With commands such as left forward, right back, forward two and HOLD ON! The adrenaline rush of white water rafting on the Rogue River makes for an awe-inspiring (and ridiculously fun) afternoon on the water.

When we travel, and when we walk in the paths of those who came before us, I have a tendency to fixate on a singular person of interest.  I want more than the surface story, I want the details, the behind the scenes story. I’ll read everything I can find on the person, i.e. Johnny Cash, until I exhaust the resources.  And, if I’m lucky enough to find videos on YouTube, I’ll watch as many as I possibly can.

Around here, we use the month of February to ready ourselves – both personally and professionally – for our upcoming high tourist season.  Once we get rolling in the spring it becomes time-challenging to book appointments and such.  That’s not to say it can’t be done, it’s just much easier to get it out of the way, now, while we’re still moving slowly.  Included in this effort was my recent visit to my doctor for an annual exam.

I wasn’t sure what to title this post:  Southern Hospitality is Alive and Well?  The 25-cent Martini? The 3-Martini Lunch?  Happy Birthday to Me?!  So, fueled by a 3-Martini lunch I thought I’d just start writing and see where it takes me.

Ah… Julia, I admire you even more now that I’ve read your book, My Life in France. This book had me from the get go and even though I found it to be a little disjointed in places, I understand the reason for it because these were Julia’s words as told to her husband, Paul’s, grandnephew, Alex Prud’homme.

I’m not exactly sure when I became obsessed fascinated with the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, but I’ve had a relationship (in my head) with her for as long as I can remember.

Bon appetit! – two words that simply mean good appetite or enjoy your meal – but to the world at large these two little words are synonymous with one person – Julia Child.  And admit it, you can’t say it without adding your own impersonation of Julia’s voice!  Bon appetit!  Go on… say it – you know you want to!

Marie Antoinette.  She was 14 – an age by which most would be considered a child.  She was handed over in marriage to the future King of France.  Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna was the 15th (of 16) child of the Empress of Austria, Maria Theresa, in 1755.  Surrounded by opulence the young Maria preferred music, art and the theater to the mundane academic studies.  As a result she could barely read or write, which would prove to hinder her later life.

The Way. It’s funny how some moments in time stay with you – inspire you.  It’s what I felt while sitting in a dark theater watching the documentary, “Walking the Camino – Six Ways to Santiago.”  I left the theater vowing to myself (and to Abi) that we need to make the journey, to walk the Camino.

.The Camino Documentary.  We rarely go to the movies.  Aside from the whole theater experience, which I admit can be fun I pretty much like watching movies at home.  Think about it – $17 admission versus $1.20 at Redbox? In your home theater you can pause the movie when you have to “ahem” leave the room and you don’t miss the most dramatic/emotional/important part of the movie.