Oh, December - I both love and despise you.

I despite the dark, cold and gloomy days, filled with rain and fog here in Seattle. I love to look at the snow (it only snows here occasionally), but hate the way the city comes to a standstill because we don't have equipment, manpower, or plans to deal with it.

But, on the other hand, the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year and the longest night) will be here on December 21st. That means we are creeping ever so slowly into longer hours of daylight.

I love this festive time of year - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, various national celebrations, and New Years Eve.

For me, December is a time to reflect on what I hope has been a year well-lived. To take stock of where I am and where I want to be. To enjoy the love and laughter of family and friends. And to plan for the year to come.

Do you have special traditions or routines for December?

Till next time,

Mary Jo & Tony

​

Have You Read:

2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers I’m a big fan of the “you don’t need more stuff” philosophy. But, there are some things that things that make my business, travel, and home life simpler, easier, and better. I've included them in this year's holiday gift guide. There are a few splurges, but most of these are reasonably priced, so you'll still have money for travel. Read story

What You Need to Know for Travel to Kazakhstan Travel to Kazakhstan may take a bit more of an effort than countries in Western Europe, but its location is one of many things that make it a fascinating and unusual place to visit. I visited Kazakhstan for a week, primarily staying in its largest city – and former capital – Almaty. Take a listen to this radio show about my experience. ​ ​ Read story

Bulgarian Wine: An Introduction to the Wines of Bulgaria Bulgaria and wine are not generally two words that you’ll find next to each other in the same sentence. But there was a time when the Bulgarian wine industry was the 4th largest in the world. Get info you need to see if you can sample a few bottles at home. Read story

Here's what else is going on:

Traveling: Caribbean

Time for a little warm weather packing, as we get ready to head to Barbados for a couple of days, followed by a week sailing on the Royal Clipper. The square rigger sailing ship has 42 sails, three swimming pools, and all the amenities of a private yacht. Maximum capacity is 227 guests. Our Windward Islands itinerary sails out of Bridgetown, Barbados, with stops in St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, Iles des Saintes, and Martinique - ALL new destinations for us. We'll be sharing on Instagram, me (@travelingwithmj) and Tony (@anthonylmanzanares), so follow along. You can see our itinerary here.

​

Reading: Inside Threat by Matthew Quirk

An attack on the White House sends the President and his top aides to take shelter in a top secret government facility buried deep underground—but they soon discover the threat is locked inside with them.

Lots of twists and turns in this political thriller, leaving me wondering just who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. I like the genre, and chose this one after watching the limited series The Night Agent, based on a book by this same author. The film rights to this book have also been sold, so I'll be looking for it to pop up on the big (or little) screen.

I'm putting the finishing touches on what will be the 7th annual travel reading challenge. The list of new prompts, 30 in total - 24 basic and 6 advanced - will be published on January 1st. If you want an early peek at the challenges, maybe a head start to planning your 2024 reading, you can sign up for the the challenge newsletter here. Advanced notice of the list will go out shortly before Christmas.

Watching: Julia (HBO Max)

As a foodie, I am immensely enjoying this dramedy series about Julia Child and her show, The French Chef. So many things that we now take for granted about public television, food shows, and filming, were pioneered by the launch and evolution of her show.

She's bawdy, irreverent, fiercely devoted to family and friends, with an endearing insecurity that makes her imminently likeable. Two seasons are out already, with a third likely to be announced, so I have a lot of French food to look forward to.

Listening: My Name is Barbra

In this audio book, Barbra Streisand tell her life story in a way that makes me feel like we are sitting down for a chat. She talks about growing up in Brooklyn, her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs, her breakout performance in Funny Girl, her industry friendships, political advocacy, and her marriage to actor James Brolin.

It is opinionated, direct, and funny. It's read in a way that's makes it sound like she's just telling us stories. If she weren't a reclusive mega-star, she'd be someone I'd want to hang out with.

At 48 hours in length, listening to the book is a commitment. I'm not even half way through, but am enjoying every bit of it.

​

Till next time --

Mary Jo

SPONSOR: Leo's Loo Too

Developed by a cat lover, every detail has been thoughtfully considered in this connected version of the original flagship product, including industry leading UV technology that kills up to 99.9% of bacteria, automatic sifting after each visit from kitty, triple-layer safety protection, odor-reducing UV light, and modern design. The app monitors usage frequency and allows for custom settings. It's even Alexa and Google Home compatible!

​

4946 SW 329th Way, Federal Way, WA 98023
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​