Single's Awareness Day Activities

It is that time of year again, when red, white and pink decorations blanket every store front; heart-shaped candies and cards are bought and sent by the cart load; and thousands of red roses are bundled in bouquets to be given to a loved one. It is also the time when people without a significant other can really celebrate their singledom. Because the beauty of being alone on this holiday is that you are not forced to acknowledge it--you can completely ignore it if you want to. We don't have to spend money on sappy gifts that convey our "love" for another person, because, let's face it, this is not a real holiday. As Dean Obeidallah said in his opinion piece on CNN, "What may have started out as a holiday intended to bring couples together has been transformed into a commercial spectacle peddled to us by florists, greeting card companies, jewelry stores and makers of stuffed animals." He goes on to say," My issue is not with being romantic or expressing your feelings to the person you love. My issue is being required to do so on February 14. This date has zero connection to us. Each year on February 14 we are in essence commanded to be 'romantic.'"

Source: majorlycool.com via andi on Pinterest

Well, I could not agree more with Mr. Obeidallah, and since I am one of those lucky individuals who does not have to do anything on this day, I decided to look into other ways to celebrate.

Obviously, there are dozens of bars around Chicago that are throwing "Anti-Valentine's Day" parties and "Screw Cupid" shindigs, so those are always an option. But what about something a little more special, a little more upscale.

If I were back home in Denver, I would definitely check out the Girlfriends' Getaway Package at the Oxford Hotel in Lodo. It includes an overnight stay in a Parlour Suite, 24-hour town car service within a two-mile radius downtown, a choice of a 50-minute facial or swedish massage, and a signature martini from the Cruise Room. Personality Hotels in San Francisco is also offering an A Non V-Day Package at its Union Square, Kensington Park and Diva properties. Ladies get two bottles of OPI nail polish (paint it sexy), a bottle of wine, 30% off town car service, a box of chocolates and deluxe accommodations. The Night Hotel in New York City provides a Cupid-free package with 24-hour access to "adult entertainment" and dinner for one with a comped double shot. Guests can stay in a decked out room, complete with goth-themed bedding and decor, with bottomless ice cream and tequila.

If you want to do something completely opposite of romantic, why not try a tour of a sewage treatment plant or a penitentiary. The Wastewater treatment facility in Brooklyn offers visitors a special glimpse at how "digesters" break down waste into sludge and gas. Bonus! One Valentine's Day, you get a Hershey's kiss! At the Philadelphia Eastern State Penitentiary, one of the world's most famous prisons, offers two-for-one admission on Valentine's Day, plus a special themed tour. So grab a friend and head over to check out this slightly creepy old prison where thousands of people lived for almost 150 years. These were just some weird ideas from USAToday, but I'm sure if you look into it further, you could find some other off-the-beaten-path activities.

Source: huffingtonpost.com via Vanessa on Pinterest

One part of Valentine's Day that I definitely appreciate is the treats--chocolates, cookies, cakes, the list goes on and on. But since I don't like all the heart-shaped, bright-colored foods, I like the idea of Anti-Valentine's Day foods. The Shoppe A Bakery in Denver has a special cupcake for those who don't like this holiday. It is a chocolate or vanilla cupcake with black frosting (so black it will stain your teeth), and buried within is a Things That Hurt zipper pull--who knows what you will bite into. The Cupcake Bar in Austin, Texas, is hosting a special cupcake and wine pairing to celebrate. Some of the cupcakes featured are: "All the Single Ladies" Cupcake, a strawberry cupcake topped with strawberry buttercream, topped with "Ring Pop;" "I'm too Sexy for This...." Cupcake, a dark chocolate cupcake filled with whipped cream, and topped with dark chocolate icing and a cherry; "Pour Some Sugar on Me" Cupcake, a vanilla cupcake with a raspberry filling, topped with vanilla buttercream icing and copious amounts of sugar crystals.

If you have the funds and the free time, why not book a solo trip somewhere? Even if it's just a quick weekend trip somewhere nearby to a spa or an exciting hiking trip in the mountains. I realize that most people don't like to travel alone, but it is definitely a liberating experience, and quite a different way to embrace singledom.

Cupcake Project

Obviously, there are a lot of ways for single people to have a good time on this "holiday." These are just some ideas, but there are many more options out there to discover. So if you don't want to sit in on your couch watching sappy movies and downing ice cream by the pint, check out some local happenings around your city and go spend sometime with some other singles. After all, 43.6% of Americans over the age of 18 are single (according to the U.S. Census Bureau). So you're bound to meet someone, right?

Going to the Extreme

When it comes to travel, some are more daring than others. I recently came across two articles that both talk about extreme travel, but in two different respects.

The first one was based on a survey of workers who were asked if they would take a business trip to a dangerous location if their boss asked them to, or would they refuse and risk losing their job. Given the economy, it isn't too surprising that 23% said they would refuse the assignment, compared with 21% who said they would go on a perilous trip at least one time. About 14% said they would go to an unsafe place for work, but would look for a new job when they returned.

I guess my only question in this case is what classifies a place as unsafe? I would probably lump most of the places that have been popping up in the news in the dangerous category: Syria, Mexico, Egypt. Those destinations are all experiencing political turmoil and drug-related violence. But other than places like that, what really makes a location unsafe, at least on corporate standards? I should probably pose that question to the people who administered the survey or to a company that sells travel insurance, since they assess risks and liabilities for a living.



Boeing 737 Factory. Credit: Ben Mutzabaugh, USA Today



The second story is a bit more entertaining--and something I had never really heard of until today. It focuses on extreme fliers--people who love to fly, and I mean really love to fly. So much so that they chose to participate in a grueling week-long trek to five cities and two continents, all to experience a behind-the-scenes look at the airline industry.

One hundred and seventy travel fanatics paid from $799 to more than $4,000 to participate in the event, dubbed MegaDo, sponsored by American Airlines and its Oneworld alliance partners. They flew from New York to London, to Dallas/Fort Worth, to Seattle and then Los Angeles. While on the trip, they got the inside scoop on everything, from why flights are canceled to a ride down a plane's emergency exit chute. The events were created for the whimsical travelers, the most extreme fliers who love air travel. This is basically a hobby for them.

Some of the previous activities of MegaDo get-togethers included visits to the Airbuss factory in France, and the headquarters of Lufthansa. Some CEOs of major airlines have talked to the MegaDoes, answering questions and giving advice, as well as taking suggestions from some of their most loyal customers.



Smith Museum. Credti: Ben Mutzabaugh, USA Today



Most of us know at least one person who is an ultrafrequent flier, probably someone who has to travel a lot for work. But these guys are a totally different breed. Even those who travel a lot are irked by everything that comes with flying, such as security lines, crowded planes, delays, cancellations, etc. But these travelers just enjoy every part of it, especially the pay off after a flight: frequent-flier points. Many of the participants at MegaDo have hundreds of thousands of miles, with some saying theirs reach the millions.

MegaDo earned them even more. Attendees, in addition to VIP access, collected a minimum of 17,500 miles and about double that for anyone who bought first- or business-class seats. There was a special promotion for the event that offered the chance for up to 55,000 more points. The flights also earned them "elite-qualifying miles," which help them reach elite status.

Emergency evacuation. Credit: Michael Rubiano

While many people hang onto their miles until they need them--for instance, for a family trip abraod for two weeks--many of these extreme fliers travel for the sake of traveling, and to earn more miles. One such traveler took a flight to Sydney, Australia, only to spend six hours on the ground before heading back to his home in Winnipeg. Flying time was 24 hours each way, including connections. The reason: to top off his frequent-flier account.

As someone who travels as often as I can, but generally hates the whole process of it, I think these extreme travelers are a little crazy. When I hear that their travel passions are based on earning points and miles, I wonder about their validity. Is it all just about the numbers? Or is it about the experience? I love earning miles when I can, but it is not the main reason I travel. I go to enjoy a trip someone, to experience a new place, to learn about another culture or take some time to relax. My concerns were somewhat eased when I reached the end of the article. Two of the travelers made points that I can definitely agree with, and I think should be part of every traveler's philosohpy. The first said that it wasn't just about the flying, it was about the people you meet. I strongly believe that you can meet some of the most interesting people while traveling, and those individuals can turn into a great friend that you can reach out to if ever you are in their city, and vice versa.

The second traveler said "the more you get to see the world, the more you realize what else there is out there to see. Travel really brings the world together." If ever I become an extreme traveler, this is the kind of attitude I want to maintain, the kind of message I want to convey.

Win a Dream Retirement...For A Month

If you of (or close to) retirement age and wondering about where you should spend the rest of your days after leaving the workforce, then listen up!

Cuenca. Credit: Hugo Ghiara

InternationalLiving.com is looking for two people to spend a month living in Ecuador to experience retirement living in the city of Cuenca. This was named the top retirement spot in the website's 2012 Global Retirement Index, thanks to its low-cost of living, ideal climate and friendly locals.

Basically, the winners will get the spend 30 days relaxing, shopping, dining and exploring, and then writing about the experience for International Living. (Plus, they'll get paid for the article.) It seems like a pretty sweet deal. This might be the only time that I will ever say that I wish I were at retirement age.

So, for those who can enter this contest, you have to post a three minute video on YouTube explaining why you would like to retire overseas and why you want to try Ecuador. The deadline is March 15.

Winners get free airfare, a place to live for four weeks, plus $1,500 in spending money.

So, is Cuenca worth it?

It is the country's third largest city and is located within the Andes region. It is known for its cobble-stoned colonial streets, where you can view its old-world cathedrals and parks. It is also famous for producing more notable writers, poets and artists thatn anywhere else in Ecuador--so there are plenty of museums and sites dedicated to those individuals. It has an eclectic, bohemian nightlife, with incredible bars and restaurants. And there are dozens of hiking trails in the countryside just outside the city where you can explore its natural beauty.

I have always wanted to go to South America, and I certainly would love to check out Ecuador. Although, I think Chile and Argentina are higher up on my list. But if I were to be sent to Cuenca, I certainly would not complain. It sounds like an incredible city, especially considering its literary background. As far as retiring there, I'm not so sure I would want to live there for a long period of time. But I'm sure many others would be eager to kick off their shoes and stay a while in Ecuador.

Quicker on the Return

It is common knowledge among most travelers that the return leg of a trip always seems shorter than the initial portion. But while we all accept this phenomena, it's not clear exaclty why it happens. In my personal opinion, getting to a place takes longer because of the anticipation. You are eager to get to your destination, excited to get the trip underway, at least that's how I always feel before a trip. In fact, the feeling is not restricted to the actual commute, but rather the entire week--or month, depending--leading up to the vacation. For example, this whole week has just been dragging along, one minute feeling like five. The reason? Because I have a flight home to Denver Friday afternoon, and I cannot wait. As a result, the days seem to be at a standstill. It's that damn anticipation, the desire to get away that forces every moment to feel like an eternity. That is, until you actually get there, and then time can not speed by faster. And then you are back on a plane--or a car or train--making your way to your place of origin, welcoming reality again.

What is truly unfortunate is that the initial trip and the return are exactly the same amount of time, but our minds tell us differently. It's all in our heads. Trust me, there is scientific proof. According to an article in USA Today, researchers found that the phenomena made trips home seem 17% to 22% shorter than the initial one. The scientists interviewed people about trips they took, and each time, even though the trips were exactly the same length, most people felt the return trip took less time. Students riding bikes said the initial trip took an average of 44 minutes, but the return took 37, when in reality, both legs took 35. Yeah, they actually have numbers, data to back this up. As far as explanations, well, they claim that the effect, which they dub "the return trip effect," was caused because people expected the initial trip to be faster than it was. It's that optimism that messes with our heads, it skews our sense of what's coming.

So can this phenomena effect other aspects of our lives? Can it really be limited to travel? I'm not really sure, because there are not a lot of incidences where we take one route to get anywhere and choose that same route to get back. Because in life, we're always moving forward, in some respect. People could argue that it seems to take a long time to get anywhere in life, but a second to lose it all. While that is certainly true, you are not then moving back down that path you came down to get back to a certain point. Nope, once you lose it, you are still stuck in that current place, just without what you had before. So while we would all love to have the return trip effect kick in when we need to get somewhere faster--or at least feel like we're getting their quicker--the best we can do is trust that we will get there when we get there, and our minds will help us along the way.

Road Trippin Contest

In my flurry of newsgathering stories, I stumbled upon this one about a great contest from Rand McNally. (You know, the guys that make those spiral bound books with all the maps in them, what are those old-fashioned things called again? Oh yeah, atlases.) Anyway, they are putting on an event called the Best of the Road contest, and you can go to their website and nominate your favorite small towns across the country. They can fit into any of five categories--most beautiful, most patriotic, friendliest, most fun and best for food. Along with that, you can submit your favorite raodside attractions, like the best mountain scene or best pizza joint.

If your nominated city or attraction is selected as a top entrant, it gets a permanent spot on Rand McNally's new travel site and a place in its 2013 Road Atlas. You will also see it appear on USA Today's Travel website, since they are collaborating with the company on the contest.

Now, I know what you are thinking, how can I possibly pick my favorite town? There are so many great ones to choose from, I honestly cannot decide. Obviously, I would love to pick my hometown of Denver, but I don't think you can really classify that as a small town. My college town of Milwaukee would be another great pick, but, again, not so tiny. I certainly can't nominate Chicago. So which town to pick? This could take some time. Luckily, I have until May 23 to submit my vote. And even if I can't possibly decide on a destination before then, I can always enter the other portion of the contest. (That's right, there's more.)

Rand McNally and USA Today will select five teams to go on a three-week cross country road trip to hit the top 20 towns nominated in each category, as well as all the attractions along the way. The trip starts on June 23 and goes until July 15. Each team will visit the four towns in their assigned category, and fans can follow their progress online through Facebook and Twitter. All teams will end their trip in Los Angeles, where the winners will receive $10,000. (Now there's a trip, and a prize, that is totally up my alley.)

So, who wants to be part of my team?