Category: Uncategorized

When someone says this restaurant or that movie or this museum is “one of a kind,” how do you react? My own first thought is, “Well, does ‘one of a kind’ mean worth visiting or does it just mean unusual?” After all, there is a Microbes Museum in Amsterdam that is undoubtedly one of a […]

When I was a kid, the ultimate sign of innocent courage was entering the Jarvis’ house on Halloween. You see, every year on October 31st the Jarvis’, our next-door neighbors, would transform their house into a witch’s lair, complete with cobwebs, smoke effects and a big scary cauldron where Ms. Jarvis would stand, stirring the […]

“You’re looking strong Dave.” “I can’t breathe, Donica.” “Only 6 miles to go. You got this!” It seemed like a good idea at the time. If I’m going to run a marathon, why not do it on dirt – easy on the knees – and in a park – lots of tree cover. Huddart Park […]

“Hey guys, what do you think about a detour today?” “What kind of detour, Dave?” “Well, there’s this ancient Native American site on the top of a mountain.” “Let’s do it!” For a brief stint in my late 20s, I had a job driving a 13-seater van across the country, leading shoe-string, camping tours for […]

When I was growing up, I loved the movie Planes, Trains and & Automobiles, with Steve Martin and John Candy. You don’t even need to see the movie to guess what it’s about: two guys trying to get to an intended destination via a variety of modes of transportation. Needless to say, Steve and John […]

If given a choice, would you rather have a nice, 3-course meal carefully crafted by your favorite chef, or visit a fancy buffet restaurant offering an unlimited range of choices? My guess is that the results of such a survey would split right down the middle: some people would choose quality of experience, while others […]

As I mentioned in post #58 for Laggan, Scotland, I love visiting TV and movie locations. There’s something cool about stepping onto the “set” of your favorite screen drama and imagining that you’re right there with the characters, playing out a scene, participating in the action. I will forever kick myself for missing out on […]

Before the Power Rangers, there was Ultraman. Before Spirited Away (and the anime of the Ghibli studios), there was Speed Racer. Before Jurassic Park, there was Godzilla and his kaiju giant-monster friends, Gamera and Mothra. Japan has been exporting its pop culture around the world for ages. Its offerings have certainly been a big part […]

There’s a certain time in life – often in our early-to-mid 20s — when we don’t really think about consequences. According to the National Institute of Health, “The brain undergoes a “rewiring” process that is not complete until approximately 25 years of age.” In other words, our brains are like a house being built on […]

While visiting an architect’s house in Nagasaki, I noticed that the kitchen was very small in relation to the much-larger living room. “Why is the kitchen so small, Koji?” “I believe that beauty only comes when there is some imperfection.” “Sooo, are you saying that the rest of your house is the perfection and your […]