It’s a Hospital, Stupid

Yesterday, I had the unfortunate experience of hitching a ride to the ER in the front of an ambulance (don’t worry, aches and pains aside…everyone is OK). But on the way to the ER, we didn’t nedessarily know that things would be okay. There was only concern and a need to get in front of the ER doctor. *Insert unhappy rant*

The hospital we went to was St. Francis Medical Center, a new facility under Penrose-St. Francis (see pretty picture)

It’s a nice looking hospital no doubt; the fact that it’s brand new doesn’t hurt either. And the food is pretty decent for hospital food. The only question I have is: Who’s the idiot architect that designed the parking layout?? Ok two questions: And which moronic suit approved it??

*If you agree that it should be a straight shot from the road to the ambulance drop-off, raise your hand*

Now, the picture above was taken when the building and parking lots were completed but the layout from the main entrance to the parking lot was still in progress. Notice the distance? Yea, that’s not for fear of hospitals, that’s because between the main entrance and the hospital there is a long (out of the way) road that very slowly meanders towards the hospital before it leads you into 3, count ‘em 3(!) ridiculous round-abouts. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing a round-about, I’m sure you can empathize without me having to say anything. After the three, count ‘em 3(!) ridiculous round-abouts, you have a few more twists and sharp turns before you finally see the emergency entrance. Alas, there's one final sharp turn to get to the actual ambulance entrance.

Heh? Are you kidding me??!!?!

The layout is worse than the worst airport I’ve been to and yes, this is the only way to get in or out. The ambulance driver almost took the wrong exit on the second round-about during daylight and we did take a wrong exit on the very first round-about leaving at night. Imagine the poor patient strapped to a gurney in the back, having to endure all that crap. *Ouch* Imagine a patient bleeding to death or suffering a heart attack and it takes 20 minutes to get to the hospital and another 15 just to get from the main entrance to the ER.

Doctor: The patient died on the way?*

Driver: He would have been fine, but, we took a wrong turn on the second round-about, ended up by some apartment complex in who knows where before we could turn around, then exited on the third round-about in front of the wrong ER entrance. Btw: Where IS the ambulance entrance?? We never did find it....

Pffft. Morons.

Top 10 Favorite Movies of All Time

So after I posted the best action films of the last 30 years, someone asked me if any of those would qualify as my favorite movies of all time. My answer: some, yes but for the most part, not really.

Here's my list of my all-time favorite movies in no particular order because that would be TOO difficult I think. These all qualify as #1 depending on the day and my mood! There were only two criteria for this list:
1. Which movies do I tend to watch over and over again, and
2. Which movies, in my opinion, stand the test of time.

1. Aliens [best action flick and just such a fantastic movie! In all honesty, I've probably seen this movie 50+ times throughout the years....]

2. Frequency [I love movies that have a unique story line, surprising twists and turns, and in the end all the pieces seem to fit together perfectly. This is one of those movies. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it - it will quickly move up in your list of favorites - I promise!]

3. the Usual Suspects [This is another one of those nicely constructed movies with a unique story, great cast and a wow of a finish. Kevin Spacey is tops in this movie]

4. Gone With the Wind [A classic. How can this movie not be on my list. I adore Rhett Butler! And as selfish, pig-headed and spoiled as she may be, I also adore Scarlett O'hara. My grandmother introduced this movie to me when I was in 5th grade and I've never stopped loving it]

5. Eight Below [This is a relatively new movie released by Disney; and it is fantastic! Both heartbreaking and uplifting]

6. Star Wars: the second trilogy: IV, V, VI [No words necessary. I'll just say this: if you're not a Star Wars fan then I really just have no words... This is the ultimate fantasy, feel-good movie of all time.]

7. Back to the Future [You made a time machine....out of a DeLorean?!?!?!, Helloooo McFly!, I've never seen purple underwear before Calvin, You're my muh- my muh-...., Dad-da-daddio, now why don't you make like a tree and get outta here (i laugh every time I hear this because I'm pretty sure it's make like a tree and leave). All together great lines and memorable scenes. One of my favorites is the opener and the "mega amp" blowout]

8. Apollo 13 [I have a thing for movies that are based on true events and have a certain documentary type quality to them; and this is just a great one start to finish. Outstanding cast and great directing. It's just a good Sunday evening-type movie. The extended addition is also terrific]

9. Terminator ["I'll be back." Another movie that hit my list of top 10 action movies and it's one of my favorite movies to watch when I'm sick. In all honesty, I've probably seen this movie 100+ times over the years. I also had a crush a Michael Biehn too so that helps - although Arnie's naked tusche seemed to get a little more screen time.]

10. Miracle [another one of those Disney feel-good movies. I think this is one of Kurt's best performances. Personally, it doesn't hurt having to watch 2 hours of hot hockey players tussle on the ice either!]

Have any recommendations? Share 'em if you got 'em!

Clap, clap, clap for Me

OK. Brief post.

Earlier this year I made a bet with another blogger on the outcome of the election races and to C-Nut’s credit, he paid up nicely! Thanks C-Nut!

Click here for more details and to view my singular post . While you're at it, check out some of his other posts – one of my favorites is the post on assisted living/retirement homes.

Top 10 Action Movies [in the last 3 decades]

I absolutely love a great action flick and all but 3 of these are part of my DVD collection. I recently happened upon an interesting top 10 action movie list drummed-up by Entertainment Weekly and it listed Die Hard as the best action movie ever made, and Raiders of the Lost Ark came in third. *Insert twisted face; do a ‘lil head shake*

After reading through the rest of the toppers which even included Spider-Man2 and Desperado (puh-lease), I was suddenly motivated to come up with my own list.

First, the qualifiers:

1) obviously had to be a great action movie with shoot ‘em up, blow shit up, cut ‘em down kind of action.

2) plot moves quickly, the action keeps on coming

3) good storyline told from a unique perspective meaning, no action movies draped in bad clichés made it onto this list. The best action flicks are the result of great action embedded in a great movie.

4) stands the test of time and replays meaning, it’s just as good the tenth time you watch it as it was the first time you watched it three years ago, i.e..

Now,

THE LIST

1. Aliens [What can I say…Ellen Ripley is your definitive badass. This movie has it all: It’s action packed with brilliant explosions, armored marines, non-stop machine-gun fire and cool grenade launchers, exploding aliens that bleed acid, an android that gets ripped in half…. could an action movie get any better? Getta outta here! No contest. It’s hard to believe this movie came out in 1986.]
2. Terminator [This was one of my favorite movies growing up and that still rings true. The gargantuan Schwarzenegger against the thin but muscular Biehn, whose whole head probably equals the width of Arnolds left bicep - great stuff and never a dull moment.]
3. Gladiator [“A general who became a slave; a slave who became a gladiator; a gladiator who defied an Emperor.” Come on, the movie itself knows its own greatness and this line sums up the expectations of the action perfectly. Great movie, great acting, great action.]
4. 300 [My brother recommended this film to me and its pretty much all battle, all the way, through and through. Spears, swords, and rolling heads, this movie is action – turbocharged; makes you want to go out, get your swordplay on and kick some serious ass. And Gerard Butler – so masculine and commanding as the fierce King Leonidis…brilliant, bushy beard and all]
5. Die Hard [It’s MacGuyver meets Rambo’s smaller self. A damn fine action movie that propelled a slew of films into a whole new action film genre. While it doesn’t take the top spot in my opinion, it’s definitely worthy of top-5 placement.]
6. Lethal Weapon
7. Predator
8. The Matrix
9. Kill Bill Vol 2 [Ok, Vol 1 is filled with more bload-soaked action certainly but I chose Vol 2 because I prefer the more natural flow of plot in tandem with some kickass kung-fu acrobatics and ninja swordplay.]
10. LOTR: Fellowship of The Ring [Ugly, foul beasties..dueling wizards..hairy, long-footed midgets and more… Great characters, great story, and great clanking of metal on metal; this is the ultimate action-adventure “fantasy” movie.]

Top 5 very, very close Runners-up [in order]:

Bourne Identity

Braveheart

Bourne Supremacy

LOTR: The Two Towers

Star Wars III Revenge of the Sith [Some might argue here but c’mon, the whole fight scene between Anakin and Obewon? Master Yoda and Darth Sidius? Everyone was waiting for these matched duels and they did not disappoint. A perfect ‘ending’ to an entire series]

Top 10 Most Romantic Movies

Ok, this would be going off my usual marketing/politics/random brainiac blog posts but recently some friends and I got into a most lively discussion trying to agree on the top 10 most romantic movies in “our” lifetime. We each came up with 10 and slowly and painfully voted out movies by rational discussion followed by heated argument followed by majority vote. I’ll have you know that half of my movies made it on the final list (pat pat on the back).

So, after several bottles of wine, a gaggle of oohs and aahhhs, and reminiscing over some very great love scenes, here goes the list with the number one spot of the most romantic movie in the last 30 years going to a tie between the top two movies we split on. OK, so technically it's the top 11 movies....

THE LIST

1. BBCs North and South [The tall, dark, and yummy Mr. Thornton and the sweet, seemingly impervious Margaret Hale – great chemistry – and when they finally kiss at the train depot, trust me - you’ll get familiar with the rewind button. This was one of my top 3; long but well worth the watch. The intensity in the way Mr. Thornton always looks at Margaret Hale – we all agreed - melting.]

1. Titanic
2. Atonement
3. Moulin Rouge [So what if it’s a circus of onscreen ‘bizarre’, the romance between the penniless bohemian writer Christian and his sparkling courtesan Satine brings focus and intensity to the movie. The mushy love duets don’t hurt either.]
   
4. Somewhere in Time [Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, two gorgeous people in a sweet time-travel romance. I absolutely loved this movie the first time I saw it 10-12 years ago on some obscure movie channel.]
5. The English Patient
6. The Notebook
7. Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightley) [So it doesn’t exactly stay true to plot but who cares. The chemistry between Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy is still delish. The only real downside to this movie is the absence of a passionate kiss the moment Darcy professes his love for the second time. A hand kiss does this romance a disservice, but it still made my list.]
8. Persuasion (BBC remake)
   
9. Bridges of Madison County
   
10. Pretty Woman [I prefer more drama-based romantic movies but I was over-ruled]
    

Top 5 Runner ups that almost made the list:

1. Dirty Dancing

2. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

3. BBC Pride and Prejudice (with Collin Firth)

4. When Harry Met Sally

5. Ghost
   

Thoughts? Share ‘em if you got ‘em.

Bad Managers Be Gone...

So there are managers, and there are “managers.” Fortunately, I’ve never had any “horrific” managers – some were weaker than others certainly…..but I’ve known plenty of people that were bad managers and I’ve known plenty more that have had bad managers. My team recently grew and after having a series of one-on-one’s last week, I started thinking about the importance of being a manager and the responsibilities that we as managers have to our employees.

It’s not an easy job and I believe that the performance review process for managers – in so far as how they’re doing as a manager - is grossly insufficient. There are far too many that continue to take on reports when in reality they should be booted from their managerial seats and stripped of their manager titles.

So, with that said…what are the essential qualities of a good manager? Here’s my vote on the top 6 ….

Good Managers Assume Responsibility and Protect Their Employees

• You can delegate authority but you cannot delegate responsibility. When people screw up, a good manager takes responsibility because the chain of command goes up, not down. Managers can address the issue directly with the employee and take separate action but when dealing with higher-ups, a manager does not throw that individual under the bus; that’s just poor form. And yes, it’s happened to me to me once or twice and no, when it happens - you don’t forget. In fact, any manager who violates this essential quality…is a dirt-bag.

Good Managers Empower Their Employees

• They understand the team process and believe in promoting responsibility and accountability. They understand the concept of “delegating authority.”

Good Managers Develop Employee Skills

• Set goals and objectives; develop stretch goals and action plans. They don’t just throw something slipshod together, attach some numbers and call it a “performance plan.” They are mindful. Few things irk me more than managers who take little or no interest in the professional development of their employees. I took on several new reports and reviewed their latest performance evaluations and for one individual, I saw more N/A’s for entire sections of a three page document than any one employee should ever have --- ever. I was deeply offended. Setting goals and objectives is a critical part of being a manager, for all the moving parts that are involved. Goals and objectives should be communicated clearly, and in a meaningful and relevant way. Managers who fail to take an interest not only face a greater risk of having poor performers, but of losing the respect of their employees and their colleagues – as bad management rarely goes unnoticed. That’s not to say of course, that the reverse will guarantee top-dollar billing but non-participation gets you, the manager, absolutely na-da other than bare-minimum effort. Obviously this is not good – for productivity, efficiency or morale; and all of these things impact the company.

Good Managers Take Time and Make Time

• OK. I don’t mean the mindless weekend chitchat – although I’m sure this is acceptable in some environments ;-) Good managers communicate often with their teams be it by email, phone, or quick drop-by’s. Good managers take the time and make the time to meet with their employees on a regular basis; discuss projects, new developments, etc. They “itemize.” Keeping employees informed helps maintain the spirit that “we are a team and you are an important part of that team.” Plus, an informed employee doesn’t hurt the company either.

Good Managers Understand Productivity and Efficiency

• They know what objectives must be achieved within stated time frames and they are able to communicate that information in a meaningful way to other people. Equally as important is effectively managing productivity and performance. For me, weekly meetings are helpful for keeping the team up-to-speed with what’s going on. If you’re having weekly meetings, please – make sure they’re “productive.” Almost as irksome as having to deal with bad managers, is having to attend useless meetings where questions go un-answered, problems remain un-solved and I just wasted an hour of my time. If an employee consistently follows-up a meeting with multiple follow-up questions or worse, multiple missteps, managers need to take heed and rethink the format of their meetings and/or meeting agendas (or consider actually putting together a default meeting agenda).
  

And finally,…GREAT Managers aren’t just a title, they are a living force.

• They’re tough and they have high standards, but it’s their force and their leadership that inspires and drives the team to accomplish and get things done. A great manager has not only a purpose but dedication and emotional commitment to the job and to the team.

So…agree-disagree? Miss something? Ever have a “BAD MANAGER” experience?? Do tell; I love juicy gossip….

It IS a Buyer's Market...

Just a brief comment on this Ad Age article...

The bust in the housing market hit a lot of folks’ monumentally hard and positioned thousands of home owners for a major fiscal crisis. I understand. But as the housing market cycles through and out of this recession it’s important that we not only do what we can to get through it - but we need to remain focused on the big picture. What does that mean..it means that even in a major housing slump, there is at some point - a good investment choice in the making if you take advantage. We [in the financial services world and as investors] always need to ask the question “what does the market look like now and what does that mean for [me] the investor”.

The buyer’s reality: when considering whether or not to buy a house for the long term – now IS a good time to buy. Prices are low, financial loan requirements are stricter because of the subprime crash and general housing recession, and so long as you accurately and fairly adjust your income to what you realistically can afford in mortgage costs – now, and probably for the next 4-6 months - is the best time to buy if you’re thinking long term. Certain areas will always be high cost areas regardless of where the general market stands (i.e., areas in California and New York). However, if you wait until next year as many people recommend prices may be up high enough that you just might regret having waited.

Two obvious points you need to ask yourself when considering the purchase of a new home:
What can I afford?
What am I qualified to buy?

For those of you who don't know who I am or what I do - let me be clear I do not work in the mortgage/housing business, etc. But regardless, I do think that we need to stop toiling over the housing crisis and start focusing on the opportunities resultant to it. Scaring people with the notion that any claim supporting a buyers market is yet another way of duping potential consumers into greater debt - is just irresponsible. If you're thinking of buying long-term (8+ years), do the math with your finances and do some research; There are great deals to be had and for the next 4-6 months.

Welcome baby Charles Allan Shaw!

The Shaw/Tuck family had a wonderful new Christmas addition this year - baby Charles Allan Shaw. My brother and his wife Valerie are the proud parents of a healthy, beautiful baby boy weighing in at 7 pounds 15 ounces; And I am a proud new Auntie. He's a cool 21.5 inches long and apparently he's got GI-normous boats for feet which should bode well for him in manhood haha :-)

The name Charles comes from our granddad Charles Shaw and Allan comes from Valerie's granddad Allan Tuck - so he's got the best of both worlds. He came a little early and popped out on Christmas day (but we figure he won't feel the pain of that until he's a little older - ;-). Doh!

Welcome baby Shaw!

Are You an Entrepreneur?

Just a short blurb today...

I had a fun conversation with a friend of mine today and she told me she was thinking about starting her own business. She has an idea for a product and she believes it’s a market winner in a niche category. Okay, I added the niche. Anyway, I was thrilled for her and insisted she start putting together the details, draft a business plan, patent her product, do some research and start shopping around for potential 3rd party vendors. I got so excited thinking about all the pieces of the marketing plan that if she weren't in San Francisco or I weren't in Colorado - I probably would have hopped in my car, drove to her place, and sat her down to get the ball rolling.

After our conversation I started thinking about some of my other friends who have that entrepreneurial spirit and it got me thinking – about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in today’s bustling marketplace. As for myself – I don’t think I have that fundamental ‘just do it’ quality when it comes to starting my own business...

• I like having stability and certainty in what I’m doing
  
• I like taking risks but with a relative amount of caution
• I like knowing when that paycheck will come in and for how much it’s going to be
  
• I love thinking creatively but I can’t create something from nothing
  
• I love my independence and being in control but I fear I would languish under the pressures of being the end-all/be-all between success and failure

And all that’s okay with me. Some people are built for creating a business and others for sustaining a business.

Which one are you?

Can You Say, MOO?

In the quiet serenity of the country-side miles away from signs of civilization, finally, I'm sitting down gauging my thoughts about what to post next. For all of about 60 seconds, I had the country music station on the radio (which as it turns out is the only station I get this far out) but now it's just me and my laptop communing in silence. Fortunately my laptop has wireless internet access for the rare occasion that I happen to be near a wireless network (like, now) since my apartment does not currently have internet access of any kind. I expect that my posts over the next couple of weeks will continue to be few and far between so I apologize in advance. BLECH.

After my two and half month cross-country road trip, I went back to my apartment in Philadelphia and stewed over what to do next. Some family prodding and two interviews later, I finally decided to go back to school. I packed my belongings, just last week moved to the stix of Colorado and in two weeks time I'll be going back to school full time.

Now, some don’t believe me when I say that, out here, a moving vehicle other than my own is really a welcome sight but the truth is, I’m so far in the stix I’ve got deer for backyard buddies and cows for next-door neighbors.

Can you say MOO?

It’s nearly 10 miles to the nearest small town with nothing but pine trees and open range for miles in between and it’s roughly 15-20 miles from Colorado Springs – a bigger not-so-quaint- town that falls strikingly short of providing that luxurious zest of big city feel. I miss Philadelphia and oddly enough, when I was in Philadelphia, I missed New York; Funny how it works that way.

I did however move into an apartment that is 250 square feet larger than my former loft-apartment. Oh yea…we’ve got over 1000-sq ft of cozy, country living with just the right touch of big city feel. It comes fully equipped with laundry room, kitchen, an enormous front deck and a redonkulously large 3-4 car garage. Always a huge bonus is that I’m closer to family than I’ve been in several years and closer to my dad than I’ve been in, well…..14 years.

So friends, this will be my new home for the next 2 years...winters blanketed with fluffy snow, warm dry summers and mild springs. If ever you're out here, get lost, or need a break from the big city - come on over!

2007 Roadtrip Pics

Well, after incessant pandering from a few folks I finally got my pics uploaded.

**Yikes.**

Over 700 photos in all. Not to worry I selected the ones that best represented key points of interest along my trip and broke them out into groups for easier viewing. Now, I do occasionally lapse into moments of forgetfulness and hindsight so unfortunately there are a number of amazing places I explored but came back without pictures (i.e., Victoria, BC where I forgot to charge my camera battery ahead of time. Doh!).

Of course, since this blog in total consists of over 200 photos - I'm sure they won't be missed haha.. Note: Best slideshow speed - fast! There is also an options link in the lower right hand corner of the slideshow to see/hide comments. To return to the main blog page, use your browsers 'back' button.

Enjoy!

Set 1: On the road to CA and 4th of July at Mom's (25)
The start of my 9.5 week cross country roadtrip! Unfortunately I didn't make too many stops heading to CA; just St. Louis and CO primarily to visit with family. Of course - did I get any pictures? No.

View photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanna-l-shaw/sets/72157601883705840/show/


Set 2: Up and down the California Coast (30)
The start of what I call "the second half" of my roadtrip. I spent two weeks tootaling up and down the CA coast visiting with family and friends, checking out wine country, and getting in some scenic sightseeing.

During those two weeks I spent a few days in Monterey Bay visiting my brother and his wife Valerie, I stayed one night in Half-moon Bay as well as Bodega Bay (beautiful beaches and sunsets), Napa Valley (making stops at my favorite vineyards - yum!), and Saucelito (highly recommend Casa Madrona for it's location, roomy bathrooms and amazing views overlooking the bay). After that, it was off to San Fran for some fun with old friends.

View Photos: http://flickr.com/photos/deanna-l-shaw/sets/72157601883747786/show/

Set 3: Yosemite and Lassen Volcanic National Park in CA (24)
This part of my cross-country roadtrip begins "the solo-journey" - just me and my cat tootaling around. These are pics from my stops at Yosemite and Lassen Volcanic National Park (CA).

I took my first dip of the trip in Yosemite's Merced River. And I highly recommend it. There are plenty of private, quiet spots along the river where the currents are mild and the waters deep enough to frolick and soak for hours.

If you're one for riding hard on tight twisties - Lassen will bring you oodles of smiles! It's all S-, U- and 360 degree-type turns throughout this small gem! It's a small place to visit but definitely worthwhile - a couple of large campgrounds, a few very scenic hikes, and all-together yields signficantly less traffic than any of the other National Parks I visited (which explains the 'pay on your honor' entrance fee).

View photos: http://flickr.com/photos/deanna-l-shaw/sets/72157601883820322/show/

Set 4: Traversing through Oregon, Washington, Iowa and Montana (34)
Leaving CA and heading North through Oregon, Washington, Iowa and Montana. I did a lot of touristy things in these states like taking a heli-tour over NE Oregon and going horseback riding. The biggest sightseeing trips: I took the ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, British Columbia, and went to Glaciar National Park (MT). Montana btw: has the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen - hands down winner in my opinion (my photos don't do it justice).

I made my way through Oregon via the town of Bend - an old logging town with a decent historic downtown district and a few interesting sights however, if I had to pass that way again, I'd stay in the town of Sisters instead. Sisters is very small (you can drive through it in under a minute) and all the buildings have the"Wild Bill" theme going on which just makes the town POP. It's totally touristy, but it's tons of fun mashed into a quarter of a quarter of a square mile and the bbq-ribs are to die for.

After Bend, OR - I made my way up the Oregon coast along highway 101 stopping off at a few quaint fishing towns for fresh oysters and uh, cheese (don't ask). Mmm good. I spent two nights in the town of Astoria (where Kindergarten Cop was filmed) and actually went to a movie theatre where you can lounge on a couch, order pizza and drink beer. *must lobby for one of those in PA* After a long night of lounging and "hydrating" I made my way into Washington, going around the Olympic Peninsula before taking the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, British Columbia.

Interestingly...On the way to Port Angeles, I stopped for the night along the outskirts of Hoh National Rainforest - it was very late, very dark and my little dirt road was draped in layers and layers of dense fog. Imagine my shock factor when I woke up at the crack of dawn and found myself parked less than 20 feet from the water. Hahaa...YEA. A little extra tap of the gas and my "frolicking in the water" stories would have taken on a whole new meaning...

Oh, and there's a pic in here of a can opener. My mom (bless her heart) gave it to me for those long nights when I'm stranded with nothing to eat but canned goods. Look closely - what's wrong with that picture...(?)

View photos: http://flickr.com/photos/deanna-l-shaw/sets/72157601885028082/show/

Set 5: Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons (42)
I camped out in Yellowstone for 3 days and made the most of it. What can I say...it's awesome! And look at some of the views...just breathtaking. Initially I thought I could do it in a day. Ha! Silly me...

Staying in Yellowstone was by far and away my favorite string of days going solo. Yellowstone is a must see if you've never been. Lots of good trailheads, fun waters to play in, great sightseeing and fun campgrounds to boot. All together...Wyoming is tops for scenic driving.

View photos: http://flickr.com/photos/deanna-l-shaw/sets/72157601890127163/show/

Set 6: "It's Hog Time!" - Devil's Tower & Sturgis During Annual Harley Rally (24)
"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". Best to apply this mode of thinking when tootaling about in Sturgis during Harley week. ;-)

What can I say. A lot of fun and uh, definitely a "unique" experience ;-)

View photos: http://flickr.com/photos/deanna-l-shaw/sets/72157601890427327/show/

Set 7: Mt. Rushmore, Cave of the Mounds and Niagara Falls (28)
The last of the roadtrip photos. These pics cover the last real sightseeing stops I made between Sturgis, SD and Bar Harbor, Maine: Mt. Rushmore (SD), Cave of the Mounds in Wisconsin, and Niagara Falls (NY).

Sorry, no "skunky" photos... ;-)

Trivia question: Which Presidents are represented in Mt. Rushmore? No googling!

View photos: http://flickr.com/photos/deanna-l-shaw/sets/72157601890661845/show/


Well, That's all folks! Lots of photos to peruse but hopefully you're able to some good insight into my trip and some of what I experienced. If you have any affinity for roadtrips - some "mini"-version of this is highly recommended to cool your head, unload some stress and just have fun. ;-)

Roadtrip Across America

In the last few years, I've done quite a bit of traveling - some abroad but mostly domestic. In fact most of my travel has been done on the road. There is something about being on the open road that, for me, equates to a sense of absolute freedom and there are few things that give me more pleasure than being on a roadtrip; It's having the freedom to throw the rule-book aside, go where I want to go, do what I want to do, and more importantly, it's having the freedom to change my mind at any given time. I love not knowing what I'll see next, who I'll meet or where I'll end up.

Now, I've always wanted to do the full-blown "see everything and do everything" cross-country road trip but the work-vacation schedule never allowed the time. Finally, after being on the road for 9.5 weeks, traveling through 26 states and putting on 16,142 miles...I'm happy to say that it's something I can now cross off my to-do list. :-)

Not long after my 4-year run with JPMorgan Chase ended in May (uh, new info for those of you who didn't know) I packed my bags, picked up a few on-the-go necessities, loaded-up the cat and hit the road. My travels, initially intended to take only 4-weeks, brought me from the East Coast to the West Coast, up through the Northwest regions of Oregon and Washington, down through the backbone of the Midwest, and as far Northeast as Niagara Falls and Bar Harbor Maine.

One of the great things about road trips, and traveling in general, is of course meeting all different kinds of people and having cool and unusual conversations. During my travels, I ran into quite a few folks who asked me whether or not traveling by myself and cross-country is at all boring. At the time I simply said "No." however, I do actually have a better answer.


The Highlights
During my 9.5 weeks of being on the road, I visited with friends and family from Philadelphia to the California Coast. I reconnected with old friends and made a slew of new ones. I met folks from seven different countries and from all spectrums of the economic ladder. I roomed in some luxurious resort hotels, a couple of quaint bed and breakfasts, and an historic hotel that takes you back to the days where motor-cars were innovation, cigar-bars were luxury and flapper-girls were the beginning of the end of the ultra-conservative fashionista. I slept on National Park campgrounds and camped on lake and riverside beaches hidden deep in the serenity of the mountains with views overlooking the spectacular beauty of the mountains. And ok, I also crashed in a dozen or so (ahem) very scenic interstate rest stops with views overlooking the picnic tables, and vending machines and pet exercise area. ;-)

I took a helicopter tour over the Northwest region of Oregon; ferried over from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, British Columbia; and went horseback riding on the beach at Sunset. When the sun was blistering, I frolicked in the cool waters of glacial lakes and riverbeds and in the evenings soaked in the warmth of the hot springs. I watched sunsets that lit up the skyline with hues of hot pink, deep lavender and burnt orange and awoke to spectacular sunrises and the sounds of nature.

In Yellowstone, I had a close encounter with a grumpy bison and saw my first full rainbow. In Sturgis, South Dakota I went to a phenominal ZZ-top concert and partied with the Harley Davidson crowd (true and new) till the wee hours of the morning while donning my new Harley Davidson "GENDER CANDY" t-shirt and hot pink biker bandana. haha! My dad would have just loooooved that! Of course, I still represented the ultra-yuppy, "non-biker" who clearly stood out of the crowd. **Most folks thought I was just lost**

There were so many things I experienced, things that would take hours to write-about. In all honesty, it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one filled with memories I will never forget; the people or the places. So back to the question: was traveling cross-country by myself boring?...

Ha! "No."

And besides, I wasn't alone - I had Chompurr with me, my furry one-eyed "guard-cat" (though admittedly she tends to be more of an attraction than a deterrent).


Bloopers and Mishaps
Even the greatest road trips are not without their mishaps and I definitely had my fair share - though fortunately none that involved roadside accidents or breakdowns. Here are just a few:

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While driving through the Midwest, I bought two jackets and a vest...then lost two jackets and a vest all within a span of 48 hours. So much for new memorabilia...

**insert Homer Simpson head-scratch**

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Leaving Sturgis, South Dakota I knew that my next stop would be Mount Rushmore so I hopped on I-90 Eastbound and drove 310 miles (~4-4.5 hours) before I suddenly thought to myself "self: what exit is Mt Rushmore?". I pulled off to the side of the road, whipped out my trusty Atlas and doh(!)...much to my chagrin realized that Mt. Rushmore was in fact, 60 miles south of Sturgis.

Stop. Reverse. Backtrack.

I left Sturgis at 9:00 that morning, maximized my time in Mt. Rushmore within all of 45 minutes, and by the time I pulled over for the night at 11:30 pm - I was in fact 45 minutes west of where I was earlier in the day when I stopped to turn around...

So, If you ever want to know how one puts on 1,000 miles without ever actually going anywhere...that's one way.

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I was mistaken for a homelss person living out of my car (of course I did have all kinds o canned goods stockpiled, a pillow, blanket, clothes strewn about and all my cat's worldly goods); I was mistaken for a trucker (have no idea - presumably because I'm scarier in the morning than I thought); and a hitchhiker (because apparently doing your make-up at 4 a.m. at a truckstop in the sticks of the midwest looks "questionable")

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Speaking of the sticks... I got lost in the sticks of Wisconsin looking for Cave of the Mounds and drove around in circles for 3.5 hours on unmarked roads, using a 5 year old Atlas that had incomplete markings. My annoy level was nearing an all-time high but, not to be defeated.. I finally stopped at the Blue Mounds grocery store and in a bit of a huffy state, asked the cashier "where, for the love of god, is Cave of the Mounds.?.?" Imagine my surprise (and embarassment) when she says to me "Pull out of the parking lot and go left. Stop when you come to the big sign that says 'turn here for Cave of the Mounds'." **of course. how stupid of me.**

'Thank you'. Head down. Exit quickly.

Cave of the Mounds was pretty cool and definitely an attraction I think worth visiting. But beware of leaving the sticks of Wisconsin. On my way out, I crossed paths with a skunk doddling on the wrong side of the road.

Question: Why did the skunk cross the road.
Answer: Presumably to get to the other side but now we'll never know ;-)
**insert Homer Simpson nose-pinch**

The smell that rocked the car was pretty unbearable to say the least. The windows stayed down for two days straight (hence the 18 mosquito bites), we made “a lot” of stops, and we got “a lot” of looks.

Maybe I should have had a sign that read “sorry. hit a skunk. my bad.”

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After several years of speed racing across interstates without incident, I finally came home with not one but two(!) speeding tickets. The second was not only costly but also more painful on a personal front. While driving through Monterey Bay, not only was I ticketed for doing 96 in a 65 mph zone but to make matters worse - i was tootaling around with my brother and... my dad. Yea.

*ack. cough. tears*

The only upside to this incident - and yes there actually was an upside - the statey's radar actually clocked me going 117 mph. (hahahaha. weee!) Fortunately for me - the statey, in all of his 13 years, had never seen a car go near that speed on that particular stretch of road and thought his radar was malfunctioning. By the time I was in his line of sight, I had already spotted him and slowed down to 96. The kicker: Had I been ticketed for going 117 in a 65 mph zone I would not have passed go; My car would have gone straight to jail and with me right along side it.

It goes without saying that me being handcuffed in the backseat of a statey's police cruiser would not have been my ideal end to an otherwise stellar vacation.

**Knock on wood (or dashboard plastic)**


Special Thanks
While this trip in and of itself was pretty phenomenal, it would have been slightly lacking had it not been for a few folks that made it extra-special. Special thanks go to the following peeps:

First I'd like to thank my family for supporting my decision to 'run away from home', travel by myself, and disappear for an unspecified period of time. I'd like to thank my dad for teaching me to drive a stick shift in his beloved new car (a feat I thought would never actually happen - despite my incessant groveling). I'd also like to thank my mom - for a great many things - but also for watching my cat Chompurr during the two weeks I spent trekking up and down the California coastline. I know how much she detests pet hair running amok in her ultra clean house.

Special thanks to my cousin Cathy and her husband Bill for putting me up last-minute and - for sending me packing with a few bottles of travel wine! Gotta love that...

I'd like to thank my buddy Michael for accompanying me on a mini road trip through Central and Northern California, and for sporting my ride with some ultra-high performance Toyo's for the ultimate experience in handling. I love those tight twisties!

A big Thank you to my good friends Kevin and Becky Cubba for hosting me in San Fran for 3 nights and for showing me such a terrific time (despite some of the 'next-day' repercussions) ;-)

My thanks to Albie Bjornberg the bar manager of the Hotel Elliott, for introducing me to some of the fantastic local winery and for tuning me in to all the best local attractions (i.e., my heli-tour and horseback riding adventures)

And last but not least a special thanks to Peter Dorley of Victoria, Australia for making my visit to Sturgis so memorable and for sending me packing with a comfy pillow (so key for those necessary roadside pullovers), a detailed map of Sturgis (since getting lost is apparently my thing), and my very own Mt. Isa Harley Davidson t-shirt (especially handy when I ran out of clean clothes. haha!)

Soon to come: a link to pics, travel tips, tidbits and roadtrip stats.

Cheers!

Finding Your Roots...

Just a few brief thoughts on the importance of family…

I was in St Louis over Easter weekend and I gotta say it was the one of the best string of days I’ve had in a long time. Sadly, it wasn’t a romantic weekend getaway but no worries – I spent it with family and had a most outstanding time. My grandmother whom I was very close with passed away not long ago and Easter weekend was her official inurnment ceremony for the family; held in St. Louis because it's the home of her family mausoleum and also the home of the Shaw family clan; She actually lived in Denver, CO. Folks came from all over for the occasion: California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Missouri (and of course Pennsylvania) to honor her memory, be with family and just “be”.

Most would insert here ‘the shorter the stay the better’ but I must thankfully disagree.

I grew up an army brat so I’ve moved around 'quite' a bit in my life. After high school I pretty much just kept the tradition going, moving every year or every two years. I’ve moved as much as 3 times in one year and while the experience afforded me the opportunity to surround myself with a of variety of people, cultures, thoughts and ideas – it's very difficult to know where your roots are and it’s fairly easy to lose your ground. Reflecting on it, I think it’s important for everyone to have some ‘safe harbor’ whether it be a place or a group of people you love who constantly remind you that you are loved.

A few years ago I reconnected with another side of our Shaw clan; a side of the family whose roots go very deep and very wide in St. Louis. As soon as I met my string of other cousins, uncles and grand uncles I felt that airy sense of 'wow, we are so totally related' - primarily because we have 'the voice' that carries and a very strange sense of humor. Anyway, what a terrific feeling - accompanied by a large dose of familiarity and truth.

I could have stayed with any number of people spread out between St. Louis, Clayton and Chesterfield county. They were all so generous to offer-up rooms but there’s a unique part of the Shaw family history that I wanted to be close to; an attempt to touch another part of the past I guess. Shaw Park. A beautiful spread centered in the heart of downtown St. Louis and named after my great grandfather, Charles Shaw, who served as Clayton’s Mayor for 7 years in the 1930’s. 100% Italian and adopted at an early age - that man I tell you sprouted some strong lines...

So I booked a room instead and treated my mom to a weekend stay at the Ritz just two blocks away. By-the-by, if you ever stay at the Ritz, you must have Club Lounge status particularly for stays more than two days…free drinks, free food all day makes your stay and the price you pay all the more worth while. The treatment at the St. Louis Ritz is spectacular. The staff is wonderful, the sushi bar – fabulous. <> And if you’re ever up in the Club Lounge, say hi to Mary for me - one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet. Before I took my mom to the airport she was kind enough to pack her an “airplane lunch to go”. Treatment du jour.

Forgot where I was going with this...

Anyway, it’s a near fifteen hour drive from my apartment to St. Louis and on my way home I was thinking about those wonderful past few days and I thought how lucky I am to have such strong family connections and such large family connections. What a peaceful thing it is to be surrounded by fun loving people who share my dry sense of humor and love for ‘storytelling’, and who reflect those same familial qualities (good and bad) that have made me who I am as a person. It’s that feeling of ‘belonging’ that I love; it’s almost like a blanket of calm that is so thick and rich it provides all the warmth I could ever need to feel safe and loved and understood. Like diving under that perfect and perfectly warm down-comforter on a cold, rainy night.

Blog Etiquette

I'm a regular blogger and have my usual forums. It gets the senses going; it's stimulating; it's a good outlet for my nervous energy. That said, quite frankly I am beyond fed up with people who go from site to site posting irrelevant, unintelligent BS. If I have to question whether or not you passed a 3rd grade education...maybe you ought to stick to "speaking" or go to another site.

Blog snobbery? Maybe.

Not too long ago I was on one of my regular blog forums and the discussion was whether or not the problems faced by Debroit's Big 3 Auto companies had the Unions or bad management to blame. A third of the way through the discussion, some idiot schmuck posts a completely irrelevant/sour/anti-America/anti-democracy thread and insult's the blog's host, editor in chief of Forbes magazine. Oh and btw: it was the third day in a row he posted the exact same text. You know... copy/paste... because clearly the nonresponse generated by his earlier posts wasn't response enough.

Now, there are gi-normous blog forums (i.e., Huffington Post) and what I consider "family-minded" blog forums - those that may have a lot of readers but whose regular posters remain fairly consistent and relatively in the low-digits. You've likely never met them, and you probably have only a few peeks into their background, but still you're part of a social circle made up of familar names and familiar ideas. Enter rude, irrelevant anti-everything blogger. To make a long story short - I lost my cool and posted the following thread before continuing on with the discussion:

So-and-So,
There's a thing called 'etiquette'. Maybe you've heard of it? Instead of wasting our time by posting irrevelant rhetoric, perhaps you could try sticking to the topic of discussion. When Rich posts an 'I-hate-America" blog - feel free to jump right in. Until then - here's a thought: Respect the rules of etiquette and keep to the topic or clam it and go elsewhere.

I received a couple of kudos from other regular bloggers but surprisingly an equal share of negative feedback as well - most from posters whom I've never seen post on that forum before.

So, my question.. Is there such a thing as 'Blog Etiquette'? Or is the blog forum and all it's serious bloggers relegated to sitting quietly in the corner while all the mindless jibber-jabber come pouring in? Was I in fact out of line by trying to incite some sense of structure and etiquette within the blogoshpere?

Well, some will have their opinions that differ from mine and to those I say 'what-ever' - I'm sticking to my guns on this. As far as I'm concerned there is 'absolutely' blogger etiquette. Folks, it takes time to create a thoughtful discussion, choose your words and articulate your message all the while being mindful of grammar and "readability" - my guess is the host doesn't want to see his/her comment board hoarded by irrelevant, nonsensical hate-spam and neither do the bloggers who regularly post there.

In sum: If you can't keep to the topic, clam it or take your drivel elsewhere.

Life Lessons

My girlfriend's 17 year old son will be celebrating his 18th birthday in just a few days and she's compiling a scrapbook of sorts to commemorate the first 18 years of his life with memorable milestones, some farcicle anectodes for good humor, pictures, achievements and a collection of thoughts from family friends. I was honored that she asked me to contribute especially since we've kept in touch less frequently than preferred the few years since I left sunny Santa Barbara. Well last night with e-pen and e-paper at hand, I jot down a few thoughts and came up with a list of top 10 "life-isms", both humorous and altruistic. Since it took me two hours to put the list together(!), I felt obliged to share them, so here goes:

Top 10 Life lessons, from me to you:
1. Passion is the thing that drives momentum; Regret is the thing that kills it
2. The problem is not that you attract assholes and losers, the problem is that you give them your number
3. The office for your most important job is your home
4. Some people are like blisters; They don't show up until the work is done (note to self: don't be one.)
5. Humility is the essence of love and understanding
6. If you don't know where you're going the good news is you’re not lost
7. Thinker’s of the world inspire hope; Doer’s of the world incite change
8. Be weary of the rut you choose; you may be in it for a while
9. Action will remove the doubt that questions cannot solve
10. Life’s too short to hate yourself; Life’s too long to hate others

Favorite last words of wisdom…“Inspiration is highly overrated. If you sit around and wait for the clouds to part, it’s not liable to ever happen. More often than not action is the truest form of salvation” ~ Chuck Close ~