From the Observation Deck

• Frontier Village vividly recreates life in the nineteenth century. 
• Visit Frontier Village and catch a glimpse of what Sault Ste. Marie looked like in the 1800s. There is a collection of stores, restaurants, and craft shops associated with the era. Life-size woodcarvings depict scenes from the Old West.

Nice. Makes me want to seek out this place. Oh wait. I did. Was it fun? Yes. But only because of how the reality of it compared to the descriptions. See below and you tell me.

I remember once I was writing some marketing copy for an upcoming conference and found a great quote about San Diego on some Web site. My boss asked me to confirm it and after looking for the source, found that the source of the quote had gone out of business long ago and the quote had been used over and over again by various organizations such as mine. We had each found something online and took it for granted that it was the truth because it was posted on some Web site.

I find it interesting that it’s so easy for us to believe rumors or what the media tells us and yet so many doubt or even refute the truth of Jesus. Why do we put blinders on to something so wonderful and yet accept lies and deceit so easily? It’s sad but I guess it’s just human nature. I often pray to God to help me stop and pull the plank out of my eye before telling another about their splinter.

I am a professional marketer and it’s my job to persuade people to purchase products or register for events. But I have found that I can be successful by telling the truth. If you feel like you have to stretch the truth or lie in order to sell something, then why are you standing behind it? Just a thought.

Well, I’m off to read some travel brochures. They say this place in Nova Scotia has great whale watching and that it’s the most beautiful scenery in the world. Hmmmm. 

the Wild West at Frontier Village

Characters at Frontier Village

The trading post at Frontier Village

Frontier Village depicts what life was like in the 1800s

The totem pole at Frontier Village

The Old West dudes and the fry stand

Canadian humor

Now that I’m working again, it seems a bit hard to come home and write, especially after doing it for hours at a time and having few precious hours left in the day to hang with the Grendel dog. But enough whining. It’s been a great month back on the job. I still feel for those who are still looking for work but I have to say it’s nice to be able to think about spending a little money.

So what to buy? Part of me wants to get a big screen TV, but that’s going to have to wait. Another part of me wants to redecorate the kitchen, fix the leaks, and bring things up to date. And then there’s the part that wants to see the world. So it’s between watching the Travel Channel on a huge screen while cooking new dishes learned from the Food Network in my new kitchen or experiencing those places myself while others cook for me. Hmmmm. Me thinks we will be putting more stamps in the passport. Where to go, where to go?

Any ideas? I’m thinking Nova Scotia, Alaska, Israel, Africa (safari), the Galapagos Islands, China, Italy, and I can’t keep France off the list even though I’ve been there before. What do you think? Any special stories from places you’ve visited? Because until I get that savings account built up I need to live vicariously through other adventurers like you.

Love life, experience it, and see the world—be it in person, through books, or through the TV. Au Revoir, elalleqa, Hagoonea’, Auf Wiedersehen, Sayonara, Ciao, Shalom, Adios, Do svidan’ya, and Slan.

The Christmas tree is coming down. I hate to say goodbye to the beautiful lights and neat decorations. But, if we kept them up all year it wouldn’t be special. And people might think I’m weird.

It was a great holiday season. I really had a wonderful time with my family. I know not everyone gets along with their families and some are missing family members that are far away or no longer with us. If you’re one of those, I just hope you were (and in the future are) able to find people to share the time with and to enjoy Christmas and the New Year.

My decorations are coming down but at least I can walk around my neighborhood and enjoy the lights of those who refuse to go out without a fight. You know, those neighbors who keep their lights going through the better part of the winter (and some to the edge of spring). You go people.

My cats are a little upset. Their inside forest is going away. But at least they have a few more days to sit on the storage boxes and lick the masking tape. I don’t know why I spend money on expensive cat toys when all I need to give them is a strip of tape and rubber bands to make them happy.

So now it’s time to get back on the diet, fight the urge to eat sugar cookies, and snuggle in for a new season of Lost, American Idol, and more. Maybe I should TiVo it all and go write a book. Or volunteer somewhere. Or run a marathon. Or. Oh forget it. I hate resolutions. Do it or not. But whatever you do, have a happy 2010!