babybloomr

Unlike Johnny Cash, I haven’t quite been everywhere, man, but over the years I have definitely been a WHOLE LOT of places. (And if that country song reference makes no sense to you, indulge me—I live in Nashville.) Researching an upcoming vacation, exploring a city I’ve never visited before, trying new foods in foreign countries… I love that stuff! And while there’s nothing I enjoy more than a really good (read: luxurious) hotel and a fancy restaurant, I’m also a big fan of folksy bed and breakfasts and local dives. I have a tendency to get downright evangelical about places I ‘discover’ and will happily talk your leg off as I wax rhapsodic about this wonderful museum and that unexpected antique store… Ad nauseum. Seriously. I can get kind of  jump-up-and-down-waving-my-arms-around about it all. You might need to just plaster a smile on your face and back slowly away while promising that yeah, you’ll be sure and visit that place real soon, thanks for sharing, gotta go bye. I personally like to refer this characteristic as refreshingly enthusiastic, but you know, whatever.

I’ve written travel articles for Nashville Magazine, Homecoming Magazine and Country Inns magazine, and Lord knows you guys have indulged me endlessly blogging about my wanderlust on the ‘Bloomr for lo, these many years, SO– *trumpet fanfare*–I’ve decided to make it official! This is to announce the launch of a separate Babybloomr travel section that will feature my wildly entertaining (shut up, it could happen) reviews of any and all kinds of fascinating places I get the pleasure of visiting. I’ll try to cover the kind of information that would be of interest to you, like your basic Things to Do and Places to Eat, as well as ways to save money while traveling (because you know I am nothing if not cheap, er, thrifty) and tips on fun, off-the-beaten-path attractions (hello World’s Largest Paintball!)

Hopefully you will all find this endlessly fascinating and tell all your friends and this will be the beginning of a TORI TAFF TRAVEL DYNASTY—at any rate, it gives me yet another outlet for writing about something I love to do, and will possibly attract even more opportunities to see more of the world.

But here’s what I need from you guys—what am I going to call this little venture? It needs to be something memorable, and fun and original. I don’t think I’m going to try to incorporate the Babybloomr brand into the name, I’d rather go with something using my name, maybe…? I dunno, you guys help me figure this out, will you? Everything you submit will be considered, and there is nothing too weird or embarrassing to throw out here, so don’t be shy. I’m expecting multiple entries, as the muse strikes you!

Here are a couple of titles that have already been bandied about already, just to get the ball rolling. Please feel free to weigh in with your opinion on them:

“Veni Vidi Vittles: I Came, I Saw, I Ate”

“Tori the Tourist”

So, come on ‘Bloomr Nation—LET’S NAME THAT TRAVEL SECTION!

*Photo courtesy of Ron Stern  (More on him later!)

Well, it’s been a while since we’ve all discussed our DEEP THOUGHTS around here, so while I am busy-beaverishly preparing my series of  travel posts on Cincinnati (yes, there will be a series– it was a big honkin’ trip!) (also? my nephew Daniel The Computer Genius is adding a whole new Travel section to Babybloomr.com– isn’t that cool?) (and yeah, I have no idea why this suddenly deteriorated into a series of unpunctuated sentences in parentheses, but the fact that I was up last night until 3 a.m. finishing a deadline might have a little something to do with it…), I thought I’d revive my ever-so-intellectually-stimulating, gee-you-never-know-when-it’s-coming Meditation Monday posts!

And if you’re actually still with me at this point, A) wow and B) apparently I’m not the only one who’s feeling a little ADD-ish this morning.

Oh, look! A chicken!

Anyway. *shakes head to clear it*

You guys remember me mentioning my brilliant friend Crescent Dragonwagon , right?

You know, the writer? (And yes, that is her real name.) (Geez, AGAIN with the parentheses?) Well, I read a poem of hers this morning that I just loved, and wanted to use it as a jumping-off point to let you, my wonderfully interesting readers *bats eyelashes shamelessly* give me some of your DEEP THOUGHTS on it.

Ya wanna? Aw, come on, don’t be shy, it’s not like its gonna be graded or anything– I’d just love to hear what her words stir up in you.

Here’s the poem:

Your thoughts…?

(*Wonderful Auntie Mame-esque photo of Crescent courtesy of nameoftheyear.blogspot.com)