Update: New Projects!

It has been a while since I have updated this blog! Over a year has flown by in the blink of an eye. Dad passed away in November. He had 90 healthy years and 18 months of sad decline. His stubborn German constitution kept him alive for much longer than was comfortable after his fall, but he was a lucky man to have enjoyed those great 90 Years (you can keep those last ones if I have a choice). He called up an old friend and confided that he was going to be the oldest man in the world. He whispered that on his birthday December 15, he was going to be 200 years old. She told him she would bake him a cake that was bound to set off the fire system with all of those candles, but sadly he died just short of that day.

Briana is graduating this year and going on to the RN program. Erika is fighting the good fight in Wisconsin, organizing for SEIU and Stephanie moved into her own place about 10 minutes away in Leesburg. RC’s house is full. His Mom spent the winter with us, grand kids, Cassie & Josh are camped out and his 2br is filled to the brim! We laugh about putting up the next visitors in the east wing. Our houses are so full that our attention has been turned to the sale of my apartment house in Lockport, to investment in a family compound here in Florida. Details to follow!

I asked for travel related gifts for all of the holidays this year. We do not have room, or need for any more stuff! I have so much stuff now that I had to rent a storage unit, and I am trying to reduce the unnecessary stuff and not always winning the battle. Back to the “year of adventure”, we have just returned from a long weekend in the Keys, are planning a short cruise in the Bahamas. Summer looks like July at the lake and a RV trip (if gas prices allow). We are hoping to take the Northern route across the top of the country. We would like to start in Northern Michigan at Black Lake, stop in to see Erika in Wisconsin, visit the Dakota’s, Montana, Glacier National, Washington State, Seattle and whatever else catches our fancy.

All this time spent thinking about travel led me to my new project. I have applied for a patent for a game/invention I have created to introduce travelers to unfamiliar destinations, combining fun and information in a unique manner. The game is called Hidden Jewels. I was ready for a project and I love the idea of combining an opportunity to merge my passion for travel with a business opportunity. I think that I am going to change the focus of this blog to document the birth of an idea. More details to follow!