Having a chair that rocks is a welcome addition to almost any home. Rocking chairs can help relax and soothe adults, calm babies and can become a beautiful heirloom to hand down through generations over time. If you are currently looking for a rocking chair for your home, you may have noticed that there are two popular types of rockers available: traditional rocking chairs, usually made from wood, and glider rockers. Each of these models has certain advantages and disadvantages.

One advantage of the traditional rocking chair is that it for many people it is what a rocking chair should look like. They are often beautifully handcrafted from wood, and have no mechanical parts that will wear down over the years. Since they have no springs or hinges, traditional rocking chairs are also very quiet to use. However, they can at times pose a hazard to small children, pets and toes that may be accidentally pinched while the rocker is in motion.

Glider rockers operate using mechanical slides. Some people actually prefer the motion of a glider rocker to a traditional rocking chair. Also, some people find that wooden rocking chairs can be hard and uncomfortable, and many glider rockers are upholstered and quite cozy to sit in. A downside of gliders is that there are parts that can wear down and begin to creak over time. If you have a baby who you are trying to get to sleep, for example, you certainly do not want a squeaky chair when you are trying to rock the infant to sleep.

However, many of the disadvantages of both rocking chairs and gliders can be easily overcome. For example, if you find a wooden rocking chair to be too hard, try using a cushion to pad the rocker. Similarly, if your glider has started squeaking, a little oil can do wonders to help it stop squeaking. In the end, the decision may come down to aesthetics and personal preference, with both styles being a wonderful addition to almost any home.

Source by M. M. Day

The following is a list of Valentine’s Day-inspired events taking place starting on the 13th Feb in Chico and Oroville.

On Friday 13th, be at Omega Nu’s Valentine Bunco in Oroville.

Here, Omega Nu of Oroville will host its annual Valentine Bunco. Tickets are $15 for the games that will start at 7 p.m. at Oroville Sports Club, 2600 Oro Dam Blvd. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. There will be prizes and an opportunity to win a hind quarter of beef.

To make reservations, call Laurie Simpson, 533-0921.

On February 13, be ready for puppy love and kitten kisses in Chico.

The eighth annual Puppy Love and Kitten Kisses Valentine’s dinner is on Feb. 13 and this is a major fundraiser for Butte Humane Society. “It’s Only Superstition” is the theme and participants should wear lucky charms. There will be door prizes, raffles, silent and various live auctions, including a dessert auction and an auction for weekend getaways. The Mahoneys will provide musical entertainment. The evening, to be at Chico Masonic Family Center, 1110 W. East Ave., will start at 6 p.m. A choice of tri-tip or pasta primavera is offered for dinner, along with Italian side dishes. Tickets are $60 purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Interested? Need further information? Contact the shelter at 894-9066 ext. 4

On February 14 – the big night – make sure you’re at Oroville Rotary’s Roundup.

On Valentine’s night, Oroville Rotary will host its 23rd annual Rotary Roundup on Feb. 14 at Municipal Auditorium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with a silent auction. A Cattlemen’s Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and music by Cottonwood will start at 8 p.m. Tickets purchased in advance are $25 per person and available at Tri Counties Bank and Butte Community Bank in Oroville or through any noon club Oroville Rotarian. This is the club’s largest fundraiser and proceeds will be used to fund its community projects.

Of course, you don’t want to miss the boys and girls club’s Valentine Gala in Chico.

It’s a 10th annual Valentine’s Gala held to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the North Valley will take place Feb. 14 in Bell Memorial Union at Chico State University. The evening will offer dining, entertainment by the Wildcat Jazz Ensemble, dancing to the music of disc jockey Greg Scott and several auctions. Tickets are $85 and the deadline to purchase them is Friday.

A silent auction will showcase a variety of products and services, from diamonds to spa packages to sport game tickets and sailing trips. A live auction will feature such items as a sport fishing trip to Mexico and a Hawaiian getaway, learning how to blow glass and hosting a party in a wine cave.

With proceeds from the Gala and other private fundraising, the Boys & Girls Club plans to continue the development of its arts initiative, as well as other educational programs that benefit more than 2,500 youth ages six to 18 after school at eight sites in Chico, Paradise, Magalia and Oroville.

To reserve seating, contact Debbie LaPlant Moseley at 899-0335 ext. 210

Then there’s the Historical Society’s Valentine’s Day Tea in Oroville.

Butte County Historical Society will have its first Valentine’s Day Tea on Feb. 14 at two times, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tea will be served with scones, jellies, tea sandwiches and desserts. Shelly Blanchei of T. Tea Bar Fusion Cafe will speak at both seatings. Historical clothes from the society’s vaults will be displayed during the event. Each 90-minute seating is limited to 48 people, at the Ehmann Home, 1480 Lincoln. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope with a check payable to BCHS, P.O. Box 2195, Oroville, CA 95965.

For information, contact Pat Pascale at 589-2591.

Don’t fancy that? Why not attend the Women’s Club’s Valentine Dance in Chico?

Chico Women’s Club will host a Valentine Dance with open mic session for all ages Feb. 14. Participants may bring their favorite CDs and dress up. Between open mic sessions, people may read their favorite love poem or story. The club will offer champagne, sparkling juice and desserts. Tickets are $5-$10 per person. Proceeds will help pay for chairs recently purchased by the club.

If that’s not for you, there’s the Sustainability Ball in Chico.

The third annual Sustainability Ball will be held Feb. 14 at the Park Tower Pavilion, 2040 Park Ave. The theme of this year’s event is “Love the Earth Too,” and will include a vegetarian four-course meal, cooked and served by students with guest chef David Guzzetti. There will be a silent auction, a no-host bar, and performances by the new musical duo, MaMuse and Electric Circus. Tickets are $20 and available at Lyon’s Books until Feb. 13. Limited tickets will be available at the door. A table of eight seats comes with a two free bottles of wine for $160. The fundraiser supports the students at Chico State and Butte College in their local and regional sustainability efforts.

Not for you? Revisit My Funny Valentine! at Chico State University

A Valentine’s Day fundraiser, My Funny Valentine!, for the Chico State Music Department will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Harlen Adams Theatre on campus. Chico State’s Rocky Winslow will perform his new composition, “She’s Just Dreaming,” as well as other Valentine’s favorites including “You Stepped Out of a Dream,” “The Very Thought of You,” and “My FoolishHeart.” He’ll be joined by Grant Levin, Greg D’Augelli, Dan Kinkle and other guest artists. Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $6 for students and children. Add $2 at the door.

If you’d rather hear some beautiful voices on Valentine’s Day, why not attend one of the singing Valentine services?

The Bidwell Generals, Chico Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, will perform Singing Valentines on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. They will go to businesses, homes, restaurants wherever a buyer wants them to perform. They will do two love songs and present a flower arrangement or candy. The cost is $40.

For details and to make a reservation, call 342-6973.

Instead you may prefer the sounds of the Foothills Chorus.

Feb. 13 and 14, barbershop quartets will fan out across Butte County to deliver “Singing Valentines” to hundreds of sweethearts in offices, restaurants, schools, and homes. Quartets belong to the Sound of the Foothills Chorus from Paradise, a chapter of the 34,000-member Barbershop Harmony Society, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. A typical Singing Valentine will include delivery of two songs, sung in barbershop harmony, by four men in tuxedos. They’ll also include a small gift and a personalized card with the sender’s sentiments for $40.

Source by Jen Wiss-Carline

While you may never cruise down Sunset Boulevard, convertible top down and a small purse dog at your side, or shop the exclusive shops along Rodeo Drive, maybe you can spa like a celebrity. In Tinsel Town where the median age is 23 and there are more plastic surgeons than you can shake a stick at, looking beautiful and being pampered is a serious business. Check out these top L.A. day spas:

The “Pink Lady,” or the Beverly Hills Hotel, is a Hollywood icon. Imagine pampering yourself like a star from yesteryear. The luxurious spa is favored by the older Beverly Hills crowd, and treatments include a 60-minute Swedish massage for $145 or really indulge with their “After Shopping Paradise,” a 70-minute reflexology treatment for tired feet and a spectacular pedicure for $180.

If life (or vacation) in the fast lane feels stale, put the producer on hold and go ClubMud at the Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa in Corona. Their mud treatments of red clay are beneficial for absorbing impurities, tightening and revitalizing skin. After covering themselves with mud, guests relax in the sun or the special drying chamber, followed by a cleansing shower. Then guests can head to The Grotto for an intense body moisturizing treatment. A day-long getaway may also include a massage Under the Oaks or a dip in the mineral essential baths that made Glen Ivy famous.

For Yugoslavian-born skin expert Olga Lorencin and renowned restaurateur Christine Splichal, a French native, the concept and creation of Kinara, a skin care clinic, day spa, cafe and boutique, came naturally. The two have set new standards for the ideal spa experience. Kinara, meaning “on the edge,” opened its doors 2002 in West Hollywood to rave reviews. Here exotic woods mix with warm earth tones. The spa offers a variety of facials, a milk bath, and body scrubs using Hawaiian brown sugar. A 50-minute Swedish massage runs $120.

For a little duo time, consider La Petite Retreat Day Spa, one of few spas in L.A. that offers facials and massage as same-room couple’s treatments. Located on Larchmont Boulevard in West Los Angeles near Hollywood’s Paramount Studios, La Petite Retreat is 2,000-square-feet of paradise. Their 60-minute Jade Stone Couples Massage is $150 each.

Celebrity skin care specialist Ole Henriksen, whose client list includes Charlize Theron and Renee Zellweger, is famous for his elaborate facials and body treatments. Located on West Sunset Boulevard, Ole’s nature-based products are used in conjunction with state-of-the-art equipment. If you can’t afford the more expensive treatments, a one-hour Swedish massage runs only $90.

Henriksen’s treatments can also be enjoyed at the One Spa at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, a 7,000-square-foot spa right on the beach. Their signature treatments include the Beach Buff, a Swedish massage and scrub and buff with a sea mineral body scrub. The treatment concludes with a Tropical Train Rince, living the skin smooth and silky.

Although it features some beachfront real estate, the Spa at La Meirgot at the La Merigot Beach Hotel also features relatively affordable spa treatments. Aromatherapy essences greet guests as they enter the doors of this lovely spa where both the hour-long Aromatherapy Massage and Classic European Facial run $105.

For the ultimate experience in luxury, call ahead to make your reservation at the Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Spa to ensure your treatment at one of the most elegant spas in L.A. Created exclusively for Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, the Cleopatra milk and honey treatment cocoons guests in a milk and honey wrap that leaves the skin feeling, well, like baby skin. Their 60-minute California cabana massage is performed in a private poolside cabana for $165. The classic Swedish massage is offered for 60 minutes at $155.

Source by Susan Gans

I recently completed a 22 day mission with a local charity working with children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Vietnam. I was asked to join their international team of health care professionals as videographer for a 30 minute documentary our local community TV station approved several months earlier. I recently just began videotaping my speeches to perfect them and thought capturing stories on videos would make me a stronger speaker. Upon our early morning 3 am arrival and a short sleep, we all met in the lunch room as most of us have never met before. After a brief update on our upcoming 2 week mission, our team lead Laverne Bissky asked each of us to give a 3 to 5 minute talk of why we are here, what we expect to accomplish and anything else that comes to mind. I went last as I was filming. This allowed me to listen to everyone’s story first. That’s when I realized, despite our differing backgrounds, we are all equal and together here for 1 cause, that being the children. I came to capture a story but what began to unfold before me were real life examples of leadership lessons. Our first gathering gave me my first lesson.

Lesson #1 – “There is no I in TEAM”

In those introductions, we were also asked to explain what we believe our role or at least what we think our role will be. Most had very simple short descriptors which made it very easy to put the pieces of this mission puzzle together, at least for me as I saw our team unfold and link together before me.

Lesson #2 – “Keep job descriptions simple; like 2 or 3 lines”

In the coming days as we visited different hospitals, met the parents and their children in our revolving workshops on the floor mats in the hospitals, we all started to help each other even in the simplest of ways. As I filmed behind the camera I never saw anyone of our team stay put, simply because that wasn’t in my job description. Everyone contributed whenever needed without being asked. I too, despite holding a running camera, also lent a hand by passing something to our workshop leads. That’s when I fully understood, we aren’t working for ourselves but the kids attending aged anywhere from 9 months to their mid teens.

Lesson #3 – “Don’t limit your contribution to your 2 or 3 line job description”

All the while this was happening, our team lead Laverne, founder, executive director and parent expert never stayed at the head table for long. She didn’t even stay in the limelight either as I caught many profiles videotaping where she was intermixed with the parents, watching and listening from the back, as if she too was there for the informational sessions to take some cerebral palsy knowledge back home with her child.

Lesson #4 – “Leaders aren’t always in the front”

We were in Vietnam and we relied totally on our team of local gen y translators who spoke very good English. Sometimes I heard 1 English word taking many of their words to translate. I was told that many words have no direct translation, so transcription became the norm. I began to realize that the Vietnamese language is not a simple one to learn. In order to connect I relied heavily on making eye contact for several seconds, then smile and even nod. Sometimes I even gestured to show sincerity and friendship. Where appropriate I even relied on a handshake.

Lesson #5 – “Don’t underestimate the power of a smile, eye contact or a handshake”

Once on the street during our breaks and sightseeing, we were obviously the visiting foreigners. Whether passing the shop owners looking to entice us to enter or a street vendor hoping to sell us an albeit simple trinket, I always felt I was being treated with respect and sincerity. It’s the kind of feeling I seldom recall experiencing back home in the west. It didn’t matter whether the item was only a dollar or 50 dollars. It didn’t take me long to feel so special that I just wanted to buy most anything from the vendors.

Lesson #6 – “Make your customer feel special”

Many times throughout our travelling mission workshops from behind the video camera, I would capture Laverne having direct one-on-one discussions with our team members. Sometimes I would capture at a distance so could only observe facial expressions and body language. Other times it was up close and I could hear the discussion. Sometimes it was business about our educational workshop and other times it was shear pleasure about a funny incident that we may have encountered.

Lesson #7 – “Get to know your team members”

As Laverne has spent extended periods in Vietnam before, she had a repertoire of cool sights for us to see. When a transition or break was in order, we did some sightseeing either in the evening or while travelling to our next destination. During our travelling, we stopped for breaks at roadside markets to try some local fruit or snack. That gave us a chance to get to know each other better on a social basis, since most of us have just met here on this mission for the first time. We even took turns picking a restaurant each evening to eat at. For better or worse, even if one didn’t work out, we still took it in good humor and used the incident to build a good team relationship.

Lesson #8 – “Leader aren’t afraid to throw in some fun”

Planning this mission was done by Laverne and probably 1+ year in advance. The ease and smoothness at which our 22 day mission ran was remarkable, in my observation. I doubt Laverne, the sole organizer would totally agree that it just came together on its own. Planning the logistics for a group of 14, travelling from 13 time zones away, 5 cities, 5 hotels, team members from 3 other countries, numerous cabs, chartered coach, flying, visiting an orphanage and several social stops to visit local friends made from past missions, is no small feat. No doubt, having such a close relationship with ones’ own planning, one can’t help but feel it is perfect and can’t be optimized or tweaked. But last minute adjustments had to be made, at no great loss either to the benefit of the mission as a whole or to accommodate individual team members.

Lesson #9 – “Plans are just plans – Allow your team member to adjust their scope”

Most days we had a quick 30 minute debrief meeting of the days workshop activities. These would usually be back at our hotel where we stayed. We would all meet in the breakfast room which was quiet as we had it all to ourselves, order a drink or snack then each take 2-3 minutes to give our observations of the days progress, good, bad, lessons learned or otherwise. Some days Laverne would chair but several times Terry (the other Terry) would chair these debrief meetings. This would give Laverne a chance to not only listen but also focus more on the overall mission content, strategy, execution and progress.

Lesson #10 – “Good leaders don’t lead alone”

With Laverne having many things to execute and follow, she didn’t always lead our daily round table of “lessons learned” and “what worked and what didn’t”. That’s where others of our team also pitched in. This gave others a chance to “drive the bus”. You wouldn’t want the same person do all the leading, as they also need a “seat in the audience” to reflect on the day, and ask questions. I think it also encourages the rest of the team to sometimes act as if they lead. Actually, when our group sessions broke out into groups, they did lead their own groups.

Lesson #11 – “Good leaders are good followers also”

Part of our hospital workshop program was breaking up into groups of 3 or 4 and visiting a home where there resided a child with cerebral palsy. We would spend about an hour with the family and through the use of an interpreter, we would ask the family what challenges they had administering the special care their child required. Each group had 1 heath care expert who would observe whether any special aids or exercises would help the child. Sometimes we could only get into these places by each riding on the back of a motorbike as the rural streets were sometimes concrete paths only 6 feet wide. Being March meant day temperatures in the mid to high 30’s centigrade. On one such home visit one of our health experts spotted a small quaint cafe large enough to accommodate all of us and said, “Let’s have our debrief here over a cool drink.” As he proceeded, more of us began to follow. It was actually a very good idea because we still had a 1 hour bus ride back to our hotel and by then, much of what each group observed in their home visit may not have come out in our hotel debrief, most of us succumbing to fatigue of a long day and the heat.

Lesson #12 – “If a team member has an idea to execute, let them run with it”

Sometimes, ideas on the spur of the moment are good, as one can see what is transpiring and what may need to be done or implemented. It also gives your entire team a chance to mold and shape you project. If it doesn’t fully work out, it will still be good to note that and why, at your daily recap of “lessons learned”. Many ideas may be first-born and need to be tested somewhere and sometime. There is no better a time than the present.

I came to capture a story and learn about videography. I leave having the best seat in the house to observe first hand leadership lessons. For me, this trip to Vietnam was definitely no ordinary journey.

You should also watch my short video tribute to our team and our amazing experience – Vietnam is No Ordinary Journey

Source by Terry D Kozlyk

Primal bonding is the process of relating to other individuals in a manner that resembles the normal human psychological process of bonding and trust.

It normally occurs in normal relationships with other humans in the course of normal communication, and through the process of relating naturally to others. And it is something that although rarely thought about or discussed, it is the sometimes-intangible element in human communication that, when operating normally, inspires trust.

You see, in my opinion, the normal state of human communication and credibility is that of a state of trust. Only when trust is violated, or when something occurs that creates a cognitive dissonant situation that makes trust feel shaky, does trust breakdown.

And when we as humans experience a state of lack of trust, for example, once we discover we have been lied to or deceived, we mentally earmark the feelings or experiences that led to the loss of trust, and begin to evaluate future communication or relationships through the lens of the first experience in which we lost trust. And each future instance of a lack of trust adds to our collective knowledge of what a lack of trust looks like. So over time, we accumulate a bank of feelings and experiences through which we look at all future interactions to determine if we should trust or not trust.

Because it is a process that resembles the normal level or accumulation of trust, when we have experiences that erode trust, the level of primal bonding in our relationships experiences deterioration. So if we look at the level of trust we have with someone, we can see the level of primal bonding by looking at the level of trust. If trust is high in a relationship, we have likely experienced factors that increase primal bonding, while not experienced as many factors that erode trust.

So, how is primal bonding relevant to us?

Once we know what it is, and we see what erodes it, now we can work towards processes that increase it. Just because it is a process that normally occurs in the natural process of building relationship and trust with someone, if we identify the elements of it, we can then attempt to emulate the process in our relationships, and increase the bonds of trust and credibility through duplicating the trust-based processes that normally occur in natural relationships.

This means that we can use the elements of primal bonding to improve our relationships, whether those relationships are personal, familial, business, etc., in nature.

Source by Sean Mize

As an early “Baby Boomer” ie, one of those human beings born in the period after World War II and until the early 1960s, I’ve been giving a lot of thought during the last few years about how much longer I will work and what I’ll do after I retire. It could be a dilemma; on the one hand, after 46 years at work, I’ve had enough working for an employer 8am to 5pm every day except Saturday and Sunday. On the other hand, I’m in good health and don’t want to give work away just to spend the remainder of my days pottering about in the garden. So what’s the solution?

First, I’ve changed my mind about the idea of retirement. To me retirement is a dirty word. It means leaving work and hanging around waiting to die. After all, isn’t that what people do? They leave work and after a few years pottering about, die. The certainty of death is very good at creating focus. It’s not that we morbidly focus on it all the time, but that we know it’s getting closer and need to make the most of what time we have left. I’m thinking more and more each day of “refocusing” instead of “retiring”.

My idea in refocusing is to give my employer the flick and then do something I enjoy that will keep me active, alert, and perhaps bring in some supplementary income. Rather than refocus on one activity, which is rather like leaving one job for another, I’m working on diversifying my activities. I believe a balance of perhaps charity work – giving back something to society, running a small Internet business, and some short-term, part-time work will suit me. I want to choose how much time I devote to anything I do.

If you are a Baby Boomer like me, why not think about refocusing instead of retiring?

Here are some suggestions for a balanced refocusing:

Do some gardening: Gardening can be relaxing if you enjoy being outdoors. It also gives a sense of pleasure and achievement seeing a prize rose blossom into a beautiful work of art, sculpted by the hands of an unknown master designer. Your house will look special as your efforts start to pay off. Choose a time of day that is suitable to you to avoid excessive heat or cold, sunburn or being run over by peak hour traffic. Maybe start off with half hour per day and increase it if you want to.

Work for a charity: Find a charitable organisation that suits you and volunteer to deliver books to older people, deliver Meals on Wheels, do some menial tasks about the houses of the elderly, or find someone who’d like you to read to them once or twice per week. This will get you out of your house, away from your spouse (if you have one), and enable you to feel good about helping someone who needs and appreciates your help. Remember that one day you may need someone to help you.

Do some part-time paid work: This need not be in the area in which you have spent your life’s work. If you were a rocket scientist, get a job as a doorman at a hotel or club, you’ll meet hundreds of interesting people and perhaps enjoy the socialisation. If you were a taxi driver, perhaps get a job registering vehicles for a car dealer on a commission basis. Whatever you do, find something you enjoy and do as many or as few hours as you wish or your employer will allow. My Uncle was almost 80 and washed dishes at a Chinese cafe a couple of lunch times per week. A friend is in his mid-sixties and does occasional driving jobs for visiting celebrities. Another in his sixties works one day per week taking bets for a bookmaker.

Work from home: There are literally thousands of jobs you can do from home including earning money on the Internet as an affiliate, drop-shipper or eBay seller. You could run a book exchange or look after the homes of people who are on holidays or out of town. You could walk someone’s dog, water their plants, feed their animals, pick up their dry cleaning. There are really endless opportunities to make money. And if you are doing it more to keep active than to put food on your table, it can be fun.

Research a topic of interest: If you have always wanted to know something about the Norwegian pink-tailed swan, do some research and perhaps put your findings into an ebook for sale on the Internet. Or just enjoy the research and keep your knowledge to yourself.

Take a trip: Among all of your other activities, take time to take a trip somewhere you have always wanted to visit. You don’t have to go for two years, you can go for a few weeks and go more often. Travel provides a good break from your routine and is good for self renewal if you are feeling as if you are in a rut.

Do nothing: That’s right, do nothing for at least part of your week. Sit in a chair and listen to some nice music. Dream some pleasant dreams, read a good book, watch a television show, or simply doze off and have a good rest. Or perhaps have a half bottle of red wine and then doze off, it will be much easier!

Whatever you do, don’t retire and sit around waiting for the Grim Reaper. The more you wait, the quicker he will arrive. Make a decision now to refocus and plan to do a range of tasks that will keep you physically well, mentally healthy, and if possible, add to your income. For all we know, we only have one life … don’t waste a single minute of it.

Make every minute count!

Copyright 2005 Robin Henry

Source by Robin Henry

Yesterday while driving to the local park to take my morning run, I was listening to one of our very popular radio stations here in our delightful city and during the news break for the station, I heard this story “woman who suspected her husband of cheating, found out that not only was he cheating, but he had gotten married at Disney world (no less) and posted his new pictures of his lovely bride on his Facebook page for all too see”, the reporter goes on to say ” the lovely new couple shared their wedding photos like any of us would for friends and family who couldn’t attend the ceremony, to allow them to share in their most special day”. WTF! Ahhhh…romance and wedded bliss. A dream wedding in fairytale heaven, who could ask for anything more? I’m getting teary eyed just thinking about it. If only the other wife could have been invited.

A few months ago, I was in the beauty salon getting my gray colored out (again), and chatting with the ladies in the nearby styling chairs and we were all listening to a middle aged woman who was telling us that she had recently married for the first time. A sweet story of dating, love and romance. She said she dated her military beau for quite some time before they tied the knot. She started off sounding like the honeymoon phase was still in full effect. Within 20 minutes and after some probing questions from yours truly, she shared that she felt “something wasn’t quite right” in her marriage and began to act on her woman’s intuition. She started with the computers in her home. One day, while doing her “due diligence” she searched through the history of recent sites and found Facebook and another dating site, neither of which, she was a member of nor had she searched for them. They had no children so she felt this was “odd”. Continuing on, she logged onto Facebook and being the true wife that she is, she tried several codes and finally found the one that would open his account. Much to her surprise, she confirmed that her husband was on that site and had several female friends on his page. Not really a big deal but then she noticed that his profile said “single” and seeking “women and friends”. Without much delay, she continued her hunt for information, on to the dating site and again cracked the code for the password and learned that her Country serving, fatigue wearing, good husband was fully engaged in something that had nothing to do with searching for WMD’s! He had another life of dating and soliciting women while at work and at home in her absence. I won’t go into detail here about what she said happened but suffice to say, it wasn’t pretty.

I have my own personal details of internet dating that I have reserved for our upcoming book in humorous, sad and cynical detail. The trials and tribulations of trying to find love in cyberspace is an exercise in character building to put it mildly. Still, I want to share a few pros and cons: The “pros” of internet dating are that it provides an easy relaxed way of meeting people, you can control how much they invade your life, you can ask lots of questions, create and imaginary you and make yourself seem pretty incredible. Its cheap, so some men have said “its a way to get to know someone without always having to pay for dinner and drinks, plus you get to check out many ladies at once”. And ladies, the same applies to you! Also, you can post pictures of yourself that may or may not look like you today or even look like you ten years ago and that person who is starting to adore you will never be the wiser. That is unless and until the big “can I take you on a date?” question is finally posed, then you have to start going to the gym to work off that belly, start popping those diet pills, picking up the Just for Men or Clairol coloring kits, or buying up the face creams to get rid of those lines and dark spots that don’t show in your picture. It is at this point where you may have to disclose to your potential date that you don’t look “exactly like your picture” or “you’ve gained a few pounds over the last few months”. Or what will happen is when you finally see them at the cafe or coffee shop, you find yourself stunned, feeling “bamboozled and led astray” and searching for words that will help you escape, like “I just got a call my uncle is in the hospital dying of cancer and I have to head to the airport right now!”. This is only part of the “cons”.

Men and women I have spoken to, have much to say about their own nightmares and surprises about internet and social network dating and they don’t sound nothing like the “blissful” married stories on that other dating site (eHarmony). We divulge more “cons” and stories in “Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man?”, but in the interim, ladies and gentlemen, keep your partners close and those computers and passwords closer!

Not to be misled, I am certain there were other sides to both of the above stories, however this version is what was shared with me. This is the only version I can attest to first hand. Don’t shoot the messenger! I also am fully aware that cheating whether on cyberspace or at the office, occurs with men and women. I am equally sure that one can find love on the internet. I will write about those people just as soon as I meet them. I just want to do my good deed for this week by sharing these delicious tidbits, and remind everyone, that Internet dating is here to stay and it is in our best interest to take note.

Oh yeah….one more thing for those married or monogamous daters, please remember that the “singles” dating sites are off limits to you! That is of course, unless your spouse is in total agreement and has your passwords so that everyone can be on the same page at the same time. I’m just serious.

Source by Rhonda Frost

After so many sailings on Silversea cruises, I struggled with what to say about our 14-night transatlantic sailing that has not already been said. If you want to read about incredible Silversea service, you could go all the way back to our first sailing on Silver Whisper in 2002. Fast forward to 2009 if you want to read about a memorable birthday dinner at Le Champagne on my birthday during our cruise on Silver Wind in Africa. And if you want to know how we feel about Silver Spirit, we were just on her in 2010 when we sailed from Santiago, Chile, to Acapulco, Mexico. What can we possibly say about Silversea that we have not already said before? But, cruise reviews are snapshots in time. A cruise line or ship can be great one year, and not so great the next. As ships get older, crew members come and go and the dynamics can change. So, when a cruise line like Silversea continues to “get it right” year after year, it’s more than noteworthy, it is historic. And let’s face it: some things just bear repeating.

When we arrived at the pier in Bridgetown, Barbados, to board Silver Spirit, it truly does feel like we are coming home. We see crew members that we remember from past cruises over the years, and many remember our names. Even some of the other guests look familiar and we know we have sailed with them before on Silversea. So, we were not too surprised when Roland, our excellent butler on Silver Shadow last year in China, greeted us when we arrived at our beautiful Silver Suite (1106) this year.

Embarkation is always smooth as glass on Silversea. Why doesn’t every cruise line welcome you onboard with a glass of champagne? I don’t know, do you? Anyone? Well? Just know that Silversea does, and always has. Within five minutes after we stepped on board, we were being escorted to our Silver Suite. Coming “home” could not be any easier.

THE SHIP

Silver Spirit is the newest and largest ship in the Silversea fleet having entered service in 2010. We initially wondered if Silversea was going to able to deliver the same level of service on a ship with 540 guests. Not to worry, Silversea delivers excellent service regardless of the ship. The ship is masterfully designed to not “feel” any larger than their other, smaller ships. Public spaces are roomy and comfortable. The interior decor of the ship reflects an art deco design and features more works of art than other Silversea ships. Silver Spirit is elegant without being ostentatious.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Silversea has always had a reputation for spacious and luxurious accommodations. Even the most modest accommodations on Silversea deserve to be referred to as “suites”. However, the Silver Suite on Silver Spirit raises the bar for great design and comfort. Even though not the largest suites on Silver Spirit, at 742 sq. ft., the Silver Suites are more than twice the size of the basic Verandah Suites.

The 26 Silver Suites on Silver Spirit dominate decks 10 and 11 forward and give occupants the feeling of being on a concierge level of a luxury hotel. Even the Observation Lounge located on Deck 11 forward feels like a private retreat for Silver Suite guests, but of course, it is available to every guest.

Entering the Silver Suite, guests walk down a hallway to the living room where there is a round dining table capable of seating four comfortably. The table appears to accept a leaf making it larger and capable of accommodating more. A very comfortable work desk was soon consumed by my MacBook Pro, iPod and other gadgetry. The desk has four drawers and two large shelves. The only thing lacking is more electrical outlets, a common oversight by ship designers. There is only a single 110 US outlet at the desk. A small desk lamp and direct dial telephone are the only items occupying the desk space.

A mini-fridge/bar/television cabinet sits on the outside wall of the living room with two large sliding glass doors on either side. A sophisticated espresso machine and accoutrement takes up most of the tabletop space on this unit. Not being an espresso drinker, I soon discovered that the machine and tray holding espresso cups fit perfectly into the two shelves of the desk unit. More space for my electronic gear!

Opposite from the dining table is the suite’s large sofa (which also makes into an extra bed), two chairs and a glass-top coffee table. A small end table holds the high-tech Bang & Olufsen CD player/stereo system. A beautiful fresh flower arrangement decorated our coffee table.

Two large sliding wooden doors can be closed to completely isolate the master bedroom from any activity in the living room. This comes in handy for early mornings when I want to work on the computer, have my coffee and watch Fox News while Rickee sleeps in. I say “master” bedroom since the living room can be converted into a bedroom via the sofa bed. The bedroom is spacious, elegant and very well laid out. The comfortable king-sized bed is flanked by two end tables with lamps. A sizable makeup/vanity table with large mirror resides next to the bed and out of traffic areas. Across from the bed is another flat-screen television and storage unit with several shelves hidden behind doors..

Storage is the Silver Suite’s strong suit: the huge walk-in closet is nothing short of amazing and will even have Owner’s Suite occupants envious. You will never have to worry about running out of storage space in the Silver Suite. There are shelves everywhere, drawers and lots of hanging space. A digital safe sits inside of a shelf unit that was a perfect place for all of my camera and video gear, and I have a lot of it.

Everything about the bathroom design is near perfect. We can overlook the clumsy operation of the vessel sinks and just be happy with the fact that there are two of them, not to mention a third in the powder room! A large shower stall lined with rich Italian marble is spacious and features a hand wand sprayer (my favorite) as well as a rainshower head (Rickee’s favorite) mounted in the ceiling. The shower even has a seat! A full-sized Jacuzzi bathtub can be used for a relaxing bubble bath, and it was. We had a choice of Ferragamo, Neutrogena, or Bvlgari bath amenities.

A separate “powder room” with toilet and vessel sink is accessible from the bathroom and the suite’s hallway. Since the powder room is accessible from the hallway, it can be accessed by guests visiting your suite, or others sharing the foldout sofa bed, without invading your private bedroom space.

From the living room, there are two large sliding glass doors leading to a very spacious and well-furnished 118 sq. ft. verandah. Our verandah was outfitted with a reclining lounger, three wicker chairs, a large wicker ottoman and small glass top table, perfect for al fresco breakfast service.

After 14 days and nights in a Silver Suite, I would have to say it would easily rate a 5 out of 5 on my rating chart for comfort and design. It has more going for it than virtually any other suite we have enjoyed. In fact, the Silver Suite is so comfortable and spacious that it truly feels like a home-away-from-home.

DINING

Rickee and I are what you might call “seasoned” cruisers. After all, it is our business. We no longer feel it necessary to eat everything in sight when we are on a cruise. In fact, we try to maintain a fairly normal dining routine, not unlike the one we have at home. There are nights where don’t even go out to dinner, opting to stay in our suite and have a light room service meal. Fortunately, that is possible on Silversea. I can call Roland, our butler, at 7:00pm or so and order a Chicken Caesar Salad (one of my favorites) and a bowl of soup and Rickee might get an order of Asian Spring Rolls, and a salad, and that’s it! I know it sounds boring, but it’s what we like and Silversea makes it possible.

Our breakfast usually consists of Roland bringing me hot water for my coffee and Rickee getting extra sleep in lieu of food. While most guests are enjoying everything La Terrazza’s amazing breakfast buffet has to offer, we are in our suite, in our pajamas. On port days, since we have to get up early for an excursion, we will go to La Terrazza and have eggs made-to-order, English bacon and Rickee likes pancakes. She also loves fresh fruit, and it is plentiful at La Terrazza. I have to rush past the mountains of breads and pastries to appease the low-carb Master I reluctantly serve. We always have breakfast in The Restaurant on disembarkation day. It is our tradition, and we aren’t going to change it.

For lunch, we usually go to La Terrazza and Rickee often enjoys nothing more than the excellent selection of salads. I tend to spend some quality time at the meat stations with special attention given to the Oriental dish of the day. Of course, they have everything that anyone could want on their beautiful buffet: a carving station that changes to a new roasted meat every day; fresh, made-to-order pasta station; and yes, the mountain ‘o bread… my evil temptress.

THE RESTAURANT

The Restaurant is the traditional “cruise ship” dining venue on Silversea ships. However, the ‘traditional’ term ends with the practice of providing three meals per day with lunch and dinner menus changing daily. The Restaurant on Silver Spirit has a very inviting decor and offers a lot of seating options for two, for those times when you want a little personal space. Guests can dine whenever and with whomever they wish (within the posted service hours) and no reservations are required.

The majority of guests bypass The Restaurant at breakfast and lunch, opting for the enticing choices offered at La Terrazza and the convenience of buffet-style dining. Plus, dining out on deck is a powerful draw when the weather is nice. So, if you prefer dining in quiet solitude, check out The Restaurant during these times. Service in The Restaurant, like all Silversea dining venues, is crisp and efficient. A complimentary red or white wine is offered with lunch or dinner. If the one offered is not to your liking, the wine steward will gladly try to find another to your liking. Rickee and I like a semi-sweet Riesling, and after day one, the wine stewards on board knew exactly what to pour for us. Now that’s Silversea!

The lunch and dinner menus change daily with a focus on contemporary, wholesome and regional cuisine. There are vegetarian options, wellness options and an Oriental choice each day for lunch. And, don’t let the menus constrain you. If there is something you like that is not on the menu, just ask. I like fried onion rings with my hamburger, but they are not on the menu. No problem, all I had to do was ask and a plate of hot onion rings magically appeared! One evening, a small group of us wanted an Indian dinner. Again, not a problem. We made the request through our butler, Roland, and he set the whole thing up for us.

Le Champagne is the only Relais & Châteaux restaurant at sea and can be found aboard every ship in the fleet with the exception of Silver Explorer. The menu at Le Champagne continually changes to reflect the voyage destination and provides guests with an enhanced experience of authentic regional flavor. Guests can enjoy complimentary wines or choose from the Connoisseur’s List of rare wines for an additional charge. On Silver Spirit, Le Champagne is an intimate, dark and elegant space on Deck 4 across from Seishin and next to The Restaurant. A floor-to-ceiling wine tower is the centerpiece of Le Champagne’s decor. Certainly, Le Champagne is Silversea’s most elegant and sophisticated alternate dining venue. The dress code in Le Champagne is reflective of the ship’s daily dress code.

Reservations are required. Per guest reservation fee is US$30.

La Terrazza offers guests a selection of Italy’s best cuisine. During the day, La Terrazza is the ship’s breakfast and lunch buffet restaurant. Each evening, it is transformed into an intimate, romantic Italian dining venue. One of our favorites is the fresh, home-made pasta. And, no visit to La Terraza is complete without trying the Antipasto sampler platter. La Terrazza is the expression of Silversea’s distinctive Italian heritage and partnership with Slow Food Promozione. La Terrazza’s dress code is always informal or casual depending on the evening dress code (no shorts or jeans, however), so for those who are looking for a casual alternative on formal nights, La Terrazza offers a delicious refuge.

SEISHIN RESTAURANT

Seishin Restaurant takes its name from the Japanese word for “spirit”. This intimate restaurant aboard Silver Spirit is located on Deck 4 across from Le Champagne and next to The Restaurant. Seishin specializes in Asian fusion cuisine including regional dishes from Japan as well as from China, Thailand, Vietnam and India. The centerpiece at Seishin is the open Sushi preparation station where diners can watch their artful dishes being created by the masterful Sushi chefs. Seishin begins serving dinner each evening at 7:30pm and offers a choice of three set menus.

Seishin Teaser 1 is a 4-dish degustation menu for seafood lovers. Teaser 2 is for those who prefer meat (fowl and beef) over fish. There is also an 8-dish degustation menu that combines seafood and meat choices. All Seishin menus begin with a Sushi sampler platter. However, we were able to make a special request in place of the Sushi platter (a Spicy Tuna Roll for me and California Roll for Rickee). On our sailing, there was a $20 pp reservation fee for Teaser 1 or Teaser 2 and a $30 pp reservation fee for the 8-dish menu.

During days at sea, Seishin offers a complimentary sushi and sashimi bar for lunch. The dress code for dinner is reflective of the ship’s daily dress code but guests can dress informally and dine here on formal night.

STARS SUPPER CLUB

We first dined in STARS in 2010 during our South American sailing on Silver Spirit. Even though I remain confused as to the culinary point of view of STARS, I continue to be impressed with what it delivers. STARS is one of the most unique dining experiences you will find on any cruise ship, or land-based restaurant for that matter. Silversea attempts to re-create the atmosphere of an art deco-inspired big city supper club where jazz musicians and singers entertain diners as they enjoy an elegant meal. To that end, STARS delivers. The menu is a set, multi-course collection of regional and seasonal delicacies to be enjoyed in tapas-style “bites.”

The atmosphere in STARS is understated and elegant, not unlike the rest of Silver Spirit. The jazz duo of Michelle Yap and Seandrea Earls does give STARS a retro supper club feel and provide a show worthy of a visit to STARS even without a meal. Service is crisp, polished and efficient and the food preparation and presentation is without rival. STARS is Silver Spirit’s best-kept culinary secret.

THE GRILL

Formerly referred to as “Hot Rocks Grill”, The Grill may have a new name, but the hot, volcanic stone method of meat preparation remains the same. The Grill is one of most popular alternate dining venues on Silver Spirit. The Grill’s dress code is always casual and meals are served al fresco on decks 9 and 10 poolside (weather permitting). The Grill menu is a meat-lovers paradise. Thick rib-eye steak, filet mignon, veal, pork, lamb, prawns, and salmon are all on the menu.

On our most recent visit to The Grill, the meal begins with a basket of tortilla chips and guacamole dip. Complimentary wines are offered with dinner (as in every Silversea dining venue), so we chose a Cabernet from Chile. After a salad course, my rib-eye steak was a thick slab of marbled, tender beef served on a 700-degree chunk of volcanic stone. The interactive dining experience allows guests to cook their meat to their desired degree of doneness. The easiest way is to cut the huge steak into smaller chunks to increase the surface area contacting the stone. Once the meat reached medium (my preference), I began moving the pieces to the wooden base where consumption soon followed. All meat dishes are accompanied by a baked potato and a skewer of veggies. A trio of dipping sauces add additional flavor to the meat, which really needs no such help.

I am pleased to report that our most recent visit to The Grill reveals that this popular venue is a good as we remembered.

ROOM SERVICE

As I mentioned earlier, there are many times on a long cruise that Rickee and I will just stay in our suite, relax and enjoy room service. Unlike most cruise lines, room service on Silversea is something to look forward to. It starts with our calling Roland, our butler, to place the order. He arrives with a tray of food and converts the dining table into an elegant table setting with white tablecloth, silver flatware and china. It is just like eating in The Restaurant, but with a TV! In fact, during dining hours, you can order from the Restaurant menu and have items delivered to your suite course-by-course if you desire.

Probably the most popular room service item is breakfast. Silversea provides cards that you can fill out and leave on your suite door the night before so that your breakfast will be brought to your suite the next morning at the requested time. If you forget to fill out the card, just call your butler. We did enjoy room service breakfast one morning and everything was delivered hot, fresh and delicious.

If you wish, each afternoon your butler can deliver a selection of canapes to your suite. You can even order afternoon tea to be served in your suite. Nothing is impossible on a Silversea cruise!

PUBLIC SPACES

As the largest and newest ship in the Silversea fleet, Silver Spirit is capable of catering to 540 guests with a crew of 376. Even when sailing full, the staff-to- guest ratio is one of the highest in the industry. The ship is designed so that even when sailing full, guests will never feel crowded or cramped. Standing in line is an experience that Silversea guests rarely, if ever, have to endure.

THE BAR

One of the most popular meeting spots on Silversea ships is The Bar. Typically located just behind the show lounge on other vessels, The Bar on Silver Spirit departs from this tradition and is positioned amidship, almost as part of the reception area. Decorated in cool blue and gold, The Bar invites guests throughout the day to socialize and enjoy complimentary cocktails, soft drinks or specialty coffees. There is a small dance floor, and musical entertainment is offered throughout the day and evening.

BOUTIQUES

Located forward on Deck 8 are the boutique shops. The collection of duty-free shops offers guests a wide selection of designer jewelry, perfumes, watches, fashions and clothing. Silversea logo items have been expanded and there is also a small selection of sundries in case you left home without sunscreen, or in my case, a toothbrush!

LIBRARY/INTERNET CAFE

The well-stocked Library is located aft on Deck 7, just forward of La Terrazza. There are hundreds of popular hardback titles neatly arranged behind glass doors. Unlike some other ships, you are not required to “check out” a book. Simply choose your book, take it with you and return it when you are finished. What you won’t find in The Library is a DVD selection of movies. Silver Spirit is the only Silversea ship with an interactive movie-on-demand system making DVDs unnecessary. There are more than 190 movies on the menu to be enjoyed in your suite and all are complimentary!

Integrated into The Library is the Internet Cafe. There are seven workstations where guests can log onto the Internet to check email, browse the web, etc. Internet rates are competitive with other cruise lines and can be purchased in discount packages:

• By the minute $.50 cents
• 100 minutes for $45
• 250 minutes for $85
• 1000 minutes for $25

For those on longer cruises, the 1000 minute plan gets the per-minute rate down to $.25 cents, the lowest we have seen on any ship. Internet service can also be accessed via the ship’s Wi-Fi wireless system and we had no problems getting a good connection from our Silver Suite on Deck 11.

FITNESS CENTER AND SPA

The Fitness Center located on Deck 8 is a great place for guests to work off those extra pounds that come from indulging in all the excellent dining on Silver Spirit. There is a very nice selection of treadmills, upright and recumbent bicycles, elliptical trailers, free weights and weight machines. Complimentary classes in yoga, stretching, aerobics and Pilates are conducted by the onboard fitness trainer. A personal trainer is also available for an additional charge.

The 8,300 square-foot Spa is a sanctuary of personal bliss. The nine treatment rooms, indoor/outdoor relaxation areas, and outdoor whirlpool make this the most elaborate spa in the fleet. Guests can indulge in a wide range of therapies including facials, body wraps, massages and even acupuncture.

Men and women’s saunas and steam rooms are are a great way to relax before or after your spa treatment or after a workout. An outdoor relaxation area offers bar service so you can enjoy a complimentary fruit smoothie, champagne or cocktail while soaking in the expansive spa whirlpool.

OBSERVATION LOUNGE

Located all the way forward on Deck 11 is The Observation Lounge. This lounge is just steps away from our Silver Suite (1106) and is a great place to enjoy scenic sea days. Cocktails and canapes are served here each evening before dinner making this a relaxing alternative to The Bar on Deck 5.

PANORAMA LOUNGE

Every Silversea ship features a Panorama Lounge and they are always popular gathering spots for taking in expansive views of the ocean or the day’s port-of-call. Often used for Afternoon Tea or as the evening disco, The Panorama is an excellent place to enjoy a cocktail before or after dinner. On our cruise, team trivia is held each day in Panorama.

SHOW LOUNGE

No day would be complete without at least one visit to the Show Lounge on Deck 5. The large stage is flanked by two movie screens that bring you up-close to the action. The Show Lounge is an excellent venue during the day for Silversea’s extensive lecture series, cooking demonstrations and big-screen movies and, in the evening, production shows and performances by guest entertainers. The seating is comfortable and there really is not a bad seat in the house.

CASINO

The Casino on Deck 8 features roulette, blackjack, poker games and slot machines. Gaming tournaments were held and the casino staff offered gaming lessons several times during the cruise. You have to be 18 years of age to play in the casino.

MEDICAL CENTER

There is a Medical Center onboard staffed with a doctor and nurse who are available 24 hours a day. Some medications are available. Opening hours are printed in the daily Chronicles. Be sure to have travel insurance as a visit to the doctor on a ship is never inexpensive. Rickee developed what she felt was a cold about three days into the cruise and visited the onboard Medical Center where the doctor examined her and prescribed three medications. The total charge was $195.40.

LAUNDERETTES

Even though Silversea offers laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services for a fee, there are also complimentary self-service launderettes located next to the forward staircases on Decks 5-11.

ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT

Shipboard activities and entertainment become even more important when you are at sea for several days in a row. One reason some cruise enthusiasts shy away from transoceanic sailings is the fear that they will be boring. If there is a line between boring and relaxing, Silversea is firmly on the correct side of that line. Cruise Director, Don Fluke, and his team did an excellent job of keeping guests occupied with a variety of activity and entertainment options. Silversea arranged for a gentleman dance host to be onboard to dance with the ladies.

LECTURES

Silversea has always had an excellent enrichment program, and this cruise was no exception. We have really come to enjoy the lecture series over the years and leave every Silversea cruise feeling that we have learned something new. Silversea obviously emphasizes enrichment on sailings with several days at sea. On our sailing, we really enjoyed lectures by Morton Dean, former CBS and ABC correspondent. We especially enjoyed his video clips from his assignments as a Vietnam war correspondent. He and his wife Mary also joined us on our 13-hour tour to Marrakech, Morocco.

In addition to Mr. Dean, there were three other informative lecturers on this voyage. We had previously sailed with Ambassador Adrian Sindall during a Silversea cruise in the Middle East a few years ago. It was nice to see him again and hear his excellent series on diplomacy and Middle East politics. Biologist Dr. George Losey educated us about all things ocean and Dr. Jerry Labriola enlightened us on crime and why criminals do what they do and also analyzed some famous trials.

You probably won’t find this anywhere else on the Internet. Below is the actual prize list and number of points required for each. And of course, this is subject to change at any time.

THE ARTISTS OF SILVERSEA

Silversea has revamped their entertainment program with a series of concert-style productions created exclusively for Silversea by Choozi Entertainment. The Artists of Silversea feature a cast of classically trained vocalists, and the new shows offer a unique variety of musical styles including Motown, opera, pop and rock.

Evening entertainment on Silver Spirit begins in The Show Lounge at 10pm most evenings. The Artists of Silversea, the ship’s cadre of classically trained vocalists, performed four shows during our cruise: “FABBAlicious!” was a tribute to ABBA; “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”, featured the music of Motown; and “Decades”, was a musical extravaganza that brought famous stars to life. One production was held al fresco around the pool: “Voices… The Billy Joel Songbook.” Individual members of the troupe were featured in their own shows. For example, James Martin starred in “Broadway’s Best and More” and the graceful Dian Meechai took the stage in “An Evening With Dian Meechai.” In addition, The Artists of Silversea can be found performing at other venues around the ship. We were entertained by the jazz duo of Michelle Yap and Seandrea Earls while dining at STARS Supper Club. Michelle and Sonny performed poolside during our dinner at The Grill. Other entertainers who appeared in different venues around the ship included: pianist, Alfredo; pianist Eric O’Bach; The Silver Spirit Trio; and DJ Oskar.

Silver Spirit featured several guest entertainers in The Show Lounge. Piano showman Kyle Esplin entertained and international violinist, Ralph Allin impressed all with his prowess on the violin.

MOVIES AND TELEVISION

As mentioned previously, Silversea offers more than 190 movie choices through the ship’s interactive video/TV system. All movies are complimentary and you can even save, pause, rewind, etc. when watching a movie. As for television programming, it mostly involves international news channels. CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, Sky News and BBC are all available. There are also several channels of closed-circuit TV showing various ship-related information such as the view from the bridge camera, shore excursion information, a Wine and Food channel, Spa & Boutique information, as well as a channel where you can view replays of the enrichment lectures.

THE SILVERSEA EXPERIENCE

We met a couple at lunch on the Marrakech tour. Mike is a doctor in Kansas traveling with his wife Patty. Mike is not your “typical” cruise enthusiast. He could not care less about formal nights, trivia, Silversea points or even lectures for that matter. Mark is after one thing and one thing only: relaxation. His idea of the perfect vacation is relaxing by the pool with his favorite book. He does not want to “have to” be anywhere at any particular time. He gets enough of that in his every day work life. I think Mike exemplifies the “Silversea Experience.” On Silversea, you can do pretty much anything you want, or nothing at all, and do it in unequaled style.

Silversea is being greeted with a glass of Champagne at embarkation. Silversea is having a butler that can figure out how to hook up your iPod to the television to play a movie. Silversea is making new friends from around the world. Silversea is 5-star dining, even in the comfort of your suite. Silversea is visiting exciting and exotic destinations. Silversea is having staff that call you by name. Silversea is never having to sign a ticket for a bottle of water, glass of champagne or soft drink. There are other great cruise lines, but there is only one Silversea.

Source by Chris B Dikmen

Okay, I admit it: I’m a keen people-watcher. (Most writers are: we know people love to read about people – not things; not statistics; but people!)

We collect anecdotes and snippets of other lives. If you do the same, you’ll find your readers avidly waiting for your next article.

I love to sit in a sidewalk cafe or at a table in a shopping-mall restaurant, and watch the crowd go by. I’m fascinated by snatches of conversation at the next table or between people who meander past. (I do draw the line at edging my chair closer so I can hear better!) I like watching mini-dramas being played out between warring couples… or friends who are meeting after a long period apart.

When I watch the evening news, what grabs me is how things affect the people in the stories. Who will ever forget the expressions on the faces of the people in the streets of New York on September 11, 2001? We shared their emotions as they watched fireballs engulf buildings, saw desperate people leap from the eightieth floor, or waited for news of loved ones working in the Twin Towers.

But stories don’t have to be dramatic. They just have to strike a chord.

I’ve found my eyes filling at a story of how an old couple have been cheated out of their life savings and are forced to sell the family home.

I’ve laughed at tongue-in-cheek stories about incompetent bank robbers who write ‘Fill this bag with money!’ on the back of an envelope that they shove across the counter with a sack… overlooking the fact that the envelope has their name and home address on the other side.

I’ve rejoiced when a lost child is found and have been saddened by the sight of refugees trudging into the distance in search of safety.

No matter what your message is, show how it affects people and you’ll have a much better chance of the reader staying with you. It’s no accident that weight watching magazines feature two or more weight-loss success stories in every issue. It’s no accident that the most successful car sales ads feature people having fun (or being envied, or being adventurous). We are all interested in other people.

1. Use Anecdotes

I’ve ghost-written a lot of books for business professionals. The topics range from negotiating techniques to presentation skills to real estate sales. In every book I’ve written, I’ve encouraged the person commissioning the book to tell me lots of stories.

• Do they know someone who has lost a sale because they left out one vital part of the sales process?
• Can they tell me about someone who has alienated customers – and why?
• How has a sales person helped someone to find the perfect house for his family?
• How was a real estate sale lost because of what a sales rep did or didn’t do?
• Who got a great deal by using one simple but powerful technique while negotiating a price?

Whenever you write an article or a book, search for powerful anecdotes. People are willing to be convinced by the experiences of others. Subconsciously you’ll have them thinking: Look at the terrific benefits from using this technique!

2. Bring People To Life

To write “powerful” anecdotes you have to be able to make readers believe in the people in your stories. That means you develop those people just as carefully as if you were writing fiction.

Help us to ‘see’ these people. That doesn’t mean you should stop and describe the colour of their hair and eyes and what they’re wearing! The key is the emotions associated with the story you’re telling. If it’s about an irate customer, make sure we can see that customer’s body language; hear the frustration and anger in his voice. If you put us in the mind of the salesperson, let us know what he’s thinking as he faces this customer, and how he either (a) handles the situation well or (b) loses a sale and a customer for life.

This applies no matter what you’re writing about. By showing the emotions and worries of the people in your anecdotes, you’re appealing to the emotions of the reader. Show the reader how to avoid pain or achieve pleasure – and you’ve got a sale!

3. Bring The Setting To Life

Don’t have ‘talking heads’ in your anecdotes. People don’t exist in a vacuum. They have meetings in offices, they run through the rain, they sip coffee in restaurants. They jump in and out of cars, talk while they’re driving, and chat over a few drinks. They play golf or tennis; they go abseiling and scuba diving.

Help us to see the setting when you tell us an anecdote. Don’t just tell us what it looks like – use the five senses. Help us to smell the coffee; feel the pelting rain; hear the audience roar with laughter at a speaker’s wit. All of these things make your story ‘real’ – and help your readers to believe in your story people and in your message.

You’ll sell more books, you’ll attract more people to your website, and you’ll win a growing band of followers…

…just by letting people read about people!

(c) copyright Marg McAlister

Source by Marg McAlister

Once you arrive on Victoria Peak you will notice two major constructions: The Peak Tower and The Peak Galleria. The Peak Tower is where you arrive if you have chosen to travel via the Peak Tram. The Peak Galleria is the building where you arrive if you have chosen to travel via bus (Hong Kong public bus or the green minibuses). Both buildings house a number of different restaurants and shopping facilities.

Enjoy the view – but where do you have the best view?

If you traveled up to The Peak to experience the legendary postcard view over Hong Kong the last thing you want is obstructed or limited visibility. Fortunately, there are a number of different places where you can enjoy a breathtaking and unobstructed view over Hong Kong. Here I have prepared a list for you with the best places to enjoy the view from The Peak to ensure your visit is successful and memorable. Let’s start with the outside.

Outside

There is a small footpath that leads all the way around the mountain. Luckily, you don’t have to walk all the way around the mountain. Right at the beginning of the footpath next to The Peak Tower you will find a pavilion which offers a completely free view (unobstructed and free of charge) over the city and Victoria Harbor. You can even find a metal sign which helps you identify all the major buildings you can see.

The “Observation Deck”

The Peak Tower offers an “Observation Deck” which gives you a full 270 degree view of Hong Kong. Please note that there is now a small fee being charged.

Eateries with a view

If you prefer to enjoy the view while eating and/or drinking you also have a number of different choices. There are plenty of restaurants on Victoria Peak to choose from. Most of them are housed either in The Peak Tower or in The Peak Galleria. Some of them offer tables with a great panoramic view over Hong Kong Island (mainly Central and Wan Chai District, Victoria Harbor and the Kowloon skyline). Especially at night time the view is breathtaking and romantic. Here is a list of restaurants you can find that all have at least some tables with a spectacular view and the cuisine they are offering (Don’t forget to ask for a window table when making a reservation).

Restaurants inside The Peak Tower that offer tables with a view

• Burger King
• Tien Yi Chinese Restaurants (Chinese food): Second and third level of Peak Tower
• Kyo Hachi Japanese Restaurant (Japanese Food): Level 2 of Peak Tower
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant (Western Food): Level 3 Shop 304 & 305

Restaurants inside The Peak Galleria that offer tables with a view

• Cafe Deco (Asian and Western Food): Level 1 & 2

Insider Tip: The Cafe Deco offers a large number of tables all with a really good view over the city and the Harbor (which is especially romantic during the evening and night time). I think level 2 offers a slightly better view than level 1. With most restaurants I recommend to make a reservation upfront – and don’t forget to ask for “A Table With A View” when making your reservation.

The Peak Lookout

The Peak Lookout Restaurant is not located in The Peak Tower nor The Peak Galleria but in a different building. That building originally served as housing for engineers of the Peak Tramway and later as a stop over area for sedan chairs before it was turned into a restaurant in 1947. The Peak Lookout Restaurant offers a few tables with a view of the south side of Hong Kong.

Insider Tip: The Peak Lookout Restaurant is surely worth visiting but if you only come to The Peak once I personally recommend the view offered by the restaurants in The Peak Galleria and The Peak Tower as they are more breathtaking and memorable.

Shopping for souvenirs and other goods

Both, The Peak Tower and The Peak Galleria have a large number of smaller shops that offer everything from souvenirs, to designer items, traditional Chinese arts and crafts, clothing and much much more. If you like shopping you should allow sufficient time for souvenir and treasure hunting.

Visiting the Wax Museum

“Madame Tussauds Wax Museum” is located inside The Peak Tower. On display in the wax museum you can find the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan and many of their famous friends. You can also find a “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” and you (and your kids) can enjoy the ride through a dark tunnel called “The Rise of The Dragon”.

Where to Hike?

There are a number of different hiking trails you can enjoy on Victoria Peak. Many of the trails have intersections and of course you can choose which route best fits your purpose and the time you have available. Once you are at The Peak there are basically 4 different roads to choose from:

• Lugard Road (which will bring you around the mountain)
• Harlech Road (which will bring you around the mountain)
• Mount Austin Road (which will bring you further up the mountain to Victoria Peak Garden)
• Peak Road (which will bring you down the mountain back to the city)

Lugard Road and Harlech Road

Lugard Road and Harlech Road form a circle which will lead you all the way around the mountain. It is a popular walk and starts close to The Peak bus terminal. After leaving the bus terminal (which is housed in The Peak Galleria) turn into Lugard Road and then follow Lugard Road all the way around the summit until its name changes to Harlech Road which brings you back to the Peak Tower. This level loop trail which takes about an hour gives you a very good view of Hong Kong’s Central district and Kowloon.

Note: Of course you could also start walking down Harlech Road first and then return via Lugard Road.

Mount Austin Road

If you are keen on a climb further up Mount Austin (this is the mountain on which The Peak is situated) you can take Mount Austin Road. This 150 meters climb (490 ft) will bring you up to Victoria Peak Garden which is located on the site of the Governor’s old summer residence “Mountain Lodge”. Victoria Peak Garden is also the closest publicly accessible point to the summit.

Peak Road

The Peak Road will bring you back down to Hong Kong city. It is an interesting walk but because of the slope and the length of the walk it can be quite tiring.

Insider Tip: Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road also brings you down the mountain but not back into the city of Hong Kong but rather down to the 200-year-old Pokfulam Village. This path walks you along Pokfulam Country Park, offers more attractions and the opportunity to explore one of the few still existing rural villages on Hong Kong Island. Once you have finished your visit at Pok Fu Lam Village you can return via public transport (bus or taxi) from Pokfulam Road.

Source by Axel R