Finger-printed!

Today, for the first time in my life, I got finger-printed.

Just like on  CSI:Miami, my fingerprints were run through Codis and every other crime database in the world.  Guess what came up?  You’re right!  Nada.  I guess I am a pretty boring person. At least I am honest, upstanding and criminal record-free.

I had my fingerprints taken at the interview for my Global Entry acceptance.  Yes, and I was accepted.  Now you can eat your hearts out with jealousy when you see me breezing through the customs lines when I return from some exotic destination like Timbuktu (yes, that would be exotic!!) or …or… I guess they are all exotic if you have never been, right?

Global Entry facilitates returning to the US from abroad, but it also gives you automatic “Trusted Traveler” status and that is a big PLUS when you have to go through TSA screening:  You get to go in the TSA Pre line.  Don’t have to take off your clothes or shoes, don’t have to take out your computer and gels…just your cell phone (if you carry it in your pocket).  Breeze right through (and then wait 20 minutes for your traveling companions)!  You can become a trusted traveler if you have elite status on Delta or American…But it is automatic with Global Entry.

Apply online!  Just Google “Global Entry” or “GOES”.  Have your passport and driver’s license (and a credit card) handy and you’re good to go through the application process.  Once your application is tentatively approved, you’ll go for your interview (like I did today) and before you know it … You’ll be breezing through TSA with me.

“Farm” Animals

I just posted a page about the animals I see at my “Farm” in southern Wisconsin, replete with pictures!  Read it … or just look at the pictures!

Ephraim Faience Pottery, Lake Mills, WI

As promised, here is the post on my trip to Ephraim Pottery in Lake Mills, complete with a couple of pictures.  I’d love to know how many of you have been there or intend to go, as well as if any of you own any Ephraim pots.

Don’t forget to come back here and comment!

O’Hare Update

Since I am still getting used to owning a smart phone, it dawned on me today as I walked through O’Hare that I could show you some pictures of what I wrote about in “Where’s the beef?”

So here are three photos: In one you will see the ugly column advertising, in the second you’ll see a view of the flag draped corridor that I love, and in the third you’ll see a form of advertising that I can endorse! A live pianist at one of the bars in the terminal!

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Four Seasons Paradise

Lake Michigan from Lincoln Memorial Drive in Milwaukee

One of the undeniable things about Wisconsin is that on any given trip, any time of year, you must be prepared to experience all four seasons!  It is really wonderful for those of us who live in a place like Puerto Rico where we have just one season all year ’round (obviously that would be verano).

But here in Wisconsin, you can have a string of 80 degree days in March (my last trip) and 40 degree days in August (a famous August of a few years ago.)  Since I don’t often get to wear my winter clothes in San Juan, it is nice to know that I may always need them here in Wisconsin.

This trip (all 9 days of it so far) I have experienced November (last Friday – It even snowed in N E WI), May (on Sunday) and now February. Today it is 36 degrees, but feels like 28, windy and raining.  Thank  goodness most dwellings in WI have both air conditioning and heat – you never know which you might need!

But, in all four seasons, Wisconsin is always beautiful. And when it is not beautiful in a “pretty” sense, it is beautiful in an “interesting” sense.  You may enjoy these pictures from yesterday (an appropriate season day – sunny and cool enough for a sweatshirt) of Lake Michigan.  Of course, the view of the lake is always beautiful in a pretty sense…what was interesting ( I hope you’ll think so too) is that the color of the water of the lake ranged from white, to light blue, to blue-green, to dark blue.  It was gorgeous in the afternoon sunshine.

Can you see more than two colors in the water? The photo doesn't really captuare the range that I could see.