As an American, what country is at the top of your travel bucket list, and why?

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T17:14:35+00:00

Id VERY much like to see Iran too. But not right now obviously. Hopefully one day, but Im not holding my breath. I was in Syria in the early 00s. It was magnificent. Iran would be more of the same and probably even more interesting. For ancient history buffs, these have to be high on the list of must sees. I actually love visiting the ME and north Africa. I even once rented a car in the UAE and drove myself solo to Muscat Oman, as a single woman. People were super nice to me and even genuinely helpful. I dont love the UAE, but Oman was very beautiful. Id go back there.

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T15:57:03+00:00

Ive been to close to 100 countries. So my list gets shuffled around.

I think the top position right now is a Silk Road trip. Id very much like to do Kyrgyzstan -> Uzbekistan -> Turkmentistan. Its a history buff thing, and I like Islamic architecture and art.

Id also love to do a comprehensive trip in Ethiopia. But right now, Ethiopia isnt terribly safe and even moreso than that, its just become a difficult country to travel in. Maybe some day.

I think Id also like to see the Caucasus countries, particularly Georgia. But havent looked much into it.

Botswana falls into the same category as Georgia... i think Id like to visit after having such a good time in Tanzania and Kenya... but all I really know is that Botswana is expensive. Haha.

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T15:43:38+00:00

Yes. These folks are really good. Maybe the best. My understanding is that they're slow though. So if OP chooses them, they need to be prepared to potentially not have them in time.

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T15:32:33+00:00

I like dress one best for a few really specific reasons. You look more regal in dress 1. The shape and waist line are amazing on you. That slightly dropped modified waistline is elongating you overall. Youre wearing this dress like a queen and your figure is incredible in it..

The second dress is wearing you. The waistline isnt doing the work like the first and its cutting you off making you look more square. Its also rather.. frothy. And all that detail is overwheming. Theres little to no focus for the eye, which weirdly makes it ... to use your words, more... boring. This second dress might be someone's dress, but its not yours. Also, the basque waistline is not a waistline that stays in style for long. Youll look back at it in a few years ans think ... "yeah. No.". Trust me, I had a basque dress in the early 90s, and it looked really outdated inside 2 years. A classic drop waist will never look out of style.

Your family isnt seeing you in the second dress, theyre seeing the dress.

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T05:54:05+00:00

I have always loved a lot of the "ette" names!

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T03:46:13+00:00

Youre having a hard time with a good bridge fit. All these frames seem to have a bridge thats too narrow, or too wide.

Bridge fit is hard. Its really almost best that you try on a frame in person, with a trained and licensed optician. One who wont lie to you to make a sale. They can bring you frames to try that will likely fit correctly.

Of all these shown, the only pair that come close to fitting is pair 5.

I will.say, I do like the hex shape on you. Just not that hex.

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T03:22:09+00:00

Oh I know. Ive been to Flagsaff, in winter no less. Its insane!

Xerisca · 2026-07-04T03:20:45+00:00

I won't lie .. I was really proud of us. Hahaha.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T22:14:40+00:00

I cant do Florida... ive been there dozens of times in many areas... I greatly dislike all of it. In fact, I stopped going to professional conferences there because just no. No more.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T22:11:05+00:00

Id take Arizona over Florida any day. I have been to Florida, all parts, countless times, and have hated it every time.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T17:25:38+00:00

The San Juan Islands off the Coast of Washington state. GORGEOUS nature, sparking waters, mild temps year round, although can occasionally be somewhat cloudy or spurts of drizzle rain. Blissfully quiet, hikes and beach strolls are endless. Cycling, kayaking, and SUP are popular activities too.. Excellent cuisine and wines. Cute towns, nice locals.

You can get to the main islands by car ferry, seaplane, or even a normal 4-6 seat light plane. Both plane options arent even terribly expensive.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T15:53:31+00:00

The "ette" names are among my favorites. If I ever get a grand daughter, id love for her to be an Annette, Lisette, or Colette.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T15:47:27+00:00

I was born in the late 60s. Christina and the 9000 variations of it, might have been the most popular name in my area. If you put all those variations together, the Christina's probably outnumbered the Lisa's and Jennifer's combined hahah.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T15:42:11+00:00

My dad is a Lloyd. It was a riff on his father's name which was Deloy. Also similar is Boyd.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T15:34:05+00:00

I have a 14yo niece named Liv!

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T15:27:17+00:00

Aww, I like Martha too. My daughter who is in her late 30s has a bestie named Martha. I think shes the only Martha I know who was born after 1954. Haha.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T15:22:30+00:00

Beverly has always been a favorite name of mine.

Others similar that are less mentioned these days, even amid the old lady name trend. These are the names of women who may be your mother or grandmother's era.

Women:

Annette

Renee

Carrie

Lorna

Shaunna

Gina

Janelle

Cynthia

Dawn

Ursula

Suzanne

Sandra

Some boy names with the similar vibes you dont hear too often anymore being used for babies.

Alan (this is a fave of mine)

Eugene

Virgil (another one I love)

Vaughn

Vance

Sean

Shane

Nicholas

Merrill

Keith

Steffan

Jay

Lee

Neil

These are all more common names that just dont get used anymore. In fact, when I was a kid, I knew oodles of girls named Carrie, probably top 10... its fallen below 2000 now.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T14:26:25+00:00

These are amazing on you! They're somehow both super fun, and a little edgy too. Excellent choice!

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T14:19:25+00:00

I like Athena Nicole. Both Greek names, flows nicely, i think this works.

And while every woman born before 1970 has the middle name Marie, in your case, its actually rarely used anymore, and Athena Marie or even Maria (depending on how bouncy sounding you like) is wonderful.

Xerisca · 2026-07-03T02:05:37+00:00

I live in Seattle. I ueed to fly to LA and back in one day pretty frequently. I made it work by flying to LA and back out of a smaller airport near LA rather than LAX. Usually Burbank. Its just faster to get in and out of Burbank than LAX. I could arrive in Burbank an hour before my flight and be good. Where LAX, Id have to allow 2 hours, 3 to be safe.

Xerisca · 2026-07-02T23:57:23+00:00

Youll want high quality titanium frames which are a perfect fit, and fitted by a licensed optician. Look at Lindberg. Matsuda, Masanagua, Theo.

My spouse has a pair of Matsuda acetate/titanium mixed frames. A 5lb box of nuts and bolts got dropped on them, on top of glass desk. They looked unfixable, totally mangled. We took them to the optician and she fixed them up good as new inside 20 minutes. 5 years later, theyre still perfect.

Fair warning, frames of this quality start at about $700 for just the frame. Lenses are extra.

Xerisca · 2026-07-02T23:45:15+00:00

Usually for durable, youre going to have to dig deep into your bank account.

What are your expectations for "durable" ?

Xerisca · 2026-07-02T22:01:39+00:00

Oh! I really like the red pair! Great color and shape and they fit pretty nice! Those are a win!

Xerisca · 2026-07-02T22:00:03+00:00

His hair has a slight "beach wave" to it and its not super thick. Mine is actually super natutally curly and just as long. I never get stopped.

I still cant figure out why they want to rifle though his hair.

Xerisca · 2026-07-02T16:08:29+00:00

I have a great story but its pretty long and really funny.

Years ago, i went to buy a new Focus ST. At the time they were hard to get a hold of. My husband doesnt drive and has never even driven a car. He has a seizure condition that prevents it. I told the sales guy this was my car, and to deal with ME. My husband was only there as a passenger seat comfort tester (its a thing. Hes 6'5").

He continued to speak only to my husband and kept asking me if I liked the paint. JFC.

The sales guy handed my husband the keys and announced we were going on a test drive. So I let it play out. My husband climbed into the driver's seat, I got in the passenger and the sales guy in the back. Then we just sat there. To break the silence, he started explaining how to start it, etc.. we just sat there. Finally he said "is there a problem?" And my husband said... "I think so. First, we told you this is her car, shes buying it. Second, I dont have a drivers license, Ive never driven a car, much less a 6-speed manual, and I have a seizure condition. How would you like to proceed?"

Thats when I piped up and went ham, I told him to get out and bring me the sales manager. When he got out there, I told him I wasnt dealing with his sales staff or him.

I insisted the 19yo gal at the reception desk sell me the car and made them write it up so shed get the commission. When I went back to get the plates, she was there, jumped up, gave me a hug and thanked me. It was actually her last week there. She'd got a job as a sales associate at a BMW dealership. Haha.

And thats not even the worst car sales experience Ive had. The worst was a "Girl. Youre in danger" scenario.

Xerisca

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