Greece, part I

I am going to need to think about how to tell everything about our trip to Greece. We saw and did so much! It may require its own website. I saw this new project in Budget Travel magazine where you can make your own travel journal online. So I might do that, and you will have to visit another website to read about it if you are interested. Supposedly you can put a lot more photos in that travel journal. On this, you can only put one photo per post. This, by the way, is the Parthenon.

In terms of Leisure Society, the effect Greece had on me was profound. Travel is still my #1 leisure activity, especially when it involves spending time on the beaches of the world which comes in at a very close 2nd. The art I saw inspired me tremendously, from the architecture to the statues to the frescoes to the pattern-work. I walked around in awe most of the time. I learned a few Greek phrases before I went and used them a lot. So now I want to continue my study of Greek, in addition to Italian. Studying/learning is another "leisure" activity that is very important to me. I call it leisure only because it doesn't involve going to a job and working.

Almost all of the other trips I have taken to Europe have been for work, and all I did was shop, except for once when I was in Florence on a Sunday and all the shops were closed. I know, poor me, right!? Also, we could only spend about 1-3 days in each place, so I never got to really see anything. It was really heart-breaking for me at the time. But this time, I got to see whatever I wanted. I saw ancient temples, bathhouses, marketplaces, cities, mountains, islands, tiny villages, beaches, lots of stray dogs and kitties, tavernas, churches, and blue, blue water.

I can't stress how important I think it is that we experience other cities/states, countries, cultures, languages. And not on TV! I think it makes us smarter, more interesting people to see these things firsthand, and not take someone else's word for it. Leisure Society is not about sitting around on your butt watching TV. It's about owning your life, being independent, and using your brain to learn about the world and make decisions. This is why I never want to work full-time for a corporate company again, because these things are not encouraged in that world.

Phew! Sorry to get all heavy on you there. Time to get back to work! I am on the verge of getting the first prototype samples made of my home accessories collection. I am having the fabric printed in PA right now, and I am going to use a sample-room in NYC to get the items sewn. How exciting!! The first collection is going to be for an outdoor dinner party, and may include placemats, napkins, aprons, outdoor pillows, and a picnic blanket.

I am a Greek Goddess

I am the Ancient Greek God:

Hestia

Greek Gods Quiz

You are the god: Hestia

Hestia is the Goddess of hearth (more widely as cooking), and family. A hearth is a fireplace used in cooking and/or heating and symbolizes how a family centers around for food and warmth. Furthermore, public hearths broadened Hestia�s importance with extended families that were not directly of the same blood. Hestia is one of the three Great Goddesses, but gave up her seat to maintain the sacred fire on Mount Olympus. She was considered as the first and last born by Rhea and Chronus. This is because after the initially birth, Hestia (as with other primary Gods) were swallowed-up again by Chronus, only to reborn later. Although she is known to be passive and non-confrontational, she was important due to her association to the home and the hearth, which are both essential to man.

Hestia is known for the health and the home.

So I took this Greek God quiz at the website www.hitgreece.com and it turns out I am the goddess Hestia. Who knew? This is a great website if you want to learn Greek. I downloaded a bunch of their podcasts before I went to Greece and I could speak pretty well when I got there! People were happy and impressed that I knew a little bit of their language. Most people spoke English, but I think it's important to show some respect when you go to another country and learn a bit about the language and culture before you go. Stay tuned for more about my amazing, life-changing trip!!

Off to Greece!

Matt and I leave for Greece tomorrow. I am nervous. 10 years ago I used to travel every few months for work, I was a pro. Now I travel less and less and it makes me nervous. We will hit Athens first, then take a hydrofoil ferry to Aegina, then we head to Delphi, then back to Athens for one more night before we come home. Travel has to be my # 1 favorite leisure activity. I just want to travel constantly. I love staying at hotels, I love planes, trains, buses and boats, and I love living out of a suitcase. I get bummed out when it's time to come back here to New York.

I encourage you, if there's anyone reading this, to take a vacation. Travel! Get a different view of life. Trust me, the office will survive without you for a few days, maybe even a week. Somehow, the work will get done. It always does. Use your vacation days! You're not going to get that time back. Don't put it off. There's always going to be something, some reason why you "can't" be out of the office. So why not just go?

CT Slideshow Part II

Trip to CT Slideshow

Weekend Getaway

Tonight Matt and I will be taking the train up to CT to visit my Dad and Molly for the weekend. It's her birthday and we will be celebrating. They live in the "country", as you can see from the picture above. That barn is my Dad's workshop, where he fixes antique clocks for people. This is the view from the bedroom we stay in. Ahhhhh, just breathe in that fresh air!! I look forward to a weekend of reading, crossword puzzles, dominoes (the game, not the fake pizza), eating, going for walks in the woods if it doesn't rain too much, and sleeping. We may even see some wild animals in their yard. They have had visits from bears, turkeys, bobcats, and deer. And lots of little birds. We sit on the porch and just watch all the birds come to the feeders they have around the house. If I can figure out how to get more pictures on here, I'll set up a little slideshow.

Leisure Quote of the Week

"There's a lot of exciting ideas running around. Some of them may be right and some of them may be cockeyed, but they're affecting all our lives. I want to know how I stand, where I fit in the picture. I can't find the answer sitting behind a desk."

                                                            Cary Grant in the film Holiday, 1938