……commentary from the road
The first week of March and that means the 81st Annual Bike Week in Daytona if you’re in the States. Daytona is a quick 110 miles north of me and a straight shot up I95. This will be my 4th year to visit and the first for Katia. With the pent-up demand post-pandemic, promoters are forecasting... Continue Reading →
The time had come for our second genuine road trip post-retirement, so BOOM, Katia, and I pulled the trigger on destinations in Greece and Eastern Europe. Plans included round-trip tickets (MLB-Athens) to Greece and then it would be off to Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, etc. Plenty of time, money, and interest, as I’d never really traveled or worked... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; Cherohala Skyway North Carolina) (Photo above; Tail of the Dragon)... That first official "retirement" trip is under the belt. After years of looking at my Harley in the garage, Katia and I headed out for 10 days and 2,000+ miles through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and North / South Carolina. The "Smokies" are spectacular,... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; Al and Katia, Cable Beach)... Mixed reviews after 2 months in Nassau. Due to the pandemic, the area we stayed in (port or downtown) or the ability to explore never really hit full stride. Most bars, restaurants, and services remained closed during our stay. I never saw the inside of Senior Frogs (closed),... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; Jacaranda Hotel, 1922...is it haunted?)... If you live along the Atlantic coast of Florida, you’ll hear from the locals that there are really two Floridas. The real Florida, they say, is everything east of Interstate 95, and the rest is, well, the rest. That’s a bit of a narrow view, mostly held by... Continue Reading →
I've lived in Thailand for more than 12 years and can honestly say I've been to Pattaya maybe twice. Since the COVID bite, the collapse of tourism, and heightened pollution in Bangkok, I decided to give it another look, and what a gem! Clean air, uncrowded beaches, and affordability are the new Pattaya. In no... Continue Reading →
The pandemic is in full swing, and it’s impossible at the moment to travel back to Bangkok and the office. Dad’s recent passing brought me home to Florida, and there is no indication whatsoever when Thailand will allow return flights. AID is graciously allowing me to “work remotely” from my home in Florida, but I’m... Continue Reading →
When Harley Davidson got hold of me and said they would give me 100% of what I paid for my Sporty towards any upgrade, I figured what was there to lose and went over to the dealership. Harleys are discretionary purchases, to say the least, and like anything discretionary, a little bit of vendor "pull"... Continue Reading →
Most kids choose French or Spanish as a language in high school, but my youngest son Alan comes home one day and says he’s studying “Japanese”. OK, you always want to be supportive, but you think you already know how that’s going to turn out. Two years later, he’s still enrolled in Japanese, and his sensei is... Continue Reading →
John Dwyer UF Class of 2019.... It is always a family milestone when your oldest graduates from college, but parallel to that, it also marks the end of our own collegiate learning process as parents. My oldest son, John, graduated from the University of Florida with honors last week, and we’re as proud as can be. Smart kid, and... Continue Reading →
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