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May 01
2008

May Travels

Posted by abuzzwitz in vacationtravelingTraveltheaterrestaurantsrecreationparentsleisureGold Country Familiesfamiliesentertainmente-zineCommunityBed and Breakfast

abuzzwitz

Webster's College dictionary's describes travel as: To go from one place to another, as by car, train, plane, or ship; a journey.  Currently that journey is going to be expensive with fuel at new all time levels.  Pessimist or optimist; is that gas tank half-empty or half full?  As I see it, one of two things is going to happen: 1) People are going to stay home; or 2) The travel industry is going to offer enticing discounts to draw customers to their destinations.  I don't know about you, but option "2" sounds a whole lot better then pulling garden weeds, mowing the lawn, and chemically attacking and scrubbing multi-colored allege from my opaquely winterized pool!

May is noted as the official beginning of travel season, and I was surprised to learn that May was full of travel related firsts.  The first passenger railroad service in the US began in 1830, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.  How about the first US Post Card issued in 1873, and New York's pride and joy, the Brooklyn Bridge, opened to traffic in 1883.  Then there was the first transatlantic flight in 1919, followed by the Golden Gate Bridge opening to the public in 1937.  Let's not forget the first tubeless tire introduced 1947; and we celebrated the first manned space flight in 1961...now that's a lot of travel related firsts!  Moreover, I'm sure I'm not the first to say shop for deals on travel and use your economic stimulus tax dollars to enjoy domestic travel opportunities to ensure those monies aren't sent out of the country purchasing foreign manufactured goods.

There are also a few wonderful holidays to celebrate in May:  May Day, Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day, National Maritime Day, and Memorial Day.  However, in my zeal to find May information, I came across a bizarre calendar made by a couple high school students.  Allow me to share a few of their "newly" created American holidays...I'm sure some of you can relate and would love to have reason to celebrate:  "International Tuba Day"; "No Socks Day"; "National Hoagie Day"; "Worthless Penny Day"; "National Waitresses/Waiters Day"; "Eat What You Want ‘Cause Calories Don't Count Day", and my favorite, "Visit Your Unknown Relatives Day."  Therefore, remember your mothers, nautical explorers/entrepreneurs, and celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us.  Rasp the rust off the ol' BBQ then invite a few friends over to commemorate your own special life's accomplishments holiday..."All About Me Day."  (Hint: just don't tell your guests what you're celebrating until they walk through the door with their bounty of fruits, cheeses, and salads...it's much more embarrassing and difficult to leave immediately carrying a full bowl.)

This month's edition of Gold Country Families E-Magazine features some interesting domestic travel destinations, a wonderful cruise, additional local theater productions, and a few more humorous or touching reader's stories.  We wish everyone a magnificent May.

Ciao, (Italian Good-Bye)

Patrick Witz
Writer/Editor/Publisher/Photographer
Gold Country Families E-Magazine
A FREE Internet Travel, Entertainment, & Leisure Magazine
editor@goldcountryfamilies.com

Mar 01
2008

March Madness

Posted by abuzzwitz in vacationsTravelrecreationparentsleisuregrandparentsfamily

abuzzwitz
March is a fascinating month, there's so much to celebrate besides
fluffy pink bunnies, green Leprechauns and religious observances.
Not to take the importance away from the religious aspects, or for
that matter the chocolates bunnies, marshmallow Peeps, four leaf
clovers, and green beer, but I found out that this is also a special
month to celebrate America's culture as we know it today.

While doing some quick research about March, I found a substantial
amount of information to support additional potential holidays. We
as American's should value these potential March holidays equal to
the existing holidays that tout fluffy stuffed bunnies in flowery
baskets, and the donning of green hats while dancing an inebriated
jig.

My research found that Congress authorized the creation of
Yellowstone National Park March 01, 1872, and that George Washington
and Congress created the US Navy, March 27, 1794. These potential
holidays would be a little harder to celebrate and sell to kids, but
I feel each are substantially more important than Peter Rabbit and
Leprechauns. And how is it that we don't have a day of recognition
for one of the most important discoveries in American history that is
a used daily by millions... Alexander Graham Bell's patent on March 7
that was first successfully used three days later on March 10,
1876...the telephone. Where is Telephone Day, it should be ringing
in not only as just an American holiday, but as a world holiday as
well.

Then there's that cookie celebratory day of when the Girl Scouts of
America organization was founded, March 12, 1912...now THAT's a holiday
where we should be wearing green and eating artery-clogging cookies.
Maybe we should remember March 18, 1931 when Schick Inc. marketed the
first electric razor...na-a-a...today's scrubby unshaven look might trump
that. But wait, there's more. We missed this possible holiday;
Americans could celebrate by dressing-up like your favorite actor or
actress Hollywood red-carpet style to commemorate the first movie
show shown to an audience on March 22, 1895. Hey, regardless of all
the rest, the one that brings light to this potential holiday subject
is the non-celebrated Wabash, Indiana first...the first town to be
illuminated by electric lights, March 31, 1880. So tell me, how did
all these wonderful holiday ideas escape our attention or the Unions
for that matter?

So be honest with yourself deep down inside, wouldn't you rather be
celebrating all those American cultural holiday's verses some huge
scary bunny hopping around delivering smelly dyed eggs that nobody
likes to eat after the color seeped through the cracked shells; or
creepy little green men who make shoes even though they could buy the
Nike Corporation with a fraction of their horded gold? Regardless of
the American cultural significances of what happen in March, I'm
still trying to figure out how Easter's religious observances morphed
into commercialized chocolate bunnies, dyed eggs, flowery baskets,
and wearing new pretty dresses (could you tell I have daughters), go
figure!

It's understood that egg toting rabbits and little green men dwell in
childhood imaginations, but there are adventurous real places in this
world to visit that would challenge the average American adult's
imagination. This month's edition of Gold Country Families E-
Magazine will do just that; allow us to travel beyond our boarders to
catch a glimpse of some true travel adventures. We will be back
exploring our own American backyard next month. Enjoy!

Happy St. Patty's Day and Happy Easter,

Patrick Witz
Editor/Publisher
Gold Country Families E-Magazine
A FREE Internet Travel, Entertainment, & Leisure Magazine
editor@goldcountryfamilies.com
http://www.goldcountryfamilies.com/