Blue Ridge Trip '24 #29
Back at the hotel in Boone, NC - Fri, 6 Sep 2024. 8pm

We enjoyed a taking-it-easy afternoon in our hotel room today, just kind of vegging on the sofa and bed after getting back from Green Mountain Falls. It's not that that hike was difficult- I mean, Green Mountain Falls wasn't even a hike, it was a drive-to spot- or that ( Read more... )

There's been a discussion on an email group in my neighborhood about hiring a contractor to replace windows and sliding glass doors. One neighbor, "Chu", asked for recommendations. A few businesses were suggested, including one that my spouse and I hired years ago for some window repairs. We didn't give this recommendation, though we do consider ( Read more... )

I've done something this week that's become unusual for me. I've eaten at a steakhouse. TwiceIt's not that I dislike steak. In fact I like it very much. And because I like it very much I don't enjoy it at family style restaurants. It's not good enough quality meat and it's not cooked that well. To get a good steak, I found years ago, one really ( Read more... )

Alaska Travelog #3
Anchorage - Sat, 15 Jun 2024, 10amLast night as I learned our flight to Alaska would arrive 90 minutes late I rued getting to bed late and sleeping in late. It turns out only half of that came true. We did get to bed late- around 2:30am. But then I woke up at 7:30. I was still tired but could tell I wasn't going to be able to ( Read more... )

By now I probably don't need to define the term shrinkflation- because you've probably already noticed it. It's a combination of the words shrinking and inflation, and it refers to when manufacturers shrink the size of a product instead of raising its price (inflation). Though lately it seems they've been doing both at the same time often enough ( Read more... )

Well, it's been a year. ...Actually, it's been more than a year. It's been 16 months. I know because I wrote about it in my blog last time I did it. I ate at Taco Bell. And I liked it. Well, kinda. 🤣
Wendys--; TacoBell++;
My inspiration for "Making a run for the border" again was a particular Taco Bell restaurant.


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This weekend I clicked into the place the final piece of our travel arrangements for visiting Alaska next month. I booked a rental car. I slept on doing this for a few weeks because prices with all the conventional car rental agencies (Avis, Hertz, et. al.) were absurd. Like, $1,000 for a 5-day rental absurd. Instead I booked with Turo, a C2C car ( Read more... )

Phoenix Weekend Travelog #2
Arizona Grand Resort - Thu, 9 May 2024, 9pm

After arriving in Phoenix this afternoon Hawk and I checked in at the Arizona Grand Resort. We settled in our room, a comfortable if not exactly luxurious suite. ...Well, not luxurious compared to where we've stayed the past 5 days, anyway. You can s ee pics of a suite here ( Read more... )

Los Cabos Travelog #20
38,000' over Mexico - Thu, 9 May 2024, 1pm

We wrapped up our 5 days in Los Cabos today. Sadly it ended not with a bang but a whimper (see previous blog). But now we're en route to our next adventure ( Read more... )

Los Cabos Travelog #6
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos - Sun, 4 May 2024, 9:30amLast night I crashed early. By 9pm I was already fighting sleep, so I went to bed at about 9:30 and fell asleep right away. This morning I woke at 5am, briefly, and saw that it wasn't yet sunrise. The sky was starting to get light, though. Dawn comes early here! I feel back ( Read more... )