Bermuda’s beaches were incredible and picture perfect with the pink-hued sand and turquoise waters. My father took my sister and me in early March 2026 to see his childhood home and old stomping grounds. It was a great time to go, before the tourist and hurricane seasons hit the mid-Atlantic island. Air temps were in the 70s and water temps in the high 60s (Fahrenheit). We were there for seven days, and I made sure to swim daily—see my video testimonial below! As a competitive swimmer … [Read more...]
Bermuda Whale Watching Excursion, 2026-03-11
My Dad, Sister, and I had an amazing time venturing out in Bermudian waters with K.S. WaterSports to see North Atlantic humpback whales during their northern spring migration. The waters were choppy on the way out and it was more thrilling than a roller coaster ride - no seatbelts or safety nets! Yes, there were life vests in case something happened, but we were in great hands with a fabulous captain and crew. We were stoked to see three whales swimming about, flapping fins and tails and … [Read more...]
From Tucson, to Phoenix, to the Verde Valley: Oct. 2025
The embedded video below shows a bit of the Manslander October 2025 respite. After attending a Blue Cross Blue Shield Mental Health conference in Phoenix for the U of A Psychiatry Department, we went up to Cottonwood, AZ. It was a fun road trip through AZ in the Kona (thanks for the Kona, Mom!). We had booked the vacay before the historically long U.S. gov’t shutdown, with the intention to visit Tuzigoot Nat’l Monument. Ha – it was closed! I’m still amazed that the people who are supposed to … [Read more...]
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park: June 2025
Join Dan Rylander and me in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park on June 19, 2025 in the 78 second video below. We traverse slowly, consciously, in awe of the towering behemoths. We think of Ents, of millions of years of evolution, of intricate ecosystems, live-giving water, geological scale. We are in the moment. Nothing else but here in this majestic grandeur. Note that Dan is 5'9" - as a reference to the trees' size. The water sound you hear is from the Smith River; … [Read more...]
Redwoods – June 2025
Seeing the redwoods has been on my list for decades; I think since I was a wee lass. Trees that can grow to 300 feet, live for millennia, and have been on Earth for about 240 million years! Sure does put things in perspective. Here's a collage: … [Read more...]