2018-07-13 13:08
We will see you back here at Destinations, Dreams and Dogs in the Fall with a new, redesigned site for the refined world traveler… Read More
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Destinations, Dreams And Dogs - International Adventure With A Fast-track Family (& Dogs) Of Old World Values, Adopting The Russian-italian-american Good Life On The Go…! Blog
destinationsdreamsanddogs.com
International adventure with a fast-track family (& dogs) of Old World values, adopting the Russian-Italian-American good life on the go…!
2018-07-06 13:13
One of our Scotties had surgery yesterday. Grisha came home and has been crying ever since.
On the way home, my son held him without a whimper in the car. By the time we sat down with Mr. Co… Read More
2018-07-05 12:25
It’s been awhile, but our family was ready to revisit a movie we had viewed a few years back. With all of the elements of travel, patriotism, and coming-to-America, the 2014 flick woul… Read More
2018-07-04 07:37
A classic patriotic hymn by Irving Berlin: God bless America
God bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains… Read More
2018-07-03 12:03
Everyone likes to enjoy the Fourth of July, a true American holiday of freedom, cookouts, getaways and fireworks. This year, I’m asking that you consider the dog next door.
In practica… Read More
2018-06-29 12:12
I just received a marketing offer for an executive planner. This helps busy executives combine daily, weekly and quarterly goals in order of their priorities. It does not allow for acts of n… Read More
2018-06-28 00:46
Someone gave me a little sign that says it all: Does This Look Like the Help Desk to You? Okay, let’s be honest, I probably gave it to myself because I tend to be a kind, helpful soul… Read More
2018-06-26 11:52
When a woman goes weak in the knees, or weak at the knees, she’s said to be overcome by a strong feeling, usually a good one. It might also mean to be overcome by a strong emotion.
Thi… Read More
2018-06-25 12:18
Times are getting rough, people. As scores of illegal immigrants are taken into custody at the US border, reports of children pulled from mothers’ arms are bandied about. Some stories… Read More
2018-06-22 12:17
Okay, okay, I’m a rational individual and understand that not all dogs should go to all places of business. But today, the annual “Take Your Dog to Work Day” celebrates its… Read More
2018-06-21 13:12
It’s summertime and I’ve shared with you how one of our Scotties shakes and quakes during storms. The thunder tends to get to him, though thankfully, he’s become a bit hard… Read More
2018-06-20 08:29
You’ve heard of politically-correct which is so… sigh… yesterday. Much more fun and meaningful is the term “fashionably-correct” and particularly when paired… Read More
2018-06-19 17:29
We’ve all been to restaurants or cafes where the service is less than stellar for one reason or another. Maybe they don’t have enough wait staff, or someone’s having a bad… Read More
2018-06-18 17:17
A good dose of self-esteem does wonders. Those who feel that they never measure up, generally don’t. But it can go both ways, either if you think too highly of your abilities, or too l… Read More
2018-06-15 13:32
It may be time for me to move to California. With many historic renovations under my belt, sure there are properties nearby to which I may cast my gaze, however, here’s an opportunity… Read More
2018-06-14 13:37
I have friends over 50 who are married and who are single. Living together? Not so much.
But recently, I was working on a project where I met a number of couples over 50 who were living toge… Read More
2018-06-12 11:49
It was a dark and stormy night. My thoughts tended to be diversionary in nature. Which brought me to the lovely idea of what makes some people attractive, while others are… ehhh&helli&hell…Read More
2018-06-11 12:12
Every Monday morning, and indeed, every day of our lives we face a philosophical question: who comes first? Do we put others first to help and serve them, or do we put ourselves first? These… Read More
2018-06-08 16:02
Air travel has been heating up recently, yes, it has. Passengers shouting insults, attacking each other, drinking too much, demanding service, flight attendants instructing everyone to depla… Read More
2018-06-07 14:06
Renovating historic homes around the world has been an avocation of mine for a number of years. I also consult with homeowners who do not know where to start with delightful, yet seemingly b… Read More
2018-06-06 13:05
As we grow older, it’s best not to compare ourselves with others…. Yet, everyone else will-!
I read an article by a health expert known for stemming the tide of aging. Photos of… Read More
2018-06-05 12:34
In a beach community the other day, where the majority of folks wear flip-flops from birth to death for no particular reason such as going to the shore itself, I asked one of our kids: &ldqu&hell…Read More
2018-06-04 08:29
There is good in the world and there is evil. I realize that this worldview does not gain widespread adherents, but there’s no other explanation for inexplicable events. What else woul… Read More
2018-06-01 18:19
Vulgar and vile, both right and left call the comments against Ivanka Trump by “comedian” Samantha Bee. Question is, what is the fallout?
Nothing. Virtually nothing.
So far.
As w… Read More
2018-05-31 13:07
I travel a lot. I possess one suitcase that is always packed. If it’s a huge trip, then I have another suitcase which is… huge. But that’s for when I’m somewhere for… Read More
2018-05-30 13:06
I grew up riding and my recent time in the country among horses renewed fond memories. It got me to thinking about life lessons I’ve learned from horseback riding. I could easily name… Read More
2018-05-29 08:50
It was Memorial Day. Benedetto and I had gone out for coffee together, met neighbors and petted dogs at the neighborhood cafe not far from home. He debated taking the kids to a military para… Read More
2018-05-28 14:06
Following the US Civil War, Decoration Day was established in 1868 to honor all soldiers, Union and Confederate, who died during the war. Held on May 30th, the graves of soldiers were decora… Read More
2018-05-25 13:29
Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle, or His Royal Highness, the Duke of Sussex and Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex as they are now known, were wed in London less than one week ago… Read More
2018-05-24 13:29
Are they the menacing signs of middle age, or simply malarkey? Seven deadly signs of middle age. Forget middle age, it could be old age, since there is a sliding scale with not many fixed po… Read More
2018-05-22 16:48
Not so sure about the Beatles’ song that rose to prominence from their “Yellow Submarine” album of 1964 since it begins with “There’s nothing you can do that ca… Read More
2018-05-21 11:47
Another school shooting. Yes, you can make a case for gun control, but again, I don’t know that the same disturbed individuals would not turn to bombs or butcher knives.
I have a bette… Read More
2018-05-18 14:10
An e-mail came across my desk from Daniel Pipes of the Middle East Forum. His father, Prof. Richard Pipes, for many years of Harvard University, passed away.
According to his New York Times… Read More
2018-05-17 13:16
June is almost upon us, that time of year when many marry. I wonder the number of marriages that will last decades… and the number that won’t make it ‘till December. Time… Read More
2018-05-15 14:40
One day, you will thank me. I am going to talk you down off the ledge. Right now, you may have starry eyes and imagine a dream-come-true country manor home with horses and dogs, or an in-tow… Read More
2018-05-14 14:58
Today is Israel’s 70th anniversary of modern statehood and the moving of the US Embassy there to their eternal capital, Jerusalem. I say “modern statehood” and “etern… Read More
2018-05-10 17:51
Coming from an immigrant background where all four of my grandparents came straight off the boat to America, I understand a bit about boundaries and borders. As they say, “Good fences… Read More
2018-05-09 10:55
If America has been clueless about international terrorism during the past decade, there’s one country that knows the real deal and that’s Israel. Their very lives depend on accu… Read More
2018-05-08 09:00
Sashenka was sure that nobody wanted to hire her. I had suggested a job that resulted in EXTREME excitement and interest on her part, something right up her alley. And now… no call.
… Read More
2018-05-07 12:32
And so the introspection of life in the country and life after a birthday continues. I was rather amazed (I don’t know why I was amazed and I would tend to agree with Nora Ephron that… Read More
2018-05-04 12:57
“He’s not that into you.”
Or is he?
Books, movies and seminars would not be undertaken on the subject of men sending mixed messages if they could just be straightforward ab… Read More
2018-05-02 18:55
Let me state from the start that I believe in women’s rights. As a matter of fact, I believe in women’s superiority in many ways, lol: multi-tasking, handling pain, balancing fri… Read More
2018-05-01 14:51
May Day signals my birthday, a day to rejoice, to be present and alive on Planet Earth. Opportunities to make a difference and an impact surround me. What a blessing!
I’m taking it eas… Read More
2018-04-30 14:15
There are people who drain you and people who entertain you, those who lift and those who sift. Most of life is a balancing act between the two.
It always amazes me when those in a professio… Read More
2018-04-27 12:03
Life in the country continues. I am surrounded by hunting dogs. At least I presume they are hunting dogs, I mean, what do dogs do? They’re big, they run around off the leash, and they… Read More
2018-04-26 12:46
So here I am in the middle of nowhere. Really. What I would generally consider a small town would be a big town in comparison to this. The big town in the environs boasts about 1,000 inhabit… Read More
2018-04-25 08:13
The 18th century plantation house rose in the mist of early morning. A group of archaeologists had convened upon this endangered site where the homeowner proved amenable to all of us poking… Read More
2018-04-24 12:33
What is a healthy diet? What do folks eat around the world— you know, the men and women living into the three digits?
Well, it all depends who you ask. In Japan, they’re eating s… Read More
2018-04-23 11:31
By now you’ve heard the news of the partially-nude, positively-disturbed gunman who opened fire at a Waffle House outside of Nashville in the wee morning hours on Sunday. I don’t… Read More
2018-04-18 18:38
Let’s face it, we’re human (major shock there, I know!): we forget things, we postpone events, we might find that we didn’t plan properly, or we bit off too much to do. It… Read More
2018-04-17 11:16
All around us, there is bad news. Unless it’s a tag-on after the rest of the news, few positive, human-interest stories are ever shared.
Being a news junkie myself, I generally know th… Read More
2018-04-16 11:35
Pronouncements of the negative sort seem so simple when it comes to other people: He’s lazy. She’s nuts. You’ll never amount to anything. They’re moochers.
Very easy… Read More
2018-04-13 12:58
Our three younger kids, in their late teens and early twenties, just landed their semi-dream jobs. In other words, their mother decided to point them in the right direction after seeing them… Read More
2018-04-12 11:56
I never grew up with a porch swing or anything that approximated it. But the idea is there: it may be the kitchen or dining room table, where family members linger long after a meal, just to… Read More
2018-04-10 15:35
Do you shine your shoes on a regular basis? Do you have your shoes buffed regularly by a shoe-shiner?
I must admit, I have never been to a professional. My shining experiences are limited to… Read More
2018-04-09 12:41
Roadblocks come to everyone in life. The question is, what do we do when these curve balls are tossed our way?
It might be a health challenge, a career crash, a relationship upset, a cancell… Read More
2018-04-06 12:14
So many properties could call your name one day: might be a beach cabin or an expansive family home with all the bells and whistles. I tend to imagine great homes in terms of geographical st… Read More
2018-04-05 13:26
It’s that time of year, the kids getting ready for summer, if not year-round jobs. Yes, it’s April and if high school or college students wait until May or June, forget about it!… Read More
2018-04-04 08:23
On the Isle of Skye, paleontologists are uncovering prehistoric dinosaur fossils, dating from about 170 million years ago. Now that’s a long, long time ago.
With an archaeological back… Read More
2018-04-03 14:31
It seems that nowadays kids and adults can’t just relax and enjoy life. There’s a controversy under every rock as demonstrated at the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll on M… Read More
2018-03-30 12:16
My husband had some employees years ago who came from an animist nation in Africa. They had never heard of Good Friday. Always greeting me in French, they were wonderful young gentlemen, pol… Read More
2018-03-29 13:25
Questioning the veracity of the Bible is nothing new. However, once a story starts to be told and accepted as fact, unless a fact-checking group like Snopes becomes involved, you can forget… Read More
2018-03-27 12:31
And so, President Trump acted on the NSA’s advice to expel from the United States sixty-some Russian diplomats, giving them a few days to get up and get out. Dasvidanya. Don’t le… Read More
2018-03-26 14:44
Nobody believes that guns being fired here, there and everywhere, hurting innocent children and adults, is ever a good thing. How to bring a bad situation under control is more debatable. Th… Read More
2018-03-22 18:07
Hello, are you following me? ~Grisha
Welcome to the urban blizzard, we are Misha and Grisha, the famous Scottish Terriers of the Bartologimignano family! Whenever we hear of snow coming, it… Read More
2018-03-20 11:56
Let me say for the record, Benedetto does not like these. A southern tradition, bottle trees— which are bottles of all sorts stuck on the end of dead tree branches, or tied to a living… Read More
2018-03-19 13:56
Depending on which type of industry you’re involved with, ageism can be a very real problem. The world just marked the passing of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, in his 70s and… Read More
2018-03-14 14:21
The well-known English physicist and mathematician, Stephen Hawking, has passed at age 76. Director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge, Englan… Read More
2018-03-13 12:41
I recently saw a celebrity whom I incorrectly calculated to be much older than she was in actuality. Then I heard her real age.
A shock-!
It wasn’t only outright wrinkles. It was a var… Read More
2018-03-12 13:59
Today you are staging your life in a movie— what will it be— a drama, a tragedy, a love story, a comedy? Imagine that you are the writer and you are the director.
That’s th… Read More
2018-03-09 16:31
Most everyone knows that people with dogs are generally more in shape than those without dogs— they walk them, they play with them, they brush them, they bend down and pet them…… Read More
2018-03-08 14:00
Spring is upon us and there’s travel, travel everywhere. Here are more spring break tips. Hand sanitizers are helpful when embarking on a trip, but toss a package of the disinfecting w… Read More
2018-03-07 14:05
It’s 3:00 am and I’m up to begin my day. Prayer, Bible, contact foreign fields… no, wait! I peek out the window— same as when I went to bed around midnight and it wa… Read More
2018-03-06 13:41
It has come to my attention that many are the multitudes languishing out there, hoping to change their lives, but stuck in the realm of ennui and low energy. Today, yours truly will give you… Read More
2018-03-05 14:29
Twenty-four hours, times sixty minutes, times sixty seconds, equals 1,400 minutes or 86,400 seconds… all up to you today. You have the power to shape a worthwhile life!
Surprisingly… Read More
2018-03-02 15:36
More and more, kids today are messed-up thanks to the lovely role models that their elders and leaders are providing. Case in point: Oakland, California, Mayor Libby Schaaf obstructing justi… Read More
2018-03-01 15:42
It sounds trite, but it’s true: eventually, you have to step aside and let God be God. If you’re involved in something that’s all you and no Him, I’m not totally sure… Read More
2018-02-27 13:15
Do you remember that 1980s TV series, “MacGyver”? You know, the young guy who worked for the Phoenix Foundation, helping his country and his friends get out of sticky situations?… Read More
2018-02-26 13:51
Half of the world dreams of freedom. The other half of the world dreams to be free from the responsibilities which come with freedom: taking care of yourself, taking care of others, making w… Read More
2018-02-23 14:22
Spring vacations are already underway and are due to peak in a couple of weeks during mid-March, continuing through early April. Children generally receive time off from school close to the… Read More
2018-02-22 12:39
Passover is coming, people. It’s only about a month away and I’ve told you about the friends with the beach cottage.
Well, in the Jewish community, Passover break is similar to s… Read More
2018-02-20 15:23
Many are the misconceptions about homeschoolers in America: kids get to sleep all day, go to school in their pajamas, they study too much or not enough, they are not socialized, etc. In 99%… Read More
2018-02-16 14:05
Okay, count me in. I mean, school shootings gunning down innocents, ISIS chopping off people’s heads, social media carrying suicides and rapes… and Joy Behar of ABC’s &ldq&hell…Read More
2018-02-15 13:20
I love our kids. They are positive and resilient, playful and goal-oriented. Occasionally, there’s a blip in the road and that’s where parents step in. And in today’s world… Read More
2018-02-14 09:21
Valentine’s Day is here and I hope you can mark the day in a special way! Might be on your own, with a friend or mate. Treat yourself well, you deserve it.
On our busy schedule, Benede… Read More
2018-02-13 13:23
It’s amazing the number of people without a life. They look for things to offend and enrage them. They imagine folks wanting to harm them and their sensitivities, rather than simply ac… Read More
2018-02-12 12:42
It’s Valentine’s week and our hearts turn toward love and blessing others. If you have a significant other, love means going out of your way to make life a pleasant experience&he&hell…Read More
2018-02-09 13:01
Do you lie to your kids? If you find it expedient to tell them a fib, the data indicates that you might be setting them up to do the same. And not just way down the line.
Researchers Hays an… Read More
2018-02-07 09:10
I don’t get it. Really, I don’t.
Let me supplement that statement by saying that I have a number of close girlfriends. We laugh, we lunch, we love.
But we certainly don’t s… Read More
2018-02-06 15:37
Russia is facing a lot these days. Banned from the Seoul Olympics and an already-hotly contested national election on its way in another month, things are not great in the dead of Russian wi… Read More
2018-02-05 13:01
Not one to watch football in general or the NFL in particular, no one can escape the post-game Super Bowl news all over the internet, upstaging the bowl, itself: the 30 seconds of a black sc… Read More
2018-02-02 13:56
Well, in the USA, today is Groundhog’s Day. Every February 2nd, an ingenious small town in Pennsylvania has made a big-time industry out of predicting the future via a big, fat rodent… Read More
2018-02-01 13:43
Take a look at your average engagement ring: a big, sparkly diamond (sometimes), a lovely setting of gold, silver, or platinum. Either the bride-to-be is consulted, or the groom can gather h… Read More
2018-01-31 14:07
Taking stock, assessing, reviewing life, celebrating accomplishments. In general, I like State of the Union addresses. The human interest stories, the joyous countenances of those in agreeme… Read More
2018-01-29 13:13
I get it. I understand those who state their truth through the #MeToo movement. It’s important to speak up and speak out, even if it’s years later.
But I also know that allegatio… Read More
2018-01-26 13:43
No wonder so many feel stressed-out and exhausted, the weight of the world on their shoulders. We hear too much news. There are wars and rumors of war. Kidnappings. Cruelty to animals. You n… Read More
2018-01-25 13:27
The greatest generation. Resolve. Determination. Sacrifice.
Against a backdrop of dark days, dark hours, Nazism and World War II.
Currently in theaters is the amazing film, “Darkest Ho… Read More
2018-01-23 13:03
A lot of the backlash of horrific sexual harassment allegations tells me that this is a nation of boorish brutes. Where are the mothers of this generation?
Busy, very busy.
Not that it&rsquo&hell…Read More
2018-01-22 13:15
Against all odds. Yes, you’re going to accomplish what you’ve determined to do. But you’re going to need to keep your mental focus and your consistency of action— kee… Read More
2018-01-19 14:04
Let’s be very clear, we’re talking about two different things here: kids who want to speak up for what they, or their parents, consider to be right -versus- kids who are put in d… Read More
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Destinations, Dreams and Dogs - International adventure with a fast-track family (& dogs) of Old World values, adopting the Russian-Italian-American good life on the go…!
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