I have been a fan of Sony Vaio laptops for ten years. They used to be thin, light, fast and filled with good apps. But, after ten years the affair is over. Sony customer service told me, in so many words, I am not a valued customer. My SZ230 had recurring power problems…and for $800 […]

I just got back from Venezuela and Ecuador. I was again reminded how easy it is for me to pack and get ready that I hardly blink when I need to travel in a moment’s notice. I make travel easy by having a “Ditch Bag” ready and packed with some essential tools. I grab the […]

We arrived in Venezuela a few days ago, and I can tell you that the people and culture here are resilient and full of energy. I attended a wedding that brought together people from the Netherlands, the U.S. and Venezuela. I talked to a lot of people last night and I have a few […]

While cleaning up my garage, I was looking at 5 motorcycles sitting there waiting for a ride. I realized that I have been riding for 20+ years. My best investment is the best protective equipment, which has saved me countless times. One of the things I get from motorcycling is a sense of balance, awareness […]

Have you ever woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Do you carry that bad feeling with you well into the morning? If you are feeling irritable and cranky when you wake up, there is no way you can be successful that day unless you ditch that feeling in a hurry.
Most […]

Last night I went to see a live music show at a local club. Having worked in the concert industry for the past year, I have been to all of the big name concerts where ticket prices top $85 a show. But I had forgotten how much I enjoyed those inexpensive shows where bands […]

I have a truck, I couldn’t live without it. I need it to haul around my off-road motorcycle, take trips down the coast, go camping, haul stuff around, etc. But I now regularly make the decision whether or not I really need to get in it and drive. There are lots of reasons to keep […]

Organization and efficiency in the kitchen is must. No successful chef can operate in chaos and disorder. There is a French term for it - Mise en place [miz eñ ‘plass]. Literally translated it means, “setting in place”. In the cooking world it is thought of having “everything in place”, doing all possible prep […]

This past Saturday, September 29th, was National Public Lands Day. In honor of the event, all admission fees were waived and anyone who volunteered at a National Park Service area on National Public Lands Day received a free one day pass valid for future use at any site.
It made me realize that I don’t take […]