So here’s today’s big question. Which is a better tourist destination, New York, NY USA or London, England?
Why? What are your favorite things to do there?
note- which is better for TOURISTS, not locals. This isn’t about UK vs US.
So usually on Thursdays I post something about a destination or vacation I’ve been dreaming about. This week, however, I wanted to talk a bit about what i DO NOT ever dream of doing on vacation. Namely, mall crawling. Indeed, shopping in general. I’m horrible. I go on vacation and I never buy anything for anyone at home unless they’re watching my pets for free. So if you’re wanting a chintzy souvenir volunteer to watch the boys. Here’s my confession: I HATE shopping. More »
Technology sucks. Especially this week.
The score as it stands so far: Technology 5, Suz 0.
What happened you ask? Oh, let me tell you….
First the laptop broke. Died. Crashed. In the middle of work. Thank GOD for Google Docs that automatically save. I’m never using an off-line office system again. I’m quite good with computers, having built my first one when I was 12, but if it won’t even talk to me I’m kind of out of my league. So now I’m on my dad’s borrowed laptop and the roommate’s desktop, all the while wishing for a Macbook Air and arguing with Beloved about whether we should dump another $100-200 into the 2003 HP Frankenstein computer or whether we could think about saving to buy me MY OWN laptop. Not that I’m bitter or anything, but Beloved broke my last computer by sticking his pen through the motherboard.
The the cell phone went on vacation without me. When the nice ladies at Starbucks in La Verne, CA called to tell me my cell phone was there, I was just fine with letting it stay the night (since it was already 9:45 and they closed at 10) and picking it up the next day. Bad idea. Once it had it’s chains removed, mr. Motorola ran away. Starbucks swears they don’t have it, but Mother says they called her to say they have it. And on the fact that I KNOW that’s where I left it. Suckage. So now what do I do? I most definitely don’t have the $$ for a new phone. This one WAS my new phone.
Bluehost rejected MU. Ok, so that’s kind of geek-speak. Basically I’m working on a Wordpress Mu site and was hoping to host it on my hosting plan with Bluehost. Which is the NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDED Wordpress hosting site, which is why I paid for 2 years with them and assumed that I would be able to host everything with them. Nope. No such luck. They refuse to allow you to set up a Vhost. Well then, IMHO Wordpress.org should stop recommending them as their #1 hosting service. I don’t care how much they get in kickbacks.
I lost my ebook. Did I mention that my computer crashed? Oh yes, and the ebook that I’ve been working on was on it! There goes my weeks of work.
And now I have a headache and need a vacation. Which counts as a point all in and of itself.
So where are we going?
While much of the United States is stuck in a midwinter chill, dreaming of tropical places, I am thoroughly enjoying the blissful beauty that is the desert travel season. In the Southwest part of the United States, spring is breaking forth in a budding of green everywhere. Recently on a drive out to Palm Springs I reveled in the beauty of the giant white windmills dancing silently against a normally drab landscape magically turned green.
This is my favorite time of year in Southern California. It’s the lowest point in the tourist season, but it’s the time when the beauty of the land truly comes out. Santa Anna winds, which blow inland from the sea during the summer and cause tourist and native lungs to clog with Los Angeles smog, have reversed due to the warmer water off the coast (brought in by the Gulf Stream moving North). These strong gusts now blow the air clear of particulates and enables even my allergy-infested aunt to venture inland. The rainy season, which is typified in Southern California by an average of one rainstorm a week, usually at night, is upon us and makes the drought tolerant native plants bloom and bud in their frenzy to do as much work as possible during their short growing season. While sitting outside at a local cafe, the gray bush that has been simply erosion control for the past 9 months is suddenly a fragrant lavender bush that wafts soothing smells your way.
It’s also a great time to get outside and explore the offerings that Southern California has. Since it’s colder out, all the mountain resorts are making snow full-blast and good skiing is easy to be had. Also, the change in the Gulf Stream that occurs when the planet tilts away from the sun causes the temperature in the off-coast water to rise. Which means that winter is the best time to go surfing, just bring a towel for when you get out. Rain has caused all the wildlife to come out so hiking and walking are extra special at this time of year. Finally, if you’re into amusement parks, they offer specials to locals since this is a low season for them. Not only do you get a cheaper deal, you also get an emptier park. Why would anyone go to Disneyland in July if they can go in February or March?
So, if you can, wander this winter. Get out there, do things, enjoy yourself. Although the days may be shorter, they’re gradually getting longer now and we’re on the upward climb towards Solstice so you will have more and more time each day to do things. Leave all those long hours at the office until Summer. That way you can make work pay for the air conditioning.
No. Not actually. Only if you’re one of the ’special people’ will you actually be able to get free internet with your frappuchino(tm).
Starbucks announced earlier this month that in the spring (which is when? I’m guessing April?) they will be offering free wi-fi internet access at their US based stores. This had me excitedly running to the internet to confirm the rumors I’d heard from my friend’s girlfriend’s friend. I love their coffee and currently pay to have the extra $20 tacked onto my cell phone bill with Tmobile every month so that I can have access when I’m there. Which is all too often. I was only to be disappointed. What they were really announcing is that they are switching wi-fi providers from T-mobile to ATT. This will make sense for them as a company, their in-house communication systems are already run by ATT, and it will probably save this billion-dollar company some nice money. Which the stock holders will love. But I’m not a stock holder.
I use T-mobile for my cell phone provider so I get a break on the Wi-fi access at Starbucks ($20 a month instead of $40) which makes it feasible for me to purchase. One of the ‘plusses’ that put me over the top in purchasing T-Mobile for my cell phone was this very fact. In fact, many of the blog posts you read here are posted while at Starbucks. I frequently hop from one shop to another so as to switch my IP address when I’m doing something research-wise that makes Yahoo! think I’m a spam bot. This will all change. I doubt that ATT will allow me to ‘roam’ on their network, at least when I’ve tried it at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf cafes, which already use the former telegraph company for their wi-fi, it hasn’t worked. So unless I annie up and pay the $$ for their service, I’m stuck. Again. And since I’m in a recently renewed contract with T-mobile, I’m not about to pay to switch networks again. Besides, I like their service.
But, you say, I thought they said the internet will be free??? Yes, oh, didn’t I mention? It’s only free if you have the Starbucks Duetto credit card. Which me and my 550 credit score don’t qualify for. I’m not too hurt though, even if I did have their card I would only get 2 free hours a day. Without a card, everyone has to pay. Suck.
So I think I’m going to try and kick the Starbucks habit. We live down the street from a very nice internet cafe which, while their wireless connection is slow, they have a lovely atmosphere. Go independent coffee shops. I’m officially converted back again.
Thanks to katmere for the lovely photo.
Get the RSS Feed
