Category Archives: Uncategorized

Secrets of the Sweet 16 Revealed!

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Plan on watching the games at your local bar? Bring along one or two of these “did you know” facts about the Sweet 16 to cheer up your buddies as their brackets implode.

By Sanjay Acharya via Wikimedia Commons

By Sanjay Acharya via Wikimedia Commons

Wichita State – The original Pizza Hut was opened in Wichita in 1958 by two enterprising students. The name? They were told the restaurant looked like…well, you can guess the rest. The building was relocated to the campus from its downtown location and serves as an inspiration to undergrads:  ”if you build it, they will eat it.” Continue reading →

‘Tis the Season for a Giveaway

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I can’t believe that 7 months have passed since the launch of The Open Suitcase. My family and friends – old and new – are incredibly supportive and I thought the time was right to offer some thanks and provide a small token of appreciation to a lucky reader.

A recent grammar post prompted a number of replies. Many of them included praise for one of my favorite reference texts, Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. One reader (Milai ©The Open Suitcase LLCof Thoughts, Tales, and Whatnot) mentioned that an illustrated edition of the classic was published several years ago.

That leads me to a Rafflecopter giveaway. From now until December 11, enter for a chance to win a copy of this great book. Good luck! Continue reading →

Travel for Thanksgiving? Shoot Me Now.

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Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday. The Sunday of Thanksgiving Weekend lacks a moniker. Let’s try      ?#$% Sunday because everyone who visited Grandma’s house hits the highway at exactly the same moment causing monumental traffic jams. Continue reading →

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts Underway

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Sand castle contest on the beach – Long Branch, New Jersey.

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to send a $10 donation. Thank you and spread the word.

“The pier lights our carnival life forever…” – Bruce Springsteen

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

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I was quite surprised this morning to receive the Very Inspiring Blogger Award nomination from The Penniless Traveler. Check out her site; it features engaging destination posts from her bucket list with helpful tips for travelers with limited finances.  Thank you, Penniless Traveler!

Very Inspiring Blogger AwardThe rules of the award are as follows:

Rules:

1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you.  Accomplished in paragraph one.

2. Post the award image to your page. See above.

3. Share 7 facts about yourself. Hmmm. Here goes…

  • I love going to the movies by myself but hate eating alone in restaurants.
  • I think that noise-canceling headphones may be the single greatest invention of the past ten years.
  • I believe that the most meaningful gift a parent can give a child is the love of travel. Thank you, Mom and Dad!
  • I don’t know much about fashion but I do know that a smile is an essential accessory.
  • I wish that politicians cared less about doing what’s popular and cared more about doing what’s right.
  • I get up at 5:15 each morning to write before going to the job that pays the bills and never hit the snooze button.
  • Nothing makes me happier than sharing a meal and a bottle of wine (or two) with good friends.

4. Nominate 15 other blogs and inform them about it. These are blogs that interest me and not all travel-related.  Please take the time to take a look; I think you’ll like what you see.