Snail mail? What's that?

The 21st century and the technologies available to us is amazing. We can communicate so quickly with one another through so many means - calling, texting, emailing, instant messaging, etc. And just think, we have so many devices that can help us with this quick communication - computers, tablets, Blackberries, iPhones... the list goes on and on.

Mary, one of the characters in the all-star film He's Just Not That Into You, sums up this use of technology. She makes a really good point about how the constant use of technology is something that affects our relationships with all people. She says:

Of Sardines

I've been doing a lot of reflecting and thinking regarding my purpose in life. Some days I miss my carefree childhood when my biggest ambition was to make a huge blanket fort in my living room so that I could watch Disney's Beauty and the Beast in peace.

Life's not so simple, is it?

So why "sardines" you ask? I'm getting around to that. Now, the sardines I'm talking about here does not relate to the fish. It's a game, a cross between hide-and-go-seek and tag. For those of you not familiar with the rules, here's the general idea:

1. Sardines is a group game (I personally think 5 people is a decent number).
2. To begin, one person is selected to go hide.
3. The rest of the group has to count to a given number, then they each go their separate ways to find the individual who is hiding.
4. When a group member finds the hider, he/she joins them. The last person to find the initial hider is the one to hide next.

The big picture is that you want to find the hider and not be the last one to do so. It's a fun game that is filled with lots of laughter. It's always a good ice-breaker activity.

An Abundance of Katherines

Yes, yes, I know, a good chunk of the literature world is raving about John Green - and for good reason, I tell you. John Green has a remarkable way of capturing humanity in a way that many other authors can't. An Abundance of Katherines is literature at its best: I laughed, I sympathized, and when the story ended, I was blown away by the complexity of the characters.

An Abundance of Katherines focuses on the life of Colin Singleton. Colin has been the "dumpee" for as long as he can remember. He's been dumped 19 times, to be exact - all by girls with the name Katherine. Colin embarks on a roadtrip with his friend Hassan, bent upon finding a mathematical formula to prove that relationships are predictable. He insists that this formula will always prove who will be the "dumpee" and the "dumper" in a relationship.

As Colin and Hassan develop relationships with the individuals in Gunshot, Tennessee, they quickly learn that there's more to life than finding formulas and making predictions.

Follow the Locals

I'll admit it. I drool over travel magazines. The glossy pictures seem so realistic, begging me to jump within their pages while I'm half-hoping I'll end up in Ireland.

My monthly subscription to National Geographic Traveler came a few days ago, but in keeping busy with work, I was only able to open it just today. And my-oh-my, I was not disappointed. Entitled "Tours of a Lifetime," I knew this edition was one I would enjoy.

Margaret Loftus, a contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler, paints a picturesque view of many sought-after adventures for the wandering traveler. Broken into divisions, there are tours in Africa, Asia, South and Central America, Europe, North America, and the Pacific Islands and Oceania.

Personally, I'd like to go on the "Wild Irish Rover" guided tour. It is a road trip around Ireland, hosted by Vagabond Adventure Tours of Ireland. For eight days, I'd get to explore the Irish countryside and since I have Irish ancestry, I'd be able to track down my roots. Neat, right? Plus, all good travelers know that if you want the ultimate experience, you'll talk with the locals about the sights to see and places to go. Follow the locals!

I guess I'll add it to my growing list of tours and places to see, but for now, I'll just hope I don't wrinkle the pages in my favorite magazine.

Want to read about it yourself? Take a look here:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/

The furthest I've ever been - Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Welcome

Alright, what's Certainly Candid? It's a collection of things, really. This blog will cover many topics and I hope that you, my faithful readers, will suggest new topics for me as well!

While I've done some blogging in the past, this will be my new location. I'm excited to have my own page and I'll have new posts ASAP!