How To Identify Birds Using An Apple Watch
Sometimes I leave my phone behind <GASP!>. If you have not been scared away by that shocking opening line, let me expound. While you might need you phone and the Continue Reading →
Category: Super Random
Theo vs. Squeaker
This weekend’s entertainment is light and easy. It’s Theo ripping into a squeak toy in near record time. Maybe. For him at least. But then Pebbles, the marauding vulture, attempts Continue Reading →
Getting Things Done In 2021
I like post titles that rhyme. 🙂 Last year’s goals were pretty much shredded under Covid and lockdowns as things like “Visit 30 California State Parks” became impossible in April Continue Reading →
Deep Work And The Apps On Your Phone
Have you even been addicted to a self-help book and believe it is the answer to all your ills? Deep Work, by Cal Newport, is that book for me. It Continue Reading →
Traveler Tech: $1000 iPhone 8 vs. $90 Battery for iPhone 6
My gear lust has slowed over time but it has not stopped. That’s why I glanced at the new iPhone 8 coming out next week and nearly lost it when Continue Reading →
Life Without Notifications
Ah, the dramatic post title to pull you in. The short of it is I’m trying to live my life with less of those annoying notifications we all seem to Continue Reading →
Something Hilarious From The World Of Travel
This might be a little bit of inside baseball if you’re looking for photo stuff, but it cracks me up.
It’s Not About Me Week – Social Media Experiment
I’m going to try something different next week on social media and I’m wondering if you want to join me. I’m guilty of promoting myself (I’m a freelance photographer and Continue Reading →
Why I’m A Slave To My Fancy Fitness Tracker And Fitness Apps
I love tech and I often think it can cure all my ills, or at least distract me with its awesomeness. As I age, though, I am more and more Continue Reading →
Morning Light
A quick post from my phone to bring some beautiful light into your day. This morning, for me, presented some great light. And just when I thought it was done, Continue Reading →
A Free Gift To Help You Say Thank You
Thank you. Simple. Effective. Appreciated. Telling someone Thank You can have a profound impact, especially when it is out of the blue. I don’t profess to being an expert (I Continue Reading →
A Little Perspective – Dirty Dishes
Upon entering the kitchen this morning, I was confronted with this mild disaster in my sink. I assure you this is not my “Photo Of The Day” post for today. Continue Reading →
One Year: No Gift Cards, No Gift Lists
With Christmas just three days away and I in my normal last-minute scramble for gifts, I have decided to try something new. It seems to be working for this holiday Continue Reading →
Winter: Settling In For A While
Watching the storm clouds pass while walking Langley today, I am excited to be moving back to Whidbey Island. Summer is nice, but winter storms and the drama they spread Continue Reading →
Don’t Neglect Your Personal Projects
Have you ever been busy? I mean real busy, for months. Or have you ever made excuses as to why you can’t spend time on a project that is, to Continue Reading →
Bomb Threat On Washington State Ferry Cathlamet, Or, How A Possible Stoner Made My Daughter Late For School
It’s not as if the Washington Ferries run like clockwork. They try to. And the Mukilteo-Clinton run I was waiting for happens to have the best on-time performance in the Continue Reading →
Unspoken Seating Regulations For Airport Waiting Areas
I’ve been spending a lot of time in airports recently. And that means a lot of time waiting in airports with often little to do (mind you, I’m typing this Continue Reading →
What The Heck Is “Cross Check” Anyway?
I’ve flown a lot over the years and one thing has bugged me. Anytime I don’t understand something, it bugs me. You might think I get bugged a lot, and Continue Reading →
Pep Talk: Look For Opportunity
I was an idiot. Again. This time I left behind all my memory cards but took my camera. Thinking the bag was properly packed, I spotted Mt. Baker very bright Continue Reading →
Swag Suggestions
Swag (n) – That free stuff you receive often at company events, conventions or on press trips. My living room floor was half covered in swag, not an easy feat Continue Reading →
The Ebb And Flow That Facebook Stops
As I clean up my Facebook ‘friends’ list, I’m setting some mental limits for how I use the tool. The fact that I included ‘friends’ in apostrophes should be some Continue Reading →
Acme Made Camera Bag Giveaway
It’s time to spice things up a bit. Let’s hold a giveaway! The folks at Acme Made sent me a bag for review but it’s really not going to work Continue Reading →
The Semi Non-Unofficial Preparation Guide To Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) 2011 In Vancouver, Canada
It’s almost here! By almost, I mean less than two months away. TBEX. An annual (and then some) gathering of travel bloggers, marketers, PR folks and other travel industry hooligans Continue Reading →
Where Money Comes From Around The World
I’m an American and as such, I know where my money comes from. For one thing, I hear about the US Mint and the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing Continue Reading →
The Odd Things We Bring Back From Our Travels
I’m cleaning up around the house today (surprise!) and I came across the item pictured at right. It’s a roll of toilet paper brought back from Nepal. Why did I Continue Reading →
Fun With Fonts – Your Opinion Desired!
It comes up from time to time. ‘It’ is someone complaining that I use Papyrus for a font on watermarks. And it’s usually visceral and out of place. I actually Continue Reading →
My Crazy Idea To Ditch My Cell Phone And Why You Would Hate To Do The Same
I come up with crazy ideas. Here’s another one: Ditch My Cell Phone. Why? $397/year is why. I’ve been thinking of this idea for a while and even tried out Continue Reading →
Create A Gratitude List
I’m taking a break from the interactive side of social media for a week. It’s nothing drastic and I’m not trying to prove anything. I just need a break from Continue Reading →
January28th Is International No Emoticon Day
Let it be known throughout the land that January 28th is International No Emoticon Day! Why no emoticons for just one day? Because the poor buggers are being over used, Continue Reading →
Twilight In The Mountains
There’s a time of day that is the same for me no mater where on the planet I may be. Correction, there is a time and place. The place is Continue Reading →
Don’t Forget The Soap!
Previously I posted my thoughts on extending your holiday by removing soap and shampoo and other toiletries from hotels. Sure, it’s fine. The current reasoning is they want you to Continue Reading →
Introducing The (Not So) Underground Seattle Travel Writing Mafia
Some of us write for newspapers. Some write for magazines. Others pen guidebooks or ghost write. Almost all of us have a blog of some sort or write for one. Continue Reading →
An Open Letter To PR Folks: Include More Photographers
Impact. As a PR professional, that’s what you are looking for when selecting people to come along on your press trips. Impact. Otherwise, why have anyone there? I’m guessing you Continue Reading →
How To Transform Your Bootsnall Moleskine Into The Best Travel Journaling Device Ever
Let’s say you went to Travel Blog Exchange 2010 and got one of the fancy Bootsnall Moleskine notebooks. They are red, they are fancy, and they look like this: Continue Reading →