http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/LibbyMcMillan Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:54:38 GMT Reviews by LibbyMcMillan http://www.viewpoints.com/Logitech-LX-8-Cordless-Laser-Mouse-review-db960 When typing started to hurt...... — After a year of writing full-time, my right hand started to hurt pretty bad.  My little touch pad was forcing my right hand to make small, repetitive motions and I'd go through whole days with one very cramped, sore hand that was achy.  I saw the writing on the wall and started to worry. — After I bought some voice-recognition software (less typing means less pain), a friend recommended I look into wireless mice.   She said that getting away from my notebook's tiny touch pad would help uncurl my hand, and a wireless mouse could easily pack and go with me to hotel rooms wherever I was on assignment.  — I felt them all...... — I went to Staples, and rested my hand on all the wireless mice.  The one that felt the best was Logitech's LX 8.  The wireless receiver plugs right into my USB jack and the mouse started working without having to install any drivers.......a plus.  ... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:54:38 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Logitech-LX-8-Cordless-Laser-Mouse-review-db960 LibbyMcMillan 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/La-Posada-Winslow-AZ-review-eb48 The Last Harvey House Hotel.... — When the Santa Fe railroad was expanding throughout the west, an entreprneur named Fren Harvery established fine dining cars, then realized that passengers would pay for a nice meal at stations along the route.   These "Harvey House" eateries became fine hotels on their own.   The last such property built was Winslow, Arizona's La Posada, on I-41 (also Route 66).   — The beautiful Spanish Revival Style hotel is an architectural treat - replete with massive beamed ceilings, tile floors, arched doorways, elegant wrought iron banisters and tile risers on the stairs.......and the unexpected modern artwork of its owners, a couple from Washington D.C. who decided to save the property after discovering it in ill repair.   Sunny courtyards offer guests an inviting spot to read or snooze, while the hotel's interior has endless cozy places to read, play games, or just hang out and chill. — Grand Canyon... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:37:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/La-Posada-Winslow-AZ-review-eb48 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Son-of-Rambow-review-f63e3 Tired of predictable Hollywood movies? — Son of Rambow is a delightful little coming-of-age film that celebrates friendship, creativity and the magic that can happen when two totally different types of people collaborate on something they're passionate about.  In this case, the two leads are young boys who meet in the hallway at their school.  — Joined by Film-making — The passion they share is film-making and the adventure unfolds as they begin to shoot a Rambo takeoff, with the help of a French Foreign excahge student who has all the girls atwitter.  Not a lot happens in the film, but it is entertaining and the two fellas starring in it are real discoveries;  we'll be seeing them again. — Summer can be Bleak for Drama Fans — Summer is traiditionally when big action flicks and kid-oriented shows like The Hulk are released.   Drama fans can be left wanting more, so it's the perfect time to seek out a theater... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:56:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Son-of-Rambow-review-f63e3 LibbyMcMillan 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Montreal-Quebec-review-78960 Mon Dieu!  It's Affordable Europe, and only a few hours hours away! — I have spent time in Quebec, so jumped at the chance to enjoy a press trip to Montreal.  I was so busy, though, I didn't have time to do any research, much less bone up on French.  None of that mattered, however.  Everyone in Montreal speaks fluent English as well as French (and many speak other languages as well; French Canadians have great educations).  — A beautiful, historic Island — Montreal is actually an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.  Amazingly, beneath this bustling but thought-out cosmopolitan city lies a 21-mile underground city, where pedestrians can shop, eat, and access everything from hotels to skating rinks.  Two colleges keeps the city lively, while the crime rate is only 1% so relax and enjoy this wonderful city! — Food, Glorious Food! — Montreal boasts 1,700 parks, 29 distinct villages and TEN... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:53:58 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Montreal-Quebec-review-78960 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Nav4All-review-66201 Free GPS for your cellphone, plus tracking and tracing — I can't get it to work on my iPhone, however (sigh) so I'm anxious to hear how the REST of you react to this download!   The Nav4all.com web site says the download gives you free nav capability in your cellphone until 2010.  this part sounds great. — I have a knee-jerk reaction against the tracking and tracing features, however I'm not stupid:  I have lost my own car more than once in a parking lot.   And if I had teens who were running around with "the wrong crowd" I might well want to know where they are on a Friday night.  (Thankfully, I don't have teens, so don't have to address or solve this moral dilemma) Anyway, my iPhone won't take the download, so I'm posting this review to make you all aware of the web site, and hope to read your experiences. — The Bottom Line:   Libby's Curious! —... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:26:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Nav4All-review-66201 LibbyMcMillan 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Holiday-Inn-Ocala-FL-review-ebd23 I found the country's first boutique-style Holiday Inn — It's hiding in Ocala, Florida - the prettiest part of the the entire state........our hidden horse country.  Rolling hills, giant oaks trees, emerald green grass as far as you can see, and gorgeous quarter horses and thoroughbreds, by the hundreds.  Just jam-packed with style, luxury and amenities — A clever hotelier in Ocala (which is on I-75, about 1.5 hours from both Tampa and Orlando airports) negotiated for the Holiday Inn brand, then hired a designer to create a stylish, Modern haven.......complete with Tempurpedic beds in every room, free high-speed wireless, a dry sauna, a killer hot tub, nice pool, beautiful gym, gorgeous well-outfitted office center (with supplies!), sexy lobby, a downstairs lounge, and Sky, a top-floor bar and Asian estaurant so popular that locals go there for dinner.  There's even a PENTHOUSE POKER LOUNGE that can be rented... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:07:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Holiday-Inn-Ocala-FL-review-ebd23 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Coca-Cola-Coke-Zero-VS-Diet-Coke-What-do-you-reach-for-review-d57c1 I never had real Coke until I was 27. — A lifelong dieter, I could never afford to drink sugary drinks.  At 5'4" every pound counts.  But in the mid-eighties, I moved in with a Coke junkie who had several real Cokes a day, and I finally tried the red-can elixir for myself.  UH OH   It wasn't as as amazing as great sex + great chocolate........but it was close!   I was instantly addicted, and began pounding down several REAL cokes a day.  — My cousin, songwriter Mae Boren Axton, ("Heartbreak Hotel") ruled her very full Nashville world from a four-poster bed onthe second floor of a Graceland-type mansion, and literally lived on Cokes and caramels.  She had cases of the little Coke bottles sitting around the house, as well as a den decorated filled with Coke memorabilia - I was in Command Central when I lived with her.   Coke was a religion.  — — So Mae took me down the... Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:06:59 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Coca-Cola-Coke-Zero-VS-Diet-Coke-What-do-you-reach-for-review-d57c1 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Michelob-Ultra-Tuscan-Orange-Grapefruit-review-55392 When I drink a beer, it's always Michelob Ultra — I don't drink beer often, but hey, half the year, it's 97,000 degrees where I live so every once in a while, nothing else will do but an icy cold beer.  I always order Michelob Ultra, being a rather devout carb counter.   — So one extremely hot day....... — I was in the grocery store, minding my own business, and this beer display caught my eye.  Hmm, Mich has made an ultra light beer that tastes like cactus and lime.  That's a cool idea.  Those flavors work together, just ask Corona.  I like the desert.  I like lime and beer.  That probably works.   Hey, what's THAT?  A raspberry flavored beer?   Can't wrap my head around that one.  Stood there trying to "taste" it in my mind, and just couldn't get to the marriage between berries and beer.   So how in the heck I could imagine CITRUS and beer is beyond... Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:07:57 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Michelob-Ultra-Tuscan-Orange-Grapefruit-review-55392 LibbyMcMillan 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sex-and-The-City-The-Movie-review-2f7c4 Oh Carrie, I've missed you and your friends! — Last night I got together my own little group of four to go see the girls.   We got dressed up, met for cocktails and appetizers and got a little giggly with anticipation of a reunion.  After all, it's been some time since we got to hang with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte.  My friend Joyce said she was almost dreading the film, knowing that it would make her long for the show all over again.   I was just hopeful the writing would be good. — The fashion!  The drama!  The romance! — Joyce was right.  The minute the movie started, it was just "Oh, gosh, where have these girls BEEN?"  They are each so different, you're sure to relate more strongly to one of them over the others.   (From year to year, that girl may even change, which is interesting and could prompt some DVD rentals)   The storylines were GREAT, and totally... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:43:25 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sex-and-The-City-The-Movie-review-2f7c4 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Pandora-review-dccf2 What if your radio was customized to your taste?  — It's a great time to be alive, because that's precisely what Pandora offers:  radio stations that you easily train to be "smart" and which will only play music that appeals to your particular taste! — The Music Genome Project — My new hero is Tim  Westergren, who founded The Music Genome Project.  He and several techies and musicians set out to categorize all the music they could find by its musical attributes:  melody, rhythm, instrumentation, minor/major key.........all the things that combine to make a song "move" you or leave you cold.  We're all different.  By attaching multiple attirbutes to each song, the MGP categorizes music not by genre but in a much more intelligent way.  If you are moved by an Isley Brothers ballad, and give Pandora a thumbs up when it plays the song, this system knows to suggest a slow, sexy Marvin Gaye song for your radio... Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:31:01 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Pandora-review-dccf2 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Top-10-Reasons-to-Move-to-South-Florida-review-96252 You've Thought About It.....and now houses are a bargain!  JUST DO IT! — — Top 10 Reasons to MOVE TO SOUTH FLORIDA — — 10.  People go fishing, play tennis, set up umbrellas and play golf for a living —   9.  Boating vs shoveling snow.....hmmm —   8.  Fish:  it's what's for dinner —   7.  Pantyhose are only worn by bank robbers —   6.  Free fruit!    5.  3 days' notice on most natural disasters —   4.  Nobody expects much of anything in September —   3.  Gators only eat the pets that you keep tied up —   2.  The Weather Channel is great fun to watch Dec-Feb  —   1.  Skin cancer might knock off what would have been your diaper years! —... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:18:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Top-10-Reasons-to-Move-to-South-Florida-review-96252 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Black-Maria-Film-Festival-review-e6811 3-12 minute films deserve attention — I live in Fort Myers, Florida, where Thomas Edison's winter estate and laboratory is a big tourist attraction.  Edison played a key role in the development of the motion picture, and built the world's first motion picture studio, The Black Maria, pronounced muh-RYE-uh, named because of its resemblance to police paddy wagons of the era.  Thus, the festival bears this name, and again this year, made a stop at the Edison Estates in Fort Myers.  All the films in the program were between 3 and 12 minutes long.   Short Attention Span Theater! — Locations across the globe — The festival starts in New Jersey, at the OTHER Edison Estate, and is sponsored by New jersey City University, the Edison Innovation Foundation, the Natl Endowment for the Arts,, NJ State Council on the Arts, The Geraldine Doge Foundation, and, surprisingly, NFL Film and Video.  It travels to locations as far apart as Rome and... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:36:01 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Black-Maria-Film-Festival-review-e6811 LibbyMcMillan 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/BB-King-Blues-Club-review-701b4 B.B. King's Blues Club at Pointe Orlando is a must-do! — Located right on International Drive, in the Pointe Orlando shopping center, this awesome club is a great place to spend a night.   Whether you love good home-cooked southern food, hot blues, dancing the night away, people-watching, or getting some awesome surprises, this club is for you. — The House Band is SUPER — First of all, the house band is excellent, huge (about 9 pieces) and includes a full brass section (where else can a trombone player get health insurance to play blues all night?!).  The one guitar player - an innocuous-looking little white guy with long hair - rocked the house with a Jimi Hendrix solo that left everybody speechless the night I went.  The whole band is awesome, no matter what style of blues or rock they're playing.    (And it's mostly blues). — SURPRISE guest appearances in Orlando! — Here's the best part: ... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:17:54 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/BB-King-Blues-Club-review-701b4 LibbyMcMillan 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/John-Wesley-Powell-Museum-review-12d82 If you love adventure, history or the West..... — you'll love the John Wesley Powell museum in Page, Arizona.   Any visit to the Grand Canyon or Lake Powell area leaves a person dumb-founded that anyone ever had the nerve to explore the Colorado River and survive to talk about it.   Powell, a one-armed Civil War Hero did just that, inspiring countless others to follow in his footsteps.   This great little museum, in the town just outside Lake Powell's Arizona entrance, really gives an exciting overview of Powell and his fellow adventurers, including a few modern-day couples.  The ladies of the Colorado are particularly fascinating. — A Must-Stop for Grand Canyon fans — If you've been to the Grand Canyon you'll appreciate this museum even more.  It's got detailed histories, photos and maps of Powell and his entourage, as well as all those brave explorers who took his lead and set out on their own adventures. ... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:08:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/John-Wesley-Powell-Museum-review-12d82 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Lake-Powell-Boat-Rentals--153343-review-291d1 Lake Powell leaves you Speechless! — I wish I had a dollar for every time one of six people on our boat said "Look at that!" while boating Lake Powell!   One of America's most stunning destinations, Lake Powell is really only appreciated by being on it.   Yes, you can get a "feel" for it by gazing down at her rocky shores from a vantage point on land, but until you're boating next to 150' high sandstone cliffs, you don't really understand her majesty.  — — Lake Powell Boat Rentals — Family vacations can be tricky when it comes to deciding what to do at a destination.  Not this time.  Rent a power boat for the day ($440-$610, plus gas); they hold "up to 8 passengers,"....but be advised, our 20' power boat would have felt crowded with more than the six people and one cooler we had on board.   What a fantastic way to see the lake!   Once you're on the water and can get near the magnificent... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:52:19 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lake-Powell-Boat-Rentals--153343-review-291d1 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Lake-Powell-Resort-Page-AZ-review-c3002 Lake Powell Resort:  Love the Lake Experience, Don't Like the Hotel — ILet me say this first:  if you've never seen Lake Powell, you should go.  YOu should rent a boat and get out on the water and experience this magnificent setting.  But if you're used to either nice hotels or expecting the quality of, say, El Tovar, at the Grand Canyon, you might be happier renting a houseboat then staying in the hotel (Lake Powell Resort).  It's a mixed bag.   Read on and decide which loding option is right for you:  the Resort's hotel, a houseboat rental, or lodging in nearby Page, Arizona.  — — What's Right with the Resort hotel — 1. There are boat rentals on site - the best reason to go to the resort! — 2.  There are 2 pools, a pool bar, and a hot tub on site. — 3.  There are restaurants on site, so you don't have to drive into Page to eat. — 4.  You can book boat rentals... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:58:38 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lake-Powell-Resort-Page-AZ-review-c3002 LibbyMcMillan 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Antelope-Slot-Canyon-review-959d0 You've Never Seen Anything so Surreal & Beautiful — Lake Powell lies east of the Grand Canyon, in northern Arizona and southern Utah.  The gateway to its west end is Page, Arizona, and here is where you'll find the amazing Antelope Slot Canyon.   — — What is a Slot Canyon? — A slot canyon is a narrow space - in this case, varying from 6'-25' wide, with high, steep rock walls and only a little light coming in at the top, through - you guessed it - the "slots" at the top of the canyon.  The name is a little deceptive, because you're walking on the same level at which you arrive, and the walls rise up around you, but once you're inside this amazing space, there's no doubt you're in a canyon.   Each bend of the walls leads to another "room," and each room has its own unique shape and characteristics.   — — On Navajo Land — Antelope Slot Canyon is one of the most photographed... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:43:25 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Antelope-Slot-Canyon-review-959d0 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/MCO-Orlando-Intl-Airport-review-328a4 Orlando for Lay-overs? — The only reason NOT to layover in Orlando is the flight getting there - I can guarantee you that your plane will be full of pie-eyed, highly excited little tykes on their way to see Mickey.  It will be a loud flight, but mostly with happy sounds.   That said, if you actually have a choice where to lay over, Orlando is a good choice. — Road Warriors will probably agree that the terminals are spacious, and present lots of optoins for eating, going online, having a cocktail, and checking out goods and services. — In addition to coffee, pizza, bulk candy and the usual suspects, you'll also have access to good electronic accessories, bling-y ladies' accessories and a gigantic central waiting area beyond the gates, which affords plenty of privacy.  — — Libby's Hot Tip:   The hamburger chain Johnny Rocket's includes a bar, and you can get a call highball + a huge chef... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:54:22 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/MCO-Orlando-Intl-Airport-review-328a4 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/AirTran-review-a04b3 Airtran lets me stay Flexible — I often need to fly to more than one city while out of town.   I've only found two airlines that let me do that affordably in the USA and Airtran is one of them.   Airtran also has an amazing list of cities it flies to - covering most of the country.   You will be hard pressed to find a destination they don't serve.  — One-Way Tickets Rock — I love to buy 3 or 4 one-way tickets and, as my Italian teacher says, "Keep-a-goin'."    Airtran offers one-way tickets to each of its destinations and keeps the price affordable, particularly when you book ahead.  Eaysy-to-Use Web Site — The airlines' web site is very easy to use and you'll have no problem finding the route map,checking on airfares, or booking a ticket.   — Libby's Hot Tip: Many of the big travel web sites don't offer flights on low-cost carriers like Airtran and... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:43:37 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/AirTran-review-a04b3 LibbyMcMillan 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Hotel-Boulderado-Boulder-CO--152910-review-c9094 Hotel Boulderado:  Downtown's 1909 Gem — The historic Boulderado has long been a favorite of travelers to this great city.  Manning a corner just a block from the thriving pedestrian thoroughfare, Pearl Street, (also called "the Peart St Mall"), the hotel makes exploring easy and fun. — — The Hotel — Stepping inside the Boulderado's lobby is a thrill.  A large stained glass ceiling,rich furnishings and loads of hand-carved details like large wooden staircase rails instantly pull you back in time.  The staff is friendly, and one of them will take you upstairs to your room in a hand-operated elevator.  The lobby level has a nice restaurant and a lounge which stays open pretty late. — The Rooms — The Boulderado's rooms are elegant and old-fashioned, but with modern conveniences.  Beds are super comfy and wireless is no problem.  Suites have refrigerators as well as... Wed, 28 May 2008 15:00:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Hotel-Boulderado-Boulder-CO--152910-review-c9094 LibbyMcMillan 4