Turn Your Phone into TV Remote in Your Hotel Room

I think many of us who no longer have cable or even a TV at home enjoy TV while on the road. Sometimes it just reminds us that we aren't missing that much. This week I enjoyed an huge (40 inch?) LG flat screen TV in my Best Western Plus hotel. Wow! The picture is amazing. There was a QR coded advert for the LodgeNet Interactive TV app. It allowed me to use my phone as a remote for the TV and to select stations by source (eg. NBC or HBO). This was faster than navigating the hotel TV menu. So even though a "Clean Remote" was provided as a sanitized TV remote, my Droid as Remote was faster and easier! Love it! What did I find to watch? NCIS (Mark Harmon!) and The Voice.

Veterinary Nomad - Foodie Alert Slaw Dogs, Pasadena, CA

Veterinary Nomad - Foodie Alert Slaw Dogs, Pasadena, CA
I first heard about Slaw Dogs on the Food Network's Guy Fieri's DDD (if you don't know what I mean by DDD, then go to the Food Network and look it up, as we say at WesternU, "PBL it."). I made a note on my To Do List: bomb dog - Pasadena. Later on, in my veterinarian mind set I read the note and wondered to myself, What bomb dog do I know in Pasadena? I know a bomb dog in Orange County and one in the Bay Area. I don't know one in Pasadena.". It took me a few to recall the signature hit dog at Slaw Dogs is the Bomb or the TNT! www.theslawdogs.com
I have enjoyed several Slaw Dogs now. The TNT Super Dog (AKA the "Good Timer") is the must try. It is enormous so bring your appetite. A 12 inch rippered dog with chili, cheese, bacon, pastrami, fries, grilled onions and a fried egg in a tortilla. Incredible. The Thai Slaw Dog is a fusion delight: chicken sausage, spicy peanut satay dressing, cilantro-carrot slaw with spicey sesame mayo. The Reuben Dog delivers the the classic doggie version - pastrami with Russian Dressing on rye & a spicy Polish to finish. Today's special, Mac-n-cheese Dog starts off as expected with great Mac-n-cheese on a dog, then you make it Slaw Dog Special by adding grilled onions, bacon and a thin layer of Dijon mustard. The Dijon is just the subtle kick that is unexpected. They don't over do the mustard, it is just enough to know it is there and to tilt the combination towards a new taste result. It's the same that is accomplished in the TNT and the thin layer of chili that is used. It is enough to tease the palette without overwhelming the overall taste. 

Great News - new locations are coming soon including a location on Buena Vista in Duarte! This is near the City of Hope and one of the regular Veterinary Nomad stops!
Diane McClure, Veterinary Nomad
Journal Entry. 3-7-2012

Sent from my iPad

Travel Tips: TripAdvisor.com

As an urban Veterinary Nomad, I am motivated to find the best value for the dollar.  Finding safe and functional lodging for the students traveling to sites I coordinate is part of my responsibilities.  When searching for answers to "Where to Stay? Where to Eat? or What to Do?  TripAdvisor.com is a great place to start.  Many hotels have solicited follow up reviews and given bonus reward points or a discount on your next stay for a Trip Advisor review.  This usually comes after positive comments from a post-stay survey.  Trip Advisor is social.  You can connect through Facebook and see where friends have been or have posted reviews.  I know you anti-social media folks always say that your are not interested in knowing that Diane is having a coffee.  But if you want to know about the best cup of coffee or even where you can get a cup of coffee near the conference hotel - go social.

Trip Advisor is mobile and it functions with GPS so you can review EAT, STAY OR DO options around your current location.  This is great when you are with folks and the dreaded question, "Where shall we go to eat?" comes up.  Instantly, minds go blank.  Everyone wants someone to offer a suggestion.  Any suggestion.  Not that the suggestion will be accepted.  Folks just want an offering to evaluate, criticize and reject.  When I use my iPad and TripAdvisor provides a list of restaurant near us, he group begins to ranks and prioritize the list.  The decision shifts to ranking the possibilities at hand.  The restaurant price is too high, it is too far, we need vegetarian options...and we can consider the reviews.  All of this decision making is an imminent consumer action.  This is why TripAdvisor reviews are so important.

I challenge you to take some time to write positive reviews.  This is a meaningful way to say thank you.  Help me keep good places in business!  It is easy to complain.   Remember, every place will have instances of disappointments.  The origin of TIPS  was To Insure Prompt Service.  TIPS were meant to be positive reinforcement for good service.  Now we also have the ability to reinforce good service or quality.  Remember the names of the front desk clerk or the morning breakfast attendant and use them in your reviews.  I find the best places have low turn over of staff and you can become a "regular" even if you are a Nomad.  It makes everyplace feel more like home because you have connected to the people there.  I am proud to state that I have become a Senior Reviewer on TripAdvisor.  Won't you join me?

1. Santa Barbara, CA, USA
2. San Francisco, CA, USA
3. Seattle, WA, USA
4. Florence, Italy
5. Rome, Italy
6. Copenhagen, Denmark
7. Portland, OR, USA
8. Venice, Italy
9. Lund, Sweden
10. Santa Cruz, Ecuador

• View my profile
• Create your own travel map or travel blog
• Vacation rentals at TripAdvisor

Veterinary Nomad - First Site Visit for 2012

Veterinary Nomad - First Site Visit for 2012

It's been a whole month since I have been on a plane...and yes! I still can do leisure! Even "chores" are pleasant pass times. While folks were singing "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" I was thinking, "Forget that, I'll keep this fabulous Southern California sunshine.".

We are back in gear on campus. We started the term with a physiology lab activity. Dr. Joe Bertone lead the activity which focused on NEUROANATOMIC DIAGNOSIS. The nervous system controls locomotion. Figuring out what's wrong with the locomotion is the first step to determining where the problem is located in the nervous system. The same principles can be applied to a horse or to a snake. "It's simple!" says Dr. Bertone.

So here I sit at the Ontario Airport practicing my skills with a species that I haven't studied, the human. I watch the Road Warriors who have just arrived from San Francisco International exit Gate 201. Everyone looks weary. They've had a long day. Everyone has carry-on bags rolling behind them, but and most have a heavy personal item that is causing a sideways list. Four out of the first eight passengers are limping. Badly limping. Immediately check out their shoes. The shoes are sensible. They have low-heels and seem to fit. I don't think anyone has neurological, but repeatedly being stuffed in a 13 row Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ200) and carrying heavy bags can result in chronic pain and striking degree of lameness in the modern Road Warrior.

A month has been long enough for me to forget the shoulder that had begun to be a pain. Watching the Road Warriors has reminded me why I added exercise gear to my carry-on. Now I just have to remember how to use it.

Diane McClure, Veterinary Nomad
Journal Entry. 1-11-12

P.S. I'm no longer the Foursquare Mayor of Ontario Baggage claim # 2...and I'm not trying to get it back. Anyone else on Foursquare?

Sent from my iPad

Last WesternU Site Visit Travel for 2011

My original plan had been to drive, but I admit I decided to fly because I wanted one more ticket that had PREMIER printed on it...and it would cost more to drive!  I am ending the year with a great bunch of enthusiastic students in my course.  The weather is bright and clear!  My fellow travelers have donned there gay apparel and are wearing it to the airport.  You gotta love the lady wearing her polyester synthetic red suit with the festive embroidery.  She resembles Bridget Jones' mother.   Her ensemble is adorned with bells in her ears and a jingle bell necklace.   Its topped off with a red hat with black faux fur trim.  You know this outfit has only left the closet during the holidays.   She has just the right jolliness to carry it off.      Flying in clear weather and daylight provided an amazing view of the foothills ringing the Los Angeles basin.  The enormity of the Station Fire destruction was shockingly evident!  Whoa!  It is impossible to perceive how much land was burned in that historic fire until you see it from the air...even two years later.    Safe Holiday Travels from the Veterinary Nomad    Journal Entry Dec. 8, 2011 at Emporio Ralli Gran Caffe at SFO Terminal 3.  Courtesy of free Wi-Fi from American Express.

Urban Nomad in The California Southland

Urban Nomad in The California Southland

Living and driving in Los Angeles means planning for traffic delays and snarls that randomly occur at any hour of the day. This summer has been particularly bad as the freeways are being resurfaced at night. I generally choose to drive evenings to avoid the certainty of rush rush hour traffic. On a recent Sunday night drive from Santa Barbara to LA, two freeways were completely shutdown (The 101 southbound in Ventura and the eastbound 210 in San Dimas).

This week I needed to travel east 34 miles to downtown LA to participate in the Southern California Be Prepared event. I wanted to be at Exhibition Park by 8:30 am. Some advised me to leave by 5:30 am and take a nap at my destination. This is the daily practice by two of my neighbors in San Dimas. I wasn't too keen on early morning napping in area around Exhibition Park (Watts and USC). so I elected to do my waiting in the parking lot of the 60 eastbound starting at 6:30 am. Two hours for 34 miles should be enough time, right?

I arrived at 8:50 am. Two hours and 20 minutes averaging 15 mph.

Veterinary Nomad Journal September 24, 2011

Sent from my iPad

Dreamin' of Red Velvet Cupcakes

 Dreamin' of Red Velvet Cupcakes

Suite 106 Cupcakery will be at the LA County Fair this Sunday Sept. 25, 2011.  AARP is planning an LA Truck Fest.  What trucks do you 50+ folks want to see there?  Check out my ROAD FOOD - IE Foodie Truck Event Video Blog for   
 @coolhaus  @geturlardon @buttermilktruck  and more...