I slipped into MAP for Annette’s yoga class last night. I am bone tired, stressed to the max and sore. So yoga seemed like a good idea. Instructors make it look natural and seamless. But it’s not. Because the preparation happens in the background, it looks easy. Fortunately my yoga instructor is also my girlfriend [...]
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Toshiba Thrive, wireless hotspot
Liam has taken my netbook for school. His laptop is a massive brick and cost too much to risk in his backpack. Computerless and disconnected, I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and snagged a Toshiba Thrive Tablet on an open box sale from Futureshop. Once I cleaned off the [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Blogging
When I started this blog I must have had some point or purpose in mind. I fear though, that this odd desire to share thought, experience and emotion online is commensurate with some need to have a voice or some sort of public validation. But I can’t remember. Oddly, I have lost the drive to [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Stress
Piazza San Marco last month when stress was low. The last couple of months have been very stressful. In times like this I often have the urge to vent through my blog. The experience is somewhat cathartic…for me, but there is really no excuse for publishing. That just brings everyone down. The key in times [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Ever have “one of those days”
Where events just seem to conspire against you? Where things come to a head at exactly the wrong time. That is today. That has been this week, this weekend. Something has to give. Just a bit so I can catch my breath. Sometimes I feel like I need no sleep. Like right now. I’m tired [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Palatine Hill, The Forum, The Colosseum
Go early before the crowds. Take water. Wear good shoes. To do it right, you need the whole day to explore. Read the history of the sites first because it DOES enhance your appreciation. Palatine Hill, The Forum and The Colosseum were my teenage son’s favourite part of our Rome vacation. If you are planning [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Getting in shape for BJJ
Managing my whole life is a tricky business. I always seem to have a major fire burning and while I am fighting that fire, everything else is neglected. I really enjoy BJJ and in order to progress I need to attend class and I need to stay healthy. I also need to free up the [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Fuel prices, global warming, gas guzzlers and koolaid
Travel has its high and low points. One of the low points are the unfortunate comparisons I find I am drawing between the way we get around the streets where we live here versus in Europe. In Europe we noticed that all the cars are small. No Hummers, Escalades, or F250 club cabs. The vehicles [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Trattoria Der Pallaro – Where to eat in Rome
We found this restaurant almost by accident. We were tired after another marathon walking / sightseeing day and were on the hunt for a place to have dinner. It was late and we were remembering Rick Steves advice to avoid places with big displays and discount menus. Trattoria Der Pallaro was nearly full. The proprietor [...]
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