A Spotlight On Seven Wonderful Ways To Stay Healthy When You Travel

There are times in our professional lives when we hear of an event that's of interest to us yet we're forced to consider the impact of work and travel on our health. This post addresses those concerns. Although I mention the disability community the following tips are for anyone living with any health issue. 

A year after I began to blog I decided to step out of my comfort zone by signing up for my first blogging conference. I was excited at the prospect of meeting other midlife bloggers I’d met online. But I also felt extremely anxious. The conference was being held at a large venue and I’d need to take shuttles between my hotel and the event. To someone living with a disability who tries to stay as healthy as possible this can seem daunting.

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If your legs decide you’ve had enough before your brain catches up you’re forced to decide between having fun and learning (and risking a flareup) versus resting and feeling frustrated and alone.

I worked hard on planning the logistics of my trip before I left home. I wanted to keep up with the rigorous schedule of the agenda and my friends. But I also wanted to be wise about the choices I’d make.

A little pre-planning goes a long way.

I wrote two posts about attending professional events for anyone living with a health issue. The first one was published on the BlogHer website about attending BlogHer 2013 and the second one was written after the event.

The time has come to plan again. In a few months I’ll be attending another large event. I'm thrilled to be invited, for the second year, to The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Center’s annual meeting as their official blogger.

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Photo Credit: Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers

The flight to Washington DC will be shorter than the flight to last year’s venue in Indianapolis, but once again I’ll need to hit the ground running.

There will be press conferences, interviews, keynote addresses, educational offerings and exhibits to attend while also having an opportunity to interact with the world’s top doctors, nurses and researchers. This is all quite an honor.

I need to be on top of my game. That means researching the layout of the venue, pre-planning logistics based on the agenda and making sure I’m as healthy as possible.

Here’s seven tips on attending a large conference:

Having a health issue doesn’t have to stop you from attending professional events. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of learning what works or doesn't work for you. Once you know it’s possible it becomes your new normal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glass As Art: Our Private Tour Of The Corning Museum Of Glass

If you think glass sculpture is not art, think again. Works of glass are as much an art form as paintings, sculptures and photography. The glass sculptor Dale Chihuly is a prime example of this. He is to glass sculpture what Renoir was to painting and Rodin to sculpting. They all captivate the imagination through self-expression and personal vision and their works educate, enlighten and enhance our world.

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Chihuly glass sculpture hanging in the Contemporary Art Wing of the Corning Museum of Glass

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Chihuly's "Fern Green Tower" on display at the Corning Museum of Glass

While vacationing in the Finger Lakes the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance arranged for us to have a private tour of the new 100,000 square foot Contemporary Art and Design Wing of the Corning Museum of Glass. It is the largest space to house and preserve contemporary glass art.

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Photo: Corning Museum of Glass

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Our tour guide, Kim, explained how these "trees" are made up of every day drinking glasses!

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Photo: Corning Museum of Glass

We were bowled over not only at the artistry and mastery of the glass exhibits but also at the architectural design featuring a sophisticated light-filtering system using diffused roof skylights. The architect intended for the visitor to feel as if they're walking on clouds, and he skillfully succeeded.

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Photo: Corning Museum of Glass

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The permanent collection, recent acquisitions and large-scale works are all tantalizing to the eye. Every piece has a story to tell so the CMoG now offers Glass App, a phone app that features videos, biographies and photos to enhance the visitor's experience.

I particularly loved the story behind this piece:

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"Continuous Mile" by Liza Lou: For over a year a team of over 50 beadworkers from South Africa composed, coiled and stacked cotton rope. Measuring a mile in length it's sewn with more than 4.5 million glossy black glass beads. "It is a work about work, about process, about finding meaning in the everyday, and about managing many hands to create something that could not be made by one person alone."
Photo: The Corning Museum of Glass

The gallery is accessible and simply fun to walk around. It includes temporary exhibits with large-scale installations such as Kiki Smith's "Constellation." Take a look at this video to see how "Constellation" (shown below) was installed.

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Kiki Smith's "Constellation": My photo doesn't do it justice because in person it is a magnificent work of art

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Photo: Corning Museum of Glass

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After our tour with Kim was over we continued by following the easy, self-guided tour of more than 3,500 years of glass. There's so much to see with a variety of areas to visit including showcases of glass through the years, the Glass Innovation Center with an interactive look at glass, or the Hot Glass Show that runs daily with its live-narrated hot glass demonstration.

Looking back I wish we took part in their "Make Your Own Glass" with one of their experienced glassworkers. It's available for all ages with no experience necessary. I'll have to schedule a session for our next visit!

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Photo Credit: Corning Museum of Glass

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Beautiful Tiffany Windows
Photo Credit: Corning Museum of Glass

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Glassblowing demonstration in "Light Filled" Studio
Photo Credit: Corning Museum of Glass

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"Make Your Own Glass" Photo Credit: Corning Museum of Glass

If you're staying near the Town of Corning I suggest you plan time to stroll around their charming downtown. It was lovely to see so many interesting window displays that were creative and eye-catching. I also felt a sense of calm knowing that several places offered Reiki, yoga, art therapy and massage. There were also some interesting looking restaurants and a few cute coffee shops as well.

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A massage or a guitar? Hmm.

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Steuben Glass Works originated in Corning, NY and was acquired by Corning Glassworks in 1918 when it became the Steuben Division.

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I loved the focus of this Center for Disability Rights: Civil Rights, Integration, Independence

The Corning Museum of Glass is a place we'd like to visit again and again. You can spend several hours exploring it, including a break for lunch at their light-filled Cafe that offers several dining options including an outdoor Cafe Express. From Egyptian artifacts to modern items, demonstrations and workshops there's so much to see, learn and do.

ACCESSIBILITY: The Corning Museum of Glass is committed to making its collections, buildings, programs, and services accessible to all audiences. Designated spaces are available in the parking lots for visitors with disabilities. The Museum is accessible to wheelchair users and other visitors who need to avoid stairs, as well as the museum shuttle bus.  All entrances are accessible by wheelchair and all public floors of the Museum can be reached by elevator.  Wheelchairs are available free of charge at the Admissions lobby on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance reservations are not available.  The Museum welcomes walkers, wheelchairs (manual and electric), and scooters.

I'd like to thank Kimberly Thompson, Public Relations Specialist for the Corning Museum of Glass for her friendly and informative tour of the Museum. And once again many thanks to The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance for arranging our visit. 

NOTE: I received three free passes to the Museum. My opinions are, as always, my own. 

Napa In New York: Our Trip To The Wine Country

It’s been awhile since I wrote about travel because, well, life sometimes gets in the way of our best laid plans. I’m back now and eager to tell you about our short vacation that was both magical and restorative. This review will be of particular interest to the disability community, but it certainly applies to everyone because Nature + Wine = Splendor for All.

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Sometimes there are places in our own backyard that we never visit. For us one of them was the Finger Lakes, a group of eleven long and narrow lakes located in the west-central section of Upstate New York. A scenic area with sprawling farmland, rolling hills and wonderful wineries, the Finger Lakes is defined as a “bioregion.” (“An area bounded by natural rather than artificial borders that has characteristic flora and fauna and includes one ecosystem.” ~Wikipedia)

We hadn’t taken a vacation in a long time so we decided to pack up and head to the Finger Lakes before the start of our crazy summer schedules. After a three-hour drive from home we arrived at the Inn where we’d be staying.

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Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Virgil, New York
Photo Credit: Greek Peek Mountain Resort

Greek Peak Mountain Resort, located in Virgil, New York is nestled in the midst of picturesque mountains that, from a distance, looks like a beautiful painting. When we entered the Inn through their glass doors I was happy to read the signs that announced it is both energy and environmentally friendly, as well as an award-winning green leader.

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Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Once inside the Inn it is both a gorgeous ski lodge and a summer vacation resort with its high vaulted cedar ceilings and A-frame door of glass that allows visitors to drink in the dazzling beauty of the outdoors.

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Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

We checked into our handicapped accessible room on the first floor. A beautiful, bright room, it is large enough to maneuver a wheelchair and the bathroom is fully accessible. There is also a kitchen for those who prefer to cook meals in their room. (We also saw non-accessible rooms that were equally spacious and well appointed.)

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Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Then it was dinnertime!

We settled into the Acorn Grill, the Inn’s restaurant located on the first floor. It offered a beautiful vista on one side with a buffet area on the other. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of menu choices, so I was happy to be completely wrong. Their menu offered a wide array of entrees and we were not disappointed. Each dish was deliciously prepared with fresh ingredients and dessert? Let’s just say there was nothing left over.

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Dinner at Acorn Grill

After dinner we walked the grounds and to our delight found a lovely, flat walking path that loops around a sparkling lake just begging to be used for boating or swimming.

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We were lucky to visit Greek Peak in between high seasons because we had the path all to ourselves.

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Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

If we stayed at the Inn longer I would have taken advantage of its full-service Waterfall Spa for a facial or massage. And I certainly should have used their state-of-the-art fitness center or taken a few laps in their pool...

Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

A few other items you might be interested in:

Hope Lake Lodge Condominiums (part of Greek Peak): Hotel style condominiums are for sale and include concierge and bell service, 24 hour room service and daily housekeeping.

Photo Credit: Hope Lake Lounge

Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Cascades Indoor Waterpark: A 41,000 square foot indoor waterpark with over 500 feet of slides, 3 story tube slides, a toddler pool, outdoor pool, indoor/outdoor hot tub and modern wave pool looks like a lot of fun for families to enjoy.

Photo Credit: Greek Peak Resort

Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Greek Peak Ski and Ride Center: There are thirty-two trails and six aerial lifts that make this a popular ski resort. The Ski Center also offers two surface lifts, a beginners slope, a full service Nordic Center with groomed cross country and snowshoe trails. (The area boasts an average snowfall of 122 plus inches!)

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Photo Credit: Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Outside of Virgil many tiny towns dot the area, and as we toured them we felt compelled to pull over and drink in the beauty of the area.

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We stopped at a few places of note that I’d suggest to anyone planning a trip to this part of the Finger Lakes:

Cornell University and Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Botanical Gardens: After driving around the lovely campus of Cornell University in Ithaca our next stop was the beautiful Cornell Plantations, a part of the University that offers easily accessible pathways leading around beautifully landscaped gardens of herbs, vegetables, perennials, conifers, peonies and much more. It’s an enchanting region of Ithaca that’s made more lovely, I am sure, when the flowers are in full bloom. (NOTE: Most of the walkways are paved, flat and accessible. The path changes in a few areas where the walkway is made up of natural stone.)

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Cascadilla Gorge: This site is idyllic in both sight and sound with eight waterfalls creating frothy cascades that slide down limestone and shale to create wide cascades that can reach 54 feet high. (NOTE: The gorge is only accessible on the grassy park off the parking lot where you can see the creek and possibly one waterfall.)

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Lakewood Vineyards and Winery: The Finger Lakes is known for its award-winning wines found in many of the areas vineyards. We chose Lakewood Vineyards and Winery for our afternoon wine tasting and tour. I’ve visited many vineyards in Napa Valley and the Loire Valley in France and Lakewood is equally beautiful.

Located in Watkins Glen and situated off Seneca Lake, the views from the almost 80 acres of vineyards are breathtaking and, although they are best known for their whites, it also offers 14 varieties of grapes that include Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and helped make our “tasting menu” interesting and fun.

We decided to try their semi-sweet and sweet Rieslings, although the bottle we purchased was a Long Stem White from a grape that was developed at Cornell. Thank you, Cornell!

(NOTE: There are a few steps to get into the winery from the parking lot and then onto the deck that overlooks the vineyard. A path leading visitors through the vineyard toward Seneca Lake is flat but unpaved. As you get closer to the lake there is a large gazebo to sit and view this magnificent property.)

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We can't wait to open our purchase of Long Stem White from Lakewood Winery!

If you’re looking to get away from it all for a few days I’d highly recommend losing yourself in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. There’s so much to do, and I know we'll be going back to explore the area again and again.

Coming up next: Our private tour of The Corning Museum of Glass and their recently opened 100,000 square foot Contemporary Art and Design Wing. We were completely dazzled and I know you will be too.wine

NOTE: I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Jessica Robideau and Dan Stokes of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance for their help and generosity in arranging our vacation. We needed to cancel our plans with them last year and they were both gracious and kind. Thank you both for your patience and assistance.

Disclosure: I received two free nights’ stay and a free dinner for three at Greek Peak Mountain Resort. All opinions expressed, as always, are completely my own.

Finding A Balance Between Work And Play (Or How I'm Getting My Groove Back)

This was an unusual week for me.  Not because there wasn’t a snowstorm, or because I finally found time to go shoe shopping.

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It was unusual because I went out to dinner three times.

When I was in my twenties and working in New York City, my friends and I would think nothing of dining out every night. We were young, and the world was our oyster.  Needless to say my bank account suffered from all of those pearls.

But that’s another story.

These days, my life is a busy one, filled with countless hours of work and the heavy demands of my personal life.

work playI’m not complaining because I love what I do, but sometimes my social life suffers.  That bothers me a lot.

So I’ve decided to take better care of my social needs by finding time to engage in the world outside of social media.

Yes, there are people who also exist outside of my laptop.  I vaguely remember that.

I love spending quality time with friends, family and colleagues.  I find true value in maintaining an equal balance between the deeply satisfying work I do and having an active and vibrant social life. 

It’s something I’ve been missing for awhile, and it’s time to get back into the game.  

This week, I went out one night with my nephew and son while they’re on spring break. Another was dinner with a dear friend I haven’t seen in a year, and another was a lovely romantic dinner with my husband.

Dinners from around the world - Mexican, Thai and Vietnamese -filled my stomach and my heart.

But wait!  I’ve been writing about being on the Jenny Craig program, so how could I enjoy three dinners out?

It was simple.  I was careful with my portion sizes, filled my plate with more vegetables than protein, and drank a lot of water.

I also planned ahead by time by stepping up my exercise routine.  My new Fitbit was a big help by forcing me to increase the number of steps I took each day.  That way, if I ate too many tortilla chips, a couple of vegetable spring rolls or drank a delicious glass (or two) of Spatlese, the total amount of steps I took would work in my favor.

When Judgment Day came, and I stepped onto the always-dreaded scale, I found out my game plan worked.

I was down another pound.

It feels good to know I’m taking baby steps toward taking better care of not only my physical needs, but also my social ones.

We all need to think of ourselves as a whole person instead of difference pieces that make up the whole.  We are born whole, and tending toward our health should always include taking care of our emotional and social needs, no matter how busy we are. We all deserve it.

How do you balance your work life with your personal one?

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on food for this review.  There was no compensation.  All opinions are solely my own.  NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

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