tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138830982024-02-20T09:22:18.131-08:00Travelin' With The Kidtravelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-54119601664896528462009-08-20T06:48:00.001-07:002021-08-13T16:43:37.868-07:00What I Did on My Summer Vacation: College Visits<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedg_S5nFE_W9ypr8tkOJ_oQdzgCRl3O3FR8jCNnd1QYD8UUPRx1pBelGTti405HNZgoVRP53IzzLpV4oxxLCVJjB3_ktP4XqhsoAj3bqDn8hTw__7vKRODMJyV-nG97aL_T0E/s1600-h/drexel.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385387392092519874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedg_S5nFE_W9ypr8tkOJ_oQdzgCRl3O3FR8jCNnd1QYD8UUPRx1pBelGTti405HNZgoVRP53IzzLpV4oxxLCVJjB3_ktP4XqhsoAj3bqDn8hTw__7vKRODMJyV-nG97aL_T0E/s320/drexel.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 216px;" /></a>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you have a teen, who is a Junior in high school, then you are thinking about college. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> As a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">homeschooler</span>, not only do you get to be the parent and the teacher, but magically, when your student gets to be high school age, you also get to be the guidance counselor too. About a year ago, almost to date, I wrote <a href="http://eclectictelegraph.blogspot.com/2008/08/dancer-with-many-hats-in-thankless-and.html">Not Back to School: A Dancer With Many Hats in a Thankless and Undervalued Job </a>in <a href="http://eclectictelegraph.blogspot.com/">The Eclectic Telegraph</a>. It addressed this idea of counseling from one perspective, and though humor can get you through Junior year, your day timer will do a far better job. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Junior year, I told my student, is probably the most important year there is, and that is thanks to the schooled kids. Senior year has practically become irrelevant because students are expected to take college entrance tests in their Junior year that assess topics that many years ago would have been addressed Senior year. I am talking about the higher maths and more complicated Sciences and literature. Also, many college applications are available as early as August 1, the summer between Junior and Senior year. So this means, you hit the road to visit the lucky institutions that made it to your students "top 10" list to determine which one will receive $140,000.00(all costs: $35,000 per year) of your money, spread over four years, $175,000.00, over five if you have a budding Engineer student. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> This can be a fun outing if you let it. While junior may be stressing, you can be the tourist. That's what I did when we were in Philadelphia over the summer. One of the key questions you, as the ever-wise mentor needs to ask your student is "Can you live in this city for four years?" While the tour of the campus is informative, the tour of the surrounding digs is far more important, unless you have one that plans to hang at the library on campus for the duration. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Whether junior recognizes it or not, sifting through a list of colleges can have some order if you the mentor can be stealth about it. Generally, after academics, location is important. You want your student to think about the idea of small town or a big city. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The list we were working with over the summer had schools in small towns and big cities. None in between. So feeling pretty sure a big city was not going to fly with The Kid, we headed to Philadelphia to visit two of the schools on our list <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Drexel</span> University and Rutgers School of Engineering in New Jersey. Also, I have never seen Independence Hall, so that was also on our to-do list as well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Impressing the idea on The Kid that Freshman are generally not allowed to have cars on campus, we decided to travel in the mode he would need to if he went to the big city for school. This of course in Philly means the subway. The subway system in most cities is generally pretty easy, though to a kid who prefers daylight to cave dwelling, the subway is a gloomy scary place with really weird people lurking about. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> On the Subway line was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Drexel</span>, The Kid's destination, Independence Hall, my destination and the Hard Rock Cafe - The Kid collects the traditional tee shirts from Hard Rock. Has them from all over the world now. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The tour of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Drexel</span> was like many of the other college tours we have taken. It is an old campus in the middle of a giant city. When you are in the campus buildings you really have no idea you are practically in the middle of one of America's oldest and most historic cities. Not to mention Penn State is right up the street, so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Drexel</span> remains on the list of "schools to apply to". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Kid got to drive our rented vehicle from Philadelphia to New Brunswick. Sort of a mean trick I suppose to get The Kid to drive in big city traffic, but a practical one. If you are going to live in a big city, you need to be able to deal with one. He did beautifully. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The Rutgers Campus is spread over three areas, with the Engineering and Science geeks cloistered in one beautiful area. Rutgers is a huge school, and the facilities are intimidating, but it looks like some serious work could be done on this campus. One plus is that the campus is bike friendly and the icing on the cake, Amtrak rolls into and out of town regularly - a straight 3 day shot home! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> So The Kid surprised me, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">big</span> cities are OK, as are small towns, with big colleges. Our list of 10. We're working on the applications, as I write this. That is why I haven't updated these blog pages in a while.
See ya soon!</div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-49934721674878775022009-03-25T13:14:00.000-07:002009-05-06T05:15:07.760-07:00Okie Noodling - Kid Rolls Eyes<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Well we thought we would go to Grenada to meet friends, but that didn't happen. Between taking the SAT and ACT and the Kid's job, hitting the road has been a no-go. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Months ago we gave up on cable and satellite TV and got the HD converter box. We have a total of 14 channels, mostly PBS stuff. This small amusement lets us "travel". Sometimes we'll encounter Rick Steves, sometimes </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mario Batali</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" > and Gwyneth </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Paltrow </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://spainontheroadagain.com/">traveling in Spain </a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> but the other night was the prize of all prizes <a href="http://www.okienoodling.com/">Okie Noodling</a>. </span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I was fascinated, The Kid went to bed.<br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rnFm5MH9j-c&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rnFm5MH9j-c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-29971164758195776442008-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:002008-12-03T06:26:44.374-08:00If Only We Were Books - What a Story We Could Tell<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >A book registered on BookCrossing is ready for adventure.</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >I like to read travel magazines, every now and then I find a really good bit of advice. Did you know that Cipro is becoming resistant to T.D. in Southeast Asia and that <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSPAR40646020070214">Zithromax</a> (or a Z-Pac) is a better choice for the duffel to that destination?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Stuck at home because of a slumping stock market and crazy schedules, it seems easier to read about traveling these days. I am in the middle of reading <strong style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a style="font-weight: normal;" id="lnx0" name="evtst|a|0767914279" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767914279?ie=UTF8&tag=brightkidsathome-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0767914279">An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=brightkidsathome-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0767914279" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; font-weight: normal;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >by Ann Vanderhoof recommended by some friends who like to travel the way The Kid and I do. Until recently I've never really thought about the books I leave behind for others to read. Friends who are going to Grenada at the end of January are intentionally taking books that are suitable for the <a href="http://www.boatersforbooks.org/grenadalibrary.html">Grenada Library in St. Georges</a>. The library there was devastated by hurricane(s). They are also donating all kinds of goodies to local schools. We asked American Airlines to drop the charge for extra baggage, so book schlepping wouldn't be totally painful, but they couldn't. Times are tough for everyone I suppose. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Aside from intrepid travelers who leave books behind, there is one group - I think is still around and doing good in bringing books to the Caribbean is <a href="http://www.boatersforbooks.org/donatebooks.html">Boaters for Books</a>. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />But back to thinking about the books one leaves behind, it seems there was an <a href="http://www.bookcrossing.com/about">entrepreneur</a> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > a few years back who thought about this too. He started a fun website called <a href="http://www.bookcrossing.com/">BookCrossing</a> where you assign a number to a book and give it away. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >From the BookCrossing <a href="http://www.bookcrossing.com/faqs">FAQ</a></span>:<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm looking at </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">your site here, and I can't believe what I'm reading. Do you actually want me to give away my books?</span></span><span id="dFAQ13" style="display: block; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br />Ummm, yes. Trust us on this one. Registering your books with BookCrossing.com, then giving them to a friend, a charity, or otherwise releasing them "into the wild" and following their progress and travels, is infinitely more fulfilling than the small satisfaction you'll get by looking at your books in your bookcase every day. </span><span id="dFAQ13" style="display: block; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br />As Austin Powers would say, "<b>It's karma, baybee!</b>"</span></blockquote> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >When you give the book away, it's "released". In releasing a book, you make an entry (journal the book) at BookCrossing indicating that it's been released. When someone "captures" or finds a book with a BookCrossing label and number, they add an entry at BookCrossing. </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The bookcrosser who released the book - in this case that's you - receives an email telling them it has been found and from then on, everyone in the chain who held/read the book will receive an email every time somebody journals the book. Each person will also be able to see the book's journey you just look at it on your bookshelf at the website. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Please note email address and journals are sent in the form of a PM (personal message) directly from the </span>BookCrossing<span style="font-style: italic;"> site.</span>)</span></span> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Seems like a lot of fun and an interesting journey - if you're a book.</span><br /></div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-83326068630471345812008-10-23T06:37:00.000-07:002008-10-23T10:24:31.503-07:00It's Bad When You Tell Your Kid to Take the Shop Vac to His Room<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-family:Arial;font-size:14;color:red;" ></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span><script type="text/javascript"><!-- new function(_) { // Substitute with try {} catch block if( !(typeof _lyricsfreak_artist =='string' && typeof _lyricsfreak_title == 'string') ) return; if( !(typeof document == 'object' && (typeof document.getElementById == 'function' || typeof document.getElementById == 'object') ) ) return; if( !(document.getElementById('_rspace_2') ) ) return; var artist = _lyricsfreak_artist.replace(/\+/g,' '); var title = _lyricsfreak_title ? _lyricsfreak_title : ''; document.getElementById('_rspace_2').href += '%3fthpartist='+escape(artist)+'%26thptitle='+escape(title); document.getElementById('_rspace_2').innerHTML = '<b>Send "'+(_lyricsfreak_title.length?_lyricsfreak_title:_lyricsfreak_artist.replace(/\+/g,' '))+'" Ringtone to Cell Phone</b>'; }; // --></script> <blockquote></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's fun to watch currency rates change as our economy tanks.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />First the Euro: 0.7814 U.S.1.00</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Next the Canadian Dollar: 1.2636 U.S.1.00</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Then the East Caribbean Dollar: 2.6705 U.S.1.00</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Where would you head this time of year?</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><blockquote><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Jimmy Buffett 1977</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />I took off for a weekend last month<br />Just to try and recall the whole year<br />All of the faces and all of the places<br />Wonderin' where they all disappeared<br />I didn't ponder the question too long<br />I was hungry and went out for a bite<br />Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum<br />And we wound up drinkin' all night<br /><br />Chorus:<br />Its these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes<br />Nothing remains quite the same<br />With all of our running and all of our cunning<br />If we couldnt laugh we would all go insane<br /><br />Reading departure signs in some big airport<br />Reminds me of the places Ive been<br />Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure<br />Makes me want to go back again<br />If it suddenly ended tomorrow<br />I could somehow adjust to the fall<br />Good times and riches and son of a bitches<br />Ive seen more than I can recall<br /><br />Chorus:<br />These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes<br />Nothing remains quite the same<br />Through all of the islands and all of the highlands<br />If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane<br /><br />I think about Paris when I'm high on red wine<br />I wish I could jump on a plane<br />So many nights I just dream of the ocean<br />God I wish I was sailin' again<br />Oh, yesterdays over my shoulder<br />So I cant look back for too long<br />Theres just too much to see waiting in front of me<br />And I know that I just cant go wrong<br /><br />Chorus:<br />With these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes<br />Nothing remains quite the same<br />With all of my running and all of my cunning<br />If I couldn't laugh I just would go insane<br />If we couldn't laugh we just would go insane<br />If we weren't all crazy we would go insane</span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></blockquote></blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogHmxxzv1c75TpgNw4QKqvmlUs14Fi-JFsZxxcNCi__wssSvE9QRSrqjGG2g-bZ8oC97Afn1C6vsXTc2S8667H-VTLkD_3_UKwHOWNNlYgvW9GYp0WIWrYUYKQz08YSuYlx6R/s1600-h/TAZ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogHmxxzv1c75TpgNw4QKqvmlUs14Fi-JFsZxxcNCi__wssSvE9QRSrqjGG2g-bZ8oC97Afn1C6vsXTc2S8667H-VTLkD_3_UKwHOWNNlYgvW9GYp0WIWrYUYKQz08YSuYlx6R/s200/TAZ.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260369022790312498" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >I have a brilliant, disorganized teenager.<br /><br />In each room is a twisted pile of amazing stuff that lays as a tribute to the disorganization and randomness of a teenager. The Tasmanian Devil.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >The Kid's </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >travels and mine will vary greatly in the future, but right now, we're traveling the same path. His path to launching into the adult world. I can push him along, I can drag him along or we can walk side by side. Some days I do all three with him.<br /><br />My job is </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >to get him to study and put education first, but also to </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >to nag him to get organized, get things done, to do the things he is supposed to do in order to become an adult, an adult that can take care of himself .<br /><br />I am The Nagger, he is Taz. That's life at my house.<br /><br />Above The Kid's desk is a sign I made that says:<br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">TODAY IS ABOUT TOMORROW</blockquote>Above my desk is another sign I made that says:<br /></span></div><blockquote style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >WHEN YOU GET TO MY AGE YOU CAN GOOF AROUND TODAY</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">We have a group of friends who are meeting up in the Caribbean. These are friends we met sailing on the S.V. </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/travel/mandalay/welcome.html">Mandalay</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and traveled again with on the S.V. </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://travelnhsr.blogspot.com/2007/03/windjammer-ships-and-pirate-adventures.html">Polynesia.</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" > We'll probably hook up with them as we need a break from being The Nagger and Taz. We're also looking at an immersion language class. Maybe we can do that in the Caribbean too. We'll see. Anyway, <a href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/travel/travel-log.html">travelin' feet</a> are moving again!</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-38158500306957300012008-08-26T07:51:00.000-07:002008-08-27T13:28:12.679-07:00Not Back to School: Camping With Eating Machines<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >The thing about going camping with two teenage boys is that you begin to realize that there is a thin line between sanity and insanity. Tea Lake campground at </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/index.html">Algonquin Provincial</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" > park is a quiet place to get away for that last week of summer, just before you don't go back to school. It was there I spent 5 nights with The Kid and his cousin.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's a 12 hour drive from Cincinnati to Algonquin, and for once I was grateful for </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">iPods</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >. Not being into the sort of </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">tunage</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" > that teenage boys are, I didn't drive them crazy with Jimmy </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Buffett</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >, and they didn't drive me crazy with the likes of </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">White Stripes</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >.<br /><br />The funny thing about teens is that they can find stuff to do no matter where they are. My nephew was absolutely sure he was going to catch a fish while we were there and to honor that hope, I brought along three sticks of butter that we were going to use to fry them up over an open fire. Needless to say, the fish eluded us all week.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrROT96pO2CSg3djEnGVC2k-pj8QPTiKLR1m_qDhYzgWoB_S5KBhFy4_Zv_reqBjVeUixYOjxPERs0IuoHgJMEgj00rTY10gRMcHb_2tPXpX-eCskaXwZORdS0-At3FApmxEv/s1600-h/potty.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrROT96pO2CSg3djEnGVC2k-pj8QPTiKLR1m_qDhYzgWoB_S5KBhFy4_Zv_reqBjVeUixYOjxPERs0IuoHgJMEgj00rTY10gRMcHb_2tPXpX-eCskaXwZORdS0-At3FApmxEv/s200/potty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238845801260877714" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >The first time we went to Algonquin, The Kid bailed on a camping trip that involved paddling. We of course had to take our cousin to show him the wonders of camping from a kayak at the ranger station. It seems </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">kayakers</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" > are required to take toilette "kits", not the kind you're thinking about, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">alon</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >g on the boats. They were both glad we had vault </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">toilets</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" > in the campground. It's the simple things in life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WARNING:</span> One cooler and </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">three</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" > crates of food is not enough for two teenage boys who have played hard all day. Why do boys eat so much?</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />With that idea I'll leave you with an eating machine food hit<span style="font-weight: bold;">.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Campground Nachos</span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br />In the following order place these ingredients on a large square of foil:</span><br /><br /></span><ol style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><li style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A mix of Mild Cheddar, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Monterrey</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Jack, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pepper Jack</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Sliced Black Olives</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Canned Salsa</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Corn Chips, </span>Tostitos<span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" > work best</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ></span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Another large square of foil</span><br /></li></ol><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >then</span><br /><br /></span><ol style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Crimp foil edges together to form a foil package.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Place </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >foil package </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >on the open fire, provided you got the fire started in the first place.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Wait until you hear sizzling.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >When you hear sizzling, remove from fire.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Flip foil package over on large platter so the cheese is now on the top.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Peel back foil.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Feed eating machines.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Start next batch.<br /></span></span></li></ol></div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-62319535001722913382008-07-22T11:59:00.000-07:002021-08-13T16:38:59.950-07:00On The Steps to the Launch Pad<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Well. I have finally recovered from that rite-of-passage all teenage males go through.
Driving the family car, alone.
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDZFl_-CxUIuEeWwHbVhv2iNIINizWI7d15xNrRUNzfPdiJ3acAfWcRcTJSGgaRRM9ev4UWxaNsrgIEu-G-I2aCf9Qo02K02QD_BcpXKrd9gIorYUObEpDC6JIs1HAaLQ2Vpq/s1600-h/little-car.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDZFl_-CxUIuEeWwHbVhv2iNIINizWI7d15xNrRUNzfPdiJ3acAfWcRcTJSGgaRRM9ev4UWxaNsrgIEu-G-I2aCf9Qo02K02QD_BcpXKrd9gIorYUObEpDC6JIs1HAaLQ2Vpq/s200/little-car.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225918481819745906" border="0" /></a>Right now The Kid is at the car dealer, on an errand for mom. The driver seat in the car has to be adjusted one way for me, another way for The Kid. Unfortunately, when that adjusting mechanism broke, it was in The Kid's setting, so off he had to go to the car dealer to have it fixed.
It was hard for me to drive the car with my head sticking out through the sunroof.
Actually, The Kid has been an excellent driver and on his own in the driver seat for a couple of months now. Between his volunteer work and now his part time job, he uses the car as much as I do, though we've managed to work out a decent schedule of sharing a single car.
The steps to the launch pad. It's been fun getting The Kid ready to launch as an adult. He took a part time summer job because he wanted to help pay for that young-male-insurance-heart-attack-sized premium that comes with the rite of passage.
In the fall he'll be driving to two classes at the local community college, another step to the launch pad....what's next?
</span></div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-66143223099882490752008-05-27T08:46:00.000-07:002008-07-22T12:19:21.465-07:00Student Driver: Feel Sorry for Me<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">There was a time when I would look at a slow moving vehicle on the highway, the one with the "Student Driver" sign taped to the back window and feel irritated, today, I have a different sentiment. That sign should say "Student Driver: Feel Sorry for Me".<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The legislators of Ohio must have been really sadistic bunch when they signed into law the condition that new drivers must be accompanied by a licensed driver for at least 50 hours. 50 hours is a lot of hours, especially if you're a single mom. In general I think our lawmakers think about families as ones that include two married adults, thus 25 hours isn't too bad if mom and dad do some of the passenger seat time.<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Kid is basically a good driver, obeys the speed limit to the letter, holds the wheel at 10 o-clock and 2 o-clock, leaves the car seat raised just high enough that I bang my head when I have to get in and drive. We decided that cell phones and radio were too much of a distraction, so neither are on when we drive, and boy, 50 hours is a lot of hours.<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The funny think about a 16 year old is that if they think they can get away with something, they will. The Kid was afraid of a moving violation thanks to his driver's ed class at AAA. So after that </span>announcement<span style="font-family:verdana;">, it was just too easy for The Kid to let mom drive him everywhere, 5 days a week, so the 50 hours weren't getting done - at all.<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just as I thought I was going to lose my mind with all the driving I was having to do, I realized I needed to get The Kid in the driver seat for 50 hours, and thus the term "Mom's taxi" became a reality. After that revelation, each time The Kid got into the car for a ride to one of his "things", the following conversation would take place.<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Do you have ten dollars?"<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">"For what?"<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">"The ride you are about to take."<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">"I'm tired."<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">"So. Do you have ten dollars?"</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I haven't made one dollar yet and The Kid is a few hours short of the 50 hours he needs to satisfy the requirements for the State of Ohio.....<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" >© 2005-2008. Amy Cortez. All Rights Reserved.</span><br /></div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-5033523352660752482008-04-29T16:09:00.000-07:002008-05-27T17:32:28.079-07:00Travels in Your Own Backyard, Happy Birthday to the Kid<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We've had a lot of life lately, sometimes life gets in the way of writing. But I can't forget my annual post to the Kid on his birthday. Usually we plan a big trip and we might still do that, but the Travelin' Homeschooler has had an illness that has effected our ability to fly. You never really recognize how important your sense of hearing is until you lose it to a strep infection that perforates the eardum, but enough of our gore. </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Late Winter in the Midwest has been rough, but now we're getting ready to hit the road and it's looking like a good travel season is upon us, starting with a milestone Birthday.</span> </span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Kid's 16th Birthday, how could I make it memorable? Sometimes ideas just drop into your lap simply by reading a small local paper.</span> </span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/ltav.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 221px;" src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/ltav.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />"Aviation show: helicopter rides".</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />What an awesome memory.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Especially since earlier in the year The Kid gutted a radio control helicopter to build a lighter than air vehicle (LTAV) for an aerospace course through MIT Open Courseware.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/helicopter1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 146px;" src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/helicopter1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Generally we celebrate a Birthday for a week and thata's what we did, starting with the helicopter ride and ending with a cookout and cake.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Kid is still working on getting his driver's license, the AAA guy is taking him driving soon.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />The poor man. I wonder if he'll appreciate the ski helmet and snorkle I plan to hand to him.</span></span>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-26906718134195419192008-02-23T14:54:00.000-08:002008-03-07T08:48:09.340-08:00The Caine Mutiny and Other Snowbird Pursuits - Florida 2008<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >I guess it would be appropriate to elaborate on the title I chose for these three previous entries.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >As a Sophomore, The Kid has been reading some books that require a little more thought than usual. Herman <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wouk</span>, another one of my favorite authors is a great story weaver and this trip to Florida we took 2 Herman <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wouk</span> books with us. One The Kid was reading, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316955108?ie=UTF8&tag=brightkidsathome-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316955108">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Caine</span> Mutiny: A Novel</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=brightkidsathome-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316955108" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />, is a story about an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">incident</span> that happened during WWII. The Kid, in a conclusion essay, had decided to focus on an interesting character in the story, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9KlQPX1qiE">Captain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Queeg</span></a>, (</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">YouTube</span> Video) and on the classic question one always asks about this novel, was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Queeg's</span> sanity questionable? I had my all time favorite Herman <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wouk</span> story with me,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316955124?ie=UTF8&tag=brightkidsathome-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316955124"> Don't Stop the Carnival: A Novel. </a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=brightkidsathome-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316955124" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> This is a story about changes in attitudes and changes in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">latitudes</span>, a theme I am rather fond of.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Rarely do we travel without purpose, and this year our trip to Florida was to kayak, but also to read these great books.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Our Kayak adventures in Southern Florida included a passage across the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">intracostal</span> waterway to <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/donpedroisland/">Don Pedro Island</a>. This island is only accessible by boat and worth the effort.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/fla-2008/don-pedro.jpg" height="223" width="348" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >A quite paddle on Red Lake near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Caspersen</span> beach. Red Lake is a home to abundant wildlife and if you're not careful, can dump you out into a very busy Florida <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">intercostal</span> waterway!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com//images/blog-images/fla-2008/red-lake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com//images/blog-images/fla-2008/red-lake.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >And after all the reading and paddling, we took time to walk the famous "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">sharktooth</span>" beach.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/fla-2008/caspersen-beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 303px;" src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/fla-2008/caspersen-beach.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" > <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Caspersen</span> beach is where you can find sharks teeth on the beach. It used to be that you could find thousands in a walk, now you're lucky to find one. The word is out! </span><br /></div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-1872701681213319402008-02-09T14:28:00.000-08:002008-02-23T14:52:12.758-08:00The Caine Mutiny and Other Snowbird Pursuits - The Venice Beach Mooch<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Florida 2008</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com//images/blog-images/fla-2008/2venice-pier.jpg" height="317" width="204" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Carl Hiassen is one of my favorite authors. He writes about all kinds of characters that can only be found in Florida and one of our favorite studies in Florida is people. The Kid and I love to watch people and the pier at </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.venice-fla.com/">Venice Beach </a><span style="font-family: verdana;">seemed like just the place to do that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was 96 degrees, really hot for winter in Florida and the pier was a refreshing break from the heat of the sand. Generally the pier is crowded with tourists, but this day the fishermen were out enforce, including the Pelicans and Snowy Egrets. I am always amazed at the way critters manage to score a meal.</span><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/fla-2008/venice-pier.jpg" height="223" width="348" /><br /></div></div></div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-69875511261024123332008-02-07T13:45:00.000-08:002008-02-23T14:27:43.818-08:00The Caine Mutiny and Other Snowbird Pursuits - The Wakulla Kid<table border="0" width="350"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">Florida 2008</span></span><br /><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">A friend sent an email with just one link:</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.icehotel.com/" target="_blank"> A Hotel Built of Ice and Snow<br /> </a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Just for grins I nibbled and landed on:</span></span></p> <div align="justify" style="font-family:verdana;"> <table align="center" border="1" width="85%"> <tbody><tr> <td><div align="justify"> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZyc4SFZkE8" target="_blank"><em>ICEHOTEL</em></a><em> (<span style="font-size:85%;">YouTube video</span>) is situated in the village Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden. The heart and backbone is the River Torne flowing freely through the unspoilt wilderness. Covered with a meter thick ice layer winter time the river is the source of all our art, architecture and design. The pure water and the steady movement of the river creates the clearest ice possible.</em></span></p> </div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >I have only been in Sweden twice. Once in Stockholm and that was basically civilized and the other time was in Lulea, in Northern Sweden, about 70 miles from the Arctic circle. That was a party. I went in June when it was daylight all day. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"> <p align="justify" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" >My friend has a warped sense of humor I suppose, especially since I had sent Valentines greetings from the sunny state of Florida.</span><span style="font-size:100%;">..</span></p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Kid and I have been kayaking in Florida, while temperatures in Ohio dipped to the teens and below. One of my good friends moved to Tallahassee and invited us down with the lure of a Manatee sighting in the <a href="http://www.wakullacounty.org/wakulla-32.htm" target="_blank">Wakulla river</a>. The Wakulla is situated near Tallhasse and is an intersting place. There is an <a href="http://www.wakullacounty.org/wakulla-24.htm" target="_blank">awesome lodge</a> that is on the National Register of Historic Places, a spring and a river that are crystal clear and an assortment of wildlife I thought was only reserved for the Everglades. </span></span></div> <p align="justify" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" >We launched kayaks in 90 degree weather with the hopes of seeing Manatees and after an hour paddle upriver, saw incredible birds, plantlife and alligators, each one bigger than the last one and no Manatees. Now as gators go, they really don't mess with you much because they'd rather sit in the sun - like us snowbirds, but this big fella was one I'd have tossed a beer as a peace offering if I had had one. Instead I told him if he posed real nice, I'd get him on Hollywood squares(a tale I reserve for really big gators). </span></p> <table align="center" border="1" width="85%"> <tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/fla-2008/wykulla-gator.jpg" height="223" width="348" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" >Needeless to say The Kid didn't stick around for the photo opportunity. </span> </p>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-87532322272153125252008-01-21T15:58:00.001-08:002008-04-17T11:26:38.265-07:00Travelin' With The Kid in 2008<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDDoZpzAaZk6j4Ep18JExlTPYwrhD0eJZawdUQ50XLz9MYnWV67h5fkOKiRMqw_Zz2CcOaq1RzCzqx2bHTMth9I5ehNoUJ3KiGgvEGSZzOTePtYkziydKlrLvB9kUsHvz8m6P/s1600-h/tobagocay-corallg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDDoZpzAaZk6j4Ep18JExlTPYwrhD0eJZawdUQ50XLz9MYnWV67h5fkOKiRMqw_Zz2CcOaq1RzCzqx2bHTMth9I5ehNoUJ3KiGgvEGSZzOTePtYkziydKlrLvB9kUsHvz8m6P/s200/tobagocay-corallg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158086089776604850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">With the state of the American stock market and the ec</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">onomy in general, it's very difficult to think about actually planning a real trip this year, but it can be done. Recently friends of ours did a traditional Windjammer trip, not on a tallship, but out of backpacks and on local ferrys and mailboats! These folks aren't teenagers either!</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;"></a><a href="http://www.grenadavisitorforum.com/showthread.php?t=724">Grenadine Ferrys & Mailboats</a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's possible to to travel and see all kinds of wonderful sites, even with the current strength of the American dollar! So here's to hitting the road in 2008!</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cheers! </span> </span><br /></div>travelnhsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550707132373522173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-52176212769510308032007-12-29T13:50:00.000-08:002009-05-06T05:17:20.834-07:00Vehicle Theme: Bungee Cords to Keep Orifices ClosedWell Happy New Year.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This year has been an interesting one for The Kid & I. Huge events in our travels, though most of the huge events occurred at home. Yes our travelin' feet got to hit the trail a couple of times in 2007, but it was the things at home that really shaped our year.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In June my brothers house burned to the ground, a frightening thing, to have everything in the your world consumed totally by fire. It makes you wonder what really matters. Wedding, pictures, baby pictures, that knick-knack from Aunt Flossie. My brother being the incredibly brave individual he is and no stranger to tragic events in his life has shown me incredible character and an important lesson, you don't need all the crap you think you do to live a happy life. He has lived the last 6 months in a rental while they rebuild his home with mainly the "stuff" they had the night of the fire and few things friends and family have loaned to them. His shopping list for the new house was rather Spartan and I am in awe at how this has changed how he and his family live.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In August, just before our school year began our beloved guinea pig Daphne went to the great grape bowl in the sky. She was known to many on the web as </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/math-science.html#daphne">Daphne the Science Guinea Pig.</a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Daphne answered Math and Science questions from other other homeschoolers and even had her own FAQ page. But to us she was our special pet. In August we learned a lot about Guinea pig physiology. Daphne passed on from heart failure and we learned that guinea pig heart patients get put on the same medicines that human heart patients are on. We learned that they do have intensive care for heart patients that small and how wonderful those veterinarians are and how much they know about these very small patients.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">In September, feeling the need to have yet another little furry critter around we got another guinea pig. Named that one Elvis as it was the only name we thought fit. Elvis was a wild-man. He loved being held and was crazy for just about any fresh leafy green you could give him. He could hear when we walked in the front door and chirped for us to come pick him up. As bad luck would have it we were not allowed to have Elvis long. As he was a very young guinea pig, apparently his immune system was not developed enough and he died from an unknown infection about six weeks after we brought him home.</span></span><br /><table align="center" width="400"><br /><tbody><tr align="center" valign="bottom"><br /><td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/Daphne.jpg" height="136" width="121" /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Daphne</span></strong></td><br /><td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/elvis.jpg" height="117" width="143" /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Elvis</span></strong></td><br /><td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/oliver.jpg" height="126" width="114" /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Oliver</span></strong></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Two weeks ago we got Oliver. We have high hopes for Oliver as he is an older guinea pig and is very healthy. When he went to the vet, she told us he seemed very healthy and weighs 1.9 pounds. A healthy boy and a good eater.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Back at the end of October, to the day, The Kid turned 15 1/2 and in Ohio that means eligible for a temporary driver license, and god-help-me, got one. As I wrote in my last entry, that has been fun. Only 45 more hours of driving experience and class time to go.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">In late fall we learned that one of our favorite things to do was coming to an end. The end of an era - Windjammer - the company that has provided tall ship adventures for years was having financial troubles and had stranded ships and crew in various ports around the Caribbean. I tried to set up links to the message boards where this unfolding event is being discussed, but those boards are gone or not working today. Its a good thing this wasn't on our to-do list for this winter!<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Also this summer my neighbor moved away leaving her house to her son. An interesting hermit-like bloke who keeps to himself yet continues to add to the fine collection of vehicles in the driveway. This collection has been a constant source of interesting observations and inspiration for The Kid to utter some very funny things that sometimes end up as titles for blog entries. The obvious is so uninteresting.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">So Happy New Year to you! All the best for the New Year!<br /><br />Me & The Kid<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1RYjFwz8Lr8CsthL-aiHAy7rH3QvC0_MvbH7dZ68j1uSG8Ycq8L7j4qA3vgr9A-Ohs4Y2GAz5tVCzSPfJ9kdKmEwqnLtmbZnu3izDY9HXKLKVaFp8fCl7ZMptZfkIBckfsV5/s1600-h/thekid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1RYjFwz8Lr8CsthL-aiHAy7rH3QvC0_MvbH7dZ68j1uSG8Ycq8L7j4qA3vgr9A-Ohs4Y2GAz5tVCzSPfJ9kdKmEwqnLtmbZnu3izDY9HXKLKVaFp8fCl7ZMptZfkIBckfsV5/s200/thekid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149478710277264898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span></span></div>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-22192157656941862432007-11-20T12:46:00.000-08:002008-02-23T09:20:11.236-08:00You May Know Everything Some Day But Today Is Not The Day<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONkOE15Spqv0fxnQGEJ9hT_lhkOTdr6U2KU75LO0_YuVhr7s-nrKXQqmJ4YBqdo4XRciQkx8AduO9V3tjSiqaRJ-DNtDREOxeno-rTbQomjoz6J7C07iQZFbZsTfhd1hOrBwq/s1600-h/little-car.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONkOE15Spqv0fxnQGEJ9hT_lhkOTdr6U2KU75LO0_YuVhr7s-nrKXQqmJ4YBqdo4XRciQkx8AduO9V3tjSiqaRJ-DNtDREOxeno-rTbQomjoz6J7C07iQZFbZsTfhd1hOrBwq/s200/little-car.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135029717026282738" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">In Ohio, in order for a teen to receive a "probationary" driver license they must take 8 hours of driving instruction in a classroom and then have 50 hours driving experience (10 at night) that a parent or other licensed driver will attest to in a signed affidavit. There are other requirements too, but as a homeschooler, these are the biggies. </span> </span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Traveling in a car with a new driver is, well, interesting.</span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">It has been suggested that beginner drivers start in a large parking lot and the biggest parking lot I could think of was the one near the raging Ohio river where we sometimes launch our kayaks. Needless to say that first day when The Kid was going to start driving. he was not amused when I appeared as the driving coach wearing a ski helmet and a snorkel. I wonder if the driver's ed instructors at the schools get to have as much fun. </span> </span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />It is amazing how the transformation from child to teen enables them to feel that they now know it all - until they sit in your car for the first time. </span></span>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-14739977296614907282007-09-26T10:53:00.000-07:002008-02-23T09:20:20.143-08:00Not Back to School: September 2007<table width="350"><tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="66%"><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/wright-kite.jpg"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/wright-kite.jpg" align="left" border="0" height="269" width="177" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Well as predicted, mother ocean called us back to visit and I couldn’t think of a better place than the Outer Banks in North Carolina. There are some awesome learning opportunities here.<br /><br />Our studies this year include Aerospace Engineering, and what better place than the state that was “First in Flight”? Our trip included an afternoon flying kites on the very grounds where Orville and Wilbur Wright launched man into the space-age at <a href="http://www.kitty-hawk.com/" target="_blank">Kitty Hawk</a>, well really it is <a href="http://www.killdevilhills.com/" target="_blank">Kill Devil Hills</a>, near <a href="http://www.jockeysridgestatepark.com/" target="_blank">Jockey's Ridge State Park</a>, but who’s nitpicking on what we remember from our history? Before we left we studied the plane and the kites that were used at the <a href="http://www.first-to-fly.com/" target="_blank">Wright Brothers Aerospace Museum </a>in Dayton, Ohio, but there's nothing like actually going to the place where flight began!</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table width="350"><tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="top"> <div align="justify"> <p align="center"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/bridge.jpg" height="198" width="271" /></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://www.currituckbeachlight.com/history.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The Currituck Beach Lighthouse</span></a> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >is an interesting step back into maritime history as are all the lighthouses in the area. <a href="http://www.whaleheadclub.com/" target="_blank">The Whalehead Club</a> has an interesting. It has been restored and is a fun place to visit, as well as the village that surrounds it. It isn’t as bustling as Roanoke or Williamsburg, as it tells a different story. It is a place where you can launch a kayak, have a picnic, catch a Blue Crab.<br /><br />Also <a href="http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg08_educationworkshops/pg8c_3.htm" target="_blank">The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education</a>, located in Corolla between the historic Whalehead Club and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse had some awesome daily, free programs. There was a class on crabbing, kayaking on the Currituck sound and other items of interest to homeschoolers of all ages. </span></p></div></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td align="left" valign="top"> <div align="justify"> <table align="left" width="179"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/hatteraslight.jpg" height="252" width="158" /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Hatteras Lighthouse</span></strong></td></tr><tr> <td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/bodie.jpg" height="252" width="158" /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Bodie Island Lighthouse</span></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.nps.gov/caha/" target="_blank">The Cape Hatteras National Seashore</a> is an awesome example of maritime life long ago. <a href="http://www.hatteras-nc.com/light/" target="_blank">The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse</a> is just one aspect you;ll find in this area. Cape Hatteras National Seashore preserves the portion of the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island, stretching over 70 miles. Included within this section of barrier islands along N.C. Route 12, but outside the National Seashore boundaries, are Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and several privatecommunities.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br />The Outer Banks area was once dubbed the "<a href="http://www.carolinaouterbanks.com/shipwrecks-2.htm" target="_blank">Graveyard of the Atlantic</a>" for its treacherous currents, shoals, and storms and Cape Hatteras has a wealth of history relating to shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the US Lifesaving Service. We went in search of the wreck of the Altoona, a fun outing, but kind of a snipe hunt...next time we'll go better prepared with exact locations and a better map. The <a href="http://www.outerbanksguidebook.com/folklore.htm" target="_blank">Outer Banks folklore</a> is fun to read about and the idea that we were standing on the same beach as Blackbeard was pretty neat seeing how we fancy ourselves as pirates when we go Windjammering.... </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > </span> </p></div></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td valign="middle"> <table width="85%"><tbody><tr align="center" valign="middle"> <td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/currituck-marsh.jpg" height="154" width="212" /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Currituck Sound Paddlin'</span></strong></td><td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/alligator-river.jpg" height="154" width="212" /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Alligator River Paddlin'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >There are many kayaking opportunities at the Outer Banks. We paddled on the Currituck Sound, near the <a href="http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg08_educationworkshops/pg8c_3.htm" target="_blank">The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education</a> and saw mainly marshy terrain. <a href="http://www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/" target="_blank">The Alligator River refuge</a>, about an hour inland offered soem pretty interesting paddling as well, thought there was not an alligator to be found! We were treated to three brown bears munching on something in the middle off a grassy field. I think if we ever go back to the Outer Banks , we'll paddle around the <a href="http://www.nc-outerbanks.com/pea.html" target="_blank">Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge</a>. It seemed like an interesting place. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td valign="top"><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Another bit of local lore I was determined to discover this trip to the Outer Banks was the Wild Horses of Corolla. Locally they are known as <a href="http://www.corollawildhorses.com/history.htm" target="_blank">Banker Horses</a> and are they something to see running out of the dunes. You need 4 wheel drive vehicle to get to the place where the horses live these days, but it is worth that effort. </span></p><p align="center"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/corolla-horses.jpg" height="198" width="271" /></p><p align="justify"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >So all in all, our celebration of "not" back to school was good. The kid got to try out some Aerospace basics learning to fly a stunt kite at Kitty Hawk and he started reading "Walden" by Henry David Thoureau. He says it's a great book about checkin' out. I agree. </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-38892249474272466872007-08-05T12:33:00.000-07:002008-02-23T09:20:30.371-08:00Windjammer Ships and Pirate Adventures: Anguilla<table width="400"><tbody><tr><td><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><strong>Day 7: Anguilla February 23, 2007<br />The Best Beach in the World & The Diver Kid</strong></span></p><table width="100%"><tbody><tr> <td><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/shoalbeach.jpg" align="left" height="193" width="127" /></span></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >I’ve been so busy reviewing books for our upcoming school year, I forgot to conclude the story of our trip on the S.V. Polynesia.<br />Anguilla has the best beach I have ever seen.<br /><br />There is one stop light on this island and lots of goats. There’s also an Ace Hardware, in the middle of nowhere - no where near the stop light.</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr> <td><div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Anguilla is a place I’d like to explore more.</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table width="400"><tbody><tr> <td align="left"> <div align="justify"> <p align="center"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/shoal-beach.jpg" height="111" width="170" /></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Shoal beach is an incredible stretch of land that I hope not too many people ever find. It is the real Caribbean. Desolate to the point that you can still find a patch of pink sand all your own, but populated just enough that you can get a decent cheeseburger if you really wanted one. </span></p></div></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td> <div align="justify"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/poly-in-aguilla.jpg" align="left" height="260" width="169" /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">We rode on one of the local school buses to get to Shoal Beach, that’s the thing about Windjammer, you really do get to feel like your part of the island culture. We spent several hours strolling the beach, but as luck would have it, we had to find our own way back to the ship as we were leaving the beach earlier than the rest of our shipmates. The Kid was going to try scuba for the first time.<br /><br />The taxi ride back from the beach was an interesting one. We shared the cab with one of the other three beginner scuba students and boy did we have a ball with the cab driver. He was very proud of his island, he said he would take us the best way back to the ship -- and he did. Apparently, Brittany Spears did one of her rehabs on this island and this was a big stop for the cab drivers to show non-locals. Our cab driver was no different. He also showed us many interesting places, that weren’t on paved roads and we eventually ended up in close proximity of the Polynesia.</span><br /></span></div></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td> <p align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/diver-kid.jpg" align="left" height="192" width="126" /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >The Kid had a rare opportunity presented to him earlier in the week. Windjammer had 3 dive masters on this ship, one was the resident dive master and the other two were new to Windjammer and were learning where all the great dive spots were from Tomas, the dive master on the Polynesia. There were three beginner divers. An interesting and rare ratio, so The Kid decided it was time. Floored the heck out of me because this is a kid who doesn’t like to swim, has had every swim lesson under the sun, but won’t swim. But I remembered this was also the kid who snorkeled with Nurse sharks at Hol Chan in Belize (that story for another day), so I signed the consent papers and let him have his adventure. The class was 4 hours, preceded with a safety video. It was an awesome opportunity in an amazing place. The Kid got to do a 20-40 foot dive in some of the clearest water in the Caribbean, an adventure he won’t soon forget. I wrote “<em>He was all smiles when he got back from his dive</em>” in my journal.</span></p><table align="center" border="1" width="70%"><tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/diver-crowd.jpg" height="111" width="170" /></td><td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/kid-scubas.jpg" height="111" width="170" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Anguilla is another place in the Caribbean that I would like to explore more. I think if I had to settle on a place today where I'd check-out in the Caribbean, Anguilla would be on my short list. Bequia is at the top, followed by Anguilla, then Mayreau. St. Vincent, Guadeloupe, Nevis, Statia, Dominica and several of the Grenadines are also places I’d explore further if I had the time and the sailboat.</span><br /></span> <table align="center" width="50%"><tbody><tr> <td><hr /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Our Windjammer adventure ended in St. Marten, where it began. It was a great trip and I would recommend a Windjammer adventure to anyone taking their homeschool on the road. We’ll do it again. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >And now it’s time to plan our Not-Back-To-School-Trip....we’re thinking the beach in September....</span></p><table align="center" width="50%"><tbody><tr> <td><hr /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" border="1" width="70%"><tbody><tr> <td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/passengers.jpg" height="111" width="170" /></td><td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/anguilla/crew.jpg" height="111" width="170" /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > </span></td></tr></tbody></table>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-31028159333801813792007-06-06T10:41:00.000-07:002008-10-23T08:39:30.061-07:00Windjammer Ships and Pirate Adventures: Statia - The Real Caribbean<p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Day 6: <strong>Statia (Saint Eustatius) - February 22, 2007
<br /></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>The Real Caribbean and Crab Number 3
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<br /><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/newsletter/mar07/statia.jpg" align="left" height="111" width="170" />The real Caribbean is one you won't ever see from a cruise ship. The Windjammer fleet is rare and so are the attitudes aboard. Shipmates are just as interested in the real Caribbean as we are and that's what I like about sailing like this. You are on a huge, beautiful antique sailing ship with other sailing nuts going places only sailors - and - pirates know about. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Saint Eustatius, or <strong><a href="http://www.statiatourism.com/history.html" target="_blank">Statia, </a></strong>as the locals call it, was my favorite place on this trip. It is also what you would call the "real Caribbean".</span></p>
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<br /><table width="400"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td align="center" valign="top" width="20%"><div align="justify"><p align="center"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/statia/poly-statis.jpg" height="193" width="127" /></p></div></td><td rowspan="2"><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >So What is the "real" Caribbean? Well, it's awesome people, black beaches, dormant volcanoes, history, hidden beaches all untouched by commercialism. No cruise ships..... </span></div><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The journal entry I wrote in my diary:</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><em>"Statia is my favorite stop so far. It is what the Caribbean is really like for a traveler. The people are friendly. The buildings are old, historical and tidy. Black beaches and a dormant volcano. Blue beads once could be found on the beaches. The first country to acknowledge the new American flag after the [North] American revolution."</em></span></p><p align="center">
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<br /></p></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td align="center" valign="middle" width="20%"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/newsletter/mar07/statia-poly.jpg" border="0" height="111" width="170" /></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"> <td colspan="2" valign="middle"> <p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The <a href="http://www.diveworldwide.com/holiday/st._eustatius_wrecks_and_blue_beads.html" target="_blank">blue beads of Statia</a> were fun. Many of the locals had them, and the bartenders had the best ones, and the best tales. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/statia/museum.jpg" align="right" border="2" height="135" width="193" />It was hot in Statia, remember it was February, and we snowbirds were very happy to be there. In the morning, I got to explore by myself, a rare treat. The Kid was interested in the book he was reading...I suppose that's what I get for raising a bookworm...sigh. But it gave me the opportunity to get to know the island on my own. There is a museum on Statia that is filled with very awesome artifacts and documents of the long and colorful history of this island. The day we were on the island, one of the local schools was having a bake sale...good, good, good - if you like coconut.
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<br />It wasn't until afternoon, and it was well into the 100's that The Kid actually came ashore. Needless to say, I dragged him to the museum, past the bake sale [that was cleaning up to head to the beach] and The Kid got to see the famed blue beads [though later that day, the bartender had better ones than the museum!].
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<br /></span></p></td></tr><tr> <td align="center" height="50%" valign="middle" width="20%"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/newsletter/mar07/statia-goats.jpg" height="111" width="170" /></td><td rowspan="2" align="left" valign="top"> <div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Though as remote as Statia might seem, it was there I had camera malfunction. Call it bad planning, bad Karma, or an invitation to really discover this island. I have a Nikkon that is far more complicated than I ever imagined and it went "haywire" tha day on Statia. The batteries died. Amazing as it might seem, we found in a small local shop, much like what you might find in Mayberry, batteries and a photographer who knew just what I needed. He also told me how to find the film I needed as well. That was an interesting walk through the "suburbs" to a local superette, run by an old Chinese guy who was happy to see us and very helpful as well.</span>...</div></td></tr><tr> <td align="center" height="50%" valign="middle" width="20%"><href="http: com="" images="" newsletter="" mar07="" jpg="" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/newsletter/mar07/statia-fort.jpg" border="0" height="111" width="170" /></href="http:></td></tr><tr> <td align="center" valign="middle" width="20%"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/statia/crab-race.jpg" height="111" width="170" /></td><td><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The film was very important that day as that was the evening of the famous Windjammer Crab races [no crabs are harmed or treated badly!]. many of the crabs are celebrities on board. We won $16USD on crab #3.
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<br />You'll just have to go on a Windjammer adventure to find out what that is all about!
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<br />Next Stop: <a href="http://travelnhsr.blogspot.com/2007/08/windjammer-ships-and-pirate-adventures.html">Anguilla</a>
<br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-66740634552548516132007-05-17T11:12:00.000-07:002008-10-23T08:38:18.956-07:00Windjammer Ships and Pirate Adventures: Nevis<div class="itembody"> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Day 5: <strong>Nevis -- February 21, 2007<br /><br />Imitation is the Best Form of Flattery</strong></span></p><br /><table border="0" width="395"><tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"><div align="center"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/Nevis/jumbiebeads.jpg" height="163" width="251" /></div></td></tr><tr> <td align="center" height="274" valign="top"> <div align="center"> <p align="justify"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/Nevis/nevis.jpg" height="214" width="140" /></p> </div></td> <td rowspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="90%"> <div align="center"> <p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >As we saw in St. Barths, with the Mick Jagger imitator, a mirror image of something great is just that, or is it? Nevis, though in the French West Indies, is British, and looked to us anyway - a lot like Dominica. There was a rain forest, few people and the people were incredibly friendly - the ones we met anyway...Like Dominica, it teased us to explore further. It seemed to be a place where nature prevails and commercialism is prohibited.</span></p> </div> <p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Twenty years ago in St. Maarten a guy named Rainbow gave me a pair of bracelets he made of beads from natural plants on the island. He told me that they would bring me luck. They have. It wasn’t until a medicine walk in Nevis this year that I discovered this is true and what the name of the beads are. The bracelet has brown beads and red beads, both of native plants, the red beads are called Jumbie beads and are used in a tea to calm colic, or just about anything else that ails you.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">After our morning Medicine walk, a three hour moderate hike up the dromant volcano on Nevis, we relaxed on the deck of the Polynesia all afternoon. Normally we travel with our Teva sandles, but were told that Chaco's were far superior. Well let me tell you, I'll take the Teva's anyday up the side of a volcano!<br /><br />Nevis is an Island I would return to. We didn’t get to spend enough time there and I really liked what I saw. There is a Four Seasons there that looked wonderful along with a few bars and restaurants. It is the kind of place to homeshool for a few weeks in the winter to be sure! The Travelin’ homeschooler and The Kid will return to this place for sure!</span></span></p><p align="justify"><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Next Stop: <a href="http://travelnhsr.blogspot.com/2007/06/windjammer-ships-and-pirate-adventures.html">Statia</a></span><br /> </span></p></td></tr><tr> <td align="center" height="50%" valign="top"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/Nevis/deck-time.jpg" height="214" width="140" /></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-52878111062245739432007-04-07T10:49:00.000-07:002008-10-23T08:36:19.230-07:00Windjammer Ships and Pirate Adventures: St. Barts<table width="400"><tbody><tr><td><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Day 3: <strong>St. Bart's (Saint-Barthélemy)-- February 19-20, 2007</strong><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>Carnival in St. Barts, Beach Au Natural & Mick Jagger Came to Town<br /></strong>The thing about traveling with The Kid is that you just never know what is going to happen once you are on the road.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > </span></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/mickjagger.jpg" height="169" width="259" /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table style="width: 400px; height: 2020px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"> <div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/svpolynesia" align="left" height="238" width="156" />After we left St. Maarten, we headed to <a href="http://www.st-barths.com/" target="_blank">St. Barths.</a> It’s always so awesome when a huge sailing ship raises sails and the SV Polynesia is no exception. It was a beautiful clear day, 80 degrees and perfect weather for sailing. I didn't for a minute think about our hometown where temperatures dipped to below freezing...<br /><br />St. Barths is a short sail from St. Maarten, so we accomplished this trip in no time. I have read St. Barts is a pretty nice place. Jimmy Buffet sings about “Old St. Barths”, but from our trip I can’t really tell what that might be all about. A squall came up out of nowhere and it was momentarily rainy when we arrived in St. Barths, but it was still hot so we headed ashore to Gustavia. Gustavia was a typical Caribbean town flanked by mountains, water and huge boats.<br /><br />We went into town with with sailing mates from our <a href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/travel/mandalay/welcome.html" target="_blank">Mandalay trip </a>Judy, Palmer, Nell, Claude, Shary & Chris. In town, we all had different ideas about what to do so we split up. That’s what I like about those guys, they’re fun and share the same adventurous spirit that The Kid and I have.<br /><br /></span></div></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top"> <div align="justify"><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The two Windjammer trips we have enjoyed have had very different sites, sounds, people but both have required “island work” in at least one of the ports. In St. Barths we were tasked with the very stressful job of finding a French bottle of wine. Now, being that this was a French island, this task was easy. However our first task was to find Shell Beach as it was rumored that it was loaded with shells. </span></p><table width="80%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/gustavia-harbor.jpg" height="139" width="213" /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >The harbor in Gustavia</span></td><td align="center" valign="middle"><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/ghostship.jpg" height="139" width="213" /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >"Ghost Ship" Off the Coast -St Bart's</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr><tr><td><div align="justify"><p align="center"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/jumpship.jpg" height="172" width="259" /></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > We thought it would be fun to rent a scooter for the day, but found out that wasn’t going to be possible as it was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras" target="_blank">Fat Tuesday</a>. Again, as it was a French Island, this promised to be a fun time. A parade was scheduled and The Kid just loves a parade, so with this news and a map, we headed on foot to Shell Beach. St. Barths was hot and all The Kid wanted to do was swim. Good thing he wasn’t in the mood to read French this day, but I saw the sign that included the words “Beach Au Natural”, once we hit the beach, the look on the Kid’s face was classic, but the water was nice. The captain had allowed us to jump from the ship to swim the day before, but that idea didn’t sit very well with The Kid as heights are not his first choice for fun, so this really was the first time in 2 days that we were able to swim. The beach really was loaded with tons of shells and the water was very nice, despite the "bare-naked" French ladies.<br /></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > <img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/shell-beach.jpg" height="203" width="133" /><br />Shell Beach </span></p></div></td></tr><tr><td><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >After our swim at the beach, we did manage to find a great wine shop. The Kid isn’t a big fan of wine shops or of having to speak French to wine shop owners, so he waited outside. I managed to find a great red French wine and had a pretty good conversation with the owner, once we realized English was the better language for both of us. It turned out the owner was a Canadian who decided to check out in St. Barths. I have a list of good places to go the next time we are on this island courtesy of a wonderful retired Canadian.<br /></span></div></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top"> <p align="center"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/parade.jpg" height="169" width="259" /></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >As we headed back into town, it was clear that the Fat Tuesday parade was a bigger deal than we imagined. many of the streets in Gustavia were closed off and the crowds were really thick. We decided that even though it was raining, we were going to stay and see the parade. It was a big deal. Kids, Adults, floats, dancers, colors, beads and even Mick Jagger. Earlier in our trip, I spent a week with a friend at North Captiva. We spent many of those days laying on the beach watching small planes fly over, commenting that Mick Jagger has an island somewhere in that part of the world and that was most likely him in the small plane. Drove my friend nuts. As we discovered on that day in St. Barths, that island could be very near St. Barths....</span></p><p align="center"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/stbarts/stones.jpg" height="169" width="259" /></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next Stop: <a href="http://travelnhsr.blogspot.com/2007/05/windjammer-ships-and-pirate-adventures_17.html">Nevis</a></span></span>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-90279142830669326362007-03-20T10:01:00.000-07:002008-10-23T08:36:55.001-07:00Windjammer Ships and Pirate Adventures: St. MaartenDays 1-3: St. Maarten/St. Martin -- February 16-18, 2007<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">What can you say about a month out of the cold? We’re good at being snowbirds? How about we went sailing on a big boat, err, ship in the French West Indies?<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/newsletter/mar07/poly.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/newsletter/mar07/poly.jpg" border="0" height="149" width="228" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I think everyone has a little bit of a pirate spirit in them and sailing on a Windjammer ship is a good way to bring that out! One thing Windjammer employees will tell you is that “this ain’t no foo foo ship”...I am guessing it’s a jab at those huge floating cities we see invade tiny Caribbean islands...I’ve never been on a cruiseship....but being barefoot for a week on a beautiful antique ship is such a thrill. It’s also a good way to homeschool. You get culture,geography, history and even math and Science.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/smaarten/cupecoy.jpg" align="left" height="213" width="139" />Just to start our adventure off early, we flew to St. Maarten 3 days prior to getting on the SV Polynesia. The last time I was in St. Maarten was almost 20 years ago and boy have things changed. The airport is no longer an open air shack on an airstrip (even going to St. Maarten they verify that you have your sun tan lotion squirreled away in 3.5 ounce bottles now).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">St. Maarten in it’s heyday, was quite the hot spot, but those spots are gone now taken by hurricanes and better ideas, though some places remain. We stayed out at Cupecoy beach which is known for sandstone beaches and they still are quite beautiful, despite the obvious increase in tourism. There always was a charm to most spots in St. Maarten, the restaurants and inns and Hotels. The beaches still are great, and some are still clothing optional -- as always in places other than the US. The experience of a 14 year old boy and that of a “geezer” on one of these kinds of beaches is remarkably different as I found out. Enough on that topic The Kid says...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><img style="width: 101px; height: 155px;" src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/smaarten/little-car.jpg" align="right" />We rented a car in St. Maarten because The Kid just didn’t understand why I thought it was one of the more beautiful places I had been. Our plan for that day was to drive around the island and have lunch at Captain Oliver’s, and that’s what we did. With a map that we should have saved as a collectors item, we started out. “How can we get lost on and island?” The Kid wanted to know. “I don’t want to drive by the cool stuff, so pay attention to the map.” My attempt to get a map reading lesson in for the day.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">St. Maarten is an island that is ruled by two different nations. One side is French and the other side is Dutch. Both sides are distinctively different and this was also part of the study. Marigot, on the French side is as bustling as ever, but far more cosmopolitan than we were looking for. We drove through Marigot and headed for Anse Marcel, a little off the beaten path and more like the St. Martin I remembered. We also headed to Orient Beach, the one all the cruise ships go to for the “beach au natural”, as the Kid read Our French lesson for the day. The beach was crowded, so we headed for Oyster Pond and Captain Oliver’s. This place was as good as ever and is still right out of a Buffett song.<br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Front Street in Philipsburg is quite different from 20 years ago. I think there are more diamonds and emeralds on this Island than anywhere else. It was also on Front Street three days later that we met up with sailing mates from our Mandalay trip Judy, Palmer, Nell, Claude, Shary & Chris...</p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Next Stop: <a href="http://travelnhsr.blogspot.com/2007/04/windjammer-ships-and-pirate-adventures.html">St. Barts</a><br /></span></p><table style="width: 682px; height: 166px;" align="center" border="1"><tbody><tr> <td style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/smaarten/12meter.jpg" height="156" width="213" /></span></td><td><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/windjammer/smaarten/beaches.jpg" height="156" width="213" /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-1171389562101810172007-02-13T09:55:00.000-08:002008-02-23T09:21:05.951-08:00It's Good to Be Sunburnt and Greek<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >One of the really wonderful things about homeschooling and travel is that you get all that great socialization, especially if you are willing to participate in local cultural events.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/greek-pasteries.jpg" align="left" height="134" width="123" />We went to the <a href="http://www.stbarbara-church.org/glendi.html" target="_blank">Greek Festival</a> in Sarasota, Florida over the weekend. More precisely it was called the Greek Glendi - A Greek Festival hosted by <a href="http://www.stbarbara-church.org/" target="_blank">St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church</a>. According to the program brochure we received, they were celebrating the music of Greece, which fits perfectly with our recent music studies.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >There was a lot of music and dancing, with explanations of many of the dances.The St. Barbara Hellenic Dancers were in colorful costumes that showed authentic Greek history and culture. Every Greek costume is an interesting combination of garment and accessories that is characteristic of a group of people who live in a particular region of Greece. According to the narrator at the festival, there are songs for washing sowing, harvesting - there are love songs, lullabies and laments.</span></p><table width="375"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td colspan="2"><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >The Greek Orthodox Church evolved in the era of the Great Byzantine Empire, for those of you not up on the middle ages. Byzantine chanting is where a lot of the songs we heard came from. These songs were full of melody and harmony. The folk music of Greece claims a history that is long and checkered and worthy of every homeschoolers attention. Popular music commonly known as Bouzouki music possesses unique characteristics that existed in parts of Greece, yesterday and today. The emotions of the Greek people show through in the dances and and in the music we saw and heard. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Greek architecture is a study in itself. Some say the Greeks invented architecture. Anybody who saw the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" understands that sort of enthusiasm for anything Greek. But most Greek Orthodox Churches I have seen so far in our travels are pretty interesting structures and this building in Sarasota is no different. A beautiful dome amidst Palms and Banyon trees adorned with Spanish Moss. If you're interested, you can go inside these churches and see many beautiful icons, lots of candles and gold ornamentation.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Though the music and the architecture are part of the "study" of local culture, at a Greek festival, in our book, the food is always the attraction. Greek pastries and food are the best "fast food" you can get in my opinion. There's nothing better than a Gyro and Baklava and a stroll through the other food and crafts booths. Church festivals always seem to guarantee that homemade touch and the little old Greek Florida ladies were out in force at this one for sure....though none of them had key lime pies on hand...</span></p></td></tr><tr align="center" valign="middle"> <td colspan="2"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong>At the Greek Market</strong></span></td></tr> <tr align="center" valign="middle"><td> <p><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/greek-jewels.jpg" height="166" width="174" /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" >Greek Jewelry</span></p></td><td> <p><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/blog-images/greek-shaws" height="98" width="203" /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" >Greek Shaws</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width: 331px; height: 127px;"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td colspan="1"><br /></td></tr><tr align="center" valign="middle"><td colspan="1"><br /></td></tr><tr align="center" valign="middle"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-1169054261600541672007-01-17T09:16:00.000-08:002007-11-16T08:11:24.537-08:00Journeys in My Own Backyard: Teach Your Children WellMe: “How would you like to go see the Rolling Stones movie at the OmniMax?”<br /><br />The Kid: “ We see documentaries at the OmniMax. We learn stuff there. Why would I want to go see Mick Jagger 1,000 feet tall? Their logo came from somewhere.”<br /><br />Me: “Sigh.” “How would you like to learn about how your mom spent, wait, misspent some of her youth?”<br /><br />This was the deal sealer. The Kid was very interested in this idea.<br /><br />It wasn’t Mick I wanted to see, anyway. I wanted to see Keith Richards 1,000 feet tall. I have always been a fan of Keith Richards.<br /><br />Our local OmniMax has just been renovated and they were having special showings of The Rolling Stones, during their Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour, shot on location in Turin, Berlin and London. The show was pretty good and a great introduction to what a concert was like for mom when she was a teen. The performance included such classics as “Satisfaction,” “Ruby Tuesday” and “Start Me Up.” The showing was very loud and there was much eye-rolling from The Kid. His tolerance of “my music” was greatly enhanced when I told him to focus real intensely on Mr. Richards and think “Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man’s Chest”, Boostrap-Bill. The light went on and the rest is history. We had common ground for the moment, though I have to admit, I borrowed the Kid’s iPod once and there were some Stones on it. I guess the Music History classes are sinking in.<br /><br />And he thinks he wants to go to a Buffett concert....traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-1163085551504475212006-11-09T07:18:00.000-08:002007-11-16T08:26:14.805-08:00I Voted TodayThe place where I vote is a Catholic church situated on the Ohio River. I have never really understood how they got such great real estate, and it is beautiful, but there it is on the mighty Ohio river, up high, yet right on the banks, away from flooding. It is a beautiful building, and for a country that believes in separating church from state, quite a statement to The Kid who is currently studying the US constitution in depth.<br /><br />Voting Tuesday in Southern Ohio was rainy, so we weren’’t assaulted by the usual mob of campaigners, who by the way I am sick and tired of.<br /><br />As we approached the Gothic structure, The Kid reminded me of <a href="http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/42.htm" target="_blank">The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom </a> co-authored by founding fathers, Jefferson and Madison, where “No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever...”. I often wonder why he can’t remember his multiplication tables. I told him it was actually the bingo hall that was our destination, so it really wasn’t a religious worship place. The Kid continued, he wanted to know why the rest of us had to vote on gambling and slot machines but this place was allowed to have bingo...sigh... the trials of mentoring this sort of human being.<br /><br />The Kid is in general very Liberal in his politics -- who wasn’t when they didn’t have any money to call their own? The Kid takes great delight in harassing his Grandfather and anyone else who speaks of anything conservative. A friend recently shared this story:<br /><br /><table align="center" width="375"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="top"> <p align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><em>Subject: <strong>A FATHER DAUGHTER TALK</strong><br /><br />A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat and was for distribution of all wealth. She felt deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican which she expressed openly.<br /><br />One day she was challenging her father on his beliefs and his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and more welfare programs. In the middle of her heartfelt diatribe based upon the lecture she had from her far left professors at her school, he stopped her and asked her point blank, how she was doing in school.<br /><br />She answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain. That she had to study all the time, never had time to go out and party like other people she knew. She did not even have time for a boyfriend and did not really have many college friends because of spending all her time studying. Furthermore, that she was taking a more difficult curriculum.<br /></em></span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><em><br />Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Mary?"<br /><br />She replied, "Mary is barely getting by,"<br /><br />she continued, "all she has is barely a 2.0 GPA"<br /><br />adding, "and all she takes are easy classes and she never studies."<br /><br />But to explain further she continued emotionally,<br /><br />"But Mary is so very popular on campus, college for her is a blast, she goes to all the parties all the time and very often does not even show up for classes because she is too hung over. "<br /><br />Her father then asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your friend who only had a 2.0."<br /><br />He continued, "That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair equal distribution of GPA."<br /><br />The daughter visibly shocked by the father's suggestion angrily fired back, "That would not be fair! I worked really hard for mine, I did without and Mary has done little or nothing, she played while I worked real hard!"<br /><br />The father smile and said, "Welcome to the Republican Party."</em></span></p> </td></tr></tbody> </table><br />The look on The Kid’s face was classic and the backpedalling was interesting.<br /><br />But to get back to our adventure, in general I take The Kid with me when I vote so he can see what goes on and understand the process a little. This day, The Kid accompanied me because I was certain he would be able to figure out how to use the electronic voting machine even without reading the instructions. These kinds of things escape me and frustrate me to no end and that’s why we make such a great pair.<br /><br />Later that day in TaeKwonDo, The Kid’s Master told me that she was so proud of him, she continued “it’s so cool to see kids excited about politics, he said he couldn’t wait until he was old enough to vote.”...If she only knew...traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-1162417663816991712006-11-01T13:47:00.000-08:002007-11-16T08:13:50.942-08:00Who Knew Adams County Was so Beautiful?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >It’s been a while since we’ve written. Our “school” year started and we have been wrapped up in many new courses of study. We always have time to think and plan new adventures of course. Once we have our study topics for the year the “field trips” get easier to think about. We’ve enjoyed the theater as part of our travels in our own back yard so far this“school year”. We saw the <a href="http://www.cincyplay.com/shows/season/m1/advisory.php">Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park</a> production of Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”. It was an excellent production. We also saw “<a href="http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com/" target="_blank">Spamalot</a>” a “musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. Also a great production.</span><br /></div> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6632/1238/1600/mudd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6632/1238/320/mudd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >As usual as part of our Autumn studies, we go to the <a href="http://www.renfestival.com/" target="_blank">Ohio Renaissance Festival </a> in Harveysburg, OH. There’s really not much in Harveysburg, OH, I suppose you could check out the Caesar Creek flea market if you really wanted to make a day of it, but we go for the Renaissance Festival. At the Renaissance Festival you can always catch a sword fight, but being the theater animals we are, our favorite is naturally the “Theater in the Ground” where one may just luck in and see a great production of Beowulf. The actors perform in a mudpit, yes, hard to imagine, but nonetheless, worth the trip to Harveysburg, OH.</span><br /></div> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >As civilized as all the theater talks sounds, we just can’t help ourselves, we’d rather be paddling. As our luck would have it, we were fortunate enough ot get to <a href="http://www.adamscountytravel.org/parks_and_outdoors.htm" target="_blank">Adams County, Ohio.</a> Near the Ohio River yet far enough away from the city to be able to see thousands of stars at night. The kid and I got the opportunity to paddle Brush Creek in early fall and boy was it beautiful. An unspoiled creek that has the occasional cabin perched on the hills and home to that illusive Kingfisher I have been trying to photograph all summer. Brush Creek dumps into the Ohio, but instead of that treat, we paddled up river. The Kid stopped to fish and I explored with a camera. No fish but great pictures - though no pictures of the Kingfisher...maybe next year.</span><br /></div> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >In our future we are planning a trip to Southern Europe and soon we are heading to the Caribbean for some sailing in the French West Indies. We are in the process of planning other trips as part of our homeschool so stay tuned! When you take your homeschool on the road, life is an adventure!</span></div>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13883098.post-1156381121043806182006-08-23T17:55:00.000-07:002007-11-16T08:14:36.454-08:00Not Back to School<table width="400"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/backtoschool.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.brightkidsathome.com/images/backtoschool.jpg" border="0" height="302" width="131" /></a></td><br /><td><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >Every homeschooling family celebrates a “Not Back to School Day”, at least that is what I like to believe. Our day to celebrate was Mondaythis week. The plan was to go to our local coffee house to catch up onthe latest news with the coffee-house-posse, to go to Staples to not-buy back to school supplies, to go to Morgan’s Livery one last time to kayak our favorite river and then to Eat at Joe’s (Joe’s Crab Shack) on the river for dinner.<br /></span> </div></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table> <table width="400"> <tbody><tr><td><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >You always see a flurry of noteworthy news regarding the idea of students returning to school:</span> <hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="middle"> <table align="center" width="95%"> <tbody><tr> <td><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" ><strong>Parents Clueless on Drugs</strong><br /> Surveys show teens, folks out of synch, out of touch...<br /> <span style="font-size:85%;">BY PEGGY O'FARRELL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER</span><br /> <em><span style="font-size:78%;">A comparison of two recent surveys shows parents apparently don't have a clue about their teenagers' use of drugs and alcohol....</span></em><span style="font-size:85%;">[<a href="http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060821/NEWS01/608210362/-1/back01" target="_blank">Read on</a>]</span><br /> </span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="justify"> <hr /> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" ><strong>Goal is Grads, Not Dropouts</strong><br /> Schools put emphasis on getting to finish line<br /> <span style="font-size:85%;">BY DENISE SMITH AMOS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER</span><br /> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Glen Este High School in West Clermont missed its graduation goal last year by four-tenths of a percentage point, the equivalent of one student dropping out, says Superintendent Gary Brooks...</span></em><span style="font-size:85%;">[<a href="http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060821/NEWS0102/608210329/-1/back01%0D" target="_blank">Read on]</a></span><br /> </span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"><br /><div align="justify"><hr /> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" ><strong>No Cheating, Kids Pledge</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">BY SARAH HARDEE | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR<br /><em>When Villa Madonna Academy senior Sean Spille turns in his schoolwork, you can be sure it's his own - he even put it in writing.<br /><br />Spille is one of the high school's 180 students who signed a new honor code this year that calls for honesty and academic integrity...</em>.[<a href="http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060821/NEWS0102/608210332/-1/back01%0D" target="_blank">Read on</a>]</span></span></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td><hr /> <div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >Just once I’d like to see for example, the Literature reading lists that returning students are required to read, the lists of texts being used and perhaps a syllabi or two of some of the more enlightening classes offered in our schools. This might make me wonder what we are missing by “not-going-back-to-school”. </span></div></td></tr></tbody> </table> <table width="400"> <tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="middle"><p align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >On our "Not Back to School Day", Staple’s is always a fun stop. As we walked the crowded rows, we saw parents and kids pouring over lists of items required for learning at school. The bulging baskets made me wonder if I had missed something in our planning. There really isn’t much “stuff” a homeschool needs, though I have to admit to replacing our 7 year old laptop this year.<br /></span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" > Published in Today’s local paper:</span></p></td></tr><tr> <td align="center" valign="middle"> <table align="center" cellpadding="5" width="70%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="middle"><p align="left"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" ><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">How much we spend (selected items)<br /> </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >Clothing and accessories - $230<br /> Shoes - $98<br /> School supplies - $86<br /> Electronics (lower grades) - $114<br /> Average total spending (lower grades) - $527<br /> <span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Source: Bigresearch</em></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"> <p align="justify"><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >What I spent<br /> </span></strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >Clothing and accessories - $0<br /> Shoes - $0<br /> School supplies - $61.60<br /> Electronics (lower grades) -- $19.98<br /> Average total spending (lower grades) - $81.58<br /> <span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Source: My Staples Receipt</em></span> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="middle"><div align="justify"> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >Though, if I really wanted to start totalling my dollars that go toward education, including the property taxes I pay to fund what our local public school system does, we’d be in the thousands...though I am not going there today. (<em>I generally have that number ready for when they start the cries for more taxes to pay for the schools in November.</em>)<br /><br />We did have a glorious day on the Little Miami River. The leaves on the trees were that green, showing a golden glow that Autum is just around the corner. All the turtles we saw in the early spring were back lazing in the sun on the logs. Several large fish jumped for us and the ducks and herons were all there to celebrate our "Not Back to School" day on the river. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >Sunburnt, and tired, we finished our day at "Joe's Crab Shack". </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:95;" >It was a good "Not Back to School" day. </span></p></div></td></tr></tbody> </table>traveln-hsrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17988166525453591055noreply@blogger.com0