people have been all over the globe and they are barely dipping into their thirties, I reflect as to whether I’ve missed something. Part of me wonders what it would have been like to live in Paris, go to school in England, backpack in Europe, live in Melbourne.  And then I drift away from the postcard daydreams and realize some are born to travel and some are born to stay home.  Dorothy and I got that RubyRed Slipper thang down–we know there is no place like home *click click*

Ruby Slippers

Because being ever so cool–I want those transporter powers of the Ruby Reds image: http://www.ladymirror.com

I derive great enjoyment and satisfaction from cozying up in my little house. Got my wood-stove for winter, hammock for summer, my recliner couch and remote control, my pillow top bed, choice of clothing, eats, whatever I need. Truly there is no place like home.
Sure it’s nice to get a change of scenery now and then. For instance, that conference I attended? What a tonic to meet new people, exchange new ideas, and explore new places.  However, after the second day, I couldn’t wait to get back home. I will not be joining the corp of retired teachers of RVing around, skipping from one sunny spot to another. Okay, maybe taking off January and February is a possibility. Living in the land of snow and ice can’t always be remedied by the wood-stove and a stack of good books.
So, me, Dorothy, and Toto all agree that there are some mighty cool sights somewhere over the rainbow, but after it’s all said and done, there really is no place like home.

cozy-home-500x375.jpg

Aah–that cozy home feeling–nothing like it image: http://www.allthingschic.net

Posted in Reflections, travel, Uncategorized, Writing and tagged , , , ,
30 Mar 2014
15 Comments

Way Too Cool Library(ians)


I am a bona fide bibliophile. I not only love (phile) books (biblio) I adore all that  is connected to them: writing, reading, bookstores, and libraries. If we go on vacation I seek out the library. Some seek out shopping, eating, beaching, hiking, or cycling–I seek out reading. My idea of the perfect vacation tour would be to visit libraries all around the world.  The cool part about libraries is the librarians. There are plenty of movies about super heroes as well as super agents, along with super smart folk who solve crime, save the world, etc.–but rarely is the librarian given credit where credit is due. Being a librarian at heart, I had a fair amount of fun watching The Librarian series–all that knowledge put to good use saving the world. Yeah, librarians do have skills.

image: pinterest.com

Libraries around the world preview:

  • clementinum int 10 of the world's most spectacular libraries

    This is in Prague. Oh, yes, I do want to go. I do. I do.

Posted in Books, Libraries, Movies, Reading, Reflections, travel and tagged , , , , ,
13 Feb 2013
16 Comments

Time Waits for True Love


Children's Valentine, 1940–1950

Children’s Valentine, 1940–1950 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have already admitted I am not a Valentine’s Day fan, and those who know me well have accused me of being *prickly*–ouch….

Yet, when by myself, so no one can see me mush over and admit that I really  am a romantic at heart, these are three of the movies, make that four movies, that guarantee I will be sniffling and clutching Kleenex  by the movie’s end because time cannot keep true love apart.  P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day–but you didn’t hear me say that…

Persuasion with Amanda Root and Cirian Hinds

                                                                     The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Kenau Reeves

Cover of "The Lake House"

Cover of The Lake House

The Time Traveler’s Wife with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana

Cover of "The Time Traveler's Wife"

Cover of The Time Traveler’s Wife

Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour

Cover of "Somewhere in Time (Collector's ...

Cover of Somewhere in Time (Collector’s Edition)

What about you?  What is your favorite movie for that inner mush release?

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Posted in celebrations, holidays, Movies, Reflections, time management, travel and tagged , , ,
12 Feb 2013

It’s a Small World After All


Lately I was relaxing in Greece after a quick trip to Spain.  This was all done without suffering passport photo application and TSA hassles.  Over the last year I’ve even been to visit some of the Italian wineries after a quick wink at the French Rivera.  It didn’t matter that I hadn’t packed my bathing suit or that I can’t handle two drops of wine without getting dizzy.  I like to travel.  And I do so by staying cozy in my living room.  I am a bigtime homebody but I am interested in what other countries are like.  I make great use of our library’s travel videos and our current guide is nice guy Rick Steves, who is personable, fun, and easy to travel with.

I may never get around to traveling the world (although I did get to Europe when I turned 21–*ahem* a few years ago) I have enjoyed seeing the sights and should I dust off the passport I will know where to go, what to do, and how to do so on a retired teacher’s budget.
Others who live the adventuresome life by traveling all over the world definitely get my thumbs up (see Rick) and one special traveler, adventurer, and blogger is Lesley Carter who has the incredibly popular Bucket List Productions blog.  She has been all over the world and has had some amazing adventures. I admire her pluck and I enjoy her blog and so I cast my vote for her as a contestant in the Biggest Baddest Bucket List Contest. Swing over and watch her video, get inspired, and give her a vote.
A picture of Matt Harding at Yoyogi Park in Sh...

A picture of Matt Harding at Yoyogi Park in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another person who inspires me is Matt Harding, who is a phenomena all in his own.  Watch him dance all over the world and then check out his website. His story is just as amazing as his videos.  I smile every time I watch one.
And no, his videos are not a hoax.  Check out his hoax explanation–too funny.
For those of you, like me, who desire to travel the world from the comfort of your living room.  Enjoy your travels with Rick, Lesley, and Matt.  Pass the popcorn.
Blue Skies
CM
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Posted in Reflections, travel, Uncategorized and tagged , , | Leave a comment
19 Nov 2012
3 Comments

R and R. Mmmhmmm


The "gravedigger scene" The Gravedig...

The “gravedigger scene” The Gravedigger Scene: Hamlet 5.1.1–205. (Artist: Eugène Delacroix 1839) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

After a couple of tough weeks of school there is nothing like a weekend getaway.  Grabbed a few foodstuffs, a couple of changes of clothes, and of course, school work.  But hey, at least I’d be doing lesson plans in a change of scenery.

 

First thing I did was nap.  Then I grabbed my Hamlet homework and dug in.  Even though I’ve taught Hamlet for the last three years, and really, really like the play, I know I have to up my game since I am know teaching it ala AP.  Deeper, richer, more insights–get some questions (try to know the answers).  I was delighted to find that my iPhone internet connection functioned which meant I didn’t have to pay the WiFi fee.  Heck, I didn’t even use my laptop this weekend.

 

I all kinds of Hamlet helps on the Internet.  One especially helpful site was called Shakespeare Navigators.  I drained my iPhone battery working the site so much and had to drive around to charge it up.  Gave me an excuse to go down to the Safeway (a good 40 minute drive) to stock up on essentials like Peppermint Bark Haagen Daz.  You know Christmas is around the corner when the Peppermint Bark comes out.  Fortunately MEPA met up with me on Saturday and brought my charger.  Whew.  A good personal assistant is more valuable than all the Haagen Daz in the freezer.

 

I tried to NaNo while R and R-ing and managed to get the posts up.  I didn’t manage to update my word count until I got home and looking at my statistics and posting three days worth of word count bloated my chart slightly.

 

Your Average Per Day: 1,934
Words Written Today: 4,967
Total Words Written: 34,827
Words Remaining: 15,173
At This Rate You Will Finish On: November 25, 2012
Words Per Day To Finish On Time: 1,168
There is no truth to the stat I wrote nearly 5,000 today.  Nope, didn’t happen.  I do like seeing I might finish early.  That would call for more Peppermint Bark.

 

 

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Posted in Blogging, Teachers, time management, travel, Uncategorized, Writing and tagged , , , ,
23 Jun 2012
4 Comments

Airport Moments


Cover of "The Terminal (Widescreen Editio...

Cover of The Terminal (Widescreen Edition)

 

I’m sitting here in the middle of a two hour layover at an airport that could use a serious makeover.  There is a pervasive nuance of worn out and drone in this place.  It’s not that I’m a world traveler and have a large repertoire of airports to pull out from experience to offer up comparisons, I’m calling it as I see it.  Plus, having caught a flight out of an especially aesthtic airport this morning (Portland–PDX–Orgeon progressive at its best),  it’s a real let down to spend excess time in a rundown terminal.  I shall not name it, except to say it’s in the Southwest and it’s hot out there.  Real hot.  Like I hope I have a covered tarmac to the plane because it’s heatstroke weather hot outside. (I didn’t–I nearly melted like a candy bar left on the dashboard)

Being between flights there is not much to do.  On the other hand, there is plenty to do in the people watching department.  My writer’s mind is storing all sorts of vignettes as I pretend I’m occupying myself with my laptop (well, I guess I am–this post is proof).

First Moment:
People-mover walkways never cease to amaze me.  Why do people walk on boring airplane motiff carpet when they can be transported on the rolling terminal sidewalk?  A fave is to stride aboard and walk with purpose, as if I am a Person Of Importance. Slow movers ride the right side as I power-walk down to my place of destination. The scenario:

“Sylvia checked her voice mail quickly, before reconfirming her flight and gate number.  Securing her phone into her purse, she mentally rehearsed her opening remarks  once again, allowing spots of applause and appreciative chuckles within the time frame.  Her thoughts were hampered by the incessant recording “the sidewalk is ending–please watch your step.”  Wait, that could be a metaphor.  Life is like a moving sidewalk in that we simply step on and roll through life and if we aren’t careful we can end up stumbling at the end.  Sylvia decided she would work it into remarks.”

Second Moment:
How does someone end up working behind an airport Burger King counter?  I pondered this as the cashier rang up my purchase. Did she think at fifteen that she would be handing back, “Have a nice day” with someone’s change when she was 32?  Would she go back, if possible, and say, “Girl, listen up to the counselor. You had better sign up for geometry, take that Biology II class, and don’t forget to study for your vocabulary test on Wednesday, otherwise you will be still wearing that zip up fugly polyster uniform when you get out of high school.”  She maybe took the wrong Frost path.

Third Moment:
“Look at this, no hands.  It’s self-propelled.”  This comment is directed to the woman in the airport courtesy wheelchair. The attendant grins widely as he walks alongside her.  She looks over at him like he’s popped a lugnut off his hubcap and his sanity is seriously wobbling.  Then, she smiles and they both share a laugh before he grabs a hold of the handle and continues pushing her towards her flight.  My thought: “Cool.  Way to make a rainbow in the middle of day.”

There are many more micro-moments: the guy in a ponytail, too tight plaid bermuda shorts and too small Calvin and Hobbes t-shirt and no visible carry-on luggage (hmmmm…), the grandma next to me reading her e-reader (who says Greys don’t do tech?),  the anxious bumped passengers waiting to get their name called off the short list (reactions range from resignation to disgruntled subdued rants shared on phones).

I remember watching a movie with Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones a few years back, The Terminal,where due to circumstances beyond his control, Hanks ended up living at the airport, all the while harboring a passion for Jones, who is a stewardess.  I would not want to live at the airport, at least not this one.

Eve Bunting wrote a picture book, Flyaway Home,  about a father and young son who choose to live at an airport instead of the streets.  Both the movie and the book showed how airports are made for short visits and not lengthy stays.  Wait–my flight is finally being called.  I’m bound for home, or will be home soon enough.  Airports, are best suited for destination portals, and people watching.  Home addresses they do not make.

 

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Posted in America, Books, Movies, travel, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , ,

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