My high school English teacher used to start class on Friday with 5 words or phrases written on the board.  He’d then regale us with stories about the words or phrases, varying from tidbits about their etymology to translation of foreign phrases to quotes and more.  He called it Five Fun Facts for Friday.  If we walked into class and there weren’t 5 words on the board, we’d start asking about that day’s five fun facts.

Years later, and I do mean many years, I still remember this teacher and the way he made learning fun.  I’ve also noticed when I come across little tidbits of information that I often think of them in terms of five fun facts, so today I’m going to share them with you.  Sometimes I discover something new, sometimes it’s a reminder, and sometimes it’s just something that makes me say hmmmmmm.

While I’m not promising that I’ll have five fun facts every Friday, I thing you’ll see the concept again!

1. There are 200 species of potatoes, and thousands of subspecies, that are native to the Andes region of Peru.  And, and additional 150 types of sweet potatoes.  No wonder potatoes figure prominently in Peruvian cuisine.
2. You really can drive on the beach at Daytona Beach (and a few other beaches in the area).  There is a beach permit required (the fee price depends on if you are a resident or non-resident), and vehicle hours are posted.  The beach is always open and free to pedestrians and bicyclists depending on tides.
3. You can get a bone marrow transplant from a baboon, assuming, of course, you can find a match (source).
4. Colder temperature may help you lose weight.  While certainly not the only factor in losing weight, turning down the temperature a few degrees can help you burn more calories (source).
5. Hawaii, Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation), and the part of Indiana (that portion in the eastern time zone) do NOT observe daylight savings time.  Neither does Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.  I know this at one level, but when it’s time to make a phone call I have to sit down and think it through again.

Photo credit: SXC

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16 days left in December, and it hardly seems possible.  As a kid, the days of the year seemed to creep by in super slow motion.  As an adult it seems the pages on the calendar just fly by, forcing us all to take care of some end-of-the year business.

Here are some of the things that I’m wrestling with as I try to come up with a solid list of goals for 2011.

Business:  It’s time to set new blogging goals, from readership to development of my travel newsletter, from fully launching my concierge travel services to learning podcasting, and from revising advertising rates and fees to generating consistent revenue to hire some help.  There are also some pending business associations and ideas that are worthy of time and development.

Travel:  I’ve separated this from business because while I do make money from my traveling, I also travel for the joy and adventure of it.  My list of places that I want to visit grows and grows, and I already have a few new destinations lined up for 2011.  I also have planned some return trips to some favorites places and  fully intend to continue my love affair with Italy.

Personal:  It’s time to get back into a healthy routine, encompassing a little more walking, healthier meals, and scheduling some pampering respites into a busy routine.  I’d like to learn a few new skills, or enhance my current skill level, including photography, learning Italian, learning more about wine, and healthier cooking.\

I have lots of loose plans and ideas right now, but will be spending the rest of the year putting together concrete action steps to make it all come together to make 2011 GREAT.

Are you making end of year plans, reflecting on where you’ve been and where you want to go?

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I’m a big fan of Christmas.  I love all the lights and decorations, the holiday music, putting up a tree, wrapping up presents, going to holiday get-togethers, and eating way too many Christmas cookies.  It makes me happy, brings a smile to my face, and puts a little joy in my heart.

But what it doesn’t do is stress me out over holiday shopping!  Let’s be honest here – I love to shop any time of the year.  It doesn’t bother me to go to the mall, to find a cute little boutique, or to hunt down a charming locally owned shop.  It’s fun for me.  As is picking out the perfect gift for someone.

This process has led me to realize that there isn’t a whole lot that I need at Christmas time – at least in the way of presents.  I’m blessed to be gainfully employed in a job that I enjoy and to be earning money blogging about travel (my passion).  I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on the table.  I have everything that I need, and most of what I want.  In fact, I really have too much stuff, and am concentrating more on the intangible riches of life – relationships, experiences, and enjoyment.

After purchasing a few gifts, and I mean a very few, I focused my energy and funds on adopting a family that is facing some challenges this Christmas time.  The family is an older single mom with a five year old little boy with special needs.  This is a family who has challenges every time of the year, and it just shouldn’t be that way at Christmas.  Because Christmas is for kids.  And that dear, sweet little boy, who faces challenges and complications every day of his life, should wake up on Christmas morning and be able to forget about all of that – even if it’s just for one day.  He should find presents beneath his tree and have a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.  And mom, who gives everything to make life better for that little boy, should have some things to make her life easier, too.  A few things for around the house, and maybe a special, pretty something that’s all for her.

Today I went shopping for my special adopted family, working from a list that United Way (the agency who matched up the adoption) filled out for them.  The list divided up the urgent needs and special wants for each person.  Just reading the list made me get all weepy.  These requests were so incredibly modest – a shower curtain, socks and underwear, and a hair cut.  United Way asks that we get at least one gift for each person, along with providing a holiday meal.  One gift just didn’t seem right –- and no one’s Christmas present should just be a shower curtain.

So I went a little crazy.  And a bought bunches of stuff.  I was like a kid in a candy shop, picking out all the urgent needs, and lots of the special wants as well.  I can’t change this family’s circumstances, that is far beyond my ability.  But I want this family, so rich in love, to have some tangible riches as well.  That I have the ability to do.

If you are blessed this holiday season, give your local United Way a call and ask if they have any more families that need adopting for Christmas.  The list is long, the need is high, and chances are there’s a family that could use a little helping hand.  Even at this late date, there is a family waiting. . . and hoping.  Do it because it feels good.  Do it because you don’t need any more stuff.  Do it because you’re giving back or paying it forward.  Do it because Christmas is for kids.  And everyone should get to be a kid at Christmas.

Photo credit: SXC

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In no particular order, here are some of the things that I’ve come to love about Italy, and why I’m looking forward to a return trip again next year.

Fields of sunflowers in Tuscany, July 2009

1. Sunflowers
2. Gelato
3. Lake Maggiore
4. Isola Madre
5. Isola Bella (and yes, I know it’s gaudy and over-the-top)
6. Latte de Luna (with wild mushroom soup that’s to-die-for)
7. Brunello wine
8. Giuseppe and La Montalla
9. Florence (so much beautiful art)
10. Trevi Fountain in Rome (I threw in 3 coins, just to ensure my return)
11. Vatican (history and art, religion and politics)
12. Fashion and fashionably dressed men and women
13. Cafes and cappuccino
14. Hills towns in Tuscany
15. Beautiful churches (every town has a dozen)
16. Pecorino cheese
17. Stopping the car to let sheep cross the road
18. The beautiful language (that I must learn)
19. Limoncello
20. Tomato and onion salad
21. Wild boar pasta (actually, any kind of pasta at all!)
22. Vineyard and olive orchards
23. Cypress trees
24. Internet access (yes, in the middle of a vineyard, there’s still wi-fi)
25. History and a sense of how very young the U.S. is

What do you love about Italy?

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

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Paris is home to one of the most famous streets in the world, the Avenue des Champs des Elysees.

No trip would be complete, without talking time to at least stroll down the Avenue.  Better yet, take time to stop off for a cafe au lait and watch the world go by.   Better still, a little shopping spree!

Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris, France

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I’m in the process of upgrading my personal blog here into a magazine format, along with adding in some shiny new whistles and bells.   I’ve got the template selected, and, as you can see, I’m in the process of getting it all spruced up.

The Ancient Ruins of the Roman Coliseum

The fun part of all of this, is that it’s going to look so nice when it’s all done.

The not so fun part of all of this, is that I’m having to learn a lot of tech stuff, and that means that there are gong to be lots of mistakes.

So please — I ask for your patience, please.  Check back here again, and see how much changes between visits.  And look for an announcement again when everything is all wrapped up and looking pretty.

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I was researching information for a blog post, and got sidetracked by something that I read on Twitter.

There’s only one of me.  How many of you are there?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 1 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

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We’ve all seen the guys wandering the beach or the street with numerous birds hanging off of them.  A parrot on the shoulder, another one on the arm, and still another one hanging off some piece of equipment.  They’ll pose with you for a small fee.

Unless you’re really drunk, or really need a photo to commemorate your vacation, just say “no thanks” and keep on walking.

This past week, while attending the opening night Pow-Wow party, they had parrots galore to pose with us – and for no charge.  So I seized the moment.

Occasionally, everyone needs a parrot on their shoulder.

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This is Socrates.  I also call him Socks.  He was born on December 31st, 2008, and came to live with me in late February.

The decision to get him wasn’t an easy one.  I had lost a dear pet who had called my home “his” for about 16 years.  You can never replace a pet, but after some grieving time, you realized that your heart can expand a little bit more to include someone new.  Besides, Misha (the other 4-legged household resident) was starting to get a little cranky without a playmate.

So Socks arrived.  And he crept into my life, my heart, and even my bed.

I don’t usually blog about my pets, but I just sort of felt the urge.  I came home after a trip, and this little guy curled up in my lap and spent the afternoon purring.  If I got up, he’s wait patiently for my return and then pick his spot once again.

Life is good, and my world a better place, because of the adorable little 4-footed friend.  It’s also hard to get writer’s block when you’ve got someone purring you on to creativity.

Anyone else blog with their pets?

Photo:  personal collection

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We are a nation of laws, and we honor contracts.

Yep, sure.  Most of the times.  And that appears to be the sole argument over why something hasn’t been done to prohibit or have returned the obscene sum of moneys given out to leaders of a miserably failing company.

That argument just doesn’t hold weight with me.

What about those private contracts for airline employees?  In bailing out that industry the government had no problem setting up a pension board that stripped money from retirees.  If that’s not re-writing a contract, what is?  Oh wait – that’s because the airline said that needed to do that to stay afloat.  Right. . . .

Well, what about when a individual files for bankruptcy protection?  Re-negotiation of contracts occurs, and sometimes, depending on timing and circumstances, contracts are declared voidable.  Isn’t that, in essence, a re-writing of the contract?

Why is it that the only contracts that can’t be re-written, or someone found voidable, are those in this failing financial industry.

I’m not an economist by any means, but it seems like all businesses and individuals in bail out or bankruptcy situations should have to face the same music.  And that means contracts are going to be scrutinized, and possible voided.

Why are we accepting anything less?

Photo:  SXC

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