Scrappy Travels

I have a concert bucket-list like most people. I've had the chance to see Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Elton John, which were definitely on the list. But there was one last man on that list, that I didn't think I'd get the chance to see. That was Phil Collins. Because of issues with his health over the last few years, he vowed he was done touring. But earlier this year, word finally came that he'd be back on the road this fall. Thankfully, I'm pretty quick on the keyboard when it comes to buying tickets. And I'm happy to say he was unbelievably amazing! I enjoyed every moment of the concert, and he hasn't lost a step with his voice. I was a little taken aback to see him appear on stage with a cane. I knew he had issues with his hearing, but I don't think I knew he had back issues. So the fact he'd be sitting the entire evening was a little upsetting. However, even sitting, he managed to kill it. He chatted a bit, and shared a few stori

Because I'm always on the lookout for something ridiculous to focus my time on, I'm participating in the #ShowYourArt2018 challenge on Instagram for the Americans for Art foundation. Each day they provide an artsy prompt and you're supposed to post a picture that contains art with that theme. It's been fun to realize that there is in fact, art all around us at all times of the day. All 6 photos I've shared so far have been from my travels in the last year. I haven't had to work hard to find any at all.  When so many arts programs are being cut in schools, it's super fun to focus on the beauty and art in the world that's not huge or extravagant. It simply is, and that's the part that matters. So here goes, here are the first 6 artsy days of my life. Day 1: #Blue - I happened upon this beautiful sculpture in San Antonio as I was wandering around trying to waste time before my flight home. It turns out I'd inadvertently wandered into the Inst

We are a few hours away from the confirmation of a judge who could potentially set women's rights back decades. Say what you want, but whether you're Republican or Democrat, that should make you angry. Congressmen and women have repeatedly attacked a victim of sexual assault and shown they have no respect for actual justice. They only seem to care about a partisan agenda.   Throughout this process, Dr. Ford has shown unbelievable poise and strength. She sat for hours as the committee grilled her about an event in which she was the victim, barely flinching, while Judge Kavanaugh raised his voice, snapped at members of the committee and showed visible anger that he was being subjected to even the slightest hint of scrutiny. Removing a possible sexual assault from the equation of Judge Kavanaugh's record (something his supporters seem all to eager to do), he's repeatedly lied to the committee (which has been proven by fact checking his testimony) and has s

Tonight I went to an evening presented by two travel agents. They scheduled 3 different travel companies to come and chat with people about trips and tours their companies offered. It was really interesting to hear about the trips that were out there. What wasn't so fun was to hear about the prices of these trips. It's unbelievable how expensive these things are. The majority of these trips were group tours. Now, I'm all about a food tour or a walking tour, but taking a gamble on a big trip just sounds risky. What if you and your group don't see eye to eye? What if a serial killer (probably unlikely...) is in your group? What if you get stuck with a bunch of boring non-food lovers that complain all the time? I mean I know taking chances is a good thing, but if I'm going to pay all that money, I want to have fun with people I know I like. Ironically though, the coolest trips were the ones with the crazy group travel company. So now I'm more confused than e

A few months ago, I saw The Band's Visit after months of hearing what a beautifully lyrical show it is. And at the time, I liked it a lot. But it wasn't exactly what I had expected. Most of the reviews I had read said that the show is like "being inside a poem." They went onto say that the show was one of the most beautiful shows they'd seen in quite some time.  Now, like I said, I enjoyed the show, but it wasn't as beautiful as everyone made it out to be. It was small and compact, with not a lot of glitz and glamour. Those are the types of shows I enjoy most. And the cast is amazingly talented. They all work so well together, and they each fit their characters perfectly. The music was beautiful, and fitting for the story of an Egyptian band accidentally spending the evening in an Israeli town. The use of Hebrew and Egyptian throughout, and the casting of actors of Middle Eastern descent, made me love the show even more. However, I didn't see the

This afternoon, as I wandered around University of Maryland's campus getting very lost, I realized it's so much larger than I thought it would be. As a Towson University grad, I thought I knew large schools. But UMD is something else entirely. It's like its own little city. While I didn't enjoy finding myself in one building when I was supposed to be in another (thank goodness for nice Plant Studies students who point you in the right direction!), I did enjoy being on a campus again. What I really loved about seeing UMD's campus was the diversity. I must have seen a thousand students wandering around between classes, and every single one looked different. There were all shapes and sizes and nationalities. I've always known that UMD had a big reach, but I didn't realize just how big. When people in society are judging others for their race or the country they were born in, it's refreshing to see an environment that embraces those differences. UMD

September was a very busy month, full of birthdays, fun outings and lots and lots of writing. Yet, not a lot of theatre, reading, or traveling. It's a conundrum really... September Reads Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes: While I agree that young adults should learn about September 11, I felt that this book told the tale a bit too harshly. The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly: This was another tough read. I liked it because it promoted the use of imagination and storytelling, but it was a little harsh for middle grades. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling: I love, love, love this book! It teaches kids about disability and how people with disabilities are often viewed. It also helps kids to understand Tourettes better. And it's a super fun tale of mystery. It's perfect for all ages! Campaign Widows by Aimee Agresti: I haven't quite finished it yet, but I am liking it. It's sort of Inside DC Politics + Chick L