Holidays
Pre-Labor Day Fun
Sep 2nd
Tonight we are having a family get-together at my aunt’s house to celebrate the upcoming holiday. I have a big family, and I truly love these types of gatherings as they give me time to relax and catch up with everyone. With my cousins going back to school and summer coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to come together and celebrate.
I did some cooking last night for the party. It was my job to make a few desserts. I decided to make something that would be fun for my little cousins to eat yet still delicious for the adults. I made homemade raspberry and strawberry Jello with fresh raspberries mixed in. I put the Jello in individual serving dishes. It took all my self control not to eat one this morning!
The second dessert was an easy classic. I mixed chocolate pudding with Cool Whip and put the mix in a graham cracker crust. When the pie sets, I’ll add another layer of Cool Whip on top and sprinkle some chocolate chips to top it off. I can’t wait to try it.
The family party will be the beginning of my Labor Day celebrations. I am going to Manasquan Beach for the weekend, which will probably be the last weekend I’m able to spend at the beach. Summer went by too quickly. I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!
– Amanda Smith, advertising and editorial coordinator
Changes
Jul 5th
Happy Fourth of July — yesterday! I was fortunate enough to take a few days and drive south to the Outer Banks over the holiday. The weather could not have been better, and the dolphins and pelicans were out in force patrolling the beaches.
We have lots of changes at Global Traveler, as we just hired a new Advertising and Editorial Coordinator, Amanda Smith — she will be blogging very soon. Kate, who had the position before, is off to complete her education.
As you know from previous entries, Courtney Centeno is also turning in her wings to go back to school. We have been searching for a replacement and have several candidates.
At the same time, we have been settling into our new digs and emptying boxes from our move to a new World Headquarters.
Kick off your shoes and enjoy your time off, as soon we will be in the thick of fall business travel!
– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO
Happy Fourth!
Jul 3rd
My husband and I are looking forward to spending our first Fourth of July in our new home town, Central Point, Ore. Most years find us celebrating the Fourth in Portland, where we both grew up and still have plenty of family on both sides. We would start at Harry’s mom’s in the morning, where the annual neighborhood parade is composed primarily of kids on their tricked-out red-white-and-blue bicycles, trikes and wagons; patriotically bandana-ed pooches escorted by proud owners; and Boy and Girl Scout troops. Then there’s a family barbecue at someone’s house, and we finish the evening with our winetasting friends at a home high in the Portland West Hills with views of two or three major fireworks displays.
However, we felt like we really wanted to get the flavor of the holiday here at home this year, so we’re staying put. The morning will start with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Boy Scouts at the Grange Hall. Shortly thereafter the parade will begin with a fighter jet flyover and singing of the National Anthem. I anticipate that, as I always do at these community parades, I’ll get a bit choked up as the color guard of veterans and currently serving military personnel marches by. I’m touched by the generations who left all the familiarity and comfort of their small home towns to serve and sacrifice for the rest of us.
After the parade there will be games and vendors and food at the park, along with live music all afternoon long. It promises to be a warm and sunny day, so we may work in a brief siesta at home before we barbecue some burgers and cook up some homemade fries for dinner. Then it’s off to Harry & David Field for the largest fireworks display in the valley. The gates open hours before dusk, but we’re hoping that there’ll still be a spot for our blanket when we arrive around 8:30 or so. Live music will again be offered until the fireworks begin close to 10 pm. I’m still a big kid when it comes to being enthralled by those enormous blooms of color and light straight up over my head in the night sky — hands down the best part of a small-town Fourth of July celebration.
I hope you have a grand and wonderful Fourth, and please remember to stand and doff your hat when that color guard marches by.
– Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor
Holiday Weekend
Jul 2nd
Is it possible the Fourth of July is here already? The summer certainly is flying by!
The good news, according to an article from USA Today, is that more people are expected to travel this weekend than last year, a positive prediction for the travel industry. About 34.9 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday, a 17 percent increase from last year. As usual, the majority, about 90 percent, will travel by car.
I know some GT‘ers are hitting the road this holiday weekend. Fran Gallagher is heading to the Outer Banks, while Mary Carpenter, our fabulous intern, will be vacationing in Ocean City, New Jersey. Alex Young is heading out on an airplane, taking a trip to Europe. I, however, will be staying local this weekend, celebrating the Fourth of July at home with friends and family.
How about you, our fellow global travelers? Where are you headed this weekend?
No matter if you are traveling far or staying near, have a Happy July 4th!
– Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
