Tours, Guides and Travel as We Age

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endangered gray wolf

Checking In on the Wolf Hollow Plan

Hi All, Just a quick update on the Wolf Hollow adventure. I’ve been communicating with the Boston branch of GoWithGuide, and I now have contact information for three local guides. I just need to reach out and see what they have to say about a trip to Wolf Hollow.

Rethinking How I Travel

I’ve been thinking a lot about tours and guides. As an older person, I’ve sort of come to the conclusion that if I get back to traveling, it will probably be with senior tours or groups — and I have mixed feelings about that.

I’ve always liked exploring on my own. I don’t enjoy those organized “cattle call” tours where the guide marches you through a set itinerary. If there’s something you want to see and it’s not on the list, too bad. And I’m not sure how much wandering you can really do on a tightly scheduled tour. You know me — I like getting photos that are a little different from the typical tourist shots.

A Great Experience With a Small Guided Tour

We used a tour guide when we went to Pearl Harbor. It wasn’t GoWithGuide — I didn’t know about them at the time — but it was a small group. My sister and I were dubbed “the Sisters.” Our guide entertained us with stories about the morning of the raid and pointed out where the Japanese planes flew in. It gave us a great background before we reached the memorial.

Once we arrived, he turned us loose with a meeting place and a time, so we had plenty of freedom.

Afterward, he even offered to take us to a food truck the locals used. That was fantastic — and an experience we never would have had without a guide.

Why GoWithGuide Caught My Attention

GoWithGuide isn’t just a U.S. company. They’re international. One country I’d love to visit is Ireland, but I always assumed I’d either be stuck on a group tour or forced to learn to drive on the wrong side of the road. Ireland is famous for its tiny, winding roads, and that alone put me off.

Knowing I could have a personalized tour with a local guide opens up the possibilities and makes the idea so much more appealing.

Learn more about GoWithGuide’s personalized tours

It feels like the perfect solution for someone like me — someone who wants the freedom to wander but doesn’t know the territory.

What Comes Next

So next step: asking those Boston guides whether they’re brave enough to take me to Wolf Hollow. If they say yes, it’ll be the perfect chance to try out this whole “personalized tour” idea and see if it really is the right fit for someone like me who loves to wander but doesn’t know the territory.

Affiliate Disclosure

This post contains affiliate links. If you book a tour through my link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, I only share services I genuinely think you’ll enjoy.

 

“And They Walk Among Us” — Featuring Bizmanic

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“Red wheelbarrow with wooden handles next to a caution sign reading ‘Not intended for highway use,’ highlighting a humorous and unnecessary product warning label.”

Proof That Common Sense Isn’t Common

Have you ever heard the expression “And they walk among us” — usually said with that tone of marvelous disbelief? Then we laugh and shake our heads. How could anyone be so stupid!

Well, I’ve found a creator who has built his entire brand around calling out these moments. His name is Bizmanic, and he has perfected the art of showcasing the everyday absurdities of the human race.

Some of his greatest hits include:

• Are You Smarter Than the Average Customer

• Top 20 Complaints

• Top 10 Entitled Customers

• Top 10 Dumbest Reasons Someone Got Fired

• Complaints From Entitled People Who Went on Vacation

• And the best of all: a list of ridiculous product warning labels

There are probably more, but honestly… aren’t these enough?

Let me give you a few examples of the kinds of stories he tells — and yes, these things really do happen.

Story Box 1 — The Comcast Call

Let me give you an example. This is a story about being a call center helpline representative for Comcast aka Xfinity. You know, that company we all love to hate. Callers are mad before you even have a chance to pick up the phone. I’ve even answered this very same question.  So here it is

I can assure you this really happens. I spent nine years at Comcast, several of them in that same tech‑support queue, and I have personally answered this exact question more times than I can count. Back then, before everyone switched to streaming, the cable box was the only clue people had. Now your smart TV just taps into Wi‑Fi — but if the power is out, nothing works anyway.

Story Box 2 — The Blockbuster Puppy Incident

Do you remember Blockbuster Video? Rows and rows of VHS tapes and DVDs lining the walls.

A customer once walked in, looked around at all the movie cases, and asked:

“So… where do you keep the puppies?”

I still don’t know what movie they thought they were renting, but I sincerely hope they didn’t leave disappointed.

Story Box 3 — The Grocery Store Beef Revelation

Then there was the customer who was shocked — genuinely shocked — to learn that beef comes from cows. This was brand‑new information to them.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not let this person do my grocery shopping.

But like I said, the warning labels post was the best. These are the ones that make me question Darwin. Survival of the fittest? If you need these warnings, how are you still walking among us?

A few gems:

• “Do not iron clothes while wearing them.”

• “Not for contact with eyes or genitals.”

• “Remove child before folding stroller.”

So folks, if you want a good laugh and don’t mind someone poking fun at the absurdities of life, you have to check out Bizmanic on Facebook. He’s proof that common sense isn’t common — but at least it’s entertaining.

 

Pillsbury Cruffins

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The Cruffin Man, Pop ‘n Fresh’s Cousin

Do you know the Cruffin Man,
The Cruffin Man, the Cruffin Man?
Oh, do you know the Cruffin Man
Who lives on Drury Lane?

The cruffin has been floating around culinary circles since at least 2013, when Kate Reid of Melbourne, Australia, started making waves with her version. So I suppose we can safely blame the Aussies for adding one more calorie‑packed breakfast treat to our diets.

The word cruffin is exactly what it sounds like — a croissant–muffin hybrid. Traditionally, it’s made by baking laminated dough in a muffin tin. Sounds fancy, but there’s a wonderful shortcut thanks to our old friend, the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

One of the best things Pillsbury ever did, in my opinion, was to take their crescent roll dough and turn it into sheets. No more trying to patch little triangles together to make one larger piece. Now you just pop the tube and roll it out.

I’m a latecomer to the cruffin game. I hadn’t even heard of them until a couple of months ago. Intrigued, I dug around and found a simple, no‑baking‑skills‑required recipe. The original makes 12, but you absolutely don’t have to go that big. You can make just four very easily — perfect for a single person. I’ll give you those tips after the recipe.

Freshly baked cruffin with crisp, swirled layers and cinnamon sugar on a blue plate.

Pillsbury Cruffins

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Dough Sheet
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 375°F. Grease 12 regular‑size muffin cups with shortening or spray with cooking spray. Place a large piece of heavy‑duty foil on the lower oven rack to catch any butter‑sugar drips. In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
  2. Unroll 1 dough sheet on a lightly floured work surface. Using your fingers, pat the dough to even out the edges and flatten it into a 13×8‑inch rectangle.
  3. Spread 2 tablespoons softened butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon‑sugar mixture over the butter and gently press it in.
  4. Starting with the long side, roll the dough up tightly. Pinch the seam to seal so you have one long log.
  5. With a sharp knife, cut the log in half crosswise to form 2 shorter logs. Then cut each short log in half lengthwise to make 4 pieces.
  6. To shape each cruffin: hold the dough piece with the cut sides facing up. Starting at one end, wrap it into a spiral.
  7. Tuck the tail underneath and place in a muffin cup. Repeat with the remaining 2 dough sheets. Set aside the remaining cinnamon‑sugar mixture for rolling after baking.
  8. Bake 18–21 minutes or until golden brown. Using a fork or small icing spatula, immediately remove the cruffins from the muffin cups and roll them in the remaining cinnamon‑sugar mixture. Place on a cooling rack. Serve warm.

Notes

As you can see in the above picture I rolled 2 of the cruffins backward (or inside out by mistake) they still baked up beautifully. This resipe is very forgiving

  • Granulated sugar gives the classic cinnamon‑sugar flavor, but brown sugar works too.
  • Mix powdered sugar with a splash of milk to drizzle over the warm cruffins.
  • If you’re cooking for one (like me), you don’t need all 12. Use one dough sheet to make four cruffins and grease only four muffin cups.

And that’s the joy of these little cruffins — a fancy bakery moment without any of the fuss. They’re quick, they’re fun, and they make an ordinary morning feel just a little more special. If you give them a try, let me know how your spirals turn out. I’ll be over here humming the Cruffin Man song and brushing cinnamon sugar off my counter.

 

 

San Marino: The Tiny Country Hiding Inside Italy

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A Place I Somehow Missed on the Map

Every now and then, I stumble across a place that makes me stop and say, “Wait… how did I not know this existed?” San Marino is one of those places.

It’s a whole country — a real one — perched on top of a mountain and completely surrounded by Italy. If you blink at the wrong moment on a map, you’ll miss it. Honestly, it looks like someone dropped a medieval fortress onto a cliff and said, “Yes, this is fine. This is a nation now.”

And I kind of love that energy.

A Republic Older Than Most Things in My House

San Marino claims to be the world’s oldest republic, founded in 301 AD. That’s older than most countries, older than most buildings, and definitely older than my patience when Banner decides 3 a.m. is parkour hour.

From everything I’ve seen, San Marino feels like stepping into a storybook:

  • Narrow stone streets curling up the mountain
  • Three dramatic towers guarding the peaks
  • Views that stretch all the way to the Adriatic Sea
  • A pace that seems slower, quieter, and somehow untouched

It’s the kind of place where you wander without a plan and let the scenery do the talking.

The Passport Stamp Moment (and a Few Fun Facts)

I’m not exactly an international traveler — I’ve technically been to Canada (Vancouver, Montreal, even the Yukon) and I’ve been to the Bahamas, but neither ever felt truly international to me. Mexico was the big one, my first real “I left the country!” moment — so the idea of collecting passport stamps still feels like a novelty to me.

One of the quirkiest things about San Marino is that you can walk into the tourist office and get your passport stamped — not because you need it, but because it’s fun. And honestly, how often do you get a stamp from a country that’s only 24 square miles with a population of around 34,000 people?

It’s tiny. Like, “you could accidentally walk out of the country while looking for gelato” tiny.

But that’s part of the charm. It’s small enough to feel intimate, but dramatic enough — perched on Mount Titano — to feel like you’ve stepped into a fantasy novel.

What I’d Do If I Ever Found Myself There

Since I haven’t been (yet!), this is pure daydreaming — but here’s what I imagine:

I’d start at Guaita Tower, the most iconic of the three, because if you’re going to climb a mountain country, you might as well start with the dramatic stuff. Then I’d wander to Cesta Tower, which apparently has a weapons museum. And even though Montale Tower is closed to the public, I’d still stare at it like a tourist who wants to climb everything.

Then I’d find a café with a view — preferably one where I could sit outside, sip something warm, and pretend I’m a character in a European novel.

If You Go (Someday… Maybe I Will Too)

  • Bring your passport — you don’t need it to enter from Italy, but you will want that novelty stamp.
  • No visa needed if you’re already in Italy; San Marino is visa‑free for tourists.
  • There’s no airport — the closest is in Rimini, Italy (about 30 minutes away).
  • You’ll likely arrive by bus from Rimini or by car if you’re road‑tripping.
  • Wear good shoes — this is a mountaintop country; everything is uphill, downhill, or both.
  • Plan for a day trip — though staying overnight means you get the towers all to yourself after the crowds leave.
  • Bring a camera — the views stretch all the way to the Adriatic Sea on a clear day.
  • Expect slow, scenic wandering — this is not a “check off 12 attractions” kind of place.

And whoever gets there first has to tell all. I’ll be waiting to hear from you while I plan my own dream trip.

 

 

Booms Before the Fourth of July: Why Are We Doing This Already?

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Vibrant Fourth of July fireworks lighting up the night sky with red, blue, and gold bursts.

A Holiday of Mixed Emotions

The Fourth of July has always been a holiday of mixed emotions for me. I can feel overwhelming pride in being an American — I still get choked up over the Star‑Spangled Banner — yet I can also cringe at some of the politics and the things our leaders do in the country’s name. I feel nostalgia for growing up in the country, where we set off firecrackers and small fireworks in wide‑open fields. Though even then, I never liked the loud bangs. If someone ever invents silent fireworks, I’ll be first in line.

Fireworks: The Part I No Longer Look Forward To

As I’ve gotten older, my fondness for fireworks has faded even more. They’re the main reason I no longer look forward to this most patriotic of holidays. My love for my country hasn’t changed, but do we really need to celebrate with explosions? The big town displays are beautiful — I’ll give them that — but the noise is another story. And it would be one thing if it were limited to the actual holiday. But it never is.

Every neighborhood seems to have that person who wants to set off mini‑fireworks and firecrackers just to make noise. They’re illegal in Massachusetts, but no one enforces it. The police say that by the time they arrive, no one “sees anything,” so it’s a waste of resources. Meanwhile, the noise starts in mid‑June and rolls on for weeks. If we must endure it, can’t we at least confine it to July 4th itself?

Pets, Babies, and the People Who Don’t Care

I hate watching my pets cower under furniture, refuse to eat, and slink around in fear because some unfeeling jerk drove to New Hampshire, bought illegal fireworks, and decided to terrorize the neighborhood. And it’s not just pets. Think of the poor parent who has finally gotten their newborn to sleep — that rare, precious moment of quiet — when suddenly BANG! The baby jolts awake, terrified, and the crying starts all over again. Mom or Dad has to begin the whole exhausting process from scratch because someone wanted to play amateur pyrotechnician.

At least when I was growing up, we set fireworks off in the middle of a field — not ten feet from someone else’s home.

Drone Display – American Eagle

There Are Better Options — Use Them

So yes, this is a rant. I was sitting here enjoying a quiet evening when the pyrotechnics started next door. The cats ran, I jumped, and now I have to close my slider, lose the evening breeze, and turn on the AC — which is bad for the environment and costs money. Add that to the list of reasons I’m over this tradition.

Stick to the big, sanctioned town displays — or better yet, switch to drone shows. They’re stunning, and no one’s pets or babies end up traumatized. But please, leave the neighborhoods in peace.

How about you — are the early fireworks driving you (and your pets) up the wall too?