Helpful tips for home improvement

• Research and plan: Before starting any home improvement project or travel plan, research thoroughly to gather ideas and understand the requirements and costs involved.
• Set a budget: Determine a realistic budget for your home improvements and travel adventures to help you prioritize and make informed decisions.
• DIY vs. hiring professionals: Assess your skills and capabilities to decide whether to tackle home improvement projects yourself or hire professionals. Similarly, consider the benefits of booking tours or arranging your own travel itinerary.
• Safety first: When undertaking home improvements, prioritize safety measures to protect yourself and others. Likewise, prioritize your safety while traveling by following local regulations, taking necessary precautions, and staying informed about potential risks.
• Environmentally conscious choices: Consider eco-friendly options for home improvements, such as energy-efficient appliances or sustainable materials. Incorporate sustainable practices while traveling, like reducing plastic waste and supporting local communities.
• Plan for unexpected expenses: Home improvements and travel often come with unforeseen costs. Prepare for unexpected expenses by setting aside a contingency fund.
• Research product reviews: Before purchasing Amazon or Etsy products, read reviews from other buyers to ensure quality and suitability for your needs.

Amazon Movers & Shakers

 

We all want to be Dirk Pitt

Classic and vintage cars; lives in an airplane hangar; high seas adventurer; successful with the ladies...if you haven't met Dirk Pitt yet, you should. He's the literary embodiment of the most interesting man in the room before that guy retired and spent his time in Dos Equis TV commercials about himself.

My dad introduced me to books by Clive Cussler - featuring his leading character Pitt - when I was in my late teens (it's a toss-up between Cussler and Louis L'Amour as to who is his favorite). Seeing me sitting around bored one day (ah the days before the advent of modern smartphones), he suggested I read a couple of chapters to see what I thought. I dove in with the first Cussler book I grabbed from the living room shelf and immediately decided that if I could live vicariously through anyone, it was going to be Dirk Pitt.

Nowadays we like to consume media in timeline order. Tell me you haven't watched the MCU or Star Wars all the way through in timeline order at least once and I'll call you a liar. So I encourage you to read Cussler and Dirk Pitt the same way.

Start with "Pacific Vortex" and work your way forward from there. You won't be disappointed!

Proof's in the Pudding

 My last post was about snapping photos at that scenic vista on your next road trip. So I figured I'd share one I found from a box of printed photos. I think I took this about 25 years ago with a 35mm Pentax or Ricoh camera:

Is this my favorite photo I've ever taken? No, of course not. But if memory serves me, I had my camera on a hike while in high school and took just a second to (try) to get the settings right and snap something that looked interesting.

What's the story here? What did this rock wall used to be? Likely it was some sort of turn-of-the-century settler's homestead, or perhaps just an entry marker to a rancher's land. Either way, I found it interesting so stopped for just a second to take in the sights and snap a pic.

This was before smartphones, and before digital photography really became accessible to us common folk. Long story short, enjoy your trip, but take a moment to smell (and photograph) the roses.

Take a picture, it will last longer!

Ok, so don't spend the entire trip behind your phone. Enjoy the sights and sounds. 

But when you do happen upon that scenic vista or brightly colored flower, take a minute to snap a photo. Even if it's with your phone, taking a quick photo will help the memory last.

What's more, if you do happen upon those rare gems that you can manage to capture with the phone, you can post to Shutterstock and maybe even make a few bucks.

There are TONS of great how-to blogs and websites devoted to taking great cell phone pics. It all depends on what you're shooting and what you're shooting with.

Just remember, when you get home, take a few minutes and upload your photos to a photo sharing site...you might just make a few bucks for your trouble!

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