Freestyle Friday: A slightly disjointed ramble

My roots are European, English, Welsh, French, German, maybe a little Irish or Scottish. My family presence in north America has been traced back to about 1612, with the latest immigrants arriving here about 300 years later. In the overall timeline of the world, just the blink of an eye. Mankind was here on this land for hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of years before us, and will be here for hundreds of thousands of years beyond us. 

Yet some think that because their family has been here for a generation or three, that they should control what happens, who is allowed in, who can stay here, who can be forced to leave. I am relatively confident that some of the inhabitants of this land were welcoming of my ancestors, and some where not. But we stayed.  

History tells us it was not always easy. In fact some pretty horrible things have happened, and continue to happen - the US Government continues to treat native Americans as incompetents in their own lands in many ways.

I am also a believer in the rule of law.  A key to a safe and secure community, is an unspoken agreement to act in ways that protect all from harm. Among those laws, is a control on how people enter the country. There is a legal process. Ours is outdated, and has been for decades, but it is still the law. Congress should update it, maybe when the orange plague has passed they will. In the meantime, like it or not, it is the law.  If you want to live here, comply with the law, failing to do so, is failing to be a participating member of society. A breach of the compact that holds a civilized society together. 

I fully understand why people might want to live here. Though the current administration makes it less attractive in many ways. North America is still a land of great beauty, natural resources, and opportunity. 

When I visit places like France, Italy, and Spain I often think, I would love to live here. But I know if I want to do so, I need to follow the process to do so legally. And that process can be archaine and challenging. Entering as a tourist, and staying beyond the time allowed for tourists, a breach of the trust that is granted to tourists, a breach of the unspoken agreement of the land to live together for the mutual benefit of all. A breach of the law.  Not a good way to try to become a member of the society. 

Not the way I would want to become a member of new community. If I treat the community like that, how can I expect the community to treat me? 

Thursday Ramble: Blogiversary

 

THANK YOU ALL! 

I hope you enjoy this blog, I truly enjoy writing it, reading your comments and responding. You bring so much to my life. 

Twenty-one years ago today, I published the first post on the Adventures of Travel Penguin. For a couple of weeks I had been guest blogger for Stephen, a friend who lives in London, while he was away on holiday. I enjoyed writing and posting, and decided I would give it a try. At first I didn't tell anyone. The first decade or so was slow, then I started posting more often. I have not missed a day since 2015.

I often ask myself, why do I blog? I do this to share my photographs, and my thoughts. The commitment to posting daily was personal, I wanted to improve my writing. By making a commitment to post everyday, I was committing myself to writing a few pages every week. Writing has become easier; I hope my writing has become better. 

I try to stay positive and upbeat in my postings. There is plenty of anger on blogs, very valid anger. I try to avoid that here. I have strong political views, I am proudly WOKE, but I generally avoid politics here. I hope this is an oasis, a safe space. 

My sincere hope is to continue writing The Adventures of Travel Penguin as long as I have photos to share and something to say. I have well over 120,000 photos in the archive, there is little risk of my running out of photos, and I am still learning to be quiet. 

My World of Wonders: September 2, 2026

What have I been doing this week? Doing too much. I was asked to score grant applications on a tight deadline, written materials for a conference I am speaking at in early October were due, and I am drafting a couple of policy papers. All of these ended up needing to be done at the same time. A bit much. Oh, and I have an article to write by the end of the month. 

Where have I been this week? The treadmill, the pool, the community center, the farmers market. Target and Aldi, I simply needed to get out of the house. The library, and Mt Vernon. 

What is on the easel? Nothing. A lack of balance in my life. 

What am I reading? A book on community living for persons with disabilities, a model for de-institutionalizing older adults. 

Where should you visit this week? Your local public library. Libraries are one of the greatest resources in your community. They have something for everyone, children, young adults, middle aged adults, older adults.  They provide access to books, music, video, millions of dollars in resources available for our use. Libraries are places to learn, to be entertained, to make social connections.  We need to use libraries, or we risk losing them. 

Where have I been in this lifetime? I put together a list of airports I have flown in and out of, 86 of them. HNL, KGG, KOA, LIH, ANC, SEA, PDX, SFO, SMF, LAX,SNA,SAN,PHX,ABQ,RNO,LAS,SLC,FCA,BIS,RAP,DEN,MSP,STL,MCI,LIT,BHM,MEM,BNA,ORD,MDW,ATL,SAV,MCO,JAX,FTL,MIA,PBI, RDU, FAY, CLT, CAE, BHM, MSY, IND, CVG, CNH, CLE, DTW, FNT, TVC, PSM, BUF, JFK, LGA, EWR, PHL, BWI, DCA, IAD, RIC, RDV, HTS, LEX, SDF, BOS, PVD, SJU, KEF, DUB, GLA, LRW, LHR,AMS, CDG, MAD, FCO, FRA, MUC, FDH, VIE, LIN, ATH, YYZ, YUL,TPA, DAB. 

Where to next? 

 

Travel Tuesday: Exploring the Art on a Ship

 

Monday Moods: Life

Congratulations, if you are reading this, you woke up alive again today. Not everyone did. I assure you some of them were very surprised to wake up dead. 

Remember it does not matter what others think, if it makes you happy and does not injure others, do it. If you want to work hard today, do so, if you want to lay around in naked in bed all day, do it. 

Use the good stuff. Doc Spo recently mentioned moving the nice cocktail glasses to a lower shelf, so they will be seen and used. If you are saving it for a special day, today is special because you woke up alive again, use the good stuff. 

Life has challenges, it matter more how we respond to those challenges, than the challenges we face.  Be like a cat, kick some sand over it, and move on. 

Avoid those who say you have to do something, or you should never do something.  Those words, have to, and never do, get the attention of the algorithms that make social media rich, and often our lives poorer. Do what makes you happy. 

Deep down underneath it all, what we all want, is a safety and comfort. A place to live, to protect us from the weather, food to nourish our bodies, safe water to drink, security - knowing that no one is going to try to hurt us or deprive us of what we need to be safe and secure. 

That is life. 

The Sunday Five: Starbucks

1: Would you stop at this Starbucks, it is between the train station and the Palace of Versailles? 

2: When was the last time, you had something from a Starbucks? 

3: How do you feel about those who believe Starbucks is evil? 

4: Describe your local alternative to Starbucks? 

5: What is your order at Starbucks? 

My answers: 

1: Would you stop at this Starbucks, it is between the train station and the Palace of Versailles?  We walked right on by. 

2: When was the last time, you had something from a Starbucks?  A couple of weeks ago in a hospital lobby. 

3: How do you feel about those who believe Starbucks is evil? Starbucks ignited and interest in good coffee in the United States at a time when coffee in the USA was dismal at best. They have overgrown their welcome. 

4: Describe your local alternative to Starbucks? Misha's on King Street roasts in-house. https://mishascoffee.com/. Starbucks closed one of their two King Street locations. 

5: What is your order at Starbucks? Iced coffee or a Venti Mocha Frappuccino. 

Please share your answers in the comments.

The Saturday Morning Post: Your Internal Attitude Affects Your Creativity

I used to say, I can't draw, now I say, I am still developing my ability to draw.  If you think you can, or you think you can't, you are right either way. By changing my self description from I can't, to I am learning how - I change my internal attitude from negative to positive or at least possible.  Developing physical skills, be it athletic moves, dancing, or drawing takes work and practice for me. It does not mean I can't do it, just that I need to work at it. 

Most coaches and teachers either didn't have the time, or simply gave up, feeding the internal dialog of "I can't." I would get a passing grade on the art class project and no encouragement to develop beyond what was done and turned in. When I was in high school in Florida the physical education teacher had us doing "football runs through tires." To keep from falling, I slowed down, and focussed on each movement. The others shouted to hurry up, and the one brilliant coach said, "take your time, your body will learn the movements with practice." He was the only coach or teacher who ever encouraged me to develop at my speed. It has taken me a lifetime to realize that thinking "I can't, telling others that I can't," is a self defeating dialog. This past year, I have changed that, to I am learning, I am still developing, I am still experimenting. This changes my practice, and as they say, practice makes perfect, from an expectation of failure to a possibility of progress and success. 

And it is not just internal. When I talk with others about what I am learning and developing, I no longer start out with "I can't really draw," I start out with, "I am still developing my ability to draw." 

What you say and think, impacts your ability to create. Consciously change what you say to yourself and to others, and it will change your creative work.  

Funky Friday: Slow Down You Move To Fast

 https://youtu.be/z1Reuyu9e_o?si=tnzAGwry4hFylMdz  

I follow several travel forums on the book of faces, about the only thing worth seeing on that forum these days.  Every week, more like every day, someone posts their planned itinerary for comments, and I can't help but think, SLOW DOWN, you move to fast. People overplan, filling every hour with movement. They plan driving itineraries based on Google Maps saying it will take 2 hours and 14 minute to drive from point A to point B, and they have to get there or they won't finish their plan. Google Maps estimates that you are going to drive close to the speed limit for the route. In a lot of places you won't, or you certainly won't want to. My advice for driving in places like Iceland and Great Britain, is double the estimated driving time. That likely means you are not going to see it all. But you will really have time to see what you do see. 

When traveling, I like to plan at least one day a week with no plans. I may just want to spend the day not moving, or there may be something I want to go see that was not on my plan. I need time for that. I need time to slow down and enjoy where I am. Even business travel should not be hurried. About 20 years ago I did a consulting project in Alaska. The travel planner for the organization I was working with wanted me to fly in, about 10 hours of travel time from where I was living, get in late at night, work all day the next day, then there was a flight that left after midnight that would be the next day, for me to fly home.  I said, NO! I flew out a day early, spent an extra day having a little time to explore, then did the training day. What I remember about the trip home was that the plane I was on backed into another plane in Charlotte and getting home ended up taking almost 24 hours of travel. 

Overcome the fear of missing out. Plan half as much, plan unplanned days, relax, enjoy and truly enjoy the ride.  

The Thursday Ramble: Another Trip Around the Sun

I was born a long-long time ago early in the morning on August 27th, with a thunderstorm raging through the night. My mother complained that I had kept her awake all night. The doctor had found an empty bed in the hospital and gone to sleep.  It was my Grandfather's birthday. 

I was about 7 months old when this photo was taken, it was probably my sister's birthday, she is about 19 months older than I am. On the left is my brother Gary, he is retired from Disney and lives in Orlando. In the middle at the back is my oldest brother Dale, he retired from computer systems stuff and lives near the Space Center in Florida. If all goes to plan, I will visit the two of them early next year. My sister Karen, is on mom's knee, she lives in Ft Wayne, Indiana, I went to see her last month. My parents died in 2017 about 5 months apart. (I had to check my blog to find the year.) 

I have struggled a bit to find something to say this year. 

It has been another year of evading the assassins. Another year without committing a felony. Another year without a major health crisis. A year that reminded me of the swift passage of time. Of our short time on earth. 

Another year of writing, posting to this blog, taking photographs, painting, cooking, traveling and loving. Another year with my Sweet Bear. Another year of good friends being kind to one another. A year filled with much more Joy, than sorrow.

My wishes for the coming year, I look forward to reading your blogs. Trying to entertain you on my blog. To a fair amount of travel, I already know of five trips in the works for next year. To exploring the arts. To reading and learning. I have more things than I need. My wish is for experiences and joy.  

My World of Wonders: August 26, 2026

 

What have I been up to in the kitchen this week?  Baked chicken with butter and white wine, roast salmon, potato salad, local fresh greens with home made vinaigrette, peach tart, sloppy Joes, a tomato salad, a ham and cheese omelet. A very hearty beef and veggie soup. 

Where have I been this week? The treadmill, the pool, the grocery store and Trader Joe's. The Farmers Market. 

How is my reading this week? Not everyday, but when I get started about 100 pages in an evening. 

What has been consuming my time? A couple of sets of continuing education materials that are due the end of the month, the policy resolution. A cluster of conference calls. Oh and an interview with a Pro-Bono attorney who saved a man's life. 

What disappointed me this week? Pastry Boy was not at the market on Saturday morning. 

What have I been watching? Amazon Prime Video, Great Canal Journeys with Timothy West and Prunnela Scales - she was Sybil on Faulty Towers and Mary Berry's cooking videos. If you pay for Amazon Prime, you have access to their streaming video service. These two have proven a wonderful way to nod off to sleep. There is a slight sadness, Prunnela had mild dementia when the series was filmed, she lived on for almost another decade, and out lived her husband by about a year. 

What is on the easel? The big chicken, he is red at the moment. 

Travel Tuesday: A Week At Sea

A week at sea, crossing the Atlantic is either heaven or hell.  I have done it three times, and I truly enjoy it. Quiet days, that develop a rhythm of their own. For others the idle time is boring and frustrating. Despite a million square feet to explore, they feel confined. 

I have done the three major routes, the southern route from Florida to the coast of Africa, the northern route - the route of the Titanic, and the middle shipping lanes. If your idea of a cruise is spending endless days in the hot sun, the closest to that will be the southern route to the Canary Islands and even that is not tropical. The northern route is the fastest, and also the most likely to be overcast and cool. Perfect weather for an afternoon of reading and napping.  

The days are quiet. Leisurely - with nothing demanding your time or attention. There are things to do, shows, movies, lectures, time by the pool, time to walk or go to the gym. And certainly plenty of food options. While you may have a fixed dining room time, you can always skip that and go to the buffet that is open for hours everyday. 

In the three crossings there have been a couple of lifetime memorable moments for me. 

We have passed through the straits of Gibraltar twice. The first time was in the dark, in high winds, and foul weather, I slept through it. The second time was in the late afternoon early evening, in good weather. I could see Spain on one side, and north Africa on the other side, and dolphins running along the side of the ship escorting us into the Mediterranean. The experience moved me in a way I didn't expect. 

The other was passing over the wreck site of the Titanic, on the anniversary of the sinking. The ship had planned to stop to lay a wreath, but the weather was foggy and rainy, and in the interest of safety we kept moving. This was on a Holland America Line ship. Something I didn't know before that trip, a son of one of the founders of the line, was a passenger on the Titanic and went down with the ship. 

A transAtlantic passage is not for you, if you fear time. Time alone. Time that is unscheduled. If you have a strong fear of missing out, the quiet schedule may not be for you. If you savor quiet days to do whatever you want to do, time to explore, time to think, time to not have to think, a transAtlantic passage may be the perfect trip. 

A dolphin escort through the straits of Gibraltar 

 

Passing over the wreck of the Titanic

Monday Moods: Onward

I stumbled across the reminder to focus on today and the future. Really today. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. 

So what can/should I do today? 

• Find Joy! 
• Be nice to others.
• Learning something.
• Be creative.
• Solve a puzzle.
• Breathe. 
• Be tolerant. 
• Be thankful. 

A post this last week, got me to thinking. I am so lucky that I have never felt the need to flee the country that I live in, risk my life in a leaky boat to arrive in another country where I may not be welcome. 

Where I have been able to identify why my ancestors left the "old country" it was mostly economic. And they arrived in a place that they were welcomed. Most people in the world, never leave the country they are born in, many never travel more than 100 miles from home. Things must be pretty terrible for people to flee home. 

What we need to focus on, is helping places where people feel compelled to leave, to become places where people want to stay, places, where people want to live to, not places people want to flee.

Today, I can do something to make other people's lives just a little bit better.