Welcome

CURRENTLY VISITING HAWAII!!

Hawaii

Hawaii
Akaka Falls

See the World for Free

The idea here is to TRAVEL THE WORLD regardless of time or budget. It dawned on me one day that even if I had unlimited time and money (which I definitley do not), I still couldn't see everything in the world that I'd like to see--I'm simply not going to live long enough to do it.

But I had a bit of brain wave and soon after the travel envelope was born. This is an actual physical envelope. I typed the name of every country in the world, plus every state in the US on little slips of paper which I then put into the envelope. In the beginning we (myself, my husband, Dave and daugher Catherine) would draw out a slip at random at the beginning of the month and that's where we would go---at least in our minds. We grab some books about the country from the library and put them in our bathroom to look at. We also check out some videos about the country if any. We check it out on googleearth, listen to the music, try the food, maybe even attempt to learn a dance or celebrate a festival.

After the first two years we discovered that even virtual traveling can be tiring, so we travel now whenever I happen to be in the mood.

It's great fun. I especially love it when people I meet have been to the place I'm "visiting" in real life, or get excited and have some virtual adventures of their own. I hope that anyone who comes across this blog will feel welcome to come with us on the trip!



You have a standing reservation to see it all!

Mar 26, 2010

Veal

Okay, the goal is to make--what else? Weinerschnitzel.  This means I have to find veal cutlets.  I've never bought veal in my life.  I assume they sell them at the store and I've just never paid attention?

Mar 23, 2010

Jet Lag

Rather a disorienting month.  At work we're hiring for a new math professor.  I'm the beleagered secretary who has to fly these people in from everywhere, plus the special speaker from Minnesota.  Then Catherine had a special prom dinner with a Hawaiian theme, and it was St. Patrick's Day, and I teach English twice a week to people from Mexico, Columbia and El Salvador plus, I just got to spend some time with a dear friend that I knew when we lived in Japan and another good friend is coming on Thursday from Iowa.  It's been a bit like real traveling--loads of fun, but confusing and tiring as well--oh, and Dave is going to Boston tomorrow.  I'm going to go to bed.  I think I have a case of virtual jet lag.

Mar 22, 2010

Nutella and Schnecken

NUTELLA----food of the gods.  A chocolate and hazelnut spread.  Last night we had banana splits and using nutella as the topper is divine.  Using nutella on ANYTHING is divine.  Later, we watched a children's dvd about Austria and then played a game called, Tempo, kleine Schnecke.  Which means roughly 'go fast little snail.'  It's the world's simplest game---everyone gets a snail, you roll some colored dice--if your color turns up you move one space.  First one to the cabbage wins.  The game is meant for extremely small children, but this is where the good German craftsmanship comes in.  The wooden snails feel so good in your hand and the board is so charmingly decorated that we actually play this game from time to time