Why we need to stay in Iraq

The Left's Iraq Muddle
By BOB KERREY
May 22, 2007; Page A15
At this year's graduation celebration at The New School in New York, Iranian lawyer, human-rights activist and Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi delivered our commencement address. This brave woman, who has been imprisoned for her criticism of the Iranian government, had many good and wise things to say to our graduates, which earned their applause.
But one applause line troubled me. Ms. Ebadi said: "democracy cannot be imposed with military force."
What troubled me about this statement -- a commonly heard criticism of U.S. involvement in Iraq -- is that those who say such things seem to forget the good U.S. arms have done in imposing democracy on countries like Japan and Germany, or Bosnia more recently.

Let me restate the case for this Iraq war from the U.S. point of view. The U.S. led an invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein because Iraq was rightly seen as a threat following Sept. 11, 2001. For two decades we had suffered attacks by radical Islamic groups but were lulled into a false sense of complacency because all previous attacks were "over there." It was our nation and our people who had been identified by Osama bin Laden as the "head of the snake." But suddenly Middle Eastern radicals had demonstrated extraordinary capacity to reach our shores.
As for Saddam, he had refused to comply with numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions outlining specific requirements related to disclosure of his weapons programs. He could have complied with the Security Council resolutions with the greatest of ease. He chose not to because he was stealing and extorting billions of dollars from the U.N. Oil for Food program.
No matter how incompetent the Bush administration and no matter how poorly they chose their words to describe themselves and their political opponents, Iraq was a larger national security risk after Sept. 11 than it was before. And no matter how much we might want to turn the clock back and either avoid the invasion itself or the blunders that followed, we cannot. The war to overthrow Saddam Hussein is over. What remains is a war to overthrow the government of Iraq.
Some who have been critical of this effort from the beginning have consistently based their opposition on their preference for a dictator we can control or contain at a much lower cost. From the start they said the price tag for creating an environment where democracy could take root in Iraq would be high. Those critics can go to sleep at night knowing they were right.
The critics who bother me the most are those who ordinarily would not be on the side of supporting dictatorships, who are arguing today that only military intervention can prevent the genocide of Darfur, or who argued yesterday for military intervention in Bosnia, Somalia and Rwanda to ease the sectarian violence that was tearing those places apart.
Suppose we had not invaded Iraq and Hussein had been overthrown by Shiite and Kurdish insurgents. Suppose al Qaeda then undermined their new democracy and inflamed sectarian tensions to the same level of violence we are seeing today. Wouldn't you expect the same people who are urging a unilateral and immediate withdrawal to be urging military intervention to end this carnage? I would.
American liberals need to face these truths: The demand for self-government was and remains strong in Iraq despite all our mistakes and the violent efforts of al Qaeda, Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias to disrupt it. Al Qaeda in particular has targeted for abduction and murder those who are essential to a functioning democracy: school teachers, aid workers, private contractors working to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure, police officers and anyone who cooperates with the Iraqi government. Much of Iraq's middle class has fled the country in fear.
With these facts on the scales, what does your conscience tell you to do? If the answer is nothing, that it is not our responsibility or that this is all about oil, then no wonder today we Democrats are not trusted with the reins of power. American lawmakers who are watching public opinion tell them to move away from Iraq as quickly as possible should remember this: Concessions will not work with either al Qaeda or other foreign fighters who will not rest until they have killed or driven into exile the last remaining Iraqi who favors democracy.
The key question for Congress is whether or not Iraq has become the primary battleground against the same radical Islamists who declared war on the U.S. in the 1990s and who have carried out a series of terrorist operations including 9/11. The answer is emphatically, "yes."
This does not mean that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11; he was not. Nor does it mean that the war to overthrow him was justified -- though I believe it was. It only means that a unilateral withdrawal from Iraq would hand Osama bin Laden a substantial psychological victory.
Those who argue that radical Islamic terrorism has arrived in Iraq because of the U.S.-led invasion are right. But they are right because radical Islam opposes democracy in Iraq. If our purpose had been to substitute a dictator who was more cooperative and supportive of the West, these groups wouldn't have lasted a week.
Finally, Jim Webb said something during his campaign for the Senate that should be emblazoned on the desks of all 535 members of Congress: You do not have to occupy a country in order to fight the terrorists who are inside it. Upon that truth I believe it is possible to build what doesn't exist today in Washington: a bipartisan strategy to deal with the long-term threat of terrorism.
The American people will need that consensus regardless of when, and under what circumstances, we withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq. We must not allow terrorist sanctuaries to develop any place on earth. Whether these fighters are finding refuge in Syria, Iran, Pakistan or elsewhere, we cannot afford diplomatic or political excuses to prevent us from using military force to eliminate them.

Food For Thought

I've been thinking. (Yes. I am aware how dangerous that is.) What do we really know about ourselves? What I mean is, we know some of human history and we can speculate on time before that, but have we changed much over the millenia? Are our emotional responses and thought processes consistent over time?

There may be no way to know but here is why I ask:

We control or attempt to control so much of our environment today. I don't mean our tree hugging, Al Gore loving environment, although that is part of it. I mean our means of travel, our intake of food, our health, our births, and even our deaths. We live in a media frenzy, 24 hour a day world of celebrities and bling bling. I wonder if the Western world has lost touch with....well, life. Are we really better off now that we all can expect to live to 75+? Are we happier than we were 200 years ago? 2000 Years ago? Does anything we do and experience have any real meaning and substance behind it?

Were we happier when life was about living day-to-day?

Management 101

I do not profess to be a management expert. And, no, I am not a HR professional. However I know common sense and I am amazed at how many companies do not use any when handling their employees.

A company's employees are its greatest asset yet so many organizations view their employees as disposable, something that is to be used up and thrown away when "no longer useful". Have these company's stopped to think that maybe the "usefulness" of the individual employees is linked to the way their employers treat them? That maybe, the employee would be a better producer if they just were given some slack and less stress?

I have worked for some very large companies and at least a couple of small, family owned businesses. I have worked for slave driving contractors, and for sales divisions I would only hear from once per quarter. Regardless of pay, the best companies have been those with a family like atmosphere where the employer understood the pressures of work and family and did not add to the stress.

So, for what it is worth, here are some suggestions:

1) Don't mess with paychecks. If an employee deserves a raise in pay then give it to them. If the employee just doesn't measure up, then let them go. People need stability in life and far too many of us live paycheck-to-paycheck. A cut in pay can be like a knife through the heart. This is unfair and unethical.

1A) Don't mess with benefits. (See item 1) If you hire an employee and are giving them a certain level of benefits DO NOT later shift the burden to the employee. If benefit costs increase then absorb them or pass them on to the customer. DO NOT make your employees make up the difference. This too is unfair and borderline unethical.

2) If an employee is sick then leave them alone! I am not suggesting that you look away when you have someone who is constantly taking sick leave. I am saying give the employee the peace of mind that they can relax and get well without fearing you. And, whatever you do, NEVER dock pay. Again, it would be better to just let them go.

3) Inclement weather happens. Don't blame your employees if they are not comfortable driving in snow or ice. I have always felt that if an employee doesn't want to drive then the world is better off if they don't. It is not necessary to make the individual feel any stress over the situation. They will get enough of that when they come in the next day and face those who did make it in.

4) Employees actually do have lives. The best thing an employer can do for an employee is be understanding. Many of us have kids. We have spouses. We have homes. We have cars. We need time away from work. Life is stressful enough. If their water heater springs a leak or if their car breaks down, WORK WITH THEM. Charging them a vacation day or docking their pay is just wrong!

I could go on and on and maybe I have rambled a bit. I suppose what I want to say is that I value those who work for me and I respect them as individuals. I want my employees to know that I understand that work is just a part of their lives and I appreciate the time they give me.

Thank you!

Venice Italy !!!

Ahhh Venice. This great city of interlaced canals is one of the most romantic places in the world. One can find young couples being serenaded while drifting along aboard a gondola, or enjoying a romantic dinner at any one of the dozens of cafes that dot the city.

If you have ever seen a picture of Venice then you basically know what it looks like. The only thing that is not obvious is its size. Venice is not a large city. The population of the historic section is about 62,000 people. However, it is crowded.

There really are no streets in Venice. The canals substitute quite well. What would be considered streets are actually wide sidewalks, or narrow alleys. As you might imagine, they become difficult to traverse when tourists are out in force. Of course, there are always thousands of tourists so it is always crowded.

The easiest way to get around is by water taxi. These can be found along the Grand Canal and can drop you wherever you like. The smaller, romantic, gondolas are intended for leisurely rides and are quite a luxury. Do not expect to pay less than $100 for a short gondola ride. In reality, you will likely pay double for you and a significant other for this experience.

Should you consider bringing young children, don't!! Well, actually, Venice is a great place for kids and we have fond memories of our two angels chasing pigeons in St Marks Square. The problem is that strollers don't like the endless maze of alleys and thousands of steps on the bridges. The same problem goes for older kids who just get abused by the endless walking. Think twice before bringing young children...

Some say that Venice is expensive. I will agree only when it comes to room rates. You will pay better than $250 per night for a small room within the historic section. Other than that, Venice was very reasonable. The restaurants and shops are very competitive and many will negotiate prices so bargains can be had.

Back to the historic section rooms.....I would avoid them. The reason for that is there is no easy way to navigate your way on foot and add to that all of your luggage, etc and you have the makings of a disaster. We stayed outside the city in Quarto d'Altino and took a train in. The 30 minute ride was well worth the peace of mind. You do not want to drive. First of all, you can't get a car into the historic section. And, parking is twice as much as it cost to train my entire family in to the city. Just watch for transit strikes. These apparently can occur at any time and we experienced a spontaneous strike our first day there.

So, if you are going to Venice:
1) Leave the kids at home
2) Stay outside the city
3) Ride the train
....And
4) Bring loads of money.
Although Venice was not super expensive there is plenty of shopping and eating to be done!!!

Ciao!!!

Where is Chris Cherubin ???

Wow! I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post. Basically, I have been busy with my work and with projects at home.

My wife and I have been looking for a new home for some time now and are beginning to wonder if we will find what we are looking for. It is more likely that we will have to create our dream home and thus the lack of time lately. We need to find where first and that eats up a ton of time.

In between working and house hunting I have been busy fixing up our home for resale. The way I see it, even if we don't sell anytime soon we will at least have fresh paint and decorating to look at. In addition, I have been slowly weeding out all the crap we have accumulated. We will be having a yard sale/moving sale in the Spring.

I'll keep you posted.

The Underground

If you find yourself in London and think how nice it would be to take a drive around town, DON'T!!! I have seen hell and it is the city of London or, more specifically, the streets of London.

London is well known for its sites. Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, these are all well known tourist destinations. Equally well known is the London Underground which is the Subway system in London. There is a reason why. No one in their right mind would want to drive in this city.

London is big, real big! Greater London has a population exceeding seven million people and the city sprawls over 609 square miles. That information in itself is not enough to portray the daunting task of navigating the city by car. New York, Rome and Paris are also big cities but are much , much easier to get around for three simple reasons. Their roads are, for the most part, straight, they have street signs, and pedestrians don't control the traffic.

The first thing you will notice when driving in London is that there is a shortage of street signs. It is not that there are none because that would be better than the fact that you are teased by marked streets only to have them suddenly unmarked. I spent two and a half hours exiting London by car only because I never knew what street I was on. And, because, they have no grid system, the streets meander and curve and seem to go in no direction and all directions at the same time. Adding to the frustration is the fact that pedestrian crossings appear every few feet and they have lights that are controlled by the pedestrians. Any one person can stop traffic at the push of a button.

In the center of London there is a congestion toll levied on cars driven into the city. When coupled with the lack of signs, it begins to appear to be a conspiracy against drivers. There may be some truth to that because the taxi industry in London is a very powerful lobby. Taxi companies want you to need them.

The obvious conclusion is to "ride the tube". This is not the title of an adult film but rather a term that means take the subway. The London Underground is extremely efficient. There are few stoppages, the trains cover the entire Greater London area, and they are prompt. If nothing else, the Brits pride themselves on keeping to time tables.

So, if you ever find yourself in London, forget the car and ride the tube. You will thank me.

Cheers!

Major Dick Winters

His name often comes up in conversations about leadership and ethics, especially within military circles. Many of you recognize the name as that of a "character" from the book and HBO series "Band Of Brothers", but Dick Winters is a real live person. Although now an old man (he is 89) the central Pennsylvania resident is a living icon.

I have a new found respect for Major Winters and his "Band Of Brothers, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne Division. What Major Winters and the rest of "Easy" company accomplished, not to mention millions of other men at the time, still affects our daily lives. It can even be said that I can write this blog because of the efforts of people like Dick Winters.

We, as Americans, should be thankful for the sacrifices of men and women in the U.S. military. Sacrifices of yesterday and of today. One way we could express that thanks is to visit the official Dick Winters website http://www.majordickwinters.com/ and sign the petition to have this great man recognized for his efforts that fateful day back in June 1944.

For more information about Major Winters and "Easy" company, there are several books that are must reads; "Band Of Brothers" by Steven Ambrose, "Biggest Brother" by Larry Alexander, and "Beyond Band Of Brothers" written by Dick Winters himself along with Cole Kingseed.

Thank you Major Winters.

April 17th Tax Day 2007!

For those of you who procrastinate when filing your federal income tax forms, you are in luck! Due to the 15th falling on a Sunday and Monday the 16th is Emancipation Day (a legal holiday in DC), you need not file until the 17th. You now have two additional days to panic.....

For more information and downloadable forms, visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov .

Internet Security. The tortoise and my lack of hair!

I wonder if the purpose of new enhanced security online isn't really to get us offline!

I am one who fears not the hackers and evil doers of the World Wide Web. Maybe I am just naive but I surf with reckless abandon, trusting in my firewalls and cautiously chosen passwords. I live online. I educate myself online. I schedule my vacations online. From banking, to buying, to selling, I use the Internet to manage my life. I often surf myself to sleep.

Recently I have begun to notice an increase in security measures being implemented. First it was one of my credit card companies. I used to be able to log on to their site with a username and password to access my accounts. They now require that I answer a different specific fact about my account in addition to the username and password each time I log on. Another similar situation is with my mobile phone account. A username and password is no longer enough. I now have to enter a four digit PIN as well.

Those are just two of at least a half dozen examples I could name. I find it hard to believe that all of the additional security is necessary and, if it is, I doubt it will be enough. The additional security is having the opposite effect of the original intent. If the purpose of providing online access is to make our lives easier to manage, then the new security measures make me long for the old way of just picking up the phone.

Just this past Saturday, I attempted to access my checking account and was told that I needed to change my password due to a password time limit. I had never seen that before but was not surprised. After doing so, I was asked a "secret" question, which I answered correctly. I am then asked to identify a picture that I had chosen before. I do so. Then I enter my new password, and I get a warning. "This account is locked". No reason. No direction in what to do next. I call the toll free help line and they are closed until Monday! I now have to call in to handle my transaction. Wow. Isn't that how I used to do it?

Is this better? Is this faster? Why bother?

In the past month and a half I have seen this type of event unfold at least four times. The more secure the site, the more likely you won't get in. I know that it is supposed to be that way for the hackers of the world but not for me when it's my account!

And, assuming all of this added security is necessary, why can't all of these companies standardize on things like password length and configuration. Just for my employer, I need to remember six different usernames and passwords. That is six different usernames and passwords that I have to enter on a daily basis and change on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis depending on the access level.

I guess what I am saying is that if we need to jump through all of these hoops, then maybe we shouldn't be passing any sensitive information online. And maybe that is the whole point after all.

Driving in Ireland (Why to get back on the plane)

Imagine, you have been on a transatlantic flight for six and a half hours. You left Philadelphia at 8:50 PM on a Thursday and you landed in Shannon Ireland at 8:30 AM Friday morning. You're tired. You're hungry. It's raining. Then the reality hits you. "I'm not in Kansas anymore!" You look for the Hertz car rental desk and they advise you that the actual pickup location is a bus ride away. You begin to feel the pangs. Your breathing gets heavier. Your heart begins to pound. You arrive at the pickup location and you face your fate...... You have to drive on the left side of the road.

I experienced this very chain of events last August when I arrived in Ireland with my wife and two children. Upon landing, I left my wife and two year old son at the airport with our 12 metric tons of luggage, and my daughter and I were off to retrieve the car.

Now, I can tell you that the actual driving on the left side of the road thing would not be so bad except that I had to do it from the right side of the car. And, to make matters worse, I was driving stick for the first time in three years and had to learn how to shift with my left hand.

Ahhhh, the memories. I was not out of the airport before I completely forgot everything. I was like a newborn fowl on wobbly legs. Even the turn signals were reversed! Swerving to and fro, and constantly drifting off the road, I made my way for the Irish version of a freeway. But, alas, this was not so bad. Sure, I missed an exit or two, and I was still drifting left, but I was beginning to get the hang of it. Or so I thought.

When you leave the airport at Shannon, there are giant signs saying "Drive on The Left". As you drive on you begin to see the even larger signs professing the number of tourists killed on the local roads in the past 12 months. These are not so much intended for the highway driver as they are preparation for leaving the highway.

Ireland is known for its lush beauty, rolling green hills, and magnificent cliffs. What you don't hear about is that their roads are barely a single lane wide, often lined with hedgerows, and curve and turn constantly. Most of the time you are amazed that the speed limit is set so high because no one in their right mind would dare drive that fast on these roads. As if that is not enough, The Irish must have a "Park at Will" clause because they can and will stop their cars in the middle of the lane, get out, and walk away. More than once, I was forced off road just to pass a parked car.

I hope I don't sound as if I am complaining. After all, there are like a gazillion acres of wide open space everywhere and still the roads are nine feet wide. But I will admit that once I got the hang of driving on the left, from the right, whilst shifting with the left, I became quite relaxed. You see, there is no road rage. There is no hurry to get from one point to another. The Irish are much more relaxed than we Yanks and it certainly translates on the road. If someone stops in front of you and gets out to take a stroll, you simply drive onto the sidewalk and around, and continue on your merry way. I miss driving in Ireland.

One last note. Be sure to be completely comfortable on the Irish roads before attempting a drive out to the Dingle Peninsula. The cliffs drop straight down to the ocean below and the road at points cannot accommodate two cars passing each other. It was nerve racking to say the least. However, the views were well worth it.

See ya at the pub!!!

Global Warming. Bad Science?

Here is a link to a very interesting lecture by Michael Crichton called "Aliens Cause Global Warming". It is long but well worth the read.... http://www.michaelcrichton.net/speeches/speeches_quote04.html

Hubble Telescope and Spy Satellites

This is more a question than a post. I have heard that the original flaw of the Hubble Telescope's mirror was by design. The intent was to use the instrument as a spy satellite first and astronomical observation was secondary.

The recent revelations that the latest spy satellites operated by the NRO have a similar design may add some weight to the theory.

Thoughts???

Beer and The Eiffel Tower

It is my opinion that the best place in the world to drink a beer (or several) is under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I spent an afternoon this past September doing just that.

Having arrived by train, my wife, our kids, and I began meandering the streets of Paris. We strolled along the Seine. We walked to Notre Dame and gazed at its ornate architecture. All the while, aware of the great pinnacle. The most recognizable feature of this world class city.

Eiffel's tower is truly a wonder to behold. Photographs can never do it justice and its mere presence embodies the pride of a nation. But the best part of the tower is its magnetism. People from all walks of life, and from every nation, gather at the tower as if on a pilgrimage.

We decided to take a water taxi from Notre Dame to the tower. This in itself was worth the visit to Paris. Sailing the Seine should be on everyone's to do list if for no other reason than to "see" the sites of Paris. We eventually made our way to the tower and she did not disappoint.

If you have ever waited in line to ride a roller coaster then you know what we soon realized. Getting to the top of the tower would take hours. There are three elevators but only two run at any given time. Fortunately there are stairs but they only go as far as the second level. Well at this point the two year old had fallen asleep so I volunteered to stay behind with him while my wife and daughter began climbing stairs.

As I watched them begin to slowly climb the 700+ stairs, I decided to buy a beer. If you have never been to Europe I am glad to inform you that beer can be purchased, and consumed, everywhere! For me, beer is a magical drink that allows the extrovert in me to come screaming out. I soon began to introduce myself to anyone and everyone. I felt like a new ambassador to the UN. I met people from Australia, Germany, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Spain, Zimbabwe, Kenya, oh, and France. And this was in the first twenty minutes. After a few more beers, I began to delve into politics and economics, in broken French (and slurred English), with anybody willing to listen. It was my fondest memory of Paris because I was able to relax beneath this world wonder and meet people from places I had only dreamed of.

Well, eventually my wife and daughter completed their trek and we were off to explore the other splendors of Paris. Should you decide to have a beer beneath the tower think of my experience and cherish your own. For more information visit http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/ .

Children's Birthday Parties

Please tell me. Is it me or has the whole children's birthday party thing gotten way out of hand? For those of you with children, you have likely experienced the trek to the local bowling alley, skating rink, indoor pool, or some other happy venue that a parent has gleefully booked for their child's birthday party. You may have even booked one for your child, or maybe you hired Chuckles the clown or Magnifico the magician for entertainment. What is it with the need to pluck down $200 to $500 for such events, and that often does not include plates, napkins, cake and the all so deserving gift, for the little prince or princess?

Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy a party as much as the next eight year old. But, what happened to the get together at the house? We would invite four or five of our best friends. We would play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and musical chairs. Mom would break out the white paper plates and napkins. She would put the requisite number of candles on the Betty Crocker cake she baked this morning and we would all sing Happy Birthday, open the presents, and then go home. We were able to enjoy ourselves by just being together and celebrating. I for one miss those days.

Due to this new national status symbol, we can now buy party supplies online from companies like www.favorbuckets.com or www.birthdayboutiqueonline.com . Or we can visit any of the multitude of party supply stores that exist coast-to-coast. (And don't forget Walmart)! The hope being that these outlets can make the torture of birthday party planning just that much simpler.

Hey! Where's the ice cream?

Abs of Steel

Let's face it. We all want to look the best we can. Unfortunately, for most of us, this gets harder to do as we get older. For the girls, babies and time morph themselves into the middle aged pear shape. As for us guys, many of us carry a larger spare tire than our cars. "How can we combat this" you ask???
Well, I'll leave the diet portion to the experts. As for exercising our mid-sections, here is an effective ten-step abdominal program that I have used for nearly fifteen years:

1) Seated Leg Raises (Reverse Crunches)
Sit on floor and place hands behind you. Keeping legs straight, slowly raise and lower for ten
repetitions. Then pull knees up and repeat. Alternate between straight leg and knee bent
raises. Repeat for ten repetitions in each position.

2) Leg Raises
Lay on floor with hands beneath your rear. Lift your shoulders off the floor and, keeping legs
straight, slowly raise and lower your legs for ten repetitions.

3) Crunches
Laying on floor with knees bent, slowly curl your torso up on a two count, hold for a two
count, and lower on a two count. Repeat for ten repetitions.

4) Raised Leg Crunches
Same as item #3 except bend your knees and raise your legs to form a right angle. (A good
alternate is raised, straight leg crunches). Repeat for ten repetitions.

5) Pelvic Tilts
Laying on floor with feet down and knees bent, place hands on head, and simultaneously raise your shoulders and hips off the floor. Repeat for ten repetitions.

6) Alternate Crunches
Laying on floor with feet down and knees bent, place hands on head, alternately raise your shoulders and cross over to opposite knee. Repeat for ten repetitions on both sides.

7) Bicycles
Same as item #6 but also raise opposite knee to meet elbow. (Greater isolation of
obliques). Repeat for ten repetitions on both sides.

8) Oblique Twists
While standing with feet shoulder width apart, twist from side to side without turning hips.
(May be easier with broom stick held across the shoulders or hands on the shoulders).
Repeat for ten repetitions on each side.

9) Reverse Crunches
Laying on floor with hands by your side, raise shoulders off floor and slowly pull knees up
to chest. (Two count procedure works well here also). Repeat for ten repetitions.

10) Maintain the routine

Of the ten steps, I find item # 10 to be the most difficult. Feel free to add additional sets as you become stronger and more flexible, but be sure to set aside the time (daily if possible). Commitment will bring the quickest results.

Now go get started!

Rosslare to Fishguard on the Stena Line

Ok. So how many of you have thought: "Wow. I'd love to take a ferry from Rosslare, Ireland to Fishguard, Wales."? Well, if you have, here is some useful information you will want to consider when making your plans:

1) Book Early! It may seem hard to believe but there are actually a lot of people who want to make this crossing for one reason or another. I, for one, had to so my choices were limited. None the less, if you do not book at least 24 hours in advance you may find yourself bidding bon voyage from the dock. (If by chance that does occur, you will be happy to note that the ferry port is placed in the perfect location to make access to anything else difficult at best). Don't miss the boat!

2) Arrive Early! Having a spot reserved does not guarantee you will get on the boat. There can be high demand for seats and the ferry lines will bump you if you are late. See item 1 for your possible fate. (ie Don't miss the boat!)

3) Confirm your departure! I had the unhappy experience of arriving at the port on time just to find out that my ferry had been canceled due to weather. Next ride, seven hours. I was now faced with the prospect of being stuck in the ferry port with an eight year old, a two year old, and an unhappy spouse. We would not arrive in Fishguard until 1:00 AM, and with no transportation because the car rental pick up ends six hours earlier. Instead, we re-booked for the next day and had to adjust our entire schedule.

4) Beware car rental dropoff and pickup! For logistical purposes, I rented my car from Hertz. They offered easy pickup (Ha,ha,ha...future blog) at the airport in Shannon, and easy dropoff at the Rosslare ferry port. First of all, there are no signs, directions, indications, etc where to drop your car. I had to run inside and ask around for the drop location. The Hertz desk is open only for incoming ferries so they could not help either. However, they do have a dropbox for the keys. Just be sure your ferry is not canceled prior to dropping the keys. See item 3.

4a) Assuming you make it to Fishguard, there is no car rental desk at the port. The rental companies will leave a car for you in the lot if you are wise enough to arrange this. Otherwise you are doing some walking into town. However, if you arrive on a Sunday all bets are off. The car rental offices are closed on Sunday. Fortunately the trains run to the port and they are prompt.

5) Enjoy the ride. If you are the type of person who gets seasick you probably will want to make some preparations. We took a slow ferry which meant we had three and a half hours to ride but it was a much smoother ride than the high speed boat. Even so, many people spent the trip in the restrooms.

6) Bring Food!!! If you don't tend to get seasick you will likely get hungry. Do not expect reasonable prices. Everything is overpriced by at least two to three times what you would expect to pay. Save money and pack a lunch!

Watch for my future blogs on ferries to France, and why not to believe the published schedules!!

The beginning....

Hello world!!! Welcome to my first entry into the world of blogging. Now that I have your attention..............

My goal with this blog is less to influence and more to share. Share experiences, thoughts, maybe some opinions, but ultimately a piece of my life with anyone interested enough to read this.

I am not sure where this will go. Maybe it will just be a way for me to relate to myself. If so, feel free to sit back and watch.