Blog Posts

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Women Traveling Alone



Traveling alone can be intimidating, especially if you are a woman. There are a few safety precautions you use at home but it is good to review them before you travel, whether to another city, take a cruise, or travel to other country. Being aware of your surroundings and planning ahead will go a long way to make your trip an enjoyable, safe one.

Make sure you have photocopies of any travel documents you need and keep them with you. It is also a good idea to make electronic copies of them and email them to yourself. The electronic copy ensures you have them even if you misplace the photocopies.

Traveling with a group is the safest way to travel. You don’t have to stay with the group for everything but if you are sightseeing, find a tour or several other like-minded women who can go together. There is safety in numbers.

It’s OK to talk to locals. If you don’t, you will loose the flavor of the area you are in. Men are OK to talk to, just pick the right man in the right situation. If there are others around or he is with a family, that’s fine.

In Europe if you look at someone in the face, they accept that as you are willing to talk. Wear shades and you don’t have to worry about it. If you don’t want to talk to them, tell them firmly NO and walk off. A wedding band is somewhat of a deterrent.

Act with confidence as if you are comfortable wherever you are. Protect your purse or wallet at all times. In a restaurant, hook the straps in the leg of your chair or keep your purse on your lap.

By using common sense, making good decisions, and above all else, having confidence in yourself and your ability to travel on your own, you’ll be rewarded with rich experiences ― and great stories to tell your friends.

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Great Places to Cruise

Great Places to Cruise

The top place to go on a cruise is the Caribbean. Especially for Americans since we can get there from most cruise ports. You can go to the Eastern Caribbean which includes Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Martinique, St Kitts, US Virgin Islands, Puerto, and others. Western including the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Belize and Mexico. Or Southern which includes Aruba, Trinidad, Tobago, and more. As with any cruise, you unpack once and get to see different places with your floating inclusive hotel along with you.

Breathtaking scenery, wildlife and spectacular glaciers are part of Alaska cruises. Our largest state has spectacular fjords and glaciers as well as beautiful bays and inlets. Bald eagles, bears, caribou, moose, mountain goats, bison, Dall sheep and whales are just a few of the animals you might spot on your cruise.

A cruise on the Mediterranean Sea will stop by multiple countries. Eastern Mediterranean could include  the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Crete, Greece and Turkey. The Western Mediterranean might include Venice, Rome, Sicily, Monte Carlo, Tropez and Barcelona. There is a lot of natural beauty and diverse cultures in the countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

Hawaii is another great cruise choice with all of it’s famous sights and fantastic caring people. Most cruises visit the islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai and The Big Island. Each island has something unique to offer – from cascading waterfalls to National Parks, volcanos and beautiful beaches. You can also go on a Hawaiian Luau.

Australia and New Zealand are also among the best places to go on a cruise. They usually cover Sydney, Queensland, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and maybe even Tasmania. Australia is famous for its surfing, beaches and of course, The Great Barrier Reef. New Zealand mainly cruises in South Island, North Island and some small islets. The racing capital of the world is Auckland.

So, start checking off your bucket list and get cruising!

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HTPC changes

A few years ago I started using an older Mac Mini as an HTPC computer with great success. It had all our films, music, pictures and home videos. A year ago that processor died, and I got a new Mini. This sucked. It was slow, cantankerous, video was jerky and sound was not up to par.

This time I wanted to build a unit that was bulletproof, reliable, expandable and FAST. The build started with a Silverstone HTPC case that could hold the motherboard and up to 12 SATA drives. I only use 4 spots, but have plenty of room to expand. The MB is a low end gaming board that has a claim of an excellent audio section. The processor is an AMD Ryzen 4 core at 3ghz. 16GB of Ram 12TB of disk, and a very fast SSD for the boot drive. The OS is Ubuntu 19.04.

One of the issues with the Mac is that it could only support optical digital out. That is a noisy and jittery method of sending a digital signal because there is no way to clock it. My research said the USB output would be better because it is clocked at the source. Unfortunately, my DAC was too old to handle the USB input directly, so I found the Schiit Audio Eitr that sends a coax SP/DIF signal to the DAC. Ubuntu has some configuration issues with it, but after a bit of experimentation and coding, I got it to work at all sample rates and bit depths, WOW what a difference. The sound is more focused, detailed and smooth. The sound stage is absolutely stable, and the grittiness is gone.

I can now run Kodi, and several background tasks, and the system handles it perfectly. Love the new system.

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Cruising Hints

Cruising Hints

It matters what line you choose – how well a cruise suits your personality can have a big impact on your overall onboard experience. Some lines attract fiercely loyal customers with a party vibe; others draw them in with a quieter, more sophisticated ambience.

Consider the Internet and alcohol packages before you board.
When Internet costs around 79 cents a minute and drinks are upwards of $8 – $10 each, a few minutes of web surfing here and a couple of cocktails there can really add up. Research the packages carefully before boarding — they may seem pricey, but you might end up saving money.

Don’t try to do everything on the daily calendar.
You’ll get a schedule each day of events happening on board, but if you try to participate in every little activity — from seminars to trivia contests — you might end up feeling overwhelmed. Pick and choose what you want to participate in.

Make reservations as soon as possible.
Book shore excursions and specialty restaurant reservations online prior to your trip, or as soon as you board. Spots fill up quickly! If you’re hoping to go to the spa on a day at sea, remember that this is the most popular time for bookings.

It’s normal to order multiple dishes at meals.
Want to try more than one entrée? Go for it. A few appetizers? Sure. They’re included in the price of your fare (except at some specialty restaurants).

Sit back and relax — you don’t have to plan much.
This is definitely a vacation for the easy going. It’s hard to see the downside of waking up in a new port each day without the hassle of planning how to get there.

The cruising experience is what you make of it.
The beauty of cruising is that you control the type of day you have, from quiet to active. If you prefer to sleep in and lounge at the pool, you can. But if you want to work out, get a facial, and attend a Broadway-style performance, that’s an option, too. Your schedule on board is totally flexible.

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Get busy on your Bucket List

What is a bucket list? It is a list of all the things you want to try, goals you want to achieve and life experiences you want to have before you die. Have you always wanted to go to Hawaii or Alaska? How about Iceland and see the Northern Lights or Australia and see kangaroos in the wild? Or maybe you have wanted to see all 47 State Parks in SC? Do you want to learn how to grow tomatoes, make a table, sew a dress or cross stitch a picture? Whatever you have always wanted to do, you should make plans to do it.

We all say “Someday.” But if you don’t plan for it or even schedule it – it will always be “Someday”. Make a list of all the things you would like to see and do. Include everything – from the River Cruise in Europe to going to see the Braves play baseball or zip lining. Then look at all the things on the list. Mark off everything that isn’t really important to you. Put your list in order of priority. You can break that down into whatever you can do this year, next year or if you need to save money for it, can you achieve it in two or three years? If you save towards a goal, you are more likely to do it. 

Or pick out the top three things. What excites you the most? What has to be done in during certain times? (An Alaska cruise can only be April until September.) Then start planning the three things. What do you need to do to make that happen? How much does it cost and how long will it take you to save for that? What is the first step? – then do it! Be as specific as possible and anticipate potential problems so when the time comes to make your memories you can focus on enjoying the moment without facing last-minute issues.

One suggestion is to discuss what is on your bucket list with a travel agent. When they know the things you want to do, they can watch for the best deals to help you attain the things on your list.

Your bucket list should be a changing list. As you do things, you might add something else or take something off. Or even better, you have just done it!

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Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Disney World’s new land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened August 29, 2019. This land is a highly themed area that allows you to live your own Star Wars adventures as you explore the remote planet of Batuu.

You arrive at Batuu, an outpost along the galaxy’s Outer Rim on the frontier of Wild Space when you enter the land. The planet is home to Black Spire Outpost, an infamous port for smugglers, traders and adventurers wishing to avoid any unnecessary entanglements with the First Order. When you arrive at Black Spire Outpost, you encounter aliens, droids and other inhabitants of this planet. Along the way, you may encounter some familiar faces, such as Rey, Chewbacca, or even Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and his Stormtroopers. Soon after you arrive to the planet Batuu, you’ll be able to transform the Play Disney Parks app into your Star Wars: Datapad—designed to guide you deeper and deeper into an adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is an interactive ride experience. You climb into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and take the controls of the ship as a pilot, an engineer or a gunner. The engines rumble as the Millennium Falcon blasts off, pushing you and your crew back into your seats when you jump into hyperspace towards adventure. Along the way you’ll face danger at every turn. The ride experience responds in real time to the actions the crew take.

A second attraction, opening Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. The Resistance is gathering recruits for a secret mission. Along the way, Star Wars characters—including Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron and BB-8 may join you to fight the First Order. Your journey takes you aboard a full-size transport shuttle which is captured by a First Order Star Destroyer, with Kylo Ren on board. Fortunately, a covert team of Resistance fighters is at the ready to give you a fighting chance to escape—and a chance for the Resistance to rise.

A multi-purpose transport shuttle docked on top of a large hangar beckons guests into Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo restaurant, a designated location for traveling food shuttles. You can sit inside the spacious hanger, or grab a table in the rustic outdoor seating area surrounded by the crumbling walls of the old marketplace.

The Droid Depot invites you to construct your own droid. You pick pieces off a conveyor belt stocked with parts, chips, manuals and other tech items  to build one of two core models (R-series or BB-series). You can customize your droid with various parts and colors. These droids interact with elements throughout the land, enhancing your adventures. 

At Savi’s Workshop, you can build and customize your very own lightsaber and bring it to life through the power of kyber crystals. You’ll choose one of 4 available hilt themes – Peace and Justice, Power and Control, Elemental Nature, or Protection and Defense. Reservations highly suggested!

In Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, shop for mysterious and unique galactic artifacts. You will find a selection of rare and mysterious items for sale, representing different eras of the Star Wars galaxy, including holocrons, ancient Jedi and Sith artifacts, lightsabers and more.

Resistance Supply is a “makeshift” location at the Resistance’s hidden command post, selling Resistance pins, badges, hats and other accessories to help you feel like part of the cause. 

First Order Cargo, meanwhile, is a temporary First Order storage dock easily identified by a never-before-seen First Order TIE echelon ship. The cargo location offers you a chance to pledge your loyalty by purchasing pins, caps, gear, model ships and more (you will be actively recruited by members of the Resistance while there).

You become part of the story as you try galactic food, beverages (Blue Milk, Green Milk, a variety of exotic drinks like the Sour Sarlacc or Tatooine Sunset), shop for items, and help control the Millennium Falcon in the Smugglers Run ride. You can interact with different areas in the park with your Play Disney Parks mobile app. With the app you can aid a smuggler, pledge loyalty to the First Order, or join the resistance.

Call today and let us help you arrange your Disney trip!

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Planning your Land Vacation

Are you planning to travel and see the sights? Is it overwhelming to plan the trip? There are options. You can do a guided tour, an escorted tour, or you can use a packaged plan or do it on your own. It depends on your travel preference and the amount of time you can spend planning.

Escorted Tours are the easiest. You pick out a tour from one of the many vendors and everything else is taken care of. They are typically conducted by an expert travel director who takes care of every detail for you, from beginning to end. They normally include flights, hotels, any transportation needs, most meals and sightseeing. Most are done mostly using a bus. However, some have bicycling, boats, etc., depending on where you are going. Most have at least one incredible experience that you never thought of doing and all have amazing itineraries.

Guided Tours are similar but are less regimented. They are usually lead by a local expert who will only escort you on some of the activities. Some meals, accommodations and sightseeing are usually included. There will be someone available to answer any questions, but they will not lead all the excursions. This is great for people who want some freedom during their tour but still want the services of a guide.

An Independent Travel Package is just what it says, independent. The trip is planned for you with lots of free time to explore on your own but you are not set into doing specific things. There is usually a local person available to answer questions and suggest sightseeing, restaurants and activities – much like a concierge at a hotel. This is ideal for  you if you like to set your own pace. The research and planning is done by the Tour Company who can make reservations, obtain sightseeing tickets, etc. and be available for questions, but you can do the sightseeing at your own pace.

Or you can plan your one trip from start to finish. So, decide which is more your travel style and go explore!

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Wellness and Fitness





Wellness and fitness are becoming more and more of a focus on ships. From activities to food, many lines are offering more healthy choices for vacationers interested in continuing their fitness regime on vacation.

Fitness, on a ship – you are kidding?!? You might be surprised at the fitness centers on almost all cruise ships and even river cruise lines. Don’t want to miss your yoga, Pilates, Zumba or other fitness class? Most have group classes on the ship.

And if the ellipticals, stationary bikes, punching bags, treadmills and other equipment aren’t what you are looking for but you still want to have some exercise on board, how about a ropes course or rock climbing? Basketball courts, jogging tracks, volleyball, dance classes, and surfing are available on some ships. Several of the smaller ships with sports platforms offer paddle-boarding, kayaking, and skiing.

River ships usually carry bikes for use on land. They also have fitness centers but not as extensive on an ocean ship. Some even have cruises focused on wellness and wellness. 

Many excursions are more focused on wellness activities including hiking and biking. There is a wellness focused excursion on most ports of call.

So, don’t stop your fitness regime on board  ship – pick the cruise ship that most closely fits your current activities and have a great vacation! You might just find that working out at sea is even more fun than working out at home.

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Real ID




Have you gotten your “Real ID”? This is the federally approved drivers license that will be required if you want to board a domestic, commercial flight, enter a secure federal facility, or visit a military installation after September 30, 2020. You can get this when you renew your drivers license. If you don’t need to renew until after that date, you should go ahead and renew to get the new license.

The new license has a gold star in the upper right corner just under the blue state symbol. 

When you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get this license, you will need to bring some proof of ID. You must have 1. Proof of Identity (Government issued birth certificate or valid US Passport), 2. Proof of Social Security Number (your SS card or a W-2 that has your name, SSN, and employer’s name), 3. Two Proofs of current, physical SC address (a current, unexpired SC driver’s license, a no more than 90-day-old utility bill with the same name and address, home mortgage statement, credit card or bank statement, or payroll stub/statement), 4. Proof of all legal name changes (marriage license or court order issued by your county’s probate or family court.)

You can go to www.scdmvonline.com “REAL ID Document Check” or call 803-896-5000 for more information or check your paperwork.


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Eating on Cruise Ships

Eating on Cruise Ships

Gone are the days of huge piles of food at the buffet line and the midnight buffet. But that doesn’t mean you will go hungry on a cruise ship! There are lots of choices and you can get as much as you want most of the time. For example, in the main dining rooms, you can order whatever you would like. You can order two appetizers, two main entrees, and three desserts if you want – you aren’t limited to one. And there are venues open except for the wee hours of the morning. It may be pizza or a grill, but you can eat almost anytime.

Most lines still offer free room service. Some have a service charge for the service. Check your daily newsletter or in room menu for pricing and/or service charge. Having breakfast in your room sitting on your balcony is a nice way to start the day!

Speaking of breakfast, you can get lots of choices on the buffet, but all the cruise lines also have at least one restaurant open for breakfast for a nice sit down meal. Some of them have two or three other venues open for breakfast. That is also in your daily newsletter

Specialty dining is a good option for the first night on the cruise. It is easier to get the time you want and some cruise lines give discounts or wine for the first night diners. 

Do you like ice cream? Most cruise lines have soft serve ice cream on the Lido Deck or the buffet lines. Speciality ice cream often comes with a charge, but soft serve is free. Check each area that serves soft serve, there are often different flavors at different locations.

A sit down restaurant is a good alternative the day of embarkation. Instead of braving the mob, ask a crew member or check the daily newsletter to find out which restaurants are open. Then sit and enjoy having someone bring you your choices.

The main dining room menus are planned out for a week and you can look at them in advance. Visit the front desk and ask to see the menus. You can pick which meals you want to eat in the main dining room and which meals you want to go to an alternate dining venue.

Alert: gaining weight on a seven day cruise is normal. Don’t be surprised if you do!