At Takeoff

The Travel Channel GO videos I filmed this past summer in Santa Fe and Phoenix are now available for viewing on mobile phones! Travel Channel GO is a free application for your cell phone that helps travelers discover some of the best things to see and do in different cities around the US. So for instance if you’re visiting Phoenix and you’re interested in finding out about the dining scene, you can watch a free 90 second video with recommendations I helped research, check out and then filmed!!

These are a couple of pictures from the day I spent flying in a stunt plane with Fighter Combat International and filming it as part of the Phoenix outdoor adventures video. I even got to fly the plane myself for a few minutes and perform an aerial roll!! But after we did a couple of rolls and hung upside down for a bit, I was feeling rather queasy. When we landed my legs felt like jello and my uncle had to drive me home. I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the ceiling spin.

Doing a Roll

When I heard that the Travel Channel was going to be filming next month at Chicken Annie’s and Chicken Mary’s in Pittsburg, Kan., I immediately had an image of “Man v. Food” host Adam Richman gorging on piles of tasty chicken breasts, fried to perfection.

Alas, that’s not the case.

The new, as-yet-unnamed show will spotlight the history and rivalry between the two Southeast Kansas restaurants, and will air sometime in 2010.

Marjorie Hall, the manager of program publicity for the Travel Channel, told me that the show will feature “iconic spots” that travelers shouldn’t miss.

“It will get into what makes these places so fantastic that locals will swear by them,” Hall said.

Production crews will be filming at Chicken Mary’s and Chicken Annie’s on Jan. 15-17. The show will include a “taste-off”, and owners of both restaurants said they want to be packed with passionate fans, so if you’ve got a preference, mark your calendar.

Pardon my honesty for this entry’s title, but that is the only description that comes to mind when I look at the photo below.

As I continue to eat my way through Italy, expanding my waistline as days pass… I come across photos such as this that increase my other forms of biological appetites..

Mr. Anthony Bourdain, thank you for being disgustingly sexy.

Mr. Anthony Bourdain: Chef, Writer, Sex Machine

That is all..

In 2007, five native men from the tiny island of Tanna in the South Pacific who previously lived a simple and traditional island life traveled to the United Kingdom to learn about British life and culture. They spent a month living there, learning the UK customs, and making a film about the way the strange and alien inhabitants of a modern western democracy live.

The UK version did so well that,  the Travel Channel produced a new version called Meet the Natives: USA. In which five more guys from Tanna make a culture-shock-laden journey abroad, this time to America, where they hang out with ranchers in Montana, WASPs in New York, a middle American family in Peoria, soldiers in Georgia, politicians in Washington and some real housewives in the OC.

As they rolled up to the OC MacMansion did make me inwardly die a little but after an initial bout of awkwardness from one of the daughters “what’s the translation for sexy? Because I say that word a lot” the OC family seemed to be very open and warm towards the tribesmen. As much as we scoff at the decedent lifestyle the OC family and many like them seem to live, the fact of the matter is, we all compared to the people of Tanna and many places like it live very frivolous lives.

There are many warm, funny moments in this show, there are sad and shameful ones as well, like when the tribesmen ask for America to stop the smoke from our factories which is polluting the clouds and in turn killing their crops. Every American can only benefit from this show.  Their child like nativity is often very funny but their insightful way at looking at Western life is what will really make you think – if only more reality shows where this way.

I have found my people. 

This past weekend I took a travel writing class through the Travel Channel Academy in Washington, DC and I absolutely loved it!  Not only did the instructors supply us with buckets of information, advice and feedback, but the other people taking the class were amazing as well.  It was so energizing to be in a room of 25 people who all had a similar passion for travel.  I’m so used to people being shocked when I tell them I’m going to a foreign country by myself.  Meeting people who could relate to me and my experiences was refreshing.

So I’ve decided to start a blog to share my travel experiences, including some stories from past adventures.  The post from 12/13/09 was my final project, put together in a very short amount of time, so bear with me.  Enjoy!

I don’t know why, but Man vs Food is one of the most entertaining shows I have ever had the pleasure of watching. Currently, I am sitting on my friend’s bed, watching a TiVo’d episode (The New Brunswick episode), and wondering how I can watch a man completely stuff his face. Ever since this show began airing almost 2 years ago, my roommates and I have searched for food challenges in Savannah. Not for us to try and conquer, but to get Adam down here. If any one can think of a place in Savannah were we can get a Man vs. Food challenge, help a group of ladies out?

Carol Fay, "the Biscuit Lady"

I was on the road over the weekend. I was in the greater Nashville area on Sunday morning and saw that NPT (Nashville Public Television) was running a special on the Loveless Cafe, a converted motor hotel on Highway 100. I’d seen piece on it months earlier on the Travel Channel and thought since I was heading in that general direction, it might be a good idea to stop by. After all, Carol Fay Ellison, “the Biscuit Lady,” has gained a lot of fame cranking out hot fluffy biscuits.

Hot & Fluffy

Of course, any place that has had that kind of publicity is going to draw a pretty good crowd, particularly on a weekend. We got there a little after 11am. I don’t think we sat down until after 1pm. Since we came for breakfast, we had that anyway, although I’ve heard the supper menu is pretty good too. Either way, you get biscuits with every order; in fact, you get a couple right after you sit down. Now, I’m not knocking the place, because the food was fine. But I’m thinking the Biscuit Lady was off last weekend, because those were pretty ordinary biscuits. Good, but not spectacular in any way.

Bob Evans!

In fact, I’d almost have to go back when I knew the Biscuit Lady was on duty to make a final call on whether the biscuits were really what they’re cracked up to be. Unless and until, I’ll have to fall back on my favorite, Bob Evans. It’s a pretty big chain now, but not so much when I was growing up in Ohio. Big, flaky & fluffy. Buy the mix at the restaurant and you can pretty much get that at home too. There’s only one in Memphis, out on Highway 64. There used to be another on Winchester, but it was shut down by the time I moved back to town and was driving by every day. I know every time my Mom comes up to Columbus for a visit, she angles to find someone who’ll take her to the Bob Evans down the street from my sister’s house.

Trying to Get it Right

More than a network, a movement.

I’ve been trying to switch cell phone plans. I’ve been using Credo Mobile (formerly Working Assets Wireless) for years. I started using their long distance service in the late 70s, early 80s. They donate a portion of the bill to non profit causes, which I liked. However, I was spending more than I wanted, plus, the office uses Apple products, including the iPhone. Making the switch was a little bit harder than you’d expect. Credo is a small company that leases its wireless access from Sprint. But, “porting” my old number to my new phone had to be done by hand (I know that sounds strange, but that’s how it came to me). The AT&T rep had to call me when he had not one, but two Credo people on the phone to try and work this out.

Not There Yet

After two weeks, the new phone came today, and getting it activated took a bit longer than it should have. Everything should be fine, but I had ordered a 3Gs 32GB phone. As I was plugging everything in I looked at the box an noticed that they had sent me a 16GB phone. So the drama’s not over. AT&T has got to get me a replacement… and I’ve still got to figure out why my Bluetooth earphone isn’t connecting.

How do you treat an elderly parent with health issues?  Would you try new and different approaches?  Perhaps it might be homeopathy and acupuncture.

Did you ever see show No Reservations on the Travel Channel? (see http://is.gd/58bYl).

Unless I’m mixing it up with another Travel Channel program – guess what?  This guy’s as much a material guy as Jed Clampett.   But he’s not afraid to explore new ideas…some not within his worldview.

For instance: Once he visits an island, where the natives are fire-walking.  They do some chants to focus they mind.  Next step…one, two, three…our material guy is walking on fire…hot coals several hundred degrees warm.  Then he scratches his head.  “Did I just do that?” he inquired.

Another trip took him to Africa.  He’s sitting in an all night native dance.  The local shaman is working with spirits.  Now I’m not going to comment on this.  No theological, philosophical, or scientific commentary.  Just the facts!  The shaman picks up some hot coals and swallows them.  “Did he just do that?” he inquired.  Then something surprising happens.  The shaman touches the host.  The host mentions his life is flashing different life scenes – like all the near death experiences.

Then guess what?

This dude goes back to drinking hard liquor with the locals and having a good time.  He probably forgets what he accomplished and experienced, unless he watches his TV shows.

I’m poisoned, Doctor

It actually happened – to one of my favorite TV characters.  Enter the final season of Monk, the detective with mental health issues.  It all centers on his wife’s death, in a car explosions.

But the villain who killed his wife poisoned Monk.  Nobody on the hospital staff can identify the poison…the assassin hired by the killer to poison Monk dies…killed in a train wreck…Monk has about 3 days to live.  What to do?

My Solution: bring in the brilliant medical detective House.  They both share some common dimensions.  Both are Sherlock Holmes prodigies.  Both have absolutely horrible personalities – not that Sherlock Holmes is any better (Say – a new movie version is coming out in December 2009).

How would House treat the situation?  All the hospital physicians can do is prescribe pain killers and wait for the inevitable.  After all, the hospital staff could take weeks to identify the poison.  I know.  He refer Monk to a good homeopath and a could practitioner of C.T.M. (That’s Chinese traditional medicine, folks…Acupuncture and Chinese herbs).

Perhaps he can forestall the inevitable and buy more time.  At least give House a chance to identify the poison and identify an antidote.

We’ll continue my mom’s story some other time. Let’s open some social media questions I received this week.

How Do I Increase Blog Traffic?

Many things. What are you using? Is it WordPress? Do you using one hosted by http://wordpress.com or http://wordpress.org (via your ISP). Something as simple as increasing your presence via a social media outlook, or using an SEO optimized platform (i.e. – like WordPress direct), helps immensely. What is your blogging platform?

Jessica shared some good thoughts. A good SEO plugin would be very useful. Put the SEO keywords in your title. Install some web Analytics packages and see where traffic is coming from. Google Analytics and Stat Counter are a couple good ones – free also. Something as simple as sharing constructive comments on other popular blogs in your niche helps (i.e. – you provide a blog link in the identification URL).

I don’ read Twitter guides – I like to get my feet wet

There’s got to be a balance between doing it yourself and studying from guides, books and courses. It reminds me of learning programing languages (which you elude to with the PHP web scripting language – works great with MySql and PostegeSql). I would love to experiment and learn by doing. But I also love to attend class at local US junior colleges, like the College of DuPage and Harper.

When I was in the Bahamas many years ago, I took a Scuba Diving expedition. The instructor gave us a 1 hour land course, followed by a live drive. I finished it – but was scared all the time. A nice – but slower – prep course at the local US YMCA would have been appreciated.

Yes – Twitter seems easy. Yet there are many tools out there that work with Twitter. It took me a while to work with the right combination of 3 – 4 tools. I would have loved if an expert gave me some book guidance.

Lastly, it’s a matter of learning styles. I personally believe in a balance of “doing it yourself” and “expert guidance from other sources.” I think local junior US colleges are missing the boat – they could make a fortune with credit and not credit courses around social media.

I realize you are more of a “let me get my hands wet” kind of guy. I appreciate that. I like to get my hands wet too. But I also like some guidance – that’s where the books come in (free from my local library).

FaceBook is bigger than Twitter

Is Twitter as big as FaceBook or Linkedin? I don’t know – unless someone shows me some independent statistics. I agree with you about social media consultants promoting their own success formula – for a price. It’s similar to folks selling Internet marketing success secrets – for a price. Yet you can go through a program like the XXX (Blocked out at request of WordPress) and learn some sound foundations for free. And yes – you get your feet wet by swimming.

There are some good Twitter tools out there and you can use the free versions. I do that for such tasks as sending automatic direct messages, targeting new traffic by select keywords, and unfollowing people no longer following me. It took me a while to figure out what’s good and bad – in tools. It really was a combination of “direct experimentation”, consulting with a couple of friends, and getting tips from ezines.

Twitter can feed other social media platforms. There are software applications to feed FaceBook, Linkedin, Friend Feed, etc., with Twitter Tweets. I like Twitter – in fact, I love it. But I realize it’s “not for everyone.”

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You know what’s worse than having a nightmare about an attack deer with sewn on eyes, or eyes made out of machine screws and metal washers for that matter? The fact that it’s December 1st. I realize I said yesterday we were shopping for Christmas gifts over this past weekend, but to actually see the date in black and white is a little off putting. Twenty-four days remain to get ready for the holiday. Cripes.

It’s Tuesday, time for Baby Picture Monday. Today’s blog picture is me at three months.

I made myself a note a while ago to tell you about something and stuck it in the book I mark my down my work hours in so I wouldn’t forget and I forgot to tell you anyway. A week ago today, 31 years ago, I found my first gray hair. I was 18 and actually kind of psyched about it and naturally had to tell someone about it. So I called Grandma B (you know, this grandma) and she replied with an exasperated, “So?” with a hint of that Irish sarcasm she had and then went on to assure me it wouldn’t be the last and to talk to her again when I had a headful of gray hairs like she had. This was another of those curious journal entries I came across when I was writing the Florida Sunburn Story.

I mentioned bugs yesterday. As Sunday was winding down and the last of the laundry was being folded, we called out for Chinese and my attention was drawn to the curious conversation I was hearing on TV. The show was Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern on The Travel Channel and he and his father were sampling indigenous dishes of Maine and they were having quite a spirited discussion over the cod dish they were eating whose sauce was made from…well, here, I just can’t do it, see it for yourself.

The most exotic food combinations I’ve ever discussed with my father is whether or not to put an egg on a pork roll and cheese sandwich. And I haven’t even gotten to the bugs story yet. Again, I’ll just let this video tell the story.

For the record, I’m not quite sure which dish creeps me out the most. But one thing I’m certain of, it’s not clear why I’ve never watched that show in spite of the rather “tantalizing” commercials I’ve seen for it. I’ll admit, I do enjoy a good caramelized garlic encrusted escargot broiled in butter every now and then, and no one really seems to appreciate my proclivity toward an occasional peanut butter and tuna fish sandwich, except my mother, but these just seem over the top. Enjoy your Cheerios.

Incidentally, I prefer my pork roll and cheese by itself, dripping with ketchup. To sully the sandwich with an egg is sacrilegious.

We were flipping around the dial last night and came across a show on the Travel Channel called Meet the Natives.  It was a reality show where a group of five tribesmen from the small island of Tanna in Vanuatu,  which is part of Melanesia in the western Pacific, travel to the USA to visit with five different families in different parts of the country.  Meeting our natives.  Last night’s episodes consisted of a visit to a large working ranch in Montana and then on to some time with a fairly wealthy Manhattan family.

At first, given the exploitive nature of most reality shows, I wasn’t too keen on watching but we thought we’d give it a few minutes.  I’m glad I did.

The five tribesmen come from a society that we would call primitive.  They live in the jungle, nude for the most part but for their nambas, which are penis sheaths.  They farm small crops and raise a few animals, primarily pigs and chickens, for their sustenance. They also hunt with traditional weapons made from the materials of the forest.  They enjoy celebratory dances and an occasional sip of kava, the traditional sedating beverage made from the kava root.  They have a system of beliefs very much tied to their environment and nature.

They may be the happiest people on earth.

The five chosen for this trip to the US, which follows an earlier trip to Britiain, were charming.  They were inquisitively open-minded and full of good humor.  The chief of their tribe was one of the travelers and made very astute comments about what he saw.  One, called Happy Man, was always laughing and joking, endearing himself to everyone he met with his smile and playful manner.  Another served as their translator, having left the tribe for a while to go to school where he learned English.

Their first stop was in Montana.  They were the guests of a family that ran a large ranch with about 5000 heads of cattle.  It was a surprisingly good fit for the tribesmen.  They were able to see equivalencies in the day to day life of the cowboys with their own, such as the care of the animals.  They also fit in well at the local tavern where they drank beer for the first time (“sour but nice”) and danced to a country western band.  They do like to dance.

An interesting moment came when they were out where they first encountered snow, which was somewhat comical.  They stumbled across a buffalo and scampered to higher ground where they watched it.  Their description of it was wonderful.

It looks like a cow but it is no cow.  It has the face of a devil and the hair of a man.

I can only wonder what the folks back home will envision when they hear their account.

They then went to NYC which was much more alien than Montana to the men.  While they were fascinated by many of the things they came across, the chief always registered a bit of sadness of how the people of the city lived, how they were so dependent on money for all their needs.  They encountered a homeless man in Central Park and were perplexed that such a thing should happen in a place with so much.

Happy Man said that it was obvious that no one loved this man.

Kind of sums it up.

There were a lot of things I could go on about the tribesmen.  They may live what we callously call a primitive existence but their intelligence and wisdom is anything but primitive.

If you get a chance, tune in.  You’ll look at our country with different eyes…

Hey, ya’ll! How has your Sunday been? I’ve been lounging and watching the Travel Channel. There’s a new show on called Meet The Natives: USA, a show about five native men from Tanna who come to the states for the first time to spread their message of peace. In each episode, they live with a different family in a different city. It’s fascinating to see the way they see us, somewhat alien. All I have to say is, set your DVR! It’s a great show. Get all the deets on the show here. Anywho, here are some great Sunday Reads to relax with before another week. Enjoy!

• Makeup application tips, using your tips – This That Beauty
• An ultra quick mani tip – Tipsy Society
• Strawberries to soothe acne? – Viva Woman
• Have you cleaned your hair brushes lately? – Beautiful with Brains
• An in-depth look at Aromaleigh Cosmetics – Fresco Phyrra
• Cyber Monday deals – Bare Budget Beauty
• Every high heel loving gal needs these tips – Beauty Fool
• The huge difference skin tone makes – The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself
• How to pump up the volume in your hair – Makeup & Beauty Blog
• A really cool nail art trick – My Simple Little Pleasures
• How to git rid of those annoying underarm stains – The Beauty Brains
• Oh, my major lemming monster has been awakened – Temptalia

In my last post “Travelogues” I listed a number of famous personalities who have done TV travelogues, or similar programs, here is a quick overview of what they have done, as far as I can remember.

Home Grown

Across the Pond

If I’ve missed anyone I’m sure one my many readers will remind me.

The jet-setting credentials of Anthony Bourdain from the Travel Channel would surely be too hard to challenge. However, as much as I have been around the globe lately, I feel it may be time to start a television series of my own! Hmmm, or… write a blog. Here are some of my thoughts/recommendations:

I am not that good at traveling alone. I suggest, if you’re heading to a destination you’ve never been to before, grab a friend. I never seem to be as adventurous by myself, and when you cannot speak the language of the locals, you’re surely bound to feel a little isolated. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve really enjoyed this personal adventure with Jesus. I’m more amazed today at how funny He is and how He speaks through so many common situations. Today, I watched as a young Japanese girl in a white coat tried to hand out flyers on a busy street corner. No one would listen to her, all the black and blue suits just passed her up, every one of them. She was so adamant, bowing each time another passed, seemingly desperate for someone, anyone to take her flyers. I think the flyers were actually coupons, redeemable at the department store behind her, “Golf World”. It is 40 degrees! Who plays golf in this weather? Finally, someone actually accepted her flyer. I laughed with her on the inside thinking, “What a task we have!”. Trying to convert the masses within an atmosphere of complete indifference… How heaven rejoices over the one that receives the Word!

Anyways, flying United Airlines internationally is about as bland as breakfast biscuits in England. Don’t do it. Just pay the extra couple hundred a fly a better carrier. They must be trying too hard to fit in… the food is successfully “shabby chic”. The movies? Hope you like one of the pre-selected five that are available, because they play in loops for the duration of the flight. Unless Star Alliance has an amazing package I’m not aware of, this will probably be the last time I fly United unless it’s unavoidable.

Right now, I’m hanging out in the Narita International Airport, Tokyo. Japan is so unique! I do like this place, but it is soo expensive. The smallest note available is 1,000 yen; that’s the equivalent to 13 USD. Almost anytime you buy something, you must pick one of these from your wallet. Dangerous.

Overall, I love this life. The travel bug bites hard and leaves a mark. Save some money and hit the road, or the runway rather, you’ll never regret it. Exposure makes you a bigger person! Elevate!

More insanity hot wings.

Adam Richman vs. Suicide Hot Wings in Brooklyn, N.Y..

The rematch of Richman vs. the Suicide Wings aired this week.

Ghost Hunters, on Syfy.

I’ve noticed something really vexxing in the world of television: networks copying each other’s shows. This is hardly new, of course. The Flintstones, for example, was basically a Stone Age retread of The Honeymooners. But it seems to have reached really annoying levels lately.

I’m talking about the fact that there’s at least two cake decorating shows out there (Cake Boss on TLC and Ace of Cakes on the Food Network), at least two “ghost hunting” shows (Ghost Hunters on SyFy (and its two spinoffs), Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel, and I’m pretty sure at least one on Discovery and one on History, but I don’t recall the names), at least a couple tattoo shows (L.A. Ink and Miami Ink, on TLC and Inked on History), and multiple “blue collar” jobs shows (Deadliest Catch, Pawn Stars, Ice Road Truckers, Swords, Roughnecks, Ax Men and others).

The not-at-all similar Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel!

This is a really sad situation. First off, most of these shows air on networks that haven’t got anything to do with the show’s subject matter. What the hell does something about people driving trucks on the ice have to do with history? But I’ve made that complaint before.

Much worse is the incredible lack of creativity these copycat shows embody. It takes no real effort to look around at someone else’s hit show and say, “hey, we can do that, too!”

I dunno. We the audience deserve better than this crap, but I know they wouldn’t make it if we didn’t watch it. I’m not sure who is more damned by that statement.

I love Anthony Bourdain. I am envious of him. Bourdain earned his privileges, he was the executive chef at Les Halles in New York for ten years, he wrote Kitchen Confidential (which I will be rereading today), and a number of other books, he writes shorter pieces for magazines and his own blog, and he is now best known as the host of the Travel Channel’s show No Reservations.

You will never hear Bourdain describe food as “Yum-O”, scream “Bam!”, try to “Kick It Up A Notch” with some “Eee-Vee-Oh-Oh”. He’s not a fan of the concept of celebrity chef, and isn’t ironic about having become one. He loves cooking, cooks, and chefs, be they unknown or celebrity; he mocks and derides celebrities who play chef.

Bourdain is too easily hurt, he has a million self defense mechanisms in place, cynicism most chiefly evident. What makes his No Reservations show appointment television in my house is being able to see the cynicism slip, then fall away, as beauty, pure and powerful, undoes Bourdain and transforms him before our eyes.

I have worked restaurants, mostly front of house, waiting tables from Dennys to tuxedo service, and managing a restaurant/nightclub where I made sure I knew how to do everyone’s job in case I needed to in an emergency. I can tend bar, I can wash dishes, I can make soups and salads and prep food, and I can cook. I loved cooking.

In my personal life, I still love to cook. I would like a little more room to do it in, and my 12 year old son wishes that our dishwasher was automatic and not named Charlie, but I love to cook. I have the ability to see a recipe, imagine it, re-imagine it better with mental adjustments of ingredients and cooking techniques, mentally select a perfect pairing wine, then go shopping and come home to execute a wonderful meal…or not. A few of my best dishes took 3 or 4 improvements before they taste as good or better than I originally imagined.

I have been hurt in my past, who hasn’t? Like Bourdain, I spent many years being cynical. Cynicism protects the cynic from hurt, but it also drives away the people you don’t need to protect yourself from. Self inflicted unnecessary and tiring armor.

I have dropped the armor. Well, I may still have a shield handy, but I’m not wearing a full suit anymore. I can get hurt, but I can also join with happier, sweeter, better, and more interesting people. My life is much improved, and continues to improve. Perfect? No, but I think the process of striving for the rarely and transitorily attainable is worth the effort.

Anyway, I am going to be applying for a new job. A winery is looking for someone to get the message of what they do out in a non-traditional way, using social network sites and blog/vblog entries.

I am a native of the area they want described. I worked for a winery for eight years. I know wine, and food, and share what I know with anyone who will listen out of love now. I love Sonoma County, my home, where I grew up. I sold, drank and cooked with wine made from grapes grown by this winery in their own vineyard ranch. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Exhibitor Magazine awarded me the Expert Exhibitor Award three consecutive years for tradeshow marketing of Sonoma County wine. As you are reading this, you know I blog, and am on myspace. I also have facebook and twitter accounts. I post on a number of forums.

I may actually be as qualified, as perfect for the job I will be seeking, as Bourdain is for his. I really can’t imagine anyone else being as good at what I am uniquely able to do, and get the job or not, this is exciting.