England Dining: No Rush, No Problem

Some people in London think the restaurant service is horrible. I find it charming.

In the states, restaurants attempt to turn over tables in an effort to bring in the maximum revenue/tips for the night. Before you can finish you dinner salad server is already bringing over your entree and likely putting in your dessert order. More often then not, the food is cooked-to-order in the states, but it sits under a heat lamp until you're finished with your first course. Your salmon might be steamy, but your mashed potatoes are luke warm. And lingering around tables after the meal will garner dirty looks from servers working on tips.

In England, however, the dining experience is much different. For starters, stay seated as long as you like. In fact, you might not even see a server pass by your table for some time. This can be somewhat problematic when you've just finished a bottle of wine and need another for the table. But in that case, you simply get up and go order one. And they don't raise their eyebrows at you for staying past desert.

I had a lovely dinner at Cafe Caldessi, and frankly all my meals in London have been enjoyable. Makes me wonder why everyone in the U.S. is in such a hurry ... sit, relax, enjoy and savor.

London Bathing Falling Down

Bathing has always been a daily ritual of mine. It should be for everyone, I think. Good hygiene builds a healthy body -- or something like that. I always wondered how people with dread-locks got on without washing their hair. I have visions of bugs and mold and dust swarming around the dread-locked hair. How do you get in the shower and not wash your hair...day after day...doesn't it smell? What if you are at a party and you're sitting on the sofa, and someone walks past you, trips and spells beer in your hair? Beer has yeast! In your hair!! Ok, maybe you're more refined and you still wear dread-locks, but you don't go to parties where there is beer. You must walk outside -- where the cars drive -- with all the congestion. You go home smelling like car pollution. In your hair! I lost my point...

Right, bathing.

The daily routine for most people starts with a shower. So I wonder in England how the people get by because I can't for the life of me make the shower work. There are two knobs -- one for hot, one for cold -- and I turn them. The bath faucet runs. The water is scalding hot. I turn down the hot. The water becomes ice cold. I turn up the hot. It warms up only to turn cold again. I play this game of hot-and-cold with the faucet knobs for approximately 5 minutes until I get the water to a temperature of my liking. I switch from faucet to shower. This chess move, it seems, has confused the water knobs and plumbing. By switching from the faucet to the shower I have lessened the water pressure by approximately 99.999% so that only one thin stream of water is falling from the shower head. And it's cold. I turn the hot knob. Still cold. I turn it more. Cold. Flustered and frustrated, I give in to the plumbing and opt for a bath. At least I know that the bath faucet produced a healthy amount of water pressure.

I flip the switch from shower head to faucet and step into the tub, but in London, tubs are deep, and so I fall. Deep into the tub of torrid hot water. I forgot that I turned the hot water knob all the way on in an attempt to get some hot water from the shower head. I am now scalded from the hot water that is pouring out of the bath faucet. Apparently, this is a game the plumbing at St. Andrew's Mansions in Westminster London is eager to play with me. And since it's 7 a.m., and I refuse to be played by a bathtub, I join the plumbing game. GAME ON!

I am smarter than the plumbing -- this much I know. I will concede, bath faucet, to the scalding hot water that you produce in the tub, but I dare you to mess with the bursts of cold water that I will add to the tub by switching from faucet to shower at random intervals so you have no time to alter your move. Mess with me tomorrow, bathtub... I'll be prepared...

Tuscany Travesty

This is devastating...

Our Tuscany Writer's Conference was cancelled. It's absolutely tragic. Apparently, because of the state of the economy and the weak dollar, too many conference-goers backed out and they had to cancel the trip. Our conference director, however, has been an absolute angel. She's putting me in touch with literary agents and publishers who can help me craft the book, even though the conference was cancelled.

I think we're still going to Italy -- maybe Rome for a week -- but for tonight, I will mourn the passing of my Tuscany trip. Meanwhile, my good friend The Missus is researching hotels in Rome and refilling my wine glass as I cry into my computer. In hindsight, this could be good. The blog name is "When in Rome," maybe it's time to go to Rome.

Me and McQueen

If there's one thing I truly admire about the U.K. -- besides the Crown Jewels, the Beefeaters, Princes Harry and William, London's ravens and the truly admirable cleanliness -- it's the fashion. Londoners have a unique sense of fashion. In fact, that's exactly it -- they are unique and they aren't afraid to show it, so they wear daring combinations and it turns out, those combos work. So when in London, go shopping. You never know what you might find.

Months ago I laid eyes on an Alexander McQueen scarf that I wanted -- needed! -- desperately. But, it was only affordable by taking out a loan and I knew that wouldn't be a wise decision so I succumbed to the idea of never having the new McQueen skull scarf. But today, me and McQueen were united. Thank you, Harrods, for bringing together two lost loves -- my wardrobe and one black/purple skull scarf at almost half the price I would have paid for it in the states. I almost opted for the black/red neck scarf. I was with our favorite fashion blogger The Missus, who pointed out that the longer silk scarf (pictured above) would wear well during all seasons and it's a great travel piece. And so, I wrapped myself in McQueen and it was true love.

Some things in Europe are cheaper (despite the bad dollar-pound conversion) and absolutely worth knocking people over in Harrods department store because you only have 30 minutes until the store closes and you're on a freaking mission to find Alexander McQueen. We would have had 45 minutes, but we spent 15 minutes trying to locate the washrooms, which were hidden behind the Marc Jacob's and Pucci racks on floor 2. And of course, we were sidetracked by the gorgeous Spring 08 collections...

Reasons Why I Love London

You can have your royalty, your princes, your pounds and your fashion. Keep your theatre and your palaces and your Shakespeare. Wait, no, I'm taking Shakespeare. But you can have the crows and the London Eye, deal?

The real reason I love London: British men. I was hit on twice before I finished a cup of coffee this morning and let me tell you something ladies, that's not a bad trick. Think about your state of mind pre-fully caffeinated. I'm quite certain my eyes aren't full open, my brain is unusually slow and I'm more prone to tripping and falling than usual. But, British men appreciate women and this morning, I was very appreciative of the British men who paid attention to me.

The End of the World: 28 Minutes

I'll admit, I am an addict of technology. I don't do well without my cell phone or my computer. Contact with the outside world is essential. So when I woke this morning and went to plug in my computer I was panicked whe the little green charge light on my battery pack wouldn't light up.

"Battery low" said the white pop-up box on my computer.

Then, as if to mock the fact that I couldn't plug the battery pack in fast enough, the battery icon on the bottom right corner started blinking, "28 minutes." I had 28 minutes until my computer shut down. Twenty-eight minutes until I had no access to email, the Internet. I had 28 minutes until the 11-inch I call my savior left me because it died. Died. And this, my friends, was the beginning of the end of the world. I had 28 minutes to figure out how to get my battery pack charged and plug into my Sony VAIO so I could connect. And then, my co-worker knocked on the door.

"We have a problem," she said.

It appears that it's not my battery pack, it's the electricity in the flat. My friend and travel partner, The Missus, tried to blow us up. Travelers tip from London: always use your electronic adapter, but check to make sure the wattage is sufficient, otherwise you might blow up the device. (To The Husband, if you're reading, I advise buying safety plugs for your outlets before the wife returns home. I've banned her from plugging anything in while she's still in London). Here's what happened:


She plugged in her hot pink flat iron (using an adapter) and sparks started flying. Upon unplugging the outlet from the wall , post-flames, she went for a run and our other co-worker was left with the unfortunate task of breaking the news to me:

"Nothing works," she said.

My friend the Missus came back with Starbucks - a true truce, if there ever was one, at 9 a.m. I was already on the phone with AT&T trying to get them to help me reconfigure my phone but as usual, they were completely useless. I got the damn thing to work myself, and afterwards we found the fuse box. Thankfully, the electricity is working again and I can reconnect with the world and the world, as I know it, is not coming to an end. Whew! We celebrated by heading to shop and sight-see...

Big Ben...Parliament...Big Ben...Parliament...(and Buckingham Palace)

In an effort to try and curb the effects of jet lag, we spent today walking around London. It was a beautiful day and plenty of people were out and about enjoying the day. We took the Tube to Buckingham Palace, which is currently flanked with full-bloom tulips, and then walked to The Thames River. Here is a picture of my soon-to-be-new-home, you know, when the Queen appoints me ruler of England.




After admiring the palace (and the tulips) we walked to Big Ben and Parliament. Big Ben chimed at 6 p.m. to let us know we were heading into evening, which is when I took this picture. Ben was standing strong and pointing us toward the London Eye...

Impeach Bush (from the UK)

This is great...even in the U.K., the president is a sham. This picture says it all, and what's more awesome is that this sticker is placed on a bus booth outside the Cabinet War Rooms. Coincidence?

Things to Remember in London

It's been a few years since I've been back in London and I'll admit, I was a little rusty on the lingo. I blame part of this on the fact that I hit the streets completely un-caffeinated. There weren't enough Starbucks coffee molecules in my brain before I hit Marylebone High Street and I forgot some of the basic London lingo. Remember the following next time you head across the pond:

• When ordering a coffee at a cafe, "regular" means cream and sugar (not milk and sugar and not black, which is how I require it).
• You don't need to dial the country code when you're actually calling from the country. I spent approximately $20 in cell phone fees this afternoon trying to make a call to a friend in London.
• They drive on the opposite side of the road in London, so make sure you look both ways before crossing the street or you're sure to get your butt creamed by an oncoming car because you weren't looking the right way.
• Coins are also dollars in London. A pound can be paper money or coins so don't dismiss your currency.
• Do not walk through the Changing of the Guard. That is bad form. And the Beefeaters don't give a damn if you're un-caffeinated.

Cheerio, From London

Made it safely to London. You just can't beat the beauty of this city. It's almost 2pm here -- the sun is shining and the temperature is warm and breezy.

Too bad the hags serving the American Airlines flight weren't so nice and breezy. More about that when my mind is awake. And the massive in-flight faux-paus' that I picked up for you. Why do people take their shoes and socks off on a plane?

In about an hour I'm going to drag my co-workers outside for a walk around. Right now, I'm trying wake up from my nap.

There is no hot water in the flat. I desperately need a cup of coffee.

12 Hours Until 6 Hours of Rest

It's ironic really, that one who is a travel writer gets weary from travel.

The one thing I'm looking forward to about London is the 6 hour plane ride. It'll be the first time in weeks I've had a chance to sit and relax. And the best thing about international flights is the free cocktails. The sound of metal-on-metal as the twisty-top of a tiny bottle of Merlot opens is keeping me going today...

When I flew to Portugal the in-flight movie was on one big screen and the feature film was "Mr. Bean's Holiday," which was a rather unfortunate choice. And I was seated between two young girls who were flying to Boston for a holiday, and were already starting their holiday with Bud Light plane-side. I digress...

If all goes well with American Airlines, I'll be resting comfortably from seat 39H around 7pm. Fingers crossed.

Quick check-list:
Passport -- CHECK
British Pounds -- CHECK
Converters -- CHECK
Vanity Fair -- CHECK
OH %#!*%@ -- I forgot my book in my apartment. Off to Borders...

The Perfect Wedge Shoes

Thank you, Legally Brunette, for reminding me about wedge shoes. Now I will travel to London in style and comfort thanks to you, and Anne Klein.

I forget about the new patent leather wedge sandals I purchased from Ms. Klein a few weeks ago and I'm thrilled to report, they are on my feet now and they are ultra-comfortable and mighty fashionable. I think the Queen would approve.

The Most Offensive Tourist Traits

This is a very serious conversation. Pay attention.

When touring another country, state or city, it's proper etiquette to play by that destination's culture, rules and regulations. Yes, that means try and learn a few essential pieces of the language, read up on tipping manners, buy a map before you go, and above all, have a plan. I fully support the person who wants to backpack through Europe and explore the scenery -- but even that person has a plan. Pack one. It will be useful.

It's also a good idea to know the basic "vibe" of the place you're visiting. For example:

Savannah, GA, is a lovely little Southern town that is full of charm and charisma. The people are nice (some are a little strange) and everywhere you go in Savannah you'll be greeted with a smile.

In Tangier, Morocco, tourists are fresh bait. This is a poor country that thrives off the tourist dollar. It's to be expected that street peddlers and beggars will approach you. Please be kind - it's their way of life. You're a visitor - adjust.

If you're from the south and you're planning a vacation to the east coast, be prepared for a quick shift in pace. Cities like New York and Boston are fast, fast, fast and if you don't keep up you'll get lost in the crowd.

Today I was walking in the beautiful 80 degree weather to exchange some articles of clothing at lunch before heading back to the white walls of the office. On my way back to the office, I encountered many tourists. Most of whom, I believe, had no idea what city they were even in let alone what to do now that they're here. About an hour ago, my friend Heather called to tell me about a tourist group she was stuck behind -- they were all wearing animal balloon hats. That's so unfortunate. But it got me thinking - maybe it would be valuable to put together a list of the most offensive things tourists do so that readers can avoid doing these things on their next trip.

Here we go:

• Do not wear animal balloon hats. It's embarrassing. You look like a fool. And no one who lives in the area thinks you're cool.
• If you have a map of the area you're visiting, please review it before leaving the hotel. Standing on a street corner staring at a huge map is slightly distracting. Especially for the cab driver who is barreling down the street and can't see around the corner because your big map is blocking his view.
• Walk with the crowd, not against the crowd. If everyone is walking clockwise, it's safe to assume there is a good reason for this.
  
• When following the crowd, please do not stop dead in your tracks and have a debate with your travel buddy about who is the most famous person buried in the graveyard you're about to visit. The other people on the sidewalk likely have somewhere to be. If you're in a tougher city, like New York City, Boston, Washington, DC, etc., residents will have no problem walking right over you. Should that happen, it's your own fault for stopping. I warned you.
• When traveling to a foreign country where a language other than your first language is spoken, please be patient. Once the person you're trying to communicate with realizes that you're a tourist, they will likely slow down and help you. However, that does not mean you should slow down and speak in long syllables. "Wah-air is the baaath-roooom" is better understand when it's said properly. Rule of thumb: Better to make yourself out to look like a fool rather than the person you're requesting help from. You don't want to piss off a native of the area -- you don't know where you'll wind up.
• There is no excuse for couples to wear matching outfits when on vacation. Ever.
• If you're in a fast-paced city, pick up the pace! And vice-versa. If you're used to a fast-paced lifestyle and you're heading down south or to the Caribbean, relax...you'll have a better time and less people will try to offer you drugs to keep you calm.

That's it for now. I'm sure I'll encounter more tourist faux-paus on my walk home tonight. Let me know what I've missed and remember... if you're heading somewhere new, plan ahead!

Happy Travels

To Pack, or What Not to Pack?

How do you pack for 10 days in London? That question has been on my mind for weeks now. It's not like me to waste so much of my brain cells on packing for a trip. Usually, this gets done the night before I leave.

1. Open closet doors
2. Grab the first few items that aren't wrinkled
3. Add coordinating pants or top to above chosen items
4. Add socks and undergarments
5. Close bag

Shoes are always a problem. How can you possibly predict what shoes you're going to feel like wearing a week from now? UGH, the pressure!!!

This London trip is part business, part pleasure so it's essential to bring clothes that work with both sides of life. Here's what I have so far:

• Two silk tops -- purple and black
• Two pairs of jeans -- one to wear on plane; one to have for later
• One pair of black trousers -- good work pants
• One skirt -- you never know when you feel like showing some leg
• One black turtleneck
• One black 3/4 length sweater
• Two patterned tank tops -- adorable with jeans and a cardigan
• One black cardigan (glad I wrote that or I would have forgotten)
• Running clothes
• PJ's
• Shoes... Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The Missus, who is traveling with me to London for business/pleasure trip, said, "Bring flats...all flats...good walking flats." Right. Flats. I don't own flats. I'm short and have boobs. In order for people not to notice my top half, I have to compensate my bottom half by wearing heels. Heels make your legs look longer, thus eliminating the effect of the boobs. She's short and curvy. Flat's look good on her. Heels look good on me. Flip-flops I have. Flats I do not.

Note to self: Buy flats.

Anything I'm forgetting?

Packing for London...and Nantucket...and St. Louis

It's one of those months where I keep going, and going, and going. Just got back from a weekend in New York where I celebrated Passover with my family. My sister flew in from St. Louis, my cousins were all there with their kids and we all spent the weekend in the kitchen cooking everything un-leavened. Nothing like a dinner of matzo balls, matzo stuffing, matzo pancakes, matzo cookies... you get the point.

Squeezed through security at LaGuardia Airport (and let me tell you, that's not an easy task) and sat around for a few hours waiting for the flight, which was delayed and know one knew why. Got home Sunday night, went to work Monday morning, and tonight I'm back in the carry-on trying to figure out what to pack for 10 days in London...and then I return and leave for a weekend in Nantucket...and then I return and leave for a four days in St. Louis... and I think I'll need to buy underwear on the road.

Boston Marathon 2008: Winner's Circle

This particular Monday couldn't be nicer. It's sunny, 50 degrees, and a slight breeze floats through the air. Spring is in season and the pitter patter of thousands of feet are running their way through the city. Today is the 112th Boston Marathon.

In Boston, the marathon is an official holiday (otherwise disguised as "Patriot's Day"). Granted, not all companies get the day off, but those who don't count it as a holiday often take it as a vacation day. It's a high to cheer on the 25,000 people who sweat their way through 26 agonizing miles starting from Hopkinton, up Heartbreak Hill and through the Back Bay to the finish line in Boston. In a weird way, spectators feel the same sense of pride watching the runners cross the line -- except it's unlikely the spectator falls flat on their face post-run. I would collapse, too, after running 26 miles, but I feel that's a dignified ending to a marathon.

This Boston Marathon was, admittedly, a little bittersweet for me. It's been one year since my heart valve arrhythmia diagnosis and my goals of running a marathon were put on hold. Upside: cardiologist said things are looking awesome so maybe next year I will cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon and join my fellow runners in the Winner's Circle.

Airport Diversions

Deep thought...
If you get to the airport early, find a window seat and watch the airplanes take off from the runway. It's a great way to clear your mind (especially if you're a nervous traveler) and pass the time. So many seats, so many options...

Another family event where Aunt Rose will likely hand out quarters and offer the advice to "save up"
A romantic getaway for first-time lovers looking to escape the confines of their small city apartment
A business trip to present the board with a new investment opportunity that just might save the company during this economic downfall
A well-planned "vacation of a lifetime" with your best girlfriends
A last-minute getaway with just you.

A Delta 767 just took off... someone sitting in a tiny coach seat is off to someplace wonderful...

Fashion Focus: Carry-On Luggage

Traveler tip: Everything is always for sale.

Take for example the Tommy Hilfiger Latitude Luggage Collection. With all the upcoming travel I have in the next two months (and because I'm not quite confident in any particular airline's skills to get my luggage to my destination safely) I opted for a new carry-on bag. This is a very difficult purchase. A carry-on bag must meet certain qualities including:

• Multiple outside and inside pockets
• Inside pouches for toiletries (those not part of the FAA 3-1-1 rule)
• Additional pockets for electronics, converters and adapters
• Expandable width for last-minute additions before you fly, or last-minute purchases from your destination

I went to Macy's in search of a new carry-on bag and found a few to my liking, but most were too small or didn't have enough pockets. Then the nice Macy's employee brought me the $300 Tommy Hilfiger luggage. It was the perfect size, had the perfect amount of pockets and was even the perfect color. But $300?! Then I found out that Macy's is having a one-day sale this Friday and this particular bag would be 50% off... alas, I leave for New York tomorrow...

Without much begging, the Macy's employee placed a quick call to his manager to get approval to give me the bag at the 50% discount. I had an additional 20% off coupon and ended up with a slate blue, perfectly pocketed Tommy Hilfiger carry-on bag for my upcoming journeys.

Moral of the story: Just because there isn't a sale sign on it doesn't mean you can't get a bargain!

The "Sex and the City" Single Syndrome

There are two schools of thought when it comes to single people: 1) They are sad and lonely. 2) They have a highly-active, extremely sexual dating life.

The reality is that in most cases, neither is true.

I'm a big believer in "when it happens it happens" so I don't worry so much about dating or finding "the one." Instead, I am confident that one day he'll be sitting next to me on an airplane or offer me a gelato at the top of the Spanish Steps. Yes, I realize that won't get me a house and kids any time soon, but sometimes idealism is a nice break from reality. That's why travel is so wonderful. When you leave your home base, you allow yourself the possibility to be free from conformity.

I am always up for new things so when the opportunity presented itself to cook erotic foods with a famous Boston chef, I jumped at the opportunity. And then came the dreaded words from my editor: "Ideally, you could end the story by cooking these foods for a date."

I could. But I don't have one. And where do I find one? And honestly, why is it expected that I would? Are we so programmed to associate eroticism with sex that the idea of doing something as a "single" is almost taboo?

It's the "Sex and the City" Single Syndrome -- if you're single, and you live in the city, you must be fabulously engrossed with various men for late-night rendezvous'. While there is a level of "sexiness" to this concept -- and on some Saturday night's it does happen -- the reality is that a good bottle of a wine and a John Hughes movie run a close second to most dates. Yes, I can see the unfortunate side of this, but I make no apologies for being picky about the men I date. I brought this topic up to my married friends and got the following responses:

"Maybe you should go to temple and meet a nice guy." (Obviously, this friend was joking, but she certainly channeled my mother).

"Can they do that?" asked another, who was questioning the integrity of the publication.

"I'm no prude, but don't give a 'fuck assignment' and call it journalism." Well said.

So OK -- here we are. I'm going to cook erotic foods with a Boston chef and write about it. I'll post the pictures here and also a link to the story. In the meantime, if you have a single male you want to pimp out for the occasion, let me know. Otherwise, take my advice and enjoy a little single-time for yourself with a good meal and a glass of wine.

Lazy? Ship Your Luggage

There's one thing you can't deny about America: when it comes to finding the easy way out, we've got a solution for it.

Too many plastic grocery bags? Buy a bag collector to keep your bags conveniently located in one place. (Alternative: make one bag the "storage bag" and place all other bags in the bag. It's a free and resusable solution.)

Too busy to buy scented soap? Use the stainless steel "Rub Away" bar to get smells off your hands. Because stainless steel, garlic and fish odors smell great together!

For some, the thought of travel creates a level of anxiety curable only with varying degrees of Valium. Add to it the stress of packing and you might as well walk on the plane wearing a straight jacket. Leave it to America to come up with a solution to help ease your stress (if prescription medication doesn't appeal to you). If you're already an anxious traveler, why add the anxiety of transporting your luggage with you?

Enter: The Luggage Express. The purpose: to travel light.

According to their website, "Luggage Express® will pick up your luggage, golf clubs, bike, skis, snowboard, kayak, gear bags or other items at your home or office and deliver it to your destination."

How convenient!!! Unless you're a perfectionist like me and stress happens when you're not in control of something... like your luggage. The good news: if your luggage does not arrive, you can scout out the best boutiques in your area and go shopping for new clothes... which you'll need to re-pack in your already overpacked luggage when it arrives.

Numerology: The Year of 1

While celebrating The Missus' birthday dinner on Friday night, our table of four got to talking about our years.

"25 was my worst," I said. "I'm working on my 30s."

"She's a sophisticated 25-year-old," we said about our youngest companion.

"I'm officially 'in' my 30s," announced The Missus, having turned 31 today.

"I embrace this decade," said Bail, who outranks me by two years.

We spoke about the psycho-boyfriends of past lives, current mistakes of boyfriends/husbands present, and what may be of our careers and our year ahead. Then the Missus said to me, "This is a great year for you - you're in the year of one."

Great. Another year of just me. Awesome. Thanks. Looking forward to that. My mother will be thrilled to hear this. But then she explained...

"The year of one is about new beginnings and new adventures, and it's also about prosperity." So I thought about that, and she's right. Here's what "firsts" I've experienced during my year of 1:

• A new job - the first I've loved in many years
• The first of many new friends
• My first blog
• The first time there's been cash in my 401k
• The first year I can travel with ease (and not have to take out a loan)
• The first year caring for a newly diagnosed heart condition
• The first year I got a tax refund
• The first chapter of my book complete

There are many more firsts in my year of one to come...

Erotic Foods - Do You Dare?

Put chocolate and oysters aside - they're old school compared to what we're going to try.

Sometime in the next few weeks, I'm going to grab some girlfriends and we're going to get a private cooking lesson with one of Boston's top chefs. I'm told the experience will be orgasmic.
(Maybe I should rethink inviting my girlfriends...)

Do you dare to taste test?

The Road Not Taken: Sleep

I usually arrive at work between 7:00-7:30 a.m. but today, I slept in. Armed with my excess relaxation upon waking, I did not trip over the four various pairs of shoes that are scattered on my bedroom floor while I fumbled to the bathroom this morning. I was able to find my toothbrush (which is always in its rightful place, although I never look there) and I opted for contacts instead of glasses.

Staying at home past 7 a.m. afforded me the opportunity to catch up on world news. It turns out Mets fans get duped during a "Rick Rolling" prank and the first ever "Newseum" is making its debut in Washington, D.C. I'm proud to be a journalist.

I chose my outfit with caution as I'll be dining out tonight for a co-worker's birthday at an undisclosed location (sorry, she reads this blog and it's a secret). On my walk to work I stopped off at my favorite Starbucks and ordered a venti iced coffee -- the first sign of spring. The nice gentleman behind me gave me the $0.35 I needed to cash out my $3.35 caffeine fix. As I left the Starbucks, traffic was against my groove and I couldn't get across the street. A nice young gentlemen took one step forward into the street causing the car approaching to stop and turned to me and said, "Now it's our turn." I safely made it across the street and into my office at a ripe 8:32 a.m.

Today, I slept in, and that has made all the difference.

Nantucket Delayed... Again

Boston weather be damned!
Last weekend's weather = RAIN
This weekend's weather = RAIN

I get my weather updates from the Channel 5 TV-WCVB Boston Storm Team and once again, they're calling for rain.

Thus, Nantucket is cancelled again. Sadly, it will be a few weeks before I can get to the tony island and explore the cheap finds, but I will get there! The Anchor Inn is expecting me in May (post-New York and post-London trip). I'll likely be broke after traveling for a week and two weekends in London against the U.S. dollar, but all the more reason to find the cheap finds in Nantucket.

Boston's Beehive

When in Rome...try new things. So we went for a taste at the 'hive.

An eclectic mixture of art and cuisine, Boston's South End eatery "The Beehive" is a funky conglomerate of culture. Most Bostonians will recognize the outside of the restaurant as the old "Cyclorama" and immediately feel a wave of nostalgia standing outside the restaurant, checking out the artists who cross the path. But once you're in The Beehive it's an entirely other world.

The designers did a great job of putting this place together. Red velvet drapes swoon the eating areas and larger-than-life murals hang in the shadow of antique chandeliers and sky lights. The bar area (where we were seated as a table of six) was open and easy to maneuver. The other seating areas were slightly more intimate, but no matter where you were seated you were not seated on top of the table next to you. (Of course, it's not always a bad things to sit so close to strangers, but when you're eating it can get a little messy.)

And speaking of the food...

Portions, people, portions! If you're on a diet, immediately ask for a take-home bag when your order arrives and put half of your meal away. The chef's don't skimp at this eatery. The menu items range from burgers and pastas to plates of pate, so there's something for everyone. Check out our friend The Missus' pork chop. We ordered the grilled artichokes to start and they were grilled to near perfection -- not too charred, not too soggy. For an entree I chose the baked pollenta, spinach, rataouille and ricotta and the only disappointing thing about it was that I couldn't finish. The pollenta was perfectly grilled and the rataouille was pure chunks of vegetables (and not a puree). Others at the table ordered paella, pasta and burgers, and one of my dining companions even went so far as to proclaim, "This is the best burger I've ever had in my life."

The only unfortunate part of our dining experience was the odd man who kept walking past our table and eyeing us as if we were about to take off with the silverware. We're not sure who he was (at best guess he was a manager), or why we might have looked suspicious, but if enjoying yourself at dinner is a crime then consider me guilty. (p.s. if the strange man is reading this, please note that it's not polite to stare at people when they eat).

Overall, the hive is a great place to hang.

Paradise at Pike Place

Another simple pleasure -- coffee. Some of my friends might say coffee is also a necessity for me. They would be right. My day starts with a cup (err, grande cup) of coffee. Usually brewed at home, sometimes brewed by Starbucks.

There are various classes of Starbucks so it's essential to find the Starbucks location that works for you. Ex: there is a Starbucks within 15 steps from my office door. But only in dire must-have-coffee-or-will-die-or-kill-someone situations will I go to that location because the staff is simply not on their A-game. When I ask for a grande soy latte extra shot no foam and I'm met with a blank stare, it's slightly irritating. Starbucks is famous for inventing the coffee language. It took me long enough to learn it, I would expect the employees at Starbucks to be able to speak it. So instead I go to the Starbucks about 50 steps from my office door where the friendly barrister greets me with a "What can I get for you today, m'Lady?" and I know I'm in safe hands.

This morning, my friend behind the counter suggested I try the new "Pike Place Roast" -Starbucks' new blend that they claim is "an all around great cup of coffee." And let me tell you something, coffee-lovers, Starbucks wasn't lying. The Pike Place Roast is indeed a great cup of coffee. It doesn't taste burnt or have an acidic aftertaste. It's smooth, dark and rich. Good qualities for a man and a coffee, but if you don't have a guy to get you going in the morning this cup of Joe will serve as an awesome substitute.

Venting Frustrations: Breakups and Bad Flights

The Annual Airline Quality rating survey was released earlier this week and it got me thinking - with so many complaints about the airline industry, what happens to all the complaint letters? Do the airlines ever read the letters? Do they care? Maybe there is a person who is hired specifically to read complaint letters from travelers and post the best ones on a cork board in the community kitchen. Every month the airline holds a company meeting and they read the best complaint letter from that month. Maybe that lucky person gets a note back from the airline with coupon for a bag of free peanuts.

The recent quality report says, "The annual Airline Quality Rating survey found that more bags were lost, more passengers were bumped, more consumers complained and fewer flights arrived on-time than in the previous year." So, by all reasonable accounts, we can assume that nothing gets done when someone complains, at least not from the airline. But writing the letter does help the traveler.

Take, for example, a recent break-up. There are so many things you want to say to your ex but you didn't get the chance. When he says, "I just want to have my cake and eat it, too," you could have something witty like, "Not in this bakery, pal!" and thrown a pie in his face. Instead you just stand there with your mouth open in wonderment at the fact that he really just said that. So you missed your chance and instead, you sit down to pen a letter. Maybe you're bold enough to send it, but even if you don't you feel better after writing it.

So it stands to reason that writing the airlines a complaint letter would do the same thing. You didn't get a chance to tell them off at the airport because you were too damn tired from getting bumped off flights and waiting for your luggage to arrive. I felt that way after my Air France fiasco. I wrote a letter telling off the airline, but alas, I never sent it. I did feel better, however, after telling off the bitch (in my letter) at the Air France counter when she closed the doors to our connecting flight, which was still at the gate.

It's only right at this time to post the ultimate airline complaint letter. This little ditty was written by a Continental Airline's passenger seated in Seat 29E.

Nantucket vs. New Car

There's nothing like a good road trip to cleanse the soul. Well, for some. I can't stand being a car for more than three hours, but I've spent plenty of time in my friend Kate's Jetta and if I do say so, the Jetta has been good to us. Ski weekends, beach weekends, shopping weekends... I've known Kate for 10 years and the Jetta has played a large part in some of our favorite road trips. I'm sorry to say, the Jetta is not doing well.

I'm trying to lure Kate into a going to Nantucket this weekend. Off season, beers and burgers - come on! It's for work so I can expense it and truth be told, I wouldn't mind a friend to sit with on the 8-seater. She might join me, if she doesn't go new car shopping. It seems the Jetta has stopped singing tunes. And that's no good.

So now the debate begins: Nantucket vs. new car
I made a pros/cons list.

Pros for Nantucket:
1. It's off season so we totally have run of the island
2. The object of article is to scope out the off-the-beaten path finds
3. It's all expensed
4. I have a new camera and it has video capabilities, which can get really fun after a couple beers.

Cons for Nantucket:
1. It might rain this weekend

Pros for New Car Shopping:
1. The smell of new car leather
2. The overwhelming feeling of buying something brand new
3. Picking out the car color combos.
4. Test driving cars you can't afford

Cons for New Car Shopping:
1. You're not in Nantucket

It's a toss up people.

Top Cities for Shopping

Even in a recession, we all dream of shopping. It's our break from reality - to imagine the things we cannot have at 1/2 price.

Add some sweetness to the sale pot with some extra cash for travel. If one thing says "paradise found" it's a sale sign at a designer boutique in another country. For as powerful and usually-financially stable as we are, the U.S. is also the last to get the goods on the hottest designs, fashions and trends of the season. Sherman's Travel announced the top 10 cities for shopping and it got me thinking...in the dawn of a recession, are Americans really going to give up their savings for high-quality silk?

Some of the top cities include:
Bangkok - jewelry, tailored-made clothes, crafts
Buenos Aires - leather, designer duds (Armani, Cartier)
Copenhagen - fashion for your body and your home
Hong Kong - electronics
London - trendy boutiques

With the exception of London, the dollar actually fares quite well in these cities so it's not unlikely that one could afford retail therapy on vacation.

So, even though we're all broke by definition, it's entirely conceivable why someone would spend the last of their savings for a trip to one of the best cities for shopping. If we're going to go bankrupt, we might as well look good doing it.

Only in America, April 2008

Only in America does a woman get pregnant after having a sex change to become a man, and then go on Oprah to talk about his pregnancy.

Only in America would we publish photos of a family fathered by our sole enemy.

Only in America can the reunion of a 1990s teen boy band ignite the kind of excitement that outdoes the kind of passion expected out of a historical presidential election year.

Airlines Up Their Fees For Bags, Pets and Kids

Fido and little Johnnie are now of the same caliber as your luggage, according to major U.S. airlines.

In the past week, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airline and Northwest Airlines announced they are all raising fees for some passengers flying domestic flights. The fees are mainly for bags, but in some cases pets and unaccompanied minors are getting rate hikes, too. That got me thinking: are people going to stop traveling due to additional fees, or have we come to expect this type of behavior from airlines?

So what does this mean? It means gas prices are high (obviously) and we're headed for a recession (obviously), but I'm of the belief that if you can travel you're helping fuel the economy. Are you holding back your travel plans due to the pending recession? Are the recent airline fees making you think twice about traveling? I figure, as long as my bag and I arrive safely to our chosen destination I'll continue to fly.

Must-have: Cole Haan Village Collection Bag

I purchased a Michael Kors bag a few months ago. It's fashionable and big enough to hold my laptop (which is essential) but after a few days with it, I realized it's lacking pockets and the shoulder straps aren't wide enough to fit over my shoulder while wearing a jacket. So, in the end, while it's fashionable, it's not comfortable.

Today, I hit the Cole Haan outlet and found a great bag to use for upcoming travel. Tons of pockets - enough spots for a passport, cell phone, camera, chargers, sunglasses, etc. The bag itself can hold a laptop, books, notebooks, water bottle and makeup bag. Even better, the rolled shoulder straps are comfortable on your shoulder and offer enough room to open the bag at a moment's notice to grab what you need.

Some would say an expensive bag is a waste of money -- it's going to scratched in coach, spilled on and stepped on. While that's entirely possible, a real leather bag is thick and the leather lasts, which means you don't have to worry about your belongings ripping through the bottom of the bag while you run through airports to catch your connecting flights.

Nantucket Delayed

Due to weather, the Nantucket trip has been postponed for one week.

This weekend's weather forecast: RAIN
Next weekend's weather forecast: SUN

Mr. Demille, I'm Ready For My Close Up

It's possible this could be my big break. Just like George Costanza, I too was asked to be a hand model.

Yesterday we had a production crew come through the office to shoot some footage for a "B-roll" (industry term). The roll is to send to media outlets for interview pitches and coverage. I digress...

I was asked to be the model, thank you very much, and sit pretty in front of a computer for almost an hour while the camera crew filmed my hands maneuvering the Internet. The purpose: find cheap flights and travel reviews. The only thing I was missing was a wedding ring -- which apparently the crew wanted as prop to appeal to the audience. But as I pointed out, single people travel, too. They kind of shut up and moved on with taping.

So watch out, folks! My manicured hands might be discovered and I'm off to the big time with all the other George Costanza's. Meanwhile, while I wait for the phone to ring, I'm off to Nantucket in eight hours.

Seeking Singles Coast-to-Coast

Maybe you travel to meet new people. Good news! The Boston Globe recently came out with a singles map of the USA. If you've got vacation time coming up -- and you're single -- and you don't know where to go, here are some cities to consider:

• There's a surplus of men in Minneapolis. (Ladies, if you don't find one you like, soothe your single soul at the Mall of America, the largest mall in the nation.)
• Women seem to dominate the demographic in Memphis. That's probably because they're all holding out for Elvis.
• Everything is bigger in Texas -- even the ratio of men to women in Dallas.
• Consider this statistic (Mom): In Boston, there are 1,620 more single women then there are men. I've always said dating in Boston was tough. Statistically, I was right.

Now that you've got your singles map of the U.S. you can actively seek out your soul mate. One word of advice: take a single friend with you. If all else fails in your quest for love, you can always head to the nearest bar with your best friend.