The Downtowner Hotel

Downtowner Bridal Suite, Boise ID. It has been a while since the Downtowner was about the classiest place in Boise to stay. q880.jpg

Maybe they should bring back the round bed!

Notice the fluffy high heals.

Hyde Park

The Hyde Park Street fair is one of my favorite events. Spent some time with Jo’s crew pouring a keg or two of beer. The North End Neighborhood Association and Jim Teeter have perfected this event and this year is no exception. Cool vendors, diverse and wonderful music, plus great food. Don’t pass up a chance to go this weekend. Where else can you get a whole BBQed turkey leg?

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Tauge & Faulkner

Jon Faulkner writes. . . 'all over again'

We will be back once again at Angell's Bar and Grill this weekend - Friday and Saturday September 15-16. We will be outside on the patio (weather permitting) else, in the bar.

Travel Tips II

Travel too: A few more non airline travel tips:

ATM’s are much easier than finding a place to cash a travelers check. No checks allowed signs apply to these types of checks also.

Don’t leave anything of value in your rental car. Every thieve knows what the “Enterprise” sticker looks like on the bumper. It may even be wise to leave it unlocked to avoid window breakage.

The more expensive the room, the more likely you will have to pay for internet access. Before you go find a free internet cafe close to where you are staying. BTW, I have never found a Starbucks that didn’t charge for internet. Look for a local coffee chain. It also seems that the farther east you go this less free access there is.

If you are a serious camera person. Consider getting a smaller camera for those times when you don’t feel like lugging the whole pack. Even having a disposable handy can be a good idea.

If you still shoot film. Pack it separate and ask the gate security for a hand inspection. It may be worth it to get it developed in the town you are visiting. There is a Costco on Maui and Oahu! Walgreens is also fast and efficient.

If you are buying souvenirs or cocktails-look for less expensive real estate. In beach front towns even a few feet from the sand can save big bucks. However it was worth a couple of extra dollars to have a scotch overlooking Times Square.

Speaking of Costco. Buy batteries, film, memory cards, even sunscreen at home. Things that tourists buy are always expensive where tourists shop. If you have to get something look for a Walgreens of Rite Aid. The Wallgreens on the Wharf in San Francisco, has cost effective souvenir isle and prices like more your use to.

Carry some water with you. Long gone are the days of public drinking fountains. You also may want to pee before you leave the room.freshrestroom-web.jpg Fresh Restrooms are few and far between.

Hotel Concierges often get kick backs for their recommendations. So their advise can be skewed. I am a big fan of asking the maid, the taxi driver, or the bartender/wait staff for food and sight seeing advise. Especially after I have tipped well. Think about it, they know the neighborhood and they hear all the tourist reports good and bad.

Pupil transportation is a fun way to see a city. You can travel from the Oakland Airport to uptown San Francisco for $4.50 on BART for example. It is around $40.00 in a cab and you go under the bay not over the Bay Bridge. This can be very helpful at rush hour.

BTW Taxi’s are relatively cheap in Manhattan. They are however like riding a thrill ride.

Men-Wear your wallet in your front pocket. Better yet get a money belt. Don’t flash your money around. Woman should not pack a huge purse, and should carry the small one in front oh them.

Keep a bit of cash and/or a second credit stashed away. Just in case a bag gets taken or you lose your purse.

Keep a copy of your itinerary and a back up ID separate. You should also have all your info back home. Fed-ex overnight could save a trip. The best tip of all. Take comfortable shoes.

Air Travel Tips

Been lucky to enough to travel quite a bit this last few months. I have flown in and out of Boise to Portland, Honolulu, Lahaina, San Francisco, Oakland, Boston, and New York. Also took a train from Boston to Penn Station. Here are few observations:

Security is not so bad, even in at La Quardia. Many times I felt rushed to get my shoes off and my laptop out quick enough to not hold up the line. Never did I wait more than a couple of minutes. Even last mouth during the Red Alert!

Security Screeners were universally efficient and courteous. Are we sure we want to make them government employees? Think Post Office!

The Lee Blades rule. . . Pack as light as possible. Both checked and carry on. It will be easier to get throught the airport, or in the taxi, or BART or anywhere else without that big bag. You may want to buy some items like hair spray at your destination.

Counter agents have been replaced by computers. Fine unless you need something special. If you can’t run a computer, it is hard to get along.

E-tickets are no longer always faster.

Jet Blues is a very cool airline. Southwest has lost some of it’s pizzazz and fun. United has gotten so lax it is a mere ghost of it’s former self.

Train security is almost nonexistent, but the ride from Boston to NY was fun and fast.

Call the airline to see if your flight is delayed.

If you pack Light-Up ice cubes, even a lot of cords, and or chargers in your check on bag, it will come off the plane last. Why? because it will be inspected by the TSA. BTW you can tell by the small round sticker, usually on the handle. Personally I find this comforting.

Sky Caps are worth ever penny.

Everyone has a black bag.

Airlines are enforcing weight and size limits.

It is getting easier to use your cell on planes. Used to have to be off the plane, then until the door closed, now you can use your phone as long as you are not taking off or landing. The old rules still apply on United.

Unless you are on Southwest jockeying for a seat. Don't rush to be the first one on the plane. Your asigned seat will be there after everyone is settled in. The same is true getting off. You are going to wait for your bags anyway.

You still can’t always understand what the pilot is saying.

Pack your own pillow, they are not always available now.

If you can, chose your seat wisely, some prefer the window, some the isle, but avoid the middle seat at all costs. This is especially true on long flights.

Long flight? Think about a sleeping pill or Melatonin. For me it is Dramamine.

Only one out of four pilots will know how to pronounce Boise.

Flying is slowly getting more expensive. Same is true of hotels.

No one gives you real food anymore. So you might want to pack a goodie bag. For the time being it can not include any liquid.

The snacks are better(blue potato chips on Jet Blue), and you will love the little bottles of water.

Cocktails are still only $5.00.

You can get a Bloody Mary at 9:00am in an airport. Actually in Boise the bar opens at 6:00am. Correction from Rick O Do to some legal mumbo, beer only till 10:00am.

Traveling on a hangover is not advised. grandcentral-web.jpg

One more thing. In spite of the hype, I was able to take photos everywhere. Including Grand Central Station and the New York Subway.

Needed a smile today-you?

Sexual urges of men and women.
"I never have quite figured out why the sexual urges of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. And I never figured out why men think with their head and women think with their heart. And I never yet have figured out how the sexual desire gene gets thrown into a state of turmoil when it hears the words "I do." One evening last week, my wife and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, "I don't feel like it. I just want you to hold me." I said, "WHAT???" So she says the words that I and every husband on the planet dread. She explains that I must not be in tune with her emotional needs as a woman. I'm thinking, "What was her first clue?" I finally realize that nothing was going to happen that night, so I went to sleep. The very next day, we went shopping at a big, unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on three different, very expensive outfits. She could not decide which one to take, so I told her to take all three of them. She then tells me that she wants matching shoes worth $200.00 a pair to which I say OK. And then we go to the jewellery department where she gets a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you. She was so excited. She must have thought that I was one wave short of a shipwreck, but I don't think she cared. I think she was testing me when she asked for a tennis bracelet because she does not even play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I told her that it was OK. She was almost sexually excited from all of this, and you should have seen her face when she said, "I'm ready to go to the cash register." I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No, honey, I don't feel like buying all this stuff now." You should have seen her face. It went completely blank. I then said, "Really, honey, I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while." And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "You must not be in tune with my financial needs as a man." I figure that I won't be having sex again until some time after the Spring of 2008 but godammit it was worth it." Author unknown

Sam “Bones” dog Day

samdogsmall-web.jpgHe came to us, as Lissa’s dog, as Sam. A lively, friendly, slightly jittery Golden mix. Wrapped in big bow. A simple pound dog. He entered our family at a time when being a family was hard. A beacon in the “dark times.” Sam stuck with us. He was the grandest animal I have ever been lucky enough to be with. Now, he has passed. Off to ”God's House.”

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Some say dogs don’t go to heaven! No creature deserves paradise more then Sam.

If there is an eternal life, it would not be just or complete without Sam, or Repo, Bridget, Cassidy, Mica, or Barry. Especially Sam.

Lazy Girl

Knew it had to happen sometime! How about buying a Chair that will make you lose weight.

Only in american would we expect to be able to sit on our fat Assets to lose our Fat asses.

BTW The girl on the chair looks very very happy. Maybe the seat vibrates.

Cindie Lee reunites with Streetwise.

Former Boise Blues Diva Cindie Lee will be singing with her old band-Streetwise at the new Creekside lounge in Kuna Oct. 6-7 and Nov. 3-4. The bar has already featured the Hoochies, so could we have a new blues venue in the valley. I sure hope so. A crowd of happy money spending blues fans would go a long way.Thanks to Jim Teeter for the lead.

Times up?

Not sure why this image is a favorite. Maybe it is because the hand covers the timer. . . Can’t ticket what you can’t see!Parking-hand-web.jpg

City Harvest

Saturday’s inaugural Harvest Festival was fantastic. Hats off to Karen Ellis and Dave Krick for leveraging the feel, flavor and coolness of the City Market. Featuring Idaho’s best music, food and arts, Boisee.com is predicting that this event will become one of Boise premier attractions.

mexican dance-web.jpg A dancer from the ballet Folklorinco Mexico Lindo market fruit-web.jpg