Green And Gold

This tile covered arch decorated a passageway of a shopping district in Amsterdam.



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2018: Single File Crossing
2017: One Of These Things Is Unlike The Other
2016: Girl Catcher
2015: Oklahoma Tin
2014: She's There Already
2013: Still Waters Run Deep
2012: The Princess Of Fruits Welcomes You
2011: I Love This Lookout
2010: There Ain’t No Rodeo On This Rodeo
2009: Covering All The Bases
2008: Ed Fantasizes Out Loud
2007: Better Late Than Never
2006: The Last Best Chance
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Working With Wind

Windmills at Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands include several working mills, that actually produce products.  



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2018: You Really WON'T Believe What's Inside
2017: Blue Girl
2016: Vintage Beauty
2015: Truck Yeah
2014: Break Time Selfie
2013: The Glories Of Our Journey
2012: The Herb Whisperer
2011: The Switch Between Morning Glory And Country Strong
2010: Name That Tree
2009: Getting Plowed
2008: Eddie Friday In Squares
2007: The Color Of Elizabeth’s Eyes
2006: The Result Of A Little Flax In Your Diet
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Soup In A Golden Bowl

While going organizing some of our Europe photos, I came across these pictures reminding me of our first ever business class flight.  This was the "chef" on our flight - maybe he was also a flight attendant, maybe he was also a co-pilot, I don't know, I didn't look very close at everyone as I was too busy reading the menu and then enjoying the food - who came around and actually took our order for our meal.  

Once they got our orders, they brought out bread with accompaniments - a little bottle of olive oil, soft spreadable butter, salt & pepper (in the little onion-domed shakers - I love the one with the gold top!), and an herb mixture that I added my olive oil to.  The bread kept coming, too.  They'd make rounds with the bread basket, waving tongs in front of you pointing to delicious rolls - seeded, multi-grain, sourdough.  Clearly, they knew my weak spot. 

I'll tell you right now, you won't go hungry in business class.  Turkish Airlines did not stop feeding us.  From the minute we stepped foot in the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX airport, to the moment we got on the plane, there was food.  

When we were handed the menu for dinner, we groaned.  More food??  But we had to choose dinner, which would be served once we got in the air, and then breakfast for the next morning.

Here you can take a look at the dinner menu.  It was printed in Turkish and English, and you were allowed to have anything we wanted - four appetizers, two entrees, three desserts, whatever.   

Dinner choices here on the right side of the three-fold menu.

Breakfast choices here on the left.

In this photo taken by MacG, who was sitting behind us, I'm being served soup in a gold-rimmed bowl.  To the right of Ed is the trolley with the assorted canapés.  You just point at what you want, and they put it on a plate for you.  

Here are some of the appetizers - soup in that beautiful gold-rimmed bowl, cherry tomatoes with chunks of cheese, a coconut battered prawn, and a little bit of salad.

When we go to Europe again - and I hope it's 2020 - I honestly don't think I'll be able to fly any other class of service.  It's going to have to be a business class or first class flight.  I'll use every point, every perk, every trick I can pull to get that ticket.  Not only is the travel for the long distance more comfortable, but the food is fantastic.

They even have snacks for when you get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.  That's a pretty good perk. 

Of course, it's a little different than standing in front of an open refrigerator in your underwear, like you do at home, but I'll take a midnight Snickers bar any day of the week on an airplane.

Time to start making future travel plans!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2018: Where The Elks Of Globe Went To Gather
2017: For All The Real Easter Lovers Out There
2016: Round Trip
2015: A Delicious Bridge And Tunnel
2014: More Important Than Taxes
2013: Stadium Seating
2012: Where Ed Was Found Roaming The Aisles
2011: If You Happen To Have A Few Hundred Million Lying Around, Have I Got A Deal For You
2010: Another Day At The Port
2009: Buggin’ Out
2008: Hangin’ Out With Ray Stoker Jr.
2007: Sunset On The Move
2006: Happy Easter
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Our Lady Of Paris

Today we learned there was a fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.  The structure, built in the 12th century, draws 13 million visitors each year.

When we were in Paris, we passed by the cathedral on our open bus tour but didn't go in since there were other things I wanted to see in our short time there.  Now I kinda regret missing it.

President Emmanuel Macron said they'll rebuild.  Paris will be watching the repair of their lady.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Hand In Hand
2017: Grain Grinder
2016: My Number One Man Next To Our Number One Tree
2015: The Eggplant Link Is The Tastiest
2014: Compliance By Guilt
2013: The Difference A Zero Makes
2012: Pre-Digital
2011: The Sun Sets On The Roughrider State
2010: Diamond Studded Proof
2009: How A Book Defies Its Cover
2008: How To Up Your Chances For A Sweet Monkey Lovin’ Romp
2007: Activities Director
2006: Ah, But It Is SO Worth It
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Art Of Clog Making

This is the craftsmen who gave the clog-making demonstration for us at the Kooijman Wooden Shoe Workshop at Zaanse Schans located about 12 miles (20 km) outside of Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

Although originally made by hand, the workshop uses antique machines to make wooden shoes the same way they were made a hundred years ago.

Each clog starts as a block of wood - like a chunk of a 4" x 4" - and finishes as a wearable shoe.  From log to clog.

The Kooijman workshop, located at Zaanse Schans, also houses a wooden clog museum.  They include everything from church clogs to rollerskate clogs to rhinestone-encrusted clogs.  They have one of the largest collections of clogs in the Netherlands.

The machines operate in a similar fashion to the way a key is made - they have one shoe in the machine already, to use as a template - and the machine follows the lines of that shoe to create another one. Then the shoe is hollowed out by another tool on the machine, which the craftsman manipulates to carve out the place for the foot.

The wood used for the shoe is wet - in order to work the wood, it has to be made up of approximately 60% water - and when the demonstration was over the shoemaker held the shoe to his lips and blew into it.  Water dripped from the pores of the wood, showing how much moisture the wood held.

The shoes are then set aside to thoroughly dry before they're hand-painted and sold to tourists looking to walk in the footsteps of the Dutch!

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2018: Beauty Prevails
2017: Approaching The Future Of Space Travel
2016: Hmeep Hmeep!
2015: Spring In The Sky
2014: Power To The Tree
2013: For Mommy
2012: There’s Always Room For La Dolce Vita
2011: Drop It Like It’s Hot
2010: The Art Of Being Tardy
2009: Vantage Point
2008: Cape Cahd Hahba
2007: Waxing Brilliant
2006: Seven! Seven! Seven! Seven! Seveeeeennnn!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Chill Out, They're Fine

The first time I saw unrefrigerated eggs in a grocery store was in a small village in Italy in 2010.  They were just on a shelf, next to the bread.  Kinda freaked me out.  

Dairy, not refrigerated?? What's wrong with these Italians??

Then, last year on our trip to France, I saw the same thing.  These eggs, in the photo above, just sitting in their cartons, on a shelf in the corner, no chill to be felt anywhere.

The first time in Italy, I had no idea why.  I couldn't even come up with a good guess.  Well, other than thinking, people collect eggs, warm, right from under the chicken's ass and then they use them, right? So how bad can it be? 

Still.  It was weird to me.  I was raised with refrigerated eggs, so I had to do a little research.  And once I did, I felt a teensy bit smarter and not as freaked out.  And frankly, a little stupid to not have known.  

So this time, armed with my knowledge, when I saw those eggs in France I just looked at them and shrugged.  Eh, eggs in a corner.  No biggie.

Read this piece to find out Why The U.S. Chills Its Eggs And Most Of The World Doesn't.


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2018: Right Of Way
2017: Not A Time For Restful Sleep
2016: Yellow Pop
2015: Union Wharf
2014: Mysterious Exercise
2013: Doris Day Spends The Weekend In Texas
2012: Evening Ball
2011: Taxes And Ta-Tas
2010: Ah, The Subtle Contrasts Of New Jersey
2009: A Fishy Pishy Is Never Dishy
2008: Before The Luck Ran Out
2006: Five Guys I’m In Love With This Week
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Grapes, Raisins, Or Wine...All Delicious

Muscat Grapes in Paris, France.


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2018: Dominion Over Copper Mining
2017: Getting Served
2016: Bringing 1946 Back To Life
2015: Vintage Heaven
2014: No Wonder China Is The Exporting Superpower
2013: 109 Miles Of White Knuckle Passengering 
2012: Strong
2011: The Man Unmasked
2010: Fingers Crossed For All Things Motorized!
2009: Eddie Forces A Smile Friday
2008: A, B, C, D, DD: No Matter What The Letter, The Trauma Is The Same
2007: How To Watch American Idol The Right Way
2006: Dings And Hos
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Istanbul Cobble

A couple taking an evening stroll through the cobblestone streets of Istanbul, Turkey.


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2018: Circulating The Morning Air In The Lonestar State
2017: It's The Real OLD Thing
2016: Stopping In Style
2015: Patiently Waiting
2014: Find Out Where You Can Dine With Giraffes
2013: Sputtering With Excitement
2012: Water May Not Be The Only Liquid Nourishing These Flowers
2011: Nappy Time
2010: Dick. Not A Dick. Which One Are You?
2009: First The Poultry, Now This
2008: California Moon
2007: Ryno And Rob
2006: Living The Dream
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn't start until May 2005!

Deplane! Deplane!

Ed and I deplaning in Istanbul, Turkey - you'll have to zoom in to find us on the stairs.  Photo taken by MacG.


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2018: Daybreak
2017: Better Than A Picnic Lunch
2016: Squeezed By Guilt
2015: Get Excited!
2014: They're Not Just For Babies Anymore
2013: Winding Down For The Weekend
2012: Towering Peach 
2011: Trucks, Friends, Life On The Road, And A New Throne For My Queen Sized Ass 
2010: Changing It Up 
2009: They Gots Lots Of Soul 
2008: Eddie Calculates Everything Friday 
2007: Working On It 
2006: The Bird On The Hill 
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Circling The Mosque

There hasn't been much going on this week, so I'm going back to find some photos from last year's vacation to post.  This first one is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey. 

We weren't able to tour inside this mosque, as it was closed when we arrived in Istanbul, but we did take an extraordinary amount of time walking around it (it's big!) to find what we thought was the front door.

Turns out we were in the wrong place so even if it were open, but we did get a mini tour of the surrounding neighborhood.   

It's really a serene area to walk around in and a beautiful sight at night.

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2018: Shopping For A New Career
2017: Just The Facts

2016: Blue And Crabby
2015: Drive Less, Make More
2014: While You Were Sleeping
2013: Between Brattleboro And Bennington
2012: Man At Work
2011: Under A Rock
2010: Practicing For Retirement
2009: Truckers Are So Sensitive
2008: Light Sweet Crude
2007: A Antiquing Conundrum
2006: How Can You Not Love This Face?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Long In The Tongue

Fountain sculpture seen in Regensburg, Germany.




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2018: The Dove On The Sea Of Cortez
2017: A Spicy Little Secret
2016: It's Uphill From Here
2015: A Place Of Rare Beauty
2014: Thumbs Up For A Real Bronx Tale
2013: A Mountain City Fit For A Queen
2012: Sprinkle Of Seaweed, Anyone?
2011: Shopping To The Maxx
2010: Ed Unloads An Oil Platform
2009: You Never Know When You Might Need It
2008: Eddie Climbs A Wall Friday
2007: What Showing Off For Your Kids Looks Like
2006: What’s It All About?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Middle Aged Castle

The ruins of Ehrenfels Castle, located on the Rhine River above the Rhine Gorge, near the town of Rüdesheim am Rhein in Germany.

The medieval castle was built in 1212 and demolished in 1689.


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2018: The Malecón And More
2017: The West Side
2016: The Populace Of Winter
2015: Two If By Sea
2014: Beauty And The Bleak
2013: Don't Even Ask
2012: Click Mouse, Make Money
2011: Buttons Beware. There’s Someone Cuter In Town!
2010: Eddie Dials Up The Lunch Order
2009: Trucking Superhere And Sidekick
2008: I’m Just A Goy In Love With A Boy
2007: When Pork Goes Pornographic
2006: Now Where Did I Put Those Underwear??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Czechian Garbage

Yes, this is a picture of garbage dumpsters.  I know it's not very interesting, but I saw them in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic and just wanted a picture of them.

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2018: Checking Out The Pipes
2017: Gravitating Toward Good Tunes
2016: A Little Thing With A Long History
2015: It Was A Kona Kind Of Day

2014: Award-Winning Plan
2013: Watch Closely Now
2012: Mission Of The Sacred Heart
2011: Vintage Photo And Clothing
2010: Just How I Like It…Cold And Colder
2009: Snagged
2008: The Writing Is On The Wall
2007: Eddie Waits For A Ride
2006: Truckers And Travelers Know Good Food
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Salz Und Pfeffer

On the day we did laundry in Budapest, we ate at a great little restaurant located right across the courtyard from the laundromat.

Antré Étterem offered an inexpensive and varied breakfast buffet.  The restaurant was clean, modern, and well attended.

At one point during breakfast, I was looking for the salt and pepper shakers.  I touched and moved everything on the table trying to find them.  I eventually had to resort to calling over a staff member - who wound up being the manager - to ask him if he could provide me with a set. 

Imagine my surprise when he pointed out that they were right in front of me.  These were the salt and pepper shakers.  Boy, did I feel stupid.

I had seen them but immediately dismissed them.  My mind was telling me they were other things - a microphone (Why would they have a microphone on a table?), a set of speakers (Why would they put speakers on the table?) - and since I wasn't really looking closely at them because it never occurred to me that they were salt and pepper shakers, I didn't see the "S" and the "P" on the side of each shaker.  That would have been a big clue.

I immediately wanted them and asked the manager if they sold them.  He said "No.  People usually just steal them."  So I asked where I could find them and he told me they were made by a company called WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) - a German company founded in Berlin in 1880, and the same company that made the coffee machine I loved on the cruise ship.

I needed to find a store.

We looked in each town we came across after that and saw more than one WMF store but due to countrywide holidays, they were closed.  Rats!  I figured I'd have to hunt them down online and pay a crazy price to have them sent to me once I was back in the United States.

But then, as luck would have it, my friends Marlaina and MacG were out on an excursion one day and came across a place that sold these very salt and pepper shakers and picked them up for me!  They now sit on my kitchen counter at home.



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2018: Hot And Sweet
2017: My Kind Of Salad
2016: In Disguise
2015: Hawaii Five-O
2014: I Like Big Boteros And I Cannot Lie
2013: The Young Never Have Trouble Screwing
2012: Making Tracks Across The Country
2011: Eddie Is The King Of The Dome
2010: Do It For Half An Hour A Day
2009: Sipping In Nyack
2008: The Tink Tink Tinkle Of Recycling
2007: Ralph’s Service Station
2006: The Isle Of Capri
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!