Author Archives: beth

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About beth

Ann Arbor-ite writes about enjoying life with all of its ironies and surprises.
Aug6

ticket to nowhere.

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Taiwan continues to cater to the needs of its travel-starved population by offering yet another aviation experience that doesn’t actually take you anywhere. Following up on an offer in July, in which the public was able to check in and board a grounded airplane in Taiwan’s Sonshan Airport, one airline has just upgraded the faux travel experience by offering an actual flight — to nowhere.

EVA Air, one of the biggest carriers in Taiwan, is offering the special journey on August 8 (Father’s Day in Taiwan) to help satisfy its customers’ travel itch. The trip will take around three hours, with the flight taking off from Taipei Taoyuan Airport, then circling the skies before returning to the same airport. If it’s a clear day, passengers will be able to take in views of several Taiwan attractions including Guishan Island and the scenic Huadong coastline, as well as other nearby islands.

Passengers will be flying on the “super popular” Hello Kitty Dream jet.The plane bears EVA Air’s special Sanrio-themed livery. An A330, it features many Sanrio characters including Hello Kitty, My Melody (Hello Kitty’s BFF), as well as Little Twin Stars’ Kiki and Lala. They can expect Hello Kitty in-flight amenities, free WiFi for texting and an inflight entertainment system that is usually reserved for long-haul flights. Inflight dining is another highlight of the trip, offering a choice of two main courses created by a 3-star Michelin chef.

The flight will be operated under flight number BR5288. Why? When spoken, it sounds like “I love dad” in Chinese. An economy class ticket is $180. Passengers can choose to upgrade their seats to business class for an additional $34.

International tourism has been effectively stopped in much of the world as countries shut their borders to stem outbreaks of Covid-19 and Taiwan is no exception. The island locked down its borders in March amid the growing coronavirus pandemic. Foreign nationals are still banned from visiting the island at this time.

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“you know the actor, john garfield? in one movie he walked up to this train station, the ticket booth, and the guy says, “yes, where are you going?” and he says, “i want a ticket to nowhere.” i thought, that’s it. i want the freedom to do that. i want a ticket to nowhere.”   -wayne shorter

 

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photo and story source: cnn travel

Aug5

coffee talk.

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nothing like a bit of coffee talk between friends

to restore your balance and make for a great day. 

 

 

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“as long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be?”

-cassandra clare, City of Ashes

 

 

 

 

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art credit: ryan conners, painting, midsommer 2019, cat art

Aug4

honor.

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no finer way to honor this hero

“the vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.”

-john lewis

 

 

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image credit: michigan theatre, ann arbor, michigan, usa

Aug3

down to earth.

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a sidewalk homage to success 

as the first spaceX crew dragon spacecraft “Endeavour” with a human crew

returns american nasa astronauts and best friends, bob and doug, to earth 

 

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“i don’t know what you could say about a day in which you have seen four beautiful sunsets.”

– john glenn,  american astronaut

 

 

 

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photo credit: nasa.gov (Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley- astronauts)

Aug2

warmth.

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when in london many years ago

i happened upon these two in a park

struck by the natural warmth between them

i took this picture without their knowing

hoping i could somehow capture

the closeness 

the easy comfort

between them

in that moment in time

 it was simply impossible to do so

but every time i look at this

it makes me feel that warmth again

just for a moment.  

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“there is a certain phase in the life of the aged

when the warmth of the heart seems to increase in direct proportion with the years.”

-john phillips marquand

Aug1

bigger.

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when you just can’t make it out to the store to get a card

you use what you have. 

 

 

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“always make sure your heart is bigger than your head.”

-tony oiler

Jul31

get in the way.

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The Bloodiest Sunday 

Bloody Sunday was a cruel incident that occurred on March 7, 1965  in Selma, Alabama. Six hundred orderly protesters were ready to march to Selma on a Sunday to support the Voting Rights Movement. They were led by John Lewis, SNCC, and SCLC activists. All six hundred of them crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, but were blocked by Alabama State Troopers. The police commanded them to turn around, but the protesters refused. The police say ‘they had no choice’ other than to start shooting teargas into the crowd, and beating the non-violent protesters. Sadly, they hospitalized over sixty people. To this day, Lewis still has a visible scar on his forehead from Bloody Sunday. This week, I watched as you made one final trip over that bridge, in your casket, with Alabama State Troopers saluting you, and people holding you in their hearts for all you did for them. You will always be remembered as a brave and compassionate leader who truly led by example.

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RIP, John Lewis, thank you for always getting in the way, and showing us how it’s done.

 

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“you must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way… to get in the way.”

-john lewis

Jul30

being empty.

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aftermath of our afternoon trip down the river – 2020 style

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what started out as a promising enterprise

full of air and up on top

 waylaid by the first set of cascades

day’s lazy dreams dashed against the rocks

so quickly deflated

 yet just as suddenly

floated back up

found a way 

after all

not as planned

this will always be remembered as the year that was

for so many reasons

that taught us how to make it to the end

safety vests strapped on and fingers crossed

even if we had to body surf our way through it

or borrow a raft now and then. 

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“there is even rhythm in being empty.”

-miyamoto musashi

Jul29

chew n’ brew.

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Fried Beer- a crispy creation that lets you bite into your brew.

You receive a plate of fried, ravioli-shaped dough with a dark filling. You take a bite expecting meat and are met with the flavor of warm, rich stout. Welcome to the world of fried beer.

Fried beer is the brainchild of Mark Zable, who debuted his creation at the Texas State Fair in 2010 and won that year’s Most Creative award (an honor also bestowed tofried Coke in 2006). Even for those who might be skeptical of the culinary appeal, one has to admire the logistics of deep-frying a liquid. It would be easy to simply fry a beer-based batter, but fried beer keeps the brew—Guinness, to be specific—intact while frying the pretzel dough around it. This is no easy task. It took Zable three years to figure it out. Although he won’t reveal the exact recipe, speed is key. Each nugget of beer-filled dough should be deep-fried for no more than 20 seconds.

And just how does it taste?  Zable says, “It tastes like you took a bite of hot pretzel dough and then took a drink of beer.”

Have your ID handy. You must be 21 or older to enjoy fried beer.

 

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“food is vital, but also associated with enjoyment. ”    

– grethe berg

 

 

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credits: David Berkowitz, Gastro Obscura 

Jul28

secret forts.

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grandie j heads out

mohawk helmet on

backpack filled

with pokemon cards, water, hope

off on his bike to meet friends 

at their ‘secret fort’

in the neighborhood.

after he makes his grand exit

grandie b, left behind, shares –

“we all have the same secret fort, but no one knows it.”

 

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“well i know the secret places. and the nests in hedge and tree;

at what doors are friendly faces, in what hearts are thoughts of me.”

-henry wadsworth longfellow