Images of Poole, England

Poole

England

Two Days in September, 2018

This was supposed to be an overnight stop, on my way to catch a ferry to Jersey (UK).  A wind storm derailed that plan.  So I spent two days here, wandering around, eating seafood, drinking beers and chatting up the locals.

We Got Cowboy Hats

We Got Cowboy Hats

Petrified National Park, AZ

June 2018

I was looking at jewelry when I saw him wander over to the hats.  He tried a few one but then he looked at the price and stopped looking.  I went over and tried a few on and then the saleswoman came over and complimented us on our rugged looks and we left with the hats.  I love mine. It's black, sueded leather.  I wonder if I will ever wear it.

Coming Back From The Beach

FACEBOOK POST

Coming Back From The Beach

July 26, 2013
Jacmel, Haiti

I am volunteering my time at a Wellness Program for the summer.  This young woman, Precious, came to the site every day and just hung with me.

As I leave the beach and head back to the compound, I see her. She is hoppling as fast as she can to catch up to me. I slow down my pace. As she approaches me, Precious gently slides her hand in to mine. We are now walking hand in hand. I slow my pace again so that she does not have to struggle to keep up with me. I look at her and wonder what she is thinking. As for me: I think I have finally found someone who walks slower than me.

Hung Up

Hung Up
My Bathroom Door
West Chester, PA 
June 2018

I do much better if all of my things are in my line of vision.  If I put something away, chances are I will possibly never use it.  So I keep my things out in the open.  However, I have so much stuff on these doors that I can't keep them open.  I need some door stops.

July 14, 2013

Facebook Post
Haiti family Intuitive Wellness Program
Jacmel, Haiti
July 14, 2013

I am traveling with Nina, miss earth of Delaware. She has never been out of the country but wanted to come to Haiti to help her gain some substance for her potential acceptance speech at the national MISS EARTH competition in August. She hasn't stopped crying since she got off the plane. I asked her if I could share her reflection. Excuse the typos. She is using her cell phone

-------- Original message --------
Subject:Miss Earth
From:Nina Vietri om>
To:BKelly
Cc:

I was piling and piling the children into the van, not looking behind, just picking one child up after another and putting them behind me in the front seat, before I knew it I had 7 small children in the front seat and half of my body sticking out of the van leaving no room to shut the door, let alone have any room to shut the door because the children where still trying to get into the bus, a older child probably 10 picked up her lite sister and threw her in my face, I looked into her eyes and said yes, shook my head here on my lap and placed my hands on my lap, I took both my hands out the window and reached for the baby girl she was 2, and put her threw the window, she sat softly on my knew as that's what room we had left. The children all now held on tightly to me they knew they where going to have lunch today!!

Boredom

FACEBOOK POSTING

July 26, 2013
Jacmel, Haiti

I am in Haiti for the summer, volunteering at a Wellness Program.  I am living in a house and the only non-Haitian in the area.

The poverty is very tough on these people. But so is the boredom. They sit all day with very little to say to one another. During the day, they hide inside their houses to avoid the heat. But as the sun goes down, the streets come alive with lots of activity. People roam the neighborhood, looking for someone, something to break the monotony.

First Beer

First Beer
The High School Days
Merion Mercy Academy
Merion Station, PA
May 1970

I was 14 and in 9th grade.  I didn't take street drugs and I didn't smoke cigarettes; I was afraid of both of these vices.   So I had to do something to solidify some street ratings.  And a beer came my way and I grabbed on tot he opportunity.

We had a sleepover at my all girls, Catholic high schmo.  As Sister Antoinette Maria slept on the Lazy Boy chair, from the gym balcony, six of us were in the locker room, sharing two beers that Dottie Mantini took from her dad's stash in the basement.  The beer was warm and distasteful  but that didn't matter to me.  The rest of my classmates thought we were bad ass.

Dear Ladies

A letter from my Dad while my sister, Sharon, and I were attending Penn State University.

April 5, 1976

Dear Ladies,

This is a joint letter ala Ida style. (Our grandmother always sent group letters.)

First enclosed is further evidence of our encouragement to you to continue to keep up the good work.   (As always, he sent us a check from time to time which keep us in beer.)

Everyone at home was pleased that Shannon received so many votes. Now you know how the Republicans feel when they offer the Best candidates and vote in Second Best. (Sharon ran for president of the Student Government organization as a write-in candidate)

The big three (Brian mom and I) have been hitting the shore on a regular basis. Last weekend we had to Carlins, next week in the Cameaus. The weather has been very pleasant. Unfortunately, I always gain several pounds after eating goodies all day. (My parents had a beach house on Long Beach Island, NJ in addition to their home in Philly.  Brian was my 6 year old brother.)

In less than a month Jimmy will graduate from college. I can’t believe that there will be a Kelly kid not attending school. I think he’s going to stay with the restaurant for the time being. (Jimmy has a year older than me.  Sharon was a year younger than me and we also had another brother In college this year.)

We are all looking forward to seeing our upstate students.

Lots of love,

Dad

Lucky's Market

Lucky's Market

Boulder , CO

July 2018

OMG, I love this place. Yea, it's got a nice selection of quality foods.  But that isn't what makes it so damn special.  They sell draft beer that you can purchase and drink as you are roaming the aisle, picking up all kins of goods that you don't need.  And the pint only cost $2.13. We live in a great country.

July 13, 2015- India

FACEBOOK POST
July 13, 2015
My Hotel Room
Varanasi, India

A damn monkey just snuck into my room and stole my soaps. I hope he eats them and gets sick.

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Varanasi, India

City · India

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Kentucky

Kentucky
The Bluegrass State

October 17 & 18, 2018

My 47th USA State Visit

• There are lots and lots of distilleries around here.  I didn't go to any of them as I am not a whisky or bourbon drinker and I was driving.
• 
  
• There is plenty of available land for millions of immigrants.
• 
  
• The clouds linger around the top of the mountains and create a mist as I drive through them.
• 
  
• My intent was to leave TN at noon and go to Lincoln's house by 4 PM, spend an hour there and then drive two more hours to cut down my draining on Tuesday.  That didn't happen and I didn't get to KY until date five so I just had to find a hotel room and continue with my quest to see Lincoln's birthplace in the morning.

• I stayed at the America's Best Value Hotel for $57. This price included very slow WIFI, no ice and a crappy breakfast.

• I headed to Flywheel Brewery for a quick flight of beer and tacos from the food truck.

• I was one of the first at the Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace National Park in the AM, the next morning, and the moment was underwhelming.

A Message from Heather

A Facebook Post

July 31, 2009

A MESSAGE FROM HEATHER

 to 

I joined Facebook reluctantly.  I thought it was stupid and vain. I thought I would have nothing to post and that nothing from other people would interest me.  But I joined anyway and then two days later, I wake up to this message on my wall from Heather,  my niece:

"hello, my darling, dearest auntie!!!


And then I was hooked on the virtues of Facebook.

My Travel Medical Kit

My Travel Medical Kit
Just a suggestion

As so many family and friends do, my sister recently sent me an article about what the well traveled person takes on any trip.  My sister said the article reminded her of me since I am well traveled. And while the article was interesting and included so many things that I pack when I travel, it was obvious that these travelers do not go to third world countries because there was nothing about what they pack in their medical kit. Actually, there was no mention of a medical kit.  So these travelers must only go to Europe where they don't have to worry about medical intervention.

Here is what I bring:

Malaria medication- i hate this medication but I think taking it is better than getting malaria.  I had a reaction to the one that gives you wild dreams.  So now I take the one that is a weekly dosage.
An antibiotic- I will usually suffer with food poisoning for three days and hope that the parasite flushes out of my system.  But if not,  then I start on an antibiotic. I prefer Cipro.
Percocet- I had surgery two years ago and of course the doctor prescribed too many pain killers to me.  I keep these just in case I am in the rain forest and fall and break my leg and have to wait three days to be rescued.
Soap- most places I travel don't supply soap so I bring several of those small soap bars with me.  I don't bring just one big one because I fear that I may forget it at one stop and then I am out of luck.
Water Purification pills- Always, always carry water pills.  You just never know when you are going to grab a bottle of water and the purity of the water has been compromised
Tylenol- 600mgs only.  I take one in the morning and one before I go to bed.
Scopace- I take this for motion sickness.  I don't use the patch; I take the pill which is a stronger dosage.
Blister bandages- I go through lots of them.
World Health Card of Immunizations- this lists all of the shots and vaccinations I have received in the last 20 years.
Throat Lozenges- this helps with dry mouth, pollution relief and, of course, a sore throat.
Vaseline- I use this for chapped lips, sores and other irritated areas.
DEET- Yes, I use DEET spray.  I bring at least two levels of concentration so that I am not poisoning myself any more than I have to. But I have seen so pretty scary bugs in my travels.

I've had to be treated a few times on my travels.  And I have had to rely on the local doctors who gave me things that I took with blind faith.  But I am here today, alive and well.  So I guess my medical kit and those doctors helped.