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Karla Jones Seidita's avatar

Thanks for the info!

(I guess it pays to pry!)

32 years in a steel mill? Can't wait for the made for TV movie.....

Double yum on the muffins!

Bon voyage!

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Jules Torti's avatar

Ha, Flashdance, the sequel starring Kim instead of Jennifer Beals!

I think I'll add some coffee grounds to the sour cream banana muffin recipe next round! Thanks for prying, Karla! https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/20933/banana-muffins-i/

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Jenna Vandenberg's avatar

The radishes!!! Thanks for the shout out and I hope you are having a great trip :)

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Jules Torti's avatar

Who knew radishes could be so ravishing? Thank you for introducing me to the radish mushrooms---what else do you have up your sleeve, Jenna?

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Jules Torti's avatar

Jenna---I've got a new one for you from my dad. Nokia soup. (Translation--gnocchi)

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Jenna Vandenberg's avatar

Bwhahahaha. Gnocchi soup? Or just plain gnocchi? I love the image of little Nokia phones floating around in soup :)

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Jules Torti's avatar

Ha, it was actually "nokia" and bacon soup (my mom's descriptions help piece everything together). I like your version! A modern twist on Zoodles and Alphagetti! Little drones, iPhones and Nintendo Switch in tomato sauce!

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Karla Jones Seidita's avatar

Having just suffered 2 major snow falls in the past 2 weeks ( total acculation maybe 6 inches) I am shivering at your need for 11 plows! I can not imagine such terror and desolation.

I laughed and laughed at your travel preps. Your life sounds so wonderful and exciting!!

I traveled a lot in my youth but no where near your adventures. I am now content to stay home in my cozy house and am considering getting groceries delivered so I don't even need to venture out for food.

Don't mean to pry (well actually I do but my southern manners require that I state that clearly) but wondering how you make your life work.

Are you a travel writer?

Have a trust fund?

Invented some fabulous gimmick that sells on line for a steady stream of passive income?

In other words.... where do your funds come from? You never mention having to go to a job and have tons of time for travel.

Anyway....

Have a safe, happy, wonderful trip that will be filled with memories!!

Looking forward to hearing the details!!

K

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Jules Torti's avatar

Hi Karla! Kim and I had a lot of fun concocting stories of how I/we "make our life work." No trust fund, trust me! Many of my friends don't think I work either---I guess I don't reference it much!

Four years ago, I decided to retire from my role as editor-in-chief at a Canadian magazine. The plan was to continue writing---both freelance and books. I'd like to say that it's my book sales financing my life of leisure (I've published five since 2019) but that's more of a hobby, really. Anyway, after fake-retiring (it lasted a month), a friend sent a link to a women-only travel company that was seeking a travel writer. I could work remotely---and way remotely if need be! The owner was surprised that I was interested in a traditional 9-5 job (which I wasn't, so I don't work the typical 9-5).

Kim and I do our independent travels each year and sometimes I'm 'on assignment' for work (last year was Scotland, in March it's Vietnam). We always bookend my work trips with our own thing (ie. the Philippines before Vietnam--it was too close not too!) so I end up being income neutral!

I sound like I'm applying for a job here! Am I hired? That's the short story. Kim retired from the 32 years in the steel mill in 2016. Once upon a time I was a registered massage therapist for 17 years among other things. I've always been writing though---you'll read about that in an upcoming post (Archiveology: Digging into my Age 10 Autobiography).

Thanks for reading and asking, Karla! By the way--as part of our pre-trip fridge clean-out I just made sour cream muffins (and threw in a banana and two tablespoons left in our hot cocoa mix). Success!

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