Uber is awesome, isn’t it? No matter what area of the world you’re in, you can open the Uber app on your phone and find someone to give you a ride. Usually within minutes! Except…when there is no Uber!!! I know, I know: it’s hard to believe. But it’s true! I arrived at the Austin airport a few weeks ago, …
Ninja Travel Skills for Coping with Cancelled Flights
In all my years of flying, cancelled flights have been an anomaly…but they do happen. In fact, I’m sitting in the United Club lounge at the moment, waiting for a flight to take me to DC, where I should have been delivered yesterday. The problem? A huge-ass thunderstorm descended upon central Texas, snarling up departures and arrivals from Dallas to …
The Top 3 Items I Pack in My Suitcase for Emergencies
I am a travel junkie. A few months ago, I realized I had flown over a million miles. I’ve lived in North America, South America, Central America, and Europe. I’ve circumnavigated the globe on numerous occasions…in both directions. And as of this winter, I will have set foot on all seven continents. In short, I have a roll-aboard bag…and I’m …
Be Victim-Proof: Seven Tips for Staying Safe in Parking Areas
Ah, your friendly neighborhood mall parking lot. Who among us hasn’t experienced the joys of circling for endless minutes looking for an empty space? How long has it been since you managed to avoid acquiring new dents in your doors? When was the last time you were cut off by a clueless fellow driver? Yes, parking lots can be huge …
Everyday “SA” – Situational Awareness for Aspiring Jane Bournes
“I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed, and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab of the gray truck outside….” –Jason Bourne, The Bourne Identity Wouldn’t …
Hiking Calamities: How to Avoid Them…and How to Handle Them
A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, I used to get paid to hike. For over a decade, I was a professional biologist who spent a buttload of time in the field. I searched for plants. I collected data on plants. I collected plant samples and took them back to the lab for analysis. And I …
Google Maps Is Making Us Stupid! Three Steps to Repair the Damage
For me, it started with Mapquest. I am famous among my friends for getting lost on city streets, so for me, the advent of an online mapping website was a godsend. How awesome that I could punch in a starting address and an endpoint, and voila! I knew exactly how to get to my destination…and I knew how long it …
Seminar Survival: How to Survive a Seminar without FREEZING to Death!
To paraphrase the illustrious Mark Twain: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in a SEMINAR ROOM.” We’ve all been there, right? It’s 90 degrees outside, yet inside the seminar area, it’s so cold you can practically see your breath. And this phenomenon isn’t unique to seminars. Conventions, conference rooms, movie theaters…so many places that we frequent in …
Everything You Wanted to Know about the Zika Virus…but Were Afraid to Ask
♦ READING TIME: 5 min, 25 sec Ah, the tropics! Sun, sand, surf…and now, Zika virus. One of the main messages I trumpet is the importance of being able to take care of yourself, regardless of the situation. And this includes in the realm of travel. When we hit the road, we’re away from our home base. We’re off balance. …
Using Everyday Life to Hone your Emergency Preparedness Skills
When I meet someone for the first time and tell them that I teach emergency preparedness skills, their responses usually fall into two camps: They’re totally onboard already, and would I like to visit their retreat bunker in the woods to dine on some delectable vintage canned rations? They know they should do something to prepare for emergencies, but it’s …