my PASSIONS
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International Travel  Domestic Travel  Family  Eating  Poker  Writing  Teaching  Reading  Music  Movies
Quilt-Watching  Puzzles  Deck-Building  Wildlife Photography

International Travel

       I have visited 69 countries on all seven continents.  See a list of countries I have visited. See a world map of the countries I have visited. Here are some personal travel records:

  • 5 continents in 10 days (November 25 - December 4, 2003): North America, Europe, Africa, South America, and Antarctica.
     
  • 8 countries in 16 days (November 23 - December 8, 1984): United States, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
     
  • 11 countries in 16 days (May 26 - June 11, 2006): Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands.
     
  • 19 countries in 2 months (May 9 - July 9, 2006): United States, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Spain, France, Andorra, and Japan.
     
  • 33 different hotels/homes in 9 weeks (May 7 - July 11, 2006): Wrangler (Colorado Springs, CO, USA), Park Inn (Erfurt, Germany), Novotel (Berlin, Germany), Kasyno (Jarocin, Poland), Gwarek (Staszow, Poland), Westin (Warsaw, Poland), Horizont (Baranavichi, Belarus), Almaz (Minsk, Belarus), InTourist (Brest, Belarus), Belove-zhskaja (Kamjanjuki, Belarus), Lion's Castle (L'viv, Ukraine), Husgorod (Husgorod, Ukraine), Club Hortobagy (Hortobagy, Hungary), Annabella (Balonton-fured, Hungary), Habakuk (Maribor, Slovenia), Mercure Imlauer Nestroy (Vienna, Austria), Pension Standard (Prague, Czech Republic), Schuttersmuble (Eschenbach, Germany), NH Airport (Frankfurt, Germany), Hotel du Moulin (Bourscheid-Moulin, Luxembourg), San Sebastian (San Sebastian, Germany), Siddiqi Residence (Sheffield, UK), Boadilla Palacio (Boadilla del Monte, Spain), NH Amistad (Murcia, Spain), Confortel Aqua 4 (Valencia, Spain), Oliva Nova Golf (Oliva, Spain), Sansi Diputacio (Barcelona, Spain), Cal Daina (La Cortinada, Andorra), Parador de Alcaniz (Alcaniz, Spain), Boadilla Palacio (Boadilla del Monte, Spain), Steigenberger (Frankfurt, Germany), Marriott (Nagoya, Japan), Nikko (Tokyo, Japan).
     
  • 42,000 actual air miles in one month (November 17 - December 16, 2003): Cape Town to Frankfurt to Newark to Charlotte to Tampa to DC to Newark to DC to Frankfurt to Cape Town to Buenos Aires to Ushuaia to Buenos Aires to DC to Denver to Colorado Springs.
           
  • Slept on all seven continents: Completed on 8 December 2003 when I camped overnight on Antarctica.

      Here is my list of favorite accommodations (mostly jungle lodges).

    Domestic TraveL

I have visited every state in the United States, and have lived in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia.

    Family

Members of my family (See a December 2005 photo of my family):

I am very proud of my maternal grandfather, Morris Slobodow, who immigrated to the United States to give his descendants a better education and future.  In his memory, I established the Morris Slobodow Endowed Scholarship at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, to assist new immigrants in their quest for freedom and educational opportunity in this great country.

    EATING

I love to try new foods. See my most unusual culinary experiences.

    Poker

I have played in a monthly low-stakes dealers choice poker game since 1978. I lose consistently but I sure do enjoy it. More recently, I joined a second regular low stakes game as well; this one alternates between Texas Hold'em and dealer's choice. I did win the city-wide Colorado Springs 2007 Annual Amateurs Only Poker Tournament.

    Writing

I love to write.  See my writings.

    Teaching

I love to teach.  For me, there is no greater pleasure than to assist others in the learning experience.  See classes I have taught.

    Reading


I enjoy reading non-fiction with an edge.

    Listening TO MUSIC

I enjoy listening to wide variety of music.

    Watching MOVIES

I enjoy watching an occasional movie.  Here are my favorite movies.

    Quilt Watching

Ginny is an avid quilter; I love watching her quilt, and seeing the results.  You can see some of her quilts by pressing here.

    Crossword and Logic Puzzles

I spend a few hours almost every evening working either on the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle (usually completed by Monday) or on logic puzzles.  My favorite book of logic puzzles: Mensa Math & Logic Puzzles by Tuller and Rios (Sterling Press, 2000). 

 DECK BUILDING

I have been designing and building large, multi-level, cantilevered wooden decks for 30 years.

 WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

I love photographing wildlife from around the world. My favorite is a female elephant seal I snapped on Aitcho Island in Antarctica.

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