The Crab Chronicles

Twenty Questions With Judy

My friend Judy Thompson and I met in our wonderful book group, The Over 50 Non-Intellectual Read Fun Books Club.  Our dynamic leader runs a very loose ship but it’s always lots of fun. In the meeting last Saturday Judy mentioned she could use some marketing help with her travel business.  I met her for lunch on Monday and we brainstormed. All of my clients are attorneys, so it was fun to talk about a different profession for a change.

I was intrigued to find Judy is a travel agent. I honestly thought nobody used travel agents any more.

Judy is an independent agent for Uniglobe Five Star Travel. (Her contact information is below.) It’s great that she gets to work from home.

Judy specializes in tours and cruises.

“People don’t realize that most of the time a travel agent can find the same or better rates, even finding perks not accessible to the public.“

I know from my own experience on my adoption trips, it’s great to be able to call your travel agent if there’s an issue, like the hotel room isn’t available or you need another ticket for your flight, etc. Judy handles that sort of thing for her clients and she’s a lot easier to reach than the 800 number of the airline or hotel company.

She often books travel a year in advance. “Often times a cruise line or tour company will have great rates that  are only available months in advance.”

Where do most of her clients like to cruise? I asked her. “In this area, most people want to cruise the Caribbean seeking out warm weather.  However, I’ve done several European cruises this year.  I was able to find a great rate on an Alaskan cruise for a couple celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary.

She gets a lot of repeat customers. “Frequent travelers tend to be a bit more adventurous and take longer trips.”

Judy is only a phone call away.  You don’t necessarily need to be in Atlanta. You can reach her at 404-378-1080.

I asked her how the industry has changed, now that everyone uses computers.  “Most of the cruise lines use electronic tickets, same as the airline industry. If you are not familiar with computers or you don't have a printer, I will fill out the necessary informational forms and mail paper documentation,” she explains.

Judy has been on many cruises. “I love cruising. You either love it or you don’t.”

What type of cruise does she like? “I like the river cruises best. The boats are much smaller, making it easier to dock in smaller ports. The smaller boats take you to small towns and you get a better feel for the people and area.  Cruising on The American Queen on the Mississippi River is fun and a part of American history."

(I would be thinking of Mark Twain the entire time if I could cruise the Mississippi!)

She also likes to try new cuisines. "The river cruises in Europe serve recipes made with local fresh foods which I like. I don’t want to go to Europe and have a hamburger from McDonalds.”

Why cruises? “A cruise is great because everything is right there. Adults have activities and entertainment and the kids usually have a kid’s age appropriate program.  There are numerous dining options and you don’t have to get off the ship in port.”

The ships usually pull into a port in the morning and stay anywhere from 8-12 hours.  Most of the port calls are for a day. Sometimes a European cruise will port overnight.

“Over Thanksgiving I am taking a Celebrity cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. Our ports of call are St. Kitt’s, St. Maarten, and San Juan.”

One of Judy’s passions is for genealogy. “I’ve only been to Italy once but it wasn’t a genealogy type of trip. I belong to an Italian genealogy group. I’ve done quite a bit of research. The internet makes researching a whole lot easier. I used to troop through old cemeteries, visit small libraries, and go into dusty old basements in little courthouses. Genealogy is a history puzzle. That’s why I like mystery books more than anything. That mystery part in genealogy goes into that mindset – why my ancestors came to this country and when. My dad’s side of the family is Italian. They were from San Lorenzo, north and east of Naples.”

Where else would she like to go? “I haven’t been able to do all the traveling I’d like to do. I’d love to go to Australia and New Zealand but there are other places closer I haven’t seen. I’d love to see all the US national parks.”

Independent Travel Agent
UNIGLOBE FIVE STAR TRAVEL
T. 404-378-1080
E. [email protected]
website: 

www.judysctt.com

What is your full name? Judith Thompson

Where would you live, if you could live anywhere in the world? Right now I am actually perfectly happy with Decatur. Decatur is a unique little area that offers a lot. I’m close to art galleries, the airport, the Fox Theatre, but it also has a hometown feel. I would really have to think about that a while.

What is your favorite movie and why? I am not a movie person. However, I loved the Harry Potter movies.

What was your least-favorite subject in school when you were a kid? Probably Geography. (Ironic!)

What was your nickname when you were a kid? I don’t think I had one. I don’t remember anybody calling me anything but Judy.

Do you believe in God? Yes. I don’t think there’s a person sitting in the sky.  I think of God as an energy force, a force of love and goodness.

What sound or noise do you love? Wind chimes. I have a whole slew of them – probably 5 or 6 out front. I love the sounds of the wind chimes.

If you could do anything other than what you do, as a profession, what would it be? I’d still travel.  I hated Geography in school.  I didn’t realize or care about geography or history until I started genealogy research-- and all of a sudden history and geography really meant something.

If heaven exists, what do you think it is like? I don’t envision it as a building or a place. I think maybe it’s less specific, more of a just an area…

Do you have siblings? Yes. 

What is your favorite memory of childhood [something specific]? Not a special day but a special time when I was little and I lived with my grandparents on their farm. It was a laid back, peaceful time. 

If you had to choose between one week traveling around the USA by car, or one week traveling around Europe on a train, which would you choose and why?  I’d want to do BOTH! I’d want to get off the train a lot. I’ve been to Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon but there are so many other places to see and things to do here in the US. 

What or who inspires you? Probably my sons, they really do. 

Which holiday do you prefer, Christmas or July 4th? July 4^th because it’s a fun time and there’s not a lot of pressure to make everything perfect. Not a lot of cooking, no worry about gifts. You just enjoy the day. 

What project or idea are you most passionate about, right now? I want to dig deeper into family history. I love family stories. 

Do you know how to cook?  Yes. 

What is your favorite thing to cook/eat? I have a special pound cake recipe that came from my grandmother and it’s a very good recipe. I have sent it to my sons many times. Cakes have gone to California, New Jersey, foreign military bases, all over. 

If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, for 2-4 weeks, all expenses paid, where would you go and why?  I would go to Italy. I’d really like to go and do more in depth genealogy research.  

Who do you love the most in the world? My children and grandchildren. 

What question has nobody ever asked you, but you wanted to answer?  I don’t know.

Goodbye My Mazda

Yesterday was an emotional day.

My 1999 Mazda 626 is no more. It needs a new tire, rack & pinion steering, the CV axel is busted, needs a new tire, etc. $1783 is the repair estimate. The car isn't worth that.

I took it to a place near my house and told the guy to just assess what needed to be done. We went back a couple of hours later and they had done that, but they just put a new tire on the car and were trying to charge me for that. I said no way, I'm not paying for that. I had specifically pointed out to the guy that ALL I wanted was the assessment, and he tried to make me buy a new tire.

I'll be honest here, I had to raise my voice and get forceful. He was yelling at me that I signed something agreeing to the new tire, blah blah blah. I said "Um, NO, you weren't listening, but I specifically said I WILL NOT SPEND MORE THAN $40 UNTIL I KNOW WHAT"S WRONG!" I had reiterated that on the phone when he called me. He didn't listen to me.

Wow, that guy doesn't know customer service.

Then we had to wait an hour for him to take off the new tire and put the spare back on.

There was a young woman in there at the same time and they did a hard sell deal with her, telling her she needed 4 new tires, etc. Michael was sitting there saying under his breath don't listen to those guys they are trying to rip you off!

I HATE car repair places.

We will never go back to that place, needless to say.

So I am taking Mike to school and picking him up, until we figure out something else. Riding the bus takes time, and I'm not going to make him do it until I am working or it just cannot be helped. It's a city bus and costs $2.50 in fares, which is rather ridiculous.

Meanwhile, I will save on insurance money, and we will just have to save up for another car...

My Mama Told Me

Years ago when I first got to be dating age my mother gave me a valuable piece of advice, one I passed along to my daughter a few years ago:

If a man EVER hits you, even once, LEAVE. Take your kids. File charges against him for assault. Do not EVER take him back because if he hits you once and gets away with it, he will do it again.

So Ray Rice deserves whatever punishment he gets, IMHO. I feel he actually deserves more - he deserves a divorce.

I totally agree with what my friend Cindy said about the matter:And Ray Rice?  What in the world is in your background to make you act like that?  Why is your wife still with you?  Who hits women?  Why do women remain with a hitter?  If I was your mother-in-law, there'd be a UHaul backed up to your house and your wife would be leaving in it.

If I was your Mama, I'd be dragging your adult aggressive butt to a therapist.

If I owned the NFL, this'd be a permanent suspension, a disbarment.  Dude, don't let the screen door hit your violent butt on the way out."

I'm sure there are folks out there who disagree with this but I don't care. Cindy is totally right. Rice's wife said she regretted the incident - GOOD LORD, like she caused it?! She is already in a victim mindset, blaming herself. She MUST leave him and get her dignity back.

I always knew one thing: if I had told my father or my brother a man had hit me, they would've paid him back the same way, or likely worse. The abuser sure wouldn't have gotten away with it.

If one allows oneself to become a victim it's a very hard cycle to break. I have had friends who stayed with abusive partners, much to my horror.

I don't care how much counseling he undergoes, an abuser is an abuser. Why subject yourself to living in uncertainty and fear for the rest of the relationship, possibly the rest of your life?? 

**************************************************************************************************

Michael ran over something last night and popped a tire and tore up something on his car. I am not happy about it, because we had words before he went out. He agreed to be home for dinner and then backed out. Then he goes out at night and tears up MY car. (I own it; he drives it.)

He came home saying "that car is toast!" - almost defiantly, like he was glad about it. I told him he can pay for the repairs and take the bus to school until they are accomplished. I drove him this morning.

He keeps talking about getting another tattoo and I have said repeatedly he needs to save his money for school, gas, and car repairs, not waste it on another tattoo. Maybe paying a hefty car repair bill will change his thinking! Dang!

TEENAGERS!!!

Below is where I wish I was right now, on that dock with a cold beer, listening to some good music..

photo by Lisa Amos

The Magic of Books

Very quiet weekend, without incident or drama, which is good, but leaves little to write about.

There is a trend on Facebook to list ten books that have influenced you the most in your life. So that's an interesting topic and I thought I'd give it a try. I have been meaning to weed out a lot of books and send them to Goodwill and this gets me thinking about the ones I really want to keep.

I will not try to put them in order. Too tough.

Books for me are mental pathways, steps on the journey. Books that fascinate me and inspire me are ones that change my mind, for the better, that open it up to new ideas. I could list a bunch more books but these are the ones that expanded my thinking.

The Bible - King James version was my first introduction to it and I still love the language of it, the beauty of that version. For clarity I read the NIV. I have taken many classes in it, at the university level and in church of course. Much of it remains a mystery, but it's still the greatest book ever written.

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott  I read this when I was in about 5th grade and loved the character of Jo, who is independent and a tomboy and not content with the limited role society allowed women in the 19th century. She became a role model for me.

Queens of England by Norah Lofts   I read this at 15 and I keep it and refer to it even to this day. Great accumulation of knowledge about a fascinating subject.

The Journeyer by Gary Jennings  This fictional account of the journey of Marco Polo is filled with rich details and fascinating accounts of ancient travel and mysteries. Little did I know that one day I would travel to the ancient land of Kazakhstan, the Great Silk Road, to find my son. When he is a little more mature I want him to read this.

The Great Santini by Pat Conroy   I remember reading this and just not being able to put it down. I was a teenager and my relationship with my dad was thorny, and I could relate to this book on so many levels.

The Eight by Katherine Neville   I read this right after grad school, in 1990. Computers were only just beginning to be important in my life, and I was astonished by the computer wizardry in this book. I gave it to a friend who was getting his PhD in computer science and he read it and said "It's already out of date." The technology was advancing at a scary rate, even then..

The Eagle and the Rose: A Remarkable True Story by Rosemary Altea   I read this not too long after my dad died and it gave me great comfort. I believe there are genuine mediums in this world and they can communicate with people who have died. Laugh if you want. Scoff, even. I have talked to a couple of mediums who told me details they couldn't possibly have known. Now, there are charlatans out there, undoubtedly. We all need to be open to things not easily explained, however. There IS magic in the world, if we will take time to find it.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling   When these books first came out I remember trying to read this and being bored. When Michael came home and was having trouble with reading, this became a life-changing book, however. He loved the series and his reading comprehension soared. This book literally changed my life because I realized how he could be motivated, and how smart he is. It's also just a great story, and we read the entire series, together, in 6 months.  

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon   The first book in the series was so mesmerizing I read it in one weekend. Then waited impatiently for the next book. Amazingly great story about time travel, love, magic, history, and herbal remedies. Such a rich series, and so thought-provoking.

The Davinci Code by Dan Brown   This one I read in 2 days, at the beach. Loved the incredible story. Was Jesus married? Who knows? I often think it's an exploration that needed to be undertaken. It didn't destroy my faith or destroy the catholic church. It just stimulated my thinking about all sorts of things.

Double Quiche

My life is pretty quiet and boring these days. I mostly work from home, except for will signings. There's nhot a whole lot to blog about.

So every day I debate about blogging just to remind readers I am alive, or skipping it altogether.

Today, all that's really on the agenda is taking Lola to get a bath, and finishing up a writing project.

We have had so much rain the past few days that my yard is waterlogged. I have two tomato plants that are still turning out 'maters but the rest of my garden is pretty much kaput.

Yesterday I felt pretty energetic around dinner time, so I made two quiches and some shrimp salad, out of some terrific frozen shrimp I got at my local meat market. I made two quiches because I wanted to give one to a friend of mine who has been sweet about bringing food to me recently.

My mother's foolproof quiche recipe is a godsend. If you use a bought crust, which I did [don't judge] it takes 5 minutes to throw together the quiche.

My father loved quiche but we had to call it Cheese Pie because of that stupid book, Real Men Don't Eat Quiche.

Michael has been feeling the effects of a bad cold for nearly a week now. Hopefully he can finish with it and get back in the groove. He spent all afternoon yesterday on the couch in the family room, which is very unusual for him.

That's about all I know. Hope everyone has a safe and dry weekend..

Replacing Fear

Sometimes I feel like I spend my entire life trying not to be afraid of the future. I think all of us do that, to some extent. If a genie were to appear before me and grant me one wish, I'd be sorely tempted to say "make me completely unafraid of anything."

Of course, then I might go out and speed on 285 and wreck the car, or spout some political opinions on Facebook and laugh at the backlash, or go out and buy a new TV I can't afford. A little fear is a good thing.

Too much can overwhelm your life though.

We are having to pinch pennies around here, and it's not pleasant. Being a freelance writer and part-time paralegal/marketer is not easy. I am working part time for two attorneys who are truly nice and easy to please, but I need more income. I have to remind myself daily not to fret over money.

I went with my friend Kristy last night to a will signing in Jefferson Georgia, which is about 45-60 minutes away, depending on traffic. Lovely area. Lovely home these folks had. Very pleasant will signing.

We start home, though, and it's storming. I mean, torrential rains.

I called my mom to check on her and Michael. She was fine. Michael has a bad cold so he was on the couch watching TV, which was fine. I had the horrible thought, what if we are in a car wreck and this is the last time I hear Mom's voice?!

I immediately tried to banish the thought. I chastised myself for being such a wimp.

Kristy is a fine driver. No disrespect meant to her at all.

I just was SO nervous about being driven home at night in pouring rain. Part of it was a control thing - I couldn't have driven calmly, though. I told Kristy I was nervous and we just talked for the hour it took to get home. Talked nonstop. Talked about everything - kids, families, horses (she is a horse owner) - just anything to try and not be anxious.

I finally said to myself, when we were on the interstate, why don't I turn this anxiety over to Jesus and quit fretting?!!?? Immediately, my heart stopped pounding and I got more calm. Immediately.

Now, one of the semis could've still knocked us off the road, or the brakes could've failed, or any number of things could've happened. We didn't suddenly have a magic forcefield around us.

The difference was that I immediately took comfort just from thinking Jesus. That name. That symbol of love and comfort. That is why I am able to keep going.

I feel huge pity for people who do not believe in God or Jesus or Buddha or The Universe, or something. I can't help it. I so wish I could wave a magic wand and give them the gift of faith. I have friends who spend a great deal of time worrying and anxious because they simply can't get out of their own way and understand and accept the healing power of faith.

Of course, I think very concrete thinkers cannot comprehend the idea of faith, that is truly IS a journey, not a destination. Of course, sometimes it's the opposite. Concrete thinkers adopt the notion that if one doesn't believe in exactly their brand of religion they are doomed to hell. I cannot endorse that.

No, I have to believe that questions and doubts are not displeasing to God. Blind obedience isn't the real deal, I think. I've been full circle, have felt my faith grow from a tiny speck to what it is today, a life-sustaining force. It's a work in progress, but that's OK.

I rarely go to church, though. I don't try to convert anybody. Not even this blog is meant as a conversion tool.

I do want it to start a conversation, though, even if it's just in one's head. If I can do that much, just get someone to thinking about faith, interested enough to take another step, and then another, I will feel triumphant.

photo by Elizabeth Harper, Gifts of the Journey

Celebrity Isn't Private

OK, I admit it, I am something of a news junkie. I spend a fair amount of time every day trying to keep up with the world around me and what's going on.

However, I am always unfailingly amazed at what the "news" broadcasts consider news. Nowadays it's mostly fluff.

Case in point: the nude photos story. It's idiotic.

I am sorry that Jennifer Lawrence lost her nude photos to a hacker but I am not really surprised. Internet security is pretty useless, from what I've heard. Hackers are everywhere. Should she have taken nude photos or allowed them to be taken of her? I think not. I think if you allow that then you have to allow for the idea they can get stolen, particularly if you're a celebrity.

I am much more concerned about what's happening in Iraq and Ukraine.

I don't particularly like Ricky Gervais but I am appalled that he has so little spine that he deleted his innocuous Twtter comment about the nude photo brouhaha.

He wrote:  “Celebrities, make it harder for hackers to get nude pics of you from your computer by not putting nude pics of yourself on the computer.”

People immediately got mad about it and he deleted it.

GOOD LORD!!! Is everyone afraid of being politically incorrect?!? Apparently so.

Celebrities get ZERO sympathy from me when they complain about violations of their privacy. If you want privacy, don't make movies or go on TV or put yourself OUT THERE. You are happy to take the millions of dollars, right??

Amazing, isn't it, how a lot of very big celebrities [Tom Hanks, for instance] still have private lives and they actually control what gets printed about them and the photos that get taken.

I know I'm old-fashioned and un-PC and I really don't care. If you want to be famous, fine. You need to accept the way the world works and quit expecting sympathy from people like me who have a lot more important things to worry about -- like how to pay the bills, how to care for frail family members, and if our sons are going to continue to die in far off places.

Those type of concerns trump celebrity whining any day.

Rant over.