Charlottesville October 8, 2026 From the Denver Gazette: Welcome to the Wild West, where town names tend to get spawned from jokes, misunderstandings, vague descriptions, and cultural melting pots. Colorado is no exception and given the many tiny towns dotting the state’s mountains and plains, encountering a name that results in a double take isn’t exactly a rare occurrence. 1. No Name: According to Glenwood Springs, this community’s name, or seeming lack thereof, comes from

Charlottesville October 8, 2026 I was very touched to receive this book as a gift from my friends Anna and Jack. They had found it at the Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) Fall Book Sale which is ongoing this week. It reminded me of how we “bought out the store” when we first moved here and filled our bookshelves with wonderful books that we had read or looked forward to reading. We easily bought 80 books. But what really hit me was the title. Was it

Charlottesville October 8, 2026 One of those days where my mind’s guardrails are not up. Too many things spinning me up — and then spinning me up some more. At least now I understand what’s happening when I feel (think?) like this. So I Googled “cognitive distortions” and found these following helpful discussion: Cognitive distortions are biased, irrational, or exaggerated internal mental shortcuts that cause people to perceive reality inaccurately, which can fuel anxiety,

Charlottesville September 28, 2026 The above advice came from this week’s email from Mark Manson. He has a knack for insights that make me think. This week’s advice reminded me of an important clause I learned several years ago but too often don’t make part of my every day life — check my assumptions. How often do I assume something about another person because of how they dress, look and especially their facial expressions. In my mind those assumptions don’t register as a

Charlottesville September 27, 2026 Based on a blog post from Korn Ferry: Today, it’s easy to feel a little dazed and confused. The world can appear blurry at times. Or does it? It’s an existential truth. As humans, we have always clung to our need for certainty. But the reality is, our state of being is uncertainty—which has always been disguised and clouded by our illusions of certainty. So, perhaps it’s time for a new prescription. Because here’s the thing—seeing differentl

Charlottesville September 18, 2026 In the late 2010s I began to have lower back issues — ranging from general tightness to sciatica at times. At that time, I learned that I had adult onset scoliosis which compromised the strength and stamina of my back muscles. Weekly deep tissue massages gave me some relief as did working with my physical therapist Jodie Stellern. Jodie introduced me to a number of helpful exercises including “open books” and floating in a warm pool. Eve

Charlottesville September 17, 2026 I get an email twice a week from a fellow named Mark Manson. He’s a pop therapist whose claim to fame is a book he wrote entitled “Tge Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.” Sometimes his emails resonate with me. Today’s sure did: If you decide you need $100,000 to be happy, $50,000 feels like a failure. If you decide $40,000 is enough to be happy, suddenly you’re a success. Too often, we forget that failure is just this arbitrary definition w

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/historic-route-66-americana-on-the-go/ Charlottesville June 28, 2026 This CBS News report brought back many memories of my driving US 66 during my wanderabout. Like so much else I did on my trip, I funny plan to spend days driving Route 66 but I am sure glad I did!!

Charlottesville June 25, 2026 I made the following video when I was in my final Paris on June 8th. Not sure why I entitled it June 10, 2026 or why I am too lazy to go back and change the title now!@

Fairbanks, Alaska June 6, 2026 Direct hit. Wow. Once upon a time Once when you were mine I remember skies Reflected in your eyes … I wonder where you are I wonder if you think about me Once upon a time In your wildest dreams … Once the world was new Our bodies felt the morning dew That greets the brand-new day We couldn't tear ourselves away … I wonder if you care I wonder if you still remember Once upon a time In your wildest dreams … And when the music plays And when the wo

Spring Hill Suites Fairbanks, Alaska June 5, 2026 I knew when coming to Fairbanks that there was a nearby community named Fox. I assumed that it would be like the other Fox's I have visited -- not much. Well, it was both not much and a great place to visit. Enjoy the slideshow!! Fox is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. It is part of the Fairbanks, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, Fox had a population of 406

Anchorage June 3, 2026

Courtyard By Marriott Anchorage June 3, 2026 Homer, with a population of just over 6,000 people, is a scenic seaside town located on the Kenai Peninsula. Widely known as the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World" and the "End of the Road," it features a unique 4.5-mile-long peninsula known as the Homer Spit. Things to Do & See The Homer Spit: Extending into Kachemak Bay, this area is the hub for charter fishing, wildlife watching, local shops, and waterfront restaurants. Wi

Anchorage, Alaska June 1, 2026 And I am in #1!! The cloudiest places in the US are concentrated in three main regions: southern/coastal Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and the Great Lakes/Rust Belt. Anchorage, Alaska, takes the top spot nationally with about 239 cloudy days per year.Top cloudiest U.S. cities, ranked by average annual cloudy days: Anchorage, AK: ~239 days Seattle, WA: ~226 days Portland, OR: ~222 days Buffalo, NY: ~208 days Grand Rapids, MI: ~205 days Pittsburg

It’s probably this fine looking Alaska trucker hat. No needlepoint hats in the 49th state

Anchorage, Alaska June 1, 2026 Some of my too many photos from getting to and being in Anchorage yesterday and today. Jewel provides the playlist since she grew up in Alaska — right?

Courtyard by Marriott June 1, 2026 As I try to figure out at 7 AM if I can get two more hours of sleep I looked up “funny Alaska town names”: Chicken: Reportedly named because the founders wanted to name it after the state bird (Ptarmigan), but no one could agree on how to spell it. Unalaska: Sounds like an anti-Alaska statement, but it’s actually a simplified anglicized version of the native Aleut word Agunalaksh. Deadhorse: A grim but literal name, supposedly named after an

The moment you accept that you can't control the outcome is the moment you stop being controlled by it. ​​​​​ The people who seem most at peace aren't the ones who got everything they wanted. They're the ones who stopped wanting everything they couldn’t have. These admonitions ring true to me this morning. While traveling yesterday, I felt an unusual deep sense of calmness. It was not a conscious action I took — it was a feeling of truly being in the moment, confident I cou