New York City

September 11th is a day no American will ever forget. I always think of New York City on this day. I have not forgotten what happened at the Pentagon or in Pennsylvania, none of us ever will. However, my mind always wanders to New York. In my mind I always think of it as "the city", it is the epitome of big city life. I haven't been to New York for years, last time I was there the Twin Towers still stood. In my mind they've become as patriotic a symbol as the American flag and the Statue of Liberty. I took this picture myself last time I was there, never realizing that the enormous flag in the foreground and the towers in the background would forever be the way I remember that particular piece of skyline.

New York is as American as apple pie. It's the true melting pot where people from every aspect of life, every country in the world, every language and every religion, live together peacefully. There's something for everyone.

New York has opera, theatre, arts of every kind, the most

fabulous park in the world, fashion, shopping, fabulous restaurants.

In the aftermath of September 11th New York's residents also showed themselves to be true hearty Americans. Heroes came in every shape and size, not only those who live everyday of their lives in a heroic role as firemen and police officers and doctors... everyday heroes who stood by one another and helped one another.

This is what I choose to remember about New York. Those heroes are the ones I choose to remember. That fabulous way they gave freely to one another in a time of fear and great need. The incredible patriotism that arose from rubble.

There are two marble lions standing proudly before the

New York Public Library on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street.

Their nicknames have changed over the years but in the

1930's Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named them "Patience"

and "Fortitude" for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would

need to survive the economic depression. These names have

stood the test of time, Patience still guards the South side of

the library steps and Fortitude guards the North. They're an

incredible symbol of New York and New Yorkers.

Ground Zero's still a mess and the tragedy of September 11th

will never be forgotten, but New Yorkers press on with patience

and fortitude.

Never pass up a chance to see New York City, it will be one of

your favorite vacations, ever. And if you're going soon, swing by

and pick me up on the way!

A Road Trip with Georgia on my Mind

These were all taken on road trips in Georgia. You won't see this in

any brochure or big city tour. I love to travel, but I also love to come home again. In between all those trips that need lots of planning and maybe lots of money, I love to get in my car and see what I can find.

Enjoy the music while you take a look at pictures of what I see when I leave the city.

Home Again

We have returned from Arizona! The extreme heat I mentioned in my last post was with us during the hottest summer on record. The next time I decide to go to Arizona in summer, somebody remind me of that! It was brutal.

Urban sprawl has its grips firmly tightened on Phoenix, it's so much bigger and more populated than I remember. Where there used to be orange groves there are new neighborhoods.

Somewhere out where I thought I remembered the city dump being there is an entire new community! Of course with this growth comes incredible convenience. Anything you want... they've got it.

We escaped the heat in town by jumping in the various family swimming pools. The rental car was a bit of a clunker, but the air conditioner worked so I figured that was good enough!

The day before we returned to Georgia we escaped to the North looking for those

spectacular Sedona views and a little less heat.

We stopped in Jerome, Arizona for a bit. Jerome sits above the largest copper mine in Arizona, and I do mean above. The city itself is built vertically on a hill for the most part. Advertised as the Largest Ghost Town in America, it's now an artistic community with a population of about 450. There are many shops carrying locally crafted art and many restaurants. Definitely worth a visit if you're up that way.

Jerome is only about 20 miles away from Sedona, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Sedona is "Red Rock Country" and has something for everyone... history, archeology, arts, shopping. Of course, we chose the shopping! Just as in Jerome, you can find art, jewelry, clothing, all by local artisans. Or as my family likes to call them, "the local hippies". Sedona has some shopping geared toward your average tourist and some very fine arts for those of us who are not so financially challenged. It's become an exclusive, expensive place to live, but as always, a lovely place to visit.

If you decide to go see the Grand Canyon, you're not too far from either of these places, a day trip is definitely worth your time.

Seeing family always feels like going home, no matter how long you've been gone. But there's nothing like coming home again and I am very happy to be home.

The Next Mommy and Me Trip

The Summer vacation here is relatively short for kids. We usually take some sort of family vacation, but this year we didn't plan one. Next thing I knew, my little boy was talking about going back to school. So I gave it some thought, but decided not to spend money on a family vacation. My daughter travels with me a lot, so we decided it was time for a "mommy & me" trip for her brother. Most of our extended family lives in Phoenix, so that's where he decided he'd like to go. We cashed in "sky miles" and got two airline tickets to Phoenix for $10.00. No, that is not a misprint, $5.00 each! We'll stay with my Dad, so accommodations are not a problem. I will rent a car though. Turns out, the son is a cheap date!

When I think of Phoenix, I think of all my family, an old school pal or two and extreme heat! Usually in that order. I cannot believe we have chosen to go to Phoenix in the Summer. But Phoenix is not what it used to be, it's become quite the metropolitan city.

In 1960 Phoenix boasted a population of 106, 818, the projected population in the 2010 census is 1, 636, 170.

Phoenix used to be a small town, I always think of Arizona as part of the "Wild West". Back in the day kids swam in tree lined canals, not back yard swimming pools, we had drive-ins and desert as far as you could see in some directions. My memories include so much open space.

When I was in high school and people would come visit us, they would always remark that they had never been that far North in Phoenix. My Dad would tell them when he bought the house there was nothing but desert behind it all the way to the mountains. By the time I was in high school there was one major street to the North of us with limited residential areas around it. Anywhere North of our house was industrial business, offices and a whole lot of open desert. We went hiking on the mountains and target shooting in the desert.

Now it's like any other large metropolitan city, there's nothing you can't find...

a Starbucks on every corner, shopping malls, every restaurant and fast food establishment imaginable.

Now it's hard to find the open spaces. I wonder what my son will think of Phoenix? He will probably never think of open spaces and men in cowboy boots and hats with guns on belts. Most of the cactus and the old orange groves are gone to make way for more houses and places to shop.

Gone are the days that Baltimore Jack, an amorous gorilla arrived on the Playboy jet for a rendezvous with Hazel at the Phoenix Zoo.

When we return I will try to give you a perspective from his point of view and from mine. Between you and me, I think he's more interested in visiting his Grandpa and Great Grandma and seeing Sedona than any actual sightseeing in Phoenix.

Travel Tips for Women

I do not know how men travel with one small bag that can be placed in the overhead compartment! I pack everything but the kitchen sink. Luckily I usually travel with my pack mule daughter who doesn't mind hauling my junk luggage around. Over the years I have actually learned how to pack a little more conservatively. I like to think I have a few other valuable tips to pass on, so here is my first-ever travel tip list:

On Packing:

You don't need your entire make-up arsenal. You and I both know there are things in there you don't use everyday. My best advice... before a trip stop by your favorite department store and visit the cosmetics counter. Ask for samples of any make-up, cleanser, and moisturizer that you find appealing. Put it all in a Ziploc and voila!... instant space saver.

To keep your clothes clean put all your shoes in leftover plastic grocery bags.

Inserting tissue paper between your clothes keeps a lot of wrinkles out. It's also handy if you need to cushion a souvenir on the way back, your clothes will be dirty by then anyway.

Plan on no-fuss hair. Put your hair up everyday. Bring a clip and some ponytail holders and one travel size hair spray.

On Safety:

Try to avoid hotel rooms on the ground floor, the harder it is to get into your room the less likely anybody will try.

Use the elevator! Taking the stairs is a great idea, save it for when you get back home.

Leave a television or radio on in your room even when you're not there. Giving the impression the room is occupied is a great deterrent.

Store your valuables in a tampon or maxi pad box. Nobody will ever look there!

Bring your cell phone. Even if you're in a place where your cell phone won't work, pretending to be on the phone is a good deterrent to unwanted attention from strangers.

Put a little money in your pocket. For smaller purchases use your pocket money so nobody sees the wad of travel cash you just took out of the ATM.

On Traveling with Children:

Traveling with children can be trying at the best of times. The best advice I have is to buy them an inexpensive disposable camera. Not only will it keep them busy, they'll have their own photos when you get home.

Pack snacks ladies! Nobody likes airplane food.

Bring hand sanitizer and a travel size packet of wipes. This is actually a good tip even when you're not traveling with children. You just never know when you might need to keep the cooties at bay.

Other General Travel Tips:

On the Airplane:

The "best" seat on the airplane depends entirely on your priorities. For comfort and smooth ride, choose a seat over the wings. For silence (a definite priority in an overnight flight!) choose a seat as far forward as possible, but avoid the galley and the restrooms. For legroom, choose a seat by the emergency exit.

On Credit Cards:

Yes, you need one. Planning your trip with a credit card gives you indisputable receipts you may not otherwise have. Always contact your credit card company before traveling, especially overseas. Unexpected spending habits trip fraud alerts and your company may deny all charges until you contact them.

Your credit card company may also offer services like car insurance, medical coverage and insurance on luggage. Some even offer insurance for purchases you make while traveling if you made the purchase with their card.

On ATM's:

Definitely use them. Use all the same precautions you would at home and they are a great asset. ATM's dispense local currency, so if you've traveled overseas there is really no need to bring a lot of cash and deal with monetary exchange. There is a conversion fee, so take out as much cash as you're comfortable carrying around each time you make a withdrawal.

Do you have any travel tips to share?

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Hotel For Dogs

More and more people are traveling with their dogs nowadays. Some bring them along because they don't have a pet-sitter and don't want to kennel them. Some people just can't stand to be separated from their furry companions. It can be a challenge to find lodgings that will aceept your pet, a lot of hetels view dogs as a nuisance. You can always sneak your dog in like we used to, but you risk a big fine if you're caught. And who wants the stress of leaving a dog in a hotel room even for a short amount of time, all the while worrying if little Fido is barking or otherwise misbehaving?

Some major chains are now allowing dogs on the condition that you clean up after it yourself. Some charge a nightly fee, some don't, and some have weight requirements. A quick phone call will tell you if your hotel accepts dogs and what their requirements are.

If you're a real dog lover you could visit the Dog Bark Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho. Dog Bark Inn is a bed and breakfast with a guest room inside the World's Largest Beagle. They offer a self-serve continental breakfast, full bath, air conditioning, and all the other amenities weary travelers are looking for. And of course accommodations for your dog. Some of the decorative furnishings are carvings by Dog Bark Park chainsaw artists and are avilable for purchase from the Chainsaw Kennels at Dog Bark Park. Other items are avilable at the gift shop as well.

From their website: At Dog Bark Inn sleeping in the doghouse is a good thing!

Happiness is a warm puppy. ~ Charles M. Shulz

Offbeat America... World's Smallest Church

This is clipped out of an earlier post of mine. It fits in the series and I think I had maybe three followers then, so I am re-posting this portion. Forgive me if you're one of the three people who have already read about it.

In my travels I love to go looking at old churches. I am fascinated by them, the craftsmanship it took to build some of these is just awe inspiring. I’ve been to some that have left me absolutely speechless and some that are just a bit, well… odd.

In South Newport, Georgia stands the Memory Park Christ Chapel, which claims to be the Smallest Church in America. It was built in 1949 by a grocer named Agnes Harper and deeded in the name of “Jesus Christ”. The chapel is just 10’x5’ and has space for 12. (Or 6 if you’re not the size of a munchkin. Maybe people were smaller in 1949?) Inside there’s an alter and some chairs in place of pews and even has beautiful stained glass windows. It’s a nice little treasure.