I listened to the radio today, NPR to be exact. I heard a press conference given by our President and others in the Administration and found myself feeling a lot, so as I’m apt to do, I decided to think on it and then hammer these thoughts out here, where likely nobody will ever read them, but at least I’ve gotten them out!
First of all, let’s talk about the word “leadership”. It’s a word we use often, but what does it REALLY mean? We label people as “leaders”….and people assume roles of “leadership” but what traits do we expect from a leader?
After consulting many sources, the definition of leadership that I’ll use for the purposes of this post is: the ability of an individual or group to influence, sway, and guide others toward a common goal, often by motivating, encouraging, inspiring, and setting a common vision for the group as a whole while maintaining ethical standards and being trustworthy.
Today I listened to President Trump discuss the aircraft tragedy near Washington DC. He was not a leader. A tragedy in which 67 people lost their lives…the deadliest US air disaster in over 25 years, and our new President was not a leader. He used this air time to insinuate that diversity and inclusion hiring policies at the FAA contributed to this tragedy. He promised to find out how it happened and “ensure nothing like this ever happens again”. He made assessments of aviation that he has absolutely no expertise to make (“for some reason, adjustments weren’t made”).
President Trump turned an American tragedy into a political issue. When discussing the FAA’s hiring policies, he spoke of “hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities”….as if listeners would willingly swallow this tale and believe the FAA is hiring Air Traffic Controllers who have disabilities that make them unfit for the job. Perhaps, Mr. President, the FAA is hiring people with disabilities for jobs that they can perform in spite of their disability.
For President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth to suggest that hires made based on DEI policies played any kind of role in this tragedy is irresponsible at best. Attributing this “theory” to his own “common sense” makes me want to puke.
I am of the opinion that it’s not so much “common sense” but complete confidence that whatever you’re spewing, the American People will buy. As long as the DC machine can keep us focused over here and fighting amongst ourselves, we will never notice what they’re actually doing “over there”. I don’t think that’s a partisan issue, either. For years that has been my feeling on government in general – regardless if there’s a Republican or Democrat administration.
It’s all one big sleight of hand – keep us fighting one another and focused over there and we have no time to pay attention to what they’re actually doing in DC.
All day today families were holding out hope for some positive news. Military families who have a husband, a father, a son who fly Blackhawks – they were all holding their breaths hoping to NOT hear a knock on their door. Three military families find themselves this evening with a CAO – Casualty Assistance Officer – who will help them navigate their way through this process of bringing their soldier home. Can you IMAGINE worrying that you might hear the President of the United States – the COMMANDER in Chief of our military – cast BLAME on your deceased soldier for causing the crash? He sure as hell cast blame on the Air Traffic Controllers today – so what is to prevent him from casting that shadow of blame on your solider tomorrow?
For more than 30 minutes, our current President took to the airwaves…not to LEAD. Not to encourage, not to inspire, not to motivate as a leader does. He took to the airwaves to blame, to make assumptions, and to insinuate facts that are blatantly false.
Every now and then I see a quote online and it just hits me. Does that ever happen to you? I see it, I read it, and I can just feel it in my core. Something resonates with me and either where I’m at now, somewhere I’ve been, or even somewhere I hope to be – and I have to screen shot that quote.
Today my post is about one of those “quotable quotes” as I like to call them! According to my phone picture library, I saved this one on January 14, 2025 – and now I share it with you.
It’s never too late. You can change your routine, your interests, your career, your focus, your circle. You can change. Don’t stay stuck. Do better.
Sigh – just read that again and sit with it for a minute.
How many times have we each told ourselves that it was “too late” for something? I know I have, many times. But this hits me – staying stuck is a choice. If I stay stuck in life, it’s my choice. Choosing a different path is doing better for myself.
At some point in the Fall of 2024 I decided to stop staying stuck and try to do better with my physical and mental health. I’ve been eating clean, planning our meals, and exercising. I feel better – so much better. I changed my focus. It’s not there EVERY day (especially at 0600) when I workout, but I try to remember that I GET to workout that morning. I don’t HAVE to – I GET to. That’s a big focus shift for me, especially that early in the morning!
Read the quote again – what aspects of YOUR routine, interests, career, focus, or circle aren’t SERVING YOU right now? It’s hard to think of things – and especially people – in that way (for me anyway), but sometimes that’s where we end up – with people or things that don’t serve ourselves. I don’t think January 1 is the ONLY time we can make meaningful change in our lives. If you have something (or someone) in your life that leaves you feeling more stuck than fulfilled, think about the changes you can make to turn that around…
Are you exhausted every day … maybe change your routine so that you can wind down earlier in the evening and get to sleep earlier.
Do you find yourself not enjoying hobbies you used to … perhaps it’s time to explore a new hobby or interest.
Is your job a slog – leaving you feeling unfulfilled and negative … make a list of things you DO enjoy and start spending a few hours a week researching what career opportunities line up with those things.
Do you find yourself focused on the negative … every night before you go to sleep, write down 5 things that were GOOD from that day. Read those 5 things again when you wake up and set the intention for your new day. Maybe you have a HORRIBLE day and wonder WHAT could you possibly write down that is GOOD for that day. Change your focus. You have things to be thankful for. Your health, warm clothes, the meal you ate, the bed you sleep in. Strip it down to basics if you have to, but trust me – those are things to be thankful for and they are SO GOOD. On our worst day we are still so much better off than many.
And finally, your circle – is there someone in your circle that brings you down instead of lift you up … take some time to consider why this is the case and what steps you can do to mitigate that reaction. If nothing else, less interaction with the person might be warranted. Maybe they don’t realize they do it. Just take some time to consider the situation, the severity of that interaction on YOUR peace, and make some changes.
Whatever it is – don’t stay stuck. Do better for yourself. YOU deserve it. I hope this post and today’s quotable quote resonates with you a bit and you are motivated on this beautiful Monday to go out there and do better. Make it a great week!
We’ve all made them…we’ve all broken them. Here we are on January 15, so this is a check in. Did YOU make any New Year’s resolutions for 2025, and if so, are you sticking with them?
One of my “casual promises” is to take better care of myself – physically and mentally. Here’s a little Wellness Wednesday check in on my progress for doing just that.
I have exercised every day so far in 2025. THAT is a pretty big accomplishment for me – especially because I sneezed hard the other day and tweaked my back. This is what happens when you get old! Normally an injury would side-line me, but because of the things I’ve learned from FASTer Way To Fat Loss – not THIS time silly injury! Day one I decided to (gingerly) hop on the treadmill and walk instead of doing the FW workout for that day. That slow, intentional walk helped me loosen up and feel a bit better. Today was “Total Body Strength” and I decided I’d try that workout, but be smart about it. May times I did body weight only instead of adding weights. I went slower than the trainers on the video did, but I got through the whole thing, feel better than I did before, and no additional injury to the back. I call that a win!
Mentally I’m taking more “self-care” time. Keep in mind that self-care is different for everyone. Personally I enjoy knitting, DIY home manicures, reading, and watching a series (currently watching Yellowstone). Spending time with family and friends is definitely self-care for me, as is cooking and meal prep. (Finding some of Avery’s gingersnap cookies hidden in the fridge was self-care this week – ha ha) Some (or all…I’m not judging) of these things might sound horrific to you – and that is 100% OK! Find out what activities “heal” your body and mind and invest a little more time in those for YOUR self-care.
So, on that note – take some time to define YOUR self-care and take the time to do them! If you lost track of your resolutions (or casual promises) maybe give yourself some grace and remember that TODAY is a great day to recommit and get back to those goals. Progress over perfection, as I’ve learned from FASTer Way! Thanks for reading, and remember…
It’s never too late. YOU can change your routine, your interests, your career, your focus, your circle. YOU can change. Don’t stay stuck. Do better.
As I said HERE, Monday’s blog posts are going to be based on the theme of Motivational Monday! Here’s something that I hope motivates you!
If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail – Benjamin Franklin
Meal planning is a HUGE help for me. Planning helps me eat good, nutritious food, it helps me not stress out about what to cook for dinner, and it helps save money. Now that we’re an empty nest household of two, meal planning has become a little challenging.
Cooking for 4 people meant SOME leftovers, but not many. Adjusting to cook for 2 people has been a struggle for me…especially when making soup. I CANNOT make a small pot of soup – can anyone relate? I found a great product that has helped with those huge pots of soup and so much more!
Here’s my method. I make two soups on Sunday. I like to call that “two soup Sunday”. Initially I was doing one, but found it’s pretty much just as easy to make two, so why not!
Beef Stew
We keep some out to eat that week and then the rest goes into my SOUPer Cubes. I mostly use the one and two cup cubes. I put a piece of tape on the cube to identify the contents with the month and year. Then into the freezer they go.
Initially when I bought the SOUPer Cubes and started using them, I would take the frozen servings and put them in a Ziplock bag for storage. Recently I have upped my food prep game – introducing, the Dash vacuum sealer! The gray sealer is showing a 10% off coupon, but hurry as it expires on 1/13/25!
Once I have several containers frozen, I set up the Dash and get to work!
First I cut the bag and double seal the bottom.
Two seals has to be better than one, right?
Next, load the bag –
Vacuum and seal – and you’re done! Put the label (from the SOUPer Cube lid) onto the sealed bag and move on to the next one.
I like to freeze the soups in both the 1 and 2 cup cubes so that I have a variety of sizes. Once you’ve vacuum sealed all the cube containers and put the label tape back on, you have a nice variety of options!
Ready for the freezer!
I recently got some containers for the freezer to keep similar items together.
Now when we need soup, we have a lot of options and they’re easy to find!
Easy as that! Here’s a list of the options inside the “Soups” bin right now – what should I add next?
For anyone who is interested, the recipes for the two soups shown can be found on Pinterest. Click the link in the list above for the post I followed the recipe from! I try to keep my Pinterest boards fairly organized so that I can find favorites again. I use my “Pinned and Done” board to keep track of items that were a hit.
I hope this post has motivated you to give meal planning a try. The SOUPer Cubes have proven to be really helpful and very functional. They clean up easily and are possibly one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. The vacuum sealer is one of those “I guess I’m at that age” things, but I do find it really satisfying to have those neat little packages of soup “at the ready”. I can put those on our meal plan for days that life is busy or substitute them out for a day when I don’t feel like cooking.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments about meal planning, soups, or freezing. Or, let me know if you have a favorite soup recipe that I need to add to Two Soup Sunday prep!
Well, here we are, diving right into 2025. Here in southern Illinois we’ve had a nice layer of ice, followed by a cold snap, and now it’s snowing like crazy. NOT our typical weather!
Snow – January 10, 2025
I’ve decided that I’m going to get back to blogging in 2025. There are a few “main” topics that I want to cover, so I’m planning the following:
Motivational Monday – a variety of topics, articles, and interviews that I hope you will find motivational
Wellness Wednesday – all things health and wellness, including recipes
Free Form Friday – anything that I decide to write about that doesn’t fit into Monday or Wednesday
I hope that you’ll join me on this journey! In the past I’ve really enjoyed getting some of my thoughts out in written form, and hopefully you’ll enjoy the posts. If you have any requests for topics or formats, let me know by emailing me at theneverendinglori@gmail.com.
Hello friends and sorry for my absence of late. It’s hard to believe my last blog post was over a month ago, and yet…it was. I have been traveling and busy with work, so I have a lot to type about, but this post is diving into something my social media feeds are full of right now…
Kids going off to college…
I’m no expert in this field, but I do have 2 kids and one of them has gone off to college. The other one is starting her senior year in high school, so I will likely be needing this advice this time next year, so I figured I’d hammer it out on the keyboard and MAYBE next year when I’m a mess I’ll read this post and feel slightly better.
August 2019 I drove with our son to Boston, MA to drop him off at the Berklee College of Music.
Enjoy the journey – we stopped and saw Niagara Falls on our way to Boston!
Sending your kid off to college is some scary shit, but I think sending them half way across the country to a big city is like turning it to eleven. Here’s what I remember and/or learned from our experience.
Jeff flew in to help – mattress quality inspector, I guess
Sending your kid off to college is going to stir up a BUNCH of emotions and no matter what you’re feeling, it’s totally ok. Feel it. Some of the feelings might come out from your eyes in liquid form, and that’s ok – but for your sake and your kid’s sake, try to keep that to a minimum if at all possible. Even though they might look like they’re ready to fly they might be scared shitless inside and if you lose it, they might too.
One of our friends organized a group of Moms who all had kids that went off to school. We met once a month and had a “theme” for a care package to send to the kids. She did it like a cookie exchange (if you’ve been to one of those) so everyone brings enough of one item for all the kids. Then you make a box for your kid with a variety of items and then we would sit around and talk about what the kids were doing and, more importantly, how we were coping (or not), etc. THIS was genius and something I’d highly recommend to anyone who just sent their kid off. It’s hard for you. It’s hard for them. Misery loves company, but it also can offer up some great tips and tricks and if nothing else – you know you’re not alone. Just don’t forget to ship the care package to your kid – and if your group includes classmates from HS of theirs, include a note telling your student what their friends are up to. I mean, you know they already know (and know way more than YOU do) but the point here is that you’re reminding them they’re part of something bigger than themselves. You’re reminding them they have a home base and it’s there, even when they’re gone. You’re reminding them that people care and we all watch out for one another.
Phone calls and texts – unpopular opinion, but let your student make the move! I did ask my student to text me at least once a week to let me know he was ok – because he was suddenly living in a major city and I was sure he would get mugged or something, so the general rule was “check in with Mom at least weekly”. If you’re talking to your student too much, this may not be good. If you’re talking to them too little, also possibly a problem. This is one of the hardest lines to straddle. Where do we go from “too much” communication to “too little”??? Each parent/student combo has to determine that for themselves. Your goal here is to encourage them to somewhat sever that tie with home…get out, meet people, join some groups, get into classes and college life – BUT you also want them to know you’re there if they’re struggling. If they’re not talking at all, probably not a great sign but again, that depends on your kid.
YOU know YOUR kid, so you need to do what’s best for them. That might not be what’s best for YOU, but do what is best for them.
Visiting home – OK, prepare yourself for this one. Your kid is going to come home at some point for a visit – and they’re not gonna be home much. They’re probably going to be hanging out with other friends, also home from college, and you’re going to feel like chopped liver. Again, it sucks, but this is literally what we’ve been working towards, parents!!! This is the “go forth into the world and be a good human” moment. We want our kids to be independent, but when they’re independent it freaks us out a bit. How did our baby get to be this grown up doing their own thing? Take a deep breath, schedule a family meal, and enjoy the time you DO have with them and relish in the fact that they know you’re there when they need you. Them spending all their time with friends doesn’t mean they didn’t miss you…it means they know you’re always there for them.
If they all hang out at your house you’ll get to see your kid and all his friends!
You visiting THEM – at some point you may participate in a family weekend or some such event at your student’s school. Be prepared to do whatever THEY want during that time. Your kid might want to come to your hotel and just chill out, away from the chaos of campus. Or they might invite you to a tailgate and events that the school has planned. Go with the flow and enjoy this time with your student. Just remember you’re not 22 anymore, so don’t party like you are! Take a page out of the “visiting home” book and schedule a family dinner with your student at a local restaurant. This gives you some time to talk and see how things are going, ask about their classes, and see if any of your suspicions have merit. (Some of you are going to be confused right now – what suspicions??? You’re gonna have suspicions about your student. Stuff like “they’re not doing laundry, they’re partying too much, they have no friends, they haven’t gone to a single class, they’re struggling in a class and are getting in over their head, etc. You WILL have suspicions about your kid. They’re your kid. You know them like nobody else and now they’re living away from you.)
Family weekend in Boston – 2019January 2020 we took a tropical family trip – little did we know what was about to unfold!
Dealing with emergencies – at some point in your kid’s college life, you’re going to have to deal with an emergency situation. It could be illness of a family member at home, it could be illness of the student, it could be a global pandemic, whatever….you’re going to come up against some kind of chaos, and how you deal with it WILL make a difference. First of all, I’d suggest figuring out a way to have an emergency fund for college emergencies. My Mom was a big fan of the “Emergency Benjamin”. This is something I also do. Basically, I make sure I keep an emergency $100 bill on me at all times – FOR EMERGENCIES. That is the key – it’s for emergencies, and wanting Starbucks and Chipotle on a Tuesday is NOT an emergency. Our student had a small, personal safe and it contained a foam pad in the bottom. Before I left Boston, I put an Emergency Benjamin UNDER the foam pad. If he would’ve needed it, I could direct him to the EB. You might also consider keeping a stash of money in case you need funds to get to your kid or get him/her home to you on short notice. If this type of expense won’t impact your day to day life, don’t worry about it, but if an unexpected $400 plane ticket is going to have you calling in every favor you have…start saving now. When an emergency happens, the better prepared you are, the better. Stay calm and talk through this issue with your student. They may surprise you and have some good ideas of their own. Remember – they’ve been “on their own” for a while and have been making decisions that you don’t even know about. Use the emergency situation as an opportunity to take your relationship to a new level – that of cooperative problem solving – instead of you, as the parent, telling the kid what to do. Obviously each situation warrants YOUR judgement as the parent, so you have to do what’s right in your situation. If your kid is in no shape to make any decisions, help them and provide detailed steps they need to take next. But, when possible, involve them in the discussion. Drake was packing up for Spring Break at home when schools all over the country decided that they needed to send students home in March 2020, as this virus thing was gaining some speed. He went from packing for a week at home to packing his entire room, all his instruments, and getting things shipped, stored, and checked for a flight home that ultimately was the last time he was in Boston.
I was never so happy to pick someone up at the airport. At least if the four of us were together, we were together, no matter what was happening.
After finishing his second semester via Zoom school, he decided to take a gap semester and then enrolled here in Carbondale at SIU. In May he will graduate with his degree in Digital Media. Is he ending how he started? No. But he’s happy, enjoying video/audio editing, shoots, production, post production, etc and seems at peace with the change of direction his life took. Anyway – emergencies happen. Be as prepared as possible to mitigate the stress the situation will cause.
Campus Resources – Thankfully I’ve never experienced this, but I do know people whose student was having trouble adjusting. This could be socially, academically, etc. Struggles are bound to happen, so the more you know about the available resources on your students campus, the better. Keep in mind that your student is 18 and nobody is going to talk to you about their academics. BUT – if you are concerned about your student and think they may need help, research what resources are available and then talk to your student about those resources. Colleges and universities want and need to retain students, so they have options for all kinds of struggles. Whatever your student is struggling with, well – it’s not their first rodeo, so I’m sure they’ve dealt with it before. The sooner your student gets some intervention and assistance, the easier it will be for everyone.
Enjoy it – yep, I said enjoy it. Enjoy the times you visit them…the times they visit you…the times they call and ask for advice on getting a stain out of their favorite shirt. Enjoy all of it. Your relationship with your kid is going to change, but it’s SO AWESOME! It’s truly a wonderful thing – the relationship with your adult’ing kid, so enjoy this stage and all the ones that come after it.
Oh – one more thing – IF you do forget that you’re not 22 anymore and have too much fun at the tailgate – Liquid IV. Drink a glass before bed and another one in the morning and no hangover. I keep a few of these in my travel bag at all times – just in case! Dehydration is no joke! Also super useful for those “care packages”.
Venice was just too awesome for one post. Day two was more exploring, eating, drinking – repeat. We saw some gorgeous spots. One tip for traveling when it’s hot (and you’re not sure you’ll have easy access to laundry) is WoolX shirts. Seriously! They’re made of Merino Wool – but they’re NOT hot. In fact, they’re soft, moisture wicking, and don’t get stinky. They are quick drying, so if you get stuck in a downpour or decide that you want to wash it out in the sink after several days of wear, these shirts will easily hang dry overnight! I have two of the Mia V-neck shirts and absolutely LOVE them! You can save $20 on a $50 order by clicking HERE! You can thank me later! They’re incredible. I’ve already ordered long sleeve shirts for our May 2024 Alaskan cruise!
OK, back to Venice. We had a washer, but no dryer in our apartment. I guess that’s what made me think of the WoolX tees. I washed my stuff on day 1 and then had everything hung about the apartment hoping it would dry. My jeans and heavier items did NOT dry easily, so those had to be soaked and washed once I got home. I will say had I been comfortable enough to leave them out in the courtyard on the drying rack in the sun, they likely would’ve dried just fine, but I was afraid I’d return and someone would’ve stolen my “Mom Jeans”…which in hindsight, really was not a valid concern!
I’m a big fan of the Aperol Spritz – even located Aperol at home!Food and drink – amazing!
One thing that was a “must find” while I was in Venice was the Lellabella yarn shop! I had decided that, as a knitter, a cool souvenir would be yarn from my travels. Drake brought yarn back from Scotland for me, so I was on a mission to locate this mother-daughter owned shop that is packed with amazing yarns. I was like a kid in a candy store!
Drake picked out a merino wool/cashmere blend yarn for a scarf/hat combo and then I just bought random things for random projects. The ladies were so lovely to help me and we were able to work through the language barrier fairly easily. While we were there a few local customers came in with their projects seeking help from the owners, which then inspired me to buy more yarn once I saw what it looked like when knit up!
I’m VERY happy that I found the yarn shop!
We walked along, stopping in shops that interested us, taking photos of the beautiful surroundings, and of course – eating and drinking when needed!
For our final full day in Venice, I told Drake and Sara that I was going to get up early, have breakfast at a neighborhood cafe and then head out to Burano for the day. They were welcome to join me or they could do something else, but I wanted to meet up for a nice dinner for our last night. They decided to stay there, so I headed out on the morning of May 23 for Burano. First up was a cafe just around the corner from our apartment for an AMAZING breakfast.
Tiramisu pancakes with a cappuccino – SO DELICIOUS!
I felt like a savvy traveler, navigating the public water bus system and getting myself out there! I had to change water bus lines a few times in order to get to Burano, but I made it.
The trip to Burano included a line change at Arsenale, gorgeous scenery from the boat, and an adorable Venice pup who had a very “Scruffy-like” face and reminded me of home!
Burano is a gorgeous island, full of brightly painted buildings and amazing shopping. Before I got too engrossed with the shopping I stopped at an outdoor cafe and enjoyed a few drinks and some amazing food.
Best spaghetti I’ve ever had. Limoncello spritz vs. Midori spritz – both were delicious and refreshing!Such vibrant colors, luxurious fabrics, and lively music – it was truly an experience for all your senses!
After enjoying my day on Burano I headed back to the apartment to meet up with Drake and Sara. I knew that at this point, an entire new suitcase would be required to get all my stuff home, so dinner and finding a suitcase were on our agenda for the evening.
We decided to eat dinner at an outdoor cafe on the Grand Canal near Rialto. The food was decadent and delicious – as always – and we were able to sit and leisurely enjoy our meal as well as the sights and sounds of Venice. We enjoyed a delicious appetizer of Buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto and then I had a pasta with freshly shaved truffles on top. Molto bene!
After an amazing dinner it was time to get packed up and ready to head home. The red suitcase is also a “souvenir” from Venice! Pro-tip – pack your suitcase and put it INSIDE another suitcase so you don’t have to buy one on vacation!
We did public water bus transport to the airport, and it was quite easy. I had been watching when we were taking the water bus and knew there were a few that were dedicated Marco Polo lines. We got to the airport, got checked in, and soon boarded our flight back home. It was a wonderful trip! Our flight went from Venice to Atlanta, which is where I left Drake and Sara. Our company had a show in Atlanta that week, so I stayed in Atlanta and met up with the team. Drake and Sara flew on to Nashville and then drove home.
You always see this stuff and it’s easy to say “yeah, I’m going to do that” but not many of us actually do – TAKE the trip, VISIT the places you want to see, DO SOMETHING spontaneous, SPEND TIME with your loved ones. This trip was a great reminder to me that there is an amazing world out there, full of incredible sights…and we are on limited time. This trip reminded me of that and ignited the desire to go, do more. See more. Experience more. Live more.
So, friends – if you’ve made it this far…well, this is just the beginning. More experiences, more new adventure, more fun times are ahead…and I hope you’ll join me in these adventures as well as the average daily life!
Once our amazing cruise was over, we were back in Venice for 4 days and 3 nights. I had rented a 2-bed/2-bath apartment via Air BnB, so once we got back to Tronchetto we made our way to the ACTV ticket station and got a pass (I believe it was for 72 hours) and found the vaporetto line that we needed in order to get to our apartment.
Venice is divided into six districts – San Marco, San Polo, Santa Crose, Cannareggio, Castello, and Dorsoduro. We were staying in San Polo and our host had told us to meet him at Campo San Polo, which is essentially the town square for that district. We were early, so we sat down at a lovely cafe and ate a delicious meal. It was probably here that I remembered how differently – and wonderfully – Europeans eat, compared to Americans! Europeans enjoy their meal – they are not squeezing it in between tasks, rushing through it to get to the next “thing”…they savor it, taste the food, enjoy the food, enjoy conversation, relax and take their time. The whole experience is so much more enjoyable when time is the LAST thing on your mind!
We met our Air BnB host at the apartment so that we could drop our luggage off. Because we were early, the apartment wasn’t ready, so the host asked if we could meet him in 20-30 minutes and he would be able to give me the key. Of course that was fine – we were happy to be relieved of our luggage, so the three of us walked into the neighborhood and decided we’d get some gelato while we waited.
This is where things could’ve gone really bad. Remember in an earlier post about this trip I said I had a crossbody bag that I use for traveling. It has a lot of great safety features and I’ve had my bag for several years. My bag isn’t huge, but I can pack a lot of stuff in there! That, combined with the foldable backpack, and I’m good to GO!
We found a gelato stand and ordered. Sara and Drake were next to the counter and I was behind them. I handed Sara my card to pay for the gelato – and here’s where I went wrong. Normally I’d USE the safety features of my bag and zip is closed, and attach the zipper pull to the “D ring” on the bag….but I didn’t. I left my bag unzipped. Earlier I had my jacket on so I had the bag strap short so that the bag didn’t hang below my coat. Because of that it was up high, basically right between “the girls”. I was handed my gelato and was standing there in gelato heaven, waiting for Sara to hand my card back to me. I felt movement and looked down to see a hand in my bag!
I wish I had a really clear depiction of what took place next, but it was basically a shit show. I started yelling at the man to my left, who was VERY close, and had a heavy jacket over his left arm. He started yelling at me because I was accusing him of pick pocketing. I looked into my bag and did an inventory of my things – everything was there – but that’s when I noticed the pocket INSIDE my bag. The zipper was open and the wad of cash I had in there (which was mostly $5’s to use for tips and such) was up high in that pocket, basically above the zipper. I KNEW I had not left it like that, because I had handed Sara my card, not gotten into the cash pocket.
The man and I continued to “share heated words” (that’s the PG version) and then he yelled something about me not being normal and my level of “losing my shit” went from about a 3 to a solid 6. I yelled at him that I was in fact VERY normal and what isn’t normal is stealing from people who are trying to enjoy a vacation. He kept saying I was not normal and then I offered that perhaps we should have the police come check that bag under the coat on his arm and see WHO the normal one was. He quickly turned and disappeared into the crowd.
What the actual hell??? Thank goodness my bag was up high, because otherwise I don’t think I’d have felt it. Lesson learned – the safety features of a bag (or anything, for that matter) do not make a difference if you do not USE said safety features! From then on, the bag was opened to retrieve payment method, zipped up, and then reopened to put the card or change back into it’s pocket. I always clipped the zipper pull to the D-ring for extra protection.
Basically, I got really freaking lucky. I got lucky that I caught him, I got lucky that he didn’t get anything, and I got lucky that nobody was hurt. Yelling at a thief is probably not the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but I didn’t really stop to think of that in the heat of the moment!
After that, we went back to the apartment to meet the host to get the keys and then decided after that excitement perhaps we’d unpack, rest, and plan out the day. We got familiar with the apartment, which had 3 “balconies” with windows that opened and lower doors that opened for hopping into your boat. It was very “authentic” Venice and pretty cool – until the first gondola goes gliding by with the gondolier explaining the area to his passengers – and then it was TOTALLY COOL!
After unpacking a bit, some rest, and checking in with home (back in the land of reliable wifi) we decided to head out and walk around a bit. We headed toward San Marcos Square.
Drake, doing his best to continue his tradition of flipping the bird (although more subtly in this one) in every photo – our cruise photos were hilarious – no subtlety in those at all!I’d like to say I’m such a savvy traveler and fashionista that I coordinate my outfits with the scenery, but the truth is, I’m lucky to walk out of the house with shoes and pants on!
Now, you might look at these photos and wonder if I’m insane or what…who could have fun and feel safe after an attempted pick-pocketing??? Well – I’m in Italy to have fun, and I’m not about to let that asshat ruin my time. It was a good lesson to be more aware of my surroundings (even when surrounded by amazing food and drink) and to USE the safety features of my bag. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed Venice, even after the incident!
Venice is SUCH a beautiful city. We could’ve scheduled things to do, but we just explored and stopped to eat/drink when we felt like it, and then explored some more. There’s nothing as refreshing (to me) than an Aperol Spritz when you’re starting to get a little sweaty and tired! We had ACTV (public water bus) passes so we could just hop on one and ride for a while, get off and walk around and explore. It was a great way to just have freedom to go wherever and do whatever. Might we have seen some really amazing things had we scheduled tours or museums or shows….of course, but we had a great time doing what we wanted to do!
Doesn’t Drake look THRILLED that I’m taking a video? Ha ha!
We spent a few more days exploring, shopping, eating, and drinking our way around Venice. It was so lovely. Stay tuned for the next, and final, post on Venice – where I show more photos from our adventures around the city, including my trip to Burano on our last full day in Italy.
It is said the “firsts” after someone passes are the hardest. First holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, etc without your loved one seem to be the hardest. Thursday, June 15 would be our Dad’s 93rd birthday – but he passed away on October 15th, so this is his first heavenly birthday.
June 15, 2022 – Dad’s birthday at Giant City Lodge with Dave, Kathy, and my family.
I planned a lot of “grace” for myself for 6/15. I’m not going to work, unless I want to; I have an appointment with my therapist (talking to her has helped me so much); and I signed up for a gardening class through our local extension office. If I don’t feel like going to the class I don’t have to. But, something tells me that tomorrow isn’t going to be as horrible as other “firsts”. I think part of that has to do with the fact that I’m feeling more “at peace” with his passing, mostly because I believe that he and our Mom are together again – and that’s really where he always wanted to be. He lived over 13 years beyond when she died, and I know he missed her terribly. During the 14 or so months he lived with us until he died he loved to tell my kids tales of adventure that he and Mom had gotten into. For me, the memory of sitting next to him at the dining room table, watching my two kids listen as he told of the time he and Mom went to see Louis Armstrong in concert – and Mom just walked backstage like she owned the place – is a treasured memory (likely equally as treasured as his memory of that night was to him). My kids, both being very involved with music, sat across the table listening to him tell this epic tale, with looks of awe and amazement – their grandparents had seen the great Louis Armstrong in person and grandma had conned her way backstage to have her album signed!
Oh, the adventures they had! They had been married 58 years when she died in 2009.
Maybe I’ll be a little sad tomorrow. But I hope that I can think of times past, laughter and tales, and how even 13 years after he died, he still got choked up and teary eyed when he spoke of Mom. I choose to believe that they are together and they’re enjoying what lies beyond. I recently “read” a book called “Unlikely Animals” by Annie Hartnett, and I really really really hope that the afterlife is something like what is depicted in this clever and well written novel. As I listened to the audiobook I would often find myself smiling and picturing my parents in the mix of characters of the novel.
Having Dad live with us was great – we went on lots of adventures, including to Florida in March 2022, shortly before we bought our vacation home in Port Charlotte.
So, that’s that. Tomorrow is one of those “grief milestones” that we each must go through, but I hope that for me there are more smiles than tears – and maybe even some laughter. Maybe I’ll see a pair of cardinals tomorrow morning as I enjoy coffee on the deck. Maybe I’ll hear one of “his” songs as I go about my day. I’m sure he will be with each of us tomorrow, and encouraging us to celebrate the time we had with him.
My brothers – Dave, Jeff, and John – and I with our Dad in 2018
I’ve had a lot of help from family and friends since Dad passed away. I sincerely thank each of you. Having him live with us and caring for him at the end of his life was an honor and privilege. He was a sweet and gentle man who had a wonderful sense of humor and could tell a good story. I cherish the time that I had with him and hope that he has a wonderful heavenly birthday and that he and Mom know how very much they are missed.
On May 18th the Explorer of the Seas arrived at the port of Mykonos, Greece. We got off the boat and got a ticket for a boat to Mykonos. The views from the boat were breathtaking. The water is the most amazing royal blue while the shore is dotted with white homes and buildings, sandy beaches, and a lush green hillside.
Drake, Sara, and I had no plans other than exploration. We looked around once we got off the boat and decided we’d follow the shoreline in the general direction of the windmills. No need for a bus here – Mykonos is very walkable. We leisurely walked around, exploring the beautiful island and admiring the incredible scenery. We stopped at a few shops, made some purchases, and wandered on.
Exploring the windmill area
Mykonos is a place I would love to go back to and stay a few days. While we were exploring we found a small beach tucked in between hillsides. There were a few people who were prepared and had their swim suits on. The water was so beautiful – if I’d have had my swim suit the kids would’ve lost me for the day! We watched as one of the ladies in the group swam out and you could see how incredibly clear the water was.
I loved Mykonos! Ready to go back any time!
It was amazing to walk around and seamlessly go from residential to commercial areas. A lot of the homes are painted in the stark white but they paint the trim, doors, shutters (etc) in a bright contrast color like red, blue, or even yellow. We saw gorgeous mosaics made from stones. A resident with a green thumb must get creative to have their green space, as there aren’t many “yards”, so you see a lot of potted plants on the front and in window boxes.
This patio had a gorgeous mosaic, made from stones that were laid on their side.This resident made their own green space with plants and trim paint – and you can see the bright blue accents on the home next door. The contrast in the colors is striking.Sara and Drake – Mykonos
We found a beautiful cafe on the shore and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Drake and I had Gyros, which were amazing, but nothing like what we have at home. The meat was pork, but more like bacon than tenderloin or another cut. It was served with a few small pitas on the side, used mainly to help scoop up the delicious crispy meat.
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It was a really relaxing and mellow day. We walked along, stopped in shops that grabbed our attention, made some purchases, and had great food and drinks. I purchased a ring in one of the shops as a souvenir of our wonderful day on the beautiful island.
After a gorgeous day shopping and exploring our way around Mykonos we boarded the ship to set sail for Argostoli. I enjoyed our day in Mykonos but was ready to enjoy the ship a bit, so when we got to Argostoli the next day I decided to stay on board with my book, my knitting, and relax in the sun. Drake went out and explored Argostoli and said it was quite beautiful. I think we were all ready for a “do your own thing” day, and we each had a nice time independently. I took a few photos from the ship, but did not venture into Argostoli myself.
I didn’t realize my private yacht was waiting for me! Ha ha!
One of the items that was suggested to me as helpful for a cruise are the magnetic hooks. The walls are all metal, so the magnetic hooks are handy for items that might otherwise end up on the floor, bed, or couch. Drake brought hats and the hooks were great for hat storage! We also used them for jackets and sleepwear. You can hang these on the wall or from the ceiling.
It was a bit unbelievable to leave Argostoli and realize that our time at sea was almost over. Unfortunately, the port of Ravenna, where we sailed from, had experienced heavy rainfall causing flooding, so our ship was being rerouted to a different port. Royal Caribbean kept us informed and updated us when they had information. We knew we’d be docking somewhere other than Ravenna and that our shuttle (because it was booked through RC) would be picking us up where we disembarked and taking us to Venice.
In the meantime we just enjoyed the amazing food, drinks, and activities offered on Explorer of the Seas. We went to the casino (with Drake and Sara both being lucky winners), played bingo (with Sara winning), participated in some trivia and name-that-tune games, and explored the ship.
We were informed that we’d disembark in Trieste, Italy. When we woke up we realized that was a container port, not a passenger port. Desperate times call for desperate measures!
Each passenger was assigned a group number, luggage tags were issued for that group number, and your group had a specific time for disembarking. Thankfully our time was 0715 and not 0515! We had our bags tagged and packed and were ready to go at 0715. We stayed on our floor, but not in our room, and waited for our group number to be called. When our number was called we took the elevator down and were on our bus by 0820. The biggest issue causing time delays were people not following instructions and going to the disembarking area before their group number was called.
We boarded our bus and headed out. The journey was enjoyable. The countryside had beautiful farms, churches, and fields of flowers.
We arrived in Venice at Tronchetto at 1035. Now it’s time to enjoy a few days in Venice before heading back home. For this part of our stay we had rented a 2 bed/2 bath apartment in the San Polo district. The location was wonderful and offered us a central spot to explore the city.
Stay tuned for adventures in Venice – including catching a pick-pocketer in the act!
The Neverending Lori 