When in Japan...

This is the oldest hotel in the world, founded in the year 705, and still run by the same family: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan. The hotel in Kyoto has thermal spas, high quality cuisine, karaoke, and it's set in a peaceful wooded area, surrounded by mountains.

It's Time For A Birthday Party Or Two!!

Our friends Roxie and Marie have birthdays to celebrate today!!  I hope no one minds if we keep the party simple, just a bit of champagne...

Well, that may be overdoing it, but you just never know with this gang, so better safe than sorry.  Please, let me pour you all a glass.

Cheers to Roxie and Marie!!

How about a piece of cake?  I've been baking all day.

I didn't forget our favorite, chocolate-loving guy.  Enjoy, P!

And now some flowers for the birthday gals...

Here's to Roxie and Marie, wishing you both a wonderful day and a fantastic year ahead!!  xo

Fun facts

I thought these were kind of cool..

1) Probably most of us.

2)

Hmmm, not so sure about that.

3) 

They should have left them there.

 4) This could be true..

5) Hahaha

Have a great day!!

Monday, Monday

I don't know about you... but I really identify with this cat these days. Especially when I am reading the news. I will be away all week- and I think I will try not to open Twitter at all. Text me if anyone is indicted, arrested or impeached.

Have a great week, everyone.
Here you go... this will make Monday so much better.

Celebration time!

Happy Birthday to Pgfan! Our music loving, traveling friend has her special day today. We send the happiest of birthday wishes and hope she has a wonderful day!

Just for old times sake..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PGfan! 

The Stella Awards

It's time again for the annual " Stella Awards"! For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico, where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right?

Here are some of the more outrageous awards for this year:

SEVENTH PLACE

Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.

FOURTH PLACE 

Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the

Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.

THIRD PLACE *

Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.

SECOND PLACE

Kara Walton, of Claymont, Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.

FIRST PLACE *

This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv Grazinski, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased a new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down?

$1,750,000.

PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.

This is completely insane! 

Thanks to Amy for sending ideas our way. Keep them coming. ; )

Before and after

These illustrations by Nacho Díaz are funny and sweet. Enjoy!

A summer afternoon

On Tuesday we visited Cantigny park, which is located a couple of towns away from us. It is the former estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, who was the publisher of the Chicago Tribune. He served in World War 1 and saw action at the Battle of Cantigny. After returning home, he renamed his estate in honor of the battle.

Colonel McCormick never had children. When he died in 1955 he left his fortune to establish a charitable trust. He also directed that Cantigny should be transformed into a park for the general public to enjoy. The mansion was turned into a historic house museum which is open for tours.
There is also a war museum on the property. The First Division Museum chronicles World War 1 as well as later wars. Displayed outside the museum are tanks from the various wars. Children are allowed to climb on them. There are also beautiful gardens on the grounds.

We visited here often when the kids were small. They loved to climb on the tanks! 

 We took the house tour, and checked out the war museum. Both were great. Photos are not allowed inside the house. It Is filled with personal things, plus so many antiques and works of art. It is truly magnificent.

Here are a couple of museum pictures.

I thought of Amy while walking around the rose garden. I think everyone would enjoy it.

It was a very nice day!