Category TRAVELING BITS

Pacific Coast: The Gifts from the Sea Bit

Okay, so full disclosure – the title for this post is a respectful nod to the 1955 book by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea. In it, she shares essays about roles and relationships in the context of her era – and about life lessons combed from the beach of an island retreat. Of […]

The Bit About Boat Whistles

“I don’t like boat whistles…” That’s what Cary Grant’s grandmother, Janou, declares in An Affair to Remember – one of my all-time favorite movies! Whenever I come across it (thanks, TCM!), I can’t resist watching – even though I know it means a journey through lots of emotions… Come to think of it, boat whistles […]

The “Somewhere Over the Sand Dunes” Bit

Okay, so two things I’ve always had a special fascination with are film and history. And when I get to combine these two passions – or when they kind of collide – it can be such a fun thing!  That’s what happened on my first mini field trip of 2023! While it’s never been my […]

The Places of Honor Bit

Greetings! And a happy Veterans Day as we in the US let those who’ve served in the military know how much they mean! Also, after spending a fair number of November days in Canada (while playing recreation ice hockey!), I’ve picked up the habit of observing Remembrance Day as well, and honoring those who gave […]

The Bit About the Baggage

Woohooooo!!! What a feeling!! After two and a half years of staying put, I finally got away on a trip! Before Covid hit, I was in the midst of forming a happy habit of meeting friends each summer at a camp near Pinecrest Lake in Northern California. And how sweet it was to take up […]

The Bit About Chasing Whales

Okay, I’m kind of a daydreamer as it is. But over this last week, I’ve had my head in an extra cloud – THE cloud, actually, where my digital photos reside! I haven’t marked or tagged them – which means when I need, say, pics for a post about whale watching (which this one will […]

The Paternal Paean Bit

“Saw much of character of Malta with all of its arid countryside, cactus, etc. Prehistoric ruins that were among the oldest ever discovered. Difficult to understand lunch – nearly drank the olive oil!” According to Mark Twain in The Innocents Abroad: ”If you wish to inflict a heartless and malignant punishment upon a young person, […]

The ”Song of Ice – and More Ice” Bit

So as it seems to happen with my always beloved but oft beset Olympics, I had real concerns going into watching the recent Winter Games – political and pandemical ones this time. Almost before the Olympic Flame went out at their close, I was proved right on the political front (my heart goes out to […]

Missouri: The Mice and Me Bit

Happy 2022, all!  Have to own I’m getting distracted from this post by a pretty rare phenomenon occurring outside –  It’s raining. Yup! Song lyrics aside, it does rain in Southern California (a little…) to make lawns lush, freeways flooded, and drivers dumb. While still taking a raincheck on any trips these days, I’m content […]

The Glass Way Full Bit

Howdy! Since I’m still not doing the travel thing just now, I’ve been contenting myself with watching videos of trips past – and I came across this grainy tableau (sorry – more graininess to follow…): Basically, that’s me and a guy. There’s Mum’s shoulder on the right. And Dad’s behind the camera, capturing what looks […]