The Great, Good, Bad & Ugly of Travel and Life
Last week I attended my first Apple school session. My One-On-One session was great. Rachel, my instructor, was knowledgeable, had great teaching skills and was fully engaged in our session. However, it was a challenge to keep my people watching habit under control and pay attention to why I was there.
Are you in a dead end job that drains the life out of you each day? When you arrive home at the end of the day you have no energy to be present for your family? Almost everyone has been in this position at one time or another. "Find Your Strongest Life" should be read by every woman of every age so that you know what action to take to propel yourself from this situation.
I wish this book had been written when I was 20 instead of 62. I was hooked by the middle of the Ten Myths About The Lives of Women at the beginning of the book. Some of these I knew, some applied to me and some didn’t, but I see them everyday in the lives of the women I know and meet. Marcus makes it so clear for you to find your strongest life by using the the online "The Strong Life Test for Women". Each woman should take the test immediately upon ordering the book. You will have some idea of what your focus should be as you read the book.
In a phone conversation with a colleague a few weeks ago, I said I was at a time in my life when I was trying to decide what to do when I grow up. He laughed and thought I should really be thinking about retirement. The timing of this book is so appropriate. I like what I do, but I am assessing how I move to doing what I love to do.
I really like the "What to Take Away" at the end of each chapter. A great way to focus on the points of the chapter. Marcus has provided the tools for me to reassess where I am, where I am going. I rarely write in a book or mark important information. That is not the case here. There are notes, earmarked pages, and post it notes. I intend to use this book as a reference for planning my future.
Every young woman in my family will be receiving a copy of this book shortly.
Thank you Marcus.
There was a really slow start to Friday morning. The day on Grouse Mountain had taken its toll on my body. But there are still things to see and do and they include lunch and shopping on Granville Island. Granville Island was once an industrial manufacturing area, but is now a major tourist destination, providing amenities such as a public market, a large marina, a hotel, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design (named in honor of the artist), various theaters including the Arts Club Theatre Company and Carousel Theatre, and various shopping areas clustered around the one industrial outpost remaining, a cement plant.
I do not like suspension bridges. Never have, don’t think I ever will. However, this is part of the deal if you are going to "do" Grouse Mountain. Sometimes you just have to "suck it up" so you don’t miss life. We decided to do a 6 hour tour for Grouse Mountain which included a Capilano Salmon Hatchery, The Skyride, other entertainment and a ride back to Vancouver on the SeaBus.
While browsing through the tourist sites for Vancouver I happened upon the Deeley Motorcycle Exhibition. Now motorcycles are not my thing but I am not the only person on this vacation. My husband Gene has been riding motorcycles since he was 14 years old. He loves the history of motorcycles. The current exhibition is focused on the rise and fall of the British motorcycle industry.
While in Victoria we watched the Seaplanes coming and going. We had taken a tour in one several years ago in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. This just seemed like the smart way to get back to Vancouver. Let’s see, 35 minutes by air, 3-4 hours by bus and ferry. A no brainer.
Continue reading “Victoria, B.C. to Vancouver, B.C. – Aug 09”
This day was all about Butchart Gardens. Gene and I rented a car for the day and drove out the the gardens. It was a beautiful, clear day with temps in the mid 60s to low 70s. We spent several hours taking in the sights, sounds and fragrances of the gardens. The best description I can offer is in the pictures.
On our way back into town we stopped at Craigdarroch Castle. There are a few pictures at the end of our photos. The Castle is undergoing renovation so it was difficult to get really good photos.
It was a perfect day for “The Glamour of the Road”.
Yesterday was a really long travel day. Once we arrived in Vancouver, we took a bus to the ferry for an 1 1/2 hour ride and then the bus continued on into Victoria. The ferry ride was great. This entire area of the northwest is just incredible. It was late afternoon, clear and sunny and just wonderful.
Each year, Gene and I trek to wherever the I-CAN meeting of amazing kids is being held. This year it was in St. Petersburg, FL. It was hot and muggy during the day, but the bay breezes in the evening made eating on the patio of the restaurants along the bay very enjoyable. St. Pete as the locals call it is what I consider the right-size city. The locals know each other, there are neat and interesting things to do and it is close enough to the big city if you need an airport or something you can’t get locally. St. Pete is rich in the arts. Among other things It is home to the Salvador Dali Museum, which we have previously visited and it is amazing.
Yesterday, just for grins because it was my birthday, I read my horoscope. See Leo. The “Visit exotic location this week” made me laugh out loud. My planned business trip this week is to Hobbs, NM.
I lived in Hobbs in 1968 and left in January 1969. I did not return for 38 years. That should give you a clue about my desire to visit. I have been back a few times in the past few years. First for my uncle’s funeral and this is my second visit for business.
Not much has changed. The town is a bit larger, but it is still flat, no trees and when the wind blows so does dirt. They must have had rain recently as the weeds on the sides of the roads are green.