The Monday after Thanksgiving is always a challenge to get back into the swing of things. I was spoiled having my 4 day weekend and now it's back to reality. The weather held up over the weekend, it was 50' and sunny so no complaints there. I worked on a couple trips today. I like when people give me a challenge. They tell me they want to go somewhere, give me their dates and then they tell me what their budget is. It's my job to find all possible options for them to create the perfect getaway. Most people think of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean or Mexico but there is another type of an all-inclusive offered. You can visit a Dude Ranch! What's included varies by each Ranch but many offer all meals and activities (horse back riding, fishing, archery etc). It's rustic setting in the middle of nature with few people around can be a unique getaway compared to the crowded beaches and long lines found at many of the bigger all inclusive resorts along the sunny coastlines. You can find accommodations ranging from very basic (camping) to luxurious family suites. This type of vacation is not for everyone but for those wanting an active, hands on experience with the land and the Ranch lifestyle it doesn't get much better. Check out the following link to see if a Dude Ranch might be an ideal vacation for you. http://www.duderanch.org/index.php

SPIRITS YOU CAN VISIT AT THE WORLDS MOST HAUNTED PLACES

THE MANSFIELD REFORMATORY, Ohio

I love to be spooked and the world has no shortage of ghost stories and tales from beyond. Whenever I travel I like to find out about any local legends or haunts that I can visit. It seems that seeking out departed spirits has its way of making us in the living feel more alive.

Winchester Mystery House located in San Jose California is one of the most bizarre haunted places I have ever heard about. The house is a creation of Sarah Winchester, the widow of the gun master William Winchester. After Williams death she is believed to have taken the word from a local psychic that told her she must build on her house continuously to confuse the evil spirits that also lived in the house. If she stopped building her life would also stop. Sarah became obsessed with the house, she began building doors that led to nowhere, windows into walls that didn't open and stairs that lead into the ceiling. After working on it for 38 years and until her death in 1937 this house was a true piece of work built essentially by madness. Much of the work done was believed to have been inspired by the guilt she felt for the people that died at the shot of the Winchester gun.http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/sarahwinchester.cfm

ROBERT THE DOLL: Key West, Florida
Robert is not the kind of doll you want to take home to your child. He is said to be a haunted spirit uncertain with misbehavior. A man named Eugene that lived in Key West was given Robert in 1904 from a Bahamian servant that was into voodoo and black magic and wasn't fond of the family. After inheriting the doll, Eugene began talking about Robert as if he were real and acting very strange around those that knew him. Those actions would carry on with him until his death in 1974. After his death new owners moved into the house under one condition. Robert was to remain in the house, in his room upstairs that overlooked the street. Passerby's began to say they would see Robert move from window to window in his room watching them from above. Today you can find him in the East Martello Museum in Key West. His antics haven't let up in the museum and he is known to disappear from the locked glass case he is held in only to reappear days later. The one thing I have learned  is to always ask him before taking his picture. I didn't ask him my first time I went to see him and my camera stopped working after attempting to take a picture of him.
www.robertthedoll.org

Check out the 10 most haunted places on Earth at: www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-seven-most-haunted-spots-earth

DREAMING ABOUT TREEHOUSES

Me at my favorite treehouse, the 'I and I' reggae bar in Caye Caulker Belize

                        People that say they have no regrets in life are full of shit. No matter what, there is always something that you could look back and say, I really would have done that differently. My recent regret stems from when I lived in Portland, Oregon for 5 years. There was a treehouse resort located in Cave Junction, OR. It's about 4 hours from Portland and unfortunately I never made it there to stay. It's called Out'n'About Treesort and is a brilliant creation of Michael Garnier who built 18 individual tree houses to rent on his property along with classes on building your own tree house, crafts and music. This place will make you feel like your a kid if your 5 or 50. You can zip line, hoarse back ride, hike, swim and learn a new skill in an environment that rivals nature in every way. I am a HUGE tree house advocate (if done responsibly) and my ultimate dream in life is to find my mountain top spot in the world, with a view of the ocean and build a tree house to retire. I am leaning toward Panama or Costa Rica but this place gives me some much needed inspiration her in the states.
http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/home.html.

THANK YOU SALLY STRUTHERS

                                If it wasn't for Sally Struthers and her heartbreaking commercials that played during my Saturday morning TV shows growing up I may never have visited one of the most unique countries in Africa. Senegal in West Africa is an often overlooked destination that is filled with vibrant culture and a spiritual connection to the people that live there and it's absolutely breathtaking. My interest in this country began when I was 16 and I watched a Sally Struthers commercial about starving children in Africa. I sat on my couch eating a huge pile of pancakes with fresh blueberries barley able to finish it. The commercial came on and I sat with tears in my eyes. For the first time in my life I felt guilt. I felt guilty I had so much food right in front of me and the emaciated little girl on the TV had nothing. At that moment I grabbed the phone and called the Children Christian Fund to sponsor a little girl somewhere in need.

I waited for weeks for my packet of information about my new friend. I was thankful I had a steady job at the local video store so I could afford the $21 a month it cost to sponsor her. Then one day the letter I had been anxiously waiting for arrived! I was now the sponsor of a little 6 year old from Senegal, Africa named Ndeba Sene. There was a picture included of a straight faced serious girl with sad eyes. I ran inside, grabbed an atlas and located Senegal on the map. Located at the western most tip of West Africa it poked out from the continent like a curious birthmark. I then grabbed a pen and paper and wrote my first letter to Nedeba introducing myself. At the instant I signed my name on that letter I knew my life would never be the same.

For the next 7 years we corresponded back and forth and I would receive vaccination updates, drawings from her, family photos and progress reports throughout the year. Since she spoke the African language of Serer and French and I spoke English I always received the French written letter and then an English version that was translated by a Mr. Pierre Karma, a coordinator for the Children's Christian Fund. Then one day after 7 years from when this friendship started I got an opportunity of a lifetime to meet my dear friend Ndeba.

One of my best friends that lives in Atlanta, GA called me to tell me interesting news. Her brother was landscaping with a guy that was from Senegal and married to a US woman and living in Atlanta. He and his wife had developed a project to help struggling people in Senegal called the Jef-Jel Project. The duo were planning a trip there in a month to go work on the project and were looking for volunteers to join them on the venture. I had to pay for the airfare and pay modest fee for room and board . It just so happened the base of their project was located in the coastal town of Saly, just about 30 miles from where Ndeba and her family lived. I had my bags packed before I even received my vaccinations.
Before I knew it I was on a plane leaving the gray gloomy skies of the Pacific Northwest and seeing the dry, thirsty heat of Africa for the first time. I adjusted fairly well to my arrival and was amazed at the drastic difference in culture and landscape that surrounded me. Senegal is a primarily Muslim country and I loved all the Mosques and spiritual buildings poking up toward the sky from the dried earth as if they were trying to enter the sky. Although the buildings were covered in earth tones the accents of the vibrant pink Bougainvillea and various bright flowers that were found growing everywhere made it look like a water color painting.

After a few days upon my arrival I soon found myself riding on horse and cart with my new friend Kellie, looking for Ndeba's village. Luckily Kellie spoke French and Wolof fluently so I let her do the talking as we meandered our way through dusty covered villages. Finally after an hour so of bumping along the sand on the horse and cart we approached a compound of a dozen or so thatched huts and a cement school. Kellie asked in Wolof about the family name and suddenly I saw a familiar face appear from around the corner. Her deep, sad eyes looked up at me and I recognized them instantly from the pictures over the years. She would instantly look away if we made eye contact as if trying to figure out if I were real or a ghostly apparition. I jumped off the cart and ran toward her but trying not to scare her. I gave her a hug and told her, 'Enchante' meaning nice to meet you in French.



Within minutes everyone in the whole village got wind that Kellie and I were in town and came running out to greet us. I admit I felt like a celebrity with everyone making such a big deal about our appearance. Mr. Pierre Kama was also there to take me on a tour and introduce me to everyone. I recognized her brother and 2 sisters from the pictures. Ndeba held my hand while we walked around but she never looked at me in the eye or smiled, not once. I assumed she was overwhelmed by the whole situation. I then met her blind mother who gave me 5 chicken eggs as her appreciation for all I have done for her and her family. I had brought a care package for Ndeba and her family with some clothing and items I thought would be fun for them. Pierre then walks up to me with an armful of large envelopes and sets them on the ground.

There were 20 or so of the letters I had written Ndeba. There was also a wall size chalk board on the wall that showed all the sponsors in the area and what was received when. I was grateful all of my contributions actually made it to her.

We spent the whole day with Ndeba and her family and her serious stare never broke. I went inside the modest 8X8 thatched hut that she lived in with her mother and 4 siblings. There were 2 beds in it with a dirt floor. There were clothes hanging from the sides. I couldn't believe 6 people lived in this room. They walked me around the compound introducing me to the natural healing ingredients growing around the land and gave me an unforgettable understanding of their culture and lifestyle. The sun began to set in the distance turning the sky from a blood orange to a vibrant pink and Kellie and I decided that was our cue to see ourselves off. As we walked back to the horse and cart to leave everyone in the village walked out to see us off. I hugged each person, which took a good hour and took in their infectious smiles. I gave Ndbea a heartfelt hug and lifted her chin up. To my surprise she had tears running down her tense cheeks. I could see in her eyes she was sad I was leaving but I could tell she was glad that I came. I squeezed her hand and told her I would see her again' Ba Suba Se',  meaning see you next time. For the first time in 7 years I saw a smile on her youthful face and it was that moment I knew this journey was well worth the wait.