BlogHer - travel - Comments

Staycation

Bitches on a Budget — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:58:20 -0600

Let us know what fun things you found to do in you own back yard!

Xo Roz

Staycation

RTG — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:55:52 -0600

I think these ideas will come in handy this winter if we're not able to go away. I already used the term "staycation" with my kids when they were off from school in early November, and they got into it. Looking forward to getting the new book, BITCHES ON A BUDGET for more fun ideas.

Maybe someday?

dani4suitcases — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:49:14 -0600

I appreciate you seriously considered the trip as part of the whole don't knock it before you try it philosophy. You go in thinking you will hate something, you probably will. However, I do think despite this you would have been able to give a fair assessment of cruising. Much like thinking you would love RVing didn't keep you from being able to give an honest evaluation. Perhaps if you found a cruise (ship, itinerary, etc.) that included a bit more of the things you do like about travel you would try it?

Out of Africa - Parts I and II

therovingstove — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:48:48 -0500

Please also read parts I and II on my blog for the full story!!

http://jewelsfromtherovingstove.blogspot.com/

Julie Anne 'Jewels' Rhodes

http://www.therovingstove.com/

You are...

tamiel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:26:12 -0500

40 years old, awesome, courageous, inspiring...be as 40 as you can be.

It's just life, after all.

and i thought i was the only one!

samantha_berkin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:32:52 -0500

here i was thinking that i was the only one who enjoys going to the local grocery store, straight away, when visiting a new place. it doesn't matter if it is a different city in the states, or the local store in namibia. it is great to compare prices to see what is considered a luxury item and what isn't... it varies drastically from country to country. @ laura's post about buenos aires, i remember being absolutely shocked at both the price of coca-cola and its popularity when i was there. it was nearly as expensive as wine, and yet a bottle was always on the table. also the unavailability of peanut butter while there really got me....

and of course, when you're far afield, you get the local ingredients, the local food, and a MUCH better sense and feel for the culture.

the only other thing i have to say here is @ amanda - but it is FUN to get on the back of those buses with the chickens and 28 people and goats! i went around malawi with my older sister..... and those buses really are the only way to get around. yes, they were absolutely TERRIFYING, and no doubt dangerous, etc, but it is, i feel, the best way to get to know local people. riding those busted minivans with 19 people, everyone's stuff strapped to the roof, stopping at random points to pick up and chicken, only to throw it out of the van 15 miles later...... those were the things i remember most. it was also the first time we didn't get treated like tourists, where people were genuinely interested in us for us, and not for the money we might represent if we stayed at a friend's inn. public transit is one the best ways to truly go in depth. and sometimes you just have to close your eyes and pray.

great post!

Samantha

ruba - create & share travel guides!

Revenge at 30,000 feet

Karen Anderson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:14:57 -0500

Several year ago, I boarded a plane in the Midwest and found myself seated next to a distinguished older man. He mentioned he worked as a VP of Human Resources.

We hadn't exchanged names, and, figuring I'd take advantage of the anonymity, I told him the story of my HR nightmare: While working as a contractor at a Seattle company, I'd been physically stalked (at my home) and sexually harassed by a senior manager. When I reported this to my supervisor, he responded "that could not possibly be happening. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."

That was the last time I ever spoke with my supervisor; he cut off all communications with me! I approached two other women at the company and it turned out the same senior manager had sexually harassed them, as well. They told me that if I reported my problem to HR, they would not support me -- they were convinced the stalker would not only go unpunished, but that he would destroy their careers. I left before my contract ended, and installed a burglar alarm at my house.

The HR executive on the plane listened to me very sympathetically. He told me that in a situation like that, it's best to report the stalker to the national HR office, not to a district manager who may be afraid of making waves.

Then he asked if I would reveal the name of my former employer, where all these shenanigans had taken place. I didn't expect to ever be a contractor there again, so I told him. And it turned out that was the company where he was the head of HR! I told him the name of the stalker. "I promise you I'm going to look into this," he said.

He did. Three months later I heard from my friends still working at Company X that the stalker had been fired and banned from the company's premises.

You gonna' finish that?

jamiepea — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:11:59 -0500

I once sat next to this very large and very nice man who had to raise the armrest between us to fit into his seat. Our bodies were touching from ankle to shoulder from San Francisco to Chicago. Lunch came (for free, this was the good old days), and when I didn't finish mine, he asked if he could.

Jamie Pearson
http://www.travelsavvymom.com

Wow, Mata

geotraveler — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:02:35 -0500

That was quite the story. So unbelievable. Everything happens for a reason. Everything.

i was, too

Mata H — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:08:03 -0500

There were people from the airline company that had the crashed plane at the meeting and they bent over backwards trying to get news of her -- so a lot of people were praying that she was OK. It was such a stunning moment -- to realize how fragile life is..I had just been holding that sweet baby...you know?

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

AMAZING

Pam — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:04:19 -0500

Wow, Mata, that is just UNBELIEVABLE. I am speechless.

Nerd's Eye View
@nerdseyeview

seatmate

Mata H — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:03:07 -0500

Years ago I flew next to a sweet gal (really named Shauna) and her baby, Joseph (I still recall his name, too). We were going to Denver, and she was connecting on to another city. It was winter and snowy, and our landing was a bit late. I had had a wonderful time talking with her and holding her baby. They were both delightful. I offered to help her get all her stuff to the next gate, but she said she could manage it. When I got to my hotel I turned on the TV to hear that her connecting flight had crashed shortly after taking off down the runway. Most but not all of the people were dead. I was in shock --glued to the TV, calling the airlines, praying. I was worthless at that night's coference opening meeting, and ended up telling people what had happened. I went back to my room after dinner and the meeting and watched the TV again hoping for news. Suddenly there she was, on the screen with Joseph! She had missed her flight!! If I had helped her, she might have made the flight and died. She told the reporter that she had to be on TV "because I met this lady on the plane who will be so worried!" I cried my eyes out. My phone started to ring off the hook from other meeting attendees who had seen the TV and wanted to make sure I had as well. We actually sent a few cards back and forth over the years, and then lost touch. But that was my most amazing seatmate story.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Reader in 26A

geotraveler — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:16:19 -0500

Here's my seatmate story - http://lolaakinmade.com/2009/07/13/the-reader-in-26a/

Seatmate Fantasy

Pam — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:19:43 -0500

I know those guys. I fly with them all the time. :-)

Nerd's Eye View
@nerdseyeview

I have this seatmate fantasy

Virginia DeBolt — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:06:33 -0500

where I sit next to Alice Walker or Margaret Atwood and they are eager to talk with me about their books and writing for the entire flight. Instead, I get overweight guys whose thighs occupy half of my leg room.

Virginia DeBolt
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