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Showing posts from August 9, 2015

100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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After 3 years we finally have the boat in the water. Very relaxing. Electric leaf blower, electric car, electric boat. Ecological you might say. I am actually just frugal.
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Angie and I went out to the hipster Korean BBQ last night. I has been a few years since last there with my global colleagues. It is a different kind of place.
Ms. Hochul, I see in the news you were in my home country (Tioga). And that you were there to investigate improvements in the economy. Your time in my county, is one of the most inflammatory political visits in Upstate in modern time. Currently, I reside in Duluth GA and enjoy my life here, but almost every week I meet someone who has moved from Upstate New York State to Atlanta. These are hardworking folks who know how to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. Like me, they are well traveled, educated, and entrepreneurial. Like many of these former Upper New Yorkers, I continue to be disgusted about having to leave my property, my ancestors’ and their graves (I am a Mayflower descendant). I miss New York although I have no family there any longer. They have all moved. The Marcellus Shale Gas available in Tioga county NY State is a God sent recipe for the economic development in Upstate NY. I find it unfathomable that drilling permits are continued to be disal...
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Angie and I went to semi-insider venue regarding Cuba opportunities last night. It was interesting and informative.
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We are planning my Mom's memorial service for Sept 12 in Rochester. Angie and I did some flying, tested out the new alternator and com 2 radio. I didn't realize until I looked at the pic turning final that the gyro had precessed that bad. It has been a problem. (Look at compass in the inst panel and look at the mag compass on top of the inst panel.) We also went for a drive in the Honda and got a bit sunburned. I have been organizing my shop in the basement. I way underestimated how much time and effort that takes. I have bought a number of new tools recently. The tree is MY orange tree that I started from an Orange seed from an Orange in my lunch in 1997. I have almost killed that tree many times. It loves to be outside in the summer here. I have trimmed and trimmed that tree over the years. The tree has been through a lot. I guess I have too. The bowl of figs is from our fig tree in the front yard. They are ripe now. Perfect.