Vacations Are Supposed to be Fun
I sometimes think vacations are overrated33 total reviews
Comment from LJbutterfly
I am so glad you were the one who did all that traveling and I could just sit back and enjoy reading about it. I could have never gone on a two week vacation. Plus, all of that driving or even riding in a car would have tired me out. You're the vacation super hero. I'm usually ready to return home after five days. This piece is hilarious and entertaining, even though you had a few challenges. I'm glad you and Jan arrived home safely.
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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I am so glad you were the one who did all that traveling and I could just sit back and enjoy reading about it. I could have never gone on a two week vacation. Plus, all of that driving or even riding in a car would have tired me out. You're the vacation super hero. I'm usually ready to return home after five days. This piece is hilarious and entertaining, even though you had a few challenges. I'm glad you and Jan arrived home safely.
Comment Written 16-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hi LJ,
it's so nice to hear from you. Its been a few years since we had gone anywhere, and Jan really wanted to see the ark. I was afraid that my friend Buffalo would pass on before we got together again, and honestly, I wasn't sure how much longer I'd be up to traveling that much. Frankly, it was brutal. One of my biggest regrets was that I didn't stop and go fishing anywhere. If we go someplace again, I'll park my carcass there for a while and bring a rod with me.
Thanks for stopping by gal.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment from Ulla
Hi There, I certainly think you should stay home for the foreseeable future, lol.
Well maybe I shouldn't comment on this piece as I have travelled all my life. Ever since I was a little girl. I even became a flight attendant for twenty years. I love Alaska, by the way. Flew into Anchorage from Copenhagen ever so often during my twenty years of flying. Now your story brought back so many memories to me. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hi There, I certainly think you should stay home for the foreseeable future, lol.
Well maybe I shouldn't comment on this piece as I have travelled all my life. Ever since I was a little girl. I even became a flight attendant for twenty years. I love Alaska, by the way. Flew into Anchorage from Copenhagen ever so often during my twenty years of flying. Now your story brought back so many memories to me. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 16-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello Ulla,
thanks so much for dropping in and reviewing this article. So do you live in Copenhagen? I can't imagine spending twenty years as a flight attendant. Of course, if you like to fly and see various places, that would probably be a good job to have. How much time did you spend in each city? I personally don't care for Anchorage- it's too big. We go there when we have to fly or pick someone up from the airport, or shop at Costco, but other than that, we have everything we need right here in Wasilla, about forty miles north of Anchorage.
When I was in the navy, back in 1972, I could fly from Columbus Ohio to Chicago Illinois for $60.00 round trip. I flew home every other weekend when I was in Radarman A school. At the time TWA (Trans-world Airlines) was in business. In coach class there were only two seats on each side of the isle, and they even fed us a real meal, not just a snack. Also, the seats in the back were for smoking. What a different time. People used to get dressed up to go on a flight back then. Ah well, time moves on, but I wish we held on to some of the old ways.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
That was quite a trip you went on. Isn't it nice to get home and smell the familiar smells of your house and possessions. I use the GPS and the map, don't trust either completely. A car breaking down on a trip is not fun, but at least the people you had to deal with spoke English. Our clutch pedal broke off our car and no one spoke English in that part of Germany. My husband turned out to be very good with pantomime. I saved your writing for last tonight as you always have something amusing to say.
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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That was quite a trip you went on. Isn't it nice to get home and smell the familiar smells of your house and possessions. I use the GPS and the map, don't trust either completely. A car breaking down on a trip is not fun, but at least the people you had to deal with spoke English. Our clutch pedal broke off our car and no one spoke English in that part of Germany. My husband turned out to be very good with pantomime. I saved your writing for last tonight as you always have something amusing to say.
Comment Written 16-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello Carol,
thanks so much for the kind words and great review gal. Well, the lady at Budget kind of spoke English. I mean, she did, but it was really hard to understand what she was saying. I think she was in India. For the life of me, I don't understand why businesses hire people from foreign countries to speak on the phone regarding customer service issues. I'm glad they're employed, but I find it terribly frustrating to try to decipher what they're saying. I struggle with hearing anyway, and it just adds to the problem.
We're so grateful to be home, believe me. I love eating a variety of home cooked meals and sleeping in my own bed. I feel really bad for folks who are displaced from their homes.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Travelling can be painful when there are delays and the inconvenience of not sleeping in one's own bed takes its toll when we get older. I have been invited to visit my friend up North and the journey takes four hours in the car, I just do not want to waste my time in a car for four hours and four hours back, yet I would like to see my friend. It is good to go exploring, but it is also a relief to get back home, love Dolly x x x
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Travelling can be painful when there are delays and the inconvenience of not sleeping in one's own bed takes its toll when we get older. I have been invited to visit my friend up North and the journey takes four hours in the car, I just do not want to waste my time in a car for four hours and four hours back, yet I would like to see my friend. It is good to go exploring, but it is also a relief to get back home, love Dolly x x x
Comment Written 15-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello Dolly,
everything you mentioned is the truth. I was able to accomplish all that I wanted to get done, but I'm sure we'll never try anything like that again. We may spend a few weeks or a month down south during the winter, but it will involve staying in one place, not driving thousands of miles.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from zanya
An entertaining read for the reader, perhaps not for the travellers! Certainly it paints an accurate picture of modern travel with all the hassle it entails. 'Many areas that were once farm land were now shopping malls.' there's a key observation about how we live today.' A most enjoyable read.
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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An entertaining read for the reader, perhaps not for the travellers! Certainly it paints an accurate picture of modern travel with all the hassle it entails. 'Many areas that were once farm land were now shopping malls.' there's a key observation about how we live today.' A most enjoyable read.
Comment Written 15-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello zanya,
thanks so much for the exceptional review gal. Traveling used to be fun, but those days are gone in my opinion. I've gotten to the age that I can be pretty content just hanging around close to home.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment from LateBloomer
Hi Tom, you certainly had your trials and tribulations while travelling. I keep telling you that I think you are my husband's twin brother from another mother. I give you high praise and credit for taking this extended trip. Your "twin" only travels about a half hour from home, and that's when it's to visit our children. Outside of that, he only travels to the local stores, and only on our side of town. All the travel ailments that you have, your "twin" also has them, so I understand and can relate.
However, you did have an amazing trip. I didn't know a thing about the Noah Ark replica. That's something that I would like to see, but let's see ... is it a half hour from home? No.
I'm glad that you did get the opportunity to see Niagara Falls, and then you got the culture shock. Travel tip--do not visit NYC.
I'm glad that you made it home, safe and sound, and that you have wonderful neighbors and friends. Let's face it, there is no place like home, and you can never go back to a place once lived. Well done, and as always, well told. Margaret
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hi Tom, you certainly had your trials and tribulations while travelling. I keep telling you that I think you are my husband's twin brother from another mother. I give you high praise and credit for taking this extended trip. Your "twin" only travels about a half hour from home, and that's when it's to visit our children. Outside of that, he only travels to the local stores, and only on our side of town. All the travel ailments that you have, your "twin" also has them, so I understand and can relate.
However, you did have an amazing trip. I didn't know a thing about the Noah Ark replica. That's something that I would like to see, but let's see ... is it a half hour from home? No.
I'm glad that you did get the opportunity to see Niagara Falls, and then you got the culture shock. Travel tip--do not visit NYC.
I'm glad that you made it home, safe and sound, and that you have wonderful neighbors and friends. Let's face it, there is no place like home, and you can never go back to a place once lived. Well done, and as always, well told. Margaret
Comment Written 15-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello Margaret,
thanks so much for the wonderful review gal. I'm much too conservative to ever want to go to NYC. I'd probably do something to get myself thrown in jail for and would never get out. I'd rather not take the chance. I don't mind traveling in Alaska so much. We'd like to go to the port city of Valdez. It's a big fishing community, and very scenic. In the winter though, they get buried by feet of snow, being right on the water like they are. It's over five hours away, and while I don't like the idea of a long drive, if I'm going to see it, I better do it soon, while I still can.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from Liz O'Neill
Is this an oily for a shadowing: "When I turned on the car, the warning to change the oil came on, and remained on for the week or so that we had it. It should have been a harbinger of things to come."
what fun that must have been: We used to climb them on Saturday morning and strip the colored crepe paper off to decorate the wheels of our bikes. I it's more of a have to laugh even though it's not really . It's more of a cautionary tale. "I was in the middle of traffic in a major city with an engine that was screaming and threatening to blow up any second." this is excellent as you know I love your writing so not hard to give you an A+
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Is this an oily for a shadowing: "When I turned on the car, the warning to change the oil came on, and remained on for the week or so that we had it. It should have been a harbinger of things to come."
what fun that must have been: We used to climb them on Saturday morning and strip the colored crepe paper off to decorate the wheels of our bikes. I it's more of a have to laugh even though it's not really . It's more of a cautionary tale. "I was in the middle of traffic in a major city with an engine that was screaming and threatening to blow up any second." this is excellent as you know I love your writing so not hard to give you an A+
Comment Written 15-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello Liz,
thanks so much for the wonderful review and the six gal, I'm honored. It was quite the trip. The second car they gave us was a hybrid. It was also a Jeep Grand Cherokee, same color and everything. When I started it in the parking lot, I thought it was broken because I couldn't hear the engine noise. I went inside and said it didn't work either, and they had to come out to the car with me to prove it was on. We struggled the whole trip trying to figure out the air conditioning, which was needed everywhere but Vermont. I'm a simple person, or perhaps just not very intelligent, but I never did get the hang of that car. I'm glad to be home driving my Ford Escape.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
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. Yes those hybrids are weird sounding or not sounding. My partner had one and I never could tell if the car was started or not. She actually couldn't keep it for very long It wasn't doing well coming up for 8/10 of a mile 45° dirt road. Good talking
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Ah well that's the beauty of travelling - the sheer unadulterated pleasure of getting home and feeling you don't have to go anywhere else for quite a while/ever! I must admit to some tension reading your story so you conveyed that well. In addition, there's always the humour in your posts and I loved the Dulcolax story. Small edit there: I'm happy to report that (it) worked.
I have to admit I've missed your posts and am glad you're back in one piece! Well done! Debbie
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Ah well that's the beauty of travelling - the sheer unadulterated pleasure of getting home and feeling you don't have to go anywhere else for quite a while/ever! I must admit to some tension reading your story so you conveyed that well. In addition, there's always the humour in your posts and I loved the Dulcolax story. Small edit there: I'm happy to report that (it) worked.
I have to admit I've missed your posts and am glad you're back in one piece! Well done! Debbie
Comment Written 15-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello Debbie,
I'm so glad that you enjoy my tales of woe. I think I've taken the art of complaint to a new level. I don't know what I'd do if everything ever really went well. I suppose I'd be bored. Once in awhile it would be nice to experience though I suppose. Its so nice to eat something other than restaurant food. All systems are go now, I'm happy to report, and I even get the bonus of sleeping in my own bed. I'm truly a blessed man.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from jessizero
I enjoyed reading about your vacation! Your misadventures with dulcolax and immodium were especially funny - and I can relate; something similar happened to me while I was in the hospital. Thank you so much for sharing, and best wishes to you.
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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I enjoyed reading about your vacation! Your misadventures with dulcolax and immodium were especially funny - and I can relate; something similar happened to me while I was in the hospital. Thank you so much for sharing, and best wishes to you.
Comment Written 15-May-2024
reply by the author on 16-May-2024
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Hello Jessie,
thanks so much for the wonderful review and the extra star gal, I appreciate it. Whenever your body is subjected to out of the ordinary circumstances, it seems to rebel in the only way it can I suppose. I'm so glad to be home again. I've got a number of projects to do, and spring has finally come to Alaska, so we're going to try and enjoy this short season.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment from GWHARGIS
I'm sorry your trip wasn't very much fun. Sounds like you packed a tad too much into the allotted time. And it sounds like far too much of it was spent couped up in a car. But you presented it in a classically "Botts'" humorous way. Favorite part was explaining one steering wheel and you were the one using it. Great piece. Gretchen
reply by the author on 15-May-2024
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I'm sorry your trip wasn't very much fun. Sounds like you packed a tad too much into the allotted time. And it sounds like far too much of it was spent couped up in a car. But you presented it in a classically "Botts'" humorous way. Favorite part was explaining one steering wheel and you were the one using it. Great piece. Gretchen
Comment Written 15-May-2024
reply by the author on 15-May-2024
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Hi Gretchen,
I actually kind of wish we had come home a few days earlier. I didn't know how much time it would take to go to Cincinnati from Hatteras, and I drove like a mad man to make sure we were there in time. When it became apparent that we would be there in plenty of time, we decided to look at something else along the way. Of all things, we ended up in Dollywood. It was pretty spendy, and not quite what I expected, although we did take in a couple of live shows that more or less offset the cost. The last day we were in Kentucky, we ended up in the library, for want of anyplace else to be. I'm not good at planning a vacation. If I could have spent a week or so someplace just fishing, I would have enjoyed it more, but I wanted to get Buffalo down to Hatteras to visit his friends, and I needed to spend time with him. It all worked out, but I rather doubt we'll be going anywhere else any time soon.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom