Do I have to tell you things have been busy? I know you already know that. It’s 6:30 am and I got back from Europe last night. We shot the Weekend show in London, Florence and Paris. My husband joined me the last few days in the City of Lights as we had plans to leave on Sunday and fly to San Sebastian, Spain. I have wanted to go to this beautiful seaside side resort for probably ten years now since my first time in Barcelona when I really enjoyed a restaurant that served only Pintxos. These are little individual bites like tapas but done with a more inventive flare. I remember someone explaining to me that if I loved that style of food then I must go to the Basque region of Spain to San Sebastian. When Frank Gehry unveiled his drawings for the now famous Guggenheim Museum in nearby Bilbao it furthered my resolve to get to that place in Spain as no piece of architecture has ever electrified me. Food and architecture, how could you go wrong?
It almost did go wrong as the wonderful people of Air France decided to strike the weekend we were to leave. The trains were so busy their website kept crashing and no amount of calling would put us thru. Kevin was convinced that every time he “pressed #3 for English” the connection would just be automatically dropped. But when we had the concierge make the call he was no more successful. So we rented a car and drove the ten hours. I joked to Kevin that this must be the first time a non-Parisian couple has left Paris for a romantic getaway. Kevin did all of the planning on this trip as my schedule for a month in China then three weeks in Europe right after cut down on anything and everything that didn’t have to do with my job. Luckily Kevin thru his own travels (and one bachelor party) had become friends with a man named Ken who runs a tour company called Totally Spain. Ken helped us with some of our arrangements. When we arrived we had 15 minutes to drop off our bags and greet a guide Ken had arranged for us that evening. Her name is Gabriella she runs her own culinary and culture tour business called Tenedor (fork) tours. As an American she came here in her early twenties and completely enamored with the food and way of life she never left. She had to have been one of the best guides I have ever had and I struggle to say guide as both Kevin and I were not just guided by her but inspired and thrilled. We went around the old center of the city and dropped by 5 or 6 or was it more? Pintxos bars sampling only one or two in each before moving on-as is the custom. Thru all the eating we talked and learned about the history, the customs and culture of a part of Spain that I have always wanted to go to. After we said goodbye to Gabriella Kevin said that from now on wherever we travel we hire the best person to show us around that first day or night so it puts on the right track for the rest of the trip. I agreed and said they are sort of like Personal trainers in a gym teaching you how to do each exercise correctly so when on your own you don’t hurt yourself. Kevin hasn’t been to a gym in years and therefore didn’t like the analogy. I was happy to eat Pintxos the entire time of our short vacation but Kevin had made a reservation at one of the top Restaurants in all of Europe called Arzak. What a meal! The restaurant is run by Juan Mari Arzak and his daughter Elena. We had a chance meeting on the street with Elena and Gabriella and so when Kevin and I walked in to the restaurant for our reservation we got a special tour of the kitchen as well as the “Lab” where all the Basque recipes are tried out and tested with scientific precision. After our third course of dessert Kevin and I had to leave as it was closing in on 1am and we had to be up by 4am and we still had to pack for our long trip home. It was an amazing way to celebrate our one year anniversary thru what we both love so much and yet rarely get to do together which is travel. But let me tell you it is soooooooo good to be home. There is still lots to share with you about China and of course Europe but those journals should I guess wait until the shows begin to air. I hope you are all doing well and I appreciate from the postings I’ve read that you understand my long absence from the website. Even though I may not write I’m always checking in to see how things are going on with my friends. I would love to hear from you personally and will be checking the forum all this week to answer any questions you have of the new season, post Latin-America, whatever!
Looking forward to talking to you
Samantha

Samantha!!!
Looks like I will be the first of many to say "Welcome home at last!" I thought I detected a major ripple in the force here, and here you are.
Catch a breath, will ya? Yes, we figured that you were busy working on the new shows for us, but it is wonderful to hear from the horse's mouth that all is well with you. Keep chasing those dreams, Samantha.
Way to go, Kevin! It makes me smile to think he felt he had to hire the best tour guide. I thought that was who he married!
Father Orange and I entered the "Win A Trip to China" contest every day last month, urged on by your frequently aired promo. So far, the Travel Channel hasn't shown up with any tickets so I may have to buy them. We are hoping to be eating soup dumplings in Shanghai for Christmas, so we will be happy to hear any of your stories!
I'm going out now to shovel our six inches of new snow, but know that your appearance here has made my day!

As always,
Mother Orange

I'm glad you were able to find your way back to this old forum.We were begining to wonder if you gave up on it. I agree about Basque food. I have gone to some Basque restaurants in California and just loved the food. They know how to eat. Well, welcome back. It's just like old times again. Take care and keep in touch.

Good afternoon, Sam! Mother O was kind enough to shoot me an email letting me know about your appearance here on the forums. Upon logging in, I discovered that for the first time in nearly six years, my user name had been completely deleted and I was forced to create a new one. I will miss the status of being a "Senior Member" since '02 or '03, but I'm sure I will get over it.
It was wonderful reading your review of Spain-- it certainly sounded like the perfect way to celebrate your one-year mark! I'm sure road tripping it for ten hours was an experience in itself. Not to mention it probably helped build up your anticipation for those Pintxos even further. So, what is next on the agenda? I admit to being absent from the forums for quite a while (as I thought they had been completely demolished when the new Wiki started up), so I am in need of a few updates. Any extravagant plans for the upcoming holiday season or are you just going to soak up the environment of home? I'll be heading back to NY Tuesday to spend Thanksgiving with the family, but I'll try to stop back on this site before then to say good bye. Enjoy your weekend! Pleasure hearing from you as always!

Ashley

Good afternoon, Samantha,
It's wonderful to hear from you again. Unusually home on a Saturday afternoon here at Tuttle Manor, and unlike Mother O, not under any snow and in fact I've just been out dealing with leaves in the front yard. But I'm glad to be here to see your rather triumphant, although I gather also happily weary note.

Poor Ashley has sacrificed her surrounding X's and Senior Status to reach you again. I had to try three times to get admittance today, and even then was sent not back to this thread but to a different Discovery page altogether and then had to hack my way through a web-based jungle just to get back here. It's increasingly difficul, Sam, but we are still trying to stay in touch, I promise you.

I hope London was kind to you - I loved it, as usual, in mid-September and found the weather very gentle then. Been a long time since I've been to Florence. I hope you got to savor the sunset on the Arno, among many other joys you must have taken in from the China Sea to the Bay of Biscay. What a traveler. We have missed you.

You deserve a restful Thanksgiving week and need not spend too much time on this forum on Tuttle's behalf. But we do delight in hearing from you, and hope that all is as you ever could have dreamed.
"Capt. Tuttle"

Hi Samantha it’s great to hear from you and to know that all is well! I’m surprised Cruiseluver hasn’t noticed your post, since she was recently bemoaning your long absence from the forums. I’m surprised to hear that you’re doing the weekend show in Europe, I had assumed that it was going be devoted to domestic travel. There was a post recently from someone who had seen you in Florence and I had speculated that you were just filming some new promos for PTE, along the same lines as the ones you did for PTLA. I guess visiting Europe over a weekend, is one way to keep the cost down, given the dismal state of exchange rates. If you’re looking for some ideas for your next project, there’s a thread over in Samantha Central, started by Father Orange, devoted to just that subject. I look forward to your new shows, journals and post to these forums!

Dave

P.S. Like Capt. Tuttle, I had great difficulty in posting, but perseverance paid off.

Hi Sam! How are you? Tired, I suspect after writing that post! Boy, your enthusiasm just bubbles off the page!

It is good to hear from you. You should know that you are thought of often and I'm always curious as to Where in the World Are You!

18 months ago, a rather large and rambunctious group of friends talked me into a cruise. My first since I was 16! And after 18 months of thinking about it, we leave 14 days. I can't wait! Comzumel and Belize. And, as a birthday gift this year, my family gave me an excursion to the dolphin park that you were at once upon a time. And of course, since I'm passing through Florida - I have to stop and see Mickey at Christmas!

I do hope your family is well. Our road has been particularly bumpy in the past month, but we are still plowing ahead. Other than that, life is good, work is good and the Chicago winter is looming.

Great to hear from you again Sam. It's always fun to see everyone get together again to chat!

Kelly

Hello there Samantha! It's wonderful to see you. I'm glad to hear you are home and I'm not going to be the least bit surprised if you just konk out for the weekend.

Your Kevin did a spectacular job of planning a fabulous anniversary celebration. Both of your cruise specials aired on Thursday and I couldn't help but smile any time you 2 were side-by-side. It's nice to see people who are genuinely happy.

I, too am taking off on a cruise 2 weeks from tomorrow. It's a 4 nighter on the Disney Wonder followed by 4 days/5 nights at Walt Disney World. I'm rather excited and a little nervous as it is my first cruise.

Welcome home, Samantha.

Sam!

Good to see you prowling the ol’ forum again. Needless to say, you have been missed. Still, I hope you take the time to relax and enjoy the impending Turkey Day with family and friends. Having thoroughly enjoyed Passport to L.A., I can’t wait to see your upcoming shows.

Take care of yourself and welcome back.

Mother O!!!

say it isn't so, you're already shoveling? ahh, Syracuse and joys of upstate NY and lake effect snow. I can't believe your son is in Shanghai and I wish I could be completely corrupt and fix it so you and Father O win the competition but I have no connections-I just lent my VO skills to that one.

I would assume this will be your first time to China? will you be visiting any other cities while there? Even though I was there for a month i still felt a huge sense of "gotta see it and do it all-can't miss anything!" which was very different from how I usually approach travel which is to obstain from the must do lists and just go where the day takes me.

You have to do the Wall of China!

nunesy,

I will never give up on this forum. this is where I always return to to get a feel for how people are enjoying (or not-believe me I welcome the critique) the shows. It's funny I was told I should have a Myspace page and a Facebook page and then there's that Wiki travel thing. It just becomes so dilluted and fragmented but this forum is my home. (i'm just away from home a lot)

Ashley Kristen

you'll always be Senior Member XAshleyKristenX to Me! as well as the rest of the Brownheads.

I'm back at Disney World where we are shooting a Holiday Special to replace the old one-it will air December 11 and then in January we start shooting my personal Disney Favorites and that will air beginning in April. It's going to be tough to windle my favorite things to do-actually could you give me any advice?

Captuttle,

I realize that Latin America wasn't your cup of tea so I extra appreciate the attention you still gave to the series and especially my journals. I feel like I was able to really express myself in ways I didn't know how to on the show (we work too fast for retrospection) But I know the new weekend series will be more up your alley.
I love now knowing that Thomas Jefferson had a special souvenir from China.

Kelly,

are you going to do the Royal Promenade with the Dolphins? You have to, its just one of the most amazing things i have ever done. Sounds like your friends know just what you need to do. I know with your busy and stressful schedule you need to let loose once in awhile.

Please tell your mom I said Hello.

Leia,

Thanks it's great to be home. I have never been on a Disney Cruise myself but I just had a very persnickity friend go and he really was impressed by the ship, the staff, the cleanliness. So it sounds like you are going to be well taken care of. Enjoy!

Dejardins,

Thanks it's great to be back home and on the posts. I'm glad you enjoyed PTLA, it's such a special place and while in Europe while I loved being back I missed the friendliness, openess and ready to help you in any way they can warmth of the people of Latin America. I hope you someday have a chance to go.

the weather sure is getting cold, I could use another trip to Rio.

Samantha
How wonderfully thoughtful of you to answer all of us back personally. You are the greatest! Keep up the good work and do have a nice relaxing Thanksgiving.Take care.

Samantha!

So nice to hear from you. Welcome back for a relaxing holiday season.

I'm glad you made it to one of the London Wagamama restaurants. They are among my favorites too. Ginger Chicken Udon...yum! When I feel like I have a couple coins to rub together, I add Duck Gyoza to my order. Sadly, you are right about the astronomical cost. But happily, Wagamama has now come to the US. Did you know that two locations have opened in Boston? One is at Quincy Market. The other is in Harvard Square. Wagamama tastes just as good in Boston, AND there is no currency exchange involved. Highly recommended.

I've got a couple questions for you that surely are on minds other than my own. First, how is Stan doing? Is he back working with you on the weekend series? Please make sure he knows that we miss his work and hope to see his camera artistry again soon.

Next, with the purchase of The Travel Channel by Cox Communications, many of us wonder about the future of this online community you formed way back when. It's still hosted by Discovery.com, but seems unlikely to remain there for long. We fret about the future of the collected musings, wisdom, messages-in-bottles, travel tips, and Samantha writings contained herein. This site contains the recorded history of a most unusual, unlikely and generally civil and intelligent community of individuals who gather here in cyberspace in celebration of all things Samanthan. We all hope not to lose that history. I mean, Prague's Susta Strudel might go out of business if the Prague Strudel thread disappeared! Do you know anything about future plans for the site?

Finally, your return-to-the-forum post sent Mother O scurrying in search of our dog-eared copy of Frommer's Spain. She's been regaling me with tales of Arzak's legendary dessert, orange flan with cream. Did you sample that delight? I think your post and the Frommer review of that dessert will cost me a side trip to San Sebastian when life next takes us back to London.

Thanks for joining us for the holidays, Sam!

Father Orange

Many happy returns of the day, Samantha and Kevin! You’ve transitioned from bride to wife, and in typical Samanthan style, to borrow from Capttuttle: on the road. Again, congratulations and best wishes for many, many more years of happiness.

On the other hand, it appears I shall miss you once again. Saturday I’m flying SFO to JFK to meet my daughter, where we’ll board a Heathrow-bound 777. I’ve a little university business to attend Monday and Tuesday (with time for afternoon and evening sightseeing with the daughter), and Wednesday we Eurostar to Paris for a few days with my old friends (and back in my old apartment!). Back to London Saturday since I’ll be lecturing at a conference Monday, and probably shall return to Oxford for a few days at the end of the week. Research to fashion there, you understand - and there's a pub or two with my name on it, I suspect.

In other words, I shall miss you in the airport again. Nevertheless, if you happen to be in the Admiral’s Club Saturday evening, you’ll find the daughter and I in the bar. Nothing new there.

Welcome home and please accept a hearty Good Luck (!!!) for you new adventures!

Intl Doc

quote:

Originally posted by davidschneidman:
Hi Samantha it’s great to hear from you and to know that all is well! I’m surprised Cruiseluver hasn’t noticed your post, since she was recently bemoaning your long absence from the forums.

Don't worry, I caught the thread in the Samantha Central forum.

Hi, Samantha. I'm 16 years and love to travel, and I love your shows! I was on the Freedom of the Seas on two back-to-back cruises in June. We evn got to stay in the presidential family suite the first week. Even though we're experienced cruisers, your show on the Freedom of the Seas helped us know what to expect from the Freedom. Anyway, I was wondering when your Weekend show is going to air. I can't wait to see more of your shows in the future! Welcome home, and I hope you have an enjoyable holiday season.

Hi Again Samantha,

While you’re here answering questions, there’s one that isn’t really of any interest to me, but has been on the minds of a lot of people in this forum. Where did you get the heart necklace you wear in the PTLA (and now PTE) intro?

Dave

P.S. Thanks Cruiseluver, I saw your post over there this morning.

You want my opinion on favorite things to do at Disney? This could be a long, long list.

1. Eating at the California Grill atop the Contemporary Resort for dinner. If you plan your dinner reservations just right they dim the lights and pump in the music to the Magic Kingdom fireworks show, “Wishes,” which can be seen from most tables or the balcony. This is one of the fancier restaurants with prices ranging between $10-35. It also has a very extensive wine list.
2. You need to stop at the Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom at least once. I’d recommend going at night and ordering one ice cream cookie sandwich…it is not exactly your “typical” ice cream sandwich and I promise you won’t be disappointed. It’d actually be the perfect way to end a segment—order the sandwich and walk down Main Street, while doing a review of your day. But, what do I know about directing LOL. Although, I could quite easily see you with souvenir bags dangling in one hand, cookie sandwich in the other, and a Mickey sorcerer’s hat on your head…
3. If you stay on property, you are eligible to attend Extra Magic Hours. This means, that on certain days a particular park is opened to resort guests several hours before the general public can get in and up to three hours after the park officially closes. I always love going at night (especially if the park normally closes at midnight), because there are so few people there around 2AM. I was once the only person on Splash Mountain, which was definitely a unique and memorable experience.
4. You can dine with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby in MGM. I’ve never personally done this, but I am sure this would be a great experience. These are the people who design and build everything you see in the parks, so sitting down to have a conversation with one of them is guaranteed to be a lot of fun. It is $60.99/adult for lunch and $99.99/adult for dinner.
5. I think you’d enjoy afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian, which is open from 2-4:30PM daily. You can continue your relaxation by taking a trip into the spa at the Grand Floridian as well. (I have a feeling that you did this already, though. Am I wrong?)
6. You could have a real fun night and sample a beer/wine from each country in EPCOT. I think that’s my plan for my 21st this year.
7. As for favorite park rides, I really can’t help narrow down a list. But, some of the more recently added attractions that you shouldn’t miss include Mickey’s Philharmagic in the Magic Kingdom, Expedition Everest in the Animal Kingdom, The Seas with Nemo & Friends in EPCOT, and the Lights, Motors, Action: Stunt Show in MGM. PS: MGM will be renamed Disney Studios in January. Something that might interest a lot of viewers would be the Pirates of the Caribbean ride since it now has several Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow animatronics. He looks unbelievably real.
8. The Cirque Du Soleil show, La Nouba, in Downtown Disney is absolutely incredible. I have seen four shows (going to see my 5th on Friday at MSG) and La Nouba is by far, my favorite. I am not sure, however, if this is technically Disney related, as most of the restaurants and clubs in the area are not owned by Disney, yet have to abide by Disney rules. I’d definitely recommend looking into it, though.
9. This may be dorky of me, but I enjoy doing a monorail tour at night. Definitely ask to be seated in the front of the monorail, where you can chat with the driver while soaking in the lights illuminating from the parks and resorts. My family likes to do this and hop off at each resort to take a look around, stop in the souvenir shops, and then jump back onto the monorail.
10. My absolute favorite thing to do is feel like a little kid every time I’m there. This is the one place where adults can actually get away with wearing ridiculously large Goofy hats and not be the only one over 4’0 waiting in line to meet their favorite Disney character. You can also have fun soaking up the atmosphere on a curb, waiting for a parade to begin.

Samantha,

If you wanna get into the Disney magic a little bit more, might I suggest www.wdwtoday.com. It's a podcast that's funny and helpful.

There's been some upgrades and new additions... Haunted Mansion, Monsters Inc, Pirate Tutorial, Soarin', Nemo, personally I love watching Off Kilter perform near Canada, a new Oh Canada! film, Expedition Everest and I think that's it.

I too am curious if Stan is back behind the lens. I hope he's doing well all things considered.

Father O!

I will have to make a pilgrimage to Wagamama the next time I go home to NH.

Stan is doing well, he will be very flattered that he remains on the minds of everyone here. I just worked with him for the first time since last February for the Disney special. It was great to work with my old friend again and it was like we never missed a beat.

I just sent an email to those in charge of this website to see what it's future is but I would assume if you just always go to travelchannel.com you will find me. and I agree about the History of this forum-i can't believe Ashley was demoted to Jr. Member. I want to start a letter writing campaign

we didn't have the orange flan but we did have basil and chocolate ice cream which was quite cool. There were probably 5 courses of dessert and my mind went numb after the 3rd. It's definitely worth the trip from London

Happy Thankgiving to the Family Orange!

Intldoc!

so you'll be spending Thanksgiving in Paris? I was there for the holiday a few years ago and we went to this ex-pat restaurant dedicated to JFK for a traditional supper. The only problem was that they tried to pass off runny liver on top of the turkey as gravy. but other than that it was a great meal. Have a wonderful time with your daugher.

alex,

well welcome to the forum as you can see it's a tight knit group here and we love new company. The weekend show i believe will be airing in June and I also believe we'll be doing some weekend cruises as well.

take care

David

I bought the heart necklace at a small boutique in NYC. I have gotten a lot of inquiries about it and so I contacted the store and they told me they bought it from a small outfit called Kaymen B. it's cute isn't it?

Ashley,

fantastic advice! I get to meet with Imagineer's because we are doing a show but I didn't realize that it was an experience open to anyone. that's a really wonderful idea. I also love your last tip, it's so true the best part about Disney is to fall hopelessly for it and be a kid again, I will definitely work that into the show

Samantha,
It is really good to hear from you on these boards that I've grown to really love! I've been actually traveling quite a bit in your footsteps for work from the Hotel Sacher in Salzburg with the amazing Sacher Torte to the famous Prauge strudel to Grimaldi's in NYC to my stay last week at the Mii Amo Spa in Sedona. Some of it has been by chance and some places I've sought out because of your awesome shows!! I'm moving to NYC in February and a bit nervous but unbelievably excited because I want to be there so badly!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...thank you for letting us know about your necklace. One more fashion related question--where did you get your black backpack from the PTLA shows?
Many thanks for checking in Sam!!

Samantha,

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question and yes, the necklace is cute. Your taste in dress and accessories is always charming and impeccable.

Dave

Turkey with runny liver gravy? I think we'll hold out for Duck with Honey Sauce. The heck with the Pilgrims, we'll be in Paris!

And quite grateful we'll be ...

Happy Thanksgiving, Sam, and to everyone the best of the holiday season --

Au revoir --

Intl Doc

Anemone Arbor

Due to complications from changing my email address a long time ago I had to create a new login name because I couldn’t remember my password, and when I requested the information it was mailed to an account that no longer exist. Jumping Jiminy! I was previously known as (beyondwords) and I apologize for the change.

I came up with "Anemone Arbor" because I remember Samantha mentioning her favorite flower was the anemone when creating a mosaic tile of the flower from her "Hidden Venice" episode. From my gardeners handbook I can see it is a very beautiful perennial. I thought the flower sounded nice with "arbor" and that both words would help create a peaceful image of a shady resting place, an image filled with colorful varieties of sea anemones as a nearby seashore is seen framed within the arch of the arbor, accompanied by crashing waves caressing one’s inner being. And if a romantic wedding ceremony were held here then lets also envision bright sunlight reflecting off white fabric tablecloths with a gentle breeze flapping them like giant peace flags.

Your vacation getaway to San Sebastian, Spain sounded like a superb choice for a mix of food and architecture and, in particular, to celebrate your one-year wedding anniversary. My impression is that it was well worth the 10-hour drive, and you both had good company to enjoy along the way too. Congratulations again and may all your anniversaries be just as fun and exciting!

Thank you for sharing your brief visit to Spain for it sounds like you should have brought a whole camera crew to film your experience. With it being so exceptionally thrilling and inspiring, made possible with Gabriella as your tour guide/Personal trainer, I too became engrossed by your description and happy that her teachings imparted such great fascination on a part of Spain you wanted to experience. What a lucky break to get a special tour of the Arzak kitchen and "Lab" test eating area too. I bet that’s one job you would enjoy outside your chosen career. It certainly sounds more appealing than eating those chocolate covered eels from GMH! Perhaps you can make this one trip become an exception where you get paid while vacationing for scouting out a new location for a future Weekend show (wink). Good luck with the finishing touches for the Weekend shows from London, Florence and Paris too. We will certainly be watching out for them with great anticipation.

To appropriately welcome the couple back home, I think now is the time to definitely add Pintxos to the main menu board at my imagined "Samantha Brown Cultural Center" restaurant, formerly known as Trump Tower, and hire the renown Chef Mario Batali to prepare them to their desired specifications … especially for those late night cravings for room service to deliver promptly to their suite, dripping heavily with sparkling diamonds, perched way up along the Manhattan skyline (happy face). It is already instructed among the service staff that "The Samantha" enjoys eating her Pintxos while nestling under luxurious cashmere bed sheets, snuggled beneath thick layers of mink fur, while watching "The Simpsons" and are strictly ordered she is not to be disturbed. Her gold serving platter of chocolate covered bonbons has already arrived.

I don’t mind writing how I’m doing personally and I thank you for asking. In October I brought a small 2-bedroom 1-bath ranch house with an attached garage not far from Ithaca so I can hang out with my best friend more often. I wanted a small, energy-efficient house and I found one with a furnace that has 80,000 BTU’s. It’s my favorite type of heating system with the heat rising up from floor vents. Although small, it does have a good size garage with a washer and dryer and plenty of storage space. I also have a storage shed for garden equipment and an enclosed porch attached to the length of the garage. The house is on a 60 x 100 corner lot with the driveway facing the side street, with a giant maple tree in the front corner that I can enjoy seeing from a large bay window in the living room. I have a bit too much grass to mow for my preference and plan to create large planting beds and perhaps a flower garden by the enclosed porch. I am looking forward to planting my first anemones, and perhaps install an arbor for an entrance gateway too.

It feels good to have a garage for the first time to shelter my car from snowstorms, and not have to pack up clothes for a visit to the Laundromat either. But the house still needs to be renovated and I’m having a new roof put on this week. The house has yellow vinyl siding with brown trim work, so I selected a "Burnt Sienna" shingle to complement both colors. Next year, with the help of a contractor, I plan to replace all the windows and remodel the interior of the house. The price of the house was far below the price of what I was looking for from being sold in poor condition, but this left me enough in my budget to fix it up.

Also in October I had the pleasure to attend a friend’s wedding in Port Washington, NY. The wedding ceremony took place on a giant yacht docked off the Long Island Sound in the early evening. When the ceremony was finished the yacht cast off and we were entertained with a long cruise that circled the Statue of Liberty. After dinner, I went back for three helpings of their beautiful, and very delicious, wedding cake.

Back in December of last year, just before selling my house in the Pocono, I had laser eye surgery with the blade-free technology and don’t need glasses anymore. It was not something I planned on doing but I decided to take advantage of a promotional campaign with $500 off for each eye. What a relief because I worn them since I was a teenager and wearing glasses was always uncomfortable for me, and trying contacts was even more uncomfortable. Now it feels wonderful to have 20/20 vision and be able to walk in the rain and not be blurred by wet glasses, and go hiking in the woods and see everything in greater clarity. I think this was one good omen from the shooting star I saw the prior month on thanksgiving eve at Ithaca Falls Park.

I’m glad to hear that Stan Murphy has joined you back at work and pray for his happiness. It’s good that we will soon be seeing his beautiful photography again in future shows. I bet if he was on the set when "Citizen Kane" was being made then I’m most certain that Orson Welles would have found Stan very useful to have around, and referred to him as his wise mentor. A holiday toast to "Citizen Murphy!"

I can understand Kevin not appreciating your analogy of the tour guide being as a Personal gym trainer. I never joined a gym myself and struggled with my weight ever since I turned 30. If you saw my pictures from Greece that I mailed in then this was the first time I became 20 pounds over weight, and I’m embarrassed for including those pictures too (rolling eyes). Because I am lazy and prefer to workout at home, I recently brought a strength training exercise machine called the Gravity Force Trainer. You can go to bodybyjake.com to see what it looks like because I recommend it as a home gym for people who want to keep the fat down and feel stronger. It is small and not too expensive. With it I don’t have to do pushup and sit-ups on the floor anymore. I can do a full body workout, without the use of weights, which includes the seated squat, chest press, lat pull down, shoulder press, triceps dip, biceps curl and the abdominal crunch. It’s nice to get a complete workout without leaving home all while in a comfortably seating position for each exercise, and with good results too because I have more resistance to work with.

My favorite diet book so far is, "YOU on a Diet: The Owner’s Manual for Waist Management" by Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz. In one part that stands out, they recommend you speak to yourself like a GPS satellite navigation system after you make a wrong eating turn. The GPS doesn’t berate you, doesn’t scold you if you make a mistake. Instead, it very politely says: "At the next available moment, make an authorized U-turn." It recognizes the mistake matter-of-factly and simply guides you back onto the right road. Thus, if you start eating too much bad food, instead of falling into a defeatist mentality that halts your momentum, simply repeat the YOU Diet Mantra 3 times: "At the next available moment, make an authorized YOU-Turn."

Of course, I completely forget all about this when a sumptuous wedding cake is being dished upped before me (happy face). This, and seeing a big thanksgiving feast spread out before me too is when my inner mantra becomes: "At the next available moment, full speed ahead!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jeff

Beyondwords, I can't believe you had to change your name! I'll never get used to Anemone-Arbor. This forum is changing too much! As the Keane song goes, "Everybody's changing and I don't feel the same." Glad I didn't have to change my name. It's not totally descriptive of me, but that's what I've been for a long time.

Samantha and all,
It's good to see that a few Brownheads and Ms. Brown herself have persevered and managed to make it through the jungle that this website has become. I am pretty sure the lack of posts lately has everything to do with how user unfriendly things are these days. Is the webmaster even aware of how much trouble people are having, since there is no way to report it? A little birdie in California told me yesterday that there is at least one person who has spent many frustrating hours, trying and failing to download the Macromedia Flash 9 program and reestablish a profile so that she could say hello and send best wishes to you. I'd join in a letter writing campaign but no one knows of a mailing address since the Travel Channel picked up and moved from Silver Spring to Somewhere Else. They need to put out an instructional dvd for using this site or turn it into a new series or something. Really.

Sam, the snow has melted already as it always does, so pity me not. After all these years, the O's finally bought a car with four wheel drive last week, and we will be confidently heading down 81 later this morning loaded up with my mother, five pies and a cranberry jellied salad. We're hoping to be consuming Cheese steaks and hoagies tonight while watching Orange basketball on TV with our kids. (a most pleasant alternative to Orange football, I might add)

I'm sorry I can't answer your one question, as we have seriously not planned for this first trip to Asia. We just decided yesterday to visit some very old friends in Tokyo after Shanghai, and my son is suggesting sidetrips to Thailand or Singapore, but I'm sure we will find much to do in China. My son bought an electric bike for $130! We'll do it your way and go where the day takes us, and I'll try not to get killed in traffic. All the Disney talk makes me nostalgic, but I just don't know if I can justify doing Tokyo Disneyland. Hmmm. I think I can. I don't know if they still have the Osborne Family Festival of Lights at MGM, but I still have my cardboard glasses from a 1998 visit. They turn every point of light that you look at into a twinkly star. Magical. That's the coolest Disney holiday memory for me. We are looking forward to the new special although the old one is certainly worth keeping around. Are they putting you on the Christmas day parade show this year?
You know, that circle vision movie about China at Epcot is influencing me to this day. There is a plaque on the wall in the waiting area there with a proverb that rings so true. "Hearing something 100 times is not as good as seeing it once." There are so many things you and your crew have shown us all over the world, Samantha, that so very, very many of us would never have been able to visualize or actually experience. You know we are thankful for that.

Did you know... that the word "schuplattler" came up this year in the final round of words in the National Spelling Bee? Of course some people knew exactly what the definition was, because we had seen you performing that dance in the Innsbruck Passport. And do look at our Captain Tuttle now over on Sam Central,so proud of his new knowledge about tequila and Latin America. Good work, Sammy. Keep it up for as long as you can.
Now if I can avoid banishment or a long and unjust jail sentence for typing "schuplattler" (which may in fact not even be spelled right) I'll be quite happy.
Do have a restful time with your Kevin, family and friends, and I think I will borrow maryoflakewood's line in case we have lost her, which is "God Bless You."
If she returns to the forum it could stand to be repeated.

As always,
Mother Orange

Cruiseluver, I did not click the confirmation link to activate my membership yet and it says I have 14 days before it expires. I can let it expire and perhaps come up with a better name by then. I agree that Anemone is not always easy to pronounce and asked my friend if it sounded wimpy or strange and he didn't think so.

I'm surprised I was able to use capital letters in the login because I couldn't before and don't think I've seen it elsewhere. Maybe I can switch back to Beyond Words by using capital letters or just come up with something better by then. I'm opened to suggestions ...

I kind of suspected that mother orange was probably referring to me for not having participated in Father Orange's "A Lively New Thread" after reading her response to it, and I thank her now for her gracious pardon. While reading through it, I agreed with the choices everybody else came up with and didn't have better ideas to match them. My input would have been to parrot along and praise the choices already made, and I didn't know what login to use yet either.

May everyone on the receiving end of those 5 pies have a wonderday holiday!

It took a full day of trying to get back on this wonderful new system of the Travel Channel forums, but I hope everyone is safely recovered from a good Thanksgiving, Samantha certainly among those.

You all may have noticed in the news this weekend that a cruise ship hit the ice and sank (Holy Titanic!) off Antactica, with all the passengers eventually safely transferred to... Punta Arenas! Now there's a spot you don't often hear of, but I was thinking smugly to myself: "Ah, Punta Arenas! Know the place pretty well. Kind of breezy, and evidently some kind of hat is recommended there. Crabs of unusual size too (or CUS's in the local parlance). So for this past season of the most enlightening, entertaining, and incredibly handy Passport to Latin America, let us all be thankful.

Amen to that, Capt. I ate way too much turkey, but isn't that what it's all about? And yes, Samantha's shows do come in handy. She is just the perfect hostess. Onward to the holiday season. Samantha should do a Christmas special.

Well it has been some time since your last posting. I have been enjoying your latin American travels, I especially liked the one in Chile at the southernmost city. I think if I could get away I would travel the length of that country. My name is Lesley, a stay at home mother of 5, only 3 are mine. One of my stepsons lives with us. So it is rare I can get away. We always travel as a family and still have the US to conquer. But I just love to watch your shows all by myself so I can get away to some amazing place. I hope there is a marathon soon. I record alot of your shows on my dvr so I can just watch a bunch at a time. I have been thinking of sending my hubby out with the kids and having over some girlfriends for a Samantha Brown travel show party. Your personality and candor are so refreshing, there is not another host I would rather watch. I imagine your close to my age 31, although you look younger than I. If I have a fresh haircut and color I could maybe look younger, but your in way better shape. Oh yeah, you don't have 3 kids. Well I would love to hear from you sometime. Contrats on your Marriage, I have been for 10 1/2 yrs. He's wonderfull the keys are love and always be ready to forgive. Serving God together is very important, as it is a common bond, if you never want to dissapoint God then you will always be faithful to your mate, and work hard at your marriage.
1st time Writer,
Lesley

Hello Everyone,

Recently I have purchased all of the Passport to Europe DVDs and I was wondering where I could find the Passport to Latin America series to buy. Would anyone happen to know?

Much appreciated.
TravelFan

It appears I'm off to the airport again soon. The Rwanda thing was canned recently when I discovered the trip was underfunded - meaning I'd have to pay for most of the adventure from my own pocket - and that will never do. Thankfully, I have a job that my employer almost always pays for travel + expenses, and so I'm off again to England soon, with a side trip to the Netherlands.

Just discovered today that airfare from Heathrow to Amsterdam is only about a hundred bucks. Dirt cheap, as these things go. I haven't been to NL for a few years, but it should be gorgeous this time of the Spring season, tulips in bloom and all that. Nope, no brown cafes for the likes of me. It's a museum rat I am, and I hope to spend my little free time in search of the Dutch Masters. Before Amsterdam, London. After, the Bodleian stacks at Oxford for a week. Life is good.

Wish me luck --

Intl Doc

Hi Samantha,

So I'm watching your Disney Favorites, and I wanted to say how I loved your comments on the Tea Cups, as "favorites come and go". Haha, I was cracking up because I get so dizzy on those!

Keep up the great shows!

Yay, Sam! I guess I'm a few months late in posting here, but if you read this, how in the world do I get a job like yours? I think it would be an absolute dream for me! If you've got any advice or people I can contact, please let me know!!

Dear Samantha Brown,

You are such an inspiration to millions of people, including myself! Keep up the good work! I can't imagine how busy and tired you must be from all that traveling and I think its cool how you still take the time to give back to your fans by replying to their questions. Thank you!

I just joined this travel channel discussion board today, but I just wanted to say hello to you! My name is Jessica Goto and I am a fourth year Recreation, Parks and Tourism student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA. Traveling is my passion and every time I watch your show I want to just pack up my bags and head to the airport! haha...I am very interested in hearing how your career got started and what things I can do to find a job that consists of traveling.

I'm not exactly sure what I want to do after I graduate, but I know that it must involve what I am passionate about which is meeting new people, traveling, adventure and the outdoors.

I also have a suggestion for your show. I am in love with island life, and culture. I recently did a study abroad trip in the South Pacific aboard a Navy training ship. We stopped in Tahiti, Tonga, New Caledonia and Maui. The experience was life changing and I think it would be really neat if your next area of travel was the South Pacific. Just a little suggestion, I don't believe you have done that yet, but I could be mistaken.

Take your time replying! I don't expect you to reply right away since I know your schedule is crazy! Thanks again! xoxo

I also hope you will hear from Sam, first hand.
So many people ask this question.
But for now, I can tell you some things.
Sam wasn't all out to be a travel host, or not anything in the travel business. This was just luck. She was a theater major. She sings, plays the flute(like me!) and is an actress. She was in a TV ad about windows, and someone from the Travel Channel saw her. Now that's history, and now she's a big name as a travel host. There are so many people wanting to be travel hosts, and so few travel shows. If you want to be in the public eye, get experience like Sam did.
I'm a professional musician, and I, myself know much about these things. I had a triple major in music, and am very happy with my life. I have no dreams of being a travel host, but if you do, hang in there, and never give up your dreams. They just may come true!

Littlepinetree-
Thank you for your reply! You are very inspirational as well. Your reply made my day...I love to hear about people loving life and enjoying what they do.

I'm 21 years old and feel a little lost sometimes about what I want my career to be. I switched majors from a Biology major to a Recreation Parks and Tourism major...people thought I was crazy because they said I wont make much money now...but I wasn't happy being a biology major and I found had my passion...so I switched. Hope it was the right decision...who knows where the future will take me!