Why Do People Travel?

Here's what some folks have to say about that....

I'm also going to have a link above for this post.

“Not all those who wander are lost.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring  

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
― Augustine of Hippo 

“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.”
― Anna Quindlen, How Reading Changed My Life 

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
― Laozi 

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky 

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes 

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”
― Laozi 

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It 

“What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? - it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road 

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
― Ernest Hemingway 

“Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.”
― Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt 

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
― Marcel Proust 

“I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”
― Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad 

“The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.”
― G.K. Chesterton 

“In books I have traveled, not only to other worlds, but into my own.”
― Anna Quindlen, How Reading Changed My Life 

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emerson's Essays 

“Travel far enough, you meet yourself.”
― David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas 

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
― Gustave Flaubert 

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring 

“One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
― Henry Miller 

“...there ain't no journey what don't change you some.”
― David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas  

“I read; I travel; I become”
― Derek Walcott 

“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin 

“Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else.”
― Tennessee Williams, Camino Real  

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.”
― Pat Conroy 

“Self-consciousness kills communication.”
― Rick Steves 

“The farther you go, however, the harder it is to return. The world has many edges, and it's easy to fall off.”
― Anderson Cooper 

“We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life 

“No matter where you are, you're always a bit on your own, always an outsider.”
― Banana Yoshimoto, Goodbye Tsugumi 

“Books are not about passing time. They're about other lives. Other worlds. Far from wanting time to pass, one just wishes one had more of it. If one wanted to pass the time one could go to New Zealand.”
― Alan Bennett, The Uncommon Reader 

“Travel brings wisdom only to the wise. It renders the ignorant more ignorant than ever.”
― Joe Abercrombie, Last Argument of Kings 

“I pack my trunk, embrace my friends, embark on the sea and at last wake up in Naples, and there beside me is the stern fact, the sad self, unrelenting, identical, that I fled from.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson 

“The person you have known a long tme is embedded in you like a jewel. The person you have just met casts out a few glistening beams & you are fascinated to see more of them. How many more are there? With someone you've barely met the curiosity is intoxicating.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye 

“My dream is to walk around the world. A smallish backpack, all essentials neatly in place. A camera. A notebook. A traveling paint set. A hat. Good shoes. A nice pleated (green?) skirt for the occasional seaside hotel afternoon dance.”
― Maira Kalman, The Principles of Uncertainty  

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.”
― George Augustus Moore, The Brook Kerith 

“It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancolies du voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about traveling.”
― Gustave Flaubert, Flaubert in Egypt: A Sensibility on Tour 

“I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over in every part of the nation- a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any Here. They spoke quietly of how they wanted to go someday, to move about, free and unanchored, not toward something but away from something. I saw this look and heard this yearning everywhere in every states I visited. Nearly every American hungers to move.”
― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America 

“A journey, after all, neither begins in the instant we set out, nor ends when we have reached our door step once again. It starts much earlier and is really never over, because the film of memory continues running on inside of us long after we have come to a physical standstill. Indeed, there exists something like a contagion of travel, and the disease is essentially incurable.”
― Ryszard Kapuściński, Travels with Herodotus  

“Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.”
― Paul Theroux 

“One travels long distances not solely for large gatherings, but for something more intangible. I have always gone out on a limb for love. A dangerous, romantic, disappointing way to live.”
― Jennifer Ball, Higher Math: The Book Moose Minnion Never Wrote: A Novel 

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
― Jawaharlal Nehru 

“My grandfather says that's what books are for," Ashoke said, using the opportunity to open the volume in his hands. "To travel without moving an inch.”
― Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake  

“I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone, because they reflect more."

(Letter to John Banister, Jr., June 19, 1787)”
― Thomas Jefferson, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 11: January 1787 to August 1787 

“Tourists went on holidays while travellers did something else. They travelled.”
― Alex Garland, The Beach  

“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life”
― Michael Palin 

“I suspected, however, that I wasn't homesick for anything I would find at home when I returned. The longing was for what I wouldn't find: the past and all the people and places there were lost to me.”
― Alice Steinbach, Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman  

“It is better to fill your head with useless knowledge than no knowledge at all.”
― Jim Hinckley, Route 66 Backroads: Your Guide to Scenic Side Trips & Adventures from the Mother Road 

“A good traveler leaves no tracks. Good speech lacks fault-finding.”
― Laozi 

“It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way!”
― Penelope Riley, Travel Absurdities 

“Traveling is a fool's paradise. Our first journeys discover to us the indifference of places. At home I dream that at Naples, at Rome, I can be intoxicated with beauty, and lose my sadness. I pack my trunk, embrace my friends, embark on the sea, and at last wake up in Naples, and there beside me is the stern fact, the sad self, unrelenting, identical, that I fled from. I seek the Vatican, and the palaces. I affect to be intoxicated with sights and suggestions, but I am not intoxicated. My giant goes with me wherever I go.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson 

“The value of your travels does not hinge on how many stamps you have in your passport when you get home -- and the slow nuanced experience of a single country is always better than the hurried, superficial experience of forty countries.”
― Rolf Potts, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel 

“No changing of place at a hundred miles an hour will make us one whit stronger, or happier, or wiser. There was always more in the world than man could see, walked they ever so slowly; they will see it no better for going fast. The really precious things are thought and sight, not pace. It does a bullet no good to go fast; and a man, if he be truly a man, no harm to go slow; for his glory is not at all in going, but in being.”
― John Ruskin 

“But there are people who take salt with their coffee. They say it gives a tang, a savour, which is peculiar and fascinating. In the same way there are certain places, surrounded by a halo of romance, to which the inevitable disillusionment you experience on seeing them gives a singular spice. You had expected something wholly beautiful and you get an impression which is infinitely more complicated than any that beauty can give you. It is the weakness in the character of a great man which may make him less admirable but certainly more interesting.

Nothing had prepared me for Honolulu...”
― W. Somerset Maugham 


OK, folks, enough of these. I'd like to thank all the good members of Goodreads for compiling these. If you want to read more, go here.   

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/travel   



  

  

    

     



            

What a Terrific Day! Weather Perfect but Second Place to the Terrific Folks Whom I Met. And, a Visit to Kiptopeke State Park and Cape Charles.

What a great day. Can't think of anything that could have made it better.

Put my EZ Pass on and it worked! Pretty cool. I think I saved about eight bucks. One way is $13 and if you return within 24 hours and have an EZ Pass the return trip is (I think) $5. What a deal.

My first stop was on the Bridge Tunnel. Didn't go in the restaurant, just took a few snaps, most of which I'm not using.

The next stop was at the welcome center to the right just after getting off the Bridge Tunnel. Picked-up more brochures, yes, just what I need, more stuff.




































Next I went to Kiptopeke State Park. That's where the love chairs are. Actually, they looked a mite shabby. Hmmm..... Think a fresh coat of paint would perk them up. Hey, just like what we call love, yes, sometimes it gets a little shabby and needs attention. Too bad a little paint can't fix the vagaries of romance.

This photo I think rates the worst of the day status. Yes, it's heavily cropped which doesn't help. Anyway, those brownish blobs are concrete ships from WWII. Yes, we used ships made out of concrete. Amazing, of course I'm still amazed that in my trailer I can use propane to make the refrigerator cold. (BTW, if you click on this photo, you can sort of see the ships.)















OK, now I'm getting to the good part of the day. Many, many years ago I went to a movie at the Palace theater. Yes, many years ago. Two things I remember. The first is that prior to the movie starting they put a message on the screen. In a nice way they said, If you talk we're gonna kick your ass out. The second thing, after the movie had been on for 15 minutes or so, they boxed up all of the leftover popcorn and went through the theater giving it away. Now, top that!

So, anyway, there's a lady and a couple of gentlemen, standing near the theater talking. When I started snapping away the lady asked if I had any questions. Soooooo, I told my story about the popcorn. She led me into the Stage Door Gallery which is next door, and the ladies in there took me into the theater and even turned some of the lights on. They also explained the changes they'd made since I had been there. Just absolutely delightful folks-I mean really delightful, pleasant, charming, gentile, and accommodating. We sat around and talked a few minutes and I'm sure I exhibited my boring oafish behavior.


Anyway, I asked where I could get good flounder (the restaurant where I'd eaten before, Rebecca's, had closed about ten years ago).


One of the ladies grabbed a phone and checked with the Shanty restaurant and confirmed that yes, they had flounder. She then drew me a map. Thanks again ladies. Thanks Mary, Mary Ann, and Robin. What great ambassadors for your city.

This is a lousy photo of the Stage Door Gallery. They have every kind of art you can imagine. And, it's all run by primarily, if not all, volunteers. What a fine group of ladies. Here's the link to the gallery:  http://www.stagedoorgallery.com/index.html

The Shanty restaurant of Cape Charles

What a day so far and it continued on. This is Adria who is the perfect waitress. Ironically, she used to work at Rebecca's. Anyway, she suggested fish and chips (flounder), said their coffee sucked, but said the ice tea was good. She steered me right. Yes, she also told me a little about the restaurant, which has been open about three years. A delightful young lady and I'm sure an asset to the business. What a great way to end my little getting-out-of-town adventure.

What did I learn today...well, about my so-called project and the blue highways? My photos ain't all that good. Also, I should have asked if I could have taken photos in the gallery. I know that some artists don't like their work photographed. Also, there's a cool water tower in Cape Charles that's painted to look like a lighthouse and I didn't get a photo of that. And, lastly there are some neat shops in Cape Charles and I should have spent a few minutes walking around town. Ironically, I had headed to Exmore to eat at the Exmore Diner.  For some reason, about two miles past the Cape Charles turn off I turned around and went to Cape Charles. Unknowingly, at the time, I made a good decision for once. 

Also, need to be more careful about when to use the macro function. Yep, should have most likely used it for the photo of the flounder basket.

Left home about 9:30AM and was gone about 4/5 hours. Total miles 80.



A little aversion therapy, cautionary tale,  or some such thing. DON'T GET OLD! You've been warned.

Actually, do I look a little like Hemingway? Dang, too bad I don't have a little of his talent.

Speaking of Hemingway, here's one of his famous quotes.

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

Basically, what he said was that if you can't get killed it's just a game.

BTW, and I surely don't mean this in a negative or derogatory way. I have often thought of Cape Charles as a town where at any hour of the day or night, you could walk across the main street without "looking" and the worse thing that would happen to you is you'd get run into by a dog.

That's a compliment, folks....

OK, I've Got the Maps and the Membership Cards to the State and Federal Parks.....

Well, let's see, this is the third card for the National Park Service (NPS) and the second for the Virginia State Parks.


I lost or misplaced first NPS card and the second one along with the original state card were stolen out of my glove box. I live in an OK section of town and until the theft had never locked my car. Same with my next door
neighbor. Anyway, I had an old wallet that I kept in the glove box with cards that I rarely used. And, yep, the wallet was stolen. My neighbor's car and boat were gone through.  Oh, well.



The lifetime card to Virginia's state parks cost $200. Yep, two-hundred dollars. I had planned on using it to start walking at one of our local parks. Hmmmm, and that's been several years ago. Yes, I used it the day I bought it. Another unfinished project.

The NPS card is especially great for we older folks. Ten bucks and it's a lifetime card allowing free admission to all national parks. Even better is the discount. Yes, I used this on my failed trailer adventure. I stayed in a beautiful park on an island across from Pensacola. The old-person's price was ten bucks a night.

So, now folks I need to get going......

What the Heck is Civility? And, Why is that Book Here on a Travel Blog?

Civility

Short definition: 

1. Courteous behavior; politeness.

2. A courteous act or utterance.

So, how am I trying to weasel in a discussion about civility on my so-called travel blog? Good question.

This is one of several books that I bought at the Yorktown Battlefield gift shop. A nice lady who ran the shop said this book is a best seller. Of course, I remarked that I was sure I could get it free on the Internet. Yes, but look at the quality of the book.

She's correct. It is a nicely- made book; should be, 30 pages and $9.95. Though I rarely buy print books  anymore, some books just need to be in print. And, this is one of those books.

And, yes, it's available free on the Internet and for your Kindle at Amazon. But, the book is definitely high quality.

So, who am I to talk about civility? Good question. I often say, well, mainly to myself, that I want to be a better person. You know, be nicer to folks, more considerate, more understanding, and primarily keep my darn mouth shut and stop trying to force people to listen to my views. And, this kind of behavior surely isn't civil.

I have over 300 videos on YouTube where I rant and rave about so-called complimentary and alternative medicine, psychics, astrology, religion, politics, and so on. Frankly, I find it just about impossible to keep my mouth shut. Yes, I'm most likely at least as offensive and pushy as a religious zealot. And, I keep telling myself to knock it off. So far, I haven't. But, I'm going to keep trying.

Yes, I do respect everyone's right to believe whatever they want; however, that doesn't mean I respect what they believe. And, yes, there's a big difference.

It seems that religion has always been thought of as special. You know, don't talk about religion and especially don't challenge someone about their religious beliefs. Does that make any sense that religion should be special? To me, it doesn't.

If we're sitting around talking about politics, baseball, NASCAR, or just about anything other than religion we feel no qualms about saying what we want. You know, Hey, the Bronco's suck. So and so, the pitcher for the Cardinals is lousy. Folks of course will argue with you, about the best pitcher, NASCAR driver, golfer, and so on;  but, you'd better stay away from religion.

I worked with the seriously mentally ill for almost twenty years. Sadly, there are folks who have what many of us call fixed delusions. Yes, these are delusions that stay with them no matter what. No amount of medication or talk therapy will change their beliefs about their fixed delusions. And, what's a delusion? Simply put, a false belief easily refuted by evidence.

If I came out, if you will, and said that I prayed to Santa Claus I doubt there would be many people who would show respect and they'd quickly tell me that it's stupid to believe in Santa Claus as a god.  But, if I say it doesn't make sense to believe in their god, it's as if I've crossed a line that we just aren't supposed to cross. Which, of course lacks all logic and reason. Shouldn't all beliefs be open to discussion?

Well, back to civility. There's civility in words and actions. How we talk to and communicate with others and how we behave.

Thankfully, I got a little head start on civility because of how my mom tried to raise my brother and me. Yep, she was a stickler for, Yes, ma'am, No, sir, holding the door for ladies and at the dinner table not acting like a complete oaf; passing the food to others, especially guests, not starting to eat until everyone had their food, and so on.

Never make fun of someone because of their ignorance or lack of education, period. If someone states that one plus two is 73, there are times when you need to keep your mouth shut. Some people seem to feel it makes them seem smarter by making fun of ignorant people. That surely isn't being civil.

Well, enough of this and back to the book. It seems that our first president copied most, if not all, of what's in this book. Supposedly, he was young, maybe 12, 13, or 14. Well, I surely don't know for sure.

OK, here are a few quotes from his book.

1st    Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.

15th  Keep your nails clean and short, also your hands and teeth clean, yet without showing any great concern for them. (Might add, keep your shoes clean and polished.)

40th  Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgement to others with modesty.

41st  Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes, it savours of arrogance. 

43rd  Do not express joy before one sick or in pain, for that contrary passion will aggravate his misery.

44th  When a man does all he can though it succeeds not well blame not him that did it.

56th  Associate yourself of men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company. (This is a good one. Well, they are all good.)

58th  Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for it is a sign of a tractable and commendable nature; and in all cases of passion admit reason to govern. (My emphasis.)

65th  Speak not injurious words, neither in jest or earnest; scoff at none although they give occasion.

68th  Go not thither, where you know not, whether you shall be welcome or not. Give not advice without being asked & when desired do it briefly. (Hmmmm, I need to remember this one.)

73rd  Think before you speak; pronounce not imperfectly nor bring out your words too hastily, but orderly & distinctly. (I need to remember this one, too.)


OK, folks. It would be nice if we could all follow these rules. If you have further interest, buy the book or take to the Internet.

And, so it goes......

If You're Ever in Virginia Beach and Need Some Booze, This is the Place to Go....

This is my favorite ABC store. All of the employees are pleasant, knowledgeable, helpful, and all seem to have a sense of humor. Not on the shelves, they'll special order it for you. They are on North Hampton Blvd., Virginia Beach.

And, you might be asking, why do I have a booze store on my blog? Well, I had planned on going to the botanical gardens today, but decided to put it off until tomorrow or the next day. As I happened by the booze store, I thought, Hey, this is in Virginia, so what's the problem.

Virginia is one of the states that has a monopoly on selling spirits. Yes, you can buy wine and beer in grocery and convenience stores, but no hard stuff. Nope, the State handles that. A year or so ago there was some talk about maybe privatizing the sales of the hard stuff. But, for the time being that seems like an idea that's been shelved (no pun intended).

So, I might pose the question, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, when you hear of a hurricane roaring up the coast or a forecast of five inches of snow, do you rush to your Kroger's or head to the ABC store? Hey, I'm joking....sort of.

I think I'll end this with one of my fifty-five word stories.

Alcohol Ain’t All That Bad

“Why do you say that?”
“You know, when you go out with the guys, have a few, it’s kinda fun.”
“OK.”
“When you’re depressed, well…a few will help.”
“And.”
“Pissed-off, angry, mad, a few will calm you down.”
“How about the four DUIs, eight DIPs, $7500 in fines, two months in jail?”
“Ain’t nuthin’ perfect.”

Virginia Beach, Mount Trashmore Park.....

When Mount Trashmore first opened they had a few rock and roll bands play. My grandmother said, "I'm not going to sit on a pile of trash and listen to that stuff." I think she made a good point.

 

 

World-renowned Mount Trashmore Park encompasses 165 acres and is comprised of two man-made mountains, two lakes, two playgrounds, a skate park and vert ramp, and multi-use paths. The main mountain, Mount Trashmore, now 60 feet in height and 800 feet long, was created by compacting layers of solid waste and clean soil.  (from City of Virginia Beach's website)

Today was a rotten day to go walking in the park. Temperatures in the mid and low thirities, overcast, gray day.

Yes, this park was made at our trash dump. Not sure how long Mount Trashmore has been around, but the city has made ongoing improvements. It's kind of a neat place, even though it sits atop a huge pile of trash.

There are walking paths that get a lot of use, folks walking dogs and pushing kids in strollers. 

This is a great place for kids with lots of different things to climb on, slide down, and crawl through. All built of course with safety in mind. Each area has the appropriate age posted.

Not sure exactly why I added this snap. Well, the day was so gloomy, the bright yellow posts make a nice contrast.

What in the Heck is Going On? This is Virginia, for Cryin' Out Loud! What's Up with the Snow?

Well, here it is Tuesday AM and the temperature's 25 degrees. My last post was Sunday and the temperature got to 70 degrees. What the heck is going on?

Yesterday, I decided I just had to go to Kroger's. Was I out of food? Nope. Just decided there were a few things I wanted. As I walked out of the door about noon it started sleeting.  By the time I'd driven a mile or so the roads were icy and my car had no traction  at all. Yep, a Subaru will plow though anything. And, that may well be true to a certain extent; however, with summer tires with little tread and ice, nope it's not going to do much plowing through anything.




Are any of you folks out there praying to the weather gods? Well, if you are you've been praying to the wrong ones...or, they're all just ticked-off at us. Who knows? Or, the cold and snow could just be some kind of cosmic weather vortex...whatever that means. Oh, well...... Yes, my steed is trapped in my driveway. Not sure when I'll be heading out again.



I have the snap of the berries just to show how the macro function of my camera works. It's pretty slick. Just punch a button and you can get as close as you want to take a picture. The other nice thing about the macro function is the limited depth of field that isolates what you are focused on. It throws everything else out of focus. Will be back when the roads allow.

Yes, Still Visiting Virginia Beach....

Ahh, my favorite restaurant in all of Virginia Beach. The Lynnhaven Fish House has set the standard for many years. My favorite meal here is flounder, which I typically get. Occasionally, tuna. My brother usually gets scallops.  We go before 3PM to get the lunch prices. Though, lunch or dinner, Lynnhaven Fish House is competitive in their pricing. No other restaurant can top them in service. And, if you like that "ambiance stuff", they have that also; you know, dim lighting in the evening, candles on the tables, and cloth napkins.

Yes, we in Virginia Beach have our own Ferris wheel.

The Boardwalk is nice and long. When  it's not crowded, it's quite pleasant.

In the summer, yes, there are lots of bikinis and lots of butts showing.

Actually, folks, not everyone should be wearing a bikini!

Yes, folks having fun at the beach. Today, March 3, 2014, the temperature was close to 70.  Forecast for tomorrow is four inches of snow of a low of 20. What the heck is going on?

Whenever I think of the beach and candy, which I rarely do, I think of salt water taffy. No, it doesn't have salt water; but, it does have salt and water, among many other ingredients. Take a look here for the lowdown on salt water taffy. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_taffy

This is Neptune. Each year a King Neptune is crowned. I think there's a parade, also. The fellow below and to the right is taking a picture of the young ladies posing with Neptune. Dang, I really don't like cameras that don't have a proper viewfinder. If you checkout the camera that I'm using for all of these photos (look on the right side of this blog, toward the bottom)  you'll see that it has a clip-on finder. 

This is Shore Drive, which yes, follows the shore of the bay. This is the "nice" part of Shore Drive, about six miles like this, that ends at the ocean front.

Yes, this is the Hilton. And, yes, I stayed here once. 

That's a story for another day.

I like the white bench against the dark color of the building.

Bike Shop or Reiki place? Or, both. Most of these Reiki folks, don't stop at Reiki, nope, psychic counseling, spiritual this that and the other, hypnosis, life couching...well, you get the idea.

I would imagine some of these folks, these practitioners,  actually buy into this stuff; you know, they think it works. 

Of course, not only doesn't it work, it can't work. 

So, how is it that they and their customers can think it works? That question isn't easily answered; however, take a look at confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance which can explain some of what's going on. I'm sure some of these folks truly believe in what they do.

Yes, I'm sure the walls here are plastered with certificates and diplomas.  Spend fifty bucks and spend a few minutes on the Internet and you too, can put a bunch of initials after your name. At least the state doesn't license these people and allow them to call themselves doctors  and wear white coats. You know, like they do the chiropractors.

Well, I could go on and on, but will stop for now. At least you out-of-towners now know that when visiting us, if you feel the need, you can get your energy adjusted or get a little psychic counseling (whatever that is).

Please note: This "blog" is driving me nuts. The spacing and positioning of the photos that "it" shows when posting the text and photos in isn't what is seen on the blog. Sorry.

Speaking of the A.R.E., a Sad Tale to Tell.....

Nonsense can and does kill. What am I talking about? The so-called alternative and complimentary medicine. 

2006, a young fellow of 16 years,
Starchild Abraham Cherrix, whose family lived in Chincoteague, Virginia, was fighting for his life and battling cancer.

As happens to many, the chemotherapy treatments made him sick and weak. His family sought treatment for him in Mexico.

As I best remember, their first response was to go to the A.R.E. Based on what they learned there, they started using the Hoxsey treatment of liquid herbal supplements. And, things went downhill rapidly.

CPS got involved and ultimately, the court ordered conventional treatment; however, he did end-up with an MD in Mississippi, who mixed traditional medical treatment with the so-called alternative treatments.

And, how is this young fellow now? I do not know. The last I heard his mom and dad divorced, and his mom and siblings had moved to the Western part of the state and he's living in Floyd, Virginia.

Sadly, he still has symptoms.  And, who is treating him now? Last reported in 2011, a chiropractor and an osteopathic doctor.

We often say, "What's the harm?" Whether it's Aunt Sue, who's pissing away her money on astrologers and psychics, or someone who is using homeopathic remedies and herbs. However, maybe the only thing Aunt Sue will lose is her money, but those who substitute sound and proven medical treatments for alternative treatments often end up dead. And, most of us would agree, that's harmful.


Please, take a look here to learn more.       http://whatstheharm.net/

Hmmm, I Just Felt Compelled to Write This....

Well, in almost another life, if you will, I met an interesting  fellow who had interesting tales to tell.

What made me think of this was my recent visit to the Beach and the photo I took of the Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. (Association for Research and Enlightenment). I had thought about maybe driving a few blocks and taking a picture of The Heritage (I'm pretty sure that's the name of the place).

The Heritage, sells all things weird, you know, magical and mystical books, crystals, incense, holistic this that and the other, books such as, How to Be a Reiki Master in 24 Hours and Heal the World, and so on. And, what made me think of all of this has to do with crystals.

Listen carefully.

This fellow had a drinking problem...or, a problem with drinking, take your pick. To add to the problem he worked in an environment that served booze and to further compound the problem, person after person would buy him drinks. I think he came by his drinking problem honestly, to use that word.

Anyway, he would stop for short periods of time. Crystals..... What about the crystals?

OK, he woke one morning and in his words, "Damn, there were a bunch of rocks in my bed. They surrounded me."

Come to find out they weren't exactly rocks. Nope, they were special crystals that his wife had paid a small fortune for. Yes, these magic crystals were going to cure his problem with alcohol. The crystals would do it.

Of course, her use of crystals didn't stop there.

He said that one time there were some crystals arranged in a sort of  triangular fashion, at the door leading out of the garage to the backyard.

"What are these rocks doing here?"

"Oh, they will keep the fleas from coming in and getting on the dog."

He also said he saw several $80 charges to his credit card. Yep, crystals again. His wife would routinely send them off to have them cleared and cleansed and powered-up.

I'm not sure if there's a moral here. Maybe never underestimate the usefulness of crystals? Or, maybe, be careful whom you marry.

A note: I surely don't want to be posting entries without at least one photo. Well folks, it's a little after midnight, and, I want to use my photos, not grab them off the web.... Well, heck. Here's this bottle of gin. Yes, Bombay Sapphire gin (Thanks, Mark.). Get it? Crystal, sapphire. Sapphire, crystal. Folks, it's a little after midnight...this is the best I could do.