My Own Private Seattle I headed south when the rest of the world seemed to go north. Seattle in the late '80s topped many lists as the most livable city in the US, and transplants poured into the city to experience this new caffeine-fueled mix of urban creativity and multi-cultural sophistication in a setting of stunning natural beauty.

The Great Escape of B17 Pilot Lt. Wes Coss in World War 2 It's early morning and there's a slight edge to the air as Lieutenant Wes Coss and his 9 crew members walk towards Stardust, their B-17 bomber. During WW2 so many British and American bombers were shot down before they'd even flown a few missions, meant that Stardust was a real veteran with an incredible 84 missions over enemy territory to her credit.

Olympia, Washington: “Far From the Madding Crowd” It’s Small Town America, a little place with a big heart – and a pretentious name, Olympia, a title surely reserved by the Gods. The name is the only affection in this part of the Puget Sound.

Value at Sea: Three Vessels That Fill the Bill Ok, let's face it. We're still in a recession. People are working longer and harder and often times for not as much money. People are forgoing daily trips to Starbucks and extravagant meals out. BUT what we are not willing to give up is our vacations.

John Mayall... Breaking New Ground I've heard it said that 75 is the new 60. But if John Mayall has anything to say about it, it would probably be closer to 40. I don’t know what’s in this guy’s water, but I could use a quart or two in my coffee mug right now.

The Blonde Kidnapper With the economy as it is some people can get so desperate they are willing to try anything. Our blonde friend is no exception.

Recipe For a Perfect Vacation: Excellence Riviera Cancun It's my third day at the Hotel Excellence Riviera Cancun and the Do Not Disturb card is in the slot again. I'm feeling lazy and content… mesmerized by the view. A thatch roof tops my balcony vista, framing the brilliant sky, pristine pools, ever-moving azure sea and powdered sugar beaches below.

Leave It to Beaver and Sputnik: Both Launched October 4, 1957 Jerry Mathers, now and forever a beloved icon, found a permanent place in America's heart when at age seven he created the role of television's clean-cut lovable kid, Theodore "The Beav" Cleaver, in the sitcom Leave It To Beaver.

Dateline: The Cherry Blossoms of Washington D.C. My husband and I flew from Arizona to Washington D.C. second week of April to catch up with the cherry blossom season. TV images of pink and white blossoms swaying in the trees around the Washington Mall was calling to us.

Love Is Better the Second Time Around As our wedding plans came together in the summer of 2007 my fiancée Dorothy and I began to focus on the honeymoon. Hawaii? New York? London? Paris? Rome? Both of us had travelled to these iconic places in the past, but in our conversations we quickly realized that neither one of us had ever had a truly romantic visit to any of these wonderful destinations.

Shouldering Tradition It was on a sweltering day in July, 2000 on the occasion of "The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel" in Brooklyn, New York (the childhood home of my mother and her family) when I noted the command, "Uaglió, a spal!" (pronounced "Wal-Yo, ah sbahl"--- "young men, on your shoulders!").

Innsbruck, Austria The ride up the mountain on the cable car is worthy of a James Bond thriller. It takes your breath away, and you feel just a tiny jolt of adrenalin. The city of Innsbruck ("Bridge over the Inn") sparkles in the morning sun below as we rise through the pine forest. Above us the mountain soars a craggy 7,700 feet, crowned in dazzling snow.

A Short Whistler Stop Driving towards Whistler Resort gave me awesome views of British Columbia's Coast Mountains. Towering pines and fir trees populated the near horizons and a red-tailed hawk circled directly overhead.

The Hill Towns of Tuscany and Umbria I sometimes wonder what I was thinking about taking a wheelchair to the Italian hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria. It was a given that the ancient cobblestones would punish my wheels mercilessly and that the transportation would be a challenge to put it mildly, not to mention the currency exchange.

Japan: Bullet Trains, Monkey Shows and Whale Steaks Last month, I went to Japan for three things... Ok, let me back up a little bit already. The #1 reason I went to Japan was to visit my girlfriend, Yuki, and she will kill me if I don't say that, so there it is.

Tahiti and Her Islands Just their names (pronounce each vowel!) conjure up romantic images: Tahiti Nui, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Ra'iatea, Taha'a. Her people are gentle; the air, tiare-perfumed. Warm lagoons, majestic peaks, tropical fruits from the land and bounty from the sea all tantalize the senses. Paradise! As near as can be found on planet earth.

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