Glucester, MA

Here are some pictures from todays trip to Gloucester, MA. Gloucester is a wonderful city, with a longstanding maritime heritage. If you have ever read the book or seen the movie "Perfect Storm", you have learned a bit about our brave fishermen. Perfect Storm was based on a true Gloucesterman story.

A large part of my family resided in Gloucester for over half a century, and some still do (Hello Mary Jane!!!). My grandparents, Webbers and Makis),lived there for the majority of their lives. My mother and father were born and raised there. I was born in Gloucester and spent many weekends there visiting my grandparents.

I am a born and raised sun worshiper. I remember spending entire days at Good Harbour beach (which I used to call "Nan's beach") with my family, walking the shore, playing paddleball, body surfing, making sand castles, drinking lemonade, and eating ice cream. Onlookers could potentially tell what time of day it was by which way our towels pointed (like a sundial).

To learn more, you can check out Gloucester, Mass at "www.cape-ann.com/gloucester.html"

(Pics: Dad and Ann's house, view of Hog Island from D & A's house, Good Harbour Beach, random fisherman in West Gloucester outside Nichol's Candy House, Nichol's candy house)

Blue Man Group

Here are some pictures from last night in Boston. My friend Dan and I went to see Blue Man Group for the first time. This was a truly AMAZING show. A wonderful example of modern art, music, and interactive performance. These guys had me "rockin' out" from the intro until the very last beat (Props to them for using an old KLF tune). Anyone who has the opportunity to see Blue Man should definitely go.
www.blueman.com
Dan (wearing the ribbon head bands we were given) is with one of the three Blue Man performers for last night. I am with the Blue Man band.

Mother's Day in New York 2006

Here are pictures of my recent trip to New York on Mother's Day Weekend this year:
(Grand Central Station, Statue of Liberty,
New York City Skyline, Ellis Island,
Ellis Island (Registration room)
Many of my relatives were likely processed through Ellis Island many years ago.
Next, Ground Zero, the New York Stock Exchange, and Central Park.

To start....A heart-felt thank you

So, to christen this blog, this record of my upcoming adventure, I have decided to start with a big "Thank You". I am quite fortunate to have wonderful family, like-family (ala Hannah clan), friends, roomates, co-workers (go Wayside Team Fearless), and adopted co-workers (hello to LIMRA) who all support my efforts so strongly.

I am thrilled to say that in just over a month, I will be flying out to Denver, Colorado to begin my training. This orientation will prepare me for my cultural education, a 5.5 month tour with Up With People. My current itinerary involves travel in the U.S., Japan, and Europe from mid july until mid December!

I could go on for pages about the details of my tour and UWP as an organization. Readers would best peruse the UWP website, www.upwithpeople.org.

I have spent the past month in preparation for my tour. This has included various paperwork, fund raising (many thanks to my sponsors) , organizing my life, stressing, etc. For this next month, I will do much the same :)

I hope my readers will benefit in some way from this blog as I will from this experience. Maybe you will learn about Up With People, new cultures, different lands, art forms, psychology, me (oh dear!), or even about yourselves.

I do not plan to hold to any particular format and I do wish for reader feedback (hint hint Wayside friends ;-) ). Please ask questions as I travel along. You may wonder about something that I may not think to investigate.

So, again, thank you to all my sponsors and supporters. Mom, I could never thank you enough. Welcome to my adventure...my interactive, international quest. Buckle up and hold on tight, cuz' it's gonna' be a crazy ride.

Here goes.

(Pictures: 1st: UWP headshot for their 2001 tour, which was unfortunately cancelled. 2nd: Hiking/camping in New Hampshire last summer, 2005. Oh, and yes, the sunglasses do come off from time to time and I do smile. You'll see.)