Best Snow Slide EVER!

80hrs of work = a LIFETIME of memories.





Cheers!

TOP 5 TRAVEL TIPS

Having been fortunate enough to do a little traveling in my lifetime, I thought I’d share my list of TOP 5 TRAVEL FACTS…#1 being the most important to remember:

5. Get used to the idea that itineraries are not set in stone

It’s okay to have an itinerary. But, don’t fill up every second of your trip with a scheduled event. You will fail at staying on schedule. More importantly, you will fail to enjoy your trip.

4. Expect surprises

Some will be pleasant: Some of the best nachos I’ve ever eaten were not in Mexico, Texas, or California, but in Scotland. Yes. Right in the Highlands…they were delicious.

Some will be unpleasant: My family once had a tire blow out at TWO separate times during ONE short two-hour drive on a weekend get-away. One-blowout-per-hour is not a good measure of travel distance.

3. Pack Light

In order to take only what you need, you should know what “need” is.

6 pairs of shoes for a 10 day trip is probably not something that falls in the “need” category. Sure, MAYBE you might sometimes regret not packing something. But you WILL ALWAYS be glad you don’t have to lug heavy bags on and off of vehicles, through parking lots, or in and out of airports.

2. Meet the locals and get to know yourself a little better

Forget the stereotypes. I’ve been to Paris, France and I’ve been to New York City.

I have not met one person that fits either of the negative stereotypes most people associate with both of those cities. Visit the tourist-traps for the fun of it. There's nothing wrong with it. But, for truer and more exhilarating travels visit with the locals. You will be glad for the experience. You will discover as much about yourself as you will about other people.

1. Go somewhere, ANYWHERE!

My family never has been financially well-off, but my mother loved to travel…she still does.

As a child in my mother’s home we scraped up and saved up all we could for our vacations. Then we packed into our old station-wagon and make great memories. Most of our trips weren’t the kind you find in popular travel books and magazines. Most were to simple inexpensive places. But ALL were vacations that live fondly in my memory.

Ultimately, it’s not the destination that makes vacations great. 

It’s the time spent away from the daily drudgery life is filled with. 

Disney World is truly magical. Paris at night is lovely. The English countryside is beautiful in the spring. I’ve been lucky enough to experience these things and will not argue the facts.

But the emotional benefits of my time spent traveling with my family are what made the biggest impressions on me as a child. And now, I gather life-long memories from vacations with my own children.

Sword Dance and Shadowgraph

This is very entertaining.
I wish could see it live some day.




Cheers!

11yr old drummer - ROCKS!

Sure I've always been a Dream Theater fan.
And sure, I think Mike Portnoy is one of the best drummers ever.
But, even if neither of those things were true -- THIS  young man is awesome.

Time Flies

This video creeps me out.
If 8 dead flies can power a clock for 12 days, what will the world use other organisms for in the future?

Turning the consumption of organisms into electricity sounds like a recipe for disaster.



Cheers!

Little People

This is such a fascinating art form.

Check out the rest of the bunch at the Little People Project Blog
MAKE SURE you check out the archives -- these creations go back years, so there are A LOT.

I just can't get enough of these little guys and gals.

Look closely...the stranded couple are in the puddle



Can you see the little dudes?



There's a VIDEO on the artist's blog showing this being created

Hope he's got a BIG wallet!

Check out the artist's blog!

Cheers!

Are you paying the IRS too much money?

Here are some interesting facts I found on the Dave Ramsey site:

According to the U.S. Government

• Over $1 billion is overpaid to the IRS
• 2.2 million people overpay taxes
• 61% of homeowners miss deductions

The IRS does make mistakes

• Incorrectly accuses thousands of owing money
• Mistakenly keeps an average of $438 of standard deductions

Research shows that a lot of those people overpaying the IRS are Americans who go to less-than-qualified tax professionals to get their taxes done.
So, my friends, please take the time to do your homework before deciding who gets to do your taxes.
Going to someone just because they do your taxes cheap may be costing you money in the long run


Cheers!