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12 pros (and cons) of travelling alone while female

Travelling alone is immensely liberating. Nobody to compromise with or have to accommodate.

Understandably some are nervous about the prospect and have many different concerns. Women in particular face many different obstacles when travelling alone. But we can also reap benefits that men, or people travelling together, can’t get.

First the pros

Pro 1 – You can do what you want

Do what you want do it my way independence

This is a bit of a no-brainer.

You can spend hours photographing every stall in the market without someone tapping their foot waiting for you.

You can eat what you want when you want without having to wait for the other person to become hungry.

You can make up your mind on the spot as to what you want to do. You don’t have to consult anyone or make compromises.

It’s really all time just for YOU so make the most of it!

Pro 2 – People warm to women more easily

Women talking chatting

I’ve often struck up conversations with strangers in restaurants, on trains, in shops, even just walking down the street. I’ve always been met with a smile and a warm response. There’s something safe about speaking with a woman which means people will often be open with you, particularly other women.

People are more willing to help you out when you tell them you’re travelling on your own. I’ve been offered so much advice and support from strangers when they realise there’s nobody to support me.

Perhaps there is some benevolent sexism involved but I’ve always felt people just want to be kind, not that they think I need special help.

I’ve heard many stories about women travellers striking up friendships with local women, being invited into their homes and being shown a side of the culture you just can’t get anywhere else.

It’s a shame that a man in a similar situation is viewed with that bit more suspicion. And a couple is a self contained unit that people don’t want to get in the middle of.

But the benefit for women is that when we travel we’re met with a little more warmth and friendliness.

Pro 3 – Boost your confidence

Confidence woman fighter

  • Are you in a rut and need a break from your routine?
  • Are you looking for ways to become more confident and learn some life skills?
  • Have you been in a dominating relationship and want to find your own feet?

Solo travel is a fantastic way to build yourself up. Remember it’s not the distance that counts, it’s the experience. You don’t need to spend a month backpacking around India, you could spend one night in a neighbouring city.

Boost your self esteem. Prove to yourself that you are capable. Prove to others that you’re capable, if that’s what you need to do.

When you’re in a new place on your own you’re reliant on yourself and only yourself. You’ll have to get yourself out of any jams. You have to make ALL the decisions.

For some people this is terrifying but all the more reason to go for it!

If it’s a brave step for you then take it. You’ll be a renewed person because of it.

Pro 4 – Push your boundaries

Push your boundaries rop bridge adventure

Travelling alone is a brilliant way to be your true self. All expectations are removed. You’re not your job, your relationship status or your motherhood situation. You can find out who you are when all these labels are removed.

Women in particular face lower expectations and have fewer opportunities to push themselves due to financial and home life obligations.

Even a small trip by yourself can push these boundaries and help you explore different skills and qualities you didn’t know you had.

If you’re introverted you can push yourself to speak to strangers and make decisions. If you’re extroverted you can push yourself to spend time quietly by yourself.

Whatever your personal boundaries, travel is a great way to explore and conquer them. Doing something brand new will open your eyes and heart in a way nothing else can.

Pro 5 – You’re more engaged with what’s going on around you

Fruit market

With nobody by your side chatting about their work woes or the house renovations you’re free to really soak in what’s going on around you. You’re more in tune with the sights, sounds and smells without the distraction of someone else’s chatter.

It’s easier to get involved in the culture when there isn’t someone by your side anchoring you to your home life and topics of conversation.

Here’s an example from my own travels…

I was once in France by myself and wanted to try out my language skills. So I summoned some bravery and asked;

“C’est combien?”

“Deux euro cinqante” she replied

It took me a moment to figure out what number she’d just said. (I never said I was good at French!) But when I got it she was so pleased for me! She handed over the juice with a massive grin and we shared the joy of my small success.

That beautiful moment wouldn’t have been as sweet with someone providing a safety barrier for me. I was fully immersed in the effort and celebration of the short exchange.

Pro 6 – Room for a little one?

Only single seats available

There’s often room enough for one person where a couple would struggle. It can be hard to find two seats together but there’s normally one odd seat available. When you’re travelling solo you can squeeze in wherever there’s space and people are more willing to accommodate just one.

  • One remaining single seat in the front row
  • The small table in the corner of a packed restaurant
  • Space for just one more on the bus

Now the cons – and how to conquer them

Con 1 – You’re move vulnerable

Bag snatcher thief steal

Women are often put off travelling alone because they’re more vulnerable. Don’t let fear put you off doing something amazing. Women are, unfortunately, more of a target in general but there are steps you can take to look after yourself, you’re NOT powerless.

It can be disconcerting to be somewhere you don’t know, or you don’t speak the language. So plan ahead and be prepared.

  • Research safety tips for the particular area you’re going to
  • Look at what cultural norms you’ll encounter, any areas that are less safe, what the local taxi number is
  • Make sensible decisions
  • Take some language lessons or even self defence classes
  • Wear a fake wedding ring and carry a dummy wallet

There’s so much safety advice out there I can’t list it all. Just don’t let your worries stop you when you can be prepared for most situations.

I will add that it’s a good idea to keep in touch with people back home more frequently than you feel you need to. You know you’re fine and enjoying a walk in the park. But your loved ones don’t know that and are probably anxious for you. Take a moment to put their minds at ease and you’ll give yourself peace of mind that someone at least knows where you are.

Con 2 – You might get bored or lonely

Lonely teddy

I admit when I’m travelling I do miss conversation.

You might be alone but you don’t need to be lonely, there are fascinating people all around. Strike up a conversation with another person on their own. Talk to the person next to you on the tour bus and find out what they’ve enjoyed on their trip. You just need to take the first step.

If you’re staying in a hostel there’s normally a common area you can make friends, organised pub craws or walking tours. If you’re couch surfing or at an Airbnb you can get to know the host.

Hotels are a bit harder but definitely not impossible.

Besides, being bored can be good for you. It forces you to think creatively and find new things to do. You’ll see more of your destination if you go on an extra walk than if you stayed in the hotel room chatting to your travel buddy.

With our busy lives it can feel very strange to be disconnected from our gadgets and TVs. So take the opportunity to get to know yourself and find some peace.

Con 3 – It’s selfish

Chess pawn king selfish

Ok maybe you have massive financial responsibilities and a family and a job and all these grown up things. All the more reason to invest in yourself and become a better person.

Taking a break from life and changing the scenery is good for your mental health. Looking after your own happiness is vitally important and if some people think that’s selfish then they don’t have your best interests at heart.

(Unless you’re literally bankrupting your abandoned family to fund your next adventure. That would be bad.)

It doesn’t need to be a long trip. And it doesn’t need to be expensive. Whatever suits your timeframe, budget and bravery level is just perfect.

Con 4 – You can’t share someone else’s passion

Leading by the hand

Other people can open your eyes to experiences you wouldn’t have chosen yourself. By sharing their passions you’ll get to try new things.

  • Fall in love with a new artist at the gallery you’d have walked straight past
  • Try different food you wouldn’t have chosen
  • Hear beautiful music at an outdoor concert you didn’t realise would be good

But you can still fill your adventures with new experiences. Ask the hotel staff for local gems or swap tips with fellow travellers.

Taking a tour is a great way to soak up some enthusiasm for local arts and culture that you’re not already aware of. You don’t need a travel companion to give you this boost.

If you remember to try new things on your trip you won’t miss out.

Con 5 – It costs more

Wallet money squeeze

That damn single supplement! It’s the thorn in the side of any solo traveller. You have to pay for the whole hotel bill when it would be half the cost with someone else.

There are low budget options like couch surfing, hostels or Airbnb. I personally prefer to save up and get my own hotel room because my shared accommodation years are behind me now.

But if you don’t mind a bunk bed check out hostels with good safety reviews. Or if a 2-star hotel would suit you fine just go lower budget.

The accommodation and taxis are the main things that will cost more because you’re not sharing. Everything else from flights to food is the same price so really it’s not THAT much more expensive to go on your own.

Con 6 – “Can you mind my stuff?”

Backpacks luggage baggage

The problem – You’re half way through dinner at a lovely restaurant on the promenade. You’ve got your rusksack by your feet, a jacket on the chair and half a pizza in front of you. Then nature calls.

Do you ask the next table to watch your stuff? Do you hold it in?

The solution – Never leave anything unattended. Even with people who look nice watching it for you. Just because someone looks nice doesn’t mean they haven’t noticed that expensive camera lens in your bag, or that drink beckoning to be spiked.

Just have a bit of forward planning with things like bathroom stops. You can keep your rucksack padlocked and hook the strap under the table leg to be a little more secure.

But the main thing is to travel as light as you can. It’s easier to carry, it’s less in the way, it’s less of a burden in general. As the old saying goes

“Take half what you think you’ll need and twice as much money”

I hope you’ve found some of this inspiring. You can share any other pros and cons I’ve missed in the comments below.

How to smash the Edinburgh Fringe on your own – Insider tips from a local

It’s the largest arts festival in the world. There are 50,000 performances of well over 3,000 shows across a whole month. Squillions of people visit Edinburgh every August for the Edinburgh Festival, Fringe Festival, Military Tattoo, Book Festival and all the other events.

Learn how you can skillfully navigate this mayhem like a local.

Where is the festival?

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Fringe venues

Every accommodation description will tell you its ‘near the festival’ but what does that mean?

Most events are in the town centre but they’re pretty spread out. With over 500 venues ranging from theatre halls to public bathrooms there’s no one central place. It’s more a series of smaller hubs and individual locations.

Insider tip:

Make sure you know exactly which venue you’re going to. The names can be very similar and the locations not quite where you’d expect.

Assembly Mound is not at Assembly Halls. Pleasance Dome is not on the Pleasance!

Where to stay

Staying in the Old Town is best for the Fringe Festival as it’s near a large proportion of venues. The Grassmarket, Royal Mile and Cowgate are lively areas for bars, restaurants and a good concentration of the Festival venues.

New Town is more upmarket and will be a little quieter but still walking distance as long as you don’t mind a bit of a hill to get into the town centre.

Further afield we have places like Marchmont, Tollcross and Gorgie/Dalry to the south. These are all around 20-30 minutes bus ride from the centre.

Or to the north there’s the famous Leith. Some areas of Leith have a bit of a reputation but the main road into town, Leith Walk, is full of independent shops, multi cultural restaurants, and there’s a lively artistic community.

Graduation unversity students
They’re not using it. Stay in university halls of residence

University halls of residence are hired out over the summer and can be much cheaper than big hotels. They’re clean but basic. Use the University Rooms website to search for a room. Just check the location on the map before booking.

There are camping and caravan sites around the edge of the city too which are cheaper but not as handy.

Use Google Maps to see how far your prospective accommodation is from St Giles Cathedral. That’s on the Royal Mile so a good proxy for the ‘centre’ of the Festival.

Insider tip:

There are no e-tickets, you need to collect your physical tickets instead. The Royal Mile ticket office has reeaally long queues but there are loads of other collection locations.

Since you’ve got the map open check out where the other collection points are.

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Getting around Edinburgh

Walking is easiest but it can get confusing as Edinburgh’s Old Town has roads that run underneath other roads and little wynds that cut between streets. Prepare for some steep hills and steps too.

The two main taxi companies are Edinburgh City Cabs who have a handy app which uses your location if you’re not sure where you are; and Capital Cars which can be cheaper than metered fares.

The bus system is focused on going into and out from the centre of town along main arteries rather than round the houses (which can have its own drawbacks). Go to the Lothian Bus website for maps and timetables.

Single fares are £1.60 no matter how far you go. There are no transfers, you have to pay again if you swap busses. The bus driver doesn’t have change so have the exact change ready.

To make things easier you can get bus tickets on your phone. If you don’t want to use a lot of mobile data, or you’re staying a little longer you can get a prepaid citysmart card from one of the Lothian Bus Travel Shops.

Insider tip:

Download the My Bus Edinburgh app before you go. You can see all the bus routes and stops, set your favourite stops, and it tells you how long there is to wait for any bus at any stop. Lothian Bus also have their own app but I find My Bus is better.

You can always ask the drivers for help… but if you’re the third person in a row to do that the locals will start tutting and rolling their eyes at you.

Where to eat

There are hundreds of superb restaurants in the city to suit any budget and taste. But eating out is a bit different when you’re on your own. If you don’t want a table service dinner or are pressed for time there are still lots of options.

  • Mosque Kitchen: 31-33 Nicholson Square
    The Mosque Kitchen offers cheap, hearty, delicious Indian food in the Old Town. It’s between The Pleasance and University areas which are both major hubs for shows.
    It’s cafeteria style service so go up to the counter and pick up your food then just find an empty seat. It’s much easier for a solo traveller because everyone just slots in where there’s a free seat.
    Note that it closes for a short time on Friday lunchtime for prayers.
  • Waverley Mall: 3 Waverley Bridge
    If it’s raining and you’re near Princes Street pop in to Waverley Mall. It’s right off the station too so very handy for transport. Plus you can do some shopping while you’re there.
    The food court has a range of meals from sushi to pizza, fast food or baked potatoes. It’s open seating so it’s very easy to find a space for one.
  • Marks and Spencer: 54 Princes Street
    It doesn’t look like it but there’s actually an M&S supermarket underneath their Princes Street shop. They have packaged sandwiches and lunch items as well as ingredients for doing your own cooking.
  • Food stalls: Everywhere
    A lot of the Festival venue hubs have food and drink stalls. So George Square, The Pleasance Courtyard, the Udderbelly will all have burgers, noodles, crepes, that kind of quick fix.
    Queues aren’t normally too long either.

Is it safe?

Edinburgh is a pretty safe city and there’s a bigger police presence during the festival to keep things in line.

The biggest issue will be the crowds. Especially around the Royal Mile or the festival hubs where there could be thousands of people at any one time. It’s an inviting place for pick pockets and opportunists.

Keep your belongings secure. Keep your bag close to your body and properly zipped up.

The street performers can be amazing but don’t get so absorbed that you don’t notice someone dipping into your bag.

If you’ll be out late remember some venues don’t normally have so much footfall and the area might be dead at night. Plan your onward travel in advance and take taxi phone numbers with you.

What shows should you see

With so many shows to choose from use the website rather than scouring the 450 page printed brochure to find something to see. You can specify timeslots, locations, genre and key word to drill down into something you’d like.

Reviews are helpful but the official fringe website only allows the person who booked the ticket to review the show online, and some performers don’t allow reviews on there.

Look in the free specially published guides and in newspapers for recommendations, or ask the people you meet while you’re there.

Insider tip:

Lots of places use a chalk board to write up the names of that day’s sold out shows. They’ll show you what’s popular so you can get a ticket for another day.

Scheduling – not just for organisation lovers

You’ll need to be organised if you want to pack in a number of shows in one day. Most are 1 hour long but they could be longer or shorter. They don’t have nice organised half-hourly start times, it’s every 5 minutes.

  1. Start by making a short list of shows you like
  2. Transfer the key information to a spreadsheet or time planner app.
    (I’m old school and do this by hand, writing times down the side of a grid and each show in a different column along the top. Then I shade in the timeslots so I can see the overlaps at a glance)
  3. Pick out which shows would fit together into one day. Leave at least 1 hour between one show finishing and the next one starting.
  4. Transfer your finished schedule to your planner!

Insider tip:

Get the EdFringe app to see what’s on near your current location, what’s at the half price hut, your calendar and maps. It’s really handy if you’re rushing from one place to another and you want to check the map for the exact place.

Top Tips

What’s that? You want some more advice?

  1. Queue up early
    Give it half an hour if you can. It takes some logistics to get everyone into and out of the rooms. Plus seating is not assigned so if you want a good seat you need to get there early.
  2. Keep cool
    Edinburgh isn’t known for its heat but most venues don’t have air conditioning, windows and other such luxuries. Add 50 people and some bright lights into that room and it can get very stuffy.
    Take water and a paper fan with you. Flyers make a good fan, there’s no shortage of those!
  3. Take snacks
    Save money by bringing a packed lunch, or just have a snack bar in your pocket for emergencies. If you’re in a long queue you won’t want to lose your place to hunt for food
  4. Half price hut
    The hut is by the galleries at Princes Street. They sell half price tickets for shows later that day.
  5. Free tickets
    If you’re willing to take a gamble you can sometimes get free tickets from promoters on the street. (I once saw an utterly terrible show set in the inside of Celine Dion’s mind that way.)
    Or if you’d rather choose for yourself there’s hundreds of free shows in the listings. Just be prepared to give a donation at the end. Be a good person.
  6. Prepare for all weather
    Bring a light rain coat instead of an umbrella. Unless you want it to join the umbrella graveyards that build up around every bin on a windy day. Edinburgh can get VERY windy.
    Layer up your clothes so you can adjust as the weather changes every ten minutes.
  7. Escape the crowds and explore
    It’s not all about the shows. Go and see the castle and galleries. Take a walk up Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill. The Royal Botanic Gardens is a beautiful escape from the noise and crowds.
  8. Forgive the locals
    For a few years I had to walk along the Royal Mile to get to and from work every day. After 9 hours in the office, an IT failure and a 3-hour meeting I’m not going to be in the mood to wait for tourists to take pictures.
    Locals have busy lives to lead as well as the festival to contend with. Please forgive us if we’re not as welcoming as we could be sometimes. We’re sorry!

Do you have any other gems to share? Pop them in the comments below…

Make a better travel journal than you could buy

I’m new to bullet journaling but totally love it. So when I was planning my latest trip I wanted to take a dedicated travel notebook with me.

I also wanted to actively journal each day. I don’t normally journal but wanted to try to record more than a photograph can. What did I think of the food – what was it actually like going on the boat ride I have a nice picture of.

As well as just remembering what you did, journalling is said to be a great way to consider what you’re doing more intimately. By really thinking about every aspect of your trip you experience it more deeply.

So I browsed the shops for a specialist travel journal. I wanted something I could keep my pre-trip research in, notes on opening times, train schedules and important information I might need to hand. It needed to be;

  • Lightweight
  • Enough pages for me to journal every day
  • Pre-printed pages for different kinds of information

I ended up choosing this small hardback notebook from Paperchase.

It’s small enough to fit in my bag without being a burden, it had sections to write down various pieces of information as well as blank pages for journalling. Plus I just liked the cover.

I’d have been better buying a blank notebook

At first I liked all the different pre-printed sections and layouts. But most will remain blank. You might think ‘so what it’s a blank page’. But to me, and anyone who loves stationery, it’s a blot in my perfect book.

  • Vaccinations – I didn’t need any
  • Packing list – I keep a personalised packing spreadsheet. I’d never just write a list from scratch
  • Itinerary – This was pages and pages long. I only had two flights
  • Contact details for new friends – Who is meeting 30 new people they like enough to want to keep in contact with?

What to consider when making your own travel notebook

Specialist notebooks look lovely but I recommend all stationery-loving travel geeks make their own journal for travelling. I’ll certainly do that myself on my next adventure.

Start with the notebook itself

  • One big one you take on every trip, or one small one for each trip?
    • Do you want to note down all your adventures in one place?
    • Or take a new, more portable, one each time
    • The benefit of getting a new one each time is you get to shop for new notebooks!
    • Plus you won’t have to deal with all your research on Russia when planning your trip to Japan.
  • Size and weight
    • It will need to be portable if you’re going to carry it around with you the whole time
    • Or do you plan on buying a big beautiful beast and leaving it at your accommodation
  • Dotted, lined, blank or squares
    • If you’re already a bullet journaller you’ll have strong opinions on this
    • If not just consider what kind of things you’ll be writing down. Will you be sketching in it too or just writing in straight lines? Grids or dots help you to draw neat lines and decorations around things
  • Storage
    • It’s really useful to have a pen loop, and a pocket for keeping tickets, receipts and even decorations like stickers and stencils
  • Durability
    • If it’s going to be in your rucksack for a month trekking in Laos it’ll need to be robust

You can use some creative flair or keep it purely functional. Take inspiration from the other books available and just adapt it to your needs.

Some pages you could include

  1. About you – contact details, home address
  2. Emergency information – credit card phone numbers, medication, next of kin, insurance details
  3. Itinerary – flight numbers, check-in times
  4. Accommodation information – Phone number, full address (you can show this to taxi drivers if there’s a language barrier)
  5. Useful information – Taxi numbers, key transit routes, exchange rates
  6. Packing list – One for the whole trip, one for your flight’s hand luggage
  7. Research – What do you want to see? What good restaurants are near the hotel? What time does the museum close?
  8. New friends contact details – If you’re very sociable leave lots of space. If, like me, the possibility of making 30 lifelong friends in a week is slim just leave one page
  9. Journalling –  Most importantly have plenty of pages for writing about what you’re doing, who you meet and what you see
  10. Plus anything else you want to create! A list of souvenirs to buy, addresses for your postcards, local delicacies you want to try. You can make a page for anything you want

Deorated travel journal by Elizabeth M
San Francisco by Elizabth M

You can be as artistic as your abilities allow. Pre-printed books look lovely on the inside but you can replicate the look with washi tape, stencils or your own artistic flair.

This is the part that really makes it visually appealing. Unless you prefer the utilitarian look. The joy of this project is it’s totally yours to do what you want with.

I’d love to know if you do this yourself and how you get on.

How to plan a spontaneous trip – in 3 steps

Before taking an epic trip I love researching what there is to see, and finding top local tips. But some of the best trips are totally spontaneous.

How can you make sure you make the best of your trip while keeping that spontaneous spark?

  1. List your priorities

See what there is to do in your destination and write a must-see list.

Make a note of the locations too so you can see at a glance what’s in each area of town.

  1. Book the necessities

If you’re travelling solo always book your accommodation in advance. Never show up in a new place on your own with nowhere to stay.

If any of your must-do activities need to be booked in advance go ahead and book that in. Aim to book just two or three of the main things in advance and bear in mind;

  • Don’t book anything for the day you arrive – Give yourself time to find your feet
  • Jetlag sucks – You won’t want to be on an evening cruise if your body thinks it’s 2am
  • Keep a note of cancellation fees – If you ditch your plans will you be out of pocket?
  1. Stop Planning

Seriously, step away from the planner!

You’re now armed with a list of;

  • Key things to see
  • Where they are
  • What time you have free to see them

You can slot them in where you want and take each day as it comes, safe in the knowledge that you’re not missing anything.

… Can’t stop yourself? For the organisation junkies-

If you just love planning you can make a list of restaurants, shops or activities in your travel notebook. You can even note down opening times, entry costs and directions.

Don’t let it dictate your trip but just have it on hand. Now you can always eat at the best restaurant no matter where you spontaneously end up.

Ok Trip Advisor can do this but you don’t always have the time or the mobile data to start searching online.

Do you have any other tips on how organisation lovers can be spontaneous on their travels? Share them in the comments

9 tips for surviving a solo long haul flight

Travelling alone is a joy for some but an unfortunate necessity for others.

But it doesn’t have to be a lonely experience. It’s an adventure you can conquer, starting with these tips;

1. Take a variety of activities

Don’t rely on your seatmates being interesting conversation partners. Some people are happy reading the same book for 8 hours straight. Not me!

Take things that will use different senses and either stimulate or relax your mind, depending on your mood.

A good book and a movie are standard but a few puzzles or activities will keep your brain engaged and awake.

Audio books are also a great way to be taken to another world while giving your eyes a rest. Your eyes will get strained looking at a screen through window glare for hours so give them a break.

2. Keep your stuff secure

Pack a smaller bag with everything you’ll need at the seat and pop it in your carry-on. You can then just pull it out and have everything in one place at your seat. Nobody likes the person who keeps getting up to fetch things.

As you board, store your bag in the overhead locker opposite your seat and you’ll be able to see if anyone goes near it.

3. Hack the headphones

Plane headphone jack

Lots of planes have double headphone sockets so you have to use their terrible tinny headphones- which some airlines still have the gall to charge for.

Instead invest about £2 / $3 in this headphone hack (just search for ‘plane headphone jack’ online). It lets you plug in your noise cancelling turbo-bass wonderphones and land without tinnitus.

4. Make friends with the cabin crew

cabin crew

You’ll all be nice to the people around you anyway because you’re decent human beings.

But the cabin crew have a lot to deal with. So be extra nice to them and do what they say without protest. Don’t make unnecessary demands or stop them when they’re busy.

If at any time you’re uncomfortable with your fellow passengers let them know immediately and they can help. Especially when you’re travelling solo it’s good to know someone is on your side.

5. Hydrate – both inside and out

water bottle

Aeroplanes are incredibly dry environments at less than 20% humidity (your home will be around 30%). Low humidity may cause skin dryness and discomfort to the eyes, mouth and nose but presents no risk to health.
World Health Organization

The World Health Organization say there’s no particular need to drink extra water. But if you’re drinking caffeine, or alcohol you will get more dehydrated. And if you’re dehydrated your immune system may be weakened.

I’d rather drink a bit more water if it will help me avoid a plane cold!

You’ll feel more comfortable and confident if you don’t have chapped lips and dry eyes. So bring lip balm, hand cream, eye drops and anything else that will make you more comfortable.

6. Kill the germs!

antbacteria gell

Planes have a bad reputation for spreading bacteria. But this tip is straight forward

  1. Bring antibacterial wipes
  2. Wipe everything you might touch on the journey – Tray table, arm rests, buttons
  3. Sit down

You may look a bit weird but your priority is looking after yourself and you don’t want to get sick while on your own in another country.

7. Choose your seat – And stick to it

plane aisle

If you’re nervous about feeling trapped next to strangers book the seat you want.  An aisle seat means you can walk away without having to climb over anyone.

Check in advance when the seat booking opens so you can get in there early. Or ask at the check-in desk what seat they’d recommend for a solo traveller and explain any additional needs you have.

You may get asked to switch by another passenger who wants to sit next to their friend. You’re completely entitled to say no!

If you chose your seat specially, just politely say you don’t want to move and repeat yourself as many times as necessary. It’s nice to be nice but you don’t owe it to them.

8. Charge up

Phone with no charge

Your well laid entertainment plans will fail if you used all your charge playing Candy Crush at the gate.

Plus you don’t want to arrive at your destination unable to Google hotel directions.

Charge everything up fully before you go and bring a battery pack. They’re inexpensive plus it’s a good idea to carry one whenever you’re in a new place for emergencies.

9. Treat yourself to snacks

nuts of different kinds

Forget the diet for a bit.

You’re on your own. You’re hungry. You’re strapped in.

But you did yourself a favour and packed your favourite treat and now you’re your own best friend!

Aside from being kind to yourself, you don’t want to be stuck for hours without food if the plane food sucks or there just isn’t any. Pack protein rich foods to keep you fuller for longer – nuts, yogurt covered treats or dried meats would be perfect.

Do you have any other tips for solo travellers? Share them in the comments below


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ASIL Annual Meeting

Hello all, this event is a little far off still, however, if you like to plan things to perfection, this is a good international law event to put on your calendar. The ASIL Annual Meeting will be taking place at the Capitol Hill Hyatt Regency in Washington DC, from April 12-15. ASIL has issued a save-the-date, which you can find in the link below. We have an ASIL membership! Please use it to your networking and educational advantage! If you need help planning transportation or accommodations, I love that sort of thing, so email me. Hope you can make it!

ASIL Annual Meeting 2017

International Law Students Association Meeting 2016

This is a conference that will be taking place in New York, on the weekend of October 27-29. It is free to students, and an excellent networking opportunity, as well as a chance to visit New York during one of the best times to be there.

Here is a snippet of the Conference description:

“The unifying theme for ILW 2016 is International Law 5.0:

The world is changing at an accelerating rate. From technological advances to environmental transformations, international lawyers are forced to confront emerging forces and new scenarios. Even settled principles of law are no longer settled. These tectonic shifts have been felt throughout the geography of international law. Legal professionals at every level – local, national, regional, and international – must change their practice to meet a changing world. Innovation will become necessary for survival.

ILW 2016 will explore these issues through a diverse collection of engaging and provocative panels.”

Hop on the train, or carpool down together!

All information available at the Conference website: ILSA Conference 2016

Come to ILS!

If you’re reading this, you’re probably involved with international legal study at VLS in some way, shape, or form. Which means that you probably have a vested interest in the International Law Society, and should check it out at the meeting taking place on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19 AT 5. Find the info here:

ILS Meeting

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Merry Christmas Hares - finished

I'm flitting between several projects at once as is my usual style.  Ideas jump in and out of my head and I like to have the option of working on alternate pieces.  When one starts to frustrate or while I wait for something to dry, I can move on to the next piece.

Tonight I finished the Christmas Hares and am happy with the final outcome.  I will work on some prints and cards from it so stay tuned.  I just need more time in my days and more money in my bank account!

Then on to finish a dog commission.  Funny, however many commissions you do, there is always the lump in the throat feeling, waiting to see a reaction.  I sent an update on what I had done so far and it came back positively last night, so I can breathe again.  I will send the little dog off to its owner next week and concentrate on others in the wings.

vivien said...

I think it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! love it!

and it will be feature strongly in my round up of those doing their own cards - so few seem to be :>(

Jeanette said...

Thanks Vivien. I enjoyed doing it and have another in the wings if I get some time to work on it.

Perhaps people are procrastinating a bit and you'll have a flurry of posts on cards in the next week.

I'm heading to the printer today to get some of these cards underway.

Joanne said...

I would love this image on cards!

Billie Crain said...

Your Xmas hares turn how wonderfully! I like the vintage feel this image has. I know it'll make great cards.:)

Laurel Neustadter said...

The hares are beautiful. They will make wonderful cards.

Gary said...

I really like the comception of this piece Jeanette - very whimsical. The execution inwc is splendid.


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Doctor Appointments

We met R2D2

We had our GI doctor’s appointment today at Children’s Hospital.  And we met R2D2 … more about that in a moment!  First, the doctor visit.

Unfortunately, no real answers.  We are going to start ‘over’ with trying things we tried years ago … maybe now they will work.  But we have to go through the list one-by-one.  Starting with Reflux medication – – which the drug store didn’t have available.  Hmm … Continue reading “We met R2D2”


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The Etsy Store is getting some major upgrades

So, I have a couple of supper crazy updates with the Etsy store. I recently got a new patch design up on the store for starters. It’s pretty epic if you ask me. I am stepping away from doing just circles and am going to start designing patches that are a variety of shapes to help mix things up in the store.

Other than that I have been doing a lot of major updates to the store. Not only have I changed the look and feel of the store to match my new website design, but I have also changed the name of the store to match that as well. With the store name now totally changed to match my website I wanted to take things a step further by tackling the analytics to help with search results (something any avid online merchant should do from time to time).

So far I have been cranking through that just fine and have already seen a drastic increase in sales from what little adjustments have already been made. As of today I have tackled the analytics for the embroidery patches on the store. I still need to do the analytics for the buttons and screen print patches. But, for right now I need a break. Doing this type of junk is supper time consuming. Since I have gotten a lot done with the look, feel, and analytics of the store, I thought I would completely finish up my embroidery section by updating the photos.

This is where the frustration comes in.

I cannot for the life of me get my camera to take a good picture. Although these look clean, I am not at all happy with them. But that isn’t the aggravating part. What frustrates me is that I have a specific look and feel that I am hoping to go for, but it just isn’t going to happen with my cell phone camera. No way, no how. The upside-downside to this is that I do have a great friend at church who does photography for a living. She could totally set me up and have the listings in my store looking jam-tastic.

The only issue with that is this…

If and when I add a listing to the store I don’t want to have to depend on her or bug her each and ever time I have a new listing get added. It just wouldn’t be fair to her nor productive for either of us.

If I am going to come up with a solution to this issue, I need to be able to replicate the look I am going for at home on my own time with what camera I have. Sadly, the camera I have isn’t that great.

Anyway, Etsy store rant over… I have been tackling a lot over at the store if you wanted to go in and see the updates. I hope to have two new patch designs posted in another month. And hopefully soon I will get this photo taking issue lined out. Once I have done that and have the embroidery section totally knocked out, I will move over to the buttons and screen prints.

Oh, and another update… will be adding stickers soon also! So, there’s that.


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Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles shares stage with some furry friends for charity

Wendy Geller
Senior Editor, Yahoo Entertainment

This Christmas, when the country is more divided than ever, Jennifer Nettles is joining World Vision in a movement (#ShineBright) to spark a wave of kindness across America, bringing us all together to help others in need. The humanitarian organization empowers people out of poverty by providing opportunities to gift livestock, medicine, and other necessities to needy families across the globe. During her multistate holiday tour, Nettles stopped by Build Series in New York City to encourage fans to give back on Giving Tuesday (Nov. 28).

Just in case the sparkling singer herself wasn’t enough motivation, Nettles brought along a few furry friends to make her case: two alpacas (Skeeter and Sweetie) and a goat (Basil), who are among the animals that can be gifted to those in need as part of World Vision’s ongoing program. “Each animal is given to an appropriate cultural match. … They provide an economy for these families,” explains Nettles, detailing how families can use an animal’s wool, milk, and even manure for fertilizer.

Adding a bit of comedic humor: Basil showed off nature at its finest by having an, oopsie, accident onstage. The singer didn’t skip a beat: “When you gotta go, you gotta go,” she quipped.

Nettles additionally discussed nonanimalistic topics, such as her recent announcement that she and Sugarland partner Kristian Bush would be releasing new music soon after a four-year hiatus. “In terms of inspiration, we are just now in the writing process,” she explained. “But what we have always done, both jointly and separately, is take from your own experience and you write what you know. Even if it’s not your own story — because I’ve written stories that are for a narrative sake that aren’t my story — you can’t help but write yourself and your truth into them.”

When asked if the adorable critters might make an appearance on Sugarland’s future album covers, Nettles laughed. “I haven’t considered it, but I’m sure these guys would work me a deal,” she drawled.

Hey, Basil owes you one, Jennifer!

Watch the full interview with Nettles below:


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Let’s Collaborate on Your Book

Hi, I’m Janet Angelo. Welcome to my website! I formed IndieGo Publishing in 2011 because I wanted to help independent authors accomplish their goal of publishing a top-notch book that is professionally edited, designed, and published with worldwide distribution. I believe this process should be an enjoyable and collaborative partnership. Many authors bring me repeat business, for which I am truly thankful.

The following testimonial from Dr. Theresa Regan PhD, captures the essence of what this editing/publishing journey can be like. She is the author of Soul Cries and Understanding Autism in Adults and Aging Adults“I am a busy mother and professional who has published two books, one through a larger self-publishing service and my second through IndieGo Publishing with Janet Angelo. Janet’s services stand out from the rest for many reasons, and I am thoroughly pleased with the results. She offers that great balance of close and timely involvement but with enough space for my own creative process and busy schedule. With IndieGo Publishing, I received multiple layers of editing including developmental editing to help me with the flow of ideas and overall construction, as well as copyediting for grammar and punctuation. She educated me about how to market my book successfully and offered creative suggestions about interior and exterior design that were very important to my own process and the final product. Working with Janet, I have developed a creative relationship to walk through the entire process of publishing and to support the final product. I already have an idea for my next book and can’t wait to publish with Janet in the future. I recommend her without reservation.”

If you’ve been looking for an absolute perfectionist of an editor who is talented, experienced, and collaborative, I would love to have the opportunity to earn your business. I will work with you to make your book the best it can be. I’ve edited hundreds of books of all genres since 2005. You can learn more about my editing process here: I Love Being a Book Editor. On that page, you’ll see a clickable image titled Books Edited by Janet Angelo, which opens a slideshow in a separate tab. My Publishing Services page describes all the publishing services I provide for a cost that is very reasonable compared to what you would spend if you purchased each service individually and project managed everything yourself, which comes with a steep learning curve! I can manage all the details so that you can have peace of mind knowing that a dedicated professional is keeping everything on track, freeing you to immerse yourself in creativity.

I would love to help you achieve your publishing goals and dreams. Please write to me at indiegopublishing@gmail.com to learn how I can tailor the publishing experience to your book. Let’s get started today!


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Contact Us  |  Membership  |  Donate  |  Volunteer  |  Merchandise  |  FAQ

Bike Index Indy

News / 2013 / September
September 25, 2013
by Oran Sands   |   0 COMMENTS
"Open Streets Indy is a community event that provides an opportunity for physical activity in a fun, safe environment," said Megan Treida, who is organizing the event on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine. "Bring your bike or your dancing shoes and check it out."
September 23, 2013
by   |   0 COMMENTS
Please take time to help out the city do their bi-annual bike counts. If we want to grow the bicycle network it helps to measure the growth in usage and that is where you and I come in. Take some time on 10/8 or 10/12 to help do counts.
September 20, 2013
by Oran Sands   |   0 COMMENTS
NUVO's blog by Katelyn Coyne has a interesting take on commuting this week.

Dear IndyGo Bus Operator,

When you came up behind me and honked your horn during my morning commute, it startled me - so much in fact that I lost my shoe. I attempted to pedal (shoeless and rather unsuccessfully) to the side of the road in the middle of the morning rush. When the bus that you were driving came within inches of taking my life, it upset me.
September 13, 2013
by Oran Sands   |   0 COMMENTS
While taking part in the Open Streets Indy, why not build a set of bike buckets from reused kitty litter containers for your groceries/commuting/cold beverage hauling needs? Weather proof, versatile, and stylish, these buckets will make you the coolest kid on the block and the envy of your coworkers & neighbors.


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Tag Archives: testing

The Immense Benefit of Applying to One More College – A Natural Experiment

A college degree is more than a wall ornament – it represents immense financial benefits for graduates. These rewards have become even more apparent during the long financial downturn, which have seen widening wage and employment gaps between college graduates … Continue reading

Posted in Blog posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Thank Your Kindergarten Teacher for Your Next Pay Raise

Although motivated parents jockey to get their children into the classes with well-regarded teachers, and many education policy researchers staunchly defend the importance of high-quality teachers for student outcomes, finding evidence that quality teachers make much of a difference to … Continue reading

Posted in Blog posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

High-Stakes Admissions Testing—Alleviating or Reproducing Inequality?

Kendra Bischoff argues that high-stakes tests can play an important role in evaluating student performance, but they can also unintentionally promote educational inequality. The U.S. education system is currently in a state of flux as the Obama administration pushes reform, … Continue reading

Posted in Articles | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments


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You are here

Reading and the love of reading are core library values, and library personnel of all types can play a vital role in preparing children to read. In this workshop you will learn how to:

  • work with preschool children and their parents to promote reading;
  • support parents as children's first literacy teachers;
  • create interactions with books - and people who love books - that will increase children's motivation to learn to read;
  • make read-alouds and story hours more interactive and effective in developing prereading skills; and
  • select books - including books in languages other than English - that support reading and literacy development.

The purpose of this course is to explore the critical role libraries play in the development of literacy, and to provide library personnel with the skills they need to work confidently and effectively with children and parents.

Workshop Description: This all-day workshop will include group discussions, interactive exercises, and opportunities to learn and practice strategies that support emergent literacy. The instructor will provide handouts, a bibliography, and practical tips that can be applied immediately in your everyday work.

Preliminary Course Outline:

  • Promoting Literate Behavior
    • How literacy begins in early childhood
    • The importance of oral language development
    • How literate behaviors are modeled and learned
    • Promoting interactions with books
  • Constructing Meaning
    • How young children construct meaning from text
    • The power of illustrations
    • The use of interactive discussions
    • The modeling of early reading behaviors
  • Selecting Effective Books for Literacy Development
    • Age, primary language, gender, culture and environmental influences
    • Knowing the group to select wisely
    • Universal themes in childhood
    • Book selection to promote lifelong literacy
  • Meeting the Challenges of Working with Young Children
    • Effective techniques for managing groups
    • Simulating the "lap" in group settings

Workshop Instructor: Kathleen Evans


text:
The Effects of Dynamic Dispatch on the Degradation and Lifetime of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems

Understanding mechanisms that affect degradation and durability of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks and systems is becoming increasingly important as systems are being deployed around the world. A novel simulation approach accounting for state-of-the-art understanding of degradation mechanisms in the context of an operating SOFC system has been developed. Investigative tools simulating lifetime degradation have been applied to a physical SOFC system model designed and controlled to allow dynamic dispatch. The system was operated in two modes (a) constant power output mode, and (b) diurnal dynamic dispatch mode. Results show that on a time basis the SOFC system with dynamic dispatch proved more durable and less degraded than the system operated in constant full-power output. The net energy production was roughly equivalent between the two modes, with the dynamically dispatched fuel cell degrading slightly less and producing a greater portion of power during peak demand.

Publié dans:
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells 12 (Sofc XII), 35, 285-296
Présenté à:
12th International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), Montreal, CANADA, May 01-06, 2011
Pennington, NJ, USA, Electrochemical Society

 Notice créée le 2012-06-25, modifiée le 2018-01-28

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The Wire - December 2017

Version 5

    Welcome to The Wire

    An e-newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on ArcFM™ solutions and GIS trends, issues, and ideas that are important to busy utility and telecom professionals.

    Quick links

    In this issue...

    Link 2018: New Track, Registration Details and More!

    Link 2018 is THE event for learning how to prepare for the utility industry’s biggest changes  and trends, along with maximizing the value of your Schneider Electric solutions!

    New this year: A track dedicated to the Utility Network and the ArcFM Solution XI Series!

    This new track will inform you on what’s coming, help you prepare and plan,and highlight the new features and capabilities of the ArcFM Solution XI Series:

    • Using the Utility Network’s editing and validation
    • Maps and apps
    • Managing feeders and zones
    • And much more!

    Plus, Link 2018 will again feature the popular Training Track and Partner Track, along with lots of customer sessions to provide insight into leveraging the maximum value of ArcFM.  At the Marketplace, you’ll be able to learn about and test offerings and capabilities, as well as talk with our experts. And as always, there will be networking and social events so you can forge deeper connections with colleagues and partners.

    We’ll be releasing the full agenda soon. In the meantime, get more details  and get registered now for Link 2018!

      Link 2018
      Feb. 26-March  2, 2018
      Loveland, CO
      Learn more

    back to top »

    What’s the Buzz around ArcFM XI?

    The Utility Network will transform not just your organization but the entire industry; not just workflows but your entire approach to GIS data. In our latest webinar, we lay out our step-by-step plan to help get you to the Utility Network and the ArcFM Solution XI Series at your pace, with the least amount of disruption and maximum value.

    There’s a lot of buzz in the industry right now, so we asked webinar attendees about their worries and excitement around making the move to the Utility Network and ArcFM Editor XI, a tool focused on commissioning and editing design for GIS editors.

    Here’s what we learned…

    What proposed capability in ArcFM Editor XI is most important to you? (in order of priority)

    1.   Editing improvements including visual editing
    2.   Data quality and validation tools
    3.   Network interrogation capabilities
    4.   ADMS integration
    5.   ArcFM advanced domain asset package
    6.   Phase management solution for electric

    What aspect of moving to the Utility Network and ArcFM Editor XI keeps you up at night? (in order of priority)

    1. Software changes
    2. Integrations
    3. Data work
    4. Customizations
    5. Other
    6. Configurations (auto updaters, etc)
    7. Hardware changes
      Here at Schneider Electric, we are committed to a realistic, transparent assessment of when to move to the Utility Network and how to get there with ArcFM XI.

    View the webinar to hear more about our detailed blueprint that will help guide your transition to the Utility Network.

    back to top »

    3.jpgWebinar: Introducing ArcFM Web Workflow 5!

    We’re excited  to announce the release of ArcFM Web Workflow 5!

    Join us for an introductory look at the new client-side workflows in ArcFM Web. We’ll cover:

    • The essentials of configuration and system requirements
    • The new Workflow 5 Designer, design patterns and execution steps
    • And more!

    Register now for this first webinar in a new ArcFM Web Workflow 5 series!

      Introducing ArcFM Web Workflow 5
    Wednesday,  December 13

      11:00 a.m. MT
      Register here

    back to top »

    4.jpgUtilities Cut Response Times with Responder

    Utilities rely on Responder to detect, locate and fix outages faster, and that’s exactly what Lincoln Electric experienced when it moved from siloed legacy systems to Responder.  Crews’ awareness of where the outages occur and how to best respond has improved so much that the average response time has been cut by 1-2 days.

    For Rochester Public Utilities, one of the biggest benefits of Responder has been the move from paper-based to electronic outage management. No more paper piling up or getting lost. Instead,all outage information is entered into the database once  and shared instantly across the utility for a more accurate, consistent and efficient response plan.

    For Vero Beach, Responder is helping them better manage their crews, knowing who is at what location and what they are working on.

    To hear more  from Lincoln Electric, Rochester Public Utilities and Vero Beach about how they’ve improved their daily work with Responder, view the video!

    back to top »

    6.jpgBook a Demo with us at DistribuTECH!

    DistribuTECH 2018 showcases the latest technologies for utilities, and Schneider Electric will be there! We’ll be featuring EcoStruxure Grid and how it unites our products and equipment with edge control solutions, along with the apps, analytics and services that maximize the value of your data.

    We’ll also be featuring our latest solutions, including:

    • ADMS, DER, OMS and SCADA
    • Asset Performance Management for Generation
    • Asset Performance Management for T&D
    • Connected Distribution Equipment
    • Digital Customer Engagement
    • GIS Solutions (including ArcFM Solution XI Series)
    • Intelligent Metering
    • Microgrid solutions

    Please join us for our expert-led sessions, including:

    • Successfully Implementing Large ADMS-OMS-Mobile Projects
    • Conservation Voltage Reduction at Santee Copper
    • Back to the Future Microgrids: Technology, Business and Financial Challenges

    We love meeting with attendees, discussing how to take their utility into the future and demonstrating our latest solutions for success. But calendars fill up fast – book your demo with us today!

      Learn more!
      Book a demo!

    back to top »

    7.pngTips and Tricks: Finding Features and Locations

    Before you can edit a feature, you need to find it. The most popular ArcFM tool for finding specific features is the ArcFM Locator, Attribute Query, but there are many more specialized ArcFM and ArcMap tools to help you locate the features and places you need. Let’s take a look at one of these.

    Find  to Search All Layers
    Sometimes you need to find a specific value that might belong to features from different  layers. For example, some utilities assign the same FacilityID value to all features (pole, transformer, switch, etc.) at a specific geographic location.

    1. To search across all (or all visible) layers, click the Find tool on the Tools toolbar.
    2. When the Find window opens, go to the Features tab and enter the value you are looking for in the Find field.
    3. Choose whether to search all layers or just the layers that are currently visible. Note that if all of layers use the same name for the attribute you want to search for (e.g. "FacilityID"), then you can speed up the search by limiting it to a specific field. Otherwise, you can run the search on all attributes.
    4. Check the "Find features that are similar..." to  make this a contains search.  The Features tab search does not support wildcards.

    After you click Find, a list of matches appears at the bottom of the window. Right-click any match to Zoom to it, Select it, etc.

    Need more tips about finding features and locations? Check out the latest Tips and Tricks!

    back to top »

    Give us your feedback

    Please let us know how we can make this newsletter more helpful. Email your comments to Chris Friede.

    Don't miss an issue

    Sign up to ensure that you receive future issues of The Wiresubscribe today »

    The WireDecember 2017• Schneider Electric


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Change with the tide

It’s usually hard to adapt to changes. Change is a scary enigma. Anything can be on the other side of the mystery. But I choose to believe that the best lies ahead. Don’t resist change. God always has a plan. He knows what He is doing. Even if you don’t believe in God, just know that everything that happens, happens for a reason. And that reason is always for your betterment.

Change with the tide. Otherwise you’d be the only survivor on a sinking ship. To survive you need to swim away from what you know is going to hit rock bottom.

I’m not talking of change that your conscience tells you is wrong. I’m talking of the things that you feel might be good for you, but you’re hesitant to take that step ahead.

Why do we always second guess ourselves? It’s so easy to lay out a variety of choices ahead of us and pick one that we think is better. But usually it’s the first option that turns out to be the best one. The other choices just distract you and waste your time.

Have a confidence in yourself. You are so much smarter and  stronger than you give yourself credit for. Take a risk. Try something new. If it doesn’t turn out according to plan, that’s alright. It’s the journey that matters. So paint it in different colours and shades. In the end it will be a masterpiece to admire.

2 thoughts on “Change with the tide

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Is Technology the Answer UCCs Need for a Great Patient Experience?

Posted by Marketing on Fri, Nov, 17, 2017

Successful healthcare is arguably most effective when patients feel a personal connection with their provider. Yet, the recent 2017 HealthLeaders Media survey examined the many challenges organizations are having with building a culture of patient experience excellence.

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Tags: Patient Engagement, Patient Behavior Change, Urgent Care, Patient Experience

PatientBond Partners with CoreHealth to Motivate Employee Behavior Change in Corporate Wellness Programs Through Psychographics + Technology

Posted by PatientBond on Fri, Nov, 3, 2017

ELMHURST, IL, November 1, 2017 – PatientBond partners with CoreHealth Technologies to help employers improve their investment in corporate wellness programs by using a proprietary psychographic model proven to motivate behavior change in employees.

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PatientBond/American Heart Association CHF Readmissions Webinar Q&A

Posted by Brent Walker on Wed, Nov, 1, 2017

On Oct. 24, 2017, FierceMarkets hosted a joint webinar by PatientBond and the American Heart Association focused on reducing 30-day Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) hospital readmissions and preventing the progression of cardiovascular disease.

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Tags: Psychographic Segmentation, Reducing Readmissions, American Heart Association

PatientBond Presents at the 2017 AHA Health Tech & Innovation Forum

Posted by PatientBond on Thu, Oct, 12, 2017

The 2017 American Heart Association Health Tech & Innovation Forum was held Oct. 4-5 in Boston, Massachusetts. The annual event was designed to increase collaboration between leaders in clinical outcomes and health technology and drive consideration of how technology can measurably improve health outcomes. In attendance were nearly 200 thought leaders and C-suite executives from top healthcare institutions across the U.S.

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Are Certain Psychographic Segments Prone to High Hospital Readmissions

Posted by Brent Walker, PatientBond on Thu, Oct, 5, 2017

Preventable hospital readmissions are declining, albeit slowly. At the end of 2016, Modern Healthcare reported on the results of a study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study found that since passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and the subsequent Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program introduced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) in 2012, many hospitals have made positive strides in lowering readmission rates.

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Tags: Patient Engagement, Psychographic Segmentation

Is It Time for Your Health System to Accept Digital Payments? 💵

Posted by Brent Walker, PatientBond on Thu, Sep, 28, 2017

When observing the modern healthcare industry, you can't help but notice a fascinating paradox: It is one of the most technologically innovative sectors on the planet, yet a large portion of its billing and payment systems are notably outdated. By and large, the industry is still far too reliant upon paper-based payment administrative processes to bill and collect money from patients, and this has led to increased costs, misallocation of resources and decreased levels of patient satisfaction.

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3 Lessons from Retailers That Will Help an Urgent Care Center Thrive

Posted by Marketing on Mon, Sep, 25, 2017

Over the past few years, the brick-and-mortar retail industry has been hit hard by online competition, to the point where many people were predicting the downfall of physical stores. Obviously, that didn’t happen altogether, but some chains did fail while others survived.

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Tags: Patient Engagement, Healthcare Consumerism, Psychographic Segmentation, Healthcare Consumer Expectations, Urgent Care

How to Make Your Healthcare Facility LGBTQ-Friendly 🏳🌈

Posted by Brent Walker, PatientBond on Mon, Sep, 25, 2017

Recent research has revealed some disturbing health disparities among members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) population in the U.S. According to multiple studies, LGBTQ individuals will often delay or forego seeking medical care due to many of the stigmas and distinct issues that affect the LGBTQ population.

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Tags: Patient Engagement, Psychographic Segmentation

3 Things CPG Companies Can Teach Healthcare Providers 🛒

Posted by Brent Walker, PatientBond on Tue, Sep, 19, 2017

In recent years, the growing trend of healthcare consumerism has presented some unique challenges for healthcare organizations of all stripes. For better or for worse, the sweeping changes set into motion by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) have prompted and accelerated the practice of patients viewing their healthcare options through the lens of a value-minded consumer.

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Urgent Care Centers Should Look To Partner with Payers and Providers to Thrive

Posted by Marketing on Fri, Sep, 15, 2017

The urgent care market is exploding. According to a recent report, there are currently over 10,000 urgent care clinics (UCC) throughout the United States.

Much of this growth is due to hospitals and health systems establishing their own urgent care clinics. Unfortunately, smaller, privately owned UCCs are feeling pressure as these larger organizations enter the marketplace.

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Tags: Psychographic Segmentation, Urgent Care, Patient Relationshops, Patient Experience, Value-based Care, Patient Provider Communication, Health Demographics

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Monthly Archives: May 2012

Reusing Empty Bottles

Emptying them is fun to do, but why get rid of them afterwards? Empty bottles can be put to good use in many ways! Here are a few examples of how they can be used as really great home and garden decoration:

Wall vases

I really like this idea! You can greatly vary with the types of bottles, colors and flowers to create different settings. Via

Bottle lights

Nice and elegant repurposed hanging wine bottles with tea candles by David Guilfoose. Via

Bottle vases

Also designed by David Guilfoose, these Cut Vases (left) and Pod Vases (right) made of wine bottles look very elegant. Via

Bottle candelabra

Bottle candelabras are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes to put empty wine bottles to good, romantic use. Via

Garden border

Put empty bottles upside down in the ground to create a border. Source

Bottle plants

Make your old bottles a part of your garden by turning them into planters. To cut the bottoms off bottles, you’ll need a glass cutter, which are available at different craft stores. Via

Coat rack

Unique coat rack created by using the top portions of used bottles. Source

Bottle candles

By cutting the bottles and placing candles inside or on the bottles in different ways you can create a romantic setting, like this arrangement made by Melissa Maris.

Bottle lamps

Used bottles turned into lamps. I like the use of different colors and the soft lighting. Via

Love for Libraries

I LOVE books! Not even necessarily to read (though I love to do that too), I just like to see a lot of them together, in a library or bookstore, for instance. Every time I go on vacation, I try to visit at least one library, preferably an old one, with a lot of dark wood and old, worn books. Libraries are special and have a pleasurable atmosphere. Walking through an old library always gives me a good feeling. You can almost feel the history: all that information, all those stories, all those people who have made use of it. So for today’s post a small collection of beautiful libraries I came across which appealed to me a lot, including a few private libraries. Oh how I would love to have a big library in my home!

Library of St. Florian’s Priory

Photo by dorena-wm

This beautiful library is part of the biggest Baroque monastery in Upper Austria. It was built in the 18th century and holds around 150,000 volumes.

 Old Library – Trinity College

This is the main chamber of the Old Library of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and is called ‘the Long Room’. It dates back to the 18th century and houses over 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books. It’s really impressive to walk through it. I love the dark oak and marble busts!

The George Peabody Library

The George Peabody Library is the research library of the John Hopkins University in Baltimore. The atrium rises 61 feet above the marble floor. Completed in 1878, this library contains more than 300,000 titles.

Austrian National Library

Truly majestic: The Austrian National Library in Vienna. It’s located in the Hofburg Palace and the largest library in Austria, with around 7,4 million titles. Among its collections are manuscripts and rare books dating from the 4th century to the present.

Photo by Pez Hejduk

Melk Abbey Library

The Melk Abbey is an Austrian Benedictine Abbey and was built between 1702 and 1736. The library, which ceilings portrait beautiful fresco’s by Paul Troger, contains countless medieval manuscripts.

Clementinum Library

Clementinum is the national Library of the Czech Republic and dates back to the 16th century. Being one of the oldest public libraries in the country, it includes over 6,5 million volumes.

Royal Portuguese Library

Photo by Mathieu Struck

Photo by -S

This stunning library in the center of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was built between 1880 and 1887 in Neo-Manueline style. It holds the largest collection of Portuguese works outside Portugal: 350,000 volumes.

Private Library – Château de Groussay

This is the private library of Château de Groussay in Montfort-l’Amaury in France, built in 1815. If I could ever have a home library, I think I would want it to look something like this. Love the spiral staircases and the dark wood. Only thing missing is a large globe.

Canadian Library of Parliament

The Library of Parliament in Ottawa, Canada was completed in 1876 and is the main information and research resource for the Canadian Parliament. With around 600,000 items, it covers hundreds of years of history.

Photo by Alejandro Erickson

Joanina Library

Joanina Library, part of the University of Coimbra General Library, is a magnificent library in Baroque style which contains around 250,000 books. It was completed in 1728.

State Law Library of Iowa

The impressive five-story State Law Library of Iowa is located in the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, Iowa. It was built in 1884 in Renaissance style.

St. Gallen Abbey Library

Photo by Patrick Hauri

Another beautiful old library in Baroque style. The Abbey Library of Saint Gallen, founded in 719, is the oldest of Switzerland and one of the oldest monastery libraries in the world. It holds about 160,000 volumes, among which are manuscripts dating back to the 8th century.

Port Elizabeth Public Library

This beautiful public library in South Africa, built in late Victorian style, was officially opened in 1902.

Private Library – Richard Macksey

I find the ‘messy’ (if I may call it messy) look of this library very appealing in a way. This is the private library of Richard Macksey, professor at the John Hopkins University. Containing around 70,000 books, it’s one of the largest private libraries in Maryland. I wonder if he’s read all of them. And if there’s some sort of an organization, must be a real pain if you can’t find a book you’re looking for.

Private Library – Biltmore House

The private library at the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina contains around 10,000 volumes. Notice the beautiful color of the carved wood, the painted ceiling and of course the magnificent fireplace.

Lello Bookstore

Photo by delviking

It’s not a library, but this bookstore is definitely worth mentioning, I think. Lello is a beautiful bookstore in Porto, Portugal, which opened in 1906. Its interior looks magnificent, with a lovely red staircase as centerpiece. And look at all that carved wood!

Screw Art by Andrew Myers

I guess today’s post goes well with my previous one, Amazing 3D Wall Murals, except that this time the art is in actual 3D.

Andrew Myers uses screws to make his incredible 3D portraits. He first makes a portrait drawing on a wood panel. Then he drills screws at different depths into the wood. Each portrait is made up of thousands of screws. Every single screw is then painted with oil paint to make the portrait come alive even more. The background is made up of phone book pages.

This last portrait is called ‘Faded Thoughts’. Andrew Myers didn’t want his portraits to be “dead” anymore, so he decided to experiment and add some motion into it. Worked out pretty good I think! On his website you can find a short documentary about the process of making ‘Faded Thoughts’.

Amazing 3D Wall Murals

3D wall murals can give a place an extra dimension by giving it texture, a spacious look and entertainment value. Today’s post features a couple of those extraordinary wall murals made by trompe l’oeil (‘fools the eye’) artists. Often painted on dull, gray buildings they can really liven up the neighborhood!

The Dirt On Bishop

This 3D mural called The Dirt On Bishop is painted by artist John Pugh on a wall in Bishop, California. This layered core sample of Bishop earth represents a sedimentary survey of the town’s heritage.

Green Treasure

Another one of John Pugh‘s creations, this time assisted by artist Marc Spijkerbosch. This mural on the wall of the main library of the Rotorua Arts Commission in New Zealand portraits a previously seamless hatch that has louvered-open through a mosaic of Lake Rotorua behind which a secret world resides.

Mana Nalu Mural Project

Mural of a giant wave on the Lani Nalu Plaza building in Honolulu Hawaii, made by John Pugh with the help of several other artists.

Beautiful 3D mural by John Pugh on a wall inside an office building.

Optical illusion on the wall of Taylor Hall in Chico, California. One of John Pugh‘s old works.

Great American Crossroad

This 3D wall mural is painted by artist Eric Grohe in Bucyrus, Ohio, called Great American Crossroad. It serves as an entrance to the city as well as backdrop for numerous concerts and civic events.

55 Diamond Court

Another artwork by Eric Grohe, this time in Massillon, Ohio. It’s designed to add life and dignity to a previously nondescript corner of town.

Lions Gate Gorge

Street artist Qi Xinghua (Michael Qi) painted this enormous mural which not only is painted on a wall, but also on the floor, giving an even deeper 3D effect. With Lions Gate Gorge Xinghua set a new Guinness World Record for largest piece of street art.

Dragon Boat Festival Dragon

The dragon appears as if to be coming out of the wall. Painted by Qi Xinghua.

Nike Mural

3D Wall mural by Qi Xinghua.

Yangpu Mural

From this angle it looks pretty realistic! Made by Qi Xinghua in the Yangpu District in Shanghai.

Fresque des Québécois

[via Rambling Traveler]

This wall mural, made by CitéCréation in Quartier Petit Champlain in Old Québec, tells 400 years of Québec’s history and portraits several of Quebec’s historic figures.

Fresque du Petit-Champlain

[via Rambling Traveler]

Fresque du petit-Champlain is depicted on a wall in Rue du Petit-Champlain in Old Québec, one of the oldest streets in North America. This one recounts the history of Cap-Blanc, Québec City’s working-class waterfront neighborhood. Designed by CitéCréation.

Colorful Cities & Villages

I love colors! In every aspect of life. Every time I visit another country I really enjoy the sight of colorful architecture. That’s why I’ve made a selection of the most colorful cities and villages I could find. Enjoy!

Burano, Italy

© Copyright EMprize

Burano is an Island in the Venetian Lagoon. It actually consists of four small islands which are separated by 10 meters wide canals and linked by bridges.

Kinsale, Ireland

© Copyright Eileen Henderson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

© Copyright Sarah Smith and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Beautiful colored houses in the town center of Kinsale, located on the south coast of Ireland.

Menton, France

Also known as ‘The pearl of France’, Menton is situated on the French Riviera, along the French-Italian border.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre means ‘The Five Lands’ and consists of five villages (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) located on the Italian Riviera and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is the beautiful capital city of Sweden. Built on fourteen islands connected by bridges, Stockholm is also sometimes known as ‘the Venice of the North’.

Willemstad, Curacao

Photo by Rodry1 from nl

The historical city center of Willemstad boasts an array of colonial architecture that is influenced by Dutch styles. With its peculiar architecture and beautiful harbor entry, the center has been made a UNESCO world heritage site.

Guanajuato, Mexico

Photo by Bustamente Rosas

Guanajuato is the capital city of the Mexican state Guanajato and is characterized by its steep streets en colorful buildings.

Photo by Tim Leffel

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik is Iceland’s colorful capital city located on the south west coast.

Longyearbyen, Norway

Photo by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

Formerly known as Longyear City, Longyearbyen was founded by John Munroe Longyear in 1906, who wanted to house laborers who worked at the coal mines. It is the biggest settlement in Svalbard, Norway and the world’s northernmost city with a population above one thousand.


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Water Shortage Warning

Voluntary Restrictions

Notice – Voluntary Water Restrictions - Updated March 2017
St. Johns River Water Management District

According to information received in a report from the St. Johns River Water Management District the rainfall in our area has not been sufficient to keep us from having a water shortage this year.

Because of the predicted ware shortage the District has ask people in our area to place themselves under the guidelines of the District's "Voluntary Water Restriction".

The guidelines for these voluntary restrictions are as follows:

  1. All classes of water users are encouraged to reduce their water use and to conserve water to the maximum extent possible.

  2. All landscaping irrigation users, both residential and commercial, are urged to voluntarily reduce their water use by limiting irrigation to no more than two days each week and not to water lawns or use irrigation between the hours of 10AM and 4PM.

More voluntary or manditory restictions may come later if these restictions do not help enough in overcoming the effects of this water shortage. Please help in following the above guidelines to help insure everyone has enough water this summer.

Pam Wilburn, Town Clerk
311 Atlantic Avenue
Interlachen, FL 32148
(Tel) 386-684-3811
(Fax) 386-684-3812

UT mental sundhedstjenester http://1apotekonline.com/kamagra-2/ Medicare supplerende forsikring united healthcare


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Adjusting. Or Not.

I need to update my profile page, but I can't bear to erase "one superior feline."

I miss her. A lot. When I went down in the basement to do laundry today, there was the little nest she had in the blankets beside the washer. I kept expecting to see her. In the morning, I wait for her to come out mewing for her breakfast.

In a few days, I'll get another little earthenware pot with her ashes in it. I'm getting quite a collection of them. Mandy's is on a shelf in the kitchen and looks as if it might be sugar, or flour. Cholmondeley's is in my bedroom. I have to decide what to do with the ashes. My feeling is that Clio was probably more attached to the place than to me, and would probably like to be under a rose bush where it'll be sunny and safe. But I can't be sure. She liked being near me. The best time was before my mum died, and I used to work in the room that is now my bedroom. She was able to jump up to a shelf over my desk, and used to love lying there while I worked. She would be all relaxed, pretending to sleep, but always with one eye a little bit open so that she knew where I was and what I was doing. I wish that she and Robinson had gotten along better. Sometimes, she'd come out when he was there and rub her head under his chin and he would lick her face and everyone would be happy, but I don't think they could ever really be good friends.

And I'm not really sure about Robinson, either. Sometimes he seems happy, and at other times he seems to want to be anywhere but near me. I think of Cholmondeley, who could never bear to be more than about 5 feet from me. I would feel his eyes on me where ever I was. I think sometimes that Robinson would be perfectly happy alone on a hillside, the wind blowing through his fur, gazing off into the distance. He doesn't really want to be a house dog, I think. Yet I think he'd like me to be around somewhere, just not too close.

But then. He's just come into the study and settled down at my feet.

( 12 comments — Leave a comment )
Sep. 15th, 2008 05:50 am (UTC)
Robinson just loves you in a different way from Cholmondeley... our dog Molly is like Robinson, skittish about affection, and yet devoted in her way.

I'm very sorry that another of your companions has died. ((hugs))
Sep. 15th, 2008 06:32 pm (UTC)
Thank you *hugs* And you're right, of course.
Sep. 15th, 2008 07:05 am (UTC)
I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your Clio. She sounds like she was a beautiful, loving cat.
Sep. 15th, 2008 06:31 pm (UTC)
Thank you. She was.
Sep. 15th, 2008 10:51 am (UTC)
Gosh this was a good post...so swelled with feeling.

We have two dogs. One of them is cuddly ALL of the time...MUST be right next to us no matter what. The other one seems to loathe affection. We have to "catch" her and force her to sit on our laps if we want some closeness with her. She will tolerate it for a bit, but then she struggles free and shakes it off. But she also follows our every step, so I guess it's just her way. My point is that I guess some dogs are just more independent, and I'm sure Robinson is the same.

Your description of the laundry room without Clio was so sad. I know your heart feels truly empty right now. It would be a good time for Robinson to give you some cuddle-time....dagnabbit!
Sep. 15th, 2008 03:41 pm (UTC)
Heh - you're right. And yet he can be very sensitive. He grieved terribly when my mum died, more than Cholmondeley, who was ostensibly closer to her (she would have been astonished!). When I came home on Thursday, he seemed to sense that I needed him not to jump all over me and demand to be walked. He licked the hand that had been stroking Clio and touched me softly with his nose (all of which I'm probably hideously anthropomorphising his being curious because he could probably smell sick cat... no matter). On our walk on Saturday, he was cheerful and attentive - being a steadfast companion on adventures is what Robinson does best :)
(Deleted comment)
Sep. 15th, 2008 06:25 pm (UTC)
*hugs* back :)
lidocafe has very kindly offered to pick them up for me. She did that for Cholmondeley's, and then held me while I sobbed over them in the car. I think I feel a little stronger about these ones, and we shall see if I can manage it. I still have to pay the vets, too - they kindly let me go without paying on Thurs, so probably I should do that when I pick up the ashes. But it's nice to know that Ms Lido is there if I need her :)

At least they're nice urns. They're all from the same place, and they match. And actually kind of go with the colours I like to have around me, so that's good. Mandy's is a pretty small jar. I think Clio's will be even smaller...
Sep. 15th, 2008 05:42 pm (UTC)
When our dog, Molly, was cremated, we put her in a pot and planted a bush in it that had blue flowers. She had one blue eye that always stood out at you so it seemed appropriate. Bizarrely, we later put my nan in there with her, since my nan loved to sit and talk to Moplly-in-the-pot that seemed like it was appropriate too. I think she would've liked that idea.
Whatever you do, try and find something particular to each one - something that will raise a smile when you think of it.
Sep. 15th, 2008 06:30 pm (UTC)
In a pot with a plant!! That's a good idea. I've been fretting about putting any of my animals in my garden in case I move eventually. Cholmondely's going to be scattered whereever I am, because that's what he would want, but that's an excellent solution for Clio. I can put her in the garden now, where she liked to hang out, but take her with me if I move! Yay.
Sep. 16th, 2008 01:44 am (UTC)
I also like the idea of a pot. Even though she's only nine and hopefully still with me for a while, losing my other cat when she was so young has made me try to imagine losing Ruby. I can't quite do it, but I have thought about putting her in a pot with one of the plants she wasn't allowed to eat and saying, There, it's finally yours!

Regarding her being more attached to the place than to you, well, I think some of us underestimate cat's attachments to people. Maybe they're not as likely to follow people, but one can be attached and not needy. That's why those cat and dog cliches have never seemed convincing to me. I think it's more that a cat inhabits your space the way another person would. They think their homes are theirs as much as they are ours, and they know parts of the home that we hardly notice, so you're right that where she is important. But I guarantee that she loved you, specifically you, as you did her.
Sep. 16th, 2008 07:57 pm (UTC)
I have 'memory boxes' where the animals' personal things go: collars, special toy, a bit of their coat. I have a friend whose husband can make a box however I want it so I generally have him make one that can hold a picture of the animal in the lid. Then the special items are inside and the box can go in the cabinet with the special ribbons and other animal things. The ashes are less important to me because I hold them more in my heart than in a physical setting. The memory box is there if I feel the need to hold a piece of them...collars always seem so personal for some reason...they probably soak up the animal's aura or something!
Sep. 17th, 2008 02:35 am (UTC)
Thanks. That's a very nice idea...

( 12 comments — Leave a comment )

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