I know where you can find it!

So Long, Farewell, auf Wiedersehen, Good-bye

2009-08-20T09:06:00.002-04:00

So, I've been mulling over what to do with my little blog here. My posts have become few and far between as I spend most of my time writing for my travel blog and my Lexington Herald-Leader blog. The travel blog takes a big chunk of time and, although I used to reserve this blog for more personal information, once I was "outed" as a blogger, I began using the Herald-Leader blog more for personal stories. I just don't have that much to write on here anymore.

I got an email from BlogHer today saying that they were pulling their ads because I haven't written in more than two weeks. I didn't realize it had been that long. Time flies when you are retired. I wonder how I ever had time to work, I stay so busy now.

So. I guess I'm closing up shop here. It makes me a little sad. I have written 663 posts here. Uh. 664 now. I started writing here on January 11, 2007. And I'm stopping on August 20, 2009. That's a lot of writing. And it quite literally changed my life.

I would have never dreamed of becoming a travel writer on January 11, 2007. A travel writer who is traveling the world and writing about it. I would never have dreamed about writing for the newspaper. But that happened too. All because I learned, honed, polished and improved my writing on this blog.

I appreciate you reading. All of you. Your hits, your comments - they all kept me writing. Thanks.

If you want to keep up with my life, you can subscribe to the travel blog. There's no way to subscribe to the newspaper blog, but if you friend me on Facebook (Jan Shepherd Ross), you can keep up with those as well.

Thanks again. Have a good life.

I certainly plan to.

Take A Cruise Or Read About My UnFabulous Hair

2009-08-04T09:24:00.002-04:00

One of the amenities we enjoy most on a cruise is a balcony or, at the very least, an ocean view cabin. We like to be able to see the water and we enjoy sitting out on our balcony when we are at sea or even when we are docked, just relishing the fresh air and the views. That said, it's also nice to save money with an inside cabin because you get to enjoy everything the ocean view residents do such as wonderful food and exotic locations at a bargain price. But the best possible situation is when you PAY the inside cabin price but actually get to STAY in an ocean view cabin. And that is an option you can enjoy on Norwegian Cruise Line's cruise from Boston to Bermuda on August 28th. Read more on my travel blog HERE.

So I was just looking over my blog posts for the last few days so I could try to cadge some ideas from them to make sure I didn't bore you with the same information - like that would EVER HAPPEN. Please. I would never write about the same topics like shorts and shorts or purses and purses and I won't even try to link to all the posts about shoes because that would be an EXERCISE IN FUTILITY and, speaking of exercise, I noticed that I wrote a couple of blog posts about exercise class so I won't talk about that again. This has nothing to do with the fact that I haven't actually BEEN to exercise class because that is TOTALLY not my fault because I have been very busy because y'all. Read more at my Herald-Leader blog HERE.

Head To St. Kitts

2009-08-03T09:07:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be honest here and tell you that, before researching and writing this post, I had no idea where St. Kitts was located. But now that I know all about it? I am SO ready to head there for vacation. St. Kitts is an Eastern Caribbean island located in the West Indies, about 45 minutes by plane from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Read the rest on my travel blog HERE.

For Fun Friday: July 31, 2009

2009-07-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Can't wait for this. It looks better than the first one.

http://www.movie-list.com/trailers.php?id=newmoon

Wow, that took a lot of work.

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/07/19/camouflage-photography-by-desiree-palmen/

No wonder we have so many issues.

http://www.beautifulperth.com/dumbenglish.html

Just The Links, Ma'am

2009-07-30T11:38:00.003-04:00

Check out my travel blog post today about a great condo or house at the gulf for half price. HERE
And then commiserate with me on my quest to find the perfect exercise class on my Herald-Leader blog HERE.

If you want keep up with all my blogging and other exciting minutiae of my life, add me as a friend in Facebook. It's Jan Shepherd Ross.

You May Still Have Time...

2009-07-29T08:34:00.001-04:00

...to fit in a cruise before school starts, depending on where you live and when school starts. Check out information about a great deal on a Disney cruise on my travel blog here: http://bit.ly/oeBK2

News Flash

2009-07-28T17:04:00.001-04:00

I have a news flash for you all and I'm sure you are going to be SUPREMELY interested in this.

My butt is KILLING ME.

Read why at my Herald-Leader blog HERE.

For Fun Friday: July 24, 2009

2009-07-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

Time travel is a premise that fascinates me. I can't imagine being in this woman's situation, though.

http://www.movie-list.com/trailers.php?id=timetravelerswife

I guess you really can buy anything on the Internet.

http://www.daddyos.com/

And last. A picture that struck so close to home, I had to share.

If you are thinking about a destination wedding, check out my travel blog post about Couples San Souci. Fabulous place! http://thetravelauthority.blogspot.com/2009/07/destination-wedding-couples-resort-in.html

I Want To Be More Gorgeous On Facebook Than I Am In Real Life

2009-07-23T09:07:00.000-04:00

I actually started to write about Facebook the other day and then I got distracted by the whole iPhone debacle and my post degenerated into a diatribe about iPhone use and I'm really pleased with the resonance of all those "d" words in this sentence and this is exactly how I got distracted the last time so here I am back to talking about Facebook. Read more about my desire for gorgeous photos of myself HERE on my Herald-Leader blog.

Kids Eat Free In Orlando

2009-07-22T13:34:00.001-04:00

There are a lot of special deals available now for kids to get free privileges at a variety of locations but this deal from American Express and The Travel Authority is one of the best I have seen. Many resorts offer a kids eat free option but this deal allows kids 11 and under to eat free at over 100 restaurants in Orlando. Instead of having to choose from a couple of restaurants at a resort, and a reduced menu, families can choose from a huge variety of restaurants and make everyone in the family happy with their meal choice. Read the rest at my travel blog HERE.

Try It Tuesday: Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets

2009-07-21T08:30:00.004-04:00

So, now that I have all this free time and I can keep up with my laundry with no problem at all, NOW I find this completely fabulous product to save time when doing laundry. It's these really cool laundry sheets that have the detergent and fabric softener (and anti-static is the 3rd) right in them. All you do is drop the sheet in the washer and then put it in the dryer along with the wet clothes. I couldn't believe it would actually work but it does! The clothes were clean and fresh and had no static.

Not that it takes all that much time to pour in laundry detergent and throw in a dryer sheet but I am all about less time for chores because that just means I have a lot more time for naps. Which is always a necessity.

So try these and let me know what you think.

And check out my Herald-Leader blog today about my aversion to iPhones. And mock me endlessly.

Punta Cana Princess

2009-07-20T09:09:00.004-04:00

I will eventually get back to writing over here but I've been busy wrangling a wild little blonde pony at my house all week while day care was closed and was lucky to keep the travel posts coming. And now that I have written that and looked back, I realize I described him the EXACT SAME WAY last week. Things must have been just like the wild west around here. And so they were. Check out the one for today and it may make you think about visiting Punta Cana.

A few years ago, my daughter and I wanted an inexpensive, all-inclusive getaway. We decided that an all-inclusive trip to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic was the best possible deal for our money as well as having the benefit of being a gorgeous, tropical location. Punta Cana has beautiful white sand beaches which face the calm and lovely Caribbean ocean, where the temperatures stay fairly constant all year long with an average of 80 degrees. We were traveling alone so we wanted a tour company that was reliable and where one payment would cover everything from food, lodgings, airfare and transfers. So we decided on Vacation Express and The Travel Authority. And were very glad we did. Read the rest on my travel blog here.

For Fun Friday: July 17, 2009

2009-07-17T10:00:00.006-04:00

I am kind of liking Ricky Gervais. He's growing on me.

http://www.movie-list.com/trailers.php?id=inventionoflying

Some truly strange duvet covers.

http://www.duvetandpillowwarehouse.co.uk/blog/2009/07/bizarre-duvet-covers/

Check out this youtube video - it's really incredible. I can't believe how they make it sound like a thunderstorm with their hands! (Thanks, Barb!)

Travel to Paris, Anyone?

2009-07-15T07:09:00.003-04:00

Seems like all I'm doing lately is writing on my travel blog. That and corraling a wild young pony with blonde hair who is visiting us this week while day care is closed. Now I know why they say you should have your kids while you are young. Although the kisses and hugs make all the strenuous exercise well worth it. In lieu of a fascinating and humorous post, just link over to my travel post about a two-for-one river cruise deal in Europe. This is on our after-retirement list. I hope we get to go soon...

http://thetravelauthority.blogspot.com/2009/07/two-for-one-to-city-of-lights.html

Try It Tuesday: Vaseline Daily Body Gel

2009-07-14T06:30:00.004-04:00

I saw an ad for this stuff in a magazine and I was kind of intriqued with the idea of using a gel to moisturize in the summer, instead of lotion. It just sounded cool and refreshing, especially since I'm spending a lot of time outside and at the pool. Well, I have to tell you that I LOVE this stuff. I thought it might be greasy or would just sit on my skin but it's not greasy at all; it's light and clean-smelling and it blends right in. I also like it does not have a heavy smell and I can wear perfume when I use this. The lotions are great but they smell so strong that I can't wear any of my perfume. If you go here, you can get a dollar off coupon. So, check this stuff out and let me know what you think.

I'm Not Sure What Is More Interesting About This Picture

2009-07-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

That I was so intrigued by the fact that crackers in Mexico have Spanish writing on them. (Duh.)

Or. That I was taking a picture of my crackers at an oceanside cafe with a lovely beach and turquoise water. And showing myself to be the wide-eyed tourist I totally was.

For Fun Friday July 10, 2009

2009-07-10T07:39:00.000-04:00

This looks hilarious. I think I recognize that beach!

http://www.movie-list.com/trailers.php?id=couplesretreat

This list includes some of our FAVORITE movies. "But of course"! (said with a faux French accent)

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Entertainment/Movies/10-Funny-Films-About-Money-Woes.html

Whether you are traveling or not this summer, here's a great list of books to read.

http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2009/07/summer-books-text

Retirement Is Great But It's Making Me Tired

2009-07-09T07:36:00.010-04:00

Seriously. I love retirement but I think I am busier now than I was when I was working. Of course, I am in summertime mode which means I must frantically clean my house from top to bottom and this even includes such ~~once a week once a month~~ OK once every six months jobs as mopping all the floors. Thank God I bought that lovely kitchen linoleum that hides the dirt so well. Who knew it was TOTALLY a different color when it was clean. Huh.

Tom was lying on the couch the other day as I dusted the downstairs (changing the dust rag often because they were getting so filthy - God, who cleans this house? Oh. That would be me.) and I said "I bet you think I'm going nuts cleaning so much" and he managed to drag his attention away from Jerry Springer long enough to nod. What he doesn't realize is that I do this every summer - he is just usually at work. Now that we are both home, he can truly witness my obsessive cleanliness.

It's this way every summer. I never have time to clean the whole house at one time during the school year. It's the bathrooms/laundry one Saturday and dusting/vacuuming/laundry the next Saturday and if I skip a Saturday because of a social event or shoe shopping, it's almost impossible to catch up. And I can't imagine how I got anything at all done when I had kids to take care of. It's a wonder mothers ever get anything done.

So. My house is pretty clean now. But I have been taking my little Moose to swim lessons in the morning and I'm not sure how a 1/2 hour swim lesson can consume the entire day but it seems to do just that. Of course, the afternoon naps consume part of my day. But I am not willing to negotiate on that. Summer naps are absolutely fabulous. Turn on the fan, get a light quilt to put over you, no set time to get up or to get anything done, and just sleep. FABULOUS.

And then there's reading. I finally have time to go to the library, check out books and sit and read them. I am loving this. I devour one book, throw it down and begin another. I'm like a person who has staggered out of the desert after being lost for days and you just handed me a pitcher of clear, cool water.

I got an email from my replacement the other day, asking about some techie stuff and how to do this and that and I thought "She is probably sending this from my desk. In my library. On my computer". Huh. I felt a little pang of sadness. A tiny little pang.

And then I took a nap.

And felt much better.

Try It Tuesday: Fresca

2009-07-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

OK, this is not a new product but one I have rediscovered, thanks to my mom. She offered me a Fresca a while back and when I took one sip, I remembered what I had forgotten over the years. Namely, that Fresca is FABULOUS. Citrusy, grapefruity, clean tasting and refreshing. All other diet drinks, even my beloved Diet Mountain Dew, now taste too sweet. I am living on this stuff.

And I was astonished to find out while looking for a picture for this post that it now comes in Black Cherry and Peach, which I WILL be trying to find somewhere. If you are looking for a crisp and refreshing diet drink that has no caffeine, check this stuff out and let me know what you think.

For Fun Friday: July 3, 2009

2009-07-03T07:26:00.000-04:00

All the new movies seem to be either about zombies or vampires. Here's the latest vampire offering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayYiMygqlfo

44 Travel Rules - and I'm still learning new ones.

http://reidontravel.blogspot.com/2009/06/44-little-travel-rules-no-one-tells-you.html

I have often thought about how easy it would be to walk from one movie showing to another without paying but have never actually done it and would probably never do it. But here's exactly HOW to do it.

http://www.movie-madness.org/

Try It Tuesday: Pillsbury Perfect Portions

2009-06-30T07:21:00.004-04:00

So I have spent a lot of these Try It Tuesday posts on healthy, low-fat alternatives lately so I think it is high time I talked about a something delicious that is not quite so healthy.

So only eat one.

Because you must try these Pillsbury Perfect Portions biscuits. We occasionally like some bread with our dinner - luckily, this is not an obsession with me and I can usually take or leave bread especially since my hips scream LEAVEIT - but, with just the two of us, it doesn't make sense to fix a whole can of biscuits.

These are great because you can just take out how many you want and heat them up. And they taste delicious.

Check them out and let me know what you think.

You Know You're Really Retired When They Give Your Mailbox To The New Girl

2009-06-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

So I left work on Friday at 2:30 and walked out the door and I was retired.

It was little anticlimactic, I must say.

Everyone else had already left for the summer so it was just me and a bunch of construction guys in the back of the school who were jack hammering up the floor. And they really didn't care if I was retiring.

I had already been wined and dined and feted by all my friends and coworkers so it was just me there at the end.

But the end had actually come a little sooner than that.

When I had gone in the office to check and see if I had any last-minute mail I should take care of before I left.

And realized I no longer had a mailbox.

And the new girl had one.

It was an odd feeling.

Not bad. Not sad.

Just. Odd.

For Fun Friday: June 26, 2009

2009-06-26T07:15:00.002-04:00

My favorite line? "Anyone want some Purel"?

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/zombieland/

This site is pretty cool. You can put together clothes and accessories from a variety of sites and see how they look.

http://www.polyvore.com/

I may pay too much for makeup, but at least I don't participate in any of these beauty rituals.

http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Beauty-Spotlight/Bizarre-Beauty-Rituals

Costa Rica Travel Destination = FAIL

2009-06-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

So I was just writing a blog post for my travel blog about a trip to Costa Rica one of the travel agents had taken. I'm just writing away, editing and rephrasing and adding photographs and thinking about what a great trip this was and how fabulous Costa Rica seems and how I would totally like to go there and then.

This.

After breakfast the next day, we explored the canal, visited the local school and town of Tortuguero and then just relaxed by the pool. Lizards and five – six foot iguanas are a common sight around the pool area.

Y'all. Have you READ this post?

Then you know that Costa Rica was just dropped off the list of possible vacation destinations.

Well. At least the jungle part.

I mean. They have beaches, right? And cities? Those would be OK.

But if I see a six foot iguana?

I am so OUT OF THERE.

Try It Tuesday: Weight Watcher Cream Cheese

2009-06-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

I love bagels and cream cheese for breakfast but it's really difficult to determine how much cream cheese you are slathering on your bagel - and the non-fat kind has a weird consistency.

So I was THRILLED to find these darling little individual cream cheeses from Weight Watcher. Not only do they taste good, you can figure out exactly how much you are using - and they are are only 1 point for the whole container. They are low fat but I think the consistency and taste are just like regular cream cheese.

Try them and let me know what you think!