While in Kansas City, MO over Flag Day weekend visiting my friends Greg and Judy, I wanted to do something special for Flag Day. One of the things on my to-do list is to visit the Harry Truman Library in Independence (just outside the city). So on Flag Day, June 14th, I planned to check this off my bucket list. (It's also my brother Tony's birthday- Happy Birthday Tony!). So what about The National World War 1 Monument/Museum asked Greg? What a World War 1 museum in KC? The answer was no and no because I did not know one existed. Plans changed and off we went to see this awesome museum on Flag Day. There are too many highlights of the museum, so all I will say is WOW. WOW from the walk across the ... read more

Iowa Trivia: Must Love Tulips In Iowa Last week I wrote that traveling can be done in your backyard so this weekend I traveled to a potpourri of events within 45 miles of my home in Ankeny; Pella for the Tulip Festival, Des Moines for the Farmers Market and to see Cloris Leachman’s “One Woman Show”. I asked myself “how do I make this trip interesting as compared to my trip to Omaha? “ After fretting a bit, I told myself to give it up. From lessons learned, I reminded myself to just own it and travel with good friends. First , what is the big deal with tulips in Iowa? The long story short here: in 1847, 800 Holland citizens left the Netherlands for religious freedom under the leadership of Dominie Scholte They settled in ... read more

Happy May Day Everyone! I’m ready for my next travel trip. Heading out west and before you get excited for me, my travel is not to an exotic location; however I will be traveling to a mind stimulating location on Saturday, May 2, 2009. I’m traveling to see and hear Mr. Warren Buffett at the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting at the Qwest Center in beautiful Omaha, Nebraska. Let me set the stage. Warren Buffett is the second richest man in the world according to Forbes.com. He owns a number of companies that include: MidAmerican Energy Holdings, GEICO, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Helzburg Diamonds, NetJets, Fruit of the Loom, The Pampered Chef, Dairy Queen and a host of insurance, construction and financial companies. His annual meeting is set for May 2, 2009 in Omaha and by history, there ... read more

Day 19 "Monday day Monday", how does that song go? Leah and I went to bed around 1 am. We had a fun night packing, she more than me. Leah got to see how I pack, throw everything in a pile and work out of it. And after pile 1, pile 2 and pile 3. How did I accumulate so much stuff? I only bought a few things? I vow to pack less next year. I say that laughing. Up at 6 am and we have to leave at 10 am. After breakfast, Leah went to the sea and I went to the Hotel Negresco. I hate to say this beautiful hotel was one block from our hotel and I almost missed it. So I took a walk down there, and yes it's raining again, and ... read more

Day 16-17 Saturday/Sunday My final series of entries. Hooray! I’m going to re-write this disclaimer. “Dammit Jim, I’m a nurse not a writer/editor.” For those who are reading the travel journal, I hope my notes and short stories have been amusing. I told everyone, this year it’s all about technology and no more paper. How appropriate as this class is about sustaining our environment. With all good intentions, I have tried to do the best job in writing and editing. So not to make any excuses, and I do have some, please accept my apologies for any spelling errors. When I get back, I’m sure I’ll look at the journals and say “how could I have so many mistakes?” I hope you have looked at the content of the information rather than the format of the ... read more