Author Archives: travelfoodandlife

Travel Tips: rules of the road

Over the course of this summer, I have driven a lot.  I’m not referring only to the usual driving around we all have to do to get to work or meetings or to run our errands.  I’m talking about additional … Continue reading

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An Online Dating Tale

I’ve been doing online dating on and off for several years now.  Here is an exchange that highlights one of the reasons that the off times are so much longer and more frequent than the on times.  It’s from OK … Continue reading

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Bad Taxi Karma

I don’t like taking taxis by myself.  If I can avoid taking a taxi solo, I will.  As a traveler, though, taking taxis, alone or accompanied, is unavoidable.  I dislike taking taxis because, even though I hate people, there’s something … Continue reading

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Travelogue: Abu Dhabi and the UAE

My father got lured out of retirement in 2010 to work for a company owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, one of the United Arab Emirates (the one that most people have heard of is Dubai).  As a result, … Continue reading

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Travel Tips: how to pack

I love to travel.  I love being in a new city and learning how to navigate unfamiliar streets and neighborhoods and eating at restaurants that I can’t find at home.  I love getting caught up in conversations with locals, whether … Continue reading

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Code Switching: do you do it?

[My friend Diane, who lives in Singapore and is married to an Australian man, and I have been discussing code switching over e-mail for the past few weeks.  She suggested it as a post topic for me, but I haven’t … Continue reading

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Girls from the Past

There was a three-week period of time during which I cast aspersions on a young relative, accusing him of being spoiled and lacking basic life skills.  I found out that I live in a glass house and that I’ve been … Continue reading

Posted in life, who am i | 7 Comments

Travels with the Viking: Iron Horse

The Viking and I have gone on enough wine-tasting trips together that we have a couple of unspoken, de facto rules.  The first is that if it’s just the two of us, I drive.  There are a few reasons for … Continue reading

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Drinking with the Viking

My friend Loraine is my favorite travel buddy, but the downfall of spending free or vacation time with her is that I get lulled into false sense of alcohol-related security.  I get caught up in the fun, and I forget … Continue reading

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“Passion” Bugs

I think that one of the most overused words is “passion” and its variations.  As in, “What’s your passion?” or “My passion is X,” or “I’m really passionate about A, B, and C.”  “Passion” (the word, not the thing) makes … Continue reading

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