Planning a Vacation: Tips and Tricks

Having done a fair amount of travel in Europe and the US, I've picked up a few tricks along the way.

Outline a high level itinerary that you'd like to accomplish and when you would like to do what. While you may not stick to this schedule, I've found it very beneficial in ultimately seeing, doing, and accomplishing much more than just showing up and deciding what to do when you get there. In your research, you may even discover options you didn't previously know were available.

When first arriving in a city get out and walk. Anywhere. This will help to establish a framework and base from which to work while you're there. If you're into running/jogging, get up in the morning and go for a run to take in some of the sites and get a lay of the land. Essential to the walking/running is a good pair of comfortable shoes.

As far as transportation when you get there, if you'll be doing a good bit of sightseeing, walking can be the best option. You won't be tethered to a car and in all European cities that I've visited, I was easily able to see everything I wanted by using the trusty old feet. Public transportation such as bus and train can also be very beneficial when visiting a larger city. Most large cities have some type of route finder online for their public transit which you can utilize in getting an idea of where things go.

Also key if you'll be traveling on foot is obtaining a good map. I found the pocket sized pop-up maps (found in any bookstore or airport) to provide good directions in most cities I visited and very handy from a portability standpoint. Be sure to review the map prior to going on vacation so that you have an idea of where things are located and how to plan your schedule. This helps save time when you're there for actually seeing and doing things.

One site which has some great information on pretty much any somewhat major city is Frommers.com. They have everything such as suggested walking routes, top attractions, basic city information, dining recommendations, and more. It gives lots of good information to work from and plan out a basic itinerary.

Other good websites are Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, and Tripadviser.com. These will provide a wealth of information as to good hotels in an area (including other visitor's comments) as well as assisting in comparing prices for flights and hotels.

Wikipedia.org provides good high level information about a city/country and a taste of their culture. Always nice to read up a little on things prior to going.

If you're interested in seeing popular museums, exhibits, or shows, it is wise to book in advance due to long lines waiting for tickets or potential sellouts.

A key to getting good prices is to book far ahead of time. As the vacation date approaches, transportation and lodging fills up and prices rise substantially.

From a financial standpoint, it is highly advisable to save up for the trip ahead of time rather than paying for it on credit cards. This will avoid lingering debt and allow you to enjoy the trip without the specter of a credit card bill hanging over your head. DaveRamsey.com provides excellent information on staying out of debt and saving up for purchases such as a vacation.

If you'll be traveling internationally, be sure to contact your bank to let them know you'll be using your debit or ATM card overseas. If you don't do this, your card could be blocked from usage and you really don't want to have to deal with this in another country. You may also want to pick up a small amount of cash for when you first arrive in the country. This can be done either at your local bank or at an ATM when you arrive.

Using ATMs will obtain the best exchange rate. Using exchange stores in airports will usually obtain the worst exchange rate so only use this if absolutely necessary. Check with your bank to see if they have any international relationships set up for free ATM transactions. Otherwise, you'll pay a hefty commission as well as possibly a 1% to 3% exchange fee.

If you do not already have a passport, be certain to apply for it well in advance of your trip as this can sometimes take a decent amount of time. Leave a copy with a friend or family member and put one in your luggage in case it is lost while on the trip. This will help the embassy in speeding the process of getting you a new one.

Keep a close eye on valuables at all times as pickpockets can abound in popular tourist spots. I always carried my passport and wallet in my front pockets and made sure to maintain contact with them, frequently, to help keep people honest. If you will be carrying a purse or camera, I recommend one which you can strap from one shoulder to the hip of the opposite side. Also, keep a hand on your purse or camera at all times. This helps to provide additional security by making it more difficult for someone to grab and run.

Most of all enjoy your vacation and be sure to have fun. Happy vacationing!

Burr Oak Woods

Today I went hiking at Burr Oak Woods with my friend Scott and his friend Sergu. It was really nice out with the trees in full green array. There is also a bird sanctuary which had birds such as yellow finches, blue jays, cardinals, and even some wild turkeys. The visitor center had a really nice display with information on the various local wildlife as well as some fish, frogs, snakes, and turtles in aquariums.

Free Root Beer Float

June 7 is Free Root Beer Float Night at SONIC®. Just show up between 8 p.m. and midnight, push the red button and order a free 10-oz. Root Beer Float. There's no catch. Tell your friends and family and don't miss this sweet deal. See here for official details

Kansas City Corporate Challenge

Last evening, I ran the mile for the KCCC. I finished in a time of 5:04, 8th overall in my age group, and 2nd in my division. I was very pleased with the result though sub 5 would have been nice. My quarters were very even at 74, 75, 77, 77. There are some races where you're thinking wow I feel pretty good this is kind of fun. Results viewable here.

Books on Buying a Home

Though I'm not necessarily looking to purchase a home in the immediate future, it is something that is on the conceivable horizon so I wanted to get acquainted with some of the intricacies to know when purchasing a home.

Guide to Buying Your First Home by Century 21 Editors and Patrick Hogan

This first book has more of an overall view towards buying a house and the various steps involved. They discuss Townhome/condo vs. Single Family dwelling, financing, what to look for in a Realtor, some of the fees to expect, title insurance, title search, legal information, inspections, home insurance, earnest money, escrow and a host of other items pertinent to buying a home.

Tips & Traps when Buying a Home by Robert Irwin

This book was also good from the sense of insider things to know on how to get the best bang for your buck and what to be aware of as possible problems. One useful piece of information provided in the book was a sample list of things to look for when walking through houses similar to what an inspector might look for if inspecting the house. He also provides advice on negotiating and ways to structure offers.

Overall I came away with the sense that there are so many things involved with a house that it is well worth hiring a real estate agent to walk you through the process. While people may be able to sell a home without using an agent, my thought is that they are probably going to help you on the selling side in increasing traffic to the home as well as advise on the many aspects of the transaction.

A useful tool online that I've heard of for estimating home prices is Zillow.com

Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan

Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan by Frank Abagnale

This book can help you to learn everything you want to know about protecting your personal information. Abagnale, a former counterfeiter and now consultant to the FBI and many large financial institutions around the world, gives an inside look at the various types of identity theft and how to reduce the likelihood of it.

He goes into technology oriented identity theft schemes such as pharming and phising as well as discussing more low tech methods such as dumpster diving. It's highly recommended that you shred any personally identifiable information prior to throwing it away. Looking through a person's garbage though it might seem disgusting but is an actual method some thieves use to steal a person's identity. Abagnale also advises mailing bills from an official Post Office box rather than raising your mailbox flag which also alerts a potential thief that there might be information worth stealing inside. Another tip is to always choose to opt out when a financial institution sends you a privacy policy. This helps prevent the spread of your personal information and the potential for it to be stolen.

Surprisingly, personal information such as social security numbers is still used on some driver's licenses or as employee ids. One should avoid this when possible due to the windows an SSN can open for a thief. Abagnale also recommends limiting your usage of checks due to the large number of hands and eyes that will handle it throughout the processing. A dishonest person along the way can grab this information and either sell it or use it himself.

Abagnale indicates that the most important thing one can do in guarding against identity theft is to pull your credit report from the three major credit reporting institutions. (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) This can be done for free at annualcreditreport.com.

To help insure against identity theft, one may consider an insurer such as Zander Insurance Group's identity theft insurance.

One minor downside of the book is the author's promoting of his own products or products he endorses throughout the book. While they may be good resources to help in fighting identity theft, it seemed at times to be a sales pitch rather than an informational resource.

Overall, I learned several tips and had reinforced the need to be conscious of giving out personal information and guarding it from prying eyes.

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury

This is a classic text used in many university classes on negotiation. The authors help explain how to use principled negotiation rather than the traditional positional negotiation that many use. One story illustrates that illustrates this is of two children arguing over an orange then decide to compromise and split it in two. It turns out that one wanted to eat the fruit and the other wanted the peel to bake with. Principled negotiation would have born out the actual desires of each with the result of both getting exactly what they wanted. As people negotiate any variety of things, they should consider the motivations of the other party and what they might want out of it. Getting to the root want/need is key in truly understanding the other party and can help avoid adversarial positions. If approaching the negotiation as a sort of joint effort rather than this for that, a more positive outcome may result.

Blue Like Jazz

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

This book is Miller's account of walking through life in his twenties and moving from Texas up to Portland, Oregon. He comes to a greater understanding of his faith through various experiences including friends he meets at Reed College, known to be one of the most liberal schools anywhere. His writing breaks out of the mold of the traditional Christian style of writing and looks at things from a post modern type of viewpoint. He's not afraid to dig down and explore why do we actually believe in what we believe rather than simply accepting because it's something we've grown up with. He has a way of making beautiful word pictures just like the title Blue Like Jazz. I enjoyed his honesty and authenticity of admitting struggles and failures and recognizing that he's a broken person as we all are. I recommend it as a perspective towards Christianity outside of the standard recipe for Christian literature. You can also check out the website at www.bluelikejazz.com

Gas Prices

Well, gas prices have reached astronomical levels approaching highs last seen around the time of Hurricane Katrina. In an effort to help readers of the Wisdom of Dre find the cheapest gas available, we offer
this website. Simply plug in your zip code and it will tell you the lowest gas prices in your area. Prices are usually updated every day or two.

Emergency Fund

What is an Emergency Fund and why exactly do you need one? Pure, plain, and simple Murphy's Law states "if something can go wrong, it probably will." One may hope emergencies will not occur but they are a part of life and one would do well to plan for them. It is sometimes referred to as a rainy day fund and serves the function of providing a source one can draw upon in financial emergencies.

Experts vary on the recommended amount of an emergency fund but a general consensus is 3 to 6 months of living expenses. The expense part is specified because salary includes tax with holdings, automatic deductions placed in a retirement account, or other items not included if a job loss occurs. To determine monthly expenses, track your expenses during an average month and then save for the emergency fund accordingly.

The financial expert, Dave Ramsey, recommends saving up a $1,000 emergency fund first to make it more manageable. 3 to 6 months of expenses can seem an overwhelming amount of money to save but with a $1,000 safety net, one will have the ability to pay for an emergency such as an alternator going out on a car without feeling pressured to incur debt.

Once the $1,000 is saved, it is highly advisable to pay down debt as quickly as possible to further secure your financial life and make things easier if ever losing a job. If a job loss is looming on the horizon, one may choose to go ahead and quickly muster the 3 to 6 month fund.

You want to be able to pay for the essentials such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation. If you become unemployed, you may need 3 to 6 months to search for a new job. Having the emergency fund allows you breathing room and the ability to search for a job without the stress of dealing with financial issues. Unemployment benefits may be applied for but it is best to have your own emergency fund in place as these benefits will eventually run out and may not be enough to cover basic living expenses.

Be sure not to dip your hand in the emergency fund cookie jar. It is intended for EMERGENCIES. A vacation is not an emergency, Christmas is not an emergency (last time I checked it always happens on December 25th), that new shirt/dress/shoes at the store are not an emergency. An emergency means an event such as unexpected medical bills, auto accident, job loss, or a water heater going out.

As far as where to store your emergency fund, you'll want to keep it in something very liquid (meaning you can get to it quickly). This should be something such as a savings account at a bank or money market account. Keeping it in one of these accounts will allow you to earn a bit of interest as well as separating it from funds actively available in a checking account.

Remember, emergencies will happen. Will you be prepared?

See www.daveramsey.com for more solid financial advice.

Lightning

Last evening on my flight from Atlanta to Kansas City, I got to watch a thunderstorm in the distance. It was mostly cloud to cloud lightning but was very cool. Kind of like fireworks but better from a natural sense. I guess you could consider them to be God's fireworks.

Word of the Day

argot: a specialized idiomatic vocabulary peculiar to a particular class or group of people, esp. that of an underworld group, devised for private communication and identification. -Dictionary.com An argot might something specific to a particular profession such as lawyers discussing briefs, affidavits, or summary judgement. It might also refer to a hobby group like runners talking about doing speed work, their PR (personal record), or split times. A somewhat related word is lexicon but I'll let you look that one up.

Amazing Grace

A few weeks ago, I saw the movie "Amazing Grace" in the theater. It's one of the best movies I've seen recently. The basic plot centers around William Wilberforce who was a key driver of the abolishment of slavery in the British empire during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The title comes from Wilberforce association with the writer of the hymn "Amazing Grace." John Newton was once a slave trader who came to the point of salvation and eventually became a rector at a church. He acted as a sort of mentor for Wilberforce and encouraged him in his crusade. I highly recommend checking it out.

Gump & Co.

Gump & Co. by Winston Groom

The book Gump & Co. is a continuation of the story of Forest Gump as seen in the movie and book by the same name. In it, we learn of Forest's travels and adventures throughout the 1980s and early 90s. He once again is involved in numerous historical events such as the Iran Contra affair, the Whitewater scandal, the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, as well as an insider trading debacle, the felling of the Berlin Wall, and the Persian Gulf War. He also briefly played professional football for the New Orleans Saints, was an encyclopedia salesman, was involved with the development of New Coke, served a stint as a pig farmer, and ended up as a wealthy oyster harvester down in the Gulf of Mexico. All was told with various humorous events incoroporated and seemingly impossible coincidences which Forest found himself as a central part of each of these famous events. I've not read the original book but this was a bit less entertaining than the movie of the original.

How to Grow A Beard

-Step 1 don't shave
-step 2 repeat step 1
-Step 3 trim from time to time to keep looking neat (if your name is Grizzly Adams, ZZ Top, or you live in the woods/mountains having limited contact with the rest of the world, step 3 may be omitted)
-Step 4 sculpt/shape in various creative ways with a beard trimmer or keep the traditional look

So I'm at Step 4 now. It's one of those things where you know you should do it but just don't. Kind of like those things in the back of the refrigerator that you know you should throw out but never do. A beard becomes part of one's identity and so parting with all or a part of it can be an event worth consideration. My intent is to take a phased approach toward going back to bare faced. I'll go with the goatee first then at some point may determine to trim back from there either in entirety or another phase. The original reason I grew one was not so much for the aesthetics as the convenience of not shaving every day. This iteration of the beard began in August of 2005. In the fully matured stage of the beard, I usually will trim it up once every 7 to 10 days.


Here's a picture prior to the cutting


And after

5k

On Saturday morning, I ran the House of Hope 5k in south Kansas City and finished 3rd overall with a time of 19:20. I was fairly happy with the result considering my recent training, the rolling hills on the course, and the wind.
Check out the results here.

Quote of the Day

"A goal is like a postage stamp -- you gotta stick to it until you arrive"- a loose quotation often attributed to Josh Billings

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

This is a memoir of sorts of Bryson's journey on the Appalachian trail in the late 1990s. He and a long lost somewhat crazy buddy from high school hook up and make plans to tackle this 2100 mile behemoth going from North Georgia to Katahdin Mountain in Maine. Though quite out of shape, they embark upon the hike and have good times enjoying nature, including encounters with a moose and some unknown creatures that may or may not have been bears.

Throughout the book Bryson provides humorous tellings of their adventures in his characteristic droll style. One such example was when they had to hike their way through a swamp jumping from log to log and not very successfully staying vertical. After a struggle of 30 minutes to cross a small space, feeling somewhat triumphant, tired, wet, and dirty, a couple hippie looking guys came along hoisted the backpacks over their heads and adroitly crossed the same piece of swamp in a couple of minutes while staying clean much to Bryson and Katz's dismay. Another such incident was on their first day back on the trail after a hiatus when Katz fell behind. When he finally caught back up to Bryson, huffing and puffing and feeling fairly out of sorts, his pack was considerably lighter due to his throwing things off the side of the trail such as food, a water bottle, and sundry other equipment/materials. Bryson says "Stephen I really wish you wouldn't do such things." I'm perhaps not portraying it as funny as it was but in the book it was fairly hilarious.

At various points in the book, Bryson takes an aside to go into detail on the history of the Appalachian Trail both past and present, notable characters along the trail, as well as detailed descriptions of nature and the terrain. One interesting part is when he visits the ghost town of Centralia in Pennsylvania. It was abandoned about 23 years ago due to a coal mine burning in the ground underneath the town. He said that everywhere you could see smoke coming up out of the ground and realized he was standing right above a roaring fire so felt the urgent need to move on.

I've personally done a bit of hiking (a decent amount in the Smoky Mountains part of the AT) and found Bryson's account to be both accurate and enjoyable. Each multi day backpacking trip I've taken has brought memories, beautiful scenery, pictures, and war stories to tell. Even one who is not in the best shape can get out in nature, get some good exercise, and enjoy themself through hiking whether on day trips or overnight backpacking trips. I recommend the book for anyone who wants to get an idea what it's like to hike the Appalachian Trail or just wants some nice, fun reading material.

Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World

Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World by James Cramer.

Jim Cramer of Mad Money (on MSNBC) fame was once a hedge fund manager trading stocks and made his investors tons of money. He's retired from that business nowadays and goes more the route of advising people through his radio show, TV show, and website. In this book, he describes the ins and outs of investing and trading on the stock market and strategies for playing the cycles of the market.

One of his rules is that if you are going to invest in individual stocks, you need to spend at least an hour per week keeping up to speed on it. He also recommends diversification by having a minimum of 5 stocks in a variety of businesses sectors such technology, health care, oil, grocery/consumer goods, financial companies such as banks, among others.

He makes clear that he does not advise nearly as aggressive a strategy when looking at retirement versus more discretionary income. Mutual funds are definitely the way to go for a vast majority of people who don't have the time or inclination to truly research and investigate the fundamentals and news of a stock. He provides advice on good mutual fund managers if one wants to go more that route.

I enjoyed the stories from his days as a hedge fund manager also told in his book Confessions of a Street Addict. These helped illustrate lots of his points and rules to live by when trading/investing in the stock market.

Overall, he does a good job at helping the reader to understand the nuances of the stock market which can be esoteric to those not in the know or who don't do it professionally.

My personal advice is that unless one believes they can beat the market or the return of a professional mutual fund manager, he/she should stay away from individual stocks. While the reward can be high, the risk is also very high compared to the diversification of an index or mutual fund.

Tech Tip# 3

A really nice shortcut you can implement when using Internet Explorer to surf the web is ctrl + enter. For example, let's suppose you wanted to go to www.google.com. All you would do is type in google then press the ctrl and enter button and www. .com will automatically be added to the previously entered google. This is my second favorite shortcut after alt + tab.