Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 16, 2009, 8:32 am
As you are reading this, I am winging my way to Curacao in the southern Caribbean, for a four day stay courtesy of Marriott Resorts. The press trip, appropriately named “Blog Paradise,” is...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 15, 2009, 8:33 am
If you look hard enough, you can pierce the phony facade in even the most tourist-choked destinations. In Miami Beach I finally broke through the barrier when I connected with its artist community. M...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 14, 2009, 8:39 am
It’s Carnival time! Gen Plus Reinvent 50 Plus is hosting the Blogging Boomers Carnival this week and a mighty fine bit of entertainment it is. Want to know how an unemployed architect earned mor...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 12, 2009, 8:07 am
The young Latina vacantly watched the tourists stream past. Her four-inch stilettos, strapless bustier, and leather hotpants suggested the oldest profession on earth, yet she stood in the doorway of a...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 11, 2009, 7:40 am
One of the best things about being a travel writer is that I have the ability to work from anywhere in the world. With a laptop, a camera, and a dependable Internet connection, I can keep my blog upda...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 10, 2009, 8:40 am
Most of the time I arrive at a destination without preconceived notions, but Miami Beach was steeped in expectation. Thanks to the popular TV show, CSI Miami, I imagined exquisitely preserved art deco...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 7, 2009, 3:18 pm
Google announced today that said it has sent window stickers with bar codes to more than 100,000 local businesses in the U.S. that are popular search terms on Google’s home page and Google Maps....
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 7, 2009, 10:30 am
The Blogging Boomers Carnival is back after a well-deserved break last week for the Thanksgiving holiday. This week’s roundup is hosted by our newest member, Writing Without Periods, a creation ...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 5, 2009, 11:10 pm
I’m celebrating an anniversary of sorts. Three years ago this month I walked away from corporate life to pursue my lifelong passions of travel, writing and photography. Although it’s not a...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 4, 2009, 3:11 pm
Remember playing tag when you were a kid? Slapping someone on the back and yelling, “Tag, you’re it!” Well, I’ve just been been ‘virtually tagged.’ My friend and fe...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Dec 3, 2009, 11:49 am
Between moving out of Sarasota and traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, I have been somewhat silent for the past two weeks. But things are settling down now and I can’t think of a better reas...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 28, 2009, 9:37 am
Five tribal leaders from the remote South Pacific island nation of Tanna are sent to the U.S. by their supreme chief. Their mission? To bring the message of joy and peace they learned from a very spec...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 26, 2009, 8:29 am
I thought I would forever regret not having asked his name, until I rolled into the same McDonalds a week later. There he was, just like before, food spread across the table and belongings spilling fr...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 23, 2009, 6:50 am
What’s on the minds of our eclectic little group of baby boomers as we head into the holiday season? Visit VABoomer.com to read a summary of the issues being discussed and then click through to ...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 22, 2009, 9:23 am
Pyramid of 200 painted bowling balls are stacked in the front yard of "Whimzy," home of artists Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda Everywhere I went in the small village of Safety Harbor, Florida, people t...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 19, 2009, 7:30 am
Throughout the ages, religious orders have traditionally offered lodging and a bite to eat in return for a small donation. Although few were aware of it until very recently, this tradition continues t...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 16, 2009, 7:06 am
Well it’s Monday, and that means we’re in for another round of fascinating posts from the demented minds of our baker’s dozen Blogging Boomer carnival participants. And speaking of d...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 14, 2009, 8:01 am
When Dr. Robert Andrews first proposed that a series of historically accurate, educational murals be painted on downtown buildings in Punta Gorda, Florida, some residents opposed the idea, insisting t...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 12, 2009, 7:59 am
Southwest Airlines has always been one of my favorite carriers, a position which was recently reinforced when they refused to charge the onerous $100 checked luggage fee being levied by other airlines...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 9, 2009, 12:37 pm
The intrepid Rhea, who shares my inexplicable desire to chuck it all and go RV’ing for the rest of my life, is our host for this week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival. Check out her most recent...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 9, 2009, 7:57 am
Twenty years ago today, the wall that divided Berlin fell, signaling the death of the Cold War. To mark the anniversary, the city will host a Festival of Freedom with a very different kind of wall. Un...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 8, 2009, 6:10 pm
Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines recently announced that it will begin daily jet service from Northwest Florida’s new international airport near Panama City Beach, Florida in May 2010. Southwe...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 7, 2009, 8:18 am
Although I don’t pretend to understand the surreal images of distorted females and melting clocks that pervade the art of Salvador Dali, his work had always intrigued me. I simply assumed the sy...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 5, 2009, 7:57 am
Sarasota’s split personality has always intrigued me. As a retirement community, the average age of its residents is well above the national average and even significantly above the Florida aver...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 3, 2009, 8:06 am
When John Audubon first visited the Punta Gorda area on Florida’s Gulf coast in the early 19th century, he wrote that wading birds were so numerous that thousands flying overhead transformed day...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Nov 2, 2009, 12:38 pm
The Blogging Boomers are at it again, discussing everything under the sun. Check out the conversation summaries at Fabulous After 40 this week, then click-through to read the full versions. You just n...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 31, 2009, 8:50 am
... first learned about HotelPal from my friend Anil, who publishes the travel blog foXnoMad.com. This free application for the iPhone and ... available, sorted by price. For each, I could view ful...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 29, 2009, 9:00 am
The first time I ever heard cello music was at a screening of the Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Although the movie featured astonishing cinematography and mystical martial arts scenes s...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 26, 2009, 7:46 am
Come join the fun! It’s time for our weekly Blogging Boomers Carnival. See what’s on the mind of baby boomers from all over the country and all walks of life! Check out the summary of arti...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 22, 2009, 9:17 am
I am absolutely blown away! A while back I entered a contest being hosted by Travel Wonders of the World, one of my all-time favorite travel blogs. Travel Wonders had partnered with Priority Club Rewa...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 20, 2009, 9:16 am
When I traveled around-the-world for six months in 2007, many friends advised me to buy travel insurance. Normally I would not even consider such a thing. Frankly, I believe that most people in the U....
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 19, 2009, 4:00 pm
It’s that time again. Another Monday, when our little group of baby boomers let their opinions fly! I am constantly amazed by the variety of subjects being discussed and this week is no differen...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 17, 2009, 1:35 am
Trinkets and souvenirs rarely interest me when I travel, but I find it almost impossible to pass by a farm stand selling local honey. Each of the half dozen varieties lining my kitchen shelves has a p...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 15, 2009, 6:17 am
Amazon.com has just introduced a new addition to their Kindle family of wireless reading devices: Kindle with U.S. and International Wireless. With this new Kindle, I can receive books, newspapers, an...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 13, 2009, 6:15 am
I was so mesmerized by the carillon bells that I did not notice the snake. In suffocating heat, I stood motionless at the edge of a long pond that reflected a mirror image of Bok Tower, thrilled by th...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 12, 2009, 6:57 am
Carnivals always make me think of the words ‘circle’ and ’round,’ perhaps because I associate a carnival with Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, and Tilt-A-Whirls. Though not a re...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 8, 2009, 6:57 am
Last week my attorney made me an offer. Somehow our legal conversation took a detour and I began telling him about the blissful year and a half I lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. He a...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 6, 2009, 6:13 am
Just six of the 720 parking spaces were occupied when I pulled into the lot of Muscle Car City. I surveyed the squat building before me. Despite a fancy black and white checkerboard paint job, it stil...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 5, 2009, 9:09 am
The Queen of Midlife Crisis, Laure Lee Carter, hosts this week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival. Peruse her summary of this week’s fascinating boomer posts at Midlife Crisis Queen and click on ...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 3, 2009, 6:30 am
This is no joke. TripAdvisor, one of the Internet’s most trusted sources for member reviews on attractions, accommodations, and restaurants, asked their members to reveal the cheapest, most comf...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Oct 1, 2009, 6:12 am
In the early years of blogging, political sites like Huffington Post, tech blogs such as Gizmodo and Mashable!, and celebrity gossip sites such as Perez Hilton were first to grab the spotlight. But of...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 29, 2009, 7:32 am
Downtown Gatlinburg wasn’t always filled with cheesy souvenir shops, wax museums, and fast food joints. In the years before Dollywood and the miles-long carnival strip of Pigeon Forge, this east...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 28, 2009, 9:15 am
This week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival is stuffed with interesting articles ranging from why boomers are not at the head of the line for H1N1 flu shots to the top ten fears about growing older. A...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 26, 2009, 6:07 am
With growing anticipation I approached the town of Moore Haven in central Florida, where I expected to catch my first glimpse of Lake Okeechobee, the second largest freshwater lake lying completely wi...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 24, 2009, 6:37 am
After dinner, I stopped in the lobby to arrange for a 7:30 a.m wake up call the following morning. “We’ll be happy to do that, Ms. Weibel, and would you like a follow-up call 15 minutes l...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 22, 2009, 6:45 am
EarthTV.com, which broadcasts live video from more than 70 worldwide camera locations on six continents, has announced a contest that offers entrants a chance to win new Vivitar underwater digital cam...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 21, 2009, 6:05 am
It’s that time again! Time for the weekly Blogging Boomers Carnival, where you can read summaries of a dozen different posts discussing a dozen varied subjects of interest to us midlife folks! S...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 19, 2009, 6:40 am
Moon Tahiti by David Stanley Several months ago, author David Stanley offered to send me a copy of his guide book “Moon Fiji,” for which I wrote a glowing review. Since I was so impressed...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 17, 2009, 6:52 am
You want to take a vacation and you’re looking for inspiration. Or maybe you know generally where you want to go, but you need guidance on the best things to see and do when you get there. The ...
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Barbara W. posted an article on Hole In The Donut - Sep 15, 2009, 6:45 am
I’ve lived in downtown Sarasota for nearly three years and thought I’d seen everything the city center had to offer until the other day, when I took a walk along Sarasota Bay. Just two blo...
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