Quinn in Oxford

My nephew Quinn is off to Oxford to study this semester. Follow his travels through his blog www.quinninoxford.blogspot.com.
There's a permanent link from this site in the side bar

I Declare!

The Olympics are over and now the excitement really begins as the Democratic Convention starts today.

I've decided to get involved this year and I'm working for the Obama Campaign making calls right now and eventually registering voters and doing some canvassing.

The excitement is palpable at headquarters and I'm looking forward to the convention watching party this Thursday when Obama speaks.

Go to http://www.barackobama.com/ for excellent coverage of the issues, answers to all the negative PR., and events in your area.

Anyone can help. So get on board!

A Little Taste of Heaven

A new and fabulous Pastry shop has opened in East Lansing's Hannah Plaza called Chapelure. I read the wonderful review in the City Pulse and even though the photo in the CP does not do justice to the spectacularly decorated cakes it made me rush right out and check it out on my own. Trouble...for me...especially so close to the Italy trip and all that wonderful food but I just had to! (The photo here is a generic photo. I wasn't able to capture the one from City Pulse but Chapelure's is just as tempting)

It is absolutely as close to East Coast style pastries as you can get. I tried the unfussy croissant because I knew it would be the test! If it was crunchy and flaky and didn't need butter, it passed my test. It was everything I had hoped for. I'm in love. They have an outstanding array of gorgeous cakes and individual pastries as well as coffee drinks.

So pick up a City Pulse; read the article and the interesting background of the owners and then rush out and give them your business.

A Little Brains, A Little Talent

"With an emphasis on the former" That would be my daughter. Although the talent is in large supply too. Katie designed a professional looking handout for an assignment for her externship that everyone thought was done by a graphic designer. And you should see the website she designed for CMA!

So here's the proud mom sharing her camping photos.

Confessions of a Late Merger

I admit it. I have always been a late merger, much to the chagrin of my family and most of my friends. But it seems I HAVE BEEN RIGHT ALL ALONG! It has always been my theory that if you keep going in both lanes, traffic won't back up as much, as far, and as slowly and then when you get to the merge point you just zip in one at a time. In fact there is an actual name for it......."The Zipper Effect".

The Pennsylvania DOT got it right a long time ago. I love their signs before a merge. The first one says: MERGE AHEAD - USE BOTH LANES. Another one will alert you to a work area and finally the last one says: MERGE HERE.

As it turns out quite a bit of studies have been conducted by many many states trying to figure out this whole merge thing.

When you merge later YOU ARE ACTUALLY HELPING EVERYONE ELSE move faster. I know, I know. It's counterintuitive but research shows that cars move an estimated 15 % faster when drivers wait to merge.

So there you have it. LATE MERGERS UNITE!

Want move information of the authoritative kind? Pick up Tom Vanderbilt's book Traffic or check out the companion blog at http://www.howwedrive.com/ for other fascinating information about, well, how we drive. It may make your next trip less stressful