"’Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ‘ is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence. These three aspects are listed among the ‘inalienable rights’ of man.” So begins the entry entitled “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” at Wikipedia.org. I wonder if most people think this is an inalienable right and, thus, should be handed to them (on a silver platter), or, does this free each individual to engage in an ephemeral [anything lasting for a very short time] search for emotional fulfillment?
What is happiness? “Happiness is an emotion associated with feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy,” according to Wikipedia. The Wikipedia definition goes on to explain the various approaches taken toward defining and explaining happiness whether they be philosophical, religious, psychological, or biological and to identify its sources. Most of us don’t need to understand such approaches; most of us know what happiness is and, too, how good it feels to have it when it occurs.
“Research,” according to Wikipedia, “has identified a number of correlates with happiness. These include religious involvement, parenthood, marital status, age, income, and proximity to other happy people.” What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another and, sometimes, you can possess all of the correlates and still not be happy! You may ask, “What’s that all about?
I know of a person, for example, who wallows in unhappiness. He has constructed an unhappy life for himself, and he actually works at making life miserable for those around him. Victories and successes (if they occur) are always tainted with “Yes, but..,” “Well, if I had only..., or, “Consider the source” — always diminished, lessened, moderated, or dismissed by a cynical, disparaging, demeaning, or denigrating comment. He is ruthlessly morose, recklessly gloomy, unconscionably despondent, and, otherwise, ill-tempered and irritable.
At Stepcase Lifehack, there is an essay entitled, “9 Tips in Life that Lead to Happiness,” and after making it clear to yourself what it is that will bring happiness, Leon Ho offers 8 other tips: 1) “Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy.” 2) “Surround yourself with happy people.” 3) “When something goes wrong try to figure out a solution instead of wallowing in self pity.” 4) “Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy.” 5) “It’s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself. 6) “Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness.” 7) “Maintaining your health is another way to achieve happiness.” 8) “Finally, it is important to understand that you deserve happiness.”
At the Dumb Little Man: Tips for Life website, David B. Bohl has written an essay entitled, “Four Steps to Achieve Happiness, Fulfillment, and Success in Your Life,” in which he says: 1) Visualize where you’ve been in your life, 2) Take responsibility for your actions, 3) Learn all you can in life, and 4) Appreciate what others bring into your life.
The “On Not Being a Sausage” website, Diedre Good has written an essay, “How to Achieve Happiness,” in which she briefly discusses the program for happiness followed by “the happiest person in the world,” (labeled that by the BBC), Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk. “First, a sense of direction is very important,” Good writes. “A sense of flourishing comes from inside, where the mind translates all the circumstances. This gives inner strength and freedom. Genuine happiness comes from altruistic love, inner peace, and not on external circumstances such as things that give us pleasure like meals with friends. Putting hopes and fears outside of us is ultimately disappointing.”
Good goes on to say, “Cultivate inner love and peace and genuine compassion. This involves training....” “Of course the mind will wander, but bring it back gently without recrimination. Our aim is to practice compassion and wisdom. Wisdom is so as to free others from suffering....‘ “We learn to deal with negative toxins or emotions. Look at anger and stop fueling it as if it were a fire and it will vanish....” And Good concludes by saying, “When the brain is practicing loving kindness, it generates positive emotions.”
At one website, Solve Your Problem.com, Jeff Cohen, in his essay, “How Do You Achieve Happiness...Really?” says happiness appears as easy to achieve as changing your attitude: “Be happy, thankful, and contented. Count your blessings now. You will be surprised at how much has already been given and provided to you.
“Pay attention and focus on your blessings. Be thankful of the small things in life. Be happy that you wake up each day and see the sunrise. Be happy that you have a comfortable bed, nutritious food on the table, a reliable car that you use to go to the office, and family or friends around you. Appreciate the things that you usually take for granted and feel instant happiness. Do this first thing in the morning and the rest of the day will be bright..”
When you enter “how to achieve happiness?” (without the quotation marks) in the Google search window, you will get over 500,000 websites with suggestions that range from meditation to books on happiness, from serving others to living honorable and true, from pursuing Truth to developing compassion. The point isn’t the number of websites nor the specific suggestions, the point is that wherever you are in life, whatever your circumstances, numerous suggestions and a great deal of advice is available at the click of your mouse.
To say, “I just don’t know how to be happy,” is a comment that reeks of naivete. Nobody is going to hand you happiness, and nobody can make you happy. It is an internal process over which you have complete control. All you have to do now is make yourself happy!
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At Life Optimizer, Donald Latumahina has written an essay entitled, “Finding Happiness: 20 Ways to Achieve Happiness in Life.” His 20 suggestions are practical and realistic
At Ezine articles.com , there is a terrific, short essay, by Rebecca Olkowski, “3 Survival Tips to Achieve Happiness When You Are Living With Negativity,” in which she suggests: 1) Get help immediately, 2) Work to achieve your own happiness, and 3) Work on your inner happiness.
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Copyright May, 2010, by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Looking back over my lifetime, these have been my “eureka” moments
Being a writer I have spent many hours looking back over my life. It hasn’t been a question of what I would do differently as much as a situation of analyzing and writing about what took place. It is more about establishing historical markers than about mentally reconstructing the past— although, I admit, I do a little of both. In this essay I want to highlight those events in my life that did not just happen but that changed the way I did things. They are my “eureka” moments.
I am aided in my quest by an article in USA Today (May 20, 2007), by Byron Acohido, Jim Hopkins, Jefferson Graham, and Michelle Kessler entitled “25 years of ‘eureka’ moments.” In their article, they present and briefly discuss the top 25 life-changing inventions.
Now, I have to admit — although I don’t like doing this — that I am slow to change. I prefer my comfort zones because they are safe, secure, and require no new learning. For me, my comfort zones protect my routines, plans, methods, customs, and habits. When my pattern is predictable, I do not have to spend time thinking about how to do something; all I have to do is plug in the new content. I like my typical, everyday, commonplace activities, and I protect them.
This admission — that I’m slow to change — will explain why much of the technology that has been introduced over the past 25 years has not taken root in my activities. For example, some of the top “life-changing inventions” according to the authors of the USA Today article, are not included in my list: cellphones (my wife and I have them, even though I seldom use mine), laptop computers (because I am not “on the road” for my work, and I do not take a computer with me on vacations), and blackberrys, iPods, iPads, or any similar devices. (Unlike Barack Obama, I have no need for a mobile e-mail device nor the bells and whistles (apps) they offer, since I spend most of my time at home writing at my desktop computer).
These were the authors’ top three “eureka” moments. Others were iPods (the iconic portable digital music player), digital cameras, flat-panel TVs, online stock trading, TiVo (the digital device that allows subscribers to record their favorite TV shows and to view them without advertisements), home satellite TV, and karaoke. None of these, too, make my list, although I have to say that may not be true in the future.
When I wrote this essay, blogging was not part of my life. Now, I have to include blogs and blogging as a eureka moment because it is currently part of AndThenSomeWorks.com, a website (that did not exist when I originally wrote this essay) that promotes and discusses products (primarily books) designed for sale by And Then Some Publishing, LLC. I was brought (kicking and screaming) into this aspect of new technological developments — but only when dragged in at the hands of concerned family members! As a “eureka” moment, it now falls somewhere within the list offered below.
Here, then, is a list of my “eureka” moments over my lifetime. Interestingly, the first four are technology related. I list them in order, and I offer a brief discussion of their importance to me as justification for their inclusion on my list.
The first and most influential “eureka” moment in my lifetime was, indeed, technology oriented. It was the invention of the Word Processor which allowed me, as a writer, to move from a typewriter to a computer screen. For me, this occurred in 1985. And in that change the three most important aspects involved, first, the ability to easily move large pieces of information from place to place within a manuscript (“cut and paste”), the ease of pressing on the keys to get an impression, and, third, the ability to produce an error-free manuscript.
The second most influential “eureka” moment in my lifetime was also technology related. It was the invention of the Internet. Yes, it has value as an important entertainment alternative, and, yes, it yields tremendous benefits in maintaining contact with others. For me, however, the most important feature is its use in researching (searching out) ideas and information. Never before has so much information been so available so quickly.
The third most influential “eureka” moment, also technology related, had a direct, but secondary, effect on me. PowerPoint changed public speaking forever. Although I have never made use of it, I have had to write about it in all of my communication textbooks; thus, I had to learn it well enough to explain it to readers. Because it allows speakers from CEOs to sixth-graders, to display topic headings, charts, and animation with the click of a mouse, it has become not just a dominant, but an overwhelming, force in presentational public speaking.
Because I love moview, the fourth most influential “eureka” moment is the invention of DVDs. As DVDs were being released, and as my family rented them for home viewing, I watched in the rental venues as DVDs slowly acquired more space, and the space devoted to VHS rentals plummeted. Then DVDs began to fade as direct downloading of movies took place. A whole generation of technology swept through like a brisk wind.
A related invention, CDs, also had a major influence. I had a very large (500 plus) collection of 45s, and my LPs numbered close to 500 hundred as well; thus, replacing my collection with CDs took some time; however, I have now acquired most of the recordings I am interested in. Then my wife bought me a music center which allowed me to transfer my LPs to CDs, and now my CD collection far surpasses that of my former record collections—and is soon likely to be replaced by MP3s (but only after a great deal more kicking and screaming).
For my fifth “eureka” moment, it took me awhile to finally convert, but it happened suddenly on one of our many vacations. Instead of pumping gas then proceeding into the station to pay the cashier, I used my credit card at the pump. The saved time is what affected me most, but the ease of the process, too, convinced me that my fifth most influential “eureka” moment had to be the invention of “pay at the pump.”
Lettuce in a bag is my sixth most influential “eureka” moment. My wife and I eat a lot of salads. When the garden isn’t producing lettuce, we depend on lettuce in a bag. The variety is outstanding, the quality is superb, and the cleanliness has been proven over and over.
My seventh “eureka” moment—and most recent—is microwaveable popcorn. What’s odd about this choice is that I wrote an earlier essay on popcorn in which I talked about how I prepare and season it. The problem is the time it takes to do that. When I am writing, have other tasks to complete, and feel pressured to produce, I find microwaveable popcorn to be a godsend. It is tasty, nutritious, and fast— pops entirely during one commercial break! (As I updated this essay for current posting, I have to admit that several weeks ago I purchased another 50-pound bag of popcorn kernels—so, even though I sometimes use microwave popcorn, I kick and scream and cook it the old-fashioned way as much as I can.
It was Archimedes, the Greek mathematician, physicist, and engineer who, having made a discovery or created a new machine, forgot himself and ran around the town, butt naked, shouting “Eureka! Eureka!” I never ran around shouting “Eureka! Eureka!,” but I kick and scream a lot. It’s amazing how drums seldom beat and bugles never blare, but the effect is the same; the effect of these changes, alone, has been immeasurable.
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What are the top ten eureka moments in history? Find them listed and discussed at the Science Channel website, . It states, “... These stories represent times when inspiration struck like a bolt out of the blue and the world was changed by that eureka... that, or these scientists are just the ones with the best P.R.” They are: 1) special relativity, 2) alternating current, 3) nerve impulses transmitted chemically, 4) Archimedes and the Golden Crown, 5) television, 6) PCR (the way a small amount of DNA can be exponentially amplified), 7) coordinate geometry, 8) microwave oven, 9) Velcro, and 10) Post-It Notes. Don’t agree? What would you add or subtract from the list?
At the Newsweek website, Sharon Begley has a terrific essay on how the brain produces these “Eureka” moments, entitled, not surprisingly, “Eureka! How the Brain has 'Aha' Moments.”
Want to read the article that spawned my essay? Read, “Twenty-five Years of Eureka Moments,” at USA Today.
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Copyright May, 2010, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.
I am aided in my quest by an article in USA Today (May 20, 2007), by Byron Acohido, Jim Hopkins, Jefferson Graham, and Michelle Kessler entitled “25 years of ‘eureka’ moments.” In their article, they present and briefly discuss the top 25 life-changing inventions.
Now, I have to admit — although I don’t like doing this — that I am slow to change. I prefer my comfort zones because they are safe, secure, and require no new learning. For me, my comfort zones protect my routines, plans, methods, customs, and habits. When my pattern is predictable, I do not have to spend time thinking about how to do something; all I have to do is plug in the new content. I like my typical, everyday, commonplace activities, and I protect them.
This admission — that I’m slow to change — will explain why much of the technology that has been introduced over the past 25 years has not taken root in my activities. For example, some of the top “life-changing inventions” according to the authors of the USA Today article, are not included in my list: cellphones (my wife and I have them, even though I seldom use mine), laptop computers (because I am not “on the road” for my work, and I do not take a computer with me on vacations), and blackberrys, iPods, iPads, or any similar devices. (Unlike Barack Obama, I have no need for a mobile e-mail device nor the bells and whistles (apps) they offer, since I spend most of my time at home writing at my desktop computer).
These were the authors’ top three “eureka” moments. Others were iPods (the iconic portable digital music player), digital cameras, flat-panel TVs, online stock trading, TiVo (the digital device that allows subscribers to record their favorite TV shows and to view them without advertisements), home satellite TV, and karaoke. None of these, too, make my list, although I have to say that may not be true in the future.
When I wrote this essay, blogging was not part of my life. Now, I have to include blogs and blogging as a eureka moment because it is currently part of AndThenSomeWorks.com, a website (that did not exist when I originally wrote this essay) that promotes and discusses products (primarily books) designed for sale by And Then Some Publishing, LLC. I was brought (kicking and screaming) into this aspect of new technological developments — but only when dragged in at the hands of concerned family members! As a “eureka” moment, it now falls somewhere within the list offered below.
Here, then, is a list of my “eureka” moments over my lifetime. Interestingly, the first four are technology related. I list them in order, and I offer a brief discussion of their importance to me as justification for their inclusion on my list.
The first and most influential “eureka” moment in my lifetime was, indeed, technology oriented. It was the invention of the Word Processor which allowed me, as a writer, to move from a typewriter to a computer screen. For me, this occurred in 1985. And in that change the three most important aspects involved, first, the ability to easily move large pieces of information from place to place within a manuscript (“cut and paste”), the ease of pressing on the keys to get an impression, and, third, the ability to produce an error-free manuscript.
The second most influential “eureka” moment in my lifetime was also technology related. It was the invention of the Internet. Yes, it has value as an important entertainment alternative, and, yes, it yields tremendous benefits in maintaining contact with others. For me, however, the most important feature is its use in researching (searching out) ideas and information. Never before has so much information been so available so quickly.
The third most influential “eureka” moment, also technology related, had a direct, but secondary, effect on me. PowerPoint changed public speaking forever. Although I have never made use of it, I have had to write about it in all of my communication textbooks; thus, I had to learn it well enough to explain it to readers. Because it allows speakers from CEOs to sixth-graders, to display topic headings, charts, and animation with the click of a mouse, it has become not just a dominant, but an overwhelming, force in presentational public speaking.
Because I love moview, the fourth most influential “eureka” moment is the invention of DVDs. As DVDs were being released, and as my family rented them for home viewing, I watched in the rental venues as DVDs slowly acquired more space, and the space devoted to VHS rentals plummeted. Then DVDs began to fade as direct downloading of movies took place. A whole generation of technology swept through like a brisk wind.
A related invention, CDs, also had a major influence. I had a very large (500 plus) collection of 45s, and my LPs numbered close to 500 hundred as well; thus, replacing my collection with CDs took some time; however, I have now acquired most of the recordings I am interested in. Then my wife bought me a music center which allowed me to transfer my LPs to CDs, and now my CD collection far surpasses that of my former record collections—and is soon likely to be replaced by MP3s (but only after a great deal more kicking and screaming).
For my fifth “eureka” moment, it took me awhile to finally convert, but it happened suddenly on one of our many vacations. Instead of pumping gas then proceeding into the station to pay the cashier, I used my credit card at the pump. The saved time is what affected me most, but the ease of the process, too, convinced me that my fifth most influential “eureka” moment had to be the invention of “pay at the pump.”
Lettuce in a bag is my sixth most influential “eureka” moment. My wife and I eat a lot of salads. When the garden isn’t producing lettuce, we depend on lettuce in a bag. The variety is outstanding, the quality is superb, and the cleanliness has been proven over and over.
My seventh “eureka” moment—and most recent—is microwaveable popcorn. What’s odd about this choice is that I wrote an earlier essay on popcorn in which I talked about how I prepare and season it. The problem is the time it takes to do that. When I am writing, have other tasks to complete, and feel pressured to produce, I find microwaveable popcorn to be a godsend. It is tasty, nutritious, and fast— pops entirely during one commercial break! (As I updated this essay for current posting, I have to admit that several weeks ago I purchased another 50-pound bag of popcorn kernels—so, even though I sometimes use microwave popcorn, I kick and scream and cook it the old-fashioned way as much as I can.
It was Archimedes, the Greek mathematician, physicist, and engineer who, having made a discovery or created a new machine, forgot himself and ran around the town, butt naked, shouting “Eureka! Eureka!” I never ran around shouting “Eureka! Eureka!,” but I kick and scream a lot. It’s amazing how drums seldom beat and bugles never blare, but the effect is the same; the effect of these changes, alone, has been immeasurable.
-----
What are the top ten eureka moments in history? Find them listed and discussed at the Science Channel website,
At the Newsweek website
Want to read the article that spawned my essay? Read, “Twenty-five Years of Eureka Moments,” at USA Today
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Copyright May, 2010, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
How to build a personality from the ground up
by Richard L. Weaver II
He came to me early in the first semester after graduating from high school. He was exactly what one might characterize as a “nerd,” “computer geek,” “dork,” “dweeb,” or “techie.” Charles had his own label: “loser.” He had been assigned as my advisee because as a top, highly skilled debater in high school, he sought to capitalize on his speech-communication prowess by becoming a politician, lawyer, minister, or teacher. With his background and skill, the choice was clearly his; however, he had a serious problem, and he knew it. He had no friends, and what he needed the most was a “personality makeover” — some kind of transformation or overhaul that would make him well liked (affable, amiable, genial, charming, appealing, delightful, and good-natured).
As a speech-communication advisor, I had never worked with someone like Charles, but I found him fascinating and the refurbishment he sought a challenge. The first thing I told him was that entering college was, perhaps, one of the best times in life to make major personality changes. He could leave his high school persona behind as well as all those who knew him then, and he could now construct — from whatever foundation he chose — the personality that would not only please him but the personality, too, that would best serve his future interests and goals.
How do you begin to build a new personality from the ground up? It is actually a simpler process than what one might imagine; however, there are two prerequisites. First, one needs a completely new situation. It’s a little like sitting next to a stranger on an airplane or chatting with one on the Internet — a person you know you’ll never see again — and supplying the kind of information and details that cause the other person to form a complimentary, praiseworthy, and totally favorable opinion of you. Second, you need a whole set of new acquaintances who have no ties or relationships to your former persona. What these new acquaintances must only hear and see is “the new you.”
There is an important principle that underlies this remodeling scenario. The “self” is a socially constructed entity. That is, we learn about our self through the eyes of others. It is others who provide the specific information and knowledge we use as we put together our concept or perception of our self. That is exactly how Charles learned, for example, that people do not like nerds, geeks, dweebs, dorks, and techies. He had no friends, but he knew why.
So, where did I start? Although I did not have the help of Scott Ginsberg when assisting Charles, Ginsberg’s book, The Power of Approachability (Front Porch Productions, 2005), offers excellent advice that permits people to begin at the ground floor. There is nothing earth shattering in the book, however, one must have a place to begin, and if the intent is to build a new self, and if the self is socially constructed, then one must assume the responsibility of establishing the social connections through which new information and knowledge will be channeled.
The first thing Charles needed to do was make a major change in the way he approached others — all others. It required an attitude readjustment. No longer could Charles blame others for not liking or approaching him. Now, the responsibility was entirely his. Entirely! No matter what the basic motivation for engaging others — to help them, learn from them, relate to them, influence them, or play with them — Charles must be ready to engage them, and there are a number of ways to do it:
—Encourage people to break their silence with you by opening with a question.
—Identify and amplify others’ names to make them feel appreciated and connected with you.
—Use humor. Because humor disarms people, find something funny in the situation or about yourself that you can use to make them laugh or smile.
—Find information. Is there information others have that would help you or that you can find out from them?
—Depend on your own knowledge. Is there any information or knowledge you have that you can offer others that would in some way help, assist, benefit, encourage, stimulate, or facilitate the situation?
You can’t stand on the sidelines and expect others to take the initiative. It may require that you think outside the box — outside what is expected, believed, thought, or assumed. Often, if a connection is to be made, someone must be willing to break the ice, disturb the flow, or change the expectations. Having information and knowledge, of course, is a good way to do this.
The second thing Charles needed to do was to make himself accessible and easy to deal with. Because of his background and upbringing, he tended to present a rather formal, staid, and dignified presence. This certainly aided him when debating. But that demeanor conveyed to others that he was aloof, reserved, remote, detached, and unapproachable. This wasn’t an easy change for Charles to make. I suggested that Charles play the role of a relaxed, comfortable, easygoing person who was open, friendly, unpretentious, unstuffy, and casual. I told him that by playing the role, many of these characteristics would stick and become natural and comfortable.
The third thing Charles needed to do was become friendly and ready to listen to others. Because he was extremely well-informed and knowledgeable, seldom was Charles at a loss for words; however, this trait got him into trouble. Others found communicating with him difficult, to say the least. Jean De La Bruyere, the French essayist and moralist said it best, “The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.”
Friendliness is always two-way. That is, to have a friend, you must be a friend. Once again, Charles had to break from his standard operating procedure. He had to show others he cared, build trust with them, remind others that talking with him was worth it, trigger others’ psychological need to be included, and draw others to him with surprising, honest, appealing, memorable and fun answers that personified his new attitude by expediting interaction and creating engaging conversation.
Charles saw changes immediately, liked the results, and continued his program of growth, development, and change. He had built a new, positive, outgoing personality from the ground up.
-----
At ezinearticles.com, there is a terrific essay by Christina Sponias, entitled, “How to build your personality,” in which she offers great advice and numerous suggestions.
If you are looking for practical suggestions that you can adopt and use immediately, visit “Personality Development.”
-----
Copyright March, 2009 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
He came to me early in the first semester after graduating from high school. He was exactly what one might characterize as a “nerd,” “computer geek,” “dork,” “dweeb,” or “techie.” Charles had his own label: “loser.” He had been assigned as my advisee because as a top, highly skilled debater in high school, he sought to capitalize on his speech-communication prowess by becoming a politician, lawyer, minister, or teacher. With his background and skill, the choice was clearly his; however, he had a serious problem, and he knew it. He had no friends, and what he needed the most was a “personality makeover” — some kind of transformation or overhaul that would make him well liked (affable, amiable, genial, charming, appealing, delightful, and good-natured).
As a speech-communication advisor, I had never worked with someone like Charles, but I found him fascinating and the refurbishment he sought a challenge. The first thing I told him was that entering college was, perhaps, one of the best times in life to make major personality changes. He could leave his high school persona behind as well as all those who knew him then, and he could now construct — from whatever foundation he chose — the personality that would not only please him but the personality, too, that would best serve his future interests and goals.
How do you begin to build a new personality from the ground up? It is actually a simpler process than what one might imagine; however, there are two prerequisites. First, one needs a completely new situation. It’s a little like sitting next to a stranger on an airplane or chatting with one on the Internet — a person you know you’ll never see again — and supplying the kind of information and details that cause the other person to form a complimentary, praiseworthy, and totally favorable opinion of you. Second, you need a whole set of new acquaintances who have no ties or relationships to your former persona. What these new acquaintances must only hear and see is “the new you.”
There is an important principle that underlies this remodeling scenario. The “self” is a socially constructed entity. That is, we learn about our self through the eyes of others. It is others who provide the specific information and knowledge we use as we put together our concept or perception of our self. That is exactly how Charles learned, for example, that people do not like nerds, geeks, dweebs, dorks, and techies. He had no friends, but he knew why.
So, where did I start? Although I did not have the help of Scott Ginsberg when assisting Charles, Ginsberg’s book, The Power of Approachability (Front Porch Productions, 2005), offers excellent advice that permits people to begin at the ground floor. There is nothing earth shattering in the book, however, one must have a place to begin, and if the intent is to build a new self, and if the self is socially constructed, then one must assume the responsibility of establishing the social connections through which new information and knowledge will be channeled.
The first thing Charles needed to do was make a major change in the way he approached others — all others. It required an attitude readjustment. No longer could Charles blame others for not liking or approaching him. Now, the responsibility was entirely his. Entirely! No matter what the basic motivation for engaging others — to help them, learn from them, relate to them, influence them, or play with them — Charles must be ready to engage them, and there are a number of ways to do it:
—Encourage people to break their silence with you by opening with a question.
—Identify and amplify others’ names to make them feel appreciated and connected with you.
—Use humor. Because humor disarms people, find something funny in the situation or about yourself that you can use to make them laugh or smile.
—Find information. Is there information others have that would help you or that you can find out from them?
—Depend on your own knowledge. Is there any information or knowledge you have that you can offer others that would in some way help, assist, benefit, encourage, stimulate, or facilitate the situation?
You can’t stand on the sidelines and expect others to take the initiative. It may require that you think outside the box — outside what is expected, believed, thought, or assumed. Often, if a connection is to be made, someone must be willing to break the ice, disturb the flow, or change the expectations. Having information and knowledge, of course, is a good way to do this.
The second thing Charles needed to do was to make himself accessible and easy to deal with. Because of his background and upbringing, he tended to present a rather formal, staid, and dignified presence. This certainly aided him when debating. But that demeanor conveyed to others that he was aloof, reserved, remote, detached, and unapproachable. This wasn’t an easy change for Charles to make. I suggested that Charles play the role of a relaxed, comfortable, easygoing person who was open, friendly, unpretentious, unstuffy, and casual. I told him that by playing the role, many of these characteristics would stick and become natural and comfortable.
The third thing Charles needed to do was become friendly and ready to listen to others. Because he was extremely well-informed and knowledgeable, seldom was Charles at a loss for words; however, this trait got him into trouble. Others found communicating with him difficult, to say the least. Jean De La Bruyere, the French essayist and moralist said it best, “The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.”
Friendliness is always two-way. That is, to have a friend, you must be a friend. Once again, Charles had to break from his standard operating procedure. He had to show others he cared, build trust with them, remind others that talking with him was worth it, trigger others’ psychological need to be included, and draw others to him with surprising, honest, appealing, memorable and fun answers that personified his new attitude by expediting interaction and creating engaging conversation.
Charles saw changes immediately, liked the results, and continued his program of growth, development, and change. He had built a new, positive, outgoing personality from the ground up.
-----
At ezinearticles.com, there is a terrific essay by Christina Sponias, entitled, “How to build your personality,” in which she offers great advice and numerous suggestions.
If you are looking for practical suggestions that you can adopt and use immediately, visit “Personality Development.”
-----
Copyright March, 2009 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Eight steps for raising your standards And Then Some
Are you happy with “good enough,” or have you become complacent with the “ordinary”? It’s a little like living with all the junk you have accumulated over the years and making no move to change the situation. As-a-matter-of-fact, you have become so accustomed to it, you don’t even notice it anymore. Often, it is this same mindset that carries over into every aspect of your life — relationships, jobs, household chores, and projects. To change the mindset requires effort and commitment, and when “good enough” is sufficient, why bother?
One of the reasons people consistently perform at a higher level than others or produce more remarkable results is that they possess a higher mental standard. Because you always move in the direction of your currently dominant thought, when your mindset is “excellence,” you will move toward that and perform at a higher level.
The important point here is a simple one. Trying to change behavior and performance — like improving your life, upgrading your standards, enhancing your relationships, advancing your employment status, and bettering your everyday experiences — requires a change in your mindset, otherwise any change you plan or undertake is likely to fail.
The question clearly becomes, how do you do it? The very first step is to realize you are in control. It is your choice about how you want to live your life. Because standards are a reflection of you and what’s right for you, you must make a choice: Choose to raise your standards. You are in control, and until you raise your standards at a deep, internal level, then nothing is going to change in your life.
The second step is to look at the people you admire. What is it about them that you admire? How do they behave? How do you feel when you’re around them? What would you have to change in your life to become more like the people you admire? These comparisons can offer a useful plan of action or, at the very least, a place to begin.
The third step is to expect more from yourself. To change, you are going to have to adjust, modify, revise, reshape, rework, and, perhaps, transform yourself. Not only is this risky, but also it requires work. Demand more of your performance in everything you do. You may need to become more creative in looking at and selecting from a wide variety of options; you may need to become more efficient by cutting out time-wasting, unnecessary distractions; you may need to put some pressure on yourself to break out from your secure, safe, and contented comfort zone. Although leaving any safe, stable environment for something unknown is unpredictable and potentially fraught with danger, also it can be an invigorating, action-packed adventure.
The fourth step is to expect more from others. You need to surround yourself with people who will challenge you. This may mean finding new players in your life. New co-workers, new friends, new relationship partners are more likely to test you, make demands on you, stretch, stimulate, inspire, and excite you. This is precisely what you need to push you to your limits.
The fifth step is to become more assertive. You get what you settle for; thus, when you risk rocking the boat, disappointing (or surprising others), or giving yourself more than what you think you deserve, you automatically raise your standards. When you raise your standards, you will automatically start to attract better things into your life — better friends, more varied experiences, superior relationships, and even higher quality material possessions.
There is no reason you need to settle for an inferior meal in a restaurant, a dirty room in a motel, a product that is below the quality you expect and deserve, a bad seat in an airplane or on a bus, or a negative conversation that may damage your ego, adversely affect your mindset, or unfavorably bear on your future goals. Take things back, write letters of complaint, buy higher quality things, do not support low-quality TV programming, refuse to pay for advertising, fix things instead of throwing them out, never buy anything on impulse, and stop settling for less.
The sixth step is to be easy on yourself. Change like that being discussed in this essay is not going to happen overnight. Much of what is being changed required your whole lifetime to learn and practice, thus, it is accepted, comfortable, and pleasant behavior. That is why so many people do not change. Become aware of your new behavior, and when you find yourself slipping back into your old ways, stop trying to change and live your new standard. Be easy on yourself when you slip; it is a necessary, always-present aspect of growing and changing.
Think of “raising your standards” as creating a new habit for yourself. It is a new way of acting. Remember that it takes a minimum of twenty-one repetitions of a behavior before it becomes a new habit. Consider this a journey, and as on any excursion — especially one with as important a destination as this voyage may have — you must enjoy the ride. Be observant and aware as this expedition takes you into new, uncharted territory.
The seventh step, in addition to the fourth step where you may find new players in your life, make a commitment to socialize more. When you raise your standards, the people around you will respond to you differently. There will be those who choose to leave your life while others choose to remain. New people will enter your life because they are attracted to your new standards. By socializing more — especially with raised standards — you will contact more of those likely to see and enjoy your new standards and more of those people who will choose to become part of your life because of those new standards. The quality of your life will improve.
The eighth step is to remove the words “good enough” and “okay” from your vocabulary.
Higher mental standards — desiring distinction, superior quality, and remarkable brilliance — can provide a framework for everything you do. It could be an event you’re planning, a product you’re designing, a meal you’re preparing, a letter you are writing, a project you are completing, a proposal you’re submitting, a speech you are creating, a vacation you are planning, or a room you are rearranging, when your standard is excellence, you will perform at a higher level. We tend to take our standards for granted, however, standards matter, and it is possible to raise them. By following the eight steps outlined in this essay, you will raise your standards And Then Some!
-----
A very good essay with some good practical ideas for raising your standards can be found in the essay, “Raise Your Standards,” at Take Action With Coach Lee (September 4, 2007).
Valorie Burton (July 27, 2009) writes an essay, “Raise Your Standards, Change Your Life,” at the website, blackamericaweb.com This was retrieved January 12, 2010, and in the essay Burton discusses four suggestions: 1) Decide what’s acceptable, 2) Exemplify what you expect, 3) Take steps to meet the new standard, and 4) Be willing to let go.
-----
Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.
One of the reasons people consistently perform at a higher level than others or produce more remarkable results is that they possess a higher mental standard. Because you always move in the direction of your currently dominant thought, when your mindset is “excellence,” you will move toward that and perform at a higher level.
The important point here is a simple one. Trying to change behavior and performance — like improving your life, upgrading your standards, enhancing your relationships, advancing your employment status, and bettering your everyday experiences — requires a change in your mindset, otherwise any change you plan or undertake is likely to fail.
The question clearly becomes, how do you do it? The very first step is to realize you are in control. It is your choice about how you want to live your life. Because standards are a reflection of you and what’s right for you, you must make a choice: Choose to raise your standards. You are in control, and until you raise your standards at a deep, internal level, then nothing is going to change in your life.
The second step is to look at the people you admire. What is it about them that you admire? How do they behave? How do you feel when you’re around them? What would you have to change in your life to become more like the people you admire? These comparisons can offer a useful plan of action or, at the very least, a place to begin.
The third step is to expect more from yourself. To change, you are going to have to adjust, modify, revise, reshape, rework, and, perhaps, transform yourself. Not only is this risky, but also it requires work. Demand more of your performance in everything you do. You may need to become more creative in looking at and selecting from a wide variety of options; you may need to become more efficient by cutting out time-wasting, unnecessary distractions; you may need to put some pressure on yourself to break out from your secure, safe, and contented comfort zone. Although leaving any safe, stable environment for something unknown is unpredictable and potentially fraught with danger, also it can be an invigorating, action-packed adventure.
The fourth step is to expect more from others. You need to surround yourself with people who will challenge you. This may mean finding new players in your life. New co-workers, new friends, new relationship partners are more likely to test you, make demands on you, stretch, stimulate, inspire, and excite you. This is precisely what you need to push you to your limits.
The fifth step is to become more assertive. You get what you settle for; thus, when you risk rocking the boat, disappointing (or surprising others), or giving yourself more than what you think you deserve, you automatically raise your standards. When you raise your standards, you will automatically start to attract better things into your life — better friends, more varied experiences, superior relationships, and even higher quality material possessions.
There is no reason you need to settle for an inferior meal in a restaurant, a dirty room in a motel, a product that is below the quality you expect and deserve, a bad seat in an airplane or on a bus, or a negative conversation that may damage your ego, adversely affect your mindset, or unfavorably bear on your future goals. Take things back, write letters of complaint, buy higher quality things, do not support low-quality TV programming, refuse to pay for advertising, fix things instead of throwing them out, never buy anything on impulse, and stop settling for less.
The sixth step is to be easy on yourself. Change like that being discussed in this essay is not going to happen overnight. Much of what is being changed required your whole lifetime to learn and practice, thus, it is accepted, comfortable, and pleasant behavior. That is why so many people do not change. Become aware of your new behavior, and when you find yourself slipping back into your old ways, stop trying to change and live your new standard. Be easy on yourself when you slip; it is a necessary, always-present aspect of growing and changing.
Think of “raising your standards” as creating a new habit for yourself. It is a new way of acting. Remember that it takes a minimum of twenty-one repetitions of a behavior before it becomes a new habit. Consider this a journey, and as on any excursion — especially one with as important a destination as this voyage may have — you must enjoy the ride. Be observant and aware as this expedition takes you into new, uncharted territory.
The seventh step, in addition to the fourth step where you may find new players in your life, make a commitment to socialize more. When you raise your standards, the people around you will respond to you differently. There will be those who choose to leave your life while others choose to remain. New people will enter your life because they are attracted to your new standards. By socializing more — especially with raised standards — you will contact more of those likely to see and enjoy your new standards and more of those people who will choose to become part of your life because of those new standards. The quality of your life will improve.
The eighth step is to remove the words “good enough” and “okay” from your vocabulary.
Higher mental standards — desiring distinction, superior quality, and remarkable brilliance — can provide a framework for everything you do. It could be an event you’re planning, a product you’re designing, a meal you’re preparing, a letter you are writing, a project you are completing, a proposal you’re submitting, a speech you are creating, a vacation you are planning, or a room you are rearranging, when your standard is excellence, you will perform at a higher level. We tend to take our standards for granted, however, standards matter, and it is possible to raise them. By following the eight steps outlined in this essay, you will raise your standards And Then Some!
-----
A very good essay with some good practical ideas for raising your standards can be found in the essay, “Raise Your Standards,” at Take Action With Coach Lee (September 4, 2007).
Valorie Burton (July 27, 2009) writes an essay, “Raise Your Standards, Change Your Life,” at the website, blackamericaweb.com This was retrieved January 12, 2010, and in the essay Burton discusses four suggestions: 1) Decide what’s acceptable, 2) Exemplify what you expect, 3) Take steps to meet the new standard, and 4) Be willing to let go.
-----
Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Random observations for those planning a Caribbean cruise
There is no order to these observations; I wrote them down as they occurred. Also, they were written as reminders for me since I know that I will be cruising the Caribbean again one day. I keep a journal when I cruise (or travel anywhere), and throughout my journals I make random observations as well that are specifically designed to alert me the next time I read the notes.
1) Take plenty of sunscreen. Every place you go is hot, the sun is intense, and most places are humid as well. If you are wearing sandals make sure you protect your feet from the sun as well as the back of your neck. I remember being on the deck of a car/passenger ship between the northern and southern islands in New Zealand. Although we were warned of the dangers of the sun, the cool breeze and clouds seemed to ameliorate its effects — temporarily. Not true! We (meaning my family members and myself) received severe, very uncomfortable burns.
2) Most ports — meaning countries — are desperate for tourist dollars and, thus, watch out for tourist safety and happiness. You find little trouble in most ports, but travelers must always be careful. This means you carry your wallet in your front pocket where you can keep your hand on it, carry your driver’s license with its picture and leave your passport in the safe in your room, and refrain from going into places that look unsafe. Use your head. (Everywhere pickpockets have been active, we have been warned to be extra careful.)
3) If you carry drinking water and snacks in a fanny pack or back pack, you don’t have to be dependent on local places for drinks or food. We carry our own empty plastic 10-12 ounce plastic bottles that we fill with ship water before going ashore. When rooms have their own refrigerators, you can even carry cold water by wrapping it in a towel. Also, there are places like McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC in most ports that can be trusted for their food, water, and “clean” restrooms. (“Clean” is a relative term.)
4) If you purchase items from local vendors, bargaining is expected and, inevitably, you can reduce the cost of various items. Another theory is that the local people in these countries are much poorer than we are and need the tourist dollar far more than we would. For that reason (and to avoid having to bargain), you can pay the asking price (knowing that it is a bit high). The important thing is that you are happy with your purchase. (It seems, after our fourth Caribbean cruise, that all shops will bargain.)
5) Pack light. On sea days, for men, bermudas, sandals, and a tee shirt is all that is needed. The “smart” casual style requested by cruise lines for evening dining, means slacks and a knit shirt with a collar. You’ll need comfortable shoes for walking, plus “dress” shoes for the restaurant and for the evening.
6) You really don’t need a great deal of background study and preparation for understanding most islands/countries. The cruise line offers brochures on each port that includes general information (e.g., capitol, location, size, population, language, currency, time zone, and tourist information). The brochure offers a map of the location of the island as well as a history, information on how to get to town, store hours, bank and post office hours, and emergency numbers. The brochures we receive include a close-up map of the main town/city of each island as well as recommended stores and restaurants — more information than most people need, want, or even will read.
Now, it must be said here that by not taking any excursion away from the port area, you get a very skewed impression of an island/country. A port city doth not a country make! On most cruises we schedule an excursion of each of the new places we visit (e.g., on our Mediterranean cruise we took an excursion at every port of call except for the small Greek island of Mykonos. That meant nine excursions (two on our two-day stay in Rome) for ten ports — with none in Barcelona nor in Venice, our beginning and ending points.
7) Some useful items to take with you that we have discovered during our travels include books, writing materials, magazines, a hat, back pack, fanny pack, plenty of single dollar bills (you can get more onboard ship), some U.S. change, walking shoes, band aids (for blisters or for protecting blisters), flip flops (especially if you plan to swim), and plastic bags for protecting lotions from spilling, for taking food from the cafeteria for room snacks or excursions (e.g., we took muffins, cookies, and fresh fruit for our walks into town), and for keeping food from the souvenirs we put in the back pack as we travel.
8) Do not bring a knife, letter opener, or any sharp metal object (e.g., a nail file). Sitting near a woman in the Princess Theater, we overheard her say she bought a rather fancy letter opener for a friend, and they confiscated it at the runway and told her she could retrieve it in Fort Lauderdale (at the end of our cruise). I showed her the pocket knife I had been taking through security (you and everything you carry with you are scanned every time you board the ship). I have a steel-cased glasses case which goes through the scanner on top of my backpack. The small knife conveniently fits into the case along with my dark glasses.
As a short aside, you may wonder why I even need a small pocket knife? I must cut apples or corn-on-the-cob before eating them because I cannot bite into them with my expensive, front-teeth implants. I have found having the small pocket knife has been an invaluable tool.
9) Plan to use the room safe for any valuables. While on board, we keep our wallets and money there. It is where we store our passports at all times. It is easy to use; you need a four-number sequence to open or close it; we use our house number because it is easy to remember.
10) If your goal is not to gain weight on a cruise, one way to avoid some of the calories is to avoid all bread and potatoes (and most desserts!). Your ship cook will make it very tempting! By avoiding bread and potatoes, you can concentrate on the main foods. It is also easy to avoid all deep-fried foods and pasta. If you are thinking as you read this that it is precisely these items that make up the cruise-food you expect for the cost of your cruise, then you will check onto your ship as a cruiser, but you will surely leave it as cargo!
There are, of course, many potential “random observations,” and just as each set of my own might be different if written at different times, each person will have a different set as well. For example, take naps, avoid ship charge-card expenses (they add up fast — especially drinks), and book your own excursions off the ship, might be some additional “observations.” These are just some thoughts to help make your Caribbean cruise more enjoyable and more successful. You just have to be prepared for pleasure!
-----
At Cruise Travel Vacations, just before you get to the direct sales-pitch information, the site includes some useful suggestions especially designed for first-time cruisers.
At Cruise Critic, there are links to many useful websites. For example, there are quick links to: Cruise Deals, Cruise Ship Reviews, Community, Cruising Regions, Cruise Styles, and US Homeports.
-----
Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
1) Take plenty of sunscreen. Every place you go is hot, the sun is intense, and most places are humid as well. If you are wearing sandals make sure you protect your feet from the sun as well as the back of your neck. I remember being on the deck of a car/passenger ship between the northern and southern islands in New Zealand. Although we were warned of the dangers of the sun, the cool breeze and clouds seemed to ameliorate its effects — temporarily. Not true! We (meaning my family members and myself) received severe, very uncomfortable burns.
2) Most ports — meaning countries — are desperate for tourist dollars and, thus, watch out for tourist safety and happiness. You find little trouble in most ports, but travelers must always be careful. This means you carry your wallet in your front pocket where you can keep your hand on it, carry your driver’s license with its picture and leave your passport in the safe in your room, and refrain from going into places that look unsafe. Use your head. (Everywhere pickpockets have been active, we have been warned to be extra careful.)
3) If you carry drinking water and snacks in a fanny pack or back pack, you don’t have to be dependent on local places for drinks or food. We carry our own empty plastic 10-12 ounce plastic bottles that we fill with ship water before going ashore. When rooms have their own refrigerators, you can even carry cold water by wrapping it in a towel. Also, there are places like McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC in most ports that can be trusted for their food, water, and “clean” restrooms. (“Clean” is a relative term.)
4) If you purchase items from local vendors, bargaining is expected and, inevitably, you can reduce the cost of various items. Another theory is that the local people in these countries are much poorer than we are and need the tourist dollar far more than we would. For that reason (and to avoid having to bargain), you can pay the asking price (knowing that it is a bit high). The important thing is that you are happy with your purchase. (It seems, after our fourth Caribbean cruise, that all shops will bargain.)
5) Pack light. On sea days, for men, bermudas, sandals, and a tee shirt is all that is needed. The “smart” casual style requested by cruise lines for evening dining, means slacks and a knit shirt with a collar. You’ll need comfortable shoes for walking, plus “dress” shoes for the restaurant and for the evening.
6) You really don’t need a great deal of background study and preparation for understanding most islands/countries. The cruise line offers brochures on each port that includes general information (e.g., capitol, location, size, population, language, currency, time zone, and tourist information). The brochure offers a map of the location of the island as well as a history, information on how to get to town, store hours, bank and post office hours, and emergency numbers. The brochures we receive include a close-up map of the main town/city of each island as well as recommended stores and restaurants — more information than most people need, want, or even will read.
Now, it must be said here that by not taking any excursion away from the port area, you get a very skewed impression of an island/country. A port city doth not a country make! On most cruises we schedule an excursion of each of the new places we visit (e.g., on our Mediterranean cruise we took an excursion at every port of call except for the small Greek island of Mykonos. That meant nine excursions (two on our two-day stay in Rome) for ten ports — with none in Barcelona nor in Venice, our beginning and ending points.
7) Some useful items to take with you that we have discovered during our travels include books, writing materials, magazines, a hat, back pack, fanny pack, plenty of single dollar bills (you can get more onboard ship), some U.S. change, walking shoes, band aids (for blisters or for protecting blisters), flip flops (especially if you plan to swim), and plastic bags for protecting lotions from spilling, for taking food from the cafeteria for room snacks or excursions (e.g., we took muffins, cookies, and fresh fruit for our walks into town), and for keeping food from the souvenirs we put in the back pack as we travel.
8) Do not bring a knife, letter opener, or any sharp metal object (e.g., a nail file). Sitting near a woman in the Princess Theater, we overheard her say she bought a rather fancy letter opener for a friend, and they confiscated it at the runway and told her she could retrieve it in Fort Lauderdale (at the end of our cruise). I showed her the pocket knife I had been taking through security (you and everything you carry with you are scanned every time you board the ship). I have a steel-cased glasses case which goes through the scanner on top of my backpack. The small knife conveniently fits into the case along with my dark glasses.
As a short aside, you may wonder why I even need a small pocket knife? I must cut apples or corn-on-the-cob before eating them because I cannot bite into them with my expensive, front-teeth implants. I have found having the small pocket knife has been an invaluable tool.
9) Plan to use the room safe for any valuables. While on board, we keep our wallets and money there. It is where we store our passports at all times. It is easy to use; you need a four-number sequence to open or close it; we use our house number because it is easy to remember.
10) If your goal is not to gain weight on a cruise, one way to avoid some of the calories is to avoid all bread and potatoes (and most desserts!). Your ship cook will make it very tempting! By avoiding bread and potatoes, you can concentrate on the main foods. It is also easy to avoid all deep-fried foods and pasta. If you are thinking as you read this that it is precisely these items that make up the cruise-food you expect for the cost of your cruise, then you will check onto your ship as a cruiser, but you will surely leave it as cargo!
There are, of course, many potential “random observations,” and just as each set of my own might be different if written at different times, each person will have a different set as well. For example, take naps, avoid ship charge-card expenses (they add up fast — especially drinks), and book your own excursions off the ship, might be some additional “observations.” These are just some thoughts to help make your Caribbean cruise more enjoyable and more successful. You just have to be prepared for pleasure!
-----
At Cruise Travel Vacations, just before you get to the direct sales-pitch information, the site includes some useful suggestions especially designed for first-time cruisers.
At Cruise Critic, there are links to many useful websites. For example, there are quick links to: Cruise Deals, Cruise Ship Reviews, Community, Cruising Regions, Cruise Styles, and US Homeports.
-----
Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
“If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all”
A number of people who have cruised the Caribbean have said it: “If you’ve seen one Caribbean island, you’ve seen them all.” First, this statement is untrue. Each island has its own distinct culture, geography, and sights to see. But, if you are not interested in such distinctions, or, if your desire is simply to enjoy the cruise experience without leaving the ship, then such a comment is easy to throw off, for it is obvious you are not concerned about the veracity of the statement.
Having visited more than ten islands, there is no doubt this comment could apply to some of them — if you don’t explore beyond the port cities. For example, I might group the port cities of St. Vincent, Granada, St. Kitts, and LaRomana in that category for these port cities, unlike Aruba, Curacao, San Juan, Barbados, St. Martin, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas, are really under-developed when it comes to handling tourists in their port cities — and that is the criteria I am using to render this judgment. (I think most people who live in the Caribbean would find such a comment (“If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”) offensive — like grouping all people of the same race or all people from the same country.
Now I have to admit there is a difference when you visit a port where you have previously been. In Grenada, for example, we walked from the ship through the Sendal tunnel — a tight squeeze, one way (for cars), pedestrian walkway — and followed Carenage Street around Carenage Harbour. This is a very scenic, but very local area of St. George’s.
Back through Sendal Tunnel (the local van drivers seem to enjoy scaring the hell out of tourists using the tunnel), we walked along Bruce Street/Melville Street (it changes names), to Branby Street, and then down just a block to Market Square where there is a large local market that sells food, spices, and a variety of local merchandise. We visited it last time we were in Granada. This time we stopped at Maggie’s Spice Shop and picked up 5 nutmeg seeds (for $1.00) and took a picture of Maggie.
There wasn’t a single person from the ship in this large market. Also, Maggie said she must get her nutmeg from other places because the nutmeg trees on Granada were destroyed by hurricane Ivan in 2004 (over 90% of the nutmeg crop was destroyed), and it takes from 7 to 15 years for nutmeg trees to mature. (Just an aside: one of the seeds had worms in it, and the sealed plastic bag in which we kept it was full of worms when we wanted string it to put on our Christmas tree the following winter.)
In walking from the market back to the terminal, my wife and I stopped in a shop looking for a Granada tee-shirt. Two local teenage boys saw me go into the shop, recognized me as a potential target, followed me into the shop with the intention of getting my wallet out of my back pocket. Although I didn’t notice it, my wife did, and she stepped between them and me, and seeing that their intention was foiled, they immediately left the shop.
I’ve said it before, but if your only impression of the island of Granada (and this goes for all other Caribbean islands/countries) is gained just from walking around the port city, you have a very partial, incomplete picture of the island/country. Our excursion the last time we visited Granada took us through a destroyed nutmeg plantation, a lush, beautiful arboretum, and the hilly, attractive interior of this volcanic island.
I watched as our ship left the port of Granada from the 18th deck of the Grand Princess, and as I watched it grow smaller, you could see the clear demarcation of a volcano. Clouds hung over the center part of the island as we left, and not only was it raining in the interior of the island, but there were several beautiful rainbows as well, adding to the luster and grandeur of the topography.
Granada is a beautiful island — the smallest independent country (just 21 miles long by 12 miles wide or only 133 square miles) in the world. It is part of a three-island nation that also includes Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Grenada lies 75 miles southwest of St. Vincent and 90 miles north of Trinidad. We visited Granada on this trip because of civil unrest in Trinidad.
Barbados, the island we visited immediately following Granada, is another island we visited on a previous trip. It is the eastern-most island of the West Indies lying 270 miles from the Venezuelan coast and about 100 miles east of St. Vincent. It is a 14 by 21 mile haven covering 166 square miles. While Grenada has only 93,000 people of African (75%), East Indian, and European descent., Barbados has 279,000, is one of the world’s most densely populated nations, has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the world, and has a distribution of ethnic groups typical of the Eastern Caribbean; 90 percent of the population is black, 5 percent mulatto, and 5 percent white.
Looking at Barbados and Granada from 18 decks above the sea, Granada looked quaint, natural, and lovely. Barbados, on the other hand, looked flat, or, it might be more accurate to say, it is composed of low, undulating hills (four or five) that are fairly heavily treed. It doesn’t look nearly as flat or arid as Aruba or Curacao, however.
But, once again, this is an island where the impression you get from walking the city of Bridgetown (an austere, European, rather pricey, high-class (very British), expensive stores), is not an accurate picture of the island as a whole. Our excursion, the last time we were here, gave us an overview of the island, and the tour painted a much different (and more varied) portrait.
Our excursion on February 20, 2005, began at 8:25 a.m. There were 21 of us on an air conditioned bus, and we headed to the east coast through rolling hills and farmland. We saw a Giant Baobab Tree and stopped at Park’s Farm to see the Barbados Black Belly Shop. Next, we went to the Andromeda Garden. This 6-acre garden had orchids, palms, ferns, heliconia, hibiscus, bougainvillea, begonias, and the Toci Pot palm tree. We spent one hour in the garden with our guide, then went to the Bathsheba Rock formations, a place popular for surfing. We saw the last working windmill in the Western Hemisphere at Morgan Lewis, then the bus took us back to Bridgetown, the island’s capital, and to the docks where the ship was located. My point in detailing this excursion is to prove my point: you must venture out beyond the port cities if you want a complete feeling about what these islands are like.
Even though it is unfair to say, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” it might apply to the less-developed islands/countries and, too, if you do not venture beyond the port city. It is more accurate to say that each port is totally unique in its own way, but the more tourist-friendly they become, the more homogenous they appear. If your goal is to gain a sense of the local culture, ethnic diversity, and local merchandise and food, then it is clear where you need to go.
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This is a cool web site. It results from an essay contest in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Want to read what these essayists find unique on a variety of Caribbean islands? If you think “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” then read this information.
At Cruise Critic: Cruise Reviews and News, there is at this site, specific information about Aruba, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Barth’s, St. Kitt’s, Granada, Antigua, and Dominica. By just reading the descriptions here, you will quickly come to the conclusion that the cliche, “if you’ve seen one Caribbean island, you’ve seen them all,” is way off base, unfair, and ignorant.
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Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Having visited more than ten islands, there is no doubt this comment could apply to some of them — if you don’t explore beyond the port cities. For example, I might group the port cities of St. Vincent, Granada, St. Kitts, and LaRomana in that category for these port cities, unlike Aruba, Curacao, San Juan, Barbados, St. Martin, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas, are really under-developed when it comes to handling tourists in their port cities — and that is the criteria I am using to render this judgment. (I think most people who live in the Caribbean would find such a comment (“If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”) offensive — like grouping all people of the same race or all people from the same country.
Now I have to admit there is a difference when you visit a port where you have previously been. In Grenada, for example, we walked from the ship through the Sendal tunnel — a tight squeeze, one way (for cars), pedestrian walkway — and followed Carenage Street around Carenage Harbour. This is a very scenic, but very local area of St. George’s.
Back through Sendal Tunnel (the local van drivers seem to enjoy scaring the hell out of tourists using the tunnel), we walked along Bruce Street/Melville Street (it changes names), to Branby Street, and then down just a block to Market Square where there is a large local market that sells food, spices, and a variety of local merchandise. We visited it last time we were in Granada. This time we stopped at Maggie’s Spice Shop and picked up 5 nutmeg seeds (for $1.00) and took a picture of Maggie.
There wasn’t a single person from the ship in this large market. Also, Maggie said she must get her nutmeg from other places because the nutmeg trees on Granada were destroyed by hurricane Ivan in 2004 (over 90% of the nutmeg crop was destroyed), and it takes from 7 to 15 years for nutmeg trees to mature. (Just an aside: one of the seeds had worms in it, and the sealed plastic bag in which we kept it was full of worms when we wanted string it to put on our Christmas tree the following winter.)
In walking from the market back to the terminal, my wife and I stopped in a shop looking for a Granada tee-shirt. Two local teenage boys saw me go into the shop, recognized me as a potential target, followed me into the shop with the intention of getting my wallet out of my back pocket. Although I didn’t notice it, my wife did, and she stepped between them and me, and seeing that their intention was foiled, they immediately left the shop.
I’ve said it before, but if your only impression of the island of Granada (and this goes for all other Caribbean islands/countries) is gained just from walking around the port city, you have a very partial, incomplete picture of the island/country. Our excursion the last time we visited Granada took us through a destroyed nutmeg plantation, a lush, beautiful arboretum, and the hilly, attractive interior of this volcanic island.
I watched as our ship left the port of Granada from the 18th deck of the Grand Princess, and as I watched it grow smaller, you could see the clear demarcation of a volcano. Clouds hung over the center part of the island as we left, and not only was it raining in the interior of the island, but there were several beautiful rainbows as well, adding to the luster and grandeur of the topography.
Granada is a beautiful island — the smallest independent country (just 21 miles long by 12 miles wide or only 133 square miles) in the world. It is part of a three-island nation that also includes Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Grenada lies 75 miles southwest of St. Vincent and 90 miles north of Trinidad. We visited Granada on this trip because of civil unrest in Trinidad.
Barbados, the island we visited immediately following Granada, is another island we visited on a previous trip. It is the eastern-most island of the West Indies lying 270 miles from the Venezuelan coast and about 100 miles east of St. Vincent. It is a 14 by 21 mile haven covering 166 square miles. While Grenada has only 93,000 people of African (75%), East Indian, and European descent., Barbados has 279,000, is one of the world’s most densely populated nations, has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the world, and has a distribution of ethnic groups typical of the Eastern Caribbean; 90 percent of the population is black, 5 percent mulatto, and 5 percent white.
Looking at Barbados and Granada from 18 decks above the sea, Granada looked quaint, natural, and lovely. Barbados, on the other hand, looked flat, or, it might be more accurate to say, it is composed of low, undulating hills (four or five) that are fairly heavily treed. It doesn’t look nearly as flat or arid as Aruba or Curacao, however.
But, once again, this is an island where the impression you get from walking the city of Bridgetown (an austere, European, rather pricey, high-class (very British), expensive stores), is not an accurate picture of the island as a whole. Our excursion, the last time we were here, gave us an overview of the island, and the tour painted a much different (and more varied) portrait.
Our excursion on February 20, 2005, began at 8:25 a.m. There were 21 of us on an air conditioned bus, and we headed to the east coast through rolling hills and farmland. We saw a Giant Baobab Tree and stopped at Park’s Farm to see the Barbados Black Belly Shop. Next, we went to the Andromeda Garden. This 6-acre garden had orchids, palms, ferns, heliconia, hibiscus, bougainvillea, begonias, and the Toci Pot palm tree. We spent one hour in the garden with our guide, then went to the Bathsheba Rock formations, a place popular for surfing. We saw the last working windmill in the Western Hemisphere at Morgan Lewis, then the bus took us back to Bridgetown, the island’s capital, and to the docks where the ship was located. My point in detailing this excursion is to prove my point: you must venture out beyond the port cities if you want a complete feeling about what these islands are like.
Even though it is unfair to say, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” it might apply to the less-developed islands/countries and, too, if you do not venture beyond the port city. It is more accurate to say that each port is totally unique in its own way, but the more tourist-friendly they become, the more homogenous they appear. If your goal is to gain a sense of the local culture, ethnic diversity, and local merchandise and food, then it is clear where you need to go.
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This is a cool web site. It results from an essay contest in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Want to read what these essayists find unique on a variety of Caribbean islands? If you think “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” then read this information.
At Cruise Critic: Cruise Reviews and News, there is at this site, specific information about Aruba, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Barth’s, St. Kitt’s, Granada, Antigua, and Dominica. By just reading the descriptions here, you will quickly come to the conclusion that the cliche, “if you’ve seen one Caribbean island, you’ve seen them all,” is way off base, unfair, and ignorant.
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Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The St. Vincent Incident
We did not engage an “official” Princess-supported excursion on the island of St. Vincent because my wife has a cousin, Ben, who lives outside Toronto, Canada, and winters on the island for four months every year. He and his wife, Sheila, agreed to be our hosts and guides during our seven-hour stay. We met them as they drove through the dock gates in their little, red Toyota Ben bought on the Internet. They loaded us into the back seat, and we were off.
After a brief tour of Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent, we headed toward the leeward side and to their home. Their home will be located (in 2011) on the other side of a massive new airport runway being built to accommodate the biggest jet liners. The many small mountains in the area are being leveled, homes in the way are being destroyed, roads are being diverted, and the geography and ecology of the area is being radically altered. Their home will sit near the end of the runway where jets are decelerating for their forthcoming landing.
After lunch at their home and additional sightseeing on the northern end of St. Vincent, we drove beyond the airport project to a small road that leads up to the volcano. St. Vincent is a volcanic island, and the still active volcano dominates the northern third of the island. It last erupted in 1973, and the destruction it caused is still evident in the small villages you pass along the main road on the northern end.
Ben and Sheila turned left onto the small road, looked into the back seat, and asked us if we wanted to go up. Without hesitation, we took their obvious lead and said, “Sure.”
The single-lane road was heavily rutted, full of pot holes, and rough. It went up through an active banana plantation where large bunches of bananas were wrapped in tubular poly vinylchloride (PVC), blue plastic to enhance fruit development, resist bad weather and sunburn, and avoid blemishes. Workers were evident on both sides of the car as we progressed up to a small parking lot where the trail to the volcano began.
Ben was surprised there were no vans carrying excursioners from our ship. The government was building a small picnic pavillion and restrooms, but they were far from finished and there were no workers present. A single, old picnic table sat where the trail into the lush growth began, and a native St. Vincensian was sitting there, his pack on the table’s seat and a large, well-worn machete showing from within it. We all engaged in informal chit-chat with him, and he not only suggested a place where we could take a better picture of the volcano, but he introduced me to the small pear-like fruit from the tree under which the table was located.
While we were talking, an old white car came up to the parking lot, turned around quickly and headed back down the mountain. We thought nothing about it nor about the fellow at the table walking down the road from the parking lot.
Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the fellow with whom we had been talking and a second native fellow (this time with no front teeth) came walking up the road to the parking lot. The new fellow carried a very heavy backpack on his head. Clearly the two native fellows knew one another, and we chatted with both of them as the fellow threw his backpack down onto the picnic table and unzipped it. Inside were large brick-like, rectangular blocks wrapped in heavy dark green plastic. My wife thought the fellows were especially concerned about keeping their clothes dry for in our talks with the two of them, they said they planned to hike the trail up and over the ridge to the other side.
Because we were in a hurry to get back to the ship by 4:30, we all got back into Ben’s car and headed down the mountain road only to find the white car that had come up and into the parking lot, had crashed off the left side of the road, blocking the road completely. Just beyond the car was a small police van, and five police officers were already out surveying the car. The female police officer had just found a cell phone and was waving it in the air.
Just as we could not proceed down the mountain, the police could not come up. Ben explained to the police that we needed to get by the car so we could get back to the cruise ship.
There was an additional dilemma as the officers tried to move the car. The steering column was locked, so when the police officers tried moving it, they could not get it out of the road. It was clear Ben and I needed to help. I ordered the police to get stones to put under the back tires, then it was decided we needed to lift the back of the car out farther onto the road. On the count of three by one of the police officers, all seven of us lifted the back of the car and moved it five inches. We did this about five times which improved the turning radius so the car could be pushed off the road. Expanding the turning radius worked, the car was pushed aside, the officers drove their van alongside the damaged car, and the road was clear for us to pass.
It turns out the police officers were part of the D.E.A. (Drug Enforcement Agency), and they told us they had been following this fellow. The fellow with the backpack was carrying bricks of marijuana worth, according to Ben, somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 (street value), and knowing the police were blocked from coming up, they chatted leisurely with us.
We proceeded down the narrow access road to the highway to get back to the ship. People in St. Vincent drive poorly. The main road is a narrow highway with many hills and turns, and most of the road is marked by a solid white line, although cars pass randomly solid line or not. One black car passed us, and when we turned the corner ahead, he had just crashed into an oncoming car and, thus, blocked the main road. With no police there yet, and the accident still fresh, we crept around the crashed vehicle on the far left and soon after that encountered a car with an “L” on the back. Ben said the “L” meant “learner,” and, by law, could not go faster than 20 miles per hour. We were finally able to get around this car only to find ourselves behind a small bus full of older people. Determining that it was an excursion from the ship, we felt a bit relieved, even though the time for getting back to the ship was tight. We arrived at the dock at 4:25, just in time to wave goodbye to Ben and Sheila, show our identification, make it through the gates, and hurry up the gangway onto the ship.
In the end, we had to compliment our hosts for having “arranged” such an exciting incident. We were told, in retrospect, that the cultivation of marijuana in St. Vincent is a common phenomena, and its exportation helps support a very poor nation and needy farmers.
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At id 21 insights, an essay by Axel Klein entitled, “Growing cannabis in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” explains the situation in St. Vincent far better than I could.
At the web site, Crime and Society, the essay there by Dr. Robert Winslow of San Diego State University, on St. Vincent and the Grenadines states, “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the largest producer of marijuana in the Eastern Caribbean and the source for much of the marijuana used in the region. Extensive tracts are under intensive marijuana cultivation in the inaccessible northern half of St. Vincent. The illegal drug trade has infiltrated the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and made some segments of the population dependent on marijuana production, trafficking and money laundering.”
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Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
After a brief tour of Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent, we headed toward the leeward side and to their home. Their home will be located (in 2011) on the other side of a massive new airport runway being built to accommodate the biggest jet liners. The many small mountains in the area are being leveled, homes in the way are being destroyed, roads are being diverted, and the geography and ecology of the area is being radically altered. Their home will sit near the end of the runway where jets are decelerating for their forthcoming landing.
After lunch at their home and additional sightseeing on the northern end of St. Vincent, we drove beyond the airport project to a small road that leads up to the volcano. St. Vincent is a volcanic island, and the still active volcano dominates the northern third of the island. It last erupted in 1973, and the destruction it caused is still evident in the small villages you pass along the main road on the northern end.
Ben and Sheila turned left onto the small road, looked into the back seat, and asked us if we wanted to go up. Without hesitation, we took their obvious lead and said, “Sure.”
The single-lane road was heavily rutted, full of pot holes, and rough. It went up through an active banana plantation where large bunches of bananas were wrapped in tubular poly vinylchloride (PVC), blue plastic to enhance fruit development, resist bad weather and sunburn, and avoid blemishes. Workers were evident on both sides of the car as we progressed up to a small parking lot where the trail to the volcano began.
Ben was surprised there were no vans carrying excursioners from our ship. The government was building a small picnic pavillion and restrooms, but they were far from finished and there were no workers present. A single, old picnic table sat where the trail into the lush growth began, and a native St. Vincensian was sitting there, his pack on the table’s seat and a large, well-worn machete showing from within it. We all engaged in informal chit-chat with him, and he not only suggested a place where we could take a better picture of the volcano, but he introduced me to the small pear-like fruit from the tree under which the table was located.
While we were talking, an old white car came up to the parking lot, turned around quickly and headed back down the mountain. We thought nothing about it nor about the fellow at the table walking down the road from the parking lot.
Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the fellow with whom we had been talking and a second native fellow (this time with no front teeth) came walking up the road to the parking lot. The new fellow carried a very heavy backpack on his head. Clearly the two native fellows knew one another, and we chatted with both of them as the fellow threw his backpack down onto the picnic table and unzipped it. Inside were large brick-like, rectangular blocks wrapped in heavy dark green plastic. My wife thought the fellows were especially concerned about keeping their clothes dry for in our talks with the two of them, they said they planned to hike the trail up and over the ridge to the other side.
Because we were in a hurry to get back to the ship by 4:30, we all got back into Ben’s car and headed down the mountain road only to find the white car that had come up and into the parking lot, had crashed off the left side of the road, blocking the road completely. Just beyond the car was a small police van, and five police officers were already out surveying the car. The female police officer had just found a cell phone and was waving it in the air.
Just as we could not proceed down the mountain, the police could not come up. Ben explained to the police that we needed to get by the car so we could get back to the cruise ship.
There was an additional dilemma as the officers tried to move the car. The steering column was locked, so when the police officers tried moving it, they could not get it out of the road. It was clear Ben and I needed to help. I ordered the police to get stones to put under the back tires, then it was decided we needed to lift the back of the car out farther onto the road. On the count of three by one of the police officers, all seven of us lifted the back of the car and moved it five inches. We did this about five times which improved the turning radius so the car could be pushed off the road. Expanding the turning radius worked, the car was pushed aside, the officers drove their van alongside the damaged car, and the road was clear for us to pass.
It turns out the police officers were part of the D.E.A. (Drug Enforcement Agency), and they told us they had been following this fellow. The fellow with the backpack was carrying bricks of marijuana worth, according to Ben, somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 (street value), and knowing the police were blocked from coming up, they chatted leisurely with us.
We proceeded down the narrow access road to the highway to get back to the ship. People in St. Vincent drive poorly. The main road is a narrow highway with many hills and turns, and most of the road is marked by a solid white line, although cars pass randomly solid line or not. One black car passed us, and when we turned the corner ahead, he had just crashed into an oncoming car and, thus, blocked the main road. With no police there yet, and the accident still fresh, we crept around the crashed vehicle on the far left and soon after that encountered a car with an “L” on the back. Ben said the “L” meant “learner,” and, by law, could not go faster than 20 miles per hour. We were finally able to get around this car only to find ourselves behind a small bus full of older people. Determining that it was an excursion from the ship, we felt a bit relieved, even though the time for getting back to the ship was tight. We arrived at the dock at 4:25, just in time to wave goodbye to Ben and Sheila, show our identification, make it through the gates, and hurry up the gangway onto the ship.
In the end, we had to compliment our hosts for having “arranged” such an exciting incident. We were told, in retrospect, that the cultivation of marijuana in St. Vincent is a common phenomena, and its exportation helps support a very poor nation and needy farmers.
-----
At id 21 insights, an essay by Axel Klein entitled, “Growing cannabis in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” explains the situation in St. Vincent far better than I could.
At the web site, Crime and Society, the essay there by Dr. Robert Winslow of San Diego State University, on St. Vincent and the Grenadines states, “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the largest producer of marijuana in the Eastern Caribbean and the source for much of the marijuana used in the region. Extensive tracts are under intensive marijuana cultivation in the inaccessible northern half of St. Vincent. The illegal drug trade has infiltrated the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and made some segments of the population dependent on marijuana production, trafficking and money laundering.”
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Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Curacao
I had never heard of it, I did not know where it was located, and I knew of no one who had ever been there before. For me, it was just another stop on the ship’s itinerary. That may reveal the very narrow world I live in, or it may reveal the fact that after oil was discovered off the Venezuelan coast in 1920, a new era opened for Curacao. Curacao’s Royal Dutch Shell Refinery, built to distill crude oil imported from Venezuela, became the island’s biggest business and employer. This is when immigrants from other Caribbean nations, South America, and Asia headed to Curacao, and the refinery was considered important enough during World War II, that the Allies established an American military base at Waterfort Arches, near Willemstad. Tourism was not on the island’s radar screen nor was it a significant part of the island’s economy.
One Internet site described Curacao’s history in this manner: “Long lasting colonial dominance, looting, pillaging, plundering, busy slave trade, slave riots, prosperous times, Dutch trade spirit, feuds and invasions all characterize Curacao’s lively history.” Notice that no mention is made of tourism; “prosperous times” relates to the long economic boom that resulted from the establishment of the Shell oil refinery. The 1970’s oil crisis, however, ended the long economic boom and a reduction in international investment in the following decade led to a further economic decline. Shell closed the refinery in 1985.
In the history lecture onboard the Grand Princess, Thomas Judson, a southern California “educator” (his label), told us that Curacao is a prosperous island that, because of the refinery, didn’t need tourism, and this created a mindset that is completely wrong — “wrong” in the minds of tourists today who visit the island.
The island may not have needed tourism, however, once you traverse the Queen Emma Bridge from the “mega Pier” in downtown Willemstad, and enter into Punda, you realize what a cosmopolitan, diverse, and exciting venue this is for tourists.
Punda, on the east side of the St. Anna Bay (Annabaaï) is full of bright, pastel-colored, former merchant houses along the channel front. They adorn many of the postcards available in the souvenir shops, and they are one of the photographs on many of the Internet venues designed to attract tourists to Curacao. Today, those houses are occupied, at least on the ground-floor level, by boutiques, shops, and art galleries.
Punda’s main commercial streets of Handelskade, Breedestat, and Heerenstaat, are lined with beautiful, freshly painted, stores with their typical curved baroque gables and arched galleries. It is picturesque, clean, attractive, and tourist-friendly.
We walked most of Punda, visiting the floating market, central market, Willhelmina Park, the Governor’s Palace, Fort Amsterdam, and a McDonald’s before heading to Otrobanda on the other side of the St. Anna Bay.
We went to the local McDonald’s (following a sign to its location) to use their restroom. We were planning to buy a coke as well, but the lines were too long. There were no tourists at all in the place, and it was clear, because it was slightly off the beaten track, that it was a popular local hangout. From McDonald’s we headed back to the bridge.
I found it fascinating to watch as the Queen Emma Bridge, which lies across St. Anna Bay, swing open to allow ships into Willemstad harbor. It was built in 1888, and rebuilt in 1939 and 2005-2006. The footbridge is a low, wide, paved walkway that floats on 15 pontoons. To open, the entire bridge is swung open by an engine on the very end of the bridge that simply floats it and each pontoon section to one side, much as a straight arm (no bending at the elbow) is moved ninety-degrees from an extended position at one’s side, to a position in front of your body. While the bridge is open (which can last from 15 minutes to a half hour), pedestrian ferries take people from one side to the other. The whole operation is delightful to watch.
We waited only a moment while the Queen Emma Bridge was re-positioned (it was open for ships to move through while we roamed through Punda), and we walked to Mathey Werf (where another large cruise ship was docked) then along Klipstratt to the Kura Hulanda village. Although we didn’t go through the museum, we strolled through the streets where some 65 historic buildings had been restored. Some of the tropical garden areas were lush with falls and pools, and secluded areas for people to sit. It is a delightful area, and according to the literature, “a shining example of some of Curacao’s best 18th- and 19th-century architecture.”
What thrilled us even more, however, than seeing early Curacao architecture, is that we walked along Breedstraat in Otrobanda on the west side of St. Ann’s Bay, which is not designed for tourists. It is where locals congregate and shop, and we saw only three couples (from the cruise ship) in walking almost a mile in the area.
Even the local shopping area was clean. There were a number of places to purchase liquor, but the shops were much as you would expect in any large city: small sports shops and restaurants, numerous clothing stores, a pharmacy, but no tourist shops of any kind. School had just let out, and there were many kids in bright turquoise knit shirts with bermuda khaki shorts walking the sidewalk toward the local bus terminal. Many had already arrived at the terminal as we walked through the area to get back to the ship — docked in the distance just beyond the bus area.
As we leave Curacao in the distance as I am writing this, several things are clear. First, Curacao is only 40 miles long and 10 miles wide at its widest point — just 171 square miles — with a population of only about 150,000 people. It is located just 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela, 42 miles east of Aruba, and 30 miles west of Bonaire. (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are the islands that make up the ABCs of the Netherlands Lesser Antilles). Second, it is not a lush, tropical island. (It gets only 20 inches of rain annually.) Rather, it is flat. Less than a dozen hills (no mountains at all) can be seen across the whole island. Third, the refinery smokestacks (I can count 15 that dot the interior; however, they are fairly tightly bunched together) make up part of the horizon as one looks out over the whole island.
Because we took no excursion on Curacao, we did not see the large desalinization plant on the south coast, the beaches on the northwestern part of the island, any of the 40 dive spots, the Hato Caves where the geologic history of Curacao can be learned, the ostrich farm, the cactus, divi-divi trees, or Christoffel Park (4,500 acres) that contains Mount Christoffel (1,239 feet), the highest elevation on the island. But we had a chance to look at the waterfront, observe the local people and their activities, and we found what we did to be a pleasant way to pick up the flavor of the Caribbean and Curaçao.
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For a quick summary of Curacao’s past history, check out Curacao Central, a site at which you can locate hotels, restaurants, snorkeling locations, and beaches.
This website, Curacao History, offers essays (other websites) that will take you through specific periods in Curacao’s history. Dates are provided with brief summaries, but in-depth information is a mere click away, and you get a complete examination of the particular dates and events.
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Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing, LLC
Thursday, April 1, 2010
High-end, High-tech, And Then Some
And Then Some Publishing, LLC, has joined forces with Tahwyas International, LLC, to produce and distribute luxury high-end, high-tech gadgets for the world market. Because technology makes our lives better and most everyone today is involved with technology in some capacity, we have been in search of a compatible company for some time, and when we discovered Tahwyas, we immediately pursued a relationship. Although somewhat reluctant at first, once they discovered the breadth and depth of our publishing interests, it became a foregone conclusion and a perfect match. The agreement has Tahwyas marketing and distributing the wide range of And Then Some’s publication list, and And Then Some doing the same with Tahwyas’ high-end, high-tech gadgets.
Let’s just say for a moment, that you're enjoying your new high-definition television, have your work and personal appointments organized on your computer, your fully-loaded iPpod is bringing your selections of music using your iPod dock and satellite speakers, and your Torq mobile phone with its hand crank, re-chargeable AA battery concept, which comes equipped with a touch-sensitive LCD panel instead of a regular keypad, that allows you to answer the handset by simply holding it to your cheek, and lets you send messages by swiping them off the screen with your finger. Also, you pay your bills electronically and save time and money. Tahwyas has combined all of these elements into one palm-sized computer with the smallest HD-LCD screen available. This new instrument is so new, so high-end and high-tech, that it is impossible to bring you all its characteristics in this one short essay; however if you visit the Tahwyas’ AllOne.com website you will acquire all the information you need to understand and purchase this new piece of equipment.
I know that you might believe it couldn’t get any better than this (if you read and understood the equipment described above), but it does. If you watched "Star Trek," you will remember seeing the crew of the Starship Enterprise live out their fantasies in a room called the holodeck. The holodeck is a giant, holographic, projection room that allowed the crew to touch and interact with projections as if they were in a big video game. We have developed a new communication technology that allows you and your friends to interact inside a simulated environment even if you are thousands of miles apart. Our holographic technology depends on the use of holograms, holographic discs, and holographic memory. By combining cameras and Internet telephony, our videoconferencing technology allows the real-time exchange of information without physically bringing each person into one central room. Our teleimmersion process takes videoconferencing to the next level by creating a central, simulated environment that allows everyone to come together in a virtual room, and no one will have to leave their physical location to do so. This technology is available at once, and it can be yours to better understand and purchase by visiting our website, Holographyworks.com
We have developed a high-end, high-tech speech recognition program as well. With this software it will allow you to dictate to your computer and have your words converted to text in a word processing or e-mail document. You can access function commands, such as opening files and accessing menus, with voice instructions. People with disabilities that prevent them from typing use our speech-recognition system. If you have lost the use of your hands or eyes, or for or when it is not possible to use a Braille keyboard, our system allows personal expression through dictation as well as control of many computer tasks. Our software saves your speech data after every session and allows those with progressive speech deterioriation to continue to dictate to their computers. Our software, Speechtechworks.com has a vocabulary in the tens of thousands and allows you to speak at a normal, conversational speed.
We have an electronic display screen that is as thin as a sheet of paper that requires low power usage, allows complete flexibility, and is more readable than a book. It replaces all books, newspapers, and magazines, and can be used for cell phones, PDAs, pagers and digital watches. Not only can it hold a display of the same text for weeks without any additional charge applied to it, it can be changed in an instant. An advantage of our electronic display is that it can be printed on any surface, including walls, billboards, product labels, and T-shirts. Homeowners can change their digital wallpaper instantly, and its flexibility makes it possible to develop roll-up displays for electronic devices. For greater understanding and the purchase of our software, go to Tronicdisplayworks.com
You may think all this thus far in this essay is surprising, but you haven’t experienced surprise until you read about our next high-end, high-tech gadget. Have you ever wondered, why do human beings do the things they do? Until now, the connection between the body and the mind has remained a mystery. How we perceive the world and learn new things will no longer fascinate and confound you. The answers to questions like, “Are you born with certain qualities, or are you the product of your experiences and upbringing?,” or “How do you form an idea, gather information, and learn to adapt?” MindTech is a simple way to see what goes on in your mind and make sense of it. MindTech takes theoretical psychology to a new level. It allows you to hypothesize about something you can't visualize. MindTech gives you tangible data, or psychometrics, to grasp the more intangible aspects of your psyche. Its uses are broad for it will assist you in education, the workplace, counseling, and health. MindTech will help you understand, predict, and even control your human thought processes and emotions. To understand and then purchase this high-end, high-tech gadget go to MindTechWorks.com
You can understand now why we at And Then Some Publishing, LLC, are so excited. Not only have we developed a wonderful, tight relationship with Tahwyas International, LLC, but we have now on the market a group of products that are outstanding. Not even discussed above is our convergence device that combines a cell phone, digital camera, radio, camcorder, GPS receiver, MP3 player, portable video game device, television, and allows you to surf the Web. This one includes a printer as well. It is a multi-functional device and can help you save space when you pack for a trip. Go to Convertechworks
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See Crystal Campbell’s “High tech meets high-end cuisine” (April 1, 2009) at Content for Reprint
At Unique Homes luxury is being redefined. Camilla McLaughlin writes in “REDEFINING LUXURY: High-Tech at the High-End,” that new technology is changing the way we buy, sell, and live.
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Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing, LLC
Let’s just say for a moment, that you're enjoying your new high-definition television, have your work and personal appointments organized on your computer, your fully-loaded iPpod is bringing your selections of music using your iPod dock and satellite speakers, and your Torq mobile phone with its hand crank, re-chargeable AA battery concept, which comes equipped with a touch-sensitive LCD panel instead of a regular keypad, that allows you to answer the handset by simply holding it to your cheek, and lets you send messages by swiping them off the screen with your finger. Also, you pay your bills electronically and save time and money. Tahwyas has combined all of these elements into one palm-sized computer with the smallest HD-LCD screen available. This new instrument is so new, so high-end and high-tech, that it is impossible to bring you all its characteristics in this one short essay; however if you visit the Tahwyas’ AllOne.com website you will acquire all the information you need to understand and purchase this new piece of equipment.
I know that you might believe it couldn’t get any better than this (if you read and understood the equipment described above), but it does. If you watched "Star Trek," you will remember seeing the crew of the Starship Enterprise live out their fantasies in a room called the holodeck. The holodeck is a giant, holographic, projection room that allowed the crew to touch and interact with projections as if they were in a big video game. We have developed a new communication technology that allows you and your friends to interact inside a simulated environment even if you are thousands of miles apart. Our holographic technology depends on the use of holograms, holographic discs, and holographic memory. By combining cameras and Internet telephony, our videoconferencing technology allows the real-time exchange of information without physically bringing each person into one central room. Our teleimmersion process takes videoconferencing to the next level by creating a central, simulated environment that allows everyone to come together in a virtual room, and no one will have to leave their physical location to do so. This technology is available at once, and it can be yours to better understand and purchase by visiting our website, Holographyworks.com
We have developed a high-end, high-tech speech recognition program as well. With this software it will allow you to dictate to your computer and have your words converted to text in a word processing or e-mail document. You can access function commands, such as opening files and accessing menus, with voice instructions. People with disabilities that prevent them from typing use our speech-recognition system. If you have lost the use of your hands or eyes, or for or when it is not possible to use a Braille keyboard, our system allows personal expression through dictation as well as control of many computer tasks. Our software saves your speech data after every session and allows those with progressive speech deterioriation to continue to dictate to their computers. Our software, Speechtechworks.com has a vocabulary in the tens of thousands and allows you to speak at a normal, conversational speed.
We have an electronic display screen that is as thin as a sheet of paper that requires low power usage, allows complete flexibility, and is more readable than a book. It replaces all books, newspapers, and magazines, and can be used for cell phones, PDAs, pagers and digital watches. Not only can it hold a display of the same text for weeks without any additional charge applied to it, it can be changed in an instant. An advantage of our electronic display is that it can be printed on any surface, including walls, billboards, product labels, and T-shirts. Homeowners can change their digital wallpaper instantly, and its flexibility makes it possible to develop roll-up displays for electronic devices. For greater understanding and the purchase of our software, go to Tronicdisplayworks.com
You may think all this thus far in this essay is surprising, but you haven’t experienced surprise until you read about our next high-end, high-tech gadget. Have you ever wondered, why do human beings do the things they do? Until now, the connection between the body and the mind has remained a mystery. How we perceive the world and learn new things will no longer fascinate and confound you. The answers to questions like, “Are you born with certain qualities, or are you the product of your experiences and upbringing?,” or “How do you form an idea, gather information, and learn to adapt?” MindTech is a simple way to see what goes on in your mind and make sense of it. MindTech takes theoretical psychology to a new level. It allows you to hypothesize about something you can't visualize. MindTech gives you tangible data, or psychometrics, to grasp the more intangible aspects of your psyche. Its uses are broad for it will assist you in education, the workplace, counseling, and health. MindTech will help you understand, predict, and even control your human thought processes and emotions. To understand and then purchase this high-end, high-tech gadget go to MindTechWorks.com
You can understand now why we at And Then Some Publishing, LLC, are so excited. Not only have we developed a wonderful, tight relationship with Tahwyas International, LLC, but we have now on the market a group of products that are outstanding. Not even discussed above is our convergence device that combines a cell phone, digital camera, radio, camcorder, GPS receiver, MP3 player, portable video game device, television, and allows you to surf the Web. This one includes a printer as well. It is a multi-functional device and can help you save space when you pack for a trip. Go to Convertechworks
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See Crystal Campbell’s “High tech meets high-end cuisine” (April 1, 2009) at Content for Reprint
At Unique Homes luxury is being redefined. Camilla McLaughlin writes in “REDEFINING LUXURY: High-Tech at the High-End,” that new technology is changing the way we buy, sell, and live.
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Copyright April 2010 by And Then Some Publishing, LLC
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Aruba
All I knew of Aruba was that it was an exotic place with beautiful beaches. That was the sum total of my knowledge, and I couldn’t even locate it on a map. Then, suddenly, in 2005, that all changed. That was when the death of Natalee Holloway (on May 30th) put Aruba on everyone’s map because of the media sensation her disappearance caused. As an American student from Mountain Brook, Alabama, she was on a high school graduation trip to Aruba,
Scheduled to fly home on May 30th, Holloway failed to appear for her flight and was last seen by her classmates outside Carlos'n Charlie's, a Caribbean chain restaurant and nightclub in Oranjestad — the same city at which our ship docked when we visited Aruba on our Southern Caribbean trip in March, 2009. This essay is not about Holloway, however, that is the most recent time I heard of it, and that incident left deep scars on the island.
Aruba is a very small island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea. It is 21 miles long with a total land area of only 75 square miles. It is just 17 miles north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela, and together with Bonaire and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles — probably more geography than you care or need to know!
It is an autonomous region within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and has no administrative subdivisions. Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate, an arid, cactus-strewn landscape that, in the early years, was thought inhospitable and provoked little colonial enthusiasm. It lies outside the hurricane belt.
Aruba has a clear history. It was discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499 and acquired by the Dutch in 1636. It seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990. Talk of achieving full independence has never become anything more than mere talk.
Three main industries have dominated its economy. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery designed to refine Venezuelan crude oil. The last decades of the 20th century, however, saw a boom in the tourism industry.
As I wrote this essay from the 18th deck of the Grand Princess, I had a full panoramic view of the main capital town of Oranjestad. From this high point (higher than anything on the island), I could look across this flat land to see the horizon in every direction. Less than ten small hills offered some gentle undulation — like going over a series of overpasses but not much more.
Along the west coast, from this high perspective, I could see the two low-rise hotels at Eagle Beach, and just beyond them, between five and ten larger hotels located at Palm Beach — the prettiest beach on the island. If you go farther north along the west coast, you will come to the California Lighthouse, named for the U.S. ship — the California — which sank about two years previous to its construction in 1910. Perched on a high seaside elevation, the lighthouse has become one of Aruba's scenic trademarks and offers a view of the island's western coastline of sandy beaches, rolling sand dunes, and rocky coral shorelines.
From this high vantage point as well, you can see the smoke stacks of the large oil refinery that occupies the southeastern end of Aruba and dominates the blue-collar town of San Nicolas. Jobs at the plant contributed to the development of a local middle class, but automation meant workers had to look elsewhere, and the island has successfully transferred its economy from dependence on refining oil to relaxing tourists.
There are two things truly unique about Aruba. The first is its language — a language shared by no other countries besides the Dutch “ABC” islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. It is called Papiamento, and it is a combination of Portugese, Spanish, Dutch, English, African, and Indian words.
The other unique thing about Aruba is its aloe production. It is the world’s leading aloe producer. This plant has antibacterial, antifungicide, and antiviral properties. Aruba aloe is tremendously rich in vitamins (A, C ,F, B (thiamine), niacin, vitamin B2 and others), enzymes and minerals As I visited the shops in Oranjestad I hoped to find a variety of aloe products; however, they are available only in select stores and rather highly priced. Aruba is the world's top exporter of raw aloe and other aloe vera products for the world wide market.
The town of Oranjestad looks prosperous. It is a clean place of decorative buildings, many shops for tourists, restaurants, and casinos. Close to the dock are three large shopping malls.
It is clear why people often talk of visiting or living in Aruba for the temperature is a constant 80-degrees or so with an ocean breeze that keeps it comfortable for most of the year. Walking through the village of Oranjestad belies the arid interior which is dotted with cactus and windswept divi-divi trees.
When we disembarked, we walked through the new ship terminal, turned right onto L.G. Smith Boulevard, and first visited the Royal Plaza Mall, where we found a small outside shop, located in a kiosk, where aloe products were sold. Then we walked to the Renaissance Mall and, finally, the Renaissance Market. Most of the shops were the standard ones you find in Caribbean ports that cater to tourists: jewelry, clothing, and numerous places to buy souvenirs. Many of the shops in the malls here were slightly more upscale — meaning simply they sell many of the same goods for higher prices.
Along the parking lot on L.G. Smith Boulevard there are 20-25 shops that sell local products — although if you examine them closely you will find that “local” products tend to be manufactured elsewhere. For example, walking canes come from Cartahenga, Columbia., and many products are manufactured in China. Remember, however, that there are only 30,600 people in Oranjestad and just 105,600 on the entire island.
Although we didn’t take an excursion, did not visit the interior or the beaches, and ended up simply walking the shops and malls of Oranjestad, we found the slogan, “one happy island” (emblazoned on each license plate) to be true. The people are friendly and respectful, and not the least bit pushy or aggressive. Aruba is a small but delightful speck in the southern Caribbean Sea.
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The official website for Aruba has much to offer tourists or readers interested in more information or photographs of the island.
The Wikiipedia website on “Aruba,” includes information on its history. Information on politics, law, education, geography, economy, demographics, towns, country, language, infrastructure, places of interest, etc. are all contained here — a wealth of information on the island.
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Copyright March 2010 by And Then Some Publishing, LLC
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Seeking a sanctuary: On the Grand Princess
I had been searching for it for two days, and I think I have finally found it. Eighteen decks above the Caribbean Sea is a disco-nightclub called Skywalkers, and from 9:30 p.m. until about 2-3:00 a.m., it is throbbing to the pulse of loud music and young people drinking and dancing. My wife and I have come up at night just to check it out, but before we even stepped on the 50-foot-long moving stairway that propels you from Deck 17 to Deck 18, the loudness of the music drove us to reconsider our decision and leave.
I am in Skywalkers Nightcluub as I am writing this. The chairs here are all living-room-style, overstuffed comfortable, the view of the ocean is panoramic, there is virtually no one here, and the view of the ship’s wake spreading out into forever is both mesmerizing and hypnotic as it follows us at 17 knots toward Aruba.
Yesterday, my wife and I found chairs along a hallway outside of Explorer’s Lounge on Deck 7, the Promenade Deck, but they were having an art auction, and the voice of the auctioneer was loud and distracting — even though we were not seated in the Lounge itself. Besides, a hallway on the Promenade Deck is more for people who want to be seen, are waiting for others, or who don’t mind the numerous distractions.
Another location we tried was the piano bar area at the atrium on Deck 7, and although there were few people seated in the area, the distractions came from people moving through and around the atrium, bar rats talking boisterously at the bar, and bartenders blending customers’ fruit drinks. There are bars located throughout the ship.
Our third attempt to find a convenient, comfortable, quiet location was the library just off the Atrium on Deck 5. Now, you would think the ship’s library would be a perfect location, and on all three of our Celebrity cruises the libraries were excellent. In the Grand Princess library there were many visitors, computers for use by anyone interested (for a fee), uncomfortable chairs, and no convenient writing tables. I know what I like (Celebrity spoiled me), and this was not it. The one thing I liked about the Grand Princess library was the outstanding bronze bust of Albert Einstein at the exterior door of the library. Unfortunately, Albert Einstein was a bust as far as contributing anything to my writing experience there.
The fourth attempt to find a quiet, comfortable, and convenient location for writing was successful; however, I do not recommend it for the feint of heart. I’ll explain that in a moment.
Skywalker’s Nightclub, with the exception of the smokestacks about two-thirds of the way back on the ship, is the highest location. During the two weeks of sailing, few people discovered it during the daylight hours (they preferred the pool areas at the center of the ship). The nightclub, however, tended to fill up around 4:30 through 5 p.m. when we were leaving a port for the view was outstanding. I watched as we left Granada, for example, and not only did the Nightclub provide a remarkable view of the port area and island terrain. Ominous rain clouds embraced the center portion of the island, and the setting sun cast enchanting rainbows over Fort Frederick just above the dock from where our ship departed. The departure was truly stunning — a scene I couldn’t wait to capture in words!
Getting back to Skywalkers Nightclub: picture a cocktail lounge full of numerous seating areas designed for four people — furnished with a couch for two, two comfortable lounging chairs, and a coffee table — with a large floor-to-ceiling picture window through which you see bright blue water extending to the horizon, and you create a vision of where I am. Then, throughout the club there are places for two people to sit in big, comfortable chairs with a small round table between. It is at one of these places for two, not directly overlooking the water, where I found my writing sanctuary. It is a place to ponder, think, reminisce, and write, and for many days on this cruise I retired to this location — whether for one, two, or three hours during the day. I finally found my writing place.
I mentioned convenience as a prerequisite. There are two elevators out of seven at the back of the ship — one on each side of the ship — that will take you directly to the 17th deck. Most only go to the 14th deck where the Horizon Court breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets are located.
When you get off at the 17th deck, there are bathrooms conveniently located in a hallway connecting the elevators, and when you turn and enter the center of the ship, there is that 50-foot moving ramp (not moving during the daylight hours) and angled pathways on either side of the escalator that take you to the 18th deck. (Just an aside about these angled pathways with full glass windows on both sides: they pass over somewhere between 30 and 50 beach chairs on each side of the rear of the ship — and a whirlpool — where sun worshipers spend their days in the sun. This adds some additional pleasure — or interest — in walking from the 17th to the 18th decks.)
Our room (Emerald Deck Room 614) is located toward the rear of the ship, and because Skywalker’s Nightclub was at the extreme rear of the ship, adding significantly to the impressive and imposing silhouette the ship casts when in port, this made getting from the room to the club extremely efficient.
(The Horizon Court buffet is located at the rear of the ship as well. This is where two flavors of ice cream are served at 3:30 p.m. every afternoon — a convenience to room, club, and me!)
I want to mention a loss that took place between our first voyage on the Grand Princess in 2000 and this one in 2009. Occasionally I enjoyed writing in a room at the very front of the ship — on Celebrity, that location was called the Fleet Bar — and on Grand Princess they have created a new area called “The Sanctuary” which, I think, would be ideal.
To create “The Sanctuary,” they removed the jogging track entirely, which, in 2000, I used almost daily! The only problem with “The Sanctuary,” which I find totally objectionable, is that Princess Cruise Lines charges passengers $10.00 for a half day for permission to sit in this area! I do not believe passengers should be charged for this privilege, because they are already paying dearly for their trip.
I mentioned earlier in this essay one problem with the Skywalkers Nightclub, and I said I would return to it in a moment. For those who get carsick or seasick, or who find reading in a constantly moving environment, Skywalkers will be uncomfortable if not upsetting. Because it is so high, when the ship is sailing, Skywalkers is in constant motion. When the seas get the least bit rough, Skywalkers is likely to be one of the first places on the ship to reveal it. I found it soothing, even comforting, on most days, even though on one of them, my pen would move radically on the paper as I composed. For me, cruising gives me a chance to read and write, but I must find my sanctuary.
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At the Itinerant Librarian, there is a brief, interesting essay by Angel Rivera entitled, “A writing sanctuary: wish I had one of those back when.” In this essay she writes about having a writing sanctuary (although her “sanctuary” is a bit different than the one I talked about in my essay.) She writes, “I certainly did not lack imagination, so I had a chance to explore that. I am thinking now that a place like the Kelly House earlier in my academic career would have been good for me. It's a writer's sanctuary blending the formal and the informal.”
At Julie Unplugged, Julie Jordan Scott writes an essay, “Sanctuary Musings (Exercise from Christina Baldwin's Life's Companion, p 82).” In the essay, Scott defines a sanctuary as, “My writing sanctuary – all sanctuaries – have that feeling of ‘Safe place.’ Sacred, set apart. My writing sanctuary is separate and yet it is together with the rest of the house. I can watch the neighborhood as it comes and goes, the characters that play a part. I can be a witness to the beginning of each day, sitting at my writing desk.” Any serious and consistent writer searches at some time for that special place. That, indeed, is what my experience on the Grand Princess was all about.
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Copyright March 2010 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
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