J&S Travel Memory Books

A few years back I discovered photo books as a way to make my images from travels a powerful tool for bolstering my memory and enjoyment of vacations and other trips.  Before that, I had taken pictures, often printed some of them, looked at them and put them in a box or drawer.  When I looked at them years later I really couldn't appreciate what I was looking at.  The images just didn't work as a way to really remember the event.  Putting those images into book format forced me to really think about what I saw, adding some organization and narration, allows my to save the memories much more accurately and gives me something that I can look at long after the fact and once again enjoy the experience. These books, for many people have become the ultimate souvenir.

Creating a Flickr Account

I use Flickr to display my favorite pictures and occasionally in support of group projects.  Those group projects sometimes require new accounts to be setup by people who may be a bit confused by the process.  This post is intended as a walk though of the account creation process that may help them out.

What the Heck Royal Caribbean?

I've been on several Royal Caribbean cruises.  Generally been very happy with them, thrilled even, a few bumps, but I'm happy to book another cruise.

I do have a bone to pick with their web site and technical support.  It seems my Crown and Anchor Society account is in a permanent state of broken.  I've tried email support, I've tried calling them, they seem either uninterested in the problem or incapable of helping.

South Dakota / Wyoming Travels

Black Hills, Yellowstone & Tetons

Linda and I recently traveled with a group of Grove City alumni on an Orbridge tour of National Parks and Lodges of the Old West. I had intended to write daily, or almost daily blog entries but that plan ran afoul of three problems:

1. Blogger is crippled on an iPad, it needs keys that don't exist on a touch interface,
2. Internet access is spotty at best in South Dakota and Wyoming,
3. The trip was packed with activities allowing little time to write or reflect.

Once home I began work on a photo book which I've now finished.  A somewhat useable embedded version follows:

| Design your own photo book with Mixbook's easy online editor.

Stone Tower Glenn Renaissance Faire

Daughters of Epona Perform at 11th Annual Faire, June 28-29, 2014

The "Daughters" my daughter, Shannon, her friend Marissa riding their horses, Aiden and Dolly, respectively.  Joined by one of Marissa's equine students as their squire for the performance.

The performing company, Medieval Fantasies Company, has been doing this for eleven years.  This was Daughters of Epona's second appeiarance with the company, having done well enough at their initial performance to be invited back to join the Company, and even having their expenses paid, or partially paid to be more accurate.